USA > Missouri > Nodaway County > Past and present of Nodaway County, Missouri Volume I > Part 50
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Politically, Mr. Workman is a stanch Democrat, but he has never aspired to public office. He is public spirited and progressive in his ideas and with- holds his support from no movement which promises to be of material benefit to the community in general. Frank and candid in his dealings with others. he enjoys an excellent reputation for integrity and honesty of motive and he deserves the high esteem in which he is held by all who know him.
JOHN M. WILSON.
John M. Wilson. banker of Graham, is a Missourian by birth and may justly bear the title of "self-made man," having worked his own way to the admirable and influential position he now occupies. The success attained in his business affairs has been greatly owing to his steady persistence, stern in- tegrity and excellent judgment, qualities which cause him to take rank with the leading business men in this section of the county, besides winning for him the confidence and esteem of the public to a marked degree.
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John M. Wilson, the popular and efficient cashier of the Citizens' Bank of Graham, was born in Hughes township, this county, on September 22, 1876. and is a son of William G. and Loretta E. (Mcllvaine) Wilson. These par- ents were both natives of the state of Kentucky, the father born in Bath county and the mother in Mason county. They were married in that state, and in 1874 they came to Nodaway county, Missouri, settling in Hughes township, where the mother's death occurred in July. 1907. Although Mr. Wilson maintains his residence in Graham, much of his time is spent in Texas, where he has business interests. To him and his wife were born six children, four of whom are living. namely : Alfred, who died at the age of seventeen years ; one son, who died in infancy : Mamie, the wife of George P. Wright. of Maryville : Lutie, the wife of John A. Gex, of Hughes township.
John M. Wilson was reared on the paternal farmstead in Hughes town- ship and is indebted to the public schools and the old Maryville Seminary for his educational training. He was reared to the life of a farmer and devoted his attention to that line of effort until 1900, when he accepted the position of assistant cashier of the Citizens' Bank at Graham, filling this position until 1904, when he was promoted to the position of cashier, in which capacity he is now giving efficient and eminently satisfactory service. The Citizens' Bank is one of the solid and influential financial institutions of Nodaway county and has had an important part in the activities in a com- mercial way of the community. The institution has been prosperous from its inception. not a little of its present success being due to the executive ability and sound business judgment of its cashier. Courteous and accommo- dating, yet wisely conservative, Mr. Wilson has proven a most popular official and the wisdom of his selection to the position he holds has been abundantly vindicated.
Mr. Wilson was married in Hughes township on December 17, 1899. to Frances S. Gex, a daughter of R. B. and Bettie Gex, her birth having oc- curred in this township. The wedded life has been most happy and con- genial and their home is the center of a large social circle, in which they enjoy a well deserved popularity. Fraternally, Mr. Wilson is a member of the Ancient Free and Accepted Masons, in the work of which he takes a deep interest. He enjoys a wide acquaintance throughout his section of Nodaway county and wherever known he is held in the highest esteem. His father. William G. Wilson, is also numbered among the prominent and well-to-do men of Nodaway county, where he owns over two thousand acres of fine farming land. from which he derives a considerable income.
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WILLIAM YATES COX.
It is with marked satisfaction that the biographer adverts to the life of one who has attained success in any vocation requiring definiteness of pur- pose and determined action. Such a life, whether it be one of calm, con- secutive endeavor or of sudden. meteoric accomplishments, must abound in both lesson and incentive and prove a guide to young men whose fortunes and destinies are still matters for the future to determine. The subject of this sketch is distinctively one of the representative agriculturists of Nodaway county. For a number of years he directed his efforts towards the goal of success and by patient continuance succeeded at last in overcoming the many obstacles in his way.
William Y. Cox was born in Madison county. Kentucky, on June 20. 1842, and he is the son of Isaac and Lucy A. ( Bootwright ) Cox. the former a native of North Carolina and the latter born in the Blue Grass state. In 1843 these parents came to Buchanan county, Missouri, where they lived for two years, and then came to Nodaway county, settling in Polk township. where they spent the rest of their days, the father dying in his ninety-seventh year and his wife at the age of sixty years. They were the parents of four children, namely: Elizabeth, who died at the age of sixty-five years : William Y. : Theodore : Benoni, a resident of White Cloud township, this county.
