USA > Missouri > Carroll County > History of Carroll County, Missouri : carefully written and compiled from the most authentic official and private sources, including a history of its townships, cities, towns and villages, together with a condensed history of Missouri ; the Constitution of the United States, and State of Missouri ; a military record of its volunteers in either army of the Great Civil War ; general and local statistics ; miscellany ; reminiscences, grave, tragic and humorous ; biographical sketches of prominent men and citizens identified with the interests of the country > Part 57
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RODOLPH W. BACKENSTOE.
Rodolph W, Backenstoe was born in Centreville, Indiana, on the 22d day of June, 1847. His father Levi Backenstoe was a tinner by trade' and a dealer in stoves and hardware, and as soon as Rodolph was old enough his father took him into the shop and taught him the business. In 1869 Mr. Backenstoe came to Missouri and settled at Cameron, where
T
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he worked at his trade during about three months and then came to this county and settled at Norborne, where he has since resided and worked at his calling of a tinner. In 1873 he opened a store on his own account and conducted the tinware business for one year, when he sold out and went to Arkansas for a few months. On his return to Norborne he bought his former store and again entered the merchandising business at that place. He built a large new store and enlarged his business. Mr. Backenstoe was married in 1871 to Miss Matilda Impey, daughter of Elijah Impey of Ray county, Missouri. Both he and his wife are mem- bers of the Missionary Baptist church, and he is also a member of the masonic fraternity and of the A. O. U. W. Mr. Backenstoe is one of the leading business men of Norborne, and has been an active worker for the advancement and improvement of the town.
- GEORGE W. BOOKER.
·Corydon, Harrison county, Indiana, is the birthplace of George W. Booker. When he was four years old his father removed with the family to Missouri and stopped in Scotland county, where he remained during eight years, and then came to Carroll county and located on a farm on the Carrollton and Richmond road, six miles west of the former place. Upon this farm our subject grew to manhood, receiving his education in the district schools. In the year 1863, George W. Booker, then a youth of seventeen years, enlisted in Gen. Jo. O. Shelby's Brigade in Gen. Price's Division of the C. S. A., and served throughout the remainder of the Civil war. At the close of the war Mr. Booker came to Carroll county and has continued to live here ever since. He was first married in 1868, to Miss Delilah Clowdis, who lived only two years after her mar- riage, and Mr. Booker was, subsequently, married to Miss Nettie M. Hightower. Mr. Booker owns some valuable property in the town of Norborne and conducts the leading tonsorial establishment of that place.
JUDGE JOSIAH FARRINGTON.
'Josiah Farrington is a native of the state of New Hampshire, and was born in June 1827. While he was a small boy his father removed with his family to Vermont and settled in Caledonia county, where the subject of this sketch recived the greater part of his education, and lived until he attained his majority. At the age of twenty-one years he went to Man- chester, New Hampshire, and engaged in an extensive manufacturing establishment where he remained ten years. At the expiration of this time Judge Farrington removed to Ohio and began merchandising at White House, a village on the Toledo Wabash & Western Railway, not far from the city of Toledo. He continued store keeping during two years and then went to farming. When the late civil war began, our
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subject enlisted in the 14th Ohio Regiment of Volunteers and was elected 2d Lieutenant. After serving faithfully in the defense of the Union for two years he resigned and returned to Ohio. He was soon after com- missioned a Captain in the Ohio Militia and subsequently became Colonel of a regiment. In 1868 Judge. Farrington immigrated to Missouri and settled in Carroll county, where he has lived ever since. He was elected in 1873 one of the Justices of the County Court, and at the expiration of the term of office was appointed by the Governor for another term. He has always discharged the duties of the positions of trust which he has held to the entire satisfaction of the people and with credit to himself.
Judge Farrington is a leading citizen and an influential and highly respected member of the community in which he resides.
ELBERT J. HARRISON,
is a son of William' Harrison of Tennessee, and was born in 1846, and when ten years of age came to this county. In 1866 he was married to Miss Emeline Peat.of Virginia, by whom there are five children, namely, Uriah, George, Katie, Kobert and one other. His profession has been that of a farmer.
F. G. RANKEN,
was born in Harrison county, Kentucky, in 1842, where he resided until seventeen years of age. In 1859 his father's family came to Shelby county, Missouri, remaining five years, when they again moved, going to Adams county. In 1873 they came to this county and located, where they have since remained. He is a son of Robt. Ranken who was born in 1800, and followed the business of buying and selling horses, mules and hogs, trading mostly in the south. The father of the subject of this notice was three times married, his first wife being Miss Matilda Redman, the second, Miss Elizabeth Beach, both of Kentucky, and the last, Miss Eliza -. beth, daughter of Peter Dawson. The subject of this notice has 80 acres of land on the Missouri river, and in connection with farming, tends a · warehouse on the river bank.
