USA > Missouri > Shelby County > General history of Shelby County, Missouri > Part 83
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HISTORY OF SHELBY COUNTY
moved to Shelby county, and here he has continued his extensive operations in farming and raising stock, his prin- cipal product in the latter line of busi- ness being high-bred mules. He is also a stockholder in the Clarence Oil, Gas and Mineral Company and a member of its board of directors, and as such has an important bearing on its transactions and is potential in promoting its success and prosperity.
In December, 1880, Mr. White was united in marriage with Miss Laura Powell, a daughter of Henry M. and Itelia (Mathis) Powell. Of the four children born of the union, three are living: Della, the wife of Joseph Low- ery, of Macon county; Alice, the wife of Harry W. Orr, of Shelby county ; and Valley, the wife of Hood Shearon, of Narrows township, Macon county. Their mother died in September, 1889, and on February 17, 1892, the father married again, being united at this time with Miss Lillian Davis, a daughter of Dur- born and Adelia (Wallace) Davis, na- tives of New Hampshire. Her grand- parents on her mother's side were Reu- ben and Anna (Howard) Wallace, the former a native of New Hampshire and the latter of New York, the Wallace line in the family being of Scotch ancestry and belonging to the distinguished fam- ily of that name renowned in Scottish history, both for the great achievements of some of its members and the lamen- table tragedies that followed them through the ingratitude of those whom they served so faithfully.
Durborn Davis, the father of the pres- ent Mrs. White, was a soldier in the Civil war, belonging to the Thirteenth
New Hampshire Volunteer Infantry. He became a resident of Clarence, in this county, in 1865, just after the close of the war, when the now prosperous little city was but a hamlet on the un- broken prairie. Here he developed and improved a good farm, and aided greatly in building up the town and surround- ing country and making them progres- sive and prosperous. He died on March 13, 1899.
Mr. and Mrs. (Davis) White have had three children, two of whom are living. They are their daughters, Ruth Blanche and Rose. In politics the father adheres firmly and faithfully to the Democratic party, and is a very earnest and effec- tive worker in its behalf. He has given the community more than ten years of excellent service on the school board, and his party vigor and inspiration as central Democratic committeemen for six years. In fraternal relations he is allied with the Masonic order, its ad- junet, the Order of the Eastern Star, and the Knights of Pythias. No citizen of the county stands better in public es- teem, and none is more worthy of high standing. His grandmother Wright was a remarkable woman, and lived to be within a few days of one hundred years of age.
SAMUEL H. MEARS.
Born and reared to the age of seven- teen in Indiana county, Pennsylvania, and having acquired habits of industry and thrift in the strenuous and intense industrial life of that great common- wealth, Samuel H. Mears, of Clay town- ship in this county, transferred to the almost virgin soil of Missouri the train-
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ing for usefulness as a farmer which his native state had given him, and has enlarged his efforts and quiekened his pace in the practice of it in accordance with the advantages which the better land and more extensive opportunities of this region have afforded him for the use of liis attainments.
His life began in 1851, and he is a grandson of James Mears, who was born in Ireland and came to the United States in his boyhood. He located in western Pennsylvania, and after leaving school engaged in farming there. His son, John S. Mears, the father of Samuel S., was a native of Westmoreland county, Pennsylvania, and after reaching his maturity moved across the line into In- diana county, where he followed farming for a livelihood until 1868. In that year he came to Missouri, bringing his family with him and taking up his residence in Macon county. His wife's maiden name was Martha Lucas, and she was a native of Indiana county, Pennsylvania, and a daughter of Patrick Lucas, an esteemed resident and prosperous farmer of that county. She and her husband were the parents of eight children, six of whom are living: John L., whose residence is at Moberly, Missouri; Mary J., the wife of J. C. Foster, also a resident of Mo- berly; Alexander S., who lives in Los Angeles, California; Samuel H., the sub- ject of this brief review; William T., of Moberly, Missouri, and Francis M., of Macon county. The father died in Feb- ruary, 1875, and the mother in October, 1909, at the age of eighty-seven years.
