USA > Missouri > Livingston County > Past and present of Livingston County, Missouri : a record of settlement, organization, progress and achievement, Volume II > Part 22
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JOHN D. RICE.
Among the commercial institutions of Chillicothe, Missouri, is the drug store of Rice & Allen, representing the progress of modern ideas and up-to-date methods. Worthy of a town many times the size of Chillicothe, this business is largely the result of the labors of the senior partner of the firm, John D. Rice, who in that connection has made improvements which rank his store on an even basis with any metropolitan establishment of the kind. Coming to Livingston county from De Kalb county, Missouri, Mr. Rice was born in Cameron, this state, in 1876, and is a son of Joel H. and Kate (Hadley) Rice, resi- dents of Fairport, Missouri, where the father is prominent in the
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affairs of the town and is considered one of the substantial men of the community.
John D. Rice received his fundamental education in the Cameron high school, rounding out the same with courses in the Chillicothe Normal School, and the Northern Illinois College, from which latter institution he graduated with honors in 1899. He subsequently taught school in Grand River College for two years and then became a teacher in the Chillicothe Business College, in which con- nection he remained for about twelve years although he gave at the same time a great deal of his attention to his drug establishment. The store is conducted under the name of Rice & Allen, and they handle only the best quality of medicines, and also carry a complete line of sundries such as are usually found in drug stores. Particular atten- tion is paid to the prescription department and all precaution is taken that no mistakes can possibly occur.
Mr. Rice was united in marriage in Gallatin, Missouri, in 1900, to Miss Lena White, a daughter of Richard and Mary (Savage) White, both of whom have passed away, finding their last resting place in Pattonsburg, Missouri. Mr. and Mrs. Rice are the parents of one daughter, Lucille. The family home, which is owned by our subject, is a meeting place of the many friends of Mr. and Mrs. Rice, where a pleasant hospitality and a warm greeting is extended to them.
The political views of Mr. Rice are in accordance with the prin- ciples of the democratic party while his fraternal relations are with the Benevolent Protective Order of Elks and the Maccabees. Agress- ive, industrious and energetic, he has become a factor in the commer- cial life of Chillicothe and while on the highway to individual success gives his support to all matters which make for the general develop- ment and advancement and contribute to trade expansion.
ROBERT W. DEVAUL.
Robert W. Devaul, who is giving his attention to his duties as a notary public and insurance agent and a dealer in real estate in Chula, after a long period of close identification with agricultural interests, was born in Grundy county, twelve miles north of Trenton, Missouri, April 9, 1850. He is a son of J. R. and Sarah (Howell) Devaul, the former one of the first settlers in Grundy county and one of the most active and prominent farmers in that section of Missouri during his
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life. A local history published in the year 1881 has the following to say concerning his life and accomplishments : "James R. Devaul was born near Elkton, Christian county, Kentucky, March 28, 1814. His parents came to Missouri in 1820 and after stopping in Chariton county for one year, went to Ray county, where they settled. They removed in 1834 to Daviess county, Missouri, being one of the first families to settle in that county, and thence to Grundy county in 1835. He lived with them until attaining his majority in 1835, and in the spring of 1837 staked his first claim on government land, which he afterward improved and entered. The same land is now a part of the town site of Trenton. During his life Mr. Devaul improved five farms in Grundy county. He was among the pioneers and took an active part in the organization of Grundy county, and for four years held the office of justice of the peace." He married Miss Sarah Howell, of Linn county, Missouri, and in their family were ten chil- dren, the brothers and sisters of our subject being as follows: Wil- liam A. and Jasper N., both of whom reside in California; Luther, whose home is in Oregon; Martha A., who married William Corn- wall, of Grundy county, Missouri; Louise, the wife of John H. Rob- erts, of Oregon ; Green C. and Oscar, at home; Daniel P., a veteran of the Civil war and now deceased; and Sarah J., whose death occurred in Grundy county. Mr. and Mrs. Devaul were members of long stand- ing in the Trenton Baptist church, the former for fifty-five years and the latter for forty years, being among the original members.
