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 54
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 54
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 54
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 54
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 54
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Mr. Bevins owns a large real-estate interest in Clay. County, Mo., consisting of three hundred and forty-six aeres in Kearney Township. aside from bis share in his father's estate. Our subject is a gentleman of tine appearance and rarely gifted in mind. He is a pleasing conversationalist, and a most practical business man, possessing great financial ability and honor. To his untiring energy and enterprising resolution the abundant success and continued prosperity of Kearney i- mainly due. Mr. and Mrs. Bevins are the parents of three children: Ruby was born October 29. 1880. and is a young and blooming girl of rare at- traetions and lovable nature, caring tenderly for her invalid mother and her little brother -. David M .. the eldest son, was born September 30. 1887: Riley S. was born August 16. 1891, and both the little sons are bright and promising children. Financially prospered, our subject is especially blessed in his home relations, and with his cultured wife enjoys the high esteem of a large cirele of life-time friends. Politieally, Mr. Bevins is a radi- eal Democrat and a lirm supporter of the party. Closely occupied in handling extensive business interests, he has never aspired to public office, but. a true American, well posted in local and national affairs, supports with vote and influence the repre- .entatives of the principles of true Democracy.
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G GEORGE MONISH. a representative agricul- turist and prominent citizen of Linn County, Mo., has been a resident of the old homestead located upon section 18, township 57. range 19, for about twenty-eight years. The line farm, all now under a high state of cultiva- tion. is managed at present by the sons, who are -necessful and extensive breeders of a superior grade of the celebrated Hereford cattle. Our sub- ject was born in Glasgow, in "bonne Scotland,"
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January 30, 1811. His parents, George and Jane (Ramsey) MeNish, were industrious, energetic and intelligent people, and. carly appreciating the ad- vantages offered by a new country. emigrated to Leeds County, Ontario, and settled near Brock- ville. The boyhood of our subject was passed upon his father's farm, where he was thoroughly trained in the regular round of agricultural duties, and grew up to manhood an enterprising and self- reliant tiller of the soil.
When twenty-three years of age. Mr. McNish began life for himself as a farmer, and finally lo- eating in the United States, made his home at tirst in Colesburgh, Delaware County, Iowa. in 1863. In 1865 he removed to Brookfield, Mo., and soon after purchased his present farm, where he con- tinnes to reside. At that time Brookfield con- tained but a few small buildings, and the land bought by our subject was in its primitive condi- tion, the unbroken prairie having never been turned by a furrow. Mr. McNish thriftily began tlie speedy improvement of his property. and as fast as his means would allow, transformed it into one of the most attractive homesteads in the sur- rounding country. The sons also own a farm in Chariton County, five miles distant, and control in all about two hundred aeres. While in Canada, our subjeet filled numerous important local offices, and as an American citizen votes the Republican ticket.
Mr. MeNish was married March 1, 1837, to Lavinia Purvis, a daughter of George Purvis, of Younge Township, Leeds County, Ontario. Mr. Purvis was of Scotch descent. and his wife. Mrs. Lydia (Comstock) Purvis, was a native of New York, but of German descent. Mr. and Mrs. Mc- Nish were blessed with a large family of ten sons and daughters, the family circle now including seventeen grandchildren and one great-grand- child. Mrs. Lavinia MeNish has a photograph of members of her family holding upon one plate five generations, including herself. The children were as follows: George P .: James _1., deceased; Lydia, Mrs. G. A. Haven; Thomas P .; Jane, Mrs. T .. F. Hunt; John; Catherine Janette. Mrs. O. J. Doane; Andrew W .: Mary 1., Mrs. C.A. Doane; Phase II., Mrs. A. W. Clements; and Andrew W ..
who married Miss Anna Hart Stanelift. The latter have four children: Florence ,J., Loren B., Ernest Alfred and Lura Alice. Andrew W. and his fam- ily reside with our subject and his wife. The McNish family are nearly all Congregationalist -. and are among the active members in the good works of that religious organization. Mr. Me- Nish has after a career of busy usefulness the hap- piness of being surrounded by descendants worthy to bear the name which he has honored by an up- right life. Always interested in local advance- ment. he has for many years materially aided in the growth of home enterprise, and has been num- bered among the substantial citizens, who can be depended upon as thoroughly reliable and trust- worthy, and. a kind friend and excellent neighbor. he enjoys the high regard and confidenee of the entire community among whom his peaceful days are passed.
