USA > Missouri > Lincoln County > History of Lincoln County, Missouri, from the earliest time to the present > Part 55
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the Federal lines. Just at this time he received a letter from his father asking him to come home and take charge of the farm. He did so, and began rearing and shipping stock. He soon purchased a farm, and now has a fine lot of land consisting of 700 acres, all of which he has acquired since he was thirty years of age. His marriage with Mrs. Mary S. (Moore) Frank was celebrated November 21, 1883. She was born in Indiana, July 22, 1843. She, as well as Mr. Sullenger, is a member of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church, and he has always been a Democrat, and is a Chapter Mason.
Eugene L. Sydnor, D. D. S., was born in Troy, Lincoln, Co., Mo., January 24, 1853, and is the son of William and Eliza- beth J. (Crews) Sydnor, both natives of Virginia, he born in 1808 and she in 1818. After marriage they lived in their native State until 1835, when they moved to Troy, Mo., and passed the balance of their days there. The father was a first-class busi- ness man, and was a trader by occupation, and a Democrat in politics. He died in 1856. Their family consisted of four chil- dren, three of whom are living, one son and two daughters. Eugene L. Sydnor was reared and educated in Troy. At the age of nineteen he began learning the dental trade, and in 1871 he entered the St. Louis Medical College, took two courses of med- ical lectures and a complete course in dental surgery, graduating in 1873. He then located in St. Louis, and after practicing for eighteen months moved to Troy, where he has met with well de- served success, and has received a liberal share of the patronage. In 1886 he married Miss Hettie R. Robinson, a native of Lincoln County, who bore him one son, who is now deceased. The Doc- tor has followed his profession in Troy for fifteen years, and the class of work he does speaks for his ability as a dentist. He is a member of the Christian Church, is a member of the A. O. U. W., and he is a Democrat in politics. Mrs. Sydnor is a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church.
Josiah M. Terrell, merchant at Auburn, Mo., was born in the " Old Dominion," May 20, 1840, and is one of eight children born to Lindsey L. and Mary (Smith) Terrell, who were also born in Virginia. They and six children are still living there. The other two are in Lincoln County, Mo. Josiah M. was reared
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on his father's farm and had good educational advantages. In 1861 he enlisted in Company G, Thirtieth Virginia Infantry, C. S. A., and served until the close of the war. He was in a num- ber of engagements, and while scouting near Howlet was cap- tured and held a prisoner for eight months at Point Lookout, Md. After his return home he taught school for some time and then turned his attention to stock trading. After his marriage to Leonora E. Luck, which occurred May 24, 1868, he started for the West in 1869, visiting Tennessee, Mississippi and Arkansas. The following year he reached Lincoln County, Mo., where he has ever since resided. After farming for three years he began merchandising in connection with the same, following the latter business in Burr Oak, Whiteside and Auburn. He began busi- ness in the latter place in February, 1888. He owns 450 acres of land, well stocked. All his property has been acquired since the war. He and wife belong to the Missionary Baptist Church, and he is a supporter of Democratic principles. He and wife became the parents of four children, but only one now lives, Emory, eight years old.
Martin G. Thompson is of Irish descent, and is the youngest of nine children born to John and Mary ( Wilkinson) Thompson, both natives of Kentucky, born in 1784, and died in 1864 and 1858, respectively. They were married in Warren County, Ky., in 1804, and located first in Missouri in 1828, and in Lincoln County in 1830. In 1831 the father built the house in which his son, Martin G., now lives. He was tobacco inspector while in Kentucky, but his usual occupation was farming. Martin G. was born in Warren County, Ky., in 1828, and in 1857 was mar- ried to Timandra Powers, and by her became the father of eleven children; Gentry, Lou (wife of John Bradley), Elmer, Cyrus, Charley, Houston, David and Vollie are those living. Mr. Thompson was in the merchandise business from 1856 to 1868, but since then has lived on the old homestead, which consists of 230 acres. Besides this he has forty acres in another tract. He was previously a Whig in politics, but since the war has been a Democrat. He and three children are members of the Method- ist Church, and his wife and three other children are members of the Baptist Church. Mrs. Thompson's parents, Edward and
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Mary Powers, were born in Virginia in 1796 and 1799, respect- ively, and were reared in Kentucky. They became residents of Lincoln County, Mo., in 1830, and there spent the remainder of their days.
