USA > Missouri > Ray County > History of Ray county, Mo. > Part 87
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HISTORY OF RAY COUNTY.
ISAAC DUVAL.
Was a native of Virginia. He was born in Culpepper county, that state, July 16, 1806. Received the advantages of such schools as the times afforded, and was reared to be a farmer, and always pursued that calling. Isaac Duval was married in his native county, on the 6th day of November, 1837, to Miss Sarah M. Jeffreys. The issue of this marriage was three boys and one girl. He moved to Ray county, Missouri, in the year 1844, and settled in Richmond township. His wife died July 3, 1845, and he was was afterwards married to Mrs. Rebecca Mausur, relict of Charles Mausur, Senior. Mr. Duval removed about the year 1849, to Grape Grove township, and purchased the farm upon which he lived at the time of his death. He was inclined to Lutheranism in religious views, though he was not a member of any denomination. He was a member of the Millville Lodge of A. F. & A. M. Isaac Duval died, November 17, 1879, highly respected by all who knew him. A good man and valuable citizen is gone.
HIRAM P. SETTLE.
Is a Virginian. He was born in Fauquier county, Virginia. When he was three months old his father died. His mother subsequently married and went to Ohio, and he was left to the care of his grandfather's family, by whom he was raised. After leaving school, at the age of about four- teen years, he began to learn the trade of a tailor, at Fairfax, in Culpep- per county. He served out his apprenticeship, and at the age of twenty- one commenced business for himself, and continued for a year or so work- ing at his trade, and then gave up tailoring for the more congenial occu- pation of farming, and has never since engaged in any other calling. Hiram P. Settle was married in the year 1834, to Miss Juliet A. Duval. They became the parents of seven children, three only of whom, two sons and a daughter, survive. The latter, Elizabeth S., is now the wife of D. C. Allen, Esq., of Liberty, Missouri. In the year 1844 Mr. Settle came to Missouri in company with Isaac Duval, Esq. He first located near Richmond, and remained there about one year. In the month of March, 1846, he purchased part of the farm where he now lives, six miles northeast from Richmond, and moved his family to it. He extended this farm by entry and purchase, from time to time, until now it comprises five hundred and twenty acres of excellent land in a high state of cultivation, and well improved. Mr. Settle is in the front ranks of successful, prom- inent farmers and stock-raisers of Ray county. He claims to have raised the fastest horse ever bred in the county. This horse was sold and taken to New Mexico in the year 1878. Mr. Settle has now (April, 1881,) as fine a herd of blooded cattle as can be found in the county. Red Duke, 49
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HISTORY OF RAY COUNTY.
a thoroughbred bull, stands at the head of the herd. He is also largely engaged in breeding fine hogs and sheep. Of the latter he keeps the long wool Cotswold and Southdown varieties. His hogs are mostly of the Poland-China breed. For the trouble and expense he incurs in his laud- able efforts to improve the stock of the county, great credit is due Mr. Settle. Hiram P. Settle is truly a self-made man. When he began life he had nothing, now he is the possessor of a competence, and continually growing wealthier. By his untiring energy and industry he has accom- plished it all. His example should be a valuable lesson to the youth of the land. For ten years prior to the civil war, Mr. Settle was one of the board of directors of the Ray county agricultural and mechanical asso- ciation. He is a member of the Richmond Lodge of A. F. & A. M. As a citizen and a farmer, Hiram P. Settle stands among the foremost of those interested in the development and progress of Ray county. He, the architect of his own fortune and character, truly builded well.
DAVID A. THOMPSON.
Was born in Russell county, Virginia, on the 25th day of February, 1821. He was the youngest son of a family of nine children. His father, Richard Thompson, was an extensive property holder and farmer of his native county. But before our subject was grown his father was entirely ruined financially, by the payment of large sums of money to discharge debts of some friends for whom he was security. When young Thomp- son was eighteen years old, his father removed from Virginia with the hope of reviving his shattered fortunes in Missouri. He settled in Ray county, where he entered a tract of land. David A. Thompson soon after left home and began for himself the hard struggle of a poor boy for a livelihood. He first hired to chop wood in the river bottom opposite Lex- ington. He was economical and saved his wages so well that when he arrived at the age of twenty-two years, he had the neat sum of two hun- dred dollars. Young calves were cheap and Mr. Thompson invested the whole sum in them, buying fifty-two. He placed his calves upon good pasturage and allowed them to grow until they were three years old, and then sold them at a large profit and invested the proceeds of their sale in land. He continued at intervals to enter land until his farm now includes three hundred and seventy-four acres of valuable land. Mr. Thompson's early history teaches practically, how important it is to economize in small matters, and what good results may come from the judicious investment of even a small sum of money. David A. Thompson was married in the year 1854, to Miss Eveline Mayberry, of Ray county. Of this union one son was born: George. W., yet living. Mrs. Thompson died about three years after her marriage, and Mr. Thompson was afterward married to Miss M. J. Lozier, of Ray county. By her he became the father of eleven
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HISTORY OF RAY COUNTY.