II. JACOBS has for nearly ten years sue- cessfully edited and conducted one of the leading Republican newspapers of the county, the Noiborne Leader. Ile is also a dealer in real estate and is agent for several in- surance companies. Since 1883 he has made his home in Norborne. Hle is a son of II. K. and Bar- bara J. (Fetters) Jacobs, the former a native of Pennsylvania. The mother was a daughter of Philip Fetters, a native of the Keystone State. and one of the honored early pioneers of Ohio. The father of our subject built the first two-story house which was erected in Lancaster, Fairfield County. Ohio. He was of German descent.
Our subject was the second of three children and spent his boyhood in Fairfield County, attend- ing the public school of the neighborhood. When but eleven years of age he was apprenticed for seven years to learn the printer's trade. Thus his attention was carly directed toward the calling which he has since pursued.
In 1881 Mr. Jacobs wedded Miss Catherine Coates, of Caldwell County, Mo. Her father, Will-
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iam Coates, emigrated Westward from Virginia many years ago. In 1877 Mr. Jacobs first located in Missouri, remaining for about five years in Liv- ingston County. In October of 1883, as before mentioned, he became a resident of Norborne, sinee which time he has been the editor of the Norborne Leader. Politically. he uses his right of franchise in favor of the Republican party and its nominees. He is ever active and alive to the in- terests of his party and has taken a prominent part in forwarding its interests. He was Chair- man of the County Republican Central Committee for two years, and is now the Congressional Com- mitteeman from Carroll County. His paper is well conducted and ably edited and enjoys an enviable position among the Republican papers of the county and State.
RCIBALD SPENCER, a widely known and successful agriculturist of Chariton County. Mo., located upon section 4, township 56. range 18, is one of the most highly respected citizens in this portion of the State. Born in Indiana, February 9, 1837, he was but eighteen years of age when he came to Mis- souri, and, making his home in Putnam County, began life for himself. llis father was a native of New England, who, born in the State of Maine, early emigrated to the Farther West. Later in life he married Miss Susannah Flora, a native of Ohio, and a most worthy and estimable lady. The home of our subject's parents was blessed by the birth of the following children, who clustered a merry group around the hearth. Alexander, now deceased, was the eldest of the brothers and sisters. Our subject, Archibald, was the next in order of birth. Then followed Daniel; James B .: Deborah, Mrs. Frank; Orleans and George W. Two of the little ones passed away in early childhood.
Mr. Spencer received a good education in the Indiana distriet schools and, trained in industri- ous and self-reliant habits, carly began to prepare himself for the earnest work of life. Soon after
his arrival in Putnam County, he purchased a farm, and. entering energetieally into the regular routine of agricultural duties, made his home there for the succeeding seven years, when he sold out his interests in Putnam County and removed to Linn County, farming in this part of the State for six years. At the expiration of this period of time, he located in Iowa, and settling in Jasper County, there engaged in the tilling of the oil for five years; after which he returned to Missouri. in which State he has since made his constant home. In the year 1858, Mr. Spencer entered into matrimonial bonds with Miss Susannah Kaup. born in Jefferson County, Ill., February 13, 1812.
Into our subject and his wife have been born ten children. The brothers and sisters are: John R., David E., George W .; Margaret M., Mrs. Will- iam Snyder; Juniatta, Mrs. M. T. Oldman: Frank. and William A. Three children died in infiney.
The sons and daughters are all occupying posi- tions of usefulness and influence and are social favorites with a large circle of friends. The father of Mrs. Spencer was David Kaup, born in Penn- sylvania in 1807. Ile married Miss Margaret Baum, a native of Pennsylvania, and born in the Quaker State, in Chester County, in 1812. Mr. and Mrs. David Kaup were the parents of ten children. The eldest son in the house was a half-brother of the other sons and daughters. John B. was his name. Daniel B. was the eldest son of the second marriage. Then came in order of birth, James P .: Sarah J., Mrs. A. Good; Susannah, Mrs. Spencer: Louis, Mrs. Jesse Hurlbut; Margaret C., Mrs. Eli Johnson; Rachel E., deceased; Harriet A., deceased: George W .; and Mary S., Mrs. Henry Heron. Our subject served with fidelity in the State Militia during the Civil War, remaining in active duty through the years 1862, '63, '64, and in common with his friends and neighbors experienced many privations and dangers in those troublous times of our national existence.
