USA > Missouri > Ray County > History of Ray county, Mo. > Part 68
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HISTORY OF RAY COUNTY.
of Mr. Wilson, he intends to increase his facilities and enlarge the busi- ness. He now has the finest chickens of the white Brahma, Leghorn and Plymouth Rock varieties, and the Toulouse geese. He is now asso- ciated with Mr. Peter Wilson in the mining business, under the firm name of Wilson & Wilson. They have just sunk a new shaft on our subject's land, near the track of the St. Joseph branch of the Wabash, St. Louis and Pacific Railway. William Wilson was married at Rich- mond, in the month of March, 1873, to Miss Mary Blair, daughter of Mr. Robert Blair, formerly of that place, now dead. Five children were born of this union, and four of them are living at this time (April 1881). Mr. Wilson is a practical, energetic business man, and has now, by his own enterprise and industry, the property and good name which he now enjoys.
A. J. KINCAID.
The subject of this sketch is a native of Ray county, Missouri, and was born on the 19th day of September, 1837. He acquired his educa- tion in the common schools of this county, and spent the time, until his marriage, working upon his father's farm. A. J. Kincaid was married in the year 1862, to Miss Mary Renfro, daughter of John Renfro, Esq. They became the parents of seven children, all of whom are now living at home with their parents. Mrs. Kincaid and the eldest son are mem- bers of the Methodist Episcopal Church, at Knoxville. Mr. Kincaid is not a member of any church or secret order. He owns a good farm of 200 acres, in sections thirty-one and thirty-six, township fifty-four, range twenty-eight, and is a very successful farmer. He is also extensively engaged in buying and selling cattle and hogs. His business is very pros- perous, and he is highly regarded and respected by all his neighbors.
JOHN LARKEY.
Was born in Easton, Northampton county, Pennsylvania, on the 25th day of December, 1807. At the age of fifteen years, he was apprenticed to a tobacconist for a term of four years. At the expiration of his appren- ticeship, young Larkey obtained employment in a tobacco factory at Pittsburg. From Pittsburg he went to Cincinnati, and worked at his trade in that city for about nine months. Then he moved to Washington county, Kentucky, and worked there at the same business. From Wash- ington county he went to Louisville, and, establishing a cigar factory, entered business for himself. After living in the city of Louisville for about two years, he went to St. Louis, Missouri, and conducted the cigar business there for about three years. In the year 1836, Mr. Larkey came to Ray county, and, settling at the town of Camden, on the river, engaged in the cigar business until 1843, when he removed to a farm he had pur-
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chased, in the river bottom, five miles above Camden. He had just suc- ceeded in getting comfortably settled, when the great rise in the river, known as the "flood of 1844," came, and his crops and fences were car- ried away and destroyed. His loss was considerable, and, during the three years succeeding the flood, he rented his farm, and then sold it, and bought a place near Albany, upon which he resided for several years. Afterward he sold this place, also, and bought the one upon which he at present resides, five miles west of Richmond. John Larkey was married in Ray county, Missouri, in the year 1837, to Miss Lydia Stout, daughter of Joseph Stout, Esq. The issue of this marriage was six children, three of each sex, all now living, and all but the youngest son are married. Following are their names, in order of birth, viz: Charles H., September 25, 1838; Maria Louisa, July 7, 1840; Edward, November 20, 1843; Lydia Ann, July 31, 1846; Amanda, January 1, 1848; John, October 20, 1851. Mr. Larkey is an old settler of the county, having been here for forty-five years. He is doing well in business, and is a good citizen of his adopted county.
RICHARD S. ELLIOTT.
