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 83

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 83
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 83
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 83
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 83

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).

Oliver M. Towles was born in Saline County, April 29, 1846,

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the son of Alfred L. and Jane P. (Vaughan) Towles, natives of Virginia. The father came to Saline County in 1840, and in 1865 moved to La Grange, where he practiced medicine until his death in October, 1884. The mother, three sons and four daugh- ters survive him. Our subject in his youth was engaged in the tobacco trade at Quincy, Ill., Macon, and La Grange, Mo., and was a carpenter in the employ of the Keokuk & North Western Railway, about seven years. After coming to Canton in 1884, and working for Graves & Turner a year, he began his present suc- cessful grocery business. With his complete selected stock of groceries, provisions, fishing tackle, etc., he controls a large share of the trade of the county. In 1875 he married Josephine M. Devilbiss, of this county. Their children are Henry A., Oliver M., Eugene and George M. At La Grange he was a prominent local Democrat, and served in the city council two years, and one term as tax-collector. He and his wife are mem- bers of the Catholic Church.

William M. Travis was born in this county June 21, 1838, on his present place. He is the son of Adam M. and Elizabeth (McCutchan) Travis, natives of Virginia, and of French-Welsh- German and of Scotch-Irish origin, respectively. The father was a carpenter in Virginia for some years, and was a natural mechanic. He came to this county in 1836, and followed agri- culture until his death. He was particularly a stock raiser. He died in 1872, at the age of seventy-six years. He was a Demo- crat, politically, and was an elder in the Presbyterian Church, of which his wife was also a member. The latter died in March, 1854. Our subject, the youngest son of six children, was born on the farm where he now lives, and was educated in the common schools. He began for himself in 1859 by teaching school. He soon began farming, however, and now owns a fine estate of 370 acres. The farm is well stocked and improved. In 1865 he married Mary A., the daughter of R. Smith, of Clark County. Their children are Mamie E., Mattie L., John E., Addie E. and Sidney R. Our subject is a Democrat, and he and his wife are members of the Presbyterian Church. He is a Royal Arch Mason, a granger, and a member of the A. H. T. A. W. M. Travis is the principal founder of a high school situated on his farm, at which place his children get a liberal education.

Alonzo True, hardware merchant, was born in Lincoln County February 9, 1846, the son of Abner and Emily (Palmer) True, natives, respectively, of Kentucky and Virginia. The father came with his parents to this State about 1825, and located in Lincoln County, where Abner is a highly esteemed farmer. Our subject was reared in his native county, and followed farming until about

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1872, when he sold out and came to Canton, and was engaged in the ice business for two years, and in the grocery business for about two and one-half years. In 1879 he engaged in his pres- ent business, in which he carries a large stock, and also sells the New Home Sewing Machine, being the only agent in the city. No- vember 28, 1867, he married Susie A. Allen, of Lincoln County. She died December 18, 1884, and left the following children: Jennie, Charles and Sidney A. Our subject is a Democrat, and is a member of the I. O. O. F. and F. & A. M. fraternities, and he and his wife are members of the Christian Church.

Samuel Tucker was born in England in 1822, the son of William and Elizabeth (Howard) Tucker, natives of England. The father was engaged for several years in various pursuits, such as marketing in Exeter, England, and working upon his farm. Our subject lived with his parents until their deaths, which occurred within a few years of each other, and then in 1848 went to Canada. A year later he came to the United States, where for the first two years he was engaged in Ohio in a distill- ery. In 1851 he went to California, and spent about eight years in the mines with excellent success. He lost all, however, in speculation, and then made a visit to his native land. He soon returned to Lewis County, where he has since resided. In 1861 he married Martha, a daughter of William and Margaret Arthur, natives of England. Their children are William H., James T., Samuel A., John W., Rose A. and Maggie E. Our subject has been a resident of this county for over twenty-seven years, and now owns a fairly stocked farm of 400 acres. Our subject is a Republican, and in religion was reared an Episcopalian. His wife is a Methodist. In 1851 our subject drove a team of six oxen from Independence to Chihuahua, Mex., and was six months on the journey. He then went on to Durango, a distance of 600 miles, and attempted to cross the mountains, but failed. The purpose of his trip was trading.

