History of Boone County, Missouri., Part 107

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

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His mother was the daughter of Walter Watson, a revolutionary sol -- dier, and a native of Maryland. Mr. Thurston came to Boone county, Missouri, in 1854. In 1858 he was married to Miss Mary F. Elliott, daughter of Eppa Elliott. By this marriage there are seven children- three sons and four daughters - all of whom are living. Their names. are Ralph E., Mary L., John T., Nora M., Mary F., Elsa R. and Hollis H. Mr. Thurston owns an excellent farm of 387 acres, well situated and finely improved. He is an enterprising, useful citizen. He is an official member of the Everett M. E. Church South. His. oldest son, Ralph E., was recently married to Miss Mary Cowden. The eldest daughter, Mary L., was for several years a student of the State University, and is now a successful teacher of the common schools of Boone county.

REUBEN JEFFERSON WADE.

. Reuben J. Wade was born in Cumberland county, Kentucky, Octo- ber 4, 1816. He is the son of Pierce Wade, who emigrated to Boone county in May, 1824, settling the place on which John Grant now lives. Here he and his wife lived out the remainder of their days. He was politically a Democrat ; religiously a Primitive Baptist. Young Wade was educated at the old log school houses of the county, under . teachers who really knew but little ; but education being at a low ebb, their qualifications were seldom, if ever, called into question. Mr. Wade was married to Miss Elizabeth Wingo, daughter of Thomas Wingo. By this union they have had ten children, five of whom are dead. The surviving children are Thomas B., Mary J., Alice, Mahala G., and Lucy E. William W. died while a soldier in the Confederate army. Thomas B. married India Rumans. They have five children. Mary J. married Harrison Brown. They have had three children, two of whom are dead. Alice married John T. Holloway. They have no children. Mahala married James W. Benton. They have one child. In politics, Mr. Wade is an uncompromising Democrat ; in religion, a member of the Christian church.

FOUNTAIN F. WAYLAND.

Fountain F. Wayland is a native of Virginia. He is the son of Joel Wayland, a soldier of the war of 1812. They are of English origin. The elder Wayland lived to be eighty-eight years old, and for three- score years and ten was a member of the Methodist church. Foun- tain was born in the " Old Dominion," November 17, 1821. They left.

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Virginia in 1826 and went to Ohio, where they remained twelve years ; thence to Howard county, Missouri. where they lived till 1842. Com- ing to Boone county, they settled on the farm where Mr. Wayland now resides. He was married to Semira M. Smith, of Howard county. They have had eleven children - eight daughters and three sons. Three of their children are married. Mr. Wayland is an official mem- ber of the Methodist church.

HON. WILLIAM RICE WILHITE.

The subject of this sketch is a practical farmer. Possessing many of the characteristics of a leader, he naturally became the representa- tive of that worthy, influential and powerful class of citizens who, collectively, form the bulk of our population. This too without any special effort of his own in that direction. The farmers showed ex- cellent judgment in selecting Mr. Wilhite, a man worthy of the hon- ors conferred and capable of discharging the trust almost unanimously imposed. As a member of the legislature, Mr. Wilhite was not bril- liant. His speeches were few, and never eloquent. He did not talk for the sake of talking. Such demagoguery is foreign to his nature. He strove to ascertain his official duty and then went earnestly to work to accomplish his purpose. His career in the State legislature won the esteem of every honest, conscientious representative in that body. His integrity, his devotion to principle, and, withal, his excellent judgment, made him a useful member; useful not only to his con- stituents, but to the State at large, and to the party whose principles he represented. Mr. Wilhite was born in Boone county, Missouri, April 13th, 1830, and is at this writing about fifty-two years old, but looks much younger. His father was a native of Kentucky, but came to Missouri in 1818, when our State was yet a territory. The elder Wilhite was a farmer, and the subject of this sketch was brought up in that business. His chances for acquiring an education were poor, but he made the best use possible of every opportunity that presented itself, and when in after years he was called from the farm to repre- sent his county in the legislature he was prepared to discharge the duties of that office in the most acceptable manner. Mr. Wilhite was married in 1853, but had the misfortune to lose his wife in three years after their marriage. Their union was blessed with one child, a daughter, who grew up to womanhood and was married, but died in the first year of her wedded life. In 1851 Mr. Wilhite purchased a farm in Howard county, to which he removed, but soon returned to his

