USA > Missouri > Randolph County > History of Randolph County, Missouri > Part 66
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HISTORY OF RANDOLPH COUNTY
a good farm residence and a substantial barn and other farm buildings. He is a strong believer in and practices soil fertilization and conservation. In addition to his general farming he raises hogs of which he has about 30 head and he is also a successful sheep raiser, having raised sheep all his life, and usually keeps on hand between 50 and 100 head. He has a large acreage of blue grass and his is regarded as one of the best blue grass farms in this section.
Mr. Rentchler was married Oct. 7, 1896, to Mrs. Lora J. Lemon, of Clifton township, who was the mother of two children by a former marriage: William C. Lemon, who lives on his mother's farm, and Grace Lemon, who died Dec. 2, 1919. To Mr. and Mrs. Rentchler have been born two children: Louis and Lutie, twins, who reside at home with their parents.
Mr. Rentchler is an enterprising and industrious citizen and has made good.
W. H. McLean, of Clifton Hill, Mo., a large land owner and an ex- . tensive farmer and stockman, is a native son of Randolph County. He was born about two and one-half miles north of Clifton Hill, Sept. 20, 1872, and is a son of J. K. and Cordelia (Rowe) McLean. The mother died in 1878 and the father now lives retired at Clifton Hill. They were the parents of the following children: W. H., the subject of this sketch; C. F., who is engaged in farming two and one-half miles north of Clif- ton Hill.
W. H. McLean was reared in Clifton township and educated in the public schools and Westminister College at Fulton, Mo. He began farm- ing and stock raising in early life and was successfully engaged in general farming, stock raising and feeding cattle for the market. In 1920, he sold his farm north of Clifton Hill, but still owns 212 acres of land near Randolph Springs and 100 acres near the Chariton County line, and 973 acres in Benton County, Mo. In 1911, Mr. McLean moved to Clifton Hill to give his children the advantages of the excellent public schools of. that town and has since resided there.
Mr. McLean was married Dec. 12, 1894, to Miss Allie Milam, a daugh- ter of Judge Joseph Milam, deceased. He was a native of Chariton town- ship, Randolph County, and a son of Daniel Milam, one of the early pioneers of that section of the county. To Mr. and Mrs. McLean have been born seven children: Joseph, lives near Randolph Springs, mar- ried Lucille Burton; Frances, Jack, Mary, Josephine and Evelyn, resid- ing at home with her parents.
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Mr. McLean is a progressive man and has made a success of his undertakings. He is a good business man, a capable farmer and stock- man and stands high in the community.
John O'Leary, chief dispatcher of the Moberly Division of the Wa- bash railroad, is one of the veteran railroad men of the Wabash system and although comparatively a young man, has been in the service of this company for 35 years, and for the past 16 years has held his present responsible position. Mr O'Leary was born in Indianapolis, Ind., Feb. 24, 1868, and is a son of William and Margaret (Daly) O'Leary.
William O'Leary was a native of County Limerick, Ireland. He came to America at the age of 19 years and was in this country but a short time when he became interested in railroad construction work, which was an active field of industry at that time. During the Civil War, he was engaged in the railroad construction work south of St. Louis. In 1872, he came to Moberly and bought a home on the corner of Rollins and Morley streets. This place is still owned by his estate. He was roadmaster for the St. Louis, Kansas City, and Northern railroad, from Mexico to Ottumwa, Iowa, for many years. He afterwards built the branch of the Missouri Pacific from Kansas City to Joplin, Mo. He also constructed a portion of the Rock Island railroad from St. Joseph, south- west through Kansas to Indian Territory. He reconstructed the Colorado Midland from Denver to Salt Lake City. He invented the first track laying machine and with it broke all previous track laying records, by laying five and three-fourths miles of track per day. He was an active and successful man of affairs. He died in Moberly in March, 1915. His wife, who was a native of Youghal, County Cork, Ireland, died in 1896, and her remains with those of her husband, are buried in St. Mary's Cemetery. Moberiy, Mo. They were the parents of the following chil- dren: John, the subject of this sketch; James, who is engaged in the insurance business in Moberly; Patrick, a teller in the Bank of Moberly.
John O'Leary was educated in the pariochial schools and the Mo- berly High School and began his career as a Wabash railroad employee as a messenger boy in the shops at Moberly and learned telegraphy there. At the end of two years he became telegraph operator at the Wabash depot and held that position for four years. He was then office manager for four years, and from that position was appointed train dispatcher, and March 1, 1904, he became chief dispatcher and has held that posi- tion to the present time.
