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 33
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 33
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 33
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 33
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 33
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After a short time. however, Mr. Gilmer. Sr .. returned to Liberty and engaged in business. In 1818 he removed to Missouri City and there car- ried on a large business merchandising. buying and shipping hemp, and also farming extensively. At that time Missouri City was one of the princi- pal river towns and its commercial importance was considerable. In 1866 Mr. Gilmer embarked in business as a manufacturer of tobacco and con- tinued thu- engaged until 1870. fle died in Lil- erty, March 31, 1891, and his remains were laid to rest exactly fifty-four years to a day from the time he had left his old Carolina home to come to Missouri.
Irving Gilmer was born in Missouri City. Clay County. Mo .. January 28. 1868, and is therefore now in the prime of his mental vigor. He wa- reared to manhood in that city. In December. 18ST, he came to Liberty, and in May of the fol- lowing year leased the Liberty Tribune, in con- neetion with Thomas H. Fram. The owner of the paper was J. E. Lincoln, who had purchased it at that time from John Dougherty. Mr. Frame retired in three months and his part of the lease was transferred to George F. Bird. In May. 1:00. at the commencement of the forty-fifth volume. Mr. Gilmer purchased the Tribune, of which he has since been editor and proprietor. Since his first connection with the paper. he has controlled its business management, and his efforts in that line have been successful.
September 12. 155%, occurred the marriage of Irving Gilmer to Miss Minnie M., daughter of
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Jolm A. Denny, an early settler of Clay County. Mr. and Mr -. Gilmer are the parents of one living child. Robert G., who was born December 20. 1590. They have lost one child by death. Relig- ion-ly, Mr. Gilmer is identified with the Old-school Presbyterian Church, and is active in his support of all measures which have for their object the elevation and welfare of the people.
AMES HUGHES, one of the most prominent and successful financiers of Richmond. Rav County, Mo .. is Vice-president of the bank. ing house of J. S. Hughes & Co .. widely known as one of the "solid" moneyed institutions of the State. carrying a paid-up capital of $100,- 000, and doing an extensive general banking bis- iness. A brother of our subject. I. S. Hughes. is the capable President of the bank, which under the able management of it- principal officers has taken a foremost place among the busines enterprises of the country. Our subject was born upon March 30. 1811, in Jessamine County, Ky .. and is the fifth son of John and Elizabeth ( Berry) Hughes. and the sixth child of the household. Hi- father was a native Pennsylvanian and was born in the old Redstone Fort, now Brownsville, in the year 1777, and afterward removed with his family to Kentucky, residing for some time in Bryant's Station.
Prior to the birth of our subject. John Hughes located in Jessamine County. Ky .. and remained there a number of years. In 1822, when his son James was about eight years of age, he journeyed to Missouri, and locating with his family upon a farm in Boone County, became one of the promi- nent agriculturists of the State. The paternal and maternal ance-tor- of James Hughes were brave and patriotic citizens. Grandfather Hughes served faithfully in the struggles of the Revolutionary War, and both Grandfather Berry and John Hughes participated actively in the War of Is12, serving under Gen. Harrison. Our subject spent the days of boyhood assisting his father upon the
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farm, and also attended the district school of the neighborhood, inter receiving the added benefit of instruction in the Academy in Boonville. At six- teen years of age. Mr. Hughes came to Richmond. Hay Conny, and was employed as a clerk and sale-man in a leading dry-goods house. He con- tinded working in this capacity for different firu.s from: 1530 to 1837, when he engaged in business for himself. and. forming a co-partnership with his brother Willis, profitably conducted a mercantile establishment antil 1845. when he abandoned mer- chandising and devoted himself to agricultural daties.
For thirty successive years our subject prosper- ously engaged in general farming and was one of the most successful stock-raisers in the State, ex- tensively handling fine graded horses and cattle. To his enterprise. sagacity and energetie ability i- mainly due the advancement in leading agricul- ural interests of the county, which received a upward impetus through his ambitions and succes- ful progressive manner and methods. Mr. Hughes retired from the active duties of farming in 1877. when he removed to Richmond and engaged in the banking business with his brother. Joseph Inghes, and his son. Burnett Hughes. Our sub- ject still owns his magnificent farm of eight hun- dred and eighty-two acres. nearly all of the land being under a high state of cultivation. In the spring and summer, when the fields are a mass of waving green. it presents a picture of Na- ture's bounteous store long to be remembered. and speaks more eloquently than words of the patient industry. energy and earnest purpose of the ma- ter hand that redeemed the unbroken prairie from it- barrenness and made it blossom like the rose. and glow with the rich yellow of the autumn har- vest. The old homestead is now conducted by Ammi Hughes, the youngest son of our subject.
