USA > Missouri > Pettis County > History of Pettis County, Missouri > Part 74
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42 | Part 43 | Part 44 | Part 45 | Part 46 | Part 47 | Part 48 | Part 49 | Part 50 | Part 51 | Part 52 | Part 53 | Part 54 | Part 55 | Part 56 | Part 57 | Part 58 | Part 59 | Part 60 | Part 61 | Part 62 | Part 63 | Part 64 | Part 65 | Part 66 | Part 67 | Part 68 | Part 69 | Part 70 | Part 71 | Part 72 | Part 73 | Part 74 | Part 75
Mr. Griffin was married in 1901 to Miss Dollie Cline, who was born in Cooper County, Missouri, a daughter of Abner and Edith L. (Stark) Cline, natives of Virginia, who were early settlers in Cooper County.
The Democratic party has always had the support of Mr. Griffin and he and Mrs. Griffin are members of the Presbyterion Church. He is fra- ternally affiliated with the Knights of the Maccabees of Otterville, Mis- souri.
Charles B. Shepard, dairyman, Cedar township, is farming 168 acres of land in addition to 110 acres, owned by his sister, making 278 acres in all embraced in the Shepard farm. Mr. Shepard has a herd of forty-four Holstein cows, half of which are pure-bred stock. The average daily out- put of the dairy ranges from forty to fifty gallons of milk.
Mr. Shepard was born on a farm south of Sedalia, December 4, 1872, the son of Casimar P. (b. 1839, d. May 16, 1908) and Mary M. (Brown) Shepard (b. 1840, d. December 25, 1912).
Casimar P. Shepard was born in Aurora, Portage County, Ohio, and was a son of Simeon T. Shepard, a native of Westville, Massachusetts, and a member of an old New England family. Simeon T. Shepard was a son of David Shepard who died while fighting for American independ- ence, during the Revolutionary War. His wife was Malinda Norton, a daughter of Simon and Sallie (Pease) Norton. Simon Norton was a sol- dier of the War of 1812. Simeon Shepard had children as follow: Casi-
816
HISTORY OF PETTIS COUNTY
mar P .; Mrs. Mary Hoadley, residing in South Sedalia; Emma, Alston, Elliot, deceased; Mrs. Ella Senter, Bradford, Ohio; Mrs. Addie Senter, Macedonia, Ohio; Clifton, deceased.
Casimar P. Shepard served in a one-hundred-day regiment of Ohio Volunteers during the Civil War, and after the war he came to Pettis County, Missouri, in 1866. He lived at Tipton, Missouri, for the first year, and in 1867 bought a farm in Flat Creek township. In the spring of 1883 he sold his Flat Creek farm and purchased his farm north of Georgetown, owning 160 acres in all. He improved his land, and at the time of his death owned 300 acres. He began the dairy business which is being successfully carried on by his son. Mrs. Mary M. (Brown) Shepard, his wife, was born in Geauga County, Ohio, a sister of A. W. Brown, a sketch of whom appears in this volume. The following chil- dren were born to Casimar P. and Mary M. Shepard as follow: Charles B., subject of this sketch; Barton, living at Georgetown; Annie, makes her home with C. B.
After he attended the Georgetown public schools, Charles B. Shepard studied at the Central Business College. He has always resided upon the home place. He learned the dairy business from his father and has been very successful in carrying on that business.
Mr. Shepard is a Democrat in politics and is fraternally affiliated with the Ancient Free and Accepted Masons of Sedalia.
Judge John L. McCurdy .- The McCurdy farm of 400 acres in section 32, Hughesville township, is one of the most attractive country places in Missouri. The modern residence is built upon a hill overlooking the greater part of the home farm, and sets back from the road in a grove of forest trees. The McCurdy residence was erected in 1909 and con- sists of ten rooms, all modern throughout. It is one of the splendid coun- try places for which this section of Pettis County is noted. Mr. McCurdy is an extensive feeder of cattle and hogs, besides producing for the mar- kets over four carloads of cattle annually, he has sold from the place during the past year over $6,000 worth of fat hogs.
