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 91

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 91
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 91
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 91
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 91

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).

William H. Martin, M. D., was born in Iowa in 1837, and came to Missouri with his parents when only two years of age. He worked at gunsmithing principally in early life, and at the age of seventeen began the study of medicine. In 1860-61 he at- tended the Keokuk College of Physicians and Surgeons, at Keokuk, Iowa, after which he practiced until 1867, when he entered the same institution, and graduated in the spring of 1868. He then located in Kahoka, where his practice has been successful, large and remunerative. In September, 1862, he married Miss Mary E. Wilson, a native of Missouri, born in 1844, and the daughter of Joseph G. and Sophia (Weber) Wilson. Of the four children born to this union two are deceased. The two living are Clara Leigh and Jessie G. The former graduated with high honors at the age of fifteen, and the latter is yet attending school. Dr. Martin is a member of the Masonic order, R. A. M., Blue Lodge and Eastern Star, A. O.U. W. ; a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church South, and a Democrat in politics; his wife and daughter, Clara Leigh, are members of the Baptist Church. He is the son of Rev. John J. and Phœba (Howard) Martin. The mother died in 1851, and in 1854 the father married Mrs. Elizabeth (Wright)

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Howard, widow of Adrian Howard. The father is a Methodist minister, and is now living in Kahoka. In 1886 our subject en- gaged in the drug business in that city with B. S. Crawford, who is also an M. D., and a native of Illinois, born in 1845. He is the son of H. P. and Margaret ( Crawford) Crawford. His mother died in 1879, and the father took for his second wife, Mary (Mc- Candless) McCoy. B. S. Crawford was reared in the town of Warsaw, Ill., and assisted his father in the mercantile business until 1865, when he entered the Keokuk College of Physicians and Surgeons at Keokuk, and graduated in the spring of 1867. He first located in Greensburg, Knox Co., Mo., where he remained twelve years. He then practiced in Canton, Lewis County, for seven years, and then located in Kahoka, embarking in the drug trade, and also continued his practice with W. H. Martin. In 1868 he married Miss Nancy Northcutt, a native of Missouri. To them were born three children: Eva, Margaret and Frank. His wife was a member of the Christian Church, and died in 1878. The following year he married Miss Catherine Beach, of New York, born in 1847, and daughter of Alexander and Catherine Beach. Dr. Crawford is a member of the Masonic fraternity, K. of H., A. O. U. W. and K. L. of H. He is a Republican in politics.

J. W. Mason was born in Nelson County, Ky., in 1853. His father, J. W. Mason, was a native of Henry County, Ky., and of English descent. The mother of our subject, whose maiden name was Mollie Kirk, was a native of Harrison County, Ind., and was of Irish descent. The parents were married in Kentucky, where the father resided a number of years, engaged in farming. About the year 1840 he moved to Pike County, Ill., where he en- tered land. Previous to his coming to Pike County he met with misfortune, and had to pay a security debt of $6,000. He was an old Henry Clay Whig in politics, and for a number of years was a member of the Presbyterian Church. His widow soon after his death moved to Kentucky, and made her home with her sister in Henry County, where she resided until her death in 1863. Our subject is the only son of a family of two children. He made his home with his mother until twenty years of age, his father hav- ing died when our subject was but fourteen. In 1854 he moved to Keokuk County, Iowa. As he was something of a mechanic, brick-layer and plasterer by trade, he found employment at good prices, and made money while there. In 1855 he returned to Kentucky, and spent the winter of 1856 in Northeast Missouri, where he followed his trade for several years in Lewis and Clark Counties. November 10, 1859, Mr. Mason married Miss Ema- line Laswell, a daughter of William Laswell, a native of Ken- tucky. For several years after marriage our subject rented land

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in Washington Township, but in 1863 he purchased land in the eastern part of the same township, where he has ever since resid- ed, a period of twenty-five years. To his marriage were born two children, viz .: William H. and Felix S. William H. is a phy- sician of prominence at Sand Hill, Scotland Co., Mo. Felix S. is still at home, and manages the farm, which consists of 170 acres of excellent land, all well improved. He is a Democrat in poli- tics, has been a member of the Masonic lodge for over twenty years, and is a member of the Baptist Church, as is also his wife and two sons.

