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 93

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 93
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 93
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 93
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 93

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).

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BIOGRAPHICAL APPENDIX.

mercantile life for about nine years from 1876. Since then he has been following the life of a farmer and stock raiser. He has been very successful in all his operations. He was married May 22, 1879, to Susan A. Anderson, a native of this county. Our subject is a Democrat in politics. He is a member of the I. O. O. F. and of the Anti-Horse-Thief Association.

W. C. McNealy, a native of Hancock County, Ill., was born in 1856, and is a son of Pendleton McNealy and Cinda (Cess) Mc- Nealy, natives of Ohio. The father was of Scotch-Irish descent. They were married in Hancock County, Ill., and here the father farmed for several years, and here he also passed his last days. He left a widow and three children, all of whom are living in Clark County, Mo. Our subject's mother, five years after the death of her husband, married Mr. George Goulty, a prominent mechanic in Fairmont. To this marriage three sons were born, who still make their home with their parents. Our subject is the second son of a family of seven children, six of whom are living. He made his home with his mother until eighteen years of age, when he began making his own living as an employe on the farm for Benjamin Goulty, in Hancock County, Ill., with whom he worked the greater part of six years. During that time he married Miss Eva Wood, of Clark County, and the daughter of M. Wood. To this union two children were born: Edith and Elmer. Our sub- ject rented a farm in Hancock County, Ill., but afterward moved to Clark County, Mo., where he continued farming, renting as before, for about five years, during which time he accumulated some capital, which he invested in dry goods, and came to Fairmont in 1885. He is one of the enterprising and industri- ous merchants of Fairmont, and all he has was made by hard work and economy. He is a Democrat in his political views.

John McReynolds was born in Marion County, Mo., Decem- ber 30, 1822, and is the youngest child born to William and Ruth (Culbertson ) McReynolds, natives of Virginia and North Carolina, respectively. Immediately after marriage the parents moved to Illinois, and after remaining there a short period, moved to Missouri, and here remained several years in different counties, Knox being the one in which they passed the remainder of their days. The father died in 1847, and the mother in 1851. Owing to a scarcity of schools in those pioneer days, our subject received poor educational advantages, and at the age of twenty- one or twenty-two he married Miss Mary E. Dale, daughter of John P. Dale. Our subiect began life as a farmer, and in that was quite successful. To his marriage were born seven chil- dren: Leah, Envira, William C., John S., Ellen, Ophelia and Julius C. Our subject has been a resident of Knox County

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CLARK COUNTY.

for half a century, during which time he has reared and edu- cated a large and intelligent family. He owns a fine farm, well stocked and well improved. In character few stand higher in his county. He is a Democrat in his political views. William C., son of our subject, received a liberal education in the com- mon schools of Knox County, and at the seminary at Monticello, after which he took a more complete course at La Grange Col- lege, Lewis County, Mo. He then graduated at the Commercial College of Bryant & Stratton, Quincy, Ill. He then began the study of medicine under an uncle, Joseph McReynolds, in Lewis County, with whom he remained about three years. He then attended the College of Physicians and Surgeons at Keokuk, Iowa. He graduated there in March, 1871, and then opened an office in April of the same year, and began practicing his profes- sion at Fairmont, Clark County, where, for a young physician, he has met with excellent success. He has a fine medical library, and is a young man of unusual ability.

George Neff, one of Clark County's prominent citizens, was born in Virginia in 1815, and is a son of George and Magdaline (Stump) Neff, natives of Virginia, who moved to Ohio in 1817, where the father settled on a farm, taking great interest in stock raising. In 1834 the father sold his farm, and moved to Palestine, Ohio, a village, where he remained for about ten years, engaged in mercantile business, and where he died in 1858. Our subject lived with his father until his marriage, when he went to Pales- tine, and kept a hotel for about sixteen years, after which he en- gaged in the mercantile business with his father for five years, then sold out, and came to Clark County, Mo., where he settled on a farm on Fox River, living there for twelve years, during which time he was engaged in agricultural pursuits. After that he rented his farm, and moved to Farmington, where he remained about seven years, when he moved to Athens, where he now re- sides. Being an old man now, he is enjoying the money he accu- mulated in his younger days. The wife of the subject, Elizabeth A. (Green), was a daughter of George and Lucinda Green, natives of Virginia. Mr. and Mrs. Neff were blessed with six children, all living, married and prosperous. They are Lucinda, Elizabeth M., Mary J., Malinda, George R. and Caroline. Death . entered the door of our subject while he was residing in Farm- ington and took from him his beloved wife. He then married Lucy Jane Perkins, daughter of John and Mary (Hedgecough). Perkins, natives of Tennessee. John W. Perkins was born in White County, Tenn., in 1809, and was among the most prom- inent farmers of that State, until his removal to Hancock County, Ill., where he farmed for four years, then returned to his native

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BIOGRAPHICAL APPENDIX.

