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 96
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 96
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HISTORY OF HOWARD AND COOPER COUNTIES.
occupation until 1874, when he went to Colorado and became inter- ested with his cousin, John D. Mccutchen, in the stock business. As stated in the latter's sketch, they remained in the Silver Mountain state some seven years, or until 1881. On his return home, Mr. Tutt resumed farming, and now, jointly with his cousin, runs a handsome farm of 292 acres of land - an excellent grain and stock farm. Indus- trions, enterprising and experienced in both general farming and stock raising, these gentlemen can hardly fail of taking rank at an early day among the foremost agriculturists and stock men of the country.
P. G. WALKER,
farmer and stock raiser. In the very front rank of the farmers and stock raisers of Cooper county stands P. G. Walker, the subject of this sketch. With a landed estate of over 2,500 acres, including a splendid farm, well improved and well supplied with pastures and water, he has one of the best stock farms, and, at the same time, one of the best grain farms in the county. Besides giving his attention to raising short-horn cattle, of which he has a fine herd, he also makes a specialty of raising fine mules for the general markets. He is a native of the county, and was born March 22, 1833. His father, Samuel Walker, was originally from Kentucky, but settled in this county as early as 1823, and became a leading and successful farmer. His mother, formerly Miss Nancy Cockrell, was born in Virginia. P. G. Walker was reared on his father's farm, and has made agriculture bis occupation for life, in which he has achieved the most satisfactory success. Annually he feeds large numbers of cattle for shipment, and his stock in this line being of an extra quality, always bring the first market prices. On the 12th of June, 1860, Mr. Walker was married to Miss Fannie Boulware, of this state. They have six children living : Mattie, Lou A., Presley, Samuel, George and Alma. Three are dead : Agnes, Middleton and Alice. Mr. W. is a member of the M. E. church south.
A. A. WALKER,
farmer. Mr. Walker is one of the representative farmers and stock raisers of Cooper county. Brought up to the occupation of farming, he has all the practical knowledge of the business a life-time devoted to it necessarily implies, and, in addition to this, has the advantage of a thorough education, which in these days of scientific, progressive farming, is almost as necessary to complete success in this calling as in any other. His landed estate contains a thousand acres of the best quality of land, and all this he has well improved and in excellent
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HISTORY OF HOWARD AND COOPER COUNTIES.
condition. His herd of short-horns is one of the best in the county, and he feeds annually large numbers of cattle for the wholesale mar- kets, having at the present time 250 head of fine steers. He is a native of this county, where his whole life thus far has been spent, and comes of one of the best families in the county. Judge Anthony S. Walker, his father, was originally from Bourbon county, Ken- tucky, where he was born November 19, 1805, but when twenty-one years of age, in 1826, came to Missouri, and located on the farm where A. A., his son, now lives. April 31, 1831, he was married to Miss Mary E. Read, formerly of Kentucky, and of their family of six children, A. A. was the fourth. He was born April 15, 1839. The father died September 26, 1863, and the mother about nine years afterwards, June 20, 1872. Judge Walker was for many years, and up to the time of his death, one of the most prominent citizens of the county. Besides being a leading and wealthy farmer, he was for a number of years judge of the county court, and was a member of the legislature as early as 1844, and again at the time of the outbreak of the war in 1861. He was the first postmaster ever appointed in his homestead township, and kept the office at his residence for a number of years. He was universally esteemed and respected by his neigh- bors and acquaintances, and his death was deeply regretted by all who knew him. A man of liberal ideas and of good education himself, he was careful that his children should enjoy the best of school advan- tages. Accordingly, the subject of this sketch, A. A. Walker, after taking a thorough course in the preparatory schools, entered the state university at Columbia, in which he continned as a student until 1859, when he graduated with marked honor. Returning home after his university course, he gave his undivided attention to farming, and has continued in this ever since. In December, 1868, he was married to Maggie, an accomplished daughter of Doctor Samuel Tutt, one of the foremost physicians and most highly respected citizens of the county, Mrs. Walker is an active and exemplary member of the Baptist church, and is a lady of rare grace of mind and person. Mr. and Mrs. Walker have one daughter, Margaret.
KELLY TOWNSHIP.
ANDREAS BESTGEN,
farmer and stock raiser ; also notary public and clerk of the school board. Among the successful farmers and substantial citizens of
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HISTORY OF HOWARD AND COOPER COUNTIES.
