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 113

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 113
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 113
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 113
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 113

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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BIOGRAPHICAL APPENDIX.

Henry, our subject, for four or five years after his marriage, was engaged in general merchandising in Franklin County, and after- ward moved to Union County, where he farmed nine years. In 1868 he immigrated to Northeast Missouri, and settled on a farm in Knox County, but left the farm in 1879, having been pre- viously elected in the fall of 1878 to the office of circuit clerk of - Knox County, Mo., which he held for four years, afterward de- clining to accept office. In the spring of 1883 he opened a hard- ware and implement store in Knox City, Mo., under the firm title of Schofield, Schultz & Co. In March, 1886, he bought out the company and is now engaged in the business alone, being the principal hardware merchant of the town, and having an an- nual trade amounting to $20,000. Mr. and Mrs. Schultz have had seven children, six of whom are living: James L., Emma A., Sarah C. R., Belzora G., Lambert B., Lucy E. and Elmira (de- ceased). Our subject is not only the leading merchant in Knox City dealing in plows, wagons, harrows, cultivators, etc., but owns one of the finest farms in his section of the neighborhood, which contains 375 acres of land, well improved and culti- vated. He, like his father, is a Republican, and he and his wife are members of the Methodist Episcopal Church. He is a Mason, Knight of Honor, and a member of the A. O. U. W.

John W. Simpkins, of Edina, Mo., is a native of Marion County, Ind., and was born February 26, 1831. He is a son of Elias D. and Eliza A. (Keeler) Simpkins, natives of Madison County, Ohio, and Whitehall, N. Y. The father was an early settler in Indiana, and a millwright by trade, which business he followed in that State. He married his wife in Indianapolis. This lady was a member of a pioneer family of Indiana. In 1841 Mr. and Mrs. Simpkins immigrated to Missouri, and the father engaged in milling in Randolph and Macon Counties. He owned a large farm in the latter county, upon which he died December 7, 1849. The mother was then married to William Cooper, but died in 1855. No children were born to this mar- riage. The following are the children of the first union who are living: John W .; Augustus K., ex-sheriff of Pike County, Ill .; Foster, of this county; Mary Ann, wife of Prof. Leonard Fowler, of this county; Ellen, wife of Caleb Heisington, of Knox City. Our subject was ten years old when he came with his parents to Missouri. He soon left home and learned the miller's trade in St. Louis. The first mill he owned was in Darke County, Ohio, but afterward he built and operated a saw mill in Scott County, Ill. In 1877 he returned to Missouri, and erected a saw and grist mill at La Belle, in Lewis County, and in 1881 came to Edina, and purchased the old Edina Mills, which he operated two

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years, and then built the saw and corn mill which he now owns, and in 1886 built the grist mill adjoining, and is operating both successfully at the present time, and intends to soon replace his old buhrs with the new roller system. December 7, 1851, he was united in marriage with Elizabeth Partridge, a native of New York, by whom he has two children: Hattie and Rollie D. Mr. Simpkins is a Democrat in politics, and was a soldier in the Con- federate Army during the late war. Himself and family are members of the Methodist Church South, and considered one of the prominent and successful families of the town.

E. A. and J. W. Simpson, twin brothers, were born March 2, 1848, in Garrard County, Ky. Their parents, Benjamin and Pauline ( Arnold) Simpson, were both natives of the same county and State. Mr. Simpson made farming his chief occupation while in Kentucky, and in 1857 immigrated to Knox County, Mo., where he has resided ever since. To his first marriage eight children were born, all, save one, now living. They are Mollie Seber; Pauline Lindsey; Lucinda Young, who lives in Kansas; Malinda A. Bell (deceased) ; Maggie E. Noel, of Lewis County; James M., of Novelty, and our two subjects, who reside in Missouri. After about twenty-two years of wedded life Mr. Simpson lost his wife, who was a Christian woman, and a daughter of Elijah Arnold. About twelve years later he mar- ried Miss Judith Lear, daughter of William Lear. To this marriage no children were born, and Mr. and Mrs. Simpson reside with our subjects, both of whom are enterprising and worthy young men, and inherit the hospitality and sociability usually attributed to native Kentuckians. December 30, 1871, E. A. Simpson was united in marriage to Miss Mary E. Lear, daugh- ter of W. Lear [ see sketch ], and three of the four children born to this couple are now living, as follows: Ada, Lottie and John W. One child died in infancy. J. W. Simpson is a widower, having lost his wife over three years ago. This lady was Miss Mol- lie Smith, a daughter of M. M. Smith. Our two subjects now jointly own a splendid farm of 140 acres, well stocked and im- proved, and are regarded among the prominent farmers of the county. Their lives have been passed together, and they were educated at the same common schools. Both are Democrats, and members of the Christian Church. E. A. is a member of the A. H. T. A.

