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 68
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HISTORY OF LAFAYETTE COUNTY.
children surviving, three boys and two girls, the oldest being in his twelfth year.
THOMAS BATES WALLACE,
P. O. Lexington. Was born March 31, 1813, near Richmond, Kentucky. He is the son of John Wallace and Elizabeth Wallace. His father was a native of Albemarle county, Virginia, and born February 17, 1783; his grandfather, Josiah Wallace, was born in the same county, in 1739; his great-grandfather was born in the same county, in 1700. The father of the latter was from Scotland. Elizabeth Walker was born in Bucking- ham county, Virginia, in 1784. Her father, Asaph Walker, was born in the same county, 1735; her grandfather was born in the same county, in 1695; the father of the latter was from England. The mother of Eliza- beth Walker was Judith Watkins, born in 1738; her grandmother was a Dupuy, and a decendant of the Huguenots. Thomas B. Wallace came, with his parents, to Missouri in 1819, and his father settled in Lafayette county, five miles southeast of Lexington, when Missouri was only a terri- tory. The educational advantages of young Wallace were such as might be expected in Missouri at that early day-crude teachers, rude school- houses, and wretched equipments. He remained on the farm with his father until seventeen years of age, when he began to learn the trade of joiner and carpenter. This avocation he followed five years. During that time he built the first house erected in Clinton, Henry county, Mis- souri, and in 1836, in company with his brother, B. F. Wallace, there began the mercantile business, which he successfully prosecuted for twelve years. In 1848, the firm moved to Lexington, and continued the business of general merchandising. They continued in partnership until 1856, when he purchased the interest of B. F. Wallace, and continued to sell goods till November, 1860, when he disposed of his stock. In 1861, soon after the war began, during the battle of Lexington, he lost property to the value of $50,000, consisting of buildings, goods, notes, and other effects. In 1862, was appointed United States marshal for the western district of Missouri, an office he held for three years. In June, 1865, he opened a house in St. Louis, for the transaction of a general commission business, but in July, 1866, having been appointed, by President Johnson, marshal of the western district of Missouri, he returned to Lexington, and dis- charged the duties of that office until 1869. Since 1871, he has been engaged n the insurance business. In 1861, at the battle of Lexington, Col. Mulli- gan, commanding the federal forces, ordered the house of Mr. Wallace burned, as a military necessity. By this destruction he lost nearly all his effects. In 1872, congress passed an act to re-imburse him for his loss, but, on some account, it met the disapprobation of President Grant, and the bill was vetoed. During his residence in Henry county, he was
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deputy county clerk for two years, and county treasurer for eight years. He is a licensed lawyer, and authorized to practice in any 'court in Mis- souri. Mr. Wallace has been twice married. His first wife was Miss Ann Elliott, a native. of Howard county, Missouri, born January 4, 1825, and daughter of John Elliott, a native of Virginia. The mother of Miss Elliott was Mary Glassgow, of Virginia. Mr. Elliott and she were mar- ried in 1809, in Madison county, Kentucky, and soon after emigrated to Missouri, locating near Old Franklin, nearly opposite the present site of Boonville, on the Missouri river. By this marriage with Miss Elliott, Mr. Wallace had five children, three of whom died in infancy. John Wallace was drowned in the Missouri river, at thirteen years of age, and William, the other son, died at the age of twenty-two. Their mother died Febru- ary 25, 1853. His second marriage was with Mrs. Lucy B. Gains, form- erly Miss Briscoe, born November 14, 1825, a daughter of James Briscoe. Her father was born in Frederick county, Maryland, in 1770; her grand- father, Ralph Briscoe, was born in the same county, about 1756. Thomas B. Wallace and Mrs. Lucy B. Gains were married March 28, 1854. By this marriage there were three children: Nettie Briscoe, born October 17, 1855; Thomas Bates, born November 25, 1858; Hugh Campbell, born February 10, 1863. In religious belief, Mr. Wallace is a Cumber- land Presbyterian. Mrs. Wallace is a member of the Christian Church. Politically, he held the doctrines of the whig party, and voted with that party while it existed; since its demise, he has acted with the democrats, but has always been a liberal and conservative man.
