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 29
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Our subject received a good preliminary education in the public schools and then attended Van Petten Seminary, of Se- dalia, Mo., and attended the Missouri State University. Later he studied law under the preceptorship of Judge C. R. Scott, of Nevada, and since his admission to the Vernon county bar, in 1883, he has devoted himself to the practice of his profession with eminent success and ranks among the leaders of the local bar. Mr. Hoss has been active in political matters and has taken a prominent part in the councils of his party. In 1884 he was chairman of the Democratic county committee and chairman of the congressional committee in 1890, 1891 and 1892. Since 1908 he has been president of the Farm and Home Savings and Loan Association of Missouri, and is interested in whatever relates to the well being or betterment of his community. Mr. Hoss stands high in Masonic circles, is past high priest of the local chapter, past eminent commander of Knights Templar, and a noble of the Mystic Shrine, affiliating with Arrarat Temple, of Kansas City, Mo. He is also a Knight of Pythias, a member of the Benevolent
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and Protective Order of Elks and Modern Woodmen of America.
Mr. Hoss married, October 7, 1891, Miss Mary L., daughter of H. C. and Helen Wilson, of Topeka, Kan.
William C. Huff. On the eleventh of April, 1884, William C. Huff, a man well known and held in high esteem, died at his residence in Bacon township. He was a native of Virginia, born May 15, 1821, the son of Samuel and Barthena (Allen) Huff, also of that state, who were married in 1820. They had one other child besides William, Lucinda, whose birth occurred April 15, 1823. After the father's death in 1823, his widow was mar- ried to Judge Perry Rodgers, bearing him several children also. William C. Huff in an early day moved from Virginia to Illinois with his mother, settling in Marion county. In 1857 he em- barked in the dry goods business at Butler, Bates county, Mis- souri, continuing that occupation some time, and in 1859 opened a similar business at Barnesville, Kan. October 23, 1861, he was married to Miss Jennie Scott, who was born January 9, 1836, in Saline county, Mo. Her father, Samuel Scott, born May 3, 1801, lived in his native state, Kentucky, until 1834; his wife was also born there in 1803, her maiden name being Abagail Smith. Mr. and Mrs. Huff had four children: Julian E., born October 13, 1863; James C., born January 1, 1865; Samuel S., born October 10, 1868, and Maggie J., born June 9, 1871. In 1861 Mr. Huff settled again in Bates county, but at the outbreak of the war went to St. Clair, returning in the spring to Bates county. Soon after he went to Texas, came back in eighteen months, moved thence to St. Joseph and for two years farmed near that city, subsequently going to Sidney, Fremont county, Ia. After con- ducting a warehouse and wood-yard there for some time Mr. Huff came to .Vernon county, Missouri, November 11, 1867, and located in this township on section 30, where he owned a farm of 200 acres. Politically he was a Democrat, and at the time of his death he was a member of Osage Lodge, No. 303, A. F. and A. M., of Nevada.
James M. Hull is justly classed among the successful lawyers of the Nevada, Mo., bar. He was born at Hazelhurst, Miss., July 21, 1867, and is a son of Dr. John A. and Artemisa H. (Moore) Hull, natives of Virginia and Mississippi, respectively. The
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ancestors of this branch of the Hull family first settled in this country in Rockbridge county, Virginia. Our subject's father settled in Johnson county, Missouri, in 1879, and died at La Monte, Mo., in February, 1906, at the age of seventy-three years, having practiced medicine at Nevada, Mo., from about 1888 to 1893. The mother died at Hazelhurst, Miss.
James M., after leaving the public schools of his native town attended the State Normal School at Warrensburg, Mo., and supplemented this with a three-year course at Tabor College, Iowa, in the meantime teaching in the district schools in Nebraska and Kansas. During the years from 1891 to 1893 he taught in the public schools of Nevada, including one year in the Nevada High School, and during his vacations and other spare time turned his attention to the study of law in the law office of Messrs. Stone and Hoss, of Nevada, finally passing his examination and being admitted to the Vernon county bar in December, 1892. Mr. Hull began the practice of his profession in the fall of 1894, and has continued it uninterruptedly since, attaining an honored place among the leaders of the local bar. He has served four years as city attorney and as prosecuting attorney two years. In politics Mr. Hull is an ardent Democrat, active in the local councils of his party and an earnest advocate of its principles and a success- ful campaigner. He is actively identified with fraternal organiza- tions, having been a member of the local lodge of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows since 1893, and a member of the grand lodge of Missouri as representative for several terms, also having membership in the Knights of Pythias and Modern Woodmen of America. Mr. Hull is also secretary of the bar association of Vernon county.