John L. McCurdy was born on a farm in Blackwater township, No- vember 22, 1863. He is a son of John McCurdy, a native of Ireland. John McCurdy, the elder, was born in 1821, and when a mere lad he came to America in company with an aunt and located in Bourbon County, Ken- tucky. When twenty-three years of age he engaged in dealing in live stock and followed this vocation for several years in the southern States.
817
HISTORY OF PETTIS COUNTY
In the fall of 1857, he came west and located in Blackwater township where he became owner of a fine farm. In 1893 he sold his holdings in Blackwater township and purchased a large tract of 1,000 acres in Cedar and Heath's Creek townships which he proceeded to develop into a splen- did estate. He retired to a home in Sedalia in 1889 and died there in 1906.
In the spring of 1857, John McCurdy was married to Elizabeth Miller of Bourbon County, Kentucky, and a member of the Miller family who were founders of Millersburg, Kentucky. Ten children were born to this marriage: Mrs. Mollie Wood, a widow, living in Sedalia; Miss Mattie McCurdy, residing with Mrs. Wood; William, residing on the Rector farm, east of Sedalia; John L., subject of this sketch; James, Cedar township; Mrs. Emma Rector, residing east of Sedalia; Robert T., and George, twins, the former of whom lives in Kansas City, and the latter died at the age of twenty-one years; Vivian T., a fruit grower in Cali- fornia; Birch, a grower of oranges, California.
After receiving the rudiments of an education in the district school of his home neighborhood, John L. McCurdy attended the Van Patton High School at Sedalia. When John McCurdy died the two brothers, John L. and James purchased the family estate from the heirs and later made a division of the land.
Mr. McCurdy was married November 22, 1891, to Mary Fristoe, who was born in Longwood township, a daughter of Charles and Anna (Mene- fee) Fristoe. This marriage has been blessed with children as follow: John Lawson McCurdy, born 1894, a high school and college student, en- listed December, 1917, in the United States Navy, and entered the service on January 5, 1918, and at this writing is in England with the overseas fleet of United States War vessels on duty in the World War; Vivian, born 1896, graduate of the Sedalia High School; George Thomas, born October 22, 1900, now a student in Wentworth Military Academy; Amos Francis, born 1907.
Charles Fristoe, father of Mrs. Mary McCurdy, was born in Long- wood township, 1833 and died in October, 1892. He was a son of Amos Fristoe and Susan Walter (Withers) Fristoe, the latter of whom died in 1863. Amos Fristoe was a native of Virginia and was one of the Pettis County pioneers who came to this county in the early twenties. He was the first county clerk of Pettis County and served for fourteen years in this position. He also represented the county in the Missouri State Leg-
818
HISTORY OF PETTIS COUNTY
islature for two terms. He was a soldier in the War of 1812, prior to coming to Missouri. Amos Fristoe's children were: Richard, died of cholera while crossing the plains en route to California in 1849; Edward was shot during the Civil War; Charles served in the Confederate Army under General Price and Colonel Jackson, was taken prisoner and held for ten months in Sedalia, Warrensburg, and later at Alton, where he was released; Amos Fristoe, a lieutenant in the Confederate Army, was killed at the Battle of Franklin, Tennessee; Julia died in 1873; Mrs. Margaret Clopton, deceased; Mrs. Mildred Glasscock died in 1903. Amos Fristoe was born March 4, 1792 and died February 22, 1872.
Charles Fristoe was married in 1857, to Anna Menefee, born in 1838. She was born in Georgetown, Kentucky, a daughter of Spencer and Anna C. (Hutchinson) Menefee. The mother of Anna Hutchinson was a niece of the famous Davy Crockett of border and St. Alamo fame. The Mene- fees came to Pettis County in 1857 and settled on a farm in Longwood township near Longwood and there lived the remainder of their lives. Mr. and Mrs. Fristoe located on a farm nine miles north of Sedalia in Longwood township and lived there for many years. To Charles and Annie M. Fristoe were born the following children: William Walter, Med- ford, Oregon; Amos Boston Fristoe, Spokane, Washington; James W., Lincoln, Nebraska; Charles, Lincoln, Nebraska; Mrs. John L. McCurdy. Mrs. Annie M. Fristoe makes her home with her daughter, Mrs. John L. McCurdy and is a remarkably well preserved and intelligent lady despite her age.