William Y. Cox was reared to manhood on the parental farmstead in Polk township, where he has resided continuously since 1845. He received a good, practical education in the common schools and has devoted himself during the subsequent years to agricultural pursuits and stock raising, in both of which lines his efforts have been rewarded with a due measure of success. He owns two hundred acres of splendid and fertile land, on which are raised all the crops common to this section of the country. The improvements in- clude a comfortable and attractive residence and convenient outbuildings. everything about the place indicating comfort and good management. Mr Cox has had an active part in the development of this part of Nodaway county, in the improvement of which he has always taken a deep interest. and he is rightfully numbered among the representative citizens of the town- ship.
On July 29. 1869. in Polk township. Mr. Cox was united in marriage to Martha R. Jones, who was born in Buchanan county, this state, on December 28. 1852, a daughter of Jonathan and Nancy (Lankford) Jones. These par- ents were both natives of Kentucky, who came to Missouri and settled in Polk township, Nodaway county, in 1869. Subsequently they moved to Kansas,
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where the father died. The mother afterwards went to Oklahoma, where her death occurred. Of their eleven children, Mrs. Cox was the sixth child in order of birth. Mr. and Mrs. Cox. are the parents of nine living children, namely : Benoni, a farmer in Polk township, Jonathan H., Alva J., William E .. Lucy A., the wife of Edgar Russell. Nellie J., Nannie B., Nettie G., and Thomas R. Two other children died in infancy unnamed.
Religiously. Mrs. Cox is a faithful member of the Baptist church and takes an active interest in the work of the society. Mr. Cox is a man of acknowledged business ability, whose influence has ever been exerted in the direction of right things in the life of the community, supporting those move- ments which have tended to benefit his fellows. He enjoys a wide acquaint- ance throughout his section of the county and is well liked by all who know him.
SAMUEL P. HUSTON.
To indulge in prolix encomium of a life which is one of distinctive modesty and unpretentiousness would be most incongruous, and yet in re- viewing the career of the subject of this sketch, who is one of the sterling agriculturists of Polk township. Nodaway county, and who holds a position of unequivocal confidence and esteem in the community in which he has long lived and labored to so goodly ends. feelings of admiration are prompted.
Samuel P. Huston was born at Brookfield. Linn county, Missouri, on November 25. 1872. and is a son of Samuel P. and Martha (Campbell) Huston. These parents are both deceased, both dying at St. Joseph, this state, the father on November 24. 1903, and the mother on May 5. 1905. Samuel P. Huston, Sr., was a native of Pennsylvania and after settling in Missouri he became a man of influence and prominence in public affairs, hav- ing served as a member of the state Legislature. The subject's mother was also a native of the old Keystone state and was a woman of many graces and commendable virtues. These parents had seven children. two sons and five daughters, the subject of this sketch being the third child in order of birth.
Samuel P. Huston, Jr., spent the first eleven years of his life under the parental roof at Brookfield. and then moved with his parents to St. Joseph. this state, where he completed his common school education, supplementing this by attendance at Avalon College. at Trenton, Missouri. Upon the com- pletion of his education he accepted a position as clerk in a wholesale house in St. Joseph, but at the end of a year he relinquished that position and dur-
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ing the following year he was engaged in the life and accident insurance busi- ness. In 1898 he turned his attention to agricultural lines and located on the farm in Polk township. this county, where he now resides. The place com- prises one hundred and sixty acres of as good land as can be found in the township and it is maintained at a high standard of excellence, the result of the advanced ideas of the owner. Mr. Huston has erected an attractive and comfortable modern house and other necessary farm buildings. the gen- eral appearance of the place indicating thrift and prosperity. Mr. Huston gives attention to a general line of farming, raising all the crops common to this section of the country, and also gives some attention to the raising of livestock, in which also he has met with a gratifying measure of success.
