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 71
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 71
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He murder hates, by field or flood, Though glory's name may screen us.
In 1862 he was elected to represent Mercer County in the Legislature, and served during the winters of 1862-63 and 1863-64. He was after- ward a candidate for nomination to the same office, but was defeated, and has since filled but minor offices. He has been an active member of the Baptist Church since the age of twenty, and the greater part of the past thirty years has officiated as Sunday-school super- intendent. For several years he has been occupying much of his time in the work of the ministry of the Church of God, laboring freely for the glory of God, and the advancement of this cause in the community, and has for a number of years been the clerk and is the present moderator of the North Grand River Association of Bap- tist Churches. He is a man of positive character, true to his convic- tions, and a hearty supporter and promoter of the educational and religious welfare of his county. Much of his success he attributes to his good and faithful wife, who has ever proved a true helpmate. He has no higher aspirations for the future than to have a pleasant home,
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blessed with books and friends, surrounded by fruits and flowers, and all that tends to make life lovely and pleasant; and to be a useful member of society, striving to promote the best interests of mankind, and to build up the cause of education, temperance and religion until the final call from labor to reward. Mr. Kennedy is secretary of a tomological and horticultural society whose history is as follows: A preliminary meeting to arrange for the organization of a tomologi- cal and horticultural society was held at the residence of W. V. King, one and one-half miles north of Princeton, October 6, 1887. Fifteen names were obtained, committee appointed to prepare rules and regulations, and on the first day of November, 1887, the members met in Princeton, adopted a constitution, regulations, etc., and com- pleted the organization by selecting the following officers: R. J. Lewis, president; J. L. Wood, vice-president; W. V. King, treasurer; J. A. Kennedy, secretary.
Lester King was born in Seneca County, Ohio, in 1842, and is a son of Peter T. and Nancy (Rickett) King. The father was of German descent, and born in Butler County, Penn., in 1799. He was a farmer by occupation, and in 1828 immigrated to Seneca County, Ohio, and in 1853 to Mercer County, Mo., where he located in Morgan Township upon 140 acres of land. His death occurred in 1880. He was married three times and was the father of eight children, two by his first wife and six by his second. The latter was the mother of our subject, and was born in Fairfield County, Ohio, in 1803. She died in 1867. Lester was the youngest child, being eleven years of age when he accom- panied his parents to Mercer County. He received a district school education when young, and lived with his parents until eighteen years of age. He was a strong Union man, and in August, 1861, enlisted in Company D, Second Missouri Cavalry, known as Merrill's Horse. His principal duty consisted of raiding and skirmishing, but he participated in the battles of Little Rock, Ark., and Bia Metra, and was in both raids made by Sterling Price in Missouri. After serving four years and two months he was discharged in September, 1865, at Nashville, Tenn. December 10, 1865, he married Miss Sarah Curtis, daughter of Laban and Sarah Curtis. Mrs. King was born November 14, 1849, in Mercer County, Mo., and is the mother of six children: Claude, Andrew J., Effie, Maggie, Laban and Joseph. Mr. King located where he now resides the year of his marriage, and is the owner of 172 acres of good land, and is considered a successful and enterprising farmer. He is a Republican, and cast his first presiden- tial vote for A. Lincoln in 1864. He is a member of the G. A. R., and
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a charter member of Capt. Stanley Post. His wife has been a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church sixteen years.
Greenberry B. King, a leading farmer of Mercer County, was born in Illinois, in 1849, and is a son of Greenberry King, a native of Vir- ginia, who moved first to Ohio from his native State and afterward to Illinois. From there he came to Missouri, and settled upon a farm in Medicine Township. He died in Mercer County, in 1883; his wife, (the mother of our subject), died in 1869. Greenberry King, the sub- ject of this sketch, remained at home until nearly twenty-one years of age, at which time his father was married the third time. Greenberry then began life for himself, and by industry and economy is now the owner of the old home place which contains 160 acres well improved and under a good state of cultivation. He was united in marriage in 1870 to Miss Minera J. Sanders, daughter of J. W. Sanders, and to this union seven children have been born, viz. : Henry S., Pernine F., Hester M., Lucinda, Oliver, John E. and Ritta A. Mr. King is a public spirited citizen, takes great interest in the general welfare of his country, and is a stanch supporter of the Rebublican party, although he has never sought or held political office. Himself and family rank among the respected citizens of the community in which they live, and have a large circle of friends.
