History of Lewis, Clark, Knox, and Scotland counties, Missouri. From the earliest time to the present, together with sundry personal, business and professional sketches and mumerous family records, Part 107

Author: Goodspeed, firm, publishers, Chicago (1886-1891, Goodspeed Publishing Co.)
Publication date: 1887
Publisher: St. Louis, Chicago, The Goodspeed publishing co.
Number of Pages: 1308


USA > Missouri > Scotland County > History of Lewis, Clark, Knox, and Scotland counties, Missouri. From the earliest time to the present, together with sundry personal, business and professional sketches and mumerous family records > Part 107
USA > Missouri > Lewis County > History of Lewis, Clark, Knox, and Scotland counties, Missouri. From the earliest time to the present, together with sundry personal, business and professional sketches and mumerous family records > Part 107
USA > Missouri > Clark County > History of Lewis, Clark, Knox, and Scotland counties, Missouri. From the earliest time to the present, together with sundry personal, business and professional sketches and mumerous family records > Part 107
USA > Missouri > Knox County > History of Lewis, Clark, Knox, and Scotland counties, Missouri. From the earliest time to the present, together with sundry personal, business and professional sketches and mumerous family records > Part 107


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degree. He has been a life-long church member, and is con- nected with the Presbyterian Church. Mr. Linville is a speci- men of a self-made man; having come here a young man with no capital, he has by his industry, economy, and business ability, succeeded in accumulating a handsome competency, and has aided many others to do likewise. He is one of the most esteemed and honored citizens of the county, and a prominent and enter- prising business man.


David Long, a substantial stock raiser of Knox County, was born February 17, 1825, in Mason County, W. Va., and is the eldest child of Alexander and Catherine (Yeager) Long. [See sketch of Reuben Long. ] Our subject was educated at the common schools of his native county, and at the age of twenty-one settled upon a farm in Mason County. March 4, 1847, he was married to Elizabeth, daughter of David and Catherine (Sebral) Somer- ville, who was born in April, 1826, and by whom he had eleven children, nine of whom are living, viz .: William J .; Mary C., wife of H. T. Howerton; Martha J., wife of Robert Howerton; Margaret A., wife of William Shelton; Virginia, wife of Benjamin Chester; Benjamin F .; Frances, wife of William Campbell; Sarah Elizabeth, wife of Ralph Campbell, and Susan E. When our subject first settled in Knox County he located in the heart of the prairie, in a sparsely settled country, but has improved his land, and now owns, as the result of his labor and good management, a fine farm which, before he divided it with his children, consisted of over 3,000 acres of well-improved land. He now owns 1,500 acres, 1,000 acres being in one tract. Mr. Long is a self-made man, and is rightly considered one of Knox County's eminent and substantial citizens. He is one of the largest land owners in the county, and an extensive dealer in stock, and handles annually over 100 head of cattle. In politics he is a Democrat, and cast his first presidential vote for Lewis Cass in 1848. Although an active politician, he has never aspired to public office, and has always refused to run for same. He and his wife and several children are active members of the Christian Church.


Reuben Long, a substantial farmer, of Knox County, was born March 8, 1832, in Mason County, Va. (now W. Va.), and is the fifth of eleven children (five of whom are dead) born to Alex- ander and Catherine (Yeager) Long, natives of Virginia and Pennsylvania, respectively. They were married in the former State, where the mother went with her parents when a small girl. and soon after marriage settled on a farm in Mason County, where they remained until their respective deaths in 1880 and 1886. The father was a farmer, and engaged in agricultural pur- suits his entire life. Our subject received a limited education at


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the common schools of his neighborhood, and lived with his parents until he became twenty-seven years of age, when he came to Knox County, Mo., in the fall of 1858, and in the spring of 1859 was married to Almira Lair, who was born in Missouri in 1843. He then moved to the farm where he now resides, and his wife died in 1876, seven children having been born to their union, of whom four are living. In 1880 our subject married Ada Russell, by whom he had two children. This wife died in 1882, and the third wife of our subject was Ruth Smith, widow of Thomas S. Smith and daughter of Hugh F. and Leah (McRey- nolds) Henry. This lady was born January 24, 1847, in Knox County, Mo., and was married to Mr. Smith in 1868, and after his death, which occurred in 1879, married our subject in 1883. By her first marriage Mrs. Long had four children, and, by the last, two. Her children are Lizzie, wife of subject's eldest son, Alexander; John William, Frank, and Nancy Ellen. The living children of Mr. Long are Alexander, James Morgan, Jackson and Margaret Alta, by the first marriage; Joseph and Jesse by the second, and George and Emma by the third. Mr. Long is an active, energetic and industrious business man, and now owns over 1,300 acres of land, nearly all cleared or prairie land, well improved and under a good state of cultivation, all of which is the result of his own labor. In connection with his farming he deals quite extensively in stock, having at present all of 100 head of cattle, 250 head of sheep, fourteen horses and a number of hogs. He is a well-respected and honored citizen, and one of Knox County's representative men. In politics he is a Demo- crat, and cast his first presidential vote for James Buchanan, in 1856. Although he takes an active interest in politics, he does not aspire to office, and has refused all proffers of that character. He belongs to Paulville Lodge, No. 319, F. & A. M. He, his eldest daughter and son, James M., are members of the Method- ist Episcopal Church South.


