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 65
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 65
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started in business at Bethany, and the following year took Mr. Cum- ming into partnership with him. May 26, 1874, he married Ella M. Scheaffer, a native of Decatur County, Iowa, and daughter of Tally B. Scheaffer, of Eagleville. This union has been blessed with six chil- dren: Manly, Bert, Rolph, Robert H., Charles F. and Ina M. Mr. Wren is a Republican and chairman of the Republican Central Com- mittee of the county. He is a Select Knight of the A. O. U. W. During the war he served as non-commissioned officer in Company H, Forty-third Missouri Infantry, and is now a member of the G. A. R.
Andrew Cumming, the junior member of the above firm, was born near Edinburgh, Scotland, December 29, 1842, and is a son of Alex- ander and Agnes (Wilson) Cumming, also natives of Scotland, where the father died when Andrew was quite young. In September, 1852, the mother, with four sons and two daughters, came to the United States, and located in Pennsylvania, where the family was reared, after which Andrew and others of the family went to Illinois. In 1877 Mr. Cumming came to Bethany, and has since been a resident of this county, where the following members of the family also live: John W., Thompson, Mrs. Scott Peacock, and Mrs. Jeanette Reid (wife of George Reid). Andrew was employed in the mercantile business about five years previous to coming to Bethany, after which he clerked here three years, and then in 1881 became the partner of Mr. Wren. He married Isabelle T. Brown, a native of Pottsville, Penn., by whom he has had the following children: Williamena, wife of Charles Sherer, and Alexander Scott. Mr. Cumming is a stanch Republican, and a member of the A. O. U. W. Messrs. Wren & Cumming are whole- sale and retail dealers in dry goods, clothing, hats, caps, boots, shoes, carpets, upholstery, etc., and carry a complete line of general mer- chandise. The store building is of brick, and consists of two stores, connected together by an archway; it is two stories in height, and is owned by the firm.
R. R. Young was born in Blount County, Tenn., November 22, 1829, and his parents, Jeremiah S. and Ruth (Boring) Young, were also natives of that State and county. The family moved from Ten- nessee and located in Bond County, Ill., in March, 1831, and there remained until 1838, when they made their home in Jackson County, Mo., for four years, after which they moved to White Oak Township, Harrison County, near the present residence of R. R. Young. There the father pre-empted and improved one-fourth of a section of land, upon which he lived until his death, December 12, 1882. In 1833 he joined the United States Rangers under Capt. Duncan, and for his
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HARRISON COUNTY.
services received a land warrant for 160 acres in Section 32, where one son now resides. Of a family of nine children who grew to maturity, three sons and three daughters are now living, of whom R. R. and one brother are residents of Harrison County, Mo. R. R. Young grew to manhood in this county, and was here married Jan- uary 12, 1854, to Lydia Jones, daughter of Jacob Jones, of Gentry County, who moved from Pennsylvania to Ohio, and from there to Gentry County, and is now a resident of the town of Albany. Mrs. Young was born in Ohio, but passed the greater part of her youth in Gentry County, and is the mother of the following children: Lucy D., a county teacher; Jacob S., of Oregon; Temelia L., wife of Albert Morgan, of Gentry County; James G., of Southern Kansas; Robert R., married, and a county teacher; Ella R., wife of Samuel R. McNaght. Mr. Young bought the land upon which he lives in 1851, but improved it only slightly until after his marriage. He has since added to his original possession until he now owns 265 acres, all fenced and improved with good buildings, and a large two-story resi- dence nearly new. In 1873 he visited California, and spent the sum- mer in looking around the country, and in 1883 went to Oregon, where he located some land, and spent the summer. He is a Republican in politics, and in creed his wife is a Presbyterian.
Franklin B. Young, farmer and stock raiser of Section 32, Town- ship 63, Range 29, was born in Cass County, Mo., May 2, 1839, and is a son of Jeremiah and Ruth Young, and a brother of R. R. Young. He passed his youth upon his father's farm in Harrison County. October 4, 1861, he enlisted in the militia, in which he served until discharged July 13, 1864, after which he enlisted in the Forty-third Missouri Infantry, and served until the 29th of May, 1865, when he was discharged at St. Louis as a non-commissioned officer. While he was at St. Joseph with a part of the command nearly all of his regiment was captured at Glascow. December 21, 1862, he was married in Harrison County, Mo., to Cassandra A. McGee, daughter of Madison and Catherine McGee. Mrs. Young was born in Kentucky, but when young accompanied her parents to Har- rison County, where she was reared. After his marriage Mr. Young settled upon the place where he now resides, which was then but slightly improved, and which is the land his father entered with a land warrant from the Government. Mr. Young now owns 396 acres all fenced, 200 of which are devoted to meadow, pas- ture and plow land. He is a Republican, and as such has served three terms as township trustee. He is a member of Lieut. T. D. Neal
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Post, G. A. R., at Bethany. To Mr. and Mrs. Young the following children have been born: Jane E. (county teacher), Susan A. (wife of L. D. Dailey), H. A., Ruth M., Colmore H., Harvey J., Chester S., Garner F., Asa D. and Ospha C.
