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 45
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 45
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WILLIAM WAGONSELLER
(Contractor and Township Collector, Hamilton).
Mr. Wagonseller is now filling his second term as the collector of Hamilton township, and no man has ever held the position who was better fitted to discharge the duties connected with it than he. He was first elected in March, 1882, and at the expiration of his term in March, 1884, was re-elected and no one has had reason to regret the wise choice thus made in calling him to this official capacity. Mr. W. was born in Beaver county, Pa., June 24, 1821, the son of George and Letitia (Cavender) Wagonseller, the former a native of Pennsyl- vania and the latter of Maryland. There were six children in their family, of whom William was the fourth. He was brought up in Guernsey county, O., until 14 years of age (the family having removed to that locality in 1825), and continued to work about the home farm until leaving with an emigrant train for Iowa. He traveled all over that State at a time when the Indians were numerous in that section of country, but finally returned east to Madison county, Ind., where he remained for three years, occupied in farming. In Decem- ber, 1840, he went to Crawford county, Ill., living there until 1867. In the meantime, however, he had enlisted October 5, 1861, in the 5th Illinois cavalry, in which he served for four years, entering the army as second lieutenant and being mustered out as captain. He took part in numerous engagements, among which were the siege of Vicksburg, battle of Jackson, and others. In 1867 he came to this county and commenced the business of contracting and plastering, in which he became well known. He is now a prominent member of the G. A. R., taking great interest in that order. February 4, 1844, Mr. Wagonseller was united in marriage with Miss Elizabeth Waldrup, who was born in Crawford county, Ill. She died March 4, 1863, leaving three children : Thomas H., Joe D., Mary E., wife of Daniel Coahram. Mr. W.'s second marriage occurred July 30, 1864, when Miss Eliza E. Garner, of Lawrenceville, Lawrence county, Ill., be- came his wife. There are three children by this union: George M., Nellie and Jessie. Mr. W. belongs to the M. E. Church.
W. V. WALKER (Grain Dealer, Hamilton).
In the conduct of a successful grain business Mr. Walker has given close and untiring attention to the buying and selling of this article,
423
HISTORY OF CALDWELL COUNTY.
and in connection with Mr. Frank Clark, elsewhere referred to, has attained no inferior reputation in this direction. Up to 1879 he was engaged in agricultural pursuits, but at that time commenced handling grain and seeds and has since continued that trade. He also has an ele- vator at this point and buys large quantities of grain on the line of the Hannibal & St. Joseph Railroad. He was born in Switzerland county, Ind., December 28, 1845, and is, therefore, in his 41st year. His father was J. O. Walker, born in Ohio in 1825; the maiden name of his mother was Sarah Waite. She was born in 1829 and is still living, her husband having died in 1869. J. O. Walker was by trade a cooper. He also followed steamboating to a considerable extent and ran the river from Cincinnati to New Orleans. Young Walker continued to live in the vicinity of his birthplace until after the war. He was favored with good educational advantages and was a student at school- Moore's Hill College -at the breaking out of hostilities, when he volunteered his services and enlisted in the 15th Indiana volunteer infantry. He was placed on detached service in the South and remained a soldier throughout the war, discharging all duties without flinching. Returning then to Indiana, he made his home there until 1868 when he came to Missouri, and in Caldwell county he farmed, as before stated, until embarking in his present business. Mr. Walker is a man of much personal popularity and richly merits the confidence and respect so widely shown him. His worthy wife was formerly Miss E. J. Martindale, a native of Fort Wayne, Ind., and to them three children have been given : Marion, Ada and Harvey. Mr. Walker's only brother, Prof. E. H. Walker, is now connected with the college at Pratt- ville, Cal.
J. M. WASHBURNE
(Special Agent of the Hartford (Conn.) Life and Annuity Insurance Company, Hamilton).
Mr. Washburne has only been located at this place a short time, but he has already built up a good business in insurance matters ; though perhaps this is not so much to be wondered at when we con- sider the reliability and substantial standing of the company he rep- resents. He is the special agent of the Hartford Life and Annuity Insurance Company, of Hartford, Conn., for Northwest Missouri. As. an energetic and thoroughly capable young man, there is no reason why he should not succeed, neither is there any doubt of his future prosperity. Born in Lowell, Middlesex county, Mass., April 26, 1851, he was the son of Thomas S. Washburne, of New Hampshire, a sea captain by calling, and Ann R. Washburne, née Rogers, also originally from Massachusetts. In their family were seven children, and of these J. M. was the third child and second son. He was edu- cated primarily in the State of his birth and was so fortunate as to supplement his early schooling by a partial course at Bowdoin College, from which he entered into life thoroughly fitted for business life. At first he engaged in the profession of teaching, following it some years
22
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HISTORY OF CALDWELL COUNTY.
in different States, but in 1885 he came to Missouri and soon located at Hamilton. Mr. W. was married in 1885 to Mrs. Letitia P. Wyman, a most agreeable young lady, a native of Ohio.
