USA > Missouri > Jasper County > A history of Jasper County, Missouri, and its people, Vol. II > Part 50
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42 | Part 43 | Part 44 | Part 45 | Part 46 | Part 47 | Part 48 | Part 49 | Part 50 | Part 51 | Part 52 | Part 53 | Part 54 | Part 55 | Part 56 | Part 57 | Part 58 | Part 59 | Part 60 | Part 61 | Part 62 | Part 63 | Part 64 | Part 65 | Part 66 | Part 67 | Part 68 | Part 69 | Part 70 | Part 71 | Part 72 | Part 73 | Part 74 | Part 75
JAMES W. BROCK, M. D .- With an honored record of sixty-four years of active practice as a physician and surgeon in Jasper county, J. W. Brock, M. D., has had a wide and varied experience, and is held in high esteem as a man, a citizen, and a doctor. He was born in Barren county, Kentucky, May 22, 1827, and although eighty-four summers have passed since he made his advent into this bright and sunshiny world he bears the burden of his years with ease and dignity, looking as old, only, as he feels.
James Brock, the Doctor's father, was a life-long resident of Ken- tucky, where his ancestors settled at an early day, going there from
904
HISTORY OF JASPER COUNTY
North Carolina. He belonged to a patriotic family, two of his brothers having served as soldiers in the Revolutionary War. His wife, whose maiden name was Disa Moore, also had two brothers in the Revolution- ary Army. She was born in Kentucky, but after the death of her hus- band, which occurred when he was but fifty-six years of age, she came to Jasper county, Missouri, and passed away at the home of her son, Dr. Brock, at the good old age of seventy-eight years. She reared nine children, six daughters and three sons, and one of the sons, T. W. Brock, is now ninety years old. She was a most estimable woman, a sincere Christian, and a faithful member of the Baptist church.
Laying a good foundation for his future education in the common schools of his native state, J. W. Brock subsequently attended the Louis- ville Medical College, and afterwards pursued his studies under Dr. Marshall, who was graduated from a medical college in London, and after coming to this country was for several years a prominent physi- cian of Platte City, Missouri. Beginning the practice of his profession in Jasper county, Dr. Brock met with suecess from the start, his wis- dom and skill in treating the many difficult cases brought to his atten- tion gaining for him an extensive and lucrative patronage. He is in very truth a "family" physician in every sense implied by the term, his patients in many families including three generations of men, women and children. During the many years of his practice in this vicinity the Doctor has assisted in bringing into this world three thousand, four hundred infants, enough boys and girls if all were living to make a good-sized western city. Dr. Brock has accumulated a good property, having a well-improved farm of eighty acres in Jackson township, on which he has good outbuildings and a fine orchard.
Dr. Brock married first, in Jasper county, Missouri, in 1849, Mary Hickey, who was born in Tennessee, a daughter of James and Naney Hickey. She was a member of the Christian church, and an active worker. She died at the age of thirty-one years, leaving no children. The Doctor subsequently married Mrs. Eliza Burrus, of Cooper county, Missouri, a widow with five children. She passed to the life beyond about 1900. Subsequently Dr. Broek married Anna M. Walls, a daugh- ter of Levi and Mary Jane (Collins) Walls, who came to Jasper county, Missouri, from Illinois. She died when but thirty-three years of age. leaving one son, James W. Brock, who was born October 12. 1903. Ile is a bright, manly lad, the joy and comfort of his father. Frater- nally the Doctor is a Master Mason.
LEVT E. SNYDER .- Prominent among the leading agriculturists of Madison township is Levi E. Snyder, proprietor of Forest Hill Farm, and road supervisor of the township. He is an excellent representa- tive of the self-made men of our times, having begun life for himself with no other means than willing hands, a courageous heart and an un- limited supply of ambition and energy, and through his own unaided efforts having made steady progress along the highway of success. He was born June 21, 1860. in Grayson county, Kentucky, which was likewise the birthplace of his father, William JJ. Snyder. His grand- father. Stanton Snyder, was a life-long resident of Kentucky.
William J. Snyder was born in 1836, and was reared to agricultural pursuits. He spent his earlier life in Grayson county, Kentucky, but when well advanced in years came to Missouri and spent his last days in Jasper county, dying in July, 1911. He was a man of deep religious convictions, and for many years served as an elder in the Presbyterian church. He married first Kegish Rigge, who died in February. 1895. He married in 1896 Mrs. Margaret Morgan, a widow. By his first mar-
905
HISTORY OF JASPER COUNTY
riage he was the father of five children, namely: Sarah C., Levi E., Mary Martha, Zora Belle and James. William Marshall, the second child, lived but four years.