Robert W. Devaul acquired his primary education in the district schools and later attended the high school at Trenton, from which he was graduated at the age of twenty-four. He had, however, spent five years during this time engaged in teaching and after laying aside his books continued this occupation for five years more. When he abandoned it he took up farming, purchasing eighty acres on section 28, Medicine township. This property was only partly improved, but by untiring industry and well directed effort Mr. Devaul brought it to a high state of cultivation, improving it with barns, outbuildings and other farm accessories and making it finally one of the model farms of this vicinity. He still owns the tract but in 1909 abandoned agricultural pursuits and turned his attention to business in Chula, where he is now well known as a notary public and very successful in the insurance business. He also handles real estate and his sound judgment and comprehensive knowledge of land values have made this branch of his activities extremely profitable.
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Mr. Devaul was married in Linn county, January 26, 1877, to Miss Louisa Brady, a daughter of William and Mary Brady, the former a pioneer in Livingston county. He died during the Civil war and is buried on the battlefield where he fell. His wife has also passed away and is buried in Newtonia, Missouri. Mr. and Mrs. Devaul became the parents of the following children: Mary, the wife of F. V. Ross, of whom further mention is made elsewhere in this work; W. E., a farmer in Livingston county; Maude, the wife of Richard Lightner, a prominent farmer and stock dealer in Livingston county; Ina, who married Richard Raney, of Chula; Oscar, who resides in Atchison county ; and James, who passed away at the age of nine years and is buried in the Parson Creek cemetery, in Linn county.
Mr. Devaul gives a stanch allegiance to the republican party and has served his fellow citizens as tax collector of Medicine township, as justice of the peace and constable. Fraternally he is connected with the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, having been through all the chairs of that organization, and his religious beliefs are in accord with the doctrines of the Baptist church. He has for many years been influentially associated with agricultural and business interests in this section of the state and his high moral character and upright princi- ples have brought him the respect and confidence of his fellow citi- zens.
SAMUEL LEEPER HARRIS.
Samuel Leeper Harris was born in Chariton county, Missouri, May 22, 1833, and was a son of John and Rachel Harris, who were natives of Virginia and Kentucky and became early settlers of Chari- ton county. After the death of his parents Samuel Leeper Harris, then a lad of six years, was brought to Livingston county by a cousin, John Leeper, and was reared near Springhill by Mr. Leeper and his wife, Mrs. Amanda Leeper. Mr. Harris remained with them until the spring of 1849, when gold was discovered in California. John Leeper was among the first in his part of the state to organize a party and start on the perilous journey across the plains. Mr. Harris, against the advice of both Mr. and Mrs. Leeper, insisted on making the trip. They eventually decided to let him go and he proved to be a great help to the party and in after years such a man as Joseph
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Custer often remarked that he was one of the best plainsmen with whom he (Custer) was ever associated and that there was never a man who accepted the duties assigned to him with better grace or who performed them any better than this sturdy lad of sixteen.
It was late in November, 1849, when the Leeper party arrived in California and Mr. Harris went to work in the mines, but he had only gotten well started when he had the misfortune to have his thumb shattered by a premature blast. He was sent to Sacramento for medical attention and remained at that place, employed in differ- ent ways, until 1852, when he sailed for home, making the trip by way of the Panama route. The vessel on which he embarked in order to reach New Orleans encountered a terrible storm and was drifted onto the island of Jamaica, so that the journey was delayed for some time. Eventually, however, Mr. Harris reached New Orleans and went from there up the Mississippi river to St. Louis and on to Chilli- cothe, having spent eleven months upon the journey. He began clerking in a general mercantile store at Springhill and thence went to Chillicothe, where he became associated in business with the late James C. Minteer. Not long afterward he was elected sheriff of Liv- ingston county and that he was capable, resourceful and faithful in the discharge of his official duties was evident in the fact that he was again and again reelected to that office.
In 1863 Mr. Harris made another trip across the plains to Mon- tana and once more in 1865, on which occasion he was accompanied by his family. He was elected captain of the party on that occasion -a train consisting of more than one hundred wagons drawn mostly by oxen. They left Chillicothe in May and arrived at Willow Creek in September. There Mr. Harris remained until 1866, when he re- turned to Chillicothe, traveling by boat from Fort Benton, Montana, to St. Joseph, Missouri. He remained in Chillicothe until 1889, when he again went to Montana but in March, 1893, returned and here his death occurred in August, 1898.
