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 73
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 73
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Hiram Painter, a substantial merchant of Ravanna, was born in Westmoreland County, Penn., May 20, 1854, and is a son of John and Christena (Smail) Painter. The father is also a native of West- moreland County, and at present a resident of Ravanna Township, whither he came in the fall of 1866. His life-long occupation has been that of farming. The mother was born in the same county as her husband and is a member of the Lutheran Church. Hiram is the second of a family of six children and received his early education at the public schools of Mercer County. At the age of nineteen he began to teach during the winter months, and to devote his time to farming during the summer months. This he continued until September, 1886, when he came to Ravanna, and established a grocery store, his intention being to keep a first-class stock of fine and staple groceries, crockery, cutlery, etc. He is one of the young and enterprising mer- chants of the town, and endeavors in every way to please his customers and supply their wants. In 1878 he married Bessie Drake, daughter of James Drake, of Mercer County, and to this union five children have been born: Allie M., Ralph E., John, James T. and Volney F. Mrs. Painter is a member of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church. Mr. Painter is a Republican, and takes an active interest in the welfare of his county.
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BIOGRAPHICAL APPENDIX.
William Erastus Parsons was born in Mercer County, Mo., April 1, 1847, and is a son of James and Mary (Prichard) Parsons. The father was born in Tennessee in 1812, and was of Irish descent. When about seventeen he left his native State and went to Illinois, and in the fall of 1838 came to Mercer County, Mo., where he entered the farm now owned by J. T. Cook. The farm comprised 520 acres, and there Mr. Parsons spent the greater part of his life. He was the first white man that settled in Mercer County, which was at that time a large un- broken prairie inhabited only by wild animals and Indians. He was a soldier in the Black Hawk War, and took an active part in politics before the war, belonging to the Whig party and afterward to the Republican. He was a charter member of the Goshen Christian Church, and also a trustee of the same. He was highly esteemed for his high principles and moral character, and his death which occurred December 15, 1885, was mourned by a large circle of friends. Mary (Prichard) Parsons was of Dutch descent, and a daughter of Joseph and Mary Prichard. She was born in Kentucky in June, 1824, and died in December, 1884. She was the mother of nine children, only two of whom are living: Mary (wife of J. T. Cook), and William E., who was the second child. He was educated at Edinburg, Grundy Co., Mo., and during the war was a strong Union man. In August, 1864, he enlisted in Company D, Forty-fourth Missouri Volunteer Infantry, and served in Tennessee, Kentucky, Louisiana and Missis- sippi. After a [year's service he was discharged at St. Louis, Mo. September 22, 1867, he married Miss Margaret J. Higgins, daughter of William Higgins, and a native of Kentucky, born March 25, 1847. This union has been blessed with five children: James B., Hettie, Wilmoth, Annie and John T. After his marriage Mr. Parsons settled upon "old Perkins' farm," where he has since resided. He is now the owner of 280 acres of land, well improved and cultivated, and is one of the enterprising and successful farmers of Harrison Township. In politics he is a Republican, and has served his township three years as constable. Himself and wife belong to the Christian Church.
Ex-Judge Morris Perry was born in Greene County, Ohio, in 1825, and is a son of Allen and Elizabeth (Griffey) Perry. The father was born in North Carolina, in 1794, and when fifteen immigrated to Greene County Ohio, with his father, Samuel Perry, where he was married, and from there he moved to Wayne County, Ind. A few years later he went to Fayette County, and at the expiration of eight years moved to Madison County, where he died in 1859. He was a soldier in the War of 1812 under Gen. Hull. His wife was born in
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Virginia in 1797, and died in 1868. Morris is the sixth of a family of eight boys and two girls, and was only three years old when taken to Indiana. He remained at home with his parents until twenty-four, but at the age of twenty-two began to work at the carpenter's trade, which he followed ten years. In 1853 he came to Mercer County, and in November, 1854, married Miss Mary Ann Girdner, daughter of James and Jennie (Prichard) Girdner. Mrs. Perry was born in Knox County, Ky., in 1836, and is the mother of ten children: Oliver H., Winfield Scott, James B., Jennie V. (wife of J. H. Covey), Mary A. (wife of Charles Coon), Matilda A., Seybert A. (deceased), Cora E., John M. and Jessie M. In 1853 Mr. Perry bought 200 acres in Section 36, Township 25, Range 24, for $435, upon which he has since resided. He began life a poor man, but he now owns 345 acres of first- class land, which is well improved with good fences, a nice dwelling and large barns. Mr. Perry is one of the old settlers of the county, and a gentleman of literary tastes, owning the finest private library in Mercer County. In politics he is a National and cast his first pres- idential vote for Cass in 1848. He was township clerk of Morgan Township a number of years, and in 1878 was elected county judge at large on the People's ticket. He served as judge four years, and for twenty years was a school director. He is an Ancient member of the I. O. O. F., and himself and wife belong to the Christian Church, of which he has been an elder many years. During the Rebellion he served in the Enrolled State Militia.
