USA > Missouri > Saline County > History of Saline County, Missouri > Part 70
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JOHN M. JACKSON, P. O., Little Rock. Was born in Howard county, Missouri, four miles east of Glasgow, October 1, 1828, where he lived with his father until 1844, getting his early education in a log cabin, Wm. Burton, teacher. In 1844, he came over to Saline county, and settled on what is now known as the Jeff Howard farm, close to Saline City, and went to clearing land, his father having bought the land from Ephraim McClain, and in 1845 his father also moved over from Howard to this farm. He remained on the farm with his father until 1861. In 1850, his father (Thomas Jackson) went to California, where he remained three years. Two years before he had gone to New Mexico, prospecting, and about the same time (1848) Johnson Jackson, his brother, and uncle of the subject of this sketch, was killed in New Mexico, for his money, by Simms and Constable. Constable turned state's evidence and Simms was hung.
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Constable was afterwards killed. In 1861, John Jackson enlisted in the state guard, and then in the Confederate army, and was in the following battles: Booneville, Lexington, Wilson Creek, Huffman's Ferry, New- tonia, Hartville, Cane Hill, Cape Girardeau, Lone Jack, Big and Little Bhie, Little Rock, Prairie Grove, &c. His rank was corporal bugler of Capt. Tilton's battery. At the battle of Prairie Grove, he captured a bugle from the enemy, which he has yet. It has a dint on one side which was made by a minnie ball while he had it at his mouth in the act of blowing. After the war (discharged 1865), he came home and went to work on the farm where he has been ever since. Has never married.
WILLIAM P. LEE, P. O., Little Rock. Mr. W. P. Lee was born in Albemarle county, Virginia, October 12, 1833, where he received his early education, and lived until about thirty years of age. At the age of twelve years, he entered the store of his uncle Walter Perry, in Charlotts- ville, as salesman, then went in the dry goods and grocery business at the same place. In 1865 he left Charlottsville, to travel for the Fairbanks company, and remained on the road about fourteen years. Previous to this however, he had traveled through Missouri soliciting risks for a St. Louis insurance company, in which he continued for about three years. In October 1879, he settled in Saline City, in this county, where he has since resided, engaged in the mercantile business, and is one of the promi- nent merchants of that thriving little city. Mr. Lee is a first-class busi- ness man, and has a fair future before him.
A. J. THORNTON, P. O., Little Rock. Was born in Saline county, in 1833 on the Daniel Thornton farm, where Mr. A. Price now lives. He went to school and farmed, until he was twenty-eight years old. He then went to blacksmithing on the home farm, having learned the trade mostly by himself. He worked there until 1876, when he moved to Saline City and there followed his trade. Mr. Thornton was married in 1860 to Miss Sarah J. Wiley of this county, a daughter of N. Wiley, and a native of North Carolina. Their family consists of two boys and six girls: Henry, Charley, Mary B., Susan A., Alice, Clara L., Rebecca E. and Sallie B. October 16, 1864, he enlisted in the confederate army as it passed through Saline county, on Price's last raid. He was a private on detached service, and was discharged in the spring of 1865. He is the youngest son of Daniel Thornton, one of the oldest settlers of Saline county. In July, 1865, while going on a steamboat from Shreveport to Baton Rouge, with 250 soldiers, when about fifteen miles below Shreve- port on Red River, the boat struck a snag and sank and broke in two. Quite a number were thrown into the river, and about sixty were drowned. Mr. Thornton escaped by swimming. Coming home on the steamer Henry Ames, when just above Vicksburg, Mr. Thornton was standing on the hurricane deck, and noticed that the boat was on fire in
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the pilot house. By prompt alarm and action, the fire was extinguished and the boat was saved.