ROBERT L. WHITE
(Dealer in Groceries and Provisions, Hamilton) .
A man who, through his fair, honest and satisfactory manner of doing business gains a large patronage, is sure to become one of the best known and respected men in any community. Thus it has been with Mr. White, and thus it will continue to be as long as his career is marked with such a course as has characterized his business life since 1879. His desire and intentions are to carry a complete stock of goods, but at the same time to sell for a price that may come within the limit of all, and his success in the past is the best proof of the good judgment he has displayed in adopting such a plan. Among the farming population about Hamilton he does a large business, for hav- ing been an agriculturist himself he is thoroughly acquainted with their needs. It was in 1869 that he came to Caldwell county, and from that time on until 1879, when he engaged in his present business, he devoted himself to farming. At this time he owns 80 acres of land adjoining the city corporation, beside two acres in this place. Another fact might be mentioned to illustrate his progressive business capacity by stating that he was the first to start a delivery wagon in Hamilton. Mr. White was born in McKeene county, Pa., February 14, 1829, and continued to live in that vicinity until 22 years of age. Upon growing up he attended the ordinary schools, acquiring a good education, and subsequently learned the trade of carpenter and joiner. Upon going to Allegany county, N. Y., in 1852, he made his home there for seventeen years, at the expiration of which time he became a citizen of Caldwell county. In 1853 Mr. White was united in mar- riage with Miss Percis Abbott, whose birth occurred May 2, 1824, in Allegany county, N. Y. To them four children have been born : Alice, now Mrs. Brocious ; Emmet R., Roy L. and Ralph E.
JOHN T. WHITT
(Farmer and Stock-raiser, Section 26, Post-office, Hamilton).
Though a Kentuckian by birth the greater portion of the life of Mr. Whitt has been passed within the borders of this part of Missouri, his first settlement having been made in Daviess county, whither his parents with their family had located in 1844. The father of John T. Whitt was also native to Kentucky. He was four times married and became the father of a large family of children. His first wife was a Miss Ennis, who bore him seven children. His second mar- riage was to Miss Rebecca Patterson, of Kentucky, and by that union there were nine children. Miss Mary Clemmons, his third wife, was the mother of two children, and eight children were born of his mar- riage to Miss Eliza Murray, his last wife. John T., the eldest child
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HISTORY OF CALDWELL COUNTY.
of the second marriage, was born in Lexington, Fayette county, Ky., April 14, 1840, and when but four years of age accompanied his parents to Daviess county, their settlement there dating from the 24th of December of that year. He began his present successful farming career in that county under favorable auspices and with bright pros- pects, but in 1861 commenced driving a stage from Hamilton to Gal- latin, which he continued for nine years, becoming well known in that capacity. December 25, 1866, Mr. Whitt was married to Miss Belle Claypool, a daughter of Perry R. and Mary Ann ( Burnett ) Claypool, who were both born in Kentucky. Mrs. Whitt's birth occurred in
Warren county, that State, in 1849. In an early day her parents, with their family of nine children, eight daughters and one son, became residents of Carroll county, Mo. Mr. and Mrs. W. have two children : Walter J., born September 2, 1873, and Mollie B., born April 6, 1880. The farm which Mr. Whitt is now cultivating in such an excellent manner embraces 120 acres of well improved land.
SETH M. YOUNG
(Attorney at Law, Hamilton).
