A Biographical history of Nodaway and Atchison counties, Missouri : compendium of national biography, Part 80

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 80
USA > Missouri > Atchison County > A Biographical history of Nodaway and Atchison counties, Missouri : compendium of national biography > Part 80

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William Barry grew up in Illinois and Atchison county, Missouri, where he re- ceived an education, mostly, however, from practical experience and observation. He

gradually acquired a farm of about three hundred and eighty-seven acres, all of which is highly cultivated and is considered one of the finest in the county. It is known as the Barry farm, and there Mr. Barry raises the finest farm products, as well as live stock. He is in the prime of life, and' is content in the thought of a future spent in comfort.

JOHN G. LANE.

Imbued with the typical progressive spirit of the west. John G. Lane has become the owner of one of the fine farms of AAtch- ison county, owning a valuable tract of three hundred and ten acres. A native of lowa. he was born in Richmond, Washington county, on the 220 of September, 1855. and is a son of Henry W. Lane, who was one of the first settlers of that county. The father was a native of Ohio and a son of Reynokis Lane, who removed from the Buckeye state to Indiana, locating near Terre Haute. In that locality Henry W. Lane spent the days of his boyhood and youth upon a farm, and when twenty years of age he made his way to the wills of lowa, settling at Richmond, Washington county. His father also came to this state and died in Madison county, at the age of eighty-two. His wife passed away in Indiana. When the Hawkeye state was upon the wild western frontier Henry W. Lane became identified with its interests. Indians stalked in motley garb through the forest and deer and wolves were frequently killed.

He married Miss Eliza Guinn, a lady of intelligence and refinement, belonging to one of the old southern families. She was born in Burlington, lowa, and was a daughter of Richard Guinn, a prominent resident and one

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of the early settlers of the Hawkeye state. He died in Montgomery, Kansas, at the age eighty-two, and his wife passed away at the age of eighty years. At the time of the Civil war, Mr. Lane, the father of our sub- ject, responded to the country's call for troops and aided in the preservation of the Union. He was a farmer by occupation, and for many years followed that pursuit in Lucas county, Iowa, where he died in 1883, at the age of fifty-five years. In politics he was a stalwart Republican, and socially he was connected with the Independent Order of Odd Fellows. At the time when he "wore the blue" on southern battlefields he sustained a gunshot wound which ultimately caused liis demise. His widow married E. T. Wil- lis and now resides in Wilson county, Kansas.

John G. Lane, the only child of his pa- rents, was reared' on the old home farm in Iowa and from an early age was employed at work in the fields, assisting in the plowing, planting and harvesting. The public schools of the neighborhood afforded him his educa- tional privileges, and his boyhood days were quietly passed on the home farm. At the age of twenty-two he was united in marriage to Miss Emma Munford', a lady of good family, who was born, reared and educated in Lucas county, Iowa, and was a daughter of Josiah Munford. Her father was one of the pioneers of the Hawkeye state, and was one of the veterans of the Civil war.

Mr. and Mrs. Lane remained in Iowa until 1882, when they came to Atchison county, and for five years thereafter our sub- ject cultivated rented land. With the cap- ital he had then acquired through his in- dustry and energy he purchased a fine farm in 1887, the tract comprising three hun- dred and ten acres of good land. His is

one of the desirable and attractive farms of the county, everything about the place being in excellent condition. A substantial resi- dence stands upon a natural building site and is surrounded by ornamental trees. There is likewise a house for a tenant upon the place, and the facilities for raising stock are ample. Mr. Lane now feeds about one Inundred head of cattle each year, besides a like number of hogs.

He has four children, namely : Tempa, the wife of Ed Flock ; Zella, Lloyd and Rex; and he has also lost two children, who died in early life. Mr. Lane gives his political support to the men and measures of the Re- publican party. His wife is a member of the Methodist Episcopal church. He pos- sesses a cordial nature that wins friends, a social disposition that enables him to keep them, and as a citizen has gained a reputation for sterling worth that is indeed enviable.

JAMES M. MCDONALD.

James M. McDonald, an old soldier of the Civil war and an early settler of Noda- way county, is a well known and industrious farmer of Lincoln township. He was born in Mason county, Kentucky, a county famed for its brave men, beautiful women, fine horses and' good servants. He was a son of Hugh McDonald, who married May Web- er, of Mason county, Kentucky. Hugh McDonald was a native of Pennsylvania, and was born in 1806. He died in 1878, at the age of seventy-two. He and his wife were the parents of eight children, namely : William; Jane; Sybil; May, deceased ; John ; Nancy; James, the subject of this sketch; and Thomas, deceased. Mr. McDonald' settled in Nodaway county in 1853.

