USA > Missouri > Shelby County > General history of Shelby County, Missouri > Part 80
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HISTORY OF SHELBY COUNTY
liam Z. T .; and Mary E., the wife of Richard Tuggle. The father was an old time Demoerat in his political faith and allegiance and a great worker for the success of his party. His religious affil- iation was with the Christian church.
William Z. T. Peoples obtained his education in what is known as Ernest district school, in Taylor township, this county. The schoolhouse, when he was a pupil in the school, was a rude con- struction of logs and furnished with slab benches and lacking nearly all the con- veniences of the modern structure de- voted to the education of the young. But, primitive as it was, and irregularly as it was kept, the school helped in the devel- opment of character along with mental training, and that its ministrations were of value is shown by the make-up and achievements of those who learned some of the lessons of life under its discipline.
The parents of Mr. Peoples came to Missouri in 1836, and after a residence of two years in Marion county located in Shelby county, where they were among the early settlers. The father entered government land and became a very sue- cessful and extensive farmer and stock man, holding at the time of his death, which occurred on October 21, 1854, 1,300 acres of superior land, a great deal of which he had reduced to systematic fruit- fulness. His operations in both farming and stock raising were extensive, as has been stated, but every detail of them re- ceived his elose and intelligent attention and was directed by his personal super- vision. His great success was the logical result of his skill and industry, and it marked him as a man of great natural ability enriched by study and reflection.
His son, William Z. T., remained at home until he reached the age of twenty- one, working on the farm and assisting the family. In 1870 he bought 160 acres of land and began farming and raising stock for himself, but continued to reside with his mother until his first marriage the next year. He kept up his farming operations and stock raising with in- ereasing prosperity and frequent addi- tions to his farm until 1906, when he was chosen president of the Farmers' Bank of Leonard. He moved into that town in 1907 and there he has even sinee re- sided. But he still retains his fine farm of 450 aeres and rents it to his son. In December, 1910, Mr. Peoples resigned his position as president of the bank on account of failing health and D. A. Car- michael was chosen as acting president until the office can be regularly filled.
In the local public affairs of the town- ship and county Mr. Peoples has always shown a good citizen's earnest and help- ful interest. He has served as school director and in many other ways has con- tributed to the welfare and advancement of the people around him. He was first married on May 4, 1871, to Miss Mary Alice Garnett, a daughter of Thomas and Ziraldi (McWilliams) Garnett, esteemed residents of this county. The union re- sulted in one child, a son named Noah W., who is a prosperous farmer in this county. The mother of this son died on September 8, 1900, and on January 16, 1907, the father was married to Miss Florence Taylor, of Woodson county, Kansas. In politics he is a Democrat of the most reliable and unwavering kind, and in religion a member of the Chris- tian church, and a very active worker in
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HISTORY OF SHELBY COUNTY
the congregation to which he belongs. In all the elements of elevated and upright citizenship he is distinguished and he is correspondingly esteemed by all who know him throughout the county.
JAMES WILLIAM HAWKINS.
Successful in everything he has under- taken and highly representative of the people among whom he lives and labors and having also developed and built up to large proportions a distinctive indus- try, which is one of the sources of pride to the people of this county, James Wil- liam Hawkins, of Taylor township, this county, presents a pleasing theme to the pen of the biographer, however briefly it may be found necessary to treat it. He is a native of the county and has passed his life to this time (1910) within its borders. He was educated in its public schools and he married one of its native daughters. He has also expended all his efforts in industrial life among its peo- ple. Whatever he is, therefore, he is all the county's own.
Mr. Hawkins was born in Clay town- ship, Shelby county, in 1855. His pater- nal grandfather, John F. Hawkins, was born and reared in Kentucky where the family to which he belonged was among the pioneers. There also his son Bowles Hawkins, the father of James William, was born. But when the latter was but two years old the family moved to this state and located in Ralls county. In that county the father of Mr. Hawkins grew to manhood and obtained his edu- cation. After leaving school he followed farming in Ralls county until 1850, then moved to Shelby county and here re-
newed his farming operations, supple- menting them with a thriving industry in raising stock generally for the Eastern markets. His operations were extensive and he continued them successfully and profitably until his death, which occurred in May, 1877.
