History of Hickory, Polk, Cedar, Dade, and Barton counties, Missouri, Part 87

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 87
USA > Missouri > Dade County > History of Hickory, Polk, Cedar, Dade, and Barton counties, Missouri > Part 87
USA > Missouri > Barton County > History of Hickory, Polk, Cedar, Dade, and Barton counties, Missouri > Part 87
USA > Missouri > Hickory County > History of Hickory, Polk, Cedar, Dade, and Barton counties, Missouri > Part 87
USA > Missouri > Polk County > History of Hickory, Polk, Cedar, Dade, and Barton counties, Missouri > Part 87

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).

C. A. Griffin was born in Fayette County, Penn., and is a son of W. P. and Mary Ann (Gans) Griffin, who were also natives of the " Keystone State." The father was of German-Welsh descent, and was by occupation a farmer and sheep-raiser. Eleven of the thirteen children born to him and wife are as follows: Dr.

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BIOGRAPHICAL APPENDIX.

Griffin, of Lamar; C. A., a farmer, of Newport; Mary L., the deceased wife of G. W. Hanna; N. R., a farmer and liveryman of Fayette County, Ohio; H. E., widow of a Mr. Harris, of Fayette County, Penn .; George, a resident of the same; Mrs. Em, wife of Clark Hess, of Penn .; Libbie, wife of L. D. Ramsey, of that State; Annie, wife of John Emery, a farmer, of Fayette County; and Flora, at home with her parents; and Addie, who is deceased. Mr. Griffin and wife still reside on the old home farm in Pennsylvania, and are hale and hearty, although advanced in years, he being eighty and she seventy-seven years of age. In politics Mr. Griffin was formerly a Democrat, then became a Whig, and is now a Republican. He and wife are active workers in the Christian Church. C. A. Griffin was reared on a farm, and received a somewhat limited education, owing to the poor facili- ties in his boyhood days, but afterward took a course in an academy, and since, by much reading and contact with business . life, he has become one of the well-informed men of the county. His birth occurred on the 27th of March, 1839, and in 1866 he came to Missouri, having previously served three years in the U. S. A., being a private one year in the Eighty-fifth Pennsyl- vania Volunteers, and the second year was transferred to the U. S. Signal Corps, from which he received his discharge in Septem- ber, 1864. He participated in twenty-one engagements, among which are: Fredericksburg (first battle), Bull Run (second battle), Harper's Ferry, South Mountain, Antietam, Gettysburg, the seven days' fight under Grant through the Wilderness, and Peters- burg, receiving his discharge at the latter place. He was never wounded nor taken prisoner. After coming to Missouri in October, 1866, he and his brother and another gentleman pur- chased 1,000 acres of land in Newport Township, and his first winter was spent in getting out house logs, and erecting a house in 1866-67. In September, 1868, he was married to Miss E. J. Franks, of Fayette County, Penn., and remained in his native State until the following spring, when he returned to Missouri, and began farming in connection with his brother, N. R., being also engaged in the saw-mill business. He now owns about 600 acres of land, and on his home farm is erected a handsome resi- dence with a fine lawn and shade trees, and his out-buildings are also excellent. His wife was born on the 18th of December, 1841, and they are the parents of these children: Ira, born March 15, 1874; H. B., born March 30, 1876; and Pearl, born March 7, 1878. Mr. and Mrs. Griffin are members of the Baptist Church, and he is a liberal contributor to churches, schools, etc.