In August, 186t, Mr. Spencer had a narrow es- cape from a sudden and terrible death. He was bitten by a rattle-snake and has never fully re- covered from the effect of the bite. Ilis health has been materially affected, any sudden excite- ment enusing him to faint away. That he may in
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time outlive this physical suffering and weakness is the hope of his many true friends. Our subject has never been a politican but he is a strong Re- publican and an earnest advocate of the principles and platform of the good old party. Mr. Spencer has ever been interested in local progress and ad- vancement and has elo-ely identified himself in the social and benevolent enterprises of his home neighborhood, and, a kind friend and good neigh- bor, has many times lent a helping hand to those less fortunate than himself. Our subject has not amassed wealth, but the eighty-two acres of his highly improved farm yield him an excellent in- come, and as a precious legacy to his children he will leave behind him the unblemished record of a spotless life of integrity and honor.
AMES GUTHRIDGE. Among the leading men of Chariton County and its most ex- tensive land-owners ranks he whose name heads this sketch. He has long been iden- tilied with the history and progress of the county of which he has been a resident since 1831. Ile makes his home on section 5, township 54, range 18, where he has a valuable farm.
Mr. Guthridge was born March 1, 1813, in Fauquier County, Va. His father, Reuben Guth- ridge, died when he was very young. Of his fam- ily of eight children. our subjeet is the youngest. and the death of his mother occurring when he was ten years of age, he lived with his brothers until 1830. Four of these, John. Elijah. Elias and Will- iam, emigrated to Missouri in the early '30s. Elias located in Keytesville, where our subjeet shortly joined him. The former was employed in the store of Mr. Keyte after whom the town was named. James Guthridge commenced carrying the mail from Keytesville to Old Chariton, which was the first line for the transportation of postal matter in this county. At the end of a year he went with his brother Elias to a point on the river where for a year they were engaged in cutting cord wood for Mr. Keyte. A short time previous
to this the brother John had settled in this portion of the county and with him our subjeet lived for a year. When he attained his majority he entered the employ of Mr. Anderson, of Keytesville. in his saw and grist mill. Then he removed to Howard County, where he was overseer on a plantation for four years, for one year of which time he also worked in a factory.
Returning to Keytesville Mr. Guthridge engaged iu teaming for Mr. Pollard for some six or seven months, after which, in 1837, he went with Judge Applegate to make a survey of land in Mercer County. They were gone about six months and on his return his employer gave him a team and wagon, thus enabling him to make a start in busi- ness. From that time forward his success was assured, for he received all the work that he could do, for which he obtained as high as 84 per day. The following fall the Mormon War broke out and he was pressed into the service, continuing for about forty days. When he returned he again went to teaming and about that time hanled two loads of goods for Judge Applegate all the way from St. Louis. At the end of two years he pur- chased some land and also entered eighty acres froin the United States Government. For seven years, in company with his brother William. he en- gaged in improving and enitivating the land, af- ter which he entered more land from the Govern- ment on Elk Creek, where he hved for three years. Next going to Salt Creek, where he had previously purchased a farm, he devoted himself to its improvement for about a year. then trading off his place on Elk Creek for a sawmill on Mus- ele Fork Creek. This he operated for about two years. In 1852, he built a saw and grist mill. which were known as Guthridge's Mills. These he oper- ated until the spring of 1861, when he sold them. but was obliged to take them back again on account of failure on the part of the purchaser to meet his obligation. In 1880 he sold the mills to a man who operated them about two years, after which he was obliged to again resume possession of the property for the same reason as he had previously done, since which time he has operated them him- self.
In April, 1863, Mr. Guthridge and Mrs. Ann
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Stephens were married. Her father was William Morgan, of Chariton County. By her former mar- riage Mis. Gnthridge had six children, five of whom are yet living. They are Charles R., who is engaged in farming on eighty acres which was given to him by our subject; lames W., a farmer of Muscle Fork Township; Benjamin who runs the sawmill; Missouri, who married John Bushnell. a farmer of Keytesville Township; and Louisiana who is the wife of William Hicks, who has charge of the Guthridge Mills. Mrs. Guthridge was called to the home beyond December 22, 1891. Mr. and Mrs. Guthridge had two children, Wilford R., who is running a store at Guthridge Mills, and Chap who runs a sawmill in this county.
