USA > Missouri > Jasper County > A history of Jasper County, Missouri, and its people, Vol. II > Part 54
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Mr. Tilton married, in 1866, Sarah Taylor, who was born in Illinois, a daughter of Mr. and Mrs. John M. Taylor, both of whom passed the later years of their lives in Jasper county, Missouri. Eight children have been born into the home of Mr. and Mrs. Tilton, namely : Luraina, Meleva, Julia, Clinton, Mattie, Lennie, Thomas (of Lorena, Oklahoma) and Harriet. Politically Mr. Tilton is identified with the Democratic party. Socially he is a member of Maple Grove Post, G. A. R. Well proportioned, standing five feet and nine inches in height, and weigh- ing two hundred pounds, Mr. Tilton is a genial, whole-souled, warm- hearted man, genial and approachable, and is noted for his honesty and integrity.
MILTON S. JOHNSON .- Among the native-born citizens of Jasper county who have spent their lives within its precincts, aiding in every possible way its growth and development, whether relating to its agri- cultural or financial prosperity, is Milton S. Johnson, whose birth oc- curred in Union township, on the farm where he now lives, January 28, 1868, the estate being known far and wide as "Fairview Farm."
His father, B. F. Johnson, was born in Tennessee, but when young came to Jasper county, becoming one of the earlier settlers of Union township. He lived for two years on the Dunn farm, and then pur- chased eighty acres of railroad land in section 32, nine miles southeast of Carthage, the tract being a part of "Fairview Farm." He subse- quently purchased eighty acres of land of C. Fingerlee, and was here prosperously engaged in agricultural pursuits during the remainder of his long and useful life of four score years. He was active in political affairs, for many years being an ardent Republican, but later being an
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equally zealous supporter of the Greenback party. He was an active worker in educational and religious eireles, and was a prominent member of the Methodist Episcopal church, to which his wife also belonged. He married Mrs. Jane (West) Barker, a native of Arkansas, and they reared two children, as follows: M. S., the special subject of this brief personal record; and Henry K., of Montana.
Brought up on the home farm, Milton S. Johnson acquired in the public schools ample education to fit him for a worthy position in the ranks of the world's workers, and at an early age began doing his part of the farm labor. Eventually succeeding to the ownership of Fair- view Farm, he is carrying on general farming and stock raising with characteristic success. He has continually added to the improvements previously inaugurated, and takes pride in keeping his buildings, which inelude a good seven-room dwelling house and a barn thirty feet by fifty feet, in good repair, the estate and everything connected with it bespeaking his enterprise and good management.
Mr. Johnson married, in September, 1893, Lizzie Knight, who was born in Union township, which was likewise the birthplace of her father, George Knight. Her grandfather, Captain Nelson Knight, a native of Kentucky, was a pioneer settler of Jasper county, having located in Union township in 1838. He took an active part in military affairs, serving in the Sixth Kansas Militia. To Captain Knight and his wife, whose maiden name was Salena Larew, four sons were born, as follows : James, deceased ; George, Thomas, and Philip. George Knight served in the Second Ohio Cavalry during the Civil war, and for five weeks acting as scout and guide for Colonel Doubleday. He married Almeda Ellis, daughter of William Ellis, and to them eight children were born, namely: Charlotte; William; Laura Belle; Selina Elizabeth, wife of Mr. Johnson; Owen C .; Guy Ord; Fred; and Walter A.
Mr. and Mrs. Johnson have a family of five children, namely : George Franklin, born July 21, 1894; Edward Milton, born July 21, 1896; James Caswell, born October 18, 1898; Linnet, born August 10, 1903; and Henry Willard, born June 29, 1908. Mr. Johnson is prominently identified with many of the leading interests of his township, and is an active member of the Farmers' League. Politically he supports the principles of the Democratic party at the polls, and fraternally he be- longs to the Modern Woodmen of America, while Mrs. Johnson is a member of the Royal Neighbors.
WILLIS CHARLES NEUMEYER .- An eminently useful and esteemed eiti- zen of Madison township, W. C. Neumeyer, now serving as justice of the peace, is a man of strong personality, with a keen sense of honor and justice, and in the various publie offices which he has filled he has ever devoted his time and energy to the duties of his position, always mind- ful of the interests of the people. A son of the late Charles W. Neu- meyer, he was born December 30, 1850, in Owen county, Indiana, of pioneer stock.