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father's old home in Boone county. In 1855 he bought a farm near Rocheport, on which he resided for about three years. He then pur- chased his present farm, near Woodlandville, consisting of 540 acres of very fine land. He has resided on' this farm since 1864. It is admirably improved and in a high state of cultivation. In 1874 Mr. Wilhite was chosen to represent his county in the twenty-eighth general assembly. While a member of the legislature he was chair- man of the committee on State University ; also ways and means,. penitentiary, agriculture and scientific and benevolent institu- tions. He was reelected in 1876, without opposition, an endorse- ment without a parallel in the political history of Boone county. Since serving his last term in the legislature Mr. Wilhite has re- mained quietly on his farm, looking after his interests in that quar- ter, taking no part in politics whatever. He has frequently been solicited to again become a candidate for the legislature, but he seems rather to prefer the quiet home life of a well-to-do farmer to the anxiety and turmoil of political strife. Mr. Wilhite is a member of the Baptist church at Walnut Grove, and has always contributed lib- erally to the support of the gospel.

MOSES WILHITE.

Moses Wilhite was born in Kentucky, October 28th, 1824. His father, Joel, was the son of Lewis Wilhite, of Virginia. Grandfather on the mother's side was George Elliott, of Irish origin. The Wil- hites are of German descent. Joel was born in Virginia, and served in the war of 1812. He came to Missouri in 1837, when his son, Moses, was but a small boy. He settled on a farm and lived to a good old age, rearing a large family, and winning the respect and con- fidence of all who knew him. Moses was married to Miss Caroline A. Little, daughter of J. M. Little, an old settler from Kentucky. Nine children have been born to them, five boys and four girls. Their names are Hattie B., Mary C., James L., Joseph A., John P., George B., Edwin S., Stella E. and Lela M. Mary C. married George M. Hawkins. They have two children. James L. married Miss Fenton. They have one child. Joseph A. married Lou Ann Wade. They have one child. Hattie and Mary C. died in their 23d year. In faith Mr. Wilhite is a Baptist. He is a member of the Bethlehem congregation. He served in the Mexican war, under Gen. Doniphan. His farm consists of 295 acres, finely improved and in a high state of cultivation. The soil is well adapted to the

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HISTORY OF BOONE COUNTY.

cultivation of blue grass, and his pastures are the best in that sec- tion of the country. His land produces excellent wheat and corn. Mr. Wilhite has made farming a success, and takes great interest in his farm and stock.

SMITH WILHITE.

The subject of this sketch was born in Kentucky, December 21st, 1822. He is the son of Joel Wilhite, a native of Culpepper county, Virginia. In 1837 Joel Wilhite emigrated to Missouri, and settled in Osage county, but did not remain there but one season. Coming to Boone county in 1838 he settled for the remainder of his life on a farm near New Providence church. His children were educated at the common schools of the country. The subject of this sketch married Rebecca Grant, daughter of Elijah Grant, of Boone county. Eleven children were born to them, three of whom died in infancy. The living are Mary E., Robert H., Boyle G., Porter C., Myra B., Nannie A., Minnie M. and Sallie P. Mary E. married George M. Hawkins. They have had two children. Boyle G. married Laura Hawkins. Mr. Wilhite has a fine farm of 250 acres which was but partially improved when he bought it. It is now one of the best farms in that region of country. He has excellent blue grass and is well-fixed for raising and handling stock. Mr. Wilhite was a soldier in the Mexican war under Col. Eastman. He is a member of the Baptist church at New Providence. He takes a great interest in education, and has been an active agent in building up one of the finest district schools in the county.

WILLIAM WINGO.

The subject of this sketch was born in South Carolina, May 16th, 1822. He is the son of Thomas Wingo, born in Virginia, but raised in Sonth Carolina. William, the father of Thomas Wingo, was a. soldier of the revolution. The family are of Dutch ancestry. Mr. Wingo came to Missouri with his father in 1835, being then in his thirteenth year. They settled in Boone county on the place now occupied by William. The elder Wingo was a member of the regular Baptist church. William. Wingo was married to Miss Clarence D. Kelly, daughter of James Kelly. By this marriage they had three children, one son and two daughters. Mrs. Wingo dying in 1857, he married Miss Caroline Corlew, daughter of John Corlew. They had no children by this marriage. During the war Mr. Wingo spent eight months in the Confederate service. He is a farmer, but

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in early life taught school. His children are all married and settled · in life, leaving him and his wife alone in the old home: His daughter, David Ella, married Marion M. Rowland. They had two children by this marriage. Mr. Rowland having died, she married Albert Wells, of Montana. They have by this marriage three children. James T. Wingo married Malinda Winn. They have four children. Henrietta married James D. Fay, now of Columbia. They have four children.

