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 37
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 37
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390
HISTORY OF HOWARD AND COOPER COUNTIES.
ERASMUS F. M. HURT.
It is now nearly sixty-five years since the father of Mr. Hurt, Payton L., came to Howard county from Kentucky. Like most of the early settlers in this county from the Blue Grass state, he, too, was originally from Virginia. He first emigrated from the Old Do- minion to Madison county, Ky., and, having lived there some years and hearing of the better country along the fertile banks of the Mis- souri, he pushed on to this county in 1819. In the mean time he had married, Miss Jemima Winn, of Kentucky, having become his wife. On first coming to this county he settled near Glasgow, but in 1851 opened the farm now known as the " home farm," at present owned by G. Wilcoxson. Payton L. Hurt reared a family of ten children and Erasmus F. M., the subject of this sketch, was the ninth. He was brought up to the occupation of a farmer, which he has ever since followed. In 1860 he settled on the farm where he now lives, which contains eighty acres of good, rich land and is substantially improved. Ile was married February 17, 1859, to Miss Margaret E. Markland, of this county. They have four children living - Ollie C., Wm. H., John B. and Ellina E. Mr. Hurt is an exemplary member of the M. E. church south.
TALTON JOHNSON
ranks among the oldest residents as well as most respected citizens of Howard county. He is now seventy years of age, and sixty-five years of his life have been spent in this county. His father, William, a na- tive of South Carolina, was one of the early settlers here, having come to Howard county in 1818, and in this county he made the first salt ever made from Bass & Shackelford's lick. He -the father - was born December 29, 1775, and emigrated from South Carolina to Ken- tucky at an early day. There he lived until he came to Missouri, and there he married, September 16, 1802, Miss Catherine Barnes, who was born May 30, 1782. They had ten children, of whom Talton, the subject of this sketeb, was the sixth. William Johnson, the father, served in the war of 1812 as a volunteer from Kentucky, and subsequently came with his family to this state, where he lived until his death. His wife died January 15, 1852, and he followed her about five years afterwards - May 10, 1857. Talton Johnson was reared on his father's farm, in this county, having been born in Madi- son county, Kentucky, March 26, 1813. He was married March 27, 1842, to Miss Amanda Caspar, born in October, 1824, daughter of John Caspar, who settled in this county at an early day. They have reared seven children - Mary, William, Mattie, James, Kate, Walter and Emma, and they have six dead. Mr. Johnson has an excel- lent farm of 560 acres, and much of it is in a good state of cultivation and improvement. For several years he held the office of bridge commissioner of the county and subsequently was elected county judge, which office he held two years. He is a member of
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HISTORY OF HOWARD AND COOPER COUNTIES.
the Christian church, and was ordained an elder and preacher in 1860, but has never received anything for his services in the ministry. He is one of the best and truest of a noble generation of men, now rapid- ly passing away, whose name and memory it is well to transmit to posterity.
STROTHER R. JORDAN,
son of James D. and Melissa ( Barnes) Jordan, was born in Howard county March 28, 1847. He was reared on a farm, and followed it as an occupation until 1864, when he enlisted in the Confederate army, in Colonel Slayback's regiment, where he remained a short time and then joined Colonel Searcey's battalion and remained until the sur- render at Shreveport, Louisiana, in June, 1865. He soon returned to his home and resumed farming with his father until 1869, and then settled on his present farm, in section 36, which includes 210 acres, well improved. He was married August 20, 1867, to Miss Mary Patterson, daughter of J. W. A. Patterson. Their family consists of four children -James D., Laura R., Sophia and Allie J. Mr. J. is a member of the I. O. O. F.
