History of Howard and Cooper counties, Missouri : written and compiled from the most authentic official and private sources, including a history of its townships, towns, and villages : together with a condensed history of Missouri, a reliable and detailed history of Howard and Cooper counties-- its pioneer record, resources, biographical sketches of prominent citizens, general and local statistics of great value, incidents and reminiscences, Part 113

Author: National Historical Company
Publication date: 1883
Publisher: St. Louis : National Historical Co.
Number of Pages: 1198

USA > Missouri > Cooper County > History of Howard and Cooper counties, Missouri : written and compiled from the most authentic official and private sources, including a history of its townships, towns, and villages : together with a condensed history of Missouri, a reliable and detailed history of Howard and Cooper counties-- its pioneer record, resources, biographical sketches of prominent citizens, general and local statistics of great value, incidents and reminiscences > Part 113
USA > Missouri > Howard County > History of Howard and Cooper counties, Missouri : written and compiled from the most authentic official and private sources, including a history of its townships, towns, and villages : together with a condensed history of Missouri, a reliable and detailed history of Howard and Cooper counties-- its pioneer record, resources, biographical sketches of prominent citizens, general and local statistics of great value, incidents and reminiscences > Part 113

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).

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HISTORY OF HOWARD AND COOPER COUNTIES.

Lee, are still at home, and all were educated at the Prairie Home Institute. Mr. and Mrs. Smith are both members of the Cumber- land Presbyterian church.

OTTO SPIELER,

farmer, section 3. Mr. Spieler was born in Saxony, Prussia, March 4, 1836, and came to this county with his parents, Andrew and Do- rothea ( Rise ) Spieler, in 1846, who settled in Cooper county on the place where they still reside. Both were born in 1802, and at the age of eighty-one are still comparatively vigorous in mind and body, and now live with their son, Otto. When a youth, between fifteen and nineteen, Otto clerked in Boonville for Calhoun & Bacon, about three years, from 1851 to 1853. During the war he served about five months in the regularly enrolled militia ; was first lieutenant in con- pany E, 52d Missouri, and was in the skirmish at Big Lick when seven out of his squad of eleven were killed. He made his escape with only a slight wound, but ran two and a half miles hotly pursued, and wounded one of his pursuers by firing back while run- ning. July 2, 1865, Mr. Spieler was married to Miss Margaret Young, a native of Indiana. She was born at Goshen, that state, January 1, 1850. They have a family of eight children : Minnie, Elizabeth, Ernst, Otto, Henry, Laura, Bertha and Elsa. His farm contains 300 acres, and he raises over 100 aeres of grain, principally wheat, and some stock, mainly sheep, hogs, horses and mules. Mr. S. was jus- tice of the peace in 1881 and 1882, and is now road overseer. He is a member of the Evangelical church.

S. M. TEEL, M. D., AND JOHN M. POINDEXTER, M. D.,

constitute the firm of Teel & Poindexter, physicians and surgeons at Prairie Home. Dr. Samuel M. Teel, the senior partner of the above named firm, was born in Albemarle county, Virginia, Jannary 4, 1851, and was a son of Samuel M. Teel, Esq., and his wife, form- erly a Miss Agnes Johnson, a daughter of Capt. Collin Johnson, who settled in Cooper county, near Otterville, where he lived until his death. The doctor is the sixth of a family of thirteen children, all of whom are still living, but he is the only one now a resident of this state. He took an academic course in the university of Virginia, and in 1874 entered the medical department of that university, from which he was graduated with distinction two years afterwards. In Novem- ber, 1876, he came to Missouri, and was associated with Dr Wm. H. Ellis in the practice in this county two years, after which, on the 2d of

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HISTORY OF HOWARD AND COOPER COUNTIES.