JOHN D. THOMASON, P. O., Little Rock. Was born in Scott county, Kentucky, Nov. 15, 1847, where he was reared and received his education. After quitting school he taught school and worked in a saw- mill. February 19, 1868, he was married to Miss Bettie Thomason, daughter of Granville Thomason, and in the fall of that same year he moved to Saline county, and settled on the old Howard farm, west of Saline City, and went to farming. Two years after he moved to a farm northwest of Arrow Rock, but remained there only a year. He then removed to Saline City, and taught school for several years. He then went into the drug business, his being the first drug store estab- lished in Saline City. Two years after he sold out his stock of drugs to W. A. Morehead, and purchased the dry goods and grocery business of W. H. Ballard, and has been in this business ever since. In 1880 he took Mr. J. A. Howard in as partner, and under the firm name of Thomason & Howard, compose one of the principal business firms of Saline City. Mr. Thomason has four children, all boys, viz: Clarence, Irvine, Luther, and Claude. He is licensed as a Baptist preacher, and preaches at Saline City, and at the Fish Creek Church, twice per month at each. He joined the Baptist Church when but sixteen years of age. Messrs. Thomason & Howard have a commodious warehouse and an excellent boat landing. They handle the Saline City lime, and are agents for the same for central Missouri. This lime is of the best quality, and has no superior. The company manufacture their own harrels, and their busi- ness is immense. In 1880 they shipped 4,800 barrels, and didn't have enough to supply the demand.
CHARLES W. HENSICK, P. O., Little Rock. Was born in St. Charles county, Missouri, May 17, 1848. His father (Casper Hensick) and mother emigrated from Germany to the United States, and settled in St. Charles county, Missouri. Mr. Hensick lived in St. Charles county until he was sixteen years old, obtaining there his education. At the age of sixteen, he left St. Charles, and went over to St. Louis county, and worked for his brother Ernest about one year, farming. He then returned to St. Charles county, and worked in a livery stable in Wents- ville for over two years, and then came to Saline county in the year 1870. Since then he has lived in and near the town of Saline City. In 1872, he was married to Miss Amanda Jackson, daughter of Thomas Jackson, a native of this county. Mr. Hensick then commenced farming, on the farm upon which he now lives, adjoining Saline City, having purchased a portion of Thomas Jackson's farm. He has one child, a girl, Georgia Belle. Mr. Hensick is a fair example of the success which ever attends industry and steady habits.
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HISTORY OF SALINE COUNTY.
GEORGE F. PEARSON, P. O., Little Rock. The subject of the present sketch was born, two miles west of Arrow Rock, February 6, 1846. His father, O. B. Pearson, was born in Spartanburg, South Car- olina, and came to Saline county, Missouri, in 1830, landing at Arrow Rock. He was a merchant and pork packer, being, at one time, in part- nership with Gov. C. F. Jackson, in the latter business. He lived in the town of Arrow Rock about ten years, and put up the first mercantile house built there. He then moved to his farm, two miles west of Arrow Rock, where he died May 10, 1871, and was buried in the Arrow Rock cemetery. He was first married to Miss Mary Wright, sister of Com. Wright, and they had seven children. His first wife died in 1845. After- wards he married Miss Eliza Ealback, a native of North Carolina, and to this union five children were born, four boys: George, Richard, Henry and William, and one girl, Roxy. At the age of fourteen, he enlisted in the army, and fought in the war of 1812. Mr. George F. Pearson obtained his education in Saline county, and farmed on his father's farm, mostly, until he was married. In 1865, he went to Adams county, Illi- nois, and remained a short time, but soon returned home. He was mar- ried January 25, 1877, to Miss Mary E. Eversman. They have had but one child, a girl, who died January 5, 1881, and was buried in the Arrow Rock cemetery. He is now engaged in farming near Saline City, and is the owner of the noted lime works, one mile north of that town.
