History of Bates County, Missouri, Part 73

Author: Atkeson, William Oscar, 1854-
Publication date: 1918
Publisher: Topeka, Cleveland, Historical publishing company
Number of Pages: 1174

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D. D. Bassett, a well-known and successful farmer and stockman of Pleasant Gap township, is a native of Michigan. He was born in Branch county, April 18, 1870, a son of George and Rebecca (McCool) Bassett.

George Bassett was born in Billows Falls, Vermont, April 8, 1828. . He was a son of George R. Bassett, who was also a native of Vermont. He went to Utica, New York, with his family in 1842, when George, the father of D. D., was about fourteen years old. Six years later, or in 1848, he went farther West, this time locating in LaGrange county, Indiana. Here, George R. Bassett spent the remainder of his life. He died in 1899, lacking only six days of being one hundred years old. His wife lacked only three days of being one hundred years old at her death.

The Bassett family is of English descent and trace their ances- try back to the House of Kent in England. The Bassett family was founded in America by Francis Livingston Bassett, who settled in New England in colonial times. Richard Bassett, ancestor of D. D. Bas- sett, was a signer of the Declaration of Independence.

Rebecca McCool, mother of D. D. Bassett, was a Pennsylvanian, born near Philadelphia. She was a daughter of Aaron and Margaret (Montgomery) McCool. Her father was a native of Ireland and her mother was a daughter of Robert R. Montgomery and of Scotch descent.

George Bassett was about twenty years of age when he came West with his parents. He was employed on the first railroad to reach Chi- cago from the East, at that time making his home at Elkhart, Indiana. Later, he went to Michigan and was engaged in the lumber business for a time when he returned to Elkhart, Indiana. In the fall of 1874 he went to Iowa with his family, remaining there until 1877, when he went to Kansas and settled in Dickinson county. Three years later, or in 1880, he came to Bates county, Missouri, locating in Pleasant . Gap township on the place where D. D. Bassett, the subject of this sketch, now resides. He was successfully engaged in farming and stockraising here during the remainder of his life. He died on September 27, 1911.

THREE GENERATIONS OF THE BASSETT FAMILY. Reading left to right: Mrs. George R. Bassett, William C. Bassett, George Bassett.

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He was a progressive citizen and a man whose career may be well said to have been a successful one. He was reared a Democrat but in later life became a Republican.

George Bassett was twice married, his first wife being Martha Lee, a direct descendant of "Light Horse Harry Lee." To this first mar- riage were born four children as follow: William, with the Postum Cereal Company, Battle Creek, Michigan; James, locomotive engineer on the Lake Shore & Michigan Southern railroad, resides at Elkhart, Indiana; Charles, resides near Elkhart, Indiana; and Ewing, Pleasant Gap, Missouri.

To George Bassett and Rebecca McCool, his second wife, whom he married in 1867, was born only one child, D. D. Bassett, the subject of this sketch. Rebecca McCool was a widow when she married Mr. Bassett, her first husband being Timothy W. Adams. Two children were born to that union: Timothy W. Adams, Jr., whose whereabouts is unknown ; and Cassius Adams, deceased. Rebecca (McCool) Bassett died in 1897.

D. D. Bassett was about ten years old when he came to Bates county with his parents. He received his education in the public schools and has made farming and stockraising his occupation. He specializes in high-grade Shorthorn cattle and has his place well stocked. Mr. Bassett's farm is one of the valuable places of Pleasant Gap township. · It is well improved, well kept and has all the earmarks of a progressive and thrifty owner. The home place consists of one hundred forty-five acres.

Mr. Bassett was united in marriage in 1900 with Miss Eva Willey, a native of Pleasant Gap township, born in August, 1872. She is a daughter of Gideon Willey, a native of Delaware, born in 1829. He came to Missouri in 1870 and died here in 1882.

To Mr. and Mrs. Bassett have been born three children, as follow : Helen. born in 1900 and died in infancy; Dexter Dillard, born Febru- ary 6, 1902; and Lloyd L., born November 8, 1903, both attending school.

Mr. Bassett is a Republican and takes an active interest in the local political organization, having served as township committeeman for a number of years.