Cooper county, of foreign birth, whose biographies deserve insertion in this work, is the subject of the present sketch. Mr. Bestgen was born in Prussia, July 8, 1818, and was the youngest of three brothers of a family of six children, reared by Andreas Bestgen, Sr., and wife, whose maiden name was Miss Catherine Kelspach, both natives of the same country. Andreas, Jr., received a good education in youth in his native language, and, in accordance with the regulations there, learned a trade. He acquired that of a millwright, and also learned the general milling business, in both of which he was more or less en- gaged until his immigration to this country. The father died in Prussia in 1840, and seven years afterwards, Andreas, Peter, a mar- ried sister, and his mother, came to America, and settled in Moniteau county, this state. Here, the following year, February 26, 1848, he was married to Miss Catherine, daughter of Cornelius Atter, originally of Germany. After his marriage he continued to live in Moniteau county until 1854, when he removed to Cooper, and bought land near Pisgah. He lived there until 1868, and then located on the farm where he now lives. He has over 300 acres of good land, 200 acres of which are in his home farm. This is well improved, with good buildings, fences, an orchard, etc. Besides ordinary farming he gives some attention to stock raising. Mr. and Mrs. Bestgen have a family of nine children : Catherine, wife of Peter Kammerich ; Mary, wife of Henry Miller ; John, Barbara, wife of William Schmidt ; Roda, wife of John Knipp ; Andrew, Maggie, Ellen and Pio. Mr. Bestgen, was ap- pointed notary public, in 1862, by the governor, and has held the office by successive appointments ever since - over twenty years. He is now also clerk of the local school board. He and his wife are both members of the Catholic church, as are also his children.
GEORGE J. BULL.
One of the time-honored, substantial and worthy citizens of Palestine township is the gentleman whose name heads this sketch. He is a native of Baltimore, Maryland, and was born August 13, 1824. Mr. Bull is a twin brother of Thomas H. Bull, of Clark's Fork town- ship, this county, and the two with their families always celebrate their anniversaries together at the residence of one or the other. They were sons of John and Jane ( Phillips ) Bull who settled in this county in 1836, when George J. and Thomas H. were lads but twelve years of age. The first two years of his residence in Cooper county the father was engaged in merchandising, but he then improved a farm in Palestine and Clark's Fork township, where he lived until his
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HISTORY OF HOWARD AND COOPER COUNTIES.
death. Their mother is still living (1883) at the advanced age of eighty-seven. Both parents were natives of the Old Dominion. George J., after he grew up, was married September 9, 1852, to Miss Albertine, daughter of John F. Venlemans, of Cooper county. She is a native of Belgium, where she was reared, but came to this country with her parents in early maidenhood. She is a versatile linguist, being able to speak fluently three languages. Mr. and Mrs. Bull have three children : John M., Mary, wife of John Whittaker, and James Jefferson. Immediately after his marriage Mr. Bull settled on the farm where he now lives, where he followed farming and stock raising with excellent success until his retirement from the active duties of the farm a short time ago. He takes an active interest in public affairs and particularly in politics. He has been twice a dele- gate to the county convention, and enjoys the entire confidence of his party (the democratic) and of the whole community. He and his family are members of the Catholic church.
C. K. CULLERS,
farmer and stock raiser. The lives of few men in Cooper county have been characterized by greater activity or more enterprise than has that of Mr. Cullers. He is a native of Virginia, and was born in Page county January 23, 1825. His father, John, and mother, Mary (Keyser) Cullers, were also born and reared in the Old Dominion. C. K. had excellent school advantages in youth. Besides the iustruc- tion of the common schools he also had the benefit of a course at high school. In the latter he became proficient in the more advanced branches, particularly in mathematics, including surveying. After the completion of his educatiom he went to New Orleans, and spent two years there in the grocery business. In 1847 he came ont from the Crescent City to Kentucky, and merchandised, in partnership with his uncle, at Greenupsburgh until 1850. By that time the California gold excitement was at its highest, and he joined the innumerable throng bound for the golden coast. He went, however, by New Orleans and the South. He remained in the far-off Occident over two years, engaged principally in mining, and during this time made sev- eral trips to Oregon. Returning in the spring of 1853, he spent the summer in Virginia and in the following winter organized a squad of eight young men and went back to the Pacific coast. He then worked in the gold mines nearly three years, but returned to his native state in 1856, and on the 19th of June of that year was married to Miss Margaret, daughter of Nathaniel Tapp, of Page county. The current
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HISTORY OF HOWARD AND COOPER COUNTIES.
