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 46
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 46
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 46
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 46
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 46
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Our subject has ever been an important factor in educational progress, and was for four year- President of the Board of Education of Richmond College. He is a strong advocate of the temper-
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ance cause, and is a member of the Church of Christ. having been an Elder in that body for nearly thirty years, and Superintendent of the Sunday-school, which he assisted in organizing, for twenty-five years. Dr. Mosby was married Sep- tember 29, 1817. to Miss Sarah Catherine Jacobs. daughter of loel Jacobs, deceased, a native Vir- ginian, who died before the marriage of his daugh- ter with Dr. Mosby. Our subject and his estima- ble wife became the parents of six children. The : eldest son, a promising young man of twenty-two, died of malignant diphtheria just as he had com- pleted his studies and was about to begin the practice of medicine. Dr. Charles Archibald Mosby : died February 6, 1893. John is a druggist; Will- iam is a physician, and assists his father in the practice of medicine: Mary Eliza, wife of Will- iam Bernard comes next. then follows .James E. Dr. Mosby and his excellent wife enjoy the proud consciousness that in their several homes these sons and daughter are worthily striving to emulate the honored examples of their father and mother and are in the full sense of the words true citizens.
G EORGE W. JOINER. Our subject is a young man of decided force of character. and without doubt success will crown his efforts in future years, as it has already done to a large extent. Ile is the son of John and Mary (Alnutt) Joiner, who were the parents of seven children, namely: J. M .. born June 27. 1819: William, who was born October 17. 1851; Cassan- der E., July 11. 1851; Elvin, February 1. 1857; John S., October 17, 1859; our subject: and Jo- seph K., horn September 15, 1866. At the family home, six miles west of the city of Knoxville, Ray County. Mo. George W. was born March 30, 1862. Ilis father owned one hundred and forty aeres of land. upon which he engaged in general farming and stock-raising. He served as Road Overseer and Constable for six years, and whatever he undertook he did well. During the war he en- listed in the service and took part in various skir-
mishes, where the danger was as great as in more important and decisive engagements.
Our subjeet left the parental home at the age of sixteen and learned the trade of harnes -- making. at which he was employed for four years. After- ward he entered the mercantile business, which he conductedl for seven years. He then entered a drag store, studied pharmacy and was graduated. He has been engaged in the drug business about twelve months. but has been studying medicine for some time and will graduate next spring a- a physician, after which he will begin the practice of that profession.
April 13. 1580, our subject married Miss N. A. Vinsant, who has borne him two children, viz .. Alta M., born November 25. 1882; and John A .. born september 2, 1885. Mrs. Joiner is a grand- daughter of R. Vinsant. and i- a lady of culture. Dr. Joiner takes a great deal of interest in politics and is a worker in the ranks of the Democratic party. The correctness of his life and his excel- lent judgment. with his education and general information. give much weight to his opinions on political as well as general matter -. He is a mem- ber of King Hiram Lodge No. 309, F. & A. M .. of Knoxville. and is much esteemed by his breth- ren of that order. Ile is a Good Templar and for two years has been a member of the Triple Alliance. In his religions connections he is a incmber of the Methodist Episcopal Church Sout !: , in which he is an active and influential worker.
E M. CLEVENGER. Descended from an old family who were pioneers in Ray County, our subject is a man with many friends. who admire him for his many good qualities and appreciate his skill as a farmer. He has been very successful. and this state of affairs has been at- tained by his industry and understanding of farm- ing. He is pleasantly located on a farm in section 22. town-hip 53 north. range 29. His father, Samuel Clevenger, was born in Coche County, Teun .. and
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was reared and educated in the public schools of that county. He married Miss Mary N. Hunbord. whose father was a soldier in the War of 1812.
The father followed farming and the carpenter trade in his native State until 1850, when he came to Missouri and located south of Vibbard, where he remained but a short time: he then removed to the section named above, at which place he entered land of the Government, improved it and made it his home until his death, which occurred about 1870. Ilis wife is still living in the enjoyment of good health. She bore him ten children, six of whom are living. namely: Samuel, living near Richmond; Jacob, a farmer in Kansas: our sub- ject; Mary, wife of J. W. Goodman. of Ray County; Letitia, wife of Lawson Sisk: and Rhoda. wife of C. W. Neal, living at Vibbard. The father was a member of the regular Baptist Church and a minister in that denomination. preaching regu- larly throughout his life in various churches in Ray County. He was one of the pioneers among the Baptist elergymen of Missouri, and, although a cripple, was very energetic. and his zeal and piety made him hosts of friends.
