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 38
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 38
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 38
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 38
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 38
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the latter place they returned to Missouri. going thence to Paducah, Ky .; afterward to Nashville, Tenn .; thence to Columbia. where our subject took part in the engagement with Blood's army. fighting all the way and finally making a stand at Franklin, where there was a battle, after which hey returned to Nashville, December 1. Our suit- ject was in the hospital at the time of the battle at Franklin. The regiment was next sent to New Orleans in the Gulf service. after which it took part in the siege of Mobile; it was sent on a forced march to Montgomery, but before reaching that place received news of the surrender of Lee's army. On the 15th of August. 1865, the regi- ment was mustered out and our subject returned home.
Our subject is a member of the Masonic order and has filled the Chairs of JJunior and Senior Warden. Ii- religions affiliation is with the Methodist Episcopal Church and he is much es. teemed for his zeal in its behalf. Mr. Halstead owns four hundred and thirty acre- of land, all in the township and well improved. Ile devotes his attention to the growing of grain and raising stock, in both of which he is very successful. Farm duties prevent him from devoting much time to politics, but he is a Republican, although in local elections he often votes for good men of the other party.
B ARTLETT SISK, Postmaster at the village of Sisk, was born in Cocke County. Tenn .. January 18. 1830. He belongs to a family whose members have been distinguished alike in war and the pursuits of civic life. His ancestors were originally from Ireland. whence representatives of the family emigrated to Amer- iea many years prior to the Revolutionary War, and settled in Virginia. Timothy Sick. the son of these emigrants, was probably born and reared in Culpeper County, Va.
The next in line of descent was Bartlett Sick. who was born in Culpeper County. Va .. about
1753, and in his early manhood enlisted in defense of the Colonies during the Revolutionary War. Under Gen. Daniel Morgan he participated in many prominent engagements. and was always in the front, doing valiant service for the cause of Hiberty. After the war he married Mollie. daugh- ter of Benjamin Campbell, and they became the parents of the following-named children: Elias, Tolliver. Bartlett, Lawson. Blackburn. Elizabeth and Lydia. All are duecased with the exception of Lawron and Blackburn. From Virginia Bartlett Sisk. Sr., removed to Cocke County. Tenn., in 1801. and there he engaged in general farming until his death, which occurred in about 1810. His wife had passed away several years prior to his demise.
Lawson Sisk. father of our subject. was born in the Old Dominion in 1800, and was reared to man- hood in Tennessee. where he gained a meagre knowledge of the "three R's" in a primitive -true- ture used for a schoolhouse. On starting out for himself. he received a tract of land from his father. and there he embarked in agriculture, which occu- pation he has always followed. He now owns about one hundred and twenty acres in Cocke County. Tenn., where his entire life has been passed, and so closely has he followed his personal duties, that with the exception of a very few oc- casions. he has never been outside of the county. Politically, he is a Democrat. loyal to the party of his choice. He is a member. of the Primitive Baptist Church, with which his wife was likewise identified.
When about twenty six years old. Lawson Sick married Sarth Clevenger. a girl of eightyen. and they became the parents of eleven children. two of whom died in infancy. The others are: Bart- lett, our subject: Lawson: Allen: Branson. who en- listed in service during the late war. and died in prison; Car-on and Addison, who likewise died while in the Confederate service; Elizabeth, wife of William Bryant: Naney, formerly the wife of Aaron Bryant, and now deceased; and Sarah. Mrs. Annanias Bryant.
The early education of our subject was acquired in a "temple of learning" which was built of round poles, and had a dirt floor. A huge fire- place extended half-way across the end of the
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house, and light was admitted through a chink be- tween two logs. Split logs were used for seats, and the other furnishings were of an equally prim- itive kind. In his early manhood and soon after his marriage, our subject came to Missouri and cul- tivated a farm on shares for two years, then worked as & hired hand for the same length of time in Bay County. Later he entered a gristmill with his great-uncle, John Clevenger, and since that year (1853) has been interested both in grist and sav- mills.
During the late war, Mr. Sisk enlisted in the Confederate army under Gen. Ilenry Little, and remained in the service for almost four years. Among the engagements in which he took part may be mentioned the battles of Pea Ridge, C'or- inth, Iuka, Vicksburg, Grand Gulf. Ft. Gibson. and others of minor importance. A grape shot of cannon caused the loss of his right arm. May 1. 1863, after which he was confined in a hospital for six weeks. Ile was also imprisoned, and later placed on parole. In November. 1863. he entered the commissary department at Grenada. Miss., and there remained until he was honorably discharged at the close of the war in April. 1865.
