History of Hickory, Polk, Cedar, Dade, and Barton counties, Missouri, Part 88

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 88
USA > Missouri > Dade County > History of Hickory, Polk, Cedar, Dade, and Barton counties, Missouri > Part 88
USA > Missouri > Barton County > History of Hickory, Polk, Cedar, Dade, and Barton counties, Missouri > Part 88
USA > Missouri > Hickory County > History of Hickory, Polk, Cedar, Dade, and Barton counties, Missouri > Part 88
USA > Missouri > Polk County > History of Hickory, Polk, Cedar, Dade, and Barton counties, Missouri > Part 88

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).

G. W. Holliday, a leading real estate agent of Golden City, has been a resident of Southwest Missouri for twenty years. He was born in Morgan County, Ill., and is the son of Hiram and Viana (McLaughlin) Holliday, natives of Virginia and Ohio, re- spectively. The father was an early settler of Morgan County, Ill., and was the first postmaster at Whitehall, Ill., having named that town. He was a soldier in the late war, in the Sixty-first Illinois Volunteers; was taken prisoner, and died at Macon, Ga., August 24, 1862, while in prison. The mother still lives at Waverly, Morgan County, Ill., and is seventy-nine years of age. G. W. Holliday was reared on the farm, and received his education in the public schools of Greenfield, Ill. At the age of twenty- one years, or on August 14, 1861, he enlisted in the Union

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Army, Sixth Illinois Cavalry, Company C, and served three years and four months. He participated in Grierson's raids, which con- sisted of sixty battles, and was also at Port Hudson. He was principally engaged in scouting and skirmishing. After the battle of Franklin he was discharged, and returned to Illinois, where he remained until 1869, when he purchased a farm in Dade County, Mo., and two years later moved to it. There he made his home until 1880, when he moved to Golden City, and commenced the real estate business, which he still continues. He chose for his companion in life Miss Mary V. Garey, a native of Macoupin County, Ill., and this union has resulted in the birth of three children: Charles Frederick, Effie and Fannie. In his political views Mr. Holliday is a Republican. He is a member of the G. A. R. He owns 800 acres of land, carries on farming and stock raising, and has 100 head of cattle and sixteen head of horses. He is one of the prominent men of the county. Eighty acres of his land at Cross Timbers, Hickory County, is said to have good lead and silver ore in paying quantities if transporta- tion was furnished.

Charles W. Huggins, postmaster of Lamar, Mo., was born in Liverpool, Penn., January 8, 1848, and is the second of five chil- dren born to John and Anna M. (Reifsnyder) Huggins, both natives of Pennsylvania, and of Scotch and German descent, respectively. The father was collector of tolls on a Pennsylvania canal for many years. He died in 1859. The mother is still living, and is a resident of Pennsylvania. Owing to the death of his father, the education of Charles W. Huggins did not receive the attention merited, and he did not attend school after he was fourteen years of age. At the age of fifteen years he came to Logansport, Ind., to live with a rich uncle; but, not liking the appearance of that gentleman, he came on to Clark County, Mo., where he clerked in a store for several years. He then spent five years in the Black Hills and in the West, after which he returned to Clark County, Mo., and was there married to Miss Mary Folker, who bore him a son. Mr. Huggins followed farming in Clark County until 1882, when he moved to Lamar, bought the paper, Barton County Progress, and, in connection with Mr. Lee Chiswell, ran it until 1888, Mr. Huggins being business manager, and Mr. Chiswell editor. Although without experience, Mr. Huggins went to work, and soon could set up a column as quickly as any one. The name of the paper was changed to Lamar Democrat, and the circulation increased from 450 to 1, 500. In 1885 Mr. Huggins was appointed postmaster at Lamar. March 15, 1887, he married Miss Sarah Groves, a native of Illinois, who bore him one child, a daughter. He is an Odd Fellow, and, in his politics, affiliates with the Democratic party.

