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 54
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 54
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Ezekiel B. Hobbs is one of a family of twelve children, born to Rev. Solomon and Winifred (Janes) Hobbs, natives of Georgia, who when young went to West Virginia, where they passed the remainder of their lives. The father lived to be sixty-five years of age, and the mother seventy-five, and both were members of the Methodist Episcopal Church, of which the former was a local minister. In politics the father was a Whig. Ezekiel is of English and Scotch descent, and was born in Russell County, W. Va., in 1822. He received but a limited education, and when a small boy would stand upon a block and strike for his father, who worked some at the blacksmith's trade. When nineteen he married Lydia S. Woodward, a native of West Virginia, by whom he had eight children. His second wife, Mrs. Letitia Masingal, bore him one child, and his third wife, Nancy J. Ballew, ten children. At the age of sixty-one he married Buenavista Shirley. In 1851 he traveled a distance of about 1,000 miles in forty-one days in a two-horse wagon, and entered 100 acres of land in Harrison County, for which he just had sufficient means. He was then ill for nine months, during which time house- hold articles were disposed of to pay the doctor. Despite these adverse circumstances he started bravely to work upon his recovery, and after thirty-six years' residence in one community, engaged prin- cipally in farming and stock raising, has become the owner of about 500 acres of land. At the age of eighteen he became a convert to the Methodist faith, and for forty-four years has been class-leader,
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and for twenty-five years a licensed exhorter in that church. All his wives were Methodists. In politics he has always been a Democrat.
John D. House, township collector and farmer of Cypress Town- ship, was born in Columbiana County, Ohio, in 1834, and is the eldest of ten children of Edwin and Mary (Grafton) House; the former of German descent, was born in Maryland in 1810, and in 1831 went to Columbiana County, where he married in 1832, and in 1846 removed to Jackson County, where he still resides, following the occupation of farmer and cooper. His wife was born in Ohio in 1814, and is a member-as is also Mr. House-of the Methodist Episcopal Church. John D. received only a common-school education, and in 1856 married Miss Sallie, daughter of Andrew and Permelia Butcher, formerly of Ohio, where Mrs. House was born in 1840. This union has been blessed with thirteen children, all living in Harrison County: Andrew B., Richard Edwin, Mary J. (wife of William Alden), Ulysses A., James L., P. C., Francis M., Leona O., John H., Rosella, Lucinda, Fannie M. and Wiley H. Immediately after his marriage he went to Harrison County, and since 1868 has resided ten miles south of Bethany, where he has a fine farm of 290 acres, the result of his own labor and good management in the occupation of farming. In politics he is a Republican, and cast his first vote for Lincoln in 1860. He has served as justice of the peace for two years, and as collector eight years. Always an earnest advocate for the cause of education and for the general welfare of the county, he enjoys the esteem of all who know him.
James M. Hughes, farmer and stock raiser, was born in Tazewell County, Ill., December 8, 1852, and is the fifth of eight children born to Robert and Elizabeth (Hance) Hughes. They were of Scotch- English descent, and natives of Cane Ridge, Bourbon Co., Ky., where they were married. After their marriage they located upon a farm. Four years later they moved to Tazewell County, Ill., where the father engaged in farming, stock raising, and trading until the fall of 1856, when he, with his family, immigrated to Harrison County, Mo., where the father died June 15, 1882, aged eighty-two years, and the mother December 13, 1867, aged sixty-three years. The father was a Democrat, and himself and wife were members of the Christian Church. James M. passed his boyhood assisting his father on the farm and receiving a practical English education. His whole life has since been spent in farming and stock raising, and he now owns upward of 600 acres of land in the home tract, the Valley Grove stock farm. November 14, 1858, in Linn County, Iowa, he wedded Miss
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Mary L. Ashlock, who was born in Tazewell County, Ill., and is the daughter of James and Belinda (Wyckoff) Ashlock. To this union there are three children: Mary E., Alvin L. and George H. (deceased July 31, 1870). Mr. Hughes is a Republican, and himself and family are members of the Christian Church.
