History of Daviess and Gentry counties, Missouri, Part 47

Author: Leopard, John C
Publication date: 1922
Publisher: Topeka : Historical Pub. Co.
Number of Pages: 1164

USA > Missouri > Gentry County > History of Daviess and Gentry counties, Missouri > Part 47
USA > Missouri > Daviess County > History of Daviess and Gentry counties, Missouri > Part 47

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).

Simpson W. Needels attended the public schools. His land, known as the Salem Stock Farm is one of the good stock farms of the county. He has been a breeder of Durham cattle, but now breeds the Jersey cat- tle also. He maintains a small dairy, and keeps ten Jersey cows. He also raises Duroc Jersey hogs, and for 25 years has raised White Leg- horn and Buff Orpington chickens. He has been a breeder of Cotswool sheep for the past 21 years. He has a good residence, built in 1905, the former residence having been destroyed along with all the household goods on June 21st of that year. The farm is equipped with good farm buildings.

Simpson W. Needels was married Aug. 20, 1890, to Mary Eliza- beth Noble, a daughter of Clark and Sarah Ann (Morris) Noble, the former born in February 1825, in Indiana; and the latter born in Octo- ber, 1834, in Ohio. Mr. Noble died in Gentry County in September, 1890, and Mrs. Noble died in Gentry County, May, 1910. The remains of both are buried in the Carter Cemetery, where the remains of Mr. Needels' parents are also buried.

To the union of Simpson W. and Mary Elizabeth (Noble) Needels the following children were born: Lulu Maud, the wife of Frank Find-

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ley of Howard Township; Charles E., married Retha Long and lives in Howard Township, he entered the U. S. army, Oct. 3, 1917, was placed in the 40th Division Ambulance Corps, and sent to Camp Funston, then to Camp Kearney, went overseas in August, 1918, and was mustered out of service, June, 1919; Ruth E., married Alva Moberly, a World War veteran in service for nine months, but was not sent overseas; Edith B., married Charles Hulett, also a veteran of the World War, served over- seas; Elsie D., the wife of Elvis Arnold, in service during the World War for nine months; Curtis Simpson, died in infancy ; Melville James, at home, and Anna Rebecca, at home.

Mr. Needels is a member of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church. and belongs to the Yeoman and Forester Lodges. He is a substantial citizen of his township, a man of marked civic pride, and progressive ideas.

H. F. Carter is a well known farmer of Howard Township, Gentry County. He was born on the farm which is now his home on April 27, 1857, the son of Vinson and Patience (Glendenning) Carter, early set- tlers of Gentry County.

Vinson Carter was born in Tennessee Jan. 4, 1814, and died in Gen- try County, Aug. 19, 1888. He was the son of Elijah Carter, born March 29, 1786, and died Nov. 13, 1858, and Susannah Carter, born Nov. 19, 1795, and died Sept. 9, 1859. Elijah and Susannah Carter were the par- ents of 15 children: Elizabeth, Vinson, Selety, Jane, Nancy, Joseph, Catherine, John, Sarah, Hiram, Susannah, Lewis, Nathan, Mary, and Martha. Vinson Carter came to Gentry County with his father in Octo- ber, 1841. They both entered land in Howard Township, and became prominent men in the community. Vinson Carter married Patience Glen- denning, also a member of a pioneer family of Missouri. She was born in Indiana, March 13, 1821, and died in Gentry County, Dec. 22, 1886. The remains of both Mr. and Mrs. Carter are buried in the Carter Ceme- tery. Their children were: Elizabeth, born June 9,' 1840, married W. W. Mock, who is now dead; William G., born Oct. 23, 1841, now living at New Hampton; Susannah, born Jan. 27, 1844, and married Jackson Dye, they are both dead ; Elijah A., born Jan. 13, 1846, living at New Hampton; John Lewis, born July 7, 1849, living in Howard Township; Martha, born Sept. 28, 1852, married William Clelland, who is now dead, his widow lives in Harrison County ; Milton Riley, born Oct. 16, 1854, lives in Howard Township; Hiram Franklin, the subject of this review; and Jane, born Sept. 1, 1861, married Fillmore Needels.

