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 62
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 62
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Anthony Skroh was born in Bohemia, in the western part of the Austrian Empire, June 11, 1854, and is a son of Joseph and Annie (Fiala) Skroh. The father was a tanner by trade, but abandoned the same for farming. He and his wife's family 'immigrated to America in 1869, and immediately proceeded to Harrison County, Mo., where Mr. Skroh lived until his death, July 19, 1875. He left a family of three children: Joseph, Anthony and Annie, who remained at home until 1877. They then spent three years in Princeton at the expira-
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tion of which Anthony returned to the old homestead with his sister (who died two years later), and Joseph remained at Princeton. Pre- vious to the death of his sister Mr. Skroh married Mary Stoklasa, a native of the same part of Bohemia in which he was born, and whose father came to this country in 1876. This marriage has been blessed with three children: Annie Rozi, Frederick W. and Charles H. Mr. Skroh is a well-to-do farmer, and the owner of 150 acres of val- uable land, and is one of the enterprising men of the township. His father was a prominent citizen in his neighborhood during his life, and held several offices. He was over sixty-two years of age at the time of his death, and his wife died at the age of over forty-nine years.
John W. Smith was born in Daviess County, Mo., September 8, 1831, and is a son of Judge Benson and Sarah (Wright) Smith, natives of Tennessee and South Carolina, respectively. About 1820 the family moved to Missouri, and after living several years in Clay County, moved to Daviess County about 1827. There the father entered land and they remained until 1844, when they came to Harrison County, and moved upon land Mr. Smith entered. He was a soldier in the Black Hawk War, served as probate judge in Daviess County, and as justice of the peace in Harrison County, where he died in 1853. The mother is now living at the age of seventy-three. John W. grew to manhood in Harrison County, upon the farm, and in 1850 made an overland trip to California with Samuel Nelson and others from the county, and at the expiration of five months landed in what was then known as Hang Town. After spending three years mining and prospecting and two years ranching, he started for home in 1855, where he arrived July 14 of that year, having returned via the Isthmus and New York. He then bought land in White Oak Town- ship, upon which he settled. December 17, 1864, he married Adeline W. Clater, sister of A. S. A. Clater, and a native of Virginia., Having traded his White Oak property for his present place Mr. Smith removed in 1865. He now has 179 acres, which he has greatly improved. Mr. and Mrs. Smith are members of the Methodist Episcopal Church South, and have the following family: Frances Isabel, wife of William L. Bailey; Samuel E., Sarah E., William V., Charles R., James T. and John A. Mr. Smith is a stanch Demo- crat. He has eight brothers who are farmers in Missouri, six resid- ing in Harrison County, and has three sisters who live in this county.
James A. Smith, farmer and stock raiser, was born in Barren County, Ky., February 5, 1832, and is a son of Caleb and Lina (Anderson) Smith, natives of Kentucky, who after their marriage in
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Barren County located upon a farm there. In the spring of 1853 they immigrated to Missouri, and settled in Harrison County, where they still reside, and for the past fifteen years have lived quietly in Eagle- ville. Both are now eighty-three years of age, and are members of the Missionary Baptist Church. The father has spent his life farm- ing, and in politics is a Democrat. James A. is the fourth of a family of seven children, and grew to manhood upon his father's farm, during which time he received a common-school education. In October, 1861, he joined the State Militia, and in August, 1862, enlisted in the regular army, and served until mustered out June 10, 1865, at Washington, D. C., in Company D, Twenty-third Missouri Volunteer Infantry. He participated in the battle at Atlanta and numerous minor engagements, and was in the campaign from Dalton to Atlanta. With the exception of the time spent in the army his entire life has been devoted to agricultural pursuits, and in December, 1852, he came to Harrison County, Mo., where he ranked among the early settlers. In May, 1854, he wedded Miss Sarah A. Brown, a native of Illinois. In the fall of the present year he moved upon his present place, and now owns 280 acres in the home farm and 160 acres near by, also in Harrison County. Himself, wife and two children are members of the Christian Church. The children born to his marriage are Caleb J., born November 11, 1860; Martha, born June 15, 1867, and Amos J., twin brother of Martha. In politics Mr. Smith is a stanch Democrat.
