USA > Missouri > Nodaway County > Past and present of Nodaway County, Missouri Volume I > Part 37
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In later years they retired as contractors and builders and established a lumber yard on North Main street, which they conducted with signal suc- cess for many years, enjoying a large trade. Finally disposing of this busi- ness to Curfman Brothers, they retired from active business life a few years prior to the death of Mr. Totterdale.
Mr. Totterdale was twice married, the first time to Susan Blend, May 18. IS70 ; she was also of English birth, and came with her parents to America. Her death occurred in 1880. On June 17, 1885. Mr. Totterdale was married. at Moberly, Missouri, to Frances Rebecca Hess, who, with two daughters, Carrie and Anna Belle. survives.
Mr. Totterdale always took more or less interest in political affairs and in the general welfare of Nodaway county, and he served in the city council from the second ward one or two terms, and was a member of the fire com- pany from 1879 to 1883. Although he never sought political preferment. always preferring the quiet life of an humble citizen, his abilities were recog- nized by political leaders and he was often importuned to run for office ; finally in 1905 he accepted the nomination for mayor of the city of Maryville on the Republican ticket and was triumphantly elected, making for the city one of the best mayors it ever had, carefully looking after every public interest with a fidelity to duty that always characterized his daily life, and giving the people a straightforward, clean business administration the like of which will not soon be repeated.
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The death of this excellent citizen occurred on October 23, 1908, in Kan- sas City, whither he had gone a few days previously and was operated on for intestinal trouble, from which he rallied, but peritonitis set in and he suc- cumbed to it.
Mr. Totterdale was a member of the Episcopal church from early youth, and he was a charter member of Nodaway Lodge, No. 470, Ancient Free and Accepted Masons, also belonged to Maryville Commandery, Knights Templar, and was a Shriner at St. Joseph. Missouri ; he was also a member of the In- dependent Order of Odd Fellows and the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks.
No person who passed from earthly scenes in recent years in Nodaway county was more universally respected than Mr. Totterdale; so far as known, he died without an enemy. This is remarkable when the fact is taken into consideration that he was actively engaged in business in Maryville for a per- iod covering more than thirty years. He was the soul of honor and in his dealings with his fellow men he was always ready to concede any point of contention. His home life was ideal, and although much of his time of even- ings was demanded by the brethren of the different civic societies of the city. of which he was an honored and popular member, yet by his own fireside is where his happiest hours were spent and where his simple, commendable and worthiest virtues shone with the greatest luster.
JOHN C. CURFMAN.
One of the most conspicuous figures in the history of Nodaway county, Missouri, is ex-County Judge John C. Curfman, for an enumeration of local citizens who have won honor and public recognition for themselves and at the same time have honored the community in which they live would be incom- plete without reference to him as a citizen, political advisor and business man. now living retired in his cozy home in Maryville after a long and eminently worthy career.
Mr. Curfman is a native of the old Keystone state, having been born in Huntington county. Pennsylvania, February 20. 1843, the son of Christian Curfman, a native of the same county and state, where the Curfmans had long been prominent. Christian Curfman, who devoted his life to agricul- tural pursuits, moved to Jefferson county, Iowa, in 1850, and about 1875 he removed to Maryville. Missouri, where he lived until his death, in 1900,
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at the advanced age of eighty-two years. He worked at the carpenter's trade awhile after coming here, and he was a man who had the good will of all his neighbors as a result of his plain, kindly and honorable methods of living. As the name indicates, the Curfman (originally spelled Kurfman) family is of German origin. Grandfather Curfman was a farmer and spent his en- tire life in Pennsylvania.
Margaret Garrett, the maiden name of the Judge's mother, was born in Huntington county, Pennsylvania, where she grew to maturity, received a limited education in the common schools, like her husband, and there mar- ried. Five children were born to this union, named as follows: John C., of this review: Dr. George W., of Denver, Colorado, one of the examining phy- sicians of the Chicago. Burlington & Quincy Railroad Company ; Amon A. is engaged in the hardware business at Tarkio, Missouri; Anna A. is the widow of James Todd, late editor of the Nodaway Democrat. One child died in infancy.