On December 3, 1903, lie married Miss Katherine Lee Clack, a daughter of John S. and Delilah (Drake) Clack, of Nevada, and they have one child, named Josephine.
James D. Humble,* a native of northern Missouri, was born April 9, 1860, to Charles and Margaret E. (Rose) Humble, both natives of Adams county, Illinois, the former born in 1838. They were married on March 4, 1859, and reared a family of seven children, named respectively, in the order of their birth: James D., Adams L., America J., Harlow, Mary M., Carrie M., and John W. Humble. The parents settled in Vernon county in 1869.
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Our subject's paternal grandparents were Charles and Nancy (Wilson) Humble, both natives of Kentucky. They moved to Morgan county, Illinois, at a very early date, and after six years' residence there, settled in Adams county, Illinois, where the grandfather bought and improved a. valuable farm of 400 acres, giving special attention to stock raising. His death oc- curred December 25, 1837. His widow passed away August 28, 1884. They had a family of eleven children, of whom Charles, our subject's father, was the youngest. The grandfather is the first of the Humble family of whom there remains any definite knowledge.
James D. grew to manhood on his father's farm and lived at home till he attained his majority. He then began farming on his own account, and bought 490 acres of land in Osage town- ship, Vernon county, and became widely known as a prosperous and progressive farmer and stock raiser, giving particular atten- tion to breeding Black Galoway cattle.
He was a Democrat in his political opinions, but never cared for or held political office. In religious fellowship he was affili- ated with the United Brethren Church and passed away in that faith on April 25, 1909.
On February 25, 1892, Mr. Humble was united in marriage with Miss Josie Groom, who was born in Vernon county, October 2, 1872, to John and Martha (Felkins) Groom. Mrs. Humble's father was born in Montgomery county, Missouri, April 5, 1849, and is a son of William and Catherine (Bess) Groom, both natives of Kentucky, the former born in 1803, a son of Alexander Groom, and the latter born in 1824, a daughter of John Bess. The Groom and Bess families both being among the pioneer settlers of Kentucky.
Mr. John Groom now resides with his family on a farm near Horton, in Vernon county.
Mr. and Mrs. Humble were the parents of two children, viz., Katie E., who was born April 4, 1893, and Jessie M., born June 30, 1895, and they and their mother now reside in the city of Nevada.
DeWitt Clinton Hunter, for over thirty years a resident of Vernon county and long associated with its affairs in official, mili- tary and other capacities, comes of southern antecedents, though
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himself a native of Manchester, Scott county, Illinois, where he was born August 2, 1830. David and Margaret (McBride) Hunter were his parents, the former of North Carolina birth, but of Swiss ancestry, and the latter originally from Tennessee. David Hunter lived in Illinois from 1820 until 1837, his death occurring in Cedar county, Mo., in 1854, whither he had moved in the year mentioned. De Witt C., the fourth of five children in the family, accompanied the family on their removal to Cedar county, Missouri, and con- sequently was principally brought up there on the old home farm until 1850, when he took a trip to California. Four years were spent in the mines of that country and he met with moderate success, but a desire to return home led him to leave the gold fields, and in 1854 he came back to Cedar county, coming thence to this county the same year. For one year he clerked in a store, but his natural qualifications for the position becoming recog- mized he was appointed the first circuit and county clerk of Vernon county, his official duties lasting up to the time of the war. Mr. Hunter's public services in this county are so volumin- ously referred to in another portion of this work that repetition seems unnecessary. When the war broke out, not unworthy of the principles which had been inculcated in him, and a firm cham- pion of southern interests, he promptly identified himself with the cause of the South, and entered the state service as lieutenant. Upon the reorganization of the Vernon county battalion he be- came colonel of the Seventh cavalry regiment, Rains' division, Missouri State Guard, and led it at the battle of Wilson's Creek. When his term of service had expired he entered the Confederate service and in the fall of 1862 was commissioned colonel of the Eleventh Missouri infantry, a regiment previously recruited by him in this section of the state. He served in Arkansas under General Hindman (taking part in the battle of Prairie Grove) until February 1, 1863, when he resigned and, raising another regiment of cavalry, joined General Shelby's brigade, with which he was identified until the close of the war. During Shelby's raid into Missouri, when that officer was defeated at Marshall and his force cut in two, Colonel Hunter led 500 men over 200 miles through a hostile country safely into Arkansas. Indeed his entire military service was one to which he justly pointed with pride. After the war Colonel Hunter came to this county and engaged in the practice of law, having been admitted to the bar in 1858. He
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was twice married; first, in 1855, to Miss M. Kate, daughter of Dr. William G. Blake, of Cedar county, Missouri. She died March 23, 1879, leaving three children : Blake DeWitt, Katie and Mary. Colonel Hunter's second wife was formerly Mrs. Mary B. Watts, daughter of William Ward, of Sedalia, Mo. She had two children by a former marriage, Florence and William E. By this mar- riage there was one daughter, Berta Ward. The Colonel was a member of the Seventh-Day Adventist Church and an able de- fender of the teachings of that body. Colonel Hunter died at Chetoquah, I. T., October 4, 1904.
