A Biographical history of Nodaway and Atchison counties, Missouri : compendium of national biography, Part 74

Author:
Publication date: 1901
Publisher: Chicago : Lewis Pub. Co.
Number of Pages: 726

USA > Missouri > Nodaway County > A Biographical history of Nodaway and Atchison counties, Missouri : compendium of national biography > Part 74
USA > Missouri > Atchison County > A Biographical history of Nodaway and Atchison counties, Missouri : compendium of national biography > Part 74

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crossed the Mississippi river and spent one winter in Shenandoah, Iowa, after which he was for some time engaged in prospecting in Nebraska, and the surrounding country. The following year he came to Atchison county, Missouri, and purchased a quarter section of wild land.

After building a small house he began breaking the prairie and fencing the fields and soon had his land under a high state of cultivation. For a year he kept bachelor's hall and then his sister acted as housekeeper for him until 1882, when he chose as a com- panion and helpmate on life's journey Miss Ora B. Hoard. He then began life in earnest and as the years have passed prosperity has attended liis efforts. About 1889 he pur- chased another eighty acres of land adjoining his first purchase and changed his place of residence, erecting on the new tract a commo- dious two-story frame dwelling, a large barn and good outbuildings. He has also set out an orchard which yields its fruit in sea- son, and groves of ornamental and forest trees protect his home from the liot rays of the summer's sun and add to the value and attractive appearance of the place. His property is divided into fields for cultivation, into meadow land for hay and into pastures for grazing. The entire farm is in good con- dition and pleasantly located about three miles west of Westboro. In addition to the cultivation of the cereals best adapted to this climate lie has carried on stock-raising, feed- ing cattle and hogs.

On the 20th of January, 1862, Mrs. Bower was born in Scott county, Indiana, and twenty years later she gave her hand in marriage to him whose name introduces this record. She belongs to one of the honored families of the Hoosier state. Her father died while serving his country in the Civil

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war and the mother also died during the girlhood of Mrs. Bower. She came to Mis- souri to join her brother and here formed the acquaintance of him to whom she afterward gave her hand in marriage. She was the second of five children, the others being Mrs. Kittie Phillips, Lucinda, Mrs. Malinda Short, and Lincoln, who died in Nodaway county. Unto Mr. and Mrs. Bower have been born three children, namely : Anna B., who was born May 18, 1884: Millie C., Forn April 18, 1885; and Orville W., born June 24, 1888.

Mrs. Bower is a member of the Chris- tian church and her many sterling qualities have gained her the friendship of those with whom she has become acquainted in her Missouri home. Mr. Bower is a man of dili- gence and enterprise. His life has been an active and useful one, in which business af- fairs have been so conducted that success has crowned his efforts with a very desirable competence.

JUDGE WILLIAM LEEPER.

Honored and respected by all, there i no man in Nodaway county who occupies a more enviable position in business and political circles than Judge William Leeper. He possesses untiring energy, is quick of perception, forms his plans readily and is determined in their execution; and his close application to business and his excellent man- agement have brought to him the high degree of prosperity which is to-day his.

The Judge was born in Dearborn county, Indiana, March 15, 1818, and is a son of John and Margaret V. (Carberry ) Leeper. nalives of Pennsylvania. The paternal grandfather. Charles Leeper, was also born in the latter state of Scotch Irish descent, and

belonged to a prominent old family of Scot- land, which included a number of profes- sional men of Edinburgh. He was a soldier of the Revolutionary war and served as high sheriff of his county. As the proprietor of the Loudoun furnace and forge, as well as a grist-mill in Pennsylvania, he became wealthy and influential, but by going security for his friends he lost heavily. He died in that state. Ilis children were Allen, Charles, William, Samuel, Robert, John. James, Mrs. Mary Eller, Betsy and Jane.

