History of Saline County, Missouri, Part 76

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

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HISTORY OF SALINE COUNTY.

attempt to burn his house and do him other injuries, but he persevered and triumphed in spite of all difficulties and dangers, and to him, more than to any other one man, Malta Bend and the surrounding country are indebted for their present agricultural, social and financial prosperity. He devoted his attention to farming until 1875, when he went into the hard- ware and agricultural implement business. Mr. Lunbeck has four chil- dren: Rowee C., the first child born in Malta Bend; Elmer B., Ernest R., and Samuel T. Others soon followed him from Ohio, and now quite a colony of Ohioans have settled upon the plains in and around Malta Bend.

J. G. DILL, commission merchant, P. O., Malta Bend. The subject of this sketch was born in St. Louis, Missouri, October 7, 1846, where he was raised to man's estate. After living five years in Tennessee, he came to Saline county, in 1875, and settled in Laynesville, on the river, two miles from Malta Bend, where he has since continued to conduct a general commission and grain shipping business. Since 1875 he has been largely identified with Grand Pass township and her farming interests. He first clerked on the Star Line boats, but soon settled down to business in Laynesville. He came to Saline a total stranger, but by honest deal- ing, industry and steadiness he is making an independent fortune.

MILES H. VANMETER, builder and contractor, P. O., Malta Bend. The subject of this sketch was born October 4, 1842, in Kentucky; thence he was moved to Illinois, in 1855, and in 1868 he came to Saline county, Missouri, and settled in Malta Bend, he being the first carpenter that settled in the place. On the 2d of June, 1870, he was married to Miss Clara B. Reeves, of Malta Bend. Mrs. Vanmeter died on the 4th of August, 1879. He has two children: Harry L. and Jodie C., both living. Mr. Vanmeter erected the first house and the first church built in Malta Bend, and also most of the first houses built in the town. He is at present agent for Halladay's Standard Wind-mills, with which he is doing an extensive business. He is a most energetic business man, and deserves success.

G. C. WALDEN. Was born January 1, 1832, in Virginia, and removed to Saline county, Missouri, in 1849, at the age of 17, and was married in 1853 to Miss Martha M. Welsch of Saline county. Has eight children: Ann Eliza, Thomas C., Sylvester A., A. R., William O., Fan- nie, Robert Lee, and Jacob. When he first came to Saline, Mr. Walden was overseer on a farm near Miami. The average price of slaves in those days was about $900 per head. He then went into the saw-mill business, which he has since for the most part followed. In 1875 he located a saw mill on the Missouri river, near Laynesville, and did a very large business. At present he is engaged in the drug business in Malta Bend.

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HISTORY OF SALINE COUNTY.

J. F. COLEMAN, merchant, P. O., Malta Bend. The subject of this sketch was born in Miami, Saline county, February 28, 1855. His parents were old settlers of the county, and his father's biography will be found elsewhere. Mr. Coleman deserves mention in this history for the energy and business tact which he has displayed in building up a successful trade in groceries, hardware and queensware, under the firm of J. F. Coleman & Co., Malta Bend, Missouri. During the past year they sold goods to the amount of $12,000, and have a bright future before them. Energy, pluck, and tact are always sure to win.

LEOPOLD MORITZ, farmer. Mr. Leopold Moritz, was born in Germany, October 1, 1845. He came to America at the age of eight years, and was very nearly shipwrecked in the passage over. His father settled on a farm in Ohio, where his son helped him until the war broke out, when he enlisted in the 67th Ohio infantry, October, 1861, and remained with the regiment until he was mustered out at Louisville, Ken- tucky, July 18, 1865, and then returned to Ohio. He was in many engagements, and was wounded at the battle of Corinth. After the war, March 4, 1868, he was married to Miss Mary F. Henness, of Ross county, Ohio. In October, 1872, he moved to Saline county and settled on a farm in Grand Pass township, near Malta Bend, and has devoted his whole attention to the cultivation of his farm.

