USA > Missouri > DeKalb County > History of Andrew and De Kalb counties, Missouri : from earliest time to the present; together with sundry personal, business and professional sketches and family records. besides a condensed history of the state of Missouri, etc > Part 61
USA > Missouri > Andrew County > History of Andrew and De Kalb counties, Missouri : from earliest time to the present; together with sundry personal, business and professional sketches and family records. besides a condensed history of the state of Missouri, etc > Part 61
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William B. Allen, a member of the firm of Allen & Ensor, and one of the prominent citizens of Savannah, Andrew Co., Mo., was born May 9, 1822, in Callaway County, Mo., and was given a limited education at the subscription schools of the neighborhood. He removed to Andrew County in 1843, and engaged in farming. In 1846 he erected a mill in this county, and for three years followed that business. He next moved to the farm. He filled the office of county assessor for two years, being elected in 1864, and in 1872 was favored with that office again. In 1874 he was elected county collector of Andrew County, which office he filled with marked ability. In 1875 he moved to Savannah, where he has since resided. During the late war he was a Union man, and at times
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held the positions of enrolling officer and provost-marshal of the county. He was married, March 27, 1845, to Isabella C. Beattie, who was born in Virginia February 15, 1818, and is the daughter of David Beattie, who was an early settler of Andrew County. Bethell Allen, the father of William B., was born in North Carolina April 29, 1780. He immi- grated to Smith County, Tenn., soon after his marriage, and in 1816 removed to Callaway County, Mo. From that county he removed to Pettis County, Mo., in 1833, thence to Platte County in 1837, and to Andrew County in 1844. In about 1849 he went to Atchison County, Mo., and about 1853 settled in Nebraska. He died September 15, 1856. Elizabeth Reed, the mother, was born in North Carolina in 1783, and died in Atchison County, Mo., in 1858. Mr. Allen never had any children of his own, but has raised fifteen, all of whom now reside in the county, and are among its most frugal and highly respected citizens, one only, Miss Belle Strock, still living with him. 'Squire Allen, as he is familiarly called, is looked upon as the father of orphans of the county, having been guardian and curator of more than a hundred minors. . He is at present public administrator of the county, which position he has held for seven years, during which time, and at the present, some of the most important estates of the county have passed through his hands. He is a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church South. He should be proud of the esteem in which he is held by all his neighbors. No man ever more fully enjoyed the full confidence of those among whom he lived than 'Squire Allen.
John Augustine, treasurer of Andrew County, Mo., and one of the prominent citizens of Savannah, was born in Stark County, Ohio, on February 17, 1845, and is the son'of Joseph and Julia A. (Unkerfer) Augustine, both of whom were natives of Maryland. From Ohio the parents immigrated to Missouri, reaching St. Joseph on April 20, 1850, and settled in Buchanan County, eight miles east from St. Joseph, near Platte River. While living in Ohio the father followed milling and farming, but in Missouri turned his attention exclusively to farming. The father died in 1864, and the mother in 1876. Our subject was reared on the farm, and attended the schools of Buchanan County. He remained on his father's farm until the breaking out of the late war, when, on August 15, 1861, he enlisted in Company E, of the Thirteenth United States Regiment of Missouri Cavalry. After the battle of Lexington, the company was mustured out, and in 1862 he enlisted in Company E, of the Fifth Regiment of Missouri Cavalry, Missouri State Militia. This regiment being mustered out in the fall of 1863, he again enlisted in Company L, of the First United States Regiment of Missouri Cavalry, with which he served until the close of the war, and was mustered out at St. Louis about July 15, 1865. At the close of the war he inade a trip across the plains into Montana, where he remained about six months, when he returned to Missouri, and settled in Andrew County, where he began farming, which occupation he continued until 1872, when he engaged in
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merchandising in Buchanan County for two years. He then returned to Andrew County, and continued merchandising until his election in November, 1886, to the office of county treasurer. He was married, in 1866, to Sarah E. Castle, daughter of John D. Castle, of Andrew County. To their union two children were born, one of whom survives. The wife died in 1872, and in 1874 he was married to Julia A. Hines, daughter of Aaron Hines, of Buchanan County. She died in 1876, and in 1880 he married Sarah A. Carter, daughter of Alexander Carter, of De Kalb County, Mo. Four children have blessed this union, three of whom are living
