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 82
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 82
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 82
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 82
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 82
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Our subject was married July 21. 1891. to Miss Myra Welch, of Laclede, and has one -on, II. L., six months old. Although not a politician in any sense of the word, Prof. Joyce has served accept- ably as County Commissioner. being now in his fourth year in that office. Ile was selected for the office on account of his educational qualifica- tions, his opponent being a Democrat as he himself is. The doctrines and teachings of the Methodist Church are those to which he subscribes. Prof. Joyce received his educational training in his na- tive county, which has reason to be proud of her son. Among the excellent corps of teachers that he has gathered around him special mention should be made of Miss Gilson. Miss Wilkinson, Miss Ware, Miss Murrain and Miss Barker. Mrs., Julia A. Hickman, who died in June, 1892. and of whom a brief notice follows, was also one of Prof. Joyce's valued assistants.
MRS. JULIA ANN HICKMAN. m. Nelson. was an efficient teacher in the public schools for many years and died in harness. She was born June 12, 1811, at Livermore, Mo .. and there grew to womanhood. At the age of seventeen she married James Franklin Hickman, at that time a teacher in Linn County. Later Mr. and Mrs. Hickman removed to Nebraska City, where she assisted her husband in teaching until his death. which oc- curred several years later. She continued to teach in Nebraska for some time. then removed to Liv-
ermore, teaching in the schools there for two vers, after which time she removed to Brookfield. There she took a position as a superior teacher. and was about completing her thirteenth year. when failing health compelled her to resign, three weeks before the term of school closed. Her death occurred June 3, 1892. She was the mother of three children, one of whom died in infancy. those living being: Richard Lee, now of Texas; and Julia May, a young lady of twenty years. re- siding at the old Brookfield homestead with Mrs. Wooley. Mrs. Hickman was largely self-educated. but became a very successful teacher. She was a busy woman, teaching continuously. and sometimes taking a summer school during her vacations. She is sadly missed in the intellectual cireles of Brook- field, where for many years she had been an im- portant factor, and the educators with whom she was associated will have to search long to discover one to till her place. The people of this city have honored her memory by giving her name to the old Central School building on Columbus Day, October 21, 1892. She was a member of the Christian Church, in which she was highly re- speeted, being always ready and anxious to take her part in any good work.
MISS FANNIE GILSON, primary teacher in the South Side schools of Brookfield, has proven herself a first-class teacher. She is a lady of cul- ture and refinement, of great intellectual power. and holds one of the two State certificates held in Linn County. She was a daughter of James M. Gilson, a native of Vermont, born in October. 1818, and who died April 2. 1888. In 1866 he came to Missouri from Knox County. Ill. At the age of twenty-one he was admitted to the Bar. having studied law with Judge Vilas, of Chelsea. Vi., the father of William F. Vilas, of Wisconsin. Later he removed to New York and from there went to California, where he engaged in mining two or three years. In 1853 he settled in Knox- ville, Ill., engaging in the practice of law, and there assisted. in 1861, in raising a company of the Eighty-third Illinois, of which he became See- ond Lieutenant. At the defense of Ft. Donelson he was made a Captain, serving as such until the end of the war. After the war he located at
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Brookfield, in 1866, engaging in real-estate and abstract business. On January 21. 1841, he mar- ried Emily A. Waller, also born in Vermont, and the family resulting from this union consisted of two children, Daniel, a real-estate dealer in Brook- field, Mo., and our subject. The latter began teaching in Brookfield schools in 1874. and is now in her ninth year of professional work, having taught also four years in Nauvoo City, from 1878 to 1882. Miss Gilson is an artist. and beside her work as a primary teacher. gives private lessons in painting and drawing.
MISS ELIZABETH J. WILKINSON, the teacher of third-grade work in the Brookfield schools, has been connected with the educational interests of this city for the past seven or eight years. She has proven herself a competent teacher, and is one | who would be capable of filling any position to which she might be called.
R EV. S. Y. PITTS, A. B., pastor of the Bap- tist Church of Salisbury. is one of the old- est and most prominent clergymen of that denomination in the State, Born in Ran- dolph County. near Roanoke. Mo .. October 14.1833, he is a son of John A. Pitt-, a native of Scott County, Ky. The grandfather. Younger Pitts. was a farmer in the same place, where he lived and died; the great-grandfather was a Virginian and the founder of the family in Kentucky. The father of our subject came to Missouri in 1832. making the journey by teams, and located in Silver Creek Township. Randolph County, where he pur- chased some fourteen hundred acres of land and engaged in farming, stock-raising and feeding cat- tle. Ilis death occurred in 1876 at the age of seventy-two. He had been a consistent member of the Baptist Church for many years.
