USA > Missouri > Lincoln County > History of Lincoln County, Missouri, from the earliest time to the present > Part 53
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Joseph W. Park, blacksmith and wood workman at Corso, Mo., is a son of Josiah W. and Barbara (Ingram) Park, who were early settlers of Lincoln County. The father was a farmer and chair maker, and both he and his wife were members of the Methodist Episcopal Church. He was a Whig and died in the prime of life. The mother was born in Logan County, Ky., and
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immigrated to Missouri when quite small. She became a widow at the age of forty-six years, und was left in very moderate cir- cumstances, but the husband, in his wisdom, bequeathed to her the little homestead, and by judicious management and indomit- able perseverance on her part, she brought her children up to manhood and womanhood and won for herself the admiration of all who knew her. She lived to a good old age. Their family consisted of ten children, six sons and four daughters. Their fifth son, Joseph W., was born in Lincoln County, Mo., March 13, 1850, and was reared on the home farm and educated in the common schools. At the age of eighteen he began working for himself, and in 1872 was married to Sarah E. Abbott, a native of Ohio, and by her became the father of two children, Minnie B. and Sadie G. In 1876 Mr. Park began working at the carpen- ter's trade, which he continued some four years, and at the end of that time began working at the blacksmith's trade and has con- tinued the same up to the present time. By close application to business ( unaided by a tutor ) and fair dealing with the public, he has become a good workman, and has the good will of all that know him. He has a good shop and a profitable business, and is the owner of forty-three acres of land. He supports the principals of the Republican party, and is a member of the A. O. U. W. He and his wife are members of the Methodist Episcopal Church.
Caswell P. Paxton, farmer and stock trader, is a son of Luke and Mary E. (Prewitt) Paxton, both of whom were born in Kentucky. Tradition gives the origin of the Paxton family in the United States, thus: Three brothers came from the highlands of Scotland and settled in Virginia. One of the brothers became separated from the other two and in time spelled his name Pax- son. The other two retained the old Scottish way of spelling the name. Later generations found their way into Kentucky, and when young, the parents of Caswell P. Paxton came to Lincoln County, Mo., and were here married. The father was a merchant in Louisville, Mo., and erected the best store building the town has ever had. Both he and wife were members of the Christian Church, and he was a Whig until the extinction of that party, and was afterward a Democrat. He lived to be forty-five
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years of age. His widow still survives. Of their ten children nine are living-seven sons and two daughters. Caswell P. Paxton, the eighth child, was born in Louisville, Mo., June 14, 1859. His early days were spent on his father's farm, but his educational advantages were limited. He has, however, acquired a good education through his own efforts. When about twenty- two years of age he began trading in stock and has carried on that business up to the present time. In 1886 he was married to Bettie N. Vaughan, a native of Pike County, Mo. She is a member of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church, and he belongs to the Christian Church and is a Democrat in politics.
Henry W. Perkins, cashier of the Farmers' and Mechanics' Bank of Troy, Mo., is the son of Walton and Louisiana (Green ) Perkins. The father was born in Lincoln County, N. C., Novem- ber 26, 1807, and when eleven years of age came to this county with his parents, who settled about two miles south of Troy, where they purchased a tract of land from the government. To make a payment on this young Walton was sent to St. Louis with the money sewed in his jacket pocket. This thirteen year old boy made the trip, paid over the money and returned-a triumph of boyhood! He remained on the farm until seventeen years of age, when he came to Troy and learned the tanner's trade under "Boss " Wing, with whom he remained until the last day of his minority. As he put aside his apron, at the close of the first day, he whispered to it confidentially-earnestly-" Now lie there!" With a capital of $63 he purchased a horse, and started for the lead mines of Galena, Ill., where he arrived with a lone dollar in his pocket. He mined a while with ill success, then sold his horse and came on a flat-boat to Clarksville, after which he walked to Troy. In 1834 he married Miss Green, who bore him one child, Henry W. With the exception of a short time spent in California, Mr. Perkins made Lincoln County his home, and made farming and trading in stock his chief business, although he followed mercantile pursuits and kept hotel several years. In 1873 he, with associates, organized the Farmers' and Mechanics' Savings Bank, of which he was president until his death, which occurred in 1885. His son, Henry W., was born in Troy, Lincoln County, Mo., April 21, 1835, and received his
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literary education in the Troy High School and in the State Uni- versity. He received his business education in Jones' Com- mercial College, St. Louis. After his return he engaged as clerk and book-keeper, being the first to keep a double entry set of books. His chief occupation in life has been farming and bank- ing, having carried on the former quite extensively. In 1874 he was chosen cashier of the above-named bank, and has been in that capacity since. Early in 1888 he was appointed to fill a vacancy in the county treasurer's office, made by the resignation of W. S. Bragg. Mr. Perkins, however, had been custodian of this county's available funds for the last fifteen years. In 1860 he married Miss Georgie Ritner, a native of Virginia, though reared in St. Louis County, Mo. She is an active member of the Presbyterian Church. To them were born seven children, four now living, one son and three daughters. Mr. Perkins is a stanch Democrat in politics, is a member of the A. O. U. W., and is also a member of the Masonic Fraternity, having gone as high as the K. T. degree.
