USA > Missouri > Cedar County > History of Hickory, Polk, Cedar, Dade, and Barton counties, Missouri > Part 76
USA > Missouri > Dade County > History of Hickory, Polk, Cedar, Dade, and Barton counties, Missouri > Part 76
USA > Missouri > Barton County > History of Hickory, Polk, Cedar, Dade, and Barton counties, Missouri > Part 76
USA > Missouri > Hickory County > History of Hickory, Polk, Cedar, Dade, and Barton counties, Missouri > Part 76
USA > Missouri > Polk County > History of Hickory, Polk, Cedar, Dade, and Barton counties, Missouri > Part 76
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Joseph W. Carmack, farmer and justice of the peace of Mor- gan Township, resides near the village of Dadeville, and is the son of John and Elizabeth (Chapin) Carmack, both natives of Overton County, Tenn., born in 1807 and 1809, respectively. The father was of Scotch-Irish descent, and came to Dade County, Mo.,
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in 1853. He was a farmer by occupation, and died in the last named county in 1856. His wife is still living, and makes her home with her son, Joseph W. Carmack. She is seventy-nine years of age, and is the mother of eight children, four now living, three sons and one daughter. Joseph W. Carmack is a single man, has always remained at the home place, and is one of the substantial citizens of the county. He was born in Overton County, Tenn., May 26, 1838, and was principally educated in the com- mon schools, although he attended one term in the high schools at Springfield, Mo. In August, 1877, he was elected justice of the peace of Morgan Township, and is still acting in that capacity, being an efficient and obliging officer .. In connection with his office, he attends to pension claims and does a good business in that line. He has three farms, one consisting of 100 acres, all under cultivation, with good improvements in the shape of build- ings, etc .; another of 118 acres, with about ninety-five under cultivation, and another farm of 200 acres, about sixty-five under cultivation. These farms are all in Morgan Township, Dade County, Mo. Mr. Carmack is a Republican in his political opin- ions and is a highly respected citizen. In July, 1861, he enlisted in Company A, Sixth Missouri Cavalry, and served as, first lieu- tenant in that regiment until 1864, when he was discharged; in September, 1864, he was commissioned second lieutenant in the Seventy-sixth Regiment Enrolled Missouri Militia. In March, 1865, he went in the Fourteenth Missouri Veteran Cavalry, and was first lieutenant until the close of the war. He was in the battle of Wilson's Creek when Gen. Lyon was killed, was in the battles of Sugar Creek, Wet Glaze, Pea Ridge, Prairie Grove, and many skirmishes. He was a good soldier and a gallant officer. He is a man universally respected and esteemed by all who know him. In 1864 he was elected sheriff and collector ex-officio, but declined to serve on account of rebels being in arms in the State of Missouri, and he preferred to be a soldier in time of war. In 1866 he was commissioned first lieutenant and enrolling officer for Dade County, Mo., and enrolled and organized the militia of this county. From the close of the war to 1872 he was a teacher in the public schools of the county, since which time he has been in the mercantile business until recently.
