USA > Missouri > Nodaway County > Past and present of Nodaway County, Missouri Volume I > Part 39
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CHARLES W. STAFFORD.
A man who has performed well his part as a factor in the body politic of Nodaway county is Charles W. Stafford, one of the enterprising young farmers of Polk township, and no one questions his standing as an energetic citizen of the township in which he lives and of which he is a native, having been born here on July 15. 1872. He is the son of John L. and Sarah (Pruden) Stafford, the father a native of Indiana, in which state the mother was also born: there they grew to maturity, met and married and from thence they came to Nodaway county, Missouri, in the fall of 1868, locating in Polk township where they lived until 1875, when they moved to Green township, where Mrs. Stafford died August 18, 1897. Mr. Stafford later sold his farm and moved to Burlington Junction, where he now resides. He is well known in the western part of the county. To Mr. and Mrs. John L. Stafford eight children were born, named as follows: Maggie is teaching school in St. Joseph. Missouri; George is living in Maryville; Hettie is the wife of Henry McComb, of Wilcox, this county : Charles W., of this review ; Lue is the wife of W. F. Bolin, of Maryville : Emma is the wife of Edward Bolin, of Maryville ; Maud : Inez died in infancy.
Charles W. Stafford was reared on the home farm in Nodaway county and was put to work in the fields when he became of proper age, and he was educated in the common schools. He remained at home until his marriage. which event took place March 30, 1893, while living in Green township. He selected as a life partner Edith Blanche Lawson, who was born in Jackson county, Indiana, February 24. 1878. She is the daughter of James and Rachael (Weddle) Lawson, the father a native of Kentucky and the latter of Indiana. They came from Indiana to Nodaway county, Missouri, and
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settled in Green township in 1888, where Mr. Lawson died October 31, 1894. Mr. and Mrs. Stafford are the parents of four children, three of whom sur- vive, namely : Ernest. Mildred M. : Hugh M. died in infancy ; Lyonel M.
Mr. Stafford takes a great deal of interest in political matters and he has always been a Republican. He and his wife are active members of the Methodist Episcopal church, and fraternally. Mr. Stafford is a member of the Yeomen of America and the Woodmen of the World. He has always followed agricultural pursuits and stock raising and has been very successful in each, now owning a well improved and neatly kept farm of one hundred and sixty acres, on which stand excellent buildings of all kinds.
THOMAS HENRY ROACH.
As a general farmer and stock raiser. Thomas Henry Roach. of Polk township, Nodaway county, has been unusually successful, and he bears an unsullied reputation wherever he is known, he and his family being sincerely respected for their many personal good qualities.
Mr. Roach was born in Dubuque county, Iowa. November 16. 1853. His father was Richard Roach and his mother was known in her maiden- hood as Julia Malone: the father was a native of Ireland and the mother of New York state, of Irish parentage. They married in Dubuque county. Iowa, and began their married life on a farm there, remaining in that county until 1865 when they came to Missouri, locating in Gentry county, where Mrs. Roach died.
Richard Roach was one of the famous band of "forty-niners" who made the long, hazardous trip across the plains to California during the gold ex- citement of that time. After remaining in the far West for about five years, he returned to Missouri and spent his last days in Maryville, dying at the residence of his son. Thomas Henry, in July. 1897. He was a man of sterling qualities, and he and his wife were the parents of eight children. named as follows: Thomas Henry, of this review : Frank, William. David, Richard and Mary Ann, all deceased; Frances is the wife of Charles Ter- huven, of St. Louis : Elizabeth Jane is living in Poll: township.
Thomas H. Roach lived with his father in Gentry county. Missouri, un- til he was nineteen years of age. and then came to Nodaway county and since 1872 he has been a resident of the county. He received his education in the
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common schools of his day, but early in life turned his attention to farming and stock raising, which he has continued till the present time. He has been a good manager and a hard worker and has succeeded, now owning one of the choice farms of the township, consisting of three hundred acres, which is kept well improved and well tilled and on which stands a beautifully located and substantial residence and good outbuildings. Some good stock of various kinds is always to be found about his place.
