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 61

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 61
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 61

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eighty acres. He is an excellent carpeuter and quite a mechanic, and devotes considerable attention to this industry. In his political pre- ferences he is democratic.

ALVIN P. SPOTTS

was born in Howard county, Missouri, June 5, 1857. His father, a Virginian by birth, born about the year 1826, married Miss M. A. Prather, of Howard county, and a daughter of Mrs. A. Walkup. To them were born seven children : Alvin P., Eugene L., Lela A., Ida E., Edwin R., Baylor A. and Arretta F. Mr. Spotts, Sr., came to this state when only ten years of age, and is, therefore, one of the earliest settlers of Howard county. He and his wife are both living, and are located near Armstrong. The subject of this sketch remained at home until twenty-two years old, then coming to Burton. From that time on (or from Angust, 1879,) to January, 1883, he was occupied in the mercantile business, a portion of the time with Mr. Winn as a partner, but previously he was a director of the Patrons' supply house in Burton. December 10, 1881, Mr. Spotts was mar- ried to Miss Mattie D. Harris, a daughter of Thomas B. Harris, one of the most extensive land owners in this township. They have one child, Harvey W.

JUDGE MORGAN A. TAYLOR,

a native of Virginia, was born May 15, 1823. His father, Humphrey Taylor, also a Virginian by birth, born in 1788, married Miss Ann Broyle, of the same state as himself. To them were born seven chil- dren, of whom Morgan was the sixth child. In 1844, leaving Vir- ginia, he accompanied his father to Missouri, locating in Howard county, where he has since remained. The senior Taylor died in 1870. In November, 1859, the subject of this sketch was married to Miss Amanda Burton, a daughter of Moses Burton. Their family consists of nine children : Fratie B., Alice P., Robert L., Minnie B., Mary H., William B., John M., Fannie S. and Gertrude. Eight of these are now living at home. In 1856 Mr. Taylor was elected judge of the county court of Howard county, and served continuously for eleven years in a manner which won for him the highest commenda- tion of all. Since then he has given his attention to carrying on his fine farm of 480 acres. This is under cultivation and well improved. Politically he is a democrat.

J. C. TAYLOR,

farmer and stock raiser, was born on the 24th of February, 1851, at Roanoke, Howard county, Missouri. His father, Thomas Taylor, who came originally from Virginia, was born in 1817, and married Miss Virginia Davis, of Randolph county. By this marriage there were seven children : W. B., J. C., Henry, Rufus E., Lizzie and

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HISTORY OF HOWARD AND COOPER COUNTIES.

Dora. Five of this number are now living. After he was twelve years old, J. C. Taylor went to live with his grandfather, with whom he remained until the death of that relative in 1874. In 1877 he was married to Miss Fannie Baugh. They have one child, a daughter, Maudie, born April 22, 1878. Mr. Taylor's farm of 180 acres is lo- cated in sections 18 and 19, and is well watered and improved, and of good quality. He is a democrat in his political views.

ASA THOMSON,

the son of Asa Thomson, was born in Howard county, Missouri, while his father, Asa Thomson, originally from Kentucky, came to Missouri in 1820 and located in this county. Here he was married to Miss Margaret Wallace, a native of the same state as himself, and they were the parents of twelve children, six boys and six girls, of whom eight are living. When twenty-one years of age, young Thom- son, leaving home, went to live with his brother-in-law, with whom he remained five years. In the winter of 1863 he was married to Miss Mell Robertson, a daughter of Hiram Robertson. During the war Mr. T. enlisted in company A, General Clark's regiment, under Colonel Jackson, and served for four years. He owns a farm of 340 acres of fine land, eighty acres of which are in Randolph county, and the bal- ance on what is known as Foster's Prairie. Mr. and Mrs. Thomson have had eight children, five of whom are living: William, Johnnie F., Ara, Lena and Bettie. Three are deceased : Sidney, Sallie and Elfie J. Mr. T. is a democrat.

