Portrait and biographical record of Clay, Ray, Carroll, Chariton, and Linn Counties, Missouri, containing biographical sketches of prominent and representative citizens, Part 80

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 80
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 80
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 80
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 80
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 80


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When in his sixteenth year our subject started for California, in company with four others. This was one year after the great exodus to the gold regions, and the party had provided themselves with all the necessities for the expedition. Among these things may; be mentioned an ox-wagon. three yoke of oxen, and a yoke of cows. which he had to milk, as he was the boy of the party. At St. Jo- seph they crossed the Missouri. struck the Platte. and with many adventures made their way through the Black Hills to Ft. Kearney and down to Nevada City, which they reached after a journey of six months. Here they engaged in mining and re- mained during the greater part of their Western sojourn, although they did some work on the middle fork of the Yuba.


For a time our subject worked in a place in the mountains where the sun never shone, and has for a week at a time been where no ray of the sun touched him. For one of his years this was a st - vere trial. At Nevada City he was quite suree --- ful in mining, and June 18. 1853, he turned his fare toward home, leaving San Francisco on the steamer "Golden Gate." He walked across the Istlunus of Panama and then took another steamer for New York, from which city he proceeded to Philadelphia and had his gold coined at the mint. After this he bought land and engaged in farming.


In 1856 our subject was united in marriage with Miss Ellen, daughter of Judge Benjamin F. Wood. of Trenton, Grundy County. The young couple located upon the farm three miles west of Salis- bury which Mr. Trent still owns. The one hun- dred and sixty acres comprising the farm were un- improved. but our subject enltivated the land and constantly made improvements. The little log house was soon replaced by a better residence. Upon this beautiful place he engaged in raising tobacco and stock until the cruel war broke into his peaceful life. His wealth was scattered. and in 1861 he saddled the last horse left him and rode off to enter the Confederate army. fle entered Williams' regiment, in Shelby's brigade, as Sergeant and served until the close of the war, when he surrendered at Shreveport, La.


When Mr. Trent returned home, the outlook was very discouraging, but he had his fine land and soon was again on the road to prosperity. Here he continued until 1888, when he rented the prop- erty and took up his residence in Salisbury. In 1872 he was bereaved by the death of his wife. and his task since has been that of taking her place to the six small children left to him. which duty he has faithfully discharged. The record of his family is as follows: Walter died November >. 1880. when a fine young man of twenty-one: William died October 22, 1880; llettie. Mrs. Bur- rous, died September 22, 1889. in Salisbury. lav- ing three children: Emma died December 12. 1839: Robert P. lives in Keytesville: Early resides with his father; and Ella is the wife of J. G. Gallemore. editor of the Press-Spectator.


For seven years Mr. Trent served as Director of


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the Trent School, which was named for him and which he anded in building. Ile has also served as Petit Judge. All the circumstances and sur- roundings of his life have made him a believer in Demoeratie principles. For many years his relig- ious convietions have been in sympathy with the doctrines of the Baptist Church. He is a man of influence in the county and has experienced many vicissitudes which try the mettle of human beings. To say that every trial has made him a stronger and a better man, would be stating what we be- lieve to be the truth. Formerly he exhibited many line horses and cattle at the county fairs, and re- ceived the first premiums, but those days are past. Ile resides in the city of Salisbury, where few men have more friends than he has.


6 HOMAS ASHLEY BROWN. The traveler in passing through Ray County eannot fail to notiee the finely improved and well-reg- ulated homestead belonging to Mr. Brown. This fine farm is located in township 51, range 28, and the excellent situation, fertile soil and substantial buildings combine to make the place one of the best in the county. To the unwearied efforts of the owner may be attributed the high state of cul- tivation to which the farm has been brought.


Born in Rutherford County. Middle Tennessee, April 28, 1815, our subjeet is the son of Thomas and Elizabeth (Allison) Brown. The father was born in Virginia February 11, 1787, and was reared on a farm in his native State. Although the re- cipient of very limited educational advantages, he was by nature possessed of sterling traits of com- mnon sense and exeellent judgment and was a thoughtful student of the great issues of the age. When a young man he went to Tennessee and there, May 12, 1805, married Elizabeth Allison, who was born April 14, 1790. Having purchased Government land in Tennessee, Mr. Brown carried on agricultural pursuits and alo followed the trade of a machine and wagon manufacturer.


