History of Boone County, Missouri., Part 85

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

USA > Missouri > Boone County > History of Boone County, Missouri. > Part 85

Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).

875

HISTORY OF BOONE COUNTY.

from Liberty, in Clay county, Missouri, when they came in con- flict with Jesse James and his band. Two of Gordon's men were wounded and two horses shot. Three of the James band were wounded, the noted outlaw being of the number, losing one of his fingers. He sent Gordon word the next day, offering him a horse and a suit of clothes if he would come to Kearney, Clay county, by him- self. Gordon returned answer that he was not in need of a horse nor of clothing. Mr. Gordon resigned and left the service in March, 1865, to prosecute his studies at the State University. He was married in 1876 to Miss Julia Long, of Bridgeton, St. Louis county, Missouri. They have four children, two sons and two daughters : Boyle Jr., Edwin, Clara and Sophia. Mr. Gordon is a member of the Christian church. Mrs. Gordon is a member of the Baptist church. He is also a member of the order of K. of P. He has followed farming in con- nection with his law practice since entering upon the active duties of life. He has a good farm of 332 acres situated two miles east of Co- lumbia, on the Fulton gravel road. Mr. Gordon has a liberal share of practice at the Columbia bar. His father, John B. Gordon, was in his day one of the ablest lawyers in central Missouri. He represented his county in the legislature for sixteen years.

WELLINGTON GORDON.

Wellington Gordon is the son of Hon. John B. and Sophia (Haw- kins ) Gordon, and was born in Columbia, Mo., January 31st, 1838. His father, John B., was born in Milford, Madison county, Kentucky, and was educated principally at Transylvania University, of Lexing- ton, Kentucky. He studied law in the office of W. H. Caperton, of the Richmond bar, and was admitted to practice, forming a most happy partnership with Col. John Speed Smith, one of Kentucky's ablest lawyers. After a few years of successful practice he married Miss Sophia Hawkins, daughter of Nicholas Hawkins, who had emi- grated to Kentucky from Virginia. some years before -1826. The whole family of Gordons came to Columbia, Boone county, Missouri. Missouri, about this time, was receiving the best class of immigrants, and Boone county a very large proportion. Politics, being the legiti- mate, honored business of the most enlightened, soon called forth all the energies and talents of John, who carried the county for the Whigs, and was elected to represent Boone county in the Legislature for five successive terms, from 1830 to 1840. It is to the eloquence and energy of John B. Gordon that Columbia is indebted more than to

876

HISTORY OF BOONE COUNTY.

any other man for the location of the State University at Columbia. In 1840 he returned to Kentucky, practicing his profession and lec- turing on law to the young men of the State, who came to sit at his- feet, " learning the law their fathers loved." Returning to Missouri,. he retired from active practice, and devoted his time to the instruction of his children, who have since shown themselves worthy such a sire .. He died February 13th, 1853, ( ?) at the age of fifty-five years. He left a family of six children, four sons and two daughters. Martha, the eldest daughter, married Judge Robert H. Clinkscales. Ida married Prof. Oren Root, Jr. Boyle, the oldest son, is now professor of law in the University. Emmett, Wellington, our subject, and Carey. Wellington was educated at the University, taking the full classical course of four years. When a boy he was deputy circuit clerk in the- office of R. L. Todd for about fifteen months. Then he studied law in- the office of his brother Boyle, completing the course in 1859, and opened an office in Kansas City, where he remained until the spring of 1860. He then went to Carrollton and practiced his profession for about a year, when he returned to Columbia, and practiced in the- office of Guitar & Gordon until 1865. In 1866 he was elected county attorney, and served until 1872, when he was endorsed by an election to the office of prosecuting attorney, which office he filled acceptably for two years. Since that time Mr. Gordon has devoted his time and talents to his lucrative practice in conjunction with his brother, C. H. Gordon. He was married December 13th, 1866, to- Miss Laura Amonett, daughter of Judge James Amonett, formerly of Virginia. Mrs. Gordon, nee Amonett, was born in Louisiana, and. at the age of thirteen removed to the city of Memphis, Tenn., where she was living at the time of her marriage. Their union has been- blessed with five children -Kate, Reverdy, Fleetwood, Ida and Mattie. Mr. Gordon has a fine residence in the northeastern part of Columbia. He is regarded as an able lawyer and a thorough gen- tleman.

