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 114

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 114
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 114
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 114
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 114

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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KNOX COUNTY.

1886 came to Colony. He engaged in agricultural pursuits un- til a few years ago, when, in connection with farming, he embarked in mercantile life. He was first a huckster, then had the manage- ment of a granger store, which he finally bought. He now has a fine stock of dry goods, boots, shoes, notions and groceries, and his great object is to please his customers. In 1857 he was mar- ried to Nancy Beckner, a native of Lewis County, Mo., and born in 1833. This lady is a daughter of Andrew Beckner, and to her union with our subject five children have been born, of whom three are living, viz .: Frank J., Mary C. and Edwin W. Those deceased are Yancey and Van S.

Samuel Surrey, now living in Hurdland, was born in Clermont County, Ohio, February 16, 1828, and is a son of William and Mary Ann (Ireton) Surrey, natives of New Jersey. Our subject was raised in his native State, and, as he was left an orphan when quite young, he was obliged to battle for himself. He engaged in manual labor, and came to Missouri in the spring of 1866, where he bought a small farm near Hurdland, upon which he has remained ever since. He now owns 730 acres of land in this township, and is one of the pioneer merchants of the town, con- ducting a paying hardware and grocery business, and is also a dealer in lumber. About 1851 he married Sarah Banks, but was soon left a widower with three children, viz .: Annie E. (wife of Charles Paull), Clinton E. and William T. His present wife was Jane Timberman, by whom he has had one child-Samuel C. Mr. Surrey has never belonged to any political party but the Re- publican. He was a Union man during the war, and a member of the militia in Ohio, belonging to the One Hundred and Seventy- fifth Ohio Regiment. He is a Master Mason, and himself and wife are united with the Methodist Episcopal Church. He is a self-made man, and one of the leading merchants and citizens of Knox County.

George S. Sykes was born in the State of New York, where he grew to manhood. He immigrated westward with his parents, residing for a number of years in Ohio, and later removing to Missouri, which has since been his home. Farming has since been his principal occupation throughout life, and in this voca- tion he has been reasonably successful. He is married, has a family of children, and is recognized as a good citizen.

John E. Thacher, a leading business man of Knox County, was born in Canada, November 18, 1839, and is a son of Jacob and Margaret (Sciens) Thacher. The father was born in New Jersey in 1805, and moved to Canada when quite young, where he remained until 1868, then came to Macon County, Mo., where he lived upon a farm about seven years, and then came to

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BIOGRAPHICAL APPENDIX.

Novelty, Knox County, where he has since resided, and is en- gaged in wagon-making. The mother of our subject was born in Canada in 1819, and lived with her parents until her mar- riage with Jacob Thacher in 1837. She died in Novelty, Knox Co., Mo., a short time ago. Our subject has made Knox County his home ever since he accompanied his parents here. His wife, Nancy (Fight) Thacher, is a native of Ohio, and a daughter of Reuben Fight, a native of Ohio. To Mr. and Mrs. Thacher no children have been born. Our subject has been engaged in the drug business at Novelty over thirteen years, and in that time has established a good trade, and carries a large and fine stock of goods, ranking among the leading merchants of Novelty. He is a Republican, but voted the Democratic ticket the last presi- dential election. He has never sought nor held office.

Jacob Thomas, the wealthiest man in this section of the country, and one of the most honored and esteemed, is a son of Peter Thomas, a native of Virginia, but of German descent, and was unable to speak a word of English at the age of eight years. Peter Thomas accompanied his parents to Ross County, Ohio, in 1808, where he received a limited education at the neighbor- ing schools, and where he, in later years, was united in marriage to Miss Sarah Weider, daughter of Jacob and Sarah Weider, of Ross County. Peter Thomas made farming his chief occupation throughout life. In 1825 he moved to Pickaway County, Ohio, where he resided until 1845, and then moved to Adams County, Ill., where he lost his wife in a few years. This lady was & devout and earnest Christian woman. After the death of Mrs. Thomas, Peter moved to Augusta, where he made his home with his daughter, Margaret May. Mr. Thomas was a man of remark- able constitution, courage and determination. At the time of the war of 1812 he wished to enlist and fight for his country, but was rejected on account of his youth. Nothing undaunted, he applied a second time, was accepted, and served in the above- named war under Col. Entricon. In politics Mr. Thomas was a Whig in the days of that party, but in 1856 became a strong Republican. He was an enthusiastic and ardent admirer of great and good men, of whom, in his estimation, Lincoln was one of the first. He was the father of ten children, nine of whom he raised to maturity, and all but two of whom are now living. His son, Nelson, died in infancy of the whooping-cough, and Michael lost his life by being caught under a falling bank. Our subject, Jacob Thomas, was the eldest of the ten children, and was born in Ross County, Ohio, in 1820, but was reared princi- pally in Pickaway County, Ohio, where he received but a meager education. He came to Adams County, Ill., with his parents in

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KNOX COUNTY.

