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 59
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 59
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HISTORY OF HOWARD AND COOPER COUNTIES.
"Men drop so fast 'ere life's mid-stage we tread, Few know so many friends alive as dead."
In the very meridian of life, when his need to loved ones was the greatest, he fell a victim to the insatiate archer, Death. Yet his life was such, that
"The less of this cold world, the more of heaven- The briefer life, the earlier immortality."
James R. is interested in the management of his father's farm, which is being successfully worked and to the best advantage for the estate. Besides this he is engaged in clerking in Roanoke, which he has followed for some years, and is an efficient, popular salesman and clerk.
JAMES RICHARDSON,
tobacco dealer, farmer and fine stock raiser. Mr. Richardson, formerly a leading citizen of Madison county, Kentucky, of which he was a representative in the legislature of that state, came to Howard county in 1859, but owing to the unsettled condition of affairs just preceding the outbreak of the war, did not enter largely into farming and general business until after the close of that struggle. In 1865, he purchased a large farm of 600 acres just across the line in Ran- dolph county, which he greatly improved, and it is now one of the finest landed estates throughout the surrounding country. Coming from a pure stock country - the blue grass regions of Kentucky - he brought his tastes for blooded, high grade stock with him, and at once went to work to make his farm equal to the fine stock farms of his native county. The result is he has one of the finest herds of short- horn cattle In north Missouri - a herd that has taken more premiums in the last three years than any other in that section of the state. He also conducts an important tobacco business at Roanoke, in this county. He was born in Madison county, Kentucky, December 13, 1820. His father, Thomas Richardson, was a native of Virginia, but was reared in Kentucky. His mother was formerly Miss Mary Harris, born and reared in Kentucky. James Richardson lived in his native county - where, June 20, 1840, he was married to Miss Sallie Simpson, of Clark county, that state,- until he was thirty-nine years of age, then, in 1859, coming to Howard county with his family. They have three children, Sallie J., wife of George H. Wilcoxson ; Mary E., wife of G. C. Brown, and Rosanna B., wife of Chas. R. Brown.
WILLIAM A. SHIFLETT,
section 21, came originally from Rockingham county, Virginia, where he was born September 27, 1837. On the 26th of September, 1855, he removed to Howard county, Missouri, and in March, 1870, located upon the farm which he now occupies. This embraces 226 acres. February 14, 1856, occurred the marriage of Mr. Shiffett to Miss Mar- garet Powell, of Greene county, Virginia. They have had a family of eleven children, of whom ten are living : Henry C., Laurie L,, Dora
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HISTORY OF HOWARD AND COOPER COUNTIES.
B., Peter, Millie, Mollie, George W., Julia, King R. and Fannie. An important feature of Mr. Shifflett's farm is his excellent young or- chard.
BENJAMIN F. SNYDER,
farmer and stock raiser. Like so many of the substantial and better class of farmers of Howard county, Mr. Snyder comes of an old and well re- pected Virginia family. He was born in Madison county, Virginia, November 14th, 1819, and came to this county with his father's family when he was fourteen years of age. His father, James Snyder, and his mother, formerly Miss Sarah A. Hylor, were both natives of the Old Dominion, and his father was a gallant soldier in the war of 1812. They settled in this county in 1833, where the father followed cooper- ing, to which occupation the son was brought up, following it until the death of his father in 1851. He then engaged in farming, also carrying on a cooper shop, and in these occupations he has since con- tinued. He now owns a handsome farm of nearly 300 acres, and has it well improved. In connection with his other farming interests he raises some good stock, of which he has an excellent quality. March 4th, 1863, he was married to Miss Mary F. Walford. They have one child, Mariam F. Mr. S. is a member of the I. O. O. F. and of the Masonic order.
R. M. SNODDY,
the son of J. W. Snoddy, originally of Madison county, Kentucky, was born in Howard county, Missouri, January 31, 1831, and has made this his home since that time, with the exception of seven years which he passed in Grundy county, Missouri. He is now quite an extensive farmer and stock raiser, and is the owner of a landed estate of 343 acres. Mr. Snoddy was married April 30th, 1860, to Miss Clemency Wodds of this county. They have four children living : William W., John F., Robert L. and Minnie M. Mrs. S. is a member of the Pres- byterian church, and he is a Mason.
JAMES L. SPERRY,
farmer, section 21, owes his nativity to Lawrence county, Kentucky, where he was born August 1, 1804. In 1839 he came to Missouri, but did not settle in Howard county until the fall of 1856. Here he now owns a farm of 148 acres, all under cultivation. March 11th, 1823, Mr. Sperry was married to Miss Parlina Canterbery, of Lawrence county, Kentucky. She died January 28, 1880. To them had been born nine children, five of whom are living : Eveline M., William H., Benj. F., Martha and John W. Mr. Sperry is a member of the M. E. church south.
