Portrait and biographical record of Clay, Ray, Carroll, Chariton, and Linn Counties, Missouri, containing biographical sketches of prominent and representative citizens, Part 57

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 57
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 57
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 57
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 57
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 57


Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).


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Asa D. Brasher is possessed of a fair education, nearly all of which was acquired by close study at home, with a limited amount of private schooling. lle was twelve years of age on coming to Missouri. and being one of the eldest of the family. like a du- tiful son be devoted his early days to assisting his


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widowed mother in managing the farm and in looking after the younger members of the family. which course he faithfully continued to porsue un- til his marriage with Miss Elizabeth Gordon, daugh- ter of Benjamin Gordon, of Kentucky, who event- ually became a farmer of Ray County, Mo., where he died. Their union was celebrated on the 1th of August, 1837. after which they immedi- ately took up their residence on a farm that Mr. Brasher had entered from the Government. and at once commenced the work of improvement. The work for many years was decidedly laborious, for a large portion of the land was covered with tim- ber, but in Mr. Brasher's vocabulary there was no such word as "fail," and his persistent efforts soon accomplished wonders. The mighty monarch of the forest was inid low by the sturdy stroke of his axe, the land was cleared and tilled. and in the place of woods and brush. now may be seen way- ing fields of grain during the summer seasons. This land was purchased with money saved while working for sy per month, and as his circumstances improved he increased his possession- and eventu- ally became the owner of over twelve hundred acres of Ray County land, a large portion of which was improved. He has given cach of his children a finely improved farm, and now in his declining years has the unbounded satisfaction of seeing them all comfortably established in life and self-supporting. He has in his possession about five hundred aeres of fine river bottom land, all of which is in one body in Orrick Township. with the exception of seventy acres lying northeast of Richmond.


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Mr. Brasher was formerly an old-line Whig in polities, but is now a supporter of Democratie prin- ciples. but by no means an aspirant for office. for the duties of his calling have fully occupied his at- tention, and the strife and turmoil of political life have no charms for him. He is President of the Citizens' Exchange Bank of Orriek. and is a large stockholder in the same. Socially he is a member of Ada Lodge No. 11. A. F. & A. M., and is a strong pillar in the Christian Church, of which his wife and mother were also mem- bers. He was called upon to mourn the death of his wife July 21. 1859. she having been an in-


valid for ten or twelve years. She became the ' mother of eight children, six of whom are living: Amanda, Mes. F. G. Ross, died in 1872. leaving one daughter: Georgie. Mrs. Benjamin F. Ralph, died in 1880. leaving que son; Mary. Mr. M. G. Taylor, was born in 1812; Benjamin. born in 1848; Laura. Mes. R. IT. MeWhorter, was born in 1859; Cornelia, Mrs. T. R. Kirkpatrick, was born : 1856: Dora L. was born in 1862, and Asa D. in 1865.


Mr. Brasher is a very active man, both physi- cally and mentally, for one of his years, and makes it a point to keep well posted on the current lop- ies of the day, believing it much better to -wear out than rust out." During the Civil War he was a Southern sympathizer but took no active part in the conflict. Ile was at one time a slave-owner and prior to the Emancipation Proclamation owned ten Africans. A short time prior to the · lose of the war his residence and all his furniture were burned. He and a brother who reside- in Cal- ifornia are the only surviving members of his par- ents' family. lle was but five years of age at the time of his father's death, and says that had it not been for the wise counsels and firm rule of hi- no- ble mother, his efforts would never have met with the success that they have.


NDREW F. OWEN, one of the prominent business men of Keytesville. is the senior member of the firm of Owen & Courtney. who control an extensive milling trade both in this and surrounding counties.


Our subject is a son of Charles J. Owen. a lead- ing citizen and stock-raiser of Harrison County. Ky. Andrew F. was born November 28. Ist3. in that county. He was reared to maturity on the farm, and received such education as could be ob- tained in the district schools. When nineteen years of age he started out to make his own way, and for two years was employed in his uncle's mill at Eminence. Ky. He next engaged in farm- ing for two years in his native State, when he re- moved to Missouri, locating on a farm which h.


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purchased four miles north of this city. His place consisted of one hundred and sixty aeres. to the cultivation of which he devoted himself until 1888. In September of that year he parchased the mill formerly owned by HInge Bartz, and in partnership with M. F. Courtney has since operated the same. Its capacity is about eighty barrels of flour a day, and though most of their trade is local, they still have considerable from the sur- rounding country.


