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 61
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JAMES H. CREEL,
born April 28th, 1844, in Adair county, Ky., son of Simeon and Margaret Creel, natives of Kentucky. He came in company with his parents to Carroll county, Mo., in 1850. He was married May 25th, 1863, to Miss Brunette Fielder, daughter of James and. Monica Fielder. Since Mr. Creel's marriage he has lived seven years in Trotter township, and the remainder of the time in Fairfield, where he now resides, engaged in farming; he deals extensively in live stock. Mr. Creel has four children: Maggie, John S., Ada C. and Pinkey; he began life a poor boy and has acquired fine property, owning at the present time 280 acres of fine land; he and his wife are members of the Christian church.
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HISTORY OF CARROLL COUNTY.
ISAAC C. CRUZEN,
born December 9th, 1840, in Harper's Ferry, Jefferson county, W. Va .; son of Richard R. and Arclia W. Cruzen. Isaac moved in company with his parents when twelve years old to Saline county, Mo., where Isaac grew to manhood. In 1860 he went to Colorado and remained a year. In 1861 he enlisted in the army, in Price's command, and was afterwards transferred to Shelby's; he was engaged in forty-one battles, and received one wound. . At the close of the war he commenced farming in Saline county, and moved to Carroll county in 1873, locating in Fairfield town- ship, on a quarter section. He also owns 160 acres in Prairie township; he was married December 28th, 1870, -to Mary E. Hill, daughter of Jack- son and Eva Hill. They have two children: Oda A. and William M. Mr. and Mrs. Cruzen are both members of the Methodist church.
PETER F. ELSAS,
born April 18th, 1845, in Carroll county, Ohio. Son of Christian and Mar- garet Elsas, natives of France, who came to America in 1825. Peter's early life was spent in working on a farm and attending school during winter. At the age of fifteen, he began learning the tanner's trade, but after working at his trade one year became physically disabled, and was obliged to quit working at the tanner's trade, and attended college at Mt. Union, near Alliance. Mr. Elsas has been teaching school almost con- stantly ever since. He came to Carroll county, Mo., in 1868, and where he has since made his home, with the exception of three years he spent in Ohio. Mr. Elsas is one of the prominent teachers of Carroll county.
EPHRAIM C. GRIGSBY,
born December 21st, 1837, in Spencer county, Indiana. Son of Nathaniel and Huldah Grigsby, natives of Kentucky. Nathaniel Grigsby was a schoolmate of Abraham Lincoln's, and his brother, Aaron Grigsby, mar- ried Sallie Lincoln, sister of the President. Ephraim's grandfather Grigsby was taken prisoner, when quite young, by the Indians in Ken- tucky; the rest of the family were killed and he was taken to Canada and kept prisoner for seven years. He afterward came to Missouri, and bought the site where Mandeville now stands. . Ephraim's grandfather Cummings was the first white child born in the state of Indiana-born at Vincennes. The subject of this sketch came to Carroll county when 18 years old, and taught school six years. He returned to Indiana in 1861, and enlisted in Co. C, 42d Indiana Volunteers, as second lieutenant. Dur- ing the war he was engaged in nine regular battles, a great many skir- mishes, was wounded three times. He received his discharge Oct. 9th, 1864. Upon his return he went to Iowa and married Miss Sophia L. Stauber, Nov. 24th, 1864, at.Moravia. After their marriage they lived in
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HISTORY OF CARROLL COUNTY.
Indiana two years, and then moved to Carroll county,Mo., and settled on section 23, where he now resides. They have five children, Clara H., Cornelieus L., Clement C., Sophia T. and Sylvester D.
WILLIAM J. GROW,
born April 22d, 1848, in Carroll county, Mo., son of Ananias and Sallie Grow. His father, a native of Pennsylvania, and his mother of Virginia. William lived on the farm with his parents until Feb. 12, 1870, when he married Miss Mahala A. Withers, daughter of George and Margaret J. Withers, and a native of Illinois, and began farming. During the civil war he was pressed into service, and made one raid with Weldon, and returned home. He afterwards joined the state militia. He has three children living: Willie W., Linie C., and Antonia.
