USA > Missouri > Saline County > History of Saline County, Missouri > Part 79
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, WILLIAM K. SMITH, P. O., Brownsville. Mr. Smith is a Mis- sourian by birth. He was born in Saline county, March 7, 1839, and is the son of Jacob and Catherine, who came from Maryland, originally from Germany, to Missouri in 1838, and settled in Saline county. Mr. Smith has spent the principal part of his life on a farm, although he has worked several years as plasterer. He now lives five miles east from Brownsville, and owns 235 acres of good farming and timber land. Mr. Smith was married February 21, 1867, to Miss Mary Elizabeth Kester, of Saline county. They have seven children: Sarah C., Jacob S., Ida J., Wm. H., Ellen F., Hiram M., and Walter L. Mr. Smith enlisted December, 1861, in company H, 10th regiment, Missouri cavalry, Gen. Marmaduke commander. He served through the war, and was dis- charged at Shreveport, June 16, 1865. He was in the battles of Pea Ridge, Jenkins' Ferry, Corinth, Cane Hill, Pine Bluff, and various other skirmishes. Mr. Smith first enlisted in the state guards, but shortly after went south and re-enlisted in the regular army.
CHARLES E. BROWN, P. O., Houstonia. The subject of this sketch is the son of James and Martha Brown, and was born September 17, 1848, in Pettis county, Missouri. His early life was spent on the farm and at school. He was educated at Lexington and Richmond, Missouri. He returned from school to Pettis county, and remained there until. 1879, when he moved to Saline county, and settled in Liberty town- ship, where he has a fine body of 555 acres of land. Mr. Brown was married February 22, 1872, to Miss Lavissa McClanahan, of Pettis county. They have four children: William, Edna, Lucy, Mary.
F. E. HOFFMAN, P. O., Sedalia. The subject of this sketch was born in 1843, in Erfurt, Prussia, and is the son of Fred. W. and Wilhemina Hoffman. His early life was spent at school. In 1852, he came to the United States and settled in Brooklyn, New York, where he remained for three years, when he went to Milwaukee and attended Lincoln's com- mercial college, where he graduated. In 1867, Mr. Hoffman was elected
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general agent and adjuster of claims for the states of Missouri, Kansas and Colorado, of the German Insurance Company, which position he still holds. He is a man of ability and fine business habits, and enjoys the confidence of his company. Mr. Hoffman was married in 1868 to Miss Emma C. Ross, of Bloomington, Illinois. They have four children: Fred, George E., Joy H. and Florence B. Mr. Hoffman is owner of the McAllister springs, situated in the south part of Saline county. These springs are noted for the medicinal properties of the water and are a great place. of resort for the invalids and pleasure seekers. Mr. Hoffman has passed all of the chairs in both the subordinate and encampment lodges of I. O. O. F. He served as D. D. G. M., at Burlington, Iowa.
E. S. HERNDON, P. O., Herndon. Was born in Cooper county, Missouri, in 1838, where he was raised and educated, and lived to 1861, when he moved to this county. In 1865, he was married to Miss Lucy A. McMahan, daughter of S. W. McMahan, and has had six children, four of whom are living: Hattie R., Samuel R., Alma and Sallie. Mr. Herndon is a member of the Old School Presbyterian church, at Herndon; is a member of the Masonic lodge, at Herndon, and also of the I. O. O.F. lodge. His health did not permit him to enter either army during the war. He is merchandising at Herndon, and carries a large stock. He bought out the first store started in Herndon, and has accumulated a handsome prop- erty.
W. M. STEPHENS, P. O., Herndon. Was born in Cooper county, Missouri, in 1828, and was there raised and educated. After he was grown, he moved to Morgan county, and there lived five years. In 1857, he came to this county, and settled on the farm where he now lives. He was married on the 14th of May, 1851, to Miss Mary M. Witcher, daugh- ter of James Witcher, of this county, and has had eight children, seven now living: James, Jesse, Nancy E. (Mrs. Faulconer), Amanda A., Vir- ginia (Mrs. Riggins), William and Mary R. During the war he was in the southern army (see record). His farm consists of 222 acres of fine land, finely improved, and well stocked, all of which has been made by his own industry.