Prior to entering the army, Mr. Sisk purchased one hundred acres of land near Vibbard. Mo. In 1868, he traded this property for the farm upon which he now resides, and which consists of one hundred and thirty-five acres. Although he has never made a specialty of farming. his efforts along that line have been quite successful. and his place contains the latest improvements in machinery and buildings. Mr. Sisk has always been a strong Democrat. and has held the office of Postmaster at Sisk since 1881. Besides this, he has been chosen to occupy other local positions of trust. in all of which he has served with fidelity and efficiency.
The first marriage of Mr. Sisk united him with Miss Elizabeth Morell. After her death he mar- ried Sarah, daughter of Joseph and Elizabeth Hightower, and they became the parents of two children: Elias, now deceased; and Sarah. wife of Gordon Clevenger. After the demi-e of Mrs. Sarah Sisk, our subject formed a matrimonial alli- ance with Miss Arrena Grace, a native of Ray County, Mo., and a daughter of John and Mina
(Norris) Cruce. Twelve children were born of this anion, three of whom died in childhood. The survivors ase: Dorinda. wife of JJoseph Hightower: Addison, Sterling, Elmer. George; Elizabeth, who married Jesse Clevenger; Emma, wife of John Yoakam: Martha and Mary. The position occu- pied by the family in the community is one of prominence, and in their pleasant home they hos- pilably entertain the many friends whom they wel- come as guests.
ON. WILLIAM D. BROWN, the enterpris- ing and efficient Mayor of Richmond. is one of the leading merchant- of the com- mercial center of Ray County. Mo .. and is an energetic. progressive and public-spirited citi- zen, possessing the esteem and confidence of the general public. He is a native of the State and was born in the northern part of Ray County. July 27. 1861. Our subject is the son of John C. and Hattie (George) Brown. his mother, who died in 1872 in her thirtieth year. being the daughter of David George, a native of Kentucky and a man of sterling integrity of character. The great- grandfather of William D. was Thomas Brown, who was of German descent and early made his home in Tennessee, where the paternal grandfather. William Brown. was born and reared, but later re- moving to Missouri settled in Ray County, and afterward removed to Carroll County, where he died. The father of our subject. John C .. was born January 29. 1835. in Ray County.
The maternal grandmother of William D. was in girlhood Miss Sarah A. Ralph. the daughter of Roland Ralph: she was a native of North Caro- lina, born near Salem. Forsyth County, and after- ward removing with her parents to Ray County. Mo .. there grew up to womanhood and married William Brown. in whose honor our subject, his grandson, was named. This umon took place in 1832. and later they and their family settled in Carroll County, where both died at a good old age. John C. was reared in Ray and Carroll Counties
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and attended the publie -chool -. enjoying the benefit of a course of instruction in the Carrollton High Scool. He taught school and read law and practiced for a time and then embarked in the mer- cantile business. He also ably di-charged the duties of Sheriff of Ray County, to which position he was elected in 1872 and re-elected in 1874. A thorough business man. he has devoted himself untiringly through a long and prosperous financial enreer to the demands of mercantile life.
Our subject passed his early youth upon a farm and attended the district school of the immediate neighborhood. In 1874. he came with his parents. who then made their home in Richmond, and here he continued his studies in the excellent schools of the city. Ile entered unon a mercantile life in the store of his father in M rton, Ray County, and in 1882 returned to Richmond and engaged in busi- ness. extensively handling dry goods and clothing. He was associated with his father in business rela- tions until 1822. when he bought out an interest in the gents' furnishing and clothing department, and with his brother John D. and O. A. Searcy formed a co-partner-hip. their establishment being known as the Brown Clothing Company, and car- rying a most complete line of goods.
Our subject was united in marriage October 10, 1888, with Miss Mary. daughter of Stephen Catron. an old settler of La Fayette County. Stephen Catron was a native of White County, Tenn., and came to Missouri in 1818, where he resided until his death. Mr. Catron was a public-spirited citizen. and was a near relative of the late Judge Catron, of the United States Supreme Court, and had many of the characteristics of that distinguished jurist. Ilis death occurred near Waverly, in La Fayette County. Mo.
