USA > Missouri > Ray County > History of Ray county, Mo. > Part 60
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HISTORY OF RAY COUNTY.
engagement, from orderly sergeant to first lieutenant. He surrendered at Mobile, Alabama, in April, 1865. Upon his return home, he began the study of medicine, subsequently entered the St. Louis Medical College, and graduated from that institution in the spring of 1869; after which he located for the purpose of practicing his profession in Albany, Ray coun- ty, where he remained till January, 1874. In that month he came to Richmond, and engaged in the drug business. In 1876, he was elected treasurer of Ray county, after which he sold his drug store. He was re-elected in 1878, and again in 1880, and is now serving out, with honesty, fidelity and efficiency, a third term as county treasurer of Ray county. He is a member of the church, as is his wife, whose maiden name was Eliza McGee, and to whom he was married April 29, 1869. Mrs. Holman is a refined and exemplary Christian lady, and both she and her husband, are respected throughout the entire community in which they live. They have one daughter living-Blanche, born November 18, 1872.
JAMES E. BALL.
James E. Ball was born September 9, 1854, in Carroll county, Missouri. He is the son of Francis M. Ball, who was a native of Ray county, Mis- souri, born in August, 1826. He lost his life in the cyclone of June 1, 1878, which devastated a large portion of the city of Richmond. At the time of his death he was a member of the city council, and was, as he had ever been, an honored citizen, highly esteemed for the excellence of his moral character, and as a gentleman in all the relations of life. James E. Ball, the grandfather of our subject, was a native of Virginia, and immigrated to Ray county in 1818, thus becoming one of its pioneers. He died in Arkansas, at some time in the late civil war. In 1865, the subject of this sketch moved with his father and family to Richmond, where he now resides. He was educated at Richmond College, and in March, 1873, began the study of the law, under the instruction of Hon. John W. Shot- well. He was admitted to the bar in June, 1875; at once entered upon the practice of his profession, in partnership with his former preceptor, with whom he is yet so associated. James E. Ball was married January 17, 1877, to Miss Lizzie Shotwell, an accomplished young lady of Lafayette county, Missouri. They have one child living, Bessie, born November 10, 1878. Mr. Ball has twice served as city attorney, and is now a member of the city council. He is a young man of steady habits, temperate, studi- ous and industrious.
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HISTORY OF RAY COUNTY.
JAMES T. MCGINNIS.
James T. McGinnis, a native of Ray county, Missouri, was born June 12, 1857. His father, Captain Thomas McGinnis, was for a number of years a merchant in Hardin, this county, and when not at school, James assisted him in the store. He was four years deputy sheriff of Ray county, during the incumbency of his father. At the general election in Novem- ber, 1880, although but twenty-three years of age, he was elected sheriff of Ray county. His term is not yet expired, and he is serving the people faithfully and efficiently. He is the youngest sheriff Ray county ever had, and probably the youngest ever elected to that office in the state. He is a member of the Masonic fraternity, and a young man of great promise.
WILLIAM R. JACKSON.
William R, Jackson, born December 28, 1831, is a native of Ray county, Missouri. He has lived in this county from his birth to the present time. Until 1857 he was engaged in farming. In that year he moved to Rich- mond, and in 1868 opened a furniture and hardware store. In all his busi- ness enterprises Mr. Jackson has been quite successful. In 1880 he erected on the north side of the public square, Richmond, a large brick store- room, and now has therein the largest stock of furniture and hardware in this part of the state. In 1877, he also opened a lumber yard and an agricultural implement house, which are now under the management of his brothers-in-law, Messrs. John Patton and Calvin Houser. They keep a full supply of all kinds of lumber and farming implements. Mr. Jack- son was never sworn in as a soldier in the Confederate service, but he accompanied Colonel Rivers and General Slack to the southern part of the state, and took part in the battles of Carthage, Wilson's Creek, and Dry Wood. He was married April 1, 1863, to Miss Lucy J. Holman, of Ray county, an accomplished lady of gentle and captivating manners. They have two children living: Ellen S., born July 25, 1866, and Elwood, born January 31, 1868, and one deceased-died in infancy. Mr. Jackson is a successful, enterprising business man, and by his liberality and public spirit has done much to build up the city of Richmond.
MAURICE C. JACOBS.