Mr. McCurdy and his immediate family worship at the Christian Church. He is a member of the Ancient Free and Accepted Masons and the Modern Woodmen of America. Politically Mr. McCurdy is a stanch Democrat. He was elected judge of the County Court of Pettis County and served for two terms of two years each. Much important highway improvement was accomplished during his administration and many con- crete bridges and concrete culverts were built. He faithfully and con- scientiously performed the duties of his office in such a manner as to merit and win the commendation of his fellow citizens.
John Daniel May, late prominent resident of Hughesville township, was born in 1841 in Mercer County, Kentucky, and died in Pettis County, May, 1913. He was a son of William May of Kentucky. J. D. May was reared to young manhood in Kentucky, served four years with the Con- federate forces during the Civil War, and after the close of the war he came to Pettis County. He was married in 1867 to Sallie Mildred Durley,
819
HISTORY OF PETTIS COUNTY
who was born in 1848 on a farm, four miles east of Sedalia. She is the daughter of Samuel and Sallie (Scroggin) Durley, natives of Kentucky who first migrated to Illinois and thence to Missouri. Samuel Durley was born in 1805 and died in 1879. He was five years of age when his parents settled in Illinois and his father, Ratio Durley, was one of the earliest of the Pettis County pioneers. He came to this county when a young man and purchased Government land when it was being sold for twelve and a half cents an acre, and could be obtained by merely filing upon the land and paying the nomial Government price of a few cents per acre. Samuel Durley was reared in this county and served several terms as county judge.
Mr. and Mrs. J. D. May first lived in the Durley home, in the eastern part of Hughesville township, and then built the present May homestead which was their home for fifty years. The May farm consists of 140 acres of excellent land.
The following children were born to John Daniel and Sallie Mildred May: Lee, married Addie Landes, has eight children and lives on a farm in Hughesville township; Walter G., lives in Kansas City; Samuel D., a farmer in Hughesville township; Thomas Jackson, a railroad man at Elden, Missouri; Joseph J., a farmer near Sedalia; James, born in 1878, is managing the home farm; John Montgomery, lives near Lincoln, Mis- souri; Leonidas Durley, lives at Sedalia; Mary Amanda, died at the age of twenty-eight years, wife of Carl Thornton, and left one child, Lee Milton.
Lee May was born July 17, 1868, and is owner of a farm of forty acres, but is cultivating a large tract of 240 acres. On May 16, 1898, he married Addie Landes, who has borne him eight children: Lillian, Jose- phine, Mildred, Leonidas, Addie Lee, Wallace, Mary and James. In politics he is a Democrat, is a member of the M. E. Church South, and is affiliated with the Modern Woodmen of America. Mrs. Sallie May is a member of the M. E. Church South. James E. May is a member of the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks of Sedalia.
Will R. Scott, farmer and stockman of Heath's Creek township is a member of an old Missouri pioneer family. Mr. Scott was born and reared on the farm which he now owns, and has 180 acres which is de- voted to general farming. The Scott farm is equipped with a new silo and he is at present building additional improvements to his home. W. R. Scott was born August 12, 1857, and is a son of Samuel Scott and Sarah (Miller) Scott.
820
HISTORY OF PETTIS COUNTY
Samuel Scott was born in old Kentucky in 1818 and was a son of Ezekiel Scott, also a native of the Blue Grass State, who emigrated to Saline County, Missouri, in 1820, and entered free government land upon which he built up a homestead. Some years later he entered land in Heath's Creek township, Pettis County, in 1836, and this land was given to his son Samuel. Samuel improved the farm and resided thereon until his death June 18, 1860. He was owner of 700 arces in Heath's Creek township. His wife was born in 1821 and died in 1892. To Samuel and Sarah Scott were born six sons and two daughters: Mrs. Bettie Tabler, Heath's Creek township; Nicholas, deceased ; James, lives in Oklahoma; Samuel B., died at Walla Walla, Washington; Susie, deceased; Will R., subject of this sketch; John C., a farmer in Heath's Creek township. Ezekiel, the eldest son of the family, enlisted in the Confederate Army when sixteen years old and followed the fortunes of the army under com- mand of General Marmaduke for the duration of the war. The early death of Samuel Scott made it necessary for the devoted and capable mother to rear the family. This she accomplished and instilled into their hearts and minds the principles of right living and upright citizenship.
