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 37
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Our subject acquired a common school education and remained with his parents till he was thirty years old. On leaving the old homestead he moved onto a quarter section of land which he bought in Section Thirty-two, Moundville township, where he has since made his home, devoting himself to systematic farming operations. Mr. Morrison raises vast quantities of hay, but also gives much attention to breeding and raising fine cattle and owns a number of fine horses, of which animal he is a great admirer and good judge. He has spared no pains in bringing his farm to a high state of perfection, improving it with a good class of buildings, including a substantial farm house. convenient barn and other farm buildings and equipping it with all the appliances required in carrying on an up-to-date model farm, and has the honor of being the first farmer in his township to own an automo- bile. Mrs. Morrison has made quite a record in raising fine poultry especially Barred Plymouth Rock chickens and bronzed turkeys,'
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taking many premiums, and has a ready market for her stock, shipping to surrounding States.
A Republican in political opinion, he cast his first ballot for James G. Blaine. for the Presidency, and takes a commendable interest in the local affairs of his party, being a member of the township board and an enthusiastic good road man, having done as much, if not more, than any man in his township towards build- ing and maintaining good roads.
On February 16, 1896, Mr. Morrison was united in marriage with Miss Rosa Richmond, whose parents, Charles and Ellen Jane (nee Soul) Richmond were natives of New York.
James Morrison, one of the model farmers of Vernon county, Missouri, is a native of Scotland and was born March 3, 1848, to Alexander and Elizabeth (Aiken) Morrison, both natives of that country and of Scotch lineage. He came to this country in 1871, stopping first in Chicago shortly after the great fire that de- stroyed that city. and went thence to Dwight, in Livingston county, Illinois. After working two years as a farm laborer, he leased a farm there and worked it six years with good success. In January, 1882, Mr. Morrison moved to Vernon county, Mis- souri, and settled permanently on a tract of one hundred and sixteen acres in Section two, Drywood township, which he pur- chased for fifteen hundred dollars, the former owner being obliged to sell for lack of means with which to pay for it. To this he has since added other tracts and now owns some 260 acres of the choicest land in the county. The farm is situated a mile north of Milo, a place that has sprung up in a few years and the site of which at the time of Mr. Morrison's settlement was a barren expanse of wild prairie with few inhabitants in sight. At the time of Mr. Morrison's coming a small house of two rooms, built by the former owner, was on the place, and this he still occupies, having improved and remodeled it into a handsome and convenient farm house. It is beautifully located on the main road that divides Center and Drywood townships, and with the substantial barns and other out buildings for sheltering horses and stock and storing hay, grain, machinery, farm implements, etc., is in marked contrast with the dreary and desolate appearance of the country when its enterprising proprietor settled there. Everything about the place is ordered with a view to utility and convenience.
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The farm yards around the barn are enclosed by board fences, so that the stock can roam at will in all kinds of weather, while near-by pumps furnish an abundant supply of pure water. In all his farming operations Mr. Morrison is thoroughly systematic and up-to-date and his place is known as one of the beauty spots of the country. In connection with his general farming he makes a specialty of breeding and feeding for the markets of Missouri, Oklahoma and Kansas high grade stock, and in his fields may be seen, besides other choice animals, a fine herd of seventy-five or more black Gallaway cattle, which, to look upon, is to admire.
In politics, Mr. Morrison adheres to the principles of the Re- publican party, but takes no active part more than to perform his duties as a good citizen, finding in his legitimate business ample opportunity for the gratification of his highest ambitions. In June, 1874, he married Miss Jessie Simpson, a native of Scot- land, in Livingston county, Illinois. Of two children born to them, Elizabeth, the elder, is married to Mr. W. T. Dale, of Badger township, and Cora, the younger, is married to Mr. Harry E. Roberts and lives in Drywood township.
Mr. Morrison is, withal, a man of generous impulses, kind hearted and sympathetic, and takes an interest in whatever re- lates to the welfare of the community. He donated to the town- ship an acre of land as a site for a school house, and contributes liberally for the support of schools and worthy benevolences, and has served twelve years on the local school board.
Mr. Morrison was one of the organizers of the Milo & Sand- stone Telephone Company and has been its Treasurer since the organization.
