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 110

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 110
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 110
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 110
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 110

Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).

Lieut. Robert M. Nelson, a prominent and enterprising citi- zen of Knox County, was born at Farmington, Van Buren County, Iowa, March 14, 1843, and is a son of Andrew S. and Elizabeth. (Smith) Nelson. Andrew S. Nelson was born in Ohio, June 10, 1808, and is now a resident of Des Moines, Iowa. He is a tan- ner by trade, and moving to Indianapolis, Ind., worked at his. trade over twenty years. He then moved to Farmington, where he lived until 1849, and then he and his eldest son went to Cali- fornia, where he remained three years, but then returned to Farm -- ington, and after a short time moved back to Brookville, Ind., where he engaged in farming three years. He then returned to. Farmington, and farmed until 1859, and next went to Pike's Peak with our subject on a mining tour, returning home the latter part of the same year. In 1867 he moved to Des Moines, and is now the owner of forty acres of land adjoining that city, part of which has been laid off into city lots. Upon this land there are three coal mines in operation, which bring him quite an income. The mother of our subject was born October 6, 1807, in Indiana, and died in Des Moines November 1, 1877. Both she and her hus- band belonged to the Methodist Episcopal Church. Our subject is the seventh of a family of eight children, five of whom are. living. He was educated at Denmark Academy, Lee County,

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Iowa, and lived with his parents until he enlisted in Company B, Thirteenth United States Army, under Gen. Sherman, in which he did field service for two years and nine months, and participated in the battles of Vicksburg, Jackson, Arkansas Post, Chickasaw, Bayou and many others. At Vicksburg he was the flag bearer, and had the honor of being the first man to place the United States colors upon the rebel works, being the only flag bearer who was not killed. His escape was almost miraculous, his clothing and flag being riddled with bullets, and on account of his courage he was promoted to a second lieutenantcy. While lying in the trenches at the battle of Collierville he was severely wounded, and taken to the hospital at Memphis, Tenn .; and afterward, being unable for active duty, was sent to Columbus, Ohio, as mus- tering officer, and finally received an honorable discharge in May, 1864. He then returned to Iowa, where he lived until twenty- five years of age, and then came to Knox County, Mo., where he purchased land, which he improved and traded for what he now owns. March 14, 1872, he married Mary D. Stokely, of Lewis County, Mo., who was born February 9, 1847. This lady is a daughter of John Stokely, and to her union with our subject six children (five of whom are living) were born, viz .: Mary L., Robert D., Frank, Susan, Lavina and Johnnie (deceased). Mr. Nelson is a Republican; his wife is a member of the Baptist Church.

William H. Nichols, of Liberty Township, Knox Co., Mo., was born May 16, 1818, in Bourbon County, Ky., and is a son of William and Mary (McCoy) Nichols, both natives of Kentucky. William H. was reared to manhood, and educated in his native State and county, where he secured a good English education. During his youth he learned the carpenter's trade, at which he worked most of his early life. He came to Missouri in 1866, and upon coming to Knox County, in company with his brother, James, purchased a large farm in Shelton Township, which farm is now owned by his brother. In 1882 he bought his present farm, situated one and a half miles west of Edina, where he has since resided. This farm contains 156 acres, 120 of which are under cultivation. Mr. Nichols is a Democrat in politics of the Old Hickory Jackson type.

James M. Nichols, a well-to-do farmer of Knox County, was born March 22, 1827, in Bourbon County, Ky., and is the fifth child of William and Polly (McCoy) Nichols, natives of Ohio and Kentucky, respectively, who were married in Kentucky, where the father was taken by his parents, when a boy. After their marriage they lived in Bourbon County, where the mother died in 1837. The father remained there about eight years, and

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then moved his family to Boone County, where he died about 1850. He was a shoemaker by trade, but spent the most of his life farming. Our subject received a common-school education in Bourbon and Boone Counties. Soon after his father's death he returned to Bourbon County, where he was employed as a farm overseer, after which he engaged in carpentering until the fall of 1864, when he went to Sangamon County, Ill., going from there to Morgan County, where he worked at his trade until March, 1866, when he crossed the Mississippi, and went to Knox County, Mo., settling upon a farm he had purchased, and on which he still resides. He was married to Mary E., daughter of Robert and Sarah (Bradfield ) Morey, and who was born in Ohio in 1842. This lady came to Missouri with her parents, when a little girl, and her marriage with our subject occurred December 9, 1869, at her home in Knox County. To this union these children have been born: Priscilla, Alice, Louisa and William Arthur. Mr. Nichols has always been active and energetic, and as a result of his labor now owns a fine farm of 360 acres, the most of which is improved and under a good state of cultivation, with fine build- ings pleasantly and desirably located. In politics he is a Demo- crat, and cast his first presidential vote for James K. Polk in 1848. Although a strong supporter of his party, Mr. Nichols has never aspired to political office, and has refused all such honors. He is a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church.

