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 27
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After finishing his studies in the public schools of Nevada our subject, from 1899 to 1905, engaged in clerking, after which he
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HISTORY OF VERNON COUNTY
spent some six years in newspaper work as reporter and city editor of the "Evening Post." On January 1, 1911, Mr. Hagood, with Mr. John E. Hartsook, became members of the H. R. Stevens Company, a prosperous business house of Nevada, dealing in jewelry, pianos and other merchandise of like character, and Mr. Hagood has entered into his new work with characteristic energy that betokens a successful career.
Mr. Hagood is active in fraternal organizations and is identi- fied with the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks, the. Knights of Pythias and the Modern Woodmen of America.
John J. Hall is a native of Kentucky and was born in Breck- enridge county July 27, 1847, to William P. and Rebecca (Board) Hall, both born in Virginia. His grandfather, Richard Hall, was a soldier in the war of 1812. His father enlisted as a private in Company B, Twenty-seventh regiment, Kentucky volunteer infantry, and served a year and a half, till 1863, when he was dis- charged for disability. He spent his life in Kentucky and died there in 1893. The mother died when our subject was a young child, and he grew up in his father's home and attended the com- mon schools till he was twelve years old. At the age of fourteen, on October 20, 1861, he enlisted as a drummer boy in Company B of his father's regiment, and served three years six months and seventeen days, the regiment operating in Tennessee. He took part in many severe skirmishes and was in the battle of Perrys- ville, Ky., and later on, after the regiment was mounted and sent to eastern Tennessee, he participated in the siege of Knoxville. His regiment was with General Sherman in the Georgia cam- paign until the fall of Atlanta, and afterwards was sent to Nash- ville, but before the battle of Nashville he was ordered to Louis- ville, Ky., when his term of enlistment expired. After receiving his discharge he, on April 7, 1865, re-enlisted in the Fifty- third Kentucky regiment of mounted infantry, in which he served till his final discharge, when he returned to his home. In 1869 he went to Vernon county, Missouri, and in the fall of 1895 moved to Jasper county, and for two years conducted a general store in Harrison township. Removing thence to Branough he opened the first store in the place, there being then no railroad there. He was a notary public and "was kept busy making and acknowl- edging deeds for settlers then locating there," as he states. A
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little later he opened a feed stable at Nevada, after which he was temporarily in other places till, finally, in 1908, he settled at Ellis, in Vernon county, where he has since conducted with marked success the only general store in the place.
Mr. Hall is a public-spirited, progressive citizen, interested in the development of his town and owning several public blocks. Mr. Hall is a Republican and a member of the Grand Army of the Republic.
On July 14, 1870, Mr. Hall was united in marriage with Miss- Jane Alexander, who died, leaving one child, William R. In 1875 Mr. Hall was married to Dora L. McCormick, of which marriage there are three girls, Ethel M., Alice V. and Blanche B. In 1893 Mr. Hall married Miss Ida Stark, of Vernon county, and they have six children, viz., Lola B., born July 30, 1894 ; Eunice, born October 9, 1897; Trixy, born June 3, 1900; Gladys, born February 25, 1903; Violet, born July 12, 1906, and Mona, who was born October 10, 1908.
William H. Hallett, a practicing attorney of Nevada, Mo., is a native of Cumberland county, Illinois, and is of French-Scotch lineage. His paternal grandfather, Solomon J. Hallett, moved from Kentucky, his native state, to Illinois about 1848. His wife was Miss Nancy E. Waldrup before her marriage. Both are de- ceased. His maternal grandfather, Harrison Jones, settled in Vernon county, Missouri, in 1874, and lived there till his decease in 1894, when he was seventy-three years of age. He had prac- ticed law in Illinois, and was successful in mercantile business and also as a farmer. William H. was born September 1, 1867, to George W. and Mary E. (Jones) Hallett, both of whom were born in Cumberland county, Illinois. The father was a farmer in Illinois until 1890, when he removed with his family to Okla- homa, where he resided till his decease in 1910, at the age of sixty-eight years. The mother is still living. Our subject attended the public schools of his native town, Jewett, Ill., and afterwards engaged in teaching as principal of the Jewett High School. In 1890 he went to Oklahoma and there taught one year, and in 1892 was appointed county clerk of Roger, Mills county, Oklahoma. During his vacations, while teaching, Mr. Hallett devoted his time and attention to the study of law, with a view of fitting himself for the legal profession, and in 1893 passed the examination and
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was admitted to the bar. He began his practice at Oklahoma City, but soon afterwards came to Nevada, his present home, and, during the next five years he gave his attention to teaching in Vernon county. Mr. Hallett then entered the Kansas City Law School, where he was graduated with the class of 1900, and at once opened an office in Nevada and began practice, in which he has since continued without interruption, with gratifying success. Mr. Hallett shows commendable interest in public affairs and is active in local political matters, being a member of the Republican state committee. He is also treasurer of the Missouri State Hos- pital for the Insane at Nevada. Mr. Hallett is active in fraternal and benevolent orders, such as the Knights of Pythias, Inde- pendent Order of Odd Fellows, Modern Woodmen of America and Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks.
