USA > Missouri > Harrison County > History of Harrison County, Missouri > Part 52
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Her loyal, womanly devotion to her home, her church and to humanity gave her a place in the hearts and thoughts of all with whom she formed acquaintanceship.
And thus was the Bethany Clipper founded by editors who laid the foundations deep and wide, the purpose being to help to make good people, good homes and good morals in the community. It stands for the right, insists upon the right regardless of advocates or opposition.
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Through generation after generation nature repeats the call and when Miss Ada's mantle fell upon the shoulders of her brother Perrin and her sister Miss Mary, they buckled on their swords, rose to the occasion, and today the Bethany Clipper continues to flourish and is ambitious to attain to even greater heights of wisdom and helpfulness.
Perrin Gladstone Wightman was born in Bethany, Missouri, October 26, 1885. Married Miss Margaret Crowley in St. Louis, February 1, 1911. They have two little daughters, Isabel Margaret and Marian Crowley.
P. G. has spent his life in Bethany except about eight years when he was with Woodward and Tiernan, of St. Louis, one of the largest job printing plants in the west. He worked in the mechanical depart- ment of the Clipper when it was first organized and again went into the office and assumed the management two years before the death of his brother Sam. His national propensity, the talents he inherited from! his forbears, and his large experience in city offices, all combine to make him a most efficient master printer and an exceptionally capable manager. He excels in business ability but is also a writer of force, power and clarity. The Clipper now has an immense circulation, far beyond the fondest dreams of its founders. Its subscribers are not only the representative people of Bethany and vicinity but are also well distributed over a large area and hence the paper is considered an excellent advertising medium.
Mr. Wightman, like his father and brother, is a Republican in politics. He is secretary of the Republican Central Committee. He devotes him- self almost exclusively to his newspaper work but is efficient in any capacity. Fraternally he is connected with the Benevolent Protective Order of Elks, Knights of Pythias, is a member of the Missouri Press Association and president of the Northwest Press Association. His reli- gious connection is with the Methodist Church. He is a man honorable and sincere in all his dealings, is in full fellowship with honest toil and as a citizen he commands high regard of his fellows.
Mary M. Wightman was born September 20, 1889. She was educated in the Bethany school and Missouri Wesleyan College at Cameron, Mis- souri. Miss Mary succeeded Miss Ada as editor of the Clipper and, coming from a long line of journalists, she fits naturally and easily into the posi- tion and serves her high calling with ability and distinction. Miss Wight- man is an educated, refined, cultured young lady of genial and gracious
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personality and her circle of friends is limited only by her acquaintances. Her judgment is mnature and she possesses marked tact and ability for one of her years. She is a fluent writer, eloquent and versatile, and gives promise of making a brilliant record in journalism. She is addicted to no affections or ostentation, but is thoroughly business-like and bends every energy to the betterment of her associates and the community at large.
Energy, enterprise and the ability to perceive and to suuply on the shortest notice, the wants of the reading public is considered as a part of the capital necessary in the building up of a successful newspaper. These requisites are possessed in an extraordinary degree by Miss Wight- man and insures her continued success.
Miss Mary is one of the leading spirits of the younger social set and contributes much to the social life of the town. She belongs to several clubs, is affiliated with the Eastern Star and the Methodist Church. In the year 1921, Miss Wightman was elected justice of the peace in Harrison County, having the distinction of being the first woman to fill this office in the state of Missouri. She is broad minded, has the courage of her convictions, has high aspirations and uses the influence of her paper to promote her high ideals.
And so as the years have passed the Wightman newspaper has con- tinually elevated its standards, bettered its quality and broadened its scope, but primarily its mission is the same today as it was at the time of its inception, to advance the interest of the community and the people and to aid in securing better government and better citizenship.
The present editors hold in trust for all mankind the institution founded by their elders. They have the bright examples and deathless memories of the dead to guide them to that illimitable sea upon the shores of which stands the Temple of Eternal Truth.
W. S. Ross, a prominent citizen and large land owner of Trail Creek Township, is a native of Harrison County. He was born in Trail Creek Township, October 3, 1859, about three-fourths of a mile north of his present residence on land which was entered from the government by his father. He is a son of Jacob and Ellen (Hindle) Ross, the former a native of Ohio and the latter of Indiana.
