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 48
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 48
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 48
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 48
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 48
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of Pounds & Meyer. The ambitions, earnest and persistent effort of the young lad who left his Fatherland to make his fortune in the New World beyond the broad Atlantic has been rewarded with a well-deserved competence, worthily won through courageous and long-continued industry. Mr. Meyer is a Democrat, and. while not desirous of office, takes an active interest in the management of local and national affairs. Progressive in his ideas, liberal in sentiment and upright in charac- ter, he is in all respects a true and loyal American citizen.
ALTER T. SHOOP. In order to suceced in life, there must be -elf-reliance. nothing being more true than that he who fails to help himself gets no assistance. Our subject dis- plays this quality in sufficient strength to give promise of realizing that for which he aspires. He is the senior member of the firm of Shoop & Bearce. dealers in hardware, stoves and furniture, at Rich- mond. Mr. Shoop was born in the last-named city January 10, 1861, being the son of Joseph S. and Mary E. ( Baber) Shoop. The father was a native of Maryland. and came to Richmond in 1831. The mother was born in Kentucky. the daughter of Thomas Baber, and. with her husband, is still living.
Our subject is the second in order of birth among three children. He was born and reared in Richmond, where he received his education. first attending the public schools and afterward completing his course at Richmond College. His first start in life was as elerk in a mercantile house, and afterward he engaged in the United States Railroad Postal Service, at which he was employed for seven years. His run was between St. Louis and Kansas City. Mo., and between St. Louis, Mo .. and Council Bluffs. Iowa. Retiring from the mail service at the end of that time, he started in busi- nes for himself. and formed a partnership with Fred A. Bearee. under the firm name of Shoop & Bearce. The firm carries a full stock of shelf and
George WKeys
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heavy hardware, stoves, tinware and furnaces. The store is 24x150 feet, and the firm occupies the three floors of the building, and one room in an adjoining building.
Our subject is a member of the Christian Church, being an earnest and sincere believer in the tekch- ings of that organization and proving a very val- uable coadjutor in its work. Ile is a Democrat, and so strong is his faith, that he would have all men believe as he, and do as he, politically. Ilis interest in polities is manifested in an active par- ticipation in the conventions of his party and in making himself generally useful throughout the campaigns, including on election day. He has faith in the future of Richmond, and is a strong advo- eate for progressive methods in their application to the growth and development of the place. The pleasant manner, social qualities and high charac- ter of our subject have attracted to him a host of warm friends.
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UDGE GEORGE W. KEYES. Ray County is conspicuous for the number of distin- guished men within its boundary lines, Our subject, who is a resident of Morton. is numbered among the most prominent citizens of this locality and is a popular County Judge. He was born July 5, 1839, where the city of Richmond now stands. His father, John Keyes, was a native of Washington County, Va., and was born March 25, 1811. His grandfather. Francis Keyes, was born September 22, 1770, and lived until August 10. 1812. The American branch of the Keyes fam- ily is descended from two brothers who came from England with the Pilgrims in 1633. One brother settled in New England. and Moses Keyes located in Virginia.
Our subject's grandfather, a farmer and a car- penter by trade, emigrated to Missouri in 1830. and was one of the first settlers in Ray County, loeating about three miles from the present site of Richmond. He came here by the overland route. traveling with a team and wagon. over mountains
and across rivers and valleys. After his arrival he took up a tract of Government land in this lo. enlity aud set himself to improving it. Ilis wife, formerly Miss Mary Meek, was a native of Vir- ginia. born June 26, 1781, and died August 3. 1846. They were the parents of eleven children, only one of whom is now living: Mrs. Jane Hud- son, who was born October 3, 1812.
John, our subject's father, was the sixth child, and was sixteen years of age on coming to Mis- souri. He started out for himself by taking up a farm three miles northwest of Richmond, in this county. After residing there until about 1877, he moved to Barber County, Kan., where he en- tered land and made his home until his death, May 12, 1885. lle served in the Black Hawk War. Mary A. Wollard, as the mother of our subject was known prior to her marriage, was born February 8, 1822, on the present site of Richmond, where her father was one of the earliest settlers, he hav- ing come to this locality from Tennessee. She still survives.
