History of Clay and Platte 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 Clay and Platte Counties --their pioneer record, resources, biographical sketches of prominent citizens., Part 94

Author:
Publication date: 1885
Publisher: St. Louis : National Historical Co.
Number of Pages: 1156

USA > Missouri > Platte County > History of Clay and Platte 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 Clay and Platte Counties --their pioneer record, resources, biographical sketches of prominent citizens. > Part 94
USA > Missouri > Clay County > History of Clay and Platte 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 Clay and Platte Counties --their pioneer record, resources, biographical sketches of prominent citizens. > Part 94

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 PLATTE COUNTY.

stocks of groceries and hardware and have an excellent custom. They are also largely engaged in the grain trade, and are the leading grain shippers from this point. Mr. and Mrs. Doke have had nine children, four of whom are living : John H., William JJ., Fielding Y. and Mollie B. Smith. Mr. and Mrs. Doke are worthy and exemplary members of the Baptist Church, and Mr. Doke is a member of the Masonic Order. He is also a member of the town council, and has always taken a worthy and public-spirited interest in the welfare and prosperity of Edgerton, being from the beginning one of the leading, enterprising men of the place.

REV. THOMAS HURST

(Retired Minister of the M. E. Church South, Post-office, Ridgely, Platte County, Mo.).

Rev. Mr. Hurst is a native of Ohio, born near Chillicothe, in Ross county, November 11, 1805. He was a son of Levi and Sophia (Badley ) Hurst, formerly of Baltimore, Md. Rev. Mr. Hurst's paternal grandfather was James Hurst, who came over to Baltimore from Isle of Wight, Eng., about the middle of the last century. The maternal grandfather of the subject of this sketch was William Badley, of an early colonial family at Baltimore. In about 1800 Rev. Mr. Hurst's parents removed from Baltimore to Chillicothe, O., or to the locality which afterwards became the site of Chillicothe. The father and mother and three children made the entire journey in a cart drawn by one horse, bringing with them such household uten- sils as were indispensable for cooking, bedding and personal wear. Locating on the site of Chillicothe, they resided there for two or three years, and the father, who was one of the pioneers of the place, built the first brick house erected there. Subsequently, he bought a farm in the vicinity and engaged in farming. He became very successful, and lived to the advanced age of 90 years. He left a comfortable property - enough to give all his children a substantial start in life. His wife died the following year after his demise, in 1861. She was 90 years of age. They had 10 children (eight sons and two daughters). Rev. Thomas Hurst, who was the seventh in their family of children, was reared near Chillicothe, and received only such a common school education as was obtainable at that early day. On the 27th of May, 1827, he was married to Miss Catherine L. Street, a daughter of Bazzel and Hannah Street, both of pioneer families in Ohio. She survived her marriage, however, only a few years, leaving at her death two children, George W. and Sarah A., who are still living. To his second wife Mr. Hurst was married August 7, 1834. She was a Miss Sarah Prichard. In 1853, Mr. Hurst immigrated to Missouri, and settled in Platte county. For 10 years before this he had been regularly engaged in the ministry of the M. E. Church, but all the time was more or less actively interested in farm- ing and stock-raising. He was licensed to preach in Frankfort, O., by Rev. James M. Trimble, in 1840. Seven years later he was regularly ordained a deacon of the M. E. Church, Bishop Edwin O. James offi- ciating. In 1854, Rev. Mr. Hurst was made an elder in the M.

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HISTORY OF PLATTE COUNTY.

E. Church South, by Bishop H. H. Kavanaugh. A zealous and use- ful minister before he came to Missouri, subsequently, for 15 years, he was a regular circuit rider in this State. But in 1868, on account of his long and useful services for the church and his advancing years, he was, with many expressions of warm appreciation for what he had done, and with the hearty good wishes of his fellow-ministers, honor- ably retired, or " superannuated," by act of the Conference. Since then he has, of course, not been engaged in the regular ministry, but has, nevertheless, continued to take a warm interest in the welfare of the church and the triumph of Gospel teachings, and wherever he could do good his services have not been withheld. By his second wife Mr. Hurst had seven children : Jesse, who died in infancy ; Minerva J., wife of William Shackleford ; Mary E., wife of James Scott ; Levi A., Matilda, wife of S. M. Crockett, and Malissa E., wife of David E. Shafer, and Martha, now deceased. The mother of these died in 1877. Levi A. Hurst (son of Rev. Thomas Hurst) was married to Miss Gertrude McLane daughter of Allen McLane, of Delaware. Her grandfather was Col. Allen McLane, from whom John R. McLane, editor and proprietor of the Cincinnati Enquirer, was also a descendant. Mrs. Hurst has in her possession a water-pitcher presented to her grandfather by the committee of arrangements at Washington, who had charge of the ceremonies in honor of the visit of Gen. Lafayette to this country in 1824. Col. McLane was one of the surviving veterans at that time, of the War for Independence, and was a personal and close acquaintance of both Washington and Lafayette, each of whom had frequently had occa- sion to compliment his gallantry and ability as an officer in their official reports. On one side of the pitcher is a bust picture of Geu. Washington, under which is engraved -" The Father of his Country ; First in War, First in Peace, and First in the Hearts of his Country- men." On the other side of the pitcher is a picture of Gen. Lafayette, over which is inscribed - " In commemoration of the visit of Gen. Lafayette to the United States of America, in the year 1824." Encircling the picture is "Fayette, the nation's guest." In front of the pitcher is presented an eagle bearing in its mouth the motto, " E pluribus Unum." Encircling the eagle are the words, " Repub- licans are not always ungrateful. To their brother soldier, Col. Allen McLane."

