USA > Missouri > Linn County > Compendium of history and biography of Linn County, Missouri > Part 79
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On this new farm in the wilderness the parents passed the remain- der of their lives, the father dying on it on August 7, 1846, and the mother on November 23, 1863. They had five sons and five daughters, all now deceased. The father was a Democrat in political faith and affiliation, but although fervently and faithfully loyal to his party, he never held or sought a political office and never desired one. He and the mother were long devout and serviceable members of the Metho- dist Episcopal church.
Their son Granville attained his manhood in this state, and in the limited schools of his youth here completed the education he had begun in the similar schools of his boyhood in his native state. The farm on which the family located in Howard county was yet almost virgin to the plow when his parents took possession of it. He aided his father in clearing and breaking it up, and bringing it to productive- ness. He accompanied the rest of the household to this county in 1842, and here, also, he assisted in the work of redeeming from the wilderness the land on which the domestic shrine was erected, remain- ing at home until he reached the age of twenty-two.
On September 1, 1842, he was united in marriage with Miss Mary C. Bailey, a daughter of Jacob and Catherine (Maddox) Bailey, who were born and reared in Kentucky and came to Linn county among its pioneers. They had twelve children, ten of whom are living: Albert H., of New Boston, Missouri; Sarah, now the wife of S. F. Forest of Seattle; Washington G., of New Boston, Missouri; Walter J., who re- sides in Lind, Washington; Anna E., who married J. M. Roberts, and has her home with him in Seattle, Washington; Martha, the wife of J. C. Cable of Windsor, Colorado; Andrew J., a resident of California; Melvina, who is now Mrs. Henry Mitchell of Wilson Creek, Washington; Mary E., who is the wife of Charles F. Little of Washington, Kansas, and John G., who resides in Warrensburg, Missouri. Their father, who was past ninety when he died, was a Democrat but never held or sought a political office. At the time of his death, which occurred on December 23, 1910, on the old farm which he occupied and cultivated for fifty-eight years, and 160 acres of which were given to his wife and himself by her parents at the time of his marriage, he owned 900
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acres of land, all in an advanced state of cultivation and well improved. He was a deacon in the Baptist church and a leader in public affairs. His widow is still living on this farm with her son Albert, who is farming it with industry, judgment and skill.
Albert H. Stone, the oldest son and first born child of Granville Stone of this sketch, was born in Linn county, Missouri, on April 7, 1844. He grew to manhood and was educated in North Salem town- ship, and after leaving school began life for himself as a farmer, the occupation to which he had been trained on his father's homestead. He has adhered to this calling ever since, and has succeeded in it in a gratifying degree, as he has deserved to have done, for he is an excellent farmer, enterprising, progressive and up to date in every way.
On August 25, 1865, he was married in Sullivan county, Indiana, to Miss Maria E. Roberts. They had four children, three of whom are living: Robert L., William W., and Mary J., now the wife of E. J. Baumberger. A son named Arthur died a number of years ago, and the mother died in 1877. On September 25, 1879, the father took as his second wife Miss Sarah E. Cable, a daughter of Joseph and Mar- garet (Hammond) Cable, who became residents of Linn county at the close of the Civil War. Nine children have been born of this union, eight of whom are living: Alma E., now the wife of L. J. Imbler; Ona E., the wife of Carl Locker; Joseph G .; Stella M., who is now Mrs. W. E. Morgan; and Albert H., Harry A., Charles C. and Beulah F. Their mother is living.
Mr. Stone has served as township collector and township trustee and given the township good service in both positions. In political relations he is a Democrat, and in religious affiliation he is connected with the Baptist church. He has a good farm and handles it wisely and greatly to his own advantage, and he also dealt in past years in blooded live stock of superior strains. In regard to public affairs he is progressive and enterprising, and the residents of his township regard him as one of their most useful and representative citizens, and one of their most upright and straightforward and reliable men.
