USA > Missouri > Gentry County > History of Daviess and Gentry counties, Missouri > Part 61
USA > Missouri > Daviess County > History of Daviess and Gentry counties, Missouri > Part 61
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Mr. Adkisson was married to Ella Dator, a native of Gentry County and a daughter of Edward and Mary (Lowrey) Dator, the former a native of New York and the latter of Ohio. Edward Dator was a Civil War veteran, serving in the Union army with the Illinois troops. After the war he engaged in farming and stock raising and was the owner of 250 acres of land. He is a Republican. His wife is deceased and he lives in Miller Township. They were the parents of the following children: Carrie, who was a successful teacher in Gentry County, is now the wife of George Hall who is also a teacher and they live in Gentry County ; William, a farmer and stock raiser in Gentry County; Ada, married Ed- ward Manring and they live at McFall; and Mrs. Adkisson of this re- view.
To W. C. Adkisson and wife have been born the following children : Mabel, married Ora Collier, a farmer and stockman; Glenn, a graduate of high school and the State Teachers College at Maryville, has been engaged in teaching for three years, resides at home with his parents; Edna, resides at home; and Merle, also at home.
Mr. and Mrs. Adkisson are members of the Baptist Church and both support the policies and principles of the Republican party. He is a member of the Masonic Lodge and a highly respected and dependable citizen.
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Theodore F. Morris, a successful farmer and stock raiser in Cooper Township is a native of Gentry County and a member of one of the pio- neer families of this section.' He was born May 30, 1875, a son of Dr. Isaac Newton and Amanda (Witty) Morris. Dr. I. N. Morris was a na- tive of Hamilton County, Ohio, and his wife was born in Brazil, Indiana. Dr. Morris drove through from Indiana to Missouri and settled in Gen- try County in the fall of 1854. He first lived in a log cabin. He was a graduate of the Miami College of medicine, Cincinnati, Ohio. He prac- ticed medicine after coming to Gentry County and was also engaged in farming and stock raising and was the owner of 1,100 acres of land. He was a member of the Masonic Lodge, the Methodist Church and was a Republican. He was prominently identified with the development of Gentry County and its institutions and was a strong advocate of good schools and higher education. He died in 1903 and his wife departed this life in 1914. Their remains are buried at Stanberry. They were the parents of the following children: Mary, married George W. Shoe- maker, an attorney who is now deceased and she resides at Stanberry ; Elizabeth, married James U. Harris, a fruit grower at Grand Junction, Col .; Luella, married Charles Durand who is engaged in the furniture and undertaking business in Oklahoma City, Okla .; Ida, married Ed- ward Grantham, a prominent attorney who is a well known corporation lawyer of Aberdeen, S. D .; Nancy, married William McHattie, who is now deceased; and Theodore F., the subject of this sketch.
Theodore F. Morris was reared in Gentry County and educated in the public schools and the Northwestern College at Stanberry. He be- gan life as a farmer and stockman and is now the owner of 310 acres which is a valuable and well improved farm. The improvements con- sists of a good two-story residence, barns, silo and other farm buildings. Mr. Morris carries on general farming and is also one of the successful stockmen of this section, raising Black Angus cattle, Poland China hogs and sheep, horses and mules.
Mr. Morris was married Jan. 21, 1894, to Miss Elizabeth L. Curry, a native of Highland County, Ohio. She is a daughter of Joseph and Mary (Spargur) Curry, the former a native of Petersburg, Pa., and the latter of Highland County, Ohio. Joseph Curry was a Civil War veteran and served with the Union Army, participating in a number of impor- tant engagements with the army of the Potomac. He was severely wounded by being shot in the knee and was also taken prisoner in the Shenandoah Valley, but soon afterwards was exchanged. He came to Missouri in 1879, about seven years after his marriage, and for many
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years was a locomotive engineer on the Wabash railroad. He was a member of the Odd Fellows, a Democrat and belonged to the Presby- terian Church. He died Feb. 5, 1921, his wife having departed this life in 1892. They are buried at Stanberry. They were the parents of the following children: Alice, born Sept. 7, 1876, married D. B. Proctor of Stanberry and died in 1902; Nannie R., married Frank Moonan of St. Joseph ; Joseph, Jr., a railroad man of Hutchinson, Kan .; and Mrs. Mor- ris of this review.