Prof. James M. Simpson, a leading educator of Knox County, was born and reared in Knox County, Mo., his birth occurring January 1, 1860. He is a son of Benjamin and Paulina ( Arnold) Simpson, the former a native of Kentucky, and born December 5, 1819. He came to Missouri in the spring of 1858, and settled

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on a farm in the eastern part of Knox County, where he now lives. The mother was born in Kentucky in 1828, and died October 7, 1864, in Knox County. Our subject remained with his father until he reached his majority, before that time working hard and attending school whenever the opportunity offered. He borrowed money to pay for his first year in college, and then taught until he had accumulated enough money to enable him to complete his course in the Missouri State Normal School, at Kirksville, from which institution he graduated June 17, 1886. He has taught about eight years in all, and is now president of Oaklawn College, in Knox County, which position he has held for two years. July 1, 1886, he was married to Miss Katie M. Funk, daughter of Thomas W. Funk, a native of West Virginia, and Rachael (Johnson) Funk, a native of Virginia. Mrs. Simp- son is also a graduate of the Missouri State Normal School, and is a highly educated and intelligent lady, and is now assisting her husband in his profession. Both are worthy and active mem- bers of the Christian Church. Our subject advocates Demo- cratic principles, but has never sought nor held public office. He takes great interest in all educational affairs, is a liberal donator to all laudable public enterprises, and is one of the most success- ful teachers in Northern Missouri.

William J. Slaughter, of the firm of Pugh & Slaughter, lum- ber merchants in Edina [see preceding sketch ], was born in Lewis County, Mo., August 19, 1848, and is a son of Andrew H. and Mary A. (Willett) Slaughter, natives of Virginia and Maryland, respectively. The father was an early settler in Lewis County, Mo., coming to that county in the thirties, and entering land ex- tensively in Lewis eight miles from La Grange. In 1850, hav- ing gone to Kentucky, he returned to Lewis County, and lived upon his farm near La Grange, and again returned south, locating permanently in Lewis County in 1856, where he practiced the medical profession until his death, which occurred later in the same year. The mother still resides in La Grange. But four children were raised to maturity: Fannie E., wife of C. H. Howe of La Grange; Nannie M., wife of R. L. Carrick; Robert C., who died at the age of twenty-five in 1868, and our subject. Our subject was educated at La Grange College. He also attended the Springfield (Illinois) Institute. He clerked in the mercantile business in Edina for two years, and was the postmaster at La Grange in 1870, after which he returned to Edina and located here permanently. He was the assistant cashier and bookkeeper of Knox County Savings Bank for seven years; was then engaged in the drug business for two years, and then returned to the bank for a couple of years. He conducted a private banking business

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for himself for two years at Clarence, Shelby Co., Mo., being a member of the banking firm of Hunolt, Slaughter & Irwin, and in July, 1886, engaged in the present lumber business in this county with Maj. Pugh. October 24, 1871, he married Miss Adella Agnew, a native of St. Louis, by whom he has had five children: James A., William P., Mary A., Hallie B. and Robbie. Mr. Slaughter is a Republican in politics; was . deputy county clerk under Enoch Rinehart a short time, and was the Republican candidate for the county clerkship in 1886. He is a R. A. M. and a member of the A. O. U. W. and K. of H. Himself and wife are Presbyterians. He enlisted in Company A, Sixty-fifth Illinois Infantry, April 5, 1865, while in Springfield, Ill., and was dis- charged in October of the same year. He was appointed ordnance sergeant, and was assigned special duty a few days after, joining his regiment in the Twenty-third Army Corps, Gen. Schofield commanding, at Raleigh, N. C., being little over sixteen years of age.

