History of Saline County, Missouri, Part 63

Author: Missouri Historical Company, St. Louis, pub
Publication date: 1881
Publisher: St. Louis, Missouri historical company
Number of Pages: 1008

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coupled with a retentive memory that stores whatever of value is to be learned from passing events. In 1847 Mr. Murrell went to New Orleans and engaged in buying horses and selling them to the government for ser- vice in the Mexican war. Three years later he left Kentucky, seeking a location farther west, and traveled the state of Missouri in every direc- tion. Returning to Kentucky in the fall of 1850, he purchased and car- ried south a drove of mules, which he disposed of in the southern markets. Mr. Murrell then went to Louisville, Kentucky, where he bought a stock of dry goods and shipped them to Carrollton, Missouri, without having made any previous arrangement for their delivery, disposition, or stor- age-being unacquainted in Carrollton, and wholly unfamiliar with the mercantile business. He remained at Carrollton through the summer of 1851, selling his goods with profit; becoming dissatisfied with merchan- dising, however, he sold the residue of his stock to a gentleman who had accompanied him from Kentucky, and went to Saline county with the view of buying mules. Hearing of a certain lot of mules for sale, he called on their owner, intending to buy them; instead of doing so, how- ever, he purchased the gentleman's farm, in section 11, township 49, of range 20-the same on which Mr. Murrell now resides. In the winter of 1856 he sold his farm and went to Texas, with the intention of settling in that State. He returned to Missouri, however, the following autumn, and re-purchased the farm he had sold. February, 1859, Mr. Murrell was married to Miss Sophia T. McMahan, of Cooper county, to whom were born three sons: Leonard D., Wm. B. and George A., Jr. The last named lost his life by falling into a well. Mr. Murrell's wife died in 1874, and he has since married Mrs. Sarah M. Thompson, nee Abney. One child, Minnie Sophia, blesses the second union. Of active, ardent temperament, no other calling could have been so congenial to his dispo- sition as that of farming; and, following the bent of his inclination with unyielding, patient endeavor, incited by a laudable ambition, and sustained by a consciousness of his own rectitude of purpose, Mr. Murrell has been amply and handsomely rewarded, as the truly deserving never fail to be. In politics, Mr. Murrell was, up to the war, a democrat. He has not voted for a presidential candidate since 1860, when he cast his ballot for Stephen A. Douglas. While he deprecated civil war, he believed that secession was wrong, and that its toleration would be ruinous to the coun- try. Since that time he has been properly regarded as a republican, though, in truth, he is a member of no party. He upholds what he believes to be right and contributes liberally to whatever, in his opinion, has a tendency to promote the public good, but supports no man merely because he is the "nominee " of a particular political party.

JOSEPH P. WAGNER, M. D., was born in Coshocton county, Ohio, October 20, 1840. When Joseph was quite a small boy his father

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HISTORY OF SALINE COUNTY.

died, leaving him a meager estate, which he wisely elected to appropriate to the purpose of obtaining an education. He attended the common schools of his native county, was also a student at a neighboring seminary, and subsequently at the Ohio Wesleyan University. In 1857, Dr. Wagner left Ohio, to locate in Chamois, Osage county, Missouri. Here he studied medicine with Dr. W. S. McCall. In 1860-1, he attended the St. Louis medical college, at St. Louis, Missouri, and in the spring of the latter year, entered upon the practice of his profession in Chamois, Missouri. He con- tinued to practice in that place until October, 1877, when he moved to Arrow Rock, Saline county, where he now resides, and is favored with an extensive lucrative practice, being known and esteemed as one of the leading physicians of the county, as well as a courteous Christian gentle- man of a generous and obliging disposition. In November, 1861, Dr. Wagner was joined in marriage to Miss Clara R. Lyons, of Chamois. The union was blessed by five children, as follows: Lee, Mattie K., Georgia L., Clara L., and Ona (deceased). Mrs. Wagner, however, is not now among the living. She died in Arrow Rock, in March, 1879. Dr. Wagner has since married Miss S. T. Stratton, of Linn, Missouri. As a representative of Osage county, Dr. Wagner, was a member of the 28th general assembly of Missouri. A good parliamentarian, a ready debater, a fluent, forcible speaker, his rank in that body is easily imag- ined. A man of unflagging energy, of zealous devotion to personal and professional duty, a skillful, vigilant practitioner, Dr. Wagner receives and deserves the moral and material support of those among whoni his lot is cast.

