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 94

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 94
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 94
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 94
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 94

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).

CLARK COUNTY.

J. Wells, whose sketch appears elsewhere. By this union three children were born: William E., Lucy J. and James T. Mr. Rayburn is a Democrat in politics, and a member of the Baptist Church. Mrs. Rayburn is a member of the Methodist Episco- pal Church.

Richard Rebo was born near old Palmyra, in Ralls County, September 22, 1832, the son of Bartholomew and Helen (Chisam) Rebo, natives of France and Kentucky, respectively. The father came to Missouri in 1827, and located at our subject's birthplace. In February, 1833, he came to Clark County, and died here in 1846. The mother survived him until 1867. They had seven sons and two daughters born to them, and those now living are Bernard, of Illinois; William, of Kansas; Richard; Margaret, married and in Texas; James and Benjamin. Our subject secured a fair education, and has spent almost his whole life as a farmer on the old homestead near Kahoka. It was in 1863 that he came to Alexandria, and four years ago established his present mercantile business. He carries a full and well-

selected stock of staple and fancy groceries, and controls a large trade. He was married in 1858 to Ruby J. (Greenleaf) Lyle, and, after her death, he married Lucinda Vice, in 1862. Their children are Fannie L., William, Ella, Berry, Cortas, Elizabeth and Jefferson. Mr. Rebo is a Democrat, and is one of the successful business men of Alexandria. In 1829 his father entered 400 acres of land below Alexandria, and 520 near Waterloo.

W. W. Reed, owner of a general repair shop, and painter of wagons, buggies, plows and houses, was born in Pennsylvania, and came to Clark County, Mo., in the year 1876. The same year he chose for his companion in life Miss Maggie Porter, the daughter of Peter Porter, of Westmoreland County, Penn., and the result of this union was the birth of five children, four of whom are now living-one son and three daughters. In 1876 our subject purchased his present property, which lies a quarter of a mile from Ashton, and contains over fifteen acres of land on which his dwelling and shop are located. Mr. Reed makes a speciality of house joining, being a first-class architect, and a member of the architect association. Mr. Reed is doing well in his business, and is respected and esteemed by all who know him. May 9, 1886, our subject had the misfortune to lose his wife. She was an excellent woman, and her loss is deeply felt, not only. by her husband and children, but by all with whom she was acquainted.

Harvey S. Reese, M. D., was born in Westminster, Md., June 11, 1856. He is the son of William and Sarah J. (Yingling)

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BIOGRAPHICAL APPENDIX.

Reese, natives of Maryland, where they were reared, married and raised their family. They had six sons and five daughters. Our subject was reared and educated in his native place, and attended Western (Maryland) College to within six months of graduation. In 1874 he became clerk for a relative in Tiffin, Ohio. He lived there until 1879, and in the meantime read medicine for about three years under Dr. Williard. In 1879 he came west, and entered the College of Physicians and Surgeons, Keokuk, Iowa, from which he graduated in 1881. He then came to Wayland, and began practice, and also established his drug business. He was the only physician in the place, and has an extensive drug business. He carries a well-selected stock of drugs, and makes a business of prescriptions. About three years ago the Doctor engaged extensively in farming and stock raising in Wright County, Mo., but after one winter's absence resumed his practice and drug business. In 1885 he built the Wayland Livery Sta- ble, which he now owns. He was married, March 4, 1885, to M. Alice Richardson, a native of Pulaski County, Ky., born Novem- ber 13, 1868. Dr. Reese is a Democrat of the younger school, and is a man and physician of high standing.

Philarmon Reynolds was born in Washington County, Ohio, in 1835. He is the son of Samuel H. and Pamela (Green) Rey- nolds, natives of New York State. They came to Lee County, Iowa, in 1847, and settled upon a farm, remaining there for five years, then moved to Clark County, Mo., and settled on the farm that our subject is now in possession of. It contains eighty acres of good land, in a good state of cultivation. Our subject was married in 1865 to Elvira C. Flowers, after which he moved to the old home place, where he has since resided. His father died in 1876, and his mother survived him nine years. Mr. and Mrs. Reynolds have had one son, William H. I., born October 6, 1866. In 1882 Mrs. Reynolds died, and since then Mr. Rey- nolds has been living with his son and wife on the old homestead, and still continues farming. He is an honorable member of the Masonic order, and also of the G. A. R. He was elected by the people of Clark County, in 1866, to the office of assessor, which he filled honorably and judiciously for two terms. He has also given satisfaction as justice of the peace for nine years, and is as liberal a donator as his means will allow to all laudable public enterprises, and takes great interest in educational ques- tions. He served his country three and a half years during the late war in Company H, Twenty-first Missouri, under David Moore, and participated in a number of important battles, such as Shiloh, Pittsburgh and Pleasant Hill. During the last named engagement he received a bullet in his breast, and since then has

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CLARK COUNTY.

not been able to exert himself to any great extent. He always has been and always expects to be a hearty supporter of the Republican party.