GEORGE WILSON,
was born on the old Sac & Fox Reservation on the Des Moines river, Iowa, (now Wapello county) his grandfather, Gen. Street, being agent for the Indians, and his father sub-agent. His father removed to Lexington in 1851. In 1862 Mr. Wilson went to the Rocky Mountain country and spent a number of years there as a merchant, miner, contractor for rail- road and government supplies, and banker. Was during this time made Judge of Probate in Laramie county, Dakota Territory, and Senator in the Legislature of Wyoming. Whilst residing in the territories he fre- quently returned to Lexington and remained for considerable periods. Returned and became a permanent resident again in 1877, being chosen cashier of the Lafayette County Bank (then called the Aull Savings Bank). Succeeded to the presidency of the bank on the death of his father March, 1880. Is author of four financial pamphlets: "The Bank Notes of the Future "; "The Greenbackers and their Doctrines "; " How to abolish the National Bank Systeem "; " National Banking Examined "; and has taken an active part in the newspaper controversies on the sub- ject, opposing Federal banking and monometalism. Was candidate for
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United States Senator from Missouri in 1881. His father, born in Ohio, was a graduate of West Point and an officer in the old army; resigning and engaging in banking in. Lexington thirty years. His grandfather, Peter Miller Wilson, was receiver of public moneys at Steubenville, Ohio, under President Jackson. His great-grandfather, Geo. Wilson, was born on shipboard, his parents dying on the same voyage. The wife of the latter was daughter of Peter Miller, of Philadelphia, a native of Mann- heim, Germany, a scrivener by profession; and Miss Richardson a descend- ant of Sir Joseph Richardson, of England. Mr. Wilson's paternal grand- mother was a daughter of Col. Thos. Stokely of North Carolina, after- wards of Pennsylvania, a man of great wealth and patriotism. Mr. Wil- son's mother was daughter of Gen. Joseph Montfort Street of Lunenburg county, Virginia, who was grandson of Governor Montfort Stokes of North Carolina. Street edited the second paper in Kentucky, and for his attacks on Aaron Burr was dangerously wounded in a duel. Street's mother was daughter of Thomas Posey, who was colonel in the Virginia line in the revolution, General in 1812, lieutenant governor of Kentucky, second governor of Indiana, and senator from Louisiana. Mrs. Posey was Mary Alexander of Alexandria, Virginia; her first husband was Major George Thornton, a cousin of Gen. Washington. Mr. Wilson is about 30 years of age; a Democrat of the old Jefferson type, and a progressive in politics. He is the founder of the Missouri Bankers' Association.
GEORGE W. YOUNG, M. D. Hawkins
Robert Young, the father of George W., was born in Hockins county, Tenn., and was the eldest of 12 children. The subject of this sketch is a native of the same state and county; born June 4th, 1821. In 1834, his parents and family moved to Missouri, and located on a farm in Lafayette county, situated five miles south of Lexington, where George W. grew to manhood. Being in somewhat straitened circumstances and also desirous of obtaining an education, at the age of 20 he joined a corps of government surveyors, for the two-fold purpose of learning practical surveying and to obtain money for the prosecution of his studies. He remained with this corps for one year and afterwards alternately taught and attended school until 1848, when he commenced the study of medicine by attending a course of lectures at the Missouri Medical College at St. Louis. He after- wards entered the Jefferson Medical College of Philadelphia, one of the most noted medical schools of the United States, from which he gradu- ated with high honor in the spring of 1851. Returned to Lafayette county and immediately began the practice of his profession in Lexing- ton, where, by his ability and steady application he has rapidly advanced to the front rank in the profession. At the breaking out of the war he had the leading practice of the city. Although losing considerable prop-
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HISTORY OF LAFAYETTE COUNTY.
erty during the progress of the war, the Dr. has succeeded in accumulat- ing considerable wealth by devoting himself to his practice. During the last three years he has given considerable attention to bee culture, having 135 stands of the Italian species. In 1852 he was united in marriage to Miss Martha A. Barnett, of this county, a daughter of Joseph Barnett, of Madison county, Ky., and a double niece of Judge John F. Ryland, deceased. Nine children were born to them, six of whom are living, viz .: Mary L., Elizabeth, Rose W., Albert G., Juliet and Joseph B.
STEPHEN G. WENTWORTH.
