USA > Missouri > Livingston County > Past and present of Livingston County, Missouri : a record of settlement, organization, progress and achievement, Volume II > Part 12
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A native of Livingston county, Mr. Peery was born on the place on which he is now residing, October 29, 1841, and is a son of Wil- liam F. and Margaret (Hutchison) Peery. The father has valid claim to the title of pioneer, having come here in 1838 as one of the oldest settlers of the county and becoming successful along agricult- ural lines. Not only, however, was he prominent in his occupation but became a man of public renown, being chosen by the constituents of these parts to the office of state senator and also representative, taking care of the interests of the county in both houses of the legis- lature. He died in 1865, offering up his life as a sacrifice to his patriotism when he fell in battle, fighting in the ranks of the Con- federacy, of which he was a recruiting officer. He found his last resting place after an eventful and useful life at Bedford, Missouri,
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his wife being buried in the family graveyard on the farm of our sub- ject. The father was a representative of an old English family, his ancestors, however, having come to this side of the Atlantic at the time of the Pilgrim fathers.
John H. Peery acquired his education in the district schools near the father's farm and in his leisure moments assisted in the minor duties upon the place, having, however, not much opportunity to at- tend school on account of the troublous times of the Civil war and the pioneer conditions then prevailing in this section. He fought in the great conflict between the north and the south on the side of the Confederacy, which naturally received his sympathies on account of upbringing and the traditions surrounding his youth. He partici- pated in the hotly contested battles at Vicksburg, Mississippi, and Springfield, Missouri, among many others and distinguished himself by bravery, gallantry and utter disregard of danger. Immediately after the close of hostilities he returned home and took charge of the farm, taking the place of his father, who had fallen a victim to the sanguine conflict. Since that time he has greatly improved his prop- erty, where he engages in general farming, specializing in stock- raising. As the years have passed, prosperity has come to him as the well merited result of indefatigable labor, industry, energy and pro- gressive and productive methods.
In 1868 Mr. Peery was united in marriage to Miss Elizabeth Crews, who passed away in 1883 and is buried in the family grave- yard. Subsequently, on February 18, 1886, Mr. Peery married at Edinburg, Missouri, Miss Florence Peery, a daughter of Dr. Archi- bald and Elizabeth (Kirk) Peery, the former of whom a well known medical practitioner of Grundy county, where he enjoyed a large and gratifying patronage. Of the first union were born: Stella, who died and is buried in the family burial grounds; Fanny, the wife of Jefferson McCue, a farmer of Daviess county ; Mary M., who mar- ried Joseph Francis, of Newton, Kansas; William F., a farmer of this county; and Grace Drummond, residing at Kansas City. Of the second marriage were born Ethel, James T. and Jessie F., all of whom have passed away; and John Roger, who is residing at home.
Mr. Peery, however, has not only become one of the foremost agriculturists of Livingston county but has ably assisted in another undertaking that has become of foremost importance to farmers of this section, namely, the Farmers & Merchants Bank of Jamesport, Missouri, of which he was one of the organizers, while he is also a stockholder of the Commercial Bank of that place. His political affil-
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iations are with the democratic party, in the principles of which or- ganization he stanchly believes, while his only fraternal relation is with the blue lodge of Masons. Although nearing his seventy- second birthday, Mr. Peery is still active in the management of his extensive interests, vigorously and heartily attending to the many duties which fall upon his shoulders. A residence of over seven dec- ades entitles him to the distinction of being one of the oldest native sons in this section of Livingston county, to whom many do honor for his attainments and those qualities of mind and character which made them possible.
BEN MARLOW.
