USA > Missouri > Nodaway County > Past and present of Nodaway County, Missouri Volume II > Part 37
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42 | Part 43 | Part 44 | Part 45 | Part 46 | Part 47 | Part 48 | Part 49 | Part 50 | Part 51 | Part 52 | Part 53 | Part 54 | Part 55
Patrick Gorman devoted himself assiduously to the improvement of his farm for four years after locating on it, and then bought more land, for which he paid ten dollars an acre. At that time prices were low-ridicu- lously low according to present-day standards-hogs selling for two and a quarter cents per pound, and corn sold at Maryville for twelve and a half cents a bushel, so that at one time when Mr. Gorman took a load of corn there to exchange for a sack of wheat flour he had to pay twenty cents in cash to boot. But, high as it was, the early settlers had to have wheat flour, for the much-used corn bread grew exceedingly distasteful after being served meal after meal for an indefinite time. Mr. Gorman is now the owner of four hundred and twenty-seven acres of land lying on the line between Polk and Jackson township, ten and a half miles from Maryville. The farm was fenced in a "rough and ready" style with timber cut along the Masingo creek, this being afterwards replaced with more modern fenc-
(65)
946
PAST AND PRESENT
ing, Mr. Gorman having hauled from Hopkins twelve thousand feet of fenc- ing, for which he paid twenty-eight dollars per thousand. For a few years after coming here Mr. Gorman had in his neighborhood plenty of fine range land, so that he handled large herds of cattle and flocks of sheep success- fully and easily. In the early days of his life there wild game was also plentiful, among which were wolves, which at times made serious raids on his sheep. Mr. Gorman has paid considerable attention to the raising of good livestock, in the handling of which he has met with a fair degree of success. He is now living practically retired, as before stated, but still re- tains a deep interest in the operation of the farm, being in partnership with the farm tenant in the raising of livestock. The farm is highly improved in every respect and is considered one of the best farms in this part of the county.
Mr. Gorman married Anna Dempsey, of Chicago, but who had formerly lived in Nodaway county, being a daughter of Patrick Dempsey, who came to Nodaway county originally from Chicago, and eventually moved back to that city. After thirteen years of happy married life, Mrs. Gorman died suddenly about four years ago, her death being deeply regretted throughout the community where she had been held in the highest esteem. This union was blessed in the birth of four children, Edward, George, Loretta and Al. fred, all of whom are students in the Maryville high school.
Politically, Mr. Gorman is a stanch supporter of the Democratic party and takes the right sort of interest in local public affairs though he is not a seeker after public office. Religiously, Mr. Gorman was numbered among the early Catholics of the county and gave material assistance in the organ- ization of St. Patrick's Catholic church at Maryville, with which the fam- ily remained identified. In all his business activities Mr. Gorman was char- acterized by stanch integrity and enterprising methods, holding at all times the full confidence of all who had dealings with him. He is today num- bered among the stanch citizens of the county and enjoys the respect of all who know him.
WILLIAM CALVIN PIERCE.
It is one of the beauties of our government that it acknowledges no hereditary rank or title, no patent of nobility save that of nature's, leaving every man to establish his own rank by becoming the artificer of his own fortune. Places of honor and trust, rank and preferment, thus happily
947
NODAWAY COUNTY, MISSOURI.
placed before every individual, high or low, rich or poor. to be striven for by all, but earned alone by perseverance and sterling worth, are most al- ways sure to be filled with deserving men, or at least by those possessing the energy and talent essential to success in contests where public position is the prize. William Calvin Pierce, well known in financial circles of Nod- away county, affords a conspicuous example of the successful self-made American who is not only eminently deserving of the confidence reposed in him by his fellow citizens, but also possesses the necessary energy and tal- ent that fit him to discharge worthily the duties of the position he occupies.
Mr. Pierce was born on July 8, 1863. on a farm in Crawford county, Missouri, the son of Henry H. and Margaret (Larmer) Pierce, the former born April 19, 1832. in Essex county, New York, where he was reared and educated in the primitive schools of the early days, and from which place he came to Missouri in the late fifties. He took up farming in his home com- munity and this line of endeavor he continued after coming here. buying a large farm in Crawford county where he soon became well established. During the Civil war he was captain of Home Guards, but saw no actual service. He was a public-spirited man, a loyal Republican and he took a great deal of interest in party affairs. He was at one time sheriff of Craw- ford county and in 1864 was elected collector, rendering very satisfactory service in both capacities. His death occurred on August 13. 1865. Re- ligiously he was a Baptist.