Richard S. Elliott was born in the state of Virginia, in 1811. He went from his native state to Tennessee, soon after he was grown. He was married at Murfreesboro, Tennessee, in 1829, to Miss Margaret C. Usel- ton, of that city. For the space of two years after he was married, Mr. Elliott was engaged in farming, and then he came from Tennessee to Ray county, Missouri, and entered a farm of forty acres. To this place he added by subsequent purchases until his farm now numbers some two hundred and five acres in the home tract (section 16, township 52, range 28). At the time of his death he owned, in all, about seven hundred acres in Ray county. To Mr. and Mrs. Elliott nine children were born, only six of whom are now living. Their names are as follows: Melinda Jane, wife of P. L. Carter; Palestine, wife of J. G. Ashley; Arthur B., Fannie, wife of John C. Burgess; Garner, and Landon F. All are mar- ried but the last named, who lives upon the old homestead, with his mother, and conducts the farm. Richard S. Elliott died on the 24th day of October, 1873. He was highly esteemed by all his neighbors and acquaintances. He was a successful and prosperous farmer, and a lead- ing citizen of his section of the county.
JOHN GIBSON.
This gentleman is one of the pioneers in the development of the coal mines of Ray county. His father, Robert Gibson, a Scotchman, was a miner in his native country. John Gibson was born in Ayrshire, Scot- land, December 24, 1843, and lived there until he was twenty-one years of
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age. He was engaged in mining there, from his twelfth year. At his majority he immigrated to the new world, landing at the city of New York, after a five weeks' passage in a sail vessel, on the 10th day of Jan- uary, 1865. He proceeded to Alleghany county, West Virginia, and, after working in the coal mines there for about four months, came on as far west as Lasalle, Illinois, and spent about one year in mining there. He then went to Ohio and worked a year, returning, at its expiration, to the mines of Illinois, at Braidwood. After remaining in Illinois for some time, he came in 1869, to Camden, Ray county, Missouri. Here he formed a partnership with Mr. William Wilson, a countryman of his, whom he had formerly known in Ohio, and together they commenced mining for coal on the lands of Joseph S. Hughes, Esq., about one mile south of Richmond. Before they succeeded in reaching coal Mr. Hughes entered into partnership with them, and the firm was styled J. S. Hughes & Company. This enterprise proved highly successful and remunerative, and a large business has been built up, and numerous rich mines since developed. Mr. Gibson was married at Richmond, Missouri, in the year 1872, to Miss Elizabeth Fortune, daughter of Judge W. D. Fortune, of Ray county. They became the parents of five children, three boys and two girls, all now living. Mr. Gibson resides in the western suburbs of Richmond. He also owns a farm of one hundred and twenty-seven acres, a mile and a half south of that town, where he intends, at some future time, sinking a shaft for coal. He is still interested with Messrs. J. S. Hughes & Co., in several richly yielding mines, and is in a highly prosperous condition. He is an active, enterprising and public spirited man, and his services have been very valuable in the development of the coal interests of Ray county.
JOSEPH PICKERING.
Joseph Pickering is a native of England. He was born in Blackwell, Yorkshire, on the 22d day of March, 1831. His father, Richard Picker- ing was a boiler maker by trade, and soon after the birth of our subject he removed to Shildon, on the Stockton & Darling railroad, and began work in the machine shops of the railroad company. Here Joseph learned the trade of a machinist. His apprenticeship commenced when he was fourteen years of age, and he finished it in four years. He con- tinued working in the city of Shildon until the year 1849, when he came to America. In this country he worked, first, for Tompkins & Son, of Towander, Pennsylvania. He then went to New York and subsequently worked at his trade, in several different cities and states until the month of May, 1870, when he came to Richmond, Missouri, and purchased one hundred acres of land just outside the western limits of the town. Upon
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HISTORY OF RAY COUNTY.
this farm he established his home and has since lived. He established the Richmond foundry in the spring of 1871, and the following June was manufacturing castings, etc. At first he used only horse power but, at the end of four years, put in a fifteen horse power engine, which, of course, serves the purpose much better. His principal business is repair- ing and in this respect, especially, his enterprise in establishing this foundry, supplied a long felt want. Joseph Pickering was married, soon after coming to America, in Pennsylvania, to Miss Eliza Hartzal. The issue of this union was nine children, seven of whom are yet living and all at home with their parents, but one. Mr. Pickering conducts his farm in connection with the foundry business, both are prospering well under his management. His eldest son, William, is now associated with him in business under the firm name of Pickering & Son.
