USA > Missouri > A history of northwest Missouri, Volume III > Part 91
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
Frederick Debo Fulkerson, who represents the third generation of residence in this section of Northwest Missouri, is the active manager of the splendid stock farm near Brimson, in Grundy County. He was born in this county, in Taylor Township, July 28, 1870, and is a son of Joshua Frederick and Margaret Frances (Fulkerson) Fulkerson.
It was in 1842 that the paternal grandparents, Franklin and Polly (Ewing) Fulkerson, came to Grundy County. Franklin Fulkerson was a native of Virginia and his wife of Kentucky. In Grundy County the former entered 160 acres of land, mostly prairie, paying the regulation Government price of $1.25 per acre. He had a genius for handling land and for acquiring a large estate, and in time owned 1,200 acres, most of which was improved. The first home of the Fulkerson family in Grundy County was a log house, and some of the children were partly reared Vol. III-39
1902
HISTORY OF NORTHWEST MISSOURI
in that structure. Northwest Missouri had hardly begun to be settled in the early '40s, and the people who lived there were put to the most primitive methods of industry and living conditions. In the home one of the conspicuous features were the spinning wheel and other implements used for carding the wool, spinning the woolen threads and the flax, and the looms used for weaving the homespun cloth. All the cooking was done at the fireplace, and the children had nothing but corn bread on week days, while on Sundays they were feasted with flour biscuits sweet- ened with honey taken from the bee trees in the surrounding forest. While the Indians were numerous they were peaceable, and the principal relations the settlers had with these original residents of the forest were trading, though the Indians were notorious as beggars and if not watched were inclined to petty thieving. All this country in the '40s had an abundance of wild game of all kinds-turkey, deer and other animals- and wolves were the chief obstacle to the raising of live stock, the cattle and hogs having to be carefully watched until well grown. The most convenient market for supplies was at that time at Brunswick. Money was a very scarce commodity and the method of doing business was largely by barter and exchange. It was with wagon and ox teams that the Fulkersons came from Virginia to Missouri, and for a number of years all the farm work was performed by the slow plodding oxen, and the plow was made of wood shod with iron. When the grandparents came to Northwest Missouri they brought with them one slave, whom they afterwards liberated and paid his passage to the Liberian Republic, where all American slaves were welcomed, and he was given 160 acres of land and reached a considerable degree of prosperity before his death. Franklin and Polly Fulkerson were the parents of twelve children : Eliza Jane, Amanda, Evelina, Rachel, Peter Glen, Putnam Samuel, Joshua Frederick, Theophilus, Preston, James Evans, Ewing Wirt and Dow. The four still living are Peter Glen, James, Wirt and Theophilus, all of them residents of Missouri.
On the maternal side the grandparents were Frederick Fulkerson and wife, who were also Virginians, and came to Missouri in 1842 and located on the south side of the Missouri River, in Lafayette County. Because of their pronounced sympathy with the general opinion in the North antagonistic to slavery, they suffered a great deal of persecution, and finally moved to Grundy County, where they were safer from such attacks. After the war they returned to Lafayette County, and died near Higginsville.
Joshua Frederick Fulkerson, father of Frederick D., was born in Kentucky October 8, 1838, and his wife, Margaret Frances Fulkerson, was born in Tazewell County, Virginia, in 1846. Joshua F. Fulkerson enlisted in the Missouri State Militia during the war, held the rank of captain, but most of his service was only subject to call and some skir- mish duty. He was mustered out at Chillicothe in 1865. He had received from his father eighty acres of land, and began his career as a farmer with a team of oxen and one horse. He had his father's talent for farm- ing, and added to his place until it comprised 339 acres, most of which was thoroughly improved. In 1866 he built on his land a log house of one large room, and there his family of children were reared. The shingles on this house were of walnut, and many of the older settlers recall how plentiful walnut timber was in those days and so little thought of that it was used for firewood. Some of those great walnut logs would now be worth a considerable sum of money. Many facts might be re- called as typical of early times in Northwest Missouri and all of which have been part of the experience of the Fulkerson family. Forty or fifty years ago wild eagles were very numerous and they were a pest to
1903
HISTORY OF NORTHWEST MISSOURI
farmers, particularly to those who attempted to raise sheep, since these eagles frequently carried away and destroyed the young lambs. There were few neighbors in the community and families as a rule lived far apart. The Fulkersons had a queer old character as a neighbor, and one incident is recalled. When this old settler came to the Fulkerson home it was customary to give him some present, and on one occasion they sent him away with as many cherries as he could take. The old man put these cherries in his shirt bosom in absence of anything better in which to carry them. Somewhat later a member of the household was visiting at the Fulkersons and was asked how they liked the cherries. She replied that they were very good, but "a little greasy." The very finest land now operated in the farm of Frederick D. Fulkerson was at one time under water, comprising a veritable lake or swamp. There is now hardly any better land in Northwest Missouri. Frederick D. Fulkerson undertook a number of years ago to tile all the bottom land, and since it has been drained it is unexcelled for the growing of corn and other crops. Among the improvements on his estate is a system of private water works. Mr. Fulkerson keeps two men employed the year around and hires considerable extra help during the summer season.