George W. Grigsby, groceryman and queensware merchant, at Lamar, Mo., was born in Spencer County, Ind., September 13, 1838, and is a son of Charles and Matilda (Hawkins) Grigsby, who were born respectively in Indiana and Kentucky. The

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paternal great-grandfather was born in England, and came to America at an early day, settling in Virginia, and afterward in the " Blue Grass State." Grandfather Grigsby was kidnaped when seven years of age by the Indians, and kept until thirteen years of age. He was one of the early pioneers of the "Hoosier State." Charles and wife were married and lived in Indiana until 1851, when they came to Carroll County, Mo. He was a farmer by occupation, and during the late war served in the militia, and after that time was a Republican in his political views, having previously been a Whig. He and wife were members of the United Brethren Church, and he died in 1887, at the age of eighty- two years. His wife still survives him, and is seventy-two years of age. Their family consisted of eleven sons and two daughters, seven of the sons serving in the Union army during the late war. George W. is their sixth child, and is the only one who resides in Barton County. He acquired his education in the old log school-house, and, on reaching manhood, engaged in farming, which he continued until the opening of the war, when, in June, 1861, he enlisted in Company I, Twenty-Second Missouri Vol- unteer Infantry, which was afterward consolidated with the Tenth, and became the Tenth. He was an active participant in the two famous battles of Iuka and Corinth, besides numerous minor engagements, and late in the year 1862 was discharged on account of disability. Later he joined Company B, Tenth Indiana Vol- unteer Cavalry, in which he served until June 20, 1865, being mustered out as sergeant, at Vicksburg, Miss. After the war he engaged in merchandising in Carrollton, Mo., for two years, then went to Kansas, where he learned railroad carpentering, at which he worked for some time, then returned to Carroll County, where he farmed seven years, and again betook himself to merchandis- ing. In 1878 he moved to Texas, and was engaged in the cattle business two years, then returned to the farm in Carroll County. Since 1882 he has been a merchant of Lamar, and is doing a prosperous business. He is a Republican, a member of the G. A. R., and belongs to the I. O. O. F. In 1872 he married Miss Hannah L. Blocher, a native of Indiana, who died in January, 1889, having borne two children: William E. and Lonnie.

Oliver H. Grimes, a farmer and stock-raiser, was born in Union, Ind., April 30, 1832, and is a son of Adam and Sarah (Littrell) Grimes, who were of German and English descent, and were born in Kentucky and Tennessee, respectively. Grandfather Grimes was a German who came to America and served seven years in the Revolutionary War, being one of the first settlers of Union County, Ind. They spent the most of their days in Union County, but died in Shelby County, when about sixty-two and fifty-eight, respectively. The father was a Whig and Republican in politics, and he and his wife were members of the Christian

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Church. Oliver H. Grimes is the fifth of their eight children, and received the education and rearing which is accorded the average farmer's boy. He worked for his father until twenty-one years of age, then began learning the carpenter's trade, at which he worked for about twelve years. In 1856 he was married to Miss Mildred A. Joyce, a native of Shelby County, Ind., by whom he has the following children: Albert P. (deceased), Aus- tin H., Missouri A., L. Blanche, Tessie M., Rollie Z., Scott A., and Claude H. Mr. and Mrs. Grimes are members of the Mis- sionary Baptist Church. They moved to Barton County, Mo., in 1868, and soon after purchased the farm where they now live, which consists of 280 acres of excellent farming land. Mr. Grimes is a Republican.

Tom W. Harkless, mayor of Lamar, and a member of the firm of Harkless, Allen & Co., was born in Belmont County, Ohio, September 20, 1857, and is the son of James and Sarah J. (Mc- Conn) Harkless, natives of Ohio and West Virginia, respectively. The parents' courtship was rather romantic, culminating in flight and marriage. They settled in Ohio, where Mr. Harkless was engaged for some time in contracting on railroads; he helped build the Baltimore & Ohio Railroad. He amassed quite a fortune, but lost the principal part of it before he went to Cole County, Ill., in 1860. He then had to begin almost anew, and turned his attention to farming, which he conducted successfully until he was in comfortable circumstances. The mother died at the age of forty-seven, and, later, Mr. Harkless married again. His death occurred in September, 1883. He was a Republican in politics, and a member of the Methodist Church. Mrs. Harkless was a member of the Christian Church. To them were born six children, five now living, three sons and two daughters. James H. Harkless is a lawyer, and George A. is a partner in the above firm. Tom W. Harkless attained his growth on a farm, and received a good practical education in the common schools. In 1879 he left the farm, and, for about three years, clerked for Mc- Cutchen & Jones, and soon after became a member of the firm. Subsequently the other members dropped from the firm, and again formed a partnership, while Mr. Harkless and his partners assumed the firm title, Harkless, Allen & Co. They have the largest stock of dry goods and clothing in Southwest Missouri. January 29, 1882, he married Miss Edith E. Allen, daughter of William Allen, and to them have been born three children: Mabel, Kate, and Hazel. In April, 1889, Mr. Harkless was elected mayor of Lamar, having served two years previously as councilman. He is a stanch Republican in his political views; is a member of the A. O. U. W., and is a self-made man in the true sense of the word.