HENRY GERMAN, farmer. The subject of the following sketch was born in Loudon county, Virginia, May 13, 1833. In the fall of 1835, his father moved to Adams county, Ohio, where Henry was raised and educated. In the spring of 1870, he moved to Saline county, Missouri, and settled on the farm upon which he now lives, adjoining the town of Malta Bend. In 1862 he enlisted in the command of Gen. A. J. Smith, in which he continued to serve to the end of the war. Was in many of the principal battles of the west, and was at the seige of Vicksburg. Mr. German was never married, and has always followed his present avoca- tion, that of farming.

SYLVAN T. WILSON, merchant, P. O., Malta Bend. Mr. Sylvan T. Wilson, of the firm of Wilson & Gill, general merchandise, Malta Bend, Missouri, was born in Adams county, Illinois, June 16, 1850. In the spring of 1871, he removed to Saline county, Missouri, and settled on a farm, two and a half miles south of Malta Bend, where he continued engaged in farming and stock raising for six years. In 1877, he moved to Malta Bend and opened a store of general merchandise, into which, in 1881, he received Rev. E. C. Gill, as partner. Mr. Wilson has been twice married, first, to Miss Mary S. Coast, of Illinois, January 16, 1872, by whom he has three children: Herbert, Maudie and Earnest. He was married the second time, to Mrs. Ella B. Ritchey, of Apple Grove, Ohio, June 7, 1880.

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HISTORY OF SALINE COUNTY.

JOHN BLOSSER, farmer. John Blosser was born in Pike county, Ohio, August 19, 1837. He was a member of the home guards, in Ross county, Ohio, when the president called for the one hundred days' men, and enlisted in the 149th regiment Ohio volunteers, under Gen. Dwight. He was only in one battle, and was mustered out at Camp Dennison, Ohio, September 16, 1864. In 1868, he came to Saline county, Missouri, and settled in the then infant town of Malta Bend, building a storeroom, and engaging in general merchandise. In 1872, he purchased a water mill, on Salt Fork, just below Marshall, which he sold again in 1878. Was married in Ross county, Ohio, to Miss Mary M. Baker, who died September 18, 1875. Was married again September 5, 1876, to Miss B. E. Miller, of Malta Bend. Mr. Blosser has had four children: Hattie S., Edith and Ethel, twins, living, and one dead.

REESE McNEILL, farmer. Was born in Pike county, Ohio, on the 5th of May, 1819. At twenty years of age, in 1839, he moved to Mis- souri, and staked out a claim, in Grand Pass township, where he con- tinued to live until 1853, when he removed to the farm upon which he at present resides, in the same township, about two miles west of Malta Bend. Mr. McNeill was in the Confederate army from the beginning to the end of the war, being in most of the battles west of the river, and in some east of it. He is one of the oldest citizens of this township. On the 21st of April, 1850, he was married to Miss Sarah T. DeMoss, who died in April, 1862. To them were born six children, all of whom are now dead. He has principally devoted himself to the raising of wheat upon his farm, and has nearly always had good crops. For many years after settling here, he drove cattle to Ohio, and in early times, sold them in Ohio at from $7 to $11 per head. Mr. McNeill is an energetic, busi- ness man, a whole-souled neighbor, and a gentleman of the old regime, a race that is just dying out. During the war, while a prisoner in the Gratiot street prison, St. Louis, he was tried by court martial, and sen- tenced to be hung; the sentence passed before it was discovered that he was the wrong man. The right man was his cousin, and he had escaped from prison, and was safe in the Confederate lines.

W. J. McCARTY was born in Ross county, Ohio, November 14, 1839. In 1869, he came to Saline county, where he was engaged for eleven years, teaching school. About 1870, he located in Malta Bend, and became a partner with Mr. S. T. Warren, in the grocery and hardware business. Mr. McCarty has been twice married, first, in December, 1863, to Miss S. A. Baldwin, who died in 1870, by whom he had two children, both dead. May 21, 1874, he was married again to Miss Fannie V. Ber- lin, of Saline county. They have had three children, of whom one, Wil- liam T., alone is living. Mr. McCarty is the present deputy postmaster (acting postmaster), of Malta Bend.

