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 37
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 37
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 37
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 37
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 37
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PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
vous incumbent ever executed the duties of County Clerk than Mr. Kirkpatrick, who wins the good- will of all with whom he comes in contact.
In the month of August, 1875, our subject was married to Miss Cornelia Bra-her, of Ray County. and daughter of A. D. and Elizabeth Brasher. The pleasant home of Mr. and Mrs. Kirkpatrick has been Messed by the birth of seven bright and intelligent children. the eller one- now enjoying the benefit of an excellent education in their na- tive State. The residence of the family is on Main Street, and is often the scene of joyous social gatherings. our subject and his wife each possess- ing a large circle of old-time friends. The valuable homestead farm of one hundred and ninety acres, all under a high state of cultivation, is rented to an excellent tenant. as Mr. Kirkpatrick now has no time to superintend its culture.
Fraternally our subject is a valued member of Richmond Lodge No. 51. A. F. & A. M .. and po- litically affiliates with the Democratic party. of which he is a local leader. taking an active part in State and county politic -. Mr. and Mrs. Kirkpat- rick are members of the Presbyterian Church, and have been connected with this denomination for many years. Always prominent in social. benev- olent and religious enterprises. they are numbered among the important factors in the promotion of the good work of their locality and home neigh- borhood, and are the recipient- of the respect and confidence of the general public.
OL. LEWIS C. BOHANNON. During the eighty-two years that have passed over the head of our subject, chronicling their flight in whitening hairs. a slower step and a love for care. he has led an eventful life. He was born in Greens- burgh. Green County. Ky .. October 24. 1806, and was reared in Woodford County, of the same State. He is a son of Simeon and Sarah (Colmes) Bohan- non, both natives of Virginia. The former was born in Culpeper County and was a son of Elliott Bohannon, who was of Scotch descent. the Ameri-
can branches of the family having been. established by two brothers, who came to the United States at an early day and reared families in Virginia.
Grandfather Bohannon was one of the heroes of the Revolutionary War. He was also one of the pioneers of Kentucky, where he made settlement at an early day. During his long life, which eov- ered four-score years, he did much pioneer work and helped to rid the country of the Indians. Ilis son Simeon was but a boy on going to Kentucky. He became a lawyer, but like most of the better class of Kentuckians was a gentleman farmer. hav- ing his practice in adjoining counties. He served as Associate Judge and was a prominent and well- known advocate. His decease occurred in 1st5. Our subject's mother was the daughter of a French- man; she survived several years after her hus- band's death.
Col. Bohannon is the second in order of birth in a family of seven children, five sons and two daughters, and is the only one still living. Ile was reared on a farm and was sent to the subscrip- tion -chools of that day. He began reading law at the age of twenty and was admitted to the Bar on examination by ludge Eves. The profession proved, however, to be uncongenial and he aban- doned it for farming. locating about 1831 in what is now called Breathitt County. on the Kentucky River. During his residence in the Blue Grass State he commanded the Eighteenth Brigade, Ken- tucky Militia, which included six counties.
In 1837. he came to Missouri on horseback and visited Saline and Pettis Counties. In 1817. he removed his family to the first-named county, and in November of the same year located on a farm in Crooked River Township. Ray County. where he has since lived, having been on the present farm for forty-live years. The country was then new and settler- were few and far between. Mr. Bohannon was very fond of hunting and kept a pack of hound -.
During the first winter the family lived in a lit- tle log house and in the spring of the following year they built their prevent home. The estab- lishment included from sixteen to eighteen slaves. and we of the present day can imagine how busy it must have kept both master and mistress to find
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work for these dusky servants and to keep them fed and clothed. Mr. Bohannon carried on an extensive farming business and paid considerable attention to stock-raising. He was a member of the State Legislature and was in Jefferson City . when the war broke out. On reaching home le found that a company had been formed and he was at once elected Captain. Thu- he entered the Confederate service, joining Price's army, and first engaged in Arkansas. Ile soon succeeded to the office of Colonel, and in this capacity was in all the battles west of the Mississippi River. in Arkan- sas, Texas and Missouri.
Col. Bohannon returned to Missouri and partie- ipated with Price in his famous raid through the State. He remained in the service for four years, or until the end of hostilities, and although sixty years old when he enlisted he stood the trials and hardships incident to warfare as well as any of his company. In 1862, while home on a recruiting furlough, he took part in two very hard-fought battles at Independence and Lone Jack. The co- emy had vastly superior numbers, and Mr. Boban- non was four times wounded, two of which wounds have never healed.