September, 1878, he located at Prairie Home. Here his thorough qualifications as a physician, his close attention to the practice, and his gentlemanly, nnexceptionable bearing have ingratiated him into the confidence and esteem of the public, and justly brought him and his worthy associate an extensive and lucrative practice. He was mar- ried, November 5, 1879 to Miss Nettie P., the accomplished daughter of John R. Williamson, of Saline township. She was born, June 20, 1861. They have a family of two bright and interesting children : Agnes, born August 10, 1880, and Anna R., born March 4, 1882. The doctor and his estimable lady are both members of the Baptist church, and he is a member of the A. F. and A. M. Dr. John W. Poindexter was also a son of the old Dominion, and was born at Char- lottesville, November 1, 1851. His father, Dr. James W. Poindexter is an old and prominent physician in that part of Virginia. His moth- er was formerly Miss Mary J. Wayt, a most worthy and excellent lady. The doctor received a superior general education, and entered the Virginia medical college at Richmond in 1872, from which he was graduated with marked honor in March, 1875. . He then entered actively upon the practice of his profession in association with his father at Charlottesville, and was afterwards located at White Hall, but in 1860, came to the imperial west-the hesperian garden of fortune for all young men of intellect, culture and energy, and joined Dr. Teel in the practice at Prairie Home. Here his progress to promi- nence as a physician, and to success in life has been rapid and substantial, and gives promise of a bright and useful future.

MRS. SARAH S. THOMPKINS.

Mrs. Thompkins, daughter of William and Elizabeth H. ( Stegar) Robertson, was born in Albemarle county, Virginia, September 27, 1806. Her father died when she was but seven years of age. Her mother, however, who was of German descent, lived to an advanced age. When in her twenty-second year, October 22, 1829, Mrs. Thompkins, then Miss Robertson, was married to Albert G. Thomp- kins, a native of Fluviana county, Virginia, born August 22, 1779, and a nephew to Hon. George Thompkins, who founded the first law school at St. Louis ever established west of the Mississippi river. No children were born of this union. Two years after their marriage they determined to come west to seek their fortune, and, accord- ingly in 1831, came by wagon across the Alleghanies and into the heart of the great interior valley of the continent, making their home in Cooper county. The entire journey was made in a one-

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HISTORY OF HOWARD AND COOPER COUNTIES.

horse wagon, which contained all their worldly possessions. Here, in 1833, they entered eighty acres of land, putting up a cabin, in which they lived some time without a chimney, doing their cook- ing out of doors. But they had brave hearts and willing hands, and it was not long before the rewards of cheerful industry and intelligent management began to accumulate. Their store of this world's goods increased until in 1862, when Mr. Thompson was called by the voice of God to enter npon that higher and better life prepared for all his children. His estate was valued at $25,000. He died the 12th of February, at the age of sixty-three, after a more than ordinarily active and successful life, leaving behind as many friends and as few enemies as seldom fall to the lot of man. He kept a stage stand for many years, and was postmaster at " Mednay," as the stand was called, during the whole time. The war swept away sixteen negroes they owned, and otherwise dam- aged their estate, but not so much as to embarrass it. Mr. Thomp- kius was a member of the Methodist church south for thirty-six years - since 1826. The farm is now being conducted by Mr. Charles R. Scott, as manager, who was born in Potosi, Missouri, August 4, 1847, and is a son of Harold B. and Sarah J. (Chris- ten) Scott, originally of Virginia. He was reared in St. Louis, and in 1861 came to Cooper county, since which he has made his home at Mrs. Thompkins. However, he was with Shelby from 1863 until the close of the war. He is W. M. of Prairie Home lodge, A. F. and A. M.

JOHN ZIMMERMANN,

hardware and tin shop. Mr. Zimmermann was born in Hesse, on the Rhine, January 3d, 1834, and, while he was in his infancy, his parents, Wyatt and Barbara (Felker) Zimmermann, immigrated to this country, and settled on the Monitean, in Moniteau county. His father died there in 1848, and his mother afterward married a Mr. Witman. She died in Boonville in 1882, aged eighty-six. After his father's death, in 1849, John went to St. Charles, where he served an apprenticeship at the tinner's trade of seven years. July 13th, 1856, he was married to Miss Lizzie Creekbanm, of that city. He then worked on a farm two years, and in 1858 returned to Cooper county, and established a shop at Boonville. He continued here two years, and in 1860 went to Fayette, where he remained until 1874, when he returned to Boonville, aud, in the summer of that year, located at Prairie Home, and established his present business. He has a good stock of goods in his line, and a satisfactory trade. His wife died

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HISTORY OF HOWARD AND COOPER COUNTIES.

