USA > Missouri > Randolph County > History of Randolph County, Missouri > Part 54
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Captain Reed was married Nov. 28, 1855 to Rachel E. Denny, of Howard County, Mo. She was a daughter of James M. Denny, a Ken- tuckian who was a very early pioneer settler of Howard County and a member of a prominent Kentucky family ; he owned a number of slaves and was a large land owner. Capt. Reed died Oct. 5, 1899 and his wife died April 5, 1905. She was an accomplished woman and possessed unusual talent; she was one of the original members of the Womens Christian Temperance Union and an untiring worker in behalf of the principles which that organization represents.
To Captain Thomas B. Reed and wife were born the following chil- dren: John H., the subject of this sketch; James D., a prominent physi- cian and wealthy banker of Covina, Calif .; Elizabeth Frances, married John N. Taylor, of Columbia, Mo .; Lida R. married R. M. Cook, a banker of Kansas City, Mo. and she is now deceased; Anna Maude, D. P. Payne, of St. Joseph, Mo.
John H. Reed was educated in the public schools and Mt. Pleasant College and was graduated from that institution in 1876. He taught school for two years and then attended business college in Detroit, Mich. and afterwards studied law. He managed his father's estate until 1900. In 1904 he purchased his present farm in Salt Spring township. This place is known as "Hillcrest" and consists of 280 acres of well improved and valuable farm land. The residence is a large white house built on the Colonial style and the place presents an attractive appearance. Mr. Reed carries on general farming and stock raising and raises pure bred stock.
Feb. 8, 1900, James H. Reed was married to Miss Adah Gill, a native of Randolph County, born Feb. 23, 1867. She is a daughter of Judge Adam Fisher and Mary (Fairchild) Gill. Adam Fisher Gill was born in St. Charles County, Mo. and was the son of John Gill of Danville, Ky., who is the son of John Gill, of Virginia, and a grandson of Adam Fisher who fought in the Revolutionary War. Mary (Fairchild) Gill was a daughter of Capt. O. H. and Adah W. Fairchild. She was a highly cultured woman
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of strong mentality and was a prominent pioneer club woman. Adam Fisher Gill came to Randolph County in 1866 and settled near Randolph Springs and farmed near Gill school house and gave the land for that school grounds. He lived in Huntsville for 20 years prior to his death in September, 1918 in his 82nd year. He was a well read man and his natural inclination was towards the law and he served as justice of peace and police judge. His widow who is now 76 years of age makes her home with her children. Mrs. Gill has been a remarkable woman, reared in St. Louis and had the best educational advantages. She has spent her married life in the country. She has been deeply interested in church, club and civic affairs. Adam Fisher and Mary (Fairchild) Gill were the parents of the following children: Adah married John H. Reed, the sub- ject of this sketch; Dr. Everett Gill, D. D., has traveled extensively, served in the Red Cross during the World War and has been a missionary to Italy for ten years where he is now stationed; Emma, married J. W. Agee, a prosperous merchant of Keytesville, Mo. Mrs. Reed is a graduate of high school and Mt. Pleasant College and the Ladies College at Liberty, Mo. and for a number of years taught in the Liberty Ladies College and the Huntsville schools. To Mr. and Mrs. Reed have been born one child, Mary Louise. She is a graduate of the Huntsville High School and is a graduate in music and has studied extensively under private instructors.
Mr. Reed is a Democrat and a member of the Christian church and one of the substantial and enterprising citizens of Randolph County. Mrs. Reed is a member of the Baptist church; she holds membership in the Daughters of the American Revolution and is a prominent club woman. She is a member of the Women's Christian Temperance Union and is presi- dent of the local Misisonary Society.
James T. Sears, a progressive farmer and stockman of Chariton township, is a native of Randolph County and a representative of one of the very early pioneer families of this county. He was born on the place where he now resides, Feb. 3, 1859 and is a son of Levi and Rebecca (Ash) Sears. Levi Sears was also a native of Randolph County, born in 1829 and died in 1915. He was a son of Wiley Sears, a Kentuckian who came to Missouri in the early 20's and settled on Silver Creek near Mt. Airy. He built a home and improved a farm and here reared his family and spent the remainder of his days. Rebecca (Ash) Sears was a native of Indiana. She was born in 1835 and died in 1910. She was a daughter of George Ash who came to Missouri with his family and settled in Mon- roe County in 1837 or 1838.