John Smith was born in Ross County, Ohio, March 29, 1833. His parents, Solomon and Mary M. (Litchliter) Smith, were natives of Virginia, and of Irish and German descent respectively. They were married in their native State, where the father engaged in farming and school teaching. They reared a large family of children, eight of whom are living, and from Virginia emigrated to Ohio, where both died. The mother was eighty years of age at the time of her death, and the father died July 12, 1887, aged ninety-one, being the oldest man in his county at the time. He now lies by the side of his wife in Fayette County, Ohio. He was a soldier in the War of 1812, and his father-in-law was a soldier in the Revolutionary War. J. H. Smith is the eldest living son of the above family, and July 17, 1861, was married to Miss Louisa Rupart, a native of Fayette County, Ohio, born March 30, 1840. In 1863 Mr. and Mrs. Smith came to Harrison County, Mo., where Mr. Smith now owns 300 acres of well cultivated and improved land, and is classed among the enterprising and successful citizens. To himself and wife the following children have
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been born: William H., born September 30, 1862; Mary A., born September 5, 1864; Jacob A., born February 18, 1867; Minerva E., born May 22, 1870; Albert S., born November 15, 1872; Charles H., born May 5, 1874; John O., born March 21, 1876; Rachel R., born August 8, 1881. Mr. Smith is a Republican in politics.
Elder Alex Hale Smith, a well known minister of the Reorganized Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, was born in Caldwell County, Mo., June 2, 1838. His parents, Joseph and Emma (Hale) Smith, were natives of Vermont and Pennsylvania, and born in 1805 and 1804, respectively. The father was assassinated at Carthage, Hancock Co., Ill., June 27, 1844, and the mother died at Nauvoo, Ill., April 30, 1879. Alex Hale accompanied his parents to Quincy, Ill., when about a year old, and later was taken by them to Nauvoo. He was there reared in a hotel, and received a good education. In 1861 he married Miss Elizabeth Kendall, a native of England, and subsequently continued to make his home in Nauvoo until 1868. He then removed to Plano, Kendall Co., Ill., but two years later re- turned to Nauvoo, where he remained six years. In the spring of 1876 he came to Harrison County, Mo., and December, 1880, went to Stewartsville, DeKalb County. In March, 1882, he removed to In- dependence, Jackson Co., Mo., and in April, 1887, came to Colfax Township, where he owns a tract of good land. In the spring of 1862 Mr. Smith united with the above named church, and in the spring of the next year was ordained to the office of teacher. In April, 1864, he was ordained an elder, and since that time has been actively engaged in discharging his ministerial duties. In 1866 he was ap- pointed missionary in charge of the Pacific Slope Mission, which com- prised the States of California, Oregon, Nevada, besides Idaho. After laboring in this field two years he returned home in the spring of 1869 and resumed his work here. Mr. Smith is a man who has been suc- cessful in his life work, and in connection with his missionary work has a good farm in this county.
N. J. Smith is of English descent, and was born in Hendricks County, Ind., July 8, 1832. His father, Eli Smith, was a farmer, and was born and reared in Kentucky. From that State he immi- grated to Indiana with his father, where he was married in Hendricks County to Miss Eliza Ann S. Smith, a native of Kentucky. For about eighteen years he resided in Boone and Hendricks Counties, and in 1856 came to Harrison County, Mo., where he died at an advanced age, as did also his wife. Both had been members of the Missionary Baptist Church for many years. Mr. Smith was a life-long farmer,
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and in politics a member of the Democratic party. N. J. Smith is one of a family of seven children, all living, and after becoming of age learned the carpenter's trade, at which he worked several years with success, during which time he immigrated to Harrison County, Mo. Here he purchased a farm with his earnings, which now contains 160 acres and is nicely improved. July 17, 1878, he was united in mar- riage with a cousin, Miss Lydia Smith, a native of Boone County, Ind., and daughter of Reuben and Melinda (Tuspin) Smith. To Mr. and Mrs. Smith one child, Ruie May, has been born. Mr. Smith is a Democrat, and during the war served three years in Company D, Twenty-third Missouri Infantry, under Cols. Tindall and Robinson. He participated in the battles at Shiloh, Atlanta, Jonesboro and many others, and was mustered out at Atlanta.