WILLIAM HARROLD,
born Nov. 30th, 1836, in De Witt county, Illinois; son of Jacob and Mary Harrold. William grew to manhood on his father's farm. He was married, September 21st, 1859, to Miss Mary A. North, of Ohio, daughter of William and Nancy North. In 1865, Mr, Harrold moved to Iowa, but remained a few months and then located in Linn county, Kansas, where he made his home for five years, and then moved to Carroll county, Mo., settling in section 10 of Fairfield township. He owns 330 acres of land in Carroll county, and 200 acre's in Kansas. In addition to farming, Mr. Harrold pays considerable attention to raising and dealing in stock. He has five children: James H., Nellie, Ida, Nancy.and John W. , He is a master ma- son and belongs to the lodge at Mandeville ..
JOHN T. MAYFIELD,
is a son of Thomas W. and Rebecca J. Mayfield, nee Hill, and was born in Bullitt county, Kentucky, August 9, 1836, his father a native of. North Carolina and his mother a Kentuckian, she dying in 1869. In 1861 the subject of this notice moved to Vermillion county, Indiana, and engaged in farming. In 1865 he moved to Saline county, this state, wehre he re- sided until 1868, when he located in this county on the farm where he now resides. He owns over four hundred acres of land, is extensively engaged in stock-raising and is one of the leading farmers of the county. He was married in May, 1858, to Miss Sarah .Masden, of Kentucky, by whom there are four children now living, Elizabeth E., Warren. T., Daniel V. and Lottie J. He and Mrs. Mayfield are earnest and influential mem- bers of the Christian church, and he is also a member of the Masonic fra- ternity.
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HISTORY OF CARROLL COUNTY.
WM. T. HELPENSTINE,
born October 11, 1849, in Davis county, Indiana, son of James and Anna Helpenstine, natives of Kentucky. He grew to manhood on his father's farm. He was married June 16, 1871, to Miss Nancy J. Chattin, daughter of Nathaniel and Susie A. Chattin. To this union were born four child- ren, Elmina, Sarah A., James C. and Oliver B. Mr. Helpenstine moved to Carroll county in 1878 and purchased the farm upon which he now resides in section 9, of Fairfield township. He is engaged'in dealing in live stock as well as farming. Hs is a member of the Methodist church.
WM. W. JENKINS,
born August 1, 1838 in Nelson county, Kentucky; son of Jeremiah and Margaret Jenkins, natives of Kentucky. William spent his early life in working upon his father's farm. He was married August 4, 1859 to Sarah E. Mayfield, native of Kentucky and daughter of Wesley and Jane Mayfield. He moved to Missouri in 1861, locating at first in Scot- land county. In 1867 he removed to Saline county, where he remained but one year and then settled in Carroll county, on section 33, where he now resides. Mr. Jenkins has seven children living: Margaret J., Mary, Martha, John W., Willie F., Daniel P. and Minnie M. Mr. Jenkins and family belong to the M. E. church, south. He is an odd fellow and a pres- ent justice of the peace.
RICHARD LEE,
born Feruary 3, 1827, in Cheshire, England, .. where_he. grew-to- man- hood, raised on a farm with his father. In the spring of 1854 he came to America, landing in New York city and finally locating near Painesville, O. He was there engaged in farming and raising cattle and sheep. . In 1865 he removed to Livingston county, Mo., and was engaged in the same busi- ness. . He came to Carroll county in 1875 and entered into sheep raising very extensively, having on hand at the present time about 3,000 head of the best kind of stock. He owns 320 acres in section 32 and 320 acres in section 4 of Fairfield township and rents 720 acres besides, all of which makes a range of 1360 acres. Mr. Lee was married in April, 1853, to Miss Mary A. Robinson, a native of England. They have three children living, Thomas C., Richard J. and William R., and one daughter, Mary E., deceased. Mr. Lee is the largest wool-grower in the county.