Maurice C. Jacobs was born in Richmond, Ray county, Missouri, August 3, 1838. He received his education at the Richmond College, and in the spring of 1866 graduated from the Eclectic Medical Institute of Cincinnati, Ohio. He began the practice of his profession in Elkhorn, Ray county, but after a time, moved to Napoleon, a town in Missouri, on the boundary line, between Lafayette and Jackson counties. After practicing in that village some time, he returned to Richmond. In the
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HISTORY OF RAY COUNTY.
fall of 1874, he purchased the drug store of Messrs. Bullock & Donald- son, and since that time has been engaged as druggist and apothecary, at the same time practicing his profession. He is at present (April, 1881) the only eclectic physician in Richmond, and he has an extensive, lucrative practice. June 14, 1862, Maurice C. Jacobs was married to Miss Amanda E. Hudspeth, of Jackson county, Missouri. She died March 13, 1862; and August 1st, 1867, Dr. Jacobs was again married to Mrs. Helen M. Huston Morton, of Portsmouth, Ohio. Dr. Jacobs is an affable, agreeable gentleman, and justly merits the success he has achieved. He, as well as his wife, is a member of the Christian Church, and his good moral character is worthy of the highest emulation. He is also a Mason, Odd Fellow, and a member of the order of Knights of Pythias.
WILLIAM A. CRAIN.
William A. Crain was born November 3, 1820, in Flemming county, Kentucky. His father was William Crain, who was born in Fauquier county, Virginia, in 1784, and died in March, 1869, in Flemming county, Kentucky, in his eighty-fifth year. He has three brothers and four sisters living, as follows: John L., of Flemming county, Kentucky; James S., of Butte county, California; Noble H., of Flemming county, Kentucky; Rhoda Wilson, of Richmond, Missouri; Elizabeth E., of Bath county, Kentucky; Sarah Hilligoss, of Flemming county, Kentucky, and Amanda Carpenter, of Flemming county, Kentucky. William A. Crain, the sub- ject of this sketch, was raised on a farm, receiving such education as the schools of his neighborhood afforded. He is a man of strong, practical common sense, has read extensively, and his mind is well stored with val- uable general information, making him an interesting conversationalist. He spent the winter of 1852-3 in the state of Indiana, alternating between Shelbyville and Rushville, as places of abode. During the following summer he traveled through Illinois, dealing, to a considerable extent, in land warrants; and in the fall, returned to his home in Kentucky. In the spring of 1854, he came to Ray county, having first visited the county, however, in 1843. He remained here until the latter part of the year 1855, at which time he again returned to Indiana. Upon his arrival at Shelby- ville, in that state, he engaged in keeping hotel, and followed this occupa- tion till 1859, when he moved to Rushville, Indiana, and there opened a hotel, which he conducted till late in the fall of the year 1860, when he sold it, and went back to Kentucky. Remaining in that state till 1865, he returned to Shelbyville, Indiana, and became a clerk in a hotel, and remained such till after the close of the civil war. In the spring of 1866, he returned to Ray county, where he remained till the spring of 1869, when he returned to Flemmingsburg, Kentucky. In the spring of 1872,
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HISTORY OF RAY COUNTY.
went to California on a visit to his brother's, and after returning to his native county, in the winter of 1873, has remained here ever since. He has interests in both Ray county, Missouri, Flemming county, Kentucky, and, therefore, spends part of his time in each. William A. Crain was a soldier in the Mexican war. He enlisted in the company of which L. M. Cox was captain, Manlius V. Thompson's regiment, infantry. He served twelve months, at the end of which time the war was at an end. In politics Mr. Crain was a strong whig, during the exist- ence of that party. In 1860 he voted for Lincoln for the presidency, and has ever since been identified with the republican party, the principles of which he believes to be founded in humanity, truth, and justice. He was ever opposed to the institution of slavery; but while he is very decided in his views, he seeks to obtrude them upon no man, and freely accords the right of individual preference, or opinion.
JOHN A. WASSON.
John A. Wasson was born in the state of Indiana, but reared and edu- cated in Boone county, Missouri. His father, Mr. James F. Wasson, was a school teacher, and taught for many years in different states of the Union. Under his father's instruction, our subject received the greater part of his education. Mr. Wasson learned the carpenter trade in Gibson county, Indiana, and has pursued that calling most of his life. He was at one time a contractor and builder at Tipton, Missouri, and constructed more than twenty-five buildings there, including the Catholic Church. When the civil war commenced Mr. Wasson entered the Confederate service as a volunteer in the 16th Mississippi regiment of infantry, com- manded by Colonel Posey. He was in Stonewall Jackson's division dur- ing the entire four years of war. He was twice taken prisoner by the enemy; the first time he was exchanged, and the second time held for seventeen months, until after the surrender. He was wounded by a shot in the left knee at the battle of Cross Keys, in Virginia, but fortunately suffered no permanent disability from it. Mr. Wasson was married on the 14th day of January, 1871, to Miss Clara Belle Pendroy, of Centralia, Missouri. He came to Ray county in the month of October, 1880, and has since then been engaged in business with Mr. George I. Wasson at Richmond.
