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 70
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JOHN CATRON,
was born in White county, Tenn., Feb. 29, 1812. At the age of seven his parents moved to Saline county, Mo. Remaining there a short while they moved to Lafayette county and settled on the farm now occupied by Gen. Jo. Shelby. Mr. Catron learned the trade of brickmaking and fol- lowed it for some thirty years. The farm on which he now resides con- sists of 530 acres, and is located about four miles from Lexington. Mr. Catron was in the Mormon war in 1838, and was present when Smith, the prophet, surrendered. Mr. Catron took no part in the civil war of '61-'65, but had one son, Thomas, who served the entire four years in the confed- erate army. Mr. Catron, being southern in sentiment, lost heavily in slaves. Mr. C. was married to Miss Mary Fletcher, Feb. 3, 1833, nine children being the result of this marriage, five sons and four daughters, all living at this writing except two. Mr. Catron is one of the oldest set- tlers in the county, having lived here for 63 years. He is honored and respected by all, and has proved himself a good and valuable citizen.
JAMES C. KELLY.
The subject of this sketch was born in Madison county, Alabama, August 4, 1829. His parents moved to Missouri, in 1831, and settled in
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HISTORY OF LAFAYETTE COUNTY.
Cooper county, and there James was raised and educated. During the war he remained in Cooper county, and engaged in the livestock trade, at which he was very successful. In 1867 he moved to Lafayette county, and in 1875 he purchased what is known as the Lightner farm, three miles south of Lexington, where he resides at the present time, it being one of the best improved farms in the county. Mr. Kelly was married to Miss Maria L. Duncan, April 3, 1851. They have eleven children, five sons and six daughters, all living, except one daughter who died in 1859. Mr. K. and wife are members of the Christian church; he also belongs to the Masonic fraternity. Mr. K. is a good neighbor, an industrious citizen and has well earned his success.
HENRY C. BRANCH,
P. O. Lexington, Missouri. Son of Henry B. and Susan C. Branch. Was born in Buckingham county, Virginia, February 15, 1827, where he was raised and educated, to the age of fifteen years, when he came with his parents to this state. His father died in Carrollton, Missouri, July 17, 1842. His mother then moved to this county, but after living here two years returned to Carroll county. Mr. Branch spent several years, first in Platte county, Missouri, and then in Leavenworth county, Kansas, and eleven years in Saline county, Missouri. In 1877 he returned to this county, and settled about five miles from Lexington, where he has a splendid farm of 180 acres. In 1851 he married Miss Dorothy Perry, of Platte county, Missouri, by whom he has six children, living. March 11, 1872, his wife died. He was married again December 20, 1873, to Miss Emma Wilcoxen, of this county, by which marriage he has three chil- dren. He is a member of the C. P. church.
CHARLES H. BARRON,
P. O. Lexington, Missouri. Was born in the state of Georgia, in 1835. While Charles was quite young his father, Gustavus Barron, moved from Georgia to Carroll county, Missouri, and settled in what is known as the " sugar tree bottom," in 1847, where Charles was raised and educated. In 1871 he began the grocery business at Hardin, Ray county, Missouri, and continued there until 1874. He had, previous to this, learned the drug business in the drug store of Dr. Moseby, at Richmond, Missouri. Leav- ing Hardin he came to this county and engaged in farming for several years. In 1877 he quit farming and entered into the drug business in Lexington, on a small capital, and succeeded so well that in 1880 he pur- chased property on Franklin street, and is now engaged in both the drug and grocery business. He was married on the 6th of June, 1871, to Miss Hattie Pritchard, and to this union have been born six children, all living. He belongs to the Methodist church, south, and his wife to the Christian church. He is also a mason.
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HISTORY OF LAFAYETTE COUNTY.
STEWART SUMMERS,
P. O. Lexington, Missouri. A native of Kentucky. Was born in Mont- gomery county, Kentucky, January 27, 1827. His father, Caleb Sum- mers, who died in the summer of 1880, moved to this county in 1836. He had been a farmer in Kentucky, and Stewart was raised to a farmer's life. The family settled in Washington township, in this county, where he was mostly educated. Early in life he learned the value of money, and habits of economy, and when he became of age, he had already saved several hundred dollars in money. Every cent of this was expended in aiding his father, who had become involved; and when he started out in life he had just seventy-five cents and a horse. He then went to Wyan- dotte, sold his horse for seventy-five dollars, and obtained a permit to trade with the Wyandotte Indians. In 1851 he bought land in this county and began farming, which he continued until 1863, when he began the grocery business in Lexington. In 1868 he moved into the new store he had built on Franklin street, where he now is. In 1850 he married Miss Rachel A. Reed. Has no children living. Both he and his wife belong to the Christia church. His farm lies near Odessa. Few men can show a bet- ter record than the subject of this sketch.
