USA > Missouri > Ray County > History of Ray county, Mo. > Part 62
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HISTORY OF RAY COUNTY.
Menefee Black, died in 1866. Colonel Black is a member of the Pres- byterian Church. James W. Black has had a somewhat varied experi- ence in life, but in every way an upright, useful and honorable one. Him- self a ripe scholar, a warm-hearted, public spirited gentleman, he has ever been the active, ardent and faithful friend of education, religion, and of every enterprise looking to the betterment of his friends and neigh- bors, or to the promotion of the general welfare.
DAVID H. QUESENBERRY.
A native of Virginia, born in Fauquier county, December 20, 1805. In his infancy, his parents moved to Barren county, Kentucky, of course, taking him with them. In 1834 Mr. Quesenberry removed to Lafay- ette county, Missouri, and the following year to Richmond, Ray county, where he has ever since resided. He has lived in Richmond more than forty-six years, continuously, and has been a resident of the town longer than any other person now living. Mr. Quesenberry has long enjoyed the respect, confidence, and esteem of his fellow-citizens. He was six years deputy clerk of the county court of Ray county; for about three years postmaster of Richmond, and filled the office of justice of the peace over twenty-five years. He was married October 9, 1828, to Miss Lucinda Warder, of Barren county, Kentucky. They were neighbors from infancy. They have only one child living, Mary Ann, born July 28, 1829, in Barren county, Kentucky, who became the wife of the late Hon- orable Aaron H. Conrow, of Richmond. John Zacheus, born July 4, 1836, died in infancy. He and his wife are members of the M. E. Church South, and are consistent, exemplary Christians. Their earthly labors must soon have ceased, but they will continue to live in the hearts of a host of friends.
BENJAMIN J. BROWN.
Benjamin Johnson Brown was born in Franklin county, Kentucky, December 9, 1807. He lived in that state till about the age of twenty- five, and then, in 1832, moved to Missouri, and settled in Ray county, of which he was one of the pioneers. When he reached Richmond there were only three or four houses in the town, and the county was sparsely settled. He was here to encounter the inconveniences and hardships of pioneer life, and lived to enjoy the comforts, growth, and development of the county in after years. To this improvement no man contributed more than the subject of this sketch. Always enterprising and liberal, of an open, generous disposition, and a warm heart, he was ever ready to aid in all enterprises calculated to benefit his town, county, or state. He gath- ered rapidly and gave with a liberal hand, and was never known to turn his back upon any meritorious enterprise or object. There were but few
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men who shared so largely the confidence of the people. He was four different times elected by the people of his county to the office of sheriff- twice without opposition. He was also twice elected to the office of state senator from his district, and was president of the senate at the time of his death. These and many other positions of public trust were bestowed upon him by his fellow-citizens, the duties of all which he discharged with promptness and fidelity. At the outbreaking of the civil war, Colonel Brown espoused the cause of the south, and became a gallant soldier in the Confederate army. He ranked as colonel, and commanded a regi- ment at the battle of Springfield, Missouri, in which he lost his life, August 10, 1861, while leading a charge upon one of the columns of the enemy. From the position of the enemy the charge was, of necessity, somewhat protracted, and when killed, Colonel Brown was some thirty yards in advance of his forces, making observations with a view to triumphant onslaught. At the time of his death he was a member of the Christian Church at Richmond. Colonel Brown was twice married. The first time to a Mrs Moon, of Richmond, Missouri, by whom he had five children, as follows: Thomas J., of Gallatin, Missouri; Mariah F., wife of James S. DeMasters, of Richmond; Susan J., of Waverly, Missouri; Ro Ann, wife of James P. Kiger, of Richmond, and Alice J., wife of B. F. McCord, of Waverly, Missouri. His second marriage, December 15, 1845, was with Miss Mary Ann White, who was born August 28, 1825, in Scott county, Kentucky. About the year 1840, she moved with her mother (her father, David B. White, having died in Kentucky), to Clay county, Missouri, and subsequently settled permanently in Richmond, where her marriage with Colonel Brown was solemnized. She survives her husband, and with her son, Walter W. Brown, is keeping house in Richmond, at her beautiful home in the northern part of the city. The issue of Colonel Brown's second marriage is seven children, two of whom are deceased. The living are: Mary L., wife of Wesley Allison, of Lawson, Ray county; William T., of Lawson; Benjamin J., Walter W. and Emily Oliver, wife of Rev. James Elmore Dunn, of Plattsburg, Missouri. Walter W. Brown, who lives with his mother, was born May 26, 1858, in Ray county. He received his education at Richmond College. When seventeen years of age he engaged with J. W. Harrison, of Rich- mond, Missouri, to learn the trade of harnessmaker. After working with Mr. Harrison about five years, he accepted a situation with Dan T. Duval, of Richmond, with whom he is yet engaged. Mr. Brown is a skilled workman, devoting most of his time to fine work, for doing which he has an excellent reputation. He is a sensible, sober, industrious young man, and his success in life is assured.