William J. Barnes, an enterprising merchant of Fillmore, was born in Clinton County, Ohio, October 14, 1849. He is the third child born to Benjamin and Celinda (Vick) Barnes. They were both of English descent. The father was a native of Northampton County, N. C., born December 25, 1816. The mother, a native of Southampton County, Va., was born June 28, 1818. In early life they immigrated with their parents to Ohio, where they were married in April, 1836. After their marriage they settled on a farm in Clinton County, where they lived until their deaths; the father's occurred February 2, 1869, the mother's January 30, 1881. They both died worthy members of the Episcopal Church. In politics the father was a Democrat. William J. spent his early life in assisting his father on the farm, and received a good education in the common schools. After the death of his father, which happened about the time he reached his majority, he remained on the farm till his twenty- fifth year, assisting his mother in rearing the family. On October 28, 1874, he wedded Miss Mary E. Hinkson, also a native of Clinton County, born July 16, 1855. She was the daughter of John and Susan (Thorp) Hinkson. This happy union was severed by the death of his wife seven months after his marriage, May 28, 1875. The following October he left home on account of ill health, and traveled in the Cumberland Mountains of Virginia and East Tennessee. In the early part of 1876 he left his mountain resort, and turned his steps toward the West. On January 14 he stopped at Fillmore, and one year later opened a drug store, which he operated two years, after which time he went to Kansas, and remained six months. Returning to Ohio, he spent seven months in his native State, and came to Fillmore, and opened up his present business. In March, 1880, he was united in marriage with Miss Laura I. Custer of Smith County, Kas., born March 7, 1858. They have four children: Barrel B., Imo I., Lula L. and an infant. In politics he is a Democrat.
John G. Barton was born in Green County, Ky., June 16, 1837. He is the son of Samuel S. Barton and Margaret Ward. The father was born in Virginia, and was a gunsmith by trade, but in early life he followed farming and blacksmithing. In 1846 he removed to Missouri, where he engaged in milling and millwrighting. The mother was born in Kentucky, and has reared eight children, of which our subject is the fifth. He lived on the farm until about thirteen years of age, and received a limited
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education in the country schools. When fifteen years old, he entered the employ of O. P. Falkner & Co., Albany, Mo., as clerk, and during suc- ceeding years sold goods in various towns of Northwestern Missouri and Southern Iowa. Since 1876 he has resided at Rochester, Mo., and is at present operating a flouring-mill. In 1858 he was united in mar- riage. with M. M. Hines, daughter of Joseph and Emily Hines. Eight sons and a daughter have been born unto them, of whom six sons and the daughter are living. Mr. Barton is a Master Mason, and in politics is an ardent Democrat.
Eli Beaghler, a prominent citizen of Andrew County, Mo., and clerk of the county court, was born near Fremont, Ohio, on April 7, 1843, and is the youngest of a family of eight sons born to Henry and Nancy ( Chap- man) Beaghler. Henry, the father, was a native of Pennsylvania, and was born in 1807. About 1820 he removed to Ohio, where he successfully engaged in farming. He died in 1844, when our subject was but one year of age. Nancy, the mother, was born in Vermont, in 1807, and with her parents removed to Ohio. She died in 1872. Eli was reared at home, and acquired a good education in the schools of Fremont, Ohio. He remained on the farm until his fifteenth year, when he left home, and taught school for one year in the neighborhood. He then removed to Western Ohio, and taught for six consecutive years. In 1865 he removed to Andrew County, Mo., and purchasing a farm, followed farm- ing in the summer and teaching in the winter, which he continued until November, 1886, when he was elected, as a Republican, to the office of county court clerk of Andrew County. He was married October 20, 1867, to Margaret E. Clark, who was born in Clay County, Mo., on October 15, 1845, and is the daughter of John A. Clark, a farmer of Andrew County, Mo. To their union four children have been born, all of whom are living. Both our subject and wife are members of the Meth- odist Episcopal Church.
Alexander M. Bedford, subject of the following sketch, resides in Empire Township, Andrew Co., Mo. He was born in Breckinridge County, Ky., March 30, 1828, and is the son of John Bedford and Elizabeth Howard. The father was born in Nelson County, Ky., in 1798. He engaged in farm- ing and trading, was a very kind and generous man, and was universally respected by those who knew him. The mother was born in Breckin- ridge County, Ky., about 1804. They were married July 22, 1823, and reared four sons and two daughters. They both died in Meade County, Ky .; he on January 4, 1838; she on June 26, 1848. Of the children, Alexander M. was the third. His parents died when he was a small boy, and he was intrusted to the care of an aunt, who gave him a fair educa- tion in the country schools of Kentucky. He has followed farming as a vocation with the exception of two years' merchandising. Although he began the battle of life without capital, he has been very successful in business, and is now one of the leading farmers and stock raisers of his county. November 4, 1851, he was united in marriage with Mary E.
