USA > Missouri > Nodaway County > Past and present of Nodaway County, Missouri Volume II > Part 52
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Three children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Schrader, named as follows: Peter Joseph, born December 26. 1896; Jeremiah, born August 6. 1899, and Paul Leo, born July 16. 1903.
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WILLIAM H. GOFORTH.
Another one of the thrifty and deserving agriculturists of Grant town- ship, Nodaway county, who hails from Andrew county and who has greatly benefited himself by moving here, rather than remaining on his native soil, is William H. Goforth, who was born on December 15. 1866, in Andrew county, Missouri, the son of John C. Goforth, who was born October 14. 1839. The latter's parents were William Goforth, born June 9, 1813, and died May 18, 1871, and Sarah ( Rhodes) Goforth, born in January, 1820, and died on October 16, 1889, both being natives of Indiana. They were married in 1838 and came to Andrew county, Missouri, about 1840, remov- ing in 1860 to Nodaway county, where they located on an eighty-acre farm just south of Barnard, on which Mr. Goforth owned and operated a saw- mill and also ground corn for meal one day out of each week. He and his wife spent the remainder of their lives here.
John C. Goforth received a common school education and assisted his father with his various duties until he reached manhood. On March 15. 1866, he married Mary Smith. He started out in life after his marriage by becoming a partner with his father in the saw-mill business and after the elder Goforth's death he formed a partnership with his brother and con- tinued milling and farming. He later sold out his interest to his brother and engaged in farming, and is now located just north of Barnard where he has a good farm and a beautiful home. He and his wife are the parents of nine children ; those living are James E., Alma M., Eddie B., Maude M., Grace P. and William H. : the deceased are Dora A., Charles F. and John D.
William H. Goforth, the immediate subject of this review, received a common school education and remained on the home farm during his youth. In July, 1888, he married Mollie R. Lucas, daughter of Hugh and Lacretie Lucas, of Nodaway county, and they soon afterwards began their married life on a rented farm, north of Barnard, and two years later bought eighty acres in section 7. in Grant township, paying eight hundred dollars for the same, going in debt five hundred dollars, which has been paid and other land purchased, until now he is the owner of one of the choice farms of the town- ship, consisting of two hundred and forty acres. He has remodeled his home and built three substantial barns on the land and he is planning the erection of a modern house during the coming year ( 1910). He keeps his farm in a fine state of cultivation and well stocked with the best grades of livestock, being amply rewarded for his attention to both. He is a good manager and makes few mistakes, turning nearly everything to money that
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he directs his attention to. He has a fine orchard, set with a good variety of fruit-bearing trees, which are now fully matured; in fact, everything about his place indicates that a gentleman of energy and good taste has its manage- ment in hand.
Mr. and Mrs. Goforth are members of the Church of Christ, and polit- ically. he is a Republican, but has no aspirations for office. He and his wife are the parents of nine children, all living but Chester and Homer. The living are named as follows: Emmet, born March 4. 1890; Ethel, born March 23, 1893: Hugh, born February 26, 1895: Robert D., born October 18. 1897: Dale, born February 17, 1900; Donald, born August 18. 1902 : Hazel, born August 19. 1904: Florence, born August 27, 1908.
WILLIAM B. TORRANCE.
The record of the Torrance family goes back to the colonial days and has been represented in the United States for upwards of two centuries. being of Scotch-Irish origin. About 1770 four brothers came over from Scotland, and in time one settled in New York, one in Canada, one in Ohio and one in Illinois. They were truly pioneers and braved all dangers. The paternal great-grandparents. Stiles and Matilda ( Hibbard) Torrance, mar- ried in Middleburg. Vermont, in 1800 and became the parents of eight chil- dren. Robert. Lucy, Stiles, Loyal. Matilda, Hosea, Jared and Cyrenius. Grandfather Loyal B. Torrance was born in New York, February 24, 1810. His wife. Saphrona (Perry) Torrance, was born in New York, July 30, 1811, and was a relative of the noted Colonel Perry. She and Mr. Torrance were married April 21, 1827, and the following ten children were born to them : Benjamin F., born February 5. 1828. died in December. 1882: Mrs. Sophia M. Scott, born February 6, 1830, is deceased: Shubael H., born March 4. 1832, is deceased; Hosea B., born February 12, 1834. died in July. 1908: Thomas P., born November 21. 1836, died February 22, 1910: Eliza A .. born June 24. 1839, died September 2, 1845: Stiles Ajax, born Novem- ber 29, 1841 : Henry E., born February 8. 1844. is living : Otto Milford. born April 14. 1847: Harriet Ellen, born August 13. 1848. married first a Mr. Wheeler, then a Mr. Nevins, and she is still living.
