USA > Missouri > Nodaway County > Past and present of Nodaway County, Missouri Volume I > Part 48
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Mr. and Mrs. Miller are the parents of three children, namely : Fay- etta is the wife of Guy W. Williams, who lives on Mr. Miller's farm in Hughes township: Frank P. and Valentine Floyd.
Mr. and Mrs. Miller are active members of the Christian church and. politically, Mr. Miller is a Democrat.
JACOB EDWARD JAMES.
Indefatigable industry, sound business judgment and wise management have been the elements which have contributed to the success achieved by Jacob E. James, an enterprising and progressive farmer of Monroe town- ship. Nodaway county. His farm is well improved and highly productive. being numbered among the good farms of the township in which he lives. and because of his high character and unquestioned integrity, he enjoys to a marked degree the sincere respect of the community.
Mr. James was born on March 28. 1869. near McComb, Illinois. His parents were Joseph Asbury and Clara (McElroy) James, who, when the
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subject was but a child, came from Illinois to Nodaway county, locating at Burr Oak Grove. about three and a half miles west of Skidmore. There they lived until the subject was about twenty years of age, when they moved to St. Joseph. When Jacob E. James was about fifteen years old his mother died and the father afterwards married Anna Bartlett, of Illinois. After residing about a year in St. Joseph. the subject returned to near Skidmore and for about a year and a half was in the employ of his uncle, L. F. Hammond. then during the two years following he rented land from his uncle, which he operated. He then rented other land for three years, the next six years being devoted to farming land ownd by Robert Wells, in the southwestern part of Monroe township. Mr. James then bought another place southeast of Skid- more, to wihch he devoted his attention for three years, at the end of that time selling the place and buying another farm near by, which he improved and on which he lived during the following six years. In March, 1908, Mr. James bought the farm which he now owns, comprising a quarter section of land three miles east of Skidmore. The farm, which is eligibly situated. is well improved and is practically all under cultivation. Mr. James has made a number of permanent and substantial improvements and so conducts the operation of the farm as to secure the best results. He is progressive in his methods, keeping in touch with advanced ideas relating to agriculture and as a farmer he enjoys a good reputation. Personally, he is a man of excellent qualities of character, standing "four square to every wind that blows," and his life has been so ordered as to win the admiration and respect of his fellow-men. Besides carrying on a general line of farming, Mr. James has devoted considerable attention to the raising of hogs, in which line he has met with most excellent success.
On February 8. 1893. Mr. James was united in marriage to Lola Martin, the daughter of David and Martha Martin, and to them have been born two children, Harold and Martha. Politically, he is affiliated with the Republi- can party and he takes at all times a right interest in local public affairs. though he is not a seeker after public office. Religiously, he and his wife are members of the Methodist Episcopal church, with which he bears official re- lations, being a member of the board of stewards for nearly a decade, and he is also the present treasurer of the Sunday school, in the working of which he takes a commendable interest. He is wide-awake to the best interests of the community and gives a whole-hearted support to all worthy movements for the good of his fellows. He enjoys a wide acquaintance and is well liked by all who know him.
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WILLIAM A. SEWELL.
The subject of this biographical review has well earned the title to be addressed as one of the progressive, self-made men of Nodaway county. being the owner of valuable landed estate in Hughes township, though he is now living at Graham, having practically relinquished active labor owing to advancing years. He is well liked, his popularity having been gained by his high personal character and his genuine worth. Mr. Sewell was born in Athens county, Ohio, on February 27, 1833, and he is a son of Samuel H. and Elizabeth ( Blackwood) Sewell. Both of these parents were natives of Ohio and their deaths occurred in Athens county. The subject was the second child in order of birth of their seven children. He was reared on his father's farm and remained in Athens county until 1864, engaging the meanwhile in farming and stock raising. In November, 1864. he came to Missouri, locat- ing in Andrew county, where during the following summer he operated a rented farm. In October of the same year he came to Hughes township. Nodaway county, and bought two hundred and twelve acres of land, located four miles northeast of Graham, which he resided on and operated until March. 1908, when he came to Graham and has since resided here. He is . now the owner of two hundred and twelve acres of fine land, all of which is highly improved and under cultivation.