Thomas J. Longfellow was born in Knox County, Mo., May 24, 1844, and is a son of Jonathan and Martha (McClamrock) Longfellow. The father was a native of Butler County, Ohio, born March 6, 1815, and died in Elk County, Kas., December 27, 1885, in his seventieth year. He came to Knox County from Ohio, in 1843, and remained until 1877, when he moved to Kan- sas, up to which time he had been engaged in farming, but there operated a grist mill at Elk Falls, Kas. The mother was also born in Butler County, Ohio, January 8, 1819, and died in Knox County, Mo., September 10, 1862. To them nine children were born, of whom our subject is the third, all but the eldest still liv- ing. Thomas J. received a limited education at the home schools,


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and remained with his parents until January 27, 1864, when he enlisted in Company E, Twenty-first Missouri Volunteer Infantry, and served until April 19, 1866. He was in the Red River ex- pedition, the last raid through Missouri, at Nashville, Tenn., and at Fort Blakeley, Ala. He was mustered out at Fort Gaines, Ala., and then returned to Knox County, and engaged in farming and stock dealing. December 24, 1867, he wedded Annie Arehart, daughter of William M. and Jane (Garrigus) Arehart, born in Butler County, Ohio, October 13, 1849. Mr. and Mrs. Long- fellow have had three children, all living. Jonathan M., Effie A. and Leonidas S. After his marriage, Mr. Longfellow moved upon land given him by his father, which he has since sold to his brother, John J. In 1875 he bought his present home. In politics he is a Republican, and is an active and enterprising citi- zen, advocating all religious and educational enterprises. His wife is a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church.


Tobias J. Lycon, of Edina, Mo., was born in Edgar County, Ill., July 5, 1836, and is a son of David and Susan (Hayes) Lycon, both natives of Kentucky. The father immigrated to Missouri in 1856, with his family, and located on a farm upon the line of Adair and Knox Counties. There he followed farm- ing and stock raising successfully for a number of years. He was an honest, conscientious and upright citizen, and served his country in the Union Army, being wounded early in the service by an accidental shot from a revolver fired while ir camp at Can- ton, Mo., from the effects of which he was permanently disabled, as far as hard work is concerned, and he is now living a retired life at Kirksville, Mo. He is now in his seventy-fifth year, and is enjoying life upon a comfortable income. The mother is also still living, and about the same age. They have had three children: Tobias J., Clarinda (deceased wife of Lewis Allred ), and Jeremiah V., of Seward County, Kas. Our subject was reared to manhood upon the farm, in his native county and State. He accompanied his parents to Missouri, and soon after entered the employ of Bry- ant & Connelly, merchants of Edina. He served a two-years' apprenticeship at the business in a frame storehouse upon the present site of his large business block on the northwest corner of the public square. Before the war broke out he engaged in business for himself in Milan, Mo., and at the close of the war embarked in a business enterprise, which has developed into his present business. He started on a very small scale, having & capital of but $170, but by close attention to business, strict integrity, economy and tact, has increased his trade steadily, until he now owns the largest mercantile establishment in North- east Missouri. In 1870 he erected the two-story brick build-


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ing on the corner, and in 1876 built another adjoining on the south, and now utilizes both for his immense stock of dry goods, clothing, carpets, boots and shoes, hats and caps, and everything pertaining to a general line of merchandise excepting groceries and hardware. This establishment gives employment to five men, and a larger trade is controlled by this firm than by any other in Northeast Missouri. Mr. Lycon also is interested in farming and stock raising, having a farm well stocked with mules, and owns a handsome corrugated iron stable, situated in the rear of his business block, where with the assistance of his son, Pearl, he deals extensively in these animals and horses. He is one of the largest property holders and taxpayers of the county, owning a good deal of valuable farming land and town property. He is also largely interested in Texas land and cattle. In January, 1857, he married Miss Emma, the daughter of the late Andrew Biggerstaff. Mr. and Mrs. Lycon have two sons living: Pearl A. and Virgil E., who now manages his father's store. In politics Mr. Lycon is a Republican, although his time is almost entirely devoted to his business interests. He is a Knight Templar, and a good example of one of the self-made men and enterprising citizens of Knox County.


