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 56
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 56
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W. C. McKiddy was born in Knox County, Ky., February 3, 1835, and is one of a family of eight children (six now living) born to John H. and Bersheba (Fuson) McKiddy. The father was born in Whitley County, Ky., the mother in North Carolina, and in an early day removed to Knox County, Ky., where they were married about 1834. Mr. McKiddy was one of the enterprising and active farmers of that place, where he lived until his death in 1849, at the age of forty. The widow continued to live upon the farm there for nine years, and then immigrated with her family to Mercer County, Mo., at which place her death occurred in 1865. She was a worthy and consistent member of the Baptist Church. W. C. McKiddy was twenty years of age at the time of his mother's death, and during his youth had received a good common-school education. He farmed in Mercer County until 1870, and then engaged in school teaching for a livelihood for five years, two years of his labor being spent in Cainesville, Harrison County, and the remainder in Mercer County. In 1883 he embarked in the hardware business at Cainesville, in partnership with Hon. Joseph H. Burrows, and is still successfully engaged in that line of business. May 10, 1883, he was united in marriage with Miss Ida B. Chambers, daugh- ter of John Q. Chambers [see sketch]. This union has been blessed with two children, John Harvey and Addie Belle. Mr. McKiddy is a
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member of the I. O. O. F., and a Republican in politics. On the 2d of August, 1864, he enlisted in Company D, Fourth Missouri Infantry, Col. Bradshaw's command, under Capt. Rogers, and served until mustered out, August 15, 1865. Among other engagements he participated in the battles at Franklin, Tenn., Nashville, Tenn., and Mobile, Ala.
McMillen Brothers, merchants of New Hampton, Mo., are among the enterprising and substantial business men of Harrison County. They commenced business with limited means in 1883, but by honest dealing and strict attention to business have established themselves permanently in the trade, and are recognized as one of the best firms in New Hampton. Albert McMillen, the senior partner, was born in Gentry County, Mo., June 6, 1860, and spent his early years upon a farm, and during his youth received a common-school education, which was supplemented with private instruction at home. At the age of sixteen he began to teach, which he continued a number of terms, devoting all his leisure to study, and thus attaining an educa- tion equal to that of some who have had the advantage of a college education. He is a proficient Latin scholar. In 1879 he went to Colorado, but returned home the latter part of 1880. In 1881 he came to New Hampton, and worked in the store of I. N. Carson, for two years, or until the above named business was established in Sep- tember, 1883. He was here married August 30, 1883, to Miss Iva M. Yocum, daughter of W. S. Yocum, of Harrison County. This union has been blessed with two children: Luda S. and Gracia Pearl. Mr. McMillen is a member of the K. of P. with the rank of Past D. D. G. C., and an active worker in the Methodist Episcopal Church, also super- intendent of a Presbyterian Sunday-school. P. H. McMillen is also a native of Gentry County, and was born October 13, 1857. He, like his brother, passed his youth upon the farm and also went west, where he spent eighteen months in Montana, near Deer Lodge, handling stock. He returned to Missouri the latter part of 1882, and the next year became one of the present firm of McMillen Bros. The father of our two , subjects, Jonathan McMillen, was born in Kentucky, and was twice married, his second wife being the mother of A. and P. H. McMillen. Her maiden name was Sarah Vest, and she is a daughter of Thomas Vest, of Rome, Ind. Jonathan McMillen moved from Indi- ana to Missouri, about 1855, and located in Gentry County, where he engaged in farming until his death March 29, 1870, at his home near Darlington, Mo. He reared a family of eight children, three of whom are yet living: Albert, P. H., and John D., who resides in Boone County, Mo.
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Thomas M. McWhinney, a well-to-do farmer of Harrison County, was born in Derry County, Ireland, February 24, 1837. His parents, Wilson and Hester (McKee) McWhinney, came to America about 1843, and for six years lived in Brooklyn, after which time they moved to Bristol, Penn. Next they lived two years in Macon County, Ill., and then passed ten years in Carroll County. While in Brooklyn, where the mother died, the father worked in a seed garden, and in Illinois engaged in farming. He was married a second time while in Bristol, Penn., and then moved to Nebraska, where he now lives with a daugh- ter. Thomas M. is one of a family of eight children, and during his early youth received a common-school education at Bristol, Penn. At the age of sixteen he accompanied his father to Illinois, and assisted him in his farm labor. At the age of twenty-two he began life for himself, and in May, 1884, married Miss Electa Strock, a native of New York State, who is his present wife. After becoming twenty-two years of age, he farmed two years in Macon County, Ill., and then moved to Carroll County, where he followed agricultural pursuits until March, 1885. He then came to Harrison County, Mo., and located upon and purchased the farm where he now resides, which is a well cultivated and improved 160-acre tract. Mr. McWhinney is a stanch Republican in politics.
