USA > Missouri > Gentry County > History of Daviess and Gentry counties, Missouri > Part 63
USA > Missouri > Daviess County > History of Daviess and Gentry counties, Missouri > Part 63
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Both Mr. and Mrs. White are held in high regard in Altamont. Their recollections of their struggles on the plains of Nebraska are in- teresting and valuable reminiscences of the early day privations and trials, which were the lot of the pioneers in the new land.
Melvin Ross DeFord, a substantial farmer of Jefferson Township, Daviess County, was born, July 24, 1873, the son of P. R. and Louisa (Barkdoll) DeFord.
P. R. DeFord was born in Green County, Wis., April 26, 1850, and came to Missouri in 1867. He located on the farm now owned by his son, the subject of this review. The farm lies southwest of Altamont and northeast of Winston, and comprises some bottom land. It is well wa- tered, has a good residence, and is well improved. P. R. DeFord was not only a progressive farmer, but was also a public spirited citizen. He was a member of the state legislature for a term and was a promoter of the Farmers Mutual Fire and Lightning Insurance Company of Daviess County. He was for many years the president of that organization, and his unselfish and energetic devotion to the work of the company was a strong factor in its growth. At the time of his death he owned 200 acres of land in the county. He died at Winston, Sept. 14, 1914. His wife died in January, 1911. The remains of both are buried at Winston. They were the parents of five sons: Melvin R., the subject of this review; Carol Lee; Pleasant Clay, graduated from the Central Missouri State Teachers College at Warrensburg, Oklahoma University, and the University of Chicago, and is now the superintendent of schools at Chelsea, Okla .; Alva; and Willis C.
Melvin R. DeFord attended the school at Winston, and taught
.
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school in Daviess County for several years. For two years he was the principal of schools at Altamont. Since 1903 he has been operating a farm. He and his brother, Willis C., own 181 acres of the home farm. They do general farming and raise Rhode Island poultry, Red Poll cattle, and Duroc Jersey hogs.
The DeFord farm is one of the interesting old places in the com- munity. It came into the possession of the DeFord family through the grandfather of the present owner. He was James DeFord, and was a native of Indiana, who migrated westward in the early days, passing through Fort Dearborn, the present site of Chicago, when it was only a trading post. James DeFord settled in Green County, Wis., then went to Fayette County, Iowa, and came to Missouri in 1867. He and his wife were both of the sturdy pioneer type. She was Catherine (Millman) De- Ford. They both died in Daviess County on the farm, and their remains are buried in Winston Cemetery.
Melvin R. DeFord was married, Oct. 5, 1902, to Lida Easter, a daughter of J. W. and Mary A. (Blythe) Easter. Both Mr. and Mrs. Easter were natives of Kentucky; he was born in Madison County in 1832, and his wife in Estell County in 1843. They came to Missouri in 1886. Mr. Easter died at Altamont in 1898, and his remains are buried in Creekmore Cemetery. His widow now lives with her daughter. Mr. and Mrs. Easter had the following children: Alice, married S. T. Dean, and died July, 1921; John P., married Nellie Noah, and died in July, 1911; Maude, the wife of S. Everman of Altamont; and Ida and Lida, twins, the former now the wife of J. L. Johnston of Altamont, and the latter now Mrs. DeFord. Mr. and Mrs. DeFord have two children : Wil- bur R. and Nellie, both students in the Winston High School.
Mr. DeFord is a member of the Ancient Free and Accepted Masons, the Royal Arch, the Order of Eastern Star, and the Independent Order of Odd Fellows Lodges. He is a Democrat, although all of his brothers are Republicans. He has filled the office of school director, and in 1914 made the race for county judge on the Bull Moose ticket. He is the dis- trict administration superintendent of the Sunday School Association of the Fourth District of Daviess County. He is a man of marked execu- tive ability, is energetic and reliable, and is highly esteemed in the com- munity.
A. J. Fulton, a wide awake and energetic farmer of Jefferson Township, Daviess County, is rapidly achieving success in his line of work. He is an enthusiastic farmer and stockraiser, and his farm and home which is known as Plain View Stock Farm presents an attractive appearance.
