History of Hickory, Polk, Cedar, Dade, and Barton counties, Missouri, Part 81

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 81
USA > Missouri > Dade County > History of Hickory, Polk, Cedar, Dade, and Barton counties, Missouri > Part 81
USA > Missouri > Barton County > History of Hickory, Polk, Cedar, Dade, and Barton counties, Missouri > Part 81
USA > Missouri > Hickory County > History of Hickory, Polk, Cedar, Dade, and Barton counties, Missouri > Part 81
USA > Missouri > Polk County > History of Hickory, Polk, Cedar, Dade, and Barton counties, Missouri > Part 81

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).

J. W. Toliver, merchant, farmer and stock-raiser, also dealer in stock at Dadeville, Mo., is a native of Lawrence County, Mo., born in 1855, and the son of John H. and Ann (Laster) Tol- iver. John H. Toliver was born in Tennessee in 1813, and came with his parents, John H., Sr., and Polly Toliver, to Lawrence County, Mo. He was a farmer, and was also a mule trader by occupation. He held the rank of captain in the Confederate Army, and died in 1862. His mother, Polly Toliver, died at the age of ninety-two years in Lawrence County, Mo. Ann (Laster) Toliver was born in Tennessee in 1817, is now living, and is the mother of ten children, eight now living, J. W. Toliver being the ninth child in order of birth. He remained with his mother until twenty-one years of age, and in 1877 married Miss Amanda A. Watkins, a native of Dade County, Mo., born in' 1861, and the

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daughter of George and Lydia Watkins, who were among the earliest settlers of the last mentioned county. To Mr. and Mrs. Toliver were born two children: Georgeand Effie. Mrs. Toliver died in October, 1883, and on January 15, 1885, Mr. Toliver married Miss Marrillena (Clopton) White, daughter of R. G. and Elizabeth Clopton. Mrs. Toliver was born in Dade County, Mo., December 27, 1850, and was the mother of three children by her first husband: Elmer R., born June 28, 1871; Clyde C., born July 2, 1873; and T. H. White, born September 4, 1875. January 6, 1886, Mr. Toliver was appointed postmaster of Dade- ville, and is still acting in that capacity. He has a general store in connection with the postoffice, and carries a stock of goods valued at $5,000. He is a Democrat in his politics, and is an enterprising, industrious business man. He has 160 acres of land in Kansas, and 400 acres in Missouri, which he keeps well stocked. Mrs. Toliver is a member of the Cumberland Presby- terian Church. Mr. Toliver's maternal grandfather, Canon Laster, died in Dade County, at the age of ninety-two years.

Rev. Thomas Toney, A. M., M. D., ex-president of Ozark College, now real estate, loan and insurance agent, Greenfield, Mo., was born in Warren County, Ky., November 3, 1836. His parents were Jesse and Mary (Elliott) Toney. Jesse Toney was a native of Virginia, born in the year 1795, near Richmond; and his mother was named Susan Putnam before her marriage to Joab Toney. Jesse Toney was a professional teacher, but engaged in merchandising before his death. He died in 1837. His wife, Mary Elliott, was a native of Virginia, and the daugh- ter of Maj. William C. Elliott, who was a soldier in the War for Independence and 1812. Maj. Elliott married Miss Phoebe Porter. Both were born in Scotland. Dr. Thomas Toney, the subject of this sketch, is of Scotch descent, and is a fair type of the American Scotchman. He received his education principally at the Mt. Mary Seminary, in Kentucky, and Glenville College, in Alabama, and received the degree of B. S. from the latter insti- tution. The degree of A.M. was conferred. on him by Cumber- land University. He graduated in the medical department of the University of Nashville, and was also one of the first gradu- ates in the medical department of Vanderbilt University. The subject of this sketch is strictly a self-made man, having been left an orphan when but a child, and had to work his way through every department, and that without assistance. He commenced teaching very young, at Walnut Grove, Ky., in the same house where he learned his alphabet, and here among the friends of his childhood he taught for the money that carried him through school, until the breaking out of the war. In 1862 he volun- teered in the First Kentucky Cavalry, of the Southern army. He was forced to this, as he thought, by threats made against

