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 69

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 69
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 69
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 69
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 69

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).

James T. Billups was born in Franklin County in 1839. He is the son of Robert H. and Pliny C. (Davidson) Billups, natives of Virginia; the former of English-German, and the latter prob- ably of English-Irish, origin. After farming several years in Franklin County, they came to Scotland County, and remained about twenty years. Since then they have been in this county. The father is a Democrat, and a member of the Masonic lodge. He and his wife have both held to the faith of the Baptist Church. When our subject was twenty-one years of age he married Mar- garet J., a daughter of William Billups, a pioneer of Van Buren County, Iowa. It is said that his wife was the first white child born in Keosauqua, Iowa. After marriage he made his home with his father, for several years engaged with him in the black- smith and saw mill businesses. After the war he spent the winter in the Rocky Mountains, and after a few years blacksmithing in Scotland County came to his present farm. His place is well stocked and improved, and includes 160 acres. His children are Cynthia O., Johiel F., Sophia C., Charles P. and Rosellie. His wife died in October, 1884, a member of the Baptist Church. Our subject has followed his father in politics and religion.

Greenup Blackwill, farmer, was born May 27, 1815, in Clarke County, Ky., the son of John and Catharine (Hinson) Blackwill, both reared and married in Virginia. Soon after marriage they came to Clarke County, Ky., where they remained until our sub- ject attained his eighth year. They lived in Shelby County, after that until their deaths; the mother died in 1833, and the father three years later. The father served in the Revolution, under Gen. Washington, at Yorktown. Our subject was educated in his native county. He was married at the age of twenty-one, and, in 1837, came by way of the Ohio and Mississippi Rivers to this county. He now owns a good farm of eighty acres, acquired in spite of considerable misfortune. He is one of the old pioneers, and well informed in his county's history. His wife, Narcisis A. Osborn, was born November 17, 1817, in Halifax County, Va., and came to Kentucky about 1826. They were married April 4, 1837. Their children are George W .; Mary C., the wife of A. Moore; Martha A., the wife of L. Robinson; Sarah E .; Marcus; Deo L .; John W .; James S., and Perlina A., the wife of J. Burns. Our subject voted for the Whig candidate in 1836, but since their dissolution has been a Democrat. His wife is a Missionary Baptist, and his children are mostly members of some church. His wife's parents, William and Mary Osborn, were Virginians, and spent their latter years in this county.

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Josephus H. Bland was born where he now lives, July 13, 1833, the son of Isaac and Nancy (Floyd) Bland, natives of Kentucky. The father came to this county in 1828, and entered and bought 520 acres, which included the 300 now owned by our subject. He helped lay out the city of Canton. He died in 1840, and the mother afterward married. G. K. Biggs, an old resident of Clark County; her death occurred in 1847. Our subject, the eldest child of two sons and two daughters, was reared on the farm, and attended common schools. When sixteen years old he went to California, and spent two years in the gold mines with success, and in 1852 returned home and bought some more land. February 22, 1855, Mary C. (Duncan) Early became his wife. He has been a successful farmer and stock raiser ever since, and he has from 160 to 170 acres of the best bottom land under cultivation. In 1856-57 he ran a saw mill on his place, but abandoned it. His children are Nancy E., the wife of John Granstaff; William I .; Elizabeth J .; Josephus H., Jr., and Robert M. His wife has one son by her first marriage, John D. Early, of Kansas. Our subject has always been a Demo- crat, and in 1886 was persuaded to become candidate for tax col- lector, but finally withdrew. For thirty years he has been a Master Mason, and his entire family are members of the Baptist Church. He organized the school of his district just after the war, and has been a director ever since. He is a progressive man as is shown by the fact that he used the first twine binder in this part of the county.

John H. Bland, farmer, was born in 1836 in Nelson County, Ky., the son of Bryant and Margaret (Bridwell) Bland, both of Irish and German origin, the former born about 1800 in Ken- tucky, and tl e latter several years later. After marriage they came to this county, and settled on the farm now owned by Joseph Bland. After the father's death, in 1841, the mother married John Devilbiss, and went to California where she died. Our subject was fairly educated, and when twenty-one began as a farm- er, where he still lives, and where he has always remained, with the exception of about five years, on the old homestead. At the age of twenty-four he married Mary L., a daughter of John and Quiltinea (Thompson) Roberts. She was born in 1843, in Clark County. Their children are Mary E., the wife of J . W. Johnson, and Quiltinea. His wife died in 1881. In September, 1861, he joined Company A, Tenth Missouri Regiment, and served until June, 1865. His estate of 152 acres is improved and largely under cultivation. Our subject is a Democrat, and first voted for Buchanan. The Missionary Baptist faith has been held by our subject, his wife and daughter.