James F. Pogue, of the firm of Pogue & Moxley, was born at White Sulphur Springs, Va., June 27, 1850, and is the son of William H. and Sarah E. (Brown) Pogue, natives of Virginia, where they grew up and were married. The father was a teacher and also a merchant. In 1858 they moved to Ralls County, Mo., and in 1870 to Callaway County, where they are still liv- ing on a farm. For about eight years he was justice of the peace of Callaway County. Both he and wife are members of the Old School Presbyterian Church. Five children were born to their marriage, the oldest being James F. He was educated in the public schools, also at Westminster College, of Callaway County, and at New London Institute he took the prize for making the most advancement in all studies in a depart- ment of about sixty. He then read medicine for some time, after which he engaged in teaching, being then nineteen years of age, and this occupation continued for nine years with good success. In 1878 he opened a family grocery in Wellsville, Montgomery County. In 1884 he moved to Whiteside and opened a drug store, but two years later took to general merchandising. In 1887 he was joined in business by John A. Moxley, and they
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carry the largest stock of goods in town, and are stirring busi- ness men. While teaching in Lincoln County he married Miss Maggie A., daughter of Judge S. R. Hoxley. This union resulted in the birth of four children, two sons and two daugh- ters. Mr. Pogue commenced in the world a poor boy, and has made all he has by his own efforts. He is a Democrat in politics and is a member of the Triple Alliance. His wife is a member of the Baptist Church.
George W. Pollard was born in Pittsylvania County, Va., in 1823, and is a son of John and Judith (Bortel) Pollard, and a grandson of George Pollard, who was of Scotch descent and died in Missouri. Grandfather Bortel was born in Virginia, and served seven years during the Revolutionary War. He died in Virginia. John Pollard is a Virginian, born in 1790, and was married at about nineteen years of age. In 1831 he located in St. Charles County, Mo., and some time after in Lincoln County, where he cleared a large farm. He was a soldier in the War of 1812, and died in 1870, being over seventy-nine years of age. His wife died in 1869 over seventy-five years of age, and both were consistent members of the church. George W. Pollard, the imme- diate subject of this sketch, was the fifth of eleven children, and received no early educational advantages. He began farming for himself at the age of twenty-one, and in 1846 was married to Serepta B., a daughter of James Blanks, of Virginia, who became a resident of Lincoln County, Mo. in 1831 or 1832. Mr. Pollard has lived on his farm of 230 acres since his mar- riage, and in his political views has been a life-long Demo- crat. His children are William Jasper, who is a traveling salesman for a St. Louis house; John N., a druggist at Spring- field, Mo .; Benjamin W., a farmer; Jennie B., wife of J. F. Hall, a farmer; Permelia, wife of W. H. True, also a farmer; Laura L., unmarried; G. S. Pollard, a teacher, and Douglas M., who is a farmer and lives at home. Mr. Pollard and wife, and all but two children are members of the Christian Church.
John W. Pollard is a brother of George W. Pollard, whose sketch precedes this, and was born in Pittsylvania County, Va., in 1830, being the seventh of the family. He was brought to Missouri when an infant, and in his boyhood days received but
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little schooling. After attaining his majority he began farming on his own responsibility, and followed this occupation exclus- ively until 1877, at which time he began merchandising at Chain of Rocks, Mo., the firm being known as John N. Pollard & Co., but two years later changed to Rellen & Pollard, and has con- tinued the same up to the present time. They carry a stock of merchandise valued at about $4,000, with a good annual profit. Mr. Pollard was married in 1875 to Virginia Hamilton, who was born in Lincoln County, and became the mother of three chil- dren-George O. M., Edward and an infant. Since his marriage he has lived in the vicinity of Chain of Rocks, and owns over 500 acres of land, all of which he has made by his own efforts. He has been a life-long Democrat, and is a member of the Masonic fraternity. His wife belongs to the Christian Church and is a daughter of Aaron Hamilton, a Virginian.
