History of Boone County, Missouri., Part 101

Author:
Publication date: 1882
Publisher: St. Louis, Western Historical Company
Number of Pages: 1220

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HISTORY OF BOONE COUNTY.

WILLIAM BURCH HUNT.

W. B. Hunt was born in Boone county, Missouri, September 18th, 1831. He is the son of Linnæus and Rebecca (Brushwood ) Hunt, who were born, reared and married in Fluvanna county, Virginia. They came to Missouri in 1821. Wm. B. was educated at the common schools in his father's neighborhood, and grew to manhood upon the place where he was born. In 1850 he and his father went to Califor- nia, where his father died in 1851. He was married in 1855, in Boone county, Missouri, to Mary Ann, daughter of Benjamin Conley.` By this union they have had six children, five living and one dead. M. Ella married John H. Alsop, of New Franklin, Howard county ; Ben- jamin B. ; Laura F. married to John F. Wilhite, near Rocheport ; Linnæus L., Sanford Conley and Wm. B. (dead). Mr. Hunt has been engaged in farming all his life, save the four years he spent in Cali- fornia in mining. He has been until recently the largest wheat grower in the county, and in 1882 made the largest yield. He has a splendid farm, handsomely kept, and showing unmistakable signs of thrift and culture. He raises corn, wheat and hogs, making, how- ever, a specialty of wheat. He has sown the same piece of land in wheat for fourteen years, the last crop averaging twenty-seven and one-half bushels to the acre. Mr. Hunt is one of Boone's represent- ative men, and one whom all respect.

MALCOM DUANE LEWIS, M. D.

Dr. Lewis was born near Glasgow, in Howard county, Missouri, July 24th, 1846. He is the second of three sons of John L. and Mary E. Lewis, who moved to a place near Rocheport, in Boone county, in 1851, and located in Rocheport in 1853. In that town Malcom D. was reared, and acquired the rudiments of his education. His education was completed at the University at Columbia, and he began life for himself by clerking in the dry goods house of Clayton & Wilcox, in Rocheport. In 1865 the firm moved to Omaha, Dr. Lewis going with them. He soon, however, returned to Rocheport on account of ill health. Subsequently he went to St. Louis, and was employed in the notion house of Gill & Murphy. Returning to Boone county in 1867, he clerked for two different houses in Columbia, which was about all the business he did till he began to study for his pro- fession. In 1872, he commenced to read medicine under Dr. A. W. McAlester, Professor of Surgery, etc., in the University. Entering

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HISTORY OF BOONE COUNTY.

the medical department of that school, he applied himself closely to his studies, and graduated with the degree of M. D., in June, 1875. He first located for the practice at Woodlandville, this county, where he remained till 1880, when he removed to Rocheport and established himself there. In 1882, Dr. E. T. Bramlett became associated with Dr. Lewis, and they have a good and growing practice in several counties whose boundaries approach near Rocheport. Dr. Lewis is a member of Boone lodge, No. 121, I. O. O. F., of Rocheport.

WILLIAM A. LIENTZ

Is the son of Montgomery P. Lientz, and is the oldest child and only son. He was born on the old homestead, four miles from Roche- port, March 30th, 1848. He was reared at his birth place, and continued to live with his parents till he was twenty-two years old. The foundations of his education were laid in the country schools, he attending in early boyhood at Walnut Grove Academy. Subse- quently, he attended Union Academy, in Pennsylvania. He completed his course, however at the State University at Columbia, graduating from that institution in the class of 1868. He carried off two honors at that time, having been chosen by his class to deliver the salutatory in Latin, and also winning the Stephens prize-medal as the best orator in the contest for that medal. (See history of the University). In 1869, he began reading law in Columbia, under Col. J. R. Shields, but the condition of his health forced him to abandon the law. Octo- ber 27th, 1870, he married Miss Margaret S., daughter of John L. Hickman, Sr., of Boone county. She had graduated in Stephens college, Columbia, in the class of 1869. Soon after his mariage, Mr. Lientz, thinking an agricultural life would be conducive to his good health, moved on to a farm that he had purchased five miles west of Columbia. He lived on that place till 1880, when he sold out and bought the farm where he resides at this writing, three miles north- east of Rocheport. The place contains two hundred and sixteen acres, and is chiefly devoted to stock raising especially that of sheep. Mr. Lientz has four children, named John M., William A., Jr., Beverly Price, and Roger H. Himself and wife both belong to the Presbyterian church of Columbia.

