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 38
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Isaac F. S. Nelson. The life history of the subject of this sketch is not unfamiliar to most of the readers of the present vol- ume, for besides having been born in this county the greater part of his career has been passed here, where he has become sub- stantially known and respected, both as a citizen and business man. His birth occurred August 19, 1850, the second child now living of his parents' family of four children, the others being Oscar M., now deceased, who at one time served as sheriff of this county ; John H., also deceased, and Julia R., wife of Frank P. Anderson. The father, Albert Fountain Nelson, who was born in Stokes county, North Carolina, September 14, 1815. was a man of more than ordinary ability and prominence, and is de- serving of special mention in this connection. After growing up in his native state he married December 1, 1836, Miss Susan P. Stone, of the same county as himself, her birth having occurred April 4, 1818. Following this some time, Mr. Nelson became prominently associated with the political movements of North Carolina, and among other positions which he filled was that of legislator from his district. In 1841 he moved with his young wife to Vernon county, Missouri, choosing a location near Balltown, where he lived a respected life until his death January 29, 1852. He was known over a wide scope of country here- abouts, and once held the office of county judge. At the time of his death he was a member of the Masonic fraternity. Isaac F. S. Nelson naturally was reared as a farmer's boy, but in 1872 he engaged in the livery business and continued it three years.
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Accepting an offer in St. Louis as treasurer of the Union Depot Street Railway line he went to that city, but two years later relinquished that position and returned to Nevada, where he engaged in the grocery trade. Mr. Nelson's wife was formerly Miss Alice Pottorf, of Audrian county, Missouri, whom he mar- ried in October, 1871.
John C. Newland is a native of Ralls county, Missouri, and was born August 14, 1852, to Jacob and Lucy A. (Roads) Newland, the father born in Shelby county, Kentucky, in 1813, and the" mother in Rockingham county, Virginia, in 1817, and had a family of five children, those besides John C., who was their third child, being a daughter, now the wife of W. F. Neal, of Palmer, Texas; Walter W., also of Palmer, Texas; Ryland R., of Big Springs, Texas, and Jacob J., now deceased. The father moved from Ralls to Lafayette county in 1868 and nine years later, in 1877, settled in Vernon county, where he died June 7, 1883. The mother passed away in 1872.
Our subject's grandfather, John Newland, who was of Scotch- Irish lineage, married Nancy Gerrard, who was of Holland ances- try. He was elected the first clerk of Shelby county, Kentucky, when the county was organized. He died in Kentucky and in 1829 his widow, with her three sons, Jacob, John and William, went to Ralls county, Missouri, and entered government land.
Our subject's maternal ancestors were of an old Virginia family. His grandfather, John Roads, married Cynthia Brown in that state.
John C. grew up in his father's home and lived there till his father's decease. He is one of the prosperous farmers and extensive stock raisers of Clear Creek township, where he owns 420 acres of land finely cultivated and handsomely improved with good buildings and equipped with all the appliances of an up-to- date model farm.
He is a Democrat in politics and has served many years as township trustee. The family is connected with the Methodist Episcopal Church, South.
On September 12. 1878, Mr. Newland was united in marriage with Miss Aline E. Ransdell, who was born November 9, 1853, the daughter of E. W. and Sarah J. (Vanarsdall) Ransdell, men- tioned elsewhere herein. Mr. and Mrs. Newland have had seven
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children, viz .: William R., who was born June 1, 1879; Annie Belle, who was born December 27, 1881 and died in January, 1882; Mrs. Florence F. Charles, who was born February 28, 1883; Mrs. Myrtle May Gammon, born March 27, 1886; E. Clifton Newland, born December 12, 1888; Walter T. Newland, born April 24, 1892, and Nannie E., who was born July 24, 1895.
Jobe Newport is a prosperous farmer of Deerfield township Vernon county, Missouri. A native of England, he was born in 1831, and is a son of Isaac and Mary (Singler) Newport. He learned the stone mason's trade in England, serving an apprentice- ship of four years, and on coming to this country in 1861 settled at Portland, Connecticut, and there followed his trade for two years, thence to Ste. Genevieve, near St. Louis, on the Mississippi river. He worked there three years and then went to Warrens- burg, Johnson county, Missouri, where he worked about twelve years. His parents died in England.