William E. Peters, M. D., was born in Berkshire County, Mass., July 2, 1838, and is a son of Reuben and Sylvia (Edson) Peters, also natives of Massachusetts. He graduated in medicine from the Rush Medical College, Chicago, at the age of twenty-one, and then began the practice of his profession at Millidgeville, Ill. In 1859 he emi- grated to Pleasant Plains, Iowa, now the site of Pleasanton, Iowa, where he continued the practice of medicine. In 1864 he embarked in the drug and grocery business at Pleasanton, and the profits of that business together with the money earned by his profession enabled him in 1878 to buy a farm of 720 acres of land one mile south of Pleasanton over the State line in Missouri. He then entirely devoted his attention to agricultual pursuits. He makes a specialty of fine stock, and always has a fine bull and about 100 head of cattle upon the place. He was married in 1872 to Mary A. Smith, by whom one son and three daughters have been born: Earl, Leota, Essie and Zora, all of whom are living with their parents. Dr. Peters is a stanch Republican and a cheerful giver to all laudable public enter- prises for the advancement of his county.
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BIOGRAPHICAL APPENDIX.
Jackson Prichard was born in Knox County, Ky., May 5, 1819, and is a son of Joseph and Mary (Tye) Prichard, the former of Welsh and the latter of Irish descent. The father was born in Virginia, December 9, in 1783, and after living a few years in Knox County, Ky., during his youth, spent two years near Huntsville, Ala., after which he returned to Knox County, where he was married in 1811. He then lived three years in Alabama, but again returned to Kentucky which he left in 1837, for Daviess County, Mo. In 1839 he came to Mercer County, Mo., and located where his son Jackson now resides. His death occurred January 8, 1865. The mother was a native of Tennessee, and born March 22, 1787, and when thirteen years old went to Knox County, Ky. She was the mother of nine children, of whom Jackson is the only survivor, and her death occurred in 1872. Jackson received his education in a primitive log schoolhouse in Ken- tucky, and when eighteen came to Missouri. In the fall of 1838 he came to Mercer County, and took up a Government claim of 160 acres in Section 34, Township 65, Range 25, which he proceeded to improve, and to which his parents came in 1839. The Prichard family were among the early settlers of Mercer County, which at that time was an unbroken prairie, sparsely settled. February 21, 1850, Mr. Prichard married Miss Louisa J. Rockhold, daughter of Robert W. and Caro- line (Wells) Rockhold, who came to Missouri, in 1839, from Whit- ley County, Ky. Mrs. Prichard was born in Whitley County, December 14, 1832, and is the mother of the following children: Mary C. (deceased) March 19, 1875, aged twenty-two, and wife of William F. Granlee; Maria E., wife of W. E. Cockrell; Joseph G., Louann, wife of Charles W. Scott, of Hennepin County, Minn .; Robert R., Mattie J., wife of W. W. White, of Jefferson County, Neb .; Sarah E., wife of James R. Bowsher, and Frank J. Mr. Prichard came to the county a poor man but possessed energy and business ability, and at present is the wealthiest man in Mercer County. He at one time owned 3,300 acres of land of which he has liberally given to his children, so that at present he owns but 1,500
acres. For a number of years he was extensively engaged in farming and raising stock, but having become advanced in years is now living a more retired life upon his homestead, where he in 1881 erected a commodious frame dwelling, which in April of that year was burned, and many of its valuable contents lost. Mr. Prichard is a Democrat, but cast his first presidential vote for Gen. Harrison, in 1840, as at that time he was a Whig. During the Rebellion he served as captain of the Enrolled Militia. He is one of the prominent citizens of the
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MERCER COUNTY.
county, and was once elected judge of the county court to fill the vacancy of Peter Cain. He has been a director of the Bank of Prince- ton since its organization, and vice-president of the same a number of years. Himself and wife have been members of the Christian Church for about eight years, and Mr. Prichard is a member of the Blue Lodge in Masonry.