When seven years of age Judge Curfman removed from his native hills in Pennsylvania with his parents to Iowa and there he received a com- mon school education : applying himself with assiduity to his text-books, he was enabled to begin teaching when a young man and for three winters he taught in Jefferson county, Iowa. The Civil war being in progress, he left the school room to enlist in the Union army, becoming a member of Com- pany E. Forty-fifth Regiment Iowa Volunteer Infantry. in which he served seven months, doing guard duty on railway lines. On May 1. 1865. he came to Missouri, stopping first at Savannah, where he clerked in the hardware store of his uncle. Samuel F. Garrett, until March. 1867. when he came to Nodaway county, bringing five wagon loads of hardware and implements to Maryville, where he started a hardware store which his uncle stocked and he soon built up a very fair business in this line. After spending one year back in Savannah, he returned to Maryville in 1869, and continued to conduct his hardware business until 1887. when he sold out and moved to a farm a few miles south of Maryville. He proved to be as good a manager of a farm as he had been of a store and continued to prosper, developing an excellent place which he kept improved and well stocked.
When a young man. Mr. Curfman left home on a trip to New Mexico, which in those early days was fraught with no little hardship and dangers. His mother, remonstrating against this trip, told him that her chief reason for objecting was her fear of her boy having to pass through Missouri, little dreaming that he would eventually make his home and become prosperous in this state. He came to Maryville when it was a small village, and he could stand in his store door and see cattle roaming the fields and farms at will.
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He recalls riding the first train from Maryville to St. Joseph about 1870. Mr. Curfman's uncle, Samuel F. Garrett. spoken of above. afterwards moved to St. Joseph, Missouri, where he died in 1909 at an advanced age.
When Mr. Curfman opened his store in Maryville the second time (in 1869) the firm was Garrett. Robinson & Company. In 1871 Mr. Robinson bought out Mr. Bariteau and Mr. Curfman bought out Mr. Garrett. the firm then being known as Curfman & Robinson, and about one year later Mr. Robinson sold out to B. F. Shaum, of Atchison county, Missouri, and Mr. Shaum managed the business until 1887, when the firm sold out and Mr. Curfman moved to his farm, where he lived until Christmas. 1894, when he moved his family to Maryville, where he has continued to reside, his pleasant home being a frequent gathering place for the many loyal friends of him- self and family.
Judge Curfman has always taken an abiding interest in the affairs of Nodaway county, aiding in any way he could in its development. In 1894 he was honored by the Republican party, whose interests he had long had at heart and sought to promulgate, by being elected presiding judge of the county court, his term lasting for a period of four years, after the expiration of which he has lived in retirement. As a judge he proved to be fair and his decisions unbiased, showing a deep knowledge of the basic principles of the law and of the intricate workings of jurisprudence ; he was popular among attorneys and litigants as well and his term of office was satisfactory to all concerned, irrespective of party alignment.
The Judge was married on September 30. 1871, to Lenora A. Alexander, daughter of Joseph E. Alexander, an honored citizen of Nodaway county, where Mrs. Curfman was born, reared and educated. This union was blessed by the birth of the following children: Edwin C .: Frederick L. lives north- east of Maryville: Roy J. C .: Mary A. is deceased: Dr. George lives in Salida, Colorado, being head physician of the Denver & Rio Grande Railroad Company's hospital.
The Judge and his wife are members of the Methodist Episcopal church: of which the former is a trustee and a liberal supporter. He is a member of the Grand Army of the Republic and fraternally holds membership with the Masons.
In his daily affairs Judge Curfman always manifested a generous regard for his fellows and as a large-hearted, whole-souled, companionable gentle- man, actuated by principles of honesty and integrity, no man in Nodaway county more fully merits and commands the good will of the people.
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ABRAHAM MERRILL.
One of the enterprising farmers of Polk township. Nodaway county, is Abraham Merrill, who was born in Wayne county, New York, April 3. 1843. the son of Ripley and Maria (Van Alstine) Merrill, both natives of the state of New York, from whence they emigrated to Wisconsin when that state was a territory, about 1847, and settled in Rock county, where they spent the remainder of their lives. Abraham Merrill accompanied his par- ents to Rock county and was reared there and was living there when the Civil war began. and in July. 1862, he showed his patriotism by enlisting in Company E. Twenty-second Regiment Wisconsin Infantry, in which he served until the close of the war. He took part in the following engage- ments : Resaca. Dallas. Rocky Face Ridge, Buzzard Roost. New Hope Church. Dalton, Georgia. Brentwood. Tennessee. Kenesaw Mountain, Peach Tree Creek, siege of Atlanta, his brigade being the first to enter Savannah. Georgia : Bentonville. Goldsboro. Averysboro, in North Carolina, and he was in the grand review in Washington City. He was mustered out in June. 1865. in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. At Brentwood, Tennessee, in March. 1863, Mr. Merrill was taken prisoner and spent three months in Libby prison.