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him if he did not join the United States army. He was opposed to secession, but he was also opposed to being driven or dictated to by any man or set of men. He was in the battles of Gallatin (Tenn.), Bacon Creek, Munfordsville, Perryville, Crab Orchard, Lexington, Lancaster, Augusta, in Kentucky ; and Murfreesboro, Chickamauga, Missionary Ridge, and about 150 other smaller engagements. He was paroled as captain with 184 men, on the 24th of May, 1865, at Albany, Ga. He was wounded several times, but not so as to be permanently disabled. While in the army he led an active and vigorous life, and had perfect control of men, even in the midst of " shot and shell." The life of Dr. Toney has been a laborious one. He has always worked hard, and has been devoted to teaching and preaching. He was instrumental in founding the Tullahoma (Tenn.) Masonic Institute, the Beach Grove College, the Wartrace (classical) Academy, and the Lebanon Business College and Telegraph Institute. While engaged in teaching he usually preached every Sunday. He has been pastor of the following congregations of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church: Tullahoma, Shelbyville, Mt. Hebron, Green Hill and Chattanooga. To some of the above he preached several years. While principal of the Lebanon Business College, which was a department of Cumberland University, he was also presi- dent and superintendent of the Lebanon and Nashville Telegraph Company, which position he held for years. He has always been a strong temperance man, yet very many of his strongest friends have been of the opposite party. In 1880 he moved from his home in Nashville, Tenn., to Fredonia, in Kansas. He took part as temperance lecturer in the great temperance wave that swept over that State soon after his arrival there, which resulted in the prohibitory amendment to the constitution. Dr. Toney was elected president of Ozark College, December 26, 1883. He served as such until June, 1887, when he resigned. The college under his administration was a great success, there being the largest attendance during the last year the institution has ever had. He is a Master Mason, also Royal Arch, Council and Sir Knights Templar. He is an Odd Fellow, having taken the high- est degrees in that order. He is a member of the K. of H., also of E. A. W. Though he was in the Confederate army, yet his best and most intimate friends have been among the ex-Federal soldiers. He has waited upon many of them in their afflictions, and preached their funerals, mingling tears of sympathy and sor- row with their bereaved. Dr. Toney is a public-spirited, edu- cated Christian gentleman, of. large means, always willing to do his part in every enterprise that tends to advance society and better the condition of his fellow-men. He is a logical, fluent speaker, a popular lecturer, and a skillful presiding officer. He has had the honor of presiding over many noted public assem-

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blies, such as the Southwest Missouri Immigration Association, which met in Springfield in 1888 ; the Railroad Extension Con- vention at Stockton, and many other important assemblies. He married Miss Mintie Truitt, of Warren County, Ky., who still lives. In closing this little sketch of Dr. Toney, it will not be out of place to say that he is a man of strong convictions ; as a friend he is faithful and loving to the last ; as an opponent he is fair, yet pushing, persevering and unfaltering ; as an enemy he is fearless and undaunted. Such characteristics will usually stir up some enemies, but their friends will be many, and of the class known as " true and tried."

