USA > Missouri > Caldwell County > History of Clinton and Caldwell Counties, Missouri > Part 46
USA > Missouri > Clinton County > History of Clinton and Caldwell Counties, Missouri > Part 46
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Mr. Eames married Mary A. Evans, a daughter of William J. Evans, a sketch of whom appears in this volume. To Mr. and Mrs. Eames three children have been born, as follows: Genna, born Dec. 4, 1913; Max Wyatt, born Feb. 8, 1916; and James, born June 27, 1920.
Mr. Eames is a member of the Knights of Pythias. He is a member of the Christian Church of Converse. Mr. Eames is an energetic and highly esteemed young man in the community.
Rev. George William Ellenberger, preacher, teacher and farmer, was born Sept. 15, 1859, on the old Ellenberger farm, three miles west of Turney, and grew to manhood there. He attended the country schools, having some work under that distinguished rural educator, Prof. T. J. Kinzer. Later he had two years in Kirksville Teachers' College, return- ing to teach in his home district, Fairview, just south of Perrin, begin- ning Sept. 13, 1883. He taught in Platte, Lathrop and Shoal townships 23 years, and afterwards one year near Peru, Neb.
In 1888 he was set apart for the ministry in the Brethren Church (Walnut Grove) near Plattsburg sharing with other local ministers the oversight of that congregation for 19 years. In 1907, he and family removed to Peru, Neb., and he ministered to the church of his faith, near there. Later he moved to Holt County, Missouri, taking charge of the two Brethren Churches, North Bethel and South Bethel. He has been full-time pastor of North Bethel since 1911, and not only discharging that duty, but serving in his capacity of minister of the gospel over a wide range of country, preaching funeral discourses for many of other faiths and no faith as he is called upon. For one year he had charge of the South St. Joseph Church, but was called back to Bethel Church, Holt County, where he had ministered before. Mr. Ellenberger is now 63 years of age, and it is one of his greatest joys to meet the substantial, industrious, honored men and women who were his pupils, and it is with pride they claim his friendship made in their childhood, fostered through youth and middle life, in school and church relationship.
His parents were Jacob and Margaret Shoemaker Ellenberger, who came from Pennsylvania when young people. He had two brothers who
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grew to maturity. Aaron M. Ellenberger, and Josiah E. Ellenberger, the latter also a minister. There was two sisters: Lydia, Mrs. D. C. Kinzer, and Sarah, Mrs. Alpers Stoffer; one sister and two brothers died in child- hood. They have all passed away, leaving the subject of this sketch the last remaining one of his father's family.
G. W. Ellenberger and Mary Polk were married April 21, 1886, near Perrin, Mo., and six children were born to them. They are: Mary Georgia, now Mrs. W. R. Whitfield, Vesta, Neb .; Sardis Jacob, married Lena Hallet, and lives at Peru, Neb .; Dr. Frank Polk, Tekama, Neb .; Hervin Russell, married Maud Crist, and lives in Chicago; Edna Mildred and Nannie Mar- garet passed away in infancy. There are, living, five grandchildren: W. R. Whitfield, Jr., Jean Whitfield and Marian Whitfield; Herbert and Mil- dred Ailene Ellenberger, children of S. J. Mary Florence Whitfield died in 1915, Rock Hill, S. C., at the age of one year.
Mr. and Mrs. Whitfield, S. J. Ellenberger and wife, and Dr. F. P. Ellen- berger are all graduates of Peru Teachers' College. H. R. and his wife, of McPherson College, McPherson, Kan. H. R. Ellenberger served his country with Base Hospital No. 13 in France. Dr. F. P. E. graduated from Crayton Dental College, Omaha, Neb., in 1919.