After the war he worked at odd jobs, whatever he could find to do, to make an honest living, running a threshing machine for several years. He remained in Wisconsin until 1867. or until he came to Nodaway county, Missouri. in September of that year. He purchased eighty acres in Polk township where he now lives. The land was wild but he soon placed it under cultivation and good improvements and has lived here ever since. He has erected excellent buildings, and as he prospered added more land. adding forty acres, now owning a choice farm of one hundred and twenty acres, carrying on general farming very successfully, also keeping some good stock from year to year.
Mr. Merrill is a member of Sedgwick Post. Grand Army of the Republic.
On February 9. 1869. Mr. Merrill married Sarah E. Semans, who was born in Knox county, Illinois, the daughter of Clovis and Mary Semans, who came to Nodaway county, Missouri, in the fall of 1867: they both died in Polk township. Seven children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Merrill, named as follows: Alice is the wife of J. R. Carmichael, of Union township: Carrie E. is the wife of H. S. Cochrane, who for years has been in the employ of the Standard Oil Company and for four years was in India; Charles lives in Polk township: Cora E. is the wife of D. W. Hubbard, of
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Kansas City : Walter died when four years old : Mabel E. died when eighteen years old: George L. is living in Polk township. The mother of these chil- dren passed to her rest on January 18. 1904. when fifty-four years old.
The Merrill family is well known in Polk township and enjoys a wide circle of friends.
CHARLES H. RONEY.
As a farmer in Polk township. Nodaway county, Charles H. Roney has done as much as any man in his township for the promotion of its interests and its moral, educational and material progress during the quarter of a century he has here resided. He stands high for integrity of character, his family being equally well respected with himself.
Mr. Roney was born in Peoria county, Illinois. November 18. 1862. His father was Henry Roney and his mother Julia Roney. They were natives of Ireland. from which country they came to America when young, and mar- ried in Illinois. In the spring of 1883 they left the Prairie state and bought a new home in Nodaway county, Missouri. where they remained until their deaths. being successful at general farming. Mr. Roney dying in Maryville and his wife in Quitman.
Eight children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Henry Roney, named as fol- lows : Peter F .. living in Polk township: James, also of Polk township: Charles H., of this review : Alice is deceased ; Ella : Anna is deceased : Mamie is the wife of J. E. Costello, of Maryville : Thomas is deceased.
Charles H. Roney grew to maturity on the home farm in Illinois where he assisted with the work during the summer months and attended the dis- trict schools in winter. He came to Nodaway county, Missouri, with his parents in 1883, and with them he remained, doing what was his full duty in developing a new home in a new country, not leaving his parental roof-tree until he was married. Then he settled in Green township, where he lived three years and then settled in Polk township in 1892. of which he has since been a resident.
On August 20. 1888, Mr. Roney married. in this county. Annie Tobin. who was born in Ireland. November 1. 1868. She was the daughter of James and Mary (Cummings) Tobin, of Nodaway county. To Mr. and Mrs. Roney eight children have been born, named as follows: James. Edward. Julia. Fred. Roy. Earl. Blanche and Paul.
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Mr. Roney has been very successful since beginning his life-work here. Starting in a small way. he has managed well and worked hard and now has a well-improved and well-tilled farm of two hundred and thirty-five acres in Polk township. He raises abundant crops, handles some good stock and he has a very pleasant substantial home. He takes a great deal of interest in political affairs, and he and his family are members of St. Patrick's Catho- lic church in Maryville, of which they are regular attendants and liberal sup- porters.
