USA > Missouri > Harrison County > History of Harrison County, Missouri > Part 39
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Levi C. Wilkinson was married September 23, 1919 to Letha Snead of Bethany, a daughter of N. H. and Lydia (Allen) Snead, who live at Nevada, Missouri.
Mr. and Mrs. Wilkinson have one son, Delvin Lee, born September 4, 1920.
Mr. Wilkinson is the only one of the enlisted men from Bethany that was with Company G, during the entire war, and has the distinction of having never missed a day of service and was not transferred to any other company from the day of his enlistment until his discharge.
Mr. Wilkinson, although a quiet, unassuming, young man, has many friends in Bethany. In relating his experiences in the battle of Argonne Forest, with Company G., he says that fifty-seven of the men were sur- rounded by Germans, and in this battle Lieutenant Moser, Sergant Arthur Bowers, Otto Harris, Cecil Harris, George Mew and a gunner by the name of Green and several other were killed. Mr. Wilkinson escaped during the night. Lemuel Parks of New Hampton and Russell Gale of Bethany with about twenty-five others were taken prisoners.
Ellis Hill, a well known farmer and stockman and owner of Walnut Row Stock Farm near New Hampton, White Oak Township, comprising the northeast quarter of section twenty-nine, township sixty-three, range twenty-nine, was born in Gentry County, Missouri, one-half mile from Harrison, March 17, 1863. He is the son of J. Frank and Susan T. (Baxter) Hill. J. Frank Hill was born near Bedford, Trimble County, Kentucky, April 17, 1836 and died November 3. 1908. He located in Gentry County, near New Castle in 1853 and bought a farm. He also entered forty acres of land, and traded for another forty acres. In the spring of 1865, he
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came to Harrison and settled in White Oak Township. His wife, who was a native of Clinton County, Missouri, born near Plattsburg, Novem- ber 28, 1834 and died November 10, 1910. Both are buried at Jones Chapel, which is now called Stafford Chapel.
David R. Hill, grandfather of Ellis Hill, lived on a farm in Gentry County, north of New Castle, until his death which occurred when he was past eighty years old.
Mr. and Mrs. J. Frank Hill were the parents of the following chil- dren: George Newton, who was born March 13, 1861 and died March 15, 1861; Adelia Hill, born March 16, 1852 and died March 19, 1862; Ellis, the subject of this sketch; William H., born November 12, 1864 and who lives at Albany, Missouri; Amanda M., born August 2, 1867 and died September 13, 1868; Amos Victor, born February 16, 1870, who lives in White Oak Township; Virginia E., born January 22, 1872 and died August 30, 1873.
Ellis Hill received a limited education in the schools of his community, but through observation and experience, has a varied and useful knowl- edge. He moved to his present farm in 1886, bringing all of his posses- sion in two wagons, and he says he could have hauled considerable more if he had had it. He now owns 160 acres of well improved land, having put all of the improvements on the place himself. He has a fine two story residence of seven rooms with a basement, 14x18 feet, four barns, poultry and hog houses and five wells which furnish plenty of water for farm and stock use. He raises registered pure bred Shropshire sheep, Missouri mules, Jersey cows and White Plymounth Rock chickens.
Mr. Hill was married the first time April 15, 1886 to Lenore Parsons of Bethany, Missouri, who died in 1902 and is buried at Foster Cemetery. They were the parents of four children; Leroy, born April 4, 1887, a farmer in Butler Township; Loren, born March 4, 1889, the wife of C. L. Youngs of Cypress Township; Lena, born December 20, 1890, the wife of A. R. Magee of White Oak Township and Lovell, born September 11, 1894 and who married in 1915 Beatrice Bales of Albany, Missouri.
The grandchildren of Mr. and Mrs. Hill are: Goldie ,Lester, Donald and Luther Youngs ; Wilhelmina, Dwain and Leroy Jr. Hill; Mahl, Dorryl, Russell and Kathleen Magee; William, Margaret and Jerrold Hill.