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In November, 1829, the family removed to Mis-


souri, traveling the entire distance in wagons and bringing all their earthly effects with them. On their arrival in this State they located in Ray County, and during 1820 entered eighty aeres of Government land near where our subject now re- sides. The wife and mother was an invalid for thirty-three years before her death, which oceurred March 26, 1850. Of the nine children born of this union, three still survive. In 1851. Thomas Brown was a second time married, choosing as his wife Malinda Conyers. He was removed by death All- gust 14, 1872, and in his demise it was realized that the community lost one of its most public- spirited and enterprising eitizens.


To gain the meagre education available in the subscription schools of that day, our subjeet was obliged to walk three miles morning and evening to and from the schoolhouse. This "temple of learning" was constructed of rough round logs, while the interior furnishings were of a primitive order. The seats were split logs, with stieks driven in for legs. The chimney was made of dirt and sticks, and the fireplace extended across the entire end of the room; an aperture in a log, was covered with greased paper and was the only means of al- lowing the light to enter the room. Amid such adverse surroundings and environments a prac- tical knowledge of the "three R's" was acquired by the subject of this sketeh. He remained at home until twenty-four years of age, and on account of his mother's illness was obliged to aid in the house work as well as the more active outdoor pursuits of farming.


November 22, 1838, Mr. Brown married Patsey, daughter of JJeremiah and Polly ( Carney ) Crawley. They became the parents of fifteen children. one of whom died unnamed. The others were: Eliza- beth. Calvin and Mahala, all deceased: Sarah A., William. Jeremiah; Martha and Nancy, both de- ceased; Ellen and John (twins); Thomas and Joseph (twins), deceased; Henry C. and Alvin. Calvin enlisted in the Confederate army under Maj. Williams and was killed at the siege of Vicks- burg. Our subject was a strong Union man and during the war served in the State militia, his son William being with him for several months. In polities, he is a Democrat and advocates the prin-


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ciples of his chosen party with enthusiasm and. fidelity.


The first efforts of our subject in agriculture were made upon the place where he now lives. Ile has been very successful and has acquired a hand- some property, the result of his almost unaided exertions. At one time he was the owner of sey- eral hundred acres of land, but has given the en- tire property to his children with the exception of forty acres. When he settled on his present place it was heavily timbered with oak, walnut and all kinds of hard wood, but he succeeded in clearing the entire tract and placing it under fine improve- ment. He and his wife are members of the Print- tive Baptist Church and are universally respected by their large circle of acquaintances.


TOIIN NICKERSON, one of the prominent residents of Chariton County. Mo .. is the subject of this sketch. Ili- beautiful farm is located on section 16. township 53. range 17, near Salisbury, Mo. He was born in Madison County, Ky., January 13, 1822, a son of John and Ruth ( Roberts) Nickerson. The father was born in. the same county as himself, in 1795; and the mother also in the same county. January 8. 1795. The grandfather was born in England in 1715. and his wife ten years later. The former came to America with Gen. Burgoyne during the time of the Revolutionary War, and later settled in Mad- ison County, Ky .. where all of his children were born, and where his two sisters died.


Our subject is one of a family of sixteen chil- dren, all of whom grew to maturity. The family record is as follows: Parthena. born in Kentucky in 1816; Mahala. in 1811: Phoebe. in 1815; Polly. in 1815; William, in 1816; Lucinda. in 1als: James, in 1819; John. in 1822: Elizabeth, in 1823; Shad- rack, in 1821: Allen. in 1825; Albert in 1825: Willie, in 1826; Abigail, in 1827; P. Robert, in 1830; and Mary. in 1533. Our subjeet's mother died, and in 1810 his father married Elizabeth Richardson, who was born in Kentucky. in 1818. and by this marriage three more children were


added to the family: Thomas L., born in ISH: Serrelda, in 1813. and Amanda, in 1843.


Our subject was educated in the common schools of Chariton County, but left school at the age of sixteen years to engage in farming in Howard County. Mo .. where he remained until twenty years of age. When he had reached years of matur- ity he removed to Chariton County. where he pur- chased a tract of land consisting of eighty acres. for which he paid $5 an acre: adding from time to time until his possessions reached four hundred and eighty acres. Some of this land our subject sold, but he still retains three hundred and eighty aeres, this being both high and bottom land. the former of which is valued at 840 per acre, and the latter at 810. Ile raises corn, wheat. tobacco and hay, and his gross receipts amount to 82,500, anu- ally. The farm is well stocked with cattle, and ten head of horses are also among our -ubice's possessions. A modern house of six rooms, cost- ing $600, is his pleasant home, which he has made attractive with agreeable surroundings.


