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 58
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 58
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Daniel B. Neff, farmer and stock raiser of Harrison County, Mo., is a son of Elihu S. and Amanda M. (Howell) Neff, and was born in Franklin County, Ind., September 15, 1842. He was reared upon his father's farm, and during his early youth received a common-school education, and at the age of eighteen accompanied his brother to Harrison County, Mo., where he has since resided. In 1862 he served six months in the militia, under Capt. Henry Howe, and in 1863 enlisted in Company I, First Missouri State Militia Cavalry for three years, or during the war. For about two years he worked as a blacksmith, although he had never learned the trade, and at the consolidation of his company with Company M was chosen orderly sergeant, which office he held until mustered out. He was in the battle of Marshall, and on the last Price raid, and in 1865 returned home after peace was declared. The same year he was united in marriage with Miss Nancy E. Wiley, who was born in Johnson County, Ind., in 1844, and is a daughter of John and Nancy (Moore) Wiley. Mr. and Mrs. Wiley moved from Ohio to Indiana when young, and were there married. The father died in that State in 1852, and the mother then came with her children to Harrison County, Mo., in 1860, where she spent the remainder of her days. Mr. and Mrs. Neff are members of the Methodist Episcopal Church, and to them eight children have been born: George T., Landa T., Mintie O., Emma M., Joseph S., Addie O., Eva L. and Essie M. Mr. Neff began life in this county with about $150 in gold, to which he added the money earned while in the war, and his wife contributed $1,000. This amount he judiciously invested in land, and in 1866 moved upon his present place, which now contains 3,160 acres of fine land, making
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Mr. Neff one of the successful and influential farmer citizens of the county, where he has resided over twenty-seven years. He is an extensive stock dealer, and owns from 300 to 400 head of cattle. In politics Mr. Neff is a Republican.
Robert L. Nelson is a native of Missouri, born in Andrew County August 23, 1847, and is a son of Samuel A. and Sarah A. (Dodd) Nelson, natives of Kentucky. When a young man the father came to Missouri, settling first in Boone County. He was afterward married in Daviess County, and later located at Savannah, Andrew County. He was a carpenter and contractor, and built the first courthouse at Savannah, and also the first courthouse and jail in Harrison County, whither he moved late in 1847, and engaged in the dry goods business at Bethany. A few years later he went overland to California with a train of several teams, and after spending about two years there started on the return trip by water, which he was destined never to complete, as he died at Cairo in 1851. He was the father of one son and three daughters, two of whom grew to maturity. Robert L. is the only survivor of the family at the present day, and he passed his youth in Harrison County, where he learned the printer's trade, at which he worked two years before he was fifteen years old. March 1, 1862, he enlisted in Company G, Sixth Missouri State Militia, in which he served three years and two months, or until discharged at Spring- field, Mo., in April, 1865. He went upon the Red River expedition, when Fort Smith was taken, and in the fights at Boonville, Independ- ence, Jefferson City, Lexington, Kansas City, etc., which was in the fall of 1864, when Price made his raid. He was the only printer in his regiment, and for about seven months worked at his trade at Springfield, Mo. He then returned home, but in July, 1865, went West, and did freighting for the Government. In the winter of 1865 he returned home, and for three years was employed in the store of Allen & Hillman. He then bought an interest in a saw mill, and manufactured lumber nine years, during which time he acted as deputy county clerk nine months, under Mr. Heaston. November 16, 1870, he was married in Harrison County to Miss Melissa A. Phille- baum, daughter of Isaac Phillebaum, deceased. Mr. Nelson settled upon his present farm in November, 1883, which contains 200 acres of land, one and a half miles west of the courthouse, a large portion of which is bottom land. Mr. Nelson has a nearly new residence, one and a half stories high, and his farm is well equipped with good barns, sheds, etc. He also owns another 120-acre tract of fenced pasture land three miles west of the town, and still forty more acres in another
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tract. He is a Democrat, and his wife is a member of the Christian Church. To Mr. and Mrs. Nelson the following children have been born: Edgar L., Isaac E., Maggie, Lena, Bertha, George C. and Charles M.