Rev Benjamin F. Northcutt was born in Montgomery County, Ky., in 1820, and is the youngest of a family of eight children of whom three are living, but all of whom lived to be over fifty years of age. The father, Hosea Northcutt, a farmer and car- penter, and a native of Virginia, was a son of Jeremiah North- cutt, a native of Wales, who accompanied his father, Colliver, of London, to the United States in the colonial days. Upon the re- turn of Colliver to the old country he was shipwrecked, and laid upon the wreck of the vessel six days. Both of the grandpar- ents of our subject located in Kentucky during the early history of that State. Hosea Northcutt was a companion of Boone, the famous hunter, and first settler of Kentucky. In the fall of 1828 Hosea immigrated to Ralls County, Mo., where he lost his wife, Nancy, after a life spent with her of over sixty years. Mrs. North- cutt was a Christian lady, and at the time of her death was living with our subject, but died while on a visit to Ralls County. Her husband's death occurred at the residence of his son a few days later. He was a member of the Baptist Church, as was also his wife. In politics he was a Republican. This family is noted for its longevity, several of them passing the age of ninety. Our subject was brought to this State when a lad of nine summers, and

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was reared near New London, Ralls County, which town was almost built by Hosea Northcutt and sons. There being no educational advantages at this early time, our subject received his education from his father, and never went to school a day. He also learned the carpenter's trade from his father, which he followed exten- sively. In June, 1840, he was united in marriage to Miss Lydia J. Barnard, a native of Kentucky, born in the same county as our subject. Her parents also moved to Missouri during the same year that the parents of Benjamin came. The parents of Mrs. Northcutt were among the pioneer families of Kentucky, and, as far as Mrs. Northcutt is aware, she is the last of that well-re-

spected family. After his marriage Mr. Northcutt farmed in Ralls County, until 1853, and then purchased property near Colony, Knox Co., Mo., where he farmed until 1868, when he sold out, and moved to Kirksville, for the purpose of educating his children. He has lost all his property. For the past twenty years Benjamin and his son, Hosea, have been engaged in minis- terial duties, during which time they have been devoted to their calling. To the union of Benjamin and wife eight children have been born, four of whom are living and are residents of Knox County. They are Hosea A., Ambrose D., James R. and Joseph C. All of these are married, with the exception of Hosea, who is a widower. He has one daughter, a remarkably intelligent young lady, and a graduate of the Kirksville Normal School, where she delivered the class salutatory. Besides raising his own family, our subject has also supported eight orphan children. He now owns a comfortable home in Knox City, and also owns several lots. He is well known, and admired for his true piety and religious zeal, and is an able and faithful minister of the gospel. All his family are members of the Christian Church.

J. R. Northcutt was born in Knox County, Mo., in 1855, and is a son of Rev. Benjamin F. Northcutt, a native of Kentucky and of English descent. The mother of our subject, whose maiden name was Barnard, is a native of Missouri. Rev.

Benjamin F. Northcutt and wife were married in Northeast Mis- souri, and soon after settled in Ralls County, near Saverton, where they farmed for several years. After that they moved to Knox County, and located near Colony, where our subject was born. Here Rev. B. F. remained until 1868. He served through the war. He was the third son of a family of nine, of whom but four are living. Our subject lived at home with his parents un- til the age of twenty-four, previous to which time he had received a common-school education. He then took a more thorough course at the Kirksville Normal School, and after finishing his literary education began the study of medicine under Drs. Bar-

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nett and Crawford. He read three years, including two terms of lectures, and after graduating at Keokuk in 1878, located in Mill- port, Knox County, where he remained two years, and where he was fairly successful. From there he went to Greensburg, Mo., where he remained a year and a half, and then came to Knox City in 1882, where he has remained ever since, meeting with good success. For about three years he was in partnership with Dr. Harrison. Our subject is now in the prime of life, and is one of the most promising and enterprising physicians of the county. To Dr. Northcutt and wife four children have been born: Emma May, Jennie Ray, Lulu Maude (deceased) and Guy D. The Doctor is a Republican, and he and all his family are members of the Christian Church.