William B. Hyder, who has resided in Vernon county, Mis- souri, since 1868, was born in White county, Tennessee, December 14, 1837, to Jacob and Elizabeth (Rockhold) Hyder, both natives of that state. His paternal grandfather immigrated from Ger- many and came to Tennessee at an early date, the family finally settling in White county, Tennessee, where our subject's parents passed their lives.
William B. moved from Tennessee to Vernon county, Missouri, settling in Drywood township, in 1868, and on December 6, 1860, was united in marriage with Miss Mary Jane Jones, in Jackson county, Tennessee. Prior to this, while living in Tennessee, Mr. Hyder acted as pilot in Colonel Stoke's regiment, and during the, Civil War, in 1864, he enlisted as a private in Company K, Fourth regiment, Tennessee mounted infantry, and served till his hon- orable discharge at Nashville, August 25, 1865. In Vernon county Mr. Hyder began cultivating leased land with good success, and from his savings acquired considerable land in Drywood town- ship, most of which he disposed of prior to 1881, when he moved to Sheldon, buying the first lot as platted in the original town. With a $1,500 stock of goods he opened a store, which he conducted two years, and then for three and a half years was proprietor of a hotel. In 1899 President Harrison appointed him postmaster at Sheldon, and after serving in that office four years he was appointed and served two years as government gauger for south- west Missouri, which office he now fills, under a re-appointment at the expiration of his first term. Mr. Hyder owns a handsome residence in the heart of the village of Sheldon. He is a staunch Republican, active in the local affairs of his party, and a public- spirited citizen, always ready to lend his influence and contribute
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his share in promoting any worthy object or cause for the better- ment of the community.
Coming to Sheldon at its beginning, he has witnessed the growth of the place to a thrifty village of more than 800 inhabi- tants, with fine residence and substantial brick business blocks, and has contributed no small part to its development and pros- perity. Mr. Hyder was reared in the faith of the Presbyterian Church and is a high-minded Christian gentleman. He belongs to Sheldon Lodge No. 371, Ancient Free and Accepted Masons, being elected master three times. He also belongs to Barton Lodge No. 342, Independent Order of Odd Fellows and is a member of the Grand Army of the Republic.
Of seven children born to Mr. and Mrs. Hyder four are now- 1911-living, viz., John L., who was born April 18, 1862 ; Dora E., born September 4, 1866; Mary Belle, who was born May 4, 1869, and is now married to Mr. Ulysses Kemp, of Sharon, Kan., and has a family of three girls and one boy ; and Pearl, who was born August 7, 1875, and is the wife of Mr. E. G. Newell, of Fort Supply, Okla., and has a family of four children.
Martin Van Buren Inglish is one of the well-to-do farmers of Moundville township, Vernon county, Missouri. He is a native Missourian and was born in Cole county, February 26, 1836, and is the only survivor of four children born to Hutchen and Cath- erine Inglish, the former born in Missouri and the latter in Ken- tucky. The father moved with his family to Moniteau county, Missouri, where he owned a farm, and where he died in 1839. Martin lived with his mother until her decease. He had but limited educational privileges while a boy, and early in life learned the plasterers' trade and followed it up to the time of the Civil War in Moniteau county, whither he had moved from Cole county.
In 1870 Mr. Inglish removed to Vernon county and settled in Moundville township, and for six years cultivated leased land. He then bought a quarter section of wild prairie land in section 8, where there being few settlers and wild game abounding. Mr. Inglish began in a small way to improve the land and gradually made improvements as he could afford, keeping persistently at it until he had transformed this wild and barren waste into one of the most fertile, productive and beautiful farms in the county.