Growing to manhood on the home farm, Levi E. Snyder was edu- cated in the district schools, and early became initiated into the mys- teries of farming. When twenty years of age he began working by the month as a farm laborer, and continued thus employed for several seasons, in the meantime assisting his father more or less, as long as the father lived being sure that he lacked none of the comforts of life. In 1883 Mr. Snyder came to Jasper county, Missouri, which has since been his home. After marrying he lived on rented land two years, and then, in 1889, invested his savings in land in Madison township, buying seventy-five acres of the land now included in his home estate, Forest Hill Farm. Successful in farming and stock-raising. Mr. Snyder bought adjoining land as his means allowed, and is now the possessor of two hundred and fifty-four acres of as rich and productive land as can be found in this part of the county. His farm is under a high state of culture and well improved, having a substantial house, good barns and a wind mill. He raises all the cereals common to this section, and has excellent pastures and meadow lands for his stock. the raising of which he makes a specialty.
Politically Mr. Snyder, although a free silver man in 1896, is identi- fied with the Republican party, and in 1904 was elected road supervisor, and was appointed to the same position in April. 1909. Under his supervision the township roads have been greatly improved and kept in a most satisfactory condition, the highways over which he has con- trol being acknowledged among the best in the county. Religiously he is a member and a deacon in the Christian church, to which his wife also belongs.
Mr. Snyder married, in 1887, Martha E. Melugin, who was born in Jasper county, Missouri, a daughter of William and Mary (Hickey) Melugin, early settlers of this part of Missouri, and a granddaughter of Samuel Melugin, a member of the State Legislature, and one of the very first settlers of Jasper county. Mary Hickey was born in New- ton county, Missouri, a daughter of Bannister and Patsy (Burrus) Hickey, natives respectively of Virginia and North Carolina and pio- neers of Newton county. Mr. and Mrs. Snyder are the parents of two children, William Edgar, born March 6, 1890; and Ira E., born April 4, 1896. William Edgar married, October 29, 1911, Laura Etta Haw- thorne, and they are both members of the Christian church.
FRANCIS CULLUM .- Tracing his lineage back to the same immigrant ancestor from which his cousin, Hon. Shelby M. Cullom, of Illinois, is lineally descended, Francis Cullum, a pioneer settler of Carthage, Jasper county, may well be proud of his Scotch origin. The branch of the Cullum family to which he belongs has furnished men who have won pro- minence in public and professional life, while he, himself, has gained prestige not only by heredity, but through his own personal life and works. Here it may be incidentally mentioned that Mr. Cullum has in- herited the sterling traits of industry, thrift and integrity for which his ancestors have for generations been noted, and also their strong physical characteristics, being six feet and two inches in height, and weighing two hundred pounds. A son of Green Cullum, he was born in 1834, at Pekin, Tazewell county, Illinois.
Green Cullum was born in Cincinnati, Ohio, where his father, Francis Cullum, settled on migrating westward from Maryland, his native state, becoming while there an officer in the French and Indian wars, serving Vol. II-22
906
HISTORY OF JASPER COUNTY
under General William H. Harrison. He subsequently lived and died in Illinois. Green Cullum came to Carthage in 1867, but later went to Ar- kansas and lived in Johnson county, and he spent his last days in Oregon. He was a man of much force of character, and a consistent member of the Methodist Episcopal church, to which his wife also belonged. His wife, whose maiden name was Ann Myers, was born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, of Holland-Dutch ancestry. She died in Carthage, Mis- souri, at the age of sixty-five years. Ten children were born of their union, and three of the sons served in the Union army during the Civil war, as follows: Francis, with whom this sketch is chiefly concerned ; William, who served under General John A. Logan, in the Twentieth Illinois Volunteer Infantry; and Joseph, who died in Denver, Colorado, of smallpox, was a member of the Chicago Battery, commanded by Captain Vaughn.
Francis Cullum, was reared to manhood on the home farm in Illinois, and he first worked for wages on the Illinois Central Railroad, helping to build a part of it when he was but fifteen years old. In 1856 he went to the territory of Colorado, visiting the present site of Denver, at that time merely a hamlet of rude shanties and tents, with no prospect whatever of its present greatness and prosperity, and in 1857 he went with Captain Golden and surveyed Golden City and Golden Gate. He spent two years with General Fremont, helping survey the territory roundabout, and the Indian reservations of the west. At Salt Lake City Mr. Cullum met Brigham Young, and formed the acquaintance of General John Lee, who was later shot by order of the United States Government for murdering immigrants. He was subsequently located for a time on the Little Blue River in Nebraska, where he had charge of the mission for the Otto Indians.
