USA > Missouri > Nodaway County > Past and present of Nodaway County, Missouri Volume I > Part 42
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James M. McDonald, of this review, is one of a family of ten children, of whom five are living, Thomas, John. Mrs. Sibyl Montgomery, Nancy Mc- Donald and James M. In 1853 the McDonald family came to Clay county. Missouri, and in 1855 came to Nodaway county. They bought land at Burr Oak Grove, west of Skidmore, which they sold to the Hayes family. For about four years they lived at different places from Graham to Quitman, then moved northeast of Skidmore, buying a farm about three miles from that town. During the Civil war James' two older brothers, William Allen and John D., were in the Southern army. During that time the father was old and almost helpless and things were in a rather turbulent condition ; their horses and cattle were stolen and they were left almost destitute, the younger boys having a very difficult time to get along and support the family. About 1869 Thomas and James came to the locality where they now live and bought forty acres each, the eighty acres consisting of five dollars an acre. They later bought more land, two hundred and forty acres, in partnership. About 1872 the father and three of the children moved to the place now occupied by James M. of this review, which is located two miles south and two and one- half miles east of Quitman, and the father spent the remainder of his days here.
On February 20, 1873. James M. McDonald was married to Nancy Ann Simmons, who was born April 29, 1855, in Page county, Iowa. She was the daughter of Colby and Lorena ( Norris) Simmons. Her father was born in Indiana and came to Buchanan county, Missouri, before his mar- riage. Her mother was born in North Carolina and she and Mr. Simmons were married in Buchanan county, Missouri, later moving to Page county, Iowa, and followed farming. From there they moved to Nodaway county about the close of the war. locating two or three miles north of Quitman
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where they lived many years. The death of Mr. Simmons occurred at Ne- maha, Nebraska, August 29, 1881, his widow surviving until September 16, 1886.
For about seven years prior to his marriage, James M. McDonald and his brother "batched" at the place where Thomas now lives. Mr. and Mrs. James M. McDonald continued to live in the same place until 1881. Thomas making his home with them. In the spring of 1881 they moved to their present home where the father had lived since about 1874. and here James M. has lived continuously to the present time. He has greatly improved the place, set out an orchard, added to the dwelling and erected other buildings.
Eight children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. McDonald, namely : Mary, born May 24. 1874. married George Smith and lives three and one- half miles southeast of Skidmore, and they have two children, Clyde Mc- Donald Smith and Atwoil Burns Smith: Hugh D. McDonald, born August 30. 1880, is represented elsewhere in this work; Charles Thomas was born April 1, 1883: James Joseph was born April 25, 1885; Nellie Ann was born October 3. 1888: Clarence Earl, born August 18, 1891 : Effie, born August 7, 1894, died January 31. 1898: Alma, born October 15, 1897. Most of these children are at home with their parents.
James M. McDonald is a member of the Masonic order, Quitman Lodge, No. 196, having been a Mason for about thirty-five years. He is one of the best known men of the county, is a man of the old-fashioned type such as is a great pleasure to meet nowadays. He is a loyal Democrat, and some- times calls himself an un-reconstructed rebel, but no man is more loyal to his country nor has more friends among all parties and classes than he.
LAVENCOUR MICHAU.
No man of the past generation in Nodaway county was better known or more highly esteemed than the late Lavencour Michau, and certainly none held a more conspicuous position in the business and social world, and his memory will long be cherished by all classes, for he ever aimed to be progres .. sive in all he did, was always in sympathy with the enterprises having for . their object the common good, and his influence was invariably exerted on the right side of every moral issue. Like all men of positive character and inde- pendence of mind, he was outspoken in defense of what he considered right,
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and his convictions were such that his neighbors and fellow-citizens knew well his position on all questions of a political, moral and religious nature. His private life was exemplary and his amiable traits of character and many ยท virtues made him widely popular.
The history of Lavencour Michau is the history quite largely of the growth and progress of Maryville from its very beginning, having come here in 1856 and remained until his death. October 26, 1901, and all during that long period he was ever vigilant of the general interests of the community. He was born in St. Louis, Missouri, December 14, 1825, and had therefore reached the "mellow twilight of his years" when he was called to a higher sphere of action. He was the son of St. Amant and Margaret (Minnea) Michau, his parents being among the early settlers of St. Louis and were very wealthy, the father having long been prominent in business circles of the old Mound City.