In the farming, preaching, and teaching, G. W. Ellenberger has been a busy, many-sided man, but in it all Mrs. Ellenberger has been his best aid, his most appreciative and interested helper in his professional, as well as the home work. For years, she has written very desirable material for the National Church Organ of the Brethren, The Gospel Messenger, besides stories and other contributions to local papers. For three years, she has conducted the Mothers' and Daughters' Conference at the Brethren Assembly at Beatrice, Neb. She has addressed the National Annual Con- ference, State and District, and the board of publishers has printed a booklet from her pen-"Is Simplicity Consistent with Christianity?" She works constantly in their home church and Sunday School. She is a member of their National Simple Life Committee, meeting twice a year in Chicago. She qualified and taught school a short time. They have a beautiful farm home northeast of Mound City, Mo.
Mrs. Ellenberger was born in Platte County, Missouri, west of Edger- ton, Feb. 29, 1868. She attended school in Fort Scott, Kan., St. Louis, Chicago, Plattsburg and Platte Center, in Clinton County. She came to Plattsburg with her parents in 1877 and never lived out of the county until 1907. Her father was Sardis G. Polk, of Scott County, Kentucky,
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born Nov. 21, 1840, came to Weston, Mo., 1858. He enlisted during the Civil War with 9th Wisconsin Volunteers, served one year, and resumed his carpentering and building. He died May 4, 1882, leaving many sub- stantial houses over this and Platte County to testify to his honor as a workman.
He was a descendent in the sixth generation from Robert and Mag- dalen Trasker Polk, who came from Ireland to Dames Quarter, Md., in 1672. His grandfather, Ephriam Polk, III, was a Revolutionary soldier, enlisted Sept. 10, 1777, in Capt. Joseph Rhoads' Company. He married Rhoda Ann Morris, a relative of his, of Kent and Sussex counties, Del.
Mrs. Ellenberger's mother is living at the age of 79. She was Nancy Russell, of Indiana, before marriage, a descendent of Ball, a brother of Mary Ball Washington. She left Indiana at the age of nine and came to Illinois, then to Kansas in 1860 with her parents, Richard and Jane Merle Russell.
Mrs. Polk has seen pioneer life in Missouri, Kansas, Nebraska, and Oklahoma, and has borne her share of the burdens under all conditions, from childhood up. Her home is at Peru, Neb. Her other children besides Mrs. Ellenberger are: Carrie, Mrs. J. O. Johnston, Lathrop, Mo .; O. R., married first Mary B. Hudson, second Estelle Farrin, Leavenworth, Kan .; Jessie S., Mrs. C. E. Zink, Sterling, Neb .; Frank D., died Sept. 9, 1907, at the age of 26 years; John, Fred, and Maud E., died in infancy in the '70s.
Joshua B. Walker, a well-known and successful farmer and stockman of Clinton County, was born Feb. 23, 1869, on the old home place near Lathrop, the son of John and Indiana Walker.
John Walker was a prominent farmer of Clinton County for many years. He died in 1900, and his wife died in 1910. They are buried in Brooking Church Cemetery, Lathrop. Mr. and Mrs. Walker were mem- bers of the Christian Church, and were the parents of eight children, as follows: Charles; George; John; Joshua B., the subject of this sketch; James; Albert; Lou, the wife of Dr. Dingus, living in Atchison, Kan .; and Laura, the wife of Madison Kemper, living in Topeka, Kan.
Joshua B. Walker was reared on his father's farm, and attended the rural schools of the county, finishing his school work in Liberty. He is engaged in farming and stock raising, and owns a well improved farm_ near Lathrop, where he handles high-grade stock. Mr. Walker is known as one of the successful farmers of the community.
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In 1897 Mr. Walker married Myrtle M. Momyer, a daughter of Daniel L. and Isabelle (Brown) Momyer, both deceased, a sketch of whom appears in this volume. To Joshua B. and Myrtle M. (Momyer) Walker one child has been born, Margaret Marie, born March 31, 1901. She was graduated from Fulton College, and is now the wife of E. E. Leinenger, and lives in Lathrop.
Mr. Walker belongs to the Knights of Pythias of Lathrop. He is a member of the Christian Church, and a reliable and substantial citizen of his community. He is a Republican.