In 1842 Mr. Nickerson was married to Elizabeth MeDaniel, a native of Chariton County. Mo .. born in 1823. She. was a daughter of John McDaniel. of this county, and was the mother of the follow- ing children: Robert, born in Chariton County. March 6. 1849, married Eliza J. Freeman. and re- sides in Kansas City: Amanda. born February 27. 1847, married J. I. Brooks, and they reside in Mis- souri: Anna E., married to William MeDaniel: George W. married Miss Sophia Mason, and re- sides in Chariton County; John married Miss Joe Crowley, and they reside in Kansas City; Delia married R. C. Panky, and they reside in Chariton County; Eva married Nicholas Wright. a farmer of this county; and Clark, who is married and re- sides in Oklahoma. Mrs. Nickerson died January 1, 1888. and our subject married Mis- Loui-a .1. Montgomery in 1889.


Mr. Nickerson has been a member of the Method- ist Episcopal Church of the town of Salisbury for many years. and in this religious denomination he has faithfully discharged all duties. Mrs. Nicker- son is highly regarded in the Baptist Church. of which she has for many years been a devoted member. Socially our subject affiliates with sali --


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bury Lodge No. 208, A. F. & A. M., having been connected with the Masonic order since 1849. In his lodge he has filled the position of Junior War- den. Politically our subject is a Democrat, and was elected to the office of Justice of the Peace in 1853, remaining in the position for about forty years. He is now serving his third term as County Judge of the Eastern District of Chariton County.


AMES O. CRANDALL, the subject of this sketch, is the owner of a valuable stock- farm, known as "Rose Hill," where he finds great pleasure as well as profit in studying the interesting laws of heredity and development as shown in the higher domestic animals. ITis favorites are trotting hor-es. the breeding of which he began thirteen years ago, beginning with a "Patchen" horse from Massachusetts. The finest head of his stud is now "Edsall Star," No. 3781, American Trotting Register. sired by "Major Ed- sall," No. 211. dam "Lady S .. " grandsire "Alex- ander's Abdallah," No. 15, and granddam on sire's side is a dam of "Ilam's Hambletonian," No. 2; "Lady S.," sired by "American Star, Jr.," No. 3772, dam "Mis- Cadmus." "Edsall Star" is now eleven years old. and was bred by Judson II. Clark. of Scio. N. Y. He is a handsome chestnut sorrel and his get have developed promising speed. "Lou Ed-all," owned by L. 11. Doherty, of Canada. is a race winner, with a record of 2:273 and is now placed in the 2:20 class. She made a record of 2:274 on a half-mile track at Sumner, Iowa, Octo- ber 9, 1892. "Silver Star" has a race record of 2:30 and has made much lower. These are the only horses of his get with a record. but there are others which have shown a 2:20 speed.


Among the progeny of this famous animal are the following, whose exploits give fine promise for the future: "J. O. C.," owned by Frank Dersart. of Macon City, a yearling, having made a speed of 3:00. Ilis sire, "Edsall Star," has been for three years the head of the Rose Hill Stock Farm. "C'randall's Patchen" divides honor- with "Edsall Star" and has been a favorite for fifteen years, be-


ing now twenty-four years of age; he has produced a great many first-class gentlemen's driving and speeding horses. Ile is widely known and his colts are in great demand. being greedily picked up by Eastern buyers. A great many of the best horses in Linn County are from him. and many of them are held at from 8700 to $1,500 each. Mr. Crandall usually keeps on hand about one hun- dred horses, with fifteen brood mares. He, with A. E. White, of St. Joseph, is owner of the Brook- field Fair Grounds with a half-mile track. Instead of being a speed man, our subject merely trains his colts slightly and then sells them. He is thor- oughly familiar with horses and horsemen. as a rule visiting all the great races of the country.


Mr. Crandall was born at Buffalo, N. Y., August 25, 1833, and lived there until 1867. He has al- ways been a horseman, a breeder and dealer, buy- ing and selling. In the year last named. he came to Missouri, and bought a tract of five hundred aeres, which he improved; he then sold off a part. now having three hundred aeres in his original farm, with forty acres in the city limits, upon which his house stands. The residence is a very attractive one, surrounded by shade trees, large barn and other outhouses. Mr. Crandall has handled a great deal of real estate. principally his own property. Beginning with limited means when coming to Missouri, he has acquired a hand- some competency.