JOHN KNAUS,
who was one of the early settlers and substantial citizens of Howard county, Missouri, was born in Pennsylvania October 9, 1808. His father, Henry Knaus, and mother, Catherine Walters, were also natives of Pennsylvania, and were born, the father, October 22, 1771, and the mother November 7, 1773. They were married April 5, 1791, and in 1817 emigrated to Missouri, settling in Old Franklin, in this county, where they made their permanent home. Henry Knaus was a blacksmith by trade, and the maker of the celebrated "Knaus axe," by which his name became a household word all over this sec- tion of the state. He was a man of sturdy worth and strict integrity, and enjoyed the confidence and esteem of all who knew him. Mrs. Knaus came of an excellent family, and to the elevating influence of her character upon her children is due not a little of the success in life they afterwards achieved. John Knaus, the subject of this memoir, was brought up to the blacksmith trade, and succeeded bis father in the business, continuing the manufacture of the " Knaus axe," which had now come into almost universal use. Inheriting his father's qualities of integrity, industry and perseverance, and enjoy- ing the advantages of a practical education, in securing which his mother had greatly interested herself, he succceded from the first in the business his father had left him, and, giving his attention also to farming and other interests, soon accumulated a handsome compe- tence. He was married, April 5, 1841, to Miss Mary A. Crews, a lady of intelligence and refinement, born October 16, 1822. Of this union six children were born - Nannie A., wife of Reuben Long ; Walter C., Joseph H., Albert G., Ella and Alsis-all of whom are now living. Mr. Knaus died March 6, 1878, and his wife, who sur- vived him abont three years, August 2, 1881.
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HISTORY OF HOWARD AND COOPER COUNTIES.
WALTER C. KNAUS,
now serving his second term as clerk of the circuit court of Howard county, was born in this county September 23, 1843. He was second of a family of six, the children of John Knaus, a sketch of whose life has just been given. He was reared on his father's farm, near New Franklin, and in youth had the advantage of good schools, where he acquired the more practical parts of an English education. When about twenty-one years of age he engaged as clerk in a general store at Boonesboro, this county, and there continued until he entered upon the duties of circuit clerk in 1879. Having discharged the duties of that office to the satisfaction of the people, in 1882 he was elected for a further term of four years, to expire in 1886. Mr. Knaus is not an accident in public life. He is a man of excellent business quali- ties, and he is respected by all with whom he comes in contact.
REV. J. H. LEADBETTER,
pastor M. E. church south, is a native of South Carolina, having been born March 13, 1846. When twelve years of age, his parents went to Alabama, and in the military institute of that state he was educated. In 1867 he was licensed to preach, and two years after- wards was duly ordained. His first charge was in Montgomery, Alabama, after which he was stationed at Monticello, in the same state. In 1870 he came to Missouri, and in 1871 had charge of the church in this city. In 1872 he was stationed at Wright City, Mis- souri, and the following year went to Jonesburg, where he remained two years. In 1875 he took charge of the church in Clarksville, Missouri, and in 1878 was sent to Louisiana. There he remained four years, and in 1882 came to Fayette, where he is now stationed. Rev. Mr. Leadbetter is a faithful, earnest minister of the gospel, and is a man of more than ordinary natural ability. He has been a close student, and as a thinker and speaker is cultured and vigorous. His father, Henry W. Leadbetter, was a native of North Carolina, and his mother, whose maiden name was Belinda Herndon, was also orig- inally of the same state. On the 25th of November, 1869, Rev. Mr. Leadbetter was married to Miss Sne M. Meredith, a native of Ala- bama. They have three children -Jodie, Willie and Alice.
JAMES LEVERIDGE,
who for nearly sixty years has been a resident of Howard county, is a son of Joseph and Mary ( Shields) Leveridge, both of whom were born in Kentucky, the former in 1797, and the latter in 1799. James, the eldest of four living children by the marriage, was born in Madi- son county, Kentucky, February 10, 1818, and came with his parents to this county in 1824. He was early deprived of the care of a father in consequence of his being killed by the kick of a horse in 1828. He was reared a farmer and has since followed this vocation. Dur-
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HISTORY OF HOWARD AND COOPER COUNTIES.
ing the late war he served in the Missouri state guards for six months. Mr. L. has been twice married, first, February 10, 1842, to Miss Jane McCully, a daughter of William McCully. Mrs. Lev- eridge died, September 3, 1874. His second marriage occurred Feb- rnary 19, 1878, to Mrs. Martha A. Harris, widow of Ezekiel Harris. Her maiden name was Shores. The mother of Mr. Leveridge was married a second time to Jacob Ditzler. To them were born eight children, two of whom are now living. Mrs. Ditzler died in 1876.