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HISTORY OF DAVIESS AND GENTRY COUNTIES
John and Sarah (Freas) Fulton, the parents of A. J. Fulton, were both born in Holmes County, Ohio, where they were married. They moved to Missouri and settled in DeKalb County four miles north of Cameron, where their son, A. J., was born on July 10, 1876. John Ful- ton was a well known farmer and dairyman. He died in 1917 at the age of 72 years, and his widow still lives on the home farm. She is now 69 years of age. Their children were: Frank, living on the home place; Zella, now Mrs. Vaughn of Jefferson Township; A. J., the subject of this sketch ; Mrs. Raleigh Free of Clinton County ; and Mamie, now Mrs. Whiteaker of Cameron.
A. J. Fulton attended the Mt. Pleasant School and has been inter- ested in farming and stock raising all of his life. He bought his present farm of 120 acres in 1913. It was formerly the John Wilkinson place, and had few improvements at the time Mr. Fulton bought it. He has built a modern bungalow, several farm buildings, has put up good fences, and has made the farm one of the prettiest places in the com- munity. The residence stands on the highest part of the land, and is on the Jefferson Highway. Mr. Fulton is deeply interested in wheat cul- ture. He raises cattle, Shropshire sheep, and Duroc Jersey hogs.
A. J. Fulton was married in December, 1898, to Ida Whiteaker, born in DeKalb County, the daughter of David B. and Mary (Cox) Whiteaker. Mrs. Whiteaker died at the age of 81, and Mr. Whiteaker, now 83 years old, lives in DeKalb County. He is a native of Tennessee. Mr. and Mrs. Fulton have a daughter, Latroyd. She attened school at Winston, and is now living at home.
Mr. Fulton is a Republican. He is accounted one of the reliable men of the township, and is held in high esteem.
Isaac C. Millman, a well known retired farmer of Jefferson Town- ship, Daviess County, is living at Altamont, where he owns five acres of land and a residence. Mr. Millman was born in Green County, Wis., Dec. 28, 1859, the son of W. H. and Lydia Ann (Phillips) Millman.
W. H. Millman was born in Wayne County, Indiana, in 1820, and came to Missouri in 1864. He settled west of Altamont, in a sparsely populated neighborhood. W. H. and Charles Cole, brothers, John Cas- ter, and a few of the Samuel Johnston family were practically the only people for miles around. W. H. Millman's wife, Lydia Ann (Phillips) Millman, was born in Indiana, Feb. 2, 1820, the daughter of Thomas and and Rebecca (Hammett) Phillips. They were both natives of New Jer- sey, and were early settlers of Randolph County, Indiana. They both died in that county, he at the age of 80 years, and she at the age of 95
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years. One of their children, Rebecca H. Phillips, was born in Randolph County, Indiana, Sept. 12, 1827, and died in March, 1922, aged 94 years, and is buried in Winston Cemetery.
W. H. Millman died in Jefferson Township, in 1910, at the age of 90 years. His wife died in 1912 at the age of 92 years. The remains of both are buried in the Winston Cemetery. Their children were: Mary J., born in Indiana, married Mr. Snider, and is now dead; Mahala, born in Indiana, married Mr. Holloway, and is now dead; Rebecca E., born in Indiana, married Mr. King and now lives in Colfax Township; John W., born in Indiana, died in Wisconsin at the age of 20 years; Abigail I., born in Wisconsin, now the widow of William Powell of Garden City, Mo .; Nehemiah G., born in Wisconsin, now a resident of Jefferson Town- ship; Lydia Ann, born in Wisconsin, married Mr. Peasley, and died at Winston; Catherine, born in Wisconsin, married Mr. Satterley, and is now dead; Hester Ann, born in Wisconsin, was Mrs. Hayes, and died in Kansas; W. T., a native of Wisconsin, and died at Gallatin in February, 1919 ; Robert H., living at Langley, Wash .; Isaac C., the subject of this sketch; and Thurza L., now Mrs. Fisher of Kansas City, Mo.
Isaac C. Millman attended the rural schools, and farmed in Jeffer- son Township until 1918, when he moved to Altamont. He bought his present home there from John C. Scott.
