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 86

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 86
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 86
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 86
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 86

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).

Isaac R. Campbell, deceased, was born in Oneida County N. Y., May 2, 1798, cotemporaneously with the erection of the first house in Utica. At the age of eighteen he left home, intending to go to sea. He stopped with an uncle at Pittsfield, Mass., how- ever, and was induced to abandon his intentions. After working on the Erie Canal for a time he went to Pennsylvania, and soon after to the vicinity of Wellsville, Ohio, where he was employed in a still-house for some time. The following explains his depart- ure from that place: One evening in the excitement of prospect- ive courting he accidentally fed his employer's hogs some hot food, which, on his return early the next morning, proved too much for the "porkers " and he found them dead. He objected to having his happiness spoilt by his employer's displeasure, and without waiting for a settlement, packed his trunk, which in this case proved to be his pocket-handkerchief, and became a "wan- derer on the face of the earth." He first became cook on a keel- boat, and in 1812 landed in Missouri Territory. Here he became Jack of all trades, and in 1823 married Sarah White. He at once settled on forty acres of land, and two years later moved to the present site of Nauvoo. He remained here until 1830 engaged in keeping boarding house, shoemaking and keel-boat- ing to the lead mines at Galena. He then sold out, and returned to what is now Nashville, Lee County. The following spring he moved to what is now Keokuk, and engaged with Dr. Muir as an Indian trader. He held slaves while in Illinois and Iowa, and in 1834 persuaded a Pennsylvania congressman to secure the pas- sage of an act enabling the half-breeds to dispose of their land in Lee County. After this act was passed our subject organized the St. Louis Land Company, consisting of J. and E. Walsh, of St. Louis; J. H. Overhall, of St. Charles; Col. Crossman, United States Army, and himself. They purchased the first claim ever sold, from Isaac Antyer. In 1836 he sold his half interest in the original town of Keokuk, which then consisted of a " potato patch " of a few acres. In 1838 he disposed of his interest in the half-breed tract, consisting of one-thirteenth of 119,000 acres and Joseph Smith, the Mormon prophet, was one of the buyers. Two thousand dollars of the $14,000 were paid down in old chairs, horses, carriages, etc. He held the notes of the three buyers at the time of his death. He removed to St. Francisville in 1837, on account of anti-slavery sentiments in Iowa, and remained there until his death, August 26, 1882. He was a very liberal man, and

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probably out-lived 50,000 men who were his cotemporaries. By his first wife his children were James W. and Isaac R. (deceased) ; and by his second wife, Emily Davis, his children were Sarah A. (deceased), Robert T. (deceased), John R. (deceased), Helen E. (the wife of Judge Mcclintock), Henry C., Eleanora L., Laura I., Cora R. and Eugene M. His first wife died January 8, 1831, and his second wife September 10, 1883.

C. H. Carothers, M. D., was born in Westmoreland County, Penn., in 1825, and is the son of John C. and Anna (Roe) Car- others. The father is a native of Northumberland County, Penn., and is of English descent. The mother was a native of the city of Philadelphia, and also of English descent. Her father was an architect from London. The father previous to his marriage followed the coppersmith's trade which he also continued to fol- low after moving to Pittsburgh, Penn. About 1806 he moved to Westmoreland County, and purchased a farm, where he passed the remainder of his days. He was at that time one of the most enterprising and wealthy men of West Pennsylvania. He was a Democrat in politics. Our subject is the youngest of a family of nine children, all of whom lived to be grown, but only four are now living. He received a liberal education in the common schools, and took a more complete course at Allegheny College, Meadville, Penn. He then began the study of medicine, and read under Dr. Boyd for three years, during which time he practiced some, and took a thorough course in Western Reserve College, at Cleveland, Ohio. He immigrated to Adams County, Ill., in 1851, and in 1852 he married Miss Julia Wood, a daughter of L. and P. (Pack) Wood. She is a native of New Brunswick and is of French and German descent. To our subject and wife were born seven children, five of whom are living, and three of whom are married. Ida is the wife of S. Dare, a farmer in Lewis County ; Anna is the wife of Edwin Breckenridge, a teacher in Clark Coun- ty; Brittie is the wife of B. Morris; Lottie and Charles H. are at home. In 1855 our subject moved to Northern Missouri, and settled in Clark County. Here the Doctor has remained ever since, and is considered one of the most successful physicians in the county. For several years of his life he followed merchan- dising in connection with his practice, but during the last seven years he has given up the practice of medicine, and has devoted his time and attention to merchandising. He is a Republican, a member of the Masonic fraternity, and during the late war, was in the Home Guards and militia, and served as assistant surgeon.