In 1885 Mr. Newport removed to Vernon county, and settled on 120 acres in Section thirteen, Deerfield township, and estab- lished the family homestead of two rooms in which the family lived twelve years. He then bought 100 acres more in Deerfield township, and later on bought forty acres more in Center town- ship, making in all 260 acres of land, and built a modern house of six rooms. The land is under a good state of cultivation, is well stocked and improved, with a good class of buildings, and three bearing orchards.
Mr. Newport is a man of high standing in the community and has the respect of all who know him. He is identified with the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, Modern Brotherhood of America, and is a member of the Woodmen of the World. In his political principles and sentiments he is independent.
On March 27, 1879, he married Miss Emma Taylor, of England. Of ten children born to them, eight are now living, viz .: George H., born December 26, 1880; William R., born August 13, 1882; Minnie G., born August 17, 1884; Alice May, born July 11, 1889; Sarah, born January 27, 1892; Charles, born November 4, 1895; Ida, born October 27, 1897, and Addie E., born May 19, 1905.
Joseph Nipp, who settled in Vernon county, Missouri in 1854, and who passed away at his home in Nevada September 16, 1910,
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was a man greatly beloved by all who knew him. He was born January 16, 1826, in Germany, whence he immigrated to this country in 1833, landing at New Orleans, and going thence up the Mississippi river to St. Louis, near which city he was employed in farm work. Later he turned his attention to other lines of work, owning a portable saw mill and was among the pioneer saw-mill men of Vernon county, coming there in 1854, his custom being to locate a mill in whatever part of the country he found most desirable, on account of the abundance of fine timber and other advantages. He established a mill on the Marmaton river in 1867. Mr. Nipp followed this line of work till the early 80's, and after discontinuing it, he was was more or less engaged in the lumber trade for some years. Coming to Vernon county thus early, his life was wrought into its very history, and being a man of splendid business abilities, shrewd, thrifty and honest, withal, he accumulated considerable property and lived in the enjoyment of an ample competence, living his life in his own way, and granting to others that independence of thought and action which he claimed for himself. He was a kind-hearted, gen- erous-souled man, cheerful in temperament, sociable and compan- ionable, loyal to his friends and just and fair in all his dealings with his fellowmen, and his passing away was mourned as a personal loss by a host of friends who had known him long and well.
In 1844 Mr. Nipp was united in marriage with Miss Eliza- beth Sheller, who died February 19, 1894, at the age of sixty-five years. Of a family of ten children born to them, six passed away in childhood and the four surviving are : Henry and Frank Nipp, and Margaret, widow of Mr. Charles Bannehauff, deceased, all of whom reside in Nevada, and Lewis Nipp, who lives at Venta, Oklahoma.
Mr. Nipp was an honored member of the Catholic Church.
Andy J. Nyhart is one of the substantial farmers of Vernon county, Missouri, who has risen to his place of influence by his. own efforts. He was born in Wilkes-barre, Luzerne county, Penn- sylvania, April 5,1844, and is a son of. Adam and Catherine (Smith) Nyhart, both natives of Pennsylvania. The father, who was born in 1798, was married three times, and our subject was the second child born to the second marriage.
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Adam Nyhart, a wagon maker by trade and also a farmer and stock raiser, moved to Iowa in 1855, and settled with his family in Des Moines county, and became a prominent and influential citizen. He was a man of fine abilities and accumulated a hand- some competence, being worth some thirty thousand dollars at the time of his decease, which occurred in 1904. He was a devoted member of the Methodist Episcopal Church and in political opin- ions was a rock-ribbed Democrat of the Andrew Jackson type.
Our subject's mother died in Iowa, in 1883.
Andy J. acquired his education in the common schools in Iowa, and remained with his father till he was twenty-two years old.
After leaving home he worked a number of years "rafting" on the Mississippi river, after which he spent a short time in Wyoming and Colorado and in 1874 went to Kansas, where he lived some years. In 1894 Mr. Nyhart settled in Vernon county, at first buying a quarter section of land in Section sixteen, Coal township, and later acquiring an additional tract of forty acres in Coal township. Mr. Nyhart began his career as a poor boy with no capital other than his native abilities, backed by a deter- mined purpose to succeed. In his farming he has given his attention largely to raising corn and small grains, with most satisfactory results and is counted among the leading men in his community. He is thoroughly systematic and up-to-date in his operations and his farm, which is well stocked and handsomely improved and equipped, ranks with the best in the section. He has never sought or cared for political office, but in his political belief is a Democrat of the William J. Bryan type.