Among those who have occupied the position of city attorney or mayor of Hamilton, no one has been more universally popular than Seth M. Young, the present partner of Hon. B. M. Dilley, in the practice of law. His early training was not towards a professional life, for his father devoted himself to the unremitting labor of farm life, and the son was made acquainted with farm duties at a period when quite young. Charles H. Young, a native of Maine, was one of the pioneer settlers of Boone county, Ill. His wife's maiden name was Eunice Blood, and her birthplace in the State of Indiana. In 1869 they came to Caldwell county. Seth M. Young had been born pre- vious to their removal here, July 1, 1854, in Boone county, Ill. His education was received in that State partly, and after coming here he supplemented his primary schooling with an attendance at the institutions of learning in this county. His literary education was finally completed, but the legal education which he had determined upon was yet to be obtained. Commencing the study of law in the office of Shanklin, Low & MeDougal, of Gallatin, Daviess county, Mo., he was soon prepared to present himself for admission to the bar, and in 1876 he was given his diploma as an attorney at law. In 1878 Mr. Young located at Hamilton, and in May, 1885, became associated with Mr. Dilley in the practice of his profession. At this time he is the mayor of the town, and has also been city attorney, and the polit- ical record which he may have gained is honorable and untarnished. He has not allowed outside matters to interfere with his professional duties, and as a consequence is rising in the ranks of the legal lumi- naries of this community. Mr. Young has been twice married First, in May, 1878, to Miss Mollie Selby, of Gallatin, Daviess county. She died November 12, 1881, leaving a daughter, Katie, and one son, Seth M., Jr., who died a short time after his mother. May 2, 1883, Miss Nellie Selby, also of Gallatin, became his wife.
CHAPTER XIII.
GOMER TOWNSHIP.
General Description - Early History - First Land Entries - Organization - The Town of Nettleton.
Gomer township comprises Congressional township 57, range 27. The greater portion of the township is rolling prairie, and a portion of the northern part has been only recently put into cultivation. Indeed there are some tracts into which a plow has never penetrated. Much of this land, it is safe to say, has been held for speculation, for it is all good and productive, and ought to have been plowed and tilled years ago.
Big Otter, in the southeast, Little Otter and Cottonwood in the southwest, Lick fork of Grand river in the northwest, and Long branch and Kettle creek in the northeast, are the streams (all small ) that drain the township.1 The central portion, along the line of the railroad, is elevated, and in wet seasons some fields are " drowned out." Whether this is for lack of proper and timely cultivation, or whether the land needs under-draining can not here be fairly stated.
Gomer township has very fine well kept roads, of which the people are justly proud. The bridges are always in good repair, the high- ways themselves in order. "Chuck holes " and " bad places " are almost unknown. The road supervisors seem to have hitherto been men who regarded their oaths of office and the citizens have seconded them in their fidelity, enterprise and public spirit. If there are good roads in a community it follows that the members thereof are enterprising, careful and bound to become thrifty.
Some excellent farming lands and some fine, well improved farms are to be found in this township. The citizens are chiefly from what are still known as the Northern States, and have brought with them
1 An old settler says that in early days there were many otter "slides " on the stream now called Otter creek; that Cottonwood was named from the timbers which grew on its banks ; that Lick fork was named from the saline banks or deer " licks " near its mouth, and that Kettle creek was named from the circumstance of fluding an iron kettle on its banks where a party of explorers or " bee hunters " had camped, fifty years ago.
(426)
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HISTORY OF CALDWELL COUNTY.
their enterprise, industry, love of the beautiful and regard for the comfortable.
EARLY HISTORY.
What is now Gomer township was perhaps the last settled in Caldwell county, owing to its scarcity of timber and want of attractiveness to the immigrant of early days, who uniformly preferred a " timber coun- try." In the southeastern part of the township one George Williams is reported to have made a settlement on Big Otter creek as early as in 1836. J. M. Bowers and Richard Bowers located in the same neigborhood not far from the year 1840. They were Tennesseeans. Peter Tetrick located in the northern portion of the township, along Lick fork, during the Mormon occupation.
Following were the first entries of land in this township :-
Name.
Description.
Date.
Peter Tetrick
se. sec. 5, se. sec. 7, sw. sec. 8
June 10, 1837
Geo. Williams
W. ¿ sw. sec. 25
Sept. 6, 1836
John Fryer
nw. se. sec. 25
Mar. 10, 1842
Richard Walton
nw. nw. sec. 33 and } sw. sec 28
June 19, 1837
Henry Bryant
sw. sw. sec. 32
June 7, 1842
Edwin Billings
se. se. sec. 34
May 28, 1840
Lorenzo Warner
sw. 4 sec. 33
Mar. 8, 1838
Robt. Rathbun
se. se. and ne. ne. sec. 33
July 26, 1837
John A. Morehead
nw. 4 sec. 6
Sept. 5, 1839
Richd. Wooderson, Jr.
e. ¿ sw. sec. 7
Feb. 26, 1842
Not until after the Hannibal and St. Joseph Railroad was projected, and perhaps not until after it was built, did the township begin to settle up, except in scattered localities along the streams. The rail- road company owned much of the land, and, cheap as it was, there was some difficulty in disposing of it. After the war the township began slowly to improve, and in the past ten years has kept pace with the other townships of the county.
