USA > Missouri > Lincoln County > History of Lincoln County, Missouri, from the earliest time to the present > Part 44
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VOTING PRECINCT.
Votes Cast Against Sale of Liquors.
Votes For Sale of Liquors.
Chain of Rocks.
19
119
Chantilla.
79
24
Winfield.
95
72
Burr Oak Valley
113
14
Brussells
104
12
New Hope.
125
16
Elsberry.,
175
61
Smith's Schoolhouse
35
18
Auburn., ..
62
12
Louisville.
88
59
Olney
73
56
Millwood.
55
62
Truxton.
66
52
Snow Hill.
41
44
Hubbard's Schoolhouse
34
138
Troy.
283
134
Richardson's Mill.
24
18
Whiteside.
85
18
Silex.
66
22
Total.
1,622
951
On the 22d day of September following the election, the county court made the following entries on the record of its pro- ceedings:
"It appearing to the satisfaction of the Court from the returns on file in the office of the county clerk, and from the official count made by said county clerk and two justices of the peace,
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HISTORY OF LINCOLN COUNTY.
and filed in this court, that at the special election held in the county on the 17th day of September, 1887, a majority was given against the the sale of intoxicating liquors in said county, it is therefore ordered by the Court that the following notice be inserted in the Troy Herald and the Elsberry Advance for four consecutive weeks:
"STATE OF MISSOURI, SS.
COUNTY OF LINCOLN.
"This is to certify that at a special election held in Lincoln County, State of Missouri, on Saturday, September 17, 1887, in accordance with an act of the General Assembly of the State of Missouri, entitled 'Local Option,' approved April 5, 1887, to determine whether intoxicating liquors, including wine and beer, shall be sold in said county, there were 1,622 votes cast against the sale of liquors, and 951 votes cast for the sale of intoxicat- ing liquors. Majority vote against the sale of intoxicating liquors, 671."
Under this decision of the people of the county, the saloon- keepers made preparations to close out their business at the ex- piration of the time for which they had paid the license fee, and now there is not a saloon for the sale of intoxicating liquors in the county.
BIOGRAPHICAL APPENDIX.
William Achor, a worthy farmer of Lincoln County, is the son of Abram and Nancy (Ellis) Achor, who were born respect- ively in Virginia and Kentucky. They moved to Daviess County, Ind., and there died at a ripe old age. Their family consisted of eleven children, eight sons and three daughters. Both parents were members of the Missionary Baptist Church, and the father was a soldier in the War of 1812. Five of his sons served in the Union army during the late war, and were in service three years, The eldest son, William, was born in Shelby County, Ky., in Sep- tember, 1824, was reared on a farm and received a limited educa- tion. At the age of twenty-one he began for himself as a farmer, and has continued that occupation ever since. In 1846 he mar- ried Miss Martha Sullenger, a native of Henry County, Ky., born in 1826. The same year of their marriage they moved to Lin- coln County, Mo., and he has made that county his home since. To their marriage were born six children, of whom three are now living. Mr. Achor has been both school director and road over- seer ever since coming to this county, with the exception of about two years. He was a Whig previous to the war, but now affili- ates with the Democratic party. He has lived in this county for forty-two years, is accounted a good farmer and citizen, owns 260 acres of good land, and he and wife are members of the Mis- sionary Baptist Church.
Reid Alexander, farmer and stock raiser of Lincoln County, Mo., was born in Shelby County, Ky., in 1827, and is a son of
500
STATE OF MISSOURI.
John and Anna (Reid) Alexander, who were born in the same county and State as their son, and there lived until 1833, when they came to Lincoln County, Mo., and settled on a farm, where the father died soon after, it is supposed about 1835. His grand- father, James Alexander, was born in Virginia, and was of Scotch- Irish descent. His father, also named James, came from Ireland to America and located where Philadelphia now is. John Alex- ander, an uncle of our subject, was a soldier in the War of 1812, and his half brother, Archibald Alexander, was an eminent divine of Virginia, and was a man of great literary ability. Mrs. Anna Alexander died in 1851. Reid Alexander is the youngest of her five children, and his educational advantages were limited to the country schools. He was married in 1847 to Sarah J., a daugh- ter of Cyrus and Jane Finley, of Kentucky, and by her became the father of six children: Jennie (deceased), Anna (wife of William Shannon), Bettie, Matie, Hadassah and Lou. He owns a good and well cultivated farm of 240 acres, and takes consider- able interest in stock raising. He is a Democrat in politics and he and wife are members of the Associate Reformed Presbyterian Church of the South.
