USA > Missouri > Nodaway County > Past and present of Nodaway County, Missouri Volume I > Part 53
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John H. Miller has been living on the home place for the past nineteen years, during which time he has greatly improved it and has been amply rewarded for his painstaking labor. On April 19. 1898, he married Annie Linneman, daughter of Joe and Nettie Linneman. Mrs. Miller was born in Quincy, Illinois, but came to Maryville with her parents when a small child. Five children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. John H. Miller, namely : Andrew, Leona died when nine years old; Charlie. Albert and George, all members of the home circle.
Mr. Miller belongs to the Modern Woodmen camp at Maryville, also the Knights of Columbus. He and his family are members of St. Mary's Catholic church at Maryville, and are very faithful in their support of the same, standing well in the local congregation.
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EDWARD W. GEYER.
There is no positive rule for achieving success, yet in the life of the suc- cessful man there are always lessons which might be followed. The man who gains prosperity is he who can see and utilize the opportunities that come in his path. The essential conditions of human life are ever the same, the sur- roundings of individuals differ but slightly, and when one man passes another on the highway of life, it is because he has the power to use advantages which probably encompass the whole human race. Today, among the prominent citizens and successful business men of Graham, Nodaway county, stands Edward W. Geyer. The qualities of keen discrimination, sound judgment and executive ability enter very largely into his make-up and have been contrib uting elements to the material success which has come to him.
Edward W. Geyer is a native son of the old Hoosier state. having first seen the light of day in Clark county. Indiana, on December 10, 1864. and is a son of John L. and Christina (Helger) Geyer. His parents, who also were born and reared in Clark county. Indiana, married there and in 1865 they came to Nodaway county, Missouri, settling on a farm in Hughes town- ship, where the father still maintains his residence, his wife having died there on June 2, 1909, at the age of about sixty-seven years. They became the parents of eight children, of which number the subject of this sketch was the second in order of birth.
Edward W. Geyer was reared to manhood on the paternal farmstead in Hughes township and secured his education in the common schools of the neighborhood, his vacation periods being spent in labor on the home farm. He continued to apply himself to agricultural pursuits until 1896, meeting with gratifying success the meanwhile, and in the year mentioned he came to Graham and engaged in the hardware and implement business, in which he is still engaged. He carries a full line of shelf and heavy hardware, to- gether with a good variety of implements and his efforts to cater to the re- quirements of the local trade have been fully appreciated. his trade being secured from a large radius of surrounding country. His store is eligibly located and is a favorite stopping place for the many friends of the owner. who enjoys a marked popularity throughout the section of the county in which he lives.
In Hughes township, on April 4. 1888. Mr. Geyer was united in mar- riage with Mary. S. Sewell, a native of this township and the daughter of William A. and Lydia A. Sewell. a sketch of whom appears elsewhere in this work. Mrs. Sewell died at her home in this township. To Mr. and
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Mrs. Geyer have been born four children. Orel R., Raymond E., John S. and Rose C. Orel R. is in Tulsa, Oklahoma, where he is city editor of a newspaper.
Politically. Mr. Geyer is a stanch Republican and has taken an active part in local public affairs, having rendered efficient service as justice of the peace and assessor of Hughes township. Fraternally, he is a member of the Ancient Free and Accepted Masons and the Woodmen of the World. His religious membership is with the Baptist church at Graham, to which his wife also belongs, and to which they render a hearty support. Mr. Geyer is a man of rare business acumen, foresight. sagacity and persistence. Coupled with this is a pleasing personality and courtesy of manner that win him friends wherever he goes and makes him popular with all classes. so that the future to such a man is unquestionably bright.
HENRY B. COBB.
Though not old in point of years. the subject of this sketch has already demonstrated his ability as an agriculturist and through his progressive- ness and enterprise he has achieved a pronounced and unqualified success at his chosen vocation. His fine farm in Hopkins township stands in unmis- takable evidence of his energetic methods and practical way of doing things. and he enjoys an excellent reputation among his fellows.