In 1849 he was united in marriage with Miss Lucinda S. Dawson, a native of Ralls county, Missouri, and daughter of John and Fanny (Bowles) Dawson, who came to this state from Kentucky. The elder Mr. Hawkins and his wife be- came the parents of eleven children, all but one of whom grew to maturity. Those now living are: James W., the immediate subject of this memoir; Fanny B., the wife of V. B. Creekmur, whose home is at Prescott, Arizona; Jolın F., who resides at Phoenix, Ari- zona; Engene T., who is a citizen of Cal- ifornia ; Wallace B., a resident of Monte- vista, Colorado; Lulu A., the wife of Norris Farmer, of Shelby county, Mis- souri; and Leslie B. The mother sur- vived her husband ten years, passing away in February, 1887.
James W. Hawkins grew to manhood in this county, and as soon as he left school turned his attention to farming and raising live stock. His industry in these kindred pursuits was small at first and general. But he soon developed a taste and capacity for specialties, and to them he has ever since devoted himself. He has a fine farm of 120 aeres, which he calls the "Cedar Grove Stock Farm," and on this he specializes in Shorthorn cattle, Poland-China hogs, Cotswold sheep and single comb brown leghorn chickens with great success. He has won a high reputation for his output, and the
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study and care he bestows on his breed- ing have made him an authority on all matters connected with the subject and given his opinions concerning it great weight. In 1907 he opened a general store in Leonard. But he soon found out that merchandising in a general way was not to his taste, and in October, 1908, he sold the business to his son-in-law, C. E. Stuart, and returned to his farm.
On February 25, 1880, Mr. Hawkins married with Miss Bertha G. Shofstall, a daughter of W. H. and Sarah C. Shof- stall, natives of Ohio, but herself born and reared in this county. Three chil- dren have been born of the union, two of whom are living, Sallie Kate, the wife of C. E. Stuart, of Leonard, and Arthur Scott, who is associated with his father in the stock business, the name of the firm being J. W. Hawkins & Son. The business is extensive and all the energies and time of both father and son are re- quired for its proper management and complete success.
In politics Mr. Hawkins is a pro- nounced Democrat, but he has never been a very active partisan, nor has he at any time songht or desired a political office, although he did serve three years as school director. Fraternally he is connected with the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, and in religious affilia- tion belongs to the Baptist church. He is a stockholder in the Farmers' Bank of Leonard and a member of its board of directors. While his business is exacting and he has given it all the attention nee- essary to make a great success of it, he has not allowed it to absorb him wholly, but has given dne and helpful attention also to the affairs of his township and
county, always aiding in the promotion of every worthy enterprise for their benefit, and contributing his full share of zeal, enterprise and industry to acceler- ate their progress and raise the standard of living among their people, with an ar- dent desire to keep them in the forefront of progress in every way as parts of one of the most enterprising and influential states of the American Union.
MICHAEL HERSHEY.
Although born in Canada and of a father who was also a native of that country, Michael Hershey, of Cherry Box, in this connty, has passed almost the whole of his life in the United States and may properly be considered an American to all intents and purposes. His life began in 1843, and he is a son of Benjamin and Magdalena (Dansman) Hershey, the father born in Canada and the mother in Germany. When their son Michael was a very small boy the family moved to Indiana, where the father has passed the subsequent years of his life as a farmer. His principal oc- enpation in Canada was farming also, but in connection with his agricultural operations there he conducted a grist and saw mill. Nine children were born in the family, five of whom are living: Benjamin, David, Michael, Martha and Salome. Their mother died on January 11. 1872.
Michael Hershey obtained his educa- tion in the district schools of Indiana, and after leaving school remained with his parents, working on the farm and as- sisting the family for a number of years. In 1870 he came to Missouri and located
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at Cherry Box, in Taylor township, this They had four children, but only their county, where he is still living. He has son Charles is living of that offspring. been continuously and successfully en- gaged in farming since his arrival in the county, and has made steady progress in his work of gaining a substantial com- peteney for life. He owns and has under enltivation eighty acres of good land, and the farm is well improved and highly prodnetive. In 1869 he was united in marriage with Miss Maria Benner, a native of Pennsylvania. They have had nine children, six of whom are living: Allen, Magdalena, Jacob, Benjamin, Henry and Naney. Fannie died Angust 16, 1910. In polities the father is a Re- publiean, but he has never taken a very active interest in political affairs. His religious connection is with the Mennon- ite church.
