Portrait and biographical record of Clay, Ray, Carroll, Chariton, and Linn Counties, Missouri, containing biographical sketches of prominent and representative citizens, Part 47

Author: Chapman Brothers (Chicago), pub
Publication date: 1893
Publisher: Chicago, Chapman bros.
Number of Pages: 1316


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 47
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 47
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 47
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 47
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 47


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OIIN DICK, an enterprising business man and proprietor of the principal meat-market of Laclede, Mo., is an energetic citizen of executive ability, and, with abundant means at his command, has liberally aided in local im- provements and been prominently connected with the advancement of the best interests of Linn County for many years. Occupying an influential position as a private citizen, he has also a- Alder- 1 man of the city endeavored faithfully to promote the upward progress of his home loeality, and is known to the general public and a host of friends : is deeply interested in both local and national af- as an efficient and earnest worker, of liberal idea-


and sterling integrity of character. The business which Mr. Dick now so prosperously conducts was established by his father many years ago, the fam- ily having been old-time residents of Linn County.


Our subject is a native of Scotland and was born upon October 11, 1852. He was but six months old when his parents, leaving "Old Scotia" far behind them, crossed the broad Atlantic to America. The father and mother. James and Jane (Hood) Diek, thrifty, industrious and intelligent dwellers within the Queen's dominions. well rec- ognized the greater possibilities a land of liberty and independence offered them and their descend- ants, and decided to try their fortunes at first in Canada. Locating in St. Catharines, the father actively engaged in business, but at the expiration of one and a-half years removed with his family to the United States. and settled in Laclede. Mo. Ilere James Dick found ready employment, and accepting a position on the Hannibal & St. Joseph Railroad remained constantly in the service of this corporation until his death in 1888. The family of Father and Mother Diek numbered eight children, and of the sons and daughters who once gathered about the home hearth seven yet sur- vive.


Our subject. reared in Laclede and edueated in the public schools. grew up to a self-reliant, self- respecting manhood and early began to make his own way in the world. He worked in a meat- market at Brookfield. but afterward returned to Laclede and at the death of his father assumed control of the present business. Devoting himself with earnest and intelligent industry to the daily cares of business, Mr. Dick has been prospered and is a stockholder in the bank at Laclede and the owner of considerable real estate. Among his other property is a valuable farm of three hundred aeres under fine enltivation. The city real estate is yearly increasing its estimated worth, and the market yields an excellent income. Politically our subject is an ardent Repubhean and a strong advocate of the party. He has never been a poli- tician in the common acceptation of the term. but


fairs and personally gives his firm support to the


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"best man for the place." Growing up from in- faney to mature manhood in his adopted country, he is a worthy representative of the useful and honored American citizenship which gives to our national existence its chief glory and renown.


E M. ATTERBERRY. The great civilizer is the railroad. Without this great common carrier the blooming West. the world's granary, would yet be an undisturbed waste. The iron horse, with its stretches of parallel steel bars, prevents the scourge of famine. because it can des- patch grain from places of plenty to localities where it is needed; and it restrains revolts. because of the case of transporting troops from one point to the other. It has eclipsed time and abridged space. until a traveled man is no longer a euriosity. Our subject forms one of the great army of men em- ployed in the important work of transporting the product of field. factory and mine to and fro. and his intelligence, readiness, promptitude and ac- eommodating spirit have won the respeet and con- fidenee of the people in and around the village of Lawson, Ray County. where he is now stationed as agent of the Chicago. Milwaukee & St. Paul Railroad.


Our subject was born January 14. 1857. at At- lanta, Mo., where he was reared and received his education in the public schools. In his youth or young manhood he entered the employ of the Wabash Railroad at Atlanta to learn telegraphy, after which he located at Huntsville, later going to Pattonsburgh. Mo., as telegraph operator. Pro- moted to the position of agent, he was transferred to Ageney Ford. on the Platte River, and was sent thence May 5, 1879. to Lawson. where he has re- mained ever since. Our subject is the son of Semeon Atterberry, a pioneer of Macon County. Mo., who was the father of eight boys and two girls, all of whom are living. Four of the sons were brave and faithful soldiers in the Union army during the Civil War. When our subjeet first came to Lawson he was employed by the Wabash


Road. but when the Chieago, Milwaukee & St. Paul resumed control he was appointed to his present position by the latter company.