Mr. Hughes was first united in marriage in 1812, wedding Mi- Elvira A. Smith. of Ray County, but formerly of Pittsylvania County. Va. Mrs. Elvira A. ( Smith) Hughes survived her mar- riage thirty-five years and after a life of busy use- fulness passed away January 16. 1877. She was the mother of eight children. six sons and two daughters having blessed the happy home of Mr.
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and Mrs. Hughes. The eldest child. Elizabeth V. (Hughes) Mansur, is the wife of William II. Man- sur. President of the Chillicothe Savings Associa- tion. Henry Clay Hughes is a well-known and prosperous farmer of Ray County. Berry and Ber- nett are twins; Berry is a farmer and Burnett is Cashier of the bank. Then comes Alten, who died aged about thirty years. Newton is a clerk in the bank at Richmond. Ammi Hughes, a young man of more than ordinary promise, has just graduated from Richmond College. Louisa R., is the wife of Virgil Dillin, of St. Louis, Mo. The second wife of Mr. Hughes was Mrs. Adaline Lightner, to whom our subject was married in 1882. Since January, 1877, our subjeet has made his permanent home in Richmond and while necessarily devoting naich of his time to the banking business, has enjoyed the honor of twice occupying the mayoral chair, and as the chief executive of the city did effective service in behalf of local progress and improve- ment. The attractive and commodious family res- idence, located in the southern part of Richmond. is surrounded by sixteen linely kept acres of ground, and is the scene of many social gatter- ings, our subject and his family having a host of old-time friends. In political affiliations Mr. Hughes is a Democrat, and an ardent advocate of the principles of Democracy. He is in politics as in business a leader, and. widely known as a pro- gressive and public-spirited man of sterling integ- rity of character, commands the esteem and confi- dence of his fellow-citizens.
AMES M. WRIGHT. The influence of the editor of a country newspaper is direct and great. because he is in constant and inti- mate communication with the people. U'n- like his brother of the metropolitan press, hi- aim is always to be in touch with his patrons and to reflect the sentiment of his community. and in this he is usually successful. The subject of our sketch, the editor and proprietor of the Bay
Coun's Republican, was born in Huntsville. Ran- dolph County, 3o .. June 20. 1815. a son of Amos Wright. who was born in Kentucky, but came to Mi -pari in 1831. locating on the present site of Hanteville, which was then a part of his farm.
In the year 1849 the father went to California. crossing the plains with an ox-team and wagon. in quest of a fortune, and died there in 1850. The mother of our subject wa- Mary Belsher. a na- tive of Kentucky, who was married in Howard County . Mo., and died in 1886. James M. Wright. our subject, is the second of four children. and his boyhood up to his sixteenth year was passed in Huntsville. In 1861, he enlisted in Company G, Ninth Missouri Regiment, and served in it two years and seven months, fighting in the Union army. After that, he enlisted in the Fourteenth Veteran Missouri Cavalry, Col. Catherwood com- manding. During id- term of service ofr .1 !- jeet participated in the battles of Compton's Ferry and Independence. in the fall of 1864. in which he was shot in the right shoulder and carries the ball to-day. He served his time and was mustered out with his regiment. November 19, 1865, at Ft. Leavenworth, Kan.
After his discharge. Mr. Wright returned to Huntsville, where he remained through the win- ter, and in the spring started for California with & company of men, and got as far as Salt Lake City. when he was employed by the Union Pa- vinic Telegraph Company to put in poles and wires through to Denver. Returning to Missouri in 1867. he engaged in the printing business. having acquired a knowledge of it previot- to his entering the army in the office of Francis M. Taylor, editor of the Randolph Citizen, published at Iluntsville, Mo. In 1868 he was employed on the old paper, the Randolph Citizen, published by Richard Thompson. and remained with this paper until 1870. In the latter year he married Miss Anna B .. daughter of John G. Beatty, whose fim- ily came from Pennsylvania to Missouri. After his marriage he located in Huntsville and en med in the real-estate business, Later he was a jour- neyman printer at Denton, Tex., and while there was engaged in the freight business for two you -. Returning to Haut-ville, our subject remained
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until 1886, when he went to Kansas City. where he remained eighteen month: he then returned to Huntsville and established the Huntsville Roeien. an independent paper. Following thi- he settled at Orrick, Ray County, Mo .. and established the Orrick Recier, which he conducted until Septem- ber, 1890, when he removed his office to Richmond and changed its name to the Ray County Repub- lieren, an eight-column folio, home print, neat and newsy, and Republican in politie -. It is printed on new presses, issued on Thursday of each week. and is in a flourishing condition. having a good circulation and liberal advertising patronage. lle is assisted in his work by his only son and child. Frank V. Wright. Our subject is a member of Richmond Lodge No. 202. I. O. O. F .; and also of George N. MeGee Post No. 206. G. A. R., of which he is now Post Commander. Mr. Wright is a gentleman of energy. a good editor and a whole-souled man, with a host of friends.