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HISTORY OF RAY COUNTY.
ADAM J. BARR.
Adam Johnston Barr was born July 4, 1828, in Bethlehem, Northamp- ton county, Pennsylvania. His father, James Barr, came from near Glasgow, Scotland, to America, in 1801, and settled in New York City, where he lived with his father for some time; then moved to Pennsyl- vania, where Adam, the subject of this sketch was born. Colonel Barr is a descendant of Scotch parents, of which he is a genuine type. When he was about nine years old, his father, with his family, moved to Steu- ben county, New York, in which state they resided two years, and then returned to Pennsylvania, where for many years he lived with his parents upon a farm. When quite young Adam left home to mark out his own destiny. He had no education, save such as he had obtained during the winter terms of a country school. After leaving home, however, he attended the academy of Johnstown, Pennsylvania, and when his money gave out, he would teach a term of country school, and then return to his studies. After attending the academy for some time in this way, he left school and obtained a position as receiving clerk at the Cambria iron works, then in process of construction. Having accumulated some means he concluded to study medicine and accordingly entered the office of Dr. Yeagly, at Johnstown, in the fall of 1849. He attended medical 4ectures in Cincinnati, where he graduated in 1852, and then went to Waverly, Pike county, Ohio, to commence the practice of his profession. When he arrived at Waverly he had but one dollar with which to begin business. He soon, however, acquired a good practice, and, before the year closed, found that he had a practice that was paying him at the rate of three
thousand dollars per year. He won great popularity and his success in his profession was remarkable. Becoming dissatisfied with the place, however, and desiring to seek a home in the west, he left Waverly in the fall of 1858, and came to Ray county, Missouri, where he settled and practiced his profession. In 1859 Adam J. Barr was married to Miss Nannie Jacobs, daughter of Clayton Jacobs, a merchant and an old and respected citizen of Ray county. To them were born two children: Leo James and Lizzie Theodosia. Here he practiced medicine until the break- ing out of the rebellion. Being a strong Union man, and coming as he did from Ohio, he was regarded by many as a northern man. During the presidential canvass of 1860, he took decided grounds with the Doug- las party, and strongly advocated the election of Stephen A. Douglas to the presidency, and became somewhat prominent in the canvass as a Douglas democrat. The excitement growing out of this election con- tinued, and the discussion of its issues engendered strife and deepened the prejudice then existing till the country was precipitated into civil war. His strong outspoken advocacy of the Union rendered his position, to.
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some extent, perilous. While in his office one evening compounding some medicine, he was shot at through the window, the bullet passing close to his face and breaking the glass on the shelf in front of which he was standing. He was at this time corresponding with the Hon. James H. Burch, Sr., who was at Jefferson City attending the state convention. The object of these communications was to devise some plan for military relief, and to keep the representatives in the state convention properly advised as to the condition of this part of the state. Having been informed that plots were formed for his assassination, he was compelled to escape to the woods, where he remained several days without food or shelter. He resolved one night to venture into a lonely cabin surrounded by a dense forest, and obtain some nourishment, and, if possible, learn something of the military bands in search of him. On approaching the cabin everything was quiet, but the door was soon opened to his raps, and he found the inmate to be a strong Union man, and learning from him the names of the Union men in the neighborhood, he wrote out a call to them to meet him in the woods near by, at ten o'clock the following night, and bring with them such arms as they could collect, and also bring good horses, blankets, etc. To this call twenty-five well armed men came, and he was at once chosen their leader. They marched to Cameron, reaching that place at daylight the next morning. Here they met Major James, with a small organization of militia. From here they went to St. Joseph, participating in skirmishes on the way. From St. Joseph, Col. Barr went to Chillicothe, Missouri, where he was appointed assistant surgeon, and placed in charge of the hospital. The following spring he accompanied a detachment of soldiers, under Major A. Allen, to Richmond, Ray county, where he remained during the summer, recruiting and reorganizing the militia of the county, and was commissioned by Governor Gamble, colonel of the Ray county (Missouri) militia, who were armed, equipped and put into active service. Under his military control the peace of the county was soon restored, and citizens of both parties returned to their usual vocations of life. In the fall of 1862 the state election was held, and he was chosen a representative of the state general assembly from Ray county. He served two sessions and took an active part, with others, in the reorganization of the state government, supporting all the important measures looking toward the restoration of law and quiet. In the senatorial contest he voted for John S. Phelps, until he was with- drawn; then, as his second choice, for Judge Breckenridge, of St. Louis, but the general assembly adjourned without electiong a U. S. senator. Upon his return home he canvassed the county, and in public speeches advocated the emancipation policy of the general government. He was returned to the legislature, fully endorsed by his constituents, and voted for B. Gratz Brown and John B. Henderson for the United States senate.
