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 69
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 69
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Nathan Brill, a substantial farmer of Grant Township, living four and one-half miles northwest from Fairport, was born in Patton, Miscisco County, Lower Canada, on February 24, 1834. He is the second of nine children born to David N. and Rachel (Peabody) Brill, the former a native of Vermont and the latter of New Hampshire. The paternal grandfather was David Brill, who was born at Pigeon Hill, Vt. The maternal grandfather was Francis Peabody, who was an uncle to George Peabody. Both great-grandfathers were soldiers in the Revolutionary War. Grandfather Peabody and six of his sons were with Gen. Wash- ington when the Delaware River was crossed, and the Hessians sur-
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prised. David N., the father, served in the Civil War, being in the Eighth Regiment of Vermont Infantry. He was in the siege at Port Hudson on the Mississippi River, where he died in 1863. Four sons, Nelson, Oliver, Albert and Henry, were also soldiers of the Rebellion. Nelson was a member of the Sixtieth New York Infantry, and was wounded at the battle of Ringgold, Ga. He now resides in De Kalb County, Mo. Oliver was also in the Sixtieth New York Infantry, and was captured at Harper's Ferry, and confined in Libby prison. He died soon after being exchanged from the privations endured there. Albert was a member of a Vermont regiment, and was wounded in the right hand and shoulder at the battle of the Wilderness. Henry was in Scott's Nine Hundredth Cavalry, and died at Washington City from typhoid fever. The mother died in 1855, near Ogdensburg, N. Y. Nathan was reared on the farm, and attended the common schools of Vermont and Canada, securing a fair education. During the war he served through 1864 in the construction corps under Gen. Neagley, with head- quarters at Nashville, Tenn. He assisted in the erection of Forts Neagley, Morton and others at that city. At the close of the war he built bridges for the Iron Mountain Railroad in Missouri. In 1865 he removed to Dallas Township, De Kalb County, where he worked at the carpenter's trade. In 1869 he purchased a farm in Grant Township, where he has since resided. He owns 163 acres of land, and in the summer of 1885 erected a large, handsome frame residence on his farm. He has never sought or held public office. On December 9, 1863, he wedded Emma Simons, who was born near Oswegatchie, St. Lawrence Co., N. Y., on December 8, 1846. She is the daughter of Valentine and Phebe ( Whitney) Simons. The father was born in Wilmington County, and the mother in Bennington County, Vt. To Mr. and Mrs. Brill seven children have been born as follows: Norman, August 11, 1866; Furmer, October 7, 1869, died September 22, 1870; Laura, September 4, 1872, died February 6, 1877; Horace, March 16, 1875; Viola, September 25, 1877; Lemuel, October 14, 1881, and Ida, February 14, 1884. Mr. Brill is a member of the Methodist Church.
John C. Brooks, a native of Rockcastle County, Ky., was born in 1831. He is the son of Richard and Nancy (Merriman) Brooks, both natives of Virginia, who lived in Kentucky at the time of their death. John C. has devoted his life to agricultural pursuits. In 1855 he located near St. Joseph. In 1866 he purchased the farm where he now resides, though he had located on it some years previous. In 1858 he was united in marriage with Miss Maggie Adams, of Kentucky, who was born in 1839. She is the daughter of Absalom and Cynthia (Evans) Adams, who were also natives of Kentucky, and removed to Missouri in 1855, locating in De Kalb County, in which county they died. Mr. and Mrs. Brooks have had eleven children, of whom four are dead. Those mar- ried are Laura B., who was married to William Fisher in 1887, and lives in Kansas; Jennie L. married James Carmichael in 1881, and lives in Montana; Abbey L. was married to S. S. Brain in 1884, and lives in
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Montana; Cynthia A. was married to F. M. Brown in 1887. Mr. Brooks participated in the border warfare of 1856. From 1862 to 1870 he served as constable of Washington Township, De Kalb County, making a good and efficient officer. He has been nominated for county judge and sheriff, but declined to become a candidate on account of the oath his friends would have had to take in case of election. In politics he is neutral. He was once a member of the Grange.