Besides having given his children considerable land Mr. Guthridge still owns about fifteen hun- dred aeres in this county. Although he was a slave-owner, he was opposed to slavery and was about to release his slaves when the war broke out. Politically, he is a Democrat and socially. is a mem- ber of Chariton Lodge No. 513. A. F. & A. M. of which he was one of the charter members and at one time its Treasurer. He erceted the building in which the lodge is situated. Ile has surmounted all obstacles in his pathway by his sturdy determi- nation to succeed. Ile was not given good educa- tional advantages, but has become well posted on the leading questions of the day and is a man of wide experience.
G EORGE M. DEWEY, M. D., who has a large practice in Keytesville, is a member of the State Medical Society, Chariton County Medieal Society and the National Association of Railway Surgeons. For about ten years he has been Railway Surgeon for the Wabash Railroad, and for many years has been prominent among his medical brethren. In 1888 he was elected Coroner, in which capacity he served for four years.
The Doctor was born in Erie County, N. Y., June 15. 1820. His father, Truman Dewey, was
a native of Stockbridge, Mass .. his birth having occurred in 1786. He participated in the War of 1812, in which he did valiant service. In his na- tive State he followed the occupation of a cloth- fuller. The mother of our subjeet was before her marriage Miss Lois Talman. She was also a native of Stockbridge, born in 1781. With hi- wife and two children. Truman Dewey removed in 1817 to New York, settling in Erie County. where he engaged in agricultural pursuits until his death in 1853. Ilis wife survived him several years, being called to her final rest in 1861.
Our subjeet was reared and educated in Erie County, N. Y., and became a resident of Missouri in 1842. With Dr. Crews, of Howard County. Mo., he commenced the study of medicine, after- ward going to Philadelphia, where he entered Jefferson Medieal College, from which institution he was graduated in 1853. He at once returned to this State, where he has since been actively en- gaged in the practice of his profession. For sev- eral years previous to this time he had practiced more or less.
In 1848 Dr. Dewey and Miss Martha Ewing were joined in matrimony. The lady is the daugh- ter of Nathaniel Ewing, who was one of the early settlers in Missouri, where he arrived in 1838. Hle was a leading farmer for many years in Chariton County. To the Doctor and his estimable wife have been born five children. who are as follows: Ilelen, who is the wife of Andrew Mackay, a well- known lawyer of St. Louis; Truman, a practicing physician in this State: Ellie, who lives in St. Louis; Kate, who resides with her parents; and George M., Jr., who carries on a hardware busi- ness in Keytesville.
Dr. Dewey is a member of the Ancient Free & Accepted Masons, being one of the very oldest Masons in the county. Politically. he is a Dem- ocrat, and during the late war was in sympathy with the Union cause. At the last convention of the National Railway Surgeons' Association at Old Point Comfort, Va., the Doctor was in attend- ance and reported a very enjoyable and instruc- tive gathering. Ile is a member, and has been President of. the Moberly District Medical Society. and was President of the Chariton County Med-
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ieal Society, being now President of the Junior Board. Our subject is President of the Pension Board of Chariton County. To his many other talents, the Doctor adds the happy one of being able to write poetry.
A. McCHESNEY, A. M., M. D. As a spe- cialist in the treatment of eye and ear diseases, Dr. MeChesney has gained an en- viable reputation, not only in Brookfield. where he resides, but also through this part of the State. Ile is now in the prime of his useful life. having been born April 18. 1860, and Troy. N. Y .. was the place of his birth. His father was a mer- chant of Troy and the family still make their home in that place. Until he was thirteen years of age, . our subject remained an inmate of his father's home and was a pupil in the public schools of Troy, from which he was graduated. He is also a graduate of Ripley (Vt.) College. Having resolved to devote his life to the medical profession, he commenced his studies at the age of eighteen un- der the preceptorship of Dr. C. A. Winship, of Eagle Mills. He was graduated from Amherst College, where he received the degree of Master of Arts, in the Class of '79, after which he took a course of lectures at Albany Medical College. In 1881, he completed the course at the Philadelphia Homeopathic College, having spent his time prin- cipally in hospital work.
Qualified for the profession of his choice. Dr. Me- Chesney first entered upon its practice as surgeon for the Fremont, Elkhorn & Missouri Valley Rail- road, which position he filled for several months, and later followed his profession in the Black Hills. Although his medical education had been a good one, he was not satisfied with it, and. ambitious to attain a high place in the profession. he resumed his studies, this time spending one year in the medical department of the lowa State I'niversity. He had always felt unusually interested in dis- cases of the eye and ear, and wishing to make a
specialty of their treatment he went to Australia. where for twelve months he remained at the Mel- bourne Eye and Ear Infirmary, after which he re- turned to the United States and took a course of lectures in the Homeopathie College of Missouri at St Louis.
