USA > Missouri > Pettis County > History of Pettis County, Missouri > Part 54
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Mr. Baker is a native of Ohio. He was born in Stark County May 2, 1840, a son of Bernhart and Margaret (Hoover) Baker, both natives of Germany. They were married in their native land about 1830, and were the parents of eleven children, the two oldest of whom were born in Germany. William, the subject of this sketch, was the fifth in order of birth, and is the only member of the family now living. The father was born in 1803, and died in 1855. He was a stonemason, and worked at his trade in Stark County, where he died. His wife was born in 1812, and after the death of her first husband she married Nicholas Burkhart, a native of Switzerland. They came to Sedalia in 1866, where he worked at his trade, which was that of a shoemaker. The mother died in 1875.
William Baker was reared in Stark County, Ohio, and learned the carpenters' trade. Early in life he went to Iowa, where he worked at his trade for a time, and in 1858 came to Pettis County, Missouri, and settled on Flat Creek, in Washington township. Here he worked at his trade, building residences for the early settlers, and was thus engaged when the Civil War broke out. He first enlisted in the home guards in Captain Thatcher's company, and later served in Captain Montgomery's company, which was attached to the Sixth Missouri Regiment. This was disbanded in 1862, and Mr. Baker enlisted in the State militia, in a company commanded by Captain Sneed, and later by Captain Brown. He was at the engagement near Sedalia, during which he captured a Confederate soldier, and, on an election day, 1864, he captured another Confederate.
After the Civil War Mr. Baker engaged in farming in Green Ridge township, and worked on the farm and at his trade, alternately, from 1867 until 1898. He then went to Green Ridge and bought out a lumber yard, and was successfully engaged in the lumber business until March,
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1916. He had an extensive trade, and did a big business and, perhaps, during that period, handled equally as much lumber as other retail country yards in Pettis County. Mr. Baker's straightforward methods in all his business transactions won the confidence of the buying public. He proceeded upon the theory that a satisfied customer was the best advertisement. His theory proved to be sound, and both he and his cus- tomers profited thereby. Upon retiring from the lumber business, in 1916, he turned it over to his son, Arthur N. Baker, who still conducts it.
October 24, 1865, William Baker was united in marriage with Miss Mary Burkhart, a native of Switzerland, born December 30, 1843. She came to America with her parents when she was about eight years old. They settled in Stark County, Ohio. To William Baker and wife have been born seven children, as follow: Charles, resides in Green Ridge township; Minnie, married H. Carr, who is now deceased, and she resides in Kansas City, Missouri; Fred, deceased; Rosa, deceased; John, resides at Granite City, Illinois; Arthur N., engaged in the lumber business at Green Ridge, Missouri, and Emma, deceased.
Mr. Baker owns a valuable and well-improved farm of 202 acres, situated in sections 1 and 11, Green Ridge township, and is a stockholder in the Farmers and Merchants Bank at Green Ridge, of which he was one of the organizers. He has always been identified with the Repub- lican party. He is a member of the Congregational Church, of which he is a deacon. He is a member of the Grand Army of the Republic.
Mr. Baker is truly one of the pioneers of Pettis County, and there are very few now living whose settlement here antedate his. He built the first dwelling house in the city of Sedalia. This building was for a school teacher, named W. C. Westlake. No man in Pettis County is entitled to recognition in a work of this character more than William Baker, of Green Ridge.
Edward R. Wilson, a former judge of the County Court and suc- cessful farmer and stockman of Pettis County, now living retired in Green Ridge, is a native of Pennsylvania. He was born in Chester County, August 4, 1845, and is a son of William and Margaret (Mona- ghan) Wilson, both natives of Pennsylvania, where they spent their lives. The father was a farmer, and died in 1889, aged eighty-six years, and the mother died in 1845, when the subject of this sketch was a baby. Five children were born to William and Margaret (Monaghan) Wilson, as follow: Mary, deceased; Emma, married F. S. Stichter, and they are
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both deceased; James, deceased; William, deceased, and Edward R., the subject of this sketch. The father married for his second wife, Rachael McDowell, a native of Chester County, Pennsylvania, and two children were born to this union: Patterson, deceased, and Sarah, married David Bell, and they reside at Silver Springs, Maryland.