1845, and in May, 1848, was married to Miss Elizabeth Strick- ler, of Scotch-German descent, and a native of Westmoreland County, Penn. Jacob and wife made their home at his father- in-law's while they improved some land which Jacob had selected, and which consisted of 160 acres, which Peter Thomas purchased for $200, and presented to his son. By the following fall the. land was improved to some extent, and a nice cottage built, in». which the newly married couple moved, and, in the language of our subject, spent "their happiest days and looked forward to as ; an abode of quiet and rest," but the duties and care of their - happy and busy life have been so great and many that complete quiet and rest have never been found. Mr. Thomas spent eight successful years upon his highly improved farm in Adams County, Ill., to which he had added more land, and in 1854-55, in partnership with J. Pierce and S. McGinnis, he purchased 900 head of Texas cattle at a cost of $2,800 for each man, and after the cattle had eaten all of Mr. Thomas' provisions, Mr. McGinnis called for a division, which was soon made, each receiv- ing a third of the stock. In regard to the choice of cattle, they agreed to separate them in pairs and toss up, which they did,, and Mr. Thomas proved to be the fortunate one. He was after -- ward offered $500 to boot to exchange, but refused the offer. Fortune favored Mr. Thomas all through his cattle transactions, and in a comparatively short time he had cleared $4,000 which gave him his real start in life. From time to time he borrowed different sums of money from his friends, by whom he was high- ly valued and esteemed, and who proved their implicit confidence in his integrity by loaning him the money without security, he: giving only his personal note. Among these friends may be mentioned Henry Whitford and Mason Wallace, and it may here be said that Mr. Thomas never violated the confidence placed in him, and can proudly say that he has never defrauded any one

in any way. From the time of his cattle transactions our subject continued to be successful, although he at times met with minor losses, but, being a man of perseverance and courage, soon over- came these. In 1856 he sold his property in Illinois, crossed the Father of Rivers, and spent the following winter on the Bourn farm near La Belle, Lewis County. In the summer of 1856 he purchased 1,600 acres of land in Knox County, Mo., at $5.25 per acre, and about 200 acres of timber at $9 per acre, out of which he superintended the making of 18,000 rails the fol -. lowing winter. After building a log cabin he and his family moved to Knox County in 1857, where he immediately engaged in farming and stock raising, and is now one of the best examples. of what an enterprising and energetic business man may accom-

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BIOGRAPHICAL APPENDIX.

plish in that line that this country can offer. At the time of his

settlement in Knox County there were none of the fine schools and prosperous towns of the present, and he was obliged to work his way through many hardships and privations which are al- ways incident to pioneer life. He was also deprived of the edu- cational advantages and business training, which are such great helps to success in life, and all his present wealth is due to his own energy, intelligence, resolution and economy, which were rendered more effective by the brave and faithful assistance of his good wife, without whose aid it is doubtful if he would ever have attained his present prosperous condition. Mr. Thomas considers the two great essentials to business success "honesty and industry." At the present writing he is probably worth between $150,000 and $200,000. His farm is one of the finest in this part of the country, and consists of 2,500 acres in one tract, under a fine state of cultivation. He is an extensive dealer in fine stock, and owns a full-blooded English horse known as "Magician," No. 3206, of which he has just cause to be proud. He has a full-blooded Cruickshank bull named "Knight of Aber- deen 3d," and a fine Kentucky jack. Mr. Thomas is at present making a specialty of the rearing of roadster horses. Mr. Thomas, whose wife was a member of the Methodist Church, was left a widower in 1881. To this union four children were born: Whitmer, Austin (who died in infancy), Wilber and Clark. Whitmer, of Atchison County, Mo., married Miss Dewitt, whose parents formerly resided in Palmyra, Marion County. Wilber is an extensive manufacturer of wire fence in Quincy, and his wife is a daughter of William D. and Elizabeth Dell, the former being deceased. They have two children: Earl and Harry. Clark, who is yet unmarried, is a young man highly esteemed, and lives with his father. His sons inherit their father's sociable and hospitable disposition, and like him are highly respected by the community.