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On March 2, 1856, Mr. Inglish was united in marriage with Miss Minerva Miles, in Cooper county, who has been a loyal help- meet and, together in their declining years, they are able to enjoy the well-earned fruits of their years of toil. The family residence stands in the midst of dense shade trees, and with the nearby substantial barn and outbuildings for the shelter of stock and the storing of farm products and implements and other conveniences, present a most pleasing picture of home comfort and ease.
Mr. Inglish keeps in touch with the trend of current events and takes an interest in what is going on in the world, especially in political affairs, holding to Democratic principles as promulgated by William Jennings Bryan.
Charles W. Janes,* a wide-awake business man of Nevada. Vernon county, Missouri, was born in St. Charles county, Mis- souri, May 12, 1853, and grew up in Lincoln county. He is the fifth child of a family of twelve children born to Thomas and Elizabeth (Gibson) Janes, the former born near Louisville, Ky., and the latter a native of Warren county, Missouri. They both died at Troy, Mo. Their other surviving children are: John, William and George Janes, of Lincoln county, Missouri; Jennie, who is married to Mr. Isaac McGraten, and Bell, the wife of Mr. James Wright, of Macon county, Missouri.
Charles W. acquired his schooling in a log school house in his native town and spent his boyhood on the home farm. From his eighteenth to his twenty-fourth year he worked as a farm laborer, then farmed on his own account in St. Charles county five years, after which he was similarly employed two years in Henry county. In 1884 he moved to Vernon county and settled on a farm in Deerfield township, where, in addition to his farm- ing operations, he served as a professional auctioneer for twenty- four years, and in the year 1907 "cried" ninety-eight farms. He also served seventeen years as township constable, two terms as deputy sheriff under Archibold White, and a like period in the same capacity under Sheriff Ewing.
Mr. Janes sold his farm in 1907 and moved into Nevada, and at the first engaged in teaming. He was elected chief of police and served one term, and remained on the police force till May, 1910. Prior to this, in 1904, Mr. Janes bought the livery business formerly conducted by Mr. Perchible Boll at Nevada, and has
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since that time owned, and, with the help of his sons, had charge of the bus line in connection with the livery business, having in the business nine cabs, one bus, three transfer wagons and twenty-five horses, and Mr. Janes also owns the Janes house and the Iowa house, two popular hotels of the town.
In politics Mr. Janes has always adhered to the principles of the Democratic party and has been somewhat active in its local affairs. He is a member of the Independent Order of Odd Fel- lows and also belongs to the Modern Woodmen of the World.
On September 6, 1876, Mr. Janes married Miss Elizabeth Scheets, a daughter of Mr. Martin E. Scheets, a native of Ken- tucky, and for many years an honored and influential resident of Lincoln county, Missouri, respected and beloved for his many manly virtues and noble Christian character. Mrs. Janes' mother, whose maiden name was Melinda McLenny, was a native of St. Charles county, Missouri.
Mr. and Mrs. Janes have a family of six children, named respectively ; Minnie, who was married to Mr. William D. Phil- lips, now deceased; Martin E., George W., Jesse S., Sterling E. and Mina L. Janes.
Machir T. January is a prominent and honored member of the bar of Nevada, Vernon county, Missouri. He is a native of St. Louis county, Missouri, and is the seventh child of a family of ten children born to Thomas Thruston and Maria (Machir) January, both natives of Kentucky. They were married in 1834 and the mother died in 1878 at the age of sixty years. The father was born in Maysville, Ky., May 31, 1809, to Thomas and Mary B. (Thruston) January, natives of Virginia. He acquired a thorough education in his youth and was graduated from the Translyvania University. In 1828 he went to Cynthiana, Ky., and clerked some four years in a general store, and then, in 1832, went to Jackson- ville, Ill., and there carried on merchandising six years. In 1837- 1838 he built the Meredosia & Springfield railway, the first rail- road built in Illinois. In 1840 he settled in St. Louis and there conducted a wholesale grocery trade two years, after which he settled on a fine farm in St. Louis county, Missouri, and devoted 'himself to agriculture and breeding high-grade stock until his decease, which occurred in 1886, when he was seventy-seven years of age. He served as the first treasurer of St. Louis county under
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the separate organization, being appointed to that office in 1877, and filled numerous other offices of honor and trust, and through- out his long and varied career held a commanding place in his community, honored and respected by all. Representatives of the Thruston family were active participants in the Revolutionary War for independence.