Jacob Ross and Ellen Hindle were married in Indiana and came to Missouri during the fifties. He entered government land in Trail Creek Township and was engaged in farming and stock raising here all his
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life. He was an extensive stockman and raised a great many horses and cattle and became very well-to-do. When he came to Missouri, like many of the early pioneers he was without funds and it was a struggle to get a start in life. When he entered his land from the government his cash capital consisted of a fifty cent piece. He worked in sawmills and did whatever he could find to do until he got a start. Later he acquired more land, besides the 160 acres which he entered from the government and became a large land owner. During the Civil War he served in the Union army. He was a stanch Republican and held local offices on vari- ous occasions. He died March 3, 1897, age sixty-three years and his wife died in September of the same year. Their remains are buried in Mount Moriah Cemetery. Of their children, three are now living as fol- lows: Mary, married George W. Flagg, Fowler, Colorado; W. S. Ross, the subject of this sketch and J. J. Ross, of Denver, Colorado.
W. S. Ross was reared on the home farm in Trail Creek Township and received his education in the public schools. He engaged in farm- ing in early life and is one of the successful farmers and stockmen of Harrison County. He owns 500 acres of highly improved and pro- ductive land in the northeast part of Trail Creek Township. There are in all six sets of farm buildings on his land. He carries on general farming and stock raising and specializes in raising pure blood Aber- deen-Angus cattle and Big Bone Spotted Poland China hogs. He also raises horses and mules extensively and has met with uniform success in his undertakings.
Mr. Ross was married June 29, 1878, to Miss Eva Sesna, a native of Indiana, born near Indianapolis. She is a daughter of George and Mary (Gaings) Sesna, both natives of Ohio. The Sesna family re- moved from Indiana to Illinois at an early day and came to Missouri in 1875. Later they removed to White Cloud, Kansas where the parents both died and are buried there. To Mr. and Mrs. Ross have been born two children as follows: Charles Marion, a farmer and stockman who resides on the old home place in Trail Creek Township, and Mary Ina, who married Harry Phillip, Mount Moriah. There are five grandchil- dren in the Ross family: Garland, Kermit, and John Jacob Ross, and Ross and Clarence William Phillip.
Mr. and Mrs. Ross are members of the Methodist Church and he has always supported the principals of the Republican party. They are representative of the best citizenship of Harrison County and the mem- bers of the Ross family are highly respected.
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C. M. Peugh, a leading farmer and stockman is a native of Harrison County and was born near Trail Chapel, January 4, 1874. He is a son of Sanford M. and Mary (Hamilton) Peugh.
Sanford M. Peugh was born in Bartholomew County, Indiana, August 28, 1850. He is a son of Humphrey and J. (McDonald) Peugh, the former a native of Virginia and the latter of Ohio. In 1856 the family came to Pike County, Illinois and in the following spring moved to Appanoose County, Iowa, and about two months later removed to Mis- souri and settled in Sherman Township, Harrison County, where Hum- phrey Peugh entered government land. This was in 1857 and the land office was at Booneville, Missouri. He built a cabin on his place, im- proved the land and made his home there for a number of years. Later he removed to Oregon and died at Portland, in 1913, at the age of eighty- seven years. His wife died at Hood River, Oregon, which had been their home for a number of years. The Peugh family were among the early settlers of Sherman Township, there being but three families living there when they settled there. Humphrey Peugh served in the Missouri State Militia during the Civil War.
Sanford Peugh was reared in Sherman Township and educated in the early day public schools and for a number of years was engaged in farming in Sherman Township. Later he went to Oregon where he re- mained a short time when he returned to Harrison County and bought a farm in Train Creek Township. About twenty-two years ago he sold that and since that time has lived in Mount Moriah. He owns a small farm adjoining the town and has another farm on the Grand River bottoms. He was married August 27, 1872, to Mary Elizabeth Hamilton a native of Fox Creek Township. She is a daughter of Collins Hamilton, a Harrison County pioneer who settled here prior to 1850. For a num- ber of years he operated a ferry across the Grand River on the Colo- rado and California Trail.
To Sanford M. and Mary (Hamilton) Peugh, were born the follow- ing children: Charles, Trail Creek Township; C. M., the subject of this sketch ; Effie, married Frank Withered, Trail Creek Township; Cora, mar- ried Harry Grey, Cainsville, Missouri; and Laura, married E. W. Prather, Trail Creek Township.
