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 40

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 40
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 40

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JOHN C. GRIFFING (Wagon-maker, Hamilton).

Now in his sixtieth year, Mr. Griffing is actively engaged in the trade of wagon making, an occupation with which he became familiar in early youth, and which he has continued to follow with great per- severance and assiduity ever since. In the conduct of his business at this point he is gaining his share of custom. Born in 1825, at Aurora, Ind., he was the son of Ebenezer and Catherine Griffing, the maiden name of the latter being Lee. She was a Kentuckian by birth, born in 1780; the father was born in Pennsylvania in 1770. They were married near Cincinnati in 1803, and afterwards made their home in Lieking county, O., for several years, subsequently moving to Indiana, where the father died in 1849. By profession he was a physician and a man of superior intellect and an extensive practitioner for twenty years. He belonged to the Masonic fraternity and during the Masonic troubles in 1825 was a Master Mason. His widow survived until 1859. The Doctor had been twice married, the

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HISTORY OF CALDWELL COUNTY.

five children borne by the first wife ( formerly a Miss Cherry ) now being deceased. By the second union there were nine children, two of whom survive, Willis in Western Texas, and the subject of this sketch, who was brought up and received his education in Tippecanoe county, Ind. He lived there about thirty years, following, besides his trade, the mercantile business and trading in stock. In 1859 he went to Montgomery county, Ind., carried on a store there for three years and then resumed his trade. He there married in 1859 Miss Frances Ellis, daughter of D. B. Ellis. Their children are Sally Ann, wife of Harry Bassett; Jennie, Lizzie, wife of George Hughs ; Harriet B., Mrs. John Hughs ; Charles, Catherine, Fred, Willis, and J. H. Anderson, a stepson and railroad man. In 1868 Mr. Griffing came to Hamilton, previous to which he had resided for some time in Daviess county, where he filled the position of justice of the peace for a while. He has since remained here. For about thirty years he has been a member of the Baptist Church, as were also his parents before him.

L. L. GRIGSBY

(Dealer in Hardware, Jewelry, House Furnishing Goods, etc., Hamilton).

It was in the capacity of a teacher that Mr. Grigsby first became acquainted with the people of Caldwell county, and they with him, and such was the record that he gained in that calling that upon opening his present establishment success was assured him from the very first. In 1876 he came to Caldwell county and for two years taught at Hamilton, his field of labor for the next two years being at Kingston, and then he embarked in the hardware business, which he has since continued. Time has proved that his judgment was wisely dis- played in making this change, especially in a financial point of view, for the business which he now carries on is one which demands his en- tire attention. In November, 1883, he started a branch hardware store at Kingston, the county seat of Caldwell. His trade is not limited to the county immediately adjacent to Hamilton, but is wide in area. His complete stock embraces all goods generally found in a hardware store, besides stoves, house furnishing goods, etc., and outside of this he manufactures a combination fence. Jewelry is also to be had here. Mr. Grigsby came originally from Jay county, Ind., where he was born February 7, 1849. James L. Grigsby, his father, was of Virginia birth, and in March, 1882, became permanently located in this county. His wife's maiden name was Rheney Ann Morgan, a native of Ohio. The senior Grigsby by occupation was a farmer, a pursuit with which the subject of this sketch became familiar while in Indiana and Ohio. His primary education was supplemented with a course in the Northwestern Normal School at Lebanon, O., and after leaving that institution he filled the position of teacher for four years in a school at Middletown, O. Subsequent to this Mr. Grigsby took up his location in this county, where his career since then has been noted. In 1880 he was united in marriage with Miss Ida J. Shellaberger, a lady of esteemed qualities of mind and heart,

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HISTORY OF CALDWELL COUNTY.

who was herself born in Indiana. By this union there are two chil- dren, Gracie and Cleta. Mr. G. is prominently connected with the I. O. O. F.

ISAAC J. C. GUY

(Real Estate, Loan and Collection Agent, Hamilton).

