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 73
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 73
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 73
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 73
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 73
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The remainder of the Switzer family remained intact. Mr. Switzer. Sr., was twice married. his first wife having been Betsey E. Alexander, of Ohio. She died at the age of eighty-four years. having been the mother of ten children, seven' of whom lived to be grown. The father's second marriage has occurred quite recently. The orig- inal of this sketch was born in the log house which was built by his father in the early resi- dence of the family here. lle was reared on the farm and had but limited educational advantages. His school days usually extended over only three months of the year. Ile remained at home until 1875, and gave his attention to farming and stock- raising.
Mr. Switzer was married November 22, Isss, to Miss Lulu Baker, of Caldwell County, Mo .. and a daughter of Thomas and Mary Baker, both of the same locality. The former is now a prominent farmer on the northern line of this county. The
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one son that has graced the Switzer family by his presence made his advent therein August 29. 1889, and was christened Grafton. His father ex- peets to bring him up as a loyal Republican, being a devoted follower of that party himself. Both Mr. and Mrs. Switzer are members of the Method- ist Episcopal Church. The live hundred and sixty acres of land which our subject owns are among the choicest in the county. The place is beautilied by a large residence of modern style. which is very attractive from an architectural standpoint, and has a very beautiful interior finish.
OIIN F. CRAIG. the energetic and enter- prising editor and proprietor of the Weekly Herald, an interesting and newsy paper, published in Smithville. Clay County, has engaged prosperously in various occupations and is most thoroughly adapted to his present hne of work. As an editor. he gives to the public mat- ters of general interest, concise in detail and clear in argument; and as proprietor and business man- ager, he furnishes a paper typographically correct and of attractive appearance. It is perhaps unnec- essary to state that under the supervision of Mr. Craig the Weekly Herald is rapidly increasing its ! circulation and is one of the best advertising medi- ums in the county. Our subject was born in Mor- gan County, Ohio, near Union ville, in the year 1851, and is a son of Victor and Lucy (Coburn ) Craig. Vietor Craig was born in Virginia in 1811. His wife, who was a native of Ohio. was born in Mor- gan County, in 1816. The paternal grandparents were James and Action ( Wells) Craig.
Grandfather Craig was a farmer by occupation and one of the early pioneers of Ohio, having en- tered land in Morgan County in about 1800, and he continued to be a constant restent of the State until his death. The father of our subject wa- married in 1833 to the daughter of Absalom Co- burn, and was a devoted husband and son. remain- ing with his parents until their death. He was a successful agriculturist and managed the old fam-
ily homestead, which became his property by in- heritance, until the fall of 1856, when he jour- neved to Appanoose County. Iowa, and there bought three hundred acres of land. In 1861 he enlisted in Company B, Second Missouri State Militia, I'nion army. He was engaged in the pur- suit of Gen. Price near Cape Girardeau for almost a year, and was taken sick in the swamps. Re- turning home. he died in October. 1863. and in his death the community lost a patriotic and upright citizen. He and his excellent wife had a family of eight children: Sarah W. became the wife of John D. Wells; Nicholas C. was wounded and died at the battle of Shiloh: Theodore C. died young; Rosamond, deceased, was the wife of Charles R. Rogers; Temperance married Samuel Wardlaw. and is now deceased; Adaline, deceased, was the wife of James W. Edwards: John F. is our sub- ject, and James. the youngest of the family, is a successful farmer and stock-grower near Moulton, Iowa.
John F. Craig was but eleven years of age when his father died, and the family was mainly de- pendent for their support upon the exertions of this young son and brother. The family lived upon the open prairie, and during the cold win- ter of 1863 and 1861. our subject had the hard lator of the farm as his portion of the work to attend to, and, adding wood-chopping to his other tasks. managed only occasionally to attend the district school. Through his individual efforts he was enabled to study in the Moulton (Iowa) Nor- mal and High School. At the age of nineteen years he began teaching school and continued to work on the farm during vacation. This mode of combined occupations he continued for several years after he became the head of a family.
Our subject was married April 11. 1876, and then went to Peru. Kan .. where he taught two years. In March. 1879. he returned to Iowa and farmed upon a portion of the land which his father had left to him. He continued there. engaged mainly in the duties of agriculture. until less. when with his family he went to Kirksville. Mo., where he was engaged in different occupation -. He remained in Kirksville until 1891. when he came to Smithville and bought his present office
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of E. W. Justus, who was editor of the Farmers' Herald, the paper then being an Alliance organ. The name of the paper was changed by its present owner, and the publication then became Democratic in tone and sentiment.