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Joseph P. Bland was born in Kentucky In 1839. He is the son of Fuyant and Margaret (Bridwell) Bland, natives of Ken- tucky. Several years after their marriage, their parents came to this State, and located in this county in 1839. The father was a farmer, and died in this county, while the mother's death occurred in the West, after her second marriage. The father was a Demo- crat, and both parents were members of the Baptist Church. Our subject, the second of three children, was a boy when his father died. He lived with his mother and stepfather until his majority, and then moved on the farm he had inherited. His estate now embraces over 200 acres. About 1850 our subject married Lizzie, a daughter of John Roberts, a prominent farmer of this county. Their only child is J. W. After his wife's death he spent some time in California. About eight years later he married Lutie, a daughter of Elisha Jackson. Their children are Eugene M., Lena B., Jennie B. and Guy P .; two children are deceased. Our subject served at the battle of Kirksville, under Porter. In politics he is a Jacksonian Democrat. His first wife held to the Baptist faith to which he belongs, and his second wife is a member of the Christian Church.

John P. Bowls, assistant cashier of the Monticello Savings Bank, was born in this county in 1842, the son of Joseph and Juda (Hinson) Bowls, the former of Scotch-German stock, born in Kentucky, where he married. He then came to this county, and settled finally in La Belle Township, and became owner of over 400 acres of land. He died in February, 1880. The mother, born in Kentucky, died in March, 1885, the mother of eight children. Our subject, the fifth, was educated at Christian University, in Canton, Mo., and when twenty years of age became a teacher in this and Knox Counties. October 25, 1877, he married Lizzie, a daughter of Benjamin W. Roberts, and born in 1852, in this county. Their only child is Guy. In 1861 our subject joined the Confederate Gen. Green's command, and was shot in the right arm, at the battle of Lexing- ton, so that amputation was necessary. He was in service about two months. From 1872 he served as county treasurer twelve years, since the expiration of which time he has been in his pres- ent position. He is a Democrat who first voted for Greeley, and is a member of the I. O. O. F. lodge. He and his wife are members of the Christian Church, and are highly esteemed people.

William H. Bowles, farmer and stock raiser, was born in Marion County in 1845, the ninth of twelve children of Jesse and Judith (Schofield) Bowles, the former born in 1805, in Bourbon County, Ky., and the latter in 1808, in the same State. The

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LEWIS COUNTY.

father was left with only a mother when he was but a child, and was reared in Marion County, where he spent the most of his life, excepting one year in Randolph County. He was a farmer and stone mason, and died in 1860. The mother survived him twenty-three years, and both were members of the Christian Church from their youth. William H. received a fair education, and was married in 1866 to Elizabeth E., the daughter of Fred -- erick and Martha Benedict, the former a native of Pennsylvania, and the latter of Kentucky, born in 1845. Their children are Sarah A., Minnie, Martha J., Lillie, Mary E., Addie and Ella. Our subject was a tenant farmer until about 1874, when he bought eighty acres of his present estate. His home now embraces 200 acres of finely cultivated land, near Steffenville, where he is engaged in farming and stock dealing. His first vote was for Greeley, and he has clung ever since to Democracy. He is a member of the Christian Church, while his wife is a Baptist.

William Raney Bradshaw, farmer and stock dealer, was born in Marion County in 1829, the son of Lewis and Mary C. (Chambers) Bradshaw, the former of English descent, born in Kentucky in 1808, and the latter a native of the same place, born in 1811. His second wife, Salie C. Hayden, was born in 1823, and is now living on the old home place with her son Lewis. The father came to Marion County in 1828, and settled near Palmyra. He bought an estate of 200 acres in this county in 1836, and there passed his life. He died in 1881, one of the oldest pioneers. Our subject, the only living one of two chil- dren, was four years old when his mother died, and he contin- ued with his father until twenty-eight years of age. December 23, 1857, he married Mary J., a daughter of Benjamin and Nancy D. (Baily) Bradshaw, and born in 1838 in Knox County. Her parents came to Marion County in 1835, and two years later to Knox County. Our subject's only child is Belle, the wife of S. R. LaRue, of California. In 1865 our subject located on his present estate of 280 acres, and has a fine home, erected at a cost of $2,100. He is one of the oldest citizens of Northeast Missouri, and is a well informed man. In national affairs he is Democratic. In February, 1862, he joined Company K, Second Missouri State Militia Cavalry, and became orderly sergeant. After over two years he was discharged at Pilot Knob. He is an Odd Fellow, and a member of the Christian Church.