MONTGOMERY P. LIENTZ. 1

The gentleman whose name heads this sketch was born in Nash- ville, Tennessee, October 22, 1815. His parents were William and

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HISTORY OF BOONE COUNTY.

Mary Lientz, who came to this State and county in November, 1819, and settled four miles northeast of Rocheport, where Montgomery was raised. He continued to reside with his parents after coming of age, and when they became old and infirm, he took the entire man- agement of the farm, and thus eased them of their burden, caring for them till their death like a true and faithful son. . The father died in 1849, aged seventy-five and the mother in 1859, at the same advanced age. Mr. Lientz has been three times married. First, in 1844, he married Miss Calphurnia Wetmore, of St. Louis. This lady died in 1849, and two years later, he was wedded to Miss Olivia W. McClure, daughter of Dr. William McClure, of Thrall's prairie. She died in 1856. Mr. Lientz's present wife was a widow lady - Mrs. Ann E. Whittaker, of Virginia. He has four children. William A. Lientz, who gradu- ated from the University of Missouri in the class of 1868, is a son of his first wife. Annie O., wife of D. W. McQuitty, is a child of the second marriage. Ella R., wife of Harry Mccullough, of Howard county, and Blanche S. (unmarried ), are the other two. Mr. Lientz was in the Mormon war, and served under Capt. John Ellis. In May, 1846, he enlisted for the Mexican war in Company F, First regiment Missonri volunteers, and served during the war under Capt. Parsons and Col. A. W. Doniphan. Returning home at the close of that war, -he continued to pursue the arts of peace, and enjoy pastoral life on the old homestead till 1881, when he moved into Howard county. His father's old home was for many years a stopping place for travellers, and many weary tourists there enjoyed the hospitalities of this gen- uine Southern family. Among the celebrities who stopped at this place, were Col. Thos. H. Benton, Washington Irving, Gov. John Miller and Supreme Judges M. McGirk and George Tompkins, the latter of whom married into the Lientz family. Mr. L., belongs to the Presbyterian church, and his wife to the Monnt Zion Baptist church of Howard county. He is a ruling elder in his church. ind labors to advance the cause of Christ's kingdom on earth.

ROBERT GILBERT LYELL

Was born at Rochester, New York, in the month of April, 1817. When he was two years old, his father moved with his family to a farm two miles from Rochester, and Robert was reared to agricultural pursuits. His education was acquired in the common schools and at Monroe High School at Henrietta in Monroe county, New York. He began teaching in the public schools at nineteen years old, and later

M.S. Lienty

. 1

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HISTORY OF BOONE COUNTY.