J. W. Catlett, the son of Louis H. and Eliza A. (Kerfeott) Catlett, was born in Rankin County, Miss., in 1839. His parents

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were both natives of Virginia. They were married in Frederick County, Va., July 30, 1829, and they soon afterward immigrated to Kentucky, and purchased land on the Cumberland River. After improving this, he sold it and immigrated to Mississippi, where he remained for several years as overseer. He next moved to Texas, and from there to Louisiana, where he passed the re- mainder of his days. With the exception of his overseer life in Mississippi, he has always been engaged in farming. He was a Democrat in his political views, and died in the year 1848. His widow and five children moved to Clark County, Mo., in the spring of the same year, and here the mother taught school for several terms and also did some needle work. In 1857 she married Richard Shacklitt, a widower and a native of Kentucky, but a resident of Scotland County. In that county they lived happily for eighteen years, when death claimed her for a victim. She was a member of the Baptist Church. Our subject, at the age of nine years, was placed in the care of an uncle, Ezra Kerfeott, of Clark County, where he remained for five years, working for his board and clothes, and any extras went to help his mother. He then worked for a man eighteen months, but for some reason or other neither he nor his mother received a cent of money for this work. He next worked for a man named Johnson for $6 per month, and then worked for William Fee for $5 per month, and then con- tracted to work a year for him for $30, with the privilege of going three months to school. He worked on in this way, until twenty-two years of age, and assisted his mother all he could with the money he received. He got his education by working for his board and going to school winter months; tallow candles and tuition costing $6 for three months' school, there being no free schools then in Missouri. He then began working for himself. In 1864 he was united in marriage to Miss Mary E. Lasswell, daughter of William Lasswell, whose biographical sketch appears elsewhere. To this union one child was born, and soon after its mother de- parted this life. This child's name is William R., and he is now farming in Kansas. In 1866 our subject married Miss Mary A. V. Lasswell, and after farming in Scotland County, one year, moved to Clark County, where he has ever since remained. To this last union seven children were born (two deceased), five of whom are living at home. Mr. Catlett is one of the most exten- sive stock dealers in Northeast Missouri, and has on hand now several hundred head of stock, mostly cattle, on his farm of over 400 acres. His first wife was a member of the Methodist Episco- pal Church, and his last wife is a member of the Baptist Church.

I. B. Chamberlain, dealer in staple and fancy groceries at Luray, established his business at this place in 1885. He was

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previously located at Neva (in 1880), and was postmaster at that place. He is a native of Indiana, born in the year 1836, and moved to Clark County, Mo., in 1851, where he engaged in farm- ing, and followed this occupation up to 1880. In 1855 he took for his companion in life Miss Amelia Harrison, of this county, and the daughter of Jabeth and Mary Harrison. Mrs. Chamber- lain was born in the year 1832, and died in 1857, leaving one child, a daughter, named Mary E. In 1861 Mr. Chamberlain married Miss Rebecca Shannon, daughter of E. Z. and Elizabeth Shannon. She was born in Ohio, and by her marriage to our subject became the mother of three children, two of whom are de- ceased; Samuel, their son, is living. Our subject's second wife died in 1875, and in 1876 he married Mrs. Marietta (Rowe) Crane, widow of Farris Crane. She died in 1878, and in 1880 he married Miss Lucy I. Johnson, of Clark County, born in the year 1857, and the daughter of Daniel and Teney Johnson. To this union were born to our subject and wife three children: James E., Teney A. and an infant unnamed. Mr. Chamberlain is a mem- ber of the A. H. T. A., and his wife is a member of the Baptist Church.

