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 63
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 63
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Luther D. Tilley was born May 3, 1827, in West Virginia, and is a son of Reuben D. and Sarah (Baker) Tilley, natives of Stokes County, N. C., and Surrey County, N. C., respectively. The family moved from that State to Kentucky in 1827, and remained about six months in Louisville, after which they moved to Monroe County, Ind., where they lived about six years. Thence they went to Illinois, and in the fall of 1836 went to Platte County, Mo., where they made their home until February, 1846. They then came to Butler Township, Har- rison County, where the father improved a farm, upon which he lived until his decease. There was a family of four sons and seven daugh- ters who grew to maturity; of these three brothers and four sisters are living and two of each sex reside in Harrison County. Luther D. is the second son, and accompanied his parents when they came to Missouri and later to Harrison County. In March, 1849, he accompanied a Government train under command of Col. Loren to Oregon. The train consisted of 125 wagons, mule teams, six companies of soldiers and 250 head of cattle. He went as far as Dals, Oreg. ; then down the river by canoe to Vancouver; thence to Oregon City, the jour- ney occupying five months. He remained in Oregon seven months, and in April, 1850, went to California, where he remained but a short time and then went to Oregon City, at which place he worked until the spring of 1851. During 1850 he was with Joseph Lain at the time of the treaty with the Rogue River Indians. He returned to California, and spent about two years prospecting and mining near the Shasta River without much success. In June, 1855, he started for home via Panama, Aspinwall, New York City and Chicago. He reached his destination in July, 1855, and then entered 269 acres of his present
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land. He has since purchased more, and now owns 500 acres, 440 of which are well cultivated. He has a nice, large, two-story building, stables etc., upon his home place, and a fine residence and outbuild- ings upon another portion of the farm. He also has a place well improved in Butler Township. December 5, 1855, he was united in marriage in Harrison County with Martha J. Martin, daughter of Nathaniel Martin, a pioneer settler of Harrison County. Mrs. Tilley was born in Indiana, but came to Missouri in 1840 at the age of three. Mr. and Mrs. Tilley are the parents of the following children: James F. (of Kansas), Benoni, Nathaniel M. (of Colorado), Augustine, William L., Ulysses G. and Benton, Mr. Tilley served three years in the State Militia, and aided materially in keeping the Confederates out of Northern Missouri. He has always supported the principles of the Republican party.
Mahlon C. Turner is a son of Robert and Phœbe (Canady) Turner, natives of Illinois, and was born in Daviess County, September 11, 1860. The father emigrated to Harrison County, Mo., when Mahlon was a small boy, and there engaged in farming near Bethany until his death in 1880. His mother having died soon after his birth, Mah- lon was reared by his father, and during his youth learned the har- ness and saddler's trade in Bethany. In January, 1887, he bought the harness and saddle establishment of Arthur Edson, and is now successfully engaged in that business on the east side of the square, and is controlling a large share of the patronage of the city and county in this line. In 1883 he married Mollie Keen, of Daviess County, Mo., by whom he has one son-Don. D. Mr. Turner is a Democrat in his political views, and is one of the enterprising business men of Bethany.
A. M. C. Twadell was born in Jennings, Ind., March 10, 1849, and was but an infant when his parents decided to move to Mercer County. He lived at home upon the farm until nineteen, and then went west, where he spent some time in the Colorado Mountains and Wyoming Territory as a freighter hand. After passing a winter in Kansas he engaged in farming and stock raising in Mercer County, Mo., ten years, and in 1877 came to Harrison County, Mo. Here he bought a small farm, and shortly after married Eliza Humble, a native of Hancock County, Ind. (born October 29, 1854), by whom he has had four children: Nellie G., born June 22, 1879; Amos B., born September 18, 1881; Bessie D., born October 4, 1885, and Rocky P., born September 18, 1887. Mr. Twadell owns 260 acres of land, 180 being in the home place, which is well cultivated and improved. In politics Mr. Twadell is a stanch Republican.
