History of Boone County, Missouri., Part 76

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

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HISTORY OF BOONE COUNTY.

of 1859 Mr. Philips moved his family to Texas, but only stayed a year, when he once more turned his face toward Missouri. He purchased his father's old homestead, and has lived upon it until the present. Mr. Philips is one of Boone's earliest-born children, and has lived to see some wonderful changes in the affairs of his native county. His farm contains 240 acres of good land, well improved. He is a Mason, and his wife and daughter are members of the Christian church.

JAMES WILLIAM PHILLIPS.

Augustine Phillips, the father of James W., was born in Boone county, May 1st, 1823. He was the son of Hiram and Elizabeth Phillips, both natives of Kentucky, but among the earliest settlers of this county. Augustine Phillips died February 21st, 1876, and is buried at the old Phillips burying ground, in Columbia township. His widow, Mary Ann ( McQuitty ) Phillips, is still living on the home farm with her oldest son, James W. She was born July 31st, 1825, She is the daughter of George W. and Elizabeth McQuitty, and was born in Boone county. Her father died about nine years ago, and is buried at Walnut Grove church, near Rocheport. Mrs. McQuitty is still living on her farm, six miles north of Rocheport, at the age of seventy-four, being still in excellent health and able to dispense with her glasses in reading or in executing the most difficult needlework. James W. Phillips, the subject of this sketch, is the oldest one living of a family of four children. Elizabeth F. was born January 10th, 1846, and died July 13th, 1864. She is buried in the old Phillips burying ground. James William was born April 2d, 1849. He has lived all his life on the farm where he was born, except two years spent in Henry county, Missouri. Both his brothers are residents of Boone county. John H. was born January 1st, 1855. He married Laura C. Grey. They have two children, Nanny Maud and Minnie May. Jasper A., the youngest of the brothers, was born February 20th, 1857. He was married March 5th, 1876, to Ellen Singleton. They have three children : Virgil, Augustine, Albert Hiram and Ruth. James W. Phillips was married February 26th, 1870, to Miss Jennie Hart. But one child was born of this marriage, Mary C., who died in infancy. Mrs. Phillips lived but three years after their marriage. Mr. Phillips was married April 13th, 1876, to Miss Rebecca Edwards, of Montrose, Henry county, Missouri. They have three children : George Augustine, William Edwards and Lillie Bell. Mr. Phillips is an active, enterprising farmer and an excel-

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HISTORY OF BOONE COUNTY.

lent . citizen. He is a member of the Grange and Masonic orders. Both himself and wife are members of the Christian church.

PHILIP PRATHER.

Philip Prather, son of Thomas and Mary (Cowan) Prather, was born May 3d, 1834, in Boone county, Missouri. He was raised on his father's farm, now occupied by his brother, James Prather, and was educated at the "Old Bear Creek school house," under the instructions of Judge J. A. Boulton. He was married, December 25th, 1856, to Miss Georgie A., daughter of Maj. James B. and Cyn- thia ( Riley ) Nichols. The father-in-law of Mr. Prather was no ordi- nary man, and deserves more than a passing notice. He was the son of George and Rebecca (Davis) Nichols, and was born in Montgom- ery county, Kentucky, September 10th, 1796. Came to Boone county, Missouri, in the fall of 1824, settling on the W. C. Robnett farm, on the Two-mile prairie. In. 1826 he removed to Columbia. In 1836 he bought the farm where W. H. Robnett lived, finally moving to the William Orear place, five miles north of Columbia, where he remained until the death of his wife in 1867. He was mar- ried, in 1818, to Miss Cynthia, daughter of John Riley, of Clark county, Kentucky. They had ten children, of whom eight are now living. John died in California. Mary Osborne, wife of George Osborne, deceased, - who died in the Sandwich Islands, -came back to Missouri and married Dr. John T. Bailey, of Fayette. She is also dead. The living are J. A. Nichols, of Audrain county ; Huldah, wife of R. V. Bailey, deceased, Susan Reed, wife of Frederic Reed, of Columbia, Elizabeth Orear, wife of Joseph B. Orear, of Audrain county ; Caroline, wife of Henry Brown, deceased, of Boone county ; Fannie, wife of John Crump, of Fayette; Georgie Ann, wife of Philip Prather, of Boone county ; Sarah R., wife of Francis M. Grant, of Columbia. Mr. Nichols was a Master Mason. The subject of this sketch has had four children, one son and three daughters. Lula, born February 21st, 1858, now the wife of B. J. Brown ; Fannie F., born June 13th, 1862 ; Katie B., born October 3d, 1864, died August 14th, 1866 ; Frank Grant, January 24th, 1868. Mr. Prather has always followed farming, and now owns 160 acres of excellent land, situated on the Columbia and Blackfoot rock road. He moved to this place in 1857. The farm is well timbered and watered, and by the energy and industry of Mr. Prather it has been well improved and made as