March 12th, 1874, having borne him six children, as follows : John Henry, at Fayette ; Agnes, Charles, William, Auna M., Emma and Joseph M.

SALINE TOWNSHIP.

PHILIP M. BASS,

farmer. Mr. Bass was the youngest of a family of eight children of Talbot and Sally ( Lawrence ) Bass, originally of Kentucky, but only two of these are now living, the other being a sister, Julia A., the widow of Alfred Windson, late of Mouiteau county, Their mother died when Philip M. was still a boy, and the father afterward married Mrs. Agnes Campbell, a widow lady. She is still living, but he died in 1859, in Moniteau county, this state. The family of children died, as follows : Isaac went to California in 1842, and has never been heard from since ; Elizabeth died while a young lady ; Woodford died of the cholera, on the river, in about 1854 ; Bradford was killed by the militia during the war, while running the mill at Big Lick ; Catherine died in maidenhood, and Warren died in May, 1876, near Overtown. Philip M. Bass was born while his parents resided in Platte county, this state, August 22d, 1843. He was reared to a farm life, and in youth acquired the substantial rudiments of an edu- cation. He was just old enough to enter the army when the war broke out, in 1861, being then in his eighteenth year, and accord- ingly he enlisted in the Confederate service, under Colonel McCul- loch, and remained in that command until its surrender at Columbus, Mississippi, in May, 1865. His brother, Warren, enlisted at the same time, and they served together until the close of the war. Both were in all the battles in which the command took a part, and both were wounded ; Philip in the right shoulder, at Harrisburg, Missis- sippi, by a minnie ball, and Warren in the wrist by a navy ball, at Pea Ridge. Warren's wife, formerly Miss Eliza McClanahan, since his death, has married James Broyles, of Saline township. Philip married Miss Sallie, daughter of Adolph Smith, of Moniteau county, February 26th, 1868. She was born January 16th, 1847. They have had four children, Charles R., Columbus E., and Julia A. The eldest died in infancy. Except during the war, Mr. Bass has been constantly engaged in farming, and is an industrious farmer and well respected citizen.

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HISTORY OF HOWARD AND COOPER COUNTIES.

SYLVESTER CALVERT,

proprietor of Cedar Ridge farm, section 7. Mr. Calvert, the owner and proprietor of the above-named farm, was born on his father's homestead, adjacent to the son's present place. February 17, 1833. His grandfather, John Calvert, was one of the pioneer immigrants to this county, settling in Jolly's Bottom with his family, from Tennes- see, as early as 1813. He died there, in 1840, from the effects of an accident received while assisting in " raising " a horse-mill for Gabriel Brown, a near neighbor. His widow, whose maiden name was Dor- cas Collin, subsequently married James Mahan, but she died a few years afterwards, in 1847. Leonard Calvert, the father of Sylvester, was a lad six years of age when his parents emigrated from Tennessee, having been born in 1807. After he grew up he was married to Miss Roxy Morley. This union was a long and happy one, and was blessed with the remarkably large family of sixteen children, fifteen of whom ived to maturity, and fourteen of whom are still alive and have fami- lies of their own. The parents died within two years of each other, in Pettis county, of which they had been residents for many years, the father passing away in his sixty-sixth year, and the mother two years before. Of this family Sylvester was the third in priority of birth. At the age of twenty-four he was married to Miss Lucretia F. Bell, of Boone county, the date of their banns being the 7th of March, 1857. She died, however, November 4, 1866, leaving three children : Roxy, wife of Thomas Blackburn ; Ida and Lucretus, who died in his twelfth year. In 1869, October 7, Mr. Calvert was again married, Miss Frances H. Walker, of Virginia, becoming his wife. Five children have resulted from this marriage, all of whom are at home ; Elva L., Alice C., Emma J., Mary P. and Leonard W. Mr. Calvert's farm is an excellent one, and is substantially improved. He raises some stock, but devotes his attention mainly to grain-producing, growing about 100 acres of wheat annually, and large quantities of corn and other cereal products. He joined General Price's army while it was in this state in 1864, and served until the end of the war. He is a member of the Baptist church.

