History of Saline County, Missouri, Part 66

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

USA > Missouri > Saline County > History of Saline County, Missouri > Part 66

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WILLIAM PHILIP CASEBOLT, P. O., Slater. Mr. W. P. Case- bolt, postmaster of Slater, was born February 15, 1842, in Pocahontas county, Virginia. His father, William Casebolt, was a native of Poca- hontas county, Virginia, and his mother, Mrs. Ellen Casebolt, formerly Lowe, a native of Braxton county, Virginia. He came to Saline county, Missouri, with his parents, in 1844, and settled near Miami, where he was educated. At the age of seventeen years, he engaged as clerk in a general store in Carrollton, Missouri. In the year 1865, he moved to Vienna, Maries county, Missouri, and engaged in business. March 4, 1868, he married Miss Roberta Anderson, daughter of Thomas and Mira Anderson, of Tennessee. Two children were born to them, and both died very young. Mrs. Casebolt died on the 13th of February, 1873. In March, 1875, he opened a general store at Petra postoffice, Saline county, and in 1876, was appointed postmaster. In September, 1878, he removed to Slater, continuing as postmaster, and his business, and building the first store-house, southwest corner of Main and Front streets, which was burnt in January, 1881. In the summer of 1879, he disposed of his mer- cantile stock, and has since given his entire attention to the duties of the postoffice. In 1879, he built a two-story brick building, with metal roof, on the east side of Main street. Mr. Casebolt was one of the first citizens of the present city of Slater, and has aided not a little, by his energy and enterprise, in its rapid growth, Mr. Casebolt was married, December 25, 1879, to Miss Celia Helen Graves, daughter of the late Edward D. Graves and Martha Ann Graves, formerly Garnett, of this county.

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He was a member of the first town council of Slater, and is a member of the present council.

JAMES W. HUGHES, P. O., Cambridge. Son of W. and Sallie Hughes; was born in Davis county, Iowa, December 8, 1850. He was moved by his parents, first to Macon county, Missouri, then back to Iowa, then to Hannibal, Missouri, in 1863, where he was employed in the rail- road machine shops for five years. He then moved to Macon county; then to Howard county, where he farmed for four years. In 1875 he came to this county, and was, for a time, engaged in operating a saw-mill, but is at present running a well-known Cambridge flouring mill. On the 17th of November, 1868, he was married to Miss Emma Semmons, and has one son and one daughter. Mr. Hughes stands high in his commun- ity as a christian gentleman.

JOHN B. COLLINS, P. O., Cambridge. Son of Lewis P. and Emily J. Collins; was born in Glasgow, Howard county, Missouri, February 1, 1849, and lived there until 1854, when he came with his parents over to this county. In 1865 he moved to Indiana, but returned in 1868, and the next year, 1869, went to Atchison. In 1871 he returned to Saline to stay permanently. Married Miss Amanda Croff August 10, 1873, and has three children, born as follows: Margaret L., born October 18, 1874; Lucy J., born December 23, 1876; Sarah A., born August 12, 1878. In connection with his farm, Mr. Collins is running a flouring mill.

JAMES W. THOMPSON, P. O., Cambridge. Son of Jacob and Martha Thompson, was born in Owen county, Kentucky, January 28, 1845. He moved to Lewis county, Missouri, remained there until 1874, when he went to Texas, and stayed there about eight months. He then returned to this state, and settled in this county. On the 18th of November, 1864, he was married to Miss Georgia Williams, and has one son, and two daughters. While in Kentucky he joined the Confederate cavalry leader, Gen. John Morgan. Mr. Thompson is an experienced farmer, and has a fine farm in Saline.

