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 72
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 72
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HENRY ROLOFF
(Dealer in Hardware, Tinware, Stoves, Agricultural Implements, Wagons, Buggies, Etc., Breckinridge, Mo).
Wherever Mr. Roloff's name is known he is recognized among the people of Caldwell county and the surrounding country as one of the leading business men and substantial citizens of the county. Of German origin and birth, he is an excellent illustration of what thrift, energy and determination will accomplish when intelligently applied. It was after the close of the Civil War that he commenced to learn the tinner's trade in Cape Girardeau, Mo., and since that time his career has been most marked. Upon completing his learning of the trade of tinner he went to Quincy, Ill., in 1869 to Kingston, and November 1, 1885, to Breckinridge. For four years he worked as a journeyman, at the expiration of which period he embarked in the hardware business on a comparatively small scale. Since that time his interests have increased very largely, and the patronage which he now receives is what has been gained by his attention to business and kind, courteous treatment of customers. His stock will average about $5,000, and no man carries with him the more sincere desires of the
668
HISTORY OF CALDWELL COUNTY.
people at large for his continued success than he. Mr. Roloff was born in Germany on April 17, 1847, his father being Henry Roloff, a native of Brunswick, Germany, and a carpenter by trade. He was reared there, and took part in the revolution of 1848, at the close of which conflict he came to America and settled in Cape Girardeau county, Mo., in 1849. His death occurred soon after, and he was shortly followed by his wife, Mena Roloff, also of Germany. They left two children, Henry and Katie. The former was brought up in his adopted country, and on the breaking out of the war enlisted in the Federal army and served for four years, veteranizing at Camp Hebron, Miss. At the time of his enlistment he was only 14 years and 6 months old. He belonged to the light artillery, and partici- pated in the siege of Corinth, battle of Champion's Hill, siege of Vicksburg, and the battles of the Atlanta campaign ; and after the siege of Atlanta he returned to Nashville, Tenn., and subsequently to Clarksville, where he remained until the close of the war. His dis- charge occurred at Springfield, Ill. Mr. Roloff's marriage to Miss Sophia Gearns, who was born in Germany, was consummated in 1876. Their family numbers nine children : Harry, Tillie, Nellie, Carl, Robert, Katie, Albert, Henry and Lena. Mr. Roloff belongs to the A. F. and A. M. Harry is book-keeper and salesman in his father's establishment.
SAMUEL RUSSEL
(Of the Firm of Russel & Trosper, General Merchants, and President of the Exchange Bank, Breckinridge).
In endeavoring to prepare a true sketch of the life of Mr. Russel, the writer meets with facts which are greatly to his credit. A man of long and recognized prominence, and for years closely identified with the history of this portion of the county, he has become so intimately interwoven with its material development and progress that to mention his history almost necessitates the giving of part of the county's history. He is a Kentuckian by birth, born August 5, 1845, in Dan- ville, of the union of Richard and Elizabeth (Williams) Russel, of Kentucky nativity. The father was born in Mercer county in 1818 and the mother in Boyle county in 1820. Richard Russel grew up in Boyle county and carried on his business of building and contracting at Danville until 1849, when he came to Independence, Jackson county, Mo., there resuming the same occupation. In 1856 he went to Pleasant Hill, Cass county, and in 1862 settled on a farm near Lone Jack. In September, 1863, he left there under the celebrated order No. 11, issued by Gen. Thos. Ewing, as a military necessity depopu- lating the counties of Jackson, Cass and Bates, then lived in Ray and Daviess counties until 1864, located at Freeport, Ill., and clerked for Horatio C. Burchard, late director of the mint at Philadelphia. In 1866 he came back to Kansas City and in 1867 engaged in the hotel business at Breckinridge, and died at Kingston, while visiting his son Samuel, August 8, 1877, leaving the following family of children : Mattie E., wife of W. H. B. Carter; Samuel, the subject of this
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HISTORY OF CALDWELL COUNTY.