W. A. GOODDING.

W. A. Goodding is the son of J. C. and Elizabeth (Dameron ). Goodding, the former of Kentucky, the latter of North Carolina. W. A. was born in Randolph county, Missouri, October 26th, 1846. His father removed to Macon in 1847. Young Goodding was educated at the Mount Pleasant College, Huntsville, and at the Kirksville Normal College. He returned to Randolph in 1865, and in 1872 came to Boone county. He engaged in coal mining on a large scale at Brown's

877

HISTORY OF BOONE COUNTY.

Station. He was married December 25th, 1873, to Martha E., daugh- ter of Lewis G. Berry, of Boone. They have four children : Nettie E., Lena, Charlie R. and Bessie. Mr. and Mrs. Goodding are mem- bers of the Baptist church. He is a Mason, K. T., H. P. of chapter, also K. of P. He is also a member of A. O. U. W. He was a no- tary public for six years. His home is in Columbia. He has always voted the Democratic ticket, and at the primaries in August, 1882, after an animated canvass, received the nomination of his party for sheriff by a decided majority.

GEN. ODON GUITAR.

Gen. Guitar is of French-English extraction, his father, John Guitar, being a native of Bordeaux, France, and his mother being of English blood. She was a native of Kentucky, and a daughter of David Gordon, deceased, one of Boone county's pioneers. Her given name was Emily, and she was a niece of Chief Justice Boyle. Gen. Guitar was born in Richmond, Madison county, Kentucky, August 31st, 1827. His parents moved to Boone county, Missouri, in 1829, bring- ing the two-year-old Odon with them to Columbia, where they located, and the elder Guitar did business as a merchant till his death in 1848. Gen. Guitar was educated wholly in Boone county, attending the common schools till his fifteenth year, when he entered the University of Missouri at its first opening session in 1842, and graduated in 1846 with the degree of A. B. His degree was conferred while he was on his way to Santa Fe. He had volunteered for the Mexican war in Col. (afterwards Gen. ) Doniphan's regiment, and did not remain at college for commencement, but left his graduating speech to be read by a classmate. Gen. Guitar served through the entire Mexican war, and on his return began the study of law in the office of his uncle, Hon. John B. Gordon, then one of the leading members of the Mis- souri bar, and recognized as the first orator of the State at that time. He was admitted to the bar in 1848 before Judge William Hall, of the circuit court, and at once began the practice, which he prosecuted as his chief vocation till April, 1882. When the great civil war came on, Gen. Guitar was Union in sentiment, and was commissioned in May, 1862, by Gov. Gamble to recruit a regiment of volunteers for the Federal service. This regiment was from several different coun- ties, and was mustered in as the Ninth Cavalry, M. S. M. He com- manded the regiment till his promotion in June, 1863, when he was commissioned brigadier-general of the M. S. M., and also of the

878

HISTORY OF BOONE COUNTY.

E. M. M. Both these promotions were for gallant and meritorious. service in the field. For a complete record of the campaigns in which Gen. G. participated, the reader is referred to the war history depart- ment of this volume. He was the first commandant of the central b-district of Missouri, with headquarters at Jefferson City. After u

the war, he resumed his practice in the law, and continued it at Co- lumbia till the date above mentioned. In 1853-4, and again in 1857-8, he represented his county in the General Assembly, having been elected on the Whig ticket. Since the dissolution of that party, he has been a Liberal Republican, though he has taken no active part

RESIDENCE OF GEN. ODON GUITAR, COLUMBIA.

879

HISTORY OF BOONE COUNTY.

in politics, and has not sought either the honors or emoluments of public trusts. Gen. Guitar was married in December, 1865, to Kate L., youngest daughter of Judge Abiel Leonard, deceased, formerly of Howard county. They are the parents of five children, four daughters and one son, all of whom survive at this writing. Gen. G. is not a member of any lodge or society of any kind. He owns several farms in Boone county, but the principal part of his estate is in town property in Columbia. He is one of those citizens of prominence who take an active interest in all public affairs and in everything per- taining to the country's welfare. While in the practice of the law Gen. G. paid most attention to criminal cases, and defended in a large number of homicide cases. Only one of his clients was ever hanged, and but five sent to the penitentiary. The others were all acquitted, four of whom were saved by the adroit management of their counsel after conviction and sentence to execution.

Altogether, the life of Gen. Odon Guitar has been a success, and his record is one of which any man might well be proud.

HUGH M. HALL.