Sidney Bull is the son of Elisha and Sarah (Dusenberre) Bull, both natives of Orange County, N. Y. The father was born in 1801, and was the son of Moses Bull. The original Bull family emigrated from Eng- land. Elisha was a very successful farmer, and died in 1870, while on a visit to his son, Sidney, in Missouri. The mother was born in 1807, and was the daughter of Daniel Dusenberre, who was a native of New York. She died in Orange County, N. Y., in 1857. Both parents were members of the Presbyterian Church. Sidney was born in Orange County, N. Y., on June 10, 1839. He was the fourth of seven children, and was reared on the farm, securing a good education in the common schools. When twenty-one years of age he immigrated to California, where for two years he was engaged in lumbering. Returning to New York he remained seven years, and in 1869 immigrated to De Kalb County, Mo., purchasing the farm where he now resides, near Amity. His farm consists of 320 acres, all of which is well improved, and upon which he has a fine residence and large, substantial outbuildings. He pays considerable attention to raising stock, for which he is admirably prepared. In 1862 he was united in marriage with Ruth A. Cooley, who was born in New York in 1840. She is the daughter of Edmund Cooley. To this union seven children have been born, six of whom are living. The two eldest sons are in Colorado. H. R. is a physician of Grand Junction, and the other is engaged in the cattle business in that State.
Henry C. Burnham, a prominent citizen and druggist of Fairport, was born in McKean County, Penn., on May 9, 1835. He is the son of J. C. and Phœbe (Moses) Burnham, the former a native of Franklin County, Mass., born November 6, 1805, and the latter, a native of Liv- ingston County, N. Y., born on December 11, 1814. The paternal grandfather was Josiah Burnham, a native of Franklin County, Mass., and his father was a lieutenant in the Revolutionary War, and removed from Connecticut to Massachusetts. Josiah removed to McKean County, Penn., before his death. J. C., the father, removed to McKean County previous to his father's removal, and engaged in farming until his death, in 1861. The maternal grandfather was Reuben Moses, a native of Vermont, who removed to Livingston County, N. Y. The mother is still living in McKean County, Penn., with a son. To the parents four children were born, of whom Henry C. is the eldest. He was partially reared on the farm, and attended the district schools, but finished his education at Olean Academy in New York. After leaving school he
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engaged in various occupations, including school teaching, merchandis- ing and lumbering. In 1868 he located on a farm in De Kalb County, Mo., and embarked in farming for seven years. In 1875 he removed to Fairport, and engaged in clerking, but subsequently in merchandising. In 1878 he began his present business. In 1870 he was elected justice of the peace for two years. He was elected district judge of De Kalb County in 1873, and re-elected in 1878. In 1887 he was again elected justice of the peace, which office he holds at present. He served as postmaster at Fairport from 1880 to 1887. He is a charter member of Ryland Lodge, No. 332, F. & A. M., of Berlin, and is also a member of Mitchell Royal Arch Chapter, No. 89, of St. Joseph. In January, 1862, he wedded Charlotte Moses, who was born in Allegany County, N. Y., in 1840. She is the daughter of Alfred Moses, and is a member of the Methodist Church.
J. C. Caldwell, postmaster of Fairport, was born in Washington County, Penn., on November 3, 1853. He is the eldest of four children born to Samuel and Sarah (Chambers) Caldwell, the former of whom was born in Washington County, Penn., on February 12, 1819, and the latter in Richland County, Ohio, on February, 15, 1824. The father removed to Ohio about 1857, where he engaged in farming until 1871, when he immigrated to De Kalb County, Mo. He died on November 21, 1880. The mother is now living in California, having married Mr. Bohart. J. C. was reared on the farm in Ohio, and attended the dis- trict schools of his neighborhood and those of Chesterville, securing a fair education. He came to Missouri in the spring of 1876, and fol- lowed agricultural pursuits in Grant Township, De Kalb County, until about 1880, when he began clerking in Fairport. In 1884 he purchased a stock of hardware, and began business for himself. In December, 1886, he was appointed postmaster, and assumed the duties of the office on January 1, 1887. On December 1, 1875, he was united in marriage with Celestial Stephens, who was born in Morrow County, Ohio, on November 25, 1852. She is the daughter of Abednego Stephens, of De Kalb County. One child has been born to them. Mrs. Caldwell is a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church.