Among the native sons of Livingston county there is none of whom she may be more proud than Ben Marlow, who along agricul- tural lines has achieved a success that lifts him above mediocrity. Owning a farm of three hundred acres on section 10 and one hundred and twenty fertile acres on section 3, Jackson township, he was born on the same place on which he is now residing, August 7, 1861, and is a son of William and Amanda (Hutchison) Marlow, the father of our subject coming from Platte county, Missouri, and set- tling here in about 1854, having thereby claim to the distinction of being one of the earlier pioneers of the section. He was one of the most enterprising farmers in the district and was using methods and ideas in his time of which many of his friends, contemporaries and neighbors never thought. His work resulted in making him one of the most substantial men in the neighborhood and as he pros- pered he gradually became possessed of six hundred and thirteen acres of land, all under high cultivation. Not only had the father, however, qualities which destined him for individual success but he was patriotic to the core and when his country called for troops he entered the United States army as a boy in 1846 and offered his services upon the altar of patriotism in the Mexican war. Again in 1861 he enlisted for service in the Civil war under General Slack, continuing his record of bravery, courage and patriotic devotion. He died June 24, 1911, at the venerable age of eighty-one years, and found his last resting place in the Edgewood cemetery at Chillicothe. The parents reared a family of three children, all of whom turned out to do honor to the family name and maintained the respect that
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is paid to the name of Marlow wherever known. The mother of our subject is still residing in Jackson township.
Ben Marlow received his fundamental learning in the district schools of the neighborhood of his father's farm, leaving the school- room at the age of sixteen years. He then assisted in the work on the home place, faithfully doing his duties and such labor as was assigned to him by the father. Subsequently he inherited two hun- dred and twenty acres of the home place, to the cultivation of which he gave his undivided attention, his labors being attended with such success that as a result he was enabled to acquire additional land and now owns three hundred acres on section 10 and one hundred and twenty on section 3 of Jackson township. He engages in general farming, raising such grains as are best adapted to soil and climate and making a decided success in stock-raising.
On February 14, 1899, Mr. Marlow was united in marriage at Spring Hill, Missouri, to Miss Gertrude Piper, a daughter of M. V. and Ida Piper, who came to this section in 1865. Her parents are well and favorably known in Chillicothe, where they now reside, and the father is one of the prominent and substantial men of the county. Mr. and Mrs. Marlow are the parents of one son, Claude, who is attending school.
Beside his extensive farming interests Mr. Marlow has made other investments, preferably in financial institutions, and is a stock- holder of the People's Exchange Bank of Jamesport and of the First National Bank of Chillicothe. He is a stanch democrat, always supporting the measures and candidates of his party. A leading man along his line of occupation, Mr. Marlow not only gives evidence of the fact that strictly applied attention to one thing brings success but is an example and inspiration for others and has become a force- ful and constructive factor in raising agricultural standards in the section which gave him birth and witnessed his success.
GEORGE A. EVANS.
George A. Evans, a successful agriculturist of Blue Mound town- ship, was born in Carmarthenshire, South Wales, in 1865 and is a son of David and Margaret (Davis) Evans, the former of whom died in 1897 and is buried near Dawn, Missouri, and the latter of whom resides with her son, George. Mr. Evans of this review
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acquired his education in the common schools of Wales and laid aside his books at the age of seventeen in order to assist his father with the work of the farm. He continued thus for five years, after which he engaged in various occupations, working at anything which would bring him an income. He was ambitious, thrifty and ener- getic and gradually acquired enough money to pay his passage to America and to buy land of his own. In 1897 he settled in Living- ston county and purchased one hundred and ten acres on section 10, range 25, Blue Mound township, a property upon which he has since resided. He has about fifty acres under cultivation and as the years have gone by has placed many substantial improvements upon the farm, including fine barns, granaries, a silo and outbuildings. There is also a comfortable and commodious residence which Mr. Evans acquired by purchase. He carries on mixed farming, harvesting fine crops of grain and keeping about twenty head of cattle and seven horses. The neat and thrifty appearance of his property indicates the supervision of a practical and progressive owner and Mr. Evans is widely recognized as an enterprising and prosperous agriculturist.
In December, 1897, Mr. Evans was united in marriage to Miss Minnie Evans, a daughter of Edward A. and Eliza (Jones) Evans, both of whom have passed away and are buried at Dawn. Mrs. Evans died June 29, 1912, leaving a son, Robert, who is now assist- ing his father. Mr. Evans is a devout member of the Congregational church and politically gives his allegiance to the republican party. Having spent many years of his active life in Livingston county, he is well and favorably known and enjoys the confidence and esteem of his many friends and associates, for his business methods and his personal characteristics are such as command the highest regard.
