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 82

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 82
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 82
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 82
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 82

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).

Peter Smith, farmer and stock raiser, was born in Hamilton County, Ohio, in November, 1837, the son of Peter and Mary (Staub) Smith, natives of Germany, the former born in Bavaria in 1809. The father was an overseer of a German estate, and in 1836 came to near Cincinnati, Ohio. Three years later he went to Decatur County, Ind., and in 1840 moved to Burlington, Iowa, where he remained eight years. After two years as a merchant in Van Buren County, he sold out and bought a farm near Keo- sauqua, consisting of 320 acres. In 1850 he returned to Bur- lington, whence his eldest son went to California, where he was engaged in furnishing provisions to miners, but he returned home two years later. He bought a farm of 320 acres near Burlington,

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and was extensively engaged in stock dealing until the opening of the war. In 1864 he filled out a wagon train, and made a trip of three months to Montana Territory, where he specu- lated in stock. After about eighteen months' absence he came to this county, where he owned an estate of 400 acres, now occu- pied by his son, Stephen. For the past twenty years his home has been in Burlington. The mother died in August, 1807, at the age of sixty-nine years. Our subject, the fourth of nine children, was about three years old when they came to Iowa. March 18, 1863, he married Charlottie A. Coad, who was born in Pennsylvania June 16, 1841. Their children are Susie B., Clar- issa and Frank L. In 1863 our subject went to Idaho on a four months' overland trip. After two and a half years of mining he came to this county, and for the eight following years was farm- ing with his brother, Stephen. Since 1874 he has lived on his present estate of 400 acres, on which his residence is situated, erected in 1881 at a cost of $1,000. He is a Democrat, and he and his wife are Missionary Baptists.

Henry Steffens, farmer and carpenter, was born in Germany about 1838. Casper A. and Martha E., his parents, came to America about 1840, and in 1846 located seventeen miles east of Quincy. The father was engaged as a day laborer, and, while grading the streets, was buried under a caving bank. While he was being dug out he received such injuries on the head from the workmen's tools that he was prostrated for a long time. He was in debt after this, and immediately began clearing some land he had bought. In 1863 he went to Knox County, but in a few months came to Salem Township, where he bought a large farm, and became one of the wealthiest land owners of the county, and owned about 2,000 acres. In 1868 he erected a brick flouring and saw mill and wool carding factory, and the following year furnished the means for the first store in the town which received his name. He was the real father of the place. He died in 1873, and the mother followed him seven years later. Our sub- ject received few school advantages, and in January, 1860, he married Evaline, the daughter of John and Emaline Lirley, of Adams County, Ill., and Mrs. Steffens increased our subject's financial means with $3,000. Two children are deceased, and those living are Alice (the wife of A. L. Rife), John F., Lillie M., Edward L. and Ervin C. He remained in Adams County, Ill., until from 1866 to 1876, when his home was in Knox County. He then bought the mill and factory at Steffenville, and after six years operating that he engaged in farming and carpentering. He is one of the largest land owners of the county, with an estate of about 1,600 acres, 520 of which are in Knox County. In

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politics he is entirely independent. He is an able financier, and a good manager.

Frederick Steffan was born in Quincy, Ill., June 15, 1844, the third of eight children of Casper A. and Martha E. Steffan, who are mentioned in the sketch of Henry Stef- fens. Our subject received few school advantages, and Sep- tember 5, 1867, he married Caroline, the daughter of John and Catherine Fox, natives of Germany. His wife was born in Philadelphia. They have had nine children, and those liv- ing are Mary (the wife of A. Darley, a merchant), Edward, William, Christena, Anna and Josephine. Our subject was mar- ried in Lewis County, Mo., and for seven years was here devoted to farming. In 1874 he erected a store building, and began mer- cantile business. He soon put up another building, and began handling agricultural implements, and continued both trades for ten years. Since then he has been managing his estates. He first located near town, and in 1884 built his present fine resi- dence in Steffenville, where he has since made his home. He owns about 475 acres-240 near Newark, and the rest near his home. He is an able manager, and an earnest, hard-working business man. His first vote was cast for Seymour, and he has since clung to Democracy.