Cornelius O'Brien, M. D., a resident of Edina, was born in County Cork, Ireland, December 4, 1830, and is a son of John and Mary (Maloney) O'Brien, both natives of the same place. The father immigrated to the United States when our subject was but two years old, and located in Philadelphia, where he worked on the erection of Girrard College seven successive years, he being a marble cutter. In 1845 he removed to Ohio, and pur- chased a farm in Seneca County, then known as the "Indian Reserve." In 1855 he removed to the State of Wisconsin, where he engaged in farming in Sheboygan County until his death, which occurred in 1876, he being in his seventy-sixth year. His widow died six years later, at the same age. Four sons and three daughters were born to them, as follows: Daniel (now a resi- dent of Wisconsin), Cornelius, Johanna (wife of Joseph Unser, a wealthy farmer of Seneca County, Ohio), Mary (wife of John O'Herron, ex-county treasurer, of Sheboygan County, Wis. ), John (a physician and surgeon, of Milwaukee, Wis.), William ( a stock dealer, of Sheboygan County, Wis. ), and Hannah (wife of John C. O'Brien, of Milwaukee). Our subject was left in the care of his maternal grandparents, when his parents came to America, and when five years old accompanied them to the United States, and then spent his youth with his parents. He secured a good English education, while a lad, both from private instruction and attendance at the public schools. In 1852 he decided to adopt the medical profession, and accordingly read medicine at Tiffin, Ohio, under Drs. D. D. and F. Franklin. He later attended lectures in a private institution there, and in 1862 attended Rush Medical College, of Chicago, at which place he graduated in 1863. He then practiced ten years in Sheboygan County, Wis., having practiced there a short time before his graduation. In May, 1865, the Doctor came to Edina, where he has since practiced his profession very successfully, being con-

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sidered one of the best physicians in the county. May 24, 1859, he was united in marriage to Sarah Tupper, a native of Ohio, and a lady of Scotch and English descent. To the Doctor and his wife nine children have been born, all of whom are living: Francis I., Mary J., Charles J., William Joseph, John B., Thomas A., Joachim, Leo M. L. and Sarah Agnes. In politics the Doctor is a Democrat, but has never sought office nor given much time to political issues, being strictly engaged with his profession, in which he stands the peer of any physician in Northeast Mis- souri. Himself and family are members of the Catholic Church. The Doctor has been a strong supporter of the church and col- lege, both by personal efforts and in a financial way.

John A. Oldfather, a substantial stock farmer of Knox County, was born April 4, 1842, in Preble County, Ohio, and is the sixth of nine children born to Jonathan and Margaret (Cotterman) Oldfather, natives of Pennsylvania and Ohio, and married in the latter State, whither the father came with his parents when a boy. They remained upon the farm in Preble County until 1854, and then moved to Montgomery County, where they lived upon a farm until 1857, and then immigrated to Knox County,; Mo., locating on a farm two and one-half miles southwest of Edina, where their son, Aaron, is now living. In 1878 they moved on a farm in Section 13, Township 61 north, Range 12 west, where the father died in 1882. The mother is at present living with her daughter, Mrs. Lydia Bender. Our subject was edu- cated at the common schools of his native State, and at the age of twenty-one began life for himself, working upon his father's farm in Knox County, Mo. December 20, 1866, he was married to Columbia, daughter of Rees and Jemima (Reed) Marble, and who was born in Knox County, Ohio, March 12, 1844. To them eight children have been born, viz .: William Nelson, Charles Marion, Oma Olive, Rees Edward, Leander Tracy, Arthur J., Pearl Emmet and Eva Ethel. In the spring of 1872 our subject moved upon a farm he had purchased in Section 18, Township 61 north, Range 11 west, where he has since resided, and which now con- sists of 400 acres of land, well improved and cultivated, with a fine residence and good outbuildings. Our subject deals quite extensively in stock, and has made a snug sum by this business. He is a Republican, and cast his first presidential vote for Lincoln in 1864. During the war he was a Union man, and served about a year in Company G, Thirty-ninth Missouri. He is a highly honored and respected citizen, and himself and wife are members of the Holiness Band, being believers in holy sanctification.