James H. Thompson, an old and prominent citizen of Knox County, is a native of Mason County, Ky., and was born March 11, 1813, and is a son of Archibald and Margaret (Blair) Thomp- son. The father was born near Londonderry County, Ireland, and died in Brown County, Ohio, in 1852, at the age of seventy-five. He came to America before the war of 1812, with his parents, and settled in Westmoreland County, Penn. He served during the above mentioned war, and when a young man went to Mason County, Ky., where he was married, and remained in that State until 1822, when he removed to Brown County, Ohio. He was a stone mason and plasterer by trade. The Blair family came from Scotland before the Revolutionary war, and located in Pennsyl-

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KNOX COUNTY.

vania. Our subject's grandfather served in the war, and was at the battles of Bunker Hill and Brandywine. Margaret Blair was born in Westmoreland County, Penn., and died in Brown County, Ohio, about 1840. Our subject had a sister Eleanor, who is now dead. He was educated in Kentucky and Ohio, and at an early date began the life of a farmer. In 1864 he moved from Ohio to Knox County, Mo., where he purchased the land he now owns, consisting of 400 acres of finely improved land, upon which is a handsome residence and large barns. During the late war he volunteered in the Union service, but ou account of age was allowed to serve only as a recruiting officer. In 1863 he accompanied the army to Mississippi, and was near when the battle of Holly Springs was fought. In 1836 he was united in marriage to Susan Pickering, a daughter of Henry Pickering, a soldier in the war of 1812. This lady was born December 5, 1814, in Brown County, Ohio, and to her nine children have been born: Eleanor, Margaret J., Lyman V., Joseph H., William M., Mary E., James S., John F. and Jessie. Of these but three are living. William M. died from exposure during the siege of Vicksburg. Mr. and Mrs. Thompson are members of the Meth- odist Episcopal Church, but were formerly united with the Chris- tian Church. They are both highly respected citizens, and have won the esteem of the entire community. Mr. Thompson was a Democrat until the nomination of Buchanan, but has since sup- ported the Republican party, and was the first man in Brown County, Ohio, who named Abraham Lincoln's name for Presi- dent. He is a public-spirited man, and donates liberally to pub- lic enterprises.

William G. Throckmorton, a substantial farmer of Knox County, is a native of Bourbon County, Ky., and was born in 1837. His father, Thomas, and his mother, Lucinda E. (McKim), were both natives of the same State, and married in 1825, in Bourbon County. In 1841 they immigrated to Boone County, Mo., where they lived a few years and then moved to Lewis County, where the father died upon his farm at the age of eighty- five. The widow is still living on the old homestead in Lewis County at the age of seventy-seven, but vigorous in mind and body. Both Mr. and Mrs. Throckmorton were united with the Christian Church. Our subject is the third son of a family of thirteen, ten of whom are living. He was reared, principally, upon his father's farm in Lewis County, where his educational advantages were somewhat limited. At about the age of twenty he became the manager of his widowed sister's ( Elizabeth Smith) estate, which he controlled about a year, and, as long as he re- mained unmarried, continued to live with some of the family

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BIOGRAPHICAL APPENDIX.

engaged in farming. In the fall of 1865 he was united in mar- riage to Miss Lucinda, who was born in 1845, and who is the daughter of Samuel Washburn, a farmer of Knox County, Mo .. The young couple lived with Mr. Washburn several years, and then purchased land in Lewis County, Mo., where they resided. about four years. During this time Mr. and Mrs. Washburn, who were both members of the Baptist Church, died, and our subject bought the old homestead from the heirs, which he is now possessor of, and which is one of the most attractive farms in Knox County, consisting of about 260 acres of well-improved land .. To Mr. and Mrs. Throckmorton six children were born: Virgie, James, John T. (deceased), Hosea, Lillie E. and William E. Mr. Throckmorton is a Democrat, and a member of the A. H. T. A., and both himself and wife are members of the Christian Church, he joining the same in 1858, and his wife in 1866.

A. A. Towson was born in Franklin County, Penn., March 4, 1832. His father, Johnzee Towson, is a native of Maryland, and of Scotch-Irish descent, and his mother, Sarah (Snyder) Towson, is a native of Pennsylvania, and of German descent. The. father farmed in Pennsylvania, and also engaged in distilling, but finally in November, 1841, after making several prospective. trips to Missouri, located in that country, where he engaged in coopering and farming until 1849, when he was attacked by the gold fever, and started for California, where he died the following- year, at which time he owned over 800 acres of valuable land in Northeast Missouri. In politics he was a Whig. Our subject, A. A., began life for himself at the age of eighteen, and having- arrived in California too late to see his father alive he remained there some ten or more years, when he returned to his old home, and engaged in merchandising in Newark for two years. He then married Miss Rachel Manning, a native of this county, and daughter of Samuel Manning, of English descent. After his marriage he farmed near Newark for two years, and then engaged in the drug business at that place, which he afterward sold out, and embarked in the dry goods trade with F. B. Snyder, an uncle, under the firm name of Snyder & Towson, but in 1876. bought out the uncle's interest, and conducted the business alone until 1879, when he moved his stock to Knox City where he- sold an interest this spring to Z. A. Lear. This firm now does. the leading dry goods business of the town, their sales amount- ing to about $20,000 per annum. Mr. Towson also runs the postoffice. Twenty-five years have passed since the wedding day of our subject, and this union has been blessed with three chil- dren: Jesse H., Maggie V. and Louis H., all living with their- parents. Our subject is a Democrat, and belongs to the Ma -.

