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 83
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 83
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 83
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 83
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 83
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of Columbus Evans, of Grundy County, Mo .; John W., a resident of the Chickasaw Nation. I. T .; Eugenia Kate, who married Joseph Holman, of Clay County. Mo .; David M. and George W .. who are at home; Barnum M., of Ray County: and U. S. Grant, who is at home. A. B. passed away Oc- tober 23, 1865.
After the death of his first wife, Judge Crowley was united in marriage with Mrs. W. J. Henderson, daughter of Rev. Benjamin Riley, who was born in North Carolina, removed thence to Kentucky, and from there to Missouri, his profession being that of a minister in the Baptist Church. Mrs. Crowley was born July 5, 1822. She was reared and educated in Clay County, and was never out- side of the county but once in her life. Kind and unassuming in her nature, she has won and retains the warm regard of her neighbors and acquaint- ances.
Upon his farm, where he has resided for thirty- five years or more, Judge Crowley carries on a general farming and stock-raising business. The place consists of two hundred and ten aeres, finely improved and embellished with a substantial set of farm buildings. In his religious connections, he is a member of the Christian Church, with which his wife is also identified. During the war he was an uncompromising Union man, and was always bitterly opposed to slavery. In politics, he is an ardent Republican, and was elected by his party to the position of County Judge, which he filled from 1867 to 1868. Sixteen years prior to that time he served as Austice of the Peace; he has also served with efficiency as School Director, as guardian and as administrator of estates.
S IDNEY G. SANDUSKY, the subject of this sketch, was born in Jessamine County. Ky., on the 27th of February. 1843. His father was William Sandusky, a thrifty Kentucky farmer, who died when but little past his prime, leaving, however, an estate ample for the rearing of a large family of children in a re- speetable manner,
Our subjeet, on his father's side. is of Polish extraction, but his father and grandfather .were natives of Kentucky, and his great-grandfather was one of the pioneers of that State, being so men- tioned by Butler in his history of Kentucky. On his mother's side, his ancestors were Virginians and Kentuckians. Ilis maternal grandfather's name was George. He was born in Virginia, and came to Kentucky at an early day. Ilis maternal grandmother's name was Rogers, she belonging to the numerous Kentucky family of that name. In the spring of 1855, the mother of Mr. San- dusky, with her children. who were then small. moved to Liberty, Mo., where, with the exception of a few short intervals of time, our subjeet ha- since resided. Ile had superior educational ad- vantages, having entered William JJewell College when about fifteen years of age, and he continued his attendance there until he completed the full course of that institution. Ilis predilection was for the law, and accordingly, a short time after leav- ing college. he entered as a student of the law the office of Frederick Gwinner, one of the most ac- complished lawyers who ever belonged to the Lib- erty Bar. But at that time the war between the States was in progress, and Mr. Sandusky partook of the unrest incident to it, and for a few years discontinued his legal studies.
In the year 1869. the office of Recorder of Deeds of Clay County, Mo., was separated from that of Clerk of the Ciremit Court, and an elce- tion was ordered to fill the same until the en- suing general election. The late Edwin G. Hamil- ton was elected to said office, but. being the assistant cashier of the Commercial Savings Bank of Liberty, Mo .. and not desiring to give up that position, he employed Mr. Sandusky to take charge of the office for him, which, under the law of that time, was permissible. At the general election in 1870, Mr. Sandusky was himself elected Recorder. and four years thereafter was re-elected without opposition. At the conclusion of his sec- ond term a- Recorder, he was elected to the office of Clerk of the Circuit Court. and four years af- terward was re-elected without opposition. With- ont seeking further election to that office, at the end of his term he entered as a partner the lia
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office of Senator Simrall, and remained for about three years, the firm commanding a very large and lucrative practice. He is now a member of the firm of Sandusky & Sandusky, his partner being a younger brother, James M. Sandusky. until lately Judge of this judicial circuit.
Our subject was married in september, 1885, to Miss Anna Miller, a daughter of the late D. D. Miller, of Liberty, Mo., a lady of many attractions and very popular. Two children have been born to them, a boy and a girl, Miller and Julia. Mr, Sandusky is connected with several large and im- portant enterprises, among them being the Clay County Milling Company. of which he is now. and has been from its organization, the Secretary and Treasurer. He is comfortably situated financially, and has one of the finest houses in Liberty.
E EDWARD W. WILLIAMS. our subject, has a commodious and most attractive home at Brookfield, Mo., where he and his accom- plished wife dispense a genuine Southern hospital- ity. Such a home and such surroundings are the reward of a life that has been spent in industry and honesty, and those who know Mr. Williams will attest that he deserves his good fortune. He was born in Windham, Ohio, October 5. 1827, and spent his days upon the old home place until 1815. and in the county of his birth until 1873, when he came to Linn County, and bought eighteen acres where he now lives, within the corporate limits of Brookfield. Our subject is the son of Col. Ephraim L. Williams, a native of Massachusetts, and a Colonel of the War of 1812, who settled in Ohio in 1817. Our subject had, during twenty years of his life in Ohio, been a breeder of Shorthorn cattle and of Leicestershire sheep, and of the for- mer he brought seventy with him to Missouri when he first came. These were about the first cattle of their breed introduced in Linn County. and the people did not take very kindly to them. opposition coming from the business men of the town. Eastern men being even more bostile than Missourians. After about six yours, he disposed
of them by selling them in Kansas. Beside his cattle business, he has done some business in con- tracting and building.