Their son, Samuel H. Mears, began his education in the district schools of his native county and finished it in those
of Macon county, Missouri. After com- pleting their courses of instruction he taught school for a time, then moved to Shelby county and became a farmer. He has followed agricultural pursuits ever since, and with increasing success and prosperity. He became a resident of this county in 1873, and here he has passed the subsequent years of his life, busily and profitably engaged in his chosen vocation and rising to promi- nence and influence among the people of his township. His farm comprises eighty acres of first rate land and is well cultivated. He has it improved with commodious and comfortable buildings, and by his vigor and skill in the man- agement of its operations has brought it to a high state of development and fruitfulness. In connection with his farming he carries on a thriving indus- try in raising and feeding live stock for the markets.
In political connection Mr. Mears is a pronounced Democrat and a zealous and effective worker for the success of his party. He served as district clerk twelve years and was a school director for upwards of twenty. In religious af- filiation he and his wife are allied with the Primitive Baptist church, and he has long been an ardent and effective church worker, serving as deacon of the congre- gation to which he belongs during the last fifteen years, and in many other ways promoting the usefulness and power of the organization, serving also as its clerk for twelve years. On De- cember 3, 1873, he was united in mar- riage with Miss Lucinda Burk, a native of Illinois and daughter of James and Nancy (Sims) Burk. Six children were
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born of the union, four of whom died in infancy. The two living are Wellie J. and Homer E. The father has always taken a lively interest in all matters per- taining to the welfare of his community and is one of the representative men of the county.
HENRY SCHWADA.
Among the prosperous and up-to-date farmers of Clay township in this county, none is entitled to more consideration for enterprise, progressiveness and suc- cess wrung from adverse conditions than Henry Schwada, whose fine farm of 120 acres in section 17 shows up to all ob- servers as a monument to his industry, skill and frugality, as a possession, and his vigor, intelligence and advanced ideas as a farmer. It is one of the at- tractive and valuable rural homes of the township and is altogether the result of his own unaided efforts, as he acquired it and has made it what it is by hard work and excellent management.
Mr. Schwada was born in Indiana in 1862 and brought by his parents to Mis- souri and the county and township in which he now lives when he was but two years old. He is a son of John and Clara (Neaman) Schwada, natives of Germany, who came to the United States in early life and located for a time in Indiana. In 1864 they moved to Mis- souri, and found a new home in Clay township, Shelby county. Here they were for many years actively and profit- ably engaged in farming and raising live stock. They had nine children, eight of whom are living: Henry, Flora, Mary, Jolın, Frank, Louisa, Leslie and Will-
iam. The parents are still living and have their home in Clarence.
Their son Henry obtained his educa- tion in the district schools and worked on his father's farm while attending them. As soon as he grew to manhood he began farming on his own account, and this line of industry has been his constant occupation ever since. His present farm comprises 120 acres, as has been noted, and is highly developed and very productive. In connection with his farming operations Mr. Schwada carries on a flourishing live stock business, which is also active and profitable be- cause he makes it so by his enterprise, intelligence concerning it and good man- agement.
He was married on October 11, 1899, to Miss Rosa Griswold, a daughter of George W. and Ellen (Hayford) Gris- wold, and has two children, his sons, Nolan and Lowell. In politics he is a Democrat, but has never taken a very active part in public affairs. His relig- ious allegiance is given cordially to the Evangelical church, and he and his wife are zealous advocates of its interests and effective workers for its advance- ment. It is not to be inferred that be- canse Mr. Schwada is not an active par- tisan and takes but little interest in po- litical affairs, he is indifferent to the welfare of his township and county. On the contrary, he has been energetic and ardent in the support of every worthy enterprise for their advancement, and has cheerfully and capably borne his full share of the burden incident to promot- ing their development and improvement, and multiplying conveniences and com- forts for their people. No undertaking
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HISTORY OF SHELBY COUNTY
designed for their benefit has ever lacked his aid or had to call twice to secure it. To every duty of citizenship he has been true and faithful, and the people who have had the benefit of his services show that they appreciate what he has done by the general esteem in which they hold him and the members of his family. He stands well wherever he is known, and that is almost all over the county, and is fully deserving of the regard and good will so freely accorded him. He has also been successful in his own behalf and is one of the substantial and well-to-do farmers and stock men of his township.