A long residence in Caldwell county and thorough familiarity with its territory, as well as an extensive acquaintance with the people who comprise its population, have contributed very materially to the suc- cessful conduct of the business in which Mr. Guy is now engaged. Since 1868 he has been identified with the interests of the county in different capacities. Soon after coming here in the year mentioned he purchased a stock of goods and started a family grocery, buy- ing out Mr. J. F. Spratt, now of the firm of Houston, Spratt & Menefee, bankers, subsequently erecting a building and opening a hardware store. At that time wheat was the principal cereal raised for the market here. Mr. Guy, seeing the farmers compelled to trade the only product they had to sell for goods which, if they had money they could buy much cheaper, conceived the idea of erecting a small elevator on the railroad here ( an enterprise that was discouraged, how- ever, by our influential citizens), which he, in company with a Mr. Naugle, carried into execution the following season, they being the first to make a permanent market in this county for grain. For years suc- ceeding this he devoted his attention to farming, but in 1875 he formed a partnership with Mr. Frank Clark to again carry on the grain bus- iness. They handled large quantities of grain and had extensive trans- actions in this line, buying from wagons alone more than 20,000 bushels during the year 1876. In 1881 Mr. Guy sold his farm and opened a real estate and loan office in Hamilton, which he has since carried on. In the prosecution of his labors in this direction he has succeeded in building up a business of no mean proportions and this is not confined to Caldwell county alone, but reaches over the adjoining counties where he is almost equally as well known. His reputation as a man of strict integrity in all business matters is of a high order. He has done much for Hamilton and Caldwell county and his worth is recognized. His term of service as a member of the city council is indignantly re- membered by the whisky element whom he most strenuously op- poses. Mr. Guy was born in Wayne county, Ind., on the 25th day of December, A. D. 1837. John Guy, his father, was a native of New- market, Va., and was by trade a tailor. He enlisted and served in a Virginia regiment in the War of 1812 as a private soldier. In 1836, being an anti-slavery man he could not bear to see human chat- tels, he loaded his effects (which consisted mostly in children ) in wagons and directed his course towards the far West. He settled first in Wayne county, Ind., remaining here, however, only about two years, when he removed to Miami county, Ind., which was just opened to settlement. His wife's maiden name was Winifred Bussel, a lady who, although American born, was full-blooded Scotch of the old Scotch Presbyterian stock. Isaac was the youngest

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HISTORY OF CALDWELL COUNTY.

child in his parents' family of 10 children, five boys and five girls, of whom two boys and three girls still live; his mother died when he was only four years old and his father died when he was about twelve, leaving young Isaac to battle with the world alone, with no fortune but an iron will and a fixed determination to make his mark in the world. His idea was first to get an education, if possible, but the fa- cilities were very limited ; three months was the longest term of the public school in this county, and the school buildings were generally made of round logs ; the writing desk was a broad board fastened to the wall, the seats were slab or puncheon, with holes bored in the ends for legs to fasten in. Being quite a slender lad it was but little he could earn, consequently when he could make money enough to purchase blue jeans sufficient for a new suit, he was very proud and comfort- able. He worked doing chores for his board and attended the dis- trict school, never missing a day during the term on any account. He made it a rule to study until ten o'clock each night, and for the pur- pose of light and warmth he had to build a big log fire in the capa- cious fire-place, and read by the light of the fire, as the people with whom he boarded would not allow a candle burned after they retired to bed. He made such rapid progress in his studies that at the age of 17 years he applied to the county examiner and obtained a license to teach common school for two years, which was the longest time the law permitted certificates to issue. At that time the grade of scholarship was determined by the length of time covered by the license to teach. His first ambition was to teach his first school in the county where he was born. He packed his valise with the few clothes he had and started for old Wayne county, distant about 100 miles ; arriving there on Wednesday, he visited the di- rector, and on Saturday night was duly employed to teach the district school for three months, at $25 per month, which was more money than he had ever owned at one time before. He continued to teach school winters, with the exception of two years, for the next 12 years. In 1856, with about $20 in his pocket, he started for the far West, which was then in Iowa, landing in Des Moines, in September, " without a dollar." Des Moines was then a village of about 2,000 inhabitants, but was improving very rapidly. Young Guy immedi- ately turned carpenter and was employed by a contractor, by the name of Thomas White, at $2 per day. He continued to work at carpenter- ing until the following June, when Omaha, Neb., began to boom and a great demand for carpenters was reported. He packed up, boarded the stage for Council Bluffs, and after four days' and nights' constant staging they arrived in Council Bluffs, tired and sleepy. A job was immediately obtained at $2.50 per day, but the great excitement in Kansas over the introduction of slavery into that Territory aroused his fearless spirit, and he once more packed his tools and started for Kansas, taking passage on the steamer John Warner. When he stepped to the clerk, and offered to pay his fare to Leaven- worth, the captain said to him: " Young man, don't you know that a Northern man can not land at that point." Arriving at Leaven-

