USA > Missouri > A history of northwest Missouri, Volume III > Part 66
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Mr. Hudson never visited his native place after he left it. He was a member of a numerous family of Huntington County, Pennsylvania. He had three brothers, George, Barton Augustus, and James; two sisters, Margaretta and Mary Isabella, all of whom are dead. The dates of their births cannot be given. Walter S. Hudson was the youngest member of his family. The family married into the Buchanan family, and President James Buchanan was an own cousin of Walter Scott Hudson. During the Civil war the latter remained neutral, as nearly as possible, although his own people were Unionists, and some of them were in the army of the North, including his brother, Barton Augustus, who is supposed to have been killed at the Battle of Gettysburg and sleeps in an unknown grave. He was in Captain Moore's company, who was also a cousin of Mr. Hudson. His wife's people were of the slave-holding class, and his father-in-law, Dr. Samuel S. Early, was a man of strong influence, a native of Tennessee and a pioneer of Worth County, where for years he was actively engaged in the practice of medicine. One of his sons, James Early, is still living in Grant City, now past eighty years old. During the campaign of 1860 Mr. Hudson supported Douglas for Presi- dent. He was a man who loved to help others. In the early work of improving the county, to which he was always devoted, he gave time without stint and without pay in the aid of bridge building, old-time road making, schoolhouse construction, early courthouse construction, and was one of the owners and promoters of the first democratic news- paper (the Worth County Times) ever published in the county, and seemed to have none of the sordid money-making idea with him.
Mr. Hudson was a large man, standing six feet without his shoes, well proportioned, with no surplus flesh, had a fair complexion, blue eyes and black hair.
Walter Scott Hudson was married in April, 1858, in Gentry County (now Worth County), Missouri, prior to the Civil war, to Miss Ellen Early, a daughter of Dr. Samuel S. and Julia Ann (Botts) Early. Mrs. Early was a native of Kentucky. The Early family contained such a distinguished son as Gen. Jubal A. Early of the Confederate army. Mrs. Hudson was a small, neatly proportioned woman, active and grace- ful in her movements, with medium complexion, dark hair and small gray eyes. She was entirely devoted to her family, taking no interest in social affairs, was not inclined to travel or extend her acquaintances, and survived her husband twenty-three years. She was born on the 2d day of June, 1836, and died on the 1st day of May, 1905. She was the mother of ten children, seven of whom had the misfortune to survive her. Two of her children died in infancy, and a son, John, died February 3, 1883, unmarried, aged twenty-one years and one day. The following children of Walter Scott Hudson and Ellen (Early) Hudson are still living: Othniel Bruner, Ada B., Cora L., Kate, Peter, Mark P., and Walter Scott, all of Grant City. Othniel Bruner and Mark Pomeroy are the only members of the family that are married, Mark P. having been married to Grace L. Davidson on September 10, 1914.
The Hudson family is one which stands out prominently as one with few marriages. Walter Scott Hudson was the only son of his parents' family to marry, and the other members of the family among the older generations seem to have largely spent their lives unmarried. The family resides on their farm north of Grant City one mile, which they have occupied for thirty-three years, all living together except O. B., who is living in Grant City. O. B. and Peter are lawyers; Ada B. and Kate are school teachers; Cora L., Mark P., and Walter are farmers.
HON. OTHNIEL BRUNER HUDSON, one of the worthy representatives of this name, a leading legist and a citizen who has taken a very prominent
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O. Ghudson.
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part in public affairs, is a son of the author and planner of the county seat of Worth County (Grant City), Walter Scott Hudson and Ellen (Early) Hudson. He was born on a farm in Worth County, Missouri, February 16, 1860, remaining on a farm most of the time until he was sixteen years old. He secured his education in the country public schools and the Grant City High School. He taught one term of school in Worth County in the old Amity district. Securing some experience as a lad in a clerkship, at the age of nineteen, he engaged in merchandising on his own account at Redding, Iowa, where he remained for about five years. During that time, what time he could spare from his business, he devoted to the study and practice of law.
Having decided upon a career in law, Mr. Hudson secured a clerkship in a law office in Grant City, where he spent most of his time for three years, and followed this by a law course in the University of the City of New York, where he graduated on the 1st day of June, 1894, and received the degree of Bachelor of Laws. Prior to this time he had spent several years pettifogging before country justices of the peace and occa- sionally appearing before the Circuit Court. Mr. Hudson was admitted to the bar in Grant City, Missouri, on the 20th day of October, 1893. During much of this time he felt himself capable, and was, of practicing law as an admitted attorney, but seemed to fear the "starvation period," which comes to every young lawyer, and refrained from applying for admission to the bar for many years.