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Dr. R. H. Vandivert was born in Muskingum County, Ohio, No- vember 14, 1819, and spent his youth upon a farm with no educational advantages, until after reaching the age of nineteen, when an elder brother assisted him in laying the foundation to his after-knowledge. Near the close of the Mexican War he organized a company of sol- diers, but, as the war was near its end, the company was rejected. He was married February 1, 1848, to Agnes H. Berry, who was finely educated and greatly assisted her husband in his efforts to become a well-informed man. He began the study of medicine with the brother of his wife, and, although when first married he was very poor, he earned enough money to enable him to attend lectures in the Sterling Medical College, of Columbus, Ohio, by nursing cholera patients at the Columbus penitentiary. In 1856 he left Ohio for Lawrence, Kas., but on account of the border troubles changed his route, and located in Harrison County, Mo., where he arrived in June of that year, and where he has since lived with the exception of eight years spent at Salem, Daviess County. June 8, 1858, he lost his wife, and July 31, 1859, married Mary J. Ellis, who died January 16, 1872, and on June 12, 1873, he was united in marriage with Mary U. Kes- sler, who survives. To the first marriage five boys were born; the first died in infancy; J. Worth died in Bethany, January 29, 1880; and the other three-Dr. A. H., A. Hube and Samuel W., survive, together with a daughter, Hattie-born of the last marriage. Politically the Doctor was an Abolitionist from boyhood, and upon the organi- zation of the Republican party he became an active member of the same. He presided over the first Republican convention held in Har- rison County, and in 1869 filled the vacancy in the State Senate caused by the death of Senator Elwell, to which position he was elected in 1870, and which he filled until the expiration of the term. He enlisted in the war at its commencement, but served only a short time on account of rheumatism. From'1868 he was a member of the Christian Church. After the war he farmed and traded in stock for about ten years, and for several years during the latter part of his life was senior member of the firm of Vandivert, Nordyke & Co. He was a member of the T. D. Neal Post, G. A. R., and his death occurred March 29, 1887.
Ashman H. Vandivert, born in Muskingum County, Ohio, April 6, 1853, is the son of the late R. H. Vandivert, and came to Missouri with his parents in 1856, and, having received a good education, determined to adopt the medical profession. In 1874 he began to read with his present partner, Dr. Jackson Walker, and afterward attended
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lectures at Ann Arbor, Mich., whence he graduated in March, 1877. He then practiced one year in Eagleville, and in 1879 went to Colo- rado. In 1880 he came to Bethany, where he has since established a lucrative practice. September 29, 1886, he married Miss Emma Buckles, a native of Madison County, Ill. By his first marriage, with Rosa Templeman (deceased), he has one daughter-Bessie A. Dr. Vandivert is a Republican in politics, and is a member of the Grand. River Medical Society. He is colonel of the Missouri Division of the Sons of Veterans, and is a member of the A. O. U. W.
Lewis Van Meter was born in Salem County, N. J., June 11, 1818, and is a son of David and Ruth (Whitaker) Van Meter, also natives of New Jersey. His paternal grandfather was a native of Holland, and came to the United States prior to the Revolution. David Van Meter was a well-to-do farmer, and the father of six sons and one daughter who grew to maturity. He died when Lewis was but a lad. The latter was reared in his native State, and was there married March, 15, 1846, to Rebecca, daughter of Isaac and Rachel (Dubois) Johnson, all three of whom were born in New Jersey. The year following his marriage Mr. Van Meter moved to Cass County, Ind., where he improved a farm, and resided nine years. In 1856 he sold out, and came to Missouri, locating in the northwestern part of Harrison County, where he bought land which he proceeded to improve. He has a fine tract of 1,100 acres, all fenced and nearly all improved. He resides in a brick residence which cost over $3,000, and has good barns and outbuildings. He has been a very successful farmer but is now living a more retired life and enjoying the fruits of his labor. To Mr. and Mrs. Van Meter seven children have been born: Joseph, who is married and lives upon the home place; Katie, wife of Dr. A. M. Willey, of Hampton; Albert, also married and living upon the farm; Rachel, who died in 1873, aged twenty-three, and three who died in infancy. Mr. Van Meter has always interested himself in the progress of education, and was a member of the school board for some time. He also assisted in building some three schoolhouses. During the Rebellion he served in the Missouri Militia. He is a member of the Christian Church, and is a Master Mason in the Eagleville lodge.
