USA > Missouri > Randolph County > History of Randolph County, Missouri > Part 48
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W., married M. S. Pilcher who is now deceased; A. Winston, Roanoke, Mo .; Ella D., married J. P. Hammett, Salisbury, Mo .; Harvey, deceased ; Louisa, married Josh Hunker, Salisbury, Mo., and John A., the subject of this sketch.
John A. Pitts attended the district school in Silver Creek township until he was about eight years old, when his parents removed to . Hunts- ville where he was a student at Mt. Pleasant College. Later, he attended William Jewell College at Liberty, Mo. In 1880, he returned to the home place where he now resides and which has since been his home. He be- came heir to a part of his grandfather's estate and later bought 100 acres. He is now the owner of 500 acres of well improved and productive land and is one of the large farmers and stock raisers in Randolph County. He is also an extensive feeder and has been especially successful in handling cattle in this manner. He is a stockholder and a member of the board of directors of the Yates Saving Bank at Yates, Mo.
John A. Pitts was united in marriage, March 21, 1883 with Miss Flor- ence Head, of Howard County, Mo. She was born in Howard County in 1861 and is a daughter of Dr. Thomas B. and Bettie (Patterson) Head. Dr. Head was a physician and practised his profession at Huntsville. Mrs. Pitts is related to the Price family of which Gen. Sterling Price, the famous Confederate general was a member.
To John A. and Florence (Head) Pitts were born the following chil- dren: Anna, married W. H. Stark, cashier of the Yates Saving Bank, Yates, Mo .; Kate, married B. L. Myers of Detroit, Mich .; Mattie B., a teacher ; Harva, also a teacher; John A., further mention of whom is made below; Augusta, at home and Elizabeth, a student in the University of Missouri.
John A. Pitts, Jr., served in the World War. He was a mem- ber of the 89th division and saw much active service. He was on the firing line three weeks before the armistice was signed and was with the Army of Occupation in Germany of which the 89th division was a part. After receiving his honorable discharge, he returned home in June, 1919. He is now a clerk in the office of an automobile factory in Detroit, Mich.
John A. Pitts is a Democrat and a member of the Baptist church. He is one of the enterprising and substantial citizens of Randolph County and the Pitts family have ever held an honorable place in the community.
Oswald S. Fray, a prominent farmer and successful breeder of Silver Creek township, is a native of Randolph County and a descendant of
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some of the earliest pioneer families of this section of the state. He was born in Silver Creek township, May 17, 1854 and is a son of John C. and Martha (Barnes) Fray. They were the parents of twelve children as follows: Mrs. Sarah Embree who died at the age of 82 years; William H., lives in Silver Creek township; Susan, married Jacob Spotts and is now deceased; Mary J., married J. S. Dysart and is deceased; Lelia married J. J. Kirkpatrick, of Marshall, Mo .; Columbus C., Bowling Green, Mo .; Laura F., married James H. Ferguson who is now deceased and she lives in Silver Creek township; R. Granville, postmaster at Yates, Mo .; Oswald S., the subject of this sketch; John E., Silver Creek township; Addie, married George Mayo and they live west of Huntsville and Wirt C., lives at River Bank, Cal.
John C. Fray was born in Virginia in 1814 and came to Missouri with his parents who settled in Howard County at a very early day, and shortly afterwards removed to Randolph County and located in Silver Creek township where John C. Fray was engaged in farming and stock raising and became very well-to-do. He was the owner of about 600 acres of land and prior to the Civil War, usually owned 20 or more negro slaves. Martha (Barnes) Fray, mother of Oswald S. Fray, was born in Silver Creek township, Randolph County and her parents were among the very first settlers of this county. She spent her life in Silver Creek township and died in 1910 at the age of 91 years.
Oswald S. Fray was reared on the home farm in Silver Creek town- ship and attended the public school at Roanoke. He remained at home and assisted his parents on the home place until he was about 25 years old. He bought a farm in 1877, upon which he made improvements, building a house and barn. In 1890, he went to Marshall, Mo., where he bought property and was engaged in the grocery and meat business there for three years. In 1893 he traded his property and business in Marshall for his present place in Silver Creek township. His place consists of 166 acres of valuable land which is well improved with good substantial buildings. In 1901 his house burned and he built a new residence in 1902 and in 1916 his barn was destroyed by fire and he immediately rebuilt a good substantial barn. He carries on general farming and stock raising and has met with success. In 1919, he began breeding Spotted Poland China hogs and now has a very valuable herd of this breed.
