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 72
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 72
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 72
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 72
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 72
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In the usual fashion of the farmer lads of those days the boyhood of Reuben Pigg was passed, and as he was the eldest child much care and labor fell upon his young shoulders after his father's death. With the exception of a short time spent in the subscription schools he is entirely self-educated. In addition to carrying on and improving the homestead he is still running the little blacksmith shop on the corner which his father started over half a century ago. Mr. Pigg still wiekls his ham- mer with the skill and vigor of a man many years his junior.
At the age of thirty-five years Mr. Pigg married Miss Susan Writesman, of Clay County. Her fa- ther, Peter Writesman, settled in Clay County at an early day, and was a successful farmer. Eight children graced the union of our worthy sub- ject and his estimable wife, but three of whom survive, namely: William L., who married Miss Maggie Kirkpatrick, of Ray County, resides on the old homestead; George Harvey, whose wife was formerly Miss Dora Brasher. of this county. is now living near Albany; Charles, who is the youngest of the family, married Miss Amanda Ross, of Orrick, and resides on a farm.
During the war Mr. Pigg was loyal to the I'nion, and says of those troublous days. "I have
William Elenford
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seen my fences lined with MeClelland's men, who have helped themselves to whatever they could find, and my family were obliged to take what they graciously left." He takes great delight in relating his pioneer experience and adventures winle hunting and fishing, being yet very fond of the latter sport. He is uncommonly active and vigorous for one of his years, and is an uncom- promising Democrat.
The homestead farm comprises two hundred and twenty acres of tine arable land, which has been transformed by his own industry and hard labor from a dense wilderness. He is a thrifty farmer, and his fine residence is surrounded with a beauti- ful shady lawn overlooking the Missouri River. Hle is especially interested in raising fine stock. and is progressive in his ideas of agriculture.
Both Mr. and Mrs. Pigg are esteemed members and active workers in the Christian Church. They have seven grandchildren, who are their delight, and of whom they are justly proud.
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ON. WILLIAM HERYFORD. The gentle- man of whom this sketch is written is a member of an old family of this country and England. The title of nobility of the family in England, of which the American Hery- fords are a branch, dates back to the reign of Edward VI. during which time, in 1550, Viscount Heryford received a patent from the King. The family, however, had been a distinguished one long before that time. The American branch of the family was founded by a colonist cavalier who came to Virginia in the time of Oliver Cromwell. and from him descended the grandfather of our subject. In this country the name is written Hery- ford, although in England it is Hereford.
Our subjeet was born in Salisbury Township. Chariton County, Mo., April 11. 1818, and with- out doubt is the oldest native settler of the county. His grandfather was a gallant Revolutionary sol- dier under Washington, afterward became a farmer and died in Virginia, His wife was a French lady
of distinction. The father was a farmer of Vir- ginia, where he became a soldier in the War of 1812 under Gen. Jackson and also in the Black Hawk War. Both terms of service would have en- titled him to giants of land, but he would not take them, saying that he had served through pa- triotism. Ile took part in the battles of Muek- fangh, Horseshoe and Talladagua, and after the war he removed into Kentucky. In 1816. his wife, who had been a Mrs. Brown, passed away. Later, he came to Illinois with a team and wagon, and in this State he married a second time.
After his marriage. Mr. Heryford removed to Missouri, in the year 1817, and located first in Iloward and then in Chariton County, three miles west of where the city of Salisbury now stands. The land was all prairie and woods at that time, and he was one of the first settlers in his locality. He engaged in farming and ran a cotton gin, had a mill operated by horse power and also a distillery. Mr. Heryford did the largest business of any citizen in the county. and every one in need came to him for help. In 1831. he was the only man in the county who had any seed corn. Ile had three hundred barrels, and men came from Randolph. Howard, Boone, Ray and Carroll Counties for some. Hlad he charged high prices he would have become wealthy, but his un- varying price was twenty-five cents, nor would he sell to one person more than was needed to plant.
In his early days Mr. Heryford was Captain of a company of minute-men which he organized to protect the settlers from the Indians. Personally. however, he experienced no trouble with them; he was familiar with their language and had gained their friendship. In the Black Hawk War he was Lieutenant of a company from this county He died on his farm at the age of eighty-three. For many years he had been a Dencon in the Baptist Church. His politics were Democratic and very strongly adhered to. Per- sonally, he was a large, stout man, and posessed a vigorous constitution. The mother of our subject. Elizabeth Vincient. was born in Kentucky. a tela- tive of the Carlin family of Illinois, where she was reared. Her death occurred in 18ts. By his first marriage, Mr. Heryford had eleven children.