To Mr. and Mrs. Theodore F. Morris have been born the following children : Ione, a graduate of the Stanberry High School and the Ernest Conservatory of Music of Stanberry, married Cleo Plymale, purchasing agent for the Kelly-Springfield Tire Co., at Akron, Ohio; Thelma, who is a graduate of the Stanberry High School and the State Teachers Col- lege at Maryville, is now a teacher at Lexington, Mo .; Mary Magdalyn, a graduate of the State Teachers College at Maryville in the class of 1922; and T. F., Jr., a student in Stanberry High School, lives at home.
Mr. Morris and his wife are identified with the Republican party and the family belongs to the Methodist Church. He is a member of the Masonic Lodge.
James M. Miller, an honored pioneer citizen of Gentry County and veteran of the Civil War, is a native of Virginia. He was born Feb. 19, 1843, a son of John and Sophia (Cowdin) Miller, the former a native of Pennsylvania and the latter of West Virginia. John Miller served as a Colonel in the war of 1812 and was at the battle of New Orleans. He contracted rheumatism during his military service and was practically crippled throughout the remainder of his life. In 1852 he came to Mis- souri and first settled near St. Joseph ; the next year he came to Gentry County. After coming to Missouri he bought a claim which he later lost through a defect in the title. He received another grant of land from the government. He followed farming and stock raising throughout his life. He died Jan. 9, 1857, and his wife died Feb. 9, 1865. Their remains are buried in Lafayette Cemetery. They were the parents of eight chil- dren only two of whom are living; James M., the subject of this sketch ; and Mary who married William Taylor and they live at Edmond, Okla.
James M. Miller came to Missouri in 1852, when he was about nine years old, with his parents. He grew to manhood here and after the Civil War broke out he volunteered for service, becoming a member of the 5th Missouri Regiment and served in the Union army for 18 months. He took part in a number of engagements and skirmishes, including the engagement at Glasgow. While in the service he was injured, receiving
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a broken leg and a severely crushed foot. As soon as he was able he rejoined his command and remained in the service until the close of the war. After the war he engaged in farming and stock raising and has met with success. He is the owner of a fine farm of 224 acres of land in Jack- son Township.
Mr. Miller was married June 10, 1869, to Miss Elizabeth Emerson, a native of Illinois and a daughter of William and Mary (Funderburk) Emerson, the former a native of North Carolina and the latter of Ten- nessee. Mrs. Miller was one of a family of 12 children born to her par- ents, all of whom are desceased but three, who are as follows: Mary, who is the widow of Peter Roney and lives in Nodaway County; and Ruth, the widow of Alex Walters and lives in Oklahoma; and Mrs. Mil- ler, of this review. William Emerson, Mrs. Miller's father, was a Metho- dist minister in the days of the "circuit riders." He was also a teacher and at one time was county judge for a number of years in Nodaway County and served as justice of the peace at Quitman, Mo. He died in 1879 and his wife died in 1886.
To James M. Miller and wife have been born the following chil- dren: James, Minnie, Harry, and Thomas, all of whom are deceased, and buried in Lafayette Cemetery; Jesse Martin, a farmer and stock raiser in Gentry County ; Charles, a ranchman in Montana; Henry Wil- son, a farmer and stockman in Gentry County; Mary Alice, married Ernest Workman, Gentry County ; Dolly Malinda, married George Evans of Gentry County; Eva Clarkie, married Hilbert Holman of Gentry County ; Loren A., resides at home; John Harrison, lives in Gentry County ; Lucy Belle, married Dale Palmer of Gentry County.
Mr. Miller is a Republican and cast his first vote for President Lin- coln. He is a member of the Masonic Lodge and the Baptist Church.
John W. Stewart, a successful farmer and stockman of Cooper Township, Gentry County is a native of Iowa. He was born in Lucas County, Sept. 22, 1856, a son of Alexander and Rosana (Belmar) Stew- art, the former a native of Indiana and the later of Ohio. Alexander Stewart was born Oct. 14, 1830, and in early life went to Illinois and was in Chicago when that city was a mere village, consisting of about a dozen buildings. Later he removed to Iowa and in 1860 settled in Gen- try County near Island City. Shortly after he came to Missouri, the Civil War broke out and he enlisted in the Union army, serving until the close of the war. While in the service he was severely ruptured from which he never fully recovered. After the war he engaged in farming and stock raising in Gentry County which he followed until the time of his
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death, Oct. 14, 1905. He was a Republican and a member of the Metho- dist Church. His remains are buried in Lafayette Cemetery. His widow is living at the age of 83 years. They were the parents of the following children : Viola, died July 2, 1918, and is buried at King City ; Nancy, married William O'Neil, Stanberry; Mary Frances, married John Fran- cis who is now deceased and she lives at Stanberry; George, lives in St. Joseph; Ida, married Louis Russell and they live in Idaho; Dora, mar- ried Jacob Rardon, Fort Morgan, Col .; and John W., whose name intro- duces this review.
