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 111

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 111
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 111
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 111
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 111

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).

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cashier of the savings bank. The other children are Fred B., Edgar O., William Lee and Pearl.

I. T. Peirce, a well-to-do farmer of Knox County, was born in Athens County, Ohio, in 1813, and is the eldest of eight chil- dren (six of whom survive) of Nathaniel and Phoebe ( Waterman) Peirce, natives of Virginia and New York State. They were married in Ohio, where the father came when a boy, and the mother when grown. They finally settled in Athens County, where they remained until 1846, moving then to Adams County, Ill., where they lived upon a farm until their respective deaths, in 1865 and 187 -. Our subject received a common-school edu- cation during his youth, and began life for himself at the age of twenty-one, although he still lived at home. He farmed princi- pally until he became twenty-four years of age, when he was married, in 1837, to Mary Selby, a native of Ohio, who gave birth to four children. This lady died March 23, 1851, in Adams County, Ill. In the spring of 1870 our subject moved to Knox County, Mo., and located upon a farm he had purchased in Sections 5, 6 and 7, Town 61 north, Range 12 west, where he has since resided. January 12, 1853, he was united in marriage a second time, this lady being Elizabeth, daughter of Peter and Sarah Thomas, which union was blessed with three children. The living children of our subject are Barker, Mary (wife of Samuel McNulty ), E. O. and Josephine ( wife of George Strickler ), by his first wife; and Franklin, Ira and Isaac T., by his second. Mr. Peirce now owns a fine farm of 560 acres, nearly all cleared and improved, which is all the result of his own hands. In con- nection with agriculture, he deals quite extensively in stock, and has 100 head of cattle upon his farm at present. He is a well- respected and worthy citizen, and enjoys the confidence of all who know him. Previous to the war he was a Democrat, but is now identified with the Republican party.

Richard Thomas Pendery, M. D., a leading physician and resident of Bourbon Township, was born in Munfordville, Bar- ren County, Ky., December 26, 1830, and is a son of James and Rebecca (Crane) Pendery. The father was a native of Virginia, and accompanied his parents to Ohio when a child, settling near Cincinnati. When a young man he went to Barren County, Ky., where he was married. In 1844 he moved to Marion County, Mo., locating in Palmyra. He afterward moved to Philadelphia, Marion County. He was a cabinet-maker by trade, and worked at this business all his life. Previous to his residence in Mis- souri he lived at Perryville, Boyle Co., Ky., for several years. He died at an advanced age, while on a visit to our sub- ject. Rebecca (Crane) Pendery, the mother, was born in Mercer

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County, Ky., now Boyle County, in 1810, and died in Philadel- phia, Marion Co., Mo., in 1846. She and her husband were members of the Methodist Episcopal Church. Our subject is the eldest of a family of seven children, as far as known, all being alive at the present time. He received his education at Marion College, and in 1849 began the study of medicine under Drs. Reed and Parsons, of Quincy, Ill. In 1850 he went to Cali- fornia, and engaged in mining and trading, in which he was quite successful. He returned in 1853, by the Vanderbilt Line, by way of Nicaragua and New Orleans. He went directly to Knox County, and engaged in the mercantile business at Novelty, which was not much of a town then, but soon began to grow, and is now one of the nicest villages in Northeast Missouri. Our subject has the credit of being the founder of the town. At the commencement of the war he abandoned business life, and moved upon his farm, two miles east of Novelty, and has since engaged in agricultural pursuits. In 1864-65 he resided in Philadelphia, Mo., and again engaged in business, but in the latter part of 1865 returned to Knox County, and embarked in the dry goods and grocery business, in which he remained until 1884, when he sold out. During 1869-70 he had attended lectures at the St. Louis Medical College, receiving his diploma, and since that time has practiced his chosen profession in connection with his business and agricultural interests, and has built up a large and lucrative practice. In June, 1855, he married Jane M. Ross, daughter of John and Martha Ross, and a native of Brown County, Ohio, and to this union four sons and four daughters have been born, one of the latter now deceased. Dr. Pendery is a Democrat in politics ; is a member of the Masonic fraternity, and is classed among the highly respected and eminent citizens of the county.

