History of Hickory, Polk, Cedar, Dade, and Barton counties, Missouri, Part 89

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 89
USA > Missouri > Dade County > History of Hickory, Polk, Cedar, Dade, and Barton counties, Missouri > Part 89
USA > Missouri > Barton County > History of Hickory, Polk, Cedar, Dade, and Barton counties, Missouri > Part 89
USA > Missouri > Hickory County > History of Hickory, Polk, Cedar, Dade, and Barton counties, Missouri > Part 89
USA > Missouri > Polk County > History of Hickory, Polk, Cedar, Dade, and Barton counties, Missouri > Part 89

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. Kinder, a farmer residing in Newport Township, was born in Macoupin County, Ill., and is a son of Christopher G. and Mary Ann (Cook) Kinder, who were born in Kentucky and Indiana, respectively. When the father was about one year old, he was taken by his parents to Indiana, and was there reared to manhood on a farm. After his marriage, he moved to Macoupin County, Ill., where he made his home until his death, in 1863, at the age of forty-one years. His widow is still residing in Barton County. He was a true Christian gentleman, and for many years was a devout member of the Methodist Episcopal Church. In his political views he was a stanch Republican. His children are as follows: Jesse, who was a soldier in Company J, One Hundred and Twenty-second Illinois Volunteer Infantry, U. S. A., and died while in the service; J. W .; Nancy, the widow of T. W. Hampton; Mary E., wife of John H. Cox, of Litchfield, Ill .; Laura G., wife of Robert Ferguson, a farmer of Barton County; and Wilson, who died in childhood. J. W. Kinder was reared on a farm in Illinois, and was married there in March, 1866, to Sarah J. Ferguson, who was born in Saline County, Ill. After their marriage Mr. Kinder bought the old homestead of the heirs, on which he lived until September, 1884, when he came to Bar- ton County, and purchased 160 acres, where he now lives. He has been a successful farmer and stockman, and has never re- gretted his removal from Illinois. He and. wife are the parents of five children: Annette, wife of T. L. Ferguson, of this county;

915

BIOGRAPIIICAL APPENDIX.

Cyrus Wilson, Thomas Emmett, James Nolan, Eva Maud and Ralph. Mr. Kinder is a Republican politically, and is a member of the Farmers' Alliance.

Matthew Lasley was born in Gallia County, Ohio, in 1845, being a son of Matthew and Rebecca (Eakin) Lasley, who were born in Pennsylvania, and were married in Ohio, removing in 1870 to Cass County, Mo., where the father was killed in the storm of 1876. He was a farmer by occupation, and was township treas- urer in Ohio for thirty years. His father, Jonathan Lasley, was born in Pennsylvania, and died in Ohio, the maternal grandfather's (Joseph Eakin) death also occurring in that State, though he was born in Pennsylvania. Matthew Lasley, our subject, is the fourth of nine sons, eight living, and was educated in the common schools of Gallia County. In 1861, when but sixteen years of age, he joined Company H, Fifty-third Ohio Volunteer Infantry, and served three years and ten months in the Fifteenth Army Corps of Tennessee, and was a participant in the siege of Vicks- burg, Jackson, Miss., the Georgia and Atlanta campaign, and was at the capture of Atlanta. He was captured, and, after being in Andersonville prison for two months, was being taken with others for exchange, but, finding he would have to return to prison, he made his escape, and was six days reaching his com- mand, being all this time without food. Soon after reaching the Union lines, he was furloughed home, as he was almost dead from exposure, starvation, and disease contracted in prison. After remaining at home one month he so far recovered that he again joined his command and remained in the service, although not really fit for field duty, until the close of the war, being present at the grand review at Washington, D. C. A history of his army and prison life would be of deep interest, and many a time while making his escape from prison life to the Union lines, he would lie in fence corners for hours at a time, unobserved by the rebels, by whom he would be surrounded. He entered the service one of the most rugged and healthy men of his com- pany, and came out almost a skeleton, and broken in health. He is a Prohibitionist in his political views, although he cast his first vote for Abraham Lincoln in 1865, and was an earnest Republican for many years. Since becoming a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church a few years ago, he has made a thorough study of the Scriptures, and for about four years has earnestly devoted himself to the ministry and the cause of Christianity and temper- ance, and doing all in his power to suppress vice in all its forms. In March, 1867, he was married to Margaret, a daughter of William and Clara Coughenour, who were born in Virginia and Ohio, respectively, the father being only a child when he was taken by his parents to Ohio. In 1870 he removed to Cass County, Mo., but is now residing in Pittsburg, Kan. Mrs. Lasley

