USA > Missouri > Shelby County > General history of Shelby County, Missouri > Part 58
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HISTORY OF SHELBY COUNTY
father of eight children, seven of whom are living: Charles, a resident of Lake- man; Marion F., a sketch of whom ap- pears in this volume; John and Henry F., who also reside in this county, a sketch of the latter being included in this work; Belle, the wife of Frank Erwin; Joseph, another prosperous Shelby county citizen; and Ida, the wife of Thomas O'Daniel. In his political al- legiance tlie father belonged to the Dem- ocratie party and gave it loyal and ef- fective service. His religious affiliation was with the Presbyterian church.
Peter A. Snider obtained his educa- tion in the district schools of this county and a graded school in Hunnewell. After leaving school he worked on the farm with his father until 1862, when he enlisted in the service of the Confed- erate army under Gen. Joseph Porter. But he found military life altogether in- tolerable to him, and, after being in the army two months, just before the battle of Kirksville he returned to his home and surrendered to Federal General MeNeil, who was then in command of this military district. Under orders from General MeNeil he was taken to St. Louis and incarcerated in a military prison. After languishing in this place of torture from October, 1862, to Sep- tember, 1863, he was released on parole to await further orders. He then again returned to his home, and six months later was set free from his parole.
Being thus at liberty to do as he pleased, and finding the state of life in his home locality one of incessant strife and deadly hazard, he went to Califor-
dent at the time of Shelby county. By nia to remain until the war should be his second marriage he became the over. In 1866 he came back to Shelby county and began farming and raising live stock, in which he has been continu- ously and profitably engaged until his death, May 29, 1910. He prospered in his undertakings since the war, in a worldly way, and rose to high esteem and consideration among the people of his township. He owned 160 acres of good land, which he had highly im- proved, and nearly all under intelligent and profitable cultivation.
In November, 1867, Mr. Snider was united in marriage with Miss Martha Utz, of this county. They had six chil- dren, five of whom are living: Anna May, the wife of Oscar Blackford, of Shelbina ; Noah, an esteemed resident of this county; Barbara, the wife of W. S. Parker, also living here; Winifred, the wife of Larue Wood, of Sedalia, Mis- souri ; and Abbie Belle, who is still at home with her mother. In polities the father was a staunch and active Demo- crat, and was a member of the Methodist Episcopal church, South. He was held in high approval by the people around him and was considered a most estima- ble and worthy citizen.
WESLEY BAKER.
Of Pennsylvania ancestry and Iowa nativity, and for some years a resident of Kansas and twenty-one years of Mis- souri, Wesley Baker, of Jackson town- ship, in this county, where he is a pros- perous and progressive farmer and live stock man and a highly esteemed citizen, has had the influence of four of the great states of the American Union in molding
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his career, and that influence has worked well to his advantage and the benefit of the several communities in which he has lived. He has done his part to be worthy of it and true to the incentives of indus- try, frugality and enterprise it has given him, using his opportunities with judg- ment and making them all minister to his advancement and the good of the people among whom he has dwelt.
Mr. Baker was born in Poweshieak county, Iowa, on December 7, 1861. His father, John Baker, was born in Beaver county, Pennsylvania, in October, 1834, and his grandfather, Richard W. Baker, was also native in that state. In his young manhood the father took passage on the tide of migration to the throb- bing West and established for himself a new home in Poweshieak county, Iowa. There, in 1859, he was married to Miss Julia Stanley of that county, and he is still living in the state. He was reared on a farm and he has followed farming continuously from his boyhood. He and his wife became the parents of eight children, five of whom are living: Mary, the wife of Paul Nelson, of Rochester, Minnesota; Wesley, the interesting sub- jeet of this brief review; George M., a resident of Iowa; Clara A., who also lives in that state; and Cora, the wife of Albert Sexton, another member of the family whose home is in Iowa. In polities the father is a Republican.