ORVILLE H. SEARCY.
Orville H. Searcy, one of the first school teachers of Ray county, was born in Nashville, Tennessee, February 26, 1800. His father, Colonel Robert Searcy, was an officer of 1812, and figured prominently in the battle of New Orleans. He, also, served with distinction in the war with the Creek Indians in 1818. He was one of the Tennessee regiment with whom the iron hearted "Old Hickory" (Jackson) invaded the Indian country. Our subject attended the schools of Nashville, until he was fifteen years of age, and then entered Princeton College, New Jersey. From this celebrated institution of learning he graduated four years later with honor. Returning to Nashville he remained at home until his mar- riage which occured soon after his graduation. He was married on the 25th of February, 1821, to Miss Mary Ann Patton, daughter of Thomas Patton, Esq., and sister of Rev. Daniel Patton who became so well known, after- wards, in Ray county. Mr. Searcy removed soon after his marriage to Bedford (now Coffey) county, Tennessee, and engaged in teaching school. This occupation he followed for several years and then began merchan- dising, with which business he was occupied until he came to Missouri, in 1830. He settled on a farm one mile and a half east of Richmond, Ray county, and lived there for about four years. This farm he then exchanged for one nearer Richmond and removing to it, lived there until his death. Mr. and Mrs. Searcy became the parents of thirteen children; their names in order of birth as follow, viz: Elizabeth Jane, born February 27, 1822; Robert Thomas, born January 11, 1824; Archie Patton, born September 20, 1825; John Joseph, born July 30, 1827; Elvira Juliet, born May 3, 1830; Susan Dederick, born April 5, 1832; Mary Ann, born December 27, 1833; Martha Ann, born November 16, 1835; Nathaniel Davis, born April 14, 1838; William Patton, born February 14, 1840; Orville Hen- derson, born February 20, 1842; Lucinda Clay, born June 21, 1846; Sarah
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Emeline, born October 27, 1849. Eight of them are still living and, also, married with one exception. Orville H., Jr., is, at present (April, 1881) unmarried. Our subject was elected in 1856, to the office of surveyor of Ray county, and was discharging its duties very efficiently and accepta- bly at the time of his death. He and Mr. A. C. Redman conducted a high school at Richmond before the founding of Richmond College. Mr. Searcy was a member of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church, and was an elder in the Richmond congregation from the time it was first organ- ized until his death. He departed this life December 2, 1858, at the age of fifty-eight years, loved and honored by his family and respected by all who knew him.
WILLIAM MAGILL
has been a resident of Ray county for almost half a century, having settled here with his father, in the spring of 1832. He was born in Lincoln county, Kentucky, on the 3d of January, 1816. His grandfather on the paternal side came from Virginia to Kentucky at an early day, and raised a family of children, one of whom was the father of our subject. Both his father and grandfather bore the same name as himself, (William). His grandfather on the maternal side, Henry Baughman, was of German descent, though the earliest history we have of him was, that he removed from Greenbrier county, Virginin, to Kentucky, in the year 1785, and settled at Baughman's Fort on Dick's river. On his return to Virginia to bring his mother to Kentucky, he was killed by the Indians. The father of the subject of this article was married in 1803, to Miss Mary Baugh- man, at the old place settled by Henry Baughman, in Lincoln county, Kentucky. They reared a family of six children, five sons and a daughter whose names follow: Olivia, wife of Archibald Hodges; Henderson, Baughman, Samuel P., Lorenzo H. and William. They had six other children who died in infancy. Mr. Magill, (father of our subject), removed with his family from Kentucky to Missouri, in the spring of 1832, and settled in Ray county upon a farm, in sections seventeen and twenty, township fifty-two, range twenty-eight. Our subject was married on the 12th day of September, 1844, to Miss Matilda Hamilton, daughter of Thomas Hamilton, at one time judge of the Ray county court. The marriage ceremony was performed by Rev. John Walker, of the " Kelly- ite" denomination. Mr. Magill continued to reside with his father, after his marriage, until the death of the latter in 1847. The father, at his death willed the homestead farm to William. The farm consisted at that time of three hundred and twenty acres, and Mr. Magill soon after added eighty acres to it making four hundred acres in all. It now, April, 1881, consists of but two hundred and seventy-four acres, part having been sold. Mrs. Magill died in the year 1855, and Mr. Magill was afterwards mar-
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HISTORY OF RAY COUNTY.
