A history of northwest Missouri, Volume III, Part 50

Author: Williams, Walter, 1864-1935 editor
Publication date: 1915
Publisher: Chicago, The Lewis publishing company
Number of Pages: 912

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On November 28, 1894, Mr. Vanhoozer was married to Miss Emma Kirkham, who was born in Ray County, Missouri, daughter of W. N. and Susan Kirkham, prominent farming people near Orrick. One son has been born to this union : Cecil M., who resides with his parents.

GEORGE HENTON MAGEE. In George Henton Magee is found a sample of that material which has brought Gentry County to the forefront as a prosperous agricultural center. Endowed with natural ability and backed by shrewd business judgment and determination, this sterling citizen so ably conducted his activities that in September, 1907, he was able to step aside from the path of labor to let pass the younger generation with their clear-cut hopes and unrealized ambitions. Although now living a somewhat retired life at Albany, Mr. Magee continues to retain his interest in the affairs of his community, and although not an office- seeker or politician is a supporter of all worthy and beneficial move- ments.

Mr. Magee was born in Henry County, Kentucky, March 19, 1851, and is a son of Tolbert and Mary J. (Gibbany) Magee. During the winter of 1852-3 the father brought his family from the South to St. Joseph, Missouri, and wintered close to the present site of New Hampton, but in February came to Gentry County and bought 240 acres of land. This he continued to cultivate with industry and perseverance until his retirement, in 1893, and in February, 1897, his death occurred when he was eighty-two years of age. The mother died several years before, there having been the following children in the family: Mrs. Elizabeth Marrs, now deceased; Perlina, who died in 1861, at the age of sixteen years; James W., a resident of Marshfield, Missouri; Thomas R., a resident of Albany ; George Henton, of this review ; Mrs. Susan A. Tockey, of Boelus, Howard County, Nebraska; and Mrs. Mary C. McCord, a resident of Bartley, Nebraska.

The education of George Henton Magee was obtained in a log cabin

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schoolhouse in the Glendenning District, which he attended until reach- ing the age of nineteen years, during which time he assisted his father in the duties of the homestead during the summer months. Following the completion of his education he continued to work on the home place until his marriage, then purchasing 120 acres of partly-improved land, in section 10, township 63, range 30, and to this he added from time to time until he now has 375 acres, all in a good state of cultivation, a farm which he has improved with modern buildings and the latest equipment in the way of machinery. He carried on general farming and also met with much success in the raising of stock, and at all times maintained an excellent reputation for integrity in his business dealings and fidelity to his engagements. Always a progressive and enterprising citizen, Mr. Magee was the owner of the first registered red hogs in the county, and was always ready to give a trial to new methods, with the result that he did much to assist the development of his community and to raise the standard of agricultural work. In 1907 he retired from active pursuits and removed to Albany; where he resides in his comfortable, modern home. Mr. Magee is a democrat, and while he has not been very active in public affairs, has been ready to share the responsibilities of citizenship, serving on the first board of township trustees. His religious connection is with the Christian Church, of which he has served as an elder for a number of years.

On November 14, 1872, Mr. Magee was united in marriage in Gentry County, Missouri, with Miss Sarah E. Madden, daughter of William T. and Frances (Wayman) Madden, natives of Tennessee, from which state they came to Gentry County, Missouri, in the spring of 1853, Mr. Madden entering a considerable tract of land. He was engaged in general farm- ing until the outbreak of the Civil war, when he enlisted in Company E, Captain Little, Missouri Volunteer Cavalry, and served two years with this organization, when he was honorably discharged and returned to his home. In 1893 he retired from active pursuits, and lived quietly until . his death in June, 1913, at the age of eighty-nine years. He was a son of George and Delilah Madden, natives of Tennessee, who came to Clay County, Missouri, with their son and here died. Mr. and Mrs. Madden were the parents of the following children: William M., who is now deceased ; Mrs. Margaret Sullenger, of Albany ; Mrs. Victoria Sellers, of that place; George M., of Albany, and Mrs. Magee. To Mr. and Mrs. Magee there have been born the following children: Franklin L., a farmer in the vicinity of Albany, married Carrie Menger, and has one son, Carl; James W., also a farmer of Albany, married Julia Nicholson, and has four children, Ray, Wayne, Victor and Beatrice; Thomas A., engaged in farming at Albany, married Mary Clabough, and has four children, Zola, William, Mary and Lena May; Stella, married Joseph V. Bentley, engaged in the produce business in Albany, and has one daughter, Georgia ; Fleetie, married John J. Sweeney, engaged in farming at Albany, and has two children, Donald and Francis; Curtis, engaged in farming at Albany; and Goldie, who is single and resides with her parents.

