History of Hickory, Polk, Cedar, Dade, and Barton counties, Missouri, Part 60

Author: Goodspeed, firm, publishers, Chicago (1886-1891, Goodspeed Publishing Co.)
Publication date: 1889
Publisher: Chicago, The Goodspeed publishing co.
Number of Pages: 998

USA > Missouri > Cedar County > History of Hickory, Polk, Cedar, Dade, and Barton counties, Missouri > Part 60
USA > Missouri > Dade County > History of Hickory, Polk, Cedar, Dade, and Barton counties, Missouri > Part 60
USA > Missouri > Barton County > History of Hickory, Polk, Cedar, Dade, and Barton counties, Missouri > Part 60
USA > Missouri > Hickory County > History of Hickory, Polk, Cedar, Dade, and Barton counties, Missouri > Part 60
USA > Missouri > Polk County > History of Hickory, Polk, Cedar, Dade, and Barton counties, Missouri > Part 60

Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).

Joseph T. Higginbotham. In giving a history of the worthy citizens of Polk County, Mo., Mr. Higginbotham deserves honor- able mention, for, throughout his life, which has been spent in this county, his good name and honor have remained untarnished. He was born near where he now lives, July 25, 1855, and is the son of Thomas and Rachel Wilson (Mckinney) Higginbotham, who were born on " Blue Grass " soil. In 1845 the father came to Polk County, Mo., and after being engaged in farming and stock raising for many years, retired from the active duties of life, and is now enjoying the fruits of a well-spent life. He served as county judge, at one time being elected by the Democratic party, of which he has been a member, and during the Civil War was captain of militia and participated in a number of engagements. His wife died in the fall of 1885, having been an earnest member of the Missionary Baptist Church. Their children are: Gideon H., J. J., Sarah E., wife of G. M. Botts; Reuben F., Mary Ann, wife of Jasper Vickery; W. W., Martin T., Robert M., who died at the age of sixteen years, and Joseph T. The latter was educated in his native county, and remained at home until twenty-one years of age, when he turned his attention to farming, which he has since continued with success, being now the owner of two well located and well improved farms, all of which is the result of industry and business ability. He also deals quite extensively in stock. At the age of twenty years he married Miss Mary Full- bright, who was born in Washington County, Ark., March 5, 1855, a daughter of Jason Fullbright. To them were born seven children, six of whom are living: Martin P., Minnie Lee, Thomas F., George W., Maggie O. and Nora E. Anna R. died when nine months old. Mr. Higginbotham is a Democrat in politics,

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and since thirteen years of age has been a member of the Mis- sionary Baptist Church, of which his wife is also a member.

Wellington S. Hopkins, M. D. No science has kept more thoroughly apace with the growth of the country, or has made greater developments within the past fifty years, than has, per- haps, the medical science, though it may be often abused by ignorant practitioners who are to be found in every commun- ity; still a worthy and skillful physician is soon recognized and patronized accordingly. Among the very prominent and suc- cessful young physicians of Polk County, Mo., is Dr. W. S. Hopkins, whose name heads this page. He was born in Polk County April 15, 1862, and is the son of Hiram and Elizabeth Jane (Williams) Hopkins. Dr. Hopkins' grandfather, James Hopkins, Sr., was born in Orange County, N. C., in 1764 (the youngest son of his parents), and entered the Revolutionary War at the age of sixteen, serving through the greater portion of that conflict; he was honorably discharged for disability received while in the service. His father emigrated to North Carolina from Wales, in a very early day. Hiram Hopkins was the youngest son of James Hopkins, Sr., and was born in Wilson County, Tenn., March 17, 1817. With his father he emigrated to Illinois the year that State was admitted to the Union, then returned to Ten- nessee, then to Missouri in 1833, and again to Illinois, coming thence to Polk County, Mo., in 1835, where he, with others, had several skirmishes with the Indians. He died on the old home- stead in Polk County, February II, 1878. Hiram Hopkins was married twice, and became the father of one child by his first wife. His second marriage was to Elizabeth Jane Williams, of Polk County, Mo., where she grew to womanhood. She died September 26, 1868. He was a farmer by occupation, and in connection was engaged in merchandising. He was a Repub- lican in politics, was in the Home Guards during the war, and was one of the prominent men of Polk County, having filled the office of judge of the county court for a number of years. He died on the old homestead in Polk County, February II, 1878, and the mother also died in the same county, September 26, 1869. To his second marriage were born eight children, seven now liv- ing. The grandparents on both sides were natives of North Carolina. Dr. W. S. Hopkins began the study of medicine under Dr. Drake, of Polk County, in 1884, remained thus em- ployed for several months, and then entered the Missouri Medical College in October of the same year. Later he returned and practiced in Cedar County during vacation, under Dr. M. B. Wooldridge, but returned to the college in October, 1885, where he graduated March 2, 1886, with the degree of M. D. He then returned to Cedar County, and resumed the practice of medicine until November, 1886, when he moved to Fair Play and entered