Charles W. Neumeyer was born and bred in Berks county, Pennsyl- vania, coming from German ancestry on both sides of the house. Mi- grating to Owen county, Indiana, in early life, he followed the trade of a brick and stone mason, living there until his death, at the age of fifty- six years. He married Mary M. Woods, a native of Kentucky, and to them three children were born, namely: W. C., the special subject of this sketch; George, of Randlett, Oklahoma; and Martha, who died, in Chicago, Illinois, in 1903. The mother, who was a large-hearted, whole- souled woman, reared seven orphan children, nieces and nephews, tak- ing one infant when it was twenty-four hours old. She was greatly be-
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loved by all who knew her, and was a valued member of the Campbellite church.
Brought up in his native county, Willis C. Neumeyer learned the inason's trade when young, working in both brick and stone. When but fourteen years of age he offered his services to his country, enlist- ing in an Indiana regiment, at Indianapolis, but was rejected on ac- count of his youthfulness and size. Returning home much disappointed, he was there busily employed until 1885, when he took up a homestead claim in Stanton county, Kansas, and began the improvements of a farm. Disposing of his land five years later, Mr. Neumeyer came to Jasper county, and for a time was a resident of Carthage. Coming from there to Madison township, he resumed his agricultural labors, as a general farmer being quite successful. In 1907 Mr. Neumeyer was appointed, by the county court, as county judge, and at the expiration of his term of service was again appointed county judge. In the fall of 1910 he was a candidate for the office of constable, and was elected by a good majority, but resigned the position, as it was much more satis- factory to the people to have him serve as justice of the peace, an office which he is filling with characteristic ability and fidelity, his decisions being invariably just and satisfactory. Mr. Neumeyer has always been actively interested in local affairs, and while residing in Kansas served three years as city marshal of Harper. Fraternally he is a member of Hope Lodge, No. 207, A. F. & A. M .; and of the Knights of Pythias.
Mr. Neumeyer married, at the age of twenty-four years, Vina John- son, who was born in Greene county, Indiana, where her parents, Joseph and Anna Johnson, spent the larger part of their lives, the death of the mother occurring there in 1878, and that of the father in 1898. Two of their sons, John Johnson and Harry Johnson, served as soldiers in the Civil war, enlisting in Indiana. Mr. and Mrs. Neumeyer have two children, namely: George W., of Madison township; and Mrs. Lillie Roper.
FRANK H. ROYER .- A practical and progressive agriculturist in the early prime of life, Frank H. Royer is prosperously engaged in his in- dependent vocation on one of the most pleasant and desirable estates in Union township, being proprietor of Grand View Stock Farm, which is finely located eight miles southeast of Carthage, in the midst of a rich agricultural region. He was born in Union township, on the old Royer homestead, where his father, John Royer, settled on coming to Jasper county from Pennsylvania, his native state.
John Royer was for several years a prominent farmer of Union township, having by dint of persevering labor improved a good home- stead of two hundred and sixty acres. He married Fanny Custard, who died many years ago. He passed to the life beyond in 1901, leav- ing four sons and one daughter, Mrs. William Spencer, of Union town- ship.
Brought up on the home farm, Frank H. Royer obtained his ele- mentary education in the district schools, and was subsequently gradu- ated from a business college. Taking kindly to agricultural pursuits in the days of his youth, he succeeded to the occupation of his ancestors, and as a general farmer and stock raiser is meeting with genuine suc- cess. Grand View Farm, of which Mr. Royer is owner, contains one hundred and twenty-two acres of the best land in Jasper county, and with its modernly constructed residence, substantial barn, forty feet by forty-two feet, and its beautifully shaded lawns, invariably attracts the attention of the passer-by, and bears visible evidence of the good taste, ability and wise management of its proprietor. Mr. Royer makes
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a specialty of raising fine horses, Percherons being his favorite breed, and he has one of the best coach horses in southwestern Missouri. He also raises thoroughbred Jersey cattle and thoroughbred Cotswold sheep. He has one of the best-growing young orchards in the vicinity, its five acres being set out with all kinds of fruits, and being highly productive.
Mr. Royer married, on the 17th of January, 1896, Belle Wyatt, of Jasper county, Missouri, who prior to her marriage was a successful music teacher. She was born in Newton county, Missouri, a daughter of James HI. and Margaret (Humbert) Wyatt, who reared a family of nine children, seven of them being sons. Mr. and Mrs. Royer are the parents of two children, Vida and Lloyd. In his political affiliations Mr. Royer is a Democrat, and fraternally he belongs to Parshley Lodge, No. 898, M. W. A .; and to Parshley Lodge, No. 199, A. H. T. A. Both Mr. and Mrs. Royer are members of the Missionary Baptist church, and Mrs. Royer is also a member of Union Court, No. 3036, Royal Neighbors.