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HISTORY OF BOONE COUNTY.

productive as possible. There is an excellent coal mine on the land, the vein of which averages nearly three feet in thickness. Mr. Pra- ther has taken out about three thousand bushels of coal annually since the mine was opened. Mr. and Mrs. Prather, and their daugh- ter, Miss Fannie F., are members of the Christian church at Oakland

SAMUEL HAYS PRATHER.

Samuel Hays Prather is the son of Thomas and Mary Elizabeth (Cowan) Prather. He was born in Pulaski county, Kentucky, March 15th, 1824, and came to Callaway county, Missouri, with his parents in 1832. The year following, they moved to Boone county and settled on the farm now owned by William J. Brown, four and one-half miles north of Columbia. They lived on this place one year, when they purchased a farm four miles north of Columbia, on the gravel road, which is now owned and occupied by James C. Prather. The subject of this sketch was educated at the public schools, princi- pally at the Bear Creek school house, under the instructions of Jesse A. Boulton. Mr. Prather was married, April 15th, 1844, to Miss Mary J., daughter of William and Elizabeth (Johnson) Ritchey, natives of Scott county, Kentucky. By this union they have had seven children, four sons and three daughters : William T., born May 20th, 1845, died March 25th, 1857 ; Mary E., born October 30th, 1848, died March 31st, 1879; Catherine R., born May 26th, 1851 ; James S., born June 27th, 1854, died in infancy ; Margaret S., born August 16th, 1856 ; Edward, born December 3d, 1859 ; Charles C., born February 27th, 1863. Mr. Prather bought the farm where he now lives in. the spring of 1847. When he took possession, there were but fifteen acres of cleared land and no other improvements. He first built a log cabin, in which he lived while preparing the land for cultivation. The farm consists of 207 acres of excellent land, now finely improved. The natural advantages of the place can hardly be surpassed. There are a number of excellent springs on the land and plenty of excellent timber. Mr. Prather, his wife and all their children are members of the Christian church. During the war he was drafted to serve in the State militia, but hired a substitute. Mr. Prather's father was one of the pioncer settlers of the county. He was the father of eight children, six sons and two daughters, all of whom are living except one son, John, who died about thirty years ago. Thomas Prather died April 26th, 1840, and is buried on the

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HISTORY OF BOONE COUNTY.

farm now owned by John M. Keen. Mrs. Prather died April 12th, 1861, and is buried by the side of her husband. Mr. and Mrs. Prather were both members of the Christian church.

MALCOLM G. QUINN.