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AMES R. HUNT. The glory of manly character is the upright performance of m- dividual duty. Many of the citizens of Ray County illustrate this truth by their noble lives, and none more so than the subject of this sketch, who is one of the successful agricul- turists of the county. Ilis farm is located in town- ship 52, range 27, and is well improved and highly cultivated. Mr. Hunt was born within five miles of where he now lives. in Bay County. JJune 29. 1832. His father, llenry M. Hunt, was born in Ander-on County. Ky., in about 1807, and re- mained with his parents until of age, having mean- while received a fairly good education in the schools of his district and an intelligent training on the farm. lle loved rural life and continued an agricultmist until his death. When quite young, he married and became the father of one child, Eliza, who married a Mr. Hackney, and is now deceased.
After the death of his wife. Mr. Hunt removed to Missouri. settling at once in Bay County, three
miles east of Richmond, and in a few years bought land in the Missouri Bottoms, south of Hardin. While living near Richmond. he married Elizabeth. daughter of James and Sally ( Frazier) Frazier. all natives of Kentucky. Their union was blessed by the birth of five children. as follows: Om subject: Sally, deceased, who first married Dr. Ralph. and afterward became Mrs. Benjamin Smith; Fannie. wife of Henry Preuitt; John, deceased; and one that died in infawey. Mr. Hunt remained near Mardin until 1851 and then removed to a farm nine miles north of Richmond. His wife was a member of the Christian Church. while he was a Baptist. Politically, he always voted and worked with the Democratic party. His death occurred in 1879; his wife survived him for twelve years. and passed away on her birthday, January 15. 1891, aged eighty-four.
Our subject remained with his parents until his marriage. a few months prior to his twentieth year. llis schooling was received in a log schoolhouse in Ray County. with primitive benches made of split logs. floors of puncheon, and rude -labs for writing- desks. An aperture in the wall served for a window, while the chimney wa- made of mud and sticks, and the greater portion of the heat went up the huge fireplace. After his marriage, Mr. Hunt remained at home with his parents for two years. then rented some property of his father-in-law, and finally bought his present farm, which consists of eighty acres of partly improved land. being one of the first farms in Ray County. To his original purchase he has added twelve acres, making nine- ty-two acres in all. and here he has resided ever since first making it his home.
Mr. Hunt married Anna E .. daughter of Wash- ington and Sarah ( Hamilton ) Morris, all natives of West Virginia. Mr. Hunt accompanied her par- ents to Missouri when she was a child. She hore her husband the following children: Will- iam P., who died at the age of fifteen; Sallie. de- ceased, formerly the wife of Vincent Bogges: VI- lievia, who died September 1. 1890; Katie, who passed away September 5. 1-00: Henry and Daisy. both of whom died young: Isabella, wife of Samuel Smith: Emma, Mrs. Rufus Wall -: Cardia, who mar- ried William Strain: Ella. the wife of George Al-
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corn; George and Edward. Our subject is a mem- ber of the Baptist Church, with which his wife was also identified. He is a Democrat of pro- nounced proclivities and alwaysshows great inter- est in election contest. In the fall of 1890, he suffered a deep bereavement, his wife dying sep- tember 3 of that year. and about the same time two of his daughter- passed away, he being then unconscious with the dread disease, typhoid fever. which carried them off. In this terrible adliction he and his surviving children received the deepest and most heartfelt sympathy of all the people in their community, and kind hands and sympathiz- ing hearts aided them as much as possible in the time of trouble. .
