USA > Missouri > Nodaway County > Past and present of Nodaway County, Missouri Volume II > Part 8
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Mr. Holt was married first on November 18. 1857, to Elizabeth Logan. She died twenty-five years ago, leaving one child. Dollie. the wife of William
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Davenport, of Maryville. On November 18. 1881, Mr. Holt was married to Sarah Jackson, who was born in Jefferson county, Ohio, daughter of John and Harriet ( Dunn) Jackson, who came to Platt county, Missouri, 1844. removing to Nodaway county one year later. This union has been without issue.
Mr. Holt very capably served as school director in Green township, but he never aspired to political offices, being content to lead a quiet life. He takes much interest in his little granddaughter. Edna Holt Davenport, the only child of his daughter Dollie. He is a man who delights in entertaining his friends in old-time hospitable style and it is indeed interestng to hear him recall reminiscences of the early days in Nodaway county. He has hosts of friends throughout the county.
WILLIAM R. TILSON.
One of the most popular men in Nodaway county is William R. Tilson, the efficient and fearless sheriff whom the people selected for that office by a large and overwhelming vote, and owing to his fidelity to duty, his public spirit and his unquestioned integrity he is proving to be one of the best officials the county has ever had in any capacity. according to many of his constitu- ents.
Mr. Tilson was born at Rosendale, Andrew county, Missouri, January 2. 1867, being the representative of a remarkable family of fourteen children, twelve of whom are living at this writing. His father, Capt. W. H. Tilson. who resides in Rosendale, Missouri. is a native of Kentucky. The latter's father, Stephen Tilson, moved to Indiana when W. H. Tilson was a small child. later moving to Missouri, reaching the latter state when the future cap- tain was only twelve years old. The father took up the noblest of all callings. agriculture, and followed the same successfully up to a few years ago when he went into well-earned retirement. During the great civil conflict he was cap- tain of Company B. Fifty-first Regiment Missouri Volunteer Infantry, and distinguished himself on the field. Captain Tilson was born in August. 1839. He is a man of powerful and splendid physique, who delights in leading such a life and thinking such wholesome thoughts as to keep young. He married Emeline Dobbs, who was born in Franklin county. Indiana. September. 1841. who is still his companion. They are the parents of the following named children, given here in order of birth: John L. and Alice (twins) : Isabelle is
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the wife of William A. Burks, of Pickering, Missouri; William R., of this review : Rosc E. is the wife of C. A. Pettegrew, of Barnard, Nodaway county ; Charles. deceased : James A. is a transfer mail clerk at the Union station, St. Joseph, Missouri : Susan is deceased ; Florence is the wife of L. L. Markley. a bookkeeper in St. Joseph : Edward G., of Fairfax, Missouri : Francis A. is the wife of W. M. Turner, of Barnard, Missouri ; Roscoe R. lives at Glasgow, Montana : Loren L., of St. Joseph ; Lester A. also lives in St. Joseph.
William R. Tilson was born on the parental farm, where he spent his boyhood and young manhood, assisting with the general duties of the farm, accompanying the family to Nodaway county when fourteen years of age. They located near Barnard and here William R. lived until the year 1901. at which time he engaged in the livery business in Barnard, continuing in the same for eighteen months. In June, 1903. he removed to Maryville and here he engaged in the livery business until his barn was burned six years ago. In November. 1907, he and his brother. J. L. Tilson, engaged in the livery busi- ness which was continued until April 1, 1909. William R. also assumed the duties of deputy sheriff on coming to Maryville under James L. Enis, serving until Mr. Enis' term expired and then he was selected as deputy by the succeed- ing sheriff. George L. Evans, with whom he continued throughout the four- years term, making a service of five and one-half years as deputy sheriff. At the primary election of the Republican party in 1908 he was chosen as its candidate for sheriff, defeating his opponent by an overwhelming majority, being elected at the ensuing fall election by the decisive majority of four hun- dred and thirty-seven votes. although his party state ticket was defeated. This is certainly sufficient evidence of his high standing in this county. He as- sumed the duties of his office on January 1, 1909, for a term of four years. Fortified with an experience of over five years as deputy sheriff, he took his office with a real knowledge of the official routine and it is needless to say that he has given the people an able and fearless administration. He is a man of frank demeanor. straightforward in business, genteel to strangers, and de- servedly popular among all classes. Mr. Tilson had previously served the public in various minor capacities, first as city marshal of Barnard, then as school director, assessor and clerk, and road boss of Grant township, also two years as constable of Union township.