On January 26, 1860, Henry H. Pierce married Margaret Larmer, daughter of Robert Larmer, who came to Missouri from New York. They had formerly lived in Canada. Mr. Larmer also at one time owned a farm adjoining what is now Elgin, Illinois. Mrs. Pierce was born in Quebec, Can- ada. June 30, 1837. She was the youngest of six children, two of whom are now living, herself and a sister. Mrs. Henry H. Pierce makes her home with her son. William C., of this review.
William C. Pierce's father died when he was two years old, leaving a widow and two small children. Until he was sixteen years of age he lived with his mother in Steelville, Crawford county, leaving home at that time to make a place for himself in the world. Without money and without friends, but with an indomitable will, he arrived at the camp of the Wabash construction gang then located near Maryville. The road was being built from St. Louis to Council Bluffs and the long, lean South Missouri boy was looking for a job. The first railroading work of the subject of this story was not one that required a great deal of intelligence or industry-
948
PAST AND PRESENT
he was water boy. But he did his work so well, was always "on the job" and evidenced such a desire to earn his wage that the boss soon discovered his value and promoted him to the position of spike carrier. From that job he was again advanced until when the road was completed he was offered the position of freight handler at the Maryville station.
It was a quick step from the freight room to the station agent's place and Mr. Pierce reached it before he did his right to vote.
In those early days Maryville was a very important shipping point. Railroads were few and far between in this part of the state and Maryville was the shipping point for most of the towns of northwestern Missouri. The Wabash agent at Maryville had plenty of work to do and Mr. Pierce found time to take care of his duties as agent and also give some thought to equipping himself for a higher position. Along about 1890 the company wanted a traveling auditor and offered the place to Mr. Pierce. He accepted it-and retained his place as station agent.
In 1894 Mr. Pierce gave up railroad work to accept the office of record- er of deeds for Nodaway county. to which office he had been elected by an unprecedented majority. After completing his term as recorder, Mr. Pierce entered into partnership with S. G. Gillam and C. D. Bellows, under the firm name of Gillam. Bellows & Pierce, and engaged in the abstract and farm loan business. Here Mr. Pierce had opportunity to develop his unus- ual business ability and his firm is one of the largest of the kind in this part of the state. A few years after engaging in the abstract and loan business Mr. Pierce and his partners purchased a controlling interest in the Maryville National Bank, at that time the most inconsequential banking institution in the city. It is now the leader, its statements showing the largest totals of any bank in the county.
Since his election to the office of recorder Mr. Pierce has developed into one of the leading Republican politicians in the state. He was one of the "big four" delegates to the national convention in 1904, which gave Theodore Roosevelt the presidential nomination and was by that convention made a member of the committee to notify President Roosevelt of his nomination. He is at present a member of the board of managers of the State Hospital for the Insane No. 2. located at St. Joseph.
On October 17, 1889. Mr. Pierce was married to Iona Ford, daughter of Dr. B. G. and Lucinda Ford, prominent among the pioneer citizens of Nodaway county. Mr. and Mrs. Pierce have one daughter, Dorothy. who. with Mr. Pierce's mother and sister, make a happy home in one of the hand- somest residence properties in Maryville.
949
NODAWAY COUNTY, MISSOURI.
JOHN MCCLELLAN DAWSON.
One of the strong, forceful, logical and convincing advocates of the Nod- away county bar, a man who is forceful in his elucidation of the law to the court, and strong in his impressiveness and persuasiveness to juries is John McClellan Dawson. The combination of solid qualities which he possesses has given him high rank in his profession and his full experience, abundant common sense, cool judgment, discriminative mind, and thorough familiarity with the reports, decisions and legal authorities have made him a reliable, sound and popular counselor and an effective and successful trial lawyer.