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Levi Sears was reared in Randolph County and spent his life here. . During his old age, he and his wife removed to Clifton Hill where they spent the remainder of their days. They were the parents of the fol- lowing children: James T., the subject of this sketch; Rev. P. F., a Bap- tist minister; G. W., a merchant at Musselfork, Chariton County ; A. G., a druggist at Dodson, which is a suburb of Kansas City and Mrs. Naomi Hatten, the wife of Dr. Hatten of Columbia, Mo.
James T. Sears was educated in the district schools and since early life has been engaged in farming and stock raising. He first took charge of the home place and in 1900 bought it and has therefore always lived on the farm where he was born. It is a well improved fertile farm and consists of 161 acres. There is a good residence and barns and other buildings. In addition to his general farming, Mr. Sears also raises and feeds stock extensively. He markets about two car loads of cattle and a hundred head of hogs each year.
Mr. Sears was married in 1881 to Miss Lura Thomas, of Thomas Hill. She was born in Randolph County, a daughter of W. A. Thomas and to this union were born three children as follows: Josephine, married Charles W. West, of Kansas City and they have two children, Waller Rich- mond and James Charles ; George Herbert, Kansas City, Mo .; and Dorothy married Forrest Rice, resides on the home place and has one child, Ger- aldine Rice. Mrs. Sears died July 1, 1915 and is buried in Thomas Hill cemetery.
Mr. Sears is a Democrat and a member of the Missionary Baptist church.
Lewis Arnold Summers, a large land owner and extensive farmer and stock man of Clifton township is a native of Randolph County. He was born on the place where he now resides Sept. 5, 1890 and is a son of James H. and Elba Ella (Humphries) Summers, a sketch of whom appears in this volume.
Lewis Arnold Summers was educated in the public schools and has always been engaged in farming with the exception of a short time that he was employed in the train service on the Burlington Railroad. He is carrying on general farming and stock raising and operates 372 acres of land and owns 272 acres of the original Summers' homestead. The place is well improved with good buildings and the Summer's place is one of the productive farms of Clifton township.
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Lewis A. Summers was united in marriage July 31, 1913 to Miss Kathryn Kirkpatrick. She was born near Yates, Missouri and is a daughter of John and Kathryn (Alexander) Kirkpatrick. John M. Kirk- patrick is now deceased. He was born in Pennsylvania in 1837 and in early life went to Iowa and in 1880 he came to Missouri and settled in Randolph County where he was engaged in farming and also conducted a livery stable for a time. He was married to Kathryn Alexander in 1884. She was born in Howard County in 1864 and was a daughter of John and Charity (Denny) Alexander. John Alexander was a native of Kentucky and an early pioneer in this section of Missouri. He was born in 1807 and came here in 1827.
To Lewis Arnold and Kathryn (Kirkpatrick) Summers were born the following children: John, born April 13, 1916; Mary Kathryn, born July 13, 1918.
Mr. Summers is a Democrat and takes a commendable interest in political affairs. He is a member of the Methodist church.
James P. Mayo, a successful farmer and stockman of Silver Creek township, is a native of Randolph County and is a descendant of one of the honored pioneer families of this county. He was born on the farm where he now resides, Sept. 11, 1845 and is a son of "Uncle Allen" and Martha (Finnell) Mayo.
"Uncle Allen" Mayo was one of the prominent pioneer settlers of this section of the state. He was born in Virginia, July 14, 1802. His father, Thomas Mayo, was an old and respected citizen of Patrick County, Va., who married Mary Blair, who was a member of the same family to which General Frank Blair belonged. Thomas Mayo served in the Revo- lutionary War under General Washington. About 1805 he removed from Virginia with his family to Campbell County, Tennessee, where he was engaged in farming about 12 years. He came to Missouri in 1817 and in 1818 settled in Randolph County and engaged in farming during the re- mainder of his life.
Allen Mayo, or "Uncle Allen" was 16 years old when he came to Randolph County with his parents. He entered government land in Silver Creek township in 1823, which is now owned by James P. Mayo, of this sketch. Allen Mayo was a successful farmer and prospered. He was one of Randolph County's most highly respected citizens of the early days. At the county fair at Jacksonville, in the fall of 1883, he was formally presented with a cane by the fair association in the name of the
JAMES P. MAYO
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people of the county in honor of being the father of the county, among the then living in duration of residence here.