C. M. Peugh was reared in Harrison County and educated in the public schools. He began farming for himself on land which he rented from his father when he was twenty years old. He bought his present
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farm in Grant Township in 1900. He owns two hundred acres of valu- able land with good substantial improvements and carries on general farming and stock raising. He is widely known as a successful breeder of thoroughbred Percheron horses.
Mr. Peugh was married December 23, 1895 to Miss Martha Fryer, of Hancock County, Illinois and the following children have been born to them: Guy, a farmer and stockman of Grant Township; Elsie, mar- ried Virgil Dyer, Madison Township and Lanzao, Ermie, Lloyd, Rex, Arthur, Ray and Zelma, all residing at home with their parents.
Mr. Peugh takes a commendable interest in local affairs and for twenty years he has been a member of the school board. He is a pro- gressive citizen and is known for his industry and integrity.
Judge George W. Wanamaker, former judge of the third judicial dis- trict, a prominent member of the Harrison County bar for forty-three years, and well known over all this part of Missouri, died early Friday morning, November 18, 1921, at his home after having been confined for several weeks with what was recognized by his physicians to be his last illness. For the last two weeks his condition had been such that his death was expected at any time.
Judge Wanamaker was a native of Canada, having been born in Prince Edward County, Ontario, October 8, 1846. He lived in Canada until he was nineteen years of age, and received his literary training in the public schools and the Collegiate Institute of Bellville, Ontario. He came to the United States in 1869, his parents settling in Missouri, and entered the University of Michigan, graduating with the degree of LL. B. He re- turned to Kirksville, and after several years' practice, came to Bethany in 1878.
Judge Wanamaker served a term as city attorney of Bethany not long after he first took up his residence here, and for twenty-three years was the senior member of the firm of Wanamaker & Barlow, G. W. Barlow, of Bethany, being the junior member. This was one of the best known law firms in Bethany, and enjoyed an extensive general practice for many years. In 1904, upon the solicitation of friends, he became a candidate for the office of district judge of the third district, comprising the counties of Harrison, Mercer, Grundy and Putnam, and had no opposition in the general election of that year. In 1910 he was renominated and re-elected for a term of six years, this time being both nominated and elected with-
ERNEST WANAMAKER
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out opposition. His record on the bench was one of distinction and his decisions were probably reversed less seldom than any district judge in the state. Following the expiration of this term of office, he again began the practice of law here, and continued it except at such times that his health did not permit. Shortly after his retirement from the bench the diabetic trouble which finally resulted in his death necessitated an opera- tion for the removal of a foot. Notwithstanding his age, he recovered from the operation within a shorter time than might have been expected, and was afterward able to be about town until within the last few weeks.
In politics, Judge Wanamaker had always been a Republican, but was not considered as a politician. He was the possessor of a keen, analytical mind, the mind of the trained jurist, and never accepted any conclusion without first weighing it in his own behalf. In 1902 he was a delegate to the Republican judicial state convention.
He was a Knight Templar Mason and was past eminent commander of Bethany Commandery No. 44, and was also affiliated with the Independent Order of Odd Fellows and Knights of Pythias lodges. He belonged to the Methodist Church and was a trustee for many years.
Judge Wanamaker was born of an old family in America, the founder being Johann Wanamaker, who was a native of Germany, and in 1668 came to America and settled in Rockland County, New York. The great- grandfather of Judge Wanamaker was Peter Wanamaker, a Revolutionary soldier. His father, Isaac Wanamaker, was born in Canada, and spent all his active life as a farmer. His mother, Mary Ann Way, was the daughter of a Rhode Island farmer.
On December 23, 1879, Judge Wanamaker was married to Miss Bessie Templeman, daughter of William A. and Emeline Templeman. Mrs. Tem- pleman was a daughter of Rev. J. S. Allen, one of the pioneers in north- west Missouri, and in 1846 the founder of the Christian Church here, which he served as its first pastor. Judge Wanamaker's children are Ernest, the superintendent of electrical construction of the Rock Island railway, and Mrs. John Sherwood Alquist, of Kansas City, Missouri, who has a son, Temple Allen.
The body lay in state in his office among the books he loved from Friday evening until Sunday afternoon at one o'clock, where it was viewed by many of those who had been his friends and neighbors for so many years.
