USA > Missouri > Randolph County > History of Randolph County, Missouri > Part 46
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 | Part 76 | Part 77 | Part 78
Mr. Adams is a Democrat, a member of the Maccabees and with his wife, belongs to the Baptist church.
526
HISTORY OF RANDOLPH COUNTY
James E. Hubbard, president of the Exchange Bank of Clark, Mo., is one of the extensive land holders of Randolph County, being the owner of 560 acres of valuable land where he is interested in raising Black Angus cattle. He is a Missourian, born in Audrain County, Oct. 7, 1843, the son of Fleming and Elizabeth (Crews) Hubbard, the former a native of Madi- son County, Ky., born Oct. 28, 1807 and died in 1893. In 1828 he came to Missouri and took up government land in Randolph County and was one of the pioneers of this locality. The land which he entered has descended to his son James E. without going outside of the family.
Fleming Hubbard was a general farmer and regarded as one of the substantial men of his community. For some years he handled mules. Elizabeth Crews Hubbard was also born in Kentucky but passed the most of her life in Missouri. She died in 1850, aged 35 years. There were three children born to them: George W., a farmer north of Clark; James E., of this review, and David T., deceased. After his first wife died, Fleming Hubbard married a Miss Rittie Jane Shuttle who had one child. Anna, the wife of George Pickett, who lives at Mexico, Mo.
James E. Hubbard was reared on his father's farm and attended the district school. At the death of his father he inherited some 40 acres of land, which he sold for $10.00 an acre and bought his first farm in 1874. He at once started to make good and permanent improvements and later the town of Clark was laid out by Mr. Hubbard, on a part of the first farm. Later he added an addition to the original town site. After the town had grown, Mr. Hubbard became one of the prime movers in the organization of the Exchange Bank of Clark, and was made president in 1919. For many years he has been interested in agricultural industries and since coming to Clark to live, 30 years ago, has retained his farm lands and managed them and now is interested in the breeding of Black Angus cattle.
Feb. 29, 1872, Mr. Hubbard was married to Miss Mary E. Butt, the daughter of James and Elizabeth Butt, of Howard County, both natives of Culpeper County, Va., who were pioneer settlers of Missouri. Three children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Hubbard: Fleming B., of Can- yon City, Colo .; James B., of Los Animas, Cal .; and Alfred Earl, who manages the farm for his father in Prairie township.
Mr. Hubbard is a Democrat, belongs to the Maccabees and the Baptist church. He has for many years been prominent, both as a banker and stockman.
527
HISTORY OF RANDOLPH COUNTY
Benjamin F. Ornburn, an extensive land owner and progressive stock- man and farmer of Prairie township, where he operates a farm of 200 acres, is also a stockholder in the Renick Bank, one of the reliable bank- ing houses of central Missouri. He is a native of Randolph County, born in Sugar Creek township, March 24, 1866, the son of Jackson L. and Emily (Brooks) Ornburn.
Jackson L. Ornburn was born near Rock Ridge, Va., in 1818 and died in 1905. He was reared in Virginia and received his education there and when a boy of 17 years came west with his parents who reached Missouri in 1836, located in Sugar Creek township where they entered land from the government, being among the carly settlers of the section. The Ornburn family made the trip from Virginia overland, traveling in a covered wagon drawn by oxen. Mrs. Ornburn was a Kentuckian by birth and died in 1874, a young woman.
There were 12 children in the Ornburn family, of whom Benjamin was the eighth in order of birth. He was reared on the farm whichi his father entered from the government and attended the district school. He remained at home and helped his father until he was 28 years of age when he bought a farm of 140 acres in Monroe County and engaged in farming there until 1902, when he sold in the spring and came to Prairie township and purchased his present place. It was necessary for him to place practically all the improvements on the farm as he built his present residence, barn and sheds and such buildings as were necessary for his stock and today the Ornburn place is one of the well kept places in the township.
In 1891, Mr. Ornburn was married to Miss Lillie Schooling, born in Prairie township, the daughter of Robert and Delia (Winn) Schooling, both natives of Boone County, Mo., and early settlers of this locality. Nine children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Ornburn: Floyd, of Alberta, Canada ; Frank L., at home, was inducted into the army during the World War and sent to Camp Funston, where he spent six months in training before the signing of the armistice; Zella, the wife of Glenn Hamilton, of Prairie township; Onetta, Lacy, Aaron, Earl, dead; Raymond and Gil- bert, all at home and one child that died in infancy.
Mr. Ornburn is a Democrat and he and his wife are members of the Christian church. He belongs to the Modern Woodmen of America and was one of the prime movers in the organization of the Farmers Grange, which was established in Renick in 1920. He is one of the substantial citizens of his district.