GEORGE S. THUDIUM
This leading merchant at Garner and prominent and highly esteemed citizen of Baker township, this county, is native here, hav- ing been born in Linn county on October 13, 1865, a son of John G. and Christina Thudium, a sketch of their lives will be found on another
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page of this volume, natives of Germany. He was reared on his father's farm in New Salem township, and before he became a mer- chant was a farmer himself. He has also lived in other places and engaged in other pursuits, and also owns and controls a farm at the present time, so that his experience in life has been varied and brought him in contact with persons of different classes, customs and aspira- tions, and gives him considerable knowledge of human nature and a broad view of life.
George S. Thudium grew to manhood and was educated in Linn county. After leaving school he farmed for a few years, having been trained to the industry on his father's homestead, and then, in 1900, went to Colorado for a year. While in that state for health he engaged in merchandising. After his return to this county he again farmed for a number of years. In 1907 he turned his attention to general merchandising, and in that line of enterprise he has been engaged ever since. His store is the leading one in its locality, and is popular among the people for many miles around it. He conducts his business on rules of the strictest uprightness and square dealing, keeps his stock up to date, studies the wants of his patrons and makes every effort to provide for them. He is a progressive and enterprising mer- chant, and is successful in his business because he deserves to be and so manages his affairs as to command success.
On April 19, 1888, Mr. Thudium was united in marriage with Miss Emma A. Nester, a daughter of Colvil Nester, a Linn county pioneer who came to this county in 1837, and is still a resident of it. Four children have been born in the Thudium household, three of whom are living, William L., Lulu M. and Mabel M. Their father has served as a justice of the peace for fourteen years and also as township trus- tee. He is a Republican in politics, but not a very active partisan. Throughout the county he is well known and in all parts of it he is well esteemed as a progressive and public-spirited citizen, a good busi- ness man and an estimable personage in every way.
JUDGE GEORGE W. STEPHENS
This fine old gentleman, who has filled many offices in the gift of the people of Linn county, and who showed his patriotism at the beginning of the Mexican War by promptly enlisting a company for service in that short but decisive conflict, is now nearing the age of ninety years, and his life has been one of great usefulness in services of
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a high character. His life-story is one of the most interesting which could engage the pen of the biographer. His career has been clean and commendable in every way, and the people of the whole county hold him in great esteem and veneration.
Judge Stephens was born in Orange county, Virginia, on February 22, 1826, and he is a gentleman of distinguished ancestry. On his mother's side he is a lineal descendant of the first Bishop. Doggett of Virginia who founded Christ Church in that state in colonial times. The judge's father was a soldier in the War of 1812, and died in his native state at an advanced age after making a record of great credit to himself and benefit to his state.
When the Mexican War began Mr. Stephens, then a young man, enlisted a company and was commissioned captain by Governor Smith of Virginia on April 6, 1846. He was married in Hanover county, Vir- ginia, in 1848, to a Miss Rouzie, the daughter of an eminent physician and surgeon whose ancestors came to America from France with Gen- eral Lafayette. On her mother's side Mrs. Stephens was descended in a direct line from former Governor James Pleasant, of the Old Dominion.
Judge Stephens arrived in Linneus on July 11, 1856, while the sale of Guitar's addition was in progress. He purchased two lots and soon afterward bought the fine farm adjacent to the city later occu- pied by William H. Garrett. But he did not intend to devote his time and energies to farming alone. He was licensed to practice law in 1855 by Hon. James A. Clark of Linneus, then judge of this circuit. Being a man of undaunted energy and industry, he exerted his mental and physical powers in the successful practice of his profession, in which he rose to a high rank and commanding influence at the bar and before the people.
The judge, however, continued to purchase land and at one time was one of the most extensive landholders in the county, and con- tributed largely to its material prosperity and progress in the improve- ment and development of this fine country. He has filled several important offices in Linn county, among them that of probate judge, to which position he was appointed by the county court as the suc- cessor of Judge Brownlee. Under the Fletcher administration he was removed to make room for a Republican, he being a Democrat. But the county court immediately appointed him commissioner to admin- ister the bounty act passed by the legislature, and in the discharge of the duties of this office he was entrusted with the disbursement of a
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large amount of money. He has also been several times elected by the citizens of Linneus mayor of the city.