GEORGE F. KING,
P. O. Lexington, Missouri. Was born in St. Charles county, Missouri, October 23, 1842. When he was quite young his parents moved to St. Joseph, Missouri, but after a short residence there, moved to this county, where George was raised and educated in Lexington. At the age of thirteen he was apprenticed to Mr. John A. Graham, of Lexington, to learn the tinner's trade, where he remained three years, and then one year with Wm. Morrison. He enlisted in company F, 10th Missouri vol- unteer cavalry, U. S. A., and served during the war. He was in many battles, fights and skirmishes, but was never either wounded or taken prironer. After the war Mr. King returned to Lexington and began working at his trade. In 1868 he entered into the stove and tinware business upon his own account, on Franklin street, Lexington, Missouri, where he now is, and has a full stock, a first class trade, and is well insured. In 1875 he was married to Miss Caroline Leichenring, of Lex- ington, by whom he has two children living. He belongs to the Masonic fraternity, to the Knights of Honor and to the A. O. U. W.
HENRY WIKLER,
Post office, Lexington, Mo. Is a native of Saxony, Germany where he was born July, 15, 1829; was raised and educated in Leipsig, and there learned his trade of furniture making. In 1849 he came to America and
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HISTORY OF LAFAYETTE COUNTY.
first stopped in New York, where he worked at his trade for several years, then spent a year or so in St Louis, and then, in 1853, he came to this county and settled in Lexington where he has since lived. Here, with his younger brother, who followed him to this country, he engaged in the manufacture of furniture. They have gone on steadily enlarging their trade and facilities, until now they have an extensive establishment for the manufacture of all kinds of furniture, in which they employ about forty- five men. He was married August 3, 1854 to Miss Eliza Wilker, who has borne him six children, all living, and the oldest daughter married to Mr. John Daehler. Mr. Wikler belongs to the Lutheran church and is also a mason.
GUSTAV GRUBER,
Post office Lexington, Mo .; one of the few business men in Lexington who can boast of that city as his birthplace. He was born in Lexington Sept. 24, 1854, where he was raised and educated. He was reared to the grocery business, his father having for years been engaged in that busi- ness. After he was grown he spent two years clerking in the wholesale grocery house of Young & Jones, St. Louis, and for a time was with the wholesale house of Bargon & Brockoff. He then returned to Lexington and embarked in the grocery line with a younger brother, under style of G. Gruber & Bro., which continued four years. In 1878 Gustav bought out his brother, and since then has been alone. He moved to Franklin street soon after dissolving with his brother, and has now a large and steadily growing trade. He is one of the most enterprising merchants in the city, and has a business standing unusual for so young a man.
JOHN POWELL,
Post office Lexington, Mo .; is a native of Ireland and was born in Tip- perary county, in 1836, where he was raised and edcucated. He was reared to the grocery business, though his father, George Powell, was a farmer in Ireland. In 1863 he left Ireland and came to the United States. He landed in New York, where he was in the grocery trade for about one year. He then went to Canada and engaged in the same business. In 1871 he came to Lexington in this county, and entered at once in the gro- cery business and has continued it ever since-indeed was never engaged in any thing else. He is located on Franklin street and is doing a heavy business, and carries about $10,000 in stock. In 1871 he was married in Lexington to Miss Mary Powell, a lady of the same name, but no relation. They have one child, a daughter, named Mattie P. Both he and his wife are members of the Episcopal church. He belongs to no secret order and is one of the substantial and reliable business men in the city.
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HISTORY OF LAFAYETTE COUNTY.
GARLAND C. GRAHAM,
Post office Lexington, Mo .; was born in Lexington, in this county, on the 19th of February, 1839. He is a son of J. H. Graham, whose biography appears elsewhere in this work. He was raised and educated in the city of Lexington. He learned the trade of tinner with his brother who car- ried on a shop in Lexington. He then went to Kansas City and worked journey work-then traveled in several states, He then opened a shop in the tin and stove business in Richmond, Mo., soon after taking J. B. Nichols into partnership. He then sold out to his partner and returned to Lexington, where he worked until 1873, and then went to Colorado. In 1873 he returned to Lexington and opened a tin and stove shop on Main street on a small capital. In one year he took into partnership Geo. F. King, which continued over four years. The firm then dissolved and he moved to Franklin street, where he now carries a large stock and does a remunerative business. He was married in this county, Dec. 10, 1870 to Miss F. Smarr, daughter of Wm. T. Smarr, of this county, and by which union he has two children living-Lee C. and Maud. He is a member of the Baptist church.