TARLTON F. PRYOR .- An industrious and well-to-do agriculturist of Madison township, Tarlton F. Pryor has been an esteemed resident of this part of Jasper county for the past twenty-one years, and is pro- prietor of a homestead which in its appointments and improvements compares favorably with any in the vicinity, Fair View Farm, his estate, being well managed and very attractive. A native of Ohio, he was born Mareh 29, 1843, in Ross county, where he spent his boyhood days.
His father, Silas HI. Pryor, was born at Harpers Ferry, Virginia, very near the spot where John Brown was captured, coming from Quaker ancestry. As a young man he migrated to the Buckeye state, and was there a resident until 1848. Following the march of civiliza- tion westward in that year, he came with his family to Missouri, making the long and tedious journey with teams, a mode of travel necessarily slow and at times dangerous. Locating in Daviess county, near Gallatin, he entered government land, and in due course of time had improved a good home for his family. Subsequently moving to Buchanan county, Missouri, he resided in Saint Joseph until his death, at the venerable age of eighty-three years. He married Lavina Fulton, who was born in Chillicothe, Ohio, where her parents settled on removing from Phila- delphia, Pennsylvania. She survived her husband a short time, passing away at the age of four score and four years. Five children were born of their marriage, as follows: John, who served in the Civil war, in Gen- eral Cockerell's brigade, was captured at the battle of Fort Blakeley, Alabama ; Tarlton F., the special subject of this brief biographieal ree- ord ; James ; Fillmore and Virginia.
But a boy when he came with his parents to Missouri, Tarlton F. Pryor was reared on a farm in Daviess county, and as soon as old enough began to assist in the pioneer labor of clearing and improve- ing a homestead. During the progress of the Civil war he enlisted in the Confederate army, joining Colonel Reeves's regiment and becoming a member of Company B, which was commanded by Captain McNeal. He was subsequently with General Price's army, and took part in many noted skirmishes and raids. He was captured by the Federals three different times, the last time making his escape and traveling north- ward in disguise. Journeying as best he could, sometimes on horse- back and sometimes on foot, he made his way through Chieago and In- dianapolis to Ohio, where he visited his kinsfolk, remaining in that state some time. Returning then to Buchanan county, Missouri, he was there engaged in tilling the soil for twelve years, afterwards being en- gaged for a few months in the cattle business at Harper, Kansas, in Col-
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orado, New Mexico and in other parts of the West. Locating then in Jasper county, Missouri, Mr. Pryor bought eighty acres of land in sec- tion twenty-eight, Madison township, six miles northeast of Carthage, and in its improvement has met with undisputed success, Fair View Farm being one of the choice estates of the community.
Mr. Pryor married, in 1865, Margaret Fulton, who was born, bred and educated in Bloomington, Illinois, a daughter of William and Nancy Fulton, natives of Ohio. Mr. and Mrs. Pryor have two children, namely : Silas, of Harper, Kansas; and Theresa, living at home. One child, Alice, the first-born, died in childhood.
Politically Mr. Pryor was identified with the Democratic party until 1896, when he supported William McKinley, and has since been a stead- fast Republican. He takes great interest in local affairs, attending the primaries, and serving as delegate to county conventions. Fraternally he is a member of Carthage Lodge, No. 197, A. F. & A. M., of Carthage, and of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows.
NATHANIEL ASA TURNER .- The substantial and well-to-do residents of Union township have no better representative than Nathaniel A. Turner, who holds high rank among the keen, progressive and business- like farmers who are so ably conducting the extensive agriculture of this part of Jasper county. His estate, "Oak Park Farm," lying six and one-half miles southeast of Carthage, is an ideal rural home, everything about the premises indicating the care and supervision of an excellent manager and the good taste and prosperity of the owner. Mr. Turner was born in Grundy county, Missouri, September 2, 1863, coming on the paternal side of honored Kentucky ancestry.
His father, William Turner, son of Asa Turner, was born and bred in Kentucky, but spent the larger part of his active life in Missouri. He married Martha V. Butler, who was born in Missouri, the daughter of Nathaniel Butler, of an early pioneer family, and they became the parents of six children, four sons and two daughters. Two of the sons, Hiram Turner and William Turner, are engaged in business at Carth- age, being proprietors of the Merchants' Cafe.