Henley S. Turner was born in Marion County November 29, 1839, the son of Stephen B. and Martha (Jones) Turner, natives, respectively, of Tennessee and Kentucky. The father came to Palmyra in 1829. In 1847 he came to this county, where he died in 1872. He lost two wives by death, and the third now survives him in this county. His children that survive him are Henley S., Mary F., John W., Martha A., Dr. R. B. and Sarah J. Our subject was reared on the farm, and fairly educated. When nineteen years old he began the carpenter's trade at La Grange, and in 1867 engaged in contracting and building in Canton. In 1872 he started the planing mill, which he and his brother con- ducted successfully. In 1882 this was merged into the Canton

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Planing Mill Company, of which Mr. Turner is president and superintendent. His management and experience is largely the cause of their success. January 21, 1865, he married Lou A. Oldham, of Lewis County. Their only son is William N., born March 8, 1868. Our subject is a Democrat, a Knight Templar and an Odd Fellow. He and his wife and son are members of the Christian Church.

Robert B. Turner, M. D., was born in this county, July 7, 1850, the son of Stephen B. and Sarah A. (Beckett) Turner, natives of Tennessee and Kentucky, respectively. The father came to Marion County in 1827, and for seven years was a farmer. In 1834 he removed to this county, and was a Highland Township farmer, until his death in June, 1881. The mother, two daughters and our subject are the only survivors of this marriage. By his first marriage he had two sons and one daughter. Our subject was reared in his native county, and at the age of seventeen, began reading medicine with Dr. Junius Tompkins, and after- ward attended the Ohio Medical College of Cincinnati, graduat- ing in March, 1874. He began practice at Canton, and in July, 1877, removed to Adams County, Ill., where he practiced until 1882, since which time he has been successfully engaged in Canton. He is a member of the County Medical Society of Quincy, Ill. and of the First Congressional Medical Society of Missouri. December 23, 1875, he married Mary M. Newman, a native of Pike County. Their children were Laura L., Mary B. (deceased) and Grace R. The Doctor is a Democrat of the younger school, and a member of the I. O. O. F., in which he is prominent. He is president of the State Convention of the Daughters of Rebecca. He and his wife are members of the Christian Church.

Luther J. Vandiver was born at Warren, Mo., November 10, 1833, the son of Jacob and Frances (Kennan) Vandiver, natives of Virginia. The father first visited Missouri in 1828, and in 1830 located in Northeast Missouri, and died in Shelby County, in 1876, aged eighty-four years, and the mother the year previous. They came to that county in 1840. Their chil- dren are Thomas L., William A., Adam C. (a newspaper man), Susan C. (the wife of W. Singleton) and Mary F. (the wife of Benjamin Singleton). Our subject was reared on a farm, and secured a fair education, with some knowledge of the sciences, Latin and Greek. He taught school five years, being principal of the Monticello School from 1859 to 1861. He then engaged in the mercantile business. In 1869 he helped to organize the Monticello Savings Bank, and two years later became cashier, continuing until 1884, and is still one of the largest stockholders, and a director. In 1884 he came to Canton, where he owns and

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BIOGRAPHICAL APPENDIX.

manages the White and Emerson farms. He is a stockholder in the Bank of Canton, and is a prominent citizen. August 28, 1860, he married Victoria, a daughter of the late M. W. Plant, a pioneer merchant. He is a Democrat, and he and his wife are members of the Methodist Episcopal Church South. He has been a successful business man, and has secured a competency, being now a large real estate owner, as well as a large holder of corporation stocks.

John B. Van Metre, farmer, was born in Hardin County, Ky., January 12, 1844. He is the third of eight children of Nathan and Elizabeth (Bland) Van Metre, natives of the same county, where they spent their entire lives. Their father was of German ancestry, and the grandfather, Joseph, was a Virginian, whose father's name was Nathan. The latter's second wife was Mary M. Buckler, to whom he was married in 1856. He was a farmer, and died at the age of seventy years. The mother was a daugh- ter of John H. and Mary (Trigger) Bland, pioneers of Kentucky. She died January 20, 1856, a member of the Baptist Church. The common schools gave our subject a good education, and in 1865 he came to this county. He was married, October 16, 1867, to Mary E., a daughter of William H. and Malinda Scho- field, natives of Kentucky. Their children are Ida A., Linnie V., William T., John R., Joseph C. and Mary A. After living for a year near Durham he came to his present farm. His estate comprises 261 acres of well-improved land, also near Durham, and another tract of 160 acres. Besides farming, he has been engaged in threshing. He has been roadmaster, and for a num- ber of years has been on the school board. He served for a time in the Confederate Army. He first voted for Seymour, his par- ty's candidate for President. He is an Odd Fellow, and he and his wife are members of the Baptist Church.