William Thomas Thurmond, editor and proprietor of the Troy Herald, was born in Prairieville, Pike Co., Mo., June 23, 1839, and is a son of George W. and Frances A. (Shaw) Thurmond, both of whom were born in Virginia. The father's birth occurred in 1815, in Nelson County. When about sixteen years of age he came to Missouri with his parents, and located in Pike County, where he was for several years a farmer and dealer in tobacco. He also for many years manufactured tobacco in Prairieville, Louisiana and St. Louis, Mo., and before the war was mayor of Louisiana for several years, and was for some time county judge. He was also president of the St. Louis Tobacco Association. His family consisted of three children, two of whom are living, Prof. C. M. B. Thurmond and William Thomas. After the mother's death, which occurred in St. Louis in 1846, Mr. Thurmond re- turned to Pike County, and in 1847 married Frances A. M. Appleberry, by whom he had five children who lived to be grown. He was a Democrat in politics, and died in 1885. William T. was educated in the High School of Louisiana and at Bethany College, West Virginia, graduating from the latter institution in 1860. After working at the tobacco business until 1865 he went to Memphis, Tenn., where he was engaged in the wholesale tobacco business until 1870, shortly after which time he turned his attention to teaching. In 1873 he and his brother took charge of the Christian Institute, and organized the public and high school in Troy, inducing the directors to rent that year and buy the building and grounds the next. They ran it very successfully for three sessions, giving a pronounced im- pulse to higher education in the county. In 1876 he purchased one-half interest in the Troy Herald, and two years later became sole proprietor. August 10, 1874, he married Harriet E. Moore, a daughter of Fountain Moore, one of the early settlers of Lin- coln County. She was born April 10, 1852, and was educated in the Convent of the Sacred Heart at St. Charles, Mo. Seven children were born to them, but only three are living. Mrs.
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Thurmond died December 22, 1887. She was a faithful wife and mother, and was an earnest and devoted member of the Catholic Church.
George S. Townsend, one of the proprietors of the Troy Free Press, was born near Fulton, Mo., November 11, 1859, and is a son of Eli and Margaret C. (Kelly) Townsend, who were born in Bradford, England, and Utica, N. Y., respectively. The father came to America when a young man, and located at Utica, N. Y., where he and Miss Kelly met and married. They afterward moved to Fulton, where the father engaged in business. He is present mayor of Fulton, which position he has held for a num- ber of years. He and wife are members of the Presbyterian Church, and he is a Republican in his political views. They became the parents of seven children. George S. Townsend was educated in the public schools, and at the age of seventeen years entered a printing office at Fulton, where he worked until 1880, at which time he became foreman of the Troy Free Press, and later local editor. In February, 1888, he became one of the firm. He is a supporter of Democratic principles and is a Royal Arch Mason.
Ephraim Trail is a native of Lincoln County, Mo., born in 1834, and is a son of John Rollins and Rachel (Cannon) Trail, who were born in Kentucky and Tennessee, respectively. The father came to Missouri at an early day, and settled in the woods near New Hope, being one of the pioneer farmers of the county. His wife died about 1880. Ephraim is the seventh of twelve children, three now living: J. W., of Colorado; Thomas B., of Vernon County, Mo., and Ephraim, whose name heads this sketch. The latter was educated in the old log school-house and at home. He lived with his parents until twenty-one years of age, and after working for his brother, J. W., for some time went to Kentucky, and was overseer of a plantation in that State for eleven years. After living in Colorado for some time he located in Vernon County, where he was engaged for about nine years in farming and stock raising. He has lived in Lincoln County three years, where he has 126 acres of good land near New Hope. Kate Wilson became his wife in 1887. She is a member of the Baptist Church, and is a daughter of Robert and Diana
1
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Wilson. Mr. Trail votes the Democratic ticket, and his first presidential vote was cast for Buchanan in 1856.
Benjamin Milton Vance, farmer, stock raiser, and a native of Lincoln County, Mo., was born May 7, 1829, and is the ninth of twelve children born to Benjamin and Margaret (Lindsay) Vance, who were born in Virginia and Kentucky in 1780 and 1790, and died in Missouri in 1848 and 1843, respectively. The father moved to Kentucky in 1810, was married the following year, and in 1827 came to Lincoln County, where he became an extensive and prosperous farmer. His father, Samuel Vance, was born in Scotland, and when a young man came to the United States, locating in Virginia, where he married an Irish lady. He was a colonel in the French and Indian Wars under Washington. Benjamin Milton Vance was educated in the primitive log school- houses of Lincoln County, but in 1849 emigrated to Wisconsin, and engaged in the mercantile business, and in 1850 went to California in quest of gold, and spent four years in the gold region of that State. He then returned to Wisconsin, and soon after to Lincoln County, where he now resides. He is owner of the old Vance homestead, which contains 700 acres of fine land; is a Democrat and a demitted Mason. In May, 1855, he was married to Virginia A., daughter of Francis and Malinda Har- vey, whose sketch appears in another part of this work. By this union two children were born, Charles C., who died March 2, 1858, and Frannie M., wife of Prof. W. J. Seaman. They are all members of the Baptist Church.