Nathaniel T. Cherry, lawyer, was born in Columbus, Franklin Co., Ohio. He is the son of Thomas and Susan (Perrin) Cherry, natives of Zanesville, Ohio, and Laurel Hill, Md., respectively. The father came to Missouri in 1856, and located on a farm in Clark County, where he followed farming and stock raising for several years; he also followed merchandising at Alexandria for two years, and is now spending his declining years in retirement. The mother and the following children are now living: Lyne S., Nathaniel T., Daniel P., Eliza J. (the wife of W. W. Allen) and Amelia R. Morella is the deceased wife of W. H. Busey. Our subject secured a good education at St. Francisville Academy, and during the war followed mercantile business for two years. After the conflict was over he engaged in general insurance, and also followed farming. He began his professional studies in 1868, in the law office of N. F. Givens, of Waterloo. He was ad- mitted to the bar in 1871, and has since practiced at the Clark County bar, and also in Keokuk. He practices likewise in the Federal courts of Missouri and Iowa, and has attained a high professional standing. Mr. Cherry is a prominent Democrat, and served three sessions as clerk in the Missouri Legislature. He is a Mason, and has passed all the chairs in the Alexandria Lodge, and is a lawyer of experience and ability.

G. G. Childers' (Kahoka, Mo.) autobiography boiled down; being a concise account of the life of G. G. Childers as dictated by himself : My parents were Oliver P. and Catherine Childers.

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To begin the boiling down process with my name, I am called by my friends, by its middle and shortest third, Guy. I first discovered the Christian era when it was 1853 years, two months and fourteen days old. The world, therefore, had a big start of me, but I have managed (at the expense of some hard knocks) to hold my own with it since. Taking Winchester, Clark Co., Mo., as a starting point in the race of life, I proceeded, in the first four years, as far as Waterloo, then the county capital of Clark County. Here eight more uneventful years of my early career were passed, and in my twelfth year I removed to Fort Madison, Iowa. I lost my mother there when near the sixteenth year of my age, and the family of six boys, of whom I was the eldest, being broken up, we boys were equitably distributed among our friends. I fell to the lot of Col. Peter A. Hitt, a lumberman of Alexandria, Mo., and the biggest man (weight 375 pounds) ever in Clark County. Being once again on my native heath, and in most excellent hands, I enjoyed a flourishing period of three years, during which I acquired a limited knowledge of lumber, Latin and life. I had been sent to school more or less every year from childhood, but to that time had made study a mere mechanical routine. I now became suddenly enamored of science and the classics, under the vigorous training of that model educator, Rev. Thomas J. Musgrove, and his excellent assistants, Profs. Ellery and Farmer. I here attained that highest pinnacle of literary eminence since Cicero-that which David Copperfield worshiped in his youth-the position of head boy in school. When in my nineteenth year I lost my bene- factor, Col. Hitt, by death, and launched out upon life on my own account. Several years of unassisted toil were next colored with impracticable visions of fame. Vague ideas of being a self-made man left the point undetermined whether the finished product should be a president of the United States or a professor in a college. Yet, with all the latent egotism implied in this state of mind, practically a lack of self-confidence was the source of more difficulty than any real obstacle. For ten years I worked at a variety of callings-in lumber yards, in the school room, and on farms-but never lost a spare moment from poring over the college curriculum, which I was destined not to finish. In my twenty- eighth year, becoming tired of this mixed menu of life, I fell out with the classics, and in love at the same time; became engaged to Miss Cordelia T. Wood of Clark County; took to the law at the lady's suggestion, and was admitted to the Kahoka bar after six months' study. I never practiced a day, but immediately bought a newspaper without money; got married the same week, and have prospered ever since, being at this time the editor and

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proprietor of the Kahoka Herald, and the father of two fine boys: John Julian, born September 24, 1882, and Lapsley McKee, born January 21, 1884 .- Moral: When you find difficulty in pad- dling your own canoe, get a good sensible woman to hold the helm.

George W. Christy was born in Kentucky in 1827, and is a son of James and Hannah (Roice) Christy, natives of Kentucky. The father of our subject moved to Missouri in 1848, but finally permanently located in Clark County, Mo., near Kahoka, where he died in 1877. Our subject remained with his father until 1846, and then returned to his native State, where he engaged in the mercantile business for three years, but at the expiration of that time went to Clark County, Mo., and settled upon his present farm, which he had purchased from his father. In 1853 he married Martha Shaffer, daughter of John and Paulina Shaffer. This union has been blessed with eleven children, ten of whom are living: John J., George W., William, Amanda E., Mary C., Laura A., Hannah P., Geneva A., Sarah J. and Lullie M. Our subject is an active member of the Democratic party, but has never sought public office.

