USA > Missouri > Nodaway County > Past and present of Nodaway County, Missouri Volume II > Part 40
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
In religion, Mr. Sisson is liberal; while not a member, he is a patron of all churches. A charter member of the Sedgwick Post. No. 21, Department of Missouri, Grand Army of the Republic. he has served several terms as com- mander of the post : he is a charter member of Encampment No. 52, Union Veteran Legion, and has served as colonel of the encampment. He is also a member of the Lincoln Farm Association, that purchased the farm home, birth place of Abraham Lincoln. He was, in 1904, aid-de-camp on the staff of Gen. W. W. Blackmar, of Boston, Massachusetts, commander-in-chief of the Grand Army of the Republic. In civil societies, he is a member of Mary- ville Lodge, No. 165. Ancient Free and Accepted Masons: Owens Chapter. No. 96. Royal Arch Masons, and Maryville Commandery, No. 40. Knights Templar, and Moila Temple, Order of the Mystic Shrine, St. Joseph, Mis- souri, also a member of the St. Joseph Chapter of the Society of the Sons of the Revolution. Honorable, exact in his dealings, conservative and straight- forward in method, his word in matters of business and land titles is never questioned.
975
NODAWAY COUNTY, MISSOURI.
SAMUEL GODFREY GILLAM.
In nearly every community are individuals who, by innate ability and sheer force of character, rise above their fellows and win for themselves con- spicuous places in public esteem. Such a one is the gentleman whose name appears above, who, although young in years, has long been a potent factor in the business life of Nodaway county, his life having been closely inter- woven with its material growth and development, while his career as a progres- sive man of affairs has been synonymous with all that is upright and honorable in citizenship.
Samuel Godfrey Gillam is a native of McDonough county, Illinois, where he was born April 22, 1871, the son of Hachaliah and Amelia (Herzog) Gillam, each representatives of old and well established families. The father moved to Nodaway county, Missouri, in 1883 and settled on eight acres of land in Jefferson township. After a residence in Jefferson township of three years, he moved to Polk township where he purchased eighty acres : there for a period of twenty years he farmed successfully, selling out in 1906, and retiring from active work, now living in Maryville.
Samuel G. Gillam was twelve years old when he was brought by his parents to Nodaway county, Missouri. Here he received a very serviceable education in the common schools, working on the home farm during the summer months. When fifteen years of age he turned his attention from country life to that of a business career and began work in the Craig & Collins loan and abstract office, in which he remained for a period of four years, during which time he gained a splendid knowledge of general business principles. He was next in the employ of Brown & Montgomery, in a sim- ilar business, for a period of five years, giving his usual satisfaction as an alert and conscientious worker. He then purchased the interest of C. Hyslop, of Hyslop & Graves. Soon afterwards the business of R. C. Montgomery was consolidated with that of Gillam & Graves. At the death of Mr. Montgomery. in 1897, the firm of Gillam, Bellows & Pierce was formed and bought out all other interests. Mr. Gillam is now president of the last named company. which is doing a thriving business and has been built up to its present pro- portions very largely through the judicious management of Mr. Gillam. He is a very busy and practical man of affairs and has been very successful in a financial way. He is vice-president of the Farmers & Merchants Bank at Elmo, Missouri, and is also a director in the Maryville National Bank. He is the owner of a well improved and valuable farm in White Cloud township. this county, and owns land in two or three other states.
976
PAST AND PRESENT
The domestic life of Mr. Gillam began on October 10, 1894, when he was united in marriage with Emma Trueblood, daughter of William E. and Louisa Trueblood. a well known and influential family of Maryville. Mrs. Gillam was born on August 8, 1871, and she received an excellent education in the home schools. This union has been graced by the birth of one child, Forrest, who is now attending school.
In religious matters. Mr. Gillam is a Presbyterian, and fraternally, he belongs to the Knights of the Maccabees. He is a Democrat and has been a worker in the interest of his party for some time, and as a result of his public spirit and his ability he has been honored by party leaders on various occasions. He was presidential elector from this district in 1904. Gov. Joseph W. Folk, in 1905. appointed him a member of the board of managers of No. 2 State Insane Asylum, at St. Joseph, and he was president of the board during the later portion of his term of office, serving for a period of four years, in a manner that elicited the hearty approval and admiration of all concerned.
ยท Personally. Mr. Gillam is a young man of indomitable perseverance. straightforward in all his relations with his fellow-men and he is faithful in the discharge of his duties at all times ; judging from his past splendid record. the future must necessarily hold much of good for him.