summer he spent in Ohio, and the following fall came to Missouri and settled in Cooper county. Here he bought the well-known Jolly farm, one of the oldest and finest in the county. It is well improved with a two-story brick dwelling, good barn, an excellent orchard, etc. It contains nearly 200 acres, all under fence. Mr. and Mrs. Cullers have three children : M. L., in the grocery business at Tipton ; Mag- gie, an instrumental music teacher of superior attainments in her pro- fession, and Commil K. Mr. C. and family are members of the Missouri Baptist church and of the I. O. G. T. He is also a member of the Masonic order.
JESSE M. DANIEL,
farmer and stock dealer. Among the thrifty farmers and well respected citizens of Kelly township, Mr. Daniel may not improperly be singled out for special mention. He was born in Montgomery county, Kentucky, April 3d, 1842, and was a son of Captain Charles W. and Matilda (Daniel ) Daniel, who came from that state in 1867 and settled in Cooper county. Captain Daniel died here in the fall of the same year. Jesse M. came out to this county with his parents and bought the farm where he now lives. He has an excellent place of 320 acres, all in cultivation except a small piece of timbered land. His residence is a substantial, well constructed, two-story building, and his farm is enclosed with good hedge and rail fencing. It is otherwise well improved. He raises grain and deals to some extent in live stock. June 3d, 1862 he was married to Miss Virginia, a daughter of James H. Speed. His wife is a native of the county, and was here reared and educated. They were married, however, in St. Louis county. Mr. and Mrs. Daniel have a family of six children : Charles B., Matilda A., James S., Virginia A., Mary F. and Jessie M. They have lost two : Lucy, died August 6th, 1867, and Rosa, June 19th, 1871, both in infancy. Both parents are members of the Cumberland Presbyterian church.
PORTER E. DAVIS,
farmer, stock raiser and dealer. The biography of the Davis family reveals, with more than ordinary clearness, the qualities of courage, adventure, resolution, untiring industry and solid worth, possessed by the men who came west from the older states, and have made this seetion one of the fairest and most prosperous parts of the Union. On his father's side he is of Virginia parentage, on his mother's of Georgia extraction. His grandfather, John Davis, and his father,
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HISTORY OF HOWARD AND COOPER COUNTIES.
Captain Phillip Davis, were both natives of the Old Dominion. Captain Davis, his father, was a dauntless soldier under Jackson, in the war of 1812. He went to Tennessee in an early day, and there met and married Miss Cynthia Jennings, a fair daughter of the Empire State of the south, Georgia, They lived in Franklin county, Tennes- see, near Winchester,-where Porter E. was born iu February, 1816- until 1829, when they removed to Missouri and settled on a farm in Kelly township, this county. Afterward Captain Davis crossed the plains several times, and was often with Kit Carson in the west, the two being intimate friends. He served as captain of the militia for a number of years during the old muster days, and was one of the leaders among the old pioneers and early settlers of the county. Porter E. grew up mainly in this county, and started out for himself early in life. He was married here in about 1836, to Miss Joan, daughter of Peter Stevens, one of the first settlers of the county. Four years after his marriage he returned to Morgan county where he lived some thirty-five years, and became one of the most prosperous farmers of the county, He still owns a fourth interest in 2,200 acres of land there. In 1873 he bought a farm in Kelly township, Cooper county and removed to it, and in the spring of 1883 bought the place where he now lives. He also owns land in Bates county. Mr. Davis attributes his success in life to the habits of steady industry, to which he was brought up, and which have never forsaken him. All he has he owes alone to his own exertions. Economy and good management have enabled him to save what he has made. He is one of the suc- cessful farmers and stock men of the county. While Mr Davis has prospered in the material interests of life, he and his good wife have been peculiarly unfortunate in their family. They have had nine children, all but three of whom have been borne to their graves. Those living are Alpha, wife of Dr. O. A. Williams, of Morgan county, prominent in public life and in his profession in that county ; Nannie, wife of John W. Nelson, and Mollie, widow of Gibson Ector, who died in April, 1883. John A., died in 1883, aged thirty-three ; William T., died in military service during the war; Cynthia, the wife of Charles B. Sales, present collector of Morgan county, died in 1881. The others died earlier in life. Mrs. Davis is a member of the Baptist church.
