USA > Missouri > Cedar County > History of Hickory, Polk, Cedar, Dade, and Barton counties, Missouri > Part 56
USA > Missouri > Dade County > History of Hickory, Polk, Cedar, Dade, and Barton counties, Missouri > Part 56
USA > Missouri > Barton County > History of Hickory, Polk, Cedar, Dade, and Barton counties, Missouri > Part 56
USA > Missouri > Hickory County > History of Hickory, Polk, Cedar, Dade, and Barton counties, Missouri > Part 56
USA > Missouri > Polk County > History of Hickory, Polk, Cedar, Dade, and Barton counties, Missouri > Part 56
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C. L. Allen, attorney, real estate and insurance agent at Boli- var, was born in Dover, Ky., December 13, 1837, and is the son of John and Elizabeth (Lyne) Allen. John Allen was born in North Ireland, and raised in Philadelphia, Penn., of Scotch-Irish par- ents. His wife was a Kentuckian. Grandfather Lyne was a soldier during the Revolutionary War, and in the War of 1812. Mr. Lyne was a native of Virginia, and left with the first emigrants from Virginia for Kentucky, where he was a companion of Daniel Boone and Simon Kenton. His wife was a Duncan; the two
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families are numerous and influential, and most of them are still in Kentucky. Grandfather Allen was a physician in Philadelphia. When a young man John Allen, father of our subject, moved to Kentucky, was there married to Miss Lyne, and afterward moved to Ripley, Ohio, when C. L. was but a year old. John Allen was a merchant and tobacco manufacturer by occupation; was a Whig in politics, and both he and wife were members of the Methodist Episcopal Church. In their family were six children, three of whom died in infancy, and one, a sister, Anna Zetta, who was married to Mr. Warren Johnson, of Warrensburgh, Ohio, died at that city in 1868. One, Dr. J. C. Allen, is a dentist at Cin- cinnati, Ohio. The father lived to be sixty-two years of age, and the mother sixty-four; both died at Ripley, Ohio. C. L. Allen is the only one now living in the West. He received his education in the public schools of Ripley, Ohio, and then attended, for two years, the Ohio Wesleyan University at Delaware, Ohio. He also read law at Ripley. April 23, 1861, he enlisted in Company H, Twelfth Ohio Volunteers, U. S. A., and was in several battles in Kanawha Valley, West Virginia. In the second battle of Bull Run he was made color guard for bravery. He was associated with the Christian Commission that supplied the army with tracts, etc., and this good work he continued during his time of service. In the battle of South Mountain he was wounded through the left thigh. In May, 1863, he was made chaplain of his regiment, without solicitation, and previously had had a license to preach sent by the Methodist Episcopal Church of Ripley, and served in that capacity until the regiment was mustered out in July, 1864. In September of the same year he married Miss Anna Letitia Craw- ford, a native of Georgetown, Ohio, and to them have been born four children, two of whom died in infancy, the other two now being with them: Ada, who took first honors of her class at South- west Baptist College, and Bessie Lyne, who is a student at that institution. Mr. Allen discontinued preaching on account of throat trouble, came to Missouri in 1865, and was admitted to the bar at Memphis, Scotland County. In 1868, at Macon City, Mo., he was nominated by acclamation for circuit attorney by the Conservative Democrat party, he then being a Liberal Repub- lican, opposed to disfranchisement. In 1869 he came to Salem, Dent County, where he was for four years probate judge and ex-officio president of the county court, and two years mayor of Salem. He presided at the opening of the railroad to Salem, and, in 1877, moved to Marshfield, where he was city attorney, and was one of the sufferers in the terrible cyclone that swept that city. In 1880 he came to Bolivar, and has been president of the town board. At present he is justice of the peace. He is a member of the I. O. O. F., also the G. A. R., and is a promi-
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nent man of the county. He is a Republican in politics; and he and wife are members of the Methodist Episcopal Church.
