USA > Missouri > Shelby County > General history of Shelby County, Missouri > Part 37
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
292
HISTORY OF SHELBY COUNTY
labored, and in consequence his services wise and judicious as a counselor. He is to the city and its people have been of a a stockholder in the Farmers & Mer- chants' Bank of Hunnewell and con- nected with other institutions of value in promoting the enduring welfare of Hun- newell and Shelby county, of which he is recognized as one of the leading and most influential citizens. high order of excellence and fruitful for their good. He has studied conditions and requirements under many circum- stances and is able to deduct the right measure of good from all for any partie- mlar necessity at home. And being en- gaged in construction work, he has also been in touch with the genius of improve- ment and learned just how men feel THE COMMERCIAL BANK OF SHELBINA, MISSOURI. toward it in any given case. He has therefore been able to apply his own energy and capacity in this regard intel- ligently and by it lead up to good results. He is regarded as one of the best and most useful citizens of Hunnewell, for he is always alert to its substantial and en- during welfare and eager in his efforts to promote it.
In political faith Mr. Hickman is a firm Republican, standing by the princi- ples of his party with unquestioning loy- alty and supporting its candidates with all his power under all circumstances. In local affairs, however, his first consid- eration is the welfare of the community, whether the interests involved be those of the city or the county, and for their good he works incessantly without re- gard to partisan or personal claims. In fraternal life he is connected with the Independent Order of Odd Fellows and the Ancient Order of United Workmen and Masons. In these organizations he finds latitude for the exercise of his pub- lic spirit, and he gives it free rein in them to the end that the people around him derive the benefit of his activity. His religious affiliation is with the Chris- tian church, and in that also he has long been active and effective as a worker and
This bank, which is one of the historic financial institutions of Shelby county, was founded on October 28, 1888, with a capital stock of $30,000, all of which was paid in at once before the bank was opened for business. The officers at the beginning were: President, William H. Warren; vice-president, C. HI. Lasley ; cashier, John J. Bragg; directors, Wil- liam II. Warren, C. H. Lasley, John J. Bragg, John J. Ellis, J. W. Thompson, S. G. Parsons, John T. Frederick. F. D. Crow and Thomas M. Sparks.
Mr. Warren served as president until July, 1890, when he was succeeded by S. G. Parsons, who served until February, 1894. John R. Lyell was then elected president, but in September, 1895, he re- signed and was chosen cashier, J. W. Thompson succeeding him as president and serving as such until his death in 1898. Soon after the death of Mr. Thompson the bank went into liquida- tion. A reorganization was had in 1898, with J. William Towson as president. Mr. Towson retired in 1900 and J. R. Lyell, the present incumbent of the presi- dency, was chosen to succeed hin.
The vice-presidents have also changed from time to time. Mr. Lasley served
293
HISTORY OF SHELBY COUNTY
but a short time and then gave way to J. W. Thompson, who held the office until 1895. B. F. Dobyns was also vice- president for a short time. Ile was suc- ceeded by T. M. Sparks, who filled the office until his death in 1896. Then Mar- tin S. Buckman was elected and he is still rendering valued service as vice- president.
The next cashier after Mr. Bragg was Alonzo W. Combs, who resigned soon after his election and was followed by John R. Lyell. The present cashier, AArthur E. Jones, began his term of ser- vice in 1900, and has filled the position continuously ever since. The officers of the bank at the time of this writing are : President, Jolm R. Lyell ; vice-president, Martin S. Buckman; cashier, Arthur E. Jones; directors, in addition to the above, J. R. Morgan, W. A. Manpin, W. B. Kendrick and Charles B. Martin. In 1908 the institution underwent another reorganization, raising its capital stock to $40,000 in the new arrangement.
JOSEPH H. HICKMAN.
This venerable citizen of Shelby com- ty. who has his home in Hunnewell, was born in the county on November 20, 1840, his life beginning in what is now Jack- son township, and before the county was organized as a separate municipality in the state. It is easy to infer that if he came into being before Shelby county was organized his life began amidst the constant hazards, continual privations and hardships and ardnous requirements of pioneer existence and his habits were formed and his faculties developed in accordance with the requirements of
such a state of life. In fact, he has shown throughout his long and useful career the qualities of self reliance, re- sourcefulness and readiness for any emergency that is born of the frontier, and his early training has been of the greatest service to him under circum- stances far removed from the require- ments of the pioneer life.
