USA > Missouri > Ray County > History of Ray county, Mo. > Part 86
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HISTORY OF RAY COUNTY.
management until her death in 1836. Then when but seventeen years of age, with the consent of his guardian and his relatives who were inter- ested, he rented the homestead from the other heirs, and began its man- agement for himself. When he attained his majority, Mr. Wood purchased several of the interests of his brothers and sisters, and thus gained control of the estate and greatly improved and beautified his home. Mr. Wood inherited a number of slaves from his father's estate, and purchased others whom he brought with him when he came to Missouri, and of course lost them, with the exception of a few who died, and some sold under the amnesty proclamation of 1863. Mr. Wood was married on the 15th day of October, 1844, to Miss Sarah A., daughter of James L. Keas, Esq., of Clark county, Kentucky. Twelve children were born of this marriage, five sons and seven daughters, all now living. Four daughters and two sons are married, and Mr. Wood is the happy grandfather of some twelve children, the issue of their marriages. In the spring of 1852, Mr. Wood came to Missouri on a visit and prospecting tour, and he was so well pleased with what he saw of the country, especially of Ray county, that on his return to Kentucky he closed up his business there, and the follow- ing summer removed with his family and slaves to this county. He rented land when he first came while looking around for a suitable and available place to buy. His wife's health failing she grew dissatisfied and despon- dent, and longed for a return to the old Kentucky home, and Mr. Wood after having been but about a year here, returned to Kentucky. But his heart was fixed upon making his home in Missouri, and in the autumn following his return to Kentucky, Mrs. Wood having recovered her wonted health and strength, Mr. Wood came again with his family to Ray county, and purchased the farm upon which he has ever since resided. This farm approaches within less than a mile of Millville on the west, and comprises five hundred and eighty acres, all inone body, of as fine, fertile, rolling upland as can be found any where else in the county. Since losing his slaves, Mr. Wood has turned his attention chiefly to stock- raising, and has converted his farm mostly into pasture lands. Mr. Wood is assisted in the management and direction of his large estate by his eldest son, James E., a well educated and intelligent young gentleman. Mr. Wood made a trip to the state of Texas, in 1879, on business con- nected with some land which his brother, Edward B., formerly a soldier of the Mexican war, now a prominent lawyer of Kentucky, possessed there. Both Mr. and Mrs. Woods were members of the Methodist Episcopal Church South, before leaving Kentucky, and although they have never transferred their membership to any church here, they still cling firmly to the tenets of that denomination. Mr. Wood is one of the largest and most successful farmers and stock raisers in the county. Untiring industry and 1
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energy, unimpeachable honesty and veracity, boundless hospitality and gen- erosity, have characterized his life and made the name of John A. Wood to be honored among his fellow men.
JACOB STANLEY.
Jacob Stanley was born in Campbell county, East Tennessee, September 15, 1806, and was educated in the schools of that state. His occupation has always been farming. Mr. Stanley was married in his native state, in his twenty-fifth year, to Miss Elizabeth, daughter of Thomas Moad, Esq., a near neighbor of Mr. Stanley's father. Soon after his marriage, our subject, in company with his father and father-in-law's families, removed to Ray county, Missouri, first stopping during the summer about two miles west of Richmond. Then he removed to a small farm two miles southwest of Millville. He has since greatly improved and extended his place by entry and purchase, until it now numbers some five hundred land twenty acres. Upon this farm Mr. Stanley lived until the day of his death, June 22, 1879. Eleven children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Stanley, six sons and five daughters, who are all living except one son, the eldest, and two daughters; and all but Thomas M. and Henry J. are married. Thomas M., the elder of the unmarried sons, has the management of the old - homestead, and lives upon it with his mother. Mr. Stanley, at the time of his death, had been twenty-two years a consistent member of the M. E. Church South. He was a kind-hearted man, a good neighbor, and an upright, fair-minded, honest man.
JOHN S. FLOURNOY.