Dr. James A. Ward, of Troy, Lincoln Co., Mo., the sub- ject of this sketch, is the son of John and Rebekah ( Perkins) Ward, his mother being a sister of Walton Perkins, deceased, whose sketch is to be found in another part of this history. Both parents were born in Lincoln County, N. C., his father in 1795, and his mother in 1798. They were married when very young, and in 1818 moved to Lincoln County, Mo., the country then being new and almost unbroken. His father was a farmer all his life, and in politics a Democrat. His mother, in early life, joined the Methodist Episcopal Church, but afterward united with the Primitive Baptist, of which she was a consistent member for about thirty-five years. Eleven children were born to this union,
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HISTORY OF LINCOLN COUNTY.
ten reaching years of maturity. In 1840 the father died, leaving a family of small children, and but little property; but the mother, with characteristic determination, reared this family to be respectable and useful citizens. She died in her eighty- second year at the home of her son, Dr. James A. Ward, by whom she was well cared for. Dr. Ward was the fifth child born to his parents, his birth occurring in Lincoln County, Mo., July 20. 1826. His early educational advantages were almost wholly wanting. After reaching years of maturity, however, he edu- cated himself. From the age of fourteen to seventeen years, his health being bad, he was sent by his mother to West Tennessee, where he resided with a friend for nearly a year, and having re- covered his health returned to his home in Missouri. He went to Wisconsin in 1845, where he followed mining, clerking, etc., returned to Troy, Mo., in 1849, and engaged as a clerk in a dry goods store, for a year or so, and then embarked in the dry goods business for himself; but being unsuccessful, he accepted a position as deputy clerk for both county and circuit courts, which position he held for over two years. He was married September 10, 1851, to Miss Virginia Hamilton, a native of Lin- coln County, Mo. To this union were born two sons and a daughter. Mr. Ward commenced the study of medicine in 1853, at the same time filling the positions of deputy county and circuit clerk; attended his first course of medical lectures at the St. Louis Medical College in 1855-56; practiced medi- cine for a time in the interval, and graduated from that institu- tion in 1860, and since then he has enjoyed a good practice at Troy. In 1857 he was appointed clerk of the county court, by Gov. Jackson, to fill a vacancy caused by the death of N. H. Merriwether, and held the office until after the next general election, a period of about one year. During the late war he held the office of post surgeon at Troy for most of the time, and was for some time professor of chemistry in the Troy Christian In- stitute. In 1868 the Doctor lost his first wife, and four years later married Miss Sarah C. Worsham, also a native of Troy. He, as well as his present wife, is a member of the Presbyterian Church, as was also his first. He is a Democrat in politics, a Mason, a member of the State Medical Association, and one of the oldest practicing physicians in this part of the State.
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Alfred Weeks is the youngest of seven children, and was born in Shelby County, Ky., October 29, 1833, the son of Alfred and Clarissa (Dowdle) Weeks, who were born in Virginia and died in Kentucky and Missouri, in 1833 and 1879, respectively. The father was a teamster by occupation, and a Whig in politics. In 1851 the widow and her children came to Lincoln County, and settled near Auburn on a farm. Owing to his father's early death Alfred received but little schooling, but aided his mother on the farm. At the age of nineteen years he began the battle of life for himself and followed carpentering for about a year, but not liking the work he returned to farming and has since contin- ued that occupation, and is now the owner of 240 acres of valua- ble land. He has been a hard working man all his life, and as a result has met with good success. In 1855 he was married to Martha E. Mounce, who was born in St. Louis County, Mo., Feb- ruary 27, 1838, and became the mother of ten children, eight of whom are living. Mr. and Mrs. Weeks are members of the Cum- berland Presbyterian Church. Mrs. Weeks' parents were Henry H. and Edith (Davidson) Mounce, who were natives of Ken- tucky and Virginia, respectively. They were married in St. Louis County, Mo., and came to Lincoln County in 1844. They were the parents of three children. The mother died in 1840, and the father married Louranie Sitton, who bore him two children. After her death he married Ann E. Downing, and by her is the father of eight children. He was a Democrat, and died in 1880.
