History of Boone County, Missouri., Part 83

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

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the degree of Bachelor of Laws ; also the degree of Master of Arts. He was elected prosecuting attorney for Boone county, November, 1874, and was reelected three times in succession, holding the office from January 1, 1875, to January 1, 1881. At the State Democratic convention, July, 1878, Mr. Douglass was made a member of the Democratic State central committee, for the eleventh congressional district. In 1880 he was reëlected and chosen chairman. Declined a reelection at the State convention in July, 1882. Previous to resign- ing this position he addressed the convention, making an able, logical and eloquent appeal in behalf of unity and harmony within the party and excoriating the malcontents and traitors, who had twice betrayed the party in the hour of its greatest peril. Mr. Douglass was mar- ried, September 8, 1880, to Miss Hattie H., daughter of Col. Wil- liam E. Burr, of St. Louis. One child, William Burr, was born to them, May 28, 1882. Mr. Douglass has been a member of the Chris- tian church since he was eleven years old. He united with the Ma- sonic order, December, 1878. Mr. Douglass is thorough in his pro- fession, and as an advocate he has, perhaps, no superior of his age in the country. His profound knowledge of the law, his earnest, can- did, logical mode of speaking, coupled with an excellent knowledge of human nature, gives him remarkable prestige at the bar and generally insures a victory for his client, even under the most unfavorable cir- cumstances. He has already accomplished more than the average professional man achieves in a lifetime, yet in the order of nature and according to the rules that govern human life and effort his career of usefulness has just commenced.

J. H. DRUMMOND, A. B.

Joseph Hudson Drummond was born October 29, 1853, near Zanes- ville, Ohio. He is a son of Samuel Baxter and Mary Jane (Tingle) Drummond. The Drummond family is of Scottish origin. Mrs. D.'s family was from the Isle of Guernsey. S. B. Drummond was a na- tive of Pennsylvania, from which State he removed to Ohio in an early day, and from thence to Johnson county, Missouri, in 1869. He was a merchant in Ohio, and a farmer in Missouri. He died July 4, 1876, on Independence day of the centennial year. Mrs. Drummond is still living in Johnson county.

The subject hereof had received a good education for a young man prior to his coming to Missouri, but he attended the University at Columbia and graduated therefrom in the class of 1880. He ob-

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tained the means to defray the expenses of his education by engaging in well-boring. In April, 1880, he was appointed librarian 'and proc- tor of the University, which position he still worthily fills. He was tendered a position on the U. S. coast survey, but preferred to accept his present position, whose multifarious duties he fulfils to universal and complete satisfaction.

ALONZO T. DUNCAN.

Alonzo T. Duncan was born in Boone county, Missouri, December 18, 1845. Was educated at the common schools of Columbia and at the State University. Served an apprenticeship of three years at the cabinet maker's trade under T. E. Powers and followed the business for four years, then went to Litchfield, Illinois, in 1864, and remained there one year. Came back to Columbia and went to work for Ruckel & McAlister, builders and contractors, as foreman in their establish- ment. Was with this firm for three years. He was next employed as foreman by Kneisley & Lukens, contractors and builders, and re- mained with them three years. He then formed a partnership with J. D. Stewart in the same line of business. In 1874 he went to St. Louis and acted as foreman for Dryden & Reid, builders. Remain- ing with this firm one year. Came back to Columbia in 1875 and built the R. B. Price residence. In 1876 went into the furniture busi- ness with Lukens, under the firm name of Duncan & Lukens. Re- mained in this business for two years, when he sold out and went back to the old business of contracting and building, under the firm name of Duncan & McDaniel. In 1880 they dissolved partnership and Mr. Duncan followed the business alone for a short time. In July, 1881, he formed a partnership with B. F. Stewart, for building and contracting in Columbia and Boone county. They built the public school building, for which they received twelve thousand dollars ; also the elevator and the Whittle building, besides many other business houses and private residences in Columbia and vicinity. The firm has built up a reputation second to none in the country, and their work shows for itself both in style, quality and durability. Mr. Duncan was married, June 30, 1875, to Miss Annie, daughter of Frederick Scragg. They have one son and one daughter, Permelia and Fred- erick.

SAMUEL H. ELKINS.

