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 44

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 44
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 44

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MAJOR J. W. LEWIS.

James Walker Lewis was born in Buckingham county, Va., Oc- tober 23, 1823. He was the fifth of six children of Thomas and Jedidah Lewis, four of whom were boys. His father was a successful farmer of the Old Dominion, and at his death, which occurred in 1826, left a fine estate. But, unfortunately, having involved himself by indorsements for others, his estate was absorbed in the payment of these claims and the tedious processes of law incident thereto, leaving nothing for his widow, or for his children, the eldest of whom was less than fifteen years of age. In 1831, the widow having learned something of Missouri, from relatives of her husband, who had pre- ceded her here, determined to cast her lot in the west. In October of that year, she arrived in Howard county with her family, where she rented a farm. In 1833, she married Wmn. L. Banks. Her eldest son, Benjamin, feeling now relieved of the care of the family by this event, which had devolved upon him since his father's death, took the subject of this sketch, then a lad of ten years, with him to Linn county, where they engaged in agricultural pursuits, James W. do- ing the cooking, etc., and Benjamin the outdoor work. They con- tinued in this, however, not quite two years, and then returned to Howard county. James W. worked for a time for his board and clothes. After this, and until the formation of a partnership between Benjamin W. Lewis aud William D. Swinney, in the manufacture of tobacco, James found employment in various occupations, principally in hauling freight from the river with an ox team and delivering it at various points in the county. After the formation of the partnership,

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HISTORY OF HOWARD AND COOPER COUNTIES.

he was employed by them, and was so engaged during the continua- tion of the partnership, at a salary. By untiring industry and energy, and the most rigid economy in these various employments, he was en- abled to accumulate small means, and not wishing his little capital to remain idle, he invested his small accumulations in a copartnership · with his younger brother, William J. Lewis. In 1847, they engaged in the manufacture of tobacco at St. Louis, under the firm name of J. W. & W. Lewis. At first they operated on a limited scale, but by a thorough system of honorable and liberal dealing, the firm very soon assumed high rank among the business firms of that city, James remaining at Glasgow, on a salary, with Swinney & Lewis, while William conducted the business at St. Louis. In January, 1850, the firm of Swinney & Lewis was dissolved, by the withdrawal of Mr. Swinney. The three brothers then became equally interested in the business, under the firm name of B. W. Lewis & Bros., at Glasgow, and of Lewis & Bros., at St. Louis. These copartner- ships continued with gratifying success for several years, when John D. Perry was admitted into the house at St. Louis, and Thomas J. Bartholow in the one at Glasgow, the firm name of the former being changed to that of Lewis, Perry & Co., while the one at Glasgow re- mained the same. The business was then conducted with great suc- cess for several years, when Messrs. Bartholow and Perry withdrew, and the business has since been continued in the same name, by Major Lewis. Mr. Lewis is also interested in the banking house of Bar- tholow, Lewis & Co., and has been since its organization. In 1872, on account of its increasing business, it was deemed best to make it a chartered institution, which was done that year, Major Lewis retain- ing a large interest and is one of the directors. His farming interests in Howard, Chariton and Randolph counties are very great. He and his nephew, James B. Lewis, own a large saw mill at the mouth of the Chariton river. Major Lewis, in early life, was connected with the democratic party, and voted for Douglas, in 1860; but has since acted with the republicans, and is considered a leader among them in this section of the state. Though often solicited, he has never per- mitted his name to be used in connection with a political office. Pre- vions to the late war, he and his elder brother had gathered about them a large number of slaves and employed them in their factory. But a year before the emancipation proclamation was issued, they, be- lieving the interests of the country demanded the abolition of all slave property, freed their slaves, retaining in their employ, at liberal wages, such as desired to remain. Others, desiring to set up for them- selves, received substantial assistance in securing more permanent homes. Major Lewis united with the M. E. church in 1843, and in 1845, adhered to the church south, there being at that time scarcely any division of sentiment in the congregation of which he was a mem- her. Upon the re-establishment of the M. E. church in Glasgow, in 1862, he reunited with it, and has since been among its chief sup- porters in all its various interests, and in return, has been the recipient of the highest honors of which a lay member is eligible, that of dele

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HISTORY OF HOWARD AND COOPER COUNTIES.

gate to the general conference. While Lewis' library and college probably owe their origin more directly to the philanthropic spirit of his deceased brother, their completion, support and success have been largely dependent upon his generosity, and, in years to come, will remain as monuments more enduring than brass to the memory of the Lewis' family. On the 7th day of October, 1852, he was married to Virginia V., daughter of Singleton Bartholow, of Maryland. By her he has three children living - two sons and one daughter.