Mr. and Mrs. Brown have been blessed by the birthof two bright children, one son and one daugh- ter. In the spring of 1891. Mr Brown was elected by a large majority to the responsible and honored position of the highest municipal officer of Rich- mond, and as Mayor has presided with dignity and ability, winning many friends, and during his administration has accomplished much in behalf of local progress and improvement. A lifetime Democrat. he has been prominent in the councils
of his party, but regardless of political affiliation- has a host of friends in the home where he and his inumediate ancestors have been important factors in the development and promotion of leading financial, benevolent and social interests for three successive generations.
2.
ILLIAM HI. FITCHI. our subject. may well congratulate himself upon the suc- cess that has crowned his work since he started out in life for himself. Hi- is a very attractive farm, located in township 51, range 28. Ray County. The place of his birth is Fleming County, Ky .. his natal day having been July 3. 1811. This parents were William and Sophia (Turner) Fitch, natives of the same county as our subjeet, the father born August 19. 1799, and the mother August 22, 1802. Although the education of William was quite limited, as he grew older he became a great reader and a well-informed man.
When twenty-one years old William Fitch left the old home farm, where he had remained during his youth and from which he had gone regularly throughout boyhood to the old-fashioned school- house. For seven years he followed farming. af- ter which he boated on the Ohio and Mississippi Rivers, and then, at the age of twenty-eight, mar- ried Sophia, daughter of James and Ann ( DeBell) Turner. Their children were: James. deceased: Mary, who died when young; Ann, wife of W. J. Walker. of Pettis County. Mo .: John T .. of Kan- sas City, Mo .; Naney, deceased, formerly wife of W. II. Anderson. of Johnson County. Mo .: Will- iam II., our subject; Robert T., of Miami, Tex .: and Joel M., deceased.
After his marriage our subject's father settled upon the old home farm. and in land he located in Johnson County. Mo .. where he bought' land and resided until his death. in 1885; his wife had passed away seven years prior to bis demise. The grandparents of our subject were Salathiel and Lavinia (James) Fitch. very early settlers of Flemi-
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ing County, Ky .. being the first family. in fact, to live outside the fort. Salathiel was a native of Maryland, where he married, and with his wife turned his face toward Kentucky. reaching that State in 1790. Soon afterward he bought large traets of Government land. heavily timbered and surrounded by Indians. He moved into his new home in May and raised a crop the same year.
William Il. Fitch, of this sketch, began to work for himself at the age of twenty-one on his father's farm, having previously received a common-school education. Four years later. in 1866. he married Miss Achsah, daughter of Jacob and Lucy ( Belt) Lee, she and her mother natives of Kentucky and her father of Virginia. Mrs. Fitch died June 20, 1891. The children of our subject are: Fannie Lee, who married Ilorace Keyes; Robert T., Gil- lie, James Worth, William IL .. Jr .. and I1. Graddy. Mr. Fitch enme to Missouri March 19. 1872, and settled in Ray County the following September. Ilis first purchase consisted of ninety-five acres, to which he added fifty aeres afterward. and here he devotes his attention to raising grain and feeding stock. He is a member of the Christian Church, as also are all the members of the family who have reached years of accountability. In polities he is an ardent member of the Democratie party.
A. DE BERRY. the popular and enterpris- ing drugeist. prominent business man and leading citizen of Smithville. Clay County, Mo., is a native of the State and was born upon his father's farm in Platte County. JJanuary 28. 1859. Our subject i- the son of John L. and Mary (Adams) De Berry. the father being a native of Kentucky, and the mother of Tenessee. John 1 .. De Berry was reared upon a Kentucky farm, and remained with his parents until he had attained to manhood. He received his education in the com- mon schools of Kentucky. and was married, at about the age of thirty years. to the daughter of James and Sarah ( Bernard ) Adams. He had prev- iously purchased in Robinson County. Tenn., two
or three hundred acres of land, and there he and his wife located, remaining until they came to Platte County, in 1839, where they settled upon Government land, which Mr. De Berry bought and added to until he owned four hundred and twenty acres at one time. Mr. John De Berry was in early life a Whig, and later a Democrat. Fraternally, he was a member of the Ancient Free & Accepted Masons.