JOHN W. LOWERY.
born December 16, 1843, in Carroll county, Mo., son of Charles B. and Rebecca Lowery. John grew to manhood on his father's farm. March 31, 1862, he enlisted in Co. K, Third Missouri cavalry, but some time after the regiment was broken up and he was in the part that consolidated
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HISTORY OF CARROLL COUNTY.
with the Seventh regiment, Company M. He was engaged in the battle at Springfield and several other skirmishes. He returned home in August, 1865, and in 1866 was married to Miss Marv Denham, daughter of Alfred and Elizabeth Denham, natives of Kentucky. They are the parents of five children, Hannah L., Minnie E., Alice J., George D. and Carrie J. Mr. Lowery owns 120 acres in section 11, of Fairfield town- ship. In 1875 he went to California and was engaged in farming there for three years. His father kept the first store in the northwestern part of Carroll county; was obliged to haul his goods with ox teams from Lex- ington.
JAMES L. MCLEOD,
was born March 30, 1829, in Delaware county, Ohio; son of John and Eliza McLeod, natives of Pennsylvania. He lived with his parents on the farm until 16 years of age, when he attended the Central college, Frank- lin county, for about two and a half years. He then attended the Gran- ville college, a Baptist school in Licking county, for one year. After completing his education he began teaching and preaching. He was mar- ried July 4, 1852, to Miss Mary Sedring, daughter of Josiah and Sarah Sed- ring, natives of Pennsylvania. In 1859 he took charge of the Baptist church at Columbia City and preached for three years. He then traveled two years for the Home Missionary society. Was afterwards located as pas- tor in Oswego for nine years. His wife's health failing her he moved to Carroll county, Missouri, and settled on a farm in section 2, of Fairfield township. Since coming to this county he has been engaged in the min- istry. His sons manage the farm and attend to his fruit trees; the raising of which he makes a specialty. He has five children: Francis E., Nelson W., Cassius L., Sumner L. and Corinne A.
BENNET MENEFEE,
was born March 4, 1827, in the state of Virginia; son of Charles and Mary Menefee. He spent his boyhood in the county of his birth, and moved with his parents to Muskingum county, Ohio, where he remained at home until twenty-five years old, when he moved to Mercer county, Illı- nois, where he engaged in farming. . He was married, May 1, 1859, to Lucy H. Wood, native of Michigan, and daughter of Reuben and Phoebe Wood. Mr. Menefee came to Missouri in a wagon, in January, 1869, and located at Mandeville, Carroll county, on sections 2 and 3. He still owns 120 acres in Illinois .. Mr. Menefee did not bring his family to Missouri until 1879. He has six children: Mary A., Nettie, Olive, Walker, Iona and Milton.
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HISTORY OF CARROLL COUNTY.
WILLIAM REDDING,
was born April 15, 1841, in Chariton county, Missouri; son of Isaac and Elizabeth Redding. William was reared and educated in Keytesville. Part of his life was spent in clerking in a dry goods and grocery store. In the fall of 1864 he went to Nebraska City, and was engaged in trading in stock, etc., for ten months. He returned and settled in Livingston county, Missouri, where he followed the pursuit of farming for nine years. In 1876 he moved to Carroll county and bought 200 acres of land in sec- tion 24, of Fairfield township, where he has since made his home. He has added 220 acres to his former purchase. ' Mr. Redding was married November 19, 1863, to Miss Mary E. Wood, daughter of B. F. and Ann Wood. They are the parents of six children: Felix, Loan B., Eugene, Frank, Ora Lee and Brick. Mr. Redding is a master mason at 'Mande- ville Lodge, No. 373.
THOMAS RONEY,
was born November 26, 1822, in Lancaster county, Pennsylvania; son of John and Jane Roney, natives of Pennsylvania. Thomas' grandfather was a soldier in the revolutionary war, under Washington, at the battle of Brandywine and other battles. When but two years old, Thomas moved with his parents to Montgomery county, and in two years afterwards to Lebanon county, where he lived until he was twenty years old, moving at that time into Baltimore county, Maryland, and followed the pursuit of farming and was also engaged in furnishing timber for railroads. In 1850 he removed to Ray(county, Missouri, and in 1854 he removed to Carroll county and located on the farm where he now resides. He now owns 440 acres of good land, and besides farming deals extensively in live stock. Mr. Roney was married December 27, 1853, to Miss Martha E. Barham, a native of North Carolina. Mrs. Roney died January 29, 1867, leaving three children living. Mr. Roney was again married March 10, 1867, to Miss Sarilda Cayse, a native of Kentucky. To this union were born four children. His wife died October 27, 1877, and he was married the third time, March 24, 1878, to Miss McGarvin, a native of Ray county, Missouri. They have one child living, Ava P. Mr. Roney and wife are members of the Baptist church. He is a republican in politics and held the office of justice of the peace from 1861 until the township organiza- tion was discontinued. He was a federal during the late war and a mem- ber of the home guards, in Captain Philips' company, and afterwards belonged to Captain Hoover's company.