Mr. Wentworth, president of Morrison & Wentworth's bank, of Lex- ington, is a native of Williamstown, Mass., born October 11, 1811. The Wentworth family is of English origin, and one of prominence in both England and America, three of Mr. W.'s ancestor's having occupied the gubernatorial chair in the United States. His father was a veteran of 1812, and a soldier whose record is above reproach. At the early age of 14 years, and with what education could be obtained by an attendance upon the common schools in that early day, the subject of this brief sketch started out to carve for himself a place among the successful devotees of the fickle goddess of fortune. His capital was youth, health and energy, an incomplete education, and one dollar and a half. In 1831 he went to Monroe county, Va., and engaged in clerking. Remained there until 1837, when he removed to Saline county, Mo., and located where the town of Brownsville-of which he is the founder-now stands. Was engaged in the mercantile trade. In 1840 he came to Lexington and engaged in clerking, collecting and the real estate business. In 1851 he was appointed administrator of public affairs for this county, which office he held until 1864. In 1863 he was elected president of the Farmers' bank, which position he held until the institution wound up in 1869. In 1865 he became connected with the banking firm of Morrison, Mitchell & Co. In 1868 the firm became known as " Wm. Morrison & Co.," and in 1875 it was again changed to " Morrison & Wentworth." Mr. Went-
worth has been its president since 1868. He has been a member of the Presbyterian church since 1844, of which he has also been a deacon for twenty-six years, and an elder for eight years. He has been a trustee of the Aull female seminary for twenty-one years, and president of its board
for four years. Is founder of the Wentworth male academy, and presi- dent of its board. Has been a Mason for twenty-five years. Mr. Went- worth is a man of strict integrity and business enterprise, and in all his dealings in public affairs-and their name is legion-naught can be said but to his credit. Has always been a strong supporter of the union. April 18, 1838, he was united in marriage to Miss Eliza Jane Kincaid, formerly of Union county, Va. She died Oct. 9, 1864, at Lexington, Mo. Twelve
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HISTORY OF LAFAYETTE COUNTY.
children were born to them, only two of whom are now living, viz .: James and Frances J. James Wentworth is a graduate of Central college, Dan- ville, Ky., and also of the law department of Harvard university, Cam- bridge, Mass. Was U. S. consul at Moscow, Russia. Frances J. is the wife of Richard Field, attorney at law, of Lexington. Jan. 21, 1868, Mr. W. was again united in marriage to Mrs. Rebecca Bird, nee Gay, of Ken- tucky.
T. J. DULING,
attorney at law. £ Mr. Duling was born in Kanawha county, West Vir- ginia, May 25, 1857. In 1865 he came with his parents to Lafayette county, Mo., and settled on a farm, where he grew to manhood. Was educated at the state university, at Columbia, Mo., graduating from the academical department in 1878. He then entered the office of Geo. S. Rathburn and Shewalter, of Lexington, as a law-student, and was admit- ted to the bar in 1879. Since then he has been engaged in the practice of that profession, in Lexington. Mr. Duling is a young man of talent and energy, and will undoubtedly acquit himself with credit in his future prac- tice.
ALEXANDER GRAVES,
attorney at law, of the firm of Graves & Shewalter, is a native of Jeffer- son county, Mississippi, born August 29, 1846. He attended school at Danville, Ky., and when the civil war broke out he left school and enlisted, in January, 1862, at the age of 15. He entered the 1st Missouri cavalry and was engaged in the battles of Mississippi City, Baton Rouge and Harrisburg. His regiment was subsequently transferred to the command of Gen. Forest, with whom he fought in numerous engagements. At the close of the war he returned home and entered Oakland college, of Mis- sissippi, from which he graduated in 1867. He then entered the law department of the university of Virginia, from which he graduated in 1869. He then came to Lexington Lafayette county, and engaged in the practice of the law, to which he has since given his best energies, the result of which has been his taking high rank among the leaders in a profession in which it requires the highest of intellectual talent to insure success. Was prosecuting attorney of Lafayette county from 1874 to 1876. In 1874 he was united in marriage to Miss Elizabeth Aull, daugh- ter of John Aull, of Lexington, Mo. Three children were born to them, named as follows: Alexander, John and Mary M.
THEODORE GOSEWISCH,
the subject of this sketch is a native of Hanover, Germany, born July 12, 1812. He completed a very thorough course of study at Brunswick,
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HISTORY OF LAFAYETTE COUNTY.
Germany. In 1834 he emigrated to the United States, stopping one sea- son at Baltimore, and then went to Pittsburg, Penn., where he was engaged in the mercantile business for three years, after which he went to Louisville, Kentucky, where he was so unfortunate as to engage in the confectionary trade and lose all his property. Having learned the art of oil painting while in Europe, after losing his wealth he engaged in portrait painting with a considerable degree of success. Becoming acquainted with a major who was engaged in an emigration scheme, organized ostensibly for. the purpose of settling Texas, he united his fortunes with the major's and started for the Lone Star state. On arriving at New Orleans and learning that his passage money, which the major had assumed to pay, had not been paid, he became convinced from that fact, in connection with other things which had came under his observation, that the whole thing was a fraud and the major a swindler. He accord- ingly withdrew from the enterprise, pawned his baggage for the purpose of paying his passage down, and traded three barrels of crackers (which he had brought along, expecting to find a scarcity of bread) for a passage up the Red river, to a town where he again engaged in portrait painting, at which he was quite successful. He subsequently returned to St. Louis, where he remained one season, and then came to Lexington, Missouri and re-engaged in the confectionary business, from which he retired with considerable wealth at the end of a period of fifteen years. During the war he lost heavily, and soon felt the necessity of again embarking in busi- ness. This time he engaged in the drug trade, and from 1863 to 1875 he had the leading trade in that line, and again built up his exhausted fortune. In 1848 he was married to Miss Cathrine Moore, of Lexington, Mo. By this union they have four children, living, viz .: Charles T., who has graduated in medicine from St. Louis, and is now traveling in Europe; Mary Ida, married and living in Germany; Walter R. druggist; and Katie. Mr. Gosewisch has been a member of the Masonic order for thirty years.