FRANCIS M. HICKERSON. The subject of this sketch is a native of Livingston county, Missouri, and was born August 6, 1841. When the boy was about three years old his father moved to Saline county, and settled on a farm, near the present site of Slater. His literary training is limited to that acquired in the common schools, but, in the fall of 1865, he entered the Ohio Dental College, at Cincinnati, Ohio. After attending a course of lectures, he returned to Missouri, and began the practice of dentistry, at Glasgow, whence, after one year, he moved to Arrow Rock, Saline county, where he has ever since remained, pursuing his profession. Dr. Hickerson was married July 9, 1868, to Miss Sallie Cobb, of Roche- port. They have one child, Mattie. Dr. H. has a good practice, which he justly merits, because he has succeeded. "The test of merit is success."

CARTER M. SUTHERLIN. Michelborough and Sarah Sutherlin, the parents of the subject of this sketch, were natives of Virginia, but, in 1834, emigrated to Missouri, and settled on a farm, in Cooper county. Here, on the 11th day of December, 1836, Carter M. Sutherlin was born. He received such education as the common schools of the neigh- borhood afforded, and in 1851 moved to Arrow Rock, where he embarked

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in the mercantile and commission business, in which he is now (1881) engaged. In May, 1860, Mr. Sutherlin joined the Missouri state guards, in which service he was first lieutenant, in Capt. W. B. Brown's company, till that officer's promotion. when he was elected to succeed him. After six months, Capt. Sutherlin joined the 2d Missouri cavalry, of the Confed- erate army, under command of Col. Robert McCulloch, and was first lieutenant in the company of which George Harper was captain. He was in the first Booneville fight, and also in the engagements of Carthage, Springfield, Lexington, Pea Ridge, Corinth, Holly Springs, Tupelo, Memphis, and the famous Fort Pillow, as well as in all the important battles in east Tennessee and northern Mississippi, in which the 2d Mis- souri cavalry participated. Capt. Sutherlin served throughout the war, and, in May, 1865, received his parole, at Columbus, Mississippi, to return to his home in Arrow Rock, and resume the commission business-deal- ing in grain, groceries, tobacco, etc. In 1874, he was elected county clerk, but resigned in January, 1876. November 30, 1865, Capt. Sutherlin was married to Miss Nannie H. McMahan, of Arrow Rock, a union blessed by three children, as follows: Frank Gaines, Ray Michelborough, and Guy Hunter. A worthy citizen, a true soldier, a generous and obliging gentleman, we take pleasure in paying this tribute to a character deserving a more extended notice than the plan of this work will allow.

LUCIUS J. GAINES was born in Petersburg, Virginia, but came to Missouri about 1854, and taught school for several years in Glasgow, from which town he moved to Arrow Rock and engaged in business, first with D. R. Durrett and afterwards with Capt. C. M. Sutherlin. In response to Gov. Jackson's call for troops for the Confederate service, he joined the "State Guards," and retreated south with Gov. Jackson; was wounded at Carthage. In February, 1862, he joined the 2d Missouri cavalry, and was adjutant to its commander, Col. Robt. McCulloch. In this capacity he continued to serve until he lost his life in the battle of Moscow, Tennessee, in the autumn of 1863. His remains were buried at Holly Springs, Mis- sissippi.