While a law student at the university, Mr. Hudson was elected, after a protracted triangular fight, president of his class, and as such presided at the graduation exercises, an honor which, coming to a resident of a rural community like Grant City, made Mr. Hudson feel very proud of his achievement. This also brought him much attention from important personages in New York City, who sent him invitations to social functions, and among these were Mrs. Russell Sage, Helen Gould, Dr. Austin Abbott, and Mrs. General Dodge. After his graduation, Mr. Hudson formed a law partnership with C. H. Lingenfelter, now Federal attorney for Idaho. and the firm of Lingenfelter & Hudson practiced law in Grant City for about ten years. For the past six years Mr. Hudson has practiced law alone, he and his brother Peter officing together. Mr. Hudson has some taste for traveling, and as a young man has visited nearly all of the states of the Union and nearly all of the principal cities of the United States and Canada; has made several trips over the southern states, spent several years in the eastern states, and in 1900, in company with Mrs. Hudson, made a trip to Europe, visiting the Paris Exposition.
In his political views Mr. Hudson is a democrat. and his first vote for President was cast for Grover Cleveland in 1884. His first office was that of coroner of his county in 1888. In November, 1900, he was elected to the Forty-first General Assembly of Missouri. and again in November, 1902, he was elected to the Forty-second General Assembly. In the latter year he was a prominent candidate for Congress, but was defeated at the Plattsburg convention of that year on the four hundred and fifteenth ballot, coming within four votes of the nomination. During the sitting of the Forty-first General Assembly, Mr. Hudson was a member of the railroad committee, and was one of three who made the minority report on the famous railroad two-cent fare bill, which finally carried through the House, but was defeated in the Senate. His second election resulted in Speaker Whitecotton appointing him chairman of the railroad committee of the House. His support of the two-cent fare bill and his open opposition to the legislation demanded by the railroads, put them against him for reelection, and their influence invaded his
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county and endeavored to defeat him. Failing in this, they took their fight on him into the Legislature. He was offered the chairmanship of the railroad committee by the speaker and accepted it because he believed it offered the opportunity to punish his enemies while aiding in some wholesome legislation on the subject of railroads. He found the railroad influence too powerful, and they were able to exert such an influence over his committee that he was able to do but little good for the state. Almost his entire committee was made up of men favorable to the railroads.
Mr. Hudson surprised his committee one morning by appearing before the House with an armload of bills which he proceeded to report out of his committee. This action soon brought the head of the lobby to his committee room with the complaint that the railroads had not been heard on these bills and that it would cost $10,000 to get the bills back to the committee room. Mr. Hudson did not believe that that move could be accomplished by even the powerful influence of the railroad lobby, but it was done through the influence of the lobby and the con- nivance of paid clerks, and all of Mr. Hudson's efforts were brought to naught.
Mr. Hudson has been a successful lawyer since his admission to the bar in 1893. All of his investments have been in real estate, which have paid very handsome returns.
Mr. Hudson was married April 21, 1897, to Miss Esther M. Loughlin of New York City, a daughter of Edmond and Almeda A. (Brooks) Loughlin. Mrs. Hudson prepared herself for music under the best masters in New York City, and is, perhaps, one of the most accomplished musicians of Northwest Missouri. She is an Episcopalian, and at the time of her marriage was a member of Doctor Rainsford's church. No chil- dren have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Hudson.
Mr. Hudson is a member of the Knights of Pythias, and is also con- nected with the Masonic fraternity and a member of the chapter. His acquaintance in professional, political, and social circles is wide, and his numerous friends in all walks of life have been attracted to him by his fearlessness, his direct honesty, and his loyalty to those who have expressed faith in him.
ERNEST H. CARPENTER, M.D. In the twelve years since Doctor Car- penter located at Helena in Andrew County his reputation as a capable young physician has been steadily growing, and he now enjoys the largest practice in that community. He is a thoroughly educated and experi- enced physician and surgeon, and at the same time is one of the leaders in local affairs and improvements.
