History of Boone County, Missouri., Part 102

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

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JAMES AUGUSTUS M'QUITTY.

The subject of this sketch was born in Perche township, Boone county, Missouri, December 1, 1830. He is the son of G. W. McQuitty, one of the successful pioneer farmers of Boone county. It was through the enterprise and industry of such men as G. W. McQuitty that Boone county received an impetus which placed it far ahead of all the neighboring counties, a position it still holds in point of stability, refinement and culture, and but for superior railroad facilities possessed by other counties, it would have distanced all its competitors in wealth and enterprise. The father of James A. McQuitty came to Boone county in 1810. The subject of this sketch remained on his father's farm until 1849, when he went to California. He worked in the mines for several years, returning to Boone county in 1853. He was successful in mining, having accumulated sufficient money to purchase the farm upon which he now resides, containing 353 acres. In 1864 he enlisted in Capt. John Maxwell's company, Williams's regiment, Shelby's brigade, Confederate cavalry, remaining with this command until the close of the war, when he returned home and resumed the active duties of life. Mr. McQuitty was married June 13, 1851, to Miss Dicie Emma, daughter of Solomon Barnett,

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of Howard county. There were seven children by this marriage : Julia A., wife of William Hart, of Centralia, Missouri ; and John L., Lilly, May,ªDora B., Joel M., James M. and George B., yet remain- ing at home. Mrs. McQuitty died May 12, 1879. Mr. McQuitty is a member of the Walnut Grove Baptist church, and has been since 1853. He is also a member of the Rocheport lodge of A. F. and A. M. At the time of her death Mrs. McQuitty was also a member of the Walnut Grove church.

THOMAS FIELDING M'QUITTY.

Thomas F. McQuitty was born near Thrall's Prairie, now known as the Model Farm, May 3, 1833, where he lived until he was ten years old, when his parents removed to the farm now owned by James A. McQuitty. Thomas grew to manhood on this farm, attending the common schools and availing himself of every opportunity of procur- ing an education. He began life for himself as a farmer, renting the land he cultivated. In 1870 he removed to Columbia, where he worked at the carpenter's trade until 1882, when he purchased and removed to the farm upon which he now lives, known as the old Joel White farm, containing 160 acres. Mr. McQuitty was married Octo- ber 18, 1855, to Miss Elizabeth, daughter of Joel and Elizabeth Wil- hite, of Boone county. They have eight living children. The oldest son, Willard G., is editor and proprietor of the Rocheport Commer- cial. The second son, James E., is foreman of the Columbia, Mis- souri, Herald office. The other children are at home with their parents. Mr. and Mrs. McQuitty, and the four oldest of their chil- dren, are members of the Baptist church at Columbia. Mr. Mc- Quitty was deputy marshal of Columbia in 1881. In 1864-5 he was a soldier in the Confederate army, being a member of Capt. John Maxwell's company, Williams's regiment, Shelby's brigade. His com- mand surrendered at Alexandria, Louisiana, in the spring of 1865, when he returned home and resumed the active duties of life. He is- a firm, resolute, hard-working man, whose principal aim in life has been to raise, educate and prepare his children for the active duties and responsibilities of life.

ALEXANDER ROBINSON NICHOLS.

Alexander Robinson Nichols was born in Missouri township, on the Rocky Fork, a tributary of the Perche, May 25, 1833. When quite · young he removed with his parents to a farm in the vicinity of Colum-

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bia, where his father died. When ten years old, his mother removed with her family to Buchanan county, Missouri, where they lived and cultivated a farm until 1856. He began to do for himself when fif- teen years old, but contributed liberally of his earnings toward the support of his widowed mother and such members of the family as were too young to provide for their own wants. His mother was ever an object of earnest and tender solicitude up to the day of her death in 1874. From 1856 to 1860 he worked at farming in various places. He finally settled upon the farm he now occupies. Mr. Nichols was mar- ried April 12, 1860, to Miss Angeline, daughter of Winston Via, who came to Boone county in 1832, and bought and improved the farm upon which the subject of this sketch now resides, known as the old Winston Via place. They have but one child, Annie, who is still at home with her parents. Mr. Nichols is one of the most substantial farmers in his section of the country. All the affairs of life seem tending towards his prosperity and happiness, and justly, for his has been a busy, enterprising and exemplary life.