H. B. Cobb was born on June 25, 1879. in Abilene, Kansas, and is a son of George and Emma (Windbolt) Cobb. The father was a native of Medford, Connecticut. and the mother was born in the city of Chicago. George Cobb, when nine years of age, accompanied his parents on their removal to Illinois and lived there until after the close of the Civil war. At the outbreak of that terrible conflict he offered his services in defense of the national honor and integrity. becoming a member of the One Hundred and Eighth Regiment Illinois Volunteer Infantry. He served four and a half years, rendering valiant and effective service in defense of Old Glory. and at the close of the war received an honorable discharge. Soon after the close of his military service Mr. Cobb went to Kansas, where he remained until 1880, when he came to Nodaway county, Missouri, where he devoted his attention to farming and stock raising, meeting with splendid success in both lines of effort. He gave special attention to the breeding of Shorthorn cattle and Poland-China hogs. He was a stanch Republican in political faith,
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and was twice elected to represent Nodaway county in the state Legislature, giving effective and appreciated service in that body. To him and his wife were born two children, Edith, who is now deceased, and the subject of this sketch. George Cobb died on March 14, 1908, and his widow is now living in Hopkins, this county.
H. B. Cobb was reared on the parental farmstead until twelve years of age, and secured his education in the Hopkins public schools. From his twelfth to his twenty-first year he lived in the town of Hopkins, and he then bought the splendid farm of one hundred and forty acres where he now lives. Besides carrying on a general line of farming, in which he is successful to a satisfactory degree, he has met with distinction as a breeder of Aberdeen Angus cattle and Shropshire sheep. His farm is highly im- proved and is considered one of the best farms in Independence township. Energy, sound judgment and marked business ability have been the elements which have contributed to the prosperity which has come as the just reward for his persistent efforts.
On February 19, 1902, Mr. Cobb was united in marriage with Lola Burch, a native of this county and a daughter of Jasper and Nancy M. (Cun- ningham) Burch, who now reside in Los Angeles, California. To Mr. and Mrs. Cobb have been born three children, Margaret Hope, Mildred Irene and George Burch.
Politically. Mr. Cobb is aligned with the Republican party, to which he gives a stanch support. Religiously he and his wife are members of the Methodist Episcopal church, in the workings of which they take an active interest. Mr. Cobb is known as a man of progressive ideas and, with the welfare of the community at heart, he gives a hearty support to every worthy cause. He is widely known and well liked throughout the community.
JOHN MUNN.
One of Nodaway county's foremost agriculturists and stock raisers is John Munn, of the vicinity of Parnell, who has shown what an honest, earnest. hard working man can accomplish. although he had to hew his own for- tune from the obstacles that beset his way, for he started life with no great aid from any one, but he was always industrious and economical, so that today he has a comfortable competency and has been of no small amount of assistance to others.
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Mr. Munn is a native of the old Buckeye state, having been born in Wayne county. Ohio, March 14, 1837. the son of John and Sophia ( Pearson) Munn, the father a native of Washington county, Pennsylvania, and the mother of Wayne county, Ohio. The former learned the blacksmith's trade in Pittsburg and came to Wayne county, Ohio, in an early day. In 1840 he came to Platte county, Missouri, and took up government land, and re- mained here nine years, when he sold out and returned to Pittsburg and remained there two years. In 1850 he went to Cedar county, Iowa. After remaining there a while he sold out and went to Muscatine, Iowa, where he died in 1896, at the advanced age of ninety-three years, having survived his wife over a half century, her death having occurred in 1844. Six chil- dren were born to them, four of whom are living. Mr. Munn devoted his long life to farming and blacksmithing. In his early life he was a Democrat, later a Republican. He and his wife were members of the Methodist Epis- copal church.
John Munn was reared on a farm and has made agriculture his chief life work. He first owned forty acres in Macon county. Selling this, he pur- chased eighty acres in Cedar county, Iowa. His next move was to Jasper county, Iowa, where he became the owner .of four hundred acres of land. He farmed very successfully there until 1905 when he sold out and came to Nodaway county, Missouri, where he at once resumed farming and is now the owner of four hundred and forty acres of as good land as the county can boast. Besides general farming on an extensive scale, he feeds large numbers of livestock, devoting special attention to Aberdeen-Angus cattle. He has a well-improved and well-cultivated place, a beautifully located home and substantial outbuildings. A Republican in politics, he has never sought public office. Mrs. Munn is a member of the Congregational church.
On August 27. 1857, Mr. Munn married Mary J. Montgomery, a native of Beaver county, Pennsylvania, and the daughter of William and Mary (Heckchoin) Montgomery, both born in Pennsylvania. They came to Cedar county, Iowa, in 1853, and there Mr. Montgomery died on March 1, 1862: his wife died in Jasper county, Iowa, in October, 1891.