916

BARTON COUNTY.

was born in Ohio, and is the mother of three sons and four daughters. In 1871 Mr. Lasley came with his family to Barton County, Mo., and is now residing on a fine farm of 240 acres.

J. L. McComb, M. D., a successful physician and surgeon, of Kenoma, Barton County, Mo., was born in Miller County of the same State in 1849, and there grew to manhood on a farm. He was engaged in teaching school from the time he was seventeen years of age until he was twenty-seven, and in the meantime read medicine under Dr. William Terry, of Dade County, Mo. He entered the Medical College of St. Louis, Mo., and February 28, 1882, was graduated from the College of Physician and Surgeons, soon entering upon his practice at Newport; he had, however, practiced previous to his graduation, at Milford, under his preceptor, Dr. Terry. In September, 1882, he came to Kenoma, and here has since made his home, having become well established as a practitioner of worth and standing in the community. He was first married to Miss Mary Wright, who died leaving two children: Cora and Nettie. The Doctor married his second wife, Miss Ham, March 6, 1889. He is a Master Mason, and is a member of the Barton County Medical Society. His parents were William and Anna (Hobson) McComb, the former's birth occurring in Tennessee in 1819. He was reared to manhood in Illinois, but moved to Miller County before he was grown, there serving in the Home Guards as lieutenant. In 1873 he moved to Barton County, Mo., and now resides in Polk County. While residing in Miller County, Mo., he was elected by the Republican party to the office of county judge. His father was a Tennesseean, who served in the Mexican War, and died in Miller County, Mo.

Gwinn McCuistion, farmer and fruit-grower, is a member of the Horticultural Society of Barton County, Mo., and was born in Bedford County, Tenn., September 3, 1826, being a son of James and Isabel (McClintock) McCuistion, who were born in Guilford County, N. C., September 15, 1805, and January 27, 1808, respectively. They accompanied their parents to Ten- nessee in their youth, and there married in March, 1825, moving four years later to Ray County, Mo., and, in 1858, to Navarro County, Texas, where the mother died in April, 1867, and the father in September, 1869. James McCuistion served in the Black Hawk and Mormon wars, being a lieutenant in the latter, and throughout life was engaged in farming. His father, James, who is the grandfather of our subject, was also a farmer, and was born in the " Palmetto State " in 1758, and was a soldier in the Revolutionary War. After the close of this war he made his home in Guilford County, N. C., for some time, and in 1806 moved to Davidson County, Tenn., and built the first grist-mill in that county. Later he moved to Bedford County, and built the first

917

BIOGRAPHICAL APPENDIX.