MILTON PASCHAL OAKS.
This enterprising and progressive farmer of Taylor township, in this coun- ty, whose success in life has been consid- erable and won altogether by his own in- dustry, thrift and business capacity, was born in Greene county, Illinois, in 1850, and came with his parents to Missouri in 1857. His father, Michael Oaks, was a native of Tennessee, as was also his mother, whose maiden name was Sarah Oaks. They had twelve children, of whom only two are living, Milton P. and his sister Etta, the wife of Samuel Win- drum, of Denver, Colorado, and these are the only living members of the fam- ily, as the parents are also deceased, the mother having died in 1868 and the father in 1877. He, after the death of his first wife married again, choosing Miss Jane Debord as his second wife.
On coming to Missouri the family lo- cated in Bethel township, Shelby county, and there the parents passed the remain- der of their days engaged in farming. Their son Milton obtained a limited edu- cation in an old log school house in Bethel township, and as soon as he left school began the career as a farmer, which he is still extending with increas- ing profit and esteem among the people. His farm contains eighty acres and is well improved and highly cultivated. It is fully equipped with the needed ap- pliances for its work, and is one of the comfortable and valnable country homes of the township in which it is located. In connection with his farming opera- tions he carries on a flourishing live stock industry, which he manages with the same sedulous care and close attention that he bestows on his general farmig.
In 1871 Mr. Oaks was nited in mar- riage with Miss Ellen Waite, a native of Shelby county. They have had four children, of whom three are living, their sons Walter Byron, Isaac Pierce and Milton Chester. In politics the father is a Republican, deeply interested in the welfare of his party and always zealous and effective in its service. He served on the school board more than five years, and in many other ways has been of great service to the township and county of his home. In religions connection he is allied with the Methodist church. He and his wife are regarded with respect and good will wherever they are known, and looked upon as exemplars of the best attributes of elevated and sterling Amer- ican citizenship.
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HISTORY OF SHELBY COUNTY
EDWARD PENDLETON ALEX- ANDER.
Pursuing the even tenor of his way from year to year as a farmer of enter- prise and progressiveness, never ming- ling with the noisy affairs of the world, yet shirking no duty of citizenship, Ed- ward Pendleton Alexander, of Taylor township, in this county, has entitled himself to general regard and favor by his industry, ability and success as a farmer and his uprightness and high character as a man. His valuable farm of 190 acres is altogether his own acqui- sition, as he had nothing to start with and has had no favors of Fortune to help him along since, and all that it is he has made it. It stands forth, therefore as a monument to his business ability, good judgment and persevering diligence in the work that has been allotted to him.
Mr. Alexander was born in Monroe county, Missouri, on October 18, 1855, and is a son of Jolin Morris and Cordia (Gaines) Alexander, natives of Ken- tucky. The father came to Missouri when he was yet a young man, and in this state he put in practice the lessons in advanced and progressive farming that he had learned in that of his na- tivity. He and his wife were the parents of ten children, five of whom are living : James Thomas, whose home is in Shel- bina ; William Franklin, Edward P. and Samuel L., now at Denver, Colorado, all of whom are prospering in their several callings. Both parents died in the same year, 1901.
Edward P. Alexander attended the distriet schools in his boyhood and youth
when he had opportunity, but his advan- tages were limited. He left school at an early age, and after working on the home farm with his father and assisting the family for a few years, he began farming on his own account and has been doing so ever since. He was married in 1880 to Miss Lonisa Cook, a native of Kentucky. Four of their five children are living: John W., Cordia Frances, Samuel Grover and Goldie. The father is a Democrat in politics and belongs to the Christian church.
JOSEPH FRANKLIN COCKRUM.
