History of Caldwell and Livingston counties, Missouri, written and compiled from the most authentic official and private sources, including a history of their townships, towns and villages, together with a condensed history of Missouri; a reliable and detailed history of Caldwell and Livingston counties--their pioneer record, resources, biographical sketches of prominent citizens; general and local statistics of great value; incidents and reminiscences, Part 115

Author: Pease, Ora Merle Hawk, 1890-
Publication date: 1886
Publisher: St. Louis, National Historical Company
Number of Pages: 1260

USA > Missouri > Livingston County > History of Caldwell and Livingston counties, Missouri, written and compiled from the most authentic official and private sources, including a history of their townships, towns and villages, together with a condensed history of Missouri; a reliable and detailed history of Caldwell and Livingston counties--their pioneer record, resources, biographical sketches of prominent citizens; general and local statistics of great value; incidents and reminiscences > Part 115
USA > Missouri > Caldwell County > History of Caldwell and Livingston counties, Missouri, written and compiled from the most authentic official and private sources, including a history of their townships, towns and villages, together with a condensed history of Missouri; a reliable and detailed history of Caldwell and Livingston counties--their pioneer record, resources, biographical sketches of prominent citizens; general and local statistics of great value; incidents and reminiscences > Part 115

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).

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HISTORY OF LIVINGSTON COUNTY.

him of Missouri caused him to come here, his settlement in Chillicothe dating from 1868. Mr. Curry has never aspired to political honor, preferring rather to devote his time and energy to his business. His preferences, however, are with the Republican party. He is a man whose interests are almost inseparable from the interests of the county.

JAMES L. DAVIS (Attorney at Law, Chillicothe).

James Luckey Davis, well and favorably known in this vicinity, and, indeed, throughout this portion of the State, was one of seven children born of the marriage of John H. and Permelia ( Risen ) Davis. The father was an established physician, and a native of Raleigh, N. C., which place he left to locate at Lebanon, Tenn., and subsequently he settled at Alexandria, that State. In 1841 he removed to Nash- ville, where his death occurred in 1845. He left five children, and of these James L. was the third child and son, His mother, who was of Virginia nativity, died in 1848. The subject of this sketch was born September, 1832, at Alexandria, DeKalb county, Tenn. He was reared in Nashville, where also he received his earlier education, commencing active business life as a printer in the office of the Nashville Orthopolitan. After connection with other journals in the same city he removed to Springfield, Tenn., and there published the Springfield Intelligencer from 1853 to 1856, and in the latter year, upon going to Lebanon, Tenn., he embarked in the book trade, an enterprise which he success- fully conducted until 1858. In the fall of that year, having long entertained a desire to study the legal profession, he entered the law department of the Cumberland Presbyterian University, at Lebanon, from which, after a thorough course of instruction, he was graduated in January, 1860. The month following Mr. Davis made a settlement at Gallatin, Mo., opening a law office and devoting himself to the practice of his profession there until coming to Chillicothe in 1879. From that time to the present he has closely adhered to his chosen calling, pursuing his way quietly, but steadily, and with results which have been most deserving. The cause of temperance has found in him an ardent supporter and in various ways has he contributed towards the advancement and spread of this movement, making many warm, earnest talks in its interests, and working personally in its behalf. In this work he is warmly seconded by his worthy wife, formerly Miss Letitia M. Thomas, daughter of Dr. Archibald Thomas, of Springfield, Tenn. Mrs. D. was born in Robertson county, that State, her marriage occurring December 28, 1854. Religiously Mr. Davis is a Methodist - member of the M. E. Church South. In politics he is a Democrat, a party to which he has ever belonged and in whose support he has taken lively interest. It is but the utterance of an established truth to say that his many deserving qualities have gained for him numerous friends.

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HISTORY OF LIVINGSTON COUNTY.

SAMUEL B. DENNIS

(Retired Farmer, Chillicothe).