The children who clustered about the hearth of the old homestead were twelve in number. and one who passed away at the age of sixteen was the only one of the family who did not live to mature age. Angus JJ. was the eldest-born; then follow James A .; William L .. deceased; John F .; Edward; Thomas A .; Mary C., wife of Thomas L. Turner; Almyra, wife of JJames M. Darnell; Alwilda, de- ceased, wife of W. R. Bra shield: Cornelia, wife of C. T. Henson: and Lula. wife of Dr. R. W. Rea. The father of these brothers and sisters died in June. 1868, his wife surviving until November, 1888. Our subject remained with his mother until he was eighteen years of age, and enjoyed excellent edu- cational advantages, attending a thorough course of instruction in William Jewell College at Lib- erty. In his nineteenth year he went to Colo- rado, and spent his time in the mining country until 1880. when he returned to Smithville. and became a clerk in the drug store of W. R. Bra --- field. Ile remained here engaged with various parties until, in 1888, he went to Cass County, Mo .. and in Gun City entered into the drug business for himself.
The following year Mr. De Berry sold out his drug store m Gun City and went to Carroll County, Mo., but in the same fall, 1582, came again to Smithville, and bought his present prosperous business. His commodious store is attractively arranged. and our subject carries a full line of stationery, toilet goods and drug -. his stock being worth fully $2,500. Fraternally. Mr. De Berry i- a valued member of Lodge No. 438. A. F. & A. M .; a member of Lodge No. 21. R. A. M .. and Belt Commandery No. 9. of Platte City; he is also a member of Lodge No. 2>9, 1. 0. 0. F. Yeta young man in the carly prime of usefulness, our subject is estimated among the substantial business men of
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Clay County, and takes a deep interest in local progress and advancement. He is ever ready to assist in the promotion of social and benevolent enterprise, and is widely known as a representa- tive and public-spirited ettizen.
ANDEL VANCE. a prosperous general ag- riculturist. highly respected citizen. and native resident of Clay County. Mo., was born about five miles distant from bis present home, in town-hip 52. range 32, Novem- ber 2. 1837. Our -ubjeet is the son of Willis L. and Lovicia D. ( Wilkerson) Vanee. natives of Woodford County. Ky .. where the father was born in 1816. and the mother in 1812. The father was reared upon a Kentucky farm until 1821. when he came with his parents to Missouri, where his father entered from the Government the farm upon which Handel Vance was born. Willis L. Vanee, reared in the pioneer days of the State, en- joyed few educational advantages. his schooling being limited to brief instruction in the log schoolhouse of the primitive days. He married at twenty years of age. and at first worked four years on shares, but hi- father then dying. he re- ceived from the estate one hundred and sixty acres of land, to which he attended with careful thrift and industry until he had accumulated at the time of his death about six hundred acres. which he mostly devoted to farming and -tock- raising.
The father of our subject was a Whig before the Civil War, but a firm Democrat afterward. His wife passed away in 1882, and Willis Vance died in 1884, both deeply lamented as upright and u-e- ful citizens. They were the parents of seven chil- dren, two of whom died young. Our subject. Handel, was the eldest: then followed Mary F .. wife of J. L. Sechrest. of Kansas; John M., a resi- dent of Platte County. No .: Lucy A. wife of .1. C. Wilkerson; and William J. The paternal grand- father, Handel Vance, in whose honor our subject was named, was a farmer by occupation, but a
stone-masen by trade. He was twice married, hi- wives being sisters, named Collins; the second partner of his just and sorrows was Mary. the youngest of the family. The paternal great-grand- father was a native of Germany, and never learned to speak the English language. Our subject re- mained with his parents until he attained his majority. He enjoyed the advantages of instruc- tion in the district schools of Clay County. and assisted upon his father's farm. At twenty-one years of age he' went on a prospecting tour to Pike's Peak, Colo. Ile never realized any pe- ouniary advantage from his journey, but experi- enced many phases of life novel and exciting. and in about ten months re-crossed the plains in com- pany with many others, also anxious to reach home again.
