USA > Missouri > Pettis County > History of Pettis County, Missouri > Part 50
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Mr. Houchen is a Republican. Mrs. Houchen and the children are members of the Methodist Episcopal Church. He is a member of the Modern Woodmen of America at Houstonia. Mr. Houchen is president of the Farmers Bank of Houstonia, and is universally recognized as one of the substantial, successful and enterprising citizens of Pettis County.
Henry H. Taylor, a farmer and one of the leading breeders of Pettis County, is a Kentuckian by birth. He was born in Bourbon County, Ken- tucky, November 27, 1855, a son of Frank and Sophia (Smith) Taylor, both natives of Kentucky, whose settlement in Pettis County preceded the Civil War. The Taylor family came to this county and settled in Bowling Green township in 1857. Frank Taylor, the father, was a prom- inent citizen and for years was active in the affairs of Pettis County. He
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took a prominent part in politics and served as a county judge for two terms. He was a member of that body when the present court house was built, and as such his name can be seen chiseled on the corner stone of that edifice today. When the court house was being advocated, there was much opposition to the move on the part of many of the taxpayers of the county. Judge Taylor favored the building of the court house at that time, notwithstanding the fact that even many of his own neighbors opposed it. The progressive element prevailed and the court house was built. He was held in the highest esteem by his neighbors and spent most of his life in Bowling Green township, after coming to this county. He died at the advanced age of eighty-seven years, honored and respected by the entire community.
Henry H. Taylor is one of a family of eight children born to his parents, of whom he is the youngest. Three are now living. One brother, Frank, has been an employee of the Missouri Pacific railway at Sedalia, twenty-five years.
Mr. Taylor is the owner of one of the valuable farms of this county. It is located in Prairie township with the exception of eighty acres which is in Dresden township. The home place is situated in section 10, Prairie township. Mr. Taylor is one of the successful breeders of mammoth jacks and jennies as well as Duroc Jersey hogs in this section of the State. His stock has frequently been exhibited at the State Fair with satisfactory results. Mr. Taylor is not only a successful breeder, but ranks high as a general farmer and has met with well merited success in this field of endeavor.
Mr. Taylor was only two years of age when he was brought to Pettis County by his parents. He was reared on a farm and educated in the public schools and remained at home with his father until 1888. He then lived on the old Wm. H. Powell farm near Smithton, about a year, when he bought his present farm. The improvements on this place were meager when he bought it and he lived in the old log house which was on the place until 1900, when he built his present commodious, modern home. He has improved his place and brought it under a fine state of cultivation until it is one of the valuable and fine appearing places in the county.
Mr. Taylor was married, December 25, 1889, to Miss Mary Owen. She was born August 1, 1871, in the eastern part of Bates County, Mis- souri, and is a daughter of Crayton and Mary Elizabeth (Haggard)
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Owen, both early settlers in Missouri and natives of Kentucky. They spent their lives in Bates County, after coming here, and are now de- ceased. To Mr. and Mrs. Taylor have been born the following children: Thomas Wallace, resides in Kansas City, Missouri, where he is engaged in the dairy business; Mary A., married F. L. Reed, Glasgow, Missouri; Nettie C., Lela, Henry, Frank, and Mary Owen, all of whom reside at home with their parents.
Mr. Taylor is a Democrat and he and his wife are members of the Christian Church. Mr. Taylor is one of the widely known men of Pettis County and is public spirited and progressive.
Hinton Gorrell, a prominent farmer and stockman of Prairie town- ship, is the owner of one of Pettis County's valuable farms. It is located in section 9, Prairie township, and consists of 520 acres. The farm resi- dence occupies a very desirable building site, overlooking the surround- ing country, and a commanding view of the city of Sedalia can be seen from this point.
Mr. Gorrell was born in Todd County, Kentucky, February 17, 1862, and is a son of John B. and Mary (Tab) Gorrell. John B. Gorrell was also born in Todd County, Kentucky, February 14, 1818, and his wife was a native of West Virginia, born February 9, 1820, and died in 1879. The Gorrell family came from Kentucky to Pettis County, Missouri, in 1852. This section of the country was sparsely settled at that time, and considered well on the western frontier. They settled just east of Hughesville, in Pettis County, after making the trip from Kentucky in an old-fashioned covered wagon, common among the pioneers of the early days. John B. Gorrell died in Pettis County in 1880. He was a devout member of the Baptist Church, and he and his wife were both faithful workers in the cause of Christianity during the early days here. John B. and his brother, T. T. Gorrell, built one of the early churches in Pettis County.