Eleven children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. John Munn, and all are living. They are: Jenette, the wife of J. F. Dowden, of Nodaway county ; Mary Ann. the wife of August Haun, of Jasper county. Iowa : Alice. the wife of Delbert Bishop, of Des Moines, Iowa; J. W., a farmer in Jasper county, Iowa, who married Alice McConkey; Nevada, the wife of John Swihart, of Jasper county, Iowa : Ulysses Grant is farming on eighty acres of land which he owns in Nodaway county, is a Republican, and he married Mary L. Ma-
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chon, who has borne him seven children, four of whom are living ; George W .. who is farming in Jasper county, Iowa, married Clara Parks; D. L., who is farming in South Dakota, married Ida Loopy; Bertha, the wife of Frank Knight, a farmer of Jasper county, Iowa ; Laura, the wife of William Stickle. a farmer of Grinnell, Iowa ; S. A., who is farming in Nodaway county, mar- ried Lena Johnson. and they are the parents of four children. all living.
LEANDER M. BIRD.
Among the many Hoosiers who have settled in Nodaway county during the past half century and have thereby benefited themselves and the county alike, the name of Leander M. Bird. of Independence township, should be mentioned. He was born in Madison county, Indiana, October 1, 1857, and is the son of Joseph and Mary (Shetterly) Bird, the father a native of High- land county and the mother of Clermont county, Ohio. They came to Madison county, Indiana, in 1847, and bought a farm of one hundred and sixty acres and there Mr. Bird died in 1862, at the age of thirty-nine years, and Mrs. Bird died in Clermont county, Ohio, at the age of thirty-eight years. They were the parents of six children, of whom three are living. Joseph Bird was a mechanic, a teacher and farmer. Politically he was a Republican, and he and his wife were members of the Methodist Episcopal church. The paternal grandparents of Leander M. Bird, of this review, were William and Elizabeth Bird, early settlers of Highland county, Ohio, where they spent their lives and where they are buried. They, too, were Methodists. Leander M. Bird's maternal grandparents, George Shetterly and wife, were early settlers of Clermont county, Ohio, and were both natives of Pennsylvania. They spent their lives in Clermont county, he dying at the age of eighty-six years and she when sixty-four years old.
Leander M. Bird was reared on a farm, and early in life he knew the meaning of hard work, the home of his parents being in Madison county, In- diana, seven miles west of Anderson. He was educated in the common schools, and soon after finishing his education he took up active farming, and has continued to the present day. He came to Independence township, Noda- way county. Missouri, in 1880 and bought sixty acres of land of Damet. Van Vorris. He now owns a well-improved place of one hundred and ten acres, having made all the improvements himself, and he is a general farmer and stock raiser.
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NODAWAY COUNTY, MISSOURI.
In politics Mr. Bird is a Republican; he has been road boss in his com- munity. He belongs to the Modern Woodmen of America and he and his wife belong to the Methodist Episcopal church.
In 1878 Mr. Bird married Viola Auten, daughter of Solomon and Mary (Kertz) Auten, the former born in 1866. To Mr. and Mrs. Bird nine chil- dren were born, named as follows: Joseph, Omer (deceased ). Alverda May. Clifford W., John O., Eugene E., Ethel V., Wilford Lee and Verna Olive.
WILLIAM COWEN.
Independence township has no more careful and persistent worker with its rich, productive soil, and Nodaway county no more loyal citizen than William Cowen, who was born in Greene county, Pennsylvania, October 27. 1836. He is the son of Joseph and Hester (Mitchner) Cowen, the father born near Philadelphia and the latter in Greene county, Pennsylvania, her parents being pioneers of that county. When a child, the parents of Joseph Cowen brought him to Greene county, Pennsylvania, he being the son of Wil- liam and Mary Ann (Darling) Cowen, and here they both died on the old homestead. Joseph Cowen devoted his life to farming, and died on the old place in 1839, at the age of thirty-five years. His wife came to Nodaway county, Missouri, and died here. Five children were born to them, of whom William, of this review, is the only one living. The father was a Democrat in politics. The mother was again married, her second husband being Mathias Pettit, by whom she became the mother of two children, both living. Mr. Pettit died in Pennsylvania. William Cowen's paternal grandmother was born in England and came to America when sixteen years old. She saw George Washington many times.