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of whom only two are now living. By the second marriage he had seven children, one boy and six girls, only three of whom are living.
Our subject was the oldest of these seven chil- dren and was reared on a farm. Indians being numerous. he became well acquainted with them and learned the languages of the Sioux and Iowas and slept in White Cloud's camp many times. When a boy he used to go out as an interpreter for the traders. He remained under his father's care until fourteen years of age, assisting in the care of the mill, the gin and the distillery. and studying for a time in a log schoolhouse. At the age of fourteen he engaged as a clerk in Keytesville, at $100 per year, and there he remained for a period of one year. Ile then was sent to Brunswick to start. a branch store for his employers at a salary of $300. Of this he made a success and earned 81,- 000 in that place for his employers. with whom he remained as clerk at Keytesville until 1838. Atthat time he went south to take a steamboat, but was disappointed in the undertaking. Ile then came to Illinois to visit relatives.
In the fall of 1838, Mr. Heryford went to Thorn- tonsburg, Mo., to clerk for John Mulligan, a merchant, whom he assisted to conduct his store. lle then entered the store of Carson & Co .. and remained in that connection until the fall of 1843, when, in partnership with Mr. Carroll, he opened a general mercantile business in Thorntonsville, under the firm name of Carroll and Heryford. Twelve months later this firm became Heryford & Adams. However, as Mr. Heryford preferred agri- cultural life. he soon closed out his business and bought a farm of five hundred acres, which he cleared and improved and devoted to the raising of tobacco and hemp. He saw the war coming on and wisely wanted to lix himself in a safe position if the Confederates lost. In 1859, he began ship- ping tobacco to Europe, con-igning it to Liver- pool, London. Antwerp. Bremen and Stockholm. Ile bought and shipped leaf tobacco in hog-heads and continued business on an extensive -cale un- til 1861. At that time public affairs were in such a disturbed condition that our subject discontinued his business for one year. then entered it again and continued it until 1881, He raised the finest
leaf tobacco in the I'nited States, and was the largest shipper in the county, having shipped as high as one and one-half million pounds a year. At the breaking out of the war he owned forty-nine slaves, included in twelve families, and all of these were comfortably domiciled in brick cottages. For these slaves he was offered $35.000, but he would not sell for any price, as he considered the consti- tution of Missouri would pay for them. In 1864. at the battle of Glasgow. the warehouse where he had one hundred thousand pounds of tobacco stored was burned down. entailing a loss of $20.000.
In 1861, our subjeet was offered a position on Gen. Price's staff, but would not accept, as he said. "I could never fight underany flag but the old one under which both my father and grandfather fought." In 1864, his position was made so un- comfortable that he found it wiser to remove with his wife and children to Carrollton. Ill .. and soon afterward his farm house was burned. Hle re- mained in Carrollton ten months, engaged in the grocery business, and established a very good trade. In 1865, he returned to his home in Mis- souri. where he had twelve hundred acres. This is now the best farm in the county and the largest estate in one body. His improvements here are very good and include a large frame house erected at a cost of $6,000. Since the war he has con- tinued farming and raising tobacco. He also breeds Southdown sheep, Hereford. Shorthorn and Polled Angus cattle. which latter he considers the best. For eight years he has been correspondent of the Agricultural Department at Washington from Chariton County.
Mr. Heryford was married in this county, in 1810, to Miss Rebecca Bentley, a native of Chariton County, who died March 8, 1818. September 26. 1811, he married Miss Elizabeth Bentley. a sister of his first wife. She died September IS. 1871. leaving five children, namely: Covey and Bentley. who are on the home farm; Emina. Mr -. Dortel, a resident of Glasgow ; Nellie and William, at home. The fourth marriage of our subject took place in this county, and united him with Mrs. Elizabeth Hayes, a daughter of Presley Halley, of Howard County. where she was born. Her father was born in Madison County, Ky .. and her grand-
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father, Frank. was a farmer there. The family is of French descent. Mr. Halley came to Mis- souri in 1825, and located in Howard County. where he became an extensive and successful farmer. The mother. Ann Thomas, was born in Maryland. and was the daughter of Anthony Thomas, who settled in Missouri in 1818. Mrs. Ileryford is a graduate of the Woman's Medical College of Philadelphia, and has practiced ever since completing her studies in 1868. She was the first lady-graduate south of the Mason and Dixon line.
