USA > Missouri > Mercer County > History of Harrison and Mercer Counties, Missouri : from the earliest times to the present : together with sundry personal, business, and professional sketches and family records : besides a condensed history of the State of Missouri, etc > Part 47
USA > Missouri > Harrison County > History of Harrison and Mercer Counties, Missouri : from the earliest times to the present : together with sundry personal, business, and professional sketches and family records : besides a condensed history of the State of Missouri, etc > Part 47
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W. W. Ballew, one of the pioneer farmers of Union Township, was born in Howard County, 1823, and is the son of Barnabas and Margaret (Burton) Ballew, natives of North Carolina and Kentucky, respectively, who accompanied their parents to Howard County, where they were married about 1817, and spent the remainder of their lives, being among the pioneer settlers of Howard County and compelled to undergo all the perils and endure the privations of such a life. Both were members of the Methodist Episcopal Church for many years pre- vious to their death, the mother's occurring about 1857, while her hus- band lived until 1872. His father was a soldier in the Revolutionary War. William was reared with a full knowledge of the hardships of pioneer life, and his recollections of that time are in decided contrast to the comforts and conveniences of the present day. His education was necessarily a limited one, and when about twenty-one, he was com- pelled to begin life for himself. He married in 1844 Miss Mary Ann, daughter of Jacob and Elizabeth Taylor, early settlers in Carroll County, though Mrs. Ballew was born in Kentucky. This union has resulted in six children, five of whom are living: John Milton, George, Margaret E. (wife of Thomas Vincent), Mary Ann, William Riggins, and Jacob. His wife died in 1880, and in 1882 Mr. Ballew was united to Mrs. Christina Hardevich, sister of his former wife. In 1851 he went to Harrison County, locating on his present farm, where he has since lived, making farming his chief occupation, and as a result of
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his enterprise now owns 154 acres of land, and is universally esteemed throughout the county for his honest and upright life. He has been a life-long Democrat, and both he and his wife are members of the United Brethren Church, the former for twenty-two years; he has been also a member of the quarterly conference, and for the last two years a delegate to the general conference. Mr. Ballew has always taken an especial interest in all educational matters, and shortly after his arrival in Harrison County erected a schoolhouse in the neighborhood at his own expense.
A. J. Barber, dealer in musical instruments, Bethany, is a son of Aquilla and Ellen (Kerr) Barber, and was born in Licking County, Ohio, August 30, 1840. His parents were natives respectively of Washington City, D. C., and the State of Pennsylvania, and came to Harrison County in 1855, locating not far from the village of Eagle- ville. The subject was reared to agricultural pursuits, and received a practical English education in the country schools which he attended at intervals until attaining his majority. In the year 1861 he responded to the country's call for volunteers, and enlisted in Com- pany F, "Merrill's Horse," with which he served until discharged on account of disabilities in October, 1862. He re-entered the service the following year as private in the Third Missouri Cavalry, and after serving with the same for a period of four months was mus- tered out of the service. In the latter part of 1863 he entered the army the third time, enlisting in Company F, Sixteenth Kansas Cav- alry, with which he participated in a number of active campaigns, until December, 1865. During his period of service Mr. Barber received three promotions for meritorious conduct, and at the time of his final discharge was captain of the company. During the last six months in the army he traveled with the company over 6,000 miles in the Western States and Territories, and at one time performed escort duty for the Indian commission appointed by Congress to visit the different Indian reservations. At the expiration of his term of service Mr. Barber returned to Harrison County, and engaged in agricultural pursuits near Eagleville, which occupation he continued about ten years. He subsequently engaged in the hotel and livery business in Eagleville, and after continuing the same three years went to Kansas, in which State he resided until 1882. During the interval between 1882 and 1885 he was in the employ of the Texas Pacific Railroad Company, but in the latter year came to Bethany and engaged in his present business, ¿. e., dealing in organs and pianos, and buying and selling real estate. He now makes the music business a specialty, and
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is in the enjoyment of an extensive and lucrative trade. Mr. Barber has been an active business man, and ranks high among the business men of Bethany. He is a Republican in politics, and belongs to the Masonic fraternity and the G. A. R.