DAVID P. WHITMER.
David P. Whitmer was born July 4, A. D. 1829, near Waterloo, Sen- eca county, New York. His father, Jacob Whitmer, was the son of Peter Whitmer, and his mother's maiden name was Elizabeth Schott. His grandparents, having moved from near Hamburg, Pennsylvania, about 1809, settled near Waterloo, New York. All of them were farm-
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HISTORY OF RAY COUNTY.
ers, and of German descent. In 1831, Peter Whitmer, with his sons, Christian, Jacob, John, David, and Peter, settled in Jackson county, Mis- souri, with their families. They soon moved to Clay county, Missiouri, where Christian and Peter died. Thence they removed to Caldwell county, and, remaining there till 1838, they all moved to Richmond, Ray county, where the living yet reside, excepting John Whitmer, who has for many years been a citizen of Caldwell county. Peter Whitmer, Sr., died in Richmond, Missouri, at the age of 82, August 13, 1865. His wife survived him but a short time. They were all plain, honest men, and good citizens. Like most of the early settlers of Ray county, they were all poor when they came to Richmond, but their highest aim seemed to be to live above reproach, " unspotted from the world," and they incul- cated these principles into their children. When the subject of this sketch was in his twelfth year, his father, Jacob Whitmer, was taken sick, and for three years was able to do but little work. David, being the oldest son large enough to work, became the main-stay of the family- cultivated a rented farm, got up wood, and went to mill and to market. When his father became able to work again, his limited means were well nigh exhausted. But, in 1845, by close economy, he had saved enough to buy two and a half acres of land in the suburbs of Richmond, and erect thereon a small brick dwelling. Here he lived till the day of his death, April 26, 1856. Before his death, our subject's father built a small shoe- shop on the land mentioned, which he kept up till the time of his death, the son working with his father in the shop during the winter, and on a farm in summer, cultivating some rented land, and thus continued until the boy was about seventeen, when, having become expert as a boot and shoe maker, his father, from that time, kept him in the shop summer and win- ter. Thus the young man grew up in obscurity and poverty, and inured to toil. But by close application, he did at least a third more work than any other hand, and found considerable time to read and prosecute his studies at home. In the spring of 1849, he informed his father of his long contemplated intention of qualifying himself for a lawyer, and arranged with his father to start to school. After attending school two weeks, the man upon whom his father relied to do the work in the shop, got on a spree and quit work; whereupon young David left school, and went back to work with his father at his trade. Meanwhile he pursued his studies diligently, working early and late at night. He did sufficient work in nine months to save three months of his last year of minority for school. On starting to school he found that he had, by his study at home, kept fully up with his classes. He continued at school two years at the old Richmond Academy, with Professor A. C. Redmon as his pre- ceptor. Until the last year of his attendance at school, he was ably assisted by Colonel James W. Black, who engaged with Professor Red-
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HISTORY OF RAY COUNTY.
mon as a teacher, and who has proved himself to be one of the finest lit- erary critics in Ray county, where he still resides.
While at school, the Judge included in his studies all the common school branches, together with the higher mathematics; Latin, logic, and astron- omy. When he left school, he entered the study of the law with Hon. Aaron H. Conrow as his preceptor, at Richmond, Missouri. Finding, at the end of twelve months that his purse needed replenishing, he taught a six months' school for that purpose, at the same time continuing the study of law. On the 4th of September, 1854, he obtained a license to practice his chosen profession, from Hon. Geo. W. Dunn, judge of the fifth judicial circuit. He opened a law office at once, in Richmond, accepting the kind offer of ex-Governor Austin A. King, to put his law library in the young attorney's office, and office together. Young Whitmer rapidly grew in repute as a lawyer, and soon secured for himself the con- fidence of the public, and a lucrative practice. In 1857 he was elected the first city attorney of Richmond, and the following year was again elected to the same position. In 1858 he was elected commissioner of common schools for Ray county, and served two years. He was the only man on his ticket who was elected. In June, 1859, he entered into a law partnership with Hon. Aaron H. Conrow, his former preceptor. They continued together in business till the commencement of the civil war, in 1861, when they dissolved partnership, Mr. Conrow enlisting with the Missouri state guards, afterwards becoming a member of the con- federate congress. Judge Whitman took the position that the cause of the Union was paramount to all other considerations, and should rise above all party and sectional issues. He, therefore, espoused the Union cause, and since that time has acted with the republican party.
