USA > Missouri > Saline County > History of Saline County, Missouri > Part 59
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JEREMIAH JOHNSON, P. O., Arrow Rock. The subject of this sketch was born in Howard county, Missouri, March 11, 1820, and there are few men living in Saline county who were born in Missouri, and are as old as he. His parents, Dabney and Elizabeth Johnson, were natives of Virginia, and moved to Missouri in 1815, and settled in Howard
county. His father was a soldier in the war of 1812, and died in 1835. His mother died in 1860, at a very advanced age. When Mr. Johnson was four years old his father moved to Jackson county, and engaged in farming. He was raised there on the farm, and educated in the country schools. In 1837 he went to the Platte purchase, and lived in Platte county twenty-seven years, farming. In 1856-7 he went to Kansas, then returned to Platte. In 1865 he moved to Illinois, lived there two years, and then returned to Missouri, and settled in Saline county, near Arrow Rock, where he has since resided, engaged in farming, which he has fol- lowed all his life, up to one year ago, when he moved to Arrow Rock, Feb- ruary, 1880, where he is now living. In 1839 Mr. Johnson was married to Miss Amanda Simpson, of Platte township, who was a native of Tennessee. They have had six children, of whom only two, Dabney and Benton, are now living, and these two are twins. Mrs. Johnson died on the 27th of July, 1880. Mr. Johnson is honored and respected by all who know him, and is marshal of the town of Arrow Rock,
WILLIAM DAVIS, P. O., Marshall. Was born in Augusta county. Virginia, May 21, 1821. When he was still quite young, his parents moved to Howard county, Missouri, where he was raised aud educated.
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HISTORY OF SALINE COUNTY.
At the age of 21, he studied law with Judge Napton, studying at home, and the judge examining him two or three times a week. At the age of 23, he was admitted to the bar in Marshall, and practiced his profession in this county for about five years. February 1, 1844, he was married to Miss Nancy H. Brown, daughter of Judge Bernis Brown. They had seven children, of whom six are living-Bernis B., Wycliff, Walton, Mrs. Mary J. Harvey, Mrs. Willie Odell, and Mrs. Lizzie M. Gregory. William Davis and his wife were divorced in 1864, Mrs. Davis bringing the suit, habitual drunkenness being the alleged cause of action. Mrs. Davis and her children are living on a fine farm of 200 acres of choice land. Her father came to Missouri in 1828, and settled in Saline on what is now known as the E. W. Brown farm. He was a practical surveyor. For several years he was county surveyor, and laid off the town of Mar- shall.
N. H. LEWIS, farmer, P. O., Napton. The subject of this sketch was born in Albemarle county, Virginia, in 1827, moved to Missouri, with his father's family, in 1834, and was reared in Cooper county. In 1846 he enlisted in the 1st Missouri Mounted Volunteers, and under Col. Doniphan, accompanied the regiment to Chihuahua, and was en- gaged in the battles of Bracito and Sacramento, and assisted in taking the first piece of artillery captured at the Bracito. In the spring of 1849, Mr. Lewis went to California across the Plains, taking three months to make the trip. He mined for two years, and then returned home, and concluded to settle down. In the spring of 1852, he was married to Miss Lucy Thompson, of Cooper county, and lived in Cooper until the spring of 1860, when he moved to Saline. They have had four children, two of whom are living. When the war broke out Mr. Lewis was a constitu- tional Union man, and refused a colonel's commission under Gen. Par- sons, with whom he had formerly served in the Mexican war. The pressure of events was too much for him, however, and he started south with Robertson's regiment of recruits, and was captured at Blackwater, imprisoned at St. Louis, and then at Alton, where the provost marshal took the oath for him (?) and he came home. Mr. Lewis is a member of the Baptist Church, of Arrow Rock, and is a member of the Grange.
DR. W. G. FISHER, physician and surgeon, P. O., Napton. Dr. Fisher was born at Napton, (then Jonesboro) in Saline county, February 10, 1845. His parents were from Virginia, and his father died of cholera in 1854, contracted while in St. Louis, purchasing machinery for a mill to be erected at Jonesboro. Dr. Fisher was educated at the Kemper high school, in Booneville, and graduated at the St. Louis Medical College, in 1866. Since then he has practiced his profession at Jonesboro (now Nap- ton) in this county. He was married November 16, 1870, to Miss
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Mary Field, daughter of Col. Joseph Field, of this county. They have three children: William Field, Mabel Evangeline and Nadine, all living. Dr. Fisher is the only physician at Napton, and has a large and paying practice.
PHILIP LEININGER, farmer and blacksmith, P. O. Napton. Mr. Leninger was born in Landshutt, Germany, in the year 1836. Ran away from home and came to America in 1856, and in 1857 located at Jonesboro, Saline county, Missouri, where he has lived ever since, running the only blacksmith's shop in Jonesboro (now Napton). In 1862, he and C. Q. Lewis, built at Jonesboro, a steam mill of two run of stone, and two card- ing machines, and also a saw-mill in connection, which they operated for seven years, when the whole was destroyed by fire. In December, 1861, being a southern man in sentiment, Mr. Leininger joined the Confederate recruits from Saline, under Robertson, and with them was captured at Blackwater, December 19, 1861, and was taken with the rest of the pris- oners, first to St. Louis, then to the Alton penitentiary. In the spring of 1862 was released on oath, and returned home to Jonesboro. Mr. Leininger is an old bachelor, and by his own unaided efforts has made all he has-quite a large estate.
WILLIAM H. MORRIS, P. O., Napton. Is a merchant, and owns the only store in the town of Jonesboro, and was born in Moniteau county, Missouri, in 1851; lived there until 1864. Since then he has been engaged in farming and school teaching in this county, until a short time ago, when he went into business in Jonesboro, with a good stock of general merchandise. In 1873, he married Miss Gertrude Springer, daughter of John Springer, of Pettis county, and has three children -Oliver L., Car- rie M., and Mabel C. Mr. Morris is a member of the Zoar Baptist Church. He has only recently entered the mercantile business, but keeps a first-class country assortment.
GEORGE W. GILMER, farmer, P. O., Marshall. Born in Greene county, Kentucky, April 23, 1832. He was about two years old when his father, John Gilmer, moved with his family to Saline county. He was raised on a farm, educated in the common schools. In 1850, he had a severe attack of the "gold fever," which carried him off to California, where he remained for six months, meeting with success in mining. Returning home in 1861, he enlisted in the Confederate army, Gen. Price's command, Capt. Brown's company, Marmaduke's regiment. In 1862, he was transferred to Gen. Armstrong's command, east of the Mississippi river. He participated in the following battles: Booneville, Springfield, Wilson Creek, Carthage, Dry Wood, Lexington, Cove Creek, Pea Ridge, Corinth, Jackson, Bolivar, Holly Springs. Afterwards he was with Gen. Forrest when he engaged in the battle of Fort Pillow, where he was wounded in the leg with a minnie ball, which laid him up for six weeks.
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He was wounded the second time, in the shoulder, at a battle which occurred on the Mobile & Ohio railroad, at Guntown. After this he was promoted to the rank of third lieutenant, in which capacity he served till the close of the war, coming home with a good record. In 1873, he bought the farm, of 120 acres, upon which he now resides.
CHAS. H. BRADFORD, farmer and stock-raiser, P. O., Napton. Born in Arrow Rock, Saline county, June 13, 1845. He is the second child of C. M. Bradford. His early education was obtained in Arrow Rock. In 1858 he went to the St. Louis University, spending two years there. At
St. John's College, Fordham, Westchester county, N. Y., he spent two years, being obliged to leave the latter place on account of the sickness of his father. In 1863 he went to Poughkeepsie, N. Y., where he spent one year at the Mill. Institute, completing his education. Returning home, he settled upon a farm near Arrow Rock, where he resided for eleven years. In 1878 he removed to the farm where he now resides, situated eight miles west of Arrow Rock. His farm consists of 120 acres of very fine, tillable land. He was married to Susan L. Smith, daughter of Thos. Smith, a native of Cooper county. They have three children, two boys and a girl: Charlie E., Thomas G., and Helen L.