James and Lydia K. (Sitton) Porter are among the oldest settlers of Lincoln County, Mo. The former was born in Will- iamson County, Tenn., August 10, 1807, and is the son of David and Elizabeth (Hopkins) Porter, who were natives of Virginia and South Carolina, respectively. In early life the parents moved to Tennessee, where the mother died when James was about nine days old. He was taken by his grandparents and remained with them until about ten years of age. The father married again and moved to Missouri about 1810, where they made a settlement on Big Creek, within the present limits of Lincoln County. In 1836 they moved to Pike County, Ill., and here the stepmother died at the age of eighty-two. Her husband in 1849 started for California, and at Fort Hall dropped dead; he was sixty-nine years of age. He was of English-Scotch extraction, was a blacksmith and farmer by occupation, was a ranger in the war of 1812, and was a man of infinite jest. At the age of ten James was brought to Lincoln County, Mo., where he had almost no advantages for an educa- tion; six months in all would cover his schooling. At the age of seventeen he was apprenticed to "Boss" Wing, of Troy, to learn the tanner's trade, served his time, laid aside his apron and engaged in agricultural pursuits. March 17, 1829, he married Miss Lydia K. Sitton, who was born near Nashville, Tenn.,
38
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January 24, 1807, and who was the daughter of Lawrence B. and Rachel S. (Gibson) Sitton. Her father was born in 1785, in North Carolina, and her mother in South Carolina in 1776. They immigrated to Davidson County, Tenn., were married there and afterward moved to Warren County in 1811, and moved to their farm on Big Creek in 1812. The war coming on, Mr. Sitton left that place, secured a home within one and three- fourth miles of Kennedy's Fort, Warren County, and then enlisted in Capt. Callaway's company, serving fourteen months. After returning from the war he built a house near Auburn in 1816, and moved there the following year. He was a farmer all his life. The mother died in 1824 and he in 1863. He was magistrate for about twenty-four years. After marriage Mr. and Mrs. Porter made a settlement in what is now Monroe County, and in 1835 they returned to Lincoln County, where they have resided ever since. To their marriage were born five sons: James C., a farmer of Reno County, Kas .; William C., a farmer of Lincoln County; David D., a merchant of Paris, Tex .; John L., deceased, and George W., a farmer of Lincoln County. All the sons, with the exception of the one in Texas, are Republicans, and four of them were in the late war. George W. was cap- tain in the Union army; David D. was captain in the Confederate army; William C. was orderly sergeant in the Union army, and James C. was a private in the State militia. Mr. and Mrs. Porter are members of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church. When they were first married he had a horse and a cow, and she had a cow and a bed. They have seen almost every side of the wheel of fortune. Having giving their children a good start in life they still have enough to keep them in their old age. Mr. Porter cast his first presidential vote for John Q. Adams, was a Whig in politics, then a Know-Nothing, and is now a Repub- lican. When he first settled in Monroe County he had to go twenty-two miles to get his ax re-set.
Hon. Charles U. Porter, an early settler, is the son of Will- iam, Sr., and Mary A. (Duncanson) Porter, both natives of Fredericksburg, Va., born respectively in 1770 and 1777. In early life the father engaged in merchandising in Fredericksburg, and later purchased a farm in Culpeper County, which he cultivated
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until 1835, when he and family came to Lincoln County, Mo., locating on the bluffs of the Mississippi, but sickness of the family caused them to move further back into the county. In 1840 the father died, and the mother survived him fifteen years. While in Virginia the father was judge of the court of his native town. Both were Episcopalians, though they joined the Presby- terian Church in the absence of the church of their choice. He was a Whig in politics. In their family were six children, three sons and three daughters; of these four survive. Charles U. was the third child born to this union, his birth occurring in Fred- ericksburg, Va., October 2, 1815. He was reared on a farm and secured a good common school education. He came to Lincoln County with his parents, and has since made this his home. In 1849 he was chosen to represent Lincoln County in the Legisla- ture, and filled the office for one term. He and his colleague went to Jefferson City in a carriage, and at that session the grants were made to the Hannibal, St. Joe & Southern Pacific Railroad. In 1878 he was chosen county judge, and held the office four years. He was a Whig previous to the war, but since then has been a Democrat. Although a slave holder he was always a Union man. Mr. Porter taught school for some time, though his chief business has been farming. He owns 440 acres, and has made this county his home for fifty-three years. He is accounted a good citizen and a kind neighbor. He is a single gentleman, and a member of the Presbyterian Church.