WILLIAM S. THOMPSON

was also born within the limits of Howard county, Missouri, on Decem- ber 7, 1820. N. M. Thompson, his father, a native of Kentucky, born in 1794, emigrated to this county in 1812, and was united in marriage to Miss Elizabeth Williams, a daughter of C. C. Williams, of Howard county. Their family consisted of sixteen children, but only five are now living. William S. remained with his father until eighteen years of age, when he went to the Platte Purchase, staying about two years after his marriage. On the 8th of October, 1839, Miss Mary Jeffries, of Clay county, and a daughter of John Jeffries, became his wife. To them were born six children : Nero, Elizabeth, Nancy Ann, Colden W., Arminta M. and Margaret. Four of these children are now living. Mr. Thompson owns a farm of 110 acres in section 22. He has ever been a democrat in his political preferences.

JAMES M. WALKUP,

farmer and stock raiser, section 8, was born in 1850, and is also a native of Howard county, Missouri. James Walkup, his father, a Kentuckian by birth, came to this county about the year 1830. He died a month before the birth of James M. The latter, the youngest son of a family of nine children, lived with his mother until 1872,

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HISTORY OF HOWARD AND COOPER COUNTIES.

when he went to Iowa, remaining there for four years. In 1876 he was married, while in that state, to Miss Lizzie McMains, and they have been blessed with three children, all of whom are living : Arthur M., Bertha and Virgil. Mr. Walkup has in his possession 137 acres of improved land. In his political affiliations he is democratic.

C. T. WARE,

born in the year 1829, in Burton township, Howard county, Missouri, was the son of John B. and Susan Ware, nee Graves, both Kentuck- ians by birth, the former born in 1804, and the latter in 1805 or 1806. They were married in Shelby county, Kentucky, in 1823, and to them were born three girls and five boys, of whom C. T. is the third now living. John B. Ware took for his second wife Miss Elizabeth Graves. When fifteen years old the subject of this sketch commenced working ont, and soon went to Indiana, where he remained one year, then re- turning to this county. March 9, 1852, he was married to Miss Mar- tha Robb, daughter of Jonas and Sallie Robb. They have two chil- dren : John S., born March 31, 1855, married Miss Dora Ketchum, and Sarah E., born April 22, 1857, wife of J. W. Magruder, of Bur- ton. They have with them at this time two orphan children, whom they are raising : Sallie B. and Thomas. Mr. Ware owns 186 acres of land in section 5, upon which he is extensively interested in farm- ing and the raising of stock.

MAJOR M. W. WILSON,

who came originally from Delaware, was born in 1825, and is the son of Joshua Wilson, of the same state, born about the year 1785. He married Miss Mary Glover, and to them were born three children : M. W., Sarah, born in 1812, still living and unmarried, and Elizabeth, born in 1829, and the wife of Joseph Dickerson, of Delaware. When Mr. Wilson left his native state, in 1842, he came to Shelby county, Missouri, where he made his home until 1846. Going to Palmyra, he remained until 1847, at which time he enlisted under Colonel John Ralls, of Ralls county, in the Mexican war, serving until the close of hostilities. Returning to Palmyra, he was married July 11, 1849, to Miss Amelia Pool, a daughter of Anthony Pool, of Marion county, Missouri. They had four children, of whom Ida and Mary are living, and Annabel and John are deceased, the former dying in 1876, and the latter in 1865. In 1850 Mr. Wilson went to Shelby county, Missouri, and located at a place known as Walker's Mill, on Salt river, where he built a saw and grist mill. Selling ont in 1857, he settled at Mad- ison, Monroe county, erected a mill there, but disposed of it in 1860, then going to Cedar county. He operated a mill near Stockton, on Cedar creek, until 1862, then leaving the vicinity on account of the troubles pertaining to the civil war. For one year he lived in Easton, Leavenworth county, Kansas, and upon returning to Madison, Mis- souri, was engaged in merchandising for one year. Subsequently he