Mr. Roach was married in this township on January 1, 1877, to Martha Neal, who was born in Polk township, this county, the daughter of J. M. Neal. and here she grew to maturity and was educated. To Mr. and Mrs. Roach five children have been born, named as follows: Charles H. is farming in Polk township: Julia : Nellie is the wife of Rev. Lester M. Jones. a minister in the Methodist Episcopal church : Maud and Golda. Julia, Maud and Golda are all teachers and have life certificates; they are well educated and are very successful in their chosen work. Mrs. Nellie Jones was also a teacher before her marriage.
Mr. Roach always took a great interest in the education of his chil- dren, in fact, in all educational affairs. He and Mrs. Roach are members of the Methodist Episcopal church. Although Mr. Roach has never found either the time or the inclination to mingle a great deal in politics, he has very ably served his township as road overseer and as a member of the local school board.
LEWIS E. ROGERS.
In many respects Lewis E. Rogers, of Polk township. Nodaway county, is a model farmer, and as a stock raiser his success has been most encourag- ing. He aims to be progressive in what he does and having spent his entire life in his native community he is well and favorably known. having kept nintarnished the excellent reputation always borne by the Rogers family. He was born in this township, on the farm where he now resides. April 12. 1877. His father was the late Francis E. Rogers, and his mother was known in her maidenhood as Grizell Hogue. The father was born in the state of New York and the mother in Pennsylvania. They came to Nodaway county, Missouri, in the early seventies and settled in Polk township where they developed a good farm and spent the remainder of their lives, the father dying July 12. 1903. and the mother on December 31. 1908. They were the parents of ten children, six sons and four daughters, of whom Lewis E .. of
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this review, was the seventh in order of birth. He grew to maturity on the home farm and when but a mere lad began assisting with the general work about the place, and attended the common schools in his neighborhood, also the Maryville schools. He has always followed general farming and he has been very successful in his chosen line. He is the owner of one of the choice farms of his township, consisting of two hundred and eighty acres, all im- proved and under a high state of cultivation. He keeps from year to year a variety of good stock, and he has a comfortable and attractively located dwelling and good outbuildings.
Mr. Rogers was married in this township, on February 11, 1896, to May Crouse, who was born in Nodaway county, reared and educated here. She is the daughter of Irvin Crouse, a well known citizen of Union township. To Mr. and Mrs. Rogers four children have been born, named as follows : Lester E .. Oral E., Vesta and Elsie A.
Politically. Mr. Rogers is a Republican and he takes an active interest in township affairs, being influential in the councils of his party and he has been frequently sent as a delegate to township and county conventions. He is a member of the Knights of Pythias and the Woodmen of the World.
THOMAS NATHANIEL GARTEN.
Sarah Jane Garten, living in Union township, Nodaway county, is the widow of Thomas Nathaniel Garten, who was born in Virginia in 1828 and whose death occurred on April 19, 1884, at the age of fifty-six years, three months and twelve days. In Daviess county, Indiana, he married Sarah Jane Simonson when she was twenty-four years of age and he was ten years older. They began their married life on a rented farm in Indiana, later con- ing to Nodaway county, Missouri, locating on the farm where Mrs. Garten now resides : on the land was a small log house and only a small "patch" of ground was in cultivation. The place consisted of one hundred acres, for which Mr. Garten paid four hundred dollars ; he had a pair of mules, a wagon and harness, which he drove from Indiana. He later had to pay off an old claim of two hundred dollars. He was a hard worker and at once began clearing the land and placed it in cultivation, and he was soon very comfort- ably established. He built the present cozy home the spring before he died .- in fact, it was left unfinished and it took Mrs. Garten several years to pay for it. He had purchased twenty acres, making in all a farm of one hundred and
MRS. THOMAS N. GARTEN
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thirty-four acres, which he had placed under good improvements ; he himself placed over forty acres in cultivation. He was never afraid of hard work and in his early life he worked out in order to get a start. He arrived in Nodaway county in the month of June, too late to put out a regular crop, and he worked out for two years ; the second year he rented bottom land, but high water ruined his crop and he got nothing, but after that he was more success- ful. Mrs. Garten has managed the place well and has built a new barn and made many good improvements. Mr. Garten was never a rugged man and his death by pneumonia was sudden, having been ill but a few days.
Mr. Garten was a Republican in politics and at one time he very ably served as tax collector. He was a member of the Methodist Episcopal church all his mature life. He was a good neighbor, a kind husband and indulgent father.