HARVEY BALLOU, P. O., Cambridge. Son of Linsey and Marina Ballou, was born in Wayne county, Kentucky January 29, 1844, and about 1849 come with his parents to Missouri, and in 1851 to Illinois, and back to Missouri in 1859, where he remained until 1873. He then went to California, and in 1878 to Chariton county, Missouri; and in 1881, came to this county, which, he proposes to make his permanent home. On the 28th of January, 1865, he was married to Miss Sarah Jaques, and has four children-three sons and one daughter. He is a stone-cutter by trade, but is now giving his entire attention to farming.

GEORGE W. SHUMATE, P. O., Cambridge. Son of James and Jane Shumate, was born in Fauquier county, Va., October 6, 1822, and moved to Knox county, Ohio, and to Marion county, Missouri, in 1837;

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thence to Lewis county: thence to Clark county; and from Clark back again to Lewis county; in 1868 he moved to this county and went to farm- ing and dealing in stock. On the 1st of March, 1849, he married Miss Hannah Dale, of Lewis county, Missouri, and has five sons and three daughters. He is a carpenter by trade, but has not worked at his trade since he has lived in Saline county.

JAMES R. MEYERS, P. O., Cambridge. Mr. Meyers is a son of John W. and Elizabeth Meyers, and was born in Howard county, Mis- souri, December 19, 1826. When about twenty years of age, in 1847, he went to the Mexican war, and returned home in 1848. In 1852, he went to California, with Gov. Bradley, of Nevada, with a drove of cattle. Returned to Howard county, in 1853; and, in 1855, went to Kansas, and stayed there until the fall of 1857. From that time until 1859, he was route and mail agent on the North Missouri railroad. He then returned to farming, in Howard county, and there joined the M. S. G., on Gov. Jackson's call, in 1861, in Capt. Major's company, Col. Clark's regiment, then enlisted in the Confederate army, and served until the end, in 1865, and came home without discharge or surrender. Was engaged in the following battles: Lexington, first and second, Pea Ridge, Booneville, Drywood, etc., etc. Was sent to Mexico, in 1863, to procure ammunition. After the close of the war, he moved to Saline county, and engaged in farming. On the 22d of March, 1877, he was married to Miss Mattie F. Lessley, and has one child, born'January 15, 1878.

CAPT. RICHARD D. RICHARDSON, P. O., Gilliam. Capt. Richardson was born in Albemarle county, Virginia, February 19, 1812, and lived there until he was twenty-seven years of age. In the year 1839, he came to Missouri, and settled in this county, and engaged in farming and stock-raising. In 1845, he was elected to the office of justice of the peace by a large majority, and filled the office to the satisfaction of his constituents, and with honor to himself. In June, 1841, he married Miss Maria Brown, daughter of Judge Bernis Brown, and has seven children, three boys and four girls. Has also eleven grandchildren. Capt. Rich- ardson has been living in this county for forty-two years, and has devoted all of that time to farming and stock-raising and feeding, except a short time in 1877, which was occupied in merchandising in the town of Gilliam. His farm, on which he now lives, is located about two miles from Cambridge, and is one of the finest in the county. He also owns several other valuable tracts in this county.

WILLIAM M. WILHITE, P. O., Cambridge. Was born, August 4, 1837, in Saline county, Missouri, and is son of James and Charity Wilhite, two of the oldest settlers in this county, his father having reached the age of eighty-five years. He was raised as a farmer, but in the year 1873, he concluded to try the mercantile business, and opened a

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grocery store in Arrow Rock. He continued in this line until 1877, when he sold out, and returned to his farm, where he expects to pass the remain- de: of his days. On the 6th of February, 1862, he was married to Miss Mary F. Morrison. No children have blessed their union.