Away back over half a century ago there might have been seen on the road between Pennsylvania and Ohio, a party of six persons all walking and carrying such articles as were necessary to life. That party consisted of John Dennis and wife, formerly Rachael Bishop, and four of their children, who were emigrating from Philadelphia westward, Cincinnati being their destination. These were the parents of Samuel Dennis, the subject of this sketch. He was born in Butler county, O., March 23, 1810, his father being originally from Pennsyl- vania and a cooper by trade, and his mother a native of New Jersey. They had ten children, five sons and five daughters, of whom Samuel B. was the sixth child. He was reared in the Buckeye State on a farm near Oxford, until 1832, and then went to Schuyler county, Ill., where he lived and followed tanning for some years. In 1844, he removed to Lee county, Ia., and after a residence there of two or three years he came to Livingston county, Mo., in 1846, first pur- chasing forty acres of land. To this he has since added from time to time until he now owns, in connection with his son, 800 acres an estate not only of large proportions but excellent in itself. Upon it is a fine sugar maple grove of three hundred trees, and here he makes considerable syrup, the quality of which is unsurpassed. Mr. Dennis was married to Miss Lucinda Claypool, of Iowa, at the time of her marriage, but a native of Illinois. To them four children have been born : Loretta A., George W. and Mary Catherine are living and Columbus Ohio died in 1882. The eldest son, George W., manages the farming operations, and is in every way a thorough-going agri- culturist and is meeting with good success. The father has been an energetic, hard-working man all his life and is now enjoying the result of his labors. He is of a genial, whole-souled nature, very hospitable and ever ready to appreciate an anecdote. Strong in his prejudices, he is however a warm friend and at the same time a bitter enemy. He is very handy with tools and is able to do almost any- thing in that line. In politics a stanch Republican, during the war he was a strong Union man. George W. Dennis is a native of this county and was also reared here.

REV. FATHER CLEMANTINE DEYMAN, O. S. F. (Chillicothe).

One of the grandest and noblest features of the Holy Apostolic Church is the profound and lasting influence she exerts, and has ever exerted, upon the hearts and consciences of all people among whom she carries the standard of the Cross. Wherever the Catholic Church obtains, men and women are attracted to her by the irresistible power of her own truth and righteousness - some raised up for the priest- hood, others for the holy orders of noble sisters - all devoted to an

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HISTORY OF LIVINGSTON COUNTY.

undivided life for the service of the church and the cause of Christ. Only one among the tens of thousands to devote themselves to the service of the church is Rev. Father Clemantine Deyman, who has endeared himself to all who have made his acquaintance since his loca- tion in Chillicothe. A native of Hanover, Germany, he was born June 24, 1856, his father, Gerhardt Deyman, of the same place, hav- ing been a farmer in comfortable circumstances. The youth of his son was passed in the country of his birth until 1863, when he came to the United States, making his home for some time in St. Louis. Afterwards he took studies in St. Joseph's College, Teutopoles, Effingham county, Ill., pursuing his studies until he entered the Franciscan community December 8, 1867. On the 19th of May, 1872, he was ordained priest and for six years occupied a position as pro- fessor in the college, or from 1873 to 1879. The three succeeding years up to 1882 he acted as chaplain of the Illinois State Penitentiary and for two years superior of the community and director of the Sisters of St. Francis at that place. August 19, 1882, Father Clemantine came to Chillicothe, and his labors here since that time have been greatly prospered. The community with which he is connected is doing a work of invaluable worth and merit and consists of three priests and three brothers. Father Clemantine is assisted by Father Hugo Fessler and Father Patrick Degraa, the former of whom attends to outside missions at Utica, Breckinridge, Milan and Unionville ; Father Patrick ministers to those at Brunswick, Sumner, the Hogan settlement and other sta- tions. Brothers Godfried, Titus and Robert act respectively as sex- ton, gardner and cook. An earnest priest, and zealous in his lifework, Father Clemantine is at the same time a kind and generous-hearted man, esteemed by the community at large for his many estimable qualities only less than by those with whom he is more intimately associated. A close student, he has written several works of decided merit.

PAUL J. DIXON

(One of the Editors and Proprietors of the Crisis, Chillicothe).

Though still comparatively a young man Mr. Dixon commands the good opinions of all around him, and since personal respect is the key to success in every department of life, journalistic no less than the legal or official, he has that assurance of success beyond peradventure. At an early age he commenced to apply himself with great energy and perseverance to the study of law, continuing it up to his admission to the bar in 1871, he at that time being but nineteen years of age. From that time to the present he has been numbered among the prom- ising young members of the bar in Chillicothe, considerable attention now being given to the pension business. In September, 1878, Mr. Dixon became connected with the Crisis, a paper of Democratic pro- clivities, which he at once changed to a Greenback sheet, and of the principles of this party it has since been a warm and able advocate. The paper is largely and, indeed, mostly the product of his own pains and energy, built up from unfortunate circumstances and surround-

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HISTORY OF LIVINGSTON COUNTY.

ings but nevertheless substantially improved, until now it is an excel- lent journal. He is a man of no little prominence as a Greenbacker, and in 1884 made the race for Secretary of State, as the representa- tive of that party, polling votes to the number of 204,000. Mr. Dixon was born January 27, 1851, in Putnam county, O., and is the son of John and Mary J. (Adams ) Dixon, both natives .of Knox county, O. The former was a lawyer by profession, and in 1868 he came to Chillicothe, identifying himself with other practitioners here until his death August 12, 1884. Paul J. was the sixth child and third son in their family of 10 children, of whom eight grew to maturity. From 1863 he has passed his time in this locality, obtain- ing a wide and favorable acquaintance. November 1, 1875, Mr. Dixon married Miss Emma E. Miller, originally from Callaway county, this State. Their three children are named Frank, Thomas A. and May E. In 1875 Mr. D. was elected a member of the city council.