Condneting a prosperous and progres- sive business as a general farmer and stock man in Taylor township, this county, and representing in his charac- ter, habits and attention to every duty the best attributes of the people of his locality, Joseph F. Cockrum is justly de- serving of the universal esteem he en- joys as a citizen and the high position he holds as a farmer. He is a native of Mis- souri, born in Knox county, in 1853. His parents, James and Elizabeth (Shaw) Coekrum, were farmers also. The father was born and reared in Kentucky and came to Missouri when he was a young man. He located in Knox county and followed farming and raising stock there until a few years ago, when he retired from all active pursuits. There, also, he met with and married his wife, who died in 1857. He is still living and is now eighty-eight years of age. They were the parents of seven children, six of whom grew to maturity. Four besides Joseph Franklin are living: Ange, the wife of
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HISTORY OF SHELBY COUNTY
Andrew Figh, who has her home in the state of Washington; Orlette, the wife of R. Hammond, a resident of Knox county, Missouri; Viva, the wife of W. Hammond; and Thomas, who also lives in Taylor township, Shelby county.
Joseph F. Cockrum was educated at Washington district school, in Knox county, and has been a farmer ever since he left school. For some years he worked with his father on the home farm and assisted the family. In 1882 he came to Shelby county and located in Taylor township, where he now lives. Born and reared on a farm and well trained to its requirements, he desired no other ocen- pation than that of farming, and this he has followed with gratifying results ever since his advent into this county, and in connection with it has for years carried on a thriving industry in raising live stock for the markets. His valuable farm comprises 120 acres and is all in- der advanced cultivation and his live stock business is in proportion.
On March 25, 1875, Mr. Cockrum was united in marriage with Miss Elizabeth Boggs, a native of Kansas. They had two children, their son Gilbert E. and their daughter Carrie L., who is now the wife of Henry Hersher, a resident of Shelby county. Their mother died in 1885, and in 1887 the father married again, choosing as his partner on this occasion Miss Sarah Street, who was born and reared in Knox county, where he also had his nativity. They have no children. In politics Mr. Cockrum is a Democrat, but he has never been an ac- tive partisan and has never held a politi- cal office or sought one. He is a member of the Christian church.
WILLIAM STALCUP.
Although he is now prosperous and in- creasingly successful as a farmer and stock man, William Staleup, of Jefferson township, Shelby county, started in life seriously handicapped by disaster. He was made an orphan when he was but five years old by the death of his father on the battlefield of Centralia, Missouri, where he was fighting for his convictions as a man and citizen. The son then grew to manhood amid the desolation and prostration of all enterprise in the com- munity of his home brought about by the Civil war and the predatory sectional strife that preceded it. But he was made of stern stuff and the very trials of his lot tonghened the fiber of his nature for the contest before him. And he has sue- ceeded in the contest with adverse cir- eumstances because he meant to and made the required efforts for the accom- plishment of his purpose.
Mr. Staleup was born in the township in Shelby county in which he now lives, his life beginning in 1859. He is a son of James and Mary (Byars) Staleup, na- tives of Virginia, both of whom came to this state in early life. The father was a small boy when his parents moved the family to Missouri and found a new home in Jefferson township, Shelby county. He grew to manhood here and obtained a limited education in the dis- triet schools, or such as there were dur- ing his boyhood and youth. When he left school he turned his attention to farming, at that time the principal occu- pation of the men in this part of the state, and he adliered to his chosen voca- tion throughout the remainder of his life. He was a soldier in the Civil war and
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HISTORY OF SHELBY COUNTY
was killed in the battle of Centralia, Mis- souri, in 1864, as has been noted. His widow is still living and resides in Clar- ence, Missouri. She and her husband were the parents of five children, two of whom are living, William and his brother G. W.
William Staleup attended the country school near his home and through its ministrations secured a limited educa- tion. His opportunities for scholastic training were limited, owing to the con- ditions of the country and the circum- stances of the family, which forced him to look out for himself in the struggle for advancement at an early age. Since leaving school he has been engaged in farming, working under great difficulties and with very slow approaches toward his desired goal at first, but with increas- ing speed and greater prosperity after a few years as the harvest from his per- sistent industry and self-denying frugal- ity began to ripen and be gathered in. He now owns a valuable farm of more than 130 acres, which is well improved, fully equipped with the necessary ap- pliances for its vigorous and profitable cultivation and provided with all the re- quirements of an attractive and comfort- able country home.