Norman Porter, senior member of the firm of Porter & Crider, was born in Lancaster, Garrett Co., Ky., October 8, 1837, and is the son of William and Sallie (Richardson) Porter, who were born respectively in Kentucky and Tennessee. The father was a blacksmith by trade, and is now a resident of Lincoln County, Mo. He is living on a farm, and is in his eightieth year. The mother is in her seventy-fourth year. He was a Whig in poli- tics, then a " Know-Nothing," and is now a Republican. Both he and wife are members of the Christian Church. Norman Porter was the third son of nine children born to his parents. He was educated in the common schools, and at the age of eighteen he started out for himself, working on a farm, and with the proceeds thus obtained schooled himself. In 1859 he came to Lincoln
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County, Mo., and there, for ten winters, taught school. From 1865 to 1870 he engaged in farming, and in 1873 he opened a stock of goods at Olney, Lincoln Co., where he continued until 1883. The following year he came to Silex and opened the largest stock of goods in the place. In 1869 and 1870 he was assessor. In 1884 he married Mrs. Martha J. Gilbert, nee Jones, daughter of Rev. William M. Jones, a Baptist minister. She is a native of Montgomery County, and by her marriage became the mother of one child, Charles T. Porter. Mr. Porter is a Republican in politics, is a member of the Christian Church, and is a highly respected citizen. Besides the store the firm deals quite exten- sively in grain. Mrs. Porter is a member of the Baptist Church.
J. W. Powell and R. H. Womack are the proprietors of the Elsberry Advance, which paper was established in 1880. Mr. Powell was born near Troy in 1855, and is a son of Watson and Sarah W. (Zimmerman) Powell, who were born in Halifax County, Va., and Lincoln County, Mo., in 1821 and 1837, re- spectively. They were married in Lincoln County in 1852, and there the father still lives, a well-to-do farmer. The mother died in 1870. J. W. Powell attended the common schools and the schools of Troy, and in 1878 began the study of law, and was admitted to the bar a year later. He became a member of the law firm of Walton, Avery & Powell, and later of the firm of McKee, Avery & Powell. In 1880 he came to Elsberry, and the following year purchased an interest in the Elsberry Advance, with which paper he has since been connected. He also con- tinues his law practice and has met with good success. In 1881 he was married to Annie, a daughter of Isaac and Mary White- side, and two children have blessed their union. Mr. Powell is a supporter of the principles of the Democratic party, and is a member of the I. O. O. F. and A. O. U. W.
R. H. Womack was born in Mansfield, La., October 31, 1853, and is a son of H. H. and Jane A. (Carr) Womack, who were native Virginians. They were married in Alabama, but spent the greater part of their lives in Louisiana. H. H. Womack was a successful lawyer, and was for some time sheriff of De Soto Parish, La. He served in the Confederate army, and died about
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the year 1874; he is buried at Mansfield. The mother is still living and resides at Houston, Tex. R. H. Womack was educated at private schools, and learned the printer's trade at New Orleans, at which he worked in different parts of the country for some time. For the past eight years he has been engaged as an edi- torial writer on Missouri newspapers, and is a stanch Democrat in principle. He bought into the Elsberry Advance in July, 1887, since which time he has, jointly with Mr. Powell, edited and published that paper. Mr. Womack was married in 1880 to Susie E. Megown, daughter of Judge John Megown, of New London, Ralls County, and by her he is the father of three chil- dren, two boys and one girl.
George Pratt, grocer, of Troy, was born in Callaway County, Mo., February 9, 1852, and was reared to agricultural pursuits, being educated in the log school-houses. At the age of seven- teen he began clerking, and continued this occupation for seven years. He then opened a general store at Medora, Osage County, Mo., but only remained there until 1879, when he moved to Troy, and has since been engaged in the grocery business, meeting with fair success. Mr. Pratt started a poor boy, and by his own efforts has made all he has. He is well respected by all who know him, and is scrupulously honest in all his dealings. In 1885 he mar- ried Miss Clara Sedlack, daughter of Martin and Mary (Cassidy ) Sedlack, who are natives of Bohemia and Ireland, respectively, and who left their native country and immigrated to America when young. To Mr. and Mrs. Pratt was born one daughter, who was named Lillian. Mr. Pratt is a Democrat in his political views.
