USA > Missouri > Linn County > Compendium of history and biography of Linn County, Missouri > Part 55
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William R. Frakes was twelve years old when he was brought by his parents to Laclede, and completed his education in the common school in that town. He began the task of providing for his own live- lihood on a farm and has been a farmer ever since. During the Civil War his home was robbed by the predatory spoilesmen known as bush- whackers, who terrorized large portions of this state and did a great deal of damage, ostensibly in behalf of the cause in the contest which they represented, but in large degree for their own benefit, and the persecution of those opposed to them.
Mr. Frakes began farming for himself in 1872, and soon afterward traded the farm he then owned for the one he now owns and cultivates, which he has vastly improved and made one of the best in the town- ship. He has made his improvements with judgment and good taste, and done his farming with intelligence and skill. Every acre under cultivation yields good returns for the labor bestowed upon it, because he so manages the work that it must, and omits no effort on his part to bring the desired result.
On November 3, 1872, Mr. Frakes was united in marriage with Miss Madeline McCoy, who was born in Chariton county, this state. Her parents came to Missouri in the fifties, and were early settlers in the locality of their home. Six children have been born of the union: William E., who died on December 25, 1910; Ira B., who is a farmer; and Ernest W., Nancy, Margaret and Charles J., all of whom are still living under the parental rooftree. All the members of the family enjoy a large measure of public esteem and all are well worthy of the regard in which they are held.
DR. DAVID F. HOWARD
With wise forethought and judicious liberality Peter F. and Phoebe (Davis) Howard, the parents of Dr. David F. Howard, one of the rising physicians and surgeons of Brookfield, moved their family from their farm in Montgomery county, Missouri, to Kirksville when their chil-
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dren were yet young in order to give them good educational advan- tages. They were born in Warren and Audrain counties, this state, and early in life became residents of Montgomery county, where the father engaged in farming.
On the farm he cultivated there the doctor was born on March 3, 1870. When he was five years old the change of residence to Kirksville took place, and in that city he was educated academically, attending first the district school and afterward the State Normal School and the business college there. After accomplishing the object of their resi- dence in Kirksville the parents moved to Brookfield, where the father died in 1895. The mother is still living and continues to reside in Brookfield. They had five children, two of whom, both sons, are living.
The doctor's grandfather, David Howard, was long a resident of Warren county, and from there as his base of operations he became a very successful trapper and hunter. When he moved to Warren county from his native state of Kentucky, the whole region around him in his new home was a wilderness, and it gave him fine opportunities for carrying on his chosen occupation, but in the pursuit of it'he often had to defend himself and his possessions from the attacks of hostile Indians, who sought to get the fruits of his enterprise and who also resented his intrusion into their hunting grounds. But he was equal to the requirements. As well as winning celebrity by his success in hunting and trapping. He died of cholera in St. Louis in 1849 while on an expedition to that city for supplies. His remains were smuggled back to Warren county and buried there.
Dr. Howard first came to Brookfield in 1882, and for a number of years made an excellent reputation as a clerk and bookkeeper, and finally was selected as a bookkeeper in the Linn County Bank. He began the study of medicine in 1898, and after a due course of prepara- tion in the State University, passed two years in the medical depart- ment of Washington University in St. Louis, from which he was gradu- ated in 1903. He at once returned to Brookfield and began the practice of his profession, in which he is still engaged, with a steadily increasing body of patients and a steadily rising and widening reputation as a physician.
The doctor has been well located for business, being associated with Dr. Oven in office occupancy, and he has taken all means at his command to improve himself in his profession and keep abreast of its rapid advance. He is a diligent student of its literature and an active member of the county and state medical societies. He attends their meetings and takes an active part in their proceedings, contributing
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to their value and gaining considerable benefit from conferences with his professional brothers.
