USA > Missouri > Cedar County > History of Hickory, Polk, Cedar, Dade, and Barton counties, Missouri > Part 52
USA > Missouri > Dade County > History of Hickory, Polk, Cedar, Dade, and Barton counties, Missouri > Part 52
USA > Missouri > Barton County > History of Hickory, Polk, Cedar, Dade, and Barton counties, Missouri > Part 52
USA > Missouri > Hickory County > History of Hickory, Polk, Cedar, Dade, and Barton counties, Missouri > Part 52
USA > Missouri > Polk County > History of Hickory, Polk, Cedar, Dade, and Barton counties, Missouri > Part 52
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E. T. Condley, a successful hardware merchant at Cross Timbers, Mo., is a native of Halifax County, of the " Old Dominion," where he was born in 1814. Anderson Condley, his father, was also born there, his birth occurring in the year 1792. He remained, engaged in farming, in his native State and county until some sixteen years of age, then emigrating with his father to Giles County, Tenn., where he made his home until his death. His wife, whose maiden name was Elizabeth Cobb, was born in Halifax County, Va., in 1794, and died in Ten- nessee on Sunday, followed by Mr. Condley the next Saturday. Of their six children, E. T. Condley was the eldest. He was
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engaged in farming in Tennessee until sixteen years of age, and was married there to Miss Elizabeth Beck, a native of the State, born in 1823. Their union resulted in the birth of five children: Ann E., wife of V. S. Williams; Calvin M., who died of small-pox when twenty-one years of age, at St. Louis, while serving in the Federal army; Mary, wife of John B. Ihrig; Bev- erly, who died when four years old; and Martha, wife of E. T. Ray. In 1839 Mr. Condley came to Missouri, and was engaged in blacksmithing in Benton County for about twenty years, and, until 1872, followed both farming and blacksmithing, and, at that date, came to Hickory County, and has since been engaged in his present business in Cross Timbers. He is quite well fixed financially, being the owner of 120 acres of land, besides town property, and is one of the substantial residents of the county. He and family belong to the Christian Church, and he is a Dem- ocrat, and is past master in the Masonic fraternity. His paternal grandfather, William Condley, was born in North Carolina, but afterward located in Halifax County, Va., where he was engaged in farming, and resided until his death. The great-grandfather was born in Ireland. The maternal grandfather, Ambrose Cobb, was a farmer, and a native of Halifax County, Va.
. M. H. Cooper, assessor of Hickory County, Mo., and native of the same, was born in 1845, being one of thirteen chil- dren who grew to maturity (twelve of whom are still living) born to John P. and Mary (Bond) Cooper, who were Kentuckians, the father's birth occurring in 1815. He grew to manhood in his native State, was there married, and in 1839 came to Missouri, and became one of the pioneers of Hickory County. Previous to the Rebellion he was a Democrat in politics, and afterward was a stanch Republican. He died in April, 1880. M. H. Cooper was the fourth of their children, and at the early age of sixteen years enlisted in the Federal Army, Enrolled Militia, but about a year afterward was chosen into the State Rangers, and finally entered the Regular Army on the 16th day of June, 1864, and was mustered out of service June 31, 1865. After the war he attended school for a year or two, and then taught school two terms, and up to the present time has been engaged in farming, being now the owner of eighty acres of land. He is a member of the G. A. R., is a Republican in politics, and in 1886 was elected by that party to the office of county assessor, and was re-elected in 1888. He was deputy sheriff under William A. Pitts. December 12, 1869, he was married to Miss Laura F. Pitts, who was born in Tennessee in 1845. They have three children: Mollie, Rosa and Bonnie.
J. H. Childers, attorney-at-law, of Hermitage, Mo., was born in Carroll County, Ark., in 1863. His father, Josiah Childers, was born in East Tennessee, in 1818, and there grew to manhood
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and married, the latter event being to Miss Anna Shelton. He moved to Arkansas in 1854, and was a member of the Arkansas Legislature from Carroll County., In 1863 he moved to Polk County, Mo., and resided in Bolivar for about two years, when he removed to Hickory County, where he still resides, and is an active practicing physician of the county. His wife's birth occurred in 1820, in Tennessee, and their union has been blessed in the birth of thirteen children. J. H. Childers, our immedi- ate subject, grew to manhood in Hickory County, Mo., and received a good common and high-school education, after which he engaged in the occupation of school teaching. He has been a decided lover of good reading from early boyhood, and during his days of pedagoguing gratified this taste to the fullest extent. After reading law for some time in the office of F. Marion Wilson, he was admitted to the bar in 1884, and since that time has been actively engaged in practicing his profession, being the only possessor of a complete set of abstract books in the county. He gives his attention almost exclusively to real estate litigation and real estate business in its various ramifications. He is a Master Mason, and is secretary of his lodge.