COL. B. W. LEWIS.

Benjamin Whitehead Lewis was born on the 10th day of January, 1812, in Buckingham county, Virginia. His parents, Thomas and Jedidah Lewis, had six children, four of whom were boys, Benjamin being the oldest. The father died in 1826. The family were left in destitute circumstances owing to his death, and the subject of this sketch being the eldest, though a boy under fifteen years of age, the care and responsibilities of the family were thus thrust upon him. In 1831, the mother believing there were more favorable opportuni- ties for her sons in the west, she with her family came to Missouri and rented a farm near Glasgow, where they engaged in farming. Some two years afterwards, she was married to William Banks. Ben- jamin being thus relieved of the care of the family. to a certain extent, removed to Linn county ; but, in about two years, returned to Howard county. Here Benjamin commenced his real career as a business man, a career that led up to great wealth, and to a conspicuous posi- tion among the foremost citizens of Missouri in business affairs, and in the respect and confidence of the people. He began by taking em- ployment in a tobacco factory in Glasgow. Soon he formed a part- nership with J. F. Nichols, Wm. J. Moore and R. P. Hanenkamp, in that line of business. The following year, he sold out his interest in that firm, and formed a partnership with Wm. D. Swinney, in the same line. This continued until 1849, and was almost unprecedent- edly successful ; but that year their entire establishment was destroyed by fire, resulting in a loss of over $25,000. The factory, however, was immediately rebuilt on a more extensive scale than ever, and, in 1850, Mr. Swinney having withdrawn from the business, the three brothers, B. W., J. W., and W. J. Lewis, united their interests un- der the firm name of B. W. Lewis & Bros., in Glasgow, and of Lewis & Bros., in St. Louis. Under this arrangement, their business was carried on with rapidly increasing success. They were now an- nually working up about 4.000,000 pounds of tobacco, and exporting large quantities of plug, fine-cut, etc., to England, and to the conti- nent of Europe, their trade extending to Australia. When the war began they were working over 500 hands. In 1862, the Glasgow factory was again burned, involving a loss of $200,000. On account of the disturbed condition of the country at that time, the factory was not rebuilt until 1863. In 1862, Benjamin W. Lewis was ap- pointed aid to Governor Fletcher, with the title of colonel. For

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many years he was prominently connected with every public enter- prise in which the community where he lived had an interest. He was one of the largest stockholders and a director in the Glasgow branch of the Exchange bank, of Missouri, and, at his death, left a legacy of $10,000 to found a public library in Glasgow, to be under the management of the M. E. church, and, subsequently, his widow, brother, James W., and eldest son, B. W. Lewis, erected a suitable building for the library, at a cost of $26,000. An earnest member of the church, a short time before his death he and his brother James purchased and fitted up a neat church edifice and donated it to the M. E. church. Prior to the late war, Mr. Lewis had always been a democrat, having voted the democratic ticket in 1861. But siding strongly with the Union in that struggle, he naturally became a re- publican, and acted with that party until his death. His political views thus seeming to place him in antagonism with a majority of his fellow- members in the southern M. E. church, he united with the M. E. church, and was chiefly instrumental in organizing a society in Glas- gow, in that denomination. On the 21st of October, 1864, at 11 o'clock at night, a band of guerrillas, under the notorious Bill An- derson, went to the residence of Mr. Lewis and demanded of him $10,000, or his life. Having but a small amount of money about his person, he was taken from his home (after being subjected to personal ontrages so atrocious and brutal as to hardly bear mention ) and driven to the bank of Thomson & Dunnica, for the purpose of being forced to raise the amount demanded. Bnt failing to get it there, his life would undoubtedly have been tortured out of him had not Mrs. Thomson, hearing of his peril, proceeded at once to his relief with $7,000, principally in gold, which the bandits accepted as his ransom. Mr. Lewis was thrice married. His first wife was Amanda, daughter of Joseph and Elizabeth ( Rector ) Barton ; his second, a widow Bow- man, whose maiden name was McPherson ; his third was Eleanor, daughter of Talton and Sarah ( Earickson ) Turner. By his first wife, Mr. Lewis left two children : the eldest, Benjamin W. Lewis, of St. Louis, one of the leading railroad men of the west, and, lately, presi- dent of the W., St. L. & P. railway, and James B., a leading farmer of this county. By his last wife, who survives him, he left three children - Richard E., Rebecca E. and Annie E. On the 1st day of February, 1866, in the presence of his family and a circle of devoted friends, he died, leaving behind him a name and character for honor, truth, benevolence and virtue, that is a greater heritage to his family than the magnificent fortune he bequeathed them, which amounted to something near $800,000.