Mr. Millman was married, Oct. 22, 1885, to Susan A. Reavis, a na- tive of Henry County. Her parents were D. V. and Susan Ellen (Miller) Reavis, both natives of North Carolina. They settled in Henry County, Missouri, several years before the Civil War, and both died there. Their children besides Mrs. Millman were: D. W., now living in Washington, D. C .; Mrs. Laura Cannon of Henry County ; Mrs. Alice Quigley, de- ceased ; James A., died in California in 1921; and Mrs. Luella Caldwell, died at Arvada, Col.
Mr. and Mrs. Millman have a son, Hilee I., a resident of Fresno, Calif. He married Evelyn Waddell, born in Wisconsin. Her father is Charles Waddell of Rogers, Ark. Hilee I. Millman and his wife have three children; Dorothy, Hyleen, and Jackie. Mr. and Mrs. Millman have reared the following children in their home : Nettie Kerr, who came to the Millman home when she was 10 years old, and is now the wife of Orland D. Miles of Barnes, Ore .; Arletha Nation, who was taken by Mr. and Mrs. Millman when she was 12 years old, and is now married to Al- bert Wynne of Gallatin; Minnie Tenelson, entered the Millman home when she was nine years old, now married to William Hopper of Shen-
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andoah, Iowa; Oma Street, lived with the Millman family from the age of eight years and is now the wife of Edgar Rorah of Greenville, Iowa ; Mrs. Rorah's brother, Morris Street, who was taken by Mr. and Mrs. Millman when he was two years old, and was drowned at the age of 17 years; Harry Tenelson, entered the Millman home when he was 11 years old, and now lives at Shenandoah, Iowa; Wilbur Nation, who has been with Mr. and Mrs. Millman since he was 11 years old; and Ralph Steel, who was cared for by the Millmans for two years.
Mr. and Mrs. Millman are members of the Seven Day Adventist Church at Winston. They are estimable people who have spent a life of unselfishness and usefullness, and who are deservedly admired and re- vered by the children whom they welcomed into their home.
Adelbert W. Reid, the capable and energetic manager of the Bates Lumber Yard at Winston, was born in Jefferson Township on Nov. 10, 1867, the son of Willis and Nancy (Randolph) Reid.
Willis Reid was a farmer in Daviess County, and at one time owned more than 300 acres of land there. He died in 1873, and his remains are buried in Reid Cemetery, a graveyard located on the farm formerly owned by Willis Reid. His children were: Sarah Alice, living at Wins- ton ; Elsie, the widow of Jacob Perryman of Winston; Adelbert W., the subject of this sketch; Oscar, died in infancy ; and Merritt W., living at Norcatur, Kan. Mrs. Reid later married R. S. Osborn, and to his union three children were born: Dudley, living at Winston; Clyde, a resident of Gallatin ; and Ivon, living in Kansas City, Mo. Mrs. Osborn now lives at Winston. She is a native of Sangamon County, Ill.
Adelbert W. Reid attended the rural schools of Daviess County, the school at Winston, and Kidder Institute. He farmed in Daviess County for several years, and then became connected with the Rock Is- land Railway. In 1903, he became engaged in the lumber business at Norcatur, Kan., with Nelson and Reid. He remained there for nine years, leaving to become the manager of the Bates Lumber Yard at Winston. The Bates Lumber Company carries a complete line of lumber, building material, paints, and oils. The yard covers a fourth of a block, and is one of the well established business enterprises of the town.
Adelbert W. Reid was married the first time in May, 1905, to Mar- tha May Holben, and to this union two sons were born; Marvin Walter and Nelson Willis, both students in the Winston High School. Mrs. Reid died, Aug. 18, 1907, and her remains are buried at Norcatur, Kan. In June, 1911, Mr. Reid was married to Ethel (Temple) McCurdy, a na- tive of Norton, Kan., and the widow of James Z. McCurdy. To this union
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four children were born: Kenneth Brooks, Edwin Wayne, Wanda Marie and Vinita Marjorie. By her first marriage Mrs. Reid had two children : Lola May and David Estes, the latter born at Estes Park, Col.