Pugh & Slaughter, dealers in lumber and building material, Edina, Mo., is a firm comprised of Jacob M. Pugh and Will- iam J. Slaughter. This business was established in 1871 by Bradford & McCoy, of Quincy, Ill., and they were succeeded about 1873 or 1874 by the late F. M. Gifford, who afterward became a member of the Canton Saw Mill Company. This com- pany bought the recent grounds near the depot, and conducted a large and lucrative business, which they sold to the present firm in July, 1886. The grounds consist of about eight acres and some 600x20 feet of sheds. The firm handles lumber, gates, sash, doors, blinds, lime, cement, tarred paper and building material generally, very extensively, and controls the leading trade in this line in the county, having the only lumber yard in Edina, and there being but two others in the county. Maj. Jacob M. Pugh, the senior partner, was born in Randolph County,

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N. C., November 11, 1821, and is a son of Isaac and Mary (Varner) Pugh, both natives of North Carolina, and of Welsh and German descent, respectively. The father and family immi- grated to Indiana about 1822, locating on a farm near Indian- apolis. There the father spent the remainder of his life, dying in 1861, the mother dying ten years previous. Before his death the father married a second time, the lady being a Mrs. Slawson. By his first wife there were five sons and five daugh- ters, all of whom lived to maturity, except one son. Our subject and Rebecca (widow of John Fox of Hurdland) reside in Mis- souri; the rest in Indiana, viz .: Mary (wife of Rainey Fox), Elizabeth (widow of Jeremiah Guion) and Lucinda (wife of Nero Hollingsworth). Our subject was reared to manhood on a farm in Indiana, and came west in 1839, and spent one year in Knox County and Edina. He then returned to Indiana, and farmed until 1854, when he permanently located in Edina, and clerked for John Dougherty seven years. The first year of the war he engaged in business for himself, which he conducted suc- cessfully until 1881. Mr. Pugh then gave attention to his farm of over 400 acres, near Edina, which he kept well-stocked and still owns, and in 1886 became connected with the lumber busi- ness in Edina. In 1845 he married Lucinda Martindale, of Indiana, who died leaving one child who still survives, Edwilda (wife of James Dunham). Our subject married his present wife July 20, 1856. She was Anne S. Biggerstaff, and to this union the following children have been born: William, born April 27, 1857, died July 30, 1858; Werter D., born December 17, 1858; Mary M., born February 21, 1861 (wife of Arthur Smith, of Indianapolis) ; Ada H., born November 1, 1864, (wife of Edward C. Eyman), of Columbus, Ohio; Eva B., born October 14, 1866, (wife of Ethelbert Dowden, of Texas). Mr. Pugh was a Whig during the early days of that party, but since the war has been a Republican. During the late war he was major in the Fiftieth Regiment, East Missouri Militia, and was discharged by a supe- rior officer owing to a conflict of authority with said officer [see history of Fiftieth Regiment], but was soon after appointed colonel of the same regiment by Gov. Gamble, and served as such until the close of the war.

Edward M. Randolph. a resident of Edina, Mo., was born in Marion County, Mo., December 5, 1838, and is a son of Thomas and Ann E. ( Anderson ) Randolph, natives,respectively, of Louisiana and Maryland. The father immigrated to Missouri in 1835, and staked off 1,000 acres of land just below "Bee Ridge " in this county, before it came into market, and unfortunately some parties entered the same at Palmyra when it came into market,

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before Mr. Randolph got a chance. A year or so later he removed to Marion County, and entered land near the Shelby County line, where he resided until 1876, meeting with fair suc- cess as a farmer and stock raiser. He was quite a hunter in the early days when deer and wild game abounded in this locality. Since 1876 he has resided in Edina, and with his wife lives a retired life. He was born in 1812, and she in 1818, and they have raised the following children to maturity, all of whom are still living: Ella (widow of Col. Mccullough), Edward M., Samuel T., Thomas J., John M., Charles H. and William H., all residents of Knox County. Our subject spent his youth in his native county on a farm, and secured a good English education, which he completed at the public schools of Hannibal. In 1856 he came to Knox County, and clerked in a merchandise store for three years at Newark, and then embarked in business for him- self, which he continued successfully until January, 1873. He then ran the overland stage route from Edina to Quincy for four years before the railroad was built here. In 1873 he was appointed circuit clerk of Knox County by Gov. Woodson, to fill a vacancy caused by the death of R. R. Smith. He served out the unexpired term, and was then re-elected in 1874 for a term of four years, which office he filled in a highly satisfactory and efficient manner. In 1879 he engaged in a real estate and loan agency with Senator L. F. Cottey, and continued thus engaged until March, 1876, since which time he has conducted a similar business alone in a successful manner. He is one of a syndicate of local capitalists which has purchased some 3,000 acres of land in Linn County, Mo., on the Sante Fe Railroad, the intention being to lay off a new town in that desirable country. December 10, 1861, he married Miss Anna, daughter of. Mason Hamilton, of this city In politics Mr. Randolph is a Democrat, and as such was elected to his county office. He has been active in local matters, both educational and religious, and was a member of the board of directors who built the present large school building in Edina. He is a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church South, and has been president of the Knox County State Sunday-school Association for eight years. He is an Odd Fel- low of honorable and long standing, also a K. of H., and belongs to the A. O. U. W. He is an ardent advocate in the temperance cause, and his standing as a business man and upright citizen is above reproach.