John Barber was born in Licking County, Ohio, December 25, 1842, and is a son of Aquilla and Ellen (Kerr) Barber, natives of Wash- ington, D. C., and Pennsylvania, respectively. Miss Kerr was the second wife of Mr. Barber, and was married to him in Licking County, where they lived until 1854. They then came to Harrison County, Mo., where the father died January 30, 1865, and the mother still lives, aged seventy-six. In early life the father was engaged in steamboating upon the Potomac River, and was captain of a boat a number of years. He was a Republican and a member of the Meth- odist Episcopal Church, to which Mrs. Barber belongs. John Barber received a common-school education in Ohio, and in August, 1861, enlisted in Company F, Second Missouri Cavalry, in which he served nine months. He then enlisted in the Tenth Kansas Cavalry, and served as first sergeant of Company B two years. In April, 1862, he was discharged on account of disability and remained home until Sep- tember, 1863. He fought Indians out west in 1865, and was finally discharged in December of that year. · He accompanied his parents to Missouri in 1854, and consequently, after the war, resumed farming in this county. In the spring of 1870 he settled upon his present place, which contains 200 acres. October 8, 1862, he wedded Miss Elizabeth J. Poynter, who died June 29, 1868, and March 2, 1870, married her younger sister, Miss Martha S. Poynter. By his first marriage two children were born: Ellen A., wife of L. Oaks, and George W., who died June 19, 1868. His last marriage was also blessed with two children: Grace and Jay. Mr. Barber and wife . united with the Christian Church many years ago. Mr. Barber is a Republican, and in 1887 was appointed by Norman J. Coleman, United States Commissioner of Agriculture, to the office of statistical reporter of agriculture in Harrison County, which office he still retains. In 1880 he was elected township assessor, and has since served continuously. He has been Master of the Eagleville Masonic Lodge two years, and is Commander of the G. A. R. Post No. 218, at Blythedale.
Thomas J. Barker was born in Chillicothe, Ross Co., Ohio, August 4, 1840. His father, Thomas A. Barker was born near Richmond, Va., and when a young man went to Ohio, where he married Eliza Carpenter, a native of Ross County. In 1841 the family moved to
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Indiana, and settled in Warren County, where the father followed his trade of carriage making. He was also a general mechanic and veterinary surgeon, and engaged in these occupations also. His death occurred July 13, 1868. Thomas J. was reared in Warren County, and in July, 1862, enlisted in Company I, Seventy-second Indiana Volunteer Cavalry, in which he served until the close of the war. He enlisted as a private but was discharged as a sergeant. He par- ticipated in all the engagements. His regiment was in over sixty in all, among which were Hoover's Gap, Chickamauga, Big Shanty, Sill Tanyard, Farmington and the siege and capture of Atlanta. Dur- ing the engagement at Sill Tanyard fifteen of his company were killed in twenty minutes and he was wounded. He was also wounded in an engagement in Georgia. He was discharged at Indianapolis in July, 1865, and after returning home farmed in Warren County Ind., three years. In September, 1868, he located in Harrison County, and in 1870 moved upon his present place, where he farmed until 1878. He is a Republican, and as such was elected sheriff of his county, in 1878, by 500 majority, and was afterward re-elected by 800 majority. He was first married in Warren County, Ind., in September, 1865, to Margaret Walton, who was born near Crawfordsville, and died in Bethany, in September, 1879, leaving one child, Fannie. In March, 1880, Mr. Barker married Miss Bell Bumgardner, daughter of Stephen Bumgardner, who served during the war in the Seventy-second Indiana Cavalry. By this union there is one child, Libbie, aged six. Mr. and Mrs. Barker are members of the Methodist Episcopal Church, and well respected citizens of high social abilities.
