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 99

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 99
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 99

Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).

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HISTORY OF LIVINGSTON COUNTY.

The present number of members is 76. J. K. Steen is superintendent of the Sabbath-school.

FARMERSVILLE.

The hamlet of Farmersville stands on the county line but was laid out on the ne. 1/4 of section 1, township 59, range 24, wholly in this township. It was laid off and platted in January, 1870, by Joseph King and others. J. E. Jimeson was the surveyor. The following description of the village in 1880 was made by a resident :

Farmersville is a sprightly little village, situated north of Chilli- cothe fourteen miles, on the State road leading to Trenton in Grundy county. Its inhabitants number about one hundred souls, and are an energetic, go-ahead class of people, coming mostly from Northern and Eastern States. The town is located in a thickly settled country, in the midst of the most beautiful and fertile lands to be found in Liv- ingston county.

The Methodist and Christian denominations, each have beautiful edifices, the Rev. H. C. John is pastor of the former and the Rev. W. Mack, pastor of the latter. Both houses of worship have good and increasing memberships under the charge of their respective pastors.

We have a good school building and a good school under the su- pervision of Miss Annie Stewart, whose management gives universal satisfaction. We have a Masonic Lodge with a good membership, two general stores, one kept by Mr. Wm. Price, also proprietor of the flouring mill on Fox creek, east of town, who is doing a success- ful and lively trade, while the polite and genteel Helf Bros. are proprietors of the other, and are doing an unusually good business. Mr. Fred W. Helf is'a gentleman who has charge of the mails and affairs of Uncle Sam, and is located under the Masonic hall, in the store of the Helf Bros. We have also two wagon, blacksmith and repair shops, Mr. Richard Garr and Mr. J. Palmer are the respective proprietors. Both are good workmen and have all they can do in their line of business. Mr. S. L. Livengood is our carpenter, builder and contractor, and is doing a successful and extensive business.

We have a magnificent farming country, rich fertile lands, and would say to those contemplating a change of location, that it will repay them to come and see the country around the village of Farm- ersville. We have plenty of timber, plenty of water and any amount of the best lands at from $10 to $25 per acre.

CHURCHES OF FARMERSVILLE.

Farmersville M. E. Church. - This church was organized in 1867. Leonard Cunningham, Jeremiah Mulford, Daniel Wolfe and wife, Amaziah Beeson, Wesley Jarvis and wife, J. Cunningham and wife, Elijah Windsor and wife were some of the original members. The

942

HISTORY OF LIVINGSTON COUNTY.

church building, a frame structure, was erected at a cost of $1,300, in 1877. The pastors have been Revs. Wm. Edmunds, John Rozelle, T. B. Hales, - Bovee, C. H. Johns, Frank Davis, - Ely, and A. Bundy. The membership is 52. The Sabbath-school has a membership of 40, George Glover being superintendent of the school.

Farmersville Christian Church. - In 1872, the Christian Church, ' a neat frame building costing $1,000, was erected in Farmersville, and in 1873 an organization which had some time previous been formed in Grundy county reorganized in the new building. Some of the first members were James Mack, Geo. W. Kinney, John Eccles, Sam- uel Eccles, Wm. Slonecker, Clifton Evans and Lemuel Woods. Revs. James Mack and - Lovelace have ministered to the spiritual needs of the church since its reorganization. There are at present writing, about 50 members.

BIOGRAPHICAL.

JOHN M. ALEXANDER

(Farmer and Stock-raiser, Post-office, Farmersville).

Among other native born citizens of that State whom Kentucky has contributed to Cream Ridge township, Livingston county, Mo., may be mentioned John M. Alexander, who was born in Todd county, Jan- uary 1, 1827, his parents being Andrew and Jane Alexander, Virgin- ians by birth, who settled in the Blue Grass State in 1822; the mother died in 1847 and the father in 1876. John M. had three sisters : Julia, Elizabeth and Mary Ariminta, all of whom are now deceased. He remained on the home farm in his native State until March, 1854, and on February 14, 1854, was married to Miss Vir- ginia E. Brizendine, daughter of Francis and Catherine Brizendine, who became settlers of this county in 1865. She was born October 17, 1838, in the same county as her husband, and was one of four children, the others being: Robert Dodridge, of Ottumwa, Ia. ; Ellen, in Chillicothe ; and George, now deceased. About a month after his marriage Mr. Alexander came to Missouri, reaching Liberty in June, and spent some two months in traveling over this portion of the country, visiting Kansas City during the first sale of town lots, and after this returned to Ballard county, Ky. In May, 1855, he and his wife again started for this State in a buggy and after passing through a number of towns reached Chillicothe, then a place of some 200 in- habitants, and with but two brick buildings, one of which was the