James H. Reger was born April 4, 1844, in Madison County, Ind., and is a son of Saul and Mariah Reger, both natives of Virginia, where the mother died when James was an infant. The father was after- ward married to Mary M. Busby, and resided in Indiana until 1855. He then sold out, and with five sons and one daughter moved to Mis- souri, whither two daughters had gone previously. Three older sons remained in Indiana, of which State they are still residents. James H. was the youngest child by his first marriage, and lived with his father in Sullivan County, Mo., until his marriage, November 3, 1861, to Charlotte, daughter of Jonathan Tipton. He shortly after enlisted in the Union Army, in which he served until March 20, 1865. He was then discharged on account of disability, and has since been a sufferer from the effects of the exposure of camp life. After his dis- charge he returned to his wife in Sullivan County, where he engaged in agricultural pursuits until 1877, when he moved to Lineville, Iowa, and ran a confectionery store successfully about four years. During these years while prospecting for coal he discovered what are now known as the "Reger Mineral Springs," which are famous in that country for their health restoring properties. Mr. Reger sold half of his interest in these springs to Mr. William H. Alden, in partnership with whom he has built a large and commodious hotel at a cost of $6,000, which is finely furnished, and to which people suffering from dyspepsia, skin diseases or general debility resort, and where they almost invariably find relief in the health-giving waters. A large number of people are accommodated at this hotel, and the place is fast becoming a quiet and pleasant summer resort for which the county is greatly indebted to Mr. Reger.
M. F. Robinson, mayor of Princeton, attorney and real estate agent, was born in Laurel County, Ky., August 10, 1854. He remained in his native State until about seventeen years old, when he came to Princeton, and engaged in school teaching about four years in Mercer County. He was made deputy recorder, and while serving in that capacity commenced to study law, and in 1879 was admitted to the bar, and afterward practiced his chosen profession under the firm name of Wright & Robinson until the decease of the former in
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BIOGRAPHICAL APPENDIX.
August, 1884. Since April, 1887, Mr. Robinson has been efficiently discharging the duties of the office of mayor. In 1879 he was united in marriage to Lulu Wright, a native of Mercer County, by whom two sons have been born: Walter, born June 2, 1880, and Bertrand, born November 9, 1881; the latter died September 8, 1884. The Robinson family came from England about 1760, located in Vir- ginia, and from there moved to Kentucky, where M. L. Robinson, the father of our subject, was born in May, 1824. He was reared in Kentucky, and afterward married Calista Casteel, by whom he had six sons and four daughters, all living with the exception of one son and one daughter. The parents are now residents of Mercer County.
Joshua Rock was born December 31, 1835, in Barren County, Ky., and is the sixth of thirteen children (five dead) of Joshua and Mary (Forbes) Rock, natives of Kentucky, where they were reared and married. Joshua accompanied his parents from Kentucky to Linn County, Mo., when six years old, and two years later went to Macon County, where they located upon a farm, where they lived ten years. In the spring of 1852 they moved to Grundy County, where the father died in 1858. The mother then made her home with her chil- dren until of late years when she moved to Modena, where she died in 1887, aged about eighty. Joshua received a common-school educa- tion in Macon and Grundy Counties, and at the age of twenty-one began life for himself as a farm hand on his father's farm. Upon . the death of the latter he assumed the control of the estate of which he was appointed administrator; he filled that position with efficiency, and remained upon the old homestead until the spring of 1862, when he came to Mercer County. He soon enlisted in Company C, Thirty- fifth Missouri Infantry, and besides several skirmishes was present at the battles of Helena, Ark., and Shell Mound, Mo. He was mus- tered out July 15, 1865, and in September, of that year, returned to his farm near Modena which he had bought previous to the war. In the fall of 1867 he bought the mercantile stock of George W. Stewart at Modena, and engaged in that business at Modena seventeen months. He then moved upon a farm he had purchased in Madison Township, where, until November, 1881, he engaged in loaning money, farming and merchandising. Since that time his attention has been devoted to the two first named occupations. He was married February 6, 1868, in Mercer County, to Amanda, daughter of Charles and Mar- garet (Bradley) Thompson. Mrs. Rock was born in Mercer County, June 13, 1849, and is the mother of three children: Walter F., Hat- tie B. and Stella May. Mr. Rock is a worthy member of the Chris-
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tian Church. He is one of the wealthy citizens of the county owning about 1,000 acres of good land, and having money out at interest which amounts to more than the value of his real estate. Previous to the war he was a Democrat, and cast his first presidential vote for Douglas in 1860, but since the war has been a stanch Republican. He is a member of the G. A. R., Andrew J. Norton Post.