Lavencour Michau was the youngest of a family of nine children. He grew to maturity in his home city and received a good education in the schools there. When twenty years old his father lost the major part of his fortune through going security for some friends, and in his closing days en- joyed but a small portion of the fortune his hard work and good management had built up. It is said that this circumstance had a lasting impression on the mind of the son, and when he and his brother, Alfred, who now lives at St. Joseph. Missouri, went into business in Maryville, away back in the fifties. there was an agreement between them that neither should become se- curity for anybody. This was in 1856 and from that year on they continued to build up a very satisfactory and well patronized business, until about 1872, when Lavencour purchased the interest of his brother. Alfred, the latter going to St. Joseph where he died in 1910 at the advanced age of eighty- nine. John Lieber became interested with the Michau brothers and after Al- fred went to St. Joseph became a partner with Lavencour Michau, which relation continued until they closed out their business in 1881.
Mr. Michau's investments in Maryville property in an early day greatly increased in value. He was very successful in business and, from both sources, became wealthy toward the latter part of his life. In 1890 he built the family home on West Second street, one of the finest and most attractive homes in Maryville. This he named Terrace Place, after the St. Louis home of his parents. A year or two later he built the substantial Michau block. "Terrace Place." the old Pennsylvania avenue home of the Michaus in St. Louis, is a stone structure, built by the father of Lavencour. It is now con- verted into a business property, being in the down-town district, and is still owned by the Michau family.
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Mr. Michau was the architect of his own fortune, a man of keen busi- ness discernment and made few mistakes in his calculations as to the future outcome of transactions. In his dealings with men he was straightforward and fair, making his word absolutely good-better. in fact, than the bond of many. His early habit was that of promptness, but he did not "crowd" men who were using his money, and in receiving his interest was liberal in throw- ing off odd amounts. He was loyal to his friends and would never put any obstacle in the way of those whose ways he might not like and whose views did not accord with those of his own.
Mr. Michau was married in 1863 to Amanda J. Wheeler, a lady of amiable attributes who has hosts of friends in Maryville or wherever she is known. She was born in Gosport, Indiana, and when a child was brought to DesMoines, Iowa, and in 1859 came to Maryville with her father. John Benjamin Wheeler. Mrs. Michau is a consistent member of the Christian church. Four daughters graced the home of Mr. and Mrs. Lavencour Michau, named as follows: Ida married Edward Lincoln Townsend and formerly lived in Denver, Colorado, but is now living with her mother in Maryville ; her son, Ferdinand Michau Townsend, is proprietor of The Townsend Company in the Michau block in this city. Dolly B. Michau mar- ried Dr. E. H. Williams, of New York City. Bessie Michau married L. E. Forsythe and is living in Maryville. Mr. Forsythe's life history is to be found on another page of this work. Gertrude Michau married F. G. Shoe- maker and is living in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. One son, Ferdinand Kennett Michau, died when he was six years of age.
MARTIN H. AND JOHN BORRUSCH.
Those men who boldly face the responsibilities of life and by determined and untiring energy carve out for themselves an honorable success exert a powerful influence upon the lives of others. especially the youth of their acquaintance. Such men constitute the foundation of our republican insti- tutions and are the pride of our civilization. Martin H. and John Borrusch are such individuals. for we find that they started in life under none too favorable environment and that by their own unaided efforts they are today among the substantial and progressive citizens of Nodaway county, one of the leading sections of the great Empire state of the West. and that their fame as building contractors has far transcended this and adjoining counties. their office in Maryville always being a busy place.
