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 98

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 98
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 98
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 98
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 98

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).

984

BIOGRAPHICAL APPENDIX.

was captain of the Home Guards in Lee County, Iowa. He made two trips with his company to Athens, to engage in battle, and was much disappointed to find that all was over, and they too late. His father died in Clark County, Mo., in 1884.

Harvey I. Wilsey was born in Bedford County, Penn., April 1, 1830. His parents, William and Catherine (Landen) Wilsey, came west in 1836, and settled in Indiana. In the fall of 1839 they again moved west, and located at Fort Madison, Lee Co., Iowa. In 1846 they left there, moved to Farmington, Iowa, and after a short stop went to Waterloo, Clark Co., Mo. In the following year they went to St. Francisville, of the same county, where they remained until 1858, and then returned to Iowa. Here the father died July 20, 1860, and the mother followed him to the grave ten years later. Of their family of eight children- six boys and two girls-only three are now living: William J., Joseph W. and Harvey I. The last named, the subject of this sketch, learned his father's trade-stone and brick mason-and passed twelve years of his life on the Des Moines and Mississippi Rivers as pilot., .February 15, 1855, he wedded Miss Mary J. Dart, a native of Indiana, born July 10, 1834. Her father was a native of Maryland. Nine children were the result of this marriage, viz .: Julia A. (Mrs. W. J. Wiyrick), John W., Arrildia (Mrs. J. H. Smith), Harvey L., General G., Gertrude, Orra, Granderson H. and Albert R., all now living. In 1860 Mr. Wilsey purchased a farm of 160 acres, situated three miles east of St. Francisville, on the Des Moines River. In 1872 he purchased a residence in St. Francisville, where he has resided ever since. Politically, in his boyhood days, he aspired to be a Whig, but when he became a voter joined the Democratic party, and has voted that ticket ever since. January 1, 1886, he engaged in the general merchandise business at St. Francisville. He is a member of the I. O. O. F., and has also been a member of the Methodist Church for nearly twelve years.

John C. Wilson, one of the prominent merchants of Peakes- ville, was born in Jefferson County, Mo,, in the year 1844, and is the son of John and Rosetta Wilson, who were prominent citi- zens and farmers of Jefferson County, Mo., and who came to Clark County, Mo., with their son John C., in 1846, and settled upon the farm whereon he now lives. John C. married Anna Shuller, daughter of Daniel and Kizzie Shuller, citizens of Clark County, and this union has been blessed with two sons: Ole and Daniel. Our subject left the farm in 1887, and moved to Peakes- ville, Clark County, where he went into the mercantile business, in which he has thus far been successful, as he always endeavors to please his customers, and consequently is now enjoying a sub-

985

CLARK COUNTY.

stantial trade. He is a Republican, and served in the Missouri State Militia during the war; he is also a member of the I. O. O. F.

Isaac J. Wilson, an enterprising and successful druggist of Athens, Clark Co., Mo., is a native of Illinois, born in the year 1854, and is the son of. George and Hannah Wilson. The father was a successful agriculturist, and came with his family to Clark County, Mo., in the year 1858, and here he still continued to till the soil. In 1880 our subject celebrated his nuptials with Miss Amanda Beidman, daughter of John W. and Martha Beidman. The result of this union was the birth of three children who are named as follows: Willie G., Hiram and Isaac J. The last two named are living, but the eldest, Willie G., died in 1884. Oar subject began the drug business at Athens in the year 1883, and has a large and lucrative trade. He is a Mason; a Repub- lican in politics. Mrs. Wilson is a member of the Presbyterian Church, and an excellent woman.

Uriah Wood was born in Sullivan County, Tenn., in 1815, and is the son of John Wood, a native of North Carolina, and of Irish descent. The mother of our subject, whose maiden name was Hughs, was a native of Tennessee, and was numbered among the early settlers of that region. The parents were married in Tennessee, where they always resided after their marriage. The father was a natural mechanic, and in his State erected many val- uable mills, both grist and saw mills. He also owned a farm in the northeastern part of the State, on Holston River. To his marriage were born six children, all deceased, except our subject. He was a Democrat in politics, and by principle a Presbyterian, though not a member of any church. The mother was a Chris- tian, and for many years a member of the Christian Church. She was a woman of strong and determined character, and although small in body, had absolute control over her children. She died at the age of ninety-six. Our subject is the fifth child and youngest son born to his parents. At the age of eighteen, without an education, he started out to make his own living, and first served as an apprentice to a blacksmith. This he worked at for about three years, when his employer's shop was destroyed by fire. He next engaged in the wagon-making business near his old home, and this he followed for about twenty years in the same locality in Tennessee. In 1839 he married Miss Margaret Emmert, a daughter of George and Mary (Hendricks) Emmert. To our subject and wife were born seven children, five of whom' are yet living: Carina J., Marshall, Mary A., E. S. and Dulcena; Eliza and John died in infancy. All those living are married except Mary A., who is an experienced school teacher, and a