Allen Mayo was married April 23 1823 to Martha Finnell, a daughter of Charles and Lucy Finnell, also pioneer settlers of Randolph County. Mrs. Mayo was born in Garrett County, Ky., June 28, 1804. They were the parents of the following children: William; Eliza, married George Dameron ; Thomas; Charles F .; Lucy, married Samuel McCulley ; Porter ; Mary, married F. M. Stark; John A .; Mildred and James P., the subject of this sketch. The surviving members of the above family are Potter, who resides at Clifton Hill, Mo .; Mary, lives in Silver Creek township; John A., Clifton Hill; and James P. "Uncle Allen" Mayo died Feb. 13, 1894. His wife died Aug. 6, 1890. They were members of the Baptist church and "Uncle Allen" Mayo was a Democrat. He was a strong Union man and voted for Lincoln in 1864.
James P. Mayo was reared in Silver Creek township and attended the early day subscription schools and was at home on his father's farm when the Civil War was being waged. He enlisted in the Union army in 1864, becoming a member of Capt. Charles F. Mayo's company (Captain Mayo was an older brother of his) Colonel Denny's regiment. He was discharged at Huntsville in 1865 after the close of the war. He then returned to his father's home where he remained until 1875, when he purchased a farm of 160 acres in Silver Creek township, which he im- proved. He is now the owner of 210 acres of well improved and valuable land. He has a good substantial residence and three barns on the place and other farm buildings. In addition to his general farming, he is an extensive stock breeder and one of the pioneer Shorthorn breeders of the county, having been engaged in this business since 1885. He has been breeding pure bred Poland China hogs since 1895.
April 15, 1879, James P. Mayo was maried at Huntsville, Mo., to Miss Sophia S. Sutliff, daughter of John and Catherine A. (Varnum) Sutliff, the former a native of New Jersey, born July 12, 1824 and died in Ran- dolph County, Sept. 3, 1906 and the latter, a native of Butler, Pa., born Aug. 19, 1824 and died Jan. 8, 1904. Mrs. Mayo is one of ten children born to her parents, as follows: Enoch, Huntsville, Mo .; John, deceased ; one died in infancy ; Mrs. Mayo; Julia Ann, deceased; Sarah, married Lannie Baker, Moberly, Mo .; William H., Silver Creek township; Amanda, deceased; Hattie, Silver Creek township; Joseph, deceased. Mr. and Mrs. Mayo have no children.
Mr. Mayo is a member of the Baptist church.
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HISTORY OF RANDOLPH COUNTY
James H. Summers, now deceased, was during his active career a prominent factor in the progress and development of Randolph County. He was born in this county May 4, 1849 and died March 6, 1917. He was the son of Joseph M. Summers, who was born Dec. 18, 1816 and was brought to Missouri by his parents, Jeremiah and Elizabeth (Baker) Summers in 1818. Jeremiah Summers was a native of North Carolina and his wife was a Virginian.
The Summers family settled in Randolph County in 1819 and were among the very early settlers of this section. The country was still in a primitive state and Indians were numerous. Joseph M. Summers was reared to manhood here and became a large land owner and was one of the wealthy men of Randolph County during his time. He married Martha Patton April 1, 1841. She was a daughter of William and Rebecca (Engleton) Patton, natives of Tennessee. Seven children were born to Joseph M. Summers and wife as follows: William P., Walter H., Mrs. Fannie Wylan, James H., the subject of this sketch; Mrs. Jennie Brown, Charles P. and Giles R.
James H. Summers engaged in farming and stock raising in Clifton township shortly after his marriage. He prospered and was regarded as one of the successful farmers and stockmen of Randolph County. He fed cattle for the market extensively and also hogs and was one of the big shippers of western Randolph County. At one time he owned 640 acres of valuable land but in later years disposed of some of his land and at the time of his death owned 375 acres of which his son, Louis Arnoll Summers now owns 273 acres and his widow 102 acres which is located in Clifton township.
James H. Summers was married March 19, 1878 to Miss Elba Ella Humphries. She was born in Silver Creek township May 10, 1860 and is the daughter of Isaiah and Elizabeth Jane (Goodman) Humphries. Isaiah Humphries was a native of Randolph County and was a son of Isaiah Humphries, an early pioneer of this county. Mrs. Summers' father died while serving in the Confederate army in 1865. Elizabeth Jane (Goodman) Humphries was born Nov. 17, 1837 and now resides with her daughter, Mrs. Summers. She is a daughter of James Edwin and Mary (Alexander) Goodman of Tennessee. Mrs. Summers is the only living child of her parents. A younger sister, Mary, is dead. After the death of her first husband, Mrs. Humphries married Louis Finnell, who was born Jan. 26, 1822 and died May 27, 1911. One child was born to that union, Louila M., born Sept. 8, 1872 and died Feb. 3, 1897.