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HISTORY OF CALDWELL COUNTY.

worth, no opposition was offered to his landing. He traveled through the Territory seeking employment, but finding none. One day, while traveling along the highway, he met a company of what was then called border ruffians. He made up his mind who they were, and what to do very quickly. He marched straight up to them, was halted and asked where he was from, to which he immediately replied " from Virginia," and that he had come out there not to fight, but to vote for the South. After a few more questions he was told to pass on, as they guessed he was all right. Returning to Leavenworth " dead broke " he crawled into a government wagon to spend the night. He found a young man by the name of Garland had taken the same room, although it was dark and he was without sup- per. He soon told his stranger companion how he was fixed and was invited to remain with him, which he did. Next morning they both hired to W. S. Caldwell, of Kansas, to assist him in surveying in the southern part of Nebraska, with orders to start the next morning, young Garland advancing the money. to purchase an outfit for both. There were six started and four returned, two having been frozen by being caught out in a Nebraska blizzard. They arrived at Leavenworth on their return January 7, 1857. Mr. Guy then started for home, stop- ping at Jefferson City, Hermann, Gasconade station and St. Louis. He married Miss Sarah Cole, formerly of Hancock county, Ohio, Novem- ber 7th, 1858, who died August the 22d, 1863, leaving two children, John and Ellsworth. He took a course at H. J. Eastman's branch busi- ness college at Indianapolis. He enlisted as a soldier in the 100 days' service February, 1864, and was assigned to the 134th regiment of Indiana volunteer infantry ; was immediately appointed orderly sergeant of Co. K. A vacancy occurring in the second lieutenancy of his company, he was commissioned by Gov. Morton second lieutenant of the same company, and served in that capacity until being mustered out on account of expiration of term of service. He re-enlisted on the 25th day of February, 1865, and was commissioned by Gov. Morton first lieutenant of Co. C, in the 151st regiment of Indiana volunteer infantry, but was soon after detailed by Col. Henley as acting adjutant, in which capacity he served until the regiment was mustered out Sep- tember 27th, 1865. He obtained leave of absence on the 29th day of July, and returned to his home in Indiana where he was united in marriage to Miss Sarah A. Griffith, of Miami county, Ind., August 23, 1865. By this union there are three children : Charles, Effie and Phocion. Mr. G. is a member of the A. F. and A. M. and the G. A. R.

DAVID C. HARDMAN

(Farmer and Stock-raiser, Section 27, Post-office, Hamilton).

Mr. Hardman is a man whom nature seems to have especially designed to be a tiller of the soil. The pursuit of agriculture has afforded him high gratification, and in the conduct of a farm the principles which he has held have been peculiarly adapted to the suc- cessful development and improvement of the varied elements of farm

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HISTORY OF CALDWELL COUNTY.

life. Of unquestioned honesty and integrity, his course through life has been unmarred by criticism. Mr. Hardman was born March 28, 1827, in Darke county, O., his father and mother having come respec- tively fromKentucky and Pennsylvania. His father was Jonathan Hardman, who married Sarah Cable, and of the eleven children resulting from this union, David C. was the ninth child. From his earli- est youth he spent his time on a farm at his birthplace until 1866, when he came to Caldwell county, Mo. Immediately he took such a position in the community as he fully deserved, and since then has gone steadily forward. He owns 320 acres of land, upon which he has erected complete and necessary buildings, his barn especially being deserving of mention. It is one of the best in the county, and almost perfect in its appointments. Mr. H. is a married man, his marriage having occurred in 1848 to Miss Hettie E. Bosserman, of Pennsylvania. Their family circle includes seven children : Salome, Solomon, Charlotte, wife of Geo. Simpson ; John, Fanny, now Mrs. Frank Shutt; David and Laura. Mr. Hardman is connected with the German Baptist Church.

THOMAS H. HARE (Photographer, Hamilton).