Oliver C. Macy, treasurer and ex officio collector of Harrison County, Mo., was born in Davis County, Iowa, October 6, 1849, and is a son of Riley and Amanda (McCullough) Macy. The father was a pioneer settler of Davis County, Iowa, and built the first frame house there at a time when the Indians inhabited the country. He died there in the fall of 1851, and the mother subsequently married Wesley Young, with whom she is still living in Davis County. To her first marriage five children were born: John, Allen, Reuben, Eliza J. (wife of William Pitman) and Oliver C. John and Reuben died in the service of the Union army. Oliver lived in his native county, where he received a good English education, until November, 1875, and then came to Harrison County, Mo., buying a farm in Madison Township, upon which he successfully engaged in farming and stock raising until 1880. He then moved to Mt. Moriah, engaged in a general store until 1884, when he was elected to his present office, and removed to Bethany. He is now discharging the duties of that position by re-election. He has always been a stanch Repub- lican, and as such has been elected to his position of trust and honor. Oliver C. and Agnes M. (Landes) Macy are the parents of the following children: Mary A., John, Caledonia, Ulysses Samuel
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and Arthur. Mr. Macy is one of Harrison County's representative citizens, and commands the respect and esteem of all who know him.
Benjamin F. Marlar, a farmer and stock raiser, of Section 8, Township 62, Range 29, was born in McMinn County, Tenn., March 14, 1827. His father, Reuben Marlar, was a native of France, who immigrated to the United States when a young man, and located in Tennessee, where he married Martha Baker, a native of that State. He bought and improved land in Tennessee, upon which he lived until his death in 1832; that of his wife occurring two years later. B. F. grew to manhood in his native county, and after the death of his parents was reared by an uncle until eleven years of age, when he started out in life for himself. When eighteen he went to Bradley County, Tenn., where he remained until August, 1854. He then came to Missouri, locating first in Daviess County, where he entered 120 acres, eighty of which he improved. He sold that property in 1866, and moved to Harrison County, where he bought a place but slightly improved. His original purchase was but 120 acres, but he has since bought more land, which he has cultivated and is now the owner of 350 acres, all fenced, and all but fifty acres in meadow, pasture and plow land. He is very comfortably settled, in a good one-and-a-half story house, and has good barns, outbuildings, etc. He has been twice married; first in Bradley County, where Elizabeth Humphries, a native of the county, became his wife. She died December 25, 1882, and was the mother of the following children: Nancy A. (wife of Elijah Goldsberry; William O., of Nebraska; Mary E., wife of John Calvert, of Dakota; James R., of Kansas; Sarah C., wife of William Carico, of Dakota; Elkana, Simpson, and Rachel, deceased wife of Robert Terry, of Daviess County, Mo. Mr. Marlar was married the second time, in March, 1885, to Amanda Baker, in Daviess County, Mo. He usually votes the Republican ticket.
John C. Martin was born in Preston County, W. Va., in 1832, and is the son of John and Anna (Cassidy) Martin, the former of English descent, having been in West Virginia in 1795, and spend- ing his entire life in Preston County (excepting the time passed as a soldier in the War of 1812), following the occupation of farming until his death in 1859. His father, a native of Pennsylvania, was one of the party who surveyed West Virginia in its early days. Mrs. Martin, mother of our subject, was born in 1795, and died in 1869. She was a member of the Missionary Baptist Church, as was also her husband. John C. received a very limited education, entirely through his own efforts, and in 1854 left West Virginia, and spent
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some time as deck hand and watchman on the Ohio and Mississippi Rivers; then, in 1855, went to Harrison County, Mo .; thence in 1857, to Nebraska, where, in June, 1861, he enlisted in Company C, First Nebraska Volunteer Infantry. He was afterward transferred to the cavalry department, also spent some time as a corporal, and took part in many engagements, among them Fort Donelson, Shiloh, and siege of Corinth, and was finally discharged at Omaha, November 10, 1864. He then spent a short time in his native State, following the occupa- tion of a farmer and mechanic, and in 1865 settled in Harrison County, where he has since resided. He married in 1865 Miss Elmira, a daughter of Martin D. and Mary Kittle. They have three children: Minerva, Mary and Benjamin Prentiss. He has filled several offices with credit, having been justice of the peace several terms, also con- stable, and school director since 1872. Politically he was reared a Democrat, casting his first vote for Fillmore in 1856, but since the war has been a Republican. He is also a member of the Grand Army of the Republic.
