History of Saline County, Missouri, Part 92

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

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CURTIS W. PENDLETON, P. O., Miami. Mr. C. W. Pendleton was born in Todd county, Kentucky, February 15, 1826, and is a relative of Rev. J. M. Pendleton, the noted Baptist minister. He lived with his. father on a farm in Kentucky until he was ten years old, when his father moved to Boone county, Missouri, where he died eighteen months after- ward. At the age of sixteen Curtis began to learn the trade of harness and saddle making, in Fayette, Howard county, Missouri, and remained there five years. At the end of this time he volunteered as a teamster in the Mexican war, being out one year. In September, 1849, he moved to Miami, Missouri, and commenced in business. In 1861 he volunteered

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in Robinson's command, and was captured, with the command, the second day out, on the Blackwater. Was kept prisoner three months, when he was released, on taking the oath. He then went to St. Louis and entered a wholesale saddle house as a salesman, where he remained two years. In July, 1865, he returned to his business in Miami, where he has remained ever since. Besides three years trade, he lost by the war $4,000, and returned to Miami, in 1865, broke. He went to work like the man he is, and at the present time carries a fine stock of goods in his line, besides a remunerative trade. Owns his business house and resi- dence. In May, 1850, he married Miss Mary A. Hicklin. Their children are Mrs. Emma Armstrong, of St. Louis, and Annie L., both living, and three dead. They have also an adopted daughter, Lillie. He has been a member of the Baptist Church since 1844, and was one of the organizing members of that church at Miami. Is a deacon of the church. He is a Sunday school man; is a member of the Good Templar order, and also a member of the city government.

JOHN M. CASEBOLT, P. O., Miami. Was born in Miami town- ship, on the 5th of March, 1856, and was raised on the farm. After the usual schooling of country boys, he finished his education at the Kirks- ville state normal school. After some experience in teaching, he com- menced in business in Miami just two years ago, and is one of the enter- prising business men of that place. On the 25th of December, 1878, he was married to Miss Laura Parcell, of Kirksville, Mo., having one child: Effie. He is a member of the Christian Church, and is secretary and treasurer of the Sunday school.

HENRY MERTENS, P. O., Miami. Was born in Prussia, near Cologne, August 19, 1823, where he was raised and educated in the country. In 1848, at the age of twenty-five, he crossed the Atlantic, landing at New Orleans. The voyage was long and tedious, he being on the ocean sixty days. From New Orleans he went direct to St. Louis, where he remained one year, thence to Glasgow, Missouri, where he also remained about one year. He then came on to Miami, Missouri, laboring at various kinds of work, burning lime kilns, running a saw- mill, etc. On the day President Lincoln was assassinated, April, 1865, he commenced the drug trade, and now carries a fine stock of drugs, etc. Of course the war brought him both trouble and loss, as it did nearly all. At its close he just had $428, with which to do business, and to sup- port a family. Now he has a handsome residence, a large brick business house, besides his stock, and a farm in Carroll county, Missouri, and a stockholder in the Miami Savings Bank. In 1855 he was married to Miss Margaret Smith, of Booneville, and to them have been born eleven children, nine of which are now living, and eight of these are daughters. He is a member of the German Lutheran Church, is a chapter member of

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A. F. & A. M., and encampment member of I. O. O. F., and has been a member of the city council. From exposure and overheating in trying to save the property of others at a warehouse fire, he almost lost his voice, and for years could not speak above a whisper, but is now pretty well restored. He learned to read English while working for John P. Scott, in 1852. He is an able financier.

JOHN F. CARR, merchant, P. O., Miami. Was born in Adams county, Illinois, July 3, 1853. He was raised on a farm, receiving his education mostly from the public schools, and completing it in Lafayette College, Howard county, Missouri. He came to Saline county, in 1868, where he has since made his home. In March, 1874, he married Miss Rebecca Williams. Four children: Annie P., Nellie F., William F. and James F., have been born to them, all, except James, are living, who is dead. Mr. Carr is a member of the Christian Church, as is his wife also. He is an earnest Sunday school man. He is the pro- prietor of the only agricultural implement house in Miami, and carries a large and complete stock of agricultural implements.