John M. Snedeker was born in Mercer County, N. J., in 1832, and is the third of a family of six children born to James W. and Ann (Newell) Snedeker, natives of Middlesex County, N. J. The father was a son of Jacob and Ann (Griggs) Snedeker, also natives of New Jersey, and the mother was a daughter of John Newell and Ruth (Dis- brough) Newell, who were born, lived and died in New Jersey. The Snedeker family trace their origin to Holland, and the Newells to Ire- land and France. John M. Snedeker was reared in his native State, and at the age of nineteen went to Warren County, Ohio, where he was married. In 1856 he moved to Tazewell County, Ill., and in the spring of 1882 came to Harrison County, Mo. He began to do for himself when fourteen years old, so that his property is the result of his own business ability and good management. He now resides upon and owns 320 acres of land, has 240 acres in another tract, and is one of the prominent and successful farmers and stock raisers of the township. In November, 1853, he married Miss Amanda, a native of Warren County, Ohio, and daughter of Hannah Maranda, who lost her husband when Mrs. Snedeker was an infant. To Mr. and Mrs. Snedeker two children have been born: Melanthon, and one who died in infancy. Mr. Snedeker is a Democrat in politics, and has served his township in several different capacities, and was once a Democratic candidate for the Legislature, and although not elected ran ahead of his ticket by a handsome majority. He is a harness-maker by trade, having become proficient in that line in Trenton, N. J., and having followed that occupation about twelve years while in Ohio and Illi- nois.
John Snipes a farmer of Union Township was born in Bartholomew County, Ind., in 1835, and is the son of Nathan and Margaret (Camp-
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bell) Snipes, who were natives of North Carolina and Kentucky, respectively, but accompanied their parents to Indiana, where their marriage occurred. In 1856 they went to Harrison County, locating in Union Township, where, with the exception of one year spent in Indiana, they lived until their death, that of the father occurring in 1883, while the mother died in 1876. Mr. Snipes was a member of the Dunkard Church, while his wife was a Baptist. Their son, John, had only the advantages of a common country school until his majority, when, by his own labor, he obtained money to attend school at Bethany part of one year. He was married in 1857 to Miss Martha, daughter of William and Christina Fancher, formerly of Tennessee. This union has been blessed with four children, two of whom are living-William L. and Eliza Ellen. His wife dying in January, 1869, Mr. Snipes was wedded the same year to Miss Chris- tina, daughter of Emanuel and Mary Fluke, which union has resulted in eight children: Emma, Frank M., Marietta Margaret, Rutherford B., Martha C., Arabel M. and Isabel M. (twins) and Adelbert. When Mr. Snipes first located at Bethany, he helped to manage a saw mill, but gave that up and went to Marion Township, thence to Union Township, where he has since resided. In 1861 he enlisted in Company G, Twenty-third Missouri Volunteer Infantry, in the Army of the Cumberland, First Brigade, Third Division, Fourteenth Army Corps, commanded by Gen. Thomas. He served three years as private, corporal and sergeant, consecutively, engaging in the battles of Shiloh and Jonesboro, also went through the Georgia and Atlanta campaign, and was mustered out at Savannah, Ga., January, 1865. In politics he is a Republican, and cast his first vote for Fillmore in 1856. He is a prominent member of the G. A. R., also of the Farmers' Aid Association. Both Mr. Snipes and wife are faithful members of the Christian Church, and Mr. Snipes is an active worker in the Sunday-school. By his enterprise and perseverance he has suc- ceeded in acquiring 200 acres of land-eighty acres in a state of good cultivation, and the rest pasture and timber land.
Elder Joseph Smith Snively, a minister in the Reorganized Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, was born in Pike County, Ill., February 21, 1840. His parents, Hugh and Eleanor (Stevenson) Snively, were born, reared and married in Pennsylvania. Early in life they united with the Mormon Church, and followed that sect from Pennsylvania to Ohio, Missouri, and Quincy and Nauvoo, Ill. Later they went to Indiana, and finally located in Lee County, Iowa, where they died five and seventeen years ago, respectively. The father was an
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elder in the church up to the death of Joseph Smith, and then refused the apostleship that Brigham Young accepted. Upon the reorganiza- tion of the church he united with same, and remained a member until his death, but on account of infirmity never engaged in the ministry. Joseph Smith Snively received a liberal education during his youth in Indiana, and in the spring of 1867 united with the church. In the spring of 1868 he was ordained elder at Plano, Ill., and the next nine years engaged in missionary work in Iowa, Illinois, Michigan and Upper and Lower Canada. The greater part of the time was spent in Canada, where he organized several churches and baptized a number of persons. In February, 1878, he came to Harrison County, Mo., and in connection with preaching engaged in farming, where he now resides. In 1881 he was elected presiding elder of Decatur district, and was superintendent of this section for two years, since which time he has farmed and officiated as a local preacher. November 23, 1871, he married Miss Ann M. Traxler, by whom he has had four sons and three daughters, two of the former being now deceased. He was in Indiana at the outbreak of the war, and enlisting in the Federal army August 11, 1862, served in Company E, Sixty-fifth Indiana Infantry. He participated in thirty-six engagements, among which may be mentioned the battles at Knoxville, Franklin and the Atlanta campaign. Mr. Snively owns 120 acres of fertile land, and in politics is a Republican.