GEORGE W. HARVEY.
Although not a native of Missouri, George W. Harvey, of Clay township, has been a resident of the state and the county and township in which he now lives ever since he was five years old, a period of forty-one years. From his youth he has been actively engaged in one of the leading pursuits of the people of his locality, and, while seeking his own advancement, has given due atten- tion and valued help in promoting the development and improvement of his community and the whole of the sur- rounding country, exemplifying in his daily life the best attributes of sterling and elevated American citizenship.
Mr. Harvey was born at Joliet, Illi- nois, on July 10, 1864. He is a son of Joseph and Naomi (Turner) Harvey, the former a native of Lowell, Massa- chusetts, where he was born on July 2, 1837, and the latter born and reared in Illinois, and a daughter of George and Rebecca Turner, natives of England.
They were married on December 20, 1858, and had six children, but George W. and his brothers, Edward and Frank, are the only ones living. Their mother died on October 28, 1881, and the father married a second wife in 1884, Miss Al- cinda Thrasher, a native of Monroe county, Missouri. They also had six children. The father was educated in the district schools, and after leaving them began a successful career as a farmer, which he is still extending. In June, 1853, he moved to Illinois, where he worked at various occupations, but chiefly farming. He became a resident of Shelby county, Missouri, in August, 1869, and here he has been energetically engaged in farming and raising live stock ever since, with continued success and increasing prosperity. He is a Democrat in politieal faith and alle- giance, and served as a justice of the peace eight years. His religions connec- tion is with the Evangelical churchi.
Mr. Harvey's paternal grandparents were Samuel and Hannah (Fellows) Harvey, the former a native of England and the latter of the state of Vermont. The grandfather came to the United States a young man and located in Mas- sachusetts. He was a machinist and worked at his trade all the mature years of his life, having learned it before at- taining his majority. He was first mar- ried to a Miss Jones, a native of Mas- sachusetts, and by that union became the father of three children. His second marriage, which was with Miss Hannah Fellows, resulted in one child, their son Joseph, the father of George W. Sam- uel Harvey's last wife died in 1864, and the end of his life came in 1869.
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George W. Harvey obtained his edu- cation in the district schools of Clay township, Shelby county, and as soon as he left school began farming, following the occupation he had acquired a knowl- edge of on his father's farm during his boyhood and youth. He began with practically nothing and now has a fine farm of eighty-seven aeres, well im- proved and highly productive. He also carries on a general industry in raising live stock for the markets, and this he makes profitable, as he does his farming operations, by the energy with which he conducts it and the intelligence and skill with which he manages it. He is one of the substantial and progressive farmers and stoek men of his township and is esteemed as one of its best and most use- ful citizens, as he takes an active inter- est and leading part in everything in- volving the enduring welfare and ad- vaneement of the township and county of his home, allowing nothing of value to languish for the want of his aid.
On April 16, 1885, he was united in marriage with Miss Mary Huett, a daughter of Adolphus R. and Sarah Anne (Ingersoll) Huett, natives of Wis- consin.
Mr. and Mrs. Harvey have had six children. Three of them died in infancy. The three living are : Grace; Agnes, the wife of Orval Dehner, and Voda May. In politieal relations the father is a pro- nounced Democrat and an energetic and effective worker for the welfare of his party. He has not sought or desired of- ficial station, but has served as a mem- ber of the school board four years for the benefit of the community. He is re- garded as a man of strong character,
considerable intelligence and strict in- tegrity, and is generally looked upon as one of the leading and most representa- tive men in Clay township. He well de- serves the public confidence and esteem he enjoys, having earned it by his up- right and serviceable life, and his inter- est in all that pertains to the substan- tial good of his township and county.
HENRY F. GLAHN.