986

BIOGRAPHICAL APPENDIX.

highly educated lady. She makes her home with her parents, during vacation. In 1857 our subject moved to Northeast Mis- souri, and settled in Scotland County, where he resided twelve or fourteen years, engaged in farming. In 1869 or 1870 he moved to Clark County, Mo. In November, 1873, Mr. Wood lost his wife. She had been a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church from childhood. At the end of five years Mr. Wood married the widow of T. P. House, the mother of eight chil- dren, only one of whom lived with her after her second mar- riage. Our subject is a man of character, and is an energetic, enterprising farmer. He has been a Democrat in politics since the death of the Whig party. He was in the Florida war, and was under Gen. Scott. His ancestors, John Wood and wife, left Lon- don on the ship "Hopewell," for New England, September 11, 1635. They settled in Portsmouth, R. I., in 1636. They had the following children: George, John, Thomas, William, Margaret, Susanna and Elizabeth. The son William married Martha Earl. Their children were William, George, Josiah, Daniel, John, Joseph, Sarah, Margaret and Rebecca. The children of the sec- ond William Wood were Mary, Rachel, Isaac, Hannah, Jonathan (born May 22, 1697), Abigal, Jeremiah, Ruth and Meribah. Jonathan Wood married Peace Davis. They were both Quaker preachers; in fact, all the Woods were Quakers. This was the cause of settlement in Rhode Island. Jonathan and Peace Wood had the following children: Hannah, Abigal, Daniel (born May 16, 1729). Daniel Wood, son of Jonathan Wood and Peace (Davis), married Susannah - They had the following chil- dren: Abigal, Stephen, Ester, Jonathan and David (born May 7, 1764). David settled in North Carolina. John Wood, the father of Uriah Wood, was a son of David Wood. John Wood and Agnes Hughs were married in 1799. They had the fol- lowing children: Alexander, Agnes, Levi, David, John, Deliah and Uriah (born April 22, 1815). The Wood family was a good family in Rhode Island. Senator Chase is married to a Wood, so is ex-Senator Eaton, of Connecticut. Being Quakers, they suffered persecution urder the code of laws prepared by Cot- ton Mather to punish Quakers.

Richard J. Wood, president of the Clark County Savings Bank, and dealer in real estate, is a native of Frankfort, Ky., where he was reared to years of discretion, and where he received a good business education. William Wood, the father of Richard J., was a native of Liverpool, England, and in 1815 was brought to the United States by his employers. He finally settled in Frank- fort, Ky., where he met and married Miss Helen Julian, who bore him a family of two sons and three daughters, three of whom

987

CLARK COUNTY.

are yet living. The mother dying early in the thirties, the father wedded Miss Julia Swigert for his second wife. He died at New Orleans, La., in 1835, respected and honored. Richard J. passed his early life on the river, steamboating, four years being passed in the United States snag boat service. In 1855 he went to Hancock County, Ill., and the latter part of the same year re- moved to Clark County, Mo., which has since been his home. Until 1881 he was engaged in farming and stock-raising, then came to Kahoka, and engaged in his present occupation. In the year 1849, his nuptials with Sarah M. McKee were celebrated, and to this union three children have been born as follows: John M., Cordelia T. (who married G. G. Childers in 1881), and Robert J. (who died in 1858). Mrs. Wood was born in Franklin County, Ky., the daughter of John McKee; she died in 1881. Mr. Wood began life's battle a poor boy, and his present prosperity is due to his honesty, industry and excellent business qualifications. In politics he is a Democrat, and is among the foremost men of Clark County®

Hon. John M. Wood, of the firm of Wood & Montgomery, attorneys, was born in Franklin County, Ky., in 1850, and came with his parents to Clark County, Mo., in 1855, where he has since resided. He graduated at La Grange College in 1872, re- ceiving the first honors of his class, and the degree of A. B., and in 1875 the degree of A. M. from the same institution. He taught school during the years of 1873, 1874 and 1875, be- gan the study of law in 1876, and was admitted to the bar in 1878, since which time he has been practicing his profession. His first criminal case was defending the notorious William J. Young, who was tried for murdering the Spencer family, and ac- quitted, but was afterward hanged by a mob. June 10, 1886, our subject was married to Miss Maggie A. McKee, a native of this county, and the daughter of Dr. R. S. and Charlotte L. Mc- Kee, and has one child-Cordelia May. He is a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church South, and of the Masonic order. Mr. Wood represented the county in the thirty-first, thirty-second and thirty-third General Assemblies, being speaker pro tem. of the thirty-second, and speaker of the thirty-third. In politics he is strictly Democratic. He is the son of Richard J. Wood whose sketch precedes this.