On November 25. 1901. in White Cloud township, this county, Mr. Huston was united in marriage with Sarah L. Montgomery, who was born in that township on October 2. 1878. the daughter of John D. and Martha P. (Shinabarger) Montgomery. Her parents are both deceased. the father having died at Omaha. Nebraska. on December 20. 1909, and the mother at Maryville, this county, in 1886. They were the parents of three children, of which number Mrs. Huston is the eldest. Mr. and Mrs. Huston are the par- ents of four children, Alice L., Howard M .. Grace L. and Ruth M.
Religiously, Mrs. Huston is a member of the Baptist church, to which Mr. Huston gives an earnest and liberal support. In every relation of life he has been true to his highest ideals and his daily life has been such as to win the respect and esteem of all who know him. Active, energetic and suc- cessful in his business affairs, he has been rewarded with a fair degree of prosperity and he is now numbered among the enterprising citizens of his township.
ROBERT D. MILLER.
Descended from honored ancestry and himself numbered among the leading citizens of Nodaway county, Missouri, the subject of this sketch is entitled to specific recognition in a work of this character. A residence in this county of many years has but strengthened his hold on the hearts of the people with whom he has been associated and today no one here enjoys a larger circle of warm friends and acquaintances, who esteem him because of his sterling qualities of character and his business ability.
Robert D. Miller, who owns and operates a splendid farm in Polk town- ship, was born on a farm near DeSoto, Iowa, on March 10. 1878. and is a
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son of John W. and Mary W. (Garrett ) Miller. the former a native of Indiana and the latter of Kentucky. The father is now deceased, his widow being now a resident of Nodaway county. They came to this county in 1880 and located on a farm in Hughes township, to the cultivation of which the father devoted himself until his death, which occurred on May 17, 1908, when seventy-eight years old. They became the parents of fourteen children, of which number four are living. Martin L., Harvey A., Cora M. and Robert D.
Robert D. Miller was but two years old when the family located in Nod- away county, so that practically his entire life has been spent within its borders. He was reared on the parental farmstead in Hughes township, re- maining with his parents until March. 1907. when he purchased a farm of one hundred and sixty acres in Polk township, where he now resides. He is a thoroughly practical and up-to-date farmer, using modern implements and machinery in his farm work, and keeping in touch with the most advanced ideas relating to the science of husbandry. He has a comfortable and attrac- tive residence, commodious and well-arranged barns and necessary outbuild- ings, well-kept fences and other essentials of a high-grade farm, the general appearance of the place being pleasing to the eye and indicative of the own- er's progressive ideas. Mr. Miller conducts a general line of farming, and also gives considerable attention to the raising of livestock, a valuable adjunct to any farm, and as a result of his enterprise and indefatigable efforts he realizes a comfortable annual income from his place.
Mr. Miller was united in marriage on March 5. 1902, to Maude Gault. who was born in Polk township, this county. on August 4. 1874. the daughter of Lemuel E. and Mary J. (Roberts) Gault. These parents were natives re- spectively of Tennessee and Ohio and came to Nodaway county in the latter sixties, their marriage occurring after their arrival here. They settled in Polk township, where they remained until in July, 1903, when they removed to Maryville, this county, where they have since resided. They are the parents of eight children, of whom seven are living, namely: Maude, the wife of R. D. Miller ; Icca, the wife of D. T. O'Connor: J. Earl; Etha O., the wife of Fred Stephenson, of Maryville: L. Odis: Dessie E .: Verdie, who died at the age of about twelve years. To the subject and his wife have been born three children, Earl G., Mildred A. and Harold D. Religiously, Mr. Miller is a member of the Christian church and his wife of the Presbyterian, both giving to their churches ardent and liberal support. Fraternally, Mr. Miller is a member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows and the Woodmen of the World. He is a man of pleasing address and genial disposition, easily makes friends and among his acquaintances are many warm personal friends, who esteem him for his genuine worth.
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JOHN C. LOOKER.
When John C. Looker first came to Nodaway county he found conditions very much like the emigrant would find today in the unsettled prairies of the far Northwest, dotted here and there with a cabin or rude dwelling, around which was a small "patch" of upturned sod which the settlers were endeavor- ing to wrest a living from. But conditions soon changed and he lived to see and take part in the wonderful development that has taken place since then ; having prospered by reason of hard toil and good management, he is now liv- ing in retirement in Maryville.