sketch; Mary T., now Mrs. N. L. Trosper; Sue W., wife of R. C. Lauman ; Carrie, wife of O. J. Chapman, all well known citizens of this county ; and Edgar, a cadet in the United States military academy at West Point. Samuel Russel, as he grew up, attended school at Pleasant Hill and clerked in a drug store until 1862, then commencing farming and continuing it until Order No. 11 was issued, when he came to Ray county: In December, 1863, he came to Breckinridge and clerked for McWilliams & Bro. up to 1868, and soon after this he began his banking experience as assistant cashier of the People's Savings Bank at Chillicothe. Returning to this place in 1869, he embarked in merchandising in connection with O. C. McWilliams, and remained so occupied until 1874. In the fall of that year he was elected county clerk - the first Democrat to occupy a county position after the war, and this is saying not a little for his popularity and fitness for the place. In 1878 he was re-elected, but in January, 1881, he resigned and came back here to enter into business again with Mr. Trosper under the present firm name. The stock which they carry will compare favorably with any found in places much larger than Breckinridge, their sales amounting to over $50,000 annually. Both are men of enterprise, courteous and reliable in every transaction, and they enjoy a liberal patronage. Mr. R. was elected president of the Exchange Bank in 1877 and still holds that position, his well known personal honor and integrity contributing very largely to give this institution the enviable reputation it enjoys. He was one of the orig- inal members of the incorporating board of the city and has held a number of local offices. Mr. Russel has been a member of the Pres- byterian Church since 1866. He was married at Breckinridge, August 8, 1866, to Miss Lucy J., daughter of George Orear. They have five children : Lida, at the Howard Female College; Joseph, Bessie, Richard and Grace. He belongs to the A. F. and A. M. and A. O. U. W. fraternities.
ELIJAH SPURLOCK
(Farmer and Stock-raiser, Section 7, Post-office, Nettleton).
The farm which Mr. Spurlock owns in section 6 contains 120 acres and on this place he has resided for about five years. He came to Caldwell county in 1875, has energetically followed farming and has contributed his full share to the agricultural development of this part of the county. Mr. S. came originally from Clay county, Ky., his birth occurring there December 29, 1842. William and Sally Spur- lock, née Hurd, his parents, were also Kentuckians by birth, the father following as his occupation farming and stock raising. He lived and died in his native county, and subsequently his widow became the wife of Mr. William H. Allen, of Clay county, Ky., and there she now makes her home. There were six children in the family, the others besides Elijah being John, George James, Wiley, Elizabeth, Mrs. Thomas Mobley ; Nancy, wife of Fred Morgan, all of Kentucky. Elijah, the subject of this sketch, as might be supposed grew up to a farm experience under the care and instruction of his
670
HISTORY OF CALDWELL COUNTY.
father. He also attended school there, acquiring an average educa- tion, sufficient for all practical purposes. In 1862, laying aside his farming implements, he enlisted in the 13th Kentucky volunteer infantry, C. S. A., as lieutenant, and was sent to the Army of the Potomac, and he also served in the Department of Tennessee. Paroled at Cumberland Gap, he afterwards returned to Kentucky, remained a year, and then came to Daviess county, Mo., in 1865, where he farmed until 1875. From that time on until 1881 he farmed rented land and then bought his present place, having besides the land mentioned 40 acres in section 7. All of this is well improved. Mr. Spurlock was married in January, 1867, to Miss Martha, daughter of George Snyder, a well known citizen of Daviess county. They have six children : Millard, Margaret, Amanda, Emma, Oliver and Elmer, all at school.
MARTIN R. STREETER
(Post-office, Breckinridge).
Among the influential and respected citizens of Caldwell county there is no one more justly entitled to representation in this work than Martin R. Streeter. He was born September 19, 1817, in New York, and was the son of Josiah and Rubie ( Stebbins ) Streeter, both natives of Lowell, Mass. The father, a blacksmith by trade, was a resident of Washington county, N. Y., until 18 years old, then removing to Saratoga county, where, when 20 years of age, he enlisted in the War of 1812. He was at the surrender of Gen. Brock and was mustered out in 1815, after which he settled in Cayuga county, N. Y., and worked at his trade until his death in 1881. His second marriage had occurred in 1827, to Alma Crosby, of Vermont,, who bore him one son, John C., now a mill owner on Cayuga Lake. Martin R. lived in Cayuga county until five years old, then being taken to Cortland county, where he attended the Homer Academy for twelve years, acquiring a good education. After leaving school he clerked until 23 years old in Cayuga county and was then elected con- stable and appointed deputy sheriff of the county, serving in these positions four years. Returning to Homer, he was engaged in a brewery for two years, then farmed a like period, and finally he came to this county, settling on the Widow Dodge farm. Soon after he opened a farm directly on the location of the old Mormon town of Far West, and in his first field found fifty wells, poor encouragement to one who was desirous of raising a crop. Thereafter until 1850 he was interested in merchandising, but in that year he went to Califor- nia and did not return for four years. For one year he bought and sold stock and canvassed for fruit trees, but upon going to Hamilton embarked in the lumber and coal business. Up to the time of the completion of the Hannibal and St. Joseph Railroad he was stage agent and afterwards he was made railroad agent. In 1861 he entered the United States Army and raised three companies ; and now he has two commissions as captain. In 1862 he was appointed deputy sheriff, collected the books for nine years and in 1870 took the census
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HISTORY OF CALDWELL COUNTY.