Dr. D. W. Martin, a practicing physician and surgeon at Blue Ridge, was born in Putnam County, Ohio, in 1840, and is the son of Jared A. and Electa (Scoville) Martin. The father was of Irish descent, born in Henry County, Ohio, in 1819, and married in 1839. In 1867 he removed to Michigan, thence in 1873 to McLean County, Ill., where he still resides, following, as he has all his life, the occupation of farming. He served about nine months during the latter part of the late war in an Ohio regiment. His father, Samuel Martin, was a native of New York, and served as an officer in the Revolutionary War. The Doctor's mother was born in Vermont in 1816, and died about 1850. D. W. Martin in his youth received a very limited edu- cation, but afterward attended St. Mary's College, then taught sev- eral years, and in 1867 entered the Medical Institute at Cincinnati, Ohio, finally, in 1877, being graduated from the American Medical College at St. Louis. Previous to this, in 1866, he had commenced the practice of medicine, which has since been continued with great success. When the Civil War broke out he espoused the cause of the Union, and in 1863 enlisted in Company A, Fifty-seventh Ohio Volun- teer Infantry, under command of Gen. Sherman, being captured at Atlanta, July 22, 1864, and taken to Andersonville, Ga., where he was held two months, when he was exchanged, but volunteered to stay and care for the prisoners. After this he went to Columbus, Ohio, remaining in the paymaster's office till close of the war. In December, 1860, he married Miss Lucinda Harris, a native of Ohio. As a result
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of this marriage there are six children: Josephine, wife of T. J. Wooley, of Kansas City; Charles W., of Kansas; Flora, wife of D. A. Ford, of Wichita, Kas .; Hettie, wife of John Luman; James S., of Wichita, Kas., and Fannie. In 1878 he married, a second time, Mrs. Ruth F. Miller, nee Hammond, the result of this union being one child, Nemie. The Doctor remained in Ohio till 1873, then going to Jameson, Daviess Co., Mo .; thence to Gentry County, Mo .; thence in 1877 coming to Bethany, and in 1882, to Blue Ridge, where he soon secured a good practice, in connection with which he carries a stock of drugs. He is a Republican in politics, and cast his first pres- idential vote for Lincoln. He as well as his wife are members of the Christian Church, in which the Doctor is an elder.
Rev. Paschal Meek, a native of what is now Sherman Township, was born in 1857, and is the eighth of ten children of Rev. George W. and Mary E. (Shockey) Meek. The father, of English descent, was born in Marion County, Ind., about 1820, and while liv- ing there was twice married, both times to a Miss Keys. In 1854 he removed to Harrison County, and located in Sherman Township, where he died in 1884. When a young man he entered a univer- sity under the auspices of the United Brethren Church, and preached until the time of his death, in connection with farming. His wife was born in Virginia, and is still living at Blue Ridge. For many years he has been a member of the United Brethren Church. Rev. Paschal Meek received at home a good common-school education, which he completed at Avalon College, Livingston County. He mar- ried, in 1880, Miss Mary, daughter of B. H. and Cynthia Parnell, for- merly of Indiana, where Mary was born. As a result of this mar- riage there are four children: Inez, Jessie (deceased) and an infant unnamed; also another child, deceased. Rev. Meek is a Republican in politics, and voted for Garfield in 1880. He and wife are members of the Christian Union Church, of which he has been the licensed minister for three years. He followed the occupation of farming until 1885, then clerked one year, when he entered the mercantile business at Blue Ridge, carrying a stock of general merchandise. Our subject has always taken a great interest in the cause of educa- tion, and in the prosperity and welfare of the county.
