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 67
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 67
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of whom S. M., with whom she resides, is the fourth child. He was reared on a farm, and received a limited education in the country schools of Kentucky. He began the battle of life without capital, but by un- tiring energy and enterprise he has been successful in his vocation, and is now a prosperous man. He owns 740 acres of fertile land in Andrew County. He is an extensive farmer and stock raiser, and is especially interested in raising mules, of which he has raised some very fine ones. He has no ambition to become a wealthy man, but aspires to accumulate enough property that he may provide for his family the necessary com- forts of life. In 1861 he wedded Elizabeth Abell, daughter of Peter Abell. They have three daughters and two sons. Mr. Scott is a mem- ber of the Baptist Church, and in politics he is Democratic.
W. H. Scott, an extensive farmer and stock raiser of Platte Town- ship, Andrew Co., Mo., was born in Marion County, Ky., January 17, 1841. He is the son of George Scott and Rachel Miller, both natives of Kentucky; the former was the son of Richard Scott, and was born in 1801; the latter was born in 1808, and now resides in Missouri. W. H. was reared on the farm, and received a liberal education in the country schools of Kentucky and Missouri. He had no capital to begin with, but has been successful in his vocation, and is now a prosperous man, owning 280 acres of fertile land. He has never aspired to public office, but is a friend and an aid to churches, schools and public improvements and enterprises. In April, 1870, he wedded Emma Powell, daughter of Milton Powell, of Andrew County, Mo. They have seven sons and two daughters.
Samuel Seely, the father of our subject, was a native of Massachu- setts, and was the son of John and Mary (Slater) Seely. John was also a native of Massachusetts, and a member of one of the leading families of the Bay State. Mary Slater was the daughter of a Revolutionary soldier, and one of the survivors of the Wyoming massacre. While Samuel was a boy, his parents removed to Vermont, from whence he vol- unteered in the War of 1812, and served in the command of Gen. Mc- Comb. After his service in the war, he settled in St. Lawrence County, N. Y. Later he removed to Western New York, and thence to Oakland County, Mich. He was a farmer by vocation. He died in Kent County, Mich., in 1854. Susan Clinging, the mother, was born near Dublin, Ire- land. Being left an orphan in childhood, she came to America with an uncle She died in Oakland County, Mich., in 1845. They had seven children, of whom S. E. was the youngest. He was born September 27, 1834, in Oakland County, Mich. He was reared on the farm, and attend- ed the public schools, finishing his education in Northville, Mich., after which he taught school until 1854, and then removed to Iowa, where he taught one session, and also engaged in surveying. In 1855 he was appointed deputy treasurer and _recorder of Guthrie County, Iowa, which position he held for one year, and then taught school during the winter of 1855-56. The following spring he immigrated to Nebraska,
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where he engaged in the stock and land business, and in 1856-57 served as a member of the Nebraska Legislature. His residence in Nebraska extended over a period of ten years. In 1862 he enlisted in the Federal army, serving as lieutenant of the Second Nebraska Regiment of Cavalry. He was mustered out at Omaha, in 1864, and in April, 1866, removed to Andrew County, Mo., and settled six miles northwest from Fillmore, where he engaged in farming, and at which place he resided until Decem- ber, 1874. In November, 1874, he was elected on the people's ticket to the office of circuit clerk and recorder of Andrew County, and in 1878 was re-elected on the Republican ticket, which office he held eight years, Since 1883 he has resided in Savannah, and has engaged in farming and stock raising. He also carries on merchandising at Bird City, Kas. He was married to Mary Brown, of Quincy, Ill., who was born August 25, 1839. She is the daughter of Rufus and Nancy Brown, who were among the first settlers of Quincy and of Revolutionary parentage. To this union six children have been born.