DR. DANIEL F. BELL, physician and surgeon, P. O., Miami. Dr. Bell was born in what is now Jefferson county, West Virginia, December 1, 1839. His father was engaged in farming and milling, and hence he was raised in the country. He was educated at a private school. In 1861 he enlisted in the 12th Virginia cavalry, as a private, and served in Virginia during the war. He went through the war from Harper's Ferry, at the beginning, to the surrender at Appomattox court house, and partici- pated in all the great battles of the Virginia campaigns. In June, 1863, he was wounded in the left arm in a charge at Brandy Station, which resulted in an excision of the elbow joint. He was assistant provost mar- shal at various points. After the war he entered the medical department of the University of Virginia and took one term, then entered the same department of the University of Maryland, and graduated from that insti- tution in 1867. He came immediately to Miami, Saline county, Missouri, and in 1869 commenced the practice of his profession, in which he has built up a large and paying practice. He has been very successful with various stubborn diseases and forms of disease. In May, 1875, Dr. Bell was married to Miss Emma, daughter of John C. Scott, to whom has been born one child, Mattie. He is a member of the Baptist Church, is a Royal Arch Mason, and is high priest at present of the Miami chapter, is also a member of the A. O. U. W. As the war had destroyed all his property, Dr. Bell came to Miami with nothing but his brain and his pro- fession, and has won a competency for himself and family.

JOHN P. SCOTT, merchant, P. O., Miami. Mr. John P. Scott, son of Olley and Mary Scott, was born in Salem, Indiana, July 24, 1819. His parents died in 1827, and from that time he was reared to manhood by

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Dr. Burr Bradley, of Indiana. He was educated at the seminary of his native town. He did not remain as long at school as was his wish, in consequence of the necessity of making his own living. He served as apprentice for five years in a trading and manufacturing company, and then turned his eyes to the West as opening a more inviting field to a young man. In August, 1841, he landed at Booneville, Missouri, entered the store of S. & P. Beck as a clerk, and remained with them two years. A business connection was about this time formed between himself and Judge R. E. McDaniel, and continued one year longer in Booneville. In April, 1844, in connection with Judge McDaniel, he came to Saline county, and established a store in Miami, under the firm name of McDaniel & Scott. In March, 1844, he was married to Miss Elvira A. Weir, daughter of James and Jane Weir, who had formerly lived in Washington county, Indiana, but who had since removed to Iowa. The couple arrived in Miami in April, 1844, and have lived there ever since. In 1847 Mr. Scott dissolved his connection with McDaniel and established the "cash and barter store," which he has conducted to the present time. During the throes of the civil war, his business suffered a severe check in common with so many others, and from 1863 to 1865 he was compelled to suspend business, in consequence of the impossibility of meeting his lia- bilities in the east. But when the cruel war was over he again estab- lished himself in business at the old stand, and won back his credit in the east. A New York merchant, speaking of Mr. Scott, is reported to have said that he was the only Missouri country merchant that he knew of who had paid dollar for dollar the debts contracted by him during the war. Mr. Scott is the oldest merchant in Miami, and for many years has been a prominent business factor in the commercial history of Saline county. Two daughters, Mrs. Eva W. Miller and Miss Hebe, still living, have blessed his wedded life.

JONAS A. SAUFLEY, merchant, P. O., Miami. The subject of this sketch was born in Virginia, in 1820. In 1840, at the age of twenty, in company with another young man, Mr. James Lynn, he came to Mis- souri, and landed in Miami in the fall of that year, and determined at once to make Saline county his future home. For some years he lived with Col. John Brown, on his farm six miles south of Miami, dividing his time between assisting on the farm and in hunting. The entire county, at that time, abounded in game, and many a splendid buck has fallen before the unerring aim of Mr. Saufley in his sporting days. In the year 1847, and the twenty-seventh year of his age, Mr. Saufley married Miss Martha J. Brown, daughter of William Brown, one of the old settlers of the county. Soon after his marriage, Mr. Saufley entered the mercantile business, but after three years, he sold off his stock, and settled on a farm, six miles southwest of Miami, raw prairie. He increased this farm in a few

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years, from 160 acres of raw prairie land, to 600 acres of finely cultivated land, which he still owns. In 1862 he returned to Miami, and in 1865, begun the business of commission merchant, to which he soon added a stock of general merchandise, in which he is now engaged. During the war he was robbed several times, and lost heavily in slave property, yet by dint of persevering industry and economy, he has accumulated a handsome fortune. Mr. Saufley has raised a fine family of two sons and five daughters, of whom the eldest married A. R. Edmonds, druggist of Miami. The second daughter is the wife of Geo. Hahn, dry goods mer- chant of Miami.