James Van Meter was born in what is now Harrison County, Mo., January 11, 1843. His father, James Van Meter, was a native of Ohio, and his mother, Mary (Plymell) Van Meter, was also born in that State. In August, 1839, they moved to what is now Butler Town- ship, Harrison County, where the father died in August, 1842. His widow survived him several years, and was married again. James
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Van Meter, Jr., was reared by his maternal grandfather, who accompanied him to Missouri. He passed his youth upon the farm where he now resides, and August 3, 1861, enlisted in the Twenty-third Missouri Infantry, in which he served until discharged September 22, 1864, at the expiration of his enlistment. He en- listed as a private, but afterward was promoted and became a non-commissioned officer. He was captured during the first day of the battle of Shiloh, and held a prisoner two months, afterward being paroled, when he returned home until exchanged. He was present at the siege of Atlanta and several skirmishes, but was never severely wounded. The year following his discharge he engaged in farming in Harrison County, where, January 28, 1866, he married Catherine Maize, whose father and mother were natives of Alabama and Indiana, respectively. John R. and Rachel (Flint) Maize moved to Harrison County after their marriage, and subsequently located upon the place where they have since resided. Mr. Van Meter owns 192 acres of land, 180 fenced, and 50 acres in timber land. The remainder is mostly meadow, pasture and plow land, which is well improved, and upon which good buildings have been erected. Mr. Van Meter is a supporter of the Republican party, and has served as constable and registrar of his township. He is greatly interested in educational projects, and has been a member of the school board some fourteen years. He belongs to the Pattonsburg lodge, A. F. & A. M., and the G. A. R. post at Bethany. Mrs. Van Meter is a member of the Christian Church, and the mother of the following children: Vada (wife of William Green), Rachel, Asby, George, Lora, Robert, Elsie, Cecil and Orpha.
Albert Van Meter was born November 30, 1857, within four miles of his present residence, and is the youngest of a family of seven children born to Lewis and Rebecca (Johnson) Van Meter, natives of Salem County, N. J., who, shortly after their marriage, moved to Cass County, Ind., and from there to Harrison County, Mo., about 1856, and are now residing near New Hampton, Mo. The father served during the Rebellion as a member of the Home Guards. Our subject was reared upon a farm, upon which he worked until twenty- one, and then spent two years upon the railroad. He was first a fireman on the Denver & Rio Grande Railroad, between Antonito, Colo., and Elmargo, N. M., and afterward filled the same position on the Southern Pacific Railroad, between Los Angeles, Cal., and Fort Yuma, Ariz., after which he worked on the Northern Pacific Railroad between Ainsworth, W. T., and Sandy Point, I. T., and also
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traveled quite extensively through Wyoming, Montana, Dakota, Brit- ish Columbia and Old Mexico. He then went to San Francisco, and from there returned home on the Northern Pacific, via Minneapolis and Chicago. He has also traveled through Mexico and Arkansas. He began life for himself when seventeen, and as a result of his indus- try and good management is now the owner of 157} acres of land, upon which he resides, and twenty acres in another tract. June 28, 1885, he married Miss Sarah Zinn, a native of Illinois, and daughter of Jacob and Sarah (Larue) Zinn, natives of Pennsylvania. To Mr. and Mrs. Van Meter two children have been born (both of whom are deceased): Bertha and Lewis Homer. Mr. Van Meter is a Democrat in politics, and is a member of the Blue Lodge in Masonry.
John W. Virden was born in Sussex County, Del., July 23, 1807, and is a son of Mitchell Virden, who was also born in that county and State, and who married Mrs. Naomi Bruce, nee Jefferson, who was a native of the same State. The father engaged in farming in his native county until his death in 1838, and was a son of William Virden, a native of Delaware. John W. had one brother and two sisters, and at the present writing but himself and one sister survive. He remained upon his father's farm until about twenty-five years of age, and in the sum- mer of 1832 went to Ohio and worked upon a farm in Marion County until 1838, when he spent one season in Shelby County, Ill. In the spring of 1839 he removed to Schuyler County, Ill., and in the spring of 1840 came to Harrison County, Mo., being the first settler of White Oak Township; his nearest neighbor was seven miles distant. He immediately took a claim, or a squatter's right, on the land upon which he now resides, and when the same came into market, some six years later, he entered it. He at first entered 160 acres, to which he after- ward added 160, but has since increased his property until he now owns 1,200 acres, for which he has paid from $1 to $20 per acre. About 1,000 acres are improved, with good buildings; 700 devoted to meadow and plow land, and 400 in the home place. On December 31, 1846, Mr. Virden married Miss Caroline, daughter of George Black (deceased), of North Carolina, who came with her mother to Harrison County about 1845. By this union there are now four children: William M., John H., Naomi J. and Amy E., wife of F. M. Pruden, of Harrison County. One child, Eliza Ann, died at the age of twelve. Mr. Virden is a stanch Republican. He has never held any office, though at the first election in the county he was elected justice of the peace, but refused to serve. Himself and wife belong to the Presby- terian Church.
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HARRISON COUNTY.