Mrs. Emily Hull, widow of the late J. W. Hull, was born in

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Logan County, Ohio, in 1830, and was reared and married in her native State, the latter event taking place in 1849. Her husband was born in 1829, and was reared to manhood in Lincoln County, Ohio, receiving his education in the common schools. After residing in different counties in their native State until 1869, they removed to Barton County, Mo., where Mr. Hull died on the 14th of March, 1875, the result of hard service and imprisonment during the Civil War. He was one of the noble " boys in blue," and first served in an artillery company, afterward joining the One Hundred and Thirty-fifth Ohio National Guard, and was taken prisoner at North Mountain, Va., while guarding a railroad station. He lay for several months in Southern prisons, being at Andersonville, and at Charleston, S. C., and in the latter place was kept between the Federal gunboats and the city, in order to keep the Federal army from bombarding the bay. He was finally paroled at Goldsboro, S. C., and returned home, but never saw a well day afterward, owing to the privations he had to endure during his long term of imprisonment. His widow has received a back pension of $1,940, and receives twelve dollars a month besides. Their children are as follows: Sarah E., wife of G. W., Bowers; W. K., Philander, James E., Frank and Jennie. Mrs. Hull is a daughter of Matthias and Elizabeth (Greene) Williams, the former's birth occurring in Virginia, October 1, 1801. He was taken to Champaign County, Ohio, when four years old, and was there reared to manhood, his marriage taking place in Logan County. He was a farmer, and died in Union County, in the fall of 1865. His parents, John and Sarah (Wheeler) Williams, were born, reared and married in North Carolina, and afterward settled in Culpeper County, Va., and finally went to Ohio, and took up their abode in Logan County. J. W. Hull was the son of William and Sarah (Martin) Hull, who were Virginians, and early settlers of Ohio. The father was born in 1800, and died in Barton County, Mo., in 1875. He was the father of nine children, and three of his sons served in the Federal army during the late war.

John J. Humphrey, the oldest merchant but one of Lamar, was born in Licking County, Ohio, June 14, 1841, and is the son of Darwin and Marietta (Humphrey) Humphrey, the grandson of Philander Humphrey, the great-grandson of Daniel Humphrey, the great-great-grandson of Michael Humphrey, the great-great- great-grandson of John Humphrey, the great-great-great-great- grandson of Sergeant John Humphrey, and the great-great-great- great-great-grandson of Michael Humphrey. In the possession of the Humphrey family is a complete family history running back about 800 years. Michael Humphrey was the first to emigrate to America from England, and his arrival was some time prior to 1643. Of his direct descendants over 500 families are recorded;

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some have held high civil and military positions, and others have risen to distinction in the professions. David Humphrey, one of the descendants, was Gen. Washington's aid, and later was min- ister to Portugal, from which country he imported the first merino sheep to America. Daniel Humphrey was in the Connecticut Legislature during twenty-seven sessions. Philander Humphrey was an eminent physician, who died at the age of fifty-two years with the croup. , He served several terms in the Connecticut Legislature. His wife, Anna Shelby, lived to be eighty-three years of age. Darwin was born in Hartland, Conn., May 13, 1808, and at the age of twenty-two began merchandising in his native town. In 1834 he married Miss Marietta Shelby, who was born in Connecticut February 14, 1812. In 1835 'they moved to Granville, Ohio, where Mr. Humphrey followed mer- chandising, and held the office of postmaster for many years. In 1869 he came to Missouri, locating at Lamar, and has lived a retired life since. Prior to the war he was a strong Democrat, but since then he has been an equally ardent Republican. He saw Gen. La Fayette in 1824, and is probably the only man in the county who has seen that celebrated officer. Mr. and Mrs. Humphrey are the parents of four children, two sons and two daughters. John J. Humphrey, the oldest but one of this family, had excellent educational advantages in the public schools and at Dennison University, but says he liked fun too well to lose any time in acquiring an education. At the age of fifteen he be- gan clerking in a country store, and by the time he was twenty years of age he became a partner with his father in a store in his native town of Granville. In 1866 he came to Missouri, and the following year to Lamar, engaging with Dr. Charles Van Pelt in general merchandising, which he continued until 1872, when he changed his line of business to hardware, stoves, furniture, etc., and, his brother becoming a partner, the style of the firm was changed to Humphrey Bros. In 1871 he married Miss Mary E. Mccutchen, a native of Cooper County., Mo., and to them were born six children, five living, two sons and three daughters. June 26, 1888, Mrs. Humphrey died. While in college one of Mr. Humphrey's professors, in a moment of irritation, said to him, that he would never be anything or have anything. Visit- ing Mr. Humphrey two or three years since, he was compelled to take back his prophecy, as Mr. Humphrey is one of the leading merchants and citizens of Lamar.

