USA > Missouri > Randolph County > History of Randolph County, Missouri > Part 45
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William F. Jones was reared on the farm and attended the district school. He began to earn his living when only 13 years old, doing any- thing he could as a boy and worked hard to get along. He came to Mis- souri in 1883 and clerked for his uncle, William Jones. In 1886, Mr. Jones began working by the month as a farmer in Prairie township. In 1891 he bought a farm in Prairie township which he operated until 1897, when he sold out to engage in the grocery and feed business until 1915. Having been successfully engaged as an auctioneer, Mr. Jones.
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sold his store to devote his entire time to auctioneering and farming. He is a capable auctioneer and is recognized as such over a broad scope of the country. He has been especially successful in general farm sales and all his other undertakings in which he is now interested.
On April 30, 1884, Mr. Jones married Miss Esther A. Spurling, who was born near Renick, the daughter of Thomas and Lucy J. (Brockman) Spurling, natives of Winchester, Clark County, Ky., and both now de- ceased. Mr. and Mrs. Jones have no children of their own but raised one adopted daughter, now Mrs. Walter Davies. Mrs. Jones died on Sept. 22, 1919, after a long and useful life.
Mr. Jones is a Democrat and a member of the Methodist church. south. For some years he was a successful breeder of Black Angus cattle and gained a reputation in that line, but disposed of his pure bred cattle in 1919.
In 1915, Mr. Jones was appointed road commissioner of the Higbee special road district.
John H. Hardin, an enterprising farmer and stock raiser of Ran- dolph County and the owner of 120 acres of land in Prairie township, was born within 60 yards of his present home, April 3, 1850, the son of Benjamin and Susan (Hubbard) Hardin. The father was born in Kentucky, in April, 1910, and died Aug. 31, 1879. He came to Missouri with his parents in 1820 and located in Howard County. With his father, James Hardin, hunted bears in this vicinity. John H. Hardin says that his father used to tell that they sometimes killed a deer before break- fast, skinned it and cut steaks for the meal.
Benjamin Hardin was reared in Howard County and was married there. In 1837, he came to Randolph County and entered the farm now in the possession of the Hardin family from the government. He owned over 1,000 acres of land in the early days and became one of the well-to-do farmers of this section of the county. His wife, Susan Hubbard Hardin, was born in Virginia and died May 2, 1864, aged 46 years. There were 11 children born to them of whom eight survive: Sarah, the widow of Samuel Downing, Columbia, Mo .; James, deceased ; Zerilda, the widow of James Huffman, Muskogee, Okla .; Mollie, the wife of John Herold, deceased; Nannie, the widow of Thomas Patton, Los Angeles, Cal .; John H., the subject of this review; Benjamin T., of Kansas City, Mo .; Susan, the wife of William Jackson, deceased; Asa, deceased; George, a physician of Marshall, Mo .; Mattie, the wife of Arthur Maxwell, of Moberly.
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John H. Hardin has always lived on the farm which his father en- tered from the government and when the elder man died he inherited a part of the original grant of land, that section of it which Benjamin Hardin owned at his death. Mr. Hardin began farming with his father and later took charge of the place. He has placed improvements on the farm from time to time. In 1902, Mr. Hardin moved to Renick, where he was engaged in the implement business for 10 years when he went to Sedalia, Mo., where he was in the same business from 1911 to 1913, when he returned to Renick. For many years Mr. Hardin has ownedl a large tract of land, about 785 acres. He has traveled from coast to coast, but finally came back to the farm in 1917.
On Dec. 18, 1878, Mr. Hardin was married to Miss Nannie Hub- bard, of Macon County, Mo., the daughter of John W. Hubbard. Eleven children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Hardin: Benjamin, of San Benito, Tex .; Clara, the wife of A. A. Ash, of Battle Creek, Mich .; Laura, deceased; Nannie, deceased; Anna, the wife of G. Chilton, of Baton Rouge, La .; Donald, of Oklahoma City, Okla .; Lucille, deceased ; James M., at home; Kathleen, the wife of James Day, of Oklahoma City; Roberteen, the wife of O. W. Christian, of Brookfield, Mo .; and Lyle, who enlisted in the army for three years' service and is still, with the Army of Occupation on the Rhine. Donald Hardin also entered the army and saw two years' foreign service. James M. also saw serv- ice in the World War.
Walter E. Spurling, a successful farmer and stockman of Prairie township, Randolph County, was born on the farm where he now re- sides, Dec. 6, 1877, the son of Thomas and Lucy (Brockman) Spur- ling.