H. F. Carter attended the public schools, and has lived on a farm

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all of his life. His present residence is located on the site of the house where he was born. He owns 280 acres of land, 200 acres of which is a part of the Carter home place. The farm is well watered, with two good springs, and Mr. Carter has erected excellent farm buildings. He does general farming and raises Shorthorn cattle, Black Poland China hogs, Shropshire sheep, and horses and mules. The farm lies 6} miles north- west of New Hampton.

H. F. Carter was married on Nov. 30, 1884, to Ada Viola Stewart, the daughter of Samuel and Mary (Cummins) Stewart of Howard Township, and to their union the following children were born: Duffy, married Helen Clelland and lives in Sullivan County ; Maude the wife of Walter Bender of Harrison County; an infant, died at the age of six months ; Claude R., married Mary Denny, lives at Darlington ; Crit, mar- ried Gladys Goff, and is a farmer in Howard Township; and Carrie, and Victor, both living at home. Claude R. Carter enlisted for service in the World War Aug. 8, 1918. He was sent overseas and landed in France, Sept. 27, 1918, and was with the Evacuation Hospital No. 15 near Ver- dun, where he remained for ten months, returning to the United States June 27, 1919.

Samuel Stewart, the father of Ada Viola (Stewart) Carter, was born in Ohio, July 4, 1819, and in 1827 his father moved to Indiana. Samuel Stewart came to Missouri in 1854 and entered 150 acres of land in Har- rison County. He later sold that land, and came to Gentry County, where he bought 200 acres of land in Howard Township, and improvea it, making of it one of the most substantial and beautiful farms in the community. He enlisted for service in the Civil War in the 1st Missouri Cavalry in 1862, and served for two years, when he was discharged as disabled. He was a Republican, and a member of the Methodist Church. He was a man who took a pride in building up his home and community, esteemed in his neighborhood as a person of sterling worth and high character. He married Mary Cummings, a daughter of James Cummings of Virginia, Feb. 18, 1840, and they had six children: Alfred Stew- art, the oldest, served in the Militia during the Civil War; Arthur Stew- art. a retired farmer, New Hampton; Albert, who enlisted in the 1st Missouri Cavalry at the age of 21 years, for service in the Civil War, and died in a hospital at Warrensburg, Mo .; Andrew, who died in 1887 at the age of 22 years; Allen, Albany ; Martha, New Hampton ; Mary Alice, dead; and Ada Viola, now Mrs. Carter. Five children died in infancy. Mrs. Stewart died at New Hampton in March, 1906, and Mr. Stewart died in December, 1911. The remains of both are buried in Carter Cem- etery.

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H. F. Carter is a Republican in politics. He is one of the substantial men of the township.

George Sterling Runyan, well established farmer and stockman of Howard Township, Gentry County, has lived on his present farm of 160 acres since he was a lad of 11 years. He was born in Howard Township, Sept. 10, 1861, the son of Silas and Elizabeth (Wood) Runyan, early set- tlers of Gentry County.

Silas Runyan was born in Ohio, and his wife was a native of Illinois. They came to Missouri in 1855, and entered 80 acres of land in Gentry County. Mr. Runyan later sold this land, and bought the Fletcher farm near Lone Star, then known as Mt. Vernon. He traded that farm, and in 1872 moved to the farm now owned by his son. G. S. Runyan. Silas Run- yan was well known as a freighter for the merchants of Gentry County. He had his route between Lone Star and St. Joseph, and used oxen to make the trip of five days between the two places. He died on his farm in 1903 in the 84th year of his age. Mrs. Runyan died in 1897 at the age of 70 years. The remains of both are buried in the Lone Star Cemetery. Their children were: W. M .. died in Kansas City; Absolom, a farmer in Howard Township; LoRella, is the widow of Thomas Warden and lives in Howard Township; Charles, living at New Hampton; Shepherd, liv- ing in Carroll County ; Sarah Ann, married Mr. Dotson, and is now dead ; G. S., the subject of this review; Arthur, farmer of Howard Township; Melissa, married to Riley Grace of Iowa; and B. F., deceased.

