USA > Missouri > A history of northwest Missouri, Volume III > Part 104
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 | Part 76 | Part 77 | Part 78 | Part 79 | Part 80 | Part 81 | Part 82 | Part 83 | Part 84 | Part 85 | Part 86 | Part 87 | Part 88 | Part 89 | Part 90 | Part 91 | Part 92 | Part 93 | Part 94 | Part 95 | Part 96 | Part 97 | Part 98 | Part 99 | Part 100 | Part 101 | Part 102 | Part 103 | Part 104 | Part 105 | Part 106 | Part 107 | Part 108 | Part 109 | Part 110 | Part 111 | Part 112 | Part 113 | Part 114 | Part 115 | Part 116 | Part 117 | Part 118 | Part 119
1990
HISTORY OF NORTHWEST MISSOURI
the Sentinel, which he has continued to publish to the present time with much success. He has built up an excellent circulation, attracted by a neatly-printed, thoroughly reliable newspaper, independent in its policies as to politics and aiming to give its readers an unbiased view of the leading questions of the day, together with a comprehensive and interesting account of local happenings, the latest national and interna- tional news, and well-written editorials. Mr. Gooden's efforts have been appreciated by the people of Parnell and Nodaway County, who have supported him generously, both in the matter of subscriptions and adver- tising, and the Sentinel is today recognized as one of the influential news- papers of this part of the state. Mr. Gooden is a charter member of the Northwest Missouri Press Association, and the high regard in which he is held by members of the craft was eloquently evidenced in 1906 when he was chosen president of this organization. He has been in- terested in various other enterprises here, being at this time owner and manager of the Parnell Opera House, owner of the building in which his newspaper plant is located, and of a handsome residence property. Formerly for six years he was manager of the Parnell Telephone Ex- change and for four years was secretary of the Worth Mutual Telephone Company.
While he has conducted his newspaper as an independent sheet, Mr. Gooden has democratic tendencies and generally gives his support to that party. During the past twelve years he has served as a member of the town board, and during 1907, 1909, 1910, 1911 and 1912, acted in the capacity of mayor of the city. In March, 1913, he was elected justice of the peace and was appointed notary public in 1900 and holds both of these positions at the present time. He has also served as clerk of school district No. 57, as secretary and director of the board of education, and in 1896 was a delegate to the senatorial convention. In each of his public capacities he has displayed a commendable desire to be doing something in behalf of his community and its people, and few men have accomplished more for the development and advancement of Parnell. He is well known in fraternal circles, having been secretary and senior warden of Gaynor City Blue Lodge, No. 465, A. F. & A. M., and at the present time is worshipful master; a member of Parnell Lodge, No. 484, Independent Order of Odd Fellows, of which he is past noble grand, and attended the assembly from 1904 to 1908 for district No. 74, at Kirksville, St. Louis, Excelsior Springs and Spring- field, and during these four years being district deputy, as well as lodge deputy at Parnell for three years; secretary of Rebekah Lodge of Parnell; and consul of the Modern Woodmen of America Lodge No. 2859, of which he has also been banker and trustee. He is likewise worthy patron of the Eastern Star Chapter at Parnell.
On January 1, 1889, Mr. Gooden was married to Miss Elma DuBois, daughter of Jonathan and Mary Angeline (Jones) DuBois, formerly of Ross County, Ohio, and now of Dos Palos, California. Jonathan Du- Bois came to Nodaway County, Missouri, from Ohio, in 1886, and farmed near Hopkins for eight years, following which he returned to his Ohio home. He and Mrs. DuBois were the parents of four children: Mrs. Gooden, Peter E., Samuel and Mrs. Mary True. Mrs. Gooden belongs to the Christian Science Church, and is also well known in fraternal circles, being worthy matron of the Eastern Star Chapter at Parnell and past noble grand of the Rebekah Lodge, and in 1906 was a delegate to Kirksville Assembly Convention. Mr. and Mrs. Gooden have one son : Harold Elting, born at Maryville, Missouri, in December, 1890, and now conducting a business of decorating and paper-hanging at Dos Palos, California.
1991
HISTORY OF NORTHWEST MISSOURI
THOMAS ALEXANDER BRASHEAR. A resident of Parnell for more than a quarter of a century, having come here prior to the laying out of the town, Thomas Alexander Brashear is known as one of his com- inunity's most progressive and enterprising citizens and one who has led an active and successful career. Born March 30, 1840, in Hancock County, Illinois, Mr. Brashear is a son of William G. and Rosa ( Wood) Brashear. His father was born January 13, 1807, in the Spartanburg District of South Carolina, and died May 10, 1862, in Adair County, Missouri, while the mother was born September 22, 1809, and died August 29, 1900. They were married in their native community, where they were reared.