The subject of this notice is the son of Mortimer and Mary (French ) Hall, and was born in Boone county, Missouri, October 5th, 1847. When quite a child he went to live with an uncle, S. L. French, and lived with him until he was sixteen years of age, when he commenced teaching school and taught from 1863 until 1872. Two years of his teaching was in Morgan county, Missouri. He then followed farming for four years, until March, 1882, when he was appointed deputy coun- ty clerk of Boone county, which position he still retains. He had the misfortune to lose an arm on the 12th day of October, 1861, by get- ting it crushed between the rollers of a cane-mill on the farm of J. D. French. He was elected a justice of the peace in November, 1872, of Rockyfork township and served as justice for ten years. He was mar- ried September 7th, 1871, to Miss Sue T., daughter of Jackson Hern- don. By this union they have had five children, one boy and four girls - Mary L., born September 17th, 1872 ; Carrie E., born March 26th, 1874 ; Sallie A., born April 18th, 1875 ; Hugh E., born' Janu- ary 12th, 1877, and Wilmuth, born July 8th, 1879. Mr. Hall and his wife are members of the Christian church and he is a member of the Knights of Pythias. His father is a native of Virginia and is still liv- ing near Hallsville, Boone county. His mother is dead. Hugh was

880

HISTORY OF BOONE COUNTY.

the only child. He is one of the most efficient of Boone's county of- ficers and is a genial pleasant gentleman. .

DR. E. W. HERNDON.

Dr. Eugene Wallace Herndon was born February 4th, 1836. He was educated at Franklin College, Tennessee, graduating as A. B. in class of 1852. In 1855 he received the degree of A. M. from the same insti- tution. Graduated at the Nashville Medical College in 1855, being at the time but nineteen years old. After completing his medical educa- tion he came to Clarksville, Missouri, and began the practice of his profession. In 1859 he commenced the study of law. Took the degree of LL. D. at Harvard University in 1861. In 1859 he began the publication of the Pike County Union, at Clarksville, which he con- tinued until 1860. He supported Bell and Everett for president and vice-president. Dr. Herndon was a Union man at the beginning of the war, but the violent expression of Northern sentiment caused him to take sides with the South. He was not a " secessionist, " but entered the army as a rebel. Assisted Col. Caleb Dorsey, of Pike county, in raising a regiment for service in the Missouri State Guard. Was appointed surgeon of this regiment. Left Pike county in De- cember, under Col. Dorsey, to join Price's army, and was in the bat- tle with Gen. Prentiss at Mt. Zion church, in this county, an account of which may be found elsewhere in this volume. Reached the Confed- erate army at Cove Creek, where he was regularly commissioned a sur- geon by Governor Jackson and assigned to duty under Gen. Martin Green. He was afterwards division surgeon under Gen. Parsons. Afterthe battle of Pleasant Hill, was made chief surgeon of all the forces in West Louisiana and a member of Gen. Bagley's staff. Was at Elkhorn, Farmington, Prairie Grove, Helena, Mansfield and Pleasant Hill. Surrendered at Shreveport, Louisiana, in the spring of 1865 and returned to Missouri. For the next year or two he followed farming in Pettis county, after which he came to Columbia, where he has re- mained ever since. From 1869 to 1870 was editor of the Boone County Journal. Dr. Herndon was married in 1865 to Miss Laura E. Ruby, of Randolph county. She died in 1881, leaving no children. Dr. Herndon is a Mason. He is a member of the Council, of which he was first high priest, and also first high priest of the Chapter. He is a member of the Christian church and is now editor of the Christian Quarterly Review, a publication of 144 pages, and the only periodical of the kind published in the interest of that denomination.

881

HISTORY OF BOONE COUNTY.

GEORGE W. HENDERSON.

George W. Henderson, son of E. F. and Catherine (Brinkman) Henderson, was born in St. Louis, March 10, 1847. Was educated at the public schools of St. Louis. Commenced his business career in 1857, clerking in a candy store in St. Louis. In 1859, he clerked for John Barnhurst, of St. Louis, in a dry goods store, continuing thus until 1869, when Barnhurst moved his store to Columbia, Mis- souri, and Mr. Henderson came with him and remained in his em- ployment until the latter part of 1870, when he went into the grocery business under the firm name of Gentry & Henderson. Continued the business thus for about seventeen months when he took William T. Shock into partnership, under the firm name of Shock & Hender- son. The business was conducted thus for about two years, then changed to Henderson, Shock & Co., and so remained until 1876, when Mr. Henderson sold out his interest to Lafayette Hume. In June, 1876, he became one of the proprietors of the Columbia Mills, his partners being Messrs. Anderson and Smith. In 1878 the firm changed to Anderson, Henderson & Co., and so remained until Feb- ruary 6, 1882. As a business man Mr. Henderson has. few equals, and perhaps no superior in this section of the country. He com- menced life without anything, and has by energy, and good manage- ment accumulated a handsome estate, and this too in a brief period of time. His father is living in Columbia at the age of sixty-five years. His mother died in 1875. He is one of six children, five sons and one daughter, all of whom are living but one son, who died in childhood. The subject of this sketch is the youngest of the family. Mr. Hen- derson was married September 10, 1874, to Miss Mary, daughter of Judge Henry and Mary (Depew) Dusenberry. They have one son, Benjamin E. Mr. and Mrs. Henderson are members of the Meth- odist Church South. He is also a member of the Masonic fraternity.