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HISTORY OF HOWARD AND COOPER COUNTIES.

sold ont, but he remained there till the fall of 1880, at which time, coming to Howard county, he located at Burton and embarked in business here. He now owns the drug store at this place, and has a well-stocked establishment. He is at present occupied in coal mining as one of the Salt Fork Coal Mining company of Missouri. While in Monroe county he served for sixteen years as a justice of the peace, and just before leaving was elected for another term of four years, but resigned. He is now a notary public. One of Major Wilson's daughters is the widow of H. M. Haley, and the other daughter is the wife of a Mr. Scott, a merchant at Sebree.

JOHN O. WINN,

merchant and manager of the Grange co-operative store at Burton. Among the young business men of Howard county, none, judging by the best criterion - success already achieved - have a more promising future than the young gentleman whose name heads this sketch. He was born in Boone county, this state, in 1858, and was a son of George and Etta (O'Neal) Winn, both now deceased. John O. was still a child when his father threw himself into the civil war to uphold the institutions and honor of the south, and paid the sacrifice of his life upon the altar of his convictions. The love and tender care of a de- voted young mother were not long spared to smooth the pathway of her fatherless children through life. She, too, died a few years after her husband looked his last npon the bright banner that led him to a soldier's grave. James and Anna were left orphan children. Anna is now the wife of French Gulick, of Boone county. At the age of twelve, James went to St. Charles county. There in the ordinary schools he acquired the rudiments of an education. His knowledge of books he afterwards improved by private study. From St. Charles he went to Texas. Two years afterwards he returned to Missouri and stopped at Burton. Here he has since made his home. The first two years he clerked in a store at this place. The following year he was a partner with Mr. A. P. Spotts in the mercantile business. He was then appointed manager of the co-operative Grange store, the position he now fills. As a merchant he has proved a marked success. Under his management the store has declared an annual net dividend of nearly twelve per cent. Of the many Grange stores started a number of years ago, this is one of the very few that have proved successful, a fact highly complimentary to the business ability of its manager. In this establishment he has become a leading stockholder - the prin- cipal one, in fact, in the store. It does an annual business of over $60,000, and its trade is rapidly increasing. This, on a capital stock of $6,000, is a most flattering showing. Several years ago Mr. Winn was married to Miss Josephine McCafferty, an amiable and accom- plished daughter of Judge McCafferty, of Burton, whose sketch ap- pears elsewhere. In politics Mr. W. is a democrat, and is now the representative of his township in the democratic central committee of the county. As a citizen and a neighbor he is respected and esteemed by all.

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HISTORY OF HOWARD AND COOPER COUNTIES.

BONNE FEMME TOWNSHIP.

ELIJAH ANCELL,

section 28, is a Virginian by birth, and was born in 1830, being the son of James Ancell, who was born in 1798, in Lawrence county, Virginia. He lived there until his marriage, in 1816, to Miss Frances Estes, of the same state, and they had six sons, all now living but one, of whom Elijah is the youngest. In 1836 he accompanied his father to Howard county, Missouri, locating at first two miles from his present residence, and two years later moving to the place he now occupies. The senior Ancell died in 1872, his wife's death occurring June 19, of the same year. Mr. Ancell was married in 1850 to Miss Sarah F. Mason, who bore him five children - Falicia Frances, Mary W., Lucy S., James T. and Samnel N. He was again married in October, 1879, to Miss Lucinda Harges, a daughter of Caleb and Elizabeth Harges, of this county. They have one child, Elijah C., born August 28, 1881. Mr. A. owns 160 acres of land. He and his wife are members of the Christian church, in which he is an elder.