Mr. Hickman is a worthy scion of a family of military renown, his grand- father, William A. Hickman, having taken part in the War of 1812 and fought valiantly under General Jackson in the decisive contest against the flower of the British army at New Orleans, which mieted all objection to the dominion of the United States over the territory they had purchased from France, and con- vinced all beholders of the power of this nation to defend with the sword every domain it might acquire by diplomacy or purchase. The grandfather was a na- tive of Alabama and became a resident of Missouri early in the 30's, locating in Marion county, where he passed the re- mainder of his days in farming and rais- ing live stock.
Joseph H. Hickman is a son of David and Sinah (Davis) Hickman, the former born in Alabama in 1808, and the latter a native of Kentucky. They were married in 1828 and moved to Missouri in 1829, making their first home in this state in what is now Marion county. In 1830 the father bought a farm of 160 acres within the present limits of Shelby county, but long before the county was organized. Hle and his young wife were among the first settlers of this portion of the state and shared with the few other hardy ad- venturers who started its redemption
294
HISTORY OF SHELBY COUNTY
from the wilderness all the hardships and privations, the perils and incon- veniences of its frontier period, steadily working their way onward to independ- enee and substantial comfort. They en- gaged actively in farming and raising stock until the death of the father on the farm he had made from the untrodden wilds, which occurred on August 17, 1844. On this farm also their nine chil- dren passed their early lives, taking their places in the work of building a home and risking the dangers through which their efforts had to pass to suc- cess. Of the nine children born on this farm only three are now living. They are : Hansford B., of Barry county, Mis- sonri; Jesse II., of Hunnewell, an ac- count of whose life will be found in this work; and the immediate subject of this brief memoir. In politics the father was a Whig and in religion a Baptist.
His son, Joseph H. Hickman, was reared on the homestead and educated in the primtive frontier schools of his boy- hood and youth. They did not offer much in the extent of variety of their course of instruction, and their ap- pliances were of the erudest character. The school houses were built of logs fashioned according to the only avail- able model of the time and furnished with slab benches of the coarsest and most unfinished kind. The schools there- fore provided neither much sustenance for the mind nor comfort for the body. But such as they were, Mr. Hickman made the best possible use of them, and thus laid the foundations for the fund of general information which he now pos- sesses, and which has been ripened and developed in the stern school of experi-
ence which he has subsequently attended. He remained on the farm with his mother until 1867, when he moved to Hannibal and took employment as a day laborer in a Inmber yard. In 1870 he returned to Shelby county and again en- tered upon the occupation to which he had been reared, that of tilling the soil and raising live stock, in which he has ever since been actively and successfully engaged, except for a short time during which he was merchandising in Keokuk. Towa, in sewing machines and musical instruments and supplies. He has also owned and operated in connection with his farming operations a saw mill at Hunnewell.
In polities Mr. Hickman has been a Republican from the organization of the party, and for many years he has been a consistent and zealous member of the Christian church, being now one of the elders of the congregation in which he holds membership, and at all times ren- dering helpful service in all its worthy undertakings. He is also active in the service of his political party, supporting its principles and candidates loyally, al- though he has never himself sought or desired a political office of any kind. On March 11, 1867, he was married to Miss Fannie Reed, a native of Clark county, Missouri. All of the four children born to them are living: Homer C. and Charles A., of Innewell (see sketch of Charles A. in this volume) ; Mamie, wife of R. L. Yancy, of this county ; and An- na, wife of Ennis D. Noland, of Chilli- cothe, Illinois. Having lost his father when the son was but four years old. Mr. Hickman has been obliged to make his own way in the world from an early
295
HISTORY OF SHELBY COUNTY
age, and he has so conducted his affairs that he has been successful in business, and in addition has won the lasting re- gard of all who know him. He is ac- counted one of the most sterling and worthy citizens of the county.
JESSE H. HICKMAN.
This esteemed farmer had been living retired from active pursuits for a num- ber of years in Hunnewell, after having passed the heat and burden of an active life of ardnous labor in cultivating the soil, rendering good service to his coun- try in the Civil war and in other lines of effort. He was a son of David and Sinah (Davis) Hiekman, whose life story will be found recorded at some length in a sketch of his brother, Joseph II. Hick- man, also a resident of Hunnewell, which appears on another page of this work.
