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 96

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 96
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 96

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).

914

HISTORY OF LIVINGSTON COUNTY.

J. H. BAUGH

(Merchant and Proprietor of Tobacco Factory, Bedford, Mo.)

Few native Missourians have better improved the meagre advantages offered by the State in its infancy than J. H. Baugh. Born in Howard county, April 20, 1840, he spent his boyhood days in assisting with the duties of the home farm together with attendance at the public schools during the winter seasons. Thomas J. Baugh, his father, was a Kentuckian by birth, and a farmer by occupation, his death occur- ring in 1868 at the age of 50 years. Miss Elizabeth Green, the maiden name of his wife, was a native of Howard county, Mo., having been born there in 1818. She was 67 years old when she died in 1885. J. H. Baugh, the eldest of four children, began life as a teacher after discontinuing his schooling, but after one term he embarked in clerk- ing for Daniel G. Saunders of Bedford. Three years later, in com- pany with J. A. Grace, he started in business on his own account in the fall of 1865, and ever since that date he has been identified with the mercantile interests of Livingston county. In 1868 an addition was made to his other occupations of farming and stock dealing by starting a tobacco factory, the well-known reputation which the county enjoys as a tobacco center rendering his business a successful one. At his factory at this time he has twenty-five hands, fifteen being the average number of employes. Nine miles south of Bedford, in Carroll county, at the town of Hale City, Mr. Baugh is conducting a large general store, which is meeting with the liberal patronage which he, as a man, deserves. In 1868 Mr. Baugh was married to Miss F. V. Grace of West Virginia, daughter of Jacob Grace and wife, both natives of that State, both of whom are now deceased. Three children are now in their family : Blanche, Thomas W. and James H. Lillian Grace is deceased. Mr. and Mrs. Baugh are members of the M. E. Church South of Bedford. The former belongs to the Masonic Order and has been secretary of the lodge for eleven consecutive years. He is an enterprising individual, and almost indespensable to his adopted town, for large numbers of its residents are benefited by his business. His productions will aggregate 15,000 pounds annually.

THOMAS CULBERTSON

(Farmer and Tobacco Grower, Bedford).

Thomas Culbertson is one among others in this county who are giving considerable attention to the tobacco business, in connection with agricultural pursuits. He was born in Morgan county, O., March 9, 1831, the son of Robert Culbertson, a native of Ireland, who came to America when 14 years of age. He was a wheelwright and farmer by trade and died in 1865 at the age of some 76 years. His wife was formerly Miss Esther McElroy, of Irish descent, her death occurring in 1851, in her forty-sixth year. Of their six children Thomas was the second. He was a student in the public schools of

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HISTORY OF LIVINGSTON COUNTY.

Ohio for but a single term of four months, though in later years by self-application and observation he has become well informed in gen- eral affairs. Beginning life as a farmer on his father's homestead, he remained there until 23 years old, then going to Grant county, Ind., where he bought a farm and attended to its cultivation for seven years. After a subsequent residence near Tolono, Champaign county, Ill., he came to this county in the fall of 1864, settled at the old Harriford ferry two years and in 1869 he purchased a portion of his present place, to which he has since made numerous additions from time to time until he now owns an excellent estate. He is quite interested in the raising of good grades of stock and, as remarked, is a large grower of tobacco. Mr. Culbertson is a married man, Miss Druzilla Bocock, a native of Ohio, having become his wife October 24, 1856. Her father, Lewis Bocock, a native of Ohio, but of Scotch-Irish ancestry, is still living in Indiana at the age of 76 years and during life has followed carpentering, cabinet-making and farming. Her mother is of about the same age and also survives ; her maiden name was Miss Sarah Newland. Mr. and Mrs. Culbertson have 11 children living : Nancy J., Maggie, Robert G., Francis M., Thomas McClellan, Mary E., Joseph O., Lewis E., Lilly Olive, Martha May and Pearl. Five are deceased : James S., Grace D., Snowden, Rhesa and Maude. Mrs. C. is a member of the M. E. Church South, and her husband belongs to the U. P. Church. Their two eldest daughters are also connected with the M. E. Church. Mr. Culbertson is associated with the Bedford Lodge of the Knights of Labor.

GEORGE F. DAVIS

(Attorney at Law and Banker, Hale City).