On August 2, 1861, Mr. Cullum enlisted in Company I, Third Regi- ment, Illinois Cavalry, and in the fall following was one of twenty-eight men who were detailed as serviee men and sent out as seouts. Mr. Cullum was placed in charge of the squad, and when about thirty miles from the command the squad was overtaken by Major Yagende, who commanded General Fremont's body guards and who was with four hundred men enroute to Springfield, Missouri, to capture that place. On the orders of Major Yagende he joined the squad and participated in the battle that followed at Springfield, Missouri. In that battle there were four hun- dred and twenty-eight men against about six thousand men, a part of which were unarmed. This small squad was victorious and captured the city of Springfield and took upwards of five hundred prisoners. It was in this engagement that Mr. Cullum had a sword duel with a Confeder- ate offieer, Captain Munson, whom he took prisoner, and who was after- wards, for twenty years, one of his best friends. While in the army Mr. Cullum saw much active service in the Southwest, and won a fine record as a soldier and officer. He had likewise a good reputation for bravery as an Indian fighter, and is now honored as one of the last surviving members of General Fremont's old "Western Guards." Soon after the close of the war Mr. Cullum located in Missouri, and for years has been numbered among the most esteemed and valued residents of Carthage, where he has a pleasant and attractive home.
Mr. Cullum married, on the 27th of April, 1863, Mary Ross, who was born in Holmes county, Ohio, a daughter of Daniel and Barbara Ross, both of whom spent their last years in MeLean county, Illinois, Mr. Ross dying at the age of seventy-nine years, and Mrs. Ross at the age of seventy-four years. They were people of upright principles and char- acter, and worthy members of the Methodist Episcopal church. Their son, James Ross, brother of Mrs. Cullum, served as a member of the
907
HISTORY OF JASPER COUNTY
Seventeenth Illinois Volunteer Infantry during the Civil War, and is now living in Gibson City, Illinois. Mr. and Mrs. Cullum are the par- ents of five children, namely : Mrs. Lizzie Cline, Mrs. Sadie Wagner, James Elmer. Daniel Greene and Francis Edward.
WILLIAM HOOFNAGLE .- A prominent and progressive agriculturist of Jasper county, William Hoofnagle is one of the most extensive land- holders of Union township, where he has title to three valuable farms. Grainfield Farm, on which he resides being located in section thirty-five. He has oceupied this farm for a full quarter of a century, during which time he has diligently improved his property, continually adding to its attractiveness, the home estate, with its substantial buildings, giving ample evidence of his skill and ability as a practical farmer and rural householder. A son of Israel Hoofnagle, he was born in Clinton county. Pennsylvania, near Lock Haven, in 1856, coming on both sides of the house of German ancestry.
A native of the Keystone state, Israel Hoofnagle spent all of the earlier part of his life within its limits. Thinking to better his financial condition in a newer region, he came with his family to Missouri in 1871. traveling by rail to Fort Seott, Kansas, from there coming across the country with teams to Jasper county. Loeating in Union township, he bought land adjoining the Royer farm, and on the homestead which he improved was busily engaged in general farming until his death, at the age of seventy-two years. He was a man of upright character, honest in his dealings, and, with his good wife, belonged to the Evangelical church. He married Matilda Keller, who was born in Pennsylvania, of Ger- man parents, and now resides in Carthage. Ten children were born to them, eight now living as follows: William, John J., Mary. Daniel, Su- sanna, Harvey, Fanny, and Thomas.
Living in his native county until fifteen years old, William Hoofnagle was educated in the district schools and reared to habits of industry, honesty and thrift. These habits have clung to him through life, and have brought him unquestioned success in his agricultural operations, his real estate holdings embracing three farms, Grainfield Farm, on which he lives containing one hundred and twenty aeres, while the parental homestead, which he owns, contains one hundred and thirty- one acres of highly improved land, and the South farm, his other estate, has one hundred and ten acres of well-cultivated and productive land. Mr. Hoofnagle has a good eight-room house on his home farm, ereeted on a natural building site and surrounded by beautiful shade trees, while the substantial barn is forty feet by sixty feet, and well adapted for farm use. The old homestead farm is now managed by one of Mr. Hoof- nagle's sons, and is in a good state of culture, yielding satisfactory har- vests each season.