DR. MARSHALL A. BROWN, P. O., Miami. The subject of this sketch was born in Albemarle county, Virginia, July 24, 1833, and is the son of Edmond and Theodosia Brown. When about three years old his father moved from the old dominion to Saline county, Missouri, and set- tled on a farm near the present town of Arrow Rock. In 1848, he moved to near Miami. The doctor was raised on a farm. When about seven- teen years old he entered a store in Miami, as clerk. In a year or so he became partner in a drug store and continued in the trade until 1859, read- ing medicine during his leisure hours. In the spring of 1860, he attended the medical department of the University of Virginia, and in the spring of 1861, graduated from the Jefferson Medical College, of Philadelphia. He returned to Miami, intending there to enter on the practice of his pro- fession, but found the country plunged in the horrors of civil war. Dr. Brown enlisted on the Confederate side, at first, in the Missouri state guard, which later became a part of the Confederate army. He was made regimental surgeon, with the rank of major of cavalry, and remained with the army until the close of the war, in the spring of 1865. Returning to Miami in the summer of 1865, he began the practice of medicine, in connection with the drug trade, and continued until 1872, when he quit practice, in consequence of declining health, and devoted his whole atten- tion to the store, which business he still continues. In April, 1871, Dr. Brown was married to Miss Mattie Waters, of Boone county, Missouri, and to them were born Edmond and Gertrude, both living. Mrs. Brown died in January, 1876. Dr. Brown is a Royal Arch member of A. F. & A. M., and has represented his chapter in the Grand Chapter. He is a great lover of hunting, and is one of the keenest sportsmen in the country, and devotes a large portion of his time to this healthy and manly exercise. He is also passionately devoted to music, and delights beyond measure in the "harmony of sweet sounds."

REV. WM. M. BELL. The Rev. Wm. M. Bell was born in Rich- mond county, Virginia, July 23, 1823, and is a son of Thomas V. and Elizabeth Bell. His parents died when he was but two years old, leaving him to the care of friends, who reared him in the country until 1837,

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when, at the age of fourteen, he came to Missouri. In 1838 he entered one of the schools at Booneville, Missouri. In 1839 he was clerk in a dry goods store in Clinton, Missouri, and worked for several firms in this capacity. In the year 1844 he was married to Mary N., daughter of Judge R. E. McDaniel, of Saline county, Missouri, and settled five miles east of Miami, on a farm; and in the autumn of 1846, he united with the Baptist Church, at Bethel, in Saline county. He soon began to speak in public after entering the church, and in 1848 was licensed by the Bethel Church to preach, and in 1850 he was ordained. Very soon after his ordination he was called to the pastoral charge of the First Baptist Church in Miami, and in a short time, also to the pastoral charge of the Bethel Church, remaining pastor of these two churches until 1858. In 1858 he resigned his pastoral care, and became agent for the board of ministerial education of the William Jewel College, and in five months raised $10,000 in cash and bonds. Constituted a church in Arrow Rock, in 1851. Was for some years pastor of Good Hope Church. In 1860, assisted by A. P. Williams, he constituted the Union Church, and became its pastor, and, with brief intervals, has continued its pastor to the present day. Was three years pastor of the church in Marshall, and for a short period pastor of the Fish Creek Church.

DR. J. N. DUNLAP, physician and surgeon, P. O., Miami. Dr. Dunlap was born on the 29th of July, 1822, in Staunton, Augusta county, Virginia, and is the son of John and Isabella A. Dunlap. He was mostly reared in the town, and his education received in the Staunton academy. At the age of sixteen he began to read medicine in a private office, where he continued until twenty years of age, when he entered the medical department of the university of Virginia, from which he graduated at the completion of his course. In 1843 he commenced the practice of medi- cine in Greenbriar county, Virginia; but in October, 1844, he removed to Miami, Saline county, Missouri, where he began the practice of his pro- fession. At the breaking out of the war with Mexico in 1846, he volun- teered in company K, Second regiment, Missouri volunteers, and was present at the seige of Taos, and in several skirmishes in New Mexico. In March, 1847, he was appointed assistant surgeon of the regiment, which position he filled until honorably discharged at Fort Leavenworth, October, 1847. He then returned to Miami, and resumed his practice, and remained there until 1857, when he moved to Rockport, Atchison county, Missouri, and tried merchandising, remaining there about fifteen months, when he returned to Miami, a poorer but a wiser man. He resumed his practice again, and continued there until 1860, when he removed to Arrow Rock, in this county, to practice medicine, and contin- ued there until 1864, when be became tired of being between two fires, and struck out for Canada. Returned in March, 1865 to Saline county,