JOSEPH MEGRAW,
of Megraw & Son, contractors, builders and dealers in lumber. In 1847, Mr. Megraw, then a youth seventeen years of age, came from Ireland to this country and settled in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. There he learned the carpenter's trade and remained until 1852, when he came on to Fayette, where he has since lived. His parents were both natives of Ireland, and there both lived and died. His mother, whose maiden name was Elizabeth Adair, died in 1849, two years before he sailed for America, and his father, Joseph Megraw, in 1866. Joseph, the subject of this sketch, was born, February 28, 1830. On the 17th of August, 1858, he was married here to Miss Martha Tindall, daughter of T. Tindall, an old and highly-respected citizen of this county. They now have five children living : Joseph R., Emma, William J., Thomas T. and Bob J. When Mr. Megraw landed in this country he was a stranger in a strange land and without means. But the material was in him out of which suc- cessful men are made. He could work, and he was not ashamed or afraid to do it. For many years he has been one of the leading con- tractors and builders of Howard county, and there is hardly an im- portant edifice in Fayette or the surrounding country that he has not constructed or been consulted in regard to its construction. The court-house, the school-house and other buildings almost innumerable, attest the fact that he has not led an idle life. He has been one of the school directors since 1868 - for fifteen years - and he has been twice called to serve as a member of the city council.
J. MAISBURGER,
of Maisburger & Smith, blacksmiths. Mr. Maisburger was hardly a year old when he was brought with his father's family to this country from Germany, in 1848, having been born in that country October 19th, 1847. The family first settled in St. Louis and in a few years afterwards came to Boonville, Missouri, where they re- mained several years and then returned to St. Louis. Returning to Boonville they made that their permanent home, and there Joseph, the subject of this sketch, was principally reared. In 1860 he began the blacksmith trade which he learned and has ever since followed. In April, 1882, he came to Fayette and established his present busi- ness, forming a partnership with Mr. Smith. He has a family consist-
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HISTORY OF HOWARD AND COOPER COUNTIES.
ing of his wife and four children. His wife, before her marriage, which was solemnized June 29th, 1872, was a Miss Laura Huber, and his children are John, Albert T., Mary and Willie. He is a member of the Catholic church.
CAPTAIN WILLIAM F. MITCHELL,
proprietor of the Hotel Howard and present mayor of Fayette, was born in Glasgow, Missouri, October 2, 1844. His father, Alex- ander Mitchell, an old and prominent citizen of Howard county, is a native of Virginia, and was born in Gloucester county, April 23d, 1807. He was reared in his native state, where in early youth he ac- quired a good practical education, and afterwards learned the carriage maker's business, which he followed there and subsequently a number of years in this state. In 1835 he was married to Miss Julia C., daughter of Daniel Brown, of Essex county. Four years afterwards he came with his family to this state, first locating in Boone county where he remained eighteen months. In 1841 he moved to Glasgow, in Howard county, and engaged in carriage making, which he followed in that place until 1846, when he came to Fayette, where he has since lived. Here he pursued his regular occupation for twenty years. In 1866 he was elected to the office of mayor - the position his son now holds -to which he was annually re-elected for fifteen years, his last term expiring in 1881. He is now a venerable old gentleman, six years beyond the allotted age of three score and ten and is still well preserved in mind and body. His life has been an active and useful one, and above all, it has been honorable and upright, and he has an enviable position in the social and public life of the community in which he lives. His good wife has been spared, a motherly and noble- hearted woman, to accompany him and comfort him in his old age. Ten children have blessed this union, eight of whom are still living : Richard and Edward O. are engaged in the drug business in Lin county ; Alexander, Jr., and David L. live in Cole county ; Julia C. is the wife of Charles Lee, of this county ; Misses Maria and Laura are with their parents, and Captain William F. is the mayor of Fay- ette, and the subject of this sketch. William F.'s youth was not wasted in idleness, but was closely occupied and to good advantage, either by attendance in school or by work ; for the disposition of his father to industry was transmitted to the son, and, besides this, his father was not the man to bring his sons up in idleness. He had the advantages afforded by the common schools of Fayette and later on entered Central college, but his college course was cut off before graduation by the breaking out of the war. However, he had suc- ceeded in acquiring a good practical education before the war began, notwithstanding he was then but seventeen years of age. Like most of the young men of southern parentage and sympathies in central Missouri, he identified himself with the south in the struggle between the sections, and in August, 1861, enlisted in Captain Major's com- pany of General Clark's division, Missouri state guards, where he
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HISTORY OF HOWARD AND COOPER COUNTIES.
