USA > Missouri > Ray County > History of Ray county, Mo. > Part 72
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M. S. LEFORGEE.
Milton S. Leforgee was born in Fleming county, Kentucky, October 2, 1840. His parents were Nathan and Mary Leforgee, natives of the state of Kentucky. He received his education in his native county, and remained there at home with his parents, until outbreaking of the civil war. Then he joined the Confederate army, and fought bravely through- out the entire war, in defense of the cause he honestly believed to be just, and in the interest of the sunny land he loved so well. In company C, second (Kentucky) battalion of mounted rifles, he participated in the fol- lowing battles: Louisa, (Kentucky) Chicamauga, McMinville, Anderson's
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Cross Roads, Cove Gap, King's Salt Works, Cleveland, (Tennessee,) Charleston, (Tennessee) Mt. Sterling, (Kentucky) Smithville, besides numerous skirmishes. He was discharged May 3, 1865, and at once returned to his home in Kentucky. He emigrated to Missouri, in 1869, and settled in Ray county. He is now engaged in partnership with Mr. H. C. Perdue, in the drug business, at the town of Orrick. Messrs. Perdue and Leforgee, are thrifty, enterprising, popular and successful business men.
D. A. RHODES.
Dennis A. Rhodes was born in Franklin county, Pennsylvania, June 13, 1847. His parents were William P. and Henrietta S. Rhodes. His father was born in Montgomery county, Maryland, and his mother in Accomac county, Virginia. In the year 1857, when our subject was ten years of age, the family removed to Hagerstown, Maryland. Here, Dennis was educated at the Academy in that place, an excellent institution. After living at Hagerstown for ten years, he emigrated to Ray county, Missouri, and settled at Orrick. He engaged as clerk with J. G. Brown, a mer- chant of that place, and continued in the duties of that position for two years and a half, and then went to Richmond, Virginia, and spent three months with his brother, who was doing business in that city. At the end of that time his brother sold his property in the city of Richmond and came with our subject to Orrick (this county), where they, in partnership, opened a general merchandise store, and conducted it together, for one year. Then, his brother removed to Camden, Ray county, and Dennis Rhodes continued the business alone. He was married, September 3, 1877, to Miss Isabella Rothwick, daughter of William and Matilda Roth- wick. She was born in Center county, Pennsylvania, in March, 1853. They are the parents of two children: Mareb A., born, March 8, 1879; Matilda R., born, May 20, 1880. In addition to his general merchandise business, Mr. Rhodes is also conducting a large hardware store. He carries stock to the amount of $7,000.00, and also owns the lots upon which his stores are situated. He has a comfortable and conveniently appointed home, and is in a very prosperous condition. He is a leading member of Albany lodge, No. 444, A. F. & A. M.
GEORGE W. MITCHELL.
The young gentleman whose name heads this sketch was born in Mason county, Kentucky, November 16, 1852. His parents were George W. and Minerva Mitchell, also natives of the state of Kentucky. The family emigrated to Ray county, Missouri, in the year 1859, and located on a farm in the vicinity of the town of Orrick. In the acquisition of an educa- tion, our subject was afforded only such advantages as the common schools
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of the neighborhood possessed. After leaving school young Mitchell engaged in various avocations until two years ago, when he entered the hardware and agricultural implement trade at Orrick, in which business he has been engaged with good success ever since. He is an accommodat- ing, popular and rising merchant, and although young in years, is pos- sessed of good, practical judgment, and a degree of business acumen sel- dom seen in men of more mature years. He can not fail of abundant suc- cess in the future.
ELIJAH B. BAILEY.
Elijah B. Bailey was born in Casey county, Kentucky, September 27, 1829. He is the son of Samuel and Rebecca Bailey. His father was born in Lincoln county, Kentucky; his mother, in Nelson county, Virginia. Mr. Bailey received his education, and grew up in his native state. He learned the trade of a saddler and harness-maker, in the town of Danville, Kentucky, and in the year 1853, emigrated to Missouri, and, finally, located at Orrick, in Ray county, and has ever since lived there. Mr. Bailey was first married, August 12, 1855, to Miss Miriam T. Stanley, the daughter of Larkin and Elizabeth Stanley, natives of the state of North Carolina. Mrs. Bailey died in January, 1861, and Mr. Bailey was again married, in September, of that year, to Mrs. Betty S. Ross, daughter of Thomas and Nancy Anderson, natives of Tennessee. The second Mrs. Bailey lived twelve years after her marriage, dying December 18, 1873. Mr. Bailey was married the third time, September 17, 1874, to Mrs. Eliza- beth Good, daughter of William and Sallie Roberts, natives of Adair county, Kentucky. Mr. Bailey has seven children living, and two dead. Their names, with dates of births and deaths, follow: George L., born June 18, 1860; Edmond S., born December 22, 1862; William T., born February 6, 1865; Kate L., born February 10, 1868; Bettie B., born March 25, 1871; Lucetta G., born December 9, 1873; Dora, born Sep- tember 4, 1876; Benjamin F., died in 1876, and Jennie in 1879. In the year 1869 Mr. Bailey made a visit to Kentucky, and spent two years in that state. He is now engaged in the saddle and harness manufacturing business at Orrick. He commands a large patronage, and is an excellent workman.