John H. Virden, farmer and stock raiser of Section 16, Township 63, Range 29, was born in Harrison County, Mo., October 6, 1854, and is a son of John W. and Caroline Virden [see sketch]. He was reared and received a good common-school education in his native State, and was here married, February 21, 1878, to Miss Florence A. Chipps, a native of Indiana, but reared in Harrison County, and a daughter of John W. Chipps, now a resident of Cheyenne County, N. M. After his marriage Mr. Virden settled upon his present farm, which contains 200 acres of land, all under a good state of cultivation, and upon which he has built a large one and a half story dwelling house, large barns, cribs, wagon-sheds, etc. He has a nice orchard of about 200 trees, and lives in a comfortable house. He has a family of three children: Lizzie D., Florence E. and Amy J. One son, John E., died August 15, 1884, in his third year. Mrs. Virden is a worthy member of the Presbyterian Church.
Thomas F. Walton was born in Montgomery County, Ind., June 19, 1843. His parents, David R. and Christine (Walter), were natives of Ohio, born March 30, 1818, and 1817, respectively. Mr. Walton settled in Montgomery County, Ind., in 1839, and in that year, in Octo- ber, was married. In 1861 he enlisted in the Fifty-first Illinois Infantry, and after being discharged at the expiration of one and a half years for disability returned home. In 1870 he came to Harrison County, Mo., and lived in Butler Township, until his death in July, 1880. He left a widow, four sons and two daughters to mourn his loss, three of whom live in Harrison County. T. F. received a good education during his youth, and for a short time taught school. Septem- ber 17, 1868, he was married in Warren County, Ind., to Jennie Bum- gardner, a native of that county, where she was reared, and daughter of David Bumgardner. After his marriage Mr. Walton farmed in Warren County until March, 1873, when he bought a place in Har- rison County, Mo., but then slightly improved. He now has 135 acres well fenced, in meadow and pasture land, and lives in a nice house, surrounded with good outbuildings and a good orchard. Mr. Walton lost his first wife January 10, 1874, by whom he had three children. October 16, 1874, he married Mary C. Bryant, daughter of Stephen Bryant, of Harrison County, and a native of Clayton County, Ill., by whom he also had three children. The names of all his children are Eva A., wife of James Kelley; Warren D., Louie C., Ella, Theodore and Ollie. Mr. Walton is a Mason of the Knight Templar degree, and belongs to the Bethany Lodge. In politics he is a Republican, and in creed his wife is a member of the Christian Church.
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George W. Wanamaker, senior member of the firm of Wanamaker & Barlow, attorneys at law at Bethany, was born October 8, 1850, in Belleville, Ontario. His parents, Isaac and Mary (Way) Wanamaker, were both natives of the same place. The father immigrated to the United States in 1869, and located in Chariton County, Mo., where he still lives. George W. was reared in his native country, and educated at the Albert University, at Belleville, Ontario. After graduating from the law department at Ann Arbor, Mich., he went to Kirksville, Mo., and began the practice of his profession. In 1878 he came to Beth- any, where he is now successfully engaged in business as above stated. The firm is well-known in the town, and does quite an exten- sive abstract of title business. Mr. Wanamaker is a Republican, and for three years served as city attorney, but has never aspired to political office. December 23, 1879, he married Bessie Templeman, a native of Bethany, and daughter of William A. Templeman. This union has been blessed with two children-Ernest and Hazel. Mr. Wanamaker is a Master Mason, a member of the A. O. U. W., and is united with the Methodist Episcopal Church. He is an influential man, and is greatly in sympathy with the Prohibition movement. George W. Barlow, the junior member of the above mentioned firm, was born in Jackson County, Ohio, August 14, 1855, and is a son of James and Lucinda (Nally) Barlow, natives of Virginia and Ohio, respectively. The family came to Missouri in 1865, and in March, 1870, removed to Cypress Township, from Chillicothe, where the father is well known and respected. George W. was educated at the State University, at Columbia, Mo., and graduated from both the nor- mal and law departments of that institute. He began to practice law in Bethany in 1879, and for one year was a partner of T. D. Neal. For the past six years he has contributed largely to the success of the firm he is now a member of, and is recognized as one of the prosperous attorneys of the town. October 9, 1879, he married Miss Lizzie, daughter of Nelson A. Hockridge, and a native of Bethany, by whom he has had one child-Ina Mabel. In politics he is a stanch Republican, and served one year as city attorney. He is a Master Mason, a member of the Sons of Veterans, and himself and wife belong to the Methodist Episcopal Church.