Dr. Howard was married on May 18, 1892, to Miss Lena Barbee, a native of Linn county. They have one child, their daughter Ruth. The doctor takes an active part in the fraternal life of the community as a member of the Woodmen of the World, and in religious matters as a member of the Christian church. He is attentive to the claims of both his church and his lodge, as he is to all those involving the advance- ment of his city and county and the general welfare of their people. No worthy undertaking for the further development and improvement of the locality in which he lives goes without his energetic and helpful support, and all his efforts are directed by intelligence and breadth of view.
Making rapid progress in his profession, widely known in the county, standing high in public estimation, and enjoying the cordial regard of a host of admiring friends, the esteem bestowed upon him wherever he is known is based on genuine merit, which he has shown he possesses by his close attention to his professional work, his high character as a man, his fidelity to duty in every way, and the elevated and progressive nature of his citizenship, which is a valuable and valued addition to the manhood and public spirit of Brookfield and Linn county.
JOHN M. KERR
Orphaned at the age of two years by the death of his father, and thereby deprived of many advantages he might otherwise have enjoyed in the way of education and a start in life, John M. Kerr, who is now one of the leading farmers of Linn county, has had to shift for himself from an early period, although living at home with his mother, and from the age of eleven to that of twenty-two with her and her second husband. But he was made of the proper metal for endurance, and took his part in the battle of life with a firm and confident spirit from the start.
Mr. Kerr was born at Greenfield, Highland county, Ohio, on July 3, 1853, and is a son of Elder and Nancy Kerr, also natives of that state. The father was a farmer, and a few months after the birth of his son John moved his family to Hancock county, Illinois, where he died in 1855. He was the father of two sons and two daughters, and of these children only John M. and one brother and sister are living. His sister
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is Mrs. Henry Mock, and resides in California. His brother, Andrew H., lives in Lincoln, Nebraska.
About the year 1864 the mother was married a second time, uniting herself with Lafillet E. Fay, and the next year the family moved across the river into Missouri and on to Linn county, making the journey with teams. A new home was found on a tract of new ground in Jefferson township in this county, and on this a dwelling was erected and all the available force in the family went to work to turn the wild domain on which it settled into a productive farm. It was located near the village of Forker, and there the mother died in 1905.
John M. Kerr remained at home until 1875, then bought seventy- six acres of his present farm, which now comprises 180 acres, and is one of the best in the township. He was twelve years old when the family came to the county, and the long, slow jaunt was very trying but also very interesting to him. Nor was it without useful lessons for him. It helped to teach him self-reliance, and quickened the development within him of that resolute determination to grapple with and conquer diffi- culties which has ever since been one of his prominent characteristics.
When he started farming for himself his progress was slow and continued so for some time. But he held every inch he gained and used every additional advance for still further accretions to his power, and in a few years his pace became more rapid, and he was able to enlarge his operations. He bought additional land from time to time, until he secured the ownership of 180 acres, as has been noted, but all the while he kept on improving and enriching the whole tract, and thus adding to his returns.
Early in his career as a farmer he began raising and feeding live stock for the markets, and he is now one of the most extensive and active live stock men in the county. He handles a considerable body of stock every year, and makes his dealings in this commodity pay him well. He is careful and uses good judgment at every stage of his work in this industry, thereby securing the best results attainable, and it tells to his advantage, as is shown by the high rank his output has in the marts of trade.
Mr. Kerr was married in 1891 to Miss Elizabeth Bush, a native of Knox county, in this state. They have two children, their son Leroy and their daughter Beulah. The father takes an earnest interest and a serviceable part in the affairs of the county, is always ready to do all he can in aid of all commendable public improvements, and gives close attention to all his duties as a citizen. He is well known and highly esteemed.
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ABRAHAM H. READ
(Deceased)
For thirty-two years a resident of Linn county, and during the greater portion of the period one of the leading farmers and most esteemed citizens of Jefferson township, the late Abraham H. Read, who died on a small tract of land to which he had retired a few years before, passing away in 1892, at the age of seventy-two years, combined in his characteristics and make-up the thrift and frugality of the Cana- dian, the ingenuity and resourcefulness of the New Englander, and the breadth of view and enterprise of the Westerner, who dares all for his purpose, working on expansive lines and looking to small things only as matters of necessary detail that cannot be ignored but need not be made much of.