Mrs. Hurst has also in her possession another family relic, which is an oil painting, representing a scene in the Revolution, in which her grandfather, Allen McLane, who belonged to Maj. Lee's famous legion of horse, had a desperate encounter with the British. The picture is 33x42 inches.

PAYTON NEWMAN

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

The branch of the Newman family of which the subject of the pre- sent sketch is a representative came originally, so far as this country is concerned, from North Carolina. Mr. Newman was a son of Will-

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HISTORY OF PLATTE COUNTY.

iam and Elizabeth Newman, who at the time of his birth were residents of West Virginia. He was born in Cabell county of that State, June 27, 1818. His father, before removing to Missouri, had served in the office of constable, in both Lawrence and Greenup counties in Kentucky, a position in that State in those days of considerable more dignity and importance than the office is in Missouri. He was a farmer by occupation, however, and followed that almost exclusively throughout his life, except the six or eight years during which he discharged the duties of constable. From Kentucky the family re- moved to Missouri, and two years later settled in Platte county, near Ridgely, in 1838. Here the parents resided until their deaths, the father dying in 1865, and the mother in 1869. Both were earnest members of the Baptist Church. Peyton Newman was in his twen- tieth year when he came to Platte county with his parents. It should have been remarked, however, which was omitted by oversight, that the family first settled in Kentucky from West Virginia, and resided there for a number of years, and until their removal to Missouri. The subject of this sketch was principally reared in Kentucky. He completed his majority, however, in Platte county, and in 1842 was married to Miss Susan, a daughter of Lance and Fannie Woodward, from Madison county, Ky. Mr. Newman had engaged in farming for himself before he was married, and he continued farming and stock- raising up to the outbreak of the Civil War. But in 1861 he enlisted in the Southern service under Gen. Price and served for about six months. During that time he was in the battle of Pea Ridge and some other engagements of less importance. But being taken pris- oner, he was compelled to take what was called the ironclad oath and was afterwards not in the service any more. He therefore resumed farming and stock-raising, and has so continued ever since. Mr. Newman has been very successful and has accumulated a comfortable property. He has a fine farm of nearly 500 acres, all handsomely improved, including a commodious residence, erected at a cost of nearly $4,000, two excellent barns and other buildings and better- ments to correspond. He is making a specialty of fine short horn cattle and of feeding beef cattle for the wholesale markets. He has a good herd of short horns and much other valuable stock. Mr. and Mrs. Newman have reared ten children to mature years : Lance W., an attorney by profession ; Payton S., a farmer ; Frances E., wife of R. W. Eads, of Clinton county ; Martha R., wife of James Reece, of that county ; Amanda, wife of Alexander Newby, of Colorado ; Alice, wife of Daniel B. Hayden, of Platte county ; Catherine, wife of J. W. Harris, of this county ; William C. deceased, at the age of 24; Almeda, wife of Z. M. Barnett, of Jackson county, and Stephen S. deceased, at the age of 24, and Cecelia deceased, at the age of 21. Mr. and Mrs. Newman are members of the Baptist Church.

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HISTORY OF PLATTE COUNTY.

DAVID D. NEWMAN

(Farmer, Post-office, Edgerton).