JOHN W. KENNEDY.
A well-known farmer of Independence township is John W. Kennedy, who was born in Nodaway county, April 20, 1853, and he is the son of Samuel T. and Lucretia W. (Smith) Kennedy. The father was born on a farm in Fayette county, Indiana. John K. Kennedy, maternal grandfather of John WV. of this review, was born in North Carolina. He married Charity McMichael, also a native of North Carolina. Samuel T. Kennedy remained at his birthplace until fourteen years of age and attended the common schools. In 1844 he accompanied his parents to Missouri and settled in Platte county and remained there six years, coming to Nodaway county in the spring of 1850. In the fall of the year he entered the land on which he lived and improved. At that time there were but four families and one store in Maryville, and no settlers between his home and that place. His family located on the land which, in later years, became the "poor farm." Samuel T. Kennedy was a very successful farmer and stock raiser. Starting with practically nothing,
MR. AND MRS. JOHN W. KENNEDY
977
NODAWAY COUNTY, MISSOURI.
he accumulated a fine farm of two hundred and forty acres, and he kept well-bred horses and graded cattle. In 1873 he was elected chairman of the county court, filling that position very creditably for five years. He was married to Lucretia W. Smith on July 14, 1850, and ten children were born to this union, namely : Mary J., who married B. A. Wilhoyte ; John W., of this review; Margaret A., wife of R. W. Miller; Henry N .; Dora E., the wife of F. M. Taylor; Henriette, wife of B. A. Lingenfelter, of Seattle, Washington; Belle B., the wife of H. Booth. Those deceased are Austin, Andrew W. and Archibald.
John W. Kennedy, of this review, received a good common school edu- cation, and on October 19, 1873, he married Susan M. Ford, daughter of Marshall and Lucy Ann (Hutchison) Ford, of this county and natives of Kentucky. They came to Nodaway county about 1850, their family consist- ing of fourteen children. Mr. and Mrs. Kennedy began their married life in 1874 on forty acres, which Mr. Kennedy owned, and they lived on the same seven years. Selling out, he located on a farm of one hundred and twenty acres three miles west of Parnell and, adding to this, he now owns two hundred and forty acres of excellent land and a one-half interest in a fruit farm of seventy-two acres-a fine apple orchard from which twelve thousand dollars worth of fruit was sold in 1909. This orchard is located near his farm and is well kept and has a splendid variety of trees. Recently he was one of the organizers of the Farmers State Bank at Parnell and is its president, and a large stockholder in the same, and much of the popularity of this sound and conservative institution is due to his able management.
The Farmers Bank of Parnell was chartered as a state bank on February 2, 1910, with a capital stock of twenty thousand dollars and ten thousand dol- lars surplus. The official directory is as follows: President. John W. Ken- nedy ; vice-president, W. N. Morgan ; cashier. H. O. Gray ; assistant cashier. C. F. Sisson : directors, J. W. Kennedy, W. N. Morgan, J. P. Morris, L. N. Night and John Giesken.
Mr. Kennedy is one of the best known agriculturists, fruit growers and business men in this county and is influential in all circles, and, considering his humble beginning in the business world, is eminently entitled to the large success that is today his and of the high esteem in which he is held by every one. For the past twelve years Mr. Kennedy has lived in Parnell, where he owns a beautiful and commodious residence. His home place consisted of fifteen acres, but this was recently sold.
Mr. Kennedy belongs to the Masonic order and politically he is a Demo-
(62)
978
PAST AND PRESENT
crat. He served as county judge from the north district for two years, 1896-1898. Both he and his wife are members of the Methodist Episcopal church.
Two children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Kennedy, namely: Lelia S. is the wife of H. A. Suter, of St. Joseph: Fraulein is the wife of O. K. Herndon, a real estate dealer of this county. Wallace F., an adopted son, lives on the home farm, having the management of the same.
WILLIAM CRIST VAN CLEVE.
The prominence of William Crist VanCleve in connection with the pub- lishing business in Nodaway county is such that he is regarded as one of its representative citizens, having for some time been a potent factor in the field of journalism in northern Missouri, and ever showing by his fealty to high principles and his activity in promoting the affairs of his community that he merits the confidence and good will of all which are freely accorded him by all classes.