George W. Keyes is the second in order of birth among thirteen children, of whom nine are living, most of the number residing in Kansas. He was educated in the country schools of his day. his first experiences in that direction being gained in a log schoolhouse, in which an aperture was cut for a window and filled in with greased paper. There were slab seats, a nondescript array of text-books and a plentiful use of the rod. The young student. subsequently entered the public schools at Rich- Toud and remained at home until he was of age. He is as conversant with the early history of this locality as any man here.
At the early age of sixteen, our subject com- menced to trade in stock. Later he entered the State serviee under Gov. Jackson. served for one year and participated in the battle of Lexington. In 1862, he went to Adams County, Ill., and there engaged in stock-dealing for a year. The next year he crossed the plains with a drove of mules and returned in 1861 to Adams County. In 1865 he came to Ray County, and the following year he located on his present farm in Crooked River Township. He has since followed the calling of agriculture and has been very successful.
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Judge Keyes was first married August 23, 1865. in Adams County, Ill., to Mary A. Keyes, of Nodaway County, Mo., who died March 1. 1870. Their only child is also deceased. October 27. 1874, the Judge was united in marriage with Eliza M. Keyes. a sister of his first wife. They were the daughters of George W. and Martha M. Keyes, the former a native of Virginia and born August 11, 1821, and the latter born in Alabama May 16. 1832. They were married in Richmond, February 8, 1816. The father is deceased, but his widow still survives.
In politics, Judge Keyes is a Democrat, and fraternally, he has been a Mason for a long time. Both he and his wife have been members of the Methodist Episcopal Church south for many years. The Keyes estate comprises five hundred and thirty-five acres of choice land. which is located on sections 7. 17. 18. 19 and 20. Our subject was formerly greatly interested in the breeding of Shorthorn cattle, but of late years has given it up. Between the years of 1870 and 1880 he was the proprietor of a general store. adjoining his farm. Ile has always dealt in grain, and has bought and shipped considerable in the past few years. Aside from his fine farm here he owns a controlling interest in sixteen hundred acres of land in Barber and Pratt Counties. Kan .. and is also a stockholder in the bank at llardin. As above stated, he is at present serving as Judge of Ray County, and is fill- ing that responsible position to the utmost satisfac- tion of the people so far as he knows.
B ENJAMIN B. PUTMAN, M. D., has oper- ated a drug store at Bueklin. Linn County, for the past twenty years and also is the owner of one at Brookfield. Ile is one of the leading physicians and surgeons of the coun- ty and holds the position of surgeon of the Santa Fe and the Hannibal & St. Joseph Railroad Com- panies. His parents were William and Sarah (Head) Putman. the former a farmer by occupa- tion and a native of Kentucky. He was a sub-
stantial and trustworthy man in every sense of the word, and held membership with the old-school Baptist denomination. In addition to farming he also operated both a saw and a flour mill. He was called, from his labors in 1887. His wife died many years previously. in 1861. They were the parents of ten children, only four now living. They are as follows: Francis M., a grocer residing in California: Jonathan J .. a manufacturer living near Denver, Colo .: our subjeet, and .Jefferson E .. a druggist in California. The brother Jefferson E. was a soldier in the late Civil War. belonging to the Forty-second Missouri Infantry.
Dr. Putman was born in Linn County on June 10, 1841. Four years previously his parents had become residents of Linn County, settling near North Salem, where the father was among the early pioneers. The Doctor was reared on a farm and attended the district schools of the neighbor- hood. Concluding to become a physician, he took a course of lectures at the St. Louis Medical Col- lege, which he entered at the age of twenty years. On concluding his studies from that institution he commenced practice at North Salem, where he was located for one year. In 1866 he settled in Buck- fin. which. with the exception of perhaps a year. has been the field of his labors up to the present time. In 1870 he went to California, returning home in the following year. He was graduated from the St. Louis Medical College in the spring of 1872 and has since been actively engaged as a physician and surgeon.
In 1865 the Doctor married Miss Mary I. Carter. who is a native of Iowa. She is a daughter of James Carter. now deceased. To Mr. and Mrs. Putman have been born eight children; but three of whom are living. They are: Sophrona Alice, a student at Stanberry ( Mo.) College; Ola and Homer, who are attending the public schools of Bucklin. Mrs. Putman is a member of the Methodist Epis- copal Church South.