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HISTORY OF SALINE COUNTY.

M. W. WALKER, farmer. Was born in Ross county, Ohio, Decem- ber 6, 1847. In 1865, his father came through Saline county, Missouri, prospecting, and in 1868 purchased land in Grand Pass township, just north of where his son, M. W. Walker, now lives. Mr. Walker first engaged in general merchandise in Malta Bend, with Mr. John Blos- ser, and continued it for four years. During the past four years he has lived upon his farm, and devoted his attention thereto. Latterly he has turned his attention largely to the raising of stock. Mr. Walker was married on the 12th of October, 1871, to Miss E. Baker, daughter of Jas. Baker, of Malta Bend. Has one child only: Clarence Baker.

WILLIAM H. LUNBECK, farmer. Mr. Wm. H. Lunbeck was born in Ross county, Ohio, and first came to Saline county, Missouri, in 1849, when there were not more than five or six improved farms on what are now known as the Petite Saw Plains. Scattered Indians were then still often to be seen in Saline county. In 1852, his father made some large land purchases in Saline. In 1870, Mr. Wm. H. Lunbeck moved to Saline county from Ohio, and settled on the old Col. Yancey farm, one- fourth mile from Malta Bend, where he still lives. On December 1, 1863, he was married to Miss S. C. Carson, of Columbus, Ohio. They have five living children and one dead. His brother, Joseph R. Lunbeck, is the founder of the town of Malta Bend.

LAWRENCE NELSON, farmer. The subject of the following sketch was born and raised in Illinois, and came to Missouri in 1868. First settled in Henry county, whence he removed to his home in Grand Pass township, Saline county, in 1870. On the 18th of February, 1877, he was married to Miss Kate Miller, of Saline county, by whom he has one child, O. T. Nelson. Mr. Nelson has a fine farm, two miles southeast of Malta Bend, and is an excellent farmer. His crops last year averaged, wheat, twenty bushels to the acre; corn, fifty bushels to the acre.

JOHN P. DEMOSS, farmer. Mr. John P. De Moss, son of Wm. L. De Moss, was born in Tennessee, August 6, 1826. When John was but five years old, his father moved to Saline county, Missouri, where he was raised and received such education as the country schools at that time afforded, and he could obtain by his own personal efforts. He has always lived on a farm. January 29, 1852, he was married to Miss Mary E. Davidson, of Lafayette county, Missouri. He has seven children, four daughters and three sons. His eldest daughter, Florence Ella, is married to Wesley Fry. The others are, Kate, Anna and Sarah, Wm. M., John P. and Charles W. Mr. De Moss is a fine whole-souled gentleman, full of old-fashioned hospitality.

JOSHUA CHAPPELL, farmer. Joshua Chappell was born in Surry county, North Carolina, May 2, 1827. His father, Elisha Chappell, who was a farmer in North Carolina, having held several county offices,

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HISTORY OF SALINE COUNTY.

and having considerable military experience, moved to Saline county, Mis- souri, in November, 1833, and staked out a claim containing about eighty acres in Arrow Rock township. In 1835 he removed to Marshall township, where Joshua afterwards purchased the land on which the poor farm is now located, which he sold to the county in 1860. He was educated at the country schools, but principally by his father. He was married October 17, 1852, to Miss Millie Moore, of this county, having six chil- dren: Sarah H., Lucinda H., Chapman L., John E., Rachael A., Wil- liam H. About two years ago Mr. Chappell had a stroke of paralysis, which greatly disabled him. His wife is still living.

v JOHN A. LEWIS, farmer. The subject of the following sketch was born on the 15th of September, 1827. His father came to this county with his family in 1836, and John was therefore raised on a farm in this county, with the education afforded by the country schools. He served in the Mexican war, in Capt. John W. Reed's Saline county company, in the 1st regiment Missouri mounted volunteers, commanded by Col. (now Gen.) A. W. Doniphan, being engaged in all the fights in which his regi- ment participated.