W. R. ERWIN.
William R. Erwin was born in Oneida county, New York, on the 5th day of February, 1847. At the early age of fourteen years, he enlisted in company K, 146th New York regiment of Zouave volunteers, as a pri- vate, and was engaged in the battles of Fredricksburg, Chancellorsville, second Bull Run, Culpepper C. H., Gettysburg, Wilderness, Spottsyl- vania C. H., Fort Wagoner, Cold Harbor, Fort Fisher, and numerous
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skirmishes. He was discharged in the month of June, 1865, at Raleigh, North Carolina, and returned to his home in the state of New York. Soon after, he went to Montana Territory, and engaged as clerk in a store there, for two years. He then went to the state of Texas, and, after staying there for a short time, to Colorado. From there he came to Kansas City, Missouri, in the year 1870, and the same year he went to Indian Territory, where he remained for two years, and then, returning to Missouri, located at the town of Orrick, in this county, where he has since resided. Mr. Erwin was married, in the month of February, 1877, to Miss Sarah E. Sheppard, daughter of David and Mariah Sheppard, natives of the state of Kentucky. Mr. and Mrs. Erwin have one child, Lawrence, born April 14, 1879. Mr. Erwin is now dealing in groceries and provisions, at Orrick, and commands a good patronage.
N. B. PIGG.
The subject of this sketch is a native of Ray county, Missouri, and was born January 12, 1847. His parents were W. J. and Julia A. Pigg. His father was born in the state of Kentucky. N. B. Pigg was educated in the schools of this county, and lived with his parents, working on the farm until he was twenty-five years of age. He was married, December 25, 1874, to Miss Mary Embree, daughter of Benjamin and S. E. Embree, natives of the state of Kentucky. She was born July 4, 1854. From 1870 to 1873, Mr. Pigg clerked in the dry goods store of E. T. Dardon. His father then bought an interest in the store, and our subject was employed to conduct it one year longer. At the expiration of that time he returned to the farm, and was engaged in farming during about six years. He then engaged in the general merchandise and agricultural trade at Orrick, and is still successfully conducting that business. Mr. and Mrs. Pigg have one child Alice, born November 17, 1875. Mr. Pigg is a member of Ada Lodge, No. 444, A. F. and A. M. He is a staunch business man, and a highly respected and valuable citizen of the town of Orrick. '
WILLIAM A. WELLS.
This gentlemen was born in Ray county, Missouri, July 24, 1843. He is the son of John and Sarah Wells. His father was born in North Car- olina and his mother in Tennessee. Our subject attended the schools of this county in his youth, and worked on his father's farm until he was twenty-eight years of age, and then clerked in a store for four years, at the end of which time he opened a family grocery store on his own account, and conducted it for three years. He then returned to farming for about a year, and then served as constable, to which office he had been elected, for two years. He then returned to mechandising, at Orrick, and is yet so engaged. Mr. Wells was married January 16, 1873, to Miss Cor-
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nelia B. Sheppard, daughter of D. B. and Minerva Sheppard, natives of the state of Kentucky. Mr. and Mrs. Wells have adopted Anna, daugh- ter of Andrew J. and Lorena Wells.
ELLA S. DORTON.
The subject of this sketch was born in Knox county, Kentucky, April 6, 1837. Her parents were James B. and Sallie B. Dorton. Her father was a native of Virginia, and her mother of the state of Kentucky. The family came to this county when our subject was twelve years of age, and settled upon a farm, (section twenty-three, township fifty-one, range twenty-nine), where Orrick is now situated. Schools were few and far apart in those days, and such as were accessible to Miss Dorton, did not come up to the standard of excellence since established in the county, but she made the most of her advantages, and her naturally strong and vigorous mind, supplied by close and diligent application, the inefficiency of teach- ers, and the want of better books and more modern " aids to education." Having exhausted the course in the schools of her father's neighborhood, and carefully studied such books as came within her reach, she began to teach, in the district schools, for the laudable purpose of securing means sufficient to defray the expenses of higher education. She taught school for two years in the district where she now resides, and then entered the Catholic school of the Sacred Heart, an excellent institution, at St. Joseph, Missouri. After she had attended this school for two years, her further education was interrupted and permanently broken off, by the death of her father, which occurred April 30, 1863. She left the school of the Sacred Heart, and entered upon the honorable profession of teach- ing as her life work, and she has ever since battled nobly in the cause of popular education. She has met with very flattering success in the school room, and her services are much sought after. Miss Dorton inherited, and now owns a portion of her father's homestead.