John M. Harlow is a member of the real estate and loan firm

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of Gealy & Harlow. This business was established in 1874 by John M. Harlow, Sr., father of the subject of this sketch, who came to this county in May, 1870, and commenced in the dry goods business, which he continued until 1874, when he embarked in the real estate and loan business. He was a native of Augusta County, Va., born June 10, 1833, and came to Clark County, Ill., with his uncle, he being an orphan. He was there reared on a farm, and was there married to Miss Elizabeth Foglesong, a native of Indiana. He served in various offices in Clark County, and was deputy sheriff for some time. He came to Golden City in 1870, and remained here until his death, which occurred March 18, 1889, at the age of fifty-five years. His wife died in 1879 at the age of about forty-five years. She was a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church. Mr. Harlow was a member of the I. O. O. F., and was justice of the peace for four years. He owned at his death 320 acres of land and con- siderable town property, also property in other places in the West. He did a flourishing business in real estate for years, and was a man who was universally respected. John M. Harlow, Jr., is a native of Clark County, Ill., and came here with his parents in 1870. He was reared and educated in the public schools, and in 1885 was united in marriage to Miss Amanda Huly, a native of Illinois. To this union were born two chil- dren, Mabel and Elizabeth. Mr. Harlow left this county in 1881, and moved to Clark County, serving as constable there for four years, after which he returned to Barton County. He then spent three years in Colorado, subsequently engaging in the real estate business at Lamar. In the fall of 1888 he returned and took charge of the interests of his father, and the firm is enjoying a liberal share of public patronage.

William V. Hay, loan agent of Lamar, was born in Sangamon County, Ill., February 1, 1840, being a son of Eli and Armilda (Sterrit) Hay, who were born in Baltimore, Md., and Shelbyville, Ky., respectively. Grandfather Hay was born in Scotland, and, with two brothers, came to America. He settled in Maryland, a brother in Pennsylvania, and one in Ohio. The maternal grandfather was a Welshman, who was killed in the War of 1812, and Mrs. Hay was reared by an uncle. She and Mr. Hay were married in Lexington, Ky., and in 1836 moved to Sangamon County, Ill., when Springfield was a small village. Mr. Hay was a portrait painter by profession, and in those days did the fancy painting on the stage coaches. He was a Whig politically, and he and Abraham Lincoln were intimate acquaintances. He died May 6, 1851, followed by his wife May 23, 1868, her death occurring in Corydon, Iowa. The former was a Catholic, and the latter a Methodist. They were the parents of five children: William V. being the fourth of the family. He was educated in

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the old subscription schools, and in 1856 went with his mother to Wayne County, Iowa, and, at the age of sixteen years, began clerking, continuing three years. In 1859 he drove a team of mules to California, where he remained five years, being engaged in mining three years. He afterward made two more trips to that State, but from 1869 to 1880 was engaged in merchandising in Iowa. In 1881 he and John W. Hinds started the Fresno County Bank, and the following year came to Lamar, and has since been in the loan business. He is a Knight Templar in the Masonic fraternity, and is a Democrat politically. January 19, 1871, he was married to Alice I. Newell, a native. of Monroe County, Iowa. They have no family.