Rev. Barnes Clark is a native of Tennessee, born on September 22, 1812. He is the son of Isaac Clark, a native of Tennessee, and the son of John Clark, who was a native of Virginia and removed to Tennessee soon after the Revolutionary War, in which he served as a captain. The father came in a keelboat to Big Arrow Rock, Saline Co., Mo., in 1816, and in the fall of the same year removed seven miles above to Little Arrow Rock on the Missouri River. Here he established a ferry, which he ran for three years, when he bought a farm in La Fayette County, where he located, and remained until his death about 1829. The mother was Rebecca (Nave) Clark, also a native of Tennessee. Our subject was reared on a farm, but in 1831 went to the Rocky Mountains on a trapping expedition for the Sublet & Camplett Fur Company. Remaining
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four months, he came home, but in 1832 returned to the mountains, remaining fifteen months. In 1837 he removed to La Fayette County, Mo., and in 1838 removed to Buchanan County, where he lived until 1882; he then located in De Kalb County. He is a farmer by vocation, but is also a good blacksmith and gunsmith. On February 25, 1836, he was united in marriage with Catherine Thornton, of Saline County. She was the daughter of Daniel and Mary (Nave) Thornton. Twelve children were born to them as follows: Isaac B., born in 1837; Mary J., born in 1849; Euphenia A. (Mrs. William Ferguson), born in 1839; Susan F., now Mrs. Louis Lewis, of Texas, in 1841; Rebecca, now Mrs. Calvin White, also of Texas, in 1842; John T., in 1844; Thomas F., in 1846; Barnes H., born in 1847; Daniel J., born in 1849; Nancy E., now Mrs. Charles- Korp, of Texas, in 1852; Julia A., now Mrs. B. F. Thornton, in 1854; James M., in 1857. Our subject's wife died on April 25, 1869. On July 15, 1872, he chose for his second wife Mrs. Sarah Tiller, widow of John Tiller. Her children by her first marriage are Wallace E., John M., Nebuzaraden, Eliza A. (now Mrs. John A. Bowen), and William T. Rev. Clark and wife are both members of the Missionary Baptist Church. He was licensed to preach in 1844, and in 1847 was ordained a Baptist minister. He has been a member of the Masonic order for about forty years, being the first member admitted to the St. Joseph Lodge. He was captain of a company in the late war, but was in the service only six weeks, when he was taken sick and returned home. Politically, he is a Democrat.
Joseph A. Clark, a prominent citizen of De Kalb County, Mo., is a native of Indiana, born in 1838. In 1865 he moved to De Kalb County, Mo., and engaged in farming until 1878, when he embarked in the drug business in Stewartsville, Mo., which has been managed by his son, B. F. Clark, a highly cultured young man, who was united in marriage on October 10, 1887, with Miss Alice Deppen, of Stewartsville. Our subject was reared on a farm, and now has 250 acres of good land one mile north of Clarksdale, where he resides. He also is engaged in Clarksdale in the hardware and agricultural implement business, and has a drug store in the same place managed by his son R. N. Clark, under the firm name of J. A. Clark & Sons. In 1858 he was united in marriage with Miss Rebecca Miller, of Henry County, Ind. They have ten children-five sons and five daughters; three daughters are married, viz. : Mary A., now Mrs. John Carrel; Sallie, now Mrs. Ross Wilkinson, and Jennie, now Mrs. W. S. Richey. One son, W. T. Clark, is in the banking business in Bluff City, Kas., being the cashier of the State Bank of Bluff City. Mr. Clark's father was a native of Tennessee. He died in Indiana. The mother is a native of Indiana, but now resides with her son, Joseph A. Mr. Clark is at present postmaster of Clarksdale. He is a member of the Masonic order, and in politics has always been a stanch Democrat.
John F. Clark, a prominent citizen and attorney of Maysville, was born in Henry County, Ind., on September 25, 1846. He is the son of
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William and Sarah (Abrams) Clark, the former a native of Tennessee and the latter of Ohio. The father was born in 1811, and was the son of Benjamin Clark, a native of Virginia. He removed from Tennessee to Indiana in 1831, and settled in Henry County, where he engaged in farming until about 1872, when he removed to Madison County, where he died in 1875. The mother was born in 1815, and is the daughter of Joseph and Rebecca Abrams, who removed from Ohio to Indiana at an early date. She is now a resident of De Kalb County, Mo., making her home with her children. John F. is the fifth of thirteen children, and was reared on the farm. His education was begun in the public schools, and finished at the Newcastle (Indiana) Academy. After completing his education, he engaged in teaching during the winter months for about thirteen years. In 1865 he immigrated to Missouri, and the same year joined an expedition against the Indians, and crossed the plains to Tougue River. He then returned to his father's in Indiana. In April, 1867. he came to De Kalb County, and located seven miles north of Stewartsville, where, until 1874, he engaged in farming during the sum- mer and teaching school during the winter. He was then elected as a Democrat to the office of county clerk, and removed to Maysville. He was re-elected in 1878. In 1882 he was elected to represent De Kalb County in the State Legislature, and in 1884 made an unsuccessful can- vass for senator from the Fourth District. He was admitted to the bar in 1885, since which he has been practicing law, and is also engaged in the real estate, abstract and loan business. In 1868 he was united in mar- riage with Lavina A. Brooks, who was born in Buchanan County, Mo., in 1849. She is the daughter of William B. and Parmelia Brooks. They have seven children. Mr. Clark is a member of the Masonic lodge .*
William D. Coberly was born in Illinois in 1840. He is the son of James S. and Sarah A. (Parsell) Coberly. He was reared on a farm, and in 1858 went to Colorado, where he worked by the month, herding cattle, until he had saved enough of his earnings to start a ranch of his own, which he did on a small scale in 1868. It is situated in Colorado. He has now over 3,000 head of cattle and 250 horses. He owns 520 acres of land in Missouri and 640 acres in Colorado. In 1875 he was united in marriage with Florence Bailey, of Illinois. Two children have blessed their union, viz .: Girtie and William B. His wife is a member of the Methodist Church. He is a member of the Masonic order. He and family reside in Stewartsville, but spend about two months of the summer season in Colorado. In politics he is a stanch Republican.