His son Wesley was educated in the distriet schools of his native county, and after completing their course of instrue- tion, worked for a short time for his father on the home farm. But he was ambitious to do something material and considerable on his own account, and leading members of the local school
accordingly he rented some land in the neighborhood of his home, which he farmed for four years. At the end of that period he left Iowa and went to sontliwestern Kansas, where he took up a homestead. He lived on this and im- proved it until he received a government patent for it. In 1890 he sold his home- stead in Kansas and sought another new home in Shelby county, Missouri.
He looked forward to his opportuni- ties in this county with high hopes and pleasing anticipations of advantage to himself, and cheerfully dared all the dan- gers and privations of a journey to his new location overland in a covered wagon. The journey was made in safety, the destination was reached with- ont greaterinconvenience than the weari- ness incident to the long trip and slow progress, land was secured in Jackson township on his arrival, and he at once began the career in farming and raising live stock which is still in progress, and which has made him one of the substan- tial farmers and stoek men of the county and raised him to consequence and gen- eral esteem among the people here.
.Mr. Baker now has a farm of 330 acres, all under enltivation, highly im- proved with good buildings and in an advanced state of productiveness. He is also a stockholder and vice-president of the Hunnewell Bank, and has other interests of value in the county. But his own affairs have not been allowed to engross all his time and energy. He has taken an earnest interest and active part in those of his township and county and rendered them good service. For a number of years he has been one of the
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HISTORY OF SHELBY COUNTY
board, and in many other ways has been influential and effective in helping to advance publie, business and social in- terests to the advantage of the people, the development of the locality of his home and the general welfare of the county and state.
On December 23, 1896, Mr. Baker was united in marriage with Miss Sarah Bell Perry, a resident of this county. Six children have blessed their union and five of them are living. They are: Ura A., Jolın T., Walter O., Charles L. and George W., all of whom are still mem- bers of the parental household. Po- litically the father is a Democrat; fra- ternally he is an Odd Fellow, and in re- ligious affiliation he belongs to the Mis- sionary Baptist church. He is regarded as one of the leading citizens of his town- ship, enterprising and progressive, in- telligent and broad-minded, and true to every public and private duty.
HENRY F. SNIDER.
A native of Shelby county, and hav- ing passed his whole life to this time within its borders engaged from his youth in helping to promote its indns- · trial, civil and social life, Henry F. Sni- der, of Jackson township, has been of great service to this portion of the state and admirably upheld the credit of his family, two other members of which have honorable mention in this work. He has been successful in building up his own estate, although he began the struggle for advancement among men with prae- tically nothing in the way of capital but his own natural ability and determined spirit, and the same qualities have made
him both useful as a citizen and worthy of the high esteem in which he is held as a man.
Mr. Snider was born on October 2, 1857, near where he now resides, and is a son of John Henry and Sarah (Utz) Snider, the story of whose lives of sue- cess and disaster is told in a sketch of his half-brother, Peter A. Snider, to be found on another page of this history. Since leaving the country school in which he obtained his scholastic training, Henry has been continuously and profit- ably engaged in farming and raising stock for the markets. He has a farm of 100 acres of superior land, all of which he cultivates with skill and industry, and which he has improved with good build- ings and other necessary structures.
Mr. Snider takes a warm and service- able interest in the affairs of his town- ship and county, rendering the people excellent returns for their confidence in calling him to the school board, of which he has been a member and the clerk for a number of years, and in numerous other ways proving himself worthy of their regard and efficient in their behalf. He was married on October 25, 1883, to Miss Fanny B. Metcalf, of Howard county, this state. Of the four children which have blessed their union and brightened their household three are liv- ing: John W., who resides in this county; Lillian F., the wife of Forrest MeGlasson, of Pullman, state of Waslı- ington; and Henry H., who still dwells under the parental rooftree.
The father gives his political alle- giance and support to the Democratic party and is at all times zealous in its service. Fraternally he is allied with
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the Court of Honor, and to the welfare and progress of this order he is earnestly and actively devoted. His religious con- nection is with the Methodist Episcopal. church, South, of which he is a live and helpful member, giving a good man's share of attention to the affairs of his congregation and his due portion of as- sistance toward all its worthy and benefi- cent undertakings of every kind.
HEDGEMAN PICKETT.