Daniel V. Van Sykel, M. D., was born in Sussex County, N. J., June 25, 1824, the son of Daniel V. and Susan (Bird ) Van Sykel, also natives of New Jersey. In 1836 the father moved to Michigan, where our subject was reared to manhood, and received his education. In 1840 he began reading medicine with a relative in Ohio, and in 1849-50 graduated from the medical department of Hudson ( Western Reserve) College at Cleveland. He practiced in Michigan until 1863, when he entered the Union Army as assistant surgeon, and served in hospital duty at Galli- polis, Ohio, but, chiefly, at Quincy, Ill., for about two years. In 1866 he began practice in Canton with marked success. He had studied the Homoeopathic system, and after practicing the old school for twenty years, became convinced that the former was the correct system, and has since been successful in his prac-

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tice. He is a member of the Missouri Institute of Homoeopathy, also of the Western Academy of Homoeopathy. In November, 1855, he married Caroline A. Spaulding, a native of New York. His first wife was Mary Swart, and she and her three children are deceased. Our subject has an adopted daughter-Nellie Van Sykel. The Doctor is a Republican, and he and his wife are members of the Presbyterian Church, of which he is an elder.

George B. Vaughn, farmer, was born October 6, 1831, and was reared on a farm in this county. In 1858 he married Ellen Washburn, of Montgomery County, Ind. They have two children : George W. and Rufus B. His wife died April 15, 1885. Our subject located on his farm in 1859. It is a fine estate of 200 acres, located partly in Highland, partly in Union Township. Our subject is a Republican in politics. George, the father, was born in Virginia, and was reared in Kentucky, where he married Ann Brodrick, of Maysville, Mason County, and in 1830 they moved to Lewis County, settling on the farm now owned by James Lay, in Highland Township. The only child born in Kentucky was John J. When our subject was nine years old the father died, and the mother followed her husband four years later. They had four sons and three daughters, but our subject and William H. are the only survivors. The father was a Mason, and he held the religious faith of the Methodist Church.

J. F. Wagner was born in Carter County, Tenn., in 1847, the son of Daniel S. and Catherine (Berry) Wagner. The maternal grandfather, Capt. John Berry, was in the Revolution. The father is a native of Tennessee, and of German descent, while the mother was born in Virginia, and is of English stock. The parents came to this State in 1856, and located in this county, where the father died in 1872, leaving a widow and eight chil- dren, seven of whom are still living. The mother is still living, and resides in the northern part of Lewis County. Our subject, the third child, was but nine years old when they came to this county. He began for himself at his majority, and rented a farm until his father's death. He then returned home to aid the family, and continued for about six years. Since then he has been on his present estate. He is a Democrat, and he and his wife are members of the Baptist Church. His wife, Mollie E., to whom he was married in 1877, is a daughter of William and Hannah Thurmond. They have three children: Lee M., Mat- tie May and Pearlie C.

James Walker was born in this county in 1845. He is the son of Jacob and Mary (Snodgrass) Walker, the former a native of Pennsylvania, and the latter of Tennessee. The parents came

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to Missouri in 1832, and settled in Monroe County. They came to this county the following year, where the father farmed until his death in 1859. He left a widow and ten children. The moth- er died in 1872. Our subject lived with his mother until his majority, and then married Ann A., a daughter of Lillburn and Sarah (Huffman) Mussetter, formerly of Ohio. Their children were Arthur S., Eddie (deceased), William A., Clarence (de- ceased), Truman S. and Emmet P. Our subject served in the Federal Army during the whole war. He was at the battles of Shiloh and Corinth, and afterward returned home. Since then he has been successfully engaged in farming. He is an Odd Fellow and a member of the G. A. R.

Hon. R. M. Wallace, editor and proprietor of the La Grange Democrat, was born in this county in 1846. He was reared on a farm, and graduated from La Grange College in the class of 1872. The Democrat was founded the same year by T. O. Towles & Co., with our subject as local and Mr. Towles as managing editor. Three years later our subject purchased the entire outfit, and has since published the paper as an advocate of Democratic princi- ples. Mr. Wallace was public administrator from 1876 to 1880, and was a member of the Legislature from the latter date until 1884. He is at present clerk of the Agricultural Committee of Congress. The year of his graduation he married Hattie A., a daughter of Henry H. Downing, a pioneer of Scotland County. They have had two sons and one daughter. Our subject is a Mason, an Odd Fellow and a member of the A. O. U. W. He and his wife are members of the Baptist Church. The paternal great-grandfather, a Scotchman, located in Virginia. Graham, the grandfather, was reared and married in Kentucky, and long after came to this county, where he died. He was in the war of 1812, under Gen. Harrison. The father, John, was born in Pen- dleton County, Ky., in 1812, and there married Julia A. McCann, and in 1832 came to what is now Dickerson Township. They afterward settled in Highland Township, where they died in 1864 and 1868, respectively. Our subject is one of twelve children, eight of whom grew to maturity.

