History of Boone County, Missouri., Part 58

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

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DR. JAMES S. LOCKRIDGE.

The subject of this sketch was born in Randolph County, Missouri, April 27, 1832. His father, William Lockridge, was a native of Rockbridge county, Virginia. His mother was a native of Augusta county, Virginia. Her maiden name was Ruth Davis. The elder Lockridge died when his son was but sixteen or seventeen years of age, leaving him the sole support of his mother and three sisters. He had but little time to attend school and grew to manhood without being scarcely able to write his name. His sisters having married, and his mother dying when he was about twenty-one, he commenced his education in real earnest. He attended the St. Louis Medical College and Jefferson College, Philadelphia, graduating from the latter institution in 1856, and from the St. Louis Medical College the year following. He came to Sturgeon in the spring of 1857, where he was married the following November to Elizabeth A., daughter of Thomas Prather and granddaughter of Mrs. Cowan, one of the oldest citizens of Boone county. They have one child living, R. Lee. Have two sons dead. William died at the age of fourteen, Willard at. the age of two and a half years. Dr. Lockridge built the first brick

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house ever erected in Sturgeon. He has an interest in the store conducted under the firm name of Goin & Lockridge. He has taken a lively interest in every enterprise calculated to promote the interests of the town in which he lives, and has lent a helping hand to every laudable undertaking which stood in need of such patronage. He is also liberal in his professional charges, especially so to the poor, and in this way has done a great deal of good of which the world knows little or nothing at all. The doctor and his wife are both members of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church.

F. W. MIDDLETON.

F. W. Middleton was born in Clinton county, Illinois, November 17, 1836, and lived there until 1876, when he removed to Sturgeon, Missouri. Before leaving Illinois he was engaged in the hay busi- ness. He was married, December 29, 1855, to Miss Edna, daughter of Lacy K. and Catherine Witcher, natives of Pennsylvania, but citi- zens of Illinois at the time of their daughter's marriage. They have five children, whose names are Finis E., Nelson Holt, George Leon- ard, Walter, and Bertie. Mr. Middleton served in the Union army during the late war, being a member of Company D, 89th Illinois infantry, which operated in Georgia, Alabama and Tennessee. He was in the battles of Perryville, Stone River, Chickamauga, Atlanta and Nashville. He is a member of the A. O. U. W., and had belonged to the Odd Fellows before coming to Sturgeon. There being no lodge at that place he withdrew from the order. Mr. Middleton and C. H. Taylor own and operate one of the Sturgeon mills. They also have a hay press in connection with their business which is a valuable acquisi- tion to the town.

WILLIAM J. MONTRIEF.

William J. Montrief, member of the firm of Montrief & Prather, livery, feed and sale stables, Sturgeon, Missouri, is a native of Frank- lin county, Virginia, where he was born, November 5th, 1839. He is the son of Isaac and Francis Montrief. His father was of French origin, his mother of Irish parentage. At the beginning of the war he joined Company C, Tenth Virginia Cavalry, Confederate army. In the last years of the war he served in Captain Wingfield's company. He was in the seven days battle near Richmond, and was at Sharps- burg, Fredericksburg, Chancellorsville, Gettysburg, and the siege of Petersburg in the fall of 1864; was taken prisoner and carried to Washington City in July, 1865, where he took the oath and was re-

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leased. He had two brothers in the regiment in which he served. He returned to his home in Franklin county, after being released from prison, a sound man, having gone through the entire war without re- ceiving a wound. He landed in Sturgeon, Missouri, in the winter of 1868, and settled on a farm southeast of town. In 1877, moved to town and has been a citizen of the place ever since. He was married, February 14th, 1870, to Miss Penelope, daughter of James Hendrick. They have five children : J. Virgil, I. Homer, William L., Lilburn H. and Everett B. Mr. and Mrs. Montrief are both members of the Christian church. He is also a member of the Knights of Honor. He is at this writing mayor of the city. He has also held the office of constable. Since becoming a citizen of Sturgeon, he has followed the livery business in partnership with Mr. Prather. He is a man of ex- cellent judgment and considerable culture, having received a fair edu- cation before entering the army. He is social, kind and accommodat- ing as a neighbor and highly esteemed by all who know him. He is a Democrat in politics, but was raised a Whig.

JOHN TAYLOR M'CAULEY.