The mother of our subject. Sarah ( McDowell) Pitts, was a native of Danville. Mercer County, Ky., and the daughter of Dr. JJ. R. MeDowell. a prominent physician of Scotch de cent. who died at that place. The beloved mother passed away in 1811, leaving three children. Our subject is the
only surviving member of the family. Hle was reared on the farm. and was sent to private schools. Later he attended the Howard High School, under Messrs. Lucky and Davis. at Fayette, Howard County, for a period of two years, and in 1851 en- tered Georgetown College, at Georgetown, Ky., from which institution he graduated in 1854 with the degree of A. B. He was ordained as a mini- ster in the Baptist church in 1856.
The marriage of our subject February 28, 1856, united him with Miss Annie Winston, the accom- plished daughter of Dr. J. D. Winston, of Nashville. Tenn. She was born in Columbia, Ky., and was edu- cated at Georgetown, that State. The happy mar- riage has been blessed by the birth of seven children: Mattie, a graduate of Mt. Pleasant College, is now Mrs. Burekhart, and resides upon a part of the old homestead; Annie, a graduate of Mt. Pleasant Col- lege, became Mr -. Pilcher and died at Nashville, Tenn., in 1885: John A. was educated at William Jewell College, and remains at the old home; Win- ston received his education in William JJewell Col- lege, and is a farmer of Randolph County; Ella, Mrs. Joseph Hammett, resides in Huntsville; Har- vey, who was educated at William Jewell College, is a merchant in Salisbury: and Louise is at home.
At the age of twenty-three years, Mr. Pitts located as pastor with the church of Clifton. Ran- dolph County, in which delightful relation he con- tinued for a period of thirty-one years and tive months. There a large and influential church was built up. In this interval he also served as pastor of Mt. Shiloh church for nine years, and Roanoke and Huntsville each tive years. During most of this time he was burdened with the cares of farms, stock and machinery, making two trips to the South with mules, and frequent trips to the city markets with cattle, chielly the product of the farm. Gradually he retired from these cares and the duties of the ministry absorbed his mind, heart and life.
Mr. Pitts has been intimately connected with mission work in the Mt. Pleasant Association. He served as the Secretary of its Executive Board for twenty-three years, assisted in the organization of Baptist Churches at Pleasant Grove, Pleasant Green, Cairo and Dalton: aided in the organiza- tion and maintenance of Mt. Pleasant College,
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located at Huntsville, and was a member of its Board of Trustees when it was burned, August 16, 1882. Ile was honored by his brethren of the General Association of Missouri in 1886 by ap- pointment as member of the Executive Board of State Missions, which position he holds and in which he works assiduously. He has often been chosen delegate to the conventions of his denomi- nation.
By nature Mr. Pitts was endowed with a good mind, vivid imagination and generous impulses; he enjoyed a liberal education, and, under the in- thuience of travel. reading and study. developed in- to a man of more than ordinary breadth and cul- ture. He has always resided within fifteen miles of his birthplace and is justly proud of his many warm and valued friends. Since July, 1887. he has given his entire time to pastoral duties in this city, and the people of Salisbury find in him a pleasant. agreeable gentleman, as well as an earnest, efficient minister.
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M AJ. JOSEPH HUGHIES FINKS. The city of Salisbury owes a debt of gratitude to Maj. Fink- for the hearty aid he has ever given all public enterprises. One of the most popular citizens of Chariton County, he has become widely known throughout this section of the State. Maj. Finks was born near Stanards- ville, Greene County Va., August 7. 1838, and traces his ancestry back in a direct line to Switzer- land. Great-grandfather Mark Finks was the first representative of the family who sought a home upon these hospitable shores. He located in Mad- ison County, Va., where he married a Miss Fisher. whose family later became prominent in the his- tory of Kentucky. In the Revolutionary War he served as a Captain under Gen. La Fayette, and. after an active and useful life. died at the ad- vanced age of eighty-four years. A man of peace- ful disposition, he never had a personal enemy. and this pacific temper has descended to his pos- terity.
