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 53

Author:
Publication date: 1888
Publisher: St. Louis : Goodspeed Pub. Co.
Number of Pages: 786


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 53
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 53


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D. M. Greenwood was born March 3, 1837, in Indiana, and is a son of Henry and Margaret (Stoneburner) Greenwood, natives of Vir-


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ginia, and of German descent. The father was a brick-mason by trade, but made farming his chief occupation. He lived some time in Ohio, and from there went to Indiana. Next he went to Richland County, Ill., where he engaged in farming until his death. He was a soldier in the war in 1861, serving as bugler, and to himself and wife ten children were born, nine of whom are living, some in Illinois, Missouri and Oregon. Mr. and Mrs. Greenwood both lived to the advanced age of sixty, and are buried side by side in Richland County, Ill. D. M. Greenwood was principally reared in Indiana and Illinois, and when of age began life for himself by driving cattle and break- ing prairie land. He afterward went to Denver, Colo., where he was unfortunate and lost all his earnings. He then returned home, and for about two years worked in a saw mill owned by his brother- in-law. During the war he enlisted in Company E, Sixth Illinois Cavalry, Col. Ben. Grierson's command, under Isaac Gipson, and served three years. He was with Grant during the siege of Vicks- burg, and was mustered out at Springfield, Ill., after which he returned home. While at home upon a furlough he was married, August 20, 1863, to Miss Hester Ann Marshall, a native of Benton County, Ky., and after his marriage lived five years in Illinois. After spending a year in Lafayette County, Mo., he came to Harrison County, where he owns 1762 acres in the home tract and 100 acres in pasture and timber land. His farm is situated in Akron settle- ment, Clay Township, where he is considered one of the substantial farmers. Himself and wife are members of the Presbyterian Church, and seven of their twelve children are now living: Lorenzo S., Mar- garet, Annie, Amy A., Adam, Eve, Jennie and Claude. In politics Mr. Greenwood is a Democrat.


James A. Hagan was born in Grayson County, Ky., September 29, 1819, and is a son of George W. and Catherine (Simpson) Hagan, both natives of Kentucky. The father was a soldier in the War of 1812 under Gen. Jackson, and passed his life engaged in farming in Kentucky. While upon a trip to New Orleans upon a flat boat he was taken ill and died, his burial place being at the town of Smithson, upon the mouth of the Columbia River. His wife was buried in Har- din County, Ky .; both were devout members of the Roman Cath- olic Church. James A. is the only' survivor of a family of five boys and one girl. He was reared in his native State, and married there, in Washington County, April 5, 1842, to Miss Mary R. Montgomery, a native of that county. For twelve years they made Kentucky their home, Mr. Hagan during that time working at his trade-that of


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stonemasonry-and engaging in farming. In 1853 he immigrated to Knox County, Mo., where he engaged in the same labor for two years, and in 1854 entered land in Harrison County, Mo., whither he moved his family in 1855. He now owns 285 acres of finely improved land in Clay Township, Harrison County, and is a well-to-do man. He has greatly assisted in the advancement of the county, has improved several places, served as justice of the peace twenty-five years, and has also been assessor of his township. Himself and wife belong to the Roman Catholic Church, and to their union thirteen children have been born, nine of whom are living: George W., Mary (widow of C. E. Roberts), Charles T., Matilda E. (widow of Henry Nelson), Annie E., James R., Lena R. and Alice A.


C. T. Hagan was born in Washington County, Ky., January 17, 1849, and lived upon his father's farm until twenty-four years of age. December 25, 1872, he wedded Miss Dollie Chambers, daughter of Isaiah Chambers, and then lived upon his father's place about six years, after which he passed two years upon Mr. Chambers' farm. He then bought land in Clay Township, and now owns 100 acres in the home tract and 100 acres in Section 1, Clay Township. His wife is a member of the Baptist Church, and he belongs to the I. O. O. F. Lodge at Cainesville, and in politics is a Democrat. To himself and wife four children have been born, three of whom are living: Orion, Orval (deceased), Benjamin C. and Merl.


