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 94
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 94
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 94
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HISTORY OF MONTGOMERY COUNTY.
good management. Mr. Oliver's farm contains 355 acres, and is well improved and well stocked. He and wife have reared a niece of hers, Miss Ella F. Duncan, a refined and interesting young lady.
ALBERT P. OLIVER
(Minister of the Missionary Baptist Church and Farmer and Stock-raiser, Post-office, Montgomery City).
Rev. Albert P. Oliver was the youngest in his father's family of children, and was born January 14, 1838. Like his brothers, he re- ceived only a common-school education. Reared to a farm life, as soon as he attained his majority, or about that time, he embarked in life for himself as a farmer, and has followed it continuously ever since, but for a number of years past devoting more or less time to the work of the ministry. Like his brothers, Mr. Oliver is comfort- ably situated in life, and all largely the fruit of his own industry. His farm contains 470 acres, and he is engaged in both growing grain and raising stock. In 1868 Rev. Mr. Oliver was married to Miss Sarah C. Johnson, a daughter of 'Squire James B. and Dorinda (Stone ) Johnson, of this county, but formerly of Virginia. Three children are the fruits of their union: Andrew, Milton M. and Em- met. Rev. Mr. Oliver united with the Missionary Baptist Church in the fall of 1866. Later along he studied for the ministry, but was not formally licensed to preach until 1870. He has since been engaged when his services are needed in work for the church from time to time. He is a member of the old Citizens' Association of Mont- gomery county. Born and reared in the county, though now 47 years of age, he has never been outside of the State. Mr. and Mrs. Oliver have a niece of her's whom they are raising, Dorinda C. Boone, now a young girl about 14 years of age.
BENJAMIN PALMER
(Postmaster, and of B. Palmer & Son, Druggists, Danville).
Mr. Palmer has been a resident of Montgomery county almost con- tinuously for the last forty years, and has been engaged in his pre- sent line of business since 1870, being also postmaster during this time. He is a native of New York, born in Seneca county, September 19, 1807. His parents, Jesse and Nancy Palmer, were originally from Maryland. Mr. Palmer was reared in New York and learned the cabi- net maker's trade as he grew up. In about 1830 he went to Maryland and worked at his trade there for two years, when he returned to New York, spending the following year at the metropolis. In 1833 he went to Canada and two years later to Buffalo. He was married at Buffalo in 1835 to Miss Phobe B. Dennis. The following year they removed to Newark, Ohio, and in 1844 came to Missouri, locating in Montgomery county, where, with the exception of six years, dur- ing which Mr. Palmer was farming in Boone county, they have ever since resided. For two years Mr. Palmer was boating on the Missis-
885
HISTORY OF MONTGOMERY COUNTY.
sippi river. During the war he was U. S. Marshal for four counties, including Montgomery, principally occupied with enrolling the people of the male population above the age of 18 with a view of determin- ating their loyalty as required by law, or by authority of the Govern- ment. Mr. and Mrs. Palmer have reared two children, Warren W., whose sketch follows this, and Mary D., a young lady at home. Mr. Palmer carries a good stock of goods and has an excellent trade. His long service as postmaster shows that he has made an officer alike satisfactory to the Government and popular with the people. He is one of the highly respected old residents of this community.
WARREN W. PALMER
(Dealer in Clothing, Gents' Furnishing Goods, Etc., Montgomery City) .
A son of Benjamin Palmer, whose sketch precedes this, Mr. Pal- mer, Jr., was reared at Danville, and after he grew up remained there engaged in business with his father until the winter of 1882-83, when he came to Montgomery City and established his present business. His experience thus far at Montgomery City has been entirely satis- factory and he is now well established here as one of its substantial business men. Brought up to business life, he has made it his study from boyhood, and having had ample experience in trade, his advan- tages for a successful career have been and are hardly less than could be desired. His desire is to keep only such goods as are required by the custom and as recommend themselves by their quality, style and the prices charged. Mr. Palmer was born at Danville, December 28, 1858, and was educated in the schools of that place. He early began clerking for his father and continned with him until 1878, when he accepted a situation in the store of W. D. Bush, now of Fulton, but then of Danville. Afterwards he became a member of the firm of Palmer, McMahan & Co. As stated above, he came to Montgomery City and established his present business at this place in February, 1883. He gives this house his personal attention, his father having charge of the drug house at Danville, On the 21st of June, 1883, he was married to Miss Minnie, a daughter of Dr. F. S. Clare. Mr. Palmer is a prominent member of the Odd Fellows order. In 1882 he was the Republican candidate against W. L. Gupton for county clerk, but the Democratic majority in the county prevented his election.