Mr. Hoofnagle married, when twenty-two years of age, Nancy Jane Moss, who was born and educated in Union township, being a daughter of Jolin R. and Nancy (Boxley) Moss, pioneer settlers of Union town- ship, where they are still living, a venerable and highly respected couple. He is eighty-four years old and Mrs. Moss seventy-four. Mr. and Mrs. Hoofnagle are the parents of seven children, namely : Irvine V .. Archie A., Ethel (wife of E. M. Bradley), Walter R .. Merle R., John E. and Opal. Mr. Hoofnagle is a staneh adherent of the Democratic party ; a member of Pashley Lodge, No. 178, A. H. T. A., and both he and his wife are trustworthy members of the Christian church.
CLAY LEAMING .- For fully two score years Mr. Clay Leaming has been a representative citizen of McDonald township. Jasper county,
908
HISTORY OF JJASPER COUNTY
Missouri, and here he is engaged in general farming and stock-raising on a finely improved estate of two hundred and eighty acres of some of the finest land in this section of the state. He was the popular and efficient incumbent of the office of judge of the eastern district of Jasper county during the years 1894 to 1896 and in every possible connec- tion has contributed to progress and improvement.
Judge Leaming was born in Tippecanoe county, Indiana, on the 2d of September, 1840, and he a son of George and Juliet Leaming. who on coming to Missouri, settled on McDonald township. The father followed farming as a vocation during the major portion of his active career and he died on the 14th of March, 1879, his wife passing away on the 11th of December, 1901. The judge passed his boyhood and youth in the place of his birth, where he availed himself of the advantages afforded in the district schools. At the time of the inception of the Civil war he was engaged in farm work in Tippecanoe county, Indiana, but he immedi- ately gave evidence of his intrinsic loyalty to the cause of the north by enlisting for service as a soldier in Company B. Seventeenth Indiana Volunteer Infantry. He saw hard service in West Virginia, pursued the rebels after the battle of Phillipi and remained in West Virginia until December, 1861. Later the scene of his military operations was in Kentucky, Tennessee, Mississippi and Georgia, and some of the im- portant engagements in which he participated were Perryville, Shiloh. Stone's River and numerous others. He was slightly wounded in a skirmish in West Virginia but was never seriously hurt. He was mus- tered out of service at Columbia, Tennessee, and received his honorable discharge at Indianapolis, Indiana, in the year 1864. After the close of his military service Judge Leaming went to Pittsburg, Pennsylvania. where he took up and completed a commercial course in a prominent business college. In 1865 he went to Iowa, where he was engaged in farming until 1869. Coming to Jasper county, Missouri, in the latter year, he purchased a tract of eighty acres of land in McDonald town- ship, where he has since maintained his home and where he is now the owner of a fine country estate of two hundred and eighty acres, the same being in a high state of cultivation. In addition to general farming Judge Leaming is greatly interested in the raising of thoroughbred stock and in both those connections he has achieved remarkable success.
At Rugby, North Dakota, on the 9th of September, 1903, was cele- brated the marriage of Judge Leaming to Miss Nora V. West, a daughter of Charles and, Isabella West, now of Montana. This union has been prolific of four children, whose names and respective years of birth are here recorded,-Henry C., 1904; George, 1906; Perry, 1907 : and Reed. 1909.
In politics Judge Leaming is a stalwart in the ranks of the Repub- lican party and in 1894 he was elected judge of the eastern district of Jasper county. He served with the greatest of satisfaction in that office for a period of two years. IIe is ever on the qui vive to do all in his power to advance the civie and material welfare of this section of this state. In all the relations of life he is honorable and straight- forward and as a business man and citizen is accorded the unqualified confidence and esteem of his fellow men. The Leaming family attend the Presbyterian church and they are popular factors in connection with the best social activities of their home community.
BENJAMIN F. HACKNEY was born in Giles county, Tennessee, Decem- ber 30, 1849, a son of Edward J. and Frances J. (Langham ) Hackney, the father born in Giles county, Tennessee, and the mother in Maury county. These parents felt that a good education was one of the necessities of life
909
HISTORY OF JASPER COUNTY
and they gave their children every advantage. Benjamin F. attended the public schools in Giles county, Tennessee, and after his parents re- moved to Illinois he attended the public school and also Ewing College. Immediately following his graduation he taught school for several terms in Illinois and several in Missouri. He also taught for one year in Colorado and one year in Texas. By that time he had made up his mind that he did not care for the pedagogical field and he came back to Missouri and took up the study of law. He acted as deputy for the circuit court in Jasper county and then as clerk of the Circuit Court for four years. He read and studied law most assiduously and was admitted to the bar in 1891, having practiced in the courts of Carthage. Mr. Hackney has a general law business all over the county and makes a specialty of land titles.