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upon a successful practice. He was married March 17, 1887, to Miss Elsie M. Paynter, of Cedar County, who was born Feb- ruary 28, 1869, and grew to womanhood in Cedar County, Mo. She attended the common schools, and also three terms at a select school at Stockton. She is the daughter of Judge C. W. Paynter, of Cedar County, Mo. May 24, 1887, Dr. Hopkins formed a co-partnership with Dr. M. D. Brewer, and this contin- ued until October 5, 1888. He engaged in the drug business with Dr. Brewer in May, 1887, but the store was burned Sep- tember 18 of the same year, with no insurance.

Archibald Hopper, farmer and stock-raiser of Johnson Town- ship, Polk County, Mo., was born in Marshall County, Tenn., in 1823, and is the son of Charles Hopper, who was born in North Carolina, but who emigrated to Tennessee, locating in Bedford County, and there passed the remainder of his life. He was a soldier in the War of 1812, and drew a land warrant. He followed farming in Tennessee, and also ran a distillery. He was married to Miss Susan Penn, also a native of North Carolina, and to them were born four children, Archibald Hopper being the youngest child and only son. Mrs. Hopper died in Texas, whither she had gone with some of her children. The paternal grandmother was born in North Carolina, and at an early date moved to Missouri, where she died. The subject of this sketch grew to manhood in Tennessee, was married there to Miss Margaret Gibbons, a native of Tennessee, who bore him two children there, and later became the mother of ten children, viz. : Andrew M., died at the age of twenty-one years; Elizabeth M., wife of John Heard; Sarah C. F. and Charles H. (twins); Nancy J. Fox died at the age of thirty-five years; Thomas; Susan C., wife of C. C. Ayers; James A .; Alvin W., died at the age of sixteen years; America E., wife of Henry C. Maxwell; Henry S .; and Margaret, wife of John Penman.

The mother of these children died in 1864, and Mr. Hopper then married Mrs. Harriet A. (Rule) Mitchell, and three children were born to this union, Harriet L., wife of J. G. Walker; Tennessee, died in infancy, and Ollie died at the age of three years. Mrs. Harriet Hopper died in 1870, and Mr. Hopper married Miss Mary E. Mitchell, but no relative of the former family of Mitchells, in 1871. Mr. Hopper came to Missouri March 28, 1847, and raised the first crop where Humansville is now located. The next year he entered fifty acres of land, settled on the same, and here he has remained ever since. During the Civil War he enlisted in the Union army, in Company C, Eighth Missouri State Militia, and was in service about two years. He was appointed constable of Johnson Township, and, in order to fill the office, was discharged from regular service. He has been road overseer of the town- ship for two years, and overseer of one-half the township once

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since. He has an excellent farm of 205 acres, also raises stock, and is one of the first-class farmers of the county, his property being the result of his own exertions. He is a Master Mason, a Republican, and is a member of the Missionary Baptist Church.