In each of the callings in which he is now engaged Mr. Davis has displayed unusual energy and has been very successful. It was in 1880 that he had been admitted to the bar upon an examination before Judge Davis, and two years before this event he commenced the prac- tice of his chosen profession ; now he entered actively into the practice, locating at first at Bedford, where he remained 7 years. But the little city of Hale springing up and offering a larger field and better induce- ments to young men of enterprise and ability he removed to that place in 1885, and has here succeeded in building up a lucrative and exten- sive clientele. In his financial operations also he has met with sub- stantial results, and on account of his upright course in every transaction in life he has drawn around him a large and warm host of friends. Mr. Davis is a representative of a family not unknown to the people of this community. 'Elsewhere in this volume mention is made of Judge J. M. Davis, now judge of this judicial circuit, and by him George F. was principally learned in the law. He was born in Clark county, Ill., February 18, 1845, and when but about seven years old was brought out West by his father, Alexander Davis. His education was obtained in the States of Iowa and Missouri, and after leaving school he commenced for himself as a merchant, continuing to be thus

916

HISTORY OF LIVINGSTON COUNTY.

occupied for eight or nine years. His talents and inclination led him into the channels of professional life, however, and turning almost instinctively towards the law, he thoroughly prepared himself in that science, finally adopting it as his chosen profession. In 1869 Mr. Davis was married to Miss Melissa E. Dunfee, formerly of Ohio, but then of Chillicothe ; her parents are both living, the father being a pros- perous farmer in Kansas. Mr. and Mrs. Davis have had five children, only one of whom, Maude, is now living. Frankie, Fred, Harry and Edith are deceased. Mr. Davis and his estimable wife are members of the M. E. Church South at this place, and so also is their daughter.

MRS. ELIZA F. DELAND

(Hale City).

The subject of this sketch was born in New York State, her father, Milo Kelsey, a celebrated lawyer of Chenango county, having removed to Delavan, Walworth county, Wis., when his daughter was a small child. He continued the practice of his profession there and with renowned success until his death in 1854, at the age of about 50 years. The mother of Miss Eliza was formerly Miss Lavina Madison (grand-niece of President Madison ), also a native of the Empire State. At the time of her death in 1846 she was some 30 years old. Eliza, the second of four children, received an excellent education in the schools of Wisconsin, the advantages afforded by the district schools being supplemented by attendance at the Sheboygan Female Seminary, located in the city of that name, and the knowledge there gained has been of untold value to her in subsequent years. In 1854 she was married to Samuel B. DeLand, a capitalist of Wiscon- sin, and following their marriage they went to Charleston, S. C., where Mr. DeLand had a brother who was engaged in an extensive mercantile business. For some time they traveled in the South, visiting prominent cities and places of interest, then coming to this county and settling on the farm which Mrs. DeLand now occupies, - one of the largest landed estates in the county ; this was in 1857. For five years before his death Mr. DeLand did a large and successful mercantile trade at Bedford, this county ; he died in December, 1878. Something of his worth and the esteem in which he was held may be inferred when it is mentioned that he occupied various official posi- tions of honor, among others those of representative and county judge. He was for years a member of Delavan Lodge of the Masonic Order, from which he never dimitted. In 1879 Mrs. DeLand rented out her property, visited the East and spent considerable time at Chillicothe, but recently, however, she has resumed the management of her farm, an estate superbly calculated for the growing of all classes of stock. It is her purpose to utilize it to its fullest extent and the immense pastures, finely grassed and with an unlimited supply of liv- ing water, are sufficient to guarantee the success of her intended experiment. Upon the place are good quarries and coal mines. Mrs. DeLand, while a lady of culture and refinement, is an excellent man-

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HISTORY OF LIVINGSTON COUNTY.

ager, alive to the issues of the day, and is now living amidst the luxu- ries, as well as comforts and necessities of life. In 1875 she joined the Methodist Church at Bedford, but now she is a Congregationalist.

BURNIS B. HAYDEN

(Farmer and Stock-raiser, Post-office, Hale City).

