USA > Missouri > Lincoln County > History of Lincoln County, Missouri, from the earliest time to the present > Part 48
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Francis M. Gear is a member of the mercantile firm of Anderson & Gear, of Moscow Mills, Mo., and is the only living member of a family of fifteen children born to the marriage of John Gear and Rhoda Meardy, who were born, reared and mar- ried in Virginia, and there resided until 1836, when they came to Missouri, and after living a short time in St. Charles County, moved to Warren County, where they spent the remainder of their days. They were members of the Primitive Baptist Church, and both died about 1843. Francis M. Gear was born in Henry County, Va., September 20, 1833, and owing to the early death of his parents received but a limited education. Since ten years of age he has been the architect of his own fortune, and has proved himself to be an honest, industrious, and worthy citizen. In 1853 he drove an ox team through to California, and from that date until 1867 mined successfully in California, Idaho and
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Montana. He then returned home, and turned his attention to farming, and by industry and economy became the possessor of 100 acres of good land, and is an equal partner in the firm of Anderson & Gear. In 1871 he was married to Mrs. Mary V. Gear, daughter of Thompson Shults, and widow of Joseph S. Gear. She was born in Rappahannock County, Va., January 12, 1831, and she and Mr. Gear became the parents of three chil- dren. By her first husband she was the mother of four children. Mr. Gear is a Democrat in his political views.
Rufus W. Gibson, farmer and stock raiser, is a native of Lin- coln County, Mo., where he was born March 3, 1825. He was one of a family of four sons and four daughters born to the mar- riage of Joseph W. Gibson and Matilda Wright, both of whom had previously been married. The father was of Irish descent, and was born in the " Palmetto State." He was taken to Ken- tucky when quite young, and there married a Miss Houston, by whom he had six sons and seven daughters. Eighteen hundred and eighteen is the date of his arrival in Missouri. After his wife's death he married Rufus W.'s mother. She was born in Kentucky, and there had previously married a Mr. Cofher, by whom she had four children. She was of Scotch-Irish descent. Mr. Gibson was a soldier in War of 1812, and was justice of the peace for several years. Both were members of the Primitive Baptist Church. Rufus W., their oldest child, received the rear- ing and education incident to pioneer times. He remained with his father until 1845, when Sarah F. Sheets became his wife and he began doing for himself. They were in very limited circum- stances for a number of years, but he is now doing well financial- ly, and has a pleasant and comfortable home. They are quite extensive travelers, and have seen both the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans. They are members of the Primitive Baptist Church, and he has always been a stanch Democrat. Mrs. Gibson is a daughter of Charles and Sarah Sheets.
John M. Gibson. The firm of Gibson & Eastman, dealers in dry goods, clothing, boots and shoes, hats and caps, etc., at Elsberry, Mo., was established in February, 1885. Their stock amounts to about $10,000, and their sales are nearly $40,000 an- nually. Mr. Gibson was born in Lincoln County in 1855, and is
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the youngest of six children. He received the education and rearing of the average farmer's boy, and remained at home until about fourteen years of age, when he went to New Hope, and be- gan earning his own living. In 1875 he engaged in the saloon business, continuing the same three years, and the two following years sold drugs at New Hope. He came to Elsberry in 1880, and after selling drugs for some time engaged in the grocery business, the firm being known as Gibson & Shipp until the pres- ent firm was established. He is a successful merchant, and is one of the honest and industrious citizens of the county. He is a Democrat, and a member of the I. O. O. F. He was married in 1878 to Ada B., daughter of John M. Hunter, and by her is the father of three children. Mr. Gibson's parents were Rufus E. and Nancy (Stallard) Gibson. They were born in Tennessee and Kentucky in 1820 and 1824, respectively. They came to Missouri when children, and were married about 1843. Mr. Gib- son was a farmer, and was killed at a house raising about 1859. His father was John Gibson, one of the pioneer settlers of Lin- coln County, where he was a prominent man in his day. Mrs. Nancy Gibson is still living. Her father, James Stallard, was also one of the early pioneers of Lincoln County, and, although & Democrat in politics, was a strong Union man during the war.