William Cowen, of this review, was reared on a farm in Pennsylvania and educated in the common schools there. He came to Cedar county, Iowa, in 1857 and in 1859 returned to Pennsylvania. In 1873 he came to Inde- pendence township. Nodaway county, Missouri, and settled on one hundred and sixty acres of land, which he bought when a young man. He has made this his place of abode ever since, and has put on all the improvements, now having a farm that ranks with the best of his community.
Politically, he was a Democrat in early life, then a Republican, and now he votes independently. He has been road master and school director for years, also district clerk for some time.
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Mr. Cowen was married on June 6, 1861, to Sarah Ann Smith, who was born in Greene county, Pennsylvania, and the daughter of Craven and Betsy (Scott) Smith, who spent the last days of their lives in Greene county, Pennsylvania. Mrs. Smith died on March 18, 1907, at the age of sixty-four years. Eleven children were born to Mr. and Mrs. William Cowen, named as follows: Manfred, Laura Jane, Sherman, Flora Belle (deceased). Mel- vin, Newton, Charlie, Frank, Elsie, Mabel (deceased). Grace.
WILLIAM H. LAWLER.
A successful farmer and honored citizen of Nodaway county is W. H. Lawler, who was born in Schuyler county, Illinois, November 24, 1851, and he is the son of J. T. and Sarah ( Pinkerton) Lawler, the former a native of Bull Run, Virginia, and the latter of Putnam county, Indiana. Mr. Lawler went to Schuyler county, Illinois, when a young man, and there he died on February 10, 1900, his widow still living there in the comfortable home he established. Eleven children were born to them, seven of whom are living. Politically the father was a Democrat, and he belonged to the Methodist Epis- copal church, in which Mrs. Lawler also holds membership.
W. H. Lawler, of this review, was reared on a farm, and when but a boy assisted with the general work about the place. He attended the common schools and received a very good education. He came to Nodaway county, Missouri, in 1884, and bought one hundred and twenty acres of land, where he still resides and is successfully engaged in general farming and stock raising, having worked hard and managed well. so that he has one of the choice farms of the community. He has on hand from time to time varieties of good livestock, handling about all the place will support.
Early in life Mr. Lawler turned his attention to school teaching, and for some time taught very acceptably in Schuyler and Brown counties, Illinois, and in Nodaway county, Missouri. Politically, he is a Democrat, but does not find much time to mix in party affairs.
Mr. Lawler was married, on April 14, 1881, to Joanna McGovern, a na- tive of North Carolina, born there on November 15. 1854. the daughter of Michael and Frances ( Butler) McGovern, the former born in Ireland and the latter in Bertie county, North Carolina. They went to Cass county, Illinois, in 1856, and settled on a farm where they remained for twelve years.
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then sold out and went to Brown county, that state, and there Mr. McGovern died December 6, 1890, Mrs. McGovern surviving until May 2, 1907. Eleven children were born to them, four of whom are living at this writing.
Four children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. W. H. Lawler, named as follows: Eugenie, Winfield, Hattie and Homer.
HENRY PEARL JOHNSTON.
Many families from the Hawkeye state have crossed the line and found excellent homes in Nodaway county, Missouri, and the fact that very few have desired to go back to their former place of residence is evidence that they are doing well here and find this a pleasant country from every point of view. One such is Henry Pearl Johnston, who was born in Taylor county, Iowa, September 22, 1872, the son of James and Anna (Long) Johnston, the former a native of Maryland, born in 1829, and the latter born in 1832. They were among the first settlers of Taylor county, Iowa, where Mr. John- ston became well established and where he now lives, retired. Politically, he is a Republican. Mrs. James Johnston was called to her rest in 1908. In their family were ten children, of whom six are living. The parents were always Methodists.
Henry P. Johnston was reared on the home farm, where he began work- ing during the summer months when a small boy, attending the neighboring schools in the winter time, also went to the Bedford high school. He came to Nodaway county, Missouri, in 1899, and has devoted himself to farming. He is the owner of eighty acres of good land, on which he conducts general farming operations and raises good stock, making a specialty of such stock as always finds ready sales. He keeps his place well improved and has a very comfortable home and such outbuildings as are found on the usual well- managed farm of the present day.
Mr. Johnston married, on February 9. 1898, Cina Dickerson, a native of Illinois, the daughter of I. S. and Mary ( Bornhuff) Dickerson. The latter is now deceased and Mr. Dickerson now lives in Nodaway county, Missouri. To Mr. and Mrs. Johnston two children have been born, namely. Carol Esther and Walter Harland.