Franklin A. Clark, a first-class citizen of Clark County, Mo., was born in the State of Massachusetts in the year 1841, and came to Clark County, Mo., with his parents in 1853. In 1858 he located upon his farm, which consists of 160 acres of as good land as is to be found in Clark County. In 1869 he led to the hymenial altar Miss Elenor R. Robb, of Illinois. She was born in the Keystone State in 1846, and by her union with our subject became the mother of six children, named as follows: Edwin Augustus, born October 11, 1870; Benjamin Robb, born June 5, 1874, and died November 5, 1875; James Albert, born August 30, 1876; Thomas Irving, born December 26, 1878; Walter Luther, born June 22, 1884; and Franklin Rice, born June 4, 1884. Our subject is successfully engaged in agricultural pursuits, and is also engaged in the raising of live stock. He is a Republican in his political views, and he and his wife are members of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church. He is the son of Adison and Mary (Clark) Clark. Mrs. Clark was the daughter of Benjamin and Mary (Ferguson) Robb, both of whom were natives of West- moreland County, Penn., and of Irish lineage.

Samuel Clough was born in Stockport, Cheshire, England, in the year 1832. His father, Charles Clough, was also a native of Cheshire, England, and was a farmer by occupation. In 1840, at the age of forty-five, he emigrated alone to the Do- minion of Canada, having left his family (two sons) with an aunt, as their mother had died some time previous. He re- mained in Canada for ten years, in the meantime sending for

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his sons, and at the end of five years they moved to Syracuse, N. Y., and here the father died. The sons were then thrown upon their own resources. They engaged in farming in Jefferson County, N. Y., where our subject, Samuel Clough, lived about five years. He then moved to Keokuk, Iowa, and farmed there for a short time, when, in the fall of the year 1856, he made a prospective trip to Clark County, Mo., where he purchased a small farm. He then returned to Keokuk, Iowa, and after re- maining there a short time returned to Jefferson County, N. Y., where he married Miss Harriet Hastings, a native of Jefferson County. To this union was born one child, who died when only four years of age. In 1859 Mr. Clough and wife moved from their farm in Clark County, Mo., to Jefferson County, N. Y., and here the wife died. After remaining there several years Mr. Clough married Miss Jane R. Gardner, a native of Canada, and the daughter of John Gardner. In the spring of 1865 our subject moved with his family to Clark County, Mo, where he has ever since lived. To his last marriage were born eight children, all of whom are living: George, Hattie, Walter and Edwin (twins), Charles, William, Samuel, Jr., and Jennie. George married Miss May Wilson, daughter of Robert Wilson. Hattie is the wife of Albert Blattner. The remainder of the children are at home with their parents. During the time Mr. Clough has lived in Clark County (over twenty years) he has proved to be not only a thrifty, enterprising farmer, but a man much esteemed and respected by his neighbors. He owns 500 acres of good land, all well improved. He served the people of Clark County as judge for four years, and filled the office with credit and satisfac- tion to himself and to the people. Mrs. Clough is a member of the Christian Church.

G. W. Collins was born in Onondaga County, N. Y., in the year 1832, and is the son of Thurman and Hannah (Robinson) Collins, natives of Vermont and New York, respectively, and both of English descent. The parents were married in Onondaga County, N. Y., and resided in an adjoining county about fourteen or fifteen years, where the father followed agricultural pursuits. In 1843 they moved to Illinois, and settled in Paw Paw, Lee County, where he remained until his death, with the exception of ten or twelve years in La Salle County. He was originally an old line Whig, but after the death of that party he was always a Republican. He was a member of the Methodist Epis- copal Church, and was a kind husband and an affectionate father. He died in November, 1886. His wife was sixty-seven years of age at the time of her death. Our subject is the eldest son of his father's family. At the age of nineteen he began working for

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himself, but, not succeeding in what he first undertook, he began working at the carpenter's trade, without previously studying as an apprentice. As he possessed considerable natural ability for this kind of work he succeeded quite well, and continued at this business for several years. At the age of twenty-three, in 1855, he wedded Miss Euphema Hinman, a daughter of Robert and M. A. Hinman, natives of Vermont, both of whom are now residing in Bureau County, Ill., where they have lived for over half a century. Mr. Hinman is eighty-three years of age, and his wife is seventy-eight. After marriage our subject moved to La Salle County, Ill., where he cultivated the soil for a number of years. He then sold his fine farm, and, crossing the Mississippi River, settled in Clark County, Washington Township, where he lived for over thirty years. To his mar- riage were born three children, viz .: Loren E. (wedded to Miss Lista Brown), Charles H. (who is at home with his parents ) and Mindwell Ann Collins who is also at home. Our subject is a successful farmer, and owns a good farm of 245 acres, all well improved. He is a Republican in politics, and an excellent citizen.