SAMUEL H. KENNEDY, farmer and miller, P. O. Napton. Born in Davidson county, North Carolina, in September 4, 1828. His father, Bryson Kennedy, was a native of South Carolina. He married Lydia Teague, by whom he had seven children, five now living, all boys: A. J., Moses E., Joseph, Jacob and Samuel. Bryson came to Saline county in the fall of 1865 and died in July, 1869. He was buried at Jones- boro. His wife died during the war and was buried in North Carolina. Samuel H., the second child, was educated at Salem, North Carolina, in the common schools and also at the high school. In 1850 he came to Lafayette county, Missouri, and settled at Lexington, where he engaged in milling. He did a flourishing business, his patronage extending within a radius of fifty miles. In February, 1852, he was married to Rebecca A. Wilburn, a native of Indiana, and a daughter of Philip Wilburn, Esq . They have eight children, five boys and three girls, all living: Alonzo, William, Samuel H., Jr., Stonewall, Leslie H., Emma Crutches, Kate Thorpe and Annie. His first wife died in March, 1866, and was buried at Jonesboro. He afterward married Mrs. M. Hicks, widow of Dr. Hicks, of Kentucky. They have two children, one boy and one girl: Percy and Mollie. In 1857 he moved to Saline county, where he was engaged in milling for three years. He afterwards turned his attention to farming and stock-raising, and has continued in the same business up to the pres- ent time. He is a member of the Baptist church, at Zoar.
JOHN S. STAPLES, P. O., Arrow Rock, stock raiser and farmer. Born in Henry county Virginia, December 4, 1828. At the age of eleven
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HISTORY OF SALINE COUNTY.
years, came to Saline county, Missouri, with his father, James Staples. He was educated in the commercial schools of said county. In 1861, he enlisted in the Confederate army, under Gen. Price, in Capt. Wm. Brown's company, Col. Bob Woods' regiment, Gen. Shelby's division. He participated in the following battles: Booneville, Lexington, and Dry Wood. At the end of six months he came home. In 1864, he re-en- listed under Gen. Price, in Capt. Thos. Woodson's company, Col. Bob Woods' battalion, where he served until the end of the war. On the 31st of October, 1865, he was married to Martha C. Lakin, a native of Cooper county, and daughter of Thos. Lakin, who was killed by the militia. Their union was blessed with three children, two of whom are now living: Wm. C., and John Henry. He is the possessor of a fine farm of 200 acres, which was given him by his father, and upon which he has resided since 1866.
JAMES K. STAPLES, farmer, P. O., Arrow Rock. Born in Cooper county, February 26, 1845. His uncle, James Staples, was a native of Virginia, and came to Missouri in 1839. In 1840, came to Saline county, where he entered the tract of land where he and his nephew now reside. James K.'s father, Joseph, was a native of Henry county, Virginia. He was married to Elizabeth A. Poindexter, December 21, 1825. They became the parents of seven children, six of whom are now living. He brought his family to Cooper county, Missouri, in 1835. Joseph Staples died May 28, 1859. His wife died February 27, 1863. Both lie buried in Cooper county. James K., the sixth child, was educated in the com- mon schools of Cooper county. In October, 1864, he enlisted in the Con- federate army under Gen. Price, in Capt. Pool's company. Afterward he was transferred to Capt. Woodson's company, Gen. Shelby's division, Col. Wood's batalion. He served until the close of the war. November 12, 1867, he was married to his cousin, Ruth Staples, daughter of James Staples. They have two children, both living, Alonzo and James Joseph. In the year of his marriage he moved to Saline county, where he now resides.