EPHRAIM S. McCLAIN, pioneer; P. O., Little Rock. Mr. E. S. McClain was born in Madison county, Kentucky, April 1, 1800. At the age of eleven he came with his parents to Howard county, Missouri, and settled near what is now known as New Frankfort, and lived in Howard county until 1827. In 1819 he went to farming for himself, and in 1827 moved over into Saline county. He first settled on what is now known as the Jeff Howard farm, adjoining Saline City, which he entered, and upon which there was a spring, called "the Big Indian Spring." April 18, 1821, he married Miss Sallie Cooper, daughter of Colonel Ben. Cooper, also a native of Madison county, Kentucky. He lived on the farm he entered until 1844. Six children were born to him, three boys, David, Elijah and Benjamin, the last now dead; and three girls, Mrs. Leanna Neff, Anna and Matilda. David McClain, the father of Ephraim, was a native of South Carolina, and moved to Kentucky at a very early day, and married Miss Leanna Oldham, of Kentucky. There were in his family ten child- ren-six boys and four girls. Ephraim was the fourth son. In the early times, Billy Cooper, James Sappington, S. Cooper and Colonel Cooper and Ephraim McClain were close neighbors. There were plenty of Indians in this county then, when he lived in Howard county, and they gave the settlers much trouble. He once attended a war dance at the
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place where the town of old Franklin was built. When he came to Saline county the Indian troubles had ceased. In 1826 the settlers got their meal and flour from a mill run by a tramp wheel located at the edge of the Glas- gow bottom. Mr. McClain's wife and daughters spun and wove flax and cloth, and made their own carpets. In 1814 his brother William was killed by the Indians. He was out with his brother, Ewing, and William Brown, hunting, where Fayette now stands. The Indians hearing the reports of their guns, wayland them and shot William McClain. They . shot at the others, but missed them. They skinned William McClain's head, and cut his head off; split open his breast and took out his heart. The body was found the next day and buried, but the heart could not be found. Mrs. McClain died in 1873 and was buried in the Sappington graveyard, one mile southwest of Saline City. Mr. Ephraim McClain is now living in Saline City with his son. E. S. McClain, the second son of Ephraim, was born in Saline county, May 26, 1830. He was married to Miss Sallie Steele, February 22, 1859. They have had six children, three of whom are living, all girls.
CHARLES EDWARD WOOD, P. O., Little Rock. Was born July 3, 1850, in Saline county, where he was raised and received his edu- cation, finishing the same at Milton's academy, Arrow Rock. His father, Milton Wood, was born in Albemarle county, Virginia. He came to Saline at an early date, settling near Jonesboro. He was married to a sister of Judge Robert Field. His family consisted of thirteen children, eight boys and five girls: Wm., John, Ras, James, Joseph, Thomas, Robert, and Charles; Paulina, Sarah, Anna, Lucy, and one now deceased. The boys are all living; the girls living are, Mrs. Sarah Huston, Mrs. Anna Minor, and Mrs. Lucy Mitchell. Mr. Wood died about 1855, and was buried about two and one-half miles southwest of Jonesboro. Charles E. Wood, the youngest son, spent most of his life on his father's farm, until the fall of 1864, when he enlisted in Col. Robert Wood's regi- ment, Clark's brigade, Marmaduke's division, C. S. A., and was dis- charged in 1865. He was engaged in the battles of Little and Big Blue, Independence, Westport, and in all the long days of fighting from West- port to Fort Scott, Lanesville, &c. Rank, sergeant major. On the retreat to Texas they were sometimes for days without other food than the acorns. At one time Mr. Wood went to Gen. Price's headquarters and got some beans, the General remarking that beans was the best he had. When he enlisted he weighed one hundred pounds, and weighed just seventy-five pounds when he reached Clarksville, Texas. He was taken sick with camp fever, at Myrtle Spring, Texas, and was down for five weeks. As soon as he could travel, he went to Washington, Ark., where his brother Robert was held as a prisoner, and remained until his brother was released. When the war ended, he came back to Arrow
,
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Rock, and went into the drug business, in which he continued about four years. He then went into the grocery business, continuing it three years. In May, 1871, he was married to Miss Columbia Gregory, of St. Louis. In 1876, he lived one year on his father's place, and then moved to the farm upon which he now lives, one mile west of Saline City. Mr. Wood was the youngest soldier in the Confederate army, (he thinks), from Saline county. He was census enumerator, in 1880, for Clay town- ship.