JAMES B. LEWIS,

farmer and stock dealer. Eleven hundred acres composes the landed estate of Mr. Lewis, some of which is in Chariton county, but his farm in this county is one of the best in his township. It is all good land, and is substantially and well improved. Besides the ordinary

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HISTORY OF HOWARD AND COOPER COUNTIES.

farm interests, he gives considerable attention to the stock business, in which he has been very successful, and for some time he was also engaged in dealing in grain, buying and shipping from North Missouri and Iowa. He is a son of Colonel Benjamin W. Lewis, whose sketch appears elsewhere, one of the most useful and successful men of central Missouri. James B. was born in this county October 15, 1849, and was educated in Lewis college. On the 14th of December, 1872, he was married to Miss Carrie E. Tillman, of this county, but in less than a year she died, leaving one daughter - Carrie T. Four years afterward, when the night of his sorrow, but not the remembrance of it, had been dispelled by the light of new hope and the love of a noble woman's heart, he was again married October 4, 1876, Miss Mary E. Iglehart, of this county, born June 1, 1856, then becoming his wife, and three children have blessed this union - Frank J., Eleanor S. and Theodore B.

ANTON LUTZ,

farmer, vintager and stock raiser. Mr. Lutz is, or was, a stone mason by trade, and when he first set foot in Howard county had but five dollars in his pocket or in the world. But now he has one of the best and largest farms in the county, improved with a fine brick mansion and other buildings, etc., to match, and has a large vineyard ; so that literally he now dwells in ease and comfort and sips wine un- der his own vine, if not fig tree. His farm contains 440 acres of splendid land, and besides giving his attention to the usual farm crops, ete., and to his vineyard - one of the largest in the county or the surrounding country - he also makes a business of raising stock for the markets, in which he has been highly successful. He was born in Prussia, in the vine-clad valley of the Rhine, on the 10th of December, 1815, and was there reared and educated. Prussia, as is well known, has the finest school system in the world, and Mr. L. enjoyed the ad- vantages afforded by the schools of his native country to more than the ordinary degree, so that he obtained a somewhat advanced educa- tion, and a very thorough one as far as it extends. But it is not the popular idea in Germany that everybody can live by his education or his wits - in fact, it is believed that a great many must work, and education is not supposed to unfit a man for work ; hence, most of the youths of that country learn trades in addition to acquiring good educations. Accordingly, Mr. L. learned the stone mason's trade, and learned it thoroughly, and followed it there until he came to this country, in 1847. Here he went to work at his trade, continuing at it day after day and year after year, until by economy and sober good sense he had laid deep and broad the foundation of his fortune, for he may now fairly be classed as a wealthy man in this western country. He landed at New York and came west to Cleveland, Ohio, and worked there two years; then he came and worked a year in St. Lonis, after which he came to Glasgow in 1850 and followed his trade until 1864, when he became the owner of his present farm and home.

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HISTORY OF HOWARD AND COOPER COUNTIES.

Now he is more independent and by far more of a man than a whole regiment of little titled Hesse-Darmstadt, Saxe-Altenburg nobodies. In October, 1839, he was married to Miss Elizabeth Peller, of Prussia, and they have seven children living -Catherine, William, Anton, Ellen, Mary, Joseph and Charles.

WILLIAM LUTZ,

dealer in glassware, queensware, hardware, etc. Mr. L. began his present business in 1870, with a small stock of goods, and now has one of the leading stores in Glasgow. He owns the building which he occupies, and also the one adjoining it - both good, substantial stores. These facts speak more for his intelligence and enterprise than anything that could be set in type. He is a native of Prussia, and was born January 8, 1843. He came to this country when a boy, with his parents - Anton and Elizabeth Lutz. They first settled in Cleveland, Ohio, and in 1850 came to Howard county, where William grew up and followed farming until he engaged in his present business. In youth he acquired a good education, so that he has that qualifica- tion as well as industry and good common sense as a business man. Besides his mercantile business, he is also engaged in the insurance business, being the agent for the old reliable Phoenix Insurance Com- pany. He was married on the 3d of October, 1876, to Miss Mary Schaefer, of Boonville, and they have three children - Augusta Antonattie, William and Hubbard. Mr. L. is a member of the A. O. U. W.