Judge Stephens contributed extensively to the building of the Burlington & Southwestern Railroad. He was elected president of this company in 1869, and he at once began to use his energies and even his private funds in pushing the work onward. During the first year of his service as president he had the charter of the road promptly extended to the Iowa line, and negotiated the bonds in the East. When this was done the road rapidly approached completion under the stim- ulus given to the work by the energy, foresight and resourcefulness of the president.
Judge Stephens has eight children all living in Linneus. His old- est son, E. R. Stephens, is a regular law graduate of the University at Lebanon, Tennessee, and was the senior member of the law firm of Stephens & Smith in Linneus. He was elected prosecuting attorney of Linn county in 1874, and held the office until succeeded by his brother- in-law, E. W. Smith, who married the oldest daughter of Judge Stephens, Miss Maria L. Stephens.
Politically Judge Stephens is a representative Democrat, and has served as a delegate to many county, congressional and state conven- tions since he became a resident of Linn county. But advancing years have stayed his busy hand, and for a long time now he has been prac- tically retired from active pursuits. He is one of the reviewers of this work and gives it the sanction of his name and influence.
LORENZO T. MCKINNEY
Lorenzo T. Mckinney, the present capable, genial and obliging postmaster of New Boston, Baker township, this county, and one of the enterprising and wideawake merchants of that village, was born in Adair county, Missouri, on July 6, 1869, and is one of the two sons of Charles and Maggie (Diedle) Mckinney, an account of whose lives will be found in a sketch of his brother, Asa O. Mckinney, which ap- pears in this volume.
Mr. McKinney was brought to Linn county by his parents when he was six months old and has lived in the county and Baker township ever since. He grew to manhood on his father's farm and assisted in its cultivation until he completed the course of instruction in the dis- trict schools of the township. After leaving school he remained with
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his parents a short time, then began farming on his own account, con- tinuing his activity in that line of usefulness until 1890.
In November, 1906, he was appointed postmaster of New Boston, and he at once started his present mercantile business. He has held the office and carried on his merchandising ever since, giving excellent service to the public in the one and making a good record for enter- prise and intelligence in business in the other. He is active, also, in the social life of the community, and a great force for good in connec- tion with it, and he takes a cordial interest in fraternal affairs as a member of the Order of Odd Fellows and the Modern Woodmen of America.
On January 29, 1896, Mr. Mckinney was married in Newkirk, Oklahoma, to Miss Carrie M. Crowder, a native of Linn county, Mis- souri. They have one child, their son Russell L., who is now in school and making a good record there. The father is modest and unassum- ing in manner and demeanor, but he is energetic and far-seeing in his zeal for the good of Baker township, and New Boston in particular, and the whole of Linn county in general. In political contests he is not notably active, but in all relations where the best interests of his locality and its residents are at stake he is outspoken for progress and improvement and always ready to do his part toward winning desired results and keeping the car of advancement in motion at the safest and most productive rate of speed. The people among whom he has passed his life so far have knowledge of his genuine worth and use- fulness and estimate him at his true value as an excellent citizen, reliable and enterprising merchant, capable and conscientious public official and admirable representative of elevated and sterling Ameri- can manhood.
DANIEL BERKHOLDER
During all of the last forty-two years Daniel Berkholder has been a resident of Enterprise township, this county, and throughout the greater part of the time, almost all of it, in fact, has been a leading farmer and an influential citizen of that part of Linn county. Like most of the other old settlers of the county, he took up unbroken and unimproved land when he came here, and like them, also, he has made a good farm out of the wilderness, improved it with comfortable build- ings and other needed structures, and transformed the wild domain into a desirable and valuable home.