Mr. Hiekman was born in Jackson township, Shelby county, Missouri, on March 11, 1838. His father died when the son was hut six years old, and the care of the family then devolved on the mother. She was a resolute woman of the frontier, inured to its hardships and privations and familiar with its dangers from attacks of savage beasts and wild Indians, by whom the plains and forests of the unpeopled West were still claimed as their rightful domain, and the early settlers were considered as legitimate prey to satisfy the hunger of the one or glut the fury of the other. She knew the difficulties and the magnitude of the duty before her, but she entered upon it with real heroism and performed it with abil- ity and fidelity.
The son grew to maturity on the pa-
rental homestead, remaining at home and assisting in the labors on the farm until 1863. lle then felt it his duty to offer his life in behalf of the integrity of the Un- ion and become a part of the army fight- ing in its defense. In April of the year last mentioned he enlisted for the re- mainder of the war in the Federal army, Company G, One Hundred and Eleventh Missouri Cavalry, in which he continued to serve until he was honorably dis- charged in 1865. His service was ren- dered in Arkansas, at Duvall's Bluff, Grand Prairie and Cross Roads, under the command of Col. William D. Wood. After the war Mr. Hickman returned to the farm and remained on it with the rest of the family until 1867. On Decem- ber 6 of that year he was united in mar- riage with Miss Emma Hubbard, a resi- dent at the time of Marion county, in this state, but a native of Ohio.
Mr. Hickman then took a farm of his own and for many years thereafter passed the greater part of his time on it, pushing with all his enterprise his dual occupation of farming and raising live stock. He was successful in his under- taking's and became one of the prosper- ous and substantial citizens of Jackson township, Shelby county, in which his operations were conducted. As time passed and he began to feel the weight of years upon him he determined to give up active work and enjoy for the re- mainder of his days a rest which he felt that he had richly deserved. He accord- ingly sold his farm and all that belonged to it and took up his residence in Hunne- well, where his death occurred April 15, 1910.
He and his wife became the parents of
296
HISTORY OF SHELBY COUNTY
six children, three of whom are living: George H., of Edna, Missouri, and a twin son and daughter-Edward, who now lives in Manila, Philippine Islands, and Effie, the wife of H. M. Gould, of Hunne- well. In polities Mr. Hickman was a loyal and determined Republican, and as he did not hesitate to enforce his convie- tions on the field of carnage during the Civil war, so he never hid them in polit- ical affairs. He was always earnest and effective in the service of his party and his efforts in its behalf were highly ap- preciated by its leaders. He kept alive the memories of his military service by active and ardent membership in the Grand Army of the Republic. For many years he was a faithful and zealous mem- ber of the Methodist Episcopal Church, South, and took a leading part in its works of benevolence. He was also ener- getie in promoting the welfare of the community around him and was es- teemed as one of its best and most useful and representative citizens.
JAMES A. SPALDING.
Although born of a martial strain whose family name has been written in enduring phrase on the military annals of our country. James A. Spalding. of Hunnewell. has passed his life in the pursuits of peaceful and productive in- dustry, depending wholly on himself for his advancement and on his own merit to win the regard and good will of his fellow men. without counting on any family record or heroic traditions to help him in the effort. By steady adherence to his chosen lines of endeavor and by fidelity to every duty he has succeeded
admirably in both, and now stands among the people who have witnessed his long years of effort and his upright and use- ful life a veritable patriarch of more than four-score years, venerated and be- loved by all who know him.