Edward E. Young, a prominent farmer and stockman of Clinton County, was born in 1860, the son of James E. and Louisa (Soper) Young.
James E. Young was a native of Clark County, Kentucky. He came to Clay County with his father in 1835, where he settled on a farm. Mr. Young was engaged in farming and stock raising during his life, and was widely known. For 16 years he served as county judge, and at the time of his death, Feb. 11, 1909, he was one of Clinton County's most highly respected citizens. Mr. and Mrs. Young were the parents of the following children: Benjamin; James M. and Thomas J., twins; Nancy Catherine, the wife of George Budlong, Lathrop; Grant Albert, deceased; Mary Frances, deceased; Edward E., the subject of this sketch, and Almeda Bell, twins, the latter being deceased; George P., living with Judge Bud- long. Mrs. Young died Oct. 25, 1909. Mr. and Mrs. Young were members of the Baptist Church.
Edward E. Young was reared on his father's farm, in Clinton County, and received his education in the district schools. In 1894 Mr. Young married Nina Greason, a native of Clinton County.
Mr. Young carries on general farming and stock raising, and is well known throughout Clinton County as a progressive citizen, and the Young family has always been highly respected.
George B. Douglass, a retired farmer of Clinton County, now living in Lathrop, is the owner of 240 acres of well improved land. He was born Feb. 6, 1863, in Clinton County, the son of John and Mary Ann (Brown) Douglass.
George B. Douglass was reared on his father's farm, and received his education in the district schools. After completing his education, Mr. Douglass engaged in farming. In his work as a farmer and as a cattle man, Mr. Douglass has been successful. He now rents his farm to his son-in-law, John M. Jones.
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On Sept. 4, 1883, Mr. Douglass married Anna Loy, a daughter of Yancy and Eliza (Stoner) Loy, and to this union one child was born, Lillie, born March 8, 1887. She is now the wife of John M. Jones, whose parents were natives of Kentucky. To John M. and Lillie (Douglass) Jones one child has been born, Ethleen, born April 24, 1913. Mrs. George B. Douglass was born Oct. 12, 1863, and died April 19, 1921. She is buried in Lathrop.
Mr. Douglass is a member of the Masonic Lodge, and has filled every chair in the lodge, with the exception of master of the lodge. He is a Republican in politics, and belongs to the Christian Church.
Mr. Douglass is an enterprising man who has made his success in life entirely by his own efforts. Such men are an asset to a community which they have helped build up.
Paul M. Culver .- Probably no homestead in Clinton County has more distinctive associations than the fine Culver farm, in Atchison Township. Its present proprietor, Paul M. Culver, represents the third generation of the family, which has been identified with this one locality for more than three score and 10 years. The Culvers from the time of pioneer condi- tions have been noted as skilful managers of farm and stock and have maintained the highest standards of citizenship. It is difficult to estimate the material and social good that comes from the establishment in a new country of a family possessed of the sturdy virtues of sobriety, industry and integrity, and when the Culver family located in Clinton County, that was an event of local history with more important results upon the eco- nomic well being and social activities of the county than many more con- spicuous happenings which are usually the first to receive mention in press and historical accounts. The Culvers were people from the South, planters and slave owners, and for many years the homestead was noted for its hospitality and generous comforts during a time when civilization was making its pioneer advances in northwest Missouri, and when the majority of people had only the simplest necessities of life.
The Culver farm comprises a thousand acres of land, and is known all over northwest Missouri and other states for its stock, particularly its Polled Angus cattle. This farm was established 74 years ago by the grandsire of the present proprietor. Romulus E. Culver, the grandfather, came to Clinton County in 1840, bringing with him his family and slaves from Kentucky. His first home was a log cabin, and it was his enterprise which laid the foundation of the fine estate now existing. Born in Mary-
PAUL M. CULVER
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land in 1810, he represented an old colonial family, and its earlier genera- tions had lived in England from the time of William the Conqueror. . Romulus E. Culver married Mary Lawson, who by character was well fitted for the wife of a pioneer. She died at the good old age of 96 years. Romulus E. Culver was a man of prominence in Clinton County, served as one of the early county judges and also occupied the office of sheriff. Some half dozen years after his location in Clinton County, Mr. Culver enlisted for service in the war with Mexico. He rode horseback alone into Mexico to join General Taylor's army, and served as assistant quarter- master in that command. He had many interesting experiences on his long ride to the south, passed through the various campaigns without injury, but while returning was captured and killed at Moro, N. M. Thus his career of usefulness in Clinton County was closed in the active service of a soldier.
