USA > Missouri > Nodaway County > Past and present of Nodaway County, Missouri Volume I > Part 40
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E. C. PHARES LUMBER COMPANY.
Throughout northwestern Missouri and in adjoining states is known the E. C. Phares Lumber Company, located at Maryville, Nodaway county, of which W. F. Phares is manager. this being one of the old and substantial business concerns in this locality, the prestige of which is still gradually in- creasing owing to the enterprise. the straightforward methods and the ju- dicious judgment employed in its management.
E. C. Phares purchased the yard of Frank Rowley in March, 1904, and he continued the same until his death. in 1906. He lived many years in Sedalia, Missouri, where he conducted an extensive yard which he owned. He was manager of the Badger Lumber Company of St. Joseph from 1890 to 1891. He was one of the best known lumber men of the northern part of the state, and. a good mixer, he was popular with the trade. In 1905 the local shed burned with a loss of nine thousand dollars, and it was replaced with a larger shed, fifty-six by eighty feet, the main building being sixty-six by one hundred and thirty-two feet. the yard now covering sixty-six by one hundred and thirty-two and one hundred and thirty-two by one hundred and thirty-
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two feet, and a well selected and extensive stock, amounting to about twenty thousand dollars, is carried, the annual sales amounting to about forty thou- sand dollars. A full line of building material is carried. This firm furnished the material for the construction of the county poor house in 1908. and in 1909 the material for the new high school building. Three men are con- stantly employed about the yards and this is a very busy place during the building season.
W. F. Phares, a practical and energetic young business man, has been in charge of the office and yard for the past five years and he has pushed the business until it has assumed large proportions and is rapidly growing.
This yard was first started about thirty-five years ago by William How- ell, who sold out to Frank Rowley. It is the oldest firm in Maryville and one of the best known in this section of the state.
JOSEPH A. H. SOBBING.
In the death of the honored subject of this sketch, which occurred at his home in Hopkins township. Nodaway county. Missouri, on November 4, 1905, the community lost one of its most estimable and high-minded men and the county of Nodaway a public-spirited citizen whose place it will be difficult to fill. A devoted husband and loving and indulgent father, a keen and saga- cious man of affairs, he acted well his part in life, wielded a strong influence for good, and in his removal there passed from earth one who, in a large measure, had dignified his manhood and honored the race.
Joseph August Herman Sobbing was born in the province of Westphalen Prussia, on February 17, 1848. and was the son of John Heinrich and Eliza- beth (Holker) Sobbing. These parents were farming folk, well known and highly respected in their native province and they both passed from earthly scenes before their son, the subject, came to America. Joseph Sobbing was reared by his parents and secured a good practical education in the schools of his native land. In 1877 he followed the example of thousands of his countrymen who had sought homes in the New World and came direct to Nodaway county, Missouri, locating in Hopkins township, where for a year he made his home with Henry Holker. He then bought one hundred and sixty acres of land in Hopkins township, the west eighty acres of which had never been touched by a plow until he commenced farming it. He after-
Joseph & H Jobbing
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wards sold one acre for a school house. With the exception of a year spent in Maryville, Mr. Sobbing spent the remainder of his days on this farm, which he greatly improved, erecting a full set of substantial and well arranged buildings, and maintaining the place at the highest standard of excellence. He was thoroughly practical in his ideas and progressive in his methods and was numbered among the leading farmers and enterprising citizens of the locality where he lived. He was eminently public spirited in his attitude to- wards local affairs and for twenty years he rendered efficient service as a school director, having a deep interest in educational affairs.
Politically, he was a stanch supporter of the Republican party, though he was not a seeker after public office. his service as a member of the school. board being rendered solely from a sense of his duty to the community and be- cause of his deep personal interest. His religious belief was that of the Roman Catholic church, in which he was reared and to which he was ever faithful. When he settled in Nodaway county Catholics were very few and far between and for years he rode horseback fifteen miles to attend his church and later, when he had a family, his wife and the older members of the family attended with him.