528
HISTORY OF RANDOLPH COUNTY
William F. Darby, one of the extensive farmers and stockmen of Randolph County who owns a valuable farm of 518 acres in Salt River township, is a native of Missouri and is a descendant of early pioneers of this state. Mr. Darby was born in Salt River township on the place where he now resides and is the son of Joseph W. and Sarah (Huntsman) Darby.
Joseph W. Darby was born in a pioneer log cabin in Pike County, Mo., Dec. 23, 1830. He was the son of John S. and Lucella Darby, both natives of Kentucky who came to Missouri in the twenty's and spent one winter in Pike County Mo., where they remained until 1831 when they came to Randolph County and settled in what is now Salt River township. Here John S. Darby entered government land and built a log cabin about one- half mile south of the present home of William F. Darby. He cleared away the timber and improved his place where he followed general farm- ing and stock raising and he and his wife spent the remainder of their lives in Salt River township. Joseph W. Darby was about a year old when his parents settled in Salt River township, in 1831, and here he grew to manhood and remained at home with his parents until he reached his majority. He then bought a farm which is a part of the place where William F. Darby now lives. Here he engaged in general farming and prospered. He acquired more land and at the time of his death, Jan. 9, 1902, he was the owner of 550 acres of valuable land. He was married to Sarah Huntsman, Feb. 14, 1861. She was born in Randolph County, Oct. 11, 1837 and died on the home place in Salt River township Dec. 18, 1895 and she and her husband are buried in the Union church cemetery. They were the parents of six children as follows: Mary, born July 20, 1864 and died Sept. 27, 1869; Rosa, born Feb. 16, 1866; Marion L., born in Aug., 1868 and died April 22, 1870; William F., the subject of this sketch ; Ida L., born Aug. 28, 1873 and died Aug. 23, 1875; and Mada Bell, born March 28, 1875 and died Sept. 8, 1879.
William F. Darby was educated in the public schools and in La- Grange College, Lewis County, Mo. He remained at home with his par- ents until he was 23 years old when he began his independent career on a 40 acre tract which was given to him by his father when he was 21 years old. Two years later he gave him 80 acres more and one year later, he purchased 94 acres from his sister and at the death of his father, he inherited 120 acres. He is now the owner of 518 acres, having pur- chased more land from his sisters after his father's death and today he
WILLIAM F. DARBY AND FAMILY
529
HISTORY OF RANDOLPH COUNTY
has one of the best improved farms in Randolph County. There are two iarge barns on the place 50x52 feet, and 42x50 feet. He has a good resi- dence and other farm buildings about the place are in good condition. He has a large silo with a capacity of 100 tons. But perhaps the most interesting building about the place, from a historical standpoint, is the old house in which William F. Darby was born. It has been remodeled and is used for granary and has a capacity of about two car loads of grain.
The Darby place is well equipped with all kinds of modern farm machinery for carrying on farming on a large scale. Mr. Darby has his own threshing machine, tractor and other up-to-date machinery. The residence and other farm buildings are lighted by the Delco lighting system. In addition to his general farming operation, Mr. Darby is a successful stock dealer. He specializes in raising registered Shorthorn cattle and has 65 head of these animals on hand at this writing. He also raises Spotted Poland China and Duroc Jersey hogs.
Mr. Darby was united in marriage March 8, 1898, with Miss Emma Julia Christman, a daughter of J. D. and Malissa (Hutsell) Chirstman, the former a native of Kentucky and the latter of Missouri, and now resi- dents of Sugar Creek township. Mrs. Darby is one of six children born to her parents, the others being as follows: Laura, married T. C. New- ton, of Jackson township; Lilly M., married L. Irvin O'Neil, of Cairo town- ship; Ella, married Harry Ward, of Vandalia, Mo .; W. Earl, resides on the home place, and J. Clarence, lives in Union township. To Mr. and Mrs. William F. Darby have been born the following children: Virgil, born November 14, 1899, a student in the Moberly High School; S. Lucile, born Aug. 26, 1901, a student in the Moberly schools ; Evelyn, born Aug. 8, 1905, and died Aug. 16, 1907; Winona, born June 21, 1907, resides at home; F. Adolph, born March 9, 1909; Myrtle Irene, born Jan. 19, 1911; Emma Marie, born Dec. 15, 1914; William H., born July 11, 1916, and died Sept. - 25. 1916, and Hubert Oliver, born Oct. 16, 1917.