William S. Young, a leading farmer of Harrison County, was born in Clinton County, Ky., June 15, 1844, and was the ninth of ten chil- dren of Andrew and Edith (Smith) Young. His parents were natives of Kentucky and North Carolina respectively, but were married in Kentucky, to which State the mother accompanied her parents when a child. After their marriage they came to Clinton County, and the father engaged in farming until his death in 1846. The mother is still living in the same county. William S. remained with his mother until nineteen years of age, when he accompanied his brothers to Worth County, and lived with them for the next four years, chiefly engaged in farming. At the end of this time he married and settled on a tract of land in the same county, where he remained until April, 1872, when he removed to Jasper County, of the same State, living here, however, but a short time; he made his final move to Harrison Coun- ty, in March, 1873, and settled upon the farm he had purchased, situated in Section 31, Township 65 north, Range 29 west, and where he has since resided. Serefta Jane, daughter of Moses Darrel and Rachel (Carpenter) Darrel, and widow of Samuel Van Meter, was born in 1842, in Missouri, and was married to Samuel Van Meter, November 21, 1861, in Worth County. Her husband died while in service at St. Louis, the widow afterward becoming the wife of Mr. Young, February 22, 1866, in Worth County. By her first marriage there was one child, Samuel B. Van Meter, and the second union has been blessed with eight children: Mollie Isabel, David S., Frances Elizabeth, William Daniel, Owen Newton, Rosa Clementine, Euphe- mia May and Viola Victoria. Mr. Young politically is a Democrat, and cast his first presidential vote for Horatio Seymour in 1868; while he has always been a hearty supporter of his party he has never been an aspirant for office, though he served as trustee of Washington Township for two years. The subject of this sketch has ever been an enterprising business man, and as a result of his persistent efforts now owns a good farm of over 133 acres, the most of which is in a good state of cultivation. He is respected by all who know him, and is in every sense of the word a representative citizen. Mr. Young and wife are members of the Baptist Church, and always give their hearty support to all church and educational enterprises.
Justin L. Young, junior member of the firm of Young Bros.,
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HARRISON COUNTY.
general merchants at Blythedale, Harrison Co., Mo., was born in Canada, near Chatham, February 2, 1851, and is a son of William and Amelia (Coon) Young. The father is of Irish-English descent, and the mother's ancestors came from Scotland. Both Mr. and Mrs. Young were born in Canada, and about 1866 moved to the United States, settling in Illinois. Two years later they moved to Decatur County, Iowa, where they now live, aged seventy-two and sixty seven, respectively. The father is a Republican and a member of the Meth- odist Episcopal Church, while the mother belongs to the Missionary Baptist Church. Justin L. is the fifth of seven children, and was reared upon a farm, receiving his education in Canada and Iowa. In 1879 he came to Harrison County, Mo., and for two years himself and brother, Philip, engaged in the cattle business at Blythedale. In 1881 they established their present business, and now conduct a general store in connection with a lumber and grain business. For the past two years they have dealt in stallions and now have a fine Norman and two fine Clydesdale. March 20, 1881, Justin L. Young wedded Miss Flora B. Anderson, a native of this county, and born November 9, 1861. Her parents, William and Malinda (Hicks) Anderson, were born January 11, 1809, in Kentucky, and April 11, 1842, in Indiana, respectively. In early life they accompanied their parents to Mis- souri, and were married in Harrison County, July 27, 1860, and then lived upon a farm here until their respective deaths, August 11, 1883, and August 15, 1885. Mr. Anderson was a Democrat in politics. To Mr. and Mrs. Young, one daughter, Telvir, was born September 2, 1884. Mr. Young is a Republican in politics.