Atha Gregory Hudson, a harness manufacturer, is a Virginian, born in Halifax County, November 25, 1813, and is a son of Daniel and Sallie Hudson, but was left an orphan when about seven years of age, and was reared in Kentucky. When about fourteen years of age he began learning the harness-makers' trade in Hopkinsville, Ky., and, after becoming thoroughly acquainted with the details of the business, worked in that State for a number of years. In October, 1851, he came to Cedar County, Mo., where he made his home until 1877, when he located in Humansville. During the war he worked in Sedalia, Mo. He was married in Kentucky in 1835 to Miss Catherine Ann Eliza- beth Lander, a daughter of Henry Lander, and granddaughter of Maj. Brassfield, of Clark County, Ky. They have two sons and two daughters living: Charles William, a farmer, of Vernon County, Mo., a substantial citizen of the county, and a soldier in the late war; John, the other son; Ophelia Kate, wife of Cicero Warner; and Mollie, wife of E. P. White, a railroad contractor of New Orleans, La. Mr. and Mrs. Hudson have been members of the Methodist Episcopal Church, South, from youth.

W. R. Hudson, prosecuting attorney of Polk County, Mo., was born in Lincoln County, Mo., August 30, 1839, and is the son of Charles and Frances (Sitton) Hudson, natives of South Caro- lina and Tennessee, respectively, and who came with their parents to Missouri in 1818 and 1817, respectively. Isaac Hudson, grand- father of the subject of this sketch, was supposed to have been a lineal descendent of Henry Hudson. ' He was a planter by occu- pation, and was a soldier in the Revolutionary War, serving from Southern Carolina, who soon after the Revolution emigrated to Kentucky, and from there to Missouri. Frances Sitton was the daughter of Philip Sitton, a Tennesseean, who served in the War of 1812, and did duty at New Orleans, and who also served in the Indian wars. He was a farmer by occupation and a car- penter by trade. W. R. Hudson grew to manhood in Lincoln County and, in March, 1862, he enlisted in Company D, Third Missouri State Militia Cavalry, was in service for about eighteen months, when he was honorably discharged on account of dis- ability. Immediately after the war he took up the study of law (for which he had been strongly inclined from early manhood), at his home, and was admitted at Warsaw, Mo., in 1872. He then located at Hermitage, Mo., and prosecuted his practice there until 1876, when he came to Humansville, and has since been prominently before the public as a lawyer. On both sides of this genealogical tree we find longevity of life a striking charac-

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teristic. The Hudsons were of medium stature, strong physique, and liberal in religious matters. Mr. Hudson was married, while in Lincoln County, to Miss Nancy Mabry, a native of Missouri. He is a member of the Masonic fraternity (Blue Lodge), and is also a member of S. A. M. George Post No. 231, G. A. R., and has filled official positions in the same.

John B. Ingram, a leading resident of Polk County, Mo., was born near Lebanon, Wilson County, Tenn., August 17, 1834, being a son of Martin and Anna A. (Howard) Ingram, who were born in North Carolina, and moved from there to Wilson County, Tenn., where they remained five years, and in 1834 moved to Springfield, Mo. After living here one year they moved six miles northeast of Springfield, and opened up a farm, where they resided until their respective deaths. The father was a general mechanic in his younger days, having learned the trade in North Carolina, and was an excellent one for his day. In his political views he was first a Democrat, and then became a Republican. His birth occurred on the 29th of August, 1803, and his death, June 8, 1881. His wife was an earnest member of the Primitive Baptist Church, and died on the Ist of Novem- ber, 1884, at the age of eighty years. John B. Ingram is the fourth of their eight children, and was educated in Greene County. He remained with his parents until twenty-three years of age, then moved away to Polk County, where he bought and entered 220 acres of land and is now the owner of one of the best im- proved and most fertile farms in Polk County. He first engaged in the nursery business in connection with his farm work, but after some time gave his attention to farm work exclusively, and now devotes a part of his attention to manufacturing molasses. July 26, 1860, he was married to Miss Elizabeth A. McCracken, a daughter of Thomas McCracken. She was born in Williamson County, Tenn., November 26, 1826, and by Mr. Ingram has become the mother of two children: Mary Ellen, wife of Dr. J. W. Allison, a physician of Rondo, Mo .; and Ben F., at home. Mr. and Mrs. Ingram are members of the Christian Church, and he is a Republican, and is one of the enterprising citizens of the county, being always ready to support worthy enterprises. Mr. Ingram's brothers and sisters are: Mary J. (McCracken); Archi- bald F., a prominent banker of Springfield, Mo., who has been connected with most of the newspapers published in that city; Sidney N., was a school teacher in his young days, but is now engaged in milling near Springfield; Thomas J. is a resi- dent of Greene County, and was a soldier in the Union service in the late war; Benson H. is a life insurance agent of Sedalia, and has been circuit court clerk of Pettis County; Martin V. was also a soldier in the Union army, and is now engaged in the pork business in Springfield; and Virginia A. was the wife of

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John McCraw, and died when about thirty-four years of age in Dakota Territory.