John B. and Mary (Tab) Gorrell were the parents of the following children : William T., was a soldier in the Union Army during the Civil War, and is now deceased; James J., also served in the Union Army, is deceased; Nannie, married Albert J. Harvey, and is now deceased; John B., who now resides at Windsor, Missouri, was a soldier in the Union Army; Van, died in Sedalia; A. H., retired, now living in Sedalia; Hinton, the subject of this sketch; Mary V. married F. Sterling and is now de- ceased; Joseph B., Prairie township; and Fannie, married Alfred Sterling, a merchant in Sedalia.
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Hinton Gorrell was about one year old when his parents came from . Kentucky to Pettis County. He was reared on the farm and received his education in the public schools. He has made farming his life's occupa- tion, except one year that he clerked in a clothing store in Sedalia. In 1883, he bought his present place and since that time has been success- fully engaged in farming and stockraising. He has also fed cattle exten- sively for the market, which he has found to be a very profitable venture. Mr. Gorrell is one of the live, up-to-date farmers and stockmen of the county, and has kept in touch with the rapid strides made in agricultural methods in recent years.
Mr. Gorrell was united in marriage September 1, 1880, with Miss Lulu McClung, a native of Pettis County, born in Prairie township, October 4, 1862. She is a daughter of John G. and Mary Elizabeth (Bar- rett) McClung, and a sister of the late Judge McClung. The McClung family were early settlers in Pettis County, coming here in 1854. To Hinton and Lura (McClung) Gorrell have been born the following chil- dren: Mary L., resides at home with her parents; Charles E., married Nellie Drexheimmer, and resides on the home place; Van, married Jessie Millard and lives on the home place; and Hazel, resides at home with her parents.
Hinton Gorrell is one of the progressive and public spirited citizens of Pettis County, and has made good. He stands ever ready to cooperate with any movement that has for its object the betterment and upbuild- ing of Pettis County. It is to the industry, enterprise and progressive- ness of such men as Hinton Gorrell, that Pettis County owes its place of pre-eminence among the political sub-divisions of the State of Missouri. Mr. Gorrell has been a life-long supporter of the Democratic party.
Charles L. Turner, owner and proprietor of the "Silver Maple Lake- view Farm," which consists of 500 acres of some of the best land in Pettis County, is one of the well known and successful farmers and stock raisers of this section of the State. Mr. Turner's ancestry dates back to the very earliest pioneer settlers of Missouri, who were among those sturdy adventures who crossed the unbridged streams and cut their way through the unbroken forests to make homes for themselves and their posterity in a new country.
Charles L. Turner was born in Marion County, Missouri, February 7, 1857, a son of Charles L. and Harriet (McReynolds) Turner. Charles L. Turner was also born in Marion County, Missouri, December 22, 1822, and was the first white child born in Marion County. He was reared
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amidst the pioneer surroundings of that day and obtained a very good education in the subscription schools which were held in the old log school houses of pioneer times. He taught school in early life and also followed farming. He died in 1865. Charles L. Turner was a son of Charles L. Turner, Sr., who came to Marion County, Missouri, in 1818. He was a Kentuckian and served in the War of 1812. He was one of the first settlers of Marion County and a minister of the Baptist faith. He was one of the early-day circuit riders of that section.
Harriet McReynolds, mother of Charles L. Turner, was born in Marion County, January 26, 1832. She died in August, 1912. She was a daughter of John McReynolds whose wife's maiden name was Henry. She was a direct descendant of Malcomb Henry and was born in 1811 and died in 1866. John McReynolds was born in 1802 and died in 1867.
Charles L. Turner is one of a family of five children born to his parents, who lived to maturity: John M., deceased; Samuel, resides near Hannibal, Missouri; Charles L., the subject of this sketch; Orion, Hanni- bal, Missouri; and Miss Josephine, Hannibal, Missouri.
Charles L. Turner was reared and educated in Marion County and in early life taught school two terms. He followed farming in Marion county until in 1885 when he came to Pettis county and bought his pres- ent place. At first he purchased 200 acres of land in Prairie township, and since that time has added to his original holdings until he now owns 500 acres. Here he carries on general farming and stock raising and specializes in raising Hereford cattle. Mr. Turner owned at one time, 800 acres of land, 200 acres of which were given to him and his wife by her father, Andrew Haggard. Mr. Turner has divided 300 acres among his children.