JOHN J. G. BURTON, P. O., Little Rock. Was born in Dyer county, Kentucky, in 1812, where he grew up and was educated. His father, Hutchins Burton, was a native of Virginia. Married Miss Elizabeth Stepp of Virginia, and came to Kentucky at an early day, and settled in Dyer county. There were nine children, five boys and four girls. The subject of the present sketch was the third son, and when about seven years of age, his father moved to Missouri and settled in How- ard county. He lived with his father until he grew to manhood, and then purchased a farm of his own in Howard county, east of Saline City, in the river bottom, where he lived and farmed until he came over to Saline county. He was first married to Miss Mahalie Finley, March 27, 1834, a native of Tennessee. They had six children, four sons and two daughters. The first Mrs. Burton died in 1851, and was buried at the graveyard near Lisbon school house, Howard county. October 6, 1852, Mr. Burton was married to Miss Caroline West, by whom he has five children, three sons and two daughters. Thirty-five years ago he joined the Christian Church in Howard county. The names of his children are (by first wife): Mil- ton H., Marion F., Harrison, Riley, Lavinia and Adaline. By the second union: Joel H., Thomas J., Nicholas, Sarah E., and Clementine. He is now engaged farming fifteen miles east of Marshall.
AARON STARNS, P. O., Little Rock. Was born in Howard county, Missouri, August 6, 1844. While he was yet an infant his father moved to Lafayette county, and remained there about two years, then to Putnan county, then to Linn, county, and then back to Howard county, where his son received his education. His first schooling was in Linneus, Linn county. In 1860 his father's family moved to Prairie county, Arkansas, and remained there until the fall of 1861. They then moved to Carroll county, and stayed until the spring of 1862, and then returned to Camden, Missouri, where Aaron Starns enlisted in the United States army. His father was a native of ' Howard county, Missouri, married Sarah Stanley, and had nine children, six of whom are still living: Aaron, Daniel, Thomas, Amanda, Margaret, and Mary. In December, 1862, he died at Cape Girardeau, and was buried there; his wife died in 1879. In 1862 Aaron re-enlisted in the 29th Missouri infantry, was discharged in 1865, at Indianapolis. Was not in
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any battles. In 1868 he was married to Miss Martha J. Highberger, a native of Scotland county, Missouri, by whom he has six children, four boys and two girls: William, John, James and Walter, Ivy and Mary. Mr. Starns is now engaged in farming fifteen miles east of Marshall.
JOHN FISHER, P. O., Little Rock. Mr. Fisher was born in St. Louis, June 14, 1853. When he was only three years old, his father, Lewis Fisher, moved to Montgomery county, Missouri. His father was a native of Germany, came to St. Louis, and then married Catherine Flintrope, also a native of Germany. They had three children, all boys, William, Lewis, and John. In 1862 Lewis Fisher, Sr., died and was buried in Montgomery county, and his wife in 1868, and was buried in the same place. John Fisher obtained his education in Montgomery county, and after he was grown, worked several years in a vineyard in Montgom- ery county. After that he hired as a farm hand to Dr. Marrick; worked also in Franklin county. In 1877 he was married to Mary Burbom. They have two children, both girls, Louisa and Henrietta. In 1879 he came to Saline county and settled on a farm, which he now owns, situated two and one-half miles west of Saline City.