Samuel H. Elkins is the son of Philip and Sarah (Withers ) Elkins. He was born in Henry county, Missouri, April 13th, 1847, and was

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educated at Westford High School, Jackson county, Missouri, com- pleting his studies in the State University. From 1850 to 1861 his father resided at Westford, Missouri. In the latter year he crossed the plains to Fort Lyons, where he stayed one winter, returning to Missouri in the spring. In the fall of 1862 they removed to Santa Fe, New Mexico. The subject of this sketch then went to Mesilla, where he clerked in a dry goods and grocery store. Remained there about eighteen months. He went from there to Fort Union, where he was engaged in the quartermaster's department. In the spring of 1864 he came to Kansas City, where he attended Spaulding's Com- mercial College for about twelve months, then returned to New Mexico, and was engaged as government store-keeper at Mora, Mora county. Was there a year and a half. In 1868-9 he and his brother, John T. Elkins, ran a cattle ranche on the Pecos river. Was after- wards with Commissioner John Hiltson, who was employed by the United States government and Mexico to hunt up cattle that had been stolen by the Mexicans during the war. They succeeded in restoring eight thousand six hundred head of cattle. In 1874 Mr. Elkins came to Columbia, and attended the University for two years. In 1880 he entered the grocery trade in Columbia, and followed the business for about eighteen months. Was married, October 17th, 1878, to Miss Isa Smith, formerly of Harrison county, Kentucky. They have two children, a son, Philip D., and a daughter, Hattie M. Mr. Elkins' father is in Santa Fe, New Mexico. His mother died in Nebraska- City. There were six children, five sons and one daughter. The three oldest are living. Stephen B. is a large capitalist of New York City. He graduated at the Missouri State University in 1860, at the age of eighteen. 'He formerly represented New Mexico in Congress. He has been twice married. His last wife is the daughter of Senator Davis, of West Virginia. John T. Elkins is living in Kansas City. He is also a capitalist, and largely interested in Western mines. He married a daughter of Dr. Hereford, of Kansas City. The subject of this sketch is the youngest of the family. His wife is a member of the Christian church.

MAJ. FRANK D. EVANS.

Major Evans is the son of Green and Mary (Westlake) Evans, and was born April 7th, 1834, in Boone county, Missouri, nine miles west of Columbia and three and one-half miles east of Rocheport. His father was born in Madison county, Kentucky, and came to Howard county, Missouri, in 1816, and died in 1844, three miles east of

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Rocheport, on the homestead where Frank was born, in the thirty- seventh year of his age, and is buried at the Brick Chapel. His mother is from Point Pleasant, West Virginia. She is still living in Callaway county, Missouri, at the age of sixty-nine. They were married in Boone, and their union was blessed with seven children - all boys. Thomas (deceased) ; James H., a farmer in Randolph county, Missouri; F. D., our subject ; Henry C. (died in 1845) ; Wm. M., died in 1864, at Hastings, Minnesota ; John F., farming in Callaway county, Missouri ; and Melville G., who died in 1845. Frank D., the subject of this sketch, was educated in this, his native county, at the country schools. He lived upon the farm with his father until the age of nineteen, when he married Miss Elizabeth M., daughter of Thomas and Nancy (Mitchell) Cropper. He bought a farm in 1853, and lived upon it until 1855. In the spring of 1856 he removed to Johnson county, Missouri, and followed farming there for two seasons. In the fall of 1857 he came to Rocheport and entered the dry goods house of T. D. Jackman as book-keeper. He remained with the firm until July, 1860, when he, in partnership with Henry W. Crow, embarked in business for himself, under the firm name of Crow & Evans. In September, 1862, he enlisted in the Missouri militia, Company E., Captain Tyre G. Harris. At the end of forty- five days he received an adjutant's commission to rank as captain, and upon the organization of the first provisional regiment, he was retained as adjutant. In 1863 he was made Gen. J. B. Douglass' adjutant- general, with the rank of major, and so remained until January, 1865, when he was relieved from active duty. He then took charge of the enrolling clerk's office of the Ninth district, with headquarters at St. Charles. In July of the same year he removed to St. Louis, taking charge of the books of the district until 1866. He was in no engage- ments, his work being entirely office work. In 1866 he came to Columbia and accepted a position as book-keeper for Barth, Victor & Meyer, and continued with them until the failure of the firm in October, 1869. In February, 1870, he formed a partnership with Maupin and Allen, the style of the firm being Allen, Maupin & Co., in the grocery business. In November of the same year he sold out to his partners, and took the position of book-keeper in the Boone County National Bank, which position he has held until the present time, and until July 22d had not lost a day from business in twelve years. He was married September 14th, 1852, and is the father of eight children, five boys and three girls. Silas D .; Tyson D., a

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physician at Cedar City, Missouri ; Hugh R. (deceased ) ; Lanius D .; Paul H. (deceased) ; Ida G. and Jessie Gertrude. He is a Mason, and both himself and wife are members of the Methodist church. Major Evans is one of Columbia's staunch, reliable business men, and is regarded by all as a conscientious Christian gentleman.