Ex-Judge George W. Wells. Prominent among the repre- sentative men of Washington Township and among the enter- prising farmers and stock-raisers of the same, stands the name of Mr. Wells, who was born in Monongalia County, W. Va., in 1839. He is the son of Benjamin L. and Sophia (Kughn) Wells and the grandson of James Wells, who was of Welsh descent, and who went, when young, from Baltimore to Greene County, Penn., where he died at the age of ninety-three. His father was an early settler of Baltimore. Jacob Kughn, the maternal grandfather of George W. Wells, also went when young from Baltimore to Greene County, Penn., and there he died at the age of ninety-five years. He was of Welsh descent, and was a soldier in the early wars. Benjamin Wells and wife were natives of Pennsylvania and both died when their son, George W. Wells, was but a lad. Mr. Wells was justice of the peace for many years. George W. Wells was the fourth of five children, two sons and three daughters, and received very little schooling after the death of his parents. He lived with relatives and strangers until fifteen years of age, and then learned the car- penter trade, which he followed until the war. In 1854 he went to Illinois, thence to Iowa, Nebraska, Ohio, etc., and in 1859 to Greenfield, Mo. In May, 1861, he went to Chicago, and in October of the same year joined Company F, Fifty-seventh Illi- nois Volunteer Infantry, and was in the fights of Fort Donelson, Shiloh, Corinth, and was with Gen. Hulbert through Mississippi, Alabama, Tennessee, etc. In the spring of 1864 he joined Gen. Sherman, and was all through the Georgia and Atlanta campaign. He was at the grand review at Washington, D. C., and was discharged at Louisville, Ky., July 7, 1865. He held the office of corporal, third and first sergeant, and from October, 1864, he commanded his company as captain. He was in the service nearly four years. After the war he traveled in different States until 1866, when he returned to Dade County, Mo., and in 1867 married Mrs. Letitia Poage, a native of Dade County, Mo., and the daughter of Jonathan and Catherine Weir. Mr. Weir was born in Cooper County, Mo., and his wife in Ken-

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tucky. They were married in Cooper County, and Mr. Weir is still living. To Mr. and Mrs. Wells were born six children, five now living, one son and four daughters. Since the war Judge Wells has lived on his present farm, which consists of 180 acres of excellent land, 80 acres in another tract, and over 100 acres under cultivation, all the result of his own efforts, as he started a poor boy. In 1876 he was elected judge of the county court from the Eastern District, and in 1878 he was elected presiding judge, serving in the latter capacity four years with ability and credit. He is a Republican in politics, and his first presidential vote was cast for Abraham Lincoln, while in service. He is a member of the I. O. O. F., Lacon Lodge No. 75, and he is also a member of Greenfield Post, of the G. A. R. His wife is a mem- ber of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church. He is an active worker in the cause of education and for the general upbuild- ing of the country; he is one of the progressive and indus- trious farmers of Dade County, and spares no pains for the improvement of his stock. Although of Southern birth, Mr. Wells took a firm stand for the Union at the breaking out of the war. His brother was also a stanch Union man, but many of their relatives were in the Confederate Army.

Rev. David G. Young, ex-circuit clerk and ex-officio recorder of Dade County, Mo., now residing one and a half miles north of Greenfield, was born in Niagara County, N. Y., in 1829, and is the son of Uriah and Phoebe (Gregory) Young. David G. Young was left an orphan when a. small boy, and he was then taken by his uncle, William B. Young, who had married a sister of Phœbe (Gregory) Young. About 1836 David Young went to Genesee County, Mich., and it was here he grew to manhood. In 1855 he married Miss Margaret Pratt, who was born in Shia- wassee County, Mich., in 1831, and to this union was born one child, Margaret, who is now the wife of Milton Holly, of Mill-

brook, Mich. After one year of married life Mr. Young was left a widower, and, in 1857, he engaged in the teacher's profes- sion, which he continued for some time in Williamson County, Ill. In 1861 he married Miss Amanda E. Roberts, who was born in Williamson County, Ill. Nine children were the fruits of this union, seven now living: Emily, John C., William E., Susie, James, Clarence and Ida. August 12, 1862, Mr. Young enlisted in Company D, Eighty-first Regiment Illinois Infantry, and was in the fight at Port Gibson, Raymond, Vicksburg; was in the Red River expedition, and was in the fight at Guntown. At the last- mentioned action he was captured, was in the prison at Macon, Ga., for six weeks, Savannah six weeks, was at Charleston, S. C., one month; and, while at the last-mentioned place, had the yel- low fever. During the winter of 1864-65 he was at Columbia, and, in March of the last-mentioned year, he was exchanged,