Mr. Read was born near Rutland, Vermont, on January 30, 1821, and was a son of Loton and Elvira (Hutchins) Read, natives of Canada. The father was a carpenter and also followed farming to some extent, in a small way, as they all do in New England, for he moved his family to Vermont early in his married life. From Vermont he took his wife and offspring to Crawford county, Pennsylvania, and in that state he resided until his death. His father was a soldier in the American army during the Revolutionary War, serving to the end of the contest in a New England regiment, and sharing in the glory of its triumphs in the independence of the United States.
Abraham H. Read was but a child when he was taken by his par- ents to Pennsylvania, and there he grew to manhood, working on the farm as he passed from boyhood to youth and from youth to maturity, and at the same time receiving such educational training as the district schools of the neighborhood in which he lived afforded. Being trained to farm work, and feeling no special inclination to any other, soon after leaving school he engaged in farming on his own account, and he fol- lowed that pursuit in Pennsylvania until 1857. He was successful in his operations, but he felt a strong desire for easier labor and more expansive returns, and determined to seek them where they were said vo be found.
He had heard much of the rich lands of the West, especially of this state and some of its neighbors, and this part of the country seemed to him to embody the fulfillment of his hopes. But before coming to Linn county he took up a tract of wild land in Grant county, Wisconsin, on which he lived and labored three years, from 1857 to 1860. In the spring of the year last named he crossed the great "Father of Waters"
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and came on to this county. On his arrival here he secured a tract of wild prairie in Jefferson township, and at once began to put it into shape for a permanent residence, and make it the nucleus of a large farm.
As time passed and he prospered he bought additional land and improved that also, always seeking some new responsibility and field of enterprise for the enlargement of his estate. At the time of his death he owned and cultivated 350 acres of fine farm land, and had it all in an advanced stage of development and productiveness. Some years before his demise he gave up all large undertakings and moved to a small tract of his land near Forker, on which he died, and on which his widow still lives. She has reached the advanced age of ninety years, but is still hale, vigorous and active. She and her husband were mar- ried in about 1846 and by their union became the parents of four chil- dren, two of whom are living: Chester A., a prosperous farmer of this county, and Mrs. Flora A. Test, who also lives in Linn county.
Mrs. Test was born in Pennsylvania, and reared and educated in * Missouri. On November 24, 1890, she was united with Eugene Test in marriage, and with him engaged in managing a farm. They became the parents of two children by this marriage, all of whom are living. Erwin, the first born, was by a former marriage to Lyman Boomer, and is now residing in the state of Oklahoma. John A., by second marriage, manages the home farm for his mother; and Gladus Viola, the third, is now Mrs. Lewis Bennett, of Chariton county. She is admired through- out the township for the spirit and enterprise she has exhibited. But, as has been noted, her son John now relieves her of the burden to a large extent, and is making a good record for himself as an industrious, skillful and progressive farmer.
HENRY C. STOCKWELL
Raising fruit for the markets on an extensive scale is a compara- tively new industry in Linn county, and the men who had the hardi- hood to inaugurate the movement for its introduction and their imme- diate followers in the matter are entitled to all praise. By their enter- prise and daring they gave a new source of commercial power to the county, and the farther they have since carried their operations the more they have augmented that power and expanded its usefulness.
Henry C. Stockwell, of Jefferson township, one of the prominent farmers living in the vicinity of Laclede, is a pioneer in the business in
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this locality, and has been successful in the venture to such an extent that he has steadily extended his plantings and enlarged his operations in the industry since he began to devote a portion of his fine farm to it. His general farming is considerable and its results are profitable, but his specialty in fruit culture gives his place an unusual interest, and makes it a resort for many who aim to follow his good example.