Thomas Spurling was a native of Kentucky, born Aug. 26, 1835, and died in 1912. He came to Randolph County when a boy with his parents, Alfred and Elizabeth Jane (Hamilton) Spurling, both natives of Kentucky. Lucy Brockman Spurling was born in Randolph County. She was the daughter of Stephen and Lucy (Kimborough) Brockman, natives of Kentucky, who came to this section of Missouri at an early day and engaged in farming. There were eight children in the Spur- ling family: Willard, deceased; Esther Jones, deceased; Orpha, the wife of N. D. Brook, deceased; May W., postmaster at Higbee; Luther, de- ceased; James, deceased; Walter E., of this review, and Maggie, the wife of Benjamin Hardin, of San Benita, Tex.
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Walter E. Spurling was reared on the farm in Prairie township, and attended the district school. He has been on the same farm all his life; he fell heir to a part of his land and bought out the other heirs. Mr. Spurling placed many improvements upon the place and in 1920, sold it and established himself on another farm which he bought that adjoins his original place on the west, now owning 205 acres of fine land.
On Jan. 6, 1910, Mr. Spurling was married to Miss Nettie Bogie, born in Prairie township, the daughter of John and Emma (Hubbard) Bogie, natives of Randolph County, and to this union one child has been born, Willard E., deceased.
Mr. Spurling is a Democrat and with his wife belongs to the Metho- dist church. He is one of the men who has helped develop this locality and is one of the substantial and progressive farmers of the county.
Charles J. Powell, a successful stockman and farmer of Randolph County, who owns 200 acres of land in Prairie township, was born at Renick, Oct. 7, 1865, the son of George O. and Amelia Ann (Brooks) Powell. The father was a native of Virginia, born Feb. 23, 1833, and reared and educated in his native state and while still a young man came west. After reaching this section of Missouri, Mr. Powell taught school for a term in Prairie township, then entered about 400 acres of land here. He was recognized as one of the substantial farmers of the township and later in his life was a stock holder in the Mechanics Bank of Moberly. He was a Democrat, elected to the state legislature, where he served one term. He was depot agent in Renick for 22 years, beginning his services at the close of the Civil War. He was a mem- ber of the Baptist church. Permelia Brooks Powell was born in Gar- rett County, Ky., April 13, 1832, and now resides in Renick. She was reared and educated in her native state and came to Missouri, where she married Mr. Powell, April 2, 1857, and she became the mother of three children: Josephine, deceased; Charles J., of this review, and Anna Belle, the wife of L. Manard, of Moberly.
Charles J. Powell spent his youth in Renick and attended the pub- lic schools and when his school days were over began to clerk in a general store at Renick. He later bought a partnership in a drug store with Dr. S. M. Forrest, a business in which he was engaged until 1908, when he started a general store which he managed four years, selling out in 1912, to engage in farming.
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March 21, 1888, Mr. Powell was married in Pettis County, Mo., to Miss Lassie J. Morris, a native of Pettis County, who died Aug. 20, 1893, leaving two children: Cyril C., of San Francisco, Cal., and Lassie M., the wife of Thomas Hamilton, of Renick. Jan. 14, 1901, Mr. Powell was married to Miss Anna L. Griffith, a native of Huntsville, Randolph County, the daughter of David and Anna (Walters) Griffith, both na- tives of England, who came to the United States and located here at an early day. Mr. Griffith was one of the first merchants of this section and lived at Renick for several years. Two children have been born to this union: George O., and Constance J., both at home.
Mr. Powell is a Democrat and belongs to the Masonic Lodge.
John W. Wiley, a representative stock man and farmer of Prairie township, Randolph County, who owns 120 acres of land, is engaged in raising pure blooded Shorthorn cattle, Spotted Poland China hogs, draft horses and general farm produce; he is also a stock holder in the Farmers Bank of Renick.
Mr. Wiley was born in Howard County, Jan. 25, 1860, the son of James and Mildred Ann (Roseberry) Wiley, the former a native of Shelby County, Ky., born in 1831, and died from smallpox while in the Confederate army in 1864. He spent his boyhood days in Kentucky, was educated there and came to Missouri when 18 years old. At the outbreak of the Civil War he enlisted in the Southern army from How- ard County and never returned to his home. He owned 300 acres of land, situated east of Armstrong, at the time of his death. Mildred Ann Roseberry Wiley was born in Howard County in 1834 and died Feb. 22, 1916, leaving the three children: John W., of this review; Mary P., deceased, and Allie, the wife of G. W. Creson of Howard County.