J. N. McDavitt, a well-known merchant of Rockville, Missouri and former justice of the peace, clerk, assessor, trustee, and treasurer of Hudson township, a notary public of Rockville, filling his second term in office at the time of this writing in 1918, is a worthy representative

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of a sterling pioneer family of Bates county, Missouri. Mr. McDavitt was born in Edgar county, Illinois. in 1854 and when a child thirteen years of age came to Bates county, . Missouri, with his parents, J. P. and Eliza J. McDavitt. J. P. McDavitt was a native of Virginia. He was born in 1828 and Mrs. McDavitt was born in Virginia in 1833. Mr. McDavitt purchased a farm in this section of the state before he came thence to make his permanent home, a tract of land embracing two hundred forty acres, which he improved and cultivated, engaging in general farming and stock raising and feeding. J. P. McDavitt was a leader in his community and one of the most prominent and influen- tial men of his day in his district. He was instrumental in bringing about the organization of District Number 6 and in the building of the school house, erected in 1869, a small frame building constructed after the style of the sixties, Mr. McDavitt took a leading and important part. He was for many years the school director in his district. He built the residence on his farm in 1867, hauling the lumber for its con- struction from Pleasant Hill. J. P. McDavitt had purchased a yoke of oxen from James Hook for one hundred fifty dollars, a team which weighed four thousand one hundred sixty pounds, and with the oxen it required one week to make the trip to Pleasant Hill. There was a stage route from Sedalia to Fort Scott and the route passed through the McDavitt farm. One day, J. P. McDavitt sent a young man, named Lindsay, who was employed by him, to Prairie City for the mail. Prairie City was six or seven miles distant. and at that time was little more than a village in embryo as there was but one store and two resi- dences in the place. Johannas was then the leading merchant of Prai- rie City. Young Lindsay had traveled the distance that had been designated and as he was a city man accustomed to large towns he became alarmed thinking that he had missed the way, so he rode to the little country store and inquired of the owner the way and the distance to Prairie City. Johannas. replied, "This is Prairie City."

The first house built on the McDavitt place was a cabin having a stick chimney, which was put up in the autumn of 1866 prior to the coming of the McDavitts. J. N. McDavitt well recalls seeing deer. a herd of five, which frequently came near his father's home. The father owned a long, old-fashioned rifle and though young J. N. McDavitt longed for an opportunity to try his skill at killing deer with it his father was fearful lest harm come to his son and refused him permission to shoot with the old rifle. A neighbor, Vanderpool, kept a pack of

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hounds and was constantly on the hunt and the chase. Once, when J. N. McDavitt heard the baying of the hounds and knew that they were chasing a deer, he located himself behind a tree near the path the prey must necessarily come and with his father's old rifle waited impa- tiently, became too anxious to shoot and fired at the buck before taking aim. When Vanderpool came up, he asked of the lad if he had hit any- thing and young McDavitt replied that the big buck ran out of the path and acted very much as if it were hit. But when Vanderpool returned from the chase emptyhanded, J. N. McDavitt was informed in a few terse words as to the value of his unasked assistance in the hunt. In the same year and in the autumn, Mr. McDavitt had an exceptional opportunity to kill a deer. He ran for the trusty old rifle and, thinking it a pity to shoot the animal in the heart, he decided to shoot it in the head. The bullet barely grazed the animal's head and the deer seemed to be unable to decide just what had happened before the boy hunter had reloaded the rifle from his vantage point behind a tree and shot again, this time at the deer's heart. It ran about thirty feet and fell. Young McDavitt reloaded, approached the dying animal and the second shot in the head had an immediate effect. An old hunter passed the lad and his first prey and explained to him how to carry the deer, but it was too much of a load for him. He called his father, proudly telling hint of his good fortune and the two carried it home. Henceforth, the senior McDavitt granted his son the free use of the trusty old rifle.

To J. P. and Eliza J. McDavitt were born the following children : J. M., the subject of this review; J. F., who died at Anadarko, Okla- homa; Mrs. Mary S. Peeler, of Hudson township, Bates county, Mis- souri; Mrs. Rosa Peeler, Guthrie, Oklahoma; and Mrs. Dollie Nichols, of Vernon county, Missouri. The father died on his farm, where he had settled in 1867, in 1906 and five years later, in 1911, he was joined in death by the mother. Both parents are interred in the Baptist ceme- tery in Bates county.