ried to Miss Mary C. Haynes, daughter of Joseph P. Haynes, Esq., of Ray county. The fruit of the first union was six children, named as fol- lows: Baughman, Margaret R., wife of B. F. Baber; Mary Matilda, wife of John L. Harrison; Thomas, William H. and John S. The last named died in infancy, the others are still living. By his second wife he had five children: Sarah E., Lousia C. (died at the age of seven years), Joseph Clay, (died at the age of eighteen), Olivia J., wife of Charles Dale, and Frances E. Mr. Magill and wife are members of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church, as are also four of their children. Three other children are members of the M. E. Church South. Mr. Magill is also a member of the Masonic Lodge No. 57, at Richmond. He has a produc- tive farm, a neat comfortable home, and is a good business man and a useful citizen.
JAMES T. CUMMINS.
The subject of this sketch is a native of the state of Indiana. He was born on the 2d day of November, 1829, in Vigo county, that state. His father, James Cummins, senior, had removed from Kentucky to Indiana at an early day. He was the father of a family of five boys and two girls, of whom our subject was the fourth in order of birth, and the third son. He was reared and lived in Vigo county until the commencement of the civil war, when he enlisted under the stars and stripes, and fought for four years for the perpetuation of the Union. After Lee's surrender he re- turned home, to Indiana, but, remaining only for a few months, came to Ray county, Missouri. He first settled at Fredericksburg, in the year 1865, and was engaged for two years with Gray & Isley, selling goods. He then went to Elkhorn and clerked for Wm. R. Harlan, until 1871, and then removing to Richmond, sold goods for Mr. Hubbell, for another year. He was married in 1872 to Mrs. Rhoda A. Lamar, widow of James D. Lamar, and daughter of William Proffitt. Two children were born as the issue of this union, both girls. Mrs. Cummins has one son by her former marriage. Mr. Cummins belongs to the farmers' organization of " United Taxpayers." Soon after his marriage Mr. Cummins began farming, and he has, ever since been engaged in that calling. He is a practical farmer and takes great interest in every thing pertaining to ag- riculture. He is a worthy and prominent citizen of his community, and is much esteemed and respected by his neighbors.
HOUSTON A. EVANS.
Was born in Jefferson county, East Tennessee, on the 29th day of October, 1842. When he was nine years of age, his parents removed to Crittenden county, Kentucky, but, remaining there only about a year, came to Ray county, Missouri, and located at the town of Camden. Our
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HISTORY OF RAY COUNTY.
subject has lived in this county ever since, except during the time he was with the Union army during the civil war. Houston A. Evans was mar- ried, November 26, 1865, in Ray county, to Miss Lucinda Cook. She was born near Columbia, Tennessee. The result of this union was seven children: Ira, born September 14, 1866; Elmer, born September 28, 1867; Claude, born June 6, 1869; Houston, born January 3, 1871; Estel, born February 12, 1873; Genevieve, born in 1875; died June 12, 1877; Ursaline, born in 1878. Mr. Evans enlisted in company B, 44th regiment, Missouri infantry. He was taken prisoner at the battle of Franklin, Ten- nessee, and confined for five months in the Confederate prison at Ander- sonville. He received his discharge from the army in June, 1865. He returned to Ray county, and has engaged in farming here ever since. He has filled the office of justice of the peace at Camden for two years. Mr. Evans is a member of the M. E. Church, and also of the Masonic order, and a Good Templar. He possesses about five acres of real estate in the town of Camden. He is a successful business man and a worthy and valuable citizen of his adopted country.
