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 52

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 52
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 52

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Win. C. MeGavock, son of the above, is largely interested in the raising of blooded stock, and his herd of Herefords is among the best in the county, embracing strains of the best families.

GORDON C. MCGAVOCK.

Hugh MeGavock was a native of Virginia, and when the revolu- tionary war broke out, he was one of the first to shoulder his gun in defence of his country. He followed the flag of the gallant young republic for seven long years, through dangers and hardships of un- told severity, until finally the shout of triumph went up from three millions of people, and was joyfully echoed around the world. Re- turning at the restoration of peace, he settled down in his native state, to the quiet but honorable and independent life of a farmer, and there reared a family. Among his other sons was Robert, the father of the subject of this sketch, who went to Kentucky in an early day. He settled in Breckenridge county of that state, and there lived until his death, rearing a family, of which Gordon C. was a member. Gordon's mother, before her marriage, was a Miss Ann Hickman, a Kentuckian by birth ; she also died in Breckenridge county. Gordon was brought up on his father's farm in his native county, and in his youth acquired more than an average education among the young men of that day, both by close application to his books in school, and by study at home. Later on he studied civil engineering, and became proficient in that science, and subsequently followed the profession as a business until he came to Missouri in 1857. Arriving in this state, he settled in Howard county, and here he has since given his whole attention to farming, in which he has been successful. He has a good good place of 283 acres of land, and has it well improved. His orchard is an unusally good one, contain-

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HISTORY OF HOWARD AND COOPER COUNTIES.

ing many varieties of the rarest and best qualities of fruit, etc. Mr. McGavock was married to Miss Lucy Lewis, a young lady of Ken- tucky birth, December 14, 1859, and they have six children - John, Sallie, Mary, Louisa, Hugh and Robert. He is a member of the Christian church.

J. A. MAXWELL.

Thomas Maxwell and his wife Elsie, a lady of Irish descent, whose maiden name was Jarvis, the grandparents of J. A. Maxwell were both natives of Virginia, but emigrated to Madison county, Kentucky, in an early day, where the first station in the county was named for Mr. Maxwell - "Maxwell's station." They lived in their adopted county, where they reared their family, until 1825, when they immigrated to Missouri, and settled in Howard county. The grandfather died the following year, but his wife survived him over thirty years, passing away at the residence of her son Robert, of Johnson county, Missouri, in 1858. Bozewell, another son of theirs, and father of J. A., was a youth about twelve years of age when they came to this county, and here, on reaching manhood, he married Miss Martha J. Dinwiddie, who died a number of years afterwards, leaving him three children. In 1852, he was again married, Miss Mary Gay becoming his wife, and of this union two children were reared, of whom J. A., the subject of this sketch, was the younger. Mrs. Mary Maxwell died in this county June 1, 1882, and her hus- band followed her in death seven months afterwards, January 22, 1883. Both were for many years members of the Christian church. Mr. Maxwell was a strictly temperate man in all his habits, not using tobacco in any form, and he brought up his sons to the same manner of life. In the active duties of life, he was industrious, energetic and a good manager, and many years before his death he had suc- ceeded in accummulating a comfortable estate. Besides an excellent farm, well improved and well stocked, he built, and was the owner of Maxwell mills, that do the grinding and sawing for a large district of country. J. A. Maxwell was born in Howard county, Missouri, November 25, 1854. He was reared on his father's farm in this county, and received his education from the neighborhood schools of the time. He followed farming until 1880, when he engaged in mill- ing, in which he has met with excellent success. He owns a good farm of 213 acres comfortably and substantially improved. He is a member of the A. O. U. W.

F. W. MICHELS,

general merchant. Mr. Michels commenced in life withont means or other help, and by industry, intelligent management, and persever- ance, has succeeded in accumulating an ample competence. He was born in Germany, September 9th, 1844. His father and mother were also both natives of that country. He was but nine years old when he landed in America, and from boyhood he grew np in Glasgow, in

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HISTORY OF HOWARD AND COOPER COUNTIES.

this county. When still a youth he commenced work at the tobacco trade, manufacturing cigars and plug tobacco, and this he followed in Glasgow until 1866. In 1866 he began business on his own account in Glasgow, in which he continued until 1868, when he removed to Old Franklin, where he has since followed merchandising. From 1871 to 1873, however, he was in St. Louis. Excepting the time he was absent in St. Louis, no man has given closer attention to his store than has Mr. M. for the last seventeen years in Old Franklin ; nor has the reward of his merit been denied him. He is now one of the substantial business men of the county. In October ( the 27th ), 1877, he was married to Miss Anna Glazier, of Boonville, and they have one child living, Henry W.