On March 4, 1879, Mr. Nyhart was united in marriage in Burl- ington, Iowa, with Miss Stella Nyhart, who died September 5, 1875. His second marriage was with Miss Ida M. Allee, of Atchi- son county, Kansas, December 1, 1886, who passed away in 1898, and in 1904 he married Miss Mary E. Durusetta, of Deerfield, Missouri. Thirteen children have been born to Mr. Nyhart, of whom the six surviving are named respectively, Jennie, Emma, Nellie, Cora, Marie and Pearl.
Daniel O'Bryan is an energetic, progressive, wide-awake and successful lawyer of the Vernon county, Missouri, bar. A native of Poplar Bluff, Mo., he was born August 10, 1878, and is an
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only child of J. L. and Elizabeth O'Bryan, the former a native of Mississippi and the latter of Canada, whence she went to Mis- sissippi. From there they moved to Louisiana and thence, after the Civil War, went to Missouri. The father was for a time agent of the Southern Express Company at Poplar Bluff, Mo., and later became general manager and bookkeeper for a lumber firm there. Both father and mother are deceased.
Daniel was reared at Nevada and acquired his preliminary education in the public schools there and at Westminster Col- lege at Fulton, Mo. Later he studied law in the office, and under the preceptorship, of Mr. Machir T. January and in 1903 passed his examination and was admitted to the bar and began the practice of his profession, in which he has attained gratifying suc- cess. Mr. O'Bryan has served two terms as city attorney of Nevada, and in 1909 was appointed tax attorney. He has also, since 1908, filled the office of secretary of the Farmer's Mutual Insurance Company.
David L. Palmer was born in eastern Tennessee December 1, 1858, the second child of a family of six children born to Wil- liam and Sabina (Loughmiller) Palmer, the former born in Vir- ginia, March 9, 1832, and the latter in Tennessee, Janu- uary 2, 1835. They were married in Tennessee February 28, 1856. Of their other children, Samuel W. Palmer was born December 7, 1856; William L. was born June 23, 1861; Laura A. was born June 3, 1866, and L. D., who was born September 6, 1872, both died in infancy. The mother passed away December 1, 1872, and on September 18, 1973, the father married Kate Goose. One child was born to this marriage, named Wallace, who died July 23, 1874, at the age of seven weeks and two days. The father, William Palmer, moved from Tennessee to Kentucky in 1866, whence he went to Missouri, but returned the same fall and remained in Kentucky ten years. Going to Texas in 1876 he lived there till about 1887, whence he settled two miles from Deerfield in Deer- field township, Vernon county, Missouri, and there made his home till his decease.
David L. left his father's home when nineteen years old to take charge of the farm of Maj. John Caperton in Jefferson county, Kentucky, and remained there sixteen years. Coming to Vernon county in 1893 he settled on a farm of 240 acres in Deer-
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field township which he had secured two years before. He culti- vated this farm till 1901, when he sold it and lived in Nevada some six months. He then bought 360 acres in section twenty-six, Blue Mound township and lived there till March, 1908, when he leased the farm and moved into Schell City. In his farming operations Mr. Palmer gives particular attention to buying, feeding and selling live stock, averaging from 75 to 125 head each winter. He takes an active part in local affairs and has served on the boards of Deerfield and Blue Mound townships and at present-1911- is chairman of the board in Bacon. He is identified with the Woodmen of the World; is a member of the Royal Neighbors and the Woodmen Circle. In religious fellowship is affiliated with the Presbyterian Church. In politics he is a Democrat.
On January 3, 1882, Mr. Palmer was united in marriage with Miss Elizabeth Myers, who was born in Louisville, Ky., March 3, 1862, to Henry and Catharine (Overmeyer) Myers, both natives of Hanover, Germany.
Mr. and Mrs. Palmer had nine children, viz .: Henry W., born November 9, 1884; Hugh W., born November 2, 1886; Caperton A., born January 16, 1889; Lillian A., born December 1, 1890; Sabina E., born January 16, 1893 ; Marie S., born April 26, 1895; David B., born August 8, 1898; Lorene G., born July 7, 1900, and Catharine A., who was born November 18, 1902. Mrs. Palmer died October 30, 1904, and on February 13, 1907, Mr. Palmer married Mrs. Ella G. (Robinson Sailor), and to them have been born the following named children: Rosamond, born October 12, 1907; Jewel Mae, born May 25, 1909, and Raymond K., born. May 27, 1911.