Edgar Clark, county collector of Dade County, Mo., was born in Benton County, Mo., in 1841, and is one of the prominent citizens of the county. He is the son of John B. and Margaret (Homer) Clark, the former a native of New Jersey, born in 1794, and the latter a native of Pennsylvania, born in 1801. John B. Clark was of Scotch descent, and was a cabinet-maker by trade. When a young man, or about 1815, he went to Harrisburg, Penn., and was there married to Miss Horner. In 1837 they emigrated to Benton County, Mo., and in 1850 Mr. Clark went overland to
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California, to seek for his share of the hidden wealth. In 1853 he returned to Missouri and settled in Dadeville. During about three years of the war he was in Washington, D. C. He died in 1878 at Springfield, Mo., where he had lived three years. He was representative in the lower house from a county in Pennsyl- vania, and was a member of the State Senate in Missouri from Dade County, being elected in 1866. His wife died in 1877. They were the parents of nine children: Robert A., of Springfield, Mo., engaged in milling; Louisa, widow of Charles Clark, in Warsaw, Benton County, Mo .; Samson S., proprietor of Wash- ington Hotel, in Greenfield; Eliza J., widow of T. S. Switzler, at Billings, Mo .; John B., clerk in pension department at Wash- ington, D. C .; Mary G., wife of James Mackelworth, in Waxa- hachie, Texas; Charles P., deceased; Edgar; and Margaret A., wife of Charles A. Prentice, in Washington, D. C. Edgar grew to manhood on a farm, and came to Dade County when he was but a lad. July 2, 1862, he enlisted in Company L, Sixth Mis- souri Volunteer Cavalry, and was in the fight at Prairie Grove, and was also in numerous skirmishes. He was discharged July 2, 1865, at Baton Rouge, La., and afterward returned to Dade- ville, Mo., where he commenced clerking in a general store. In 1867 he and E. R. Hughes and E. J. Morris formed a partnership, and the firm title was Morris, Clark and Hughes, thus continuing until 1881, when Mr. Morris withdrew and Mr. Clark and Hughes moved their stock to Everton, and there continued until 1885. Since that time Mr. Clark has been salesman in Mclemore Bros.' store at Everton. In November, 1888, Mr. Clark was elected county collector of Dade County by a majority of 162. In 1870 he married Miss Eliza Morris, a native of Cass County, Mo., born in 1843, and the daughter of Mount Etna Morris. Four children were the result of this union: Joannah, Maggie, Jennie and Edgar C. In his political views Mr. Clark affiliates with the Republican party, and his first presidential vote was cast for Abraham Lin- coln in 1864. He is a member of the I. O. O. F., and is also a member of Everton Post No. 369, G. A. R. Mrs. Clark is a member of the Christian Church.
John R. Clopton, merchant and mail contractor at Dadeville, Mo., is a native of Dade County, born on Sac River, two miles south of Dadeville (where he now lives), January 22, 1852. He moved to Dadeville March 14, 1866, went to California in November, 1873, but returned in October, 1873, and, July 19, 1874, he chose for his companion in life Miss Martha A. Gaunt, who was born in Dadeville, November 10, 1852, and who is the daughter of John M. and Emily (Pyles) Gaunt, very early settlers of this locality. The father is still living, but the mother died in 1877. To Mr. and Mrs. Clopton were born six children, all liv- ing: Walter T., Carter E., Charles R., Franklin E., Elizabeth J.
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and John H. Soon after marriage Mr. Clopton moved on a farm at Sun Creek, in Dade County, but subsequently sold to William Johnson, and moved to what is known as the " Fanning farm," where he remained one year. He then traded a farm in Polk County for one in Dade County, on Sac River, settled on the same, and there remained two years, after which he moved back to the Fanning farm. Later he moved to Dadeville. He has the mail route from Buckley to Cane Hill, and has the contract for six years, which time expires July 1, 1891. Mr. Clopton has seven acres of land on the town site of Dadeville. He is a Repub- lican in politics. He is the son of R. G. and Elizabeth (Fanning) Clopton, the grandson of Gui and Mary (Bryant) Clopton, who were born in North Carolina in 1777 and 1787, respectively. The grandparents emigrated from Tennessee to St. Charles County, Mo., in 1825, and were early settlers of that county. After residing there nine years they came to Dade County, Mo., and were among the first settlers of this vicinity. Gui Clopton died here in 1839, and his wife, Mary, died in 1879, at the age of ninety-two years. Both were of English descent. R. G. Clopton, father of the subject of this sketch, is still living, and is engaged in the mercantile business with his son. He was a mule- trader during the war, and, in 1862, was captured by a rebel squad, who, after discovering that he had money, relieved him of $300, and then allowed him his liberty. After reaching home he discovered that he had about $100 which they had failed to find. His wife, Elizabeth (Fanning) Clopton, was born in Ten- nessee in 1829, and is yet living. Her father, Thomas Fanning, was of English descent, and died in Dade County, Mo., in 1860. Her grandfather, Thomas Fanning, Sr., and his wife, Sarah Fan- ning, were both born in England, and died in Tennessee.