Our subject was married December 25, 1818, at Windham, in his native State, to Almira L. Smith. who was born in Middlefield, Mass. Mr. and Mrs. Williams have had ave children, but have been so unfortunate as to lose four of them in early life. and the fifth, a daughter, May, who married Ilobert E. Rider in 1882, died September 13, 18>3. The parents of Mr. Rider came to Missouri with him and died here; their niece, Sarah Rossman. ako accompanied them, and lived here several years, but is now married and living in Massachu- setts. Mr. Williams is an original Republican. having been an active and influential worker in that party ever since its birth. taking an earnest part in campaigns in Missouri just as in Ohio. In the latter State he had been identified with the great men of the party, among whom was Previ- dent Garfield, who was his warm. personal friend. Cur subject was a member of the convention in 1862 that nominated Garfield for Congress, and the contest was so close that Garfield won by one vote and that was cast by a man who was directly influenced by Mr. Williams. Our subject is an astute, far-seeing and most valuable political ad- viser. Mrs. Williams is a devout and active mem- ber of the Presbyterian Church, where her service in Christian work are Inghly appreciated.
Our subject went out in April. 1861, with a company of national guards, raised at Windham. They formed a part of the One Hundred and Sey- enty-first Ohio Regiment and their chief duty was the guarding of prisoners at Johnson's Island. The command participated in the action at Keller's Bridge, a light lasting from seven o'clock until noon, in which seven hundred I'nion soldiers were pitted against three thousand five hundred of Mor- gan's command. Our subject's regiment was cap- tured in this encounter and they were started South with their captors, but next day were overhauled by Gen. Breekinridge, who was following after. and they were paroled and returned to Johnson's Island. It was subsequently learned that the regi- ment had been sent out in response to a telegram calling for the best regiment and a good battery
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to go to some point in Kentucky. This telegram proved to have been sent by Morgan himself for the purpose of entrapping the regiment. as was done when, proceeding on their way. they had reached the burnt bridge near Cynthiana. the Union soldiers being in entire ignorance of the proximity of the great raider. The object of Morgan was to get the soldier- away from John- son's Island, and then, by a bold dash, to capture Cineinnati, and release the three thousand five hundred prisoners at Johnson's I-land. a scheme that might have been successful had he not stop- ped to fight at the bridge. Greeley's "American Conflict" says the One Hundred and Seventy-first was cowardly for not fighting longer; yet this is indignantly denied by thousands. who call the soldiers heroes. They stood out five hours, being only seven hundred against three thousand five hundred, and lost but thirteen killed, while the enemy had ninety killed. The gallant commander of the One Hundred and Seventy-first Regiment was Col. Aspen, whose memory is cherished by the survivors.
ACOB E. COWDERY. With the increase in population, refinement and wealth through- out the United States, has arisen a growing demand for the blending of the artistic and the beautiful with the utilitarian in architecture. The result has been extremely gratifying to the advocates of progress in this important profession. Among those who have acquired a wide reputa- tion for their skill and artistic conception as architects, ranks Jacob E. Cowdery, a description of whose work often appears in the Scientific Ameri- can and other periodicals.
Mr. Cowdery was born in Meig- County, Ohio, December 20. 1836, and is a son of Charles B. and Charlotte ( Packard) Cowdery. The paternal grand- father, Jacob Cowdery. was born and reared in Connecticut, and was a soldier of the Revolution- ary War. His wife bore the maiden name of Abi- gail Olmstead Beckwith, and was born in 1766.
She often told the subject of this sketch that she heard the first gun fired at Lexington. Mass .. in 1775, at the breaking out of hostilities between England and the Colomes. Charles B. Cowdery followed the occupation of farming throughout life, but was also of quite an inventive turn of mind. Ile was a Jaeksonian Democrat. of uncom- promising stripe. up to the day of his death at the age of about sixty-three years. His wife was from a prominent New Hampshire family. To this wor- thy couple eleven children were born, five son- and six daughters, eight of whom are now living. Jacob E. being the eldest.
Jacob E. Cowdery remained with his parent- until he attained his twenty-fourth year. during which time he obtained a thorough and practical education. He devoted his attention to teachinz the "young idea" in the rural district of his nativ .. county for about seven winters. with the excer- tion of two terms, when he followed the same oc- cupation in Scott and Clinton Counties. Iowa. April 11, 1861, he married Miss Louisa L. Water- man, a daughter of David B. Waterman, who was also born in Connecticut, but resided in Athen- County, Ohio. Her paternal grandfather was the celebrated Dr. Waterman of Revolutionary fame. Hler maternal grandfather was a son of a German nobleman, who disinherited him on account of hi- marriage with a second wife, who succeeded in in- dueing him to disinherit his first wife's children and bestow his property upon hers. He was born near Stuttgart. Wurtemberg, and wa- for a time a soldier in the service of Holland. participating in a war between that country and England. after which he emigrated to America.