Mr. Hill was married the second time July 2, 1905 to Amanda Robertson, a daughter of Jeremiah and Matilda Parks, both deceased, her mother, who was born in Gentry County, having died when Mrs. Hill was four years old. Her father was a native of Kentucky.
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Mr. and Mrs. Hill have four children: Lemon, Lawrence, Leonard and Velma Marie.
Mr. Hill is one of the progressive and public spirited citizens of the county's substantial men. He has filled the office of township collector of White Oak Township one term and for twenty-five years has been a member of the Knights of Pythias Lodge. Mr. Hill has lived in his school district longer than anyone here and has never missed but one school election, which shows the interest he takes in the affairs of his township.
George W. Ward, a leading and successful farmer of White Oak Township, who has lived her for many years, was born on Big Creek, January 31, 1852, the son of Joseph and Ann (McMurphy) Ward. Joseph Ward came to Harrision County with his parents when Indians were still here and Joseph Ward, when a young man, assisted in moving the Indians from this county to reservations in Kansas. He died in 1888 and is buried in White Oak Cemetery. A few months after his death, his widow moved to White Oak Township, where she married Mr. Evans and they entered land here. They both died just prior to the Civil War.
George W. Ward is a self made man and early in life rented land for a few years, working by the day splitting rails for fifty cents to a dollar a day and also for seventy-five cents per hundred. By thrift and good management, he was soon able to buy seventy-nine acres of land, paying therefore $1,000.00. He now owns 160 acres in this township, and has put all of the improvements on the place himself. He is engaged in general farming and stock raising and ships some stock. He raises registered Shropshire sheep and Spotted Poland China hogs. His farm is five and one-half miles southeast of New Hampton and eight miles southwest of Bethany on the old California trail to St. Joseph, Missouri.
The first home of Mr. Ward was a cabin 14x16 feet, made of clap- board roof, and this was held down by weights as no nails were used. The floor was made of punching.
Mr. Ward is a well preserved man and appears fifteen years younger than he is, and has had occasion for a doctor but twice in his sixty-eight years.
Mr. and Mrs. Ward have eight children and the following grandchil- dren : Beulah Bell, Bernice, Jesse, Foy, Forest, Frank, and Alberta Ward;
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Elijah, Lucille, Vodra, Sarah Buell, Buellah Bell, and Paul Magee Bless- ing; and one great granddaughter, a daughter of Wiliam Ward.
Mr. and Mrs. Ward have lived a useful life, living not alone for themselves, but for their friends and neighbors, and therefore have many friends who honor and respect them.
Peter Tanner, a retired farmer and stockman and the owner of 600 acres of land in Madison Township, is one of the men who by dint of hard work, good management and unceasing perseverance has achieved marked success in life. He was born in Pickaway County, Ohio, January 23, 1842, the son of David and Catherine (George) Tanner who were the parents of ten children, five of them still living: Julia, wife of George Tanner, of Hoopston, Illinois; Catherine, the widow of Radley Shockley, of Pickaway County, Ohio; John, living in Columbus, Ohio; Martha, the widow of Harry Adams, of Hollywood, California; and Peter, the second child among those living and the subject of this review.
David Tanner was born in New York and went to Ohio with his par- ents. His father, Peter Tanner, was a German farmer who was reared in New York. David Tanner was a farmer in Pickaway County, Ohio, where he died February 1, 1878 at the age of sixty-eight years. His wife, Catherine (George) Tanner was born, reared and died in Ohio.
Peter Tanner received his education in the common school of Pick- away County and learned to farm there. He left Ohio in December, 1880, came to Harrison County and bought eighty acres of land in Madi- son Township, five miles west of Cainsville. He added to this land from time to time as he was able until he, at one time, owned 800 acres. He made extensive improvements and always found that they paid even if he had to go in debt. He went into the stock business feeding hogs, cattle and mules and in this line he was very successful. He now has three farms which are operated under his supervision. In October, 1919, Mr. Tanner retired from active farm life and he and his wife went to California, but returned to Missouri, December 20, 1919 and settled in Ridgeway. Both Mr. and Mrs. Tanner feel that Missouri snow is pre- ferable to California flowers and they grew homesick for their own state.
Peter Tanner was twice married. His first marriage was June 25, 1871, to Matilda Lane who was born in Franklin County, Ohio, December 15, 1848 and died in Madison Township, July 7, 1886. To this union five
MR. AND MRS. PETER TANNER
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children were born: G. A., a resident of Kansas City, Missouri; Clara, wife of Jacob Frost, of St. Joseph; Cora, married to W. H. Cooper, of Sand Springs, Oklahoma; W. V., of Ridgeway; and Catherine, married to Russell Morrain and living on the old home place in Pickaway County, Ohio. Mr. Tanner was married the second time, May 13, 1888, to Lovica Wilson, who was born in Morgan County, Indiana, February 20, 1863. To this union also five children were born: Clifford, living on the home place in Madison Township; Florence, wife of E. B. Foxworthy, of Marion Township; Robert, a resident of Laramie, Wyoming; Alva, living at Marshalltown, Iowa; and Herbert, on a farm in Madison Township. By the children of his first marriage Mr. Tanner has sixteen grandchildren and by his second marriage, there are seven grandchildren.
Mr. Tanner is a Republican in politics but says that he never had time for local offices. He and Mrs. Tanner recall vividly the hardships of their early days on the farm when Mr. Tanner fed stock in the snow and Mrs. Tanner sat up often until two o'clock in the morning sewing for the children. She often stayed at home for six months at a time, without even a trip to the neighboring town. Mr. Tanner has made his own way since boyhood and while the struggle seenied hard at times, both he and his wife say that, now since they are out of debt and have made a suc- cess of their work, it has been a pleasure as well as toil. They smile at the idea of the people of today having hard times and say that this generation knows nothing of real trials and privations. They are two interesting people whose recollections of their early days are worth hearing.
Dr. Roy L. Grun, a well known and successful osteopathic physician and surgeon of New Hampton, Missouri, was born in Breckenridge, Mis- souri, February 4, 1896, the son of Charles D. and Viola M. (Burger) Grun; his parents have been residents of Breckenridge for many years, where his father is a barber. Their children are: Ray D., a pharmacist of Kansas City, Missouri; Leafy May, who lives at home; Roy L., the sub- ject of theis sketch; and Juanita Margaret, the wife of Russell F. Good of Chillicothe, Missouri.
Roy L. Grun received his education in the schools of Breckenridge and was graduated from the high school in the class of 1914. He then at- tended the Warrensburg State Teachers College one year prior to enter- ing the Kansas City College of Osteopathy and Surgery, where he took
(28)
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a professional course, and was graduated from this College in 1918. He then enlisted in the U. S. Navy, May 18, 1918, as hospital apprentice and was attached to Company B. Hospital Corps at the Great Lakes Naval Station where he remained until February 14, 1919, returning at that time to New Hampton where he has practiced since, meeting with excellent practice and success. Dr. Grun is a very able physician and is well equipped for the wide field which his general practice embraces.
Dr. Grun was married August 18, 1920 to Edthye Anna Barnes a daughter of Charles S. and Emma Barnes of Bethany, Missouri.
Dr. Grun takes an interest in lodge affairs and is a member of the Masonic Lodge at Breckenridge and of the Knights of Pythias at New Hampton. Dr. Grun is a young man with a bright future in his chosen profession.