Dr. Ernest H. Carpenter was born three miles north of Helena on a farm July 27, 1878, a son of Daniel E. and Mary C. (Utz) Carpenter. Both his parents were born in Virginia, his father July 9, 1847, and his mother in June, 1847. They were brought when children to Missouri, their respective parents locating in Buchanan County near St. Joseph. There they grew up, were married, and about 1874 moved to Andrew County. The mother died there September 16, 1896, and the father after- wards retired to Union Star, where he is now living. Their five children were: Ada E., wife of S. B. Kirtley of Union Star; Dr. Ernest H .; Robert L., who occupies the old homestead in Andrew County ; Orin D., a farmer in Rochester Township; and Hubert B., who died March 7, 1914, at the age of twenty-four, having graduated from the Agricultural Department of the State University in 1912, and prior to his death was teaching as an assistant in the department of animal husbandry at the University of Nebraska.
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Doctor Carpenter grew up on a farm, but when a boy resolved upon a professional career, and while enjoying the wholesome environment of the farm also utilized every opportunity to prepare himself for his chosen work. He attended the country schools, spent two and a half years in the Chillicothe Normal School, and then entered the Central Medical College at St. Joseph, where he remained three years, about half of which time was devoted to his duties as interne in St. Joseph Hospital. Doctor Carpenter took his concluding course in medicine and his degree as doctor of medicine from the Marion Sims-Beaumont Medical College at St. Louis, graduating April 25, 1903. Since his graduation he has been located at Helena, and in connection with his growing practice as a physician conducts a drug store. He owns his place of business, which is on the corner opposite the bank.
Doctor Carpenter is a democrat in politics, and has associated himself in a public spirited manner with local improvements since coming to Helena to live. He has his church membership in the First Christian Church at St. Joseph and is affiliated with the Masonic fraternity in the Scottish Rite degrees and also belongs to the Independent Order of Odd Fellows. Doctor Carpenter was married November 4, 1914, to Miss Ida May Kuenzi, who was born in Rochester Township, a daughter of Fred and Emma (Brand) Kuenzi. Her father is now deceased, and her mother lives on the old farm in Rochester Township. Mrs. Carpenter graduated with the class of 1911 from the Missouri Wesleyan College at Cameron, and was engaged in teaching for two years prior to her marriage.
JOSEPH E. ADCOCK. An honored veteran of the Civil war, with a record for brave service during the great struggle between the North and the South and for faithful citizenship during the days of peace which followed, Joseph E. Adcock is now living in comfortable retirement at his home at Helena, enjoying the fruits which his years of labor have brought him. He is a native of Trimble county, Kentucky, and was born August 3, 1846, a son of Elijah and Susan (Adcock) Adcock.
Mr. Adcock's parents, who were cousins, were both born near Spottsyl- vania Courthouse, Virginia, and after their marriage there removed to Kentucky, where the father died when Joseph E. was a lad of eight years, Mrs. Adcock surviving until 1856 and passing away at Macomb, Illinois. There were six children in the family, namely: Amanda, who is the widow of James Alberson and resides at Chicago; Mrs. Mary Salter White, who is deceased ; Joseph E., of this review ; George T., now a resi- dent of Wyoming, who served 100 days in Company C, One Hundred and Thirty-seventh Regiment, Illinois Volunteer Infantry, during the Civil War, and then enlisted in Company L, Seventh Regiment, Illinois Volunteer Cavalry, with which he served one year; Mrs. Nancy Powell, who left a large family at the time of her death; and Sallie, who died at the age of six years.
Joseph E. Adcock received his early education in the public schools of Trimble County, Kentucky, but his education was interfered with by the occurrence of his father's death, and in 1855 he accompanied his widowed mother to Macomb, Illinois. Her death followed in 1856, and from'that time forward Mr. Adcock was reared largely by strangers. He lived at the home and on the farm of A. C. Russell for several years, and was there at the time of the outbreak of the Civil war, and in August, 1861, joined Company L, Seventh Regiment, Illinois Volunteer Cavalry, with which he served three years, eleven months, having reenlisted Feb- ruary 9, 1864. He received his honorable discharge May 30, 1865, and was mustered out of the service at Springfield. Illinois, August 30, 1865.