Grandfather Loyal B. Torrance and family came from New York to Missouri in 1838. and settled on land where St. Joseph now stands, and Mr. Torrance also lived at Amazonia. Fillmore. Graham and Maryville. coming
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to the last named place about 1849 or 1850, and he died in Maryville on January 19. 1853, and is buried here. His wife also died here on March 14. 1856, and was buried beside him. He was a physician and farmer.
Their son, Thomas P., was the father of William B. Torrance, of this review. He was one of the famous band of "forty-niners." having made the hazardous overland trip to the gold fields of California about the year 1849. returning by way of the isthmus of Panama by ship to New York, thence by rail to Maryville. He enlisted in a company of Home Guards during the Civil war, being in the state militia. He married Salena Miriam Swinford. June 10, 1868, and they began their married life in Maryville. Seven chil- dren were born to them, named as follows: Alfretta. born March 2, 1869. died March 12. 1869: Norman A., born October 17, 1870, died January 22. 1871 : William B., of this review ; Thomas Albert, born September 18. 1875. is living ; Sophrona V., born February 3, 1877. died May 21. 1889; Fannie F., August 4, 1880, is living ; Mary E., born April 11, 1882, died July II. 1882. The mother of these children passed to her reward on June 28, 1882. The date of the father's birth and death is given in the first paragraph of this sketch. He was a member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows for forty years. He returned to California in 1885 and lived there seven years. During the winters of three years he made his home with his son. William B., of this review. He was a man of sterling traits of character. honest. industrious and made friends readily. He was a carpenter by trade. His wife's parents. William and Rebecca Swinford, were early settlers here where they entered land, and had ten children. William B. Torrance, the immediate subject of this review, was born in Nodaway county, Missouri. July 29. 1873, and after his mother's death he made his home with an uncle. William S. Swinford, and received a common school education. He taught school for one year, but did not continue that profession. On October 27. 1897. he married Miram Knudson, daughter of Christian and Marie Knud- son. of this county, natives of Denmark, from which country they came to America in 1879.
Mr. and Mrs. Torrance began their married life on the farm of his wife's parents, which she heired. He also has a farm adjoining, making them a very valuable place of one hundred and twenty-five acres of fertile land. well improved and on which stands a neat home and good outbuildings. Here is to be found some good stock of various kinds.
Mr. Torrance takes an interest in county affairs and he was assessor of Grant township for two years. He and his wife are members of the Latter- Day Saints church at Guilford: they are devoted to their church and liberal
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supporters of the same and popular in the congregation and among their neighbors. Mr. Torrance is a Democrat and an active politician, lending his aid in all matters of public improvements and keeping abreast of the times in every respect.
Four children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Torrance, named as fol- lows : Salina. born March 20, 1899; Annie, born March 19, 1901 ; Mamie. born January 11. 1904: Leola, born May 15. 1907.
DANIEL SKIDMORE.
One of the progressive young native sons of Nodaway county is Daniel Skidmore, who was born here on February 18, 1871, the son of Joseph Skidmore, who came from Kentucky in 1860 with his father, Daniel Skid- more. Sr., and family. Daniel Skidmore was twice married, first in Ken- tucky, where his wife died. He and his second wife came to Washington township, Nodaway county, Missouri, and bought four hundred acres of land and became one of the leading men of that community, being very successful as a farmer. He and his wife are members of the Methodist Episcopal church. Three children were born to him by his first wife: Sarah (now Mrs. Floyd), Katherine (now Mrs. Walls) and Joseph Skidmore. One son, Hugh, was born of the second union ; he owns and lives on a portion of the home place. Daniel Skidmore, Sr., died, and his wife resides in Guilford.