GEORGE A. PALMER
(Farmer and Stock-raiser, Post-office, Montgomery City).
Among the early settlers of Lincoln county were Mr. Palmer's parents, Burton and Rebecca (Bruce ) Palmer, who removed to that county from Kentucky in 1828. The father entered land there and became a substantial farmer. He died in 1858. The mother died in 1846. George A. Palmer was born on the farm in Lincoln county July 2, 1832, and was reared to farm work. At the age of 18, however, he went overland to California, and was six months
886
HISTORY OF MONTGOMERY COUNTY.
on the way, and afterwards remained for five years on the Pacific coast, engaged principally in mining, but, also, for a time in teaming and herding cattle. The year before he went out, there was a sad scene on the plains, in which he had a deep interest, but all uncon- scious to himself. Robert Gilmore and wife and their four children, three sons and a daughter, Margaret, had started to California. Water was then scarce on the plains, but at that time the fatal effect of drinking the alkali water was little known by the generality of people. While on the way, and almost perishing of thirst, they came to a beautiful fountain of crystal water, which seemed to them to be a special gift of Providence. Having tasted the water, the father and mother and one son were soon cold in death. The oth- ers narrowly escaped. Margaret Gilmore and George A. Palmer were reared children together, and almost daily passed a few of the bright hours of youth together, and very naturally became betrothed be- fore their separation. Owing to the death of her parents, Miss Gilmore returned to Missouri with a brother shortly after her arrival in Cali- fornia, and so did not meet her betrothed until after his return to the scenes of their childhood, or for five long years. But now the con- summation of all their hopes and of the many happy dreams of their earlier years were realized. They were married early in 1856. Mr. Palmer continued to reside in Lincoln county, successfully engaged in farming, until 1871, when he removed to Montgomery county, and settled on the place where he now resides. A man of much worth and untiring industry, he has been quite successful as a farmer. He has 680 acres of land in his tract, over half of which is under fence and in a good state of improvement. Mr. and Mrs. Palmer have had six children, namely : Mary, now Mrs. James Powell ; Martha, the wife of Albert Hensley ; Cora, born in 1863, died in 1874 ; William, Charley and Joseph T.
EUGENE B. PEGRAM
(Farmer and Stock-dealer, Post-office, Montgomery City).
Mr. Pegram was principally reared to mercantile life, and after he grew up was engaged in business at Montgomery City until early in the spring of 1883, when he sold out and began handling stock and farming. He has been quite successful in the stock business, and is rapidly coming to the front as one of the active, enterprising stock buyers and shippers of the east-central part of the county. Mr. Pe- gram is a son of 'Squire J. L. Pegram of Montgomery City, and was born on his father's homestead, August 17, 1849. His mother was a Miss Julia K. Otey, now deceased, and both his parents were from Virginia. They were early settlers in Virginia, and located first in St. Charles county, in 1837. Subsequently they removed to Mont- gomery county, and improved a farm on Loutre creek. Later along they removed to the vicinity of Montgomery City, and settled on a farm about two miles east of this place, which 'Squire Pegram im- proved. He sold this place, however, in 1860, and removed to town
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HISTORY OF MONTGOMERY COUNTY.
where he still resides. Eugene B., the subject of this sketch, was a lad of about 11 years when the family removed to Montgomery City, and he was therefore partly reared in town. He attended the schools of the place as he grew up, and while yet in youth entered the store of his brother-in-law, Ben. Barnes, as a clerk to learn merchandising. He continued with Mr. Barnes for a number of years, and finally be- came interested with him in business, establishing a clothing store at Montgomery City. This was carried on with success until the spring of 1883, when Mr. P. retired from the clothing business in order to engage in handling stock. He is now connected in business with Overstreet & Co., of the Union Stock yards at St. Louis, in which firm his brother, Ed. Pegram, is a partner. This is one of the lead- ing stock firms of St. Louis. Mr. P.'s brother-in-law, Ben. Barnes, is at the head of one of the leading commission houses of that city, and a prominent member of the Board of Trade. Mr. Barnes was for a number of years a merchant at this place (Montgomery City), and is well known here as one of the most enterprising, public-spirited and broad-gauged business men ever in the place. September 15, 1878, Mr. Pegram was married to Miss Mollie Scarry, a daughter of William Scarry, of St. Louis, but formerly of Cleveland, Ohio, where Mrs. Pegram was reared and educated. She is a member of the Catholic Church.
