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 45

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 45
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 45

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).

549

HISTORY OF HOWARD AND COOPER COUNTIES.

merchandising in Glasgow. His terms of sheriff extended from 1846 to 1850, and from 1854 to 1858, after which he was elected to the legislature and served two years in that body. Twice he has taken the census for the government in Chariton county, and has held other positions of trust. He was married on the 30th day of June, 1844, to Miss Clarinda G. Maddox, a native of Kentucky. She died June 30th, 1865, leaving him one child, John S., with whom he now lives and who is engaged in the livery business in Glasgow.

HON. GARRETT W. MOREHEAD.

The Morehead family is of Scotch descent, and came to this country by way of England. Hon. Garrett W.'s grandfather, Col. Turner Morehead, was a citizen of Virginia and served in the revolu- tionary army. He was in the principal engagements of the war, in- cluding that of Yorktown, and was an intimate friend of Gen. Wash- ington. In the latter part of his life he emigrated from Virginia to Kentucky, and settled near Bowling Green in 1819. He reared a large family, and several of his descendants became prominent in the public life of the country ; James T., cousin to Garrett W., was governor of Kentucky and senator from that state, a colleague with Henry Clay ; Charles S., another cousin, was also governor of and congressman from the same state ; and John M., still another cousin, was governor of South Carolina and a large manufacturer there, and was the founder of the city of Morehead of that state. Turner, a son of Col. Turner Morehead, and the father of Garrett W., was the eld- est son of his father's first wife, formerly Miss Hoe, of the well-known family of Virginia of that name. His father's second wife was a Miss Payton of another prominent Virginia family. On reaching manhood Turner located in Maryland, and there, shortly afterwards, married Miss Martha Worthington, of the Worthingtons, who were among the first settlers of the state under Lord Baltimore, and a cousin to the celebrated Methodist minister, Freeborn Garrison. In Maryland he engaged in the mercantile business and became, and was for many years afterwards, one of the leading wholesale merchants of Baltimore. He continued in business in Philadelphia until the death of his wife, about 1868, when he came to Missouri, and spent his last days with his son, the subject of this sketch. It should have been stated, however, that he participated actively in the war of 1812, having the command of a company in that struggle, and was in the battle of North Point, in which Lord North was killed. Garrett W., his son, was born at his father's country seat near Baltimore, May 1, 1819. In 1836 he came to Ray county, Missouri, and became clerk to the firm of Morehead & Aull, of which his uncle, Charles R., was the leading member. In 1840 he commenced business on his own account in partnership with Mr. Jacobs, under the name of Morehead & Jacobs. About a year afterwards they moved their business to the Point, near Glasgow, and later sold off their stock and engaged in the tobacco trade ; but shortly afterwards they returned to the regular mercantile business, this

460

HISTORY OF HOWARD AND COOPER COUNTIES.

time establishing themselves in Roanoke, where they continued until the firmn finally dissolved. Since 1851 Mr. Morehead has been en- gaged in farming and stock raising. He has a splendid farm of 466 aeres, well stocked and well improved. November 13, 1841, he was married to Miss Sarah A., a daughter of Sinclair Page, an early settler of this county. After thirty-seven years, devoted to the happiness of her family, she passed away July 9, 1878, leaving four children now living : Worthington, Henry C., Garrett W., Jr., and Sallie A. Jan- uary 27, 1881, Mr. Morehead was again married, Mrs. Sallie J., widow of the late Gen. Lucien J. Eastin, becoming his second wife. She was born in Boone county, Missouri, May 29, 1829, and was the daughter of Geo. C. and Ellen Barnes Dale, of that county, George C. being originally from Kentucky. In 1875 Mr. Morehead was elected to the legislature from this county, in which he represented the people with fidelity and ability, and to the entire satisfaction of his constitu- ents. For many years he has been a prominent member of the Bap- tist church, and served through several sessions of the association as moderator. He was a director of the old Exchange bank in Glasgow during its entire career, and is now serving in a similar capacity in the directorship of the Glasgow Savings bank. He was the first W. M. of the Livingstone Masonic lodge of Glasgow, and is still, of course, a member of that order.