The business in which Mr. Hare is engaged is one that can be suc- cessfully followed only by a person thoroughly acquainted with every detail of the art of photography. In this respect he has long occu- pied a front rank among the artists in this vicinity, for the work which he turns out is ample proof of his skill and ability as a superior pho- tographer. Mr. Hare was born December 31, 1839, and owes his nativity to Allegheny county, Pa., his parents also having been born in that State. His father, Robert Hare, was a farmer by calling. The maiden name of the mother was Margaret Negley. Of the family of ten children which blessed their union, Thomas was the fourth child and third son. His childhood days and earlier manhood were passed in the vicinity of his birthplace, and he was employed about a farm until eighteen years of age, when he commenced to learn the photo- graph business, which he soon mastered. For three years he made

his home in Johnstown, and also for the same length of time in Union- town, after which he lived at Greensburg for a year. In 1869 he came to Caldwell county, Mo., and has since resided here, following from 1870 his present occupation, in which he has built up a well merited reputation. In 1864 he was married to Miss Agnes Johnson, a young lady of many estimable characteristics, originally from the Keystone State. The three children which have been born to them are named Maggie, Willie and Ottie, and besides this one son, Ora, is deceased. Mr. Hare is a member of the I. O. O. F.

COL. J. W. HARPER

(Proprietor of Durham Meadow Fine Stock Farm and Raiser of Thoroughbred Short- Horn Cattle, Post-office, Hamilton).

The history of every community is made up, so far as its more interseting and important features are concerned, of the events and

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HISTORY OF CALDWELL COUNTY.

transactions of the lives of its prominent, representative citizens. No worthy history of Caldwell county would, therefore, be complete with- out an outline at least of the life of the subject of this sketch, for he is recognized as among the most progressive citizens of the commun- ity. Born in Huron county, O., July 13, 1839, he was the son of Joseph Harper, a native of Vermont, and Susan ( Williams ) Harper, who after their marriage became located in Ohio, subsequently moving to DeKalb county, Ill. Young Harper in growing up was reared to a mercantile experience at Belvidere, Ill., and in May, 1861, he enlisted in the 15th Illinois infantry and served three months; then he entered the 9th Illinois cavalry, received a commission as second lieutenant and afterwards was promoted to first lieutenant, then to captain and lieutenant-colonel, and finally was made colonel. His war experience was one of active and severe service, for he took part in 140 engage- ments and skirmishes, and served until October 31, 1865, gaining for himself an honorable name as a brave and fearless soldier. He received one wound at Nashville. Returning to Boone county, Ill., after being mustered out, Mr. Harper remained there until 1867; in 1868 he came to this county, and at once engaged in farming. Indus- try and close attention to his agricultural interests soon began to bear their usual fruits and in ample abundance, and he shortly became one of the well established and prosperous farmers in the county. His farm adjoining the city limits embraces 340 acres, a fine tract of land, underlying which is an excellent quality of coal. In 1872 he was elected sheriff of Caldwell county, and in 1880 Col. Harper was nominated by the Republican party as their candidate from this county for the State Legislature. He was elected, and during his official career labored earnestly and zealously for the best interests of the State and com- munity in which he made his home. For some time he has been giv- ing his attention to the raising of short-horn cattle, a calling in which he is acknowledged to be a leader, and at this time he has 100 head of registered animals, or eligible to registry. He was one of the organ- izers of the Hamilton Coal Company, and became its superintendent. In every position in life he has sincerely deserved the success which has attended him, for no one has risen to prominence more honorably or accepted their good fortune more humbly than he. In 1860 the Colonel was married to Miss Frances Allen, originally from Herkimer county, N. Y. They have four children : Irving E., Minnie S., Myrtie and Frank. He is closely identified with the Masonic Order, belong- ing to the Knights Templar of that order.

HAMAN HEMRY

(Farmer and Stock-raiser, Section 12, Post-oflice, Hamilton).

As far as is known, the name which is borne by the subject of this sketch is one which belongs to no other family in the United States save the Hemrys of this county, and here Mr. Hemry is numbered among our most enterprising and substantial tillers of the soil. He came to the county in 1855 in company with his brother, Isaac Hemry, and immediately commenced farming, to which he has since

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HISTORY OF CALDWELL COUNTY.