John J. Alexander is a cousin and son-in-law of Reid Alex- ander. He was born in Lincoln County, Mo., in 1832, and is a. son of Samuel and Ann R. (Shannon) Alexander, who were born in Virginia and Tennessee, respectively, the former born in 1798, and the latter in 1800. He was married in Shelby County, Ky., about 1820, and in 1831 came to Lincoln County, Mo., where he died in 1854, and the mother in 1872. John J. is their only child that is living. He was educated in the common schools, and from 1879 until 1882 was in the drug business at Troy. Up, to this time he was engaged in stock raising and trading, and is the owner of 526 acres of land, with 240 acres improved. In 1880 he took the census of Monroe Township. In 1882 he was. married to Janie Alexander, who died in 1886, leaving two daugh- ters, Estella and Jennie. Mr. Alexander is a Democrat and a. member of the Associate Reformed Presbyterian Church.
Joshua H. Alexander, recorder of Lincoln County, Mo., war born in Lincoln County, August 30, 1846, and was educated in the district schools of his native county. Upon reaching man-
501
BIOGRAPHICAL APPENDIX.
hood he began farming, but afterward turned his attention to merchandising, which occupation he followed for four years. In 1886 he ran for the office of recorder as the regular nominee of the Democratic party. In 1872 he married Miss Annie E. Nalley, a native of Lincoln County, and a member of the Christian Church. Mr. Alexander is a Democrat in his political views and is a mem- ber of the Masonic fraternity. His father, James Alexander, was born in Virginia, moved from that State to Kentucky and from there to Missouri. The mother, Julia A. (Dryden) Alexander, was born in Maryland, but when quite young moved to Lincoln County, where she married Mr. Alexander. Of seven children born to this union-five sons and two daughters-Joshua H. was the fourth. He has lived all his life in Lincoln County, and is well known and respected as a straightforward business man and a good citizen. His parents were both members of the Old School Presbyterian Church, and the father was a farmer and stock trader by occupation. He was also a Democrat in politics and died many years since. Mrs. Alexander is still living.
James H. Anderson, senior member of the firm of Anderson & Gear, of Moscow Mills, Mo., is a native of the county, born July 13, 1862, being a son of James and Mary ( Eckstein ) Ander- son, who were born in Kentucky and Germany, respectively. The former came to Missouri in 1829, and the latter when about eight- een years of age. The father was a farmer by occupation and also kept a country store for some time. He was a Democrat, and died in 1881 at the age of seventy-six years. The mother still lives and is about forty-eight years old. The eldest of their five living children is James H., who was educated in the common schools and the schools of Troy. He farmed and also bought stock and grain until 1885, at which time he built a store-house at Moscow Mills and stocked it with general merchandise. The following year Mr. Gear became his partner in the business and their union has proved a fortunate one, as they have met with good and deserved success. They are wide awake business men, and are perfectly honest in all their dealings. In 1885 Mr. Anderson was appointed postmaster of Moscow Mills, which office he has since held. He is a Democrat and was a delegate to the Democratic State convention. He also belongs to the Masonic fraternity, and
502
STATE OF MISSOURI.
in 1885 was united in marriage to Mina J. Henry, a native of the county, by whom he has one child, Mary J.
S. W. Avery. Among the citizens who have assisted in building up Lincoln County should be mentioned the names of Samuel W. and Martha A. Avery. The former was born Febru- ary 24, 1824, in Cincinnati, Ohio, and is the son of Samuel and Abigail (Fairchilds) Avery. Both parents came from the East, and located in Cincinnati, where the father followed carpentering. He died when Samuel W. was but three months old. Some years later the mother married again, and spent her last days in Yazoo City, Miss. Samuel W. Avery, the only survivor of a family of four sons born to the first marriage, went to live with an uncle, by marriage, at the age of four years. He was put to work in a paper mill when very young, and there he continued until seventeen years of age, never having attended school a day in his life. Seeing that the prospects for a rise in the world were not very flattering while he remained with his uncle, he de- termined to run away. This he did, and after roaming about for some time found himself in St. Louis. This was in 1843. With a keen appetite and nothing to satisfy it, he went in quest of a boarding place. A kind widow agreed to board him and wait until he could earn some money. He soon accumulated a few dollars, and with a little assistance purchased a horse and wagon. He then commenced peddling tinware. In 1844 he moved with his outfit to Lincoln County, Mo., and has made it his home ever since. In 1851 he married Miss Martha A. Sheets, who was born on June 29, 1833, in Callaway County, Mo., and who was the daughter of Charles Sheets, a native of Kentucky, born in 1796, though his parents were from Maryland. After reaching manhood Mr. Sheets married Sarah Edrington, a Kentucky lady, born in 1798. They moved to Callaway County, Mo., in 1830, and three years later to Lincoln County. He was a well-to-do farmer, a Whig and an active member of the Metho- dist Episcopal Church, as was also his wife. He died in 1868, and she July 3, 1888. Of their eleven children, nine lived to be grown. After marriage Mr. and Mrs. Avery settled on a farm. They became the parents of six children, only four now living, three sons and a daughter. One son, deceased, was a physician;
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BIOGRAPHICAL APPENDIX.