CAPTAIN ABSALOM MCCRARY,

farmer and nurseryman. Captain MeCrary is not only a successful and enterprising farmer, but he has been a gallant soldier of two wars. He was born in this county, October 8, 1821, and was reared here and educated in the common schools. Farming has been his oc- cupation through life thus far, supplemented by the nursery business, that is except during the time he served his country in the army. In June, 1846, he enlisted in the service designed for the Mexican war, and followed the starry flag to the halls of the Montezumas. Re- turning home afterwards, he resumed farming and the fruit-tree cul- ture. He has a neat place of 150 acres, ten acres of which are devoted to the nursery business, his trees principally being apple trees ; still he gives some attention to small fruit. He has a large and well selected variety of apples, peaches, etc., etc. He is the oldest nurseryman in the county, and one of the oldest in the state, having been engaged in the business over forty years. In the last war he enlisted in Captain Cooper's company of this county, in which he served for a time as lieutenant and was afterwards appointed a recruiting officer in the Confederate army, with the rank of captain. The war closed, however, while he was in this commission. For three years he was justice of the peace, of the county, for his township. In

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November, 1849, he was married to Miss Caroline A. Yager, a native of Madison county, Virginia. They have five children, Milton, Pat- rick, Eva, Absalom E. and Callie. Mr. and Mrs. M. are both mem- bers of the Baptist church.

JOHN MCCRARY,

farmer, section 14. Mr. MeCrary was brought to this county by his parents in 1820, when but a year old, having been born in Cocke county, Tennesse, January 31, 1819. He was reared and educated in Howard county, having had the advantages afforded by the com- mon schools of this county. He was brought up on a farm and adopted farming as his occupation in life, which he has continued to follow. He now owns a farm of 380 acres. Besides the ordinary business of farming he gives some attention to stock raising, in which he has been very successful. On the 27th of September, 1842, he was married to Miss Margaret H. Witt, she having been born in How- ard county, March 20, 1825. She was a daughter of. L. B. Witt, one of the early settlers of this county. Mr. and Mrs. McCrary have eleven children : Eliza A., Napoleon B., Olivia, Spencer H., Thomas W., Theodore H., Alonzo M., John C., Ludie P., Bell and May. Both parents are members of the missionary Baptist church.

H. METCALFE,

farmer. Like most of the residents of this county who come from Kentucky, Mr. Metcalfe's ancestors were originally from Virginia. He was a son of John P. Metcalfe, whose father came from Virginia in an early day and settled in Kentucky. John P. was born and reared in the latter state, and on reaching manhood was married to Miss Re- becca Pogue, also of Kentucky, but of a Virginia family. John P.'s father, Eli Metcalfe, was a brother to Hon. Thomas Metcalfe, formerly governor of Kentucky. John P. and Rebecca Metcalfe reared six children, of whom the subject of this sketch was the fourth. H. Metcalfe was born in Fleming county, Kentucky, June 6, 1829. He was reared on a farm and has made farming his occupation for life. He remained in Kentucky until 1857, when he came to Howard county and November 25, 1858, was married to Miss Margaret B. Jackson, daughter of Wade M. Jackson, of this county. She was born June 13, 1839. He then went to Pettis county where he lived four years. In 1862 he returned to Howard county and has continued to live here since. Mr. and Mrs. Metcalfe have six children, Ida R., Harriet C., John P., Mary, Sabra and Pearl. Both parents are members of the Baptist church.

WILLIAM A. MEYER,

grocer, etc., and agent of the Missouri river packet lines at Glasgow. Mr. Meyer has led a successful business life, and in the notes from

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which this sketch is written is found this simple tribute to his mother : " My mother was well educated, and took great interest in my education. I owe a great deal to her." How much the success- ful men in every walk of life owe to the influence of their mothers upon their early education and character is, unfortunately, not under- stood as it should be, and therefore not often acknowledged ; hence this tribute is worthy of special notice - shows that he who paid it not only understands one of the principal sources of his success, but has the heart to appreciate it.