James P. Hamilton was born in Green County, Ky., March 1, 1840, and is a son of Dr. John B. Hamilton and Caroline (Sanders) Hamilton. The father was a successful medical practitioner, who came to Missouri about 1846, and died in Daviess County, Mo., about 1850. By the mother of James P. the following children were born: William H. Hamilton, John B., Oscar and Wood H. By the father's first marriage there are one son and one daughter living: Dr. T. L. Hamilton and Catherine, wife of James Miles. James P. lived with his parents until the death of his father, and at the age of eighteen he become proficient in the tinner's trade. He came to Bethany in 1859, and in 1860 started in business for himself in which he was not successful. The same year he met with an accident which caused the loss of his lower right limb. Having accumulated a small amount of money by 1865 he engaged in the hardware business, which for the past twenty years he has continued with success, and although he started with but little capital, is now one of the owners of the largest and best stocked store in his line in Northern Missouri, outside of St. Joseph. The building is a two-story brick including basement,


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and is situated on South Street, near the southwest corner of the square. In 1884 Mr. Albert Stubbs became a partner in the business. October 30, 1860, Mr. Hamilton married Collistie E. Allen, a native of Overton County, Tenn., by whom he has four children: Lullie B., wife of William C. Rose; Lillie G., deceased in 1880; Stephen Earl, Lura and Carl. Mr. Hamilton is a member of the I. O. O. F. and A. O. U. W. Himself and wife belong to the Christian Church. Mr. Albert D. Stubbs was born in Fulton County, Ind., September 19, 1847, and is a son of Samuel and Elizabeth (Toner) Stubbs, natives of Kentucky and Pennsylvania. The father is still a resident of Ful- ton County, Ind., where Albert was reared upon a farm. At the age of twenty he left home, and after following various occupations in Illinois, came to Bethany in 1870. In 1884 he became a partner in the hardware business of J. P. Hamilton, and is now a member of that well known firm. October 1, 1874, he married Frances McClure, a native of Virginia, by whom four children have been born: Louis S., Bettie E. (deceased 1880), Fred and Glen. Mrs. Stubbs has one daugh- ter by her former marriage with Joseph McClure (deceased). Mrs. Stubbs' maiden name was Ford, and the daughter, Lottie, is now the wife of E. R. Durham. Mr. Stubbs is a Republican, and has held the offices of township and city collector, and has also been township trustee. He is a member of the A. O. U. W., and having served six months in the United States army, in Company A, One Hundred and Fifty-fifth Indiana Volunteer Infantry, is a member of the G. A. R. Himself and wife belong to the Christian Church.


Hannibal Harrison, a pioneer settler of Harrison County, Mo., is of English descent upon the paternal side of the family. His great- great-grandfather immigrated to New York State from England, in 1720, and worked at the silversmith's trade. He taught the first English school in Schenectady, N. Y., and was drowned while cross- ing the Mohawk River. The great-grandfather was a weaver by trade, and had four sons: Thomas, Herman, Peter and Philip. Herman left three children: Henry, Hannah, and Elizabeth, who lost her life by drowning while upon a pleasure trip on New York Bay. Henry Harrison, the father of our subject, was a native of New York State and his wife of French descent and born in Montgomery County, N. Y. Henry Harrison assisted in laying the townships of St. Lawrence County, N. Y., and in an early day, 1819, immigrated to Clermont, Ohio, remaining eleven years in that State engaged in coopering. In 1830 he went to Kentucky, and for five years engaged in farming in Bracken County. They afterward lived in Decatur County, Ind., for


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ten years, first locating upon Government land. From there they came to Harrison County, Mo., where both died and were buried. The father was a Baptist, and the mother a life-long member of the Methodist Church. Hannibal Harrison received his early education in Clermont County, Ohio, and became very proficient in mathematics. At the age of twenty-nine he came to Harrison County, Mo., in 1845, taught the first school in Clay Township, and has taught school here until the present. In 1853 he moved to the hill near his first set- tlement, and has lived within one mile of his first location since 1845. He was married in Kentucky to Miss Edith West, in 1837, a native of Ohio, who was reared in Kentucky, and whose parents came from New Jersey. For some time he was engaged in hauling lumber in that State, and then came west. To his union with Miss West eleven children have been born, of whom eight are living: Rebecca, now Mrs. Oxford; Artemitia, now Mrs. Ellis; Elizabeth, now the wife of Sol. Casebeer; Henry A .; Napoleon B .; Angeline, wife of A. Graham; Eliza and Clara D. After residing in Missouri twenty-one years Mr. Harrison took his children to Kentucky to visit relatives, choosing a circuitous route that they might be able to see as much of the country as possible. Mr. Harrison is a well-to-do citizen, and owns a well-stocked and improved farm in Clay Township, which he bought for $100, and which has never changed hands. He is one of the influential men of the township, and served as constable of the township two years, then as treasurer of the township six years, and filled the office of county surveyor twenty years. His mathematical education was largely acquired by self-study, he having mastered the light mathematics without an instructor. He has prepared two keys to arithmetics, and is justly proud of his ability in this line.