John O. Morrison, who was a prominent and honored citizen of Vernon county from 1891 to the time of his decease, in No- vember 16, 1908, was born and reared on a farm near Glasgow, Barron county, Kentucky, thirty miles from the Mamouth Cave, on May 26, 1836. He was the fourth child of a family of three boys and eight girls born to Joseph and Martha (Faulkner) Mor- rison, natives of Culpepper, Virginia. The father was born in 1800, was reared in Kentucky and died there in 1860; the mother was born in 1806 and passed away in 1862. Her father moved
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from Virginia, his native State, to Pettis county, Missouri, and died there.
John O. acquired a common school education and lived at home, helping in the support of his father's family till 1867, when he went to Camden county, Missouri, and associated with a Mr. Crouch, under the firm name of Crouch & Morrison, carried on a mercantile business at Linn Creek till 1872. He next formed a copartnership with a Mr. Moulder at Richland, Missouri, which was continued till 1886, when Mr. Moulder sold his interest to Capt. Benjamin D. Dodson, with whom he conducted the busi- ness some two years when the copartnership was dissolved and both partners retired. Mr. Morrison afterwards helped to or- ganize the Pulaski County Bank, in which he was a leading stock- holder a number of years and of which he was elected and served as President. He took an active part in civic and political af- fairs, and besides serving as a member of the city council of Richland, was, on November 6, 1889, elected on the Democratic ticket, to the State Legislature from Pulaski county. In 1891 Mr. Morrison settled on a farm in Walker township, Vernon county, and removed into Nevada in the fall of 1902. He was universally respected and esteemed and was honored with an election to the State Legislature in November, 1906, and in 1908 was again elected just prior to his decease.
Mr. Morrison stood high in fraternal orders, being a mem- ber of the Ancient Order of United Workmen, A. F. & A. M. and Knights Templar. In religious faith and fellowship he, with his devoted wife, was affiliated with the Christian denomination.
On July 2, 1873, he was united in marriage with Miss Joe Ann, daughter of the late Benjamin D. and Joe Ann (Sprout) Dodson. The father moved from eastern Tennessee, his native State, when young, with his parents, to Alabama, and thence to Camden county, Missouri, where he grew up and lived many years. He afterwards settled in Nevada and died there in March, 1902. His parents came originally from Virginia. Mrs. Mor- rison's paternal grandmother, Mary K. Haden, was born in Vir- ginia in 1810 and when five years old was taken by her parents to Kentucky where her father died about 1839. Her mother then moved to Springfield, Missouri, and died there leaving a family of four children. She, Mary K., was married to John Sprout in Kentucky in 1831. Mrs. Morrison's maternal grand-
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mother was married in 1840 to John De Bruin, who died in 1857. She was a pioneer of southern Missouri and later came to Vernon county, where she passed away at the age of eighty-one years.
The union of Mr. and Mrs. Morrison was blessed with three children, viz .: Roberta, born July 3, 1891; John O., born January 3, 1893, and George B., born May 25, 1897, all of whom reside with their devoted mother in her beautiful and hospitable home in Nevada.
Robert Bruce Moore is the seventh, in the order of birth, of a family of four sons and four daughters born to Joseph I. and Mary (White) Moore, natives of Virginia and Missouri, respectively. The father was a successful farmer in Washington township, Vernon county, Missouri, and died at his home in 1875 at the age of sixty-one years. The mother now-1911- resides in Oklahoma.
Robert Bruce was born on the family homestead February 6, 1867, and grew up there acquiring his education in the public schools. After reaching manhood he was variously employed for a time in Nevada and under an appointment served on its police force. In 1900 he was made chief of police and re-elected in 1902, and filled that position four years efficiently and to the satis- faction of all parties concerned. Mr. Moore, a Democrat in his political principles, has been an active worker in the local affairs of his party and in 1905 was elected sheriff of Vernon county and at the expiration of his term re-elected by a largely increased majority over his first election. At the end of his second term of splendid service Mr. Moore, in February, 1908, turned his attention to mercantile affairs, and was the prime mover in organizing the Moore-Bobett Clothing Company, of which he became president. The company purchased the store and busi- ness formerly owned and conducted by Mr. W. E. Clark, and under wise management it has come to be known as one of the prosperous and leading mercantile establishments of its kind in this thriving city.
Mr. Moore is a man who takes an interest in affairs, and is especially active in fraternal organizations, being identified with the Knights of Pythias, the Independent Order of Odd Fellows and the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks.
In 1891 Mr. Moore was united in marriage with Miss Hattie
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May Long, a daughter of W. H. and Ruhu Long, of Girard, Kansas. Mr. and Mrs. Moore have one child, Mabel H. Moore, born August 28, 1894.