Our subject married Miss Elizabeth W. Hick- man, daughter of E. S. and Miriam ( Reid) Ilick- man, and into the pleasant home came four ehil- dren. one of whom died young. The surviving sisters and only brother are: Leona, Dale II. and Carrie H., all bright and interesting young people. who with their parents enjoy the confidence and high regard of many friends. Mr. and Mrs. Craig are valued members of the Christian Church, and are liberal supporters in its good work. Our sub- jeet is a member of the F. M. C. and Independ- ent Order of Odd Fellows of Smithville. Politi- cally, he is an active Democrat, and as an edito- rial leader of the people, strongly advocates the principles and platform of which Thomas ,Jeffer- son was the immortal founder.
OIN G. JONES. Clay County boasts of many highly cultivated farms and beauti- ful homes, but among the number it would be difficult to find an estate upon which so many splendid improvement- have been placed as upon the homestead belonging to Mr. Jones, located on seetions 3 and 4, township 53. range 30. The situation of the farm is excellent, the soil fertile, and the various buildings of a substantial order and embellished with numerous modern con- veniences.
Our subject is one of six children in the family of William and Kittie Jones, and ot this number four are still living. The father served bravely as an officer in the War of 1812 and was a man of valor and patriotic spirit. About tifty-nine years have passed since he removed from Bourbon County, Ky., to Missouri and settled near Platts- burgh, where he owned one hundred and sixty acres of good land. Afterward he purchased a farm consisting of one hundred and sixty aeres near
Liberty, Mo. Ile was thrice married, his first union taking place in Kentucky. The parents of our subject are both deceased, the father dying in 1> 64.
Born in Monroe County, Mo., March 1. 1234. our subject was reared to maturity in Clinton County, Mo., and enjoyed the ordinary school ad- vantages, of which he availed himself to the ut- most. Ile participated actively in the Civil War. in which he enlisted as a member of Company B. John T. Hughes' regiment, Slack's division, and engaged in the battle of Lexington, where his reg- iment assisted in taking the fort by rolling bales of hemp in front of them and approaching in that way. At Prairie Ridge they were also victorious. Gen. Price was superseded by Gen. Van Dorn. which explains the reason for the troops being called back. During the last-named engagement the men on both sides of our subject were killed but he ctaped uninjured. At the close of the war he returned to his home.
In 1870 Mr. Jones married Miss Susan Bowles. who died five years after their union. June 6. 1877, our subject and Miss Nannie O. Campbell were united in marriage, and they are the parents of one child, Georgia Anna, who was born June 30, 1879. Mrs. Jones was born January 29. 1889. and is one of twelve children born to William and Selina (Watson) Campbell, natives of Madison County. Ky., who removed to Missouri in less and now reside in Clinton County. Mr. Campbell is a prominent man in his locality and is well known as a successful agrieulturist and stock- raiser. For many years he served with ability a- Justiee of the Peace and his decisions were so fair that few cases were ever appealed. In political belief he is a Democrat. He and his wife are mem- bers of the Christian Church and are foremost in the promotion of the work of that religious organ- ization.
The pleasant homestead of Mr. Jones contains two hundred and forty-five acres. all under a high state of improvement and denoting in all regards the excellent care and management of a thrifty owner. Aside from the general pursuit of agri- culture, Mr. Jones devotes considerable time and attention to stock-raising and has on hi- farm some line-grade cattle and horses. Hle and his estima-
*
RESIDENCE OF JOHN G. JONES , SEC. 3. T. 53. R. 30. CLAY CO. MO,
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RESIDENCE OF L. ZUERKER, LIBERTY LANDING,. MO.
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ble wife are members of the Christian Church and active in all its enterprises. Politically, he is a Democrat. a strong believer in the principles of that party and deeply interested in the outcome of national and local issues.
A resident of this part of Missouri during his entire life, Mr. Jones has ever aided in local prog- ress and has closely identified himself with the growing interests of his neighborhood and vicin- ity. He is widely known and universally honored as a public-spirited and energetic citizen, and a man of undoubted ability and rare integrity of character, whose position is among the most suc- cessful and progressive agriculturists of the county.