mill there. Here he died in March, 1826. In 1830 his aged widow traveled horseback, with her son James, to Ray County, Mo., a distance of 600 miles, in twenty days. She died December I, 1841. The paternal great-great-grandfather was a Scotchman, and came to America from Londonderry; Ireland, in 1700, and set- tled in Charleston, S. C., where he died. His name was James, and his son Thomas was the great-grandfather of our subject. Gwinn McCuistion, the eldest of five sons and three daughters, was three years old when brought by his parents to Ray County, Mo., and he has been a resident of this State since 1829. He received a common-school education in the log school-houses of that day, and for a year and a half attended the higher schools at Richmond, Mo. He spent the first eleven years in teaching, receiving at first only fifteen dollars per month for his services, but afterward, towards the close of his services as teacher, received sixty dollars per month, and the last seven years taught in the same school-house. Success followed his labors until the unpleasant war came up, and during that struggle he lost heavily of his property. On the 28th of March, 1850, he was married to Miss Martha I. Lile, daughter of Henry W. and Lydia (Comer) Lile. The father was from the State of Tennessee, and the mother from the State of Ohio, coming with their parents to Ray County, Mo., about the year 1820, and being united in marriage in 1828. The father was born November 17, 1803, and the mother April 8, 1809; in 1854 they moved to Daviess County. Mr. Lile died January 26, 1879. His wife is still living, aged eighty years. He served in the Black Hawk and Mormon wars, being a major in the latter, and was sheriff of Ray County for several years. Mr. McCuistion has resided in Barton County since 1880, and owns a fertile and well-improved farm of eighty acres. He served in the Confederate army, in Company C, Third Missouri Infantry, as captain, until after the fall of Vicksburg. He then commanded Companies C and F (consolidated) until the close of the war, and was engaged in nearly all of the battles fought by his division of the army, and was once wounded by gun-shot. He was captured at the battle of Blakely, April 9, 1865, and, on the day of exchange of prisoners, came under the capitulation when hostilities ceased. Before the war he was a Whig in politics, but since that time has been a Democrat. He is a Master Mason, and belongs to Lamar Lodge No. 292. He and wife are members of the Methodist Episcopal Church, South. They are parents of the following-named children: Perneety F., wife of Harrison Hamer; James W., of Carroll County, Mo .; Nancy R., wife of Balaam Barham; John G .; Martha I., wife of J. M. Casteel; Charles H., and Montie V.

Alonzo W. Mccutchen, a leading merchant of Lamar, was born in Cooper County, Mo., April 1, 1846, and is the son of

918

BARTON COUNTY.

James C. and, Sarah (Harris) Mccutchen, both natives of Ken- tucky. In an early day both came to Missouri, where the father died in 1854, but where the mother is now living. The father was a farmer by occupation, a Democrat in politics, and a mem- ber of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church. The mother is also a member of the same church. In their family were five children, of whom only one is now living. Alonzo W. McCutchen received a good English education, and during the war served in the Confederate army, under General Joe Shelby, and surrendered at Shreveport, La., at the close of the hostilities. After this he clerked in Sedalia, where he remained until 1868, after which he came to Lamar, and with a partner opened a store. Although he has changed partners several times, he has always been at the head of the business. The firm title at the present is Mccutchen & Jones, and they carry one of the best stocks of goods in town. September 6, 1868, he wedded Miss Fannie Thompson, a native of Cooper County, Mo., who bore him one child, James. In connection with his mercantile business, Mr. Mccutchen is also interested in farming, and has a fine farm. As a business man he has been quite successful, and is now considered one of the prominent merchants of Lamar. He is the oldest dry goods merchant and the third oldest merchant in the town. He is a Democrat in his political views.

H. C. McGown, a resident of Golden City, and one of the early settlers of Barton County, was born in 1821, in Culpeper . County, Va. His parents were Daniel and Frances (Corley) McGown, natives, respectively, of Maryland and Virginia. Daniel McGown was a carpenter by trade, but always lived on a farm, and, in 1833, the family settled in St. Charles County, Mo., where the father died December 13, 1887, at the age of ninety-two years; he served as a soldier in the War of 1812. The mother of our subject died in July, 1872, aged seventy-five years; she was a member of the Baptist Church. . H. C. McGown was reared to the pursuit of farming, and at the age of twenty-one began that occupation for himself, renting land which he culti- vated. In 1847 he married Marian Boone, who was born in Callaway County, Mo. Mr. McGown lived in St. Charles County until 1850, when he went across the plains to California with a mule team; he remained in California, and engaged in farming until June, 1852, when he returned to his home in Missouri by way of Panama. He then moved to Greene County, Mo., where he bought a farm, and lived until the fall of 1865, then locating in Dade County, where he purchased a farm, and made his home until 1881, in the latter year settling in Golden City, Barton County, which is his present home. Mr. McGown's first wife died in 1857, leaving three children: Mary C., deceased, wife of John Bailey; Henry D., who died at the age of nineteen years;

919

BIOGRAPHICAL APPENDIX.

and Fannie D., at home. In July, 1861, Mr. McGown married Sarah J. Tompson. He is a member of the A. F. & A. M., and the I. O. O. F., being one of the oldest members of the latter order in the county. He held the office of justice of the peace for twelve years in Dade County, and has led an active and, enterprising life. He owns some real estate in Golden City, and, though well along in years, takes an active interest in all public enterprises.