Mr. Turner was united in marriage February 7, 1883, with Miss Belle Haggard, a native of Pettis County, born February 3, 1857. She was educated in the public schools of this county and Lexington, Mis- souri, and taught school one term prior to her marriage. To Mr. and Mrs. Turner have been born four children as follows: Jessie M., who re- sides at home with her parents; Charles E., married Essie Callis and they reside in Prairie township; Orion H., married Edna Petty, and they re- side in Sedalia township and have three children; and Ruby, resides at home with her parents.
Mrs. Turner is the daughter of Andrew and Mary A. (Lewis) Hag- gard. Andrew Haggard was a native of Clark County, Kentucky, and
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came to Pettis County, Missouri, in 1835. He was a very successful man of affairs and accumulated considerable property and was well off at the time of his death. He homesteaded his first land in Pettis county and subsequently acquired many hundred acres, and at one time owned over 3,000 acres of land in Pettis County. He was an extensive cattleman and in the early days raised hemp, when the nearest market for that product was at Boonville, Missouri. He died March 1, 1887. His wife Mary A. (Lewis) Haggard was a native of Kentucky, born in 1813 and died in 1886. Both Mr. and Mrs. Haggard were consistent and devout members of the Christian Church. They were the parents of eight children, three of whom are now living as follows: Mrs. Anna Yeater, who resides near Sedalia, Missouri; Sarah Belle, the wife of Charles L. Turner, the subject of this sketch; and Judge Andrew L. Haggard, who resides in Sedalia.
Mr. Turner is a member of the Woodman of the World and his politi- cal affiliations are with the Democratic party. The Turner family are all members of the Christian Church, of which Mr. Turner has been deacon for the past seven years. Mr. Turner is a citizen of real worth and by his own success in life has contributed to the high standing of the com- munity in which he lives. He is one of the progressive men of Pettis County.
John T. Redmond, a progressive and well-to-do farmer and stock- man of Prairie township, is a native of Canada. He was born in Huron, March 24, 1869, and is a son of James and Rosanna (Murphy) Redmond, both natives of Ireland, who came to Canada when children with their respective parents.
James Redmond was reared to manhood in Canada and was married there. He followed farming there until 1871, when he came to Pettis County, Missouri, with his wife and children. He settled on a farm of 160 acres, north of Green Ridge in Prairie township. He was a frugal and industrious man and an upright citizen and good neighbor. He died in 1915, at the age of eighty-seven years. Politically, he was a Democrat, and he and his wife were communicants of the Catholic Church. She died in 1913, aged eighty years. They were the parents of the follow- ing children: C. E., resides in Sedalia township; Mrs. Catherine Mc- Grath, deceased; Elizabeth, deceased ; John T., the subject of this sketch; and Mary, married L. D. Cole, Columbus, Montana.
John T. Redmond was reared in Pettis County and educated in the public schools. He has made farming and stock raising his chief occu-
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pation, and is well known as the successful breeder of Poland China hogs. He owns a well-improved farm of 80 acres in Prairie township and is a successful farmer.
John T. Redmond was united in marriage in 1896 with Miss Josie Sullivan, a daughter of Michael Sullivan, who was an early settler of Pettis County. No children were born to this union. Mrs. Redmond died in 1898.
Mr. Redmond is a Democrat and belongs to the Catholic Church. He is a member of the Knights of Columbus. Mr. Redmond is a substantial citizen and is known for his integrity, honesty and industry.
Robert Ash .- A respected and industrious citizen of Pettis and Saline counties, although he has been deceased these many years past, was the late Robert Ash, of Heath's Creek township. He was born in 1834 and died on Nevember 7, 1879. He was born in Virginia, and was a son of George and Eliabeth (Hand) Ash, both of whom were natives of Virginia. A brother of Robert Ash, named Frank, had preceded him to Saline County, Missouri. Robert Ash served for a time in the Con- federate army, with Missouri troops, in the Civil War. He came to Mis- souri in 1859, and in 1867 he was united in marriage with Miss Lizzie Anderson, who resides on the splendid estate known as the "Pleasant Grove Farm," in Heath's Creek township. After their marriage Mr. and Mrs. Ash went to Saline County, and resided on the Ash farm in that county until after the husband's death. Mrs. Ash then returned to the old homestead of her parents in Pettis County, and has since resided here. She was born in 1846 in the house where she is now living, and is a daughter of George Anderson, a pioneer of Pettis County.