6 HOMAS G. LEITCH. Since 1851 this gel- tleman has been one of the representative and prosperous general agriculturists and stock-breeders of Gallatin Township, Clay County. Ile resides on section 27, township 51. range 32. and cultivates the homestead acres, whose fertile soil furnishes an excellent meome year after year. Our subject was born in Virginia in the year 1832, and was one of nine children comprising the fam- ily of James R. and France- ( Robert-on) Leiteh. Of the others the following is noted: James is a trader in Liberty; William is a farmer in Clay County; Henry is a successful agriculturist of Clay County; Mrs. Mary Robertson lives north of Liberty. The members of the Leitch family are widely known as intelligent, energetic and enter- prising citizens, and are universally respected and highly esteemed by the general public.
James. R. Leitch, the father of our subject. occu- pied a prominent and influential position in the Old Dominion, and was a leading man in his part of the State. His opinion and advice upon mat- ters of interest were eagerly sought and valued by his friends and neighbors. Receiving a good com- mon-school education in early youth. he taught school for a time when he was a young man. but soon engaged in more congenial and profitable
avocation- Born in Spott-ylvania. Va., among the tillers of the soil. he was early trained to agri- quitaral Auties and made farming the permanent work of his life. In time he became an extensive land-holder. owning twelve hundred acres, which he profitably cultivated. He was a public-spirited and progressive man, donating liberally in behalf of worthy enterprises and patriotically became a soldier in the War of 1812, serving bravely throughout the struggle of that campaign. Hle and his good wife were both members of religious organizations, the husband communing with the Presbyterians, and the wife adhering to the doc- trines of the Baptist Church. They were active in the aid and support of all Christian work. and were upright and conscientious in their daily walk of life. In politica! affiliation, the father of our subject was a Whig, and an earnest advocate of the principles of the party.
Thomas (. Leiteh was twenty-two years of age when he located near Liberty. in Clay County. Mo. His marriage in 1856 united him with Mis- Amanda, the daughter of R. Hall. a prominent citizen and office-holder of Liberty. Mr. Hall ably discharged the duties of Constable, and war- after- ward an energetic and efficient Deputy- sheriff. Mrs. Leitch was one of a family of nine sisters and brothers, and herself became the mother of nine children, as follows: Willie, who was born in 1857. married Miss Flora Rogers, and lives upon a farm near Liberty; Charles, born in 1861. has served as Surveyor of Clay County: Mary, born in 1561. died in 1878; Nellie, born in 1865: Jennie. in 1869; Lovie, in 1872; Jetuie, in 1875. and Ruby. in 1877, are all with the father. One child died in infancy. The pleasant home is bright with the presence of these intelligent and attractive young ladies, who enjoy the esteem and high regard of a large circle of friends.
Our subject owns two hundred and sixty acre- of valuable land. and has been especially success- ful in the breeding of thoroughbred cattle, and owns some of the highest grades in this part of the State. In childhood Mr. Leitch enjoyed the benefit of a good common-school education, and. appreciating the advantage he thus gained. has hen an earnest advocate of giving the youth every
yours Truly J. C. Straube
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possible opportunity for instruction. The place- ful pursuit of agriculture was rudely interrupted in 1862, when our subject enlisted in Company A. of Rennieks' command. but since the close of the war he has constantly engaged in farming. Fra- ternally, he is a member of the Masonic order, and politically is a Democrat, taking a deep interest in public affairs, This excellent wife, who died in 1885, was a member of the Presbyterian Church and was foremost in the promotion of its be- nevolent enterprises and the extension of its work. For thirty-seven years Mr. Leitch has been an im- portant factor in the growth and progres of his neighborhood and county, and is widely known and highly respected as a man of honor and in- tegrity.
OHN CHARLES STRAUBE. The subject of our sketch is characterized by a strong desire to meet those with whom he has to deal in a spirit of entire fairness, and his transactions are marked by straightforward hon- esty. Hle is owner of a meat market in Richmond, all is one of the prominent citizens of this place. Born February 12. 1821. in the village of Schauman. Prussia, Germany, he is the only son in a family of three, Johanna. Theresa and himself. The parents were Charles Ferdinand and Maria (Mande) Straub. the latter being the daughter of Frank . Mande.