Mr. Reid is a member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows Lodge. He has served as the mayor of Winston, and was recently elected to the office of justice of the peace, but resigned. He is one of the sub- stantial citizens of Winston.
H. L. Johnson, well known in both Daviess and Gentry counties, is the competent postmaster at Winston, Daviess County. He was ap- pointed to that office by President Harding on Dec. 19, 1921, and assumed the duties of the office on Feb. 1, 1922.
Mr. Johnson was born, Nov. 30, 1871 in the house where he now lives. His parents, Sylvester and Celestia (DeMow) Johnson, were both natives of Portage County, Ohio. The father was born, July 28, 1840, and the mother, Dec. 12, 1839. They were married in Ohio, and came to Daviess County, Mo., in 1868. Mrs. Johnson died in 1916, and her re- mains are buried in the Winston Cemetery. Mr. Johnson still lives on a part of the home place. He owned at one time 140 acres of land in Jefferson Township, but gave all of it except 40 acres to his children some time ago. He is a veteran of the Civil War. He served in Company F. 42nd Ohio Volunteer Infantry, organized by Colonel James A. Gar- field. Mr. and Mrs. Johnson had the following children: Varenia L., married Mr. Steele, and is now dead; H. L., the subject of this sketch; Mabel M., the wife of G. L. Story of Winston; Newton S., living at Missoula, Mont .; and Garfield, died in infancy.
H. L. Johnson attended the public schools, and spent three years as a student in the Stanberry Normal School. He graduated from that in- stitution in business and shorthand. He operated a farm for six years in Gentry County, then took up newspaper work and in 1901, he estab- lished the Winston Sentinel. In 1919, he became connected with the Winston Bank as the assistant cashier, and still maintains his interest in the bank. He resigned his position in the bank to accept his present office.
H. L. Johnson was married, Feb. 14, 1893 to Anna M. Miller of Gentry County. Her parents, now dead, were W. H. and Nancy Miller. W. H. Miller was the first white boy born in Gentry County. Mrs. Johnson was educated at the Stanberry Normal School, and taught school for two years in Gentry County. Mr. and Mrs. Johnson have two children: Juanita, married H. R. Hupp of Holly, Col., and has two
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HISTORY OF DAVIESS AND GENT UNTIES
children, Carol Joy and William; and Alma, . wife of Allen F. Wynne, a traveling salesman in Daviess County.
Mr. Johnson is a member of the Indepe.
it Order of Odd Fellows Lodge. He is a Republican. In 1908, he wa Lected the representative from Daviess County to the 45th General Assembly of Missouri. He was a strong advocate of the County School Supervision law, and was a member of the sub committee of four, appointed to revise the road laws as they applied to counties under the township organization. Nr. John- son is a capable and popular official, and is intensely interested in every movement for civic improvement.
William B. Trosper. who is successfully ga ted in farming and stock raising in Harrison County, was born in Cial' ' County, Mo., July 14, 1859, a son of Robert B. and Nancy R. (Con onsper.
Robert B. Trosper was born in Knox Co .vy, Ky., Oct. 1, 1315. He
farmed in Caldwell County almost his entire e, and retired in 1865. He then moved to Breckenridge where he died arch 15, 1897. Mr. Trosper was a successful farmer and at the time of his death was wealthy. His wife was born in Green County, Ky., Oct. ", 1818. She died July, 1880. Mr. and Mrs. Robert B. Trosper were the p: ents of eight children, six of whom grew to maturity: Nicholas L., banker, Breckenridge; Minerva J., the wife of Mack H. Chaffin, Breckenridge; Mary E., Breckenridge ; Rachel at Breckenridge; Frances, also of Breckenridge; and William B., the sub- ject of this sketch.
William B. Trosper was reared in Breckenridge, and was educated in the public schools there. In early life he worked as a laborer on the rail- road, clerked in a grocery store, and in 1882 he became the assistant cashier of the Exchange Bank of Breckenridge. He then, in 1887, went to Cow- gill, and clerked in the Farmers Bank there for six months. Mr. Trosper then began farming and in 1889 moved to his present farm, which was then owned by his uncles, James and William Trosper. In 1917 Mr. Tros- per bought the farm, and has made extensive improvements.