Adam Steffen, farmer and breeder of thoroughbred Polangust cattle, is the fourth of twelve children of Casper A. and Martha E. Steffen, who are mentioned in the sketch of H. Steffens. Our subject was born in Quincy, Ill., in 1848, and received few edu- cational advantages, perhaps three months' school attendance. He was married October 26, 1873, to Ann, a daughter of Peter and Mary Wiggins, and natives of this county. Their children are Mary A., Casper, Martha J., Zackarius and Grover. He has been a resident of his present farm ever since his marriage. It is a fine estate of 320 acres, which, together with two other tracts, make an estate of 640 acres, one of the finest in the county. He is a man of energy and financial ability, and has acquired his property since the age of twenty-three. He has been engaged extensively in stock raising, as well as farming, and is one of the leading men of his region. He voted for Til- den in 1876, which was his first vote with his party.

Rev. Conerd Steffen, of the German Baptist Church, a prom- inent farmer, was born in Germany in 1846, the son of Casper A. and Martha E. Steffen, who are mentioned in the sketch of H. Steffen. Our subject was reared at home, and June 21, 1852, married Mary L., a daughter of John and Catherine Fox, natives of Germany. His wife was born August 3, 1841, in Pennsyl- vania. Their children were John C., Katie E. (the wife of J.

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BIOGRAPHICAL APPENDIX.

Abbett), Martha M., George C., William F. (deceased), Conerd (deceased), Frank E., Lula F. and Anna M. Our subject left Adams County in 1867, and has since been a resident of the vicinity of Steffenville. He owns a fine estate of 245 acres, and also eighty acres in Illinois. He is a successful and wealthy farmer and stock raiser. He served fourteen months in Company D, One Hundred and Forty-eighth Illinois Volunteers, as team- ster. He has had but a few days of school advantages, and could neither read nor write until the last six years. His teacher has been his wife, an intelligent lady. His studies of the Bible have been so thorough that he can quote and locate almost any passage in the New Testament. He is so able an expounder that the German Baptists authorized him to preach soon after joining them. He has since been preaching in four different counties and five regular appointments, so that he travels about 250 miles a month. In addition to this he manages his farm. He is rather independent in politics, and first voted for Lincoln. His wife is also a German Baptist.

Capt. William O. Stewart, farmer and stock raiser, was born in Henry County, Ky., in 1836, the son of Charles and Mary (McCrackin) Stewart, the former of Scotch origin, born in Virginia, November 2, 1788. The grandfather, John, was a Virginian, and lived in Henry County, Ky., until the ripe age of a century. The father was married in that county to a Miss Davis. They had three children, and after her death he went to Vir- ginia and married a Miss Norman, who died soon after marriage. By our subject's mother, his next wife, he had two sons. He was a volunteer in 1812, and served several terms in the Legislature and one in the State Senate. He was representative-elect at the time of his death, August 22, 1841. His son, Madison, who died at New Orleans in 1847, was a member of the Lower House. The mother was born in 1799, in Kentucky, and died in Henry County July 2, 1871. Both parents were active members of the Baptist Church. The necessity for caring for the family at an early age deprived our subject of school advantages after his father's death. He was married, December 17, 1857, to Mary C., a daughter of Richard and Elvessa Johnston, and a native of Henry County, Ky. Their children were Charles D., Maggie L., Richard J. and Mary L. (deceased February 9, 1884). Our subject left the homestead in 1881, since which time he has been on his present estate, which embraces 332 acres of choice land near Steffenville. In 1861 he joined the Confederate service in Company A, of the Sixth, and afterward Third, Kentucky Cavalry. He was first lieutenant, and then became captain in.1862. He served under Gens. Morgan, Wheeler, Breckenridge, Forest and

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others, and fought at Chickamauga, Mission Ridge and other places, surrendering at Mount Sterling, Ky. His eldest son is a graduate from Bethel College and from the Louisville Law School. Our subject first voted for Douglas, and still votes with the same party. He is an old and prominent Mason, while his wife is a member of the Baptist Church.

Hon. S. H. Stuart, a retired merchant and farmer, was born in April, 1815, in Allegheny County, Penn., the son of Alexander and Rebecca (Peck) Stuart, the former of Scotch stock, born about 1785 in Ireland, and the latter born in New Jersey. The father came to Pittsburgh, where he married, and remained near there until about 1820. They went then to Montgomery County, Ohio, where the father was a millwright until 1848, when they came to this county, to the present site of Canton. - Two years later they moved to Moline, Ill., where they died in 1860 and 1858 respectively. Our subject was educated in Ohio, and at the age of twenty-five began for himself as a merchant at Tully. He moved to Canton in 1855, where he was a merchant, and also engaged in farming. In 1875 he retired from business, but still remained president of the branch of the Bank of the State of Missouri, at Canton. In 1860 he was elected State senator from the Twelfth District, and filled many other offices. In 1841 he married Jane Taylor, who was born in 1822 in Kentucky. Their children are Alexander J., Mary ( the wife of G. F. Patee), Mima (the wife of F. C. Cain), Benjamin H., Samuel H., Lettie (the wife of M. Thompson), Charles and Margret. Our subject has been a prominent citizen of Canton ever since its origin. He is a Democrat, and first voted for Gen. Harrison, and before the war held Whig principles. His wife, Samuel and his daughters, are members of the Methodist Episcopal Church.

