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 42
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 42
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 42
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 42
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 42
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and all his sympathies are with the Democratic party. The start in life of Mr. Spurlock was made solely with his hands and his brain, as he did not have a single dollar when he began for him- seif. Besides farm and other property he is a stockhokler as well as Director in the Hardin Bank, and has succeeded in accumulating a com- fortable competency.
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OIN DENHEM lives in a picturesque coun- try, and has a comfortable home on a choice farm, which brings him in a good yield annually. This property is located in town- ship 51. range 28, Ray County, and is well im- proved and cultivated. His birth occurred in Hart County, Ky., January 21. 1848, his parents being Thomas and Elizabeth (Stephenson ) Denhem. both natives of Kentucky. The father was reared on a farm in the latter State, receiving but limited schooling. Notwithstanding this, he started out in life, working by the month on a farm, and at the age of twenty-three was able to marry Miss Elizabeth, daughter of James and Elizabeth Ste- phenson, and she bore him three children : Our sub- ject, Mary and James, all living.
Soon after his marriage, the father of our sub- ject purchased his father's farin, but continued to work for others until the outbreak of the war. At that time he was South with some horses and he proceeded to Texas to sell them. not returning un- til the close of the great struggle in 1865. While not in actual service his sympathies were with the South. When he returned home. he was a poor and ruined man, with nothing but his land, which latter was entirely laid waste. He, however. went manfully to work and later went to Texas. where he and his wife live in the enjoyment of good health and spirits. The grandparents of our subject were David and Mary Denhem. also na- tives of Kentucky, the families being among the early settlers of that State who lived along the Cumberland River.
Our subject remained with his parents until he
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left home for Missouri. in 1870. Upon his arrival in that State, he settled near Richmond, and in 1889 moved upon his present farm of one hundred and sixty acres, which he had bought in 1888. Ili- marriage occurred in Ray County. Mo., in 1878, to Zenobia. daughter of Abraham and Elizabeth (Rush) Wilhoit. natives of Virginia. She bore him four children: Allie, Elizabeth, Naney and Myrtle. Mrs. Denhem's parents were married De- eember 20. 1819, and had seven children, as fol- lows: Sarah II., Almonia V. Thomas J .. Andrew S., Zenobia .1 .. John II. and Ashby 1 .. of whom Almonia, Andrew and Ashby are deceased. Mr. Wilhoit died in 1863. but his wife is still living, and is making her home near Mrs. Denhem. The paternal grandparents of Mrs. Denhem were Smith and Sallie (Smith) Wilhoit, natives of Madison County, Va. They lived to be quite aged, and re- mained in Virginia until 1885. when the wife's death occurred. Smith Wilhoit then moved to Missouri, and died January 9, 1878, im Ray County.
In politics, our subject is a Demoerat, holding fast to the teachings of that party and supporting its nominees. Still a young man. he is in the full strength of his manhood, and the work he has ac- complished seems to be but the promise of what he will do in the future. Blessed with a good wife and dutiful children. and possessing a sufficiency of the goods of this life. he is in a position that may well be characterized as one of contentment and peace. Mrs. Denhem is a consistent member of the Methodist Episcopal Church South, having been a member nearly eighteen years.
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B ENJAMIN F. BABER. A man devoted to the occupation of farming, to which he has given his life, our subject has pur-ned that calling with industry and energy. His honest dealing and pleasant manner- have won for him many intimate friend- and the respect of all who know him. He now resides on a pleasant farm on section 2, township 51. range 28. Ray County.
where he dispense- hospitality to all his friends. The birth of our subject occurred on the farm where he now resides, in the year 1836, and his parents were Thomas and Clarissa (Gordon ) Baber, both natives of Clark County, Ky., the former of whom was born November 2, 1800. the latter in 1809.
The father of our subject was reared on a faim in the timbered portion of Kentucky. so did not receive the advantages of obtaining an education offered the boys of the present day, but so strong was his desire to learn, that after he reached his majority he earned enough money to attend three different schools and in that way received quite a liberal education. During this time. he worked very hard at night to obtain sufficient money to carry him through school and pay his board. As his parents were very poor. he remained with them until their death, which occurred in about 1:30; thus proving himself a good, faithful son. When about eighteen. he commenced to support himself by working as a boat-hand on a flatboat that car- ried a cargo of tobacco to New Orleans. Upon his return. he formed a partnership with a relative, and they carried cargoes of tobacco down the Ohio and Mississippi Rivers to New Orleans during the summer and drove hogs to different States in the winter.