W. TAYLOR BROWN.
One of Green township's old and highly respected farmers is W. Taylor Brown, a man worthy of the respect of his neighbors and friends, owing to his past life, which has been so carefully regulated as not to give offense to any one. willfully. He was born in Rock Castle county, Kentucky. April 14. 1844, and is the son of Stephen and Barbara Brown. He grew to maturity in his old Kentucky home and received some schooling in the old-time schools there. Leaving his native state. he came to Illinois and lived three years, coming to Nodaway county, Missouri. in 1867. About 1880 he bought the farm where he now resides in the south side of section 14. southwest part of Monroe township. He is the owner of a good farm of one hundred and sixty acres in his home place and one hundred and twenty acres in Holt county. In 1875 he married Nancy Jane Kyle, daughter of James Madison and Elizabeth Kyle. She was born and reared in Nodaway county. Missouri.
Five children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Brown, namely : Fannie died when eighteen months old: those living are. Archie and Arthur. twins : the former married Florence Gallagher and lives two and one-half miles southeast of W. Taylor Brown, and he has a farm of one hundred and sixty acres : Archie and wife are the parents of two children. Ray and Roy. the latter dying when two years old. Arthur Brown married Bertha Sanders and lives two miles south of his father's place, where he owns one hundred and sixty acres ; two daughters have been born to them. Hazel and Esther Floyd Brown has remained single and lives with his father, assisting him on the home place. Daisy Brown married Fred Wyman and lives six miles west of Maryville: they have one son. Earl. A sketch of Mr. Wyman appears on another page of this work.
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ADAM NELSON SHELMAN.
Few men of recent years in Union township could claim a surer place in the affections of his fellow citizens than that occupied by the late Adam Nelson Shelman, who was known as a man of courage, self-reliance and of the utmost integrity of purpose. as a result of which he stood high in the esti- mation of his neighbors and is therefore deserving of a place in the history of his county.
Mr. Shelman was born in Breckenridge county, Kentucky, January 28. 1835. and after a successful and useful life he was called to his reward on July 12. 1898, at his home in Union township. His parents. John and Nancy M. Shelman, both died in this county, the father on May 7. 1866, and the mother on February 1. 1894. the latter being past eighty years of age. When their son, Adam N., was ten years of age they moved from Kentucky to Van Buren county, Iowa, where they lived until coming to Nodaway county, Mis- souri. In the former county the son married. on September 26. 1855, Sarah K. Watson, daughter of William and Elizabeth Ann ( Atha) Watson, the father born in Indiana and the mother in Van Buren county, Iowa: both spent their lives and died in the latter place.
In the fall of 1856 Adam N. Shelman and wife came to Nodaway county. Missouri, whither his parents had preceded him by a few months, coming in the spring of 1856. That fall the father returned to Iowa, bringing back Adam, his wife and the oldest child. William A .. then three months old. John and his son, Adam N., both entered land, the tract where the latter's widow now resides, on the Mazingo branch, six miles northeast of Pickering and three miles from Gaynor City. John Shelman located two miles north of Adam's place and there spent the rest of his life, dying in 1866. his widow then making her home with her daughter. Mrs. William Wray. Harrison Shelman also came here and located on the place where John Groves now lives, but he returned to Iowa during the Civil war and died there. His brother John also came here when the Shelman family first made their advent in Nodaway, but finally left the county and is now living in southern Missouri. When the Shelman family came here in 1856 the country was somewhat wild and they had very few neighbors: among them were Aunt Amanda Pistole and Martin Shelman, brother of John Shelman ( uncle to Adam N., the latter's father). Martin Shelman and his father and John Shelman and the latter's wife, both being then old people, came here and lived several years, dying here.
Adam No Thelman Are Sarah le Skelman
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The first house Adam N. Shelman and wife lived in here was a one- roomed cabin, twelve by fourteen feet, built of logs, which stood on a bare hill just east of the Mazingo, but snows and drifts having a clean sweep at this particular spot, induced Mr. Shelman, twenty years later, to build where his widow now resides, on the east side of the creek, erecting the present house about 1893 ; the old one is still standing. He entered one hundred and sixty acres of land and soon began to buy more land. finally owning three hundred acres. all in one body. Mrs. Shelman has since bought another farm, con- sisting of one hundred and twenty acres, which she rents. She purchased this place at a public sale, for a consideration of sixty dollars per acre. Most of the home farm was bought at about ten dollars per acre. Mr. Shelman had purchased a range and as soon as possible kept live stock and carried on gen- eral farming. He was a very successful business man. He was a member of the old-school Predestinarian Baptist church, attending church six miles west of Pickering, the congregation having formerly held services at the Owen home and in the school house. Mr. Shelman's funeral was preached by his old elder, the Reverend Simmons, who recently died at Hopkins. Mrs. Shel- man adheres to the same faith in religious matters.
