History of St. Charles, Montgomery, and Warren counties, Missouri, written and comp. from the most authentic official and private sources, including a history of their townships, towns and villages, together with a condensed history of Missouri, Part 82

Author: National Historical Company (St. Louis, Mo.)
Publication date: 1885
Publisher: St. Louis, National Historical Company
Number of Pages: 1166

USA > Missouri > St Charles County > History of St. Charles, Montgomery, and Warren counties, Missouri, written and comp. from the most authentic official and private sources, including a history of their townships, towns and villages, together with a condensed history of Missouri > Part 82
USA > Missouri > Montgomery County > History of St. Charles, Montgomery, and Warren counties, Missouri, written and comp. from the most authentic official and private sources, including a history of their townships, towns and villages, together with a condensed history of Missouri > Part 82
USA > Missouri > Warren County > History of St. Charles, Montgomery, and Warren counties, Missouri, written and comp. from the most authentic official and private sources, including a history of their townships, towns and villages, together with a condensed history of Missouri > Part 82

Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).

SECRET ORDERS,

Odd Fellows. - November 7, 1865, Zenith Lodge No. 157, I. O. O. F., was instituted with the following members: W. R. West, Richard McCormack, Mathew Moore, John Morgan, Joseph Hibbert, Harris Keeney, P. P. Ellis, J. R. Bodine. The first officers were :

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HISTORY OF MONTGOMERY COUNTY.

P. P. Ellis, noble grand ; T. H. Ford, vice-grand; J. C. Ellis, secre- tary ; L. T. McNeely, treasurer ; and the present officers are: A. Davault, noble grand ; T. H. Ford, vice-grand; Clark Morris, secretary ; John Morris, treasurer. At this writing the membership is 31.

Masonic Lodge .- The Masonic Lodge at New Florence, No. 261, was instituted October 15, 1868, with the following officers : A. C. Stew- art, worshipful master; J. H. Tuttle and J. C. Ford, wardens ; D. H. Nunnelly, treasurer ; M. Guthridge, secretary ; W. M. Sutton and M. Patten, deacons ; E. D. Owen, tyler. The lodge has only a mem- bership of 13. Since June 1, 1884, the officers have been : P. P. Ellis, worshipful master; R. H. Mansfield and I. W. Stewart, wardens ; W. Y. Howell, treasurer ; B. E. Wilson, secretary ; W. R. Pennington and Ben Hall, deacons ; D. P. Taylor, tyler.

Good Templars Lodge .- May 10, 1865, New Florence Lodge No. 34, I. O. G. T., was organized, with Rev. Marshal McIlhany, Joseph M. Stewart, John A. Franklin, Stephen S. Kuettle, Fannie Franklin, Mary' C. Jasper, Bettie Nunnelly, P. P. Ellis, John T. Hunter, Mollie J. Hunter, George W. Howell, Jesse B. McMahan, Hannah A. McIlhany, Bettie W. Milton and Joshua B. Morris as members. The lodge has now a membership of 55, with the following officers : E. D. Woollem, worthy chief; Lizzie Woollem, worthy vice ; Clark Morris and Robert See, recording and financial secretaries ; Lizzie Stultz, treasurer ; V. P. Marmaduke, chaplain ; Ed. Allen, marshal ; K. Marmaduke, inside guard ; Elijah Owens, senti- nel ; G. A. Stultz, past worthy chief; B. McCoy, lodge deputy. P. P. Ellis was for seven years grand worthy chief templar of the State Grand Lodge. This is one of the oldest living lodges in the State of Missouri. It owns the hall in which it meets - valued at $500 - and is in a flourishing condition generally.

MINEOLA.

The little village of Mineola occupies the site of the far-famed Loutre Lick, of pioneer notoriety, and even of later-day prominence, whose name was mentioned in the United States Congress as early as 1824 by Henry Clay and Daniel Webster and John C. Calhoun as " the Bethesda mentioned by the honorable Senator from Missouri " (Hon. Thos. H. Benton).

The site of the town and considerable of the region round about - 460 acres in all - was originally granted by the Spanish government when Missouri belonged to Spain, and before the treaty of San

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HISTORY OF MONTGOMERY COUNTY.