Will R. Scott had the advantage of capable teachers when a youth, although the schools were held for but four months in each year. He received his share of the Scott estate when the land was divided and has added to his inheritance. Mr. Scott was married on April 12, 1890, to Miss Ida Hay, and to this union have been born children as follow: Lulu Margaret, at home; and Willie E., a student in the Warrensburg Normal School. Mrs. Ida (Hay) Scott was born in Fairfield County, Ohio, March 7, 1861, and is a daughter of Peter (b. 1828, d. 1908) and Lucretia (McCleary) Hay (b. 1832, d. 1901). The Hay family came to Missouri in 1870 and Mr. Hay settled on the prairie in Heath's Creek township on the old Blachern Miller place. Mr. Hay developed a fine farm and was a large land owner. The Hay children are as follow: Mrs. Ida Scott, of this sketch; James, on the Hay home place; Josephine, wife of W. W. Cook, Warrensburg, Missouri; Mrs. Maude Bassett, on the home place ; Peter, Saline County ; Mrs. Minnie Platter, Holden, Missouri; Harry, William, Saline County; Harley, on the home place; Leander, deceased.
Mr. Scott is a Democrat of the loyal and stanch variety. Mrs. Scott is a member of the Baptist Church. Mr. Scott is fraternally affiliated with Lookout Lodge of Modern Woodmen of America.
1
821
HISTORY OF PETTIS COUNTY
Jesse Karrick .- The first few years which Jesse Karrick, extensive land owner, of Longwood township, Pettis County, spent in Missouri were not productive in any sense. In fact, Mr. Karrick came to this State equipped with a capital of $1,600, which he lost while trying to make ends meet in tilling rented land in Saline County. However, he was a young man then, and the true, energetic type of young manhood of Ken- tucky parentage is not easily discouraged. Mr. Karrick naturally ex- pected to make his fortune in Saline County when he arrived there on March 7, 1883. He remained six years in that county and then decided to come to Pettis county, moving here in 1890. He was still shy of capital but his credit was good and he had lost none of his optimism. He pur- chased 160 acres near Longwood on time; made good, paid for his land, and then bought more and more land, as prosperity smiled upon him. In August, 1900, he purchased the old John S. Vincent place of 573 acres, a beautiful tract of valley, prairie and woodland which forms his pres- ent home. In addition to his home place, Mr. Karrick owns two other farms, one of sixty acres, and another of 102 acres. At various times he has dealt in land and has owned as high as 1,100 acres in Pettis County. For many years Mr. Karrick has been an extensive feeder of live stock and achieved success in this vocation. The Karrick residence is in a beautiful location on a hilltop, and was built in 1850. The house is a very attractive one and presents a pleasing sight after one has made the trip to the home along the winding roadway through the woods to the house.
Jesse Karrick was born in Bath County, Kentucky, November 22, 1852. He is the son of George W. and Amanda (Shrout) Karrick, both of whom were born and reared in the Blue Grass State. George W. Kar- rick was a son of John Karrick, whose father was a Scotchman who emi- grated from his native city,-Edinburg to Maryland. Amanda (Shrout) Karrick was a daughter of Peter Shrout, a native of Germany who emi- grated to this country and married an Irish girl names McCarthy. It will thus be seen that the Karricks are descended from a mixture of nationalities which is productive of a high type of Americanism. John Karrick was but three years of age when his father moved his family and belongings from the Ohio River on a flatboat to the new home in the wilderness of Kentucky. George W. Karrick lived all of his days in Ken- tucky and died in 1910 at the age of seventy-six years. Mrs. Amanda Karrick was born October 17, 1835 and resides in the old family home in
.
