USA > Missouri > Nodaway County > Past and present of Nodaway County, Missouri Volume II > Part 30
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On June 16, 1892. Mr. Coler married Ida M. Barnes, who was born in Hughes township, this county, on April 17. 1871. the daughter of Stephen H. and Ann (Collins) Barnes, both natives of Sangamon county. Illinois. Stephen Barnes accompanied his father, Nathaniel H. Barnes, in 1841, to Nodaway county. Missouri, and settled in what is now White Cloud town- ship. He was married October 1, 1857. in Washington county, Illinois. In 1858 they settled on the farm now owned by Isaac Coler. He built the house known as the "Lone and Lost House," which was the only dwelling between Quitman and Savannah. Here they lived until Mr. Barnes' death. January 27. 1889, at the age of sixty years, having been born August 13, 1829, in Sangamon county. Illinois. He was one of the famous band of "forty- niners," having made a trip to California with an ox team in 1849. in search of gold. Twelve children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Barnes, of whom Mrs. Coler was the eighth in order of birth. To Mr. and Mrs. Isaac Coler five children have been born, namely: Eunice P .. Carrie M .. Edith A., Osie L. and Leland B.
Soon after his marriage Mr. Coler settled in the south part of White Cloud township, where he lived for a period of ten years, then moved to his present farm, in November. 1902. He is the owner of one hundred and ten acres of the old Barnes homestead and his labors along agricultural and stock raising lines have been successful. He and his wife are members of the Methodist Episcopal church.
LEWIS WILSON.
One of the men of Polk township. Nodaway county, who has played well his part as a citizen is Lewis Wilson, his course having been characterized by industry. a progressive spirit and good management, also by a broad-minded policy which takes cognizance of the general as well as the individual wel-
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fare, his valued estates being located three miles east of Maryville. He was born in Clark county, Illinois, January 29, 1844. the same day and year on which President William McKinley was born, and there he grew to manhood and received his schooling in the common schools. He is the son of Reason and Sarah (Clapp) Wilson, the former a native of Kentucky and the latter of Illinois. They were married in the latter state, and devoted their lives to farming. Coming to Nodaway county, Missouri, when this locality was just on the verge of general development; Mr. Wilson died here in 1882 at the age of eighty years. Mrs. Wilson, now ninety-two years old, is living in Oklahoma. This family came to this county in 1865 and settled half a mile north of the Burlington depot. one mile northeast of Maryville. It was an improved farm when they bought it. Mr. Wilson put up new buildings and successfully operated his place here, which consisted of one hundred and sixty-four acres. It is now owned by John Herrin. Mrs. Sarah Wilson went to Oklahoma about twelve years ago. Their daughter is the wife of W. F. Mercer.
Upon coming to Nodaway county, Lewis Wilson began working for a Mr. Stevenson in Maryville, handling livestock, and for two or three years he assisted his father in conducting his farm, or until his marriage, at the age of twenty-six. to Sarah Mercer, sister of W. F. Mercer, whose sketch appears elsewhere in this volume.
Prior to his marriage Mr. Wilson had purchased a farm three miles northeast of Maryville, consisting of ninety acres, having the sum of eight hundred dollars to pay on it. He improved the place and erected good build- ings on it and lived there seven or eight years, during which time he paid for the same. He then sold out and bought eighty acres southeast of Maryville. On this stood a small house and on that place he lived until 1905. He still owns the place, which now contains two hundred acres, paying seventy-five dollars per acre for a part of it, buying the rest at twenty-five dollars per acre. paying as low as twelve dollars and fifty cents for one forty. He has been very successful as a general farmer, making the major part of his competency by raising and feeding stock, principally hogs.
Mr. Wilson's present home farm is on the state road, three and one- half miles east of the court house. consisting of forty acres. It was settled by a Mr. Lynch. Its present owner has built an attractive and substantial residence and a good barn. The home is very pleasantly situated on an eminence, from which a beautiful view of the surrounding country may be had for many miles. This modern and attractive home is frequently the gathering place for the many friends of the family. He paid eighty dollars
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per acre for this farm. He still operates his old farm, renting most of it, but overseeing it in general. He is a modern agriculturist and his land ranks in fertility and value with any in this favored section of the state.
Mr. Wilson is a Republican on national issues, but locally he prefers to vote for the man whom he deems best suited for the place sought.