On the 6th of December, 1860, Mr. Harris was united in mar- riage to Miss Rachel Jane Wilson, of Chillicothe, who survives him. In their family were five children: Charles Scott, who is chief clerk on the cotton docks for the Gulf, Colorado & Santa Fe Railway at Galveston, Texas; Samuel Wilson, who is practicing dentistry in Dallas, Texas; Robert Lee, who died in infancy; Fred Henry, who is associated with the Bazel J. Meek Land Company of Chillicothe ; and William, who died in infancy.
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Samuel Leeper Harris was often spoken of as a man who was a friend to everybody and he certainly proved the truth of the Emer- sonian philosophy that "the way to win a friend is to be one." He possessed a rare nature, was generous to a fault and never failed to assist the poor and needy if it lay within his power to do so. Many a man living in the county today has been befriended by him and gladly acknowledges his indebtedness to Mr. Harris, and pays him the tribute of saying that the world is better because of his having lived. On attaining his majority, in 1854, he became a Mason, the degrees being conferred upon him at Springhill, Missouri. He after- ward attained the Knight Templar degree and held every office in- cluding that of eminent commander in Paschal Commandery. His death was sincerely and deeply regretted by his many friends who were attached to him by ties of affection, good-will and esteem, formed in the course of his upright, honorable, active and useful life. He was a lifelong member of the Christian church and took a helpful interest in its work, gave liberally to its support and did everything in his power to promote its influence. In every phase of life Samuel Leeper Harris gained the respect and regard of those with whom he was associated, whether as a boy in crossing the plains, as a man in his later business associations or in his connections in the church, in Masonry and in social and home circles. He was indeed one of nature's noblemen.
JOHN H. TAYLOR.
John H. Taylor is city attorney and a well known lawyer of Chillicothe and in his chosen profession has made that steady advancement which results only from merit and ability in han- dling important litigated interests. He is in the prime of his career with the opportunity before him to attain still greater suc- cess and his friends do not hesitate to predict for him continued progress in his chosen field. Mr. Taylor was born in Livingston county on the 12th of September, 1870, and is a grandson of Hiram Taylor, one of the first settlers of the county, and a son of Edward L. Taylor, well known throughout this district and called by his numerous friends, "Buck." He was in the fifth consecutive year of his service as sheriff of Livingston county when he was accidentally shot and killed while on a hunting trip in Arkansas. He was always a stanch adherent of the democratic party and
EDWARD L. TAYLOR
JOHN H. TAYLOR
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gave loyal and active support to its men and measures for many years. His death occurred in November, 1897.
John H. Taylor attended the public schools of Chillicothe and after completing the usual course studied law in the office of Judge Gill. In 1897 he was admitted to the bar and in the same year opened an office in his native city and has continued to practice here since that time. He has secured a good clientage connecting him with much of the important litigation tried in the courts of the district and is recognized as an able and resource- ful practitioner.
Mr. Taylor married Miss Irene Blackburn, a native of Living- ston county, and they are the parents of three children, Richard, Buck and Dorothy. Mr. Taylor is identified with the Masonic order, with the Independent Order of Odd Fellows and the Benevolent Protective Order of Elks. He gives his political alle- giance to the democratic party and has held many important public positions, most of which have been along the lines of his profes- sion. He was a delegate to the national democratic convention at Denver in 1908. He has been police judge, sheriff, prosecuting at- torney of Livingston county and mayor and is at present serving as city attorney.
In 1910 Mr. Taylor was the nominee of the democratic party of the thirty-sixth judicial circuit for circuit judge. He ran far ahead of his ticket and although the circuit was overwhelmingly republi- can was only defeated by a very narrow margin. During his term as mayor of the city of Chillicothe the municipal electric light plant was constructed. The fact that Chillicothe is now the best lighted city in the state is largely due to Mr. Taylor's efforts both in the submission of the proposition to the people and in the successful fight in the courts against the private corporation which sought to defy and defeat the will of the citizens.