Few men can look back over sixty years of com- panionship with one woman. Such. however, has been the experience of Col. Bohannon. who realizes that these years would have been desolate indeed without the love and devotion of his wife. Early in life he won the love of Miss Cynthia Haddix. of Perry County, Ky .. and July 18, 1832. they were married. Her family was of English and Irish extraction. Mr. and Mrs. Bohannon celebrated their sixtieth anniversary last summer. They were the parents of seven children: Sarah. Elliott, Cas- sandra, Mary, Nancy, Su-an and Simeon. The eldest daughter is now Mr -. Columbus C. Eastin. of Clark County, Ky .; Elliott. now deceased, was a prominent man in California and was distin- guished as the youngest man who ever held the Speakership in the Legislature; Cassandra is also deceased; Mary is the wife of Capt. B. F. Davis; Nancy is Mrs. Thomas Davis; Su-an is Mrs. An- drew Habbright; Simeon takes charge of the old ; homestead. Col. Bohannon has given all his chil- dren excellent educational advantages.
In former years, our subject was an old-line Whig and a great admirer of that wonderful statesman and orator, Heury Clay. He is now equally as ardent in his belief in Democratie prin- eiples. He has been elected to the Legislature of Missouri three times and cach term gave entire' satisfaction to hi- constituents. Ever since coming to Missouri the Colonel has been a Mason and has attained to the Master's degree. After more than forty years of active service he was made an hon- orary life member, free from all duties. Mrs. Bo- hannon is a member of the Methodist Church. The Colonel's estate includes four hundred and forty acres of splendid land.
E EDMOND SMITH. A veteran of the late war, out of which he came with the record ^ of a courageous soldier. and also a success- ful farmer, our subject may well congratulate him- self that life is worth living. Occupying that proudest of proud positions, a citizen of the United States, and surrounded by comfort and luxury, no titled individual of Europe is as much to be envied as Edmond Smith. living on section 11, township 51. range 28. in Ray County, Mo.
Our subject was born November 6. 1840. in Me- Cracken County, Ky .. the son of Isham and Martha A. (Keen) Smith, born in Kentucky and Tennes- see. respectively. the father in 1806. and the mother in lall. The father's younger manhood was om- ployed as ferryman on the Ohio River, and as a hunter of bemis and deer. which then abounded in the region of his home. Many and exciting were his adventures while hunting wild beasts. remem- bered with pleasure by our subject and which be icealls with interest. The father received a com- mion-school education and training on the farm. and afterward spent many years in various parts of Kentucky until 1811. when he removed to Ray County. Mo., where he farmed rented land as long as he lived. Ten children were born to him. six of whom died young. the others being: our sub- [ Jret, Edward and William N. all of this county.
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and Francis, who died after attaining maturity. In polities, the father was an old-line Whig. re- joicing in his party's victories and lamenting its defeats. Hle finally died July 29. 1886. his wife preceding him by many years, dying February 6. 1852.
Receiving schooling in the district schools. our subject grew up to manhood at home on a farm. learning the avocation of a farmer. Ilis first rough experience with life was as a soldier, he hav .. ing enlisted in company E. Sixteenth Kansas Cay- alry, in 1861. serving until the end of the war. and being in Missouri the greater part of the time. His company took a trip through Colorade and Montana into Yellowstone Park. This proved a very trying journey. Many times the command was out of food and suffered severely, and for a month the poor fellows lived on the flesh of their mules. At one time they were without water for two entire days and three nights.
After the return of our subject from the army, he was married in 1866 to Miss Selina Ebersole. daughter of Joseph and Susannah ( Kintner) Eber- sole. Ilis family consisted of eight eluldren. as fol- lows: Ella May, wife of Elsa Brown; Charity I .. who died at the age of nineteen; Joseph G., Sula, Ed- mond W., William, Clay and Sylvester. Our sub- jeet and wife are members of the Methodist Epis- copal Church at Camden, and are worthy members of that connection. He is a straightforward mem- ber of the Republican party and holds to his opin- ions with a firmness born of deep conviction.
