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 70

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 70
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 70
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 70
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 70

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).

E. B. Burgess was born in Harrisonburg, Va., in 1856. He is the first son of James H. and Mary (Roller) Burgess, natives of Virginia. The parents have had seven children, all living but one, who became the wife of Charles Fowler. The father came to this county in 1869, and our subject with him. The latter received a fair education, and spent three years at the Kirksville Normal. He then was a teacher for several years in this county, but became weary of that life, and began his present grocery business in Williamstown. He has a large business, and is a promising young man. He is an Odd Fellow, and a member of the Methodist Church. His political principles are Democratic.

Hon. Thomas S. Burnett, lawyer, was born in this county, October 14, 1854, the son of George G. and Mary (Stowers) Burnett; the former of Scotch-Irish stock, born in Henry County, Ky., in 1813, and the latter of German descent, born in the same county in 1823. Their ancestors were natives of Loudoun County, Va. The grandfather, Samuel Burnett, went to Henry County, Ky., in 1808, where he died in 1823. George G., the fa- ther, lived in Harrison County, Ky., until in November, 1836,

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when he moved to this county, and entered 360 acres of land. He was married, January 30, 1840, and was one of the largest land owners of the county, having owned at one time more than 1,200 acres. He is now retired from a very active life of many years in Northeast Missouri; has been living for the last eleven years with his children, and fully merits all the esteem placed upon his honor and manhood. The mother was thirteen years old when her parents, William and Elizabeth (Grant) Stowers, came to this county. She was a woman universally admired for her social, kind disposition and charitable life. Her mother was a daughter of Gen. Grant, of Grant County, Ky., a second-cousin of Gen. U. S. Grant. She was also a niece of Daniel Boone. The mother died in 1876. Her children were Samuel, Elizabeth (de- ceased), Alexander (accidentally shot in Texas), William S., R. Grant, Washington J., Margret J. (the wife of J. Flowerree ) and Thomas S. Our subject was educated at the seminary in · Monticello, and graduated from Christian University with the class of 1877. During the last year of his course he was an assistant college teacher, and at the age of seventeen entered that profession for three terms. He then entered the law office of Blair & Marchand, in Monticello, and in 1878 was admitted to the bar. Having spent a time in the office of Hon. W. H. H. Russell, of St. Louis, he went to Dallas, Tex., and, after teaching a couple of sessions, began practice at Dallas, in De- cember, 1879, and remained until August, 1883, when ill health compelled him to retire. In April, 1884, he came to Monticello, where he has since been one of the leading lawyers. He is an eloquent speaker, and highly esteemed as a man. He is a Dem- ocrat, and first voted for Samuel J. Tilden. He is an Odd Fellow, and has been a member of the Christian Church since fourteen years of age.

E. Burrows, nurseryman, was born August 7, 1836, in Del- aware County, N. Y., one of seven children of David and Terressa (Lowry) Burrows, the former of English stock, born January 10, 1800, in New London, Conn., and the latter of simi- lar origin, born at the same place a few years later. After marriage they moved to Delaware County, where they built a house, and engaged in manufacturing shoes. The mother died in 1838, and the father, about ten years later, married Cornelia, the daughter of Gen. James Knox, a soldier of the Revolution. She died about 1850, after which he married again, and this wife still lives. Our subject left home at the age of twenty-one, and came to Illinois, engaging in the nursery business at Blooming- ton, with F. K. Phoenix. In 1861 he enlisted in the Normal Regiment from Bloomington, and in 1863 joined Company I as a

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lieutenant. .He was mustered out in 1863, as a captain, at Vicksburg. He returned and resumed his old business as fore- man, and in 1871 became superintendent for Haggard Bros., and continued five years. After a time, as superintendent for Spaulding & Co., at Springfield, he came to Canton, and began the nursery business for himself, and has built up a fine trade, having now forty acres under cultivation. He has so large a trade he is unable to fill his orders. In March, 1864, he married Isabelle I. Montgomery, who was born December 4, 1841, in Danville, Ky. Their children are Nellie L., William D., Jennie M., Major F. and Edith F. He is now a Republican, and first voted for Lincoln. He is a member of the I. O. O. F., A. O. U. W. and G. A. R. In the first he is at present Vice Grand. His wife is a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church, and the eldest daughter of the Christian Church.

