USA > Missouri > Lafayette County > History of Lafayette county, Mo. , carefully written and compiled from the most authentic official and private sources, including a history of its townships, cities, towns, and villages > Part 56
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TAMES C. JENNINGS,
P. O. Higginsville, Mo. Was born in this county February 12, 1820, where he was raised and educated, and has lived all his life, mostly engaged in farming. In 1842 he was married to Miss Nancy P. Rose, having by this union eight children living-Chas. T., Mary E., Rosa A., Wm. H., Lockey J., Ida B., John D., and Frank C. Mr. and Mrs. Jen- nings are both members of the Baptist church.
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HISTORY OF LAFAYETTE COUNTY.
HENRY DILLON MILLS,
P. O. Aullville, Mo. Is the youngest son of William and Elizabeth Mills, nee Dillon. His father, Wm. Mills, of Craddoxtown, County Kildare, Ire- land, was a barister at law and Justice of the peace. His mother being a daughter of Sir John Dillon, of Ireland, a direct descendant of the earls of Roscommon, and was also a free baron of the Holy Roman Empire conferred upon him and his descendants in 1782 by Joseph I, of Germany, this making Henry a baron of the empire. Henry completed his studies under Richard Edgeworth, of Edgeworthtown, Ireland. He was born December 4, 1813. At the completion of his education, he entered a solicitor's office, where he studied law until he was licensed to practice. He then settled in Dublin, and practiced there. February 14, 1844, he was married to Miss Emily Preston, daughter of the Rev. Nathaniel Preston, of Ireland. By this union they have eight children living, Arthur, Nathaniel, Henry, Frank, John, Fannie (wife of M. M. Gladdish), Emily, and Alice. Mr. M. is one of the patrons of Husbandry. Both he and his wife are members of the Episcopal church. In 1867 with his family he came to this country, and spent one winter in St. Louis. In 1868 he moved to this county, and purchased the farm on which he now resides.
WILLIAM H. PETERS,
P. O. Higginsville, Mo. Is the eldest son of Isaac and Caroline Peters Isaac Peters was born October 17, 1812, and died en route for California May 6, 1849, and was a native of Augusta County, Va. Mrs. Peters was born September, 1823, at Harrisonburg, Rockingham County, Va. They came to Missouri in 1841 and settled in Lexington, where they were mar- ried April 16, 1846. The subject of this sketch was born in Lexington March 16, 1847. In 1862 he moved to Liberty, Clay County, Mo., where he learned the business of photographing. In 186+ he joined Shelby's command, and was attached to Capt. Dick Collins' battery, where he served until the war closed. He then went to Liberty, Clay County, and remained there until 1872, when he returned to this county. In the fall of 1878 he moved to and settled in Higginsville, where he is now located, in the business of photography. He is unmarried; his mother lives with him.
ISAAC REED,
P. O. Higginsville. Son of Joseph P. Reed; was born May 10, 1848, in Clinton county, Ohio, where he was raised and educated. In 1866 he came with his parents to Missouri ,and the year after, he settled in this county. In 1871 he was married to Miss Matha E. Walters of Warrens- burg, Missouri, by whom he had one child, William. January 8, 1881,
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(his wife having died) he was married to Miss L. J. Jennings, of this county. Mr. R. is associated with his brother, Adam, in the livery bus- iness. They also do a general traffic in stock of all kinds, also in vehicles of all kinds.
SAMUEL L. SMITH,
P. O. Aullville. Is the eldest son of Lewis Smith, who was born in Hamp- shire county, Virginia, May 20, 1795, where he remained until after the war between the sections. The subject of this sketch, when he arrived at the age of twenty-one years, left his father, and went to work for himself. In November, 1853, he was married to Miss Lavinia McCanley, and by this union has four children living: Walter H., Edward O., (Gustavus A. now dead) Jonn L., and Mattie S. In 1862 he enlisted in the confederate army under General Cockrell, then under General Shelby. He was in all the principal engagements of General Shelby until 1864. In 1864, he with twelve others, was captured. He was taken to St. Louis, then to Alton until February 1865, when he was exchanged and sent to Rich- mond. There he went to work in the office of the exchange commis- sioner. Starting to rejoin General Shelby, he heard of the surrender at Atlanta, Georgia, and made his way home, and after a long and tedious trip, ne reached this county and rejoined his family May 23, 1865. He found himself broken in fortune, but went to work like a man, and now owns the farm on which he lives, 120 acres in section 3, township 48, and range 26.