Among the prominent men of the early settlers in Polk County appears the name of Col. James W. Johnson. He was of English descent, having been born August 24, 1811, in Vir- ginia. In an early day he emigrated to Tennessee, and located near Nashville, where he married, in 1883, Miss Nancy Piper, a native of Middle Tennessee, born September 28, 1814. Her father was a native of Ireland, and in an early day came to this country. He was a soldier in the War of 1812, and the second person buried in the Bolivar graveyard. In 1834 Col. Johnson and wife came to Polk County. Though a farmer by occupation, he took an active part in all the affairs of his county. In 1852 he was elected sheriff and collector of Polk County, in which capacity he served two years. In the Constitutional Convention of 1861 he was the chosen delegate from this district. The same year he received the commission of colonel of the Fifteenth U. S. Reserve Corps, and in September, 1862, he was honored with the commission of colonel of the Twenty-sixth Enrolled Missouri Militia, and served till March, 1864, when he resigned and retired to private life. In 1888 he was called from the toils of earth. In his death the county lost one of its most useful and highly esteemed citizens. He was a stanch Democrat, and an active member in the Christian Church, as was also his wife. She died August 13, 1883. Their family consisted of eight children, of whom five survive: Delilah P., Richard M., Samuel R., James W. and Abraham L. Samuel R. was born in this county July 28, 1850, being reared upon the farm. While growing up he received a good English education in the schools of the county. Having prepared himself in the Bolivar Academy for the profession of teaching, he followed it some three years. September 1, 1872, he married Miss Emma Stewart, daughter of George W. Stewart. She was born near Madison, Ind., May 26, 1854, and came to this county with her parents in 1869. Having resided on the old homestead until 1884, Mr. Johnson moved to his present home, a mile and a quarter northeast of Bolivar. He owns 200 acres of good land, with about 125 under cultivation. His family consists of four children: Llano, Daisy, Nannie and Nettie. He is a mem- ber of the Christian Church. He is an advocate of the principles of the Union Labor Party. The Johnson family is an old and highly respected family, and deserves an honorable mention in the history of Polk County.

Richard M. Johnson, fine stock breeder, and son of Col. James W. and Nancy (Piper) Johnson, was born in Marion Town- ship, Polk County, Mo., August 8, 1845, was reared to farm life, and received a good practical education in the common district schools. August 12, 1861, he enlisted in Company A, Polk

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County Home Guards, served about nine months, and in March, 1862, he joined Company E, Eighth Missouri State Militia Cav- alry, and served until March, 1865. The last two years he was quartermaster sergeant. He was in a great many skirmishes, but was never wounded nor taken prisoner. After being dis- charged at Springfield, he returned to this county. December 29, 1867, he married Miss Sarah E. Jones, daughter of Judge James M. Jones, and a native of Polk County, Mo., born January 5, 1846. To this union were born five children, four now living: James M., Edward A., Mary M. and Rosa E. Both Mr. and Mrs. Johnson are members of the Christian Church. Mr. John- son has taken great interest in improving the stock of the county, and has the finest Mohawk jack, besides several young ones, in the county. He is also active in all worthy enterprises, has lived for nearly forty-two years on the section of land where he now lives, and is a most estimable citizen. He is a Democrat in poli- tics, and is a member of the Masonic fraternity.

