History of Hickory, Polk, Cedar, Dade, and Barton counties, Missouri, Part 93

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 93
USA > Missouri > Dade County > History of Hickory, Polk, Cedar, Dade, and Barton counties, Missouri > Part 93
USA > Missouri > Barton County > History of Hickory, Polk, Cedar, Dade, and Barton counties, Missouri > Part 93
USA > Missouri > Hickory County > History of Hickory, Polk, Cedar, Dade, and Barton counties, Missouri > Part 93
USA > Missouri > Polk County > History of Hickory, Polk, Cedar, Dade, and Barton counties, Missouri > Part 93

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. F. Surbrugg, one of the oldest farmers of the township, is a son of John and Elsie (Surhur) Surbrugg, who were born in Switzerland, and came to America after their marriage, locating in Ohio, where they followed farming and dairying. After resid- ing there for some time they moved to Ripley County, Ind., then went to Columbus of the same State, where they resumed farm- ing and dairying, and here the father died in 1888, at the age of seventy-nine years, still survived by his widow, who resides in that State. Nine of their ten children lived to be grown: Elsie, wife of Peter Shank, a farmer of Iowa; John, a farmer of Barton County, Mo .; Peter, a farmer of Indiana; J. F., our subject; Lizzie, wife of Jacob Brown, residing in Indianapolis, Ind .; Mar- garet, wife of Ephraim Ross, of Indiana; Rosa, the deceased wife of George Carter, of Missouri; Christopher, a farmer of Indiana; Solomon, residing on the old homestead in Indiana; and Godfred, a farmer residing near Columbus, Ind. J. F. Surbrugg only attended the common schools in his youth, and left home when very young. The first work he did after starting out in life for himself was farm work, his wages being paid by the month, but his father collected his pay until he was twenty-one years old. He then continued to labor by the month until the war broke out, when he enlisted in the Third Indiana Cavalry, under Capt. Cline, in Company K, and afterward served as orderly for Gen. Nelson for about sixteen months, when he was discharged on account of sickness. He was at Fort Donelson and Shiloh, being taken sick immediately after the latter combat, and was sent home by order of Gov. Morton. After recovering he went to Pomeroy, Ohio, and began working in a rolling-mill, re-

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maining here between eight and ten months. He then went to Rock Island, Ill., and began working for a nurseryman, and from there joined the One Hundred and Fortieth United States Infan- try, Company G, being under Capt. Wilmont, and after serving about six months was discharged, but again enlisted in the spring of 1864 in Company C, Fourteenth Illinois Cavalry, being on active duty until the fall of 1865. He was in the battle of Frank- lin. After the war Mr. Surbrugg went to Indiana, but after farming there one year moved to Rock Island, where he also farmed one year. He then sold his crops and moved to Iowa, and was there married in 1867 to Miss Mary Worthin, moving soon after to Barton County, Mo., where he purchased raw land, and made a home. At the end of one year he had his land in- closed, then sold out and bought eighty acres of unimproved land, which he also improved and sold. This farm cost him $5.50 per acre, and at the end of ten years he sold it at $25 per acre. Since that time he has resided on his present property, which consists of 200 acres, for eighty of which he paid $10.50 per acre, and for another eighty, $7.50. It is now worth $40 per acre, and is all in one body. He owns eighty acres in another tract. He and wife are the parents of three sons and two daugh- ters: J. C., John W., H. E., Ada and Alice. Mr. Surbrugg is independent in his political views.

G. T. Thomson, M. D., a prominent physician of Barton County, has been a resident of Golden City since 1882. He is a native of Christian County, Ky., and is a son of James and Cath- erine Thomson, natives of Virginia, who were early settlers of Kentucky. Our subject was reared on a farm, and, his father dying when he was thirteen years old, the mother and family moved to Washington County, Ill. He was educated at the Hop- kinsville High School, and in 1865 entered the Chicago Medical College, graduating from the St. Louis Medical College in 1873. He first located at New Memphis, Ill., where he was actively engaged in practice for several years, and then went to Steelville, Randolph County, Ill., where he practiced nine years. From the latter place he removed to Golden City, his present home, where he has since devoted his attention to the practice of his chosen profession, and enjoys a large and lucrative patronage. The Doctor is a member of the Board of United States Pension Exam- iners of his district, and is local surgeon for the Fort Scott & Memphis Railroad. He has satisfactorily served as coroner of the county, and a member of the school board, and in politics his sympathies are with the Democratic party. He owns 160 acres of land, beside town property, and takes an active interest in all worthy public enterprises. He was married in 1868 to Nannie Ford, a native of Illinois. Their five children are: Ter-

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rill, Katie, Amos, Ruth and Charles. Dr. and Mrs. Thomson are members of the Methodist Episcopal Church.

