USA > Missouri > Carroll County > Portrait and biographical record of Clay, Ray, Carroll, Chariton, and Linn Counties, Missouri, containing biographical sketches of prominent and representative citizens > Part 13
USA > Missouri > Chariton County > Portrait and biographical record of Clay, Ray, Carroll, Chariton, and Linn Counties, Missouri, containing biographical sketches of prominent and representative citizens > Part 13
USA > Missouri > Clay County > Portrait and biographical record of Clay, Ray, Carroll, Chariton, and Linn Counties, Missouri, containing biographical sketches of prominent and representative citizens > Part 13
USA > Missouri > Linn County > Portrait and biographical record of Clay, Ray, Carroll, Chariton, and Linn Counties, Missouri, containing biographical sketches of prominent and representative citizens > Part 13
USA > Missouri > Ray County > Portrait and biographical record of Clay, Ray, Carroll, Chariton, and Linn Counties, Missouri, containing biographical sketches of prominent and representative citizens > Part 13
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 | Part 56 | Part 57 | Part 58 | Part 59 | Part 60 | Part 61 | Part 62 | Part 63 | Part 64 | Part 65 | Part 66 | Part 67 | Part 68 | Part 69 | Part 70 | Part 71 | Part 72 | Part 73 | Part 74 | Part 75 | Part 76 | Part 77 | Part 78 | Part 79 | Part 80 | Part 81 | Part 82 | Part 83 | Part 84 | Part 85 | Part 86 | Part 87 | Part 88 | Part 89 | Part 90 | Part 91 | Part 92 | Part 93 | Part 94 | Part 95
ILLIAM T. CROWLEY, our subject. is the son of Judge William Crowley, of Ray County, and is the worthy son of a worthy sire. lle is a man of honest merit. greatly respected by his neighbors and friends. and deserves all the success that has already come to him. In the little village of Vibbard he carries on a butcher business. conducts his farm, and preaches the Gospel whenever oppor- tunity offers. On the 5th of May. 1815, our sub- ject was born on the old home place in Clinton County, where Judge Crowley first settled, and here and in Ray County he was reared and received superior educational advantages under the best in- structors in the graded schools.
After finishing his course at school. Mr. Crow- ley engaged in teaching and preaching in the Christian Church. After successfully teaching two sehools, he gave up that profession. and has since that time contined his attention to agricultural pursuits and preaching. In 1864 he enlisted in Company B. Forty-fourth Missouri Infantry. V. i S. A., although prior to that time he had been a member of Company B. in the provisional militia. holding the rank of Sergeant under Capt. Rogers; he later obtained a transfer to the company of Capt. Reals. of Ray County, and in this company he was assigned to the Quartermaster's depart- ment. At the battle of Franklin. Tenn., he was so severely wounded that it became necessary for him to return home, and he remained with his fa- ther until his marriage. April 8. 1869, to Miss Sally E. Cooper. a native of Clinton County, and
daughter of Judge David Cooper. Her death of- curred January 25. 1870. at the early age of twenty-one years, ten months and six days.
Our subject was married again. December S. 1870, this union being with Miss Jane Isabella. a daughter of Abraham King. of Ray County. Her death occurred February 21, 1881, at the age of thirty-five years. eight months and twenty-one days. February 9. 1882. our subject married Mis- Mollie. daughter of Vincent Morrow. an old citi- zen of the county. Her death occurred JJanuary 15, 1887. By his first marriage one child was born, Stella, who is now Mrs. Oscar Kerns; by the second marriage. Berenice. living at home; Her- bert. employed by Mr. Glasscock; Margaret Ellen, who is now learning the millinery trade: Lnte. May, Sallie Frances and William Abraham at home. The children of the last wife were Viola and Mary Jane. both of whom are at home. Mr. Crowley has engaged in farming ever since he was first married. Ile has been engaged in his ministerial work for the past twenty years, having embraced religion in his fifteenth year. Ilis ministry has been very successful. nine churches having been organized under his care, and eighty-seven persons professed religion under his ministrations.