James Barlow, a leading farmer and stock dealer of Cypress Town- ship, was born in Caroline County, Va., in 1832, and is the son of George and Sarah (Ubanks) Barlow, both of whom were natives of Virginia, born about 1786 and 1789 respectively, and married in 1811. They remained in Virginia till 1836, when they moved to Jackson County, where Mr. Barlow died in 1854, and his wife in 1866. They were both members of the Baptist Church. He enlisted as a private in the War of 1812, but was soon made a recruiting officer. James was raised at home, receiving the most of a limited education after he was of age, and was married August, 1854, to Miss Lucinda, daughter of William and Patsey Nally. This union has resulted in ten chil- dren, nine of whom are living: George W., Emma (wife of Frank Burris), William C., Henry A., Lola, Howard, Edward, Harvey K. and Gilbert. In 1863 Mr. Barlow enlisted in Company I, One Hun- dred and Seventy-second Ohio Volunteer Infantry, Western Virginia
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Division, took part in all the engagements with his company, and was honorably discharged in the fall of 1864, after about one year's gal- lant service as sergeant. In 1865 he removed to Livingston County, Mo., thence in 1869 to Harrison County, Mo., where he located eight miles south of Bethany, and owns a fine farm of 520 acres of very choice land, making one of the most beautiful homes in the county. Politically he was formerly a Whig, and cast his first presidential vote for Scott in 1852. He has held various township offices, and is a member of the G. A. R. An earnest advocate of universal educa- tion, he has spared no pains on that of his children, two of whom are teachers, and two graduates, one of the State University, and one of Ann Arbor University. Mr. Barlow and his wife are both mem- bers of the Methodist Episcopal Church.
James W. Bell was born in Greene County, East Tenn., December 19, 1830, and is a son of George and Anna (Dobson) Bell, also natives of the same county. James W. grew to manhood upon the farm in his native county, and in 1854 came to Missouri, and located in Harrison County, where he engaged in farming in Butler Township. In the fall of 1856 he was married in St. Joseph to Miss Sallie Smith, a native of Clay County, Mo., and daughter of Hugh R. Smith, of Tennessee. In 1877 Mr. Bell bought his present place, which now contains 160 acres well improved, and upon which he has built a good one-and-a-half-story house, and good stables and outbuildings. Mr. and Mrs. Bell have reared a family of eight children: Lucy, wife of John Salter, of Daviess County; Robert, married and in Harrison County; Hattie, wife of John Patton; George; Julia, wife of Luther Barnard, of Nebraska; Laura; William and Charles. Mr. Bell has always upheld the principles of the Democratic party and has served as township clerk and treasurer. He is now serving his fourth term as township collector. To all offices to which he has been elected he has always ran ahead of his ticket and carried his township by a handsome majority. Both himself and wife are members of the Methodist Epis- copal Church. The father of Mr. Bell came to Harrison County in the winter of 1859, where he made his home until his death, which occurred while visiting his daughter in Greene County, Mo., in the fall of 1867. The mother died in Harrison County, in October, 1876, leaving a family of eight children who grew to maturity. Five are still living, and the subject of this sketch and one sister live in Harrison County.