ELVIN JEFFERSON NICHOLS.

E. J. Nichols, farmer and stocktrader, was born in Barren county, Kentucky, April 29, 1825. He came to Boone county, Missouri, with his parents, arriving at their destination in the month of Decem- ber, 1829. They settled five miles northwest of Columbia on a small tributary of the Perche, called the Rocky Fork, where the subject of this sketch grew to manhood. The little education he received was obtained at subscription schools which were attended at long intervals. The elder Nichols being a carpenter, Elvin was brought up to that trade, and assisted his father in the shop when not working on the farm. He remained with his parents until he had attained his major- ity, when he began to work for himself. March 25, 1845, he was married to Miss Polly Ann, daughter of James and Nancy Hawkins, pioneer settlers of Boone county. After his marriage, Mr. Nichols settled on the farm he now occupies, in the northern part of Missouri township, containing 450 acres. In 1850 he made an overland trip to California, where he remained one year working in the mines. He then took passage on a sail vessel for home. While off the coast of Lower California, the vessel was caught in a fierce western gale and was blown 1,500 miles to sea, prolonging the voyage sixty-seven days. There were 370 passengers, necessitating a short allowance of food and water for many days. The portion allowed to each individ-

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Durich Bifes

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HISTORY OF BOONE COUNTY.

ual finally dwindled to one pint of water and two crackers once in twenty-four hours. The tropical heat was severe and many sickened and died of fever ere they reached port. Arriving at Panama, he and several others attempted to walk to Chagres, but gave out on the way. They were compelled to purchase a mule ere they reached their des- tination. From Chagres he sailed for New Orleans in a steamer, ar- riving home in April, 1851. From 1860 to 1872, Mr. Nichols bought and shipped stock to eastern markets, his shipping points being Con- cordia, Columbia and Sturgeon. In 1873 he bought and fed a herd of cattle in Saline county, and in 1878 he handled over 200,000 pounds of pork which he sold in eastern markets. In 1864 he was drafted as a soldier in the Union army, but hired a substitute. During the same year he was arrested on a charge of giving aid and comfort to Bill Anderson's guerrillas, and was taken to Macon City and put in prison. He soon gave bail and was set at liberty. He has eight chil- dren. The oldest son, William Hite, is a Baptist minister, a graduate of the Southern Baptist Theological Seminary at Louisville, Kentucky ; John J. ; Nancy A., wife of Henry Naylor ; George Martin, a medical student of the State University ; Rhoanna, wife of Samuel Morris ; Eddie E., Robert E. L. and Overton. Mr. Nichols and his wife and their children are members of the Baptist Church.

JUDGE DAVID PIPES

Was born in Washington (now Boyle) county, Kentucky, near the city of Danville, March 31, 1811. His parents moved to Missouri when he was six years old, and settled in Boone county, then a part of Howard. [See chapter on early boundaries. ] Here he resided with his father's family and worked on the farm till he was 18 years old. Then. he began learning the gunsmith's trade with John G. Phillips, in the locality of his father's residence, and worked with his " boss " fer three years. He then established a shop of his own in Howard county, in 1831. The Black Hawk war broke out soon afterwards, and Mr. Pipes enlisted for its suppression and served till the close in the battalion under Maj. John B. Clark. Returning to Howard county, he resumed his trade, and also purchased a small farm which he operated in addition to his shop work. When the Mormon war came on, he again volunteered for service, and was in a short time " orderly " in the company commanded by Capt. Jared Robinson. Returning once more to his shop and farm, he drove those peaceful 1

vocations till the gold fever seized him in 1850. He crossed the plains

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HISTORY OF BOONE COUNTY.