Dr. A. C. Curl, a prominent physician, surgeon and drug- gist, of Cross Timbers, Mo., was born in Taylor County, W. Va., May 29, 1852. His father, Lewis Curl, was born in Clark County, Ohio, in September, 1824, remaining there until after he had reached adult age, when he located in Taylor County, W. Va., and there made his home until 1864. Then, with his family, consisting of his wife and two children, Arlando C. and Jennie. M., he moved to Daviess County, Mo., but now resides in Henry County, and is engaged in farming. During the late war, he was in the Government employ. He was married in Taylor County, W. Va., to Miss Mary Reynolds. Dr. A. C. Curl received a common school education. He com- menced the study of medicine under Dr. Barnett, of Greens- burg, Mo., and first attended medical lectures in the Keokuk College of Physicians and Surgeons, at Keokuk, Iowa. In 1882 he was graduated from the College of Physicians and Surgeons of Joplin, Mo., and in 1888, from the Missouri Medical College, of St. Louis, Mo. He first practiced in Pettis County, Mo., and located in 1875 at Cross Timbers, where he opened a drug store four years later. He is now vice-president of the Hickory County Regular Medical Society; is a Master Mason, and in his political views is a member of the Democratic party. Miss Louie Feaster, who was born in Benton County, Mo., February 26, 1854, became his wife in 1872, and is now the mother of one child, May, born March 4, 1874.
J. H. Davidson, of Wheatland, Hickory County, Mo., was born in Warren County, Ky., June 26, 1841, and is the son of
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A. L. and Mary J. (Adams), both of whom were natives of the " Blue Grass State," where they were married in 1838. They came to Hickory County, Mo., in 1866, and resided in this county until the death of the husband in 1871. J. H., the subject of this sketch, is the second of eight children, all of whom grew to maturity. He received a common school education in his native State, and came to Hickory County in 1867, where he was mar- ried to Mary F. Allen in 1869. This union has been blessed with two children, John W. and Rose M., the former now nine- teen, and the latter seventeen years of age. The name of J. H. Davidson has become prominent in the history of Hickory County, and is well known among the leading men of the State. He was raised on a farm, and, after marriage, continued to follow that pursuit until 1876, when he was admitted to the bar as a practicing attorney, having devoted his leisure time while on the farm to the study of law for several years previous. In politics he early espoused the cause of the Democratic party, and has ever since cast his lot politically with the result of that party. Unfortunately, however, for him, the county of his choice was largely Republican, and his political aspiration was often cast in gloom. In 1874-76 he was the candidate of the Democratic party to represent Hickory County in the State Legislature; in 1880, for prosecuting attorney; and in 1886 was the nominee for State senator. In all these contests Mr. Davidson came out second best. In State matters he has been more successful, and has served as clerk for several terms in both branches of the General Assem- . bly, and three terms as clerk of the State Board of Equalization. From early manhood Mr. Davidson has been a member of the Christian Church, and a member of the A. F. & A. M., and now ranks as past master of the latter in Hermitage Lodge. He is now giving his attention to the profession of his choice, and enjoying a lucrative practice in his quiet and beautiful home at Wheat- land, Mo.