JOHN GOEHNER,
P. O. Lexington, Missouri; was born in Wittenburg, Germany, June 28 1833, where he was raised and educated. He learned the trade of Mar- ble cutter under his father, Jacob Goehner, who carried on a shop in the City of Tuebinger, Wittenburg. At the age of twenty he came to this country, landing in New York in 1853. The first five years he spent in working at his trade in different parts of the union. In 1859 he came to this county, and settled in Lexington, where, after working journey work for a year or more, he set up shop for himself in 1860. He worried through all the depression and hard times of the war, and since that time has done a good, and constantly increasing business. He now owns a good property in the city of Lexington; has a neat building on Franklin street, and is doing a thriving business. May 4, 1865, he was married, in Lexington, to Miss Margaret Soellner, daughter of John Soellner, by which union they have three children living, two sons and one daughter. He is a member of the Lutheran church, and also of the Odd Fellows.
CHARLES W. LOOMIS,
postoffice, Lexington, Mo. The subject of this sketch is one of the enter- prising business men of Lexington; was born in the city of Madison, Wis- consin, Oct. 1, 1853. His father, Alexander Loomis, moved to S Joe, Mo. in 1856, and after a short stay there moved to Lexington, in this county, which has been the home of the family ever since; both father and son, at
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HISTORY OF LAFAYETTE COUNTY.
this time, being engaged in business in Lexington. Charles was raised here, and also received his education here., At the age of fifteen, he entered as clerk in the drug house of W. B. Tevis, where he remained five years. In 1874 he began business for himself under style of J. A. Quarles & Co., which firm had a successful business career of five years, and then sold out, and Mr. Loomis started in the drug business alone, on Franklin street, where he is at present, and keeps constantly on hand a full and complete stock of first-class drugs, etc. Mr. Loomis has been a success so far, and there is no fair way to judge the future except by the past and present.
EDWARD T. NICHOLSON,
postoffice, Lexington, Mo. The subject of this sketch has been identified with the manufacturing interests of Lexington for many years, and still ranks among the leading business men of the city. He was born in Lex- ington, North Carolina, Jan. 25, 1837, but was raised in Lexington, Mo. His father, Edward Nicholson, had been an overseer in North Carolina, but died when Edward T. was but five years old. After his father's death, his mother, whose maiden name was Margaret Trotter, married again to a Mr. Garrett Freeland; and the whole family moved to Lexing- ton, Mo., in 1846, where the subject of this sketch has lived ever since. Here he was chiefly raised, educated, and learned his trade, that of wagon and plow making. In 1863 he volunteered and raised a company which he commanded; company E, of Rathbun's regiment, C. S. A. This com- pany being fractional, was soon consolidated with another. He surren- dered in 1865. He returned to Lexington, and set earnestly to work to recover his broken fortunes. He worked as he could until 1868, when he entered into partnership with Mr. Chas. Bartels, in the manufacture of wagons, plows, etc., in a building which they erected on Cedar street, Lexington. Their business has grown rapidly with the growth of agri- cultural interests in this county. They soon found their building too small and purchased the large brick on Franklin street, which is well suited to their wants. Since 1880, they have handled a large stock of wagons and farm machinery, in addition to their own work. He was married in July 1867, to Miss Clara Fall, daughter of John C. Fall, of Lexington. They have five children living; He is a member of the Methodist church, south, and a Mason, and his wife is a member the Baptist church.
WILLIAM GEORGE EGGLESTON,
of Eggleston & Co., P. O. Lexington, Missouri; one of the prominent business men of the city of Lexington, Missouri; was born in Loudon county, Virginia, December 10, 1849. His father, Rev. Wm. G. Eggles- ton, is a minister of the Methodist Church. He was born and raised in
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HISTORY OF LAFAYETTE COUNTY.