Robert Cowan, farmer and stock-raiser, residing three miles northeast of Dadeville, Mo., was born in Sullivan County, East Tenn., in 1827, and is the son of William R. and Nancy (Sursong) Cowan. The father was born in Sullivan County, Tenn., about 1790, was of Irish descent, and a farmer by occu- pation. He died in his native county about 1868. The mother was born in Washington County, Va., near 1800, and died in Sullivan County, Tenn., in 1878. They were the parents of eleven children, eight sons and three daughters, six now living. Robert Cowan was the second child in order of birth. He left home at the age of seventeen, and in 1848 he was united in mar- riage to Miss Mary J. McConnel, who was born in Washington County, Va., about 1828, and died in Dade County, Mo., in 1850, leaving one child, William R. In 1851 Mr. Cowan married his second wife, Miss Margaret E. Haley, who was born in Bruns- wick County, Va., in 1831, and is the daughter of Meredith and Dorothy L. Haley. Her parents came to Dade County, Mo., in
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1838, and were among the pioneer settlers of that county. Here the father died in 1856. He was a native Virginian. The mother also died in Dade County in 1863. She was also a native of Vir- ginia, born in the year 1800, and was of Irish descent. To Mr. Cowan's second marriage were born six children, all living - Mary V., Anna L., wife of Thomas Davidson; James M., now in Califor- nia; John A .; Dorothy, wife of W. R. Dye, in Dade County, Mo .; and Ella, wife of Solomon Wilson, and now residing in Aurora, Mo. Mr. Cowan moved to Cedar County, Mo., in '1844, and soon after settled in St. Clair, where he resided three years. He then moved to his present property, which consists of a fine farm of 320 acres, with about 180 under cultivation. In 1862 Mr. Cowan entered the army, in Company I, Sixteenth Regi- ment Missouri Cavalry, and served about three years. He was elected county judge of Dade County at one time, and affiliated with the Republican party until 1884, since which time he has been a Democrat. Mrs. Cowan is a member of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church. Their son, John A. Cowan, was born in Dade County, Mo., in 1858, and in 1882 married Miss Nora Dinwiddie, who was born in Dade County, Mo., in 1865, and is the daughter of Nathan and Almina (Morris) Dinwiddie, both deceased, the mother dying in Dade County about 1875, and the father in the same county in 1888. Both were natives of the State of Missouri. To John Cowan and wife were born two children. Mr. and Mrs. Cowan reside on the old homestead with the elder Mr. Cowan, but he is also the owner of 240 acres of his own. He is a Democrat in politics, and his wife is a member of the Christian Church.
Robert M. Crutcher, M. D., a successful practicing physician and surgeon of Arcola, is a native of Middle Tennessee, born April 7, 1848, and is the son of William H. and Charity (Evans) Crutcher. The father was a merchant of Nashville, Tenn., for several years, was also a farmer, stock dealer and real estate agent, and is now living at Nashville. His wife was also born in Tennessee, and died about 1853. She was the mother of eight children, five now living. Dr. Crutcher was the sixth of these children in order of birth, and received his education in the public schools of Nashville. In 1874 he graduated in the medical department of the University of Nashville, and the same year he came to Cane Hill, Cedar County, Mo., where he began the practice of medicine. He resided there about eight- een months, when in August, 1879, he moved to Arcola, and there he has since resided. He has built up a large and lucra- tive practice, and is one of the leading practitioners of Dade County, his practice including a circuit of over twelve miles. In 1874 he married Miss Mary V. Rountree, who was born in Polk County, Mo., in 1860, and who is the daughter of Rufus M. and
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Lucretia Rountree, the former born in 1833, and died in July, 1886, and the latter born in 1841, and yet living. They came to . Missouri about 1870. To Mr. and Mrs. Crutcher were born six children, five living : Henry C., James E., one deceased, Edgar, Robert Lee and Lucian. Mr. Crutcher is a member of the Garrett Lodge of Free Masons of Arcola. He is also a member of the Christian Church, is an elder in the same, and is superintendent of the Sunday-school. Mrs. Crutcher is a mem- ber of the same church. The Doctor is a Democrat in politics.