in life worked at the carpenter's trade, which was his father's vocation, in addition to farming. In 1840 he came to Boone county, Missouri, and began teaching in the public schools, following it for some six or seven years. He was first married December 27, 1842, to Miss Emilia M. Bishop, of Thrall's Prairie. She died at Harrisburg, this county, February 9, 1875, having borne five children. Two of these, Alice G., wife of James A. Chambers, of Rocheport, and Robert L., of Marshall, Missouri, still survive. He was a second time married May 9th, 1876, to Mrs. Mary J. Rawlings, of Rocheport. In the spring of 1849, Mr. Lyell went to California, and with four com- rades, kept a boarding " ranche," and also worked the mines on Deer Creek, near the forks of Yuba River. On his return from California he settled in Rocheport, where he resided till' 1871, when he and family moved to Harrisburg, where he was engaged for some time in . merchandising, and was also fortunate. He was twice commissioned a notary public for Boone county by the Governor. In 1877 he moved back to Rocheport, where he resides at this writing. From 1858 to '79, he occasionally worked at the carpenter's trade and as an undertaker, working at times, after the war, as many as from six, to nine men. In May, 1862, Mr. Lyell enlisted in the sixty-first regi- ment E. M. M., Col. Douglass commanding. Soon after he was commissioned quartermaster, with rank of captain, by Gov. Gamble. He served in that capacity till the fall of 1862, when part of his regiment was annexed to parts of other regiments and formed into the First Provisional Regiment of M. M., in which he served till the officers and men were relieved from duty by order of the Governor, in 1864. In August, 1864, he was commissioned Brigade Q. M., with rank of major, under Gen. J. B. Douglass, and thus continued till his final discharge from service by order of Acting Governor Hall. 'Mr. Lyell has served as magistrate of Missouri township, both by appoint- ment and election, and is at this writing deputy post-master at Rocheport, having been appointed in 1881, by Mrs. Susan M. Slade, post-mistress.

JAMES HORRY LOWREY.

The subject of this sketch is the second of three living sons of James Simpson and Nancy Lowrey, who came to Missouri in. 1819, settling in what was then known as Howard county, near Walnut Grove church, and afterwards permanently on a farm located on the State road between Rocheport and Columbia, five and one-half miles

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HISTORY OF BOONE COUNTY.

from the latter place. It was on this farm that James H. Lowrey was born, October 14, 1829. He remained with his parents until he attained his majority. In 1850 he made an overland journey to Cali- fornia, where he followed freighting from Stockton to various mines, continuing this business until the spring of 1853, when he returned home by way of Panama and New Orleans. He returned to California the same year, taking a drove of stock to Stockton, which he sold, returning overland to his home in 1854. In the fall. of that year he purchased a farm in Johnson county, where he resided until 1861. He was married March 1st, 1855, to Miss Mary J., daughter of John and Jane Maxwell, of Boone county. In 1861 he enlisted in Capt. Har- vey Mckinney's company and regiment in which he served until 1862, when he returned home and brought his family to Boone county. While here he was arrested by Federal soldiers and imprisoned iu Columbia for several months. Having taken the oath of allegiance and given bond, he was set at liberty and allowed to remain at his home in this county. In 1864 he went to Texas, where he again joined the Confederate army and was made second Lieutenant of Com- pany K, Col. Williams's regiment, Shelby's brigade, remaining with this command until the close of the war, June 16th, 1865, when he returned to Boone county and resumed farming. In 1867 he sold his farm in Johnson county and removed to Boone, buying the farm upon which he now resides containing 430 acres. In 1879 he went to Montana Territory, taking with him a car load of stock. which he sold to good advantages. Mr. Lowrey has eleven children, eight daughters and three sons, all of whom are living. He is a member of the Rocheport lodge of A. F. and A. M. 1

MILTON HUFF LOWREY.

Milton Huff Lowrey, son of Milton and Martha A. (Hurst) Low- rey, was born in Missouri township, near the old Hunt farm, March 11th, 1847. In early life he attended the public schools, finishing his education at the Missouri State University. His father died when he was an infant. He remained on the farm with his mother until he was sixteen years old, when he began to work for himself. He made an overland trip to California where he remained for four years, spend- ing most of the time farming. In 1868 he returned to Boone county and purchased a farm near his birthplace. He worked this place until 1871, when he purchased the farm upon which he now lives, con-

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taining 160 acres, situated near Midway. May 26th, 1874, he mar- ried Miss Luella Bedford, of near Midway, by whom he has four sons : Claude, Bedford, Lenious and an infant not yet named.

FRANCIS MARION LOWREY.