Jacob Noll was born in Kuhr, Hessen, Germany (now Prussia), June 1, 1832, and is a son of John and Catherine (Morganthal) Noll, natives of the same place and where the father died. The mother's death occurred in New York City. In the fall of 1883 Jacob Noll left his birthplace, and came to the United States, making his home until 1857 in Illinois, where he followed his trade-stone masonry. He then came to Missouri and engaged in the manufacture of brick in Macon County, and from there came to Bethany in 1874, where he con- tinued in the brick business until 1884. He then moved into a build- ing he had erected on South Street near the southwest corner of the public square, in which he established his present grocery business. His building is of brick, and consists of two stories and a basement. With the lot it cost him $5,100. Mr. Noll has one of the largest and best selected stock of groceries, queensware, etc., in the city, and controls a large country and city trade. He is also the owner of some good residence property in Bethany. In 1857 he married Margaret Sheery, a native of Germany, by whom he has nine children: Caroline (wife of S. B. Thatcher), Margaret (wife of Andrew Burg), Mary (wife of Prof. J. W. Cook), Louisa (wife of Marion Wheeler), J. William, Joseph, Katie and Jacob. Mr. Noll is a Republican, and a member of the G. A. R., having served from 1862 until the close of the war in Company A, Twenty-seventh Missouri Volunteer Infantry. Him- self and family are identified with the Catholic Church.
John D. Oden was born in Muskingum County, Ohio, August 19, 1838, and is a son of Josiah and Maria (Farrell) Oden, natives of Virginia, and of German descent. The father immigrated to Ohio with his parents when a boy, and there grew to manhood, reared his family, and passed his entire life engaged in farming. During the war he served in the White Horse Militia. He died at the age of sixty, and his first wife, by whom he had six children, three of whom are living, died at the age of thirty. His second wife, who was Mrs. Prichard and had three children, is still living, and bore Mr. Oden three children. John D. Oden was reared in his native county, where he received a common-school education. He began life for himself at the age of seventeen, and August 11, 1862, enlisted in Company F, Ninety-seventh Ohio Volunteer Infantry, and served until mustered out at Nashville at the close of the war. Among the battles in which
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he participated are Perryville, Stone River, Chickamauga, Mission Ridge, Dalton, Resaca, Kenesaw Mountain, Peach Tree Creek, Nash- ville, Franklin, Huntsville and Knoxville. He then returned to Muskingum County, where he lived until 1865; with a wagon he then started for Harrison County, Mo., at which destination he arrived in November, after which he worked upon a farm for a year. He soon purchased a farm of Joseph Bunt, now owned by W. Roberts, in Clay Township, which he still owns, and upon which he resided from April, 1867, until March, 1881. He then moved to Akron settlement, where he traded and dealt extensively in stock several years. In 1886 he moved to Madison Township one mile from Cainesville, where he now owns 120'acres which are well-stocked and improved. February 21, 1867, he married Miss Amanda Roberts, daughter of Charles Roberts, by whom he has six children: Charles E., Josiah H., Frank E. (deceased), Vinnie R., Preston H. and Mary E. Mr. Oden is a Republican, and a member of the G. A. R. Himself and wife attend the Presbyterian Church.
Ulysses G. Osborn was born in Rock Island County, Ill., June 24, 1864, and is a son of Frederick and Keziah (Joslyn) Osborn, natives of Connecticut and New York, respectively. The father is now a resident of Rock Island County, Ill., and was born in Connecticut, March 2, 1826, his parents being George and Sarah E. (Morehouse) Osborn. In 1831 he went to New York, and in 1849 to Illinois. In 1847 he was married, his wife having been born February 28, 1828. She died November 19, 1874, and was the mother of the following children; George H., born April 4, 1851; Benjamin B., born Sep- tember 9, 1860; Ulysses G., born June 24, 1864; Minnie M., born February 28, 1866, wife of John C. Searle; Robert H. J., born June 2, 1868, and Sarah E., born November 24, 1871. Ulysses was reared and educated in his native county, and in October, 1884, came to Bethany, where the following spring he bought a half interest in the firm of Coulton, Peery & Co., dealers in agricultural implements. In February, 1886, R. H. Grimstead became his partner, and in March, 1887, sold his interest to Mr. Osborn, who has since conducted the business alone. At his warehouse on South Street, opposite the postoffice, he carries a full line of agricultural implements, farm machinery, buggies, carriages, etc., and having the only business of the kind in Bethany, does a large city and country trade. October 22, 1883, he married Miss Rosalie Erwin, also a native of Rock Island County, Ill., and by whom he has one daughter-Ziazee. Mr. Osborn is a Republican in politics, member of the Methodist
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Episcopal Church, a Select Knight of the A. O. U. W., and one of the leading business men of Bethany.