WILLIAM MILLER, DECEASED.

The subject of this memoir was a native of Alabama, and was born June 5, 1836. Almost in the very dawn of life he was left an orphan by the death of his father, Samuel L. Miller, of that state, and he was brought with his mother and family to Madison county, Kentucky, when only two years old, where he was reared and after- wards lived until he came to this state. He was given a thorough education, taking, besides courses in the common schools and the schools of New Castle, Kentucky, a course in Berthany college of Virginia. After his college course he engaged in farming. On the 27th of February, 1861, he was married to Miss Susan A. Chenault, a most estimable lady of Madison county, Kentucky, born March 1, 1842. Of this union nine children were born, eight now living : Samuel L .. Tellitha C., Mary, Joe, Edwin, Laura, William, Waller. In 1877, Mr. Miller, with his family, immigrated to Missouri, and settled on a farm in Howard county, where he subsequently died, September 10, 1880. Mrs. Miller still survives her late husband, and now makes her home with her son, Samuel L. Samuel L. was born in Madison county, Kentucky, December 24, 1861. The home farm on which they reside consists of 320 acres of excellent land, well im- proved and well kept and cultivated .. Mr. M. was a man whose life was just, from the beginning to the end. Although cut off in the very meridian of manhood, by industry and intelligent management he had succeeded in accumulating enough to place him beyond the reach of want in old age, ifhe had lived to enjoy it. This has been left to his family.

" Leaves have their time to fall, And flowers to wither at the north wind's breath,

Aud stars to set; but all- Thou hast all seasons for thine own, O, Death!"

MATHEW MULLINS.

Mr. Mullins was reared in Howard county, in the pioneer days of the country, and he is now among the earliest and oldest inhabitants of the county. His parents came from Kentucky to Missouri in 1813, and stopping in St. Charles for a time, there his father died, leav-

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HISTORY OF HOWARD AND COOPER COUNTIES.

ing his mother a widow in a new country and among strangers. But having acquaintances in Howard county, she came to this county, where her son was reared and where she afterwards lived and died. Brought up in those early days, when the monotony of the forests was broken only now and then by a " clearing " and a home, young Mullins naturally shared in many adventures and not a few hardships incident to pioneer life. But suffice it to say that the influences by which his youth was surrounded went far to develop in him that strong character and spirit of enterprise which has since marked his career. Having been reared on a farm, he thus naturally acquired that taste for farm life, which controlled his choice of an occupa- tion for after years. But, although he became a farmer, he did not and could not confine his free spirit to following the plow alone, but he also entered upon the more animating and adventurous life of a stock dealer, and in this occupation has travelled through many southern states, supplying the markets of the land of cane and cotton with mules and horses, bought up in the great corn regions of the west He has also visited the southern republic of Mexico. But whether as a farmer or stock dealer, in either occupation, his indus- try and enterprise have been rewarded with substantial success. He owns a farm of 160 acres of the best quality of land, and improved in a substantial, thorough manner. Mr. Mullins was born in Madison county, Kentucky, April 28, 1813. His father, Richard Mullins, was also a native of Kentucky, and his mother, before her marriage, was a Miss Susanna Woods, of that state. Mr. Mullins, the subject of this sketch, received an ordinary practical education in the schools of the neighborhood where he was reared, and he is a man of varied in- formation and superior natural intelligence. He was married August 29, 1859, to Miss Mary A. Jackman of this county. Matthew Mul- lins is a good man, whose life has been useful and just. He is a mem- ber of the Christian church.

BENJAMIN E. NANCE,

a large land holder and leading farmer and stock dealer of Howard county, was born and reared in Bedford county, Virginia, where he lived and followed farming until he came to this county in 1855, His grandfather, Richard Nance, and his father, John, were both natives of the Old Dominion. The former was a soldier in the revo- lutionary war, and the latter was in the war of 1812. Mr. Nance's (B. E.'s) mother before her marriage was a Miss Martha Estiss, also of the same state. Mr. N. was born February 17, 1830, and was therefore twenty-five years of age when he came to Mis- souri. He now owns 1,427 acres of splendid land, well improved and well kept and cultivated in every way. He is a thoroughly live, enterprising and go-ahead business man, and ranks among the foremost citizens of the county. On the 24th of December, 1847, he was married to Miss Elizabeth R. Tinsley, a young lady of Virginia, and they now have two children living, Laura (Mrs. P. H. Burden ), and Martha E. (Mrs. Thomas Jordan ).