JAMES D. FAY.

James D. Fay, bricklayer, Columbia, Missouri, was born in Orange county, New York, April 20, 1852 ; he came to Sedalia, Missouri, in 1865, and in 1867 went to Covington, Kentucky, where he was edu- cated ; he attended school in the winter and worked at his trade in the summer. He learned bricklaying at this place, serving an apprentice- ship of three years. He came to Columbia in 1870, where he has re- sided ever since ; he has devoted most of his time since coming to Columbia to his trade and to the making of brick, for which work he is well prepared. The brick furnished by him is of the very best quality. He has the largest brickmaking establishment in the county, and is now working twelve hands. The kiln will average about 300,- 000 brick annually. It is located northeast of Christian college, within the city limits. He has all the modern appliances for making pressed brick, such as our people were formerly compelled to ship from a dis- tance ; he is prepared to make all the brick needed in Columbia and the surrounding country ; he makes estimates and takes contracts for building brick houses. Mr. Fay was married October 16, 1873, to Miss Henrietta, daughter of William Wingo. They have two sons and two daughters living. Mr. Fay is a member of the K. P. lodge, Columbia. Mrs. Fay is a member of the Baptist church.

EDWARD FARLEY.

Edward Farley, son of Edward and Mary (Smith ) Farley, was born in county Cavan, Ireland, September 23, 1832 ; he came to the United States in the spring of 1852, and settled in St. Louis, Missouri ; he was educated in Ireland, but learned the marble trade in St. Louis, serving an apprenticeship of three and a half years; he remained in St. Louis for seven years, when he went to Fulton, Callaway county, Missouri, where he stayed for one year, removing from there to Mex- ico, where he was married June 6, 1860, to Miss Mary, daughter of William Montgomery. By this union they had six children, one of whom (John S.) is dead. The names of the living are Henry A., Frank L., William E., Lewis R. and Robert E. In the spring of 1861,

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Mr. Farley went to Iowa, where he remained during the war. In 1865 he came to Macon City, Missouri, where he opened a marble shop in partnership with D. E. Wilson. He remained there one year, when he returned to Mexico and engaged in the marble business, removing to Columbia the year following, where he remained in business for five years. From Columbia he went to Marshall, Missouri, where he re- mained for nine years in the marble business. In the year 1880 he came back to Columbia and erected a large brick marble shop near the court-house, where he is now actively engaged in his line of busi- ness, employing two hands besides himself; he has three agents on the road. He does work in the most artistic manner, using the finest Italian, Vermont and Pennsylvania marble ; he makes monuments and headstones at prices ranging from ten to one thousand dollars each ; his work is widely known, being represented in nearly all the ceme- teries of Boone and adjoining counties. He is doing a prosperous business, which is well merited and generously bestowed. In addition to his marble works, he owns considerable real estate in Columbia. Mr. Farley is a member of the Catholic church.

JAMES M. FERGUSON.

This gentleman is the son of James and Martha (Vaughn) Fergu- son, and was born on his father's farm, five miles southwest of Colum- bia, on the old Providence road, February 25, 1846. He received his education in the public schools of the county and at the State Univer- sity. In 1861 he began clerking for Dr. S. A. Victor, and served in that capacity for about one year. In 1861-2 he was in the employ of T. B. Gentry, Esq., as deputy postmaster (and clerk in his business house ). In 1863 he went to Jacksonville, Illinois, where he remained until the following year, when he returned to Columbia and engaged as clerk and salesman in the house of Moss & Prewitt. With this firm he engaged five years.

In 1869 Mr. Ferguson began business for himself, forming a part- nership in the grocery trade with James S. Hickman, the firm name being Hickman & Ferguson. Two years later he disposed of his in- terest in the business to Hickman & McKim, and clerked for Strawn, Hedden & Co for about a year. Returning from a visit to Kentucky in the fall of 1872, he served as a salesman for the dry goods house of Wells & Marks in the years 1873-4. In the fall of 1875 he became a member of the firm of Scott, Kennan & Ferguson in the grocery trade, which partnership was continued for four years, or until 1879,.

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when J. W. Strawn was taken in. August 1, 1882, the firm became Strawn, Ferguson & Bouchelle, which is its present style.