CHAPTER XXII.

ROCKY FORK TOWNSHIP.

Position and Description - Early History, First Settlers, etc. - Miscellaneous - Incidents of the Civil War -The Fight at Mt. Zion and near Hallsville - Capture and Escape of John Roberts -Capture of Maj. Evans's Shotguns - Lt. Hopkins's Fight with Bush- whackers - Fatal Attempt to Arrest John West, a Noted Bushwhacker - Noted Trage- dies - Killing of Peter Evans by Dr. Keene - Killing of Dr. Keene by Dr. Austin - Churches of Rocky Fork Township: Red Top, Pleasant Grove, Friendship, Gilead, Mt. Zion, Hickory Grove- Hallsville - Masonic Lodge -Lebanon - Biographies of Old Settlers and Prominent Citizens of Rocky Fork Township.

POSITION AND DESCRIPTION.

The boundaries of Rocky Fork township are as follows : Beginning at the northeast corner of section two, township fifty, rauge eleven, thence south along the section line to the southeast corner of section thirty-five, same township and range; thence east to the middle of Cedar creek ; thence down said creek until where the section line be- tween sections three and ten, township forty-nine, range eleven, crosses ; thence west to the southwest corner of section one, township forty- nine, range thirteen ; thence north to the northwest corner of section one, township fifty, range thirteen ; thence east to the place of begin- ning. Formerly the township was the extreme northeast township of the county. When first laid out, in May, 1821, its northern boundary was the same as that of the county. The creation of Bourbon town- ship reduced it to its present size and position.

Rocky Fork contains a great deal of broken and rolling country, and much unproductive soil ; but it also has within its borders some farms as fine and fertile as any in the county. There are much very valuable timber and stone. . The Cedar, the Hinkson, Silver Fork and

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HISTORY OF BOONE COUNTY.

the Rocky Fork of Perche (from which stream the township was named) supply plenty of water. There is an abundance of coal in the southern part of the township.

EARLY HISTORY.

An unauthenticated story is current to the effect that as far back as in 1815 an old abandoned cabin was seen in the southwestern part of this township by those early pioneers who visited the country at that day. No one knew who had built this cabin ; but one theory was that the French explorers had put it up, perhaps in 1775. A few persons, fond of wild conjectures, and not well informed in the premises, be- lieved it to have been at one time the home or rendezvous of John A. Murrell, the great Western land pirate, notwithstanding the fact that it is uncertain that Murrell was ever in Missouri.

In 1816 there came to what is now Rocky Fork towhship Willis, Absalom, John and William Winn, and settled in township fifty, range twelve. William, John and Charles Winn still live in the same neigh- borhood. The Winns were from Kentucky. Eph. and Hibert Brink came from Madison county, Ky., and settled in Boone county in 1815. Ephraim Brink settled on the farm now owned by J. G. Roberts, on section fifteen, township fifty, range twelve, east of Red Top church ; Hibert located near where old Middletown stood; Hibert was a blacksmith and farmer ; he now lives in Sturgeon, past eighty years of age.

Thos. McBride, Sr., came from Madison county, Kentucky, to this county in 1816. He had three sons, who had nearly attained manhood when they came to the new country. They were named Jacob, James and Thomas, Old Thomas McBride was the first preacher in Rocky Fork, ·and. was ån earnest, zealous one, whose text-book was the Bible alone. Of his sons Jacob was a farmer and a justice of the peace for many years : James was a physician ; Thomas, Jr., was a school teacher. Altogether the McBrides were men of more than average learning and ability. The father and James and Thomas removed to Oregon in an early day, and there the old gentleman lived to see one of his grand- sons governor of the State and a congressman. Jacob McBride died in this township, and the family resides in the county, except one member, a daughter, who removed to Oregon.

Samuel Caldwell came to the township with the McBrides and mar- ried a daughter of Thomas, Sr. Caldwell served as constable of the township for fifteen years. He settled on section nine, township fifty,

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range twelve, where John Philips now resides, and died in 1881, at an advanced age.