Mr. Sewell was married in Morgan county, Ohio, on October 25, 1855. to Lydia R. Tryon, a native of that state and whose death occurred in Hughes township on November 11, 1872. They had a family of eight children, name- ly : Phoebe. the wife of Amos Croy : John, who is engaged in the hardware business at Burlington Junction, this county ; Abner, who died at Hot Springs, Arkansas, when about thirty-four years old, is mentioned in a later paragraph : Isaac. a farmer in Texas; Frank, in the South; Mary, the wife of Edward W. Geyer, of Graham, whose sketch appears elsewhere in this work ; Rozella, who died in Graham when about twenty-five years old; Milton, a farmer. In Hughes township, on April 3, 1873. Mr. Sewell was married to Amanda Warner, a native of Illinois, and they are the parents of three children, namely : Guy, a successful farmer in Hughes township, this county ; Claud, a farmer in South Dakota: Merl, who is engaged in farming the home place in Hughes township.
Mr. and Mrs. Sewell are members of the Baptist church and have always taken a keen interest in the activities of the society. In fact, everything that has promised to be of benefit to the community in any way has at all times
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V. A. Sewell.
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received Mr. Sewell's earnest endorsement and support and he is justly re- garded as one of the representative citizens of the community, where so many years of his life have been spent.
Of the life and death of the subject's son, Abner Sewell. the following excerpts are taken from the Skidmore Standard of May 28, 1897: "Abner Weston Sewell was born in Athens county, Ohio, July 19, 1862, making him at the time of his death thirty-five years, ten months and two days old.
"A. W. Sewell, with his parents, left his birthplace at the tender age of three years. for Andrew county, Missouri, where they resided one year and then moved to his father's present home, in Nodaway county, seven miles southeast of Skidmore.
"While a boy, on the farm with his father, he suffered from an attack of hip disease which made him a cripple for life. * * He remained with his father on the farm until about eighteen years of age, when he went to Graham and engaged in the general mercantile business as a clerk for A. C. Snyder. From Graham he went to Maryville where he acted in the capacity of assistant general manager of the Co-operative Grange Store. He filled this position honorably and successfully for over two years, when he re- signed his position and came to Skidmore and engaged in the drug and livery business. Later he left for Grand Island. Nebraska, where he successfully operated a large livery business and later conducted the same kind of busi- ness at Aurora, that state. He then returned to Skidmore for a short time and was engaged in the drug and livery business here. From Skidmore he went to Burlington Junction, where, with his brother. John H. Sewell, he was interested in the livery business, also being connected with Sam Butcher in the drug business at the same time. From Burlington Junction he went to Everest, Kansas, and for a number of years run a drug business at that place From Everest he returned to Skidmore and with his brother. I. N. Seweil, engaged in the general mercantile business, which they were very successfully operating at the time of his death.
"Mr. Sewell met and loved Miss Nora E. Conn at Burlington Junction and they were married in St. Joseph January 5. 1887. Their union was happily blessed by six children, three girls and three boys. * Mr Sewell was a member of the Knights of Pythias lodge, the Ancient Order of United Workmen and the Modern Woodmen of America.
"He was a very successful and energetic business man, having a mind that conceived of and successfully executed great possibilities. He was thor- ough, business-like and untiring in the business world and was well known and respected by all the wholesalers in this part of the country for his sterling
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integrity and business qualifications. Skidmore business men have suffered a great loss from their ranks in his death and how well they esteemed him is given in silent testimony by their actions during the sad bereavement to his family."
ASA RAMEY.
Nearly a half century has elapsed since the North and the South were engaged in the greatest struggle of modern times and the hosts that fought therein are rapidly falling before the only foe that mortal man cannot meet. Government statistics in 1910 show that they are answering the last roll- call at the startling rate of one per minute. This means that ere long not many will remain, like the veterans of the Mexican war today ; consequently we of the younger generation should pay those that remain due deference upon all occasions, realizing the great work that they did for us.