Frank T. Harvey was born in Henry County, Ind., June 12, 1842. He lost his mother when three years old, and his father, John Harvey, when but ten years of age. He consequently was left to fight the bat- tle of life for himself at a very tender age, and remained in his native county during his youth, where he learned the carpenter and cabi- net maker's trade. Upon the breaking out of the Rebellion he enlisted in the Twelfth Indiana Battery for four years or until the close of the war. After hostilities had ceased he engaged in the furniture business at Sulphur Springs, Henry Co., Ind., until 1876. He then came to Missouri, and located at Eagleville, where he continued the same busi- ness until the fall of 1879, at which time he established his present furniture business in Bethany, which is the leading enterprise of the kind in the city. He owns his building which is a three-story brick


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and basement, and is located upon South Street, near the southwest corner of the public square. While in Henry County, Ind., in 1867, Mr. Harvey married Sarah A. Evans, who died leaving one son, Lem- uel A., who is now living. In 1877 Mr. Harvey became united in marriage with Miss Catherine Yenny, a native of Savannah, Mo., and the mother of one child, Frank M. Mr. Harvey is a Democrat in politics but is conservative in his views. He is an Ancient I. O. O. F., and the present Eminent Commander of the T. D. Neal Post, G. A. R.


David Jackson Heaston was born in Champaign County, Ohio, · May 22, 1835. In 1839 his father moved with his family to Randolph County, Ind., where he settled upon a farm adjoining Winchester. Here David J. was reared, working on the farm in summer, and attend- ing the district school two or three months during the winter. In 1852 he worked with the engineers surveying and constructing the Indianapolis & Bellefontaine Railroad, and in 1854 he helped survey and locate a railroad from Richmond to Fort Wayne, Ind., now called the Cedar Rapids & Indiana Railroad. In the fall of 1855 he entered the Asbury University, at Greencastle, Ind., where his progress in learning was rapid and highly commended by his teachers, but owing to his limited resources he was obliged to teach school in order to pro- cure means to pursue his studies. In the fall of 1857 he entered col-


lege at Oxford, Ohio, which institution he attended one year. In 1856 he commenced reading law under Judge Jeremiah Smith, at Winchester, Ind., and pursued his legal studies while he was teaching school. In 1858 he was admitted to the bar, and licensed to practice law in the circuit court at Winchester, Ind. In the spring of 1859 he followed Greeley's advice, and going west spent some time in selecting a location, finally settling at Bethany, Mo., where he was licensed by Judge McFerran in September, 1859, to practice law, and has here con- tinuously practiced his profession ever since. On the 17th of January, 1861, he was married to Margaret E. Monson, daughter of Thomas Monson, who was then sheriff of Harrison County. Their marriage was blessed with six children, two of whom died in infancy. In 1861 he was elected judge of the probate court of Harrison County without opposition, and filled the position very acceptably. He was always a steadfast Union man, and exerted great influence at the commence- ment of the war, urging the people to remain loyal to the Government. In 1861 a newspaper was established at Bethany called the Weekly Union, and at the request of the proprietor he took editorial charge of the paper. He was a clear, terse and energetic writer, and soon


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placed the paper in the front rank of journalism in Missouri. In 1862, when the Enrolled Militia of the county was organized in response to the call of the Governor, he was, without solicitation on his part, elected captain of the first company organized, and when the Enrolled Militia of the county was formed into the Fifty-seventh Regiment, Eastern Missouri Militia, he was commissioned colonel of the same. He has always been an earnest and zealous supporter of the Demo- cratic party, and for the success of its principles he has spent much time and money. In 1860 he canvassed the county in behalf of Stephen A. Douglas, the Democratic presidential candidate, and has canvassed the county for every Democratic candidate for President since that time. He has been a delegate to nearly all the Democratic State conventions since the war, and in 1872 was a delegate to the Democratic National Convention at Baltimore, and assisted in nominat- ing Greeley and Brown for President and Vice-President. In 1876 he was the elector for his district on the Democratic ticket, and being elected attended the electoral college, and assisted in casting the electoral vote of Missouri for Tilden and Hendricks. In 1870 he pur- chased a press, and started a Democratic paper at Bethany called the Watchman, which he successfully conducted for three years. In 1877, the county being without a Democratic paper, he, in connection with B. F. Meyer, a practical printer, established another paper at Bethany called the Broad Ax, which he edited with his usual vigor and ability until 1884, when he sold the press to its present owner. Under his editorial management the Broad Ax acquired a State repu- tation as a fearless and able exponent of the principles of the Dem- ocratic party. In 1878 Col. Heaston was elected to the State Senate by a large majority in the Fourth District, consisting of the counties of Ray, Caldwell, Daviess and Harrison, and represented his district in the State Senate for four years with honor and ability, serving as chairman of the committees on public printing and Federal relations, besides serv- ing on several other important committees. Being an attorney of long