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To James H. and Elba Ella (Humphries) Summers were born the fol- lowing children: Clarence Eugene, born Feb. 8, 1880, a traveling sales- man, Lincoln, Neb., married Merle Burris and they have five children: Mida Vesta, Martha Elizabeth, James Henry, Theodosia and C. E., Jr .; Joseph Henry, born April 2, 1884 and died Feb. 3, 1890; Christine Eliza- beth, born May 29, 1887, married William Hansel Mayo, Tulsa, Okla. and has two children, Elba Lucille and James Allen; Louis Arnold, a sketch of whom appears in this volume.
James H. Summers was a Democrat and a member of the Methodist church.
George William Lay, now deceased, was an early settler and a mem- ber of a pioneer family of Randolph County. He was born in Orange County, Va., in 1830 and died on his farm in Clifton township, Randolph County in 1906. He was a son of Frank and Jane (Eddings) Lay, both natives of Virginia. They came to Randolph County with their family and settled at Huntsville, in 1837. Frank Lay was a carpenter in early life and later operated a gristmill. He and his wife spent the remainder of their lives in Randolph County after coming here.
George William Lay was reared to manhood in Randolph County and followed farming and stock raising practically all his life and met with reasonable success. In 1868, he bought 160 acres of prairie land north of Clifton Hill. He improved this place and there spent the remainder of his life. He was married in 1851 to Sarah Ann Matlock. She was born in Caswell County, N. C., Sept. 4, 1834. Her parents were James and Martha (Gunn) Matlock, natives of North Carolina who came to Mis- souri and settled in Randolph County in 1836. The Matlock family are descendants of a prominent old southern family of Colonial times, mem- bers of which served in the American Revolution. Mrs. Lay is one of the oldest pioneer women now living in Randolph County.
To George William and Martha Ann Matlock Lay were born the fol- lowing children: James Francis, married Nannie Robertson and has four children: Mrs. Eliza Ann Richeson, who is the mother of two children, Frank Howard and Thomas; W. E. Lay, married Georgia Johnson and has one child, Nannie Louise; J. C. Lay, married Nellie Holman and Samuel Jones Lay, deceased; Charles William Lay, born June 19, 1858 and re- sides in Clifton township where he is engaged in farming and George Ashley on the home farm, married Stella Penn and three children were born to that union, Aubrey, Frank Penn, Leslie Earl. The mother of
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these children died and George Ashley married Miss Alta Jackson and to this union was born one child, Dorris Clifford.
George William Lay was a life long Democrat and a member of the Methodist church. He was a public spirited citizen and contributed his part to the upbuilding and development of Randolph County and its institutions. The Lay family is prominent in the community where they reside.
Sam W. Wright, an extensive stockman and farmer of Chariton town- ship, who is also one of the well known and successful breeders of pure bred registered cattle of the county is a native of Randolph County. He was born in the neighborhood of his present home, April 21, 1858, in a pioneer log house which had been the home of the Wright family for many years. He is a son of Johnson and Eliza Jane (Trumbell) Wright, natives of Kentucky.
Johnson Wright came to Randolph County about 1830 and entered a large tract of government land in 1834. He located in Chariton town- ship and here built a home for his family and cleared away the timber from his land and was considered one of the successful farmers and stock- men of the early days. He died April 21, 1867 and his wife died in 1889. They were the parents of the following children: Mrs. Mary McDaniel, deceased; Robert T., served in the Confederate army during the Civil War and is now deceased. George Preston, deceased; James A., deceased ; Non R., deceased; Rebecca, died at the age of 6 years; Staley A., a farmer in Chariton township and Annie married James Martin of Moberly and Is now deceased; Sam W., the subject of this sketch and Mrs. Malta J. Brogan, deceased.
Sam W. Wright has always been engaged in farming and stock rais- ing and since early manhood has operated the home place in Chariton township. After the death of his father, he bought the interests of the other heirs and is now the owner of 240 acres. This is one of the valuable farms of Randolph County and is especially well adapted to stock raising. Mr. Wright has about 196 acres devoted to pasture and gives special atten- tion to raising and breeding live stock. He feeds cattle for the market extensively and raises pure bred Polled Angus cattle and at this writing has about 30 head of registered cattle of this breed.
Sam W. Wright was married in Sept. 18, 1889 to Miss Fannie Burg- win of Boone County, Mo., and to this union have been born the following children: Guy B., born in 1887, a farmer, married Pensy Clempson ; Ralph, born in 1889 and Mrs. Zanna D. Gray.
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Mr. Wright is a Democrat and one of the well known and substantial citizens of Randolph County.