Benjamin A. Gililland is the son of Robert and Annie (Moore) Gililland, both natives of Kentucky, born in 1810 and 1809, respectively. The great-grandfather Gililland came from the boggy part of Ireland at an early day, and found a home in Kentucky. The mother's people were from Virginia, though of English descent. Robert Gililland and Miss Moore were mar- ried in Kentucky, where they lived until 1830, when they moved to Lincoln County, Mo. He was a blacksmith and gunsmith by trade, though he also carried on farming. During the Black Hawk War he enlisted, but peace was declared before he reached the scene of action. He was at one time a Whig, but after the dissolution of that party became a Democrat. He was a fine shot with a rifle, although he spent but little time in hunting. He lived to be sixty-six years of age. He was a member of the Mis- sionary Baptist Church, as is also his wife, who is still living, and is in her eightieth year. The father was a stirring, ener-
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getic man, and, although landing in St. Louis with but one dol- lar, he soon became the owner of 250 acres of land. Of the ten children born to their marriage (seven now living), Benjamin A. was the eldest. He was born in Simpson County, Ky., May 27, 1830, and the same year was brought to Lincoln County. At the age of seventeen he learned to make fanning mills, which occupation he followed for about fourteen years. For a year he was boss of an extensive shop in Cooper County. He then returned home and he and his father put up a shop on Lead Creek. He then turned his attention to farming. In 1884 he opened a store on his farm, which he operated for four years. In 1853 he married Miss Margaret Grimmett, who was born in Pike County, Mo., and who died without issue. In 1882 Mr. Gililland married Miss Phemia Snethen, a native of Montgomery County, Mo., and the daughter of Dr. A. Snethen, who preached the first Baptist sermon in Troy. Four children were born to this union, two now living: Maggie E. and Benjamin Alie. In 1872 Mr. Gililland was elected justice of the peace, and held that position about fourteen years. He owns about 306 acres of good land, is a Mason, a Democrat in politics, and he and wife are members of the Missionary Baptist Church.
John T. Gilmore is the son of James and Elizabeth (Ham- monds ) Gilmore, the former of whom came from his native State of Kentucky to Missouri after reaching man's estate. They were married in the latter State, and soon after located on the farm where their son, John T., now resides. The father was a Whig in politics, and was a soldier in the War of 1812. He lived to be about thirty-one years of age. His widow afterward married Richard Wommack, and died at the age of sixty-six years. She had one child by her first husband and eight children by her sec- ond. John T. was born on the 1st of August, 1830, on the farm where he is at present residing. At the age of nineteen he began working for himself, at $8 per month, and some time after was spent in chopping and rafting logs down the Mississippi River to St. Louis. By industry and economy he has eventually become the owner of 460 acres of land, and is comfortably fixed finan- cially. In 1851 he married Elizabeth Gililland, who died in 1870, leaving eight children. In 1871 he chose for his second
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wife Elizabeth Gililland, a niece of his first wife. This wife's death occurred in 1873. She left one child. The year of his marriage to his present wife, whose maiden name was Mattie Moore, was 1874. They have five children. Mr. Gilmore has always been a Democrat in politics, and from 1884 to 1886 held the office of county judge.
Taylor B. Green, farmer and fruit dealer, of Lincoln County, was born in Rappahannock County, Va., in 1828, and is a son of Moses and Harriet (Basye) Green, who were born in Virginia, and spent their entire lives in their native State. Moses Green's father was also a Virginian, and his father was born in England. Taylor B. Green is the seventh of sixteen children, and in his youth received a good common school education. He taught two terms in Virginia, and in 1854 came to Lincoln County, where he wielded the birch for some time. He followed merchandising and handling tobacco at Smith's Mill for some time, but the most of his life has been spent on his farm of 200 acres. Besides his farm work he has been quite extensively engaged in buying and shipping apples, handling, in the fall of 1886, 2,600 barrels. Soon after coming to Missouri he was licensed by the Methodist Episcopal Church to preach, but after following that calling for a number of years, was compelled to give it up owing to ill health, but has always taken a great interest in church work, and also the cause of temperance. During the winter of 1887 and 1888 he de- livered some able and instructive lectures on the bible. His marriage to Elizabeth J. Smith took place in 1855. She is a daughter of James and Elizabeth Smith, natives respectively of Kentucky and Tennessee, and by Mr. Green is the mother of three children: Anna E. (wife of Elder Jeptha B. Jeans), Hattie (wife of E. Gibson), and James M. Mr. Green is a Democrat.