In territorial days John Leeper went to Indiana and became one of the pioneers of Dearborn county, where he was married. Hlaving learned the tanner's trade in his na- tive state he started a tanyard in Dearborn county, and with the money made in this way he entered land, from which he cleared the heavy timber, transforming it into a good farm. In 1831 he soll his tannery and farm and moved to Marion county. the same state, entering land in what is now the town of Acton. Upon the farm which he developed there he spent the remainder of his life. dy- ing at the age of sixty-five years. Relig- iously he was a strict Presbyterian, and politically was a stanch Democrat. His wife survived him a number of years and visited our subject in this county, but died in Indi- ana, in 1870. Her father, Joseph Carberry, was born in the north of Ireland. and coming to this country in colonial days took part in the Revolutionary war, being with the army that terrible winter at Valley Forge. For some years he followed farming in Penn- sylvania and then moved to Indiana, becom- ing the owner of a small farm in Dearborn county, where he and his wife spent their last days. They had six children, namely : Valentine, who died unmarried : Peter : Mrs. Nancy Merlatt : Margaret: Mr -. Elizabeth

JUDGE WILLIAM LEEPER

1 THE

FOBI MEPARY A

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Pike, whose husband, James Pike, was a mili- tary man of much talent, and belonged to an aristocratic family ; and Mrs. Lucy Mc- Cracken, whose husband was wealthy.

Judge Leeper is the third in order of birth in a family of eleven children, the others being Charles, who died in Oklahoma in 1897: Jane, the wife of Joseph Pitcher, a farmer of Indiana ; Joseph, who went to Cal- ifornia in 1849 and died while coming home : Allen, who as a blacksmith worked for the Confederate army in eastern Missouri during the Civil war and later died; James, a sol- dier of the Mexican war and the Union army in the Civil war; John, who died , young ; Valentine, who was a member of the Seventieth Indiana Volunteer Infantry dur- ing the latter struggle and died after his re- turn home; Robert, who died young; Mar- garet, the wife of Captain Hyden: and Cath- erine, the wife of Joseph Huston. The fa- ther of these children was a soldier of the war of 1812. In religious belief their mother was a Methodist.

Although Judge Leeper received only a limited education in the common schools of his native county, he commenced teaching at the age of seventeen years and followed that profession for some time. On leaving the parental roof. at the age of twenty-one, he found employment on the Broad Ripple canal, but illness soon caused him to return home. Later he went to Illinois, where he taught school and also attended school one term. During the three years he spent in that state he was variously employed, and at the end of that time possessed a horse and fifty dollars in money, which he gave in ex- change for eighty acres of land in McLean county. This he leased for three years, but at the end of one year bought the right of the lessee and sold the place for three hundred 35

dollars. While there he bought, unseen. one hundred and sixty acres of land in Decatur county, Indiana, which he held for three years and then sold for six hundred dollars, in the meantime working at different employ- ments, some of the time being spent in his father's sawmill. He helped build a flatboat, on which he floated down White river and then down the Wabash to Shawneetown, where he left the boat and returned home. After building a log barn for his father, he attended the State University at Blooming- ton, Indiana, for seven months, and then again taught school. He had bought a colt for ten dollars, which he sold at the age of three years, and with the money thus ac- quired, in addition to what he had before, he bought one hundred and sixty acres of land, paying for the same three hundred dol- lars in silver, and for the remaining two hun- dred he was given credit for two years with- out interest. After paying all and obtaining his deed he had only fifteen cents remaining. For a short time he worked in Kentucky, and then returned home on foot, sleeping one night on a log in the woods. He was em- ployed at making roads for a time, and then turned his attention to the improvement of his land.

In 1847. in Indiana, Judge Leeper mar- ried Miss Obedience A. Parsly, a native of Virginia, whose father was one of the pio- neer farmers of Indiana, where he died. She was one of a family of eight children, the others being James : Samuel: Daniel : Alex- ander, who died in Missouri; Jessie; Mrs. E. Scott and Mrs. Elizabeth Judd. Mrs. Leeper, who was a consistent member of the Methodist church, died March 26. 1867, leaving the following children : James, born June 12, 1848; Charles A., born January 19, 1850, a resident of Idaho; Joseph W., born

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June 28. 1852: William J., born July 26. 1854 : George W., born June 20, 1850; Mary M., born August 11, 1861, the deceased wife of .A. Kile: and Ollie Bell, born July 26, 1863. wife of J. S. Faulconer, a prominent farmer of Kansas.