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sent to Annapolis, Md., and was granted leave of absence. He then went to St. Louis, where he was discharged. In the battle of Raymond he was wounded in the left leg by a minie ball, and was disabled for some time. He at first entered the service as a private, but was promoted through all the different ranks to that of captain, being commissioned such May 22, 1863. In 1865 he was elected county superintendent of schools of Williamson County, and served four years. In 1870 he removed to Dade County, Mo., settling in Cedar Township, and, in 1874, was elected circuit clerk and ex-officio recorder. In 1878 he was re-elected, and served in all eight years. At the age of eighteen he was converted, and in 1859 he was licensed to preach the missionary doctrine. He had charge of four churches in Will- iamson County, erected the Baptist Church in Marion, Ill., and was pastor of that church when he came to Dade County. He has had charge of five churches in Dade County, and organized the Baptist Church at Greenfield. Rev. David G. Young is one of Dade County's most highly esteemed citizens. He is the owner of 200 acres of land, and is a well-to-do farmer. In poli- tics he is a Greenback-Prohibitionist. His official and private life has been one of purity and above reproach.

William Marshall Young, one of Center Township's suc- cessful and enterprising farmers, was born in Dade County, Mo., in 1845, and is the son of Isom A. and Mary M. (McLemore) Young, and grandson of Matthew M. and Elizabeth (Neal) Young. Matthew Young was born in South Carolina, and when young went to Tennessee, where he remained until 1860, when he moved to Hamilton County, Ill., and there died four years later. His wife, Elizabeth Neal, was a native of Ireland. Isom A. Young was born in Monroe County, Tenn., in 1822, and moved to Dade County, Mo., in 1842, where, the following year, he married Miss Mary M., daughter of Archibald and Sarah (Plumley) McLemore, who were natives of North Carolina, and Knox County, Tenn., respectively. Her father died in 1825, and the mother the year previous. Mrs. Young was born in Monroe County, Tenn., in 1823, and is the mother of eight children: William Marshall, Mary (deceased), wife of Albert Wells: Harriet (deceased), wife of Jerome McClure; Martha (deceased); Virginia, wife of Harry H. Finley; Monroe, in Washington Township; Madora, wife of John O. Mitchell; and Matthew L., furniture dealer in Greenfield. Immediately after his marriage, Isom A. Young located on Sac River, four miles north- east of the county seat, and there passed the remainder of his life. He came to Dade County when it was in a wild state, with but few white settlements, and when wild game was plentiful. He came without money, but with a large reserve of latent energy, which, put into play, soon placed him beyond the reach

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of want. At the time of his death, which occurred April 10, 1885, he was the owner of 880 acres of land, and was one of the best citizens of Dade County. As a memento, he left behind him a good name and a highly respected family. In 1870 William Marshall Young married Miss Dialtha McClure, a native of Dade County, Mo., born in 1847, and the daughter of Frank McClure. To Mr. and Mrs. Young were born seven children: Martha L., Viola M., Frank J., Ruthy F., Marshall A., Mathew Boyd and Lucy V. In December, 1888, for the purpose of educat- ing his children, Mr. Young moved on the farm where he now lives, which consists of sixty-five acres. He also owns 391 acres on Sac River. He is one of the county's best farmers and most successful men, dealing quite extensively in raising stock. He is a Democrat in politics. Mrs. Young is a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church, South.

BARTON COUNTY.

George Ackason, M. D., one of the earliest practitioners of Golden City, became a resident of Barton County in 1876. He was born in Greene County, Tenn., and is a son of J. H. and Letitia (Walker) Ackason, also natives of Tennessee. In 1856 the parents removed to Cedar County, Mo., and the father pur- chased a farm near Stockton, upon which our subject was reared. He received his early education in the common schools of the county, and, in 1872, entered upon the study of medicine. He attended Louisville Medical College, and, in 1874, located at Stockton, where he entered upon the active practice of his chosen profession. After remaining in Stockton nearly a year, he removed to Golden City, and here has since continued his prac- tice, and ranks among the leading physicians of Barton County, enjoying a large and lucrative patronage, which is daily increasing. Dr. Ackason was married, in 1875, to Maggie Turner, a native of Missouri. They have one child, Frank. The Doctor has held the office of alderman of Golden City, and, as a citizen, ranks among the most prominent of the place.