State, coming back to Illinois, however, in two years, where he remained a short time, after that going to Lee County, Iowa. While in Illinois he lost his first wife, but married again in Iowa. He lived in the latter place several years, and then settled on a farm in Clark County, Mo., where he remained until 1862, when he went back to Illinois, this time staying there two years. He then went to Jasper County, Mo., where he farmed about four years. He then moved to Saline County, Mo., where he is engaged in farming and stock raising at the present date. The wife of our subject was born in Tennessee, in 1832. She lived with her parents until the death of her mother, and then lived with an uncle, in Missouri, until she became seventeen years old, when she came to Clark County, and remained with her father two years, afterward going to Athens, where she remained until 1873, when she was joined in wedlock with our subject.

James Neil, a stirring and prominent farmer of Clark County, Mo., is a native of Iowa, born in the year 1846. In 1868 he came to Clark County, Mo., and located in his present neighborhood. The same year he married Miss Elma Vale, of Van Buren County, Iowa, born in the State of Ohio, and the daughter of John and Maria Vale. To our subject and wife were born an interesting family of four children-three sons and one daughter. Our sub- ject has been a life-long farmer, and moved to his present loca- tion in 1884. He has been quite successful, is a good citizen, and has the utmost confidence of all who know him. He operated a threshing machine successfully for twenty-two seasons. His farm consists of 151 acres of very productive land, well im- proved and well watered, furnishing an abundance of that neces- sary article for his herds of stock. He pays considerable attention to the rearing of cattle. Mr. Neil's parents were James and Par- thena Neil. The father died in the year 1862, and the widowed mother is still living, and is a resident of Clark County.

Dr. Samuel Neeper was born in Lancaster County, Penn., March 11, 1832, on a farm, and received his education in Blair Hall Academy, and at Faggs Manor, Chester County, Penn. At the age of twenty-one he immigrated to Ohio, and in 1854 began reading medicine under Alexander M. McMillin, of West Leb- anon, Wayne Co., Ohio. In 1855 he entered the medical depart- ment of the Western Reserve College, at Cleveland, Ohio, and graduated at the head of his class in 1857. He at once began the practice of his profession at Mogadore, Summit Co., Ohio, and continued until March, 1867. Previous to this, May 12, 1857, he married Miss Mary A. Russell, of Philadelphia, and daughter of John and Isabella Russell, her father being a member of the well-known firm of Cary, Hart & Russell, bookbinders and sta-

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CLARK COUNTY.

tioners, of Philadelphia. She was born in Philadelphia October 23, 1836, and by her marriage became the mother of seven chil- dren-five sons and two daughters. She died July 12, 1875, and was a member of the Episcopal Church. In 1861 our subject. enlisted in the Federal Army, Company G, Sixty-fourth Ohio, as a private, but in five days after enlisting he was elected captain, which office he filled with credit until the battle of Missionary Ridge, where he received a cannister shot which passed through his left thigh, totally disabling him for further duty, and he returned home, arriving there December 11, 1863, bringing the cannister shot, with which he received his wound, with him. It weighs half a pound. In 1867 Dr. Neeper moved to Clark County, Mo., and located on a farm, where he remained about twelve years. He then located in the city of Kahoka, where he: has a large and remunerative practice. He is a member of the Masonic fraternity, Blue Lodge, Royal Arch Mason and Eastern Star; also the A. O. U. W. and G. A. R. He has been president of the district, and county medical association for a number of years, and has been chairman of the Republican Central Com- mittee for twelve years, resigning in 1886. He is a Republican in politics. His parents, James and Letitia (Patterson ) Neeper, were both natives of Pennsylvania, and died in 1844 and 1833, respectively.