Robert S. Byers, farmer, was born in County Down, Ireland, February 17, 1829, the second of five children of William and Agnes (McKitrick) Byers, also of Ireland. The father died in his native country when R. S. was about nine years old. He was the son of David Byers, a Scotchman, and was a linen weaver. The mother came to Pittsburgh, in 1848, and afterward moved to Rochester, Penn., where she died about 1872.

Both parents were Presbyterians. Our subject received a good busi- ness education, and when fifteen years old came to America. Among other things he learned the marble cutting trade, at which he worked about two years. In 1854 he went to Rock Island County, Ill. He ran on the river for awhile to New Orleans, as second steward. In 1859 he went to Pike's Peak, Colo., but soon returned to this county, where Elizabeth, a daughter of James Clayton, became his wife September 9, 1860. She was a native of England, and was nine years old when she came to America. Their children are Emma L. and Agnes E. In August, 1862, he joined Company D, of the Missouri State Militia, and operated in the northeastern part of the State; he was a sergeant, and served until the surrender. Since 1866, when he abandoned the life of a tenant farmer, he has been on his present estate of eighty acres of choice and improved land. He is a Republican, and his first vote for Lincoln was one of the only two in his precinct. He and his wife are members of the Presbyterian Church.

Capt. John Preston Caldwell, farmer and miller, was born in Bath County, Ky., in 1815, the son of Walter and Mary (Breckin- ridge) Caldwell, the former of Irish origin, born in Virginia in 1777. He was a farmer and speculator, and in his youth went to Kentucky, where they lived in Boone's Fort for a few years, and

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BIOGRAPHICAL APPENDIX.

afterward settled in Bath County. In 1818 he came to this State, where his brother, Samuel, was one of those who laid out the town of Louisiana, and afterward Palmyra, also. In 1827 Walter located at New London, where he owned a fine farm near by, and afterward died in May, 1842. He was a major of milita, and a county judge, several years. He was a Democrat, and in 1830 he and his son, James D., were rival candidates for the State Senate, the latter being a Whig. Their canvass is a part of his- tory, and it is well known that the father was defeated. The mother was born in Virginia in 1778, and was a cousin of John C. Breckinridge. She died the year before her husband, leaving six sons and three daughters. Our subject, the eighth child, was eleven years old when they came here, and when he was fifteen became a carpenter, serving two years as apprentice and six years as a journeyman. In 1839 he erected a water mill on the Middle Fabius. February 22, 1841, he married Elvira C., a daughter of Silas Reddish, a pioneer, whose name was given to a certain township. She was born in 1823 in Kentucky. Their children are Oliver K., James H., Sarah C., Matilda J., Annie B., Emma J., Minnie and Robert B., some of whom are married. After three years with his mill, he began farming; he was engaged in milling afterward, but in 1861 enlisted in the Confederate serv- ice, but soon returned, and became captain of a company he had organized. In 1862 he was captured, and imprisoned a year, but was then exchanged, and remained in service until 1864. For the last eight or nine years he and his son, Robert, have been partners, and have remodeled their mill. He now owns 240 acres. In 1852 he was sheriff and collector, serving two terms, and in 1876 became collector another term. He is a Mason, and the family are members of the Christian Church.

John W. Cason, farmer, was born in 1837, in this county, and was reared on a farm. In 1862 he enlisted in the Confed- erate service, and continued until he was captured, during the same year. He was held a prisoner in St. Louis, and afterward in Illinois. In 1865 he returned to this county, and resumed farming. He was educated at La Grange High School in his younger days. He afterward married Mary A. Johnson, a native of Marion County, but reared in this county. Since 1877 he has been located on his present estate, near La Grange. They have had three sons and three daughters. Our subject is a Democrat in politics, while in religion he, his wife, three daughters and one son hold to the Baptist faith. The father, John, was born in Kentucky in 1812. He was married to Elizabeth G. Coleman, a native of Kentucky. He then moved near Monticello, this State, about 1836, and is still living in Highland Township. The

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mother died in 1884. Three sons and one daughter are the only survivors of their children.

Henry C. Chinn, editor and proprietor of the Canton News, was born in Shelby County, Ky., October 15, 1841, the son of Achilles and Dorothy (Longest) Chinn, natives of Kentucky and Virginia, respectively. He came to Louisville in 1850, where he commenced the printer's trade, at the age of twelve years, com- pleting the same four years thereafter. He attended two sessions in Christian University, of Canton, Mo., in 1857-58. In 1859-60 he clerked in St. Louis, and until 1861 was in his native State: He then came to Canton, and in 1862 entered The Press office as foreman, and was with that paper from its first issue until April 1, 1878, when he purchased a half interest in the La Grange (Mo.) Democrat, in charge of its mechanical department, and eighteen months later disposed of his interest and returned to Canton, where he issued the first number of the News, February 13, 1880. It is the only Republican paper in this county, and one of the best periodicals in the State. Our subject is an Odd Fellow of twenty- five years standing, and has filled all the offices in both lodge and encampment. October 15, 1860, he married Bettie W. Cleneay, of Canton, and a native of Maysville, Ky. Their children are Lizzie B., Charles C., William H. G., Jesse B., Mollie T. and Julia C. The parents are members of the Christian Church.