John L. Daugherty, one of the prominent educators of Dade- ville, Mo., was born in Tazewell County, Va., January 22, 1858. His parents, George G. and Mary (Gillispie) Daugherty, were both natives of Virginia, the father born in 1829, and the mother in 1838. The former was a tailor by trade, and of Irish descent. He first left his native State for Missouri in 1860, and after remaining there two years, returned to Virginia, and resided in that State until 1870, when he again returned to Missouri, locating in Gentry County. He resided there until 1876, when he moved to Dade County, where he died in 1880. His wife is now living in Ash Grove, Mo. They were the parents of five children, all living. John L. Daugherty is the eldest of these children. He remained with his parents until he had attained his majority, and received most of his education in the common schools, although he attended one term in Ash Grove, Mo., College. At the age of nineteen years he taught his first term in Dade County, Polk Township, in what is known as Pemberton District, and has, since then, taught sixteen terms of school, teaching one year in Dadeville, and giving general satisfaction. He is a courteous, obliging gentleman, and is highly respected by all who know him. In 1882 he married Miss Flora Wheeler, who was born in Dade County, Mo., in 1864, and who is the daughter of James and Mary E. Wheeler. Mr. Wheeler was born in Tennessee, and died in Dade County, Mo., in May, 1876. His wife is now living in Harper County, Kan. Mr. Daugherty is a member of the Masonic order, and he and his wife are members of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church.
W. J. Davis, proprietor of the Evergreen Stock Farm, Lock- wood, Dade County, Mo., and breeder and dealer in choice Clydesdale horses since 1884, has the finest lot of blooded ani- mals in the West. He has ten head of fine imported stallions and mares, and has done more toward improving the horse than any man in Southwest Missouri. For seven years previous to the above date Mr. Davis was extensively engaged in breeding fine Jacks and Norman horses, and he has been awarded first premiums and sweepstakes premiums at nearly all the fairs in Southwest Missouri, at Peirce City, Springfield, Sarcoxie, etc. He is a practical horseman, and is perfectly contented and at
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home among his stock. He was among the first men to introduce the breeding of thoroughbred cattle in Southwest Missouri, and for some years was successful in that business, starting with some of Kentucky's choicest animals. Mr. Davis was born in Saratoga County, N. Y., in 1835, and is the son of Richard C. and Susan (Pawling) Davis, natives of New York, where they were married and where they lived until 1842. They then moved to De Kalb County, Ill., where they died, the father in 1877 and the mother about 1874. Richard C. Davis was a well-to-do farmer and
dairyman in butter and cheese, and followed this occupation the principal part of his life. His father, James L. Davis, was a native of New York, and died in that State at the age of ninety- three years. He was of English-Holland descent, and was a soldier in the Revolutionary War.
Mrs. Davis' father, William Pawling, was a Scotchman, and was a soldier in the Revolutionary War, on the side of the Colonists. He afterward deserted, and started, with his wife and two children, to join Burgoyne's army. He and wife each took a child on horseback, and were well on the way before his wife knew his intention. She at once seized the other child, retraced her steps, and never afterward heard of her traitorous husband. Richard C. Davis was married twice, his second wife being the mother of the subject of this sketch, who was the second of five sons and one daughter. He attended school but very little until twenty-one years of age, and then only three months at Pawpaw, Ill., whither he had gone with his parents. At the age of sixteen he commenced working out on the farm for five dollars per month, and the next year for eight dollars per month. He was married in 1862 to Miss Sarah Kellogg, a native of New York, who bore him three children: Susie, wife of Charles Polstand; Minnie B., wife of Samuel Hunt; and William Henry. After marriage Mr. Davis settled in La Salle County, Ill., where he farmed until 1869, and then moved to Dade County, Mo., settling on wild prairie land, the present site of Lockwood, and was one of the first settlers on the prairie. He had a team and about $1,000, and soon became one of the leading farmers of the county. At one time he owned 480 acres of land, but gave his children and wife property to the amount of about $10,000. In this connection it is but proper to state that Mr. Davis' wife, though surrounded by every needed comfort and many luxuries, after manifesting continual dissatisfaction and dis- content, left home during the absence of her husband on one occasion, and since then has become divorced, Mr. Davis giving her $7,000. He still owns a splendid farm of 160 acres near Lockwood, considerable town property, and has two good farms in Kansas. His home is one of the most attractive and desirable in Southwest Missouri, and Mr. Davis has spared no expense to make it pleasant and beautiful. He has 1,000 evergreens which
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he selected from the forests of Arkansas, 100 miles away, and he hauled the lumber from which he built his present residence, 100 miles, from the pine mills of Arkansas. He is the only man in Dade County who has given the right of way to the Gulf Rail- road. He laid out the town of Lockwood, named after one of the railroad officials, and also gave Mr. Lockwood a lot for a Christmas present. Mr. Davis was the first postmaster of the place. He gave the site for the Lockwood Roller Mill and $50 cash and one half the ground for the school-house, and has assisted largely in the erection of all the churches. He is a mem- ber of Lockwood Lodge No. 445 of the I. O. O. F. and was several terms vice-grand and noble grand. He is also a member of Lamar Encampment No. 99.