N. Nelson, M. D., a prominent physician and Baptist minister, was born at Mocksville, in Rowan (now Davie) County, N. C., September 23, 1816. His parents, Ebenezer and Frances (Bur- gess) Nelson, were natives of Rowan County, N. C., and Albe- marle, Va., and born July 24, 1777 and 1782, respectively. After their marriage in North Carolina they came to Marion County in 1828, and entered land near Palmyra. The mother died in 1833, and the father survived her until 1846. The father was a cabinet-maker and carpenter, but engaged in farming chiefly. Our subject was educated in Marion County principally, and at the age of twenty-three began teaching school. During his pedagogue days he began reading medicine, and afterward practiced, together with farming and other business. He received his medical education in the St. Louis Medical College, located at Philadelphia, Marion County, and began practice, and also devoted several years to his favorite study, theology. He was ordained as a minister in March, 1865, and since then has been preaching. In February, 1866, he moved to Gilead, in Lewis County. He there took a medical partner, Dr. Frame, that he might continue preaching also. He moved to his present farm in November, 1871, and is still engaged in his professions, and in farming. His wife, Lucetta Morehead, was born in 1822,

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BIOGRAPHICAL APPENDIX.

in Fauquier County, Va., and came to Missouri in 1835. She was married December 24, 1840, and her death occurred Decem- ber 25, 1864. She was the mother of seven children. In Novem- ber, 1871, Virginia Lillard, a native of Culpeper County, Va., became his wife. She was born January 20, 1835, and the fol- lowing year her parents came to Missouri. Her children are deceased. Our subject's children are Morehead, Mary F. (the wife of Dr. J. P. Frame), Elizabeth (the wife of J. T. Hall ), John H., James T., William F. and George L. Our subject is very prominent, both as a physician and a minister, and in his evangelical work has built up two churches in Clark County, and one in Lewis. Politically he is a Democrat, and first voted in 1840 for that party. Our subject's family, excepting the eldest son, are members of the Baptist Church. He served in the Flor- ida war of 1837-38.

William J. Northcraft, one of Clark County's most substan- tial citizens, is a native of Shenandoah County, Va., born in the year 1831, and is the son of William F. and Nancy H. Northcroft, both natives of Virginia. The father purchased 520 acres of land, which he broke and put in cultivation; 160 acres of his land were in Scotland County. He was very prosperous in early life, supporting a family of nine children. He and his sons ex- perienced some exciting times in hunting deer, turkey, wolves, etc., in the early settlement of the State. In 1836 our subject came to Lewis County with his parents, and located near Tully. In 1837 he came to Clark County, and settled in the forks of the Wyaconda River. In 1856 our subject married Miss Eliza A. Smith, of Scotland County, and daughter of John M. T. and Alcinda Smith. She was born in Ohio, December 15, 1829, and by her marriage became the mother of six children, two of whom are deceased. Those living are Mary A., Virginia L., Louis S. and Summerville A. Our subject joined the Confederate Army, but remained in service only a short time. He lost considerable property during the war, but, being a man of energy and perse- verance, has accumulated considerable wealth since that event. He was elected judge of the county court, and honestly and faith- fully discharged the duties of this office. He located on his pres- ent farm in 1867, and this contains 502 acres of good land. He is an uncompromising Democrat, and is a member of the Masonic fraternity.

Thomas E. Palmer, a respected pioneer of Alexandria, was born in Chestertown, Md., in January, 1805. He is the son of John and Edith (Edwards) Palmer. Our subject secured but a limited education before the age of fourteen, when he left home and entered a counting room in Baltimore. He worked there,

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CLARK COUNTY.

and learned the mercantile trade with his uncle, until September, 1836. He then came to Missouri, and engaged in merchandising at St. Francisville, and continued for four years. His next occu- pation was as county assessor, at which he served about ten years. He then acted as county recorder until about ten years ago, ex- cepting during the war. In 1874 he came to Alexandria, where he has since resided. During the war period, above mentioned, he was deputy assessor in the employ of the United States. In 1850 he was employed in census taking. He was married, in December, 1831, to Mercy A. Levering, a native of Baltimore, and now living at the age of seventy-eight years. Their children were John L., Anna (deceased), Mary M. (deceased), Alice A., Edward T., Mercy A. (the wife of Dr. J. Murray), Lizzie, Will- iam P. and Flora B. Mr. Palmer's first vote was cast for Jack- son, and he has been a loyal Democrat ever since. The various offices which he filled were given him by the citizens of the county, without reference to politics.