At about the age of thirty year-, our subject's father married the daughter of Benjamin and Pollie Gordon and they reared a family of seven children, namely: Benjamin F., our subject; Wili- iam. Thomas. Isham: Mary. wife of Mr. Shoop: Lucy, deceased. wife of John Henderson; and Sarelda, wife of W. S. Clack. Very soon after his marriage, the father removed to Missouri. making the removal in the month of October, 1830, buy- ing and entering six hundred and forty acres of land in Ray County, where our subject now makes bi- home. Four years later, he brought his family in wagons to the new home he had prepared for them on the frontier. Here he lived, improved his farm, and finally died. passing away in 1873: his wife. still surviving him, is a very active old lady and enjoys horseback riding as well as in her youth. She is highly esteemed by all who know her and is an honored and esteemed member of the
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household of her youngest son on a portion of the old homestead. In religious matters. the father inclined toward the teachings and doctrines of the Christian Church, of which he was a devoted member. In early life. he was a Whig in politic -. and his sympathies were with the U'nion at the out- break of the war; but after two of his sons entered the Confederate army his influence was with the cause of the South, and after the war he was a Democrat. The grandfather of our subject was Owen Baber, who was a native of Virginia and came to Kentucky at a very carly day.
Our subject enjoyed the advantages of a good common-school education and remained with his parents until entering the Confederate army, De- cember 9, 1861, in Company A. Third Missouri Infantry, under Gen. Little. His first battle was at Lexington, Mo., which was followed by the battles of Pea Ridge. Baker's Creek, and Vicksburg. where he was captured and was afterward paroled. After this he participated in the Georgia campaign and was in the thickest of the fighting for one hundred days. He was captured a second time at Ft. Blake- ley, Ala., and sent to Ship I-land, where he was detained until the close of the war. Afterward he remained in the South for a few months. taking care of a sick fellow-soldier. upon the death of whom he returned home. Although our subject was twice captured and saw much hard fighting. he was never wounded. Upon his return. he took charge of the home farm with a brother and suc- cessfully managed the place.
November 21. 1867. Mr. Baber married Miss Margaret R., daughter of William Magill. a native of Ray County, Mo. Her parents were natives of Kentucky, and her mother died when she was yet an infant. Our subject and his wife have reared a family of ten children, namely: Edwin. Lora MI .. Myrtle M .. Sarah, Harrie C., Clara, William, Forest, Minnie and John F. The eldest son married Lucy Bales and they have one child, who is the pride of its proud grandparents. Our subject and elder sons are members of the Christian Church, while his wife and two eklest daughters are connected with the Methodist Episcopal Church. He is a member of Lodge No. 208. 1. O. O. F., of Richmond. Po- litieally, he is a Democrat and votes and works
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with that party, supporting the nommees of that organization upon all occasions. His fine farm consists of one hundred and forty acres of land from the old homestead.
b UGH HARTSHORNE is one of the wealthy and influential farmers of Linn County, his farm being situated on section 18, township 57, range 22. His father, George Hartshorne, was a native of Union County. N. J .. born in 1822, while his mother, who was formerly Miss Sarah Robinson, was a native of the Emerald Isle. The Hartshorne family was founded in the I'nited States in 1669 by Richard Hartshorne, a native of Leicestershire. England. his birth havit z occurred October 21, 1611. lle located in Middle- town, Monmouth County, N. J., on a farm. which is still in the possession of the family. having been handed down through many generations. Hugh, the fourth in descent, married Elizabeth Brown, their son George being the father of our subject.
To George and Sarah ( Robinson ) Hartshorne were born five children. of whom but three are living: Ingh, Sophia P .. now Mrs. R. Haines; and Elizabeth S. The mother departed this life in 1867. The family are members of the Society of Friends, being thoroughly orthodox. The father is a life member of the New Jersey State Fair A-
sociation, is Township A-ever and a strong Re- publican, taking an active interest in the welfare of his party. Ilis famous farm, which is known as the "Locust Grove" farm, contains three hundred acres, very finely improved. Ipon it ate four large barus and numerous other farm buildings. A number of streams flow through it. which are fed from many springs. The land is fertile and very valuable. Mr. Hart-home is still active. car- rying on the place, and in addition to general farming has been extensively interested in breed- ing cattle. sheep and hogs, for which he has taken many silver cups and pitcher- at State fairs.
