USA > Missouri > Vernon County > History of Vernon County, Missouri : past and present, including an account of the cities, towns and villages of the county Vol. II > Part 20
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On February 5, 1890, Mr. Curtis was united in marriage with Miss Matilda A. Croly, and they have had three children, of whom Charles Curtis, who was born November 29, 1890, is the only survivor. Mrs. Curtis is a member of the Christian Church, and Mr. Curtis is connected with the Methodist Episcopal Church. He is also identified with the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, being a member of Garland Lodge No. 603. In political senti- ment he is a Republican.
Charles B. Dale is a native Missourian, was born in Vernon county, March 9, 1884, and is the youngest of a family of eight children (six of whom are now living) born to R. J. and Jennie (Reason) Dale. The latter moved from Kentucky, his native state, in the fall of 1883, and settled with his wife and family of seven children in Nevada. He first bought 240 acres of land and made it his home for eighteen years, which he afterwards sold and purchased forty acres just east of Milo, in Vernon county, and made his home there with his family till his decease, which occurred October 11, 1910. His wife died in 1897. He acquired a good education in the common schools of Spencer county, and in the public schools of Louisville, Ky., and was in the true sense a high-minded Christian gentleman. He was a model farmer and gave special attention to breeding fine stock and feeding for the market. He took an active interest in public matters. and as a Democrat was prominent in the councils of his party and a leader in its local affairs. He was a worthy member
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of the Baptist Church and withal a man of generous impulses, benevolent, kind-hearted and public-spirited, and his passing away was mourned as a great public loss.
Charles B. attended the public schools at Milo until he was seventeen years of age, then, after pursuing a course of study in the business college at Sedalia, Mo., spent two years buying and selling stock. He next turned his attention to mercantile pursuits, opening a grocery store. At the same time he carried on in a limited way a retail harness business in the rear part of his store, with good success. Then for three years he conducted a small wholesale harness trade, with such satisfactory results that in 1910 he joined with others and organized and incor- porated the Dale Saddlery Company, with C. B. Dale as president and J. F. Mckay as secretary and treasurer. The company is engaged in the manufacture and sale of every variety of sad- dlery and harness, occupying a building thirty-two by one hun- dred and twenty feet in dimension, built especially for its accom- modation, having four departments, office, sample room, ware- house and workshop.
The concern employs regularly twelve experienced workmen and turns out a class of products unsurpassed in quality and excellence. A large force of salesmen are constantly on the road and the products of the house are sold throughout the states of Missouri, Kansas, Oklahoma, Colorado, and, in fact, the entire southwestern territory. The business has shown a marvelous growth, the sales having increased from $1,250 the first year to $40,000 yearly at the present time.
Mr. Dale adheres to the principles of the Democratic party and takes an active interest in its affairs. In religious faith he is identified with the Baptist denomination. On October 6, 1909, Mr. Dale married Miss Cora May Banta, of Milo.
David Darrow was born in Summit county, Ohio, January 17, 1837, his parents also being natives of the Buckeye state, his father, David, of the same county, and his mother, whose maiden name was Sophia Hawkins, of Medina county. Nine children constituted their family, of whom young David was the fourth child and third son. He was reared in his native county to an agricultural experience, and with the exception of a short period, that occupation continued to receive his attention up to 1870. In
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1857 he removed to Iowa and located in Monroe county, there following the peaceful avocation of farming until the outbreak of the war, when he enlisted in the Twenty-second Iowa volun- teer infantry. Subsequently he had an active military experience, participating in the battles of Port Gibson, Champion's Hill, Black River Bridge, Raymond, Siege of Vicksburg, Jackson, Miss., and Winchester, Va., besides many of less importance. After the war was over he returned to Iowa, remaining there until 1868, when he located in Johnson county Missouri, and in 1870 he came to this county. In October, 1860, he was married to Miss Phebe Lloyd, of West Virginia, daughter of Samuel and Hannah (Carpenter) Lloyd, both of Pennsylvania nativity. The former was a gallant soldier in the Mexican War, and at the commencement of the late civil strife, though having reached the advanced age of 65, he enlisted for service in the Twenty-second Iowa infantry, was wounded and captured at Vicksburg; and while held in that city as a prisoner he died. To Mr. and Mrs. Darrow four children were born : Freddie, James M., Bessie M. and Clarence A.