On March 24, 1898, Mr. Hallett married Miss La Verna, daugh- ter of Alonzo and Mary E. Wilson, of Vernon county. They have one child, Webster W.
George Ham, who was born in Oneida county, New York, Au- gust 10, 1846, is the first child of a family of eight childen born to John and Christina (Meel) Ham, who immigrated from France, their native land, and settled in Oneida county, New York. in 1832. The father was a mechanic and followed that occupation all his life. He was twice married and had two children by his second wife. He was a member of the Presbyterian church, while our subject's mother, who passed away in 1872, was connected with the Methodist Episcopal church.
When eight years old, George left Oneida county and went first to Toledo, Ohio, and thence to Morgan county, Illinois, where, in 1864, he enlisted in Company I, One Hundred and First Regiment, Illinois Volunteers Infantry. He was in the serv- ice nineteen months and took part in several skirmishes; was at Atlanta, Ga., and in Sherman's "march to the sea." After leaving Savannah he was sent on a scouting expedition in South Carolina and he was taken prisoner and sent to Andersonville, where he was held eighty-eight days, till the close of the war. After his discharge at Springfield, Ill., in 1865, he returned to his home in Illinois and thence came to Vernon county and set- tled in Harrison township. For some nine years, till 1874, Mr. Ham cultivated leased land and then bought eighty acres in
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section 27, Harrison township. He has been very successful in his operations and now owns 224 acres in sections 22, 27 and 33, where he resides, having a fine house and surrounded with all the comforts and conveniences made available by his pros- perity and thrift. His farm has been transformed from a tract of wild and barren prairie land to its present state of perfec- tion by years of hard work and ranks with the most fertile and productive places in Harrison township. Mr. Ham stands high as an upright and wideawake citizen and has the confidence of all who know him. He is a Republican in political opinion and somewhat active in the local affairs of his party.
Mr. Ham has been married five times. He was united with Miss Mary Ann McKill, who died leaving four children, of whom two are now living, viz .: George R., who was born August 8, 1869, and Frances Christina, born May 30, 1871.
On October 11, 1877, he married Mrs. Sarah R. Wade and she died leaving one child, Bernecie, who was born October 30, 1878.
Mr. Ham was married the third time on December 24, 1900, when Mrs. Juriah De Hart became his wife. After her death he married Mrs. Isabella Ellen Harvin and their marriage was celebrated January 6, 1908. Mr. Ham obtained a divorce from this lady and on August 9, 1911, was married to Mrs. May Alpha Duke at Olatha, Kan.
William R. Hamilton,* a resident of Henry township, Vernon county, Missouri, is a native of Morgan county, Indiana, and was born October 16, 1841. He was the third child, and only son, of a family of four children (two of whom are now living) born to James and Theresa (Dougherty) Hamilton, who were natives of Wayne county, Kentucky, and who were married in 1837. The father, who came of Scotch parentage, was born January 13, 1815, the fourth child of a family of nine children born to John and Nellie (Collett) Hamilton. John Hamilton was a native of Maryland, and in 1825 moved with his family to Morgan county, Indiana, his being the first family to settle in Jackson township. There he and his eldest son each entered eighty acres of govern- ment land, and he also entered forty acres for each of his other four sons, a part of this land now forming part of the site of the town of Morgan. On leaving Indiana, he sold his land for $800.
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Our subject's mother was born in 1818, the daughter of Jesse and Rhoda (Kamp) Doughtery, natives of Virginia and Soutlı Carolina, respectively, and both of Irish parentage. They settled in Jackson township, Morgan county, Indiana, in 1827. Immedi- ately after their marriage our subject's parents began their family life in a log house, which they built on the husband's forty acres, which was covered with dense woods. The house was built without the use of a nail, the door itself being made from strips split from a log and fastened together with wooden pins and hung on wooden hinges. Working with a will he cleared the land, and added to it other tracts until he had a splendid farm of 210 acres, well improved, where he and his wife reared their family and passed their lives. The mother passed away in 1888, but the father survived till October, 1909. They were both worthy members of the Methodist Episcopal Church.