"The mother in her office holds the key Of the soul; and she it is who stamps the coin Of character, and makes the being who would be a savage, But for her gentle cares, a worthy man ; Then crown her queen of the world. "

Mr. Meyer was born in Northumberland county, Pennsylvania, De- cember 18, 1838. When still a child, his parents came to Missouri and settled in Chariton county, where he was reared and educated, attending the common schools and also receiving instruction at home from his mother, Mrs. Meyer being a lady of superior accomplish- ments and having devoted her whole mind and heart to the mental culture of her children and the care of her family. W. A. thus ac- quired more than an ordinary education. Having attained to man- hood when the war broke out, he enlisted sometime afterwards in com- pany H, 9th Missouri state militia, in which he served over two years, and in 1865 he came to Glasgow and engaged as clerk in a mer- cantile house, in which he was employed about five years. He then es- tablished his present business and soon became one of the prominent business men of the place. As a business man he is deservedly popular, and has a large and increasing custom. He was married February 22, 1866, to Miss May C. Steinmetz. of Glasgow. They have three children now living: Samuel L., George E. and Ettie. Mr. M.'s father, W. A. Meyer, was a native of Prussia and came to this country in 1832. In 1837 he was married to Miss Margaret Mnench, of Pennsylvania, and in 1841 they came to this state, where the father died in 1851.

CHARLES G. MILLER,

of Lehman & Miller, merchants. Of the above firm a somewhat ex- tended notice is given in the sketch of the senior partner, Mr. Leh- man, thus rendering unnecessary any mention of the business here, except the statement that Mr. Miller is a member of the firm. How- ever, if the truth is always necessary to be told, it ought to be added in this connection that Mr. M. is one of the most thorough, accom- plished and enterprising young business men in Howard county. He was born in Boonville, Missouri, May 13, 1857, and had the advan- tages afforded by the excellent schools of the place, in which he ac- quired an unusually good education. On reaching early manhood he

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commenced his mercantile experience in Boonville, then went to Chi- cago where he was employed as clerk in the mercantile business until 1880, when he came to Glasgow, and in 1881 became a member of the present firm as elsewhere stated. He has to an eminent degree all the qualifications for a successful business man, and one of the best evidences of this fact is the success he has achieved so early in life. His future seems to be a bright one. He was married, June 27, 1882, to Miss Hattie B. Briggs, a cultured and fascinating young lady of Howard county. Mr. Miller's father, George Miller, was a native of Saxony, and when a young man came to America, locating shortly afterwards in Boonville, where he married Miss Sophia Fox, of that city, of which nnion three children were born, the subject of this sketch being the only surviving one. Mr. M. is a member of the Knights of Pythias.

ROBERTSON MOORE.

Mr. Moore is a venerable and honorable landmark of the pioneer days of this section of the country, one that the present nor succeeding generation cannot afford to forget. His name figures prominently in the history of the " Boone's Lick " country, both in business and public affairs. Away back in the thirties he was connected with the mercan- tile interests of Old Chariton, and afterwards ran on the river for a number of years ; was subsequently sheriff of Chariton county and then representative of the county in the legislature. In fact, the history of these early times could not be written without prominent mention of his name. He was born in Christian county, Kentucky, January 23d, 1812, and was one of three children born in that state to John and Rebecca Moore, his father coming originally from North Carolina, and his mother, whose maiden name was Robertson, having been born in Tennessee, but with parents came to Kentucky early in life, and after spending several years of their married life in that state came to Missouri in 1817, and settled in Old Chariton. John Moore owned a number of slaves, and by their labor carried on the blacksmithing business ; he also did farming. Subsequently he became sheriff of Chariton county, a position his son held a number of years after- wards, and was one of the prominent men of the county. Robertson, his son, and the subject of this sketch, was but five years old when his parents came to Old Chariton, and hence he was brought up in that place. In early life he obtained the best education he could in the local schools and by study at home. Afterwards, and several years before reaching manhood, he became clerk for James Glasgow, in Old Chariton, a position he filled for a number of years. At the age of twenty-five, in 1837, he began clerking on a steamboat on the river, and ran the Mississippi and Missouri for eight years, becoming widely known as the best and most popular clerk in the steamboat service. Then quitting the river on account of his father's sickness he engaged in farming, and now owns two farms in Chariton county, containing 400 acres, well improved. After the close of the war he engaged in

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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