John W. Stewart was educated in the public schools and began his career farming rented land in Andrew County with one mule worth about $30.00. He bought land later and is now the owner of a valuable farm of 120 acres. He raises cattle, hogs and horeses and has been ex- tensively engaged in raising mules. He has had all the experiences of pioneer life, having lived in a log cabin and in the early days drove oxen. Mrs. Stewart is a successful breeder of standard bred Plymouth Barred Rock chickens.
Mr. Stewart was married Nov. 4, 1877, to Miss Mary Brooke, a native of Andrew County, a daughter of Benjamin F. and Margaret N. (Fisher) Brooke, the former a native of Ohio and the latter born in Terre Haute, Ind. Benjamin F. Brooke served in the 4th Missouri In- fantry during the Civil War and was wounded. After the war he en- gaged in farming in Andrew County and was thus engaged until his death, Sept. 28, 1905. He was a Republican and attended the Metho- dist Church. Mrs. Stewart was the only child born to her parents.
To Mr. and Mrs. John W. Stewart were born the following chil- dren : James C., born Sept. 15, 1878, a fireman on the Wabash railroad, lives at Stanberry ; Ezra, and Estie, twins, born Feb. 14, 1881 ; Estie is now the wife of Andrew Armstrong, a farmer in Nodaway County and Ezra lives in Nodaway County ; Caroline, born Sept. 7, 1888, married J. E. Britton, a farmer and stockman in Nodaway County ; and Pierson D., born in Gentry County, Dec. 18, 1897. He is a veteran of the World War and also served on the Mexican Border as a member of Company G., 139 Infantry. When the United States entered the World War he was sent to Nevada, Mo., and from there to Fort Sill, Okla., and to France in June, 1918. He took part in all the heavy fighting in which the 35th Division was engaged and was wounded during the Argonne Drive, the bullet entering his neck and lodging in his shoulder where it still remains. He was in France nine months and after the armistice was signed he was discharged at Fort Riley, Kansas. He is now scale master and superin- tendent of the water works at Stanberry.
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John W. Stewart is a Republican, member of the Christian Church and one of the substantial citizens of Gentry County.
Charles S. Allen, a prominent farmer and stockman of Cooper Township, Gentry County, is a member of one of the early pioneer families of this section. He was born in Dubuque County, Iowa, Sept. 21, 1865, a son of Daniel and Emily (Smith) Allen. Daniel Allen was born in New York State and early in life went to northern Iowa. In 1866 he came to Missouri and first settled in Harrison County and in 1871 came to Gentry County. Here he at first engaged in farming in a small way, living in a log cabin. Later he prospered and became the owner of 300 acres of land. He improved his farm and built a good frame resi- dence, hauling the lumber from St. Joseph. He was a Democrat and a member of the Baptist Church. He died Aug. 3, 1888, and is buried at Stanberry. His widow now lives in Stanberry and is 81 years old.
To Daniel Allen and wife were born the following children: F. T., a farmer and stockman near Stanberry; C. D., an insurance and real estate man, Maryville ; Florence M., Stanberry ; and Charles S., the sub- ject of this sketch.
Charles S. Allen was reared on the home farm and educated in the public schools, the Stanberry Normal School, taking a commercial course. He began his independent career as a farmer and stockman and far 12 years he operated rented land. He then bought 135 acres to which he has since added and is now the owner of 300 acres of valuable land. He carries on general farming and stock raising, raising Short- horn cattle, Poland China hogs, and horses. Mrs. Allen is a very suc- cessful poultry raiser, breeding Barred Plymouth Rocks and Rhode Is- land Reds.
Mr. Allen was married to Miss Sallie Christie, a daughter of Israel and Elizabeth (Basket) Christie. Mrs. Allen was born in Harrison County. Her father was born in Kentucky in 1828 and was a pioneer of this state. He came here in 1845, driving from Kentucky in a covered wagon, the trip requiring four weeks. He lived in Buchanan County for a time and then came to Gentry County and afterward went to Harrison County. He owned 240 acres of land and was extensively engaged in farming and stock raising and was also a Baptist minister in the early days. He preached in Harrison, Daviess, Gentry and DeKalb Counties and did a great deal of pioneer missionary work. He died Feb. 5, 1895, and and his wife died Feb. 28, 1921, and they are buried at McFall. Mrs. Allen is one of nine children born to her parents, the others being as follows: Emily, Olive, G. M., Virginia, W. W., W. L., and Anna, all of
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whom are deceased ; and N. P., a carpenter who lives at Mound City. To Charles S. Allen and wife have been born the following children : Rucia, born May 26, 1891, and was educated in the public schools and the Northwestern State Teachers College and was a teacher for six years be- fore her marriage. She is now the wife of Frank Gillett, a farmer and stock raiser in Gentry County ; and Floreine C., born in Gentry County, May 4, 1898, and was educated in the public schools and the Northwest- ern State Teachers College and is now a high school teacher in Nodaway County.