Joseph R. Allison, one of the leading citizens of Polk County, residing in Jefferson Township, was born in Todd County, Ky., February 15, 1834, and is a son of Abraham and Sarah (Wagster) Allison, who were born in Virginia and North Carolina, and died in Christian County, Ky., in 1863, when about sixty-eight, and in 1868, at the age of seventy, respectively. They were married in West Tennessee, whither they had both gone with their parents in childhood, and afterward located in Todd County, Ky., and later in Christian County. The father was a blacksmith and farmer, and as such was very successful. He was a Democrat politically, and he and wife were members of the Missionary Baptist Church. Joseph R. Allison is one of four surviving members of a family of ten children born to his parents, and when a young man learned the cabinet-maker's trade, and also carpentering. He began working for himself in Fairview, Ky., and formed a partnership with Fidel Eggel, which lasted eighteen months, and in April, 1857, moved to Missouri, and located in Polk County, on the farm on which he is now living, and after working at the carpenter's trade for some time, turned his atten- tion to farming and stock-raising exclusively. When starting out in life for himself, it was without means; but, with a good consti- tution and a determination to succeed, he has been more than ordinarily successful. His first purchase of land was forty acres, and he now owns 362 acres located on Twenty-five Mile Prairie. In 1860 he was elected justice of the peace of Jefferson Town- ship, and served twelve years, with the exception of the time he was in the State Militia, and in his political views has always been a Republican. January 29, 1857, he was married to Miss Tempy Mariam Johnson, a daughter of James Johnson. She was born in Muhlenberg County, Ky., April 10, 1838, and is the mother of two children : James W. A., practicing physician at Rondo, Mo .; and John M., who is also a physician and practices at Lawrenceburg, Mo .; both being graduates of the American Medical College, of St. Louis. Mr. and Mrs. Allison are mem- bers of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church, and he is clerk and elder in the same. He belongs to the I. O. O. F., and for about ten years held the position of postmaster at Rondo.
John B. Appleby (deceased). Among the early settlers of Polk County, Mo., stands the name of the above mentioned gen- tleman, who was born in what is now Marshall County, Tenn., Aug- ust 6, 1828. When but a boy his parents moved to Springfield, when that city consisted of only a blacksmith shop and a small store. Soon after they moved to Walnut Grove, and in about 1836 to this county. He was reared on the old Appleby home- stead, one and a half miles southeast of Morrisville. Hav-
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ing " bached " for a time, he went across the Greene County line to woo Miss Lydia Ann Sumners, to whom he was mar- ried April 22, 1852. She was a native of Middle Tennessee, born June 14, 1833, and, when about a year old, her parents moved to Greene County. After marriage Mr. Appleby and wife settled on the old homestead, and remained there during life. While growing up he had learned the blacksmith trade, at which he would work days and attend school at , nights. He began life in poor circumstances, but by good management he became one of the substantial and represent- ative citizens of his community. He was a prominent Mason, a Democrat in politics, and a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church, South. His wife was also a member of the same church. She died November 15, 1883. May 27, 1885, he married Mrs. Nancy Wetzler, and December 2 of the same year, he received his final summons. No people of this community were of a higher social and Christian standing than were Mr. and Mrs. Appleby. In their family were fourteen children, four sons and ten daugh- ters, of whom six are now living: S. Antine, Nannie A., Gola R., Minnie S., S. Bell and L. Zula. Miss Antine has been a teacher in the public schools for several years; Miss Nannie is principal of the preparatory department of Morrisville College, and the eldest three are graduates of the above college. Mr. Appleby was one of nature's true noblemen. He took an active part in every im- provement and especially in the education of his children; and be it said to their praise, his desires in that direction are being car- ried out.
Judge Benjamin W. Appleby, farmer and stock-raiser, is the son of James and Cynthia S. (McMurry) Appleby, natives of Georgia and Tennessee, respectively. James Appleby was of Irish descent, born in 1801. He was nine years of age when his parents moved from Georgia to Middle Tennessee, and there he met Miss McMurry, whom he afterward married. They settled in Bedford (now Marshall) County, and remained there until 1833, when they came to Greene County, Mo., and located in Spring- field, which was then a village. Here James Appleby followed . the blacksmith trade during the winter, and tilled the soil during the summer months. In 1836 he and family moved to this county and located one and a half miles southeast of Morrisville. At that time deer and wolves were plentiful, but Mr. Appleby never killed but one deer.' He came to this county with very little means, but, by hard work and with the determination to succeed, became one of its well-to-do farmers. He was a quiet, industrious citizen, and one universally esteemed. Both he and wife were members of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church. After the death of his wife, which occurred in 1839, he married Mrs. Nancy Bond, who bore him eight children. He died in 1869.