Mr. Tilson was married on April 11, 1894. to Nancy E. Hager, daughter of Jeremiah Hager, of Springfield, Missouri ; however, she was born at Sweet Home. Nodaway county. Three children have been born to this union, the register of whose births is here given : Mamie E .. born November 25. 1895 : Harry R .. born April 4. 1897 : Lawrence L., born November 4. 1899.
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Mr. Tilson is a member of the Masons. Knights of Pythias, Modern Woodmen and the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks, in all of which he stands high and in which he takes an abiding interest. Mrs. Tilson is a member of the Christian church.
GEORGE W. NULL.
From an excellent old family of the Buckeye state is descended George W. Null, one of Nodaway county's honored citizens who, after a long and very busy life which has been attended by a reasonable measure of success and happiness, is now living retired in his cozy home at Maryville. His birth occurred in Gallia county, Ohio, September 17, 1841. His father, also named George W. Null, was a native of Ohio, a farmer, who died in Gallia county, that state, when his son, George W., Jr., was only nine days old. The Null family came from Pennsylvania to Ohio, Grandfather William Null, emigrat- ing to the Buckeye state at an early date and began farming amid the wilder- ness of the early days. Helen Wiseman, mother of George W. Null, Jr., was born in Ohio, to which state her parents came from Virginia. After the death of her first husband, Mr. Null. she married Thomas Kelly, a native of the Isle of Man, England, and the family removed to Nodaway county, Missouri, in 1852, the mother dying near Pickering, this county, in May, 1865. To Mr. and Mrs. George W. Null, Sr., three children were born. Allen, the eldest. died in childhood and David died in 1861, at the age of twenty-one years. George W., of this review, being the only survivor. Seven children were born to Mr. Null's mother by her last marriage. namely : J. W. Kelly lives in Cali- fornia ; Margaret lives in the Black Hills, South Dakota ; Samuel was killed in 1864 by the Indians : Lewis lives in Oklahoma : Henry and Newton (twins) live at Pickering, this county; Buren lives in San Francisco: Oliver died in childhood.
George W. Null, of this review, was born on the parental farm in Ohio and lived there during his boyhood, attending school a short time. In 1852, when he was eleven years old, the family removed to Missouri, the step-father. Mr. Kelly, coming here in the spring of that year and buying land, the family following in the fall, locating in Polk township, eight miles northeast of Mary- ville in the settlement now known as Myrtle Tree. In that neighborhood Mr. Null lived until six years ago when he removed to Maryville, with the excep- tion of two years spent in Kansas.
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July 17. 1861, Mr. Null proved his patriotism by enlisting in Company I, First Nebraska Infantry (afterwards cavalry), and he served very creditably through all the trying campaigns and battles of this regiment for four and one-half years, being honorably discharged January 11, 1866. He was on the firing line all the time at Ft. Donelson, Shiloh, siege of Corinth and other notable engagements. His record in the war is best told by the following letter from his colonel written at the close of hostilities :
"Headquarters, East Sub-District of the Plains, Ft. Kearney, Neb .. "July 10, 1865. "My Dear George :
"Through four long years of arduous service in office and in field, con- fronting the enemy, you have been constantly near me as orderly or clerk, and now that I am about severing the old ties that bound us in one family and re- turn to civil life. I feel it my duty to bear witness to the excellency of your conduct. Stern and severe as my reputation has been among soldiers, I have never had occasion to utter a disapproving word to you. Ever found ready and willing at all times of the day and night to do your duty, your conduct has been such to merit my heartiest approbation.
"I trust. George, that in your future life the same straightforward course may win your way to wealth and happiness and that God may guard you and yours from all harm and bless you with continued health.
"I am. George, your friend and old colonel.
"R. R. LIVINGSTON.
"George Null. First Nebraska Cavalry."
Mr. Null was in the South during the first part of the war, and he guarded states on the plains during the last part of the conflict. He was orderly and clerk, as the above letter would indicate.
After the war Mr. Null returned to Nodaway county and bought a farm, taking up the peaceful duties of farmer. July 27. 1864. he married Lydia Ware, daughter of Jehu and Mary (Terhune) Ware. She was born in An- drew county, Missouri. August 10. 1845. Her father was born in New Jer- sey, but was reared in Ohio, devoting his life to farming : his death occurred in 1891. Mrs. Null's mother was born in Henry county. Indiana, and came to Missouri with her parents in 1840, settling in Andrew county, first coming to Nodaway county in 1849. Her mother died in 1901 at an advanced age.