Mrs. Cowdery was born in Athens County, Ohio. November 15. 1839. She received excellent ad- vantages in her youth, was highly intellectual and both she and her husband taught school in Iowa for some time after their marriage. Her people we're all members of the Methodist Church and ex- ceptionally devoted to their creed. Iler union with Mr. Cowdery resulted in the birth of three children. one of whom died in his ninth year. Jo- sie I ... who was born August 8. 1862. married .... -eph T. Duncan, of Clay County. Mo .. and is restdi- ing in Greenville, of this State. She was a site.
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eessful teacher in the public schools of Clay County prior to her marriage, and also taught in Excelsior Springs and elsewhere for some time after her marriage. Edith. the third child. was born sep- tember 11, 1871, and married Frank E. Rose, who is now a painter and decorator of Richmond. Ray County. Mo. She is a talented portrait artist in oil. Mr. and Mrs. Rose have two children. Edna. two years old, and Clarice, an infant. Mrs. Dun- can has a daughter, Gladys, who was born Septem- ber 2, 1886.
In 1886 Mr. Cowdery removed with his family. to Greenville. Mo., from Towa, and has since de- voted his attention to his architectural work and to contracting. In 1888 he came to Excelsior Springs, where he bought property and ereeted thereon a beautiful residence, but at the present time is residing in Richmond. Ray County. He is a solid Republiean, and while a resident of Cedar County, lowa, he filled the office of Township Clerk. being honored by re-elections until he had served seven years. Ile then of his own accord resigned to remove with his family to Missouri. In the different localities in which he has resided his course has been marked by earnest purpose and useful activity, and for integrity and probity no man in Missouri stands higher. lle and his fam- ily are members of the Christian Church. and he is one of its most active workers and liberal sup- porters, in fact, all enterprises that are worthy re- eeive patronage at his hands. He is a credit to the section in which he resides. and this fact the wide-awake citizens of Richmond have not been slow to recognize.
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LLEN M. FOWLER is a retired merchant and county official who is making his home in Richmond, Ray County. Ile was born in Grape Grove Township of the same county, March 26. 1852, and is a son of Thomas B. Fowler, a native of Tennessee, who was born in Bedford County in the year 1st6, and was a prominent merchant for many years. He came to this county in 1831. locating at Millville many
years later. in 1856, where he engaged in general merchandising until 1872. At that date he was elected Collector of the county and removed to Richmond to take charge of the office. In 1>7t he was re-elected and died before his term had ex- pired on September 16, 1875. Ilis father, Samuel Fowler, was a native of North Carolina, who fol- lowed the tide of immigration Westward, going first to Tennessee and afterward coming to Mis- souri, passing his last days in Ray County. Ile was of Scotch-Irish deseent and a thoroughly re- speeted and prominent man.
The mother of our subject, whose maiden name was Emily Thompson. was born in Knoxville Township. Ray County, being a daughter of Jo- seph and Aun Thompson. On her mother's site she was of German origin. Mrs. Fowler and her husband were devoted members of the Christian Church. Her death occurred in Millville in Au- gust. 1858. Mr. Fowler was carlier in life a Whig and later an ally of the Democratic party.
Our subject is the youngest in a family of eight children, of whom five are living. Anna E. is now Mrs. Graham; Sarah F. is the wife of II. C. Pettis: May V. married William S. Seymour; and Octavia L. is the wife of Dr. W. M. Quarles. Allen M. was reared in Ray County, spending his early boyhood in Millville, and there attending the pubhe school. He later pursued a course of study for one year in the State University at Columbia. Mo .. after which he entered his father's office as a clerk. and in the fall of 1873. after the latter's death. our subject was appointed to fill the unexpired term. In 1876 he was elected Collector of the county and served in that capacity for two years. On retiring from that position he embarked in the mercantile busi- ness with George 1. Wasson. under the firm name of Wasson & Fowler, which connection lasted two years, when the partner sold out his interest to a Mr. Ewing. This firm continued to do business until 1883, when Benjamin Keel purchased Mr. Ewing's interest and became a member of the firm. In the fall of 1885 the business was sold out. Just a year previous to this Mr. Fowler was elected County Treasurer for a term of two years, and on the expiration of his official duties he formed a partnership in 1886 with I. Il. Percival to carry
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on a hardware and furniture business. This they did successfully until the summer of 1889, when our subjeet sold his interest, and, retiring from the firm, was made Assistant Cashier in the Exchange Bank, which place be held until July, 1892.
On New Year's Day, 1880, a marriage ceremony was performed which united the destinies of Al- len M. Fowler and Miss Mand 11. