USA > Missouri > Shelby County > General history of Shelby County, Missouri > Part 31
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In June, 1898, he was nnited in mar- riage with Miss Susan A. Jones, a sister of W. H. Jones, who was cashier of the bank of which he is president. They have no children, but take a warm and helpful interest in the education and well being of all the children in the com- munity. being leaders and active work- ers in every good undertaking for the
welfare of the people and the promotion of every interest in which that is in- volved. Among the residents of Shel- bina they are accounted as worthy of the highest regard and looked up to as ex- amples of correct and upright living. which all might imitate with advantage to themselves and great benefit to the community.
Mr. Wood is a member of the board of regents of the Kirksville State Normal School, heing chairman of the board, and is also a member of the board of trus- tees of Missouri Bible College at Colum- bia, Missouri.
GEORGE ROFF.
This estimable citizen of Shelbina, who is passing the closing years of his life in rest and quiet after a long struggle for advancement in a worldly way, in which lie almost at times dared Fate herself into the lists and felt prepared to meet it on nearly equal terms, presents to the con- templation of the biographer a subject of unnsnal interest. He came of a family of roving and adventurous disposition, and although he showed his heritage in this respect in one particular he did not in others, for which his ancestors were distinguished. So far as daring danger. enduring hardship and undergoing ardnous toil and privation are concerned, he has upheld the family traditions in a manly and admirable way. But he has never roamed far from the place of his nativity to seek a residence, but has helped to the limit of his ability and op- portunities to develop the section and in- terests amid which he was born and reared.
2.15
HISTORY OF SHELBY COUNTY
Mr. Roff was born, reared, edneated and married in Shelby county, and, as an industrious and skillful tiller of the soil, has contributed practically and essen- tially to its development and improve- ment. So that whatever he is, he is all the county's own. His life began on June 12, 1841, and for a full half century he was one of the producing forces of the county except during a short portion of the Civil war, when he was engaged in the defense of his political principles as a member of the Confederate army. His service in that memorable and san- guinary contest lasted only about six months, for at the end of that period he was taken prisoner and soon after pa- roled on condition that he would return to the plains of the West and engage no further in the war. He is the grandson of Jonathan Roff, a native of New Jer- sey, and a son of Peter and Saralı (An- derson) Roff, the former born and reared in Mason county, Kentucky, where he made his advent into the world in 1800, and the latter a native of Virginia.
The father grew to manhood on his father's farm, assisting in its labors and attending the district school when his services were not needed at home. In 1832, while what is now the great and progressive state of Missouri was still a howling wilderness for the greatest part, he came west and located amid its un- broken wilds in this county. He took up a tract of wild land and devoted himself to its transformation into a cultivated and productive farm. He also raised stock in considerable numbers and thus helped materially to provide for the wants of the pioneers and build up the country around him. ITis farming and stock-
raising operations continued until his death in 1866. He and his wife, whose maiden name was Sarah Anderson, be- came the parents of six children, of whom three are living. They are Carolina, the wife of Daniel Givens, of Shelbina; George, who is the inspiration of this sketch, and Thomas, also a resident of Shelbina. In political faith and adher- ence the father was an ardent Democrat. In fraternal relations he was a member of the Masonie order, and in religion be- longed to the Christian church.
George Roff was reared on his father's farm in this county, and early in life began to learn the lessons of endurance, privation and self-reliance incident to residence and struggle with adversity and difficulty on the frontier. His only facilities for scholastic training were those supplied by the primitive schools of the wilderness at that early day, and when he had completed the course they covered, he at once went to work on the farm, again assisting his father until he started an enterprise in cultivating the soil and raising stock on his own account. This he continued until his retirement from all active pursuits in 1903, when he moved to Shelbina, and there he has ever since resided. He sold his farm and thus relieved his mind of all care concerning its management, and the only business he has given attention to since has been looking after his financial interests in connection with several business enter- prises, among them the Shelbina National Bank, of which he is one of the stock- holders and directors. As has been noted above, he was in the Confederate army six months at the beginning of the Civil war, but after being taken prisoner and
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paroled to the plains of the West, he felt obliged to abide by the terms of his re- lease and never entered the service of the Confederacy again.