Asa S. Mason was born in Washington County, Penn., March 22, 1844. He is the son of John and Susan (Stephenson) Mason, natives of Pennsylvania. The father came to Missouri in 1863, and located first in Clark County, and afterward in Scotland County, where he now resides on a farm near Memphis. Our subject was reared in his native State, and was educated at Bridgeport, Penn. In 1859 he went on the Ohio River as a cabin boy, and gradually rose until he became captain of a vessel, at the age of about twenty-four. He followed steamboat- ing on the Ohio and Mississippi until 1871, when he came to Alexandria, and engaged in merchandising and pork packing with P. Cunningham. The reverses of 1874 caused by the noted decline in pork compelled them to suspend business. Since that time our subject has been successfully engaged in the grain busi- ness. In January, 1886, he also took charge of the mercantile house of J. H. Million, with whom he has been associated for some years. This is the leading dry goods and merchandise house in Alexandria. Mr. Mason was married, January 1, 1868, to Emma A. Fitzpatrick, a native of Fort Madison, Iowa. Their children are John H., Mary M., Bertha L., Susan C., Grace E. and Grover Cleveland. Mr. Mason is a Democrat of the younger school, and has served as mayor of Alexandria for several terms. He is prominent in local affairs, and has declined nomination to various offices.

Capt. Morgan Mason was born in Washington County, Penn., July 8, 1808, the son of Robert and Sarah (Meek) Mason, natives of Virginia and Pennsylvania, respectively. The father was a pioneer of Pennsylvania, and died there in October, 1854, in his seventy-sixth year. Our subject was reared in his native State, and worked with his father in farming and grist milling. He began boating in 1840 on the Monongahela and Ohio Rivers, and the same year came to St. Louis as a steamboat clerk. He was a clerk on the first steamboat "Consul " that made a trip from Cincinnati to Brownsville, Penn., after the improvement of the Monongahela River in 1843. He quit steamboating in 1854,

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BIOGRAPHICAL APPENDIX.

and came to Clark County, and bought a farm. He made that his home for twenty-five years, engaged in farming and stock- raising, so that at one time he owned about 400 acres, and still owns the original homestead of 220 acres. About twelve years ago he removed to Alexandria, and in 1879 engaged in a grocery and produce business, in which he has been very successful. Of his six brothers and four sisters the following are now living: Isaac M., Harrison and Horace G. These live in Brownsville, Penn., and John lives near Memphis. Capt. Mason was married on April 11, 1830, to Permelia Stevenson, of Green County, Penn. She died in 1856. They had four sons and two daughters: Presly S. (deceased ), William W. (deceased), Morgan (deceased), Isaac M., Sarah A. (the wife of the late F. Johnson, of Indian- apolis ), and Priscilla S. (the wife of C. D. Eberhart). His second wife ' was Hannah (Laning) Gregg. She died January 22, 1883. The children, by her former marriage are Cephas, Mary (the wife of N. C. Tolman), and Susan K. (the wife of A. T. Sullivan). Our subject is a Republican, and a warm admirer of J. G. Blaine, who was born near his native place. He was a supporter of the Union cause, but treated both sides courteously. He has been a member of the Baptist Church for over forty years, and is one of Alexandria's respected pioneers.

Aaron Mattley was born in Orange County, N. Y., September 15, 1822, and is a son of John Mattley, who was born in England in 1792, and Elizabeth (Key) Mattley, also a native of England. They came to the United States just after the war of 1812, and set- tled in the State of New York, where the father was a mechanic for about twenty years, after which he went to Jefferson County, Ind., where he settled on a farm, remaining there until his death. After the death of his father our subject accompanied his mother, brother and sister to Scotland County, Mo., where he engaged in farming and school teaching until the war, when he served in Company G, N. E. R. Home Guards, in which he was captain under David Moore. He took an active part in the bat- tle of Athens, where he was wounded by a bullet passing through his lungs. This wound was thought fatal for some time, but he finally recovered. In the winter of 1860-61 he organized sev- eral secret societies, the Knights of Malta being a society for self-protection. He has the honor of having made the first un- conditional speech in behalf of the Union delivered in Scotland County. After the war he lived in Scotland County until the last twelve or thirteen years, when, after selling his farm, he pur- chased the one he now lives upon, which contains 280 acres of land under a good state of cultivation. He is engaged in gen- eral farming and stock raising to a great extent. He was mar-