James H. Sudduth, farmer, was born in Jessamine County, Ky., in 1818. At the age of twelve years he moved to Ralls County, Mo., and in 1840 came to Marion County. Since 1857 he has been a prominent farmer of Lewis County, and for many years has been president of the County Agricultural Asso- ciation. Aletha Carson became his wife in Marion County, of which county her parents were pioneers. Of their two sons and five daughters, one of the latter is deceased. Our subject is a Mason, while in religion he and his wife hold to the faith of the Christian Church. His parents, Francis and Sarah (Musick) Sudduth, were natives of Virginia, and were married in Kentucky. They came to Missouri in 1830, and died in 1863 and 1853 respectively. Our subject and one sister are the only survivors of seven children. Their transfer to this State was done by team. Mr. Sudduth has been connected with the La

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Grange Savings Bank since its organization, being director from the first, and most of the time holding the position of vice- president.

L. W. Summers, deputy collector, was born in Washington County, Md., in 1836, the son of Nathaniel and Mary (Wade) Summers, the former of English origin, born in Prince George County, Md., in 1790. After his marriage in Washington County, that State, he became a farmer. He was a soldier in the war of 1812, and for many years a justice, and died in 1855. His widow, born in 1806, in that State, came to Missouri in 1864, where she died two years later. Our subject, the sixth of fifteen children, was educated in private schools, and lived at home until twenty years of age. He taught one term, the year before, and in 1856 came to this county, where, in November, 1858, he married Henrietta, a daughter of George S. and Nancy C. Marks, and born in 1837, in this county. Their children are Mary M., the wife of Joseph West; Alice, the wife of J. F. Brad- rick, and Mina E. He then began farming. In 1872 he left the farm, and came to Monticello to educate his children. He was deputy sheriff for four years, and also deputy circuit clerk the same length of time. In 1880 he became sheriff, and served two terms. In 1885 he was appointed deputy col- lector, and served four years. He is a Democrat, and first voted for Breckinridge. He is a Knight Templar, and an Odd Fel- low. He and his wife are Methodists, of which church he has been steward twenty years, Sunday-school superintendent four years, and a member twenty-nine years. For eight years he has been a member, and for four years president of the Anti- Horse-Thief Association, and is highly esteemed Christian.

Dennis Sutton, farmer, was born in Fayette County, Penn., February 14, 1814, the son of William and Catharine (Bryan) Sutton, the former of Irish stock, born in the above county, in 1789, and the latter of similar nativity. The great-grandfather, Isaac, was a native of New Jersey, and was a minister of the Baptist Church at Uniontown, Penn., the first one west of the Alle- ghanies. The father passed his life as a farmer in his native county, and died in 1845, and the mother in 1817. Our subject, the third of four children, lived with his father until his major- ity, when he began the stone mason's trade, and continued until 1857. He then came to Reddish Township, Lewis Co., Mo., and began his career as a farmer, but in 1866 bought his present estate of 240 acres, now increased to 480 acres; besides this he has given largely to his children. November 8, 1838, he married Margret Calhoun, who was born February 26, 1821, in Fayette County, Penn. Their children are James, Fuller, Mary A. (the

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wife of John Brownfield), and Louisa, the wife of W. Brooking. He voted for Martin Van Buren, and has since been of the same political faith, and was elected, in 1852, county treasurer of Fay- ette County, Penn. He and his wife are members of the Pres- byterian Church.