TEPHEN C. DUNCAN is an energetic and enterprising citizen of Clay County, Mo., and widely known as one of the early pioneers of the State. In the handling and shipping of valuable Shorthorn cattle of a superior grade and quality. he has owned some of the finest imported stock ever brought into the country. . His tine farm, located upon section 1. township 53. range 33. and under a high state of
improvement, contains an immense acreage, and is mainly devoted to the feeding and care of the stock. which invariably yields excellent re- turns for the money invested. Mr. Duncan was bora December 15, 1833. in Henry County. Ky. fiis parents were Stephen and Lucy (Browning) Duncan, both natives of Bourbon County. where the father was born October 17. 1797, and the mother several years later. The father. who had remained with his parent- until his marriage. shortly after removed to Saline County, Mo., and in 1838 bought an improved farm of three hun- dred and twenty acres and in December, 1810, came to Clay County, settling on a farm a few miles south of Smithville. This farm consisted of six hundred and sixty-six acres. one hundred and ninety acres being at the time of purchase well improved. Upon this homestead Stephen Duncan. Sr .. continued to reside for fifteen years, then lo- cated in Clinton County. Mo., where he died April 6 1877.
Throughout his entire life. the career of Stephen Duncan was characterized by energy and sterling integrity, and to quote the words of those who knew him well. "his word was as good as his bond." Hle was a valued member of the Christian Church. and fraternally was connected with the Ancient Free & Accepted Masons. Before the war. he was an ardent Whig but in later years strongly supported the Democratic party. He was twice married and unto him and his first wife were born seven children: Thaddeus C. S., deceased: James W .; Sarah E., who has been thrice married. first to William Lynch. then to .Mr. Williams and now the widow of Mr. Tuggle; Lucy twice married. her first husband. Matthew Duncan. her second. Lloyd Browning; John S., deceased: Stephen C .. our subject; Mary E., deceased. wife of John W. Brenham. The mother of our subject died and was buried in Saline County. and in 1839 the fa- ther married Naney Nicholson. a daughter of John Nicholson, and to them were born eleven sons and daughters, tive of whom lived to attain their ma- jority: Henry 1; Pembrokes: Mattie, deceased wife of Joseph Glossip; Benjamin M. and Nannte. Father Duncan buried his second wife in April. 1875. The paternal grandfather. James Duncan.
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was a native of Culpeper County, Va., where he grew up to manhood and married Miss Strode. Farming was the occupation of his life and he owned a two hundred and forty acre farm in Ken- tucky, to which he removed in a very early day. Ile wasa man of resolute energy and actively par- 1.ipated in the War of 1812.
Our subject received his education in the pri- vate schools of Clay County and remained at home until he was twenty-two years of age, when he entered into partnership with his father in the purchase of Shorthorn cattle. In 1863. he decided to withdraw from the partnership and has since conducted the same line of business alone. March 5. 1863, Mr. Duncan was united in marriage with Mary E. Davenport. a daughter of Rice B. and Rebecca ( Winn) Davenport. This estimable lady died September 10. 1869. leaving no children. She was a member of the Christian Church and was highly respected. November 10, 1870, our subject was married to Miss Maria Winn, a daugh- ter of James and Malinda (Hutsell) Winn. Mrs. Duncan was born in Clinton County. Mo., and re- ceived her education in the Camden Point High School of Platte County. Her parents were na- tives of Bourbon County, Ky., and came to Mis- souri in 1825. Three daughters blessed this second union; Luey, wife of John W. Spratt: Mattie and Mabel. These three attractive young ladies were educated at Christian College in Col- umbia Mo .. and, finely accomplished, are great so- cial favorite -. Mr. Duncan joined the Christian Church in 1851, and he and his family are regu- lar attendants and active in the good work of that religious organization. Our subject has reached the degree of Master Mason and has been long connected with the order, being a member of Acacia Lodge No. 2×9.
Politically our subject is a Democrat and actively interested in the local and national management of positions of influence and power. An independent, self-reliant and enterprising man. Mr. Duncan has unaided won success in life. Refusing all assist- ance from his father, and not even receiving the portion of the estate which he could have claimed. he has steadily prospered and on the 25th of Novem- ber, 1865, moved upon his present farm, then con-
taining four hundred and eighteen acres, but which has extended its limits. now embracing twelve hundred and forty-three acres. Our subject also bas valuable farming property in Kana. in all fourteen hundred acre- in the western part of this latter State. . Having achieved a comfortable com- petence and being blessed with an abundance of this world's goods, Mr. Duncan generously shares his prosperity with others and is widely known as a liberal and public-spirited citizen.