G. P. Larimore, postmaster and merchant of Mill Grove, was born March 16, 1845, in Shelby County, Ohio, and is the second of a family of six children (four deceased) of Jeremiah C. and Ann (Mal- com) Larimore, natives of Hampshire County, Va., where they lived until about 1844. They then located upon a farm in Shelby County, Ohio, where they lived until G. P. was six years of age. They then moved to Licking County, Ohio, and in the fall of 1855, went to Fre- mont County, Iowa. Three years later the father purchased eighty acres of land from the Government, which he sold in 1867, and the family then moved to Clinton County, Mo. In the summer of 1872 they made their final move to Mercer County, Mo., locating at Mill Grove, where the father engaged in mercantile pursuits for a short time. From 1875 until his death in 1877 he served as station agent of that place. Mrs. Larimore also died in 1877. G. P. Larimore received a common-school education in Fremont County, Iowa, and made his home with his parents until twenty-five years old, during which period he employed his time upon his father's farm. He was then married to Sarah, daughter of George Elliott, and a native of Darke County, Ohio, where she was born in 1850. She was the mother of four children (all deceased), and her death occurred in
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April, 1879, in Mill Grove. After his marriage Mr. Larimore spent a year in Clinton County, Mo., and then was employed at Mill Grove in the general mercantile store of Henry Baker. He remained with him but a short time, and in 1879 established himself in the grocery . business at Mill Grove. F. A. Bonner afterward became his partner, but sold his interest after a short time, and then the firm was known as Larimore & Butcher. A few months later Mr. Larimore bought his partner's interest, became the sole proprietor of the business, and is considered one of the prosperous merchants of the town. Pre- vious to starting in mercantile life Mr. Larimore was made postmas- ter of Mill Grove, which office he still retains. July 11, 1880, he was married in Linn County, Mo., to Virginia, daughter of Duncan R. and Fanny (Wilkinson) Stanley. Mrs. Larimore was born in Mercer County, March 10, 1860, but was principally reared in Linn County. She is the mother of two children: Clarence and Lena, and is a worthy member of the Baptist Church. In politics Mr. Larimore is a Demo- crat, and his first presidential vote was cast for Seymour in 1868.
Samuel A. Larimore, merchant of Mill Grove, was born in Ohio, in 1850, and is a son of J. C. Larimore, a native of Virginia. Samuel A. went to Iowa in 1855, and during his youth received a common-school education, although he grew up in the wilderness with Indians for asso- ciates. He came to Missouri from Iowa, in company with his parents in the year 1867, and settled upon a farm in Clinton County, where he farmed until 1870. He then went into the drug business at Platts- burg, Mo., in which he successfully engaged about three years, after which he sold out, and clerked for his father in a general store at Mill Grove. He married Maggie J., daughter of Samuel Blocker, of Clin- ton County, Mo., by whom two sons and three daughters were born: Jerry, Mattie, Annie, Bessie and Forest. Jerry and Mattie died in early childhood. Mr. Larimore established his present drug and gro- cery business at Mill Grove in 1879, and now carries a stock valued at about $2,000, and does a good business. Himself and wife belong to the Baptist Church, and he is a stanch Democrat.
Thomas W. Lemmax is a native of Pittsburgh, Penn., and was born May 22, 1826. His father, James Lemmax, was born in York, Ireland, in 1784, and when a young man came to the United States, locating in Pittsburgh, where he worked in a brewery. He was mar- ried in 1807, and a few years later bought a farm in Noble County, Ohio, where he located and passed the remainder of his life with the exception of five years spent in Pittsburgh. He was quite successful in his business transactions, and became the owner of 640 acres of
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land; his death occurred in 1858. His wife, Elizabeth (Franklin) Lemmax, was born in County Down, Ireland, in 1793, and immi- grated to America about the time Mr. Lemmax came. Thomas W. is the fifth of a family of five sons and four daughters, and was taken by his father to Noble County, Ohio, when four years old. He received a common-school education in Summerfield, and made his home with his parents until twenty-three, giving the proceeds of his labor to them in the meantime. March 8, 1849, he married Miss Dorinda Osborne, daughter of Samuel and Martha (Horton) Osborne. Mrs. Lemmax was born in Noble County, Ohio, July 30, 1831. Her parents are natives of Ireland, were born in 1799 and 1805, respec- tively, and are now living in Noble County, Ohio. Her grandparents, Moses and Dorinda (Barker) Horton, were converts of John Wesley, and resided in Dublin, the church meetings being held in their house. The grandfather was a soldier in the Irish Rebellion. Mr. and Mrs. Lemmax have four children: Ann Olivia (wife of William J. Clamands), Charles K., William H. and Mary J. In the fall of 1866 Mr. Lemmax came to Mercer County, and purchased 263 acres in Section 23, Township 65, Range 25, of Harrison Township, upon which he located in 1868 with his family. He is a successful farmer, with a well improved place, and besides his farm owns three town lots in Princeton. He is conservative in politics, and cast his first presi- dential vote for Fillmore in 1852. In the spring of 1852 he went by water via New Orleans to California, the journey occupying six months and seven days, and after working there in the mines, returned home via New York. Mrs. Lemmax has been a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church for over thirty-nine years.