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Selecman, daughter of Henry W. Selecman. They have four sons and five daughters. The eldest daughter, Mary Elizabeth, is the wife of A. D. Kent, living near Bolckow. They have two children living and two deceased. Mr. Bedford's eldest son, William H., is married, and has two children, each of whom have a half section of land. John T., the second boy, is living with his family near King City, where he owns 280 acres. George E. and wife have three sons and a daughter; he farms on 362 ; acres near Whitesville. Mattie A. married W. S. Wells, one of the prom- inent citizens of this county. Virginia L. married James B. Cole, and they have 240 acres of land. Lucy S., Alexander L. and Maggie C. are at home. During the Civil War Mr. Bedford served in the Confederate army nearly four years, and was promoted from a private to first lieu- tenant. He is a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church South, and is a Master Mason, and also a Royal Arch Mason. In politics he is Dem- ocratic.
Joseph L. Bennett, a prominent citizen of Andrew County, Mo., liv- ing within half a mile of Savannah, was born in Spencer County, Ky., on February 29, 1836. He is the son of Joseph H. and Susan (Overton) Bennett. The father was born in New Jersey, February 24, 1799, and is the son of John Bennett, who removed to Kentucky, and from that State to Illinois, where he resided at the time of his death. Joseph H. followed cabinet-making and carpentering during his active life, and died November 2, 1887, in Louisville, Ky., in his eighty-ninth year. The mother was born in Washington County, Ky., October 8, 1798, and died October 22, 1872. Joseph L. is the eighth of twelve children. He was reared on the farm, and acquired his education in the schools of the neighborhood, attending school four months in the year, and working on the farm the remaining time. He lived with his parents until his twen- tieth year, when, in October, 1856, he immigrated to Savannah, Mo., where he remained until January, 1857, when he removed to Kansas. About a year after that he returned to Andrew County, and engaged in farming, which he has continued up to the present. In 1879 he embarked in dealing and breeding Shorthorn cattle, and now handles no other kind. In 1877 he was appointed collector of Andrew County, for two years, by the county court. In .1881 he was appointed county judge of the county by Gov. Crittenden, to fill a vacancy, and held that important position for two years, discharging the duties with credit and satisfaction. He is now president of the State Bank of Savannah. He was married August 1, 1857, to Martha S. Selecman, born in Washington County, Ky., February 8, 1841. She is the daughter of Henry Selecman (deceased), who was one of the prominent farmers of Andrew County. Both Mr. and Mrs. Bennett are members of the Baptist Church.
Charles Bennett is a native of Canada, and was born in the Prov- ince of Quebec, October 17, 1838. He is a son of Andrew and Ann (Abbott) Bennett, both born in the County of Cork, Ireland, the former in 1797, and the latter in 1817. They were married in Canada in 1833.
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The father was a farmer, and immigrated to America when he was thirty-four years of, age. He died in 1865, and in 1867 the widowed mother and her children removed to Andrew County, Mo. She now resides in Gentry County, Mo. Her children-six sons and seven daugh- ters-are all living. Charles was reared on a farm, and has devoted his life to agricultural pursuits. He is now one of the most extensive farmers and stock raisers in Andrew County, and resides in Platte Town- ship. He received a limited education in the common schools of Can- ada. Being born to poor parents, whose struggles for the necessaries of life were difficult, he had no opportunity to receive a thorough educa- tion, but he is a close reader and observer, and is an intelligent man. He has liberal views, and is practical in his vocation, and lenient in his deportment toward his fellow men. When he began business he had no other capital than an energetic and ambitious disposition, by means of which he has become a prosperous man, and established a high social standing, and a splendid reputation as a citizen. In 1881 he was united in marriage with Mrs. Susannah (Nugent) McCombe. They have two sons and one daughter.
Newton Bird, a miller at Avenue City, Andrew Co., Mo., was born near Elizabethtown, Hardin Co., Ky., March 28, 1829. He is the son of Jesse and Laodica (Ray) Bird. The former was born in Greenbrier County, Va., May 24, 1809. He was a minister by profession, and spent fifty-four years of his life in pastoral work, teaching school occasionally. He possessed rare intellect and scholarship, and was a zealous man respected by all who knew him. In 1855 he removed to Missouri, and settled in Andrew County, where he died in 1886. His wife was born in Marion County, Ky., April 9, 1809. She was a kind and intelligent woman, and was the mother of six sons and three daughters, of whom Newton is the eldest. He was reared on a farm in Kentucky, and received a practical education in the schools of Washington County, in that State. In 1853 he came to Missouri, and settled near Savannah. Arriving in the fall, he at once secured a district school, which he taught the following winter. Afterward he engaged in farming, and later in milling, which has been his chief occupation in life. He came to the State of Missouri a poor man, but by energy, enterprise and frugality has become a prosperous and highly respected citizen. He is an ardent Democrat, and is a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church South.