Dr. A. J. Magee was born in Philadelphia, Penn., in 1850, and is a son of Robert Magee, a native of Donegal, County Donegal, Ireland. His mother, Eliza (Waters) Magee, was also a native of Ireland. Robert and wife were married in Philadel- phia, where he kept books in a jobbing house for eleven years, for the firm of Grant & McClintock. Soon after this he moved to New Philadelphia, Ohio, but in 1857 immigrated to Lewis County, Mo., where he has since resided, being engaged in agri- cultural pursuits, and where he now owns a nice farm. He served as à Federal soldier during the war. In politics he is a Republican, and in religion a Christian. Both he and wife are over sixty years of age, and are vigorous in body and mind. Our subject is the eldest of a family of six children, all of whom are living. He lived with his parents until he became of age, pre- vious to which he had received a common-school and college education. At the early age of seventeen he began to teach, and part of his education is the result of this labor. His winters were spent in teaching, and his summers in toil upon the farm, and in this way he obtained sufficient means to pay for his education. After a three years' course at the normal school, at Kirksville, he began the study of medicine under Dr. Briscoe, of Lewiston, Lewis County, and also attended lectures at the Keokuk College of Physicians and Surgeons. After graduating at Keokuk, he located in Bee Ridge Township, where he remained three years.


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meeting with good success. He then moved to Knox City, in 1881, where he has also been very successful, and enjoys a large practice, considering the number of physicians at that place. In 1880 he was united in marriage to Miss Priscilla Hamilton, a native of Knox County, and a daughter of Armstead and Sarah Hamilton. To this union one son has been born-Bruce Magee. Our subject agrees with his father, politically, and is a member of the I. O. O. F., to which order he has belonged since 1873. Both he and wife are members of the Baptist Church. In con- nection with his practice, Dr. Magee was engaged in the drug business in Knox City, from 1880 to 1886. Knowing well the discouragements to young persons in their efforts to obtain edu- cation, he is generous to a fault, giving assistance in any manner that. he possibly can. His full sympathy is with the young per- son depending on self-effort. His motto is: " Never yield to dis- couragement: Persevere."


William F. Marble, an enterprising young farmer, of Knox County, is a native of Illinois, and was born May 1, 1853, being the eighth child of twelve born to Rees and Jemima (Reed) Marble, seven of the children now dead. Our subject received a common-school education in Knox County, Mo., where he came when three years old, and at the age of twenty-one married Nancy, daughter of Samuel and Mary Jane Cheatum, born Sep- tember 23, 1855, in Lewis County, Mo. Her marriage with our subject occurred December 25, 1874. After marriage William F. continued in business with his father for a year, and then pur- chased eighty acres of land in Section 19, Township 61 north, Range 11 west, which tract is now owned by John Oldfather. In two years he removed to a farm he had purchased in Sections 19 and 20, Township 61 north, Range 11 west, where he has since resided, and which now consists of a farm of 320 acres under a fine state of cultivation. To Mr. and Mrs. Marble the following children have been born: Nora, Ephraim, Mary J., Gertrude and Rees. Our subject is one of the most promising young farmers of this region, and has accumulated his property by his own industry and good manage- ment, having been quite successful in his cattle dealings. He is a Republican, and cast his first presidential vote for Rutherford B. Hayes in 1876. His wife is a member of the Christian Church. His parents were natives of Ohio, where they lived until 1853, then moving to Peoria, Ill., and from there, in 1854, to Henry County, Iowa, and in 1856 made their final move to Knox County, Mo., where they still reside.