One of these honored veterans is Asa Ramey, farmer, of White Cloud township. Nodaway county. He was born on a farm in Montgomery county, Indiana, January 12, 1839. His father was Isaac J. Ramey and his mother was known in her maidenhood as Martha Lunger. They were natives of Ohio, and were the parents of eleven children. of whom Asa was the tenth in order of birth. He spent the early years of his life in Montgomery and Fountain counties. Indiana, and when about sixteen years old he accompanied his parents to Tama county, Iowa, and while living there the war came on and young Ramey, though but a youth, showed his patriotism by enlisting on July 14. 1862. in Company D. Twenty-eighth Regiment Iowa Volunteer In- fantry. and served with a very creditable record until the close of the war. taking part in many a trying campaign and hot engagement. He was mustered out at Savannah. Georgia, and returned to his home in Tama county, Iowa, remaining there until the spring of 1867 when he moved to Ottawa county. Kansas. He lived there until the spring of 1889. when he came to Nodaway county. Missouri, and settled in Polk township and lived there seven years and then moved to White Cloud township where he has since resided. He has always been engaged in farming and stock raising. He is the owner of a valuable farm of one hundred and sixty acres, most of which is improved.
Mr. Ramey was married at Concordia, Kansas, on January 28. 1874. to Eliza Brockson, who was born in Lake county, Illinois, January 16, 1852: she is the daughter of William and Susan ( Wamsbley) Brockson. both natives of England. her father dying in Lake county, Illinois, and the mother in Ot- tawa county. Kansas.
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Mr. and Mrs. Ramey are the parents of eight children, namely : Ada A. died in childhood; Leon also died in childhood; Susie is the wife of Ed- ward Busby ; Arthur A., John A .. William H., Roy and Ruth.
JOHN BARRETT.
Nodaway county. Missouri, is characterized by her full share of enter- ยท prising and progressive farmers, who have been the mainstay and backbone of the wonderful development which has marked this section of the state during the past few decades, and today among this class stands John Barrett, whose finely improved and highly cultivated farm lies in Monroe township. where he enjoys a high standing among his fellow-citizens.
Mr. Barrett is a native son of the old Keystone state, having been born in Warren county. Pennsylvania, on May 20, 1847. He is the son of Edmund and Matilda (Taylor) Barrett, and for further details as to the subject's ancestral history the reader is referred to the sketch of the sub- ject's brother. Charles W. Barrett, which appears elsewhere in this work. John Barrett was reared on the parental homestead and is indebted to the common schools for his educational discipline. He was one of a large fam- ily of children and early in life he commenced work on his own account. In 1876 he came to Nodaway county, Missouri, having been preceded here by his brothers, Reuben and James. During their first years here the brothers engaged in the operation of rented land. but in the fall of that year the sub- ject and his brother James bought one hundred and sixty acres of land in section 14. in the southwestern part of Monroe township. The two brothers farmed together for a time, but eventually John bought his brother's interest in the farm and operated it alone ever since. He has added to his landed possessions from time to time. having been successful in his business affairs, and now he and his sons own four hundred and eighty acres of good land in Monroe township. Mr. Barrett has been a hard worker, by which means he has gained his present degree of prosperity, and his life has been character- ized by an inflexible integrity and honesty of motive that has won for him the unstinted praise of his fellow-citizens. The farm is well improved, com- prising a comfortable residence, commodious barn and other buildings, the general appearance of the place being calculated to reflect credit on the owner. He carried on a general line of farming. and gives considerable attention to the handling of livestock. of which he fattens many head for market each year.
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On February 26, 1884. Mr. Barrett married Maggie Roberts, the daugh- ter of Ephraim Roberts. She was born in Highland county, Ohio. August 1I, 1849, her birthplace being not far distant from Cincinnati, where she lived until soon after the war, when she came to Missouri with her parents. who located west of Maitland. in Holt county, where she grew to woman- hood. To .Mr. and Mrs. Barrett were born three children, john R .. Robert W. and Lucy M. On August 28, 1909, Mrs. Barrett closed her eyes to earthly scenes. For fifteen years she had been an almost helpless invalid from rheu- matism, but she bore her sufferings with Christian patience and fortitude. and by her thoughtfulness and planning contributed appreciably to the pleas- ure and comfort of the home. She was a life-long member of the Methodist Episcopal church and hers was a beautiful and radiant Christian character. in which was ever evident the influence of a pure religion. The daughter. Lucy M., deserves praise for the able and unselfish way in which she as- sumed the burdens of the household when her mother became to a great de- gree incapacitated for the work, and, though still only in her teens, she is an accomplished housekeeper.