William W. Haines, farmer, and son of Dr. Mathias and Elizabeth (Brower) Haines, was born in Rising Sun, Ind., May 9, 1837. His parents were natives of New Hampshire and New York City, respectively. The Haines family was among the first permanent English settlers of New Hampshire. The Brower stock came from Holland. Mathias Haines came to Indiana about 1815, and the mother of our subject a few years later. They were married in Lawrenceburg, Ind., but afterward settled
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in Rising Sun of the same State. He was a graduate of medi- cine, and was in active service for about forty years. He served as assistant during the War of 1812. He was a Whig until the late war, after which he affiliated with the Republican party. He and wife were members of the New School Presbyterian Church. The father was born in 1785, and died in 1863; the mother was born in 1805 and died in 1873. Their family con- sisted of eleven children, eight of whom lived to be grown. Their eldest son, A. B., followed in the footsteps of his father, and practiced medicine successfully. The youngest but one, William W., received his education in the schools of his native town, and afterward spent a year at Wabash College. For two or three years he clerked in a store, and then with two companions, started for Kansas. Arriving there in 1857 he took an invoice of his means and found that he had the modest sum of 75 cents. Having secured a quarter section of land by pre-emption, he re- turned to his home in 1859. In June, 1861, he enlisted in the Second Indiana Battery Volunteers, United States Army, and served over three years. He participated in twenty-six battles during the war, and was never wounded or taken prisoner. He enlisted as a private, and arose step by step until he was first- lieutenant, which position he held about two years.
He received his discharge at Indianapolis, in August, 1864. In 1866 he married Miss Jane S. Frank, a native of Henry County, Ky., born June 9, 1844. Their family consisted of eight children, six now living, three sons and three daughters. He was post- master of his native town for about three years, and in 1870 he moved to Kentucky, and the same year to Lincoln County, Mo., settling where he now lives. For about four years he held the office of justice of the peace, but refused to serve longer. He is a Republican in politics, a member of the Masonic fraternity, and also a member of the A. O. U. W. He owns 469 acres of land as the reward of his own industry and good management. He is doing a great deal in the way of raising fine stock of all kinds. He has the first and only imported Percheron horse brought to Lincoln County. Mrs. Haines is a member of the Christian Church.
Jasper Hall, of the firm of Hall & Walker, liverymen, was
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born in Lincoln County, Mo., January 30, 1853, and is the son of Nathan and Mildred (Parsons) Hall, both natives of Virginia. The father came to Lincoln County when about twenty-one, and the mother when a child. After marriage they settled near Troy, and there spent the balance of their lives. He lived to be about sixty-one, and she about forty-one. He was a Democrat in pol- itics, and both were members of the Methodist Episcopal Church. Six children were born to their union, three now living, one son and two daughters. Jasper Hall attained his growth on the farm, and received a fair education in the common schools. At the age of nineteen he engaged in agricultural pursuits for himself, and thus continued until 1886, when he engaged in his present business at Silex, keeping twelve horses. In 1878 he married Miss Almadia Walker, a native of Lincoln County, and the daughter of James Walker. To this marriage were born four children, three sons and a daughter. He has lived in this coun- ty all his life, and is a well-respected citizen, and a stirring young business man. He owns a fine farm of 120 acres near Troy. He is Democratic in his political views, and he and wife are members of the Methodist Episcopal Church.
G. A. Hamilton, farmer, stockman, and a native of Lincoln County, Mo., was born in 1841, and is a son of Wilson and Catherine (Kring) Hamilton, who were born in Virginia, and were there reared and married. They came to Lincoln County, Mo., in 1831, and settled in the woods near Troy. They im- proved a good farm, and there the father died in 1843, and the mother in 1864. They were Presbyterians, and the parents of ten children. G. A. Hamilton is the ninth child, and was edu- cated in the county schools. At the age of twenty-one years he began farming for himself and in 1867 was married to Virginia Hicks, a daughter of Milton L. and Paulina V. Lovell. She was born in Lincoln County, and is the mother of four children: Alla, Effie, Dona and Milton. Mr. and Mrs. Hamilton own a good farm of 420 acres about four miles from Troy, and are honest, upright citizens. He supports the principles of the Dem- ocratic party, and cast his first presidential vote for Seymour in 1868. His wife belongs to the Methodist Episcopal Church South, and his eldest daughter is a member of the Presbyterian Church.