FREDRICK A. BRIGHTWELL, P. O., Cambridge. Mr. Brightwell was born in Prince Edward county, Virginia, on the 11th of June, 1812, and came to this county from Virginia, in an ox wagon, in 1837, and taught school for about two years. In the spring of 1839, he moved to Howard county, and clerked in a store in Glasgow, and afterwards sold goods on his own account until the year 1844. He then returned to Saline county, and was the first post-master in Cambridge, and had the honor of giving that town its name. He sold goods in Cambridge, for some years, and suffered greatly from the overflow of 1844, in his gen- erous efforts to assist those who lost their all in the waters. On the 15th of January, 1848, he married Miss Elizabeth Reynolds, and had four children, two boys and two girls. After the death of his first wife he married the second time-this time to Mrs. Mary J. Baker, of Hanover county, Virginia, and widow of a confederate soldier, killed at the battle of Pea Ridge. By this marriage he has two children, one boy and one girl. At present Mr. Brightwell is occupied in farming, his farm lying between Cambridge and Gilliam station.

BOWLING W. SWINNEY, P. O., Cambridge. Was born in Camp- bell county, Virginia, on the 26th of June, 1832, where he was raised, and was occupied with farming until August, 1858. In that year he came to Missouri, and located in Fayette, Howard county, and was there employed as salesman in a dry goods store, the rest of the year. He then went into the tobacco business. Leaving Howard, he crossed the river, and located in Cambridge, Saline county, and engaged as clerk for L. H. & T. C. Duggins, general merchants, in Cambridge. In 1861, he returned to Howard, and for eight years was occupied there in farming. He then came back to this county, and established himself as a farmer here. On the 25th of November, 1857, he was married to Miss Maria L. Burroughs, of Campbell county,Virginia. To this union were born four children: Thomas M., born in January, 1865; Emma M., born January 16, 1870; Mary A., born in March, 1875, and Joseph B., born January 7, 1877. His means were small when he came to Missouri, but by industry and good management he has acquired a handsome property.

JOHN E. BROUGHMAN, P. O., Cambridge. Was born in Botelot county, Virginia, and thinks he is about fifty-five years of age, but has no means of positive knowledge. He moved to Missouri in the fall of 1858, and settled in Saline county. On the first day of September, 1858, he was married to Miss Elizabeth Turpin, a native of Rockbridge county, Virginia, and has three children, two boys and one girl. Mr. Broughman

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is a carpenter by trade, and worked at his trade two years after coming to Saline. Since then he has been engaged in farming and stock-raising, and has been very successful in his operations.

MERRILL HUGHES, P. O., Cambridge. Was born in Madison county, Kentucky, November 13, 1846, and lived there until he was twenty- one years of age. In 1867 he moved to the State of Illinois and located in McClean county, and farmed there until the year 1879, when he moved to Missouri, and settled in Saline county and engaged in farming, and in carrying the mail from Cambridge to Slater. He was married in Ken- tucky to Miss Angeline Howard, on the 29th day of March, 1866, and has eight children, six boys and two girls. Mr. Hughes is energetic and prompt in all his business transactions, and enjoys the esteem and confi- dence of all who know him.

EDMUND J. DUNLAP, P. O., Cambridge. The subject of the following sketch was born in this county, January 28, 1854, and was edu- cated at Miami. His father, Dr. John M. Dunlap, was a native of Vir- ginia, and moved to this state when quite young. The subject of this sketch begun the drug business in Malta Bend, in this county, in the spring of 1875, and in the fall of the same year sold out and moved to Cambridge, where he engaged in the drug trade, and is at the present time doing a lucrative business, and has the respect and esteem of all who know him.

JAMES P. DUNCAN, P. O., Cambridge. Was born in Logan county, Kentucky, on the 19th of February, 1831. About the year 1837 he moved to Missouri with his parents, Benj. F. and Sarah A. Duncan, and settled in Howard county, where they lived about five years. In 1842 he moved to Saline county, and, except a few years spent with his parents in Lafayette county, has lived here ever since. Mr. Duncan does not recollect the exact date of his marriage, but thinks it was in the year 1856. His wife, a most estimable lady, was Miss N. F. Wilhite, daugh- ter of James and Jane C. Wilhite, old settlers of the county. Has six children, all living, three boys and three girls. A farmer by choice, Mr. Duncan is one of the substantial men of Saline county, and by energy, economy and attention to business, has made the fine farm upon which he lives, besides other valuable tracts in this county.