In Grundy County Mr. Fulkerson is regarded as one of the most progressive farmers and stock raisers. His cattle are all thoroughbred shorthorns, he keeps a large number of Shropshire sheep, fine Poland China hogs, and has a yardfull of black Langshan chickens. For a num- ber of years he has been an exhibitor at county fairs and other stock shows, and has won prizes in the State Fair, in the fair at Canton and the Interstate Fair at St. Joseph. His cattle won prizes in the interstate shows and a number of blue ribbons have been awarded his sheep. The ram for his herd was bought in England at a cost of $500 and has won first prizes in Iowa, Illinois, Missouri and Nebraska state fairs. Mr. Ful- kerson takes especial pride in his hogs and has spent a great deal of time and care and money in improving and grading up his Poland Chinas until his herd is one of the best in Missouri. The first Poland China hog he ever owned he got by cutting and binding ten acres of corn. He. is an expert in all departments of animal husbandry, and among stock- men his name is one of the most familiar in Missouri. He exhibited some of his finest animals in the World's Fair at St. Louis about ten years ago and has some premiums from that exposition. He is likewise a lover of good horses and keeps a number of high grade animals.
Frederick D. Fulkerson grew up in Grundy. County, attended the country schools, later the Grand River College at Edinburg, and com- pleted his education in the University of Missouri. Mr. Fulkerson studied law, but at the death of his parents came home and has since applied himself to farming and stock raising with a success which is probably greater than he could have reached in that profession, and he has a business and income such as few of the best lawyers in the state enjoy. After the death of his parents he managed the farm so as to educate the younger members of the family, and he and his brother and sister have since kept up the household. Frederick Fulkerson is pro- prietor of the old home place and has a large amount of town property. He is also engaged in the hardware business at Brimson, under the name. of Dent & Fulkerson. Mr. Fulkerson is a republican in politics and has. held the offices of justice of the peace, tax collector and town trustee. Fraternally his relations are with the Independent Order of Odd Fel- lows and the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks.
DAVID HENRY CLARK. From the position of a country school teacher to proprietor of one of the largest grain and elevator enterprises in.
1904
HISTORY OF NORTHWEST MISSOURI
Northwest Missouri indicates a progress and advancement worthy of any ambitious career. While that is the chief business accomplishment of David Henry Clark, it does not measure to the full the civic relations and influences which lie has exercised as one of the sterling men of Sulli- van and Grundy counties. Mr. Clark has for several years been a resident of the town of Galt, is known to everyone in that community, and his name is familiar to grain dealers all over the state.
David Henry Clark was born in Sullivan County, near the Town of Milan, October 10, 1865. His father was Benjamin Thomas Clark, a native of Kentucky. His mother's maiden name was Elizabeth Peters, who was born in Sullivan County, a daughter of Silas Peters, who was a Kentuckian and one of the first settlers in Sullivan County, having entered land three miles north of Humphreys at a cost of $1.25 per acre. At the time of his death Silas Peters owned a splendid estate of 320 acres, all of it well improved, having been cleared off from the dense wilderness which covered it when he first secured it. Silas Peters was also a prominent man in Sullivan County in the early days, and held a number of local offices. Benjamin Thomas Clark was a resident of Mis- souri before the war, and in 1861 enlisted as a soldier in the Twenty- second Missouri Volunteers and saw four years of service. He was once wounded, was mustered out and given an honorable discharge in 1865.