John W. Riley was born in Pennsylvania in 1833, and is the son of James Riley, a native of Maryland, who came to Clark County, Mo., in 1848, and settled in the wild prarie land of Mis- souri, where he lived until his death in 1861. Harriet Wilson, a native of Pennsylvania, was married to James Riley in the same State, and accompanied him to Clark County, Mo., where she re- mained until her death in 1863. The subject resided with his father and mother in Clark County, Mo., until 1854, and then departed for the wild West, where he spent twelve years and a half of his life in explorations and adventures. He mined in California for about four years, and then went to British Colum- bia, crossing the Cascade Mountains, near the line between British America and the United States. He remained in this unsettled country about one year, and then went back to San Francisco. In a short time he went to Nevada, but was compelled to return to California on account of sickness. After his recovery he went to Idaho Territory by way of Portland, Oreg., up through the Cascade Mountains into Washington Territory, passing through that country on pack animals into Idaho Territory. While in that Territory he spent five months in the Rocky Mountains, and there assisted with others in the organization of the Terri- tory. He finally returned to California, landing there in 1863, After that he visited Nevada, where he engaged in mining and trading with the Indians, and finally directed his course home- ward, passing through Salt Lake City, Montana, and St. Joe, Mo., and landed in Clark County, Mo., in 1866. Soon after his re- turn he was married to Harriet C. Lewis ( April 18, 1867), the daughter of Isaac N. and Lucy A. Lewis, and born in Iowa in 1842. Five sons and one daughter have been the result of this union, as follows: Oscar L., Lucy, Isaac N., Murton A., John W. and J. Benning. Our subject is now in possession of a splendid farm of 300 acres, upon which is a fine residence, and is engaged chiefly in stock raising. He is a Democrat, and a member of the Masonic order. His wife is a member of the Cumberland Pres- byterian Church.

E. W. Robinson is a member of the firm of Harrison & Rob- inson, Kahoka Lumber Company, dealers in sash, doors, lime, cement, plaster, hair, hard and soft coal, etc., who established their business in 1881. Mr. Robinson is a native of Iowa, born in the year 1856, and came to Kahoka in 1881. The following year he married Miss Grace Edwards, who was born in the State of Iowa in 1858, and who is the daughter of P. T. and Malinda M. Ed-

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BIOGRAPHICAL APPENDIX.

wards. Our subject and wife's married life has been blessed by the birth of two children: Georgie May and Raymond. The wife is a member of the Baptist Church. Our subject's parents, Richard S. and Jane (Taylor) Robinson, are natives of Pennsylvania and Indiana, respectively. The father was a Methodist minister of considerable eloquence and ability, and administered to the spir- itual wants of his fellow man for a period of fifty-five years. He died in the State of Iowa in the year 1884. In 1886 his widow moved to Kahoka; she is a devout member of the Methodist Episcopal Church. Our subject is a Republican in politics, and is an enterprising business man.

John Roberts, ex-judge of the Clark County Court, is a native of Ohio, born in the. year 1829. At the age of twenty-one he moved to Clark County, Mo., and located in St. Francisville, where he was contractor on the river, blasting rock. In the spring of 1850 he went to Mahaska County, Iowa, and was engaged in agricultural pursuits for one year, after which he returned to Clark County. In 1857 he chose for his companion in life Miss Louisa A. Bartlett, of this county, and the daughter of William and Sarah (Beechem) Bartlett. She was born in the year 1839, and by her marriage to our subject became the mother of five children, three of whom are deceased. Two twin brothers are living, viz .: Edmond R. and Edgar P. The latter married Miss Bell Gregory, of Clark County, in 1886. In 1860 our subject located on his present home which consists of 160 acres of good land, located on the line separating Madison and Des Moines Townships. He has also 160 acres of land in Madison Township. December 7, 1886, his dwelling and its contents were con- sumed by fire, in the absence of the family. He and wife are members of the Methodist Episcopal Church. He belonged to the militia during the war, and was stationed at Hannibal about three months before the war closed. He was elected judge of the county court in 1880, and held the office for two years. He was also township trustee under the old law. He is a Republican in politics, and one of Clark County's best citizens.