Thomas Slocum, one of Knox County's prominent citizens, was born in Indiana, in 1830. His parents were John and Sarah (McCann) Slocum, the father being a native of Virginia, who left that State in 1829, and settled on a farm in Boone County, Ind., where he died in 1865. The mother was a native of Virginia and after her marriage with John Slocum, in 1825, accompanied him to Indiana, where she died in 1862. Our subject was born in Boone County, Ind., and remained in that county until twenty- six years of age, when he came to Knox County, Mo., and settled upon the farm upon which he now resides. At the age of twenty- four he was united in marriage to Martha A. Rose, daughter of Abram and Lydia (Butt) Rose, and to this union six sons and six daughters were born, all of whom are living, viz .: Bruce, Isadora, John A., Scott W., Thomas S., Sarah J., Martha A., Homer E., Frances M., Lydia A., Edith O. and Daisy E. Our subject has long been a prosperous farmer of Knox County, and with the assistance of his good wife has become possessed of a fine farm, well improved, upon which stands a good house and barn, which he has improved and cultivated from its original condition of wildness. He has been an active member of the Republican party ever since same was organized, but has never sought public office. He is a prominent citizen of Knox County, greatly inter- ested in the general welfare of the county, and is a liberal do- nator, as far as he is able, to all laudable enterprises. He do- nated the ground for the erection of the Pleasant Ridge Christian Church, and also for the graveyard which takes its name in honor of our subject. He is an ardent worker in the cause of temper- ance, and himself and wife are honorable and worthy members of the Christian Church, and enjoy the respect of the community.

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BIOGRAPHICAL APPENDIX.

David P. Six, one of Knox County's leading and prominent citizens, is a native of Brown County, Ill., and was born August 5, 1857. He is a son of Daniel Six, who was born in Greene County, Ill., June 20, 1824, and is now a prominent resident farmer of Brown County of that State. His wife, Anna (Quinn) Six, was born June 17, 1834, in Rockcastle County, Ky., and is now living with her husband in Brown County. Our subject. lived with his parents until twenty-three years of age, and then married and moved to Knox County, Mo., and settled upon the farm where he now lives, which contains 160 acres of land under a high state of cultivation. April 22, 1880, he was united in marriage to Mary Fredlin, daughter of Jacob Fredlin, a native . of Germany, and now a farmer of Brown County, Ill. Mrs. Six's mother, Catherine (Hauk) Fredlin, is also living with her hus- band in Brown County. To this union of our subject and wife, one son, Ralph D., has been born. Our subject is not a partisan in politics but votes for the man he thinks most worthy of office. He takes great interest in public questions, and the general wel- fare and prosperity of the county, and donates as much as he- is able to all laudable enterprises, especially those of an educa- tional character. His wife is a member of the Christian Church, and with her husband ranks among the enterprising and re- spected citizens of the county.

James M. Smith was born in Fairfield County, Conn., in the year 1812. His father, William M. Smith, was a native of New York City, and was of English-Scotch descent. Our sub- ject's mother, whose maiden name was Warring, was born in the above named county. Her parents were of Eastern birth, and stanch Yankees. William M. was by trade a saddler and harness maker. After his marriage in Connecticut he fol- lowed that vocation at the town of Stanford until a few years before his death. Just previous to his decease he kept a hotel for several years. In politics he was a Whig, and Jater a Republican. He was a prominent man, and a consistent member of the Universalist Church. He died at the age of fifty-five. His wife continued the hotel business after his death for a short time. She was an earnest Christian woman, and a member of the same church as her husband. She also died at the age of fifty- five. Our subject, when nine years of age, was placed in a wire factory, beginning first in the scrap department sorting out the copper, brass, etc. Three years later he entered the rolling de- partment and was finally promoted to the wire department, and it was during his service in this department that he lost his. father. He then apprenticed himself to a carpenter and joiner, Arzy Marshall, of Fairfield, Conn. Here he served faithfully

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for three and one-half years. He then spent two years in New York City, after which he returned to Connecticut, where he was united in marriage to Miss Angeline Barnes, a native of Dutchess County, N. Y., and a daughter of Morris Barnes. In July, 1844, he came west to Lee County, Iowa, where he remained thirteen or fourteen years, working at his trade exclusively. In 1857 he immigrated to Knox County, Mo., and settled in Jeddo, where he resided until three years ago when he moved to Knox City. To his marriage have been born nine children, all of whom grew to maturity: Rienzi (deceased), Henrietta, Arrod D., George Flickner, Ann, Ellen, Delia and James M. Our subject is one of the best citizens of the county, and now owns 280 acres of valuable land, well improved with' good buildings, etc., situated in Jeddo Township. Our subject is public-spirited and takes a special interest in schools. He vol- unteered in the late war with Col. Moore after the fight at Athens. He owns a house and two lots in Knox City. He is a Repub- lican, and himself and wife are Congregationalists.