children, seven boys and four girls. Two, George W., and David R., are married. Mr. Thompson is a worthy member of the Old School Bap- tist Church, as is the present Mrs. T .; his former wife was a Presbyterian. David A. Thompson has made all that he has, and accomplished all that he is, by his own efforts. Iron will, indomitable pluck, and ceaseless indus- try, have characterized his life work. He is highly respected for his many excellent qualities by his fellow citizens. '
LORENZO S. MAGILL.
Son of Judge L. H. Magill, was born April 2, 1856, and raised in Ray county, Missouri, near the town of Knoxville, on his father's farm. He finished his education at the Richmond College, and at the age of eigh- teen years engaged in teaching school for about three years, after which he went to farming. Mr. Magill was married on the 5th day of October, 1880, to Miss Emma Dale, daughter of M. G. Dale, of Ray county. She was born in October, 1863. He and his father-in-law have recently pur- chased a farm of one hundred and seventy acres, about eight miles north of Richmond, and known as the Anderson place. Here Mr. Magill has established himself with his fair young bride, and here he will doubtless make a successful farmer and a valuable citizen.
J. W. C. WILSON, SR.
James W. C. Wilson, Sr., was born in Campbell county, Tennessee, on the 16th day of February, 1808. His father, Levi Wilson, Esq., was a prominent farmer and large land owner of that state. Mr. Isaac Wilson, uncle of our subject, was one of Ray county's earliest pioneers, having come to the county more than sixty years ago. The subject of this arti- cle was reared and educated in his native state. In the year 1829, his father removed to Ray county, Missouri, but remaining then only tempo- rarily, went to Clay county and remained there for about four years. He then returned to Ray county and lived here, the remainder of his life. Mr. James W. C. Wilson has never had his home changed from Ray county since he first came here, at the age of twenty-two years, except during the year 1830, when he lived in Clay county, Missouri. When Mr. Wilson commenced life for himself, he had not a dollar in the world. He hired to work on the farm of William Carlisle, of Ray county, for ten dollars per month; at that time considered high wages, and only paid to the very best farm hands. At the end of two years Mr. Wilson had saved from his wages the sum of one hundred and one dollars. Of this sum he paid one hundred dollars, half its price, for a farm of eighty acres, for which he had bargained, the remaining one hundred dollars of the price of the farm, to be paid in less than eleven months from the time
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HISTORY OF RAY COUNTY
of the first payment. He now had just one dollar left. He possessed besides, five acres of corn, which he had grown in Clay county, and from the sale of it realized the sum of fifty dollars, selling at seventeen and a half cents per bushel of corn and fifty cents per hundred bundles for the fodder. This sum he also paid upon the price of the farm, and in consid- eration of paying in advance, of the stipulated time, received credit for sixty instead of fifty dollars. Mr. Wilson worked until he had the remaining forty dollars, and then paying the balance due on the place, received a deed to it. Thus he first became a land-holder, and laid the foundation for his future success and usefulness. He now owns a farm of 895 acres, ten miles north of Richmond, on the Kingston road; 800 acres of this place are under fence, about 340 acres of pasture lands, and +60 acres in a high state of cultivation. This is the largest and most valuable farm in the township. Mr. Wilson has always been a Benton democrat, and formerly took considerable interest in politics. He has repeatedly been a delegate to the democratic convention of his county and congressional district. He has never sought or desired office at the hands of his party, though he has never failed to support the nominees of both state and national conventions, except the nomination of Horace Greeley for the presidency, in 1872. Mr. Wilson did not regard him as a proper choice for a democratic convention to make, and did not support him. Mr. Wilson has never married, and his mother, now ninety-four years of age, lives with him, and despite her son's efforts to restrain her from attempting any household cares, she insists still upon superintending the domestic affairs of the house. Her health is good, and for one so old, she is remarkably strong and active. Mr. Wilson is one of Ray county's most substantial farmers and best citizens, and the perusal of his life's history should inspire the poor youth of the county to emulate his example in the acqui- sition of property. .