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KNOX COUNTY.

sonic fraternity. His wife is a Baptist, but he inclines toward the Universalist faith. He is now very comfortably fixed, and owns a nice residence, several lots, a store house in Knox City, and a small farm at Newark.

W. H. Turner, a well-to-do farmer of Jeddo Township, was born in Lewis County, Mo., in 1850, and is a son of John Turner, a native of Kentucky, and Martha (Smith) Turner, a native of Virginia. The father immigrated to Missouri, and located near Monticello in 1840, and afterward married the mother of our subject, who was an infant when her parents came to this county. John Turner still lives upon his farm near Monticello, which consists of about 500 acres of land which is the result of his labor and management, although a great part of his success is due to the assistance of his faithful wife. He is now seventy years of age, and Mrs. Turner is twelve years his junior. He is an act- ive Democrat, a member of the Masonic fraternity, and a prom- inent citizen of Lewis County. Our subject is the eldest child of a family of ten living children, four being dead. Being the eldest a great share of the care of the farm fell upon him, and he remained with his father until the age of twenty-two, receiving in the meantime only a common-school education. Between the age of twenty-two and twenty-nine our subject engaged in farm- ing and stock trading on his own account, upon a limited scale, his means being few. He was also foreman on the Cairo & Fulton Railroad a few months. In 1880 he was married to Miss Elizabeth Jones, daughter of Jacob Jones, a farmer and stock raiser of Lewis County, and after renting a farm for two years, our subject bought land in Knox County. This farm which contained over 500 acres he sold last spring, but now owns about 125 head of fine blooded stock, and is an active stock trader. To Mr. and Mrs. Turner four children have been born: Carrie V., Fannie J., Charles L. and John J. Mr. Turner is a Democrat, a member of the Masonic fraternity, and a man well liked and spoken of in the community in which he lives.

Thomas Jefferson Van Horn, a resident of Liberty Township, Knox Co., Mo., was born in Muskingum County, Ohio, Au- gust 28, 1849, his father being Isaac Van Horn [see sketch ]. Our subject was reared on the farm by his parents, and received a good common-school education .. He accompanied his father to Knox County, Mo., in 1866, and there attended the State Normal School at Kirksville, preparing himself to teach, which profes- sion he followed several years during his younger life. March 9, 1881, he was united in matrimony to Miss Martha J. Hannah, daughter of William J. Hannah, of Shelton Township. In Febru- ary, 1882, he settled upon his present farm three and a half miles

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BIOGRAPHICAL APPENDIX.

east of Edina, where he has since successfully followed farming and stock raising. His farm consists of 390 acres of well improved land, 340 acres under high cultivation. His residence and out- buildings are among the best in the county. Mr. Van Horn has two living children by his marriage with Miss Hannah, viz .: Carrie and Jesse. Mr. Van Horn is a Democrat, and takes an active interest in all laudable enterprises of the county, being recognized as one of the most eminent and substantial citizens of Liberty Township.

John E. Walker, a resident of Edina, Mo., was born in Marion County, of the same State, February 6, 1844, and is a son of William R. and Lydia (Sanders) Walker, both natives of Kentucky. The father immigrated to Missouri early in the decade of the thirties, and was for a number of years a magis- trate at Philadelphia, Marion County, where he died in 1877. The mother died about 1870. Eight children were born to them, viz .: Wallace E .; Emily (deceased) ; Mary, the wife of George Kincaid; Elizabeth, wife of Owen Mendenhall; Susan, wife of William Parks; Louisa, wife of Thomas Rollins; James F. and John E. Our subject was reared to manhood in his native county, and served in the Confederate Army during the late war under Porter in his Northeast Missouri campaign. He came to Knox County in 1867, locating on a farm in Bee Ridge, where he lived a number of years. In 1880 he removed to a farm north of Edina, where he now resides, but has spent four years in the town. In 1883 he was instrumental in establishing the Edina Creamery Company, in which he has been a large stock- holder and the active business manager of, and it may be said that the success of this establishment is due, in a large sense, to the good management of Mr. Walker. April 20, 1867, he married Elizabeth Hamilton, a native of Indiana, by whom he has one son -- William E.' Mr. Walker is a Democrat, and has been a member of the city council two years. He is recognized as one of the most reliable business men of the county.