Hon. Francis Marion Lowrey, farmer and stock-raiser, is the eldest of the three living sons of James S. and Nancy Lowrey, old pioneer settlers of Boone county, who came to Missouri in 1818 and settled on a farm near Walnut Grove church, in 1819. In 1826 they settled the old Lowrey homestead, five and one-half miles east of Rocheport, on the old Columbia and Rocheport road, where the subject of this sketch was born, October 20th, 1827. There were no public schools in his neighborhood during his minority, hence he was compelled to educate himself by hard study and close application. He remained with his parents until he was twenty-one years old, when he com- menced working for himself. In 1849 he went to California, where he worked successfully in the mines until 1851. In 1853 he returned to that State in company with his brothers, James H. and Benjamin F., taking out a drove of stock which they disposed of at Stockton and San Francisco, where he and his brother Benjamin remained and dealt in stock until 1855, when they returned together and rented the old homestead where they farmed until 1857, when he purchased a stock farm in Johnson county, Missouri, which he cultivated until the breaking out of the war, in 1861. Mr. Lowrey enlisted in Mccown's company and regiment, Confederate army, where he served for six months. For the next four months he served in Capt. Branaugh's company. In the spring of 1862 he was elected captain by Company F, of the 16th Regiment of Missouri Infantry, serving until the fall of 1862, when he resigned and returned to Missouri for the purpose of recruiting a cavalry regiment. In the month of December follow- ing, while recruiting, he was captured by the Federal soldiers and imprisoned for a few weeks in the State University at Columbia. From there he was taken to St. Louis and placed in the Gratiot Street prison until July, 1863, when he was sent to Alton, Illinois, where he remained a prisoner until the spring of 1865. The Alton prison was vacated soon after the assassination of President Lincoln, and he was once more taken to the Gratiot Street prison, St. Louis, where he remained until July, 1865, when he was released on taking the oath. He came home and spent the next year in Boone and Lafayette, going by steamboat and stage to Diamond City, Montana, in 1866. He

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followed mining until 1870, when he was elected a member of the Montana legislature from Jefferson county. In 1872 he returned to Boone county and purchased the farm on which he now resides. This farm contains 240 acres. Mr. Lowrey has up to this date (1882) remained a bachelor. He is a member of the Rocheport Lodge, A. F. and A. M., and a member of Columbia Chapter No. 18, R. A. M.

SAMUEL WALLACE MAXWELL.

Samuel Wallace Maxwell was born in Madison county, Kentucky, May 26th, 1826. He is the son of John and Jane Maxwell, who came to Boone county in 1832 and settled on the farm now owned by F. M. Lowrey, near Midway, where the subject of this sketch was raised and lived until attaining his majority. In 1850 he went overland to California, where he followed mining in several places until 1852. Having been successful in his labors he returned home by way of Panama and New Orleans. He served six months in the Enrolled Missouri Militia, under Captain Tyre Harris, of Col. J. B. Douglass' regiment. He has been married three times. His first wife was Miss Sallie A. Boggs, of Boone county, whom he married, April 22d, 1852. Four children were born of this marriage, James O. and John W., both of Oregon, and Amanda and Charles C., still living at home. He married his second wife, Miss Lucy J. Croswhite, of Boone county, October 30th, 1871. She died October 30th, 1874. He married his third wife, Mrs. Rosa Noe, February 17th, 1876. Himself and wife are members of Sugar Creek Baptist church.

NEWMAN THOMKINS MITCHELL, FATHER AND SON.

Newman T. Mitchell, Sr., is one of the few now living who can of right class themselves among the pioneers of Boone county. He was born near Dumfries, Prince William county, Virginia, March 12th, 1807. His parents removed in 1817 to Madison county, Kentucky, and a few years later to Franklin county. He remained with his par- ents until he was eighteen years old, attending in the meantime such schools as were within his reach. Wishing to educate him for a pro- fession, his father proposed sending him to college, but the young man having no predilection that way, declined the offer. His father then gave him permission to do for himself in his own way, and he ac- cordingly entered the boot and shoe store of Daniel Bell, of Wood- ford county, Kentucky. He was employed to keep the books of the establishment, and remained long enough to learn the trade, when he