Mr. Roff has been married twice. His first wife was Miss Julia Connolly, of Kentucky. They had one child, who died a number of years ago, as did the mother. On February 12, 1896, he was united with his second wife, who, before her mar- riage, was Miss Jennie Hinthorn, a na- tive of MeLean county, Illinois. He and his wife are highly respected and counted as among the best and most estimable citizens of the county. They are well and widely known and everywhere among their friends and acquaintances their lives are regarded as worthy of the good will of the people because of their up- rightness and usefulness. Both have been active in all commendable projects for the good of the county and town, manifesting an earnest interest in their improvement and the lasting welfare of their inhabitants. Mr. Roff is a staunel Democrat in politics and he and his wife are members of the Christian church in religious faith and association.
JESSE T. HARDY.
This eminent jurist and esteemed citi- zen of Shelby county is an ornament to her public life, and his occupancy of the bench is a guaranty that the rights and interests of her people will be sedulously watched and guarded against wrong, so far as it is in the power of an upright and enlightened court to furnish such protection, her peace, order and good government will be preserved, and the laws of the state will be strictly and
properly enforced within her boundaries.
Judge Hardy is a native of the county, born on May 1, 1848. He was reared on its soil, educated in its public schools, for years engaged in tilling its fertile farm lands, and has been prominent in its pro- fessional and official circles. IIe is there- fore closely connected with its people and has a personal as well as an official interest in their welfare. He is now serv- ing his third term as county judge, and is more firmly intrenched in the con- fidence and esteem of the people than when his official life began. For his course on the bench has been eminently satisfactory to them and in the highest degree ereditable to himself.
The Judge is a son of Samuel B. and Mary J. (Sparrow) Hardy, natives of Virginia and members of families that have dignified and adorned all walks of life in the history of that state. The father, impelled by a spirit of daring and self-reliance, and wishing to found a name for himself and his descendants on his own achievements, sought his oppor- tunity in what was in his young man- hood an unbroken wilderness. He came to Missouri in 1834 and took up a tract of wild land in what is now Shelby county and about eight miles northeast of the present city of Shelbina. He also opened a country store, and during the next few years was actively engaged in reducing his farm to subjection and pro- dnetiveness and supplying the wants of the people around him from his mercan- tile establishment. When the railroad was partially completed he moved to Shelbina and built the Adams hotel, which he occupied and conducted for four or five years. He then returned to
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his farm to pass the remainder of his days on the expanse he had redeemed from the wilds and die at last in the home which was hallowed as the product and the scene of his useful toil.
He was always deeply and intelligently interested in public affairs and freely gave time, attention and material help to direct their course aright according to his views. He served two terms as county judge in the early history of the county, and when the Civil war burst upon our unhappy country, fearful of the dismem- berment of the Union, he enlisted in the Federal army in its defense. His com- mand was a part of the army of General Glover, and was stationed at Palmyra. While it saw comparatively little active service, it was at all times ready for duty and willing to dare death on the field of carnage. In the engagements in which it took part it made its military spirit and capacity manifest and admirably exem- plified the highest type of American man- hood. The elder Judge Hardy was mar- ried in Virginia to Miss Mary JJ. Spar- row, who was, like himself, a native of Virginia, as has been stated. They had eight children, of whom the present Judge is the only one living. The father was a Republican in politics, a Freemason in fraternal life and a Southern Methodist in religion.
Judge Jesse T. Hardy obtained his education in the public schools of Shel- bina, and on leaving them turned his attention to farming and raising live stock, and also to contracting in works of construction. After a successful career of over a quarter of a century as a, farmer and contractor he sold his farm, gave up his other business and moved to
Shelbina, making himself free to dis- charge his important and responsible duties as county judge, having been elected to the position in 1904. At the end of his first term he was re-elected, and at the elose of the second received renewed and increased assurances of the confidence and esteem of the people by a very complimentary and enthusiastic election to a third term.