Like many of the leaders of men in all avenues of human endeavor, Mr. VanCleve comes from the farm, having been born in Randolph county, Mis- souri, September 4. 1868. the son of John S. and Catherine (Crist ) VanCleve. each representatives of excellent old families, the father having been born in Virginia November 28. 1845. He was the son of John and Martha (Marvin) VanCleve, the former being of Dutch extraction who settled in Virginia in an early day, where he became well established and prominent in the affairs of his vicinity, and from which state he came to Randolph county. Missouri. bringing the entire family. It was a typical "overland train" (consisting of old-fashioned covered wagons, loaded with quaint household furniture of the type familiar to the days in the Old Dominion) that wound its way through the gaps and defiles of the Blue Ridge mountains, through the rough roads that penetrated the vast stretches of primeval woods, and over unbridged streams. But Grandfather VanCleve was a man of courage and, with char- acteristic pioneer mettle, never shrank from obstacles, and he bravely pushed on to a new home in the West. In Chariton township. Randolph county, he entered two hundred and forty acres of land from the government and set to work establishing a home. In due course of time a good farm was devel- oped and the family became leaders of the life of that part of the county. and there John VanCleve lived to see his family comfortably situated, became
979
NODAWAY COUNTY, MISSOURI.
known as an enterprising man of affairs, wielding a strong influence in behalf of all measures and movements having for their object the material advancement of the community and the social and moral welfare of the peo- ple, and there he closed his earthly career at the advanced age of seventy-three years, his faithful life companion reaching the age of seventy-eight years. They rearered a family of four children, one of whom, John S., father of Will- iam C., of this review, came to Missouri with them when ten years of age. He was placed in the fields very early and much hard work, such as clearing and cultivating new land, fell to his lot. When twenty-one years old he began farming for himself, having in the meantime gained such education as the schools of those times afforded in the rural districts. He later engaged in various pursuits, having been a tie contractor on the Wabash railroad for three years and was in the mercantile business at Darksville, Randolph county. for a period of six years. In 1890 he came to Moberly. Missouri, and launched into the furniture business, building up a very extensive and satisfactory pat- ronage. continuing the same for a period of twenty years, or until January I. 1910, when he retired from active business, but is still living in Moberly. He married, in October, 1867, Catherine Crist, of Morrow county, Ohio. the daughter of Owen and Sarah (VanBuskirk) Crist. Of this union only one child, William C., of this review, was reared. The father is a Democrat. a member of the Baptist church and of the Improved Order of Red Men. He is a well-known citizen of Randolph county and has long been regarded as a leader in business affairs, and his life has been led along such conservative and honorable lines that he enjoys the confidence and respect of a wide cir- cle of friends.
William C. VanCleve spent his early youth at home and received his early schooling in the common schools, later taking a course at LaGrange Col- lege, from which institution he was graduated in the class of 1890, having made a very creditable record for scholarship. After leaving school he turned his attention to the publishing business, and became foreman in a publishing house at Mexico, Missouri. In 1891 he purchased an interest in the Weekly and Daily Democrat at Moberly and successfully conducted them for a period of eight years, when he sold out and went to Springfield. Missouri. and started the Evening Record in the fall of 1899. His able management and excellent enterprise soon made this one of the important and influential dailies or southwestern Missouri. Disposing of this property in 1904, he came to Bethany, Missouri, and purchased the Democrat, which he conducted very successfully until 1909. when he sold out to engage in the immigration busi- ness, but became interested in Maryville and in the following fall bought. in
980
PAST AND PRESENT
partnership with N. S. DeMotte, the Forum, one of the most influential papers in this section of the state, and under their management it enjoyed a steady growth in public favor and a large and continually increasing subscription list. He soon conceived the idea that the newspaper field in Nodaway county was overcrowded and that the public could be better served with fewer and stronger papers. Accordingly a deal was perfected June 1. 1910, whereby the Forum and Democrat joined issues and purchased the Republican and consolidated the three papers into one under the name of the Democrat- Forum, with both daily and weekly issues, the consolidation giving to them an unusually large circulation. The new publication promises to be a strong influence in political affairs and a power in moulding and directing opinion on matters of general interest to the people.
The ideal domestic life of Mr. VanCleve began on October 16, 1895, when he formed a matrimonial alliance with Josephine Hagood, a lady of culture and refinement, and the daughter of John N. and Mary Hagood, a prominent family of Lewis county, Missouri. Two interesting children have graced this union, John K. and William T.
Politically, Mr. VanCleve is a stanch Democrat, and he leans to the Baptist church, having been reared in that faith : fraternally, he holds mem- bership with the Independent Order of Odd Fellows and the Knights of Pythias.
NATHAN S. DEMOTTE.