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In 1864 under the new call of President Lincoln for additional troops, he, in connection with Colonel Bradshaw, of St. Joseph, recruited the 44th regiment of infantry volunteers. Colonel Bradshaw was commissioned colonel, and he lieutenant-colonel of the regiment, and they were mustered into service, and at once ordered to Paducah, Kentucky. Upon arriving there they found orders and transfers awaiting to take them to Tennes- see, to re-inforce General Schofield, who was suffering from General Hood's army, which had entered the state, and were en route to Nash- ville. They met Schofield's retreating army at Columbia, where they were immediately thrown into battle, and from Columbia to Franklin they were continually under fire. At Spring Hill they gallantly led a charge, and turned the flanking enemy. At Franklin they were in the hottest of the fight, and here, during a charge upon the outer works held by the enemy, a large number of the regiment were killed and wounded. Here Colonel Bradshaw, early in the fight, was wounded and fell into the hands of the enemy. Colonel Barr was now left in command of the regi- ment, and fought bravely till the close of the battle, but the Union forces retreated to Nashville, where the 44th Missouri was attached to the 16th army corps, of General A. J. Smith. Colonel Barr, at the head of his regiment, participated in the three days' fight at Nashville, and then, in the pursuit of General Hood's army across the mountainous country of Tennes- see. They were next taken by transports to Eastport, Mississippi, where Colonel Barr received the news of his election, as a delegate, to represent Ray, Clinton, Caldwell, and Carroll counties, in the state constitutional convention. He laid the communication before General Smith, who gave him leave of absence, and ordered a gun-boat to take him to Cairo, where he took the cars for St. Louis. Upon his arrival in that city he took his seat in the convention, which had been in session some time, and the ordi- nance abolishing slavery had been passed, but by resolution he was allowed to record his vote in favor of the emancipation of slavery in Mis- souri. He was placed upon some of the most important committees, and took a prominent part in the deliberations of the convention, being fre- quently called to the chair. At the assembling of the legislature, after the adoption of the new constitution, he was elected by that body one of the curators of the state university. He was also, the same year, elected clerk of the circuit court of Ray county, and was appointed assistant United States assessor of the sixth district of Missouri. When solicited, in 1867, to become a candidate for congress, he refused, saying that he had no desire for any other office, and besides, his personal friend, Van Horn, was a candidate, and he did not wish to be in his way. Subse- quently he became a delegate to the congressional convention, which met at Liberty, and did much to secure the nomination of Van Horn. He was then selected by his friends, as a candidate for lieutenant-governor of
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the state, but would not allow his name to be used. Having studied law Colonel Barr abandoned medicine, and, since the war, has been engaged in the practice of the legal profession. He has since, and during the war, advocated and supported the policy of the republican party; but he has avoided all public participation with either party, preferring the quiet of his home to the strife and turmoil of the politician. In religion, as in poli- tics, he is liberal in all his views. He believes in the divinity of the Bible, but thinks that the popular theology of the day is liable to misconstrue and misapply many of its most essential truths; that true religion is like truth, analytical, and courts investigation, becoming brighter thereby; but that human creeds and theology are synthetic, once torn to pieces, and thor- oughly dissected by a scientist, they can never be re-united, and therefore engender strife and discord; that true Christianity unites the human family in bonds of love and respect, and elevates and ennobles the race.