Baltimore, Maryland, and is now living, at Shepherdstown, West Virginia, and is still employed in his ministerial labors. The subject of this sketch, being the son of a Methodist minister, did not live very long at any one place, being subject to frequent removals. He was chiefly reared, how- ever, in Winchester, Virginia, and educated at Prince George's, Maryland. The war broke out just in time to cut his education short. By reading. and observation he has done much to make up that of which the war deprived him. He came to Lexington, in this county, in 1873, and began clerking in the dry goods house of Wilson & Hutchinson, where he con- tinued about four years. He then clerked for Davis & Allstadt, in the boot and shoe trade, for a year or more. Having then established his character and acquaintance, he purchased the boot and shoe business of W. J. Eckle, deceased, and engaged in business upon his own account, in 1877. Since then, by strict integrity and business habits, he has built up a large and growing trade. At the present time, the house carries an average stock of about $10,000. In 1880, Mr. Eggleston took into part- nership Mr. Robert E. Smith, of Lexington, who had formerly clerked for him. Messrs. Eggleston & Smith are young men, and comparatively new to Lexington. They stand now among the foremost firms in the city.
THOMAS H. BAYLESS,
P. O. Lexington, Missouri. Was born in Rappahannock county, Vir- ginia, August 27, 1827. In 1835, he moved with his parents to Garrett county, Kentucky, where they lived until 1843. When he was fourteen years old, his father died. In consequence of ill health, he received but a limited education. In 1843, he moved, with his mother and family, to this county, where he entered some land, and farmed it until 1847. He then clerked in a store in Lexington one year, and in 1848, engaged in mer- chandising at Utica, Livingston county, Missouri, where he continued until 1851, and then went to Richmond, Missouri, where he carried on a store, and at the same time, one in Camden, and dealt largely in tobacco, and feeding stock-some years feeding as high as 200 cattle. In 1869, he closed out his extensive business, and came to Lexington, in this county where he engaged in the hotel business-purchasing the well-known City Hotel, of which he is now sole proprietor. Beginning life with a very small capital, by energy and management he has accumulated a fortune of $30,- 000. In 1869, he was married to Miss Elizabeth Hudgens, daughter of Judge William Hudgens, of Lexington, Missouri, formerly of Virginia. They have had ten children, six of them living: John H., Fannie P., Bessie, Daisie B., Samuel, and Blanche. He has been a Mason for twenty-two years, and a member of the Methodist Church, South, since 1865.
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HISTORY OF LAFAYETTE COUNTY.
JOHN S. BLACKWELL,
P. O. Lexington, Missouri. Was born in Anderson county, state of New York, January 8, 1832. When he was only two years old his parents both died, and he was raised by his sisters. On settlement of his father's estate, it was found insolvent, he having lost heavily, by having to pay security debts. He was thus left to make his own way in the world. In 1850, at the age of eighteen, he went to California, and engaged in min- ing, trading, etc., and at the same time commenced reading law, until 1862, when he was admitted to the bar, at Placerville, California. Then went to Nevada, then to New Mexico, then to Mexico, and, in 1865, came to this county, and located in Wellington, In 1878, he was elected prose- cuting attorney for Lafayette county, and in 1880, was re-elected to the same office. Since 1878, he has resided in Lexington, the county seat. This office, of prosecuting attorney, he has filled with honor to himself, and credit to his constituency.' In 1872, he was married to Miss Bettie M. Rogers, of this county, daughter of Elisha Rogers, one of the old settlers of this county. By this union he has had five children, four of them now living: Horace.F., George P., Mary K., and Prentice P.
DR. JAMES G. RUSSELL,
P. O. Lexington, Mo. Was born in New York in 1824, where he was raised, and received both his literary and his professional education. In 1852 he moved to this county and settled in the city of Lexington, where he has continued for thirty years in the practice of his chosen profession, always holding a front rank with the physicians of Lafayette county. In 1861 he joined the state troops, and was appointed surgeon of Shelby's command. After the battle of Carthage he was assigned to Clarkson's regiment in Raines' devision, then brigade surgeon August, 1861, and then appointed by Gen. Price medical director of the hospitals of the depart- ment of Springfield. In 1862 he was made medical director of the Indian Territory, and changed to different departments to the close of the war. All of which positions he held with honor to himself, and discharged his duties to the satisfaction of his superior officers. In 1852 he was married to Miss Sarah M. Fishback, of this county, formerly of Kentucky, and has two children living-Charles J., and James G., Jr.
