USA > Missouri > Pettis County > History of Pettis County, Missouri > Part 60
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January 13, 1897, Michael A. Buckley was united in marriage with Miss Loucetria Thompson, a native of Missouri who was born eight miles south of California, December 27, 1870. She is a daughter of J. B. and Mary (Bowen) Thompson, natives of Kentucky. The father was a suc- cessful farmer and stockman, and died in 1914, at the age of eighty-four years and ten months. The mother now resides in Springfield, Missouri. To Mr. and Mrs. Buckley have been born the following children: Natalie, a bookkeeper in St. Louis, Missouri; Joseph; Edward; Helen; John, and Geraldine, all of whom reside at home with their parents.
Mr. Buckley is a supporter of the policies and principles of the Demo- cratic party, and he is a member of the Catholic Church. He is one of the successful and substantial men of this county.
George W. Steele, a well-known farmer and stockman and leading breeder of Dresden township, is a native of Illinois. He was born in Knox County, Illinois, July 10, 1866, a son of James M. and Jane (Rich- mond) Steele. They were the parents of five children as follow: John, deceased; Samuel L., deceased; Joseph W., Kansas City, Kansas; William E., Kansas City, Missouri; and Gorge W., the subject of this sketch.
James M. Steele, father of George W. Steele, was born in Pennsyl- vania. He was a cabinetmaker in early life and in 1857 went to Illinois where he remained ten years and in 1867, came to Missouri and settled in Dresden township, Pettis County. About a year after coming here, he bought the place now owned by George W. Steele. Here he engaged in farming and stock raising and was quite an extensive cattle man. He was an industrious, hard-working man and met with a fair measure of success. He was a Democrat and a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church. He died in 1904, aged seventy-five years. His wife was a native of Virginia, born in 1831. She died in Dresden township in 1906.
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George W. Steele was about one year old when he was brought to Missouri by his parents. He attended the district school in Dresden township where the family settled, and received a good common-school education. He has spent his life on the old home place where he now resides, and after the death of his parents, he purchased the interests of the other heirs. The place consists of 170 acres of good tillable and pro- ductive land. It is well improved and here Mr. Steele carries on general farming and stock raising, giving special attention to breeding Poland China hogs, a field of endeavor in which he has met with very satisfac- tory and profitable results.
In September, 1898, George W. Steele was united in marriage with Lillie E. Chryst, a native of Pettis County. A more extensive history of the Chryst family appears in the sketch of C. B. Chryst, which will be found in this volume. To Mr. and Mrs. Steele have been born the fol- lowing children: Melvin, Leslie, Albert, Edward, Della M., Earle and Leone, all of whom reside at home with their parents.
Mr. Steele is a Republican and a member of the Methodist Church. He belongs to the Knights and Ladies of Security. He is one of Pettis County's progressive citizens and the Steele family stand high in the community.
John H. Bothwell, of Sedalia, is not only one of the ablest and most distinguished lawyers in the State, but for many years he has also been a conspicuous figure in Missouri in an industrial, financial and political way. He was born in Clay County, Illinois, near Clay City, November 20, 1848. He is a son of James K. and Mary A. (Brissenden) Bothwell, to whom were born seven children as follow: Henry C., spent his life in the mercantile business and is now deceased; John H., whose name in- troduces this sketch; Florence, resides at the old home in Clay City, Illi- nois; Camilla, deceased; James, Seattle, Washington; William B., de- ceased ; and Frank, deceased.
James K. Bothwell was a native of Ohio, born in Athens County, April 20, 1818. He was a son of James and Charlotte (Potter) Bothwell, the former a native of the north of Ireland of Scotch parentage and the latter, a native of either Pennsylvania or New Jersey. Her parents, however, were natives of New Jersey. James K. Bothwell removed from Ohio to Illinois in 1840. He spent most of his life in the mercantile busi- ness in Clay County, Illinois. He was married, February 22, 1846, to Mary A. Brissenden, who at the time of her marriage resided in Edwards County, Illinois, the marriage ceremony taking place at her home. She
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was born August 23, 1821, in Edwards County, Illinois, and was a daughter of John and Elizabeth (Mee) Brissenden, natives of England, who come to America in 1818 and settled with an English colony in Ed- wards County, Illinois. John Brissenden was a farmer and also an ex- tensive merchant for that day. While he never conducted a store him- self he established various stores and turned the management over to his sons and other relatives. James K. Bothwell spent his life in Clay County, Illinois, where he died May 26, 1899, in his eighty-second year. His wife died July 16, 1898.