Joseph L. Hunsicker was born in Perry County, Ohio, in 1821, and is a son of Jacob and Eve (Parret) Hunsicker, natives of Virginia and Pennsylvania, respectively. Both Mr. and Mrs. Hunsicker were of German descent, and their respective fathers were soldiers in the Revolutionary War. Jacob Hunsicker was a framer and carpenter, and during the War of 1812 served as quartermaster. Both himself and wife were Christians, and after their marriage moved to Ohio where they died. Joseph L. Hunsicker received a moderate educa- tion during his youth, and also learned the carpenter's and joiner's trade at which he worked about twelve years. In 1846 he married Margaret Hedges, who was born in Ohio in 1820, and by whom three sons and three daughters were born. In 1851 the family moved to Illinois, and after spending six years 'there came to Harrison County, Mo., in 1857, where they have since made their home. During the Rebellion he offered his services to his country three times (the first times the company was not made up), and being accepted the last time joined Company D, Twenty-third Missouri Volunteer Infantry for three years, but was discharged at the expiration of six months on account of disability. In politics Mr. Hunsicker is a stanch Republican, and has filled several offices of trust and honor. He served four years as justice of the peace, two years as township trustee, and is now a notary public. Himself and wife belong to the Methodist Episcopal Church, and rank among the old settlers and highly respected citizens of this part of the country.
Charles B. Hunsicker, one of the leading farmers of Hamilton Township, and son of Joseph and Margaret (Hedges) Hunsicker, was born in Pickaway County, Ohio, November 9, 1848. When quite small he was taken to Illinois, and from there brought to Harrison County, Mo. His early education was very meager owing to the scar- city of schools and the demand for his services at home, where he remained, assisting his father, until of age. He then attended school, and acquired a practical business education, and started in life as an independent farmer. His father gave him a team, and he bought a piece of land which he proceeded to improve and cultivate. In 1875 he was united in marriage with Jemima T. Loy, who was born in Sangamon County, Ill., in 1848, and is a daughter of Willis and L. (Turner)
35
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Loy. Mr. Willis Loy was born in Orange County, N. C., in 1806, and when young went to Adair County, Ky., where he married Miss Turner, a native of that State, in 1829. In 1846 they moved from there to Sangamon County, Ill., and in 1853 came to Harrison County, Mo., where Mrs. Loy died in 1876. Mr. Loy is still a resi- dent of this county, and a member of the Christian Church, in which faith his wife died. To them ten children were born, of whom four are living. Mr. Loy was formerly a Whig, and cast his first presiden- tial vote for Henry Clay, but is now a Republican. The union of Mr. Charles Hunsicker and wife has been blessed with two children: George L. and Gracie May. Our subject and wife are worthy mem- bers of the Methodist Episcopal Church, and in politics the former is Republican. As a result of his labor and industry Mr. Hunsicker owns a finely improved and stocked farm of 600 acres.
A. J. Jeffries was born in Fayette County, Ohio, October 8, 1830, and is a son of Isaac and Nancy (Fent) Jeffries, natives of Delaware and Tennessee, and of English and German descent, respectively. They accompanied their parents to Ohio when young, and were there married and engaged in farming in Fayette County, many years. In 1858 the father came to Harrison County, Mo., and made his home with our subject, where he died. The mother lived with A. J. Jeffries until her return to Ohio, where she made her home with her eldest married daughter whom she accompanied to Illinois. She died, and was buried in McLean County of that State. Mr. Jeffries is buried in Mercer County, Mo., near Pleasanton, Iowa. Of a family of ten children, four are supposed to be living; one son in Missouri, one in Ohio, Caleb P. and our subject. A. J. Jeffries, the fourth child, was reared in his native county. Atthe age of sixteen, not being satis- fied with the management of the farm, he induced his father to allow him to assume the control of same, and for four years managed it successfully. In 1850 he went to. California, where he spent two years, and then returned to Fayette County. November 7, 1852, he married Miss Minerva Rupert, a native of the county, and a daughter of Henry and Rachel (Fent) Rupert, natives of Kentucky and Ten- nessee. Mr. Jeffries remained in Fayette County two years after his marriage, and then came to Clay Township, Harrison Co., Mo., where he entered 160 acres of land, and has since resided. To his original tract he has since added land until he is now one of the substantial and well-to-do farmer citizens of the county, his property being the result of his own labor and good management. He is not only the wealthiest man of his township, but also one of the first men of his
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county. He is a Democrat in politics, and during the war served in the home militia, and is an Ancient Member of the I. O. O. F. Mr. and Mrs. Jeffries have seven living children; William H .; Emily, wife of John Carrico; Louisa J., wife of Newton Brown; Isaac N. ; Rachel I., wife of LeRoy Brown; Delanie I., wife of William Hamil- ton, and Minnie E., wife of Sebastian C. Davis.