It is a well recognized fact that the most powerful influence in shaping and controlling public life is the press. It reaches a greater number of people than any other agency and thus has always been, and, in the hands of persons competent to direct it. always will be, a most important factor in moulding public opinion and shaping the destiny of the nation. The gentleman to a brief review of whose life these lines are devoted is prominently connected with the journalism of northern Missouri, and at this time is one of the pro- prietors of the Forum at Maryville, one of the most popular papers of Noda- way county, comparing favorably with the best local sheets in this section of the state in news, editorial ability and mechanical execution. During his brief residence here Mr. DeMotte's interests in all that affects the general welfare of this locality has been of such a character as to quickly win for him a high place in the confidence and esteem of the people.
98 1
NODAWAY COUNTY, MISSOURI.
Nathan S. DeMotte was born February 21, 1867, at Pleasant Hill, Mis- souri, the son of William and Minerva J. ( Jones) DeMotte, the father a na- tive of Cecil county. Maryland, born there on February 27. 1817. William DeMotte was a sailor. having followed the sea from the age of twenty to thirty-six, during which time he visited many interesting parts of the world and underwent many thrilling experiences. He was shipwrecked twice in the Atlantic ocean and twice in the Gulf of Mexico. He became captain and part owner of a vessel which was wrecked and he lost everything. This unfortun- ate experience turned his attention from following the sea and he learned the potter's trade, at which he worked for some time, later studied for the ministry. and for a period of thirty years faithfully expounded the gospel while a member of the St. Louis Methodist conference, being at one time presiding elder of the district adjacent to Rolla, Missouri. having a number of charges. He did a vast amount of good as a minister and church worker and was pop- ular wherever he preached, being a man of earnestness and manifesting at all times a desire to be of service to his fellow-men. He was superannuated in 1887, living retired during the next three years, dying on July 28. 1890. He was married on September 10. 1857. to Minerva J. Jones, daughter of Will- iam and Mahala Jones. of Fulton, Missouri. Mrs. DeMotte was called to her rest on August 25, 1886. She was the mother of three children, two of whom are living at this writing, namely: Nathan S., of this review, and Samuel M .. of Kansas City.
When sixteen years of age Nathan S. DeMotte began learning the print- er's trade at Windsor, Missouri. He went to Humansville, this state, and published The Dawn from 1887 to 1888. He was then connected with the Journal-Democrat at Warrensburg. Missouri. For a period of twenty years he was connected with various plants in Kansas City, including the Star. On April 1. 1909, he came to the Bethany Democrat, remaining there less than a year. selling out on February 12, 1910. He then bought the interest of D. A. Reid in the Forum at Maryville and is now devoting his efforts to the same. he and his partner. W. C. VanCleve, making this one of the best papers in Nodaway county. He and his partner entered into the deal by which three of the papers in Maryville were consolidated June 1. 1910, and Mr. DeMotte became superintendent of the Daily and Weekly Democrat- rorum, a position which he is admirably equipped to fill.
Mr. DeMotte was married on December 21, 1890, to Luella M. Myers. the daughter of John and Eliza (Swalley) Myers, natives of Ohio, but for many years well-known residents of Cass county, Missouri, where Mrs. De-
982
PAST AND PRESENT
Motte was reared and educated. To Mr. and Mrs. DeMotte four children have been born, namely : Loren, Maude, Grace and Dorothy.
Mr. DeMotte is a member of the Methodist church, also belongs to the Woodmen of the World, and the Typographical Union of Kansas City. Politically, he is loyal to the Democratic party.
STEPHEN H. KEMP.
In the respect that is accorded to men who have fought their own way to success through unfavorable environment we find an unconscious recog- nition of the intrinsic worth of a character which not only can endure so rough a test, but gain new strength through the discipline. The gentleman to whom the biographer now calls the reader's attention was not favored by inherited wealth or the assistance of influential friends, but in spite of this. by perseverance, industry and wise economy, he has attained a favorable station in life and is one of the prominent men in financial circles in the vicinity of which this history treats.