JAMES JOHNSON AVRETT

is an old resident of Howard county, having always made his home within her limits. He was born June 16, 1836, near Fayette, his parents being James and Polly ( Hale ) Avrett. The former was born in South Carolina in 1803. Their family consisted of twelve children, all of whom arrived at manhood and womanhood, and of these nine are living. James J., the eighth child, lived upon the farm with his father until twenty-five years old, his education being somewhat neglected in youth. In March, 1861, he was married to Miss Cynthia Jane Winn, daughter of Thomas and Margaret Winn, both of Howard county. To them were born eight children - Effie L., Boyd, Wil- liam K., Luther, Peter H. and Cassius are living, and two daughters, Minnie and Lulu, are deceased. Mr. Avrett is greatly interested in educational matters, and has given his children excellent opportunities for attending school. He owns 240 acres of land, 200 acres being in section 16, upon which is located his residence.

MINTER H. BAILEY.

In Fauquier county, Virginia, on the 20th day of August, 1808, occurred the birth of the subject of this sketch. He was principally reared in Lewis county, West Virginia. In 1830 he came as far west as St Louis, and remained there until 1833, then moving to Howard county and locating on Salt creek. Mr. B. was married February 6,

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HISTORY OF HOWARD AND COOPER COUNTIES.

1854, to Miss Nancy Bradley, who was born in May, 1814. Nine of the twelve children born to them are living : Mary J., born February 18, 1838 ; Samuel, born February 6, 1840; Rachel, born January 2, 1842 ; Sarah, born December 21, 1843 ; Nancy, born September 21, 1848 ; Minter, Jr., born December 30, 1850; Susan M., born Jan- mary 6, 1853 ; James S., born August 6, 1855 ; Thomas, born August 19, 1858. Elizabeth, John and Melinda are deceased. John was killed in the army under Price, May 10, 1864. Mr. Bailey's father, - Samuel, was born in Southern Virginia. He married Miss Agues Hutchinson, of Virginia, and to them were born six sons and two daughters. Mr. B. owns 280 acres of land, most of it of a superior quality.

JOHN BARTON,

a justice of the peace of Bonne Femme township, residing at Bun- ker Hill, was born in England, June 18, 1844. His father, Solomon Barton, also a native of that country, married Miss Susan Dallas. They early emigrated to the United States and settled in Kentucky. The subject of this sketch left Kentucky in 1868 and emigrated to Howard county, where he was married in 1878 to Miss Nancy Hern, a daughter of George Hern, of Howard county. They have two chil- dren, William and Joseph.

ANDREW COLLINS

was born in Madison county, Kentucky, September 15, 1815, and was taken when young by his parents to Tennessee. The family lived in that state until 1819, then emigrating to Cooper county, Missouri. His father, Thomas Collins, was a native of Kentucky, and in 1809 mar- ried Miss Frances Woods, of the same state. Andrew was the third of a family of eleven children. Thomas Collins was engaged to some extent in freighting on the lower Mississippi, and in 1829 died in New Orleans. His wife's death occurred in 1882. The subject of this sketch was married in Cooper county, in 1845, to Miss M. L. Smith, a native of Missouri. They have had nine children : James D., Thomas, Susan F., William B., Martha E., Isaac G., John G., Re- becca P. and Andrew. Politically Mr. C. is a staunch democrat, and takes deep interest in the Grange, of which he is a member. Hc owns 240 acres of land, 100 acres of which are good bottom land.

DR. T. H. DINWIDDIE,

druggist at Bunker Hill, and a prominent and enterprising young phy- sician of the vicinity, was born on November 5, 1858, and is a native of Boone county, Missouri. His father, Dr. Archie Dinwiddie, a Vir- ginian by birth, located in Madison, Indiana, and from there came to Missouri in 1830. He was married three times : first to a Miss Mitchell, of Fayette, afterwards to Miss Dudgeon, daughter of Cap- tain Dudgeon, and lastly to Miss Sallie A. Harris, daughter of Tyler Harris, a noted " stump-speaker." T. H. resided with his father