Mr. and Mrs. Johnston are members of the Methodist Episcopal church, and Mr. Johnston belongs to the Modern Woodmen of America. Politically, he is a Republican.
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WILLIAM H. MOWRY.
Among the honored veterans of the Civil war, in which he bravely de- fended the stars and stripes, and one of the successful farmers of Hughes township, Nodaway county, is William H. Mowry, in whose life record there is much that is commendable, for he has been found true to duty in every relation, whether of a public or private character, and while energy and unabating industry have been salient features of his career, he is equally well known for his uprightness and the honorable methods he has always fol- lowed and for his loyalty to any public trust reposed in him.
Mr. Mowry was born in Washington county, Maryland, September 28, 1842. He is the son of Abraham and Mary ( Burkett) Mowry, both natives of Washington county, Maryland, where Mrs. Mowry died, after which Mr. Mowry, in the fall of 1865, moved to Mercer county. Illinois, and lived there until 1879. when he came to Nodaway county, Missouri, and here spent his last days, dying at the home of his son, William H., of this review, when about seventy-nine years of age. He and his wife were the parents of four children, of whom William H. was the fourth in order of birth. He grew up on the home place and received his education in the neighboring schools, and in the fall of 1865 came to Illinois and in 1879 to Nodaway county, Missouri, locating on the farm where he now lives and where he has since resided, his place being one of the best improved in Hughes township. He bought eighty acres upon his arrival here, which has since been the scene of his endeavors, making him a very comfortable living all the while.
Mr. Mowry, in 1862, enlisted in Company G. Seventeenth Regiment Pennsylvania Cavalry, in which he served very faithfully for two years and nine months, participating in some of the great battles of the war, under Phil Sheridan. 'He was taken prisoner at the battle of Chancellorsville, but was paroled ten days later.
Mr. Mowry was married in Mercer county, Illinois, January 10. 1867. to Irena Norman, who was born in Mercer county, Illinois, September 10. 1848. She is the daughter of Wesley and Mary (Jones) Norman; her father was a native of Indiana and her mother of Virginia. They came from Indiana to Mercer county, Illinois, where they lived until 1881. in which year they came to Nodaway county, Missouri, and settled in Hughes township. where they spent the remainder of their lives, Mr. Norman dying at the age of eighty years and his wife at the age of eighty-five. They were the parents of four children, of whom Mrs. Mowry was the oldest.
W tham It mowry Prena. Marry.
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To Mr. and Mrs. William H. Mowry seven children have been born, namely : John, Oscar, Stella (wife of John L. Kime, of Polk township), Everett, Mable M. (wife of M. M. Wiles, of Hughes township), Frank and Thomas B.
BYRON WILSON GRIFFITH.
The subject of this sketch has early in life realized the fact that success never smiles upon the idler or dreamer. and he has accordingly followed such an aphorism, being numbered among the enterprising citizens of the town of his residence. Having spent all his life in the community, he is well known and by all is held in the highest esteem because of the commendable qualities which he has exhibited thus far.
Mr. Griffith was born on June 29, 1889. at Clearmont, this county, and is the third child in order of birth born to Henry B. and Samantha (Jones) Griffith. Henry B. was the son of Washington and Margaret Griffith, who were numbered among the early settlers of Nodaway county and are now both deceased, the mother's death occurring in 1888 and the father's in 1896. They were of sterling and rugged pioneer stock and enjoyed the respect of the entire community, to the development of which they contributed largely by their personal efforts. Henry B. Griffith has spent his entire life on a farm, and in 1882 he married Samantha Jones, to which union were born four children. They are now residing in Hopkins, the father being exten- sively engaged as a dealer in hogs, in which he is meeting with marked suc- cess. In politics he is a Republican and his religious affiliation is with the Methodist Episcopal church.
Byron W. Griffith received a good education in the public schools of Clearmont and was reared under the parental roof. Subsequently he moved to Hopkins with his parents, and was engaged in farming for three years. Feeling the need for a more practical education, he became a student in the State Normal School at Maryville. this county, where he pursued the business course. He then went to Omaha, Nebraska, where, for nearly a year, he was employed as a bookkeeper, after which he returned to Hopkins and accepted the position of deputy postmaster, in which position he is now serv- ing very acceptably. Accommodating and courteous in his relations with the patrons of the office, he is well liked by all, and is discharging the duties of his position to the eminent satisfaction of his superiors and the public.
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