Mr. Looker was born in Fairfield county, Ohio. July 14. 1835. He re- mained on the home farm, assisting with the general work about the place and attending the neighboring schools during the winter until he was nineteen years old, then, in 1854, moved to Andrew county, Missouri. He is the son of James W. and Sophia ( Sprinkle) Looker, both natives of Virginia, born in Rockingham county. They finally came to Missouri, settling six miles north of Savannah and there the father lived until his death at an advanced age.
In 1862, when twenty-seven years of age. John C. Looker left his parental home and came to Nodaway county, locating five miles east of Maryville, in Polk township, settling on timbered land, between the One Hundred and Two and the Mozingo branch, paying from six to eight dollars per acre for his land. He did not think he could live on the prairie, having been used to timbered country. He set to work clearing his land. to build a frame house. there being a sawmill one mile distant. A log house stood on the land when he came. Later he erected a fine frame dwelling and lived there until 1900. developing a fine farm which he still owns, but in the year mentioned he moved to Maryville. George Biggett. Sam Craven and John Lynch, who were boys in Mr. Looker's time, still live in the neighborhood where they all settled about the same time.
Mr. Looker started with one hundred and forty acres, later added fifty acres, for which he paid thirty-three dollars per acre, and it is now worth seventy-five dollars per acre. It is one of the best farms in the vicinity. especially adapted for grain, and he has handled a great deal of stock on it and in the early days sheep and cattle. When he first came here he did considerable hauling from St. Joseph for the Maryville stores, it requiring three days to make the trip, remaining in St. Joseph one night and making twelve or fifteen dollars on a trip, which was considered good pay for the time spent. He kept this up until the railroad was built. The principal merchants of those days
JOHN C .LOOKER
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were Ben Torrence, Albert and John. Michau and James Saunders, the last named being the only one left. Mr. Looker frequently drove his hogs to St. Joseph to market. the trips requiring six days. On one trip he brought back eleven thousand dollars, the hogs he drove that time being owned by Ned Stevenson and Wash. Downing. George S. Baker also often made the trip, taking two or three wagons, while he rode horseback.
Mr. Looker served in the state militia, and his brother James K. served in the Civil war, also in the state militia. Politically, Mr. Looker is a Demo- crat all along the line.
Mr. Looker was married, while living in Andrew county, Missouri, in 1860. to Susanna Swartz, who died September 23. 1905. This union resulted in the birth of the following children: Lizzie, who married Mathias Casteel. of Polk township ; Amandy married William J. Falls and died ; Cora married Frank Woods, of Sword, Nebraska : Mary married Elmer Young, of Bedison, Missouri : John is operating the old home place for his father.
SAMUEL DEMPSEY.
Among the representative farmers and stock growers of Nodaway county is the subject of this review, who is the owner of a highly productive farm and who is carrying on his business with that discretion and energy which always make for definite success. He has been a hard worker and has gained a substantial foothold in life, not because of the help or influence of others. but because he has worked for it in a most diligent manner, having overcome many obstacles that would have discouraged a less courageous man.
Samuel Dempsey was born in Ontario, Canada. on July 14. 1854. and is a son of John and Margaret ( Money) Dempsey. natives of Ireland, who emigrated to the New World a number of years before the birth of the subject. In 1869 they came to Nodaway county, Missouri, and settled on a farm in Polk township, where the mother's death afterwards occurred. The father's death occurred in Marshall county. Kansas, a number of years after the death of his wife. They were the parents of seven children, of whom the subject of this sketch is the sixth in order of birth.
Samuel Dempsey spent his boyhood days under the parental rooftree and secured a fair education in the common schools. mainly in the locality where he was born. His active labors have been confined to the pursuit of
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agriculture, in which he was reared, and in which he has achieved a definite success. He is now the owner of one hundred and twenty acres of land in Polk township. all improved and under a high state of cultivation. As a farmer. Mr. Dempsey easily ranks with the most enterprising and successful men of his calling in Polk township, being progressive in his methods and using the latest modern implements and machinery and by judicious rotation of crops he seldom fails to realize abundant returns from the time and labor devoted to his fields. He also pays considerable attention to the raising of live stock, which he finds quite profitable.