Mr. Atterberry was married in Atlanta, Mo .. in 1879. to Miss Sarah MI., daughter of Morgan Will- iams, a pioneer of that part of the country. Two children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Atterberry, Willie D. and Ottis Alma. Mr. Atterberry is a member of the Methodist Church South, in which connection he is useful and esteemed. He is prom- inent in Masonic circles, having taken the degrees of the Master Mason. Chapter, Council. Knights Templar, and of the Mystie Shrine, and was Junior and Senior Warden of Bee Hive Lodge No. 393, at Lawson. He is also a member of the Knights of Pythias, in which order he is an intelligent worker. He is pronounced in his political opin- ions and outspoken in his support of the Republi- can party. Educational matters also interest him; he has served as a member of the School Board and always takes an active part in all measures calculated to advance the welfare of Lawson.


AMES II. MORGAN is a man of clear head and good judgment, with a superior under- standing as to stoek and the buying and selling of the same. He was born in what is now Ontario, Canada. near Lake Ontario. in the year 1847. being a son of James and Margaret (Walker) Morgan, the former of whom was born in Ireland in 1811, and the latter in the same country in 1818. The grandparents of our sub- jeet were of limited means, which compelled them to place their son, the father of our subject, at work when he was quite young. James married at about the age of twenty-two. He remained in Ireland until he was the father of two children, then emigrated to Canada and took up Govern- ment land in the heavy timber belt. He bought one hundred acres, which he occupied with his family, and proceeded to improve it, when death stopped his labors in 1817. the year in which our subject was born. His wife bore him four chil-


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dren, namely: Agnes, wife of David Anderson. of Ontario, Canada; Isabella, wife of Thomas Meliit- lan; dane, widow of Walter Reniek. living with a son in Montana; and James IL .. our subject. Ile was a member of the Episcopal Church. and died as he had lived. comforted by its promises. The paternal grandparents of our subject vere neuves of Ireland.


Our subject was married in 1869, to Elizabeth, daughter of Benjamin F. and Sarah Gant. the daughter a native of Ray County. and the parents of North Carolina. His wife has borne him eight children, five of whom died young; the others are: Sarah J., wife of Wesley Halterman: Benjamin and John. Mr. Morgan remained with his mother until his eighteenth year, then worked by the month or the year on farms or at the carpenter's trade until 1865, when he came to the I'nited States. Three years later he settled in Missouri, and in 1872 bought his present farm of one hun- dred and forty acres, in town-hip 51, range 27. Ray County. Here he devotes his best energies to the raising of stock, his experience and knowledge of animals especially fitting him for that and the busi- ness of buying and selling them. The industry in which Mr. Morgan is engaged is one of the lead- ing ones of this country, and constantly increas- ing in magnitude. Thousands and tens of thou- sands are successful in it, but none are so, unless, like Mr. Morgan, they thoroughly understand their business; for that he does is clearly conceded by all his neighbors. He is worthy of what good comes to him. Mr. Morgan is a citizen of the United States, and one who feels an interest in its affairs, and his convictions lead him to support the Republican party.


R EUBEN STIGALL. Since he commenced to earn his own living. our subjeet has gath- ered much wisdom and a rich store of ex- perience. The condition of his farm and the results of the annual harvest- prove him to be a successful and practical farmer. He was born in


Overton County. Tenn., July 2, 1835, and is the son of strother and Patsy ( Amonet) Stigall, both natives of this county and State. The mother was born in 1808, and the father at an earlier date. He was reared upon a farm in his native county, where school facilities were very limited, and as a result his education was quite meagre, but an ol- servant mind and a love of reading tended to greatly overcome this deficiency. In his youth he learned the trade of a carpenter and cooper, which he followed at various times during his life. His wife, whom he married when quite a young man. was an orphan, and had been reared by strangers.


In 1840, Strother Stigall removed to Polk County, Mo., and in 1816 came to Ray County, where be purchased two hundred acres of land near the farm of our subject. Possessed of very limited means when he came to Missouri. he was obliged to make the journey in wagons, which con- tained all the earthly effects of himself and family. In connection with his farming in Ray County. he followed rafting and boating on the river to some extent. His wife bore him ten children. and five of them, all sons. are living in Ray County, namely: our subject, Frank. John, George and Henry. He was a sincere and devout Christian, being a mem- ber of the Methodist Episcopal Church. in which fellowship he was highly esteemed. At one period in his life he was an active member of the Ma-onie order.