822
HISTORY OF PETTIS COUNTY
Kentucky. Their children are: Jesse, subject of this sketch; George, liv- ing in Kentucky; Mrs. Mary Jane Wills, Bath County, Kentucky; Isaac, Miller County, Missouri; Lindolph, a farmer in Longwood township; Mrs. Millie McClain, Benjamin, Preston, Dora and John, living in Kentucky.
His parents being well-to-do, Jesse Karrick had the advantages of a good school education. He assisted his father on the home farm until he became of age. He then decided to strike out for himself. Accord- ingly he came to Missouri, as above stated. While his experience in Mis- souri at the beginning were not such as to encourage him in his belief that Missouri is the land of opportunity, his later successes in Pettis County have instilled into his mind that there is no better plat of ground in the State, than Pettis County. Mr. Karrick has been a hard worker and an excellent financier who has won his way into the first ranks of Pettis County's successful men of affairs.
On June 12, 1873, Mr. Karrick was united in marriage with Celia C. Thompson, of Bath County, Kentucky. Mrs. Karrick was born Novem- ber 21, 1852 and departed this life March 22, 1900. She was a daughter of Shelton and Maggie (Donahue) Thompson. The children born of this happy marriage are: Mrs. Clara Lee Tickmeyer, Heath's Creek township: Belle, at home keeping house for her father; William N., a farmer in Longwood township; Lou, wife of Thomas J. Raines, Heath's Creek town- ship; Mrs. Edith Karrick, Longwood township; Rosa, died in childhood ; Ina, wife of John Duffield, living on the Gentry place in Cedar township; Shelton, Heath's Creek township; Maude, wife of Ollie Raines, Longwood township; Jessie, at home.
One hundred and sixty acres of the land owned by Mr. Karrick is a part of the original Swope estate, one of the first places settled in Pettis County by Jesse Swope, pioneer. Mr. Karrick is a Democrat. He is a member of the Christian Church, of which his departed wife was a devout member. He is affiliated with the Modern Woodmen of America Lodge of Longwood. Mr. Karrick is a hospitable, kindly, well informed and progressive citizen who is likable and has many warm friends in Pettis County. He was one of the organizers and is a stockholder and director of the Longwood Bank.
John W. Raines .- The boyhood days of John W. Raines, old settler and large land owner of north Heath's Creek township, were spent in poverty ; his hardships were many; his education was neglected from necessity. Owing to the death of his father, the boys of the Raines fam-
823
HISTORY OF PETTIS COUNTY
ily were forced to begin the work of supporting the mother and family when very young. During his long and successful career, Mr. Raines has triumphed over adversity; overcome the handicap of not being pos- sessed of a "book larnin'," and made good within sight of his birthplace. He has accumulated an estate of 566 acres, much of which has been bought a piece at a time. This is a picturesque farm, consisting of hill, valley and prairie land, half of it being covered with forest. Heath's Creek flows through the farm. Mr. Raines raises from 150 to 200 head of hogs annually, and from forty to sixty head of cattle are raised and maintained on the place, which is ideal for stock raising. Mr. Raines has resided on his farm since 1893. His first purchase of land was a tract of ninety-five acres. This small farm is the nuclous around which he has added a "patch at a time," just as he was able. He and his brother first bought 100 acres of land on time, without paying a dollar down on the tract. He then purchased ninety-five acres and bought his brother's interest.
Mr. Raines was born May 18, 1851, just on the edge of Saline County, Missouri. He is a son of Charles and Margaret (Lockridge) Raines, both of whom were natives of Kentucky, and came to Missouri with their re- spective parents many years ago, when the State was young and incom- ing settlers were just beginning the task of redeeming Missouri from a wilderness state. Charles Raines died when the subject of this sketch was but a child. Margaret Raines departed this life in 1893. There were four children in the Raines family, as follow: William served in the Union Army during the Civil War and died in 1866; Mrs. Margaret Nich- ols, deceased; James, deceased ; John W., subject of this review.
John W. Raines was married in 1875 to Lovica Fowler, born in Pettis County in 1854. She was a daughter of Charles Fowler, an early set- tler of Pettis County. The following children were born to John W. and Lovica Raines: Thomas J., a prosperous farmer and stockman of Heath's Creek township; William, on the home place: Mrs. Emma Remmo, Saline County ; Griscom, a farmer, Heath's Creek township; Ollie, a farmer, Heath's Creek township; Gilbert, on the home place; John, farming on the home place.