William H. Bradshaw was born in Kentucky, June 9, 1830. He is the son of Benjamin and Nancy G. (Bailey) Bradshaw, natives of Kentucky, the former of English descent, and the lat- ter of Scotch lineage. They were married in 1825, and ten years later came to Missouri. After a year in Marion County

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BIOGRAPHICAL APPENDIX.

they came to this county, where the father died near La Belle. The father was one of the charter members of the Masonic lodge. He was in the war of 1812. His political principles were Democratic. He died in 1852, at the age of sixty years, leaving a widow and four children.

The mother makes her home with her daughter, Mrs. W. R. Bradshaw, and is now a hale old lady of seventy-eight years. She has been a member of the Presbyterian Church for over half a century. Our sub- ject left home at the age of twenty, on account of the "gold fever." He spent three years in California, with fair success at mining, and then returned to his farm in Lewis County, in 1853. In 1862 he became a soldier, and served at Kirksville. In 1864 he was discharged on account of ill health, from which he has never recovered. In 1855 he married Catherine, a daughter of Cyrus McCracken, of Marion County, and they had the follow- ing named children: Cyrus M., William A., John, Ella, Edwin, Nannie D. and Thomas W. The mother of these children died in 1885. Our subject has a fine home of about 200 acres. He votes the Republican ticket, and in religion he and his wife hold to the faith of the Christian Church.

Joseph H. Bradshaw, presiding judge of the county court, was born in Kentucky in February, 1832, the son of Smith and Elizabeth (Chrisman) Bradshaw, the former of English origin, born in Kentucky in 1771, and the latter of German stock, native of the same place, born in 1787, and deceased in 1858. The father was a brick mason, and afterward a farmer. In 1832 he came to this county, entered 640 acres and bought 480 acres, and four years later brought his family and settled on the latter. He died in 1868. He was in the war of 1812, under Gen. Har- rison, at the battles of Defiance, Miami and Fort Meigs, Ohio. He was on a scouting party of about thirty-five, who were, all but two, either killed or captured by Indians. Our subject, the seventh of eleven children, was four years old when they came to this county, and he remained with his parents until about the age of twenty. He and eight others then started for California on an overland trip, which took them about three months. He farmed for about three years, and in 1857 returned by way of Panama. February 8, 1863, he married Mrs. Sarah Rousseau, a daughter of William Kendrick, and born near Bardstown, Ky., in 1829. Their children are Mary (wife of Samuel Brooking), Hugh and James. Her children by her first husband are James and Fan- nie. After marriage our subject located on his present estate of 244 acres. He is a Democrat, and in 1880 became associate judge of the county court, and served until 1886, when he became presiding judge. He is an able man, and is a Mason, and a

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member of the Christian Church. His wife holds to the Baptist faith.

H. M. Brosius was born in Lancaster County, Penn., on August 8, 1828. He is the son of Benjamin and Phoebe (Booth) Brosius, natives of Pennsylvania. They afterward came to Ohio, where they lived until their deaths in 1871 and 1875, respectively. Our subject left home at the age of twenty years, with a fair edu- cation. He first began farming in Ohio, and continued until 1859, when he came to this county. He continued farming for three years, and in 1863 became a merchant at Deer Ridge, the only merchant in the place. He has been very successful, and now has a stock worth about $2,000, which is double the amount with which he began. He is also postmaster. In 1858 he mar- ried Jennie, a daughter of James Starr, of Ohio. Their children are Phoebe E., William S. and Charles H. Our subject has been a justice for several years, and a school director. He served several months in the home guards. His origin is Ger- man and Irish. He is a Republican.

William D. Briscoe is the son of Walter D., one of the earliest pioneers of this county, when it required pioneer hardi- hood to make a home in the forest. He located near Durham, where he became a well-to-do farmer. He was born in 1809, the son of Walter, Sr., a Virginian of German ancestry, who after- ward moved to Kentucky. The father died in 1853. He had been married November 5, 1829, and in 1832 came to this coun- ty. The mother's name was Eliza A. Waggenner, who was born in Kentucky, January 9, 7813, and died June 20,1864. . She was a member of the Baptist Church. Our subject, the third of seven children, attended common schools, and in 1861 married Nancy O., a daughter of John and Sarah J. (Haycraft) Fisher. He was then twenty-five years of age. Their children are John T., William D., Jr., Maggie L. (the wife of F. S. Ammerman), Anna E. and Sarah B. After some years on his mother's farm he came to this township, and since 1863 has been at his present home. His farm consists of 480 acres, which is one of the best in the county, and a small part of which is inherited. In 1863 he served in the Confederate Army at Kirksville, and for a few months after. He was a Douglas Democrat, and has never de- serted that party. He and his family are members of the Bap- tist Church.