The Wilson home has not been blessed with children, but they are rear- ing Nellie Tye, now ten years old. Mrs. Wilson is a member of the Methodist Episcopal church.
ALLEN MCNEAL.
By a life of indomitable enterprise and progressive methods Allen Mc- Neal, one of the representative farmers of Hughes township, has contributed in a material way to the advancement of his locality, and during the course of an honorable career has been fairly successful in his business enterprises, having been a man of energy, sound judgment and honesty of purpose, and is thus well deserving of mention in this volume. He hails from the old Keystone state, having been born in Huntington county, Pennsylvania, May 14. 1852. He is the son of James G. and Margaret (Shore) McNeal, both natives of Pennsylvania, and they came from Huntington county, that state, in March, 1869. locating about three miles south of Graham, Nodaway county, Missouri, where they spent the rest of their lives, the mother dying in her seventy-second year and the father reaching the age of eighty-two. They were the parents of ten children, of whom Allen, of this review, is the eighth in order of birth. He is a twin brother of Oliver McNeal.
Allen McNeal spent his early years in his native county, and came with his parents and the rest of the family to Nodaway county, Missouri. in March, 1869, and he has been a resident of Hughes township since that time. After receiving a fairly good education in the public schools he turned his attention to farming and stock raising, which he has made his life work. He is now the owner of one hundred and sixty acres, all improved and well kept. He has erected substantial and comfortable buildings on his place and has everything in "ship shape."
Mr. McNeal was married in this township, on March 24. 1878, to Almena McGinnis, who was born in Adams county, Illinois, December 25. 1853 : she is the daughter of William T. and Phoebe A. (Thayer) McGinnis.
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Her father was born in Kentucky and her mother in New York. They came to Nodaway county, Missouri, in January, 1865, and settled about two and one-half miles south of Graham, where Mr. McGinnis died in December, 1865, Mrs. McGinnis dying at the residence of Mr. McNeal on June 14, 1889, in her fifty-seventh year, having survived her husband many years, he having died when thirty-seven years old. Of a family of eight children, Mrs. McNeal was the oldest in order of birth. Three children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. McNeal, named as follows: Frank E., Roy P. and James D.
Mr. McNeal's support may always be depended upon to further any movement looking to the general advancement of his township or county, and he is loyal in his support of the Democratic party. His wife and family are active members of the Methodist Episcopal church. They have a wide acquaintance and hosts of warm personal friends throughout this part of the county.
GEORGE MCKNIGHT.
The gentleman whose name initiates this paragraph is numbered among the successful and representative business men of Nodaway county, his busi- ness location and home being at Burlington Junction, Nodaway township. In all the relations of life he has ever been found faithful and true, looking to the welfare of the community at large, while advancing his own interests.
George McKnight is a native of Nodaway county, having been born at Quitman, Green township, in 1875. He is a son of John and Ruth (Bowman) McKnight, the former a native of Illinois and the latter of Missouri, both having come to Nodaway county with their respective parents. John Mc- Knight was a pioneer stock man and successful stock buyer for many years. or until his retirement from active business. He was in this business before the advent of railroads here and was compelled to drive his stock to the market at Maryville. It is said that he traveled afoot over every part of Nod- away county in looking for stock to buy and enjoyed as wide an acquaintance as any citizen of the county. He had also devoted a few years to farming and was fairly successful in his business affairs. He was a stanch Republi- can in his political affiliations and served as a soldier four years during the Civil war. He became the father of eight children, six of whom are living. His religious membership was with the Methodist Episcopal church.
George McKnight was reared by his parents and secured his education in the common schools and at Stanberry Academy. After completing his
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education he engaged in teaching school for several years, after which he engaged in buying stock in association with his father, continuing in this line until 1899, when he began buying on his own account. In 1906 he entered into a partnership with Mr. Jones, under the firm name of McKnight & Jones, in the meat and grocery business, in which he is still engaged. The members of this firm are both well known throughout the community and enjoy the friendship and good will of all who know them, they being accorded a liberal share of the public patronage. Their business is so conducted as to merit the success which has come to them, as their aim is to give thorough satis- faction to all with whom they have dealings. In the fall of 1909 Mr. Mc- Knight built a comfortable and attractive residence in the eastern part of Burlington Junction, and he also owns the building in which his store is lo- cated, as well as the building adjoining. Mr. McKnight is an energetic and sagacious business man and is numbered among the leading men of his town.