Daniel Coil, a citizen of Osborne, was born in Boone County, Mo., on September 28, 1819. His parents were Daniel and Elizabeth (Silver) Coil, both natives of Madison County, Ky. The father was of Irish descent. After their marriage in their native county, they settled on a
*Since the above sketch was written death has deprived De Kalb County of one of its truly representative and substantial men, Mr. Clark having died on December 17, 1887, of malarial fever. On the 18th inst. he was buried with Masonic honors.
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farm, and in 1819 immigrated to Missouri and settled in Boone County, where the father died in 1825. The mother died in Buchanan County about eight years ago. The subject of this sketch is the third of six children. He received a common-school education, and remained on his father's farm until about eighteen years of age, when he began business for himself as a farmer in Buchanan County. About 1838 he returned to his mother's, and in 1845 came to De Kalb County, where he has since resided, except the years of 1850 and 1851 that he spent in Cali- fornia, going the overland route and returning by water. In 1843 he was united in marriage with Miss Sarah Parrott, daughter of Col. Elias Parrott. They have had seven children-one son and six daughters- of whom two are dead-one son and one daughter. Mr. Coil has been a life-long Democrat. He and wife are members of the Methodist Episco- pal Church South. He is now trustee of the church, and has been steward for seventeen years. In 1872 he removed to Osborne to accom- modate himself to the schools of that place.
W. F. Costello, a prominent young attorney of Maysville, and a mem- ber of the firm of Low & Costello, real estate, and collecting agents, was born in Champaign City, Ill., on May 25, 1860. He was one of twin brothers born to James T. and Anna M. ( Corchran) Costello. The father was born in Sandersville., Ga., about 1842, and was of Spanish descent. From Georgia he removed to Greenfield, Hancock Co., Ind. He was an editor, and for a time edited the Hancock County Democrat. In 1865 he went to Leavenworth, Kas., where he was killed. The mother was born in Ireland in 1840, and immigrated to America in 1849. She now resides at Hamilton, Mo. W. F. came with his mother to Missouri in 1866, and located at Kingston, Caldwell County, where he was reared, and received a good education in the high school. He began the study of law at Hamilton, Mo., in the office of Dilley & Johnson. In 1883 he entered the law department of the Univer- sity, Ann Arbor, Mich., graduating the next year. In the same year he immigrated to Idaho, and practiced his profession for twelve months. Returning home he remained six months, and in July, 1886, located in Maysville, and resumed his practice.
G. Y. Crenshaw, a citizen of Maysville, and president of the De Kalb County Bank, was born in Gallatin County, Ill., on September 28, 1839. He is the son of William E. and Cassandra F. (Taylor) Crenshaw [see G. W. Crenshaw's sketch ]. G. Y. was reared on the farm, and attended the Springfield schools. He began business as a live stock dealer in Sanga- mon County, Ill., where he remained until 1872. He then removed to St. Clair County, making his headquarters at East St. Louis, and engaged in stock shipping and farming for three years. In 1875 he removed to De Kalb County, and continued in the stock business until 1878, when he was elected clerk of the circuit court, and recorder. He was re-elected in 1882, filling the office eight years. At the organization of the De Kalb County Bank he was a stockholder and director. On February 1,
DE KALB COUNTY.
1886, when the bank was reorganized he was elected president. On November 16, 1876, he was united in marriage with Anna C. Holmes, who was born in Ohio in 1856. She is the daughter of John M. and Thursa Holmes. They have had four children, three of whom are living. Mr. Crenshaw is a member of the Masonic lodge.