James M. McDonald, the subject of this

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his education in the public schools of his na- tive county. He was married in 1873 to ' Nancy Simons, a lady of advanced' intelli- gence and of good family. She was a daughter of Colby Simons, of DeKalb com- ty, Missouri. Mr. McDonald and his wife have had several children, namely : May Smith, Hugh D., Charles Thomas, James, Joseph. Nelly, Clarence, Earl and Alma. Effie died at the age of three and one half years.

William, the brother of our subject, who served four years in the Civil war. makes his home with Mr. MeDonald. Mr. Mc- Donald has a good farm of one hundred and thirty acres, which is well improved. Ile is a Democrat and a zealous upholder of William Jennings Bryan. He is well known in the county where he is respected by all as a good, loyal citizen.

JOSEPH MCKNIGHT.

This well known and representative cit- szen of Lincoln township, Nodaway county. Missouri, was born in Westmoreland county, Pennsylvania, in 1833, and is a son of Sam- uel and Eliza ( McKee) Mcknight, natives of the north of Ireland, who came to Amer- ica when young and died in Pennsylvania. By ocupation the father was a farmer.

Our subject was educated in the district schools near his boyhood home. On leaving the parental roof at the age of twenty-two years, he went to Davenport, lowa, where he worked at the stonemason's trade and also engaged in farming. Later he followed the same pursuits in Monroe county, Iowa, and gave some attention to merchandising. On disposing of his interests there he came to

personal biography, was reared on his fa- Missouri, though he is still a partner in a ther's farm in Kentucky, where he received , store in Blanchard, Iowa. In 1880 be pur- chased a tract of unimproved prairie land in Nodaway county, which he has converted into a well improved and valuable farm. llere he owns one hundred and sixty acres. and also has a tract of forty acres in Atchi- ison county, all of which has been acquired through his own exertions, and God's help.

In 1855 Mr. MeKnight was married, in Davenport, Iowa, to Miss Mary Copeland. and to them were born eight children, five of whom are still living, namely: Samuel C. MeKnight, Joseph D. McKnight, Will- iam J. MeKnight, John C. MeKnight, and Edward L., the youngest, who is a remarka- bly bright and promising young man, being educated for the ministry at Allegheny. Pennsylvania.

Some time ago a cyclone destroyed Mr. McKnight's home and all the farm build- ings, causing a heavy loss.

Ile takes no active part in political affairs. lle is a professing Christian, who believes that Christ is the king of the universe and that all nations should be obedient to Ilim, as he is "King of Kings and Lord of Lords." He is an active member of the "Covenanter" church, and has always con- tributed liberally to its support, and has tak- en part in all church work. Hle assisted in building two churches in Blanchard, lowa. and' he has tried to live a consistent Chris- tian life. His worthy wife is also a member of the same church and a consistent Chris- tian woman.

JAMES REESE.

On the oth of February, 1899, at his home in Nodaway county. Missouri, oc- curred the death of James Reese, who was

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for many years one of its honored and highly respected citizens. He was born on the Mo- hawk Flats, in Herkimer county, New York, December 1. 1834, and was a son of John and Evaline ( Beatman) Reese, also natives of that state, his ancestors having come from Germany and settled in the Mohawk Valley, at an early day, becoming prominent far- mers and d'airymen of that region. Rep. resentatives of the family were soldiers in the Revolutionary war. The father of our subject spent his last days in St. Lawrence county, New York, where his death occurred. Like his ancestors, he was a man of sterling worth and strict integrity, and was a very active and influential member of the Presby- terian church. His children were Eliza C., the wife of Rufus Smith, a Lutheran minis- ter, who spent many years in this county; Stephen, who died in New York ; Dorothea, the wife of R. Griffin; Mary, the wife of M. Snyder; and James, our subject.

James Reese was reared to the honest toil of a farmer and educated in the public schools of his native state. He remained at home, caring for his parents until their deaths, and by his father's will came into possession of the old family homestead, where he contin- ted to reside for a number of years after his marriage. Meeting with success in his farm- ing operations, he bought another place, but in 1870 sold his property in New York and' came to Nodaway county, Missouri, where he spent the remainder of his life. Here he purchased two hundred and forty acres of wild prairie land, and to its improvement and cultivation at once turned his attention. He carried on stock-raising in connection with general farming, and so successful was he that he was able to add' to his property until he had four hundred and ninety acres of valuable land at the time of his death.