ROBERT W. MCCLELLAND. The subject of this sketch was born in Callaway county, Missouri, December 24, 1835. His parents, Elisha and Elizabeth McClelland, were natives of Bourbon county, Ken- tucky, but about the year 1830, removed to Missouri, and settled in Cal- laway county, on the farm where Robert was born. The boy attended the schools of Rocheport, where he received the rudiments of an educa- tion, afterwards completed at Walnut Grove Academy, in Boone county, and at the University of Virginia. In 1858, he commenced reading medi- cine with Dr. John Wilcox, at Rocheport, and in the fall of the following year, entered the University of Virginia, above mentioned. After the execution of the celebrated John Brown at Harper's Ferry, he returned

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HISTORY OF SALINE COUNTY.

to Missouri, and began the practice of his chosen profession. In the fall of 1861, he entered the Missouri Medical College, in which he took two courses of lectures. During the latter session he was appointed dental surgeon of the college, which position he held till the succeeding winter, discharging its duties with credit to himself and to the faculty. Leaving the Missouri Medical College, he went to Pleasant Green, Cooper county, and re-commenced the practice of medicine. On the 18th of December, 1861, Dr. McClelland was united in marriage to Miss Mattie Phillips, daughter of Judge Hiram and Elizabeth Phillips, and cousin of Col. John F. Phillips, at present (1881) a representative in congress. A daughter, Nora Adella, blesses the union. Dr. McClelland being a sympathizer with the south, and an advocate of the principles for which she took up arms, was elected secretary of the first meeting held in that neighborhood for the purpose of raising troops for the Confederate service, in obedience to a call made by Claiborne F. Jackson, the governor of the state. This was a strong Union neighborhood, largely settled by Germans, all of whom were zealous adherents to the Federal cause; hence the surround- ings were not congenial to one of Dr. McClelland's views. About this tinie a regiment of Confederate recruits was organized, of which Dr. McClelland was elected surgeon. But having been petitioned by a num- ber of the citizens of Bell Air and vicinity, to cast his lot among them, he chose to accept the latter.

Dr. McClelland remained at Bell Air till the fall of 1863. By this time the country had become infested by a class of soldiers, of either army, who had little regard for the property or lives of those who opposed them. Hence the safety of citizens was in constant peril. Especially that of one engaged in the active pursuit of a practicing physician. There- fore, Dr. McClelland accepted the invitation of his aged father-in-law to make the latter's house his home. He remained with his father-in-law, in Boone county, till the spring of 1864, at which time he purchased a farm adjoining Millersburg, in Callaway county, Missouri, and continued thereon till the next spring, when he sold the farm and removed to Arrow Rock, in Saline county, where he continued the practice of his profes- sion, and has ever since resided.

Dr. McClelland has been favored with a large and lucrative practice, to which professional skill, coupled with devotion to duty, justly entitle him. He is known not only as one of the leading physicians of Arrow Rock, but ranks high among the foremost physicians of Missouri. He was appointed by the general assembly a member of the board of phy- sicians to examine the graduating class (1879) of medical students of the state university. On the death of Dr. Arnold, professor of theory and practice, in that institution, he was tendered that chair, by its president

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HISTORY OF SALINE COUNTY.

and board of curators. Preferring an active practice, however, he respectfully declined. A public-spirited gentleman, Dr. McClelland takes great interest in whatever looks to the advancement of society, or to the amelioration of the condition of his fellow-man. Having ever been a fast friend of public enterprise, progressive, energetic, the success he has achieved, as a physician, citizen, and member of society, is not to be won- dered at. In addition to his professional labors, Dr. M. deals in live- stock, and is considerably interested in real estate, owning three farms in Saline, one in Cooper, and one in Gentry county, Missouri. He is now (February, 1881,) in connection with others, actively engaged in further- ing the project of building a railway, to be known as the Hannibal & Southwestern, and to cross the Missouri river at Arrow Rock.