Rufus R. Young, deceased, a pioneer citizen of Harrison County, was born in Blunt County, Tennesse, November 22, 1829, the son of Jeremiah S. and Ruth (Boring) Young, who came to Missouri in the early days and settled first in Jackson County and then moved to Harrison County in White Oak Township in 1842, where both Rufus R. Young and his father entered land. Jeremiah Young was in the Black Hawk and Indian Wars and he died here in 1882 at the age of seventy-six years, and he and his wife, who died in 1877, and buried in Doanes Chapel Cemetery.
Rufus R. Young entered 120 acres and later bought more land, own- ing at the time of his death 210 acres, and on this farm, all of his chil- dren were born, who are as follows: Lucy D., Jacob S. of Heppner, Oregon; Lizzie P., the wife of Albert Morgan, both deceased; James G., who lived in Pueblo, Colorado prior to his death; Robert R., a druggist in Kansas City, Missouri; and Ella R. McNatt, who lives near McFall in Gentry County, Missouri.
Lucy D. Young received her preliminary education in the public schools of White Oak Township, and at Albany, and afterward attended the Kirksville State Teachers College. After finishing her education, she taught her first school at the Burton school house and then next taught the second primary department in Bethany in 1877-1879. She then taught in Harrison and Gentry Counties, three years in Oregon State, and one year in Comanche County, Kansas, and then took a claim near Heppner, Morrow County, Oregon, and taught there while prov- ing the claim, on which she lived during her summer vacation. This was
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a wild part of the state at that time. She sold her claim about two years ago.
Miss Young has lived in New Hampton for the past twenty years and intends making this her permanent residence. She has led a busy and useful life and has done much to encourage the youth who attended the many schools she has taught, to make good citizens. Coming from one of the prominent and respected pioneer families of the county and having been connected with the early schools of forty years ago, she accomplished a great deal toward improving the system of education, the fruits of which are being reaped by the present generation.
J. A. Christie, a prosperous farmer and stockman of near New Hamp- ton is a native of Daviess County, Missouri. He was born January 8, 1861, the son of H. B. and Martha E. (Burton) Christie, the former having died in New Hampton about 1907 and the latter in 1913. Martha Chris- tie's father was a native of Kentucky, but settled, at an early day, near 'McFall, Missouri. Both Mr. and Mrs. Christie are buried in Foster Ceme- tery. H. B. Christie, in early life, was a school teacher, and also taught music, but later followed stock raising and farming.
Mr. and Mrs. H. B. Christie were the parents of the following chil- dren: C. C. of Olathe, Colorado; J. A., the subject of this sketch; John F. of Olathe, Colorado; Laura J., the wife of G. W. Bell of Gentry County, Missouri; Elizabeth, the wife of J. Z. Spiers of Olathe, Colorado; Lucy Mary, the wife of F. W. Savage of Spearville, Kansas; Mattie, the wife of Dr. J. K. Chipp of St. Louis, Missouri; Lettie, the wife of J. W. Smith of Harrison County, Missouri, and Abraham B., who died at the age of twenty-four years. He married Bertha Carter of Gallatin, Daviess County, Missouri, and had one daughter, Martha Elen, who lives with her mother, who is now Mrs. C. S. Twedell of New Hampton.
J. A. Christie was educated in the public schools of Daviess and Harrison Counties, Missouri, and, in early manhood, followed farming in Butler Township. He bought his present home of 200 acres of good land in 1888, paying therefor $10.50 per acre. The site where the house now stands was formerly a brush patch at the time of the purchase, and the old St. Joseph Bethany trail ran through the yard, this being the road which was used in pioneer days for freighting with ox teams. The resi- dence now occupied by J. A. Christie and family was built in 1910, and
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is a good, substantial farm house, six miles south of New Hampton. The old barn, which rendered service for thirty years, was replaced in 1920 by a new building. The farm is nicely improved and productive.