BRADLEY CAMPBELL.

William Campbell, Sr., the father of the subject of this sketch, was one of the early settlers of this county, having immigrated here from Tennessee in 1820, whereupon he opened a farm in what is known as Jolly's Bottoms, locating his residence on the bluff. He

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HISTORY OF HOWARD AND COOPER COUNTIES.

died abont 1840. Bradley was about thirteen years of age when the family removed to this state. He was born in Cocke county, Tennes- see, November 4, 1807. After attaining his majority he was married August 21, 1829, to Miss Meeky, daughter of Samnel Hall. Her father died in St. Louis while en route to this county. The following year Mr. Campbell settled on his present farm, first entering eighty acres, which he improved. Since then he has added to and improved it until he now has a neat farm and comfortable home. Mr. and Mrs. Campbell have been blessed with seven children : Samuel H., now of Nebraska ; Clancy, Eliza, both early deceased ; Johannah, Smith, now of Moniteau county ; John L. and William. Clancy, their second daughter, is now the widow of E. H. Williams, and Johannah is the wife of Levi Shepherd. William, Jr., the youngest of the family of children, was born on his father's farm October 22, 1843. In his twenty-third year, March 22, 1866, he was married to Miss Martha, daughter of Samuel Kimbrough, now of Texas. They have one child, a daughter, Ollie, born April 2, 1867. William Campbell and wife are members of the Baptist church at Big Lick. His mother died September 24, 1879. She had been a member of the same denomi- nation for over half a century, as has also his father, Bartley Camp- bell.

JOIIN M. CAMPBELL,

farmer, section 27. When, in 1861, the bugle-call of the south sum- moned her brave sons to rally in defence of her hereditary institutions and the firesides of all, the subject of this sketch, then just entering upon the twenty-first year of his age, and fired with enthusiasm for the land of his fathers, was one of the first of Missouri's gallant young. chivalry to enroll his name among those, who in defence of southern rights and southern manhood, had " the heart to do " and if necessary " the courage to die." He at once became a volunteer in the 2d Mis- souri cavalry under Colonel McCullongh and followed the fortunes of his command from the first shot it fired in the opening of the conflict until its meteor-like banner faded from the heavens to be seen no more forever. He participated in all the principal battles of the war in which his command was engaged, and finally surrendered with it at Columbus, Mississippi, in 1865. Returning home in August, after the surrender, he was married, the 2d of January following, to Miss Mary E., daughter of Nathan Cooper, and at once established himself on a farm, which he had rented in Moniteau county. Two years after- wards he went to Nebraska, where he lived seven years, but in 1874

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HISTORY OF HOWARD AND COOPER COUNTIES.

returned to Cooper county and located on his present homestead, a neat farm of about a quarter section of excellent land. He is princi- pally engaged in wheat growing and raising marketable hogs, although he raises other live stock and cereal products. Mrs. and Mrs. Camp- bell have had a family of seven children : Jesse L., Dora M., Gray D. and Ida H. are living. Lena F., William L. and Bradley are dead. He and his wife are members of the Christian church. Mr. Campbell's parents, Bradley and Meekey ( Hall ) Campbell, are among the oldest and most highly respected residents of the county, and he is the fifth of their family of six children, having been born at their homstead on Saline creek March 24, 1841.

OSCAR F. CASE,

blacksmith and general repairer at Big Lick. Mr. Case is a native of Illinois, and was born in Kane county, February 2, 1849. While still a youth, his parents removed to Iowa, and, at the age of sixteen, Oscar F. entered a blacksmith shop at Bradford, in that state, to learn the ferreous art. After learning the trade there, he worked a year at Waverly, and the following two years at Connor's Mills. From the last named point he changed his location to Jewett's Mills, where he worked about ten years. In 1879, leaving Jewett's Mills, he came to Big Lick, where he has a large custom, and has established for himself a wide reputation as a thorough mechanic. May 28, 1871, Mr. Case was married to Miss Nancy, danghter of John Durnil, of this county. They have four children : Julia, aged ten years ; An- drew, aged seven years, and Wirt and Birt, twins, aged four years. During the war Mr. C. eulisted in the Iowa hundred-day men volun- teers, and served four months in Tennessee and Mississippi. His parents, Hoad G. and Julia ( Morris) Case, are still residents of Iowa.