Judge Leeper was again married, in Sep- tember, 1867, his second union being with Miss Amira F. Lawrence, who was born in Pike county, Ohio, May 14, 1849. Her par- ents were Hiram and Mary A. (Strong) Lawrence, natives of Virginia and Ohio, respectively. Her paternal grandfather, Abraham Lawrence, was a farmer of Ohio, where he died. He had two sons, the younger being J. Y., who became prominent and wealthy. Mrs. Leeper's father came to Missouri in 1855, and after two years spent in Holt county, took up his residence in Nod- away county. He owned six hundred and forty acres of land in Nodaway. Holt and Andrew counties, and successfully engaged in farming. He was a Republican in poli- ties and a Universalist in religious belief. His mother bore the maiden name of Dor- othy Yocum and was a native of Virginia. His father died in Ohio, and his mother in Missouri, and his wife died in Missouri in 1859. She was one of a family of seven chil- dren, the others being Mary .A., Sarah, Isa- bel, Willard, Levi and Columbus, To Hiram and Mary -A. (Strong ) Lawrence were born seven children, namely: Electa D., the wife of P. Bender: Hosea B., Almira F., Daniel S. Levi, Annis and Charles. By his second marriage the Judge has four chiklren : Will- iam F., bors March 22, 1800: Frederick E., September 20, 1872; Robert C., November 20, 1877: and Hiram L., February 1, 1883. Frederick F. is now in Denver, Colorado.

Judge leeper enlisted as a private in the state militia during John Morgan's raid, and

as the officers refused to let him fight when he wished to, he left the company, was tried by court martial, made his own defense, and was released. Ile applied for a commission to raise a company, was elected its captain. and enlisted in the Ninth Indiana Cavalry. He went to Louisville, Nashville, and Bridgeport. Alabama, in pursuit of Hood, and remained in the service until he became ill and was sent to the hospital at Pulaski. Tennessee. While there he resigned and then returned home, but was ill for some time afterward.

In 1864 Judge Leeper made a prospect- ing tour to Missouri, and on his return home sold his property in Indiana and moved to this state. In 1805 he purchased four hun- dred and forty acres of land in Nodaway county, for eleven thousand dollars, and commenced farming. He has since bought and sold several tracts, and has become one of the most extensive cattle dealers of this county, his specialty being short horns. He has also been an extensive land owner here. He is a stockholder and director of the Farmers' Bank at Maitland, and is also a heavy depositor in other banks. He is now practically living a retired life. enjoying the fruits of former toil.

As one of the most prominent and in- fluential citizens of the county, Judge Lee- per has taken a very active part in public affairs, and has served as county judge four years, besides filling minor offices. He was formerly a recognized leader in the ranks of the Republican party, and attended most of its conventions. Although he is now liv- ing retired, he is still called upon to give his advice in business transactions, for he is a man of sound judgment, keen discrimination and great sagacity. He is also a good judge of law, can attend to legal business accurate-

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ly, and has successfully administered estates and acted as guardian of heirs. The record of his life is that of a man who through his own unaided efforts has worked his way up- ward to a position of prominence and af- fluence. His life has been one of industry and perseverance, and the systematic and honorable business methods he has followed have won him the respect and confidence of all.

WILLIAM S. SWINFORD.

This gentleman is owner and occupant of the Long Branch Stock Farm. Not a bet- ter known or more popular man resides in Nodaway county, and he is one of the most public-spirited men in the county. He was born in Putnam county, Indiana, December 21, 1854, a son of William and Rebecca (Thompson ) Swinford.