D. W. and J. F. Christie, the former a farmer and merchant, and the latter a farmer, were born in 1837 and 1839, respectively, in Frederick County, Va., the sons of James and Elizabeth (Watson) Christie, the former of Irish descent, born in 1797 in the above county, and the latter born in the same county, in 1810. The grandfather, Robert, was a native of Ireland. After his marriage in Virginia, the father came to this county in December, 1855, locating on the farm now owned by J. B. Wallace. He died three years later. Since his death the mother has lived with her son, J. F. Our subjects, the fourth and fifth of six chil- dren, came to this county with their parents, and in 1861 D. W. enlisted under Gen. Martin E. Green, and was engaged in the battles of Shelbina, Glasgow, Lexington, Pea Ridge, Prairie Grove, Pleasant Hill and Jenkins Ferry. He surrendered under Maj. Gen. Buckner, at Shreveport. In 1883 he married Mollie F., a daughter of Jerry Glenn, and born in Kenton County, Ky., in 1841. D. W. and. J. F. worked together, caring for their mother and sisters, and after the former enlisted J. F. assumed the responsibility of their care. Since 1867 they have been in part- nership on their present estate of 280 acres. In 1877 the Pat- rons of Husbandry organized a stock company and general store,

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and three years later D. W. became their manager, but resigned in 1885 on account of ill health. In January, 1887, he was re- elected, and still holds the position. They are Democrats, and are members of the Christian Church, to which they have belonged since 1876. The wife of D. W. is a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church South. D. W. is a Master Mason.

J. O. Clapp is 'a native of Lewis County, Mo., his birth oc- curring in 1848. He is the son of Lorenzo and Sophronia (Clark ) Clapp, of Massachusetts, and of English origin. The father came to this county in 1844, and remained until his death. He died in 1861, leaving a wife and two sons; the family lived together until the mother's death in 1873. Our subject, soon after, married Margaret J., a daughter of Mathias Pugh, a prom- inent farmer of this county. Their children are Martha H., Emma S. and Elmer E., all of whom are living. Our subject is a Republican, and he and his wife are members of the Method- ist Episcopal Church. He owns a fine estate of 1,200 acres, in this county, and 100 in Clark County, making him one of the largest land owners in this county.

L. L. Clapp was born in Massachusetts in 1842, the son of Lorenzo and Sophronia (Clark) Clapp, who are mentioned in the sketch of J. O. Clapp, and who are said to be descendants of pilgrims of Plymouth Rock. Our subject received the old home estate, and in 1876 was married to Nancy N., a daughter of N. B. and Nancy A. (Turner) McLin, natives of Kentucky. Their children are William A. and Albert A. Our subject has a fine estate of about 240 acres well improved, and one of the best in the county. During the war he served in the Home Guards, but was not in active service. He votes the Republican ticket, and he and his wife hold to the faith of the Methodist Church.

L. B. Clay was born in Bourbon County, Ky., October 27, 1820, the son of George and A. (Bainbridge) Clay, natives of Kentucky, the former of Irish and the latter of German stock. The parents were married in Kentucky, and in 1821 came to Warren County, this State. The father ran a tanyard for about ten years, then went to St. Louis, and followed boating until his death, in 1858, at the age of seventy years, and some years after the death of the mother. At the age of fifteen our subject ran away to New Orleans, with the intention of becoming a sailor. The father's vigilance brought him back, however, and he en- gaged in boating. He soon became an expert pilot, and was so engaged for about twenty-five years. During the winter of 1865 and 1866, he ran the " Cornelia " to New Orleans, and while at work, either as captain or pilot, was never idle. His last trip

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was made in 1866. He at one time knew every man, woman and child that lived on the Illinois River. When he moved to Lewis County, Mo., the bushwhackers were numerous, and he was directed, by some prominent men, to send for help, if they be- came troublesome; he was not bothered, however. While boating on the Mississippi he was married to Barbara Davidson, an adopted child of William Jones, of St. Louis. Six of their nine children are living: Amanda, oldest living; Oliver C., prose- cuting attorney; Thomas L .; S. W .; Ella and James H. Our subject was originally a Whig, but is now a Democrat of the Union stamp. He and his wife are members of the Christian Church.