Thomas J. Melton was born in Albemarle County, Va., March 1, 1819, and is a son of Benjamin and Sally (Burfet) Melton, also natives of that State. The family moved from Albemarle County to what is now Putnam County, W. Va., in 1829, where Mr. Melton farmed in the summer, and engaged in coopering in the winter, until his death
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in 1865. He was the father of four sons and seven daughters, who grew to maturity; three of the sons and four of the daughters are still living, although Thomas and one sister are the only residents of Mis- souri. Thomas grew to manhood in Putnam County, and engaged in farming and coopering after grown. He came to Missouri, and entered land in Harrison County, in 1848, and after looking at land in Jackson and other counties returned to Putnam County, where he remained until 1855. From that time until 1886, when he perma- nently located upon the land he had entered in Harrison County, he lived in Jackson County, Va., New Mexico and Kansas, during which time he was for quite awhile in the Government employ. He was married in White Oak Township, Harrison County, in October, 1872, to Elizabeth Rowlett, a widow lady, and daughter of Obediah Pursinger. Mrs. Melton is a native of Missouri, and the mother of one son-Will- iam Ellis, who is in his fourteenth year. Mr. Melton settled upon his present farm after marriage, and now owns 160 acres of land in the * home place, which is well improved and cultivated, and also owns a 130-acre tract of timbered pasture land. Mr. Melton has always been a stanch supporter of the Democratic party.
James Meranda was born in Scott County, Ind., in 1842, upon the 27th of April, and is the third child of George and Jane (Ardrey) Meranda. The father is of Scotch descent, born in Kentucky in 1819, and the mother of Irish descent and born in 1819 also. In 1837 they were married in Scott County, Ind., where the mother died in 1846. To their union four sons and one daughter were born. After the death of his first wife Mr. Meranda was twice married, and by his third wife had two sons and four daughters. Since the age of nineteen he has been a school teacher, and in 1867 he located in Harrison County, Mo., but at present lives in Kansas. He was a strong Republican until the nomination of Horace Greeley, but has since belonged to the Democratic ranks. Both himself and the mother of our subject belonged to the Christian Church. James Meranda spent his youth upon a farm, during which time he received a common-school education. When nineteen years of age he enlisted in Company C, Thirty-eight Indiana Infantry, United States army, and during about three years' service participated in the battles of Murfreesboro, Chickamauga, Lookout Mountain, Missionary Ridge, and Buzzard's Roost. At the last named fight he was wounded in the right hip, which disabled him for life, and on account of which he draws a pension of $24 per month. After the war he returned home, and has since engaged in farming in connection with which he
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works at the carpenter's trade. He is a successful farmer, and the owner of 231 acres of land, which he has accumulated by bard labor and good management. In 1862 he was united in marriage with Lieuvinah J. Follick, who was born in Indiana in 1841, and by whom he has had ten children, four of whom are living. He has resided in this county since 1869. He is a member of the G. A. R., and him- self and wife belong to the Christian Church.
Otho Merrifield was born in McLean County, Ill., June 3, 1838, and is a son of John and Emily (Neal) Merrifield, natives of Greene County, Ohio, and Bourbon County, Ky., and of English and French descent, respectively. The grandparents of Otho Merrifield immi- grated to Illinois in an early day, and it was in that State that John Merrifield was reared and married, there rearing and educating his own children. He was one of the highly respected and well-to-do citizens of that county, and after coming to Harrison County, Mo., in 1859, won the esteem of his associates here. Himself and wife are now living in Thomas County, Kas. Otho Merrifield is one of a family of seven sons, three of whom are living and married. He was reared in his native county, and at the age of twenty engaged in brick-making for himself and others, at which he continued until 1857. He then spent a year in Harrison County, Mo., where he permanently located in 1859, and has since farmed and been engaged in stock raising. He is now the owner of an abundantly stocked and well-improved farm of 295 acres, and is one of the substantial farmers of this vicinity. August 3, 1861 he enlisted in Company F, Second Missouri Cavalry, under Capt. Hanners, and after eighteen months' service was honor- ably discharged and returned to farming. October 5, 1864, he mar- ried Miss Lydia Ann Preston, a native of this county, who died eighteen years later, and who bore him eight children, five of whom are living: Emma R., Ulysses T., Alice, Arella and Harvey. A year after the death of his first wife Mr. Merrifield married Miss Bettie Ann Bain, by whom he had one child, which died in infancy. His wife dying a year later he was wedded to Mrs. R. C. Wishon, widow of Francis M. Wishon, whose maiden name was Rebecca E. Schoonover. Mrs. Merrifield is a native of Ohio, and her father lost his arm in the battle of Buena Vista, in the War of 1812. To her first marriage with John J. Peters four children were born: Lydia M., William A., Drucilla E. and Orpheus A. All are deceased save the last named. Mr. Merrifield is a Republican, and a member of the G. A. R.