David Henry Clark grew up in Sullivan County, attended the country schools there, and in 1886 entered the college at Humphreys. In 1888 he began his career as a teacher, and for several terms had charge of schools in Sullivan County.
It was in 1899 that Mr. Clark became identified with the grain and seed business at Osgood. In the ten years that he was located there his own business became a factor in making that section one of the largest millet producing regions in the United States. Mr. Clark has specialized to a large degree in the handling of millet seed and is still recognized as one of the largest dealers in this commodity in the United States. This brief outline of what he has accomplished in a business way does not suggest the difficulties which he has overcome and the problems he has mastered, but it can be stated that he is a thoroughly self-made man and has achieved success as a result of enterprise and hard work. After some years his business at Osgood became so extensive that he found it necessary to remove to Galt in order to secure better railroad accommo- dations. At Galt he has the finest and best equipped elevator in that section of Missouri. Mr. Clark is also a farmer, though he operates his land by tenant.
As a republican and a good citizen he has made himself a valuable factor in his home community. Mr. Clark is president of the board of aldermen and president of the school board, also president of the Electric Light Company of Galt, and has served in an official capacity in connec- tion with the town council and the board of education for a number of years. As a feature of his political opinion it is noteworthy that he favors woman's rights. Mr. Clark is a member of the Methodist Epis- copal Church and one of its trustees. Fraternally he is affiliated with the Masonic Lodge and the Independent Order of Odd Fellows.
In March, 1889, Mr. Clark married Miss Louisa Jacobs, daughter of John Jacobs, who now lives near Scottsville, in Sullivan County. John Jacobs is one of the oldest settlers in that section of Sullivan County, and at an early day he made the trip by stage coach out to the California gold fields soon after the discoveries of 1849. He made some money in mining and returned to the United States by the water route, being a hundred days between San Francisco and New York City. Mr. and Mrs. Clark are the parents of four children : Herbert Ray, Lena May, Ernest Audra
1.905
HISTORY OF NORTHWEST MISSOURI
and Nina Ethel. The daughter Lena is the wife of Howell Pollock, son of Judge George W. Pollock of Grundy County.
OTTO HAMILTON. One of the active business men of Spickard, en- gaged in the grain, coal and feed and general implement trade, Otto Hamilton has spent all his life in Northwest Missouri and has connections with some of the oldest families in this part of the state.
Otto Hamilton was born in Mercer County, Missouri, June 8, 1875, a son of James L. and Matilda (Chilcoat) Hamilton, both of whom were natives of Ohio, and moved to Grundy County, Missouri, in 1866. His father worked on a farm until 1878 and then bought 320 acres in Mercer County for $16 per acre. This land had been entered by a Southern slave holder, who occupied it and worked the land with his slaves. Under Mr. Hamilton's direction the farm was greatly improved, and in 1907 was sold as one of the highly developed farms of that community, bring- ing a price much higher than was paid for it thirty years before. James L. Hamilton is now living at Chillicothe, Missouri, at the age of seventy- seven. One of his sons, Robert, is a farmer in Howell County, Missouri, and a younger son, J. L., lives with his father in Chillicothe.
Otto Hamilton received his education in one of the country schools of Mercer County, and then became associated with his father in farming until 1901. At that date he bought 100 acres in Mercer County, sold it in 1905 to George Spickard, and then bought 150 acres four miles north- west of Spickard, half of which lies in Mercer County and the other half in Grundy County. In 1907 Mr. Hamilton sold his farm and moved into Spickard, and has since been engaged in business. He was clerk in the hardware and grocery store of T. W. Ballew for a time, and in 1908 was employed at the carpenter's trade in Spickard. In 1911, having given up the work of his trade, Mr. Hamilton engaged in the grain and feed business, to which he afterwards added a stock of implements and hard- ware. He now has a prosperous business and distributes these various products throughout the surrounding country, and does a good deal of buying and shipping.
Politically he has always been identified with the republican party, but in 1913 was elected on the progressive ticket as township trustee. He is a member of the Christian Church. September 27, 1897, Mr. Hamil- ton married Mirtie B. Barnes, daughter of Thomas W. and Purcella (Austin) Barnes, of Grundy County. Mrs. Hamilton's parents are among the oldest settlers of Grundy County.
NOBLE J. YOUNG. One of the active and enterprising young business men of Spickard, Noble J. Young is manager of the T. W. Ballew Lumber Company at that point, and began his work in the lumber business at Gallatin several years ago. Mr. Young also has a diploma as an embalmer and undertaker.