John Wiley was reared on his parent's farm, received his educa- tion in the public schools and when old enough began farming. When only 20 years of age, Mr. Wiley purchased his present farm, where he has since lived. He has made improvements and today the Wiley farm is one of the best in the township, with good barns, a comfortable modern home and labor saving machinery of every kind.
Dec. 28, 1887, Mr. Wiley was married to Miss Mintie Hardin, born near Moberly. Randolph County, the daughter of James and Louisa (Ragsdale) Hardin, natives of Kentucky and pioneer settlers of this section of Missouri. Both are now dead. Eight children were born to
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Mr. and Mrs. Wiley: Alva, at home; Nellie, the wife of Don Hardin, of Oklahoma City, Okla .; Eva, deceased; Hardin, a machinist at Arm- strong, Mo .; Nadine, at home; Henderson, deceased; Harold, at home; Lucille, deceased.
Mr. Wiley has been a Democrat since he cast his first vote and he and wife are members of the Christian church.
Cyrus Halterman a Civil War veteran and well known pioneer resi- dent of Salt River township, is a native of Virginia. He was born in Shenandoah County, June 27, 1841 and is a son of Samuel and Dorothy (Barnhart) Halterman, both natives of Shenandoah County, Va. The Halterman family came to Missouri in 1843, when Cyrus Halterman was about two years old. They settled in Salt River township where the father entered 40 acres of government land. He was an industrious man and prospered in his undertakings and at the time of his death was the owner of over 200 acres of land which he had cleared of its native timber and improved. He was a successful farmer and stockman and was also engaged in the sawmill business. He and his wife spent the remainder of their lives in Randolph County and their remains are buried in the Salem church cemetery. They were the parents of the following chil- dren: George, Ann and David, all of whom are deceased; Cyrus, the sub- ject of this sketch; Susan, deceased; Joseph, who resides in Salt River township and John, deceased.
Cyrus Halterman was educated in the pioneer subscription schools of Randolph County and remained on the home farm with his parents until he was 19 years old. He then enlisted in the Confederate army, becoming a member of Company A, 10th Regiment, Missouri Infantry, General Parson's brigade and Price's division. The first battle in which he participated was at Prairie Grove, Ark., after which his command went into camp at Van Buren, Ark. He participated in a number of skirmishes in 1863 and then they went into winter quarters at Little Rock, Ark. From there he went to Helen, Ark., where he was taken prisoner and was sent to the Federal prison at Alton, Ill. and transferred from there to Fort Delaware. He was exchanged and went from there to Richmond, Va., and then to Mobile, Ala., where he took part in a minor engagement. He then became a member of the 2nd Missouri Cavalry and took part in a number of skirmishes and was at Columbus, Miss., in the spring of 1865, when the war closed. He then returned to his Randolph County home and remained on the farm with his parents until he was married.
MR. AND MRS. CYRUS HALTERMAN
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He bought his present farm of 120 acres in 1876. It was mostly timbered land and his first home there was a two-room log cabin and his first barn was constructed of poles. He cleared away the natural timber, improved his place and built a comfortable residence and other farm buildings and has one of the well improved farms of Salt River township, where he car- ries on general farming and stock raising.
Mr. Halterman was married in Salt River township Dec. 2, 1868 to Miss Mary Roebuck, who was born Jan. 10, 1847, a daughter of H. K. and Rhoda (Jenkins) Roebuck, both natives of Alabama. To Mr. and Mrs. Halterman have been born eight children: Ida, married Will Wade, of Vernon County, Mo .; Lula, married F. C. Bond, also of Vernon County, Mo .; George, resides in Randolph County ; Maggie, married Hall Casey, they live in Oklahoma; Ed, lives near Moberly, Mo .; Virgie, Macon County, Mo .; Lena, married Cecil Halliburton ; and Minnie, deceased.
Mr. Halterman is a Democrat and one of the substantial and highly respected pioneer citizens of Randolph County.
Watts Littrell, one of the large land holders of Randolph County, who is engaged as a mule dealer, buying and selling as well as shipping animals, is a native son of this state. He was born in Howard County, Aug.16, 1866, the son of D. T. and Martha E. (Gashwiller) Littrell. The father was born in Andrain County, Mo., in 1841, and died in 1906. He was reared and educated there, but moved to Howard County just before the outbreak of the Civil War and enlisted in the army from that county. After peace was established he returned to his home and remained in business there until 1887, when he came to Randolph County in 1843 and died in September, 1919.