JOHN C: GARNER.
John Campbell Garner was born in Clarke county, Kentucky, January 21, 1811. His father, Colonel Jesse W. Garner, was a carpenter, archi- tect and draughtsman, and is known here as the original contractor and builder of the Missouri penitentiary at Jefferson City. His father came to Missouri some years before the subject of this article, and young John was reared by his uncle, John Campbell, after whom he was named. John Campbell was a revolutionary soldier and served through the entire war. He held the rank of lieutenant. Mr. Garner's uncle left his nephew, at his death, a handsome legacy, by will, of one hundred and sixty acres of land, and two valuable slaves. After the death of his uncle he took charge of the farm for his aunt. This aunt was the sister of Governor Clark, of Kentucky. Mr. Garner never married, and his aunt
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HISTORY OF RAY COUNTY.
and a cousin were his housekeepers, until 1854, when the former died. He then sold his farm for seventy-five dollars per acre, and the next year came to Missouri. He had been very successful in dealing in horses, mules and cattle, in Kentucky, and he brought about twenty-five thou- sand dollars away with him from that state. After coming to Missouri he first stopped near Morton, in Ray county, but remaining there only a few months, he removed, in March, 1857, to the place where he now resides, on the Kingston road, nine miles north of Richmond. Here he purchased six hundred and forty acres of land, and at once began improving it by fencing and building a dwelling house and barn. Mr. Garner had just gotten his place improved, and was ready to commence business in earnest, when the war came and his slaves were taken from him. Mr. Garner spent most of his time during the war in Richmond. He has never engaged in any but agricultural pursuits, and owns now about nine hundred and thirty-eight acres of excellent land, all lying near his homestead. Though Mr. Garner has never been a candidate for office, he has always taken a great interest, and kept himself well informed in political affairs. While he was living in Kentucky he organized the second Know-nothing council in Clarke county. Formerly he was a whig, but since dissolution of that party he has acted with the democracy. He has been, for a number of years, a member of the M. E. Church South, at Richmond. Although Mr. Garner did not enjoy many advantages for getting an education in his youth, he has read so much and so diligently and attentively, that his vigorous and retentive memory is well stored with valuable knowledge. His health has not been good for some time, and he is kept much indoors. This gives him a better opportunity to indulge his taste for reading. Mrs. Smith, his sister, keeps house for him. John C. Garner has been very successful as a farmer and stock raiser; he is an obliging neighbor, an honorable gen- tleman, and a highly respected citizen of the county of Ray.
A. D. CLARK, M.D.
The subject of this sketch was born in Clay county, Kentucky, on the 7th day of February, 1827. When he was four years of age his father removed to Ray county, Missouri, and he received his education partly in the common schools and partly at Richmond College. He began the study of medicine in the office of his father, Doctor Hiram Clark, at the age of nineteen years. Four years later, 1851, at the age of twenty- three, he began to practice his profession in Knoxville township. The next year he bought a farm of one hundred and sixty acres, about a mile and three-quarters north of Knoxville, where he resided until 1859. Then he moved a short distance south of his former home, to a farm he had purchased, and there he has since resided. This farm now comprises 420
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HISTORY OF RAY COUNTY.
acres. Dr. Clark was married in August, 1852, to Miss Amanda Jones, daughter of Solomon Jones, Esq., of Ray county. The issue of this union was seven children, only three of whom, one son and two daugh- ters, are now living. The son and one daughter are married; the other still lives with her father. Mrs. Clark is a member of the M. E. Church South, at Knoxville. Doctor Clark is a member of the order of A. F. & A. M., and was one of the charter members of King Hiram Lodge No. 309, of Knoxville. He continues to live upon his farm and superintend its management in connection with the practice of his profession. He is. a very successful and popular physician, and enjoys a large practice.
HIRAM J. CLARK.