Henry P. Mosher, who has resided in Vernon county, Mis- souri, forty years, was born in Tuscarawas county, Ohio, March 15, 1845, the fourth child of a family of seven children born to Henry and Susan (DeLong) Mosher, the former a native of New York, born June 20, 1811, and the latter, also a native of New York, born April 21, 1812. Of the Mosher family it has been said they were "reared in the ranks of Democracy and rocked in the cradle of Methodism." The father was a local preacher and for more than forty years a class leader in the Methodist Episcopal Church. He moved to St. Louis, Mo., in 1846, and spent three years as a manufacturer of brick, conducting a brick yard. Re- turning to Tuscarawas county, Ohio, he turned his attention to farming and stock raising, giving particular attention to raising sheep. He owned 200 acres of land, and continued his farming operations till his decease, which occurred in 1894. His wife passed away in 1880.
Henry P. acquired a good common school education and lived with his parents until he attained his majority. On October 14, 1868, he was united in marriage with Miss Susan Forney, a daughter of Mr. Joseph Forney, of Tuscarawas county, Ohio.
In 1871 Mr. Mosher settled with his family in Vernon county, on a quarter section of land which he bought in section 19, Coal township, and there established the family home, where he has since lived. He has devoted himself to general farming with gratifying success, giving special attention to breeding and raising cattle, horses and hogs, and ranks among the practical and systematic farmers of his township.
Both Mr. Mosher and his wife are devoted members of the Methodist Episcopal Church, and he is identified with the Ancient Order of United Workmen. In politics he adheres to Demo- cratic principles as advocated by William Jennings Bryan.
Mr. and Mrs. Mosher have had three children born to them, whose names and dates of birth are: Laura, born September 21, 1870; Henry Howard, born January 8, 1874, and Charles Irvin, who was born October 23, 1875.
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Charles M. Moss," who is a native of Vernon county, Missouri, was born April 5, 1879, and is the youngest of five children born to Marcellus J. and Jennie M. (Mauppin) Moss, the former born in Claiborn county, Tennessee, December 28, 1826, and the latter in Augusta county, Virginia, June 6, 1840. A more complete sketch of the Moss family may be found in the biography of Mr. Josephus R. Moss, published elsewhere in the work. The mother was a daughter of Dabney and Rebecca (Turk) Mauppin, the former a native of Maryland, where several generations of the Mauppin family had lived, and the latter a native of Virginia. They had a family of three children, viz .: Hester, who married Mr. McGuffin, and who owned the Capitol Hotel at Tallahassee, Fla., and is now deceased; Thomas Mauppin, who lives in Au- gusta county, Virginia, and Jennie M., our subject's mother, who was the second wife of Marcellus J. Moss, and who died June 13, 1901. Marcellus J. and Jennie M. were married November 5, 1867, and, besides our subject, had four children, named re- spectively, William D., now of Phoenix, Ariz .; McGuffin, Thomas S. and Ernest K. Moss, all of Haskell, Okla. The father died September 19, 19 -.
Charles M. lived at home till he attained his majority. But from his early boyhood has been engaged in buying and selling and trading live stock. He now owns 480 acres of fine land in Vernon county, and feeds for the market from 150 to 250 head of cattle annually, and is regarded one of the largest, if not the largest shipper of live stock in the county.
He is a man of unusual activity, thoroughly practical and systematic in all his affairs, and, aside from his farming opera- tions, in company with Mr. F. L. Ewing, conducts two grain elevators, one at Rockville and the other at Harwood, and a third one at Walker with Mr. Higley.
He is a Democrat in political opinion, but has never sought or cared for political office, finding in his regular business ample opportunity for the satisfaction of his ambition.
On June 20, 1903, Mr. Moss was united in marriage with Miss Martha Olivia Ewing, who was born in Vernon county, July 30, 1878, and they have one child, Finnis M. Moss, who was born August 29, 1905. Mrs. Moss is a daughter of Mr. F. Y. Ewing, whose biography appears in another part of this work.
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Josephus R. Moss* was born in Lee county, Virginia, October 13, 1859, and is one of five survivors of a family of seven chil- dren (two of whom died in infancy) born to Marcellus and Elizabeth (Gibson) Moss, the former born in Claiborn county, Tennessee, December 28, 1826. They were married in Kentucky and had seven children, of whom the four survivors besides our subject are: James J., John K., Rufus M. Moss, and Mrs. C. N. Morgan.