ORGANIZATION.
Gomer was organized as a civil township, November 4, 1869. It was named for the village now called Nettleton. Under the recent township organization its municipal officers have been as follows :-
1881 - Trustee, Geo. Gurley ; clerk, B. F. Higgins ; collector, Wm. B. Wright ; justices of the peace, Jason Kinne, M. G. Nichols ; constable, Lytle Stagner.
1883 - Trustee, Wmn. Mapes; clerk, James Van Note ; collector, W. B. Wright ; justices of the peace, James O'Toole, W. T. Fields ; constable, Bryan Fahey.
1885 - Trustee, Geo. Gurley ; clerk, James Tuggle ; collector, Leander Alexander ; justices of the peace, J. F. Naylor, M. O. Cox ; constable, Wm. Tiernan.
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HISTORY OF CALDWELL COUNTY.
NETTLETON.
The village of Nettleton is the only one in Gomer township. It is located in the eastern or northeastern portion of the township, on the Hannibal and St. Joseph Railroad, and the town plat comprises all of section 14 and 200 acres off of the southern part of section 11. It is a town of magnificent proportions as to area certainly, whatever it may be in regard to population and importance. Truly, to use the oft- quoted expression, there is room for a big town here.
Nettleton was laid out by Hunt, Godfrey & Co., of Hannibal, in the year 1868. Maj. Josiah Hunt and C. O. Godfrey were well known railroad men and capitalists at the time. The town was at first called Gomer, a Bible name (one of the sons of Japheth ), and a Hebrew word signifying finished or completed. In 1870 the name was changed by order of the county court to Nettleton, in honor of Geo. H. Nettle- ton, a former superintendent of the Hannibal and St. Joseph and a well known railroad man. Another station had been laid off on the road, in Marion county, and called Nettleton, but that station had " played ont."
A railroad station was built at Nettleton in 1870. The same year a post-office was established and called Gomer. The postmaster was J. E. Hitt, who was also land agent for the railroad company. A Mrs. Sterling was first appointed to take charge of the post-office, but she was unable to erect a building in which to keep the office, and so Mr. Hitt was appointed. The village had one store in 1870. Its popula- tion in 1878 was about 50, and its present population is about 125. It has two general stores, a grain elevator, lumber yard, and daily mail.
BIOGRAPHICAL.
LEANDER W. ALEXANDER
(Farmer and Raiser of Thoroughbred Hereford Cattle, Post-offlee, Nettleton).
The father of the subject of the present sketch, James Alexander, originally from Ohio, became a citizen of Missouri in 1840, and from that time to his death, which occurred August 16, 1882, he was intimately and prominently associated with the history of Ray and Caldwell counties. For some 15 years he resided in the former
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HISTORY OF CALDWELL COUNTY.
county, coming here in 1862, where he ever afterwards was well known. His wife was formerly Miss Lavinia C. Nelson, of Belmont county, O. Of their family there are five children living and two dead, one son and one daughter, besides Leander, the second son : James F., of Daviess county ; Lavinia C., wife of C. B. Morris, of Harrison county ; Emma, wife of W. A. Wright, of this county ; Alfred and Oliver, of this county. Leander, born in Ray county, Mo., November 12, 1843, was reared there and in Ohio, his father having returned to that State in 1851 and remained until 1858. Coming again to Missouri, he has continued to follow in the channels of the calling to which he grew up - farming and stock raising. At the present time Mr. Alexander is turning his attention to the raising of thoroughbred Hereford cattle, believing, and wisely too, that it costs in the end less to secure a good class of stock than a poor grade, and he is much interested in endeavoring to promote advanced stock matters in this community. Among his fine herd of cattle is the cel- ebrated male animal, Temperance, No. 12,574, imported from England, and a direct descendant of "Old Count" the 2d. Mr. A. has been twice married. First in 1869 to Miss Emeline Petty, of Ray county, who died in 1875, leaving two sons, Ammi and Melvin. His second wife was Alice Cheshier, a Tennesseean by birth, to whom he was mar- ried February 24, 1878. Two sons have blessed this union. Flavius and Leander H.
ROBERT G. BROWN
(Post-office, Hamilton).