Mr. and Mrs. Null have the following interesting family of children and grandchildren : Mary H. married J. L. Partridge, lives near Myrtle Tree. Nod- away county, and has two children, Myra and Dale : Orland G., rural mail car- rier, lives at Pickering. this county, married Ona Fakes, and they are the par-
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ents of four children. Howard, Mabel. Myrtle and Gladys; Laura married Arthur Wiley, live on the parental farm and have six children, Edith, Lewis, Lucille, Cecil, Mildred and Grace Irene : Wilbur F. lives at Cameron, Missouri, has been a member of the faculty of Wesleyan College for ten years, married Chloe Herrick, no issue ; Rev. Charles W .. of Sunnydale, California, married Mary Walker. of St. Joseph. Missouri, and they have two children, Margaret and Marian : Sarah is the wife of Robert Corken, Burlington Junction, where he is engaged as a hardware merchant, and has the following children, Anna, Helen and Robert : Anna (deceased ) was the wife of Ray Lee, whom she mar- ried in 1903, her death occurring in February, 1904: G. Hubert lives eight miles east of Maryville, married Daisy Castile, and has one child, Fay Wood- son ; Amy L. is the wife of Prof. Charles Oldham, superintendent of schools at Thayer, Missouri, and has two children. Charles Woodson and Mary Vir- ginia.
Mr. and Mrs. Null are members of the Methodist Episcopal church. Po- litically the former is a Republican, having cast his first ballot for the Drake constitution. He has served as justice of the peace, but he has never cared for political offices. He is quartermaster of Sedgwick Post, No. 21, Grand Army of the Republic, having held this office for the past five years. The post gave him a handsome gold-headed cane, engraved as follows: "Sedgwick Post. No. 21. Department Grand Army of the Republic. G. W. Null, Quarter- master 1905-6-7." Another present which he prizes is a watch given to him in recognition of his kindness in nursing and befriending a comrade, the watch being thus inscribed : "Presented to G. W. Null by M. H. S. and J. J. Swingle, a friend and comrade of their brother, T. J. Swingle, Co. I. Ist Neb."
In 1903, Mr. Null was appointed by the county court a special commis- sioner to prepare an exhibit of the Nodaway county products at the St. Louis World's Fair, and the county received a silver medal for its exhibit of apples and other products. Nine other individual prizes were also awarded to citi- zens here whose exhibits Mr. Null had been instrumental in selecting.
Neither Mr. Null nor any of his large family have ever used tobacco or whisky in any form, and each member bears an unblemished reputation in the community where he is located.
KEERAN CHRISTOPHER CUMMINS. M. D.
A man who has long held distinctive prestige in a calling which re- quires for its basis sound mentality and intellectual discipline of a high order, supplemented by the rigid professional training and thorough mastery of technical knowledge with the skill to apply the same, without which one
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can not hope to rise above mediocrity in ministering to human ills, is Dr. Keeran Christopher Cummins, of Maryville, Nodaway county. In his chosen field of endeavor, Doctor Cummins has achieved success such as few attain and his present eminent standing among the leading medical men of northern Missouri is duly recognized and appreciated not only in his city and county, but also in remote localities of this section of the state. In addition to his eminently creditable career in one of the most exacting of professions, he has also proven an honorable member of the body politic : rising in the confidence and esteem of the public, he has filled worthily im- portant trusts, and in every relation of life has never fallen below the dig- nity of true manhood nor in any way resorted to methods and wiles that invite criticism or censure.
Doctor Cummins was born June 1. 1867, in Mason county, Illinois. He is a scion of an old and highly honored family, being the son of Chris- topher and Mary (Mckinney) Cummins. The father was born in county Dublin, Ireland, December 20, 1833, the son of John and Margaret Cum- mins. John was a farmer and died in Ireland. October. 1839. Mrs. Cum- mins and five small children came to America and settled in Clark county, Ohio, where the mother died in 1860. When twenty-eight years of age. Christopher Cummins left Clark county, Ohio, and came to Mason county, Illinois, where he farmed for five years. He then went to Gentry county, Missouri, and bought one hundred and sixty acres and farmed there until 1903, when he came to Nodaway county, now living retired, enjoying the fruits of his former years of activity. He still owns valuable farms in Gentry county. He is a member of the Catholic church, but supports no political party. On April 22, 1860, he married Mary Ellen Mckinney, who was born in county Kings, Ireland, June 19. 1838, the daughter of John and Catherine (Quinnin) Mckinney. Her father was a farmer and con- tractor in Ireland. Mrs. McKinney died in Ireland in 1847, and in 1853 Mr. Mckinney and five children came to America and settled in Clark county, Ohio, on a farm. There the father died in 1892.