Joseph Skidmore spent his youth on the farm and received a common school education. He was married in 1865 to Mary A. Thompson, daughter of Joseph and Letitia Thompson, of Nodaway county, and they began their married life on a portion of the old homestead in Washington township, near Guilford, where they now live. The father is an excellent business man and is exceptionally well posted on current topics ; he has been very successful as a farmer, and has taken more or less interest in the affairs of his county. For two years, 1879 and 1880, he was tax collector of the county. Since com- ing here he has accumulated considerable property. He is a member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows and is a Democrat in politics. During the Civil war he served in the state militia. He and his wife are the parents of eleven children, nine of whom are living, William D. and Ora E. being deceased. Those living are Charles D .. Daniel, John. Lawrence, James, Flor- ence M .. Joseph L .. Grover C. and Jacob E.
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Daniel Skidmore remained on the home farm with his father and re- ceived a common school education. He was married March 7, 1894. to Letitia Pettigrew, daughter of Charles P. and Margaret (Jenkison) Petti- grew, of Nodaway county. Her parents were natives of Ireland and they came to this country about 1865. The mother and ten children are living. Her father volunteered his services in the Civil war.
Daniel Skidmore, of this review, began his married life on his father's farm, near Guilford, and after five years of work there, he moved to a farm belonging to his father in Grant township and later purchased this place of his father. It consists of two hundred acres, lying one and one-half miles west of Guilford. It is second bottom land and gently rolling and is regarded as one of the best farms in the county, the land being in an excellent state of cultivation and fine crops are his reward. Mr. Skidmore has devoted spe- cial attention to the breeding and raising of hogs. He has ten acres planted in apple trees, all now bearing, and is now receiving a handsome income from the same.
Mr. and Mrs. Skidmore are members of the Baptist church and polit- ically Mr. Skidmore is a Democrat. Three children have been born to them : Daniel E., born August 25. 1895: Joseph C .. born December 13, 1899, and Velma, born January II, 1905.
JAMES R. SMITH.
There seems to have long been an attraction in Nodaway county, Mis- souri, for the people of Knox county, Illinois, for we find that they have been coming here for many decades-since the pioneer days, in fact-and their substantial, happy homes are dotted all over the prairies of this locality. Not many of them ever returned to their native county, finding here ample opportunities for the willing worker and every condition favorable to suc- cess and contentment.
Of this large number. James R. Smith, of Grant township, should be included, for, on July 4, 1856, he was born in Knox county, Illinois, and he is the son of John B. and Mary F. (Fisher) Smith. His father was born in 1825 in the state of New York and, now advanced in age, is living with his daughter, Mrs. Winger. in this county, being eighty-five years old. His wife was born in 1836 in Illinois, in which state they were married and from whence they came to Missouri in 1870, locating in Nodaway county. After
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a few years' residence here they moved to Atchison county, just over the line, and bought one hundred and sixty acres on which they made their home for twenty-five years. Selling out, they returned to Nodaway county and bought a farm near Skidmore : here Mrs. Smith died in 1898 and was buried at Burr Oak Grove in this vicinity. Then Mr. Smith moved into Skidmore. He was a carpenter and joiner by trade and followed this line of work most of his active life. Politically, he always supported the Republican ticket. He mar- ried a second time.
John B. Smith and his first wife became the parents of three children. Theodore, John and Aaron. The following ten children were born of the second union : James R., Ella, Lillie, Emma. William. Joseph, George. Lydia, Woodford and Elizabeth. The last six named are deceased.
James R. Smith, the immediate subject of this review, remained under the parental rooftree until he was twenty-three years of age, receiving a common school education. On September 21, 1879, he was married to Martha White, daughter of William and Mary White, who came to this county in 1875. He was a farmer and his family consisted of seven children.
Mr. Smith began his married life on his father's farm and after a few years bought land near Skidmore, and after residing there eight years sold out and bought other land in the county-one hundred and twenty acres- which he soon disposed of and bought a half section in Texas, which he still owns and which has increased in value since he purchased it, promising to be a good investment. For the past seven years he has leased land and he now operates a fine farm consisting of four hundred acres, adjoining Barnard on the north, this being the estate of the late Albert P. Morehouse, who was one of the past governors of Missouri. Mr. Smith is known to be one of the most enterprising farmers of this township, being practical in both farming and stock raising. He has one of the best constructed silos to be found, and he runs quite an extensive dairy business in connection with his general farming operations. He uses a modern separator and ships his cream to St. Joseph, where he finds a ready market for it.