REV. WILLIS E. DOCKERY

(Minister in the M. E. Church South, Chillicothe).

The name of Dockery is not an unfamiliar one to the citizens of this portion of Missouri, for one of its most prominent politicians is Alex. M. Dockery, a man whose name is almost a household word in this part of the State. And it is his father, Rev. Willis E. Dockery whose biography is briefly presented herewith. The latter was born in Garrett county, Ky., February 5, 1823, the son of Alexander Dock- ery, a Kentuckian by birth, who settled in Livingston county, Mo., in 1834. He followed the occupation of farming and stock raising until his death in October, 1852. Nancy Ware was the maiden name of the mother of Willis, and she, too, came originally from the Blue Grass State. He was one of four children in the family, the others being Paulina, wife of Gideon Emery, of Grundy county, Mo. ; Mahala Ann, who married Alex. Dockery, of this county, and Sarah Eliza- beth, now Mrs. John Davidson, also of this county. Alexander Dockery was constable in this county for four years ; at his death he left an estate numbering 640 acres, having been very successful in his operations. His religious preferences were with the Baptists, to which church he belonged, and in which he was a deacon. Politically he was a Whig. Willis E. Dockery was reared in the community where he now makes his home, and from an early age was taught farming as an occupation. In 1844 he was licensed to preach the Gospel, and in 1851 he was ordained a deacon and the following year an elder. His entire life has been spent in the ministry and he has become well known for his earnest piety, his zeal in the cause of reli- gion and his ability and success as an able, faithful preacher. In 1848 he joined the Missouri conference and has since supplied churches from Nebraska City to St. Charles and from the Iowa State line to the Missouri river, serving as pastor at stations, on missions and dis- tricts, and for twelve years as presiding elder. January 13, 1842,

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HISTORY OF LIVINGSTON COUNTY.

Mr. Dockery was married to Miss Sarah MeHaney, of Missouri, and they have one son, Alexander M. Dockery.

The latter was born February 11, 1846, in Livingston county, and here grew up, obtaining a good education in the common schools and Macon Academy. After choosing the profession of medicine as his life calling, he read with Dr. White of Keytesville, and subsequently matriculated at the Missouri Medical College, from which he was gradu- ated in the class of 1865. He also attended a course of lectures at Jeffer- son Medical College, of New York, during 1866 and 1867, and in the latter year commenced practicing at Linneus, Mo., from whence he came to Chillicothe. Later, however, he entered into the banking busi- ness at Gallatin, and continued it up to the time of his election to repre- sent his district in Congress. In 1884 he was still further honored by again being placed in a like position. In 1884 Mr. Dockery was mar- ried to Miss Mary E. Bird, whose father, Greenup Bird, was a former resident of Chillicothe. They mourn the loss of seven children which have been born to this union.

DENNIS B. DORSEY, M. D. (City Clerk, Chillicothe).

From this brief and incomplete review of the life record of Dr. Dorsey will be seen that his time from youth up has not been use- lessly or idly spent. His birth occurred in Baltimore, Md., August 24, 1830. His father, also Dennis B. Dorsey, himself came origin- ally from Baltimore county and there and in Virginia he was reared as a farmer. When about twenty years of age he was licensed to preach by the Methodist Conference. For a considerable time previous to this there had been no little controversy in the church concerning church polity, and the leaders on the side of the new movement were called Reformers. Mr. Dorsey read carefully the reform publications and was arraigned before the conference for the views he advocated, a movement which resulted in a vote that he should be reprimanded in open conference and that he should discontinue taking and reading the reform documents ; and also that he should refrain from express- ing his views. This latter he would not accede to and was consc- quently suspended and afterwards expelled from the conference. Large numbers left the M. E. Church, and organized the Methodist Protestant Church, electing Mr. D. editor of the paper representing the tenets of their doctrine. But being in feeble health and unable to stand itinerant work, he was induced to commence the study of medi- cine, and with the celebrated Dr. S. K. Jennings, as preceptor, pre- pared himself for attendance at Washington Medical College, of Balti- more, from which institution he was graduated later on. For 30 years afterwards he was engaged in active practice, part of the time at Wheel- ing, Va., and also at Steubenville, O. In the spring of 1860 he died at Fairmont, W. Va. His wife was formerly Miss Frances Purdue, of Center county, Pa., the daughter of Dr John Purdue, who followed his chosen profession in that county for many years;