Judge William L. Culver, a son of Romulus E. Culver, was born in Greenup County, Kentucky, Nov. 6, 1835, and possessed both the intel- lectual and business qualities of his honored father. He was five years of age when the family came to the present Culver farm, and he grew up while the wilderness was still untamed. Reared in a home of culture, he had the best advantages of the schools of that time, attending Ridgely Academy, Masonic College, at Lexington, Mo., and also being schooled for a time at St. Joseph. After his education he settled down to farming, and came to be regarded as one of the most successful stock raisers and feeders in northwest Missouri. Judge Culver was married in 1862 to Virginia Michael. She was born in Missouri, of an old Southern family, and her father was one of the pioneers in Clinton County and kept the first log store at Plattsburg, the county seat. There were five sons and two daughters in the Michael family, and one of the sons was John M. Michel, a prominent attorney and public man in Clinton County. Judge Culver and wife had a large family of children. The son, Romulus E., has long been one of the prominent attorneys of St. Joseph. Thomas M. and Charles Culver, both of whom are now deceased, were among the first to introduce fruit growing into southern Missouri on a commercial scale, and had extensive orchards of about 50,000 peach trees in that section of the state. Both brothers are now deceased and left wives and children. Josephine Culver married Dr. W. A. James, of Lawson, Mo. All the chil- dren were liberally educated, attending local schools, and colleges at Van- derbilt University, Nashville, Tenn .; Central College, Fayette, Mo .; and
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Central College, Lexington, Mo. The mother of this family died in Febru- ary, 1880. She was born Nov. 9, 1843, and was long an active member of the Methodist Episcopal Church, South. Judge Culver was married to Mary Bell Bland in 1882. There were no children by this marriage. Judge Culver was one of the most active laymen in the Methodist Church, and besides a liberal support given to his home churches, was prominent as a delegate to the general conference. For a number of years he held the position of curator of Central College, at Lexington, and was also identified with the management of the Woodson Institute, at Richmond. In the public affairs of Clinton County he is best remembered for his work as judge, and his administration set high standards which his successors have had difficulty in equaling. Judge W. L. Culver died Dec. 11, 1911, at the age of 76 years, and was buried at Plattsburg.
Paul M. Culver, upon whose shoulders has fallen the mantle of a fine family name and the distinctive achievements of his father and grand- father, was born on the old homestead Jan. 16, 1875. His own career has been an exceedingly busy one, and in the successful management of the Culver stock farm, in the southeast corner of Atchison Township, he has a business that in value and importance might well rank side by side with large merchandise and industrial plants, and the fame of its products has spread into many states. The Culver homestead is a large house of nine rooms, built on the site of the old log cabin built by his grandfather 74 years ago. It is a modern home, surrounded with attractive grounds, and there are few more delightful places anywhere in northwest Missouri. For the handling of the stock there are large barns and other facilities, and beyond are great stretches of bluegrass pastures, corn and other grain fields, while a woodland park is a playground for hundreds of squirrels. The Polled Angus cattle comprise a herd which in points of breeding and general value is regarded as one of the best in the country. Mr. Culver has served as president of the American Royal Stock Show, at Kansas City, and has furnished the best steers to five different agricultural col- leges exhibited at that show. Mr. Culver is also president of the Clinton County Fair Association and the Rural Life Conference of Missouri.