For eight years the Doctor has been Master of the Blue Lodge in this place and has held all the principal offices as well. He is also a member of Linn Chapter No. ID, of Brookfield. and of Coeur de Leon Commandery No. 11. K. T. of Brookfield. He is a stockholder and Vice-pre-i-
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dent of the Bucklin Bank. The Doctor takes quite an interest in polities. being a supporter of the Democratic party and having been frequently made a delegate to county and State conventions. He is President of the School Board and is a mem- ber of the Grand River Medical Society.
T. ROGERS. Foremost among the vari- ous business establishments which have con- tributed to the lasting prosperity of Lawson is the drug store owned and managed by Mr. Rogers. It is stocked with a complete line of drugs, toilet articles, stationery, and the various articles usually to be found in a well-managed pharmacy. Although young in years, Mr. Rogers is an experienced druggist. and has for a number of years been successfully engaged in this business.
Few residents of Ray County are better known than our subjeet, for he has passed almost his en- tire life within its limits, and has a large circle of acquaintances. Ilis father's farm, where he first opened his eyes to the light, was located about six miles east of Lawson, and the date of his birth was November 4, 1860. When he was three years old he was orphaned by the death of his father, Isane Rogers, and seven years afterward his mother was again married, her husband being .A. Eber- sole, of Gentry County, Mo.
In the home of his maternal grandfather, Abra- ham Titus, our subject passed his childhood years. in somewhat the usual manner of country boys. Ile attended the district schools, in which he acquired his education. Later. he worked for his step-father until he was twenty-one, when he came to Law- son and engaged as a clerk for Titus Bros., his uncles, who were in the drug business. After oe- cupying a elerical position for four years, he pur- chased an interest in the business of his uncle, J. II. Titus, the other brother. James, having died one year after our subject entered the store. The partnership with .l. Il. Titus existed for two years, and after it was dissolved our subject entered into a business connection with Oti- Atterberry. the
firm name being Rogers & Atterberry. The firm dissolved partnership about three years after its inception, and Mr. Rogers, purchasing his part- ner's interest, has since continued the business alone.
In 1885 Mi. Rogers married Miss Flora B .. daughter of A. W. Rainwater, proprietor of the Lawson Hotel. One child has been born of the union, John Maiford. In his social affiliation our subject is identified with the Independent Order of Odd Fellows and with the Knights of Pythias, in which latter organization he is serving as Mas- ter of Finance, and has at various times filled the office, of Chaneeller Commander, Past Chancellor and Master-at-Arms. He takes an intelligent in- terest in the important questions of the day, and. with all others of his party. rejoiced in the elec- tion of Grover Cleveland to the Presidency. He ha ever been loyal in his adherence to the princi- pies of the Democratic party, to which he gives his enthusiastic support.
HRISTOPHIER R. SHAW. Although still quite a young man, few of his age have traveled more extensively or have stored their minds with a larger fund of information than he to whom we call attention in this article. Thrown upon his own resources at an early age. he proved equal to the demands of a somewhat rough life and came out of a wandering existence well content to settle down to the business of farming. Mr. Shaw was born in Richmond. Ray County, Mo., in March, 1866. being the son of C. R. and Lottie (Keyes) Shaw.
'The father of our subject died some four months before his birth, November 11, 1866. at the age of thirty-three. Some time after his demise the widow married C. W. JJames. of Ray County, and now lives in Clay County. Mo. having by her second union become the mother of one child. Mattie It., wife of John Young. of Wyandotte. Kan. By her first marriage she had four children. namely: John C., of Harrison County. Mo .; George W .. of Inde-
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pendence, Mo .; Jame, T., living near Morton. Mo .. and our subject. The maternal grandfather of our subject. John Keyes, died in Southwestern Kansas. Mrs. James is still living, much respected by those who know her. When her first husband died he was the possessor of three hundred and sixty acres of land in Ray County.
The only education which our subject received was the teaching given him by his mother, who proved a faithful instructor. At the early age of ten he began to take care of himself. When liv- ing in Texas he went upon a ranch and drove cat- tle all through the Western States and territories, from the Gulf to the British possessions. In the spring of 1887. he came to the farm left him by his father, known a- the C. R. Shaw estate, where he has remained ever since, farming and dealing in stock. He owns one hundred acres of fine land, nearly all of which is in a high state of cultiva- tion.