Thomas S. Smith, Sr., an old and prominent citizen of this county, was born in Jessamine County, Ky., July 17, 1820, and is a son of Thomas S. and Michael (Locket) Smith. The father was born near Jamestown, Va., April 14, 1780, and died in Jes- samine County, Ky., in 1837. He accompanied his parents to Kentucky from Virginia when a boy, and there spent the rest of his life. He was a cabinet-maker by trade, but never followed that business. He was in the war of 1812, and during the muster of the militia was elected colonel. At the time of his death he had sold his property with the intention of moving to Missouri. His wife was born in Virginia in 1784, and died in Knox County, Mo., in 1856, where she had gone after her husband's death, and which was then but sparsely populated, and abounded in game and wild animals. He is one of a family of twelve children of whom six are living, the eldest being in his eighty-sixth year, and still very active. Our subject immigrated to Missouri in 1837, and settled in Knox County in 1838, and has resided contin- uously on the same farm ever since. He was educated at a prim- itive log schoolhouse in Kentucky, and lived with his mother un- til twenty-five years of age, and then married Eliza Eads, daughter of Rev. Martin L. Eads, one of the first Methodist Episcopal Church "circuit riders" that came to Missouri. He was an uncle to the celebrated Capt. Eads. Mrs. Smith was born in. Virginia, November 15, 1819, and died March 5, 1874, leaving a large circle of friends. She was a devout and active member of the Methodist Episcopal Church, and when married to our sub- ject was the widow of James Toadvine, by whom she had two

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children, Sarah and James, the former now deceased. Her union to our subject was blessed with eight children: Thomas S. (now assessor of Knox County), Martin L. (deceased), William W., George E., Eliza E., Dr. John L., Molly P. and Martha Jane. In - 1877 Mr. Smith married Susan (Worrell) Harry, daughter of Richard Worrell and widow of Thomas Harry, by whom she had the three following children: O. B., Nannie W., and Ann E. In politics he is a Democrat. but has never held nor sought office. . Heis a member of the I. O. O. F., and has been united with the Missionary Baptist Church since nineteen years of age, to which church his wife also belongs.

Amos Snow was born October 13, 1829, in Plymouth, Wind- sor Co., Vt., and is the second of a family of six children (two now deceased) of Alvah and Lucy (Coolidge) Snow, natives of Vermont and New Hampshire. The parents were reared in their respective States, but married in Vermont. They settled in Plymouth and there remained until 1836, when they moved to Cattaraugus County, N. Y., and afterward removed to Rising Sun, Ohio Co., Ind., in 1842, where they remained about three years, and in the fall of 1845 went west to Missouri, and on the journey all their household goods were lost by the sinking of a steamboat eighteen miles south of St. Louis, so that on their ar- rival in Knox County they had but little personal property. They settled on a farm on Rock Creek, now owned by Wash. Funk, and in January, 1846, the father died. The mother then moved with her family to a farm about three miles east of Edina, and there died, in 1850. Our subject was principally educated in New York, and after the death of his father he supported the family. In 1849, when twenty years old, he went to California, and from there to southern Oregon, where he engaged in mining. In 1857 he returned to Knox County, and purchased a farm upon which he now resides. In 1859 he went to Colorado, and re- mained two years interested in mining, but in July, 1861, returned to his home. March 6, 1862, he enlisted in the Mis- souri State Militia, Union Army, and was taken prisoner at the battle of Newark. He was then paroled and afterward mustered out of service, in September, 1862. He then returned home, but being of a roving disposition made two trips to Indiana between the fall of 1861 and 1862. In the spring of 1863 he married Margaret, daughter of Atwell and Clarinda Jackman (now Mrs. Hannah), who was born January 11, 1843, in Knox County, Mo., and was married to our subject April 25, 1863, at Quincy, and has since spent his time in farming. To Mr. and Mrs. Snow nine children have been born, three of whom are deceased. Those living are Lillian May, Atwell A., Walter J., Annie C., Franklin

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E. and Orvil Clyde. Although our subject was cast upon his own resources at an early age, and also compelled to take care of his father's family, in spite of his roving disposition he has accumulated a nice little property of 350 acres of land, mostly all cleared and improved. He is a self-made man, and has earned all that he possesses by hard and persistent labor and good manage- ment. Previous to the war Mr. Snow was a Democrat, but at the time of the war was a strong Union man, and is now a stanch Republican. His first presidential vote was cast for Abraham Lincoln, in 1864. He is a worthy member of Novelty Lodge, No. 181, F. & A. M. He is a member of the Methodist Epis- copal Church, while his wife and two daughters adhere to the doctrine of the Methodist Episcopal Church South.