Malcolm G. Quinn, assessor of Boone county, was born on Foster's prairie, Randolph county, Missouri, November 23d, 1844. He is the son of Thomas and Zarelda (Tomlinson) Quinn. He attended the common schools of Howard and Randolph, completing his studies at Mt. Pleasant College, Huntsville, Missouri, from which institution he graduated. In 1860 he assisted as one of the corps of engineers on the North Missouri railroad. In the spring of 1861 he enlisted as a private in the Confederate army. Thos. G. Lowry, of Randolph county, was his captain. In the regular organization Mr. Quinn was made a sergeant of Company K, 3d Missouri Infantry, 1st Missouri Brigade. He served through the whole of the war. At the battle of Port Gibson, Mississippi, he was shot through the right leg, and was afterwards wounded in the left leg. He participated in the follow- ing battles : Elkhorn, Corinth, Vicksburg, Nashville, Franklin and Mobile, surrendering at the last-named place in 1865, his commander being Col. Elijah P. Gates. After the war Mr. Quinn returned to Howard County, Missouri, and went into business at Fray's mill with James Robinson, keeping a store of general merchandise, under the firm name of Quinn & Robinson. He remained in this business about six months, then sold his interest and accepted a position under Maj. George C. Pratt in locating the Columbia and Jefferson City rock road, acting as leveler and division engineer. In 1869 he took charge of the various gravel roads in Boone county. He was afterwards ap- pointed county surveyor, serving in that capacity for two years. He was then elected for four years. Afterwards served as deputy collec- tor under J.C. Gillaspy. In 1878 he was elected assessor, and has 1 held the office ever since. Mr. Quinn is a member of the K. of P., and a director of the Boone County Fair. He was first married No- vember 23d, 1872, to Miss Caroline, daughter of Abram and Nancy (O'Neal) Turner. They had one son and one daughter. The first wife having died July 4th, 1876, he was again married May 3d, 1879, to Miss Katie Turner, sister of his deceased wife. Mr. Quinn owns- a nice farm of 220 acres, five miles east of Columbia, on the western border of the Two-mile prairie. Seventy acres of his land is in

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timber. He is quite pleasantly situated. In public and private life Mr. Quinn is highly esteemed by the people of his adopted county.

JOHN REED.

John Reed is the son of John and Jane ( McMurray ) Reed, and was born in Washington county, Kentucky, September 4th, 1805. In 1825 he came with his parents to Boone county, Missouri, and settled twelve miles northeast of Columbia on the old St. Charles road. He received his education in the country schools of Kentucky and Boone county, Missouri. In April, 1837 he freighted goods from Columbia to Santa Fe, New Mexico, when crossing the great plains was both a tiresome and dangerous trip. He returned in October, having been gone just seven months, a remarkably quick trip in those days. He dealt largely in mules for the next few years, and in 1839 made a trip South with quite a drove of those most excellent and often most treacherous work animals, returning in March, 1840.

He is a member of the Methodist church, and is the only mem- ber now living of that congregation when he joined. On the 15th of September, 1831, he married Miss Prudence, daughter of Thomas Waller of Union county, Kentucky. He and his faithful bride started immediately for their Missouri home, upon horseback, which they reached in safety. Men and women had stout hearts in those days, and dared all dangers and obstacles for those they loved and for honest success. Their union was blessed with thirteen children, four boys and nine girls. Thomas W., a dentist of Macon City, Mo. ; Mary J., married to Robert Bratton, of Callaway county, Mo. ; John W., a dentist at Mexico, Mo. ; Wm. F., a merchant of Mexico, and a landowner of Audrain county, Missouri ; Lucy A., died in 1862 ; Laura, married to Dr. Thomas Robinson, of Audrain county ; Lizzie J., married to Madison McMurray, a lawyer of Quincy, Ills. ; Martha, married to John Cravens, of Boone county ; James A., drummer for a Chicago house ; Margaret, married to a Mr. Davis, of Mexico, Mo. ; Ella P., married to Robert Chappell, of Audrain county, Mo. Mr. Reed's father died in 1849, and his mother in 1835. They are buried near the head of Cedar Creek, in a family burial ground. They had nine children, and our subject, John Reed, is the youngest and only one living. He is seventy-seven years of age, and retains his faculties splendidly. His memory, as to dates of important events, is perfectly reliable and trustworthy. He has lived continuously since 1825 within a mile and a half of his present home.

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HISTORY OF BOONE COUNTY.