Our subject was born on the old home place in Ray County, March 12. 1859, and was reared there and educated in the public schools. All of his life has been spent upon the farm where he now lives. with the exception of a year or two that he farmed in Kansas. He married in the fall of 1885 Miss Mary Jane, daughter of William Gant. a farmer of this county. ' There are three children by this marriage: Homer Lee. William Harrison and Ollie May. Our subject has one hundred and twenty acres of well-improved land in a good state of cul- tivation, upon which he grows grain principally, although he has some very fine stock.
Mr. Clevenger is a member of Harmony Lodge No. 381, A. F. & A. M .. and is said to be very ae- tive in Masonie work. In politics. he is a Repub- lican, taking much interest in matters of public character, although he does not participate as ac- tively in campaigns as some others. He is a young man of industrious habits, a good farmer, a kind neighbor and a worthy citizen. Mr. Clevenger is naturally much attached to the county and the community in which he lives, and especially feels
a strong affection for the old home place. ITIs neighbor- regard him with much favor because of his sterling qualities and his genial, social nature.
ILLIAM S. MORGAN. If to the hope- fulness of youth there be added energy. zeal, industry and intelligence. then future success may safely be predicted. Our subject came to Lawson. Ray County, not very long ago, bring- ing with him testimonials of worth, and his man- nerand deportment since that time have served to confirm the favorable opinions then formed of him. The business in which he is engaged is one that demands great eare and circumspection; yet he has met public expretation. and his agreeable manners and accommodating spirit. together with luis sociability, are binding friends closely to him. He has had much business experience and is not likely to run his affairs on anything but business lines. Settled down to life at Lawson. he has re- cently made a home for himself with the brightest auguries for future, as well as present, content and happiness there.
William S. Morgan was born at Holt. Clay County, Mo .. March 23, 1870, a son of John K. Morgan, who was born and reared in West Vir- ginia. Hle afterward located in Plattsburgh. Clin- ton County. Mo., where he was a miller; then he settled at llolt, Clay County, Mo., and there fol- lowed the same business until his death. February 12, 1877. llis wife, who is living at Lawson, was Miss Margaret P., a daughter of Samuel Blocher. a native of Pennsylvania, of German descent.
Our subject was reared and educated at llolt. Mo., receiving his mental training in the public schools of that place, after which he went to St. Joseph and worked in a wholesale confectionery honse for about a year; he then went to Topeka. Kan .. and managed a branch home for the St. Joseph firm, remaining there about two years, after which he traveled about an equal length of time for the same house. Coming to Lawson. he purchased the stock of drugs of Larne & Shields, taking po --
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session in July, 1892. He was married September 7, 1892, to Miss Carrie E., daughter of W. II. Roberts, of Farragut, Towa, a prominent hardware man and stock dealer of that place. Our subject carries a very full line of drugs and is doing a good business. lle is a member of the Knights of Pythias and of the Iowa State Traveling Men's Association.
J OSEPH A. SMITH, the subject of our sketch, is a highly respected and very prom- inent citizen of the village of Lawson. Ray County. He was born in Guilford County, N. C., September 23, 1822. Ilis father, Jedediah Smith, was probably born in Guilford County, and was a son of William Smith, who in turn was a son of John Smith. The last-named had a grant of land from the English Government and built the first mill on the Alomontze River in Guilford County. William Smith opened a large body of land, but left his piow in order to serve with other patriots in the Revolutionary War. Jede- diah Smith, in emulation of his sire, seized his musket and fought in the War of 1812. He was a merchant. farmer and miller, and the father of five children, three living, namely: W. W., Presi- dent of the Lawson Bank; Mrs. M. B. Cummins, of Lawson; and our subject. The mother of our subject died in April, 1892, aged ninety years, and had been the recipient of a pension, on account of her husband's services in the war named.