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Mr. Berkholder is an Upper Canadian by nativity, having been born in the upper part of the Dominion on April 10, 1837. His parents were William and Barbara (Gothcheney) Berkholder, the former a native of Pennsylvania and the latter of Alsace-Lorraine, the province which was torn from France by Germany by the stern arbitrament of the sword in 1871. The father was reared on his father's farm in Penn- sylvania, but at the age of twenty started out in life for himself, going to Buffalo, New York, and from there to Upper Canada. He remained in the latter country until 1869, when he came to Linn county to live and bought a tract of land in Enterprise township, which he cleared and made over into a good farm and a comfortable home. He died in Purdin, and the mother passed away some years before on the farm which she had helped to redeem from the wilderness.
They were the parents of fourteen children, five sons and nine daughters. Four of the sons and seven of the daughters are living. The grandfather, Berkholder, was born and reared in Switzerland. He came to this country in his young manhood and settled in Pennsylvania, and after many years of usefulness as a tiller of the soil he died in that state at a good old age, comfortable in a worldly way and universally esteemed in the locality of his residence.
Daniel Berkholder grew to manhood in Canada and obtained a limited common school education in the country school near his home. He farmed in that country, after leaving school, until 1870, when he came to Missouri and located on the Linn county farm in Enterprise township which he now owns and occupies, and which he has changed from an expanse of wild prairie, enriched by the growth and decay of ages, to one of the best farms in the township. He has put up good buildings and fences, and farmed his land with judgment and skill, and in doing so has made an enduring impress on the township as an excellent farmer and a first-rate manager of his business.
On January 3, 1865, Mr. Berkholder was married to Miss Caroline Gallmon, a daughter of John and Katie (Seeler) Gallmon, both born in Germany and both now deceased, having died in Canada. Mr. and Mrs. Berkholder have eight children: Rudolph, William J., Daniel, John H., Annie, the wife of F. O. Kelley; Hattie, who is now Mrs. William Mil- ler; Emma, who is the wife of J. Guier, and Jay A.
The father is a Democrat in his political connection and firm in the faith and energetic and effective in the service of his party. He has been school director and road overseer, and has rendered good service in both positions. His religious affiliation is with the Presbyterian
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church. In addition to his extensive and progressive farming opera- tions he is engaged in breeding heavy horses and superior grades of cattle and hogs, and his rank as a careful and successful breeder is high and widespread. He makes both his farming and his live stock business pay by his good management, and in reference to public affairs he is always at the front with energy and intelligent helpfulness. In all parts of the county he is highly esteemed.
THOMAS FOX
The scion of old Irish families which for generations lived and labored in picturesque old County Sligo, and took part in its varied industries of cattle grazing, woolen and linen manufacturing and fish- ing, and followed their daily pursuits in an atmosphere redolent with historical fragrance preserved and handed down for hundreds of years, Thomas Fox, one of the prosperous and progressive farmers of Yel- low Creek township, Linn County, would have brought to this country an immediate personal inspiration born of the achievements of the people of his native place if he had lived there long enough to acquire a knowledge of them. But his parents left the land of their ancestors and all the associations and influences of their early life when he was three years old, and all that he knows of the Emerald Isle and its peo- ple he has acquired at second hand through recitals of his parents around the family fireside and his own subsequent reading. But even under these circumstances the spirit of his native land and his ancestors has had a controlling influence in his career, and helped to make him what he is. That spirit has stimulated his native energy and versatility to fruitful action and vastly aided him in working out good results.
Mr. Fox was born in the city of Sligo, Ireland, in March, 1830, and when he was three years old, as has been noted, his parents moved to Canada, where they passed the remainder of their days, living first in Toronto and afterward at Mount Albert, in the same province of On- atrio. They had been reared, educated and married in Ireland, and came to this side of the Atlantic in 1834, with a large hope of bettering their condition in a worldly way, and acquiring something for a better start in life for their children than they had themselves. In this design they succeeded in a measure, making good headway in prosperity in their new home and winning the cordial regard and good will of the people around them. They were Michael and Mary (Burns) Fox, and
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they well sustained in the New World the reputation of their ancestors won through merit in the Old.