EDWIN A. KESSLER.
The success of Edwin A. Kessler along agricultural lines must largely be attributed to his aggressiveness and energy, which he has applied to the development of his farm, transforming the same into a prosperous property from a wild tract of land. He now owns a valuable farm of three hundred acres on sections 7 and 8, Jackson Vol. II-15
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township, Livingston county, and is recognized as one of the sub- stantial men in the locality. A descendant of a worthy pioneer fam- ily, he is a son of Daniel and Sarah A. (Faulk) Kessler and a grand- son of Daniel Y. Kessler, who settled in Livingston county in 1839, one mile east of where the present Kessler homestead is located, on which J. F. Kessler, a brother of our subject, now makes his home. After a long and successful career as agriculturist the father passed away on April 12, 1910, his wife dying only a half year later-on the 16th of November. Both Mr. and Mrs. Daniel Kessler were highly regarded not only for the substantial attainments they had achieved but also for their many high traits of character, which made them beloved by all who knew them. Both found their last resting place in Jamesport cemetery. In their family were, beside our subject : Ida M., the wife of J. W. Thompson, a farmer of Daviess county, Missouri; D. W., a civil engineer by profession, who makes his home in Washington, D. C .; and J. F. Kessler, the owner of a valuable farm of two hundred and eighty acres in Jackson township.
Being born on the home farm on the Ist of December, 1869, Edwin A. Kessler received his early education in the district schools, subsequently attending Avalon College, which latter institution he left at the age of nineteen years. During vacation times he had already as a boy assisted in the minor duties on the home farm, but after leaving school gave his entire attention to the property and ably assisted his father in the management of the same until he had reached the age of twenty-five years. In consideration of his good services his father then gave him a tract of two hundred acres and on this land he has since pursued successfully mixed methods of farming, his efforts having been attended with such gratifying re- sults that he has been enabled to add to his holdings, his farm now comprising three hundred acres of fertile and valuable land. all in a high state of cultivation. He also largely gives his attention to stock- raising, breeding cattle, swine and sheep and also giving some time to raising horses. As the years have passed he has developed from land which was in its natural state a highly valuable property, equipped with all the improvements modern agriculture demands, a residence which is handsome and comfortable-in short a farm home that is equal to the best of the district.
In Jamesport, Missouri, Mr. Kessler was united in marriage on May 19, 1895, to Miss Lilly Ramsey, a native of Jackson township and a daughter of James and Linnie (Wingo) Ramsey, the former a native of Livingston county and a son of one of the highly honored
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pioneer farmers of this section. The father of Mrs. Kessler was a public-spirited man and prominent in his locality, where his worth was recognized in his election to the office of assessor of Jackson township. Both the parents have passed away and are buried in the Ramsey family graveyard. Mr. and Mrs. Kessler are the parents of three children: Ruth E. and Ida M., attending district school; and Mary E.
In his political affiliations Mr. Kessler is a stanch democrat, giving his unqualified support to the measures and candidates of that organ- ization. His fraternal relations consist of memberships in the Inde- pendent Order of Odd Fellows, in which he passed through all the chairs, and the Modern Woodmen of America. The religious faith of the family is that of the Methodist Episcopal church, in the work of which they take active and helpful interest. Consistently devoting his energies and attention to one purpose, Mr. Kessler has by hard work, energy and progressive methods become one of the substantial agriculturists of Jackson township, but modestly ascribes a great part of his success to the able assistance given by his faithful wife. It is generally conceded that his labors, which have brought about his own success, have done more than that, as through them he has con- tributed in a large measure to the settlement, development and the utilization of resources in Livingston county.
JAMES B. LEEPER.