W. H. Thompson, general merchant at Beloit, Barton County, Mo., was born in Roodhouse, Ill., in 1859, and is one of five children born to the marriage of John P. and S. M. (Thompson) Thompson, both of whom were born, reared and married in Greene County, Ill. The father was a farmer, and died in Feb- ruary, 1864, being a son of Thomas Thompson, a Kentuckian, who emigrated to Illinois at an early day, where he spent the rest of his days in tilling the soil. W. H. Thompson, our subject, was thirteen years old when he came to Missouri with his mother. They lived first in De Kalb, then in Clinton, and finally came to Barton County in 1874, where W. H. received part of his educa- tion in the public schools of Lamar. After leaving school he passed an examination for a certificate to teach, but soon after began clerking in the mercantile establishment of E. C. Morlen, with whom he remained two years, then embarking in the same business with his brother at Dublin, being thus associated one year. His brother died, and in 1881 Mr. Thompson opened his present establishment in connection with his younger brother, the style of the firm being Thompson Bros. In June, 1887, he pur- chased his brother's interest, and has since been successfully managing the establishment alone, his stock being valued at about $3,000, and his annual sales amounting to $12,000. In 1883 he was elected township trustee and ex-officio treasurer, being re-elected in 1885, 1887 and 1889. Since 1881 he has filled the position of postmaster of Beloit, and in his political views is a Democrat. In October, 1884, he was married to Miss Clara Beamer, who was born in West Union, Iowa, in 1863, which union has resulted in the birth of two children : Maud and Roy Cleveland. Mrs. Thompson received her education in the graded schools of Springfield, also taking a course of music in that city.

Hon. Berry G. Thurman, attorney-at-law, and State senator from the twenty-eighth district, was born in Miller County, Mo., January 25, 1851, and is one of the representative men of the county. He is the son of John B. and Jane (Allee) Thurman, and the grandson of Robert Thurman, who was a native of Vir- ginia. John B. Thurman was born in Kentucky, in 1814, and in about 1832 came to St. Louis County, Mo., where he remained for some time, and then came on to Moniteau County, where he married Miss Jane Allee. He was a blacksmith by trade, but in later years he followed farming. He moved to Miller, then to Morgan County, and finally found a home in Dade County, in 1868. He died January 1, 1888, but the mother is still living in that county. Both were members of the Baptist Church, and he was a Democrat in politics. Hon. Berry G. Thurman, one of ten children - six sons and four daughters -received his literary

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BIOGRAPHICAL APPENDIX.

education in the common schools, and was a student in the Mis- souri State University two years. He read law under Judge D. A. De Armond, and graduated from the law department of the above university in 1873. The same year he was admitted to th- bar at Lamar, though he located at Greenfield, Dade County. He was elected prosecuting attorney of Dade County in 1874, and again in 1878, being the first Democrat chosen to that office in that county after the war. In 1884 he came to Lamar, and formed a partnership with A. J. Wray, which still exists. In 1888 he was elected to the State Senate, where he received appointment on the following important committees: judiciary revision, labor, mines and mining, deaf and dumb asylums. November 12, 1879, Mr. Thurman married Miss Lula Clark, daughter of Capt. S. S. Clark, and a native of Benton County, Mo. They have two children: William H. and Bessie. Mr. Thurman is a Knight Templar in the Masonic fraternity, and stands at the head of the bar at Lamar. Mrs. Thurman belongs to the Congregational Church.

Hon. Henry C. Timmonds, an attorney-at-law of Lamar, Mo., was born in Knoxville, Iowa, May 12, 1853, being the eldest of three children born to the union of Dr. L. M. Timmonds and Jane M. Tichenor, who were born, reared and married in Ohio County, Ky., the former being of Irish descent, and the latter of English. The mother was a lineal descendant of John Alden, who came to America in that famous old ship, the Mayflower, and who is immortalized in Longfellow's poem, " The Courtship of Miles Standish." The parents resided in Kentucky until 1852, then moved to Iowa, and six years later took up their abode in Greene County, Mo., coming in 1859 to Lamar. The father was a graduate of Iowa Medical University, and made this profession his chief pursuit through life. Prior to the late war, he was county judge of Barton County, and in 1865 was appointed circuit clerk, county clerk, and recorder, being elected in 1866 to the same position. He was a Democrat, and in early life a member of the Christian Church, in which faith his wife died in 1861, being only twenty-nine years of age. After her death, Dr. Timmonds wedded Miss Mary H. Oulds, by whom he became

the father of three children. Henry C. Timmonds, the immediate subject of this sketch, received the greater part of his education in the schools of Lamar, and, having worked in his father's office till 1870, he began learning the printer's trade in the office of the Southwest Missourian. March 27, 1873, he married Miss Kate Fast, a daughter of Peter Fast. She was born in Stark County, Ill., and by Mr. Timmonds is the mother of two children: Harry and Xora. For one term Mr. Timmonds was principal of public schools of Lamar, and in the fall of 1873 moved to Stockton, Mo., where he leased the office and fixtures of the Stockton 60