To Mr. and Mrs. Christopher Cummins eight children were born, namely: Catherine, wife of N. Y. Jameson, of Stanberry, Missouri ; John A., of Gentry county, Missouri; Thomas A. is an attorney at Maryville : Dr. Keeran C., of this review: Rosa is the wife of I. N. Gartin, of Gentry county ; Francis P. is a Catholic priest living in Brookfield, Missouri : Mar- garet M. is the wife of T. Costello, of Maryville: James B. lives in Houston, Texas.
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Doctor Cummins, of this review, was reared on a farm and attended the country schools, also the Christian Brothers College at St. Joseph, Mis- souri. He studied medicine with Dr. C. H. McCaslin, at King City. Gentry county, Missouri. He attended the Kentucky Medical School at Louisville. He graduated with high honors from the Northwestern Medical College at St. Joseph, Missouri, in February, 1892. He began practicing at Darling- ton, later King City, Missouri. In 1902 he came to Maryville and has since enjoyed a large and lucrative practice, which is constantly growing. taking rank at once among the leading representatives of this profession. He has a beautiful and modern home on Buchanan street and he is one of Maryville's most representative citizens.
The Doctor is a Democrat politically and he takes more or less interest in the political affairs of his township and county. For three years he served faithfully as county physician and health officer of Nodaway county. Fraternally he is a member of the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks, the Modern Woodmen of America. Catholic Foresters, the Yeomen, and he is medical examiner for the Knights of Columbus. He belongs to the Catholic church.
Doctor Cummins was married on June 19, 1893, to Mary M. Lynch, a lady of culture and refinement. She is a native of Gentry county and the daughter of Daniel and Elizabeth (Berry) Lynch, early pioneers of Gentry county and natives of Ireland: they are both living at this writing. Mrs. Cummins was born on December 15, 1872.
The Doctor and wife are the parents of three children, Eugene, Francis E. and Lucille E., all attending local schools.
GEORGE ANDREW HARTMAN.
The history of the loyal sons and representative citizens of Nodaway county would not be complete should the name that heads this review be omitted. When the fierce fire of rebellion was raging throughout the South- land, threatening to destroy the Union, he responded with patriotic fervor to the call for volunteers and in some of the bloodiest battles for which that great war was noted proved his loyalty to the government he loved so well. During a useful life in the region where he lives he has labored dili- gently to useful ends and is now enabled to live in the enjoyment of a rest which he richly earned.
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George A. Hartman was born in Clark county, Indiana, on July 14. 1844, and spent his boyhood days on the paternal farmstead. In August, 1862, at the age of eighteen years, he enlisted as a private in Company I, Eighty-first Regiment Indiana Volunteer Infantry, for the three-year serv- ice, the regiment being assigned to the Army of the Cumberland. He was first under fire at Perryville, and was then in the battle of Stone River, where the regiment lost twenty-five men killed. At the battle of Chicka- mauga. the Eighty-first was posted on the extreme right, where they suf- fered a heavy loss, four members of Company I being captured by the enemy. The subject was then assigned to guard duty at Bridgeport, Ala- bama, and in eastern Tennessee, where he remained until May, 1864. The regiment was then ordered to take part in the Atlanta campaign, taking part in the battle of Jonesboro and the fall of Atlanta. The regiment was then taking part in the chase after General Hood's army. taking part in the battle of Franklin and at Nashville. They pursued Hood to Hunts- ville, Alabama, where they remained until February, 1865, when they went to Strawberry Plains, in eastern Tennessee, and crossed to Asheville, North Carolina, where they took part in the skirmish in which the last man of the regiment to be injured during the war received his hurt. The regiment then went back to Greenville. Tennessee, where they received news of Gen- eral Lee's surrender. after which they went to Nashville, Tennessee, where they received their honorable discharge in May, 1865. after almost three years of hard service. Mr. Hartman bore his full share of the toils, dangers and privations of the service. but was a brave and valiant soldier, achieving a record of which any man might be proud. While in the battle of Kene- saw Mountain on picket duty. he was struck and knocked down by a falling tree which had been cut in two by a Confederate cannon ball, but he was not seriously hurt.