Mr. Darby is a Democrat and he and Mrs. Darby are members of the Maptist church, and are both members of the Grange. Mr. Darby is one of the progressive and enterprising citizens of Randolph County and is widely and favorably known.
George L. Hulen, well known real estate and insurance man of Clark, Mo., who for many years was a farmer and merchant in this locality, was born in Boone County, Mo., Feb. 21, 1856, the son of Amos and Mary
530
HISTORY OF RANDOLPH COUNTY
(Roberts) Hulen, the former a native of Estill County, Ky., where he was reared and educated.
Amos Hulen came to Missouri over 80 years ago and located on a farm in Boone County but after he was married some years came to Randolph County, taking up 170 acres of land in Prairie township where he engaged in farming the remainder of his life. Mrs. Hulen was also born in Kentucky and spent all her married life in Missouri. There were nine children born to them: David M., of Hallsville, Mo .; Ambrose C., of Columbia, Mo .; George L., of this review; Bettie, the wife of J. G. Littrell, of Clark; Sterling, P., cashier of the Exchange Bank of Clark; and the others are all deceased.
George L. Hulen was reared in Boone County, Mo. and attended the district school and then entered the State Normal School at Kirksville, Mo. In the fall of that year he began teaching school but after one term engaged in farming in Boone County, which he followed for the next 12 years with success. In 1898, Mr. Hulen bought a grocery business at Centralia but sold it the same year and opened a grocery and meat market in Gallatin which he conducted until he came to Clark and established him- self in the real estate and insurance business. Mr. Hulen is a notary pub- lic and also conducts a loan business. He has built up a fine business, due to his honesty, courteous treatment of his customers and accommodations in many ways.
Jan. 1, 1879, Mr. Hulen was married to Miss Anna P. Early, born in Mexico, Mo., the daughter of W. W. and Ruth (Leach) Early, natives of Virginia and Missouri, respectively, and both now deceased. Two chil- dren have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Hulen: Stella, the wife of P. B. Defigh, of Clark, and Goldia C., the wife of Roy Hamilton, of Los Animas, Colo.
Mr. Hulen is a Democrat; he has taken an active part in civic affairs for many years and at the present time is city clerk of Clark. He is a member of the Christian church and of the Knights of Maccabees.
Harry P. Bailey, a progressive farmer and stockman of Prairie town- ship is a native son of Randolph County, born on the farm which he now owns in Prairie township, March 27, 1884, the son of Thomas D. and Mary (Robinson) Bailey. The father was born in Boyle County, Ky., March 23, 1831, and came to Missouri with his parents when a boy of 10 years. His parents were Alfred and Sarena (Baker) Bailey, who took up land in this township and was engaged in farming all their lives.
.
531
HISTORY OF RANDOLPH COUNTY
Thomas Bailey was reared on his father's farm, received his edu- cation in the public schools maintained in the frontier settlement and when old enough began to farm, a vocation he followed all his life; he died in 1910. Mr. Bailey owned a large tract of land at the time of his death, some 500 acies, where he had been conducting general farm operations and gained a reputation as a breeder of pure bred Hereford cattle. He was one of the organizers and stockholders of the Exchange Bank of Clark, where he resided for two and a half years then moved back to the faim. He was a Fopulist, a member of the Christian church and the Masonic Lodge. Mrs. Bailey was born in Boone County, Mo., Sept. 29, 1841 and died March 15, 1908. She was the daughter of Tandy Robinson who was a native of Virginia, as was his wife. Thomas D. Bailey enlisted in the Confederate army at the outbreak of the Civil War, enlisting in Company C., 9th Infantry. He was taken prisoner and held for 21 months before peace was declared when he returned to Missouri. Before going to war, Mr. Bailey had married a Miss Ridgeway who died while he was in the army and it was after his return that he married Mary Robinson and had a family of nine children, of whom the following survive: Bettie, the wife of Richard F. Neal, of Prairie township; Nettie C., the wife of B. T. Carter, of Monroe County and Harry P., of this review.
Harry P. Bailey has always lived in the country; he was reared on his parent's farm and received his education in the district school. At the death of his father he received his share of the estate which consisted of 112 acres of land. Soon after that he bought over 77 acres where the house of the old home place stood and today has one of the well improved farms of the township.
Oct. 19, 1905, Mr. Bailey married Miss Jessie L. Butts, at Clark, the daughter of J. W. and Luella (Bonnell) Butts, natives of Howard County and both now live in Clark, Mo.
Mr. Bailey is a Democrat, belongs to the Christian church and the Grange.