James March, an old and much respected citizen of Benton Township, Knox County, Mo., was born in Clark County, Ky.,


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March 9, 1816, and is the son of Absalom and Elizabeth (Bran- denburgh) March. The father of our subject was of Swiss ances- tors. He was a native of Bourbon County, Ky., born January 6, 1788, and his father, Jacob March, was from North Carolina, and came to Kentucky when the Indians were very numerous and very hostile, and the pioneers were obliged to build block- houses as a means of protection. The father of our sub- ject was a resident of Clark County, Ky., until 1828, when he came to Boone County, Mo., and there resided until his death, which occurred March 6, 1870. He was a farmer all his life. About 1850 he joined the Christian Church, but later, with his wife, became a Baptist. The mother of our subject was of Irish ancestors, and was born in Clark County, Ky., December 22, 1796, and died in Boone County, Mo., June 12, 1852. She was a member of the Baptist Church, and her husband was a member of the Christian Church. To their marriage were born twelve children, seven now living, our subject being the eldest. He received a liberal education in Howard County, and then engaged in teaching school for the next three years, when not farming. November 26, 1840, he married Emily Ann Roberts, who was born in Madison County, Ky., April 18, 1821. Her parents, Lawrence and Elizabeth (Flemming) Roberts, moved to Howard County, Mo., when she was quite young. She afterward moved with her parents to Boone County, where she was married to our subject. To this union were born twelve children, seven living, viz .: Elizabeth F., David L., Martha J., Emily Ann, Amanda E., James A. and Lucy A. Those deceased are Mary E., Susan A., Sarah L., Willis F. and Ida C. In 1841 our subject moved to Knox County, Mo., and purchased part of the land that he now owns. In 1850 he was elected surveyor of Knox County, and held this office for nine years, being a very efficient officer. Our subject, before the war, was a Whig, but since that event he has been a Republican. He and wife were members of the Baptist Church for some time, but afterward joined the Christian Church, of which they have been members since 1850, and of which he has been an elder ever since he joined.


David Martin, one of the farmers of Knox County, was born in Fayette County, Penn., in 1820. His father, Frederick, was a native of Pennsylvania, and of German descent. His mother, whose maiden name was Reed, was a native of Maryland, and of English descent. Frederick Martin was a stone mason by trade, which business he followed until old age caused him to retire to a more quiet life, and he consequently spent his latter days on & farm in Fayette County. He served in the war of 1812, and during the late war was in sympathy with the Union cause. He


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was a resolute and determined man, of remarkable constitution, and, prior to his death, was in full possession of his mental and bodily powers. He died in Fayette County at the age of seventy- seven. His widow died at the same age, and was living with her son at the time of her death. Our subject was reared and edu- cated in Fayette County, and in 1844 was united in marriage to Miss Firestone, daughter of Joseph Firestone, a native of Penn- sylvania. Five children were born to this marriage-three sons and two daughters-only one now surviving, named James, and living at home with his father. Mr. Martin lost his wife, & Christian lady, in 1855,and two years later married Mrs. Firestone, who had four children, one only, Rev. Simeon Firestone, a farmer in Southeast Kansas, is now living. Mrs. Firestone's maiden name was Wortic, and to her union with Mr. Martin seven chil- dren were born, four of whom are living: David F., Ida, Arminda and Laura E. It was in Adams County, Ill., that our subject lost his first wife, and after his second marriage he came to Missouri, where he has lived more than twenty years, and where he now owns 124 or more acres of land, well stocked and im- proved, with good buildings and an orchard. In politics he is a Republican.


William M. Martin, one of Knox County's enterprising farm- ers, is a native of Scotland County, Mo., where he was born April 11, 1855, and is the third of nine children born to Samuel G. and Hannah L. (Turner) Martin, natives of Ohio, where they were reared and married, residing near Janesville until about 1850, when they immigrated to Scotland County, Mo., and set- tled on a farm near Arbela, where they remained until the spring of 1864, then moving to Knox County, locating on a farm, where they lived until the spring of 1868; then removed to the farm where they resided until their deaths, in 1878 and 1870, respect- ively. Our subject attended the common schools of Scotland and Knox Counties, and, at the age of sixteen, left home and be- gan working by the month on farms, which he continued to do five years, and then married and moved upon the farm he still owns, situated in Section 23, Township 61 north, Range 13, where he remained until 1884, then moved to an adjoining farm, which he had also purchased, and which he has since been en- gaged in improving. He also makes a large quantity of sorghum molasses. His wife was Sarah M., daughter of William and Mermelia (McLaughlin) Musgrove, and was born in Spencer County, Ky., coming to Missouri with her parents when an in- fant. At the time of her marriage with our subject, in 1875, she was a widow with two children: Sherman N. and William L. Oliver. Our subject is an energetic, public-spirited young man,


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well liked and respected by the community, and his fine farm, excepting forty acres, and now consisting of 200 acres, is the re- sult of his own industry and economy. He is a Democrat, and cast his first presidential vote for Samuel J. Tilden, in 1876. Mr. Martin, his wife and step-children are members of the Meth- odist Episcopal Church South.