Mr. Trosper was married Sept. 21, 1887, to Mina G. Pullen, of Livings- ton County, a daughter of William A. and Sarah (Blackburn) Pullen, na- tives of Indiana. Mr. and Mrs. Pullen were among the early settlers of Missouri, living east of Jamesport on a farm. Mrs. Pullen died in Breck- enridge, in 1916, where she and her husband had lived for some time. Mr. Pullen died in 1920 at the home of Mr. Trosper, at the age of 87 years.
Mr. and Mrs. William B. Trosper are the parents of six children: Naomi, the wife of R. H. Lane, Ark City, Kan .; Bernice, the wife of L. T. Wachtel, Des Moines, Ia .; Genevieve, wife of Clarence Norman, Harrison Township, Daviess County ; Juanita, Kansas City, Mo .; Nicholas L., at
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MR. AND MRS. W. B TROSPER
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HISTORY OF DAVIESS AND GENTRY COUNTIES
home, and Robert B. Nicholas L. Trosper is a World War veteran, being assigned to Camp Funston and later sent to Raleigh, N. C. He was station- ed there for three months, then one month at Charlotte, N. C. He was discharged at Camp Pike, Ark.
William B. Trosper's father served in the Mormon War, and his grand- father, Nicholas Trosper was in a disturbance at Gallatin in 1838 when Benedict Weldon was making a speech. A crowd of Mormons gathered and attacked Mr. Weldon, but his life was saved through the efforts of Nicholas Trosper and Martin Osborn, and for a time the Mormons were routed. Nicholas Trosper and his wife, Rachel (Brank) Trosper were natives of North Carolina, and in June 1837, they settled on the farm now owned by William Trosper.
Mr. Trosper is a Democrat, and has been township trustee of Harrison Township. At present he owns 435 acres of land. He has been very suc- cessful in general farming and is a well known breeder and feeder of Short- horn cattle.
Edward F. West, a hardware merchant of Winston, Daviess County, is a member of a Scotch Irish family that served in the American Revolu- tion. Among the family heirlooms are; a box, made by Mr. West's great grandfather in 1741 ; a knife, made by Mr. West's grandfather, John W. West, in 1841; and a sword, used in the American Revolution by Mr. West's maternal great-great-grandfather, and now owned by Mr. West's brother. Mr. West was born in Colfax Township, Feb. 18, 1863, the son of William Jewell and Mary E. (Cauckwell) West.
William Jewell West was born in Boone County in 1837, the son of John W. West, one of the early settlers. John W. West was a native of Kentucky, where he was born in 1804. He entered land in Colfax Township, Daviess County, and died there on Sept. 10, 1893. His wife, Ruth (Lemmon) West, died, Dec. 22, 1894. John W. West was a miller and carpenter. His remains are buried in Black Cemetery.
William Jewell West owned several farms at various times. He was the first miller to locate at Winston, where he established the mill in 1891. He built several residences, business edifices, and churches in Winston, Cameron, and other towns. He owned a farm near Winston. He married Mary E. Chauckwell, born in 1840 in Scott County, Ky., the daughter of Thomas Chauckwell. He was born in Virginia, then went to Kentucky, and was an early settler of Jefferson Township, Daviess County. He died, March 12, 1860. His father was a native of England. The Chauckwell family came to Daviess County in 1858, and Mary E. Chauckwell was married to William Jewell West, June 30, 1859. To
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this union the following children were born: John T., living at Jerome, Kan .; Edward F., the subject of this review ; Willis Dudley, died in 1878 at the age of four years; and William Vincil, born Aug. 5, 1879, and now a resident of Winston. William Jewell West died in 1905.
Edward F. West attended the rural schools and operated a saw- mill. He is a mechanic and carpenter, and understands the mechanism of plumbing, steam fitting, furnaces, threshing machines and engine work. Mr. West was engaged for expert work by the Aultman Miller Harvesting Company of Akron, Ohio, and remained with that firm for nine years. On July 22, 1895, he bought the hardware stock owned by E. G. Trumbo of Winston, and at once began business. The building is commodious and includes an annex for the housing of machinery. Mr. West has a good stock, neatly kept. His residence is located on the two lots adjoining the store, and was the first modern home built at Winston. Mr. West says that Winston is one of the progressive small towns of the state. The town has cement walks on practically all streets, and there is a large percentage of modern homes. Quite recently, Mr. West has sold 23 L. J. Mueller pipeless furnaces, all of them installed in Winston houses, or in the neighboring farmers' homes.