SAMUEL STEINMETZ,
farmer and breeder of short horn cattle and other blooded stock. Among the prominent citizens of Howard county of German birth who
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HISTORY OF HOWARD AND COOPER COUNTIES.
have reflected credit upon themselves, their fatherland and their adopted country, is Samuel Steinmetz, of Prairie township. He was born in Gros-ven-Engles Kries Fritzler Kur Hessen, Germany, Octo- ber 10th, 1809. His father, Warnerd Steinmetz, was a farmer. His mother's maiden name was Lonisa Seebre. In early youth he received a limited education in his native town, and then served three years as an apprentice to the boot and shoe making business. After working as a journeyman at his trade about two years he came to America, ex- periencing great hardships on the voyage by reason of the water and provisions becoming exhausted. Finally he landed at Baltimore in 1834, with but twenty-five francs, a less sum than five dollars. Failing to get employment there, having refused to accept work offered him, which would have resulted in the discharge of a fellow-mechanic, he went to Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, where he worked about a year, and from thence to Pittsburg and Allegheny City, thence to Wheel- ing, West Virginia, and to Maysville, Kentucky, thence to Versailles, Kentucky, and to Lexington in the same state; from Lexington he went to Louisville. At these places he met with varied experiences, obtaining work in most of them, however, for a short time. Arrived at Louisville, he secured employment and began a system of rigid economy, with the view of becoming enabled to commence business for himself. He soon accumulated a small capital and went to Vicksburg, Mississippi, where he engaged in business. In a short time he also carried on business in Jackson and New Orleans, and several other leading points in the south. In a few years he sold out his business, and had $7,000 in cash as the result of his enterprise. He then determined to make a visit to his native coun- try, but by the Brandon bank of Vicksburg failing at that time, in which his money was deposited, he lost all but about $1,000. He then came west, and finally located in Glasgow, this state, where he com- menced his career in this county, just five years after landing at Balti- more. Here he opened a shop and shortly engaged in the boot and shoe mercantile line, and by his promptness and honorable dealings he very soon established a character that secured him all the credit and assistance he desired in business, and a wide trade -a character which for truth, honesty and uprightness for over forty years has been with- out spot or tarnish. In 1861 he sold out his boot and shoe business, and in 1863 engaged in the grocery business with J. W. Mezrick as his partner, and having more means than he desired to use in this branch, he also engaged in speculations in nails, whiskey, etc., from which he realized very large profits. He also run a large and popular hotel in Glasgow. In 1866 he purchased a saw mill and farm from A. W. Roper, just across the river from Glasgow, the farm containing 733 acres of as fine land as there is on the Missouri river. This was greatly improved, and in a few years was sold in lots to suit purchasers, at a very large profit. In 1868 he purchased the Hazel Ridge farm be- longing to the estate of Wm. M. Morrison, deceased, near Glasgow, containing 330 acres, for many years regarded as one of the most beautiful farms in the state. He has greatly improved it, and is mak-
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HISTORY OF HOWARD AND COOPER COUNTIES.
ing it a model stock farm in every particular. Here he lives, and follows stock raising on a large scale. He has some of the finest cat- tle, sheep, hogs and other live stock in Missouri. He has fifty head of short horn cattle of imported breeds, a large flock of Cotswold sheep, and hogs of various high grades. This farm is immediately on the Chicago and Alton railroad, and Mr. Steinmetz has established a station called Steinmetz, which promises to become an important and pros- perous place. In 1849 he made a trip to California, which, however, resulted in a loss to him of over $1,000. December 3d, 1840, he was married to Miss Lucetta V., daughter of Lewis Coleman, late of Char- iton county, a lady of great personal worth. Her father was a soldier under Wellington, and participated in the famous battle of Waterloo. Mr. Steinmetz has nine children. His two eldest sons fill honored graves, having fallen in the defence of Glasgow, October 15th, 1864 ; the eldest, Captain Samuel, fell while gallantly commanding his com- pany within the entrenchments ; his brother, Aaron, was mortally wounded while obeying the former's orders and died two days after- wards. The two eldest daughters are married - the first, Amelia, to John Tillman, and the second, Mary, to Wm. A. Meyer, both promi- nent merchants of Glasgow. The other children are Edward, George, John, Don, Palmer, William and Maine.