The Wood and Brashear families came to Ralls County, Missouri, in the spring of 1827, and in 1841 the parents of Mr. Brashear moved to Adair County, locating near the present site of the Town of Brashear, which place was named in honor of R. M. Brashear, now of Kirksville, Missouri. The father was a man who took the utmost pride in the devel- opment of his locality, and was never too busy to show a stranger Government land. He was hospitable, with a keen faith in human nature, and often, when he took the word of a stranger for security, he was sadly imposed upon. He was a man of temperate habits, a stanch supporter of the church and very aggressive, hesitating at no obstacles in advocating better educational facilities, even giving up a portion of his own home to be used as a schoolhouse. He was a devout member of the Baptist Church. His children were as follows: Coleman, a resi- dent of California ; Mrs. Mary J. Patterson, of Illinois; Richard M., who lives at Kirksville, Missouri; Mrs. Cynthia Hoasly, who is living in Oklahoma; John W., of Hutchinson, Kansas; Mrs. Martha Conkle, of Brashear, Missouri; George B., of Oklahoma; Thomas Alexander, of this review ; and Millicent, James W., Susan A. and Nancy, who are all deceased.
Thomas Alexander Brashear spent his boyhood on the home place in Adair County, Missouri, and when the Civil war came on his sym- pathies were with the Union. He was twenty-one years of age when he enlisted, July 12, 1861, from Adair County, Missouri, in Company A, Fourteenth Regiment Illinois Volunteer Infantry, under Captain Thompson and Col. John M. Palmer, with which organization he served three years and three months. Mr. Brashear participated in much of the most important warfare of the great struggle between the North and the South, and his record was that of a hard-fighting, reliable and faithful soldier. After seeing service in the vicinity of Springfield, Missouri, and at Wilson Creek, in the fall of 1861, in the spring of 1862 his command fought General Price's troops, and was at Forts Henry and Donelson, February 6 and February 15-16; Shiloh, April 6; Cor- inth, October 3-4, 1862; Vicksburg, May 18 to July 4, 1863; Champion Hills, February 4, 1864, and Sherman's raid to Meridian. The Four- teenth and Fifteenth regiments were consolidated in July, 1864, and became known as a veteran battalion, which marched between Talla- hachie, Holly Springs, Memphis, Bolivar, Corinth, Vicksburg, Meridian, Chattanooga and Marietta, Georgia, and was honorably discharged August 24, 1864, at Chattanooga, Tennessee. At that time Mr. Brashear returned to his home at Paulville, located twelve miles east of Kirks- ville, Missouri. He had earned the respect and gratitude of his country by his faithful service, and now, still the good soldier, was ready to resume the responsibilities of private citizenship and to engage in the battles of peace.
Mr. Brashear was married October 27, 1866, to Miss Laura L. Gray- son, daughter of Oren and Eveline (Wooley) Grayson, of Adair County,
1992
HISTORY OF NORTHWEST MISSOURI
Missouri, who had come to that county in 1862. Mrs. Brashear was born near Three Rivers, Michigan, August 29, 1849. After their mar- riage Mr. and Mrs. Brashear resided in Buchanan County, where he rented some land and engaged in railroading, and also, while at Hill Station, engaged in the manufacture of ties, railway timber, etc. In 1888 Mr. Brashear purchased the first lot sold at Parnell, and after moving to this place built a dwelling and place of business, in which he successfully conducted a butcher shop for six years. He then turned his attention to farming, purchasing 240 acres of land, partly improved, southwest of Parnell, from Mr. Jones of Maryville. He engaged exten- sively in buying and shipping stock, and in this line became one of the best known men in this part of Nodaway County, but in 1902 disposed of his land to W. S. Wright, of Parnell. In the meantime, January 19, 1898, Mr. Brashear had been appointed postmaster at Parnell, by President Mckinley, and held this office continuously until July 22, 1914. At the present time Mr. Brashear is the owner of twenty-seven acres of land adjoining Parnell, and here he has his comfortable modern residence.