Stephen H. Kemp is descended from an enterprising Irish ancestry. He was born at Clayton. Adams county, Illinois, June 20, 1860, the son of Matthew Kemp, who was a native of north Ireland, where he was reared and educated, coming to America when he was about thirty-five years old. He had married before leaving his native country and reared a family, his first wife dying in Philadelphia, in which city the family lived for a number of years, having located there upon their arrival in America, Mr. Kemp being a weaver by trade and finding employment in the Quaker City. In 1854 Matthew Kemp came west and located in Adams county, Illinois, where he engaged in farming, remaining there until 1865, when he moved to Martins- burg, Keokuk county, Iowa, residing there on a farm until his death, July 7, 1869. After coming to Adams county, Illinois. Mr. Kemp married his sec- ond wife, Mrs. Rhoda (Ham) Smith, who was born in Callaway county, Missouri, but who had lived in Adams county, Illinois, since her girlhood. Her death occurred on November 16, 1881. Three children were born to the parents of Stephen H. Kemp. one dying in infancy; the other, Mrs. Lizzie Miller, wife of Harvey A. Miller, of Camp Point. Illinois, died at Silverton. Colorado, December 29, 1907.
Stephen H. Kemp spent his early boyhood at Clayton, Illinois, and Mar- tinsburg, Iowa, and after his father's death the family moved to Camp Point
983
NODAWAY COUNTY, MISSOURI.
in the same county (Adams), where he lived until after his mother's death. He received his schooling in Point Camp, passing through Maplewood high school. In 1884 he came to Maryville, Missouri, locating southwest of town, where he bought a farm in partnership with his brother-in-law, O. E. Ross, and for three years devoted his attention to agricultural pursuits. In the fall of 1887 he moved to Maryville and began clerking in the book store of Fred Hastings, with whom he remained for a year and a half, then in the winter of 1889 and 1890 he took a position as bookkeeper in the First National Bank of Maryville, serving in that capacity for three and one-half years. He was then elected cashier of that institution, serving as such in a very creditable manner until January 1, 1905, when he took up the duties of a similar capacity with the Maryville National Bank, with which he has remained, giving entire satisfaction to stockholders and patrons of this popular and solid institution, being efficient and obliging, always accurate, careful and courteous, which, together with his scrupulous integrity, renders him generally popular.
Mr. Kemp was married first to Annie Ross at Carthage, Illinois, Sep- tember 4, 1882. She was a native of Plymouth, Hancock county, Illinois. This union resulted in the birth of one child, Jean, born September 2, 1884. She married A. C. Holt and resides at Carpenter, Wyoming. Mr. Kemp's first wife died June 22, 1887, and on December 25, 1889, he married Lillian Epperson, who was born at Blandinsville, Illinois. Her parents moved to Nodaway county, Missouri, when she was six years of age. She is the . daughter of George R. and Marietta Epperson. To Mr. Kemp and his sec- ond wife six children have been born, namely: LaRue, George, Ilene, Greta, Joseph, Harold.
Mr. and Mrs. Kemp are members of the Methodist Episcopal church, of which Mr. Kemp is a trustee and a liberal supporter.
PETER HAWK.
A well-remembered and highly-honored citizen of Jackson township. Nodaway county, of a past generation, who is now numbered among the sleepers in God's acre, was Peter Hawk, who was born November 8, 1828. in Virginia, grew to maturity on the home place and was educated in the old-time schools. Devoting his life principally to farming, he was very suc- cessful. While living in Clinton county, Missouri, he married, on January
984
PAST AND PRESENT
20, 1858, Effie Stingley, when she was twenty-one years old, having been born on August 16. 1833. in Tippecanoe county, Indiana. Her brothers, Adelma and Abraham Stingley, lived for some time in Nodaway county ; another brother, Eli. died in Clinton county. The first two named and Effie came to Nodaway county in 1854, Adelma remaining here; Abraham moved away for a time, but finally returned and lived near Ravenwood, reaching a very old age; none of his children are in Nodaway county, but Adelma's youngest daughter, the wife of John Stringer, is living on his old place near Ravenwood. Mrs. Hawk's father, Leonard Stingley, came to Nodaway county direct from Indiana, as early as about 1842. One of his daughters is Mrs. Robert Ross of Ravenwood. Mr. and Mrs. Hawk, upon coming to Nodaway county in 1860, settled near Guilford, where they remained ten years. About the close of the Civil war they moved to the present Hawk farm near Ravenwood, buying several hundred acres in this vicinity. Mr. Hawk donated the site for the depot and laid out the town of Ravenwood, selling town lots when not able to work. He finally sold all his land and went to California, where he spent a few months, then returned home and bought the place where Mrs. Hawk now lives, built the present house and lived retired until his death, which occurred on April 15. 1898. In the early days he ran a store at Guilford, later one at Sweet Home for a few years. He was a member of the Methodist Episcopal church South. having donated the land for the local church building and taking consid- erable interest in its affairs; Mrs. Hawk is also a member of this church.
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.