Mr. Fray was married April 6, 1876 to Miss Betty E. Ward, a native of Grayson County, Ky. She is a daughter of Rev. E. Ward who came
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from Kentucky to Missouri with his family about 1868. To Mr. and Mrs. Fray have been born the following children: Richard W., deceased ; James E., deceased; Hettie E., deceased; William B., a merchant at Clark, Mo .; and Mary B., married W. R. Derby and lives on the home place. Mr. and Mrs. Fray have three grandchildren, the children of William B. Fray, as follows: Erdice B., a graduate of the Moberly High School; Edith L., and Edwin E.
Mr. Fray is a Democrat and a member of the Presbyterian church. For 18 years he served on the school board of District No. 71. Mr. Fray is one of the progressive men of Randolph County. For the past 5 years he has been one of three road commissioners of Yates special road dis- trict and takes a commendable interest in local affairs.
Robert T. Camplin, a well known conductor who for a number of years has been in the train service of the Wabash Railroad, is a native . of Missouri and a descendant of pioneers of this state. He was born in Monroe County, June 9, 1873, on a farm 15 miles south of Paris. His parents were John E. and Laura (Holliway) Camplin.
John E. Camplin was a native of Monroe County, Mo. He was born Feb. 27, 1848, a son of Rolla and Eliza (Creed) Camplin, natives of Ken- tucky and early pioneer settlers in Monroe County, Mo. John E. Camp- lin located in Moberly at an early day in the history of this city, and for over 30 years was engaged in the dairy business here. He was widely known and was a citizen of high standing. He was a Democrat and took an active part in local political matters and was a member of the city council six or eight terms. He came to Moberly in 1873 and died here in 1918. Laura (Holliway) Camplin was born near Ash, Randolph County, April 1, 1853. She is a daughter of Edward and Caroline (Lee) Holliway, natives of Kentucky and early settlers in Randolph County where they spent the remainder of their lives after coming here. They were the parents of seven children, four of whom are living, including Mrs. John E. Camplin who resides with her son Robert T. Camplin in Moberly.
To John E. and Laura (Holliway) Camplin were born three children: Robert T., the subject of this sketch; John A., a conductor, resides in Moberly; and Vera, married A. D. Miller, of Columbia, Mo.
Robert T. Camplin was about six months old when his parents set- tled in Moberly. Here he was reared to manhood and attended the pub- lic schools, and in early life learned the art of sign painting for which he had a special talent and today is one of the most skillful sign painters in
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the country. He followed this work for 14 years and in 1906, he entered the employ of the Wabash Railroad Company as brakeman and was promoted to conductor May 25, 1910, and since that time has been em- ployed in the freight service in that capacity. In dull seasons of railroad- ing he does some sign painting, his hand never having lost its cunning in that art, although he has been a railroader for 14 years.
Mr. Camplin was united in marriage Feb. 14, 1900, with Miss Lydia Storm, who was born near Morgan, Carroll County, Mo. To Mr. and Mrs. Camplin have been born two children: Ethel and Lucile, both of whom are at home with their parents.
Mr. Camplin is a Democrat and keeps himself well posted on current, events. He is a member of the Order of Railway Conductors and the family worship at the Christian church.
Ed. M. Forster, of the firm of Forster and Yowell, prominent real es- tate dealers and loan representatives of Huntsville, is a native of Georgia. He was born at Macon, Sept. 10, 1855, and is a son of Rev. Frank X. and Senora (Turner) Forster, natives of South Carolina and Kentucky, re- spectively.
Frank X. Forster was a son of Rev. A. M. Forster, a prominent Metho- dist minister of the early days. Rev. Frank X. Forster was also a Metho- dist minister, and for many years was prominently identified with leading educational institutions of the Methodist denomination. He was a pro- fessor in the Wesleyan Female College at Macon, Ga., until the Civil War broke out. After the war, he was a professor in Central College at Fay- ette, Mo., for 17 years. He died in 1878 and his widow spent her last days with her son, Ed. M. Forster, and died in 1911.
Rev. Frank X. and Senora (Turner) Forster were the parents of the following children: J. T., a bank cashier at Lineville, Mo .; Ed. M., the subject of this sketch; Rev. C. R., a minister of the Methodist denomina- tion, who is a professor at the Wesleyan Female College at Macon, Ga .; Dr. J. D., a prominent physician and surgeon, who conducts a sanitorium at Indian River Bay, Fla .; Ada, married Rev. W. A. Davis, a missionary in Japan and is now deceased.