Le AWRENCE ZUERKER. This well-known German-American resides in the vicinity of Liberty Landin . He possesses the integrity, intelligence and systeto that are the especial char- aeteristies of the Gern ans, and that almost invari- ably bring their posse: or independence and pros- perity. He was born on the River Rhine in Bava- ria, Germany, and under the capable instruction of his father, Peter Adam Zuerker, he was reared to a knowledge of farming and the manufacture of wine. Peter A. Zuerker was born and reared in Germany and was there united in marriage with Miss Gertrude Landry, who was of Swi --- French descent. Ile died in 1813 at a ripe old age, his wife's death occurring when she was about sixty- eight years of age.
Lawrence Zuerker was the youngest of three children. Ilis brother and sister are now deceased. the former dying from the effect of exposure while serving in the German Revolution. In that war our subjeet was also a participant, being a warm espouser of the cause of the Revolutionists, they claiming that the uling power should be in the hands of the people instead of the Emperor. When their flag went down. Lawrence Zuerker, being a lover of liberty, determined to seek his fortime in free America, and after converting his property into
money, which amounted to about $1.500 (German money), he sat sail for America in the latter part of 1850. The voyage hither occupied about three months and was made memorable by many thrilling experiences. The first two years of his residence in this country were spent in Louisiana. after which he went to Louisville, Ry., and worked at spinning Viread in a cotton factory. In 1857 he came to Mberty Landing, Mo., and for some time there- after worked in a rone factory. Later he pur- chased a small tract of land in the vicinity, planted a vineyard and engaged in the manufacture of wine, which he had learned from bis father in the land of his birth. He has since greatly increased his vineyard, until it now covers a goodly portion of his fifty-acre farm on section 29. His annual output often reaches thousands of gallons, and being of a fine quality it finds a ready sale at the highest market price.
During the Civil War in this country, Mr. Zuer- ker was a member of the State Militia. Although in no active engagement in this struggle, he bears the scar of a terrible sabre wound which he re- ceived during a cavalry charge at the battle of Lewis Harbor, opposite Baden on the Rhine, in the Ger- man Revolution. Although a Democrat, he is not an active partisan in politics and votes for the man whom he considers best fitted for the office, irre- spective of party. He is a member of Lodge No. 49, 1. 9. O. F., of Liberty, Mo. The wife of our subject bore the maiden name of Margaret Fischer and was born in Bavaria, Germany, in 1837. She came to this country with her sister Frankie, who died in St. Louis. Mo.
The union of Mr. and Mrs. Zuerker has resulted in the birth of nine children, one of whom died in infaney, and Emma, an amiable young lady of eighteen summers, died in 1891, her illness lasting only a few hours. John B., who was born in 1859, is a telegraph operator by occupation and the owner of five hundred and seventy acres of land. He is unmarried and resides with his parents. Celine. who was born in 1891, has been an invalid from rheumatism for the past twelve years, but through all her suffering has been cheerful, amiable and thoughtful. Lizzie. who was born in 1865, is the wife of Ed Birsen. of Bloomfield. lowa. Maggie
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was born in 1867; Lillie, in 1869; Aggie, in io71; and Minnie in 1875. All the members of the family are well eduented and their home life is an exceptionally happy one. They are members of the Catholic Church.
R EV. JAMES W. RAMSEY, Pastor of the Methodist Episcopal Church south, and of Little Ilill Church. is a fair type of the cultured, polished Southern gentleman. celebrated in song and prose. M. Ramsey was born near Union. Monroe County, W. Vs., at the head waters of the great Kanawha River. June 20. 1846. His father, Joseph Ramsey, was born in the same place. December 24. 1818. The grandfather. Daniel Ramsey, was also a native of the same place, although of Scoteh descent, and became a farmer of Monroe County. The latter was the youngest of a large family, and served in the War of 1812. Ilis son, the father of our subject, was also a farmer in West Virginia, but in 1866 removed to Fayette County, W. Va., where he bought a farm, on which he still resides. Ile is a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church South, in which he has been a Class-leader and otlicer for years. The mother of our subject. Julia A. Pine, was born in the same county as her husband. Her father, a farmer in the county, died when she was very young, and she was reared by an uncle. James Pine. Six chil- dren were born to the union of Mr. and Mrs. Jo- seph Ramsey, all of whom are grown up and liv- ing, and of these six our subject is the eldest.
as old enough to fight for the cause he so ardently supported, he volunteered in the Confederate army, enfisting in Capt. Bryant's company of West virginia Confederate Artillery. which wa- ordered into the Valley of Virginia June 5. Our subject participated in the battles of Piedmont. Winchester. Fisher's Ilill. Cedar Creek, and other minor engagements. fourteen in all, and remained in active service until the close of the war, when he returned home, never having been paroled.