JAMES THORNTON, farmer and stock-raiser, P. O., Arrow Rock. Born in Howard county, Missouri, March 13, 1827. His father, Peter Thornton, was born in Virginia, 1779. He married for his first wife Mary Miller, January 20, 1802, by whom he had five children, all deceased. He moved to Howard county, and married Elizabeth Snyder, September 16, 1824. They had one child, James. Peter Thornton moved to Saline county in 1830, and settled on the farm where his son James now resides. His wife died July 6, 1857, and he followed her Feb- ruary 5, 1860. They are both buried on the home place. James, the only child, was educated in the common schools of Saline county. He was first married to Amanda M. Bridgewater, November 21, 1544. They
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had five children, three of whom are now living, two boys and one girl: William D., Emma E. Crockett and James C. His first wife died May 26, 1863, and was buried in the family graveyard. He was married again August 1, 1865, to Eliza E. Talbott, daughter of Rev. N. M. Tal- bott. They have six children, all living, three boys and three girls: Susan J., Frances E., Nathaniel P., Luraney D., Edward F. and Henry B. He owns 300 acres of splendid land. Is engaged in farming and stock-raising. In 1864, he enlisted as private in the Confederate army, under Gen. Price, in Capt. Divers' company, Col. Wood's battalion, Gen. Shelby's division. Was in the following battles: Lexington, Blues, Independence, Newtonia and Little Osage, where Gen. Marmaduke was captured. In the battle of Independence he had a very narrow escape. He was ordered to dismount and advance ten paces to the front. His regiment was ordered to form on him. Just then the enemy made a flank movement, and his colonel ordered the regiment to retreat. Mr. Thornton, with two of his comrades, did not hear the order, and when the regiment fell back, they were left alone to receive the fire of 300 Fed- erals. They, however, miraculously escaped without a scratch. In the fall of 1872, he was elected county assessor of Saline county. In 1874, he was re-elected, serving two terms with credit to himself and his county. He has been an honored member of the Baptist Church since the age of twelve years.
CHARLES S. FETTERS, coal miner, P. O., Arrow Rock. Born in Clinton county, Ohio, August 24, 1850. Came to Saline county in 1875. Was married to Martha Harrel, a native of Kentucky, in March, 1878. He discovered the celebrated cannel coal on the farm of W. B. Sappington. It is a fine vein of nineteen feet in thickness. The bitu- minous coal underlying it is forty feet in depth. He is now working a bituminous vein in the north part of section 8, township 49, range 19, the thickness of which is about eight feet.
HENRY CROUCH, brick-mason and farmer, P. O., Arrow Rock. Born in county of Kent, England, August 8, 1839. His father, Edward Crouch, was was born in England, 1800. Was married to Jane Brisley. They had five children, three boys and two grls, all living: John, Henry, William, Annie, and Jane. Edward Crouch still lives in England. His wife died December 23, 1880, and was buried in the county of Kent. Henry the second sou, was educated in the common schools. Was married to Mary A. Leach, a native of England, June 9, 1860. They have four children, all living, three girls and one boy: Agnes, Ellen, Edith, and Bernard. In 1871, May 15, he landed at New York. He came to Saline City, Saline county, Missouri, July 12th, 1871, where he followed his trade for two years. In 1879 he bought the farm where
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he now resides, ten miles east of Marshall. He is energetic and indus- trious, and is gradually accumulating a handsome property.