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He was a Democrat in politics before the war, but after that became a Republican. Of the seven children born to his father's first marriage, Judge Benjamin W. Appleby is the only living son, and the fourth child in order of birth. He was born in Bedford (now Marshall) County, Tenn., January 30, 1832, and was chiefly reared and educated in Polk County. His early school advan- tages were poor, but, after reaching manhood, he attended school and prepared himself for teaching, which profession he followed for about five years. When very small his father put him to striking at the anvil, and, as he was too short to reach the same, a box was made for him to stand on while striking, and it was also used for him while blowing the bellows. August 26, 1858, he married Miss Rebecca A. McClure, a native of Alabama, and the daughter of Judge D. M. McClure. After marriage he turned his attention to the blacksmith trade, at which he worked until 1880. Toward the last of the war he shod horses for the Gov- ernment for about a year, and, all in all, worked at the trade for about twenty-five years. In connection with this he also carried on farming, at which he was quite successful. When township organization was instituted he was elected assessor, and held the position one year. For eight years he was a member of the county court, the last four years being presiding justice. He is a Democrat in politics, a member of the Masonic order, and is a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church, South. In 1873 his wife died, and the same year he married Miss Susan E. Hamilton, who died in 1882. . The following year he wedded Mrs. Bettie Logan, née Misemer. To his first marriage were born five children: Frances B., Homer O., Jerome M., Anna L. and Mack; and to his second marriage were born four children: Troy, William M., Truckee, and an infant (deceased). No children were born to the third marriage. Beginning with noth- ing, the Judge has, by his own exertion and energy, acquired a good fortune, and is now the owner of 400 acres of valuable land.
G. B. Austin, a successful liveryman at Bolivar, Mo., was born in Dallas County, Mo., September 7, 1861, and is the sec- ond of six children born to Elijah and Louisa (Randles) Austin, the father a native of North Carolina, and the mother of Dallas County, Mo. The latter's parents came from Tennessee. When still but a child, the father came with his parents to Dallas County, Mo., and attained growth in that county, there being married. Elijah Austin was an extensive farmer and stock-dealer, which occupation he carried on all his life. He was a member of the Masonic fraternity; was a Democrat in politics, and during the late war he served in the Union army. Both he and wife were members of the Baptist Church. He died January 31, 1889, at the age of fifty-three, and she died November II, 1887, at the age of forty-eight years. G. B. Austin was reared on a farm,
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received his early education in the common schools of Dallas County, and in 1881 came with his parents to Bolivar, where he took a commercial course in Southwest Baptist College, gradu- ating from that institution in 1883. In December of the same year he married Miss Ella Hunt, a native of Dallas County, born near Buffalo, Mo., and this union resulted in the birth of two children: Essie and Otta. Mrs. Austin is a member of the Bap- tist Church. He, like his father, is a Democrat in politics. In 1885 he became a partner with his father in the livery business, which, after the death of his father, he resumed. He runs a livery, feed and sale stable containing about thirteen head of horses and nine vehicles, and has all the requisites for a first- class stable. He also runs the 'bus line.
Alvin A. Ayers, who is another prosperous farmer of Marion Township, is the son of Baker W. and Elizabeth (Clark) Ayers, the father born in Georgia, in 1804, and the mother in North Carolina, about fifteen years later. He is of Scotch and she of French descent. When young, they moved with their parents to Middle Tennessee, and were married in Lincoln County. In 1845 they moved to Carroll County, Ark., where the mother died in 1857, leaving seven children, three sons and four daughters. After her death, the father married Mrs. Louisa Golston, née White. During the war they lived in Illinois, but upon the establishment of peace they moved to Polk County, Mo. The father died here in 1872. He was a member of the Baptist Church, was a farmer by occupation, and, prior to the war, was a Democrat, but after that a Republican. He had little education, having picked up what he had after having grown up. In the days of militia drill he filled the position of major, and was one of the prominent men of the county. He represented Carroll County, Ark. two terms in the Legislature. Previous to the war he had accumulated a good property, which was swept away during the exciting times following. The youngest child born to Mr. and Mrs. Ayers was Alvin A., whose birth occurred in Lincoln County, Tenn., September 4, 1843. He was reared on a farm and attended school about three months altogether. June 9, 1862, he enlisted in Company K, First Arkansas Cavalry, United States Army, and served until July, 1865, being in the battle of Newtonia, Prairie Grove, Springfield and many others. In Searcy County, Ark., he was wounded in the left leg. After the war he came to Polk County, Mo., and was united in marriage to Miss Lucinda Sims, a native of Jefferson City, Texas, who bore him six children, five now living: Lester L., Adella Z., Lizzie M., George S., and Lillian A. Mrs. Ayers is a member of the Bap- tist Church. After marriage Mr. Ayers moved to Barry County, but returned to this county in 1868, and has since made it his
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home, owning 280 acres of land, with 150 under cultivation. He is a Republican in politics, and a member of the Wheel.