David D. is a brother to Payton Newman, whose sketch precedes this, and in which an outline of the family history has been given. David D. was born in Lawrence county, Ky., February 28, 1820, and was therefore sixteen years of age when the family came to Mis- souri. Afterwards, in March, 1843, he was married to Miss Mary A., a daughter of John and Nancy Dodson, from Virginia to this State by way of Tennessee. Mr. Newman was reared to the occupation of a farmer and has followed that all his life, or from boyhood up to the present time. By industry and good management he has been fairly successful and has accumulated a modest independence. He has an excellent homestead of about 200 acres, well stocked and well im- proved, and considerable other property, real, personal and mixed. Mr. and Mrs. Newman have been blessed with a family of thirteen chidren : Nancy, wife of William B. Standiford ; Elizabeth, late wife of R. H. Black, but who died in 1872, leaving four children, three of whom are now living ; Susan J., wife of J. N. Moody, deceased, and afterwards consort of George W. Sleeper ; John, a wagonmaker at Edgerton ; Erastus P., car inspector of the Chicago, Rock Island and Pacific Railroad Company ; James H., a farmer ; Cornelia E., wife of A. G. Mitchell; Martha A., wife of Alfred Liggett ; Mary A., Sarah P., wife of J. R. Cox ; William P., Theodore L. and David D. Alex- ander Newman is a grandson of the subject of this sketch, and all the family are members of the Baptist Church at Edgerton, Mr. Newman himself being a deacon in the church. He is a member of the A. F. and A. M.

GEORGE RADER

(Farmer and Stock-raiser).

Mr. Rader, a leading land owner and one of the successful agricul- turists of the county, was born in Rockingham county, of the Old Dominion, March 18, 1830, his parents also being natives of that State. His father, John Rader, a successful farmer, moved from Rockingham to Rockbridge, four miles from Lexington, and there remained until his death, leaving a landed estate of 472 acres. His son, George, received a common school education in youth, and when ten years of age began to learn the carpenter's trade, to which he applied himself afterwards for some time. In 1854 he emigrated to Missouri, and in 1859 took up his chosen calling again. Going to Colorado he remained there until 1865, occupied the while in freight- ing and mining. Returning now to Platte county, he commenced farming, and has since continued it with no ordinary degree of success. He is much interested in the stock business, and makes a specialty of graded cattle, hogs, etc., his annual shipments amounting to a neat sum. On March 16, 1867, Mr. Rader was married to Miss Joanna Whitlock, who was born in this county. Her father, Preston

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HISTORY OF PLATTE COUNTY.

Whitlock, was a Kentuckian by birth, as was also her mother, whose maiden name was Lavinia Grover. At the time of the death of the former he owned 400 acres of land in Platte county ; he died in 1875, being a member of the Presbyterian Church. In his political prefer- ences he was a Democrat. Mrs. Rader was one of twelve children. Her family were early settlers here, having settled in the county in 1836. Mr. and Mrs. Rader have four children, viz. : Frank, born Decem- ber 8, 1867 ; David, born September 30, 1869 ; Ann, born February 22, 1876, and Kate, born February 28, 1879. Mrs. Rader is a mem- ber of the Christian Church. Mr. Rader is a Democrat politically. He is a man of wide and varied information, and well posted on the general topics of the day, the knowledge he has obtained being the result of deep and careful study.

ALEXANDER M. ROBINSON, M. D.

(Retired Physician and Surgeon, Ridgely.)

The following sketch of the life of Dr. Robinson is reproduced from the United States Biographical Dictionary (Missouri volume ), published in 1878 :-

Alexander M. Robinson was born in Greenville District, S. C., November 17, 1802. His parents, John Monteith and Sarah (McClan- ahan ) Robinson were natives of Virginia. His paternal grandfather was born in New Haven, Eng., and his maternal grandfather was from Scotland. About the year 1790 Alexander's parents immigrated to South Carolina, where he, the seventh of a family of twelve chil- dren, was born. In 1810 his father removed to Bourbon county, Ky., where he received his education under the care of Thomas A. Marshall, afterward Judge of the Supreme Court of Kentucky. After leaving school he studied medicine, and in 1825-26 attended lectures at Lexington, Ky., and practiced his profession for upward of half a century with distinguished success.

In 1826 he removed to Missouri, settling first in Howard county, and in a few years afterward removing to Boone county, from which he was elected in 1834 to the State Senate, serving a term of four years, at the expiration of which he served a term as one of the sec- retaries of the Senate. In 1842 he removed to Clay county, where he remained a year, still engaged in the practice of his profession. In 1843 he removed to Platte county, settling on a farm which he had entered. In 1848 he represented the county in the State Legislature, and during the term was Speaker of the House of Representatives. Few men in the history of the State exercised more power over this body. At the close of the session his portrait was painted by George Bingham at the expense of the members and hung in Representative Hall, where it may still be seen. In 1852 he was the Senator from the district which then included Platte, Clinton and Clay counties, and was re-elected in 1856, the district being then composed of Clay and Clinton. Before the expiration of the last term he resigned in consequence of moving his residence from Platte to Lewis county.