Ildefonso, somewhere about 1800, to Col. Nathan Boone, son of Daniel Boone.

In the winter of 1812-13 Thomas Massey, Sr., of the settlements in St. Charles, rented the land about Loutre Lick of Col. Nathan Boone, came up and cleared off the land on the south side of the lick and the little stream now called Sallee's Branch, and built a cabin on the north side, now occupied by the residence of Mr. Haines. It was the next spring that Massey's boy, Harris, was killed by the Sac Indians, as related elsewhere.

Massey made no further attempts to live at the Loutre Lick after his family was driven away by the Indians, and in 1815 Col. Boone sold the land to Maj. Isaac Van Bibber, whose father was killed at the battle of Pt. Pleasant, Va., in 1774, and when less than three years old he was adopted into the family of old Daniel Boone, who raised him to manhood. When but 13 years of age young Van Bibber served as a scout against the Indians in Virginia. He came to Missouri with Nathan Boone in 1800, settled first in Darst's Bottom, and during the War of 1812 served as major in the militia under Col. Daniel M. Boone. Col. Nathan Boone married Olive Van Bibber, a cousin of Isaac Van Bibber. It is claimed that Van Bibber's wife, Susanna Hays, was the first white child born in Kentucky. She was born at Boonesborough, in 1776.

Maj. Van Bibber repaired the' Massey cabin, and put up what it is claimed was the first frame house in Montgomery county, or in this part of Missouri. This was in 1821. The lumber was whip-sawed. For many years this building was used as a hotel. A few years since it was remodeled and converted into the large frame building owned by Mr. Haines and still standing under the hill, just north of the Boone's Lick road. Van Bibber also added one or two cabins to his collection and a row of stables. Here also the first elections were conducted after Missouri emerged from her territorial condition. Loutre Lick was a favorite ground for the holding of celebrations, barbecues, etc.

Not long after settling here Maj. Van Bibber attempted to make salt from the saline water of the lick, but without satisfactory results. All attempt at salt-making was abandoned. But the medicinal virtues of the spring came forward for recognition, and it was in olden times, as it is to-day, that the waters of Loutre Lick had an enviable repu- tation for the cure of certain stomachic and bowel diseases, as well as certain kidney affections.

Old Daniel Boone came frequently to visit Van Bibber, and re-

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HISTORY OF MONTGOMERY COUNTY.

mained here for weeks at a time drinking the water of the lick, which he believed was of much benefit in curing him of a kidney trouble.

Maj. Van Bibber died in 1836 ; his wife some time previously. Old Thomas Massey and wife died at the residence of their son-in-law, Hugh Logan, on Bear creek, about 1820 or 1821 ( according to Alex. Graham). They were buried on the south side of the lick, nearly half a mile from Sallee's branch.

A store was opened at Loutre Lick by Charles Drury in about 1830. It stood on the north side of Sallee's branch, nearly opposite the lick and just under the hill. In 1834 Mr. Drury removed this store to Danville. It is said that other stores were here from time to time. Dan Robinson had one here at a very early day.

The village of Mineola was laid out on the site of Loutre Lick in the year 1879 by H. E. Scanland, the owner of the land, and named for Mineola, Tex. The surveying was done by J. C. McClearey. It was the intention of Mr. Scanland to make of it not only a trading and milling point, but a place of resort for invalids who should come to drink of the medicinal spring and spend a season of recreation and rest. The first house in the place was built by John R. Pate in April, 1880, and stands on the side of the hill north of the Boone's Lick road and 150 yards east of the Loutre. Dr. D. B. Huddleston's house, south of the branch, came next.

In 1879, however, Thomas Johnson had a temporary saw mill south of the present steam mill, and Mr. Wilson had a blacksmith's shop; the latter is still in operation, but the former has been removed.

In the summer of 1880 the spring, or lick, was improved by being cleaned out and dug into the character of a well, and was enclosed and a building erected over it. G. W. Taylor opened a stock of goods in the spring building soon after its completion. The post-office was established in the fall of 1880, and G. W. Taylor was (and now is) the postmaster.