On this farm he has for many years carried on general farming operations on a high plane of skill and enterprise, and also conducted a thriving live stock industry of good proportions and ele- vated character. In 1897 he embarked in a general mercantile enterprise at Maud in this county, but this was not to his taste, and after hanging to it three years he sold the business and returned to his farm. He was married in 1883 to Miss
Jennie Phillips, a native of Monroe county, Missouri. They have had four children, three of whom are living, Geor- gianna, James Thomas and Ethel. In political affiliation the father is a Repub- lican, and although he has never sought or desired a political office, he has always been active in the service of his party. For the good of the community he served on the school board about six years, but he prefers at all times the honorable post of private citizenship. He is a member of the Northern Methodist church.
W. J. KESNER.
During the last eighteen years this prosperous farmer and stock man of Jef- ferson township has been one of the use- ful factors in promoting the industrial and civil life of Shelby county, adding to its wealth in agricultural products and live stock, helping to advance it in public improvements and aiding in sustaining and strengthening all its moral, educa- tional and material interests. He has been faithful to the duties of citizenship and while pushing forward his own in- terests has always lent a willing hand to the advancement of those of the town- ship and county in which he lives.
Mr. Kesner was born on September 30, 1867, in Lewis county, Missouri. He is a son of G. W. and Mary J. (Allison) Kesner, the former a native of Indiana and the latter of Virginia. The father came to Missouri in 1840 and located in Lewis county. There for a period of forty-two years he was actively engaged in farming and raising stock, with stead- ily increasing prosperity in a worldly way and a strengthening hold on the con-
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fidence and esteem of the people. In 1882 he moved his family to Monroe county, where he followed the same pur- suits. He died on October 4, 1899.
His marriage with Miss Mary J. Alli- son occurred in 1856 and by this mar- riage became the father of six children, all of whom are living. They are Louisa, George W., Lina, Maggie, W. J. and Sarah. The motheris still living and makes her home in Clarence, Shelby county. Although advanced in years, she bears the burden of age well, being vigorous and energetic, and meeting the daily duties of life now with the same spirit of devotion and determination that characterized her in the earlier period of her residence in this state, when her experiences were largely those of a pioneer.
Her son, W. J. Kesner, who is the im- mediate subject of this brief memoir, be- gan his education in the district schools of Lewis county and completed it in those of Monroe county, to which he removed with his parents in 1882. After leaving school he had the usual experi- ence of country boys in Missouri at that time, working on his father's farm and assisting the family, learning in practical labor the art of farming and acquiring a knowledge of human nature by mingling freely in the social life of the neighbor- hood, thus gaining all the while addi- tional strength and equipment for the battle of life in whatever phase it might present itself.
In 1890 he moved to Macon county and entered the contest for himself as a farmer and raiser of stock. Two years later he came to Shelby county and took up his residence in Clarence, and in the
vicinity of that town he has ever since been actively and prosperously engaged in farming and raising stock. He now owns and cultivates eighty acres of land and has his farm brought to a high state of development in its productive capacity and well improved with good buildings and all the other appurtenances of a com- fortable country home of the present day requirements.
On February 12, 1891, Mr. Kesner was united in marriage with Miss Lily B. Craig, of Monroe county, in this state. They have one child, their daughter Nora Belle. In polities the father is a Republican, in fraternal life he is an Odd Fellow and a Modern Woodman, and in religious affiliation a member of Mission- ary Baptist church.
REUBEN LEE TAYLOR.
Reuben Lee Taylor, one of the pros- perous, progressive and suecessful farm- ers of Jefferson township, in this county, has passed the whole of his life to this time (1910) in the county, and has been, for many years, one of the leading forces in its progress and development. He has helped to expand and augment its indus- trial and commercial power, the moral, social and educational agencies at work among its people have had the benefit of his services in counsel and aetive sup- port and its advancement in the way of publie improvements has always been aided by him to the full extent of his ability and influence.
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