On February 9. 1881, Mr. Sobbing was united in marriage to Josephine Dowling, the daughter of Michael and Frances ( Maley) Dowling. Michael Dowling was born in county Kilkenny, Ireland, March 17, 1810, and was a son of Patrick Nicholas and Alice Dowling. He came to the United States in 1840 and settled on a farm in Rock county, Wisconsin. In 1852 he re- moved to Crawford county, that state, where he acquired a farm of two hun- dred acres. On January 24. 1865, he enlisted in the Forty-seventh Regiment Wisconsin Volunteer Infantry, under General Dudley. the command being assigned mainly to guard duty in Tennessee. Mr. Dowling was honorably discharged the same year and in 1866 he moved to Green county, Wisconsin. where he lived . until his death, which occurred on December II. 1880. Frances Maley was born on August 20, 1841, the daughter of John and Eliza- beth (Churchill) Maley, natives of Ireland, who emigrated to Canada, later locating in Rock county, Wisconsin. She was married to Michael Dowling in February, 1856, and they became the parents of seven children, five of whom are living, namely : Alice, the wife of Chris Brunner, of Waukeshau. Wisconsin: Elizabeth, the wife of A. S. Douglas, an attorney at Monroe, Wisconsin: Josephine, the wife of Mr. Sobbing. of this sketch: W. H., of Hopkins; N. J., of Monroe, Wisconsin. To Mr. and Mrs. Sobbing have been born three children, who are living, namely : Joseph H., a farmer in
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Hopkins township, this county ; Frances E., the wife of Prof. R. F. Hanna, cashier of a bank at Worth, Missouri; Elizabeth Mary, now a student in the public schools. Herman W. died at the age of six weeks: Charles E. died in infancy ; William died at two years eight and one-half months.
Joseph A. H. Sobbing was a man of strong character and sterling in- tegrity and in the circles in which he moved he was universally held in the highest esteem. Genial in disposition, accommodating in manner and clean in his daily life. he justly merited the approbation of the public which was generously accorded him.
SAMUEL E. FISHER.
The old Buckeye state has long been noted for its sterling citizenship, for its illustrious men in all walks of life. for enterprising sons, thousands of whom have poured over her borders during the past century to assist in the upbuilding of other localities in our constellation of states and wherever they have located they have taken the initiative, cleared the land, built good homes and played well their parts in the general development of the new country. Of this vast horde the name of Samuel Fisher should not be over- looked, for he was born in Fairfield county, Ohio, October 10, 1857, and has been spending the best years of his life in improving a valuable landed estate in Polk township. Nodaway county. Missouri. He is the son of John and Lucinda ( Hoshor) Fisher. They were both natives of Fairfield county, Ohio, and there they spent their lives on a farm, both being now deceased. Six children were born to them, of which number Samuel E., of this review, was the fifth in order of birth. He was reared on the home farm and received a common school education in his home community, where he continued to reside until 1881 when he came to Nodaway county. Missouri.
After coming here Mr. Fisher worked as a farm laborer for four years. working by the month. He soon had enough money saved to buy. eighty acres of land where he now lives, having made his home here since that time. He afterwards bought forty acres. making him now an excellent farm of one hundred and twenty acres, all well improved and on which he carries on gen- eral farming very successfully.
Mr. Fisher was married in Polk township, this county, on April 4, 1887. to Mary A. Glaze, who was born in Jefferson county, Indiana, February 20, 1868. She is the daughter of William and Nancy (Warfield) Glaze. The
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father was a native of Ripley county, Indiana, and the mother was born in Jefferson county, that state. They became the parents of six children, of which number Mrs. Fisher was the fourth in order of birth. She came with her parents to Nodaway county, Missouri, in 1882. Six children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Fisher, named as follows: Omer P .; Grace M., the latter a teacher in the public schools of this county; Harry A., Nellie M., Roy W. and Mary B.
Mr. Fisher takes a lively interest in local political affairs and he has been a member of the town board. He and his wife are members of the Methodist Episcopal church, and in fraternal matters he belongs to the Inde- pendent Order of Odd Fellows and the Woodmen of the World.
JOSEPH S. CARDEN.