Of old Virginia ancestry, but a native of Missouri, and having passed the whole of his life to the present time (1911) within its borders, Hedgeman Pickett, of Bethel township, combines in his char- acter and make-up the best traits and characteristics of the people of both states, and is a credit to each. His grand- father, Sanford Pickett, came from his native state of Virginia to Missouri among the early pioneers of this part of the state and located on a farm in Shelby county, where he died after years of great usefulness to the locality.
ledgeman Pickett, who was born in Bethel township, this county, on Jan- mary 1, 1859, is a son of Hiram and Eliz- abeth (Rookwood) Pickett, natives of Fanquier county, in the Old Dominion, where the father was born on August 10, 1822. He came to Missouri when he was thirteen years of age with his par- ents and grew to manhood on the family homestead, near Bethel. After com- pleting his education he began a very successful career as a farmer, which lasted until his death on March 29, 1890. He was also prominent and influential in the public life of the county, displaying
great enterprise and publie spirit in its development and improvement, carrying into matters of general concern the same energy, breadth of view and progres- siveness that characterized him in the improvement and cultivation of the 960 acres of land he owned when he died.
His marriage with Miss Rookwood oc- curred in 1854. They became the par- ents of twelve children, eight of whom are living-Sanford H., a resident of Quincy, Illinois; Hedgeman, the imme- diate subject of this memoir ; Jennie Lee, the wife of John H. Buc, of this county, a sketch of whom will be found in this work; Annie, the wife of J. A. Green, of Woodward, Oklahoma ; John and James S., residents of this county; Gabrella, the wife of C. R. Donglas, also residing in Shelby county, and Oscar W., whose home is in Shelby county, too. Jennie and Annie, named above, are twins. The father was a Democrat of the most pro- nouneed and active type in his political relations.
Hedgeman Pickett obtained his edu- cation in the distriet schools of Bethel township, which he attended at intervals until he reached the age of nineteen. Ile then engaged regularly in the employ of his father and continued the relation un- til 1880. In that year he rented a por- tion of the farm on which he now resides and bought two years later what he had been renting, its extent being eighty acres. He has ever since been energet- ically, studiously and successfully oeen- pied in farming and raising and feeding live stock, advancing to great prosperity in his business and high standing and universal esteem as a man and citizen. His farm now comprises 600 acres, all
MR. AND MRS. HEDGEMAN PICKETT
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but forty of which are under skillful and systematic cultivation according to the most approved methods of husbandry. It is one of the best and most valuable farms in the township, and has been made so by his persistent industry and the wisdom and intelligence with which he has managed his business and looked after every detail of the work.
But Mr. Pickett has not employed his energy and capacity wholly in his own affairs. He is a progressive and public- spirited man and takes great interest in the needs and possibilities of the com- munity around him and does all in his power to promote its welfare. He is a school director and has been road com- missioner, rendering approved service to the people in both offices and retaining their confidence and regard by his gen- eral and active work in their behalf in many ways and holding their admiration and his widespread popularity by the ex- cellent example he gives as a citizen.
Mr. Pickett was married on February 17, 1880, to Miss Sarah Catherine Allen, who was born in Shelby county on Sep- tember 17, 1861, a daughter of David and Sarah Ann (Ford) Allen, natives of Kentucky, but long esteemed, prominent and useful residents of this portion of Missouri, having come to Shelby county many years ago. The union has resulted in the birth of six children, five of whom are living-Edgar, who is farm- ing on his own account in this county, and Sylvia, Frank, Bessie and Charles, who are dwelling yet under the family rooftree and helping to enliven the parental family circle. In politics the father is a Democrat of firm convictions and continued loyalty to his party. He
is influential in its couneils and effective in its service, but he neither seeks nor desires any of its honors or emoluments for himself, being well content to serve the state from the honorable post of pri- vate and faithful citizenship. His wife is an active and interested member of the Missionary Baptist church.
MARION F. SNIDER.