Thomas A. Randolph, a resident of Edina, Mo., was born in Marion County, Mo., March 8, 1843, and is a son of Thomas Randolph. [See sketch. ] Our subject arrived at majority upon the farm in his native county, obtained a fair education, and at

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BIOGRAPHICAL APPENDIX.

the age of sixteen was employed as a clerk in a mercantile store in Linn County, Mo., where he remained about one year. In 1862 he entered the Confederate Army as a private under Frank- lin and Mccullough, where he served a few months in Northeast Missouri. After the battle of Kirksville he went to Illinois, but returned in the fall of 1863 and clerked in his brother's store in Newark. In 1868 he became his brother's partner, and in 1870 bought him out, and conducted the business there successfully until 1879. In the fall of the following year he came to Edina, and engaged in the mercantile business, where he has since re- mained, and has met with good and well-merited success. At his store on the west of public square, he carries a full and well- selected stock of staple and fancy dry goods, notions, boots, shoes, hats, caps, and clothing, and controls a large share of the city and country trade in this line. In 1867 he married Tillie M. Towson, of this county, daughter of the late John Towson, formerly of this county, but who died in California in 1850. Mr. and Mrs. Randolph have had two children: Ernest T. (deceased ) and Wilbur. Mr. Randolph has always been a Democrat. He is secretary of the Knox County Fair Association, and has served as city treasurer two years, and now holds that office. He is a Master Mason, and an eminent and successful business man.

Peter J. Reid, of Edina, Mo., is a native of Knox County, and was born November 27, 1853. His parents were James A. and Rose A. (Call) Reid, natives of Maryland and Ohio, respectively. The father was one of the early pioneers of this county, and as- sisted in laying off the town of Edina; was the first postmaster, and was a prominent merchant and real estate dealer of Edina, for a number of years. The mother, now a widow, and the fol- lowing children survive him: Peter J., Alfred H., Cassia G. and Elizabeth. By his first marriage the father had the following children: John'M. (of Marshall, Mo.,), James W. (of same place), Charles R. (of Kansas City ), Margaret C. (wife of Frank Welty, of Emmitsburg, Md. ) and America (known as "Sister Mary Rose " in Visitation Convent, St. Louis). Our subject passed his youth in Edina, but was principally educated at St. Joseph's College, at Bardstown, Ky. After completing his education he engaged in the mercantile business as a clerk, in Edina, and later ran a grocery store for himself. In 1880 he was elected tax collector of Knox County, a position he filled three terms of two years each, discharging the duties in a faithful and efficient manner. In June, 1886, he engaged in his present drug business with F. M. Miller, county clerk, and is meeting with good and well de- served success. In May, 1886, he was united in marriage to Miss Dove Donnelly, his present wife, a native of Crab Orchard,

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Ky., by whom he has one son-Edward Donnelly. By his first marriage, with Fannie M. Nelson (deceased), he has three living children: Rose M., Arthur N. and Teresa V. Mr. Reid is a Democrat, and as such was elected to the office which he held and filled so well. Himself and family are members of the Roman Catholic Church.