Moses Isenhower is one of Barton County's most successful farmers and stockmen. He was born in Cocke County, Tenn., in 1823, and is a son of Martin and Catherine (Null) Isenhower, who were born in North Carolina, and were of German and Swiss descent, respectively. Their parents emigrated to America before the Revolutionary War, the paternal grandfather, George Isen-

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hower, serving as a private throughout that struggle, and was present when Cornwallis surrendered. Adam Null also served in that war. Martin Isenhower was born in 1776, and died in 1876, at the age of 100 years. His wife was born in 1774, and died in 1874, making her 100 years of age also at the time of her death. They lived together as husband and wife for seventy-nine years, and were the parents of eleven children, ten of whom lived to be grown, and four are living at the present time: George, who resides in Owensburg, Ind., and is a farmer and Methodist min- ister, and is seventy-two years of age; Moses, the subject of this sketch; David, who was born in 1825, and lives in Cocke County, Tenn., engaged in merchandising; and Simon, who also resides in Cocke County, Tenn., and resides on the farm and in the house in which he was born in 1830. Here his father settled in 1820, the old homestead consisting of about 500 acres. The members of the family who are dead are: Elizabeth, who died in Indiana in 1888, at the age of seventy-five years; John, who died in Benton County, Mo .; Coonrod, who died in Cocke County, Tenn. ; and Noah, who died in Boone County, Ind. Moses Isenhower began working for himself at the age of twenty-one years, and, after farming on his own land in Tennessee for eight years, he sold his farm and moved to Indiana, purchasing a partially improved farm in Boone County. At the end of four years he moved to Fannin County, Texas, where he bought 260 acres of land, which he was engaged in tilling for four years, then sold out and bought a farm of 320 acres in Bosque County, Texas, on which he resided eight years. During his residence here he served two terms of two years each as county judge of Bosque County, and here he remained during the late war. He was detailed by the governor of Texas to run a tan-yard, and was the only man who had a permit in the State. After the war he came to Barton County, Mo., and bought 320 acres of land at six dollars per acre, besides eighty acres of timber land. His farm is now worth thirty dollars per acre, and only a few years since he refused forty dollars per acre. He also owns some lots in Zodiac, at the Zodiac Springs. He was married in May, 1844, to Miss Cather- ine Bird, and by her became the father of fourteen children, seven of whom are living: Simeon, who is judge of Barton County; Elizabeth, wife of James Winters, of Springdale, Wash- ington County, Ark .; D. F., who is a farmer of Barton County; Ellena, wife of James Winkle, a farmer of Stone County, Mo .; Rosetta, wife of Samuel Wooldridge, a farmer of the county; Mary, wife of. Jacob Dresler, also a farmer of the county; and Charlotte, wife of Walter Masters, teacher and farmer, of Vernon County, Mo. Mr. and Mrs. Isenhower are members of the Lutheran Church, and are now residing on a farm of eighty acres near Milford, where Mr. Isenhower gives a great deal of his

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attention to raising carp, a large pond of six acres being stocked with these fish. Out of a small pond he has caught and sold, in the last three years, over $200 worth of fish. He has only been. in the business about five years, but has now 10,000 or 12,000 carp. He contemplates making more ponds, amounting in all to about ten acres. On his farm is valuable building stone and mineral deposits.

William Jackson, stock-dealer, of Lamar Township, Barton County, Mo., and son of William and Lettie (Ellis) Jackson, was born in Bracken County, Ky., October 4, 1843. His parents were both natives of Kentucky, where they grew up, were mar- ried, and there remained until 1854, when they moved to Han- cock County, Ill., and there passed the remainder of their days. He was an extensive farmer, a Republican in politics, and died at the age of sixty-three years. The mother died at the age of seventy-one years, and both were members of the Missionary Baptist Church. William Jackson, the second of nine children, six sons and three daughters, was reared on the farm and educated in the common schools, being obliged to go a distance of three miles to an old log school-house to receive his learning. In July, 1861, he enlisted in Company G, Second Illinois Volunteer Cavalry, U. S. service, and served four years and four months. He was in the battle of Pittsburg, Holly Springs, Mobile and Bolivar. At the battle of Holly Springs a ball struck him in the left side, followed a rib around, and lodged in the muscles of the back. This ball he still carries. After being discharged at New Orleans, he returned to Illinois, where he farmed until 1874, and since has also handled stock of all kinds. In 1866 he married Miss Eva Simms, a native of Virginia, though reared in Illinois, and the fruits of this union were two children: Lettie and Mil- dred. All the family are members of the Methodist Episcopal Church. In 1880 they came to Lamar, and he has dealt in stock since. He is one of the most extensive stock shippers in the county, and is one of the most successful. In politics he affiliates with the Republican party. He started in life a poor boy, and has made all his property by his own efforts.