to California, where after mining a short time at Placerville, he pro- , ceeded to Stockton, where he purchased a team and engaged in the then lucrative vocation of freighting until March, 1851, when he came home. He sold his property in Howard in 1852, and moved into Boone county and purchased the farm where he now resides, in Mis- souri township. His homestead contains 350 acres, and he also owns another 21/2 miles distant from the former. Judge Pipes was married, December 23, 1832, to Mrs. Mary Williams, a widow lady of Howard county. They have three children, George, Charles, and Julia A.,. wife of George W. Drake, of Howard county. Judge Pipes has al- ways been a successful manager in his private affairs, insomuch that his neighbors and the public were constrained to demand his services officially. He was appointed justice of the peace by the county court in 1840, and elected subsequently and retained 9 years. In 1876, he was elected associate justice of the county court, and in 1878 was elected presiding justice, which position he still holds. Judge Pipes and all his family are members of the Christian church, he being one- of the elders of Big Spring church, in Howard county.

JOHN HUGHES SAMPSON.

John H. Sampson, farmer and stock raiser, was born in Richmond,. Madison county, Kentucky, April 6, 1818. His parents were Richard and Mary (Watkins ) Sampson. He was educated at the Richmond Seminary. When eighteen years of age his parents removed to · Mis- souri and settled near Rocheport, arriving at their destination in the fall of 1839. The elder Sampson purchased a tract of land containing 360 acres, now known as the Sampson homestead. The son remained · with his parents until 1842, when he married Miss Martha A., daugh- ter of Michael and Martha E. Woods, pioneer settlers of Boone county, [having emigrated from Kentucky to Missouri in 1816. After his marriage, Mr. Sampson removed to a farm of 126 acres given him by his father. This was the nucleus of his present estate, to which he has added 361 acres, making in all 487 acres. He has devoted most of his life to agricultural pursuits, allowing nothing to interfere with or impede his efforts in that direction. He has ten children : Richard Henry, Michael Woods, Mary Watkins, Martha Denney, Mar- garet Francis, Sarah Caroline, John Thomas, Julia Elizabeth, William Arthur, and Walter Irvin, all under the parental roof. They lost one son, James D., who died in 1863, aged two years and six months. Mr. Sampson, wife and four children are members of the Walnut

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HISTORY OF BOONE COUNTY.

Grove Baptist church, of which he has been a deacon for fifteen years, and clerk for twenty-four years. In 1868 he and seven other enter- prising citizens of Boone county bought up the stock of the Colum- bia and Rocheport turnpike, assuming a debt of $7,000, which they have since paid, and have maintained the road ever since.

THOMAS WATKINS SAMPSON.'

The subject of this sketch was born in Richmond, Madison county, Kentucky, October 6, 1815. He is the son of Richard and Mary (Watkins) Sampson. His father was born in Baltimore county, Ma- ryland, July 20, 1780. Mary, daughter of Absalom Watkins, and mother of Thomas Watkins Sampson, was born in Albemarle county, Virginia, March 15, 1789. Richard Sampson and Mary Watkins were married in Richmond, Madison county, Kentucky, March 14th, 1811. The subject of this sketch was in rather feeble health in early manhood, and spent several years travelling in the Southern States. He spent several winters in New Orleans and Mobile, and in the fall of 1848 was stricken down with the yellow fever while in New Orleans. In the spring of 1849, in company with the distinguished mountaineer, guide, and Indian fighter, Capt. Jim Kirker, and two Delaware Indian scouts and hunters, he crossed the plains to Santa Fe, New Mexico, passing through Colorado. From Santa Fe, they passed through the State of Sonora, old' Mexico, and Arizona Territory, by way of the Pima Indian villages and?Tucson ; then across the desert to San Diego, and thence to San Francisco by sea, returning home in the spring of 1852, after an absence of three years. This trip proved very beneficial to Mr. Sampson, his health having been fully restored by the journey. In the spring of 1846 he assisted in raising a company of volunteer cavalry to join Gen. Price's army. which was to cross the plains from Fort Leavenworth to New Mexico, at the beginning of the Mexican war. Mr. Sampson was elected second lieutenant of this company. Owing to the large num- ber of volunteer companies offering their services at the time, his com- pany was too late to be accepted. Mr. Sampson, however, accepted a situation in the quartermaster's department, at Fort Leavenworth, and remained there until the close of the season, forwarding trains across the plains with supplies for Price's army. He then went to New Or- leans, and was in that city when our troops returned from Mexico. Mr. Sampson seems to have manifested a fondness for military life at quite an early age. He was commissioned a captain of militia when