In 1861, Mr. Vance entered the Confederate aimy. serving under Capt. Dougherty, of Liberty. and participated in the battles of Lexington. Pea Ridge, and the second battle of Corinth, and numerous skirmishes. Our subject was never wounded in any of the engagements in which he took so active a part, but was captured near Jeffer- son City, and remained in prison for six months. At the expiration of this length of time Mr. Vance returned home. In January. 1865, he wa- united in marriage with Mis- Ruth A. Scott. daughter of W. W. and Ruth (Duncan) Scott. Two children blessed with their presence the pleasant home of Mr. and Mrs. Vanec. but the little daughter died in infancy. Willis E., the only son. surviving to cheer his father's later year-, The first wife of Mr. Vance having passed away. be again married. bis present wife having been Miss Lizzie .J. Ander- son, a daughter of Horace P. and Louan ( Warder) Anderson. The great-grandfather of Mrs. Vance was Elias Anderson. a native of Scotland, who. emigrating to America, made his home in New Jersey. where George A. Anderson, the paternal grandfather was born, but early leaving the State of his nativity, settled permanently in Kentucky. where he resided until his death. The father and mother of Mrs. Vance were both natives of Ken- tucky, and came to Missouri in 1:35, their daugh- tor Lizzie being born in Clay County in 1>39.
Mrs. Lizzie Vance has been the mother of seven
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children, four of whom died in early years. Louan. Horace and Lovicia are the surviving son and daughters. Mr. Vance is a valued member of the Baptist Church. and both he and his excellent wife are foremost in the promotion of good works. Our subject is politically a Democrat. and a firm adherent of the party. In beginning ilfe for him- self. Mr. Vance first rented land located in Clinton County, but after a time bought the fine farm of two hundred acres where he now resides, and has brought the fertile soil up to a high state of cul- tivation. An able, energetic and industrious cit- izen of undoubted integrity of character. our subject worthily enjoys the confidence and esteem of the entire community among whom his busy life is passed.
0 'FALLON DOUGHERTY. Elsewhere in this volume will be found a biographical sketch of L. B. Dougherty, and in connection therewith is a brief mention of Maj. John Dough- erty, the father of our subject, and one of the most prominent pioneers of Missouri. Years ago lie was engaged in the pursuit of raising buffaloes in Clay County, where now may be seen finely- improved farms and enterprising cities. llis stock originally consisted of but one cow, but he con- stantly added to it until he had as many as twen- ty-three head.
One incident in the Major's life is worthy of special mention. Ile sheared some wool from one of his best buffaloes, which his wife carded. spun and knit into a pair of mittens and a pair of socks. This he sent to the great Whig chief and statesman of that day, of whom he was a great ad- mirer and from whom he received a most compli- mentary acknowledgment. AAfter the death of Mr. Clay, they were contributed by his heirs to the cabinet of "Reliques of Public Men" at Wash- ington, and are now on exhibition beneath a glass cover, with a card giving their history. in the Patent Office in the Interior Department Building.
The mother of our subject bore the maiden
name of Mary Hertzog, and was born in Philadel- phia, Pa. iler parents. Peter and Catherine Ilert- zog, were of German parentage and descent, and the father was born in that country. Mrs. Mary Dougherty resided for many years upon the old homestead, which consisted of eleven hundred and sixty-three acres, but iate in life she returned to PhBadeiphia. where her death occurred March 27. 1873. aged seventy-four years. She was during most of her active life a member of the Presbyte- rian Church, and was ever devoted to its inter- ests.
The subject of this sketch is a prominent farmer. stock-raiser and stock-dealer of Liberty. Ile was born in St. Louis, Mo .. June 5, 1832. and was but a child when his parents removed to Clay County. where he was principally reared. His education was acquired at William Jewell College. where he studied for four years and from which institution he was graduated. After the close of his college course, he returned to the old Dougherty home- stead and assisted his father in its cultivation un- til the death of the latter. The property was bequeathed to him and is still in his possession. Its entire acreage is well improved, with the es- ception of about two hundred acres of timber. and is well adapted to the raising of stock. to which it is principally devoted. All the improvements are first-ela-s. among them being a comfortable resi- denee, good barns and substantial outbuilding -.
November 30. 1865. Mr. Dougherty and Miss Sarah Nutter were united in marriage. Mr -. Dougherty is the daughter of flames and Eliza Nutter, carly settlers of Clay County, and was educated at the Liberty Female seminary. They have two children: Katie, who is the wife of C. W. Moore, of Kansas City: and Mary Hertzog, who is in school. In 1881 Mr. Dougherty- removed to Liberty, in order to secure the best educational advantages for his daughters, and has since made his home in this city. Ile occupies a spacious two-story brick residence, where he and his cul- tured wife entertain their many guests. Religi- ously they are identified with the Baptist Church. of which they are prominent members.
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