M. A. Wooldridge, dealer in drugs, sundries, etc., at Luray, established his business at that place in the year 1879. He was previously engaged in his father's drug store at Luray, after which he engaged as a clerk in a general merchandise store for Nathaniel Davis. He was born in the State of Illinois in 1854, and in 1865 he moved with his parents to Lewis County, Mo.,

988

BIOGRAPHICAL APPENDIX.

and in 1875 he came to Clark County, Mo. A year later he chose for his companion in life Miss Talitha Davis, a native of Scotland County, Mo., and the daughter of Nathaniel and Martha Davis. To her marriage were born two children, viz .: Arthur, born in the year 1877, and died the same year; and Grace May, who was born in 1879, and also died the same year. Our subject is a member of the Masonic. order, and he and wife are worthy and consistent members of the Methodist Protestant Church. Mr. Wooldridge is a first-class pharmacist, accurate, and noted for his. fair dealing. He is the son of W. S. and Mary J. Wooldridge, both natives of Kentucky. They lived in Illinois for some time, but afterward moved to Lewis County, Mo., and in 1875 from there to Luray, Clark Co., where he engaged in the drug business. In 1882 he returned to Lewis County, where he has a mail contract.

Rev. William Yalton, an excellent citizen of Clark County, Mo., is a native of Pennsylvania, born February 25, 1830. He is the son of John and Jane (McQuire) Yalton, both of whom were natives of Pennsylvania, and both born in the year 1810. The father died in 1874, and the mother previous to this in 1849. The father cultivated the soil, and he and wife were members of the Baptist Church. Our subject attained his majority on the farm, and in 1855 obtained his license to preach the Baptist faith, but in 1872 he joined the Methodist Episcopal Church, and has preached the gospel for many years. He belonged to the

Home Guards during the war, and was called out for duty several times. May 9, 1848, he married Miss Fannie Roose, a native of Madison, Penn., born March 3, 1830, and the daughter of Henry and Sarah (Haines) Roose. To our subject and wife was born, May 4, 1849, one child, named Henry R. Mrs. Yal- ton died of typhoid fever March 10, 1851. Four years later he married Miss Mary L. Strickler, a native of Pennsylvania, born in 1835, and the daughter of Henry and Margaret (Snyder) Strick- ler. Eight children were the result of the last marriage, viz .: Wesley, born September 4, 1855; Harvey S., born March 12, 1856, and died September 23, 1860; Albert F., born August 20, 1859; Laura B., born March 15, 1862; Elmer E., born January 8, 1866; Annie F., born October 5, 1869; Milton O., born Octo- ber 17, 1872, and Henry R., the brave son of our subject, entered the Union Army at the age of fourteen, was Gen. Sherman's dispatch carrier, and remained until the close of the war. In 1854 our subject moved to Clark County, and in 1868 to his present farm, which contains ninety acres of good land. He is a Republican in politics, and is well respected by all who know him.

989

KNOX COUNTY.

John W. Yowell was born in Jefferson County, Ky., in 1835, and is the son of Louray and Mildred Yowell. The father of our subject died at a very early date, but the mother is still liv- ing and a resident of Ohio. John W. was united in marriage to Nancy A. Painter, daughter of John and Martha Painter, both natives of Ohio. Mr. and Mrs. Yowell have had three children of whom but two, Martha and Ulysses G., are living. At first our sub- ject made Howard County, Mo., his home after leaving his native State, but came to Clark County, Mo., in 1859, where he has since remained, with the exception of two years spent in Keokuk, Iowa, and Knox County, Mo. He has farmed and followed several other occupations during his lifetime, and is now a blacksmith in Peakesville. Our subject served in the Thirty-ninth Missouri for two years during the war, and received an honorable discharge March 25, 1865. Both he and his wife are Christians, and he is a liberal donator as far as consistent with his means to all public enterprises.