ALFRED J. ROSE,
was born August 8th 1827, in Robinson county Tennessee, son of John Rose. Alfred lived with his father until he was twenty years old, during
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HISTORY OF CARROLL COUNTY.
which time his father moved at least, three times to Illinois, and back to Tennessee. In 1847, he and his father went into the Mexican war, join- ing Co. B. 1st Regiment, 1st Brigade, Ill. Infantry; in which war his father was killed. During Alfred's boyhood days, he was bitten with a cotton-mouth snake, which. came .near .. killing.him, and did cripple him for life. After his return from the Mexican war, he went to Tennessee, and there married Martha Harris, daughter of Alleu Harris, March 31st 1851. 1n 1852, he moved to Carroll county Mo., and purchased 280 acres of land near Mandeville. In making this purchase he walked to · Plattsburg,-55 miles,-and return, and bought it under the "Bit act." In 1862, he joined Ballew, Mirrick and others, and entered the Confederate army. He was soon taken prisoner, and exchanged, and afterwards, attached himself.to Clark's Regiment under Gen. Frost. His wife died a few days before his return from the army, and he was again married June 6th 1866 to. Mrs. Milda A. Leonard, relict of James Leonard, who died while in the Union army, leaving three children. Mr. Rose has four children by his first wife, and seven by his second. He and his wife are members of the M. E. Church South.
PLINY D. SWANK,
born July 19th 1848, in Brown county, Ohio, son of David and Morril Swank. His father is a native of Ohio, and his mother of Maine, a descendant of the Morrils of that state, a family that has been conspicu- ously in history, since the landing of the Pilgrim Fathers in 1620. Pliny, in company with his father moved to Iowa, when twelve years old, where he spent eight years of his life, in farming and various pursuits. He then went to New Orleans and remained a short while. In 1878, he removed to Carroll county and was married June 20th 1878, to Miss Annie Shields, daughter of Benjamin Shields of Carroll county. Since then Mr. Swank has been engaged in farming and stock raising. He has one child, Hat- tie E.
GEORGE STEMM,
born January 30th 1854, in Carroll county Mo., son of John and Eda Stemim. His father is a native of Germany, and one of the most success- ful farmers in the county: George was raised to work in his father's grist and saw mills. He was married March 27th 1878, to Miss Lucy Green, daughter of John W. and Marietta Green of Illinois. They are the parents of one child; Emma. Mrs. Stemm is a member of the Metho- dist Church. Their farm is located in section 27 of Fairfield Township.
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HISTORY OF CARROLL COUNTY.
BAILEY WALKER,
born December 10, 1846, in DeWitt county, Illinois; son of James and Jane Walker, natives of Kentucky. Bailey Walker spent his early life in a flouring mill. In Aug. 1862, he enlisted in company G, 107th regi- ment, Illinois infantry. During his service he engaged in battles at Franklin, Nashville, Atlanta, Kenesaw Mountain and others. He received his discharge June 9, 1865 at David's Island, New York Harbor, and returned to his former occupation as a miller in De Witt county, Ill. He came to Carroll county, Mo., in 1868, and began farming. On April 7, 1870, he was. married to. Miss. Elizabeth. E ... Lane, Daughter of Payton and Susan B. Lane, natives of Tennessee. They are the parents of four children: James A., George W., Rebecca A., and Nathan F. After he was married he went to Bates county, Mo., and back to his native county in Illinois, but returned to Carroll county in 1879, where he still resides, being engaged in farming.