Before leaving his native State. Mr. Owen was married in Harrison County to Miss Eva God- dard, who is the daughter of George Goddard, a prominent pioneer of that county. Their union has been blessed with seven children. who are all living: Charles: Howard, who is in St. Louis: Mat- tie, Walter. Claud, Ed and Edna. twins.


Mr. Owen is a valued member of the Christian Church, and is also connected with the Ancient Order of United Workmen, having held the office of Master Workman of Lodge No. 177. Ile uses his right of franchise in favor of the Democratic party, and is strongly in favor of Free Trade.


G EORGE P. CLEVENGER. All who were acquainted with this noble man during his lifetime will take much interest in the sketch here given, for he began life for himself without means. but by frugality and economy in early hfe acquired a competency, and at the time of his death was in good circumstances. He was born in Tennessee December 24, 1835. but in childhood was brought to Missouri by his parents, . and was reared in a new and uninhabited country after the fashion of all early -ettler- children, that is, he was compelled to assist in clearing the home farm, endured numerons privations and hardships, and had little or no educational advantages. Ilis chief mode of recreation was in hunting, for game was plentiful in these days, but aside from this his early days were very uneventful. In due course of time the effort- to clear the home farm were crowned with success, and apparently out of


the forest a farm sprang into existence, that in every respect showed the possibilities of the coun- try and what could be accomplished by persistent and determined effort. It was not in Mr. Cleven- ger's enterprising and aspiring nature to long re- main in ignorance of the world of books. and although his opportunities for attending school were few and far between, by self-application he beesme a very good scholar, sufficiently well ad- vanced, in fact, to successfully stem the current of life's battles,


On the 18th of June. 1856. Miss Sarah Me- Kisick, who was born September 15, 1838. became his wife, she being a daughter of Odel and Rachel MeKisick. the former of whom is yet living, and has attained to the advanced age of eighty-seven years. The mother has been dead a number of years. To Mr. Clevenger and his wife the follow- ing children were born: Benjamin. born December 22, 1859; Mary, October 23, 1861; Martha, No- vember 17, 1865; Samuel, April 19, 1867; Rachel. February 24, 1869; Catherine A., February 20. 1871; and William A., May 10, 1873; all of whom. with the exception of the last two. are grown and married, and settled within two miles of the old home. Catherine and William are still unmarried and at home.


After his marriage, Mr. Clevenger purchased. cleared and improved the farm of one hundred and sixty aeres on seetion 33, on which he died November 10, 1892. having only been sick twelve days, his wife at this time also lying at the point of death. Mr. Clevenger was a member of the Union army, and having been an active parti- cipant in many hard-fought battles in which the Fourth Missouri Regiment of Infantry took part. he, in after years, became a member of the Grand Army of the Republic. The time which he de- voted to tighting his country's battles amounted in all to three years and five month -. during which he distinguished himself for faithfulness to the Union cause, by bravery on the field of bat- tle, and by a rigid adherence to duty.


Personally he was universally respected and ad- mired, for he was not only a model citizen. but he was also kind and considerate in the family circle. He was a successful farmer, an accom-


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modating and generous neighbor, and an earnest Christian, who at all times endeavored to comply with the precepts of the Golden Rule. After the death of his first wife. he was married to Mrs. Naney Jane ( Whitney) MeAfee, who was born in Tennessee January 8, 1831, and bore her first hus- band four sons: John C .. James. Andrew and George W., all of whom are married and live in Ray County. Her union with Mr. Clevenger took place November 17, 1876, at which time she en- tered his home and assumed the duties of a wife to himself and a mother to his children, the two youngest of whom remember no mother save her- self. She has dealt kindly and indulgently, yet intelligently, by them, has cared for them as though they were her own, and has always mani- fested the deepest interest in their present and future welfare. Her kind and disinterested con- duet has been fully appreciated by them. they re- turn her affeetion in kind, and now in her feeble old age, loving hands supply her wants, and affec- tion and thoughtfulness surround her. She is an earnest Christian and a member of the Cumber- land Presbyterian Church, of which her husband was also a member.


b ARRIS T. GARNETT, M. D., who has largely retired from his aetive duties as a physi- cian, resides on seetion 30, township 54, range 18, where he owns a fine farm. Ilis birth occurred in Shelby County, Ky .. on the 21st of June, 1840. His grandfather, Benjamin Garnett, enlisted in the War of 1812. but on at- count of sickness procured a substitute. Two of his sons, Harris and Thomas, were killed. lle came to Kentucky from Virginia, setthing in Shelby County at a very early day in its history. His family comprised seven children, none of whom are now living.