Mr. Dawson is a native of Nodaway county, having been born March 13. 1863, on a farm in Lincoln township, and is the son of Lafayette and Calista (Thornhill) Dawson. The father was born in Lexington. Illinois, May 10. 1837, and was the son of James R. and Elizabeth (Sparr) Dawson. James R. Dawson is described as a pioneer of sterling qualities and had the distinc- tion of serving as a soldier in the war of 1812. Mrs. James R. Dawson was born in 1800 and lived to be eighty-six years old, dying in 1886. Lafayette Dawson was for many years a conspicuous character in Nodaway county as an attorney, a judge and a politician, being a man of influence and playing a large part in the development of the county. He was reared on a farm in his native community. He settled in Lincoln township in 1862, and soon thereafter began reading law with Roseberry & Morehouse, having been ad- mitted to the bar in 1866. He at once entered into a good practice. having established an office in Maryville, where he remained until the spring of 1886. when he was appointed judge of the district court in Alaska and there made a most commendable record. It will be remembered that he was the judge who condemned the sealing vessels owned by the British interests, those operating the same having been apprehended poaching seals on United States territory. The vessels were sold, and the matter was taken to the United States supreme court where the action of Judge Dawson was sustained. He resigned his post in Alaska in the fall of 1888 and returned to Maryville, where he resumed practice and remained active at the bar until his death. January 29, 1897. He was a Democrat politically, and a member of the Methodist Episcopal church South. He was married to Calista Thornhill, January 20, 1861, at Ft. Scott, Kansas ; she was born in Kentucky, and for a record of her ancestry the reader is referred to the sketch of John Thornhill, appearing on another page of this work. To Judge Lafayette Dawson and wife three children were born: John M .. of this review: Cora E., wife of Judge C. R. Foweler, of Edina, Missouri, and Eva, who is living at home with Mrs. Dawson.
950
PAST AND PRESENT
John M. Dawson received a liberal education in the home schools, gradu- ating from the Maryville schools in 1880. He began life as a farmer, suc- cessfully tilling the soil for a period of three years in Polk township. But not finding the life of a husbandman entirely to his liking and believing that the legal profession held particular advantages for him. he accordingly began studying law under his father, and while at Sitka, Alaska, in 1886, was ad- mitted to the bar. He at once opened an office and practiced there for a period of six months, getting a good start ; but that was long before the gold excite- ment made Alaska the mecca for thousands of prospectors and the field for an attorney was limited, so Mr. Dawson returned to Maryville, Missouri, with his father and took up the practice here. having been admitted to the bar in Nodaway county in 1887, and he has remained here up to the present time. holding a place in the front rank of local attorneys, his reputation for an able. painstaking and conscientious advocate having far transcended the lim- its of his native county. His fitness for responsible public positions and his public spirit. which has always been manifest in the affairs of Nodaway county, attracted the attention of party leaders and he was prevailed upon to make the race for prosecuting attorney on the Democratic ticket in 1896, and was triumphantly elected, and so faithfully did he perform his duties in con- nection with the same that he was re-elected to this important trust in 1900 and also in 1906. thus serving three terms, in a manner that reflected credit upon himself and proved the wisdom of his constituents in tendering the affairs of this office to him. Fraternally he belongs to the Independent Order of Odd Fellows.
Mr. Dawson's domestic life began on July 26. 1897, when he espoused Viola Green, a lady of education and culture, the daughter of John and Nettie Green : she had been reared at Maryville. This union is without issue.
Socially Mr. Dawson is a pleasant and affable gentleman, with a warm and cordial grasp of the hand. of pleasing manner, a keen observer, generous and jovial in nature. and possessing the genial qualities of enjoyable compan- ionship.
JOHN STEIGER.
Among the best known and most enterprising farmers of the eastern part of Nodaway county is John Steiger, of Jackson township, who was born near Cincinnati, Ohio. December 5. 1854. He is the son of Joseph and Helena (Bollin) Steiger. His father was born in Baden-Baden, Germany; about
95I
NODAWAY COUNTY, MISSOURI.
1824; Helena Bollin was also born in Germany. They came to the United States when young and married here, their families having come to America in an early day. Joseph Steiger was thirty years old when he married; the death of his wife occurred on July 17, 1884. Mr. Steiger dying on August 20. 1888. They located in Ohio, and in 1856 came from there to Hancock county. Illinois, where they remained until 1870, when they moved to Noda- way county, Missouri, locating two and one-half miles southwest of Raven- wood. Jackson township, on forty acres, which was added to until Mr. Steiger had a good farm of one hundred and sixty acres ; he devoted his life to farm- ing and stock raising and became well established here. Eight children con- stituted his family, namely : John; Rosa married Eugene Eid, of Hancock county, Illinois ; Katie died when nineteen years of age ; Joseph L. died in St. Joseph ; he owned the old home place, which his widow still owns ; Mary died at the old home in young womanhood: Lizzie also died there just one year to a day after Mary's death: William died April 16, 1898; Thersa died in young womanhood.