An analysis of his administration of the office of judge is not intended or necessary here. His official record so far has passed into the history of the county and been twice passed upon by the elec- torate with high approval, and this gives it higher standing and a firmer founda- tion in county and state chronicles than anything would that might be embodied in these paragraphs. It is enough for them to state that his services have been thoroughly satisfactory to the people of the county and have given him a high rank among the jurists of the state.
In political allegiance and activity Judge Hardy has always been a Demo- erat, and in fraternal affiliation he has long been an Odd Fellow. While free from offensive partisanship and undue political activity since he has been on the bench, he has nevertheless shown a keen interest in the welfare and success of his party on all occasions, as every good citi- zen should, and to the fraternal society in which he holds membership he has also given a commendable share of time and attention. He was married on Feb- ruary 22, 1868, to Miss Mary Elizabeth Maddox, of this county. They have had ten children, six of whom are living: Samuel Tolbert, of Shelby county; Dora Belle, wife of William Howell; John E .;
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HISTORY OF SHELBY COUNTY
Jessie, wife of Perry Parsons, and Chester and Lee, all residents of Shelby county and prominent and useful in pro- moting its development and improve- ment.
WILLIAM T. SWEARINGEN.
Born in Monroe county on July 24, 1849, at a time when this portion of the state was almost virgin in its wilderness and nnsettled condition, and growing to manhood here, taking part in all the stir- ring activities incident to peopling and developing a new country, William T. Swearingen, of Shelbina, has had fine opportunities for being useful to his lo- cality and writing his name in endur- ing phrase among the monuments and products of its progress. That he has employed his opportunities to good ad- vantage is proven by the numerous and imposing structures for residence and business purposes which he has erected in the county and city of his long home and by the universal esteem in which he is held by all classes of the people.
Mr. Swearingen is a son of Thomas and Polly (Ashcraft) Swearingen, the father a native of Kentucky, born in 1815, and the mother born and reared in Missouri. Thomas Swearingen came to Missouri early in the thirties and lo- cated in Monroe county. There, for a number of years, he was actively en- gaged in farming and raising live stock, giving his whole attention to his opera- tions and making them as profitable as the circumstances would allow. In the course of time he became enamored of Shelby county, and, selling out his in- terests in Monroe, he moved to this county on a farm which he purchased,
and on which one of the old landmarks of the section was located in the form of a flour and saw mill on Salt river. He worked the farm and operated the mill greatly to the convenience and advantage of the people within a large extent of the surrounding country and his own profit for many years, when he sold all his real estate and farming appliances, and retired from active life to a home in Walkersville, in which he died in 1893.
In polities the father was a Democrat, firm in his devotion and zealons in his services to his party, and in religious connection was affiliated with the Metli- odist Episcopal church, South, to which he also gave the benefit of his wisdom in council and his fidelity and industry in work. Ile was married twice, the first time to Miss Polly Ashcraft. Of the nine children born to them five are living and all but one are residents of Shelby county. They are: James, Sallie, the wife of Jolin Wood; William T. and Malcomb, of this county, and Ephraim, who is a citizen of Monroe county. The second marriage of the head of the house occurred in 1868, and by it he was united with Miss Ellen Wood, of Shelby county. They became the parents of two children, Milton, who lives in St. Joseph, this state, and Ora, the wife of William Dun- gan, of Shelby county.
William T. Swearingen grew to man- hood on the parental homestead in this county and obtained his education in its public schools. After leaving school he continued to work on his father's farm until 1869, doing also consid- erable work as a builder and con- tractor, having acquired a mastery of
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HISTORY OF SHELBY COUNTY
the carpenter trade, for which he had a natural aptitude. He put up many of the best dwellings and other buildings in the neighborhood, and they still stand out among the improvements in the county as evidences of his skill and ability as a builder. Since taking up his residence in Shelbina, which he did in 1904, he has devoted himself exclusively to contracting and building on a large seale and with great success in results, both in the prodnets of his art and the profits reaped from them. He has worked at his trade practically for forty-one years, and has won a reputation for mas- tery of it that is second to none in this portion of the state and that places him in the first rank among mechanics where- ever lie is known.