EDWIN CROCKETT, P. O., Marshall. Born in Rockland, Maine, February 20, 1829. His father, James Crockett, was born in Maine, April 9, 1798. On the 10th of January, 1822, he was married to Mary Haskell, a daughter of an old revolutionary soldier. They had eleven children, six of whom are now living, four girls and two boys: Edwin, Edward, Annie, Amanda, Celia, Marian E. About the year 1831, James Crockett moved with his family to Seneca county, Ohio, where he died in the autumn of 1873. His wife died in the spring of the same year. Both lie buried in said county. During his early life, he followed the sea. While living in Ohio, he engaged in agricultural pursuits. Edwin Crockett, the fifth child, was raised on a farm. During youth, he attended the common schools. At an early age he graduated at an academy in the town of Republic, Thomas Harvey, principal. At the age of 23, he had a severe attack of the "gold fever," which carried him off to Cali- fornia, overland route, where he remained six years, engaged in mining. While here he was moderately successful. From here he went to Frazer river, Dominion of Canada, where he remained two years, mining. Next we find him on the border, mining and trading during one summer. From here he went to Washington territory, where he lived for six months during the winter of 1860-61, engaged in splitting rails. He next went to Idaho, being among the first to enter that territory. With four others, he invested $7,000 in a mine, which yielded them $23,000, a handsome profit. He then went back to Ohio. On the 26th of May, 1862, he was married to Miss Jessie, daughter of Thomas Reed, a Scotch- man, from the county of Ayr. They have a family of seven children, all living, five boys and two girls: Thomas, Josiah, James, Edward, Charles, Marion, and Mary. In 1863, he volunteered as a private in company G, 65th New York infantry. He was engaged in the following battles: Wil- derness, in the eight days' fight, beginning there and ending at Spottsyl- vania; Cold Harbor, Petersburg, Washington, Shenandoah Valley. He was wounded at Cedar creek, and was taken to the hospital at York, where he remained six months. He returned to the service in time to engage in the battle of Richmond, after which he returned home. He lived in Henry county, Ohio, engaged in farming, until February, 1880, when he moved to Saline county, Missouri, and settled on the farm where he now resides, nine miles east of Marshall, on the Arrow Rock road. His farm consists of 226 acres of very fine land.
ELIHU GREEN, farmer, P. O. Marshall. Born in Howard county, Missouri, September 16, 1828. His father, Samuel H., was a native of Estelle county, Kentucky, born in 1797. He married Elizabeth McKin-
35
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ney, by whom he had ten children, eight of whom are now living. He came to Saline county at an early day, and settled on a tract of land about one and one-fourth miles west of Arrow Rock, now known as the " Green farm." He died in 1871 and was buried at the Arrow Rock cemetery. His wife is still living. Elihu, the second son, was educated in Saline county, at the public schools. In 1849 he was married to Emily C. Rumins. They became parents of ten children, nine of whom are now living six sons and three daughters: John H., Samuel H., Stephen E., Elihu H., Abram E., Thomas W., Susan Elizabeth, Wilmoth Ann, Elna J. His wife died in 1877 and was buried at Napton. In 1851 he purchased a farm, lying about eight miles west of Arrow Rock, and consisting of eighty acres of very fine farming land, which by pru- dence and good management he has since increased to 103. In 1862 he enlisted in Captain Bingham's company, Seventy-first regiment, E. M. M. In 1864 he was discharged on account of disability.