Samuel McCauley, father of John Taylor, was a native of Ken- tucky, having been born and raised in Montgomery county of that State. He removed to Missouri in 1819, and settled about five miles east of Columbia. He was first engaged as an overseer for Asa Stone, for whom he labored until the breaking out of the Florida war, when he enlisted under Col. Dick Gentry, and was with that gallant officer when he received his death wound. He also served in the Mexican war, and was in the battle of Buena Vista. He also crossed the plains to Santa Fe several times. The subject of this sketch was born in Boone county, October 5, 1844. His mother's maiden name was Cynthia A. Lewis. He was raised on the farm, and in early manhood went into the milling business, afterwards was a tie and timber contractor. Was also in the livery business at Stur- geon. Served as justice of the peace for ten years. Was married, January 22, 1871, to Alice, daughter of John and Millie Peacher, of Boone county. Have three children living : Walter Scott, Daisy D., Robert Bruce. Mr. McCauley's grandfather, on his father's side, was a Scotchman and a soldier of the revolutionary war under General Washington. Mr. McCauley and wife are members of the Christian church. He is also a Mason. He was left an orphan at an early age, and had not only himself to educate and support, but the

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care of several younger members of the family resting alone upon his industry, fidelity and prudence.

JAMES M. M'COMAS, M. D.

Dr. James M. McComas, a prominent physician of Sturgeon, Mis- souri, was born at Newton, Kentucky, February 29, 1844. He is the son of C. L. and Clara McComas, the former a native of Virginia, the latter of Morgan county, Kentucky. His life, from early youth, has been an eventful one. His parents removed to the west when he was an infant, stopping first at Burlington, Iowa, moving next to Ne- braska, where they remained for a few years, thence to Illinois, where they both died, their deaths being within a short period of each other. Young McComas, being thus left an orphan, returned to his relatives in Kentucky, and remained a short time at Louisville and Covington, attending school. He next went to Philadelphia, and; at the early age of eleven years, embarked with his uncle on a voyage to South America, where he remained for a short time. Returning from the tropics, he spent the remainder of his youth in the States of Illinois, Iowa, Kentucky and Pennsylvania. Having no one to guide or coun- sel him, and being of an inquisitive temperament, and possessing, withal, an unusual amount of vitality, he naturally acquired a wan- dering disposition, and sought wider fields of observation than the immediate vicinity in which he was left a helpless orphan. While yet a mere youth, he attended a course of medicine at the Missouri medi- cal college, St. Louis, in the class of 1860 and 1861. He took one degree at the Pennsylvania medical college, Philadelphia, and two at the medical department of Central university, Louisville, Kentucky, where he graduated in 1875 with the degree of M. D. In 1880, he took the degree of M. D. at the Kentucky school of medicine, Louis- ville. Dr. McComas was married, September 26, 1867, to Miss Mag- gie, daughter of John and Catherine Rochford, large landholders of Sturgeon, Missouri. The Doctor has two children : Arthur Rochford and Edwin Gaillard. He belongs to no church. He is a member of the Masonic order. He is of Scotch-Irish origin. He has a large medical library, consisting of standard works and a large collection of recent publications by the most eminent authors of the profes- sion. Notwithstanding the vast amount of medical literature con- stantly issuing from the press, he is a liberal purchaser of all that possess the least merit, and by this means he keeps fully abreast with all the recent discoveries made, and reported by the most

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eminent men in the profession. He believes in progress, and cher- ishes every new idea, and welcomes every new discovery calculated to benefit the race by alleviating human suffering. In addition to his medical library, he has a fine collection of literary works, in- cluding a full set of the American Cyclopedia. He has also a large electric battery of recent and most approved construction, with a fine assortment of electric attachments and appliances for use in his practice. He has been at Sturgeon for fifteen years, and has built up a splendid practice. He is a member of the Linton medi- cal association, also of the State association. He is a man of broad, liberal views, and a genial, courteous, entertaining gentle- man. Mrs. McComas is a member of the Catholic church.