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HISTORY OF HOWARD AND COOPER COUNTIES.

until about sixteen years of age, and later he attended the medical de- partment of the state university at Columbia for ten months. Subse- quently he became a student in the Missouri Medical College at St. Louis, graduating from that institution, March 5, 1878. Dr. D. soon went to Moberly, Missouri, and remained with the surgeon of the Missouri, Kansas and Texas railroad for a time. In three months he located at Bunker Hill, where he is now enjoying a Incrative practice. August 17, 1880, Miss Susan M. Jones, daughter of W. M. Jones, of this conuty, became his wife. They have one child, Harry M. The doctor is the owner of a well stocked drug store at this place.

JAMES H. FELAND

was born in Howard county, Missouri, . near Fayette, in 1830. His father, William M. Feland, was a native of Kentucky and was born in 1802. He came to Howard county in 1817, and was married in 1827, in this county, to Miss Elizabeth Snell. To them were born seven children, four of whom are now living. Mr. Feland was a farmer by calling and followed this occupation until his death, in 1846. James H. spent his early life on his father's farm, obtaining a common school education. At the age of twenty-one years he com- menced teaching school, and after pursuing this avocation for a time resumed farming for one year, and then received the appointment of deputy sheriff from Bird Deatheridge, Esq. After holding this posi- tion eight months he was elected in August, 1855, assessor for two years, but owing to a new law going in force he was legislated out of office at the expiration of one year. He was then appointed district assessor for two more years, by the county court. In 1860 he was elected by the democrats, sheriff, and served the county faithfully in that capacity. After the expiration of his term of office he re- turned to his farm ou section 36, and has devoted himself to the more peaceful calling of farming and stock raising. His farm con- sists of 160 acres of excellent land. Mr. Feland was married in December, 1858, to Miss Elizabeth Gates, of Howard county, she being the daughter of Daniel Gates. Of ten children born to Mr. and Mrs. Feland, niue are now living : Susan I., Mamie J., Wil- liam A., Oliver D., Carrie M., Sallie F., Thomas, Nannie P., John B. and James M.

REV. JACKSON HARRIS,

pastor of the Missionary Baptist church at Bunker Hill, and now re- siding on section 7, was born near Fayette, Howard county, Mis- souri, April 12, 1825, and was the son of William Harris, a farmer by occupation, born May 15, 1792, in Virginia. He lived there until nineteen years old, emigrated to Kentucky, and in 1812 or 1813 mar- ried Miss Margaret Downing, daughter of Ezekiel Downing. After living in Kentucky a few years, Mr. H. removed to Missouri, locating in Lincoln, but two years later, in 1820, came to Howard county be-

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HISTORY OF HOWARD AND COOPER COUNTIES.

fore the present town of Fayette contained a house. He helped to carry the chain for Alfred W. Morrison when this county was sur- veyed. Jackson remained with his father until twenty-three years of age, soon entering the employ of General Clark, for whom he had previously worked at intervals. He travelled for one year, and dur- ing this time, on January 22, 1851, was married to Miss Nancy Cas- per, daughter of John Casper, of Howard county, and one of its old settlers. They have had eight children, and brought up three sous and three daughters. About 1848 Mr. Harris was converted under the preaching of Wm. T. Ellington, and in 1849 commenced prepar- ing himself for the ministry. After due study he acted as a local ex- horter until in August, 1867, when he was ordained a minister of the Baptist denomination. He has ever followed farming in connection with his ministerial labors, and now owns 222 acres of land, all in this township, except forty acres, in Randolph county. His home place contains 142 acres of well improved land.