R OBERT S. THOMAS. If men were measured in the scales of gold alone. all being re- jected who could not pull down the weight- of yellow metal, then would our subject. like legion- of other worthy and good men. be con- demned. But there is a nobler standard. that of duty, the coming up to which is better than fine gold or rubies. Upwards of a quarter of a century ago Robert Thomas suffered seriously from the re- sults of service in the U'nion army, and the virtue of patriotism is a most exalted one. Ile lives on a farm in township 52. range 27. in Ray County. Mo., and was born in Boone County, the same State. His parents were William and Cinderella (Tevis) Thoma-, both natives of Kentucky. he of Scott, and she of Madison County.
The father of our subject received a classical education in Frankfort (Ky.) College; but the death of his father occurring while he was yet a youth, he promptly went out into the world to work for himself. Ili- father had been quite wealthy at one time; but serious financial loves just before his death left the estate in such a -hape that our subject's father received only a small amount from it. As was a fairly general practice in those days, he married when quite a young man. His wife had three children. one dying young, the others being: Emma, whose first hus- band was .l. G. Byram. and her second. Samuel Mason, both deceased: and Robert S. our subject. Our subject's father came to Boone County prior to his neuriage, where he was County Clerk for a
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S.E. Breckenridge
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number of years and also taught many sessions in the public schools. In time he removed to Cooper County, Mo., where he resumed teaching, and con- tinned it until his death.
William Thomas was a quiet, unostentatious man and a sincere Christian, holding his member- ship in the Methodist Episcopal Church South. His sympathy and his vote were always given to the Democratic party. He died when our subject was young, but his wife survived until July 12. 1×02. dying at the ripe old age of eighty-three years. Our subject has made his own living from his youth upward. beginning with nothing. In 1869 he made his home with his sister and has had charge of her farm ever since. During the war he was a Federal soklier, having enlisted in Company II. Fortieth Regiment Missouri Infantry, remain- ing in the service ten months, during which time he contracted brain fever. for which he has never received a pension.
E. BRECKENRIDGE, an enterprising and prosperous general agriculturist and stock- raiser, widely known and highly respected as a useful and energetic citizen, and now residing on section 31. township 33, range 32, Clay County, was born in Bourbon County, Ky .. in 1828. and the following year was brought by his parents to Clay County. This portion of the State has since been his life-time home, with the exeep- tion of a few adventurous years passed in the Far West. Our subject is the son of Edlyn and Elea- nor (Duncan ) Breckenridge, natives of Virginia, who carly removed with their parents to Ken- tucky. Edlyn Breckenridge was born December 7. 1788, and the birth of his wife occurred January 17, 1795. The paternal grandparents were Alex- ander and Magdalene ( Gamble) Breckenridge. who were born May 16, 1743, and January 10, 1746. respectively. They were both probably natives of Virginia, and of Scotch-Irish-German descent. and wore united in marriage October 6. 1767. Alex- ander Breckenridge was a prominent planter of Virginia, and a man of position and influence.
Edlyn Breckenridge received a good education for that early day, and patriotically began life for Iumself by entering the War of 1812, under Gen. Harrison. After the war he devoted himself to agricultural duties, and was numbered among the wealthy farmers of Kentucky, but lost a large part of his property by becoming security for others. In 1829, he emigrated with his family to Clay County. arriving in his new home October 29. Ile entered five hundred acres of land a few miles south of where our subject now lives, and for a time was greatly prospered, but losing through the dishonesty of others, was financially involved and obliged to part with his valuable homestead. Energetic and resolute, he began again, and soon was able to purchase a portion of the farm where our subject now lives. Politically, Edlyn Breck- enridge belonged to the old Whig party. He and lu- wife were both members of the Christian Church. Twelve children blessed their union: Alexander and Elizabeth. deceased; James, Rob- ert, Sarah. S. E., Mary A .. Eleanor, Matthew D .. John (deceased). and two who died in childhood.