Edward F. West was married on Nov. 19, 1890 to Allie Pirena Funk, born, Feb. 16, 1869 in Knox County. She came to Daviess County when she was eight years old with her parents, Garrison and Ann E. (Smith) Funk. They now live in Kansas.
Mr. West is a member of the Ancient Free and Accepted Masons Lodge at Winston, the Scottish Rites at St. Joseph, and the Independent Order of Odd Fellows Lodge at Cameron. Both he and his wife are identified with the Methodist church. Mr. West served as the mayor of Winston, and proved himself a thoroughly competent official. He is a man of intense civic pride and believes most heartily in the future of Winston. As a business man, he is reliable, and as a citizen he has the esteem of the community.
Albert Neth, the owner and proprietor of a popular café and res- taurant at Winston, was born in Clay County, Dec. 12, 1872. His parents were Jacob and Fannie (Switzer) Neth.
Jacob Neth was born in Germany, and his wife, in Clay County, Missouri. He came to the United States when he was 18 years old, and located in Clay County, where he was married. In 1897, he came to Da- viess County, and bought a farm of 172 acres in Jefferson Township, which he still owned at the time of his death in 1917. His remains are buried in the Winston Cemetery. His wife, Fannie (Switzer) Neth, died
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in Clinton County in 1881, and her remains are buried in the cemetery of the Smith Fork Baptist Church. Their children were: Anthony, living at Kidder; Anna, the wife of George Norton of Pueblo, Col .; Albert, the subject of this review ; Fannie, married to Floyd Jackson of Kidder; and Artie May, now Mrs. E. Rutherford of Springfield, Ill.
Albert Neth attended the public school in Clinton County, and worked by the day. He bought 30 acres of land in Jefferson Township, where he remained for five years. In 1920, he sold his land, and bought a home at Winston. A year later, he bought the café and restaurant, which he now operates, and has established an excellent business.
Mr. Neth was married on Feb.25, 1903, to Emma Wood, a daugh- ter of Leonard and Clara (Edwards) Wood, both natives of Daviess County, now living at Winston. Mrs. Neth's paternal grandfather, Jo- seph Wood, was a native of Indiana, and was a pioneer settler in Colfax Township, Daviess County. Her maternal grandfather, Wiley Edwards, was an early settler in Colfax Township. He later became a merchant at Victoria, but moved to Winston, where he died at the age of 92 years. His remains are buried in Black Cemetery. Mr. and Mrs. Neth have one son, Erwin Dudley, born on May 28, 1909.
Mr. and Mrs. Neth are energetic and ambitious people, and are do- ing a good business at Winston.
W. P. Griffin, a well known retired farmer of Daviess County and a veteran of the Civil War, is now living at Altamont. He was born in Wayne County, Ohio, on Dec. 15, 1848, the son of James and Elizabeth (Beam) Griffin.
James Griffin and his wife were both natives of Pennsylvania, and were married in Ohio. They left Ohio in 1856, and came down the Ohio River by boat, and up the Missouri and Mississippi Rivers to Lexington, Mo. From Lexington, they drove through to Daviess County, which they reached on June 6, 1856. James Griffin bought 80 acres of land in Col- fax Township, the land now owned by the King heirs. In 1887, James Griffin moved to Kansas City, Mo., and became connected with the Met- ropolitan Street Railway Company. He died in Kansas City in 1896, and his remains are buried in Forest Hill Cemetery there. He was a member of the Missouri State Militia during the Civil War. Mrs. Griffin died at Palmyra, Mo., in November, 1865, and her remains are buried there. To the union of James and Elizabeth (Beam) Griffin the following children were born: W. P., the subject of this sketch ; George E., died in St. Louis, while in service during the Civil War, and his remains are buried at Jef- ferson Barracks; and Charles A., a traveling salesman for the Fred Har-
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