JAMES H. FULLER,
is the eldest son of Alphonso Fuller, (whose biographical sketch will be found elsewhere) and owns 80 acres of excellent bottom lands which he keeps under the highest state of cultivation and improvement. In 1880 he married Miss Mollie, a daughter of Jolin Archibald.
ISAAC SHELBY,
is a son of John E. Shelby, of Indiana, who was born in 1821, in that state, where he lived until he was twenty three years old, when he came to
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Lafayette county, Missouri, remaining only two years and returned to his native state. While there he married a Miss Nancy Griffith, and return- ing to this state located in Ray county staying five years, then locating in this county, where he resided twenty one years, dying in 1877. Isaac Shelby, the subject of this notice was married in 1879 to Miss Francis, a daughter of Joel Sartain, by whom there is one child, James E.
THOS. A. CHARLTON,
'is the son of N. R. Charlton of Indiana, and was born in 1855. He.mar- ried a daughter of Mr. J. J. Harbert, being in his twenty-sixth year when the union was consumated. His father was born in the same state in the year A. D. 1821. Mr. Charlton, the subject of this sketch is brim full of energy, and with constant and unflagging industry and economy will in the no distant future make his mark and be closely identified with the interests of this county.
CARTER B. DEAN, M. D.
Carter Braxton Dean was born in Harrison county, Indiana, on the 14th day of August, 1841. His father, Alfred Dean, was a leading farmer and school teacher of the locality in which he lived, and our subject was reared upon the farm, and early received the advantages of instruction from his father, who was at that time teaching in the schools of that neigh- borhood. At the age of eighteen Carter commenced to learn the carpen- tering trade, and after he had finished his apprenticeship he worked at that calling until the outbreaking of the great civil war. In the summer of 1861 he was engaged on a steamboat, running on the Ohio and Ten- nessee rivers for some months, and then returned to Indiana and entered Hartsville University, where he spent six months. While attending the university he boarded with a cabinet maker for whom he worked morn- ings before going to school and evenings after returning, and thus defrayed a part of his expenses. When his scanty earnings were exhausted he was compelled to leave college and returned to steamboating, and worked on. a government transport until the fall of 1862, when, having again saved a little money, he returned to the university at Hartsville, and remained there during the succeeding sholastic year, and then engaged in teaching until the spring of 1864. He then enlisted in the 134th regiment of the Indiana volunteer infantry, commanded by Col. James M. Gavin, and went south to the seat of war. When the six months term of service for which he enlisted had expired he returned to his native state and taught school in Bartholomew county. It was during this time that he commenced the study of medicine under the preceptorship of Dr. H. C. Shorb, and when he had prosecuted his studies for three years he attended the Eclectic Medical College at Cincinnati, and soon after began the practice of his
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HISTORY OF CARROLL COUNTY.
profession at Hope, Indiana. After remaining there only about six months Dr. Dean came to Missouri, and settled in Carroll county in the month of September, 1869. He located first six miles north of Carrollton, but sub- sequently moved to Wakanda Station where he lived and practiced medi- cine about six years. In September, 1880, our subject went'to Norborne and engaged in the drug business there, which he has since continued with good success .. Dr. Dean was married at Columbus, Indiana, on the 30th day of August, 1869, to Miss Orpha Boyer. The issue of this union has been two children, Roscoe N. and Lynnetta, both now living. Dr. Dean is a leading member of Wakanda Lodge of A. F. & A. M. By his own unaided efforts, indomitable energy and pluck our subject secured a pro- fessional education and then worked himself into a lucrative practice, and gained the confidence and respect of the whole community.
JACOB T. BROADHURST.