S. M. Oxford, a prominent farmer and stock raiser of Grant Town- ship, was born February 7, 1844, in Harrison County, Mo., and is the seventh of a family of eight children, born to William and Nancy (McCollum) Oxford, natives of Tennessee and Clay County, Ken- tucky, and of English and German descent, respectively. S. M. Oxford was cast upon his own responsibilities when but ten years old, and, although he began life a poor boy, by energy and good man- agement has made his way successfully through life, and is now the owner of a finely improved farm, upon which he resides, of 320 acres, and is also the owner of 113 acres near Loraine, all of which property is the result of his own industry and labor. In the fall of 1862 he married Miss Rachel A. Needham, who died in February, 1863. Mr. Oxford was then married to Miss Martha E. Daugherty, a native of Illinois, who was brought to Harrison County when a little girl. Seven children have blessed this union: Elmer S., John W., Lulu M., Mattie F., Lillian G., Joan N. and Mary R. Mr. Oxford is a stanch Republican in politics, and one of the respected farmer citizens of the township, who is extensively interested in cattle and horse raising.
M. F. Oxford is a son of Jacob B. and Mary J. (McHaney) Oxford, and was born in Harrison County, Mo., November 10, 1848. The father was a native of North Carolina, and when a child accompanied his parents to Kentucky, where he was reared. There he was mar- ried to Miss Mahala Davidson, a native of that State, by whom he had one son, J. D., now married and preaching the gospel near the county seat of Harrison County. Mr. Oxford immigrated to Daviess County, Mo., about 1838, and shortly after buried his wife in that county. His next marriage was to the mother of our subject, by whom he had nine children, seven of whom are now living. Mr. Oxford was an early settler of Harrison, where he engaged in agricultural pursuits, and served one term as assessor. While in this county he lost his sec- ond wife, who died of dropsy, of which disease she had long suffered, on September 30, 1879, and who was the first person buried in Oak- lawn Cemetery. He then made his home with M. F., but a few years later, while visiting his sister-in-law in Daviess County, was taken ill and died; brought home a corpse, he was buried on the 16th of December, 1882, in Oaklawn Cemetery by the side of his wife. He was a public-spirited man, greatly interested in the cause of education, and endeavored to give his children all the advantages in that line he could. He was once a member of the Baptist Church, but died a con-
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vert to the Christian faith. His wife was a Baptist. M. F. Oxford spent his youth upon his father's farm in Harrison County, working upon the farm in the summers, and attending the district schools in the winters. He afterward attended a select school, and at the age of nineteen began to teach school, which he continued for several years with success. When of age he was united in marriage with Sarah J. Chambers, a native of Mercer County, Mo., and a daughter of Isaiah Chambers, an influential man of Mercer County. Mr. Oxford then taught school two years more, after which, in 1872, he engaged in the drug and grocery business at Cainesville with S. D. Rardin. Two years later he sold his interest to his partner, and started for Califor- nia. He stopped thirty days at Corinne, Utah, working for a grocery and fruit house, and then returned home and resumed business in Cainesville as successor to Moss & Hagen, general merchants, in which business he has been engaged over thirteen years. To Mr. Oxford and wife five children have been born: Nora L. (deceased), Cora E., Oscar H., Gertrude and Ada M. Mr. Oxford assisted in the organi- zation of the Cainesville Bank, of which he has since been a stock- holder and director. He is a member of the I. O. O. F., and both himself and wife belong to the Baptist Church. He has been the superintendent of the Baptist Sunday-school at Cainesville four years, and in that time has been absent from his post but three Sundays. In 1886 he was the Democratic nominee for representative, and not- withstanding the Republican majority in the county was nearly 700, he was only defeated by a majority of 412.
F. Papineau, proprietor of the photographic studio, northeast of the public square, Bethany, Mo., is a native of Canada, and son of Francis and Mary (Trudell) Papineau. He was born in the year 1848, and, having early displayed a decided taste for artistic pursuits, entered while quite young upon the study of photography, in which he soon acquired great proficiency. In 1875 he began work in the city of Chicago, and six years later (1881) established his present gal- lery in Bethany, Mo., at this time one of the finest and best equipped art studios in the northern part of the State. He is assisted in the business by his brother, A. P. Papineau, a skillful artist of seventeen years' experience, and is prepared to do all kinds of work, to wit: pho- tographs, India ink, crayon, water colors, and bromide portraits, in the latest and most approved styles. Mr. Papineau makes a specialty of life-sized portraits, also of enlarging and copying, in which branches of the art he enjoys much more than a local reputation, his work in quality and finish ranking with that of the best studios in
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the west. His gallery is supplied with all the modern appliances, and no pains or expense have been spared to make it a studio where the finest work known to the art can be obtained. The Messrs. Papineau are energetic and agreeable gentlemen, fully up with the demands of the times, and since locating in Bethany have displayed a spirit of enterprise in their calling, the result of which is a large and con- stantly increasing business.