H. K. BENSON.
H. K. Benson is living retired in Mooresville after a period of close identification with agricultural interests of Livingston county, covering a period of almost thirty years. He was born near Knoxville, Illinois, November II, 1842, and is a son of R. C. and Sallie J. (Bradford) Benson, the father formerly a pioneer farmer and cattle dealer of Knoxville. The family is of old Scotch origin and was founded in America by the great-grandfather of the subject of this review. The father continued to engage in
MR. AND MRS. H. K. BENSON
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agricultural pursuits for many years, making his influence felt in farming and business circles and attaining a high degree of pros- perity and prominence. He died in 1900 and was survived by his wife for nine years. Both are buried in the cemetery at Knoxville, Illinois.
H. K. Benson acquired his education in the public schools of his native city, laying aside his books at the age of eighteen in order to fight in the Civil war as a member of Company A, Eighth Missouri Infantry. He took part in several hotly contested battles and at the close of hostilities returned to Knox county, Illinois, where for two years he assisted his father with the operation of the home farm. At the expiration of that time he came to Liv- ingston county and purchased a farm of one hundred and twenty acres, eighty of which was improved, the remainder being timber land, which by well directed and practical labor he brought to a high state of cultivation. He built a fine residence upon it, erected barns and outbuildings and installed all the machinery and acces- sories necessary in the conduct of a model farm. Success came rapidly as a result of his progressive methods and untiring labor, Mr. Benson finally winning a competence, sufficient to enable him to retire from active life in 1896. He sold forty acres of his farm and rented the remaining eighty and purchased a house in Moores- ville, in which he has since resided, enjoying in well earned rest the fruits of his former toil.
On the 5th of September, 1865, Mr. Benson married, in Perci- fer township, Knox county, Illinois, Miss Mandana Elliott, a daughter of Hiram and Mary Elliott, the former a prominent farmer and the owner of the Mooresville mill. Both have passed away and are buried in Arkansas. Mr. and Mrs. Benson became the parents of nine children : Robert, who died in 1906, at the age of thirty-two, and who is buried at Longmont, Colorado; Harvey, who is engaged in ranching near Longmont; Florence, who be- came the wife of John J. Gibeaut, a stone and cement contractor in Breckenridge, Missouri; Hiram, a rural mail carrier residing in Mooresville; John T., a rock worker in Breckenridge; Charles, who makes his home in Mooresville ; William G., serving as deputy postmaster of Mooresville; Sadie, who is connected with the Mooresville Telephone Company and who resides at home; and O. V., foreman of a sugar factory in Holly, Colorado.
Mr. Benson is a consistent republican in his political beliefs, but while keenly interested in the welfare and progress of Living-
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ston county, has never been active as an office seeker. Having spent almost fifty years of his life in this part of Missouri, he is well and favorably known here and has gained the warm regard and esteem of all who have been associated with him.
THOMAS R. LEE.
Thomas R. Lee owns and operates a valuable farm of six hun- dred and twenty acres in Monroe township, and his business qualifi- cations, his genuine personal worth and the success which has at- tended his well directed efforts entitle him to mention with the representative citizens of Livingston county. He was born in Cheshire, England, September 12, 1853, and is a son of Richard and Mary (Robinson) Lee, the former of whom was a farmer all during his active life. He engaged in agricultural pursuits in his native country for a number of years and came to America in 1854, settling in Lake county, Ohio, where he remained for several years. The family moved to Livingston county in 1865, where he became very prominent in business circles, serving as president of the Farmers National Bank. He held this important and responsible position until his death, which occurred in 1904, at the age of seventy-seven, having long survived his wife, who passed away in 1884. Both are buried in Monroe cemetery, Monroe township.
Thomas R. Lee acquired his education in the district schools of Ludlow township and laid aside his books at the age of eighteen in order to assist his father with the work of the farm. After three years upon the homestead he began his independent agricultural career. He now owns six hundred and twenty acres of land on sec- tions 7, 8 and 15, range 25, Monroe township, and with characteristic energy began the cultivation of his farm, which is today one of the finest agricultural properties in this part of the state. Mr. Lee has made substantial improvements upon it, building a fine residence, barns and outbuildings and equipping the place with all the acces- sories and conveniences of a model farm. He carries on mixed farm- ing, raising grain and keeping about fifteen head of horses, twenty head of cattle, seventy-five swine and six hundred head of sheep, his stock-raising interests constituting an important source of his in- come. He has in addition representative business interests in Lud- low, being a director in the Lee Lumber Company and in the Farm-
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ers National Bank, and a stockholder in the Central States Life Insurance Company, of St. Louis, Missouri.