George W. Crenshaw, late assistant cashier of the De Kalb County Bank, at Maysville, was born in Sangamon County, Ill., on June 16, 1845. He is the twelfth of thirteen children born to William E. and Cassandra F. (Taylor) Crenshaw. The father was born in South Carolina in 1804, and was the son of William Crenshaw, who removed to Missouri, about 1810, and from there went to Illinois, where he died. The father was a farmer by vocation. He died in Sangamon County, Ill., in 1864. The mother was born in Virginia in 1811, and was the daughter of Giles Taylor, who removed from Virginia to Kentucky about 1812. She died in 1883, in St. Clair County, Ill. George W. was reared on the farm, and secured a good education in the public schools. He engaged in farming in his native State until 1883, when, in September of that year, he removed to Maysville, Mo., and took his position as assistant bank cashier. In 1871 he was united in marriage with Nora Littlepage, who was born in Mississippi, in 1853. She is the daughter of William and Mary Littlepage. They had six children. Mr. Crenshaw was a member of the Masonic lodge. He was taken suddenly ill on the morn- ing of November 25, 1887, at his place of business, and was conveyed to his home where he died about 8 o'clock the same evening. His untimely demise was a sad blow to his family and a large circle of friends and acquaintances.
Chauncey W. Curtis, a well-known dealer in tin and hardware at Osborne, was born in Livingston County, Mich., on September 14, 1842. His parents were Lyman and Rachel (Chrispell) Curtis, who were of En- glish and German descent, and natives of Vermont and New York, respect- ively. After their marriage they immigrated to Michigan, where the father worked at the carpenter's trade in connection with farming. About 1860 they removed from Livingston County to Shiawassee County, where the mother died about 1866. She was a member of the Seventh Day Adventist Church. About 1867 the father went to Northwest Indiana, where he lived three years, whence after living with his son, Chauncey W., two years, he removed to Logan County, Ohio, where he now resides. He was born January 29, 1806. He is a Republican and a member of the Methodist Church. The subject of this sketch is the third of five sons. He received a good practical education, and remained on his father's farm until 1862, when he entered the United States service, and enlisted in Company H, Ninth Michigan Regiment of Infantry. Three months later he received a discharge on account of a wound, received at Newburg, Shiawassee Co., Mich. In December, 1863, he went to Elkhart County, Ind., and at Middlebury served an apprenticeship at the tinner's trade with O. O. & A. S. Prescott, until July, 1864. He then worked
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at his trade successively at Chattanooga, Tenn., Shiawassee County, Mich., and Middlebury, Ind. After two years he went to Hancock County, Ohio, and on March 28, 1867, he was united in marriage with Miss Icelid D. T. Blakely. Upon marrying he went into the tin and hard- ware business with his father-in-law, Stephen Blakely. They continued in business at different places until 1870, when Mr. Curtis opened up a tin and hardware store at Osborne. After four years he sold out to P. M. Hatch, and removed to Logan County, Ohio, and at Quincy he and a younger brother, E. F. Curtis, opened a general hardware store, which they controlled over four years. He then began his present business. He sustained a loss by fire in 1884, but after three months was doing business again. Mr. and Mrs: Curtis have had two children: Edwin C., who died in infancy, and Zelora. Politically he is a Republican, and at present is a magistrate. He and wife are worthy members of the Method- ist Church.
John Dice, an enterprising farmer and stock raiser of Dallas Town- ship, was born in York County, Penn., on September 3, 1832. He is the son of Jacob and Rebecca (Shup) Dice, who were American born, but of German descent. The ancestors took part in the Revolutionary War. The parents were married in York County, Penn., where they afterward resided about four years, the father working at the carpenter's trade. They then came to Ohio, and settled in Sandusky County on a farm, where they resided until about 1860, at which time they immigrated to Missouri, locating in De Kalb County, where the father continued in agricultural pursuits until his death in the latter part of 1881, at seventy- two years of age. The mother is seventy-six years of age, and still lives in De Kalb County. John is the eldest of six children. He was reared on his father's farm, and received a common-school education. His whole life has been given to agricultural pursuits. When a child he removed with his parents to Ohio, and in his twenty-fourth year went to Iowa, where he worked as a farm hand about six months. He then came to Missouri, and continued as a farm laborer three or four years. In 1856 he pre- empted 160 acres of land where he now lives, and complying with the laws of the State, he entered the land in 1857. In December, 1860, he wedded Miss Margaret Cownell, who was born in Pennsylvania. This was a happy union until May 1, 1877, when the wife died at thirty-six years of age. She left five children-two sons and three daughters. One grown daughter is her father's housekeeper. Mr. Dice has been a very successful farmer, and now owns in De Kalb and Daviess Counties over 1,000 acres of land. Politically he is a Democrat.
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