Harvey E. Combs is a native Kentuckian, born in the year 1825. In 1834 he came with his parents to Lewis County Mo., and settled near Canton. After remaining there four years he moved with his parents to his present location. They purchased 55 acres of land at $5 per acre. Our subject afterward pur- chased 160 acres, but sold 80 acres, and, being anxious to make a few extra dollars, helped cut 60 acres of wheat at $1 per day. The distance to the place where he worked was four and a half miles. This distance he walked barefooted twice a day until finished. In 1846 he married Lucresia Raborn, who died eight years later, leaving three sons. In 1854 he took for his second wife E. Mitchel, and she died eight years later, leaving no issue. In 1863 our subject was again married, taking for his wife the Widow Sprouse, who had three children-two sons and a daugh- ter-by her previous marriage. By the third marriage our sub- ject became the father of two sons and four daughters. He chose his three wives from within half a mile of the same place. When our subject first settled on his present farm he knew of no one living west of him. He kept some very cross and savage dogs, and can tell many interesting anecdotes about early times. He and his dogs were chased into the house many times by the wolves, and he stood in his door in one instance and counted as many as twenty deer, and could at any time see wild turkeys. His father, one fall, cut down 165 bee trees, and obtained seven barrels of strained honey and seven barrels of honey in comb. In

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1865 our subject assisted in erecting the First Baptist Church in this part of the country. He took but little part in the late war, being provost guard at Alexandria about two weeks. He takes great pride in the culture of honey bees, having 40 stands at present, and has had as many as 113 stands at one time. He is a Demo- crat in politics, and a member of the Masonic fraternity. He is the son of George and Susan (Eberly) Combs. The father died in 1868 at the age of seventy-five. The mother is still living, and is ninety-four years of age.

John P. Coovert, one of the foremost citizens and merchants of Clark County, was born in the State of Ohio in 1835, and is the son of John and Mary Coovert, citizens of Ohio. John P. left his native State in 1856, and settled on a farm in Clark County, Mo., remaining there until 1878, after which he spent a year traveling through a number of States, but finally returned to Clark County, and in 1880 embarked in business in Peakesville. He was united in marriage, in 1855, to Miss Caroline Floyd, daughter of Ambrose and Margaret Floyd, of Ohio, and to their union eight children have been born: Mary J., David A., Elmer N., Elmira E., Wallace F., Ella A., John R. and Nora C., all of whom are living except Elmer. Mary J. was married to Mr. Lewis Kautz January 1, 1885. The remainder are still single. Mr. Coovert is a member of the A. H. T. A. He has been engaged in the mercantile business for about seven years, has a large stock of goods, and does quite an extensive business, ranking among the first and most respected merchants of Clark County, dealing in dry goods, groceries, boots, shoes, hats, caps, fancy notions, etc.

John M. Crook, a prominent pioneer of Clark County, was born May 13, 1823, in Grant County, Ky. He is the only living child of William and Nancy (McCann) Crook, the former of En- glish origin, born in 1796, in Bourbon County, Ky., and the lat- ter a native of Virginia, of Irish descent. After a youth spent in Mason County, Ky., the parents married and came to Pendleton County, and thence to Grant County, from which place they immigrated to Quincy, Ill., when our subject was twelve years old. They lived chiefly at Burton until 1838, when they came to Win- chester, and here died, the mother in 1850 and the father in 1879. The father was a skillful cabinet-maker, but during his western residence was devoted chiefly to farming. Our subject lived with his parents until the age of twenty-four, and in the meantime had learned the plasterer's trade. He continued this business until 1854, when he married, and after two years in Winchester began farming. It was three years later that he moved to another farm, and about the same length of time after- ward he went to Kansas. He spent but a short time there, and

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then came to his present home. In 1868 he spent a few months working on the Union Pacific Railway, in Colorado. His wife, Armilda, a daughter of Lawrence and Mary (Norton) Buskirk, was born September 25, 1831, in Grant County, Ky., and was married May 7, 1854. Their children are Mary E., Nancy A., Sarah J., Mattie and Willie. Our subject is a reliable and re- spected citizen, and has held the political principles of the Whig and Republican parties in succession. He served as constable for eight years. He and his wife are members of the Missionary Baptist 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 86

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