Monroe Miller was born in Monroe County, Ind., March 4, 1823, and was named in honor of his county and President Monroe.
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His parents, Bryce W. and Matilda (Runnels) Miller, were natives of Tennessee and Kentucky, and of Scotch-Irish and Irish descent, respectively, who immigrated to Washington County, Ind., with their parents at an early day. There they were married, and Mr. Bryce W. Miller engaged in the hat trade, being a hatter. He fol- lowed his trade in several counties in Indiana, principally Putnam County, and later in life went to Kansas, where he died at an advanced age. His later days were passed in farming. He was a Demo- crat in politics, and while in Indiana served as justice of the peace, and also taught school. In Kansas he was a member of the Legis- lature at the time of the trouble under Buchanan's administration. The paternal grandfather of our subject was a soldier in the Revolu- tionary War, and fought in twenty-two battles. The mother of Monroe was taken ill in Princeton, Mo., while upon her way to his house. She died in that town, and her remains were buried in Clay Township. Monroe Miller was reared in Indiana, and at the age of nineteen began life for himself as a farm laborer. He remained thus employed two years, and then engaged in cropping another two years. August 22, 1844, he married Miss Emily Miller, a cousin and a daughter of Mordecai Miller. He continued to farm in Indiana until 1856, and then immigrated to Decatur County, Iowa, where he lived until 1864, when he came to Harrison County, Mo. In 1861 he enlisted in Company A, Seventeenth Iowa Infantry, under Col. Ran- kins, and served three years. He was in the battles of Corinth, Jackson and Vicksburg, and while in Tennessee was made first lieu- tenant. He resigned this office at Vicksburg, July 30, 1863, and re- turned home. He also participated in the battles of Champion's Hill, . Raymond and Black River Bridge. He now owns a farm of 130 acres in the home place, and fifty acres in another township, which prop- erty is the result of his good management and business ability. Four years ago Mr. Miller lost his wife, who was a Christian woman and the mother of ten children, six of whom are living: Isabelle (deceased), Bryce (deceased), Richard, Matilda, Mary (wife of A. J. Bucy), Emily, Alice, Elizabeth, Robert (deceased), and Howard (deceased). Mr. Miller is Democratic in his political views, and is the present justice of the peace. He has also served his township as treasurer, and is one of the public-spirited men of the place. He is an Ancient mem- ber of the I. O. O. F.
Wiley Milligan, a prominent and leading citizen of Harrison County, and resident of Jefferson Township, was born in Greene County, East Tenn., October 11, 1844. His parents, John and Su-
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sannah (McCullum) Milligan, were both natives of Greene County, Tenn. The father lived in that county until 1867, when he immi- grated to Harrison County, Mo., where he remained engaged in farm- ing until his death, which occurred in 1880, in his seventy-third year. His wife, Susannah, is now living, a resident of Harrison County, and is seventy-four years of age. He and his wife were members of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church for many years. There were born to their marriage fifteen children, two of whom died in infancy, two when grown, and the balance are living. The subject of this sketch was the ninth child, and received the rudiments of a common edu- cation in the schools of Greene County, Tenn., but this has since been greatly improved by general reading, and contact with all kinds of bus- iness men. August 1, 1862, he left his home in Greene County, and after some difficulty reached Cumberland Gap, where he enlisted in Company I, of the First East Tennessee Cavalry, Union service, and served with credit until June, 1863, participating in many battles and skirmishes, among them Chickamauga, and Dandridge. At Edgefield, Tenn., he received a severe wound, from the effects of which he is still a sufferer. After the war he returned home, where he remained until 1867, when he came to Harrison County, Mo., where he has since resided, engaged in farming and stock raising. In 1868 he married Susan C. Coffman, who was born in Randolph County, Va., June 14, 1847. She is the daughter of Elias Coffman, who moved to Harrison County, Mo., the latter part of 1864. The union of Mr. and Mrs. Milligan has been blessed with four children all living. Charles, James D., Eliza P. and Etta Rosaltha. He and his wife are worthy members of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church. He is a Democrat, but prefers voting for the best man, rather than party, and has never aspired to hold office. When starting in life he was a ยท poor man, but by energy and industry has succeeded well, and with his family enjoys the esteem of a large circle of acquaintances. He is an active and enterprising citizen of the county, and supports all laudable undertakings.
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