WILLIAM E. CLAYTON, SR.,

farmer, section 5. William E. Clayton, who was born in Maryland, December 16, 1826, was less than a year old when his parents, John and Sarah ( Leath ) Clayton, immigrated to Missouri, and settled in Clark's Fork township, six miles southwest of Boonville, in Cooper county. They reared a family of six children : John M. ; Martha, wife of John Gilbreath, of La Plata, Missouri ; Nancy A., died with her husband, Robert Hardcastle, in the Black Hills, on their way to California, in 1852; William E. ; Susan, died in her seventeenth year ; and Charles Turner. The mother of these died in 1832, and

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HISTORY OF HOWARD AND COOPER COUNTIES.

the father, in 1858, on his homestead in the bottom, one and a half miles sontheast of Overton, where he had settled a number of years before. William E. Clayton married in his thirty-eighth year, Octo- ber 4, 1854, Miss Lavina, daughter of Moses Street, formerly of Virginia. She was spared to him nearly nineteen years, but was at last taken away by death, May 7, 1873. Nine children are the fruits of this long and happy union : Rachel Leath, wife of John Fitz- patrick ; Sarah, wife of D. C. Bell ; James B., Charles, John W., Mary E., Lucy, Martha and Andrew Thompson. All but the first two are still at home. In 1850 Mr. Clayton went to California, but returned soon afterwards and followed farming in the bottom uutil 1862, when he settled on his present place. He has a good farm of nearly a quarter section of land, about 100 acres of which are in the bottom, but the balance is on the bluff. He has been a member of the Cumberland Presbyterian church since 1867, and of the I. O. O. F. since 1856.

MARTHA F. DRISKILL.

Mrs. Driskill was a daughter of John and Nancy ( March ) Daven- port, formerly of Kentucky, but later, residents of Boone county, this state, both of whom are now deceased. She was born in Boone county, October 10, 1835, and of the family of children of which she was a member, but one is now living, William H., who resides with her on her farm in this county. She first became the wife of John Stone, of her native county, where they lived a number of years after their marriage, but he died, in 1863, at Petersburg, Virginia. Four children were the fruits of their union : William H., now in Texas ; Mary A., widow of George Powell ; Nancy A, wife of Samuel Hickon, and Susan H., wife of George Vaughn. After Mr. Stone's death his widow, the subject of this sketch, was married, April 7, 1870, to Moses Driskill, of this county, who was born October 26, 1827. He was a widower at the time of his marriage to Mrs. Stone, his first wife, previously Miss Sophia Turner, having died some years before. By his former marriage there are four children ; Margaret, wife of James Bruce, of Monitean ; Missouri A., wife of Wesley Bruce ; Henry and Sophia. Mr. Driskill, lately deceased, universally re- gretted by all who knew him and deeply mourned by his family and a large circle of friends. He was a man of the better qualities of mind heart, and at the time of his death was a sincere and exemplary mem- ber of the Baptist church. By her last husband Mrs. Driskill has a family of three children ; Ruth P., aged twelve years ; Ella Blanche, aged ten years, and Mattie Pearl, aged eight years. Mrs. D. has been

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HISTORY OF HOWARD AND COOPER COUNTIES.

a member of the Christian church for the last twenty years. She now resides on her farm in Saline township, a comfortable homestead of nearly a quarter section of excellent laud comfortably improved. Five years ago they met with the misfortune of losing their dwelling and all their household goods by fire - a fine residence -entailing a loss of over $2,000, but they have put up a neat, substantial house in its stead, and are rapidly recuperating from the loss so unfortunately vis- ited upon them.