Hugh Templeton, farmer and notary public, was born in Scot- land in 1831, the son of John and Marian (Lee) Templeton, also natives of Scotland, the former born in 1808, and the latter about 1806. They were married in 1830, and the mother died in her native country in the winter of 1876-77. Both parents held to the Presbyterian faith. The father was fairly educated, and became a tanner. He came to this country about 1862, and spent his remaining years with our subject, and died in January, 1887. Hugh was meagerly educated, and at the age of twenty came to the United States, and after a year at Buffalo, N. Y., engaged in his trade as a molder. He went to St. Louis, and then to Quincy, then to Jacksonville, and then to Memphis, where he was superintendent of foundries. After a time at Quincy he returned to Scotland, and married Mary A., the daughter of John and Mary Paton. He then returned and resumed his superintentend- ency, and in 1868 came to this county. Since then he has been on his present estate of 240 acres of well-improved and cultivated land. He is a man of more than ordinary ability, and served as justice both by appointment and election, and never had a case appealed. During the war he was hospital steward for eight months at Quincy. He has been a notary public since 1881, and the year previous he was a census taker. Politically he is a Republican, and first voted for Lincoln. He is an Odd Fellow, a Royal Arch Mason, and has filled all important offices in both. Their children are Mary J., John L., Hugh and Susie M.

William H. Thomas was born in Ontario County, N. Y., in 1840, and remained there until seventeen years old. In 1857, with his parents, he moved to Cairo, Ill. In April, 1861, he enlisted under the call for three months' volunteers, in Hough- talling's battery, Tenth Illinois, Col. B. M. Prentice, command- ing. At the close of that service he re-enlisted as second lieutenant of an independent company from Alexander and Pulaski Counties, Ill., commanded by Capt. George W. Mc- Kenzie, which company was afterward attached to the Twenty- ninth Illinois Infantry. Some time after this he was placed in the quartermaster's department, where he remained until near the close of the war. After leaving the army he entered Bryant & Stratton's Commercial College, Cleveland, Ohio, and, after grad- uating from that institution, returned to Cairo, Ill. In 1866 he married Miss Mary A. Lufkin, a native of Maine, and in the

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BIOGRAPHICAL APPENDIX.

following year started in business as a commission merchant, building up a successful trade in flour and grain throughout the Southern States. Retiring from that business in 1875, he moved to La Grange, Mo., and engaged in the small fruit business. He now has about twenty-five acres in these fruits, besides his other well-improved farming grounds, known as " River View Fruit Farm," adjoining La Grange on the north. He has four children-two sors and two daughters-the eldest of the former being a graduate of La Grange College. The father, William Thomas, was a native of Wales, and came to New York when a mere boy. He married Mary A. Hillyard in that State, and in 1857 moved to Illinois, where the mother died in 1864. The father afterward moved to Chicago, where he now resides with his children, but eight of them are living, three being deceased.

Julius E. Thompson, lawyer, was born in Lewis County, November 19, 1858, and is the seventh child of Elias and Mary A. (Finley) Thompson, whose sketch appears in another place in this book. Our subject was educated at the State Nor- mal School, at Kirksville, Mo., attending school during the winter, and working on the farm during the summer seasons. In the spring of 1879 he went to California, where for three years he was in the schoolroom nine out of the twelve months. In May, 1882, he returned to Lewis County, and began read- ing law, teaching school in the winter of 1883-84. In March, 1884, he was admitted to the bar, and at once began the practice of law, locating at Monticello. He is a safe and re- liable business man, and a promising lawyer. On October 26, 1886, he was married to Eva L. B. Allen, who was born in Lewis County May 4, 1861, and is a daughter of William G. and Susan I. (Muir) Allen. Mr. Allen is an ex-sheriff and collector of Lewis County. Our subject is a self-made man, a Democrat and an Odd Fellow. His first vote for President was for Cleveland. He and his wife are members of the Baptist Church.

Hon. Bushrod F. Thompson, A. B., cashier of the Monticello Savings Bank, and judge of probate, was born in Lewis County, Mo., and is the son of Elias and Mary A. (Finley) Thompson, (whose sketch appears elsewhere), and the grandson of Eli Fin- ley (deceased), who was a prominent and successful business man of this county, and one of the early settlers to whose timely and substantial assistance Judge Thompson attributed much of his success. Our subject, the third of eight children, was edu- cated at La Grange, where he received his degree in 1871. He began as a teacher at the age of twenty, and taught more or less for eight years. In 1872 he was elected county superintendent

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of schools, and two years later was made school commissioner. He began the study of law in 1871, was admitted to the bar in 1875, and at once began practicing. On the 1st of January, 1874, he married Ida A. Sayer, a daughter of Samuel and Nora Sayer (whose sketch also appears elsewhere in this history). Their children are Nora B., Britton A. (who died December 20, 1882), Jesse S., Vera V. and Audra D. Thompson. Our subject was elected judge of probate in 1882, and was re-elected four years later. He was elected director of the Monticello Savings Bank in 1882, and in 1884 became assistant cashier. The first day of the following year he was made cashier, which posi- tion he now holds. He is an able lawyer and judge, and a cit- izen of high standing. He is one of the ablest financiers in the county, and a very successful business man. He is a Dem- ocrat, and first voted for Seymour. He and his wife have been members of the Baptist Church for years.