In 1900 Mr. McKnight was united in marriage with Nellie Legge, a native of Nodaway county, and to them have been born two children, Fern Leudene and Dortha Beatrice. Politically. Mr. McKnight is an ardent Re- publican and takes a commendable interest in local public affairs, having served efficiently as township assessor for the past six years. Fraternally. he is a member of that great beneficiary order, the Modern Woodmen of America. His religious membership is with the Christian church, to which he gives a generous support. Genial and courteous in his intercourse with others, Mr. McKnight enjoys a well-earned popularity in the community, the num- ber of his friends being limited only by the number of his acquaintances.
ANDERSON CRAIG.
Anderson Craig, the subject of the following sketch, was born in Gallatin county, Kentucky. in the year 1851, in the Judge Craig homestead, located in such way as to give an extensive view of that far-famed and fertile valley bordering for miles along the banks of the beautiful Ohio and extending from near the island made famous as the headquarters of the Burr-Blenner- hassett conspiracy to the mouth of the Kentucky river at Carrollton.
Mr. Craig was the eighth of a family of eleven children. the son of Judge Albert Gallatin Craig and Virginia (Brooking) Craig, both natives and residents during their entire lives of the state of Kentucky. His father, Judge Albert Gallatin Craig, was born April 1, 1807, and his mother, Virginia (Brooking) Craig, was born on the 15th day of April. 1817.
ANDERSON CRAIG
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Anderson Craig was educated chiefly at Ghent College, Ghent, Ken- tucky, an institution of a high order of learning built up and fostered through the efforts of a public-spirited and enterprising citizenship, whose wealth and energy were liberally devoted to this enterprise. After completing the course of study in this institution, he became a student at that renowned seat of learning located in the Shenandoah valley of Virginia, Washington and Lee University. At the time of his entering upon his course of study at Wash- ington and Lee, and during the whole period of his continuance therein, he enjoyed the rare privilege so greatly coveted by every young Southern gen- tleman of being under the care and supervision until his death of the most renowned of Southern leaders, Gen. Robert E. Lee, perhaps the most famous leader of any age or clime. From this institution Mr. Craig obtained certifi- cates of graduation in the schools of French, German, English and civil engineering, studies that give solidity as well as polish to one's mental equip- ment. Completing these courses at Washington and Lee, Mr. Craig engaged for a short time in teaching near Ghent, Kentucky, not far from the old Craig homestead and in his home district, thus following the example of many whose lives were most successful. But, in accord with the general trend of our civilization westward from the old homes farther east, Mr Craig came to Nodaway county, Missouri, in 1871, where at that time the broad and fertile prairies of the northwest part of the state furnished an inviting field for the utilization of youthful vigor and energy as well as a highly profitable one upon which to invest the surplus capital accumulated through the frugality and foresight of the thrifty farmers of the beautiful Ohio river valley.
In the year named above. 1871, Mr. Craig opened up a three-hundred- and-twenty-acre farm in Hughes township, in the southwestern part of the county, a section of the county noted for the fertility of its soil and the ex- cellent lay of the land, which tract he soon brought under a high state of cultivation.
At Endora, Kansas, on the 17th day of December. 1874. Mr. Craig was united in marriage to Mary Still, a native of Douglas county, Kansas. Miss Still was born on the IIth day of January, 1855, and is the only daughter of Dr. James Moore Still and Mrs. R. M. Still, both natives of Virginia. Dr. J. M. Still, the father of Mrs. Craig, is a brother of the celebrated founder of the osteopathic school, Dr. A. T. Still, of Kirksville, Missouri. Mr. and Mrs. Craig have two children. Arthur Still Craig. born September 9. 1875, and Beulah Craig, born September II. 1879.
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Dr. Arthur Craig graduated from the Maryville high school, Maryville, Missouri, in 1893, and later from the American School of Osteopathy at Kirksville. Missouri. He is also a graduate of the S. S. Still College of Osteopathy of Des Moines, Iowa, of which he was vice-president and editor of the Cosmopolitan Osteopath. Arthur S. Craig was married to Melle Campbell, of Sibley, Iowa, December 12, 1896. To them three children were born, Anderson Craig, Jr., alone surviving. Young Dr. Craig is now prac- ticing his profession in Kansas City, Missouri.