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Our subject was educated principally in the Guil- ford County schools. He came to Ray County. Mo., at the age of sixteen, in the fall of 1838, ! and located on the east fork of the Fishing River, where his father engaged in farming. There our subject followed agricultural pursuits until 1816, when he enlisted as a soldier in Company C. First Regiment Missouri Infantry, and went to the Mexican War, serving for more than a year. Ile may justly be proud of his record there. for he was one of Col. Donaldson'> brave men, who marched through the very heart of Mexico, endur-
ing many hardships, but remaining courageous at all times. Ilis discharge occurred in July, 1817, after he had taken part in the battles of Brazito, Sacramento, and the capture of Santa Fe. Upon his return be bought a farm, and married, in 1819, Miss Catharine, daughter of Judge Jesse Miller, of Grundy County, Mo. She was born in Franklin County, Ohio, January 12. 1832, her father being then a prominent farmer of that county. The Miller family was descended from German ances- tors. Judge Miller was very prominent in public affairs, and when he removed to Grundy County he became a merchant. built a mill, and bought a traet of land. The people of Grundy eleeted him County Judge, and after some years he died there. Subsequently his wife married again and resided in the county until her death. Mrs. Smith was one of several children, and was reared and educated in Grundy County, where she resided until her marriage, December 18, 1849. After their marriage Mr. and Mrs. Smith rode through from Grundy to Ray County on horseback, and settled upon the farm which the former located two and one-half miles southeast of Lawson. In 1887 he removed to this village, where he has remained ever since. To him and his wife have been born eleven chil- dren, ten of whom are living. Mr. Smith is an extensive land-owner, and has ten hundred and ninety aeres, in different tracts, in Clay and Ray Counties. lle is one of the stockholders of the Lawson Bank and a Director of the Exchange Bank at Richmond.
When Mr. Smith came to this county he was a great hunter and spent many hours in quest of the agile deer and the wary wild turkeys, meeting with a success that made his name quite famous in those parts. He was a dead shot in the forest and in the field, and relates many interesting incidents of the early days of the country. Wolves were plentiful and sheep bad to be penned up to pro- tect them from the ravenous four-legged hunt- ers. Mr. Smith went with others up the Grand River to hunt bees, and on such expeditions it was common to find elk in the woods. The start was made in September, just after the bees had made their winter supplies. Often they would load a wagon with honey from these bee trees, and
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consequently had plenty of that sweet product for their families. Our subject made many inter- esting expeditions with the boys in wagons after deer, when the party would camp out and live upon venison. Deer were plentiful and our sub- ject once killed three in a single day. The rifles of those days were not the new-fangled repeaters of this generation: yet hunters found no difficulty in bringing down the game with their old flint- locks. Frequently they would start up as many as fifty to sixty deer in a single day.
Those times have passed. yet their memory re- mains fresh with the few surviving pioneers who participated in the exciting incident- of the hunt. Few settlers had then come to the county, the near- est town being Richmond, which was the market, dividing the trade with Camden on the river. Mills were scarce and settler, had to go long distances for their grist. Mr. Smith is one of the oldest settlers living in this section of the county, and is also one of the wealthiest men in Ray County. Mr. and Mrs. Smith are earnest and active mem- bers in the Presbyterian Church, where he has. been an Elder ever since he joined it. He is a Democrat, but cast his first vote for President Taylor. Although not taking a very prominent part in politics, he is none the less interested in the success of the party of his preference.
G EORGE .W. M.GAUGH. 'The conscious- ness that one has won his way in life un- aided brings to the successful man a pleas- ure unknown to him who inherits a fortune and lives a life of indolent ea-e. While our subject received some assistance from his father at his out- set in life, it was but a sort of start, a spur, as it were, to action on his part. Thus it proved: for from that time onward he worked industriously, adding by thrift and economy to his gains until he has amassed a nice competency. He was born in Ray County. Mo .. in 1818. being a son of Thomas and Margaret ( Wall) MeGaugh.
The father of our subject was born near Nash- ville, Tenn., about the year 1810, and his wife near Louisville, Ky., about the year 1812. Thomas MeGaugh came to Ray County, Mo., with his pa- rents, and settled near where our subject now lives. Ilis education was limited to the primitive sub- scription schools of his youth, attendance upon which was sometimes interfered with by duties of the farm, and was finally closed by his applying himself to the learning of the trade of a carpenter. However, he did not follow that trade in his man- hood. but pursued the avocation of a farmer all his life.
Thomas entered land in Ray County, and mar- ried his wife. Margaret. about the year 1825, she being the daughter of Robert Wall. She bore him eight children. four of whom died young. The remainder were: Edward, deceased; Martha. wife of Ell Dickey. also deceased: George W. our sub- ject. and Gallen. By hard work Mr. McGaugh ac- cumulated property, until at one time he had one thousand acres of land, all located in Ray County. Ilis religious faith kept him in the Christian Church, of which he was a consistent member. Iu his young manhood Thomas MeGaugh joined a lodge of Master Masons. but afterward demitted and no longer affiliated with them. He departed this life in 1873, and his wife passed away in 1890.