Dr. Robert S. Briscoe was born July 7, 1833, in this county, the son of William C. and Amanda (Slaughter) Briscoe, the for- mer of Welsh origin, born in Hardin County, Ky., in 1807, and the latter of English stock, born in 1811 in the same county. He was married in 1833, and immediately came to this county, and

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BIOGRAPHICAL APPENDIX.

settled near Gilead. He owned 440 acres, one acre of which he gave for the Gilead Baptist Church. The mother died in 1838, and after 1855 the father lived with his son until 1887, since which time he has been with his daughter, Amanda, at Louisville. His children are Robert S. ; Abbie, the wife of ex-secretary Bristow, of New York, and Amanda, who married J. F. Weller, of Louis- ville, Ky. Our subject was educated at a select school at La Grange, and at the Palmyra Baptist Seminary. When twenty years of age he became a teacher, and in 1855 began medicine under Dr. Dimmitt for one year, and then a year under Dr. Taylor. In 1857 he graduated from the St. Louis Medical College, and practiced in Monticello until 1865. He then spent four years in Canton, after which he remained in the county seat until 1875. He has since been in Lewiston. April 13, 1857, he married Belle, the daughter of John and Nancy (Lay) Mattingly, and born in Monticello, April 22, 1836. Their chil- dren are Lizzie, the wife of Dr. C. R. Ammerman, of Colorado City, Colo .; Nanie, the wife of H. N. Greene, of Ft. Scott, Kas., William and Bertie. The Doctor is one of the oldest resi- dent physicians of the county, and has a large practice. He has sold out, however, and is to move to Colorado City, for his wife's health, where he will resume practice. He is a Democrat, and first voted for Buchanan. For several years he was president of the Lewis County Medical Association, and has also been president of Lewiston Creamery Associations ince its organization, March 10, 1884. He is a Knight Templar, and his family are members of the Baptist Church.

James Brooking, retired farmer, was born in Virginia, the son of Edward and Margaret (Andrews) Brooking, the former born in 1782, in Virginia, and the latter in Essex County, Va., in 1794. In 1833 the father came to near Maywood, in this county, and bought a farm near Lewiston, where he died in 1844. He was a soldier of 1812, and was a prominent man. The mother died in 1864. Our subject was seventeen years old when he came to this county, and the following year worked on a farm for $10 a month, and then went to Mississippi, and after a few months of carpentering went to Little Rock, Ark. He then returned to this county, and bought forty acres, but in 1884 bought his present estate. In November, 1848, he married Sarah, a daughter of Joseph West, and born in Indianapolis, Ind., in 1826. Their children are Sarah E. (the wife of J. Russell), Robert, William, Samuel, John, Annie (the wife of R. Seaman) and David. He has now become one of the largest land owners in the county, with an estate of 1,300 acres, which he has given mostly to his children. He has disposed of his estate, and now lives a retired

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life. He is a Democrat, and first voted for Van Buren. He and his wife are both members of the Christian Church, and are aged, respected citizens.

Benjamin B. Brooks, of the Canton Saw Mill Company, was born in Dalton, N. H., November 4, 1829, the son of Alvin and Lydia I. Brooks, both natives of New Hampshire, where they lived and died. Our subject was educated in his native State, and in 1849 went to California, and spent three years in the gold mines with success. In 1853 he returned, and bought a farm, upon which he remained until 1861, when he began merchandis- ing. In 1872 he came to Canton with Mr. Cummings, with whom he has since been in the lumber business. January 26, 1858, he married Louisa F. Rix, a native of Littleton, N. H. They have an adopted child-Fannie L. He is a Republican, and an encampment member of the I. O. O. F. Charles E. Cum- mings, the other partner of the above firm, was born in Lisbon, N. H., February 28, 1847, the son of Greenleaf and Hannah (Gould) Cummings, natives, respectively, of New Hampshire and Vermont. The father died in October, 1863, and the mother still lives in Boston. Our subject was educated at Montpelier, Vt., and in the business college of Poughkeepsie, N. Y. He was a bookkeeper in a bank in Wells River, Vt., and then followed merchandising until 1872, when he came to Canton, and engaged in the lumber business. He was largely instrumental in placing the company of which he is a member on its present basis. June 16, 1870, Ellen M. Ayres, a native of Canterbury, N. H., became his wife. Their children are Susan E., Carl G. and Albert E. He is a Republican, and a member of the encampment in Odd Fellowship. The present company was incorporated February 28, 1881, by B. V. Brooks, D. M. Hibbard, C. E. Cummings and F. M. Gifford. This company succeeded the firm Brooks, Cum- mings & Hibbard, who operated the mill from 1872. Mr. Hibbard sold out in 1882, and Mr. Gifford died in 1886 from drowning in the Mississippi River, so that the present stockholders are Brooks, Cummings and Martha G. Gifford. Mr. Brooks is pres- ident, and Mr. Cummings secretary and treasurer. The company owns twenty acres in Canton, where their mills and offices are located. The mill consists of a double circular gang edger, trimmer, and a full set of shingle and lath machinery, giving employment to about seventy men, during the running season. They handle about 7,000,000 feet of lumber per year, which they ship to the West, and whose material comes from Wisconsin. They own an interest in a raft boat.