G. S. Runyan attended school at Lone Star, and has been a farmer all of his life. He bought the home place in 1901, and has improved it. The farm has a good residence, a large new barn, and good farm build- ings for the stock. Mr. Runyan raises Shorthorn cattle. He handled thor- oughbred jacks, Percheron horses and now raises hogs and sheep, and has been successful in this line of work.

G. S. Runyan was married April 8, 1883, to Anna E. Grace, a daugh- ter of James and Judith Rebecca (Miller) Grace, sketches of whose lives appear in connection with the review of the life of John W. Grace in this volume. To the union of G. S. and Anna E. (Grace) Runyan the following children were born: Ethel, now Mrs. W. J. Ebersole of New Hampton ; Ettie, the wife of Jesse Ballinger of Harrison County ; Emmet E., New Hampton; Rebecca, now married to W. Earl Austin of Lone Star; Edna, married to Ed Hinton of Howard Township; Richard, was in training with the Student Army Training Corps at Columbia when the World War closed, now a student in the Northwest Missouri State Teach- ers College; and Mabel, teaching at Crystal Lake in Harrison County.

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Three children are dead : James, died Jan. 5, 1894, at the age of eight years; John, died at the age of two years; and Dorothy, who was a stu- dent in the New Hampton High School, where she became ill with the influenza, and died in February, 1920.

Mr. Runyan is a Democrat. He has been a member of the township board. He is a substantial citizen, esteemed throughout his community as a man of integrity and uprightness of character.

George Burkhart was born in Huggins Township, Gentry County on the farm where he now lives, Sept. 28, 1861. His parents were John and Winifred A. (Goodwin) Burkhart, both deceased.

John Burkhart was a Kentuckian, who came to Gentry County in 1856, and entered 40 acres of land to which he later added 80 acres by purchase, and then a tract of timberland, bought still later. He improved the land, and built a house which, like all the houses of that early day, was well constructed. It was of native wood, sawed at Gay Mill, with the doors, window frames, and sashes of walnut. The joists and ceiling were of seasoned cottonwood, and the roof of shaved walnut shingles. In this house, George Burkhart was born, and here John Burkhart died in 1884. His wife died in 1888, and the remains of both are buried in the Hugginsville Cemetery. John Burkhart was a veteran of the Civil War. To his union with Winifred A. Goodwin the following children were born : Jane, now Mrs. Townsend of Albany ; Mary, now Mrs. Hicks of North Dakota; Matilda, died at the age of 16 years; George, the sub- ject of this sketch; R. A., of Huggins Township; and J. H., living in North Dakota.

George Burkhart attended the public schools and has made his own way in the world all of his life. He bought the interest of the other heirs in the home place, and made many improvements on it. He built the present residence in 1902, a good barn in 1898, and has erected farm buildings from time to time as they were needed in his work. He han- dles Duroc and Poland China hogs, raises cattle, and handles White Or- pington and Leghorn poultry. The farm shows the excellent results of Mr. Burkhart's progressive methods.

George Burkhart was married Feb. 24, 1889, to Cora E. Canady, a daughter of Daniel A. and Sarah A. Canady, both born in Gentry County, and both now dead. To the union of George and Cora E. (Canady) Burkhart the following children were born: Arch, mentioned later in this. sketch ; Edith, the wife of Ezra Hopkins of Albany; Ruby, married to M. A. Hopkins of Albany; and Ross, died at the age of one year.

Arch Burkhart enlisted for service in the World War on Dec. 15.

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1917, with the 5th Company, 3rd Air Service Mechanics. He was sent first to Jefferson Barracks, then to Camp Hancock, Augusta, Ga., later to Camp Green, N. C., afterwards to Camp Upton, N. Y., and overseas on July 7, 1918, where he remained in France for nearly a year, and re- turned to the United States on June 28, 1919. He was mustered out of service, July 1, 1919, at Camp Dodge. He is a member of the American Legion Donald Holden Post No. 106 at Albany.