Jacob T. Broadhurst was born in Platte county, Missouri, April 22, 1846. His father, John F. Broadhurst, was a leading farmer and one of the first settlers in the territory known as the " Platte purchase." Our subject was attending school in his native county at the commencement of the war between the states, and that put an end to all educational progress and the further prosecution of his studies was thus prevented. In 1861, though but fifteen years of age, our subject, in company with his father and a number of others, started to join the confederate army under Gen. Sterling Price at Lexington, but while carrying a message from one squad of recruits to another, young Broadhurst was cut off by union soldiers and forced to flee the state. He made his way to Leavenworth, Kansas, and from there went with a private wagon train across the plains to Fort Lyon, on the Arkansas river. This trip occupied four months and at the expiration of that time Mr. Broadhurst returned home and joined the " Home Guard " service. After the close of the war he engaged in fur- nishing ties to the Missouri Valley R. R. company for two years and found it so profitable that he was enabled to enter a more congenial busi- ness. Accordingly in company with Henry Wheeler, also of Platte county, he went to Pomeroy, Kansas, and there entered the general merchandise trade under the firm name of Wheeler & Broadhurst. They continued this business in Pomeroy during three years and then, in 1873, removed to Norborne, Carroll county, Missouri, and have since continued the same line of business in that town. Mr. Broadhurst was married on the 7th day of October, 1874, to Miss Lucy S. Belt, daughter of Joseph Belt, of Carroll county. The issue of this marriage has been three chil- dren: George, Sudie and an un-named daughter. Mr. Broadhurst is a member of the M. E. church south, and his wife of the Christian church, at Norborne. He is also a member of Egypt Lodge No. 360, I. O. O.
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F., at Norborne. Mr. Broadhurst is a live and prosperous merchant and a good citizen.
WASHINGTON FORD, M. D.
Dr. Washington Ford is a native of Saratoga county, New York, and was born on the 24th day of May, 1848. His paternal ancestry were of English and his maternal of Dutch extraction. His great-grandfather emigrated from England to America and settled in Connecticut prior to the war of the revolution. Martin Van De Warker, great-grandfather of our subject on his mother's side, came from Holland to New Amsterdam, (now New York) at a very early day, and was a soldier under Gen. Wash- ington in the war for American independence. Lyman Ford, father of the subject of this article removed from New York to Illinois in 1857 and the next year came to this state, but Washington was left behind to com- plete his studies at Fort Edward Seminary, which school he was attend- ing at the time of the removal of his father's family to the west. After leaving school our subject commenced the study of medicine, and while pursuing his studies engaged in teaching school to secure means to enable him to attend the best colleges and to secure the best advantages in master- ing his chosen profession. He attended lectures, first at Belvue Medical College, New York City, in the year 1872, and three years later entered Rush Medical College, at Chicago, and in 1878 graduated therefrom with a diploma and a certificate from the faculty for proficiency in surgery. Dr. Ford came to Carroll county, Missouri, in 1873 and engaged here for a time in teaching before completing his medical education. He began to practice in March, 1878, and during the time until 1880, he was located at Miles Point, on the Missouri river, in the southwestern part of this county, where he engaged an extensive and paying practice. He then removed to Norborne and has since lived and kept an office in that town. During the civil war, Dr. Ford, then a boy of only fifteen years, was drum- mer of the 105th Illinois infantry, and was with Gen. Sherman in his famous " March to the sea." Dr. Ford is a leading member of Carroll Lodge, No. 249, A. F. and A. M., at Norborne. He is a pleasant, agree- able gentleman and a successful and popular physician.
THOMAS C. BROWN.
The subject of this sketch was born in Ray county, Missouri, Novem- ber 10th, 1840. His paternal ancestors were Scotch, and his maternal of English extraction. His father, Nathaniel Brown, moved from Maryland to Warren county, Missouri, in 1825,. and five years later to Ray county, where he continued to reside until his death in 1877. The maiden name of our subject's mother was Catherine Clemens. Thomas C. Brown was educated in the district schools of his native county, and at the age of
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HISTORY OF CARROLL COUNTY.
twenty-three years entered the drug store of D. D. Bullock, at Richmond, in the capacity of clerk. After remaining in this position during one year Mr. Brown quit and left the state, temporarily, to avoid troubles growing out of the civil war, which was at that time raging fiercely. He went to New Mexico, but remaining there but a short time he returned to Leavenworth, Kansas, and from there went in the autumn of 1864 to Colorado. While there he worked part of the time in the gold mines and a while in a drug store, and was occupied in all about two years, and then came back to his home in Ray county, where he farmed for one sea- son, and then engaged as clerk in. the drug store of Taylor & Donaldson, at Richmond, where he remained until July, 1869. While engaged with Messrs. Taylor & Donaldson, Mr. Brown was married to Miss Mollie F. Morrison, daughter of William Morrison, of Ray county. Three chil- dren have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Brown, two of whom, Luzon B. and Ona, are now living. In July, 1869, Mr. Brown removed to Nor- borne, in Carroll county, and in company with Henry C. Garner, opened a drug store in that town, which business they have jointly conducted with good success ever since. Both Mr. and Mrs. Brown are leading members of the Christian church. He is also a member of the masonic fraternity, and of the A. O. U. W., at Norborne. Mr. Brown is a cour- teous, affable gentleman and a successful business man.