L. P. Blaker was born in Bucks County, Penn., November 22, 1822, and is a son of Peter and Sarah (Harvey) Blaker, Quakers and
31
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natives of Pennsylvania. They were of English descent, and died when L. P. was young. He was left considerable property which was lost by the treachery of a friend, and he was then penniless. He began to learn the tailor's trade before of age and spent three years at same. He then worked at his trade in Philadelphia two years, and from there went to Oneida County, N. Y. He then spent some time at various places, among which was St. Louis. He later returned to Bucks County, Penn., and then to Oneida County, where in 1848 he married Miss Addie, daughter of John and Mary Fletcher. The maiden name of Mrs. Fletcher was Crandall, and her first marriage was to F. Hull. After his marriage Mr. ¿ Blaker resumed his trade at Doylestown, Bucks Co., Penn., and later engaged at the same in Oneida County, N. Y., until 1862. He then enlisted in Company A, Eighth New York Cavalry, under Capt. D. Hamilton, and was in the greater part of fifty-two battles participated in by his regiment, which afterward consolidated and became Company G. Among some of the battles in which he fought are Gettysburg, Antietam, Stone Creek, etc. After the cessation of hostilities he worked at his trade in Mercer County, Mo., and in 1882 came to Harrison County. He has since twice returned to Princeton, Mercer County, but now resides upon his farm in Madison Township, Harrison Co., Mo. To himself and wife four children have been born: Edgar T., a farmer in Dakota; Florence A. (deceased), aged eighteen; Herbert A., who married Mary F. Bull and has one child-Arthur E. ; and Fred V. R. (deceased). Mr. and Mrs. Blaker have also reared and educated a motherless child, Eva E. Carr, now the wife of William A. Walters. Mr. Blaker draws a pension, and has 174 acres of well stocked and improved land. In politics he is a Republican.
William T. Bohannon, M. D., was born in Hart County, Ky., December 7, 1842, and is a son of Rev. George C., and Malinda J. (Nevill) Bohannon, who were married August 11, 1826, and located upon a farm in Hart County, Ky .; subsequently the father entered the ministry in the Missionary Baptist Church. They moved to Barren County, of that State, several years before their death. The father died September 9, 1844, while returning home from an associa- tion held at Bowling Green, Ky., and the mother died in July, 1878. William T. is the youngest of eight children, and passed his boyhood upon the farm, during which time he received a common-school education. In the fall of 1861 he enlisted in Company H, Twenty- first Regiment, Kentucky Volunteer Infantry, and served until 1865, when he was discharged at Louisville, Ky. He participated in the
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battles of Stone River, Tunnel Hill, Resaca, Kenesaw Mountain, and the Atlanta campaign as far as Jonesboro. After the war he graduated at the commercial school in Jacksonville, Ill., and studied several years in Hart County, Ky. In the fall of 1869 he entered the Louisville Medical College, from which he graduated in February, 1871. He then commenced the practice of his profession at Rowlett's Station, Hart Co., Ky. After practicing about five years in Ken- tucky he moved to Harrison County, Mo., in the summer of 1876, and located at Eagleville, where he has been successful in his medi- cal career. October 7, 1877, he married Miss Sallie Morrison, of La Rue County, Ky., by whom he has had two children: Verda R., born August 2, 1878, and Clement L., born August 16, 1880. Dr. Bohannon is a Democrat, and himself and wife belong to the Mis- sionary Baptist Church.
Evermont Booth, an enterprising farmer, was born in Cabell County, Va., March 25, 1833. His father, Jonathan Booth, was a native of the same place, and was married there to Miss Celia Walker, also of that locality. After thirteen years of farm life there he immigrated to Harrison County, Mo., about 1842, at a time when the hunting was good, and there were but few white settlers. He cleared about 220 acres of land upon the banks of the Grand River and there built a log house. Besides the products of his land their food consisted of honey, wild hogs, deer, turkeys, birds, etc., the game being killed by him with an old style flint rifle. Of his marriage with Miss Walker, there are three surviving children: Andrewville, Zerilda Hamm and Evermont. Mr. Booth lost his first wife in Harrison County, and he subsequently wedded Mrs. Harriet Hunt, who was a widow with three children, and bore Mr. Booth one child-Washington Booth. After his second marriage Mr. Booth traveled through Iowa and Kansas, after which he returned to Missouri. His death occurred at the age of eighty-one. His widow is now resident of Nodaway County, Mo. Evermont Booth remained upon his father's farm until 1850, and then went to California, where he remained eighteen months. He then returned by water, and exchanged the gold dust he had accumu- lated for gold coin at New Orleans. March 31, 1853, he married Miss Susan Reeves, of Kentucky, by whom he had thirteen children, ten now living: Albertine, Udora, William, Alice, Segal, Catherine, George, John, Rosa and Minerva. Mrs. Booth died October 10, 1878, aged forty-six years, five months and eight days, and is buried at the Booth graveyard. A year later Mr. Booth married Mrs. Celia A. (Weddle) Scott, a native of Putnam County, Ind., and widow of
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John M. Scott, by whom she had one son, who died at the age of twelve. Mr. Booth is a well-to-do farmer-citizen of Harrison County, and owns 180 acres of land in his homestead near Cainesville, besides 180 acres more in Harrison County. Mr. Booth speaks the Indian language quite fluently, and during the war served in the Missouri State Militia. Both himself and wife are useful and worthy members of the Christian Church.