A. J. EUBANK,
farmer and stock feeder and dealer. Achille Eubanks, the father of A. J., was a native of Virginia, and was a soldier in the war of 1812. He was twice married ; first in Virginia and afterward in
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HISTORY OF HOWARD AND COOPER COUNTIES.
Kentucky, to which state he had removed, his first wife having died some years previous. He came to Missouri with his family in 1830, and bought land in Kelly township, where A. J. now lives, which he partly improved, and there he died in 1844, A. J. was born of his father's second marriage, February 28, 1851, in this county. His mother whose maiden name was Nancy Ware is still living, and for a number of years has drawn a pension from the government on account of her husband's service in the army. He was a member of Captain Wadkins company in Colonel Bowman's regiment. A. J. Eubank was brought up on his father's farm in this county, and obtained a good ordinary education in the common schools. On the 5th of March, 1863, he was married in Boonville to Miss Mary E., daughter of Abner Bailey, of this county. This union has been blessed with eight children : Lula, Nancy, Roberta, Robert Lee, Joseph, Thomas, Sallie Lee, Lotta Reavis, John Davis and an infant daughter. Mr. Eubank has 223 acres of land under fence and in a good state of improvement. He makes a specialty of buying and feeding stock. He feeds from seventy-five to one hundred and fifty head of cattle and about one hundred head of hogs. In this business he is very successful. His wife is a member of the Cumberland Presbyterian church.
J. HERNDON GOODWIN,
farmer and stock raiser. Mr. Goodwin was in his infancy when his parents J. C. G. and Amanda ( Herndon ) Goodwin emigrated from Kentucky, in 1844, and settled in Cooper county. His father was a native of Louisa county, Virginia, and was born October 10th, 1810. As he grew up he received a thorough English and classic education, taking a complete course in the famous Hampden and Sidney college, of Virginia, from which he was duly graduated. When a young man he came out to Kentucky, where he was married to his first wife. She was a daughter of John Herndon, of Scott county, Kentucky, and a sister to Linsford Herndon, a leading banker of Georgetown, in that county. After their immigration to that state Mr. Goodwin, the father of J. H., became one of the largest land holders and wealthiest farmers and business men of Cooper county. He owned 2,000 acres of land, 1,600 acres of which were in one tract, and a large portion of this was well improved with a fine brick dwelling, good out-build- ings, substantial fences, etc. He held numerous local offices, and was postmaster at Vermont station, where he lived for nearly forty years. He was a large stock dealer, and also carried on a general store in addition to his other interests. He was noted for his close
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HISTORY OF HOWARD AND COOPER COUNTIES.
attention to business and his unswerving integrity. His first wife died in March, 1863. He afterward married Miss Lizzie A. Gilbert. By his first marriage three sons and two daughters were reared, and these are old residents of the county, except one daughter. By his second union there is one son. The father died January 3d, 1883, leaving his estate divided by will equally among his children. J. Herndon Goodwin, the subject of this sketch, is the eldest son living by his father's first marriage, and was born Angust 7th, 1843. He was reared in this county, aud was educated in a private academy. under the instruction of Professor Cully, an able educator, now the superintentent of the Sedalia schools. After completing his scholastic course, Mr. Goodwin was married to Miss Fannie, daughter of M. B. Gentry, originally of Madison county, Kentucky. She was educated at the Bunceton high school. They have two sons, Gentry and Wal- lace. Mr. Goodwin has a good farm of 320 acres, enclosed with an excellent hedge fence, and sub-divided into convenient lots by cross fences. Most of his farm is set with blue grass, timothy and clover, and he makes a specialty of stock raising. He has a herd of about 60 head of thoroughbred and high grade cattle, and he also deals in mules. His farm improvements are all of a good class. Mrs. Goodwin is a member of the Baptist church.