Mr. Stockwell is a New Yorker by nativity, born in Orange county, in the great Empire State, on July 28, 1853. But, while that county is rich in the production of fruit, he did not remain in it long enough to know anything about the industry there before he left. His parents, Luther and Jane (Dubois) Stockwell (the father was born in Moss and the mother in Orange county, New York), left that county when he was but four years old and moved to Illinois. The father was a physician and practiced his profession in his native state until he left there and afterward in his new home in Illinois until his death. He was born October 28, 1812, and died July 28, 1860. The mother survived him eighteen years, passing away on May 29, 1878.
They had two children, their son Henry C. and their daughter Mahala E., who is now the wife of P. H. Hoyer and resides in Linn county. The son grew from the age of four years to manhood in Illi- nois and obtained his education in the district schools. He assisted in farm work in his boyhood and youth, and so acquired a knowledge of the industry. And when he was ready to take up the burden of making a livelihood for himself, he became a farmer. To this occupation he has ever since adhered, his only departure from general farming being his cultivation of fruit.
He continued farming in Illinois until 1900, when he came to Mis- souri and took up his residence in Linn county. On his arrival in this county he bought 120 acres of unimproved land. He has since added to this and now has over 675 acres, and this he has made fruitful in pro- duction by his enterprise and skill as a farmer, and attractive as a country home by his excellent judgment and good taste in planning the dwelling, barns and other improvements he has put on it. In erecting his buildings he had an eye to the future, and built with a view to coming needs as well as to present requirements, and so his construc- tions are ample for a long time to come as well as adapted to every present need.
On October 10, 1889, Mr. Stockwell was united in marriage with Miss Rosa Vollmer. She was born in Grundy county, Illinois, and is a daughter of Gotfried and Anna (Meier) Vollmer, the former born in
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Germany and the latter in Switzerland. They came to the United States in 1870. They settled on a farm in Grundy county, Illinois, and later in 1878 moved to Coal City, Illinois, where the father still resides. The mother died a number of years ago. Mr. and Mrs. Stockwell have had six children, and four of them are living: Walter C., Henry D., Elmer L. and Vera A. They are all still members of the parental family circle. The father is a Democrat and active in the service of his party. As its representative he has served on the school board for a number of years. He is well known and well esteemed.
JAMES I. HAMILTON
A native of Clay township, in this county, and now engaged in farming the homestead on which he was born, and on which he has passed the whole of his life to this time (1912) except when he was absent at school, James I. Hamilton has a special interest in the wel- fare and progress of the county, and he manifests it on all occasions by his earnest and intelligent support of all undertakings for the better- ment of the region or the increase of conveniences and advantages for its residents.
Mr. Hamilton's life began on May 22, 1875, and he is a son of Neanian B. and Mary E. (Couch) Hamilton, the former born in Scot- land and the latter in Linn county. The father was brought by his par- ents to Toronto, Canada, in his infancy, and soon afterward the family moved to Genesee county, New York. There he grew to manhood and obtained a good education in the district and high school convenient to his home. He learned the shoemaker trade and worked at it in New York and Boston until about 1857, when he came to this county and opened a shoe shop in Linneus.
This shop he conducted until 1862, and was doing well in his under- taking. But the Civil War stirred his patriotism to its depths, and he determined to go to the defense of the Union. He enlisted in Company
H, - Missouri Volunteer Infantry, and in that regiment he served to the close of the war, most of the time on guard duty pro- tecting the railroads from destruction, and seeing but little field service or much of the sanguinary phase of the great sectional conflict.
In 1867, having returned to this county, he bought 160 acres of the farm on which his son James now lives. The land, when he bought it, was in a wild and uncultivated state, and he proceeded to break it up
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and improve it. As his prosperity increased he bought additional land until he owned 480 acres, all of which he soon had under the plow and bringing him in large returns for his labor. He managed all his farm- ing operations with judgment, conducted his work with skill and intel- ligence, controlled his business affairs with wisdom, and became a man of considerable property and prominent in the affairs of the township and county of his home.