DANIEL SNIDER,
P. O. Higginsville. Was born in Rockbridge county, Virginia, June 23, 1825, where he was raised and educated. In 1668 he moved to Missouri, and first settled in Caroll county, where he lived two years. He then moved over to this county, and settled near Higginsville. February 17, 1848, he was married to Elizabeth Gollady, of Augusta county, Virginia, and by this marriage has four living children: John A., Ida, Newton E., and Mary E. . Mrs. Snider is a member of the Old School Presbyterian church. John and Ida are members of the Patrons of Husbandry, belong- ing to Davis Creek Grange No. 155. John Snider, father of Daniel, was born February 22, 1796, and his mother was born April 5, 1802.
PETER THOMAS,
P. O. Higginsville. Was born in Baden, Germany, May 4, 1825, where he lived until the year 1849, and then came to this country, landing in New York on July 3d. He traveled through several of the northern States, staying for a time in each, consuming six years in this way, and finally settled at Dover, in this county, where he continued
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engaged in the mercantile and hotel business until 1878, when he moved to Higginsville, and built a large brick hotel near the C. &. A. depot. In 1865 he was married to Miss Sophia Schoop, of Lexington. They have four children, three sons and one daughter. Mrs. Thomas died October 26, 1868, and June 20, 1872, Mr. Thomas married the second time-to Miss E. Burgess. In 1879 he purchased the farm of 229 acres on which he now lives. In the war he was a Union man, but tried to keep neutral; but finding this impossible he joined the militia. Both sides depredated on him and he lost nearly all his personal property.
FINCELIUS R. GRAY,
born in Harrison county, Kentucky, July 30, 1806. Worked on a farm with his father till November, 1827. Joined the Presbyterian church November 25, 1827. Was taken under care of Ebenezer Presbytery as a candidate for the ministry in April 1831. Was licensed to preach the gos- pel on October 9, 1833, came to Missouri in November, 1833, traveled over the country between the Mississippi and the Missouri rivers till January 1834, and there being then in the country, no Presbyterian minister between Lexington and St. Charles, he accepted an invitation to supply the church in Columbia, and continued in that charge until September, 1835, visiting and supplying, as far as paacticable, the several churches in Callaway, Boone, and Howard counties. Married Margaret Ferguson in Franklin, Howard county, August 12, 1835. He spent the following win- ter in Kentucky, returned to Missouri in June, 1836, and spent the sum- mer and fall in Franklin; went to Marion county in December, and sup- plied the Greenfield church for one year. In 1837 he took charge of New Providence and Newark churches, the one located in Marion county, and the other in what is now Knox county. In 1846 he went to Independ- ence, and continued to supply that church until September, 1850; then he went to Kentucky, and remained there, supplying the churches of Ver- sailles and Greer's Creek until March, 1859. Then he returned to Mis- souri, and took charge of the Tabo church, in Lafayette county; this church prospered until the civil war came on, under the effects of which the church was scattered and almost broken up, its membership being reduced from over one hundred to less than twenty. The charge of this church was relinquished in February, 1865; then leaving his family here, he went to Kentucky and did not return until August. When he returned the new constitution was just going into effect, containing an iron-clad oath, which all ministers of the gospel were required to take. That oath he could not take, and therefore ceased to preach or to exercise any of the functions of a minister until that was declared unconstitutional by the supreme court of the United States. During this time he cultivated his little farm and made a support for his family by daily labor as a simple
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farmer. After the oath was set aside he resumed ministerial work, and supplied the two (now little) churches of Tabo and Prairie. After a few years the Prairie church was relinquished. The Tabo congregation hav- ing concluded to pull down their house of worship and remove it to Hig- ginsville, he preached in a school-house in the neighborhood until the church was ready to be occupied; he continued to supply the Higgins- ville church until he was partially paralyzed in 1878. Since then he has been unable to preach or to do other work of a minister of the gospel. He is living on his farm in section 10, township 49, range 26, with his chil- dren.
WILLIAM T. SHAMEL,
P. O., Aullville, Mo., son of S. M. Shamel. Was born, Sept. 25, 1855, in Forsyth county, N. C. At the age of fourteen years he moved with his parents to Missouri, in the fall of 1869, and located in this county on the farm known as the Judge Downing farm. In 1872, he, with his father, took a lease for five years on H. J. Higgins' farm. In 1876, he left his father, and commenced for himself, on eighty acres of prime land, which he purchased of S. L. Wilson. He raises corn and deals in cattle, and is a good, hard-working, honest man.