Omer H. is an attorney ; Charles D., a physician ; Samuel, a drug- gist, and Sallie is the wife of John E. Worsham, a grocer; all are located in Troy. Mr. Avery has always been a very liberal sup- porter of schools and churches. During the war he built, on his farm and at his own expense, a school-house at which were educated some of the able men of this part of the State. Before the war Mr. Avery was a Whig in politics, but since then he has been a Democrat. In 1881 he and family moved to Troy. He and wife are members of the Methodist Episcopal Church.
Omer H. Avery, attorney, and son of Samuel W. and Martha A. (Sheets) Avery, was born near Troy, April 3, 1854, and received his literary education in the district schools and in Troy. At the age of fifteen he began teaching, and followed this occupation for about eight years. He was principal of the schools at Auburn, Mo., for a time and also read law while there. In 1875 he en- tered the law department of the Missouri State University and graduated from the same two years later. Failing health deterred him from practice until 1879, when he began practicing with R. D. Walton, and was afterward a partner of Judge A. V. McKee, after whose death he formed a partnership with Charles Martin, which continues at the present. From 1880 to 1884 he was pub- lic administrator, and in 1881 he married Miss Kate Jefferson, of Montgomery County, and the daughter of Booker Jefferson. Three children were born to this union, only one, Clara, now liv- ing. Mr. Avery is a Democrat in politics, and he and wife are members of the Methodist Episcopal Church South. In 1888 Mr. Avery was the choice of the nominating convention for prose- cuting attorney of Lincoln County. Competent judges pronounce the members of the firm of Martin & Avery as among the first lawyers of the Lincoln County bar.
Samuel M. Bailey, M. D., a practicing physician and surgeon and a furniture and harness dealer at Elsberry, Mo., was born in St. Louis County in 1849. He was educated in the public schools of St. Louis, and in 1873 graduated from the Washington University. He then began the study of medicine, and in 1876 received his diploma from the St. Louis Medical College, which institution he had been attending for some time. He entered upon the practice of his profession at Frankfort, Mo., where he
504
STATE OF MISSOURI.
remained about three years; thence to Southwest Missouri, and to Kansas City, where he practiced two years. In 1885 he came to Elsberry, and since then has been a successful practitioner of the county. Since 1887 he has been in the furniture and harness business. He is a Democrat and a member of the A. O. U. W., and in 1872 was married to Kate Powell, who died in 1884, leaving two children. The Doctor took for his second wife Sophia Banteen. His parents were Clifton and Mary (Walton) Bailey, and were natives respectively of Virginia and Missouri. The former died in 1851, and the latter in 1881.
William T. Baker, school commissioner of Lincoln County, is the son of David W. and Matilda P. (Fitzhugh) Baker. The father was a native of Virginia, and in boyhood was brought to this State by his parents, who settled in Montgomery County. The mother was born in Tennessee, and moved with her parents to the last named county while still an infant. She here married Mr. Baker and became the mother of ten children, seven now living. The father was a farmer, and was also a trader in live stock. He was a prominent man in the county, having held the office of judge of the county court, and had been representative of the county, and he and wife were members of the Methodist Episcopal Church. He died in 1865, but the mother is still liv- ing. William T. Baker was born January 16, 1849, in Mont- gomery County, Mo., and after attending the common schools and an academy, he entered Bryant & Stratton's Commercial College, at St. Louis, in 1870. After finishing his commercial course he came to Lincoln County, worked in the county clerk's office, kept books, studied, and was admitted as an attorney to practice law, and for about eleven years taught school in that county. He then went to the National Normal University at Lebanon, Ohio, and completed the teacher's course and a course in civil engineer- ing. He then returned and taught mathematics and book-keeping in the Troy High School. In 1883 he was called to McCune College, Louisiana, Mo., where he taught mathematics and natu- ral science, and the following year he became connected with the Farmers' & Mechanics' Savings Bank, at Troy, as assistant cashier and book-keeper. He is an Odd Fellow and a Mason, belonging to the Blue Lodge and the Chapter. He is a Demo-
505
BIOGRAPHICAL APPENDIX.
crat in his political views, and a good man. In 1885 he was appointed to serve an unexpired term as county school commis- sioner, and was elected to the same office in 1887. He is highly competent, both as an educator and a business man.