COL. JOHN J. HICKMAN.

Col. Hickman is known to the entire West as one of the greatest temperance advocates living. He was born in Lexington, Kentucky, May 26, 1839, his parents - Hon. James L. Hickman and wife - being also natives of Kentucky. The family was originally from Vir- ginia, and the colonel's father was a gallant soldier of the war of 1812. Thomas Metcalfe, uncle of John J.'s mother, was governor of Kentucky from 1828 to 1832. Col. H. received his earlier education

882

HISTORY OF BOONE COUNTY.

in the city of his birth, and after the death of his father ( which oc- cured while John was still quite young), he went with his mother (a refined lady of the true American type ) to southern Kentucky, where at the early age of nineteen, he was married to Miss Lizzie Hollings- worth, a lady one year younger than himself, and every way worthy of so distinguished a husband. In early married life he engaged in agricultural pursuits, afterwards studying law and medicine, but abandoned his professional studies at the commencement of the war. After the war he engaged in the life and fire insurance business of which he made an eminent success, always commanding the highest salaries. In May, 1867, he joined the South Carrollton Lodge No. 20, and at once became an active worker in the temperance cause. Soon afterwards he was commissioned State deputy with headquarters at Louisville and did valiant service. In October, 1868, he was himself elected G. W. C. T., and quit a lucrative employment to devote his entire time to the work of the order. He held the office three succes- sive years, and retired with the gratification of knowing that under his administration the order had increased from 3,000 members with sixty working lodges, to 25,000 members with more than 500 working lodges. In one of these years, he organized 100 lodges with a chartered membership of more than 4,000, besides adding thousands to the lodges already established. He first entered the Right Worthy Grand Lodge at its Oswego, N. Y., session in May, 1869, and imme- diately took rank as a representative Good Templar, and was ap- pointed R. W. Grand Marshal. At Baltimore he was elected R. W. G. Counsellor, and unanimously reëlected at the Madison session in May, 1872. He did not attend the London session in 1873, but was elected R. W. G. T. the next year at the Boston session. He was reelected in 1875, and yet again in 1876, and in the latter year was sent as a " missionary " to Great Britain, where he spent several months reorganizing the Grand Lodges of England, Ireland, Scot- land, Wales, and the Isle of Man. On his return, he declined a re- nomination at the Portland session, in 1877, and was succeeded by Theo. D. Kanouse, of Wisconsin, who retired after two years, and Col. Hickman was again elected R. W. G. T. He is the second man who has been recalled to that high office, after having gone out of it for any reason.

Col. Hickman is beyond question, the best known citizen, person- ally, of Boone county, his reputation as a temperance worker being world-wide, and his personal acquaintance being enjoyed by . many

883

HISTORY OF BOONE COUNTY ..

eminent temperance people of Europe. His presence is com- manding, and is of that easy dignity that invariably bespeaks a born gentleman. He is recognized by all as one of the greatest temperance orators living, and he certainly merits the full measures of the distinc- tion to which he has attained. His family consists of his wife and two sons - James K. and Newton H. James K. married Miss Anna Woods, daughter of Adam Woods, of Howard county. Col. Hickman is now a citizen of Columbia, and is as zealous and untiring in the temperance cause as in the days of his earlier manhood.

Great in heart, deed, and morals, Columbia should be proud that he is numbered with the other distinguished citizens of the "Athens of Missouri."

COL. ELI HODGE.