James Finks, the grandfather of our subject. was born in 1776, in Madison County, Va .. where he followed agricultural pursuits and died at the age of seventy years. He was a soldier in the War of 1812. The grandmother of our subject was named in her maidenhood Mary Allen. The father of our subject, Capt. James F .. was born in Madison County, Va., September 1. 1808, and was reared to manhood in Madison and Greene Counties, Va. He married Miss Mary E. Dulaney, who died in 1835. In 1836 he made a visit to Howard County, and the ensuing year was united in marriage with Miss Caroline, the daughter of Joseph S. and Cassandra G. ( Price) Hughes, natives of Kentucky.
Joseph S. Hughes, the maternal grandfather of our subjeet, was born in Maryland in 1784, and when quite young he removed with his parents to Pennsylvania, but after a short sojourn there they located in Kentucky. They arrived in Jessamine County at an early date and the families were obliged to seek refuge in forts during the In- dian wars in which the early settlers engaged. llis wife, Cassandra G. Price, was the daughter of William Price, a soldier in the American Revolu- tion, who served several terms in the Kentucky State Senate and was a relative of the late Sterling Price, of this State.
In 1816, Joseph Hughes came to Missouri and located land. In 1817 he brought his family and selected a place four miles west of Fayette. where he opened about three hundred acres. Later. he became the owner of a larger farm five miles east of Glasgow, where he resided until his death in 1863; his wife survived until in 1868. llis father was William Hughes, a native of Maryland. and of Welsh descent. He was married at Ft. Pitt. Pa., the present site of the city of Pittsburgh. to Miss Martha, a daughter of JJohn Swan. the mes- senger used against the British and Indians.
In 1851 Capt. James Finks migrated to Howard County, where he engaged in farming on a large scale in Prairie Township, and continued until a short time prior to his decease. After the late war he moved into Glasgow and resided there until the time of his death, in 1889. His wife still makes her home at that place. She was the mother of
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four children, two sons and two daughters, and our subject was the eldest of the family.
Joseph came with his parents in 1851 to How- ard County and there remained until 1854, when he returned to his native State to complete his education in Randolph-Macon College. in Meck- lenburgh County. Va., and also at Richmond Col- lege, in the city of Richmond. Returning to his old home in Missouri, he soon became intensely interested in the public questions of the day, and when Gov. Jackson called for troops he enlisted in the State Guards and was made Lieutenant of his company. Ile immediately entered active service and was soon commissioned Lieutenant-Colonel by the Governor, and was assigned to a position on the staff of Gen. John B. Clark. Sr.
In the fall of 1862. our subject volunteered in the Confederate service and thu- cast his fortunes with his Southern brethren. He continued a brave and gallant officer until the unhappy struggle was over, and then surrendered at Shreveport. La .. in May, 1865. Although he was suffering at the time, he, with six others, among whom was Gen. Parsons, started immediately for Mexico. The others of this illustrious party were: Col. Standish, Col. Williams, of the staff of Gen. Buckner; Hon. Mr. Conroe. a member of the Confederate Con- gress from Richmond, Mo., and Capt. George Lewis.
This party traveled by ambulance, but on reach- ing San Antonia, Tex., our subject became so ill . that he could not go further, and by the advice of the physician he remained there. fis particular friend, Capt. Lewis, remained with him, while the balance of the party continued on their way. but a few days later they were all murdered by the Mexicans. The Major considers that a special in- tervention of Providence saved him from a like fate, for he soon recovered sufficiently to go into Central Texas, where he remained until able to re- turn home.
Capt. Lewis. the devoted friend of our sub- jeet, returned to La Fayette County, but a short time afterward met an accidental death. so that Maj. Finks is the only one of the seven friends who now remains. While in the army he won for hunself a reputation both as an officer and a sol-
dier. Ilis commission as Major was given him by President Jefferson Davis, and he occupied posi- tions on the staffs of Gens. D. M. Frost, John B. Clark, Sr., John B. Clark, Jr .. Drayton and M. M. Parsons, and was a member of the staff of the lat- ter at the time of the surrender.