of the county. He became the purchaser of three farms and still owns them, since being interested in farming. For the last five years he has been elected constable and deputy sheriff. Mr. Streeter's wife was formerly Lucy M. Dodge, daughter of Dwight Dodge, and sister of Hon. John F. Dodge, of this county. They have seven chil- dren : Eva, Hattie, Martin, Horace, Plume, Dwight and Eugene. He belongs to the Masonic fraternity and also to the Christian Church.
JOSEPH D. THOMSON
(Dealer in General Merchandise, Breckinridge).
Mr. Thomson was born in Ray county, Mo., January 5, 1845, and was the son of David and Lucinda ( Creason ) Thomson, both Ken- tuckians by birth, who were married in 1827. The father was born in 1800 and the mother in 1804; he was brought up and received such an education as could be obtained in the primary schools of that early day, and in 1832, upon coming to Missouri, resumed his former occupation of farming. He was actively engaged in the Mormon troubles here, and was in the fight in Ray county near Allen's mill. Some time after this he returned home and was elected to the Legis- lature from Ray county in 1844. He died on his homestead April 21, 1845, leaving a large estate, for he was an extensive owner of land in Ray and Daviess counties. He belonged to the Masonic fraternity. To himself and wife were born the following children: William, in Jasper county ; James A., of Kansas City ; Mary, widow of P. T. Petty ; Charity T., wife of D. D. Taylor, of Ray county ; Elizabeth, who died about 1871, and the subject of this sketch. The latter, after reaching manhood and obtaining his education, moved to Breckinridge in 1859, taught school for one year, then clerked for S. T. Rial until 1867, and then for a year was in the drug business with Mr. Sam Russel. Later on he was associated in the dry goods trade with N. L. Trosper, under the firm name of Thomson & Tros- per, but this relation was dissolved in two years, and for the fifteen months following Mr. T. clerked. A new partnership was now formed with Mr. R. S. Cash, and was continued with good results until 1881, when he sold out and went to Kansas City for a short time. Returning soon after he established his present business house, one of the reliable and well conducted places in the place. He deals in dry goods, notions, boots, shoes, clothing, groceries, hats, caps, queensware, etc., keeping an exceptionally large and well selected stock of goods, and hy dealing fairly and in an accommodating manner has proven himself worthy of his good custom. He is a man of ample business experience, full of enterprise, and of safe judgment. In 1868 he was married to Miss Ida L. Hart, daughter of G. B. Hart, of Indiana. Mr. Thomson has been associated very closely with the financial interests of Breckinridge as well as in merchandising. For some two years he has been president of the Breckinridge Savings Bank, an institution of sound and substantial basis, the business of which has increased rapidly since it was started. Men of wealth and
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HISTORY OF CALDWELL COUNTY.
prominence own the stock of this bank, and the dividends which it pays indicate to some degree its standing in this community. Mr. T. is a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church and also belongs to the Masonic Order.
N. L. TROSPER
(Of Russel & Trosper, Dealer in General Merchandise, and Cashier of Exchange - Bank, Breckinridge.)