The subject of this sketch is a son of Sewell W. Garnett, who was reared in Shelby County. Ky. I'pon reaching his majority he was married in Woodford County, that State, to Miss Ann Pep- per, whose father. Ehjah Pepper, followed the oc-


cupations of a farmer, a miller and a distiller in that county. The noted "Old Crow" whisky was first distilled by him. In his employ was a man by the name of Crow, whom they familiarly named "Old Crow," and thus the name origi- nated. After his marriage Mr. Garnett settled in Spencer County. Ky., where he engaged in farm- ing and stock-raising until 1865, when he removed to Missouri. Before the war he was a slave- holder. On coming to Missouri, he located in the central part of Chariton County, on township 51. where he purchased land on which he lived for abont three years. He afterward settled on the place in the Dalton district. When he had reached quite an advanced age he retired from his active duties and lived with his children. lle was called to his final rest in the spring of lass, his wife surviving him until December 31, 1891. They were both members of the Baptist Church. of which the father was for many years Clerk while a resident of Kentucky.


Dr. Garnett was educated in Shelbyville and Georgetown. Ky. He reecived a collegiate edu- cation, and after leaving school commenced read- ing medieine with Dr. Slaughter. of Shelbyville. Ky. Ile then went to Louisville, where he took a medieal course in the university, from which he was graduated in 1862. Hle at once went into a hospital in that eity and from there went to Jack- son, Tenn., practicing in the I'nited States Hos- pital at that point. He remained there until July, when he went to Memphis, from there going to Helena and Little Rock. A portion of the time he was in the field hospital as surgeon with Gen. Steele. In the spring of 1865 he returned to Kentucky. and in the same year came to Missouri, where he first located with his father for a year or two, after which he began practicing about six miles north of Keytesville, where he was stationed for eight years,


On November 5. 1871, was celebrated the mar- riage of the Doctor with Miss Susan E. Martin. a daughter of John Martin. a resident of Keytesville Township. Mrs. Garnett was born in Kentucky and came to Missouri about the year 1851. She departed this life in 1880. In JJanuary, 18ss. our subject and Miss Susie E. Adams were married.


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The lady is a daughter of William C. Adams, who is a farmer of Keytesville Township. Mrs. Gar- nett was born and reared in Chariton County. The result of the first marriage was one child, a son; John, who is attending the home schools and will be given a collegiate education.


Dr. Garnett, in partnership with his son. owns three hundred and thirty acres of land, which is finely improved and which yields to them a golden tribute in return for the care they bestow epon it. Hle is particularly interested in raising fine stock. He is a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church, his wife holding membership with the Cumberland Presbyterian Church. He has always cast his bal- lot in favor of the nominees of the Democratic party. The Doctor is associated with the Ancient Order of United Workmen and the Ancient Free & Accepted Masons. Ile was President of the Char- iton County Medical Society for one year. and has been a member of the Missouri Medical Society and the American Medical Association. In 1883 he attended a post-graduate course at St. Louis.


OIIN W. HYDER is an intelligent and ex. perienced journalist, whose energy, en- terprise and desire to please the public have been liberally rewarded. not only in regard to the reputation he has gained among the newspaper men of the State, but also from a finan- cial standpoint. He occupies a high position in the estimation of the public, and especially is he popular in Excelsior Springs and vicinity. Ile was born in Clay County. September 6, 1862. his father being John B. Hyder. a native of Tennes- see, who came to Missouri when only ten years of age. Upon attaining a suitable age, he chose the calling of a farmer as his life occupation, and through his own efforts, and with the aid of his industrious and economical wife. he acquired a competency. He married Miss Caroline Spearro. who was born in 1841, a very short time after her parents emigrated to this country from Germany. Twelve children were born of the union. of whom the subject of this sketch i- the elde-t. Five died


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in infancy, and the others are as follows: Lula F .. now the wife of G. W. Lord, of Excelsior spring .: Mollie, Ida M .. Tena. Henry II. and Sadie Zula.