Paul M. Culver was liberally educated, like his brothers and sisters, attending the Central College at Fayette. As a young man, having made a definite choice as to his future vocation, he took courses in scientific agriculture and stock husbandry at the Agricultural College in Columbia. Mr. Culver was married in June, 1898, to Maud Adams, who received her
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education in Fulton, Mo. Her father, P. Adams, was a well-known attor- ney of Missouri, now deceased. Mr. and Mrs. Culver have two children: Marion and Josephine. Mr. Culver is active in the interests of the Demo- cratic party, he and his wife belong to the Methodist Episcopal Church, South, and he served as a delegate to the general conference of the church at Oklahoma City.
John Oliver Johnston was born near Plattsburg, April 18, 1852, son of William and Susan E. Johnston. His grandfathers were John Johnston, a brick-mason, who came from Dublin, Ireland, and settled at Starfield in 1837, and John Livingston, a native of Tennessee, who settled at Platts- burg in 1823. J .. O. Johnston is a direct descendent of George Schmidt, of Virginia, only son of a German couple, who settled near the head- waters of the James River in 1735. George Schmidt married an Irish girl, Rebecca Bowen, and they settled in Botetourt County, Virginia, on their small farm, prospering until the War of the Revolution, when he shoul- dered his musket and went out to bear his part in the struggle for Inde- pendence. Later they moved to North Carolina. This couple had 13 children, one of them was Mary Smith. The most renowned of them all was John Smith, Elder or "Racoon" John Smith of later years. (The spell- ing of the name was changed to Smith in the second generation.) Mary Smith married Thomas Livingston, and became the great-grandmother of the subject of this sketch. This old lady, came to Clinton County in 1823 with her son, John Livingston, and lived and died here, and lies buried in the old cemetery at Plattsburg. She was blind for many years. Her immortal brother visited her here and preached to large audiences, in the different Christian churches in and around Plattsburg. J. O. Johnston's maternal grandmother was Susan Collins, of Kentucky, and his paternal was Ann Ferguson, of Indiana.
J. O. Johnston was reared in the Bethany neighborhood, member of Christian Church, had one sister, Mrs. Lovisa Crain, deceased, and two brothers, Charles T. and Wm. David. He married Carrie Polk, April 16, 1884. There were born three children: Pearl, who died in infancy Nov. 20, 1887; Ellis Thomas, born in Independence; Kas., Jan. 18, 1891, and Oliver Polk, born near Braley, Mo., May 17, 1899. Ellis Johnston married Merle Winter, Sept. 6, 1916, and they have two children: Miriam Merle, and Ellis Thomas, Jr. They live in DeKalb County, five miles northwest of Osborn. J. O. Johnston graduated both his sons from high schools, Ellis from Maysville in 1911 and later spent two years in agriculture,
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'13 and '14, at Missouri University ; Oliver at Lathrop, 1918. Oliver was a member of the S. A. T. C., William Jewell College and is a member of the American Legion. All are members of Christian Church.
Mr. Johnston has lived 10 years near Lathrop. He has always lived in Clinton County, except about five years in southern Kansas and Okla- homa, and four years at Maysville, DeKalb County, Missouri, since his. marriage. He follows farming near Lathrop, assisted by his son, Oliver, and his brother Charles T., who lives with the family. His mother died July 18, 1910, and his father Jan. 24, 1913, they are buried in Green Lawn Cemetery, Plattsburg.
William Johnston and sons and many others of that neighborhood, broke the virgin soil of pioneer days, set out long rows of hedge fence, made miles of slat and rail and other fencing, after riding it for years herding droves of cattle from near by counties, which thrived on blue stem grass, and water from prairie pools. Later William Johnston was known best among owners and breeders of fine horses.