WILLIAM WALLACE MOSBY, M. D.
William Wallace Mosby was born near Georgetown, Scott county, Kentucky, June 1st, 1824. His father, James Mosby, was a native of Virginia. He was a farmer in moderate circumstances in Kentucky, but emigrated to Mississippi in 1826; remained in that state two years, and in 1828 moved to Callaway county, Missouri. He was an ardent friend of Henry Clay, and a warm advocate of his political views, though he never sought preferment at the hands of his party. His mother, Elizabeth Robards, was a daughter of Capt. George Robards, a Virginia planter, who emigrated to Mercer county, Kentucky, where his daughter, Eliza, was born. She was a devoted christian, and was deeply interested in the reformation introduced by Alexander Campbell. Her earnest prayers and exemplary Christain life were the means by which her husband, though after he had passed the meridian of life, was brought into the church, of which he remained a consistent member until his deatlı, January 9, 1871. Her motherly devotion had a strong influence in moulding the character of her children, all of whom became members of the church. William W. Mosby received a sound English education, together with a pretty thorough knowledge of Latin and Greek, from private schools. At the age of eighteen he began the study of medicine, under Dr. Franklin Dillard. He attended the medical department of Transylvania Uni- versity, in the class of 1844-5, and the Louisville Medical College, in the years 1845-6. Up to this time his work had been very arduous. His father had a large family, eight children, dependent upon him, and he was unable to supply his son with the necessary funds to complete his educa- tion. Young Mosby, therefore, worked during the planting and harvest- ing season, and attended school in the winter. As soon as he was sufficiently advanced to teach school, he followed that avocation, obtaining
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a sufficient amount to enable him to attend one course of lectures. He borrowed money to complete his medical course, and graduated, to find himself in debt, and without means. He immediately selected Richmond, Ray county, as the field of his future labors, not having, at the time, sufficient means to pay for a week's board. He soon after formed a part- nership with Dr. Joseph Chew, now of Kansas City, which lasted about eighteen months. But he was ambitious to build up a reputation on his merits, and withdrew from the partnership to begin what afterward became a large and lucrative practice. He subsequently entered into partnership with Dr. Henry C. Garner, which lasted from 1866 to 1873. Dr. Garner became cashier of the Ray County Savings Bank, and the partnership was dissolved. He has always been able to attend promptly to all calls for his professional services, and to this he attributes much of his success. He is thoroughly read in his profession, has a large, well selected library, and spends much of his leisure time in the study of the more modern authors on the theory and practice of medicine and surgery. In 1847, he took an interest in a drug store with Marion F. Ball and Mordecai Oliver, under the firm name of Marion F. Ball & Co. This firm existed for some time, when he purchased the interest of his partners and associated his sons with him, and still continues the business in the name of W. W. Mosby & Sons. At the beginning of the civil war he enlisted in the enrolled Missouri militia and was appointed surgeon, serv- * ing as such two years. When Colonel John C. Hale organized the fourth provisional regiment, he was appointed regimental surgeon, with the rank of major, and served until 1864, when the regiment was disbanded. In the fall of 1862, he was elected to represent his district, embracing the counties of Caldwell, Carroll, Clinton and Ray, in the state senate, and served four years. While a senator he opposed the bill calling into exis- tence the convention that subsequently adopted the Drake constitution, and also the test oaths and registration which were so obnoxious to the people. In 1876, he was re-elected to the same position, receiving a majority of nine hundred over both his opponents. In politics he was a whig during the existence of that party, and a strong Union man during the war. Since that time he has co-operated with the democratic party. He was four years president of the board of education of Richmond Col- lege, and has always been an advocate of whatever would promote the educational interests of the country. A warm friend of the temperance cause he was a member of the Sons of Temperance only two or three months, till he withdrew, believing that the temperance cause should be controlled by the church. He was four years a director in the Union Bank of Missouri. He is a member of the Christian Church and has been an elder in that body for over thirty years, and superintendent of the Sun- day-school (which he assisted in organizing) for twenty-five years. Dr.