served three months. He was then transferred to Wade's battery in the regular Confederate service, in which he followed the three-barred flag of the south through victory and defeat until he was captured in 1862. He was then confined in the military prisons of St. Louis and Alton until the summer of 1863. In Alton he was prostrated with the small-pox and, his health breaking completely down, he was dis- charged from prison on parole. Returning to Howard county, he found the country so disturbed that it was impossible to remain and, determined to adhere faithfully to his parole of honor, he went to Illi- nois, where he became interested in the hotel business and remained there until the conclusion of the war. After the war closed he came back to Fayette, but only remained two months, going hence to St. Louis and engaging there as clerk on a steamboat under Captain Ben Johnson. Seven months later, while on the river, he was attacked with the malarial fever and shortly afterwards, in 1868, returned to Fayette in order to recover his health. Here he accepted a position in the Crighler house in which he continued a year, but at the ex- piration of that time became a clerk in W. G. Ritchie's hotel, where he remained six months. He then made a trip to Texas, returning in 1870, and on the 18th day of September, of that year, was united in marriage to Miss Nellie P. Ritchie, a refined and accomplished lady, a daughter of W. G. Ritchie. Since then Captain Mitchell has been engaged in the hotel business in Fayette, except one year during which he was a member of the firm of W. G. Ritchie & Co., grocers, in Moberly, Missouri. As noticed above, he is now the proprietor of the Hotel Howard, in Fayette. To Captain and Mrs. Mitchell three children have been born, two of whom are now living : Ida May and George Ritchie. Captain Mitchell has twice been deputy sheriff of Howard county - under Mr. Leland from 1876 to 1878; and under Mr. Cooper from 1880 to 1882. Although strongly urged to become a candidate in 1882 for the office of sheriff, he declined to be antago- nized to his friend the present incumbent. At the last municipal elec- tion of Fayette he was elected mayor of the city, the position he now holds. For a number of years he has been prominently identified with the public affairs and politics of this section of the state. He is a man of great energy, superior intelligence and popular manners, although he is very quiet and unassuming in his disposition. In busi- ness affairs he is honorable, prompt and accommodating, and as a hotel keeper he is a landlord that guests like better the longer they know him.
DAVID O. MORRIS,
of Morteson & Morris, lumber, building material, etc. It is a fact, illustrated by the history of almost every town and city, that the suc- cessful business men come from the farm - have had a farm bringing np. This is often remarked, and it is generally attributed to the fact that a farm rearing is the more favorable to the formation and de- velopment of those qualities of character, without which, success in
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HISTORY OF HOWARD AND COOPER COUNTIES.
any business is next to impossible. Mr. Morris, the subject of this brief sketch, reared on the farm and a successful business man of Fayette, is another witness to this fact. He was in his thirtieth year when he left the farm ten years ago to engage in mercantile bus- iness, and now he holds a place in the business affairs of Fayette, not insignificant, to say the least and to speak with the extreme of modesty. He was born in Howard county, Missouri, September 29, 1844, and his father, William H. was also a native of this county. In 1873 David O. went to Burton and started the first store in that place, and also held the position of postmaster there. In 1880 he came to Fayette, and was engaged in various lines of business until January, 1883, when he formed his present partnership in which he has since continued. The firm carry a heavy stock of lumber and building material and is justly popular with the trade. Mr. Morris was married November 25, 1869, to Miss Mary McCafferty, daughter of Judge McCafferty, of this county. One child, Mary, has been born to them. He is a member of the Masonic order and of the Baptist church.
WILLIAM H. NIPPER.
Twenty-five years ago, and for fifteen years prior to that, Mr. Nipper was well known all over Howard county as one of the few good carpenters they had to build their houses and homes. He worked in all parts of the county and thus became as well known in those days as perhaps any one in it, and he was as universally respected, not only as a capable and conscientious mechanie, but as an upright man and citizen as he was well known. He is now living on his farm in this county, an excellent homestead of 270 acres, where he has lived since 1858, and in his old age the re- spect he enjoyed in earlier life has not been diminished. He was born in Caswell county, North Carolina, November 5, 1818. His father's Christian name was Samnel, and his mother's name before her marriage was Tabitha Gordon. In 1822 his parents moved to Blount county, Tennessee, and there William, the subject of this sketch, was brought up. In his eighteenth year he began work at the car- penters trade, which he learned and followed over twenty years. Marrying in Tennessee in 1840, Miss Louisa, daughter of S. P. Mitchell, now of Howard county, becoming his wife, three years later he came to Missouri with his family and settled in this county, where he has since lived. He has eight children, William H. H., James W., Sisco, John L., Maggie, Lon L., Mollie L. and Kate P. Mr. Nipper is a member of the M. E., church south.