R. H. MCWHORTER.
Richard H. McWhorter is a native of Adair county, Kentucky, and was born September 7, 1844. He received his education and remained at home on a farm until eighteen years of age, and then enlisted in company C, 13th regiment of Kentucky cavalry, commanded by Col. J. W. Weth- erfold, army of the Cumberland. He participated in the battles of King's saltworks, Virginia; Perryville, Kentucky, and Lebanon, Tennessee, besides many skirmishes. He was discharged January 10, 1865, at Camp Nelson, Kentucky, and went home to Adair county and engaged in farm- ing for about five years. He then went, for a time, to Collin county, Texas, whence he came to Ray county, Missouri. Mr. Mc Whorter was married August 13, 1871, to Miss Laura Brasher, daughter of A. D. and
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Elizabeth Brasher. She was born in Ray county, Missouri, January 27, 1851. The issue of this union was two children: Elizabeth S., born December 2, 1873; Charles A., born March 9, 1875. Our subject is the son of R. W. and Elizabeth McWhorter, natives of the state of Kentucky. He is a member of Ada Lodge No. 444, A. F. & A. M.
D. B. SHEPARD.
David B. Shepard was born in Fleming county, Kentucky, March 13, 1832. He is the son of Robert and Lydia Shepard, also natives of the state of Kentucky. He lived in his native state until the year 1865, and then immigrated to Marion county, Indiana. After remaining there for about three years he came to Ray county, Missouri, and has ever since resided here. Mr. Shepard was married December 9, 1853, to Miss Minerva Todd, daughter of John and Mary Todd. Her father was a native of Ireland, and her mother of the state of Kentucky. Mrs. Shep- hard was born in 1834, in Kentucky. Our subject was reared on a farm and continued in the business of farming until 1860, when he began keep- ing hotel, etc. At the commencement of the civil war he enlisted in com- pany C, second Kentucky mounted rifles, and engaged in the battles of Louisa, Kentucky, Cove Gap, Chicamauga, McMinville, and Anderson's Cross Roads, where he was captured and imprisoned at Camp Morton, for nineteen months. He was finally released from prison and returned to his family. He lost all his property by the war. Mr. and Mrs. Shepard have four children living, one dead: Lydia, Cordelia B., Mary F., Sallie. and Martha dead. Mr. Shepard was mayor of the town or Orrick for three years, and is at present a member of the city council of that town.
M. G. TAYLOR.
M. G. Taylor is a native of Ray county, Missouri, born September 28, 1838. He is the son of Daniel and Hannah Taylor. His father was born in the month of September, 1802, in Halifax county, Virginia. His mother was born in Missouri. Our subject was reared on a farm and continued living and working at home until he was twenty-four years of age and then went to learn the business of milling in the Albany mills. Mr. Tay- lor was married March 18, 1873, to Miss Mary Brasher, daughter of A. D. and Elizabeth Brasher. She was born in the year 1842, in Ray county, Missouri. The issue of this marriage was the following children: Ollie, born January 12, 1864: Alice, born April 11, 1866; Lucy, born December 1, 1869; Lena, born February 9, 1873; Edna, born February -, 1876; Maud, born December 11, 1874, died in February, 1875; Herbert, born May 25; 1878. Mr. Taylor is a member of Ada Lodge, No. 444, A. F. & A. M., and also a member of the Christian Church. He is, also, in
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addition to his milling business, conducting a general merchandise and hardware store, at Albany. His business is in a highly prosperous con- dition and Mr. Taylor is universally popular with his large circle of friends, respected and esteemed by the community at large.
T. A. ROTHROCK.
Thomas A. Rothrock was born in the city of New York, July 2, 1855. His parents were Alexander and Ellen Rothrock. His father was a native of New York and his mother of the state of Pennsylvania. The family immigrated from New York to Ray county, Missouri, when Thomas was only five years old. He was educated in this county, and after leaving school, engaged in clerking for different stores for a number of years. Mr. Rothrock was married November 22, 1874, to Miss Florence Wall, daughter of Van and Margaret Wall. Her father was born in Ray county and her mother in Boone county, Missouri. She was born July 22, 1857, in this county. Mr. and Mrs. Rothrock have three children: Bessie, born April 9, 1875; Clardie, born November 18, 1876; Ernest, born April 26, 1880. Alexander Rothrock, father of our subject, was born November 12, 1815, and died February 3, 1881, at Albany. Thomas A. Rothrock is conducting a drug and grocery store at Albany .. He commands a good trade and is doing well.