Col. Eli Hodge was born in Montgomery county, Kentucky, Octo- ber 28th, 1839, and came with his father to Boone county in 1857. He followed farming until 1861, when he cast his fortunes with the South, joining Peacher's company of what was then known as the Missouri State Guard. He enlisted as a private and participated in the battles of Drywood and Lexington. In the spring of 1862 became adjutant of Col. Gid. Thompson's regiment. Was in the Lone Jack fight and at Elkhorn, where he was wounded in the thigh. Took part in the battle of Prairie Grove, where his horse was shot. Was at Springfield, Cape Girardeau and Hartville, and in fact all the battles in which Gen. Joe Shelby took part. In the fall of 1864 came into Boone, Audrain and Howard recruiting for Confederate service. At Waverly was placed in command of 485 men and started for Price's army, but failed to join it on the retreat from Independence. He went in a southwest direction. En route was attacked by Feder- als at Cassville, where he lost 150 men, killed, captured and missing. Finally reached the Confederate army at Clarksville, Texas. On the reorganization of Col.D. Williams' regiment he was made a lieutenant- colonel. When the army disbanded he was at Corsicana, Texas. He went into Old Mexico, where he stayed for three years. Returned to Boone county in 1868. In 1874 was elected collector. On assum- ing the duties of this office, removed to Columbia where he still re- sides. Served two years as collector. Was a member of the board of trustees for two years and a school director when the new school- house was contracted for. Col. Hodge was married September 1, 1868, to Mary L. Craig, a native of Virginia, but at the time of her marriage a resident of Boone county. They have had five children,

884

HISTORY OF BOONE COUNTY.

four of whom are now living. Col. Hodge is a member of the Masonic order, a K. P., A. O. U. W. and K. of H. He is also a member of the Baptist church. Mrs. Hodge is a Presbyterian.

C. C. HOPPER.

This gentleman, the senior member of the firm of C. C. Hopper & Co., dealers in groceries, provisions, etc., Columbia, is a son of James E. and Mary (Herrington ) Hopper, and was born in Boone county, November 13, 1842. His parents were natives of Madison county, Kentucky, born in 1818 ; his father, James Hopper, Jr., is still living on his farm, five miles south of Columbia; his mother died in 1877. On his father's side Mr. Hopper is of Irish descent, and his immediate ancestors were among the pioneers of this county. His grandfather, James Hopper, Jr., was a native of Kentucky, and came to Boone about the year 1824.

C. C. Hopper was raised on his father's farm and received a good common school education. At the age of twenty-one he started in life for himself, first working for James McConathy, the noted Boone county miller and distiller. Two years later he bought a farm, six miles south of Columbia, on which he lived some ten years, when he came to Columbia and engaged in the grocery and drug trade. After following this business some three years, he abandoned it on account of failing health and returned to his farm. In 1879 he again came to Columbia and, after running a meat market for about a year, he en- gaged in his present business. He still owns his farm, however.

October 22, 1863, Mr. Hopper married Miss Annie Groom, a native of Boone county, and a daughter of James and Maria ( Payne ) Groom, of Kentucky. Mr. and Mrs. Hopper are the parents of six living children, viz. : Robert, William, Virginia, Ida Lenoir, James Hender- son and John Bingham. Mr. and Mrs. H. are both members of the Methodist church, and Mr. H. belongs to the Knights of Honor.

COL. MAJOR HORNER, DECEASED.

Was born in Chesterfield county, Virginia, December 29, 1787. His parents were agricultural people, and he was reared on the farm. In 1812 he was married to Miss Keturah Morgan, near Richmond, and soon afterwards moved to that city, where he engaged in the manufacture of barrels for the large flouring mills there. While liv- ing in Virginia he served in the war of 1812, in the commissary de- partment. In 1819 he moved to Howard county, Missouri, and

885

HISTORY OF BOONE COUNTY.

bought a farm eight miles east of Fayette, and remained there 20 years, next removing to Randolph county and locating three miles east of Huntsville, on which farm he remained till 1864, when he moved to St. Louis. Remaining there two years, he next moved to Columbia, Boone county, where he remained until his death. He died March 8, 1867, while on a visit to his son, James S. Horner, of Huntsville, being in his seventy-ninth year. After coming to Mis- souri he enlisted in the militia for the purpose of repelling some In- dian attacks in Missouri. He was colonel of the militia in Howard county for eight years, and on leaving was succeeded by Col. Joe Davis. In 1838, during the Mormon war, he was appointed pay- master by Gov. Boggs, with the rank of colonel. In paying off the troops, after payment was made, his clerk informed him that a con- siderable amount remained to his credit on account of the odd cents not being paid to the soldiers on settlement. Col. Horner instantly directed the clerk to return it to the State treasury, which was done, being the only instance of the kind on record, and fully exemplifying the character and integrity of the man. He was also appointed to pay off the Missouri troops after the Black Hawk. war. He served one term in the State legislature, and was a member of the State senate when the civil war came up, and was among the number who repaired to Neosho pursuant to the call of Gov. Jackson. Though a pronounced Southern man in his feelings, he was too old to take any active part in the war. On account of his sympathies he was com- pelled to leave his farm and move to St. Louis.

Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.

History of Boone County, Missouri., Part 85

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