THOMAS W. MOREHEAD,

retired farmer and capitalist. Mr. Morehead is a brother to the Hon. Garrett W., in whose sketch mention is made of their ancestry. Thomas W. is two years younger than his brother, having been born in Baltimore, Maryland, August 21, 1821. About five years after- wards his parents moved to Philadelphia, where he was reared to his nineteenth year, receiving a good practical education in the schools of that city, and also acquiring an excellent knowledge of mercantile business in his father's store. In 1840 he came to Missouri and was employed in selling goods in Richmond, Ray county, in which he con- tinned about one year. On the 13th of May, 1841, he was married to Miss Ann E. Miller, of Howard county, after which he engaged in farming in this county. Coming of the family he did, and possessed of the qualities of industry, frugality and superior intelligence he was, it was to have been expected that he would succeed as a farmer, or, indeed, in any line to which he might give his attention. The result has been that he soon became one of the leading farmers of the county, and, by good management and enterprise, accumulated a handsome estate. He followed farming until 1865, when, having moved to Glasgow the year before, he withdrew from all active pursuits, and now, with an ample competence, and in the midst of family and friends, he is leading a life of ease and honorable retirement.

" Age sits with decent grace upon his visage, And worthily becomes his silver locks ; He bears the marks of many years well spent, Of virtue, truth well tried, and wise experience."

461

HISTORY OF HOWARD AND COOPER COUNTIES.

Mr and Mrs. Morehead have four sons and four daughters now living : Robert T., William W., James O., Engene, Matilda, Sallie, Bettie and Stella. Both parents are consistent and exemplary members of the Baptist church. Mr. M. is also a member of Lodge No. 51, A. F. and A. M. and of the I. O. G. T. Mrs. M. was born in this conuty in October, 1823. Her father was a native of Kentucky, and her mother was originally from Virginia. Mr. Morehead is a public- spirited citizen, and, by his enterprise and liberality, Glasgow and the whole western part of the county have often been materially and greatly benefited. He has not only striven for his own prosperity, but he has exerted himself on all proper occasions for the prosperity of the whole community in which he lives, and his life thus far has been more than ordinarily a nseful and valuable one.

JUDGE ALFRED W. MORRISON.

It is sixty-three years ago since Alfred W. Morrison, then a young man some eighteen years of age, came to Howard county. These three score and more years have been years of honor and ser- vice to the county and state in which he lives. Few men have led more honorable and useful lives. While his has not been so brilliant as some, it has marked, with a clearness of intelligence, a substantial ability, and above all, an unswerving integrity of purpose that stamps one's success with a durability and real honor not always character- istic of more striking and brilliant results. His father, William Mor- rison, was a native of Wales, and, shortly after coming to this country, made his home in Jessamine county, Ky., where he married Miss Elizabeth, daughter of Alfred Williams, formally of Virginia. Six children resulted from this union, of whom Alfred W., the only son, was born November 25, 1802. When he was a small boy, his father died and his mother married Lawrence J Daly, an accomplished teacher of that day, under whose tuition Alfred received a liberal education, particularly in the department of mathematics. In 1820, the family moved to Missouri and settled in Howard county, and in 1822, Mr. Daly became surveyor of the county, wherenpon Alfred became his deputy and thus acquired a thorough practical knowledge of surveying. After reaching manhood, Alfred Morrison's acknowl- edged ability and unswerving integrity, recommended him to the peo- ple and to the public authorities for various official positions, in which he served almost continuously and always acceptably, for nearly forty years. For ten years he was county surveyor, during which he laid off the towns of Franklin, Fayette, Boonsboro and Roanoke, as well as filling several government contracts on the western boundary of the Platte purchase, on the northern boundary of the state adjoin- ing Iowa, and in Camden county, on the Big Osage. He subse- quently held the offices of sheriff, assessor and judge of the county court, and for four years was receiver in the land office at Fayette, by appointment of President Polk. He was also appointed, by Gen- eral Clark, commissary to the expedition sent out to expel the Mor-

462

HISTORY OF HOWARD AND COOPER COUNTIES.