WILLIAM M. TAYLOR, P. O., Herndon. Was born in Howard county, Missouri, in 1826, and at the age of five was brought by his mother to this county, his father having previously died. His mother settled in the southeast part of the county, where they lived until 1837, when they moved to Ridge Prairie, and lived there until 1865, and then moved to the place which he now owns. In 1875 he moved into Herndon, where he now lives. In 1846 he was married to Miss Elizabeth A. Hunt, daughter of James Hunt, and has nine children: James T., Mary O. (Mrs. Finley), Zacharia, Maggie R. (Mrs. Wingfield), Melinda J. (Mrs. Champion), Nancy E. (Mrs. Mennafee), William M. Jr., Harry A., and
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.Robert N. His first wife died in 1867, and he was married to Mrs. M. Ferguson, of Saline, his present wife, in 1868. During the war Mr. Tay- lor was in the Federal army four months, in Capt. Hopkins' company, but was in no battle or fight. Started to the Mexican war in 1846, but was stopped by sickness. He has an interest in the Herndon mill, and has some fine farming land. He has just erected a postoffice building in Herndon (he being postmaster), in which he intends putting a full stock of hardware. Is a member of C. P. Church; member of I. O. O. F .; also of I. O. G. T.
WILLIAM T. CLAYCOMB, P. O., Herndon. Was born in Berk- ley county, Virginia, in 1823, where he lived until 1842; and then moved to Missouri, and settled in Saline county, living with his father, northeast of Mar- shall, and then moved to the Tucker farm, east of Jonesboro. He lived there until 1856, when he moved to the farm on which he now lives, near the present town of Herndon. In 1847 he was married to Miss Josephine Allison, daughter of Thomas Allison, of Cooper county. They have had four children, two of whom are living: Thomas J., farming in the vicinity of Herndon, and W. F., living on the home place with his father. In 1850 Mr. Claycomb went to California across the plains, and after teaming and mining for a time, returned across the isthmus of Panama. During the war he enlisted as a private in the 7th regiment M. S. M. In March, 1862, he, with a squad of his company, released twelve men belonging to Capt. Kaiser's company E, 12th regiment infantry Mo. Vol., who had been captured by a party of rebels from north of the river, making their way south, and had been confined in Rock Creek Church, and left guarded by a few men. The rebels decamped without fighting. The church was burned. In 1874 Mr. Claycomb was one of the firm of Tay- lor & Claycomb, engaged in merchandising in Herndon, in which he con- tinued for two years. He has now retired from active farming, his son running the farm under his direction. He started in life a poor man, but by hard work and good management has accumulated a good estate. Has 375 acres of land, and considerable property besides.
R. S. GIVAN, farmer, P. O., Marshall. Was born in Worcester county, Maryland, in 1836. When still but a boy, his father moved to Shelby county, Missouri, where he grew to manhood. In 1865 he went to the mountains through Dakota, Montana, and Idaho, making the trip with ox teams, and returning by Salt Lake City. He was attacked twice by the Indians, but lost no men. He then engaged in mining around Vir- ginia City, and then came home, being absent about nine months. On his return he traveled over 2,000 miles on the Yellowstone and Missouri rivers on a flatboat. In 1873 he moved to Saline county and located one mile and a half south of Marshall. In 1860 he was married to Miss Emily Blackburn, of Shelby county, Missouri. They have had seven
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children, only four of whom are living, viz: Mary K., Minnie R., Emma U., and the baby, Robbie, all at home. Moved to his present home March, 1881. Did not have much of a start in life, but now has 480 acres of land, about 160 acres of fine bottom land.