EDWARD T. DORTON.
Is a native of Russell county, Virginia, and was born on the 3d day of August, 1830. His parents were Joseph and Martha Dorton, natives of Virginia. His father was born July 19, 1795; died July 20, 1870. His mother was born April 15, 1807, and died February 12, 1871. Our sub- ject finished his education at Emery and Henry College, and then began teaching school. In the year 1852 he came to Missouri, first living four years in Calloway county, and then settling permanently in Ray county. June 17, 1861, Mr. Dorton enlisted in company A, 15th Arkansas volun- teer infantry, and participated in the battles of Pea Ridge and Wilson's Creek. At the latter fight he was captured by the enemy, and taken to Camp Douglass at Chicago; was afterward exchanged at Jackson, Miss- issippi. He was again taken prisoner at Walnut Grove, Arkansas, but
was fortunate in escaping from his captors. He was paroled, April 12, 1865, at Pea Ridge, and went to Illinois, where he remained about ten months, and then came back to Ray county, where he has lived ever since. Mr. Dorton was married April 16, 1867, to Miss Pauline Dorton, daughter of James B. and Sallie Dorton. She was born May 15, 1849, in Knox county, Kentucky. The issue of this marriage has been one child: Clementina, born November 8, 1868. Soon after his marriage Mr. Dor-
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ton opened a general merchandise store at Albany, and continued the business there for one year, and then moved to Sibley, Jackson county, and, after keeping store in that place for about twelve months, removed to Orrick, Ray county, and has ever since conducted the business with good success and prosperity there. Mr. Dorton is a member of Ada Lodge, No. 344, A. F. & A. M., at Albany.
WILLIAM N. KIRKHAM.
Was born in Montgomery county, Missouri, November 1, 1847. He is the son of David and Ann Kirkham, natives of the state of Virginia. His father was born in the month of February, 1820, and died May 8, 1873 Our subject was engaged at work for his father, who was a manufacturer of tobacco, until he attained his majority. Mr. Kirkham was married December 22, 1869, to Miss Susan A. Gooch, daughter of Alexander and Nancy Gooch, natives of the state of Kentucky. She was born October 2, 1852. Mr. and Mrs. Kirkham are the parents of three children living, and two dead. Their names and dates of birth are as follows: Emma, born January 5, 1875; Archie, born January 18, 1877; Maggie, born January 9, 1879; Charles A., born December 29, 1870, died March 31, 1872, and one other, an infant, died in 1873. After his marriage, Mr. Kirkham resided, for a time, on a farm north of the town of Albany, then removed to one in section 31, township 28, range 51, and in the year 1880, came to his present location, section 36, township 51, range 29. Here he owns 150 acres of very rich and productive land, well improved and cul- tivated, with a neat, comfortable residence and good orchard. Mr. Kirk- ham is a thrifty, industrious and successful farmer and stock raiser, and a vaiuable adjunct to the community in which he resides.
S. H. DEGRAFFENREID.
Stephen H. Degraffenreid was born in Jasper county, Missouri, April 2, 1848. He is the son of Vincent and Lucretia Degraffenreid, natives of Pennsylvania. His parents died when he was but three years old, and he was reared by his grandmother. At the age of nineteen years he left home, and began battling alone for a livelihood. He worked at various occupations until the commencement of the civil war, and then enlisted, September, 1863, in company C, 2d Ohio cavalry, and was assigned to the department of the west. He participated in the battle at Sugar Creek, and a great number of skirmishes besides. He was discharged in October, 1865, at Leavenworth, Kansas, and went, for a short time to the territory of New Mexico. From there he went to Colorado, and to Kansas, returning thence to Ray county, Missouri, where he has since resided. Mr. Degraffenreid was married on the 17th day of March, 1878, to Mrs. Angeline Tucker, daughter of Thomas and Margaret
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McMullen, natives of Virginia, now deceased. He owns ninety-six acres of choice bottom land in an excellent state of cultivation, well improved, with neat, comfortable, and convenient buildings, good fences, orchard, etc. Mr. Degraffenreid is a member of Ada lodge, No. 444, at Albany. He is a successful farmer and a good citizen.
ANDERSON D. LOYD.