Mr. Spalding was born in Marion county, Kentucky, on October 17, 1828, and is a son of James A. and Sarah (Green) Spalding. natives of Maryland and early settlers in Kentucky, going to that then distant region while it was yet under the dominion of barbarism, with the wild denizens of the forest roaming freely over its wide domain and exacting tribute from the invading race that was to exterminate them and call the waste they had so long used fruitlessly from its sleep of ages and make it minister to the general welfare of mankind. The father was a son of John Aaron Spald- ing, who served in the Revolutionary war and rendered his name immortal by being one of the captors of Major Andre, the unfortunate tool of our historie traitor, Benedict Arnold. He came into being in 1788 and moved to Kentucky while yet a mere youth. There he en- gaged in farming and blacksmithing un- til his death on March 4. 1833. except for a short period during which he rendered his country valiant service as a soldier in the Black Hawk Indian war. He was married in 1820 to Miss Sarah Green, who, like himself, migrated from the cul- tivated society and comfortable civiliza- tion of her native state at an early age. and found a new home with all its trials and privations in the wilds of the West, locating in what is now Marion county, Kentucky, where the marriage ocenrred. They became the parents of eight chil-
292
HISTORY OF SHELBY COUNTY
dren, all but two of whom have passed over to the activities that know no weari- ness, those living being the venerable subject of this memoir and his sister, Sarah E., who is now the widow of A. B. Thiehoff, of Hunnewell. The father was a Democrat in political faith and a Cathi- olie in religion, and was faithful and constant in his devotion to both his polit- ical party and his church.
James A. Spalding was reared in his native county and educated mainly in private schools there. He also attended St. Mary's College in that county. In the spring of 1850, taking his parents' exam- ple as his guide and inspiration. he songht his fortune on his own hook and also in the farther wake of the setting sun. He came to Missouri and located in Ralls county, where he started an en- terprise in blacksmithing, having learned the trade under the instruction of his father and others. He also followed farming in connection with working at his trade. In 1859 he moved to Shelby county and opened a blacksmithing es- tablishment at Hunnewell. This he con- ducted until 1861, when he bought a farm about a half mile from Hunnewell, and on this he has ever since lived. He is now eighty-two years of age, but still manages his farm of 240 acres with vigor and progressiveness, although he has some of the land rented. But his activity remains despite his weight of years, and his faculties seem to be as keen and his enterprise as great as when he was a much younger man. It is given to few men to accomplish as much as Mr. Spalding has, even with his length of life. and to still fewer to retain health and strength at his advanced age. It is
probable that the toughening of tissue he received in his early years of outdoor toil has been one source of his long con- tinned vigor and uniform good health. And it is certain that the self reliance and need of readiness for emergencies, which began with him in his youth. have been of great benefit in all his subse- quent undertakings. both to himself and to those who have shared in the fruits of his industry, frugality and prudence.
Mr. Spalding was married on Septem- ber 21, 1858, to Miss Mary Isabelle Leake, of Monroe county, Missouri. They became the parents of fourteen children, seven of whom are living: William B., of Monroe City; Martin J., of Venetia, Oklahoma; Sarah J., who is living at lome; John A., of Chelcia, Oklahoma; Alice A., who is still a member of the parental household; Eva M., who is de- voting her life to religions work and is .now Sister Mary Crescentia of the Lo- retta Order ; and Rose, at Sapulpa, Okla- homa. Charles Albert died in Montana in 1909 and Joseph L. died at Sapulpa, Oklahoma, March, 1910.
In political faith the father has been a lifelong Democrat, true and faithful to his convictions and strong and sedulons in the support of his party. In religion he is a devout and consistent Catholic, earnest for the welfare of his elmreh and with an abiding reliance on its teachings. He has passed half a century of useful- ness in Shelby county, contributing to its development and improvement by his useful labors and helping to give its fis- cal and political affairs proper trend and guidance. No man among this people is more highly esteemed by them, and none has better deserved their regard. confi-
298
HISTORY OF SHELBY COUNTY
dence and good will. They celebrated their golden wedding in 1908, going through the entire Catholic ceremony.
PETER J. REARDON.
In the life of this highly useful and es- teemed citizen of Jackson township, Shelby county, the pathetic is mingled with the sentimental, and eminent suc- cess has followed heavy trials, exacting privations and arduous industry. He came to this country when he was a young man, with no capital but his own energy, capacity and indomitable spirit. He confronted the difficulties of his sit- nation with calm but determined cour- age, met its requirements with intelli- gence and fidelity and compelled relue- tant Fortune to give him tribute of her bounty by the persistency and skill with which he wooed her favor.