One of Green township's most progressive native sons is Joseph S. Car- den, who was born two and one-half miles southeast of Quitman, Nodaway county. He is the son of John Warner and Rebecca Ann ( Holt) Carden. The father and his younger brother, Joseph Carden, were born in Orange county, North Carolina. Their parents died when they were young chil- dren, consequently they were thrown out on the world. When Joseph was a small boy and his elder brother was only fourteen, they decided to come to northwestern Missouri. The old-timers there advised strongly against it, say- ing that Missouri was a howling wilderness that would not even sprout beans. and to come here would be folly. Seeing that the boys were determined to go, the old men told them to travel as cheaply as possible, and provided them with a supply of bacon and corn bread and a little money and advised them not to put up at hotels and taverns, but eat their bacon and corn bread. After two days' walking the boys discarded their supplies and began stopping at taverns ; they then made their way to the home of an aunt on the Ohio river in Kentucky, where they found their kinsfolk grubbing trees and haul- ing off logs. They prevailed upon the boys to stay awhile and work with them, "until work picked up." They found that grubbing trees and hauling logs was hard enough and if work was to "pick up" it would be still harder, so John W. came on to Clinton county. Missouri, and Joseph remained in Kentucky three years, when John W. returned for him and brought him to Clinton county, where both remained several years. Here they were mar-
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ried, the wife of John W. Carden being Rebecca Ann Holt, as stated above : she was the daughter of William and Martha ( Dickson) Holt, and half-sister of William R. Holt. one of the pioneers of Green township, this county. a sketch of whom appears herein. About 1853 he and his wife came on to Nodaway county and entered government land adjoining that taken by Joseph Carden. Two of their children died in infancy; the others were. Mrs. Mollie Busby. Millard F., Jefferson, John, Joseph, Mrs. Martha Morris and Mrs. Sallie Lewis.
Rebecca Ann Holt was born July 3. 1829, and died November 6. 1904. She was the daughter of William and Martha Holt and one of twelve children. She was born in North Carolina and came with her parents to Clay county. Missouri, in 1830, and she married John W. Carden on July 14. 1853. and to this union nine children were born, two of whom died in infancy, un- named. Those who survived are: Mollie, wife of J. C. Busby, living near Quitman : Millard, of Stanterry, Missouri: Jefferson resides in Kansas ; John lives at Meriden, Kansas; Mattie was the wife of Joseph T. Morris and she died on December 20, 1894: Joseph S .. of this review: Sallie is the wife of Morris Lewis, living at Flora, Illinois. The mother of these chil- dren united with the Christian church about 1879 and lived a consistent Christian life until her death. John W. Carden, father of these children, who was a North Carolinean by birth, reached the advanced age of eighty- two years. dying on June 21, 1908.
Joseph S. Carden, of this review, grew up on the farm southeast of Quit- man. After attending the common schools he took a course in the State University at Columbia and then returned home, taking up farming. He was married on November 4. 1896, to Lidia Ware. daughter of Hanson H. and Millie (Needles) Ware, whose records appear in another part of this work. She was born in Atchison county, near Rockport. and while she was yet an infant the family moved to Nodaway county, locating about a mile east of Quitman where she grew to maturity and lived until her marriage. She received a good education and was for about eight years a teacher in the public schools of this county. After their marriage. Mr. and Mrs. Joseph S. Carden continued farming on the home place, where he still resides, two and one-half miles southeast of Quitman. When twenty years of age Mr. Carden began making preparations to buy a farm of his own. Selling some live stock which he owned, he made with the proceeds the first payment on a tract of about one hundred and twenty acres of unimproved land that he bought from his father. He was the only son at home at that time. He
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assisted his father and improved his own land at the same time, cleared the timber and tiled the swampy portions, making it a very valuable place. He had been told when he started in to buy that he would never be able to pay it out, but, although only a boy, he worked diligently and succeeded in paying it out, after which he bought another tract adjoining and with what he earned off the first purchase he assisted in the payment on the second. He continued to buy land as he prospered until now he is the owner of four hun- dred acres of as good land as Green township can boast. It all lies in one tract, is well improved and produces abundant crops of all kinds. About a year before he was married he built a beautiful home, the house in which he now lives. It is situated on a large lot which he terraced and on which he planted many splendid shade trees when he was only twenty-one years old. having in view the building of this home. No more attractive place or better improved is to be seen in this part of the county, all due to the persistency of the owner, who is truly a self-made man, having had little assistance in his career. The mile of road that lies along his farm, and which he keeps improved, is a model dirt road. He is well provided with the modern con- veniences of a farm, such as wagon scales for weighing livestock and grain, wind pump, dipping tank, excellently arranged for small stock. He raises a great number of hogs. He has a well built hog house where he keeps his young pigs, and he also has well arranged stock pens.