Our subject seems to be peculiarly gifted in conducting protracted meetings. although his services are in great demand on all religious occasions. Although he is connected with the Christian Church, he is in no way bigoted and sees good in all religious denominations, no mat- ter of what faith. At present he is the Assist- ant Superintendent of the Sunday-school. and is highly regarded in that connection. Mr. Crow- ley has grown experienced in religious work. hi- heart having been been in it for so many years, making of it a labor of love. Before entering the army and before marriage he engaged in preaching, and conducted protracted meetings all over the country, even as far south as Texas. He has a record of lifty-four couples united in matri- mony.
In the loss of his different wives our subject has been particularly bereaved. as they were all most excellent women, belonging to tine families. Good and devout women. two of them were men-
G
-
PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
bers of the Presbyterian Chunch and one of the Christian. Although he has had a large family upon his hands to care for and direct. he has done his full duty by them all. In his political fourth he is a Republican, proving himself true to that body on any and all occasions. He is also Chaplain of Excelsior Lodge No. 211, G. A. R.
AYNIE ROWELL. M. D., one of the pro- gressive and popular young physicians of Kearney, Mo., is the subject of this notice. Those who believe in ancestry will have no trouble in accounting for the success and energy of our subject. when it is known that one of his ancestor- was among the brave and daring settlers of this country, and belonged to that class whose largeness of plan. hopefulness and aggressiveness made possible the opening up of this great coun- try. The Rowell family is of English extraction. and the first members of it who came to America found a wild country. unsettled and uncivilized. The Colonies were then struggling, and the Rowell family took part in the various privations and efforts at civilization of that day.
The great grandfather of our subject was a sol- dier in the Revolutionary War. He reared a fam- ily of seven sons and five daughters, five of whom settled in Albany. Vt .. and reared large families of their own. Two of the sons remained in New Hampshire. The grandfather of out subject was a farmer who lived in Vermont. and died there at the age of sixty years, of cancer. The father of our subject is also a farmer. and came to Missouri in 1833, at which time he became a school teacher, teaching in Clay and Platte Counties until 1859. At that date he married Miss Aun Mekce, who was born in this county in 1837. She reared nine children, eight of whom are living. as follows: Haynie. Samuel J. Joseph, Frank D. Hlettic Ann. Mary. Albert and Hiram I. dr.
After their marriage. the parents of our subject settled on the edge of Bay County. on the border of Clay County, and bought eighty acres there,
which the father farmed and eventually added in until ha bad three hundred and twenty acres, sell- ing sixty veres, however. just after the war. The money from this sale he put into the Liberty Bank, which was robbed one week later by the James boys. At the present time he owns six hun- dred acres in beth Ray and Clay Counties. In 1884. he removed to the place near Excelsior Springs where he now lives, but he rents out part of his land. Both he and his estimable wife are members of the Christian Church. Mr. Rowell is a Democrat in his political opinions, and was dur- ing the war an upholder of the Union.
The maternal grandfather of our subject was David JicKee, a native of Kentucky, who settled here in 1835. He came from Mt. Sterling. Ky .. making the journey by wagon, and settled in Washington Township. near the old town of Clay -- ville. Here he developed a farm of a wait for hundred acres, and here died at the age of seventy- two years. The McKee family came of Irish an- cestry, and the great-grandfather of our subject took part in the Indian Wars of Kentucky, which were the necessary results of attempts at settle- ment.
Our subject was reared on the farm in Ray County, Mo .. where his birth occurred November 6. 1860. lle attended the district schools until he was sixteen years of age, and then entered the Normal School at Kirksville. Mo .. where he advan- tageously >peut five months, and at the end of that time engaged in teaching school. which l.s continued in Ray and Clay Counties until 1>>4. At this time he began that study which has proved his successful calling in life. In the office of Dr. C. M. Palmer, then of Lawson but now of st. Lonis, our subject entered upon his medical read- ing. Here he remained for one year, and then was prepared for entrance to the St. Louis Medical College, where he spent one year with profit. Tive months at the world-famous Bellevue Medical (o)- lege, in New York, gave him practical experience. which prepared him for many an emergency. Af- ter this he attended the Medical University at Burlington, Vt .. from which he was graduated in July, 1888, locating here in September of the star year.