Mr. Reardon was born and reared in Ireland, where his ancestors for many generations lived and labored and in the soil of which the mortal remains of his father, Eugene Reardon, and his grand- father, John Reardon, were laid to rest amid scenes of private grief and public lamentation, which he witnessed. On the death of his father the care of the family devolved upon the sorrowing mother, whose maiden name was Julia Curtis. She performed her duty to her offspring faithfully, meeting all difficulties with a resolute determination to yield to none, and giving the members of her household an excellent example as well as good counsel. She was the mother of eight children, of whom but two are living. her sons, Peter .J .. of Shelby county, and Daniel, now a resident of Kansas City,
Missouri. Feeling that this country of- fered her better opportunities for com- fort and further success in life, she came over in 1882, following her son Peter, who emigrated from his native land to this state in 1881. She took up her resi- dence in Shelby county, and here she passed the remainder of her days, dying in 1906 respected and lamented by all who knew her.
Peter J. Reardon grew to manhood in his inhospitable native land and realized fully that, while its inhospitality was not due to either the character or the habits of its own people, but to outside in- finences, it was, nevertheless, cruel and oppressive to the toiling millions and prevented the business success and social standing to which many of them felt that they might properly aspire. He there- fore determined as soon as manhood "darkened on his downy check" to grat- ify a longing which had long stirred within him and seek his fortunes in the New World, which seemed to beckon him to its shores with open hands and golden , promises. Accordingly, in 1881, he dared the heaving bosom of the stormy Atlan- tie and soon afterward landed in the United States. He came at once to Mis- souri and found a new home in Ran- dolph county, where he engaged in tele- graph construction work for four years. Following that occupation he served as foreman of a section gang on the Hanni- bal & St. Joseph railroad, which is now a part of the Burlington system, for eighteen years.
Mr. Reardon had received but a lim- ited education in his native land, but he had aspirations to better things than his service for the railroad company af-
299
HISTORY OF SHELBY COUNTY
orded him and he determined to go after them. In 1904 he bought what was known as the "Jerome Worland farm," which was one of the first cultivated farms in Shelby county. To the cultiva- tion of his land he has since then dili- gently devoted himself, farming it with intelligence and spirit and improving it from time to time in accordance with the genius of development of the seetion in which it is located. He now owns 370 acres of land and has about 215 acres nn- der skillful and productive cultivation. The place is improved with a good dwell- ing, barns and other necessary struc- tures, and is regarded as one of the best farms in this part of the state.
In January, 1890, Mr. Reardon was united in marriage with Miss Ellen Mar- kin, who was born and reared in Marion county, Missouri. They have had seven children, six of whom are living: Daniel, Julia, Joseph, Katie, Agnes and Jolın, all yet under the parental rooftree and assisting in the work of cultivating and improving the farm. The father is a Republican in politics and a Catholic in religion. He is earnestly devoted to the institutions of the land of his adoption and does his utmost to promote their welfare. His state and country have given him opportunity ; his own capacity, industry and good judgment have given him snecess; and he returns the one and justifies the other by loyal devotion and service to both state and nation, showing his feelings in the matter by manly and effective efforts in behalf of every worthy interest or undertaking of either. In local affairs he has been a potent in- fluence in building up his township and county and developing toward their
highest power all the intellectual, moral and material forces at work for their bet- terment. His friends and neighbors hold him in cordial regard and the whole peo- ple admire his manhood and respect the elevated character of his citizenship.
ROY JANES.
Mr. Janes was for some years an es- timable citizen of Lakenan and is one of the enterprising merchants of Shelby county and has shown grit beyond his years and spirit worthy of a Spartan. He has been tried by several forms of disaster, among them the ordeal of fire, and has not flinched in the presence of any.
He was born in Shelby county on Feb- rmary 18, 1888, and is a son of Joseph WV. and Elizabeth (Montgomery) Janes, both, like himself, born and reared in Shelby county. The father's life began in 1862, and after reaching his maturity he followed farming profitably and also conducted a threshing outfit until bis death, on March 25, 1908, at Lakenan, where he was then living. He was mar- ried in 1886 and by his marriage became the father of four children-Roy, Wal- ter, Bernice and Weldon-three of whom are living at home with their mother. In politics the father was a Republican, in fraternal life a Modern Woodman of America and in religious connection a member of the Baptist church. He was highly respected and his untimely death in the full vigor of his manhood and when he seemed to have many years of usefulness remaining for him was nni- versally deplored.
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.