In Union County , N. Y., on the 16th of March.
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PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
1850, occurred the birth of Hugh Hartshorne. He ' operated the same for four year -. They then was reared to manhood on the old home farm and received his education at the Friends' Seminary. in Union Springs, and also in the college at Flush- ing, L. 1. The year after leaving school, he was employed in George Cook & Co.'s brokerage office. In the year 1869 he landed in Meadville. Linn County, Mo .. the following year making a perma- nent location on his present farm. There were no improvements upon the place, which he has now brought under good cultivation and largely in- ereased in value. He has two hundred and twenty aeres in two traets, one of one hundred and eighty, which is all improved, and another of forty. In 1871 MIr. Hartshorne erected a commo- dions residenec, costing 81.300, and a number of barns and other farm buildings. He also set out an orchard of seven acres, which is in good condi- tion. He carries on general farming, but is partie- ularly interested in stock-raising. having now sixty head of cattle. two hundred sheep. fifty hogs and seven horses.
In 1878 was celebrated the marriage of Mr. Hartshorne and Miss Nannie 11. Brown. daughter of llenry T. and Emeline W. (Prewitt) Brown. the former a native of Virginia and the latter of Mis- souri. Mr. Brown came to this State at an early day and was married in Linn County, soon after which he settled on a farm north of Linneus. During the war he went South to Howard County. where he died in 1861. His wife returned to Linn County, making her residence here until 1882, when she also was called to the better land. They had each been previously married, and hy this union became the parents of three children: Nannie. David T. and William It. The father was a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church South, while his wife held membership with the Christian denomination. He was an extensive land-holder and stock-dealer. and politically was a Demoerat. Mr -. Hartshome was born April 26. 1858, in Linn County. and received her education at Linneu- and Brookfield. She is proficient on both the piano and guitar.
Our subject's father in 1872 became the owner of the gristmill at Meadville. of this comity. and in connection with our subject and a brother
rented it, and have now finally disposed of the same. A stock company was formed in 1>90 for carrying on this mill. our subjeet being among the stockholders. He is a stauch Republican. and so- cially is a member of the Ancient Order of United Workmen at Meadville, and has been Vice-Presi- dent of the Anti-Horse Thief Association. He is Director of District No. 6. His farm in every re- spect is a model one. with all modern im- provements. There is a well one hundred and seventy feet deep on his farm, the water being brought through a two-inch pipe. It is used in a tank for cooling milk. pipes also conveying the water three hundred feet to tanks in fields for watering stock in three different lots. His home is surrounded with a fine. well-kept lawn. and in the home are many articles bespeaking the taste and culture of the owners. We might especially mention their fine Pease piano, on which Mrs. Hartshorne is an able performer. She is much in- terested in raising fine poultry, and has taken the first premium at the township fair. In her flock are over one hundred fine Partridge-Cochin fowls and about the same number of eapons.
G EORGES. EWING. After a life of active work, stretching through many long year -. our subjeet is now taking a merited rest. Hei- ex-County Treasurer of Ray County and a retired farmer living at Richmond. Mo .. and was born in Howard County. Mo .. January 19. 1>32. His father, Joseph Ewing, was born in Jessamine County. Ky., was a farmer, and the son of James Ewing, a native of Virginia, and a very early set- ther of Kentucky, having gone there with a colony just after Daniel Boone. His demise occurred in Jessamine County.
The mother of our subject was Cecilia B. (Snk- lin) Ewing, and she was born in Jessamine County. Ky .. a daughter of Robert Shanklin. and of Irish and German extraction. In 1:31. Joseph Ewing removed from Kentucky to Howard County with
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his family, and in 1833 to Ray County, where he settled in what is now Crooked River Township. and there spent a number of years. Later he went to California, and died there in 1850. His wife survived him many years, her death having oc- curred in 1879. in her seventy-first year. She was the mother of five children. four girls and our subject, who is the third child. all but one of whom are living.
The early childhood of our subject was spent at home, but when ten years old he went to Ken- tueky. where for four years he attended a private school in a country place, then returned to Ray County. and continued on the farm until he was of age. He then began farming on his own ac- count in Richmond Township. on a place of one hundred and twenty acres, which had been well improved and carefully cultivated. and continued on it until 1876, when he was elected County Treasurer of Ray County. During his term of office, which lasted for four years, he having been re-elected in 1878. the family remained on the farm. Ile was again elected Treasurer in 1886. and at the expiration of the two years of service, retired from all active business.