Joseph B. Phillebaum was born in Washington County, Penn., March 4, 1838, and is a son of Judge Isaac and Jeanette (Harvey) Phillebaum, both natives of Pennsylvania, and born in 1812 and 1809, respectively. The family moved from Pennsylvania to Ohio, in 1850, and located in Coshocton County, where Mr. Phillebaum served as a member of the board of directors. In 1855 they moved to Harrison County, Mo., where the father bought an improved farm but after- ward improved three farms. He was twice married, his first wife having died when Joseph was but a child. His death occurred in Harrison County, Mo., June 4, 1887. By the first marriage there were two children: John H. (deceased), who was a successful attorney, and J. B. By the second there are one son and two daughters, all of whom are married and living. Joseph B. Phillebaum came to Missouri with his parents in 1855, and arrived at his majority in Harrison County. In July, 1861, he enlisted in the Second Missouri Cavalry, which was mustered in as Fremont's Body Guard. He par- ticipated in the battles at Silver Creek, Kirksville, Memphis, Moore's Mill, Ironton, (Mo.), Clarendon, Brownsville, Little Rock, Prairie and De Ann, Ark. He was discharged at St. Louis, at the expiration of his service in November, 1864, and then returned home to farm life. April 14, 1881, he married Sarah E., daughter of Peter Montgomery . (deceased). Mrs. Phillebaum was born in Johnson County, Mo., and is the mother of twins born November 28, 1887, Willard Carl, and Georgia May Phillebaum, and Della Grace, aged six. After his mar- riage Mr. Phillebaum settled upon his present place which he had owned some time previously. He has a farm of 340 acres, fenced, in meadow, pasture and plow land, upon which he has erected a comfortable house . and good outbuildings. He has a fine orchard of about 100 trees, and is a successful farmer citizen. He is independent in politics, and votes for persons rather than party. He is a member of the Ridgeway Lodge of I. O. O. F.
George L. Phillips, postmaster at Bethany, Mo., was born in Essex County, Va., September 15, 1853, and is a son of George W. and Susan E. (Clarkson) Phillips. George L. was reared to manhood in
1
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his native State, and was employed as a clerk two years prior to com- ing to Bethany, after which he clerked in a dry goods store for three years, and was with J. P. Hamilton & Co., in the hardware business, eight years. February 3, 1886, he was appointed postmaster of Beth- any, and is now discharging the duties of that office, and in connec- tion with the same has conducted a news and stationery stand in the postoffice room for the last fifteen months. December 3, 1876, he married Miss Ida Monson, a native of Bethany, and a daughter of Thomas Monson, of Harrison County. This union has been blessed with three children, Nora, Eulalie and Robert C. Mr. and Mrs. Phillips are worthy members of the Christian Church. Mr. Phillips is a Democrat, and a member of the A. O. U. W.
Enos Pickens was born in Oswego County, N. Y., December 29, 1827, and is a son of James and Philinda (Moffitt) Pickens, natives of Otsego County, N. Y., born in 1799 and 1796. They were married in Otsego County, but resided in Oswego and Onondaga Counties, and in 1850 went to Cook County, Ill., where they lived until their deaths at the ages of eighty-five and seventy-seven, respectively. The father was a clothier by trade, but his occupation was that of farming. Mr. Pickens was a Union man during the war, and himself and wife were members of the Methodist Church. By their marriage ten chil- dren were born, of whom six are living. One was killed in the war. Enos Pickens was reared near Syracuse, N. Y., and there passed his boyhood and received a district-school education. At the age of seventeen he began life for himself in Onondaga County, N. Y., by engaging in the salt business. He then spent three years mining in California with fair success, and then, after a visit to New York, came west in 1855. He spent two years in Decatur County, Iowa, and in 1859 settled in Harrison County, Mo. In 1858 he was married in Decatur County, Iowa, to Miss Charlotte A. Earl, a native of Indiana, who was reared in New Jersey, her parents' native State. This union has been blessed with two children, one of whom died in infancy, and the other, Charlotte Earl, is a graduate of the Jacksonville Female College, and wife of Dr. Nally, of Cainesville. In politics Mr. Pickens is a Republican, and under President Lincoln served as post- master three years. He is a member of the A. F. & A. M., Lodge No. 328, and one of the influential men of the county. He was instru- mental in the organization of the Cainesville Bank, of which he is a director and stockholder, and his farm of 220 acres is one of the best improved and cultivated. farms in Harrison County. Mr. and Mrs. Pickens belong to the Methodist Church.