Josef Sobotka was born in Bohemia, Austrian Empire, August 16, 1836, and is a son of John and Annie (Shanteutchek) Sobotka, both of whom died in the old country. Josef was reared and educated in his native land, and after his father's death, February 19, 1848, he became an apprentice to the butcher's trade, serving the three years required, and remaining in the same place two years longer. After this he was occupied in different localities until 1858, when on Christmas day he opened his own shop, and carried on the same until 1867, when he came to America, and directly to Harrison County, Mo. In 1859 he married Miss Klubka Anastazie, and upon emigrating to the United States had a family of three children. In this country four more were born, two of whom died. Emanuel, Joseph, John, Franklin, William (deceased), Frederick (deceased), and Charles, are the names of the children. Mr. Sobotka at first rented land near Cainesville for two years, and then bought a lot in the town, upon which he built and lived four years. He then engaged in butchering and various other employments, and then bought forty acres of his present place, upon which he built and where he has since lived. This place he immediately began to improve, and now owns 400 acres of well stocked
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and improved land, making him one of the well-to-do citizens of the county. In politics he is a Democrat. Two of his children are mar- ried, one living in this county and one in Iowa.
J. J. Stoner was born in Muskingum County, Ohio, in 1832, and is a son of Jacob and Nancy (Jordan) Stoner, natives of Pennsylvania and Maryland, respectively. They were married in Muskingum County, Ohio, and farmed there until 1855, when they went to War- ren County, Ind., at which place the father died. In 1856 the widow and younger sons moved to Harrison County, Mo., after which J. J. returned to Ohio, as he was the executor of his father's estate. There he married Margaret Goodin, a native of Pike County, Ohio. In 1857 he came west, and taught school about twenty terms in Harrison County, Mo., Pike and Jackson Counties, Ohio, and Warren County, Ind., although he made farming his principal occupation. He has four children: Samantha J. (wife of S. Whitinger, of California), Herschel H., Alva P. and Angelettie N. H. H. Stoner is a physician. Mr. J. J. Stoner is a Democrat, and served three weeks in the Missouri State Militia during the war. He has 100 acres of land in the home- stead, well stocked and improved, and twenty acres in bottom lands.
Josephus Sullinger was born in Ray County, Mo., June 28, 1845, and is a son of William and Mille (Roland) Sullinger, natives of North Carolina, where they were married. The father was an early settler of Ray County, where he carried on a farm in connection with survey- ing and carpentering. While at Prospect Hill, Ray County, he served as postmaster a number of years. In 1864 he went to Andrew County, where he was appointed postmaster of Fontainbleau, which position he held until his death in May, 1887. He was twice married, his first wife having died in 1858. His widow still survives. He reared a family of nine sons and four daughters, seven of the former and three of the latter still living, and two of the sons and two of the daughters residents of Harrison County. Josephus left home when fourteen. He first spent three years in California, Oregon, Montana, Washington Territory and Utah. In 1868 he returned from the West, and pur- chased a small piece of raw land, where he now lives, and to which he has added until he now owns 320 acres of well improved land, upon which he has erected good buildings. In 1870 he began to buy and trade in stock, and since 1877 has done a great deal of shipping, being at present one of the largest shippers of the county. In April, 1869, he was married in Gentry County, Mo., to Miss Margaret A. Madden, a native of that county, and daughter of William T. Madden. To this union four children have been born: Allie, George M., Minnie F.
40
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HARRISON COUNTY.
and one infant, now deceased. Mr. Sullinger is a worthy member of the K. of P.