Brought up on the parental homestead in Grundy county, Nathaniel A. Turner obtained his early education in the public schools, on the home farm being early initiated into the mysteries of general farming. Locating in Carthage in 1894, he was for four years engaged in the restaurant business. Selling out in 1898, Mr. Turner purchased his present large farm, and in its management has shown rare skill and judgment. He has ninety acres under a high state of culture, about fifteen acres being devoted to strawberries and small fruits, which are profitable crops, while he has a large, finely-bearing orchard, containing apple, peach, plum and other varieties of fruit trees, all yielding abund- ant and profitable harvests. Native oak and shade trees, through which beautiful song birds merrily flit, and the broad expanse of green lawn surrounding the modernly built cottage home, greatly enhance the beauty and value of the place, which is one of the most attractive and desirable in the township.
Mr. Turner married on the 23d of September, 1891, Mary Gee, who was born and educated in Indiana, a daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Moses Gee, the former of whom spent his last year in Council Hill, Oklahoma, while the latter died in Polk county, Missouri. Mr. and Mrs. Turner have two children, namely: Roy G., born November 28, 1894, and Dwight, born December 29, 1900. Politically Mr. Turner is a Demo- crat, and fraternally he belongs to the Knights of Pythias.
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JOHN NICHOLAS UMPHREY SEELA .- A hale and hearty man, bearing with ease and dignity his burden of eighty-three years, J. N. U. Seela, of Madison township, Jasper county, is an honored representative of the early pioneers of Missouri and a true type of the energetic, hardy and enterprising men who have actively assisted in the development of this fertile and productive agricultural region. In the days of his boyhood the wild beasts of the forest had not fled before the advancing steps of civilization, but, with the dusky savage, inhabited the vast wilderness. In the development of this part of the county he has taken an important part, and by his industry, sagacity and keen foresight has at the same time aeeumulated a good property, being the owner of Pioneer Farm, a valuable estate of two hundred and forty acres lying in section 21 of township 29, range 30, seven and one half miles northeast of Carthage, and in addition to this he has two hundred and ten acres of timber and bottom land, a part of which lies in section 33, township 29, range 30, another part in section 4, township 28, range 30, and the remainder in section 6, township 28, range 30.
Mr. Seela was born July 14, 1829, in Ralls county, Missouri, a son of Isaac Seela and a, grandson of John N. U. Seela, a pioneer settler of St. Louis, who acquired valuable property, leaving at his death a tract of land to which he had title that is now included within the limits of the city. He was thought to have been born in Canada, of French an- cestry, and on coming to the United States he settled in North Carolina. He fought with the Colonists in the Revolutionary war. He removed from St. Louis to Ralls county, Missouri, and died there at the age of ninety-two years.
Isaac Seela was born in North Carolina, and as an infant was taken to the present site of St. Louis, Missouri, where he grew to manhood. Embarking in agricultural pursuits when young, he lived in Ralls county until 1832, when he removed with his family to what is now Sarcoxie, Jasper county, making the removal with teams and bringing all his household goods with him. He was a noted hunter of wild game, bees and of fur-bearing animals, all of which were plentiful in this re- gion, and he not only kept the larder of his humble log cabin well sup- plied with honey and game, but dealt in honey and furs, turning many an honest penny with the traders. On one occasion he killed ten panthers in one day in Ralls county. His wife, whose maiden name was Rebecca White, was born in Virginia, a daughter of Shadrach White, who served under General Washington in the Revolutionary war, and subsequently moved to Missouri. At his death, at the remarkable age of one hundred and twelve years, he was buried at Center Creek, Jasper county. Isaae Scela died at the age of four score years, in Parker county, Texas, and there his wife also spent her last years. Of the thirteen children born of their union twelve grew to years of maturity. Three of the sons settled in Texas. and one daughter moved to California.
J. N. U. Seela was reared in Sarcoxie, Missouri, receiving in the meantime very meager school advantages, although he was well taught to work on the home farm. Inheriting a love of the ehase from his father. he became very expert with the gun and rifle and has shot wild game, including deer, wolves, bear, moose, ete., on mountain and plain, in Colorado, Montana and Idaho, having had exceptionally good sport on Crazy Mountain in Montana, many a bear and deer falling by a shot from his rifle. Mr. Secla has visited all the important points of interest in the far west and along the Pacific coast, to which he journeyed across the plains with a team, being ten weeks en ronte. He has visited North Park, Colorado, ascended Smoke River to the
ILINIVILL VI VANJA DI VVVALI
Columbia River, has caught trout in many of the Rocky Mountain streams, being as proficient an angler as he is a hunter.