Volney F. Rowley was born in Tioga County, Penn., February 10, 1832, and is a son of Ichabod and Celia (Harkness) Rowley. The father was born in Vermont, April 21, 1795, and when but a lad was taken by his parents to Tioga County, Penn. When about twenty- five years of age he was married, and with his family immigrated to Illinois in 1835, where he resided until his death. He was an earnest and conscientious member of the Christian Church, and left a widow and a large circle of friends to mourn his loss. Volney F. entered a college in Illinois in 1852, which he attended until the last quarter of his junior year, when he went to Washington County, Ill., and began to teach school, and study law under Col. Hicks. In 1857 he went to Dade County, Mo., but shortly after went to California, where he taught school three terms, and remained until 1861. He then returned to his father's home in Illinois, and lived upon the farm until 1867, after which he came to Mercer County, Mo. He is now the owner of 210 acres of good land, under a fine state of cultivation, and well equipped for farming. He was admitted to the Mercer County bar in 1871, and practiced law in the circuit court a number of years. For ten years he has been the justice of the peace where he resides, to the duties of which position and his general office work he devotes his time and attention. April 9, 1862, he married Caroline Millison, a native of Illinois, and daughter of John Millison, a native of Virginia. Mr. Rowley joined the I. O. O. F. in 1869, of which he has since been a member. He was a Democrat until Fort Sumter was fired upon, at which time he changed his views, and has since been a hearty sup- porter of the Republican party. He is still interested in educational projects, and a hearty supporter of enterprises for the general welfare of his county.
Thomas E. Sallee, farmer and stock raiser, was born in Mercer County, Mo., in 1841, on March 20, and is a son of Joseph M. and Matilda A. (Dunkeson) Sallee. The father was of French descent, and born in Rockingham County, Va., in 1815. His father, Moses Sallee, was a native of that State, and a cooper by trade, who died in Tennessee. Joseph M., when six years old, went to Ringgold County, Tenn., where he lived until his marriage in 1838. The following year
1
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BIOGRAPHICAL APPENDIX.
he immigrated to Northern Missouri, and located near Edinburg (now Grundy County), where he took up a claim. About a year later he sold out, and came to Mercer County, where he settled upon the farm now owned by Israel Smith, and which is situated in Harrison Township. About two years later he moved to Lindley Township, where he resided until 1876, at which time he removed to Mount Moriah, Harrison County, where he now lives, and for the past few years has served as postmaster. He also held that position in Burr Oak, Mercer County. He is one of the oldest living settlers of Northern Missouri, which, when he came to it, abounded in Indians and wild animals, and was a vast unbroken prairie. He is a Democrat, and for one year was the assessor of half of Mercer County. His wife was born in Kentucky in 1813, and died in 1856. She was the mother of nine children, of whom our subject is the second. He received a common-school education during his youth, and made his home with his parents until of age. In 1861 he married Miss Elizabeth Wood- ward, daughter of Elder John Woodward. Mrs. Sallee was born in Decatur County, Ind., in 1845, and died in 1862. In 1867 Mr. Sallee married Miss Adelia Putnam, daughter of Luther and Lucy Putnam, and a native of Huron County, Ohio, born October 5, 1846. She came to Mercer County when eighteen years of age, and is the mother of the following children: Henrietta, Arthur C., Olive, Carrie M., Ethel, Annie and Orville. Mr. Sallee was a strong Union man during the war, and in March, 1862, enlisted in Company E, Third Missouri Cavalry, for three years, participating in the battles at Springfield and numerous severe skirmishes. In June, 1864, he veteranized, and enlisted in Company M, Thirteenth Veteran Volunteer Cavalry, and was afterward promoted to Company C, of the same regiment. In August, 1865, he was made second lieutenant, which position he held until discharged in May, 1866, at Fort Leavenworth, Kas. About 1857 he entered 100 acres of land in Section 3, Township 65, Range 25, where he located after his marriage, and where he has since resided. He now owns 200 acres of land, and is one of Harrison Township's respected and enterprising farmer citizens. He has always been a Democrat, and cast his first presidential vote for Mc- Clellan in 1864. In 1877 he was elected county assessor, and in 1879 re-elected to the office, thus serving four years. He received a ma- jority of 209 in a Republican county of 400 majority, which forcibly illustrates his popularity among the people. In 1873 he served as township assessor. He has been a member of the Missionary Baptist Church twenty-six years, and his wife has been a member of the same church twenty years.