KNOX COUNTY.

Capt. George W. Adams, farmer and stock dealer, was born in Obion County, Tenn., September 13, 1823, andis a son of George W. and Margaret (Mckinney) Adams. His father was a native of White County, Ky., and died in Putnam County, Mo., in Feb- ruary, 1872, at the age of seventy-eight. When a young man he left his native State and went to Obion County, Tenn., where he married. He afterward moved to Graves County, Ky., and then returned to Obion County, Tenn., and from there went to White County, Ill., near Carmi, where he remained about two years when he removed to Jennings County, Ind., and in the spring of 1854 went to Scotland County, Mo. He lost his second wife, Nancy (Oston), before his removal to Indiana, where he married Margaret Keryea, who died prior to his decease. His first wife, (the mother of our subject) was a native of Obion County, Tenn., and died in Graves County, Ky., when George W. was four years old, and left seven children. She was a member of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church. Our subject is the fifth child of five still living. He remained at home receiv- ing his education at the common schools of Jennings County, Ind., until sixteen years of age, and then began life for himself, October 8, 1848, he wedded Elizabeth Hopkins, by whom he had six children, five living: F. A., W. H., Mina, J. H. and G. W.

990

BIOGRAPHICAL APPENDIX.

Susan E. (deceased) was the third child. He remained upon his farm in Jennings County several years, and then sold it and removed to Jefferson County, Ind., where he bought land. In 1865 he sold this place, moved were he now resides, and has since been a resident of Knox County with the exception of a short time spent in Lewis County, Mo. During the late war he was a volunteer in Company L, Ninth Indiana Volunteer Militia, serving as first lieutenant, and afterward four years as captain. In politics he is a Republican; himself and family are worthy members of the Christian Church. He is now the owner of 320 acres of good land which he has improved and cultivated, and upon which is a fine residence, surrounded by good outbuildings.

James E. Adams, a resident of Edina, Mo., and cashier of the Bank of Edina, was born in Quincy, Ill., January 15, 1848, and was there reared to manhood and educated. In May, 1864, he entered the Union Army, as a private, in Company A, One Hundred and Thirty-seventh Illinois Volunteer Infantry, and served about one year or until the expiration of his term of service. After the war he completed his education in Quincy, Ill., and then was employed by the Merchants' Union, United States Express Company. In 1868 he went west, and remained a short time in Kansas, and from there went to Texas where he at first engaged in the banking business at Weatherford, but afterward had the United States post tradeship. In 1876 he came to Edina, and assisted in the organization of the Bank of Edina, entering its employ as bookkeeper, and later becoming assistant cashier. In 1885 he was elected to the cashiership, which position he has since filled in a highly efficient and faith- ful manner. March 11, 1874, our subject was united in mar- riage to Sallie T. (White) Ellison, a native of Danville, Ky. To this union three daughters have been born. Mr. Adams is an active politician, and a member of the Republican party. He was chairman of the Republican County Central Committee for four years, and was a delegate to the Republican National Con- vention that nominated James A. Garfield for President of the United States in 1880. He is a member of the G. A. R., and one of the leading citizens and representative men of the county.

Hon. Willis Anderson, one of Knox County's oldest and most prominent citizens, is a native of Franklin County, Ky., born June 17, 1811, and is a son of Elijah and Rachel (Downing) Anderson, The former was born near Frankfort, Franklin Co., Ky., in 1787, and in September, 1824, immi- grated to the wilds of Missouri, locating in Marion County, and removing to Knox County in the spring of 1836. He was a

991

KNOX COUNTY.