Milton R. Singleton, a retired lawyer and farmer of Clay Township, was born in Jessamine County, Ky., April 26, 1817. He is the second of six children born to the marriage of Louis Singleton and Rebecca Robards, both natives of Kentucky. The father was a farmer, and he and wife lived and died in their native State. Milton R. enjoyed fine educational advantages in his youth, and graduated from St. Joseph Col- lege, Bardstown, Ky., in 1839. After his graduation at that college, he entered the law school at Lexington, and received his diploma as LL. B. from this institution in 1840. On July 8, 1841, he wedded Miss Helen E. Steele, a cultivated lady, who was educated at Lexington. She is the daughter of Samuel C. and Elizabeth (Mitchum ) Steele. After his mar- riage, Mr. Singleton came to Savannah, Mo., and commenced the prac- tice of his profession, which he continued until 1861, at which time he went to Denver, Colo., and for one year engaged in other business-freight- ing. Returning to Missouri, he located at Liberty, Clay County, and resumed the practice of law, which he continued at that place about ten years. In 1874 he removed to St. Joseph, Mo., and was an attorney of the bar of that city twelve or thirteen years. In the spring of 1886 he returned to Andrew County, and settled where he now resides. He descended from a prominent family in Kentucky, and was among the first settlers of Savannah. In 1854-56, he represented Andrew County in the State Legislature. He is the father of nine children-six sons and three daughters-of whom five sons and one daughter are dead.
Carlton W. Spicer, a well-known physician of Fillmore, was born July 18, 1833, in Houndsfield, Jefferson Co., N. Y. He is the youngest of three sons born to William and Nancy (Paddock) Spicer, both of English descent. The father was born in Rhode Island in 1803. He was a farmer and stock dealer, and a member of the Baptist Church. He was married in New York August 15, 1824. His wife, a native of Con- necticut, was born on April 19, 1795. About 1872 she came to Fillmore,
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Mo., where she died. The father died in Jefferson County, N. Y., in 1847. Carlton W. spent his juvenile days assisting his father on the farm, and received his education in the public schools of New York. At fourteen years of age his father died, and he then commenced work on the home place for an elder brother. About 1850 he went to Janesville, Wis., and for a short time engaged at railroad work, then entered the employ of a surveying contractor, and later commenced reading medi- cine in the office of Dr. Grafton, at that place. After reading eight months he was taken sick with typhoid fever, which left him a permanent cripple. In November, 1854, he returned to his native State, and resumed the study of medicine under the direction of Dr. Amos Ellis, of Clayton, and was soon able to assist the Doctor in the practice of his profession. In October, 1856, he returned to Wisconsin, and was united in marriage with Miss Caroline R. Carver, a descendant of Gov. Carver, of Plymouth. Upon marrying he went back to New York to finish his studies, leaving his wife to care for her aged father. Returning to Wisconsin in the spring of 1857, he managed his father-in-law's farm for one year. In May, 1859, he started West, accompanied by his wife. They reached Fillmore the September following, when he exchanged his wagon and ox-team for a lot and cabin, where his residence now stands. Here he began the practice of his profession, and for awhile managed the drug store of Dr. J. G. Meagher. Being a marked Republican, in 1861 he refugeed at St. Joseph, and later enlisted in the United States army. He acted as assistant surgeon of the Sixteenth Illinois Regiment Infantry which he met in St. Joseph. He remained with the Sixteenth Regiment till January, and returned to Fillmore. In February, 1865, he joined the Fifty-first Missouri Regiment, then stationed at St. Louis, as assistant surgeon. He is a Swedenborgian in faith, and his wife is a Methodist. He is somewhat pronounced on the liquor question, holding to what is known as the Swiss plan, that is, that the sale of all liquors should be made by government agents, similar in number to our present postmas- ters; that all liquors should be pure, and that they should be sold to any person for medicinal, sacramental, chemical or mechanical purposes only ; that any person obtaining such liquors and using them for other pur- poses than as before named should be held and punished as is now by law provided for persons obtaining property under false pretenses. He has served two terms as president of the District Medical Society of Northwest Missouri, and has long been the commander of Fillmore Post, No. 170, G. A. R.