D. S. Booze was born in Knox County, Ohio, June 26, 1836, and is a son of Jacob and Ann (Slusher) Booze, who were of German descent'and born near Pittsburgh, Penn. In 1831 they left their native State, and moved to Knox County, Ohio, and the father worked at his trade, that of carpentering, which was his principal occupation through life, although after 1844 he farmed, improved places and engaged in the sawmilling business. He was thrice married; his first wife, Julia Ann Nisnangee, was the mother of four children, two of whom are living: Morgan and Eliza. His second wife, who was the mother of our subject, bore him nine children, of whom eight are living: Christopher, Alexander (deceased), Henry, Catherine, Dean S., Aminda and Amanda (twins), Andrew J. and Elizabeth. The third
wife was Mrs. Nancy Sloan, whose maiden name was Byers, and who had no children. Mr. Jacob Booze is now a resident of this county, aged ninety-one. His parents, Christopher Booze and wife, were natives of Germany, and the father was a soldier in the Revolutionary War. D. S. Booze was reared in the country in his native county, and received but a limited education. He worked for different people and in a mill until 1863, and then herded sheep in Marshall County, Iowa, until 1864, when he went west. He first went to Omaha, Neb., and then to the Rocky Mountains via the Union Pacific Railroad, and for three or four years built and repaired telegraph lines. In 1868 he came to Missouri, and purchased his present farm, to which he has since added. He now has a nice residence, commodious barns and 300 acres of finely improved land on the home tract, besides other valuable lands in Clay Township. He is one of the self-made, enter- prising men of the place, and in politics is a Democrat. April 4, 1872, Mr. Booze was united in marriage with Miss P. Norris, a native of Marion County, Ohio, and daughter of William and Martha (Enlow) Norris. The latter were born in Ohio, and the father is a resident of Kansas, the mother being deceased. Mrs. Booze was a resident of Cainesville, Mercer Co., Mo., at the time of her marriage, and is the mother of four children: Estella, Adele, Katie and Viola.
Daniel D. Boyce, a prominent farmer, stock raiser and merchant
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at Blue Ridge, was born December 11, 1832, in Harrison County, Ky., and is the fifth of a family of eight children of Noah and Matilda (Miles) Boyce, natives of "Scott County, Ky., and Harrison County, Ky., respectively. The father assisted in ejecting the Mormons from Illinois, and being a prominent man of his county was offered several offices of different kinds, which he refused to accept. He was a son of William and Abbie Boyce, natives of Scotland and Virginia, respect- ively. The former was a soldier in the War of 1812. Mrs. Matilda Boyce was a daughter of Charles Miles, a native of Virginia. Daniel D. accompanied his parents to Morgan County, Ill., when a year old, and lived there until November, 1856, when he came to Harrison County, Mo. He began life for himself at the age of seventeen with $50, and afterward received $100 from his father's estate, but the remainder of his property has been earned by his own efforts. He has . 781 acres of excellently improved and cultivated land which is well stocked and equipped for agricultural pursuits, and is one of the well- to-do farmer citizens of the county. May 20, 1857, he married Miss Catherine Maddox, by whom he had two children: Ida F. and Eliza- beth E. (deceased). Mr. Boyce lost his first wife Jauuary 17, 1862, and was married a second time on May 25, 1863, to Miss Nancy J. Baldwin, daughter of William Baldwin, who married Miss Elizabeth Harrison. This marriage of Mr. Boyce has been blessed with two children: Lillie P. and Ettie L. Mr. Boyce belongs to the Methodist Episcopal Church, and his wife to the Missionary Baptist. In politics Mr. Boyce is a Republican, and he has served three years as county judge and eight years as justice of the peace. He is a member of the I. O. O. F. He enlisted in the Union army at the commencement of the war, and served a greater portion of the time until November, 1864, in Company E, Forty-third Missouri Volunteer Infantry. He was mustered out at Benton Barracks July 8, 1865, as second lieuten- ant of his company.