To Mr. and Mrs. Adam N. Shelman these children were born: William Atha. of Union township: John Nelson, who died in infancy; Nancy Eliza- beth is the wife of Charles Killam, of Union township; she first married Lewis Pistole, now deceased: Clara Ann Watson Shelman married Bert Killam, brother to Charles Killam, and is living in Hopkins township; Charles An- drew lives on Honey creek. Nodaway county ; Rosa May is the widow of John Scott. of Union township: Henry Adam lives on Honey creek, this county ; Mary E. married Minnis Holton, of Independence township, this county ; Samuel E. is farming in South Dakota.
Mrs. Shelman stands at the head of several generations and she has be- tween forty and fifty grandchildren or great-grandchildren. She is now nearly sixty-eight years of age, has been faithful in rearing her children and has hosts of warm friends throughout the township, as did her husband.
SMITH HINES.
Because of his sterling qualities of character, marked business ability and genial disposition. Smith Hines has attained to an enviable position among his fellow-citizens of Hopkins township, Nodaway county, Missouri.
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He is the owner of a fine farm, which he has so managed as to realize grati- fying returns for his labor and he enjoys an excellent reputation as a hustling. progressive and enterprising farmer. Mr. Hines was born in Warren coun- ty, Iowa, in 1865, and is a son of William and Louisa (Chapin) Hines. These parents were natives, respectively. of Virginia and New York, their marriage occurring in the state of Illinois. They remained in the latter state until 1864, when they removed to Warren county, Iowa, making the trip from Illinois with teams. There they entered one hundred and sixty acres of land, which they improved and developed into a good farm, which was their home during the remainder of their lives. They were honored and re- spected residents of Warren county and enjoyed the esteem of all who knew them. William Hines was a stanch Republican in his political affiliations. They were the parents of six children. of whom all are living but the second born.
Smith Hines was reared under the parental roof-tree and secured his education in the common schools of the home neighborhood. As soon as old enough he took up the work of the farm, where he proved an able assistant to his father, with whom he remained until 1898. In that year he bought eighty acres of land in Nebraska, to the improvement and cultivation of which he devoted himself during the following six years. In 1904 Mr. Hines came to Nodaway county, Missouri, and purchased four hundred acres of fine land in Hopkins township, the land being in one tract, known as the Washburn place. This is one of the best farms in the township and here Mr. Hines has met with a gratifying measure of success in his chosen line of work. He carries on general farming. raising all the cereals and other products common to this section of the county. in connection with which he also gives consid- erable attention to the raising of livestock. in which also he has been success- ful. He is wide-awake and energetic, possessing a thorough realization of the advantages of "progressive" farming. and he. therefore. keeps in touch with advanced ideas relating to the science of husbandry, not hesitating to adopt new methods when their practicability has been demonstrated by ex- perience. His place is well improved and presents an inviting appearance. the comfortable and attractive residence, commodious barns and other out- buildings giving the place an air of thrift and prosperity.
In August. 1889, Mr. Hines was united in marriage to Katherine Bar- ton. a native of Cass county, Iowa, who has, in the truest sense of the word. been to hin a helpmeet. They have become the parents of seven children. named as follows: Frank, Henry, Cassius, Lora. John. Eunice and Wallace. all of whom are living.
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Politically, Mr. Hines gives an intelligent support to the Republican party, in the success of which he is interested, though he is not a seeker after public office. Fraternally. he is a member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, belonging to the subordinate lodge at Hopkins. He is a stanch supporter of every movement which promises to be of benefit to the com- munity in general and because of his sterling integrity and enterprising spirit he is numbered among the representative men of his township.
REV. JEHU C. ALLEN.
Nodaway county has been the home and the scene of labor of many men who have not only led lives which should serve as a lesson and inspira- tion to those who follow them onto the stage of life's activities, but who have also been of important service through avenues of usefulness in various lines. Rev. Jehu C. Allen is to be classed with those men of well-rounded character. sincere, devoted, loyal and many other salient points which renders entirely consonant a tribute to his career in this compilation, his labors having long been directed for the amelioration of the people of this and other localities with gratifying results, but who is now living retired. enjoying a well-earned respite in the serene evening of his years.
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