It can not be expected in a work of this kind, where but brief bio- graphical sketches of prominent citizens of the county are mentioned, that a lengthy, laudatory article should be written of each one; and yet at times there are met with some who have been so intimately and closely identified with the county in different capacities that it is only just to dwell upon what they have done and the influence of their careers upon others, not as empty words of praise, but the plain state- ment of a still plainer truth. Among such a class is Mr. Hayden. A native of Kentucky, he was born October 23, 1829, the only child born of the union of Jacob and Elizabeth Hayden, née Wilson, the latter a Virginian by birth. Jacob Hayden came originally from Pennsylvania, settling near Louisville, Ky., in an early day, where his first marriage occurred, by which he had eight children. He was a farmer by occupation and also a blacksmith ; he died in 1874 at the advanced age of 91 years, Burnis' mother having been 35 years old at the time of her death in 1830. Young Hayden grew up in a time when educational facilities were very different from those of the present day, and such schooling as he acquired was obtained by walk- ing several miles to a subscription school. These advantages, how- ever, were all the more appreciated on account of their meagre nature. After leaving school he began life as a farmer in the Blue Grass State, a locality unexcelled as an agricultural community, and in about four years removed to Iowa, going thence four years later to Scotland county, Mo., where he farmed for five years during the Civil War. Upon the cessation of hostilities he came to Livingston county, settling on his present farm in 1866, and here he has since remained. An important characteristic of Mr. Hayden, and one that is often re- marked, is his liberality and open-hearted, cordial, almost noble, Kentucky hospitality. It is a well known fact that he is liberal to a fault, and certainly no one is more ready to entertain friends, acquaint- ances and even strangers, than himself. His farming operations are conducted in a manner indicative of a progressive, thorough agricul- turist ; his stock is of a high grade, for long ago he found that it was poor economy to raise inferior animals. Energetic and public-spirited, he never fails to aid any movement which tends to benefit the county or his fellow-man. And he is warmly seconded in all his actions by his worthy wife, formerly Miss Elizabeth A. Wiseheart, of Kentucky, whom he married May 1, 1855. Her father, Conrad Wiseheart, died in 1870 at the age of 77 years, having been preceded to the grave by his companion, Miss Amanda King originally, her death occurring September 14, 1846, in her forty-fourth year. Mrs. Hayden was the seventh of their 13 children and she was born December 29, 1830.

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HISTORY OF LIVINGSTON COUNTY.

Mr. and Mrs. H. have six children living: Sarah A., Amelia R., Alice A., Elizabeth S., Estella P. and D. F. Three are deceased : Mollie, Myrtie and an infant. Mr. Hayden was formerly a member of Alexander Lodge No. 385, A. F. and A. M., of Bedford, but is now dimitted from that to help in the organization of the Hale City Lodge. It should have been mentioned above that his father, Jacob Hayden, married in 1830 a third wife, Rebecca Tabor, by whom he raised a family of nine children.

JACOB R. HOUX

(Merchant and Farmer, Hale City).

In the business of merchandising Mr. Houx is second to no mer- chant in this portion of the county. There are but few residents of the State who have been a longer time within its limits or who have continuously been located in its boundaries, for it was in 1818 that his father, Frederick Houx, brought his wife, formerly Miss Margaret Ware, and family to the territory of Missouri, young Jacob being but four years old. The settlement was made at Boonville in Cooper county. Frederick Houx gave his attention to farming during life ; he was a native of Pennsylvania and at the time of his death, in 1870, was 80 years of age ; his wife was also about the same age when she passed away in 1879, her birthplace having been at Hagerstown, Md. Twelve children comprised their family, of whom Jacob R. was the fifth. He was born December 21, 1814, and is already beyond the limited age of three score years and ten. He began life as a tanner, a calling which he learned under his father's foreman, a Mr. Riggs, and upon leaving Cooper county he went first to Cole county, re- maining there four years. When Moniteau was made a part of Cole county he continued to reside in the new county for 14 or 15 years, all this time resuming his trade of tanning. In 1854, he became per- manently located in Livingston county, and from that time to 1870 he gave his attention to farming, but in the latter year he established a mercantile house at Bedford. This business he has since carried on, though at this time he is located at Hale City, just across the line in Carroll county. In connection with his son, George, he conducts a large farm in this county, and the same success which has character- ized his labors in other capacities has followed him in this. His deal- ings in every transaction in life are above reproach, executed with conscientious honesty and fairness, and this can not fail in the end of substantial results. Unselfish in his nature, he does not profit at the cost of others, but in all things is liberal minded. Mr. Houx has been three times married : first, in 1836, to Miss Lucinda Simmons, of Kentucky, who died in 1851, leaving 7 children, 6 of whom sur- vive. In 1852, a Mrs. Langley, formerly Miss Margaret Maupin, a native of Missouri, became his wife. She died in 1878, and two of the three children which she bore are now living. Mr. Houx's present wife's maiden name was Miss Martha Silvey, from Howard county, this State, her parents being amongst the first families in that county.

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HISTORY OF LIVINGSTON COUNTY.

Mr. H. is a member of the M. E. Church South at Bedford ; his wife belongs to the Baptist Church. He also is connected with Alexander Lodge No. 385, A. F. and A. M.

LAFAYETTE KING

(Farmer and Stock-raiser, Post-office, Hale City).

There is no better farm of its size in this community than the one which Mr. King owns, his home tract especially being a place superior to many. This contains 160 acres, upon which he raises the grains indigenous to this section, and with a good supply of timber and abundant water facilities it is well adapted to stock-raising; all his stock is of a high class. Mr. King was born in Boone county, Mo., May 16, 1835, of Kentucky parentage, for his parents, James and Keziah (Penick) King, were both natives of the Blue Grass State, coming to Boone county, Mo., in an early day. The former, after a lifetime devoted to agricultural pursuits, died in 1859 at the age of 63 years ; his wife had preceded him to the grave in 1840, she then being some 40 years old. Nine children blessed their happy married life, of whom Lafayette, as the youngest, was perhaps the most favored one. At any rate he received a good education in Boone county, and, upon leaving school, began life as a farmer, having gone to California in 1854, working in Placer county, that State. After remaining there some five years he returned to Missouri and since that time he has adhered closely to farming and stock-raising, and with what success is very evident from a glance at his present possessions. He first came to. Livingston county in the summer of 1858, but went back to Boone county a year later, not settling permanently in this county until the summer of 1860, and he has since resided upon his present farm. March 5, 1853, Mr. King was united in marriage with Miss Charlotte Cameron, daughter of Joshua Cameron, a Canadian by birth 'and of Scotch descent, but subsequently a citizen of Livingston county, and by occupation a farmer and blacksmith ; he married Miss Sarah Garvin of this State, though of Kentucky ancestry. Mr. and Mrs. King have had seven children, five of whom are living: Lecroy, Robert, William, Marion and Nellie. Eugene and Minnie are deceased. Mrs. King died in 1875. Mr. K. was married again in 1881 to Miss Jane Street of Ohio. She is a member of the M. E. Church South,. of Grace Church, in this township.

HENRY V. LEWIS

(Farmer and Stock-raiser, Post-office, Hale City).

Of the many thousands of brave young men who willingly offered themselves in defense of their country when in peril, Mr. Lewis was one, and the record which he made during his career as a soldier is such as can be referred to with pardonable pride. In 1862 he enlisted as second lieutenant in Co. E, 84th Illinois infantry, was attached to the 4th army corps, Army of the Cumberland, and participated in the.

920

HISTORY OF LIVINGSTON COUNTY.

battles of Stone River, Chicamauga, Lookout Mountain, Mission Ridge and the entire Atlanta campaign, and at the time of his dis- charge at the close of the war he was first lieutenant, having acted as captain during the entire war. Mr. Lewis is still less than 50 years of age, having been born in Adams county, Ill., April 2, 1839, the son of Giles S. Lewis, a native of Ohio and by avocation a farmer. When but a young man he went to Illinois ; he still lives in Ashland, Neb., aged 76 years, and his wife also survives at 74 years, her maiden name having been Miss Sophronia Daniels, a Kentuckian by nativity. Henry V., the fourth of 12 children, was educated in his native State and after leaving school at once entered upon an agricul- tural career. His duties were broken into by the events of the war, and after this he continued to live in Illinois until 1867, when he settled upon his present farm. At once he commenced improving this place, then all raw prairie land, erecting a residence, necessary build- ings, etc., until his homestead is now acknowledged to be one of the neat, comfortable places of the township. Most of his attention out- side of the general conduct of the farm is given to stock growing, an industry in which he has acquired considerable success. His opera- tions are conducted in a manner which indicates the progressive, enterprising agriculturist. Mr. L. has been twice married : first, October 17, 1861, to Miss Mary Price, of Adams county, Ill., daugh- ter of Andrew Price, a substantial farmer of that community ; she was born June 2, 1842, and died February 27, 1872, leaving fiye chil- dren : Ettie, a teacher in the district schools; Maggie, Giles, Hattie and Mollie. February 27, 1873, Mr. L. married Miss Henrietta Ber- nard, whose father was J. O. Bernard, originally from the Blue Grass State, now a resident of Illinois. Mrs. Lewis' mother was formerly Miss Susan Harwell, of Tennessee birth ; she is now 73 years of age. Mrs. L. was born July 14, 1843. She and her husband have had five children : Susie, Alpha, Georgia, Hallie and Carl. Mrs. Lewis is a member of the Hale City Baptist Church. He belongs to Alexander Lodge No. 385, A. F. and A. M., of Bedford ..