This firm occupy new and spacious quarters in Whittle's block, cor- ner of Ninth and Broadway. They have two departments, one devoted exclusively to the grocery trade, and the other to dry goods, notions, clothing, etc. They carry full lines and a large stock in every depart- ment and branch of the business. Six clerks and salesmen are em- ployed in the grocery department ; eight are at work in the dry goods room. The area of both rooms is 92 by 401/2 feet. The firm is com- posed of James M. Ferguson, J. W. Strawn and R. J. Bouchelle, and, as at present constituted, was organized August 1, 1882.

January 28, 1880, Mr. Ferguson was married to Miss Mattie Hughes, the accomplished daughter of Joseph S. Hughes, the well-known banker of Richmond, Missouri. Mr. and Mrs. Ferguson are the par- ents of one child, named Joseph H. Mr. Ferguson is a member of the Masonic order ; he is also a member of the Presbyterian church. Mrs. Ferguson belongs to the Christian church.

The father of Mr. Ferguson died and was buried in Mexico in the year 1846. His mother died in St. Louis in 1872, but was buried in the Columbia cemetery. The subject hereof was the youngest child of a family of children composed of three sons and two daughters, all of whom are still living.

PROF. JOSEPH FICKLIN, A. M., PH. D.

Joseph Ficklin was born in Winchester, Clark county, Kentucky, September 9, 1833 ; his father, Joseph Ficklin, Sr., was also a native of Kentucky, born in Mercer county in 1811. When Joseph, Jr., was an infant, his father removed to a farm near the little town of Salvisa, Mercer county, Kentucky, and here the subject of this sketch learned to read and to write. At Salvisa also he obtained his first mathemat- ical knowledge, learning the multiplication table from the back part of an old copy book. This was before he was eight years of age. In 1841 Mr. Ficklin, Sr., removed to another farm between Pleasant Hill and Harrodsburg, the former a village inhabited by the Shakers. On this farm Joseph lived until he was eighteen years of age, employing his time at farm work and at labor in his father's wagon shop. He became a good wagon maker, for one of his years. Meanwhile' all of his leisure time had been devoted to the acquirement of an education, a cherished object with him, and one to be pursued under difficulties. His father was poor and had a large family to support, and the path

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of a poor man was not a pleasant one in Kentucky at that day. But by the time " Joe " Ficklin was seventeen years of age he had, almost unaided, completed common arithmetic, made some progress in Latin, and had begun the study of Davies' Elementary Algebra.

In the autumn of 1851 the senior Ficklin removed from Kentucky to Grundy county, Missouri. Joseph accompanied the family to St. Louis, and then went down the river to New Madrid, and there taught his first school. In February, 1852, he returned to Kentucky and lived with his grandfather, where he had the opportunity of attending a good school until in September, 1853. Up to this period he had studied, if not mastered, algebra, geometry, trigonometry, surveying, Cæsar, Virgil, Horace, and had made some progress in Greek. He bought his books with money paid him by his grandfather for work done ; the generous old gentleman charged him nothing for his board. September 18, 1853, he came to Trenton, Grundy county, where his father then lived. Here he borrowed money and went to the old Ma- sonic college at Lexington, entering the sophomore class in all the departments. At the close of the sophomore year his funds became exhausted, and, unable to procure more, he was reluctantly compelled to leave the college, which he never after attended as a student. Sub- sequently, however, it conferred on him the degree of A. B.

In the fall of 1854 he began teaching in the high school at Trenton, Grundy county, as principal. One of the trustees of the school, Mr. James Terrill, did not look with much favor on the selection of Mr. Ficklin. " I prefer a married man," said Mr. T. " I have two daugh- ters who will attend the school, and I prefer that they be taught by one of mature years, settled in life. This Mr. Ficklin is a single man, and will be falling in love with one of his young lady pupils one of these days." Mr. Terrill's worst fears were afterwards realized. Mr. Ficklin did conceive the tender passion for one of his " young lady pupils," who was Miss Penelope Terrill, the daughter of the prophetic trustee himself! Who says there are no such sensations as premonitions of danger? Mr. and Mrs. Ficklin were married March 3, 1856. They are the parents of six children - Octavia, Nel- lie, John Bowman, Thomas Allen, Walter H. and Mary. Mrs. F. is a native of Randolph county, Missouri, born October 10, 1837.