Funeral services were held Sunday afternoon at the Methodist Church, and were attended in a body by the Harrison County bar. Members of
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the bars of other counties included C. E. Ernst and George P. Adams of the Gentry County bar, L. M. Hyde and L. E. May of the Mercer County bar, Roscoe Kavanaugh and George Hubbel of the Grundy County bar, who acted as pall bearers, attorneys Reeves of Albany and Kesterson of Princeton, Senator Pickett of Trenton and Judge L. B. Woods. Rev. W. S. Welsh and Judge L. B. Woods gave short talks eulogistic of Judge Wanamaker, and Mrs. Daisy Crossan sang.
Burial followed the services in Miriam Cemetery .- Bethany Repub- lican, November 23, 1921.
J. T. Chambers, who is now living retired at Ridgeway, Missouri, is a Civil War veteran and one of the very earliest pioneer settlers of Har- rison County. He was born in Decatur County, Indiana, December 12, 1842, a son of William and Ellen (Barrett) Chambers, the former a native of North Carolina, and the latter of Kentucky.
The Chambers family settled in Harrison County in 1842 when J. T. Chambers was about two years old. They drove through from Indiana, with a team and covered wagon. They first camped on the mound where Cainsville is now located and after camping there a few days, they located about two and one-half miles south of Cainsville, where the father entered government land. At that time there was not a town in Har- rison or Mercer counties. The nearest postoffice was Trenton, thirty miles away. Envelopes were not in use yet and it cost twenty-five cents to mail a letter. The only plows in use at that time were the wooden mouldboards and J. T. Chambers remembers of having plowed with that type of plow. There were lots of Indians living along Grand River and Mr. Chambers has a distinct recollection of the Indian dances of those times and has been present at those festivities. There were any num- ber of deer and he has seen as many as twenty in one herd. Wildcats and wolves were plentiful and wolves frequently carried off little pigs. Wild turkeys and prairie chickens were here by the thousands.
William Chambers took a prominent part in the early day affairs of Harrison County and served one term as judge of the county court. He was a strong Union man during the Civil War. He died on his farm about one-half miles north of Mount Moriah in 1879 and his wife died about ten years later and their remains are buried at Cainsville. They were the parents of nine children, three of whom are now living: J. T., the subject of this sketch; Mrs. Narcissis Meryfield, a widow residing in Kansas City, Missouri ; and Mrs. Zarilda Coffman, of Mount Moriah.
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J. T. Chambers was reared in Harrison County and when he was about twenty-one years old on May 3, 1863, he enlisted in Company F, 3rd Missouri Regiment, and after the war he was engaged in farming until 1879. He was then engaged in the dry goods business at Mount Moriah for three years and then engaged in the hotel business there which he conducted for thirty-two years and six months. On October 1, 1913, he rented his hotel and moved to Ridgeway, where he has since resided. Later he sold the hotel. Mr. Chambers was first married in 1864, to Zimanda Reynolds, a native of Indiana, and the following chil- dren were born to that union: W. P., cashier of the Bank of Mount Moriah; Agnes Ellen, married Cal Snyder, Lamoni, Iowa; Alva L., a grocer, Bethany, Missouri; Linus, died at the age of twelve years and John M., of Mount Moriah. The mother died in 1878 and Mr. Chambers was afterwards married to Mary C. Baker a native of Indiana, and to them has been born one son, Jesse L., a veteran of the World War, who served in France in the Balloon Observation Corps and is now in the employ of the Miner and Frees Lumber Company as auditor and resides at Ridgeway.
Mr. Chambers cast his first vote for Lincoln in 1864 and has voted the Republican ticket since. He is a member of the Baptist Church.
A. B. Campman, a leading farmer and stockman of Trail Creek Town- ship is a native son of Harrison County. He was born in Madison Town- ship, January 24, 1883, a son of Edward Charles and Mary Anne (Sinder- son) Campman.
Edward Charles Campman, was born near St. Louis. Missouri, and his wife was born in Illinois. Edward Charles Champman came to Harrison County when a young man and settled in Madison Township where he was married. He was a farmer and stockman and spent his life in Madi. son Township. He died in February, 1901 and his widow now lives at Ridgeway, Missouri. They were the parents of eight children as follows: Arthur, a farmer and stockman lives in Trail Creek Township; A. B., the subject of this sketch; Lula, lives in Bethany, Missouri; Mrs. Hazel McLaughlin, lives in Idaho; Ferris, Kansas City, Missouri; Roy B., died at the age of eighteen years; Fern, died at the age of two years and Chloe, married Lred E. Smith and died in February, 1919, aged twenty- three years.