RUFUS BIGELOW, P. O., Little Rock. Was born in St. Charles county, Missouri, May 27, 1824. His father, Moses Bigelow, was born in Shenandoah county, Pennsylvania, in 1796. In 1820 he moved to St. Charles county, Missouri, and in the same year was married to Miss Per- thana Bryant, a native of Kentucky. They had seven children, three boys and four girls: James, Rufus, Abner, Russia, Phœbe, Agnes, and Perthana, the last two dying when quite young. He died and was buried in St. Charles county, in 1863; also his widow in 1873. Rufus, the second son, was raised and educated in St. Charles county. At the age of twenty-two he was elected justice of the peace for one of the townships of St. Charles county, and served eight years. At the age of twenty-three he was mar- ried to Henrietta E. Eversman. In 1856 he was elected assessor of St. Charles county, served one year, and then, 1857, he moved to Saline county, and located where Saline City now stands. He cleared off the site in 1857, part of the land belonging to heirs, for whom he was executor ; but there being no power in the will authorizing him to lay off and sell town lots, he went to Jefferson City during the session of the legislature in the winter of 1857-8, and obtained the passage of a law authorizing him as executor to lay out one-half of the town of Saline City, and sell the lots, by giving additional bond. Col. Allen, then county surveyor, laid out the town. The site of the town, when he moved there, was covered with hazel brush, and a tall growth of black oak. The number of bears killed there had given it the name of Bear thicket. He lived there until 1870, selling dry goods and groceries. In that year he moved
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to the farm on which he now lives, one and one-half miles west of town. He has nine children, five boys and four girls: Granville A., Jonathan B., Edward C., James R., Rudolph A., Alice E., Martha C., Addie E., and Lena D. Has a fine farm of 170 acres, and pays attention to fine stock; has the Glendower breed of horses, and short-horn cows.
ZACHARIAH W. ROWLAND, P. O., Little Rock. Mr. Rowland was born near Winchester, Clark county, Kentucky, April 22, 1813, where he obtained his early education. His father, William Rowland, came to Clark county, Kentucky, at an early day, and was mar- ried there to Mrs. Nancy Ronimas, widow of Frank Ronimas. They had but one child, Zachariah W. Rowland. While he was still an infant, his father enlisted in the United States army, war of 1812, and died in the army. His mother afterward married Archibald Morton, and Z. W. Rowland lived with his mother and her third husband until he reached the age of fifteen years, when he hired out on a farm. At sixteen years old he came to Missouri, in 1830, and settled in Randolph county for one year, then went to Macon county and lived there until 1871. On the 29th of November, 1839, he was married to Miss Elizabeth Rowland, a daughter of Thomas Rowland, and also a native of Clark county, Kentucky. They had nine children, six of whom are now living: W. F., Thomas L., Presley, Mary Eliza, Louisa F., and Luvisa. In 1871, he went to Pettis county, Missouri, and about fifteen months after came to Saline county, and settled on the farm where he now resides, nearly two miles west of Saline City. In 1864 he enlisted in Col. Perkins' command, and was discharged in 1865. Was in the bat- tles of Big Blue and near Ft. Scott.
JOHN FRITZ TECKEMEYER, P. O., Little Rock. Was born in Austria, September 15, 1843. His father, Christopher Teckemeyer, was a native of Austria, and married Mary Deiker, by whom he had seven children, three now living: John F., Louis E. and Mrs. Eliza Archmane. They came to the United States about 1846, and settled in St. Charles county, Missouri. He died and was buried in St. Charles county, in 1866, as also his wife in 1875. The subject of this sketch got his education at the common schools of St. Charles county, worked with his father, and hired out until he was twenty-three years of age. He then went to farm- ing, having lost his father. He was married, December 5, 1867, to Miss Julia Peuster, daughter of Wm. Peuster, a native of Prussia. They have two children, one boy. Andrew W., and one girl, Margaret D. In 1877 he moved to Saline county, and settled on Henry Hensick's farm, and in the following November moved to the farm on which he now lives, four miles northwest of Arrow Rock. In 1861 he enlisted in the home guard, under Col. Krekle.