Beulah Craig is a graduate of the Maryville high school, and of Hardin College, Mexico, Missouri. She took the degree of Bachelor of Arts from Hardin College in 1889. She is now the wife of Dr. Curtis Hammond Coe .. Doctor and Mrs. Coe have two children, Mary Edna Coe, born September 29. 1905, and Curtis Craig Coe, born February 26, 1906. Doctor Coe is a practicing dentist at Tarkio, Missouri.
Anderson Craig came to Maryville with his family in 1889, where he has continued to reside since that time. He purchased a farm of four hun- dred sixty acres, near Maryville. and built an elegant residence on an emi- nence in the northern suburbs of the city commanding an extensive view of the surrounding country.
Mr. Craig was one of the principal promoters and organizers of the Mutual telephone system, of which he was the first president. He also has been engaged in promoting the Drainage District Company, the purpose of which is to be so straighten the channel of the stream as to increase the rapidity of its current to the extent of relieving the annual overflow, thereby reclaiming large tracts of exceedingly fertile land from lying waste and un- profitable. Mr. Craig was the first and continues to be the only president the company has had. To Mr. Craig and L. T. Lee, a neighbor farmer, is duc the credit of inaugurating a system of tile drainage by which bottom land lying along the One Hundred and Two river hitherto useless has been brought into a state of high and profitable cultivation. For the promotion of this interest he established the first tiling factory ever built in Maryville. These two men have laid about fifty miles of tiling on their own lands.
In December. 1908. Mr. Craig was appointed by Governor Folk a mem- ber of the board of regents of the Northwest Normal School, located at Maryville. Missouri. This position he now holds, the duties of which he discharges with that intelligent care and well directed energy exercised in all the enterprises to which he gives his attention. Mr. Craig is president of this board. composed of prominent and representative men of the fifth district and of State Superintendent of Schools. Howard A. Gass.
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The successes that have marked Mr. Craig's career were not the mere chances of fortune, but rather the result of toil, sagacity, courage and inflex- ible determination.
Mr. Craig, while not a very wealthy man, has always been able to com- mand whatever capital he might wish to employ, and, though surrounded by affluence from his earliest childhood, his life has been unostentatious and perfectly free from that hauteur too often characteristic of people with much of this world's goods. His family are conscientious and devoted Christian people and regular attendants upon the various services of the Baptist church. of which they are honored communicants and to the support of which they are cheerful and liberal contributors.
NOAH T. THOMPSON.
One of the substantial citizens of Polk township. Nodaway county, is Noah T. Thompson who is deserving of the large success that has attended his efforts, for he has been a man who has relied upon no one to assist him in the battle of life, preferring to push forward on his own account until he ac- complished what he meant to do, and his fine farm near Bedison Station is an evidence of his ability in this direction. He was born in the southeast corner of Polk township, in what was then Washington township, June 29. 1865, the son of Squire and Julia Ann (Jones) Thompson. He and his two brothers, Loge and John B., came to Putnam county, Indiana, in 1856 or 1857 and entered land there. Loge removed to Oklahoma and died there four years later; John B. came to Maryville, Missouri, and died here in 1907. Squire Thompson later went to near Barnard, where he lived five or six years and about 1878 came to the farm at Bedison village. His wife died there and he sold his property and lived with his sons until his death. While in the village of Guilford in company with his son, Noah T., he fell dead, in July, 1903, at the age of sixty-seven years. He traded a great deal in a general way in his earlier years, but his life was devoted principally to farming and he was well liked in his community.
To Mr. and Mrs. Squire Thompson fourteen children were born, twelve of whom reached maturity, and ten are still living, six in Nodaway county. four near and at the old home, Noah T. at the old home.
Noah T. Thompson worked on the farm in his youth and attended the common schools. He began life by renting land in partnership with his brother and he has continued this line of endeavor ever since. On March 17. 1889, he married Sina Newcomer, daughter of Martin D. and Susan ( Schech-
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ter) Newcomer, who came to this county from Illinois when their daughter Sina was seven years old, locating in Maryville in 1876. Both are still living at Guilford, Nodaway county.