Edward R. Wilson was reared on his father's farm in Pennsylvania, and educated in the public schools. In 1864 he came to Missouri and settled in Pike County, where he clerked in a dry goods store at Louis- iana, Missouri, for his brother-in-law. He remained there about a year, when he returned to Pennsylvania, and in 1868 came to Missouri again, and settled in Pettis County. Here he engaged in the operation of a farm owned by his uncle, R. E. Monoghan. He remained on this place for thirty years and made many improvements. It is now owned by William G. Mayfield. In 1896 Mr. Wilson purchased his present place, of 320 acres, and for a number of years operated both this and his uncle's farm, which totaled 960 acres. He was quite extensively engaged in the cattle business, and fed a great many for market.
Mr. Wilson has been twice married. November 3, 1870, he was married to Miss Emma Diamond, daughter of Samuel and Nancy (Parr) Diamond, natives of New York State. Emma Diamond was born in Peoria, Illinois, September 12, 1846, and died in Pettis County, June 21, 1891. To Edward R. and Emma (Diamond) Wilson were born six chil- dren, as follow: William, deceased; Mabel, married William Briscoe, Maplewood, Missouri; Emmet, lives in Franklin County, Washington ; Frank, Casper, Wyoming; Orval, resides at home with his father, and Edward R., Jr., who lives on the old home farm. March 14, 1901 Mr. Wilson was married to Mrs. Nellie (Reed) Manvell, a native of Geneva, Ontario County, New York. She was born February 19, 1846, a daugh- ter of Hiel and Sarah (McArthur) Reed. Mrs. Wilson's first husband, William Manvell, has been dead a number of years. Three children were born to them, all of whom died in infancy. Mrs. Wilson is one of four children born to Hiel and Sarah (McArthur) Reed, and is the eldest. The others are: Frank B. Reed, mail carrier at Green Ridge; Nathan, farmer in Green Ridge township, and Harriet, married George Farr, the latter who is now deceased.
Mr. Wilson is a Democrat, and has always taken an active interest in political matters. He has served as a member of the County Court for two years. He is a member of the Congregational Church, and is
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one of its trustees. He is one of the substantial men of Pettis County, who has made good. He has a long and honorable career to his credit, and is one of Pettis County's first citizens.
Charles L. Calvert, of Green Ridge township, is one of the success- ful farmers and stockmen of Pettis County, and is a descendant of a pioneer family of this State. Mr. Calvert was born in Cooper County, Missouri, October 21, 1853, a son of Elias and Kisiah (Hughes) Calvert, both natives of Tennessee, who with their parents were early settlers in Cooper County, Missouri. In 1860 Elias Calvert and his family came to Pettis County, and settled on a farm in Elk Fork township. This was an unbroken section of the country at that early date, and Mr. Calvert broke the primitive prairie with ox teams and improved a farm in that township, and met with a reasonable degree of success in his undertakings. He was industrious, a good citizen, and a Christian man. He was one of the organizers and charter members of the Baptist Church of Green Ridge. He and his wife died of lagrippe in 1890, their deaths occurring within two days of each other. They were each seventy-four years of age. Elias and Kisiah (Hughes) Calvert were the parents of the following children: Mary, married Sam Rains, and they reside at Twin Falls, Idaho; Ellen, married Mathew Rains, Kansas City, Missouri; James M., Craig, Missouri; Charles L., the subject of this sketch; Henry, Nevada, Missouri.
Charles L. Calvert was about seven years of age when he came to Pettis County with his parents. He was reared and educated in this county and remained at home with his parents until 1882. He has always followed farming, and in 1882 purchased his present place, in Green Ridge township. He made many improvements, and now owns a well-cultivated, fine-appearing and fertile farm of 130 acres. He carries on general farming and stock raising, and gives special attention to raising high-grade Duroc Jersey hogs. He is justly regarded as one of the successful and up-to-date agriculturists of Pettis County. He has set out a number of trees on his place which, together with the splendid farm buildings, give the place an imposing appearance.
Mr. Calvert was united in marriage February 10, 1881, with Miss Ella J. Weedin, a native of Moniteau County, Missouri, and a daughter of Caleb and Amanda (Wilkerson) Weedin, the former a native of Ten- nessee and the latter of Illinois. They settled in Pettis County in 1866. To Mr. and Mrs. Calvert have been born seven children, as follow:
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LeRoy, resides in Green Ridge township; Oliver C., East Sedalia, Missouri ; Nellie M., married L. Ream, Green Ridge, Missouri; Gertrude, married Forrest Helman; Marie, deceased; Forrest L., and Robert Carl, at home.