The mother died April 1, 1865, and on November 5, 1867, the father married Jennie Mauppin, by whom he had five children, viz .: William D., McGuffin, Thomas S., Ernest K., and Charles M. Moss, whose biography appears elsewhere in the work. The father, when a child, went from Tennessee to Kentucky with his parents and there grew to manhood. After his marriage he went to Virginia and followed merchandizing, which had been his occupation in Kentucky, and on July 1, 1869, moved to La- fayette county, Missouri. Two years later, October 12, 1871, he settled in Vernon county and bought, in Blue Mound township, 120 acres of land, to which he later added another tract of 160 acres. Here he established the family home and passed the re- mainder of his life, his death occurring September 19, 19 -.
Our subject's paternal grandfather, Martin Moss, was a native of South Carolina. He married a Miss Reufro, whose father came from France with Marquis De LaFayette in Revolutionary days. He procured from Daniel Boone a tract of land at the place known as Cumberland Ford, on the Cumberland river, Kentucky, now owned by Mr. J. J. Gibson, an uncle of our subject.
Josephus R. first came to Vernon county in 1870, but soon returned home and made his permanent settlement here in 1871. After working on the farm for a time he turned his attention to the study of law, becoming a student and clerk in the law office of Mr. Granville Hoss, at Nevada. Completing his preliminary studies, he passed his examination and was admitted to the bar in 1890, and for sixteen years devoted himself exclusively to his profession in Vernon county, but since May 1, 1906, by reason of impaired health, he has given a part of his time to farming and buying and shipping live stock. During the period he was actively engaged in his profession Mr. Moss was elected prose- cuting attorney for Vernon county and served one term, but at
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a later date was again elected to that office and served a second term. In political opinion he is a Democrat.
On June 10, 1895, Mr. Moss was united in marriage with Miss Blanche Russell, a native of Lamont county, Texas, born December 5, 1865, the eldest child of John J. and America (Ryan) Russell, the former born in Cole county, Missouri, October 27: 1833, and the latter a native of Kentucky, born May 5, 1842. They were married in Texas, December 22, 1864, and, besides Mrs. Moss, had three children, named respectively, Edgar Ryan, Earnest H. and Undril S. Russell.
The father was graduated from both the St. Louis Medical College and the Missouri Medical College, and served in the Confederate Army as surgeon in General Cabell's Brigade. He settled in Texas after leaving the army, and now, 1911, lives with his wife in Moniteau county, Missouri.
Of four children born to Mr. and Mrs. Moss, Mary Blanche was born July 19, 1896; Joe Russell, February 26, 1898; Mec- Ryan, July 3, 1900, and John Marcellus was born May 21, 1903.
Beside from his other interests Mr. Moss owns an interest in a drug store at Aatoka, Okla. He is a member of Nevada Lodge, No. 903, Independent Order of Odd Fellows, and in religious faith is a Presbyterian. Mrs. Moss is affiliated with the Christian Church.
Samuel B. Myers is one of the successful farmers of Wash- ington township, Vernon county, Missouri. He comes of remote Scotch lineage, though his direct ancestors were Pennsylvania Dutch. His paternal grandfather served in the Engineer Corps in the War of 1812 and was wounded in battle at River Raisen. His maternal great grandfather served under the British flag in the Revolutionary War. Our subject's parents, Samuel and Margaret (Hodge) Myers were natives of Ohio and Indiana, respectively and were married December 10, 1883, at Terre Haute. Indiana, whither the father moved from Illinois. Thence the family moved to Fairbanks, Indiana, and there the father, who was a tanner by trade, served several years as justice of the peace. In 1870 the family settled in Vernon county, Missouri, and the father was engaged in farming and milling there until his decease. He was a man of influence in the community, had been a soldier in the Black Hawk War, was a member of the Independ-
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ent Order of Odd Fellows, and was buried under the rites of that order, January 17, 1878. His widow died January 20, 1892.