EMERSON D. M'ALLISTER

Was born in Warren, Huntingdon county, Indiana, January 31, 1852. He is the son of George and Rebecca McAllister. His father was born near Zanesville, Ohio, and his mother was born and reared in the State of Indiana. Besides Emerson, there were born four other children - William A., James Monroe, Alonzo and Lavina-of whom William A. only is now living, and is a leading physician in Centralia. Emer- son lived with his parents in Warren, Indiana, until he was fifteen years old. In 1867 his father moved to Boone county and settled on a farm about four and a half miles southeast of Sturgeon, where Em- erson remained, performing the usual duties required of farmers' boys for about three years and a half. He then went to Centralia and com- menced learning the art of telegraphy under the supervision of the night operator. Here he remained five months, when he was placed in charge of the office at Cunningham, in Chariton county. From here he went to Ottumwa, Iowa ; then successively to St. Peters, Mont- gomery, Martinsburg, Carrollton, St. Charles and New Florence, Mis- souri. On account of his wife's health, he next moved to Hillsboro, Texas, and remained a short time ; from Texas he removed to Stur- geon, where he has for several months past very efficiently discharged the arduous duties of agent and operator. He has been engaged as agent and operator at various points, altogether, for a period of about twelve years. His education was acquired at the schools of Warren, in which he made very satisfactory progress up to the period of his leaving ; but owing to poor health he was prevented from taking as advanced a course as he desired, until he arrived at an age when he felt it incumbent upon him to wage his own part in the actual battle of life.

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On December 29, 1880, he was married to Miss Ava J. Hunter, daugh- ter of S. P. and Esther (Sherman) Hunter. Mrs. McAllister is a na- tive of Morrison, Gasconade county, this State. They have one child, named Elmer. In connection with Mrs. McAllister there is a bit of romantic history to which a brief allusion will here be made, and which also concerns some of the early pioneers of Boone county. Miss Hun- ter's mother, prior to her marriage, was a Heath. She had a brother named Robert. In 1822 Robert Heath's father emigrated from Boone county, taking with him a colony consisting of mechanics, artisans, etc., and settled upon a tract of land five leagues square, then within the borders of old Mexico, but now just within the borders of New Mexico. In consideration of establishing the colony upon it, this tract was deeded to Mr. Heath by a physician to the emperor, to whom it had been granted by royal authority for his great skill and learning. The tract is known as the Brazito claim. Owing to the turbulent times which arose, the colony was broken up, and returned to Missouri, where, not long after, Mr. Heath died. The heirs, excepting Robert Heath, knew nothing of their claim to this estate till a few years ago, when it leaked out through Robert's efforts to obtain. confirmation of the title and secure the entire property himself. The required evi- dence has been gradually collected for the past few years, and the claim of the rightful heirs to their just proportion, it is expected, will soon be established. Mrs. McAllister's mother's share will be one-eighth in this large estate.

Mr. McAllister is a member of the Masonic lodge at Sturgeon, and his wife is a member of the Methodist Episcopal church.

DUNCAN M'DONALD.

Duncan McDonald, wagon-maker and blacksmith, Sturgeon, Mis- souri, is a native of Stormount county, Canada, but of Scotch parent- age. He is the son of Alexander and Catharine (nee McIntosh) McDonald. His mother was a first cousin of the Confederate general, James McIntosh, killed at Pea Ridge. The subject of this sketch was born and raised near the line between Franklin county, New York, and Canada, in the neighborhood of the Wheeler family, and knew the vice-president very well. Mr. McDonald was born February 4, 1836, and lived in his native county until he was sixteen years old. He was brought up on the farm, but after reaching manhood learned the trade of a wagon-maker and blacksmith. Leaving Canada, he went first to Iowa, where he remained one year, coming from that

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state direct to Sturgeon, where he has remained ever since, working continuously at his trade. He was married in the fall of 1859, to Miss Elizabeth R., daughter of James R. Burks. They have six chil- dren living, and five dead. The names of the living are Samuel Lockridge, Catharine Lee, Martha Ellen, Duncan Bruce, Ada Eveline, and John Archibald. Mr. McDonald is a member of the Catholic church. He has been a member of the city council, and also of the school board. Mrs. McDonald is a member of the Methodist church.

J. W. NOE.

J. W. Noe, farmer, was born in Fayette county, Kentucky, No- vember 20, 1811. He is the son of George and Catharine (Smith) Noe. His father was a native of Kentucky. Mrs. Noe was a native of Virginia. The subject of this sketch grew to manhood in Ken- tucky. His grandfather built the first house ever erected in Fayette county. His parents lived to a very old age. Mr. Noe was married, April 3, 1833, to Matilda S., daughter of Judge A. P. Howe, of Nicholas county, Kentucky. They have eleven children living, three of whom reside in California. The names of ten of the living are James, Anion, Mary, George, Oscar, Newton, Issachar, Nattie, Boaz and Amanda. Julia, the first-born, is dead. Oscar is a physician and is now practicing his profession in Illinois. George graduated in law at the University of California, and is at present conducting a large school in that State. Mr. and Mrs. Noe are both members of the Christian church. Most of their children are also members of that church. Two of their sons are members of the order of United Workmen. Mr. Noe commenced business at an early age as a clerk in a store on the line of the Wabash and Erie canal, in Indiana. He also contracted to build four sections of the canal, and the work proved a financial success. This was in Green county. He also ran a store in connection with his other business. He is of French and English origin.