116
PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
Dr, Rowell married in February, 1891. Miss Della Hinkle, a native of Illinois, and with this congenial companion enjoys a pleasant social life in this city. His practice has been very gratify- ing, and at times he has had more patients than he has been able to attend to sati-factorily. His education has not been all in one line, but covers the whole subject of materia medica. Dr. ard Mrs. Rowell are both members of the Christian Church, and are highly esteemed in that connec- tion. In his political faith he adheres to the prin- eiples of the Democratic party. and socially. he has a pleasant relationship with the Freemasons and Independent Order of Odd Fellows, and is a char- ter member of Kearney Lodge, of the latter order. Ilis business prospects are very fair, and he is a stockholder in the Kearney Bank. He is a young man of more than ordinary ability, and his profes- sional career promises to be one of great success.
ILLIAM II. WYMORE. SR .. our subject, is a most agreeable and entertaining gen- tleman, who has accumulated in his life- time of busy work a vast amount of useful know !- edge, uponwhich he can always speak interestingly and to the profit of his hearers. His snug fortune came to him by the work of his own hands, and by shrewd investment and good management. Now a retired farmer and blacksmith of Liberty. he was born in Fayette County, Ky .. near Lexing- ton, December 8. 1815. His father. Capt. Martin Wymore, was born in Pennsylvania in 1772, and when but six years old accompanied his parents to Kentucky, where he carried on general farming pursuits. During the War of 1812 he served with valor and patriotic spirit. His father was killed by the Indians, while living in Kentucky.
The mother of our subject was born on Cape Fear River, in Charlotte County. N. C., in 1776. and was the second cousin of the mother of Gen. Andrew Jackson. Her death occurred in Ken- tucky. She was the mother of twelve children. of whom our subject is the eleventh. William H.,
aar subject, was reared in his native county. where he attempted school and also worked upon the farm. At Lexington he learned the trade of a blacksmith. remaining at the latter place until he was twenty-four years old. when he came to Liberty, Clay County. Mo., October 25, 1838. Here he bought out the business of a Mr. Allen. a Moron and carried on the blacksmith trade for a period of eighteen years.
Ai the expiration of that time Mr. Wymore'en- gaged in the manufacture of rope from hemp. first making the rope by hand and then by ma- chinery, and carried on this business until the outbreak of the war. Meanwhile he became an agriculturist. and continued farming until 1887. when he removed to Liberty. where he now lives somewhat retired. His farm. which consists of one hundred and eighty acres and adjoins the city limits of Liberty. he sold for $20,000. Mr. Wy- more married Miss Elizabeth J. Keller, of Ken- lucky, daughter of Jacob Keller who bore him the following children and died in 1879. The record of the children is as follows: Mary J. married Prof. J. B. Bradley, and after his death was again mar- ried. her home being in Louisiana: Charlotte D. is the widow of Cary Nall: Alice M. is the wife of E. W. Toler, of Kansas City; George C. was ac- cidentally killed at Liberty, when a bank robber. attempting to shoot a citizen and his horse throw- ing up his head at the time, by mistake shot this young man, who was a spectator; William HI .. for- merly Deputy Sheriff, first married Curtie M. Barnes, and after her demise was united with Miss Douglas Roy: Mabel is the wife of Dr. C. 11. Miller; Fanny married James F. Reed. Cirenit Clerk; Emma became the wife of Canby Wilmott: and Elizabeth is at home.
Our subject was married to his present wife March 4, 18sl. She was the widow of sidney Parish. a native of Virginia, and the daughter of Samuel and Elizabeth ( Bogan) Handley, her fa- ther making his home in Washington, D. C. In his younger days Mr. Wymore was a neighbor of Henry Clay, but did not yield to the persuasive arts of that great statesman. as he has been a square, out-and-out Democrat all his life. He and his wife are active members of the Christian Church. Their
.