John M. Rodgers, was born in Clermont County, Ohio, March 28, 1820, the third of eight children of Benjamin and Catherine (Greger) Rodgers, natives of Virginia and Pennsylvania, re- spectively. The father went to Kentucky, and then to Clermont County, where the mother had preceded him, and where they were married about 1815. Our subject was four years old when they went to Ripley County, Ind. They remained there as pioneer settlers until 1847, when they located in Dane County, Wis. Three years later they came to Lee County, Iowa, and the follow- ing year removed across the river to Clark County; the parents

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CLARK COUNTY.

lived here until about 1875 and 1876, respectively. Our subject lived at home with his parents until the age of twenty- four, when he married and began farming in Indiana; he went with his parents, however, to Wisconsin, but when they removed to Iowa he returned to Indiana. In 1851 he came to Missouri, and located on the farm now owned by his sons, Benjamin and William; since 1857 he has been on his present farm. He built a house in his yard, and as age rendered his parents unable to work, they came and resided in this house until the father died, when the mother took up her residence with our subject. His first wife, Nancy Hodges, a native of South Carolina, was born about 1823, and became his wife in Indiana about 1844. They had seven children (three deceased), and her death occurred in 1862. His second wife, Susanna (Taylor) Jerles, the widow of A. Jerles, died in 1864. His third wife was Mrs. Emma (Ram- sey ) Schoonover, the widow of Jacob Schoonover, who was a native of Virginia. His children are Benjamin, Margaret C., Mary and William, by his first marriage, and David, Robert, Hetty and John, by his third. Our subject has acquired a fine estate of 369 acres of well-improved land, in two farms. Politically he is a Republican, and voted for the Whig candidate in 1844, and now is a very loyal man to his party. Our subject and part of his family belong to the Missionary Baptist Church.

James T. Ross, farmer, was born February 14, 1824, in Fayette County, Penn., the son of Warfick and Sarah J. (Hill) Ross, natives of Pennsylvania and Virginia, born in 1801 and 1º06, respectively. The parents were married in Virginia, and at once settled at our subject's birthplace, where the father chose farming in preference to milling. The mother died in 1874, and the father survived her but two years. Our subject was educated in his native county, and remained with his parents until 1862, although he worked independently after 1850. He spent two years of his married life on the old place, and in 1864 came to Missouri. Two years later he came to his present home, where he has acquired a first-class farm of 100 acres, which is well improved. His wife, Elizabeth (Stephenson), is a Pennsyl- vanian, born in August, 1834, and married in December, 1862. Their children are Richard G., Warfick L., Ellis S. and Louisa. Our subject voted for the Whig candidate in 1848, but is now a strong Republican. He is a Mason, and he, his wife, Ellis S. and Louisa, are members of the Congregational Church.

Lewis Rush, a prominent citizen of Clark County, Mo., is a native of Ohio, born in the year 1839, and is one of a family of thirteen children born to the union of Francis and Rachel (Malone) Rush, both of whom died in the State of Illinois. In

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BIOGRAPHICAL APPENDIX.

1845 our subject went to Clark County, Ill., where he remained until 1855, when he moved to Clark County, Mo., and in 1881 located on his present farm which consists of 360 acres of ex- cellent land lying on Fox River, five miles east of the county seat. In 1862 he led to the altar Miss Margaret E. Ervin, of Ohio, who bore him one child, named Francis. This child and its mother both died in the year 1863. In the year 1867 our subject was united in marriage to Mrs. Electa (Singleton) McCoy. She was born in Illinois in the year 1841, and is the daughter of Thomas B. and Sarah A. Singleton. To her first marriage was born one child, named T. L. H. McCoy, and to her union with Mr. Rush were born two children: Nellie and Stella. Mr. Rush is a Democrat, and a first-class citizen. His wife is a member of the Presbyterian Church.