John C. W. Lindsey (deceased), a former prominent citizen and merchant of Princeton, was born in Putnam County, Tenn., Septem- ber 18, 1822, and was a son of Robert and Margaret (Allison) Lindsey, natives of North Carolina. Robert Lindsey and two sons, William New- ton and Joseph A., immigrated to Missouri in 1839, and took up claims in what is now Mercer County. Robert returned to Tennessee a year or two later and there died. William Newton and Joseph A. lived in Mercer County until their deaths. Four sons and one daughter of Newton reside in Mercer County and have families, but the descendants of Joseph live in Tennessee. A. M. Lindsey (another son) came to Mercer County about 1847; he reared quite a large family, many of whom still reside in this country; he died in 1873. John C. W. Lindsey came to Mercer County, Mo., in 1849, and in 1850 was em- ployed as a clerk in the mercantile business. After being thus en-
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gaged about six years he started in business for himself, and devoted the remainder of his life to mercantile pursuits, meeting with good and deserved success. For over thirty years he was regarded as one of Princeton's most reliable business men and respected citizens, and his death was mourned by a large circle of social and business friends. His death occured November 7, 1886. His first wife, Elizabeth Jane (Rhea) Lindsey, was born in Tennessee, February 24, 1824, and died in Princeton, March 3, 1859, leaving the following children: Martha A., wife of W. B. Ballew, of Princeton; Robert C. H., Mary M.,
wife of T. E. Evans, of Princeton; Maggie D., wife of Rev. T. A.
Canady, of Kirksville, Mo., and William P. His second wife, Eliza- beth (Scott) Lindsey, and three sons are still living: John A. N., Charles F. K. and Emmett A. M. John C. W. Lindsey was an un- swerving Democrat in politics, and, although he never sought political honors, served as county judge one term by appointment. He was a public-spirited citizen, and assisted largely in the up-building of Princeton. His son, Robert C. H., was born May 29, 1845, in White County, Tenn., and reared in Mercer County, Mo. He received a practical business education in his father's store, and in 1878, in part- nership with his brother, William P., engaged in the hardware busi- ness. In 1882 they succeeded their father (who then retired) in busi- ness, and the firm now occupies a large two-story brick building, erected by their father in 1876 on the northwest corner of the public square. They carry a complete and well assorted stock of general merchandise, and enjoy a large patronage. Robert C. H. was first. married to Sallie E. Rhea, whom he lost by death, and in August, 1884, he married his present wife, who was then Miss Maggie J. Wright. To them two children have been born: Edith and John H. W. Mr. Lindsey is a Democrat, and a member of the I. O. O. F. and A. O. U. W. William P. Lindsey was born February 5, 1854, in Princeton, Mo., and was also educated by his father in business life. September 22, 1872 he married Susan A. Clements, who was also born in Princeton, and who is the mother of four living children: Lula A., William Edward, Freddie Rhea and John C. W. Mr. Lindsey is a Royal Arch Mason, and a member of the A. O. U. W.