JOHN R. HITT

was born April 2, 1827, in Virginia. His father, Joah Hitt, also a Virginian by birth, was born about the year 1780, and was married to Miss Nancy Vaughan. They had six children, of whom John R. was the second, and he is one of four now living. He was educated in his native state, and in 1846 he came to Howard county, Missouri, remaining for three years, and returning in 1849 to Virginia. In 1852 he again came to this county, He was married first, in 1849, to Laura L. Brown, who bore him nine children : Joel H., James B., Samuel H., Andrew J., Bennett, Ernest (now deceased ), Russell V., Arthur (now deceased ) and John C. His second marriage occurred in Giles county, Tennessee, to Miss Sarah L. Quarles, of Tennessee, a daughter of Ammon T. Quarles. To them have been born seven children ; Laura E., Francis, Tennessee, Jennie, Emily Jane, Adda and Luavedia. Politically Mr. H. is democratic. He owns 220 acres of land.

WALTER A. HITT,

a native of Howard county, Missouri, was born, October 25, 1846, and was the son of Joab Hitt, originally from Virginia, and one of the earliest settlers of Howard county, Missouri, who married Miss Frances B. Taylor, also of that state. To them were born ten chil- dren, of whom six survive : James R., John H., Francis A., Eliza- beth, Warren T. and Walter A. The latter received his education in the district schools, and continued to reside at home until twenty-one years old. December 26, 1876, he married Miss Anna T. Dougherty, daughter of John T. Dougherty, of this county. They have had three children : Archie S., Edna E. and Roy B. One of these chil- dren is deceased. Mr. Hitt owns 205 acres of land near Meyers' post-office ( Bunker Hill), nearly all of which is well improved. He is a member of the Grange. During the war he belonged to a com- pany which acted for the Confederate cause.

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HISTORY OF HOWARD AND COOPER COUNTIES.

WILLIAM M. JONES

is one of Bonne Femme's most prominent citizens. He is a native of Jessamine county, Kentucky, and was born on the 13th day of July, 1827. His father, J. D. Jones, was also born in Kentucky, in 1797. The maiden name of his mother was America Bowen. William M. was the fifth son and sixth child of a family of ten children. His youth, until eighteen, was spent in the state of his birth, after which he passed three years in Illinois. In 1848 he returned to Kentucky and was there married to Miss D. Boggry, of that state. Their eight children were named Susie M., Jennie, Joseph, Fannie, Callie, America, Henrie and William J. In October, 1871, Mr. Jones lo- cated where he now lives, and at this time he owns over 300 acres of valuable land ; besides conducting his farming operations he is en- gaged in a successful mercantile business at Bunker Hill, and is also a stock dealer of prominence. He holds the position of postmaster of Meyer's post-office.

GEORGE STEPHEN LAY.

Alfred Lay, the grandfather of George, is remembered as being one of the pioneers of Howard county, and one of the first, if not the first, to operate a mill in the county. His son, William, was born in this county in 1822, and married Miranda Simeons. Of their nine boys and three girls, five attained manhood and womanhood. The subject of this sketch was born in Howard county, Missouri, June 20, 1854. He found a wife in the person of Miss Flora Stewart, a daugh- ter of C. C. Stewart, of New York. They have two children living - C. L. and Arthur. Ada and George are deceased. Politically, Mr. L. is a republican. His farm contains 180 acres.

GEORGE S. AND HENRY C. MUIR,

who are now residing on section 36 of this township, are sons of W. B. and Margaret T. Muir, nee Blue, who were married in 1827, in Kentucky. Their family originally consisted of twelve children, six of whom survive. In 1827, emigrating to Missouri, they settled in Boone county, and in 1828 located where Mrs. Muir now lives, it being on the first farm cleared in the township. W. B. Muir died in September, 1875. Mrs. M. owns 160 acres of land, her sons, George S. and Henry C., making their home with her. They are both dem- ocrats.

SAMUEL M. NAYLOR

is the seventh child of a family of eight children born to George T. and Rosa Naylor, nee Newcomb, both natives of Kentucky. His father was born in 1786, and married in 1809. Samuel M. was born in Howard county, Missouri, October 19, 1831. He lived with his father until eighteen years of age and then went to New Mexico, and

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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