George Anderson was born in Louisiana in 1822, and died in 1880. He was a son of William and Margaret (Jeffries) Anderson. William Anderson was a son of George Anderson, who was born in Tennessee, on the border line of that State and North Carolina. The Andersons settled in Missouri nearly 100 years ago, and shortly afterwards the parents went to Louisiana, where George Anderson was born. Soon after his birth the family again came to Pettis County and made a per- manent settlement, thus being one of the oldest, if not the oldest, pioneer family in Pettis County. George Anderson entered free government land and built up a magnificent estate, which had the reputation of being, in his day, the finest in Pettis County. The old Anderson home, owned by Mrs. Lizzie Ash, is undeniably the most beautiful home in this section
GEORGE ANDERSON.
MRS. MARY ANDERSON.
ROBERT ASIL.
MRS. LIZZIE ASH.
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ASH RESIDENCE, HEATH'S CREEK TOWNSHIP. BUILT IN 1860.
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.......
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HISTORY OF PETTIS COUNTY
of the county. George Anderson came to Missouri with his parents at a time when the Indians were troublesome, and lived for a time in the neighborhood of the fort which the settlers erected in Cooper County. William Anderson entered land on the Lamine River and became wealthy. His son George erected the homestead in Heath's Creek township in about 1860. On October 30, 1845, George Anderson was married to Mary Jane Marr, a native of Saline County, a daughter of Thomas Marr, a Missouri pioneer, who came from Virginia and settled in Lafayette County. Mrs. Mary Anderson died in 1891, at the age of sixty-seven years. Eight children were born to George and Mary Anderson, as follow: Mrs. Lizzie Ash, of this review; Mrs. Mary Scott, widow of N. H. Scott, of Heath's Creek township; Thomas, deceased; Lena Anderson, living with Mrs. Ash; Lillie, also residing with her sister; William, Samuel and George, deceased.
Daniel Marr, great grandfather of Mrs. Lizzie Ash on her mother's side, was a soldier of the Revolutionary War. Her grandfather, William Anderson, fought in the War of 1812.
"Pleasant Grove Farm," the home of Mrs. Ash, consists of 335 acres, and is cultivated and managed for Mrs. Ash by James O. Latimer, a native of Tennessee, who married Mary Anderson, a niece of Mrs. Ash. Mr. and Mrs. Latimer have three children: James O., born October 10, 1910; William Wallace, born March 12, 1914; Roy Anderson, born Jan- uary 3, 1917. Mrs. Ash is a member of the Presbyterian Church.
Edwin W. O'Daniels, a prominent farmer and stockman of Prairie township, is a native of Illinois. He was born in St. Clair County, Illinois, April 7, 1867, son of Hugh H. and Caroline E. Akiman O'Daniels. Hugh H. O'Daniels was born near Pittsburg, Pennsylvania, and, when he was a boy, freighted across the Allegheny mountains, east from Pittsburg. During his freighting experience, he hauled many a barrel of whiskey over the Allegheny mountains, although he never drank a drop of liquor in his life. He was a son of Elija O'Daniels, who was also a native of Pennsylvania. The O'Daniels family is of Irish descent. Elija O'Daniels, father of Hugh H., went to Illinois from Pennsylvania with his family at a very early day in the settlement of Illinois. Hugh O'Daniels was about fifteen years old then. He obtained a very good education and practiced veterinary surgery and farmed in Illinois until 1886. He then came to Missouri with his family and settled in Pettis county. He died here December 11, of that year aged fifty-nine years. His wife, Caroline
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E. (Akiman) O'Daniels, was born in Ashley, Illinois, and now lives at Hutchinson, Kansas, at the age of seventy-nine years.
Edwin W. O'Daniels was one of a family of eight children born to his parents, four of whom are now living. Edwin W. was about nineteen years of age when he came to Pettis County with his parents. He had received a good common-school education and began life here as a farm laborer. Later, he rented land and continued to farm rented land until 1911, when he bought his present place of 146 acres, in section 7, Prairie township. He has a well improved and valuable farm, where he is suc- cessfully carrying on general farming and stock raising. This place is known as the old Pauline place. At one time there was quite a preten- tious village located on Mr. O'Daniels farm. There was a postoffice, store and blacksmith shop, which were about all the necessary accessories to a flourishing town in the early days. The place was homesteaded by Daniel Botts.
Mr. O'Daniels was united in marriage, January 11, 1896, with Miss Lena M. DeJarnette, a native of Pettis County, and a daughter of Mayo and Mayetta (Gardner) DeJarnette, natives of Kentucky, who settled in Pettis County before the Civil War. To Mr. and Mrs. O'Daniels have been born seven children, as follows: Opal H., who was educated in the Sedalia High School and the State Normal School at Warrensburg, is now one of Pettis County's successful teachers; Leo M., who was educated in Sedalia and Green Ridge, is also successfully engaged in teaching in this county ; Mildred, Edna M., Jewell H., Hugh H., and Dennis E.