Hon. Oliver C. Clay, A. M., prosecuting attorney, was born in this county May 27, 1849, the son of Little Berry and Barbara Clay, whose sketch appears elsewhere. Our subject, the third of seven children, had charge of his father's farm during the war, and after that conflict entered Christian University, and acted as janitor to pay his expenses. He graduated in June, 1871, with the degree of A. M. In his sophomore year he had two or three classes in mathematics, and the senior year he was a teacher of Greek and Latin. During a greater part of the course he boarded himself, as he was unable to do otherwise, and the small hour of 2 o'clock at night often found him at work. He became a teacher in 1871 in the country, but soon became assistant prin- cipal of the high school in Canton, and the following year was made principal. He became professor of mathematics in Chris- tian University two years later, where seven years before he had begun as janitor. He resigned this chair three years later. June 25, 1877, he married Charlotte, the daughter of James Biggs. She is a native of Canton County. She also graduated from this university, and was valedictorian of her class, being the only lady who ever received the degree of A. M. in this insti- tution. She taught in the schools of Canton several years. Their children are William G., Roxana, Horace B. and Mary. He went to Sedalia the day of his marriage, and delivered before the State Teachers' Association his address "The Public Schools our only Safeguard." He began law in 1874, was admitted in 1875, and has opened an office in Monticello. From 1883 to 1885 he was a partner of J. T. Lloyd, and since that time R. W. Ray has been his partner, and the firm have had marked success. He is a Democrat, and has served in his present office since 1882. He is a Mason and an Odd Fellow, having taken all the degrees of the latter. He and his wife are members of the Chris- tian Church, of which he is Sunday-school superintendent.

Elijah Cole, farmer, was born in Fairfield County, in 1816,

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the youngest of eight children of Stephen and Elizabeth (Gos- sage ) Cole, natives of Maryland. They came to the above county where the father died in 1821. He was for many years the owner of a grist-mill and carding factory, and was also a farmer. By his first wife he had five sons. The mother died about 1853. Both were members of the Methodist Episcopal Church. Our subject was left fatherless at an early age, and so received, prob- ably, but two months of school advantages. He has largely edu- cated himself by private study, and at sixteen began for himself as a tenant farmer. In 1850 he married Lydia Rutledge, a Vir- ginian, of German ancestry. Their children are William P., Louis E., and Mary E., the wife of B. Sickles. He came to this county about 1854, and has since been a resident of his farm and estate of ninety-nine acres. He has been a Methodist for about fifty-six years-thirty years as class leader, and twenty-five as Sunday-school superintendent. His wife was also a devoted Methodist. Politically he has been a Whig and a Republican, and first voted for Harrison.

James W. Collins, farmer and stock raiser, was born in County Tipperary, Ireland, in 1823, the son of James and Delia (Creagh) Collins, born in 1781 and 1803, respectively, and de- ceased in 1865 and 1839. Our subject, the eldest of eight chil- dren, worked on the farm, and in 1849 came to the United States, and here was employed on railways until 1851, when he came to Missouri, and two years later located in La Grange. In 1856 he married Nancy Blackburn, who was born in Kentucky in 1830. Their children are Mary (the wife of G. Westhoff ), James, Will- iam, Julia, Daniel and Thomas. Our subject lived in La Grange for twelve years, and was engaged as a bookkeeper, and as contractor for grading the streets. In 1865 President Johnson appointed him assistant United States assessor for three counties. In 1869 he came to Canton, and resumed bookkeeping, in which capacity he ranks as one of the best in the county. His wife died in 1870, and four years later he married Nancy Roech, a daughter of William Bennett, and born in 1831, in Springfield. In 1875 he came to Dickerson Township, where he owns an estate of 704 acres. He also owns 220 acres in Clark County. He is a Democrat, and he and his wife are Roman Catholics.

Frederick Condit was born in Nauvoo, Ill., August 16, 1849, the son of Edward and Mary Condit, who are mentioned else- where. After moving East with his parents, our subject came with his father to Keokuk, Iowa, where he was educated. From 1861 to 1880 he was a steamboat pilot on the Mississippi for the Eagle Packet Company. In 1877 he began his present grocery business, which was conducted by his father-in-law until

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1880, since which time our subject has managed it himself. Besides his grocery business, he has a very large shoe trade in both city and county. January 13, 1872, he married Hun Nich- ols, a native of Zanesville, Ohio. Their children are Edward P., Walter and Pansye. Our subject is a Democrat in politics, and is a member of the A. O. U. W. He and his wife are members of the Baptist Church.