Mr. and Mrs. Smith are members of the Methodist Episcopal church at Barnard. and Mr. Smith is a member of the Independent Order of Odd Fel- lows, and both are members of the Rebekahs. Politically he is a Republican. They are the parents of ten children, which he styles a Roosevelt family ; their names are: Elmer F., born August 2, 1880. married Annie Curnutt : Celia E., born December 19, 1881, married Herman Logan and they have two children, Ellen E. and Thelma F .: Edgar M., who was born January 19. 1884. married Margaret Perkins and they are the parents of one child,
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Florine E. : Elsworth was born July 9, 1886; Clarence D. was born April 12, 1888; May E. was born April 11, 1890; Ruth E. was born January 13, 1892 ; Guyles D. was born August 23. 1894; Esther E. was born August 13, 1897 ; Avon J. was born March 19, 1900.
BENJAMIN F. MOLER.
The varied and interesting career of Benjamin F. Moler, one of Wash- ington township's successful and highly honored farmers, shows that a great deal of good can be accomplished as we go through life in its humbler walks if only we have the inclination to do so and will put forth a little effort. As a result of a life of well directed energy and right living, Mr. Moler has hosts of warm friends wherever he is known. His birth occurred on May 13. 1841. in Tippecanoe. county, Indiana, and he is the son of William M. and Clara A. (Stingley) Moler, natives of Ohio, where they grew to maturity and were married. They came to Indiana and located in Tippecanoe county. and there purchased a farm. Selling this, they moved to Clinton county, Missouri, in the fall of 1849. Soon afterwards they came to Nodaway county, and purchased two hundred acres in section 27. south of old Guilford. Mr. Moler died here in 1853, having lived but a short time in his new home. and he is buried in the cemetery at Groves. He was a good and useful man.
Nine children were born to Mr. and Mrs. William M. Moler, named as follows: Cevilla is the wife of Solomon Hawk: Anna A. is the wife of Peter M. Wood : Christena is the wife of William Griffeth: Mary A. is the wife of R. K. Paul: Stingley L., Morris A .: Effie M. is the wife of James Reese : Rachael is the widow of B. F. Thompson ; Ann Amanda and Benjamin F. They are all living except Ann Amanda.
Benjamin F. Moler. of this review, was eleven years old when his father died. consequently the responsibilities of looking after the affairs about the home devolved on him at a tender age, but he assisted his mother on the farm as best he could. While carrying on the farm work he found time to receive a good common school education. When twenty years old he proved his patriotism by enlisting for service in the Civil war in the Thirteenth Regiment Missouri Volunteer Infantry, and he saw some active service, and was taken prisoner at Lexington. Missouri, by the Confederate General Price. After being paroled. he was returned home and joined the state troops. On November 22. 1863. while a soldier. he married Elizabeth Paul. the daugh-
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ter of Thomas and Abigail Paul, of this county, and they began their mar- ried life in Kansas, where they entered land. After remaining there a few years, they returned to Missouri and located on land, now a part of his pres- ent farm of one hundred and twenty acres. Having lived there many years and worked hard, he now has a well improved place and has built a good residence and made many other substantial changes. He has a model poultry house and yards and some fine chickens are to be found here at all times. He has a field of alfalfa with which he is experimenting, and he harvested three crops from it in 1909 and is well pleased with his success in this direction. He does everything well that he undertakes and is seldom disappointed in results. He is one of the very few old settler's now living in the township and he has lived within a radius of four miles during the past sixty years, during which time he has noted great improvements and changes of every kind. There were no tame grasses when he came here, and there were plenty of deer and wild turkey, and many Indians roamed over the prairies, passing through the county almost continuously. Mr. Moler is a member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, Lodge No. 219, at Guilford.
Two children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Moler: Emma Belle is the wife of John Olson and they have two children, Stella May and Emma E. ; Charles B. Moler was born August II, 1873, and died October 25, 1896.
The subject's grandfather Stingley was a soldier in the Black Hawk war. The subject has lived here long enough to see land advance in value from one dollar and twenty-five cents per acre to one hundred and twenty- five dollars per acre.