Mrs. Palmer was born near Edinburgh, Lawrence county, Pennsylvania, November 6, 1873, to James H. and Eliza A. (Wil- liams) Robinson, both born near Edinburgh, Pennsylvania, the former April 21, 1831, and the latter, March 26, 1838. They were married October 3, 1856, and had seven children. Of these, Thomas W., who was born January 30, 1859, died February 1, 1900 ; Francis A. was born April 21, 1860 ; John E., born January 14, 1863, died October 22, 1900; Ulysses G., born September 12, 1864; died March 12, 1892; David E., born August 3, 1867, died March 26, 1901; Clark P. was born August 16, 1869, and Ella Gertrude is now Mrs. Palmer. The first representative of this Robinson family in this country, of whom there is authentic
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record, was Henry Robinson, who was born in Ireland March 1, 1768. He settled in Alleghany county, Pennsylvania, in June, 1793, and was the father of five sons and two daughters, named respectively ; John, who was born December 13, 1795; Andrew, born April 27, 1797; James, date of birth unknown; Henry, born March 12, 1801 ; Elizabeth, who was born March 6, 1803, and mar- ried John Morehouse; Sarah, who was born August 19, 1806, and married John Cox, and Samuel Robinson, who was born Septem- ber 14, 1809.
Henry Robinson died March 26, 1854. His wife, Mary, died April 23, 1841. aged seventy-three years. Their eldest son, John Robinson, married Catherine Ward, November 11, 1819, and they had a family of ten children; James H. Robinson, Mrs. Pal- mer's father, being their sixth child. The mother, Catherine, died October 10, 1845, and the father, John Robinson, passed away October 26, 1872. James Henderson Robinson, Mrs. Palmer's father, died January 28, 1905, and his widow now resides in Schell City, Vernon county. Mrs. Palmer's maternal grandfather, Thomas Williams (who was a descendant of Rodger Williams, of early Pennsylvania fame), was born in Mercer county, Pennsyl- vania, February 12, 1807, and on April 21, 1831, married Susanna Book who was born in the same county November 17, 1807. Their four children were : Ferdinand, born May 28, 1832, and who died August 5, 1843; Sarah A., born September 16, 1834; Eliza Ann, Mrs. Palmer's mother, and Margaret J., who was born April 4, 1840 and died March 14, 1842; the father, Thomas, died August 5, 1843, and the mother, Susanna, passed away in February, 1883. Maj. Edward Wright, of Revolutionary fame, was the grandfather of Thomas Williams, Mrs. Palmer's maternal grand- father.
By her first marriage, Mrs. Palmer had two children, named respectively : Boyd Sailor, who was born November 8, 1903, and died in infancy, and Irma L. Sailor, who was born January 3, 1905, and now lives with her mother.
William Landon Palmer, of Deerfield township, Vernon county, Missouri, was born in Hawkins county, eastern Tennessee, June 23, 1861, and is the third child, one of four survivors of a family of seven children born to William and Sabina (Loughmiller) Pal- mer, natives of Virginia and Tennessee. His grandfather, Samuel
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Palmer, was born in Virginia, accumulated considerable property prior to the Civil War, which was confiscated by the govern- ment, leaving him very poor; he then moved to Shelby county, Kentucky, thence to Grayson county, Texas, and later to Vernon county, Missouri, where he lived with his son until his decease in 1892, at the age of ninety-two years.
Our subject's father was born in Virginia March 9, 1837; was a farmer by occupation. He moved from his native state to Tennessee and in 1861 enlisted and served in the Confederate Army until the surrender of General Lee at Appomattox.
He moved from Tennessee to Shelby county, Kentucky, and in 1866 went overland to Ralls county, Missouri, but did not unload his wagons on account of the unsettled conditions, going back to Shelby county, Kentucky, then to Jefferson county, same state; from there he went to Tarrant county, Texas, in 1877, and in 1887 he moved to Vernon county, Missouri, and settled on a tract of 250 acres in section five, Deerfield township, where he lived until his death, which occurred March 12, 1897.
Originally a Presbyterian, he afterwards united with the Methodist Episcopal Church. He was a successful farmer, had a good education and was universally esteemed as a man of sterling character and an upright citizen.
William L. attended the common schools until he was fifteen years of age, growing up on his father's farm and living at home until he attained his majority. He spent ten years farming in Texas with his father, and worked the home farm there, sharing equally with his father in the profits and with the money bought a tract of land in Texas, which he afterwards sold and in 1888 pur- chased eighty acres and established his home here. He has since made further purchases and now-1911-owns 210 acres of well- improved, highly-cultivate land. Besides a convenient and com- modious residence, Mr. Palmer improved his place with a large barn, a special house for sheltering hogs, and other out buildings and supplied all the equipment required to conduct a modern model farm.