THOMAS M. DOW, P. O., Cambridge. Was born in Roanoke county, Virginia, November 25, 1827, from whence, at the age of eight- een, he moved to Boone county, Kentucky. There he engaged in teach- ing, and in working at the plastering and bricklaying trade, until the spring of 1856, when he moved to Saline county, Missouri, and located near Cambridge, where he has followed his trade. In the spring of 1858, he married Miss Mary L. Duggins, a daughter of John and Frances E. Dug- gins, of Nelson county, Virginia. Has three children living: Julia T.,

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born July, 1860; Gertrude A., born January, 1864; Maud M., born Decem- ber, 1866. Mr. Dow stands very high in his community as a man of integrity and worth. He was twice elected to fill the office of justice of the peace-once in 1858, and again in 1866. He takes great pride in the improvement of his property, and has taken great pains in the selection of his fruit, ornamental trees, shrubs, flowers, etc.

BENJAMIN THORP, P. O., Cambridge. Mr. Thorp was born in Howard county, Missouri, November 30, 1824, and lived there, with the exception of a short time in Chariton county, until after the war. In 1867 he was engaged with Mr. James Reynolds in putting up tobacco, opposite Saline City, in Howard county; and in 1868, moved to this county and commenced the coopering business. He owns one store house and one private residence in Cambridge, and is also closely identified with the business interests of the town of Gilliam.

PEMBROKE S. EPPERSON, P. O., Cambridge. Was born in Lincoln county, Kentucky, February 15, 1817, and at the age of twenty- two moved to Missouri, and settled in this county, where he has lived ever since. He commenced farming on his arrival, and has devoted all his time since to the improvement and cultivation of his farm. On the 23d of September, 1839, he was married, and by the marriage has three chil- dren living: Jesse, aged about 40 years; Mrs. Mary E., wife of John Earl, aged 35 years, and Daniel, born November 23, 1851. Mr. Epperson lost his first wife, April 10, 1852, and was married the second time, to Miss Mary A. Jackson, in May, 1853. To this marriage were born six chil- dren: Mary A., born August, 1854; William H., born December, 1856, Eliza J., born April, 1858; George, born March, 1861; Peter, born June, 1864, and Alexander, born October, 1866. At the general election in the fall of 1868, Mr. Epperson was elected constable for Cambridge town- ship, and served for two years. He declined to make the race for a sec- ond term. In December, 1880, he was appointed justice of the peace until the next general election, which office he yet fills, with honor and credit to himself, and with justice to all.

EDGAR B. AUGUSTUS, P. O., Cambridge. Was born in Vernon, Iowa, January 12, 1853, and came to this state with his parents, John B. and Virginia E. Augustus, settling in Clark county. In the fall of 1860 they moved to Saline county, and settled near Cambridge, where Edgar grew to manhood, and commenced farming, at which he continund until February, 1881, when he rented out his farm and engaged in the grocery business in the town of Cambridge in March, 1881; in which, from his energy and pluck, he has fair prospects of success. On the 13th day of January, 1879, he was married to Miss Emma J. Elder, daughter of James and Mary Elder. They have one child, Wm. F. Augustus, born Feb-

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ruary 17, 1880. By his integrity and steady business habits, Mr. Augustus has made a host of friends.

BENJAMIN C. MORRISON, P. O., Cambridge. Was born in Evansville, Indiana, May 23, 1848. At the age of fourteen he was placed as an apprentice at the shoemaker's trade under Joshua H. Smyth, of Evansville, where he remained until he wastwenty-one years of age, when he commenced work as a journeyman, and continued for two years. He then concluded to try farming, which seemed a great deal better suited to his taste; and has given it his whole attention up to the present time. Recognizing the fact that every farmer ought to have a good wife, he found his ideal in Miss Susan M. Hudson, and was married to her, Octo- ber 16, 1872. Being unblessed with children, he concluded to move fur- ther west, which he did, settling near Cambridge, in this county, continu- ing his occupation of farming, and intending to purchase when satisfied with the opportunity.