CYRUS A. KIRTLEY, farmer and justice of the peace, P. O., Mar- shall. Born in Livingston county, Missouri, August 22, 1841. His father, Asa F., was a native of Kentucky. Came to Saline county in 1839. In 1840 he moved to Livingston county, where he remained until 1867, moving from there to Lafayette county. His first wife was Miss Mary B. Rogers, by whom he had eight sons, six now living. His wife died Feb- ruary 24, 1854. In 1857 he married Mrs. M. Herndon, by whom he had three children, two of whom are living. C. A. Kirtley, the fourth child by his father's first wife, completed his education at Carrollton Seminary, in 1858. In 1861 he came to Saline county. May 28th, he enlisted in Captain Crew's company, Missouri State Guard. While in this service he was in the following battles: Booneville, Carthage, Wilson Creek, Dry Wood and Lexington. In November he enlisted for three years or the war. He entered Captain G. R. Kirtley's company, Jo Shelby's regi -. ment, under Gen. Marmaduke. He participated in all of the battles in which his command was engaged. He was wounded twice and captured at Linn Prairie. He killed his guard with a secreted derringer and suc- ceeded in making his escape. At the close of the war he returned to Sa- line county. October 24, 1866, he married Mattie A. Huey, a native of Boone county, Kentucky. They have had seven children, five of whom are now living, two sons and three daughters: Russell A., Mary K., Mat- tie C., Nora C. and Robert L. From 1866 to 1872 he was engaged in farm- ing and milling. In 1876 he bought the farm on which he now resides, consisting of 200 acres of raw prairie, which, under his skillful manage- ment, has become one of the finest farms in the county. During the years of 1877, '78, '79 and '80, he sold produce to the amount of $6,299; raised and marketed at an expense of $1,100, realizing a handsome profit of over $5,000. In 1878 he was elected justice of the peace for Arrow
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Rock township, which office he still holds. Sixty-seven different cases have been brought before him, and in none of them has there been an appeal from his decision. Since 1858 he has been a member of the Baptist church.
JOHN SWINNEY, P. O., Arrow Rock. Was born in Bedford county, Virginia, January 28, 1816. His father, William Swinney, was born in Buckingham county, Virginia, and was married to Sarah John- son, also a native of Virginia. They had three children, two girls and one boy, only one of them living now: John. William moved to Wilson county, Tennessee, with his family, engaged in raising tobacco, and died August 29, 1855. John lived in Tennessee until, 1838, when he moved to Posey county, Indiana. In 1857, he was married to Celia Hambleton, who died and was buried in Posey county in 1840. In October, 1846, he married Miss Maria French, a native of Indiana. Her father was born in Hopkins county, Kentucky, and was one of the first settlers of Indiana. John Swinney and his second wife have had twelve children, ten of them now living: Wm. D., John T., Lardner C., Loyd E., James T., Lenora, Mary Senter, Emma, Esther Morris, and Ann. Mr. Swinney lived fifteen years in Indiana, and in 1856 moved to Polk county, Missouri, but not liking that county, he moved to Chariton county, and lived there about eight years, tobacco farming. In the spring of 1865, he moved to Illinois, and lived there twelve years, and then purchased the farm in this county, on which he now resides, containing 152 acres of excellent tobacco land.
ROBERT EMMETT BEAZLEY, P. O., Arrow Rock. Mr. R. Beazley was born in Culpepper county, Virginia, March 5, 1834. His father, Charles Beazley, was a native of the same county, and was mar- ried to Lucy Randall, also a native of Virginia. They have had eight children, five now living: Mrs. M. E. Sidenstriker, Mrs. Sarah J. Levy, Mrs. C. Clemmens, Mrs. Martha Harris, and Robert E. In 1842 he moved from Virginia west, and settled in Saline county, in what is at present Liberty township. He then purchased a farm near Arrow Rock, and there settled. In June, 1862 he died, and was buried at the Arrow Rock cemetery. In 1838 his wife died and was buried in Vir- ginia. Robert E., the eldest son, was raised and educated as a farmer in Saline county. September, 1861, he was married to Lucy Fenwick, a native of Cooper county. They have had ten children, six of them now living: Minnie, Pettis, Maud, Nellie, Jesse, and Emmet. While con- fined with a spell of pleurisy, one night in 1860, he got out of bed and (unconscious of the act) left the house, and wandered off several miles. The weather was so cold that his feet were frozen, and had to be ampu- tated. In 1861 he went to Texas, and stayed there until 1865, teaming. After the war he came home, and lived on his farm near Arrow Rock. In 1880 he ran for constable of Arrow Rock township, and the election
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was a tie. The election was held over, and Mr. Beazley received a unanimous vote, his opponent refusing to run against him.
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