Mr. O'Daniels is a member of the Modern Woodmen of America and is a Republican. He is one of Pettis County's well-known and substantial citizens and the O'Daniels family are widely known and highly respected.
Charles D. Rayburn, a successful business man of Green Ridge, who has an extensive acquaintance in Pettis County, has lived here practically all the time for half a century.
Mr. Rayburn is a native of Indiana. He was born in Ripley County, Indiana, September 12, 1856, a son of George W. and Nancy Rayburn. George W. Rayburn was also a native of Ripley County, Indiana, born September 26, 1826. In early life he was a railroad car builder and later made farming his occupation. In 1857, when Charles D. was about one year old, the Rayburn family removed to Illinois and settled in Warren County, where the father followed farming until 1869. They then came to Missouri and settled in Prairie township, Pettis County. The father
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drove through from Warren County, Illinois, with a team and wagon and the other members of the family came by rail. He bought land in Prairie township upon which he erected a small, four-room box-house and began life in the new country. He followed farming and stock raising and met with success. In later life he retired and removed to Green Ridge, where he died in 1910. At the time of his death he owned over 500 acres of valuable Péttis County land. After coming to this county, he was active in the building up and maintenance of public institutions. He was the organizer of the Baptist Church in Prairie township, and also by his efforts brought about the establishment of the Fairview school district. His widow, who is now eighty years of age, resides with her son, Charles D. Rayburn, at Green Ridge.
Charles D. Rayburn was the second in order of birth of a family of six children born to his parents. The others are now deceased. He was educated in the public schools and reared on a farm. In 1883, Mr. Ray- burn engaged in the drug business at Green Ridge and conducted that business until 1890, when on account of ill health he disposed of his busi- ness and went to Denver, Colorado. He remained there about three years, when he returned to Green Ridge and for a few years was engaged in farming. In 1912, he built a grain elevator at Green Ridge and was en- gaged in the grain business until 1915. He then entered the lumber busi- ness which he still conducts. It is now managed by his son, George Donald Rayburn. Mr Rayburn has always been more or less interested in farming and stock raising and has also fed cattle for the market quite extensively. He now owns 585 acres of Pettis County land which is some of the most valuable farm land in the county.
Charles D. Rayburn was united in marriage in September, 1878, with Miss Lucie E. Flesher, daughter of Captain W. H. and Catherine (Parr) Flesher, natives of Virginia. Mrs. Rayburn was born in Virginia, Sep- tember 18, 1860, and died at Green Ridge September 14, 1915. To Charles D: and Lucie E. (Flesher) Rayburn were born the following children: George Donald, manager of the Rayburn Lumber Yard, Green Ridge, Mis- souri, married Hazel Murphy and they have two children, George Donald, Jr., and Helen Chrystal; Edna Chrystal, a student at Columbia Univer- sity, Missouri. On December 31, 1917, Mr. Rayburn was married to Cora B. Flesher, a sister of his first wife. She is a native of Illinois.
Mr. Rayburn is a Republican and has taken an active interest in · the local politics of Pettis County. He has served one term in the Pettis
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1
County Court, having been elected judge from the western district in 1908. He was a thoroughly competent and careful public official and made a good record as such. He gave to Pettis County business the same careful attention that he has always shown in his private affairs. He is a member of the Masonic Lodge, the Independent Order of Odd Fel- lows and the Modern Woodmen of America, and belongs to the Congre- gational Church. Mr. Rayburn is one of the citizens of Pettis County who has made good.
Joseph M. James, a prominent Pettis County farmer, who owns one of the valuable farms of 230 acres in Prairie township, is a native son of Missouri. He was born in Montgomery County, June 2, 1864, and is a son of Walter Rex and Julia (Morris) James. Walter Rex James was born in Warren County, Missouri, and his parents were among the pioneer settlers of that section of the State. He followed farming and stock raising in early life. For a time he was thus engaged in his native county and later removed to Saline County, Missouri; and for the last fifteen years of his life he was engaged in the mercantile business at Marshall, Missouri, where he conducted a grocery store. He died in Mar- shall in 1900, at the age of sixty-three years. Julia (Morris) James, mother of Joseph M. James, was born at High Hill, Montgomery County, Missouri, and now lives at Marshall, Missouri. She is eighty years of age.
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