Mr. Brown is another member of that well known family whose name he bears, mention of whom has been so frequently made in these pages, and it is but the truth to say that he shares equally in the esteem and honor in which his brothers are held. An outline of the life of his father, George I. Brown, is given in the sketch which follows this, so that it is unnecessary to repeat what will there appear. Robert G. was born June 13, 1839, in Ontario county, of the Empire State, and like the other boys in the family worked on the farm until 17 years of age. After leaving the common schools he attended the Lima High School and subsequently was a student at the Dansville High School, the principal of which was J. J. Brown, an uncle of his. From this institution he emerged well informed in mind and for about a year following he farmed. In April, 1862, Mr. Brown was married to Miss Clara B. Stanley, daughter of John Stanley, Esq., a farmer of Dansville, N. Y. By this union there were three children : George S., Jesse J. and Willie, all living. Mr. B.'s second wife was formerly Miss Florence M. Polley, whose father, Rev. George W. Polley, was a minister of the Methodist Episcopal Church. Four children born of this second mar- riage survive. One, Robert, died in infancy. In 1867, Mr. Brown became located at Battle Creek, Calhoun county, Mich., and for some time was engaged in the sewing machine business. Previous to his removal there he had read medicine with Dr. Campbell, of Lima, N.
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HISTORY OF CALDWELL COUNTY.
Y. Upon coming to Caldwell county, Mo., in 1868, he purchased the 80 acres of land upon which he now makes his home and devoted himself closely to agricultural pursuits until 1879, when he com- menced the study of dentistry under Dr. Simcock, of Hamilton. Pursuing his studies assiduously for a year he was enabled to enter into partnership with Dr. S., and in 1880 commenced the active prac- tice of his profession. He has a well appointed office, and his skill and ability in the treatment of the dental organs are too well known to need from us any words of commendation. His farm is well improved, an orchard of three acres forming an attraction of the place. The farm is six and a half miles from Hamilton.
JOHN N. BROWN
(Farmer and Stock-raiser, Section 27, Post-office, Hamilton).
As far back as can be traced the paternal ancestors of Mr. Brown were from Ireland, although the date of their immigration to this country is by the lapse of time entirely obscured. His father, Geo. I. Brown, was born in Dutchess county, N. Y., November 3, 1815, and during life followed the occupations of farming and house build- ing. His wife, formerly Miss Mary Ogden, was born in Connecticut, November 25, 1814. Their three sons were Robert G., a prominent dentist of Hamilton, born June 13, 1839 ; John N., born November 29, 1844, and Henry J., born October 27, 1847. In 1868 George I. Brown removed to Calhoun county, Mich., and located some 4 miles from Battle Creek, and for many years afterwards he was supervisor of that city. In 1871-72 he represented Calhoun county in the Legis- lature of Michigan. Both in private and public life he earned and merited the confidence and esteem of all with whom he came in con- tact. He was aggressive and industrious and up to the time of his death, July 23, 1883, the result of a fall from a building on which he was at work, the weight of years bore so lightly upon him that he seemed as active and vigorons as men much younger in years. His worthy and devoted wife had preceded him to the grave March 24, 1876. George I. Brown's father, John Brown, born in Dutchess county, N. Y., January 11, 1783, died in Michigan in 1831 ; Amanda Ingraham, his wife, born November 18, 1787, died in Livingston county, N. Y., October 8, 1845. They too were people of influence. John N. Brown was born in Ontario county, N. Y., and though not favored with many school advantages his early education was supple- mented by three terms' attendance at a seminary at Lima, a neighbor- ing town. In 1868 he left New York and with his father settled near Battle Creek, Mich., where he farmed about five years. In 1873 he took up his residence in this county and a year after moved upon the farm which he now occupies. Then it was raw prairie land, unfenced, but now it is one of the best 160 acre tracts in the township. The improvements are complete and the neatness and order noticeable about the home indicate the progressive agriculturist that he is. He handles stock to some extent. Mr. Brown's estimable wife was
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HISTORY OF CALDWELL COUNTY.
formerly Miss Jennie Brown, whom he married October 23, 1866. She was born in Livingston county, N. Y., May 5, 1845, and was a daughter of Henry Brown, whose wife before her marriage was a Miss Atchison. Her parents were originally from Ireland. They have five children living : Mary, Harry, Bessie, Bertha and Nelson. Mr. B. is prominently and enthusiastically interested in educational mat- ters, to the improvement of which he has done no little, and he is now president of the school board of this district. Himself and wife are members of the M. E. Church at Hamilton.
HENRY J. BROWN
(Farmer, Section 21, Post-office, Hamilton). "Speak of me as I am; naught extenuate Nor aught set down in malice."
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