CHARLES L. EAGER,

farmer, section 21. Lewis Eager, the father of Charles L., is a name familiar to all the old settlers of the eastern part of the county. He was a native of Virginia, and was born in Louisa county, of that state, in 1809. He settled in this county about the middle of the thirties, opening a farm at Big Lick, and also engaged in milling there, which he followed for over thirty years, or until within ten years of his death, which occurred March 29, 1878. He married in Louisa county, Va., in early manhood, Miss Cynthia, a daughter of William D. Gooch, becoming his wife. She preceded her husband in death nearly twenty years, crossing the silent river to the unknown and echoless shore of eternity April 30, 1859. They reared a family of four children, of whom Charles L. is the youngest, viz. : John W., Mary L. V., wife of H. C. Simms, Tyre H., and Charles L. Charles L. Eager, the sub- ject of this sketch, was born at his father's farm May 5, 1850, and as he grew up received a good ordinary education in the common schools. In his twenty-sixth year he was married to Miss Rebecca J., eldest daughter of Levi Shepherd, their marriage occurring February 17, 1876. The spring of the same year he settled on the farm where he now lives, an excellent homestead of nearly 200 acres, nearly all of which is under fence, and is otherwise substantially and comfortably improved. Ile gives his attention to grain growing and stock raising, in both of which he has satisfactory success. He has built an excel- lent house and a good barn on his place, both of which are above the average of farm buildings. Mr. and Mrs. Eager have a family of two interesting children : Anna Lee, born January 27, 1878, and Lewis Virgel, born August 6, 1881.

BLASIUS EFINGER,

farmer, section 1. Mr. Efinger is a native of Wurtemberg, Ger- many, and was born January 25, 1830. He was a son of Matthew Efinger and wife, whose maiden name was Cardule. When twenty-

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HISTORY OF HOWARD AND COOPER COUNTIES.

four years of age he came to this country, and for four years made his home in Pennsylvania, where he married Miss Louisa Zellar, for- merly of Wurtemberg, the date of their union being April 29th, 1858. After their marriage they removed to Cooper county, this state, where Mr. Efinger farmed on rented land and worked at Ennor's mill until 1863, when, having accumulated enough to buy a farm, he purchased his present place and devoted his whole energy and attention to grain and stock raising, and to improving his place. His farm contains 250 acres of good land, and is a comfortable homestead, in good condition. During the war he served four months in the M. and M. in the second year of the war. He has a family of three children : Mary Louisa, Louisa Caroline, and Henry E. Mrs. E. is a member of the Presbyterian church.

J. ALBERT ELLIOTT,

farmer and stock raiser, section 2. Although a young man, Mr. El- liott, as a new-era, educated and progressive farmer and stock man, has done not a little and will doubtless do far more to advance and el- evate the occupations in this county to which he is devoted. He has an excellent farm of 350 acres, and gives it his undivided attention, prodneing large quantities of grain and raising fine stock, particularly horses and mules. He began with the Norman stock of horses and afterwards added the Clydesdales, procuring the finest representatives of these breeds that could be had. For mule raising he also has the best quality of stock, and by his enterprise in these lines he has done much to improve the general average of the stock raised in the com- munity. He was born in the neighborhood where he now lives, April 30, 1850, and was the second of three children of Henry and Lanra (O'Bryan ) Elliott, who were married in 1847. The youngest of the children, Henry, died in infancy, but the eldest, Mary E., is living, and is the wife of John E. Willson, of Muncie, Indiana. The father was a native of New York, but came to this county in early manhood and lived here until his death, June 29, 1880. The mother was a daughter of John O'Bryan, of this county. After their marriage they lived on the O'Bryan homestead until 1852, when they settled on the farm where J. Albert now lives. The father, however, removed to Boonville in 1864, but two years afterwards bought the William Ragland farm, four miles east of Boonville, where he lived until his death. The mother still survives her late husband, and is now living in Boonville. J. Albert, the subject of this sketch, received his edu- cation in the Kemper family school at Boonville, in the St. Louis uni-

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Author: National Historical Company Publication date: 1883 Publisher: St. Louis : National Historical Co. Number of Pages: 1198

Author: National Historical Company
Publication date: 1883
Publisher: St. Louis : National Historical Co.
Number of Pages: 1198