Their son, Thomas Fox, became a resident of the state of Missouri and Linn county in 1870, having come into this region to engage in general farming, and in this pursuit he has ever since been occupied. He has conducted his operations in a way that has been highly credit- able to himself and decidedly beneficial to the county and its residents. For he has been a progressive farmer, modern in his methods and up- to-date in every respect. His land is naturally good, and his intelligent and systematic way of cultivating it has largely increased its fertility and fruitfulness and made it yield abundant returns for the labor and care bestowed upon it.
On February 24, 1868, Mr. Fox was married to Miss Elizabeth Martin, a native of Cleveland, Ohio, in the neighborhood of which her parents, William and Jane (Shea) Martin, were for many years busily and profitably engaged in farming. They came to this country from County Waterford, Ireland, and if they did not realize all the hopes they cherished when they came, they at least accumulated a comfort- able competence for life and attained an elevated place in the esteem and general regard of the people among whom they lived and labored on this side of the ocean.
Mr. and Mrs. Fox have seven children, all of whom are living and unmarried. They are: Mary, William, Elizabeth, Joseph, John, Leo and Martin, and are all held in high esteem wherever they are known. The father is a firm and faithful Democrat in political allegiance and has always taken an earnest and serviceable interest in the welfare of his party. His religious connection, and that of all the members of his family, is with the Catholic church, to which they are all devotedly at- tached and in the service of which they are zealous and energetic, but they are at the same time tolerant toward the religious views of their friends and neighbors, and able to see good in all the organizations of men formed for benevolent and uplifting purposes and the general im- provement of the human race.
In promoting the general welfare and advancement of his locality, Mr. Fox has always been a potential factor, working with zeal and energy in behalf of every worthy project designed to further the prog- ress and improvement of the locality of his home and the substantial and enduring betterment of its people. He is widely and favorably known in Linn county, and in all parts of it is accounted one of its most sterling, sturdy and estimable citizens from every point of view.
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SHELDON L. WILSON
(Deceased)
A valiant soldier in the Union army during the Civil War, and bearing to his grave the marks of his service, and an enterprising, pro- gressive and prosperous farmer in times of peace, the late Sheldon L. Wilson of Linn county, showed in his useful life that whatever the call to duty he was ready to respond to it, and whatever the perils or labor involved in the performance of it, he never shirked them or shrank from them. He was true to every requirement of his manhood, and at his death, on June 12, 1907, at the age of sixty years and six months, he left an excellent name and record as a man and citizen as imperishable legacies to his family.
Mr. Wilson was born in Bridgeport, Connecticut, on January 23, 1847, and was a son of Levi and Harriet (Wiggins) Wilson, also natives of that state. They moved from there to Iowa county, Wisconsin, where they lived until 1869, then came to this county and located on a wild tract of land, on which they passed the remainder of their lives, making it over into an attractive and valuable farm, and dying on it well advanced in years after a long period of usefulness here and else- where. They were the parents of three sons and one daughter. Two of the sons are living still, and keeping up the traditions of the family with credit to themselves and benefit to their several communities.
Sheldon L. Wilson was yet a child when his parents moved to Wis- consin. He grew to manhood in that state, and at a very youthful age enlisted in the Fifth Wisconsin Light Artillery for three years to take part in the Civil War in defense of the Union. He participated in seven- teen of the most important, desperate and sanguinary battles of the war, among them those of Shiloh, Chattanooga, Missionary Ridge, Look- out Mountain, Buzzard's Roost, Peach Tree Creek, and the sieges of Atlanta and Savannah. In one of these desperate encounters he was wounded in the left leg, and he felt the effects of the wound at inter- vals to the end of his life.
In 1868 Mr. Wilson was married to Miss Sarah E. Miller of Wis- consin, where the marriage occurred, and the next year he brought his bride to this state and took up his residence in Linn county. Forced by circumstances to begin at the bottom of the ladder as a farmer here, he cheerfully accepted his fate and resolutely entered upon the im- provement of his finances and the building of his career in this locality. He took up a tract of unbroken, untamed, unimproved land, which
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had never yet heard the commanding voice or felt the persuasive hand of the husbandman, and established himself on it without hesitation.
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