F. M. FUNK, farmer. The subject of this sketch was born in Illinois in 1853. His father moved to Lawrence county, Missouri, when he was but one year old, and there he was raised. In 1871 he came to Saline county, and settled on the farm on which he now lives. His occupation has always been that of farming. He was married to Miss Annie S. Pol- lard, of this county, October 1, 1878. His children consist of Susan A., Carrie E., and Bettie J. He resides about one mile south of Malta Bend.

R. M. TURLEY, farmer. Robert M. Turley was born in Virginia on the 18th of March, 1850, where he was raised and educated, and pursued the avocation of farming until he removed to this state and county in 1871. In 1875 he moved to Lafayette county; returned to Saline county in 1878, living a short time near Elmwood, and is now living on the old Capt. Kiser farm in Grand Pass township. In January, 1874, he was married to Miss Arzelia Kiser, and they have four children: Virginia, Arzelia, William M., and Catherine M., besides one who died.

ALEX. C. BICKERS, farmer and building contractor, P. O., Malta Bend. Mr. A. C. Bickers was born in Orange county, Virginia, Septem ber 14, 1836, where he was raised, received his education, and served an apprenticeship at the carpenter trade, at which he has worked both in Vir- ginia and in Missouri. He first came to this state in 1858, and remained until the breaking out of the war. He then returned to Virginia, and joined the Confederate army under Gen. Lee. At the close of the war, August, 1866, he returned to this county, and pursued his trade at Malta Bend, farming also on a small scale at the same time. September 14, 1867, he was married to Miss Martha E. Winslow, of this county, for-

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merly of Virginia. Three children: John B., Henry P., and George E., are now living to bless this union.

ADDISON C. POLLARD, farmer. The subject of this sketch was born in Kentucky, December 29, 1824, where he was raised and edu- cated. In 1845 he was married to Miss Elizabeth Payne, of Kentucky. His family consists of: John W., James A., Henrietta, Ann S., Andrew M., Robert, and Mary C. He came to Saline county from northeast Mis- souri, where he had lived thirteen years, in the fall of 1867, in the neigh- borhood of which he now lives.

WM. F. DOWDEN, farmer. Wm. F. Dowden was born in the state of Maryland, August 13, 1823. When a boy, his father had formerly moved to Ohio, but not liking that state, he removed to Rappahannock county, Virginia, where the subject of this sketch was raised and edu- cated. For some years he was overseer on the plantation of Mr. John Gett, one of the wealthiest men then in Virginia. In 1844, he made a visit to Lafayette county, Missouri, remaining twelve months, and was so pleased with the country and the soil, that he moved to Missouri ten years later, to Lafayette county, and lived five years with Mrs. Shelby, mother of Wm. Shelby, of whom he purchased the farm in Saline county, on which he now lives. In 1857, he was married to Miss Sarah L. Neville, of Warren county, Virginia. His family consists of Henry A., Nancy E., Wm. E., Clinton O., Samuel E., Joseph H., Mabel L., and Eunice. In the fall of 1861, he joined the Confederate army, company D, Gordon's regiment. In 1862, he was transferred to Capt. Kirtley's, afterwards Stallard's company, Marmaduke's escort. He was in the battles of Springfield, Hartsville, and Prairie Grove. Was captured at Springfield, but made his escape and rejoined his command. Surren- dered at St. Louis in 1865, to the provost marshal, and took the oath of allegiance to the United States. He has a fine farm of 340 acres, which averages twenty bushels of wheat, and fifty bushels of corn to the acre.

MICHAEL KELLETT, farmer. Was born in Ireland, in Septem- ber, 1846, and emigrated to America with his sister, in 1866, locating in Saline county, ; Missouri, on Albert Robinson's farm, in Grand Pass township, and went to work for Mr. John Roe. In 1875 he went to Ver- non county, in this state, but returned to Saline in March, 1879, where he has since made his home. In 1876 he was married to Miss Mary Kee- nan, of this county. His family consists of Annie and Mary. Mr. Kel- lett was educated in the national schools of Ireland. When he reached manhood he determined to leave his oppressed country, and cast his for- tunes in America.

