USA > Missouri > Pettis County > History of Pettis County, Missouri > Part 58
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After the close of the war Mr. Duke returned to Woodville, Ohio, where he was engaged in farming with his brothers, until 1869. He then came to Pettis County, Missouri, and bought a farm, three and one- half miles southwest of LaMonte, where he made extensive improve- ments, and followed farming and stock raising until 1908, when he retired and removed to LaMonte. Mr. Duke's farm consists of 215 acres. He has a splendid modern residence in LaMonte, where he is spending his time in well-merited retirement and rest, from the more strenuous duties of his active career of the past.
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Mr. Duke was married October 1, 1867, in Ohio, to Miss Emaline Brim, who was born in Wood County, Ohio, May 4, 1846. She is a daugh- ter of George and Betsy (Loop) Brim. George Brim was born in Devon- shire, England, in 1807, came to America when he was twenty-one years old, and settled in Ohio, where he followed farming until his death, in 1873. His wife was born in New York, in 1813, and died in 1895. To Mr. and Mrs. Duke have been born the following children: Walter, deceased; Charles C., deceased; Minnie M., deceased; Estella C., mar- ried Doctor Clabaugh, a Sedalia physician, now serving' in the United States Army Medical Corps; Luella M., married H. L. McCune, Dresden township; Arthur W., Meeker, Oklahoma; Emma E., married George Wagner, Jr., LaMonte township. Estella and Luella are twins.
Mr. Duke is a Republican, and takes an active interest in local affairs. Mr. Duke was presented with a medal by the State of Ohio, for serv- ices during the Civil War.
William H. Shernaman, one of the progressive and enterprising young farmers and stockmen of Pettis County, was born in LaMonte township July 15, 1887. He is a son of William Shernaman, a prominent farmer and stockman of this county, a personal history of whom appears in this volume.
William H. Shernaman was reared on his father's farm and received a good education in the public schools. He remained at home with his father until he was twenty-one years old, when he began life for himself. He rents 280 acres of land in LaMonte township from his father, where he has been successfully engaged in farming and stock raising since 1912. He feeds a large number of cattle and has found this to be a very profitable branch of the stock business. As well as making a notable success of various phases of the stock business, Mr. Shernaman is espe- cially successful in raising grain. He has produced some of the best corn crops in recent years, raised in this section. He planted his first corn crop in 1907 and has raised some very good corn. In 1898 he made ex- hibit of his corn at the State Fair at Sedalia. For the past seven years he has been quite extensively engaged in breeding brown Leghorn chickens.
Mr. Shernaman was married April 22, 1914, to Miss Rose Brosnahan, who was born in Johnson County, Missouri, September 28, 1893. She was educated in the public schools and the State Normal School at War- rensburg, having graduated from that institution and taught school for three terms. She is a daughter of John and Mary (Lynch) Brosnahan,
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and is one of a family of ten children born to them, eight of whom are living.
John Brosnahan was born in Ireland and came to the United States in early life and settled in Johnson County, Missouri, where he is suc- cessfully engaged in farming. Mary (Lynch) Brosnahan is a native of Ohio. Mr. and Mrs. Brosnahan are members of the Catholic Church.
Mr. Shernaman is a Republican and attends the Catholic Church, of which Mrs. Shernaman is a member. Mr. and Mrs. Shernaman are well known and have many friends in the community.
Joseph V. Stirlen, of LaMonte township, is prominently identified with the agricultural interests of Pettis County, as well as numerous other important enterprises. He is the owner of a valuable farm of 354 acres, upon which he is engaged in general farming and stock raising, and also feeding for the market. Mr. Stirlen has been engaged in farming since early life. He also buys and ships livestock and grain at Dresden, where he is the owner of the grain elevator.
Mr. Stirlen was born in Dresden township, Pettis County, March 27, 1880, and is a son of Benjamin F. and Mary V. (Gorrell) Stirlen, and was the only child born to their marriage. Benjamin F. Stirlen was born near Fort Wayne, Indiana, July 9, 1851, and was a son of William C. and Mar- garet (Spearman) Stirlen, natives of Ohio. They came to Missouri in 1872 and settled near Hughesville. Here William C. Stirlen purchased a farm and spent the remainder of his life. Benjamin F. Stirlen, father of Joseph V., was a farmer and stockman all his life, after coming to Pettis County with his parents. He was the owner of 320 acres of land at the time of his death, March 27, 1912. His first wife, Mary V. Gorrell, died in 1880. For a history of the Gorrell family, see sketch of Hinton Gorrell. Benjamin F. Stirlin married, for his second wife, Mary V. Dawes, a native of Saline County, Missouri, and one child was born to this union, Martha F., who married F. B. Weathers, and they live in Blackwater township. Benjamin F. Stirlen was a member of the Baptist Church, and a lifelong Democrat. He was recognized as one of the substantial men of the com- munity, and an upright citizen.