Judge J. B. Barnett, cashier of the Farmers' and Merchants' Bank at Humansville, Mo., was born on Blue Grass soil, near Bowling Green, in Warren County, Ky., on the 28th of February, 1843, and there grew to manhood. In 1861 he came to Missouri, and located on Twenty-five Mile Prairie, in Polk County, but the same year joined the Home Guards of Missouri, serving about four months, until the battle of Wilson's Creek, after which he enlisted in Company C, Eighth Missouri State Militia, and was in active service until the close of the war, the most of the time being on detached duty at Springfield, Mo. After peace had been declared he returned to his home and was married to Miss Susan Tillony, and, after spending about two months in Kentucky, he returned to Missouri, and farmed in Polk County until 1870, when he came to Humansville, and was a successful merchant until 1882. In the meantime he had become interested in the banking business, and formed a partnership with O. W. Fisher, with whom he has since been connected. Mr. Barnett has been in public life a great deal, and from 1868 to 1870 served as jus- tice of the peace, and from 1870 to 1874 was justice of the county court. He is a prominent member of the Southwest Missouri Emigration Society, of which he is third vice-president, and is one of its directors from Polk County. He is a member of the G. A. R., a Chapter Mason, and he and his wife are mem- bers of the Baptist Church. To their union three sons and five daughters were born: Emma, wife of D. A. Murphy; Alice, wife of T. M. Callahan, of Washington; Hattie, wife of C. H. Ram- sey; Carrie, a student of Baird College, Clinton, Mo .; Jennie, Willie, Harry and Charles. Judge Barnett's parents, Elisha and Emeline (Skaggs) Barnett, were born in Kentucky.
Richard B. Beck, farmer and ex-county collector, was born in Osceola, Mo., March 12, 1852, and received his education in the public schools and at Bolivar High School. He is the son of James W. and Sarah F. (Divan) Peck, the former of whom was born in Virginia, and when young removed with his parents to Tennessee. He remained in this state until 1841, and then moved to St. Clair County, Mo. Later he went to Polk County; and was there married to Miss Divan, who was born in Tennes- see in 1831, being the daughter of William R. Divan. She was a member of the Christian Church. The father was a teacher, and this calling followed for some time. He held the office of county court clerk, circuit court clerk, recorder and probate judge, and was in official life about thirteen years. He was a Democrat in his political views, and was a prominent Odd Fel- low. He died in 1862, but the mother is still living. In their family were seven children, six sons and one daughter. While
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growing up Richard B. Beck learned the printer's trade, but at the age of twenty years began teaching school, which he con- tinued for two years. He then turned his attention to farming and stock trading. December 18, 1881, he married Miss Susan M. Runyan, a native of Polk County, Mo., born February 28, 1865, and the daughter of Abraham M. Runyan. Both Mr. and Mrs. Beck are members of the Christian Church. They are the parents of two children: James A. and Willie B. Mr. Beck is a Democrat in politics. In 1884 he ran for the office of county collector, and was elected by about 150 majority, though the county goes about 300 Republican. In 1882-83 he was chair- man of the county central committee. Mr. Beck has made his property by his own exertions, and is now the owner of 150 acres of land. His grandfather Beck was a Primitive Baptist minister.
S. J. Blair, postmaster at Fair Play, Polk County, Mo., was born in Mercer County, Ill., in 1857, and is the son of Solomon and Mahala (Baily) Blair, and grandson of James Blair, who was born in Indiana, was of Irish descent, and became a pioneer of Clay County, Ill., where he passed the remainder of his life. He was a veteran in the Revolutionary War. The maternal grandfather, James Baily, was a pioneer of Clay County, Ill., and died before the subject of this sketch was born. Solomon Blair was born in Indiana in 1825, and attained his majority in Clay County, Ill. He was a farmer by occupation. He was married in the last named county, and afterward went to Schuyler County, Ill., where he remained for twenty-two years, and then removed to Audrain County, Mo., in 1877. He is still one of the respected citizens of that place. His wife was born in Clay County, Ill., in 1828, and is still alive. They were the parents of seven children, five sons and two daughters, of whom S. J. Blair was third in order of birth. He was reared in Schuyler County, Ill., received a good common school education, and worked on the farm until twenty-two years of age, when he entered a general merchandise store as clerk, and there remained for three years, when he became a partner in the firm for which he had previously clerked. He was proprietor of the general merchandise store of Blair & Co. for four years, after which he sold out his interest and went to Polk County, Mo. He followed various pursuits until September, 1888, when he was appointed postmaster at Fair Play, it being a fourth-class office. He was married in 1882 to Miss Josephine Elzea, a native of Audrain County, Mo., born in June, 1859. They have one child, Ray E. Mr. Blair is in the employ of the Ewart & Train Char- coal Company, is the owner of a house and some land in Fair Play, and aside from this is the owner of considerable other property. He is a Democrat in politics; is a member of the
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Baptist Church, and is a member of the I. O. O. F., being Noble Grand of Lodge No. 55. Mrs. Blair is a lady of good business capacity, and has full charge of the postoffice.