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Fournal, and was both editor and pressman, his wife assisting him in the office, and making a full hand. Prior to his marriage he read law for some time with Hon. Charles H. Morgan, and, while managing the fournal, spent his leisure time in pursuing this study. After reading one year under Judge D. P. Stratton, he was admitted to the Stockton bar in 1880, returning the same year to Lamar, and forming a partnership with Hon. Charles H. Morgan, which lasted until Mr. Morgan's third election to Con- gress. Then Mr. Timmonds became associated with Hon. Edward Buler in the practice of his profession, and has remained thus connected up the present time. From 1882 to 1886 he was prose- cuting attorney, and in the latter year was elected to represent Barton County in the State Legislature. In 1888 he was a delegate to the Democratic State Convention, and made the nominating speech for Lieut .- Gov. Claycomb. Mr. Timmonds has always been a Democrat, and professionally ranks among the first lawyers of the Barton County bar. He is a member of the A. O. U. W., and his wife belongs to the Congregational Church.

Robert J. Tucker, another attorney at Lamar, all things considered has been fairly successful in the practice of his pro- fession.

Brockholst Tyler, farmer and stockman, was born in the " Empire State " (Columbia County), October 29, 1825, being a son of Major M. and Edith (Bradford) Tyler, who were born in Columbia County, N. Y., and Windom County, Conn., in 1791 and 1793, respectively. Three Tyler brothers came to America in the " Mayflower," one settling in the New England States, one in Virginia, and the third was lost track of. The father of our subject was a cousin of President Tyler, and during the War of 1812, when two men were needed to make up a company, he was one of three to cast lots, but fortune was in his favor, and he remained at home. He was a farmer and trader, and was com- missioner of Columbia County, and held minor offices. He was captain of a company of New York militia in muster days, and was a prominent man of his time. His wife, whom he married in 1810, was a descendent of Gov. Bradford, of Virginia. They moved to Kansas about 1860, and the father died in 1883, in Barton County, having been a Democrat, Whig and Republican in politics, his wife dying in Massachusetts about two years later, having been a member of the Congregational Church for many years. Thirteen of their fifteen children lived to be grown, Brock- holst Tyler being the tenth child. His boyhood days were spent in Columbia County, N. Y., and his education was received in the common schools and Austerlitz Academy. When nineteen years of age he began farming for himself, and the 15th of August, 1848, he was married to Cornelia A. Baker, a native of Berkshire County, Mass., born September 3, 1829. In 1856

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they moved to Anderson County, Kan., and Mr. Tyler was en- gaged in merchandising for ten years. Since 1866 he has resided in Barton County, Mo., being the owner of a fertile and well- tilled farm. He has been a successful financier, and is one of the well-to-do residents of the county. He has always sided with the Republican party, and his wife is a member of the Methodist Church. Their children are: Isador J., John F., Harriet A. (deceased), Edwin C., George F., Mary E., Erastus L., Jennie (deceased), James M., Mattie (deceased), Rosa N., William G., Joseph B. and Ernest U.

Usher Brothers general merchants of Minden Mines, Mo., established their business in April, 1885, and their establishment consists of two rooms, one being used for dry goods, and the other for drugs and groceries, their stock being valued at $3,500, and their average sales about fifty dollars per day. The firm consists of Francis M. and James H. Usher, who were born in Ballard, now Carlisle County, Ky., in 1861 and 1862, respect- ively, their parents being James H. and Frances S. (Sanford) Usher, both of whom were born in what is now Christian County, Ky., in 1832 and 1836, respectively. They were married in their native State in 1859, and the father, who was a practicing physi- cian and a graduate of the Philadelphia Medical College, died there in 1862. He had a brother, Francis M., who also gradu- ated from that college, and was a very successful physician for some years, but is now a wealthy tobacconist at Fulton, Ky. Their father, Dr. James H. Usher, is still living, and was for many years a very successful medical practitioner, but is now a wealthy farmer in Christian County, Ky., in which county he was probably born. The parents of our subjects are church mem- bers, and the mother is the daughter of Dr. Thomas and Rosella Sanford, who were born in Henry and Washington Counties, Ky., respectively, and died in their native State, both in the month of December, the father in 1860, and the mother in 1851. Mrs. Usher married her second husband in 1872, and since 1885 has resided at Minden Mines. Both her sons, whose names head this sketch, received their early educations in the common schools, supplemented by a number of years' attendance in the Milburn High School. They were both engaged in clerking for a num- ber of years, Francis M. being in a drug store. In 1885 he went West looking for a location, and finally decided to locate in Min- den Mines, where he and brother are now successfully established in business. Both brothers are members in good standing in the Christian Church, and are young men of enterprise and intelli- gence. In their political views Francis M. is a Republican, and James H. is a Democrat. The latter has been postmaster of Minden Mines since 1885. The former married in January, 1889, Miss Maude F., a daughter of L. P. and Catherine Letton,