After his return home, being then little more than eighteen years of age, he raised a crop before his father removed to Fayette County. in which place he alternately attended and taught school. as before stated, until 1873. with intervals of farm- ing. During this time he had been studying for the ministry, and in 1871 he assisted R. C. Wise- man as a preacher. In: 1873. he joined the Con- ference, and his first charge was the Wayne Cir- euit, on the Ohio River, where he remained two years and then was placed in charge of the Hurri- cane Circuit, in Putnam County. W. Va., remain- ing there three years. during which time he erected a church. The next place assigned to him was the Barboursville ( W. Va.) Circuit, where he con- tinued two year-, being then sent to Guyandotte. W. Va .. for three years. In 1883 he was trans- ferred to the Missouri Conference. at Salisbury. and as the congregation at this place was very small, not exceeding fifty members, he served in six other places for one year. The other appoint- ments which he filled were: the Richmond. Ray County, for two year -; the Clarksville. Pike County, for three years; and the Sturgeon. Boone County. for three years. In 1892 he wa- again sent to Salisbury and Little Hill, where he is at present. The membership has increased from fifty to one hundred and fifty, and things are in a flourishing condition. The church in which he ministers is known as Pleasant Woods Church. and was built in 1883.
James W. Ramsey was reared on the farm, and received the schooling afforded by the common district school. Ile remained at home until he had reached the age of twenty-two, when he left the | parental roof to attend a private school, after which he taught school in Fayette County. In order to perfect himself. he again attended school. Mr. Ramsey was married in Charleston. W. Va .. September 1, 1878, to Miss Annie E. Brawley, who , was born in Kanawha County, a daughter of after which he taught for a period of two terms. Mr. Ramsey then turned his attention to agricul- tural pursuits. and engaged in farming. Upon the . Henry and Susan (Snyder) Brawley, of the same outbreak of the Rebellion, he found his sympathies . county. where the former engaged in farming. were with the Southerners, so June 1. 1861, as soon . Both died in December. 1891, within three weeks
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of each other. Mrs. Ramsey, who was educated at Charleston, is the second in a family of nine chil- dren, all with one exception. living. One brother, John M. Brawley, met his death by accident. Feb- ruary 1, 1893. Four children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Ramsey, namely: William M., at- tending Salisbury Academy; Henry B. and Stella L., attending public school; and Taylor, at home. Mr. Ramsey is a member of the Ancient Free & Ac- cepted Masons. Politically, he supports the party that makes the abolition of the liquor traflie its platform-the Prohibition party. Although but a boy at the close of the war, yet he bore a hand in some of the great battles of that contest. and after his cause failed he settled down and has since lived the life of a kind-hearted Christian gentleman. Much good has been accomplished by this esti- mable man in his untiring efforts in behalf of his different charges, and everywhere he has been he has made friends for himself among his parishion- ers. At present he is directing every effort toward the upbuilding of his two churches, which are pro- gressing finely under his control.
ON. WILLIAM E. FOWLER, Probate Judge of Clay County, was born in Ohio May 19, 18GI, and is the son of Joseph and Mary (Fish) Fowler. The father and mother are residents of their native State, Ohio, where Joseph Fowler is widely known as a furniture dealer and undertaker of Washington County. The maternal grandparents were born in Maryland. The pater- nal grandfather was a native of Massachusetts and the paternal grandmother of Loudoun County, Va. Judge Fowler is one of five children: Ella, Florence M., La Ville, our subject and Homer S. comprising the sons and daughters who were wont to gather in the old Ohio homestead. Florence M. married the Rev. John M. Archer, of Medicine Lodge, Kan .: La Ville II. is at home, in Beverly, Ohio; Ella resides with her parents on the old homestead; and Homer S. lives in Liberty, Mo.