E. W. Jenkins is a son of Joseph H. and Julia A. (Colley) Jenkins, who were born in the " Old Dominion," December 5, 1812, and 1816, respectively. After starting out in life for him- self, Mr. Jenkins was engaged in the tanning business for about fifteen years, then turned his attention to woodwork, turning chairs, etc., following this occupation the remainder of his life. In 1838 he settled in Saline County, Mo., where he purchased a farm, and resided until 1840, then moved to Clay County, mov- ing to Platte County at the end of five years, and back to Clay County in 1861. In 1875 he returned to Platte County, and there died on the 26th of November, 1876, his wife having died in

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1851. They were married the 4th of September, 1833, and became the parents of four children: E. W .; Elvira J., wife of John Ebard, of Platte County; Mary C., wife of Joel W. Pedric (deceased); and one child that died in infancy. After the death of his first wife, Mr. Jenkins married again, his second wife being Eliza Jane Letchworth, of Clay County, Mo., and by her became the father of five children, of whom four are living: J. H., of Smithville, Clay County, Mo .; J. T., of California, and a cabinet- maker by trade; and G. W. and B. F., contractors of St. Joseph, Mo. E. W. Jenkins, the subject of this sketch, was born on the 2Ist of July, 1834, and in 1855 began business for himself, engaging in farming on land in Platte County, Mo., where he con- tinued for four or five years. He then commenced trading in stock, but sold his farm in 1879, and moved to Barton County, Mo., where he purchased his present property of 225 acres, which was then mostly raw land, but which is now a well-improved tract, 125 acres being under the plow, twenty-five acres in tame grass, and the remainder in wild pasture land. January 25, 1855, he was married to Miss Mary C. Ligon, of Platte County. She was born April 23, 1831, and became the mother of five children, only one of whom is living, the other four dying in infancy and childhood. Joseph C., the living child, was born April 3, 1861. Mr. Jenkins commenced raising carp on his farm in 1887, starting with twenty-four fish, and now has a pond six acres in area, and expects to put ten more acres in ponds. His fish now number 10,000 or 12,000, all except the original twenty- four being from one to two years old. He claims that the cul- ture of fish is the most profitable business in which he can engage. In 1877 he patented a trap for the catching and removal of the young, also for catching the older fish for eating purposes, and also for the purpose of keeping the pond clear of wild fish and turtles. His trap for catching fish works like a charm, and he has often caught from 500 to 800 small fish at one time. When he wishes to catch more, he baits his trap over night. He always donates liberally to churches, schools, and other public enterprises, and in his political views has always been a Democrat. His son Joseph C. was married December IO, 1878, to Miss Annie E. Dickson, of Platte County, who was born October 1, 1858, and by her had two children, one now living: Terry E., who was born April 9, 1881. They reside on the old homestead with our subject.

O. Johnson, proprietor of a livery and feed stable at Lamar, Mo., is a native of Cleveland, Ohio, where he was born, on the 20th of January, 1845, his parents being Almon S. and Mary Johnson, the former born in the " Green Mountain State," and the latter in York State. Having moved to Ohio, they made that State their home until 1847, when they took up their abode in

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Boone County, Ill., and two years later in Dane County, Wis. The father was a trader by occupation, and in his political views was first a Whig and then a Republican. His wife was a worthy member of the Methodist Church, and died in the prime of live, leaving four sons and one daughter to mourn her loss. After her death Mr. Johnson married a second time, becoming the father of four children by his last wife. He lived to be about sixty-nine years of age. O. Johnson is the eldest child by the first wife, and received his education in the common schools. In August, 1862, he enlisted in Company H, Third Wisconsin Volunteer Cavalry, U. S. A., and joined hisregiment at Fort Leavenworth, serving nearly three years in Arkansas and the Indian Territory. He was neither wounded nor taken pris- oner, and after the close of the war returned to Wisconsin, where he was married in 1867 to Miss Lorinda Loveland, a native of New York. No children have blessed this union. Mrs. Johnson is a member of the Congregational Church. In 1867 Mr. John- son moved to Kansas, and until 1880 was engaged in farming, trading, and the livery business in that State. At the latter date he came to Lamar, Mo., and built the stable where he is now doing business. He also owns a good home in the town. He is a member of the A. O. U. W., and in his political views is a Republican.