John W. Yowell was born in Monroe County, Mo., August 22, 1843. His father, William P., was a pioneer settler of Missouri, having come to Monroe County over half a century ago, and is now one of the highly respected and well-to-do farmers of that county. He was born in Virginia, and his wife, Anna (Bybee) Yowell, is a native of Kentucky. John W. was reared to manhood in his native county, and secured a good education, most of which was obtained at Quincy, Ill. He embarked in mercantile life in his native county in 1866, and then taught school for a number of years. In July, 1882, he came to Bethany, and was for two years the efficient principal of the Bethany high school. In the fall of 1885 he engaged in his pres- ent mercantile business in the Athaneum Building, where he carries a full and well selected stock of dry goods, clothing, notions and staple groceries. December 25, 1882, he married Mrs. Hattie J. (Long) Neal, a native of Brown County, Ill. He is independent in politics,
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BIOGRAPHICAL APPENDIX.
and a member of the I. O. O. F. Himself and wife belong to the Cumberland Presbyterian Church, and are well-respected citizens of Bethany.
F. Zimmerman, a prosperous farmer of Harrison County, was born April 14, 1825, in Davis County, N. C., and is a son of Christian and Sarah Zimmerman. His parents were probably natives of the same State, were married there, and lived only until our subject was eight years of age. From this time he was wholly compelled to support himself; worked with several different persons in his native State until twenty years old, when he proceeded westward, locating in Han- cock County, Ind .; remained there a few months, then moving on to Rush County of the same State, where he lived a short time, when he once more moved on, and farmed and worked in timber in Hendricks, Putnam and Boone Counties, in the fall of which year he moved his family to Harrison County, Mo. Previous to his departure from Indiana in 1857 he married Phœbe, daughter of Lorenzo Dow and Margaret Wright, and who was born in Virginia, about 1830. She accompanied her parents to Indiana when a small child, and remained there until her marriage. The union of Mr. and Mrs. Zimmerman has been blessed with nine children: Sarah (wife of William Jordan), John Franklin, Nelson, Thomas, Nancy (wife of William Long), Maggie (wife of Eli Crukmore), Amanda, Mary and Reuben. During the late war Mr. Zimmerman served in the State Militia, and is a Democrat polit- ically, casting his first vote for the Democratic candidate in 1848. He and his wife are worthy members of the Methodist Church, and are ear- nest workers in all educational or church undertakings. Mr. Zimmer- man is in every sense of the word a self-made man. Starting in life with comparatively no education, thrown entirely upon his own resources, he has by long continued and persistent efforts become a wealthy and influential citizen of the county, and is the owner of a fine farm of 240 acres, situated in Section 16, Township 65 north, Range 29 west. When he first located on this tract of land it was wholly uncultivated, but he has succeeded in bringing it to its present state of perfection.
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BIOGRAPHICAL APPENDIX.
MERCER COUNTY.
Capt. H. J. Alley was born in Franklin County, Ind., May 29, 1833, and in childhood was taken by his parents to Madison County, Ill., where they resided four years. In 1846 they immigrated to Mercer County, Mo., locating at the present site of Marion. Here H. J. was reared upon the farm until the commencement of the war, when he enlisted in the Fifth Kansas Cavalry, and served about one year as second lieutenant of Company B, at the expiration of which time he resigned on account of poor health, and returned home. He afterward commanded Company I, Fourth Missouri Provisional Regiment, East Missouri Militia, about one year, and January 18, 1865, began to dis- charge the duties of sheriff of Mercer County, which office he filled four years. His education was principally received at the common schools of the county, but in early manhood he commenced the study of law, and after being admitted to the bar in 1868, he began the practice of his profession in March, 1869, which he has since continued in Princeton. For two years he served his county as prosecuting attorney. Margaret Ellen Brewer, a native of Illinois, became his wife in 1857, and died October 20, 1883. He afterward married Mrs. Lucy Price, nee Rob- ertson, of Grundy County, Mo. The Captain is a Free Mason and a member of the G. A. R. The Alley family emigrated from England to Virginia during the early history of that State, and the paternal grandfather, Peter, was born in Russell County, of that State, partic- ipated in the War of 1812, and died in Chariton County, Mo. Will- iam, the father, was also a native of Russell County, Va., and born in 1809. When three years old he was taken by his parents to Franklin County, Ind., and in 1840 moved to Illinois, and from there to Mis- souri in 1846. He was a county judge and justice of the peace of Mercer County for many years, and died in 1873. His wife and the mother of our subject, Mary Alley, was a native of Virginia, the mother of five sons and three daughters, of whom the Captain is the eldest, and died in Mercer County in 1882. William H., a brother of our subject, was wounded at Helena during the war, and died from the effects in 1863. One sister is also dead.
James M. Alley, clerk of Mercer County, is a native of Mercer
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MERCER COUNTY.