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returned home. He and his brother now took charge of the homestead devoting their time to farming and trading in stock. In 1827 he went to Frankfort, Kentucky, where he was employed by Frank Blair, Sr., as superintendent or overseer, remaining in this business one year. In the spring of 1828 he came to Missouri with his father and settled in Howard county. On the 4th of September, following, he was mar- ried to Miss Priscilla Hughes. He came to Boone county soon after his marriage and settled on a tract of land upon which he now lives. His first wife having died, August 22d, 1856, Mr. Mitchell was again married, December 10th, 1857 to Miss Kitty Slack, of Boone county, by whom he has two children, Pearl and Earnest. By his first wife he had four children: Elizabeth, wife of Sidney Den- ham, deceased ; Newman Tompkins, Jr .; Cordelia, wife of S. L. Wilhite, and William J., all of whom are living in Boone county. Mr. Mitchell has been a member of Walnut Grove Baptist church for sixty years, and has served as deacon for forty-five years. His wife has been a member of the same church for twenty-five years. His first wife was one of the original members of Walnut Grove church.

Newman T. Mitchell, Jr., was born near Rocheport, Boone county, Missouri, September 1st, 1832. He is the son of Newman and Pris- cilla (Hughes) Mitchell. He was educated at the common schools- of the neighborhood, and commenced business for himself at the age of twenty, though still living with his parents. In 1852 his father proposed sending him to the Missouri State University, but he pre- fered remaining on the farm at a salary. From 1853 to 1857 he worked his father's farm on the shares. He was married, October 6th, 1856, to Miss Hannah, daughter of Porter Jackman, of Howard county, Missouri. The year following he moved to a tract of land given him by his father, which formed the nucleus of the farm he now owns, consisting of four hundred acres. In 1866 he became one of the proprietors of the Columbia and Rocheport rock road. He has seven children. John T. is cashier of the Centralia, Missouri, bank, and Porter J. is a practicing physician, being a graduate of the Mis- souri Medical College, St. Louis. Newman T., William M., Carter W., Exie and Orie are living with their parents. Himself and wife are members of the Baptist church at Walnut Grove, of which he has been deacon for twelve years. He has also filled the position of superin- tendent of Sunday school, at intervals, for fourteen years. During 1879 he was appointed a member of the executive board of State mis-

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sions by the general association, which position he still holds. He is also one of the curators of Stephens Female College, Columbia, Mis- souri, having been appointed such by the State association in 1880.

WILLIAM JEREMIAH MITCHELL.

The subject of this sketch was born in Boone county, Missouri, December 7, 1840. He was raised on a farm, four miles northeast of Rocheport, and educated at the Walnut Grove school house. He is the son of Newman Mitchell, Sr., one of the pioneer settlers of Boone county. When twenty-one years old he began working on a farm owned by his father. This place was given to him in 1867, and in 1874 he exchanged it for a farm in the same vicinity, and in 1876 exchanged this for the place he now occupies, one and one-half miles east of Walnut Grove church. His farm contains one hundred and thirty acres. He is actively engaged in farming and stock raising. During the years intervening between 1862 and 1872, he travelled ex- tensively in Illinois,. Iowa, Nebraska and Colorado. He is a member of the Walnut Grove Baptist church, and has been since 1864.

JAMES HARVEY M'GHEE.

James H. McGhee, son of Wyatt and Jane R. McGhee, was born in Washington county, Virginia, near Seven Mile Ford, July 4, 1818. In 1824 he came with his parents to Missouri, and settled near what is now known as Walnut Grove church, on the Rocheport and Columbia rock road. He remained with his parents until 1839, when he was married, January 29th, to Mary, daughter of Abram Funk, of Boone county. He then moved on to a farm in the Perche bottom, belong- ing to his father, situated near his present home, which was given to him by his father. In 1859 Mr. McGhee made a trip to Pike's Peak in quest of gold, reports of rich diggings having reached Missouri from that region. Finding none he returned home, remaining only two weeks in the mountains. In 1838 he was commissioned by the gov- ernor an officer in the State militia. The troops were called out to put down the Mormon insurrection, and Mr. McGhee, among others, responded promptly to the call, and remained under arms until the difficulty was settled. In 1836, he assisted the government survey- ing party, under William Shields, of Boone county, while surveying the southwestern portion of this State. During the late war Mr. Mc- Ghee was an earnest, out-spoken friend of the South, and suffered severely for his advocacy of Southern principles. He was early iden-