Joshua Bond, a merchant of Amazonia, was born in Pickaway County, Ohio, March 28, 1822. He is the son of Kinsey G. and Eliza- beth (McNaught) Bond. The father was born in Baltimore on May 18, 1800. The mother was born in Somerset County, Penn., and died in Pickaway County, Ohio, in September, 1823, when about twenty-one years of age. In early life the father worked at the carpenter's trade, but later engaged in farming. In the spring of 1825 he chose for his second wife Leah Timmons, of Hardin County, Ohio. She died about 1830. After
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living a single life for several years, he married again in 1838 in Andrew County. His only child, Joshua, received a fair education in the schools of Ohio, Indiana and Missouri. In the fall of 1834 he removed with his father to Tippecanoe County, Ind., and in September, 1838, they came to Andrew County, where he has since resided. When seventeen years of age he began to teach school in Grundy County, Mo., teaching the first district school in that county. In 1852 he wedded Miss Sarah J. Pullen. He continued to teach in Grundy County till 1854, at which time he returned to Andrew County, and taught until 1856. After this he was an employe in a warehouse at Amazonia until 1858, then had charge of it till 1860. During the war he was connected with the State Militia. In the fall of 1866 he bought a farm, and moved on it in 1867, but sold it after one year, and came back to Amazonia, and, with the exception of three years, has engaged in the mercantile business, being three years at Nodaway Station. He lost his wife on July 28, 1878, and on October 5, 1882, chose for his second wife Ludoska L. Reed, of Andrew County. He is a member of the Episcopal Church. In politics he is a Repub- lican. He served as county judge four years, and has been magistrate ten years.
Robert Bonham, a practical and successful farmer of Platte Town- ship, Andrew County, Mo., was born in New York December 24, 1831. He is the son of David and Rebecca ( Weaver) Bonham. [See sketch of David Bonham. ] He was reared on the farm, and received a practical education in the country schools. He is a progressive man, and, with the exception of the time he was in the army, has spent his life in farming and stock raising. In 1862 he enlisted in Company D, Fourth Missouri State Militia, and was mustered out of the service in 1865. In 1853 he was united in marriage with Harriet Elliot, and four sons and four daughters have been born unto them. He is a member of the Presbyterian Church, and of the G. A. R. In politics he is a Re- publican.
David Bonham, the subject of the following sketch, is a citizen of Platte Township, Andrew Co., Mo., and was born in Oneida County, N. Y., February 7, 1834. He is the son of David Bonham, a native of North- amptonshire, England. He was born on March 22, 1809, and was the son of Robert Bonham. He made his own support after he was ten years of age, and when a young man he immigrated to America, in company with William Derby, a companion of his youth, landing in New York in April, 1830. Having been reared on a farm, he chose farming as a voca- tion, and engaged to a Mr. Powers as a farm laborer. It was at this farmer's home that he first met Rebecca Weaver, who soon after became his wife. She was born in Sussex, England, in 1807, and was the daughter of William Weaver, who was a shepherd in England, and by industry had saved enough money to bring his family to America, where he could secure them a home. They landed in April, 1830. After this the sons hired out to work, and Rebecca, the only daughter, hired
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as a servant girl to the same Powers for whom Mr. Bonham was work- ing. Here they formed an acquaintance which brought about their marriage in 1831, when the husband commenced farming in New York as a renter. In 1836 they removed to the Territory of Wisconsin, where he took up a claim of 160 acres of land, on which he resided until the spring of 1856, when he immigrated to Missouri, where he entered land on Empire Prairie, where he afterward resided. He was a well- informed and highly respected man. He was a member of the Wiscon- sin Territorial Legislature from 1841 to 1844, inclusive. In politics he was a Republican, and was a zealous advocate of free labor and educa- tion. In 1865 he was a prominent member of the Missouri Constitutional Convention that framed and adopted the Drake constitution. He repre- sented the First Senatorial District in the State Senate in 1867-68, and was the father of the bill of 1867 establishing a permanent school fund for the State of Missouri. In 1868 he visited his native land for a few months, after an absence of thirty-nine years. He died on May 22, 1870, and his wife died on January 6, 1871, leaving a family of four sons
and one daughter. David was reared on the farm, which occupation he has since followed. He received a practical education in the country schools of Wisconsin. In 1854 he was united in marriage with Caroline L. Davison, daughter of Israel Davison. Five sons and two daughters were born unto them, of whom two sons and two daughters are living. The mother died in January, 1883, and February, 1884, he married Sarah A. Weaver, daughter of William Weaver. In August, 1861, he enlisted in the Missouri State Militia, and was mustered out as second lieutenant of his company in February, 1862. After this, in company with Capt. Prichard, he organized a company of 100 men, which became known as Company D, Fourth Regiment of Cavalry, Missouri State Militia. He was mustered in as first lieutenant of his company on April 3, 1862, but in September of that year was promoted to regimental quartermaster, which position he held until the expiration of his term of service. He was mustered out at St. Louis on April 17, 1865. He then returned to his farm in Andrew County, Mo. In 1869-70 he served as county judge, and in 1879 he was elected on the Republican ticket to represent Andrew County in the State Legislature, which position he held for four succes- sive terms. He is a member of the Episcopal Church, a Master Mason, and a member of the G. A. R.