Andrew J. Loe was born in Ray County, Mo., November 10, 1837, and is a son of Samuel and Elizabeth Loe. The father is an honored citizen of Mercer County, and was born in Campbell County, Tenn., July 22, 1811. He is the ninth of fourteen children born to Fielden and Mary Loe, and lived with his parents upon their farm until his marriage. His educational advantages were very poor, but in all his
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trials and exertions he always found a ready friend and helper in his mother. In 1833 he married Elizabeth, daughter of Reuben Hatfield, and a year later went to Ray County, Mo., where he lived one year. In 1837 he moved within the boundry of Mercer County, before the county organization, and entered eighty acres of land which he pro- ceeded to improve, and to which he has since added. His wife is an active woman of seventy-three years, and has borne him fifteen children, ten of whom are living. He is a Democrat, and cast his first presidential vote for Jackson. During the war he was a Union sympathizer, although he did not serve in the regular army. Mrs. Loe is a worthy member of the Baptist Church. Andrew J. is the third child born to his parents, and passed his youth upon his father's farm. Like him his educational advantages were limited, but being of an industrious and studious nature he has acquired knowledge sufficient to enable him to manage his business successfully. At the age of twenty-three he was united in marriage with Armilda S., daughter of John Owen, by whom six sons and five daughters have been born, all of whom are living: Sarah A. (wife of E. R. Thomas), John E., Eliza J., Samuel E., Robert F., Amanda M., Clifton A., Charles O., Carrie F., Joseph R. and Dollie. During the war Mr. Loe enlisted in company F, Third Missouri State Militia, April 2, 1862. He served about one year in this regiment, and the remainder of the time was in active service in Company I, of the Seventh Missouri State Militia. After peace was declared, he returned home, and has since devoted his atten- tion to farming and stock raising. His farm contains 240 acres of land well fenced, and consisting mostly of timber land. His home, which was not insured, was destroyed by fire, March 17, 1885, his loss being about $1,500. Until his present comfortable residence was built Mr. Loe was obliged to live in a small box house. Mrs. Loe is a worthy and active member of the Methodist Episcopal Church, and the family rank among the well-to-do citizens of the county.
M. A. Louderback was born June 20, 1828, in Warren County, Ind., and is the fourth of thirteen children (five dead) born to Daniel and Alcy (Powel) Louderback, natives of Virginia and South Carolina, respectively. When young they accompanied their parents to Indi- ana, where they married and lived in Warren County until the fall of 1828, when they immigrated to Schuyler County, Ill. In February, 1832, they moved to Adams County, Ill., where they entered land and improved a farm, upon which they lived until 1856. They then moved to and settled in Salt River Township, Knox County, Mo., upon the present site of Goodland. There the father engaged in mercantile
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business in connection with his farming, until his death in January, 1865, at the age of sixty-four. The mother was born in 1802, and is now a resident of Goodland. M. A. received a limited common- school education during his younger days, and remained at home with his parents until twenty-three years of age. He then began to till the soil in Schuyler County, Ill., where he resided until 1855. He then moved to Mercer County, Mo., where he bought 120 acres of land, where he is now living. He has since added to his original purchase, and now owns one of the finest farms in the county, consisting of 400 acres-140 acres in timber land, but the balance well cultivated and improved. As this property is the result of his own unassisted toil, he is regarded as one of the most successful and enterprising farmers of the county. His land is very productive, and this past year, upon three and one-half acres, he raised 130 bushels of wheat, machine measure. He is a Democrat, and cast his first presidential vote for the Democratic candidate in 1852. He has for some years been a member of the I. O. O. F. He is an old settler of the county, having come here at an early day, and, although at that time contemplating but a temporary residence here, yielding to the urgent entreaties of his wife he remained, and has consequently become identified with the growth of the county.
Charles A. Loveland was born in Ashland County, Ohio, Septem- ber 11, 1842. His father, R. P. Loveland, is also a native of Ohio, and was born in 1818. He lived in Ashland County until about 1848, when he went to Wisconsin, and settled in Dodge County upon a farm, where he resided until 1857. He then sought a home in Mer- cer County, Mo., and settled in Washington Township, living there until 1877. He then removed to Illinois, and located upon a farm in Winnebago County, where he is now engaged in general farming and stock raising. Hannah (Austin) Loveland, his wife, and the mother of Charles A. Loveland, was born in Vermont, married in Ohio, and is now living with her husband in Illinois. Charles A. remained at home until twenty-two years of age, when he married and engaged in farming on his own account upon his present farm. He is now in possession of 351 acres of good land, all improved and under a fine state of cultivation, and upon which he is engaged in farming and stock raising. June 8, 1864, Miss Sarah J. Kieth, daughter of Will- iam and Nancy Kieth, became his wife. To this marriage the fol- lowing four children were born: William P., Louis F., Mary A. and Bertha S. Mr. Loveland has always been a stanch supporter of the Republican party, but has never sought office of any kind. . During
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the war he served in the Missouri State Militia. He is a member of the Masonic order at Princeton. He is greatly interested in the edu- cational progress of the county, and is a liberal donator to laudable public enterprises. His wife is a worthy and active member of the United Brethren Church, and his family is highly respected by the community.