117
PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
handsome residence is located at the corner of Spring and La Belle Avenues, where they are pass- ing tranquilly and peacefully the evening of their lives.
(. WHITMER. who is held in esteem by his neighbor- for his many good qualities of head and heart. resides upon a farm on section 6. township 51, range 27. Ray County. The place contains first-class improve- ments. and i- cultivated with economie regard to favoring results. Our subject was born in Clay County. Mo .. February 9, 1835. being the son of Jacob and Elizabeth (Seboot) Whitmer. natives of Schenectady County. N. Y. His father was reared on the home farm. and resided with his parents until he attained his majority, his education be- ing limited to the public schools of that day.
A shoemaker by trade as well as a farmer. Jacob Whitmer followed both vocations during his en- tire life, sometimes on rented land. and again on farms owned by himself. Six years after mar- riage he removed to Ohio, and later came to Mis- souri, living at various points until 1838. when he settled in Ray County, and opened a shoe-shop. which was continued until his death. Prior to his demise, he had accumulated one hundred and four- teen acres of land. He acquired quite a wide- spread fame through his association with Joseph Smith. the founder of the Mormon Church. being reputed one of the readers of the original Book of Mormon. His membership was held in the Church of Christ. in which he held a most prominent posi- tion. ,
The political opinions of the father of our suh- ject were in harmony with those of the Demo- cratic party, with which he always attiliated. Ile was the son of Peter and Mary Whitmer, both na- Thomas MeCormick, grandfather of our subject. was reared to manhood in Pennsylvania, where he learned the trade of a tailor, and followed that all his day -. His son. the father of our subject, was reared in the country, and. like many other boys. tives of Germany. Our subject lived at home un- til the twenty-first anniversary of his birth. and in the March following married Mary. daughter of Benjamin and Barbara E. (Atkinson) Gant. Ho rented land from his father for that season, and in , did not appreciate the school advantages offered
-
the following year bought forty aeres of his pres- ent farm. llis father died while the son was a tenant on the farm. Just as soon as he had be- come a land-owner. Mr. Whitmer settled on his farm, and has remained there ever since.
Eleven children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Whitmer. two of whom died in infancy. the other being Elizabeth, wife of Thomas B. Harder: Edwin F., who married Lillia Simmons; Jennie F .; Nora B., wife of Joseph Douglas -: John G., Charles W .. Isora B .. David A. and Mamie J. One daughter is pursuing her studies in Richmond College, while four others have carried their instruction beyond the public schools. Mr. Whitmer has had thirteen grandchildren. To the forty acres originally pur- chased he has added from time to time. until now his farm consists of three hundred and thirty aeres. Ile is an Elder in the Church of Christ, in which he has been a member for sixteen years. 1 Republican from conviction, he heartily supports the nominees of that party, and rejoices in its suc- cess. During the war he was in the State militia for four months, during which time he was in line of battle more than once. but was never under tire.
OSEPH P. Mc CORMICK. our subject, is de- scended from worthy stock. and the heri- tage of a good name is beyond price. Ilis father. grandfather and other ancestors passed through life with credit to themselves, obes- ing the golden rule of doing as they would be done by. Our subject was born in Lancaster County, Pa .. in 1818. a son of Samuel MeCormick. who was a son of Thomas, who, in turn, was a son of Hughey McCormick, who emigrated from the North of Ireland to Pennsylvania about the time of the Revolution.
118
PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD
him, and so would not embrace them Quite early in life he began to work on farms by the month. At the age of nineteen he married Barbara Stayley, a native of Pennsylvania. daughter of samuel stay- lev, a native of Switzerland. who served seven years in the Revolutionary War. To this union two sons were born, namely: George and our subject. The mother died when the latter was only eighteen months old. Later the father married again, his second wife being Elizabeth Ayrs, who bore him three children. namely: Frank, of Pennsylvania: William, of Michigan; and Mary C., wife of Sam- uel Hughley.