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They are natives of Villisca, Iowa, and while mere boys they each decided to devote their lives to carpentering and architecture and they began contracting while young, having followed this line of endeavor several years before coming to Maryville, in 1904. They were brought here for the pur- pose of constructing the new Carnegie library building, for which they were successful bidders, the structure costing the sum of nine thousand dollars, and, liking the outlook so well, they decided to remain here after completing that magnificent piece of work. Since that time they have erected many of the first-class residences of the town, but have specialized in the erection of public buildings, school houses, churches, etc. They erected the Nodaway County Farm House at a cost of twenty-four thousand and five hundred dol- lars ; the Maryville high school at a cost of seventy-five thousand and nine hundred dollars, and they have recently completed a new high school at Breckenridge, Missouri, at a cost of twenty thousand dollars. All of their work shows modern methods and is quickly and concisely done, the designs being up-to-date and attractive and all work is honestly and conscientiously performed, consequently their services are in great demand. They are the youngest contractors in Maryville, but by the exercise of rare qualities of business and persistency in their application they have won a wide reputa- tion and their work now covers a vast territory, doing an annual business in excess of one hundred thousand dollars. They constantly employ from eight to twenty men, all highly skilled in their special lines. They take an entire contract for a building, from the excavation to the finished product, ready for occupancy. Their faith in Maryville and its future possibilities is proven by their investment of twenty thousand dollars in a double two-story and basement brick block at the corner of Third and Buchanan streets, forty-four by one hundred and thirty-two feet. the third story being fitted in two apart- ment flats occupied by the owners. This is one of the modern and up-to-date buildings of the city.
Since coming to Maryville these gentlemen have taken an abiding inter- est in the general welfare of the place and have shown a willingness to do their full share in the promotion of all enterprises looking to the progress of the city and Nodaway county.
Martin H. Borrusch married Addie May Coleman, of Villisca, Iowa, on February 29, 1900. and they are the parents of two children. Virgil and Paul.
John Borrusch married Edna Coleman, sister of his brother's wife, in February, 1904. This union has been without issue. He is a member of the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks.
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GEORGE ALLEN NASH, M. D.
Professional success results from merit. Frequently in commercial life one may come into possession of a lucrative business through inheritance or gift, but in what are known as the learned professions advancement is gained only through painstaking and long continued effort. Prestige in the healing art is the outcome of strong mentality. close application, thorough mastery of its great underlying principles and the ability to apply theory to practice in the treatment of diseases. Good intellectual training, thorough professional knowledge and the possession and utilization of the qualities and attributes essential to success, have made Dr. George Allen Nash. the well-known sur- geon of Maryville, Missouri, eminent in his chosen calling, and he stands to- day among the scholarly and enterprising physicians in a county noted for the high order of its medical talent.
Doctor Nash was born February 1. 1849, on a farm in Hendricks county. Indiana, the scion of an excellent old family of the Hoosier state, being the son of George B. and Elizabeth (McDaniel) Nash. The former was the son of Thomas and Hannah (Brown) Nash, and was born on a farm in Madison county, Kentucky, May 27, 1809. Thomas and Hannah Nash were married in 1808 and were natives of Virginia, in which state they grew to maturity and were educated in the early schools of that period. having moved to Kentucky after their marriage, locating in Madison county. There they established a good home and spent the rest of their lives, Thomas Nash being survived several years by his widow, whose death occurred December 13, 1865. When a small boy their son. George B. Nash, moved to Clermont county, Ohio, and then to Hendricks county, Indiana. He devoted his life to farming and, like his father, was a man of strong characteristics, never allow- ing obstacles to swerve him from his course. He was patriotic and served as a soldier in the Black Hawk war. His death occurred at Prairie City, Illinois, March 3, 1864, honored by all who knew him. Elizabeth McDaniel, who married George B. Nash on February 3. 1833. was born in Randolph county. North Carolina, and her death occurred on November 1. 1887, at St. Joseph. Missouri. To Mr. and Mrs. Nash eight children were born, six of whom are living at this writing.