Samuel Valentine Dean is a native of the " Bay State," born in 1825. His parents, Samuel and Hannah (Hynes) Dean; his grandfather, Benjamin Dean; and the maternal grandfather and grandmother were all born in Massachusetts, and there spent their lives, Samuel and Hannah dying in 1847 and 1848, respect- ively. The former was born in 1780, and throughout life was a carpenter and joiner by trade. He and wife became the parents of nine children, all of whom lived to maturity, and six of whom are now living. The maternal grandmother's name was Valen- tine, and she was a lineal descendant of the Revolutionary volun- teer, Gen. Valentine. The prominent characteristics of the Dean family are their medium stature, dark complexion and longevity. The old stock were Presbyterians. Samuel Valentine Dean went on the ocean as a sailor boy at the age of fourteen years, and
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worked on sailing vessels plying between the United States and the West Indies, and rose to the rank of second mate. At the age of twenty-one years he went.on the great lakes to Buffalo and Chicago, and became second mate on a passenger steamer, serving in this capacity four years; then went to Pennsylvania, and, at the age of twenty-five years, was married to Miss Harriet Morrell, who was born in the " Keystone State " in 1830, and from about the time of their marriage until 1872 resided in Ohio. Since that time they have been residents of Hickory County, Mo., and own a fine farm of 220 acres. Their children are: Celia, wife of Theodore Hellenbeak; Morrell, Charles W. and Annie May. Mr. Dean has been a licensed minister of the Methodist Episcopal Church since 1861, and, in his political views, is a Democrat. During the late war he served three years in the Federal army as captain in Company K, One Hundred and Forty-fifth Pennsylvania Volunteers, under Gen. Hancock, and was at the battles of Antietam, Fredericksburg and Chancellors- ville; and in the last engagement he was captured and taken a pris- oner to Richmond, Va., being paroled after two weeks. Then he went to Parole Camp, Annapolis, Md., and, after being exchanged, returned to the regiment. The next year he was again taken prisoner, and retained eight and one-half months. He was dis- charged at the close of the war at Pittsburg, Pa. He now draws a pension of sixteen dollars per month, and is a member of the G. A. R. He also belongs to the Agricultural Wheel. Mrs. Dean's parents, Jonathan and Content (Marble) Morrell, were born in New York State and Massachusetts, respectively, and afterward became farmers of Pennsylvania.
William Dollarhide, a prominent old settler of Hickory County, Mo., is in every respect worthy a place in these columns, for from earliest manhood he has been honest, industrious and enterprising. He was born in Scott County, Va., November 19, 1813, and is a son of John and Jemimah (Osborn) Dollarhide, who were born in North Carolina and Virginia in 1780 and 1796, and died in Hickory County, Mo., in 1862 and 1871 respectively. John Dollarhide went from his native State to Virginia, when a young man, and engaged in teaching school, which occupation he followed until his death, in connection with farming. He was married and made his home in Scott County, Va., until 1833, when he moved to Missouri, and until the spring of 1838 resided in Franklin County. From that time until his death he was a resident of Hickory County. Both were members of the Baptist Church. William Dollarhide was the third of their twelve chil- dren, five of whom are living, and received his education in his native State. At the age of eighteen years he began working for himself as a farm-hand, and in 1832 came to Franklin County, Mo., and in 1837 to Hickory County, and has made his home in
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the latter ever since. He has been very successful, and is one of the largest landholders and heaviest tax-payers in the township of Stark. In January, 1834, he was married to Martha Holt, who was born in Tennessee and died in Hickory County, Mo., in 1848, having borne a family of five children, Jane (Carr) being the only one now living. Those deceased are: Jesse, who served in Company B, of the Eighth Federal Cavalry, and died at Bloom- field, Mo., when twenty-two years of age; Jemimah, who was the wife of John Jackson, and died when about thirty years old; Nancy, the wife of A. Morgan, who died at the age of twenty-five years, and an infant. In 1849 he wedded Jane Ride, a Ten- nesseean by birth, who also died in Hickory County in 1855, having become the mother of one son, William, who now resides in the county. Nancy Jackson became his third wife in 1861. She was born in Surry County, N. C., December 17, 1827, and is a daughter of Ruell Jackson. The last union resulted in the birth of four children, three of whom survive: Amanda; Louisa, wife of Anthony Bowcher; and Virginia, wife of Joseph T. Edde. India Aniz is deceased. Mrs. Dollarhide is a member of the Methodist Church, and, in his political views, Mr. Dollarhide is a Democrat. In all he has served twenty years as justice of the peace, and has given universal satisfaction in the discharge of his duties.
Peter J. Erickson, an enterprising resident of Stark Town- ship, Hickory County, Mo., was born in Sweden, July 22, 1834, and is a son of Erick Lawson and Mary (Anderson) Erickson, who were born in Sweden in 1803 and 1805, and died August 22, 1888, at the age of 83 years, and in 1834, respect- ively. They were members of the Lutheran Church, and were farmers by occupation. Peter J. Erickson is the second of their nine children (six now living), and received his early education in his native land. He served one year in the Swedish army, and remained with his parents until thirty years of age, and then engaged in farming for himself, and in 1873 emigrated to the United States, and located in Hickory County, Mo., where he has, by economy, industry and good management, become the owner of 240 acres of good land, 150 of which is under cultiva- tion and well improved. February 13, 1875, he married Ellen Lindell, a daughter of Nelson Lindell. She was born in Sweden, November 9, 1843, and is the mother of four children: Anna, Charles, William and Ida. Mr. and Mrs. Erickson are members of the Missionary Baptist Church, and he is a Republican in his political views.