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Mr. O'Leary was married Oct. 24, 1904, to Miss Anna McCoy, of St. Louis, Mo. She is a daughter of James and Elizabeth (Langan) McCoy, both natives of Ireland. They were married in Ireland and came to Moberly about 30 years ago. Here Mr. McCoy was engaged in tailor- ing about ten years, when he moved to St. Louis, where he now resides at the age of 84 years. His wife died in January, 1909, and is buried in Mt. Olive Cemetery, St. Louis. They were the parents of the follow- ing children: Mrs. Frank Borgemeyer; William, deceased; Margaret, who resides in St. Louis; Agnes, Frank and May, who reside in St. Louis, and Mrs. O'Leary, of this sketch. To Mr. and Mrs. O'Leary have been born three children: Margaret, Katherine and Dorothy Jane.
Mr. O'Leary is a high type of citizen and is thoroughly master of the exacting requirements of his responsible position, and the O'Leary family is one of the prominent and highly esteemed families of Moberly and Randolph County.
James S. Williams, progressive farmer and stockman of Salt Spring township, is a native of Missouri and a descendant of Kentucky pioneer stock. He was born in Howard County, Mo., Feb. 24, 1857, a son of William and Jeanette (Blakeley) Williams, both natives of Kentucky, who came to Howard County with their respective parents and were reared and married there. William Williams was born in Jessamine County, Ky., and his wife was born in Madison County, Ky. They were buried in Pleasant Grove Cemetery, Randolph County. The father died at the age of 65 years and the mother at 80.
William and Jeanette (Blakely) Williams were the parents of the following children: William T., lives in Howard County; James S., the subject of this sketch; Josiah, has been justice of the peace at Yates, Mo., for the past 25 years; Martha, married John F. Stark, at Oakley Union, Tex .; John, died at the age of 25 years; Susan, married Jacob Walker and died, leaving two children, Elizabeth and Nannie; Sarah F., married Berry Hudson.
James S. Williams attended the district schools at Locust Grove and in the White school district in this county, having come here with his parents in 1869, when he was 12 years old. He has followed farming and stock raising all his life and during the course of his career, he has owned several farms in this section. He bought his present place in 1913. This farm was formerly owned by Monroe Minor, and John Henry Minor, owned it prior to Monroe Minor. The place is located in
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HISTORY OF RANDOLPH COUNTY
Salt Spring township and contains 217 acres, including 142 acres of rich bottom land. The place is well watered and is one of the valuable stock farms of Randolph County. It is a well improved farm with a good residence and two large barns. One barn is 48x60 feet in dimensions and has a capacity of 65 tons of loose hay and the other barn is 20x30 feet. In addition to general farming, Mr. Williams raises cattle, hogs and horses. Mrs. Williams is successfully engaged in poultry raising, spe- cializing in Plymouth Rock and Brown Leghorn chickens. She also raises Narragansett turkeys and has made an unusual record in raising large turkeys, some of which when marketed, have weighed 26 pounds each.
Mr. Williams was married, May 13, 1886, to Miss Susan Anna Robb, a daughter of Joel and Martha (Baskett) Robb, natives of Howard County, where they now reside on a farm. Joel Robb served in the Con- federate army under Gen. Sterling Price and is now 75 years old. The Robb and Baskett families came from Kentucky to Howard County, Mo., in the very early pioneer days. To Mr. and Mrs. Williams have been born two sons: Irven, who was born in Howard County, March 23, 1889, and married Wylma Buck and they have five children, Charles, Nellie, Les- ter, Bryson and Horace Leroy ; and Horace Williams was born in Howard County, Aug. 8, 1891, and married Clara Malone and they have one daughter, Mildred.
Mrs. James S. Williams is one of the following children born to Joel and Martha (Baskett) Robb: Mrs. Williams; Bessie, married Wil- liam Banning, and is deceased; Grace, married Robert Burnham, and lives near Armstrong, Howard County, and Curtis, married Earl Wil- liams, Leadore, Idaho.
Mr. and Mrs. Williams are members of the Baptist church at Sharon, Howard County, and he is a member of the Randolph County Farm Club, and is a substantial citizen of this county.
Shackel Palmer, a well known and progressive farmer and stock- man of Chariton township, was born in the Province of Ontario, Canada, about 30 miles from Toronto, Oct. 1, 1862. He is a son of William and Sarah (Elliott) Palmer.