ANDREW THOMPSON. The farming interests of the community of Hatfield, Harrison County, are ably represented by Andrew Thompson, who is widely known in his field of operations, is also a stock breeder with extensive interests, and is equally well known as a business man and a citizen who has rendered his community excellent services of a public character. He is a native of Harrison County, having been born in Lincoln Township, December 29, 1864, and is a son of David and Rebecca C. (Knox) Thompson.

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David Thompson is now an octogenarian and a man of considerable vigor who has witnessed the wonderful changes which have marked the development of Northwest Missouri. Whereas he was a young man him- self when he cast his lot with Harrison County and occupied the fron- tiersman's cabin with sod chimney, now his posterity is among the numerous families of the county and in the evening of life and full of life's activity and achievements, he is retired and finishing his course in the home of his son, William F. Thompson. David Thompson is a native of Dumfriesshire, Scotland, born near the Town of Ayr, in 1831. His father was a farmer, and the family had lived for generations in that locality. The children were: Robert, William, James, David, Samuel, Agnes, Mary and Jane. Of these children, William and David came to the United States, and the former spent his life at Canton, Ohio, where he passed away and left a family.

David Thompson left his native land at the age of twenty years, and finally made port at New York after a voyage of forty days in a disabled sailing vessel. Locating in Pennsylvania, he secured employment at rail- road work on the Pennsylvania Central, about Johnstown and Ligonier, and subsequently came West and joined the force constructing the Han- nibal & St. Joseph Railway in the '50s, and was a day laborer for at least a time on this road, while in Pennsylvania he was a section fore- man. His approach to St. Joseph with the construction of the railroad caused him to prospect Harrison County for a location and this resulted in his locating here. Although he was married, his wife remained in Pennsylvania until the family cabin was erected on section 4, township 66, range 29, then known as the John Hacker Farm, but now owned by G. F. Emerson. He made a farm of that tract, which he entered, and later on purchased the James Marshall Tract and here his most suc- cessful achievements took place. For some twenty years of his later life he lived in Worth County, and there he reached the limit of his active life, retiring after he reached more than eighty years of age. He was one of the few men who took the lead in the cattle business in Lincoln Township, and he acquired considerable of the cheap land of this com- munity. He gave each of his children a tract of 160 acres out of what was, when he came here, threaded with Indian trails, while some of the tribe were yet camped here during the war between the North and the South. David Thompson took out his naturalization papers late in life, and from that time forward he identified himself with civic affairs, his vote going to the support of the republican party in politics. He has never been a member of any church or of any fraternity, and was a sub- ject of England during the Civil war, thereby missing service.

While a resident of Westmoreland County, Pennsylvania, David Thompson was united in marriage with Miss Rebecca C. Knox, who was born in that county, in 1838, and who still survives. She is a daughter of John Knox, who was of Scotch and English ancestry and a lifelong farmer by vocation. Mrs. Thompson followed her husband to Missouri and occupied the cabin home with him, and was a strong factor in assist- ing him to achieve the substantial things done by him. Six children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Thompson: William F., who is the largest cattle feeder of the Township of Lincoln, Harrison County, and a man widely and favorably known in his community; Jane, who is the wife of Harry Hern, of Worth County, Missouri; Andrew, of this review; Alexander, a resident of Hatfield, Missouri; Miss Jeannette, of the W. F. Thompson Ranch; and Robert, who is a resident of Grant City, Missouri.

Andrew Thompson secured his schooling in a log cabin northwest and in the vicinity of his present home, and started out for himself at the age of twenty-one years. His first home was established south of Grant

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City, he having married in Worth County, and he lived there two years and then returned to the locality of his birth, starting on a tract of land given him by his father in section 3. Subsequently Mr. Thompson bought another quarter of the same section which contains all his substantial improvements and which has been the scene of practically all his material success. He purchased other land adjoining until he holds above four hundred acres and has been devoting it to cattle, horses and hogs, besides the matter of grain raising. While Mr. Thompson breeds pedigreed stock, particularly hogs, he does so for the betterment of his own farm and herd, and not for any profit which he might derive in that line as a breeder. While he has grown many fine cattle he has practiced selling them from the grass rather than to feed and ship them to the markets.