Oui subject spent the daysof his boyhood mainly in the excellent schools of the home locality. and
completed his studies in the college at Beverly, Ohio. He began the study of law in the office of Way & Way, of Marietta, Ohio, and remained with these eminent legal practitioners for one year. Hle then went to Baltimore, Md., where he read law with llon. Francis P. Stevens, a prominent lawyer of that city, and was admitted to the Bar of the Supreme Court of Maryland, commonly called the Court of Appeals. In February, 1883, our subject came to Missouri, and locating in Excelsior Springs, entered into the practice of law in Clay and Ray Counties. At Excelsior Springs, Mo., in 1886. William E. Fowler and Mrs. Kate D. Finn were united in marriage. Our subject and his charming and estimable wife are the parents of two children. a son and daughter. Maydee was born August 14, 1887, and Edward Dodge was born May 8, 1890. Mrs. Fowler was born and educated in To- peka. Kan., and by her first marriage became the mother of one son, Carl, who was born in 1883.
Judge Fowler served as City Attorney and Mayor of Excelsior Springs, Mo. In 1890, he was elected Probate Judge and has given general satis- faction in that office. In religious conviction, he is a Presbyterian, and in political affiliation is a Democrat of the Jeffersonian type, sincere and true. Fraternally. he is a member of Lodge No. 207, A. F. & A. M., of Excelsior Springs, and is also a brother in Lodge No. 165. K. P., of Excelsior Springs, and within these honored bodies possesses a host of friends.
C HAARLES W. NORTHCOTT is the editor of the Sumner Stur, and has for a number of years made his home in Sumner. He is a son of Benjamin F. and Elizabeth A. (Christy) Northcott. and was born June 24, 1854, in Pike County, Ill., where his early childhood was passed. With his parents he emigrated to Linn County, Mo., in 1863, and received his education in the public schools of that locality. He after- ward attended the State University of Missouri. On the completion of his studies Mr. Northcott
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engaged in teaching school for a number of years, continuing in that line until 1882.
On September 15, 1878, Mr. Northcott was united in marriage with Miss Florence Atkins. of Sullivan County. Mo. Of their union have been born two children, Georgia B. and F. Franklin. Mr. North- cott's good education and practical experience a> a teacher well fitted hun to adopt the profession to which he is now devoting his best energies. In 1882 he established the Linn County News at Lin- neus, which paper he conducted with his father's assistance until 1884, at which time he accepted an appointment in the railway mail service, dis- posing of his interest in the News to D. B. Ormis- ton, who is the present proprietor.
With the change of administration, Mr. North- cott went out of office in December, 1885, and in the following year became editor of the Browning Record, which paper he conducted until the spring of 1891. Ile then sold that paper and established the Sumner Star, of which he is now the proprietor and editor. Politically, be is a stanch Republican. and his paper justly ranks among the leading ones of the county. The paper presents to its readers both local and foreign news, conveying the latest intelligence of events happening at home and abroad. and the editorial columns be- speak the well-posted and logical mind of the pro- prietor, who keeps thoroughly abreast of the times. Mr. Northeott is a member of the Knights of Pythias, and is devoted to the interests of his fel- low-citizens and the county in which he makes his home.
HOMAS FOSTER, a prominent citizen of Chariton County, Mo., and the largest grain-dealer in the county. is the subject of this sketch. If there is a pardonable pride. it cer- tamly is the pride of ancestry. To have had a grandfather is something to remember with a feel- ing of stability; but to be able to trace a lineage back six of seven generations is what the subject of this sketch can do. All along the line he finds : name- which were carried by honorable and up- ,
right men. The family coat of arms had for its principal feature an elephant. and all the represen- tative Fosters beeame honorable and wealthy.
The great-grandfather of our subject, Thomas Foster, was bom on Middlesex Moor. where he later had a large farm and became a wealthy man. Ilis son, Francis, was also born in England, in York- shire, and was a land-owner and a member of the English gentry. His possessions aggregated some one thousand acres of land, which steadily in- creased in value. lle was a very prominent mem- ber of the Episcopalian Church. Later on in life he became the owner of the Greengates House, and did business there for many years, and there he died at the age of seventy-five years.
The maiden name of the mother of our subject was Martha Cryr. She was born in Leeds, Eng- land, and was a daughter of Francis Cryr. a mer- chant of Leeds. She died at the age of seventy- five years, having been the mother of ten children, all of whom grew to maturity. Thomas, our subject, was born near Leeds, in York- shire, England. March 22, 1835, and was the only son of the family and the only one to come to this country. He was reared on the farm, had good school facilities, and learned the milling trade, continuing at it for three years. Then he attended the Searborough Park Academy. and after finishing his course there he came to this country.
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