HENRY C. THORP,
farmer and stock raiser, section 25, was born in Howard county, Mis- souri, upon the farm he now occupies, October 5, 1847, his parents being Jackson and Harriet Thorp, Kentuckians by birth. Henry C. Thorp was married October 16, 1865, to Miss Belle Brummel, of Chariton county, Missouri, and to them have been born three chil- dren - Anna M., Beulah B., and an infant, unnamed. Mr. Thorp's farm of 215 acres is an excellently improved one, and upon it is a substantial house, and a barn far above the average of those in this township. He is a member of the Cumberland Presbyterian church, as is also his wife.
A. C. TOLSON,
originally from Madison county, Kentucky, was born on October 16, 1821. In the fall of 1823, he accompanied his parents to Callaway . county, Missouri, and in 1825, he came to Howard county, moving upon his present farm in section 20, in 1858. This contains over 248 acres of fine land that will average with any in the county. Mr. Tolson is a farmer of advanced views, and takes great interest in pro- moting the interests of this county and township. September 20, 1855, he was married to Permelia E. Gibbs, of Howard county, Missouri, and a daughter of Stephen and Martha Gibbs. They have had four children, three of whom are living - Stephen B., George L. and James C. They are members of the Christian church.
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HISTORY OF HOWARD AND COOPER COUNTIES.
J. K. TWYMAN,
section 29, a son of F. K. B. Twyman, is a native of Howard county, Missouri, and was born August 14, 1855. Ile has since made this his home, following farming as his occupation. His present landed estate embraces 127 acres, upon which is a fine dwelling and a good young orchard. He devotes some attention to the raising of stock. Mr. Twyman was married on December 13, 1878, to Miss Fanny B. Briggs, of this county. Their family consists of two children - Mary and Ruby B.
T. W. VILEY,
stock dealer and farmer. The importance of Mr. Viley's transactions in the stock dealing business, and the extent of his farming interests, give him a conspicuous position among the leading citizens of Howard county in these lines. He buys and ships large quantities of stock for the principal markets of the West, and his landed estate numbers a thousand acres of the best quality of farming land. He was born in Randolph county, Missouri, March 5, 1836, and was reared in that county, which continued to be his place of residence until 1882, when he settled in this county. His father, John Viley, and his mother, whose name before she married was Susan B. Elley, were both natives of Kentucky, whence they came and settled in Randolph county in this state. The father was a farmer by occupation, and to this calling T. W. Viley was brought up. After attaining manhood he was married September 18, 1861, to Miss Lizzie P. Stock, formerly of Kentucky, but she died May 18, 1864, leaving one child - Lizzie B. October 1, 1865, he was married a second time, Mrs. Lou O., relict of T. W. Boone, then becoming his wife. She was born in Monroe county, Missouri, April 23, 1839.
J. J. WALKUP,
section 29, was born in Howard county, Missouri, on the 28th of October, 1834. His parents were James and Arreta Walkup, origin- ally from Garrett county, Kentucky, who came to this county in 1830. In 1862, the subject of this sketch removed to Davis county, Iowa, but in the spring of 1876 he returned to Missouri, locating on his present farm of 800 acres. Upon this place is a good house and . barn, besides an orchard of excellent fruit. Mr. Walkup married Miss Isabel Hardy, of Davis county, Iowa, September 7, 1864. They have six children -Cora L., Thomas H., Lela E., Mary E., Katie B. and James E. Mr. Walkup is a member of the A. O. U. W. fra- ternity, and with his wife belongs to the M. E. church south.
J. H. WAYLAND,
farmer, and lately a manufacturer and merchant. Henry Wayland and Arana Malone were both born and reared in Virginia, and there
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HISTORY OF HOWARD AND COOPER COUNTIES.
married and for some years afterwards lived in Orange county, of that state. Of this union J. H. Wayland, the subject of this sketch, was born in Orange county, June 8, 1818, When he was but three years of age his parents removed to this county, and here he was reared, and as he grew up was educated in the common schools. He followed farming until 1847, when he engaged in merchandising in Roanoke, in which he continued about seventeen years. He then traded in live stock until 1867, at which time he gave his attention to milling and and the manufacture of woolen goods a short distance east of Roanoke, conducting also a store at the same time. These lines he pursued with satisfactory success until 1873, when he leased his mill and resumed farming, which he has since followed. He has a good farm of about two hundred acres, and has it substantially and com- fortably improved. He was for some years justice of the peace, and is a worthy member of the C. P. church. September 23, 1847, he was married to Miss Martha W. Dysart, of Randolph county. They have eight children - R. C., Euphema A., Mary K., Martha V., J. N., Fannie P., Charles D. and Orpho L.