Mr. and Mrs. Carden have no children of their own, but they have reared Harry Morris, son of Mrs. Martha Morris, deceased sister of Mr. Carden.
Mr. Carden is an active Democrat and is influential in local politics. He has been assessor two terms, trustee one term and is chairman of the town- ship central committee at this writing. He is a member of the Masonic lodge at Quitman, also the Independent Order of Odd Fellows and the Modern Woodmen, being popular in these as well as all other circles in which he moves, owing to his public spirit, his genial address and his honesty in his relations with his fellow-men.
OLIVER WILSON SWINFORD.
One of the honored citizens of Maryville, now living retired after a very active life, is Oliver Wilson Swinford, who has been very successful as a business man and who bears an unsullied reputation, he and his family moving in the best circles in Nodaway county. He is a native of the Hoosier state.
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having been born in Miami county, Indiana, March II. 1854. When a lad. in 1857. he was brought to Nodaway county, Missouri, and here he has spent the major part of his life. He is the son of Wilson F. and Sarah J. (Lee) Swinford. the father born in Kentucky and the mother in Maryland. They each accompanied their parents to Indiana when young and were mar- ried in Putnam county, that state, soon afterwards moving to Miami county. from which place they came to Nodaway county, Missouri, in 1857, when the county was just on the eve of a great development, but which was then an improved prairie. for the most part. An older brother. William, had settled here previously, possibly two years earlier. locating eleven miles southeast of the county seat. Soon other families came, including the Thomp- sons and the Woodwards, the two latter settling near William Swinford. Wilson F. Swinford settled five miles northeast of Maryville in Polk town- ship, buying partly improved land. He set to work with a will and prospered. becoming the owner of about one thousand acres of land; he farmed on an extensive scale, but after many years of successful farming he retired to the village of Pickering, owning land in that vicinity which he continued to look after until his death, June 11. 1906: his widow survived him until Janu- ary 12. 1909, each having reached the advanced age of eighty-eight years. They were a grand old couple who had hosts of friends. Mr. Swinford was a Democrat. but no public man, and he and his wife were members of the Christian church at Pickering. Their family consisted of ten children. all reaching maturity, namely : Nancy married Hiram Lott and spent her life in Indiana: John died when past sixty years of age: he served through the Civil war and lived in Nodaway county: William Thomas, who also served through the Civil war, was drowned when a young man; Alice J. married Samuel Thompson and lives near Denver, Colorado: James M. lives in Maryville : Lucinda married John Hood (deceased ) and she is living in Nod- away county : Charles G. is a farmer near Pickering: Oliver Wilson of this review : Mary married Newt Kelley and lives near Pickering: Sarah E. mar- ried James Scowden. a farmer near Parnell City.
Oliver W. Swinford lived at home, assisting with the work about the place and attending the common schools during the winter months until he reached maturity. being a member of the family circle until he was twenty- four years old. He married, on November 13. 1878. Ella Saunders, daughter of William and Sarah E. (Sims) Saunders, of Maryville, where Mrs. Swinford was reared and educated. Her father, a farmer, had come to this county from Kentucky and became well established here.
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Oliver W. Swinford farmed on his father's land two years, then moved to a farm of his own in the northeast corner of Polk township, Nodaway county. He bought and sold several places, owning five or six farms, and he was very fortunate both as a farmer and as a trader. He came to Mary- ville in 1906, after having lived fifteen years on a farm seven miles north- west of Maryville, but all in Polk township. He still owns the place and is still interested in farming, having a well improved and well cultivated place, for general agricultural pursuits are his delight.
Mr. Swinford is no politician, merely voting the Democratic ticket at elections.
The following children constitute the Swinford family: Ollie E., who married Jame's Carter, of Polk township: Sallie married Claude Shell, of Polk township, and is the mother of one child, Ella Marjorie. Paul Swin- ford, who is farming in Polk township, is unmarried.