Six children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Thomas N. Garten, named as follows: Winfield Scott died when thirty years of age: Charles Cornelius Sigel has remained on the farm and is single: Edward Seward remained at home until his death, at the age of twenty-six years; Cora Effie married Ben Bousch, of Independence township: Alta Emma married Luther Pistole, of Polk township : Cordelia married Rafe Heirfford, a physician living in Kansas.
The boys went ahead with the farm after the death of their father. Charles has remained at home and has proven to be an excellent farmer.
The Garten home is a pleasant one, the house standing on an eminence about one hundred feet above the bottoms of the One Hundred and Two river and of the Mowry creek, and a splendid view may be had from it. About eighty acres of the one hundred and thirty-eight lie in the creek bottoms.
Mrs. Garten and son Charles have also purchased a very valuable farm of Ira Moore in Jackson township. It consists of one hundred and sixty acres, which they rent. Their bottom land is very rich and is not subject to overflow. General farming is carried on and mules, hogs and other livestock are handled very successfully.
HENRY R. PIERPOINT.
Among the enterprising and successful business men of the prosperous city of Maryville stands Henry R. Pierpoint, who is engaged in the livery business. Devoting himself assiduously to his business, he has commanded a large share of the public patronage and enjoys to a marked degree the confidence and esteem of the entire community.
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Henry R. Pierpoint was born near Wheeling. West Virginia, on July 31. 1866, and is a son of Thomas and Leona Pierpoint. Thomas Pierpoint was a native of Virginia, born on March 6. 1827. and on attaining to ma- ture years he applied himself to the vocation of farming, at which he con- tinued until 1867. when he came to Missouri. Locating in Nodaway county, he purchased one hundred and sixty acres of land in Jackson township. He applied himself closely to the development and improvement of this land. which he brought up to a high standard of cultivation, and where he made his home until 1899. when he sold the farm to his children and moved to Ravenwood, intending to spend his remaining years in ease. However, he could not stand the idleness this entailed, and in 1901 he bought forty acres of land adjoining his old homestead and again took up farming. His death occurred on October 10. 1904. In politics he was a Democrat and his relig- ious belief was that of the Methodist Episcopal church. He was a man of splendid personal character and he commanded the unbounded confidence of the entire community.
Henry R. Pierpoint was reared under the parental roof and received his education in the common schools. On attaining mature years he worked for about a year at farm work, and then for another year he operated rented land on his own account. He was prosperous and then bought forty acres of land, in the operation of which he was so successful that he was enabled to buy other land until his holdings amounted to one hundred and sixty acres. In 1906 Mr. Pierpoint went to Nebraska and opened a feed yard at Beatrice, that state, in which he was engaged for about ten months. During the following two and a half years he was engaged in the implement business at Hebron. Nebraska. meeting with fair success. In December. 1909. Mr. Pierpoint came to Maryville and bought the Star livery stable. one of the old and well known establishments of its kind here. He remodeled the stable, making a number of valuable improvements, and here he is operating a livery and feed stable with pronounced success. In his stable are to be found a full line of such vehicles as are in demand by the local custom, his live stock being kept in excellent condition. while the general appointments of the stable are first-class in every respect. He is a good judge of horseflesh and his word as to the qualities of a horse can be absolutely relied upon. He enjoys a good reputation in the community and, as before stated, is enjoying his full share of the public patronage.
On February 24, 1896. Mr. Pierpoint was united in marriage to Minerva Gillam, a daughter of Hackaliah and Parmelia (Herzog) Gillam, her birth
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having occurred in McDonough county, Illinois, on January 17, 1877. They are the parents of two children, Leona and Glenn, both of whom are in school. Mr. and Mrs. Gillam are representatives of old and well established families. The father moved from Illinois to Nodaway county. Missouri, in 1880, and settled on eighty acres of land in Jefferson township. He im- proved this place and after a residence on it of three years, sold it and re- moved to Polk township, this county, where he purchased eighty acres. There for a period of ten years he farmed successfully, selling out in 1906 and he and his wife moved into Maryville, locating in a comfortable home at the corner of Market and Seventh streets, where they now reside.
Politically, Mr. Pierpoint is a stanch supporter of the Democratic party. while religiously, he is a member of and gives an earnest support to the Christian church. He is a man of excellent personal qualities who, because of his sterling integrity and upright life, has won and today enjoys the con- fidence and regard of all who know him.