JOHN H. GAINES, P. O., Marshall. Was born in Albemarle county, Virginia, September 15, 1828. The third son of Mortimer D. Gaines, was about seven years old when his father moved west, from Virginia, and settled in Saline county. Most of his education was obtained in this county. His first teacher was David Howard, and the school house, near the present Russell farm, six miles from Arrow Rock, was a log cabin, the interstices in the wall daubed with mud, and the benches composed of split logs with legs put in them -similar to all the school houses of the county at that day. To reach this, John had to walk three miles across the prairie. Science may not have been so advanced in these old school houses as it is in the more imposing ones of the present day, but there was more religion, and somehow their teach- ing resulted in better men. Mr. Gaines lived with his father, off and on, until 1868. About 1555 a quarter section of land, 160 acres, was entered for him by his father, and a hedge planted around it, to which 260 acres was afterward added. In 1862 he went to Canada, and remained there a year, spending some time at Niagara, and in Illinois. In 1863 he returned home, and went with his brother, Dr. Gaines, to Colorado, where he remained until February, 1864, returning to Nebraska City, where he spent some months. In the spring of 1864 he came back to his father's farm, and remained there until 1872, farming with his brother William. In 1872 he moved to his own farm, which he has improved finely, having 420 acres, all under fence, and fenced off into 40-acre fields.

WILLIAM WASHINGTON ALLEN, P. O., Marshall. Was born in Bourbon county, Kentucky, May 17, 1820, where he was raised and educated. His father, Asa Allen, was a native of Virginia, coming, when quite a boy, with his parents, to Bourbon county, Kentucky, where he also was raised and educated. At the age of twenty-three, he was mar- ried to Miss Sallie Duly, born in Clark county, Kentucky, and to them were born nine children, of whom eight are now living, six girls and two boys: Mrs. Mary Ann Ford, Mrs. Elizabeth Kennedy, Mrs. Amanda

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Ammerman, Mrs. Susan Cartrill, Mrs. Ellen Carrick and Mrs. Catherine Coil, John W., and Wm. W. In 1837, his first wife died in Bourbon county, and was buried at Pleasant Green Church. Afterwards, he mar- ried Miss Polly Berry, and by her had one child, a daughter, Mrs. Sallie Petticord. His second wife died in 1840, in Bourbon county, and was buried there. His third wife was Eliza J. Morgan, a native of New Jer- sey, and they have three children, all living, two boys and one girl: Ear- nest, David W. and Mrs. Elvira Anderson. Mr. Allen died September 10, 1856. W.m. Allen, the second son of his father's first wife, lived with his father on the farm, in Bourbon county, Kentucky, untll he was thirty years of age. During the next five years, he lived and farmed for him- self. At the age of thirty-five, he was married to Miss Mary O. Ward, a native of Kentucky, and daughter of C. A. Ward, merchant. They had six children, four of them living, two sons and two daughters: Rubene, Asa W., William C., Georgie B .; all except the last born in Ken- tucky. In the spring of 1867, he moved to Saline county, and lived five years on the place adjoining Marshall, which Judge Strother owns, and where he now resides. Mr. Allen sold 20 acres of this land, at $200 per acre. He also sold to Samuel Boyd, 40 acres, upon part of which the depot now stands-and then traded the balance, 137 acres, for 375 acres, where he now lives, six miles east of Marshall. " He now has a fine farm of 260 acres, all under fence and in cultivation.

JAMES M. DURRETT, P. O., Marshall. Was born in Saline county, Missouri, October 24, 1853, where he was raised, and was edu- cated at Kemper's Academy, Booneville, Missouri. His father, Marshall Durrett, was a native of Virginia, coming to Missouri at about the age of eighteen, and was married to Margaret Garrett. After leaving school, he went home, and with his brother, M. C. Durrett, worked his father's farm, eight miles east of Marshall, on the Marshall and Arrow Rock road. In 1876, he built on his own farm, just north of the old homestead, and moved there, and has lived there since. He owns 180 acres of prai- rie land, and is busily and successfully engaged in farming. He is not yet married, but then he may be any time.