P. H. ROBNETT.

The subject of this biography is one of the most prominent agricul- turalists in Boone county. He has, perhaps, not so much capital in- vested as some who are similarly engaged, but few, if any, get larger returns for the amount of capital and labor involved. His home place, situated eight miles east of the Columbia and Cedar creek gravel road, contains 900 acres of finely improved land. He is pre- pared for wintering from two to three hundred head of cattle. His barn is probably the best building of the kind in the county. It con- tains one hundred stalls, arranged either for horses or cattle. Besides this farm, Mr. Robnett owns in other parts of the county 700 acres of land, making in all 1,600 acres. He also has a fine sheep ranche near Pueblo, Colorado. He is largely interested in thoroughbred stock, especially short horn cattle and Cotswold sheep. P. H. Robnett is the son of David and Margaret Hunt Robnett, of Kentucky, and was born in Bourbon county, September 10th, 1824. He was brought to Missouri in 1825. Attended school at Little Cedar creek school house, finishing his studies at the Bonne Femme Academy. He was married January 24th, 1865, to Sallie, daughter of Jacob and Win- ifred Sims. They have five children, all girls. Mr. Robnett is a member of the Masonic order at Millersburg. He was director and paymaster of the Columbia and Cedar Creek rock road com- pany while the turnpike was in course of building, and is at this writing president of the road.

ALEXANDER C. ROBINSON.

Alexander C. Robinson, is a son of John M. and Lucian (Butler) Robinson, and was born January 8th, 1821, in Bourbon county, Ken- tucky. His father was born in South Carolina, February 14th, 1800, and came with his parents to Kentucky when quite young. He came to Howard county, Missouri, in the fall of 1821, and lived for a short time near Old Franklin, and afterwards removed to Boone county. He died October 12th, 1862, and is buried at Ashland church in How- ard county, Missouri. Mrs. Robinson, the wife of John M., was born January 10, 1802, in Davidson county, Tennessee ; she also went to Kentucky when a child. They had ten children, five boys and five girls ; Alexander C., our subject, being the second. In 1841, Alexan- der went to school at the Robnett school house for one year. In the fall of 1844 he, like all young men, concluded to see

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more of the world, and accordingly set out for Louisiana, where he remained for some time in the interior of the State, and then to New Orleans. From New Orleans he went to Nashville, Tennessee, where he was employed as a guard of the State prison until the spring of 1847, when he came back to Boone county, and has remained here ever since. In 1852 he moved to the northern portion of the county, where he lived for about twelve years. In February, 1864, he moved out upon the Two-mile prairie, and lived there five years. In 1869 he moved upon the farm where he is now living, a farm of one hun- dred and sixty acre, ten and one-half miles northeast of Columbia. December 19th, 1850, he married Miss Mary J., daughter of John O., and Jemima (Conley) White. By this union they have had nine children, three girls and six boys. John D. E. W. is now with White, Barron & Co., of Centralia ; James W., of Stephens' Store, Callaway county, Missouri, general merchandise ; Thomas O., who is of the firm of Loeb, Cook & Co., grocery store, Columbia; Wm. B., who is also at Stephens' Store ; Alexander (deceased), Lucy J., Isaac N., Annie M. and Mattie. Mr. and Mrs. Robinson are members of the Christian church, and are considered by all as worthy of all con- fidence in their social and business relations.

DAVID HURST SHOCK, DECEASED.

The subject of this sketch was one of the hardy pioneers, of the county, though he was not among the first comers. Mr. Shock, was the son of John and Mary Shock, and was born in Fayette county, Kentucky, October 8th, 1800. He came to Howard county, Missouri, in 1820, and to Boone county, in the spring of 1822. He was mar- ried August 7th, 1823, to Miss Cynthia, daughter of Martin Gibson. Thirteen children, eight boys and five girls, were born of this union, named : John M., James H., Hawkins G., William T., David H., George W., Robert L., Walter C., Zerelda A., Martha E., Rebecca, Mary C. and Laura A. Mr. Shock settled in 1825 on the farm oc- cupied at this writing by his widow and two sons, David H. and Wil- liam T. His death occured March 18, 1880. He was deacon of the Old Rocky Fork Baptist church for many years, and raised a large and exemplary family. Only one - Mary C. - of these children has died up to this time. All the sons reside in Boone county, but one - Hawkins - who lives in Oregon. Mrs. Shock is a member of the church of which her husband was so long deacon, she having been a communicant of that congregation about 44 years.