In politics, our subject is a Democrat. as was his father before him. He is a bright, energetic young man, with sufficient confidence in himself to make the most of his opportunities, and bi- good busi- ness habits, with his knowledge of stock and farm- ing, give promise of much prosperity for the future. Hlis neighbors, the older of whom knew and re- spected his father, are attached to the young man and have nothing but good words to say about him. Ile devotes his entire time to the farm and displays excellent judgment in all that he under- takes.
ILLIAM HENRY HUMPHREY, a well- known farmer of section 2. town-hip 57, range 22, Linn County, was born in Franklin County. Ind., August 29, 1815. His father, William R. G. Humphrey, a native of Pennsylvania, was reated in Philadelphia and was a carpenter by trade. He was married in San- gamon County, Il., to Miss Priscilla Haynes, a na- tive of Harper's Ferry, Va. After living a few years in Illinois, they removed to Indiana, return-
ing later to Illinois, and coming to Missouri in 1867, where they settled near Chillicothe. They have seven children, all of whom are living, and of whom our subject is the clilest. The father is a Republican and is now seventy-two years of age. while his wife, who is a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church, i- two years his junior.
Until reaching the age of fourteen years our subject passed his time on his father's farm, at which time he commenced learning the carpen- ter's and joiner's trade. Ile received a common- school education and remained under the parental roof until reaching his majority. His first farm was the one where Henry Bargar now resides. Ile afterward cleared and improved a farm south of Meadville, after which, removing to Chillicothe, he remained there until 1873. lle then settled on his present farm of three hundred and twenty acres, which had but small improvements. It is now under good cultivation and upon it in 1858 he erected a pleasant home residence at a cost of $1,400.
In 1868 Mr. Humphrey married Emily .I. Hus- ted, whose parents, David and Phoebe ( Humphrey ) Ilusted, were both natives of Franklin County. Ind. The former, who was born in 1821, was a farmer by occupation and a member of the Pres- byterian Church, as was also his wife, who was born in 1821. They were for many years resi- elents of Decatur County. Ind .. where the wife's death occurred in 1871, and that of the husband in 1880. Of their six children. four now survive. Mrs. Humphrey was born JJanuary 13. 1847, in Decatur County. Ind .. where she received a dis- triet-school education. To our worthy subject and his wife have been born three children, of whom Belva D., born January 9, 1881, is their only surviving child.
Mr. Humphrey is one of the stockholders and Director- in the Meadville Milling Company and is Vice-president and Director in the bank of Meadville. Ile owns some tine residence property in Chillicothe, and for the past fifteen year- has served his fellow-town-men as Road Overseer in this district. He is a member of the Ancient Or- der of United Workmen at Meadville, and has been Director of School District No, s for nine-
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teen years. Ilis little daughter. now nine years of age, is a very bright and promising little one. and though so young reads in the Fifth Reader. Our subject is a Republican politically and is strongly in favor of Protection. The father of our subject has been a promment mathematician and at one time published a book of one-rule arithmetic. con- taining one hundred and thirty-three solid pages. in which the short methods of solving practical problems were exemphfied.
SA BROCKMAN. Possessing a farm in township 51. range 28, Ray County, adapted to the growing of grain and the raising of stock, our subject puisties both departments of agriculture with assiduity and suc- cess. Ilis position in the community is one of prominence and he is held in esteem by all who know him. Ile was born in Clark County, Ky., April 19, 1826. and is the son of Joseph E. and Mary J. (Culbertson) Broekman. His parents were natives of Kentucky, the father born June 1. 1805. and the mother March 20. 1801.
The father of our subject was educated in the district common school and remained with his par- ents until his marriage, which occurred when he was but eighteen years of age. Afterward he rented land for one year. and then removed to Howard County, Mo., where he raised one erop. In the year 1828 he came to Ray County, Mo., and bought the farm now occupied by our sub- jeet, consisting of one hundred and sixty-five aeres. The country was new, he being one of the first settlers, and his farin was heavily timbered with white oak and walnut. in which deer. turkeys and bears were plentiful. He drove hither across the country with horse teams. lli- first home was built of logs and was roofed with board- weighted with poles, while the floor was of puncheon. The children of his marriage. eight in number, were: Asa, our subject: Milton, Clifton. Harmon F .: Israel. who died in early manhood: and three who died young. He and his wife were devoted mem-
bers of the Christian Church. The principles of the Whig party were very dear to him and he was an enthusiastic follower of Henry Clay. His par- ents were Stephen and Elizabeth Brockman. natives of Virginia, who settled in Kentucky at an early day.