John Steiger was fifteen years old when he came to Nodaway county. Not long afterwards he began working out by the month at farm work, working two years for Adelma Stingley, father of his wife, he having mar- ried Melvina Stingley on February 24, 1881. She was born May 15, 1861, on the spot where she now lives. For fourteen years after their marriage Mr. and Mrs. Steiger lived in the north part of the township, he having already bought land near Gaynor City before his marriage. Selling out, he bought a place near Harmony church, which he added to until he became the owner of one of the best farms in the township, consisting of two hundred and forty acres. He finally exchanged this with his wife's father, and in 1897 came back to the old Stingley homestead, also a two-hundred-and- forty-acre farm, near Harmony church. He is a general farmer and stock raiser, handling large numbers of cattle and hogs, devoting much of his at- tention to stock raising, renting part of his land. He has been very success- ful in his operations and has a very comfortable home.
The following children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Steiger: Stella M. married Martin L. Bentley, a hardware dealer at Blockton, Iowa : Clarence C. lives on a claim he secured in Wyoming, having proven it up : Ola E. is at home : Eldon E. is also at home.
Politically John Steiger is a Republican, a member and a trustee of the Methodist Episcopal church. He is a Mason and active in the affairs of this worthy fraternity, being senior warden of the local lodge.
952
PAST AND PRESENT
ADELMA STINGLEY.
Of the influential and highly honored citizens of Nodaway county of a past generation who are eminently deserving of a conspicuous place in the historical annals of the same, it would be difficult to find one worthier than Adehna Stingley, who, after performing well his work on earth, winning the admiration and the esteem alike of his fellow-men. passed on to his reward in the silent land. He was born in Ohio, April 29, 1823, the son of Leonard and Molly Stingley. They came to Clinton county, Missouri, in an early day, spent the rest of their lives here, dying in Andrew county. Their son. Adelma, came to Nodaway county about 1855. and on June 2, 1847, married his cousin, Nancy Stingley, daughter of Moses and Jane Stingley, then living on the farm near Ravenwood, where E. W. Bishop now lives. Her mother died in Andrew county. Nancy being her only daughter. She came to Noda- way county with her father when she was twelve or thirteen years of age. and she continued as his housekeeper until her father married again, his second wife being Eliza Moon. Nancy's father. Moses Stingley, was a celebrated fiddler and well known throughout his section of the county. He died in Ore- gon about 1884. George Stingley, brother to Nancy, also cante to this county in an early day. Nancy Stingley was born December 12. 1830, in Indiana. where she lived until twelve years of age. Accompanying her parents to Andrew county, she remained there one year, then came to Nodaway county in 1844. Here her parents settled, lived and died.
Adelma Stingley and his wife began farming in this part of the county : they built the home now standing about 1872. He was a good farmer and added land to his original farm until he owned two hundred and eighty-seven acres, his farm being the second bottom land of the Platte. He made a suc- cess at general farming. stock raising and feeding, devoting his life to the farm exclusively. However, for years he was widely known as an auctioneer. He was active in the affairs of the Democratic party, and he was known as a scrupulously honest and upright man. His death occurred here on June 9. 1898, having survived his wife ten years, she dying on March 21, 1888. He managed all his affairs himself until the last year of his life. when his daugh- ter was with him.
Mr. Stingley's family consisted of eight children, of whom four reached maturity, namely : Letha married Samuel Yarnall, both being now deceased : Henrietta married Fred A. Orr, and she lives on a farm near Ravenwood, he being deceased: Hiram F., who died on October 9, 1899, at the age of forty-
953
NODAWAY COUNTY, MISSOURI.
one years, had lived on part of the old home place; Melvina is the wife of John Steiger, living on the old homestead. A full sketch of Mr. Steiger ap- pears elsewhere in this work.
JAMES LEWIS.
One of the representative farmers of Nodaway county is he whose name initiates this sketch, being one of the men of industry who have contributed to the general welfare of this community, while he is accorded the fullest measure of respect throughout the county where he long resided.