Unfortunately the early life of John W. Hlyder was almost wholly without opportunities for ob- taining an education, and the sum total of eight months comprised his school days. This state of affairs was in a great measure owing to the fact that his services were very badly needed on the home farm, on which he spent many a day in hard work. During this period, while his mind was not being cultivated, his constitution was becom- ing strengthened by his outdoor life, and he ob- tained a useful fund of general information. Being of an ambitious disposition, he was not content with this mode of living, and many hours wasted by other boys were -perit by him in reading such books. papers and periodicals as came in his way. At the age of eighteen years he procured on ama- teur outlit of printers' type, at which time his career on the journalistic sea commenced. Ile used his father's residence as an office. and with characteristic energy commenced business at once by soliciting job work. doing all the work alone. In a short time he commenced the publication of his first literary work, a monthly journal called Glad Tidings, which was a four-page. 7xlo inch sheet. The liberal patronage he received encour- aged him to persevere in his new enterprise. and he was soon compelled to move his "plant" to more convenient and commodious quarters.


At Excelsior Springs. in 1883. Mr. Hyder com- menced the publication of a six-column weekly paper called The Sentinel of Truth, which he con- tinued until 1887. lle then discontinued it and inaugurated the Daily Phunn. a sprey. newsy and exceedingly entertaining 12x17 inch. four-column daily paper, which has met with alnost unpar- alleled success. its present circulation amounting to over five hundred copies daily. Mr. Ilyder i- one of the self-made. energetic young busines- men of Clay County. He is ever on the alert to lend a helping hand to any worthy enterprise, and to his eredit be it said that to his energy and push are due the site and endowment fund of $25,000 for the creation and support of the Christian Union College, which is to be erceted at an early das.


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Hle has been connected with the advancement of every newspaper in the city, and, in connection with Dr. Flek, is the founder of the Christian Union Herald, which is said to have the largest cir- culation of any non-sectarian weekly in the United States.


Mr. Hyder now devotes his entire time to the publication of his own papers, periodicals, literary work, etc., and is actively and Ineratively en- gaged in all kinds of book and job work. In 1889 he began writing short stories and sketches for Eastern papers, and in an incredibly short time his productions were being accepted and puh- lished by such leading papers as the Boston Globe, New Orleans Times-Democrat, Epoch, Comfort. San Francisco Wasp, West Shore and others. He has written a few serial stories, one of which, "The Fair Enchantress," has just been published in book form. He is a stanch Prohibitionist politi- cally. For a number of years he has been an ac- tive member and ardent supporter of the Chris- tian Union Church. In 1890 he was appointed a delegate to the General Council of the church held at Crawfordsville. Ind., which place he filled with ability and eredit to himself. He is suave and polite in manner. modest, unselfish, careful of the feelings of others, interesting and pleasant in conversation, approachable at all times and pre- possessing in personal appearance, IJe is looked upon as one of the rising men of the county, and a brilliant future will undoubtedly be his.


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ILLIAM O. DAVIS. Occupying a lead- ing position in the business eireles of the eity, and eminently quahtied by practical experience and native ability for the responsible position he is now lilling so admirably. William O. Davis is worthily regarded as a rising young man of affairs, who has met with success simply commensurate with the abilities he has displayed and the high principles and moral business meth- ods which have ever characterized his career. Not only does he discharge the duties of ticket


agent for the Wabash Railroad, but he is also agent for the Pacific Express Company, and operator for the Western Union Telegraph Company, in cach and all of which positions he has shown remark- able judgment and intelligence. On the 12th of March, 1869, his birth occurred in Boone County. Mo., a son of Dr. Benjamin F. and Sallie (Grave-) Davis, the former of whom was born on Christmas Day, 1826, in Boone County, where he still makes his home and is considered one of the leading medical and surgical practitioners of that locality. Ilis wife was also born and reared in Boone County. and has borne her husband three sons, of whom she has every reason to be proud, for they are intelli- gent and honorable business men and law-abiding citizens. The subject of this sketch is the eldest of the family. Jolin R., who was born May 5. 1871, is the second, and Roy E., who was born July 19, 1873, is the youngest. the latter two be- ing still at home and attending school. Both the Davises and Graves were of tine old Kentucky stock, aristocratie, intelligent and wealthy, and were well known throughout the Blue Grass Re- gion.