The paternal great-grandfather was Elisha Swinford, who married Thank- ful Done, of South Carolina. He was a native of England, and was one of the pio- neer settlers of Kentucky, where he spent the greater part of his life. His children were Polly, James, Sally, John, William, Betsy, Samuel and Nancy. John Swinford grew to ! manhood in Kentucky, and in 1826 married and moved to Putnam county, Indiana, where he became a prosperous and well known farmer. He lived on the homestead until his death. Early in life he was a Whig, and later became a Democrat. His chil- dren were: William, the father of our sub- ject ; Wilson F., residing in Nodaway coun- ty; George, also of this county; Salene, now Mrs. Tucker, of Indianapolis, Indiana : Thankful, now Mrs. Wright ; Mrs. Enseba Leatherman ; Polly A., the wife of J. Ham- brick; and Nancy S., the wife of R. Hart.

William Swinford, the father of our sub- ject, was born in Harrison county, Ken- tucky. November 20, 1815, and was reared to a life of honest toil. When he was eleven years old his parents moved to Indiana, and there he assisted his father until he reached the age of eighteen. He then married and began farming for himself, remaining in In- diana until 1856, when he located in Noda- way county, Missouri. He bought five hun- dred acres of land for his homestead, and other land for planting and for raising stock. He was a Democrat before the Civil war, but during that time became a Republican. Af- ter the war he returned to his old belief and became a Democrat. He was the captain of his company in the state militia, and in 1862 was elected high sheriff, a position which meant a great deal in those days. Mr. Swinford went to Maryville, where he lived about ten years, and then returned to the old homestead. His wife died February 14, 1880, and in 1881 he moved to Barnard, where he conducted the hotel in that place. In October, 1882, he re-married, and in 1890 moved to Guilford, where he now lives and is retired from active business life. His first wife was Rebecca Thompson, who was born in Rock county, Kentucky, a daughter of William and Betsy ( Commodes ) Thomp- son, both natives of Kentucky. Mr. Thomp- son moved to Indiana in early life, where he was known as a farmer of much ability. His children were: Sally; Dolly; Rebecca, the mother of our subject ; Betsy, Ibba, John, William, Squire, Aelsa and Cynthia.

William Swinford had ten children by his first wife, namely: Jane, the wife of S. Wright; Polly, the wife of J. Hamrick; Sarah, who married C. P. A. Wright : Eliz- abeth, the wife of D. Palmer; George, a prominent farmer of Nodaway county, who

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served in the Civil war: Martha F .. who Republican and served in the state militia during the Civil war. By his first wife he was the father of eight children, namely : John: Benjamin : Samuel: James: Squire; Laura, who married William Best : Rebecca. the wife of A. Nelson: and Mary E .. the wife of our subject. Mrs. Thompson died in 1862. Mr. Thompson then married Sarah Smith, a daughter of John Graves, married 1. Stevenson: William S. the sub- ject : Miriam the wife of T. Torrance: Emma, who married J. Protsman; and Fan- nie, who is the wife of G. Stewart. In 1882 Mr. Swinford married Rosa B. Shore, who was born in Huntington county Pennsylva- nia. in 1854. a daughter of William and Mercy J. ( Robinson ) Shore, both na- : tives of Pennsylvania. William Shore Tone of the earliest pioneers of the county, moved to Illinois and later to lowa, and in | who went to California in 1849, but never By this second marriage Mr. Thompson was the parent of George. Noah. Cynthia and Dell.

1880 to Nodaway county, Missouri, where i returned. he was by occupation a farmer. He died October 6, 1880, and his wife still survives. him. Mr. Swinford has no children by this last union.