A. S. WOLCOTT,
farmer and stock raiser, section 16, is a native of Ontario county, New York, and was born March 22, 1827. On March 24, 1874, he came to this county and has since continued to live here. He now owns a farm of 160 acres, of which sixteen acres are devoted to an orchard. This orchard is one of the finest in the county, and con- tains about 2,400 trees, 1,000 trees being red winter apples, 300 peaches (representing forty varieties), 200 plum trees, 600 orange quince, besides Siberian crab and pear trees, together with a number of grape vines. Mr. Wolcott was united in marriage Angust 2, 1855, to Miss Sarah P. Walker, of Ontario county, New York. She died May 9, 1882, leaving three children - Charles S., Eliza L. and George F. Mr. W. is a prominent member of the M. E. church,
SIDNEY S. WOODS,
farmer and stock raiser, section 17, was born April 29, 1819, in Howard county, Missouri, upon the farm where he now resides. His brother, James Woods, was born upon the same farm April 3, 1821. Their parents, Patrick and Frances Woods, originally of Madison county, Kentucky, came to Howard county, Missouri, in 1816, set- tling the place which these brothers now occupy. With the exception of three years spent in the war, Mr. Woods has always lived in Howard county. These brothers jointly own a farm of over 517 acres, upon which is a good house, barn and small orchard.
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HISTORY OF HOWARD AND COOPER COUNTIES.
BURTON TOWNSHIP.
JOHN W. BLAKLEY,
the seventh of a family of ten children born to John and Hannah Blak- ley, nee Hardin, is a native of Burton township, Howard county, Mis- souri, where he was born August 25, 1826. His father, a Virginian by birth, was born in 1791. Mrs. B. was a daughter of Samuel Hardin. Of the original number of children, six are now living. John W. re- sided at home until his marriage, in September, 1849, to Miss Nancy Morris, of Howard county, and a daughter of John W. Morris. By this union there were nine children - Anna Laura, Thomas M., Samuel J., Nathaniel, Susan M., John J., Hardin J., William A. and Sallie A. Two of these are deceased, three are married, and the re- mainder single. On the 10th day of April, 1883, Mrs. Blakley died, sincerely mourned by all with whom she was acquainted. She was a most estimable lady, and had hosts of friends. Mr. B. came to this county from Macon county, Missouri, whither he had previously moved, in 1866, and now owns 280 acres of land. His farm is under good im- provement.
R. W. BLAKEY, M. D.
On the 12th of September, 1839, there was born in Howard county, Missouri, to John M. and Frances ( White ) Blakey, a son, the subject of this sketch. His father, John M. Blakey, a Virginian by birth, was born between the years 1797 and 1800. R. W., the fifth of seven cildren, lived with his father until that person's death, in 1844, after which he made his home with his mother until sixteen years of age. Then he went to the high school at Fayette for one year, subsequently entering Central college where he attended three years. Soon after he began the study of medicine in the office of Dr. W. K. Harvey, and upon studying with him for one year took a course of lectures at the St. Louis Medical College, from which he graduated in 1860. For one year from this time Dr. Blakey practised his profession with Dr. Harvey, going thence to Macon City and from there to Roan- oke. He returned to Macon City some time later, and also at Roan- oke, coming next to his present place. He is quite extensively en- gaged in farming and stock-raising, and is quite successful in the prosecution of his chosen calling. In 1861 Dr. B. was married to Miss Susan M. Fisher, daughter of Rev. David Fisher, of Howard county. To them were born seven children, of whom six are living : Anna L., Lizzie B., Estel, R. W., Mary E. and Russell. Georgia is deceased.
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HISTORY OF HOWARD AND COOPER COUNTIES.
JAMES M. BLY,
farmer and stock raiser, owes his nativity to Tennessee, where he was born on the 2d day of May, 1831. In 1835 he emigrated with his father, George Bly, to Missouri, and located in Jasper county, build- ing the first cabin in that county. George Bly, originally from North Carolina, was born in 1784, and married Miss Sarah McDonald. They had twelve children, ten boys and two girls. When twenty-two years of age J. M. went to California, remaining for three years. In the meantime he visited New Mexico and Texas, and on his second trip enlisted in the Mexican war, with General Clarkson, of Dade county, receiving his discharge in 1848. In October, 1865, he was married to Miss Jake Embree. They have been blessed with five sons, three of whom survive. Charles G., John and Clyde. William and one in- fant are deceased. Mr. Bly's farm contains eighty acres, and he raises upon it considerable stock. His residence is an excellent one. He is by trade a blacksmith. Politically he has always been a demo- crat.
