USA > Missouri > Shelby County > General history of Shelby County, Missouri > Part 59
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HISTORY OF SHELBY COUNTY
interfere with his extensive operations in it. He has been very successful in the business and, as has been noted, has reached considerable prominence and won a national reputation for himself in it as one of the best and most intelligent horsemen in the state of his residence.
On February 5, 1895, he was nnited in marriage with Miss Sallie Churchwell, of Shelby county, Missouri. The five children born of this union are all living and still reside under the parental roof- tree. They are: Anna Valienee, James Lester, Ethel C., Mattie Hazel, and an infant daughter, named Tomie D. The father gives his active support and loyal allegiance to the principles and candi- dates of the Republican party in political affairs, and to the Modern Woodmen of America in fraternal relations. He is highly esteemed for his publie spirit and enterprise in connection with the prog- ress and improvement of his township and county, and held in strong regard for the elevated character and general usefulness of his citizenship.
HUGH DEMPSEY.
Starting with practically nothing in the way of financial resources, and now owning and cultivating a fine farm of 195 aeres in an advanced state of im- provement and produetiveness, Hugh Dempsey, of Salt River township, in this county, furnishes an impressive illustra- tion of the possibilities of industry, en- terprise, thrift and good business man- agement in our land of unmeasured re- sources and great wealth of opportunity. Ilis career also gives another proof of
the versatility, adaptability and readi- ness for any conditions so characteristic of the Irish race, and its powers of achievement in every field of human en- deavor to which it sedulously devotes itself, whatever the circumstances.
Although born in Adams county, Illi- mois, on November 7, 1852, Mr. Dempsey is bnt one generation removed from the Emerald Isle, where his father, Charles Dempsey, and his mother, Sarahı (Demp- sey) Dempsey, were born and reared, the father's life beginning in that country in 1815, and the mother's two or three years later. The father came to the United States a very young man and lo- eated first in Pennsylvania. A few years afterward he moved to Adams county, Illinois, and in 1866 brought his family to Missonri and took up his residence in Shelby county. IIere he was ener- getically and continuously engaged in farming and raising live stoek until his death in 1882.
By his marriage to Miss Sarah Demp- sey he became the father of eight chil- dren, six of whom are living: Edward J., of St. Louis, Missouri; Hugh, whose life story this review especially records ; Lizzie, the wife of Marshall Baker, a resident of this county; Nancy, the wife of William Barry, of St. Louis; Charles Mark, who is also a resident of this county ; and Margaret, the wife of Thomas Finney, another member of the family who is adding to the growth, im- provement and prosperity of Shelby county. In politics the father adhered to the Democratie party and in religion to the tenets of the Catholic church.
His son Hugh obtained a limited com-
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mon school education in the district schools of his native county and those of this county. At an early age, even be- fore attaining his majority in years, he began farming and raising stock on his own account, and from the beginning of his venture in these two lines of industry he has been successful and steadily in- creased in prosperity, having acquired the ownership of 195 acres of good farm- ing land, as has been noted, and brought it to a high state of fruitfulness.
Mr. Dempsey has also steadily risen in the good opinion and appreciation of his township and county. He was four- teen when he became a resident of the county, and during the forty-four years of his residence among its people has so demeaned himself as a man and been so active and useful as a citizen that he has won universal regard and good will in this part of the state. He rendered ex- cellent service to the public as a mem- ber of the local school board for a period of fifteen years, and in reference to every other public interest has always been active and helpful in behalf of the en- during welfare of the locality of his home.
On December 28, 1875, he was married to Miss Jane Baker, a daughter of Rea- son and Dorenda (Dudgeon) Baker, long esteemed residents of this connty. Of the six children born to the union, four are living, all of them still in the parental family circle. They are: Charles E., Georgia, Anna and Reason B. The fa- ther belongs to the Democratic party in politics and the Catholic church in re- ligion. He is firm in his allegiance to both party and church and a faithful worker in each.
JAMES S. BARKER.