Thomas Rimer, an old settler and substantial farmer of Knox County, was born December 17, 1828, in the city of Bath, Somer- setshire, England, and is the third of the five children (one de- ceased) born to John and Jane (Crosby) Rimer, natives of Somersetshire, where they were reared, married and lived until their respective deaths in about 1832 and 1854. The father was married twice, the issue of his first marriage being two children. He was a confectioner and baker by trade, but the latter part of his life he was a coach and mail contractor. Our subject was edu- cated at the common schools of the country, and at the age of eleven traveled on foot to Portsmouth, where he boarded a man- of-war, engaged as a cabin boy, and continued upon the water, sailing over European seas, visiting the West Indies, etc., until they again landed at Portsmouth, at the expiration of three years. He then went to London, and became a steward and coach- man. In 1849 he was united in marriage, in London, to Mary Dary, by whom he had twelve children, nine of whom are now living. In 1852 he started with his family for America, and after a six weeks' voyage landed in New York City, and left the next day for Philadelphia, where he was employed as a keeper in the Franklin Insane Asylum. About a year later he removed to Harrison County, Ky., where he worked for the Covington & Lexington Railroad for five years. September 1, 1857, he started for Missouri, and reached Knox County October 3, of the same year, and at first moved on a farm owned by Dr. James H. Campbell, but in the spring of 1863 moved on a forty-acre tract he had purchased, and from that time continued to add to his possessions, until he now owns over 1,000 acres, nearly all in one tract. His first wife having died February 13, 1871, our sub- ject was again married, June 29, 1872, in Randolph County, Mo., to Sarah E. Tucker, a native of that county, and born on April 26, 1850. To that union seven children have been born, five of whom are living. From the time that he was but a lad of eleven years of age, our subject had been dependent upon his own re- sources for a living, and, from a poor man with only $5 the day he landed in New York, has now become one of the most ener- getic, prosperous and prominent business men of Knox County, the secret of his phenomenal success lying in the fact that when occasion demanded he could and would do the duty that lay near-

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est him. In politics he is a Democrat, and cast his first presi- dential vote for Grover Cleveland, not having voted before on account of not having taken out his second naturalization papers. Mr. Rimer, however, is not a partisan, but believes in voting for the best man, whatever his party. He, his wife and six children are active and faithful members of the Sutherland Methodist Episcopal Church.

E. W. Robinson was born in Boone County, Ky., February 14, 1835, and is a son of F. F. Robinson and Emily (Waller) Rob- inson, natives of Virginia, in which State they were married, and from there moved to Boone County, Ky., in an early day. Mr. F. F. Robinson kept a hotel, and also sold goods. When our sub- ject was five months old his mother died, and he was given to William Crook and wife to be taken care of, with whom he lived until they moved to Clark County, Mo., when he went back to his father. Mr. Crook and wife had become so attached to him, however, that the former came back to Kentucky and took him home to Missouri with him. Our subject was about thirteen years old when Mrs. Crook died, but he remained with Mr. Crook two years. His foster parents having been in but moderate cir- cumstances, our subject's education was somewhat limited, and would have been still more so, but from the fact that he once broke his leg, which disabled him for farm work a short time, which he spent in educating himself. At the age of nineteen he taught school in Clark County, and with the money thus earned attended Northeast Academy, at Canton. In 1859 he was mar- ried to Miss Catherine Bourn, daughter of Hudson Bourn, an old settler and prominent farmer of Lewis County. Our subject taught four schools after his marriage, and in 1860 purchased a farm in Lewis County, and has since devoted his time almost ex- clusively to farming. In 1871 he sold his farm in Lewis County, and moved to Jeddo Township, Knox County, where he now owns a good farm of 120 acres, well improved, with about 100 head of stock, a good residence and out buildings. He has been married over twenty-eight years, and to him eight children have been born, six of whom are living: Susan E. (Zinn), Mattie W. (Zim- merman), Frank E., John T., Emma and Annie M.

Hon. D. A. Rouner, a prominent and leading citizen of Knox County, was born in Henry County, Ky., April 6, 1842, and is a son of Argyle A. and Lucinda (Morris) Rouner. The father was born in Kentucky June 10, 1810, and was of German origin. He learned the blacksmith's trade when young, and followed that business in Sligo, Henry Co., Ky. He was the first man to make a steel or iron mold board to a plow, but never reaped any financial benefit from his invention. In September, 1851, he