Their other surviving child, Lucinda, is the wife of Mr. Inger- soll, of California, Missouri.
William R. grew to manhood on his father's farm, acquiring a limited education in the subscription and public schools. and after his marriage continued to live on the family homestead till 1866. Then, with his wife and two children, he went overland to Allen county, Kansas, settling near Iola, where he cultivated leased land three years. In 1869 he settled in Henry township, Vernon county, and after leasing land one year, in the spring of 1870, bought forty acres in section 26, and moved into a house of one room, which he built. Beginning in this modest way forty- one years ago, Mr. Hamilton has gradually made his way to his present place among the well-to-do farmers of his township, owning now a splendid farm of 120 acres, finely cultivated, well stocked and highly improved with good buildings and farming equipments. In May, 1862, Mr. Hamilton was united in mar- riage with Miss Margaret Norman, who was born in Morgan county, Indiana, in 1842, and who died in 1870, about the time they settled on their home farm, leaving two children, viz. : James M., and William H. Hamilton, who now live in Iola, Kan. On August 8, 1872, Mr. Hamilton married Miss Amanda J. Win- chester, who was born in Johnson county, Indiana, June 2. 1854. Three children have been born of this marriage, viz .: Ida B., now the wife of Mr. Harry Gordon, of Columbus, Kan .; Miss Daisy Hamilton, now clerk in the sub-postal station at Colorado
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Springs, Colo .; and Henry Hamilton, who lives on the home farm.
Mrs. Hamilton died October 2, 1910. She was a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church, as is also Mr. Hamilton.
George C. Hardy was born in Mercer county, Pennsylvania, June 26, 1837, the fifth of eight children who blessed the union of his parents. His father was also a native of the Keystone state. His mother, before her marriage, Miss Olive Reed, came orig- inally from Massachusetts. George, as he grew up, passed his- time between working upon the home farm and attending school. He was fortunate enough to secure a good, practical education. Enlisting in the Second Ohio cavalry, he served gallantly for over three and one-half years, then after being mustered out, he enlisted in the Seventh Pennsylvania cavalry. Besides the many skirmishes in which his command participated, he was at the battles of Pea Ridge and Gettysburg. During his services in the Second Ohio, he was stationed for a time at Fort Scott, and it was while a soldier at that point that he saw and became so familiar with this portion of Vernon county. The beauty of this section, its apparent fitness for a farming community and the excellency of its climate formed favorable impressions in his mind, and accordingly after the close of the war he came at once to Vernon county, engaging for a long time in school teaching. In 1878, Mr. Hardy was married to Miss Missouri Estes, of Cas- well county, North Carolina, the second of a family of five chil- dren of Jonathan and Sarah Estes, both natives of North Caro- lina. In 1850 Mr. Estes moved from his Southern home to Greene county, Missouri, coming thence to this county in 1855 and locating in Drywood township. During the war the family suffered cruel and severe hardships, and without any cause were subjected to unreasonable persecution. Though naturally sym- pathizing with the Southern cause, he was quiet and liberal towards those who were not of his belief. He died in 1879, his wife having preceded him to the grave in 1876.
George W. Harris came originally from Indiana, having been born in Tippecanoe county, September 9, 1832. His father. Roland Harris, was a native of North Carolina, but at an early day he moved to Indiana, there devoting himself to his chosen occupation of farming. He married Miss Mary Walker, of Indi-
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ana. George was the third child and second son in his parents' family of ten children. He was brought up in the state of his birth upon a farm, subsequently spending three years in Illinois. during which time he worked at the carpenter's trade. In 1857 he came to Vernon county and here he closely applied himself to his original calling of a farmer. In 1864, Mr. Harris was married to Mrs. Lucinda Job, formerly a Miss Dobbins. She was born in Cooper county, and first married Abraham Job, of Tennessee, who died in 1862 at Fort Scott, leaving five children: Mary and Robert V. Hamilton, Abraham and Edgar. Mr. and Mrs. Harris had by their marriage three children: William A. Ellen, who married Charles Raines, and Charles R.