Jasper E. Bradford, a farmer of Jackson Township, was born at his present location on April 21, 1842. He is a son of James and Heph- zibath (Griffith) Bradford. The father was a native of Northampton County, Va., born May 11, 1802; the mother, originally of Bourbon County, Ky., was born on February 25, 1806. They were married in Kentucky December 22, 1825, but about 1840 came to Andrew County, being among the first settlers. Upon reaching that county they settled where our subject now resides, and engaged in farming. They were both members of the Methodist Episcopal Church South. The father
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was a Democrat in politics. He died in July, 1881, in his seventy-ninth year. The mother is in her eighty-first year, and is living with her son, Jasper E., who is one of eleven children. He spent his juvenile days on the farm, and finished his education at Manhattan College, Kansas. After leaving school he began farming at the place of his birth. He now owns 320 acres of land. On March 25, 1887, he was united in mar- riage with Miss Sadie Black, of Holt County, Mo. Mr. Bradford is a Democrat. He and his wife are members of the Methodist Episcopal Church South.
W. G. Bright, a citizen of Savannah, Andrew Co., Mo., was born in Sullivan County, Tenn., on November 12, 1833, and is the son of Ansel and Susannah (Caruthers) Bright. They were both natives of Sullivan County, Tenn. The father was a farmer, and removed to Cass County, Ind., in 1849, where he died in 1875. The mother died in 1873. Our subject was reared on the farm of his parents, and received his education in the country schools of Cass County and at Logansport. In 1856 he left home, and went to California, where he worked in the gold mines until the fall of 1860, when he returned to Indiana. Remaining there till the spring of 1864, he immigrated to Missouri, and thence to Montana, in which Territory he engaged in mining and freighting. He subsequently drifted through Nevada, Oregon and Utah, and returned to Indiana, where he remained until 1882, and then came to Savannah. At this place he purchased a fine homestead near town, where he has since resided. He was united in marriage in 1860 to Margaret Graff, who was born on the river Rhine, Prussia, in 1832. They have four children living and one dead.
F. M. Brockus, a successful and practical farmer of Platte Township, Andrew Co., Mo., was born in Carroll County, Ind., January 22, 1841, and is the son of William H. and Sarah (Gibson) Brockus. The father was a native of Wayne County, Ind., but immigrated to Bremer County, Iowa, in 1856, where he died in April, 1861. He was an extensive and successful farmer, who never aspired to public office. The mother was a native of Putnam County, Ind. They had five sons and five daughters, of whom four sons and two daughters are living. F. M., the eldest of the children, was reared on the farm, and being but a boy when his father removed to Iowa, received his education in the common schools of that State. When he was eighteen years of age, he commenced teaching school, which occupation he followed for four years, when he began agricultural pursuits. On October 27, 1861, he was joined in marriage with Lucy A. Mitchell. One son and two daughters have blessed their marriage, as follows: Florence E., born May 24, 1863; Emma M., born January 4, 1865; Jay G., born July 17, 1879. Mr. Brockus lived in Iowa until 1865, when he removed to Andrew County, Mo., where he has since resided, with the exception of two and a half years that he lived in Kansas. He owns a good farm of 120 acres in Platte Township. For more than eight years he has had charge of the Andrew County Infirm-
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