REV. OLIVER P. WHEELER,
born in Brown county, Ohio, May 14, 1825; son of Benjamin D. and Abigail Wheeler. He was raised in. the county of his birth, and followed farming up to March 24, 1842, when he was married to Miss Viletta Mott; native of Indiana. In 1854, he came to Carroll county and settled where he now resides. ' Mr. Wheeler commenced 'preaching in 1857, in the Methodist church, and two years after he united with the . Christian church and has preached in that church ever since. He preached in Iowa for 8 years, and afterwards joined the north Missouri conference, and at.present has charge of the Bethlehem church in this county. He has five children living: Abigail R., Martha J., Olive I., Joseph C., and Catharine L. Mr. Wheeler also manages his farm which consists of 70 acres located in sections 20 and 21.
JOHN WHITWORTH,
born Aug. 31, 1828, in Alabama; son of Isaac and Elizabeth Whitworth, natives of Tennessee. John was raised on a farm, and lived with his par-, ents in the county of his birth until 16 years old. He, in company with his father, moved to Carroll county in 1844. In 1846 he enlisted In the Mexican army in Mitchell's regiment under General Sterling Price. He returned home in 1850, and took an overland trip to California, where he remained 6 years engaged in mining. In 1856 he returned to Carroll county, Mo., and begun farming in section 10 of Fairfield township. During the late civil war Mr. Whitworth joined the home militia. ' He was married Sept. 4, 1846 to Miss Amelia J. Matthews, native of Ken- tucky. His wife died May 18, 1879 leaving eight children living: George
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HISTORY OF CARROLL COUNTY.
W., Elizabeth, Isaac, John L., Nancy J., Truax, Edward G., and William R. Mr. Whitworth was again married, May 1, 1880, to Mrs. Lincoln Shirley, daughter of John and Fannie Smith. Mr. Whitworth is a mem- ber of the Christian church.
DEWITT TOWNSHIP. JACOB E. ARMITAGE,
born Oct. 7, 1842, in Morgan county, Kentucky; son of John Armitage. Jacob was raised and educated in the county of his birth. He moved in company with his father in 1853, to Moniteau county Mo., and remained there until 18 years old, when he enlisted in the Union army in the 5th Missouri volunteer cavalry. He served to the close of the war, and after its close he went to Carroll county, near De Witt, and was engaged in farming for four years. In 1868 he engaged in the grading of the M. K, & T. R. R., between Calhoun and Windsor. He was engaged in this business but eight months and then returned to Carroll county and farmed two years more. In 1873 he began merchandising in De Witt, and has since been engaged in various business pursuits, such as dealing in stock, shipping grain, etc., until up to the present time when we find him propri- etor of the Valley House in De Witt. In Feb. 1877, Mr. Armitage was forced to do the unpleasant act of killing a man in self-defense. He was tried and acquitted. He was married Dec. 27, 1865, to Miss Margaret M. Eagan, daughter of Josiah Eagan. They are the parents of four children, two sons and two daughters .. .
WILLIAM A. AUDSLEY,
born October 8, 1850, in Saline county, Missouri. Son of Joseph and Margaret (Jennings) Audsley, natives of England. William was raised in Saline county on the farm of his parents. He was married January 1, 1875, to Miss Mary O. Robinson, of. Carroll county, who died May 2, 1880, leaving one child, William E. Mr. Audsley came to Carroll county in 1875, locating in De Witt township on 160 acres of land, where he is at present engaged in farming and stock raising. He is a member of the M, E. church.
JOHN B. BARRETT,
born October 9, 1824, in Louisa county, Virginia, son of Charles Bar- rett. When thirteen years old John went to Henderson, Kentucky, and lived with his cousin, Alex. B. Barrett, with,whom he learned the tobacco business. He remained with his cousin ten years, and then moved to Camden, Missouri, and there engaged in buying, handling and shipping
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HISTORY OF CARROLL, COUNTY.
tobacco to Europe. He carried business on in this place in connection with Wm. Barrett, of Richmond, Virginia, and Alex. B. Barrett, of Hen- derson, Kentucky, ,but managing the entire business himself. He remained in Camden for eight years, and then went to. Louisville, Ken- tucky, and engaged in the same business with Alex. B. Barrett. In 1866 he returned to Missouri, and spent several years in Camden and Chilli- cothe. He afterwards lived in Boone county for four years, and then moved to De Witt in 1876, where he has since resided. He is at present in partnership with P. P. Guillet, engaged in the tobacco business. Mr. Barrett was married April 18, 1849, to Miss Nellie Drummond, of Lafay- ette county, daughter of Richard H. Drummond. Mrs. Barrett died February 10, 1876. Eight children were born to this union, four of which number still live-two sons and two daughters. Mr. Barrett is an Episcopalian.