943

HISTORY OF LIVINGSTON COUNTY.

court-house. He first lived upon a farm six miles east of town which he purchased, but coming back to Chillicothe erected the first house on the property now occupied by Garrett's store. Subsequently he improved and purchased other property and finally settled where he now resides 13 miles, northeast of the county seat. Mr. and Mrs. A. have eight children living : Virginia Ellen, born August 18, 1856, wife of James Teeters ; George D. Prentis, born May 11, 1860, and mar- ried to Lillie Miller ; Andrew Francis, born October 21, 1863; Charles Augustus, born November 20, 1865 ; Frederick Clarence, born Janu- ary 15, 1870 ; Minnie Belle, born July 20, 1873 ; Ollie Pearl, boru March 24, 1876, and Leo Ion, born March 22, 1879. John William, Edward Robert, and four children that died in infancy are numbered among the dead. For 7 years Mr. Alexander served in an official capacity as county commissioner of deeds and deputy county clerk of the county. He was a member of the first board of school directors in Chillicothe, a fact which he remembers with interest. He is now closely associated with the agricultural interests of this county ; during the last few years he has gained wide experience by traveling through the Territories and Old Mexico, besides Texas and the South. On his place he now has growing specimens of raspberries obtained from Mt. Harvard, in Colorado, at an elevation of 14,464 feet which bear fruit all summer and are in bloom when frost comes. Many other specimens from each of the Western States are found upon the place.

HENRY BAKER

(Owner and Proprietor of Walnut Bluffs Farm).

There are few farms, if any, in this portion of Missouri that present a handsomer picture of advanced agriculture than the one referred to in the present sketch. Walnut Bluff's farm, devoted mainly to stock raising, contains 1,000 acres all under fence and in an exceptionally fine state of improvement, and as a stock farm, both in natural advant- ages and the manner in which it is improved, it is probably without a superior hereabouts. It is but to be supposed that Mr. Baker would have a class of stock on his farm worthy of the expense and labor involved in preparing it for stock-raising purposes, and so some excel- lent registered animals are found upon the place. The following registered cattle were purchased from Eastman & Jacobi, of Palmyra, Mo. : Sidona, of Greenfield, pedigree traced back to the herd of Henry Clay, Jr., of Kentucky ; Edonia, registered number 13,652, A. H. B., vol. 18; Sidonia 2d, number registered in same volume ; Oneida Belle and Duke of Maywood. His high grade stock has been bred from a short-horn male animal, Cass, brought from Illinois by John C. Wright, and a heifer, bred and purchased from P. H. Miner, of Chillicothe. From the above one of the finest herds in North Missouri has been produced. Mr. B. also has a fine thoroughbred horse, Young British Champion, an English coach animal, and a high bred horse, bred by Crawford of Edinburg, and known as the Printer stock, a registered breed in Kentucky. His registered Berkshire hogs

944

HISTORY OF LIVINGSTON COUNTY.

were purchased of John Morris of Livingston county, and his good graded flock of sheep are a cross between Cotswold and Merino. Mr. Baker was born in Kingston, Canada. One of his paternal ancestors, Henry Baker (originally Beeker), came to America from Neiwitt. Prussia, in about 1790, at the age of 18, and subsequently married Miss Elizabeth Miller, of German parentage, who bore him seven children. He was a man of good education and excellent business habits. One of his sons, John Baker, was born in Kingston, Canada, in 1803 (and at the battle of Kingston, he, with other school children, carried cannon balls to serve the cannons that were defending the town ), and at the age of 22 married Christiana McArthur, of Cornwall, Canada, whose father, Donald MeArthur, came originally from the Highlands of Scotland. In 1836 he went to Cleveland, O., and died there in 1874, at the age of 70 years, leaving eight children : John, Peter W .. William A., Edward D., Charles R., Christiana, Elizabeth and Henry. The latter was married in Licking county, O., on June 25, 1861, to Miss Mary A. Knowlton, daughter of L. W. Knowlton, a prominent and public-spirited citizen of Utica, O., and one of the incorporators of the first railroad in Ohio, now the Erie branch of the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad. Mr. Baker remained in Cleveland, O., until 1864, when he purchased his present valuable estate. Further comment to what has already been said is unnecessary. Mr. Baker and wife have had six children : Leigh K., a student at Wooster (O.) University ; Lawrence McA., died June 16, 1867; William H., Grace E., Donald and Birdie. Mr. Baker is a member of the Presbyterian Church. He is extensively interested in the development of improved methods in agricultural life, and securing the best results attainable in that line.