mons from the state, and without a dollar of public money,-but by using the personal acceptances of the general commanding, involving the expenditure of over $200,000, which was subsequently refunded, however, by the state - he carried the expedition to a successful con- clusion. In 1851, he was appointed state treasurer by Governor Ring, to fill out the unexpired term of P. G. Glover, deceased, and he discharged the duties of this office with such fidelity and ability that he was three times in succession elected to the same position, and he finally resigned it in 1861, against the earnest remonstrance of Gov- ernor Gamble, rather than take the political test oath then required by the party in power. Shortly after returning to Howard county from Jefferson City, in 1861, he bought the Joel Hayden farm, a fine estate of 800 acres, where he has since lived in honorable and comfort- able retirement. Judge Morrison has been twice married. First, March 15, 1825, to Miss Minerva, daughter of Captain Jackson, an early settler of this county, but originally of Tennessee, and a soldier under General Jackson in the battle of New Orleans. Five sons and four daughters were born of this union ; of his children, only three are still living -John L., former sheriff of this county, Samnel M., editor of the Daily Standard, of Shreveport, La., and Preston E., also of this county. On the 17th of September, the mother of these having died two years before, Judge Morrison was married to his present wife, previously Mrs. Martha C., widow of the late James H. John- son, of Platte county, and a daughter of John Henderson, originally of Virginia. Judge Morrison, although eighty-one years of age, is still in vigorous health physically and mentally, and personally super- vises his large farming and other interests, and can, if occasion requires it, stand as much exertion and fatigue as men ordinarily at forty years of age.

E. POIRIER,

blacksmith, manufacturer of wagons, etc., and dealer in agricultural implements. Mr. Poirier is a Canadian by birth, but has lived on this side of the St. Johns nearly thirty-five years, and since he was thirteen years old, except a period of five years afterwards spent in his native land. His grandparents were originally from France, but his parents, Peter and Shersite, were Canadians. The subject of this sketch was born, November 11, 1832, and at the age of thirteen, came to St. Louis, Mo., where he learned the blacksmith's trade and where he continued to live until 1860, when he returned to Canada. In 1865, however, he came back to St. Louis, and during the spring of the following year came up to Glasgow, where he has since lived. Here he has followed his trade with success and has also engaged in the manufacture of wagons, plows, etc., and is now dealing in agri- cultural implements, in which he has a good trade. He is an indus- trions, energetic man, a good citizen, and is well respected in the community. He is a member of the Masonic order. In April, 1870, he was married to Miss Cleomatra Minor, of Chariton, county, Mo. They have one child - Eleanor E. L.

463

HISTORY OF HOWARD AND COOPER COUNTIES.

WILLIAM H. PRITCHETT, A. M.,

Professor of languages, Pritchett School Institute. Professor Pritchett, although a young man but twenty-four years of age, has already taken rank among the prominent educators of the state. He adopted the profession of teaching with a full appreciation of its dig- nity and importance, believing that it is the great calling upon which all other interests depend, and that people advance in social develop- ment and material prosperity in proportion to their advancement iu general education and in the higher departments of learning. For a time he thought of devoting himself to the law, and even began the study of that science, but upon mature consideration, and after weigh- ing deliberately in his own mind the relative merits of the two walks in life, satisfied himself that advanced education performs a service to society far more important, a service in itself, more elevating and ennobling than the licentiate in the legal profession, or in- deed, in any other secular calling. Thus impressed with the dignity and importance of his profession, he determined to make himself worthy of it - ultimately to ornament it if it be possible to add lustre to a calling so noble and exalted. In youth, he prepared himself to begin it by a thorough course in college. William H. Pritchett was born in Leavenworth, Kan., on the 19th day of December, 1858, and is a son of Rev. Pritchett, then a missionary Methodist minister in that state, but now president of Pritchett School Institute, of Glas- gow, Mo. At the beginning of the war, the father returned with his family to the old homestead farm in Warren county, but a part of the tine afterwards lived in St. Charles county. On the restoration of peace he moved to his farm in Jackson county, where he remained until 1876. Hence, the early youth of the son, except while absent attending school, was spent on the farm. But in 1876, his father moved to Fayette, Mo., and there Wm. H. subsequently entered Central college, and in 1881, received the highest degree conferred by that institution. In Fayette, he became professor of languages in the Howard Female college, a position he held about two and a half years, his father being, during that time and altogether, about five years the president of the college, In 1881, his father was elected president of Pritchett School Institute, and Prof. Wm. H. was elected to the professorship of languages in this institution, one of the en- dowed chairs of the institute, the position he now holds. In this chair he has now served two years, and during this time has been offered enviable positions in other colleges, which he has uniformly declined, preferring to remain with, and to continue to build up, the institution with which his and his father's names and reputations are so intimately and honorably associated.