Mr. Allen is a Democrat and the family are members of the -Baptist Church.
F. T. Allen, a well known farmer and stockman of Gentry County, was born in Harrison County in 1869. He is a son of Daniel and Emily (Smith) Allen, the former a native of New York state and the latter of In- diana. Daniel Allen came to Missouri and first settled in Harrison County where he remained a few years and in 1871 removed to Gentry County. He was a carpenter and followed contracting as well as farming and stock rais- ing. He was the owner of 160 acres of land and raised cattle and hogs. He was a Democrat and a member of the Baptist Church. He died Aug. 4, 1888, and his remains are buried at Stanberry. His widow now lives at Stanberry at the advanced age of 81. They were the parents of the follow- ing children : Charles, a farmer and stock raiser in Gentry County ; Clark D., who is engaged in the real estate and insurance business at Maryville ; Florence, lives in Stanberry ; and F. T., the subject of this sketch.
F. T. Allen received his education in the public schools of Gentry County and the Stanberry Normal School where he took the Commercial Course. He began his career as a farmer and stockman on rented land and operated in that way for six years. He is now the owner of 139 acres of valuable land where he successfully carries on general farming and stock raising. He raises Shorthorn cattle, Poland China hogs and horses. Mrs. Allen is interested in poultry raising and keeps Plymouth Rock chickens. The Allen place is well improved with a good residence, suitable barns and a 75 tons capacity silo.
Mr. Allen was married Aug. 29, 1894, to Miss Mary Summers, a native of Indiana and a daughter of Thomas R. and Martha C. (Hackle- man) Summers, the former a native of Kentucky and the latter of Marion County, Indiana. Thomas R. Summers removed from his native state of Indiana in early life and later came to Missouri and engaged in farming and stock raising in Nodaway County where he owned 160 acres of land. He was identified with the Democratic party and was a member
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of the Christian Church. He died Aug. 26, 1889, and is buried southwest of Maryville and his wife died Jan. 22, 1913, and is buried near Stan- berry. They were the parents of the following children: Walter H., a lumberman, lives in the state of Washington; Clifton, lives in Phoenix, Ariz .; Marshall E., lives in Phoenix, Ariz .; Oscar Bradford, deceased ; Cortez, Gentry County ; Edgar Allen, lives in Gentry County ; a girl died in infancy; Mrs. F. T. Allen of this review, and Omer, lives in Gentry County. To Mr. and Mrs. Allen have been born two children, Leota and Leoca, twins, born July 9, 1895, and are both deceased and their remains are buried in High Ridge Cemetery, Stanberry.
Mr. and Mrs. Allen are both Democrats and she is a member of the Christian Church and Mr. Allen is a Baptist.
William Speers, a Civil War veteran and a large land owner who has had a successful career as a farmer and stockman, is now living re- tired at Stanberry. He is a native of Pennsylvania, born in Fayette County, a son of John and Nancy (White) Speers, both natives of Fay- ette Couty, Pa. John Speers was a captain in the Mexican War and after the war, he followed farming. He was killed by a kick from a horse and he and his wife are both buried in Pennsylvania.
William Speers was educated in the common schools and had very little opportunity for schooling in early life. He went to Iowa when he was 14 years old and was living in that state when the Civil War broke out. He enlisted in the Union army, becoming a member of Company F, 14th Iowa Infantry. He took part in a number of engagements, includ- ing Vicksburg, Fort Donaldson and Pleasant Hill. He was taken pris- oner and confined in various Confederate prisons and suffered all the privations and hardships known to the Confederate prisons which re- sulted in his health being so impaired that he never fully recovered from the effect of his prison experiences. During the course of his military experience he had many narrow escapes, holes being shot through his clothing although he was never wounded. After the war he home- steaded land in Kansas but later sold that and came to Nodaway County, where he bought 425 acres of land and was successfully engaged in farming and stock raising until his retirement and removal to Stanberry where he has a nice modern residence.