Joseph M. Hazlitt, a prominent farmer and stock-raiser, of Lamar Township, Barton County, Mo., is a native of Sussex County, N. J., born September 16, 1816, and is the son of Alex -- ander and Sarah D. (Mackey) Hazlitt, both natives of New Jersey, he being of Scotch descent. Robert Hazlitt, the great- grandfather of the subject of this sketch, was a boatman, and the grandfather, John Hazlitt, was a captain of militia in Revolu- tionary days, and took an active part in the stirring events of that period. Alexander and Sarah D. (Mackey) Hazlitt were married in New Jersey, and here Mr. Hazlitt followed the black- smith business for many years, but later engaged in farming. Politically, he was a Democrat, and both were members of the Presbyterian Church. In 1837 they moved to LaSalle County, Ill., and two years later to Rock Island County, where Mrs. Haz- litt died in 1842, at the age of fifty-eight years. In 1849 he too passed away at the age of eighty-one years. Their family con- sisted of twelve children, six now living, three sons and three daughters. Joseph M. Hazlitt, the seventh child, received his education in the old subscription schools, and like a dutiful child he cared for his parents as long as they lived. December 27, 1849, he married Miss Caroline Leeds, a native of Clermont County, Ohio, born March II, 1831, and the daughter of Felix and Mary A. (Doughty) Leeds, born, respectively, in New Jer- sey and Ohio. When nine months old Mr. Leeds was taken by his parents to Ohio, where he grew to manhood and married Miss Doughty. About 1836 they moved to Ripley County, Ind., and six years later to Rock Island County, where she died in 1874, and he in 1883, aged sixty-seven and seventy-nine, respectively. After marriage Mr. and Mrs. Hazlitt lived in Illinois until 1873, when they moved to Barton County, Mo., and bought his present farm, three and a half miles northeast of Lamar. He owns 360 acres, and his wife 120 acres. To their marriage were born ten children: Felix L., Lewis M., Joseph M., Sarah P., Mary Z., Levi Y., Margaret E. (deceased); Frederick, James and Alexander. Mr. Hazlitt is a Democrat, politically; is a member of the Ma-

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sonic Fraternity, and is a successful and prominent citizen. Mrs. Hazlitt is a member of the Congregational Church.

Joseph H. Heath, editor and proprietor of the Lamar Leader. Among all classes and in every condition of life are those who excel in whatever they undertake, whether of a professional, agricultural or commercial nature, and no matter how disagree- able the outlook on starting, they are sure to eventually reach the front and receive a share of the honor and credit due them. Among those whose early life was one of hardship and priva- tion stands the name of Mr. Heath, who was left motherless at an early age, and whose educational advantages were very meager. He was born in Columbus, Ohio, September 21, 1848, and is the son of Hiram and Margaret (Taylor) Heath, natives of Ohio, where they grew up and were married. The mother died in 1857, in the prime of life, and left two children, Joseph H. and Lewis R. The father was a blacksmith, and followed this trade in Ohio for many years. Later he moved to Iowa, but is now living in Missouri. He served in the Union army, during the late war. In 1861 Joseph H. Heath came to Iowa with an aunt, but in 1863, he went on to Denver, Colo., where he served an appren- ticeship in the office of the Rocky Mountain News, and where he received the principal part of his education. Previous to leaving there he had charge of the press-room. October 25, 1870, he was united in marriage to Miss Mary A. Baldwin, a native of Canada, and the daughter of Charles Baldwin, the great stockman of Colorado. After leaving Denver he went to Colum- bus, Ohio, where he worked on the Ohio Statesman a time, and then started a job office. Three years later he went to Bur- lington, worked on the Burlington Hawkeye for over a year, and then moved to Keokuk, Iowa, where he worked on the Gate City until 1877. He then bought the Clark County Gazette, which he ran until 1883, when he bought the Golden City Herald. This he continued running until 1888, when he came to Lamar and purchased the Lamar Leader, of which he is now editor and proprietor. To his marriage have been born five children, three sons and two daughters. He has always been a stanch Demo- crat in his political views.