John H. Hammett, vice-president of the J. M. Hammett Banking Com- pany and one of the extensive farmers and stockmen of Randolph County, is a native of this county and a descendant of a prominent pioneer family of this section. John H. Hammett was born on a farm adjoining his present place in Salt Spring township, May 20, 1866 and is a son of Francis Marion Hammett and Susan (Robinson) Hammett. A sketch of Francis Marion Hammett appears elsewhere in this volume.
John H. Hammett was reared in the vicinity of Huntsville and edu- cated at Fort Henry and then took a business course and graduated at the Christian Brothers College at St. Louis, in 1885. He then engaged in farming and stock raising in Salt Spring township. He began with 320 acres and has added to his original holdings until he is now the owner of 600 acres of productive and well improved land. He has a large modern residence on his place and a number of well built and conveniently arranged grain, hay and stock barns. He devotes special attention to the stock business and feeds for the markets about six car loads of cattle and 400 hogs each year and is recognized as one of the most successful stock raisers of Randolph County.
Mr. Hammett was united in marriage March 16, 1893 with Miss Mary Vaughan, a native of Randolph County. She was born at Mt. Airy, a daughter of John and Addie (Dameron) Vaughan, both members of prom- inent pioneer families of Randolph County. Dr. Vaughan of Ann Arbor, Mich. is a brother of Mrs. Hammett. To Mr. and Mrs. Hammett have been born two children: Harper, who is a student at Howard Payne Col- lege, Fayette, Mo. and J. H., Jr., a student at Central College. Mrs. Ham- mett departed this life Dec. 12, 1918 at the age of 50 years. She was a member of the Methodist church and lived a consistent Christian life.
Mr. Hammett has been vice-president of the J. M. Hammett Banking Company at Huntsville for the past 14 years, having held that position since his father's death. He is a Democrat and takes an interest in local affairs. He has served as road commissioner and for seven years was president of the special road district. He is a member of the Methodist church and the Knights of Pythias. He is progressive and public spirited and his career has been marked with success.
Francis M. Hammett, now deceased, was for many years a leading factor in the affairs of Randolph County and like his father before him,
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left the imprint of his influence in shaping the destiny and moulding the affairs of his time. He was born in Randolph County on the old Ham- mett homestead, Aug. 19, 1831 and was a son of Joseph M. Hammett.
Joseph M. Hammett was a native of Kentucky, born in Warren County, Dec. 25, 1809. He was a son of Elijah Hammett, a native of South Carolina where the Hammett family was founded in America dur- ing Colonial times. When Elijah Hammett was a boy, his parents re- moved to Kentucky where he married Mary Snodgrass, a native of Ken- tucky and a daughter of David Snodgrass who was prominent in the affairs of that state.
In 1826, when Joseph M. Hammett was 16 years old, he came to Mis- souri with his parents and they settled in Howard County where they re- mained two years when they came to Randolph County. Here Elijah Hammett entered a large tract of government land which he and his son, Joseph M. improved and which was the future home of the family. Elijah Hammett died at Waco, Tex., in 1857 while there on a visit. His wife died in 1843. Joseph M. Hammett was the only son born to his parents. There were four daughters: Mary, Rebecca, Martha and Louisa.
Joseph M. Hammett was married Feb. 20, 1830 to Mary Millsap of Randolph County who died in 1864, leaving the following children: Francis Marion, the subject of this sketch; James W., Benjamin F., Charles H. and Jefferson B. Joseph M. Hammett married for his second wife, Mrs. Amanda La Fon, Feb. 20, 1866.
Joseph M. Hammett had a remarkably successful business career. He was a large land owner and a successful farmer, owning at the time of his death, over 6,000 acres of land in Chariton, Macon and Randolph counties. He was one of the pioneer bankers of Huntsville and for a number of years was president of what was then known as the Huntsville Savings Bank. He exerted a strong influence in the building of the North Missouri Railroad through this section of Missouri and took a leading part in the establishment of Mt. Pleasant College. For many years he did an extensive business in live stock. He was a member of the Methodist Church, South and an exemplary citizen.
Francis Marion Hammett received a good education and was a man of considerably more than the average intellectual attainment. He began his career as a school teacher and was a popular and successful educator. He next became a purchasing agent for stock and tobacco buyers in ad- joining counties and soon drifted into that business on his own account.
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In 1850 he went to California where he was successfully engaged in min- ing about a year when he returned to Randolph County and engaged in farming and stock raising and was successful in these enterprises and became a large land owner and was also heavily interested in cattle ranches in Colorado and New Mexico. He was also interested in the banking business and was president of the bank in Huntsville, having succeeded his father to that position. He was interested in many enter- prises with the same uniform success.
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