There were 10 children in the Littrell family, of whom Watts was next to the oldest. He was reared on a farm, obtained his education in the public schools and soon after attaining his majority began his independent career as a coal miner in the local coal fields. After four years he began farming in Prairie township. Subsequently he bought a farm in Audrain County, and lived there three years, and sold at an advantage and moved to his present location in 1912. Since acquir- ing this property, Mr. Littrell has made many improvements, such as good barns and sheds and remodeled his home. For many years he has dealt in mules and raising hogs, while he maintained a separate line in feeding and shipping to market. Since coming here less than a decade ago, Mr. Littrell has taken a prominent place among the stock-
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men of this section and is one of the substantial farmers and reliable citizens in the community.
Nov. 16, 1889, Mr. Littrell was married to Miss Maggie Wirt, of Randolph County, the daughter of William and Lucy E. (Robinson) Wirt, the former a native of Boone County, Mo., and the latter of Boone County, Ky. They were early settlers of this county. Three children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Littrell: Vivian, Neva and Waldo W., all at home.
Mr. Littrell is a Democrat and is progressive.
Matthew H. Neal, an extensive and prosperous farmer of Randolph County, and the owner of 225 acres of land, has now retired from the active management of his business, but still lives on the place. He was born in Fauquier County, Va., July 25, 1840, the son of Thomas and Mary (Rogers) Neal. The father was born in the same county in 1749, the son of Matthew Neal and his wife, natives of Ireland and Scotland, respectively, who were members of some of the pioneer fam- ilies of Virginia. Thomas Neal was a farmer all his life. He came west in 1841, and located on land in Marion County, Mo., where he died in 1854. Mary Rogers Neal was also born in Fauquier County, Va., in 1750, and died in Missouri in 1871; she was the daughter of Henry Rogers and his wife, who was a Miss Jett, before her marriage. They were natives of Scotland, who came to the United States at an early day and were among the early settlers of Virginia, where they passed their lives. There were three children in the Neal family: The first died in infancy; Matthew, of this review, and Sarah, who was the wife of J. M. Higginbotham, and is now deceased.
Matthew H. Neal spent his youth on the farm; first in Virginia, where the family lived until he was one year old, then came with his parents to Missouri. He received his education in the schools main- tained at the period and when old enough began farming. He lived in Marion County some years and in 1868 came to Randolph County and bought the farm on which he still lives. The land was practically un- broken when he came to Prairie township and he began at once to make improvements. He has a good comfortable, modern farm house, large barns and other buildings for the use of stock.
Mr. Neal has been a breeder of Poland China hogs for many years and has the reputation of raising the finest hogs in this part of the county. He brought the start of his present industry from Adams County, Ill., where he spent four years.
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April 16, 1871, Mr. Neal was married to Miss Mary Ann Irons, born in Monroe County, Mo., Dec. 29, 1845, the daughter of Thomas and Nancy (Given) Irons. Seven children have been born to this union: Nannie E. and Susan M., twins, the former the wife of Robert Doyle, lives near Madison, Mo., and Susan is the wife of John Swetnam, of Moberly; John T., of Ogden, Utah; Wesley, of Lusk, Wyo .; Zula, the wife of J. L. Guthrie, of Shawnee, Okla .; Sallie, at home and Matthew, Jr., farming the home place.
Mr. Neal is a Democrat and has taken an active part in local affairs for many years, having served as director and clerk of the school board of his district in the early days and later was one of the organizers of the Farmers' Grange and the Triple Alliance. He is a member of the Missionary Baptist church.
Waller W. Robertson, who is a prosperous farmer and substantial citizen of Prairie township, Randolph County, with his brother, Albert Henry, owns and operates about 214 acres of fine land and makes his home with his brother-in-law, William P. Burkey. Mr. Robertson was born in Randolph County, Jan. 17, 1864, the son of Samuel W. and Margaret Ann (Austin) Robertson, the former a Kentuckian, born at Lexington, July 29, 1820. He was reared and educated in his native state and learned the trade of silversmith, which he followed while a young man.
About 1850, Samuel W. Robertson came to Missouri, took up land here in this county, and engaged in farming until his death in 1905. Mrs. Robertson was born in Huntsville, in 1830 and died in 1903. The homestead of 277 acres was divided among the children after the death of the parents. The ten children born to them were as follows: Linna C .. a teacher in the schools of Arkansas; Albert Henry, a farmer of Prairie township; Abraham Lincoln, in business at Clark; Sallie A., deceased; Waller W., of this review; Nim D., an insurance man of Pike County, Mo .; Jennie, the wife of Andrew Burkey, a retired farmer of Clark; Bettie, the wife of William P. Burkey, a farmer of Prairie town- ship; John, of Moberly, and a child that died in infancy.