Judge G. Steeby, a well-known farmer of Lincoln Township. was born in Tuscarawas County, Ohio, February 17, 1834. He is the eldest of four children born to George and Mary (Schwendeman) Steeby, who were of English and German descent, and natives of Pennsylvania. They were married in their native State, and removed immedi- ately to Ohio, where they entered forty acres of land in Tuscar- awas County. The father was born on July 20, 1813. In early
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life he worked at the millwright's trade, but later he was a furniture dealer in Ragresville, where he died in 1867. He was a life-long Dem- ocrat, and a member of the Presbyterian Church. The mother was born July 25, 1807, and is still living in Ohio. She is also a member of the Presbyterian Church. Our subject spent his boyhood on the farm, and secured a fair education at the country schools, which has been improved by much desultory reading and study. At sixteen years of age he began to learn the carpenter's trade, at which he worked for three years in Ohio. In 1853 he went West, and upon reaching Savannah, Mo., he had but 50 cents and an extra suit of clothes. In a short time he was earning $9 per week at his trade, which he followed in Savannah three years. He then went to Nebraska, but returned after one year to Amazonia, Andrew County, where he remained about four years, during which time he worked some at St. Joseph. In 1862 he bought forty acres of land near Amazonia, which he made an effort to cultivate, but finding his farm too small he sold it in the fall of 1864, and in February of the next year removed to his present location. He bought 120 acres, and began farm- ing in connection with carpentering, but has not worked at his trade for the last ten years. He has added at different times to his 120 acres until he now owns nearly 800 acres in Andrew County. In November, 1880, he was elected county judge for one term. In April, 1866, he was elected school director, which position he has since held with the excep- tion of two years. On February 12, 1857, he wedded Miss Mary Moser, of Ohio, but raised in Andrew County, Mo. They have reared thirteen children-five sons and eight daughters-of whom one son, William C., died in June, 1873. Judge Steeby is a Republican. He and wife are members of the Presbyterian Church.
A. J. Sutton, a prominent farmer and stock raiser of Andrew County, Mo., was born in Virginia on March 13, 1831. He is the son of Baylie and Sallie (Worley ) Sutton. The father was born in North Carolina in 1794, and was the son of John Sutton, a native of England, who immigrated to America at an early day. He has followed farming as a life vocation, and is now a resident of Kentucky, to which State he removed in 1862. The mother was born in North Carolina, in about 1791, and was the daughter of John Worley. She died in 1886. They were the parents of fourteen children, of whom A. J. was the fifth. He was reared on the farm, and attended the common schools in Virginia, acquiring only a limited education. He left home at an early age, going with an elder brother to Madison County, Ky. In 1852 he immigrated to Clay County, Mo., and engaged in farming. Residing there until the fall of 1867, he made a trip to Nebraska, and the following spring purchased a farm near Atchison, Kas., where he remained for about seven years, and then removed to Andrew County, Mo., and began farming in Clay Township, where he purchased a large tract of land. He next removed to St. Joseph, Mo., and remained a year. Purchasing a large farm in Holt County, he lived there for
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three years, and then returned to St. Joseph. Three years later he came to Savannah, where he had purchased the old Waterman place, which is a beautiful farm of 280 acres, bordering on the town. He has a handsome brick residence surrounded by beautiful grounds, and this is considered one of the most desirable homesteads in Andrew County. For years he has been engaged in breeding and handling fine cattle, and has also dealt successfully in real estate. He owns a half interest in a drug store at Newport, Mo. His aggregate possessions amount to more than $50,000. He has always occupied a high and influential position in the esteem of his fellow citizens, and has attended several State and county conventions as a delegate from his county. In 1873 he was elected, as a Democrat, to represent Atchison County, Kas., in the State Legislature, overcoming a large Republican majority. He was married May 17, 1851, to Adaline Moran, born in Madison County, Ky., in 1830, and the daughter of James D. Moran. They had five children, three of whom are living. His wife died November 13, 1861. He then married Rachel V. Smith, who was born in Tennessee, in 1831, and is the daughter of Jacob Smith. To this union six children have been born, all of whom are living.
James Thrailkill, a substantial farmer of Lincoln Township, was born near Weldon, N. C., February 22, 1827. His parents were John and Emily (Moore) Thrailkill. They were of a somewhat mixed descent, but their paternal grandfathers were natives of Russia and Scotland, respectively. The father was a native of North Carolina, born Septem- ber 19, 1806; the mother was born in Nashville, Tenn., on March 3, 1816. The former when a child removed with his parents to Kentucky, and thence to Davidson County, Tenn., where his father at one time owned the "Hermitage." About 1833 he came to Missouri, and the following year was married. In 1849 he settled where our subject now lives, and where he died on August 24, 1854. His wife is still living, in her seventy- second year. James received a common-school education. At the age of sixteen he lost his father, and the care of the family fell chiefly upon him. In the fall of 1861 he enlisted in the State militia (Confederate), under Gen. Price, with whom he served three months. The next year he entered the regular army, and for eighteen months he did gallant service, participating in the battles of Blue Mills, Lexington, Pea Ridge, and lesser engagements. He received two shots in the left arm at Blue Mills, and a saber cut in the left knee at Pea Ridge. On the retreat from the latter place thirty-five pieces of artillery were placed in his charge, and with sixty men he safely conducted them to a point between Huntsville and Van Buren, Ark., where they were again received by the army. Having been discharged on account of ill health, he returned to the West, and, until 1867, he was engaged in various occupations, chiefly freighting across the plains. In the fall of 1867 he returned to Missouri, and on December 15 he married Miss Ann Huitt. After one year spent on the home farm he removed to Holt County, where he resided until
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1880. He then returned to Andrew County, and bought the old home- stead. He is the father of four sons and three daughters, of whom two sons and one daughter are dead. Both he and wife are worthy members of the Missionary Baptist Church.