Joseph V. Stirlen was reared in Pettis County, and received his educa- tion in the district schools and the Sedalia High School. He moved to his present farm in 1917. This is one of the well-improved farms of the county.
Mr. Stirlen was married April 30, 1908, to Miss Mollie Fisher, a
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native of Blackwater township, Pettis County. She is a daughter of Hampton G. and Mary Jane (Newbill) Fisher, both natives of Pettis County, whose parents were among the very earliest settlers in this county. To Mr. and Mrs. Stirlen have been born two children, as follow: Virginia Ellen and Delilah Kathryn.
Mr. Stirlen has always supported the policies of the Democratic party. He is a man of keen business judgment, coupled with habits of industry which are the principal elements of his success.
Daniel I. Tevis, a well-known citizen of LaMonte township, who is a prominent farmer and stockman, is a native of Missouri. He was born a half-mile north of Tipton, Missouri, September 5, 1864. He is a son of Hebrew and Anna (Igo) Tevis, and is one of twelve children born to them. The parents were natives of Kentucky, and very early settlers in Missouri. They came to Pettis County in 1866, and settled sixteen miles north of Sedalia, where they spent the remainder of their lives on a farm. The father was a progressive farmer, and prominent in the early-day affairs of northern Pettis County. He was an, exemplary citizen, and he and his wife lived good Christian lives. He was a member of the Presbyterian Church, while she worshiped with the Christian denomination. Hebrew Tevis was born in Kentucky January 14, 1824, and died in Pettis County, September 7, 1902. His wife was born in Kentucky October 12, 1827, and died January 1, 1890.
Daniel I. Tevis was about eight years old when he came to Pettis County with his parents. Here he was reared on a farm and educated in the public schools, and remained at home with his parents until he bought a farm, near the old home place. He purchased his present place in 1899, where he has since been engaged in farming and has met with very satis- factory results. His farm consists of 120 acres of land, which is well improved and conveniently arranged for general farming and stock raising.
Mr. Tevis was married October 3, 1888, to Miss Ida May Smith, a native of Pettis County, born July 1, 1868. She is a daughter of William L. and Louisa (Spratt) Smith, both natives of Kentucky and early settlers in Pettis county. They settled in Blackwater township where they spent the remainder of their lives. To Daniel I. and Ida May (Smith) Tevis have been born two children. The elder, Thurman M. Tevis, was born in Longwood township, Pettis County, April 13, 1890. He was educated in the public schools, Hill's Business College, Sedalia, the State Normal School at Warrensburg and the Ransomerian School of Kansas City,
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Missouri, where he graduated in 1915. He made a special study of pen- manship and that, coupled with the fact that he was a natural penman, made of him an expert who has few, if any, equals in this country. He married Miss Stella Winger, a native of Iowa, and one child, Harold P., was born to this union. When the United States entered the World War, he was engaged as teacher in penmanship in the Walter Jackson Business College at Chillicothe, Missouri. He was drafted and on July 5, 1918, entered the army. He is now a member of Company K, Thirty- fourth Infantry, Seventh Division, and is in France. The second child born to Mr. and Mrs. Tevis, Maud M., resides at home with her parents.
Mr. Tevis is a Democrat and has held local office including con- stable and membership on the school board. The family are members of the Christian Church and are prominent in the community. In addi- tion to his interests in agricultural pursuits, Mr. Tevis is interested in the banking business. He was one of the organizers of the Farmers Bank of La Monte, which began business in 1912, and he has been a member of the board of directors of that institution since 1916. He is a capable business man, a successful farmer and a citizen worthy of the highest consideration.
Ira C. Mahin, a well-known farmer and stockman of La Monte town- ship, is a descendant of one of the early pioneer families of Missouri. Mr. Mahin was born at Knob Noster, Johnson County, August 24, 1857. His parents were Samuel Taylor and Letutia (Claggett) Mahin, both natives of Kentucky, the former of Jessamine, and the latter of Todd County.