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went to Marion County, Mo., and in March, 1853, removed to Knox County, where he died August 10, 1884. About 1872 he was elected county judge, and was afterward re-elected to the office several times. The mother, Lucinda (Morris) was born in Henry County, Ky., about 1811, and in that county was married to Argyle A. Rounder. She was a member of the Baptist Church, and her death occurred in Knox County, Mo., in May, 1853. Our subject is the fourth of a family of eight children, seven of whom are living. He was educated at the home schools, but left his studies to enlist in Porter's Regiment of Gen. Green's Bri- gade. He served most of the time as message bearer, but partici- pated, however, in several battles and skirmishes. In September, 1862, he was taken and held prisoner for two months near Pal- myra. He was released on parole, but never exchanged. He then returned home, and has since devoted his time to agricult- ural pursuits, and deals in all kinds of registered stock, at the present time owning some very fine Short-horn cattle. In 1872 he was elected to serve in the county court, and re-elected the next year. In 1880 he represented Knox County in the General Assembly, and was re-elected in 1882. September 11, 1866, he married Ellen T. Baldwin, daughter of Charles H. and Ruth O. Baldwin, who was born in Knox County in 1846, and to this happy union seven children were born, five now living, viz .: David A., Jr., Anna Belle, Effie S., Ruth E. and John G. The deceased are Ashby C. and Baldwin. Mr. and Mrs. Rouner and the two eldest children are worthy members of the Christian Church. Our subject is a Royal Arch Mason, and a Knight of Honor. He is a decided Democrat in politics, and ranks among the leading men of the county. He owns stock in three different agricultural associations, in each of which he has been an officer, sometimes holding an office in each of them at the same time. He is also a stockholder in the American Short-Horn Herd Book Association.

Hugh F. Rourke, an old settler and well-to-do-farmer of Knox County, was born June 16, 1829, in Sangamon County, Ohio, and is the younger of two children of Patrick and Rosa (Donely) Rourke, natives of Counties Fermanagh and Tyrone, Ireland, where they were respectively reared, but met and married in America. The mother came directly to Ohio, where the father afterward came and married her. They then settled in Sangamon County, but after the birth of the two children moved to Frank- lin, now Columbia, the capital of the State. There the father died November 28, 1832, and seven years later the mother was married in Perry County, where the family had moved. Here they lived until 1840, then moving to Knox County, Mo., where

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they settled on a small tract of land on the western border of Edina. The husband died about 1870, and the mother then lived with our subject, until she died about 1877. Our subject was princi- pally educated at the common schools of Edina, and at the age of eighteen went to California, returning home in four years, when he was married, April 25, 1854, to Mary, daughter of Pat- rick and Ellen ( Walsh ) Jarvies. This lady was born December 25, 1834, in Pennsylvania, and came to Knox County with her parents when a girl. To Mr. and Mrs. Rourke six children have been born: Rose Ellen (wife of Giles Tully), James Vincent, Patrick F., Teresa, Mary and Emma. Our subject now owns a fine farm of 520 acres, the most of which is cleared and well im- proved. It is nearly all fenced, and upon it there is a good res- idence and outbuildings, pleasantly situated, and also good wells and a wind pump. Mr. Rourke is a Democrat, and cast his first presidential vote for Franklin Pierce in 1852. He has never sought political office, and is a well-respected and prosperous cit- izen. Himself and family are Roman Catholics.

Willis B. Sale, an enterprising farmer of Knox County, was born in Gallatin County, Ky., in 1814. He lost his father at the early age of nine, and his educational advantages were necessa- rily limited. He was bound out seven years to Levy Abbott, and at the age of sixteen he began life for himself. He was of an active nature, and although he never learned the carpenter trade made himself useful at that business, exhibiting great talent in that direction. By trade he was a hatter, which business he learned at Carrollton, Ky., but spent a good deal of time during his early life upon the Mississippi River and its branches. Dur- ing this time he was married to Miss Martha Antill, a native of Henry County, Ky., and to them the following children were born: Eliza D., Lydia (Sale) Jones, John (of Kansas), May (Sale) Parks and two now deceased. In 1851 Mr. Sale immigrated to Northeast Missouri, and settled in Knox County, where he lost his wife after fourteen years of wedded life. This lady was a member of the Baptist Church. Mr. Sale remained a widower six years, and was then married to Mrs. Nancy Robinson, daugh- ter of Joel Stewart, of Kentucky. To this union two children were born: Willis B. and Benjamin, both of whom reside at home. Mr. Sale is numbered among the most enterprising farmers of Knox County, and owns a fine farm of 400 acres, well-improved and stocked. This is the result of his own honest efforts, close attention to business, and economy. His home is situated in a beautiful portion of Jeddo Township, and he is now enjoying the fruits of his labors at the age of seventy-three, being active of body and vigorous of mind.

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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 111

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