Andrew Pantridge a native of Ireland, was born in 1837, and accompanied his parents, James and Rachel Pantridge, when they immigrated to the United States in 1841. They settled on a farm in New York State, where they remained a short time, and then moved to Philadelphia, where death entered the home and claimed the father and husband. Andrew then left the city, with his mother and brother in 1846, and located on a farm in the same State, at which place they remained until 1852, when they moved on a farm in Ohio. In 1855 our subject moved to Clark County, Mo., where he has since lived, gaining his livelihood by tilling the soil. He married Louisa Christy, a daughter of Will- iam and Mary Christy, and this union was blessed with two children, William and Lena, neither of whom is living. Louisa Pantridge died in 1872, and two years later our subject was united in marriage to Melissa Woogerd, the daughter of James and Susan Woogerd. To this union three children have been born one boy and two girls, the latter being twins. These children are named Minnie, Mary and James .F. Our subject now owns a farm of 130 acres, all under a good state of cultivation. He took an active part in the late war, and participated in the battles of Shiloh, Missionary Ridge and Atlanta, besides being engaged in other engagements of minor importance, too numerous to mention. He escaped with but one slight wound on the head, but now feels the effect of the exposure to which he was subjected. He is a member of the G. A. R.

Alexander L. Porter (deceased) was born in Franklin County, Penn., August 9, 1816, and his wife, Mary (Thompson) Porter, was born in the State of Kentucky, June 13, 1832. Alexander

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BIOGRAPHICAL APPENDIX.

L. left his native State to come to Clark County, Mo., about 1848, settled in the town of Luray, and there followed the blacksmith's trade until 1852, when he moved on the farm his wife, sons and daughters are now occupying. He was en- gaged in farming and stock raising at the time of his death, which occurred in 1869, leaving a widow and eight children to bemoan the loss of a kind husband and father. Mary Porter, nee Thomp- son, left her native State in 1834 for Pike County, Mo., accom- panied by her father and mother, who remained in that county only a short time until their departure for Clark County, Mo., where Mary lived and married Alexander L. Porter. They were the parents of eight children: John A., James E., William A., Arthur L., Jane E. ( wife of Jefferson Sutton ), Deborah E. (wife of F. M. Dewey), Lucy A. and Mary O. John A. was born in the town of Luray, Clark Co., Mo., in 1851, and lived on the old home place with his parents, until he married Matilda J. Black, in 1880, the daughter of Andrew J. and Anna Black. John A. and wife have had three children, one of whom has died. Those living are Anna D. and William V. John A. has always worked for the Democratic party, although he has never held office. His wife is a worthy member of the Methodist Episcopal Church. James E., the next oldest, was born in Clark County, Mo., in 1858. William A., the third son, was born at the same place in 1860. Arthur L., the fourth, at the same place in 1865. The last three named are single and living at home with their mother. They are Democrats, and well respected by the community.

J. D. Raine was born in Hardin County, Ky., in 1830. His father, J. S. Raine, was a native of Virginia, and of Irish descent. His mother, whose maiden name was Dillord, was a native of Kentucky, and of English descent. The father was first married to Miss Rhoda Walker, a native of Virginia, who bore him four children. Six years after moving to Kentucky his first wife died, when he married Miss Dillord. To the second marriage eight children were born, six of whom are living and married, with the exception of our subject, who is yet single. The father was a shoemaker by trade, and this he followed in Virginia, Kentucky and Missouri. In March, 1850, he moved to Missouri, and settled in Clark County, where he resided until his death. He was a successful farmer, was a Democrat "dyed in the wool," and in religion was for many years a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church South. Our subject, who is the eldest son by the second marriage, was twenty years of age when his father moved to Clark County. The same year he began working for himself on a farm he had purchased in Washington Township, but boarded with his parents. At the expiration of

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CLARK COUNTY.

six years he wedded Miss Sarah Wedmore, a native of Iowa, but at that time a resident of Clark County, Mo., and the daughter of David Wedmore. The fruits of this union were six children -- five of whom are yet living. In July, 1870, Mr. Raine lost his first wife, and about two years afterward married Mrs. Sarah Hoover, the widow of Charles Hoover, and the daughter of Nelson Yates, a native of Virginia. To this union three children were born, all living: Thomas S., James A. and Amanda E., and all make their home with their parents. The children by the first marriage, who are yet living, are Mary S., John W., Matilda J., Sarah L. and Emma R. July 21, 1887, Mr. Raine lost his second wife. She was a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church South, as was also his first wife. Our subject is a successful farmer, and what he now has can be attributed to his own hard work and economy. In politics and religion he has followed the admonitions of his father, and hence is a Democrat, and a mem- ber of the Methodist Episcopal Church South. He is a Mason.