James W. Daugherty,* a prosperous farmer of Osage township, Vernon county, Missouri, was born in Fayette county, Pennsyl- vania, February 21, 1848. He is the second child of a family of five children born to James and Margaret (Snyder) Daugherty, both natives of Fayette county. The father was raised in the city of Fayette, and in his early life taught school and later engaged in mercantile trade. Selling his business in 1876, he moved with his family to Vernon county, Missouri, and settled on a quarter section of land in Osage township, where he engaged in farming till his decease. His wife has also passed away. Of their other children, Ellis H., a cooper by trade, and later a farmer, never married and died in Osage township; John W., also a farmer, died unmarried in 1907, at the age of 55 years ; Anna M., who was married to Mr. John Ingram, of Osage township. is de- ceased, and Samuel S. Daugherty, their youngest child, lives near Milo, Vernon county.
James W. acquired his early education in the public schools of Fayette, Pa., and began life for himself, working in a grist mill owned by Mr. John Curl, whose daughter he afterward mar- ried, continuing there some five years. He also, at the same time, engaged in farming in a limited way, and afterward devoted
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himself to that occupation exclusively. In 1876, Mr. Daugherty moved to Vernon county, with his father and family, and for a time cultivated a part of his father's land. Later he leased and worked a quarter section in Osage township, five years, and con- tinued his farming operations on rented land till 1895, when he bought eighty acres in section thirty-three, township thirty-eight, where he has since made his home, owning also a timber tract of ten acres in section nine.
Mr. Daugherty is a man of influence in his community, a Democrat in political opinions and action, and has held various local offices. He has served as constable many years, was two years tax collector, served on the township board a like period and for four years was township clerk and assessor. While in his native state he became a member of "American Patriots" at Fayette, and still retains his membership. He is a man of sterling Christian character, a consistent member of the Christian Church and assistant superintendent of the local Sunday-school.
In 1870 Mr. Daugherty was united in marriage with Miss Louisa Curl, who was born in Green county, Pennsylvania, May 10, 1852, and is a daughter of John and Maria (McCann) Curl, both natives of that county, where they passed their lives.
Mr. and Mrs. Daugherty have had three children born to them, viz .: John G., who was born October 18, 1887, and is a car inspector in the employ of the Frisco Railway Company at Kan- sas City, Mo. James M., who was born June 8, 1890, and lives on the home farm, and Esther May, who was born April 23, 1893, and lives with her parents. Mr. and Mrs. Daugherty have also an adopted son, William C. Daugherty, who was born October 19, 1876, and left an orphan when about 2 years old. He resides at Arthur in Osage township.
Wilson Davenport. In 1859 he first came to this county, and for many years afterwards freighted between Moundville and Pleasant Hill. It was about the time Moundville was laid out that he settled here, and his history has been similar to the his- tory of the town. He has held, among other positions, those of justice of the peace and township clerk. Born in Rensselaer county, New York., September 7, 1827, he was the son of Ben- jamin and Phebe Davenport, nee Waters, both of New York nativity, and who were the parents of four children. Wilson
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continued to make his home in New York until 30 years of age, then, as stated, locating in this county. October 26, 1848, he was united in marriage with Miss Margaret H. Shaver, daughter of Jacob I. and Mary L. (Mitchell) Shaver, of New York, and to them seven children have been born: Harriet, wife of William H. Haines ; Mary E., wife of Lee Butler; Ben, Wilson J., Jennie, wife of John Caton, Nora and Josie. During the war Mr. Dav- enport served in Company B, Fourteenth Kansas cavalry.
Christopher T. Davis, whose name heads this sketch, came originally from Pittsylvania county, Virginia, where he was born May 10, 1846, the seventh of twelve children born to his parents, Christopher and Martha (Edwards) Davis, both of whom were also natives of the Old Dominion. Our subject joined the Sixth Virginia cavalry under J. E. B. Stewart, a command destined to experience severe hardships. Mr. Davis took part in the bat- tles of Gettysburg, Wilderness, Cold Harbor and others of less importance, finally leaving the service at Appomattox Court House. Upon returning home from the battlefield he again resumed the peaceful pursuits of farm life and also until 1867 attended school-a select school and Roanoke College, from which he afterwards appeared in the possession of a thorough education, thoroughly enabling him to enter upon the more active duties of everyday life. Upon coming to Missouri he was at first a resi- dent of Osage county, which he left when his location was made in this county in 1870. He taught school for a time, then read law under Sheldon A. Wright and was admitted to the bar in 1874. His career since that time is well and favorably known. In his profession he was found by no means in the rear as a prac- titioner, and the cases which he had were cared for in a manner that none could criticise. His personal conduct was never made to subserve selfish ends, but was always marked by a straight- forward and upright course, such as is sure to be recognized. October 6, 1868, Mr. Davis was married to Miss Mary F. Cook, of Pulaski county, Missouri.