William H. F. Owen is a son of S. W. and Elizabeth

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(Edwards) Owen, and was born in New York State in 1826. The father was a native of Delaware, and born in 1803. He fol- lowed various occupations until he became twenty-five years of age, and then learned the shoemaker's trade. He went to New York State, lived until 1829, then sailed down the Susque- hanna River upon a raft, and landed at Plymouth, Penn., where he located and followed his trade for a number of years. He is now a resident of Farrandsville, Penn. The mother of our subject was a native of New Jersey, and was married to Mr. Owen in 1825. She died in Pennsylvania in 1885. Our subject learned his trade of his father, and remained with him until he became of age. In 1850 he went to Illinois, and located at Crystal Lake, McHenry County, where he remained about two years, and then removed to Monticello, Lewis Co., Mo., but made a final move to Novelty, Knox County, about 1858, where he has resided ever since, following his trade, in which he is very proficient, and where he carried a stock of goods that would do credit to a much larger town than Novelty. While in Pennsylvania, in 1849, he was married to Phobe A. Roat, daughter of Daniel and Sarah Roat, by whom he has had six children, five of whom are living: Frank D., Ella E., Carrie M., Oscar Isidor and Lucy A. Our subject is a member of the I. O. O. F. and the Masonic fra- ternity, and in politics is a Republican. He is a public-spirited man, and takes great interest in all educational matters, to which he donates as much as he is able.

William Parks, an enterprising farmer of Knox County, was born in Putnam County, sixty miles from New York City, in 1817. His parents, Joseph and Chloe (Bailey) Parks, were both natives of the same county, and immigrated to Kentucky, locating in Jeffer- son County, near Louisville, when our subject was but two years old; but a few years later Dr. Joseph Parks became dissatisfied, and returned to his native State, where he resided until his death. He was for many years a leading physician of that State, and was well known as a man of integrity and honor. He left eight children, having lost his wife and one child previous to his de- cease. The only living child born to this highly esteemed couple is our subject, Col. William Parks, who was reared in the Blue-grass State, receiving his education in Jefferson County. When hardly out of his "teens " he engaged in the butcher trade with his brother in Louisville, which business he followed for ten years, when he commenced to farm in Jefferson County, but sold out in about four years, and moved to Union County where he remained six years. At this time the excitement in regard to the gold mines in California was intense, and our subject started for the gold fields. Col. Parks joined a company of about 500 white

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men organized to fight the Indians, whom they found very hostile, and succeeded in driving 15,000 of them into the United States headquarters. It was for his valuable service rendered on this occasion that our subject received the title of colonel. In 1853 he visited his native State and then started west, remaining a short time in Iowa, and in the summer of 1853 located in Knox County, Mo., and the same year purchased property in what is now Jeddo Township, to which he has continued to add until he now possesses a beautiful farm of about 1,400 acres, which is one of the finest in the county, and one which our subject says he would not exchange for any other in the county. This farm is the result of his own honest efforts and close attention to the business. Col. Parks was a Confederate soldier during the late war, and served in Company K, under Col. Porter; he did not engage in any regular engagements, but was in a number of skirmishes. Col. Parks has been twice married, his first wife being Miss Sarah Ross, of Kentucky, by whom he had one child, which is now dead. In 1853 Col. Parks, having lost his first wife, was united in marriage to Miss Rachel West, daughter of Joseph West, of Missouri, once a prominent citizen of Knox County. To that marriage seven children have been born, six of whom are living: William, Julia, Sallie, Samuel, Daisey and Lyman.

Capt. H. R. Parsons .- Perhaps no other man has been so prominently identified with the banking and financial interests of Knox County, understands them more thoroughly, or has made a more enviable record in connection therewith, than Capt. Henry R. Parsons, of Edina. He assisted in the organization of the Knox County Savings Bank, in 1872, and has been connected with that popular and solid institution ever since, first as its vice- president, and subsequently, and at present, as its efficient cashier. Capt. Parsons was born in Ontario County, N. Y., July 25, 1838, and is the son of Bissell and Mary (Ensign) Parsons, both of New England stock. His father located in. Adams County, Ill., in 1838, and died two years later. Capt. Parsons remained in Illinois upon a farm with his widowed mother, until 1835, when he came to this county, which has since been his home. Voting for Stephen A. Douglas in 1860, when the civil war broke out, he obeyed the dying injunction of the "Little Giant," and became an armed defender of "the Union, the Constitution, and the enforcement of the laws." In the summer of 1861 he joined Capt. Valentine Cupp's company of Union Home Guards, at Goodland. In the summer of 1862 he again entered the Federal service, this time as second lieutenant of Company G, Fiftieth Regiment Enrolled Missouri Militia. In the following winter he was promoted to the captaincy of his company, and April 1, 1863, was detailed