JACOB HOOK, son of James and Sallie Hook, of Rockingham county, Virginia, where he was born, April 3, 1823, and was raised and educated. On the 19th of October, 1852, he was married to Miss Sallie A. Taylor, daughter of George and Elizabeth Taylor, of Albemarle county, Virginia, and has two children: Victoria V. (Wilson), and J. Mar- shall. He has a fine 140 acre farm in a high state of cultivation, known as the Woodland Home. Since his death, April 14, 1873, his son has had charge of the farm and of his widowed mother.
JOHN L. WILLIAMS, P. O., Brownsville. The father of the sub- ject of this sketch, Lemuel B. Williams, was born in Christian county, Kentucky, where he was married, and came to Cooper county, Missouri, in 1841, then moved to Pettis county in 1842, and died in 1854, leaving seven children. John L. was born in this county in 1842, and was raised in Liberty township, near the Pettis county line. In 1864. he married Miss Mary E. Matheas, of Pettis county. She died in 1866, and in 1868 he married Miss Eliza Surber, daughter of Jefferson Surber, of this county. They have five children: Charles E., Dudley, John T., Thomas J., and Oneie V., all boys, and living at home. In the war he enlisted in company B, 7th cavalry M. S. M. His first battle was at Marshall, against Shelby, and was in a good many skirmishes in the southern part of the state. He enlisted February, 1862, and was discharged April, 1865. After the war he came back to Saline county and went to farm- ing. From 1857 to 1861 he was employed in carrying the mail, and thus has served Uncle Sam seven years of his life. He is a member of the Baptist Church, with membership at Antioch. He started in life with very small means, and now has 130 acres of splendid land, well stocked.
JESSE T. WITCHER, P. O., Marshall. Was born in Howard county, Missouri, in 1847, and in 1856 came to this county, and settled in Lib- erty township, with his parents. At that time $5.00 per acre was the highest price paid for land, and $2.50 a very common price. His father raised a family of ten children, all of whom located in this county. He pur- chased a farm of 360 acres of choice land, for $1,360. Mr. Witcher was married to Miss Nancy E. Gresham, daughter of Jonathan Gresham, of Saline county. He has' had eight children, of whom five are now living: James T. (living in Santa Fe, N. M.), Wm. Henry, Jesse T. (also living in New Mexico), Walter Walker, and Emmet Lee. His wife died in 1874. In December, 1875, he married his present wife, Miss Mary E. Gresham, her father being one of the first settlers of Johnson county, Missouri, and has had four children, three of them living: Ettie,
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Ella Ethel, and Sarah Pearl, the baby. Mr. Witcher is a member of the Christian Church, membership at Antioch, and is also a mason, belonging to the lodge at Herndon. In 1864 he entered the Confederate army, and was one of Stallard's company of Marmaduke's escort. Previous to going to the army he was ordered to join the militia, and was at Marshall at the time of Shelby's raid, but did not participate in the fight. In 1864 he was paid off, and then went to Price's army, and was in the battles of Big and Little Blue, Westport, Newtonia, Little Osage, etc. In the retreat through the Indian Territory he was twenty-seven days without bread or salt. James Witcher, father of Jesse T., was born in Pittsylvania county, Virginia, in 1810. Came to Missouri in 1833, and settled in Howard county, and lived there two years. Then moved to Elk Lick Spring, which he improved. It was a noted summer resort previous to the war, and is a splendid mineral spring.
MARSHALL TOWNSHIP.