Nathan Roberts came to the township in 1816, settling on the farm near Red Top church. He gave the land to the church and cemetery. Mr. Roberts had first settled in Madison county, Kentucky, on a tract of land which afterwards proved to belong to Green Clay. After losing his farm in Kentucky he came to Howard county, Missouri, and located near where Ashland church now is, on what afterwards was found to be a New Madrid claim. He again gave up his homestead and crossed over to Boone, where he located on the well-known farm near Red Top. Here he was permitted to rest in peace, there being no prior titles to the land to disquiet him. Mr. Roberts's family con- sisted of five sons and three daughters. The sons were Thomas, John, Richard T., James and David B., all of whom settled in the neighbor- hood. Thos. Roberts died in a few years after the last settlement and was the first white person buried in Red Top churchyard. He left a widow and one daughter; the latter became the wife of A. M. Roberts. The other sons were farmers. Richard married the widow of Thomas. He was a minister of the gospel, and has done much good in the community, both by precept and example. James and David are still living and have families. Wm. Roberts, a brother of Nathan, came to Missouri about the same time. He was a preacher. He brought up a large family of sons and daughters and lived to be an old man, dying amidst troops of friends.

Soon after the first Roberts settlement, there came from the same part of Kentucky (Madison county ) William M., John M., Larry and Louis Roberts. All of these lived to be aged men except Larry. He lived near the present site of Harrisburg, in Perche township. These men raised large families, whose descendants are scattered over the United States.

W. Houston came from Kentucky in 1818, and settled on the farm now owned by A. B. Haggard. He was a hatter, and also an excel- lent Christian citizen. He is the father of Cicero Houston, of this township. Elder James Williams, Sr., came to the township from Kentucky in 1817, and settled and lived here until his death, in 1863. He was a preacher and a leading worker in the Christian church.

Old Zadok Riggs had three sons, viz. : Zadok, Silas, and Samuel Riggs, who came to Rocky Fork from Kentucky in 1816, living to be old men. Silas Riggs was a justice of the peace for twenty years, and one of the most prominent citizens of the county. He was the father

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of James Riggs, of Randolph county. Samuel Riggs was bitten by a rabid wolf while sleeping in a cave on Perche creek, in 1817. He im- mediately returned to Kentucky for a madstone, which he applied with success, and which he brought back with him to Missouri. Joseph Fretwell now has this madstone.

Absalom Hicks emigrated from Kentucky to this township in 1816, and settled on the farm where Mrs. O. Reed now lives, near Middle- . town. He was the father of Mattison, Willis, and Young E. Hicks. The latter was a noted Santa Fe trader, and freighted many a train across the plains to New Mexico, loaded with dry goods and other merchandise. He was for a time in partnership with Amos Marney, another of the first settlers of the township. Young Hicks was the father of Hon. Absalom Hicks, who represented this county in the Legislature in 1852. Mattison was a justice of the peace for many years. Upon the breaking out of the civil war he became " disloyal," and died while a Federal prisoner at St. Louis.

Joseph Brown, father of the Joe Brown, of near Brown's Station, came to the township in 1817, and settled the farm where Mrs. G. Robinson now lives.

James Turner came from Kentucky in 1817, and located on a farm near Hallsville. He brought up a large family. His sons were Jesse, Tom and Enoch. Thomas Turner was the father of Mordecai, who lives east of Hallsville.

Isaac Davis came from Christian county, Kentucky, to this part of Missouri in 1818, and settled two miles east of Hallsville. His sons were James, Henry,, Isaac, Benjamin, John and Joseph. One of Isaac's sons, Joseph, now lives on the old Davis homestead.

Hugh French removed from Tennessee to Boone county in 1820, settling in Rocky Fork township, on the farm now owned by his son John. He was also the father of S. L. French and Mrs. Armstrong, and grandfather of Hugh H. Hall, the present deputy county clerk. Mr. French died in the year 1845, full of years and honors, and a prominent member of the Christian church.

Nathan Terry came to the township from Kentucky in 1818. Peter Stice came in about the same time and settled on the farm where John C. Eubanks now resides. In 1823 Stice sold out to Am- brose Hulen, who lived on the farm till his death, raising a large family. He was a prominent member of the Christian church at Red Top, and a well-known citizen. Mr. Hulen was a soldier in the war of 1812, and was at Dudley's defeat on the River Raisin, in Michigan,

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where he was taken prisoner by the Indian allies of the British. He was redeemed from the Indians by a kind friend, who traded a pony for him.

One of the first settlers of this township was Rev. Elias Newman. He was a Baptist minister. Sometimes he was connected with the organization of Mt. Tabor church, near where Mt. Zion now is. Rev. Newman had three sons, James, Elias W. and Thomas. The latter was murdered during the civil war, while lying sick at the house of his father-in-law, a Mr. Price. It is reported that the killing was done by a Federal command from Mexico, under Maj. Mitchen (or Mitchell ), and that the killing was simply an atrocity. It is said that Mitchell was not a " rebel," but a peaceable, inoffensive citizen. The militia came to the house and surrounded it, and, as reported, some of them went in and shot Mr. Newman until he was dead, while his wife and family were begging for his life.