For two years after his marriage Mr. Thompson rented land, then bought fifty acres, one and one-half miles from Maryville, for which he paid twenty-five dollars per acre, going in debt for nearly all of it, having only two or three hundred dollars to pay on the place, but he had a team and went to work with a will and soon had a good start. Selling this place in about a year, he bought nearer Maryville, about the same time getting nearly out of debt. In two years he traded for Phelps county land without going to investi- gate it. This he traded for one hundred and five acres adjoining his father's old place. This he sold in time and bought eighty acres. Selling this, he rented one year and then bought eighty acres at Barnard, selling and buying one hundred and ten acres one mile south of Barnard. He sold this and bought his present farm. He was a close observer and a good trader, and in all these exchanges he had accumulated the sum of ten or eleven thousand dollars. His present excellent farm of one hundred and sixty acres lies north of Bedison, for which he paid the sum of seventy-five dollars per acre. He moved on the place in March, 1907. He has added many important improve- ments, his farm ranking with the best in the vicinity, and on it stand sub- stantial and comfortable buildings. The place was mostly in grass when he came here and he has raised some large crops of corn on this rich land. Mr. Thompson is not a public man, but he is active in the affairs of the Demo- cratic party.
Six children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Thompson, named as fol- lows: Alvin, Edgar. Nellie, Merle; Ophelia died when ten years of age, and Leland.
Mr. Thompson has made what he has as much by the use of his brain in buying and selling or exchanging land as in the use of his muscle, although he has been a very hard worker all his life. In the successful management of a farm he has no superiors in the township.
THOMAS WRIGHT.
In an enumeration of the successful and worthy citizens of Nodaway county the name of Thomas Wright should not be overlooked, for he has performed well his every duty of citizenship since casting his lot here, and as a result of his long life of consecutive endeavor along legitimate lines he finds himself in his old age enjoying the comforts and blessings that come as a
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natural sequence to such a worthy career, having a very comfortable home and a good farm in Polk township, near Bedison Station. He was born in Hardin county. Kentucky, March 16, 1831. the son of George and Elizabeth Ann (Stevens) Wright, the father born in Kentucky, but his parents were ยท from North Carolina. In 1831 the family moved to Franklin township. Putnam county. Indiana, fifteen miles north of Greencastle, near the Mont- gomery county line : they entered government land, cleared and improved it and there George Wright lived and died, his death occurring in 1882 at the age of eighty years. His wife also died there. Their family consisted of five sons, namely: Thomas, of this review : James was an attorney and died in Crawfordsville, Indiana; Martin settled in Carroll county, Missouri, where he still lives : John. Lafe and Taylor are all deceased. One sister, Mary, set- tled in Clinton county. Missouri, where she died.
Thomas Wright remained at home assisting with the work on the farm and receiving such education as he could in the primitive schools until his marriage, at the age of twenty-one years, to Nancy A. Lafollette, daughter of Isaac and Nancy ( Hinton) Lafollette, also natives of Kentucky. Mrs. Wright is a second cousin to Senator Lafollette, of Wisconsin, whose father was first cousin to his father, and who was reared in Indiana, from which state he moved to Wisconsin. Mrs. Wright was born in Putnam county. Indiana, and was seventeen years old when she married. In the fall of 1855 Thomas Wright and family moved to Missouri, having first stopped in Iowa, but in looking for a location he came to Nodaway county, Missouri, and selected his present home. principally because he was nearer the Missouri river and to market here than in Iowa, being forty-two miles north of St Joseph. He entered about three hundred acres of land, a part of which he still lives on, at one dollar per acre. He prospered and continued to buy land until he owned one thousand acres, paying ten, fourteen, twenty, twenty-seven dollars per acre, and he sold a great deal of it at forty and fifty dollars per acre, until he now has remaining an entire section. He sees now where he made a mistake by selling any of his land, for it is all now worth from sixty to eighty dollars per acre. He has done his full share in the development of the community and assisted in making land hereabouts valuable. For twenty years he had a range for stock and kept large droves of cattle, feeding many head each year and often fed all the year round, having long been one of the largest cattle dealers in this section of the county and he became widely known as a stock man. He often shipped his own stock to Chicago and St. Louis and in later years to St. Joseph, and for years he drove stock to St. Joseph. it requiring eight or nine days to drive hogs there. He is one of the leading
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