devoted himself with ceaseless activity. He purchased the first reaper and mower-a Buckeye -ever brought to Hamilton, one of five shipped to that point, and the mention of this fact but serves to show that in all worthy movements he has been a prominent leader. He owns 465 acres of land, making a specialty of raising horses and mules, and the competence which he now enjoys is indeed a handsome one. Haman's father, Abraham Hemry, was a farmer by occupation and a native of Pennsylvania, as was also his wife, formerly Miss Catharine Shuman, though she was of German ancestry. When 3 years old Abraham Hemry accompanied his father, Henry, to Carroll county. Haman, the sixth child and fourth son in his parents' family, was born in Carroll county, O., September 9, 1830, and continued to remain in that locality, growing up on a farm, until 25 years of age, when he made his home in Caldwell county. November 23, 1856, he was married to Miss Eliza J. McDonald, a daughter of Randolph and Lockey McDonald, of Ray county, Mo. Mrs. Hemry died July 26, 1884, of consumption, leaving 10 children : John W., Belle Everett, now Mrs. Gibson ; Mary Ellen, Lockey Jane, Emaline, Charles, Katie, Jimmie, Raymond and Bessie.

In this connection it is but proper that a brief sketch of the life of Mr. Hemry's brother, Isaac N. Hemry, be given, for up to his sad death a short time ago he was well known to nearly every one. He was born in Carroll county, O., July 23, 1828, was reared as a farmer, and when 18 years of age commenced teaching school, an occupation which he followed to a greater or less extent until coming here in 1855. For one or two years after that he continued the same calling, gaining the reputation of being a most excellent instructor. Subse-

quently he engaged in farming and later purchased a stock of goods, but the enterprise proved an unprofitable one and in 1857 he went to California, where he lived three years. Returning home, he farmed until the outbreak of the war and then raised the first company of Home Guards organized in the county; his war record is that of a brave and fearless soldier. At the close of the war he purchased a hotel at Macon City, in company with his father-in-law, at a cost of $14,000, but shortly it was burned, a light insurance causing a heavy loss upon them. Next he farmed, then made two trips to Oregon and California, and farmed for four years in the latter State, near Sac- ramento. His next venture was as a general merchant at Richmond, Kan., from whence he later moved his stock, first. to Kansas City, then to Wyandotte, Kan., next to Cameron, Mo., and finally to Hamilton, where he disposed of his goods. After farming for a time he was employed to take charge of property known as the Kinney farm, which he did until August 30, 1885, when he wa's most cowardly and atrociously murdered by being shot. A full account of this murder is given in another part of this work. Mr. H. married in 1865 Miss Sallie, daughter of David Thompson, of this county. She survives her husband and has five children : Lola, Grant, Cora M., Pearl and Jewell. Isaac Hemry was noted for his great powers of persever-

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ance. Though unfortunate in many transactions it seemed to be impossible to keep him down, but above all obstacles he would rise again, to meet with either success or partial defeat. The manner of his taking off was most brutal.

BENJAMIN F. HOLMES

(Farmer and Stock Dealer, Hamilton).

Among those who have become intimately associated with the stock interests of this county we can not fail to mention Mr. B. F. Holmes, who, from a very early period in life, has given his attention to this channel of business life, gaining for himself a reputation which may be a source of pardonable pride. His birth occurred in the town of Washington, Kent county, R. I., February 6, 1837. His parents were Pelig and Mary A. (Tillinghast) Holmes, the former of Ply- mouth, Mass., and the latter originally from Rhode Island. In their family were six children. The father devoted himself during life to agricultural pursuits and handling stock, becoming well versed in each branch. In the fall of 1849 he removed to Cortland county, New York, and continued to make his home there up to the time of his death. Benjamin F. Holmes, the second son and child in his parents' family, remained at home upon the farm for many years, pre- paring himself thoroughly for an advanced position in matters per- taining to stock. This, as all will acknowledge, has been accorded him in subsequent years. He is the owner of the bay stallion, Beloit Chief, 3 years old, by Beloit 1015, dam (the dam of Carrie R. record 2 : 313/4) said to be by Pilot, Jr., 12, bred by W. J. Neely, Ottawa, Ill. In the spring of 1868 be left New York and came to this county, at once engaging in farming. He now owns a small body of land just on the edge of Hamilton, where he gives a good share of his time to the feeding and shipping of cattle. In this he has been quite fortunate. Mr. Holmes was married in 1857, Miss Julia M. Gee be- coming his wife. She is an estimable lady, the daughter of Israel Gee, and was herself born in Cortland county, N. Y. They have four children : Ella, now Mrs. J. E. Harper ; Alice, Belle and Robert. Mr. H. is connected with the I. O. O. F.

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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