Mr. Brashear is a member of Parnell Lodge No. 484, Independent Order of Odd Fellows, having first joined in DeKalb, Buchanan County, in 1867, and now being past noble grand. He and Mrs. Brashear belong to the Rebekahs, Mrs. Brashear being delegate to the State Assembly of Rebekahs, May 21, 22, 23, 1901, and being past noble grand therein. Mr. Brashear is connected with Parnell Post No. 517, Grand Army of the Republic, having been a charter member at the time of its organiza- tion twenty-five years ago, and acting in various official capacities. Nine children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Brashear, namely : Anna, the wife of George W. Korell, of Savannah, Andrew County, Missouri, has had five children,-Georgia Vera, Vollie Alexander, Johnny Brashear, Harold and Lucille, but Harold is deceased; Rose Adelia, the wife of Charles C. Evans, an auctioneer and stockman of Parnell, has one daughter-Matie Fraulein; Benjamin H., who married Joseph- ine Bowles, of Savannah, has one son-James Thomas; and Charles C., Lewis, Markie, Bruce, Willie and Wilbur, who are deceased.
Mrs. Brashear's father was born in Canada and her mother at Three Rivers, Michigan, and they were married in Canada, and subsequently moved in 1849 to Dane County, Wisconsin, Mr. Grayson buying a tract of prairie land. There he resided and carried on operations until 1856, when the family moved to Labelle, Lewis County, Missouri, the trip being made with teams and wagons, and there Mr. Grayson bought 100 acres of improved prairie land and continued to reside thereon until about 1859. In that year he removed to Adair County, about nine miles south- east of Kirksville, where in addition to farming he carried on a black- smith and wagon making shop. Mr. and Mrs. Grayson were the parents of eight children: Mrs. Anna Emmons, Mrs. Carrie Rhoads, Andrew, Mrs. Brashear, Frank, Grant L., Mrs. Louisa Mckinney and George W., but Mrs. Carrie Rhoads, Mrs. Louisa Mckinney, Frank and George W. are deceased.
BENTON SMITH. Prominent among the old and respected families of Nodaway County, Missouri, whose members have contributed materi- ally to the upbuilding and development of this section, and particularly of the vicinity of Ravenwood, along agricultural and commercial lines and have also taken a leading and active part in military and civic affairs, is that bearing the name of Smith, the head of which, Benton Smith, has been a resident of the county for nearly seventy years. During this long period Mr. Smith has been a witness to and a partici- pant in the wonderful changes which have transformed this region
*
1993
HISTORY OF NORTHWEST MISSOURI
from a practical wilderness to a flourishing business and agricultural community, and a center of education and religion. Whether handling the tools of destruction or the implements of construction he has always proved himself a sincere, reliable and public-spirited citizen, with a keen interest in the advancement of his locality, and exercising his influence for good citizenship and morality in all things.
Benton Smith was born February 27, 1841, in Bartholomew County, Indiana, and is a son of Elon and Minerva (McCall) Smith. His father, a native of South Carolina, early left the Old South state for Indiana, locating in Bartholomew County, where he was married. After spend- ing several years on a rented farm, he decided that the country still farther west offered better opportunities, and in the fall of 1845 brought his family to Andrew County, Missouri. There he rented a farm near Whitesville and had started to develop a home for his children, when, in 1846, he was suddenly stricken by death. The children were: Hamil- ton, Eliza Ann, Benton, Andrew J. and Elon. After the death of her husband, the mother, in brave determination to keep her children about her, moved to Guilford, Nodaway County, in 1846, and there Benton Smith was given his educational training in a primitive subscription school of the log cabin type. The boys rented small patches of land, and in 1851 the mother purchased a tract of 160 acres near Ravenwood, to which the family moved. Continuing to attend school during the short winter terms, and passing the summer months in the work of the farm, Benton Smith arrived at his twenty-first year with a good mental training, and strong in body, thoroughly conversant with every detail of farm work. With this equipment he entered upon his own career on a farm of sixty acres of prairie land, partly covered with timber, and this he cleared and broke with oxen. This land, located near Ravenwood, on section 24, township 64, range 34, he subsequently sold to S. P. Joy, and in 1873 purchased 100 acres of slightly improved land on section 23, in the same township. There he resided from 1873 until 1889 at which time he retired from active agricultural operations, being the owner of 300 acres, which property has since been divided among his children, while Mr. Smith is living a quiet life.
In 1861 Mr. Smith enlisted in Company G, Missouri State Militia, under Captain Swinford, for service during the Civil war. He was honorably discharged in April, 1862, after some time passed in guard duty near St. Joseph, and returned home, where he worked by the mouth for a short period. The war fever had gripped him, however, and he again enlisted, this time at Independence, Missouri, in the Fourth Missouri Cavalry, under Col. George H. Hall. He subsequently saw service, at all times active. from the Osage River to Kansas City, coming into frequent contact with the troops of the Confederate General Price, and later going south to Fort Scott, and participating in the battle which culminated in the surrender of General Marmaduke. He received his honorable discharge at St. Louis, July 8, 1865, and returned to his farm at Ravenwood, with an excellent record as a good and faithful soldier.