Isaac Johns was born in Warren County, Ohio, November 16, 1827, and is a son of John and Mehitable (Minton) Johns, natives of Pennsylvania, and of Welsh and English descent. They were mar- ried in Pennsylvania, and then located upon a farm where they remained four years. They then resided in Ohio until 1844, at which time they moved to Indiana, where they died in 1862 and 1874 re- spectively, both having lived to the advanced age of eighty. Isaac is one of a family of sixteen children, and grew to manhood upon his father's farm. He received a common-school education during his youth, and at the age of twenty-two left home and went to Portland, Ind., where for eighteen months he read medicine with Dr. Sla- ven. In the fall of 1851 he attended a course of lectures, and in the spring of 1852 went to California by water. There he was interested in mining eighteen months and then turned his attention to the mer- cantile and lumber business. In January, 1857, he returned to Parke County, Ind., and the following April came to Harrison County, Mo., where he has since engaged in farming, and now owns 290 acres of good land. October 20, 1862, he married Miss Matilda A. Dehart, a native of Indiana, who died December 1, 1872, leaving four sons. Mr. Johns was married a second time to Mrs. Charlotte Shaw, whose maiden name was Muir, and who was born in Canada April 11, 1845, whither her parents had emigrated from Scotland when young. By this marriage four children were born; Alice M., born May 8, 1876; Isaac T., born October 22, 1877; J. N., born August 20, 1879, deceased October 19, 1881, and M. C., born August 7, 1882. Mr. Johns is a Republican in politics. His first wife was connected with the Missionary Baptist Church, and his second wife is a member of the sect known as Latter Day Saints.
James Johnson was born near Lexington, Ky., March 22, 1820. His father, Travers Johnson, was a son of John Johnson, who was an early settler in Kentucky, and was killed by the Indians in his own house when Travers was a child. The latter grew to manhood, and married Betsey Ann Hardin, a native of Kentucky. He moved to Vigo County, Ind., about 1823, and in 1840 settled in the territory then known as Daviess County, which is now Harrison County. Here the
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father pre-empted land, but afterward removed to Ray County, where he died in 1865. Coming to Missouri when game and wild animals were abundant he became a great hunter, and spent much time kill- ing deer and game. James Johnson came to Missouri with his father in 1840, and about that time married Mahala Spurgeon, who died about five years later. Three children she had borne died also about the same time. After his marriage Mr. Johnson entered eighty acres of land, and located in Butler Township. He has improved three farms in Harrison County and one in Ray County since coming to this State, and moved upon his present place in 1860. In August, 1861, he enlisted in the Twenty-third Missouri Infantry for three years, and served until discharged for disability, October 8, 1862, at which time he was a sergeant of Company E. He was in a number of minor engage- ments, and participated in the battle of Shiloh, where many of his company were killed and wounded; he, however, was but taken pris- oner, and soon after effected an escape. For some time he lay at the point of death at the Post Hospital at St. Louis. After his discharge Mr. Johnson returned home, and has since been a resident of Harrison County. February 4, 1846, he married Elizabeth Spurgeon, a sister of his first wife, and daughter of Amos Spurgeon, a pioneer settler of Missouri, who came from Putnam County, Ind. This union has been blessed with four children: Hiram, married, and living in Bethany; William R .; James H., and Martha, died aged five. Mr. and Mrs. Johnson are Methodists, and in politics the former has always been a stanch Republican. He is a successful farmer, and resides upon 160 acres of well cultivated land, situated three and one half miles from Bethany.
S. W. Judkins, a prominent farmer of Harrison County, was born February 17, 1834, in Logan County, Ky., and was the eldest of seven children of Samuel Warren and Rebecca (Hines) Judkins. His par- ents were natives, respectively, of Virginia and North Carolina, in which places they were reared, but came with their parents to Logan County, Ky., where they were married. Mr. Judkins chiefly resided in Logan County until his father's death in 1859. Soon after this the mother started westward with five of the younger children, and located in Golden, Colo., where she is still residing with her son, Charles. The subject of our sketch received only a limited education in the common schools of his native county, went to Marion County, Ill., with the family, when he was about eighteen years old (they resided in Illi- nois about two years), but at the age of twenty pushed still further west, and settled in Worth County, Mo., in 1854. After four years'
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residence there he married, and still remained until the spring of 1866, when the family moved to Jasper County of the same State, resided there however only until the fall of 1867, when he came to Harrison County. At first he located on the farm now owned by the Chamberlain heirs, and situated in the eastern part of Washington Township. After one year's residence on this farm he made his final move to the farm he had purchased, situated in Section 23, Township 65 North, Range 29 West, and where he has since resided. Julia, daughter of Philip and Juda (Everett) Hess, was born March 31, 1837, in Lehigh County, Penn., and accompanied her parents to Clinton County, Ind., when two years of age. There she was reared and edu- cated until 1856, in the spring of which year her parents emigrated westward, and after making a short stay in Iowa, finally settled in Harrison County, Mo. They located on the tract of land now owned by Marion Denton, situated in the eastern part of Washington Town- ship, where they resided until the father's death. The mother is still living in the same township. Julia Hess was married to S. W. Jud- kins, September 9, 1858, and as a result of this marriage there were eleven children (three dead). The surviving ones are Luther P., James Walker, William T., Charles Francis, Sherman H., Juda El- len, Lutitia and Frank. Mr. Judkins is a Republican in politics, and cast his first presidential vote for Millard Fillmore in 1856. Previous to the war he was a Democrat, but did not favor the election of Buchanan. Although always a hearty advocate of his party, he has never been a political aspirant, but was, however, elected justice of the peace of Washington Township, and served satisfactorily for one term, but refused re-election. He is a demitted member of Blue Lodge of the Masonic fraternity, though still a full member of Bethany Chapter, No. 80. His wife and two eldest children are members of the Chris- tian Church. When Mr. Judkins first located on his present farm he owned but 120 acres, but by the industry and persistent efforts of him- self and worthy wife he now has a fine farm of 400 acres, the most of which is cleared, and in a fine state of cultivation. The family is a prominent one in the county, and is respected and honored by all who know them.
George W. Kelly, farmer and stock raiser, Jefferson Township, Harrison Co., Mo., is a native of Greene County, East Tenn., and son of David and Rebecca (McCoy) Kelly, of the same county and State. The paternal grandfather of our subject was John Kelly, who emi- grated from Ireland to the United States in an early day, and settled in Greene County, Tenn. He was a farmer and school teacher, and
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died in Tennessee about the year 1833. David Kelly was a carpenter and millwright, which trades he carried on for many years, having worked at farming in his younger days. He died about the year 1847 or 1848 in Hamilton County, Ill., while on a visit to a son. Rebecca (McCoy) Kelly departed this life in Greene County, Tenn., about 1856, at the age of fifty-six years. She was a devoted member of the Meth- odist Church, and her husband belonged to the Presbyterian denomi- nation. Mr. and Mrs. Kelly raised a family of eight children, three of whom are now living: Eliza, Margaret, and George Wells, the sub- ject of this sketch. George W. Kelly passed his youth and early man- hood on his father's farm, and received his early education in such schools as the country at that time afforded. He remained with his parents until about nineteen years of age, at which time he came to Missouri, and engaged in life for himself as a farmer in Johnson and Pettis Counties. He attended school at intervals for two years, and also taught three terms in the above counties. In 1846 he returned to Greene County, Tenn., and for some time thereafter attended Tus- culum College, where he obtained a knowledge of the higher branches of learning. After quitting school he engaged in teaching for a while, and subsequently worked at carpentering and millwrighting, which trades he previously learned with his father and uncles. In 1851 he went to Indiana, and located in Tippecanoe County, where until 1857 he followed the carpentering business, teaching school at intervals. In the latter year he came to Harrison County, Mo., and settled four miles north of Bethany, in Jefferson Township, where he has since resided. He has been engaged in carpentering, teaching and farming since coming to the county, in all of which he has met with encour- aging success. Politically Mr. Kelly is a Democrat, but votes for the man rather than party. He has never aspired to political preferment, but has held several positions of trust, among which were . township trustee, township clerk and justice of the peace. He is at this time a strong advocate of prohibition, believing that to be for the best inter- est of the country. On the 8th of April, 1849, Mr. Kelly was united in marriage with Elizabeth Alexander, of Greene County, Tenn., a union blessed with the birth of six children, three of whom, Isabella Angeline, Elizabeth Caroline and George William, are living. The names of the deceased children are James W., Maria Jane Burgin and an infant, William C. Mr. Kelly is an active member of the Method- ist Church, having identified himself with the same about the year 1847. For the last twenty years he has been a licensed exhorter in the Methodist Episcopal Church South. Mrs. Kelly is also a Method-
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ist, having joined the church while quite young. Mr. Kelly began life with no capital but a determination to succeed. He owns at this time a valuable farm, the result of his own enterprise and efforts, and is justly considered one of the representative citizens of Harrison County.