Robert Chandler Prewitt, M. D., is a son of Robert C. and Elizabeth M. (Elgin) Prewitt, who were born in Virginia and Maryland, respectively. They were early residents of Kentucky, and there the father first married a Miss Garth, who bore him a son. After her death he married Miss Elgin, and by her became the father of eight children, five sons and three daughters. He was a farmer and a soldier in the War of 1812, and in his politi- cal views was a Democrat. He became a resident of Lincoln County, in 1835. He died in 1850. His wife lived to be nearly ninety years of age. Dr. Robert Prewitt is their second child.
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He was born in Fayette County, Ky., April 27, 1821, and was reared on a farm. In 1844 he began the study of medicine under Dr. Isaac Lee, and in 1845-46 took a course of medical lectures at the Medical College of St. Louis, and since that time has been a successful practitioner of Louisville, Mo. He graduated from the college in 1852. In 1850 he was married to Lucy E. Shaw, who died in 1858, leaving two children, one daughter now living. In 1860 he married Mary E. Elgin, a native of Georgetown, Ky., and by her became the father of five children, three of whom are living, one son and two daughters. In connection with his prac- tice the Doctor is interested in farming and is the owner of 250 acres of land. He is a Mason, and is well known throughout the county as a successful practitioner.
Benjamin F. Reed, clerk of the circuit court of Lincoln County, Mo., was born in Lincoln County, Mo., April 10, 1851, and is the son of James A. and Emily C. (Cobb) Reed, natives of Tennessee and North Carolina, respectively. They were mar- ried in Pike County, Mo., in 1838, and soon after came to Lin- coln County, Mo., and here made their home. The father was of Scotch-Irish and German descent, was a farmer by occu pation, and was a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church South. He was a Democrat in politics. His wife was a member of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church. Their family consisted of five children, three sons and two daughters. The father died in 1858 at the age of forty years, but the mother still lives and is now in her sixty-ninth year. Benjamin F. Reed was the third child born to this union. He received a meager education in the public schools of his native county, having to work hard on the farm to support his widowed mother and orphan sisters; but after arriving at the age of eighteen years he determined to have a liberal education, to which object he bent all his energies for the ensuing ten years. Being almost entirely without means, he worked on the farm and attended school, alternately, until he became competent to teach, when he continued to teach and attend school alternately, putting in one year at Westminster College, Fulton, Mo., and three years at the Missouri University, the last year having been devoted to the study of law. Failing health, however, caused him to abandon his profession, and in
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the spring of 1880 he returned home and entered a dry goods store as clerk, where he continued-in 1882 becoming a partner -until December, 1886. In March, 1882, he was married to Miss Nancy J. Motley, a native of Lincoln County, who bore him three children, two living, a son and a daughter. The same year Mr. Reed made the race for the office he now holds, but was defeated by 125 votes. In 1886, however, he was more success- ful, and entered upon the discharge of his present position Jan- uary 1, 1887. He is a Democrat in politics. He was a delegate to the State convention at St. Louis in 1884, to select delegates to the National convention, and also, the same year, was a dele- gate to the State convention at Jefferson City, to nominate the State ticket. He is a member of the A. O. U. W., being a Past Master, and is also a member of the Temperance Benevolent Association, of which he is now the Grand Treasurer, and was one of the original incorporators of Olney Institute.
John M. Reid, farmer, stock raiser, and a native of Lincoln County, Mo., was born in 1837, and is a -son of John and Matilda (Wallace) Reid, natives, respectively, of Shelby and Garrett Counties, Ky. They were both born in 1801, and after their marriage came first to St. Louis County, Mo., and in 1832 located in Lincoln County, where they spent the remainder of their days. The father died in 1856, and the mother in 1863. Both were members of the Associate Reformed Presbyterian Church. John M. Reid is the second of four children who lived to be grown. He was educated in the old subscription schools, and in 1866 was married to Martha E., daughter of James and Julia A. Alexan- der, who were born in Kentucky and Maryland, respectively, and came to Lincoln County in 1832. Mr. Reid and wife are the parents of seven children, and own a fertile farm of 200 acres near Brussells. Mr. Reid supports all laudable enterprises. Previous to the war he was a Whig in politics, later became a Democrat, and now affiliates with the Greenback party. He and wife are members of the Associate Reformed Presbyterian Church. Grandfather Reid was a member of the county court for some time while in Kentucky, and was also a member of the State Legislature. He died in Lincoln County in 1836.
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