George Burkhart is a member of the historic Old Brick Church. He is an efficient farmer, and a reliable citizen of the township.

James E. Enyart, known throughout Gentry County and the surround- ing part of Missouri as the successful inventor of the Enyart Patent Life Hay-Ricker, Stacker and Loader and the Enyart Honey Comb Foundation Guage, is a native Missourian. He was born in Daviess County, June 7, 1861, the son of J. T. and Amanda (Locker) Enyart.

J. T. Enyart was born in Overton County, Tenn., July 15, 1821, and came to Daviess County in November, 1832. On December 25, 1865, he located near McFall, Gentry County, and bought 80 acres of the B. Mother- sead place and later acquired more land, making 200 acres in all. Mr. Enyart died September 15, 1905 and his remains are buried at McFall. His wife was born near McFall in 1838, and died on the home place. Her remains are buried in the Old Liberty Cemetery. The children of J. T. Enyart and his wife were: J. E., the subject of this review; Eugenia Frances, living in Illinois; Wilfred,, a farmer living in Miller Township; and Archie, deceased.

J. E. Enyhart went to his first school in the Arnold District, a log building located on the James Arnold farm. Later J. T. Enyart helped organize the Hallsark District and his son attended that school. With the exception of three years, J. E. Enyart has spent his life in the McFall neighborhood. Since 1867 he has been living on the farm he now owns. Besides the 80 acres which formerly belonged to his father and is now owned by Mr. Enyart, he owns 200 acres of well improved land. Up to 12 years ago, Mr. Enyart followed farming and stockraising, but he was crippled at that time by a binder accident and has been renting his farm out. For 32 years he has kept bees, but since 1916 he has developed this industry until he now has 34 stands. Mr. Enyart has experimented until he has reached the conclusion that a mixture of alsac clover, sweet clover and white clover makes the best honey. He has built up a good trade in his product, finding a ready and profitable market for the particular blend of honey produced by his methods.

J. E. Enyart was married in 1881 to Mary Adaline Graves, born Dec. 13, 1864, the daughter of Horace and Mary A. (Burton) Graves of Har-

JAMES E. ENYART AND FAMILY

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rison County. Mr. and Mrs. Enyart have one son, James Logan, married to Ritchie Lee Fitzgerald, and living at McFall. They have a son, James Wilford Enyart.

Mr. Enyart is a Democrat in politics. He has filled the office of trustee in Miller Township and for the past 10 years he has been a director in the Farmers Bank of McFall. Mr. Enyart has a most interesting work shop in which the visitor may look at the various devices invented by Mr. Enyart for the improvement of his work with bees. Here he makes his hives and honey boards, and here also is constructed his new patent, called the Lewis Beeware Four Way Bee Escape used to rid the supers of bees. Another method used successfuly by Mr. Enyart is a 30x32 galvanizd iron cover for the protection of the hives. He is a man whose work has been a series of successful accomplishments, and the community is justly proud of his achievements.

John W. Grace, well known in Howard Township, Gentry County, as a successful farmer, and a citizen who has been active in township af- fairs, was born in Union County, Iowa, in 1865, the son of James and Rebecca (Miller) Grace.

James Grace was born in Ray County, where his father, John Grace, had moved from Tennessee. James Grace grew up in Ray County, later went to Iowa, and in 1866 settled on a farm northwest of Martinsville, Mo. He later went to Ray County, where he remained until 1872 when he came to Gentry County, and bought a farm 1} miles northeast of Lone Star in Howard Township, paying $10.00 an acre for the land. He later bought a tract of 100 acres for which he paid $5.00 an acre. There was some prairie land in the farm, and the remainder was open timber.