DR. DANIEL T. BROOKS,
born July 8, 1842, near Bangor, Maine. Son of William and Mary Brooks. His father moved to Ohio when he (Daniel) was an infant, and settled'in Athens county, where Daniel was raised. He acquired his lit- erary and general education at DeCamp Institute, Pageville, Ohio, where he served as janitor of the school building to assist in defraying his expenses. He taught school and worked at various kinds of hard labor in order to acquire means. with which he could educate himself. In 1861 he went to Philadelphia and read medicine under Dr. J. R. Ludlow. In 1862 he joined the 30th Ohio regiment of Volunteer infantry, and was appointed assistant surgeon, and was assigned to duty in the hospital at Frederick City, Maryland. . He continued to serve, at different places as surgeon until the close of the war, during which time he received severe wounds, and lost an eye by sunstroke. After the war he returned to Ohio, and not being able to resume active practice, he confined himself to office practice for five years. He took his first course of medical lectures in Philadelphia in 1867, and his second at Starling medical college, at Columbus, Ohio, and graduated in 1874. In 1878 he came to Carroll county, Missouri, and practiced in the town of De Witt and vicinity, where he is still located. He took a course of lectures at the Amercan medical college in St. Louis, and graduated there in 1881. Dr. Brooks was mar- ried July 8, 1863, to Miss Averilla Townsend, daughter of Leonard S. Townsend. They are the parents of two children-Stanley H. and Lizzie ·L.
ALPHEUS CHAIN,
born January 20, 1836, in . Columbus. county, "Ohio. Sony of. Hugh Chain, a carpenter now living in Kingston, Missouri. Alpheus moved
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HISTORY OF CARROLL COUNTY.
to Missouri in company with his father when twenty-three years old. He received his education in Ohio, and learned the carpenter's trade under his father. He afterward worked at his trade in Kentucky and Tennessee, arrived at DeWitt, his present home, in 1867, and has fol- lowed his trade ever since. . During the late civil war, Mr. Chain enlisted in the confederate army and served six months in company H, of Colonel Hughes' regiment. He was married in 1863 in Caldwell county, Mis- souri, to Miss Virginia A. Moree, daughter of Jeremiah Moree. They are the parents of three children, two daughters and one son. Mr. Chain has been in business in DeWitt longer than any other firm with- out change.
EUGENE CUNNINGHAM,
born August 15, 1828, in Cork county, Ireland. He was raised and educated in the old country and there learned the stone-cutter's trade. When twenty-four years of age.he came to America, landing in Philadel- phia; and after a short time located in Mayville, Kentucky, where he was employed as contractor in the construction of stone bridges on the Mayville & Lexington R. R. He subsequently was engaged as con- tractor in other states. . In 1855 he superintended the construction of the government building at Fort Riley, Kansas. Mr. Cunningham was in Denver, Colorado, at the outbreak of the war. He went with a party of volunteers to Texas and joined the 1st Texas cavalry in defense of the south. He was in the battles of Chastinola, Pea Ridge, Corinth, Iuka, Grand Gulf and others. Was taken prisoner at Grand Gulf and sent to Alton prison, where he came near dying of starvation, and took the oath and was paroled. He moved to Dewitt in 1867 as a railroad contractor, and while there purchased a farm, settled on it and has been a citizen of that community ever since. He was married in 1864, to Miss Amanda Ward of Warrensburg, Missouri. They have two' sons and three daugh- ters living. Mr. Cunningham belongs to both the Masonic and Odd Fellows Fraternities. He is Junior Warden in the former and treasurer in the latter.
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