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and placed on special service as captain of Company K, Second Provisional Regiment, Enrolled Militia. In October, following, he was dismissed from the militia service by Gov. Gamble, without a trial, or, so far as is known, without investigation of any sort. This incident in his career need not, however, be con- sidered in the least degree discreditable to Capt. Parsons, or as at all reflecting upon him as an officer or man. The circum- stances connected therewith are thus related in the "History of Marion County, Missouri," page 846. "In September, 1863, Sheriff W. B. Phillips arrested a Federal officer, Lieut. C. S. Hussey, who had spirited away some negro men, and was at West Quincy with them endeavoring to cross the river to enlist them in the Federal service. The sheriff brought the officer to Palmyra, and placed him in jail, and the negroes were returned to their masters. Capt. H. R. Parsons, of Knox County, of Company K, Second Provisional Regiment, was in command of the post at Palmyra, with his own company, and Company F, of the same regiment, as a garrison. The militiamen were very indignant at the arrest and imprisonment of the officer, who de- clared that he was regularly authorized by the Secretary of War, through Col. Pile, to recruit colored men. Threats were made to release him by force. Sheriff Phillips telegraphed Gen. Guitar, at Macon, and the General ordered Capt. Parsons to have the jail well guarded, and to prevent any interference. Capt. Parsons ordered Lieut. Silas Keath to place a guard of ten men about the jail, which was done. At night the guard was doubled, and a patrol sent out to arrest all soldiers about the streets, and send them to their tents. There was great excitement. In spite of all precautions, the jail was broken open, and Hussey released, the guard at the jail making but a mock resistance, and readily fraternizing with the rescuers. Upon the representations

of Gen. Guitar and others, Gov. Gamble dismissed Capt. Par- sons from the service, with the loss of all pay, some $1,200 and emoluments. [The order as to loss of pay was subsequently re- voked. ] This was done because Parsons failed to prevent the rescue of the officer, although it would seem from the sworn tes- timony of the other militia officers present, that he honestly did his whole duty in the premises, and that he ought not to have been held so strictly accountable." [See Report of Legislative Committee to Investigate Conduct of Militia; 1864; page 126 et seq. ] Had any fair examination been had, doubtless Capt. Par- sons would have been held in service, but once made, the order of dismissal was very difficult of revocation under the circum- stances. Gov. Gamble was a stringent "Conservative," and Capt. Parsons a "Radical." After his dismissal from the State

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service, Capt. Parsons assisted in the organization of a regiment of colored troops, known in the records as the " First Missouri Infantry of African Descent," afterward called the Sixty-second Regiment, United States Colored Infantry. He served in this regiment until the close of the war as captain of Company A, being mustered out at Fort McIntosh, Tex., January 19, 1866. Capt. Parsons may fairly be considered one of the founders of Lincoln Institute, the colored Normal School, at Jefferson City. He and some of his brother officers originated the idea of estab- lishing a school in Missouri, for the education of colored pupils, and started a fund for the purpose. The amount was swelled to considerable proportions by contributions from the colored soldiers of the Sixty-second Regiment, and of other commands, while in Texas, and the institution would have been established even if the State had not taken it under its patronage. Upon his dis- charge Capt. Parsons was breveted major, by President Johnson. Returning home he was elected county assessor, and served during the years of 1867-68. In the latter year he was elected sheriff and collector, and by re-election held the office four years, or until 1872, engaging in banking at the close of his service. He made a most efficient and acceptable officer. His accounts were always satisfactory, and, indeed, some years after his term of office had expired, it was discovered that he had overpaid them to the amount of $400, which sum was returned to him. Aside from his banking interests Capt. Parsons owns a fine farm, whereon stands an elegant and commodious residence, one mile south of Edina. He has a small but well-selected herd of Jersey cattle of excellent register, and some pure-blood Poland-China (registered) hogs. He is well known as an active, public- spirited citizen, enterprising, liberal and useful. At present he is commander of James Marquess Post, G. A. R., Edina, and in Masonry has reached the degree of Knight Templar. Originally a Democrat, the Captain has been a Republican in politics since 1862. He was the nominee of his party for State senator in 1885, but although he carried his own county, then strongly Democratic, and ran more than 600 votes ahead of his ticket in the district, he was defeated by the overwhelming natural majority against him. While he is in no sense a politician, yet on more than one occasion, certain political managers and direct- ors of combinations have learned, in their discomfiture, that he can put in some very effective "work," when the occasion and his interests demand it. February 13, 1859, Capt. Parsons was married to Miss Sarah A. Hutchinson, a native of Macon County, Mo. They are the parents of five living children. Lewis H. married Miss May Fox, of Edina, and is the present assistant

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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 110

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

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