Mr. Speers was married Feb. 14, 1871, to Missouri Hays, a native of Pennsylvania and a daughter of Robert and Mary Jane (Fliger) Hays, natives of Westmoreland County, Pa. Robert Hays was a veteran of the Civil War, being a member of Company F, 14th Iowa Infantry. ยท He served in the army two years and nine months and was in a number
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of battles. He was killed in Mississippi. His wife died June 24, 1860, and was buried in Van Buren County, Iowa.
To William Speers and wife were born the following children: Frank, born Jan. 9, 1874, a farmer now living near King City; Charles, a veterinary surgeon, St. Joseph ; and Blanche, a graduate of high school and the Teachers State College at Maryville, now a teacher.
Mr. Speers is a Republican and a member of the Baptist Church. He is a man who has had a life of unusual experience as a soldier in the Civil War and a pioneer in the development of the west. He has an ex- tensive acquaintance and is a highly respected citizen.
F. Chilton, who is now living retired at Stanberry after a successful career as a farmer and stockman, is a native of Kentucky. He was born in Casey County, March 13, 1851, a son of James Madison and Rachel D. Chilton, both natives of Casey County, Kentucky, who spent their lives in that state. James Madison Chilton was a large land owner in Kentucky and was engaged in farming and stock business. He bought and sold cattle and hogs in the old days, driving them to market at Louis- ville which was 125 miles from his home and the trip required 12 days. He was a Democrat and served as justice of the peace for several years. He died in 1862. James Madison Chilton and wife were the parents of the following children: Liberty Madison, Mary Charles, both of whom are deceased; Virgil S., who is now living retired in Stanberry ; Patsy Williams, who married Newton Jasper Smith and who is now a widow at Stanberry; and F. Chilton, the subject of this sketch.
F. Chilton began life for himself, working for eight dollars per month and was thus engaged for six years. He then bought 80 acres of land and later bought more land and is now the owner of 119 acres. He was extensively engaged in stock raising, dairying and general farming and met with success. He is now living retired at Stanberry.
Mr. Chilton was married Feb. 29, 1872 to Miss Laura Daniel, a na- tive of Platt County, Mo. She is a daughter of James Jackson and Maria (Pope) Daniel, the former a native of Kentucky and the latter of Mis- souri. James J., Daniel was an extensive farmer and cattleman and at one time owned 500 acres of land. He was also a pioneer Baptist preacher and established a number of churches in the early days. He died in 1882 and his wife died in 1862. They are buried in Cooper Cem- etery, Gentry County.
To F. Chilton and wife have been born the following children : Lulu May, born Oct. 27, 1874, married John Pickeral, who is now deceased, and she lives in Stanberry ; James Virgil, born April 20, 1877, lives in
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Gentry County; and Ora, born Oct. 20, 1886, is now a conductor on the Burlington railroad and lives at McCook, Neb.
Mr. Chilton is a Republican in National issues and a member of the Baptist Church. He holds membership in the Modern Woodmen of America.
Wesley L. Robertson, who at the time of his death, Dec. 23, 1919, was editor of the Gallatin Democrat, was one of the able and widely known newspaper men of the state. He was a pioneer editor of northern Missouri and had devoted nearly 50 years of his life to journalism in its various phases. His death was a distinct loss to Daviess County and the commun- ity. He was a loyal and public spirited citizen who was ever ready to lend his influence to the support of measures and enterprises tending to advance the general welfare of th community.
Wesley L. Robertson was a descendant of old American ancestry. He was born in South Coventry, Tolland County, Conn., June 30, 1850, and was a son of David and Caroline (Mitchell) Robertson, both natives of New York. His father who was a farmer died when Wesley L. Robertson was seven years of age. Wesley L. Robertson acquird his education in the country schools and in 1865 when he was 15 years old he removed to Missouri with his widowd mother. After spending one year on a farm in Putman County, they removed to Centerville, Iowa. In 1868 he entered the office of the Centerville Citizen where he learned the printer's trade. In 1872 he purchased the Princeton Advance, a weekly paper at Princeton, Mo. He remained there until 1881, when he sold his business and went to Bethany and became the editor and publisher of the Bethany Broadax. In 1884 he disposed of that publication and purchased the New Century at Unionville. He conducted the paper until 1886 when he came to Gallatin and purchased the Gallatin Democrat and published this paper until 1894. He then sold the Democrat and went to Plattsburg and published the Plattsburg Jeffersonian, remaining there as editor and publisher of that newspaper until 1897, when he purchased the West Plains Gazette. Short- ly afterwards he disposed of his interests in that paper and in 1898 he returned to Gallatin and in partnership with Robert J. Ball purchased the Gallatin Democrat. This association continued until the time of Mr. Robertson's death.
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