John H. Bothwell was reared on a farm close to Clay City, Illinois, and after receiving a good public school education he entered the Uni- versity of Indiana, at Bloomington, Indiana, where he was graduated with the degree of Bachelor of Science, July 2, 1869. He then began reading law and later read law in Springfield, Illinois for a time. He then entered the Union University Law School at Albany, New York, where he was graduated with the degree of Bachelor of Law, in 1871. In May of that year he was admitted to the bar of the State of New York, and in November, 1871 he came to Sedalia, Missouri. Mr. Bothwell im- mediately engaged in the practice of his profession here and in a short time had built up a very satisfactory practice. His practice has been mostly on the civil side of the courts and during his career he has handled some of the most important cases in this section of the State, both in the State and federal courts.
Soon after coming to Sedalia, Mr. Bothwell became actively identi- fied with this section in a business way as well as professional and he also has extensive interests elsewhere in the State. He is a stockholder in the Sedalia National Bank and for a number of years was president of that institution. In 1902 he organized the West St. Louis Water & Light Company of St. Louis, Missouri. This is an extensive corporation with large interests in St. Louis County. Mr. Bothwell is the president of that company and also its attorney, having held the office of presi- dent since 1904. In addition to his other interests, Mr. Bothwell has owned thousands of acres of Pettis County land and is now the owner of the far-famed "Bothwell Lodge," noted for its picturesque beauty, further mention of which is made elsewhere in this volume and a view of which appears in this book.
Mr. Bothwell is a Republican and has always taken a deep interest and an active part in political matters. He has represented Pettis County in the State Legislature four terms, being a member of that body during
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the sessions of 1889, 1895, 1901 and 1903. He served as assistant prose- cuting attorney of Pettis County from 1873 to 1876. In 1890 he was act- ing judge of the Circuit Court to assist the judge during illness. He has been strongly urged on several occasions to consent to enter the race for the governorship of Missouri by prominent members of his party, but he has declined to do so. He was chairman of the Republican State Com- mittee in 1892, 1893 and 1894. In 1896 and in 1908 he was a delegate-at- large from the State of Missouri to the Republican National Conventions.
Mr. Bothwell has been active in promoting and encouraging the civic and industrial welfare of Sedalia and Pettis County. He has cheerfully given his time and money for the encouragement and advancement of local enterprises. He has been unceasing in his efforts to bring institu- tions to Sedalia and encouraged the investment of outside capital, such as the building of railroad shops here, the permanent location of the State fair and other lesser institutions. He was one of the first to start the movement for a new court house when it was built.
October 22, 1884, Mr. Bothwell was married to Miss Hattie E. Jaynes, a daughter of Col. A. D. Jaynes, a sketch of whom appears in this volume. No children were born to this union. Mrs. Bothwell de- parted this life in June, 1887.
Few men in Pettis County, if any, have played a more important part in its development, betterment and upbuilding than John H. Both- well.
Fred H. Schenk, well known in Pettis County as one of the prosper- ous and progressive farmers and stockmen, is a native of Illinois. He was born in Madison County, Illinois, February 9, 1860, and is a son of John G. and Anna (Stroeter) Schenk, natives of Germany. They were married in their native land and immediately immigrated to America, and for a time lived in Wisconsin. Later, they moved to St. Louis, Mis- souri, where the father worked at his trade, which was that of a miller. After remaining in St. Louis for a time he went to Illinois and bought a farm in Madison County. This was a small place and heavily timbered and he lived upon this place for a number of years, and here all his chil- dren were born. In 1881 the family came to Missouri and settled in Pettis County, and here both parents spent the remainder of their lives. The mother died in 1900, aged sixty-seven years and the father departed this life in 1913, aged eighty-three years. They were the parents of the following children: Augusta, married F. A. Stahlhut, of Sedalia town-
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F. H. SCHENK AND FAMILY.
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HISTORY OF PETTIS COUNTY
ship; Fred H., the subject of this sketch; Charles J., who resides in Idaho; Oscar W., LaMonte township and Mrs. Elizabeth Logan, now deceased.