M. W. Lowry, a merchant of Ravanna, was born in Richland County, Ill., July 22, 1853. His father, Judge S. S. Lowry, who is now presiding judge of Mercer County, which office he has filled with efficiency a number of years, was born February 19, 1823, in Spencer County, Ind. He engaged in farming in Richland County, Ill., previous to his removal to Mercer County, Mo., in 1854, at which time he located in Somerset Township where he has since resided. While in Richland County, Ill., he was united in marriage to Sarah A. Combs, by whom he had five sons and one daughter, of whom M. W. Lowry is one. He left home in 1875, after receiving a good common-school education, and came to Ravanna, Mo. There he was employed as a clerk in a dry goods store, and also a drug store until about 1882, when he engaged in partnership with D. W. Lowry in the dry goods business. He has since been successfully engaged in the above named business, the company carrying a large stock of all kinds of goods in their line suitable for a country town. They are careful and anxious to please their customers, and particular in regard to the prices and qualities of their goods. December 1, 1886, he was married to Mary E. Creel, the daughter of William C. Creel, a prominent farmer of Lee County, Iowa. Mrs. Lowry is an active member of the Presbyterian Church, and a worthy and estima- ble lady. Mr. Lowry is a Republican, but has never sought or held office. He has held most of the elective offices in the I. O. O F., and is interested in worthy educational and philanthropic enterprises.
Robert A. McCartney was born in Washington County, Penn., February 4, 1835, and is a son of Robert and Barbara (Allen) McCartney, both natives of Scotland, where they were married. They came to the United States in 1833, and first located in Pennslyvania afterward going to Iowa in 1853, where they lived (in Decatur County) until 1858. The father then returned to Pennsylvania, where he now resides, having lost his wife while in Iowa. To their union three sons and three daughters were born: John A., Janet (wife of J. H. Hamilton), Robert A., Thomas H. (deceased), Grace (deceased wife of Turner Swain), and Elizabeth (deceased). Robert A. was reared in his native State and county, and there learned the carder and
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spinner's trade, at which he worked until 1853 in Pennsylvania. He then followed his parents to Iowa, and farmed and worked at his trade until coming to Missouri in 1871. Here he worked at a woolen mill in Bethany until 1878, and then came to Princeton and managed the carding and spinning machine of J. P. Anderson until 1884. At that time the woolen mills were built, and Mr. McCartney has since operated them successfully, and become a business partner of Mr. Anderson. While in Iowa he married Catherine Mills, a native of New York, who died in 1878, leaving three children: Frank L., Her- bert C. and Roy Clifford. Mr. McCartney is a Republican, and one of the well-to-do and respected citizens of Princeton.
Justin T. McCarty, farmer and stock dealer, was born in Illinois, August 7, 1846. His father, Cornelius McCarty, was born in North Carolina in 1792. He immigrated to Ohio, where he lived until 1830, when he went to Illinois, and settled on a farm in Menard County. He resided there a few years, and then removed to Mason County, where he died in 1873. His wife, Jennie (Bell) McCarty, was born in 1802 in North Carolina, and died in Mason County, Ill., in 1864. Justin T. remained at home until after the death of his mother, when he lived alone with a brother until he married, after which he still remained at home about three years. He then lived at different places until 1876, then came to Mercer County, Mo., and located upon his present farm in Somerset Township. He now owns 680 acres of good land, and buys and sells stock extensively. He was mar- ried in 1865 to Miss Lillie, daughter of Robert Rogers, who was born in Pennsylvania in 1816, and was an early settler of Ohio County, Ind., where he married Jane Blue, a native of Ohio. Mrs. Rogers died in Ohio County, Ind., but the circumstances surrounding the death of her husband remain shrouded in mystery. To the union of our subject and his wife nine children have been born, eight now living: Minnie (wife of W. H. Cochell), Robert, Rose, Charles, John, Annie May, Cora and Mary C. Miss Rose is seventeen years of age, well advanced in music, of which she is a teacher, and is endowed with natural artistic talents. Mr. McCarty is a Republican, but has never sought political honors, and is a well respected man in his county.
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