HISTORY OF PLATTE COUNTY. 905

In 1857 he was appointed by President Buchanan one of the Superin- tendents of Indian affairs. The duties of this office he discharged with marked ability during the four years of Buchanan's administra- tion, and six months of Lincoln's, when he resigned and returned to Clay county, where he resumed the practice of medicine a few months. Then he settled at Ridgely, Platte county, engaging in his profession, and returned to his farm in Clinton county, where he now lives at the advanced age of 75 years, in full possession of his faculties and uni- versally respected by all who know him.

Dr. Robinson was married in 1822, in Bourbon county, Ky., to Miss Louisa Baysie, daughter of E. Baysie. Two children were born to them, one of whom, a son, survives and is now a practicing physician of Texas. In 1833 Dr. Robinson married Miss Catherine Ann Hughes, daughter of William Hughes, a farmer of Boone county, Mo. They have had six children, of whom three sons and a daughter are living.

In religion Dr. Robinson has always been a free thinker. Politi- cally he is a Democrat.

In 1825 he was made a Master Mason in Blue Spring Lodge, Fayette county, Ky. He afterwards received the Mark Master's de- gree in the Chapter, but moved to Missouri and failed to advance to the superior degree in this body. In person he is six feet and one inch in height, and weighs about one hundred and sixty-five pounds. His address is polished and his general bearing dignified.

J. M. ROBINSON, M. D. (Physician and Surgeon, Ridgely).

Dr. J. M. Robinson is a son of Dr. Alexander M. Robinson and Catharine Ann (Hughes) Robinson, whose sketch (J. M.'s) precedes this, he being one of the leading public men of the State in years gone by and a physician of State reputation. Dr. Robinson, Jr., was born in Platte county, February 14, 1847, and as he grew up received an advanced general education. He attended select schools in the vicinity of his father's homestead in Platte county, and also attended school at St. Louis for three years. After this he went to college at St. Joseph, Mo., for three years. In the meantime he had given considerable attention in a general way to the study of medicine, for which profession he was educated. But quitting school he began teaching at the same time, and used his means thus obtained to take his first course of lectures, aided by his father. He entered assidu- ously upon a regular course of study for the medical profession under his father, who was untiring in his efforts to give him as thorough a knowledge of that science as was possible outside of a college. But in 1866 he matriculated at the St. Louis Medical College, where he took a regular course of two terms, graduating in the class of '69, when he was just 21 years old. After quitting medical college Dr. Robinson, Jr., returned home to Platte county and was received into partnership in the practice with his father. They practiced together with advantage to both for about three years. Since then Dr. Robin-

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HISTORY OF PLATTE COUNTY.

son, Jr., has been engaged in the practice alone, and never changed his location. In his profession he has been not less successful than his distinguished father. Dr. Robinson, Jr., has acquired a wide and enviable reputation as a physician, and for years he has been recog- nized as being at the head of his profession in this county. Eminently successful in the treatment of cases and in building up a large prac- tice, he has been hardly less so in a material point of view. Dr. Rob- inson, Jr., has accumulated a comfortable independence. November 10, 1869, he was married to Miss Sarah A. Handley, a daughter of Dr. William C. Handley, an old and prominent physician of this county, from Kentucky. Dr. and Mrs. R. have five children, Lela L., William M., and Johnnie A., an infant. Two others died in in- fancy. In politics Dr. Robinson is a Jeffersonian Democrat and in religion - well, in fact, he has no religion to speak of ; or, rather, he is what may be called a Rationalist, with a strong leaning toward Agnosticism. But, nevertheless, he is a fine physician and a most excellent, exemplary and highly esteemed citizen. Besides he is a brother-in-law to the church, which is certainly good as far as it goes. Mrs. Robinson is a worthy and devout member of the M. E. Church South, and a most amiable, excellent lady. In person he is about five feet, ten inches high and weighs 128 pounds.

DRS. ABRAHAM AND WILLIAM SHAFER (Physicians and Surgeons, Edgerton).

The Drs. Shafer, brothers, partners in the practice of medicine at Edgerton, are justly recognized as among the leading successful physi- cians of this part of the county. Both are gentlemen of superior general education, and are regular graduates of medicine, each having taken a complete course at medical college and graduated with marked honor.