Andrew J. Burkey, for many years one of the well known and sub- stantial agriculturists of Randolph County, now lives lives in Clark, Mo., having given up the active management of his farm some years ago, and has been engaged in business in Clark. He was born in Audrain County, Feb. 12, 1865, the son of Anthony and Josephine (Hukel) Burkey.
Anthony Burkey was born in Germany in 1836 and died on his farm in Audrain County, Mo., in 1908. He was reared and educated in his
532
HISTORY OF RANDOLPH COUNTY
native land until his 14th year, when he immigrated to America. He came to Missouri and located in Audrain County, where he engaged in farming. Later he bought land there, where he passed the remainder of his life. Josephine Hukel was born in Boone County, Mo., in 1883 and died in Audrain County in 1902. The following children were born to them: William P., a farmer and stockman of Prairie township; Andrew J., of this review; Newton, a farmer of Audrain County; Jasper, a twin brother of Newton, lives at Miami, Okla .; Lizzie and Jake, the former the wife of Millard Ficklin, of Joplin, Mo., and the latter the owner of a store in Moberly; Newton and Jasper, twins.
Andrew J. Burkey was reared on the farm and attended the district school. For 35 years he was engaged in agricultural pursuits in Audrain County, but in 1900 came to Randolph County and took up his permanent residence in Clark where he engaged in carpenter work. For a time he conducted a feed store but for the past three years, he has been associated with C. W. Settle, in the furniture business.
Nov. 5, 1895, Mr. Burkey was married to Miss Jennie Robertson, of Randolph County, the daughter of Samuel Robertson and his wife who was a Miss Austin before her marriage. Their biography will be found in this volume.
Mr. Burkey is a Republican and with his wife belongs to the Christian church.
Sterling Price Hulen, cashier of the Exchange Bank of Clark, Mo., has for more than a quarter of a century been connected with the banking and financial interests of central Missouri and is one of the well known figures in commercial circles of the state. He is a native of Boone County, born Jan. 23, 1863, the son of Amos and Mary Jane (Roberts) Hulen.
Amos Hulen was a Kentuckian, born and reared in Estill County where he became a farmer. He came to Missouri about 1840 and was one of the first men to take up land in Boone County. After his marriage, Mr. Hulen came to Randolph County and bought 170 acres of land in Prairie township and was a prominent farmer of this section until he died. Mrs. Mary Jane Roberts Hulen was born in Kentucky and spent the most of her life in Boone County, Mo. She was the mother of nine children, five of whom survive and of them Sterling Price Hulen of this review is the youngest.
533
HISTORY OF RANDOLPH COUNTY
Sterling Price Hulen was reared on his parents' farm. He attended the district school and became a teacher in the district schools, where he was engaged in teaching for three years. In the spring of 1884 he bought a general store at Clark, which he conducted until 1893. Mr. Hulen became engaged in the banking business in 1893, having disposed of his store in January of that year. The Exchange Bank of Clark had been organized in 1890, and was three years old when Mr. Hulen became associated with it. He was conservative in his methods, which won the confidence of the people of Clark and surrounding country and it has been largely through the policies inaugurated by him that the bank's business has increased. The Exchange Bank is regarded as one of the sound financial institutions of the county and does a large amount of business which increases each year. Mr. Hulen is a progressive banker and is well and favorably known throughout Missouri.
Jan. 6, 1886, Mr. Hulen was married to Miss Ella Early, of Cen- tralia, Mo., the daughter of S. W. and Ruth (Leach) Early, both now de- ceased. Four children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Hulen: Virgil E., interested in the oil fields of Winfield, Kans .; Charles M., circuit clerk of Randolph County, living in Moberly; Price M., in the Savings Bank of Moberly, and Mary at home.
Mr. Hulen is a Democrat and he and Mrs. Hulen are members of the Christian church.
James H. Cottingham, a progressive farmer and stockman of Prairie township, who owns and manages a farm of over 133 acres of valuable land is a well known breeder of Black Angus Aberdeen cattle. He was born in this township Aug. 6, 1866, the son of George H. and Sarah (Brooks) Cottingham.
George H. Cottingham was born near Peoria, Ill., in 1844 and died here in 1893. He was reared and educated in Illinois and then came to Missouri as a young boy of nine years, when his parents moved here and again attended the schools maintained here at that period. He en- gaged in farming and also ran a grist mill where flour was made. Dur- ing the Civil War he was exempted from the draft because of this essen- tial industry. The country was flooded with "Green Back" money at the time and Mr. Cottingham used to tell that the farmers would leave a $5.00 bill of that money with him in payment for mill work and he would stick it up over the rafters without any attempt at concealment and no one thought of taking it. As a young boy he herded cattle as his people
.