Our subjeet was seventeen years old when his father died and he continued to live with his mother until his marriage. This event, occurring when he was twenty-three years old, united him with Elizabeth, daughter of John and Mary Has- kell. Mr. Haskell was an early Califorma pioneer. who is supposed to have been drowned on his re- turn voyage by sea. Seven children were born of this union, five of whom are deceased. the two liv- ing being: Sarah F. and Martha L. After the death of his first wife, Mr. Stigall married Martha Cartmell, who bore him one child. Frank. and sub- sequently died. His third wife was Margie Wil- son, who became the mother of seventeen children. seven of whom are living, namely: William. Rena. Arthur. Mand. Ernest. Nellie and Eurah. After his first marriage Mr. Stigall bought eighty acres


1


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of land, but has added to it from time to time un- til now he has three hundred and forty actes, upon which he lives in township 50, range 27. Ray County. Our subject and his brother rafted and boated wood on the river for about fifteen years. When but three years of age, his brother accident- ally cut off his foot with an axe.


E VANDER M. NAIR. D. D. The office of mini-ter and teacher of the young yields precedence to none, designed as it is to give such bias to the moral and intellectual character as will qualify their po-ses-or for the higher and more responsible positions of earth and the higher sta -! tion in eternity. Our subject. the President of the Presbyterian College of Upper Missouri. at Law- son, Ray County, is a man well qualified to dis- charge the grave duties of his position, being pos- sessed of the executive ability so essential to such a position, as well as the mental acquirements and those exalted moral virtues without which he could not command the respect and confidence of those committed to his eare.


Mr. McNair was born in Robeson County. N. C., February 3, 1833, and there he was reared and re- ceived his early school training. In 1855 he en- tered Centre College, at Danville, Ky .. and two years afterward was graduated. taking the degree of A. B .: later the degree of A. M. was conferred upon him. From that institution he went to the Danville Theological Seminary, from which he was graduated in 1860. and was licensed to preach by the Transylvania Presbytery. In May. 1860. he went to Louisiana and took charge of the churches at Marganza and Williamsport, remaining there about eighteen month -; he then went into the army as Chaplain of the Twenty-fourth North Carolina State Troops, continuing in the service until the close of the war.


Our subject went to Danville, Ky., in October. 1865, and married Miss JJenny, daughter of John Stodghill, of that city. In January of the fol- lowing year he was called to the church at Jackson, ; ternal grandparents of our subject were carly pro-


Tenn., remaining at that place until July, Ist ?: in 1880 he took charge of the church at Liberty. Clay County, Mo., remaining there eight years; later wa- in charge of the church at Lathiop. Mo., for two years, and in 1890 came to the church at Rich- mond, the pulpit of which he still till. He was elected to the presidency of the Presbyterian Col- lege at Lawson in April. 1892, a position he still holds.


Dr. MeNair has fom children. namely : Nannie. wife of Herbert Corbin, of Kansas City, who is connected with the Blaker & Corbin Grain Co .; Jenny, teacher of English and sciences in the col- lege; John, in the mercantile business, traveling for a house at Kansas City; and Lindsey, in the Union Theological Seminary. in Virginia. Our subject is prominent in Masonie circles, having taken the degrees of a Master Mason of the Chap- ter and of Templar Masonry. He is also a meth- ber of the Odd Fellows, having taken the degrees of the Encampment as well as of the Lodge.


The college of which the Doctor is President was organized in October. 1890. the founders be- ing: W. W. Smith, John Crowly. James Morrow. Samuel Wharton, Robert Finch. Charles Bethel. . I. A. Smith and others. The college building is an excellent one, which cost $15.000. and belongs to the Presbytery of Upper Missouri. The institution is in excellent condition and has six professore. each especially adapted to the duties assigned. The building is well arranged for the purposes for which it is designed, and is three stories high with steam heat. The college has a State charter, with the right to confer hterary and honorary degrees.


R EUBEN ROE. one of the enterprising farners of Ray County. owns and operates a farm on township 52. range 23. Mr. Roe was born near where he now lives July 17. 18 15. the son of Thomas and Jennie (Odell) Roe. the former born in Madison County, Ky .. mn Fsos, and the latter born in Tennessee in 1-10. The pa-


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neers of Kentucky, and Grandfather Roe dying when Thomas was a lad of six years, the latter was taken into the home of a Mr. Bornside, and there he grew to manhood.