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HISTORY OF HOWARD AND COOPER COUNTIES.

CHARLES F. OVERSTREET.

Farmer, soldiering and merchandising have each claimed a share of Mr. Overstreet's time and energy since his youth. He is now engaged in farming, to which most of his life has been devoted, and has a farm of 200 acres. He was born in Albemarle county, Virginia, February 28, 1832. His father, William B., was a native of Virginia, as was also his grandfather, Charles Overstreet. Charles, his grandfather, was a soldier in the war for independence, and served in the revolu- tionary army until the close of that struggle. Mr. Overstreet's mother, before her marriage, was a Miss Sophia Harris, also of Vir- ginia, and his parents were married in that state. When the son, the subject of this sketch, was but four years old the family came to Missouri and settled in St. Charles county, where they remained until 1845. They then came on to Howard county and here young Overstreet was reared and educated in the common schools of the neighborhood. In 1854 Mr. Overstreet, the son, then being a young man twenty-two years of age, went to the town of New Franklin and engaged in the boot and shoe business, in which he continued until 1858. During the last named year he resumed farming, and this business he has since followed except the time he spent in the army. In 1861 he en- listed in the Missouri state guards under the call of Governor Jack- son, and served about three months. Again, in 1864, he enlisted under General Jo Shelby, and served under him until the surrender in 1865. Mr. Overstreet was married on the 14th of February, 1860, to Miss Rachel Swope, a Missouri lady by birth, and they have seven children, John H., Sophia E., Josephine, Charles F., Lou Ellen, Stonewall Jackson, Hugh Doniphan.

DANIEL C. RAY.

It is said that the three most important events in a man's life are his birth, marriage and death, and that the most important of the three is the second. We shall not stop to philosophize on this, but shall state at once that Mr. Ray, the subject of this sketch, and one of the many good farmers and citizens of Howard county, was mar- ried on the 14th of October, 1869, to Miss Hattie Ainsworth, a most excellent and worthy lady, who, so far as the happiness of her hus- band is concerned, has fully vindicated the truth of the proposition stated above. Mr. Ray is a farmer by occupation, and owns a neat, well-improved and well-kept place of eighty acres in Franklin town- ship. He was born in this county April 5, 1848, and is now, there- fore, thirty-five years of age. His father, James Ray, was a native of Kentucky, but came to this county in an early day - in fact, was one of the pioneers in the county. Here he married Miss Docia Canole, a native of Tennessee. Daniel C. was brought up on his father's farm and received a good practical education in the neighborhood schools of the time. He is a member of the M. E. church south, and is now school director in his district.

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HISTORY OF HOWARD AND COOPER COUNTIES.

WILLIAM J. SMITH, DECEASED.

The subject of this memoir was born in Madison county, Virginia, August 22, 1808. He was a son of William Smith and wife, whose maiden name was Diana Yeager, both also natives of Virginia. Wil- liam J. grew up on his father's farm in Virginia. When eighteen years of age he went to Kentucky, where he continued until 1830, when he came to Missouri and settled on the farm where he subse- quently lived and died. On the 25th of March, 1841, he was married to Miss Elizabeth Gearhart, of this county. Seven children are now living of this union- Minerva E., William W., Alice B., E. T., Bet- tie, Charles I. and Rose. Mr. Smith died October 5, 1882, having reached four years more than the allotted three-score and ten. Mrs. Smith, his wife, born March 27, 1823, still survives her husband, and now resides on the farm where he lived so many years and finally died. His life was an active and energetic one, and what is better than all else, it was a useful and good one. Farming was his occu- pation, but he was also for some years interested in milling ; but to whatever he directed his energies he succeeded, and succeeded hon- estly, without doing any man wrong. When he died he left a large estate, for he was one of the wealthy men of Howard county. Through the morning and the noon of life, and to the last, when the evening shadows shut out the light, he was an humble, faithful fol- lower of the Cross, in the communion of the M. E. church south.