Owning 211 acres of excellent land in Jackson township, this county, and making this the base of active, enter- prising and progressive industries in farming and raising live stock, Marion F. Snider stands among the leading men in the township engaged in those pur- snits. He is also held in high esteem as one of the influential and serviceable citizens of the township. with cordial in- terest in the progress and development of the region in which he lives, integrity and uprightness of life as a man, and energy and breadth of view with refer- ence to public affairs as the foundation on which the popular estimation of his worth rests.
Mr. Snider was born in Shelby county, Missouri, on May 6, 1850. He is a half- brother of Peter A. Snider, in a sketch of whom, to be found elsewhere in this book, an account is given of the lives of his father and mother, John Henry and Sarah (Utz) Snider, long residents of the county and accounted as among its most estimable citizens. After obtain- ing the limited education which the Shelby county country schools of his boyhood and youth afforded, the subject of this brief review worked on his father's farm and assisted the family until 1872.
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By this time Mr. Snider's mind was firmly fixed on establishing a home of his own, and in accordance with his de- sire to do this, he began farming and raising live stock on his own account. Although his progress was slow at first, it has been steady from the beginning. The way before him was ascending and rugged, for he was withont material re- sources, and had nothing but his per- sonal qualities of head, heart and spirit to depend on, but he kept elimbing it, whatever the difficulties, and as he gained higher ground and surer footing, he enlarged his estate and his business operations in proportion to his increas- ing prosperity.
His farm, as has been stated, com- prises 211 acres and it is well improved, highly developed and very productive. It is all under cultivation and is tilled with intelligence and vigor, every acre being made to yield the best result the most advanced modern agricultural methods can produce, according to the season and other cireumstances. He studies his work with earnest thought and reflective observation, and he ap- plies the information he thus gains to all his efforts with energy and zeal that leave nothing to chance, in so far as such industry can overcome or command it.
seeks none of its honors or profits for himself. He and his wife are zealous and devoted members of the Southern Methodist Episcopal church and are held in high regard as useful forces in the congregation to which they belong.
BYRON L. SWIFT.
Although not a native of Missouri, Byron L. Swift, one of the successful farmers and representative citizens of Salt River township, has lived in Shelby county most of the time since he reached the age of five years, when he came to this state and county with his parents. Ile grew to manhood on the soil of Shelby county, drew from it his stature and his strength, obtained his education in its public schools and from the dawn of his maturity has been engaged in helping to promote its industrial great- ness and power in his quiet and unas- suming way, but with material enter- prise and substantial results for the good of the people.
Mr. Swift was born in the town of Richfield, Summit county, Ohio, on March 20, 1860, and is a son of Stiles P. and Delia Elizabeth (Stofer) Swift, the former a native of Michigan and the lat- ter of Ohio. In 1863 the father moved to Missouri and located in Shelby county. His family came two years later. Here he practiced medicine in the Homeopa- thie school for a number of years, and also conducted farming operations in connection with raising live stock. In 1865 he changed his residence to Shel- bina and there devoted himself wholely to the practice of his profession. Some
In December, 1873, Mr. Snider united in marriage with Miss Ella Coleman, of Hannibal, Missouri. Three children were born to them, but one of whom is living, their daughter Allie P., the wife of Alvin Lippincott, who lives in this county and stands well among the people. Her father follows faithfully the for- tunes of the Democratic party and is loyal in his service to it, although he years afterward he moved to Burlin-
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game, Kansas, but only remained two years. From there he moved to North Topeka, Kansas, and there he remained actively engaged in a large practice as a physician until his death, November 17, 1900, aged seventy-eight years.
In 1848 he was united in marriage with Miss Delia Elizabeth Stofer, at the time a resident of Ohio, as he was, and they became the parents of six children, three of whom are living: Burton D., a resident of this county; Byron L., the subject of this brief review; and Lillie B., the wife of Jacob Griggs, whose home is in Parsons, Kansas. After the death of his first wife he again married, March 23, 1893, his second wife being Miss Miriam A. Blakeslee, who survives him. In his political allegiance the father was a devoted member of the Republican party from its birth to his own death, and he gave the organization the best service in all its campaigns he was ca- pable of, although never seeking any of its favors for himself or allowing its demands to interfere in any way with his business.