Politically. Mr. Barrett assumes an independent attitude, believing that, in local elections at least, the personal fitness of the candidates for office should be considered rather than party affiliations. Fraternally he is a mem- ber of the time-honored order of Freemasons, holding membership in the blue lodge at Skidmore. Mr. Barrett has gained success through his own efforts, is regarded as a man of splendid character and is highly esteemed by all who know him.
CHARLES E. TAYLOR.
Through struggles to triumph seems to be the maxim which holds sway for the majority of our citizens and, though it is undeniably true, that many a one falls exhausted in the conflict, a few by their inherent force of char- acter and strong mentality rise above their environments until they reach the plane of prosperity. Such has been the record of the gentleman whose name appears as the caption of this sketch and who is today numbered among the representative citizens of Hughes township. Nodaway county, Missouri.
Mr. Taylor is a native of the county in which he now lives, his birth having occurred in the northwestern part of Nodaway township on March 20. 1859. His parents were Dr. John C. and Marietta (McVeigh) Taylor, na- tives respectively of Kentucky and Indiana. After their marriage these par-
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ents located in Indiana, where they continued to reside until the fall of 1858, when they came to Nodaway county, locating in Nodaway township, where the father engaged in the active practice of his profession for many years. Eventually he removed to Topeka, Kansas, where for ten years, or up to the time of his death, he was numbered among the leaders in the medical pro- fession, his death occurring when he was eighty-four years old. His wife died in Graham. this county, when seventy-four years old. Of their eight children, the second in order of birth was Charles E. He was reared in Nodaway county, where he has always resided, and he secured a good, practical education in the common schools. His school discipline has been liberally supplemented by much reading and habits of close observation of men and events, so that he is considered a well-informed man on general topics.
In 1880 Mr. Taylor came to Graham and engaged in the mercantile business, in which for a quarter of a century he was recognized as one of the leaders in his line. enjoying a large and remunerative patronage and the re- spect and confidence of all who had business dealings with him. In 1905 he sold his business interests, since which time he has given his attention mainly to farming. His rise in the business world was steady and permanent, and it is worthy of note that for six years prior to 1880 he acted as clerk in the same store which he afterwards owned. He is now the owner of two hundred and ten acres of finely improved and productive land, which is a source of a very satisfactory income.
Mr. Taylor was married in Graham, Missouri, on May 27, 1884. to Jennie Turnure, who was born in Boone county, Illinois, on January 1. 1862, a daughter of Egbert and Emily ( Compton) Turnure. Her parents, who were natives of New York state, came to Nodaway county in 1866 and for a time lived in Polk township. going then to Maryville, where they lived until 1879. when they came to Graham. Here the father died at the age of fifty- one years, his widow still surviving. They were the parents of seven chil- dren, Mrs. Taylor being the fourth in order of birth. To Mr. and Mrs. Tay- lor have been born six children. Beryl D .. Harvey C .. Bronson W., True D. and Lura E. ; a son died in infancy.
Politically, Mr. Taylor supports the Republican party and takes an in- telligent interest in local public affairs, having held a number of offices, in- cluding those of township treasurer. school director and member of the town- ship board. Fraternally. he is a member of the Woodmen of the World, while his religious affiliation is with the Presbyterian church. He is a man
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of public spirit and progressive ideas and is numbered among the strong and influential citizens of his community, as such being eminently entitled to representation in a work of this character.
REV. JAMES L. JONES.
It is with no small degree of satisfaction that the biographer essavs to set forth the salient facts in the life history of the estimable gentleman whose name initiates this review, for his life has been one singularly full of good deeds and of the most pronounced success in his chosen calling, that of spread- ing the gospel of the Nazarene, and his influence has ever been wholesome and ameliorating, so that today he is held in the highest respect and admiration by all who know him.