County, and was born May 17, 1848. He is a son of William and Mary (Jones) Alley [see sketch of Capt. H. J. Alley], and was reared to manhood under the paternal roof. He received a common English education during his youth, and for some time resided upon a farm in Marion Township, and while there served four years as constable. In 1878 he was elected sheriff of Mercer County, and after a term of two years was re-elected, and served until 1882. In that year he was elected county clerk, and after discharging the duties of that office in a highly efficient manner during a term of four years was elected in the fall of 1886 for another term of four years. He has always been a stanch Republican in politics, and as such has been elected to the various positions of public trust he has so faithfully filled. December 19, 1869, he married Miss Margaret Girdner, of Mercer County. To Mr. and Mrs. Alley five children have been born: Gussie A., Lewis V., Joseph A., Charlie O., and an infant son. Mr. Alley is a member of the Encampment of the I. O. O. F., being V. G. of the subordinate lodge, and is also a member of the A. O. U. W., and justly recognized as one of Mercer County's reliable citizens and popular public officials.
William D. Alley was born in Franklin County, Ind., April 4, 1860, and having lost his father when nine months old accompanied his mother, two brothers and one sister to Mercer County, Mo., dur- ing his childhood. He lived upon a farm until about fifteen years old, during which time he received but a limited education. At that age he began to learn the carpenter's trade, which he followed five years. He was then employed as a clerk in a general store, and by strict attention to business, honesty, industry and economy he saved and accumulated enough money to enable him, in 1887, to embark in mercantile life for himself. He now carries a stock of goods valued at from $2,000 to $5,000, is meeting with well deserved success, and is recognized as one of the promising and energetic young merchants of his township. August 11, 1886, he was united in marriage with Lettie J. Lowrey, and to this union one son was born, August 25, 1887-Clif- ford William.
James P. Anderson was born May 8, 1835, in De Witt County, Ill. In 1853 he immigrated with his parents to Red Rock, Iowa, where with his father he engaged in the mercantile business, two years later going to Harrison County, Mo., where he again entered the mercan- tile business in Eagleville. In 1858 he built the Eagleville House, which he ran for seven years; then, in 1866, founded the Eagleville Nur- . series, which he successfully carried on for eleven years. Buying the
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BIOGRAPHICAL APPENDIX.
Princeton Mills he moved to Mercer County, in 1884, and built the Princeton Woolen Mills, which he still successfully runs. In 1887 he took out the old buhrs from the flouring-mill, and replaced them with the most modern system of rolls. Mr. Anderson devotes his entire attention at this time to the management of the factory and mills. Politically he is a Democrat, although during the war voted with the Republicans, never wavering in his devotion to the Union. He was captain of Company L, Fifty-seventh East Missouri Militia, and while in this service, in 1863, lost his right arm by accident. He was nominated by the Democratic party in 1886 for representative of Mercer County, but owing to the overwhelming Republican majori- ties in this county was defeated.
Hon. Joseph P. Bailey was born in Logan County, Va., February 8, 1834, and is a son of James and Delilah (Goare) Bailey, both of Virginia. Joseph P. was reared to manhood in his native State, and lived with his parents upon the farm until sixteen years of age. In 1858 he immigrated to Missouri, and settled in Goshen Prairie, in Mercer County. He removed to Harrison County in 1862, and engaged in mercantile pursuits at Cainesville. In the fall of 1876 he removed to Princeton, and continued engaged in mercantile life until last year, since which time he has devoted his time and attention to his farming interests, in connection with which he is largely interested in grain and stock dealing. He owns 500 acres of well-improved and cultivated land, and is considered one of the substantial and enter- prising citizens of the county. In 1857 he married Sallie S. Dowd, a native of Greenbrier County, Va., by whom there are five living children-Edward B., Charles S., Lillian B. (wife of C. W. Fairley, of Colorado Springs), and Rose V. Mr. Bailey is a Democrat, and in 1882 was elected to represent Mercer County in the State Legislature, serving with honor and distinction in the Thirty-second General Assembly, and being chosen a member of several important commit- tees in that body. While in Harrison County he was a member of the county court, and in his native county in Virginia served as county surveyor. He is a Master Mason, and a well-known and respected citizen.
Edward B. Bailey was born in Mercer County, Mo., October 14, 1859, and is a son of Joseph P. Bailey, of Princeton, by his marriage with Sarah S. Doud. Both parents were born in West Virginia. In 1858 the father immigrated to Missouri, and has resided in either Harrison or Mercer Counties ever since, engaged principally in mer- cantile business. For the last ten years he has lived in Princeton,
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MERCER COUNTY.
and eight years have been spent in business here. Edward B. spent a large portion of his youth in his father's store, and in 1883 engaged in the grocery business in Princeton, in which he has con- tinued successfully up to the present time. At his store, on the northwest corner of the public square, he carries one of the largest and best selected stock of groceries in Princeton, and controls a large town and country trade. He is unmarried. In connection with his mercantile business he owns and manages a large farm of 520 acres in Medicine Township. He is a Democrat in politics, is a member of the Encampment of the I. O. O. F., and is considered one of Prince- ton's most enterprising and substantial young citizens.