Mr. Trosper is one of the native born residents of the county and were we to omit a brief outline, at least, of his life, we would leave out the sketch of one who, still comparatively a young man, has borne an influential part in promoting the various interests of the county in recent years. His father, Robert B. Trosper, whose birth occurred in 1815, in Knox county, Ky., grew up there and devoted himself to agricultural pursuits until 1837, when he came to Daviess county, Mo. About 1865 he moved from his farm into Breckinridge, con- ducted a hotel about a year and then retired from active business life. His wife at the time of her marriage was Miss Nancy R. Connor, originally from Green county, of the Blue Grass State, born in 1819. She has been a member of the Baptist Church for many years and is still living, active in mind and body. To Robert, B. Trosper and wife six children were given: N. L., Minerva J., wife of McHenry Chaffin, of this place ; Rachel C., Mary E., Frances A. and William B., assistant cashier in the bank. The subject of this sketch was born February 22, 1853, here passing his boyhood days at the home of his parents and receiving such an education as could be obtained in the common schools of the county. After leaving school he farmed until 1867 and then commenced clerking for Samuel Rial. Esq., subsequently entering the employ in a like capacity of O. C. McWilliams. With him he remained some ten years and by this time was enabled to commence for himself in business. For eighteen months he carried on a mercantile establishment with Mr. J. D. Thomson, disposed of his interests and clerked for six months, when finally he entered the Exchange Bank as cashier, a positon he has since continued to occupy. Ever since his connection with this well known institution he has shown himself to be possessed of superior financial and business ability, and it is but the statement of an apparent fact to say that he is the right man in the right place. As already referred to he also belongs to the mercantile establishment of Russel & Trosper, which has been spoken of more at length in other portions of this volume. January 12, 1875, Mr. Trosper was united in marriage with Miss Mary T. Russel, the sister of Mr. Samuel Russel, and daughter of Richard and Elizabeth W: Russel. Their two living children are Nellie Russel and an infant.
HISTORY
OF
LIVINGSTON COUNTY, MO.
CHAPTER I.
PHYSICAL GEOGRAPHY AND STATISTICS OF THE COUNTY.
General Description - Topography -Timber and Prairie - Streams - Description and Historical Mention of Grand River -Economic Geology - Coal - Gravel - Building Stone - General Description of the Soil -Statistics of Population - Voters -Abstracts of Recent Assessments - Schools - Manufacturing Establish- ments - Banks, Etc.
GENERAL DESCRIPTION.
Livingston county has an area of about 532 square miles. Its surface is either very gently undulating or rolling. The area of broken land is very limited. West of the East fork of Grand river, in township 59, the county is somewhat broken for the distance of one mile and a half from the bluffs, also near the heads of the various streams in township 59, range 25; but none of the hills exceed 120 feet in height. The southeast part of the county, lying west of Grand river for the distance of a mile, is somewhat broken, but not so much as the northwest part, for the hills are less than 100 feet in height. On the east side of Medicine creek, near Collier's mill, and on the west, near Slagle's old mill, the country is somewhat hilly, but the hills do not exceed 60 feet in height. The most broken portion of the county, and where the hills are the highest, is in range 25, on the south side of the West fork of Grand river, extending from a half mile to three-quarters from the river, at which distance the hills obtain an elevation of 225 feet above the river; southward it is gently rolling.
(673)
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HISTORY OF LIVINGSTON COUNTY.
North of Chillicothe the county attains an elevation of 155 feet above Grand river. Everywhere else the slopes are very gentle; the county is gently undulating, and lies well for beautiful farms. The bottoms are wide, those of Grand river and Shoal creek flat, and are from two to three miles in width, flanked on one side by low bluffs, and on the other rising almost imperceptibly by gentle slopes to the neighboring uplands. The bottoms of Medicine creek are from one to one and a half miles in width; those of the other streams are much narrower. Those on the west side of Grand river, in township 59, range 25, have scarcely any bottoms, but have steep bluffs.
Timber and Prairie .- There is a good deal of timber in this county, some of a very good kind. The best and most abundant supplies of timber lie between the East and West forks of Grand river, where the growth is black oak, small white oak, shell-bark hickory, red-chestnut oak, white oak, also crabapple, coffee-tree, red-bud, ash, blackberry, raspberry, gooseberry, bitter-sweet, mulberry, white elm, red elm, prickly ash, hazel, black-haw, pignut-hickory, sumach, coralberry. Near the edges of the prairies are pin oak, hazel, plum and rough-leaved dogwood, also wild cherry, laurel oak, rose, coralberry. A few pecan trees have been observed on Grand river bottoms ; none have been seen in any county north. In other parts of the county the timber is mostly confined to the vicinity of the streams. The prairie generally extends over the ridges and often across the wide flat bottoms.
In the Grand river bottoms, and especially in the forks, there is a great abundance of shell-bark hickory, of the very best quality, suitable either for firewood or manufacturing purposes. Superior qualities of this timber are cut up into cordwood, and much of it hauled to Chillicothe where it is sold on the streets at prices ranging from $3 to $3.50 per cord.