In political matters Mr. Smith is a democrat, and has frequently been a candidate to county conventions. Duties at home prevented him attending the state convention in 1906 to which he had been elected as a delegate. He is a charter member of Ravenwood Post, an outpost of Maryville Post. Grand Army of the Republic, and maintains a keen interest in Grand Army matters. At various times Mr. Smith has engaged in business enterprises, and at one time conducted the first livery business at Ravenwood.
On February 23, 1868, Mr. Smith was married to Mrs. Margaret Vaughan, widow of I. S. Vaughan, of Decatur County, Iowa, and
1994
HISTORY OF NORTHWEST MISSOURI
daughter of Kilburn and Agnes (Neenan) Basford, of Edgar County, Illinois. Mr. Basford was a pioneer farmer of Illinois, and in his latter years went to California, where both he and his wife passed away. Their children were: Mrs. Smith, Delilah, Mary Ann and Harriet. To Mr. and Mrs. Smith there have been born the following children: Oliver E .; Harriet A., who married Thomas M. Curry, a merchant at Hillsdale, Wyoming, has two children, Oliver B. and Harold A .; Charlotte A., who died in 1904; Willis, deceased; Lourinda M. and Joseph J.
Oliver E. Smith, eldest son of Benton Smith, was born December 28, 1868, and has worked out his career at Ravenwood. After attending the country schools, in 1888 he entered the Maryville school, and after one term returned to the home place. On June 16, 1899, Mr. Smith purchased the Ravenwood Gazette, which he conducted successfully as an independent paper until July, 1913, when he sold the plant to F. G. Graf, of Kansas City, who had been his assistant for three years. Mr. Smith served as postmaster of Ravenwood for four years, in Presi- dent Cleveland's second term, and for five years was representative to the assemblies of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, at Columbia, Jefferson City and Excelsior Springs, having been recording secretary of Ravenwood Lodge No. 464, and at this time past noble grand thereof. Mr. Smith is now engaged in the real estate and insurance business at Ravenwood, in which he is meeting with well-deserved success. He is known as one of his town's progressive and public-spirited citizens. Mr. Smith holds membership in the Woodmen of the World and in the Northwest Missouri Press Association, of which latter he was president during 1912. He was married June 20, 1900, to Miss Ida Strider, of Montgomery County, Illinois, daughter of Isaac and Eglantine (Matkin) Strider, both of whom are now deceased.
Joseph J. Smith, the youngest son of Benton Smith, is the owner of 140 acres of land at Ravenwood, a part of the old homestead, which he now has rented, as well as 160 acres of homestead land near Hillsdale, Wyoming, the northeast one-quarter of section 8, township 14, range 63. He is now acting in a clerical capacity at the Platte Valley Bank, and is the owner of a garage at Ravenwood, which he erected. Fraternally, Mr. Smith is connected with Ravenwood Blue Lodge No. 201, of the Masonic fraternity.
GEORGE PATTERSON WRIGHT. Among the active members of the Nodaway County bar, George P. Wright has gained a notable reputation for success as a trial lawyer, and his services have been enlisted in behalf of the county, which he served as prosecuting attorney until 1915, and his two terms of experience in that office did much to develop and improve his power before court and jury and fixed his place among the successful lawyers of Maryville. Prior to taking up the law as a profession, Mr. Wright was for a number of years one of the most popu- lar and successful educators in Nodaway County.
George Patterson Wright was born in Louisa County, Iowa, March 30, 1873, a son of Cyprian L. and Sarah A. (Patterson) Wright. His father was a native of Indiana and his mother of Ohio, they were mar- ried in Iowa, and for a number of years lived on a farm near Morning Sun, but in 1879 came to Nodaway County, Missouri, and located near Ravenwood. They moved from their farm into Maryville in 1898, and the father died in that city in 1913 at the age of seventy-one, while the mother is still living. The father was a soldier during the Civil war, having enlisted in 1861 in the Nineteenth Ohio Regiment of Infantry, and his service continued for a few days longer than three years. He was a man of well balanced character and judgment, was
Mens Alice Layton Gablet
Benton Gabbert
1995
HISTORY OF NORTHWEST MISSOURI
highly esteemed in the different communities where he made his home, and both he and his wife were active members of the Methodist Church, South.