Fred H. Schenk has followed farming all his life. He remained with his parents until he was married. In early life he worked for farmers by the month and after his marriage he rented land south of LaMonte and continued to operate rented land until 1893 when he bought his pres- ent place. His farm contains 180 acres of well improved and productive land and is one of the well-kept and neat-appearing farms of Pettis County. The transformation which Mr. Schenk has wrought in the im- provement of this place since he bought it, twenty-five years ago, affords mute testimony as to his industry and ability as a farmer. Before he bought the place it had been poorly farmed, sadly neglected and in a dilapidated state. Neighbors discouraged him and told him that he could not raise bleck eyed peas on such a farm. Only weeds were in evidence on every hand. The buildings were dilapidated and the fences neglected. In spite of all these conditions, Mr. Schenk went to work and, under systematic cultivation, he has developed one of the best farms in Dres- den township. He has added improvements, the equal of which is to be found on few farms in this county. He has erected farm buildings and his residence which he built in 1912 is one of the finest modern homes to be found in the county. It is equipped with acetylene lights and vapor vacuum heat.
Mr. Schenk was married September 30, 1886, to Miss Elizabeht Magnus, a native of Benton County, Missouri. She is a daughter of Fredrick and Anna (Roef) Magnus, natives of Luxemburg, who came to this county about 1859. To Mr. and Mrs. Schenk have been born five children as follow: Elmer W., a building secretary of the Young Men's Christian Association, Chicago, Illinois; Fred, who is now operating the home farm; Lorine, a teacher in the public schools of Johnson County, is a graduate of the LaMonte High School and has attended the State Normal School at Warrensburg; Oscar, deceased; and Agnes, deceased.
Mr. Schenk is a Democrat and takes a commendable interest in pub- lic affairs, and is now serving as road commissioner of LaMonte special road district. He is a member of the Christian Church of which he is an elder and an active worker and liberal supporter of church work. He is one of Pettis County's best citizens.
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Wilbur F. Wheaton, a well known and successful farmer and breeder, of Dresden township, is one of the substantial citizens of Pettis County. Mr. Wheaton is a native of Illinois and was born in Dupage County, May 12, 1860. His parents were Warren L. and Harriet (Rickard) Wheaton, both natives of Connecticut and descendants of some of the early New England families. Warren L. Wheaton was born in 1812 and died in 1903. His wife died in 1863. In 1837 they came west and settled in Dupage County, Illinois. This was an early day in the settlement of that section of the country. Mr. Wheaton engaged in farming and stock raising and met with success to an extent considerably more than the average man. He was prominent in the early day politics of Illinois and was a conspicuous figure in political affairs about the time that Abraham Lincoln was coming into national prominence. He was a delegate to the National Convention which nominated Lincoln for president in 1860. He also held local offices of trust and responsibility and was a member of the Illinois State Legislature. The town of Wheaton, Illinois, was named in honor of Warren L. and his brother, Jesse C. Wheaton. When the Chi- cago & Northwestern railroad was being constructed, the right-of-way was surveyed through Warren L. Wheaton's farm, and when the railroad officials came to Mr. Wheaton for a settlement he told them that he did uot want any pay for the right-of-way through his farm, if they would agree to have a station near there. The railroad company agreed and built a station on Mr. Wheaton's farm. This was the beginning of the town of Wheaton which was platted on Mr. Wheaton's farm, and today the town of Wheaton is a thriving city of about 6,000 population, located twenty-five miles west of Chicago and is the county seat of Dupage County.
The Wheaton brothers gave liberally to Wheaton College, one of the early educational institutions in Illinois. Warren L. Wheaton gave thirty acres of land for the college grounds, in addition to contributing to its maintenance. He was a progressive and public-spirited man who was widely known throughout Illinois.
Wilbur F. Wheaton was one of a family of six children born to his parents. He was reared in Dupage County, Illinois, and educated in the public schools and Wheaton College, the institution above mentioned and has made farming his chief occupation. When a young men, he went to Nebraska and spent nine years on the, then, frontier of the west. He then returned to Illinois where he remained above five years and went to
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Iowa. Three years later, or in 1902, he came to Pettis County, Missouri, and settled in Dresden township and purchased the Couey farm, which was known as the old Agee place. This farm contains 240 acres of highly improved land and bears the name "Outlook Farm." Since buying this place, Mr. Wheaton has made extensive improvements; he has remodeled the residence and equipped it with electric lights. He carries on general farming and stock raising and has been especially successful in breeding Poland China hogs, having become interested in this field of animal husbandry in 1907.