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who were born in Bourbon County, Ky., where Mrs. Usher was also born. They came to Johnson County, Mo., when she was a child, and are now living in Barton County, near Liberal. Francis M. has been express agent for the Adams Express Com- pany at Minden Mines, since September, 1885.

Abraham Van Meter, M. D. Health is the most precious gift bestowed upon us by nature; and how to retain it, and how to regain it when lost, are matters of vital moment. Dr. Abra- ham Van Meter was born September 25, 1839, in Grayson County, Ky. The Van Meter family trace their origin to one of two brothers who emigrated to the United States from Holland. One located in New Jersey and the other in New York. John, the New York brother, went to Virginia, and married a Delaware Indian. From this branch of the family the Doctor is a descend- ant. Colonel Joe Van Meter commanded a regiment in the Revolutionary War. The Doctor's grandparents were among the first settlers of Boone's Lick, Ky., and Grandfather Van Meter was a soldier in the War of 1812. The Doctor's father, Jacob R. Van Meter, was born in Kentucky in 1820, and when only eighteen years of age married Miss Rhoda C. Hackley, also a native of Kentucky. In 1840 they moved to Arkansas, subse- quently to Illinois, and in 1857 to Linn County, Mo., where he died twenty-two years later. The mother is living in Cali- fornia, and is sixty-nine years of age. In their family were eleven children, nine sons and two daughters. Two of the sons are physicians. Dr. Abraham Van Meter, the eldest child of the family, received a limited education, but being always very fond of a book, he became a well informed man. Having a natural tendency for medical literature, he began reading medicine at the age of sixteen, but later turned his attention to mechanical engineering, which he made his business until the breaking out of the war. In 1861 he enlisted in the Home Guards, and about two months later he joined Company F, Eighteenth Missouri Volunteer Infantry, U. S. A. He was at Island No. 10, then at Shiloh, when his division fought in what is called the " Hor- net's Nest." He was taken prisoner, and after being held about a month at Montgomery, Ala., was sent to the Tennessee River to be exchanged, but Gen. Mitchell, who met them there, claimed he had no authority to make exchanges, so the Doctor was taken to Chattanooga until the shelling of the town by Mitchell, when he was moved on to Macon, Ga. From there he was taken to Richmond to be exchanged, and while waiting had the pleasure (?) of spending four days in Libby prison, having been a prisoner ·six months and thirteen days. As soon as he gained flesh and strength he joined his regiment in May, 1863, in Tennessee, was promoted to sergeant, and served until November, 1864. He was in all the battles from Chattanooga to Atlanta.

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In 1864 he entered the medical department of the Philadelphia University, from which he graduated in 1865. Having located at Brookfield, Mo., he practiced at different points until 1881, when he went to Washington Territory, and later became surgeon to the engineer corps of the Northern Pacific Railroad Com- pany, who were surveying the route through the Cascade Mount- ains. The same year he came to Lamar. He has been medical director of the State three times for the Grand Army of the Republic, and is now serving his fourth term as post commander at Lamar. He is a Mason, a member of the Barton Medical Society, the Missouri State Medical Association, and a member of the National Association of Railroad Surgeons. He is local surgeon at Lamar for the Kansas City, Fort Scott & Memphis (formerly the Gulf) Railroad, and is also county physician. The Doctor is a stanch Republican. December 31, 1857, he married Miss Martha A. McClure, a native of Kentucky, and to them have been born six children, two now living: Mollie and Agnes.