In July, 1882, the fine steam saw mill and grist mill was begun, and completed in the spring of 1883. The proprietors were J. W. Windsor and Charles Woodruff. It has three run of buhrs, and is new and complete in all of its appointments.

The first stone building proper in the place was built by W. A. Kel- sick and J. W. Windsor in June, 1883.

The village now (1884) contains two stores, the mill, a blacksmith shop, a wagon shop, a wine and beer saloon and a dozen dwelling- houses. A daily hack line runs to Montgomery City. At present there is no bridge across Loutre, but the county court has ordered the letting of a contract to build a first-class iron bridge over the stream.

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HISTORY OF MONTGOMERY COUNTY.

BIOGRAPHICAL.

JAMES R. APPLING

(Sheriff of Montgomery County, Danville).

Some philosopher has said that poets and hotel-keepers are born, not made ; the laconist should have included sheriffs also, for no man . can ever be a sheriff without the born qualities of a sheriff, and every one who meets Mr. Appling will recognize this fact in him at a glance. No man in the county is personally more popular, nor justly so. For a number of years he was a successful school teacher of the county, and while teaching he became generally acquainted with the people in different localities. Indeed, so favorable an impression had he made that, in 1882, he was warmly urged to run for the office of sheriff. Finally consenting, he made the race and was elected by over 300 ma- jority. In office he has had still better opportunities to meet the people of the county. Mr. Appling was born and reared in this county. His primal birthday was the 29th of July, 1852, and his parents were Thomas and Louisa (Broughton ) Appling, both still residing on their homestead in this county, south of Wellsville, highly esteemed resi- dents and neighbors in that part of the county. They reared but two children, the other being a daughter, Miss Emma, now a young lady at home with her parents. Reared on the farm, Mr. Appling attended the district school of the neighborhood and succeeded in obtaining a · good common-school education. At the age of 20 he began teaching school himself, and continued that as his regular occupation for some ten years, or until his election to the office of sheriff in 1882. He taught for five years in one district and three years in his home district, facts which show how well he was appreciated as a teacher by those who had an opportunity to judge of his qualifications and efficiency. During much of this time he was engaged in farming in the summer, or when not occupied in the school-room. On the 28th of September, 1876, he was married to Miss Emma, a refined and estimable daughter of William Newlee, Esq., of the vicinity of Wellsville. Mr. and Mrs. A. have three children : Bertha Madge, Allison and Jua. Mr. Appling is a member of the Masonic order.

JUDGE ROBERT BROWER

(Farmer and Judge of the County Court, Post-office, Danville).

Judge Brower is a worthy representative of an old and honored Knickerbocker family of New York. The founder of the family in this country settled on Manhattan island from Holland, when the Em- pire State was a Dutch colony. Judge Brower's father, Nicholas B. Brower, was a prominent merchant of New York for over 50 years.

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HISTORY OF MONTGOMERY COUNTY.

He was married twice, first to Miss Ruth Prince, by whom there is but one child living, a son, Edgar; to his second wife he was mar- ried in 1816. She was a Miss Sallie Hurlbut. There were six chil- dren by this union, five sons and a daughter, all of whom are living, namely : Hurlbut, a leading farmer of Woodbury county, Ia. ; Cece- lia, the wife of George M. Hollister, of Grand Rapids, Mich. ; Nicho- las B., Jr., an attorney and editor at Hannibal, Oswego county, N. Y. ; Jacob., who was a gallant soldier in the Union army during the late war, having been severely wounded, and is now a resident of Montgomery county, Mo. ; Judge Robert Brower, the subject of this sketch ; and Putnam, now of Bridgeport, Conn. Judge Robert Brower was born in New York City, in 1825, and was about 10 years of age when his father died. On account of this misfortune he was soon afterwards thrown upon his own resources. Obtaining a situa- tion in a store, he clerked for a time, and was afterwards employed at farm labor in the country. He worked at this until he attained his majority, and he also learned the carpenter's trade. Following car- pentering in New York as his principal occupation until 1868, he then removed to Missouri. Here he settled in Montgomery county, where he bought land and engaged in farming, which he has followed con- tinuously ever since, and with good success. Judge Brower is one of the better class of farmers of the county, and, withal, he is a man of sterling character and marked popularity and influence. In 1882 he was nominated and elected to the office of judge of the county court, a position he is now filling. He has made an efficient and conscientious judge, and his official record meets with general appro- val. In 1848 Judge Brower was married to Miss Henrietta Church, a daughter of Ozias S. Church, of New York, and sister of Hon. Sanford E. Church, the distinguished jurist of that State, and the late able Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of Appeals of New York. Judge and Mrs. Brower have four children : Robert, Jr., who is married and resides on the farm with his father ; Sandford C., clerk of the Carroll House, at Clarksville, Mo .; Ozias P., still a resident of Montgomery county, and at home with his parents ; Emily P., the wife of Russell B. Dill, a prominent architect of Anna, Ohio. Judge Brower's grandparents on his father's side lived to the advanced ages, respectively, of 98 and 96 years.