JOSEPH BAKER, farmer, P. O., Marshall. Was born in Ross county, Ohio, in 1822. His early life was passed on a farm. Was edu- cated in the public schools. In April, 1846, he was married to Miss Char- lotte Byers, of same county. Ten children were born to them, as follows: Wm. Joseph, Edward, Josiah, Minerva, wife of Chas. Norton, of Slater; John, Elisha, Theodore and James. In 1861, Mr. Baker enlisted in the Federal army, Capt. S. Orange's company, under Gen. Sigel. Although a private, he was given the title of "Col." by his comrades, for valorous conduct at the battle of Strasburg, Virginia, having assumed command of his regiment, which, with its officers, was in full retreat, ordering it to halt and face the enemy, which command was obeyed, resulting finally in the total rout of the Confederates. He was engaged at the second battle of Bull Run, where he, with 1,200 others, was taken prisoner, paroled and sent to Columbus, Ohio. He was suffering then, and is now, from a dis- ease contracted in the service, in consequence of which he has made appli- cation for a pension. After the war, he returned to his home in Ross county, Ohio, where he resided until 1871, when he came to Saline county and engaged in farming and dealing in stock.
CONRAD OSER, farmer and overseer of the poor farm, P. O., Mar- shall. Was born in Ripley county, Indiana, in 1845. Was educated there. Served as an apprentice to the carpenter trade in Aurora, Dearborn county, for seven years. In 1863, he went to Boone county, Kentucky, where he followed his trade for six years, in Belleview. Mr. Oser was married in 1869, to Miss Isadora Loudon, of Boone county, Kentucky, by whom he had four children: Emma, Susan, Mattie and William. In
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1869 he came to Saline county, and located near Arrow Rock, where he engaged in farming for several years, afterwards working at his trade in said city. He took possession of the county poor farm in March, 1880, which has improved much under his careful management.
JOSEPH C. CLARK, farmer, P. O., Marshall. Was born in county Dublin, city of Dublin, in 1855, where he was raised and educated. At the age of sixteen, he came to America, his parents, now dead, having emigrated before him. Landing in New York, he remained there a short time, and then went to Ross county, Ohio, where he farmed for seven years. In January, 1877, he left Ohio, and located in this county, where he has since resided, engaged in farming. He is industrious and trustworthy, and a credit alike to the " Emerald Isle" and the land of his adoption.
WILLIAM R. MILLER, farmer, P. O., Marshall. Is a native of this state and county; born, near Malta Bend, in 1853. Was educated in this county, and raised on a farm. His father, Robert Miller, was a native of Rockingham county, Virginia, coming to this county at an early period in its history. He was emphatically one of the pioneer settlers of this section, and had been closely identified with its progress and development. He died in 1855, deeply regretted by all who knew him. His widow has since married Mr. John Kiser. Wm. R. is now engaged in farming, paying considerable attention to stock-raising. He is a young man of more than ordinary promise, and is highly respected by the community in which he resides.
JAMES P. ADAMS, farmer, P. O., Marshall. Born in Henry county, Kentucky, April 4, 1846. When three years of age his father's family moved to Saline county, locating on a farm. He was educated in the common schools of said county. He married Miss Lillie Shannon, a native of Henry county, Kentucky. They have one child, Ollie May. In 1864 he enlisted in Capt. Harris' company, Col. Wood's battalion, Gen. Marmaduke's division. He was engaged in the following battles: Blues, Independence, Westport, Little Osage, Newtonia and all others in which his command took part during the raid. He surrendered at Shreveport and returned home. He now resides on a farm two and one-half miles east of Marshall.
JOHN K. LEWIS, farmer, P. O., Marshall. Born in Saline county, March 2, 1842. He is the eighth child of Geo. W. Lewis. Was raised on a farm and educated at the place of his birth. In 1862 he enlisted in Capt. Geo. Kirtley's company, Col. Shelby's regiment, Marmaduke's division. He participated in the following battles: Coon Creek, Prairie Grove, Helena; Little Rock, Mansfield, Newtonia, Pineville, Pleasant Hill (Louisiana), Jenkins' Ferry and Camden. At the battle of Helena he was wounded by a minnie ball in the left leg and struck in the right
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HISTORY OF SALINE COUNTY.
side by a piece of shell which broke three of his ribs, which laid him up for seven months, being taken care of by Maj. Clark, now of Booneville. He remained south until the surrender at Shreveport, when he returned home. March 2, 1872, he married Mattie Peterson, a native of Saline county. They had five children, two now living: Hattie E. and James S. He now resides three miles east of Marshall, upon a fine farm.