WILLIAM F. GAINES, P. O., Marshall. Mr. Gaines was born in Albemarle county. Virginia, January 13, 1826. His father, M. D. Gaines, was born in Culpepper county, Virginia, and was a farmer there. He was married, January 10, 1822, to Emily Fretwell, a native of Albemarle county, Virginia. They had five children, three of whom are now living, two sons, William F. and John H., and one daughter, Mrs. Matilda L. Piper. Mr. M. D. Gaines is still living; his wife died September 5, 1873, and was buried in the Marshall cemetery. He moved to Saline county in 1835, and first settled seven miles northwest of Arrow Rock, on what is now known as the Dinsmore farm, bringing his negroes from Virginia with

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him. William F., the second son, was about nine years old when his parents moved to Saline county, and recalls very little of the then long, tedious trip. He obtained his education in this county. Until he was married, he attended to his father's business. In 1869, June 3, he was married to Miss M. A. Ingram, a native of Saline, and daughter of James S. Ingram, who was a native of Montgomery county, Virginia, and mar- ried Miss M. J. Gorham, a native of Tennessee. Mrs. Wm. F. Gaines was educated at McGee College during the years 1858-9. They have had four children, three of whom are now living, all girls: Emma, Addie, and Ella. After his marriage, Mr. Gaines moved to a farm entered by his father, eight miles east of Marshall, on which he now resides, owning and farming 320 acres of splendid land. During the war he did not enter the army, his father being so feeble that he was compelled to stay and take care of him.

GEORGE WILLIS, P. O., Orearville. Was born in Orange county, Virginia, June 14, 1834, where he was reared and educated. His father, Joshua Willis, was a native of Madison county, Virginia, and a farmer. He was married to Ara Willis, a native of Culpepper county, Virginia, and daughter of Isaac Willis. They had seven children, five of which are living: Owen T., Benj. F., George, Mrs. Betty T. Lewis and Mrs. Mary Ish. Joshua Willis died and was buried in Culpepper county, Vir- ginia; his wife survived him, died and was buried at Mt. Horeb, in Saline county, in 1865. George, the fourth son, after stopping school, devoted his time to the management of his mother's business on the farm. In the fall of 1857, he, with his mother and family, moved west, settling in Saline county, Missouri, where two of his brothers had already located some years previous. They traveled by land in wagons, and brought some twenty or thirty slaves with them. They first settled on what is now known as the Richard Durrett farm, two miles south of the present city of Slater, where he farmed until 1859. In April, 1859, he was married to Miss Margia Ish, of Saline county, a daughter of W. L. Ish. They have two children: Ortha L. and Etha G .; and in the same year he moved to the farm on which he now resides, five and one-half miles south of Slater, where he owns eighty-eight acres of first-class land. In the fall of 1864, he enlisted in company G, Williams' regiment, Shelby's division, as a pri- vate, and was in the battles of Independence, Big and Little Blue, West- port and near Ft. Scott. He was discharged in 1865, and returned to his farm.

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BLACKWATER TOWNSHIP.

A. H. HANLEY, P. O., Longwood. One of the early settlers of the southern portion of this county; was born in what is now West Virginia, March 8, 1819, where he was raised, and educated in the country schools then in vogue. He came to Missouri in 1840, in company with Mr. C. G. Clark, and settled in this county (both of them) in the vicinity of his present residence. When he started from Virginia he had only $37,37} in cash, and when he landed in Saline, he had just $12 in money, and a moon-eyed pony, with which to make his fortune. Soon after reaching here, he was employed in building a bridge over Blackwater, at the Sheri- dan ford, at fifty cents per day. He worked 148 days, and was thus enabled to get forty acres of land, part of the tract now owned by Mr. J. Q. Bell- wood. He now owns a fine farm of 340 acres of land, well improved, a fine two story house, etc. He borrowed the oxen with which he first plowed his prairie; but the farmers in those times were much more liberal and accommodating than they are at the present day-so Mr. Hanley says, at any rate. His property, which is considerable, is the result of his own energy and perseverance, except, perhaps, one thousand dollars. When Messrs. Hanley and Clark started to Missouri, they made their way to Kanawa in wagons, and by laying in their own provisions, made a con- tract with a boat, by which they reached Cincinnati for six dollars, and from Cincinnati to St. Louis for twenty dollars. Mr. Hanley was mar- ried three times, his last wife being Miss Pheobe E. Claycombe of this county. He is the father of eleven children, eight of them, May E., John C., Virgy, James M., Lillie B., George W., Robert Lee, and Deal, now living. In 1857, he purchased and moved to his present farm, and has proved himself a success.