His marriage with Miss Couch took place on March 16, 1872, and resulted in the birth of four children who grew to maturity and are still living. They are: James I., the immediate subject of this brief review; Nettie, who is unmarried; Olive, who is the wife of Jasper Van Horn, of this county, and Rose, who married David A. Pittman, and is also a resident of Linn county. The father was a Republican in political alle- ¡giance, but he was not an active partisan and never sought a public office of any kind. He died in October, 1908, but the mother is still living and has her home at Meadville. The grandfather, whose name was also James Hamilton, was born in Scotland and died in Genesee county, New York. He was a shoemaker by trade.
James I. Hamilton was reared on the farm on which he now lives. He began his education in the district schools and completed it at the Chillicothe State Normal School, which he attended three years. When he left that institution he returned to his home and took charge of the farm, and he has been its manager and controlling spirit ever since. He follows general farming and raises and feeds cattle for the markets, doing both on a scale of considerable magnitude and with highly grati- fying results.
On Christmas day, 1907, he was joined in wedlock with Miss Susie Phillips, a daughter of William D. and Malcena (Drews) Phillips, natives of Missouri and still active among its people and cordially respected by all classes of them by whom they are known. Mr. and Mrs. Hamilton have two children, their son James E. and daughter Elizabeth. The head of the house belongs to the Masonic order and takes an active and serviceable part in the work of his lodge in the fraternity. Like his father he is free from active partisanship in political affairs, but he never neglects the duties of citizenship, and in bestowing his suffrage considers only the general welfare of the town- ship and county without regard to political or personal claims. He is well and favorably known throughout the county as one of its most enterprising and promising young farmers and one of its most reliable and estimable citizens in all the relations of life.
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JAMES I. WOOLLEN
Having been born and reared on a farm, and having never had any inclination for any other occupation, it is but natural that James I. Woollen, of Clay township, this county, should still be a farmer now when he has passed the half-century mark in life, and has made a grati- fying success of the industry. Nor is it surprising that he should be one of the most enterprising and progressive men in the business in this part of the county. For, as he has always regarded farming as his life work, he has studied it diligently and with close observation, and kept himself in touch with the rapid progress in the business, and at all times ready to secure for himself the benefits of all new discoveries in every department of it.
Mr. Woollen was born in Adams county, Illinois, on January 6, 1859, his parents at that time being residents of that county. They were James A. and Susanna (Borgholthous) Woollen, the former a native of Dorchester county, Maryland, and the latter of Holland. The father's life began in 1821 and the mother's in 1826. When the father was seven years old his parents moved to Wayne county, Indiana, where he lived until 1842. He then moved to Adams county, Illinois, and joined one of his brothers, who was living there a few miles south of Quincy.
He was married in 1845, and lived near the Mississippi river until 1892, part of the time in Iowa. In the year last mentioned he came to this county, and here he passed the rest of his life, which ended on August 6, 1910. The mother died here in December, 1900. They were the parents of ten children, five of whom, two sons and three daughters, are living, three of them in Linn county. The father was a Republican in political relations and firm in his loyalty and devotion to the prin- ciples of his party.
James I. Woollen was reared to manhood in his native county and educated in its district schools. He began life for himself as a farmer there, and he has adhered to that occupation ever since. He continued his operations in Illinois until 1892, and then came to this county and bought the farm on which he now lives. It comprises 180 acres, the land is of excellent quality and he has improved it with good buildings and furnished his place with all the modern appliances required for its proper cultivation according to the most approved methods of the present day.
His farming operations are extensive and are conducted with the utmost vigor and enterprise. In addition he is largely engaged in
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breeding Durham cattle and Poland-China hogs. In this department of his industry his work is carried on with sedulous attention to every detail in all stages, and vigilant care in every way to secure the best results. As a consequence the products of his stables are in wide and general demand and have the highest rank in the markets, local and general.
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