J. B. Vaughn was born in Kentucky, in 1847, and when ten years of age left home and went to Iowa, and worked as a farm hand for one year, receiving for his services his board and clothes and seven dollars in money. During this time he went to school about four months. He remained in that State some twenty-six years, and was married there to Miss Sarah Duller, by whom he became the father of three children: Clara, John and Emma. Soon after his marriage he purchased fifty acres of land, which he farmed two years, then moving to Allerton, where he was engaged in buying stock, grain and coal for about eight years. In 1882 he came to Barton County, Mo., and first purchased eighty acres of land adjoining Milford, then embarked in the mercantile busi- ness, and has continued thus engaged ever since, his stock of goods being valued at about $3,500, and his annual sales amounting to $12,000. He is very much pleased with his loca- tion, and says that in his estimation, this is a superior farming and stock country. During the winter months he is engaged in feeding stock, but did not follow this occupation in 1888, owing to a shortage in the crops. He is in every respect a self-made man, and his property has been acquired by ceaseless toil. After his marriage, he spent some time in cutting cord wood at seventy- five cents a cord, and his wife worked out for two dollars per week, he paying three dollars per week for his board. He is now one of the leading men of his section, and is a liberal patron of edu- cation and other worthy enterprises. He is a Democrat, and has been township treasurer for two years. His parents, John and Mary J. (Henderson) Vaughn, were born in Floyd County, Ky., and Giles County, Va., June 4, 1878 and April 25, 1819, respect- ively. They were married in Mercer County, Va., May 29, 1839, and became the parents of five children, all of whom are

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dead except our subject, two living to maturity; James died while serving in the Union army; and Genoa, who was the wife of B. H. Garrett. Mrs. Vaughn's parents were Martin and Susanna (Smith) Duller. To them were born nine children, six of whom are now living: Henry, a resident of Kansas; Mary A., wife of James Pinkerton; Sarah (Mrs. Vaughn), George; Eme- line, wife of Charles Zahn; and Allie.

Edward G. Ward, an early settler of Barton County, Mo., is a son of George E. and Charity H. (Greene) Ward, who were born in Lynchburg, Va., and Harrodsburg, Ky., April 1, 1811, and March 30, 18II, respectively. They were married in the mother's native town, and about 1840 moved to Independence, Mo., and subsequently to Johnson County, moving to Sabine Parish, La. in 1844, where Mr. Ward was chosen assessor, and where he had all the mail contracts in Louisiana and Texas. In 1852 he started to California, but only got as far as Barton County, Mo,, and located where Lamar now stands, the county at that time going by the name of Jasper. He built a little log storehouse near where M. N. Wills now resides, and in 1857 built a two-story frame storehouse on the southwest corner of the pub- lic square, which was burned during the war. During that time he served in Talbot's regiment until the battle of Pea Ridge, in which engagement he was wounded, dying the following October 2, 1862. He named Barton County, and when it was laid off he secured the first Lamar postoffice and called it Lamar, which be- came the present town. He served as judge when it was part of Jasper County, and filled the office of treasurer after it became Barton County. He was a Democrat, and was an Episcopalian in faith, his wife being a member of the Christian Church. ' His wife is still living, having borne five children, three of whom sur- vive. The great-grandfather, Thomas Ward, was a Scotchman, and was a colonel in the Revolutionary War. The grandfather, Seth Ward, was an 1812 soldier. The maternal great-grandfather was also a Revolutionary soldier. Edward G. Ward, the imme- diate subject of this biography, was born in Barren County, Ky., January 28, 1839, and in youth attended the old subscription schools of Barton County, Mo. In June, 1861, he enlisted in the Missouri State Militia, C. S. A., and after serving about six months he joined the regular Confederate army, serving under Shelby until the close of the war. He surrendered at Shreveport, La., having been in the battles of Pea Ridge, Wilson's Creek, Lexington, Lone Jack, Helena, Shelby's Raid, Price's Raid, Little Rock, Prairie De Hand, Newtonia and others; at the last named battle a grape shot passing through his abdomen from front to rear. He now carries a 44-caliber revolver ball in his left lung, and a buckshot in his scalp. In 1863 he was elected captain of a select company for advance service. After the war he joined his

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mother and sisters in Illinois, and in 1868 came back to Barton County, where he has since been engaged in farming and mer- chandising. January 28, 1869, Mr. Ward married Mary, a daughter of Dr. John Logan, who was a cousin of Gen. John A. Logan, and a colonel of the Thirty-second Illinois, Federal Army. She was born in Illinois, July 8, 1844, and is the mother of six children: Edward L., Annie, William B., George E., Lil- lian and John R. Mrs. Ward is a member of the Methodist Church, and Mr. Ward is a Royal Arch Mason.

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History of Hickory, Polk, Cedar, Dade, and Barton counties, Missouri, Part 93

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