In the fall of the year the hickory nut crop is an important one in " the forks." Hundreds of bushels of nuts are gathered and sold to dealers and shipped from Sampsel, Utica and Mooresville. The nuts are large and usually bring 25 cents per bushel ; the smaller varieties which grow on the uplands are of better quality, and bring more in the market. Really, hickory-nut gathering is something of an indus- try in portions of Sampsel and Jackson townships.
Streams. - Grand river flows through the county from northwest to southeast; near the center of the county it receives the West fork. These streams are broad and deep, and can not generally be forded. Medicine creek in the east, and Shoal creek in the south-
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HISTORY OF LIVINGSTON COUNTY.
west, are both large streams, and are often too full to be easily forded. They furnish good power for water mills. There are many other small streams, but their utility is insignificant.
GRAND RIVER.
Grand river is formed in the western part of this county (in section 9-57- 24) by the union of the East and West forks. The two streams have their sources in Southern Iowa, about fifty miles apart. The East fork (or Weldon's fork, as it is sometimes called, from an old settler who once lived on its upper banks), takes its rise in Lucas county, Iowa, and flows nearly southward. The West fork rises in Union county, Iowa, and runs south and southeast to its meeting with the East fork.
Nearly fifty years ago the Legislature of Missouri declared Grand river to be a navigable stream " to the northern boundary of the State;" but this was not literally true, if the expression " navigable " was intended to refer to ordinary steamboats. If, however, the Legislature had located the head of navigation at the forks the loca- tion would have been correct. That the stream is navigable to that point, at certain seasons of the year, has been proven.
In the summer of 1842 the small stern-wheel steamer " Bedford" ascended Grand river to the forks, bringing up merchandise for the Chillicothe dealers, from St. Louis and Brunswick, and taking back produce. It is said that two trips were made, but on its return trip the last time, the water was low and twelve miles southeast of Chilli- cothe, where the town of Bedford now stands, it struck a log and went to pieces. No lives were lost, but the boat was so badly dam- aged as to be of no use afterward. The town of Bedford was named for the wrecked steamer.
In 1849 the " Lake of the Woods " came up to the forks, during a period of high water, and put off some freight. Here she lay some days and was laden with wheat by Asa T. Kirtley, Wm. Mead and James Campbell, who shipped the grain to St. Louis, where it was sold for 50 cents a bushel. This boat made but one trip.
In the spring of 1857 the " Bonita," a regular Missouri river packet, came up to the forks and then went a mile up West Grand river where it discharged several tons of freight for P. S. Kenney, Mr. Austin, and perhaps other merchants of Utica and Breckinridge. It also put off goods on the east bank of the main stream for certain Chillicothe merchants. All of this freight and some passengers were brought from St. Louis. While the " Bonita " lay tied up near Utica
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HISTORY OF LIVINGSTON COUNTY.
her officers gave a ball or dance in the cabin one night. This festive occasion was attended by quite a number of the belles and beaux of Chillicothe and Utica, who long and pleasantly remembered the occasion.
The " Bonita " made two trips that season, but on her return the last time she was caught on a bar near the mouth of the river and it was found impossible to extricate her for some months, or until there was a rise. The last boat that came up as far as Chillicothe made her trip in the spring of 1865.
Since the settlement of this county Grand river has reached its highest stage in 1837, 1844, 1851, 1858, and 1865, at a regular interval of seven years. In 1858 the flood was greater than ever before known. Since 1865 the overflows have been more frequent and irregular. Nearly every spring the bottoms in this county are submerged.
Competent engineers have declared that with some dredging and jettying Grand river could be made safely navigable for small boats at the proper seasons. The fall of the stream is seven inches per mile, and the current is easily overcome.
ECONOMIC GEOLOGY.
The workable coal-fields of this county may be divided into two divisions, the upper coal lying on and near Grand river, west of Utica, and including two or three thin streams of coal; and the lower, lying along and near Grand river, below Bedford, in township 56, ranges 21 and 22, and extending in a northwesterly direction to the northern line of the county. The coal is exposed in some places along Grand river.
In the northern part of Chillicothe township (sec. 12- 58- 24) there has recently been opened a vein of this coal on the land of Mr. Cox, and the bank has been worked very successfully. The coal is very similar to that found in Caldwell, and doubtless belongs to the same seam and formation.
Two miles north of Avalon, in the northern part of Fairview town- ship, a twenty-two inch vein of good coal was struck last spring at a depth of forty feet, and has been worked with good success since that time. It is intended to go much deeper in search of a thicker vein, but it is very doubtful that it will be found.
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