Samuel Taylor and Letutia (Claggett) Mahin were married in Ken- tucky, and settled in Missouri in 1855. They made the trip from Ken- tucky to Johnson County, Missouri, part of the way by steamboat and part of the way in a covered wagon. The father was a carpenter and worked at his trade at Knob Noster until 1851, when he went to Law- rence County, Illinois, where he followed farming until 1873, when he returned to Missouri. He bought a farm in Pettis County in 1874 and died on this place in 1915, aged eighty-three years. His wife departed this life, June 6, 1905. She was born February 12, 1833.' For further history of the Mahin family, see sketch of Scott Mahin which appears in this volume.
Ira C. Mahin was reared on a farm and received his education in the public schools, and when a young man engaged in farming. In 1883, he bought his present farm which was practically unimproved, with the
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exception of an old log cabin. Mr. Mahin made improvements, and erected suitable farm buildings until he has one of the well-improved farms of the county. His place consists of 125 acres. He carries on general farming and stock raising and has met with success. Richard Breeding was the first settler on the place which Mr. Mahin now owns.
Ira C. Mahin was married in 1883 to Florence A. (Mahin) Guyn, widow of Rankin Guyn of Kentucky. She was born in Knob Noster, July 28, 1857. To Ira C. Mahin and wife were born two children, Emma, married Dan Mann, and Samuel G., now at Los Angeles, California. He was in the Government service and was at Camp Carney, California, breaking horses for Government service. Later he belonged to the first aid corps. By her former marriage to Rankin Guyn, Mrs. Mahin has two children, Minnie, married Roe Kiblinger, and is now a widow, resid- ing at Sedalia, Missouri, and Lelia, married James Mahin, Sedalia, Mis- souri.
Mr. Mahin is a member of the Masonic Lodge and belongs to the Presbyterian Church. His political allegiance is with the Democratic party.
Leon H. Archias is one of the successful business men of Sedalia who is prominently identified with the business interests of this city. Mr. Archias is president of the Archias' Seed Store Corporation and also president of the Archias Floral Company, both well-known and flour- ishing commercial institutions of Sedalia. The Archias Seed Store Cor- poration was incorporated in 1905 with a capital stock of $20,000, with Leon H. Archias as president; L. A. Kipping, vice-president; and L. Archias, secretary. This company is known for the reliability of its products and the motto on the trade-mark of the Archias Seed Store is "Sure Seeds," which in view of the methods of this company, is a very appropriate trade slogan. This business was founded in 1884, several years before the incorporation of the company. Their main office and sales room are located at 106-108 East Main street, Sedalia, and they handle a complete line of all varieties of field, garden and flower seeds as well as everything for the poultry yard, dairy and bee keeper.
The Archias Floral Company of Sedalia, have their offices at 106- 108 East Main street, their green house at Fourth and Park avenue and their nursery at Fifth and Sneed avenue, Sixth and Carr avenue. They produce and market choice cut flowers, floral designs, roses, plants and bulbs and are growers and propagators of a complete line of fruit and ornamental trees and evergreens. This is one of the extensive insti-
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tutions of its kind in the State, and, not only supplies a large local trade in and around the city of Sedalia, but they have a large mail order business to which they give special attention. They deliver fresh flowers anywhere in the United States on a few hours' notice, being members of the Society of American Florists and Florist Telegraph Delivery Asso- ciation. The Archias green houses are spacious and modern, being equip- ped with every modern innovation in floraculture and is not only one of the attractive, but one of the important commercial institutions of Pettis County.
Leon H. Archias was born in Helena, Arkansas, February 12, 1869. He is a son of Leon Joseph and Marguerite Anna (Wellauer) Archias, the former a native of France and the latter of Augusta, Georgia. They were the parents of the following children: L. E., deceased; Leoncie M., married George H. Nixon, who is now deceased and she resides in Denver, Colorado; Annie E., married F. W. Steere of Seattle, Washington, de- ceased; Leon H., the subject of this sketch; Rosalie, married A. J. Black- well and resides in El Paso, Texas; John Conrad resides at Los Angeles, California; Mrs. Florence A. Corey, Ft. Worth, Texas; and Mrs. Alberta Johnson, who resides in California.
Leon Joseph Archias was born at Donzere in the province of Drome in southern France, August 30, 1829, and died in Kansas City, Missouri, in 1902. He was a son of Leon Archias who was born in 1794 in France and served in the Napoleonic wars under Napoleon Bonaparte and won a title for meritorious service. In civil life he was a farmer and fruit grower in his native land. Leon Joseph Archias grew to manhood in his native land and was identified with horticultural work from boyhood. He came to America in 1853, landing in New York, March 26th of that year, and later went to Helena, Arkansas, where he engaged in the florist and nursery business. He afterwards retired and during the last ten years of his life he was an invalid, having been afflicted by a para- lytic stroke. He died in 1902 and his wife is also deceased.