Mr. Christie was married December 27, 1883 in Butler Township to Martha Ellen Humphreys, a daughter of Elcana and Rachel (Flint) Hum- phreys, both of whom are deceased. Her father was born in Tennessee and located, when a young man, near Gallatin, Missouri, and, in 1866, moved to Harrison County and settled in Butler Township, where he died in 1877, and his wife, who afterward married T. H. Green, died in 1913, both being buried at Matkins. Mr. and Mrs. Humphreys had the following children : Mary, the wife of S. L. Johnson, deceased; Mrs. Christie; Alice Maria, the wife of Ed. Taggart of Montgomery County, Kansas; Thomas F. of Iowa; George F., who died at the age of forty-four years at Liberal, Kansas and is buried at Matkins; Margaret L., the wife of J. L. Hammons of Butler Township.
Mr. and Mrs. Christie have had the following children: Della, the wife of C. K. Buchanan, and who died at the age of twenty-seven years, leaving two children: Dwain Eldon and Delores Ellen; Henry Edward, who was accidentally killed in Missouri, and who is survived by his wife, formerly Minnie Rice, and four children; Lillie May, who lives at home; Eva Eliza, the wife of J. B. Chipp of Butler Township; Thomas F., and Raymond H., both at home; Olney, who married Edna Chipp and lives in Butler Township; and James Webb, who lives at home and attends the New Hampton High School.
Thomas F. Christie enlisted in the U. S. Army during the World War, July 24, 1918 and was sent to Camp Funston with Company I., but was prevented from going overseas because of the flu, and he was released in February, 1919 and returned home.
Raymond H. Christie enlisted May 24, 1918 and was sent to Camp Dodge May 24th and then to Camp Mills August 10th, with the 88th Di- vision, Company K. of the Infantry. He started overseas August 16. 1918, arriving at Liverpool August 28th and arrived in France at Scher- burg August 28th. On October 9th, he entered the trenches and one week later was sent to the trenches for the second time. He was on his way to Metz when the armistice was signed. Altogether he spent ten months in France and embarked to the United States May 20th, arriving here the 31st, and was mustered out at Camp Taylor, Kentucky June 9, 1919, after thirteen months service.
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Both Thomas F. and Raymond H. Christie are members of the Dun- can-Browning Post of the American Legion at New Hampton. This post was named in honor of Wilbur Duncan and Caroll Browning, two New Hampton boys who lost their lives in France.
J. A. Christie is a public spirited and progressive citizen and his family are prominent and well liked throughout the township and county.
Oakley Manring, one of the prominent and enterprising citizens of Butler Township, was born in Lawrence County, Ohio, June 6, 1858, the son of Maschil and Ann (Love) Manring. His father was an expert pig iron maker and also engaged in farming. He served three years and nine months in the Union Army during the Civil War, enlisting in 1862. He was captain of Company A., 56th Ohio and was with this Company during the battle at which General Prentice was captured. He came to Missouri May 9, 1865 and settled near McFall, Gentry County Missouri, and ten years prior to his death, in 1907, he moved to McFall, Missouri. His wife died at the homestead near McFall in 1917. They were the parents of the following children: Oakley the subject of this sketch ; Flavins, deceased ; Ellen, who died in infancy ; Ed D., of McFall, Missouri, a graduate of the University at Columbia, Missouri, Maschil, who lives on the home place; Frank, who died in 1898 at McFall, and who had finished his education at Columbia, Missouri; William Sherman, who lives on the old homestead; and Eva, who died in 1870.
Jordon Manring, the grandfather of Oakley Manring, came from Virginia to Ohio in pioneer days. His wife was a niece of General John Knox of Revolutionary fame, and was also one of the signers of the Declaration of Independence. Jordan Manrings' father was captain of a company in the Revolutionary War, and his son was a captain in the War of 1812.