Mr. Dempsey was married in Knox county, Illinois, on March 27. 1889. to Jeannette Murray, whose birth occurred in that county on August 15. 1863. she being a daughter of William and Elizabeth (Fisher) Murray. Her father was born in Kentucky and her mother in Knox county. Illinois, their deaths occurring in the latter county. Of their five children, Mrs. Dempsey was the second in order of birth. To Mr. and Mrs. Dempsey have been born three children, William J .. Harry and Carl.
Mr. Dempsey has taken an intelligent interest in the general welfare of the community and has rendered efficient service in the capacity of school director. He and his wife are members of the Presbyterian church, taking an earnest part in its various activities and contributing liberally of their means to its support. He is a man of high ideals and his life has been so ordered as to win for him the respect and esteem of the entire community. His support is given unreservedly to those movements which are for the advancement of the community. morally, educationally, socially or materially, and he is num- bered among the representative citizens of the township.
HUGH DEMPSEY.
No farmer in Nodaway county carries on his work in all its diversified lines with more careful discrimination and foresight that tends to definite success, than the gentleman whose name appears above, who has developed and is operating a fine farm in Polk township. A man of much force of character. his good judgment has directed him along the right lines of action and today he is held in high esteem throughout the community where the greater part of his life has been spent.
Hugh Dempsey was born in the province of Ontario, Canada, about the year 1864 and he is a son of John and Margaret (Money) Dempsey, who
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were both natives of Ireland, from whence they emigrated to America some years before the birth of the subject, who is the youngest and ninth in order of birth of their children. John and Margaret Dempsey were married in the Emerald Isle and on coming to America they lived for some years in Ontario. where the father devoted his efforts to agricultural pursuits with a gratifying measure of success until 1869. In that year, having heard of the wonderful possibilities of the Western states of the Union, he came to Nodaway county, Missouri, and located in Polk township, where the family made their future home. Here, after a few years, the mother died, and the father some years afterwards passed away while on a visit to a son in Marshall county, Kansas.
Hugh Dempsey was about five years old when the family came to the United States and he was reared by his parents on the home farm in Polk township, where he was early induced into the work of the place. He secured his education in the common schools of the neighborhood and assisted his father until 1895, when he located on a farm in this township, which he had purchased, comprising one hundred and sixty acres of highly improved and productive land, on which he has since resided. He has applied himself to a general line of farming, raising all the crops common to this section of the country, and has also given considerable attention to the raising of livestock. which he has found a source of considerable income. Thoroughly practical in his methods, he has kept in touch with advanced ideas relating to the sci- ence of husbandry and is numbered among the up-to-date farmers of his township.
At Maryville, Missouri, on February 12, 1892, Mr. Dempsey was united in marriage to Addie Renshaw, who is a native of Adams county. Illinois. where she was born on July 20, 1867, the daughter of William and Nancy ( Hogan) Renshaw. Her father was a native of Indiana and her mother of Illinois, their residence being in the latter state after their marriage until their removal to Nodaway county, Missouri. early in the eighties. They set- tled in Polk township, where the mother's death occurred, her husband sur- viving her. They were the parents of seven children, of which number Mrs. Dempsey is the third in the order of birth. Five children blessed the union of Mr. and Mrs. Dempsey, namely: Two that died in infancy, Earl. Helen and Vern. The subject and the members of his family are popular among a large circle of friends in Polk township, and their comfortable and attractive home is often the gathering place for their numerous acquaintances. Mr. Dempsey is a man of fine personal qualities and because of his earnest and upright life he has earned the universal respect of the community.
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JOHN S. MILLER.
In the development of Nodaway county the subject of this biography has borne an important part. for he has long been prominently identified with the farming life of the locality, and while advancing his own interests he has not been neglect ful of his duty to his fellow-citizens. therefore he is accorded a full measure of esteem by all who know him.
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