William Scott Swinford, the subject of this sketch. received his education in the pub- lie schools of Maryville. He made visits with his father to Indiana and Illinois and back again to Missouri, where he grew up on the homestead, remaining under the parental roof until he was twenty-five years okl. After his marriage he continued living on the old homestead, where he farmed, raised cattle and hogs and market truck. The soil is rich and fertile, and the place is known as the Long Branch Stock Farm. He raises the shorthorn cattle, and his horses and other animals are of the finest stock. The land is in an excellent state of cultivation, and the buildings are large, modern and como- dions. In 1872 he married Mary E. Thomp- som, Who was born in Nodaway county. Missouri, January 28, 1800. She was the daughter of John and Polly (. Adams) Thompson, both natives of Indiana. John Thompson moved to lowa and later to Mis- somri, settling in Nordaway county in 1858. where he bought a farm. He sold this farm the same year, and continued to buy and sell farms for some time. He was a firm

Mr. Swinford and his wife have been blessed with five children, namely: Dwight 1 ... born October 15. 1878; Carrie, born August 3. 1880, now the wife of Sylvester Shrader: William A .. born January 10, 1885 : Glen D., born December 12, 1888; and George M., born July 23. 1892. Mrs. Swinford is a member of the Christian church, and her husband attends the Ser- enth Day Advent church. The family is well known in the community and have a host of friends, who speak of them only in the highest terms.

JOHN LOWE.

John Lowe, for many years a railroad man and at present a retired farmer living on his estate near Barnard, Nodaway county. is a man of considerable means and is ever ready to lend a helping hand to those in dis- tress. Ile was born in county Armagh, Ire- land, June 24. 1829, where he was reared and educated in the common schools.

John Lowe, his paternal grandfather. Was a weaver by trade, and never came to this country. His children were : Stephen who came to America : Margaret, who also

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came to this country; Patrick, of Ireland ; and John, the father of our subject. John Lowe, our subject's father, married Mar- garet, a daughter of Michael O. Houghy, a farmer of Ireland. Michael Houghy had seven children, namely: James, who came to America: Patrick, who died in Ireland : and Bridget, Ann, Elizabeth and Mary, all of whom died in Ireland: Rose, who came . to America; and Margaret, the mother of our subject. John Lowe came to America in 1830, bringing his wife and one child with him. His wife died and afterward he went to Pennsylvania, working at contract- ing on the railroads. After saving enough money to buy a farm he went to Chester county, Pennsylvania, where he farmed, his daughter keeping house for him. In 1842 he sent for his sons whom he had left in Ireland, and they lived with him on the farm until his death, which occurred in 1846. He left a good estate and was fairly suc- cessful in life. He was a Democrat in pol- itics, but never aspired to office. His chil- dren were: Patrick, who was a locomotive engineer for thirty years and died in Phila- delphia, leaving a wife and nine children : John, the subject of this sketch; and Ann, the wife of J. Park Molder, of Philadelphia. The parents were Catholics.

John Lowe, the subject of this sketch, was fourteen years old when his father sent for him to come to America. He learned farmning and also engineering, and at the age of twenty took charge of an engine on the Philadelphia & Reading road. He worked on this road or its branches for many years and also ran an engine for the Lehigh & Northern Pennsylvania Railroad. After moving west he spent about five years on the St. Joseph & St. Louis Railroad. During the battle of Gettysburg he was de-

tailed to run a supply train, for three days, to this town, and was under army regula- tions. In all his forty years of railroading he had no accidents, which is very remarka- ble, considering railroading in those days. In 1869 he abandoned the work and went to Missouri, where he bought a farm.

Except for a brief time spent as engineer on the St. Joseph & St. Louis road, he has continued at farming. His farm contains two hundred and fifty-five acres of highly cultivated land, and in the past few years he has been feeding cattle and hogs. The barns, houses and outbuildings are in first- class condition and speak well for the thrift of the owner. There is also a fine orchard on the place.