ALFRED) A. BROWN.
The subject of this sketch was born in Harrison county, Indiana, on the 10th of May, 1831. When he was 'about four or five years of age his parents removed to Crawford county, Indiana, where he resided until the year 1856, when he went to Scotland county, Missouri, and remained there about fifteen months, and then came to Camden, in Ray county, Missouri. Mr. Brown was married on the 21st day of October, 1861, to Miss Amanda M. Canada, a native of the state of Virginia. They became the parents of two children: Susan C., born in the month of July, 1862, and William A., born in July, 1872. He enlisted in the month of September, 1862, in company D, 35th Missouri infantry, and was acci- dentally shot and wounded in the right arm, by the guard firing upon him, by mistake, at the battle of Helena, Arkansas. In the army he dis- charged the duties of a non-commissioned officer, and was discharged at the close of the war, in July, 1865, at St. Louis, Missouri. He learned the trade of a cooper early in life, in Indiana, and worked at that business some four or five years, and then clerked for a time in a store. He has been engaged in mercantile business almost all the time since his majority, but has only been in business at Camden for little more than one year. He is a consistent member of the M. E. Church South. He is a suc- cessful merchant, and a valuable citizen of the town of Camden, in Ray county.
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HISTORY OF RAY COUNTY.
BENJAMIN F. CANADA.
Was born in Campbell county, Virginia, on the 21st day of June, 1838. At the age of two years he was brought by his parents to Boone county, Missouri, and soon after they again removed, to Daviess county, Mis- souri, and after living there two years, came to Camden, Ray county, Mis- souri, in the year 1844, and here our subject has ever since resided. He is now merchandizing in the town of Camden, and has been in that business there for about a year. Mr. Canada was married on the 23d day of December, 1867, to Miss Mary A. Endsley, a native of Ray county, Missouri. The issue of this marriage was three children: Cora L., born February 25, 1866; Allie M., born in 1871, and Katie, born in 1878 Mr. Canada has, at different times in life, held official positions, both in his town and township, and is, at present (April, 1881,) mayor of the city of Camden. He is a prominent and influential citizen, and is a highly respected member of the community in which he lives.
WILLIAM G. KING.
This gentleman was born in Ray county, Missouri, January 28, 1837, and has lived here all his life. He grew up on a farm three miles west of the town of Richmond, and has lived upon the place he now owns for more than twenty years. He was married on the 3d day of August, 1862, to Miss Lliza Cox, of Lafayette county, Missouri, Rev. Dr. Lane, of that county, officiating at the marriage. Mr. and Mrs. King became the parents of one child, Leila, born in June, 1864. Mr. King was in the militia service (Union) in this state during the war of the rebellion. He owns a good farm of one hundred and sixty acres in section fifteen, town- ship fifty-one, range twenty-eight. This place is in an excellent state of cultivation, and also comprises some very fine grass lands. Mr. King has been a farmer for the greater part of his life, and takes deep interest in everything pertaining to the business. In the spring of 1881 he removed with his family to Camden and intends making that his home in the future. In addition to his farming interests he deals in live stock, and is agent at Camden for the Kansas City Packet Company's line of steamboats. He is a successful business man, a worthy, reliable agent, and a good citizen.
THOMAS MAGILL.
Is a native of the county of Ray, and has resided here all his life. He was reared on his father's farm, and in his youth alternated between going to the neighborhood school in the winter and working on the farm in summer. Thomas Magill was born on the 19th day of September, 1849, in Ray county, Missouri. He has been a life long farmer. His estate consists of some two hundred and sixty acres of land, all under good
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fence, but about fifty acres of woodland. His place is situated but two and one-half miles from the city of Richmond, and is very convenient to both school and church. Mr. Magill was married September 1, 1874, to Miss E. P. Turner, a native of Sumner county, Tennessee. They have two children, Belle and Bessie. Our subject is a worthy member of the Cumberland and his wife of the O. S. Presbyterian Church.