Judge D. T. McGown, one of the leading farmers of Barton County, Mo., has been a resident of Golden City Township for about nineteen years. He was born in Virginia in 1828, and is a son of Daniel and Frances (Corley) McGown, the former a native of Maryland, and the latter of Virginia. In the fall of 1833 the parents emigrated with their family to St. Charles County, Mo., where Judge D. T. McGown was reared to manhood on a farm. At the age of twenty-one years he took the overland route to California, and was engaged in mining in that State for three years, meeting with reasonably good success. He returned to Missouri via the Isthmus of Panama and New Orleans, and pur- chased a farm in St. Charles County, on which he resided until 1858, when he sold out and established a general mercantile store at Foristell, which he conducted for three years. In 1864 he moved to Bartholomew County, Ind., but returned to St. Charles County, Mo., at the end of one year, and in 1870 came to Barton County, where he bought a 160-acre tract of raw land, which he has since nicely improved with good buildings, etc. In 1858 he was married to Agnes Gray, who was born near Madison, Ind., and by her is the father of the following children: George Q., a merchant of Wellington, Kan .; Minnie G., wife of M. Wright; Allie, wife of Elmer McGuffee, of Barton County; Mary, Fannie, Thomas and Harry. Mrs. McGown is a member of the Christian Church. Judge McGown is a Democrat politically, and has held various township offices, as well as county judge and assessor. He belongs to the I. O. O. F.

James McGrath was born in Beaver County, Penn., in 1819, and since 1881 has been a resident of Barton County, Mo. He first moved from his native State to Illinois in 1834, and was there married to Miss Jane Haas, who was born in the Kingdom of Wurtemberg, Germany, in 1830. To them were born eight sons and two daughters: Thomas G., John A., Samuel F., James W., Mary C., Charles H., William H., Phœby A., Jessie G., and Birdy S. McGrath. Mr. and Mrs. McGrath own 320 acres of land in Hickory County, Mo., and eighty acres of land in Barton County, Mo., on which they reside. He is a Repub- lican in his political views. His father, Samuel McGrath, was born in Newtown Stewart, Tyrone County, Ireland, in 1788, and came to America in 1806, settling first in Philadelphia, and going

920

BARTON COUNTY.

thence to Harrisburg, where he worked at his trade as a shoe and boot maker, and later to Pittsburg, where he went into the sheep business. He served in the War of 1812, and was in the famous battle of Bunker Hill, and died at the age of ninety-six, being active and energetic up to the last. His father, James by name, lived and died in Ireland, being a merchant on a small scale, in Newtown Stewart. Jane (Denning) McGrath, the mother of our subject, is of Scotch descent, her ancestors having moved from their native land to Ireland. One brother settled in the hills, and the other one in glens, and the latter had the word Glen prefixed to his name, making it Glendenning. Mr. James McGrath is a descendant of the fifth generation of the brother who settled in the hills.