WILLIAM T. GROVES,
farmer. Mr. Groves' father, William Groves, was an old time, hos- pitable, well-to-do farmer of the Old Dominion. He had a large farm near Warrenton, in Fauquier county, and, having a fine or- chard, he made large quantities of brandy. His cellar was never without a pure article of that good, old Virginia beverage, old enough to go on the retired list of the army, and his cellar door was as open to his friends as his great, generous heart was hospitable and kind. He led a quiet, unobtrusive life, and died in the esteem and friendship of his neighbors and of all who knew him. His wife, who was spared to bless his home and brighten his life for many years, was an ami- able, excellent woman, worthy to have been the wife of such a man. She was formerly a Miss Sallie Pritchett of the well known Pritchett family of Virginia. William T. was born, August 2, 1828, and grew up on his father's farm. At the age of twenty-four, in 1852, he came to Missouri and located near Boonville, devoting himself to farming. In September of the following year he was married to Miss Margaret, daughter of Samuel Cole, one of the pioneer settlers of Cooper county. Three children followed this happy union : James
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HISTORY OF HOWARD AND COOPER COUNTIES.
O., Samuel H., and William T., Jr. But death came knocking at his door and took from him his devoted wife. She died January 19, 1868. Nearly four years afterward Mr. Groves was again married, December 28, 1871. His present wife was formerly Miss Anna F. Morton, a daughter of John Morton. She was born in Gloucester, Camden county, New Jersey, October 11, 1858. She is a worthy and excellent lady and bears her part well and cheerfully in making their way through the world. They also have three children : John Rob- ert, Clara Belle and Cora A. From near Boonville Mr. Groves re- moved to Palestine township. In 1879 he sold his place in Palestine and came to Kelly township where he has since lived. He is an in- dustrious, well-respected farmer and a good neighbor and citizen. He and his wife are members of the Baptist church.
GEORGE HARNED,
farmer and stock raiser, section 16. If, as is self-evident, this work would be incomplete without sketches of the more public spirited of the successful farmers and substantial, well-to-do citizens of Cooper county, then the biography of the subject of this sketch justly finds a place in this volume. George Harned was born in Nelson county, Kentucky, April 11, 1829, and was reared in his native county. Of an enterprising turn of mind, at the age of twenty-two he came west and located in Missouri, and two years afterwards, in 1855, returned to Kentucky to be married to his present wife, then Miss Marcia Pash, daughter of Wesley Pash, of Nelson county. They were mar- ried on the 9th of August of that year. Upon their marriage they came out to their new home, and Mr. Harned bought land in Scott county and followed farming there for ten years. In 1865 he sold his farm in Scott county and removed to Cooper county, buying the place where he now lives. He has followed farming here with great energy and success, and now owns more than 1,200 acres of land in four different farms. His homestead place contains 390 acres, all but thirty acres of which is under fence and is well improved, including a good residence, good barns, a good orchard, excellent fencing, etc. He gives some attention to raising fine cattle, and has a number of thoroughbred short-horns of the best breeds. Mr. and Mrs. H. have four children : William P., Benjamin, Edwin P. and Hulda. Mr. H. is a member of the Christian church, and his wife and daughter are connected with the Baptist denomination. Mr. Harned's parents, Benjamin and Ellen (Lee) Harned, were both natives of Kentucky, and were highly respected residents of Nelson county.
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HISTORY OF HOWARD AND COOPER COUNTIES.
WILLIAM M'CURDY, DECEASED.
In 1709 the founder of the McCurdy family in this country emi- grated from Ireland, and settled on a farm in Lancaster county, Penn- sylvania, which remained in the possession of and was occupied by himself and his lincal descendants for 109 years. On this place Wil- liam McCurdy, the subject of the present memoir, was born in August, 1806. In 1818 his parents, Watson and Agnes ( Warner ) McCurdy, removed from the old hereditary homestead in the Keystone state and settled in Jefferson county, Virginia. There William grew to man- hood and remained until 1840, when he came west and located in Cooper county. He was a man of great energy, untiring industry and a good manager. Before he came to the county he had accumu- lated some means and here he bought and entered land, and afterwards added to his landed possessions until, at the time of his death, he owned 700 acres in this county and 500 acres in Bates county. It goes without saying that he was a successful farmer, stock raiser and business man. But more important and better than this, he was an upright, good man ; a man in whose death all that knew him felt a loss. He was a member of no church, but what others talked of he did.
"Formed on the good old plan, A true and brave and downright honest man ! He blew no trumpet in the market-place, Nor in the church with hypocritic face Supplied with cant the lack of Christian grace ; Loathing pretence he did with cheerful will What others talked of, while their hands were still."
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