William Palmer was born in London, England, Sept. 27, 1828, and now resides with his daughter, Mrs. T. A. Day, in Chariton township, having reached the advanced age of 92 years. His wife died Oct. 26, 1889, at the age of 56 years and her remains are buried in Mt. Carmel Cemetery. They were the parents of the following children: Elliot, a
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HISTORY OF RANDOLPH COUNTY
farmer of Chariton township; William, was a prominent attorney and was twice elected prosecuting attorney of Randolph County and was engaged in the practice of law at Moberly at the time of his death in 1897; Malcolm, a farmer and stockman of Chariton township; Shackel, the subject of this sketch; George H., died at the age of 25 years and is buried in Mt. Carmel Cemetery; Samuel, a farmer and stockman of Chariton township, and Sarah Margaret, married T. A. Day and they live in Chariton township.
Shackel Palmer attended school in the Mt. Carmel district and in early life engaged in farming and stock raising. In 1885, he bought 120 acres of land where his present home is located. He bought more land later and is now the owner of a well improved farm of 350 acres. His place is well improved with a good substantial residence and other farm buildings. The place is well watered, the supply being pumped by two wind mills. In addition to general farming he feeds a great many cattle and hogs for market.
Mr. Palmer was married, Feb. 16, 1888, to Miss Jennie Lee Chrisman. She is a daughter of Judge Austin and Mary Frances (Coleman) Chrisman.
Judge Chrisman served as county judge of Randolph County for six years and his associates on the county court were Judges Wayland and Cosby. Judge Chrisman and his wife were both natives of George- town, Va., and were married there and settled in Randolph County, prior to the Civil War. He died at the age of 68 years and his wife was about 55 years old at her death. Their remains are buried in the Barnhardt Cemetery. They were the parents of the following children: Mrs. Mary Frances Wright, deceased; Mrs. Ella Price Wright, lives near Darkes- ville; Mrs. Palmer of this sketch.
To Mr. and Mrs. Palmer have been born six children as follows: Effie Lou, married William Reynolds, Chariton township; Mary Austin, at home with her parents; William M., married Myrna Brodsher and is engaged in farming and stock raising in Chariton township, where he is the owner of 160 acres of land; Sarah Christine, died Dec. 25, 1919, at the age of 25 years, was the wife of Curtis Brockman of Clifton Hill; and left one son, Curtis Palmer Brockman, born Dec. 19, 1919; Ella, resides at home with her parents, and Thelma, also resides at home.
Mr. Palmer is one of the stubstantial men of Chariton township and the Palmer family is highly respected in the community.
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HISTORY OF RANDOLPH COUNTY
J. E. Motley, proprietor of the "Blue Grass Mound Stock Farm," which is located three and one-half miles west of Huntsville, in Salt Spring township, is one of the progressive and well-to-do farmers and stockmen of Randolph County. He was born in Lincoln County, Mo., Jan. 11, 1870, a son of James A. and Lucy (Lovelace) Motley.
James A. Motley was born in Virginia, May 22, 1830, and came to Missouri with his parents who settled in Lincoln County in 1840. He served in the Confederate army during the Civil War. His wife was a native of North Carolina, born Jan. 30, 1831. They are both now deceased. They were the parents of the following children: B. W .. who died in 1919 at the age of 65 years; D. W., died in 1915, at the age of 59 years; Paulina J., was born June 18, 1858, and is now deceased; William H., was born Sept. 1, 1860, and lives in Pike County, Mo .; James D., born Sept. 27, 1862, lives in Lincoln County, Mo .; Emma F., born Dec. 30, 1864, lives in Lincoln County, Mo .; Lucy Lee, born July 11, 1867, deceased; and J. E., the subject of this sketch.
J. E. Motley was reared and educated in Lincoln County and began his career as clerk in a store in that county for two years. In 1914, he traded a Lincoln County farm for his present place in Salt Spring town- ship. This place was formerly the David Benton farm and contains 330 acres, 100 acres of which is bottom land. The place is well improved with a good residence and barns and since coming here Mr. Motley has built a large silo. He carries on general farming and stock raising, specializing in Duroc Jersey hogs and is now beginning with a herd of Shorthorn cattle. Mrs. Motley is successfully engaged in raising standard bred Wyandotte and Leghorn chickens.
Mr. Motley was married Oct. 15, 1903, to Miss Della M. Jamison, a daughter of J. A. and Mariah E. (Lindsay) Jamieson, both of whom are now deceased. J. A. Jamieson was born in Washington County, Mo., and his wife was a native of Pennsylvania. He was a veteran of the Civil War, having served in the Confederate army. They were mar- ried in Lincoln County and the following children were born to them: Walter L., born July 16, 1875, and resides in Lincoln County, Mo .; Mrs. J. E. Motley, of this sketch, born Aug. 3, 1877, and John W., born Oct 7, 1883, and resides in Pemiscot County.