Well and prominently known throughout Ray county. Is of Scotch- Irish descent, his ancestors having emigrated from Scotland to America at a very early day. His father, James Flournoy, was a native of Mer- cer county, Kentucky, and a large farmer and slave-owner of that state. John S. Flournoy was born in Washington county, Kentucky, April 25, 1823. The foundation of his education was laid in the common schools of his father's neighborhood, though he afterwards received the advantages of the more extended course taught at St. Mary's College, a Catholic institutition of Marion county. Mr. Flournoy's mind was early trained to receive the Protestant faith and religion, and he imbibed no Casholic doc- trines from his attendance upon their school. Mr. Flournoy's mother, whose maiden name was Martha O. Halloway, was a native of Jessamine county, Kentucky. She had been, at the time of her death, a devout Methodist for half a century. This excellent lady, who lived to the advanced age of eighty years, always exercised the greatest care in the intellectual and moral training of her children. To this early training of his mother, John S. Flournoy is indebted for the foundation of that ster-
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HISTORY OF RAY COUNTY.
ling character, which, in after years, won for him the respect and support of his fellow citizens. After leaving college, Mr. F. taught school for several years during the winter months, and assisted upon the farm in summer. On the 28th day of February, 1851, John S. Flournoy was united in marriage to Miss Nancy C. M., daughter of Mr. James Keel, of Warren county, Kentucky, a lady of intelligence, culture and elegant taste. Two months after his marriage Mr. Flournoy removed, with his father-in-law, to Missouri, stopping temporarily in Clay county, but in the following October came to Ray county, and, in partnership with his brother-in-law, Mr. H. C. Keel, purchased what was known as Carpen- ter's mill, and farm consisting of 360 acres of land, situated on the east fork of Crooked river. Mr. Flournoy soon became possessed of the whole tract, by the purchase of his brother-in-law's interest, and subse- quently selling 100 acres of the north part of the farm, reduced its size to 260 acres, which he soon improved into a productive and valuable farm, where he has since made his home. In 1858 Mr. Flournoy was appointed by the county court of Ray county, to assess range No. 27. This duty he discharged in a very acceptable manner, and also made a perfect plat of the congressional townships in his territory, range 27. Mr. A. Spen- cer appointed him deputy assessor, and he assessed and made a plat, the first of the entire county. He afterwards served as deputy assessor for Lilburn Mclaughlin, and also for A. P. Craven. In 1871 he was a can- didate before the democratic convention for the office of county assessor, but was defeated by Mr. Craven. Nothing daunted he ran again in 1876, and was elected. Bringing years of ripe experience to the discharge of the duties of the office, his official service met with universal satisfaction and approbation from his constituents and he was re-elected by a large majority. At the close of his second term the county official newspaper closed a very complimentary article upon him and his services with these words: " He retires with honors justly deserved." Mr. and Mrs. Flour- noy became the parents of ten children, all living but one, who died in infancy. Their son, Thomas M. is now, April, 1881, deputy county clerk, in the office at Richmond. Two daughters and the oldest son are mar- ried. John S. Flournoy is a model farmer, a devoted father, a firm friend and a highly respected and valuable citizen.
ALEXANDER MAITLAND.
Was born in Toronto, now Ontario, Canada, June 13, 1839. He is of Scotch extraction, both of his parents being natives of Scotland. His father, Alexander, sen., came first to the United States in the year 1835, but remaining only two years, returned to Canada. Here he was mar- ried to Miss Helen Skirring, about the year 1836. Our subject was the second child and oldest son of this union. He received his education in
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HISTORY OF RAY COUNTY.
the excellent schools of Canada, finishing at Knox College, Toronto, with the exception of a short time he attended school at St. Louis, after coming to Missouri. In 1852 Mr. Maitland accompanied his father to the United. States, and made his home for about a year in the city of St. Louis, Mis- souri. The next year his father moved to Ray county, and was employed for a year as business manager by Colonel William Moore. Colonel Moore died in 1854, and Mr. Maitland and J. Lightner, of Lexington, Missouri, rented his property and continued the business for another year. He then rented a farm in the Ray county bottom, upon which he resided with his family until the year 1860. In that year Alexander, Jr., left home and began life for himself. Going to the mountains of Colorado, he engaged in gold mining for about six months, but not meeting with encouraging "luck," he left off mining and returned to Ray county. Not having been naturalized, he was yet a British subject, and in consequence, did not suffer molestation from any source during the stormy times after his return, until 1865. On the 4th day of March, 1865, Mr. Maitland was married to Miss Mary G. Oliphant, daughter of Alexander Oliphant, deceased, formerly of Ray county. Mr. Maitland continued the occupation of farming after his marriage, and has not since engaged in any other business. In 1867 he built a house upon a tract of land belong- ing to his wife, and, improving it also otherwise, made his residence upon it. To this tract he has continued to add purchases from time to time, until now his farm includes three hundred and twenty acres of excellent and very valuable land. Mr. Maitland is one of the leading stockmen of his section of the county, paying considerable attention to the breed- ing and raising of the better grades of live stock. He has some very fine pedigreed young heifers, and his Cotswold sheep are among the best in that locality. Mr. Maitland and wife have seven children, the eldest, a boy of fifteen years, the youngest an infant. All are bright, intelligent and promising children, and their parents are exercising great care and pains to have them properly and well educated. Though raised a Pres- byterian, Mr. Maitland is now a Methodist in religious belief. He is a genial, courteous, hospitable gentleman, a successful, prosperous business man and a good citizen.