WILLIAM M. TAYLOR.
One of Green township's steady workers is William M. Taylor, who has a good farm on which he adds some valuable improvements from time to time. He is one of those persistent workers, rather than one who tries to do everything in a brief space of time or accomplish great undertakings by "starts and jerks." His method of procedure would seem to the rational mind to be the best.
Mr. Taylor was born in Huntington county, Indiana, October 14, 1866. and is the son of John and Phoebe (Jinks) Taylor, both natives of Indiana and of good, honorable families. john Taylor is deceased, but Mrs. Phoebe Taylor is living in Franklin county, Indiana.
William M. Taylor grew to manhood in his native county on the home farm where he assisted with the work until eighteen years old when he sought his fortune in the West, coming to Kansas City. Missouri, where he lived about a year, then came to Nodaway county and worked on a farm near Skidmore. About 1893 he began farming for himself, having gotten a start by being economical and keeping at work. On April 22, 1896, he was mar- ried to Mattie A. Cottril, daughter of Andrew Cottril and wife, a record of whom appears in this work. After his marriage, Mr. Taylor continued farming near Skidmore until about 1901. when he bought a farm of rich
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soil in the southern edge of Green township where he now resides, his place consisting of one hundred and nine acres, which he tills successfully, steadily improving it and making a very comfortable living for himself and family. and laying something aside for "rainy days" ahead.
Six children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Taylor, named as follows : Adrian A .. Elta May. Mabel. Paul. Maude and Glenn.
Mr. Taylor is a member of the Modern Woodmen lodge. He is a lover of home and family, takes a great delight in his farm, is a man of good habits and reliable. therefore well thought of in his community.
THOMAS LAFAYETTE, M. D.
Each calling or business, if honorable, has its place in human existence. constituting a part of the plan whereby life's methods are pursued and man reaches his ultimate destiny. Emerson said that "All are needed by each one." And that is as true in one avenue of life's activities as in another. However, the importance of a business or profession is in a very large mea- sure determined by its beneficence or usefulness. So dependent is man upon his fellow-men that the worth of each individual is largely reckoned by what he has done for humanity. There is no class to whom greater gratitude is due from the world at large than to those self-sacrificing, sympathetic, noble- minded men whose life work has been the alleviation of suffering that rests upon humanity. thus lengthening the span of human existence. There is no known standard by which their beneficent influence can be measured; their helpfulness is as broad as the universe and their power goes hand in hand with the wonderful laws of nature that come from the very source of life itself. Some one has aptly said. "He serves God best who serves humanity most." The skillful physician, then. by the exercise of his native talents and his acquired abilities, is not only performing a service for humanity, but is following in the footsteps of the divine teacher himself, who said, "Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these, my brethren, ye have done it unto me." Pre-eminent among the members of the medical profession in Nodaway county stands Dr. Thomas Lafayette, of Hopkins, who for the span of an ordinary lifetime has been engaged in the practice of the healing art and who, though nearing the century milepost on his life's pathway, still retains his full mental faculties and to a remarkable degree his physical. and
Thomas Lafayette 14.
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still ministers to the wants of many of his old patrons, many of whom look upon him, not only as their physical adviser, but as a friend as well. His long years of residence here has gained for him the unbounded confidence of the entire community and a history of Nodaway county would not be com- plete without specific mention of him.
Thomas Lafayette was born on September 17, 1819, at Leon, France, and he is a son of Francis and Julia Lafayette. The father, who was the owner of a vineyard, died eight days before the birth of the subject. and he was con- sequently reared by his grandparents. His paternal grandfather and the Marquis de LaFayette, who rendered such signal assistance to the American colonies during the war of the Revolution, were cousins, and the subject of this sketch retains a vivid recollection of many visits of the Marquis to the home of his grandfather. Thomas Lafayette received his preliminary edu- cation in the parish schools at Leon, and, having decided to make the practice of medicine his life work, he entered the Paris Academy of Medicine, where he spent seven years in earnest study. The following ten years were spent in practice in the various hospitals of Paris and other cities, where he gained valued experience through observation and practice.
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