Massanello M. Buford, farmer and stock raiser, was born in Lewis County, in 1836, the son of Henry and Eleanor (Hardy)

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Buford, the former of French-Huguenot stock, born in Bedford Co., Va., in 1798, and the latter born in Maryland in 1800, and deceased in 1853. (His second wife was Eliza Merryweather, nee Dodd). The grandfather, Abraham, a native of Virginia was also a farmer, and a soldier of 1812. The father came to this county in 1834, after his marriage, and stopped near Monti- cello for two years. He then settled near where Colony now is, in Knox County, where he bought eighty acres of land. He passed his last years with our subject, and died in 1877. He was in the Iowa boundary war also. Our subject, the seventh of ten children, was reared in his native county with pioneer advantages, and lived with his parents until the age of twenty. In 1861 he joined the Confederate forces of Gen. Green, and served in the State guards twelve months as orderly sergeant and lieutenant. Then entered the Confederate service for a period of the war. The last six months he was a clerk in the quartermaster's depart- ment. He served at the battles of Athens, Shelbina, Lexington and Prairie Grove, where he was wounded in both legs and left

hip. He was disabled for eighteen months, and surrendered at the close of the war at Mount Pleasant, Tex. In August, 1863, he married Elizabeth K. German, in Titus County, Tex. She was born in 1836, in Dayton, Ohio, the daughter of Raymond and Katharine German. After the war he spent six years in Han- cock County, Ill., and then bought forty acres of his present estate, which embraces 152 acres. He first voted for Fillmore, and has since been a Democrat. He became township collector in 1870, and four years later became county assessor, and served four years. He is a Mason, and the entire family are Baptists, of which church he is clerk. Their children are Kate E., Mildred B. and Henry L.

W. H. Bumbarger, deceased, was born in Harrison County, Ky., December 22, 1817, the son of Michael Bumbarger, a Vir- ginian, of German descent. The father was a farmer in later years. He was a Whig, and both parents were members of the Christian Church. Our subject, the eldest of four children, came to Northeast Missouri in 1870, engaged in the lumber busi- ness, and a year later settled permanently on his farm. His estate included 160 acres of land. Politically he was a Whig, but afterward a Democrat. He was a member of the Chris- tian Church. August 21, 1849, Eliza J., a daughter of Coleman and Emily (Rodgers) Reed, became his wife. Her parents were natives of Kentucky, and were of Irish and German origin, respectively. Their children are Mary L., Emma, John C., Nannie, Hattie S., Clarence R. and Jennie L. Our subject died

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in August, 1884. His widow still lives on the old place. She and all her children are Christians.

William M. Burford, farmer, was born in Amherst County, Va., April 11, 1817, the son of Daniel and Susan (Lyon) Bur- ford, the former of English origin, born in the above county, and the latter a native of Virginia. The father was a carpenter and boat builder, and served in the war of 1812. Our subject is the fourth of eight children, left home at twelve years of age, and lived with his uncle. He received $5 per month, and continued with him four years. At the age of seventeen he went to Ken- tucky, and in 1837 came to Clark County. Two years later he married Nancy Nunn, who was born in Cumberland County, Ky., in 1825. Their children are Elizabeth, the wife of W. Gregory; John; George, a lawyer; Mary, the wife of Mr. S. H. Throck- morton, and Richard. He then came to this county, and bought 200 acres, where he now lives. His wife died in 1858, and in 1860 he married Elizabeth Smith, the daughter of Thomas Throckmorton. She was born in Kentucky, in 1835. Their children are Thomas, Robert, Warder, Nannie, Lucinda, Louis and Addie V. Our subject had but $100 when he came to this State, but, after rearing twelve children, now owns 600 acres of land, and a' residence costing $3,000. He at one time owned 1,200 acres. He has given seven of his children good homes. He is a Democrat, and first voted for Van Buren. He is a Mason, and has been a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church for fifty-one years. His wife is a member of the Christian Church.

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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 69

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