Dr. Abraham Shafer is the senior of the two in the practice, having commenced in 1873, ever since which he has been actively occupied with the duties of his profession. He was born in this county in the year 1849, and was reared on his father's farm. His early youth was spent in the common schools, and later along he studied the higher branches at the Platte City Academy and the State University. In 1870 Dr. Shafer, Sr., began the study of medicine under Dr. J. M. Allen, of Liberty, and in due time entered the Medical College of Kansas City, which he attended for one term. From there he matri- culated at the St. Louis Medical College, and continued a student in that institution for one term, or until the spring of 1873. Dr. Shafer, Sr., then located at Arnold Station, in Clay county, where he engaged in the practice of his profession, and afterwards continued there for nearly ten years. During that time, in 1875-76, he attended another term at the St. Louis Medical College, and graduated the following spring, or in 1876. In 1882 Dr. Shafer, Sr., came to Edgerton and formed the present partnership with his brother, who, in the meantime, had become a physician.

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HISTORY OF PLATTE COUNTY.

Dr. Shafer, Jr., was born in this county in the year 1852. Like his brother, he received a good general education. Afterwards he taught school for a time, and in 1872 began the study of medicine under Dr. Allen. He attended lectures at the Missouri Medical Col- lege, of St. Louis, during the terms of 1874-75 and 1875-76, graduat- ing with distinction in the class of 1876. He then began the practice at Breckinridge, but within a year afterwards removed to Edgerton. Subsequently the partnership with his brother was formed, as stated above. Since then they have been in the active practice together and virtually have the control of the territory contiguous to Edgerton. They are both men of high standing in the community, and being physicians of approved skill and ability, they are of course successful in their profession.

The Drs. Shafer are sons of Nicholas Shafer and wife, old and respected residents of this county. The father was a native of Virginia, but the mother was born and reared in Ohio. The father was an ener- getic farmer, and one of the substantial, highly esteemed citizens of Platte county.

JOSEPH SKAGGS

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

Mr. Skaggs, a successful and energetic farmer within the limits of Preston township, was born November 30, 1834, in Indiana, his pa- rents being Michael and Rutha (Paul) Skaggs, both Virginians by birth. The father was born in 1801, and died October 25, 1851 ; he followed agricultural pursuits as his calling in life. His wife died in Jackson county, Mo., in 1858. Joseph was one of a family of seven children. He accompanied his parents to Platte county when they came here and was brought up in this vicinity, his education being such as could be obtained in the common schools. He had no means with which to start in life for himself, but by industry and hard work, to- gether with a resistless perseverance, he has become comfortably sit- uated in life. He owns a good farm of 121 acres and has it well stocked. In 1856 Mr. Skaggs was married, Miss Harriet E. Ellis becoming his wife. She was born in Kentucky in 1837. They have six children living : Mary A., born in June, 1857, and married to George Byrd in 1881 ; William T., married Ida Powell in 1882 ; Adda Miller, born in June, 1861, now the wife of Jacob McFall, of Clay county ; Joseph E., born November 11, 1866 ; Lucy G., born Novem- ber 15, 1870, and Thurzaeller, born March 17, 1874. Mr. Skaggs' mother belonged to the Reformed Church, as he himself does. His wife is connected with the Christian denomination. Politically he is a Democrat.

WILLIAM SMITH

(Farmer, and Contractor and Builder, Post-office, Ridgely).

The subject of this sketch was born in Butler county, Pa., March 31, 1831, and was a son of James and Barbara (Hooks) Smith, who were married May 4, 1804. William Smith was the first in their family of seven children. The father was a stone mason by trade,

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HISTORY OF PLATTE COUNTY.

and an industrious and useful citizen. He took an active interest in school matters, and did much to maintain good educational advantages in the vicinity where he resided. William Smith, the subject of this sketch, received a good common school education, and on the 18th of December, 1856, was married to Miss Nannie, a daughter of Daniel and Lizzie (Fox) Pugh. In the meantime he had learned the carpen- ter's trade, and continued to work at his trade and carry on building as a contractor in Pennsylvania until his removal to Missouri in 1874. Since he emigrated to this State, Mr. Smith has kept up his trade and has become one of the prominent contractors and builders of this part of Platte county. At Ridgely he built the M. E. Church South and also the Christian Church. Besides these he has erected a number of other valuable buildings in this vicinity. Mr. Smith also has a valuable farm of 100 acres adjacent to Ridgely, well stocked and well im- proved. He is a man of industry and energy, and is well respected by his acquaintances.

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Author: Publication date: 1885 Publisher: St. Louis : National Historical Co. Number of Pages: 1156

Author:
Publication date: 1885
Publisher: St. Louis : National Historical Co.
Number of Pages: 1156