Mr. Wheaton was united in marriage December 30, 1896, to Miss Emma Rette Nind, a native of Kane County, Illinois. They have no children. Mr. Wheaton is a member of the Methodist Church and is a Republican, but inclined towards independence in politics.
Charles Campbell Gentry, better known as "Cam" Gentry, is one of the extensive farmers and stockmen of Pettis County. He owns 500 acres of rich valley land, in Dresden township, which is devoted to gen- eral farming and stock raising. Mr. Gentry raises mules and Duroc Jer- sey hogs, principally, and perhaps is better known through his success in this line of endeavor, than any other branch of agricultural activities, although he carries on diversified farming extensively and has been suc- cessful in cattle raising.
"Cam" Gentry is a native son of Pettis County and a descendant of pioneer ancestors of this section. He was born June 12, 1867, in Dresden township and is a son of John C. and Dotty (Haggard) Gentry, both na- tives of Missouri. John C. Gentry was a son of Joshua Gentry, a native of Kentucky. Further mention is made of the Gentry family history elsewhere in this volume. John C. and Dotty (Haggard) Gentry were the parents of two children: Charles Campbell, the subject of this sketch ; and Mrs. Mary Belle Mawhorter, now deceased.
John C. Gentry was born in Marion County, Missouri, and died January 15, 1878, in Dresden township, Pettis County. He served in the Union Army in the Civil War. He came to Pettis County in 1866 directly after the war.
Joshua Gentry, grandfather of C. C. Gentry, had three sons in the Union Army and three sons in the Confederate Army. At the time of his death he was president of the Hannibal and St. Joseph railroad. He was an early Indian trader at Big Springs, near Hannibal.
"Cam" Gentry was reared on a farm and attended the district school
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and has practically made his own way in the world since he was seven- teen years of age. He first began working for farmers by the month and later operated rented land. In 1891 he bought his first land which con- sisted of an eighty acre farm which was not very well improved. He pro- ceeded to make improvements and cultivate the soil with profit. This property cost him fifteen dollars per acre. He has added to his original purchase from time to time, as opportunity offered and circumstances permitted, until he now owns a valuable farm of 500 acres upon which he has made extensive improvements. He has a fine modern residence, lighted with gas and other improvements, and the farm buildings in gen- eral are in thorough keeping with the residence.
Mr. Gentry was married May 31, 1893 to Miss Minnie Gottschalk, a native of Pettis County, Missouri. Three children have been born to this union as follow: John C., deceased; Mrs. Maud Randleman, Sedalia, Mis- souri: and Charles William, who resides at home with his parents.
Mr. Gentry is a supporter of the politics and principles of the Demo- cratic party, and takes a keen interest in the conduct of local public affairs, and has served as road commissioner of the twelve-mile Rock Road district for the past ten years. He is one of the progressive and enterprising men of Pettis County.
Col. A. D. Jaynes was born in Lawrence County, Ohio, November 26, 1829. His ancestors were from Virginia, and participated in many of the important affairs of that State. His father removed to Ohio, where he became largely interested in the iron business, and the youthful Jaynes, though enjoying but limited opportunities for an education, im- proved rapidly, and became an elegant penman, and expert in arithmetic and accounts. From the age of fourteen to that of twenty-one, he re- ceived a most careful business training with his father, and then became interested in the mercantile business with C. & W. H. Kelley. In 1853 he became connected with the Vinton Iron Furnace, Vinton County, Ohio, and continued with this corporation until 1864.
To more effectually complete the military organization of the State, in 1861, the Governor of Ohio requested A. D. Jaynes to raise and equip an independent regiment, which he did, and was commissioned colonel. Near the close of the war the regiment was mustered into the United States service, as the 141st Regiment Ohio Volunteers. After the war closed, Colonel Jaynes, in company with Cyrus Newkirk, settled in Se- dalia, Missouri, then only a small village.