Elisha Brace is a native of Monroe County, N. Y., and was born April 24, 1820. His father, Hiram Brace, was a native of the same county and State. His great-grandfather, Elisha Brace, was of En- glish birth, settled upon the Mohawk River at an early date, and was a soldier in the Revolutionary War. His grandfather, Elisha Brace, Jr., was an early settler of Monroe County, a soldier in the War of 1812, and at one time county judge of Calhoun County, Mich. Hiram Brace was reared upon a farm in New York, and married Elsie Wor- den, a native of that State, and in 1836 settled in Calhoun County, Mich., where he improved a farm, upon which he resided until his
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death in 1850. Elisha Brace, the subject of this sketch, is the eldest of a family of five sons and two daughters, all of whom grew to ma- turity, and three of whom are now living. He was reared in Cal- houn County, and during his youth learned the carpenter's trade. After becoming of age he returned to New York, and was married in Orleans County, September 29, 1844, to Miss Ruth Jeanette Bennett, daughter of Charles A. Bennett, a pioneer settler of that county. Mrs. Brace is a native of Orleans County, and after her marriage moved with her husband to Michigan, where Mr. Brace worked at his trade in connection with farming and teaching. He also sold goods about five years at Coopersville, Ottawa Co., Mich., and in 1869 left that place and came to Harrison County, Mo., where he bought raw land upon the western line of the boundary, and improved a farm, upon which he farmed until 1885, when he resigned the man- agement to his son. In October of that year he was appointed postmaster of New Hampton, and in 1886 established his present hardware business. His one child, Albert E., is married, the father of a family, and makes his home upon the old homestead. Mr. Brace is a Democrat, and has held various offices of responsibility both in Michigan and Missouri. He has filled the office of postmaster in Kent and Ottawa Counties, Mich., so that this is the third time he has occupied that position. He is now a resident of New Hampton, whither he moved his family in 1885.
Conrad C. Bram was born April 29, 1846, in Illingen, oberamt Maulbron Wurtemberg, Germany, and in 1853, when seven years old, came with his parents to the United States, landing in New York City, and immediately proceeding to Delaware County, Ohio, where they lived until 1857, at which time they moved upon a farm, half a mile east of the present residence of our subject, which Mr. Bram, father of Conrad C., entered, Conrad Bram began life upon his own responsibility when twenty-one with no money, but has through industry and practical business ability succeeded well in life, and is now the owner of a splendidly improved farm, upon which he resides, of 120 acres, well equipped in every way for farming. February 22, 1874, he was united in marriage with Miss Margaret Stahli, a native of Ripley County, Ind., and daughter of Casper and Catherine (Snyder) Stahli, natives of County Bern, Switzerland, and Hesse Darmstadt, Germany, respectively, who immigrated to the United States, and located in Ripley County, Ind., where they were married. To Mr. and Mrs. Bram seven children have been born: Dora C., Bertha A., J. Adolph, Clara R., Esther E., H. Otto and Ella B. Mr. Bram is
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