George P. Wright grew up on a farm, had his preliminary training in country schools and subsequently finished both the literary and com- mercial courses in the Maryville Seminary, and for one year was a student in the Stanberry Normal. Before the completion of this edu- cational course he had begun his work as a country school teacher, and alternately attended and taught school for a period of about ten years. His last work as a teacher was as principal for three years of the schools at Graham, and the previous two years had been spent at Quitman. While in active work in the schoolroom at Graham Mr. Wright was elected county commissioner of schools for Nodaway County, and during his term in that office he did much to improve the personnel and morale of the teaching staff of the county, and in every way made a creditable record. In the meantime Mr. Wright had begun the private study of law, and in June, 1903, was admitted to the bar, and at once began general practice at Maryville. He was soon in possession of a good business as a lawyer, and in 1910 when his name was placed on the democratic ticket as candidate for prosecuting attorney his personal popularity and high professional standing were the recommendations which caused his election. He was reelected in 1912 and his second term expired January 1, 1915. Since retiring from office Mr. Wright and Mr. M. E. Ford formed the law firm of Wright & Ford.
Mr. Wright is a Master Mason, also affiliated with the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, and is a member of the Christian Church. What he has accomplished in two professions has been the result of his determined ambition to make himself useful in the world, and he has won the honor and respect of his community. On November 26, 1902, Mr. Wright married Miss Mamie Wilson, daughter of W. G. Wilson, of Graham, Missouri.
BENTON GABBERT. It is a distinction which history will always associate with Benton Gabbert that his enterprise was primarily respon- sible for making Dearborn one of the thriving business centers of Platte County. While his reputation among many people is rather based on his prominence as a Hereford cattle breeder, he must be given credit for having given Dearborn its first bank and having used his means and influence to upbuild that town as no other individual has been concerned.
Long and useful lives have been a characteristic of the Gabbert family for generations. No name is better known for its substantial achievements in this section of Northwest Missouri. Benton Gabbert was born in Bartholomew County, Indiana, December 3, 1842. His parents were William and Frances (Hamner) Gabbert, both natives of Kentucky, and living almost the extreme limit of years. William was born October 8, 1817, and died January 19, 1908, when past ninety- one, while she was born September 3, 1819, and died January 14, 1914, when past ninety-four. The four of their eight children still living are: Benton; M. H., of Platte County; Ira T., of Caldwell, Kansas; and Elnora, wife of William Calvert, of Weston.
Both the Gabbert and Hamner families removed from Kentucky to Indiana in 1819, and in that state Mr. Gabbert's parents grew up and were married, December 27, 1838. Not long afterward, James Gabbert, the grandfather, set out for Western Missouri, in the early '40s, to seek cheaper land for his children. The Platte Purchase had only been open to settlement a few years, and it was within the limits of Platte
1996
HISTORY OF NORTHWEST MISSOURI
County that he found what he wanted and bought a tract near what is now Pleasant Ridge. In October, 1844, William and Frances Gabbert packed their possessions in a wagon and started on the long journey from Indiana to Platte County. Arriving there in October, 1844, they began accommodating themselves to the circumstances of a frontier community on a piece of eighty acres, with a small house, and five acres of land cleared for the first crops. The rest of the farm was a dense timber of oak and walnut. In 1848 William Gabbert removed to an adjoining place of fifty acres, which he had bought, including what was then a very substantial two-story house. William Gabbert had the char- acter and industry which would succeed anywhere. He acquired new tracts of land, and frequently loaned out his surplus capital to advan- tage. He took a peculiar delight in helping his children, and before his death most of his property had been wisely distributed among them. He was influential in local politics, before the war as a democrat, but after that a republican. He and his wife were originally Baptists, but died in the faith of the Christian Church. He was known in his com- munity as a great reader, and especially as a Bible student.
Benton Gabbert was an infant when the family came to Platte County. His youth was spent on the farm, and he attended school with fair regu- larity until the outbreak of the war. In 1864 he went to Kansas, living there two years, and in the meantime taking unto himself a wife. In 1866 he moved to a farm near Woodruff, and two years later to a farm a mile and a half east of that town. The year 1881 was the date of his coming to his present homestead. This comprises 437 acres, fine land and with fine improvements.
It was in 1883 that Mr. Gabbert introduced to this section several fine specimens of thoroughbred Herefords, and began breeding and building up a herd, which now numbers about two hundred, the largest of the kind in Platte County. He is now regarded as the oldest man in the business in Missouri in point of continuous activity for more than thirty years. His Herefords are famous wherever that strain of cattle is known. It will be recalled that a few years ago at a public auction in Kansas City Frank Rockefeller, a brother of John D., paid $5,500 for a yearling bull from the Gabbert herd. Another branch of his farming enterprise that should be specially mentioned is tobacco culture. Since beginning to grow the plant in 1909, he has increased his fields to about twenty-five acres, and now has two large sheds for the curing and keep- ing of the tobacco.
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.