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and resumed his profession, first in Arrow Rock, and later in Miami, where he has remained ever since. The results of the war left him once more bankrupt, but by hard work and good management, he has again accumulated a fair competency. During all his life he has enjoyed the confidence of the people around him, and has always been very successful in the practice of his profession. In May, 1850, he was married to Miss Sarah M. Brown, and to this union were born: Sarah J., Edmund J. and John A. His wife died June, 1857. His second wife, Miss Maria A. Mitchell, is still living. Mary M., William E., Arthur H. and Robert R., are the fruit of his last marriage. The doctor is a great reader, and of late years has turned his attention to geology, botany and archæology, and has a fine cabinet of geological specimens.

HENRY FERRIL, pioneer. This early pioneer was one of the first settlers in the county of Saline. He was born in Kentucky, January 27, 1794, and lived there until he had reached the age of fourteen, when in 1808, he moved to Missouri, and to Saline county in 1818. He settled in the Miami bottom, two miles from Miami. January 28, 1819, he mar- ried Martha Jones. He established the Miami ferry, and located the present town of Miami, and was its first president. Died in 1854. Quite a number of his descendants are now living in Saline county.

JUDGE JESSE J. FERRIL, cabinet maker. Is the oldest son of Henry and Martha Ferril, and was born near Miami, January 1, 1822. He was raised on the farm until the age of fourteen, when he took charge of his father's ferry, remaining in charge until he was twenty-one years of age. Was educated in the subscription schools of his neighborhood. While working at the ferry during, the winter months, he learned the trade of wheelwright, and in 1845 opened a shop and worked at his trade, and cabinet making. Also burnt brick kilns during the summer seasons. In early days he made spinning-wheels, wooden sausage-grinders, and broom-corn headers, and to-day owns the only cabinet shop in Miami. He was married, October 15, 1857, to Miss Mary C. E. Goode, of Frank- lin county, Missouri. During the war he was a member of the state militia, and at the end of three months, was elected county judge, and thereafter excused from military duty. He held the office from 1862 to 1866. He has been notary public for fourteen years, and mayor of the town of Miami ever since 1866. He has been a member of the Board of Education of his town for three years past, and has always been earn- est and liberal in educational matters. Lost heavily by security debts which he was compelled to pay, on account of the disasters of the war. Owns several lots in town, besides his residence and business house.

AUGUST ROYER, JR., P. O., Miami. Is the son of August and Elizabeth Royer, and was born in St. Louis, June 4, 1849. When August was about two years of age, his father moved to Miami, in Saline county,

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Missouri, there located in business, and there the subject of this sketch was reared, and educated in the Miami academy. In June, 1874, August was married to Miss Josephine Dill, and to this union were born Gussie and Elizabeth, both living. Mrs. Royer died February 3d, 1880. August Royer is a member of the Episcopal Church, is a Master Mason, and a member of the I. O. O. F., and is also a member of the Good Templars. Mr. Royer was raised to his business, and is one of the live men of Miami, enjoys the confidence of the citizens, and has a large trade. He believes in using printer's ink, as do all successful business men, and has been largely successful in his busi- ness. He advertises extensively, but with great judgment, changing his advertisements every week, and advertising has paid him well, as it always does when judiciously applied. Mr. Royer is a member of the city council of Miami, and is also a director of the Saline county A. and M. association.

LUTHER J. HAMNER, banker, P. O., Miami. Is the cashier of the Miami Savings Bank, in Miami, Saline county, Missouri. He was born in Buckingham county, Virginia, April 3, 1844, where he was reared on a plantation. At the age of sixteen, he entered the University of Virginia, but in 1862, when but seventeen years of age, he volunteered in the south- ern army, and was made second lieutenant in company I, 49th regiment Vir- ginia infantry, of which regiment ex-Governor Billy Smith was colonel. In 1863 he was promoted to first lieutenant, and was acting adjutant of the regiment the last two years of the war. He was wounded in the neck at Fair Oaks, April, 1862, and at Hatch's Run in February, 1865, in both thighs. He was in the seven days fight around Richmond, at Williams- burg, and at all the subsequent battles of Lee, Jackson, and Early, except Antietam, and was at the final surrender at Appomattox court house. After the war closed, he moved, first to Union county, Kentucky, where he taught school for eighteen months, and then moved to Saline county, Missouri, and located in Miami. Soon after, he entered the private bank of James H. Eakin, as a clerk. In eighteen months he became a partner with Mr. Eakin, and remained so until the bank changed hands, and was reorganized in 1873, becoming the Miami Savings Bank, when he was elected cashier, and has retained that position ever since. In December, 1873, he married Miss Bettie O'Bannon, and to them has been born, Sallie C., and twins, Lizzie S., and Riva Sue. Is a chapter member of A. F. & A. M., and has been twice master of the lodge.