DANIEL CRAMER.
A native of Germany, was born near the village of Geharde, in Hano- ver, May 16, 1817. His father was a farmer of that province and with him our subject lived, working on the farm, until he was about eighteen years of age. A short time previous his brother had gone to America, and wrote back such glowing accounts of the new world beyond the great waters, that young Daniel determined to go and try his fortune there, and at the same time escape military service in his native country.
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He sailed from Bremen in the month of April, 1835, and the following June landed on the American shore at Baltimore, where he worked in a cotton factory for two years. He then went to Pennsylvania and was employed on a boat plying the Schuylkill river, until the year 1844. In the spring of that year he came to Ray county, Missouri, and entering one hundred and sixty acres, two miles northwest of Millville, established his home there and has never removed from it, but has bought and improved more land, from time to time, until now he has a large farm of four hundred acres of very fertile land. Mr. Cramer was married in Pennsylvania, on the 19th day of December, 1841, to Miss Louisa Litzenger. They became the parents of five children, three girls and two boys. All are married except Frank, the youngest, now business partner of J. P .. Grimes, at Millville. The youngest daughter, who was the wife of Mr. Owen, is dead, and her three boys live with their grandfather, Mr. Cramer. Our subject took no part in the war of the rebellion, and was bitterly opposed to it. He has always been a good, loyal citizen of his adopted country. In 1864 Mr. Cramer was appointed justice of the peace by the county court, and served till 1866, when he was elected to that office, and discharged its duties until 1868, when he resigned to qualify for the office of judge of the county court, to which he had been elected by his fellow citizens. Mr. Cramer was reared in the faith of the Lutheran Church, but as there has been no organization of that denomination in his locality, has never connected himself with the church here. Mrs. Cramer is a worthy member of the M. E. Church at Millville. Mr. Cramer is a prosperous farmer, a good neighbor, and an honorable and a valuable citizen of his adopted county.
JAMES VANBEBBER.
This gentleman was born in East Tennessee, and spent the earlier part of his life in that state. Here he was engaged extensively in farming, and that was his lifelong occupation. When about twenty-five years of age he was married to Miss Elizabeth Yocum, daughter of Isaac Yocum, Esq., of Tennessee. Ten children, five of each sex, were born of this union. Eight of them are now living. In the year 1834, Mr. Vanbebber moved from Tennessee to Missouri, and settled in Ray county, in the river bottom near the present town of Hardin. Here he lived for about two years, and then buying and entering some two hundred acres of land thirteen miles north of Richmond, removed with his family to it, and lived there for the space of twenty-five years. He then sold his farm and removed to Caldwell county, Missouri, where he died in 1874. His widow is still living with her son in Caldwell county. The oldest son, William H. Vanbebber, is now living a short distance south of the place his father settled in Ray county. He has a good farm, a neat residence, and is
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doing well. He is the father of three promising boys. Himself and his excellent lady are both members of the Methodist Church at Millville.
RICHIE KINCAID.
Was born in Ray county, Missouri, on the 15th day of March, 1839. He was educated in the common schools of his native county, and has always been, since leaving school, engaged in farming. He was married first on the 16th day of December, 1860. His wife, after becoming the mother of nine children, six boys and three girls, died August 4, 1879. Mr. Kincaid was married the second time, October 13, 1880, to Mrs. Eliz- abeth Wild, widow of Henry W. Wild, deceased. The present Mrs .. Kincaid is a member of the Christian Church. The former wife was a Methodist. Mr. Kincaid owns a good farm of one hundred and four acres, with a neat, comfortable home, and is doing well in his business.