SAMUEL R. COCKRELL was born in Cooper county, Missouri, December 2, 1850, and came with his parents to Saline county in 1856. He was educated at Westminster College, Fulton, Missouri. In 1870, Mr. Cockrell settled upon his farm in Saline, and commenced the business of farming, and is a young man of steady habits and good business qual- ifications, making a successful farmer and stock-raiser. After the death of Mr. R. V. Harvey, Mr. Cockrell purchased his farm, and there, with a young and charming wife, to whom he was married in September, 1880, and surrounded by all the comforts of life, he has a happy future before him.

F. M. STOTTS. The subject of this sketch was born in Pettis county, Missouri, April 3, 1851, and received his education at the college at Georgetown, Missouri. In the year 1875, he quit farming, and engaged in merchandising at Ridge Prairie. On the 12th of June, 1876, Mr. Stotts was married to Miss Mary Swank, of Mississippi county, Missouri.

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He has made merchandising a success, and as he has purchased property and built a large store-room in the village, he may now be considered permanently settled, and his urbanity and strict attention to business, has won for him the respect and patronage of the people.

RICHARD W. NICOLDS was born in Howard county, Missouri, in 1831, and hence is now fifty years of age. He was raised in Howard county, and educated at the old Howard high school in Fayette. In 1857 he was married to Miss Sallie A. Hurt, of Saline county, and moved to Saline at the close of the war, in 1865. Mr. Nicolds was present at the first Booneville fight, having joined the state guard, under Price. In December, 1861, he was captured with Frank Robertson's regiment, at Blackwater, and sent first to McDowell's College, St. Louis, and then to the Alton, Illinois, prison. He was a prisoner nine months, and then exchanged at Vicksburg. He then rejoined the Confederate army, and surrendered at the close of the war, at Shreveport, Louisiana. Since the war Mr. Nicolds has resided in Saline county, and has taken an active part in the politics of the county.

RICHARD MARSHALL, pioneer, was born in Albemarle county, Virgiaia, in the year 1790, and was one of the pioneers of Saline county. At the early age of eighteen, he was married to Miss Elizabeth Rhodes, of Virginia, and in the fall of 1822, he immigrated to Missouri, landing in Howard county, on Christmas day of that year. In the spring of 1823, he lost his wife, by whom he had had seven children, only two of whom are now living. In the summer of 1824, he married Miss Jane Gwin, by whom he had eight children, only three of whom are now living: Joseph, James M. and Mrs. Mary J. Thorp. In the year 1825, Mr. Marshall entered land in Saline county, upon which he settled during the succeed- ing year, and upon which he remained until his death, which occurred at his residence, March 26,1872. Mr. Marshall came to this county, in mod- erate circumstances, but he became a large and successful farmer and stock raiser, and died one of the wealthy men of Saline county. Mr. Marshall was an honest man, and stood high for his honor and integrity, wherever known.

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History of Saline County, Missouri, Part 63

Author: Missouri Historical Company, St. Louis, pub Publication date: 1881 Publisher: St. Louis, Missouri historical company Number of Pages: 1008

Author: Missouri Historical Company, St. Louis, pub
Publication date: 1881
Publisher: St. Louis, Missouri historical company
Number of Pages: 1008