As a business man he was energetic and pro- gressive, and usually carried forward to suc- cessful completion whatever he undertook. Politically he was an ardent Democrat and did all in his power to advance the interests of his party. At his death he left a large circle of friends and acquaintances to mourn his loss, for he was wide and favorably known.

In 1855 Mr. Reese married Miss Char- lotte Gordon, who was born in St. Lawrence county, New York, June 16, 1835, a daugh- ter of Enos and Emily ( Simons) Gordon, life-long residents of that county. Her pa- ternal grandfather, Reuben Gordon, was born in New York, of Welsh ancestry, and was a farmer by occupation. He married Miss Pruella Scott. They had eight chil- dren, namely: Griffin, Ezra, Polla, Anna, Betsy, Enos, William and Obid. Her ma- ternal grandfather, Benjamin Simons, was born in Connecticut and was a dairyman of New York. He married Miss Fannie Beck- with, of Connecticut. Their family com- prised six children, namely: Lydia, Emily, Catherine, Lucy A., Hubbard and Clarissa. Mrs. Reese's parents were consistent and faithful members of the Presbyterian church, in which her father served as a deacon for many years. Their children were: Lydia, Charlotte, Jane, Caroline and Gilbert.

Of the children of Mr. and Mrs. Reese we note : Lawson J. was born in St. Law- rence county, November 26, 1856, and died in Colorado, December 13, 1896. He mar- ried Miss Mary Jones, of lowa, and' left a wife and four children. Alice died in in- fancy. Charles, a farmer, was born in St. Lawrence county, February 2, 1862, and married Miss Lydia Bolick, of Iowa. Eva- line died in infancy. Rhugene, a farmer of Oklahoma, was born in St. Lawrence coun-

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ty, in 1865. Ile maried Miss Fannie Whitehead, of Nodaway county. Wilburt was born in St. Lawrence county, March 25, 1809. Ile was a farmer and' married Miss Rachel Bolick, of lowa. Willis was born in Missouri, September 17, 1872. Le- ona was born in Missouri, June 20. 1877. As Mr. Reese left no will. his wife and son Willis administered the estate. and the latter has since carried on the work inaugurated by his father, and has spent his entire life on the homestead engaged in agricultural pur- suits. The family is one of considerable prominence in the community where they re- side.

D. W. HUMPHREY, M. D.

Dr. Humphrey is the pioneer physician of Parnell, having for many years been ac- tively identified with his profession in this portion of the state. The well established physician obtains an influence in any com- minity which is more far-reaching than that of any citizen sustaining other relations to the public. The reasons for this are obvious and require no mention here. Dr. D. W. Humphrey is to the people of Parnell and vicinity a widely known family doctor and he is the eldest physician and surgeon in the place. He cast his lot with the citizens of the town in 1883. just after the Great Western Railroad opened up the Platte val- ley and located a station here, and from that time to the present he has practiced his pro- fession in Parnell and its tributary territory. showing also a healthful interest in every movement tending to the greatest good to his towns people.

The Doctor was born February 4, 1857, eight miles west of Bellefontaine, Ohio, in which locality his father, C. C. Humphrey,

was a well known and prominent citizen. The latter was born in Logan county, Ohio, was educated there and became one of the pioneer families of the state. During the war he was an enthusiastic and' outspoken ad- vocate of the Union and' was appointed by Governor Brough, one of his old pupils, to care for the sick and wounded Ohio soldiers. Subsequently he removed to Kosciusko county. Indiana, in the latter part of 1865. The Doctor died in 1897, at the age of eighty-three years. He married Miss Han- nah Smith, whose death occurred in 1896, when she had attained the age of seventy- seven years. Their children were: John E., a resident of Careyville, Ohio; Robert D., of Franklin, Nebraska; William C., of Pierceton, Indiana; James, who is living at Logansport. Indiana ; D. W., of this review; Molly, the wife of E. E. Lambkins, of War- saw, Indiana; Mrs. R. E. Robinson, of Maryville, Missouri : and Emma, the wife of J. C. Neal, of Peru, Indiana. The llum- phrey family is of Scotch lineage. The father, Robert Humphrey, was a farmer and died in 1870, at the age of ninety-two, leav- ing four sons, namely : Robert, Cyrus, John and James.