Byron L. Swift was reared on his father's farm, and as soon as lie left school began farming and raising live stock on his own account. He has stead- fastly adhered to these occupations in spite of many temptations to give his attention to other callings, and has made his operations in them substantially profitable to himself and of very material benefit to his township and county. He has conducted his business with enter- prise and intelligence, studying the best modern methods in connection with it and applying the results of his observa- tions with excellent judgment and con-
tinnous industry, progressiveness and breadth of view.
He was married on October 25, 1893, to Miss Katy A. Wolfe, of New Orleans, Louisiana. The five children born of the union are all living and all yet mem- bers of the parental family circle. They are: Ruby, William, Bessie, Katy and Byron. Their mother died on August 27, 1908. The father is a Republican in his political connection, with an earnest and unceasing interest in the welfare of his party, and at all times renders it all the service he can. Fraternally he he- longs to the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, in which, also, he takes an active and serviceable interest. The enduring welfare of his township and county is a matter of constant concern and energetic effort on his part, no worthy undertaking involving it going withont his earnest, intelligent and helpful assistance. He is regarded as one of the best and most useful men in his locality.
JAMES POLK CONNAWAY.
While the great state of Missouri at- tracted the attention and commanded the admiration of the world during the late Spanish-American war by her prolific production of superior mules well adapted for hardy service and long en- durance, which enabled her to supply all the requirements of the American army with this necessity of modern war- fare, she is no less entitled to credit for her great industry in the production of high grade horses for almost every use to which the noble animal is put in the service of mankind.
The pre-eminence of the state in bring-
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ing forth this product as a creation for use, enjoyment and commerce has not been so pronounced as in connection with the other four-footed animal of great utility, and no great public exigency has brought the name of Missonri into nni- versal notice in reference to it, but the industry is, nevertheless, an extensive one in the commonwealth and engages the energies of a large number of the people here, many of whom have na- tional reputations for the excellent qual- ity of their output in this line.
Among this number Polk Connaway, of Salt River township, Shelby county, is in the front rank and he well deserves the high standing he enjoys in connec- tion with the industry. He has made a specialty of it for many years and be- come an authority on every feature and department of the business and his name is as familiar as a household word in every horse market in the country that has any general and widespread reputa- tion of its own or is frequented by deal- ers of extensive trading.
Mr. Connaway was born on February 22, 1871, in Shelby county, Missouri. His parents, John Henry and Anna (Swain) Connaway, were born and reared in the state of Delaware, and there their forefathers lived from colonial times. The father, who came into being in 1841, was a son of Minus Connaway, who lived on a farm in Delaware which the family had occupied for generations. He was prominent in the affairs of the little state, whose proud boast has often been that she "produces greatness, not big- ness," and his son had the prospect of a career at home in line with the long habits and stimulating examples of his
ancestors. But the West wore a winning smile for him, and he yielded to its per- snasive blandishments, coming to Mis- souri at an early day in his own life and that of the state. '
He located on a farm in Shelby county, three miles west of Shelbina, and there he farmed and raised live stock actively, extensively and success- fully until 1908, when he retired from active labor. Since then he has made his home with one or another of his chil- dren. He was married to Miss Anna Swain, and they became the parents of eight children, six of whom are living: Mary, the wife of Frank Barnes, of Ohio ; Polk, the interesting subject of this writ- ing; Frank, who is also a resident of this county; Ollie, the wife of Charles Raplee, of Shelby county; John, another member of the family who dignifies and adorns the citizenship of this county; and Mattie, now Mrs. Earl Porter. of Palmyra, Missouri. The father is a Re- publican in politics and a member of the Southern Methodist Episcopal church in religions affiliation.
Polk Connaway was educated in the country schools of Shelby county, and after leaving school worked on his fa- ther's farm and others in the vicinity until 1895. He then began farming and raising live stock in a general way on his own account, and has been ener- getically and successfully engaged in these pursuits from that time to the present. Soon after starting in busi- ness for himself he determined to give his whole attention in the stock industry to the production and handling of su- perior strains of horses, making that his specialty and allowing no other line to
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