Forest E. Davis, a prosperous farmer and now a resident of Nevada, Mo., is a native of Sangamon county, Illinois, and was born near Springfield to Peter C. and Ellen (Flowers) Davis. The father, also a native of Sangamon county, Illinois, was born March 27, 1842, one of a family of twelve children born to
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Thomas R. and Elizabeth (Davenport) Davis, the former born in Virginia December 16, 1801, and the latter, a native of Kentucky. They settled in Sangamon county, Illinois, on a farm and lived there till their removal to Vernon county, Missouri, in 1856. Thomas R. gave his attention largely to farming, but also oper- ated a saw mill at what was then called Fairview. He died March 25, 1878. His widow, who was born May 27, 1812, sur- vived him and passed away April 12, 1880.
Peter C., our subject's father, was fifteen years old when his parents came to Missouri, and he lived there till 1861, and then returned to Illinois, where he resided till 1869. Returning to Vernon county he engaged in farming and became one of the most prosperous and largest land owners and stock raisers in the county, leaving at his decease, which occurred in November, 1910, a quarter section of land to each of his six grandchildren, and owning besides a vast amount of other property.
Both Peter C. and his wife were devoted members of the Christian Church and generous contributors to religious and charitable objects.
Forest E. acquired his early education in the public schools and later attended the agricultural department of the State University, being a member of the class of 1891. He then spent a short time teaching school, but since 1892 has devoted his atten- tion to farming. Since 1909 Mr. Davis has resided in Nevada, but continues the management of his farming interest, owning 620 acres of the most highly improved land in Barton county, near the line of Vernon county. Mr. Davis has spared neither pains nor money to improve his farms with a fine class of build- ings, and every facility and equipment required in modern, up-to- date methods of agriculture, and is recognized and known as a progressive and practical man. His residence on South Spring street, which he built on moving to the city, is thoroughly modern, a model of comfort and convenience, and an ornament to the city.
Mr. Davis has always adhered strictly to the principles of the Democratic party in his political opinions and actions, and in religious fellowship is affiliated with the Christian Church. He is identified with the Independent Order of Odd Fellows and is also a member of the M. B. A.
On March 27, 1892, Mr. Davis was united in marriage with Miss Susan C. Triplett, a daughter of Albert and Margaret
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(Barnes) Triplett, of Sheldon, Mo., and there have been born to them six children, viz., Erly T., Opal M., Everett, Oliver, Harvey and Lois Mae.
George T. Davis is a native of Vernon county, Missouri, and was born August 13, 1872, the fifth of a family of eight children born to Peter C. and Ellen (Flower) Davis. He is a grandson of Thomas Davis, who settled in Drywood township, Vernon county, in 1856, and lived there till his decease in 1878. P. C. Davis, his - father, was born in Sangamon county, Illinois, and lived there till about the time of the Civil War, and moved thence to Vernon county and settled on a farm in Drywood township. He was a systematic and successful farmer, an upright and loyal citizen and stood high in the esteem of his friends and neighbors as a man of superior judgment and sterling character, and at the time of his decease in 1910 had accumulated 3,000 acres of land in Vernon county.
George T. passed his boyhood on the home farm and attended the district schools till he was sixteen years old and then entered the University of Missouri, where he was graduated with the degree of Bachelor of Letters and P. P. degree, with the class of 1896. He lived with his parents till he was twenty-five years of age and on June 23, 1897, Mr. Davis was united in marriage with Miss Gertrude Wilcox, a daughter of Mr. George C. Wilcox, of Nevada. Mr. and Mrs. Davis have three children, viz., Vincil, who was born March 24, 1899; Vesta, born February 19, 1901, and Marvin, who was born September 16, 1906. Mr. Davis owns a well-located farm of 520 acres, part of which came to him from his father, in sections 34 and 35, Moundville township, and is counted one of the prosperous and progressive men of his section. The place is highly improved with a fine class of buildings, com- prising a handsome residence, a substantial and commodious barn and convenient outbuildings, and is well stocked, Mr. Davis giving particular attention to breeding and feeding cattle and hogs.