REV. J. H. PRITCHETT,

President, Pritchett School Institute, was born in Henry county, Virginia, on the 8th of February, 1835. In the fall of the same

464

HISTORY OF HOWARD AND COOPER COUNTIES.

year his father immigrated to Missouri, stopping first in St. Charles county, but settling permanently one year afterwards on the eastern border of Warren county. There the father, who was a farmer by occupation, lived until his death, and the son remained with the family on the farm up to the age of seventeen, receiving such instruction in the meantime as could be provided in private schools, which were principally supported by the father and kept in a building erected by him on his own farm. At the age of seventeen the son entered the Howard high school, in Fayette, Missouri, and having completed its curriculum in 1854, he spent the following year in charge of the preparatory department of the same institution. In 1855, he became a licentiate in the M. E. church south, and in the latter part of that year joined the Missouri conference of itinerant Methodist preachers, going thereupon to Kansas territory as a missionary, where he re- mained until the fall of 1860. Returning then to Missouri, he remained with his family on the old homestead in Warren county, during the civil war serving the various pastoral charges that were convenient. In the spring of 1865, he went without his family to Montana terri- tory, remaining there until January, 1866, engaged for the most part in preaching and teaching. Concluding it best not to have his family join him in that section of the country, and affairs in Missouri, in the meantime becoming more settled, he then returned to this state, and the last seventeen years he has spent partly in the ministry and partly in school work : six years in the regular pastorate, four in the presiding eldership, and seven in the school room. In this last capacity he was five years president of Howard college, and the past two years he has been president of Pritchett School Institute, the position he now holds. The active, energetic, and useful life marked out in this sketch renders it unnecessary to say anything with regard to the value of such a man to society in general, and particularly to the com- munity in which he lives. Striking, well-rounded sentences could add nothing to the eloquence of the plain facts.

REV. CARR WALTER PRITCHETT,

Director of the Morrison Observatory, was born in Henry county, Virginia, September 4, 1823. Until the completion of his twelfth year his parents resided in the counties of Henry and Pittsylvania. In 1835, they removed to Missonri, and settled in Warren county. The oldest of ten children, his boyhood and youth were spent in the arduons labor of opening and cultivating a farm. No time or means could be afforded for attending school. In his twenty-first year he attended St. Charles college, under President John H. Field- ing, for eight months. In 1844, he began to teach, and in 1846, became a licentiate in the ministry of the Methodist church. In 1846-47, he labored on the old Fulton circuit with William P. Nichols. In 1847-48, he resumed teaching in a private academy, known as Pleasant Hill, in Warren county. In 1849, he became principal of the Danville academy, in Montgomery county, and in the

465

HISTORY OF HOWARD AND COOPER COUNTIES.

fall of that year was married to Miss Bettie Susan Smith, of Pike county, Missouri. In 1851, he became principal of the female de- partment of Howard high school, Fayette, Mo., in association with William T. Lucky and William T. Davis. In 1857-58, he was asso- ciated with Rev. Nathan Scarritt, now of Kansas City, in the organi- zation of Central college, and part of the year officiated as president. In 1859, he resided at Cambridge, Massachusetts, and was engaged in astronomical and mathematical pursuits. In 1859-60, he resumed his professorship of mathematics and astronomy in Central college, and again officiated as president, part of the year. During the war he conducted a collegiate school, in the Central college building, at Fayette, in association with Dr. William H. Anderson. In 1864-65, he labored in the statistical department of the United States sanitary commission at Washington, with Dr. B. A. Gould. In 1865-66, he revived the old Howard high school, Fayette. After one year of great prosperity, he became principal of Pritchett School Institute, Glasgow, in 1866. After seven years, he resigned, and became director of the Morrison Observatory, in 1874-75.

RALL BROTHERS,

carpenters and builders, and dealers in lumber and building material. This firm is composed of three brothers - Lewis, Gustave and Ed- ward - all originally from Wurtemburg, Germany. They were reared in their native country, where they received good, ordinary educa- tions, and also learned the carpenter's and the cabinet maker's trades, of the last named of which their father was a master. Lewis served a two years' term in the regular army, and in 1866 came to America, landing at New York, but pushed on to Detroit, Michigan, where he remained for a short time and then went to New Orleans, Louisiana. In the spring of 1867, he came back north and located in Evansville, Indiana, where he remained about a year. In 1868, he came further west, to Missouri, settling finally in Glasgow, in 1869, where he has since lived. Here he followed his regular trade exclusively until 1870, when he began in his present business. He was married August 16, 1870, to Miss Julia Hessrich, a native of Boonville, and they have five children - Robert, Ermen, Fannie, Nora and Sophia. Gustave came to America in 1867, and met his brother at Evansville, Indiana. Thence they came to Missouri, and on to Glasgow together. In 1874, Gustave went to St. Louis, where he remained about five years working at the carpenter's trade. During his residence there he took lessons in mechanical and architectural drawing, making a specialty of the latter, in which he became thorough, and he is now conceded to be one of the finest experts, if not the finest, in this line in central Missouri. Gustave was married July 23, 1878, to Miss Emma Tranbel, of St. Louis. They have two children - Rebecca and Cora. He has been a member of the school board of Glasgow for three years. Edward came to America after his brothers' emigra- tion, and worked in Glasgow for a time, and then went to St. Louis,