Ed M. Forster was graduated from Central College at Fayette, Mo., in the class of 1874. He took a special course in pharmacy and for six years was engaged in the drug business at Fayette and Higbee. He then removed to Moberly, where he was engaged in the real estate and in- surance business and was also interested in the grocery business, until
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1901. He then removed to Huntsville and since that time has been in- terested in various enterprises including the mercantile business, farm- ing and real estate and loans. In partnership with Mr. Yowell, he has in recent years successfully devoted his attention to real estate and loan business. This firm is one of the progressive and enterprising firms of Randolph County and their customers extend over a large scope of terri- tory.
Mr. Forster was united in marriage at Fayette, Mo., in 1877, with Miss Eva McCreary, a daughter of Judge Boyd McCreary of Howard County, Mo. To Mr. and Mrs. Forster has been born two children, a daughter and son, as follows: Mrs. M. G. Kennedy, whose husband is agent for the Sante Fe and Wabash railroad companies at Lexington Junction, Mo., and they have four children, Merrill, Marvin, Jr., Irma Evaline and Julia May, and Claude T. Forster, who is employed in the Faessler Manufacturing Co., at Moberly, Mo.
Mr. Forster is a member of the Methodist church and for 25 years served as steward. He is a Democrat and a member of the Masonic Lodge and is one of Randolph County's representative citizens.
Dr. Robert E. Kiernan, the present mayor of the city of Huntsville, is one of the well-known and successful dentists of Randolph County and is the dean of the dental profession of this county. Dr. Kiernan was born in Audrian County, Mo., July 13, 1867. His parents were Dr. Rob- ert E. and Martha (Reed) Kiernan.
Dr. Robert E. Kiernan, Sr., was a native of Ireland, born in 1830. When he was two years old he was brought to America by his parents. After receiving a good preparatory education he studied medicine and was one of the pioneer physicians of this section of the country. He prac- ticed medicine among the pioneers of the early days, when the pioneer doctors traveled on horseback. He practiced here long before the Civil War and located at Huntsville in 1873. He continued the practice of his profession there for a number of years. However, he retired from active practice several years before his death, which occurred in 1914, in his 84th year. His wife died in February, 1911.
Dr. Robert E. and Martha (Reed) Kiernan were the parents of the following children: Ella, Bettie and Nora, all of whom reside in Hunts- ville and Dr. Robert E., the subject of this sketch. Martha Reed Kier- nan, the mother, was born on a farm near Huntsville, Mo., in 1831. Her parents were among the very first pioneer settlers of this section.
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Dr. Robert E. Kiernan, whose name introduces this sketch, received careful training in his youth and obtained a good preparatory education. He then entered the Missouri Dental College, at St. Louis, Mo., and was graduated in the class of 1888. He immediately engaged in the practice of his profession and for 32 years has practiced in Huntsville. During that time he has built up a large practice and has become widely known in Huntsville and Randolph County. He has had the unusual experience of having done dental work for four generations of the same family, and has practiced dentistry longer than any other man in Randolph County.
Dr. Kiernan was married in 1890 to Miss Lillie Hedges, daughter of J. S. Hedges, of Moberly.
Dr. Kiernan is a Mason and a member of the Knights of Pythias and the Independent Order of Odd Fellows. He is a Democrat and a member of the Christian church.
Judge W. H. Sandison, a leading implement dealer of Huntsville, is conducting the oldest established business in this city, it having been founded by his father in the early seventies, and for many years has been carried on by Judge Sandison, the present proprietor.
W. H. Sandison is a native of Pennsylvania and a son of William and Elizabeth (Burton) Sandison, the former a native of Scotland and the latter of Pennsylvania. William Sandison, the father, was born in April, 1838, and died in Huntsville in January, 1916. He learned the blacksmith trade in early life, and when a boy went from his native land to Canada, where he worked at his trade for some years, when he went to Pennsylvania and was there married to Elizabeth Burton. He came to Missouri and settled at Huntsville in 1868. Here he engaged in blacksmithing. He erected a brick blacksmith shop and some years after locating here, engaged in the implement business, which he at first con- ducted in connection with blacksmithing. At his death he was succeeded by his son, W. H. Sandison, of this sketch. He took a prominent part in the early day affairs of Huntsville and held the office of city council- man and was also a member of the school board. He was a member of the Baptist church and active in church work. He was also a member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows. His wife died in 1889 and he died in 1916.