Our subject remained with his parents until he entered the Union army, which event occurred when he was only sixteen. He enlisted in Company I. One Hundred and Ninety-sixth Pennsylvania Infantry, February 14, 1861, and remained in the service until eleven months after the war closed. During this entire time he was never in a battle. After the war he returned home and remained with his parents until he reached the age of twenty. When he reached his majority he started West and made his first location on a farm in Illinois. working for a Union Baptist preacher, who paid him $20 per month with washing. Until 1874 he remained with strangers and taught school for four winters near Edwardsville, Ill. He was well fitted for his work, as his education was received in Westfield College. His next removal was to Bond County. JIl., where he farmed a few years. living by him- self, during which time he worked very hard, oftentimes eating his cold meals while going to his work.
Tiring of bachelor life, in January. 1869. Mr. MeCormick married Etna. daughter of Henry and Jane (Swallow ) Young, by whom he has had five children: Ilale Y .. Maud, Daisy. Nadie and Etna. Our subject bought eighty acres of land in Illinois, but lost $100 by his purchase. He then invested in land in Missouri, but lost $200 by that purchase. After that he proceeded to Kansas and settled near Roseville, where he purchased eighty acres of land. on which he remained until 1881, when he came to Ray County, where he purchased his present farm of five hundred acres. to which he has since added one hundred and forty-seven acres. On
this farm our subject raises grain and stock, and also engages in stock-feeding to a large extent. In politics he is a Republican, although he was reared a Democrat, and is extremely strong in his party fealty.
E LISTA HARDING is the owner of one of the finest farms in Linn County, on which he has erected substantial buildings. Ilis farm comprises two hundred acres. which are all under cultivation and which he has entirely im- proved since becoming their owner. Ile came to Missouri in January of 1877, and paid for his land $10 an acre. It has increased notably in value and is now worth at least $40 an acre. Our subject is engaged in raising grain and stock, and in his career as an agriculturist he has won signal success.
Our subject is a son of Phelix and Rachael (Sitwell) Harding, the former being one of the early pioneers of Hancock County, Ill. Both par- ents were natives of Kentucky, in which State they were reared to mature years. Our subject is one of eight children, of whom two died in child- hood. Abel is a farmer in Clay Township. Linn County; William reside- in Par-on Creek Town- ship; Jemimah. now Mrs. Sheppard. lives near Meadville. Mos; while the youngest. Clara, wife of W. C. Meats. is a resident of Oregon.
Elisha Harding, whose name heads this sketch. was born October 27, 1852, in Hancock County. Ill .. and in that State was reared to manhood. In 1877 he married Elizabeth Harding, who was also reared in Illinois, and of their union has been born seven children, four of whom are boys. They are as follows: Electa B. John, Rudy. Blanche F. Emmett. Ray. Florence and Alma 1. To them has been given the advantage of good education -. thus fitting them for the duties and responsibilities of the battle of life.
At the age of eighteen years our subject wa- thrown upon his own resources and owes his pres- ent prosperity to his native characteristics of de-
4
151
PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL. RECORD.
termination and industry. He is a member of the Anti-Horse Thief Association. He is an ally amt champion of the Democracy and takes an active part in the advancement and welfare of the com- munity. Both he and his wife are esteemed mem- bers of the Methodist Episcopal Church and num- ber many friends in this portion of the county.
H
OHN MARSHALL ALLEN. M. D., of Lib- erty, is a son of the late Col. Shubeat and D. A. Allen, natives respectively of Orange County, N. Y., and Estill County, Ky., the mother having been a daughter of Gen. Steven Tring, deceased. The parents were mar- ried at Old Franklin, Howard County, Mo., on the 19th of September. 1822, and became early set- tlers of Clay County, where the subject of this sketch was born July 23, 1833. He was reared on a farm in this county, and received his primary education in the public schools. Later he carried on his studies in William Jewell College, and after the war the faculty of that institution conferred upon him the degree of Bachelor of Arts.