James J. Soule, of Edina, Mo., is a native of Hancock County, Ill., and was born October 17, 1850. He is a son of Isaac and Eunice P. (Ricker) Soule, natives of Ohio and Maine. Our subject was reared to manhood, in his native State and county. He has been engaged in the railroad business since he became twenty-one years of age, and is a practical telegrapher. Prior to his coming to Edina, he was ticket agent for the Chicago & Alton Railroad, at Kansas City. He came to Edina in 1881, and has since been agent for the Quincy, Missouri & Pacific Railroad, at this place, and also agent for the Pacific Express Company. July 27, 1882, he was united in marriage to Miss Minne Coulson, daughter of the late Nathaniel B. Coulson, of this county. Mr. Soule has one child, Nathaniel Coulson, by this marriage, and also has a daughter, Katie V., by a former marriage. He is a Republican in politics, and a Master Mason. Himself and wife are members of the Methodist Episcopal Church. Mrs. Soule's father, Nathaniel B., was a son of William Coulson, of English ancestry, and Lydia (Rogers) Coulson, a descendant of the Pennsylvania Quakers, and was born June 30, 1808 in Chester County, Penn., but removed with his parents to Belmont County, Ohio, in 1809, and from there to Rushville, Fairfield County, in 1821. Here he resided until 1855, becoming one of the most in- fluential citizens of the town, which his father helped to found. His occupation was that of a dry goods merchant. He was also a successful farmer, and owned much land in and near Rushville. He united with the Methodist Episcopal Church in his early youth, and was an active and zealous worker in this church, as long as his health would permit. His house was the home of the pioneer preacher, and many member of the Ohio Conference still remember him. He was married to Mary Quinn, daughter of Rev. James Quinn, in 1830, but was left a widower in 1852, with six children. July 19, 1854, he was married to Delilah Linville,

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BIOGRAPHICAL APPENDIX.

daughter of Joseph Linville, of Fairfield County, and a year later moved to Minnesota. He built the second house in the now thriving town of Northfield. The severity of the winters, and the close proximity of the Indians induced him to leave Minne- sota, and he came to Edina, Mo., in 1857, at which place he re- sided until his death November 17, 1877. Mr. Coulson was one of the early citizens of Edina, and is well remembered by all of the older inhabitants of Knox County. He was with Bryant & Connelly, with the Brewington Bros., and afterward continued in business for himself, until his failing health compelled him to abandon all active pursuits. He was a great sufferer from lung and throat disease, and for several years before his death was a confirmed invalid. In politics he was a Whig, but later became a Republican. He was an Odd Fellow and a Royal Arch Mason. Mrs. Coulson lives in Edina, and the following children survive: James Quinn, of Texas; Lydia Eleanor, wife of David McBride, of Knox City, Mo .; Joseph Clark, of Kansas City, Mo .; Mary Teal, wife of S. G. Kaylor, of Newark, Mo., by his first marriage; and Minne, wife of James Soule, and Thomas Bruce, by his second marriage.

Joseph St. John, a prominent merchant and business man, of Knox County, was born in Ripley County, Ind., December 4, 1829, and is a son of Abram and Sarah (Brown) St. John. The father was a native of Kentucky, and a wheelwright by trade. The mother was a native of Maine, and a daughter of Timothy Brown, whose name is associated with the early history of the Aurora Missionary Baptist Association, which is now one of the strongest in existence. It was organized at his home in Aurora, Ind., there being seven members to start with, five of these being Timothy Brown and wife, Sarah Brown, his daughter, our sub- ject's mother, Joseph Brown a son, and Lydia St. John, our subject's aunt. When a child Joseph was sent to Lewis County, Mo., to live with his maternal grandfather, to which place the lat- ter had moved. He remained with his grandfather until 1850, and then went to California in search of boundless wealth. He then engaged in mining and packing four years, and then re- turned to Lewis County, by way of Nicaragua and New York. He resided in Lewis and Clark Counties until 1861, and then joined the Missouri State Militia. In 1862 he enlisted in the Third Missouri Infantry, Confederate Army, and served until the fall of Vicksburg. While in service he participated in numerous battles, among which were Pea Ridge, Iuka, Corinth, Black River and Vicksburg. He then went to Texas, where he remained until the close of the war, and then returned to Lewis County. In 1875 he removed to Colony Township, Knox County, and in

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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 113

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