THOMAS J. PORTER
(Farmer and Stock-raiser, Post-office, Wellsville).
Mr. Porter's farm contains 360 acres all fenced and in active culti- vation, meadow or pasturage. His place is otherwise well improved, with a commodious two-story dwelling and other buildings, etc., to correspond. Mr. Porter is recognized not only for his success in the management of his farm, but in the manner in which he keeps it. A native of Ohio, he has introduced methods and ideas of Northern farming into the management of his own place, which have had not a little to do with bringing about the success that has awarded his in- dustry. He was born in Belmont county, O., on the 19th of Febru- ary, 1836, and was the second in the family of children of Archibald and Eliza J. Porter, both also natives of that State. He received a good common school education as he grew up on his father's farm in Ohio, and in 1858 was married to Miss Mary E. Bay, a daughter of the well known Maj. J. C. Bay, of this county, who came here from Ohio in 1859. The Major died in 1878, but his widow is still living, and finds a pleasant home with her daughter, Mrs. Purvis. Mr. Por- ter is engaged to a considerable extent in the stock business, and ships cattle and hogs to the wholesale markets. Mr. and Mrs. P. have four children : Wallace M., James H., Orville E. and Orr S. Charles L., the first son, died in infancy. Mrs. P. is a member of the M. E. Church North. Mr. Porter was in the Enrolled militia during the war for about a year. He is a member of the Masonic order.
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888
HISTORY OF MONTGOMERY COUNTY.
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GEORGE W. ROBERTSON
(Dealer in Hardware, Tinware, Farm Machinery, Buggies, Carriages, Etc., Mont- gomery City).
Mr. Robertson stands at the head of perhaps the leading house in his line in Montgomery county. He carries a stock of between $10,000 and $15,000 and six salesmen are required to attend to his trade. He occupies the. Barnes' block, his sales-room being 24x90 feet in dimensions and his tin shop 20x24. Besides the other numerous lines of goods he carries are the Buckeye, the Bennett, and the Empire Harvesters ; the Deere farm machinery, the Deere, Mansur & Co. bug- gies and also the Courtland buggies and carriages. He began busi- ness here in 1878 and his trade from that time to this has had a steady, substantial growth, whilst he has regularly increased his stock to meet the demands of his increasing trade. Mr. Robertson's house may therefore be considered one of the established, substantial and fixed business houses of Montgomery City. Mr. Robertson was born and reared in Lincoln county, and is a son of Ben. F. Robertson, a leading business man and influential citizen of the vicinity of Burr Oak Valley, born near Auburn December 9th, 1853. His mother was a Miss Elizabeth Gillan before her marriage. His father is now en- gaged in merchandising at Folley Station. The father was a farmer, and the proprietor of a large mill as well as a merchant, and the youth of George W. was spent in assisting on the farm, helping at mill and clerking at the store, as well as attending the neighborhood schools. He also attended select school, and in 1869 went to St. Louis, and took a course in Bryant & Stratton's Commercial College. After this, deciding to secure a more advanced general education, he en- tered Central College at Fayette, Missouri, for that purpose. He took a regular course at Central College and graduated in 1872. He then went to Cornell University, New York, where he took a special course in chemistry and advanced mathematics. After a year spent at Cornell University, he entered Eastman's Commercial College at Poughkeepsie, N. Y., where he graduated with the highest honor, re- ceiving the highest grade of his class. Returning from Poughkeepsie in 1875, he was now offered, and he accepted, the position of book- keeper in the large wholesale farm machinery house of Taylor & Co. in St. Louis, for whom he worked a year. After this he was with Lee & Adams, leading attorneys of that city, for a year. In 1877 he formed a partnership with A. C. DePue in the general mer- chandise line at Cap au Gris, under the firm name of Robertson & DePue. Less than a year later he came to Montgomery City, where he established his present business. Mr. Robertson was married Sep- tember 6, 1876, to Miss Mary E. Bratton, a daughter of James Berry Bratton, a prominent citizen of Boone county. Mr. R. first met his then future wife at commencement exercises at Central College, where he became acquainted with her. Heaven has blessed them
889
HISTORY OF MONTGOMERY COUNTY.
with three children: Sue, Benjamin Franklin, and Elizabeth G. Mrs. R. is a member of the Presbyterian Church.
SYLVESTER J. SAILOR
(Farmer, Post-office, Montgomery City).