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A. B. Campman was reared to manhood in Madison Township, and received his education in the public schools. When nineteen years old, he began his independent career as a farmer in Madison Township and was thus engaged for about two years. He then farmed one year in Trail Creek Township and afterwards operated the home place in Madison Township. He spent one year on a homestead in Colorado and in 1910 bought a farm of 110 acres in Trail Creek Township which he operated until 1919. He then sold that place and bought his present place of 160 acres in the northwest part of Trail Creek Township. This is a valuable farm and is well improved. Mr. Campman carries on general farming and stock raising and has met with success.
In 1901, A. B. Campman was married to Miss Rebecca E. Nelles, of Trail Creek Township. She was born in South Dakota. To Mr. and Mrs. Campman have been born six children as follow: Mrs. Vera Beeks, Jeffer- son Township; Vern, Ray, Eugene, Virgil and Helen, all of whom reside at home with their parents.
Mr. Campman is a Democrat and takes a commendable interest in local affairs. He is public spirited and enterprising and one of the lead- ing citizens of Trail Creek Township.
John Lafayette Moss, a Civil War veteran who is a prominent citizen of Trail Creek Township, is a native of Missouri. He was born in Mercer County, January 13, 1841, a son of Horatio and Norcissa (Dunkinson) Moss.
Haratio Moss was a native of Tennessee, and a son of Joshua Moss, a North Carolinian. Norcissa Dunkinson was born in Kentucky, a daugh- ter of John Dunkinson who was also a Kentuckian.
Joshua Moss was one of the very early pioneer settlers of northern Missouri. He came here in 1839 and settled in Mercer County. During the gold excitement in California in 1849 he started overland to the gold fields and was stricken with cholera and died at Salt Lake City. His widow spent her life in Mercer County. She died in 1851.
John L. Moss was the eldest of five children born to his parents, three of whom are now living. The others are George Russell, who lives in southern Missouri, and Joseph James, Davenport, Iowa. When John L. Moss was about ninteen years old he enlisted in the Union Army at Cains- ville, Missouri, becoming a member of Company E, 3rd Regiment, Mis- souri Infantry. He participated in the battles of Prairie Grove. Wilson
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Creek, Springfield and was with his command in pursuit of General Price as far as Fayetteville, Arkansas, and took part in numerous skirmishes. He was wounded at the battle of Springfield, a ball passing through his right arm and lodged in his shoulder from where it was removed. He was captured by the enemy at Neosho, Missouri, but was paroled one day later. After the close of the Civil War, he reenlisted as a veteran volunteer to fight Indians in the west. Shortly afterwards he received his honorable discharge and returned to Mercer County. He bought land in that county where he was engaged in farming and stock raising until 1895. He then came to Harrison County where he bought 160 acres of land where he has since been successfully engaged in farming. His farm consists of 160 acres and is well improved. He has made most of the improvements and this is the fourth farm which he has improved.
Mr. Moss was married, December 24, 1866, to Martha A. Hickman, of Mercer County, Missouri. Her parents were natives of Indiana and early settlers in Missouri. To John L. Moss and wife were born seven children six of whom grew to maturity: Ida, married Olin Kies, Bethany, Mis- souri ; Alfred, lives in the state of Washington; Sarah Jane, married Jack DePrice, Fox Creek Township; Winnie, married Sam Gray, and is now deceased; Rachel, married Lewis Witherd, and is also deceased; and John, who operates the home place. The mother died in 1881.
Mr. Moss has always been a Democrat and is a member of the Baptist Church. He was a member of the Grand Army of the Republic for many years. He is one of the substantial and highly respected pioneer citizens of Harrison County.
Orville Brown, a successful farmer and stockman of Trail Creek Town- ship who owns and operates a valuable farm of 120 acres in partnership with F. D. French, is a native of New York. He was born in Ulster County, New York, December 3, 1861, and is a son of Alonzo Brown, who now resides at Cherryville, Kansas.
Orville Brown came to Missouri with his parents and settled in De- Kalb County. He was reared and educated in that county and lived his early life there with the exception of a short time when his father was engaged in street contracting in Kansas City, Missouri. His father served in the Union Army during the Civil War.
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