GEN. J. H. GRAHAM.
Gen. Graham was born in Orange county, N. Y., December 5, 1798. At the age of five, his parents moved to Logan county Ky., where he was raised to manhood. When twenty-two he learned the hatter's trade. At the age of twenty-four he was united in marriage to Miss Melinda Har- relson, daughter of Jeremiah Harrelson, who died in Jackson county, this state, some twenty years ago. He carried on the manufacture of hats and farming in Logan county, and then moved to Missouri and settled in Lexington in 1830, where he followed his trade some ten years longer, after which he moved to his farm, three miles south of town. He lived there five years and then moved to his present home in the southern part of
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HISTORY OF LAFAYETTE COUNTY.
Lexington. Gen. Graham has been one of the county's most active busi- ness men and one of its most useful citizens. He was an acting magis- trate a number of years, and filled that office with ability and credit. He was elected captain of the state militia about 1831. In 1837 he was pro- moted and made colonel of a regiment, and commanded in an expedition against the Osage Indians. In 1838 he was made a brigadier general, and commanded a brigade in the expulsion of the Mormons from the state. Most of his time has been spent in this county in farming, though for sev- eral years he was known as one of the early successful merchants of Lex- ington. He has been a consistent and devoted member of the Baptist church for a third of a century, and has lived in all good conscience before his Creator and fellow men. He lost heavily as a consequence of the late war, but has still a competency. Though a Union man he did not take an active part in the late war, being averse to bloodshed, and especially so in regard to the southern people, with whom he has always been iden- tified in feelings and interests. His first wife dying, he was again mar- ried, the second lady being Miss Elizabeth Harrelson, who died about fif- teen years ago. He has raised in all eleven children, and all the survivors reside in this county, save a daughter who resides in Jackson county. There were three of the Graham brothers who came from Scotland to the United States some time before the Revolutionary war. One went to the Carolinas, one to Virginia, and one, the general's great-grandfather, to the State of New York. Andrew, Mr. Graham's grandfather, lived and died in Orange county, and was judge of the circuit court twenty years in succession. He was three times married. His first wife was a Miss Cain, an English lady, and the last a Miss Hetty Hardenbrook, sis- ter to one of the early mayors of New York. Charles the General's father, was by the first wife. He was married in Orange county, to Miss Jane Beatty, of a prominent New York family. He also raised a large and respectable family, only one of whom, the General, settled in Missouri.
HENRY WILLIAM TURNER,
.
Postmaster, Lexington. Was born at Wilton, England, August 2, 1841. His parents were Henry and Mary Whitlock Turner. Young Henry came with his parents to America in 1849. They came direct from England to Lex- ington, Missouri, and first settled in Ray county, where the lad received his education in the public schools of Richmond, the county seat. In 1854 the family removed to Lexington, and have resided here ever since. In 1862 Mr. Turner enlisted in the Lafayette county enrolled militia, and in 1863 he went into company I, 11th Kansas mounted infantry volun- teers, Col. Thomas Ewing's regiment. This command was sent out in pursuit of hostile Indians and had some pretty hot work. July 26, 1865, company I, numbering about 90 men, started out from the stockade at
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Platte river, in Montana, in pursuit of a band of Sioux Indians and fell into an ambuscade; then in a fight of thirty minutes, the company lost 25 killed and 11 wounded, before they could get back into the enclosure. They were in several other fights with the Indians, but this was the worst one. They were mustered out at Fort Leavenworth, September 25, 1865, at the close of the southern rebellion, and Mr. Turner returned to Lexington. In 1867-68 he served as deputy city marshal, and was elected marshal in June, 1869. April 30, 1874, he was appointed agent for Lafayette county, to represent its interest in the Lexington & St. Louis railroad company -- a position at that time of grave responsibility and difficulty, as any one may see by reading the " Railroad History," of the county, in another part of this volume In May, 1874, he bought a half interest in the Lex- ington Register newspaper, which he owns yet. July 3, 1866, he was commissioned 2d lieutenant, company C, 58th regiment Missouri militia, and was afterward commissioned as 1st lieutenant, and adjutant of the reg- iment by Governor Fletcher. In March, 1877, he was appointed post- master of the city of Lexington, by President Hayes, and was re-ap- pointed by President Garfield, in June, 1881. He has always been a republican, and is also a member of the I. O. O. F. Mr. Turner was married June 16, 1868, to Miss Fleta Carroll, daughter of C. C. Carroll, Esq. She was born in Lexington, January 17, 1843. The following chil- dren have been born to them: Paul Harry, born June 21, 1869, died same day; Mark Carroll, born October 6, 1872; Robert Isaac, born Feb- ruary 25, 1875; Mary Willie, born July 28, 1878; Margaret Fleta, born September 3, 1879.