SAMUEL M. DEVAULT.
One of the representative citizens of Lincoln township, Nodaway county, is Samuel M. Devault, for his life has been one of hard work which has re- sulted in the development of a good farm, which he owns and which yields him a comfortable living. He is a native of this township, having been born here December 17, 1869, and he is the son of Isaac and Sarah ( Rutledge) Devault, the former a native of Tennessee, born September 13, 1831, and the latter born in i842 in Greene county, Indiana. They came to Monroe county, Missouri, in 1852 and to Nodaway county in 1854. He rented land for two years in the former, and he first bought one hundred acres in Nodaway, later traded for eighty acres in Iowa, and in 1864 bought one hundred and sixty acres of school land. He owns property in Elmo, and has been very success-
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ful in a business way since coming here, and he is now living retired with his son. He was a member of the state militia during the great civil strife. Politically he was a Democrat and after the war was a Republican. He and his wife are members of the Methodist Episcopal church South. His first wife was Mary Wells, by which union six children were born, of whom two are living, Ellen and Carnelia F., both of Iowa. His second wife was Sarah Guthrie, who bore him one child, which died in infancy. He married his present wife in 1864 and eight children have been born to this union, namely : Twins, who died in infancy : Emma : Samuel M. ; David is deceased ; Herman C., Claud W. and Bertie, the last named now deceased. Isaac Devault is a man whom everybody admires and respects for his exemplary and industrious life.
Samuel M. Devault was reared on a farm and educated in the common schools of his neighborhood. He has devoted his attention to farming since boyhood and is now the owner of a well improved and neatly kept place of one hundred and six acres, on which he raises a diversity of farm products ; he also grows live stock. He has a comfortable home and is very pleasantly situated in every respect.
Politically Mr. Devault is a Republican and a member of the Methodist Episcopal church. He belongs to Canada Lodge. No. 329. Free and Accepted Masons, of Elmo, this township, and he takes more than a passing interest in the same.
CHARLES A. BARMAN.
The climate, soil and general conditions in northwestern Missouri are well adapted to the purpose of general farming and stock raising. One of the men who has shown by his success that he is a master of the art of farming is Charles A. Barman, who owns and operates a fine farm in Polk township and whose thrift. industry and good management has resulted in a gratifying measure of prosperity and gained for him the admiration and respect of his fellow men.
Mr. Barman was born in Chillicothe, Ohio. on the. 16th day of October. 1864, and he is the son of George and Josephine (Gerthizin) Barman. George Barman was born in Germany and in 1819. at the age of ten years, he came to the United States, his subsequent life being spent in Louisville, Kentucky.
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and Cincinnati and Chillicothe, Ohio. One son, Frank, has been a resident of Maryville, Nodaway county, Missouri, for about thirty-five years.
Charles A. Barman was reared under the parental roof and secured his education in the public schools of his native city. In March, 1889. he came to Nodaway county, residing for a year in Maryville, during which time he in- vestigated the county with a view of locating permanently. He bought a tract of four hundred acres, comprising his present farm, for which he paid thirty-five dollars an acre. It was formerly known as the Goforth farm and is eligibly situated on the One Hundred and Two river, six and three-quarter miles southeast of the court house. He has since added to this tract until he is now the owner of six hundred and thirty-five acres, all but one hundred and twenty of which lie together. Most of this was purchased at fifty dollars an acre, though some of it cost as much as seventy-five dollars per acre, none of the land being now worth a cent less than one hundred dollars per acre. Mr. Barman has made a great deal of improvement on the property, including the laying of at least a car load of drain tile. In 1905 he erected a splendid two- story and basement. nine-room house, which is heated with furnace and is otherwise modern in its appointments, including water service where needed throughout the house. Mr. Barman raises all the crops common to this section of the country, but gives special attention to the feeding of stock, in which line he has met with splendid success, shipping several cars of cattle to the markets annually. Eminently practical and methodical in his operations. Mr. Barman maintains a personal supervision over every detail of the farm work and because of his up-to-date ideas and executive ability he has been enabled to realize a gratifying measure of success in his operations, being now numbered among the leading farmers of his section of the county. His land is largely river bottom land, recognized as the best for general purposes in Nodaway county, and constitutes a valuable estate.
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