Edmund H. Adams, president of the Adams Hardware and Furniture Company, was born in Rock County, Wis., September 18, 1850, and is the son of William P. Adams, a native of New York, and Susan E. (Doolittle) Adams, a native of Canada. In an early day the parents moved to Beloit, where the father fol- lowed merchandising for many years, and where he still lives. Edmund H. Adams is the only living child of their family. He received an ordinary education in the public schools of Beloit, and at the age of fourteen years commenced clerking in a store.

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In 1869 he went to St. Louis, where he spent seven years, three years as salesman, and four years in the Exchange Bank. In 1877 he came to Lamar, and has since been engaged in the hardware and furniture business.

William Allen, of the firm of Harkless, Allen & Co., of Lamar, Mo., was born in Tippecanoe County, Ind., May 15, 1833, and is the eldest of two surviving sons in a family of five children born to Alvin and Nancy (Jack) Allen, who were born in Bourbon County, Ky., and Preble County, Ohio, respectively. Alvin Allen and his father, William Allen, went to Tippecanoe County, Ind., in 1828, where they entered about 1,600 acres of land. Mrs. Allen's parents were Kentuckians, who crossed to Ohio when only the ferryman's house marked the site where Cin- cinnati now is. They too went to Tippecanoe County, Ind., in 1828, and settled on a farm adjoining William Allen's. Here the parents of our subject were married and lived for many years. The father was a farmer and Democrat, and his death occurred at the age of sixty-four years. The mother is still living, and, although over seventy-five years of age, does her own work. William Allen, whose name heads this sketch, was reared on a farm and educated in the common schools, and at the age of twenty-one years began clerking in a store in Crawfordsville, Ind., and in 1856 was married to Harriet Harmon, a native of Ohio, soon after moving to a farm in Vermilion County. This he traded in 1860 for a stock of dry goods in Crawfordsville, and here he continued in business till 1880. In 1862 his wife died, leaving him with three children: Ida, Thomas E. and Edith, to care for. The following year he wedded Mary Harmon, a sister of his first wife, and by her has four children: Fannie, James, Mabel and Harriet. In 1880 he and wife came to Lamar, Mo., both invalids, and now a healthier couple could scarcely be found. For about five years after coming here he traded in stock and land, and sold buggies, selling so many of the latter that he was given the nickname of " Buggy Allen." For some time past he has given his attention to merchandising, the firm being now composed of Mr. Allen, his son, Thomas E., his sons-in-law, Tom W. Harkless and Henry Tipton, and George Harkless. They have one of the largest stocks of goods in Southwest Missouri, and their trade extends for many miles around. Besides his inter- est in the store, Mr. Allen owns 320 acres of land, which he has earned by industry and good management. He is a Democrat politically.

Orvilla Allen, who is prominently identified with the 'bus and transfer business at Lamar, was born in Jefferson County, Ohio, February 7, 1844, and is the son of James and Martha (Shane) Allen, both natives of Ohio, where they married and spent their days, he engaged in agricultural pursuits. He was a prominent