Was born in Ray county, Missouri, on the farm where he now resides in the year 1843. His father was Dr. Hiram Clark, a practicing physi- cian of Knoxville, and the father of a family of five children, of whom our subject is the youngest. Mr. Clark received his education in the schools of Ray county. His father having died, he bought the interests of the other heirs, and became the sole possessor of the old homestead at the age of nineteen years. Soon after, in 1862, he started west and went to Oregon, where he remained about five months, and then came back as far as Idaho territory. Here he lived about the same length of time as in Oregon, and then returned to Ray county. During the first year after his return he was engaged very profitably, trading in cattle. The next year he took possession of his farm, and has made his home there ever since. Mr. Clark was married on the 28th day of June, 1865, to Miss- Elizabeth Thomas, daughter of Mr. John Thomas, a resident of Ray county. Seven children were bore to them, five boys and two girls, all now living. Since the war, Mr. Clark has prospered greatly with his farming, and has extended his landed possessions, until now he is the owner of the north half of section one, township 53, range twenty-eight, He is a member of the old school Baptist Church, and also of lodge No. 309, A. F. & A. M., at Knoxville.
JACOB T. CRAVEN.
Is a native of North Carolina. He was born in Randolph county, that state, in the month of May, 1831. He was educated in the district schools. of his father's neighborhood, and, after leaving school, began the work of farming, and this has been his chief occupation. In 1853 Mr. Craven was married to Miss Sarah Wright, also of Randolph county, North Carolina. They became the parents of four children, all now living, and two mar- ried. Three years after his marriage he removed to Nodaway county, Missouri, and entering and improving a farm there, lived upon it till the outbreak of the great civil war. Mr. Craven was among the first to
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HISTORY OF RAY COUNTY.
respond to Governor Jackson's call for state troops, and, when the time for which he had enlisted in the Missouri guard had expired, he joined the regular Confederate army, and went to the war with Colonel Gates' first regiment of Missouri cavalry. He was in every battle and skir- mish in which his regiment was engaged, till he was wounded at the battle of Peach Tree Creek, in 1863. After the fight of Pea Ridge his brigade was transferred to the department of war east of the Mississippi, and here Mr. Craven followed all the movements of the army. He was twice wounded and once taken prisoner. When the war was over, Mr. Craven went to the state of Illinois, where his wife joined him, and lived there for four years. In 1869, having sold his farm in Nodaway county, Missouri, he came to Ray county, and has ever since lived here, upon a farm he bought, south of the town of Knoxville. Mr. Craven is a mem- ber of Marion (Baptist) Church, and also a member of the Masonic Lodge, at Knoxville, which he joined by demit from the lodge of which he had been a member, in North Carolina. Mr. Craven was a brave sol- dier, has been a successful farmer, and is now a useful and highly respected citizen of the community in which he lives.
JEREMIAH CAMPBELL.
Was born in Campbell county, Tennessee, in the vear 1802. He received the advantages of such schools as his native county at that time afforded. He was married at about the age of twenty-two years, to Miss Elizabeth Vanderpool. Eight children were born to them as the result of this union, four of each sex. Five of them are still living. Jeremiah Campbell was a soldier in the Black Hawk war. He removed from Ten- nessee to Ray county, Missouri, in the year, 1836, and settled about ten miles northeast of Richmond. Both Mr. and Mrs. Campbell were con- sistent members of the "old school " Baptist Church. Mr. Campbell died in July, 1875. In life he was greatly respected by all who knew him.
JAMES G. COLLIER.
J. G. Collier was born in Bourbon county, Kentucky, March 6, 1841. Here he received the principal part of his education. When he was four- teen years of age, his parents came to Missouri and located, for a time, in Saline county, where he engaged in farming. He went into the Confed- erate army from Saline county, with General Marmaduke, in the autumn of 1864. He was at the battle of Independence, Missouri, and also engaged in several minor battles during the war. He received his dis- charge from the army at Shreveport, Louisiana, and returned to farming, in Saline county, Missouri. He was, at one time, the owner of the " Bruce farm, " one of the best in the county of Saline. Moved to Car- roll county, in 1876, and remained one year there. Then he came to Ray
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HISTORY OF RAY COUNTY.
county, and has ever since lived here. Mr. Collier was married on the 14th day of May, 1871, to Miss Kate Miles, of Ray county. They became the parents of four children, John U., William K., Lizzie and an infant, which has not yet (April, 1881) been named. He owns a fine farm, of rich land, well improved. His residence is a brick house, dis- tinguished from the fact of its being the only one of that character in Crooked River township. He is a practical, successful farmer, and an intelligent and prominent citizen of his community.