After the return of Maj. Finks he engaged in farming until 1870, when he was elected Clerk of the Circuit Court and Recorder of Howard County. In 1864 he was re-elected by a large majority, thus serving eight years in that capacity to the entire satisfaction of all. and won a rep- utation which fully justified his friends in desir- ing his re-election. At the end of his second term he was elected a member of the State Legislature of 1878-79, from Howard County, and in this body he ranked high. The Major continued on his farm until 1884, when he bought a controlling in- terest in the Bank of Salisbury, and has since that time hield the position of Cashier. By his energy and close attention to the financial management of the institution it has become one of the leading banks of the county, as it is the oldest one in the city, having been organized in 1876.
The marriage of our subject in Chariton County, December 17. 1873, united him with Miss Lizzie, the daughter of William J. and Ellen M. Harvey. Iler parents were pioneers of Missouri and were highly respected by the people of Chariton County. where Mr. Harvey was a successful farmer. Mrs. Finks was educated at the Sacred Heart Convent at St. Louis, and also attended Howard College. at Fayette, Mo. She is a lady of rare accomplish- ments and beautiful and refined taste. Her lovely home on the corner of Broadway and Fourth Street is the exponent of much of her artistic and cultured taste, and there she assists her husband in dispensing hospitality, or makes for him the beautiful haven of rest which a home should al- ways be. Much of her leisure is given to the charitable work of her church, but she finds time to care tenderly for her two daughters, Helen and Lizzie, both of whom are attending the North Mis- souri Institute. The only son, JJoseph. Jr., died at the age of six years.
The Major was one of the most active organizer- of the North Missouri Institute, and is President
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of its Board of Directors. He is also a member of the Board of Trustees of the Public Schools of Salisbury, and for several terms has served as a member of the City Council. Socially he has been an official of the Independent Order of Odd Fel- lows, and a member of the Encampment, a Past Officer in the Masonic fraternity, member of Tan- ered Commandery, at Moberly, Mo., and is also identified with the Ancient Order of United Work- men. In the Baptist Church of Salisbury he is an active worker and prominent officer. For four years he was a member and Treasurer of the Dem- ocratic State Committee.
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ABAN T. EMBREE. the gentleman whose honored name opens this sketch, is now oc- cupying the chair of the Chief Executive of the city of Salisbury, where he is one of the best known and respected citizens. Mr. Embree is cel- ebrated throughout the entire city for his excel- lent business judgment in all matters, and it would have been difficult to have selected a gentleman better fitted to meet the demands of the office of Mayor of Salisbury than Mr. Embree.
Our subject was born near Glasgow, Chariton Township, Howard County. November 13, 1812. The grandfather of our subjeet. Thomas Embree, was a native of Kentucky, where he engaged in agricultural pursuits. Ile gained honor in the War of 1812 and early in the '30s came with his family by team to the State of Missouri. His first location was near Old Franklin, where he engaged in farming for a few years. Later he removed to Monroe County, where he became a pioneer, en- tered land and remained until his death. His wife lived to the unusual age of one hundred and two years, having no doubt gained her wonderful con- stitution from her French ancestors.
The father of our subject was Lewis Embree. born in Madison County, Ky. lle became the owner of a farm near Glasgow, Mo., where he fol- lowed the occupation of farming and the trade of a brick-mason. In 1850 he located on a farm in
Chariton County, near Bymunville, in Bee Branch Township. Here his wife died in 1851. and the next year he went to California across the plain -. with ox-teams, to engage in mining. In 1857. he returned to this county and settled on the same farm. where he remained until 1862, when he en- tered the Confederate army as a volunteer. He was mostly under Price's command until the close of the war, when he returned to the farm, which lie later sold and with the proceeds bought a farm in Keytesville Township and engaged in farming until his death in 1886. Mr. Embree was a con- sistent member of the Christian Church.
The mother of our subject, Sallie A. (Ford) Embree, was born in Howard County, a daughter of Lahan Ford, a native of Kentucky, who was an early settler in Iloward County, Mo. He was a large farmer and hemp-raiser and engaged in these callings until his death. which occurred on his homestead. Mrs. Embree died in 1851. At that time she had three living children, two of whom grew up, and of these our subject was the eldest. Ile is now the only one living. The father by a second marriage reared a family of six children. all of whom are yet living.