Mr. Calvert is a Democrat, and he takes a commendable interest in public and political affairs, but has never sought office. He is a member of the Baptist Church, of which he is a deacon, and his fraternal affilia- tions are with the Independent Order of Odd Fellows and the Modern Woodmen of America.
John W. Smith, a well known farmer and stockman of Green Ridge township, was born 'in the township where he now resides June 26, 1868. He is a son of Melvin R. and Elizabeth (Funk) Smith, the former a native of Indiana and the latter of Kentucky.
Melvin R. Smith was born in Rushville, Indiana, July 17, 1840. He was a son of Rev. William Smith and wife, who were natives of Ten- nessee. William Smith went from Tennessee to Indiana at an early day. He was a farmer and blacksmith when a young man, and later became a minister in the Methodist Church, South. He came to Missouri in 1847 and settled in Lafayette County. In 1861 he went to Benton County, where he and his wife spent the remainder of their lives.
Melvin R. Smith, the father of John W., came to Missouri with his parents in 1847 when he was about seven years of age. He was reared and educated in this State and during the Civil War enlisted in the Union army at Warsaw, Missouri. He served in the cavalry and at one time was taken prisoner. After the close of the war he settled in Elk Fork township, Pettis County, where he owned 107 acres of land at the' time of his death, March 25, 1914. Elizabeth (Funk) Smith, wife of Melvin R. Smith, was born near Louisville, Kentucky, November 19, 1849, and now lives on the old homestead in Elk Fork township. She is a daughter of John and Lucinda (Rodgers) Funk, the former a native of Kentucky and the latter of Maryland. The Funk family settled in Pettis County before the Civil War and John Funk conducted a hotel at Dres- den, in the early days, and later followed farming in Green Ridge township.
To Melvin R. and Elizabeth (Funk) Smith were born eleven chil- dren, all of whom were born and reared in Pettis County: John W., the subject of this sketch; Lucinda, married Lee Glenn and lives in Johnson County, Missouri; Ollie, married John Neal, Kansas City, Missouri, whose son, Virgil R., was one of the first volunteers to serve in the World War and is now with the 140th United States Infantry in France; Jesse M., .
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Kay County, Oklahoma; Robert W., resides at home in Elk Fork town- ship; Lillie, married Charles Neal and they live in Oklahoma; Herman T., deceased; Lyle, lives in Johnson County, Missouri; Alice, married Charles Yost, Elk Fork township; Lena, married R. Ray, Elk Fork township, and Ovid, Elk Fork township.
John W. Smith was reared on a farm in Elk Fork township and re- ceived a good common school education in the public schools. He began life for himself as a farmer on rented land when he was nineteen years old. In 1898 he purchased the farm which he improved and later sold at a profit and has bought and sold a number of farms since that time. He purchased his present place of 124 acres in Green Ridge township in 1908. Here he has been successfully engaged in farming and stock raising since that time. He is particularly successful in stock raising as well as general farming, and his constant aim is to keep a herd of high grade stock.
Mr. Smith was united in marriage December 5, 1893, with Miss Minnie Yost, a native of Benton County, Missouri, born in Lake Creek township, December 30, 1869. She is a daughter of Antone Yost, a sketch of whom appears in this volume. To Mr. and Mrs. Smith have been born one child, Tony C., married Eugenia King and resides in Johnson County, Missouri. They have one child, Mary Christina.
Mr. Smith is a Republican and a member of the Modern Woodmen of America. In 1919 Mr. Smith was appointed road overseer of District 27. He is one of Pettis County's progressive farmers and he and Mrs. Smith have a broad acquaintance in this county and are highly respected.
William Proctor, of Green Ridge township, has been a resident of Pettis County for over half a century, and is one of the honored old resi- dents of this county. He was born in Portfordshire, Scotland. He was reared and educated in his native land, and in early life was engaged in farming there. In 1867 he immigrated to America, and settled in Win- nebago County, Illinois. Here he was engaged as a farm laborer until 1869, when he came to Pettis County, Missouri, continuing the same line of work. Later he engaged in farming on rented land in Green Ridge township. He then bought a farm of 120 acres, where he was engaged in farming and stock raising for a number of years, when he retired.
Mr. Proctor was married September 18, 1872, to Isabel Kyd, a native of Scotland, who came to this country in 1870 to join her two brothers,
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John and Charles Kyd, in Pettis County. A history of the Kyd family will be found in connection with the sketch of John B. Kyd, which appears in this volume.