Noble J. Young was born at Cedar Falls, Iowa, March 3, 1888, a son of Dr. James W. and Anna (Scham) Young. His father was born in Virginia in 1846 and when only a boy in 1862 enlisted at Batavia, New York, in the Eighth New York Regiment of Heavy Artillery, being as- signed to the division commanded by General Hancock. He was pro- moted several times, remained in the army until mustered out in 1865, and came out with the brevet rank of captain. After the war he studied medicine, went to England, and was married there in 1876 to Miss Scham, who was born in England in 1851.
Noble J. Young spent part of his boyhood in England in the home of his maternal grandparents, but was reared in Iowa, in the vicinity of Cedar Falls, where he attended public schools, and also in the country
1906
HISTORY OF NORTHWEST MISSOURI
schools of Union County, Iowa, where his parents lived from 1897 until 1902. In the latter year the family moved to Daviess County, Missouri, and lived on a farm, but he attended school in Gallatin. Doctor Young moved into Gallatin in 1907, and the son soon afterwards took up busi- ness life as clerk in the Farmers store. In 1908 he entered Grand River College at Gallatin, being graduated in 1910, and in the fall of the same year entered a school of embalming at Kansas City and was graduated and given a diploma. Since then his attention has been given chiefly to the lumber business. In 1911 he became second man with the firm of T. W. Ballew Lumber Company at Gallatin, and on January 1, 1913, was sent to Spickard to take charge of the local yards as manager.
Mr. Young is a democrat and is affiliated with the Masonic fraternity and the Knights of Pythias. He was married June 12, 1913, to Myra A. Newman, daughter of Albert A. and Winifred (Kegrice) Newman, formerly of Illinois, but locating at Breckenridge, Missouri, in 1896. Mrs. Young's father is a large land owner in that section of Missouri.
JOHN D. HOBSON. For nearly three-quarters of a century Andrew County has been continuously honored and benefited by the presence within its borders of the Hobson family. In the character of its indi- vidual members and in their public services no family in the county has enjoyed higher esteem, and as the first generation were of the fine pioneer type which create homes out of the wilderness, so those that have followed have taken up in turn their destinies in the world and have been home- makers, industrious providers and capable citizens.
John D. Hobson, who represents the second generation, was born in the City of Savannah November 19, 1852. His parents were John and Elizabeth Jane (Phillips) Hobson, both of whom were natives of North Carolina, were of English descent, and in the earliest generations all Quakers. John Hobson was born in Raleigh County, North Carolina, June 29, 1813, a son of Hadley Hobson, who spent all his life in North Carolina. John Hobson early in his career started for the West, lived a time in Indiana, later in Illinois, and while in that state helped lay off a portion of the present City of Chicago, and then with horse and wagon journeyed on to the western frontier and thus arrived in Andrew County in 1841. In 1844 he was married in Ray County, Missouri, to Elizabeth, Phillips, who was born in North Carolina in 1824, and was brought to Andrew County when a child, the Phillips having been among the very first to locate in this section of Missouri. John and Elizabeth Hobson lived for a time in Rochester Township, and later moved to Sa- vannah, where he was associated with his brother Stephen in conducting a brick yard and kiln, and they furnished the material and also the build- ing service in the construction of many of the old homes in Savannah. John Hobson had acquired land from the Government situated six miles northeast of Savannah, in Empire Township, being the owner of a quarter section of prairie land and also forty acres of timber land on the Platte River. After leaving the brick business in Savannah he retired to his farm and spent the rest of his life there, where he died in 1892 at the age of about sixty-nine. His wife passed away March 13, 1877, aged fifty-four. After he had lived several years in Northwest Missouri, John Hobson returned to North Carolina, making the trip with a one-horse wagon and having another horse which he rode half the time and the other half drove the wagon. The family were members of the Baptist Church. Their five children were: C. L. of Whitesville; Sarah Ellen, wife of Asbury Pendry of Benton Township, and she is now deceased ; Mary E., wife of John Bombarger of Rea ; John D .; and Breckenridge B. of Empire Township.