Isaac Marion Jones, M. D., a practicing physician of Bolivar and vicinity, was born in Delaware County, Ohio, March 22, 1841, and is the son of Abraham and Sarah (Lewis) Jones, both natives of New Jersey, the father born in 1796, and the mother in 1799. He was of Welsh-English descent, and she of English. After their marriage they remained in their native State until 1814, when they moved to Madison County, Ohio, and owned the land entered by his father, where West Jefferson is now built. The father was a farmer and an extensive land-owner. He also practiced medicine under the old Botanic system. He was a soldier in the War of 1812; was not an office-seeker, nor were any of his family, but he was a Democrat in politics. He was a deacon in the Baptist Church for over forty years, and his wife was a member of the same church. He died in 1864, and she in 1876. They were the parents of eleven children, five sons and six daughters, and one of the sons, Lewis R., became a Baptist minister. Isaac M. Jones, the youngest child, and the only son now living, married August 30, 1858, Miss Christina . Leffler, a native of Muskingum County, Ohio, and the result of this union was nine children, four now living: James A., Thomas J., Pleasant W. and Mary E. Both Dr. and Mrs. Jones are members of the Baptist Church. In 1860 the Doctor moved to Moultrie County, Ill., and in 1869, to Polk County, Mo. In 1872 he graduated from the St. Louis Medical College, returned to Polk County, and has practiced there ever since. He is a member of the Polk County Medical Society, and has been coroner one term.

James H. Justus, proprietor of Bolivar Roller Mills, was born in Sumner County, Tenn., May 8, 1817, and his parents, Thomas and Polly (Carr) Justus, were natives of the same State, and were

BIOGRAPHICAL APPENDIX.

there married. The father's people were from Connecticut, and the mother's from Ireland. After marriage Mr. and Mrs. Justus lived in Tennessee until 1818, when they moved to Southeast Missouri, and two years later to Greene County. From there they moved to Schuyler County, Ill., and in 1852 settled in St. Clair County, Mo., where they both died, he at the age of sixty- seven years, and she at the age of seventy-seven years. The father was a farmer and miller by occupation. He was a Demo- crat in politics. The mother was a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church. In their family were eleven children, five sons and six daughters. James H. Justus was the fourth child in order of birth. He was reared on the farm and in the mill, had almost no educational advantages, not attending more than three months all together. He worked for his father until twenty- six years of age, and in 1843 was married to Miss Mary E. Edger, a native of Ohio. He had gone to Iowa in 1837, but returned to wed Miss Edger. Having made two trips to Texas, he finally set- tled in St. Clair County, Mo., where he lived until 1880, and then moved to Polk County. His chief occupation has been farming, which he continued until 1885, when he bought the mill and moved to Bolivar. He has a good mill of seventy-five barrels capacity, and does first-class work. He was an old line Whig until that party went down, and since then he has been a Repub- lican. By his first wife he had four children, two sons and two daughters. The mother died in 1852, and Mr. Justus took for his second wife Mrs. Nancy Imes, née Bennett, who bore him seven children, three sons and four daughters. The second Mrs. Justus died in 1881, and three years later Mr. Justus married Mrs. Hamlin, née Moore. The second wife was a member of the Baptist Church, and the present wife is a member of the Christian Church. Mr. Justus began life a poor boy, but, by labor and economy, became the owner of 537 acres of land, all well stocked, but the war came on and swept away about $3,000 worth of stock. Mr. Justus owns a good mill and three acres in Bolivar. He is a much respected citizen. His son, George W., is the business manager of the firm, and William G. Imes, his step-son, is also associated in the business. The Bolivar Roller Mills took the premium on first and second grades of flour at the Polk County Fair in 1888.

William C. Kelley, a prominent resident and native of Polk County, Mo., was born January 4, 1842, and is a son of George W. and Elizabeth (Orendorff) Kelley, the former of whom was born in the " Old North State," and the latter in Kentucky, and died in Polk County, Mo., the father in 1869, at the age of eighty-one years, and the mother October 14, 1850. They were married in Logan County, Ill., July 17, 1822, and came to Mis- souri in 1836. The father, whose birth occurred July 25, 1789,