Benjamin H. Bond, an enterprising farmer and stockraiser of Looney Township, Polk County, Mo., is the son of Benjamin and Martha (McClure) Bond, both natives of Tennessee. The father and mother remained in their native State until the death of the father, which occurred in December, 1836. He was a farmer by occupation, a Democrat in politics, and he and wife were members of the Methodist Church. In 1837 Mrs. Bond and two children, the first child having died in Tennessee, came to Mis- souri and settled in Polk County, and here passed the remainder of her days. After the death of her first husband she married Stephen Mitchell, and by him had seven children. Benjamin H. Bond, the youngest child by the first marriage, was born in Mc- Minn County, Tenn., April 23, 1837. His father had died prior to his birth, and he was taken and reared by his paternal grand- parents, with whome he came to this country in 1837. They lived on a farm, and on the same our subject spent his boyhood days assisting his grandparents in tilling the soil, and received his edu- cation in the common schools. December 7, 1854, he married Miss Sarah Mitchell, daughter of George Mitchell, one of the early settlers of this county. She was born in Roane County, Tenn., September 7, 1836, and the following year came with her parents to this county. After farming until July, 1862, he enlisted in Com- pany F, Twenty-sixth Enrolled Missouri Militia, and in the follow- ing year reorganized and served in the Seventh Provisional. In October, 1863, he joined the Fifteenth U. S. A., and was dis- charged at Springfield in July, 1865. When he first entered the service he was chosen first lieutenant, and held that position until
the close of the war. While skirmishing near Carthage, Mo., his horse fell with him, dislocating his ankle, and from the effects of which he has never fully recovered. From 1860 to 1862 he was deputy sheriff under William B. Mitchell; is a Democrat in poli- tics, and he and wife are members of the Methodist Episcopal Church, South. He is the owner of 160 acres of land with about I 35 under cultivation, and is also engaged in raising stock. He has been a member of the Masonic fraternity for thirty years, and is also a member of the A. O. U. W.
Hugh Brittain is the son of Robert and Margaret (Cain) Brittain, the father a native of Guilford County, N. C., born in 1 802, though his father, William Brittain came from Wales. The mother was born in Hawkins County, Tenn., in 1803, but came of Irish ancestry. When a lad Robert Brittain moved with his parents to Tennessee and was there, later in life, married to Marga- ret Cain. After marriage they settled in Roane County, and here he died in 1837. The father was a successful tiller of the soil;
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was a Whig in politics, and was a soldier in the Creek War. Both parents were members of the Methodist Church. In their family were six children, four sons and two daughters. After the death of the father, the mother married Ezekiel Alexander, and with him came to Missouri. She died in Webster County, in 1861. Hugh Brittain was born in Roane County, Tenn:, April 18, 1832, was reared on a farm, and educated in the old subscrip- tion schools. At the age of seventeen he began for himself by working on a farm for wages. In 1850 he and a brother came to this county, and in December, 1861, he went into Government service as teamster in the commissary department, being with Gen. Curtis most of the time. He operated in Missouri, Arkan- sas, Minnesota and Dakota, being out about three years. He then remained at Springfield, Ill., until 1867, when he returned to this county, and for some time traded in wagons, mules, etc., in Kansas and Texas. In 1869 he married Miss Tinie Lane, a native of Polk County, Mo., and the daughter of John W. Lane. Four children were the result of this union, two now living : Thomas W. and Mary E. In 1871 they moved to Grayson County, Texas, remained there for about ten years, and then, after a visit with his family to California, settled in Polk County, Mo., buying the farm where he now lives. He owns 278 acres of land, with 180 under cultivation. Politically, he is a Repub- lican. He and wife are members of the Presbyterian Church. Mr. Brittain has made all his property by his own exertions and is in very comfortable circumstances. He has traveled in twenty- three States and six Territories.
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