In the neighborhood of Hickory Grove, among the first settlers were B. A. Younger, who was a Methodist minister and a school teacher, and Charles Helms, who came from Kentucky in an early day. He had been a soldier of the war of 1812, and had endured many privations while in the service. He had been taken prisoner by the Indians, with all that such experience implied at that day, and it implied a great deal of suffering and torture then, as now. Mr. Helms had a remarkable memory, and could repeat many chapters of the Bible by rote. He was a member of the Christian church and belonged to the Masonic order His death occurred but a few years since. He prepared his own funeral sermon, and composed the hymn which was sung at his grave. He also prepared the coffin in which he was buried, and procured his own tombstones.

Other early settlers were J. D. Bratton, Dr. Points, Allen Rouse, Alfred Rouse, Mr. Carter, Wm. Thornton, Rolly and Calvin Asbury and Abraham Waldon. Barney Dickerson was here as early as 1817. He lived on a farm east of Hallsville, He is still living, but is old and blind. A man named kept a store on the farm where Mrs. Rutledge now lives. Wm. Dunn came from Kentucky in 1820 and settled east of Hallsville ; he died but a few years ago. Reuben Pollard, also a Kentuckian, came in 1820.

Doctors McMillan and James McBride were the first practicing phy- sicians in the township.

It is stated that the first brick house in Rocky Fork was built by Elijah Winn.

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MISCELLANEOUS.

About twenty years since Mr. Wm. Watts was accidently shot and killed. The incident happened in the eastern part of this township. He and another man named Watkins were herding cattle, and while the two were carelessly handling a gun it was accidentally discharged and Watts was killed.

Robert Rowland, a child four or five years old, was drowned before the war, by falling into a well. Wm. Rowland was killed at Centralia. at the time of the massacre. (See account. )

Mrs. Conley, a widow lady, about fifty years of age, committed sui- cide in June, 1882 .. She had been sick for some time, and her mind had become much impaired. While the other members of the family were outside of the house she went to the smoke-house and hung her- self.

NOTE. - In order to get this book within a reasonable compass" as to size, many unim- portant incidents in the history of this township have been omitted. - PUBLISHERS.

INCIDENTS OF THE CIVIL WAR.

The skirmish near Hallsville, and the battle at Mt. Zion church, in the latter part of December, 1861, are fully described in the general history. The incident of the killing of a Federal soldier by the bush- whackers, the soldier having been taken from a stage coach, is also narrated elsewhere.

CAPTURE AND ESCAPE OF JOHN ROBERTS.

During the war John Roberts, a Confederate, was taken prisoner by a detachment of Merrill's Horse. When he and his captors were near Mr. Jennings's residence, Roberts attempted to escape. The Fed- erals fired upon him and brought him down and left him on the ground for dead. He recovered sufficiently to be able to make his way to the house of Mr. Jennings, where he was cared for until he was able to make his way to his own home. Mr. Roberts now lives in Texas.

CAPTURE OF MAJ. FRANK EVANS'S SHOT-GUNS BY BUSHWHACKERS.

About the 20th of June, 1864, an escort sent out from Columbia, consisting of Maj. Frank D. Evans, of the Sixty-first E. M. M., and five men of Company A, Ninth M. S. M., were returning from Cen- tralia in charge of fifty double-barrelled shot-guns and a quantity of

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ammunition, intended to be placed in the hands of the citizens of Co- lumbia for the purpose of defending the town in any emergency of danger. The guns and ammunition were in a wagon, a negro driving. About one-fourth of a mile south of the house of John Lampton, between the mouth of a lane and a small pond, the escort was fired into by a party of bushwhackers concealed in the bushes. A soldier named George Conrad was struck by a ball in the right side, which passed into his lungs, causing him to fall from his horse. A second one, named Bird Adams, was struck by two buckshot in the lower part of the back, the shot passing internally. A third one was thrown from his horse, but managed to make his escape, with no other dam- age than a few bullet holes through his clothes. Three horses were severely wounded, two of which were abandoned. The wagon was now hurried forward as fast as the horses could carry it, Maj. Evans and the two remaining soldiers following in its rear. Five or six bushwhackers pursued, and a running fire was kept up between the parties, which, however, did no damage to either. After proceeding about three miles, the horses attached to the wagon gave out, and the escort was compelled to abandon it and come on to Columbia, the driver taking to the brush.

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History of Boone County, Missouri., Part 107

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