WILLIAM W. SMITH,

son of William J. (deceased ), was born in Howard county, Missouri, February 29, 1844. His father was a man who appreciated the im- portance of an education, and determined that, so far as his own ex- ertions were concerned, his children should avail themselves of the best school advantages then offered. William W. had the usual course of the common schools, and, besides that, courses in Central college, in Fayette, and Kemper's college, in Boonville. And he did not fail to improve his advantages, for he is one of the best educated farmers in the county - a county, by the way, of educated farmers. In 1862, then eighteen years of age, he enlisted in the Confederate army, in company F, from this part of the county, and served until the final surrender. Returning after the war, he resumed farming, and also engaged in dealing in stock, in both of which he has since continued. On the 12th of January, 1871, he was married to Miss Fannie Agnew, a native of Virginia, and they have two children -Nadine and Flor- ence. Mr. S. is a member of the A. O. U. W., of the Masonic order, and of the M. E. church south. He has a farm of 200 acres in good condition with respect both to improvements and cultivation, and is a successful farmer and stockman.

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HISTORY OF HOWARD AND COOPER COUNTIES.

CAPT. J. H. STURDIVANT,

of Sturdivant & Maxwell, millers, Franklin. Mr. Sturdivant is a thorough, practical miller, having followed that occupation from early manhood, with but little interruption, nearly twenty years. He was born in Edmonson county, Kentucky, October 2, 1841, and was a son of J. A. Sturdivant, and wife, Adaline, whose name prior to her marriage was Shackelford. J. H., the son, was reared in his native county, and received an ordinary practical education in the local schools. In 1860, he went to Warren county, and there commenced his career as a miller. But the war breaking out in 1861, he enlisted, in 1862, in company G, Sth Kentucky cavalry, and that term expir- ing, he re-enlisted, this time in company G, of the 17th Kentucky cavalry, of which company he was made captain, and with which he served until the close of the war. He was in the battle of Stone river, and other important and hard-fought engagements. In 1865, he went to Lewistown, Illinois, and there followed milling two years. He then came to Benton county, Missouri, where he farmed for two years, and milled one year. From Benton county he went to Wind- sor, Missouri, and remained until 1876, engaged in milling, coming that year to Boonville. In Boonville, he followed milling until 1878, when he came over to Franklin, and here he has since lived and pursued his regular occupation - milling. The firm of which he is a member, have a splendid mill, including building, machinery, e c., and as manufacturers of breadstuff's, they are deservedly popular. Miss Olive H. McGee, of Kentucky, became the wife of Mr. S., on the 1st of March, 1866, and they now have a family of three children - James H., Charles H. and Mary E.

SAMUEL B. TINSLEY,

deceased. A useful and successful life, regulated by Christian prin- ciples, expresses in a line the earthly career of Samuel B. Tinsley. By industry and intelligent management he succeeded here, as the world measures success, but without imperilling the real success of the hereafter. For, while he strove to gather around him a compe- tence for old age, and that those he should leave behind might not be destitute, yet he kept a steady eye on the future - the star of eter- nity - and so lived, that when his mortal light should fade away, that star would guide him to immortality. His life was such that the world was made better by his having lived in it, and, although it was an humble one, it was none the less true and noble aud worthy, for the best good men do is that which is not made known. He was born in Bedford county, Virginia, August 9, 1834. He was a son of Samuel G. and wife, Mary, whose family name before her marriage was Rosser, both also natives of Virginia, and was reared and educated in Bedford county. In 1854, when a young man twenty years of age, he came to Howard county, Missouri, and settled on the farm where he afterwards lived, and finally died. Six years after coming to this 35

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HISTORY OF HOWARD AND COOPER COUNTIES.

state, December 19, 1860, he was married to Miss Mary Langley, of Callaway county, Missouri, an accomplished and gentle-hearted woman. She was born in Mississippi, April 1, 1834, but was brought with her parents to Callaway county, Missouri, in 1838, when but four years old, and was educated in the Baptist college of that county. She has two children living - Thomas L., born January 1, 1862, and John W., born April 11, 1866. Mr. Tinsley came to this county a young man without means, other than his own ability to work and manage, and the manhood to do both. When he died he was one of the wealthy farmers and stock dealers of the county. Besides a large stock, and personal property interest, he left a splendid farm of 700 acres. On the 3d day of June, 1880, there fell upon the loved ones around him a sudden gloom, and the spirit of Samuel B. Tinsley passed away forever. His wife still survives him. He was a member of the Ma- sonic order, and of the A. O. U. W.,