CATLETT OREAR, P. O., Orearville. Mr. Orear was born at Fred-
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erick county, Virginia, November 13, 1806. When quite young he came with his parents to Clark county, Kentucky, and then to Montgomery county, where he was raised and educated. His father, Robert Orear, was a native of Fauquier county, Virginia, was born in 1783; was married to Malinda Orear, also of Fauquier county, Virginia. They had eight children, seven of whom are still living: Catlett, B. F., George H., John W., Nelson, Jesse, and Mrs. Elizabeth Gorrell. He died about 1871, and was buried at Orearville. His wife died many years before him, in 1828, and was buried in Montgomery county, Kentucky. He married again, Miss Sallie Cork, a native of Kentucky; they had one child, now dead. In 1854, Robert Orear moved to Saline county, Missouri, and settled near Orearville, where he lived until he died. Catlett Orear came to Saline county in 1843, and settled on the place he now lives on, about eight miles east of Marshall. In 1839, he was married, in Nicholas county, Kentucky, to Sarah R. Caldwell, a native of that county. They have had three children, two of whom are now living, both boys: Dr. W. C., and Judge Bellvard J. His farm contains 200 acres, 120 acres in cultiva- tion. Is a member of the Methodist Church South, and has been twenty or thirty years.
JUDGE BELLVARD J. OREAR, P. O., Orearville. Was born in Montgomery county, Kentucky, June 24, 1838. His father, Catlett Orear, was born in Fauquier county, Virginia, and moved to Kentucky at an early date, and while in Kentucky was married to Sarah R. Caldwell. They had three children, two of which are living, B. J and Dr. W. C. They came to Saline county in 1843, and first settled where he now resides, about ten miles east of Marshall. Bellvard, the oldest son, was only six years old when his father moved to Saline county, and his education was obtained at the common schools of this county. In 1856, he went to the state university and remained three years, but did not graduate. He then taught school three years in Boone and Saline counties, and then went to farming, in which pursuit he has been engaged ever since, merchandis- ing in Orearville for two years, 1872 and 1873. In 1861, he was first mar- ried to Miss Maggie H. Brown, of Callaway county. They had three
children, all living: Annie B., Sallie J., and Celsus. His first wife died February 12, 1871, and was buried at Orearville. The second time, he married Miss Sarah E. Brooks, of Johnson county, Missouri, June 1, 1873. They have one child, Lester. The second wife died September 13, 1875, and was buried at the same place as his first. May 23, 1878, he married Miss Mary McMahan, of Johnson county. In November, 1878, he was elected judge of the county court, from the first district. In 1865, he bought the farm he now lives on, ten miles east of Marshall, and has 320 acres of splendid land. In the fall of 1863, he enlisted as private in the Confederate army, company K, Wood's regiment, Jackman's brigade,
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and was discharged in 1865. Was in the battles of Lexington, Little Blue, Westport, Ft. Scott and Newtonia.
JOSEPH GORRELL, P. O., Orearville. Was born in Berkley county, Virginia, July 5, 1814. His father, William Gorrell, was also a native of Berkley county, Virginia, and was there married to Nancy Van- vector, also a native of Virginia. They had nine children, five of whom are now living: Joseph, Antony T., William J., Mary, and Susan F. In 1843, he moved with his family to Saline county, and stayed a year; then moved to Pettis county. He died about the year 1856, and was buried at the Union Church, two and a-half miles south of Longwood. His widow died in 1870, and was buried at the same place. Joseph, the eld- est son, was educated at the county schools of Berkley county, and stayed with his father until he was twenty-two years of age. In 1858 he came to Saline county, and settled on the farm on which he now lives-100 acres of fine land, ten miles east of Marshall. He was first married in 1833 to Miss Priscilla Blue, of Berkley county, Virginia. They had three children, all living: William, James P., and John P. His first wife died in 1848. He afterward married Miss Angeline McGill, who only lived sixteen months. He then married Miss Elmira Miller, and they had one child, a girl. His third wife died, and he was married the fourth and last time to the widow Marshall, daughter of Robert Orear.
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