William B. Thompson (deceased) was born in Virginia in 1818. He is the son of Elias and Diana (Holloway) Thomp- son, who are mentioned in the sketch of Elias Thompson. Our subject was eighteen years old when they came to this county, and soon began for himself as a farm hand. He continued in this way until he was twenty-five years of age; he then married America J., a daughter of Eli and Sarah Finley, natives of Ken- tucky, who came to this county in 1833, and lived here until their death. Their children are Dianna F., Elizabeth S., Alice V., Nathan A., William O., Olivia, Sylvester H. and Claude E., all of whom are married except one. Our subject began in a log hut, and acquired an estate of 700 acres, which is one of the best farms in the county. He was a member of the Masonic lodge, and of the Baptist Church to which his wife still belongs. His

death occurred June 5, 1872.

Elias Thompson was born in Virginia in 1820, the fourth son of Elias and Dianna (Holloway) Thompson, natives of Virginia, and of English stock. The parents came in a four-horse team, and settled in this county near Canton, where they lived until their death, the former occurring in 1865. Both were members of the Baptist Church. Our subject was sixteen when he came to this county, and continued with his parents until his marriage in 1842. His wife, Mary A., was a daughter of Eli and Sarah (Finley ) Finley, formerly of Christian County, Ky. 'Our sub- ject first began on a small farm in Lewis County, and has acquired a large estate of 670 acres. His children are Sarah A. (the wife of G. Witt), Eli J., Bush F., Rosa J. (wife of Robert Bondurant), Oliver M., Addie C. (deceased), Julius E. and Ida M. Our subject has been in this county over half a century.

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His children are all educated and started in life, except one who is at Kirksville Normal. His son, B. F., is a judge and banker, J. E., a lawyer; Oliver a graduate of Kirksville Normal, and Ida the salutatorian of her class in 1887, in the same institution.

Samuel Horatio Throckmorton, farmer and stock raiser, was born in 1847, in this county, the son of Thomas and Lucinda (McKim) Throckmorton; the former, of German origin, born in Nicholas County, Ky., in 1803, and the latter of Scotch-Irish stock, born in Bourbon County, Ky., in 1809. The father was nine years old when his father, John, a native of Virginia, went to Bourbon County, Ky. Five years later he began clerking in Millersburg, where he remained until he was of age. In 1825, after his marriage, he bought an estate of 160 acres, and in 1838 moved to Boone County, Mo., but three years later came to this county. It was then that he bought our subject's present estate of 440 acres. He died September 10, 1886, and gave all but about 160 acres of his land to his children. For over half a cen- tury he and his wife had been members of the Christian Church. Since his death the mother has been living with our subject, who is the twelfth of her thirteen children. Samuel was educated in the common school, and September 5, 1872, married Mollie C., a daughter of William and Nancy Burford, and born in 1852, in this county. Their only child is Nettie E. After marriage he located on 110 acres, near his father-in-law. After the year 1876 in Newtonia, he returned to his birthplace, where he now owns 200 acres. He is a Democrat, and first voted for Seymour. He and his wife are Methodists.

Junius Tompkins, M. D., was born in Albemarle County, Va., October 20, 1833, the son of Samuel W. and Sarah E. (Gil- mer) Tompkins, both of whom died in our subject's childhood. Our subject was reared in his native State, and educated with some knowledge of Greek and Latin. In 1850 he came to this county, and lived on a farm with his brother, and two years later began reading medicine with Dr. Henry F. Hughes. He after- ward attended the medical department of the State University at St. Louis, where he graduated in 1855. He then began practice in Canton, where he has remained ever since, attended with ex- traordinary success. In 1857 he married Mary Cleneay, of this county, who died in 1865, leaving the following children: Ben- jamin, Walker G. and Catharine (the wife of Horace G. Linn). In 1867 Margaret McClain became his wife. Their children are Charles, Mary, Elizabeth, John and Fannie. Our subject is a Democrat, a member of the A. O. U. W., and is a man of experience and ability.

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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 82

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