Henry Wehrmann is the eldest of seven sons, and was born in Lippe Detmoldt, Germany, April 25, 1837, where his parents, Christian and Caroline (Drunert) Wehrmann, were also born, the former in 1796 and the latter in 1816. The father was a well-to- do farmer in the old country, and sailed with his family to Amer- ica in 1848, so that his sons might escape military life. He locat- ed in Warren County, Mo., and there spent the remainder of his life, dying in 1860. His widow is still living and resides on the old homestead. They were members of the Methodist Episcopal Church. Henry Wehrmann received a limited education in both English and German, and after remaining at home until 1864 was married to Mina Niehuss, who was born in Hanover, Germany, October 16, 1839. She came to America with her parents when
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HISTORY OF LINCOLN COUNTY.
about thirteen years of age, and by Mr. Wehrmann is the mother of three sons and three daughters. Mr. Wehrmann supports the principles of the Republican party, and is one of the successful farmers of the county. He owns over 800 acres of land, the most of which he has made by his own efforts. He and wife belong to the Methodist Episcopal Church.
John C. Wells is a son of Eli and Nancy (Neff) Wells, who were born on the Ohio River in West Virginia, the former in 1797, and the latter in 1803. They made their home in that State throughout life. The father was a farmer and Whig, and died in 1854. His wife died in 1885. John C. Wells is the eldest of their twelve children. He was born November 8, 1823, and his boyhood days were spent in attending school, and assist- ing his parents on the farm. At the age of twenty-one he left home, and for fifteen years worked on the river, first on flat and keel boats, then as clerk on a steamer, and later as pilot on a steamer, serving in the latter capacity twelve years on the lower Mississippi. In 1851 he married Jane Horne, a native of West Virginia, born September 9, 1827, and by her became the father of five sons and one daughter. Thinking the farm the best place to rear his boys, he located in Lincoln County, where he became the owner of 580 acres of good land. Both he and wife are members of the Old School Presbyterian Church, and he was a Whig in politics while that party was in existence, but since that time has been a Democrat.
Benjamin W. Wheeler, judge of the probate court, was born in Lincoln County, Mo., May 12, 1847, being the son of Otis and Jane F. (Wallace) Wheeler, natives of New Hampshire and Pennsylvania, respectively. The father graduated from the West Point Military Academy in 1821, and rose to the captaincy of a company in the regular army. For about twenty years he was in the regular service. The foes with whom he had to contend were always Indians. While stationed at Jefferson Barracks he married Miss Wallace, who bore him seven children, four sons and three daughters. Resigning he came to Lincoln County, and here turned his attention to farming. He was a Democrat in politics, and died in 1871 at the age of seventy-four years. The mother is now seventy-seven years of age, and is a member of the Pres-
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byterian Church. He was of Scotch-Irish and she of Scotch de- scent. Their son, Benjamin W., was educated in the common schools, and at Wyman's City University, of St. Louis, where he attended about two years. Soon after he began to read law, and in 1869 was admitted to the bar. Three years later he was chosen prosecuting attorney for Lincoln County, holding the office two years. In 1878 he was elected to his present office, and has held this position successfully ever since. In 1873 he married Mrs. Edna Adams, and to this union were born two chil- dren, one son and one daughter. Mr. Wheeler has always been a Democrat in his political views, and is a member of the A. O. U. W. He is a member of the Presbyterian Church, and she of the Christian Church.