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Mr. Adcock's service was crowded with active participation in some of the principal engagements of the long and bloody struggle. He fought at Corinth and Nashville, was with General Grant in all his campaigns in the West, and engaged in Grierson's Raid, from LaGrange, Tennessee, to Baton Rouge, Louisiana. Finally, Mr. Adcock celebrated Thanks- giving Day, 1864, by being captured by the Confederates, at Campbell, Tennessee, and was taken to the awful Andersonville Prison, where he was confined until the close of the war. At all times Mr. Adcock con- ducted himself as a brave, faithful and efficient soldier, cheerfully per- forming whatever duty he was called to discharge and winning the respect and esteem of his comrades and officers.
When he once more joined the workers in the ranks of peace, Mr. Adcock returned to Illinois, where he remained for one year, and then decided he was ready to establish a home of his own. He was married October 22, 1866, to Miss Lizzie Satterwhite, who was born in Oldham County, Kentucky, November 3, 1848, a daughter of Mortimer and Jane (Callis) Adcock, who spent their lives there. Mr. and Mrs. Adcock began housekeeping in Iroquois County, Illinois, where they resided for four- teen years on a farm, and in 1881 went to the West, locating on a ranch in Wyoming. That state continued to be their home until 1887, when they came to Missouri, Mr. Adcock establishing himself in the transfer business at St. Joseph. After thirteen years they returned to Wyoming, where for six years Mr. Adcock carried on ranching and railroading, and in 1910 retired from active pursuits after having spent a number of years in farming in Andrew County, Missouri. He has since made his home at Helena, and is in the enjoyment of a handsome competence, earned through long years of faithful and energetic labor. Mr. Adcock is known as one of the substantial and representative men of his community. He is a republican but not a politician. Mr. Adcock has never lost interest in his comrades of the war days, and is a valued member of the local post of the Grand Army of the Republic. With his family he attends the Methodist Episcopal Church.
Mr. and Mrs. Adcock have been the parents of five children, as follows : Susan J., who is the wife of Enos Thompson, of Helena; Anna M., wife of Daniel Thompson, of Rochester Township; Maggie, the wife of Samuel Driver, of Caliente, Nevada; Orin K., who resides also at Caliente; and Sallie, who died at the age of five years.
JOHN T. MCELWAIN. Now living retired and quietly enjoying the fruits of a well spent life at Helena in Andrew County, John T. McEl- wain, who is a veteran of the great Civil war, was incapacitated for fur- ther service about the middle of the struggle by wounds, returned to his native State of Ohio, and a few years later, in 1871, came out to North- west Missouri. Mr. McElwain for nearly forty years was one of the pros- perous and active farmers of Rochester township in Andrew County, and long years of industry, honorable dealing with his fellow men, and strict observance of the principles of integrity have given him a high esteem in this community.
John T. McElwain was born near Washington Courthouse in Fayette County, Ohio, January 22, 1836. His parents were John T. and Eleanor (Todhunter) McElwain. His father, a native of Kentucky, when four years of age was taken to Fayette County, Ohio, and grew up there on a farm. His wife was a native of Ohio. The father died in Fayette County July 20, 1863, and his widow subsequently passed away in Fayette County. They were the parents of four daughters and six sons, mentioned briefly as follows: William Richard, who lives in Buchanan
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County, Missouri; Robert Parker of New Mexico; John T .; Maria Jane, widow of Andrew Glasgow, of Osborn, Missouri; Eliza, widow of William Stone of Kansas; Euseba, who married William Hinkson, and both are now deceased; Sarah Minerva, who married Scott Orr of Florida; Samuel Q. of Newark, Ohio; Thomas Nesbit, who died at the age of eight years; and Alfred Jackson, who lives in Ohio.
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John T. McElwain grew up on his father's farm in Ohio, lived with his parents until twenty-four, and soon after the outbreak of the war between the states enlisted October 17, 1861, in Company D of the Forty-eighth Ohio Volunteer Infantry, Capt. F. M. Posegate's company. He saw eighteen months of active service, and was twice wounded. He was in the great battle of Shiloh on the memorable Sunday, the first day of that struggle, and while fighting was struck by a bullet in the jaw, breaking the jaw bone. He carried that bullet for seven days before it was extracted. He was sent home on a thirty-day furlough, and then rejoined the army in time to take part in the siege of Corinth, marched through Tennessee to the city of Memphis, where he was stationed five months, and then followed Sherman on his first attack against Vicksburg. He fell back with the troops to Arkansas Post, and there was again wounded by the same kind of bullet which struck him at Shiloh, this time in the right hand. Mr. McElwain still keeps as relics of his military experience these two balls. On account of his wounds he received an honorable discharge in May, 1863, at Mound City, Illinois, and then returned home, being incapacitated for labor for nearly a year. Mr. McElwain for his services as a soldier received at first a pension of four dollars per month, and it has gradually been increased with increasing years until he now gets twenty-seven dollars a month.