James B. Leeper, who owns a highly improved farm of one hun- dred and thirteen acres on section 7, Jackson township, Livingston county, is a member of an old pioneer family of Missouri and this county, having been born in Jackson township on the 7th of March, 1875, a son of Daniel S. and Annie (Blakey) Leeper. John Leeper, the paternal grandfather, was a pioneer merchant of Spring Hill, Mis- souri, and was the first packer in that part of the country, hauling his merchandise across the plains to Nebraska City, Nebraska, and ex- periencing exciting adventures during his trips on account of the Indians in those early days. The grandmother, who was a Miss Amanda Boyle in her maidenhood, reached the advanced age of ninety-eight years and resided in Chillicothe, Missouri, until her de- mise in 1913, having the distinction of being at that time the oldest pioneer woman in the county. She was in perfect health, and bodily
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and mentally well for one of her great age, until a few days before her death. The maternal grandfather of James B. Leeper was Ben- jamin B. Blakey, the father of a large family of fourteen children, all of whom became well known in the walks of life they selected and turned out to be a credit to the name. The grandfather was the owner of extensive land interests in Clay county, Missouri, where he held title to sixteen hundred acres.
Daniel S. Leeper, the father of our subject, was also one of the early pioneers of Livingston county, where he devoted his life to agricultural labors, being successful along that line. He and his wife now reside in Jackson township. In their family were the following children, one of whom died in infancy: Joseph H .; James B., of this review; Mary E., the widow of Lewis Boyle, Jr .; Amanda B., who married William Stinchcomb; Annie L., the wife of Archibald Ram- sey; and Daniel L.
James B. Leeper was reared under the parental roof and received his education in the district schools near his father's farm in this county, laying aside his text-books at the age of sixteen years. He then assisted in the work of the home farm, becoming acquainted with the thorough methods of agriculture his father employed and re- maining there until he reached his majority, when he purchased forty acres of land on which he started out as an agriculturist on his own account. Gradually he brought this tract to a state of high culti- vation and by incessant work and frugal living was enabled to add to his original purchase until he is now the owner of one hundred and thirteen acres. He engages in general farming, following the most modern and scientific methods, and also specializes along lines of stock-raising. He has remodeled his outbuildings, including barns and sheds, and has partially rebuilt and refitted them, also instituting such equipment as he has deemed essential to obtaining the best re- sults from his farm. Some time previously he and his brother Jos- eph cultivated, as partners, over five hundred acres of land, this con- nection maintaining for four years. He had given his attention to this farm for three years before the partnership was effected, the property being known as the G. W. Dennis farm.
On January 14, 1900, Mr. Leeper was united in marriage to Miss Ida M. Robinson, a daughter of William P. and Mary (Walls) Rob- inson. The mother, who is a daughter of James and Elizabeth (Nic- kerson) Walls, is the daughter of one of the early settlers of the county who came here when primitive conditions prevailed and the Indians roamed about freely, having their camps on the Grand river.
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At that time wild game was still plentiful and when Mr. Walls took up land here it was covered with brush and timber. He subsequently became one of the most prosperous farmers of his section, well known and well liked. Mr. and Mrs. Leeper are the parents of two chil- dren : R. Beatrice, attending district school; and Fern L., three years of age.
Politically Mr. Leeper is a democrat, taking an interest in all matters that affect the public weal and giving evidence of his public spirit by service rendered in the position of member of the Jackson township board. His religious affiliation is with the Baptist church of Shelburn, Missouri, and fraternally he is a member of the Modern Woodmen of America. A man of modern views, he has by wise and intelligent management, progressive methods, thrift and industry gained success and is accounted one of the substantial agriculturists of Livingston county, where he is highly regarded by all who know him for his many estimable qualities of character.
LEWIS C. MARLOW.
Lewis C. Marlow, a member of a family of Irish origin long prominent in Livingston county, is the owner of Prairie Center Stock Farm comprising three hundred acres on sections 4, 5, and 8, in Jack- son township, this being one of the most valuable farming properties in this district. A native of Livingston county, Mr. Marlow was born in Jackson township, January 9, 1857, his parents being William H. and Amanda (Hutchison) Marlow. The father who came here in the early days of 1853 became a prominent and well known man in the county. He was one of those who volunteered for service in the Civil war and valiantly fought under General Price. A success- ful man, highly esteemed, he passed away June 24, 1911, at the vener- able age of eighty-one years, finding his last resting place in Edge- wood cemetery. His wife, who is surviving at the age of seventy-six years, makes her home with her two sons, our subject and his brother.
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