In politics Mr. Thompson is a democrat but was brought up under republican influences. He has filled local offices at various times, and has made an excellent official, being president of the township board of Lincoln Township, a justice of the peace and a director and clerk of the school district for twenty-eight years. His attention has been given more to his own interests, however, than to public or political activities. He is a well known figure in business circles and secretary of the local telephone company.

While residing in Worth County, Missouri, Mr. Thompson was mar- ried in February, 1886, to Miss Louisa Wardlaw, a daughter of William Wardlaw, who was of Irish extraction, was a farmer, and died in Kansas. His wife was formerly Hannah Mow, and Mrs. Thompson is one of six children of their union. Mr. and Mrs. Thompson's children are as follows: Eugene Howard, a traveling man for the Hanlin Supply Com- pany, married Miss Helena Thomason, of Columbus, Georgia; Francis Grover, like his elder brother a graduate of Highland Park College, Des Moines, Iowa, is bookkeeper and bill clerk for the Hoffman Music Company, married Miss Grace Clepper, of Kansas City, Mo .; Horace Roswell, a resident of Iowa, married Edith Campbell, who died without issue ; Carl Guy, who is associated in business with his father; and Isabel and Clarence Bryan, who reside at home with their parents.

WILLIAM J. BRINIGAR. One of the foremost breeders of blooded cattle and hogs in Harrison County, William J. Brinigar, entered the field of Hampshire hog breeding ten years ago and during the past six years has been a leading exhibitor at many state fairs in the West, and has shipped his animals all over the Union. About nine years ago he began breeding cattle, and so great has been the demand for his stock that it has far exceeded the supply. Mr. Brinigar has long been a resident of the Blythedale neighborhood, and is living on the farm on which his father settled as early as 1870, and through his own efforts and steady industry has steadily worked himself to a position of prominence among the agriculturists and business men of this locality. He was born at Darlington, Lafayette County, Wisconsin, August 29, 1863, and is a son of Michael and Emily (Kreamer) Brinigar.

Thomas Brinigar, the grandfather of William J. Brinigar, was born in Kentucky, fought as a soldier during the war between the United States and Mexico, and died in Illinois, when about eighty years of age. His children were as follows: Michael, Jackson, William, Minerva who married a Mr. Cross, and Amanda who married a Mr. McIntosh. Michael Brinigar, who was a farmer all of his life, was born in Polk County, Indiana, in 1819, and there received his education in the public schools. He went to Wisconsin as a young man, and there resided at the time of the Civil war, but did not enlist as a soldier. In political matters a democrat, he served as justice of the peace in Wisconsin and in other

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local offices, and although he had no particular gift as a speaker was an interesting conversationalist. He was a good business man and showed a conservatism in his affairs that was marked. At one time he was a member of the Methodist Church, and although a member of no religious organization at the time of his death, was always a good Christian. Mr. Brinigar married Emily Kreamer, who was born in 1831, in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, daughter of Michael Kreamer. Their children were as follows: Ellen, who married Wallace W. Hurd, of Arkansas; Thomas, who married Lucindy Bandy, and is engaged in farming in the vicinity of Blythedale, Missouri; William J., of this review ; Louella, who became the wife of Will Wilson, of Blythedale.

William J. Brinigar secured a country school education, and began his active life on the farm when a lad of less than twelve years. During the summer months he worked as a hand on the homestead, while in the winter he attended the district schools, and thus continued until he had reached his 'teens, securing much valuable experience in the rais- ing of grain and the breeding of hogs and cattle. He was induced to engage in blooded stock raising by what he witnessed at the St. Louis Exposition, where he saw his first Hampshire hog, and this caused him to cease experiments with Chester White and to experiment with the new strain. He saw "Shady Brook Gerben" there, of the Holsteins, became much attracted to her strain, and desired to add them to his farm. Mr. Brinigar's first exhibit of a state character was at Des Moines-a full herd-and during the five years showing at such fairs he has carried off more than five hundred ribbons and fully half have been first, includ- ing champions and grand champions. He bred the sire of "Messenger Boy," owned at Keswick, Iowa, and also the sire of "Lookout," which is owned by John E. Robbins, of Greensburg, Indiana, and which sold for $750, while "Messenger Boy" has brought an offer to his owner of $1,500. He has bred many grand champion sows, among them "Princess," which took the first ribbon at the state fair at Sedalia many times. He bred also "Missouri's Best," who was never beaten at the many shows attended, either as a yearling or a senior, and who is still owned by Mr. Brinigar. He still owns "Blythedale Jim," the sire of "Lookout." Mr. Brinigar's annual sale of hogs in 1913 brought buyers from Illinois, Indiana, Ohio, Iowa, Kansas, and all over Missouri, and his sales averaged him $57.50 a head.