The Doctor spent the days of his youth in Pierceton, Indiana. He acquired a lib- eral education, and at the age of twenty en- tered upon the study of medicine in the office and under the direction of Dr. E. H1. Makem- son. He went from that office to the Eclec- tic Medical Institute, at Cincinnati, Ohio, where he was graduated on June 5. 1883. Among his classmates were Dr. W. H. Win- termite, now one of the faculty of the Eclec- tic Medical Institute: Dr. Pitts E. Howes, of Hyde Park, Massachusetts, the secretary of the State Board of Health; and Dr. B. F. Wilson, now the city physician of Bolivar,

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Missouri. During his college d'ays Dr. John M. Scudder, the noted medical author, was the dean of the faculty and Professor John M: King was the president of the college.

Dr. Humphrey first located for practice in Orrsburg, Nodaway county, where he re- mained until the Great Western Railway opened up the Platte valley and established a station at Parnell, when he became a resi- d'ent of this place. Aside from his regular duties as a practitioner he has done much work in the line of examinations for mutual and other insurance companies, including the examination of seventy-seven applicants for insurance in the Bankers' Life Insurance Company at Des Moines, making all these examinations in six weeks.

The Doctor was married October 2, 1883, iut Vinton, Iowa, to Miss Adda H. Brookins, a daughter of G. E. Brookins, of Wabash county, Indiana. Unto them have been born three children : Bessie D., Daniel W., and Butel H. The hospitality of many of the best homes in Parnell and the surrounding d'is- trict is cordially extended to the Doctor and his wife, whose circle of friends is quite ex- tensive. In his fraternal relations he is a Mason, and in politics he is a stalwart Re- publican, unswerving in his advocacy of the principles of the party. His attention, how- ever, is given to his practice, which is con- stantly growing in volume and importance.

DAVID RANKIN.

It is most appropriate that a place in this volume should be devoted to a brief resume of the life of the gentleman whose name ap- pears above, as it is an excellent example how a man may overcome all obstacles if he have peserverance and determination enough, and 38

how in the end his efforts may be crowned with success. He is now numbered among the worthy residents of northwestern Mis- souri, and his splendid prosperity is the mer- ited' reward of his own labor.

Mr. Rankin was born May 28, 1825, in Sullivan county, Indiana, and is of Scotch lineage. Ilis father, however, was a native of Ohio and his mother of North Carolina. When he was six years of age the family re- moved to Parke county, Indiana, and two years later to Vermilion county, whence after three years they removed to Warren county, Illinois, now known as Henderson. Mr. Rankin was reared to manhood on the home farm and acquired a common-school education. His indefatigable industry, which has ever been one of the strong points in his character, was early manifest. He got his first start in life as the owner of a colt given him by his father. Through his youth and early manhood' he labored untir- ingly and finally possessed capital sufficient to purchase an eighty-acre farm near Biggs- ville, Illinois, where he carried on agricul- tural pursuits and stock-raising until 1885. There he was well known in connection with public affairs, being elected to the state legis- lature in 1872 and again in 1874.

In 1885 Mr. Rankin came to Tarkio, Missouri, one of the richest parts of the Mis- souri valley, and has since devoted his' un- divided attention to his large farming in- terests in this portion of the state. He is an excellent judge of land, quick to note its rich properties, and thus his investments were judiciously made. As opportunity has' offered he has purchased large and small tracts of land, often buying at a low price land that has rapidly increased in value. He does not believe in selling, and remarked that he never sold' a piece of land in his life

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on which he did not lose money in the opera- tion. At one time he purchased two thou- sand acres of bottom land near Riverton. in Fremont county, lowa, paying from ten to twenty dollars per acre. He conceived the idea that by constructing a dike along the Nishnabotna river, which flows through his land, it could be reclaimed and used to the greatest advantage both for grazing and farming purposes. He at once went to work with a large force of men and continued his labors until midwinter, constructing a dyke seven miles long and of varying width. In one place it is fourteen feet high and forty feet wide, and the total cost was not far from twenty thousand dollars. The floods have severely tested it and it is considered by all to be a great success. Mr. Rankin has accu- mulated not far from twenty-one thousand acres of choice farming land in Atchison county, Missouri, and Fremont county, Iowa, worth at a low average forty dollars per acre. lle has in his pastures seven thousand head of cattle, from eight to ten thousand head of hogs and probably five hundred head of horses and colts.

It will naturally be supposed that a man who has won such great success in farming will be identified with other lines of busi- ness; and such is the case with Mr. Rankin, who is the president and the principal share- holder in the First National Bank of Tarkio. Missouri, president of the Rankin Water Company, the Rankin Electric Light and Power Company and the Rankin Auditorium Company, all of which companies together have invested probably one hundred thousand dollars in Farkio enterprises. Nor has he been forgetful of the interests of education. Ile has long been a fast friend of the Tarkio College, that has exerted a potent influence in mokdling and shaping the intellectual and

moral character of the people of Missouri and adjoining states.