The father of our subject was a hotel-keeper and owned a meat market. He died in 184s in the sixtieth year of his age. He was the son of Albert Straube, who died at the advanced age of ninety-three years. His wife, the grandmother of our subject, was Anna Geisler. The mother of our subject. a worthy and good woman. departed this life in 1818. John Charles Strauhe entered school at the age of six years and continued a pu- pul until he was fourteen. when he was appren- tieed to the trade of a butcher under his father. at the completion of which service he traveled through
Eastern Austria as a journeyman, visiting Vienna. Buda-Posth, Belgede and other important places. Afterward be traveled through Southern Europe and visited the main cities, among which were Lubeck. Jimmieb. Wurtemberg. U'lm. Stntgard, Augsburg and Nuremberg Ottingen, the burial Place of the kings of Bavaria and their familie -. At Cchstadt he remained seven months working at his trade. Thenee he proceeded to Nuremberg. Hamburg, Wurtzburg. Beyrout. and into Saxony. vi-iting its leading towns. as Planen, Chemnitz, Leipsig. Meissen ( where the great china factory is located). Dresden. Bautzen and Goerlitz, returning home from the latter place.
In 1811. our subject joined the Prussian army, entering the First Regiment of Lancers, in which he served for three years. He left his home in 1845 and went to Breslaa. where he worked at lus tisie until 1850. At that time he was again called into the army. and was stationed at the border of Austria, where he remained until peace was de- clared and he was discharged. Hle emigrated to the United States in 1852. in company with tive of his friends. arriving at New York after a voyage of two months on a sailing-vessel. Proceeding to Buffalo, where he remained a very short time. he went to Cincinnati and spent the winter In the summer of the ensuing year he worked on a farm in Hamilton County for $12 a month and his board. Subsequently he was employed on the Little Miami Railroad, at a station named Love- land. in Ohio, where he remained for four year -. At this latter place, July 28. 1856, he married Miss Sophia Moves. a native of Bavaria, Germany. born March 13. 1831. and the daughter of Il. 11. Moses.
Three years after his marriage Mr. Straube rented a farm and continued to reside there for six years, or until 1865, when he came to Ray County, Mo. After operating a rented farm for five years, he bought eighty acres, which he im- proved. and continued to reside on that farm in- til 1883. He opened a meat market at Lexington Junction in 1875, continuing it until 1>>3, when he removed to Richmond. and there he has since resided. Soon after coming to this city. he opened a meat market, which has proved a tinament sue-
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cess; the result in a measure being the fact that he selects his beeves and other animals with great care and kills his own meat.
January 23, 1859. Mr. Straube was bereaved by the death of his wife, who during the many years of their married life was a true helpmate to her husband and assisted him in the accumulation of their property. She was noted for her kind and charitable deeds among the poor, and was a woman of great nobility of character. With tenderness and love she cared for her children, six in number, and the positions of usefulness to which they have attained are due in no small measure to the in- fluence of her training and example. The record of her children is as follows: Alfred 1. now re- sides at Ilorton, Kan .; Laura J., Mrs. August Hanth, died September 15, 1888, leaving two children, August and Michel; Lena married Richard Warinner, of Quiney, Hl .. and they have two chil- dren. Mabel S. and an infant son: Emma V., Sophia L. and M. Theresa are at home. Socially, Mr. Straube is identified with Richmond Lodge No. 208. 1. O. O. F .. and Wakinda Encampment No. 14. In politics, he is a stanch Democrat and ad- heres to the principles of his chosen party with fidelity and enthusiasm. In his pleasant home on East Main Street, he is passing the declining years of his well-spent life, surrounded with the com- forts secured by years of activity.
ALLEN 3. DONALD, a leading and influ- ential merchant of Richmond. Ray County, was born in the city where he now resides. December 3, 1859. and has long been an aetive member of the well-known and prosperous firm of M. F. McDonald & Sons. The parents of our subject were Murray F. and Margaret (Davi-) McDonald. The father was a native of Culpeper County. Va., and was the son of Eben S. MeDon- ald, whose immediate ancestors were Scotch per- ple. Murray F. was a man of more than ordinary business ability, upright in character, and com- manded the respect and esteem of all who knew
him. He founded his well-known establishment in 1852 and prosperously engaged in the handling of general merchandise until his death. February 10. 1890. Mr. MeDonald was killed by the fall- ing of walls in a building where he was standing in conversation with friends, after the disastrous conflagration in Richmond had been checked and all danger of the tire still further extending had been averted. His tragie death cast still deeper gloom over the community which had suffered severely by the fire, and the entire town of Rich- mond mourned his death as a great and irrepara- ble publie loss. Ile was born in the year 1536. and was therefore in the prime of usefulness when his untimely death robbed his family and friends of his genial pre-ence.
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