SILAS CARR

(Recorder of Deeds of Montgomery county ; residence, Jonesburg).

Among the public men of this State, and indeed to not a few be- yond its limits, the record of Mr. Carr in the public service is well and favorably known. Without advantages or opportunities more favorable than those of the generality of men, in fact from circumstances far less favorable than those of most others, he has risen to a position of creditable prominence and influence in public affairs. Mr. Carr's early school training was quite limited, for he was one of a large family of children Jeft orphans by the death of their father, and with

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HISTORY OF MONTGOMERY COUNTY.

but little or no means to help them along in life. Possessed, how- ever, of clear, quick intelligence and of much force of character, com- bined with a worthy purpose to accomplish something for himself, by his own energy and his self-application to study during such leisure as he had, he succeeded in obtaining a sufficient knowledge of books for all practical business purposes. When a young man 21 years of age he was married, Miss Mary J. Connor, of Lincoln county, becom- ing his wife. Just beginning by this time to get something of a start, he now had the additional responsibility of a family to care and pro- vide for. He had previously learned the tobacco business, having entered a factory at the age of 16. About the time of his marriage he engaged in business at Flint Hill, and two years later went to St. Louis, where he became a partner with S. W. Logan in the general commission business. This was continued until 1864, or until Price's raid into the State so unsettled affairs that it was deemed advisable to close out the business. Mr. Carr then returned to Wentzville, in the vicinity of which he had been reared, where he now engaged in the tobacco business. Four years later he removed to Jonesburg, in Montgomery county. In 1870 he was a candidate for the office of sergeant-at-arms in the Missouri House of Representatives, and re- ceived a highly complimentary support by members of the Legislature from different parts of the State, but was defeated for the nomination by " Col." J. D. Crafton, much to the regret of the House itself (as subsequents events proved ), and, indeed, to the shame of the State. Mr. Carr, after his defeat, resumed his business at Jonesburg, which he continued until 1873, when he was appointed postmaster to the House of Representatives at Jefferson City, a position he filled for two sessions. The impression he made on the public men of the State at Jefferson City, when he was a candidate for sergeant-at- arms, was most favorable, and afterwards his mingling with them at the State capital for two terms of the Legislature fully confirmed them in the impression they had formed of his character. A man of sterling intelligence, unquestioned integrity and honesty of pur- pose, and of pleasant, agreeable manners, respectful and courteous to all, though always dignified and self-respecting, he became one of the popular men about the State capital. Such, indeed, was the consideration with which he came to be regarded and the personal esteem in which he was held, that shortly after the expiration of his term as postmaster and on the meeting of the Constitutional Conven- tion of 1875, he was elected by the Convention to the office of sergeant-at-arms of that body. This position he filled with efficiency and to the entire satisfaction of the Convention. Mr. Carr, a con- scientious and ardent Democrat, has always taken a public-spirited interest in political affairs. He has been quite active in Montgomery county in assisting to advance the interest of his party ever since he has been a citizen of the county. Not often a candidate himself, his efforts have been mainly directed to securing good men for the various positions to be filled. In this way he has rendered valu- able service to different friends - men who appreciate the assistance

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HISTORY OF MONTGOMERY COUNTY.