Francis M. Watts was born in Daviess County, Mo., November 18, 1841, and is a son of John George and Dulcina (Jones) Watts, natives of Kentucky. The father immigrated to Missouri about 1838, and made his home in Daviess County, Mo., and in Indiana for several years. He is now a resident of Osceola, Iowa. The mother is
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deceased. To them four children were born: Francis M., Malvina (wife of H. M. Chamberlain), Joseph Oscar and Julius. Francis made his home with his parents during his younger days, and learned the watchmaker's trade. He established a business of his own at Cory- don, Iowa, and later came to Missouri, in November, 1883, where he engaged in his present business on the south side of the public square. He carries a large stock of watches, clocks, jewelry, solid and plated ware, and controls a large share of the leading patronage in his line in the city and county. He also has implements and machinery with which he does all kinds of wheel cutting for watches, changing from the key to stem winders, etc. May 1, 1867, he married Mary C. Thomas, a native of Winchester, Ohio, by whom he has one child- Nellie. Mr. Watts is a Democrat, a Mason, a Select Knight of the A. O. U. W., and belongs to the I. O. O. F.
Joseph Webb, an old settler of Trail Creek Township, is a son of Jonathan and Elizabeth (Henisey) Webb, and is of English descent. His father was a native of Connecticut, and his mother of New Jersey, and after their marriage they located in the latter State, where they spent some time. They next located near Columbus, Ohio. In 1852 they came to Missouri, and afterward lived in Iowa and Wisconsin. Their last days were spent with Joseph Webb, who was their sixth child of a family of five sons and four daughters. Mr. and Mrs. Webb were Methodists, and in politics the former was a stanch Whig and Republican. He lived to the advanced age of eighty-nine, and his wife to the age of eighty-two. Joseph Webb was born in Wayne County, Penn., in 1820, and was there reared upon a farm, and received a common-school education. At the age of fourteen he began to work by the month, and in 1843 rode upon horseback to Missouri. Here he was unfortunate, as having loaned a stranger his horse he never saw it again, and sickness consumed his money. After receiving a start again by chopping wood, he obtained a position in a distillery, and became an expert distiller. He afterward spent some time upon the river, attended school in Ohio, and passed two years in Illinois. In 1850 he went to St. Charles County, Mo., and wedded Martha L. Herndon, who lived but nineteen months. In 1854 he married Mar- garet Lindsay, who died seven months later, and in 1856 he was united in marriage with Elizabeth Cockrell, by whom eleven children have been born: William L., Martha L., Charles T., Mary C., Joseph E., John R., Sarah E., James A., Byron, Leonard and an infant. In 1856 Mr. Webb came to Harrison County, Mo. There he now owns 2,000 acres of land, and is interested in seven banks. He is an enter-
Welk
HARRISON COUNTY ti Joseph
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prising business man, and has been an extensive stock dealer. In politics he was formerly a Whig, and cast his first presidential vote for Henry Clay, but is now a Democrat. He is a Knight Templar. Himself and wife belong to the Missionary Baptist Church.
Washington B. Weldon, a farmer and stock raiser of Adams Town- ship, was born in Pittsylvania County, Va., in 1822, and is the son of Jonathan and Nancy H. (Butts) Weldon (the former of Anglo-Scotch ancestry), who were also natives of the same State, born, respectively, in 1775 and 1790. In 1830, shortly after their marriage, which occurred in Virginia, they went to Hart County, Ky., where he died in 1844. His wife afterward, in 1856, went to Harrison County, where she died in 1871. They were both worthy members of the Missionary Baptist Church. Washington B. received a common- school education at home, and was married in 1849 to Miss Mary M., daughter of Isaac and Hulda Highbaugh, who were natives of Ken- tucky. This union has resulted in eleven children, ten of whom are living: Charles L., a merchant at Maysville; Thomas A., a tonsorial artist at Trenton; Hulda, wife of Samuel Hudson, of Woolsey, Dak .; Bessie, wife of Asbury Hudson, of Woolsey, Dak. ; George D., of same place; James M., Martha M., William W., Mary A. and Jonathan B. In politics Mr. Weldon has been a life-long Democrat, and cast his first vote for Polk in 1844. In the year 1855 he left Kentucky, and went to Harrison County, locating four miles southeast of Blue Ridge, where by his industry and careful management he has succeeded in accumulating 480 acres of well improved land, and about seventy acres of timber. Having a limited education himself, he realized the advantages of which he was deprived, and has given his children a common-school education. He has always taken a deep interest in all educational matters. Both he and his wife are faithful members of the Missionary Baptist Church.
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