On March 13, 1881, he married Miss Sarah Suitt in Jasper county. She died October 4, 1889. On August 11, 1892, he was married to Miss Laura Vermillion, a native of Owaneco, Illinois. Mr. and Mrs. Hackney have four children. The eldest is Mary, who is now attending the high school in Carthage. She expects to graduate in 1912. The second child and only son is Joseph D., born August 19, 1894. He had attended the business college in Carthage and is now in the Carthage High School. Ruth is taking a literary course in the Carthage high school. The young- est child, Jane, is still in the grammar school, being in the eighth grade. All four children were born in Carthage. Mrs. Hackney is a woman of culture and is desirous of further knowledge. She is a member of the Chautauqua Circle in Carthage.
Mr. Hackney is a Democrat and a very influential member of the party. He is a member of the Bar Association of Missouri, of the Young Men's Christian Association and of the Good Templars. He is a member of the Christian church and a very active worker in that little body of' disciples. He is a most ardent and successful fisherman. When he takes a vacation he goes to a fishing resort and communes with nature, in the meantime drawing in as many fish as will rise to his bait. On his return to Carthage he regales his friends with fish or with stories of fish, clothed in the language which he knows so well how to make interesting. Mr. Hackney is prominent in a professional way and also in social circles. He has a great many friends in Carthage.
LOUIE HEAD .- Enterprising, energetic and progressive, Louie Head, living on section fourteen, Union township, is an excellent representa- tive of the thriving and substantial agriculturists of Jasper county, being properietor of one of the model dairy farms of this part of Mis- souri. He was born in Jasper county thirty-three years ago, and now in the early prime of life has firmly established himself among the leading members of his community. His father, the late J. B. Head. served as a soldier in the Confederate Army, and after locating in Jas- per county remained here, an honored and respected citizen, until his death, in 1908. His widow, whose maiden name was Mary Regan, re- sides in Carthage.
Embarking in agricultural pursuits when young, Louie Head has met with distinguished success in his undertakings, and is now the leading dairyman of Union township. His farm of one hundred and twenty acres, lying three miles southeast of Carthage, is admirably adapted for dairy purposes, the meadows being rich in timothy, blue grass and clover, while an ample supply of pure, cool water is pumped from wells by modern windmills. Making a specialty of dairy- ing, Mr. Head has thirty cows, of the Durham and Jersey breeds, these being housed in a large, well-ventilated, and modernly constructed
910
HISTORY OF JASPER COUNTY
barn, which is kept in a well-nigh perfect sanitary condition, cleanliness being his motto and his law. His daily output of eighty-five gallons of milk is cooled with ice, and after being conveyed to town in ice-cooled receptacles retails among his regular customers for eight cents a quart. Mr. Head has had fifteen years of experience in the dairy business, in which he finds both profit and pleasure. His home, an attractive eight- room cottage, is beautifully located, and with its finely shaded lawn presents a charming picture of rural comfort, peace and prosperity.
Mr. Head married. August 8, 1899, Rosa Thacker, of Jasper county, a daughter of the late Mckinley Thacker, and they have three children, Mabel, Louis, and Mary. Fraternally Mr. Head is a member of the Modern Woodmen of America and of the A. T. H. S.
E. FRANKLIN WILLOUGHBY .- A highly intelligent and prosperous cit- izen of Union township, E. Franklin Willoughby is a man of excellent business judgment and tact, broad and progressive in his views, and as an agriculturist is meeting with well deserved success. The second son of the late Judge John T. Willoughby, he was born in 1861 on the old home farm in Jasper county and has here spent his forty-five years of life.
Born and bred in old Kentucky, Judge Willoughby came to Mis- souri in 1851, becoming one of the first settlers of Jasper county. A man of the highest patriotism, he served as a soldier in the Civil war, assisting in defending Jefferson City against the attacks of General Priee. He was an uncompromising Republican in politics, and held many offices of trust and responsibility, having been deputy county assessor, public administrator and county judge. He died at the com- paratively early age of sixty-five years in 1898, his death being deeply deplored throughout the community in which he lived. His wife, whose maiden name was Ann Lawrence, died in 1899, aged fifty-seven years.
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.