Jonathan Wesley Hendricks, collector of Ozark Township, is a native of Adams County, Ill., born in 1848, being a son of John and Elizabeth (Gilkey) Hendricks, who were born in Missouri and Kentucky, respectively, were married in Illinois, and in 1866 removed to Crawford County, Kan., and in 1877 to Barton County, Mo., where the mother died in March, 1887. 'Both parents were members of the Church of God, and he is still living and engaged in farming. His father, William Hendricks, was of German descent, and was one of the early settlers of Southeast Missouri but died in Illinois. Franklin Gilkey, the grandfather, was

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a Kentuckian, and also died in Illinois. Jonathan W. Hendricks, · our subject, is the eldest of four children, and received a common school education in the State of Illinois. He removed with his parents to Kansas, and was married there in 1875 to Sarah E. Elliott, a daughter of Isaac and Eliza Elliott, who were Kentuck- ians and died in Kansas in 1886 and Indiana in 1865, respectively. Mrs. Hendricks was born in Indiana, and she and Mr. Hendricks are the parents of two daughters. In 1877 the family came to Barton County, Mo., and the next year located on their present farm, which consists of eighty acres. Mr. Hendricks is a Repub- lican politically, and cast his first presidential vote for Grant, in 1872. In 1889 he was elected township collector for two years, and is at the present time a member of the Farmers' Alliance. He and wife are consistent members of the Church of God. His sisters are Mrs. Mary Boulware, Mrs. Nancy Frame and Mrs. Alice Venable, of Pike County, Mo.

J. M. Herlocker, one of Barton County's prosperous mer- chants, was born in the State of Pennsylvania in 1842, and made his home with his father until twenty years of age, when he joined the Eighty-fourth Illincis Infantry, Company F, under Col. Waters, and served until receiving his discharge in June, 1865, having been in the engagements at Perryville, Danville, Stone River, Chickamauga, where he was wounded in the leg by a gun-shot, Franklin and Nashville. After the war he taught school until about 1881 in Illinois and Missouri, coming to the latter State in 1878, and purchased a partially improved farm in Newport Township. Then he engaged in his present business, his stock of goods being valued at from $3,000 to $4,000. He is doing a thriving trade, and has increased his capital about $3,000, his annual sales amounting to $6,000. In 1881 he was married to Miss Ida M. Hickman, of Pennsylvania, by whom he has two children, Bertha and Reed. Mr. Herlocker is a Demo- crat politically, and has served his party as justice of the peace and township trustee. His early opportunities for acquiring an education were not of the best, but by self-application he became a well educated man, and acquired a thorough knowledge of public affairs. His parents, Josiah and Margaretta (Swartz) Herlocker, were born in Pennsylvania in 1807 and 1817, respect- ively, and the former has always taken a deep interest in church work, being, as was his wife, a member of the Christian Church. They were married in 1834, and were engaged in agricultural pursuits in Pennsylvania until about 1849, when they moved to Illinois, and settled on a farm in McDonough County. He is now eighty-three years of age, but is yet strong and active, and. has recently gone on a visit to his old home in Illinois, a distance of about 500 miles. Five of his eight children are living: Mary J., wife of W. A. Griffin, of McDonough County, Ill .; Henry,

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in Marshall County, Iowa; J. M .; George, also of Marshall County, Iowa; and D. A., a druggist, of Fulton County, Ill. The mother of these children died in December, 1887.