James Todd, a farmer of Jefferson Township, was born near his present location on October 12, 1842. He is the third of nine children born to Jephthah and Huldah (Todd) Todd, both natives of Estill County, Ky., born on June 4, 1808, and July 12, 1812, respectively. In early life they came to Missouri, and were married in Howard County on July 17, 1838. They then located on a farm in Andrew County, where they spent the remainder of their days. They died within a month of each other, in 1875, the father on April 25, and the mother on March 31. Until reach- ing his majority James spent his time in securing an education and work- ing on the home-farm. In the summer of 1863 he went to Colorado, and the greater portion of the next two years was spent in freighting across the plains. Since 1866 he has been engaged in farming in Andrew County, with the exception of one year which he spent in the Rocky Mountains of Colorado, managing a sheep ranch. He has been deserv- edly successful, and is now the owner of 200 acres of well-improved land. He has never married. He is a Democrat in politics, and is one of the higlily-respected citizens of the county.
W. C. Townsend, a successful young farmer of Benton Township, An- drew Co., Mo., was born in this county on March 16, 1853. He is the son of W. C. and Mary Ann (Jud) Townsend, both natives of Indiana. He was reared on the farm, and was given a good education in the public schools. He began business life at the age of twenty-one years, and for seven years worked on the farm in partnership with his brother. In the spring of 1881 he purchased the farm where he now resides. He has a good farm on the One-Hundred-and-Two River, one and a half miles west from Bolckow, on which he raises a variety of crops. In the spring of 1880 he was united in marriage with Amanda Neely, who was born in Andrew County in 1862. She is the daughter of Franklin and Nancy (Wites) Neely. Four children (boys) have blessed this union. Mr. and Mrs. Townsend are members of the Baptist Church.
Dr. Matthew F. Wakefield (deceased), the subject of this sketch, was one of the leading physicians of Andrew County, Mo., and a prominent citizen of Savannah. He was born in Nelson County, Ky., on June 16, 1816. He was the eldest of six children, and was eleven years old when his father died. He worked for his mother on the farm until twenty- three years of age, attending school in the winter. After leaving the farm he clerked in a store in Kentucky for a year, during which time he conceived the idea of fitting himself for the profession he afterward adorned. He read medicine with Dr. Bascomb, and then entered the medical college at Louisville, Ky., from which he graduated. Return- ing to Nelson County he practiced his profession for one year, and then entered Jefferson Medical College, of Philadelphia, and also graduated
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BIOGRAPHICAL APPENDIX.
from that institution. In 1855 he removed to Andrew County, Mo., where he resided, and practiced his profession until his death, which occurred on February 2, 1886. He was united in marriage in Nelson County, Ky., on November 17, 1844, to M. A. McDonald. She was born in Washington County, Ky., on January 31, 1822, and died in Savannah, Mo., January 29, 1858. To this union four children were born, three of whom survive. On December 8, 1858, he was again married, to H. A. Roberts, a native of Shelby County, Ky., who, with seven or eight children, survives him, and now resides in Savannah. Dr. Wakefield was a man of sterling worth and character, peculiarly fitted for the profes- sion in which he achieved such a brilliant success.