Caleb S. Jones, of the firm of Mccutchen & Jones, was born in Lexington, Mo., February 5, 1848, and is the son of Rev. William W. and Jane M. (Kennedy) Jones, born respectively in Kentucky and Virginia, he of Welsh, and she of Irish descent. When about nineteen years of age, William W. Jones began his ministerial work and continued this until his death, when sixty- six years of age. His wife is still living, and is fifty-eight years of age. Mr. Jones was converted at Mitchell Camp Ground, in Polk County, and gained quite a reputation as a minister, all his labors being in the State of Missouri. He was on the editorial committee of the Christian Advocate, and was a prominent man. He was the father of eight children, seven sons and one daugh- ter, of whom Caleb S. Jones is the eldest. He received his education in the private schools, and at the age of fifteen began clerking in a store in St. Louis, in a jobbing house. In 1866 he began traveling for Hastings, Wilkerson & Co., and traveled over Southwest Missouri and Kansas when there were no railroads. In 1868 he opened a store at Renick, Randolph County, where he continued until 1875, when he came to Lamar, and has been with his partner ever since, with the exception of eighteen months. In 1877 he married Miss Florence McGruder, a native of Cooper County, and the fruits of this union are two children, a son and daughter. Mrs. Jones died in 1883, and in 1885 he married Miss Carrie J. Timmonds, who bore him one daughter.

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Mr. Jones started in life with little or nothing, and has made all of his property by the sweat of his brow. Aside from his mer- cantile business he is also interested in farming, and is one of the prominent men of the county. He is a member of the A. O. U. W., and is a Democrat in politics.

A. J. Joyce is of Irish descent, and was born in Patrick County, Va., in 1815, being one of nine children born to the marriage of Alexander Joyce and Mary Coffee, natives, respect- ively, of Virginia and North Carolina. The father was reared in Stokes County, N. C., and, after his marriage, returned to his native State, and, in 1829, located in Indiana, taking up his abode in Johnson County of that State, where he was engaged in farming until his death, in 1872, his wife's death having occurred in 1847, and her birth February 29, 1782. The paternal grand- father, who also bore the name of Alexander, was a citizen of North Carolina from Virginia, the latter being probably his native State. A. J. Joyce was reared in his native State, and, at the age of sixteen years, removed' with his parents to Indiana, and was there married, in 1838, to Miss Keturah R. Mann, who was . born in Kentucky on the IIth of January, 1817, and removed to Indiana in 1835. Seven of the fourteen children born to their union are yet living: Mildred, Mary F. (deceased), Thomas S., who died while serving in the Union army; Lucinda F., wife of John W. Hughes; Elizabeth, Tilitha B., Arch. H., Margaret L. (deceased), Frank A., Judson (deceased), Charles F. (deceased), Ruth A., Horace and A. J. (deceased). Mr. Joyce was en- gaged in farming while in Indiana, but also gave some atten- tion to merchandising, and, previous to coming to Barton County, failed in business. From that time up to three years since he dealt in stock, but afterward gave his entire attention to farming his land (130 acres), at which he did well financially He was a member of the Missionary Baptist Church for fifty years, and in favor of Prohibition.

T. J. Kelley, watchmaker and jeweler and dealer in clocks, watches, etc., at Golden City, Mo., was born in Allen County, Ky., February 18, 1842, and is a son of J. W. and Elizabeth A. Kelley. He was married to Anther Butler in Hardyville, Ky., and they have had seven children born to them, four of whom are now living: Annas, Ida, Ethel and Ula. The names of those deceased are Joseph, Emma and Ollie, who died in childhood. Anther Kelley was born July 4, 1842. The parents received fair educa- tion in the common schools. T. J. Kelley began learning the watchmaker and jeweler's trade in the year 1859, and it has been his principal business since that time.

Amos Kentner, a farmer and stockman of Golden City Town- ship, has been a resident of Southwestern Missouri for fifteen years, and has resided on his present farm since 1881. He was

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born in Wyoming County, Penn., and is a son of William and Susan (Heller) Kentner, who were also born in Pennsylvania. In 1848 they emigrated to Lee County, Ill., where the father bought a farm of 240 acres, on which he lived until his death, in 1857, at the age of fifty-five years. His widow is still living, and is residing on the old homestead, at the age of eighty-four years. Amos Kentner was reared on this farm, educated in the public schools, and made his home with his parents until twenty-one years of age, when he took the overland trip to California, in which State he remained, engaged in mining, for twelve years. The following two years he then spent at his old home in Illinois, after which he went to Nebraska, and was engaged in the grain business for one year. In 1876 he moved to Jasper County, Mo., and, after renting a farm for about five years, came to Barton County, and purchased his present property, which first consisted of eighty acres, but now amounts to 240 acres of well-improved land. He was married in 1875 to Miss Elizabeth Waters, a native of Indiana, by whom he has one child, Jacob. He and wife are members of the Presbyterian Church, in which he is an elder; and in his political views he is a Republican, and is one of the most enterprising farmers of the township. He served one term as justice of the peace.

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History of Hickory, Polk, Cedar, Dade, and Barton counties, Missouri, Part 88

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