In all parts of Shelbina, and in many other localities, stand structures built by him which are admirably adapted to the purposes for which they were erected, and which potentially proclaim his merit as a builder. For he has been a student of his craft and has enlarged and trained his natural ability in it by keeping him- self posted in its latest phases and higher developments, acquiring some skill as an architect along with fine mechanical ex- ecution, and placing all his attainments liberally at the service of his patrons and his employes, thus enriching the property of the one class and the acquisi- tions of the other.
On July 21, 1870, he united in mar- riage with Miss Isabelle Wood, of Shel- bina. Of the five children who have blessed and brightened their home four are living and all dwelling in Shelbina. They are George, Claudia, wife of Harry Keith, and Mabelle and Freda, both of
whom are still members of the parental household. It is much to have lived sixty years among the same people and to have grown steadily in their respect and esteem, but this is what Mr. Swear- ingen has accomplished. For his life has been clean and useful, constant in its fidelity to duty in all private and public relations, and ennobling in the high ex- ample of worthy citizenship it has given those associated with and living around him. It is of men like him that the best American manhood is made, and it is from such lives as his that our most stable and valued standards are taken.
GEORGE C. GRANT.
Although for nearly twelve years a member of the bar, and during a portion of that period an active practitioner of the profession, George C. Grant, of Shel- bina, has found mercantile life of the most strenuous and exacting character more to his taste than professional pur- suits, and during the last seven years has devoted himself principally to that as an extensive dealer in real estate and was the junior member of the firm of Cleek & Grant, but is now doing business under the style name of George C. Grant, Real Estate Dealer, Shelbina, Missouri. He has been very successful in his un- dertakings and is accounted one of the best and wisest business men in Shelby county.
Mr. Grant was born on November 4, 1875, in the adjacent county of Monroe and village of Granville, where his par- ents, William and Mary A. (Moulton) Grant, then lived. The father was born and grew to the age of fourteen in Eng-
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land. His life began in 1831, and was ton Moreman, of Lake Howell, Florida; like that of most English boys of his sta- tion until 1845. He attended school and engaged in the pastimes of the day, as his companions did, but in the year last named he had an experience which was denied to most of them and was probably desired by all. He was brought by his parents to the American continent, his young life being enriched by the ex- periences of an ocean voyage across the stormy Atlantie and the novel incidents, adventures and surroundings of exist- ence in a new world. The family located in Canada and William remained there until 1871, marrying Miss Mary A. Moulton, of that country, in 1861, who now resides At Clarence. Missouri, and taking his part in the productive industries of the land as an active and energetic farmer.
In 1871 he came to the United States and took up his residence at Granville, in Monroe county, of this state. There he again gave his attention to farming and raising live stock on a large seale, and in addition carried on a flourishing business as a merchant in shoes and boots. Some years later he sold his in- terests in Monroe county and moved over into Shelby county, making his home in Shelbina. Here he again engaged in mercantile life. in the shoe trade, for some years. He then sold his business and turned his attention to insurance, which ocenpied him until his death in February. 1594. Eight children were born in his honsebold and all of them save one are living and adding to the wealth and greatness of the country in various localities and occupations. They are: Charles E., who lives in Butte, Montana : Elizabeth E., the wife of Up-
William H., of La Belle, Missouri; Al- bert L., of Baker City, Oregon; Alicia, the wife of Hon. H. J. Simmons, of Clar- ence, this county; George C., the subject of this memoir; and the only one of this large family now remaining at Shelbina, Missouri; and Edward B. who died in St. Louis, Missouri, July 30, 1910, after an operation for appendicitis, having gone there from his home in Clarence, Missouri, where he was engaged in the newspaper business and under the name of Simmons & Grant, published the "Clarence Courier." Agnes B., also resident of Clarence. The father was a Democrat in the politics of this country, a Freemason in its fraternal life and a member of the Southern Methodist church in religion. He was very zeal- ous in the work of his church, teaching the Bible class in its Sunday school for a number of years.