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but nineteen years old, by Governor James Clark, of Kentucky. At the age of twenty he received a major's commission in the same regi- ment, signed by Governor James Morehead. He cast his first vote for Cassius M. Clay for member of the Legislature in 1847. After coming to Missouri he voted with the Whig party until 1856, when he voted for James Buchanan for President. He was a member of the Democratic State Convention at Jefferson City in 1860, and voted for C. F. Jackson for Governor ; has been a Democrat ever since, but did not vote for Horace Greeley for President ; voted for Gen. Grant each time he was elected President. Mr. Sampson was married in Roche- port, November 2, 1848, by Rev. David Coulter, of the Presbyterian church, to Miss Lessie B., daughter of G. W. C. and Jane Melody. Mr. Sampson is a member of the Episcopal church at Columbia, Missouri ; Mrs. Sampson is a member of the Presbyterian church. Richard Sampson, father of the subject of this sketch, was baptized in the Episcopalian church, in Baltimore county, Maryland. Mary Watkins was baptized in the Protestant Episcopal church, in Virginia, in 1830. She afterwards united with the Presbyterian church, at Rich- mond, Kentucky, there being no Episcopal church in that place. Richard Sampson never united with any other church, but remained as a baptized member of the Episcopal church to the day of his death. Thomas Watkins Sampson is a farmer, having a comfortable home near Rocheport. He has a large collection of books, and derives his greatest pleasure from intellectual pursuits. He is a great reader, and spends much of his time with his books.

ROBERT EVANS SCOTT.

Robert Evans Scott was born in Orange county, New York, Novem- ber 20th, 1809. When he was two years old his parents removed to Monongahela county, Virginia, where he lived with his mother until 1833, his father having died when he was nine years old. Although making his home with his mother, he began work for himself when about sixteen years of age. In 1833 he went to Ligonier, Pennsylva- nia, where he followed the occupation of a mill-wright. When not engaged in this business he worked at the cabinet maker's trade. In the spring of 1836 he returned to Virginia, going thence to Elkhart, Indiana, where he worked at the cabinet maker's trade until 1839, when he came to Missouri. He stopped for a short time at St. Louis, going from there to Palestine, Cooper county, where he remained until 1840. In June of that year he removed to Boone county and

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HISTORY OF BOONE COUNTY.