WILLIAM D. OLIVER.

William D. Oliver was born in Casey county, Kentucky, January 16, 1836. His parents, Isaac and Mary (Downey) Oliver, were natives of North Carolina, who first emigrated to Kentucky, where the subject of this sketch was born, and then, in 1838, to Boone county, Missouri, settling nine miles northwest of Columbia, where the elder Oliver died, August 16, 1871. The subject of this sketch was edu-

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cated at the common schools of the neighborhood. He was brought up on the farm, and has followed agricultural pursuits, the stone mason's trade, and teaching ever since attaining his majority. Farming has been his principal occupation. He has traveled as an adventurer and a soldier, over most of the States of the Union. He was married, July 17, 1871, to a daughter of Aaron and Margaret Pierce. They have three children, Mary Margaret, William Isaac, and James Aaron. Mr. Oliver and his wife are both members of the Christian church. Mr. Oliver served during the last year of the war under Gen. Sherman. Mrs. Oliver was a widow previous to their marriage. Her first hus- band was Benjamin Berry. There were two sons by this marriage, Walter W. and Benjamin L.

JOEL PALMER, DECEASED.

Joel Palmer, was one among the most enterprising farmers and stock raisers of Boone county. He was born in Clark county, Kentucky, in 1811, but removed in early life to Bourbon county, where he remained until his marriage, in 1831, to Miss Milly Fretwell of that county. He came to Missouri in 1833. He was the son of James and Elizabeth (Foster) Palmer. Landed in Boone county, Missouri, with a wagon and team and eight hundred dollars, and died worth about sixty thou- sand. He first settled about three miles south of Sturgeon, where he lived from 1833 to 1865. After selling his farm he moved several times, finally settling down with his son, Lancelot, where he died October 29, 1879. He left two children, Lancelot and Mary Susan Stewart. His first wife having died, he was married the second time in his old age. Lancelot Palmer was born in Boone county, three miles south of Sturgeon, at the old Palmer homestead, May 10, 1834. He was raised in Boone county where he continued to reside until 1881, when he removed to Audrain, about one-half mile north of Stur- geon, where he now lives. He is largely engaged in farming and stock raising, which he has followed all his life. Was married, June 2, 1867, to Martha Ann Cook, a native of Boone county, daughter of Robert and Ann Eliza Cook. The parents of Mrs. Palmer were for- merly of Kentucky. They have four living children. Letha Ann, Robert Lee, James and Charles. Mr. and Mrs. Palmer are not members of any church. He belongs to no secret orders. Took no part in the late civil war. He owns about two thousand acres of land, one-half in Boone, the remainder in Audrain county.

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HISTORY OF BOONE COUNTY.

CHARLES H. PRATHER.

Charles H. Prather, of the livery firm of Montrief & Prather, Stur- geon, Missouri, was born in Madison county, Kentucky, October 19, 1829. He is the son of Thomas and Polly (Cowan) Prather. The elder Prather was born and raised in Kentucky. Mrs. Prather was born in Virginia. They moved to Boone county, Missouri, about the year 1830, and settled on a farm four miles north of Columbia, where Mr. Prather spent the remainder of his life, dying in 1848. The sub- ject of this sketch was two years old when his parents came to Boone county. He was reared on a farm and followed agricultural pursuits until he engaged in the livery business two years ago. He lived in Randolph seven years, and in Audrain twelve years, his home being near Sturgeon. For the last two years Mr. Prather has been engaged in the livery business with Montrief. Was married October 19, 1849, to Eliza J., daughter of Joseph Brown, of Boone county. The fol- lowing children born of this marriage, are now living : Mary Ellen, Joseph, John, and Ida May. The first wife having died February 23, 1880, Mr. Prather married Miss Said, daughter of William Barnett. Served in Capt. Davenport's company, Confederate army, during the last year of the war. Was in several minor engagements while en route southward. He is a member of the Christian church. His wife is a Methodist. Mr. Prather is a member of the Knights of Honor, also of the Home Mutual Association. In addition to the livery business, Mr. Prather is largely interested in the cattle trade in partnership with his brother-in-law.