The orphan boy did not receive many advan- tages in his youth, and his education was mostly acquired by the light of the fire at night, when darkness had brought ces-ation from the exhaust- ing labors of the day. At the age of eighteco he came to Missouri, accompanied by his mother and sisters, who located with him in Ray County, and in order to supply whose wants he put forth the most strennous exertions. He was one of five chil- dren, whose names were James, Thomas, Betsey. Mary and Patsey, all now deceased.


To the original one hundred and sixty acres entered from the Government Mr. Roe added until he had about three hundred and twenty acres of fertile land. . In Ray County he married Jennie, the daughter of Faae and Nancy Odell, natives of Tennessee, and pioneer- of Ray County. Seven children blessed the union, as follows: Mary, who married N. W. Samples, now deceased: James: William; Sarah, widow of the late Thomas 11. Blaine; Reuben. the subject of this sketch; Thomas HI .; and Jane, Mrs. J. E. Ellis. The father of this family died in April, 1890, and his wife passed away in September, 1891. He was a sincere mem . ber of the Baptist Church, and generous in its support. Politically. he adhered to the principles of the Democratic party, of which he was one of the earnest exponents.


Our subject remained with his parents until about 1865, when he enlisted in the Union army as a member of Company B. Forty-fourth Mis- souri Infantry, Gen. Smith commanding. He par- ticipated in the engagements at Mobile, Spanish Fort and Franklin. and. though always at the front, he escaped without wounds or imprisonment. When the war was ended. he was honorably discharged and mustered out of the service. Soon after re- turning home he married Miss Rhoda E .. daugh- ter of David and Catherine (Whitton) Craven. They became the parents of six children. Emma D .. Hugh and Elmer being the only one- now surviv- ing. Those deceased are May C. Calvin and Jennie.


After his marriage out subject purchased tifty- three acres of his present farm, which was then wholly unimproved, and it required constant ex- ertion on his part to convert the property into a fertile and finely improved farm. He has added to the original purchase until he now owns one hundred and forty acres, all of which he has placed under cultivation. As an agricultorist. he uses the most modern machinery, and keeps abreast with the latest improvements in that line. He has never taken an active part in politics, but casts his ballot for the principles and candidates of Dem- ocracy. Religiously, he and his wife are mem- bers of the Baptist Church, in which they are active workers.


ON. HORATIO F. SIMRALL, the subject of this sketch, is an attorney of marked ability, residing at Liberty. Clay County, whose talents have been recognized by his fellow-citizens, and, judging from present indica- tions, the honors now resting upon him are but the foretastes of greater ones to come. He was born in Shelby County, Ky., May 4. 1815. Ilis father, James Simrall. was a native of Kentucky and a farmer by occupation. The latter was a son of James Simrall. Sr., who was born in Virginia and went as an early settler to Shelby County. Ky., being among the first to report for duty for the suppression of the Indian troubles. when for a time settlers were obliged to seek shelter in block- houses. He was also a Colonel of a Kentucky regiment in the War of 1812. The father of our subject continued to reside in Shelby County until his death, which occurred in 1863. In early life his political convictions caused him to be a Whig, but later he affiliated with the Democratic party.


The mother of our subject bore the maiden name of Cynthia Fitzlen, and was a native of Wood- ford County, Ky. Her father, the Hon. John Fitz- len. was descended from Scotch and German an-


PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.


cestors, while the Simralls were of Scoteh aneestry. The grandfather on the mother's side was Hiram Graham, a native of Virginia, of Scotch descent. The mother of our subjeet is still living. in her sixty-eighth year. enjoying the declining years of her life at the old homestead in Shelby County. Mr. and Mrs. Simrall, Sr., were the parents of six boys and two girls. all living. Horatio F .. our subject, the third child of the family, passed his boyhood on the farm, attended the country schools, and later entered Shelby College, where he pur- sued his studies until 1866. At that time, feeling prepared to go out in the world, he made his first attempt at taking care of himself by teaching school in Shelby County. Ky. His ambition, how- ever, was to become a lawyer, and in the fall of 1867 he entered the law department of the Uni- versity of Louisville. Ky., from which he was graduated in 1868.