settled at Columbia where he and his brother, George W. Scott, followed the trade of mill-wrights. In 1840 they built a grist-mill for Reuben Black on Hinkson creek, one and one-half miles south of Columbia. In 1841, they built a mill for Northcup & McCarty on Perche creek, the site being where the Gillaspy bridge now stands. The same year they built a mill for Hersh & Stapleton on Callaham creek, seven miles west of Columbia, on what is now known as the Gen. Hatton place. In the spring of 1842, Mr. Scott went to Farm- ington, Van Buren county, Iowa, where he lived two years. While there he built a lock on the Des Moines river, near Farmington, for the Plymouth Mill Company. On leaving Iowa he returned to Boone county and resumed farming, working, also, at his trade, until 1849, when he went over land to California. While there he was engaged in trading, mining and freighting. He also built a hotel for Col. R. W. Noble and Archie Stephenson, at French Camp, near Stockton. In 1851 he returned home by way of Panama and New Orleans. On arriving in Boone county he purchased the farm on which he now lives, consisting of seven hundred acres, three miles west of Colum- bia. During the civil war he was arrested and imprisoned at Columbia for about two months on account of his Southern proclivities. He gave bond and was allowed to return to his home. Mr. Scott was married in the winter of 1841 to Miss Ann H. Oldham, of Boone county .. Seven children were born of this marriage, six of whom are now living. Warwick M. is a prosperous merchant of Columbia, Missouri. Eugene is a farmer, and lives in Boone county. Adolphus G. is a clerk in a store at Marshall, Missouri ; Frank P., Wallace W. and Robert Emmett are still living with their parents. One son, Lawrence, was killed in the Confederate army, near Springfield, Mis- souri, in 1864.

CHARLES E. SEXTON.

The subject of this sketch is the son of George and Sarah Sexton and was bornon the old Sexton farm, eight miles northwest of Co- lumbia, February 3d, 1819. His father was one of the most active and enterprising citizens of the county, and was widely known through- out this and the western portion of the State, being for twenty-four years the sole contractor for carrying the mails west of St. Louis. This was a large business for one man, but George Sexton was always equal to all his undertakings. He came to Missouri in 1817 and settled on the farm where the subject of this sketch was born two years later. When ten years old Charles was put on a mail route,

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HISTORY OF BOONE COUNTY.

carrying between way stations on horseback. He carried the first mail-bag ever delivered at the post-office in Rocheport, Missouri. As he grew older he was intrusted with much of his father's business, and travelled extensively over the various routes between St. Louis and Leavenworth. In 1835, when but sixteen years old, he was married to Miss Elizabeth, daughter of Nicholas Gentry, of Boone county. In 1839 he began to work in his father's carriage and repairing shops, situated on the old home place. He remained in the shops until 1845, when he engaged in the milling business, which he has followed, with slight intermissions, ever since. In 1850 he engaged in the mule trade with Moses U. Payne, buying in Missouri and selling in the South. He followed this business, in connection with wagon and car- riage-making, for ten years. His shops were on Thrall's Prairie, now known as the Model Farm, a portion of which he owned for fifteen years. In 1860 he resumed saw-milling, which he has followed at various places in Boone county ever since. He settled at Midway in the fall of 1880. He has been twice married. His first wife dying in 1839, he was married, in 1840, to Miss Mary Elizabeth, daughter of Peter McDonald, of Howard county, by whom he has three children ; Gesse Green and Millard Payne, of Millersburg, Callaway county, Missouri, and Sallie J., wife of T. C. Scruggs, of Columbia. By the first mar- - riage there were two children, William, of Columbia, and George S., killed in the Confederate army in 1864. From 1840 to 1850, Mr. Sexton was a justice of the peace. Mr. and Mrs. Sexton are members of the Methodist church at Columbia. He has been an active member since 1835, part of the time acting as steward and class-leader. He is a member of Twilight lodge, No. 114, A. F. and A. M. of Columbia.

WILLIAM SLADE, DECEASED ..

The deceased gentleman, whose name heads this sketch, was one of the old settlers of Boone county. He was born in the State of Ver- mont, March 15th, 1810. His parents moved with him to New York, when he was quite young, where he lived with them until reaching manhood. In about 1840 he came to Missouri, and located in Colum- bia, Boone county, where he operated as a mechanic, and assisted in the building of the University. In 1842, he went to Rocheport, and there engaged in the grocery business for, probably, two years. He then sold out, and was for one year engaged in superintending the erection of à tobacco factory for J. A. Hadwin. Next he was asso- ciated with a man named Collins in the mercantile business, continuing

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HISTORY OF BOONE COUNTY.