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Elder Benjamin F. Hardesty, minister of the Old School Baptist Church, was born in Burr Oak Township, Lincoln Co., Mo., April 9, 1842, and is a son of George W. and Sarah (Taylor) Hardesty, who were born in Kentucky and Virginia in 1811 and 1806, respectively. They were married in Shelby County, Ky., in 1833, and came to Lincoln County three years later, settling in what is now Snow Hill Township, where they improved a good farm. Both are members of the church, and are still living. They reared seven of their eight children, and Benjamin F. is the fifth. He received but little schooling until after attaining his majority, and then spent a short time at Auburn, and after- ward taught school for several years. Eveline Overall became his wife in 1865, and their union resulted in the birth of twelve children, eleven of whom lived to majority: Sarah Lizzie, Annie M., Tully O., Nora E., Lucy E., Riley R., Susie F., George M., Willis B., Joseph W. and John F. Mr. Hardesty owns 400 acres of land, on which he has resided since 1866. At the age of fourteen years he was converted to Christianity, and in 1867 was ordained by the Missionary Baptist Church to preach the Gospel, which calling he followed for several years. In 1876 he united with the Old School Baptists, and was ordained a minister by that order, and since his early conversion has been an active and earnest worker for the noble cause of Christianity. In his political views he is a Democrat. Grandfather Capt. William Hardesty was born in Maryland, and was a captain in the early Indian wars. He died in Shelby County, Ky., and his wife died in Lincoln County, Mo., in 1863. The maternal grandparents, John and Nancy Taylor, were born in Ireland, and both died in Shelby County, Ky., of the cholera, in 1832.
Francis M. Harlan, farmer, was born in Scott County, Ind., April 2, 1831, and is the second of ten children, three now living, born to Joseph and Sarah (Kempton) Harlan. The father was a native of Kentucky, and moved to Indiana in 1818. The mother was born in South Carolina, and her parents moved to Indiana when she was but a child. Here Mr. and Mrs. Harlan were mar- ried, and afterward settled in Scott County, where they spent the remainder of their days. He was a painter and chair maker by trade, and both lived to be about seventy-three years old. Their
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son, Francis M., was educated in the common schools, and at the age of sixteen began for himself by writing in the circuit clerk's office, of Scott County, and there remained three years. He then began clerking in a store, and in 1854 he engaged in the mercan- tile business for himself. After running the store for about six years he engaged in the mill business. In 1856 he married Miss Mary Oldfield, a native of Indiana. Eight children were born to this union, three sons and five daughters. In 1867 they moved to Lincoln County, Mo., and here Mr. Harlan engaged in the mercantile business in Troy, where he continued until 1881. He is at present interested in farming and stock raising, owning 222 acres of land. He was deputy collector for four years, and is a stanch Democrat, politically. Mrs. Harlan is a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church.
George L. Harness, a successful farmer and stock raiser of Lincoln County, Mo., is a son of John L. and Elizabeth (Bes- wick) Harness, both of whom were born in the "Buckeye " State. There they married and lived until 1850, when they came to Mis- souri and settled in Pike County, where the father still re- sides. The mother's death occurred there in 1881. Their fam- ily consisted of seven children-five sons and two daughters- only four of whom are living. The eldest child, George L., was born June 9, 1850, and was reared and educated in Pike County. He made his home with his father until 1879, when he was married to Lucinda Strother, who was born in the " Old Domin- ion" and came to Pike County, Mo., in 1854. Three children blessed their union and are named in the order of their births: Nellie, Harry and Reuben. Since his marriage Mr. Harness has resided on his present farm of 280 acres, which is well improved. He is neutral in politics and his father is a Republican. His wife belongs to the Methodist Church South.
Nicholas A. Harvey was born in Nelson County, Va., in 1823, and is a son of Francis and Malinda (Damron) Harvey, who were natives of Orange and Albemarle Counties, Va., respect- ively. The father came to Missouri in 1829, and in 1831 brought his family here. He became a wealthy land owner and had 400 acres under cultivation at the time of his death. He died in 1860, aged about seventy years, and his wife in 1878, aged sev-
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enty-seven years. They were members of the Baptist Church, and were the parents of fifteen children, ten of whom are living. Nicholas A. was educated in the common schools and by his own effort secured a good practical education. In 1845 he went to Wisconsin for his health, and after clerking for two years en- gaged in the mercantile business, which he continued until 1850, when he returned to Lincoln County and followed the same occu- pation at New Hope for eight years. From that time until 1863 he was a merchant at Cape au Gris, and the following five years was traveling salesman for a Philadelphia clothing house. Since 1870 he has been residing on a fine farm of over 400 acres, and is one of the successful farmers of the county. He was married in 1854 to Amy J. Reid, and by her is the father of four living children: James, George R., Lucy M. (deceased), Caroline (de- ceased), Alex. R. (deceased), Lucy R. (wife of William P. Starks), Andrew, and Fannie F. (deceased). Mr. Harvey is a Democrat, and a member of the Masonic and I. O. O. F. fratern- ities. Mrs. Harvey's parents were James and Lucy Reid. They were formerly of Shelby County, Ky., and located on the farm where Mr. Harvey now lives in 1830. They were born in 1799 and 1808, and died in 1871 and 1886, respectively. They were among the early and prominent settlers of the county, and were members of the Associate Reformed Presbyterian Church. Mr. James Reid was surveyor of Lincoln County for a number of years, and also did a great deal of surveying for the government.