John A. Davis, circuit clerk of Dade County, Mo., was born in Ripley County, Ind., in 1842, and is the son of William and Lydia (Shook), Davis, and the grandson of George Davis, who was a native of Wales. George Davis came to the United States with his two brothers, and all located at Lancaster, Penn. George was a carpenter and blacksmith by trade in early life, but afterward followed farming. He was a soldier in the War of 1812. In 1836 he emigrated to Ripley County, Ind., and died there in 1853 at the age of eighty-six years. His wife, Nancy Davis, was a native of Scotland. She died in 1869 at the age of ninety-five years. Her father was an aid-de-camp on General Green's staff in the Revolutionary War. William Davis was born in Lancaster, Lancaster County, Penn., in 1816, and came to Indiana in 1836, where he was married, and where he lived until 1857, at which date he moved to Fayette County, Iowa, and there died in 1887. He was a soldier in the Mexican war. His wife, Lydia, was born near Baltimore, Md., in 1829, and died in 1871. They were the parents of five children, two of whom are now living. John A. Davis is the elder child, and received his education in the common schools of Indiana, and also attended the Upper Iowa University, at Fayette, Iowa. In 1860 he engaged in the teacher's profession, and followed this for nine terms in district schools. He was a strong Union man during the war, and, July 4, 1861, enlisted in Company E, Fifth Iowa Infantry Volunteers, for three years. He was in the fights at New Madrid, Iuka, Corinth, Fort Gibson, Raymond, Jackson,. and at Champion's Hill, in which action he was severely wounded in the right thigh by gunshot. He was taken to Vicksburg, and remained four weeks in a hospital at that place, after which he was taken to Memphis, and remained three months, when he was sent to St. Louis, and there received his discharge in December, 1863. He then returned home, where he improved so rapidly that, on October 10 of the subsequent year, he enlisted in Com- pany F, Fifth Iowa Cavalry, and immediately went to the front.
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He was at Columbia, Tenn., Maury's Mills, Franklin and Nash- ville, in which action of the first day's fight, November 15, 1864, he was shot in the right foot, the wound being so severe that in two days amputation was necessary. He remained in Nashville until February, when he was sent to Keokuk, Iowa, and, in July, 1865, he was discharged and sent home. After the war Mr. Davis was in the lumber business; in 1868 was elected sheriff of Buchanan County, Iowa, being re-elected in 1870. He was also city marshal of Independence, Iowa, but, in 1880, he removed to Nevada, Mo., and was proprietor of the Central Hotel. In 1885 he became a citizen of Greenfield, Mo., and in 1886 he was elected circuit clerk of Dade County, which position he is now holding. He is a Republican in politics, casting his first presi-
dential vote for Lincoln in 1864. He is a member of the Masonic order, Greenfield Lodge No. 446, and is also a member of the G. A. R., Greenfield Post No. 75. In January, 1869, Mr. Davis married Miss Ellen Long, who was born in Pennsylvania in 1849, and who became the mother of four children: William, Frank, Harry and Karle. He and wife are members of the Methodist Episcopal Church.