September 3, 1884, our subject was married to Miss Mary Harris, of Macon City, born in New York, a daughter of II. C. and Matilda (AAlvord) Harris, of Iligginsville, Mo. Mrs. Crandall is a graduate of music of the Misses Cousins' Institute. at Cleveland, Ohio. She taught music for fifteen years and served several years in a music store. There have been no children born to Mr. and Mrs. . Crandall. The latter is a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church and for a long time was very active in the various society works of the church. She was born at West Winfield. Herkimer County, N. Y., and went to Ohio at the age of three. in which State she was reared; she came to Missouri in 1878. Her father was a native of Connecticut and her mother of New York. Mrs. Crandall is an accomplished musician and a refined. educated and


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most attractive woman, who graces her beautiful home and is nearly as enthusiastic in her love of horses as is her husband. The latter has expressed political views and gives a hearty and unqualified support to the Republican party.


ILLIAM WACK, a successful dealer in real estate and stock at Salisbury, was born m Fulton County, near Canton, Ill., on the 22d of December, 1810. Tracing his an- estry back to the first representative of the family in the United States, we find that his great-grand- father. the Rev. Casper Wack, came from his na- tive place. Hesse-Ca-sel. Germany. to America forty years before the opening of the Revolutionary War. At that early day he became the pastor of a band of Lutherans who had found a home in the city of Philadelphia. but when the war of the colonies broke out he became a Chaplain in the ranks of the Revolutionary army. He survived that long struggle and died in Morris County, N. J. Ile was one of the first clergymen of his faith who emigrated to the United States.


The grandfather of our subject became a farmer in New Jersey, where he remained until his death. Ile was a soldier in the War of 1812 and partiei- pated in the defense of Baltimore. The father of our subject married in New Jersey and afterward removed to Illinois, making that long journey by teams and bringing all his household belongings with bim. He located in Fulton County. IL., near Canton, in 1839. and engaged in farming until 1851, when he changed his location to Carthage. Hancock County. Ill. This was a fine country for stock-raising, which he conducted in connection with general farming until his death in 1875. In his religion he wasa member of the Baptist Church. Politically, he was a firm advocate of Democratic principles.


The mother of our subject, Sarah A. Lawrence, was born in Morris County. N. J .. and was a daugh- ter of Stephen A. Lawrence, a farmer of that local- ity. Ile was a valued member of the Presbyterian


Church. His father, William, was born in England. and shortly before the Revolutionary struggle came to New Jersey, where he followed the busi- ness of farming and milling. His wife bore the maiden name of Lowery and was from Scotland. The honored mother of our subject resides in Car- thage and has attained to the age of seventy-seven years. She has been the mother of six children. tive of whom are now living.


Our subjeet is the third of the family in the order of birth. He was reared in Fulton County until he was ten years of age, and then removed to Carthage, where he attended the common schools. At the early age of seventeen years he displayed such good judgment and business faculty that he was entrusted with the buying of stock. Ile ae- quired a small farm in that vicinity and remained with his father until he was twenty-six years old. October 7, 1867. our subject removed to Salis- bury Township, this county, by teams and wagons. and the next day bought a farm of two hundred and forty acres of raw prairie, where he located and began to make improvements. The place was situated two miles north of Salisbury, which city at that time was a place of little importance, con- taining only about three hundred inhabitants. Mr. Waek engaged in farming and raising stock. and also traded in farming property and other real estate. Meanwhile he improved over three thousand acres of land in this county. In Febru- ary. 1874, he located in Salisbury, where he built. Four miles northwest of the city he owns one hundred and sixty acres of fine farming land, and this be rents. Ilis farm of six hundred and sixty aeres. located six miles northwest of the city and watered by the Chariton River, contains good buildings and first-class improvements and is rented. Among other real estate owned by our subject may be mentioned two residences in the city.