Our subject has been a prominent member of the School Board in Chariton Township. In 1854 he was nominated and eleeted on the Democratic ticket for the State Legislature, when he served one term and during the extra session. In 1880 he was again elected, and served one term and an extra session. As Chairman of -everal committees, he rendered efficient service and ably represented his constituents. In 1888-89 he again served for one term and an extra session, and had the distinction of being the oldest member of the Assembly. He is justly proud of his record in the Legislature, as he succeeded in introducing and securing the pas- sage of some very important measures. These bills are on the statute books, and are among the most important passed while he was a member. During his last term he was Chairman of the Committee on Agriculture, a member of the Township Organization Committee and the Com- merce Committee. Ile has always been a Demo- erat, and has served as delegate to county, State and congressional conventions, and for years has been a member of the County Democratic Com- mittee. The Baptist Church has in him a faithful member. Socially he is identified with the Ma- sonie fraternity.
Our subject is a man of whom the county may be proud, and a State composed of such men would be a commonwealth such as has adorned no age or country. A> a Legislator none stood higher or had more influence. If each child in the State who received benefit from the Swamp Land Funds (which bill he framed and worked through) would contribute a nickel, the amount flits secured would be sufficient to erect a monu-
ment to his memory as tall, if not taller, than the one erected to the Father of his Country at Wash- ington, D. C. In 1819 Mr. Heryford made the California trip, going overland with the vast army of emigrants then seeking fortimes in the Far West, and engaged in mining in California for about a year. Ile is a very pleasant, genial. gen- erous and public-spirited man. In 1890 he lo- eated in the city of Salisbury, and there he now resides, unharassed by the cares of an active busi- ness life.
AMIES WILLIAMS, a retired agriculturist, for more than two score-years numbered among the successful farmers of Clay County Mo .. has ever been closely identified with the best interests of his neighborhood, and is widely known as a man of ability and sterling in- tegrity of character. Mr. Williams was born in Bourbon County, near Paris, Ky. His parents, James and Elizabeth ( Wright) Williams, were na- tives of Bourbon County, and were born respect- ively in 1797 and 1798, April 11. The paternal grandparents were Benjamin F. and Araminta (Mathena) Williams.
Grandfather Williams was born and reared in Baltimore, Md., and served bravely in the Revo- lutionary War. His wife was also a native of Mary- land. The paternal great-grandfather was a na- tive of England, and emigrating to America before the colonists engaged in the struggles for inde- pendence. located in Maryland. and became the owner of one hundred and sixty acres where Balti- more now stands. John Williams reared but two children, John and B. F. The last-named enjoyed but very limited advantages for an education, be- ing but seventeen years of age when he fought for God and liberty in the conflict of 1876. Ile also served as Captain of a pack train, furnishing pro- visions for the sokhers in the War of 1812.
Grandfather Williams married in Maryland, and at once made his home in Kentucky. locating in a very early day in Bourbon County, where, sur- rounded by the Indians. he energetically engaged
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in the peaceful pursuit of agriculture. Later in life he removed to Ohio, and died in Highland County, at the advanced age of ninety-eight years. Ilis four children were. James, the father of our subject; Ehot; Mary; and Nancy, the wife of Joel Elkslure. James William-, Sr., received only a rudimentary education, having little or no oppor- tunities for instruction. but grew to manhood self- reliant and intelligent, and at eighteen years of age enlisted in the War of 1812. He gave a year of faithful service, and was at Ft. Maulden when peace was declared. Returning home, he learned the carpenter's trade, and after a comparatively brief apprenticeship, started in life for himself, and for a number of years engaged in business as a car- penter and builder.
In 1836, James Williams purchased a farm in Bourbon County, and made his home there until his death. He had in early life married the daugh- ter of Robert Wright, and unto him and his esti- mable wife were born seven children: Julia, de- ceased, the wife of John T. Purdy: John. deceased; Martha, deceased. the second wife of John T. Purdy; James, our subject; William; Horace, de- eeased; Susan, Mrs. William Hamilton; and Eliza- beth, who married William Sconce. The father of our subject was a resolute and enterprising citi- zen, and took an active interest in polities, being in early manhood a Whig. After an honored life he passed away in 1864. His wife, who survived him many years, lived to be ninety-two years of age.