Rev. James L. Jones, residing in White Cloud township. Nodaway county, was born on his father's farm in Buchanan county, Missouri, May 29. 1851. He is the son of Alfred and Eliza A. (Heflin) Jones, both natives of Fleming county, Kentucky, who when young children accompanied their par- ents to Rush county, Indiana, where they grew to maturity and were mar- ried. They remained in that county, on a farm, until they came to Buchanan county. Missouri; from there they came to Nodaway county. in 1854, and settled in White Cloud township, six miles south of Maryville, where they lived until their deaths. Mr. Jones dying on December 24. 1896, when seventy- five years of age, his widow surviving until August 12. 1905. in her eighty- second year. They were greatly beloved for their simple. honest and kindly lives. To them four children were born : Melvina is the wife of J. M. Busby : Nannie was the wife of H. C. Fleming, and she died in Hopkins about 1876: James L., of this review, and William R .. of Johnson county, Missouri.
Rev. James L. Jones was but three years old when his parents came to Nodaway county and here he grew to manhood on his father's farm in White Cloud township. He was educated in the common schools, engaging in farming in the meantime until he was forty-three years old, having turned his attention to farming exclusively after he left the school room. He then turned his attention to the ministry and has since been actively engaged in the same since 1894. He united with the Missionary Baptist church when twenty- five years old. After holding pastorates at Central Friendship. north of Mary- ville. for five years. he moved to Texas and was engaged in the ministry
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there for six months, when he returned to Nodaway county and was the pastor of the church at Center Grove, near Tarkio, Atchison county, for two years. He then moved to Hopkins and was pastor of the church there for two years, later preached at Vernon. Andrew county, one year. During that time he also filled the pulpit at Good Hope, in Independence township, this county. He again came to Maryville where he made his home about three years, during which time he supplied pulpits in different places. He then went to Clearmont, where he had charge of the church of this denomination for two years, and supplied different pulpits. Early in November, 1909, he settled on the farm where he now lives in White Cloud township, having re- signed his work in the ministry. He is the owner of an excellent farm of two hundred and seventeen acres, well improved and very fortunately situated for general farming, which he carries on successfully.
Rev. Mr. Jones was married in Hughes township. March 9. 1871. to Mary A. Toel, who was born in Luxemberg, Germany. September 22, 1854 : she is the daughter of Henry and Margaret Elizabeth Toel, both natives of Germany.
Rev. and Mrs. Jones are the parents of six children, namely : Nannie is the wife of George A. Greeson, of Polk township: Oliver E. is a farmer in Nodaway county; Raymond T. is a farmer in White Cloud township; Al- fred is a farmer in White Cloud township; James L., Jr., is a farmer in White Cloud township; Marie A. is a teacher in the Conservatory of Music in Maryville and is a musician of much talent. All these children have been well educated and have engaged in teaching with the exception of Alfred.
BYRON W. ARCHER.
One of the most enterprising and successful of the younger generation of farmers in Nodaway county, who has been rewarded in his life work be- caused he has labored along proper channels, is Byron W. Archer, who was born in Independence township. this county, of an excellent old family. long well known there. The date of his birth is recorded as August 16, 1882, and he is the son of A. C. and Mattie (Perpont) Archer. the father a native of West Virginia, born in 1844, and the mother was born there also. They grew to maturity there and received their education in their home community. They came to Nodaway county, Missouri, in 1875, and bought two hundred and forty acres in Independence township, which Mr. Archer added to until
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he had four hundred and forty acres, which he farmed in a manner that brought him large returns. In 1907 he retired to a cozy home in Maryville, where he still resides. In politics he is a Republican and in fraternal matters is a Mason.
To Mr. and Mrs. A. C. Archer three children were born, namely: Ola, Ida and Byron W. Their mother passed to her rest in 1886, and Mr. Archer later married Phebe Kelley, and one child. Blaine, now a student in Mary- ville, was born to them.
Byron W. Archer was reared on the home farm, and early in life became acquainted with hard work, having assisted with the crops during the sum- mer months and attended the public schools in winter. He quite naturally turned his attention to farming as a livelihood, and he is now the owner of a good and well-improved place consisting of one hundred and sixty acres, on which he raises a diversity of crops and different kinds of livestock. He also feeds a great deal. In politics. he is a Republican.
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