FREDERICK HASTINGS.
Wherever we find the English-born citizen in the United States we find one of our very best citizens, always law-abiding. quiet, reliable and a man who is not afraid of work, however arduous, but who brushes aside all obstacles until he has a home and a competency. Such a man is Frederick Hastings, now living in retirement in Maryville. He was born in London. England, seventy years ago, and when a child came to New Brunswick, New Jersey, and there he grew to maturity. When twenty-one years old he ac- companied his parents to Chicago: later he came on to Muscatine. Iowa. where he worked at watch repairing. his parents finally joining him there. Young Hastings proved his loyalty to his adopted country in 1861 when he enlisted in Campany H. Eleventh Regiment Iowa Volunteer Infantry. from Muscatine, at the first call for three-months troops. He was in the great battle of Shiloh and he was soon detailed as a telegraph operator, the art of telegraphy having been taught him at Muscatine, where he "picked it up." the office there having been located in the store with which he was connected. He served as operator for a year, in the ordnance department. In 1864 he entered the service of the Third United States Artillery and was first lieu- tenant of Battery K. As such he served in the fight at Memphis, Tennessee.
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his battery defending that city. He was for a time on detached service as a staff officer at Memphis under General Kapner, remaining in that city until August. 1866. He was in charge of an ordnance store, receiving and dis- tributing ammunition, etc. He had charge of a large detail of men for this purpose. Memphis being the base of supplies for the Western army. He was discharged as first lieutenant. He entered the government employ in the scout service with headquarters at Memphis, during the reconstruction period. His duties were largely to prevent smuggling, especially smuggling and sell- ing whisky, and he remained in that service for a period of three years.
Mr. Hastings came to Maryville, Missouri, in 1869. He had two friends at St. Joseph. Albert Pike and Joseph Durfee, also Captain Kappner, all old army friends. He went in partnership in business with H. F. Crane, under the firm name of Crane & Hastings, in the jewelry, book and stationery business, which was successfully continued until 1900, over thirty years. After thus being actively engaged, Mr. Hastings retired some ten years ago. The business grew from a small beginning to large proportions. They also conducted a store at Bedford. Iowa, of which a nephew of Mr. Hastings was in charge, William Hastings, who came there from New York. first working in the Maryville store, but later was sent to Bedford. After closing the business there young Hastings returned to Brooklyn, New York. Mr. Crane is still in business here.
Mr. Hastings is the owner of seventy-five acres of very valuable land. all within the city limits and in pasture. He has never been an aspirant for office, is a Republican, but in local matters votes independently-for the man, rather than the party. He is a member of the Grand Army of the Republic and is in the Union Veteran League.
Mr. Hastings was married at Memphis, Tennessee, in 1865, to Jane Bywater, who was born in Illinois, the daughter of a Baptist minister. Three children have been born to this union, named as follows: Gay married Fred Leeper. of Maryville: Frederica married Joseph Brown, of Kansas City ; Harry is living in Muscatine, Iowa.
WILLIAM B. HANNA.
As a farmer William B. Hanna, of Polk township, is rated among the leaders in this line, and his life record is unclouded by wrong or suspicion of evil. He has always clung to whatever is of good repute and his name is a synonym for all that is honorable and straightforward.
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Mr. Hanna is a "home boy," having been born in Polk township, Noda- way county. October 12. 1857. His father was Henry Hanna and his mother was known in her maidenhood as Jane Neal. The former was a native of county Down. Ireland, and the latter was born in Ohio, and it was from that state that they came to Nodaway county, Missouri, in 1854, and settled in Polk township, seven miles northeast of Maryville, where he entered a tract of government land, one hundred and sixty acres, which he improved and placed on it good buildings and there he continued to work and live until his death, January 13, 1887. having established a very comfortable home. He was born in 1818. Mrs. Hanna survives, having reached an advanced age. Their family consisted of ten children, named as follows: Charles O .. living in North Dakota: John H. is farming in Polk township: Belle died in childhood; William B., of this review: Ella L. is the wife of George P. Bainum, of Maryville : James F. is a farmer in Union township: George N. lives at Anaconda, Montana ; Amanda J. was the wife of Samuel McClurg, and she died at her home in Polk township: Effie E. is living at home : Albert S. lives in Polk township.