To Mr. and Mrs. Motley have been born the following children: Hurley Lee, who is interested in breeding Spotted Poland China hogs, is taking vocational agricultural training and is a member of the Ran-
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HISTORY OF RANDOLPH COUNTY
dolph County Pig Club; Ruby Frances, who has won honors and pure- bred Poland gilt by receiving one of the highest grades in the agricul- tural course of the six school districts which recently had a contest ; Lucy Marie; Della May, and Virginia Pearl.
Mr. Motley is a member of the Modern Woodmen of America and the Motley family is well known and highly respected in the community.
William C. Dawkins, a well known citizen of Randolph County, who resides on his well improved farm, one-half mile east of the city limits of Moberly, is a native son of Randolph County and a descendant of one of the pioneer families of this section. He was born one and one-half miles north of Higbee, Feb. 8, 1868, and is a son of Leven Thomas and Julia Frances (Collins) Dawkins.
Leven Thomas Dawkins was also a native of Randolph County, born near Higbee on the same place where W. C. Dawkins was born. He spent his life in Randolph County and died here about 1897, and his remains are buried in the family cemetery near Higbee. He was a son of Wil- liam Dawkins, a Kentuckian, who was a pioneer settler in the vicinity of Higbee, locating there in the early thirties. He spent the remainder of his life near Higbee, after coming here and is buried in the Higbee cemetery. Julia Frances Collins Dawkins, mother of W. C. Dawkins, was also a native of Randolph County, born one mile west of Higbee. She is now deceased and her remains are buried in the cemetery at Higbee.
To Leven Thomas and Julia Frances (Collins) Dawkins were born the following children: Sarah, married Joe Burton, of Higbee, Mo .; William C., the subject of this sketch; Mrs. Mattie Ella McAdams, of Lamar. Colo .; and Nannie, married Pat Lewis, Moberly, Mo.
William C. Dawkins was reared on the home farm near Higbee and educated in the public schools, and early in life engaged in farming and stock raising and has met with success. In 1903, he bought 175 acres of land in Cairo township and that place is now being operated by Luther Hurt. In July, 1919, Mr. Dawkins purchased 26 acres of land just east of Moberly, where he has since made his home; this is a well improved and valuable place with a modern residence, garage, barns and other farm buildings. The place is located near Moberly.
Mr. Dawkins was united in marriage Nov. 14, 1893, with Miss Sallie McAdams, a daughter of C. A. and Lucy Ella McAdams. To Mr. and Mrs. Dawkins have been born two children: William Cloyd and Mae,
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HISTORY OF RANDOLPH COUNTY .
both of whom are members of the junior class in the Moberly High School.
Mr. Dawkins is one of the progressive and substantial citizens of Randolph county and the Dawkins family is highly regarded in this section.
Nathaniel Francisco Haworth, a well known and successful citizen of Randolph County, is a native of Tennessee. He was born in Green County, Tenn., Aug. 4, 1850, and is a son of Absalom and Elizabeth (White) Haworth, both natives of Tennessee. Absalom Haworth was born near Greenville, Tenn., in 1819, and in early life followed farming there and in 1852, he removed to Hancock County, Ill. Later, he came to Ran- dolph County, Mo., and passed the remainder of his life in Moberly. He died in 1901. To Absalom and Elizabeth (White) Haworth were born nine children, of whom Nathaniel F. was the fifth. The mother died when yet a young woman, being only 35 years old. Absalom Ha- worth was married a second time to Miss Merady Dennis, a native of Chillicothe, Ohio, and she died in Moberly in 1916, at the age of 83.
The preceding generations were Nathaniel, married Ann Oliphant; his father, Absalom, married Mary West, living first in Opecau, Va., then emigrating to Green County, Tenn. Said Absalom was the second son of George, who came to America in 1699 with William Penn on his second voyage, 56 persons died en route, it taking 14 weeks to cross the Atlantic. He settled in Bucks County, Pa. George, married Mary Scarbro, in 1710, she being a Quaker lady, as the early Haworths were. George was a descendant of James and Isabelle Haworth, of Lankashire, England, there being a church there by the name of Haworth or Haw- orth, as it is really pronounced.