J. F. Waters, the subject of this sketch, is one of the leading citi- zens of Savannah and cashier of the Farmers' Bank of Andrew County, Mo. He was born in Ashtabula County, Ohio, in 1845, and is the son of Lewis and Francis (Sappington) Waters, the former being a native of New York and the latter of Missouri. The mother died in 1884, and the father now resides in Orwell, Ohio. Our subject was reared on the farm in Ohio. He attended the public schools, finishing his education at Eastman's Business College at Poughkeepsie, N. Y. At the age of sev- enteen years he went to Goshen, Ind., where he clerked in a wholesale and retail leather store for $13.50 per month. In 1863 he entered the United States quartermaster department at Chattanooga, Tenn., receiv- ing the first goods shipped to that point after the establishment of a depot there for the Army of the Cumberland. He filled various positions from assistant receiving clerk to military storekeeper, being on duty at that depot for eighteen months. He next went to Nashville, Tenn., where he was on duty at the cavalry depot until close of the war. He moved to Missouri in 1868, locating at Springfield. He removed to Savan- nah in the spring of 1873, and upon the death of Mr. Childs, cashier of the Farmers' Bank, took the position of the deceased, which he held until February, 1881, when he was elected cashier. He began dealing in cattle in 1874, and is at present operating in Tom Green County, Tex., where he owns a private ranch with 4,000 head of cattle. He is president of the Waters' Cattle Company of Arizona, which he organized. In 1871 he was joined in marriage to Fanny M. Newell, of Ashtabula County, Ohio. They have five children. Mr. and Mrs. Waters are members of the Presbyterian Church.
James Wells, one of the oldest and most esteemed citizens of Andrew County, Mo., is a farmer, and resides in Rochester Township. He was born in Adams County, Ohio, June 30, 1817, and is the son of John S. and Cynthia (Wilson) Wells. He was the only child born to this union, and his mother died when he was an infant. The father was born in Pennsylvania, but, when a boy, removed with his parents to Mason County, Ky., where he was reared. He was a farmer, and after his mar- riage removed to Ohio, where he remained a short time. He then returned to Kentucky, where he resided until his death. James was
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ANDREW COUNTY.
reared on a farm near Maysville, Mason Co., Ky., and received his education in the country schools. He has engaged in farming as an occupation, and in 1840 he came to Missouri, and settled in Platte County. In 1844 he returned to his native State, and married Mary M. Phillips, of Mason County, after which he returned to Missouri, where he has since resided. He is the father of three sons and three daughters, all of whom are living. Beginning life without capital, he is now a prosperous. farmer, and owns 600 acres of land.
Francis M. Wells, county judge of the First District of Andrew County, Mo., was born on a farm in Morgan County, Ill., on September 14, 1835. He is the son of Jonathan and Letitia (Way) Wells. The father was born in Orange County, N. C., on January 4, 1800. He was the son of Joseph Wells, who was also a native of North Carolina, and immigrated in 1815 to Orange County, Ind., where he resided until his death, a few years later. Jonathan was reared on the farm, and chose farming for a life vocation. He removed to Illinois about 1826, where he resided until the year 1840, when he removed to Iowa, and located in Van Buren County. From there he removed to the Iowa purchase a year later, into what was afterward named Monroe County. They settled there in June, the same year the purchase was made, in May, and their nearest neigh- bors were distant six and ten miles. He reached his new home with a family numbering nine persons, without so much as a dollar in money. He entered 620 acres of land, $1.25 per acre, paying the entries with money earned by breaking prairie land with oxen. He at once set to work dili- gently, and by hard labor and good management succeeded in accumu- lating a good competency ; his property before being divided among his children was worth something over $8,000. During the early part of his residence in the above named country he had to go sixty miles to mill, and the nearest physician was forty miles distant. The larder was sup- plied with meat from the game which abounded, and the stock of grocer- ies was replenished from time to time by the sale of beeswax, made from wild honey. There was but little money in circulation, and beeswax was as good as gold in the exchange for coffee, sugar etc. From Iowa he removed to Andrew County, Mo., stopping in Empire Township during the winter of 1857-58. Purchasing land in Benton. Township, on the south side of what is known as the "Lower Neely Grove, " about two miles northeast from Rosendale, he removed thereto the following spring, where he resided until his death in April, 1883. He was a moral, Chris- tian man, and died a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church. He aided all his children in securing homes and making a start in life. In 1823 he was united in marriage with Letitia Way, who was born in Orange County, N. C., on September 1, 1806, and was the daughter of Joseph and Margaret Way, both of whom were natives of North Carolina. Joseph's father was a Revolutionary soldier. The Ways moved from North Carolina to Orange County, Ind., thence to Illinois and thence to Iowa, where he died, living to be over 100 years of age. Letitia was a pious,
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