After his return from the army Mr. Hartman resumed his studies. which had been rudely interrupted by the war. and after completing his public school education he engaged in teaching school in Clark county. He was married in 1869 and soon afterwards he and his wife came to Nod- away county, Missouri, where Mrs. Hartman's sister, Mrs. Lewis Geyer. had come in 1865. For a year Mr. Hartman operated rented land at Graham. Hughes township, and then bought forty acres of land near that place. After operating this place three years Mr. Hartman engaged in the mercantile business at Graham, but in 1874-5 he bought eighty acres of land in White Cloud township, which he improved and on which he resided dur-
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ing the following thirty years, or until January. 1906. To the first pur- chase, which had cost him twelve hundred dollars, he subsequently added eighty acres more, at a cost of three thousand dollars, the same being now worth at least one hundred dollars an acre. Mr. Hartman gave his un- divided attention to the improvement and cultivation of this land and de- veloped it into one of the best farms in that section of the country. He followed a general line of farming and stock raising and was practical and methodical in all his efforts, which were crowned with a gratifying measure of success. Since 1906 he has been living in Maryville, though he still owns the farm land.
In the spring of 1869 Mr. Hartman was married to Margaret Ann Helzer, a native of Clark county, Indiana, and to them were born nine children, namely: Christine, who remains at home, has been a successful teacher in the public schools for twenty years, having commenced at the age of seventeen years ; Nicholas, who is living on the home farm; William. who is engaged in farming in White Cloud township: Nellie, the wife of A. C. Forney, of Fall River county. South Dakota: Florence was formerly a music teacher and is now the wife of Vance Westfall. of Maryville; Bertha, who was formerly a teacher. married O. E. Miller, a farmer at Barnard; Chester is a railroad man in Montana: Frances is assistant prin- cipal and teacher of mathematics in the high school at Hot Springs, South Dakota : Clara is a student in the Normal School at Maryville. One child, John, died in infancy and Amelia died at the age of eleven years.
Politically, Mr. Hartman is a stanch supporter of the Republican party and has served as a justice of the peace, though he is not a politician in the ordinary acceptance of the word. He was a school director in White Cloud township. also in Hughes township.
Fraternally, he is a member of the Woodmen of the World, and he keeps alive his old army associations through his membership in Sedgwick Post. Grand Army of the Republic, of which he is the present post com- mander. He is also a past commander of Reynolds Post. at Graham, to which he at one time belonged. Religiously. he and his family are mem- bers of the Methodist Episcopal church, in the various activities of which he takes a deep interest. He is an old-time class leader and is one of the strong spiritual men of his church. His life record has been one of honor, his actions having been controlled by the highest ideals and correct motives, and be- cause of his sterling qualities of character he has won and retains the re- spect of all who know him.
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JOSEPH JACKSON.
Energy, sound judgment and persistency of effort, properly applied, will always win the goal sought in the sphere of human endeavor, no mat- ter what the environment may be or what obstacles are met with, for they who are endowed with such characteristics make stepping-stones of their adversities to higher things. These reflections are suggested by the career of Joseph Jackson, who has forged his way to the front. unaided and stands today among the representative men of Nodaway county, and as president of the First National Bank of Maryville he wields a potent in- fluence in the financial circles of this locality.
Mr. Jackson was born near Smithfield, Jefferson county, Ohio, Septem- ber 20, 1842, and is the son of John and Harriet (Dunn) Jackson, an old and well established Ohio family. John Jackson was born October 10. 1810, near Smithfield. the son of John and Rachael (Orr) Jackson. John Jackson, Jr., worked on a farm until he came to Missouri, locating at New Market, Platte county, in the spring of 1843. In the fall of that year he came to Nodaway county, buying three hundred and twenty acres in Polk township, and entered eighty acres from the government. Here he im- proved a good farm and lived until his death, which occurred January 27. 1875, highly honored by all who knew him. He was Nodaway county's first treasurer, having been elected to that office three times, serving six vears. He was a Democrat and a Presbyterian. He married, in 1840. Harriet Dunn, daughter of Joseph and Sarah (Colvin) Dunn. natives of Pennsylvania. To this union eight children were born, three sons and five daughters. The mother passed to her rest on July 9. 1892; she was a woman of beautiful attributes and. like her husband, enjoyed a wide friend- ship.
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