Mr. Brinigar began the breeding of Holstein cattle in 1905 and has not been able to supply what he can sell at private sales. His cows have shown wonderful records as milkers, and one of them, while on the grass and without feed, has a record of nine gallons of milk daily. He started his herd with a "Shady Brook Gerben," and a nephew of the cow that made the most butter of any cow exhibited at the St. Louis Exposition in 1904. The heifers Mr. Brinigar got from his first sire he has now and is breeding them to "Orchard Hill Hengerveld DeKol," a bull which he secured from Davis Brothers, Fulton, New York, and the heifers of this new family are proving better than their ancestors as milkers. The White Wyandotte chicken is also a feature of Mr. Brinigar's farm. As a farmer Mr. Brinigar has 360 acres in his home and owns a quarter section of land in Harper County, Oklahoma. He is president and a director of the Blythedale Telephone Company, president of the Ameri- can Hampshire Hog Association, and president and a stockholder of the Citizens Bank of Blythedale. In politics Mr. Brinigar votes the democratic ticket, and supports the man he considers best qualified in local office. His fraternal connection is with the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, he being past grand of Blythedale Lodge. He is not identi- fied with any religious organization. Vol. III-22

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Mr. Brinigar was married in Harrison County, Missouri, in December, 1886, to Miss Mary Scott, a daughter of Moses and Mary (Graham) Scott. Mr. Scott was a pioneer of Harrison County and entered land here, passing his life in the pursuits of the soil. He reared a large family, the children being: Graham; Elzumer; Oliver; Sadie, who married Frank Loy; Allie, who married John Jones; Mrs. Brinigar ; and Carrie, the wife of Porter Reeves. Mr. and Mrs. Brinigar have two children : Hugh F. and William Bryan.

The Brinigar sons here have the only considerable skunk farm in Harrison County. The enterprise was commenced in 1912, and is creat- ing some interest and securing satisfactory profit. A tract of five acres of land is fenced off, with sheets of galvanized iron set several inches below the surface to prevent digging out, and the old orchard plat pro- vides brush chunks and other retreats for the animals. They domesticate readily and thrive on milk, chopped rabbits and other game offered them.

ALEXANDER VAN BUSKIRK. One of the most honored names in Holt County citizenship has been that of Van Buskirk. It has been known and has been associated with various honors in official and professional affairs and also in business, at Oregon, for more than sixty-three years. Alexander Van Buskirk is a son of a prominent pioneer citizen, and for nearly a quarter of a century has been successfully engaged in the prac- tice of law at Oregon.

Alexander Van Buskirk was born in Andrew County, Missouri, November 17, 1849. His parents were Ellzey and Eliza Jane (Hart) Van Buskirk. His father was a native of Mansfield, Ohio, and his mother of Morrow County, Ohio, and they came to Northwest Missouri at an early day and were married in Andrew County, December 25, 1844. Other children in their family were: Priscilla, now deceased, who married Martin Whitmer (and their daughter Jennie married George S. Loucks) ; Lawrence, who died young; John, who died in 1885; Mary, who died in 1884; and Eliza Jane, who also died in youth.

Ellzey Van Buskirk was prominent both in Andrew County and in Holt County, and in the early days conducted a paper for a few years at Savannah, the county seat of the former county, and also conducted a paper at Weston, Platte County, Missouri. In March, 1852, he moved to Holt County and in 1853 was elected circuit court clerk on the demo- cratic ticket, an office he continued to fill until 1865. At that time he took up the practice of law and was regarded as one of the ablest members of the bar until 1890. In that year he was stricken with paralysis and died August 15, 1895. His wife passed away in Oregon in 1906. The two-story brick building in which Alexander Van Buskirk now has his offices as a lawyer was erected by his father, and that was one of many ways by which he was closely identified with the growth and development of this community. He was a Union democrat in politics, a member of the Missouri State Convention in 1861, and a member of the State Com- mittee of the democratic party many years ago. He served on the first board of directors of the Citizens Bank of Oregon.