Leon H. Archias, the subject of this sketch, has been engaged in the seed, florist and nursery business all his life. In early life, he was associated with his father. For a time he and his brother, L. E., now deceased, owned and operated stores in Fayetteville, Arkansas, and Carth- age, Missouri.
October 26, 1892, Leon H. Archias was united in marriage with Miss Loretto McCabe of Helena, Arkansas. She is a daughter of James and Sarah (Burns) McCabe. The father was a general contractor and is now
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deceased and the mother resides at Helena, Arkansas. To Mr. and Mrs. Archias have been born six children as follow: Elise Loretto, a graduate of Notre Dame College, Baltimore, Maryland, who served at the Red Cross headquarters, Washington, D. C., during the World War; and Edith Marie, a graduate of the Sedalia High School, and College of St. Teresa, Winona, Minnesota, who was also in the Red Cross service at Washington, D. C .; Helen Agnes, a graduate of the Sedalia High School, is a student in the Springfield Business College, Springfield, Missouri; and Leon, a student in the Central Business College at Sedalia, Missouri; Marian Cecelia and Ruth Anne, both pupils of Sacred Heart parochial school.
Mr. Archias is a member of the Catholic Church and is affiliated with the Knights of Columbus, Lodge 381, Sedalia, of which he is a charter member; the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks, Lodge, 125, Sedalia; Modern Woodmen of America, Camp 2065; Knights and Ladies of Security ; Fidelity Council No. 53; and the T. P. A. He is one of the oldest members of the American Seed Trade Associa- tion, a member of the Society of American Florists and Florists Tele- graph Delivery Association. He was a charter member and secretary of the Missouri State Florists Association; a member of the State Horti- cultural Association of Missouri; the Association of American Nursery- men; the State Corn Breeders Association and the Holstein Friesian Association of Pettis County.
Mr. Archias is a capable business man and is recognized as one of the progressive and public spirited men of Sedalia and Pettis County.
Mrs. Henrietta J. Amick, now residing in LaMonte, Pettis County, is one of the noble pioneer women of this section of Missouri, and belongs to a family of pioneers. She was born October 1, 1840, in Trigg County, Kentucky. Her maiden name was Henrietta Weathers, and she was a daughter of William and Susan (Goodwin) Weathers, the former a native of Lewis County, Kentucky, and the latter a native of Christian County, Kentucky.
William Weathers was born May 22, 1807. He was a son of John and Henrietta (Carrington) Weathers, the former a native of Virginia and the latter of Kentucky. She was born February 15, 1785, and died October 27, 1864.
William Weathers was reared in Kentucky, and when fourteen years old began the shoemaker's trade. In 1826 he was married, in Caldwell County, Kentucky, to Miss Sallie Storms, a native of Indiana. She died
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JOSEPH J. SCOTT, JR.
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in 1839, leaving three children: William C., Peter J., and John M. The same year that the mother of these children died William Weathers was married to Susan Goodwin, a native of Christian County, Kentucky, born December 25, 1815. She died March, 1897. The following children were born to William and Susan (Goodwin) Weathers: Mrs. Henrietta Amick, the subject of this sketch; Payton N., Stillwater, Oklahoma; Mrs. America L. DeSpain, a widow, who now resides with her sister, Mrs. Amick, at LaMonte, Missouri; George P., deceased; Alfred G., deceased, and Young G., who resides in Sedalia, and has the distinction of having three sons who served in the great World War.
In 1842 William Weathers came to Pettis County with his family, and first settled near old Pink Hook Mill, where he farmed rented land, and the first year raised nine acres of corn. In 1844 he entered govern- ment land in Houstonia township. These were primitive days in this section of Missouri. Mr. Weathers built a log cabin on his claim, and had to travel twenty miles to get neighbors to assist him. He was an industrious man and a good citizen. After coming here, he devoted the remainder of his life to farming and stock raising, and at the time of his death owned over 400 acres of land. He was a Christian gentle- man, and had been a member of the Primitive Baptist Church since 1830. He died December 16, 1884, and his wife departed this life in March, 1897.