HARRISON LUTTRELL,
P. O., Aullville, Mo., son of Richard and Polly Luttrell. Was born Feb. 3, 1835, in Clinton county, Ohio, where he was raised and educated. He continued on his father's farm until 1861, when he enlisted in the union army uuder Gen. Sherman, Co., D, 48th Ohio regiment, and was in the army three years. He was wounded once, in the shoulder by a minnie ball, at Arkansas Post; was discharged at Indianapolis, and returned home. On the 26th of October, 1865, he was married to Miss Margaret Smith, of Lafayette county, Ohio. The following spring he moved to Johnson county, Mo., and in 1868, he moved to this county, locating six miles southwest of Aullville, purchasing 160 acres, known as the old Honey Ford farm, on Davis Creek, and has devoted his attention a good deal to raising stock, especially horses. He has five children: Leona M., Bardolia A., Georgia A., Mary K., and Maggie, all living. Both himself and wife, and three of his children are members of the M. E. church. He is a good farmer, good neighbor and a good citizen.
GEORGE OSBORN,
P. O., Aullville, Mo., second son of John and Rachel Osborn. Was born in Columbia, Boone county, Mo., May 18, 1828. His parents, now dead, were from Kentucky, and came to Boone county as early as 1818. George moved the first time to Davis county, Mo., in 1841, where he
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HISTORY OF LAFAYETTE COUNTY.
remained twenty-four years, and then came to this county, September, 1865, settling about two miles northwest of Aullville, where he now lives. In Sept. 1855, he was married to Miss Susan A. Rose, and has ten child- ren living: John F., Charles E., Lou Bell, R. Lee, F. May, Ruth, Ida Ann, George, Alvin K., and Floyd. Mr. Osborn, has an excellent farm of 280 acres, underlaid by the best class of coal. The neighborhood use limestone rock for building purposes, and his house is built of stone from his own land. He is a member of the Baptist church, and a member of the Grange. His farm is of the first quality of corn and wheat land, and is well improved, with a large variety of fruit. He has twenty-two stands of bees; one half Black, and the other half Italian bees.
HON. JAMES W. HARRISON,
the subject of the following sketch, son of William W. Harrison, and the youngest of nine children, is a native of Davis township, Lafayette county, Missouri; born March, 1839.' Was reared on a farm and educated in the common schools. His parents came to Missouri in 1838. They were both natives of Virginia; his father of Madison county and his mother of Green county. His father died in 1876, at the advanced age of 82 years, and his mother in 1869, aged 69 years. James W. was married, Septem- ber 27, 1860, to Miss Ellen Davis, daughter of Dr. H. C. Davis. Nine children were born to them, seven of whom are now living, viz: Marcel- lus, William, Joseph, Fleet, Leslie R., Comorah and Estella. He now resides in Davis township, engaged in farming and stock-raising, owning a well watered farm of 400 acres of well cultivated land. In 1864, he enlisted in the confederate service, Co., C, Hunter's regiment, which was subsequently consolidated with Gen. Jackman's command. He entered the service as an orderly sergeant, and participated in the battles of Inde- pendence, Blues, Westport, Drywood, and Newtonia. June 16, 1865, he surrendered at Shreveport, being in command of the regiment, his supe- rior officers having resigned their position and gone to Mexico. In 1878, he was elected Justice of the county court, of Lafayette county. At the expiration of his term of two years, his judgment, and ability to fill the office were complimented by his re-election in 1880. Mr. Harrison and wife are members of the Baptist church at Aullville; postoffice, Aullville.
DAVID C. SLUSHER.
Mr. Slusher is a native of this state and county, born April 7, 1838, upon the farm where he now resides. His father, Roland Slusher, is a native of Virginia, and came to Missouri in an early day. During the late war, Mr. S. remained at home, taking care of his own and mother's family. March 26, 1861, he was united in marriage to Rachel Ann Mc- Cormack. Five children were born to them, viz: John H., Roland F.,
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Pearla May, Cora, and Catherine. During the war Mr. Slusher's house, was frequented by bushwhackers, and upon one occasion, they attacked a company of federal soldiers, within a short distance of the house, and a young man named Wade Morton was killed. Mr. Slusher and wife are members of the Bapiist church. P. O., Higginsville.
WILLIAM W. PRESTON.
Mr. Preston was born in Boone county, Mo., Feb. 4, 1836. He is the only son of John R. and Lourana Preston, who lived in Boone county until 1844, when they removed, with the subject of this sketch, to Lafay- ette county, where he was raised and educated, and after reaching man- hood, engaged in farming. In 1861, he enlisted in the confederate ser- vice, serving principally in the Eastern Miss. Department; was engaged in the seige of Vicksburg at the time of its fall. At the close of the war, he returned home and settled on his farm, where he lived until the spring of 1878, when he removed to Higginsville, where he has since resided, engaged in the mercantile trade. Jan. 2, 1879, he was married to Miss Jennie Fulkerson, by which union they have one child, Lourana, who was born, Oct. 17, 1879. Postoffice, Higginsville.