In January, 1869, our subject came to Clay . County, Mo., where he taught school for four months before locating in Liberty to begin the practice of his profession. That same year he formed a partnership with Henry L. Rontt, under - the firm name of Rontt & Simrall, which connee- tion lasted for two years. Later he was connected in partnership with Judge J. M. Sandusky, this firm being formed in July, 1872, and continuing until 1887, when the Judge was elected Circuit .Judge of the Fifth Judicial District of Missouri. Afterward our subject formed a partnership with S. G. Sandusky, and that connection continued for three years, when a law student, Frank IL. Trimble, was taken into the business. These gen- tlemen constitute the present firm, and conduct a practice extending through all the State and Fed- eral courts. In 1871 Mr. Simrall was elected JJus- tice of the Peace, which office he held several years, and from 1872 to 1873 he held the position of City Recorder. His fellow-citizens elected him to the office of Prosecuting Attorney for 1875 and 1876, and also for 1883 and 1884. his entire term of service being four years. In 1881 he was called to occupy a position of still greater honor, for at that time the electors of the Fourth Senatorial Distriet (composed of the counties of Clay. Clin- ton and Platte) elected him to the State Senate.


He was nominated on the Democratie ticket, and elected without opposition.


While in the Senate, our subject served as Chair- man of the Committee on Criminal Jurisprudence. and also on the Committee on Railroads. He took a very active part in all criminal legislation dur- ing his term of service. At the special session called by Gov. Marmaduke, he became quite con- spicuous, in connection with Senators George A. Castleman. of St. Louis, Mo., and J. P. Hammond. of Johnson County, Mo., in railroad legislation. out of which grew the present railroad land law .. llis ability as a dircetor of affairs has been recog- nized in the city of Liberty, where the citizens have made him Chairman of their Publie Sebool Board. In polities he is a stanch Democrat. He has served as Chairman of the Democratic Central Committee. and at the time of writing ( 1892) i- the Democratic Elector of the Third Congressional District.


December 22, 1874, Mr. Simrall married Miss Mattie, daughter of John A. Denny, an old eitizen of Liberty. Mr. and Mrs. Simrall are the parents of five sons, namely: Denny C., Horatio F .. Jr .. James Sandusky, Ernest Graham and Riley Marsb. Our subject is a prominent Democratie pioneer of this place. Socially he is a member of Liberty Lodge No. 19. I. O. O. F. Ile and his wife are members of the Presbyterian Church, in which he is a Deacon.


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EE MEYER, Vice-president of the Farmers' and Merchants' Bank of Linneus, a leading citizen and the enterprising senior partner of the well-known firm of Meyer & Locke, dealer. in dry goods, clothing, boots and shoes, groceries. hats, caps, queensware and carpets, has long been associated with the best interests of Linn County. Mo., and is highly esteemed by the general public and a host of sincere friends. Meyer & Locke own the largest store in the city of Linnens, and. carrying a most complete stock of goods are maj - idly extending their business to the outermes


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limits of the surrounding localities. Our subject is a native Prussian, and was born in the Rhenish Province October 18. 1819. His father. Moses Meyer, was a prosperous merchant of the country of the Rhine, and Lee early enjoyed instruction in the public schools of Germany. An earnest and intelligent lad. he ambitiously began to make his own way in the world at the age of fourteen. In 1861 he emigrated to America, and, landing safely upon our shores, found himself a stranger in a strange land. Locating first in Macon, Mo., he there obtained employment in a general store. and was soon busily engaged in handling mer- chandise and clothing.


Mr. Meyer remained with his first employer about six years, in 1870 making a change, and from this latter date up to 1871 worked in vari- ous places, then coming to Linneus, where he clerked in the store of S. Brandenburgh & Co. handling general merchandise for the firm for four years and a-half. at the expiration of this time starting in business for himself, under the firm name of Phillips & Meyer. The firm prospered and in 1880 a new partner was taken into busi- ness relations, and the firm became Phillip-, Meyer & Brinkley. In the year 1876 Mr. Phillips with- drew from the firm. and the business was then conducted by Meyer & Brinkley until 1890, when Mr. Brinkley also retired from active dutie .. and his interest was purchased by Herman C. Locke, the present energetic and able partner of our subject.


Mr. Meyer was united in marriage. in 1882, with Miss Anna K., daughter of Dr. P. C. Flour- noy, one of the pioneer physicians of Linnens. Our subject and his estimable wife are members of the Jewish Church, and are ever ready to assist in benevolent work or aid in worthy enterprises. Fraternally, Mr. Meyer is associated with the An- cient Free & Accepted Masons; he is also a mem- bor of the Knights of Pythias, and was Treasurer of the order here for two years. Financially. he has been prospered and occupies one of the finest residences in Linneus. The firm owns a valuable farm of one hundred and sixty acres about seven miles southeast of the town. and the commo- dious and attractive store building is the property




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