On January 15, 1890, Mr. Palmer was united in marriage with Miss Luella Wallis, at Nevada. Mrs. Palmer is a native of Texas, having been born in Collin county, that state, October 26, 1864; her parents were natives of Tennessee and emigrated to Texas at an early day, being among the pioneer citizens of Collins county.
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Mr. and Mrs. Palmer have had seven children born to them, of whom six are now living, viz .: Lucile, who was born April 29, 1891; Luella, born June 24, 1896; Landon W., born December 6, 1898 ; Randolph A., born July 5, 1901; Stanley D., born April 11, 1904, and Edgar L., who was born September 19, 1908.
Lucile is now a teacher in the public schools of Vernon county, the other children are attending school.
Mr. Palmer is a Bryan Democrat. He has served two years as township trustee, and as an upright, progressive citizen is held in high esteem by all. He is a member of the Woodmen of the World.
Emmet B. Parrish is a prosperous business man and a sub- stantial citizen of Nevada, Mo. A native Missourian, he was born in Pettis county, February 15, 1865, and is the second child of a family of six children, five of whom survive-to G. W. and Emma (Marshall) Parrish, who were natives of Ken- tucky and South Carolina, respectively. They were among the . early settlers of Pettis county, where the father was a pros- perous farmer and influential citizen many years, and where he served as postmaster and in other local offices, and spent his active life. He passed his last days in Nevada, where he died in 1904 at the age of eighty-six years, his decease being followed by that of his widow in 1907, at the age of seventy-four. Their other surviving children are Eugene M., of Houston, Tex .; Eliza- beth, the wife of Mr. W. A. Graham, of Sedalia, Mo .; Ella J., who also lives in Sedalia, and Emma F., the wife of Mr. D. H. Dean, also of Sedalia. Everett G. is deceased. Emmet B. was reared on his father's farm in Pettis county and there attended the district school, which, in the early days, was held in the primitive log schoolhouse. Coming to Vernon county in 1879, he worked for a time on a farm in Center township and then settled in Nevada, where he learned the tinner's trade, which he followed ten years. Fully equipped with these years of val- uable experience, and with a small capital saved from his earn- ings, Mr. Parrish now began business on his own account, open- ing a tin shop to which, a year later, he added a stock of hard- ware. In 1882 he opened a store on the north side of the public square, later moved to the east side of the square, and in 1910 established his business in its present commodious quarters at
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the northeast corner of the public square. Thus beginning in a modest way, Mr. Parrish has had the satisfaction of witnessing a steady growth in his trade from year to year, necessitating increased facilities and better accommodations, until today he finds himself at the head of the largest, best-equipped and most up-to-date general hardware store and tin shop in Vernon county. His success is the result of hard work. close attention to busi- ness, sound business judgment, honorable and fair dealing and a conscientious determination to please.
He takes a commendable interest in matters outside of his business, and is in sympathy with all that relates to the better- ment and welfare of the city and community.
He is identified with the Knights of Pythias, the Pythian Sisters, and Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks. In polit- ical sentiment, Mr. Parrish is a Democrat.
George W. Parrish, for many years a citizen of substantial worth in Pettis county and of no less prominence here, was born in Harrodsburg, Ky., June 16, 1823. His parents, Jolly S. and Roxie A. Parrish, were both Virginians by birth. The former was a brick mason by trade, and for a considerable period fol- lowed undertaking in connection with plastering at Louisville. In 1833, upon removing to Pettis county, Missouri, he purchased a farm and attended to its management until death called him away from this earth in October. 1852, having reached the age of seventy-two years. His wife survived him a number of years, but finally, in September, 1875, she also died, then being eighty- nine years old. George W., next to the youngest in his parents' family of children, passed his boyhood days upon the home farm, enduring in common with others the hardships and trials of a frontier life. The educational facilities of Pettis county in that early day were very meagre, but he succeeded in attending school a few months and to this primary course of instruction aided by self-application and desultory reading and study until he became well informed concerning the current topics of the day. When the clouds and disasters of war commenced to hover about this portion of the country, Mr. Parrish entered the enrolled militia and took part in many expeditions against the bushwhackers in Pettis and Johnson counties. After the war closed he resumed his farming operations until 1881 when he removed to Colorado,
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