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George F. Pierson, farmer and stock raiser, is the third child of a family of five sons and three daughters born to Henry C. and Louisa (Hazzard) Pierson. The father was born in Kentucky in 1806, and the mother in Maryland the same year. While young they went to Scott County, Ind., where they married and lived until their deaths in 1841 and 1845, respectively. Both belonged to the Christian Church. In early life the father worked at the shoemaker's trade, but later devoted his time to farming. In politics he was a Whig. George F. Pierson is of English, Dutch and Irish descent, and was born in Scott County, Ind., in 1829. He was reared upon a farm, received a common-school education, and upon the death of his par- ents, when he was sixteen years of age, began life for himself as a farm laborer. When of age he learned the tanner's and currier's trade, at which he worked until 1856, when he came to Harrison County, Mo., where he has since made his home. In 1861 he joined Company F, " Merrill's Horse," but was discharged the same year on account of sickness. In 1862 he re-enlisted in Company E, of the Third Mis- souri Cavalry, which, after its consolidation with the Sixth Missouri, became known as Company M. In 1864 he veteranized in Company D, Thirteenth Missouri Cavalry, and served until the close of the war. In the first and last companies he served as corporal. In 1858 he married Priscilla J. Mallatt, a native of Jasper County, Ind., by whom three children were born, Louisa J., George P., and Mary E. Mrs. Pierson died in 1880, and two years later Mr. Pierson married Mary A. Green, a native of Illinois, by whom two children were born, Andrew D. and Clara F. Both wives belonged to the church of the United Brethren in Christ. Mr. Pierson is a Republican in politics, and, despite the fact that he began life poor, he now owns 282 acres of good land.
David M. Poe, a representative citizen of Harrison County, was born March 6, 1847, in Hardin County, Ohio, and was the eldest of four children of Samuel A. and Phœbe (Claypole) Poe. His parents were natives of Ohio, and were married in the same State, living in Hardin County until 1859, in the fall of which year they immigrated to Har- rison County, Mo., and settled on a tract of land situated in Sections 31 and 32 of Washington Township, where they resided until 1865, when they moved to Monona County, Iowa. They lived here only five months, and then returned to Washington Township, Harrison Co., Mo. The father bought the tract of land situated in Section 32, Town 65 north, Range 29 west, where they have since resided. David M. received his education in his native county, also in Harrison County,
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Mo., and at the age of twenty-one left the parental roof; he soon afterward married, and located on the farm he had bought, situated in Section 32, of same township and range, where he has since resided. Martha J., daughter of William and Janet (Smith) Sutcliffe, was born November 1, 1847, in Scotland, and accompanied her par- ents to America when a child. They landed at New York, and pro- ceeded westward, residing at Valparaiso for about three years, thence to Milwaukee, Wis., where they remained but a short time and then moved to Iowa; settled in Fayette County, but, after three or four years' residence here, moved to Harrison County, Mo .; thence they moved to Gentry County, where Martha became the wife of our sub- ject December 16, 1868. The wife's parents are still living in De Kalb County, Mo. The marriage of Mr. and Mrs. Poe has been blessed with seven children (two dead). The surviving ones are Will- iam F., Andy N., Sarah M., Bertha Leonora and Mary L. Mr. Poe is a Democrat, and cast his first vote for Horatio Seymour in 1868, and, although at all times heartily supporting his party, has never sought office. He is a member of the Grange-Denver Lodge. Though he has never identified himself with any church, Mr. Poe always lends his cheerful and hearty support to all church and worthy undertakings. He has always been an energetic and industrious farmer, and as the result of his efforts, and the careful management of himself and wife, has a fine farm of 160 acres, the most of which is improved and in a fine state of cultivation.
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