466

HISTORY OF HOWARD AND COOPER COUNTIES.

where he remained until 1877. That year he returned to Germany, but came back to Glasgow in 1880, where he has since lived. He was married in Germany, to Miss H. Passaner, and two children have been born to them, both of whom are living - Helen and William. The Rall brothers are all thorough mechanics, untiringly industrious, and intelligent and honorable, and they justly command a large share of the building contracts in this part of the country, and have a profitable and increasing trade in lumber and building material.

G. W. RHEA,

farmer and stock raiser. Mr. Rhea is an Ohio farmer, who settled in this county after the war, and his farm bears out the reputation the farmers of the Buckeye State have, that of being among the best tillers of the soil in the whole country. He has what may not im- properly be called a fine farm, for it is all splendid land and is well and handsomely improved. Although not a large place, containing only 131 acres, it is regarded as one of the best farms in the county. He gives special attention to raising stock, paying closer regard, how- ever, to the quality than the quantity of the stock handled. Although Mr. Rhea is an Ohioan, he comes of Kentucky and South Carolina parentage, his father, James Rhea, having been a native of the former state, and his mother, whose name was originally Miss Mary Gray, having been born in South Carolina. However, in an early day and when a young man, his father came from Kentucky to Preble county, Ohio, where he met and married Miss Gray. Twelve child- ren were the result of this marriage, among 'whom was G. W., the subject of this sketch. G. W. Rhea was born in Preble county, Ohio, September 17, 1834, and was reared and educated in his native county. On reaching the age that it became necessary for him to begin the active duties of life on his own account, he adopted farming as his occupation, which he has since followed. He remained in Preble county until 1863, and from that time until 1865, travelled extensively in Canada and the United States, but during the last named year settled in Butler county, Ohio, where he engaged in farming and continued until 1870, when he came to Missouri and made his home in Howard county. While residing in Butler county, Ohio, he was married January 11, 1868, to Mrs. Mary Kimmage, originally of Brooklyn, New York, and formerly a Miss Malona. By her first marriage she has two children living - William J. and Mary E. Mr. and Mrs. Rhea have by their union two children also - Elizabeth A. and James G.

RICHARD M. ROBERTSON,

farmer. Mr. Robertson's father, James Robertson, was a native of Ireland, but came to this country early in life, and for a time lived in Kentucky. From there he came to Howard county, and here, in March, 1828, married Miss Hannah Wilson, Richard M. being one of

467

HISTORY OF HOWARD AND COOPER COUNTIES.

a family of seven children now living of this union, viz., William H., John F., Jasper, Richard M., Mary and Robert. The father was a farmer by occupation, which he followed from his first settlement in this county until his death, in 1851. His wife still survives him, and now makes her home with her son, Richard M., the subject of this sketch. Richard M. was born in this county February 11, 1842, and was reared here on his father's farm, which occupation he adopted and has continued in thus far through life. He obtained a good or- dinary education in the common schools, which has served him for all practical purposes in farm life. When nineteen years of age, in 1861, he enlisted in the Missouri state guards, raised under Governor Jackson's call for the defence of the state against threatened invasion, in which he served six months, and then enlisted in the regular Con- federate service and followed the ill-starred banner of the south through four years of hardships and dangers until it was furled to be unfurled no more. In 1871, on the 13th of December, he was mar- ried to Miss Georgia Gibbs, daughter of Stephen Gibbs, formerly of Virginia, now deceased. They have two children, Bernice and Alice. Both parents are members of the Christian church. Mrs. Robertson's mother, formerly Miss Martha Milton, was originally from Kentucky, but Mrs. R. herself was born in this county ; and Mrs. James Rob- ertson, the mother of Richard M., was also a native of that state, having been born in Bath county, Kentucky, October 28, 1811. She came to Howard county with her parents when about nine years of age. Mr. R. has a neat farm of 140 acres.

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

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