J. N. McDavitt received his education in the public schools of District Number 6, Bates county, Missouri. He afterward taught school for one term in the same district, while at the same time he was engaged in farming on his eighty-acre tract of land. In December. 1909, J. N. McDavitt moved from the farm to Rockville, having received the appointment of postmaster, and for three years he served efficiently in this capacity. Mr. McDavitt was one of the organizers of the Farm- ers Bank of Rockville and he has been the first and only president of

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this financial institution, still holding this position at the time of this writing in 1918. A brief sketch of the Farmers Bank of Rockville, Mis- souri, appears in connection with the biography of E. C. Wilson, which will be found elsewhere in this volume. Mr. McDavitt opened a gen- eral store at his present location in Rockville in December, 1914, and is now the owner of one of the prosperous mercantile establishments of Bates county. He conducts a variety store, carrying a complete line of dry goods, gents' furnishings, and notions, and enjoys a large patron- age.

The marriage of J. N. McDavitt and Alice M. Nearhoof, a daughter of Mrs. Catherine Nearhoof, of Round Prairie, was solemnized in 1878. The father of Mrs. McDavitt died when she was a little child. Mrs. Catherine Nearhoof died in 1910. To J. N. and Alice M. McDavitt have been born four children, who are now living, two who are deceased, as follow: Pearl, the wife of William Carter, of Horace, Kansas; Gertie, the wife of R. L. Piepmeier, Coffeyville, Kansas; Jessie, the wife of Vernie Rains; Grace, the wife of L. V. Brown, of Round Prai- rie; Hallie, who died at the age of seenteen years; and Joseph P., who died in infancy.

Mr. McDavitt is a skilful accountant, one familiar with all the intri- cacies of banking, and his judgment in matters of finance is seldom at fault. He has been an active participant in the public affairs of his town and township and has filled satisfactorily many public offices. In every station of life, official or otherwise, Mr. McDavitt has displayed superior ability and not a breath of suspicion has ever darkened his record. Plain and unassuming in manner, frank and genial, he has won and retains the good will, respect, and esteem of all with whom he has come in contact. Mr. and Mrs. McDavitt are numbered among the best citizens of Rockville.

Henry William Schapeler, a late leading farmer and stockman of Prairie township, was a native of Germany. Mr. Schapeler was born in 1851 and came to the United States when he was a youth, sixteen years of age. He located first in the state of Texas, where he remained more than two years, going thence to Kentucky and from that state coming to Bates county, Missouri, where he, his mother, and his two brothers, Ferdinand and Hermann, located on a tract of land east of Prairie City, Missouri, for a few months, when they moved to a coun- try place south of the Redford church. Mrs. Schapeler and her three sons made their home together for several years, until each of the

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boys married, Ferdinand being united in marriage with Mrs. Catherine Link and Hermann with Minnie Drawe. The Schapeler brothers were associated in business and together purchased a large tract of land in Bates county. For many years, the three boys had but one pocket- book. They made the brick for the construction of their first resi- dences in Bates county, Missouri, building a small house for each one in the early seventies. These houses are still standing and are in use, but additions have since been made to the original structures. The Schapeler brothers during the early days, drove large herds of cattle from Texas and fattened them in Bates county.

In the early days, Henry William Schapeler experienced a never- to-be-forgotten attack from a large rattlesnake. Mr. Schapeler was bitten on the foot, while barefoot plowing corn. He killed the reptile and then drank one and a half quarts of whiskey. The men who were with him in the field started with him to Papinsville, but before they arrived the whiskey had taken effect and that saved his life. Mr. Schapeler had never before been or afterward became intoxicated.

The marriage of Henry William Schapeler and Albertina Steffan was solemnized in 1883. Albertina (Steffan) Schapeler is a daughter of Tobias and Catherine Steffan. Mrs. Schapeler came to this country alone in 1880. To Henry William and Mrs. Schapeler were born three children, who are now living: Frederika Catherine, who is at home with her widowed mother; Hermann Tobias William, at home ; and Carl Ferdinand Henry, at home. Mr. Schapeler died May 25, 1916. He was a devout Christian gentleman, an earnest and conscientious member of the German Reformed church and one of its most faithful workers and willing supporters. The Schapelers materially assisted in the found- ing of the Reformed church of Prairie township, the mother of Henry William Schapeler donating a tract of land embracing three acres for the site of the present church building and cemetery.

The Henry William Schapeler estate comprises nine hundred twenty- three acres of valuable land in Bates county, Missouri, of which four hundred forty-three acres are in the home place. Mr. Schapeler was engaged in cattle raising and general farming. He was all his life a busy man, strong, active, energetic. His splendid estate is but a monu- ment to his industry and thrift. His two sons, Hermann Tobias William and Carl Ferdinand Henry, are now in charge of the home place. They are successful and progressive, young agriculturists and stockmen, fol- lowing the vocations of dairying and stock raising and general farming. (48)

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They have a large herd of Shorthorn Durham cattle, usually keeping a registered male at the head of the herd, and they keep on the place from sixty to one hundred head of pure-bred Duroc Jersey hogs. For the past eight years, the Schapeler boys have been raising a few sheep Politically, they are affiliated with the Republican party.