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HISTORY OF LIVINGSTON COUNTY.

she died in 1853. Dennis B., the subject of this sketch, the second son and child of 11 children in his parents' family, grew up in Wheel- ing, W. Va., and Steubenville, O., passing his early life in acquiring an education, first in the public schools and afterwards in Scott's Seminary, of Steubenville. In the latter city he learned the printer's trade in the Herald office, and also commenced reading medicine with his father. In early manhood he entered the ministry of the Meth- odist Protestant Church and devoted some 20 years of his life to this calling, but at intervals he practiced medicine, having in the mean- time attended lectures at Miami Medical College, of Cincinnati. When the war broke out he had charge of the church at Morgantown, Va., but deeming it his duty to enter military service, he was com- missioned by Gov. Pierrepont, surgeon of the 3d Virginia infantry and served in that capacity until the latter part of 1862, then resign- ing on account of impaired health. He was subsequently pastor of the church at Fairmont and then assumed editorial charge of his denominational paper at Springfield, O., where he remained some two years, finally returning to the pastorate of the church at Fair- mont. In 1868 Dr. Dorsey came to Chillicothe and engaged in the drug business a short time, but in February, 1869, he became editor of the Chillicothe Tribune, in which capacity he acted until May, 1885. Then he was appointed city clerk and recorder and is now dis- charging his official duties in a manner above reproach. Since com- ing to Missouri the Doctor united with the M. E. Church and has served as pastor of several charges though without changing his home or interfering with his editorial work. While in the M. P. Church he frequently acted as secretary of the annual conference to which he belonged, and was the secretary of one general conference. He was a member of the general convention, which met at Wheeling in the early part of 1861 to endeavor to keep the State in the Union, and was also a member of the convention which reorganized the govern- ment of Virginia and chose the officers of the State, headed by Gov. Pierrepont. And a fact not to be overlooked is that he was the mover of the first resolution in the convention looking to the organiz- ation of the State of West Virginia, an item of interest which is men- tioned in Horace Greeley's work, " American Conflict." October 24, 1854, Dr. Dorsey was married to Miss Margaret Gray, daughter of Jacob Gray, of Halfmoon Valley, Center county, Pa. ; her father had eight children in his family, all girls (six being by his first marriage ), who with one exception married Methodist ministers. The Doctor and wife have five children living: Frank B., a practicing physician at Salem, Daviess county ; Gray, a physician at Spring Hill ; Luella, Eva and Purdue. Two are deceased, George W. and Edward. Dr. D. has ever been a stanch Republican and has rendered his party efficient service. He has long been a valuable contributor to magazines and various newspapers.

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HISTORY OF LIVINGSTON COUNTY.

LARKIN FIELD

(Retired Farmer, Chillicothe).

The career of Mr. Field presents an example of industry, per- severance and good management, rewarded by substantial results, well worthy of imitation by young men who start out as he did without means to begin on or the influence of wealthy friends to help him along. At a pioneer day in her history he removed from the Blue Grass State to Monroe county, Mo., in 1836, and lived there for three years, then changing his residence to Grundy county in 1839. With the early development and interests of that county he was also prom- inently identified, and among other things he was the first to sow clover blue grass there. He also conducted a mill for some time and in 1865 he came to this county, which has since numbered him among her most substantial citizens. The stock interests especially found in him a warm friend, for to this industry he gave considerable atten- tion, particularly to mules. Upon the organization of Mercer county he was one of the commissioners appointed to select the seat of jus- tice, and largely through his efforts the town of Princeton was chosen and located. Mr. Field is a typical Kentuckian, hospitable, social, free-handed, and a man whom everybody esteems. His birth occurred in the Blue Grass State June 27, 1812. His parents, John and Lavinia Field, née Shortridge, were also Kentuckians by nativity and brought their son up to learn the rudiments of farm life. For some years, however, he was engaged in cutting special orders in lumber. In 1833 his marriage to Miss Melissa Shortridge occurred, she also having been born in Kentucky, and some three years after this event Mr. F. became a citizen of Missouri. During the war he lost heavily through depredations of unprincipled men of both sides, though since then has recovered largely from the effects of these misfortunes. In 1885, after a lifetime of active and energetic labor, Mr. Field retired from the duties of busy life and is now enjoying the comforts of the com- petence which his years of toil have brought him. His residence is in the northern part of town. On account of ill health Mr. Field went to California in 1869 and remained away three years. The family of himself and wife consists of two children: Lizzie, now a widow, Mrs. McGuire, living near Chillicothe, and John, one of the sterling agriculturists of Livingston county.