Nathaniel F. Haworth spent his boyhood and early youth on his father's farm and attended the district schools. He remained at home until his 16th year, when he came to Missouri. He landed in Randolph County, in 1869, and engaged in the photograph business at McGee Col- lege, this county. A short time afterwards, he came to Moberly, which at that time was a mere village. Upon first settling here, Mr. Haworth began a teaming business, then branched out, buying and selling mules and horses. He was a good judge by values in his line, and he usually bought closely and sold at a profit. In 1874, he invested in a farm a half mile west of Moberly and on this 40 acre tract he built a sale barn which he managed for ten years before he erected a new and larger
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structure for the same purpose in Moberly, on the ground now occupied by the Princess Theatre. There, he not only bought and sold stock, but carried on a livery business, conducting the joint industries for ten years before selling out. Again enlarging his facilities, Mr. Haworth built a barn 70x150 feet, where he has his own switch tract from the Wabash railroad, his own loading chute and does an extensive business. He also owns two farms of 110 acres each, where he raises grain and hay which are used to feed his stock.
Mr. Haworth is one of the largest mule and horse buyers of the state. During the World War, he bought mules for the government in Iowa, Kansas, Nebraska, Oklahoma and Colorado. For the past eight years, Mr. Haworth's son, Harry, has been a partner with him.
On April 25, 1872, Nathaniel F. Haworth was married to Miss Susan Elizabeth Tiller, a native of Randolph County. She is a daughter of John and Lucy (Duvall) Tiller, both natives of Randolph County and now deceased. Mr. Tiller was a farmer and also conducted a wagon and carriage manufacturing business during his life. Three children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Haworth: Hattie Bell, the wife of J. M. Hinman, of Sedalia, Mo .; Harry H., who is in partnership with his father; and Lulu, the wife of Arthur McCully, a member of the Forney Clothing Company of Moberly.
Since coming to Moberly, Mr. Haworth has taken an active part in local affairs, and when only 27 years old was elected to the city council and was re-elected again and again, serving for 15 years, until he de- clined to serve longer. He is a Democrat and he and his wife belong to the Central Christian church. Mr. Haworth is one of the substantial pioneer business men of Moberly and Randolph County.
William F. Wigginton, one of the stockholders of the Harris Lumber Company, has been extensively and successfully identified with the com- mercial enterprises of Moberly for 15 years. He was born near Cairo, Randolph County, Sept. 1, 1888, the only child of Joseph and Ellena (Stigall) Wigginton.
Joseph Wigginton was a native of Frankfort, Ky., and his wife was born and reared in Randolph County, Mo. She was the daughter of William and Lizzie (Frazier) Stigall, natives of Virginia, who left that state at an early day and were pioneer settlers in Missouri. Joseph Wig- ginton was engaged in stock raising in Kentucky, and came to Missouri about 1857. He engaged in farming, raised horses and mules and later
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became a merchant at Bowling Green, where he was well and favorably known. In the early 80's, Mr. Wigginton came to Moberly to accept a position with the Wabash railroad bridge and building department. Five years later he moved to Cairo and engaged again in farming until 1890, when the family returned to Moberly and Mr. Wigginton became a con- tractor, a business in which he was engaged until his death in 1908.
William F. Wigginton was reared in Moberly and attended the public schools and graduated from the Commercial College. He then engaged in the grocery business with A. B. McCoy, until 1906, when Mr. Wig- ginton disposed of his interest in the store to accept a position with the Harris Lumber Company. In 1910, he purchased a block of stock in this concern and became one of the partners in the lumber business which is located at 100 West Rollins street.
On Nov. 16, 1916, Mr. Wigginton was married to Miss Helen Turner, of Moberly, Mo. She is a daughter of Henry and Alice (Buckley) Turner, natives of Illinois. Henry Turner was manager for the Adams Express Company for years, but is now deceased. His widow now resides in Mo- berly. Two children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Wigginton: Robert W. and Frances H., both at home.
The Wigginton family are members of the Central Christian church and Mr. Wigginton is a Democrat. He is a member of the Masonic Lodge, being Past Master of the Blue Lodge, Past High Priest of the Chapter, Past Commander of the Knights Templar and Past Patron of the Eastern Star.
Harry H. Haworth, one of the progressive business men of Moberly, is a native son of Randolph County. He is extensively engaged in buying and selling mules and horses and is widely known as a successful dealer with sales stables at 100-110 West Gilman street.
Mr. Haworth was born in Moberly, Oct. 4, 1877, the son of N. F. and Susan E. (Tiller) Haworth, and is the second of their three children. He spent his boyhood days here in Moberly and attended the public schools. In 1899, soon after leaving school, Mr. Haworth accepted a position on the Wabash railroad. He began as a locomotive fireman and 5 years later he was promoted to engineer. After running an engine for two years, he resigned to become associated with his father in the live stock business. A partnership was formed in February, 1906. Mr. Haworth was already a capable buyer. When only a boy, he could judge the value of horses and mules much better than the average mature
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HISTORY OF RANDOLPH COUNTY
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