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These two gentlemen organized the First National Bank, in March, 1866. Colonel Jaynes was its cashier the first eight years, and its presi- dent until 1880. He took a prominent part in the organization of the Lexington & St. Louis railroad. He was interested in building the Tebo & Neosho railroad, which afterward became the Missouri, Kansas & Texas railroad. He assisted in the organization of the First National Bank of Ft. Scott, the First National Bank of Parsons, Kansas, the First National Bank of Denison, Texas, the Valley National Bank of St. Louis, the Life Association of America and the Missouri Stock and Bond Board of St. Louis.
Colonel Jaynes was married July 20, 1858, to Miss Mary Jane Brown, daughter of John Brown, Esq., of Athens County, Ohio. Their family consisted of five children, two sons and three daughters: William V .; John Brown; Hattie Ellen; Flora May; and Jennie Susan.
Colonel Jaynes' royal hospitality was extended to many of the na- tion's distinguished representatives, as well as fellow citizens in humbler walks. President Rutherford B. Hayes, wife and son, Burchard Hayes, Gen. W. T. Sherman and other distinguished guests, while on a tour through the west, came to Sedalia, September 24, 1879, and breakfasted with Colonel Jaynes and wife. President Grant, at one time, during his presidential term, made a tour of the Indian Territory with Colonel Jaynes and such strong attachments existed between them that when the Colonel was a delegate to the National Republican Convention at Chicago, in June, 1880, with the "immortal 306," he voted thirty-six times for the nomination of the gallant general for president. Colonel Jaynes died in October, 1886 and his wife departed this life November 28, 1900.
Joseph Salisbury, a well-known and successful carpenter and con- tractor of Sedalia, has been identified with Pettis County for thirty-five years. Mr. Salisbury is a native of England and was born in South Hampton, September 16, 1856. He is a son of Joseph and Henrietta (Keeping) Salisbury, and is one of five children born to them.
Joseph Salisbury was born in Frampton, Dorset, England, in 1831, and died in 1917. In early life he was a cabinet maker and when a young man, enlisted in the British navy. He served in the Crimean War and for ten years, was warrant officer in the British navy. In 1864, Joseph Salisbury came to America with his family and settled in Brooklyn, New York. Shortly after coming to this country, he organized a volunteer
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company for service in the Union Army during the Civil War, but the war closed soon afterwards and his company was never called into active service. Shortly after the close of the Civil War, he went west to Salt Lake City, making the trip West from the Missouri River with ox-teams. He was a talented writer and soon after settling in Salt Lake City, he became a member of the original staff of the "Salt Lake Tribune." He afterwards published the "New Endowment," a paper devoted to min- ing. That was a time and place when it was necessary for a newspaper man, who wrote his convictions, to have as a part of his literary equip- ment, a pair of six shooters. Mr. Salisbury took an active and aggressive part in politics in the new country where he had settled and was the first candidate of the National party for Congress. After his arrival from the East, he was the first person to be ex-communicated for ad- vocating the cause of the nation against Mormon theocracy. He was one of the pioneers in the fight to Americanize Mormonism. He was a man of strong character and great ability, in fact, one of the mental giants of his time. After the death of his first wife, Joseph Salisbury was married to Jane Dummar, a native of England and thirteen children were born to this union. In 1885, he removed to Aspen, Colorado, where he spent the remainder of his life.
Joseph Salisbury, the subject of this sketch, came to America with his father and step-mother, his mother having died when he was about six years old. He went west with his father and remained with him until he was about thirteen years of age, and after that, made his own way in the world. His first employment was carrier on a paper route in Salt Lake City. When a youth he engaged as clerk in a general store and was thus employed for six years. He then began work at the car- penter's trade, building smelters and stamp mills. He saw much of the frontier life of the mining districts of the mountains, during the old stage-coach days. In 1884, he came to Missouri and settled in Sedalia and engaged in contract work and since that time has successfully fol- lowed this field of endeavor until the present time. He has specialized in building residences and has erected some of the fine homes of Pettis County. Perhaps the largest contract of this character which he has completed, is the William Reed residence in Houstonia township.
Mr. Salisbury was married December 25, 1886, to Miss Mary Ann Starks, a native of Cincinnati, Ohio, born September 13, 1869. Mrs. Salis- bury's real name was Bannahan, but she took the name of Starks, Mr.
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