James Ryan is a well-to-do farmer of Irish birth, who was born in County Kilkenny in November, 1812. His parents, also natives of Ireland, were Richard and Julia (Delaney ) Ryan. His parents never left their native country; here the father died in 1839, and the mother a few years later. Our sub- ject received an Irish education, and at the age of twenty-two brought his newly wedded bride to New York City. After about a year each on Staten Island and in Richmond, Va., they came by way of the Ohio and Mississippi to Warsaw, Ill. As soon as the river was frozen they crossed at Warsaw (which was then called Churchill), in the spring of 1840, and went out west in the spring of 1852, but returned home in the fall of 1854 to Keokuk. They then adopted Clark County as their home, and soon after settled on their present estate, where he has since lived, with the exception of about two and a half years spent in the Western States, and in California. His wife, Susan, the daughter of James and Mary Hart, was born in 1812 in England, although her parents were of Irish birth, in which country she was mar- ried July 2, 1836. But four of their nine children are living: James J., Edward W., Charles and Mary A. Our subject is a fine business man, and now owns 120 acres in Lewis and eighty acres in Clark County, most of which is improved. He is an earnest member of the Democratic party, while in religion his family all hold to the faith and teachings of the Catholic Church. His wife was but a child when her father died, and her mother afterward married W. O'Connor, and both died in Kilkenny.

Orrin C. Sage is a native of Delaware County, N. Y., where he was born July 20, 1835 .. His paternal ancestor of five gener- ations back came from Wales in 1614, and settled on the Con- necticut River, and his descendants by the name of Sage reside on the same farm still. Mr. Sage's parents, David and Phoebe

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CLARK COUNTY.

(Clark) Sage, were natives of Green and Delaware Counties, respectively. Mr. Sage was reared in his native place, and gained some knowledge of Latin and sciences. He came west in 1855, and for two years taught school in Lee County, Iowa. He has since been engaged in farming and stock raising in this county, and owns a fine farm near Alexandria. He was married in 1860 to Mary J. Black, a native of Lee County, Iowa. They have the following children: David H., a graduate of La Grange College; Libbie E. and William N. Mr. Sage is a broad and liberal-minded Republican, and is an A. F. & A. M.

James G. Sansom, justice of the peace and farmer, is a native of Allegheny County, Penn. He was born May 26, 1831, the elder of two children of William and Margaret ( McCain ) Sansom, the former of English descent, born in 1808, in Bedford County, Penn., and the latter a native of Ireland, born in 1810. The mother was two years old when they brought her to Armstrong County, Penn., where she was married in 1830. The father died in Western Pennsylvania, in 1846, and the mother afterward married a Mr. Todd, but remained in her native State until her death, in 1863. The father was a cooper by trade. Our subject was educated in his native State before his majority, and at the latter period, equipped with his carpenter trade, came to Gales- burg, Ill., and made that his headquarters, although he traveled considerably in the Rocky Mountains before his removal to Mis- souri. Since 1868 he has been on his present farm, which he cultivates along with his work at his trade. His wife, Esther, is a daughter of Samuel and Rosanna (Ferris) Maxwell, and was born January 1, 1844, in Union County, Ohio. She came to Galesburg in 1856, and seven years later was married, on Sep- tember 16. Their children are William H., George S., James P., Rosanna E. and Mary M. Our subject is a skillful mechanic, and has acquired considerable real estate. His farm embraces 220 acres of land, in good condition and well improved. Our subject is an earnest Democrat, first voting for Pierce, and has served three terms as justice. He, his wife, Rosanna E. and James P., are members of the Missionary Baptist Church.

John W. Sawyers was born in the State of Kentucky in 1831, and is a son of George and Mary (Cummins) Sawyers, natives of Kentucky, who came to Clark County, Mo., and settled upon the farm on which our subject now lives. They were early settlers in Clark County, and remained there until their deaths, which occurred in 1871 and 1859, respectively. Our subject accompa- nied his parents when they moved to Missouri, and June 17, 1863, was united in marriage to Josephine E. Rugg, the daughter of Theodore and Harriet E. Rugg, natives of Ohio. Mr. and Mrs.

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BIOGRAPHICAL APPENDIX.

Sawyers have had six children-two sons and four daughters-of whom five are still living: Mary B .. Helen J., Laura A., Frank E. and Hattie T. Our subject lost his beloved wife in 1882. He is the possessor of a fine farm of eighty acres, is one of the early settlers, and is a well-respected and honored citizen. He and three daughters are members of the church, as was also his wife, and he is a member of the I. O. O. F. He is a strong Dem- ocrat, but has never sought or held office.

Charles E. Schee, dealer in general merchandise at Athens, and also dealer in grain and stock, engaged in his present business at this place in 1884. He is a native of Clark County, Mo., and was born in 1857. His parents, John and Mary Schee, are now residents of Clark County, and are respected and honored citi- zens. In 1878 and 1879, previous to his coming to Athens, he was engaged in business at Anson, this county. In 1880 he chose for his companion in life, Miss Lola B. Mantle, daughter of John Mantle, and the fruits of this union were two children, both sons. Mrs. Schee is a member of the Congregational Church. Our subject directs his attention to his present business, at which he has been quite successful, and, being a man of honesty, and of pleasing manners, he has established a large trade. He is a member of the Masonic fraternity.