Capt. Simeon Sutton, a farmer and mechanic of Cypress Township, was born in Preble County, Ohio, in 1821, and is the eighth of eleven children of George and Hannah (Gard) Sutton, who were married in Pennsylvania in 1805, and the same year removed to Ohio, thence to Hamilton County, thence to Butler County, and finally to Preble County, where the father died in 1861, and the mother in 1862. Mr. Sutton served as second sergeant under Gen. Harrison in the War of 1812; his father was one of the minute men in the Revolutionary War, while his grandfather was one of the first to settle west of the moun- tains in Pennsylvania, having gone there prior to the French and Indian War, and locating near where Gen. Braddock was defeated. Capt. Sutton received but a limited education, and in 1853 was married to Miss Hannah, daughter of Benjamin and Hannah Morton. This marriage has resulted in five children, all living: Benjamin M .; Emma F., wife of J. C. Howe; Mary F., wife of John F. Selby; Sarah J. and Noah E. In 1854 he went to Knox County, Ill., from there in 1859 to Daviess County, and two years later located in Cypress Township, Harrison County, where he has since resided, living seven miles south of Bethany, on a fine farm of 136 acres, all under cultivation. When the war broke out, he was made captain of Company B, of the East Missouri Militia, which he commanded till 1864, operating in Harrison and Daviess Counties. In 1864 he was made captain of Company E, Forty-third Missouri Infantry, and operated along the Missouri River till the close of the war, being captured at Glascow in September, 1864, and taken to St. Louis, where he was held prisoner several weeks; was then released and resumed operations. In politics he was formerly a Whig, casting his first vote for Henry Clay, but since the war has been a Republican. He and wife are members of the Missionary Baptist Church, and he is also a member of the G. A. R. Always an advocate of all educational enterprises, he has taken great pleasure in giving his children the benefit of a good college education, the elder son being a practicing physician at Bridgeport, and the younger a teacher.
John Taggart, a prominent farmer and stock raiser of Sherman Township, was born May 15, 1828, in Monaghan County, Ireland, and immigrated to the United States in April, 1832. He landed first at Montreal, and in the winter of that year went to New York City. In the spring of 1833 he went to Philadelphia, and a year later to Lum- berville, Penn., where he resided four years, and then to Phoenixville
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where he received a graded-school education. He began life for himself at the age of twenty-five as a school teacher, at which vocation he continued engaged four years. About 1838 he went to Indiana, and in 1857 came to the State of Missouri, with his parents, and set- tled in Morgan County, which was at that time but little improved, and began farm life, assisting in felling the forest, building log cabins, rolling logs into heaps, and everything else necessary in a new country. He remained engaged in farming until 1864, when he estab- lished himself in the mercantile business at Bolton, Mo. In 1869 he sold his stock of goods, went to Bethany, and entered the store of Bohannon & Slinger as a clerk, where he remained three years. He moved to his present location in 1873, and has since engaged in farm- ing and stock raising, in which he is quite successful. Although he began life in moderate circumstances he now owns 160 acres of nicely improved land, and is one of the substantial men of the township. October 9, 1851, he married Miss Matilda Ann, daughter of John and Nancy (Moore) Wiley, natives of Ohio. To Mr. and Mrs. Taggart ten children have been born: John W. (deceased); Nancy Ann, wife of Josiah Bogue; Wiley P .; James O. (deceased); Madora E., wife of Robert S. Mayhugh; William W .; Bessie, wife of James Weldon; Emma M .; Charles M. and Nona B. Mr. Taggart is a Democrat in politics, and was elected State senator in the fall of 1886, by 125 majority, in a district usually Republican by more than 500 majority. For several years he served his township as constable, and in various official capacities, and during the war organized and was elected cap- tain of Company D, Home Guards. He has been a member of the I. O. O. F. for over thirty-five years, and himself and wife belong to the Methodist Episcopal Church. To his parents, John and Ann Jane (Bothwell) Taggart, natives of Ireland, seventeen children were born, of whom John is the fourth. The father died in 1868, aged sixty-six, and the mother in 1869, aged sixty-two.
David S. Thomas was born in Guilford County, N. C., October 16, 1841, and is a son of D. M. and Lucinda (Edmiston) Thomas, both natives of North Carolina. The family moved from North Caro- lina to Harrison County, Mo., in 1843, where the father entered 240 acres in one tract, upon which he lived until his death in May, 1862. He was three times married, the mother of our subject having died shortly after coming to Harrison County. David S. grew to manhood in Harrison County, upon the farm, and in September, 1861, enlisted in the Confederate army in the First Missouri Cavalry. He participated in the battles of Blue Mill Landing, Lexington, Pea Ridge, Champion's
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Hill and Big Black, and served, until May 17, 1863. He was then taken prisoner, and confined in the prison at Camp Morton, Ind., Fort Delaware and Point Lookout. He was afterward paroled, and then worked upon a farm near Baltimore, Md., until 1870, when he returned to Harrison County. September 25, 1866, he was married to Sarah E. Elliott, daughter of Vachel A. Elliott, and who was born near the city of Baltimore. Mr. Thomas farmed upon land in the southwest portion of the county until 1878, when he removed to Matkins, where he engaged in the mercantile business in 1879. He has established a good trade, and is now one of the prosperous busi- ness men of the place. He is a Democrat, and in the spring of 1881 was elected justice of the peace, in which office he served four terms. He has one son, Marvin L., aged sixteen, and himself and wife are members of the Methodist Episcopal Church South.
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