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was a blacksmith by trade. , He and his brothers were the first white men to settle in Springfield, Ill., building the first log huts in that now prosperous city. After coming to Missouri, he turned his attention to farming and stock raising, and was very successful until 1852, when he lost all his property by a cyclone, and never recovered his losses. Of four sons and four daughters born to his marriage, only two children are now living: William C. and Russell W. The former was educated in the district schools of Polk County, and remained under the shelter of the parental roof until July, 1862, when he enlisted in Company E, Twenty-sixth Missouri Enrolled Militia, with which he served seven months, and was then transferred to Captain Price's com- pany of the same regiment, of which he remained a member until peace was declared. Since that time he has given his atten- tion to farming and stock raising, and is now the owner of 300 acres of excellent farming land. Mr. Kelley is a member of the Republican party, a member of the Agricultural Wheel, and is one of the well respected and enterprising citizens of that county. December 14, 1870, he was married to Mary V. Watson, a daughter of Leander Watson. She was born in Webster County, Mo., March 10, 1851, and is the mother of three children: Amanda Annis, born October 18, 1871; William M., born March 7, 1874; and George L., born July 26, 1876.

William H. Kelly, merchant of Morrisville, Mo., was born in Botetourt County, Va., June 17, 1838, andis the son of John H. and Sarah E. (Hanes) Kelly, both natives of Virginia. Grand- father Kelly was a native of the Emerald Isle, and after emi- grating to America, settled in Virginia. Grandfather Hanes was of German descent. John H. and Sarah (Hanes) Kelly were married in Virginia, and never moved from that State. He died at the age of sixty-seven years, but she is still living, and is about seventy-one years of age. She is a member of the Meth- odist Episcopal Church, South, as was also her husband. In his political views he was first a Whig, next a Know-Nothing, and finally a Democrat. During militia days he held the position of colonel. He ran a hotel and blacksmith shop in Amsterdam, and was quite successful at this. In their family were thirteen chil- dren, three sons and ten daughters, of whom our subject is the eldest. He was reared in his native village, Amsterdam, and educated in the subscription schools, receiving a fair business education. When the disturbance at Harper's Ferry occurred, he joined the Fincastle Rifles, and went to assist in quelling the affair. In June, 1861, he assisted Gilmore Breckenridge in raising his company, Company K, Twenty-eighth Virginia Infantry, Confederate Army, and was elected second lieutenant. At the end of the first year the reorganization took place, and he was chosen first lieutenant. After the seven days' fight around

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Richmond he was promoted to the rank of captain of his com- pany, which position he held until the close of the war. He was at the battle of Williamsburg, Second Manassas, Seven Pines, Gettysburg, Sharpsburg, Fredericksburg, Plymouth, and Wilder- ness. He was never wounded nor taken prisoner. He then returned to this county in 1869, and the following year went to Texas, where he clerked in a store. In 1837 he came back to Polk County, and November 18 of the same year, he married Miss Laura L. McClure. Both he and wife are members of the Methodist Episcopal Church, South. He is a Democrat in poli- tics. In the spring of 1874 he engaged in mercantile pursuits in Morrisville, and has been thus engaged since. In 1880 Thomas B. Lemmon joined him in business. Mr. Lemmon is the son of John S. Lemmon, and was born in Polk County, Mo., Septem- ber 19, 1849. On reaching manhood he ran a mill at West Bend, this county, for about seven years. Two years later he went to Shady Grove, this county, and opened a general store, which he ran until he joined Mr. Kelly in 1880. January 1, 1871, he married Miss Sarah E. Treadway, a native of this State, who bore him eight children, seven now living : William E., John F., Nora L. (deceased), Ora, Jesse H., Francis A., Jefferson C. and James A. April 11, 1888, he lost his wife, and April 15 of the same year he lost his daughter, Nora L. He is a member of the Masonic order, and is treasurer of Pleasant Lodge No. 160. In politics he is a Democrat, and in his religious views he affiliates with the Methodist Episcopal Church, South. He and Mr. Kelly are live business men, and have a good patronage.

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History of Hickory, Polk, Cedar, Dade, and Barton counties, Missouri, Part 60

Author: Goodspeed, firm, publishers, Chicago (1886-1891, Goodspeed Publishing Co.) Publication date: 1889 Publisher: Chicago, The Goodspeed publishing co. Number of Pages: 998

Author: Goodspeed, firm, publishers, Chicago (1886-1891, Goodspeed Publishing Co.)
Publication date: 1889
Publisher: Chicago, The Goodspeed publishing co.
Number of Pages: 998