His years were spent in farming in Ohio until he moved to Missouri, and in the fall of 1871 located in Rochester Township of Andrew County. His business interests have been gradually expanding, and at the present time he owns two fine farms, one comprising eighty acres and the other 125 acres, while his wife owns a place of 120 acres. All three of these farms are in Rochester Township. About five years ago Mr. McElwain and wife left the country and have since lived retired in the village of Helena, where they own and occupy an attractive and comfortable home.
Mr. McElwain has always affiliated with the republican party since the war, but has never sought nor held public office. He and his wife are members of the Long Branch Christian Church, in which he has served as deacon for many years. He was active in the Grand Army Post until it was disbanded.
On October 17, 1867, Mr. McElwain married Mary J. Harris. Mrs. McElwain was born in Clinton County, Ohio, March 14, 1838, a daughter of Lewis and Clarissa (Patten) Harris. Her father was born in Ken- tucky and her mother in Ohio, and both died in the latter state. Mr. and Mrs. McElwain are the parents of two children: Harry and Frank Martin. The latter was born April 1, 1877, and died January 12, 1896. The son Harry is now a merchant at Helena. He married Stella Zimmer- man, and they are the parents of seven children, named Beulah, Lola, Pearl, Bernice, Thelma, Margaret and Opal Fern.
WILLIAM H. SHARP. In the prosperous little village of Helena, Andrew County, the chief factor in business enterprise is William H. Sharp, the vice president and cashier of the Exchange Bank of Helena. In 1900 Mr. W. M. Walker and Mr. Sharp established this bank as a private institution, each gentleman having half interest. Its ownership has remained the same and its management has been under the direction
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of Mr. Sharp for the past fifteen years. Mr. Walker, the president, resides at Atchison, Kansas. This is one of the accommodating private banks of Northwest Missouri, has a large total of resources, and has been an important factor in the business and agricultural community at which it is the center. A recent statement shows the total resources to be more than a hundred thousand dollars, and this is a fine showing for a town the size of Helena. Its capital stock paid in is $5,000, its surplus fund $10,000, and net undivided profits amount to more than ten thou- sand dollars. The aggregate deposits amount to more than seventy-five thousand dollars.
William H. Sharp was born in Doniphan County, Kansas, March 25, 1866, a son of Joseph D. and Elizabeth Sharp. His father and mother were both born in Tennessee and they were married at Knoxville, Tennessee, and in 1863 settled in Northeastern Kansas. About 1888 they moved to Oklahoma, and spent the rest of their days near El Reno. The father spent most of his life as a farmer, and for several years in Tennessee was engaged in merchandising. Mr. William H. Sharp was one of the youngest of ten children. Three are now living, the other two being : Mrs. Martha Bunson of Elk City, Oklahoma; and Mrs. Alice T. Cortelyou of Muscotah, Kansas.
William H. Sharp grew up on a farm in Kansas, and lived there until he was married in 1884. His education came from the country schools, and his early experience made him ready for his first venture after his marriage as a farmer. After farming for about three years, he took work under his uncle in a sawmill in Arkansas. On returning to Effing- ham, Kansas, he became assistant cashier in the State Bank of Effingham. He began in that work in 1891 and remained eighteen months. The cashier of the bank was Gilbert Campbell, regarded as one of the best bankers in Eastern Kansas, and under his capable direction Mr. Sharp secured an unusually thorough training in the banking business. W. M. Walker, who is now president of the Exchange Bank of Helena, subse- quently bought stock in the State Bank of Effingham, and took the position of assistant cashier. After that he returned to the farm for three years, and then engaged in the lumber, stock and grain business at Muscotah in Atchison County. He was in that business five years, and in 1900 came to Helena, Andrew County, and besides organizing the bank opened up a lumber and hardware store. He continued this mercantile business for several years, but now gives most of his time to his duties as vice president and cashier of the bank. Since 1907, Mrs. Sharp, his wife, has held the post of assistant cashier.
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