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ried in 1851 to Eliza J. McCaslin, of Indiana, although a native of Kentucky. Mr. and Mrs. Mattley have had three children: Walter Scott, Jonathan H. and Nancy E. (the widow of James T. Hise, who is now dead). In 1873 our subject was left a widower with three children. In 1879 he married Sarah E. Combs, daughter of James Combs and Elizabeth (Scott) Combs. This wife was born in Scotland County, Mo., in 1846. Her grandfather was a pioneer settler of Clark County, Mo., and her grandmother died at the age of ninety-one, having been a res- ident of that county for fifty-three years. She was highly respected by the citizens, and was the mother of a large family. Mr. and Mrs. Mattley have had three children: Katie, Aaron J. and Hilda. Our subject has never aspired to a public office of any kind, although he takes great interest in the welfare of the Republican party, and was chairman of the central committee of Scotland County for sixteen years, and also president of the Union League for some time. He has been an active and worthy member of the Baptist Church for forty-four years, and has never been known to be under the influence of intoxicating liquors; he is the possessor of part of the old place known as the " Robert Lee place." He is a member and officer of the A. H. T. A., and belongs to the G. A. R. He is greatly interested in the prosperity and general welfare of the country, a hearty support- er of education, and is a man of ability, well read, and well posted in the current events of the day.

Charles B. Matlock, of the law firm of Matlock & Hiller, was born in Illinois February 27, 1846. He was reared principally on the farm, and began the study of law when quite young, under John H. Craig and H. Scott Hull, of Keokuk, Iowa, and was admitted to the bar by Judge David Waggener, of the supreme court, in 1866. Since that time he has been engaged in the practice of his profession in Clark County, Mo. In February, 1872, he married Miss Cora Campbell, of Clark County, and a daughter of Isaac R. and Emily (Davis) Campbell. She was born in Missouri in 1850, and is a member of the Presbyterian Church. Our subject's parents, Thomas and Nancy (Ballard) Matlock, were natives of Tennessee and North Carolina, respect- ively. The father was a minister in the Disciple or Christian Church. They reared a family of eleven children, eight of whom lived to be grown. The father died in 1865, and the mother fol- lowed him to the grave in 1875. From 1867 to 1872 our subject was prosecuting attorney in Clark County. He is a Republican in politics, and an excellent citizen.

Charles W. Meryhew, of the firm of Givens & Meryhew, was born in Ohio December 7, 1830. His parents, John and

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Elizabeth (Bias) Meryhew, were both natives of New York. The father was a millwright and carpenter, and built several mills still standing on different streams in Ohio. He was a sol- dier in the second war with England. Our subject received the mental discipline of a common school, and fitted himself, in part, for an educator, while feeding stock for his father, who was a stock breeder as well as a millwright. He taught school several winters, and by his studious habits during that period, acquired a fair English education. In 1856 he came to Missouri, contin- ning to teach during the winters. He spent the summer of 1858 in Kansas, and the following autumn and winter he taught in Richland County, Ill. The next spring he began reading law at Olney, in that county, with Preston & Livingston. In February, 1861, he was admitted to the bar by the supreme court of the southern district of Illinois, and was in practice at Olney when the American flag was insulted in the South. The autumn before he had commanded a company of Wide-awakes who escorted Gov. Yates through Egypt, Ill., and when President Lincoln made his first call for troops, Mr. Meryhew joined the Eighth Illinois Infantry, a three-months' regiment. At the expiration of that time he tried to get into Gen. Fremont's escort, but was half an inch too short. In August, 1861, he joined the Black Cavalry, which, in March, 1862, was consolidated with Missouri compa- nies, and formed the Seventh Missouri Regiment Volunteer Cav- alry, in which, as lieutenant, he commanded Company K, between one and two years, and Company G, nine months. He was then detailed as assistant commissary of musters of the Seventh Army Corps, and shortly afterward was detailed as aide-de-camp to Gen. Carr, remaining on his staff until July 13, 1864, when he resigned on account of ill health. He came to Clark County, his present home, in the autumn of 1864, was appointed general agent of the Missouri, Iowa & Nebraska Railroad Company, and in January, 1865, he led to the altar Miss Harmenia A. Heil, daughter of Augustus F. and Anna (Kleinline) Heil. She was born in Pennsylvania in May, 1844, and by her marriage became the mother of three children, viz .: May E., Cora E. and Lula. His wife and daughters are members of the Old School Presby- terian Church. After marriage he settled at Waterloo, then the seat of justice of Clark County. In the autumn of 1866 he was elected judge of the probate court, was re-elected in 1868, and served two terms, making an efficient and faithful county officer. In 1870 he followed the county seat to Kahoka, where he has since resided, except two years, 1874 and 1876, which he gave largely to the improvement of his farm, attending to such suits as he had on his hands. In 1880 he was elected prosecuting attor-

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ney of the county, and, after serving six months, was counted out. He is a man of fine sense, and an able advocate. Before a jury he is candid and logical, sometimes witty, and easily places himself on good terms with a jury. He was president of the Clark County Agricultural Society three years while at Waterloo, and has held the same office the last two years. He is a public-spir- ited man, and has done a great deal to build up agricultural and other interests. He has been a member of the I. O. O. F. for a quarter of a century, and has passed all the chairs in the subordinate lodge. Latterly he has made a specialty of insur- ance, and is doing a heavy business in that line. He is eminently reliable and trustworthy, and has the fullest confidence of the people.