JOHN A. FLAHERTY.

(Farmer, Section 14, Post-office, Chillicothe).

There is generally more or less similarity in the sketches of the lives of those who have for the most part been engaged in agricul- tural pursuits from boyhood; but Mr. Flaherty's career, while prin- cipally an agricultural one, has been interspersed with occupations of different natures, sufficient to render him well posted with different affairs, peoples, etc. One of the native-born citizens of the county,

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HISTORY OF LIVINGSTON COUNTY.

he remained here up to 1864, but in that year a desire to travel led him to go to Montana, where he remained until 1870. During that time he was occupied in freighting, working in the mines, etc., and this has proved to have been of much profit to him. After his return he resumed his farming operations and has continued that calling to the present. His homestead contains 200 acres, well adapted to the purposes of general farming, and while his buildings may not be as pretentious as others in the county, they are commodious, neat and convenient and always kept in good condition. Indeed, this seems to be one of Mr. F.'s marked characteristics - to have everything about his place in order. As has been intimated he was born in Livingston county November 16, 1840, his father being Patrick Flaherty, a native of Ireland. He came to the United States when a young man and settled at New York, where he worked at his trade of brass turning and cabinet making. Subsequently he married Miss Ann Eliza Her- riman, of New Jersey, after which he came to this county in 1838 and embarked in farming. His death occurred in 1842, one son having been born of this union, John A. In 1856 Mrs. Flaherty became the wife of James Hutchinson and she bore her husband one daughter, Lydia J., now Mrs. Henry Graham, of Colorado. Young John has always followed the calling to which he was reared save for the time mentioned. On December 31, 1876, he took unto himself a wife in the person of Miss Arthelia A. Johns, of Muskingum county, O., who (lied in 1880, leaving two children, Frank Arthur and Mary Eliza. August 17, 1884, Mr. Flaherty was again married, to Jennie M. Hun- ter, of English nativity.

JOHN T. FORD (Chillicothe).

The entire life of Mr. Ford has been passed in an industrious man- ner, and not without substantial evidences of success, as will be seen from a glance at his present possessions. He is also numbered among those of Ohio nativity now in this county, having been born in Fair- field county, of the Buckeye State, August 17, 1819. Philip Ford, his father, was a Virginian by birth and first settled in the wilds of Ohio in 1812, there engaging in agricultural pursuits until his death, at the advanced age of 85 years. The maiden name of his wife was Elizabeth Callahan, of Pennsylvania, who died when 83 years old. The following children were born to them : Nathan, died when 12 years old ; Jesse, late a farmer of Findlay, O., but now of Emporia, Kan., married to Mary Powell, and the father of seven children ; Mary is the widow of Rev. Thos. Parker, who until his death in 1863 was a member of the North Ohio Conference of the M. E. Church ; five children were given them ; Samantha became the wife of Jacob Pickering, of Ohio, and their children are three in number ; Priscilla is now Mrs. Mahlon Conine, of Columbus, O. ; Philip, a graduate of Harvard Law University, is now a teacher in Indiana ; Jennie was married to James Munger, of Ohio, where they are engaged in farm-

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HISTORY OF LIVINGSTON COUNTY.

ing ; and James, another brother of John, died in infancy. Mr. Ford also has one other sister, Nancy. His first occupation in life after growing up was that of teaching, and subsequently he began the pub- lication of the Western Herald, of Findlay, O., in 1845. Soon after this, however, he sold his interest in this journal and resumed teach- ing, later on embarking in the railroad business. He was prominently associated with the building and locating of the Findlay branch of the Mad River and Lake Erie Railroad, afterwards served as conductor for 11 years, and finally became connected with the woolen mills of Carey, O., in which he continued until removing to Missouri in 1870. Here he is now interested in farming. Mr. Ford in 1846 married Miss Mary Howell, of Findlay, O., which union has been blessed with four children : Laura E., William T., Chas. F. and Mary. The two sons are bridge builders by trade and are doing well. "The youngest daughter remains at home. Mr. F. has been a leading member of the M. E. Church for several years. He is recognized as a substantial, solid citizen of Chillicothe.

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Author: Pease, Ora Merle Hawk, 1890- Publication date: 1886 Publisher: St. Louis, National Historical Company Number of Pages: 1260

Author: Pease, Ora Merle Hawk, 1890-
Publication date: 1886
Publisher: St. Louis, National Historical Company
Number of Pages: 1260