Pleasant R. Harris, one of the leading citizens of Schell City, Vernon county, was born in Boone county, Missouri, January 8, 1857, and is the only survivor of three children born to William A. and Sarah E. (Robnett) Harris, natives of Boone county, the former born in 1825 and the latter in 1830. They were married in their native county in 1852 and moved thence in 1872 to Vernon county, where the father engaged in farming till 1880, when he moved into Schell City, where he died in 1881. His widow survived till December, 1884. Of their other two chil- dren James Overton Harris died in 1883 without issue and Mary C., who was married to Mr. O. W. Bingham, died in St. Louis, December 17, 1903, and left her surviving two daughters, viz .: Nadine, born March 30, 1893, and Ola, who was born August 8, 1901. Pleasant R. grew to manhood on his father's farm and after attaining his majority in 1879 began clerking in the store of Messrs. J. H. Maus and Brother, at Schell City, and worked there ten years. Then for four years he was assistant cashier of the bank at Schell City and resigned that position in 1893 and went in company with Mr. J. C. Taylor, under the firm name of Taylor & Harris. Spent three years in the grocery trade. Sell- ing his interest in the store, he went to St. Louis and spent two years in the wholesale dry goods house of Messrs. H. T. Simon and Gregory, after which he sold goods one year for Mr. J. A. Hahn of his home town. Mr. Harris then went to Central City, Colo., and assumed the management of Messrs. C. C. Anderson & Co.'s department store, but finding he could not endure the high altitude of the place, he returned to Schell City, and form-
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ing a partnership with Mr. A. S. Dudley, under the firm name of Harris & Dudley, has since given his attention to real estate transactions, buying, selling, negotiating loans, etc. Mr. Harris is a practical man of affairs, has served six years on the local school board and for fifteen years was city clerk. He is active in fraternal organizations and is identified with Schell City Lodge, No. 305. Independent Order of Odd Fellows, and also is a member of the Modern Woodmen of America.
In political opinion he is a Democrat and in religious fellow .- ship is affiliated with the Christian church at Schell City.
On October 24, 1884, Mr. Harris was united in marriage with Miss Fannie E. Mullen, who was born in St. Louis, Mo., May 28. 1862, to John M. and Catherine (Turnbull) Mullen, the former a native of St. Louis and the latter of Scotland. Mrs. Harris passed away December 1, 1909, leaving two children, viz. : Catherine May Harris, born September 11, 1895, and Corine Harris, who was born November 21, 1900.
George H. Harrison, who was born in London, England, July 12, 1844, was the second child, and is one of three survivors of a family of six children born to Henry and Amelia (Leet) Harrison, who came from England, their native land, in 1852, and settled in Du Boies county, Indiana, where the mother died in 1875. The father resided there till 1883, and then moved to Vernon county, Missouri, and settled in Lake township, and died there in 1891 at the age of seventy-five years. He was a prosperous farmer, and owned at the time of his decease, 360 acres of good land. Both he and his wife were devoted members of the United Breth- ren Church from early youth, and he was a great Bible student, and in Indiana served as minister of the local church. His early education was limited, but he was a constant reader and a close observer of men and events, and in all his maturer years was known as a well-read and thoroughly-posted man, and he was withal a man of generous impulses, given to acts of charity and kindness to those in need.
George H. lived with his parents and attended the common schools till he was seventeen years old, and then, in 1861 enlisted as a private in Company E, Eighteenth Regiment, Indiana Volun- teers Infantry and served four years and two months. Among other hard-fought engagements he took part in the battles of
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HISTORY OF VERNON COUNTY
Pea Ridge, Ark., Ft. Gibson, Siege of Vicksburg, Raymond, Jackson, Black River Ridge, Champion Hill, etc. From the Army of Tennessee, his regiment was transferred to the Shenandoah Valley and there he was in the battles of Winchester and Cedar Creek, after which the regiment was sent to the relief of Sher- man, at Savannah, Ga. Thence it was sent to Augusta, Ga., where Jefferson Davis was intercepted, then sent from Augusta to Darien, Ga., where the regiment remained till September. 1865. It was discharged at Indianapolis in September, 1865. Returning to his home in Indiana, our subject gave his attention to farming till 1880, when he removed to Vernon county, Missouri, and bought and settled on eighty acres of land in section 10, Lake township, to which he afterward added 340 acres. Selling his land, Mr. Harrison went to Woodson county, Kansas, and bought a tract of 320 acres and lived there three years. In 1906, he returned to Vernon county and settled on his present farm of 252 acres in section 31, Harrison township, where he resides with his family in a comfortable dwelling within three miles of Arca- dia, Kan. Mr. Harrison is a systematic and progressive farmer, and well-known as an upright man and worthy citizen. He is a republican in politics, and cast his first presidential ballot for U. S. Grant in 1868. He is a member of the Grand Army of the Republic.
On May 1, 1872, Mr. Harrison was united in marriage with Miss Mary C. Case, in Du Bois county, Indiana. Three children have been born to them, of whom two are now living, viz .: Thomas R., who was born January 20, 1873, and Amelia E., born April 23, 1875.