Mr. Sailor, an industrious and respected farmer of this township, is a native of the county in which, thus far, his whole life has been spent, born October 5, 1834. His parents both came to this county in an early day, and both from Kentucky ; his father, James Sailor, in 1824, and his mother, whose maiden name was Sabina Cobb, in 1820. They were married in 1828 and reared a family of 11 children, namely : Nancy M., Mary A., Cyrenia, Margaret, Lucy, James, John, Celathall, George, Virginia and Sylvester J., who was the third in the family. The father was a substantial farmer and left an estate of 600 acres of fine land at his death, mostly improved. He died in 1872 at the age of 64. His wife died in 1858, aged 48. Sylvester J. was reared on the farm, and on the 2d of April, 1861, was married to Miss Jemima A. Lark, of Callaway county, a daughter of Joseph and Narcissa Lark. Five children are the fruits of their marriage : Mary, Mittie, Joseph, Washington (deceased ) and Ethel. During the war Mr. Sailor did gallant service in the Confederate army. He and wife are members of the Christian Church, and he is a member of the A. F. and A. M. Mr. Sailor, having been reared a farmer, adopted that as his regular calling and has ever since followed it without material interruption. He has a good farm of 200 acres, situated in sections 6 and 7. He is an energetic farmer and a worthy, estimable citizen.
ISAAC O. SAILOR
(Machinist, and of Sailor, Rogers & Peveler, Proprietors of the Montgomery City Machine Shops).
Mr. Sailor, a thorough machinist and a skillful mechanic by natural aptitude, has been a resident of Montgomery City and in his present line of industry at this place since 1880, when he came here from the western part of the county, and in partnership with Mr. Rodgers bought the machine shops, which their present firm is now success- fully conducting. They do general repairing work, both in wood and iron, and make a specialty of repairing engines and boilers and other classes of machinery. They also do general machinist's work and have a blacksmith shop in connection with their establishment. Mr. Sailor was born in Montgomery county, February 11, 1835, and his parents, John H. Sailor and wife, nee Virginia Perkins, were both from Kentucky. The father died here in 1844. Isaac was reared on the farm and was the oldest of five brothers, three of whom are living - one in South-west Missouri and another in Texas. After he grew up Isaac O. Sailor learned the blacksmith's trade on Loutre island, or, rather, took it up, for he was a natural mechanic. He worked at that with success, and also ran a farm which he owned in
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HISTORY OF MONTGOMERY COUNTY.
that part of the county, until he came to Montgomery City. The firm now employ seven men in their shop. February 24, 1857, Mr. Sailor was married to Miss Sebrina Peveler, a daughter of David Peveler, of this county. They have three children : Ellen, wife of John Norman ; John D. (married ), and William O., who is in the shops with his father. Mr. S. is a member of the Masonic order.
GEORGE W. SAILOR
(Farmer and Stock-raiser, and Stock Dealer, Post-office, Montgomery City).
An enterprising, successful agriculturist of this township, Mr. Sailor is one of its thorough-going, well-to-do farmers and stockmen. His place contains 425 acres, and is well improved and stocked with good grades of farm animals. . He is making a specialty of raising short-horns. Mr. Sailor was born in this county July 8, 1837, and was a son of John H. and Virginia (Perkins) Sailor, his father origin- ally of Virginia, but his mother of Kentucky. The family came to Missouri from Kentucky in 1845 and settled in Montgomery county, where the father entered land and improved a farm. He died here in 1844. The mother is still living and finds a pleasant home with her children. George W. was reared on the farm in this county, and edu- cated in the neighborhood schools. When about 17 years of age he went to California and spent nearly 20 years on the Pacific coast. For the first three years he was engaged in mining in California, and then turned his attention to farming and stock-raising, which he followed until 1872, some 15 years. Selling out in California, he re- turned to this county, and the following year was married to Miss Drucilla, a daughter of Andrew F. and Gillie Oechsli, formerly of Virginia, and who settled in this county in 1850. Both her parents are now deceased. The year of his marriage Mr. Sailor removed to Callaway county, where he engaged actively in farming and handling stock. He remained there until 1881, returning thence to Mont- gomery county, and settling on the farm where he now resides.' Mr. and Mrs. Sailor have five children : William T., Martha B., Alberta, George F. and Ida Lee.
C. C. SAILOR,
(Farmer and Stock-raiser, Post-office, Montgomery City).