J. H. Million, the present efficient collector of Clark County, is a native Missourian, his birth occurring in 1846, and is a son of J. D. and Emma (Staple) Million. He was raised upon a farm, but at ten years of age entered school, where he continued until 1868, then came to Clark County and began teaching school at Alexandria. He remained in the pedagogical profes- sion one year, then began clerking in a store, which occupied his attention for the ensuing eight years. By this time he had collected sufficient means to embark in business upon his own responsibility, and this he at once did, selecting the dry goods and grain trade. Close application to business, sterling honesty and an unusual amount of enterprise on the part of Mr. Million has brought forth its legitimate reward-prosperity and happi- ness. He selected Miss Sue Pritchett as his life companion, and in 1869 their marriage was solemnized. One' daughter has blessed them named Lula P., and mother and daughter are members of the Methodist Episcopal Church South. Mr. Mil- lion is a Democrat in his political views, and is one of his party's most active workers in Clark County. In 1884 he was elected to the collectorship of the county, and after serving one full term of two years was re-elected, and now officiates in that capacity.

M. Mills was born in Warren County, N. Y., in 1836, and is the son of Alonzo Mills, who was also born in the same county and State, and of English descent. The mother, whose maiden name was Murdock, was a native of the same State and county, and also of English descent. After their marriage the parents lived in Warren County, N. Y., where the father followed the carpenter's trade for nearly twenty years. In 1852 he moved west, and settled in Illinois for one year. The following year he immigrated to Decatur County, Iowa, where he lived until his death, a period of thirty years. At Decatur he followed his trade in connection with farming, and was considered by all a

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good neighbor and an influential citizen. He was a Republican in politics, and for many years was a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church. He died in 1884. His first wife died in the year 1885, while still quite a young woman, and his second wife died in the year 1887. She was a Miss Carpenter. Our subject is the second of a large family of children by both mar- riages, five being by the first. The eldest son was a Federal soldier during the late war, and was taken sick, carried to the hospital at St. Louis, and here died. The third son died of typhoid fever, at the age of eighteen. The youngest son by the first wife lost his life at the hands of sharpshooters at Atlanta. Ga. Our sub- ject made his home with his parents until seventeen years of age, and, with the modest sum of 60 cents in his pocket, started out to make his own living. He first worked on a farm for his cousin, Joshua Culver, with whom he remained about six months. In the fall of 1854 he began the blacksmith's trade in Canton, Fulton Co., Ill., and was there but a few months when he went to Farmington, in the same county, and served as an appren- tice for two years. In 1856 he immigrated to Northeast Mis- souri, and by accident settled in Fairmont, where he engaged in the blacksmith business. He grew attached to the place, and purchased property. In 1860 he married Miss Sarah Fair- brother, daughter of Henry Fairbrother (deceased), who was an early settler and a prominent citizen of Clark County. To our subject's marriage were born seven children, five of whom are now living: Ralph F., George F., Clara N., Mark H. and Alice. Ralph F. married Miss Lizzie Smith, a native of this county. The other children make their home with their parents. Our subject went into partnership with I. D. Hon, and at the end of nine months went into partnership with Smith & Nook. After seven months they dissolved partnership, and afterward Mr. Mills engaged in business for himself. He now owns a plow and wagon factory, and is doing a thriving business. He is one of the leading machinists in Northeast Missouri, and has invented a number of valuable improvements. He has always been a Republican in politics, and he and wife are members of the Methodist Episcopal Church.