William Welsh, one of the most prominent and influential men of Knox County, is a native of County Antrim, Ireland, and born August 16, 1842. He is a son of Patrick G. and Mar- garet J. (Eagleson) Welsh. The Welsh family is of Scotch de- scent. The father of our subject was a native of the same county as his son. He traveled for the firm of Van Burgen & Co., of New York, exporters of sugar and molasses, and crossed the Atlantic eleven times. A great portion of his time was spent at New Orleans, and along the coast, receiving goods. He came to America, and became a citizen of the United States in October, 1830. He afterward returned to his native land, married, and

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KNOX COUNTY.

brought his family to America in 1850. He first located at New Orleans, and in 1852 removed his family to a farm in Adams County, Ill., and in 1856 became a resident of Knox County, Mo., which was afterward his home, although his business kept him on the road a great deal of the time. He died September 10, 1870, in Edina, Mo., at the age of eighty. In youth he learned the cooper's trade, at which he worked but very little. He was a member of the Catholic Church. His wife, Margret J. Eagle- son, was born in Scotland, and died in Quincy, Ill., when our subject was quite young. She was a member of the Presbyterian Church. Our subject is one of three sons-Daniel, William and Charles P. He received his education in the public schools of Quincy, Ill., and those of Knox County, Mo. Since boyhood he has been engaged in farming and stock raising in the neigh- borhood where he now resides. Mr. Welsh began life a poor boy, but with industry, determination and good management has succeeded in accumulating a comfortable home, and some valuable real estate. His homestead of 560 acres is beautifully and ad- vantageously located, well improved and cultivated. In 1878 he was one of the two regular Democratic nominees that were elected to the assessorship of Knox County. In the year following he assessed the county, and also in 1880, but since then has taken no active part in politics. In 1864 he wedded Lucy A. Reid, daugh- ter of John and Phœbe (Cracraft) Reid. Her father was born December 25, 1809, in Mason County, Ky., where he was reared and married. He immigrated to Missouri in 1835, and settled in Monroe County, and later came to the neighborhood in which our subject now resides. He was one of the pioneers of this locality, an honest and industrious man, and well esteemed by all who knew him. He died December 18, 1879. Mrs. Reid was born in 1818, in Mason County, Ky., and now resides in Shelby County, Mo. She was the mother of five children, Mrs. Welsh being the youngest. She was born in the year 1844, within half a mile of where she now lives. To her union with Mr. Welsh one son and one daughter have been born: Ivy E., now the wife of Robert E. Lee Greenley, of Knox County, and John W., who resides at home. Mr. and Mrs. Welsh are mem- bers of the Christian Church. Mr. Welsh is an Odd Fellow, a Democrat, and is one of the foremost men of his county.

Fred J. Wilson, of Edina, son of the late Judge E. V. Wilson, was born in Edina, September 7, 1863. He was educated in the public schools of this town and the college, and worked at clerical duties several years in the offices of the sheriff and collector, and for a time also in his father's law office. Since the fall of 1885 he has been with the bank of Edina, as bookkeeper and secretary.

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BIOGRAPHICAL APPENDIX.

December 7, 1886, he was married to Miss Lillie O., daughter of the late Rev. George C. Brown, a Baptist minister of Paris, Mo. Our subject is a Republican, a member of the city council, and one of the enterprising and successful young men of the town. His father's family was as follows: Minnie, William (stock dealer at Quincy), Vick C., George E. (grain dealer, of Hartland, Kas. ), Sophia ( wife of Dr. T. A. Campbell, of Grain- field, Kas. ), Fred J. (our subject), Kate W. (wife of J. W. Camp- bell, hardware merchant, of Grainfield, Kas.), Charles I. and Frank A. Judge Elias V. Wilson was born in Butler County, Ohio, February 17, 1824, being a son of John K. Wilson, who for many years was a prominent man of that county. At the age of sixteen years he entered Miami University, from which insti- tution he graduated with honor in 1843, and immediately entered the law office of John B. Weller, of Hamilton, Ohio, where he re- mained engaged in study until 1846, when he was admitted to the bar, and immediately began the practice of his profession at Hamilton. Upon the breaking out of the war with Mexico, he and an elder brother, William, enlisted, William being elected lieutenant, and E. V., sergeant of their company. After three

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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 114

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