To William and Isabel (Kyd) Proctor have been born the following children: Charles K., lives in Green Ridge township; Robert, lives near Camp Branch, Missouri; Mrs. Anna Knapp, Green Ridge township; Eliz- abeth, married Jesse Ragar, Green Ridge township, and John, who resides on the home place, which he rents.
John Proctor was born in Green Ridge township, Pettis County, August 31, 1885. He was educated in the public schools, and grew to manhood here. He was married November 30, 1916, to Miss Mildred L. Pfaff, a native of Pettis County, born August 16, 1888. She is a daughter of William H. and Mary C. (Laney) Pfaff, the former a native of Ohio and the latter of New York State, and now residing in Green Ridge township, Pettis County.
William G. Mayfield, one of the large land holders of Pettis County, and an extensive stockman, is a native of Georgia. He was born in the northern part of that State, February 2, 1853, and is a son of John and Casandra (Garner) Mayfield. They were the parents of ten chil- dren-five girls and five boys-of whom William G. was the fifth in order of birth. John Mayfield, the father, was a native of South Carolina. He followed farming all his life, and died in Morgan County, at his home, just east of Smithton, aged eighty-four years. The mother was a native of Kentucky, and died at the age of fifty-four years. Their remains are interred in the cemetery at Smithton, Missouri. The Mayfield family settled in Missouri in 1863, on a farm about five miles east of Sedalia. They remained there about six years when they moved to Morgan County, settling on a farm just east of the Pettis County line, where the parents spent the remainder of their lives.
William G. Mayfield attended the public schools very little, only about eleven months in all. However, his mother was an unusually well- educated woman, and under her private instructions he obtained a good education. When he was twenty years of age Mr. Mayfield began teach- ing school, and taught in Pettis, Morgan and Benton counties for six years. In 1879 he engaged in the stock business in Benton County, in partnership with his brother, D. B. W. Mayfield, who now resides eight miles southeast of Windsor, in Benton County, where they first engaged in the stock business. They carried on an extensive business, and leased
WILLIAM G. MAYFIELD.
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a great deal of land in addition to their own. They handled thousands of cattle and prospered. This partnership continued until 1895, when it was dissloved, and since that time William G. Mayfield has been in the stock business alone. For a time he was engaged in the business in Benton County, and during the course of his career he has owned farms in various sections of the State, and lived in a different number of places. He now owns 960 acres of well-improved and valuable land in Green Ridge township, and in addition to this Mrs. Mayfield owns 280 acres. He also rents a great deal of land, as his extensive stock business requires considerable acreage. He is also an extensive cattle feeder, frequently having on hand from 200 to 700 head. He employs from three to five men in connection with his general farming and stock operations. In fact, Mr. Mayfield is no doubt the most extensive cattle man in Pettis County today.
Mr. Mayfield was married, in 1894, to Miss Blanche Amick, who was born in Tebo township, Henry County, Missouri. She is a daughter of M. R. and Cerepta (Merritt) Amick. To Mr. and Mrs. Mayfield have been born nine children, as follow: Cassie, married E. Bagby, Green Ridge, Missouri; Logan A., who was born in Benton County, Missouri, in 1896, enlisted in the limited service corps, United States Army, and received training at Columbia, Missouri, in the University of Missouri; William G., Jr., at home with his father; Cerepta; Imogene; Merritt; Thomas and Susan, twins, and Pauline.
Mr. Mayfield is a Republican, and attends the Christian Church. He is a member of the Masonic Lodge at Windsor, Missouri. He is a progressive and public-spirited citizen, and does business on a big scale. He has practically spent his lifetime in the stock business, and is one of the best-posted men in that particular line in the State, to which the success that he has attained bears testimony. He has an extensive acquaintance throughout this section, and his integrity in the business world is unquestioned.
George E. Hollenbeck, now deceased, was for fifty years identified with the interests of Pettis County, and during the course of his career was prominently identified with banking business and agricultural in- terests, and was recognized as a potent factor in the industrial develop- ment of Pettis County.
George E. Hollenbeck was born in Ohio November 27, 1850, and died in Pettis County December 10, 1907. He was a son of Alfonzo and
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Amanda (Archer) Hollenbeck, natives of Ohio. The father was an ex- tensive traveler and was on the western coast of South America at the time of his death, June 26, 1872. His wife died in May, 1889.