William O. Davis, when not devoting his atten- tion to outside affairs, was a regular attendant at the public schools, and possessing a bright and re- ceptive mind, he was considered by his instructors to be a promising pupil, and this reputation he continued to retain after entering Bryant & Strat- ton's Business College of St. Louis, for upon leav- ing that institution he was a well-posted and in- telligent young man, far better fitted than the average to start out upon the great sea of life. After leaving that institution, he devoted three and a-half years of his life to the study of teleg- raphy. and his first position was that of an "extra," but he was found so capable, reliable and energetie that he did not long retain this subor- dinate place but in a very short time was promoted to a position on the Wabash Railroad at Liberty Landing, in Clay County, where he remained nie months. At the end of this time, he was again promoted, and on the 25th of February, 1890, was given the responsible position which he is now filling. lle is giving entire satisfaction to both the railway company and its patrons and his rapid


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promotion shows that other eyes have been upon his labors and have approved of his methods. In the progress of his work, he has been so diligent that he has become well posted in its commercial and traffic business, and that such men as Mr. Davis are always in demand is a fact beyond question. In his present position. he has brought to bear comprehensive intelligence, skilled knowl- edge, aggressive energy and absolute integrity, and these worthy qualities are without doubt ap- preeiated by the proprietors of the road.


Hle las east his political influence upon the side of Democracy and earnestly advocated its prinei- ples. Ile is a member of the Christian Union Church of Orrick. and in 1891 was initiated into the mysteries of Masonry, and at present is a mem- ber of Ada Lodge No. 144, of Orrick, also of Cyrus Chapter No. 36, and of Richmond Com- mandery No. 17. He was united in marriage De- eember 21, 1892. with Miss Eunice Dean, a daugh- ter of Lewis Dean, of Pittsburgh, Kan.


AMES F. PIGG. who is farming on section 28, township 51, range 29, Ray County, was born July 1, 1830. in Casey County, Ky., and is a son of Lewis and Sarah (Me- Whorter) Pigg, a sketch of whom will be found in that of Reuben Pigg on another page of this volume. Our subject came to this county when but nine years of age and resided at home until 1819, when he and his brother George (now de- ceased) went to New Mexico in the Government service. On their return. in the spring of the fol- lowing year, they resumed the duties of clearing and improving the old homestead place. having only ox-teams to work with. The only school ad- vantages Mr. Pigg obtained were those of the sub- scription school in an old log cabin. However, he has acquired through his own efforts a practical business education, which has proved of great use to him.


In December. 1853, Mr. Pigg and Miss Eliza- beth Stanley were united in marriage. The lady is a daughter of William and Nancy Jane (Gor-


don) Stanley, of an old aristocratie Southern fam- ily. Mrs. Pigg was born in Callaway County, to which her father had moved in an early day. He was a native of Kentucky, having been born April 10. 1810, and, as Inis parents died when he was quite young, he was bound out and learned the brickmason's and plasterer's trade. When a young man he was once in the pursuit of his trade laying brick on the walls of Jeffersonville Prison. when one of the contractors unintentionally left a bottle of whisky lying on the wall in the sec- tion where Mr. Stanley was working. As he was a man who would neither touch, taste nor handle spirits, he continued his work, laying brick over and around it, where it probably remains to this day. Mr. Stanley was married, in 1839, to Mrs. Naney Jane (Gordon) Holt. By her first marriage she had two children. Twelve children. three girls and nine boys, of whom the wife of our subject i- the eldest, were born to Mr. and Mrs. Stanley. Three sons and two daughters are all who are now living of the family circle. On coming to Ray County, Mr. Stanley worked at his trade and im- proved his farm of one hundred and eighty-eight acres, a part of the same now owned by our subject. Ile was called from this life July 8, 1881, his wife surviving him until June 12, 1884.


After his marriage Mr. Pigg settled on a portion of his mother's farm, of which he soon after pur- chased eighty acres. This he improved and sold before the war. Ile afterward purchased and built on an eighty-aere tract on section 33, Orrick Township. In 1863 he removed to Missouri City. making that his home for fourteen months. Ile then operated a rented farm for one year, after which until after the war he followed various oc- cupations in Iowa and Nebraska. In 1865 he again located on his farm in Ray County, adding thereto another eighty acres. Hle later purchased the old homestead of his father-in-law. which is a beautiful farm of one hundred and eighty-eight acres, on which he now resides in a substantial residence.




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