he has rendered them. Among others he has been a warm supporter of Judge A. H. Buckner for Congress, and has frequently contributed materially to his election. It is therefore but natural that when in the winter of 1875-76 Mr. Carr was urged to become a candidate for assistant door-keeper of the United States House of Representatives at Washington City, Judge Buckner should warmly support his can- didacy, a support that was gladly given, and which resulted in securing Mr. Carr the position. He was successively reappointed to that office for three terms, and held it until he voluntarily resigned it in order to give his attention to other interests. In 1882 Mr. Carr was a candidate for the office of Postmaster of the United States House of Representatives, but was defeated by a combination of candidates against him. On the death of R. L. Whitehead, Esq., recorder of Montgomery county, Mr. Carr was appointed to fill out his unexpired term by the Governor, the appointment being dated February 20, 1883. The duties of this office he is now discharging. It is no empty, unmeaning compliment to say that the duties of every position he has ever held, he has discharged with marked fidelity and efficiency. So, he has made a capable a popular county recorder, and there is no doubt that his administration of this office meets with general approval. Looking back over his career in public life, it must be manifest to the most casual observer that no one of mean ability or little force of character could achieve what he has accomplished. Mr. and Mrs. Carr have been blessed with a large family of children, 13 in all, nine of whom (the living) are still at home, except the eldest, William S., who is engaged in the tobacco business at St. Louis. The others are : Julia .I., Ione B., Aylett Buckner, George S., M. E., Silas W., Charles C. and Houston W. Four are deceased. Mr. Carr is a prominent member of the Masonic order, and his wife is a member of the M. E. Church South. Mr. Carr is a Virginian by nativity, born in Halifax county, September 29, 1839, and the youngest of a family of 13 children of Thomas and Sarah Carr, who came to Missouri in 1844, and settled in Warren county, where the father died the follow- ing year. The mother died December 17, 1871, in Wentzville. Four of their family of children are living : Dudley, in Virginia ; John P., at Wentzville ; Joel E., also at Wentzville, and Silas.

ALFRED DAVAULT

(Farmer and ex-Sheriff, Post-office, New Florence).

Mr. Davault was a son of Peter and Mary ( Hoss) Davault, early set- tlers and old and highly respected residents of this county, formerly of Tennessee, who removed to Montgomery county, in about 1828. A historical sketch of this family appears elsewhere in the present work. Alfred Davault was the fifth in a family of nine children, five sons and four daughters, and was born on the family homestead in this county, near New Florence, April 14, 1842. The others of the family are Henry, Abraham, Catherine, deceased, late wife of David Frederick Knox ; Frederick, John, Emma Louisa, now the wife of

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HISTORY OF MONTGOMERY COUNTY.

Charles Bast, and Mary V., who died at the age of eight. Alfred was raised on the farm, and received a good common-school education. He was actively engaged in farming until 1870, when he was appointed deputy sheriff and collector under David Knox. Two years later he was re-appointed in the same office, by George . W. Gregory, sheriff. In 1874 he was himself elected to that office, and was re- elected in 1876, serving two consecutive terms, or for a period of four years. Meanwhile, in 1867, he was married to Miss Corrinna McNeiley, a daughter of Rev. L. T. McNeiley, a minister of the M. E. Church. Mr. Davault's first wife died November 11, 1881. His present wife was a Miss Lizzie Gardner before her marriage. She was a daughter of P. M. Gardner of this county. They have one . child, now in infancy. Mr. Davault, after the close of his second term in office as sheriff and collector, returned to his farm, where he resumed farming and raising stock. His farm contains 135 acres and is neatly improved, a part of the old Davault homestead. He and wife are members of the M. E. Church South.

WILLIAM ELLIOTT ( Pere) AND BENJ. A. ELLIOTT ( Fils) (Farmers, Post-office, Mineola).