In February, 1862, he was commissioned circuit attorney for the fifth judicial circuit, the old incumbent having failed or refused to take the oath prescribed by what was known as the convention ordinance. He at once entered upon the discharge of his duties. Judge Austin A. King was, at the same time, and for similar reason, appointed judge of the fifth judicial circuit, and entered upon his duties, simultaneously with Mr. Whitmer. In the fall of 1863, Judge Whitmer was called by a convention of Union men of Carroll county to make the race for judge of the fifth judicial circuit. At first declining, he finally yielded, and at the polls received a majority in each of the. counties of Carroll and Caldwell, but was defeated, his able and distinguished friend, Judge Dunn, being his successful competitor. When the enrolled Missouri militia were organized July 29, 1862, he was elected and commissioned captain of company F, fifty-first regiment, E. M. M., and was at once ordered into active service. Remained on duty until December, when he, with fifty men and two lieu- tenants, was detailed for active service during the winter, holding post at
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HISTORY OF RAY COUNTY.
Richmond, Missouri, Lieutenant-colonel J. W. Black, commanding post, the regiment being relieved from active service till further orders. In April, 1863, he was detailed as captain of company D, fourth provisional E. M. M. In the summer of 1863, he was detailed by Colonel Chester Harding, commanding department of northwest Missouri to wind up the unsettled business of Provost Marshal Hemory, removed. He accepted the position, and found on hand some twenty-five or thirty citizen priso- ners, together with a detachment of U. S. troops, occupied as provost guards. He returned the provost guards to their regiment and in a short time disposed of the prisoners and all the business pertaining to the office, restoring confidence and giving general satisfaction. In November, 1863, his company and regiment were relieved from active service, excepting Captain Tiffin, with part of company C, who were retained in charge of the post during the winter months. In June, 1864, Captain Whitmer, with one lieutenant and thirty men, was ordered into active service as commandant of the post at Richmond. Marauders began to infest the country, troubles thickened and raids became frequent. Early in July Captain Whitmer received information that some three hundred men, under Thrailkill, had engaged and defeated a battalion of Colorado troops near Fredricksburg, fourteen miles west of Richmond. He issued orders immediately, calling on all good citizens who were willing to aid in the defense of their homes, to report to his headquarters at once, with such arms as they could command; at the same time, he sent a message to Col. McFerren, commanding post at Lexington, to send reinforcements at once, that, although his force was small he intended to fight, but not to surren- der. In the evening Captain Colly arrived with his command. The citi- zen force was stationed on and about the college grounds, while the sol- diers on duty, were placed to guard the approaches from without. Thrail- kill, however, nearing the city, avoided it by turning north, and made a raid through Caldwell county. From that onward, till the fall of the notorious Bill Andersou, in 1864, near Albany, Ray county, the cloud of war lowered, hanging dark and gloomily over all this part of the state. In order to make the citizen force more efficient, Captain Whitmer organ- ized them into a company of home guards, under command of Captain C. T. Garner.
Captain Whitmer and the various companies of his regiment were generally engaged in the field, on scouts and often in pursuit or in contact with raiders, until they were honorably discharged in November, 1864. During all this period Captain Whitmer was circuit attorney, and had leave of absence when necessary to attend the courts and look after the prosecution of criminals. After the war-in March, 1867-a common pleas court being established in Ray county, Judge Whitmer was com- missioned as judge thereof, and served till the next general election, in
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HISTORY OF RAY COUNTY.
1868, when he was re-elected, receiving the largest vote of any candidate on the ticket, except the vote for Grant. Judge Whitmer concluded his term as judge of this court, which had probate, as well as common law and equity jurisdiction, with a complete index to the probate records from the beginning. After the expiration of his term of service upon the bench, Judge Whitmer again devoted himself to the practice of law. During all this time he has been a citizen of Richmond, Missouri. Though frequently solicited, he refused to run for any political position other than city offices; and although a Mason and Past High Priest of Royal Arch Chapter, A. F. & A. M., has always opposed all secret political organizations as dan- gerous to the liberties of the people. April 20, 1859, he was married, by Elder James A. Garfield, now president of the United States, to Miss Vashti Whitmer, daughter of Peter Whitmer, deceased. She is a lady of culture and refinement, and together with her husband, enjoys the confi- dence of her numerous friends. They have no children living. Judge Whitmer ranks high as a lawyer, and is in the prime and vigor of man- hood.