JAMES M. ODELL, farmer and stock-raiser, P. O., Marshall. Born in Saline county, October 14, 1844. He is the second child of William Odell. Was educated in the public schools of Saline county. Was raised on a farm. In November, 1877, he married Miss Ollie Jesler, a native of Nodaway county, Missouri. They have two children, girls: Ara Belle and Ida. At present he is engaged in farming and stock- raising, four miles east of Marshall. In 1864, he enlisted in Capt. Davis' company, Col. Wood's battalion, Gen. Shelby's division. He was engaged in the following battles: Waverly, Blues, Westport. His company was not engaged in the battle at Independence, it being upon the left wing.
JOHN T. MORELAND, farmer and stock-raiser, P. O., Marshall. Born in Bourbon county, Kentucky, August 15, 1857. Was educated at a private school in the same county, and also at the Edgar Military Insti- tute, Paris, Kentucky. His father, Thos. R., was a native of Bourbon county. He married Catherine T. Hedges. They had eight children, seven of whom are now living. Thos. R. died in Illinois, in January, 1864. His wife is still living there. At the age of six years, John T., the sixth child, went to live with his aunt, Mary A. Scott, who raised him. She lived in Paris, Kentucky, until the year 1858, when she came to Saline county, and bought a farm near where John T. is now residing. She then went to Illinois, where she has remained ever since. John T. is now residing on an excellent stock farm of 450 acres, where he is giving special attention to the raising of blooded stock.
ENOS DULL, farmer and stock-raiser, P. O., Marshall. Born in Augusta county, Virginia, November 23, 1819. Was raised on a farm. Was educated in the same county. September 7, 1843, he married Sallie Hanger, a native of the same place. They had no children. His wife died in 1847, and was buried at Mt. Tabor. He was again married to Miss Angeline Stauffer, a native of Maryland. They have two daugh- ters: Lizzie Virginia and Lillie Ann. Up to this time he was engaged in milling. In 1848 he came to Saline county and lived for two years on what is now known as the Stephen Smith farm. In 1850 he bought the farm on which he now resides, six miles southeast of Marshall, consisting of 100 acres of excellent land. In 1864 he enlisted in the Confederate army, Capt. Payne's company, Gen. Shelby's division. Was engaged in the following battles: Independence, Blues, Little Osage, and all other
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engagements in which his command participated. At the battle of Little Osage he was nearly covered with dirt thrown up by a cannon ball.
RICHARD E. HOLMES, farmer and stockraiser, P. O., Marshall. Born in Prince William county, Virginia, April 24, 1826. Was educated in same place. Raised on a farm. January 12, 1854, he married Char- lotte C. Peters, a native of Fauquier county, Virginia. They had nine children, four of whom are now living, three daughters and one son: Laura L., Bettie, Annie R., and Willie S. In 1857 he moved to Saline county, locating near Marshall, where he remained for two years. In 1860 he purchased the farm upon which he now resides, consisting of 240 acres of good farm land, which by steady application he has developed into a well appointed farm. In the fall of 1861 he enlisted in Captain Emmerson's company and was captured at Blackwater. He was held prisoner at St. Louis for three months, when he took the oath of loyalty and came home.