The interesting subject of this brief memoir, whose farm and live stock in- dustry near Hager's Grove are among the most prosperous and progressive in Clay township, this county, is not a na- tive of the United States, but has been a resident of this country and of Mis- souri from the time when he was two years old. He may therefore be con- sidered a Missourian to all intents and purposes, for all his knowledge of the world has been acquired in this state, and all his activities from his boyhood have been expended in the work of build- ing it up and expanding its commercial, industrial, political and intellectual power. And during our Civil war of un- happy memory he showed his devotion to the Union by shouldering his musket and meeting its opponents in battle array on many fields of earnage.
Mr. Glahn was born in Prussia, Ger- many, on February 6, 1841, and is a son of Christian and Mary Antoni (Wand) Glahn, also natives of Prussia. They brought their family to the United States in 1843 and came at once to Mis- souri, locating in Marion county. The father was a wagon maker and worked at his trade in that county, and also
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HISTORY OF SHELBY COUNTY
farmed, until 1866. In that year he 170 acres of good land, is well improved moved to Shelby county and made his and cultivated with every care and at- tention that intelligence, good judgment and advanced methods can apply to the work. His live stock industry is also extensive and profitable, for it is man- aged in the same way as the general work on the farm. Mr. Glahn ranks among the leading and most judicious farmers and stock men in his township, and the good results of all his efforts fully entitle him to the rank he holds. new home in Clay township, where he followed farming and raising live stock exclusively, and there he passed the re- mainder of his life, dying in 18SS. He was very successful in his operations and accumulated a large fortune for this part of the country. The mother died in 1888. They were the parents of twelve children, five of whom are living: Henry F., Gustave and Joseph (twins), Ben- jamin, and Katharine, the wife of Irwin Lathrop, of Joplin, Missouri.
Henry Glahn obtained his education in the distriet schools of Marion county, and after completing their course of in- struetion began farming for himself. But he was not allowed a long period of peaceful pursuit of this industry. The Civil war began in a short time after he went to farming, and on August 22, 1862, he enlisted in Company G, Thirtieth Missouri Infantry, and was soon after- ward at the front in the midst of hostili- ties. He took part in the battles of Jackson, Arkansas Post and Blakely, and a number of other engagements of greater or less importance, including the siege of Vieksburg. During this mem- orable siege he was one of the eighty- four resolnte patriots who volunteered for the disastrous attack on Fort Hill, which was a forlorn hope from the be- ginning.
After the close of the war Mr. Glahn returned to his Shelby county, Missouri, home and resumed his farming opera- tions. He has continued them withont interruption to the present time (1910), and has been very successful in carrying them on. His present farm comprises
On October 22, 1868, he was united in marriage with Miss Elizabeth Jane Price, a daughter of James and Sarah (Stewart) Price, natives of Kentucky, who came to Missouri in 1860 and lo- cated in Macon county. Eleven children were born of the union, three of whom died in infancy. Those who are living are : Harvey E., whose home is in this connty ; Dora, the wife of William Fore- man; Daniel Webster; George William; Julius Samnel; Charles Henry; Rosa Helen, the wife of Louis Clair, and Rns- sel Marion, who is attending school at Kirksville, with a view to a business or professional career.
In politieal faith and allegiance the father is an ardent Republican and an earnest worker for the success of his party in all campaigns. He served on the school board for a period of eight years, not, however, as a partisan, but as a good citizen, and for the benefit of the community, and he rendered excel- lent service, giving the schools an im- pulse to progress which sprang from his own enterprising and progressive spirit. Ifis fraternal relations are with the Grand Army of the Republic, in which he has always taken a great interest and
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a very active and prominent part. He that locality, has proven himself to be is now the chief mustering officer for a very useful citizen and altogether worthy of the confidence and esteem of his community, which he enjoys in full measure. the state of Missouri, and officer of the day in the post to which he belongs at Clarence. He is also a past-commander and has been state and national aide-de- Mr. Stover was born in September, 1848, in Hannibal, Missouri, and is a son of Jacob and Polly (Baker) Stover, both natives of Maryland. The father came to Missouri in 1833 and located in Han- nibal. He was a blacksmith and for a number of years operated the largest blacksmithing establishment in Hanni- bal. His marriage with Miss Polly Baker, a daughter of Alexander Baker, took place in 1843. They had three cliil- dren, but their son, Lewis Cass Stover, is the only one of them living. His mother died in June, 1851, when he was but three years old, and in 1855 his father went to Texas, where he remained eleven years. While there he married a second wife, Miss Mary Raee, a Ken- tuekian by nativity. They also had three children. In 1866 the father re- turned to Missouri, and here he re- mained until his death in 1886. camp. His fervor in devotion to the or- ganization, like that of many other vet- erans who are members of it, seems to grow in intensity as the years pass and its fast-fading ranks melt away. So, also, does his interest in and zeal in be- half of the Christian church, of which he and his entire family have long been devout and consistent members, and he a leader in the congregation to which he belongs, taking an active part in all its worthy and commendable work. In all the requirements of good citizenship he has measured up to the highest stand- ard, giving his community the best serv- ice and example he has been capable of. The people of the township and county are well advised of this fact, and of all else that is creditable in his record, and they esteem him accordingly, holding him to be one of the best and most useful men among them.