Venerable in years and venerated for his long usefulness to his country in many different localities and lines of en- deavor, including faithful services on the battlefield and activity in several of the industries of peaceful production, James S. Barker, of Salt River township, is one of the memorable and striking per- sonages in Shelby county. At the ad- vanced age of ninety, he is resting from labor and enjoying the twilight of his long day of toil, amply provided for by the competence he has gained through his own efforts, and secure in the high regard of the people of the whole county because of the uprightness, consistency and general worthiness of his career among men.
Mr. Barker was born in Lycoming county, Pennsylvania, on April 21, 1821. His grandfather located in that state on his arrival in this country from Ireland, where his family had dwelt for many generations. For a time he resided at Carlisle, in Cumberland county, and there his son. John Barker, the father of James S., was born, in 1773. The greater part of John Barker's life was passed in Carlisle, but he died at Lock- haven, Clinton county, in 1850, having moved to that city from the adjoining county of Lycoming some time previ- ously. He was a millwright and worked at the trade for a time. But he was most prominently and extensively known as a very successful pilot on the Sus- quehanna river.
In 1801 he was married to Miss Nancy Ramsey, also a native of Pennsylvania. Of the ten children born to them, only
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HISTORY OF SHELBY COUNTY
one is now living, James S. His older sister, Elizabeth, the wife of William Dımnn, of Great Island, Pennsylvania, died in October, 1910, in her ninety-ninth year. The father was a man of great force of character and wonderful phy- sique and endurance. The trials and ex- actions of his life on the river, the nerv- ous strain under which he constantly la- bored, the dangers of his calling, the rig- ors of the seasons and rage of the ele- ments to which he was frequently sub- jected, all passed over his stalwart frame in vain. He lived to the age of seventy-seven and retained nmch of his vigor of body and all of his clearness of mind to the last.
James S. Barker obtained his educa- tion in the district schools of his native county, and while attending them ac- quired a good knowledge of blacksmith- ing, working at the trade when he had leisure from school sessions. After leaving school he followed the craft for a time with success and good prospects. But the outbreak of the Mexican war called him to higher duties, and he en- listed in the American army under Col. John C. Hayes, being enrolled in Com- pany K, First Regiment, on July 3, 1847, at Dallas, Texas, where he happened to be at the time, having made the trip from Shelbyville on horse back, over 1,300 miles. He served to the end of the war and took part in several engage- ments, notably the battle of Laquelta- pan, which was a hot fight in which the Mexican loss was 150 men killed. Mr. Barker was mustered out of the service on April 30, 1848, at Vera Cruz, Mexico, the war having been ended by the treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo.
Mr. Barker did not, however, work at the trade of blacksmithing until the be- ginning of the Mexican war. He became a Susquehanna river pilot, like his father, and was employed as such until 1842. He then came to Missouri and lo- cated at Walkersville in this county. In connection with his brothers, George and Thomas, he built four mills on Salt river, but soon after their completion all but one, a saw mill, were washed away in a flood. This the three brothers operated until 1849. James then sold his inter- ests in the mill to his brothers, and the next year he returned to Pennsylvania and again became a pilot on the Susque- hanna, continuing as such four years. In 1854 he came back to Missouri and once more located in Shelby county. Here, during the next two years, he farmed in connection with Charles Smith, his father-in-law. At the end of the period named he opened a general merchandising establishment at Walk- ersville, which he conducted with great snecess and profit for two years. But mercantile life was not to his taste, and in 1858 he sold his business and returned to farming and raising live stock, in which he was very actively and exten- sively engaged until about ten years ago. Then advaneing years impelled him to retire from all active pursuits, although he was at the time and is now in good health.
On July 17, 1849, Mr. Barker was united in marriage with Miss Sibbella Smith, of this county. Eight children were born of their union and six of them are living : Emma Belle, the wife of An- drew Baker, of this county; William, who lives in California; Elizabeth, the
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wife of James A. Kent, of Shelby county; Caroline, the wife of James Cooter, of Holden, Missouri; Jennie L., the wife of John W. Wilson; and Ger- trude, the wife of John H. Lancaster. The two last named are residents of Shelby county, Missouri. The wife and mother died October 20, 1893, aged sixty- three years.