Rev. J. F. Cook, LL. D. Concerning the honored presi- dent of La Grange College the following is taken from Dun- can's "History of Missouri Baptists:" "Joshua Flood Cook was born in Shelby County, Ky., January 14, 1834. He pro- fessed religion, and united with the Baptists, in 1846. In 1852 he came to Missouri, and spent the next five years teaching and attending Howard High School; then entered Georgetown College, Kentucky, where he graduated in 1858, and was married to Miss Sue G. Farmer the same year. In 1859 he became president of New Liberty Female College, which position he held until 1861, when he went South, where he remained during the war. He filled the position of pas- tor at Eminence, Ky., in 1865-66. At the age of thirty-two he was made president of La Grange College, Missouri, for the term of twenty-six years. For him these years have been years of excessive toil and great anxiety. No more unfavorable time could have been found for establishing a college than in the fall of 1866. When he assumed charge of the college it was encumbered with a debt of $10,000. The building was in the worst repair, and without a dollar in the treasury. He has expended over $15,000 in paying debts for building and improve- ments, and the college has now assets to free it from all indebt- edness. As an educator Dr. Cook has no superior in the State, as is fully attested by the many prominent men in various pro- fessions, whom he has educated. In addition to his college work he has preached almost every Sabbath, and often weeks at a time. His preaching is characterized by simplicity, boldness and ' the faith once delivered to the saints.' He stays in the old ruts of theology, and cares little for modern progressive ideas.

He is a 'self-made man.' Intellectually and morally his indi- viduality is strongly marked. He has a general air of frank- ness, straightforwardness and honesty. May he long be spared to carry on the good work. Since 1866 he has been actively identified with Baptist interests in the bounds of Wyaconda Association, as well as in other societies of the State. He wears very gracefully and modestly the merited title of Doctor of Laws." Dr. Cook has been continuously the president of La Grange College for twenty-one years, and bids fair to be there

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as much longer. He is called the " prince of educators " by many capable of judging of his ability and work. Many of the most prominent men of Missouri have been educated under his tuition. The college is now entirely free from debt, has a sur- plus of several thousand dollars, a good geological collection, fair apparatus, and a library of 10,000 volumes. Dr. Cook's work in Missouri will live long in the future. He has raised an interesting family. His eldest son is pastor of a church in St. Louis, and bids fair to be more useful than his father. Dr. Cook has a beautiful home, where he entertains many friends, and is never more happy than when they are under his roof. He has educated many poor young men and women, and thus has done much to cause him to be honored and loved.

Jacob E. Cooksey, sheriff, was born in Fauquier County, Va., February 10, 1828, the son of Warren and Hannah (Hunsicker) Cooksey, the former of Scotch stock, born in Fairfax County, Va., in 1803, and the latter of German-English origin, born in 1805 in Virginia. The father married in 1826, and in 1835 came to this county and entered 160 acres in Canton Township. He worked at his trade together with farming, in 1841 moved to Tully, and for two years carried on the cooper business and a distillery. In 1843 he returned to the farm, and five years later moved to La Grange, but returned the next year, and died in December following. He owned 110 acres at the time of his death, and was a man who worked from fourteen to seventeen hours per day. The mother died in June, 1886, in California, where she had gone with her daughter in 1871. Our subject, the second of twelve children, was seven and one-half years old when they came to this State. Jacob remained at home after his father's death, and cared for the family until they matured. In October, 1858, he married Imeld, daughter of Dr. Loring and Mary (Smith) Lusk. She was born in Mercer County, Penn., in 1838. Their children are Warren L., John and Nellie. He erected a stave and barrel factory in Canton, in 1854, and for two years manufactured barrels, to the number of 200 per day, and shipped them to Quincy, Keokuk and Warsaw. After five years of dry goods clerking he followed butchering until 1864, and then was connected with a livery stable for two years, after which he bought a half interest, and continued until 1874, when he was elected constable, serving until his election as sheriff in 1884. He has served efficiently ever since. He is a Democrat, has been an Odd Fellow for thirty-seven years, having taken all degrees, and has been a Methodist since 1850. His wife died March 11, 1887.

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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 70

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