In 1873 Mr. Lee was married near Ludlow to Miss Sadie Bryan, a daughter of Jefferson and Jane (Bradon) Bryan, both of whom have passed away and are buried near Ludlow. Mr. and Mrs. Lee are the parents of four children : George A., who is engaged in farm- ing in Livingston county; M. E., who operates a farm near Ludlow; Carrie, the wife of J. D. Wells, a general merchant in Ludlow; and Lizzie, who married M. Hamblin, a farmer in this vicinity.
Mr. Lee gives his allegiance to the republican party, and fra- ternally is identified with the Independent Order of Odd Fellows. He has made steady advancement in his life, not only in business affairs but also in matters of citizenship, gaining at the same time the favor- able regard of all who know him. He is a man of marked strength of character, genial disposition and genuine worth and has the un- qualified good-will of his fellowmen.
JAMES M. COLE.
A well known representative of agricultural interests in Living- ston county is James M. Cole, who owns a valuable farm of one hundred and forty acres, of which eighty acres are located on section 8, Jackson township, and sixty in Cream Ridge township. He was born in Jefferson township, Grundy county, December 12, 1868, and is a son of James and Mary (Parker) Cole, the former a retired agriculturist who makes his home with our subject. The father came to Grundy county before the Civil war and for a time was connected with the state militia. He voted the republican ticket until last year, when he severed his allegiance with that party and became a pro- gressive. The Cole family is of Irish extraction but has been repre- sented in this country for a number of years.
In the acquirement of an education James M. Cole attended dis- trict school until the age of sixteen years. His desire to see the world and acquaint himself with conditions in other parts induced him to start out for himself and for six years he traveled through various states of the Union. Upon his return he purchased forty acres of land, to the cultivation of which he gave his whole attention and by incessant work and close application was enabled to acquire the means of buying his present place of one hundred and forty acres of
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fertile land, upon which he pursues general farming, also specializing in stock-raising, finding this latter branch of his interests a gratifying source of income.
On May 2, 1898, in West Jackson township, Livingston county, Mr. Cole married Miss Mary Stevens, a daughter of J. B. and Jos- ephine (Cravens) Stevens. Her father is one of the pioneers of Liv- ingston county, highly esteemed and well known, and he and his wife are still residing in Jackson township. Mr. and Mrs. Cole have an adopted daughter, Reta, who is four years of age. By politi- cal conviction Mr. Cole is a republican and religiously the family affiliates with the Baptist church, in the work of which they take a ready and helpful interest, giving their moral and material support to its local organization and allied societies. Industrious and enter- prising, Mr. Cole has attained to a substantial position among the agriculturists of Jackson township and, while he has brought about his individual success, has been a force and a factor in the general upbuilding of this section. Public-spirited, he takes interest in all matters affecting the public weal and gives his support to all measures and movements undertaken to benefit the community in which he lives, and its people.
GEORGE H. MAST.
That this is the land of opportunity for foreign or native-born alike is evidenced in the career of George H. Mast, who as a boy in his teens came from Germany with his parents and is now the owner of a valuable farm of four hundred and thirty acres located on section 19, Jackson township, Livingston county, being considered one of the substantial men among the agriculturists of this section. Mr. Mast was born in Wurtemberg, Germany, September 20, 1843, and came here in 1871 from Ohio. He is a son of Mathias and Bar- bara Mast, the former of whom passed away in Ohio and is buried in the Irvell cemetery in Muskingum county, that state. The mother passed away in Germany before the family left for the new world and found her last resting place in Wurtemberg, Germany.