William H. Baskett is a native of Shelby County, Ky., where he was born in 1841, being the son of Horatio N. and Almeda (Griffith ) Baskett. He is the second of eleven children, seven liv- ing, and was educated in the district schools. In 1870 he married Elizabeth F., daughter of William and Edna E. Sanders, natives of Virginia, but early residents of Kentucky and also of Lincoln County, Mo. Mr. Baskett is the father of three children: George V., Lemuel T. and Edna Effie. He rented land until 1877, and then purchased his present farm of ninety acres. In 1861 he joined Capt. Paul Penn's company of cavalry, Confederate States army, and was at the battle of Mount Zion. Since the war he has been a Democrat and is a member of the Masonic fraternity, New Hope Lodge No. 199. Mrs. Baskett's father died in 1858 and her mother in 1876.
Ex-Judge Horatio N. Baskett, father of William H. Baskett, was born in Shelby County, Ky., in 1809, and is the son of Job and Sarah (Mitchell) Baskett, both of whom were natives of Virginia. They were married in Kentucky in 1808, and the father spent the remainder of his days in Shelby County. He was a farmer and died in 1833. His wife moved to Missouri early in the fifties and died in Clark County in 1878, at the age of ninety years. The mother's father, Charles Mitchell, was a soldier in the Revolutionary War. Horatio N. is the eld- est of eleven children, and was educated in the subscription schools. He was married in 1838 to Almeda Griffith, and their union resulted in the birth of eleven children, seven of whom are living. In 1841 they came to Lincoln County, Mo., and located on a farm near New Hope, where he lived until 1886, and since that time has resided in New Hope. In 1846 he was elected justice of the peace and served eight years. In 1854 he was elected asso- ciate county judge, serving four years, and was again elected, in 1874, for six years. He has been an earnest worker for the cause of education, and has substantially aided all enterprises for the public weal. He was formerly a Whig in politics, but is now
32
506
STATE OF MISSOURI.
a Democrat. He and wife have been members of the Missionary Baptist Church for many years.
William Berkley was born in Benton County, Mo., in 1849, and is the youngest of five children born to the marriage of Samuel Berkley and Martha Powers, who were born, reared and married in Pike County, Mo. They afterward removed to Ben- ton County, and there the mother died about 1859. The father was a farmer, and in 1850 went to California and died soon after his arrival in that State. After his mother's death, William Berkley spent about two years with his uncle, Edward Powers, and then went to California; and, after remaining there some five months, went to Salt Lake City, where he spent nearly two years. He was in the military service there during 1864 and 1865, un- der Gen. Connor. After the close of the war he returned to Benton County, and in 1866 came to Lincoln County, where he married and has since lived. He owns a fertile and well culti- vated farm of 260 acres, and in his political views is a supporter of Democratic principles. He belongs to the I. O. O. F. His marriage to Nancy J. Worthington occurred in 1879. She is a daughter of Francis and Catherine Worthington. The latter's death occurred in 1856. The father is living with his second wife and by her is the father of three children. Mr. and Mrs. Berkley are the parents of five children: William Francis, Char- ley, Katie, Mary J. and Rhoda.
Ludwell C. Bibb, a farmer of Lincoln County, is a native of Amherst County, Va., born in 1836, and is one of eight children in the family of William and Jane (Pryor) Bibb, who were also Virginians. The father was born in 1810, and in 1856 moved to Marshall County, Iowa, but later located in Pike County, Mo., and is now living in Lawrence County, keeping a hotel. He was formerly a farmer, and has been married three times. His first wife died about 1848. Ludwell C. was educated in the common schools of Virginia, and up to 1861 made his home with his father. At that date he came to Lincoln County, where he was married a year later to Mary E., a daughter of Tarplin R. Mitch- ell, who was formerly of Virginia, but an early settler of Lincoln County. To Mr. Bibb's marriage were born seven children, five of whom are living: Addie (wife of Guy Damron), Blanche,
507
BIOGRAPHICAL APPENDIX.
Arthur, Iva and Lofton. Mr. Bibb has an excellent farm of 300 acres, which he has earned by his own efforts. He takes great interest in the cause of education, and votes the Democratic ticket. He and his wife have been members of the Baptist Church for over thirty years.