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Our subject attended the district schools of his boyhood home, and when twenty years of age was apprenticed to a carpenter, and after acquiring the trade followed the occupation of a builder in Ken- tucky for eight years. In 1851. he came to Platte County. Mo., and for one year lived upon a rented farm. Ile then came to Clay County, and bought one hundred and twenty acres of mostly un- improved land. to which he has added until he now owns in his present farm two hundred acres, nearly all of which are under a high state of cultivation. In 1851. Mr. Williams was married. in Kentucky, to Miss Docia C. Judy, a daughter of Alexander and Susan ( Bradley) Judy. all na- tives of Kentucky.
Soon after marriage, our subject and his wife made their home in Missouri, and here were blessed by the birth of six children: John T .; Julia. Mrs. Robert Lillie, formerly a resident of Clay County, but now deceased; Daniel W .; Elizabeth. Mrs. Perry Bogges, deceased; James, deceased: and Mary F., wife of Samuel J. Brooks. The faith- ful companion of his joys and sorrows passed away in 1865. Mr. Williams has never married again. but continued to remain upon the old farm until 1892, when he went to the home of his daughters. Mrs. Brooks. Politieally, our subjeet has been a lifetime Democrat, and an earnest advocate of the principles of that party. Devoting himself un- weariedly to the intelligent cultivation of the soil. and achieving sneeess as a stock-raiser. he has made his upward way, and enjoys the confidence and esteem of a large circle of old-time friends.
EVI M. METTLER, our subject, is a man of great energy. whose success in life proves that a clear head and determined purpose will win. lle is proprietor of the Brookfield Iron Works, which he removed to this city November 21, 1891. from Carrollton. Mo., at which place he had started in business in 1879, a stranger to everyone and with a family of seven dependent upon him. Yet with but eighty-live cents in money, a kit of tools and a brave heart he opened a shop. Soon be attracted business by his superior work; and by close ap- plication and rare skill he rapidly established a large trade. Other shops coming in about him. and the superior advantages of Brookfield being proved to him. it being in need of a foundry. he. as stated, came to this city.
Mr. Mettler has about $10,000 invested in his plant, with a building 91x20 feet in dimensions. and two stories high, with an addition 30x65 feet. one story high. He makes a specialty of house fronts, window-guard grating, the post-, window weights, bridges and east washer-, sugar kettle -. farm bells. dog irons, rub irons, iron fencing. grate bars and all kinds of iron and brass castings. Our subject was born in New Jersey in 1850 and
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as early as the age of thirteen evinced a decided talent for mechanics, to which he gave full rein and acquired a thorough knowledge of the iron worker's and machinist's trade. After attaming his manhood he filled the important position of superintendent of brass works for seven hundred miles of the Lake Shore & Michigan Southern Railroad. At Carrollton he was chief of the fire department and that city owes to him the fine sys- tem of water works it possesses. It was he who stimulated the Missouri Firemen's Association, and but for him it is doubtful if it had ever had an existence. So publie spirited, active and energetie is he that he is known far and wide as the North Missouri Boomer."
Mr. Mettler served for eight years as chief of the Carrollton fire department, for which he did not receive one penny of compensation, and he brought it up into the most efficient service of any in the State. lle is now Vice-president of the State Association of Firemen, and is connected with the fire department of Brookfield. Mr. Met- tler was with the Lake Shore road three years and seven months. Ile went to Hannibal, Mo., from Adrian, Mich., and first located in business for himself at Carrollton. At the early age of twenty he was a locomotive engineer upon the Bellefon- taine road and continued an engineer for several years; and it can be truthfully said of him that he always hield the confidence and esteem of his em- ployers, in whatever capacity he served. Ilis busi- ness at Brookfield is steadily growing, eight men being in his employ. He is a whole-souled, hon- est, good fellow. and has the happy faculty of making friends and holding trade.
F. NELSON. M. D., who received the de- gree of Doctor of Medicine from two noted institutions of learning. is a prominent agriculturist and stock-raiser. and also a leading and influential business man of Gallatin Town-hip. Clay County. Ihs tine farm is located in town- ship 50, range 32, and is adjacent to the flourish- ing town of Birmingham, The parents of our sub-
jeet were Henry and Catherine ( Ingram) Nelson. who were the father and mother of three children: Mary, the wife of B. F. S. Gordon. a well-known and highly respected farmer and stock-raiser of Liberty: Lelia, who lives in Maryville, this State; and W. F., our subject. Ilis paternal grandfather. Witham Nelson, was a large land-holder in Ireland, and was a man of ability and superior attainments.