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tified with the South, having been deputized to enroll the militia of Missouri township. In 1863 he was arrested by the United States troops, on the charge of giving aid and comfort to Confederate sol- diers. He was first imprisoned at Columbia, then taken to St. Louis, and finally to Richmond, Virginia, to be exchanged, but being a citi- zen he could not be disposed of in this way. He was finally dis- charged, but as he was returning home he was arrested at St. Louis, and made to give a bond of $2,000 before he was allowed his freedom. He has five children, Mary Jane, wife of James S. Langdon, of Texas ; James W., of Columbia, Mary Ellen, wife of Melvin P. McGhee, of Leadville, Colorado ; Henry A., of Boone ; and William Wallace, of Columbia, Missouri. Mr. and Mrs. McGhee are members of the Locust Grove Methodist church.

WILLARD J. M' QUITTY,

The genial editor and proprietor of the Rocheport Commercial, is the oldest son of Thomas F. and Elizabeth McQuitty, and was born on a farm in Boone county, near Columbia, September 15, 1857. When he was thirteen years old his parents moved to Columbia, and there Willard J. was educated, attending the University till his eight- eenth year. He then began learning the printer's trade with Ed. W. Stephens, in the office of the Columbia Herald. Soon mastering the mysteries of the " typo's " profession, he was made foreman of the Herald establishment, which position he held for five years. In April, 1879, Mr. McQuitty and his brother, James E., purchased the Rocheport Commercial, a Democratic paper in the above town, and a few months later Willard J. bought out the brother's interest, making him the sole manager. He has continued to publish that journal ever since, and is the fifth man who has edited it, and, so far, the only one who seems to have made it a success. Mr. McQuitty was mar- ried Dec. 25, 1881, to Miss Maggie Hines, daughter of J. H. Hines, of Joplin, Mo. Mr. McQ. has always been a Democrat, and runs his paper in the interest of that great party. He is a member of the Missouri Press Association, and his youth and ambition, combined with education and energy, will certainly place him in the ranks of successful jour- nalists, should he continue that most worthy vocation.

DAVID W. M'QUITTY

Is also a native of Boone county, and was born near Rocheport, Feb- ruary 10, 1853. His parents were David and Susan McQuitty, old

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residents of Boone. He continued to live with his parents on the farm till in his twentieth year, and there obtained the rudiments of his education. Subsequently he attended Mount Pleasant College, at Huntsville, Randolph county, Missouri, and was a student of that school for three years. When ready to begin life for himself, Mr. McQuitty purchased a farm of 240 acres, three and one half miles northeast of Rocheport, which he still owns and operates. In addi- tion to the ordinary routine of farming and stock-raising, Mr. McQ. has made a speciality of fine sheep breeding, chiefly the Spanish merino. His object in this was not alone to improve his own stock and derive a profit therefrom, but was actuated by the worthy motive of having his neighbors get the benefit of the same. In the winter of 1882 he imported a flock of the Robinson-Atwood blood from Ver- mont. These breeders are recorded in the Vermont Stock Register, and their average yield of fleece is, for males 16 lbs., for females 15 lbs. In December, 1873, Mr. McQuitty was united in marriage to Miss Annie O. Lientz, daughter of Montgomery Lientz, Esq. They have two children, Montgomery L., and Harry W. Mr. McQ. is a mem- ber of the Walnut Grove Baptist church, and is an exemplary citizen and kind neighbor.

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History of Boone County, Missouri., Part 101

Author: Publication date: 1882 Publisher: St. Louis, Western Historical Company Number of Pages: 1220

Author:
Publication date: 1882
Publisher: St. Louis, Western Historical Company
Number of Pages: 1220