Our subject, Laban Embree, was reared on a farm near Bynumville, and when his father went to Cal- ifornia he remained with a friend of the family. At the age of fifteen he started out to fight life's battles for himself and was at work in Howard County on the return of his father from Califor- nia. Ile early learned the necessity of work and obtained his education in a log schoolhouse. where the seats were made of slabs. After the return of his father from California our subject made his home with Inm until the outbreak of the war. Laban found considerable amusement in his youth in hunting, as turkeys and deer were very plenti- ful and he became very expert in their capture. In 1862 he entered the Confederate army from Howard County, Mo .. enlisting in the First Mis- souri Brigade, Sixth Regiment. Company G. He was in the battle of Pea Ridge, being afterward transferred to the State of Mississippi, where he en- tered into the thickest of the struggle. He was a participant in the dreadful carnage at the first battle of Corinth, at Fuka, the second battle of
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Corinth, Grand Gulf and Port Gibson, at which place, May 1, 1863, he was taken prisoner.
After this misfortune our subject endured one month's confinement at Alton Military Prison, and was then sent to Camp Morton, Ind., where he was confined until the end of the war. suffering ex- tremely. May 20, 1865. he was released and came home. Ile soon engaged in farming again in Howard County, where he remained until March, 1867. At this time he was married to Miss Mary A. Ford, a native of Howard County. and a daugh- ter of Jolin Ford. a Kentuckian who made early settlement in Howard County and died there. The mother of Mrs. Embree was Lucy ( Kelly ) Ford, also a native of Kentucky. In January, 1869. Mr. Embree located two and one-half miles south of Salisbury, where he bought a farm of eighty acres. which was aheady somewhat improved. This farm he continued to operate until the spring of 1883, when he sold it and located in Salisbury. At this time he entered the grocery business in partnership with L. T. Attsbery, under the firm name of Em- bree & Attsbery. This partnership lasted for eigh- teen months. at the end of which time Mr. Embree purchased Mr. Attsbery's interest, and. continuing alone, is now the oldest groeer in the city.
In 1888, our subject found it necessary to erect a fine brick store 25x70 feet in dimensions. He has become interested in varions lines of business in this city and is a stockholder in the People's Bank; a charter member in the Salisbury Building & Loan Association, and is also a member of the Salisbury Academy Association. Socially, he is asso- ciated with the Knights of Pythias and is Master of Exchequer in that order. In 1888. our subject be- came a member of the City Council and was placed upon different important committees. In 1890 he was re-elected, receiving every vote in the ward with the exception of one, which was his own. In 1891 the call of his fellow-citizens for him to be- come candidate for Mayor could not be disre- garded, so he resigned his position as Alderman and was elected Mayor by a large majority. He will be gratefully remembered by his fellow-cit- izens for his efforts while Mayor for the advance- ment of the city. especially in regard to the estab- lishment of the electric light plant here, and his
friends are very desirous that he shall continue for many terms in his otlice.
In his position as Mayor. Mr. Embree has he- come the presiding officer of the City Council and is the chief magistrate of the city. In his political opinions. Mayor Embree is a Democrat, but i- pop- ular in all circles, whether political, social or re- ligious. Ile is a very well-informed gentleman, pleasant, approachable, kind-hearted and liberal.
ON. WILLIAM CROWLEY. Among the citizens of Ray County, few are more widely known and none more highly esteemed than the subject of this biographical notice, who is a resident of seetion 7. township 51. range 29. Judge Crowley was born in Powell's Valley. Ten., October 31, 1816. and was but three months old when he was taken by his parents to Fayette County, Ala., where his early childhood years were passed in an uneventful manner.
November 7, 1829, our subject accompanied his parents in their removal to Clay County, Mo. Here his father. Isham Crowley, entered from the Government a tract of land, which he cleared and improved, and upon which he resided for nineteen years. Removing thence to Texas, he engaged as a farmer and stock-raiser in that State. where he remained until his death. He and his wife, whose maiden name was Elizabeth Medley, became the parents of nine children, four of whom are living, as follows: B. F., who makes his home in Texas; Levena, the widow of Joseph Johnson; Margaret. wife of George W. Ash; and our subject. The father of this family was a very successful Farmer and a man of enterprise and progressive spirit.
Both in Alabama and Missouri. our subject was a pupil in the district schools, and the education thus acquired has been supplemented by observa- tion and self-culture. Ilis marriage, November . 19, 1810, united him with Miss Margaret. daugh- of William Miller, and they became the parent- of ten children, mme of whom now survive, namely: James 1., who resides in Ray County: William T .. a minister in the Christian Church; Susan F. wife
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