Henry Haverkamp, jeweler, of Troy, was born in Prussia, January 5, 1848, and his education was confined to the common schools. At the age of fourteen he began learning the watch- maker's trade under an uncle, worked for him four years without pay and boarded himself. In 1866 he immigrated to America to escape military duty, and for seven years after reaching this coun- try he worked for one man in St. Louis. He then went to Quincy, Ill., and here remained for two years. In 1876 he came to Troy, Mo., and after working for some time for different parties, in 1879 bought out his employer and has since conducted the business and is doing well. He carries as good a stock of jewelry as will be found in any town of the size of Troy. In 1881 he married Miss Aida Wright, a native of Lincoln County, and the daughter
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of L. C. Wright. This union resulted in the birth of three chil- dren, two sons and a daughter. Mr. Haverkamp began business a poor boy, but by persistent effort has risen to a place among the first business men of Troy. Politically he is a supporter of Dem- ocratic principles. His father, Frederick Haverkamp, was a native of Prussia, and in boyhood learned the shoemaker's trade, at which he worked until he was sixty-seven years of age. His mother, Lina Koch, was also a native of Prussia. Their marriage was solemnized in the old country, where all the children were born, two sons and a daughter. The other son came to America in 1867 and the rest of the family in 1871. The father died in 1886 and the mother is still living and is seventy-six years of age.
J. Bent. Henry, dealer in groceries, queensware, etc., was born in Millwood Township, September 7, 1841, and is the son of Simeon B. and Mildred (Roberts) Henry, born respectively in Virginia and Kentucky. After marriage they moved to Lincoln County, Mo., at an early day, and here the father followed farm- ing. He was a Democrat in politics and lived a quiet, irreproach- able life. They were both members of the Methodist Episcopal Church. Their family consisted of eight children, six sons and two daughters. The fourth child, J. Bent. Henry, was reared ou a farm and received a good common school education. Having left home he began clerking at Millwood, and this continued until 1886, when he moved to Silex and opened his present stock of goods, having the only exclusive grocery and queensware house in town. In 1871 he married Miss Martha R. Mudd, of Monroe County, Mo., who died at the end of eighteen months. Mr. Henry then married Mrs. Mary A. Brown, a daughter of Dr. Hayden, of Pike County. She only lived about two years. Mr. Henry is a Democrat in his political views and is a man well respected.
Don E. Hewitt, M. D. and druggist at Winfield, Mo., was born in Audrian County in 1857, and is a son of Elkana and Mary J. (Hawes) Hewitt, who were born in Oneida County, N. Y., and West Plains, Tenn., in 1812 and 1817, respectively. The father received a good common school education, and at the age of nineteen went to Monroe County, where he taught school
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for several years, and was married in that county in 1840. At the end of ten years he went to California, where he followed mining for about six years, and also sold goods. After his re- turn to Missouri he located in Audrain County, where he pur- chased a farm and began tilling the soil. He was the father of six children, five of whom are living, and Dr. Don E. Hewitt is the youngest of the family. The latter attended the common schools until nearly grown, and then spent three years in the State University at Columbia, Mo. In 1881 he graduated from the Missouri Medical College of St. Louis, and then came to Winfield, which was then just laid out, and here has since resid- ed. He was in partnership with Dr. J. A. Mudd until 1833, but since that time has practiced alone. In connection with his practice he has been in the drug business since 1882, first in partnership with his father, and now with his brother, the firm name being F. L. Hewitt & Bro. He was married on the 2d of April, 1884, to Lucy C., a daughter of Harvey and Hannah M. Bassett, natives, respectively, of Connecticut and New York. They were married in Ohio, and the father yet resides in Cuya- hoga County. The mother is dead. Mrs. Hewitt was educated in Youngstown and Oberlin, Ohio, and was married in her native State. She is a member of the Methodist Church, and the Doc- tor is a Democrat, and belongs to the I. O. O. F.
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