CHARLES N. MARTIN, farmer and stock-raiser, P. O., Marshall. Born in Shelby county, Kentucky, January 28, 1815. His father, Peter, was a native of Virginia, and came to Kentucky when a boy. He mar- ried Sallie Neal, by whom he had twelve children, six of whom are now living, four sons and two daughters. He died January 1, 1863. His wife died, January 20, 1867. Both are buried in Henry county, Ken- tucky. Charles N., the sixth child, was educated in Shelby county. He lived with his father on a farm until he was thirty-two years of age. November 26, 1846, he married Lavinia Smith, a native of Henry county. They had seven children, six of whom are now living, three sons and three daughters: Isaac P., James L., John C. B., Mary E. A., Lucy C., Mignonette. After his marriage, he lived in Henry county for about eight years, removing from there to Saline county, where he settled upon the farm where he now resides, situated six miles southeast of Marshall, consisting of 240 acres of very fine, well improved land. He is a mem- ber of the Baptist Church. His wife is a member of the M. E. Church, South. He has served as school director during two terms.
BENJAMIN F. PAUL, farmer, P. O., Marshall. Born in Woodford county, Kentucky, August 5, 1837. His father, Henry L. Paul, was only four years of age when his father went to Woodford county, Kentucky. He was a farmer. He married Catherine McKee, a native of Bourbon county, Kentucky. They had ten children, six of whom are now living. Henry L. Paul died in 1870, at the ripe age of ninety-seven. His wife died in 1849, September 3d. Both lie buried in Woodford county. Benjamin F., the eighth child, was educated in the public schools of Woodford county. In the fall of '54, he came, with his father, to Saline county, where he remained a year, assisting his brothers, James H. and
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Samuel, with their farming. Returning home at the end of that time, he remained there till 1860, where he settled in Saline county, living with his brothers, keeping bachelor's hall. In November, 1861, he enlisted in Capt. Emmerson's company, which was captured at Blackwater. He was not captured, being ordered by the Captain to wait for some others who were to follow. While waiting, the balance of the company were captured. In February, 1862, he re-enlisted in Capt. Englehart's com- pany, which started to join Gen. Price. They arrived within thirty-five miles of Grand river. Finding all of the crossings guarded by Federals, they determined to return to Marshall, and wait till the river could be crossed. On the evening of their return, the whole company was cap- tured by Capt. Ostermeyer, with the exception of Benjamin F. Paul, Thomas O'Donnell, Jo. Allen, William Russell and Charlie Fitz. Mr. Paul then went to Kentucky, where he remained till the close of the war. July 24, 1867, he married, in Bourbon county, Catherine Shropshire, a native of Scott county, Kentucky. After living in Kentucky one and a half years, he came to Saline county, and settled one mile north of where he now resides. In 1872 he removed to the farm where he now is, given him by his father, consisting of 240 acres of hemp land. It is one of the best stock farms in the county, being watered by Dick's creek, and some six or seven good springs. Six children were born to him-two now liv- ing, William B. and Lucy Anna. His wife has been a member of the Christian Church since the age of eighteen.
JACOB F. SMITH, farmer, P. O., Marshall. Born in Boone county, April 14, 1854. His father, Henry Smith, was a native of Kentucky. At the age of fourteen, he came to Boone county, where he married Henri- etta Houck. Twelve children were born to them, eight of whom are now living. In 1877, he removed his family to Cooper county, where they now reside. Jacob F., the fifth child, obtained his education in the public schools of Boone county. His early life was spent on a farm. At the age of twenty-two, he left the homestead, and for two years was foreman on tie-work, in Boone and Cooper counties, for John B. Readmon. In . March, 1879, he came to the farm, consisting of 80 acres of fine tillable land, situated five and a half miles southeast of Marshall. August 5, 1880, he married Lucy Roberts, a native of Boone county, Missouri. In 1879, he served, for a short time, as deputy sheriff.
JAMES L. MARTIN, farmer and stock-raiser, P. O., Marshall. Born in Henry county, Kentucky, November 5, 1851. He is the second child of Charles N. Martin. He was three years of age when his father and family moved to Saline county. He obtained his education in the Saline county common schools. His early life was spent on a farm. In 1872 he married Susannah Campbell, a native of Mercer county, Ken- tucky, and daughter of John Campbell. Five children are the fruit of
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