Both Mr. and Mrs. Davis are identified with the Christian Church in religious faith and fellowship, and he is a member of Sheldon Lodge No. 438, Independent Order of Odd Fellows. In political opinion he holds to the Democratic principles as ex- pounded by William Jennings Bryan.
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Judge Peter C. Davis, one of the oldest and most prominent citizens of Vernon county, died at his home in Drywood township in 1910.
Judge Davis was a member of the Vernon county court from the south district, and sat on the bench from January 7, 1901, to December 31, 1902. He was one of the wealthiest citizens in the south part of the county, owning 3,000 acres of excellent farm land.
Peter C. Davis was born in Sangamon county, Illinois, on a farm, March 27, 1842. He was reared there until the age of fifteen, then accompanied his parents to Vernon county, where he made his home until the outbreak of the Civil War in 1861. About that time he returned to Illinois, but in October, 1869, he again came to Vernon county and remained here until his death.
He was prominently associated with the county's inter- ests in many ways. Success attended him during his life in a financial way, through his good business qualities and good man- agement. Everyone who knew him at all recognized in him one of the truly valued residents of the county.
On March 23, 1865, he was married to Miss Ellen Flowers. Four children were born of this union, Forrest, George, Phoebe and Almeda Davis surviving.
Judge Davis was a member of the Christian Church, liberally contributing of his time and means toward the support of that body. When Judge Davis first settled in Vernon county there was not a house within fifteen miles of the Davis home. He and his father hauled material from Kansas City by wagon to con- struct a mill, which still stands in Drywood township.
James R. Davis is one of the wide-awake and progressive busi- ness men of the younger class of Nevada, Mo., whose energy, public spiritedness and enterprise are potent factors in the busi- ness activities of that thriving city. A native of Harrison county, Missouri, he was born May 2, 1875, and is a son of A. H. and Salena (Wakefield) Davis, both natives of Missouri, whither this branch of the Davis family came from Kentucky, and the Wake- fields from Illinois. Our subject's father has carried on a suc- cessful business in general merchandise at Montevallo, in Vernon county, for twenty-two years.
James R. acquired his education in the public schools of Ver-
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non county and on attaining his majority, in 1896, began teaching in the rural districts of the county. He continued in that occupa- tion until 1902, employing his time during vacations in his father's store. Mr. Davis early began to take an active interest in affairs and is somewhat prominent in the local councils and activities of the Democratic party, of whose principles he is an ardent supporter.
Upon relinquishing teaching in 1902 he accepted an appoint- ment as deputy circuit clerk of Vernon county, and after four years of satisfactory service was elected county recorder, and filled that office till the close of 1910. Since January 1, 1911, Mr. Davis has been treasurer of the Wainscott Furniture Company of Nevada, a position for which he is peculiarly fitted by reason of his early training and years of official service. Mr. Davis takes a lively interest in various fraternal and benevolent organi- zations, as well as in the social and civic life of the community, and his pleasing personality and sturdy character make him popu- lar with all classes. He is identified with the Ancient Free and Accepted Masons, representative to the Grand Lodge of the Inde- pendent Order of Odd Fellows, district deputy in the Knights of Pythias and V. C. of Nevada Camp, Modern Woodmen of Amer- ica, No. 3142, with 650 members.
On March 16, 1898, Mr. Davis married Miss Stella M. Bacon, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Thomas Bacon, of Brownington, Mo.