George W. MeGaugh grew up on the home farm. dividing his time between the public school of his district and work upon the farm until he was twenty-one. when he left the home roof and set- tled upon a farm of eighty aeres given to him by his father. Hle then married Sarah, daughter of John and Nancy Brown, her parents being natives of Virginia, who died when she was quite young. She was then taken by Aaron and Lydia Dove. who reared her, she accompanying them first to Illinois and then to Missouri. where they settled in Ray County.
Mr. and Mrs. McGaugh are the parents of three children, Nora, Elmer and Benjamin F. Our sub- jeet has devoted himself strictly to farming and stock-raising and feeding. In 1881 he changed his location to his present place of two hundred and twenty-ix acres, one hundred and thirty of
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which are in the bottom lands. The political views of our subject are positive and are the re- sult of honest conviction, and while he is not an office-seeker, his support of the Democratic party is hearty and unqualified.
5 REDERICK LEIRMAN. An adopted cit- izen of the United States, our subjeet has proved his loyalty to our country by his services as a brave U'nion soldier in the late war. as well as a public-spirited and energetic citizen in times of peace. Ilis merit is further displayed in his thrift, industry. economy and uprightness. Hle was born in Baden, Germany, November 11. ; 1819, and is the son of John and Catharine Leir- man, natives of Baden. They resided in a small village, and the even tenor of their lives was rudely broken in upon by the Napoleonic wars. in which the father took an active part. He spent his life in the Old Country, and was a man who enjoyed the confidence and esteem of his neigh- bors.
Our subject remained at home until the age of twenty-one, when his military career began. Ile served as a soklier for seven years, engaging more or less in active warfare, and finally participating in the Revolution of 1848. After his term of ser- vice expired be married Mary Noll. who bore him four children, namely: Frederick: Mary, wife of John Voss; John and George. Our subject emi- grated to the United States with his family in 1851 and settled at St. Louis, but soon went to Lexington, Mo., where he lived until 1862. carry- ing on a butcher's trade. From that city he re- moved to Richmond. Mo. His first wife dying, he married Mary. daughter of John and Catharine (Oltman) Olld. natives of Strasburg, France. The parents came to the I'nited States when their daughter was quite young, and settled in La Fay- ette County, Mo. Seven children are the fruit of this marriage. namely: Louis, Henry, Frank, Al- bert, Katie, Louisa and Rosa.
As mentioned above. Mr. Leirman was a sol-
dier in the I'nion army during the late war. Ile enlisted under Capt. Foster in the year 1861, and continued until the war was over. his service being principally in Missouri. Be- side many skirmishes, he took part in the bat- tles of Lone Jack and Lexington. In the first- named engagement he was thrown from his horse. breaking three ribs. In 1882 he removed to his present farm of eighty aeres. where he employs himself in improving his property and m raising grain and stock. An industrious man. thrifty and economical, quiet and unostentatious. he at- tends to his own affairs and lives at peace with all his neighbors, who hold him in high esteem.
8 AMUEL L. CLEAVENGER was born upon the old homestead, September 1, 1848. and lives upon a well-improved farm in section 33, township 53 north, range 29. He is the son of Jesse Cleavenger, who was born. reared and educated in East Tennessee. Ile first located in Ray County when he came to Missouri, and here married Miss JJeannette Fleming, who bore him six children, of whom our subjeet is the only one living. The others were: Lewis. I-aac An- drew. Elizabeth. Agnes and Margaret. After their death onr subject moved upon the farm where he now lives.
Jesse Cleavenger removed to Livingston County. remaining there but a short time, on account of the Mormon troubles. He lived upon the place above referred to until the time of his death, which was caused by falling out of a house in Clay County. his demi-e occurring seven days after the accident. Jesse Cleavenger was a member of the regalar Baptist Church. Ile made all the improvement- upon the farm, displaying a very commendable zeal in having everything in good order about him. There were but four houses in the neigh- borhood when he settled here. After the death of his wife he married again, his choice being Mrs. Ilarriet Nelson. daughter of Mr. Ilightower.
Our subject made the place his home as soon
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as he was married. Three children tend to make happy his home, viz .: Viva Folsom, Grover Cleveland and Winston. Mr. Cleavenger has a fine farm of one thousand acres, all improved. upon which he carries on general farming and stock-raising. Ile married November 1, 1883, Miss. Emma G. McCroskie. daughter of one of the oldest settlers of the county. In 1873 he made a trip to California, but the country did not suit his fancy, and so he made but a short stay there.