JAMES KINCAID.
James Kincaid was born in Greenbrier county, Virginia, on the 28th day of August, 1804. His father removed to Campbell county, East Tennessee, when he was but eight years old. Here he was educated, and worked with his father on the farm until he was twenty-four years of age. In the year 1828 he was married to Miss Sarah Craven, daughter of Richard Craven, Sr., and two years later he removed to Missouri, and settled in Ray county, four miles west of the town of Richmond. Enter- ing one hundred and sixty acres, eleven miles north of Richmond, he removed upon it the next year, and lived there until the time of his death. He subsequently purchased more land, and increased the size of his place to six hundred and forty acres. Grain and hemp were the principal pro- ducts of his farm. He lost several valuable slaves by the war. Mr. and Mrs. Kincaid were the parents of fourteen children, nine of whom, eight boys and one girl, are yet living. Mr. Kincaid, in religious belief, inclined to Methodism, though he was not a member of any church. He died December 14, 1868, deeply lamented by his family, and respected by all who had known him.
ALFRED C. KINCAID.
Was born in Ray county, Missouri, December 31, 1843, and educated and reared here. He began work on his father's farm early in life, and has followed farming ever since as the chosen calling of his life. He served thirteen months in the Federal army during the civil war, under compulsion, having been drafted. Alfred C. Kincaid was married on the 16th day of April, 1866, to Miss Rachel Grimes. They became the parents of six children, only two of whom, both girls, are now living.
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Both Mr. and Mrs. Kincaid are members of the Methodist Episcopal- Church South, at Millville. He is also a member of the King Hiram Lodge, A. F. & A. M., at Knoxville.
JAMES N. GRIMES.
This gentleman is the son of Henry C. Grimes, and brother of J. P. Grimes, of Millville. He was born in Campbell county, Tennessee. He left his native state when eleven years old, and came to Ray county, Mis- souri, where he was married, on the 2d day of September, 1862, to Miss Abigail Stemley. The issue of this union was five children. Ten years after her marriage Mrs. Grimes died, and Mr. Grimes was married again, in January, 1873, to Miss Sophronia Magill, of Ray county. By her he has three children. Mr. Grimes belongs to the M. E. Church South, as did his former wife, and also his present lady. He is also a member of the Millville Lodge, A. F. & A. M. He was engaged for two years, 1873-4, in merchandising, at Millville. Mr. Grimes has always been a farmer, in which occupation he has been very successful.
JOSEPH PETTUS.
Was born in the state of Virginia. When still a small boy, his parents removed to Lincoln county, Kentucky, and here Joseph grew up, work- ing on his father's farm. He was married in the month of October, 1829, to Miss Mary Ann Hamilton, daughter of Thomas Hamilton, Esq., now deceased. They became the parents of sixteen children, ten sons and six daughters, fourteen of them, nine sons and five daughters, still survive. In October, 1833, Mr. Pettus left Kentucky and came to Ray county, Missouri, settling one and a half miles southeast of Elkhorn, in the then almost unbroken wilderness, where he had entered three hundred and sixty acres of land. He afterward bought eighty acres more, making in all four hundred and forty acres of rich land. Here he lived until the time of his death, 1857. He was occupied with his business, and took no active part in politics. In religion, both himself and his wife were what have been termed Kellyites. Mr. Pettus' remains were interred upon his farm. He was successful with his business, because he was industrious and economical. ' All that he acquired of wealth he made by his own indomitable pluck, perseverance, and unremitting labor. His efforts were accredited their due measure of approbation, and he was greatly respected by his neighbors.
JOHN H. CRAMER.