James Grace was first married to Rebecca Miller a daughter of John Miller, who was killed in the Battle of Pea Ridge, while in the service of the Confederacy. Thomas Miller, a brother of John Miller, served for four years in the Confederate Army. He settled in Clay County after the close of the war, and died at Excelsior Springs. Mrs. Grace was born and reared three miles northeast of Excelsior Springs in Ray County. She died in 1867, and her remains are buried near Excel- sior Springs. Her children were : Elizabeth, now Mrs. Runyan of How- ard Township; John W., the subject of this sketch. Mr. Grace married the second time, Huldah Cravens. She died in 1910, and her remains are buried in the Lone Star Cemetery. Her children were: Henry, living at New Hampton ; R. F., living three miles northeast of Lone Star; Charles Elmer, died in 1908; Myrtle L., now Mrs. Miller of Howard Township; and Floyd, and Jesse, both living at Albany. Mr. Grace married the

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third time, Nancy Chitten, now living at Siloam Springs, Howard Town- ship. Mr. Grace died in 918, and his remains are buried in the Lone Star Cemetery.

John W. Grace attended the public schools, and was a student for one year at Grand River College, Edinburg. He taught school for five years, the first term in Grundy County, and after that in Gentry County. At the end of that time he began farming in Howard Township, and for 34 years has operated the same farm. He owns 120 acres, 95 acres of which has been in his name for 35 years. and the other 25 since 1919. The farm joins the city limits of Lone Star on the east, and the residence is located just one-half mile from the town. Mr. Grace built the present residence, and also the excellent farm buildings. When he came to the place, he found the entire farm, with the excption of three acres, fenced with rails. Mr. Grace says that the cyclone which struck Howard Town- ship in the early eighties, not only blew down the county court house, and demolished farm buildings, but it carried away his rail fences. As wire fencing was just becoming known, Mr. Grace replaced the damage done to his fences by installing some of the new wire fencing.

John W. Grace was married Nov. 8, 1885, to Matilda Harris, a daughter of William and Mary (Witten) Harris. Mrs. Grace was born and reared near her present home. William Harris was born in Ken- tucky and his wife was a native of Tazewell County, Virginia, who was reared in Grundy County. Mr. and Mrs. Harris are now living at Bak- ersfield, Calif., and celebrated their golden wedding on Sept. 27, 1916, when all of the children yet living were present. To the union of Wil- liam and Mary (Witten) Harris the following children were born: Ma- tilda, now Mrs. Grace; a daughter, now Mrs. A. J. Hunter of Porter- ville, Calif .; W. W., a resident of Bakersfield, Calif .; Mrs. A. K. Carson of Bakersfield, Calif .; M. M., of San Francisco, Calif .; H. E., Bakers- field, Calif .; and Anna, now Mrs. Carson of Bakersfield, Calif .; Mollie wife of Amos Mckinley, Porterville, Calif.

Mr. and Mrs. Grace have the following children: W. A., a resident of Albany; Mabel. the wife of George H. Hamilton of Bakersfield, Calif .; and Curtis E., graduated from the New Hampton High School, attended Palmer College at Albany, and is now teaching his second term in the Colvin District. Mr. and Mrs. Grace have the following grandchildren : John A., and Louise Hamilton; and William, Helen and Kenneth Paul Grace.

William 'M. Harris, the father of Mrs. Grace, is a well known man in Gentry County where he lived for many years. He was a prominent

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Democrat here, and served four years as the county assessor. In 1904, he moved to California and has lived there ever since. He has been a frequent contributor to the Albany Ledger, for which he has written his recollections of much of the early history of Gentry County. Although no longer a citizen of Missouri, yet he maintains a keen interest in the state and takes a delight in reviving his memories of the happenings of the stirring early days in Gentry County.

Mr. Grace relates many interesting things concerning his own boy- hood recollections. He was reared by his grandmother, Polly Miller, who died in 1905. Her father-in-law, Frederick Miller, was an early set- tler of the county. He gave the original two acre tract of land that com- posed the Christian Union Cemetery, and later in his will, he bequeathed another two acres to be added to the cemetery. Mr. Grace says that he started to school at the age of four years, going first to the school in the Jackson District in Ray County. He is a man who has always been ac- tive in his participation in public affairs, and has at various times, filled every office in Howard Township. He was on the Democrat County Com- mittee for 12 years, and was the secretary of that organization for two years. He is now a member of the board of the Gentry County Mutual Insurance Company.