Mr. Ewing was married January 16. 1853. to Miss Lydia A. Tisdale. of Ray County, who was born and reared in that county. and is a daughter of William T. Tisdale. Her parents lived in Ken- tucky and came from that State to Ray County. Mo. The marriage of Mr. and Mr -. Ewing has produced eight children. live of whom reached the age of maturity, and four of whom are now liv- ing. They were, Warren, deceased; Robert S .; Joseph, a druggist; Thomas, a confectioner; and James J., a clerk in a wholesale house in st. Louis. In politie -. Mr. Ewing hold- opinions in unison with those of the Democratic party, with which he votes and works. He and his wife are members of the Methodist Episcopal Church South, in which organization they are carnest and active members. They have a most comfortable home on Thornton Avenue, with neat and attractive surroundings. They recently celebrated the fortieth anniversary of their marriage. and were surrounded by their children and friends.
Our subject served for four years in the Confed-
erate army, having enlisted at the outbreak of the war in Company C. Third Missouri Infantry. Cockrell's brigado, and was in the armies of Gens. Johnston, Beauregard. Bragg and Hood. having been in the last campaign in Tennessee with the latter. He participated in the battles of Tuka, Corinth. sege of Vicksburg, campaign with Johns- ton and the battle of Franklin. Tenn .. where he was wounded in the right arm with a shell, which shattered it and disabled him for a time. He was also wounded in the right foot during the Georgia campaign, which obliged him to remain at the hos- pitai for some time. He rejoined his regiment at Mobile. Ala .. and took part in the battle of Blake- Icy, where he was taken prisoner and sent to Ship island. and thenve to Jackson. Miss., where he was upon parole when the war closed.
R ICHARD VINSANT. For many years our subject was a well-known and highly re- spected merchant of Knoxville, Ray County. and conducted his business quite profitably. meanwhile cominending himself to the favorable consideration of all by his striet honesty and up- right dealings. After a life of activity in busines -. he has retired from the enterprises in which he formerly engaged. Our subject is the son of . George and Mary (Hall, me Worth) Vinsant. The father, who was reared in Maryland. removed to Tennessee in 1812, where he resided until his death in 1813. His occupation was that of an agriculturist and he engaged in general farming and stock-raising upon his farm of one hundred acres in Tennessee. The five children born of his first marriage were: Our subject. Daniel. Emily. James and Morris. The mother of our subject died in 1823. and one year later his father married Sallie Cannon, Io whom he had four children. viz: Lena. William, Washington and Jack.
Our subject came to Missouri in the fall of 1859, and farmed upon his tract of one hundred and twenty-even deres until twenty years ago,
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when he embarked in a general merchandising business at Knoxville, in the meantime renting his farm. In January. 1898. he retired from business. The first marriage of Mr. Vinsant occurred about 1832, his wife being Margaret Hartley, who bore him twelve children, of whom the following sur- vive: George, Hliram, John. Emily and Louisa. The wife and mother dying in 1851, Mr. Vincent was again married. in the spring of 1859 choosing as his wife Martha Sparks, who died February 13, 1891. In politics, our subject is a Republican and can trace his membership to the beginning of that party, away back in 1851 or 1855, and his loyalty to it has had no varying or turning. but has been true as the needle to the pole.
When the Sons of Temperance flourished, Mir. Vinsant was a very active leader in that organiza- tion and frequently held office therein. He has a natural antipathy for whisky, has no use for it in any shape or form, and those who know him de not need to be assured of the fact. His voice is raised whenever the occasion will warrant in de- nunciation of alcoholism. In church and Sunday- school work, he has been very prominent for many years; his membership is in the Methodist Episco- pal Church South, in which his piety and zeal are recognized, and his example stands as a constant. reminder to others to follow in his footsteps.
OHIN T. PATTON is a man of an investi- gating mind, who forms his opinions only after he has deliberated to his entire satis- faction. Ile is a retired lumberman of Richmond, Mo., and was born in Bedford County. Tenn., June 9, 1829, being the son of fame- Pat- ton, a native of the sune State, where he studied. grew to maturity, and was married to Miss Dovey MeQuarter, of Alabama, in which State she was born, a daughter of Mosley MeQuarter.