In 1870, Henry William Schapeler settled in Prairie township, Bates county, and for nearly fifty years he was one of the honored and respected builders of western Missouri. He was a gentleman of pleasing personality and his record in business is well worthy of emu- lation for he made it his policy to meet all obligations and no confi- dence reposed in him or trust confided to his keeping was ever betrayed. He and his most estimable wife always worked hard and as a result of their persistent efforts, sound judgment, and wise economy they were in later years enabled to live in the ease and comfort, both so richly merited. Mr. Schapeler's influence was ever thrown to the side of morality and his manly, upright, God-fearing life won the respect and esteem of all who knew him.

James E. Bartlett, a prominent citizen of Butler, is a representative of one of the first pioneer families of Bates county. He was born at the Bartlett homestead in Walnut township May 25, 1857, a son of Edmund and Maria L. (Cook) Bartlett. The Bartletts came to Mis- souri from Kentucky in 1844 and located temporarily in Morgan county. Two years later, Edmund Bartlett came to Bates county and located on the land which is the present townsite of Spruce, whence he after- ward moved to a farm in Walnut township in 1849, where his son, James E., the subject of this review, was born. The Bartletts continued to reside on the farm in Walnut township until "Order Number 11" was issued in 1863, when they moved to Baldwin, Douglas county, Kansas, and there remained until the close of the war. They returned to their country home in Walnut township after the Civil War had ended and there resided until 1883. Edmund Bartlett was a member of the Bates county court in the early fifties during the time Judge Myers was a member. At one time, Judge Bartlett was the owner of five hundred acres of land located in Walnut township, Bates county, a portion of which he entered from the government. He had succeeded in accumu- lating a handsome competence in spite of the hardships of pioneer life and the disasters of war. Before the outbreak of the Civil War, much of his property was stolen and during the war all his farm buildings were burned and his stock taken. The Bartletts hauled their heavy

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merchandise from Boonville and from Pleasant Hill, using oxen. The senior Bartlett used to haul loads of pecans and hickory nuts to Boon- ville in Cooper county and trade the nuts for groceries and other neces- sities. Judge Bartlett died in January, 1898, and his remains are interred in the cemetery at Foster, Missouri. He was a splendid example of the brave, early pioneer, a strong, virile man, who nobly did his part and cheerfully discharged his duties in wresting the country from its primitive state and laying strong and deep the foundations upon which rests its present prosperity, a representative citizen and public-spirited gentleman of Bates county.

Miss Josephine Bartlett, a sister of James E. Bartlett, was employed as teacher at Greenview school house when James E. began school work there. He recalls his second teacher, Miss Bradshaw. After leaving school, Mr. Bartlett began farming for himself on the home place and was thus engaged until 1883, when he located near La Cygne, Kansas. One year later, he returned to Bates county, Missouri, and for a year was located at Passaic, after which he located on a farm in the spring of 1885 of one hundred thirty-four acres of land, in Lone Oak township, which he purchased for twenty-five dollars an acre. Mr. Bartlett improved his farm in Lone Oak township, adding a com- fortable residence and a good barn and all necessary farm conven- iences. While a resident of this township, James E. Bartlett was a leader in his community and filled many offices of public trust, serving as collector of taxes, township clerk, township assessor, and school director in his district for many years.

The marriage of James E. Bartlett and Florence Phillips was solemnized in 1881. Mrs. Bartlett is a daughter of Jesse and Elizabeth Phillips, who settled near La Cygne, Kansas, in 1858. Mr. Phillips died in the autumn of 1883 and is buried in the cemetery located south- east of La Cygne. The widowed mother survived her husband until 1906, when she joined him in death. Mrs. Phillips died in Lone Oak township, Bates county, and her remains were taken to the cemetery at La Cygne for burial beside those of her husband. To James E. and Florence (Phillips) Bartlett have been born two sons: Homer C., who is engaged in farming in Lone Oak township on the home place; and Roy C., a well-known, progressive real-estate man of Butler, a sketch of whom appears elsewhere in this volume. Mr. and Mrs. Bartlett moved to Butler March 1, 1918.