standing and good judgment he ranked high in the Senate, and took a leading part in the revision of the statutes of the State in 1879. In the special session of the Legislature in 1882 he prepared and pre- sented the bill to redistrict the State into Congressional districts, which, after a warm struggle, was adopted in the Democratic caucus by a decided majority, and became a law nearly as prepared by himself. Returning home from the Senate he became a candidate for the nom- ination for Congress, and after a lively and interesting canvass he came within a very few votes of receiving the nomination, which, with


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his popularity among the people, would have been equivalent to an elec- tion. During all these years, notwithstanding his editorial labors and official duties and political work and aspirations, he read law diligently, and practiced his profession assiduously. He has been the longest in practice of any attorney in the county, and may well be called the "father of the bar." He is a man of even temperament, and well adapted to the practice in all of its various branches, being successful in every department. While he makes no profession of oratory he speaks well, is logical and strong in his reasoning powers, and has great influence with the juries where he is so well known. £ He is a safe counselor, and always makes it a point to advise his clients for their own good and welfare. He tries first to have difficulties settled without litigation, and rarely advises a resort to law until other means have failed, and then only when he believes his client has a good case, or it is his last resort. Col. Heaston is also well known throughout the State as a Mason. He was made a Mason at Win- chester, Ind., in June, 1857; received the Royal Arch Degree at Gallatin, Mo., in 1866; the orders of Knights Templar at Trenton, Mo., in 1882, and the Council degrees at St. Louis in 1885. He has been Master of his Lodge, High Priest of his Chapter and Commander of his Commandery, and has often represented each in the grand bodies of the State. For many years he was District Deputy Grand Master of his Masonic district, and spent considerable time visiting lodges and teaching the work and delivering Masonic lectures. Since September, 1866, he has been a member of the Christian Church at Bethany, and was one of the building committee when their church edifice was erected, and has always been a good paying member thereof. In all the walks of life Col. Heaston has been an excellent and exemplary citizen, and has done very much to aid and build up the educational, moral, railroad and general prosperity of his county, and is justly held in high esteem by its good citizens.


Lewis Hefner is a son of Samuel and Elizabeth Hefner, both natives of Virginia, where he was born June 19, 1822. His parents were of German descent. In 1847 he was married to Elizabeth J. Brown, daughter of William L. and Nancy Brown, in Greenbrier County, Va., who bore him nine children: Mary J. (wife of Henry Buzzard, of Harrison County, Mo.), Sally A., Samuel H., William L., John C., Benjamin W., Washington R., Elizabeth S. and Harvey J., all of Harrison County, Mo. Mr. Hefner immigrated with his family to Missouri in 1852, where by honest thrift, industry and economy he has succeeded in amassing quite a fortune. He was engaged in farm-


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ing and blacksmithing, and at one time owned over 1,500 acres of land in Harrison and Daviess Counties, a large portion of which he has since given to his children. In politics he is a Democrat, and during the war was a member of the State Militia, but was never called into active service. He was a member of the presidential reception committee when the President and Mrs. Cleveland visited St. Louis in October, 1887, and was honored by taking a boat ride down the Mississippi with the presidential party. In 1856 Mr. Hefner became a member of the Masonic fraternity, and has been an active worker in that order ever since, being now a member of the Blue Lodge, Chapter and Commandery at Bethany, Mo. He is a member of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church, as was also his wife up to the date of her death, which occurred February 3, 1885, at their home in Jefferson Township, where Mr. Hefner with his two daughters, Sally A. and Elizabeth S., and his son, Harvey J., still reside. He is one of Harrison County's most useful and influential citizens.