S. F. McGrath, constable and collector of Richland Town- ship, was born in Jo Daviess County, Ill., in 1855, his parents being James and Jane (Haas) McGrath. S. F. McGrath came with his parents to Missouri in 1864, and located first in Lewis County, then in Cooper County, and in 1867 went to Johnson County, and purchased a farm, remaining there until he doubled his money on his farm, then sold out and resided nine years in Henry County. Since 1881 he has resided in Barton County on his present farm. On the 5th of November, 1884, he was married to Miss Louella Wheeler, who was born in Hamilton County, Ill., in 1864, and by her has two children : Ola and Roy. From 1882 to 1884 he served as constable under the first town- ship organization, being elected to the office again in 1887 and 1889, which office he is ably filling at the present time. He is a Republican in his political views, and is a member of the Farm- ers' Alliance. In the spring of 1880 he went to Colorado, and after working there for some time returned home, where he has since remained. His father was born in Pennsylvania in 1819, and was married in Illinois. His father, Samuel McGrath, was born in Ireland, and emigrated to America, locating in Pennsyl- vania. The maternal grandfather was of German descent, and is still living, aged eighty-seven years. Mrs. S. F. McGrath is a daughter of Henry and Margie (Brennon) Wheeler, who were born in Illinois in 1858 and 1840, respectively. They were married and farmed in Hamilton County until about 1873, when they came to Barton County, Mo., in which they own a good farm. The family attend the Methodist Episcopal Church, and are Democrats in their political views.

James McMurtry, of the general notion store of McMurtry & Coffin, of Lamar, Mo., was born in Ireland on the 12th of April,' 1853, being the ninth of eleven children (eight sons and three daughters) born to Thomas and Martha (Richey) McMurtry, the former having been born in Ireland, and the latter in Canada. Mr. McMurtry went to Canada when a young man, and engaged in

921

BIOGRAPHICAL APPENDIX.

the grocery business, marrying while there Miss Richey. Some- time after his marriage he returned to Ireland with his family to look after some property, and in 1859 emigrated to the United States, and settled in Randolph County, Ill., where he engaged in farming. He and wife belonged to the Presbyterian Church; and he was a Republican. He died in his eightieth year, but his wife is still living, and resides with her son James in Lamar, being sixty-five years of age. James McMurtry received a common school education, and in 1882 came to Barton County, Mo., and was engaged in farming three years, after which he spent the same length of time clerking for A. G. Cessford. From that time until 1889 he was in the grocery business with William Earp, and has since been occupied in his present business, and is doing well. February 6, 1883, he was married to Pirenia Shelton, a native of Illinois, by whom he has three children: Elmer A., Ella M. and Artie. He and wife are members of the Presbyterian> Church; and he is a Democrat in his political views.

William A. McNary was born on the 17th of December, 1848, in Adams County, Ohio, and is a son of Ebenezer and Mary Catherine (Sprinkle) McNary, who were born in Pennsyl- vania and Ohio, respectively. The father was reared in Wash- ington County, and when a young man, moved to Ohio, where he was married and resided until 1848, then moving to Brown County, Ill., where he and his family made their home until 1869. Since that time they have resided in Barton County, Mo., the father being over seventy years of age, and the mother over sixty. Mr. McNary worked at the tailor's trade in Ohio and Illinois, but has farmed the latter portion of his life. He is of Scotch descent, a Republican in politics, and he and wife are members of the Presbyterian Church. Their children are: William A. and George T. (twins), James E .; Maria Alice, wife of Arthur Corner; Albert H .; and Ella May, wife of John A. Croy. Those de- ceased are: Mary M., wife of James Watson; Elizabeth M., wife of Albert Thurman; Tilly Louisa, Charles Henry, Frank E. and an infant.' William A. McNary received his education in Brown County, Ill., and came with his parents to Barton County, Mo., and since 1878 has resided on his present farm, which he has greatly improved. October 15, 1878, he was married to Louisa Croy, a daughter of John Croy. She was born in Daviess County, Mo., reared in Montgomery County, Ind., and came with her parents to Vernon County, Mo., where she was married. She and Mr. McNary are the parents of four children: Harry E., Jessie E., Fred. C. and George E.