1907
HISTORY OF NORTHWEST MISSOURI
John D. Hobson has spent all his life in Andrew County, and lived at home and assisted his parents in operating the old farm until twenty- seven. He then married and began farming for himself, and now owns an excellent estate in section 14 of Platte Township of 160 acres, known as Woodside Farm. It is devoted to general grain and stock farming and Mr. Hobson is one of the successful representatives of agricultural activi- ties in this part of the state. He is a republican in politics and is a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church at Walnut Grove.
In 1880 Mr. Hobson married Margaret Crockett, a member of a well known family of that name in Andrew County. She died in 1895. Her father was Nelson Crockett. In 1901 Mr. Hobson married Cynthia Adkins, who died in 1906. In 1908 he married Emma Jones, daughter of Isaac N. and Susan (Bowman) Jones. Mr. Hobson has no children by any of his wives.
Isaac N. Jones, father of Mrs. John D. Hobson, is one of the oldest native sons of Andrew County, where he was born December 18, 1849. Two years later his father was killed by lightning, and the mother then took her eight children up to the old home in Indiana, lived there several years, and at the close of the war returned with three of her children, the other one still living having remained in Indiana, and she continued to reside in Andrew County until her death in 1875. The three children now living are: Elizabeth Blanchard of Barnard, William F. of St. Joseph and Isaac N.
Isaac N. Jones received his education in the country schools and has been a continuous resident of Andrew County since 1865, a period of fifty years. His active career was spent as a farmer and a few years ago he retired and is now living on the farm with his son-in-law, Mr. Hobson. Mr. Jones was married in 1871 to Susan Bowman, who was born in Andrew County December 30, 1848, and has spent practi- cally all her days within the limits of this county. Her parents were Casper and Mary Ann (Hutchinson) Bowman, both natives of Ken- tucky. Her father was born in 1802 and died at the age of eighty- seven, and her mother was born in 1811 and died at the age of eighty-nine. They moved from Kentucky to Northwest Missouri with five children during the latter '30s, and spent the rest of their days on a farm six miles northeast of Savannah, on land that had been entered by John Bowman, father of Casper. Isaac N. Jones and wife are the parents of four children : Emma L., wife of John D. Hobson; George Ernest, of Rochester Township; Mary Lou, wife of George Bailey, and now living with her father; Alonzo Newton, of St. Joseph.
C. L. Hobson, an older brother of John D., is also one of the older native sons of Andrew County. He was born in Rochester Township November 7, 1847, and all his years have been spent in this county except three, during which time he was a farmer in Brown County, Kansas. He was reared on a farm, followed that as a vocation until 1882, then spent sixteen years in conducting the mill at Whitesville, and has since been engaged in the carpenter trade. C. L. Hobson is affiliated with Whitesville Lodge No. 313 of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows.
On May 4, 1882, he married Adelia Harlan. She was born in Clinton County, Ohio, February 25, 1857, and came with her parents, R. M. and Mary (Downer) Harlan, to Andrew County in 1868. Both her parents are now deceased and were natives of Ohio. There were three sons and six daughters in the Harlan family. Mr. and Mrs. C. L. Hob- son are the parents of three children: Anna Flossie is the wife of E. R. Smith of Whitesville; Nellie Grace is the wife of C. B. Allen of High Prairie, Platte Township, and their three children are named Duane
1908
HISTORY OF NORTHWEST MISSOURI
Hobson, Loren Plato and Robert R .; and C. L., Jr., who lives in Salt Lake City, Utah, married Gertrude Thompson of Denver.
L. F. NOELLSCH. One of the vigorous and enterprising younger farmers of Holt County, L. F. Noellsch, has spent practically all his life in this section, and his career illustrates what may be accomplished by young men of industry and ambition in the fertile farming district of Holt County.
L. F. Noellsch was born in this county December 16, 1879, a son of Joseph and Louisa (Hoffman) Noellsch. There were six children, and all of them are still living. Mr. Noellsch married Blanche Bucher, daughter of Jacob Bucher. By their marriage they have become the parents of three children: Kenneth, Louis and Ethel, all of whom were born in Holt County.
Mr. L. F. Noellsch graduated in the high school at Oregon and since that time has taken his place as a hard working member of the agricul- tural community. His first farm was one that he rented from his father, and his present place is a portion of the estate of Jacob Bucher. Mr. Noellsch has done much to improve the farm, which comprises 160 acres of land, and is prospering along general lines of agriculture and stock raising. In politics he is a republican and his father was of the same political faith. .
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.