Theodore L. Montgomery, prosecuting attorney of Clark County, and a member of the law firm of Wood & Montgomery, is a native of Kentucky, born January 22, 1855. In 1869 he came to Clark County, Mo., with his parents, who are now living a short distance from the county seat. He grew to manhood on the farm, and graduated in two departments in the Missouri State University in 1879, taking the degrees of Ph. B. and Pe. B. He read law under Judge Ben E. Turner, and was admitted to

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the bar in September, 1880. Since that time he has been actively engaged in the practice of his profession, at Kahoka, Clark Co., Mo. December 1, 1881, he married Miss Mary M. Jordan, a native of Missouri, born in 1858, and the daughter of John and Mary J. (Smith) Jordan. To our subject and wife were born two chil- dren: Leonard J. and Lenna G. Mr. Montgomery is a member of the Masonic order, a Democrat in politics, and he and wife are adherents of the Baptist Church, also members of the East- ern Star. Our subject's parents are John W. and Mary S. (Dicken) Montgomery. The father is a native of Indiana, and moved to Kentucky with his parents at the age of seven years. He embarked in the mercantile business in early life, but for the last eighteen years has directed his attention to farming and stock raising. The mother is a native of Kentucky, and is a member of the Baptist Church. Our subject was elected to the State convention in 1878, and again in 1884. In 1886 he was elected to his present position of prosecuting attorney.

Jesse N. Moore was born in Washington County, Ky., January 20, 1850, and is a son of Walter B. and Marian (Pope) Moore, both natives of Kentucky. The father with his family moved to Andrew County, Mo., in 1857, where he engaged in farming upon the farm of Mr. Keen Singleton, and in the spring of 1859 the father and family moved to Clay County, Mo., and settled upon a farm pur- chased from a Mr. Lewis Hardwick, where the mother died July 17, 1862, but the father survived until January 1, 1880. Our subject grew up accustomed to farm life, and received the ad- vantages of a country school education. In April, 1871, he came to Clark County, where he engaged in farm work with Maj. R. E. Hill, through the summer seasons of 1872-73-74, and in the winters of those years he attended school at the Alexandria College, which was located at Alexandria, Clark County, Mo. In 1875 he became ship carpenter on the steamer "Gray Eagle," that ran on the Illinois River, and in the winters of 1876-77- 78-79 he occupied his time in teaching school at different places in Clark County. On April 27, 1880, he married Frances M., a daughter of J. J. Price (deceased) and Elizabeth (Tinsman) Price. J. J. Price was a native of Ohio, and his wife of Pennsyl- vania. After marriage he located on his uncle's (G. W. Hill's) farm, and is chiefly engaged in farming and stock raising with the uncle, and also manages the entire farm of 360 acres. Our subject is a steadfast Democrat, and filled the office of magistrate from November, 1884, to November, 1886, and in March, 1887, was appointed by the county court to fill vacancy caused by resigna- tion, and he now discharges the duties of that office. He is a member of the A. F. & A. M., and thinks it a grand institution

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when rightly lived up to; but, like all other institutions and denominations, it has too many drones or members that are a disgrace to the fraternity.

Lewis F. Moore, assessor of Clark County, is a native of Perry County, Mo., was born in 1837, and is the son of Leo and Ann (Cissell) Moore, both natives of the Territory of Missouri. The father was a life-long farmer, and was a resident of Missouri at the time of his death, which occurred in 1880, being sixty-nine years of age at that time. The mother now resides in this State, and is in her seventy-second year. Our subject was reared on a farm, and followed this occupation more or less all his life. He was educated at St. Mary's Seminary, a theological institution conducted by the fathers of the congregation of the mission. He was engaged in the mercantile business at Winchester and St. Patrick, for about two years. He also taught school for about eighteen years, following that occupation during the winter and farming in the summer. In 1859 he married Miss Emily E. Brewer, of Perry County, the daughter of James and Allouesia (Manning) Brewer, natives of Kentucky. The father, James Brewer, was in the war of 1812, and in the battle of New Orleans. Mrs. Moore was born in 1839, and by her marriage with our sub- ject became the mother of thirteen children, two sons and three daughters being deceased. Mr. Moore and family are members of the Catholic Church. He was deputy United States marshal for Perry County in the year 1860, and assisted in taking the United States census. He came to Clark County in 1863, and set- tled in Jackson Township. During the M. M. R. R. bond fight, he was appointed to collect the taxes of the company without being required to give bond, which shows the confidence the people had in his honesty. In the year 1880 he was one of the enumerators who took the United States census of the county. He was elected assessor in 1882, 1884 and 1886, holding the office in a highly credit- able manner up to the present. He served the last three sessions of the Legislature as clerk; first as journal clerk, second as docket clerk and third, after having been defeated as chief clerk, was appointed by his successful rival, as reading and resolution clerk. He was a great favorite of the House of Representatives which body, to show its high esteem for his efficiency and promptness in office, presented him with a gold headed cane, after which he replied in a short address, but to the point, thanking them. He is a life-long Democrat, but was firm for the Union, and took some part in sustaining the same.

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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 91

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