Anderson D. Loyd is a native of Ray county, Missouri. He was born March 22, 1851. His parents were Henry and Nancy Loyd, natives of Tennessee. Our subject received the advantages of a common school education, and spent the time until he was grown, on the farm of his father. Mr. Loyd was married August 24, 1871, to Miss Milly Conyers, daughter of D. and Louisa Conyers. She was born December 15, 1849, in Ray county, Missouri. Her father was a native of Kentucky, and her mother of Virginia. Mr. and Mrs. Loyd have four children: Buford A., born February 3, 1873; Bertie, born March 21, 1874; Richard, born February 8, 1876; Emma J., born January 19, 1878. Mr. Loyd owns and occupies the old homestead that was settled by his father. The place comprises one hundred and fifty-five acres of land, which, for fer- tility and productiveness, is unexcelled, perhaps, by any in the county. Mr. Loyd is a prosperous and successful farmer, and a well respected and esteemed member of the community.
ABRAHAM ALLEN.
Abraham Allen was born in Ray county, Missouri, September 4, 1827. He is the son of Reuben and Rhoda Allen, natives of the state of Tennes- see. Our subject attended the subscription schools of his father's neigh- borhood, in the winter, and in the summer worked on the farm. In this way he was enabled to obtain a fair common school education. In the year 1849, he left his father's farm and went as a teamster in a govern- ment wagon train, to New Mexico, spending about ninety days on the route to Santa Fe. After spending more than two years in the employ of the government, he was discharged from the wagon train, and was soon after employed by Quartermaster Reynolds, for some months, at Santa Fe. He was, subsequently,. in the employ of Quartermaster Sibley, at Fort Union. Again an order was issued to discharge all citizen teamsters, and Mr. Allen went, for a short time, to the placer gold-diggings. Soon after, he enlisted in company H, 2d U. S. dragoons, commanded by Lieutenant Johnson, and was assigned to the ninth department of New Mexico, where he was frequently engaged in skirmishes with the Indians, and was several times slightly wounded. At the battle of the mines on Gila river, he received a shot through the chin and mouth, which carried
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away a part of his tongue, and passed out at the base of the ear. This wound disabled Mr. Allen, and he was kept under medical treatment until July, 1856, and then came home, after an absence of seven years. Mr. Allen was married, September 4, 1859, to Miss Martha Tucker, daughter of John W. and Nancy Tucker, natives of Virginia. She was born March 17, 1837, in Benton county, Missouri. The issue of this union has been four children, living: Elizabeth J., born December 13, 1864; Jessie T., born August 27, 1867; John W., born June 29, 1870; Katie S., born November 9, 1872. Mr. Allen was elected to the office of township constable, in 1860, and very efficiently discharged the duties of that position. At the commencement of the war of the rebellion, Mr. Allen raised a company of men, and served in the home guard from October 1, till Christmas, 1861. In February, 1862, he and his company were mustered into the Missouri state militia service, with headquarters at Richmond, Missouri. He participated in the battle of Springfield, Mis- souri, and commanded two companies there. After the war, Mr. Allen went to Texas, and lived there for two years, returning to Ray county, Missouri, in the month of August, 1868. In January he was appointed by the county court, to fill the unexpired term of Constable Burnett (who was accidentally killed, and has since been deputy constable under James Ralph. Mr. Allen has had a varied experience in life, and has always been an active, energetic man.
JOHN H. FRAZER.
John H. Frazer was born in Forsythe county, North Carolina, October 20, 1827. His parents were Jacob and Elizabeth Frazer, natives of Forsythe county, North Carolina. Our subject remained at home occu- pied with duties on his father's farm until his marriage. He was married, July 26, 1847, to Miss Jelina Studdard, daughter of James W. and Nancy Studdard, also natives of Forsythe county, North Carolina. Mrs. Frazer was born, July 27, 1831. Mr. Frazer and wife have ten living children; their names, with dates of birth, are as follows: Romulus G., born in North Carolina, June 2, 1848, now married and living in Ray county; Eliza A. C., born September 24, 1850, married to J. C. Ross and living at Orrick, in this county; Fatha M., born April 26, 1852, married to David Messenger, and living in Louisville, Kentucky; Maria L., born Septem- ber 12, 1859, (married Thomas Brown, who died in 1880), now living in widowhood, at Orrick; Martin L., born January 19, 1856, married and living near his father's place; Joel B., born December 2, 1858, married and living near his father; John P., born March 6, 1862, living in the southern part of Missouri; Francis B., born May 9, 1864, died August 16, 1865; Hiram W., born July 30, 1866, died August 4, 1867; Stonewall, born June 12, 1868; Jelina E., born March 7, 1872; Jacob S., born March
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