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JAMES HURST SHOCK

Is a son of David H. Shock, deceased, and was born in this county, November 28, 1827. His education was received in his native county, where he grew up and was married, September 1st, 1853, to Miss Susan A., daughter, of John H., and Catherine Keith. Four chil- dren, two sons and two daughters were born of this marriage, named : Willard C., Mary C., Emma P. and James W. His first wife died in 1873, and Mr. Shock was again married to Miss Martha A. Bradley, daughter of James and Zerelda ( Gibson) Bradley. By this union they have three boys - Roy, Guy and Frank. Mr. Shock has always been a farmer. He owns a good farm of 160 acres on the Columbia and "Blackfoot " gravel road, three miles north of the county seat. . Mrs. Shock belongs to the Missionary Baptist church, and is a consistent Christian.

SOLOMON SHOBE

Is a son of Daniel and Elizabeth (Parsons ) Shobe, and was born April 16, 1828, at Loutre Island, Warren county, Missouri. He received a common-school education at the log school house upon the island. His father died September 14, 1845. In 1846 he, in company with his mother, two brothers, and a sister, was crossing the Missouri river at Loutre Island in a skiff, when they ran upon a snag and upset, drown- ing his mother and his two brothers, Abraham and John D. Caroline V. drifted down the river about three miles and was rescued by a fer- ryman. Solomon lived upon the old home place in Warren county until 1856, when he started for Boone county in a one-horse wagon, with his wife and a faithful negro woman. He settled upon a piece of land containing one hundred and sixty acres, which he had bought the fall previous. In 1867 he purchased another 160-acre tract adjoining, and now his is considered one of the best farms on Two-mile prairie ; his improvements are all new and substantial. In 1876 he built a good two-story house, and in 1877 built quite a large barn. He deals mostly in cattle, feeding about fifty head for market every winter. Mr. Shobe was married December 18, 1855, to Miss Susan H., daughter of Larkin Callaway, of Warren county, Missouri. By this union they have four children - two boys and two girls, Larkin D., George R., Annie B. and Mary V. His wife died January 14, 1881, and is buried at Prairie Grove church. Mr. Shobe is a Mason in good standing.

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HISTORY OF BOONE COUNTY.

SAMUEL BROWN SPENCE.

Samuel B. Spence, son of Andrew and Rebecca (Lemon ) Spence, was born in Scott county, Kentucky, May 22, 1819 ; he came to Boone county in the fall of 1824 with his father, and wintered in Columbia, in a small log house on the ground now occupied by J. P. Horner's lumber yard. The spring following his father moved to Jefferson Garth's farm, close to Columbia, and stayed there one year ; he then bought a farm three and a half miles north of Columbia, on the old Paris road. The subject of this sketch was educated at the common schools of the neighborhood, his principal instructor being Jo- seph Carpenter. He was married November 2, 1852, to Miss Mar- garet E., daughter of William and Elizabeth (Johnson) Ritchey. By this marriage they had four children - three sons and one daugh- ter : Andrew R., born August 15, 1855 ; Robert S., born October 4, 1858 ; James A., born November 10, 1860 ; Mary C., born March 19, 1864. His first wife having died September 13, 1867, he was again married, January 13, 1871. The second wife was Ann M., daughter of Marcus P. and Sarah G. (Smith) Wills, formerly of Kentucky. Mr. Wills was one of the first pastors of "' Old Bear Creek church." Mr. Spence bought the old Samuel Crockett farm, eight miles north- east of Columbia, on the old Crockett road. This place was some- what noted in the early history of the county as being the great camp- meeting ground. The place was then called Mount Moriah. The farm contains 240 acres of very good land, well watered and timbered and nicely improved. In early life Mr. Spence worked at the tanner's trade with his father, on the old home place, three and one-half miles north of Columbia. From 1848 to 1850 Mr. Spence was extensively engaged in the mule trade, buying in Missouri and selling in the Lou- isiana and Texas markets. In 1864, having previously bought his father's old farm, three and one-half miles north of Columbia, he removed to that place, remaining there about seven years. Not liking the change, he came back to his former home on the Crockett road, eight miles northeast of Columbia, where he now lives. In January, 1853, he had the misfortune to break his leg, and was a cripple for about a year, being unable to get about. Andrew Spence, father of Samuel B., was born in 1790. He married Rebecca Lemon, of Scott county, Kentucky, sister of Robert Lemon, of Boone county. They had eight children - six sons and two daughters : John L., (deceased), Mary A., Margaret E., Robert M. (deceased), William