JAMES F. BURNAM
is the son of Mrs. Isabella Burnam, who was born in Kentucky in 1831, her parents being James and Eliza Crow. She lived at home until thirteen years old, and then accompanied her mother to Howard county. In 1857 she was married to Mr. William Burnam, and to them were born five children : James F., William B., Robert, Stephen and Freddy L. She was again married to Mr. Owen Williams, and they had one child, Charles Williams. Mrs. Burnam is pleasantly lo- cated on a farm of 160 acres of excellent land. The children are all unmarried.
J. FOSTER BURNAM
was born in Howard county, Missouri, upon his present place of resi- dence, in 1845. His father, Foster Burnam, originally from Ken- tucky, came to Howard county, Missouri, in 1816, but subsequently returned to his native state, remaining there for eighteen months. Com- ing again to this county, he settled the place now owned and occupied by his son, living there until his death. He had been twice married ; first to a Miss Todd, who bore him one son, who died in 1849 while crossing the plains. He was again married to Miss Maria Pemberton, a daughter of Stephen Pemberton. To them were born eleven chil- dren, of whom J. Foster was the tenth. October 8, 1874, he was married to Miss Maria B. Bradley, a daughter of George W. Bradley. They have two bright and promising children : Clay B. and John F. Politically Mr. B. is a staunch democrat. His father was among the earliest pioneers of this county, and his grandfather was the man who first settled the present site of Fayette ; he operated a horse mill for some time just above that place.
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HISTORY OF HOWARD AND COOPER COUNTIES.
PRYOR BURTON.
The subject of this sketch was born on the 15th of April, 1829, in Howard county, Missouri, being the son of Moses Burton, of Ken- tucky, born in 1796, who came to this county in 1816 or 1817. He was first married to Miss Elizabeth Pemberton, of Kentucky, and they had nine children, of whom Pryor was the third. Only three children are now living. Mr. B.'s second marriage occurred to Miss Jane Hughes. When twenty years old, young Burton took a trip to California, remaining for three years, when he returned. In 1855 Miss Mary E. Willis, of Howard county, became his wife, and to them was born one child - Alonzo Moses, now deceased. He was again married to Miss Susan E. Hockensmith, a daughter of Joseph Hock- ensmith, of this county. They have had two children - Joseph W. and Fannie- neither of whom are living. Mr. Burton is the owner of 225 acres of well improved land, in excellent condition. He has ever been a democrat in politics. He is a member of the Baptist church.
WILLIAM A. CRESON,
farmer and stock raiser, section 31, owes his nativity to Surry county, North Carolina, where he was born in 1832. George Creson, his father, also born in North Carolina in 1798, married Miss Eunice Hadley, of the same state. Nine children were born of this union, six of whom are living. William accompanied his parents to Mis- souri in 1840, locating in Howard county, which has since been his home. In 1858 Miss Nancy J. Robb became his wife, and they have four children living - George William, Sterling Price, Caleb W., and Ann M. Mr. Creson was not in the service during the war, though his sympathies were with the southern cause. Politically he is now a greenbacker, though formerly a democrat. His farm con- tains eighty acres.
STEPHEN W. CRESON,
one of the prominent and most successful teachers in this county, was born in Howard county, Missouri, January 27, 1853. He was the son of Thomas H. Creson, a native of North Carolina, born in 1823, who was first married in 1848 to Miss Caroline Collier. They had six children - Mary L., Eunice O., Stephen W., Josephine, James M. and Rebecca L. Of these five are now alive. Mr. C.'s second marriage occurred to Frances Enyard, who bore him five children. Stephen W. remained at home until twenty-five years of age, receiving the principal part of his education at the Kirksville normal school. In 1874 he commenced teaching, and has followed that profession continuously ever since. His first school he taught in Randolph county, and afterwards in Swetnam's school, then at the Rock Spring school house, and finally at his present location, where
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HISTORY OF HOWARD AND COOPER COUNTIES.
he has taught for three consecutive years. He has acquired an envi- able reputation as an able and thoroughly competent instructor, and his services are eagerly sought after. He owns a farm in section 32, of 102 acres, upon which is a fine residence, and he also devotes con- siderable attention to the raising of stock. All he now owns has been acquired through his own efforts, he having commenced in life for himself, a poor boy. Mr. Creson was married in 1877 to Miss Susie E. Robb, daughter of Sarah E. Robb. They have one child - Bertha A.
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