CLAYTON S. BARKER

(Steward of the County Poor Farm, Post-office, Farmersville).

It has only been about a year that Mr. Barker has had charge of the Poor Farm of this county, but sufficient time has elapsed to indi- cate his fitness for the position, certainly a most humane one, as well as one of responsibility. He came originally from Clarke county, O., where he was born July 5, 1840, one of six children in the family of his parents, Crawford and Eliza Barker. His father was of Scotch-English origin, though born and reared in Virginia, while the mother was a native of Clarke county, O. Their children besides Clayton S. were Marcellus, now deceased, who married Nancy Ann McAfee. He left two children : James, of Brown county, IH. ; Hiram, who married Hannah Lear, and they have six children ; Sarah, wife of John Toll, of Deeatur county, Kan., and they have six children ; and George W., who married Jane White- head, who has borne him three children. Clayton S. Barker was mar- ried after reaching manhood. February 22, 1869, to Miss Mary, second daughter of Perry and Eliza Hewlett; she had ten brothers and sisters, as follows : Taylor, who married Lydia Hayward, and they have seven children ; Catherine, wife of Haydon Henry, and the

945

HISTORY OF LIVINGSTON COUNTY.

parents of two children ; Mary Jackson, who married Emma Molby, which union has resulted in five children ; Joseph, who died when four years old ; Ellen, now Mrs. Barton Stivers, and they have had four children ; Annie, now in Illinois; Perry, who married in that State also ; Isadore, living with her parents ; two children died in infancy. When but two years old Mr. Barker was taken by his parents to Macon county, Ill., and in 1857 they removed to Brown county, which was their home until 1872. Going to one of the central counties, of Mis- souri, they stayed there two years. lived in Sullivan county a like period, went thence to Butler county, Kan., and two years after came to this county in 1878, and this has since been his place of residence, one of the representative persons of this vicinity. He was among the first to answer the call for troops to suppress the rebellion, enlisting August 22, 1861, in Co. C, 6th Illinois cavalry, commanded by Col. Cavan- angh. A detailed account of the engagements and encounters in which this command were engaged would be of sufficient interest to fill a volume, but the space to which this sketch is limited prevents more than a passing notice. Four years and two months were spent by them in active, severe service, and after having taken part in nearly 100 battles they were mustered out with but 17 of the original members, all the officers having been lost. Mr. Barker soon returned to Illinois, resumed farming, etc., later coming here, as stated. Him- self and wife have five children: Ollie May, born March 8, 1870 : Thomas Perry, born April 15, 1872 ; Archer Crawford, born August 17, 1874 ; Walter, born August 24, 1881, and Clayton, born Novem- ber 16, 1885. Rosa, who was born February 4, 1878, died June 6, 1881.

JOHN K. CLARK, M. D.

(Physician and Surgeon, Farmersville).

The father of Dr. Clark, Lewis M. Clark, is well remembered by the citizens of this county, and a short sketch of his life is rendered very appropriate in this connection. Born in Randolph county, N. C., June 7, 1805, of Scotch-Irish descent, he went to Franklin county, Ind., in 1826, and was married in June, 1829, to Miss Mary Pond, of Metamora, Ind., and originally from near Penn Yan, N. Y. He emigrated to Livingston county October 2, 1840. In their family were 11 children: John K., the eldest ; Eliza Eads, deceased; Phebe C., Robert B , Mary Ann Mellon, a widow ; Kate Benson, who mar- ried Levison Benson, she and her husband dying but 10 days apart, in Grand Round Valley, Ore. ; Samuel and Henry, deceased ; Susie, became Mrs. William Smith, and is now deceased ; Wiley died when five years old ; and Sarah, wife of Daniel Beamer, is still living. In 1861 Mr. Clark was again married (his first wife being dead), to Sophronia Smith, and to them eight children have been given, four of whom survive. He was by calling a farmer, and also an auctioneer of considerable reputation, and in an official capacity became well known to the citizens of Livingston county. He was appointed by the Gover-

946

HISTORY OF LIVINGSTON COUNTY.