In 1859 Prof. Ficklin accepted the chair of mathematics in Bloom- ington Female College, Illinois. He did not remain here long, how- ever, and in the early spring of the following year returned to Mis- souri. In the autumn of 1860 he took charge of the public school at

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Linneus, Linn county. At the close of the term he opened a select school, but the civil war breaking out and continuing while he taught, his school and his income were comparatively small.

In September, 1864, he left Linneus to accept the chair of mathe- matics in the Christian Female College, at Columbia. About this time a similar position was tendered him in Eminence College, Kentucky. Prof. Ficklin had been in Columbia about one year when the professor- ship of mathematics in the State University became vacant. Mean- time he had been a contributor to the mathematical departments of certain scientific journals, and had published solutions of certain intri- cate and difficult problems, which indicated superior and profound knowledge of mathematics on his part. One of these solutions fell under the observation of President Lathrop, of the University. At a meeting of the officers of that institution to fill the vacancy in the mathematical chair, Dr. Lathrop said : " Gentlemen, are you aware that we have the very man for the place right here in Columbia? That little fellow over at Christian college is the very man we want." This led to investigation, and resulted in the election of Prof. Ficklin to the professorship of mathematics and astronomy in Missouri's great- est, noblest school, which position he now holds.

In 1874 the " little fellow from Christian college " received the de- gree of Ph. D. from the University of Wisconsin. The Univer- sity of Missouri had previously made him an artium magister, or Master of Arts. He is also a Fellow of the American Association for the Advancement of Science, whose sessions he attends when practi- cable, and before which organization he has read valuable papers. In 1869 he assisted Prof. Snell, of Amherst college, in a revision of the college edition of Olmsted's Natural Philosophy, himself revising the entire mathematical portions of the work. In 1874 he published, through Ivison, Blakeman, Taylor & Co., New York, his Complete Algebra and his Algebraic Problems ; also, keys to both works. In 1881 appeared from the house of A. S. Barnes & Co., New York, Ficklin's Primary Arithmetic, Ficklin's Practical Arithmetic, Ficklin's National Arithmetic, and Ficklin's Elements of Algebra, with keys to the last three named. Prof. Ficklin's mathematical works have been well received throughout the country, and his fame as a scientist is already well established in the United States and in Europe. No man ought to be more proud of reputation honestly gained and fairly main- tained than this " little fellow," and yet no man is less so. The La Place of Missouri, he is " as common as an old shoe," as unassuming

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and accessible as if he were still a country. wagon-maker instead of a learned professor and philosopher, and as genial and agreeable a com- panion as you shall meet anywhere, " on any summer's day."

Prof. Ficklin has been a member of the Christian church for twenty- six years. He is a member of the Masonic order. In politics he takes no very active part, but votes the Democratic ticket when he goes to the polls. He was a non-combatant during the civil war, the only skirmishes in which he was engaged being with the " rebellious " and refractory boys of his school at Linneus, infrequent in number and not serious in character. His father served under Gen. Sterling Price a portion of the time during the war.

The fine telescope now in the University observatory was adjusted by Prof. Ficklin, who is its chief master and most frequent visitor. He is a thoroughly practical astronomer ; is at home in every depart- ment of mathematical science, whether it relates to the solution of arithmetical problems or a discussion on the precession of the equi- noxes. It is too early yet to write an appropriate sketch of the life, character, and career of Joseph Ficklin.

PROF. M. M. FISHER.

Professor Michael Montgomery Fisher was born in Parke county, Indiana, October 8th, 1834. He was educated at Waveland academy, Montgomery county, completing his studies at Hanover College, In- diana, from which institution he received the degree of A. B., in 1855 ; and from the same college, in 1858, the degree of A. M. In 1868 he received the degree of D. D., from Westminster College, Fulton, Mis- souri. At the age of sixteen taught in Pleasant Hill academy, Cape Girardeau county, Missouri, to get money to attend college. After graduating in 1856, was chosen professor of Latin and Greek in West- minster College, Fulton. In 1857 was assigned to the Latin chair, which he held until 1861, when, with W. W. Hill, D. D., he estab- lished Bellwood Female academy, near Louisville, Kentucky. In 1862 was recalled to Westminster and made chairman of the faculty of that institution, at the same time filling the chairs of Latin and Metaphysics. In 1870 he resigned, to accept the presidency of a fe- male college, at Independence, Missouri, and at the same time assum- ing the duties of pastor of the Presbyterian church of that city. His labors in this field proved most successful, but he did not remain long at Independence. He was recalled to Westminster on the resignation of the Rev. Dr. Rice in 1874, and took charge of his professorship.

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History of Boone County, Missouri., Part 83

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