J. M. PROCTOR.

J. M. Proctor, one of the most prominent and successful business men in his section of country, was born in Macon county, Missouri, February 12th, 1842. He first came to Boone county in 1849, re- maining about four years, during which time he was engaged in farm- ing out in the " white oaks." Returning to Bloomington, Macon county, he learned the tinner's trade. He remained at Bloomington until 1860, when he removed to Mexico, Missouri, where he remained during the war, except for a few weeks spent in campaigning with Col. Porter ; was in the fight at Monroe Station, the first battle of the war fought on Missouri soil. He was also at Moore's Mill and Florida. Mr. Proctor is the son of Dr. William H. and Sophronia (nee Maughs ) Proctor. His mother is a sister of Dr. J. M. B. Maughs,

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of St. Louis, and Mordecai Maughs, of Callaway county. He was married January 20th, 1864, to Miss Ella, daughter of William White, a Methodist minister, of Mexico. They have five children : Finnie, Laura Belle, Willie Patton, John Henry and Edna Clay. After his marriage he removed to Sturgeon, where he has been actively engaged in farming and trading ever since. He is a self-made man, having had no advantages save those he created for himself. He went to school in the woods, the school-house being made of unhewn timber, the fire- place occupying an entire end of the rude cabin. When he returned to Bloomington, he went one term to the High School, finishing his education while learning his trade. After working all day he usually spent about half the night studying. He labored after working hours to procure money to buy books. He read law for two years and was anxious to enter upon the duties of that profession but had not the means to do so. Mr. and Mrs. Proctor, and all their children except one, are members of the Methodist Church South. He was a candi- date before the Democratic convention for the State Senate in 1880, but was beaten by Hon. James L. Stephens, of Columbia. He is of Scotch origin, on his father's side. His mother was of French ex- traction. He has accumulated considerable property, and is doing a profitable business. He is one of the largest dealers in railroad ties in the State. He is true to his convictions, fair in his dealings, and earnest and sincere in the discharge of duty. Mr. Proctor was nomi- nated at the Democratic primaries in August, 1882, as a candidate for representative, defeating a strong competitor, Capt. J. W. Kneisley, in every voting precinct in the county but one.

WILLIAM PROWELL.

William Prowell, farmer and stock raiser, was born in Boone county, Missouri, August 8th, 1847. His father Robert Prowell, was born in Adair county, Kentucky, as may be learned from his biography which appears elsewhere in this volume. William grew to manhood on his father's farm. He received a fair education at the district schools and State University and followed teaching in the pub- lic schools of this county for about five years. He was married, March 15th, 1870, to Mary E., daughter of Eli and Nancy Lyon, of Boone county. They have three children, all living : Lucy P., Robert E. and Carrie L. Mr. Prowell and his wife are both members of the Baptist church. He is also a member of the Order of United Work- men, at Sturgeon, and a notary public. He runs a blacksmith shop

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in connection with his farm, also keeps a supply of staple groceries for his farm hands. He is a well-to-do, prosperous farmer, owning some 320 acres of good land and about 600 acres of white oak lands, besides an interest in other real estate. He uses all available machin- ery and keeps fully abreast with the age in which he lives. Though still a young man, he has by his individual industry and enterprise accumulated nearly all he possesses, having received only a bare start in the world from his own and his wife's parents.

JOSEPH B. ROBINSON.

Joseph B. Robinson, farmer and blacksmith, was born in Albemarle county, Virginia, October 10th, 1832. His father, Tandy B., was a native of Virginia, where he was reared to manhood and married Elizabeth Barnes, also a native Virginian. He removed to Missouri in the fall of 1834, and settled first in Howard county, removing to Boone in 1838, where he had previously entered the farm upon which his son, Joseph, now resides. He died January 26th, 1874, and his wife October 15th, 1876. The subject of this sketch has lived in Boone county continuously ever since he was six years old, except two years spent in Illinois, during the late civil war. He worked ten years at his trade, but has made farming the chief occupation of his life. Was married May 14th, 1872, to Mary L., daughter of Joseph L. Caldwell, of Boone county, formerly of Adair county, Kentucky, where Mrs. Robinson was born. They have two children, Edward and Garl. He has an excellent farm of 300 acres. He is a member of the order of A. O. U. W.

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History of Boone County, Missouri., Part 58

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