In the paternal line of their ancestry the subjects of the present sketch are of Irish descent, the grandparents of William Elliott on his father's side having settled in Virginia from the Emerald Isle prior to the Revolution. From them came William Elliott, Sr., who, after he grew up, married Polly Cundiff, in Virginia, and of this union, Will- iam Elliott, Jr., the senior subject of this sketch, was born in Bedford county, February 14, 1817. He was the younger of two children and was principally reared in Howard county, Mo. While yet a young man and single, he came to Montgomery county to make his home in the vicinity in which he now resides. He was a carpenter by occupa- tion, and followed that in Howard county and after coming to this county for some years. For years past, however, he has been en- gaged in farming, and resides on a comfortable homestead of 120 acres, which he owns and has long been his permanent home. In the spring of 1848 he was married in this county to Miss Susana Hudnall, a daughter of William Hudnall. Mr. and Mrs. E. have had two chil- dren, one of whom died whilst still young, Martha E. ; the other, Benjamin A., resides on the farm with his parents, and is engaged in farming. However, he follows teaching during the winter months, giving his attention to the farm during the summer. He has been en- gaged in teaching for 15 years, and has a wide and enviable reputation as a teacher. He was born on the farm January 22, 1849, and re- ceived an excellent general education, largely by his own efforts and by self-application to study outside of the school-room. The mother, Mrs. Elliott, has been dead for many years. She died March 13, 1853. She was a most estimable and excellent lady, and the place he occupied in the home and hearts of her loved ones is filled only by he memory of her exemplary, devoted and good life.

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HISTORY OF MONTGOMERY COUNTY.

JAMES C. FORD, M. D.

(Physician and Surgeon, New Florence).

In presenting in this work brief biographical sketches of the prom- inent citizens of Montgomery county, among these, in the medical profession, is very properly given a short sketch of the life of Dr. Ford, and of his identification with the county, both as a physician and surgeon. Dr. Ford's parents came from Virginia to Missouri in 1838, and located first at New London, in Ralls county, where the Doctor was born March 11, of the following year. The family was from Campbell county, Va., and the father, William C. Ford, a son of Hezekiah Ford, of the same county, was a blacksmith by trade. The mother, also born and reared in Campbell county, was a Miss Martha A. Epperson before her marriage. The family resided at New London only a short time and then came to Montgomery county, settling eight miles south-west of Danville, where the father combined farming with blacksmithing. Years afterwards they removed to the town of Danville, and some years ago to New Florence, where the father died in the fall of 1883. He was an industrious, energetic man, and did a good part by his children while bringing them up. Dr. Ford had the benefit of a course in the common schools, and also at- tended a select school kept at Danville, where he made some progress in the higher branches. In 1855 he began the study of medicine under Dr. G. R. Milton, a well known and successful physician of that place. Two years later he entered the medical college at St. Louis, and after a regular course of two terms graduated from the Missouri Medical College in the class of '59. After his graduation Dr. Ford located at Quincy, in Hickory county, where he remained engaged in the practice of medicine until the outbreak of the war. He then promptly enlisted in the Confederate service, and was made captain of Co. D, Robinson's battalion of Rain's division. Later along his services were needed as an army surgeon, and he was assigned to duty as assistant surgeon of the Tenth Missouri infantry, a position he filled until the close of the war, or until the final surrender at Shreve- port, La., in the spring of 1865. But he nevertheless combined the qualities of a soldier with those of a surgeon, and was always in front with a musket during an engagement, when not engaged with the wounded. On account of his fighting qualities and bravery, he be- came known in the army as the " Fighting Doctor of the Tenth Mis- souri," as is learned from old comrades of his. After the war he returned to Montgomery county, and located at New Florence in the practice of his profession. He has since been continuously engaged in the practice at this place. Dr. Ford is the leading physician of New Florence, and is one of its substantial property holders, having had good success in property matters, as well as in the treatment of his patients. After his return in 1865 he was married at New Flor- ence to Miss Ellen M. Tull, a daughter of James W. Tull, of this county. They have two children, Jessie M. and Harry T.

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History of St. Charles, Montgomery, and Warren counties, Missouri, written and comp. from the most authentic official and private sources, including a history of their townships, towns and villages, together with a condensed history of Missouri, Part 82

Author: National Historical Company (St. Louis, Mo.) Publication date: 1885 Publisher: St. Louis, National Historical Company Number of Pages: 1166

Author: National Historical Company (St. Louis, Mo.)
Publication date: 1885
Publisher: St. Louis, National Historical Company
Number of Pages: 1166