Mr. Baker's political faith has been pinned to the Republican party from its organization, and he has at all times given it loyal support, acting on honest convictions in this, as he does in every- thing else. For many years he has found entertainment and inspiration in the teachings and social features of the Ma- sonic fraternity and the Order of Odd Fellows, and religious comfort in the doctrines of the Christian church, of all of which he has been an active and con- sistent member. His life in the past, his present peace and contentment, and his hopes for the future give force to the words of the Psalmist: "Behold the np- right man, for the end of that man is peace."
HENRY WILL.
"Mr. Will, who is one of the substantial citizens, large landholders and success- fnl business men of Shelby county, main- taining his home in the village of Bethel, lias been a resident of this county from the time of his birth and is a scion of one of its sterling pioneer families, the name which he bears having been identified with the annals of the county for more than half a century.
Mr. Will was born in the village of Bethel, this connty, on July 15, 1848, and
his father was one of the original mem- bers of the colony here founded by a number of substantial and worthy citi- zens of German birth or ancestry. John Will, grandfather of the subject of this review, was a native of Germany and passed the closing years of his life in Missouri. Mr. Will is a son of Nicholas and Catherine (Ziegler) Will. They were both natives of Germany. Their marriage was solemnized in Shelby county, Missouri, in 1847. The father came to this county in 1845 and to Amer- ica in 1839. He became one of the colo- nists at Bethel, where he followed his trade, that of tailor, until the colony was disbanded, and thereafter he devoted his attention to farming on a small scale and to the raising of bees, being long known as one of the successful apiarists of this section of the state, and continu- ing to be actively identified with this line of enterprise until his death, which oc- curred on October 25, 1900, at which time he was seventy-nine years of age, having been one of the honored and well known pioneer citizens of the county. His devoted wife was summoned to the life eternal December 12, 1902, at the age of seventy-seven years. She came to America in 1831 and to Bethel in 1844. The mother had been a zealous member of the Methodist Episcopal church and the father had been a supporter of the cause of the Republican party from the time of its organization until his demise. Of the ten children five are mentioned in this sketch. Of the umber the subject of this sketch is the eldest; Christine is the wife of Henry Schriever, of Bethel; Julius E. is a resident of Green City. this state; Louise is the wife of Freder-
HENRY WILL
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HISTORY OF SHELBY COUNTY
ick Pflum, of Shelby county, and Frank now resides in Albany, Oregon.
Henry Will passed his boyhood and youth in his native village of Bethel, in whose schools he secured his early edu- cational training. After the breaking up of the colony he followed various ocen- pations, in connection with which he de- veloped no little versatility. In 1879 he engaged in work as a brick mason, to which vocation he devoted his attention for a few years, after which he was asso- ciated with his brother Julins E. in the conducting of a wagon repair shop for a period of seven years. They then en- gaged in the hardware business at Bethel under the firm name of Will Brothers, and they were associated in this enterprise for thirteen years. Like his father, Mr. Will has achieved suc- cess and no limited reputation as an apiarist, and to this interesting line of enterprise he has given special attention the past few years, finding the same a source of definite profit and condneting operations on an extensive scale. He has also been prominently identified with farming and stock growing, but now rents his fine farm property, which com- prises 316 acres and which is eligibly located in Bethel township. In 1892 Mr. Will became one of the organizers of the Bank of Bethel, of which he was elected president in Jannary, 1907, serving in this office for one year, since which time he has continned as a valned member of the directorate of the substantial and popular institution.
Though essentially loyal and public spirited as a citizen and taking much in- terest in all that tends to conserve the progress and prosperity of the commu-
nity, Mr. Will has never been a seeker of public office. He is aligned as a stannch supporter of the principles and policies for which the Republican party stands sponsor, and both he and his wife hold membership in the Methodist Episcopal church in their home village, where they are held in high regard by all who know them.
On April 3, 1874, Mr. Will was united in marriage to Miss Elizabeth Schriever, who was born and reared in this county, and who is a daughter of the late Sam- uel Schreiver. The six children of this union are: Elizabeth, who is the wife of Edward G. Bower, of Bethel, and Louise, Emma, Alma, Irwin R. and Catherine R., all of whom remain at the paternal home. Emma is now Mrs. William Erich, of Bethel township; Alma is now Mrs. John Brothers, of Bethel township.