B. C. McWilliams, stockman, farmer, and fruit-grower, of Barton County, Mo., was born in Pennsylvania, October 13, 1843, and is a son of William and Fannie (Knauss) McWilliams, who were of Scotch and German origin, and were born in North-

922

BARTON COUNTY.

umberland County, Penn .; the former's birth occurring March 17, 1821. He was a farmer by occupation, and he and wife became the parents of the following family: B. C .; John, a resi- dent of Barton County; Francis M., a farmer of Ellsworth, Mo .; James A., also a farmer of Ellsworth; W. H., a miner and stone- mason, of Barton County; Mary, the deceased wife of W. L. Olley, Jr., of Pennsylvania; and Maggie E., attending school at Fort Scott. The paternal grandfather of our subject, John McWilliams, and his wife, a Miss Cruiser, were also born in the " Keystone State." The maternal grandfather, Benjamin Knauss, was born in Northampton County, Penn., and was reared in Bucks County, of that State. His father came in an early day to America from Holland with a brother, and served in the Revolutionary army. Benjamin Knauss served as lieutenant on the Canadian frontier in the War of 1812, and proved a trusty soldier. He was twice married, his second wife being a Miss Billmyer. His death occurred in Northumberland County, Penn. At the age of twenty years B. C. McWilliams embarked on the sea of life for himself, and joined Company F, Sixteenth Pennsylvania Cavalry, U. S. A., and served about twenty-seven months under Capt. J. K. Robertson, and was in different Southern prisons for about thirteen months. He was in the battle of Sulphur Springs, and was captured at Catlett Station, and sent to Libby Prison, where he remained three days, and was then taken to Belle Isle, where he was retained four months, then spent six months and seven days at Andersonville, one month at Savannah, Ga., and the remainder of his prison life was passed at Miller. Twenty-seven members of his regiment were cap- tured with him, and of those who were confined where he was only one besides himself survived the horrors of the Southern prisons, Mr. McWilliams and John Flowers, of Company I. He was paroled on the 19th of November, 1864, and was fur- loughed home. While in Andersonville he was water-carrier for four months, and was the original owner of the Miller ax, for which he paid twenty-five dollars, and which he used in building his hut, it being also used for the same purpose by many of his comrades. After the war he worked with the Enterprise Coal Colliery, Shamokin, Penn., but July 6, 1866, went to Belleview, Ohio, and from there to Clinton, Mich .; thence to Barton County, Mo, where he bought his present property of 168 acres. He only remained here a short time, as the country was but a vast rolling prairie, with no houses or improved farms, and went to Dubuque, Iowa, thence to Cedar Rapids, and was married at Danforth, Johnson County, Iowa, to Miss Mary A. Cloud, on the 24th of December, 1867. In 1869 he returned to his farm in Missouri - at that time there being no house between his and the county seat, Lamar, sixteen miles away - and here

923

BIOGRAPHICAL APPENDIX.

has since remained and reared his children, whose names are as follows: Fannie E., born October 22, 1868; Rosa C., born December 10, 1869; Nellie May, born July 22, 1873; William H. and Samuel (twins), born February 16, 1875; Lena, born March 26, 1882; John F., born February 25, 1884; Bessie C., born June 16, 1887; and Benjamin H., born March 8, 1889. Mrs. McWilliams was born in Iowa, August 27, 1847, and is a daughter of Samuel and Eliza A. (Case) Cloud, who were born in Ohio and Virginia, respectively, and settled at Big Grove, Johnson County, Iowa, where Mrs. Cloud died July 20, 1882, and her husband, October 12, 1883. They were the parents of twelve children, ten of whom lived to be grown: Callie, wife of B. F. Hopkins, of Zenorsville, Iowa; Mrs. McWilliams; Nathaniel, who was killed in the battle of Shiloh; Rebecca, wife of Steve Almond, of Parker, Dak .; Fannie, wife of Richard Bissell, of Cass Co., Iowa; Frank, of Allendale, Mo .; Newton and Will S., of Iantha, Mo .; Rosa and John, of Danforth, Iowa. Mrs. McWilliams' paternal grandfather was born in Pennsylvania, and Mr. McWilliams' paternal great-grandfather served through- out the Revolutionary War. Mr. and Mrs. McWilliams are members of the Church of God, and in his political views he is a Republican. His mother, sister and brother have settled here since he came, his father also coming a few years before his death, which occurred February 28, 1883.

Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.

History of Hickory, Polk, Cedar, Dade, and Barton counties, Missouri, Part 89

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