John W. Kenyon was born in Warren County, N. Y., March 3, 1845, and is a son of Phineas and Elizabeth (Ross) Kenyon, natives, respectively, of Rhode Island and Vermont. Phineas was a son of John S. Kenyon, who served through the Revolutionary War. Phin- eas was a soldier in the War of 1812. Elizabeth Ross was a daughter of Samuel Ross, who served in the Revolutionary War as one of Wash- ington's body guard. Phineas emigrated westward from New York, in 1855, and located in Henry County, Ill., where he farmed until his death in September, 1863. The mother died in Ness County, Kas., on November 29, 1879. John W. is the only child born of this union, although both his father and mother had children by a previous mar- riage, who are now residents of New York State, Vermont and Kan- sas. John W. was reared to manhood in Illinois, and from there enlisted in the Union army in 1862, in Company K, One Hundred and Twelfth Illinois Volunteer Infantry, in which, after serving as private over a year, he was discharged on account of disability occasioned by an injury received while in service. In 1868 he came to Bethany, Mo., and engaged in the marble business two years. He then served four years as deputy sheriff and collector and then as deputy county clerk two years. In 1874 he was elected county clerk, and filled that position nearly three years and then resigned. In 1880 he resumed the marble business in Bethany, which is the only enterprise of the kind in the town, and in which he is meeting with good success. November 15, 1870, he married Mary A., daughter of M. K. Howell, Esq., who died in 1875, leaving two children: Maud T. and Guy M. October 17, 1876 he was married to Hetta J., daughter of Thomas Burns, of McFall, Mo., formerly a resident of Bethany. To this union two children have been born: Omer J. and Lucy R. Mr. Ken- yon has always been a Republican in his political views, and has taken an active part in local political affairs. He also served as deputy cir- cuit clerk and recorder from January, 1883 to 1887. He is now deputy sheriff, and clerk and assessor of Bethany Township, and is one of the public-spirited men of the city. He is a member of the K. of P., G. A. R., and a Select Knight of the A. O. U. W. Himself and wife are members of the Methodist Episcopal Church in Bethany.
Thomas D. P. Kidwell, was born October 2, 1824, near Richmond, Madison Co., Ky., the only son in his parents' family. In the
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autumn of 1835 he moved to Henry County, Ky., where the father was engaged in teaching for two years, but on account of failing health resumed farming in connection with carpenter work. To this occupation Thomas was reared, receiving a limited common-school education, but growing up to habits of true moral worth and energy. October, 31, 1848, he was married to Rebecca E. Magee, daughter of John and Elizabeth Magee, of Henry County, Ky. She was born October 20, 1829, and became the mother of ten children: Livonia, born August 9, 1849, died May 6, 1851; Lemima B., born July 16, 1851, died September 7, 1858; Josephine, born October 13, 1853, married Elijah P. Jessee, April 11, 1872; Ben F. S., born November 12, 1855, married Laura E. Edson, November 24, 1877; Emma F., born February 4, 1858, married John R. Barnes, February 24, 1878; Julia A. born December 27, 1860, married January 10, 1879, to George W. Eberhart (who is now deceased); John Freemont, born November 18, 1862, married Eugenia Hamilton, April 3, 1887; Rebecca E., born March 8, 1865; Alvin P., born January 6, 1868, and Ollia Jane, born December 20, 1879. In the autumn of 1855 Mr. Kidwell removed from Kentucky to Gentry County, Mo., remain- ing there until March, 1858, when he located near Martinsville, Har- rison County, and began the improvement of his land, which had been entered in 1854 and 1855. Shortly after his settlement here the war broke out, and during that struggle his actions were ever character- ized by an effort to help those upon whom the misfortunes of war rested so heavily. He also turned his attention to civil affairs, and filled the positions of justice of the peace, assessor, surveyor, etc. In every position of life in which Mr. Kidwell has been situated he has adhered humbly and faithfully to the principles of practical Christianity, the religion which he embraced when seventeen years old. His wife and children are members of the Church of Christ, in which he has served as deacon and also elder. His fine farm of 230 acres is well improved, and well stocked. Mr. Kidwell takes an active interest in educational matters, and is ever ready to aid all worthy public improvements. His parents were Benjamin W. and Rebecca (Taylor) Kidwell, the former born June 13, 1801, and the latter October 1, 1804. She died March 20, 1834. The father subsequently married, October 21, 1834, Celia Johnson, whose death occurred July 29, 1859; he died July 8, 1858. Mr. Kidwell's grandfather was Thomas Kidwell, and his father, Jonathan Kidwell, was a Revolutionary soldier. He was of Welsh origin, the family settling in Maryland or Virginia in an early day. Mrs. Thomas Kidwell's grandfather was also a participant in the War of the Revolution.
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