All new countries are settled in the first instance by the most ener- getic and enterprising of older communities - brave, sturdy, adven- turous spirits, who push out into new regions, well knowing the hard- ships and dangers they are to endure, but not fearing them. Among the pioneers of this class in North Missouri was the father of the sub- ject of the present sketch. James Sailor came of an old Virginia fam- ily, but was reared, himself, in Kentucky. He came to Missouri in the territorial days of the country, settling in Montgomery county, where he reared his family. He was one of the sturdy, worthy old pioneers of the country, and died here in 1872. His wife, the
891
HISTORY OF MONTGOMERY COUNTY.
1 mother of Charles C., who was a Miss Libbie Cobb, died in 1858. Charles C. was born on the family homestead in this county, January 17, 1838. About the time he reached his majority the Pike's Peak excitement was at its height and he, too, went to that Land of Prom- ise, but had no difficulty in bringing back the same year all the wealth he accumulated at the Midas Mountain of the American Hesperides. After his return he was busily occupied with farming until the out- break of the War of 1861, when, following the bent of his convic- tions, he promptly enlisted in the Twenty-third Missouri infantry. He served for the full term of his enlistment, and after the expiration of his service returned home, taking no further part in the war. Re- suming farming, later along he also engaged in stock trading, and has followed up these industries with satisfactory success until the pres- ent time. In 1873 he was married to Miss Mattie Colbert, a daughter of Washington Colbert, formerly of North Carolina. Mr. and Mrs. S. have five children : Dwinard B., Malcolm E., Armistead F., Angie M. and Isaac S. Mr. Sailor has a good farm of 132 acres. He and wife are members of the church.
JAMES M. SAILOR,
(Farmer and Stock-Raiser, Post-office, Montgomery City).
Of German descent on his father's side, Mr. Sailor is of the second generation of the family born in this country. His grandfather, Emanuel Sailor, came from Germany shortly after the Revolutionary War and settled in Pennsylvania. Subsequently, having married, he made his home in Kentucky, where James Sailor, the father of James M., was born in 1808. James Sailor was married to Miss Libbie Cobb, of Kentucky, and removed to Missouri, settling in Montgomery county. He died here several years afterwards. His wife died in 1856. They had a family of 11 children. Most of these grew to years of maturity and became heads of families themselves. James M. Sailor was the seventh in his father's family of children, and was born in this county October 16, 1844. Reared on the farm, he was married here to Miss Alice Henton, a daughter of Rolla Henton, an early settler of this county from Kentucky. Two children are the fruit of this union, Anson and Effie. Mr. Sailor has made farming his life occupation, having followed it continuously from boyhood. He located on the farm where he now resides when it was raw land, and has improved it mainly by his own labor. He is a man of in- dustry and one of the worthy citizens of the township. His farm contains 150 acres, and is a comfortable homestead.
ROBERT A. SHARP
(Of Sharp & Rookwood, Dealers in Farm Implements, Etc., Etc.)
Mr. Sharp's parents were early settlers in Montgomery county, coming here from Virginia in about 1838. His father, John Sharp, was for many years one of the well known and highly respected citi-
892
HISTORY OF MONTGOMERY COUNTY.
zens of the south-east part of the county. He died at High Hill in 1866. He was quite prominent in church work, and was a valued member of the Baptist Church. For a time he lived in St. Louis, in order to give his children the benefits to be derived from the excellent schools of that city. Mr. Sharp's mother (Robert A.'s) was a Miss Margaret Jeter before her marriage, also of Virginia. Robert A. was born at his parents' homestead in this county, May 15, 1842, and was reared in that vicinity. He is the youngest of five children by his father's last marriage, two sons and three daughters. He received a good common and high-school education, and also took a course at Jones' Commercial College, in St. Louis. Subsequently he learned the carpenter's trade and followed contracting and building most of the time at Montgomery City for about 16 years. For some seven years during this time he was engaged in the lumber business at this place. In 1882 Mr. Sharp engaged in the farm machinery business at Montgomery City, in which he has ever since continued. He built his own wareroom and business house, and gives the machinery busi- ness his whole time and attention. Messrs. Sharp & Rookwood carry a large stock of agricultural implements and have built up an excel- lent trade. January 27, 1869, Mr. Sharp was married to Miss Hen- rietta Anderson, a daughter of Dr. G. A. Anderson, deceased, late of Loutre island. Mrs. S. was principally educated in Pennsylvania, and at the Danville ( Mo. ) College. Mr. and Mrs. Sharp have five children : Leah E., Alonzo G., Guy B. and Herbert L. During the war Mr. Sharp was in the Southern service under Col. Dorsey for a time. He was in one or two fights of minor importance.
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