-
-
Early in 1851. our subjeet began the study of medicine under Dr. Joseph M. Wood. late of Kan- sas City, but then a resident physician of Liberty. In due time he matriculated at the St. Louis Medi- cal College, and continued a student there until he was graduated in the Class of '51. Immedi- ately after his graduation at St. Louis. he was so- licited by Dr. Pope, Professor of Surgery, the dean of St. Louis Medical College, to apply for the po- sition of physician to the St. Louis Hospital. an evidence of the high estimate Dr. Pope placed upon his attainments and ability as a physician. Dr. Allen, however, declined to make the application, preferring to enter at once upon the general prac- tice of medicine. Returning home from St. Louis after his graduation. he located at Clay-ville, in the northeastern part of this county, and began the practice of his profession. When he arrived there he had but $6, and was $ too in debt.
,
Stopping with Capt. William Cummons. a man whose largeness of heart was only equaled by his great purity of character, and his almost religious veneration for North Carolina, his native State, Dr. Allen frankly told him his financial condition. Capt. Cummons. in the generosity of his great good nature, readily and graciously assured Dr. Allen that he would gladly board him on trust, and would supply him with such reasonable sums of money as he might need. For this noble and generous act of kindness, and for the courtesy and consideration which was ever afterward shown him in the family of Capt. Cummons as long as he re- mained with them, Dr. Allen cherishes a profound and lasting feeling of gratitude. The kindness of other friends, including that of those good men, Edward M. Samuel and Col. A. W. Doniphan, he holis in like remembrance. Declining. however. all loans. he remained at Claysville for about seven years, and built up an excellent practice.
When Mr. Lincoln fulminated his first proclama- tion against the South in 1861, Dr. Allen was temporarily absent from Claysville, attending a post-graduate course of lectures at the St. Louis Medical College in order to review his college course in medicine and surgery, and to acquaint himself with all the later and newer principles and theories of practice developed since his graduation in 1854. Believing that war was then imminent, and being determined to espouse the cause of the South, which he believed it bis duty as a loyal and patriotic citizen of Missouri to do, he at once re- turned home, and shortly afterward removed to Richmond. Mo., where in May, 1861, a company was organized for the Southern service, of which he was elected Captain, but instead accepted the office of Surgeon of Col. Benjamin A. Rives' regiment, which became a part of the Fourth Missouri Divi- sion, State Guard. His term of service in the State Guard lasted for six months, and expired at Osceola, Mo., in December, 1>61, when Col. B. A. Rives. Lieut .- Col. J. R. Pritchard, Maj. Finley Hub- ble. Dr. J. D. Wallis. Capt. J. K. McDowell, Lieut. George Simpson. Lieut. High Faulkner, himself. and ten others, whose names cannot now be remem- bered, entered the Confederate service. swearing m for four years, or during the war. and then went into
7
152
PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
camp on Sae River. These gentlemen formed the nueleus of that grand, heroic and gallant First Mis- souri Brigade of Infantry, which was organized and disciplined by one of Missouri's greatest sul- diers, Gen. Henry C. Little, who was killed at Juka. Miss. Dr. Allen became Regimental Surgeon of the Third Missouri Infantry, and Brigade Sergeon by seniority of the First Brigade, and continued Surgeon of that regiment until the fall of :863, when, by order of Gen. Joseph E. Johnston, he was promoted to the office of Chief Surgeon of the dis- trict of Mississippi and East Louisiana, and at- tached to the staff of Gen. Wirt Adams, with whom he continued until the close of the war, in May. 1865, when he was paroled at Gainesville. Ala. Hle was present in many of the great battles of the war, including, in Missouri, those of Carthage, Wilson's Creek. Dry Wood and the siege of Lex- ington; and beyond this state, those of Elk Horn. Corinth, luka, Grand Gulf. Port Gibson. and a ยท number of engagements of less importance.
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.