CHRISTOPHER G. GASTON.
Christopher G. Gaston was born in Greene county, Indiana, on the 9th day of June, 1841. The family is believed to have been of French origin, and banished from their native country to Ireland, whence they came to the United States, and settled in South Carolina. The father of our sub- ject, Samuel Gaston, removed from South Carolina to Indiana, and in 1844, came from that state to Missouri and settled in Johnson county. He afterward removed to Lafayette county, and was killed near Greenton in 1862, by the famous guerrilla, Anderson. The maiden name of Mr. Gaston's mother was Jane H. Vankook, a native of Kentucky. In the pursuit of an education our subject not only received the benefits of the schools of the neighborhood, but also the advantages of instruction from an older brother. Mr. Gaston was living in Lafayette county when the civil war commenced, and he joined the enrolled militia of that county in 1862. Two years afterward he was appointed by Col. Sweitzer enrolling captain for the county of Lafayette. After serving in this capacity for three months he resigned. Mr. Gaston was married in the year 1864, to Miss Nancy Ann Hutchison, daughter of James Hutchison, Esq., of Lafayette county, Eight children have been born of this union, five of whom, one girl and four boys, still live. In 1868 Mr. Gaston came to Ray county and engaged in farming, a short distance east of Camden, for about three years. Then he removed to Camden and entered the drug business. He received the appointment as postmaster of Camden, in 1871, and has held the office ever since. He was elected justice of the peace for Camden township in 1869, serving in that capacity for four years. Mr. Gaston is a member of the Masonic Lodge, No. 57, at Rich- mond. He is an efficient, careful and accommodating postmaster, a suc- cessful business man, and is popular with all.
H. E. HAMIL, M. D.
Dr. Henry Edward Hamil was born in Gadsden county, Florida, on the 18th day of January, 1840. His father, Henry Hamil, Esq., was a native of Ireland, and had emigrated to the United States in 1838, and engaged, extensively, in raising cotton and other products of the state of Florida, upon his large plantation there. The family went back to Armagh county, Ireland, in the year 1853, and the son, Henry, entered
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HISTORY OF RAY COUNTY.
the celebrated University of Dublin, to complete the course in medicine and chemistry. After spending four years in close application to his studies, he graduated from that institution in 1860, with the degree of Bachelor of Medicine. Immediately after his graduation, he received, from the Queen, the appointment as assistant surgeon in the Eighteenth Royal Irish regiment, which was soon after transferred to the East Indies. After spending ten months in Burmah, his regiment went to Bengal, and there he resigned his position and returned to England. In 1862 he came to the United States. Finding, when he reached New York, that an Irish regiment was forming for the defense of the Union, he joined it and served under the stars and stripes of his adopted country, until the close of the war. In 1865 he returned to New York, and resumed the prac- tice of his profession there. He has made one visit to Europe since he came to America. He came to Camden, Ray county, Missouri, in 1867, and has practiced his profession in Camden and vicinity since that time. He now (April, 1881) conducts a drug store in connection with his prac- tice. Dr. Hamil was married in 1879, at Camden, to Miss Mary Rich- ardson, daughter of Asa Richardson, Esq., formerly of that town, now deceased. Two sons, Edward and Henry, both now living, have been born to Dr. and Mrs. Hamil. Dr. Hamil has traveled as far and seen as much of the world as any other man, perhaps, in the county. He is a gentleman of thorough and finished education, and an able, experienced and successful physician. He is profoundly in sympathy with his oppressed and suffering countrymen in "Erin's green isle." Though born in America, he was, for the most part, reared and educated in Ire- land, and spent the best part of his youth there, and his heart still clings in fond remembrance to " Erin mavourneen, Erin, go bragh."
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