Dr. George Allen Nash received his academic education at Prairie City. Illinois, graduating in 1867. In the fall of that year he moved with his mother to DeKalb county, Missouri. After spending one year on a farm, he went to St. Joseph. For two years he worked in a store in Gentry county, then went
DR. GEORGE A. NASH
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to Mt. Pleasant, Missouri, and conducted a drug store for some time. In the meantime he began the study of medicine and in 1877 he entered a medical college in St. Joseph, where he made a very commendable record and from which institution he was graduated on February 28. 1879. On April Ist, following. he came to Maryville and engaged in general practice until 1884. That year he took a post-graduate course in the University of Pennsylvania, at Philadelphia. Then, being fully equipped for his profession. he returned to Maryville. Having a natural talent for surgery and having devoted special attention to the study and practice of this branch of the science, Doctor Nash gradually gave up his general practice, which was an extensive one, and for the past ten years he has practiced surgery exclusively, in which he has won a reputation that far transcends the limits of Nodaway county, standing high among the medical men of the state and Middle West in this line. He has been surgeon of St. Francis Hospital for the past twenty years, and he is also local surgeon of the Wabash and Chicago, Burlington & Quincy railroads. He is very busy attending to his numerous professional duties and has built up a practice second to none in northern Missouri.
Doctor Nash was married on November 13. 1870, to Mary C. Houston, daughter of Silas and Rilla Houston. Two children have been born to this union, one dying in infancy ; Alma M. is a talented musician and is now en- gaged in teaching music.
In politics the Doctor is a Republican; he belongs to the Baptist church and is a member of the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks.
CHARLES C. GRAVES.
Charles C. Graves, proprietor of "Elm Ridge Farm," one of the "show ' places of Polk township. Nodaway county, is classed as one of the most enterprising and successful agriculturists of this section of the county, and, although yet a young man. he has been abundantly rewarded for his pains and energy, and in every walk of life he is widely respected as a courteous, kind-hearted, generous man of perfect integrity and pure moral worth. This far he has acted well his part in life and the future doubtless awaits him with more abundant rewards.
Mr. Graves was born in Saline county, Missouri, October 3. 1876. His father was Otis Graves and his mother was known in her maidenhood as Bettie Gilliam. The father was a native of Kentucky and the mother of
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Virginia. They came to Nodaway county. Missouri, in the spring of 1877 and settled in Maryville, where Mr. Graves died, March 2, 1895; his widow still survives. They were the parents of two children, Charles C., of this review, and Dolly, who became the wife of Dr. R. M. Bradbury. She died in Maryville, January 15, 1906.
Charles C. Graves was reared in Maryville and here received a good education in the public schools, and for one year he attended the Military Academy at Mexico, Missouri. After leaving school he began life as a clerk in a shoe store in Maryville where he worked three years. He then engaged in the buggy and harness business for one year. But not finding the life of a merchant entirely to his liking, he turned his attention to the freer life of the agriculturist, which he worked at, although living in Mary- ville,'where he continued to reside until he purchased a farm, the place where he now resides. in March. 1907. He has an excellent place and now turns his attention principally to the breeding of fine stock. having a well equipped. modern, clean and neat place for this purpose and he keeps the best grade of milk cows. He has built up a very satisfactory patronage with the sur- rounding country and his business is rapidly growing. He makes a specialty of registered Jersey cattle, also Berkshire hogs. He milks a herd of about forty head of fine Jersey cows. He keeps about fifty head of hogs about the place. His fine farm consists of one hundred acres and he has many substantial and modern buildings on the place.
Mr. Graves was married in Maryville, on October 11. 1900. to Nell Black, a native of Liberty. Clay county, Missouri. the daughter of Rev. G. L. Black. a Baptist clergyman well known in this part of the state. Mrs. Graves was well educated and is of an excellent family.
Mr. and Mrs. Graves are members of the Baptist church at Maryville and faithful in their church duties. Mr. Graves is a member of the Benevo- lent and Protective Order of Elks.
HUGH DOUGLASS McDONALD.
A native son of Green township. Nodaway county, and the representa- tive of an old and highly honored family is Hugh Douglass McDonald, whose birth occurred here August 30. 1880. He is the son of James M. and Nancy A. (Simmons) McDonald. and he was reared on the home farm in Green township, attended the public schools and the high school at Quitman and
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Skidmore, obtaining a good education. He married Sallie Hester Ramsey. daughter of David R. and Mary Elizabeth (Holt) Ramsey. She was born in Atchison county, Missouri, near Blanchard, Iowa, on July 25. 1883. Her mother died when she was about four years old and she was then reared by her grandmother, Mrs. William R. Holt, whose sketch appears herein. Mrs. McDonald attended the Liberty Ladies College. at Liberty, Missouri, during her girlhood, and she and Mr. McDonald were married on October 9, 1901. locating soon afterwards on the farm where they now reside, owning an excel- lent place of one hundred and eight acres, about three miles south of Quit- man. All but seventeen acres were covered with timber. When Mr. Mc- Donald purchased it there were no fences or other improvements on it, but he has from year to year added good improvements, the place now ranking with the best in the community. He cleared ground and built a dwelling, which is a very neat and pleasant one. Thus he went through true pioneer exper- iences. He now has about seventy acres cleared and raises good general crops.