THOMAS D. WOODSON.
It is not alone among military heroes; nor in the cabinet; nor among the luminaries of literature, of science, or of art, that we are to' look for great and good men. There is another and larger class of citizens, not so dazzling, to be sure-whose fame, indeed, is circumscribed; who have never been renowned for achievements in war, nor for eloquence, great learning, or statesmanship, but who are, nevertheless, entitled to grateful recognition for the parts they have taken in sustaining society, religion, and the economy of government, who are really more useful to the . world than many of those whose fame has extended far and wide. Such men, we mean, as quietly pursue the various necessary vocations of life; who live honorably, discharge the duties of citizenship, and by liberality, christian deportment, and individual effort contribute to the happiness of all. Thomas D. Woodson, son of Robert S. and Hulda Ann (Young) Woodson, was born in Woodsonville, Hart county, Kentucky, March 10th, 1828. His father was born in Goochland county, Virginia, Novem- ber 26th, 1796, and moved with his parents to the present site of Wood- sonville, then in Barren county, Kentucky, in 1804. His grandfather, Thomas Woodson, was born in Goochland county, Virginia, on the River James, twenty miles above the city of Richmond, December 2d, 1772, and died in Woodsonville, February 14th, 1857. His grandmother, also a native Virginian, born May 2d, 1776, died in the same village, July 21st, 1844. His mother was born January 14th, 1801, in Rockingham county, Virginia, and is still (1881) living, and resides with the subject of this sketch in Richmond, Missouri. His great grandfather, Matthew Wood-
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HISTORY OF RAY COUNTY.
son, was born in 1731, and married Elizabeth Levilian, only child of John Peter Levilian. His maternal great grandfather, Jesse Saunders, married Mary, only child of Anthony Levilian. His paternal great grand parents, grand parents, and his father were Old School Baptists. This faith, extending back to John Peter Levilian, making the fourth generation, reminds one of the faith of Paul and also of Timothy, which extended backward to the third or fourth generation. The parents of our subject had nine children, three of whom died in infancy. The rest are as follows, arranged with respect to their ages: Jane Ann, who married John H. Ardinger, Esq., a merchant of Woodsonville, Kentucky, who subsequently moved to Lexington, Missouri, where he was a prominent citizen a number of years; he is now living in Texas; Philip J .; Martha A., who became the wife of the late Governor Austin A. King, of Missouri; the subject of this sketch; Eliza- beth Levilian, wife of Shelby A. Jackson, M. D., of Ohio county, Ken- tucky, and Robert Hyde, who joined the Confederate army at the com- mencement of the civil war, and receiving a wound at the battle of Champion Hills, Mississippi, fell into the hands of the enemy and died. His grandfather Thomas was the founder of Woodsonville, once a bright and attractive village, situated on a high plateau, overlooking the sur- rounding country, on the south bank of Green river, in Hart county, Ken- tucky. Thomas D. Woodson was a soldier in the war against Mexico. He volunteered in 1847, joining the 4th Kentucky infantry, and ~served till the close of the war, in the company of which, at first, Pat Gardner and afterwards Thomas Mayfield, was captain. At the close of the Mexican war, he came to Missouri and located at Kingston, in Caldwell county, where he engaged in the mercantile business. He remained in Kingston until in the spring of 1852, when he crossed the plains, with a train of ox wagons, to California. Continuing in California till January, 1854, he re- turned to his home in Missouri, and pursued his former vocation at King- ston till in 1863, when he removed to Richmond, Ray county, where he resumed merchandising, and conducted a store till the fall of 1878, at which time he closed out to Messrs. Holt & Hughes. In 1868, he par- ticipated in the organization of the Ray County Savings Bank, and was chosen its vice-president. He held this position till he disposed of his mercantile house, as above stated, when he turned his attention to banking exclusively. In 1879 he was elected president of the Ray County Savings Bank, and still holds that position. Mr. Woodson has also been extensively engaged in dealing in live stock, farming, etc. He owns several well improved and fertile farms in Ray and adjoining coun- ties. He was married December 5, 1854, to Miss Sabina L. Hughes, a native of Clark county, Kentucky. They have three children living, viz. Lydia Annie, born September 27, 1855; Harrie Philip, born March 23,
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