Our subject was born March 5, 1857, and passed his boyhood in St. Louis county, Missouri, on the home farm. After leaving the public schools there he entered Racine College, at Racine, Wis., and was graduated with the class of 1877. Three years later, in 1880, he completed a course of study at the St. Louis Law School, receiving the degree of Bachelor of Laws, and on being admitted to the bar at once settled at Nevada and began the practice of his profession. During the first two years of his practice Mr. January was associated with Mr. A. J. Smith, under the firm name of January & Smith; later with Mr. E. E. Kimball, the firm being Kimball & January, and continuing till the death of Mr. Kimball in 1888. He was then in partnership with Mr. E. P. Lindley, as January & Lindley, till 1890, since which time he has conducted his practice alone, achieving most gratify- ing success and attaining an honored position at the Vernon county bar.
Mr. January has devoted himself closely to his profession, giving little attention to outside matters, except in 1892-3, when he served as mayor of Nevada. He is identified with the Benev- olent and Protective Order of Elks.
On March 15, 1883, Mr. January married Miss Jennie Thorn- burgh, of St. Louis, whose father, Josiah Thornburgh, a native of Virginia, was for many years next preceding his decease clerk of the supreme court at St. Louis. Mr. and Mrs. January have six children, named, respectively, Joe T., George Baird, Samuel, Nancy, Laura and Machir.
John A. Jackson, who was born in Anderson county, Ten- nessee, September 4, 1851, was the fifth child and is the eldest of three survivors of a family of eight children born to John A. and Sarah E. (Hardin) Jackson, both natives of Anderson county, Tennessee, the former born April 21, 1820, and the latter August 28, 1822. They were married in their native county, September 15, 1842, and in 1854 moved to Cedar county, Missouri. The
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father took up a homestead claim near the site of the present city of Eldorado Springs and established the family home, which is still occupied by members of the family. At a later date he bought other land, which is now known as Jackson's addition to Eldorado Springs. Of their other children, Samuel F., the eldest, was killed in the Civil War. Abner, died, leaving three children. Mary J. and Nancy also are deceased. Sarah E. is the wife of Mr. R. L. Hutton, and Margret is married to Mr. Elihu Hess, and both live near Eldorado Springs, and Samantha, the youngest, is deceased. The father died at his home near Eldorado Springs January 11, 1899, his death being preceded by that of his wife, who passed away December 9, 1888.
John A. grew to manhood on his father's farm and remained with his parents till he was twenty-four years old. On January 27, 1876, he was united in marriage with Miss America Thompson, who was born in Carter county, Kentucky, January 14, 1859, to David and Fannie (Pennington) Thompson, native of the same county. The father was born January 23, 1833, and the mother June 9, 1839. They married in Lawrence county, Kentucky, in August, 1856, and had a family of nine children, Mrs. Jackson being the first born. The others are: Granville Thompson, who was born February 12, 1861, and resides in North Yakima, Wash .; Delila A., who married Mr. Joseph Everman, of parts unknown, and who died leaving four children ; Richard, who died in infancy ; Josephine, who was born December 13, 1869, and is married to Mr. R. C. Jackson, of Missouri; Laura B., born May 15, 1871, now the wife of Mr. James Montgomery, of California ; Helen, who died in infancy; Cora, born January 27, 1874, now married to Mr. William J. Jackson, of Missouri, and J. S. Thomp- son, who was born August 31, 1876, and now lives on the old homestead.
In September, 1865, the parents settled with their family near Eldorado Springs, Cedar county, Missouri. David J. served as county judge two terms and passed away at his home October 2, 1894. His widow still survives and lives on the family homestead.
After his marriage in 1876 Mr. Jackson bought forty acres of land in section 12, Clear Creek township, Vernon county, and has since made his home there, having added to his original pur- chase till he now owns 320 acres in Clear Creek township. Be- sides his general farming operations he has dealt extensively in
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live stock, buying, feeding and shipping for thirty years past, and has achieved marked success. He is now-1911-a director and vice-president of the Bank of Eldorado Springs. He is an active member of Clintonville Lodge No. 304, Independent Order of Odd Fellows, and has passed through all its chairs. In politics he is a Democrat and in religious faith adheres to the views of the Christian or Campbellite Church. Mrs. Jackson and her two daughters, Lillian and Mrs. Brown, are members of the Baptist Church.
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