Mr. McDonald has always been a Democrat. as were his antecedents. He is a member of Quitman Lodge. No. 196. Ancient Free and Accepted Masons. Mrs. McDonald is a member of the Christian church.
Three children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. McDonald, namely : Mary Ann, born February 20, 1904: Hugh Douglass, Jr .. January 4, 1906: James William, born December 16, 1908.
Owing to the prominence of Mrs. McDonald's father, David R. Ram- sey, it is deemed advisable before closing this sketch to enter brief record concerning his career. He was born January 1. 1843, and was the son of Riley and Hester Ann ( Burris) ) Ramsey, who lived near Graham during the youth of David R., but later his parents moved to near Blanchard, Towa. where members of the family own a number of good farms. Mary Eliza- beth (Holt) Ramsey was born September 21. 1843. in Andrew county. Missouri. and she was the daughter of William R. and Sarah S. Holt. old pioneers of this county, who came to Green township about 1849. She and Mr. Ramsey were married December 24, 1871, and afterwards lived in the northern edge of Atchison county, where he owned a good farm of about one hundred and sixty acres, three miles south of Blanchard, Iowa. There were five children in this family. four boys and one girl. the sons all dying in infancy. the daughter being Mrs. McDonald. Her mother died January 18.1888, Mr. Ramsey surviving until December 12. 1892, having been killed while on a hunting trip with a party of hunters near the Kansas and Okla- homa line. He had been a soldier in the Southern army in the Civil war. and was a man well liked and highly respected wherever he was known.
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AARON COLUMBUS LINVILLE.
A popular representative of one of Nodaway county's old and well estab- lished families that is deserving of first rank in our citizenship is Aaron Columbus Linville, who was born near Graham, this county, March 25, 1853. in a rude clap-board-roofed log cabin. He is the son of William Isom and Bethena (Hedgepeth ) Linville. The father was born in Missouri, probably Jackson county, the son of James Linville and wife, his father being a native of eastern Tennessee, and was a brother to Thomas Linville. He came to Jackson county, Missouri, about 1831 or 1832 with two of his brothers. Thomas and Abraham, the last named settling in Nodaway county, near Gra- ham, in a very early day : James also came here about that time. probably 1841. all locating near Graham. Bethena Hedgepeth was born in Kentucky and came overland from that state with her parents, who drove horses and oxen to their old-time wagons; they located in Jackson county, Missouri, where she married William Isom Linville. They came to Nodaway county in 1841 and located one and one-fourth miles northeast of Graham, where Isom Lin- ville pre-empted a homestead and lived in that neighborhood the rest of his life. He was a member of the Methodist Episcopal church South, very ac- tive in its affairs, and a deacon in the local congregation for many years. He was well known over all northwestern Missouri in church work and was as well known and influential in Nodaway county as any man in the county. Like most of the Linvilles, he was a Democrat. Two daughters and four sons were born to Mr. and Mrs. Isom Linville, who lived to maturity, also two daughters who died in infancy. Those living are: James H., who lives five miles northwest of Graham, where he owns a good farm, married Elvira Jones and they have three children living: Joel Spencer, who lives about two miles southwest of Skidmore, married Rosa Dyson, and one child of this marriage died when sixteen years old : after the death of his first wife, he married Rosa Hedgepeth, which union has resulted in the birth of four children: Aaron Columbus. of this review : Maggie married George W. Clark and lives in Oregon and they are the parents of eleven children : Henry C .. married Sarah Brown and lives in the Cherokee "strip." Oklahoma, and they have nine children : Sarah married Robert Notley, lives in Oklahoma and has three sons and one daughter.
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