Elder Francis M. Birkhead was born in Lincoln County, Mo., in 1832, and is a son of Abraham B. and Joannah (Nixon) Birk- head, who were born in Loudoun County, Va., but were married in Nelson County, Ky., where they lived until 1830, when they came to Lincoln County, Mo., where they cleared a farm and spent the remainder of their days. The father died in Kentucky in 1849, aged about sixty-seven years. The mother died in 1873. aged nearly eighty years. The father was married twice, the first wife being a Miss Foreman, by whom he had four children. By his last wife he was the father of ten children, seven of whom are living. His son, Francis M., was educated in the primitive log school-houses of early times, only attending about three months during the year. He began farming for himself at the age of twenty, and was married in 1850 to Susan A., a daughter of William and Elizabeth Overall, natives of Nelson and Bullitt Counties, Ky., respectively, the former being of English and the latter of Dutch-Irish descent. Mrs. Birkhead was born in Bullitt County, Ky., in 1830, and made her home with her grandparents until eleven years of age, when she was brought to Lincoln County, Mo. She became the mother of eleven children, nine of whom are living: William N. (married to Eliza E. Nichols, Sep- tember 24, 1879), John D., Joseph B., Euphemia J. (wife of John W. Crune), Albert H., Joel E., Eliza C., Emma L. and Joan M. Mr. Birkhead is residing on the old homestead, which con- sists of 260 acres, and has been a minister of the Missionary Baptist Church for fifteen years, and now fills four regular appointments. He was licensed in 1872, and ordained a year later. He has assisted in organizing a number of churches, and has done much to further the cause of Christianity. He is a Democrat in politics, and is a member of the Masonic fraternity.
Robert E. Black, a hardware dealer and lumber merchant of Elsberry, Mo., was born in Alleghany City, Penn., in 1846, and is the youngest of four children born to William and Margaret
508
STATE OF MISSOURI.
(Elliott) Black, who were born in Scotland, where they were married about 1835. They came to America soon after, and located in Pennsylvania, where the mother died soon after Rob- ert E. was born. Mr. Black was a contractor and builder, and was a large property holder. He died in Keokuk, Iowa, where he had gone on business. Robert E. Black was educated in the public schools of Alleghany City, and at an early day learned the carpenter's trade. He came to New Hope in 1864, but soon after returned to Pennsylvania, where he remained three years, when he again came to New Hope, and in 1869 married Lucy J., a daughter of J. Nicholas Dameron, and by her became the father of four sons and four daughters. Mr. Black lived at New Hope, where he followed contracting and building until 1880, when he came to Elsberry, and has since followed the same occupation here. He owns 413 acres of land near Elsberry, some fine town property, and 100 acres of land west of the town; he also owns about sixty vacant lots in Keokuk, Iowa. He takes a great interest in the cause of education, and was one of three men who erected a fine brick school-house at Elsberry. Mr. Black is a Mason, and a member of the Masonic and A. O. U. W. fraternities, and in his political views is a Democrat. His present business was established in 1880, and the firm name is Black & Luckett. Mr. Luckett was born in New Hope, and was there reared and educated, and also attended one session at Foggy Seminary in Pike County. He remained on the farm until 1882, and then became a partner of Mr. Black's, at Elsberry. He is a Democrat, and a son of W. S. and Mary (Cox) Luckett, who were born in Tennessee and Virginia, respectively. They were early settlers of Missouri, and are still residing at New Hope.
Samuel J. Blakely is a native of Christian County, Ky., born in 1816. He was brought to Howard County, Mo., when an in- fant and was reared here, but his educational advantages were very few. In 1839 he was united in marriage to Susan E. Myrtle, a native of Howard County, and seven children blessed their union, six of whom are living: Sally Ann (widow of Jesse Tate), Hannah Ramsie (deceased, wife of Julius F. Cox), Olivia (wife of James Sanders), John William (who is in a stock commission business with his brother-in-law, James Sanders,
509
BIOGRAPHICAL APPENDIX.
in St. Louis), Mary Susan (widow of Job B. Ballard), Cornelia (wife of Thomas Riley) and Addie Belle. Soon after his mar- riage Mr. Blakely removed to Macon County, but in 1866 came to Lincoln County, and located on a good farm near New Hope. He is a Democrat and a member of the Masonic fraternity. Mrs. Blakely and five of her daughters are members of the Christian Church, Mrs. Tate being a Presbyterian. Mr. Blakely's parents, John and Hannah (Hardin) Blakely, were born in Georgia and Kentucky, respectively, and were married in the latter State about 1817, and came to Howard County, Mo., where the mother died, before the war, and the father after, in 1866, at about seventy-eight years of age. He was of Irish descent.
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