Mr. Wack was married September 3. 1868, to Miss Catherine Ehrhardt, a native of Salisbury Township. Her father. Martin Ehrhardt. was born in Hesse-Cassel, and was reared on a farm in Ger- many until he was twenty-six years of age. Hle married in that country, and upon emigrating to America located near Steubenville, Ohio. Later he removed to Brooke County, Va., where he lived


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for nine years. In 1814 he came to Missouri and settled in this township, where he improved a farm. Ile became the most extensive sheep-raiser in this locality, but now at the age of eighty-three he lives a retired life. For many years he has been one of the prominent members of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church. The mother of Mrs. Wack was named Annie E. Crume and was born in Hesse- Cassel. She died here in June, 1885, having been the mother of ten children, but only three of this large family now survive. Mrs. Wack is the youngest of the family and was educated here and also at Abingdon (Ill.) College. She is a lady of great intelligence and a member of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church. Mr. and Mrs. Wack are the parents of one child. Cora C. Another daughter. Rosa C., died at the age of three years. Mr. Wack is a member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows and is one of the financial Trustees of the Encampment at Moberly. Religiously, he is a mem- ber of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church at this place and is now Trustee. In his political opin- ions he is a Democrat.


OHIN W. HUFFAKER. As autumn with its glory of many-hued leaves and pale blue sky is the most delightful season of the year, so the man whose spring and summer of life have been well spent. reflects in greatest beauty the strength of his character when age has brought his hair to gray, and passions are subdued and loved is fixed. Our subjeet, having toiled long in the busy field, is now enjoying in peace and quiet the aftermath, grateful for his blessings. Hle was born in Indianapolis. Ind., November 7, 1821, being a son of Jesse and Ellen (Rucker) Huffaker, natives of Tennessee, who went to In- diana in 1819, but later settled in Madison County. Ill., in 1825, on a farm in the American Bottoms. about five miles from St. Louis. Here they lived until the fall of 1840, or until our subject was about twenty years old. when they came to Linn County, Mo., and settled on Yellow Creek, ten miles northeast of where Brookfield now stands. There


was then no village to the south until Keytesville was reached, and Linneus was only a village of about a dozen houses. Linn County had been organ- ized bat three years before, it then extending to the lowa line, and only a very few families lived in Yellow Creek. Jacob Bailey and sons, and one Levi Moore. with tive or six other families, formed the chief population of the entire neigh- borhood.


Our subject lived with his parents, working for his father five or six years, and continuing with him until a short time before the death of the lat- ter, which occurred in Tennessee, in the year 1858. After this, John, who was then twenty-six years old, settled upon a farm of his own. acquiring and improving a fine traet of four hundred acres, most of which was done after the war. The first water- mill in that locality was Botts Mill, on Locust Check, two miles west of Linnen-, erected in 1814. Brunswick was the nearest trading point. all the supplies coming from there: tobacco was the prin- cipal produet, and only a few people owned slaves. A "bee trail" followed up the Buckton Divide, a name which was rather a misnomer to the first preacher who came that way. He was directed along the "bee trail" by a fun-loving fellow, and pushed gladly along, searching eagerly for signs of the honey-makers, of course in vain. to his infinite disgust, as his countenance clearly expressed when he went back to the settlement with the lament of. "I failed to find traces of bees anywhere."


Mr. Huftaker being lame was not called upon for regular militin service, but he frequently during the war operated with the military post at Brook- field. He continued upon his farm until 1886, forty years, and dealt chietly at that time in stock. feed- ing and shipping the same, and in the same year named settled at Brookfield, where he has since resided. Politics always have had a charm for him, he cooperating with the Democrats, who have elected him to the office of County Supervisor, a number of township offices and that of School Director. Among the noted characters he encoun- tered in polities were T. M. Rucker. a sheriff and pettifogger; and Stephen McCollum and Andy Baker, who also won fame as hunters. The mar- riage of our subject took place February 15. 1> to.


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his wife being Mary E. Long, of Howard County, Mo., who is yet living, and the mother of the fol- lowing children: James R .. a physician of Brook- field; John William, a physician of Denver, Colo .: Thomas S., a physician of Chicago; Samuel L., a merchant of Brookfield: Joseph, who died in 1887, aged twenty-two, while astudent in the col . lege; Lon, Assistant Cashier in the Brookfield Bank; Mary Ellen, wife of Edward Via, of >auk Rapids, Minn .; Lora, at home: and Cora, a graduate of Brookfield College, also at home. The residence of Mr. Huffaker is a very handsome and homelike place on North Main Street. He has very pleas- ant association with the Masonic order, a strong and select organization in Brookfield.




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