Mr. Lowe married Margaret Boylan, a native of Ireland. They were married at Philadelphia. Mrs. Lowe was a daughter of James and Mary Boylan, both natives of Ireland. Mr. Boylan came to America in 1833. settling in Reading, Pennsylvania, where he worked in the car shops of the Reading Railroad Company. He and his wife were Catholics. The children were ; Margaret, the wife of our subject : and Mary. James, Kate. Ella and Susie .- all residing in Reading with the exception of Susie, who died in Chicago, November 18, 1900. Mr. Lowe and his wife are the parents of the following children, namely : Margaret, a sis- ter of charity at Utica. New York: Mary; Joseph, of Omaha : James, farming on the homestead : Ella: Thomas, who died Jan- uary II, 1899; John, who died young ; and Frank, an engineer, who when last heard of was at Port Arthur. Mrs. Lowe died June 26, 1881, and her husband, who has retired from active business life, is enjoying his declining years to the best of his ability, on the old farm, surrounded by his chil-

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dren. He is a constant attendant of the Catholic church, of which his family have always been members. He is widely known in the county and is highly respected by all.

THOMAS HUMPHREY.

The plain story of a simple life of hon- est endeavor and legitimate success is always interesting, and it cannot but be instructive and encouraging to those who are bravely and honorably waging the warfare of life. The biographical sketch which follows is not only such a record of human endeavor; it is more, a narrative of patriotism which, in the time of our nation's need, impelled its subject twice to enlist as a soldier and many times risk his life for humanity.

Thomas Humphrey was born near Har- Jansburg. Butler county, Pennsylvania, Jan- uary 8, 1840, a son of Harvey Humphrey and a grandson of Thomas Humphrey. Thomas Humphrey, the grandfather, was born in Ireland, and soon after he came to America locating in the state of Pennsylva- nia, while his wife was from New Jersey. There Harvey Humphrey was born and reared and learned the trade of carpenter. He married Elsie Duglas, of Scotch descent but a native of Butler county, Pennsylvania, and a daughter of Andrew Duglas. 1854. gathering together his movable prop- erty and his young family, Harvey Hum- phrey emigrated to Jackson county, lowa, and settled near Maquoketa. There the family remained until 1870, during a period of twenty six years, when they removed to Nodaway county, Missouri, and located in Lincoln township. There Harvey Hum phrey dies, aged seventy seven, and his wife at the age of eighty years. This worthy couple had sIN children, three of whom are

living: Emily, who married Joseph Book, of Jackson county, Iowa; Mary, who mar- ried Michael B. Kirby, of Lincoln township. Nodaway county: Thomas, the subject of this sketch; Andrew, who died in his thir- teenth year; Ruth Ellen, who died at about twenty-two years of age; and James, who died at Clearmont, Nodaway county, and left a family.

Thomas Humphrey was reared on a farm in Jackson county, lowa, and attended the public schools near his home. He had only just passed his majority when the war of the rebellion broke out. In August, 1862. responding to President Lincoln's call for three hundred thousand volunteers, he en- listed in Company F. Thirty-first lowa Vol- unteer Infantry, under the command of Col- onel Wood. He was in the battles and skir- mishes at Walnut Ridge. Vicksburg, AArkan- sas Post and Little Rock. He participated in the fighting on the march back to Vicks- burg along the Arkansas and Mississippi rivers. He was discharged from the service on account of disability at St. Louis in 1863 and returned to Jackson county, lowa. Later he re-enlisted and served continuously until the close of the war. Returning home again in 1865, he was, in 1800, married to Miss Martha Gilmore, a daughter of James and Margaret ( Roderick ) Gilmore and a native of Pittsburg, Pennsylvania. James Gil- more, also a native of Pennsylvania, re- moved with his family to Jackson county. lowa, when his daughter was a mere child : there she was reared and educated. Mrs. Humphrey was a worthy and helpful wife until the end of her life. Her death. in 1885. at the age of forty-two, was the one great sorrow of Mr. Humphrey's life and her re- moval was a loss to her children which noth- ing could ever repair.

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A Biographical history of Nodaway and Atchison counties, Missouri : compendium of national biography, Part 74

Author: Publication date: 1901 Publisher: Chicago : Lewis Pub. Co. Number of Pages: 726

Author:
Publication date: 1901
Publisher: Chicago : Lewis Pub. Co.
Number of Pages: 726