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man in Jefferson County, which he twice represented in the Legislature. He died in 1873, at the age of seventy years. Both he and wife were members of the Presbyterian Church. Grandfather Allen came from Pennsylvania to Ohio at an early day, as did also Grandfather Shane. Orvilla Allen, the sub- ject of this sketch, is the only child born to his parents, and received his education principally by his own exertions, as his early educational advantages were limited. He attained his growth on the farm, and remained with his parents until 1865, when he came to North Missouri, and taught school a short time. March 15, 1866, he returned to Ohio, and there married Miss Mary J. Morrison, a native of Jefferson County, Ohio, who bore him three children: Hattie C., Ada E. and James F. In 1868 he moved to Greene County, Mo., where he followed farming. May 29, 1873, his wife died, and three years later he came to Lamar, and for several years ran a livery stable. When the railroad was built to Lamar, he started the 'bus and transfer business, and is now the owner of two 'buses and two transfer wagons. June 20, 1877, he married Miss Tamer T. Ramsey, a native of Mississippi, and to this union were born three children: May, Orville and Jesse. Mr. Allen is a Republican in politics, and is a Royal Arch Mason.

Frank DeWitt Arnold, postmaster of Lamar, and proprietor of the Lamar House, was born April 5, 1845, in New York, and received his education in the common schools. In 1850 his parents moved to Wisconsin, where he assisted his father on the farm until February, 1862, when, but sixteen years of age, he enlisted in Company I, Third Wisconsin Volunteer Cavalry, Fed- eral Army, and served until March, 1865. . He participated in the battles of Prairie Grove, Cane Hill, Cabin Creek, Baxter Springs, Dripping Springs, and, besides, many minor engage- ments. In the Quantrell massacre, October 6, 1863, at Baxter Springs, Mr. Arnold was in Blunt's command, which was so badly cut to pieces. His horse having been shot from under him, and being assured that he would be treated as a prisoner of war, he surrendered, giving his revolver to a Confederate guerrilla, who shot him with the two remaining loads. As he still showed signs of life, another of the band shot him several times at short range, utterly riddling his head and face. Seven different times was he shot. Upon the supposition that he was dead, he was left on the field from two o'clock until ten o'clock in the night, then removed to the hospital, but given no attention until next morning, when it was discovered that life still lingered in the body. After sufficiently recovering, he was placed on detached service as a scout, and in that capacity served until dis- charged. In 1865 Mr. Arnold came to Lamar, and since then his business has been varied, working in clerk's office, running

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stage lines from Lamar to Fort Scott, Kan., Lamar to Nevada and Carthage, Mo .; in the livery business, bakery, farming, and for two years was in the collector's office, and clerk in a store, etc. In 1874 he rented the Metropolitan Hotel (now Lamar House), and the following year built a livery stable in Dade County, Mo., and furnished it with two horses. He ran this so successfully that he soon brought away a good livery outfit, and with Dr. Charles Van Pelt opened a livery stable in Galena, Kan. Later he returned to Lamar, and continued that business for three years. After renting the Metropolitan Hotel for a year, he and a brother bought the house, then having eight rooms for guests. Since then he has enlarged it to a three-story, with forty rooms for guests, and everything in first-class style. He owns over 1,300 acres of land in Barton and Stone Counties. He is a large stockholder and president of the Marble Cave Mining Company of Stone , County; is treasurer and one of the directors of the Barton County Fair Association; is a member of the G. A. R., and is a stanch Republican in politics. He has taken the Canton degree in the I. O. O. F., and is a prominent man in the county. He takes a great interest in fine cattle, and has a small herd of thoroughbred Herefords on his farm. May 23, 1889, he was appointed postmaster of Lamar by President Har- rison. Mr. Arnold has done much toward building up Lamar, and is ever ready to encourage every worthy enterprise. Jan- uary 1, 1867, he married Miss Sarah J. Cartmel, daughter of R. T. Cartmel, a native of Kentucky, and Viola Gibbs, of Ohio. In war times Mrs. Arnold and another young lady drove an ox- team from Drywood, Kan., to Lamar, Mo., a distance of thirty miles, for her mother and other members of the family, who had . their houses burnt. On reaching Lamar the two young girls were sent back alone with the team the same night for fear of the Confederates, who had threatened to take them off if found.

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History of Hickory, Polk, Cedar, Dade, and Barton counties, Missouri, Part 81

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