To William and Elizabeth (Burton) Sandison were born the follow- ing children: W. H., the subject of this sketch; J. G., farmer and auto-
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mobile salesman, Salt Spring' township; Mary J., lives at Huntsville; C. D., a Spanish-American War veteran, now a jeweler at Huntsville; Annie, lives at Huntsville; A. O., a jeweler at Sedalia, Mo.
Judge Sandison was reared in Huntsville and educated in the pub- lic schools of that city and the University of Missouri at Columbia, Mo. Since reaching manhood he has been engaged in the implement business at Huntsville and has built up an extensive trade. He is well known in Huntsville and Randolph County. He has served as police judge of Huntsville for five terms, a period of ten years.
Judge Sandison is a Republican and a member of the Knights of Pythias. He has been keeper of the records and seals of that order in Huntsville for the past 28 years and for four years he served as secre- tary of the sixth district. He is one of the substantial business men of Huntsville and Randolph County.
Isham Powell, a leading farmer and stockman of Moniteau township, who is the owner of 300 acres of land, is one of the progressive citizens of Randolph County. He was born in Boyle County, Ky., Nov. 15, 1843, and is the son of Golson and Mary (Colter) Powell, both also natives of Kentucky and pioneers of Missouri, and are now deceased. They were the parents of eight children, five girls and three boys, of whom Isham Powell was the second in order of birth.
Isham Powell came to Missouri in 1856 and located in Randolph County, where he was engaged in farming when the Civil War broke out. He enlisted in the Confederate army and became captain of the company in Gen. Joe Shelby's command. He was with Shelby in Arkansas, Ten- nessee and Mississippi and did a great deal of scouting and was engaged in a number of skirmishes and battles in those states. After the war he returned to Randolph County and engaged in farming and stock rais- ing again and has met with success in his undertakings. He endured many hardships and privations in the early days, but by hard work and industry, he has overcome many obstacles and succeeded. He has been an extensive stock feeder and has made money in that field of endeavor.
Mr. Powell was married in 1870 to Miss Mary L. Mitchell, a native of Cedar County, Mo., born March 23, 1848. She is a daughter of Stephen Alex and Louisa (Lilburn) Mitchell, natives of Tennessee, who came to Missouri with their respective parents, who were early settlers of Cedar County, Mo. Mrs. Powell's parents are both deceased. To Mr. and Mrs. Powell have been born two children, as follows: Lulu, married James
ISHAM POWELL AND GRANDSON, FRANK C. POWELL
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Terrill and resides south of Moberly, Mo., and Henry, lives at Higbee.
Mr. Powell is a stockholder in the Mechanics' Bank of Moberly and one of Randolph County's most substantial citizens.
William Thompson Dameron, who is now serving his second term as postmaster of Huntsville, has been prominently identified with the public affairs of Randolph County for a number of years. He is a descendant of early pioneer families of Randolph county, both on his maternal and paternal sides. Mr. Dameron was born on a farm in Silver Creek town- ship, June 6, 1854, and is a son of George W. and Eliza Jane (Mayo) Dameron.
George W. Dameron was born in Caswell County, N. C., Feb. 10, 1815. He was one of a family of 11 children of Bartholomew and Rebecca (Malone) Dameron, the former of whom died Feb. 25, 1847, and the latter Oct. 11. 1851. They came from North Carolina to Randolph County with a colony of about 60 persons, in 1830, and camped for a short time at Renick and on Jan. 1, 1831, reached Huntsville. They located in Silver Creek township, where Bartholomew Dameron spent the remainder of his life. He was a successful farmer and tobacco planter and owned a number of slaves.
George W. Dameron was 17 years old when he came to Randolph County with his parents. On June 25, 1840, he was married to Miss Susan J. Lobban, who died Nov. 15, 1845, leaving one son, James B., who died at the age of 64 years. May 24, 1847, George W. Dameron was married to Miss Eliza J. Mayo. She was born in Randolph County, Dec. 27. 1827, and was a daughter of Allen Mayo, who came to Randolph County with his parents in 1817. He was a native of Virginia and went with his parents from Virginia to Tennessee and in 1817 they came to Randolph County and was the first settlers in this county. A brother, Valentine Mayo, was the first member of the family to reach this coun- ty. He came in 1816, and entered a tract of land in Randolph County and the following year the other members of the Mayo family, who had gone from Tennessee to Illinois, came here. Allen Mayo discovered Ran- dolph Springs. He found it by following the buffalo trail to the Salt Lake and he often shot deer there. He later purchased salt at that place. He was truly one of the pioneers of Randolph County. Further details of Allen Mayo and the Mayo family history appears in this volume in connection with the sketch of his son, James P. Mayo.