DANIEL ROOT

(Farmer and Raiser of Fine Sheep, Post-office, Bedford).

That a lifetime spent in pursuing one occupation will in the end result in substantial success, where energy and perseverance are ap- plied, can not for a moment be doubted, and such is found to be the case with Mr. Root, for, now closely approaching the age of 67 years, he has from boyhood given his attention to agricultural pur- suits, in connection with the raising of stock in more recent years. He was brought up to this calling and first farmed with his father in the Blue Grass State, until 21 years of age, then coming to Missouri and settling in Livingston county. He remained here about ten years, and then went to Grundy county, but short time only was needed to show him his mistake that had been made in leaving this county. Accordingly he returned here, and this has been his home, his place

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HISTORY OF LIVINGSTON COUNTY.

being one of good improvements and under a high state of cultivation, such a homestead as Mr. Root, with his progressive ideas and advanced manners would be supposed to own. He grows fine sheep to some extent and has graded all of his stock to a fair standard. Like many other citizens of this county, Mr. R. owes his nativity to Clay county, Ky., where he was born September 28, 1819, the sixth of eight children resulting from the union of John and Nancy Root (formerly a Miss Cox), the father a native of Maryland, and the mother a Virginian by birth ; she died when about 68 years old. John Root was a farmer and cooper by occupation and lived to the age of 68 years. Daniel was favored with common advan- tages for acquiring an education in youth, after which as stated he began tilling the soil. September 8, 1843, his marriage to Miss Mary H. Hereford, originally from Chariton county, Mo., was consum- mated. Her father, Elisha Hereford, was long one of Livingston's prominent farmers and stock raisers, his death occurring in 1866, at the age of sixty-two years. Mrs. Root's mother was formerly Miss Nancy Crawford, of Scotch descent. Mr. and Mrs. R. have by this union six children living: Elisha H., William B., James G., George M., Alice and Mary E. Six are also deceased. Mr. Root and wife and one son and daughter, Elisha and Alice, are members of the Baptist Church. About eighteen years ago he joined Alexander Lodge No. 385, A. F. and A. M., of Bedford.

CAPT. WILLIAM SMITH

(Farmer and Stock-raiser, Post-office, Hale City).

It was in the fall of 1865 that Capt. Smith first came to this county, his purchase of land at that time including 260 acres ; but not until 1870 did he locate here permanently. To his original estate he has added from time to time until his present possessions embrace some 500 acres, land admirably adapted to the purpose for which it is used, gen- eral farming stock and culture. Believing in the merits of high grades of stock, he has excellent short-horn cattle and the finest of Poland- China hogs. The improvements upon the place are of a high order. Though a native of Livingston county, N. Y., born December 8, 1834, Capt. Smith was taken to Ohio when a small child by his father, Simeon Smith, there being reared as a farmer up to the age of 21, after which be learned the carpenter's trade. But this not proving congenial to his tastes he resumed his agricultural operations and has since carried on this calling. William's father, whose birth had also occurred in the Empire State, died there when some 75 years old ; long before that his estimable companion had preceded him to the grave at the age of about 40 years. William was their only child, and as such received the most careful training in growing up. His home continued to be in Ohio until the fall of 1870, when, as above stated, he took up his residence in Livingston county, Mo. Septem- ber 10, 1857, Capt. Smith's marriage to Miss Mary J. Platt, daughter of Thomas and Ann E. ( Harbison) Platt, was consummated, his wife

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HISTORY OF LIVINGSTON COUNTY.

having been born in Ohio, in Coshocton county, February 1, 1837. Her father is still living in Ohio at the age of 74 years, a carpenter and cabinet-maker by trade, but her mother, who was born at Balti- more, Md., died in 1861, when 47 years old. Mrs. S. was the eldest of their ten children. To Capt. S. and wife have been born eight children, five of whom are living : Ella, Cora, Belle, Minnie and Mollie ; and the three now deceased were Jennie, Willie and Edgar. Capt. Smith has long been associated with Alexander Lodge No. 385, A. F. and A. M., but at present he is helping in the formation of the Hale City Lodge. While in Ohio he was for a number of years super- intendent of the Coshocton county infirmary, and since his residence in this county he has contributed liberally towards promoting and ad- vancing all worthy movements of this community.

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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