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Mosby was married September 29, 1847, to Miss Sarah Catharine Jacobs, daughter of Joel Jacobs, deceased, a farmer of Ray county, a native of Virginia, who died before the marriage of his daughter. They have had six children. The eldest son died suddenly of malignant diphtheria, at the age of twenty-two, when he had just finished a thorough study of the science of medicine, and was prepared to begin the practice. His second son, Charles Archibald, has adopted his father's profession, and is associated with him in practice. Charles and John are in charge of the drug store. William is conducting a farm. Mary Eliza and James Edward are at home with their parents.
JOSEPH E. BLACK.
Joseph Edwards Black, second son of James and Nancy Black, was born in Jefferson county, Virginia (now West Virginia) April 25, 1832. When about five years of age, his father and the family removed to Ohio, and after residing in that state a number of years, moved to Pennsylvania, where he principally resided till he emigrated to Missouri. On the 16th day of March, 1852, Joseph E. Black located in Ray county, Missouri, where he has ever since continued to reside. He received his education in the common schools of the various places where his parents resided. He took a thorough course in mathematics, as well as a general course in the branches of an English education, including the natural sciences; and also a course in Latin. and a partial course in Greek and German. He is a studious, careful reader, and has endeavored by close application, to be- come familiar, at least with English literature, and in this particular he has met with admirable success; his knowledge of the best British and Ameri- can writers-poets, historians and romancists-making him an excedingly interesting conversationalist, and a most agreeable and instructive com- panion. He followed the profession of teaching about fifteen years, hav- ing taught about ten years in Ray county. He was elected school com- missioner of Ray county in 1860, and as teacher, commissioner and pri- vate citizen, has devoted a great part of his life to the promotion of educa- tional interests. He was admitted to the bar in Richmond, Ray county, Missouri, April 20, 1862, and has, excepting one short period of interrup- tion, continued in the practice of the law ever since. He has been quite successful as an attorney, as well in the United States courts, and the supreme court of Missouri, as in the lower courts. He ranks high as a lawyer both in point of legal ability and moral worth. He acted with the Benton democracy of Missouri until the commencement of the civil war, when he joined the republican party, with which he acted until 1878, when he became a member of the greenback party; and since that time he has taken an active part in promulgating the principles and policy of this political organization. In addition to the office of school commis-
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sioner, he filled the office of county attorney for Ray county from Jan- uary 1, 1869, to January 1, 1873; and has held other offices of trust. In 1870, he was a candidate for representative in the state general as- sembly. He served in provisional company C, 51st regiment, E. M. M., from the organization of the regiment to September 17, 1864, whenever it was called into active service. On the date last mentioned, he was com- missioned adjutant of the regiment, to rank from July 5, 1864, and was in active service during part of that year. Upon the organization of the state militia in 1865-May 12th-commissioned adjutant of the 1st regiment of Missouri militia, and was immediately ordered into active service to assist Col. R. S. Moon in organizing the Missouri militia in the third sub-district, first militia division of Missouri, including Ray, Clay, Platte and Clinton counties. Col. Moon was relieved, and Adjutant Black completed the organization, and served till September 30, 1865. He was a contributor to the editorial columns of the Richmond Herald, mentioned elsewhere, and has contributed, more or less, to almost every paper published in the county. August 21, 1859, Joseph E. Black was married to Miss Mary . Sabina, daughter of Haden S. Trigg, Esq., a biographical sketch of whom will be found elsewhere. Mrs. Black is an amiable, intelligent lady, and to her much of the success, and all of the happiness of her husband is due. They have had nine children, of whom three sons and a daughter are liv- ing, as follows: Joseph E., Jr., Ann A., William W. and Eugene D. His property in the city of Richmond, Ray county, was in the path of the cyclone which utterly destroyed a large portion of the city, June 1, 1878. The greater portion of his family was at home, and escaped without injury, but his material loss, like that of many others, was very great. In the midst of misfortune and discouragement, and without any available means or assistance from the fifteen thousand dollar fund contributed by the public for the benefit of sufferers from the cyclone, he managed by great exertion to rebuild his residence, and was the first one to return with his family to the storm-stricken district. Disdaining to sacrifice prin- ciple to a desire for popularity, he has ever been found defending the rights of those, of whatever nationality, least qualified by their wealth, in- fluence, or power to recompense him for the sacrifices he has made. Making duty his guiding star, he is consoled by the reflection that its faithful performance will meet with an appropriate reward. While occupying prominent public positions, he necessarily took an active part in all questions agitating the public mind, and his views have always been liberal, and of an advanced character.
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