EPHRAIM D. FERREE.
Is a blacksmith and wagon-maker, and was born on the 10th day of April, 1827, in Franklin county, Pennsylvania. He received the privileges of the public schools of his native state, and in them acquired his educa- tion. He served an apprenticeship of two years and a half in the shop of his brother, in Franklin county, three miles west of Greencastle, Pa. At the expiration of this time he immigrated to Missouri, arriving at Lexing- ton, Lafayette county, on the 20th day of October, 1846. Here he went to work at his trade and remained five years. He then came to Rich- mond, Ray county, and continued the business of blacksmithing and wagon-making. In the spring of 1857 he went to Daviess county, Mis- souri, but the following year came back to Ray county and located at what was then called " Shaw's Shop," now the enterprising town of Mor- ton. Mr. Ferree was married in December, of the year 1850, to Miss Mary A. Griffin, of Lafayette county, a native of the state of Kentucky. The issue of this union is six children: William W., Margaret A., Charles W., John W., Frank Y., and George C., now living. Mr. Ferree is a most excellent workman in his branch of business, and is the recipi- ent of a large and lucrative custom. He is a good and substantial citi- zen, and one that the people of Morton and vicinity would be very sorry to lose from their midst.
JAMES JOHNSON.
The subject of this sketch was born two miles north of the town of Richmond, in Ray county, Missouri, in the year 1833. He received his education in the common schools, and after leaving school began work on his father's farm. He purchased the farm upon which he now lives, in 1861. This land was originally entered for twelve and a half cents per acre. It is now worth at least forty dollars per acre. Mr. Johnson spent most of the time during the civil war in the state of Illinois. He was married on the 3d day of March, 1861, to Miss Mollie Pugh, an excellent lady and a good wife. He has travelled extensively through the south and west, and visited almost every point of interest in these sections of the country.
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HISTORY OF RAY COUNTY.
Mr. Johnson owns a farm of one hundred and ninety acres, which, in the quality and value of the land is absolutely unsurpassed by any in the county.
SAMUEL O. McGUIRE.
A native of Kentucky, was born in Anderson county, January 22, 1843, and received his education there. He was employed as a clerk at Law- renceburg, Kentucky, after leaving school for two years. He left Ken- tucky in 1861, and came to Ray county, Missouri, and in the month of June, the same year, he enlisted under Colonel Reeves in the Confederate army. He was at the battles of Carthage, Wilson's Creek, Pea Ridge, Iuka, Corinth, Champion Hills and Big Black River. At the last men- tioned fight he was captured by the enemy and taken to Ft. Delaware and thence to Point Lookout, Maryland. Here he was kept six months, and then having been exchanged, he again entered the regular service. He made the trip from Independence, Missouri, to the Red River of the south, in 1864, with neither salt nor bread with his rations. Mr. McGuire was paroled at Alexandria, Louisiana, in July, 1865. After the war he went out on the plains of Nebraska and Dakota, and engaged at teaming for four years. He was in a battle with the Indians in Dakota. Four hun- dred of the savages surrounding the party's camp to which Mr. McGuire belonged, setting fire to the long dry prairie grass, attacked the train and killed four of his comrades, besides wounding and killing stock. Mr. Mc- Guire fortunately escaped without a scratch, and returned to Missouri. He stopped in Kansas City for about a year, and then going to Vernon county, Missouri, was employed herding cattle for about eighteen months. At the expiration of that time he returned to Ray county, Missouri, and has made his home here ever since. Mr. McGuire was married Decem- ber 22, 1870, to Miss Frances Wall, of Ray county, Missouri. They have two children living: James B. and Claude O. Mr. McGuire has mingled much with the world, and is an intelligent, practical minded man, a sub- stantial farmer and an influential citizen.
JEREMIAH H. BRYAN.
Jeremiah H. Bryan is a native of Virginia. He was born in Green county, on the 18th day of December, 1840, and received his education in the schools of Rockingham county, near Harrisburg. He followed farm- ing for awhile, and also taught school for about three years in Virginia. He then learned the carpentering trade, at which he still works at inter- vals. He was a soldier in the army of Virginia, under General Stonewall Jackson, and participated in the following named battles: Second Man- assas, Gettysburg, Antietam, Chancellorsville, Port Republic, Cross Keys,
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