Mr. Mast received his education partly in Germany and partly in Nashport, Ohio, laying aside his text-books at the age of eighteen years. Up to that time he remained with his father but subsequently obtained work among the farmers of the vicinity and remained so
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employed until he came to Missouri in 1871 and settled on the prop- erty upon which he is now residing. When he came here the land was but a wilderness and it took all his energy, industry and patience to clear his property from timber and brush, bring the same under the plow and gradually develop from prairie land a productive farm. When he first settled here he acquired forty acres of land and as the same gradually became bearing and brought him returns, increased his holdings from time to time until he now owns four hundred and thirty acres, on which he engages in general farming and stock-rais- ing. He has erected a handsome residence on his land and made a number of valuable improvements, instituting such machinery and equipment as is considered indispensable to up-to-date agriculture. Persevering and industrious, he never let up in his efforts until he now owns one of the finest properties in this section of Livingston county.
At Nashport, Ohio, on January 18, 1866, Mr. Mast was united in marriage to Miss Melinda Eichhorn, a daughter of Frederick and Rosina Eichhorn, both of whom passed away and are buried in the Frazeysburg cemetery in Ohio. Mr. and Mrs. Mast were the par- ents of eleven children, of whom Nellie died in infancy and found burial in the Curtis graveyard in Sampsell township, this county. The other members of the family are: Frank, who died at the age of thirty-one years, leaving a widow and four children and finding his last resting place in Mount Olive cemetery in Sampsell township; Mary C., who resides at home; Katie, the wife of Richard Hargrave, a farmer in Jackson township; John M., who follows agricultural pursuits in Jackson county, Oregon; George E., who also follows that occupation in Irving, Oregon; R. Elizabeth, who married Alfred Dryden, a farmer in Sampsell township; Harvey J., an agriculturist of Henry county, Missouri; Scott W., who also follows that occupa- tion in Jackson township; Ira D., farming in Pawnee county, Kansas ; and Melinda, at home.
Public-spirited and progressive, the advent of George H. Mast in Livingston county has not only been the beginning of a successful career for himself but has been of value in the general advancement along agricultural lines, for he has been instrumental in raising agri- cultural standards here and has improved upon methods, thereby becoming a constructive factor in building up the district. His suc- cess must be largely attributed to his unceasing industry and energy in carrying to fruition every undertaking, his thrift and frugality
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and, last but not least, to the assistance of his faithful helpmate, who shared with him the hardships of pioneer life and as the head of the household helped to make possible the prosperity Mr. Mast is now enjoying.
GEORGE H. BASSETT.
The agricultural history of Livingston county would be incom- plete without prominent mention of George H. Bassett, who owns two hundred and twenty acres of land in Jackson township, constituting two tracts, one comprising one hundred and eighty acres and the other forty acres. A comparatively recent arrival, coming to Livingston county in 1901, Mr. Bassett has quickly demonstrated his ability as agriculturist and has attained a success in a few years which takes many a lifetime to encompass. Born at Decorah, Iowa, May 18, 1858, he is a son of Elias and Jane (Lilly) Bassett, the father a suc- cessful farmer. In the family of Mr. and Mrs. Elias Bassett were nine children, of whom Francis and Robert died during the Civil war. The others are: Horton, a farmer in Nebraska; Fanny, who became the wife of D. W. Mccutcheon and has passed away and is buried at Scottville, Mitchell county, Kansas; Obed E., an agriculturist of Farnhamville, Calhoun county, Iowa; George H., of this review; Oliver, a farmer of Wichita, Kansas; Albert, who resides at Colorado Springs, where he is engaged in the live stock business; and Walter, a farmer of Mercer county, Missouri. Elias Bassett died in 1873 and is buried at Leon, Iowa, his wife having preceded him in death when our subject was only three weeks old and found her last resting place at Decorah, Iowa.
George H. Bassett received his education in Decatur county, Iowa, attending school there until he was eleven years of age. He then went to Kansas, where he made his home with his sister and subse- quently became a mail carrier at the age of thirteen years, working for one summer in that capacity. He next worked as a farm hand for eleven years, acquiring during that time by thrift and industry the means which enabled him to establish himself independently on rented land, following farming in that way for another period of eleven years, since which time he has been the owner of the farm which is now his property and where he pursues general farming and stock-raising. Since locating upon the farm here he has made a
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