JOHN F. MCKINNEY, P. O., Cambridge. Was born in Green county, Kentucky, July 5, 1828, and lived there until the year 1850. He then moved to Missouri and located in Miami, in this county, and went to work at his trade of blacksmithing, where he continued for seven years. He then moved to Cambridge and has lived there and in its vicinity ever since. He was married, in Miami, to Miss Virginia Haney, October 12, 1851. Had two children: Mary N., born September 24, 1852; and Martha L., born September 12, 1855. His first wife died in 1856, and he again married, this time, Miss Mary A. McMahan, May 5, 1857. To this union was born four children, now living: John W., born October 16, 1862; Louisa A., born May 25, 1865; Elizabeth J., born December 9, 1867; and Jessie F., born February 5, 1871. Mr. Mckinney now lives two and one-half miles from Cambridge, where he enjoys the reputation of being a good farmer, a fine judge of stock, a good neighbor, and a pleasant, affable gentleman.

JOHN JORDAN, P. O., Cambridge. Was born in Wurtemburg, Germany, on the 25th of April, 1824, and emigrated to the United States in the year 1852. He first located in Ohio, and lived in Marion county for three years. In 1855, he moved to Missouri and settled in Cambridge, employed in general work. . He was married while living in Ohio, to Miss Sophia Eischlor, March 18, 1855, and has five childred living: Mrs. Mary T. Balthis, born April 5, 1858; Caroline M., born June 29, 1859; Sophia K., born July 16, 1861; John W., born August 4, 1863; and Gottleib R., born April 15, 1867. He has also one grandchild, son of John W. and Mary T. Balthis, named Catren B., born September 20, 1880. By indus- try, economy and strict attention to business, Mr. Jordan has made for himself and family, a comfortable home and support, and is now sur- rounded by the comforts as well as the necessaries of life. He has

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devoted much of his time and attention to the cultivation of grapes. His crop last season amounted to several tons, all of which he manufactured into wine. He also keeps a public house, where the wayfarer can refresh himself with pure native wine, and is sure of a hospitable recep- tion.

ROBERT F. LAND, P. O., Cambridge. The subject of this sketch was born in Prince Edward county, Virginia, November 20, 1835, and moved with his parents to Missouri in November, 1836, and grew to man- hood in this county, and has here passed his life to the present time, as farmer and stock-feeder, except about nine months in the Confederate service. He was married to Miss Josephine M. Ayers, February 16, 1864, who was daughter to Matthias and Nancy G. Ayers. Mrs. Land is a native of Saline county, where she was born and raised in what was then included in Jefferson township.

JOHN N. DUGGINS, P. ()., Cambridge. Was born in this county, November 16, 1839. His father, John Duggins, was born in Louisa county, Virginia, May 1, 1796, and moved to Missouri in March, 1833, and settled in Saline county, near Marshall, and moved to Cambridge in 1850. He was one of the first surveyors of this county. He was mar- ried to Miss Elizabeth Dickerson, January 20, 1825. They were at the first Methodist conference ever held in this county, and entertained the bishop. John W., the subject of this sketch, was married to Miss A. E. Hawkins daughter of Nicholas Hawkins, of this county, September 3, 1865, and has six children: Luna B., born June 18, 1866; Ollie V., born December 25, 1868; Susie M., born April 29, 1871; Kate V., born May 23, 1873; John T., born August 13, 1876; Spencer M., born March 26, 1879. Mr. Duggins has followed farming all his life, except four years, during which he served as township constable, and three years in the Confederate service, under the command of Gen. Shelby.