Being but a child when he came to the wild- erness, the educational advantages of our subject were very limited. The primitive schoolhouse in which he gained a rudimentary education wa- con- structed of logs, with a log cut out of the whole length of the side for a window. A log split in two, with sticks for uprights, answered for seats and desks. The teachers of those early days were not as thoroughly trained for their work as those of the present time, and " lickin' " went along with " larnin"." Our subject left his parents for the first time in 1819. when he went to California. making the journey with an ox-team in company with seven others. The party was on the road from April 10 to August 20, when they arrived at Sacramento. The hardships endured in the jour- ney were many, but were bravely borne. Our suh- ject began work in the Golden State by chopping wood at $8 per cord, and soon thereafter went into the mines. where he remained a few months. Later, he proceeded to the Sonoma Valley, where he worked at fencing for a large land company.
In the spring of 1850, Mr. Brockman returned to the mines and there made sometimes as much as $100 a day with the pan. In a few month- he went back to the valley and worked for $100 a month. after which he took a trip to the moun- tains as a hunter of deer and elk. In 1851 he re- turned home by way of the ocean, and upon re- suming his former occupation purchased his fa- ther's farm. Previou- to this, in 1850. his parents went with him to California, where they resided until their death. the mother passing away in Isss. and the father in 1890.
Our subject remained in the East after his re- turn in 1851. In 1852 he married Sarah F .. daugh- ter of Ballard and Nancy (Jackson) Hudgens. a native of Ray County. Mo .. her parents being na- tives of Kentucky. The children of this marriage were ten. two of whom died when young: John C. married Mary Rush: Harvey M. married Hattie
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Keller; Nancy J. is the wife of Joseph Rosell; James A. married Maud Jones; Lon Isibell is the wife of .Joseph A. Brown; Sarah A., deccased, was the wife of Luther Philips; and Asa B. married Ida Smithey. Mr. Broekman and his wife are earnest and active members of the Christian Church. In politics, he is a Democrat. voting and working with that party. In 1861 he entered the Union army, enlisting in Company E. Fifty-first Enrolled Missouri Mihtia, under Col. Barr, and was in the battle of Glasgow, where he was captured, but for- tunately remained a prisoner only a short time. Soon afterward he was paroled and discharged. Returning home, he resumed the duties connected with the management of his well-appointed farm of two hundred and eighty-seven acres. upon which he carries on general farming and stock- raising.
M ARION A. STEARNS, residing on section 8. township 57, range 21. Linn County, settled on his present farm in 1867, at which time the country was wild and un- improved and but three houses had been erected in Meadville. He is one of the leading and pro- gressive farmers of this locality, and has suc- ceeded beyond his expectations as an agriculturist.
The father of our subject Cyrus Stearns, was a native of Massachusetts. and of Scotch descent. The family date their residence in New England almost back to the days of the "Mayflower." The paternal grandparents of our subject were John and Luey Stearns, prominent people in Spring- field, Mass. Our subject's mother was in maiden- hood Miss Luey Reed, her father, Daniel Reed, be- ing a soldier in the War of 1812, and one of the first white settlers in Orleans County, N. Y .. where he made a permanent home, and attained the ripe old age of seventy-five years. He assisted in the building of the Erie Canal. and was a weal- thy farmer in Orleans County. He was a Deacon in the Baptist Church and a leading man of the community. Cyrus and Lucy ( Reed) Stearns were married in Orleans County, where they made their
home during life. The father was intellectually a fine scholar, and an orator of marked ability. lle was active in politics, and personally was generous, and a man of thoroughly upright char- acter. Of his family of seven children, but four are living: Marion A., our subject; Louisa, now Mrs. Edward True; Julia, Mrs. Hebbard; and For- dyce. One son, Sebastian, was a member of the Eighth New York Infantry, and died while in the service. The mother was a devoted member of the Baptist Church.
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