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MERCER COUNTY.
Charles Scott (deceased), was a successful farmer and stock raiser of Harrison Township, Section 35, Township 65, Range 25, born in Ireland in 1815, and a son of Charles and Elizabeth (Scott) Scott. His parents were born in Ireland in 1790 and 1791, respectively, and in 1818 immigrated to the United States, locating first in Schuyler County, Ohio. After several years had elapsed, they went to Stark County, Ill., but passed the last year of their lives in Mercer County, Mo. The father died in 1862, and the mother in 1872. Charles was but three years old when brought to America by his parents, and was married in this country in 1839 to Miss Rachel Baxter, who was born in Ohio in 1815. After his marriage Mr. Scott moved to Stark County, Ill., but in 1841 came to Mercer County, Mo., locating upon the above described property. He lost his first wife in 1878, and June 5, 1879, married Miss Sarah Oiler, a native of Cumberland County, Penn., and born February 8, 1851. When two years old she was taken by her parents, James and Rosanna Oiler, to Noble County, Ind., and in 1868 moved to Harrison County, Mo. Mr. and Mrs. Oiler are natives of Cumberland County, Penn., were born in 1820, and 1825, respectively, and are now residents of Harrison County, Mo. Mrs. Scott is the mother of four children: Rosa, Minnie Jane, Charles James and Mary Elizabeth. Mr. Scott was a poor man when he first came to Mercer County, but by industry, close attention to business, and with the aid of his wife, became the owner of 500 acres of land, and was considered one of the substantial farmer citizens of the country. He was highly esteemed by those who knew him, and in politics was a Democrat, and during the war was second lieutenant of a company of Home Militia. He was a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church, and died Dec- ember 2, 1882, since which time his widow has lived upon the home place caring for her children, and looking after the property.
William T. Scott, notary public and justice of the peace, of Mill Grove, Washington Township, was born in Marion County, Ill., March 24, 1847. His father, Henry, was a prominent farmer of that State, and his mother, Edna S., daughter of Peter Wilburn, was born there and married in June, 1845. William T. is the eldest of a family of five sons and three daughters, and accompanied his parents to Mis- souri in 1857, but returned to Illinois in 1861. He enlisted in Company I, Seventh Illinois Cavalry, after his return to Illinois, and participated in several important engagements. While in service he participated in twenty-two battles, besides a great number of skirmishes, and was on one sixty-five days' raid without rest or receiving any mail. He was fre- quently detailed for special scout, and had many narrow escapes from
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BIOGRAPHICAL APPENDIX.
capture. Three times he was struck by balls from the enemy's guns, but only once disabled. He frequently went through the lines on his own hook, and thereby gained valuable information in regard to the enemy's whereabouts and intentions. He was wounded in the left hip at the battle of Nashville, and, although disabled for active service, remained with his command until the close of the war. Mr. Scott then returned to Missouri, and December 24, 1872, married Hattie A., daughter of David Butcher. This union was blessed with seven daughters, two of whom died in infancy. Those living are Mary E., Mertie M., Clara A., Alice A. and Carrie L. After his mar- riage he bought a small farm of 140 acres, and engaged in farming in connection with house carpentering until 1880. He then sold his farm, and bought his present residence in Mill Grove, where he raises bees and discharges the duties of collecting agent and notary public. He is a stanch Republican in politics, and is an active member of the Christian Church. He is also connected with Capt. Stanley Post, No. 79, Grand Army of the Republic, of which he was a charter member.
Peter J. Scott, farmer and school teacher, was born in Marion County, Ill., August 3, 1849, and was reared by his father, Henry Scott, upon a farm. During his youth he received a high school education, which he has since improved by study and teaching, and at the age of nineteen began to teach school himself. He has been very successful in his vocation, and is now teaching his twelfth term in Mercer County and his sixth term at Mill Grove. That he is a popular and highly esteemed teacher is shown by the fact that his is the largest district school in Mercer County, and that his services are in demand so often in the same place. December 22, 1878, he married Melissa M., daughter of Mrs. K. M. Butcher, widow of Judge David Butcher. This union has been blessed with one daughter-Della M., who is an attendant of her father's school. Mr. Scott came to Mill Grove in 1875, and in connection with his teaching has farmed upon seventy- five acres of good land adjoining Mill Grove, although he resides in one of the best houses in the town. Mr. Scott is a stanch Repub- lican, and himself and wife are active and worthy members of the Christian Church.
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