James M. Divine, sheriff of Dade County, Mo., was born in Monroe County, Tenn., in 1842, and is one of the representative men of the county. He is the son of Alfred and Artemissa (Mc- Nabb) Divine, the grandson of James Divine, and the great-grand- son of Thomas Divine, who, though a native of Ireland, came to America previous to the Revolutionary War, and was a soldier in the same. James Divine was a soldier in the War of 1812, and in 1822 emigrated to East Tennessee, carrying his two children, Alfred and a sister, on a pack-horse, while he and his wife walked the entire distance. In 1854 James Divine removed to Dade County, Mo., and died in 1871. Alfred Divine was born in South Carolina, in 1817, and was of Irish descent. He came to Dade County, Mo., in 1852, and located in Sac Town- ship, where he followed farming. He is yet living, is the owner of eighty acres of land, and is one of the old and prominent citi- zens. His wife, Artemissa (McNabb) Divine, was born in East Tennessee in 1816, and was the daughter of Baptist McNabb, who was a soldier in the War of 1812. Her grandfather was a native of Ireland, and was a soldier in the War for Independence, and in the War of 1812. Mrs. Divine is yet living. Eight chil- dren were born to Mr. and Mrs. Divine: Elvira, wife of Andrew Smith, at Corry, Mo .; James M .; Orzina, wife of James P. Fan- ning, of Dade County; William T .; Nancy A., wife of J. B. Rem- ington, of Hickory County; Margaret, wife of John . Friend, of Dade County; Martha, wife of J. A. Fanning, of Lamar, Barton County, and Harriet, wife of Joseph A. Fanning, of Dade County. James M. Divine was ten years of age when he came with his
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parents to Dade County, Mo., was reared to manhood on a farm, and remained with his parents until twenty-one years of age. In August, 1861, he enlisted in Company E, Seventh Provisional Regiment, Missouri Mounted Cavalry, and was in the fight at Springfield and Humansville. He was in service until March, 1864, was deputy sergeant of his company, and was discharged at Springfield, Mo. June 3, 1863, Mr. Divine married Miss Par- thina Fanning, a native of Dade County, Mo., born in 1847, and the daughter of Thomas Fanning. Eight living children were born to this union: Horace G., Alice M., Fred, Mike, Mease, Alfred, Lydia and Blaine. After the war Mr. Divine began till- ing the soil, which he continued until 1886, when he was elected sheriff of Dade County, and re-elected in 1888, on the Repub- lican ticket, his majority being 172 the first time, and the last time 322. Mr. Divine owns eighty acres of land, and a house and lot in Greenfield. His wife belongs to the Presbyterian Church.
R. C. Divine, a prominent farmer and stock-raiser of Sac Township, whose fine farm is seven miles northeast of the county seat, is a son of W. W. and Jamima (Wartan) Divine. The father was born'in McMinn County, Tenn., November 3, 1820, and was of Dutch-Irish descent. He was a farmer by occupa- tion, and followed this calling in Tennessee until 1856, when he moved to Missouri, and located in Dade County in 1857. There he is still residing. The mother was born in Alabama May 2, 1822, and is also living. They were the parents of eight children, five now living. R. C. Divine is the third child born to his parents, his birth occurring in Monroe County, Tenn., March .28, 1846. He remained at home assisting his father on the farm until twenty-one years of age, received his educa- tion in the common schools of Dade County, and on July I, 1864, he donned his suit of blue, shouldered his musket, and enlisted in Company E, Fifteenth Missouri Cavalry, Federal Army, and serving one year. On November 22, 1866, he married Miss Phrana Y. Russell, a native of Dade County, Mo., born Novem- ber 15, 1847, and the daughter of M. M. and Sarah J. Russell. Mr. and Mrs. Russell came to Dade County, Mo., in 1835, and were among the early settlers of that county. Both died in that county. To Mr. and Mrs. Divine were born twelve children, eleven now living: Lula, wife of Isaac A. Hembree; Mary A. (deceased), William A., Orra H., Otis M., Charles, Evva M., Frank A. and Minnie C. (twins), Vernie R. and Ethel (twins), and John H. Mr. Divine located on the place where he now lives in 1871, and has 480 acres, with about 280 under cul- tivation. In 1876 he was elected assessor of Sac Township, served one term, and in 1880 he was elected assessor of the entire county. He served two years, and made an able and efficient officer. He has been school director of his district at
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