534
HISTORY OF RANDOLPH COUNTY
were among the early settlers of Audrain County, and their nearest neigh- bors were 18 miles away. The parents were Kentuckians who first moved to Illinois and then to Misscuri and died in Marion County.
George H. Cottingham spent his youth in Audrain County, but came to Randolph County before the outbreak of the Civil War. Here he took up 400 acres of land and also ran his mill, becoming one of the prominent and prosperous men of Prairie township. Sarah (Brooks) Cottingham, has spent nearly all her life in Randolph County; she now resides in Moberly at the advanced age of 85, on April 19, 1920; she was born in Randolph County, Mo., and is one of its oldest living residents.
James H. Cottingham was reared on his parents' farm and attended the district school and has followed farming to the present time. In 1897, he bought his present farm in Prairie township and that with the land he inherited owns 133 acres. He was one of 10 children born to his parents. Mr. Cottingham began breeding Aberdeen Angus cattle in 1912 and has met with success in this line and now ships to different parts of the country. For many years he raised Shorthorn cattle and achieved a high reputation for the standard he maintained in that breed.
Jan. 28, 1893, Mr. Cottingham was married to Miss Laura T. Litt- rell ,of Audrain County, the daughter of Dr. T. and Martha (Gashwiler) Littrell, both deceased. Four children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. James H. Cottingham: Elsie, the wife of O. Vance, of Harding, Mont .; Margaret, the wife of Leon McHatten, of Audrain County; Robert D., at home, and Helen, the third child born who died at the age of nine years.
Mr. Cottingham is a Democrat and with his wife belongs to the Methodist church. He is a member of the Masonic Lodge No. 186, of Renick, Mo.
J. E. Wirt, a well-to-do farmer and feeder and breeder of stock, who owns one of the best farms in Prairie township, was born on this place Dec. 25, 1870, the son of James and Sallie (Hendrix) Wirt, the former a native of Boone County, Mo., born Dec. 27, 1831. James Wirt was reared and educated in Missouri. He moved to the farm now owned by his son in 1852, entered 260 acres of land from the government and spent the re- mainder of his life in Prairie township. He died in 1912. Sallie Hendrix Wirt, was born in Randolph County, Mo., April 29, 1841 and died here in 1918. Mr. Wirt's first wife was a Miss Grubbs, who left one child at her death, a half sister to J. E. who had five brothers and sisters of his own, being the third child in the family.
535
HISTORY OF RANDOLPH COUNTY
J. E. Wirt passed his youth on the farm and attended the district school and when old enough began to assume many of the duties around the home place which he farmed with his father. When only 18 years old, Mr. Wirt began to feed stock and has continued this line to the present day. He is one of the progressive farmers of this section who has adopted modern methods advocated by state agricultural experts and those of the United States department of agriculture. Each year he ships from two to three car loads of cattle and hogs, being one of the largest shippers in the county.
In 1904, Mr. Wirt was married to Miss Clara Hardin, at Renick, the daughter of John R. and Mollie (Patton) Hardin, both natives of Mis- souri. Mrs. Wirt was born May 12, 1879 and died March 4, 1914, leaving one son, James E., of Renick, Mo.
Mr. Wirt is a Democrat and belongs to the Masonic Order. He has made a success of farming and stock feeding and is one of the county's substantial and reliable citizens.
Harry M. Fifer, a well known insurance man and a descendant of a Randolph County pioneer family is manager for the Bankers Accident Insurance Company with offices at 3011% West Reed street. He was born in Salt River township, Randolph County, April 11, 1884, and is the son of Walter D. and Mary (Peyton) Fifer who were the parents of the fol- lowing children: Jessie, deceased; Harry M., the subject of this sketch; Bertie, married Maj. R. E. Scott, Chicago, Ill .; Cecie, married Ed Nichols, Moberly, Mo.
Walter D. Fifer was born in Salt River township, Dec. 27, 1854 and has been engaged in farming and stock raising in that township since he attained the age of manhood. He owns 120 acres of land and is one of the substantial farmers of Randolph County. He is a son of James M. and Alice (Phillips) Fifer, both natives of Kentucky who came to Missouri and settled in Randolph County at a very early day. James Fifer was killed during the Civil War and his widow now lives with her daughter, Mrs. Virginia Wood, who is a widow and resides in Salt River township. Mary Peyton Fifer, mother of Harry M. Fifer, was born in Randolph County on the place where she now resides, June 12, 1862. She is a daughter of Rev. John Peyton who was a prominent minister in the Methodist Church, South, of Randolph County, who is now deceased.
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.