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To George and Eliza Jane were born the following children: C. A., was a levee contractor in Mississippi and died in 1887; William T., the subject of this sketch; George P., who operates a picture show at Hunts- ville; Charles H., was a levee contractor in the South for a number of years and now resides at Huntsville; John M., is a levee contractor in the South; Mattie H., the widow of Lewis Malone, resides in Huntsville; Susan, Married H. Johnson, and lives in Huntsville; Lutie R., married Will Evans, of Huntsville, and Mrs. Parthena Smith, of Huntsville.
William T. Dameron was educated in the public schools and remained on the home farm in Silver Creek township until 1883. He then came to Huntsville, where he was superintendent for the Flemming Manufac- turing Company for four years. From 1887 to 1888 he was employed in the Wabash shops at Moberly. In 1890, he was then elected sheriff of Randolph County and served for four years. In 1894, he was elected collector of Randolph County and served in that office for four years. The first office which Mr. Dameron ever held was constable of Silver . Creek township to which he was elected when he was 21 years old and re-elected a number of times, serving for 8 years. In 1898, Mr. Dameron purchased an interest in the Huntsville "Herald." In 1902 his partner died and he bought his interest from the estate and published the paper until 1911. He with others founded the Huntsville "Times" and pub- lished that paper until 1915, when he sold it. He was appointed post- master of Huntsville by President Wilson March 5, 1915, and reappointed to that office Dec. 1, 1919. Mr. Dameron is a conscientious and capable public official and may be depended upon to discharge the duties of any public trust imposed in him with fidelity.
Mr. Dameron was married Oct. 14,1885, to Miss Elnora Cochran, of Huntsville. She is a stepdaughter of Rev. S. W. Atterbury, who was a prominent Methodist minister and is now deceased. To Mr. and Mrs. Dameron have been born two children, Manie E. Burkhartt, Hunts- ville, Mo., and James Howard, who is 19 years old and is now a clerk in the Huntsville postoffice. During the World War, he enlisted in the United States Marines, in April, 1918, and served until September, 1919, when he received his honorabl discharge.
Mr. Dameron is a Democrat and has taken an active part in political matters. He has attended a number of state and national conventions. He is a member of the Methodist church, south, and has belonged to that church for 43 years. He was steward and Sunday school superin- tendent for many years.
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In February, 1901, Mr. Dameron was appointed adjutant general of Missouri by Governor A. M. Dockrey and served for four years.
Hayden Louis Rutherford, president of the Farmers and Merchants Bank of Huntsville, Mo., has been an active factor in the affairs of west- ern Randolph County for over 50 years. He was born in Randolph County and belongs to one of the very early pioneer families of this county.
Mr. Rutherford was. born eight miles west of Huntsville, Oct. 28, 1840, and is a son of William T. and Phoebe Jane (Dameron) Rutherford.
William T. Rutherford was born in Jessamine County, Ky., Oct. 2, 1813. He was a son of Shelton Rutherford, who came to Randolph County in 1831, and in 1832 returned to Howard County, but the next year came back to Randolph and spent the remainder of his life here. He died in 1839. His wife died in 1835. "Uncle Billy" Rutherford, as Wil- liam T. Rutherford was more familiarly known, first settled where the town of Darksville is now located. He built a log cabin there which was his home until 1843, when he sold his place and removed to Hunts- ville, where he was engaged in handling tobacco and was successful in his business ventures. He bought a farm near Huntsville in 1850. This place consisted of 400 acres and was located in Salt River township. In addition to the tobacco business, he was also interested in coal mines during the latter part of his life. He was an enterprising and progressive business man and has been frequently mentioned as the builder of Huntsville. He was a member of the Christian church. He died May 19. 1903.
William J. Rutherford was first married July 19, 1838, to Phoebe Jane Dameron and to this union, ten children were born of whom the following are living: Mrs. J. D. Hammett, San Diego, Cal .; Mrs. R. D. Lemley and Hayden Louis, the subject of this sketch. The mother of this family died in 1858 and William T. Rutherford afterwards married Mrs. Rebecca Rutherford, his brother's widow. She died in 1897.
Hayden L. Rutherford was reared amidst the pioneer surroundings of the early days in Randolph County and was educated in the common schools and Mt. Pleasant College at Huntsville, and later, after having graduated from Mt. Pleasant College, he attended Bethany College of West Virginia and during the Civil War, he started to Europe to con- tinue his studies when the ship on which he was crossing the Atlantic started to leak and was compelled to return to port. This changed Mr.
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