PETER C. PORTER, P. O., Cambridge. Was born in Glasgow, Howard county, Missouri, January 25, 1839, and lived there five years, when his father, William H. Porter, moved to Chariton county, and at the age of ten, his father moved to Saline county and located in Cam- bridge, where he grew to manhood, and engaged in farming and stock raising, in which occupation he has continued ever since. He was mar- ried to Miss Cornelia B. George, September 28, 1870, and has five child- ren living: Mary C., born July 28, 1871; Maggie R., born July 26, 1873; Ruth, born September 16, 1876; Julia, born October 19, 1875, and one girl, not yet named, born November 21, 1880. Though a young man, Mr. Porter is ripe in experience, and his judgment as a farmer is much relied on.

DR. G. H. FORKNER, P. O., Cambridge. Dr. Forkner was born in Surrey county, North Carolina, October 6, 1818. Moved to Missouri

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in 1839, and located in Grundy county, and remained there until 1841. Then went to Lexington, and worked at the carpenter's trade until 1844, when he commenced the study of medicine in Grundy county, and grad- uated in St. Louis in 1849. Commenced practice of medicine in Tren- ton, the county-seat of Grundy county, and remained there for a year. He was married to Miss J. E. Lacy, of Moniteau county, April 22, 1847, moved to Moniteau county, and there practiced his profession until 1853. About this time his health failed, and he abandoned the practice of medi- cine, and went to farming in Johnson county, and remained there until 1856, when he moved to Saline county, and located for practice in Cam- bridge. But his health again failed in about eighteen months, when he moved to Fulton, Missouri, and engaged in the drug business. Sold out in six months, and returned to Cambridge, and formed a co-partnership with Dr. B. E. Powell, and continued the practice until 1868, when he again tried farming, this time in Sugar Tree bottom, Carroll county. Staid there until 1876, when he returned to Saline, settled in Laynesville, and practiced medicine for about one year, and then back again to Cam- bridge, December 1877, where he is now practicing his profession. He has seven children living, two sons and five daughters. He has also six grandsons and two granddaughters living. His father, Samuel Forkner, died in California at the advanced age of ninety-eight years. His mother, quite young, in Surrey county, N. C.

WILLIAM H. PORTER, P. O., Cambridge. Mr. Porter was born in Albemarle county, Virginia, November 19, 1811, within sight of Mon- ticello-the birth-place and residence of Thomas Jefferson-and was mar ried in Buckingham county, Virginia, to Miss Mary N. Harris, October 7, 1830. In 1835 he moved to Missouri, and settled in Saline county, and has been closely identified with the county ever since. He has eight children living, three sons and five daughters, and all living in Missouri except one, who lives in Kansas. · Came on steamer from Guyandotte to St. Louis, and says they had a pleasant, though long and tedious trip of sixteen days. Was engaged in teaching school in Howard, Chariton and Saline counties for about twenty-five years. Was justice of the peace for eight years in Chariton, and for about same length of time in Saline. For the last thirty years he has been occupied in farming, and in teaching occasionally.

W. D. FORE, P. O., Cambridge. Was born in Buckingham county, Virginia, April 21, 1818, and came to this county in November, 1836. For about fifteen years he worked at the carpenter's trade, and in 1850 crossed the plains to California with an ox-team, returning to Missouri in 1851, by the way of Panama. In 1852 he visited relatives in Virginia, and in 1853 returned to this county, commenced farming and continued

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farming until the end of the war, when he moved into Cambridge and engaged in the mercantile business, in which he is still engaged.

D. M. McCORMACK, P. O., Cambridge. The subject of the follow- ing sketch was born in Houstonville, Lincoln connty, Kentucky, Decem- ber 13, 1830, and came to this county in 1848, and settled in the town of Cambridge-and there commenced the carpentering business. He was married to Miss Harriet Hanny, of Howard county, Missouri, November 22, 1860. They have seven children, five boys and two girls, living. He is justice of the peace of Cambridge township, and his present occupation is that of farmer and undertaker.

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History of Saline County, Missouri, Part 66

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