nor of Missouri to fill out an unexpired term as sheriff, and was once elected to the office of county assessor. A man of more than ordinary energy and force of character, his judgment was sought after by all who knew him, and he had the respect of all. He died January 2, 1885, at the age of 79. His last wife still survives and resides in Jackson township, this county. Mr. Clark was primarily a Republi- can in politics, but at the time of his death was a Greenbacker. He was a member of Friendship Lodge No. 89, A. F. and A. M., and was also connected with the Baptist Church. John K. Clark owes his nativity to Franklin county, Ind., where he was born August 13, 1830. Until 18 years old he passed his time on a farm, then learning the blacksmith trade, at which he worked until 1859. In the meantime he had commenced the study of medicine and from this period on he devoted himself to a thorough preparation in that science. Finally he was enabled to commence practicing, his first field of labor being at Spring Hill, Mo. July 18, 1850, Mr. Clark had been married to Mildred Ann Goben. April 5, 1862, he enlisted as a private in Co. H, 3d M. S. M., and served until his discharge for disability April 1, 1863, participating in the battle of Springfield, Mo., January 8, 1863, when Marmaduke was defeated. At different times he acted as post surgeon of the command. Since the war Dr. C. has been actively and successfully engaged in the prosecution of his professional duties. After leaving Spring Hill he came to Farmersville, Mo., and for eight years has been located here. He is a graduate of the Mis- souri Medical College, and holds a profound reverence for his Alma Mater. His first wife was the daughter of Levi F. Goben, and she died August 27, 1857, leaving three children, only one of whom, J. W., a watchmaker and jeweler, of Brookfield, is still living. The doctor's second wife was Permelia Ann Moseley, daughter of James S. Moseley, of Buckingham county, Va., whom he married February 18, 1858. Mr. Moseley was an early settler of this county and died here in 1879. He had 13 children, seven now living. Dr. and Mrs. C. have two children : Everett J., a watchmaker and jeweler of St. Joseph, Mo., and James L., a graduate of the Missouri Medical Col- lege, having graduated March 2, 1886. Dr. J. K. Clark is now master of Farmersville Lodge No. 388, A. F. and A. M. He has been an active and prominent Greenbacker ever since the organization of that party, and in other affairs being those of a professional nature he has been a leader in this community. He now owns 200 acres of land, besides his residence in Farmersville. He belongs to the M. E. Church South.

WILLIAM ROBERT EDRINGTON

(Farmer and Stock-raiser, Section 30, Post-office, Chillicothe).

William R. Edrington was born in Adair county, Ky., February 9, 1839, the eldest son of Benjamin and Emily Edrington, both also natives of the Blue Grass State, the father of English descent and the mother of Scotch-Irish origin. They came to Missouri in 1843 but in the spring of 1844 returned to Kentucky ; in 1850 he again removed

947

HISTORY OF LIVINGSTON COUNTY.

to Missouri, only remaining, however, up to April, 1865, then set- tling permanently at his old home, where his death occurred May 23, 1881. His wife died in 1869 in the same county. Fourteen children were given them, cight of whom survive: Mary Malinda, wife of John M. Spears, of near Avalon, this county, and they have five chili- dren ; Benjamin Thomas, county clerk of Hill county, Tex. ; Delowvos Leslie, farmer and deputy circuit clerk of Adair county, Ky., and married to Sarah McQuerter, who has borne him three children ; Rewel Page, married to Ada Files, and they have three children ; Alice, wife of Geo. A. Willis, of Adair county, is the mother of two children ; Susan, now Mrs. Parker Nally, of Adair county, and they have one child ; and Emma, wife of D. Goode, and one child is in their family. William R., the subject of this sketch, accompanied his parents to Missouri in 1843, returned the next year and then in 1850 became a citizen of this county, where his home has since been. He subsequently married Frances A. Best, born in this county, July 6, 1844, the daughter of Louis M. and Rachel Best, both Kentuckians by birth, who came to Missouri in an early day, first settling on the Platte Purchase and in 1842 coming to this county ; the father died while on a business trip to Lafayette county in 1863, the mother dying here in 1882. Of the nine children born to them, five survive: Elizabeth, wife of James L. Marlow, who died in 1871 ; they had nine children ; Dinelia, wife of L. B. Carter, who died in 1876; nine chil- dren blessed their union ; Louis M. married Samantha Suiter and they have six children; and Jane, wife of Truman Jeffrey, by whom she has had seven children. Mr. Edrington has made two trips to the Rocky Mountains and one to California. April 26, 1860, he left Chillicothe and passed through a number of exciting and thrilling incidents, finally reaching the Sacramento Valley, and returning to Chillicothe after an absence of three years. Space forbids an extended recital of this most interesting journey. In 1865 he again crossed the plains, reaching Lathrop, Cal., July Ist, and on October 19th, started home, which he reached the Christmas following. Here he has since remained, occupied in farming and stock-raising, his excellent home- stead containing 160 acres, besides which he has 40 acres of good pasture. Convenient buildings, dwelling, barn, etc., are upon the place, and everything indicates the abode of thrift and enterprise, and such characteristics Mr. E. is acknowledged to possess.