J. W. Hicks, one of the oldest settlers of Benton County, came here with his parents, J. W., Sr., and Elizabeth (Thomp- son) Hicks, in 1853. He was born in Christian County, Ky., and both his parents were also born in that State. The father was a blacksmith by trade, and followed this occupation in Golden City until 1877, when he moved to Dallas County, Mo., where he still resides, engaged in that occupation. His wife died in 1872, at the age of forty-five years. She was a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church, and became the mother of eleven children, three of whom came to Barton County; J. W., our subject; Drucilla, who died at the age of fourteen years; and Josephine, the wife of Daniel French, of Golden City. J. W. Hicks learned the blacksmith's trade of his father, and became very skillful in that calling, and, in addition to horse-shoeing, is engaged in the manufacture of wagons, car- riages, etc., and employs two men in his shop. In 1869 he was married to Miss Maggie Hedrick, a native of Illinois, who died in 1872, having borne one child, which died in infancy. In 1874 Mr. Hicks wedded his second wife, Miss Anna Jones, who was born in Herefordshire, England, and by her has two children living; John W. and Kittie Oletha; Corda died in childhood. Mr. Hicks is a Democrat, and has held the office of constable. He is in good circumstances financially and owns considerable valuable town property, his shop being the second one erected in Golden City. He is a Master Mason, and is one of the well- educated men of the county.

Joseph C. A. Hiller, farmer, of Barton County, Mo., and president of the Farmers' Alliance, was born in the Province of Silesia, in the Kingdom of Prussia, in 1855, and is the son of Anton and Theresia (Schoen) Hiller, who were also natives of that county, the former's birth occurring in 1824. He was a farmer by occupation, and, in 1869, came to America, settling in St. Louis County, Mo., but is now residing with his son, Joseph C. A. His wife is still residing in Germany, never having come to America. Joseph C. A. Hiller grew to manhood in St. Louis County, Mo., his days being spent in tilling the soil. In 1884 he settled in Barton County, where he and his brother, F. A. J. Hiller, purchased 160 acres of land, and has since been actively engaged in farming and stock raising. He was one of the chief organizers of the County Alliance, and, in February, 1889, was elected president of that body. He was married in St. Louis County, in 1876, to Miss Emma Elert, who was a native of that county, born in 1858. They have four children: Emma, Joseph, Ida C. and Mary. His brother, Frank A. J. Hiller, was also born in

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Prussia, his birth occurring in 1856. He came to America in 1870, and from early boyhood has been familiar with the details of farm life. He acquired a good education in the public schools, and since 1883 has been engaged in farming in Barton County. He takes a great interest in politics, and is chairman of the Rich- land Township Democratic Committee. He is unmarried.

Dr. C. W. Hinchman, one of the leading physicians of Golden City, Mo., is a native of London, England, and a son of Charles and Jane (Green) Hinchman, who emigrated to America when the subject of this sketch was a small child, settling at Newark, N. J., where a short time later the mother died, leaving two chil- dren. C. W. Hinchman then went to live with an uncle, but only remained a short time when he left, and, although a small boy, commenced working on his own responsibility. He strug- gled along, working on the farm and at various occupations, educating himself as best he could at spare times. In 1850 he came to Charleston, Ill., where he engaged as a clerk in a store for a number of years. He then took up the study of medicine, and first located to practice at Quincy, Ill., where he remained four years, after which he then went to Kinderhook, Ill., prac- ticed there two years, and then went to Macoupin County, of the same State, where he practiced his profession for twenty years, from 1860 to 1880, most of the time in the county seat, Carlinville. He then came to Golden City, Mo., where he has since resided, and at this time has a good, substantial practice. He is a gradu- ate of the American Medical College, of St. Louis, and has a special diploma on the eye and ear. He also bears certificates of scholarship from the Eclectic Medical College, of Cincinnati, Ohio, and from several other institutions. He was married in 1856 to Miss Zerilda Ingram, a native of Coles County, Ill., and daughter of John C. Ingram, a native of Kentucky. Dr. Hinchman is truly a self-made man, having educated himself and made his own way from a poor orphan boy. His practice extends through Dade, Cedar, Jasper and Barton Counties.

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History of Hickory, Polk, Cedar, Dade, and Barton counties, Missouri, Part 87

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