In 1830, the father of our subject and family came to Ray County. Mo .. located on a farin three miles north of Richmond, which he improved. and followed general farming until 1-55, when he di-
posed of the property. He at once purchased an- other form. two and one-half miles west of his for- mer place, and on this tract passed the remainder of bis day-, his death having occurred in 197. in the seventy-third year of his age. His father was Matthew Patton. also a native of Tennessee, whose meestois come from England. The MetQuarters were of Irish descent. a good. sturdy and reliable family. The mother of our subject had thirteen children, nine of whom lived to be married. though but two are now living, namely: Mrs. Cintha C. Pearce, of Texas, and our subject.
John T. Patton lived upon the farm until of age, receiving bis education in the public schools of his district. Ile then started out for himself. and was engaged in farming for two years, when he hired out as manager of a farm for six years more. to different parties, the last employer being a Mrs. Moore, who owned an extensive farm of five !:- dred acres, which he managed very successfully. Ilis next step was to buy a tract of new ground. containing one hundred and three acres. in Rich- mond Township, which he proceeded to open and improve, and then carried on a business of general farming up to the fall of 1875. In this year he left the farm, settled at Richmond, and followed for one year the trade of a carpenter.
In 1877, he formed a partnership with W. R. Jackson, under the firm name of Jackson & Patton. in the lumber business. In 1878. Calvin Hanser became a member of the firm, continuing in it un- til 1890. when Messrs. Patton & Hauser soid ont to their partner. Mr. Jackson. The summer of that year was spent in Texas, prospecting around. Returning home to Richmond. he built a nice resi- dence in the eastern part of the town and soon afterward erected two additional residences. mak- ing four in all. two of which he sold. Mr. Patten has been thrice married. the first time being in De- cetusher, Is30, to Miss Margaret. a daughter of John Emerson, an old settler of Ray County. She died in 1857. leaving three children, two of whom are now living, namely: Laura, wife of W. H. MeGill. of Richmond: and Isabel, wife of J. R. Hit. . fthis county. Margaret dane is deceased. December 20, 1559. Mr. Patton married his second wife. Narcisa R. daughter of John Jackson. Her deme
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yours Truly S. A. Willburger
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PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
occurred May 6. 1887. In 1888. he married Miss Emma Hammond, of Carrollton. Carroll County, Mo., a daughter of James Hammond. Politically, our subject is a Democrat. Mr. and Mrs. Patton are interested and earnest members of the Christian Seienec Church.
S PENCER A. WILLBARGER, one of the leading farmers of Linn County, resides on section 9, township 57. range 21. Ile has made his own way in the world since fourteen years of age, at which time he left his father's roof tree, his capital consisting of a suit of clothes and $1.50 in money. He worked his way Westward to Cooper County. Mo .. where he worked on a farm by the day, near Connor's Mill, for about five months. For a number of years Fortune seemed to buffet him harshly, but with courage and fortitude he surmounted all difficulties in a man- ner worthy of emulation, his efforts finally being crowned with success far beyond his expectations.
His father, Henry Willbarger, who was born in Greenbrier County, Va., in 1806, was a son of one Jacob, an oll horse-trader at Richmond, Va. The latter also owned and operated a mill and was im- mensely wealthy. He participated in the Revolu- tionary War, and was of German and French des- cent with a slight intermixture of Irish. Henry Willbarger married Miss Catherine Roush, a native of Shenandoah County. Pa., where her birth oc- eurred in 1812. Her father. Henry Roush, also of Pennsylvania, served in both the Revolutionary War and in that of 1812. The Roush family is celebrated among the annals of Pennsylvania. The grandfather of our subject removed in later life to Meigs County. Ohio, where an aunt of our subject, Anna Roush. recently died at the extreme old age of one hundred and eight years. After their marriage, our subject's parents lived on a farm in Meigs County for a number of years, the father teaching school a portion of the time. In 1× 10. he emigrated to Missouri. locating on a raw piece of land in the midst of thick timber on the
Grand River bottoms in Chariton County, and there he resided for five years. His wife pa-sed to the home beyond three years after their arrival in the West. In 1815, Mr. Willbarger removed to an- other farm in the same county, and later to Turkey Creek, where his death occurred in 1862. Of his nine children, only three are living: Charles, aged sixty-five; Delilah, now Mrs. Pallack, sixty-two years; and Spencer A., now in his fifty-sixth year. The parents were both members of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church, the father being a local preacher of that denomination. Ile was a man of fine education and actively interested in politics. particularly in the campaign of 1840. Ile was an old-line Whig until the Civil War, and while liv- ing in Chariton County was Justice of the Peace.
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