Purchasing Pioneer Farm in 1854, Mr. Seela erected the typical pioneer log cabin and at once began the development of his present valuable property. As a general farmer he has met with unquestioned success and has made improvements of great value on his place. He has replaced the original dwelling by a roomy frame house, and has erected substantial barns, one being thirty-eight by seventy-five feet, and another being thirty by forty feet. His large farm is divided by hedges into pastures, meadows and fields that are under a high state of cultivation, devoted to the growing of the grains common to this section of the country.
Mr. Seela married, at twenty-three years of age, Patsy Whitehead, who was born in North Carolina, a daughter of Francis Whitehead, who came to Missouri in 1837 with the Cherokee Indians and was one of the early settlers of Madison township. She died in 1908, several years after the Golden Anniversary of their marriage, at the age of seventy-nine years. Of the ten children born to Mr. and Mrs. Seela eight grew to years of maturity and seven are now living, namely : William F., of Timnath, Colorado; Mrs. Rebecca Jane Burdett; Isaac N., occupying the eastern portion of the home farm; John Shadrach, living on Coon Creek; Mrs. Martha Ann Williams, of Colorado; Mrs. Rhoda Elvira Holderman, a widow with three children, who is her father's housekeeper; and George L., living at home. Mr. Seela now has forty grandchildren and sixteen great-grandchildren. The family attend the Baptist church, of which Mrs. Seela was a member.
ALVA OLDHAM .- Enterprising, energetic and progressive, Alva Old- ham, of Union township, holds high rank among the agriculturists of Jasper county who thoroughly understand the vocation which they fol- low and are carrying it on with both profit and pleasure, his well-kept farm lying in section 29, eight miles southeast of Carthage. A native of Missouri, he was born March 31, 1869, in Lawrence county, and was there reared to agricultural pursuits.
John William Oldham, his father, was born in Clay county, Illinois, where his parents, Daniel and Mahala (Sims) Oldham, settled on mi- grating from Kentucky sixty-six years ago, in 1845. He became a farmer from choice, and has spent the larger part of his life in Missouri, having been identified with the farming interests of Lawrence, Newton and Jasper counties. He married Rebecca Dudman, who was born in Illi- nois, a daughter of William Dudman. She passed to the higher life in 1889, leaving two sons and two daughters, as follows: George L., de- ceased ; Alva, the special subject of this brief biographical sketch ; Mrs. Sallie E. Smith, of Newton county, Missouri; and Mrs. Minnie B. Gar- rett, of Union township. She was a most estimable woman and a worthy member of the Christian church.
Brought up on a farm, Alva Oldham was educated in the public schools and early became interested in agricultural pursuits. In March, 1909, Mr. Oldham purchased his present estate in Union township, "Shadeland Farm," which was for many years known as the J. H. Ralston property. It comprises one hundred and sixty acres of produc- tive land, which he is cultivating with satisfactory results, the rich and fertile soil yielding abundant harvests of hay, grain and fruit, his five acres devoted to strawberries and his large orchard amply repaying him for the time and labor which he expends on their culture. The land is well watered and produces a good supply of fuel. Mr. Oldham recently drilled for ore, at the depth of two hundred and twenty-five feet, find-
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ing a rich vein of lead ore. His substantial residence is furnished with all the comforts of a modern home, and with the blue grass lawn sur- rounding it, and the many beautiful flowering shrubs and shade trees round about, is very attractive to the passer-by. Mr. Oldham is a suc- cessful stock raiser, keeping high grade cattle and red Duroc swine.
Mr. Oldham married, in 1890, May Sims, a daughter of Frank W. and Minnie (Perry) Sims, prominent and highly esteemed residents of this community, who reared six children, four sons and two daughters. Into the home of Mr. and Mrs. Oldham four children have made their advent, namely : Ernest R., born October 5, 1892; Hugh D., born Janu- ary 27, 1895; Virgil T., born on the 9th of August, in 1903; and Cecil E., born on the 26th of December, 1906. In political affairs Mr. Oldham is a stanch Republican, and has served his party as a delegate to county conventions. He is a member and the president of Pleasant Grove Lodge, No. 198, A. H. T. A. Religiously he and Mrs. Oldham are members of the Christian church, and are among its most active and valued workers, Mr. Oldham has served as superintendent of its Sunday school. He takes pleasure in doing whatever he can to advance the interests of the community in which he lives, and is an advocate of the causes of educa- tion, temperance and religion.
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