DR. THOMAS WOOSTER FOSTER

(Physician and Surgeon, Post-office, Cream Ridge).

The subject of this sketch is the son of one of the most worthy men ever engaged in professional life, one whose own life was given as a sacrifice, almost, for the good of others. John Boyd Foster, M. D., father of Thomas W., was born in 'Pennsylvania, in July, 1812, of Irish descent, and in 1836 was married to' Miss Lois Albina Hunt. Commencing the study of medicine as his profession, he graduated from the Ohio Medical College at Cincinnati and the Jefferson Medical

948

HISTORY OF LIVINGSTON COUNTY.

College of Philadelphia, went to Breckinridge county, Ky., in 1843 and continued the practice of this science until his death in January, 1860, the result of over exertion and exposure while visiting his pa- tients. An unusually quiet man, he was at the same time one of decided intellectual ability ; in connection with his medical career he was a minister in the M. E. Church, a writer and teacher of music, and a thorough classical scholar, having six diplomas. At one time he was also a student at law, associated with Henry D. Curtis, though he abandoned that calling for the practice of medicine. He was ever ready to obey the call of all classes and in truth a physician of sound, thorough learning and experience. These traits of character have been transmitted in a large degree to his son Thomas, who began the study of the profession of medicine on his eighteenth birthday. He was born January 3, 1840, at Georgetown, Pa., one of 10 children in his parents' family, 4 of whom survive : Milton and William Cullen reside with their mother in Grand Rapids, Mich., and John Boyd lives in Kentucky. Thomas W. pursued his studies with assiduity for 9 years before practicing, part of the time under Drs. Henry Trigg and W. H. Dougherty, attending the Ohio Medical College in the years 1867 and 1868, and receiving his diploma in the latter year. June 16, 1863, he was married to Miss Louisa J. Davis, who was born September 5, 1842, the only daughter of John Davis, of Scott county, Ky. Her parents came to Missouri in 1865 and here the father died in March, 1878, and the mother in September, 1877. Three of the 12 children born of this marriage are living: Lois A., born January 20, 1869 ; Bertram, born December 23, 1871; and Rose Ethel, born De- cember 23, 1873. In 1868 Dr. Foster came to this county and has since been actively and successfully engaged in practice, being rc- garded as one of the foremost citizens of the community. He resides upon his farm of 260 acres near Cream Ridge. A member of the M. E. Church South, he is also a Knight Templar in the Masonic Order.

THOMAS HENRY GIBSON

(Farmer and Stock-raiser, Post-office, Chillicothe).

Among the younger members of the agricultural community of this county there are none more deserving of mention than Thomas H. Gibson, as the facts here given will prove, and on this account no less than owing to his being a native-born citizen, he is accorded a worthy place in this volume. His birth occurred in this county October 11, 1856, the fourth son of six children in the family of his parents, his mother having been formerly Tabitha Ballinger. The father was a Virginian by birth, born January 4, 1824, and when a boy he located with his parents in Boone county, Mo., there learning the trade of a carpenter and build- er, at which he worked, in connection with farming, until 1849. Com- ing thence to Livingston county, he followed his chosen calling in Chilli- cothe, and by economy and industry succeeded in securing a comfort- able place where his children now reside, 10 miles north of Chillicothe. His wife was the daughter of Minor Ballinger, of South Carolina, and

949

HISTORY OF LIVINGSTON COUNTY.

she bore her husband six children. The youngest, William Sterling, is deceased ; Emaline is now Mrs. Jno. W. Mace, of Henry county, Mo. ; Sarah Jane married Miles Darr ; Mary E., at home : Joshua M., married Lydia Lyle and lives in Henry county. Thomas H. Gibson was married December 31, 1879, to Miss Harriet Jane, eldest daugh- ter of O. P. Mace ; the latter, of Virginia nativity, removed to Mis- souri when a boy, and married Barbara Allen, of Sullivan county, who bore him two children besides Mrs. Gibson : James F., now of Nebraska and Catharine, a resident of Fort Scott, Kan. Her father subsequently married Martha E. Elswick and they had five children : they now live in Pottawatomie county, Iowa. Mr. and Mrs. Gibson have had two children : Earl S., born November 15, 1880, and Green- bury D., born March 2, 1882, died April 19, 1883. In 1885 Mr. Gibson was elected by the Democratic party to the position of town- ship collector, a capacity in which his well known integrity and abil- ity will serve him well. Thus far his duties have been discharged in a manner above reproach, and it requires no gift of prophecy to pre- dict for him a prosperous future. The same might be said of his farming operations. He now resides on the home place of 80 acres and one of the welcome inmates of his home in his estimable mother.

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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