REV. SAMUEL T. RUFFNER.
Mr. Ruffner, the present pastor of the O. S. Presbyterian Church, at Hig- ginsville, is a native of Kanawha county, West Va., born February 27th, 1836. In 1853 he moved with his parents to Missouri, and located in Lexington, Lafayette county. In 1855 he entered the Masonic College, at Lexington, where he remained for two years, afterwards attending Center College, at Danville, Kentucky, where he graduated with high honors, in 1858. After graduating, he taught school in Lexington, Mo., until the breaking out of the civil war, when he abandoned teaching, and in September, 1861, enlisted in the confederate service, Capt. John Bow- man's company, Col. Elliott's regiment. His first engagement was at Lexington, and his second at Pea Ridge. While at Memphis, Tenn., he was taken sick and sent to the hospital, where he remained until his dis- charge. His health being somewhat improved, he went to Hot Springs, Ark., where he remained until his health was entirely restored. He then associated himself with Capt. Roberts, who was then recruiting, having his headquarters at Tahlequah, Ind. Ter. From these recruits a battery was organized, of which Roberts was elected captain, and Mr. Ruffner, lieutenant. Immediately after the battle of Prairie Grove Capt. Roberts resigned, and Lieut. Ruffner took command, in which capacity he served until the surrender. Capt. Ruffner took part in all the principal engage- ments fought in his department. After the close of the war, he went to Nebraska and taught school for two years. In 1869 he returned to Mis-
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souri, and began preparing for the ministry. He was licensed in 1872, and ordained in April, 1873. His first charge was the Waverly Pres. church, of which he was pastor for seven years. In November, 1879, he removed to Higginsville and took charge of the Presbyterian church there, of which he is the present pastor. June 13, 1877, he was united to Miss Lucy E. Jackson, of Rappahannock county, Va., by which union they have one child, Mamie, born February 17th, 1878.
CARMI W. SHARP.
Mr. Sharp is a native of West Virginia, born near Parkersburg, June 27th, 1846. In 1856 he came with his parents to Missouri, and settled in this county, on the farm where he now resides, and engaged in its culti- vation. July 31st, 1870, he was married to Miss Harriet D. Carter, " daughter of N. J. Carter, and a native of this county. By this marriage they have five children living: Nathaniel Carter, Sarah, Mary Gray, Lewis Green, and W. Gwinn. His mother, an aged lady in her 75th year, is living with him. She is in full possession of all her faculties, and enjoying good health for a person of her advanced age. Mr. Sharp's home place is a beautiful one, well improved, consisting of 80 acres, upon which is a fine orchard which produces many different varieties of fruit. He owns other farms besides this. His father was foully murdered by three men, who entered his house in February, 1865, and demanded money. Upon being informed that he did not have any, they deliberately shot him through the heart. Mr. Sharp's post-office address is Higgins- ville.
WM. HARRISON ROBINETT.
Mr. Robinett was born in Marion county, Mo., July 5th, 1832. He is a grandson of Capt. Abraham Bird, who was a member of the first legisla- ture held in the state, and also a grandson of John Robinett, one of the first settlers of Kentucky, and who moved to this state and settled in Boone county, in 1823. William H. lived with his father, Moses F., until he was eighteen years of age, when he entered the mercantile trade upon his own responsibility, which he followed until 1855, when he went to St. Louis and entered a commercial school, from which he graduated in 1856. He then entered the employ of Pomeroy, Benton & Co., one of the largest wholesale dry goods firms in the city of St. Louis, at a salaryof $1,200 per year. After remaining in their employ one year he left them, notwith- standing their offer to increase his salary to $3,000, and engaged as clerk on the steamer Keokuk, but at the earnest solicitation of his family he shortly after abandoned the river and went to Hannibal and engaged in the machine business, which he followed for two years, and then resumed the mercantile trade, in which he remained until the breaking out of the civil
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war. Being desirous that peace should exist between the north and south, he cast his influence in that direction; but when he saw that the war was inevitable, he cast his fortunes with the south, and was one of the first to raise the secession flag in the state, and joined one of the first companies raised commanded by Capt. Hawkins. He was afterwards transferred to the staff of Gen. Green, upon which he served until his health failed him, and he was obliged to leave the service. His health improving he again entered the service, and assisted Col. E. J. Gurley, in raising his regiment of "Partisan Rangers," of which he was appointed adjutant. While on a scouting expedition he was severely wounded, but he remained with his command and returned into camp. He was after- wards promoted to a captaincy for efficient service rendered. After the close of the war he remained in Texas, engaged in raising cotton and also in superintending a machine shop, until 1869. In December, 1865, he was married to Miss Catherine L. Vivion, of Texas. Four children were born to them: Minnie Lee, Ernest V., Walter P. and Roberta. In 1869 he returned to Missouri and settled at Dover, Lafayette county, where he remained until 1877, when he moved to Higginsville, where he has since resided, engaged as a machinist.