This gentleman was born near the town of Geharde, in the province of Hanover, Germany, on the 15th day of May, 1810. He was educated at the schools of Geharde. His father was a farmer, and in the choice of a
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calling, the son followed his example. In 1834 our subject immigrated to the United States, landing at the port of Baltimore, in the month of May. In this city he remained eleven years, employed in a commission house. Here he was married the same year of his arrival, to Miss Ann A. Strodt- mann. Of this union one son was born, John Henry, now a practicing physician of Mandeville, in Carroll county, Missouri. Mr. Cramer came to Ray county in June, 1845, first landing at the town of Camden. Ten days after his arrival he bought the same farm upon which he now lives, except that he has since enlarged it by additional purchases. It numbers now five hundred and forty acres, with good, comfortable, and roomy house, large, substantial barn, and other necessary out-buildings, and a fine orchard. Mrs. Cramer died June 18,.1858, and Mr. Cramer was subse- quently married to Miss Ruth E. Crithfield. Six children were the result of this union, but three of whom are now living with their father, the others having died. In religion, Mr. Cramer is a Lutheran, but as there has been no church convenient, he has never connected himself with his brethren in this county. Mrs. Cramer is a member of the M. E. Church South, at Knoxville. All his children are educated in English, and his eldest son, Doctor Cramer, in both German and English. Mr. Cramer is a suc- cessful farmer, a kind-hearted neighbor, and a good citizen of the county of Ray.
WILLIAM M. SCHOOLER.
Was born in the state of Tennessee, on the 2d day of January, 1818. During his infancy his parents removed to Madison county, Kentucky. Here our subject received his education, and learned the carpentering trade. In the year 1843 our subject made a tour of inspection through the state of Missouri, in search of a place to make his home. While in Chariton, Missouri, he met and wooed and won for his bride Miss Mildred Gooch, daughter of Gideon Gooch, Esq., a resident of that place. They were married, and Mr. Schooler took his bride back with him to Ken- tucky. But he was so well pleased with what he had seen of Missouri that he could not content himself to remain in Kentucky, and his wife was continually pining for her Missouri home. So, the very next year, Mr. Schooler removed to Missouri, settling, when he first came, in Linn county, about nine miles from the town of Linneus, on the Chillicothe road. Here he continued to reside until the year 1847, when he came to Ray county, and located on a place about three miles west of Millville. Here Mr. Schooler continued to reside until his death. Thirteen children were born to Mr. Schooler and wife. Nine of them are now living, and five are married. Mr. John A. Schooler, who is yet unmarried, conducts the old homestead for his mother, the widow of our subject. Mrs. Cramer is a consistent and worthy member of the Christian Church, and most of
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the children belong to that church. One of the daughters is a regular Baptist. Mr. Cramer died January 22, 1869, and is buried in the ceme- tery near his old home, and men remember him as an upright, honorable man, a good neighbor, and an orderly citizen.
REV. JAMES DUVAL.
James Duval was born in Culpepper county, Virginia, on the 8th day of March, 1804. He was the second son and fourth child of a large family. He was educated in the schools of his native state, and was an apt and industrious pupil. Always passionately fond of books, and of research for knowledge, he never ceased, to the day of his death, being a hard student. Early in life Mr. Duval was converted to the Christian religion, and connected himself with the Old School Baptist Church. The conviction that it was his duty to "go into all the world and preach the gospel," was so strong upon him, that he, soon after his conversion, was ordained to the work of the gospel ministry, and gave his lifelong service to it. Mr. Duval was married in the month of November, 1836, to Miss Lydia Russell, of Frederick county, Virginia, and in the autumn of 1848, removed with his family to Missouri. He located in Ray county, six miles north of Richmond, where he purchased, and entered together, more than seven hundred acres of land, and when not engaged in his ministerial labors, Mr. Duval devoted his time to the successful manage- ment of his large farm. Mr. Duval was an inveterate reader, and pos- sessed a remarkable memory. He never forgot what he read, and was regarded as the best informed man in his section of the county. Eight children were born of his union with Miss Russell, seven sons and one daughter. Three sons were killed in battling for the south. Lieutenant William Duval was killed at Corinth, Mississippi, while gallantly planting the Confederate flag on the Union breastworks. He was the third man killed while trying to plant the southern colors on the defenses of the "boys in blue" in that sanguinary struggle. Thomas and Henderson were killed at the battle of Baker's Creek, Mississippi. Mr. Duval lost his wife in September, 1874. She was an excellent lady, and a fitting companion for her husband. Her death was deeply mourned by her many friends. James Duval died on the 6th day of April, 1881, after having been pastor of Marion Church, near Knoxville, for more than thirty years. His loss was greatly lamented by his congregation, and his memory is honored and revered by the entire community. He was a kind-hearted, modest, pious and godly man, generous and charitable to the erring. His death leaves a void in the ministry and in the community not easy to be filled.
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