Oakley Manring was educated in the public schools and spent one year at Columbia, 1878-1879. He then entered the lumber business at Stan- berry, Missouri, going from there to north central Nebraska where he lived ten years, returning then to Harrison County, and locating on the farm where he now lives, in 1895. He has a farm of 240 acres, good bottom land, well improved, with residence, barn, silo and other buildings suitable for farming and stock use. He does general farming and stock raising, feeding cattle and hogs, and, because of his industry and thrift
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has made a success. He has also always found time to take a live in- terest in politics, belonging to the Republican party. While in Nebraska, he held the office of county commissioner for six years, and has also filled the office of justice of the peace.
Mr. Manring was married the first time in 1887 to Inez Adams of Nebraska, who is now deceased. They were the parents of four child- dren: H. G. of Harrison County; John Franklin, who was accidentally killed; Orville M., of South Dakota and William Harold of Harrison County. Mr. Manring married his present wife ,Eliza C. McCulloch of Gentry County, Missouri, in 1903. She was born in Indiana, the daughter of Porter and Sarah Ann McCulloch, both of whom located near McFall, Missouri in 1868. Her father was a veteran of the Civil War from Indiana.
Two of Mr. Manring's sons H. G. and Orville were in the U. S. Army during the World War. H. G. Manring enlisted in September, 1917 and was with the 91st Division overseas. He was with the Heavy Artillery 348 and was in the Meuse Argonne in October, 1918 and north of Verdun about five kilometers, and at Hill 304 when the armistice was signed. He was with the army of occupation from November until March 19, 1919, returning to the States in April, 1919 and was mustered out at Cheyenne, Wyoming, having been in service nineteen months. He is a member of the Duncan-Browning post at New Hampton.
Orville Manring was in service about six months. He had a difficult time in enlisting, being refused at American Lake, Camp Lewis, Wash- ington, at Bethany and at Jefferson Barracks, but finally passed muster at South Dakota.
Oakley Manring and two sons, H. G. and William H. are members of the Masonic Lodge at McFall. The Manring family have many friends in the county and stand high in the community.
Andrew Jesse Rowhuff, a prosperous farmer and substantial citizen of Butler Township, and a native of Daviess County, Missouri, was born February 4, 1860, the son of James H. and Matilda (Green) Rowhuff. His mother was also a native of Daviess County, born in 1836, and a daughter of Jesse and Mary (Groomer) Green, early settlers of this county, coming from Kentucky. Matilda Rowhuff died in 1882 and is buried at Matkins Cemetery. James H. Rowhuff died in 1892 at the
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age of eighty-two years. He was a veteran of the Civil War, enlisting at the age of fifty years, and serving nearly three years with Company G, in a volunteer infantry regiment from Missouri. He came to Harrison County in 1864 and settled on the farm now owned by Oakley Manring, but lived in McFall, Missouri, eighteen months prior to his death.
James H. Rowhuff was married four times, and to the union with his first wife, who was Margaret Sharpe, six children were born, as follows: Leonard, a veteran of the Civil War, serving in the Confederate Army, and died in the service in Southern Missouri; Napoleon B., who, when heard from last, was living in South Missouri; Nathaniel, who died in Denver, Colorado in 1906, as the result of a street car accident; Mrs. Phoebe Lyons, who died in Idaho in 1876; Mrs. Nancy Brown, the widow of Thomas Brown and who lives in Hamburg, Iowa; and Catherine John- son, of La Russell, Missouri, the widow of Harvey Johnson.
By his second wife, Mr. Rowhuff had two children: Charles G., who died when twelve years of age; and Andrew Jesse, the subject of this sketch.
Andrew Jesse Rowhuff received his education in the district schools, and grew to manhood on his father's farm, remaining there until twenty- four years of age, when he purchased forty acres in 1888. He now owns an excellent two-hundred-acre farm, which he bought at different times, buying and paying for the land as he was able. His residence is two and one-fourth miles southwest of Matkins. Other improvements are, one barn and cattle shed, ice house, two ponds, etc. He has one of the best watered farms in the county and the water is piped in the pasture from a shallow well. By thrift, hard work and good management, Mr. Rowhuff has been very successful.
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