GIDEON B. SHIRKY.
The subject of this sketch was born on the 20th day of November, 1844, in Rockingham county, Virginia. His parents are also natives of that State, and are yet living in Rockingham county. Gideon B. Shirky grew. up in his native county, and until the age of seventeen years assisted his father with work upon the farm. After completing the common school course, he attended the Academy of Newmarket and subsequently finished his education at Roanoke College. When the dark cloud of civil war burst over our land in 1861, Mr. Shirkey joined his fortunes with the cause of the south, enlisting in the tenth Virginia Volunteer cavalry, and fought through all the terrible battles of the campaign in the old Dominion state. He was four times captured, but each time effected his escape and rejoined his command. After the surrender of the Army of Virginia, he returned to Rockingham county, and resumed the avocation of farming which business he continued until 1873 when he engaged with Messrs. Loenback & Co., of Baltimore, as traveling solicitor. At the expiration of his engagement with this firm, he came west and located on a farm eighteen miles east of Richmond in Ray county, Missouri, where he remained but one year, and then came to Norborne, in this county, where he has been engaged in business ever since. Mr. Shirky is the only resident member of the firm of Shirky, Goodson & Co., and is business
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HISTORY OF CARROLL COUNTY.
manager of their large general merchandise store at Norborne. In the month of May, 1874, our subject was married to Miss Eugenia Mansur, daughter of Isaiah Mansur, of Ray county, Missouri. One child, a bright little girl named Allie, has been born of this union. Mr. Shirky is a mem- ber of the Masonic fraternity, with membership in Carroll Lodge, at Norborne, and is an active enterprising business man and a leading citizen of that growing substantial town.
ANDREW J. HYNDS, M. D.
Andrew Jackson Hynds was born in Morgan county, Indiana, on the 9th day of July, 1846. He is of Irish origin, his father, John Hynds, hav- ing been a native of Ireland. His mother's maiden name was Permelia Richey. She was born in Ohio, but her ancestors were Irish. In 1855, the father of our subject emigrated with his family to this state and set- tled near Kirksville in Adair county, and here Dr. Hynds received the greater part of his education at the North Missouri Normal School, which institution he was attending at the beginning of the civil war. Dr. Hynds, then a youth, of sixteen years, enlisted in Company D, Capt. Greenstreet, of the Eleventh Missouri Volunteer Cavalry, commanded by Col. Lipscombe and served until the close of the war. He was the young- est member of the regiment. He was discharged at St. Louis in 1865, and at once returned to Adair county, and resumed his studies in the Nor- mal school, from which he graduated, three years later, with the degree of Bachelor of Sciences. In 1870 he began the study of medicine in the office of Dr. Burton, at Kirksville, with whom he continued for three years attending lectures in the meantime at Rush Medical College at Chicago, from which institution he graduated in 1873, the faculty conferring upon him the title af Doctor of Medicine. He began practicing at Milan, Sulli- van county, Missouri, but soon after removed to Norborne, iu this county where he now resides and practices his profession. Dr. Hynds was mar- ried in October, 1876, to Miss Mary F. Foncannon, of Adair county, Mis- souri. Two children, Mary and John, have been born to Dr. and Mrs. Hynds. Our subject is a member of Carrol lodge, No. 249, A. F. & A. M., at Norborne. He is an able and popular physician, and a pleasant genial gentleman.
JASPER N. CUNNINGHAM.
Jasper N. Cunningham was born on the 18th day of December, 1844, near Morristown, Tennessee. His father, James Cunningham, was a native of Virginia but reared in Tennessee. Our subject attended the schools of his native county until the outbreaking of the great civil war which destroyed all educational advantages and closed the schools of the south. Since the war closed Mr. Cunningham resumed his studies and
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completed the Academic course, at Fall Branch, Tennessee. After finish- ing his education the subject of this sketch taught school for one year in his native state and then came to Missouri and located in Carrollton where he taught in the public school of that city for four years and in the district schools of the county for two years longer. In the month of February, 1876, Mr. Cunningham formed a co-partnership with W. S. Crouch of Carrollton and they jointly founded and have since conducted a. prosper- ous trade in Lumber and Farm machinery at Norborne. Mr. Cunning- ham Is resident partner and manager of this business. Mr. Cunningham was married at Carrollton, on the 31st day of December, 1874, to Miss Ella M. Wright, daughter of James Wright of Chillicothe. . This union has been blest by the birth of three children, named as follows: James W., born October 9th 1875; Francis S., born June 3d, 1878; Willie Myrtle, born July 23d, 1880. Mr. and Mrs. Cunningham are both mem- bers of the Missionary Baptist Church at Norborne. Our subject is also a member of the Masonic Fraternity, Royal Arch Chapter. He is a stir- ring merchant, a popular gentlemen and a valuable member of the com- munity in which he resides.