Annie Laurie (Akin) Carter is a descendant of Ensign Henry Wal- lace of Virginia, who served in the American Navy during the Revolu- tionary War, and is also one of the few women of Missouri who success- fully operates a farm. For the past 19 years, Mrs. Carter has managed her farm of 240 acres in Gentry County, manifesting a marked capacity for the work. The farm is located 43 miles northwest of Albany, and is about one-half bottom land. Mrs. Carter has improved the place, and has a good residence and farm buildings.

Annie Laurie (Akin) Carter was born in Clarinda, Iowa, Aug. 28, 1873, a daughter of William and Hannah (Wallace) Akin, the former born near Clarinda, Iowa. and the latter a native of Tennessee. They were married at Maryville, where Mrs. Akin's parents were early set- tlers. Mrs. Akin died in January, 1913, and her remains are buried at Clarinda. Mr. Akin now lives on his farm near Hopkins. Their children were: Annie Laurie, the subject of this review; A. B., in the transfer business at Clarinda, Iowa; William, Jr., an electrician at Colorado Springs, Col .; a daughter, now Mrs. C. M. Davis of St. Joseph; Asa, a farmer of Elmo; and Jesse, a farmer near Quinby, Iowa.

Annie Laurie Akin was educated at Clarinda, Iowa, and was a well known teacher in Page County, Iowa, and Nodaway County, Mo., for

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four years. On March 28, 1894, she was married at Clarinda to Mark P. Gregory, a descendant of Daniel Sheldon, who was a veteran of the War of 1812. Mr. Gregory was born in Illinois and, at the time of his marriage, was a farmer in Nodaway County. Mr. and Mrs. Gregory moved to the farm now owned by Mrs. Carter in 1900 where Mr. Greg- ory died. March 23. 1903, leaving two sons: Paul A., born Jan., 3, 1897. volunteered for service in the World War on May 5, 1917, was sent to Camp Clark at Nevada, Mo., then to Ft. Sill, Okla., and was transferred to the Veterinary Division from Company G, 35th Division, 139th Regi- ment, and remained until Feb. 11, 1919, but because of an injury which he received he was unable to go overseas, and on Aug. 20, 1919, he was killed in an automobile accident, and his remains are buried at Albany ; and Homer Jack, born Aug. 15, 1901, and died July 19, 1911, at the age of ten years.

Annie Laurie (Akin) Gregory was married the second time to Charles L. Carter and to this union a daughter, Hannah Kathleen, was born. She is now at home.

Mrs. Carter is a woman of culture, business ability, and energy. She has applied her education to practical ends, and by dint of natural capacity plus determination, has achieved an enviable success in her un- usual line of work.

John B. Robison, a progressive farmer of Huggins Township, Gen- try County, is a native of Indiana. He was born on a farm in Parke County, Dec. 28, 1859. His parents were James P. and Sarah J. (New- lin) Robison, both natives of Indiana. James P. Robison was a well known farmer near Rockville, Ind.

John B. Robison attended the common schools of Indiana and later was a farmer and stockman in that state. In 1890, he came to Missouri, where he located in Gentry County. Two years later he bought 100 acres of his present farm from J. W. Coulter, and has since added 60 acres to the original holdings. The farm is well watered, 62 acres of it being bottom land. The residence is six miles northwest of Albany, and there are two barns on the place, as well as various other good farm buildings. Mr. Robison keeps the greater part of the farm in pasture. He keeps a small herd of registered Hereford cattle, and raises horses, hogs, Shropshire sheep, and poultry. The farm presents the appearance of a well operated tract of land, and shows the effects of the owner's methods of work. The David Church is located on the northwest corner of Mr. Robison's farm.

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History of Daviess and Gentry counties, Missouri, Part 47

Author: Leopard, John C Publication date: 1922 Publisher: Topeka : Historical Pub. Co. Number of Pages: 1164

Author: Leopard, John C
Publication date: 1922
Publisher: Topeka : Historical Pub. Co.
Number of Pages: 1164