George Rauscher, county court clerk of Clark County, was born in the year of 1842, in Ohio, and is one in a family of eleven children, five of whom are yet living, born to the marriage of George H. and Christina (Sherber) Rauscher. The parents are both natives of Germany, but about the year 1833 they immigrated to the United States, and settled in the Buckeye State. In 1848 they removed to Iowa, where the father died in 1865, and where his widow yet resides. The subject of this sketch was reared to manhood upon the farm, securing in youth a good practical education. When the sable banner of secession was un- furled Mr. Rauscher was among the first to volunteer for its suppression. In 1861 he became a member of Company D, Fourteenth Iowa Volunteer Infantry, and after serving one year was discharged by reason of disability. His enterprising disposition would not permit him to remain long inactive, but as soon as his health would permit he began clerking. In 1866 he embarked in merchandising in Lee County, Iowa, but in 1871 he located permanently at Kahoka, Mo., and established himself in the drug trade. Two years later he began general merchandising, and, with the exception of serving in some official capacity at intervals, he has since continued in that occupation. Since becom- ing a resident of Clark County he has become thoroughly identified with its prosperity. In all public and private enter- prises he has been recognized; and his superior wisdom as a suc- cessful business man and politician has placed him among the foremost men of his county. In 1874 he was elected county judge, and as such presided with ability one full term of four years. In 1880 he was elected collector of the county, and

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BIOGRAPHICAL APPENDIX.

was re-elected in 1882. In 1886 he was elected to his present office, which he fills with marked efficiency. Mr. Rauscher is a Republican in politics, and a member of the I. O. O. F. and A. O. U. W. fraternities. He was married in 1867 to Miss Christina Young, who was born in Germany in 1841, the daughter of John Young. Seven children have been born to their union as follows: George H. (deceased), Lottie, Ella, Charles, Albert (deceased), George J. and Walter. The parents are members of the Evangelical Church.

Henry Rauscher, a wide-awake, thorough-going farmer of Clark County, Mo., is a native of Ohio, born in the year 1835. He is the son of George H. and Christina (Sherber) Rauscher [for further particulars of parents see sketch of George Rauscher ], and came to Lee County, Iowa, with his parents, in 1848. In the year 1860 he married Miss Elizabeth Smith, a native of Germany, born in the year 1838, and who in 1848 came to the United States with her parents, Jacob and Elizabeth (Rin- ger) Smith. Of the ten children born to our subject and wife three are deceased, and two sons and five daughters are living. In 1866 Mr. Rauscher came to Clark County, Mo., and located upon the farm where he is now living. It consists of 270 acres, and is in a good state of cultivation. He is engaged in raising live stock also. He is a Republican in politics, and belonged to the Iowa State Militia during the war of the rebellion. Mrs. Rauscher is a member of the Evangelical Church, and they are well known and well respected throughout the county.

William Rayburn was born in Clark County, Mo., February 27, 1841, and is the son of James and Rebecca O. (Wells) Ray- burn, natives of Virginia and Kentucky, respectively. The parents were married in Clark County, Mo., in 1840, where they have remained ever since, the father engaged in tilling the soil. He was a Democrat after the death of the Whig party; was a member of the Baptist Church, and a well-respected citizen. He died in the year 1862, as did also his wife. Our subject is the eldest son of a family of nine children, seven of whom are living, and all are married. Our subject was hardly out of his teens when he wedded Miss Sarah L. Dockum, a daughter of Thomas and Lucinda Dockum, now deceased. In 1861 our subject began working on rented land, and is now one of the enterprising and successful farmers of Clark County. He now owns 225 acres of valuable land, and his success can be attributed to his honest efforts, energy and economy. Nineteen years after marriage he lost his wife. She was a Christian woman, and for a number of years was a member of the Baptist Church. Two years later our subject married Miss Mary Ellen Wells, a daughter of Thomas

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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 93

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