JOSEPH H. OATMAN.
Joseph. H. Oatman is a Kentuckian. He was born in Garrard county on the 15th day of September 1839. His father died when Joseph was fifteen years old and the family soon after removed to Andrew county, Missouri. 'Our subject laid the foundation of his education at Harrods- burg before leaving Kentucky and finished it in this state. Mr. Oatman was among the earliest to respond when Governor Jackson made his first call for volunteers at the commencement of the late war. He served in the confederate army during two years. After his enlistment his mother Mrs. Lucinda Oatman was banished from Andrew county and she went to Illinois where she died in 1865. After the war Mr. Oatman removed to Lexington, Missouri, and was engaged in different business enterprises, there, until April 1869, when he came to Carroll county and located at Norborne. Here he formed a co-partnership with other gentlemen and handled agricultural implements and hardware for a time and then dealt in grain and produce until October 1879, when our subject entered the general merchandise business with G. C. Crutchley which he has since continued. Mr. Oatman was married on the 5th day of September, 1867, at Lexington, Missouri, to Miss Elizabeth J. Alford, daughter of Thomas Alford of that city. 'The issue of this union was two children, James A. and Mary E., both of whom died in infancy. Mr. Oatman was also called upon to suffer the loss of his wife January 29th, 1873. Mr. Oatman is a consistent member of the Missionary Baptist church and also belongs to
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the Masonic Lodge at Norborne. He is one of the oldest citizens of that place and one of her best and most active business men.
MAY W. BURTON.
May W. Burton was born in Howard county, Missouri, October 30, 1839. · His father, Joseph Burton, was born in the state of Kentucky, but reared chiefly in Randolph county, Missouri. He was married in 1837, to Miss Orpha Brooks, of Randolph county, Missouri. The issue of this union was seven children, the eldest of whom is our subject. 'May W. Burton was reared on a farm in Randolph county, and attended during the winter term, the district schools of his father's neighborhood, completing his education at Silver Creek Academy, in his native county. After leaving school he engaged in clerking for Patton & Samuel, of Huntsville, who were, at that time, the leading dry goods merchants of that place, and continued in their employ until they quit the business. Then for two years he clerked for N. B. Coates, and subsequently went to College Mound, in Macon county, and continued the same business there, with Messrs. Gorham. & Burton, until the commencement of the late civil war. On the 10th day of August, 1861, Mr. Burton enlisted at Marshal, in Saline county, in the confederate state guard, under call of Gov. Jackson. . At the expiration of one year, the time for which he had enlisted, he joined the regular confederate army, company A, 10th Mis- souri infantry, commanded by Col. Stein. . He was promoted to the posi- tion of 1st lieutenant, and served during the remainder of the war, partic- ipating in some of the hottest and most closely contested battles of the Trans-Mississippi department. He was captured at Helena, Arkansas, July 4, 1863, and held a prisoner in close confinement at Alton, Illinois, for a time, then at Johnson's Island, and again at Ft. Delaware, until Janu- ary, 1865, when he was exchanged, and at once returned to his command and was placed in charge of the quartermaster's department, in which position he continued until his regiment surrendered at Shreveport, Louis- iana, in June, 1855. Mr. Burton was married in October, 1865, to Miss Mattie McLean, daughter of Charles McLean, of Randolph county. They became the parents of five children, named in order of birth as fol- lows: Mattie May, Orpha M., Charles M., Minnie and Pearl, all of whom are now living. In the month of November, 1865, Mr. Burton engaged in the dry goods business, in company with John N. Stewart, et the town of. Renick, in Randolph county, and continued in that avoca- cation three years, and then came to Carroll county and located at Nor- borne, where he, in partnership with his brothers Benjamin W., and Speed, opened a dry goods store. They continued in partnership until 1872, and then his brothers retiring, Mr. Burton continued the business. He is still engaged in merchandising at Norborne under the firm name of Burton &
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