ADDISON HUSTON, farmer. Was born in Rockingham county, Virginia, September 15, 1827, where he received his education and train- ing as a farmer, and where he held the office of commissioner of deeds in

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1855. In 1856 his brother George came to this county and bought the farm on which Mr. Huston now resides, having purchased from his brother. When the war broke out he entered Price's army, and partici- pated in the battle of Lexington. He was soon after prostrated by sick- ness, captured by the militia, and took the oath, but rejoined Price and enlisted in Marmaduke's escort in 1864, and surrendered with it at the close of the war. He was married October 25, 1857 to Miss Hannah W. Lewis, daughter of one of the old pioneers. His family consists of: Archibald, George, Elizabeth, Addison, James, Robert, and Nannie, all living, and three dead: William H., Maggie, and Addie. Mr. Huston is a large stock-feeder, and carries on a large farm.

A. M. CREEL, farmer. Mr. (Sandy) Creel was born in what is now West Virginia, June 20, 1820. He attended college at Marietta, Ohio, and afterward the State University of Ohio at Athens. He studied law in Virginia under private tutors, and for a time practiced the profession there. He first came to Missouri on a visit in 1843. In 1849 he deter- mined to move to this state permanently, which he did, and located first in Lafayette county, and afterward, in 1854, in this county, where he has since lived. In 1848 Mr. Creel was married to Miss Selina Poole, of Connecticut. His family consists of Lieut. Heber M. (now in the U. S. A.), Lillie, and May. His father, Dr. David Creel, recently died in Chil- licothe, Ohio, at the age of ninety-three years. During the war a brother, A. M. Creel, was murdered at his residence, south of Waverly, Missouri, by the militia. His farm is on the Waverly and Brownville road. Besides farming, he also raises stock for sale.

DR. G. W. HEREFORD, physician and farmer. Dr. Hereford was born in Point Pleasant, Mason county, Virginia, where King Cornstalk was killed in 1811. He attended the second course of medical lectures ever delivered at the St. Louis Medical College, where he graduated in 1844. He also attended, in 1839, the Gyandotte College, at which was Prof. Dod- ridge, brother of the famous Philip Dodridge, of Philadelphia. His father, John Hereford, was a revolutionary soldier, and served under Washington at the battle of Yorktown, and was at the surrender of Lord Cornwallis. Afterward he was made adjutant-inspector of Gen. Lafayette. He died May 13, 1846, at the age of eighty-eight years. Dr. Hereford was mar- ried in 1841 to Miss Susan North, of Kentucky. His children are: Sarah F. Clark, Mary Z. Francisco, and Georgetta D. Duggins, all of whom are living. He first visited Saline county in 1838, and the country looked so fair to him that in 1844 he moved here with his family, and practiced medicine until 1860, since which time he has given his exclusive attention to his farm.

JAMES S. VANSTONE, miller, P. O., Malta Bend. Mr. James S. Vanstone was born in Brussels, Canada, June 2, 1835. December 22,

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HISTORY OF SALINE COUNTY.

1866, he was married to Miss Hester Robinson, of Canada. He has two children: Fredrick and Derla. Mr. Vanstone was in the milling busi- ness in Canada, before he came to Missouri, and having been engaged in it ever since he has been in Saline county, he has, therefore, been milling during all his life since he arrived at .manhood. In 1871 he started a flouring mill at Laynesville, which he ran for six years, doing a large shipping business on the Missouri river. In 1877 he built the Malta Bend flouring mill, in connection with his brother, Mr. C. H. Vanstone, now of Marshall, Missouri. He is now about to re-fit his mill with new machinery, besides which he owns several farms and other property in Saline county.