LEWIS CASS STOVER.
Successful, prosperous and highly pro- gressive as a farmer and stock man, long a valued member of the local school board, for many years an elder in his church, and at all times deeply and serv- ieeably interested in public affairs and the development and improvement of the township and county of his home, Lewis Cass Stover, whose fine farm of 120 acres, near Clarence in Clay township, this county, is one of the choice ones in
Left largely to his own resources in boyhood and youth, Lewis Cass Stover realized early in life that he had only his own capabilities to look to for ad- vancement among men and success in life. He attended the public schools in his native city for a time, securing what he could in the way of scholastic train- ing, then went to work on a farm as a hired hand. By this means, and by dili- gent use of his every opportunity for the acquisition of useful knowledge, he gained a thorough mastery of agricul- tural pursuits, and as they were suited to his taste and capacity, he determined
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to devote his life to them. He has ad- hered to this resolution to the present time (1910), and has won a gratifying snecess by doing so. He has an excel- lent farm, which is well improved, highly cultivated and very productive. His special industry, however, is raising good breeds of live stock for the mar- kets, and to this he gives the greater part of his attention and care, making every effort to keep his output up to the highest standard of excellence and main- tain the good reputation it has wherever he is known.
Mr. Stover was married in 1882 to Miss Kittie Arnett, a daughter of Maca- jah Arnett, of Kentucky, and Judith (Frances) Arnett, a native of Virginia. They came to Missouri at an early day and located in Shelby county, where Mrs. Stover was born. She and her hus- band were the parents of four children, of whom three are living: Sybel, Neva, the wife of James Copenhaver, and Mil- dred. In politics the father is a life- long Democrat, with an abiding interest in the welfare of his party and an en- ergy and intelligence in effort ever ready for its service. He has rendered the people excellent service as a mem- ber of the school board for more than fifteen years, and in every other way available to him has contributed to their benefit and the advancement of the town- ship and county in which he lives. His religious connection is with the Chris- tian chureli, and he has been one of the elders of the congregation to which he belongs for many years. He takes a great interest and a leading part in church work, and his activity in this be- half is highly appreciated by all church
people, as his energy and progressive- ness as a citizen are by the whole com- munity and all classes of its residents.
JOHN D. EDWARDS.
The last survivor of his father's household and representing the fourth generation of his family that has been loyal to the American flag and helped to develop and build up the country in peace and defend it in war, John D. Edwards, of Clay township in this county, is a shining link in the chain which connects the present day with our remote and historie past. His great- grandfather, William Edwards, was a native of Wales, and brought his family to this country in colonial times, locat- ing in Virginia. He was a tailor and made clothing for General Washington. He joined the Colonial army and fought valiantly under the great commander for American independence.
His son, also named William, the grandfather of John D., was also born in Wales and came to America with his parents in his childhood. After he grew to maturity he moved to Kentucky, where he farmed for many years and where he at last laid down his trust. In that state the third William Edwards in direct descent, the father of John D., whose life story is our present theme, was born and reared on the farm. He, also, was a farmer, and, after following his chosen occupation in his native state some years, came to Missouri in 1856 and located in Clay township, Shelby county. His wife was Miss Eliza David- son, a native of Tennessee, and they had twelve children, all now deceased but
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