James Lewis was born in Tuscarawas county, Ohio, on December 27. 1854, and in young babyhood he was taken by his parents to Iowa, and in 1857 to Gentry county, Missouri, where they settled on a farm nine miles northwest of Albany. There the father. John Lewis, died in February, 1876. and his widow still resides in that county. James Lewis was reared on the home farm and attended the common schools of the neighborhood. His first active labor was devoted to the arduous toil of the pioneer farm. contributing himself largely to its development and improvement. He remained at home until twenty-six years old, and then, in the spring of 1881, came to the splen- did farm in Jackson township, Nodaway county, on which he now resides. It was wild land and he had purchased it in the prior August, at a price of ten dollars per acre. He afterwards purchased eighty acres at twenty-two and a half dollars an acre, and has also added other land at thirty-five and forty dollars, his present landed holdings amounting to two hundred and forty acres. On coming here he was able to pay down but one dollar and a quarter per acre, but he at once entered vigorously on its improvement and cultivation and from that time on he has prospered in his business affairs and in a few years he had his land all paid for and is now numbered among the successful and rep- resentative farmers of this section of the county. In the fall of 1901 Mr. Lewis built his present comfortable residence and other necessary farm buildings, the whole place presenting a pleasing and attractive appearance. He carries on mixed farming, raising all the crops common to this section of the country. and he has also met with gratifying success in the raising of livestock, which has proved a source of considerable income. Mr. Lewis has consistently de- voted himself to his farm and because of his steady application and good management he has been enabled to achieve a definite success.
954
PAST AND PRESENT
In 1875 Mr. Lewis married Ella Blackwell, daughter of John and Nancy (Priest) Blackwell, who was a native of Indiana, but who was reared in Gentry county, Missouri. To this union have been born ten children, namely : Jennie, the wife of M. A. Brown, of Polk township: John L., of Jackson township: Alta C., the wife of Emmett Edwards, of Jackson township: Nina Ethel, at home, as are Harry C., Ralph E., Pearl, James Emmett, Marie and George.
Politically, Mr. Lewis has ever rendered a stanch allegiance to the Re- publican party and he has taken an intelligent interest in public affairs, though not in any sense a seeker after office. Religiously, Mr. and Mrs. Lewis are members of the Methodist Protestant church, to the support of which they contribute liberally of their means and take an active part in its work. In every relation of life Mr. Lewis has acquitted himself with credit to himself and the general welfare of the community has been enhanced by the support he has given to all worthy movements. Because of his upright life and genuine worth, he has won and retains the esteem of all who know him.
HON. WILLIAM T. JACKSON.
Among the representative citizens of Nodaway county, who have forged their way to the front by sheer force of will and individual merit rather than by the influence and material assistance of others, no better or worthier example than Hon. William T. Jackson, president of the bank at Ravenwood and long one of the prominent agriculturists of Jackson township, could be found. He has shown himself to be a man of excellent judgment, which accounts for his uniform success, possessing clear ideas in all business matters. Being careful in his calculations, resourceful in his dealing and eminently honorable in his relations with others, people have always reposed confidence in his word and his integrity has ever been above criticism.
Mr. Jackson was born in Grant township, this county, January 30, 1860, the son of George W. and Polly Ann ( Roberts) Jackson, both born in Indiana. coming to Missouri when children with their parents, and they grew to maturity in Andrew county, near Rosendale, having located there in the early forties ; there the parents of the latter. Joseph and Margaret Roberts. both died. The parents of William T. Jackson married in Andrew county, coming to Nodaway county soon afterward. about 1853 or 1854. settling in the southern part of the county on the line between this and Andrew county
955
NODAWAY COUNTY, MISSOURI.
on a farm, and there Mrs. Jackson died, in 1868, when her son, William T .. was eight years old. George W. Jackson then married Susan Roberts, sister of his first wife, and they lived at the old farm until about 1894, when they moved to Bolckow and there Mr. Jackson died on May 28, 1897, his second wife having died on the old farm. His third wife was Amanda Blakely, who survives. Two sons and one daughter were born to his second union : Samuel, who lives in Kansas : Charles lives in Jackson township, this county ; Margaret Ora married John Blakely, a son of the Mrs. Blakely whom George W. Jack- son had married, and they live at St. Joseph. Besides William T. of this review, two sons and one daughter were born of his first marriage: Joseph R. lives in Kansas ; George W. lives in Reno, Nevada: Nancy married C. F. Stonehocker, of Salt Lake City, Utah.
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.