A. A. LESUEUR,
editor of the Leixngton Intelligencer, was born in 1842. Was a member of Capt. George W. West's company of infantry, on the southwest expe- dition, in the fall of 1860. May 8, 1861, he enlisted as a private in Kel- ly's company of infantry (confederate), of St. Louis, commanded by Jos. Kelly, afterwards promoted, then by Stephen Coleman, who was killed at Wilson's creek; then by Capt. Caniff. Mr. Lesueur was promoted to ser- geant major of Kelly's battalion, consisting of Kelly's and Rock Cham- pion's old companies, and was with them in battles of Boonville, Carthage, Wilson's Creek and Lexington. In November or December, 1861, he was made 2d lieutenant of Gorham's battery, previously known as Gui- bor's. In a few months Gorham resigned, Tilden became captain and Lesueur, 1st lieutenant; and at the battle of Helena, July 4, 1863, he (Les- ueur) took the men into action with muskets, losing just one-half of the men in the terrible fight on "Grave-yard Hill," in which Brig. Gen. L. M. Lewis (successor of Gen. Parsons,) lost half of his own regiment and of the brigade. In consequence of his steady and heroic action in this day's
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HISTORY OF LAFAYETTE COUNTY.
fight, Lesueur was soon made captain of the battery, and so remained until the final surrender at Shreveport in 1865. This battery was always with M. M. Parson's brigade of infantry, and was in the battle of Pea Ridge, the skirmishes and fights about Shiloh, between Beauregard and Buell; the battle of Prairie Grove, skrimishes on the retreat from Fort Smith to Little Rock and Helena; was at battles of Mansfield and Pleas- ant Hill, Louisiana; it opened the attack on Camden, when Gen. Steele was occupying the place; was in the battle of Saline river; fought against Steele, and in a number of minor engagements. Capt. Lesueur is the present member of the legislature from Lafayette county; is president of the State Press Association; and secretary of the Confederate Soldiers' Reunion Association of Missouri. He is a member of the Episcopal church. The captain is prompt, decisive, energetic and untiring in what- ever he undertakes-is thoroughly devoted to his party, his county and his state, and always stands up square to the fight for what he believes in.
HENRY TURNER,
was born near Sallisbury, in Wiltshire, England, August 25, 1810. Mar- ried Miss Mary Whitlock at Wilton Parish, May 21, 1833. Miss Whit- lock was born March 22, 1806. Mr. Turner's business in England was keeping an ale brewery and hostlery, (hotel). He was a member of the Anti Corn Law League, and was associated with Richard Cobden, John Bright, and others, in that memorable agitation which forms a waymark in modern English history. From about 1846 onward, England was flooded with emigration pamphlets, newspapers, circulars, etc., offering great inducements for everybody to emigrate to America. He cannot tell why, but for some reason, he picked out Lexington, Missouri, as the place he would go to and try his fortune in the new world. Seventeen families of them clubbed together and chartered a ship in 1849 to carry them to Canada, as they wished to avoid the United States seaports, from fear of cholera. They came by way of Quebec, Montreal, Buffalo, and the lakes, arriving at Chicago in June, 1849. He went from Chicago to La Salle by railroad, thence to St. Louis, by steamboat, and thence to Lex- ington, hy same means, arriving here in July, a total stranger to every living soul and to the ways of the people. Two or three others of the English families came here also, but did not find things agreeble, and in a few months went back to their native Isle. Mr. Turner determined to stay and " tough it through." In 1858, he was elected a member of the city council and continued there eight years; then was mayor one year, then city attorney one year, and subsequently served nine years as city treasurer, from 1872 to 1881. March 14, 1865, he was commissioned cap- tain and assistant quartermaster of state militia, by Gov. Fletcher. July 19, 1865, he was commissioned by President Andrew Johnson as assistant
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