William H. Wallace, farmer, and breeder of Shorthorn cattle and good stock generally, was born in 1849, in this county, the fifth of seven living children of John and Julia (McCann) Wal- lace, natives of Pendleton County, Ky., born in 1812 and 1815, respectively. The father was of Scotch ancestry, the son of Graham, a Virginian by birth, and a lieutenant in the war of 1812, from Kentucky, who served in the Northwest and afterward in the South. He headed a company to New Orleans, and arrived the day after the battle. He had few advantages, and spent his

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young manhood in Kentucky, learning the millwright trade, with a Mr. Makemson, whose daughter he afterward married. His wife taught him to read, and his studious habits afterward . made him well informed in history. He died about 1870. He had erected mills in Kentucky, Ohio and Missouri. The father was reared and married in his native State, and in 1835 came to this county, where he soon became a prominent farmer and stock grower. He died in 1864, and his widow five years later. Both were devoted to the Baptist faith, and the father was a deacon of the church for many years. Our subject lived with his parents until their deaths, and received few school advan- tages. On December 25, 1872, Anna E., a daughter of John B. and Sarah (Abell) Shackleford, became his wife. Their chil- dren are John R., Mellie, Elbert, James, Sallie, Hester and Maggie. He soon removed to Salem Township, and in 1875 bought his present estate, a fine farm of 326 acres. He also has about 100 acres in another tract. A part of this was inherited. He is a Democrat, and first voted for Greeley. He is Master of the A. O. U. W. lodge, at Lewiston, and he and his wife are members of the Baptist Church.

James B. Wallace, farmer, was born in 1814, in Pendleton County, Ky., the son of Graham and Elizabeth (Makemsom) Wal- lace, the former of Scotch descent, born in Fayette County, Ky., in 1789. He was a millwright, and in later life a farmer, hav- ing married in Harrison County, Ky., and moved to Pendleton County, and then to this one, where he became owner of 240 acres. He was a soldier in the war of 1812, and died in 1870. The mother was of Irish descent, born in Harrison County, Ky., in 1792, and deceased in this county in 1861. Our subject, the second of eleven children, was educated in his native county, and lived at home until of age. In 1836 he married Parthena, a daughter of John and Cleopatra (Clay) Turner, and who was born in Pendleton County, Ky., in 1815, and deceased in June, 1882. Their children are Lucretia, the wife of Thomas Piner; Lizzie, the wife of W. H. Brisco; Graham S .; Cleopatra F. and Thomas C. He then began farming, and in 1857 bought 440 acres, where he has since resided. He has been most successful as a farmer and stock raiser. His two-story brick residence was erected in 1875, at a cost of $2,400. He is a Democrat, and first voted for Harrison as a Whig. " He was a captain in the militia, and is a Mason. He has been a deacon for the past twenty years, and for thirty-five years a member of the Missionary Baptist Church.

James W. Washburn, farmer and stock dealer, was born in Oldham County, Ky., in 1833, the son of Samuel and Lucinda

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(Muster) Washburn, the former of French-Scotch blood, born in Shelby County, Ky., in 1833, and the latter of German-Scotch origin, born in 1813, in Oldham County, Ky., and deceased in 1873. The father was a farmer, and in 1856 moved from Oldham County, Ky., to Knox County, where he passed his life on his estate of 300 acres. He died in February, 1872. Our subject, the second of eight children, was educated in his native State, and when twenty-five years old began for himself. December 2, 1858, he married Mary C., a daughter of George and Laura A. (Bostic) Seever, and born in Louisiana in 1837. Their chil- dren are Annie L., the wife of Samuel Hildeman, George S., Lurilla and Nettie K. In 1856 he bought 160 acres of his present estate, and has been so financially successful that he now owns 1,250 acres, 530 of which are in this county, and the rest in Knox County. It is well improved, and he devotes it largely to stock feeding and raising. He is a Democrat, a Mason, and he and his wife are both of the Baptist persuasion.