In politics Mr. Raines is a Republican. He and Mrs. Raines worship at the Miller Presbyterian Church. For a man who began his career with but a team and wagon, an old double shovel, twelve-inch plow, and one cow. Mr. Raines has done remarkably well.
824
HISTORY OF PETTIS COUNTY
John W. Kellerman, owner of the Kellerman homestead in Heaht's Creek township, consisting of 425 acres, was born in April, 1864, in the house where he is now living. The first room of the Kellerman home was erected in 1857, and subsequent additions have made it quite an im- posing farm residence. John Kellerman, his father, was born in Ohio, December 3, 1827, and died in October, 1901. He was a son of David Kellerman, a native of Germany, who after emigrating to America, set- tled in Ohio, moved again to Illinois, and thence to Pettis County, Mis- souri, in the early pioneer days. He purchased his first land from William Scott, and also entered free Government land.
In the halcyon days of 1849 when all the world was agog over the news of the great gold strike on the Sutter farm in California, and men were hurrying to the Coast from all parts of the world, John Kellerman joined a party enroute to the gold country, driving ox-teams across the plains and mountains to California. This expedition started westward from Arrow Rock, Missouri, and Mr. Kellerman reached the gold fields without mishap, excepting an occasional foray with the plains Indians. He got a quantity of the yellow metal which he carried in a buckskin bag or vest fastened around his body. His return route was via the Isthmus of Panama and New Orleans.
John Kellerman was married in 1857 to Miss Emily Henderson, who was born in September, 1834, in Kentucky, a daughter of John H. and Mildred (Faulkner) Henderson, who migrated from Kentucky to Pettis County, Missouri, in 1839. John H. Henderson was born in Buckingham County, Virginia, January 9, 1805. He was a son of John Henderson who moved from Virginia to Allen County, Kentucky, in 1833, his death oc- curring in a few months after his arrival in Kentucky. John H. Hen- derson moved to Kentucky in 1828 and thence to Pettis County with his young wife, whom he had married June 24, 1832. Mrs. Mildred (Faulkner) Henderson was a daughter of James Faulkner of Kentucky. Five chil- dren were born to John H. and Mildred Henderson as follow, only three of whom were reared: Mrs. Emily G. Kellerman, William H. and Julia A.
Mr. Henderson spent his entire life as a farmer and stock raiser and served as peace magistrate for over fifteen years.
During the Civil War, John Kellerman served as a member of Captain Lower's company of Home Guards. He became well to do and was highly respected. Five children of the eight born to John Kellerman and wife survive: Mrs. Lena Kate Johnson, residing on the home place, widow of
825
HISTORY OF PETTIS COUNTY
Napoleon B. Johnson, who was a native of Cooper County, Missouri, and died in 1910 at the age of sixty years on his farm in Arkansas; Ward Kellerman, a farmer living on a farm south of Beaman, Missouri; Vir- ginia, deceased ; John W., whose name heads this review; Curtis, Heath's Creek township; Josephine, wife of Green McFarland, Bowling Green township; and two children who died in infancy.
John W. Kellerman is a progressive farmer who believes in using modern methods of farming. A gasoline propelled tractor is used on the farm for the plowing and cultivating of the land, a portion of which is rich bottom soil. In 1918 Mr. Kellerman harvested 75 acres of corn from his river bottom land which produced the unequaled yield of 50 to 60 bushels to the acre. He has sown 52 acres of wheat for the harvest of 1919. The Kellerman farm produces about 25 head of Shorthorn cattle and about fifty head of hogs annually, Mr. Kellerman's plan being to raise enough grain and forage to supply the animals on his place, without selling grain or having more stock than can be fed from the crops raised on the farm, a method of farming which is conducive to a steady profit and which continually restores the fertility of the soil. He is a Republican in politics and is a member of the Christian Church, as are the women of his household who comprise his aged mother and Mrs. Johnson, his sister.
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.