J. Patterson Davis, a prosperous farmer, has been a resident of Harrison township, Vernon county, Missouri, since 1879. He is a native of Scott county, Illinois, and was born May 22, 1847, and is the third child of a family of eight children, five of whom are now living-1911-born to David and Elizabeth (Walker) Davis, both of whom were born in Kentucky. The father had a good English education and was a shoemaker by trade, and after his removal to Scott county, Illinois, in 1833, worked at his trade there a number of years, and owned at one time 350 acres of land in Scott county. He moved to Macon county. Illi- nois, in 1856, and died there in 1888. He was a life-long Demo- crat and voted the first time for Andrew Jackson for the presi- dency. In religious faith he was a Universalist. His widow sur- vived till 1892 and passed away in Macon county. Here J. Pat- terson attended the common schools till he was sixteen years old
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and lived at home until he attained his majority, when on Au- gust 26, 1868, he was united in marriage with Miss Mary Ann Williams. He lived in Macon county till 1879, when he moved with his family to Vernon county, Missouri, and settled on eighty acres of land which he bought in section 11, Harrison township, where he has since made his home and carried on successful farming operations.
Mr. Davis is a prominent and influential man in his commu- nity ; active in local affairs and councils of the Democratic party and has served twelve years as township clerk and assessor and was four years deputy sheriff of Vernon county under Mr. J. T. Horkreader, sheriff. He is identified with the Masonic order and belongs to Vernon Lodge, No. 303.
Mr. and Mrs. Davis had three children born to them, viz .: Zerah C. and Loren A., twins, born September 8, 1871, of whom the first named is deceased, and Charley Marquis, who was born June 28, 1878.
Rudolphus Davis, who has resided in Vernon county, Missouri, forty-five years, is a native of Harrison county, Indiana, and was born June 14, 1834, to Thomas and Lucinda C. (Seacot) Davis, natives of Kentucky and Indiana, respectively, the father's an- cestors being of Welch and those of the mother of German line- age. The family moved to Clark county, Missouri, in 1856. Soon after attaining his majority, on August 24, 1855, Rudolphus was united in marriage in his native county with Miss Rutha Jane Stevens, a daughter of Col. R. S. Stevens, of that place, and after the opening of the Civil War he enlisted as a private in Company F, Fifty-ninth Regiment Indiana Volunteers Infantry, and entered the Union army. Accompanying his regiment, he went to Commerce and thence to New Madrid, Missouri, and par- ticipated in the battle there. He also, among others, fought in the battles of Corinth, Magnolia Hill, Raymond, Jackson Missis- sippi, Champion Hill, Mission Ridge and in the seige of Vicks- burg, and finally joining the army at Huntsville, Alabama, he was with General Sherman in the march to the sea. After receiving his honorable discharge, Mr. Davis, on September 6, 1865, re- turned to Harrison county, Indiana, and one year later removed with his family to Vernon county, Missouri, settling on eighty acres, which he bought in section 3, Harrison township. A few
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months later he bought another tract of 120 acres, making 200 acres in all. Here he built and moved into a crude log house and with his family experienced the privations and hardships which fall to the lot of pioneer settlers. But he faced the diffi- culties with manly courage and with a steady purpose to over- come them wrought with a will, and he transformed what was a wild and barren waste into a fertile and fruitful farm, im- proved with substantial buildings and furnished with all the needed facilities and equipment of a model modern farm. Mr. Davis has been eminently successful in his farming operations and now in his declining years is able to enjoy the well-earned fruits of his busy life. He is a Republican in political sentiment and cast his first ballot for Abraham Lincoln for the presidency, but has never sought or cared for official position.
Of six children born to Mr. and Mrs. Davis three are now -1911-living, whose names and dates of birth are James Davis, born August 16, 1856; Josephine Davis, born November 28, 1858, and Stewart Davis, who was born November 28, 1864.
John T. Dean was born in Bates county, Missouri, December 14, 1842, and is a son of Elias and Elizabeth (Johnson) Dean, who were natives of Kentucky, and who moved from Mercer county in that state to Missouri in 1856. John T. is the third child of a family of eleven children born to them, of whom five are living. The father was a prosperous farmer in Vernon county and a man of good standing in the community and owned a fine farm of 240 acres at the time of his decease, December 28, 1890. John T. had but limited school privileges in his early life, but made good use of such as he had in the district schools of Vernon county. He grew to manhood on his father's farm and when he began for himself purchased and settled on forty acres in section 13, Lake township, and lived there fourteen years, then bought forty acres more, living cosily and happily with his family in a log cabin where one room had to serve as kitchen, dining room and parlor. This was afterwards supplanted by a six-room dwelling, which was the family home for fifteen years. Mr. Dean then moved with his family to the family homestead of his father-in-law, the late Willis Preston Ellis. on section 27, in Washington township, and has since made his home there. On
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