JAMES J. RAY,
farmer, P. O. Higginsville, sonof James H. and Hannah Ray, was born in Livingston county, Kentucky, May 6, 1835. His parents were natives of same state and county; his father being born in 1805 and his mother in 1811. In 1838 his father moved his family to Missouri, locating in Macon county, within ten miles of where Macon City now stands. His father was a follower of Henry Clay, and always voted the whig ticket. He died August 28, 1860, and was followed by his wife nine years later. James J. was married to Miss E. J. Williamson, October 22, 1854, who died after the war. He was again married April 22, 1871, to Miss Nan- nie B. Rutter, of Palmyra, Missouri. They have one child, Daisy, born February 9, 1874. Mr. Ray was one of the first to respond to the call of Gov. Jackson for troops to defend the state of Missouri from invasion without and foes within, enlisting in the state guards for a six months term of service. His experiences during the progress of the war were quite remarkable, and peculiarly interesting, as related by himself in the follow- ing: "After serving out my time of enlistment in the state guards, I returned home to learn of the death of my father, and of my appointment as administrator of his estate. My bondsmen wished me to remain at home and attend to the property, fearing that if I entered the confederate service, the property would be confiscated, and they would consequently suffer. I complied with their request, and engaged in stock trading. While in St. Louis with two car loads of stock, I was obliged to take the
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oath of loyalty to the federal government, before I was allowed to return home. I told no one, except my family, what I had been obliged to do. In August, 1862, Col. Benjamin, in command of a company of federal mil- itia, stationed in my neighborhood, ordered that all southern sympathizers should take the oath of allegiance, and pay a commutation tax of $30, or go into the militia. The most of my neighbors paid the tax, but I did not. I concluded to join the confederates, and went to Gen. Green's at Shelbina, which place we captured after a sharp skirmish. I afterwards joined Porter and participated in the battles of Newark and Kirksville. At the latter place the federals made a charge, which we repulsed, with severe loss to them. The ball was then opened in earnest. Several of my com- pany were killed. A comrade by the name of Rains, who was badly wounded, called out to me not to leave him, and I called to another com- rade, a Mr. Zool, and together we started to carry him from the field. Just as we were ready to put him into a house, a cannon ball took off the head of Mr. Zool. I put the wounded man in the house, and started to find my company, but was captured in the attempt. Thirty-two of us, prisoners, were drawn up in line, that evening, and told that we were to be shot, but after keeping us there until sundown without a drop of water, or anything to eat, they confined us in an upper room until morning. We got nothing to eat or drink until eleven o'clock that day. The next morn- ing one Mr. Chaney, a merchant, came to me and told me that he thought we would all be shot. I gave him $25 and my wife's address, and he said that if I was killed, he would send her the money. Soon after we were asked by McNeal if we would take the oath of allegiance to the federal gov- ernment. We all readily consented and were accordingly sworn, provided with a pass and turned out of the den. I met Mr. Chaney, who returned my pocket book and money, and said, with tears in his eyes, that he was glad to return me my own. I arranged my toilet as best I could under the circumstances and went to a hotel, where 1 remained three days, assisting in the care of some wounded soldiers, I was so ragged that I was ashamed to go home, but a merchant of the place, presented me with a complete suit of clothes; then I concluded to go home. I do not know the donor's name, but whoever and wherever he is, I pray that he may prosper. I traveled to Macon by stage and started to walk to my mother's place, ten miles out. On the road I overtook an old playmate, John Hunt, a radi- cal, to whom I told my troubles, not thinking to whom I was talking. In less than 24 hours my mother's house was ransacked for me, from cellar to garret, but I was at my own house, eight miles distant. A neighbor piloted the militia there at midnight. I awoke to look into the muzzle of a musket, in the hands of an old school-mate, who ordered me to get up. When the captain came in, he ordered a light and capped his revolver afresh. This alarmed my wife, and she asked him what he was going to
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