Thomas Ballew is the eldest of thirteen children (five dead) born to William and Sarah (Oney) Ballew, and was born March 17, 1819. His parents were natives of Buckingham and Tazewell Counties, Va., respectively, and were married in the latter county where they after- ward lived until 1831. In the fall of that year they immigrated to Morgan County, Ind., where the father entered a tract of land in the wilderness and cleared a farm. In the fall of 1840 he sought a more healthful home in Mercer County, Mo., and located upon some land six miles distant from the present site of Princeton. " Here he engaged in farming until his death, in 1844, when he was but forty-seven years of age. The mother died at Princeton in 1884, having made her home with her children since the same had become grown. The father was an early settler of Mercer County, and one of its successful and most respected citizens. Himself and wife were worthy and conscientious members of the Baptist Church. Thomas Ballew received a common- school education while a lad, and at the age of eighteen began to care for himself, although he made his home with his parents until twenty- three years old. He then married Mary Ellis, daughter of William Hartman, and widow of Robert Ellis. She was born in 1820 in Blountville, Tenn., where she was first married, and came with her husband to Mercer County in 1841, where he shortly after died. To her marriage with Mr. Ballew three children were born, two of whom are deceased. Mrs. Ballew died October 5, 1847, and October 25, 1848, Mr. Ballew married Phebe, daughter of Elijah H. and Polly (Sutherlin) Crawford. This lady was born October 10, 1828, in Put- nam County, Ind. Her parents were natives of Tennessee and Ken- tucky, and her father was a schoolmate of Davy Crockett. Her par- ents were early settlers of Putnam County, Ind., and Mercer County, Mo., having come to the latter State in 1846. The mother died upon their farm, six miles from Princeton, Mo., in 1851, and the father
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BIOGRAPHICAL APPENDIX.
afterward married and removed to Boone County, Iowa, where he died in 1882. To Mr. and Mrs. Ballew thirteen children were born of whom eleven are living: Dorcas, wife of George Norton; and a child of his first wife; Crawford; Sydney, wife of John Stewart; T. W .; Mildred, wife of Joseph Clodfelter; Webster; Squire; Millard; Lin- coln; Sallie, wife of Joseph Branham; Wilmetta and Donia. After his first marriage and until his second Mr. Ballew lived upon a farm adjoining the old homestead. He then moved five miles east of Princeton, and six months later upon the old John Hart farm, five miles west of Princeton. In March, 1852, he moved per- manently upon his present farm in Madison Township. He is one of the leading and wealthy farmers of the county, and owns 700 acres of land; 240 in the home place, which is nearly all cleared and under a good state of cultivation. He is an old, well-known and respected citizen of Mercer County, and a good example of a self-made man. He is Independent in politics, but previous to the war was a Whig, and cast his first presidential vote for Harrison in 1840. His wife and two daughters are members of the Methodist Episcopal Church, and his daughter by his first marriage belongs to the Christian Church. Mrs. Crawford's maternal grandmother, Lydia Franklin, was a first cousin of Dr. Benjamin Franklin, signer of the Declaration of Inde- pendence and the electrician, and her grandfather, Joseph Crawford, was his second cousin.
Andervill Booth was born in Cabell County, Va., in 1828, and is a son of Jonathan and Celia (Walker) Booth. His father was also a native of that county and born in 1805. In 1839 he immigrated to Mercer County, Mo., where he entered land and settled in Harrison Township. He afterward bought and sold various tracts in different counties, and at his death, February 9, 1887, resided at Burlington Junction, Nodaway County, Mo. He was of English descent, and an early settler of Northern Missouri. He was the owner of about 300 acres, and during the early history of Missouri served as justice of the peace a few years. He was a Whig during the days of that party, but afterward became a stanch Republican. His wife was of English and. German descent, and a native of Virginia. She died March 12, 1865, aged fifty-six years, two months and twelve days. Andervill Booth is the eldest of five children born to his parents, and at the age of eleven came to Missouri, where he lived with his parents until past eighteen years of age. October 22, 1847, he married Mary Ann Robertson, daughter of Carter T. and Polly (Suseberry) Carter. Mrs. Booth was born in Breckinridge County, Ky., in 1831, and is the mother of the
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