Judge James M. Gardner was born eight miles east of Madi- sonville, Monroe County, Tenn., February 15, 1834, and is a son of Thomas and Catherine (Thatch) Gardner, who were born in Roane and Knox Counties, of that State, his birth occurring
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January 1, 1806, and that of his wife, May 18, 1813. They were married in Monroe County, March 26, 1832, and resided in that State until the father's death, August 6, 1877. The mother is still living, and resides in Hickory County, Mo., making her home with her son, James M. She has been a member of the Method- ist Episcopal Church for 65 years, and throughout her long and useful life has won the respect and love of all who know her. The grandfather, James Gardner, was of Irish parentage and a Virginian by birth, but died in Monroe County, Tenn., having followed the occupation of farming throughout his life. His father was a Revolutionary soldier. The maternal grandfather, Hender- son Thatch, was also born in the " Old Dominion," and died in Bradley County, Tenn., having been a successful farmer. Judge James M. Gardner is the eldest son of nine children (five now living): George W., a prominent farmer of Hickory County; Eliza J., wife of Samuel D. Mitchell, a merchant of Chattanooga, Tenn .; William L., a farmer of Hickory County; and Martha B., widow of Nathaniel Fitzgerald. She resides in Wise County, Texas. Those deceased are: Henderson, who died in Georgia; Elizabeth R .; Mary A., wife of Walker McGriff; and Thomas J., who died in Bradley County, Tenn. Judge Gardner received his education in Monroe and Bradley Counties, and was eighteen years of age when he left home to fight his own way in the world. After spending one year in Alabama, he returned to Tennessee, where he was engaged in farming until 1858, then came to Mis- , souri and located in Hickory County, where he has since made his home, and where he owns 385 acres of good land. In 1857 he was married to Miss Margaret McSpaden, a daughter of Sam- uel and Sarah McSpaden, natives of Monroe County, Tenn. Mrs. Gardner was born in Bradley County, of that State, June 26, 1837, and she and Mr. Gardner are the parents of nine chil- dren: Robert H .; Sarah E, wife of Dr. L. Selvidge; Amanda J., wife of Thomas A. Nowell; Ulysses G .; Mary C., wife of Ben- jamin Nowell; Barbara A., Hiram D., Elva T., and Lewis Monroe. In 1862 Mr. Gardner enlisted in Company C, Sixtieth Regiment Enrolled Missouri Militia, and served as corporal until the close of the war. In 1865 he was appointed justice of the peace, being afterward elected to that office, serving in all four- teen years. He was elected judge of the Western district on the Republican ticket, of which party he has long been a member, in 1878, and is now filling. his third term. He belongs to the G. A. R. His mother, Catherine Gardner, was born May 18, 1813. Samuel W. Gerster is a native of Fairfield County, of the " Buckeye State." and was born on the 20th of June, 1854, being a son of Johanes and Elizabeth (Goss) Gerster, who were born in Switzerland and Fairfield Counties, Ohio, respectively. The former died in Hickory County, Mo., in 1880, when fifty-eight
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years of age. He left his native land when twenty-one years of age, and came to the United States, and, after residing in differ- ent counties in Ohio until 1869, came to Missouri and located on the farm on which his son Samuel W. is now living. He was a farmer the greater portion of his life, but also followed the mill- wright and carpenter's trade. He and wife were members of the German Reformed Church. Their children who are living are as follows : John, Adam, George, Jacob, Anna, Elizabeth and Samuel W. Abraham and Daniel are deceased. Samuel W. Gerster was educated in Ohio and Hickory County, Mo., and since early boyhood has been engaged in farm labor, and, since gaining his majority, has followed carpentering in connection with this work. After the father's death the six sons continued housekeeping with their mother and little sister, but on March 8, 1885, Abraham died at the age of twenty-six years. Following this the other five carried on the work until January 15, 1888, when Jacob was married, and then removed to St. Clair County, Mo., where the five brothers are now jointly conducting a suc- cessful agricultural business, under the supervision of S. W. Gerster, in connection with the home farm. Since his father's death, he being the eldest son, he has managed the business affairs of the family, and is industrious and enterprising, and has taken great interest in the development of the mineral wealth of the county. In politics he and his brothers are Democrats.