John G. Schuster was born in Germany, in 1824. His father, John F. Schuster, was a native of Germany, as was also his mother, whose maiden name was Neuschwander. The parents were married in Germany, and here the father followed the weaver's trade, in connection with farming, in the hamlet of Heu- tingsheim, for a number of years. From there they moved to Erdmannhausen, where the father died in 1832. He was a mem- ber of the Lutheran Church. The mother afterward married, and in 1837 she and her husband and four children immigrated to the United States, and settled in Adams County, Ohio. Here her husband died in 1884. No children were born to this last union. The children by her first marriage had grown up, mar- ried, and had homes of their own. The mother, after her second husband's death. made her home with her son, living with him until her death, which occurred January 20, 1887. She was for- merly a member of the Lutheran State Church of Germany, but after coming to the United States joined the German Methodist Church. Our subject, while yet in his teens, left his home in Adams County, Ohio, and began as an apprentice to a wood turner. He was engaged in this business for five years before he became proficient in his trade, making but very little money. He then moved to Maysville, Ky., where he obtained a clerkship under Cutter & Gray, a wholesale grocery house, where

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CLARK COUNTY.

he remained five years, during which period he was united in marriage to Miss Magdalena Bruner, a native of Germany, and the daughter of Frank Bruner, also a native of Germany. At the end of the five years' clerkship, our subject and brother crossed the Ohio River, and started a saw mill in Adams County. Be- lieving that farming would be a better means of making money, they sold the mill, purchased a farm in the same county, and began tilling the soil. This occupation he followed a short time, and then moved to Spencer County, Ind., and from there to St. Louis, where he resumed his trade. He next engaged in the furniture business, but was forced to seek other employment, and, as he possessed considerable natural ability, he obtained a position as engineer in Warsaw. This position he held for seven years, when, in 1865, he immigrated to Clark County, Mo. Of the ten children born to his marriage only six are now living : George J., J. W., Benjamin, Amelia, Frank and Edwin. After coming to Clark County, our subject purchased a farm upon which he has ever since resided. He is an honorable citizen, a good neighbor, and an enterprising farmer, owning a splendid farm of 160 acres, all well stocked and improved. In politics he has been a Repub- lican since the death of the Whig party. He and his wife are members of the German Methodist Church.

Charles Seyb, county court judge, is a native of Erie County, N. Y., and was born in the year 1837. In 1845 he moved to Iowa, where he followed blacksmithing, and in 1859 took for his life companion Miss Barbary Rees, who was born in Montgomery County, Ohio, in 1837, and who is the daughter of Joseph and Magdelena Rees. To this union were born seven children, four sons and three daughters. In the year 1866 our subject came to Clark County, Mo., where of late years he has devoted his time and attention to agricultural pursuits, and in the raising of all kinds of live stock, in which he is quite successful. In 1886 he was elected to his present position, which office he fills with credit and satisfaction to himself and to the people. His fine farm consists of 280 acres, all well improved and all well culti- vated. Our subject is a Democrat in his political views, and he and his wife are members of the Evangelical Church. He is the son of Peter and Catherine E. Seyb.

Michael Seyb, a good citizen of Clark County, is a native of Germany, born in 1840, and eight years later he came with his parents to the United States, and located in the State of New York, where the father followed farming. In 1857 our subject moved to Iowa, and in 1861 he enlisted in the United States Army, Company C, First Iowa Cavalry, as a private, and was afterward made sergeant, being in the army until March, 1866,

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as he was detained after the war had closed. He returned to Iowa, and in 1866 was united in marriage to Miss Elizabeth Rauscher. [See sketch of George Rauscher for further particulars of parents. ] She was born in Ohio in 1847, and by her marriage became the mother of nine children, one son being deceased. The same year of his marriage he began merchandising in Franklin, Lee Co., Iowa, and here continued four years, after which he returned to the farm, and in 1875 he moved to Clark County, Mo., and purchased his farm. It contains 200 acres of good land, well improved. Our subject is the son of Michael and Henrietta (Ritterspach) Seyb. The father was a boot and shoe- maker by trade, but after coming to the United States confined himself to agricultural pursuits until his death, which occurred in New York in 1851. The mother died in Franklin, Iowa, in 1883. Our subject is a member of the G. A. R., is a Republican in politics, and he and his wife are members of the German Evan- gelical 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 94

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