J. D. Hatfield, an active and enterprising citizen of Milo, Vernon county, Missouri, was born in Macon county, Missouri, September 24, 1861, and is a son of Charles and Sallie (Murray) Hatfield, mother born in Illinois, father in Missouri, their ances- tors from Kentucky. His paternal grandfather was a pioneer settler of Macon county, where his father was engaged in farm- ing till 1889. He then moved to Sumner county, Kansas, then to Oklahoma, where he now resides.
Our subject is the fourth child of a family of ten children, seven of whom are now living, born to his parents. He acquired his education in the common schools of his native place and
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lived on the home farm till he was twenty-two years of age. From 1884 till 1894 he was engaged in farming in Macon county and also bought and sold real estate somewhat extensively both there and in Oklahoma. When that territory was opened for settlers by the government he was early in the race. He rode twenty-four miles in two hours and ten minutes to establish his stakes, and securing a good title from the government, lived on his claim till 1901, when he sold his interests there and went to Barton county, Missouri. In 1903 Mr. Hatfield took up his resi- dence on a farm in section 13, one mile east of Bellamy, in Dover township, Vernon county, where he carried on general farming till 1911, and where he now owns 260 acres of choice land. Leav- ing his farm, Mr. Hatfield moved with his family to his present home, where he bought forty acres of ground adjoining the vil- lage of Milo for that purpose. In all his varied operations he has been financially successful and as a public-spirited man, seeking the welfare and development of his community, is join- ing with others in offering superior inducements for developing the material resources of the town. Already Milo is the home of the Dale Saddlery Company, which is doing an extensive business in its line, and with the coming of other manufactories and the establishment of a prospective newspaper and the open- ing of a high school, for all of which there is crying need and ample opportunity, it is confidently expected that the popula- tion of the place will show a marked increase in the near future. To this end Mr. Hatfield is devoting much time and bending his energies. He has helped to organize two churches in Okla- homa and contributed generously to the construction of their buildings, being himself, with his wife, a member of the Mis- sionary Baptist church. He is identified with Lodge No. 438, Independent Order of Odd Fellows, and holds membership in the Modern Woodmen of America. In politics he is a Democrat and supports the principles advocated by William Jennings Bryan and is an ardent party worker.
On February 5, 1884, Mr. Hatfield married Miss Laura A. Griffin in Macon county, Missouri. They have had eight children, whose names and dates of birth are as follows, to-wit: Myrtle, born December 3, 1884; Oscar, born February 17, 1887; Roy, born July 13, 1889; Guy, born March 9, 1892; Ray, born March 11. 1895, and Duxvie Delores, born November 6, 1889. Those
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deceased are Laura Alice, born October 25, 1897, and died No- vember 25, 1897, and an infant born in 1905.
Stephen Heathman, who is justly ranked among the progres- sive farmers of Lake township, Vernon county, Missouri, is a native of Summit county, Ohio, and was born May 20, 1849, to Elisha and Alvina Heathman, the former a native of Connecti- cut and the lattern born in Connecticut. The father died in Ohio in 1852.
Our subject lived with his mother in Bureau county, Illinois: and attended the common schools there. When he was fifteen years old, in 1864, he enlisted as a private in Company G, One Hundred and First Regiment, Illinois Volunteers Infantry, and entered the army. His regiment, which was commanded by Col- onel Woodhull, was attached to the army of the Tennessee and was detailed for scouting purposes, guarding property, bridges. etc., so that he did not experience any fighting. He was in the service one year and was honorably discharged at the close of the war. Returning to his home in Illinois he lived there with his mother till their removal to Vernon county, Missouri, in 1869. Here Mr. Heathman bought eighty acres of land in Rich- land township, which he afterwards sold, and bought 320 acres in section 6, Lake township, near the town of Reinhart. In 1871 Mr. Heathman was united in marriage with Miss Elizabeth Mar- row, of Deerfield township, and they had one child, Oran, who was born December 18, 1871. Mrs. Heathman died in 1872, and on December 14, 1876, he married Miss Phoebe Easley, and they have eight children, named, respectively, Irvine E., who was born August 31, 1877, and who lives in Lake township, and has a family of four children; Earl R., who was born January 15, 1879, resides in Metz township and has one child; Earnest P., who was born January 8, 1881; Chester A., born January 11, 1883; Martha C., born November 17, 1884; Phoebe Elizabeth, who was born April 26, 1887, is married to Mr. Walter Stubblefield, of Metz township, and has one child ; Francis, who was born July 17, 1888, and Stephen V., who was born May 24, 1892.
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