WILLIAM H. WHEELER, P. O., Miami. The subject of this sketch is a son of one of the early settlers of this county, and was born in Miami township, December 23, 1839, and was educated at the Miami academy, but did not graduate, as the war came on and discontinued the school.

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In June, 1861, he enlisted in the Missouri state guards, company A, 2nd reg- iment, Parson's division, as second sergeant, and was discharged at the end of six months. He was at the battle of Lexington, Missouri. In October, 1864, he enlisted in company H, Slayback's regiment, as orderly, and remained to the end of the war. Was in all the battles of the last invasion of Missouri by Price's army, besides many hard marches and running fights. The provision supply of the army was very meager, and for weeks he only ate bread once, living on beef, horse flesh, mule steak, roast- ing ears, elm bark, etc. Returned to Saline at the end of the war, and engaged in farming first, then teaching. Was principal of the Miami public schools two years. In 1880 he was elected to a position in the Miami Savings Bank, of which he is now a director, and secretary of the bank, and is devoting his whole time to the banking business. Mr. Wheeler was married January 23, 1867, to Miss Jennie E. Fishback; no children. He has been a member of the Baptist Church ever since 1855, and is church clerk and one of the deacons. He has held the office of justice of the peace two years, and has never had one of his decisions reversed by a higher court.

HENRY BOYER, P. O., Miami. Was born in Lexington, Ken- tucky, on the 6th of February, 1838. When quite small, his parents moved to Frankfort, Kentucky, where he was raised and educated. He took a theologcal course under Rev. John N. Norton, D. D., with a view of entering the Episcopal ministry. His father was a prominent mer- chant in Frankfort, Kentucky, for a number of years, and died in 1846. In the spring of 1857 Henry entered the dry goods house of W. C. Charles, of Frankfort, Kentucky, as a salesman. In the autumn of 1860 he moved to Marshall, Saline county, Missouri, and in connection with W. R. Samuel, established a dry goods house under the firm name of Boyer & Samuel. He continued there until driven away in 1864. Losing pretty much all his property by the war, he returned to Ken- tucky, and located in the town of Milton. In the fall of 1865 he returned to Saline county, and settled in Miami, and there began again the dry goods business. In 1866 he formed a co-partnership with Judge R. E. McDaniel. At the death of Judge McDaniel, Mr. Boyer bought out the interest of the heirs, and continued business alone, until February of the present year, 1881, when he sold out and retired, on account of failing health, having built up a heavy trade, some years reaching as high as $60,000. He stood at the head of the dry goods business in Miami, if not in the county, and has accumulated a handsome fortune. On the 30th of November, 1860, he married Miss Hettie Fall, daughter of Dr. James S. Fall, of New Orleans. Mr. Boyer has four living children: Harry, Nettie, George and Emma. He is a prominent member of the Baptist Church, and is also superintendent of the Sunday school. He is

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a member of A. O. U. W., and has also been connected with the city government and school board.

JACOB BURNS. Mr. Burns, of the firm of Burns & Son, Miami, Mis- souri, was born in Switzerland, May 15, 1832. When Jacob was only nine months old, his parents came to America, and settled in Lancaster, Ohio. In 1844, they moved to Brunswick, Missouri, and in 1854, located at Miami in Saline county. He never had but six weeks schooling, but has employed his leisure hours in study. On the 30th of March, 1856, he was married to Miss Ruth A. Clemmens, by whom he has five children living, and one dead: M. L., Jesse A., Edith B., Wilber E. and Iowa. Mrs. Burns died in December, 1873; he was married again May, 1874, to Miss Mary S. Hall. Mr. Burns is a member of the M. E. Church, South, and of I. O. O. F. In 1864, he volunteered in Jo. Shelby's command, and was afterwards transferred to another command, and was out nine months. At twenty years of age he begun the trade of blacksmith and followed it three years. He then tried the tinner's trade, which he has followed ever since. The war left him nearly ruined, but he has now got his affairs in good shape.

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History of Saline County, Missouri, Part 92

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