F. S. JOHNSON. Mr. F. S. Johnson was born in Clark county, Vir- ginia, April 22, 1829. Moved first to Chariton county, Missouri, in 1845, and in 1851 to Saline county, locating at Miami, where he conducted a hotel, besides working at his trade of carpentering. In 1860 he moved to Brunswick, and again purchased hotel property, which was burnt in 1862. He then returned to Saline in 1864, and farmed for a year. In 1865, he started the Johnson House, in Miami, again, where he died October 15, 1867. He was married, June 29, 18-, to Miss Elizabeth F. Shipp, who still survives him. Mrs. Johnson, with her son Brown, now reside in Malta Bend, and for seven years or more have conducted the Johnson House in Malta Bend, Missouri. Mrs. Johnson has two children: Brown M. and Flora T., who reside with her, and with whose aid she keeps an excellent hotel in Malta Bend.

JAMES M. LEWIS, deceased. Was born in Bath county, Virginia, December 14, 1796, and was the son of Capt. John Lewis, of revolutionary memory. He was mostly educated at home, and there being a large family, at the age of twelve, he was sent to the Crutchfield school, Fall- ing Spring Valley. From there he entered the army in the war of 1812, as a substitute, but as it was near the close of the war, he did not see active service. He then went to school in Staunton, Virginia, then, until he was twenty-one, he traveled most of the time, spending the winters in New Orleans. Was in New Orleans when the first train of cars started there, and describes an immense crowd, waiting with intense excitement, to see them start, and one gentleman who stood beside him, he says, was perfectly silent until the train moved off, and then throwing up his hands exclaimed "hell in harness!" At the age of twenty-one he married one of the daughters of Col. John Dickinson, of near Milboro Springs, Bath county, Virginia. He first settled near the White Sulphur springs, Vir- ginia, farming for several years. He then sold out in Virginia, and moved to Missouri in 1836, and settled on a fine farm near Miami. Lived there about eight years, in which time he lost his wife and eldest son. He and his youngest son moved up to Mr. A. M. Francisco's, and there remained until his second son returned from the Mexican war, in which

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he was a soldier from the beginning to the end. Mr. Lewis then went back to Virginia, and there married again, and remained until the great civil war was over. He returned to Missouri, where his first wife's chil- dren remained, three in number: Mary B., who married the son of Col. John Francisco; John A., who married Miss Crutsinger, of Saline; Charles S., who married in Arrow Rock, and went to Colorado. Of his last set of children, James R. married a lady from Virginia, and settled in Texas; William, S. went west; Margaret A. married Mr. Hite from Virginia, and lives in Saline; H. C. is in Arkansas, and M. H. is settled on a farm in Saline. Mr. Lewis died of paralysis in the 74th year of his age, and was buried in the old family burying-ground of Mr. A. M. Francisco near Mt. Pisgah Church, of which church, Old School Pres- byterian, he was for many years an elder.

WHETZEL LEWIS, P. O., Malta Bend; was born in Henry county, Indiana, near Knightstown, in 1836, where he was educated and raised on a farm. December 4, 1860, he was married, in Jasper county, Indiana, to, Miss Eliza A. Bruner, and has had five children-four living-Eda C., Elmer E., Mary M. and Linnie M. In 1862, he enlisted in the U. S. army and was with the army of the Tennessee, in Sherman's famous march to the sea. He was discharged in June, 1865. In 1871, he moved with his family to this county, where he farmed four years, and since has been blacksmithing about six years at his present stand in the Grand Pass.

E. F. STEVENSON, P. O., Malta Bend. Was born in Franklin county Ohio, May 18, 1842. On the 5th of September, 1867, he was married to Miss V. E. Jackson, of Xenia, Ohio. He was married in Iowa. He has three children: Ella Vanbuskelow, Mont. D. and Minnie E. In 1867 he moved to this county, renting a farm for one year. Afterwards, he bought . a farm of eighty acres near Salt Springs. One year ago he located in Malta Bend.

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History of Saline County, Missouri, Part 76

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