Putsning the same special line, Dr. McChesney entered the Infirmary at Chicago. Afterward. in Ocioles, 1882, he opened an office at Trenton. Mo., and there remained until the early part of 1822, when he located in Brookfield. He was mar- ried June 3, 1892. at St. Joseph, Mo .. to Miss Lillie M. Coykendal. of Waverly. lowa, a graduate of the Eclectie Business College of St. Joseph. Mo. Dr. MeChesney has built up an extensive practice. and in the spring of 1893 will be at the head of the largest sanitarium in the West. The excep- tional advantages he has enjoyed. the skill he displays, and the many cures he has effected. have gained for him a public confidence that rarely comes until after long years.
AMES R. EATON, A. B., A. M .. Pu. D., Pro- fessor of Natural Seiences in William Jewell College, was born at Hamilton. Madison County. N. Y .. December 11. 1834. He isa son of Rev. Dr. George W. Eaton, of whom an ex- tended notice is presented in this connection. Dr. James R. Eaton received hi- general education at the Madison University of New York, from which he graduated in 1856 with the degree of Bachelor of Arts. Immediately following his graduation from Madison University he entered Hamilton Theological Seminary of the Baptist Church. in which he continued as a student for a period of two years, graduating in 1858 with the degree of Master of Arts. Well recommended for ripe scholarship and for the natural characteristics necessary to a useful and successful career as an educator, Prof. Eaton was tendered in 1858 the Chair of Adjunet-Professor of Mathematics and Natural Sciences in the I'nion University at Mur- freesboro. Tenn .. which he accepted. De tilled
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that position and discharged the duties which it imposed with ability and eminent satisfaction to all concerned for two years.
Prof. Eaton was then offered and accepted the professorship of Ancient Languages in Bethel Col- lege, of Russellville, Ky. The events of the war, however, soon unsettled affairs in Kentucky so much as to suspend the college in 1861, and he left the State. Returning to New York. he soon af- terward received the appointment of superinten- dent of the advertising department and of the foreign mail delivery in the post-office of the City of New York. He continued at the head of that department in the New York City post-ollice until the close of the war. However, he found official life in the civil service of the Government by no means as congenial as the profession of teaching, and in 1866 he accepted the Chair of Natural Sciences in the University of Louisville, Ky. He continued there for three years, or until he came to Liberty in 1869 to enter upon the duties of Professor of Natural Sciences and Nat- - ural Theology in William Jewell College, a posi- tion to which he had been called by the Board of Trustees of this institution. He has occupied that position continuously from that time to the pres- ent, a period of twenty-four years. In 1876 his Alma Mater, Madison University of New York, honored him with the degree of Doctor of Philos- ophy.
The promise early given of a successful and use- ful carcer for Dr. Eaton as an educator has been fulfilled to an eminent degree. With him, teach- ing is a labor of love. the source of his greatest pleasure outside of his family and his church; and he has devoted his life and energies to it with that singleness of purpose which stamps him a man of great nobility of character, and one fitted for the delieate and responsible duties of an educator -the mental and moral elevation of those com- mitted to his charge- not less by the native qual- ities of his head and heart than by his superior at- tainments as a scholar. For ten years he was President of the Board of Education of William Jewell College, and until he resigned the posi- tion. His resignation was accepted with great re- luetance.
Dr. Eaton is also active and prominent in the Baptist Church and his services have been of great value to his denomination at Liberty, and to the cause of religion. Though a scientist of profound learning and great ability and a devoted believer in the great principles established by scientific re- search, unlike many of greater pretensions but of unquestionably less depth of thought and thor- ougliess of investigation. he has never found anything to shake his faith in the Word of God, the doctrine of faith in Christ as contained in the Holy Scriptures. On the contrary, he has ever found seience an unerring witness for religion, the faithful handmaid of religious truth. Much of his leisure from his regular duties Dr. Eaton has devoted to general reading, and in the course of his studies of a general character he has collected an unusually large and valuable library, probably the best general library in this part of the State outside of the large cities. He has about fifteen hundred volumes, all works of solid merit, and most of them standard authors on the subjects of which they treat. In 1885 Dr. Eaton was elected a Fellow of the American Association for the Ad- vancement of Science. He is also a member of the Phi Beta Kappa Society.
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