Waller W. Robertson grew up on the farm and attended the dis- trict school. He had a fine voice and was sent to school in Moberly to cultivate it and in 1897 began his career as a singer. Associated with the Rev. B. G. Reavis, he entered evangelistic work and became well and faborably known throughout Illinois, Kansas, Nebraska, Iowa and
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Missouri for his singing ability. In 1913, Mr. Robertson retired from this vocation and became associated with his brother in managing their farm. They are engaged in general farming and stock raising and are meeting with success. They are two of the young and progressive men in the township who by adopting modern methods and hard work have made the most along productive lines.
Mr. Robertson is a Republican, belongs to the Masonic Lodge and the Christian church.
Hollie P. Hines, one of Randolph County's representative citizens and enterprising farmers, has spent all his life in this locality and has been identified with its development. He was born a mile east of Renick, Mo., Nov. 22, 1874, the son of William D. and Margaret Elizabeth (Martin) Hines, the former a native of Virginia, born about 1849, was reared and educated there and later came west. He was one of the pioneer settlers of Randolph County, accompanying his parents, Peter and Fanny (Baker) Hines, both born in Virginia. William D. Hines engaged in farming here and died in 1890. The mother was born in Kentucky, in 1842. She was the daughter of Noah and Judie (Oliver) Martin, natives of Kentucky, who came to this section of Missouri at an early day and took up land. Mrs. Hines died in 1905.
Hollie P. Hines was reared on his father's farm and received his education in the district school. Later he went to school in Renick and began farming in 1890, took charge of the farm of his father at the latter's death. He was very young to assume such heavy duties, but was the oldest of the children who were as follows: Hollie P., of this sketch; Mrs. Nellie Long, a widow, living at Higbee, Mo .; one child died in infancy, and Noah, of Moberly, Mo.
In the early 90s, Mr. Hines worked for two years in Renick, but in 1894 again engaged in farming and the year of 1905 bought his pres- ent place of 80 acres, but did not move there until 1908. Mr. Hines has made improvements on the place, and now has a good, comfortable home, barns and other buildings. The place is well kept, and though Mr. Hines has worked hard, feels that he has been repaid for it.
March 28, 1894, Mr. Hines was married to Miss Lulu Belle Bartee, a native of Howard County, the daughter of Joseph and Eliza (Lay) Bartee, both natives of Howard County. The following children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Hines: Joseph William and Lulu May, both at home.
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Mr. Hines is a Democrat and he and his wife are members of the Baptist church.
Simon F. Adams, live stock shipper, farmer and stockman and one of the substantial men of Clark, Randolph County, owns and operates a farm of 150 acres of land in Prairie township. He is descended from one of the pioneer families that took a prominent part in the development of this township and the county. He was born on the farm which he now owns Oct. 2, 1859, the son of Robert and Susan (Gashwiler) Adams.
Robert Adams was born in Kentucky, April 11, 1807 and died in 1897. He was reared and educated in his native state where he learned the black- smith's trade. He came to Missouri in the early 30s and entered his farm here in Randolph County in 1832, which has never passed out of the hands of the Adams family. Mr. Adams cleared and improved it and engaged in farming at the same time conducting a blacksmith business. Mr. Adams' first wife was a Miss Palmer, who had 16 children, four being two sets of twins. He married Susan Gaswiler for his second wife and she had four children of whom Simon F. was next to the oldest. The father was a Whig and later joined the Democratic party, and was one of the organizers of the Methodist church in this district, took an active part in public affairs. Both parents are now dead.
Simon F. Adams was reared on his parents farm and received his education in the district school which was conducted in a log cabin, equipped with split log benches and burned logs for fuel.
Mr. Adams remained on the home farm assisting his father and when the latter died assumed the active management of the place until 1905 when he moved to Clark and began to handle live stock, buying and sell- ing cattle, hogs and mules in which line he has met with success. He owns the old homestead which was entered from the government by his father.
Mr. Adams was married to Miss Cora Littrell, the daughter of George and Amanda (Brown) Littrell, and she died in 1898, at the age of 32 years. She was a native of Audrain County, Mo. She left one daughter, Anna Bess, the widow of O. Smith and now lives in St. Louis. In 1900, Mr. Adams was married to Miss Stella Crews, born in Callaway County, the daughter of John and Delia (Battenburg) Crews and to this union two children have been born: Maud and John Quincy both at home.
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