Samuel B. was born in Sullivan county, Indiana, October 10, 1848, and lived there till his fifteenth year, and received his education in the district schools. In 1864 he enlisted in Company D, Forty-third regiment Indiana Volunteer Infantry, at Indianapolis, and served till his honorable discharge, January 26, 1865. His regiment was under command of Colonel McClain and was in provost work from Nashville to Fort Monroe. On his discharge from the army, Mr. Myers returned to Fairbanks and remained there till 1868, when he moved to Missouri and took charge of his father's farm, in section thirty-three, Wash- ington township, Vernon county, and lived there till his father's decease. Prior to this, in 1873, he bought eighty acres of land in section twenty-two and has added to his holdings from time to time until he now owns 420 acres, well improved and under a good state of cultivation, where he carries on general farming, giving special attention to raising hay and breeding high-grade horses and cattle. He is a member of the Grand Army of the Republic and has attended many annual encampments of that body.
Mr. Myers, on January 17, 1876, married Miss Martha C. Reynolds, at Fairbanks, Indiana. Two children have been born to them, of whom one, Louis Hodge, born August 20, 1879, sur- vives, and is a farmer of Washington township. He married Sadie Bell Tyer, a native of Bates county, Missouri. Her parents were natives of Jackson county, Missouri. Her father was a Confederate soldier and served in General Shelby's regiment.
John Nanson was born in England, November 17, 1836, being the eldest son and second child born of the union of his parents, Joseph and Mary Bell Nanson, also natives of that country. In 1860, Mr. Nanson married Miss Eliza Armstrong, of Indiana, who died in January, 1870, leaving three children: Joseph, William and Ann. March 17, 1873, Mrs. Lydia M. Boyd, nee Farris, of Cooper county, Missouri, became his wife. Mrs. Nanson's father, Sampson M. Farris, a Kentuckian by birth, settled in this state in 1856. During the war he was made the victim of one of the most brutal murders in the annals of the entire Civil War. His wife, a native of New Madrid, Mo., was formerly Miss Modest
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Westbrook. She died in 1880, leaving eight children: Thomas, Lydia, who first married Reuben Boyd in 1856, and after his death in 1863, Mr. Nanson; Jane, wife of John Grant; Richard, Daniel B., Rebecca, wife of A. J. Cotner; William, deceased, and David. Mrs. Nanson by her former marriage had two children: Mollie, Mrs. David Lambert, and Ida, wife of E. F. Hall.
Oliver W. Neff, a native Missourian, was born in Saline county December 11, 1871, and is the eldest of a family of four children born to John F. and Lucinda (Johnson) Neff, the former a native of Benton county and the latter in Saline county, Mis- souri. They settled on a farm in Dover township, Vernon county, in 1881, and later mover to Bellamy, where the father was engaged in mercantile business till 1888. Later he was connected with the Rural Free Delivery service and now resides in Nevada. The other children are: Lutie, who is married to Mr. W: G. Keithly, of Montana; Jesse F., who lives in Sedalia, Mo., and Lloyd D., of Nevada. Oliver W. spent his early boyhood on his father's farm and acquired his education in the district schools. At an early age he entered the office of the Vernon County "Re- publican" as a printer's devil, receiving a salary of one dollar per week, and from that humble beginning learned the printer's trade and worked his way up till he became foreman and finally joint owner of the paper with W. F. Crigler. Neff & Crigler first leased the plant from the then owner, Mr. J. M. McAnulty, for one year, and at the expiration of the lease, purchased the plant outright, later changing the name of the paper from "Vernon County Republican," to "The Herald," which it now bears. "The Herald" has the distinction of being the only Republican newspaper in Vernon county and without question is the strongest organ of the party it represents in its section of the state. This newspaper was established in 1888 by Messrs. Swan and Herrick, who sold it in 1890 to Mr. J. M. McAnulty, from whom Neff & Crigler purchased it in 1898.
The paper, as conducted by the firm of Neff & Crigler and under their energetic and able management, has come to be recog- nized as a potent factor in the community, both in upbuilding and maintaining the principles of its party and as a news-gatherer and distributor. Mr. Neff is a clear and forceful writer, and his campaign articles have gained for him a more than local
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distinction, so that during recent campaigns his services have been sought by various newspapers. He takes a commendable interest in the councils of his party and has served as chairman of the Congressional Committee.
In 1906 Mr. Neff was appointed postmaster at Nevada, and was again appointed in 1910. He takes an active interest in civic and social affairs and is actively identified with fraternal and benevolent organizations, being a member of the Knights of Pythias and Modern Woodmen of America.
On May 16, 1894, Mr. Neff married Miss May B., daughter of James E. and Elizabeth (Chastain) James, of Nevada, and they have three children, named respectively, Ralph O., Neta L. and John E.
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