thus for three years, when Collins retired from the firm. T. M. Smith and Fayette Kirby next came in as partners, and they remained together till 1850, when Mr. Slade sold out to go to California. He spent two years in the gold mines of that State, and on his return was elected justice of the peace, in which capacity he served several years. During the war, he was postmaster at Rocheport till 1863, when he was elected (or appointed) representative in the State legislature. After this, he was again elected justice and also commissioned notary public, which he held to the time of his death, on the 10th of May, 1869. His works go to show that he was a very ingenious and industrious man ; and the macadamizing, guttering and crossings made by him in Rocheport are models of artistic skill. In the fall of 1869, his widow, Mrs. S. M. Slade, was appointed postmistress to succeed her husband, which position she still holds, transacting the business connected there- with by the aid of her son, William, who is her deputy. Mrs. Slade received her appointment from Gen. U. S. Grant, then President.

WARREN A. SMITH.

Warren A. Smith was born in Boone county, Missouri, June 8th, 1837. He is a son of the late Capt. Wm. Smith, a sketch of whose life may be found in the biography of his youngest son, Fielding W. Smith. Capt. Smith was the father of nine children, five of whom are now living. The eldest son is in business in San Francisco, California ; William, the next youngest, lives in St. Louis. Oliver, lives in Mexico, Missouri. He is the son-in-law of Elder James Barnes, whose biography may be found in this volume. Two sons, Fielding W., and the subject of this sketch, are citizens of Boone county. · Warren A. Smith has spent most of his life on the farm. During the late war he was engaged in the mercantile business at Quincy, Illi- nois. Subsequent to this, from 1855 to 1859, he was engaged in the same business at Columbia, Missouri. He was married in 1863 to Miss Mary McKinney, daughter of John C. Mckinney. They have three children. Mr. Smith purchased a portion of the " Model Farm " in 1882, and has made many improvements since getting possession of his new home. His farm contains about one thousand acres. In his home place - the " Model Farm" - he has about three hundred and forty acres. A large portion of his land is in grass. He makes a specialty of short-horn cattle. Mr. Smith is a man of excellent taste and culture and delights in the beautiful as well as the useful. He is surrounded with almost every comfort a man could wish for. He is

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HISTORY OF BOONE COUNTY.

a farmer from choice, and takes the greatest pleasure in all that per- tains to his chosen avocation. He is a member of the Methodist church at Everett, and contributes liberally to the support of the Gospel.

HENRY TUMY

Was born in Harrodsburg, Mercer county, Kentucky, August 10, 1819. When he was three years old his parents moved to Peters- burg, Kentucky, and from there to Cincinnati, Ohio, when he was six years old. A year later his father died of yellow fever at New Orleans, and Henry went with his mother to Dayton, Ohio, where she died, leaving him alone in the world at the early age of eight years. He was bound to a tanner named John Kuntz, with whom he lived six years, learning something of the tanning business. At fourteen years of age he set in to learn the saddle and harness maker's trades, at which he has worked ever since. In September, 1842, Mr. Tumy came to this county and set up in the saddlery and harness business at Rocheport, and has continued so ever since, except the interrup- tions he was subjected to during the war. At the burning of Roche- port, so frequently mentioned in this volume, he lost heavily in buildings and goods. Besides, he was, on another occasion, forced to raise $400 by Bill Anderson and his " bushwackers," which he borrowed of his neighbors and gave up in ransom for his life. On the return of peace he resumed his business, and by close attention thereto has regained his losses, conducting a tannery also in con- nection with his other business. On October 24, 1844, Mr. Tumy married Miss Georgia Evans, of Rocheport. They have eight chil- dren : Laura, Sarah, Nannie, Deborah, James, John, Henry and Frank. The girls are all married. The last named reside at home with their father at this writing. Mr. Tumy is a member of the Rocheport lodge, No. 67, A. F. and A. M., and of lodge No. 147, I. O. G. T.

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History of Boone County, Missouri., Part 102

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