W. M. Weber, merchant, was born in this county in 1844. His father, Edmund Weber, was born in Virginia in 1803, and went with his parents to Kentucky at the age of fourteen. He there married Louisa A. Bibb. In 1830 the father came to this county, and entered 540 acres of land which our subject and his three sisters now own. In 1837 the father moved to this place with his family consisting of wife and eldest son, Elijah B. Weber, which son died at the age of twenty-two years. The mother was one of the constituent members of the Dover Baptist Church, which was organized in 1837; she continued a faithful member of the same until her death in 1876. The father also was one of the pillars of the Baptist Church. He was called home at the age of eighty-one. There are two sons and three daughters now living. W. M. Weber was married to the youngest daugh- ter of James Meriwether in 1871. They have four sons. The postoffice was established at Weber May 1, 1882. He was ap- pointed postmaster, and still holds his appointment.

John Welsch, farmer, born in Prussia, December 28, 1847, the youngest of four children of George and Mary E. (Hines) Welsch, also natives of Prussia, and born in 1811 and 1806, respectively, They were married in 1837, and about 1849 came to this country. They located in Sullivan County, N. Y., and three years later came to this county and bought a farm of 160 acres. He died October 15, 1875. The grandfather, Daniel, was a soldier under Napoleon, in 1815, and afterward received the honor of knight- hood. He came with the father of our subject to America, and died in this county at the age of ninety years. The mother is still living with our subject, and both parents belong to the

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German Methodist Church. Our subject was educated chiefly by his parents, and attended school a little before his eighth year, and probably a year after he was fifteen. In 1873 he went to Illinois, and soon after to Colorado. After spending a year there he returned to this county again. In 1875 he bought land in Highland Township, and improved a farm. In 1883 he sold his farm, and located in Tolona; he has spent a part of the last four years in the western part of this State, and in Dakota Terri- tory. He was married, in January, 1886, to Catherine, a daugh- ter of Peter and Philipine Kaiser, natives of Prussia. She was born in Illinois. Our subject is Republican, and cast his first vote for Grant.

Joseph West, farmer, was born in 1827 in Marion County, the son of Jacob and Rebecca ( Anderson) West, the former born in the State of Kentucky, in 1802, and the latter in the same State, and deceased in 1874. The father took up a claim where Canton now stands, and that too, at a time when he was much troubled by the Indians, one of whom attempted to kill his wife. He soon after removed to Marion County, near the county seat, where he died in 1848, one of the pioneers of this part of the State. Our subject, the eldest of five children, left home at twenty-seven years of age. In October, 1854, he married Sarah C., a daughter of Benjamin Holloway, and born in Virginia in 1832. Their chil- dren are George, Lizzie (the wife of Robert Barnett), Benjamin, Irene, Robert and Mattie J. Our subject came to this county in 1859, but during the war lived at the old Marion County place. In 1867 he returned and bought 192 acres, where he has since resided. His estate now embraces 272 acres. In politics he is a Democrat, and first voted for Cass. He is a member of the grange and of the Baptist Church, to which denomination his wife also belonged.

John W. Williams, farmer and stock raiser, was born in this county in 1834, near his present home, the son of Benjamin and Margret (Kiser) Williams, the former, of Welsh stock, born on the Harrison County line, in Kentucky, in 1797, and the latter born in Bourbon County, Ky., in 1815. After his marriage in 1833 he came to this county, and in 1853 located where John W. now re- sides. He came with horses, making a journey of twenty-one days' length. In 1876 his death occurred. He was the owner of 640 acres, and assisted in raising the first courthouse of the county. Since his death the mother has been living with her only child, our subject. He was educated at Christian University, and July 13, 1861, enlisted in Capt. Richardson's company, in Gen. Green's regiment, Pason's division, Price's command, and served at Athens, Lexington, Prairie Grove, Helena, Pleasant Hill

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and other places. He was an orderly sergeant, and afterward first lieutenant. He was wounded at both Prairie Grove and Pleasant Hill-by a shell at the former place, and with a shot through the ankle at the latter. The shell wound in the thigh disabled him for about four weeks, and the other wound about eight months. He surrendered at Shreveport. April 12, 1866, he married Sallie, a daughter of Thomas T. and Martha (Dacon) Hamer, and born in Monticello in 1845. Their only child, Louis I., was born in 1867. Our subject has lived all his life within a radius of one mile of his present home. A part of his present residence was built before 1833, and his son is the only person ever born in the house. He now owns about 700 acres of land, and is proud of the fact that he never had a law suit, never served as a witness in court, never had a difficulty of any note with any one, and has never been under the influence of any kind of intoxicating drink. He is a Democrat, and first voted for Fill- more, in 1856. He is a Mason, and he and his wife hold to the belief of the Christian Church, of which his mother has been a member since 1851.

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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 83

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