After the marriage of our subject. his parents made their home with him until their death. Mr. Breckenridge remained upon the old homestead until he had attained his majority, and early en- joyed the advantage of instruction in the district schools of Clay County. In 1850. with a brother and two companions, he crossed the plains to Cali- fornia, traveling by ox-teams and spending one hundred and four days en route. The party first located in Hangtown. or Placerville, and then went to the Middle Park of the American River, where our subject engaged in gold-mining. After the experience of a year and a-half. he returned by water to Missouri. crossing the Isthmus at Pan- ama. and thence to New Orleans, and by rail home. Mis adventures in the West only made him more desirous of enjoying a second trip. and in 1853 he was again en route for the Pacific Coast. Init was this time bound for Oregon. He was absent three years from his home, and returned by water to New York, and thence to Missouri. where he re- sumed farming duties.
April 15. 1558. Mr. Breckenridge wa- united in marriage with Mi -- Nancy J. Smith, daughter of
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Ephraim and Elizabeth (Dunean) Smith, and to the husband and wife were born eight children, two of whom died in infancy. Ann E. (deceased). was born in 1860, and became the wife of Edlyn Breckenridge. a consin; Ella, Mrs. William Asher. was born March 18. 1866: Ephraim ( deceased) was born April 13. 1868: Sarah F. (deceased) was born March 12, 1872; Mattie L. was born January 16, 1874; and Ora. March 22. 1877. After the mar- riage of our subject, he remained upon his father's farm, and now owns two hundred acres of excel- lent land, which he has brought to a high state of cultivation. Fraternally, Mr. Breckenridge is con- nected with the Independent Order of Odd Fel- lows, and is a valued member of the lodge at Smith- ville. Politically. he is a Democrat, but never an office-seeker, simply desiring to do his full duty at the polls as becomes every true American citizen. He and his estimable wife and family are highly respected and enjoy the regard of a large circle of friends.
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H
ILBUR C. HALSTEAD. The subject of this sketch is a successful and intelligent farmer, residing on section 5. township 53, range 29. Ray County. He was born in Ala- manee County. N. C., October 1, 1835, and is a son of John Halstead. a native of the same county. The father was married in the state named to a Miss Freeland, who lived but a short time. and afterward he again married, his wife being Miss . Elizabeth, daughter of William and Fanny Gant. She passed away September 22, 1866, in her sey- enty-second year.
In his native State the father carried on his trade of cabinet-making and also followed the oc- cupation of fanning. He removed to Missouri in November of 1837, and located upon a farm four miles north of Richmond, which he began to im- prove. In the following year he settled upon a farm four miles east of Lawson, where he remained ahout . twenty years. Thence he removed to a farm one and one-half miles cast of Lawson, which
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continued to be his residence until his death. March 1, 1886. After the death of his second wife he married Mrs. Elizabeth O. K. Murray, who died December 29, 1870. He was the father of two children. both by his second wife: our sub- ject. and Mary F .. who died March 21, 1817. At the time of his demi-e he owned about six hun- dred acres of land, and was a very successful farmer. A zealous Christian, he was a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church, in which his sec- ond wife also held membership. and was highly es- teemed. Conscientious in all that he did, he would vote for no unworthy man. His political principles were those of the Whig party.
Our subject was but two years old when he came to this county. where he has lived for about fifty-four years, and where in youth he received his education in the old subscription schools. Ile was married February 27. 1872. to Miss Beln. daughter of John and Elizabeth Fritzlen. she was born in Jessamine County, Ky .. November 26. 1852. ller father settled first in Jackson County. Mo., and then in Clay County, and is now living in Missouri City, in the latter county. After his marriage our subject lived on the home place un- til 1881. when he removed to his present farm. Ile resides in a very comfortable house, and the other buildings are substantial and adapted to their varied uses. The marriage was blessed by the birth of five children. namely: lohn Wilbur. who resides at home; Samuel R., a student in the college at Lawson; Thomas A. W .. born June 13. 1877, who died August 17, 1885: Egbert F .. at- tending school at Lawson; and Mary Frances, at home.
In August, 1862. our subject enlisted in Com- pany B. Fifty-first Regiment Missouri Militia. and remained in the service eighteen months. serving in that regiment for six months under Gen. John B. Hale. of Carrollton. Mo., being at that time First Sergeant. August 20, 1861, he enlisted in Com- pany F. Forty-fourth Regiment Missouri Infantry. U. S. A. He was commissioned Second Lieutenant and was afterward promoted to be First Lieutenant. being in service the last time for one year. The regiment was organized at St. Joseph and pro- ceeded to St. Louis, thence to Rolla. Mo. From
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