WILLIAM S. FOX.
He whose name introduces this sketch was for many years engaged in the gro- cery business in Shelbina, gaining ree- ognition as one of the leading repre- sentatives of the mercantile fraternity in this attractive little city, where he still maintains his home, and where he now conducts one of the leading grocery stores and meat markets. He is held in unqualified esteem in the town that has so long been his home and is well entitled to consideration in this history of his county.
Mr. Fox was born on a farm near the village of Paris, Monroe county, Mis- sonri, January 5, 1867, and the lineage of the family is traced back through sev- eral generations in America, his pater-
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nal grandfather, James C. Fox, having been a native of Kentucky. In that state also was born Joseph H. Fox, father of our subject. The former was reared and educated in his native commonwealthı, and as a young man he came to Missouri and took up his residence in Monroe county, where he became a successful farmer and also built up a large and prosperous business as a dealer in mules. His wife, whose maiden name was Mar- tha M. Mckinney, was born in the state of Missouri, Monroe county, and both are now deceased, the honored father having passed away in 1899 and the mother in 1871. In polities the father was a staunch adherent of the Demo- cratic party, taking an intelligent inter- est in the issues of the hour and being loyal and liberal in his attitude as a citi- zen. He was affiliated with the Masonic fraternity and both he and his wife were zealous and valued members of the Christian church. Of their nine children all are living except one, and concerning them the following brief record is given : James A. is a resident of Louisville, Kentucky; Mary M., a maiden lady, re- sides in the city of St. Louis; Walter L. is a resident of Fort Collins, Missouri; Alice M. is the wife of James B. West, of St. Louis; Annie E. is the widow of Arthur W. Skinner and resides at Har- per, Kansas; Edward L. maintains his home in Hannibal, Missouri ; William S. is the immediate subject of this review ; and Louise T. is the wife of Albert N. Wiles, of Quincy, Illinois.
William S. Fox passed his boyhood days on the home farm and after com- pleting the curriculum of the public schools of Shelbina he continued to as-
sist in the work of the home farm for a short interval, at the expiration of which, in 1894, he engaged in the grocery busi- ness in Shelbina, where he built up a large, prosperous and essentially repre- sentative trade, based upon fair and hon- orable dealings and upon his care and discrimination in catering to the de- mands of his patrons. He was specially effective as a buyer and his store was looked upon as a model establishment of its kind. He continued the enterprise with ever increasing success until Oc- tober, 1908, when he sold the same, and for two years was employed as a travel- ing salesman for the Scudders-Gale Gro- cery Company, of Quincy, Illinois, which he represented in a good territory in this state, though still maintaining his home in Shelbina, as has already been stated. He was one of the popular com- mercial men of his native state and his success as a traveling salesman was on the same high plane as was that he ma- tured in connection with his individual business as a retail grocer. In Decem- ber, 1909, Mr. Fox resigned his position as traveling salesman and in the spring of 1910 again engaged in the retail gro- cory and meat business at Shelbina. where he is now enjoying a large and constantly increasing trade. Mr. Fox is aligned as a staunch supporter of the principles and policies for which the Democratie party stands sponsor, is pro- gressive and public-spirited as a citizen, is identified with several fraternal and social organizations, the Masonic frater- nity, K. of P. and M. W. of A. Both he and his wife hold membership in the Christian church.
On October 25, 1888, Mr. Fox was
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united in marriage to Miss Margaret M. Gresham, who was born and reared in Marion county and who is a daughter of John Gresham, now deceased. Mr. and Mrs. Fox have two children-Por- ter G., who is now employed in a busi- ness with his father at Shelbina, and C. Brace, who remains at the parental home.
JOHN BROWN.
John Brown, a native and all his life to this time a resident of Shelby county, and until three years ago one of its leading farmers and live stock men, is now one of the prosperous and promi- nent citizens of Shelbina, where he is energetically and extensively engaged in business as an auctioneer and general dealer in live stock. He was born near Bethel, this county, on June 28, 1855, and obtained his education in the dis- triet school near his home, living on his father's farm and attending the sessions whenever he found opportunity amid the exactions of active farming operations.