Henrietta Weathers, now Mrs. Henrietta Amick, the subject of this sketch, was first married January 28, 1858, to Joseph J. Scott, a native of Pettis County, Missouri, and a descendant of a pioneer family of this part of the State. He was born in 1835, a son of Joseph J. and Nancy (Roberts) Scott. The father was a soldier in the War of 1812. Joseph J. Scott, Jr., remained in Pettis County until 1865, and at the close of the Civil War went to Bates County with his family, where he remained until 1872, when he returned to Pettis County and spent the remainder of his life here. A few years before his death he retired and removed to LaMonte. He died in 1892. To Joseph J. and Henrietta (Weathers) Scott were born the following children: Allie M., married R. F. Keels, who is now deceased, and she resides at Santa Fe, Kansas; Eveline J., married Thomas McIlvane, and is now deceased; Rush M., lives in Hous- tonia township; Louetta, married J. Inman, a livestock commission man, Kansas City, Missouri; Susan E., married H. M. Janney, Dresden town- ship; Harmon Y., deceased; Nancy E., deceased; Martha A., deceased, and Winfield, deceased.
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In 1897 Henrietta (Weathers) Scott was married to Judge M. R. Amick, who is now deceased, and who, during his lifetime, was promi- nently identified with Henry County and was a descendant of pioneer parents. Judge Amick was born December 8, 1846, in Tebo township, Henry County. His father died in 1847. His name was Marandy Amick. Judge Amick's mother was a daughter of Major William and Elizabeth Wall, and she died in 1854. Thus, Judge Amick was left an orphan at the age of nine years, and at that time became a member of the house- hold of his uncle, Dr. James W. Wall, with whom he remained until he was twenty-one years of age. He inherited 500 acres of fine farming land, and when he reached his majority he devoted his time to improv- ing it, and beautiful "Elm Grove," where he lived and died, was a model farm home, and a haven of hospitality. Judge Amick was first married . January 18, 1872, to Miss Serepta V. Merritt, daughter of the late Judge M. B. and Susan A. Merritt. To them were born six children, three of whom are living: Walter M. Amick, of Windsor; Mrs. Mayfield, of Green Ridge, and Charles Amick. Judge Amick's first wife died in 1891, and in 1893 he married her sister, Mrs. Emily (Wall) Gaines, widow of the late Richard Gaines. She died in 1895, and in 1897 he was married to Mrs. Henrietta Scott, as above stated. Judge Amick was a member of the Sardis Primitive Baptist Church, and was active in church work up to the time of his death. He was a lifelong and consistent Democrat, and served one term as associate judge and one term as presiding judge of the County Court of Henry County. In all his life's relations, he was a good man, a warm friend, a kind neighbor, and a devoted husband and father.
Mrs. Henrietta Amick is one of the grand old pioneer women of this section of the State. She has thirty-six living grandchildren, forty-two great-grandchildren, and one great-great-grandchild. She now resides in her comfortable home in LaMonte, and is as active in body and keen in mind as many women several years her junior.
James D. Fisher, a well-known and successful farmer and stock man of Blackwater township, is a member of one of the very early pioneer families of Pettis County and Missouri. He was born on the place where he now resides in Blackwater township, December 21, 1866. His parents were Rodney D. Fisher and Kate C. (Higgins) Fisher, to whom were born four children, as follow: Sallie, died in infancy; James D., the subject of this sketch; Copsie H., Springer, New Mexico; and R. Emmett, who resides in Kansas City.
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Rodney D. Fisher, who was better known to his many friends as "Uncle Rodney," was a life long resident of Blackwater township and one of the honored pioneers of Pettis County. He was a son of Samuel and Sallie (Hampton) Fisher and was born in Cooper County, September 27, 1831, and died on the home place in Blackwater township, January 30, 1909. He was one of eight children, two of whom are now living: Hampton G., who resides in Blackwater township, and Rhodes C., who resides in La Monte, Missouri.
Rodney D. Fisher was about two years old when his parents removed from Cooper to Pettis County, in 1833, and settled in Blackwater town- ship. Here he grew to manhood amidst the pioneer surroundings of that day, and when he reached his majority, he entered land from the Government at a cost of $1.25 per acre. He spent his life on this place and improved it, meeting with a reasonable degree of success, as a farmer and stock raiser. His son, James D. Fisher, now owns the land which his father entered upon. Rodney D. Fisher was married, September 27, 1863, to Miss Kate C. Higgins, who was born in Johnson County, Mis- souri, in August, 1840. She was a daughter of Bush Higgins, whose wife bore the maiden name of Cromwell and whose parents were early set- tlers in Johnson County and spent their lives there. Mrs. Fisher died January 29, 1870.
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