J. O. Johnston's wife, Carrie Polk Johnston, was born Dec. 27, 1865, at Fort Scott, Kan., the oldest of eight children, lived in Fort Scott until 1875, removed to St. Louis, later Chicago, and in 1877 came to Plattsburg, Mo., attended public schools under M. S. Peters, Maj. D. H. Lindsay and L. E. Wolf. Had two years at Plattsburg College under Dr. and Mrs. J W. Ellis, graduated June 1, 1882, from that institution. Became mem- bers of Christian Church in 1881, Nov. 21, taught school and Sunday School classes. Lived many years in Perrin neighborhood.
Her father was Sardis G. Polk, born Nov. 21, 1840, in Scott County, Kentucky, came to Weston, Mo., in 1858, during Civil War he enlisted with 9th Wisconsin Volunteers, served one year. At the close of the war pur- sued his trade of contractor and carpenter, building houses for many sub- stantial people, in the '70s, in Platte and Clinton counties. His work stands the test of time. He died of Plattsburg May 4, 1882. He married Miss. Nancy Russell, a native of Indiana, Feb 28, 1865. They had eight chil- dren: Carrie; Mary, wife of Rev. G. W. Ellenberger, Skidmore, Mo .; Oscar R., Leavenworth, Kan .; John; Fred and Maud, died in infancy ; Jessie, wife of C. E. Zink, Sterling, Neb .; and Frank D., who died at the age of 26, Sept. 9, 1907.
Mrs. Polk, the mother has a home in Peru, Neb., since 1908. She was the daughter of Richard Russell of Virginia and Jane Merle Pennell of Kentucky. Jane Pennell is said to have been descended from Ball, a
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brother of Mary Ball Washington. Pennell, Hunter, Todd and Ball being the line. On the father's side, Carrie Johnston is of the seventh genera- tion from Capt. Robert Bruce Polk and his wife, Magdalene Tasker Polk, who came from Donegal County, Ireland, to Dames Quarter, Maryland, 1672. Ephriam, III, her great grandfather and four of his brothers were soldiers in the Revolutionary War. Ephriam, III, enlisted Sept. 10, 1777, Capt. Joseph Rhoads' Company, Colonel Wills' Regiment. Ephriam Polk, III, was born Nov. 24, 1758, Sussex County, Delaware, married Rhoda Ann Morris of Kent and Sussex counties, Delaware. His powder horn, used in the service, is in the hands of Harry Herndon Polk, Des Moines, Iowa.
James M. Teaney, of Clinton Township, is descended from German stock on the father's side. His grandfather was Samuel Teaney, a wagon- maker, who married Miss Joanna Dobbins in 1821, both were born and reared in Montgomery County, Virginia. In 1837, these young people started to Missouri, stopped in Tennessee two years, and Kentucky six years, finally reaching Henry County, Missouri in 1843. There they both died, leaving eight children, one of whom was T. G. Teaney, who struck out for himself, coming to Platte County; he married Miss Nancy Ann Wiley, daughter of Samuel and Phoebe Ann Wiley, formerly of Madison County, Kentucky. This couple pioneered in the three new counties, Platte, Buchanan, and Clay, settling in the latter county in 1867 and mak- ing a good home farm of 130 acres there. He was a veteran of the Mexi- can War. To this couple were born 10 children: Samuel T .; Jason, O .; Phoebe A., wife of Abraham Shaver; Annette, wife of Marshall Baker; John A .; Margaret; James M .; Mary F .; Charles D., and William T. The mother died in 1874, and the father married in 1879, Mrs. Elizabeth Cave Duncan. He died Aug. 5, 1911, at the age of 86 years.
James Madison Teaney, the subject of this sketch was the seventh child of this family, and was born near Weston, Platte County, Mo., July 9, 1860. He was a pupil of Gilead school in Clay County, having moved there with his parents, in 1867, and to Clinton County in 1885. J. M. Teaney moved to his present home, Fairpoint Farm, in 1892, where he made preparations to bring home his life mate, Miss Julia A. Lewis, whom he married Nov. 8, 1893, also of Clinton Township. They had born to them four children: the first, a boy, died in infancy; the others are Harry Lloyd, who married Mis: Lankford Hulen; Floyd Gladstone; and Alma Louise Tearey.
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