His grandfather, Eleven Brown, was a native of Kentucky, where his parents settled in early days when that now great state was still a part of the fron- tier, but rapidly filling up with hardy and stalwart pioneers. Bedford Brown, the son of Eleven and father of John, was born at Frankfort, Kentucky, in 1820, and came to Missouri when he was but sixteen years of age, finding in this state at that early period much the same conditions that his forefathers had found in Kentucky when they arrived in it. He located for a short time at Pal- myra, then moved to Shelby county and took up his residence on a farm near
Bethel. There he followed farming and general stock-raising until his death. When that event occurred he owned 240 acres of land and an extensive live stock business. He was energetic and know- ing, took advantage of his opportunities with good judgment and used them with intelligence and skillful management. Success erowned all his efforts and gave him, in connection with his high char- aeter and publie spirit, consequence and standing among the people. His spe- cialties in stock were horses and mules, and he raised great numbers of each.
In about 1848 he was united in mar- riage with Miss Elizabeth Todd, a na- tive of Maryland, and by that marriage became the father of ten children, all of whom are living. They are: Eliza, the wife of Henry Nichols, of this county ; Alexander, who resides in Kirks- ville, Missouri ; John, the immediate sub- ject of this sketch; Benjamin F., also a resident of this county ; Lucinda E., the wife of James Nelson, of Sheridan county, Kansas; Fannie, the wife of Frank Taylor, of Shelby county; Lillie, the wife of Al. Taylor, who also resides in this county: Julia, the wife of James Gentry, of Kirksville; Kittie, the wife of Tom Will Garrison, of Shelby county; and Joseph, whose home is in Knox county. The father was a member of the Democratic party in political faith and allegiance and belonged to the Mis- sionary Baptist church in religious con- nection.
John Brown was trained to farming and raising stock, and gave his attention to these pursuits immediately on leav- ing school. He also bought considerable munbers of stock for shipment to East-
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ern markets. He was very successful in his operations on the farm, and con- tinued them along progressive and prof- itable lines until February 1, 1907. At that time he moved to Shelbina, and during the subsequent years has been very successfully engaged in auctioneer- ing and dealing in live stock generally. He understands his business thoroughly and gives it his whole attention. His snecess is therefore a logical result of capacity, enterprise and first rate man- agement, combined with excellent judg- ment. He was married in 1878 to Miss Amanda T. Gentry, of Ralls county, this state. They have had ten children, three of whom are living, John and Paul, of Rexford, Kansas, and Mark, of Shelby county, Missouri, all of whom have in- herited the business capacity of their father and are doing well in their sev- eral callings and localities, and, like him, are highly respected by the people around them.
ARTHUR E. JORDAN.
This enterprising, prosperons and highly successful farmer and live stock man and respected citizen of Jackson township in this county, was born in the state of Indiana on August 26, 1863, and came with his parents to Missouri and Shelby county when he was eight years of age. He is a son of Philip W. and Nancy II. (Coffman) Jordan, an account of whose lives will be found in a sketch of his brother, William A. Jordan, pub- lished in this volume and containing a narrative of the family history.
Mr. Jordan acquired his education in the Oak Dale, Shelby county, public school, and, after completing the course
of study available to him in that temple of Cadmus, began at once a career as a farmer and producer and shipper of live stock, which he has continued to the present time and in which he has suc- ceeded admirably by reason of his good judgment, fine business capacity and the close, intelligent and careful attention he has always bestowed upon his business.
He has also taken an earnest interest and active part in the affairs of his town- ship and was a member of the school board for some years. He is a Demo- crat in political allegiance, belongs to the Court of Honor fraternally, and is connected with the Christian church in religious alliance. He takes an ardent interest in his party, his fraternity and his church, and his membership is highly valned in each. In 1892 he was united in marriage with Miss Ina Vanarsdall, of Marion county, Missouri. They have had two children and both of them are living and still members of the parental family circle. They are a dangliter named Nancy Ruth and a son named Guy. The parents stand high in the es- timation of the people of the township, and common consent will attest that they are well deserving of the regard in which they are held.
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