Our subject is a Democrat and a very active worker in the party, using his influence to further its objeets. Mr. Cleavenger is one of the Direet- ors of the Farmers' and Merchants' Bank. of Ex- celsior Springs, Clay County, Mo. The farm of our subject is specially adapted for stock-raising, it having a fine spring and other water conven- ienees, the land. also. yielding very superior grass. Mr. Cleavenger farms intelligently. avoid- ing extravaganee and waste, and managing with system and economy. His stock is well kept up and his returns from sales are very satisfactory.
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R EV. JAMES A. GEHRETT. Chaplain of the Fourth Regiment of Missouri National Guards, and the carnest. faithful and elli- cient pastor of the Presbyterian congre- gations of Bethel. Grantsville and Enterprise, all located in Linn County, is an honored resident of . Linneus, and widely known throughout Missouri as an able and energetic Christian worker of ster- ling integrity of character and broad intelligence. Our subject is a native of the Quaker State, and was born in Cassville, Huntingdon County. March 25. 1850. llis father, Jacob Gehrett. was a pros- perous Pennsylvania farmer, but serving with pa- triotic bravery in the First District of Columbia Regiment during the late Civil War, was mor- tally wounded near Frederick-burgh. Va. He was shot by guerrillas from an ambush. and. dying in the hospital in Washington. D. C., was buried in Arlington Cemetery, of that city. Jacob Gehrett
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"was a member of the German Lutheran Church. and, a sincere Christian man and patriotic citizen. gave his life in behalf of national existence.
Rebecea Gehrett. the mother of our subject. was the daughter of Thomas Green and the grand- daughter of a Revolutionary hero. Grandfather Green; she was also a relative of the brave patriot. Nathanael Greene. The parents of the elder Greene were in the mas-acre of Wyoming. The maternal ancestors of Mrs. Rebecca Gelirett were natives of Scotland, her mother, Margaret ( Camp- bell) Green, being a distant family connection of the Duke of Argyle, coming from the county of Argyle to America. The mother of our sub- ject still survives and makes her home in Penn- sylvania. James A. was the youngest of Fa- ther and Mother Gehrett's children, and passed the years of boyhood in Cassville. Pa .. and there attended the public schools. also enjoying a pre- paratory course in the Cassville Seminary. Mr. Gehrett later entered the Adrian College. at Adrian, Mich., and took a special course. and after com- pleting his studies preached for a number of years in the Methodist Churches of Pennsylvania and West Virginia.
After a time our subject went to Atchison. Kan., where he remained a year. From Kansas Mr. Gehrett eame to Linn County. Mo .. and. re- suming pastoral duties, took charge of the Meth- odist Episcopal Church at Browning. Transferred at a later period to Carrollton. Mo., he received the charge of the Hale and Bogard Circuits, and in 1888 came to Linnen- as pastor of the Meth- odist Episcopal Church. In 1890 our subject left the Methodist Episcopal denomination. and join- ing the Presbyterian Church became the pastor of the congregations to which he now so faithfully ministers. In 1869, when about nineteen years of age, Mr. Gehrett had upon conviction joined the Methodist Church, but his mother was a stanch Presbyterian and had been carefully reared in the faith of her forefathers. The early religions experiences of our subject were mainly associated with the Presbyterian Church, to which he re- turned in mature years from conscientious and congenial principles, Since taking charge of the churches now under his care. the various congre-
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gations have been greatly blessed by a large ae- cession of membership and financial prosperity as . well.
Our subject was married December 1. 1875, to Miss Agnes. daughter of William Hess, a fruit- grower of Atkinson's Mills, Pa., in which locality Mrs. Gehrett was reared to carly womanhood. The Rev. Mr. Gehrett and his estimable wife have been blessed by the birth of a bright young daughter, Nettie. Fraternally, our subject atlili- ates with the Ancient Free & Accepted Masons, is a member of the Knights of Pythias, and is asso- ciated with the Ancient Order of United Work- men, and has held the position of Chaplain of the Fourth Regiment of Missouri National Guards for two years. Ile takes a prominent place in the work of the Presbytery and has been Chair- man of the Board of Freedmen. and a mem- ber of the Committee on Colleges and Semi- naries, and is also one of the Committee of Ex- aminations on Church History. In 1890 our sub- jeet was the Moderator of the Palmyra Presby- tery, and. an able and eloquent divine. has ac- complished much of good and established most friendly relations with the general public, by whom he is thoroughly appreciated, and among whom he enjoys a well-earned popularity as a true. steadfast and devoted pastor, untiring in service and wise in counsel.
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