George E. Hollenbeck obtained a fair education under adverse cir- cumstances, as the schools in general were closed in this section during the Civil War. He was about eight years old when he came to Missouri with his parents. He was one of the real pioneers of Pettis County. When a young man he hauled lumber from Sedalia to his father's farm with oxen. His father went to South America when George E. was about eighteen years of age, and then the young man engaged in farm- ing for himself. He gave considerable attention to stock raising and later bought and sold cattle, and during the course of his career probably bought and sold more cattle than any other man in Pettis County. He was a good judge of stock and not only that but was a man of high class business ability and a good manager and made a success of what- ever business enterprises he undertook. He was one of the organizers of the Farmers and Merchants Bank at Green Ridge, and was president of that institution for a number of years and during his incumbency in that office he showed an unusual knowledge of the intricate system of banking and finance. During the panic of 1907 the bankers held a meet- ing at Sedalia, Missouri, to decide on issuing cashier's checks, or deposit certificates, as a medium of circulation, in lieu of cash which was gen- erally favored by bankers throughout the country. Mr. Hollenbeck and E. E. Durand, cashier of the bank, absolutely refused to consent to such a measure, and while other banks went over to that system the Farmers and Merchants Bank kept doing business on a cash basis which has ever been their policy. This act won for the bank many friends in the financial world and gave the Farmers and Merchants Bank a substantial rating equaled by few banks in the State. Mr. Hollenbeck always supported the policies and principles of the Democratic party, and in all his dealings with his fellow men, his honesty and integrity were the paramount prin- ciples of his business methods.
In December, 1885, George E. Hollenbeck was united in marriage with Miss Minnie Flesher, a daughter of Dr. William H. and Mary C. (Parr) Flesher. Doctor Flesher was born in Virginia June 12, 1829. He received a good education and later read medicine in Meigs County, Ohio, and in the University of Louisville, Kentucky. During the Civil War he enlisted as a private in the 8th Virginia Infantry and was later commis-
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sioned a captain and served until the close of the war. In 1877 he came to Green Ridge, Pettis County, where he was engaged in the practice of medicine until his death.
To George E. and Minnie (Flesher) Hollenbeck were born the fol- lowing children: Eula, married John B. Kyd and resides in Green Ridge township; Mary A., died in 1913; Elizabeth B., married J. L. Purchase, Elk Fork township; Ralph E., was born July 8, 1896, and is now serving in the United States Signal Corps in the World War; George E., resides at home; Lelia, married M. C. Funk and resides in Colorado, and Wilfred and Mildred, twins, residing at home with their mother.
Mrs. Hollenbeck is an estimable woman and resides with her children on their fine farm of 211 acres in Green Ridge township. The Hollenbeck family are highly respected and rank among the leading families of Pettis County. Mrs. Hollenbeck is a member of the Congregational Church.
Edwin Newell Knapp, a successful farmer and stockman of Green Ridge township, is a native of Galesburg, Knox County, Illinois. He was born September 6, 1866, a son of James H. and Lydia S. (Courier) Knapp. The father was a native of New York State and when a young man went to Michigan and a few years later went to Knox County, Illinois, where he was couty superintendent of schools and later he had a music store at Galesburg, Illinois. He then came to Missouri in 1869 and settled in Green Ridge township, Pettis County, where he bought a farm in section 9 which he improved and farmed. He lived there until his death in 1884, at the age of fifty-six years. James H. Knapp was a pioneer school teacher in Green Ridge township, having taught school in District No. 75. The first year he received no pay, but donated his time in order to get the school started. He taught this school for three terms and the district is known as the Knapp school. Lydia S. (Courier) Knapp, mother of Edwin Newell Knapp, was born in Michigan and died in 1909 while on a visit at Brookville, Kansas, aged seventy-nine years. Her remains are buried at Green Ridge, Missouri. She had made her home with Edwin N. Knapp about all her life. James H. and Lydia S. (Courier) Knapp were the parents of thirteen children, six of whom are now living, Edwin Newel being the only one who resides in Pettis County.
Edwin Newel Knapp was about three years of age when he was brought to Pettis County by his parents. He was reared in this county and educated in the district schools and the public schools at Windsor, Missouri, where his mother lived after the death of his father on account
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of the better educational facilities afforded there for her children. Later she moved to Warrensburg, Missouri. Mr. Knapp has made farming and stock raising his chief occupation and for a number of years farmed on the home place. He bought his first land in 1898 and now owns eighty acres in Green Ridge township which is considered one of the valuable farms of that section of the county. Mr. Knapp carries on general farm- ing and stock raising and has met with very satisfactory success.
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