Henry Nelson, the father of our subject, was born in County Derry. Ireland. in the year 1819, and re- ceived an excellent education in Glasgow I'niver- sity. Scotland, from which he graduated with honor and with the degree of M. D. Ile was a man of prominence in the Queen's dominions, finely edu- cated and energetic, and having inherited the self- reliant attributes of his forefathers, he early recog- nized the value of our Republican institutions. and decided to emigrate to America. Crossing the Atlantic, he first settled in Virginia. where he became the owner of a large amount of land, and was there interested in oil. In 1865 he came to this State, locating in Clay County, where he owned nine hundred and seven acres of arable land, which he de- voted to the use of general agriculture and stock- raising. In his political affiliations he was a Den- ocrat. He was a born leader, possessed of muehl native wit and eloquence. and for thirty successive years held the honored position of Judge.
Fraternally, Henry Nelson was a Freemason of the Royal Arch degree and was prominent in the councils of the society. Ile and his wife. Catherine (Ingram) Nelson. were active members of the Methodist Episcopal Church and ever foremost in the promotion of its good works. Mrs. Nelson was born in 1813, and is now residing at Mary- ville, Nodaway County. Mo., but her husband passed away in St. Louis in 1869, after a career of usefulness which commanded the respect of all who knew him.
In the town of Ripley. W. Va., Dr. W. F. Nelson. whose name heads this sketch. was born in 1849. lle received a thorough education, studying at spauld- ing's College. in Kansas City and graduating from a Kentucky University, afterward completing the study of his profession in the University of st. Louis. The highly improved farm of our subject contains three hundred and eighty-nine acres. and
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beside its cultivation he is interested in merchan- dise at Paradise, Clay County, and is also the owner of a flour and saw mill. In addition to his other accomplishment- the Doctor has also acquired the profe -- ion of a locomotive engineer.
In 1870 Dr. Nelson was united in marriage with Miss Eliza A. Foley, of Platte County, one of a family of nine children and a daughter of James and R. A. Foley. The father was a Baptist preacher and a man of undoubted ability and up- right character. The pleasant home of our subject and his estimable wife has been blessed with four children, three of whom are dead. The surviv- ing son, Benjamin, was born in the year 1873 and lives under the parental roof. The residence of Mr. and Mrs. Nelson is in Liberty, and their hos- pitable home is always open to their large cirele of friends. Our subject is connected with the Inde- pendent Order of Odd Fellows. is a member of the Grand Lodge of Missouri, and has filled the various Chairs of the lodge. Politically, he has always been a pronounced Democrat and is greatly inter- ested in the outcome of local and national issues. Busily engaged in the duties of his various enter- prises, Mr. Nelson yet finds time to assist in the advancement of the leading and progressive move- ments of the State and county and is known far and wide as a public-spirited citizen.
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G EORGE ALLEN SWITZER. One of the most prominent and successful farmers and stock-raisers in Ray County is the gentle- man whose name is given above. He is a native . of this county, and was born on the 2d of March, 1818. He is a son of John and Betsey E. (Alexander) Switzer, the former born in Ohio in the year 1806. The paternal grandfather of our subject emigrated from Germany to the United States and located in Ohio at an early day. - There his decease took place. John Switzer is the only surviving member of a family of six. He was reared on a farm in Ohio, and at an early age became familiar with the duties of pioncer life.
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lle came to Missouri in 1810, bringing hither his wife and three sons in a wagon.
The Switzer family located in Grape Grove Township, near Millville, and there John Switzer entered a tract of one hundred and sixty acres of Government land. The feet of but few white men had as yet trodden the forest of this locality when the family located here, but there were deer and wild hog- and wolves in large numbers. Their first home was a log cabin with three rooms. which stood in the midst of a heavily-timbered tract of land. Mr. Switzer and his sons were fond of hunting, and many of the denizens of the forest fell victims to their rifles. He cleared and improved his farm, and then moved farther north and purchased a farm on the northern line of the county, where our subject now lives. In 1849. when the gold excitement was at its height. his three elde-t sons started for the Pacific Coast. crossing the plains with an ox-team. The young- est, Jackson, was crippled there in a mine. The second remained in California for twenty-one years and was a successful miner. Ile finally re- turned to his old home, but died soon afterward. The eldest brother is now a leading business man in San Francisco, having been a very successful merchant.
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