T. H. TODD.

Mr. Todd is a leading farmer and stock dealer of Franklin town- ship, Howard county, and owns a farm of 565 acres. He was born in the township where he still lives, July 15, 1842, and since he was twenty years of age, has been engaged in farming and dealing in stock, on his own account. From the importance of his farm, and the large amount of stock he handles, it is evident that his career has been an exceedingly successful one. His parents were both natives of Maryland, but came out to Missouri, and settled in Howard county in 1841, one year before T. H. was born. His father's christian name was Joshua, and his mother before her marriage was a Miss Margaret Jeffrey. They had six children, of whom T. H. was the eldest. The father died in 1854, but the mother still survives. In 1871 he was married, February 9, to Miss Dillie Summers, an Ohioan by birth, and of this union three children are now living - Luther, Sallie and Maggie. He is a member of the Masonic order, of the I. O. O. F., and of the A. O. U. W.

G. S. TUTT,

general merchant, Estill, Missouri. Mr. Tutt has been engaged in the mercantile business, either as clerk or merchant, since he was fif- teen years old - nearly twenty years. He is, therefore, thorough in his business, and he now has a large stock of almost every variety of goods, and has an extensive and profitable trade. He was born in this county, February 5, 1849, and is a son of Philip Tutt and wife, Emaline, previously a Miss Stewart, both formerly of Howard county. Philip, however, was a native of Virginia, and his wife was from Ken- tucky, but both came here in an early day, where they reared their family. They now live in Idaho, where Mr. Tutt (the father) is pro- bate judge, and has been for several years. Prior to that he had been

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HISTORY OF HOWARD AND COOPER COUNTIES.

a representative in the territorial legislature. Before commencing his mercantile career, young G. S. had acquired the elements of a good practical education, so that when he engaged in business with Mr. John S. Elliott, in a country store, about 1864, he was well qualified for the position he assumed, so far as the knowledge was concerned that conld be derived from school books. One year subsequent they moved their store to Higby, or rather they built the first house in Higby, and moved their stock into it. Mr. T. remained in Higby about one year and then returned to the farm. But nature had made him more of a merchant than a farmer, so that he could not remain long content on the farm. Accordingly, after eight months, we find him again on his way to engage in mercantile pursuits. He followed merchandising and clerking - part of the time as merchant and part as clerk - until 1879, when he came to Estill and engaged in his present business, and has met with the most gratifying success. Mr. T. also owns a farm of 100 acres. He is a member of Howard lodge, No. 4, A. F. and A. M.

W. B. WEBB.

Mr. Webb was a youth thirteen years old when his parents came from Tennessee and settled in Cass county, Missouri. His father, Marshall Webb, was a native of Virginia, but went to Tennessee early in life, where he subsequently married Miss Mary Mills, of that state, and continued to live there (in Hawkins county ) until 1849, when he came, with his family, to Missouri. Young Webb had attended the local schools of his neighborhood in Tennessee for several years before coming to Missouri, and afterwards his father gave him the best ad- vantages his new home afforded - the common schools. On reaching manhood he began farming on his own account, which he continued until the outbreak of hostilities in 1861. Then, like most other young men in Missouri of southern antecedents, he felt that his duty called him to the defence of the section where Washington lived and died, and where his kinsmen and antecedents were rallying to arms in a common cause. He enlisted in company E, of the Cass county volun- teers, and for four years followed the three-barred flag of the south, until it was furled to float no more as the emblem of the hope of ten millions of brave people. He was in the battles of Wilson's Creek, Prairie Grove, Lone Jack, and numerous other hotly contested con- flicts. Returning home after the close of the war, he came to Howard county and followed farming for one year. Then he went to Vernon county, where he lived until 1875, when he returned to Howard county and improved the farm on which he now lives. He has 190 acres of land. In the meantime, prior to the war, he had married Miss Melissa Jones, in the year 1857, but in 1861 she died and left two mothi- erless children, Johnnie and Jimmie. In March, 1867, he married Miss Laura Pearson, an excellent lady, and she has borne him four children, Samuel, Celia, Mattie and William.

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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