A. M. Halbert, of the general merchandise firm of Halbert Brothers, of Wheatland, Mo., is a native of Hickory County, and was born in 1856. He received a good education in the common schools and the Weaubleau Christian Institute, and in 1879 went to Texas, where he spent some time engaged in raising cotton. In 1880 he returned to the home of his birth, and the following year went to California, where he was engaged in the sheep business for over four years, Portersville being his post- office. He then again came back to Missouri, and in January, 1886, engaged in the Index newspaper office, which he published a little upward of a year, then sold out and came to Wheatland, and engaged in the general merchandise business with J. H. Bentley, the style of the firm being Bentley & Halbert, but only continued a short time, when Mr. Halbert went to Hermitage and again embarked on the journalistic sea, continuing until October of 1888, when he and his brother formed their present partner- ship. They carry a good and select stock of goods, and, being men of brains, energy and honesty, bid fair to become leaders in their calling. June 19, 1888, he was married to Miss Ida B. Bentley. He is a Democrat in his political views, and has always supported the men and measures of that party. He has filled the office of deputy county and circuit court clerk for a short time, and also served one term as deputy sheriff.
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William D. Harryman, prosecuting attorney of Hermitage, Mo., was born in Quincy, Hickory County, Mo., October 8, 1849, and is the son of Christopher Z. and Nancy Ann (Smith) Harryman, and grandson of John and Mary (Brown) Harryman. Christopher Z. Harryman was born in St. Louis June 20, 1813, and moved to Cole County, Mo., with his parents, at an early age. He there grew to manhood, and there learned the machinist and blacksmith trade. He was married in Cole County, sometime in the thirties, to a Miss Martha Linville, who died about 1831 or 1832, and leaving as a memento two children. Mr. Harryman removed to Benton County, Mo., about 1844, and there remained until about 1848, when he married Miss Nancy A. Smith, and the same year came to Hickory County, Mo. He located at what is now Quincy Postoffice, and, at the breaking out of the war, enlisted in the Home Guard Service of Missouri, under Col. McClurg, and, at the end of the year, or some less, he enlisted in Company F, Eighth Missouri State Militia, and was sergeant of his company. He was in the battle of Lone Jack, Humans- ville, and was on the Price raid. He was also at the battles of Jefferson City, Boonville, and Sedalia, where he was taken prisoner by Thompson. He was mustered out of service in the spring of 1865, at Springfield, Mo., and, after the war, returned to Hickory County, and resumed farming and stock raising. In 1886 he moved to Benton County, Mo., where he now lives. His wife, Mrs. Nancy A. (Smith) Harryman, was born December 25, 1824, in Henry County, Va., and, her par- ents having died when she was a small child, she lived with an uncle, William Smith. She moved to Illinois with her uncle about 1839, and remained there only a few years, when she moved to Benton County, Mo., with him, and was there married to Mr. Harryman, by whom she had eight children -four now living. She died in Hickory County, Mo., January 7, 1879. The paternal grandparents were originally from Pennsylvania, and came to St. Louis at an early day. He died in Benton County in 1852 or 1853, and his wife died, probably in the same county, a few years previous to the death of her husband. The maternal grandparents were native Virginians. William D.
Harryman passed his boyhood days in Hickory County, Mo., but spent one year in Cooper County, Mo., and one year in Benton County. He returned to Hickory County with his par- ents in 1862, and, after receiving all the advantages of the com- mon schools of Hickory County, he attended the Urbana graded school one term. Previous to this, however, he taught one term of school in Hickory County, and, after leaving Urbana, taught school until 1873, and was one of the few teachers of the county who held a first-grade certificate. He attended the Weaubleau Christian Institute in 1873-74, and was one of the prominent
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educators of the county. He was elected sheriff of Hickory County in November, 1874, and served in that capacity four years, having been re-elected in 1876. He was married December 19, 1876, to Miss Nancy M. Rogers, of Polk County, and, after that event, he engaged in farming and merchandising in Hickory County until the fall of 1882, when he engaged in the flour-mill business at Weaubleau and at Osceola, Mo. He was admitted to the bar of Hickory County, Mo., in May, 1888, having studied and practiced in the justice's court for several years pre- vious to being admitted. Since that time he has been practicing in the circuit courts of Hickory and adjoining counties. At the general election of 1888 he was chosen prosecuting attorney of Hickory County on the Republican ticket. He is a member of the Masonic fraternity, and is also a member of the I. O. O. F. Mrs. Nancy M. (Rogers) Harryman was born in Hickory County, Mo., June 18, 1860, and is the daughter of John P. and Nancy B. (Owings) Rogers. She attained her growth in Hickory County, and was educated in the common schools and at Weaubleau Christian Institute. To her marriage have been born three children, all living: Oliver P., May and Eva.
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