Luke M. Mayfield, one of Knox County's prominent citizens, was born in the State of Illinois, in 1850, and is a son of James M. and Matilda E. (Cherry) Mayfield, the former being a native of Alabama, who came to Illinois when about fifteen years old, and worked upon a farm until twenty-one years of age, when he be- gan to study medicine, which profession he has followed ever since, and is now a resident and prominent physician of Marion County, Mo. The mother is a native of Illinois, and is now living in Missouri with the subject's father. Luke M. left Illi- nois in the fall of 1866, and located at Kirksville, Mo., in Adair County, where he was engaged as a salesman in a dry goods store and others for two years. He then came to Greensburg, Mo., and engaged in the mercantile business, at which he continued until about two years ago, when he retired from business life, and settled upon a fine farm south of Greensburg, containing 372 acres of good land, under a fine state of cultivation, and upon which is one of the finest residences and outbuildings in the township. He commenced life with no capital, but being endowed with perseverance and energy, he has accumulated quite a for- tune, having done an extensive business while in the mercantile trade. In January, 1875, he was married to Ida Barlow, daugh- ter of J. D. and Martha Barlow, and to this marriage Lullie M., Caddie M., Bertha M. and Minnie P. have been born. Mr. May- field is an ardent Democrat, and once was a candidate of that party for the office of county collector, but did not succeed in receiving the election, and since that time has never run for office. He is a public-spirited citizen, and always takes interest in public enterprises, to which he donates liberally. He is a worthy member of the Masonic order, and of the Christian Church, to which denomination his wife belonged before her death, which occurred on the 11th of May, 1887.


Rice F. McFaden, a resident of Colony Township, and one of the oldest and best citizens of Knox County, is a native of Shelby County, Ky., and was born July 7, 1811. He is a son of John and Elizabeth (Hollandsworth) McFaden. The father was a child when his parents came from Ireland to Lancaster County, Penn. The family came to America on account of politics and the rebellion in Ireland. The father of John McFaden enlisted in Washington's army, and was in several battles, and never hav-


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ing been heard of since, it is supposed that he was killed. John went to live with an uncle, William Fullerton, in Lancaster County, Penn., and while young learned the hatter's trade, about which time he left his uncle, and went to New Orleans on a flat- boat loaded with flour. He then went back as far as Shelby County, Ky., as a journeyman hatter, and there purchased a large tract of land, and $10,000 worth of fur from the North American Fur Company, which was bought on credit. He then went into business for himself, but when the war of 1812 broke out the value of hats so decreased that John McFaden was left a bank- rupt. Part of his debts were paid by our subject as late as 1850. He died in Oldham County (formerly a part of Shelby County) at the advanced age of ninety-eight. He was a member of the Baptist Church many years. The mother of our subject was born in Culpeper County, Va., and died at Snowhill, St. Charles Co., Mo., when eighty-seven years of age, while visiting her children in Missouri. She was a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church. Our subject is the eldest of seven sons and three daughters, and went to work in his father's shop at an early age. His education was limited, but with the assistance of his mother, and close application to books at odd moments, and being of an observant nature, he is now a well-informed man. When twenty years old he was engaged to drive a team for $60 per year, and his clothes. After living in Morgan County, Ill., a year, he went to Marion County, Mo., spent three years, and then removed to six miles south of Newark, Knox County, where he became the owner of forty acres of land, which afterward went to pay his doctor's bill. He then moved two miles west of the present site of Edina, and worked until he had accumulated $300, which he gave to a friend for safe keeping, and lost. The next misfortune that overtook him was the burn- ing of his house and home, at Bridge Creek. In 1850 he accom- panied his brother, John, to California, where he remained two years, and upon reaching New York on his home trip owned $600, which proved the nucleus of his present property. He is a self-made man, and now owns 360 acres of splendidly improved and cultivated land. When twenty-two years of age he was united in marriage to Ellen Sage, a native of Oldham County, Ky. She died upon the farm where our subject now lives. To them eight sons and three daughters have been born- two sons and three daughters living. Mr. McFaden subse- quently married Sydna Jane Hilbert, who was born in Wood- ford County, Ky., in 1830, and to them three sons and two daughters were born, of whom one son and one daughter are liv- ing. Our subject is a member of the Methodist Episcopal


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