Hezekiah J. Herring, farmer and stock dealer, was born in Ve- nango County, Penn., June 3, 1836, and is the fourth of a family of nine children born unto Samuel and Eliza (Sutley) Herring, natives of Ireland and Germany, and born respectively in 1802 and 1811. The father accompanied his parents to the United States when four years of age, and was married in Venango County, Penn., where he farmed until 1841. They then immigrated to Columbiana County, Ohio, and two years later removed to Hardin County. Eleven years later they went to the State of Iowa, where the father died, aged seventy-two, and the mother still resides. She is a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church, as was Mr. Herring, who was a Democrat in politics. Heze- kiah received a common-school education in Hardin County, Ohio, and March 6, 1855, wedded Miss Martha E. Sweeten, a native of Mont- gomery County, Ind., and daughter of Robert and Sarah Sweeten. In June, 1854, he came to Harrison County, Mo., and until the war lived in Marion Township. October 15, 1861, he enlisted in Company I, Twenty-third Missouri Infantry, and after being mustered out at Louisville, Ky., in 1864 served on detached duty until December 22, 1864. He then returned home to farm life, and in 1870 located upon his present place, which contains 360 acres of fertile land. Mr. Herring makes stock raising a specialty, and three years ago purchased from Frank A. Deputy a Hambletonian stallion, at a cost of $1,200; he also owns some fine Shorthorns. He is a self-made man, and one of the most successful stock raisers in this vicinity. He is a Republican, and a member of the G. A. R., Post No. 233, located at Eagleville. To himself and wife seven sons have been born.


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Pius Higdon is a native of Hardin County, Ky., and was born July 3, 1843. His father, John Higdon, is of eastern birth, born in May, 1811, and when young accompanied his father to Kentucky, where he married Miss Luvina Carrico, a native of Marion County, and of English descent. He was a farmer all his lifetime, and died in Hardin County, Ky., leaving a widow and six children, all the latter now liv- ing, and residents of Missouri. Two children died during Mr. Hig- don's lifetime. Mrs. Higdon died in Harrison County, Mo., at the residence of her daughter, Mrs. Elizabeth Miles. Both she and her husband were life-long members of the Roman Catholic Church. Pius Higdon was reared in Washington County, Ky., and at the age of seventeen, his mother being a poor widow, he started to earn his own living. When seventeen years of age he enlisted in Company G, Tenth Kentucky Infantry, under Col. John M. Harland, and served in the war three years, three months and twenty days. He was in the battles at Chickamauga, Mission Ridge, upon Sherman's raid, and at the battle at Kenesaw Mountain. He now receives a pension of $6 on account of disabilities. In December, 1864, after his discharge, he returned to Washington County, which he left on account of the guerrillas, and went to Davis County, Ind. There he engaged in farm- ing six years, and married Miss Catherine Shieliff, a native of Indiana, by whom he had seven children, six now living: Mary L. (deceased), Annie C., John T., Joseph J., Charles W., Robert E., and Martin A. In 1870 he came to Harrison County, Mo., where upon April 15, 1881, Mrs. Higdon died. December 27, 1882, Mr. Higdon married Miss Mary E. Hill, a native of Washington County, Ky., in which State her parents still live, and where she and Mr. Higdon were mar- ried. Three children have been born by this union: Clement A., Catherine A. and Louis R. Mr. Higdon is the owner of a finely stocked and improved farm of 330 acres in Akron settlement, and is a well-to-do man. He is a Democrat, and has been township assessor and ex officio township clerk seven years. In religion he is a Roman Catholic.


John E. Hitchcock was born in Hampshire County, Mass., May 3, 1836, and is a son of George K. and Electa (King) Hitchcock, natives of Massachusetts, and of English descent. Upon their marriage in Hampshire County, Mass., they located there upon a farm, where they remained about twelve years. In the fall of 1844 they emi- grated to Bureau County, Ill., where the father died in 1855. In 1859 the mother and John E. went to Livingston County, Ill., and in the fall of 1870 came to Harrison County, Mo., where the mother died in


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October, 1875, aged eighty-four years. The father was a stone mason by trade, but his principal occupation was that of farming. He was a Democrat, a member of the Christian Church, and died at the age of sixty-five. His wife was a member of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church. John E. Hitchcock is one of a family of four children, and having been reared upon a farm, has principally spent his life engaged in farming and stock raising. He received a good common-school education during his youth, and remained with his parents until their respective deaths. In the fall of 1870 he settled upon his present home, and is now the owner of 280 acres of good land. For the past thirty years he has acted as public auctioneer for the people within a radius of fifty miles. May 20, 1858, he wedded Miss Catherine Hesser, who was born in France, and can converse in three languages. To this union five children -three sons and two daughters-have been born. Mr. Hitchcock is a Democrat, and a man of high morals, although not a church member. Mrs. Hitchcock has united with the Christian Church.




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