F. R. NEET,
P. O. Lexington, Mo. Was born in Jessamine county, Ky., August, 1833, where he was raised and educated. At the age of fifteen, in Lexington, Ky., he learned the carpenter's trade. In 1851 he came to St. Louis and worked at his trade; and the next year, 1852, came to Lexington, in this county, where he has since lived, and worked at his trade until 1861, when
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HISTORY OF LAFAYETTE COUNTY.
he was ordered to leave on account of his union sentiments. He went. In April, 1861, he enlisted in Company "K," 1st Missouri Volunteers, Col. Frank Blair, for three months. Before his time was out he had a cap- tain's commission to recruit a company for three years. He came to Lex- ington to raise his company, but was cut off from St. Louis, and assigned to 14th Regiment Missouri Volunteers, was at the battle of Lexington, and captured, was reorganized and sent to New Mexico to fight Indians. Being exchanged, they were ordered back from Fort Riley to fight rebels, and assigned to the 8th Kansas Regiment, and sent to Pittsburg Landing, and arrived there the morning of the battle of Shiloh. They were cut to pieces in the battle, having eight captains killed. In 1862 he was ordered to raise a company for the 10th Missouri Cavalry, as senior cap- tain of the regiment. In 1863 he was promoted to the rank of major of the regiment, and was in the battles of Iuka, Corinth, 2d, with Grant at Vicksburg, and under Gen. Grierson until December, 1863, then transfer- red to the army of the Potomac, then to Alabama, to Gen. Wilson's com- mand, where he continued to the end of war. Twice wounded. Returned to Lexington, and was deputy sheriff for several years, and has since fol- lowed gardening. September 6, 1868, he was married to Miss Ella Bethel, of Lexington, Mo., and has one child-Alva.
C. M. PIRNER,
P. O. Lexington, Mo. Was born in Saxony, Germany, May 6, 1829, where he was raised and educated (especially in chemistry). In 1852 he came to the United States and landed in New Orleans. The same year he settled in St. Louis and worked four years in a wholesale drug house. In 1856 he came to Lexington, in this county, and engaged in his present business of druggist and apothecary, and is now the oldest drug house in Lexington, and doing a good business. In 1861 he enlisted in Company " E," 14th Regiment Missouri Volunteers, and was in the battle of Lexington, where he was wounded and taken prisoner. By his wound he was dis- abled from further service. In 1860 he was married to Miss Mary Meyer, daughter of Francis Meyer of Lexington, and who was the first child born in Lexington of German parents. He has four children, Morris E., Adde- line, Caroline, and Lydia. Mrs. Pirner died September 25, 1873.
JOHN W. MENG,
P. O. Lexington, Mo. Was born in Callaway county, Mo., October 6, 1847. In 1852 he moved with his parents to this county, where he was educated in a private academy. In 1864, at the age of sixteen, he enlisted in Company "B," Gordon's regiment of Shelby's command, and served to the end of the war. Was in the battles of Big and Little Blue, Mine Creek, Newtonia, and many other fights. After the war he took a thor-
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ough course of dentistry, and graduated at the Baltimore college of den- tistry in 1870. He then located in Lexington, in this county, and has practiced ever since. In 1874 he was married to Miss Annie Carter, of this county, and has one child, Warren Douglas.
JOHN E. QUANDT,
P. O. Lexington, Mo. Was born in Prussia, April 13, 1832, where he was raised and educated, and lived until he was twenty-eight years old. He there learned his trade of wagon-making. In 1860 he came to the United States, and located in Lexington, in this county, where he has since lived and carried on his trade. In 1861 he enlisted in the 14th regiment, Missouri Volunteers, and participated in the battle of Lexington, where he was badly wounded in the right arm, by which he was disabled from further service. In 1863 he was married to Miss Mehl, of Lexington, Mo., and has two children-Mary and Lillie. He is now engaged in black- smith and wagon-making.
R. T. JESSE,
P. O. Lexington, Mo. Was born in Caroline Co., Va., Jan. 26, 1838, where he was raised on a farm and was educated in the University of Virginia. When the war broke out he enlisted May 1, 1861, in Co. F., 30th Virginia Infantry, Pickett's division C. S. A., and continued in service to the end of the war. Was engaged in the battles of Manassas, Bull Run, Seven Days' Fight, Seven Pines, Fredericksburg, Chancellorsville, the Wilder- ness, and others too numerous to mention. He surrendered with Gen. Lee. He then returned home and followed teaching. Taught one year in Virginia, two years in Alabama and six years in Kentucky. In 1874 he came to this county and engaged in farming for several years. In 1878 he moved to Lexington and clerked two years, and in December, 1880, entered into the grocery business, in which he is at present engaged, and is doing a flourishing business. He is a Mason and is secretary of the Lodge. He is also N. G. of the Lodge I. O. O. F. In November, 1874, he was married to Mrs. S. C. Perkins, formerly Miss Early, of Kentucky. They are both members of the Baptist church.
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