William Whiteside, retired farmer and an old and prominent settler of Lincoln County, Mo., was born in Shelby County, Ky., October 10, 1804. He is a son of Isaac Whiteside, who was born in North Carolina, and when a boy started with his older brother to Illinois, but after reaching Shelby County, Ky., Isaac refused to go farther. There he grew to manhood and married Linnie Ellis, a native of that county. Both grandfathers served in the Revolutionary War, and Grandfather Whiteside was a member of the North Carolina Legislature at the time of his death. Both Isaac Whiteside and his wife lived in Kentucky until their respective deaths. William Whiteside is the third of their four children, and when very young began to make his own way in the world, following the occupation of distilling. In 1828 he came to Missouri and located in Lincoln County, where he became the owner of about 1,400 acres of land-the result of his own industry and economy. He was a Whig in politics, but since the war has supported the Democratic party. The town of White- side was built on his land and was named in his honor. In 1829 he was married to Eliza A. Robinson, who was born in Shelby County, Ky., in 1810, and died in Missouri in 1856, having borne eleven children. Mr. Whiteside's second wife was Mrs. Sallie A. (Carr) Metcalf, also a native of Shelby County, Ky., born in 1816. She was the mother of six children by her first husband. His son, Isaac, was born in Lincoln County, January 21, 1832, and was educated in the early subscription schools. He was
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married in 1854 to Mary, daughter of Capt. John and Mary Ann Alloway, who were born in Shelby County, Ky., and came to Lincoln County in 1837, when Mrs. Whiteside was four years of age. Mrs. Whiteside is the mother of five living children: William, John, an attorney; Annie, wife of James W. Powell; Luella and Mary. Since 1856 Mr. Whiteside has lived on the old Capt. Alloway farm, which consists of 440 acres, all of which he has earned by his own endeavors. In the winter of 1861-62 he served six months under Gen. Price, and since the late war has been a Democrat in politics. He has been a member of the Masonic fraternity for twenty years (New Hope Lodge No. 199), and he and wife have been consistent members of the Baptist Church for forty years. His son Eugene, who died in March, 1880, at the age of twenty-one years, was a licensed Baptist minister with a bright future before him. He was preparing to enter William Jewell College at the time of his death.
George W. Whiteside, farmer, stock raiser, and a native of Lincoln County, was born December 12, 1843, and is the son of William and Eliza (Robertson) Whiteside. His early education was obtained under many difficulties, and when quite small he was compelled to walk three miles to school. He made his parents' house his home until 1864, when he enlisted in Shelby's brigade, under Sterling Price, and served until the close of the war, when he went to Mexico, and after a residence there of eighteen months went to California, where he herded sheep and farmed. In 1868 he returned home via the Isthmus of Panama and New York, and since then has been a successful agriculturist of Lincoln County, where he has a fine farm of 315 acres. His wife, who was formerly Mildred A. Baskett and a daughter of Judge H. N. Baskett, was born in Lincoln County, September 29, 1847. They were married in 1870 and became the parents of six children, four sons and two daughters. They worship in the Mis- sionary Baptist Church, and Mr. Whiteside belongs to the Knights of Honor fraternity.
John F. Whiteside was born near Whiteside, Mo., June 26, 1849, and is a son of William and Eliza (Robertson) Whiteside. [See sketch of George W. Whiteside. ] John F. was reared on his father's farm, but owing to ill health in boyhood attended
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BIOGRAPHICAL APPENDIX.
school somewhat irregularly, though as his health gradually improved he attended school after becoming grown. He has made farming his chief calling through life, and has a fertile and well improved farm of 315 acres. In 1873 he was married to Ruth C. Metcalf, a native of St. Charles County, who died in 1882, having borne three daughters. Two years after her death Mr. Whiteside married Mrs. Susan F. Mendleton, a sister of his first wife. He and wife are members of the Missionary Baptist Church, and he is a supporter of Democratic principles and is a member of the Knights of Honor fraternity.
James C. Wilkinson was born near Elsberry, Mo., in 1846. His parents, Joseph and Gabrilla (Watts) Wilkinson, were born in Tennessee (he in 1818 and she in 1816), and became early residents of Missouri, where they were married in 1844. The father died near Elsberry in 1867, and the mother in 1880. Mr. Wilkinson's father, familiarly known as "Uncle Jimmy Wilkin- son," was a soldier in the War of 1812, and was one of the early and prominent settlers of Lincoln County; he died about 1856. His wife died only a few years ago. James C. Wilkinson was the elder of two brothers, and was educated in the common schools, remaining at home until 1866, when he was married to Nancy Elizabeth, daughter of Robert T. and Julia Elsberry, whose sketch appears in this volume. Mr. and Mrs. Wilkinson have eight children: Joseph R., Bellezora, Udora, John M., Gabrilla A., James A., Laura Viola and Hettie Temperance. Immediately after his marriage Mr. Wilkinson went in debt for a piece of timber land, but has been very successful in the man- agement of his business affairs, and is now the owner of 248 acres of fertile and well cultivated land. He was in the mercantile business for some time at Elsberry, in partnership with Mr. Els- berry, the firm being known as Elsberry & Wilkinson, and was afterward partner in the erection of the flouring-mill at that place. Since then he has devoted his attention to farming and trading. In November, 1887, a fine large residence and contents, the accumulations of almost a life-time, were consumed by fire. Mr. Wilkinson is a very public-spirited man, and in his political views is a Democrat. 'He belongs to the A. O. U. W. and the Triple Alliance, and he, wife and two daughters are members of
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