JUDGE HENRY A. NORRIS,
of Norris & Knaus, furniture, house-furnishing goods, undertaking, etc. That Howard county, although one of the pioneer counties in the state, so to speak, and therefore one of the older ones, is a favorable county for new comers to settle in, is proven by the suc-
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HISTORY OF HOWARD AND COOPER COUNTIES.
cess of almost every one deserving it who has come here, and by no one in a more striking manner than by Judge Henry A. Norris. Judge Norris has been a resident of this county but six years, yet he is one of the leading citizens and business men of the county, and the presiding judge of the county court. A biographical sketch, therefore, of one who has shown himself possessed of the elements of success he has evinced, cannot be uninteresting. Judge Norris is of Virginia parentage, his father and mother having been born in that state ; his father, Samuel G. Norris, June 24, 1824, and his mother, whose maiden name was Parthenia Murray, in June, 1826. The father, however, was brought to Missouri by his parents when quite young, in 1832. He died in 1872, his wife surviving him, and she now resides in Centralia, Boone county, Missouri. Judge Norris was born in Boone county, December 25, 1846. Having acquired the elements of an education at the common schools, at the age of four- teen he entered a store as clerk in his native county, in which occupa- tion he continued, with different firms, however, from time to time, until 1874. He then gave his attention to farming, which he followed until 1877, and in October of that year he came to Fayette, where he has since resided. In 1880 he engaged in his present business. He was married October 22, 1871, to Miss Fannie Frazier, a native of Ken- tucky. Boyd G. and Mattie F. have been born to them. Judge Nor- ris, as a business man and as a citizen and public officer, is deservedly popular and respected.
CHARLES M. OGDEN,
wagon-maker. Mr. Ogden may be called a new-comer to Howard county, having settled in Fayette to pursue his trade only three years ago ; but identifying himself at once with the interests of the people, he has long since come to be regarded as one of the good and useful cit- izens of the community. He came originally from Ohio and was born in that state, in August, 1832. In 1856, having learned the wagon- maker's trade, he went from Ohio to Wayne county, Indiana, where he remained until 1868. He then came to Missouri, and in 1872 settled in St. Clair county, continuing there until he came to Fayette in 1880. He was married, January 28, 1856, to Miss Margaret Johns, of Indiana, and he has a family of seven children - Virginia, Mattie, Lizzie, Grant, Nellie, Alice and Frank.
JAMES W. A. PATTERSON,
like many of the early settlers of Howard county, is a native of Kentucky, and was born in Shelby county, May 22, 1808. His father, William Patterson, and his grandfather, James Patterson, were both natives of Virginia and of Scotch extraction. The father of James came to Kentucky in 1792 ; he died in 1821. His mother's maiden name was Mary Allen. She was born near Harper's Ferry, in Virginia ; her death occurred in 1854. The subject of this sketch (27)
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HISTORY OF HOWARD AND COOPER COUNTIES.
in 1824, was apprenticed to learn the tanner's trade, and served four years. In 1828 he came to Boonville, Cooper county, Missouri, and worked at his trade a few months and then removed to Fayette and became a partner of William Givens in the tannery business. After the death of his partner he continued the business until 1837, and then engaged in farming until 1842, when he resumed his former oc- cupation, doing an extensive business until 1854. He then returned to his farm where he has since lived and accumulated a competency. During the war he remained at home, but in common with others he suffered very greatly, pecuniarily estimating his loss at $40,000. His landed estate before dividing with his children was about 1,000 acres ; his homestead comprises 452 acres. In 1868, he was elected to repre- sent the county in the state legislature and filled the position with credit to himself and to the satisfaction of his constituents. He was married, January 6, 1836, to Miss Jane. Turner, who was born in Howard county, March 3, 1816. Mrs. Patterson's father, James Turner, was a native of Madison county, Kentucky. He came to Old Franklin in 1809. The family of Mr. and Mrs. Patterson con- sists of five children living : Elizabeth, now Mrs. Berkley ; Mary J., now Mrs. Jordan ; Laura R., Robert A., James W. One son, Wil- liam, is deceased.
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