farmer, and a son of Joseph Anderson, a native of Virginia, who accompanied Lewis and Clark upon their expedition to Kentucky. He helped build the fort where Louisville now stands. He died in 1844, while on a visit to a daughter in Platte County, Mo. The family is of Scotch descent. The mother was of Welsh and Irish descent, and was born near Lancaster, Garrard Co., Ky., in 1789, and died in Marion County, Mo., March 31, 1834. Our subject, Hon. Willis Anderson, is the eldest of a family of five children, and the only son. Only two of the children are now living: Our subject, and his sister Nancy, widow of Lewis Burns, a noted politician and speculator, of Platte County, Mo. Our subject received a liberal education at Marion College, in Marion County, Mo., and then purchased a half interest in a steam ferry-boat, and a tract of land where Quincy now stands. This was the first steam ferry-boat at Quincy, and after eighteen months in the ferry business he sold out and moved to Knox County, where he pre-empted 160 acres of the land upon which he now lives. Since that time he has devoted his attention to farming and stock raising, and has been extensively engaged in shipping all kinds of stock to eastern markets. At one time he owned 1,700 acres of land in Knox County, and is one of the oldest citizens of the county. In September, 1861, he enlisted in Green's Regiment, Missouri State Guards, and served as com- missary, and as aide of Gen. Green. When these troops dis- banded he continued with Gen. Green up to the evacuation of Corinth; then went to Jonesboro, Tenn., intending to join Gen. Lee's army, but failed to do so. During his service he fought in several battles and skirmishes, among them being Shelbina, Lexington, Pea Ridge, Mo., Corinth, Miss., and then returned home. He was the first judge of Knox County, and was one of three appointed to organize Scotland and Knox Counties. They met at Millport, and selected Sandhill as a temporary meeting place. In 1846 he was appointed director of the State Bank at Palmyra by the State Legislature, and served as such until the bank closed. In 1858 he was elected to the same position by the directors of the La Grange State Bank, and served until the war. In 1872 he became director of the Knox County Savinge Bank, and was immediately elected president of that institution, which position he now holds. In 1874 he represented the people in the General Assembly. September 15, 1836, he mar- ried Miss Hettie W. Sadler, daughter of Jerry and Polly Sadler, and a native of Princeton, Gibson Co., Ind., born April 22, 1822. This marriage has been blessed with seven children: Mary Elizabeth, Nancy B., Lucretia, Susannah D., Hettie, Willis E. and Joseph S. Mr. and Mrs. Anderson are worthy

992

BIOGRAPHICAL APPENDIX.

members of the Missionary Baptist Church, and for more than half a century have borne each other's burdens, and shared each other's joys. Early in life Mr. Anderson was a poor man, but by industry and good management is now well possessed with this world's goods. He is of a retiring disposition, and it was only upon the earnest and oft-repeated solicitations of his friends that he consented to be a candidate for political honors. He is a Democrat. His two sons share his political views and are well informed. They are greatly interested in blooded horses, and own some very fine stock. They are both unmarried.

Thomas V. Anderson, of Liberty Township, Knox County, was born in Boone County, Ky., February 18, 1829, and is a son of William and Martha ( Hines) Anderson, natives of Virginia and Kentucky, respectively. Thomas V. spent his youth in his native State and county, where both his parents died. He there learned the wagon maker's trade, which he followed until 1865, when he removed to Knox County, Mo., and a year later came to his present farm, three and a half miles northeast of Edina. This land which he had entered in 1854 he has since improved, and it is now under a fine state of cultivation, containing about 250 acres of as good land as the county affords. March 15, 1855, he married Mary A. Roberts, also a native of Boone County, Ky., and born June 11, 1832. Mr. and Mrs. Anderson have three living children, viz .: William B. (principal of the Western Academy of La Belle, Mo.), Benjamin L. and Thomas B. They have one adopted daughter, Eva B. Stephens. In pol- itics our subject has always been an unswerving Democrat, and was for a number of years a magistrate during the township organization, and was also school clerk of the township, about four years, in which positions he proved himself to be a faithful and efficient officer. Himself and wife are members of the Presbyterian Church, and are recognized as among Knox County's most honored and respected citizens.

Dr. Andrew Arnett, a leading physician of Knox County, is a native of Shelby County, Mo., and was born in 1854. He is a son of Micajah A. and Judith F. (Grees) Arnett. The father was born in Kentucky in 1830, but from there went to Shelby County, Mo., where he was reared and married. He then en- gaged in farming in that county until his death, which occurred in May, 1863. Our subject remained in Shelby County until the spring of 1882, and received his professional education in St. Louis, attending lectures at the Missouri Medical College during 1881-82, and graduating from that institution in March, 1882. The following May he moved to Novelty, Knox County, Mo., where he has since resided, enjoying a large and lucrative

993

KNOX COUNTY.

practice, and standing among the leading physicians of the county. March 4, 1883, he was united in marriage to Emma McCoy, daughter of O. B. and Martha McCoy. To this union two daughters, Fledah and Zeta L., have been born. Our sub- ject is an active Democrat, and is greatly interested in his party, and the general welfare of the country, but has never aspired to political honors. He is an honorable and worthy member of the Christian Church, and takes great interest in educational matters, also contributing largely to all laudable public enterprises. He is of high standing in the community in which he resides, and is regarded as one of its eminent and successful citizens.

Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.

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 98

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