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R., Joseph A., James F., and Alexander P. Andrew Spence is buried on the old farm settled by him. Mrs. Spence is buried by the side of her husband. Mr. Spence owned and operated one among the first tanyards ever established in this county. Samuel B. Spence and all his family are members of the Christian church ; he is also a member of the Patrons of Husbandry. He is a useful citizen and a clever neighbor, honored and esteemed by all who know him.

ZEPHANIAH SPIERS.

Zephaniah Spiers is the son of Samuel and Nancy (Logan) Spiers, and was born May 8, 1822, in Fayette county, Kentucky. His father was a native of Maryland, and died in Boone county, August 9, 1843. His mother died November 20, 1859. They are buried in the family burying ground, upon the old homestead. They were both members of the Christian church. Zephaniah was educated in Kentucky and in Boone county, Missouri, in the country schools. He came to Boone in 1830 with his father, who bought the place upon which his son is now living. It is ten miles east of Columbia, on "Spiers' road." The farm contains 260 acres of good land. He went to California in 1850, and returned in the fall of 1851, believing that there is no place like Missouri. While in California he worked in the gold-diggings, but his heart turned back to the land of peace and plenty. He moved to Audrain county in 1856, but returned to Boone and bought the old homestead settled by his father in 1830, and is now living upon it. He was married August 1, 1849, to Miss Lucy A., daughter of Colonel Walker and Lucinda (Walden) Allen. They have had five children- three boys and two girls : Z. M. (deceased), Maud A. (deceased), Lucinda N. (deceased), Samuel W. (deceased), and William H., now living at home with his father. Mr. Spiers is the first of a family of eight children, but two of whom are now living - Zerelda and our subject. Mrs. Spiers died July 30, 1866, and is buried in Calla- way county, Missouri. She was a member of the Christian church. Mr. Spiers is also a member of the same denomination. He was cap- tured during the war, taken to Mexico, Missouri, and thence to St. Louis, from there to Alton, Illinois. He was in prison at the latter place about six months. He is regarded as one of the best citizens of Boone county - a warm-hearted, hospitable gentleman.

N. P. STARK.

Newman Payton Stark was born in Boone county, Missouri, April

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HISTORY OF BOONE COUNTY. 1

28th, 1841. His parents, Newman B. and Percilla Thornton Stark, were natives of the " Old Dominion," emigrating from Stafford county, Virginia, to Boone county in the fall of 1828. Newman Stark, Jr., was born and raised on the farm now owned by Wm. McDonald, nine miles southeast of Columbia. He was partly educated at the common schools, finishing his studies at the State University. He is a practi- cal farmer and deals largely in live stock. Few men have been more successful in this line of business than Newman Stark. He pays lib- eral prices and is fair in his dealings. Such business men are needed in every farming and stock raising community. By furnishing his neighbors with a home market for their surplus stock, Mr. Stark has been of much service to the community in which he lives. He owns 840 acres of land which is well adapted to the business he is engaged in and it is utilized to the best advantage.

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History of Boone County, Missouri., Part 76

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