George C. Grant became a resident of Shelbina when he was but a child and has passed all his subsequent years in the city. He obtained his education in its public schools, graduating with credit from the high school, then pursued a course of special business training at the Shelbina Commercial College. As a pre- paration for what he looked forward to as his life work he studied law under the direction of R. A. Cleek, Esq., then state's attorney, and was admitted to the bar in 1898. During the next few years he practiced his profession at Clarence, and then for several years in Shelbina. In 1902 he formed a partnership with Mr. Cleek, under the name of Cleek & Grant, for the purpose of engaging in the real estate business, but this partnership
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was dissolved in the year 1910, and since then he has been engaged individually in that line of mercantile effort. Ile is now a leading real estate dealer in this part of the state and does a very extensive busi- ness. He owns considerable real estate in farm lands and city property, and handles enormous extents of it in supply- ing an active demand in a busy and en- grossing market. He also owns two very fine highly improved farms of 440 acres in Monroe county, Missouri, where Marion and Shelby counties corner with the north line of Monroe county, a short distance south and east of Hunnewell. which are said by many to be two of the best farms in the three connties. Mr. Grant is also connected with some of the leading financial and industrial institu- tions of the city and county, among them the Old Bank of Shelbina, in which he is one of the stockholders. He has been very successful in all his projects, show- ing fine business capacity with great in- dnstry in conducting his affairs, and at the same time the utmost fairness and consideration toward others in all his dealings. He is an excellent judge of real estate, both as to its character and its value, and keeps in touch with all that is likely to be available for his purposes ; so that he is prepared at all times to secure for any purchaser just what the buyer needs.
On May 7, 1901, Mr. Grant was united in marriage with Miss L. Virginia Swear- ingen, of Shelby county. They have two children, their son, Malcolm E., and their daughter, Alicia M., both of whom still help to warm and brighten the family hearthstone, being yet children of ten- der ages. The father believes firmly in
the principles of the Democratic party and lends it his active and effective aid in all its campaigns, although he is not desirous of any of the honors or emoli- ments of official station for himself. Fra- ternally he is a Knight of Pythias and a Modern Woodman of America, and in re- ligions affairs is affiliated with the South- ern Methodist church. Although he is yet a young man he has won high rank in business circles and has a firm hold on the regard and good will of the people as an upright, progressive and altogether useful and estimable citizen.
SILAS THRELKELD.
Born on May 19, 1833, in Henry county, Kentucky, reared and educated in Boone county, Indiana, where he worked for years at his trade as a car- penter, and during the last fifty years a resident of Missouri, Silas Threlkeld has been a part of the human history of three great states in the American Union and a valued contributor to the produc- tive industries of two of them. He is now not far from four score years of age, and the retrospect of his long and useful life must bring before his mental vision many scenes of the highest dra- matie interest, many incidents of heroie struggle and endurance, many startling changes in American life, conditions and aspirations, all of which he has witnessed and been a part of. And through the whole warp and woof of the extended period his friends can see his own record running like a veritable thread of gold, bright in the Inster of its excellence, val- nable in the strength it adds to the fabric and suggestive in its unyielding texture
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against the wear and tear of every day life.
Mr. Threlkeld is descended from old Virginia families, whose history in the Old Dominion runs back to colonial times and adorns every walk of life among its people. His grandfather, Daniel Threl- keld, was a native of that state, and, with the adventurous spirit that charac- terized his family and the society in which he was reared, left the home of his fathers in his early manhood to win a name and an estate for himself amid the wilds of Kentucky at the time when Dan- iel Boone was fixing forever the fame of that then remote and unsettled region in the pages of romantie history. There the parents of him who is now one of the patriarchs of Shelbina, Arway and Jemi- ma (Wilson) Threlkeld, were born and reared, the father's life beginning in 1810, and the mother's in Owen county about in 1806. Following the example of their parents, they also became emi- grants, moving first to Boone county, In- (liana, and in 1866 to Monroe county, Missouri. Here the father of Silas bought a farm on Water ereek, which he improved and cultivated until advancing years and failing strength obliged him to retire from all active pursuits. He then sold his farm and from that time until his death in Shelbina, in 1898, made his home with his children. He and his wife were the parents of five children, and of these but four are living: The subject of this writing, who is passing the evening of his long and stirring day of life in Shelbina; William and Thomas, venerable residents of Monroe county ; and Mary Nancy, the wife of F. D. Crow, of Moberly in Randolph county. The
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