Alexander Van Buskirk received his education in the Oregon, public schools, and his first regular vocation was that of farmer in Holt County. Later he took up the study of law, was admitted to the bar in 1890, and has since given his time to his clients and also to his private interests. Ile owns considerable property both in Oregon and in Holt County, and has made himself a factor in business affairs.

Mr. Van Buskirk is an active member of the Presbyterian Church, and is now and has been for a number of years a ruling elder in that denomination. His father was a Primitive Baptist in religion. Both he

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and his father were Masons, and members of Lodge No. 189, A. F. & A. M. at Oregon. Mr. Van Buskirk married Charlotte V. Cummins, who was born near Shelby, Ohio. They were married October 12, 1871, and are the parents of two daughters. Caroline, the first, is now the wife of George Lehmer of Oregon. Rebecca is the wife of Frank C. Allen, also a resident of Oregon. A son of Mr. and Mrs. Van Buskirk died in infancy. The grandchildren are: Lawrence V. Lehmer and Paul V. Allen, Ruth Allen and Charlotte Allen.

AARON GRAHAM SCOTT, one of the ante-bellum settlers of Harrison County, Missouri, came hither in September, 1858, with his father, Moses Scott. He is a native of Jefferson County, Indiana, born near the City of Madison, July 18, 1850, and his father was born just across the Ohio River from Indiana, December 3, 1817, and died on his farm near Blythe- dale, Missouri, February 3, 1888, aged seventy years and two months.

Aaron T. Scott, the grandfather of Aaron G., was a Scotch-Irishman and a soldier during the War of 1812, and spent the greater part of his life near Madison, Jefferson County, Indiana. He died near Galesburg, Illinois. Mr. Scott's wife's maiden name was Anna Aja Scott, and they had the following children: Moses, the father of Aaron G .; Elizabeth, who married Oliver Graham; Sarah, who married Colonel Amix ; Jerome ; Benjamin F., who went through the Civil war for four years as a soldier and died in Oklahoma; Harriet, who was one of the older children and married Lewis Traupel, and Rachel, the youngest daughter, who lives at Hoyt, Kansas, and is the widow of William Robb.

Moses Scott spent his boyhood in Jefferson County, Indiana, and there was educated sparingly, so that he was able to do little more than to read and write. He was a brickmaker by trade and made the brick from which was built the first college at Hanover, Indiana, and worked at that and farming both in his native state and Missouri. Finally, however, in the latter state, he abandoned his trade that he might give his entire attention to the pursuits of the soil. His settlement was a mile southwest of Blythedale, and that farm he improved and made his final home, most of this property now being owned by William J. Brinigar. His old brick kiln was on Big Creek, west of Eagleville, on the William place. Moses Scott came to Missouri in company with several families from Knox County, Illinois, where he had spent some three years as a farmer. His outfit for the transportation of the family and effects comprised an ox-team and a yoke of cows, and the journey occupied from June to September. Among the families forming the caravan were those of James Graham, his father-in-law; Oliver Graham, and family ; and John R. and William Graham, the latter of whom lives at Ridgeway, Missouri. All of these settled in the same neighborhood and their posterity is num- bered among the citizenship here now. Moses Scott's participation in politics was as a democrat, but he never held public office. He was a Baptist of the Missionary faith who lived up to the teachings of his church, was known to be strictly reliable in his dealings, paid his way as he went, and never allowed himself to go into debt. The period of the Civil war did not materially affect him save as his son, Elzumer, entered the Twenty-third Regiment, Missouri Volunteer Infantry, Company D, and went with General Sherman to the sea. Moses Scott married Mary A. Graham, daughter of James and Jemimah (Talbert) Graham, and of English descent on her mother's side. Mr. Graham was a native of Bardstown, Bullitt County, Kentucky, and moved first to Indiana and then to Knox County, Illinois. He was a carpenter by trade and his home in Harrison County was 31/2 miles north of Blythedale. He died at about seventy years of age, about 1872, and his wife passed away

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A history of northwest Missouri, Volume III, Part 50

Author: Williams, Walter, 1864-1935 editor Publication date: 1915 Publisher: Chicago, The Lewis publishing company Number of Pages: 912

Author: Williams, Walter, 1864-1935 editor
Publication date: 1915
Publisher: Chicago, The Lewis publishing company
Number of Pages: 912