As a good citizen, James E. Bartlett occupies no small place in the

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public esteem, being active in all that concerns the public good and liberal in his support of all worthy enterprises, which have for their object the material or moral advancement of the community.

Robert Roland Earsom, a substantial citizen of Pleasant Gap town- ship, belongs to a prominent pioneer family of Missouri. He was born in Audrain county, Missouri, January 18, 1850, a son of James Madison and Mary Nowlan (Mahan) Earsom. The father was a native of Vir- ginia and the mother, of Kentucky.

James Madison Earsom grew to manhood in Virginia, where his father was a large planter and an extensive slave holder, owning at one time nine hundred acres of land in the Shenandoah valley. In 1836, James Madison Earsom came to Missouri, settling in Audrain county, where he proved up on two hundred eighty-six acres of land where he spent the balance of his life. His wife and the mother of R. R. Earsom was also a very early settler in Missouri. She came to this state with her parents from Kentucky when St. Louis was little more than a trad- ing post, at most a small village.

R. R. Earsom was one of a family of ten children born to his parents and he is the only one of the family now living. His oldest brother, John, served in the Union army during the Civil War, and his second oldest brother, Peyton, served in the Confederate army. These two brothers fought on opposite sides at the battle of Marshall, but did not know it until afterward. Peyton died at DuBall's Bluff, Arkansas.

Mr. Earsom was reared in Audrain county, Missouri, and received the greater part of his education in the old log school house of that day and age. He came to Bates county in 1871 and settled in Pleasant Gap township which has since been his home. He at first bought eighty acres of land for which he paid $17.50 an acre, and later he acquired more land, but within the last few years he has sold some and now owns a valuable farm of one hundred forty-five acres. Mr. Earsom has practically retired and rents his farm.

On January 22, 1871, Mr. Earsom was united in marriage with Miss Celia J. Hukel, a native of Boone county, Missouri, where her parents settled at a very early date. To Mr. and Mrs. Earsom were born eight children, seven of whom are living, as follow: Isaac New- ton, Pleasant Gap township; Letta, married Walter T. Little and they reside on the home place, they have two children, Robert Virgil and Leota; William M., Pleasant Gap: Anthony Marion, Butler; Minnie Bell, married Mark Spain, Pleasant Gap township ; Rev. Charles Albertus,

ROBERT ROLAND EARSOM AND WIFE.

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Golden City, Missouri; and Earnest Earl, Butler, Missouri. Mrs. Ear- som departed this life February 7, 1915, aged sixty-nine years. She was a Christian woman and lived an exemplary life. She had been a con- sistent member of the Christian church for forty years, she and Mr. Ear- som having joined the old Macedonian church in Audrain county in 1867, of which they were charter members.

Mr. Earsom saw many of the hardships of the pioneer days and like many others had a hard struggle to get a start in life, but he finally overcame difficulties and succeeded. When he was a young man he worked one year for a man in the northern part of the state and received $175 for the year's work. During that year he split five thousand rails.

Bates county was wild and unsettled when Mr. Earsom came here, compared with its present state. At that time there was not a barn between his place and Butler. He often saw deer, and other wild game was plentiful.

Roy Bartlett, of the firm of Sleeth & Bartlett, abstract, loans and real estate, is one of the enterprising young citizens of Butler, Missouri. Mr. Bartlett was born May 10, 1885, a son of James E. and Florence (Phillips) Bartlett, a highly respected family of Butler, a sketch of whom appears in this volume. Roy Bartlett has an older brother, Homer C., who is a prosperous farmer of Lone Oak township.

Mr. Bartlett, whose name introduces this review, received his edu- cation in the city schools of Butler, Missouri. After completing his school work, he engaged in agricultural pursuits until the autumn of 1913, when he, in partnership with C. A. Sleeth, opened an office on Ohio street in the city of Butler and entered the abstract, real estate, and loan business, in which he has been profitably engaged for the past five years at the time of this writing in 1918. When Mr. Bartlett was but twenty-one years of age, he was elected a member of the township board of Lone Oak township and although he is still a young man thirty-three years of age, he has been twice honored with the office of justice of the peace, which he satisfactorily and capably filled for two terms.

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History of Bates County, Missouri, Part 73

Author: Atkeson, William Oscar, 1854- Publication date: 1918 Publisher: Topeka, Cleveland, Historical publishing company Number of Pages: 1174

Author: Atkeson, William Oscar, 1854-
Publication date: 1918
Publisher: Topeka, Cleveland, Historical publishing company
Number of Pages: 1174