William B. Hanna lived on the home place until about the spring of 1881. when he purchased eighty acres of land where he now lives. He re- ceived a good education and began life by teaching school in his home county, at which he was very successful, following this line for four or five years. Aside from that. farming and stock raising has been his sole occupation. He has added to his place until he now owns an excellent farm of one hundred and twenty acres, on which he has made good improvements and where he has a very comfortable home.
Mr. Hanna was married in Maryville on December 25. 1884. to Eva A. Baker, who was born in Wisconsin. April 2. 1866. She is the daughter of Edward J. and Mary ( Pope) Baker. For a full history of her parents see the sketch of Edward J. Baker in this volume. Five children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Baker: Elmer lives in Polk township; Edna is the wife of Floyd Westfall, of Barnard, this county: Eva A., wife of William B. Hanna. of this review: Adelia is the wife of Wayland Wood and lives in Montana. Mr. and Mrs. Hanna are the parents of eight children. a daughter dying in infancy : the others are Esther M., who is a school teacher, gradu- ated from the Northwestern Normal School: Guy B. is in Knowlton, Mon- tana; Byron M., Henry Edward, Elmer B .: Roy W. died in infancy ; Roine F.
Mr. Hanna has been a member of the township board for a period of
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four years and at the same time was justice of the peace. He has long been active in local party affairs and is always ready to further the interests of the Democratic party. He and Mrs. Hanna are members and faithful sup- porters of the Methodist Episcopal church.
WILLIAM HARVEY BOOTH.
Another one of Green township's steady-going and successful farmers, who hails from the state of Indiana and who has benefited both himself and the community by migrating to Nodaway county. is William Harvey Booth. He was born in Jackson county. Indiana. in 1858, and is the son of James and Anna (Shepard) Booth, the father a native of Kentucky and the mother of Indiana. They emigrated from Indiana to Nodaway county, Missouri. when their son. William H., was about ten years old, locating about ten miles northwest of Maryville, buying a farm and making the family home there. There were eight children. three sons and five daughters, namely : Adeline is the wife of James Wiseman and lives in the eastern part of Green township: Elizabeth is the wife of James Shelton, now of Kansas City ; Sarah married Alex. Osborne, and her death occurred in November. 1908; Mary married Richard Brown, and she died early in 1877: John W. lives in Kansas City : Charity is the wife of Dan Knight and lives at Centralia, Kansas: George lives in Arkansas: William H. of this review.
Mr. Booth was reared on the home place northwest of Maryville and when twenty-two years old began farming for himself near home and he has lived practically ever since in that locality, or where he now lives, four miles farther south in the northeast part of the township. He was about twenty-three years old when he bought his first piece of land, forty acres west of the old home. Two or three years later he made three or four differ- ent trades and lived a short time on each farm. He bought the place where he now lives about 1890. It contains one hundred and twenty acres of ex- cellent farming land and is located in the northeast one-fourth of section 18, in the eastern part of Green township. He has added modern improve- ments on it from year to year.
Mr. Booth was married September 2. 1877. to Nancy Jane Hardesty daughter of Christopher Ray and Sarah (Martin) Hardesty. Mrs. Booth was born in 1861 at Quitman. this county, and was reared in the same
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neighborhood as was Mr. Booth, ten miles southwest of Maryville. Nine children have been born to this union, two of whom are deceased; they are : James Harvey, at home with his parents; Edward Carson, who died October 2. 1905, when twenty-four years old, had married Josie Pifer, and he is also survived by one daughter, Learlie Lucile; Maud Elizabeth Booth married Frank Kelly and lives in St. Joseph, Missouri, and they have one son, Ernest ; Jennie died when seven months old ; Bertha Ethel married Arch Wilhoyt and lives on his farm in the southeastern part of Green township, and they have one daughter, Bertha Marie: Earl Ray, Nora Blanche, Grace Armedia and Lester Everett are all at home with their parents.
Mr. Booth is a quiet, approachable, hospitable and friendly gentleman who stands high in the estimation of all who know him. He likes to tell of the days when the Booth family first came to Nodaway county, having made the trip from Indiana in wagons, several families coming at the same time : the trip required three weeks, during which time they camped out at nights. After settling here they were compelled for some time to drive across open prairie to Maryville. Land was still obtainable at one dollars and twenty-five cents per acre, but prairie land was not wanted.
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