The management of his farm and stock- raising interests is under a perfect system. The land is divided into fourteen ranches, varying in size from six hundred and forty to thirty-one hundred acres. Each ranch has an experienced foreman, who is paid a good salary, and a superintendent is also employed who has the oversight of all the ranches and manages the farming, stock. shipping and other interests. Mr. Rankin conducts a regular office, where he keeps a secretary constantly employed. having charge of the correspondence. bookkeeping ail other clerical work. The foreman of cach ranch is required to send each month to the office a full report of the men employed during the month, the cattle, hogs, farming implements and grain on hand and all changes and shipments that have been made. These reports are filed for reference and assist very materially in the management of a business of such magnitude. Like a great many men in his section. Mir. Rankin is a heavy cattle-feeder. The number of cattle annually fed varies from six thousand to ten thousand, and. while the yield of grain from his own land is very heavy, in some in- stances amounting to a half million bushels of corn in adition to other grain, he is com- pelled. in order to carry on his feeding oper- ations, to buy from fifty to one hundred thou- sand bushels of corn each year. This fur- nishes a home market for a large amount of the grain raised in this section, thus helping to solve the great problem of condensing freights. He makes his purchases of cattle in large quantities, buying in Texas, Colo- rado, lowa and Missouri, and he conducts some of the largest trade transactions in cat- tle known in the country.

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Mr. Rankin is an earnest and active sup- porter of the United Presbyterian church, is strictly fair in all his business dealings and is a citizen of worth, having due regard for · the duties that devolve upon him in that re- lation. Ilis success in life is largely due to the fact that he is a man of high integrity of character and' of great capacity for business, and his example should be a source of inspi- ration to young men everywhere, for, though they cannot attain the great sucess which has come to him, they can approximate it by using the same industry and sagacity.

JAMES A. KIME.

Among the prominent agriculturists of Atchison county, Missouri, is James A. Kime, the subject of this sketch, who well represents an old and honored pioneer fam- ily of this section. He was born on the homestead farm where he now resides, March 17, 1867, and is a son of Michael and Catherine ( Hull) Kime, who were na- tives of North Carolina and Ohio, respec- tively. The paternal grandfather was Da- vid Kime, who moved from North Carolina to Indiana, where he entered some land which he improved and where he spent the remain- der of his life. He left the following chil- dren: Alfred, Betsey, Michael, the father of our subject, and Rebecca, by his second marriage, Mary and Nancy being daughters of a previous one.

Michael Kime removed with his father to Indiana, where he remained until 1847. when he came to Missouri, making his first home at Irish Grove. He was possessed of but limited means, two suits of clothes and fifty cents representing his worldly wealth : but his wants were few and work was soon obtained upon a farm. In 1850 he was

seized with the desire to go to California, and actually paid three hundred dollars to be permitted to walk with a train, reaching the country of gold in good health, but not very rich in purse. Engaging in mining, Mr. Kime soon found reward, and in three years was able to return and invest twenty-four hundred dollars in land, thus becoming the owner of a large tract. When he married in 1860, he contentedly settled down in his two- room cabin and began the improvement and development of his farm. He subsequently disposed of a portion of his land and gave farms to is sons, retaining for himself a good homestead; but in 1900 he sold this to our subject. He is now living in comfort in the town of Blanchard, Iowa, his advancing years made happy because of the life of hon- est work that has preceded them. Mr. Kime is a specimen of that worthy type of pioneer who honestly earned every foot of his land, and' whose aim in life was to do his whole duty and preserve a spotless integrity.

Although retired from agricultural life, Mr. Kime still takes a deep interest in the affairs of his old home. He has been an un- compromising Republican and has been called upon to fill many public offices, being for two terms county judge, and was made the candidate of his party for state represen- tative. Both he and his excellent wife are consistent members of the Christian church and command the esteem of a large circle of friends. The mother of our subject was a daughter of James Hull, a pioneer settler of western Iowa, where he combined the professions of law and medicine. He was a stanch Democrat, but never desired or ac- cepted office. They belonged to the United Presbyterian church, where they were much lamented at the time of their d'eath. They left six children, the youngest of whom was

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A Biographical history of Nodaway and Atchison counties, Missouri : compendium of national biography, Part 80

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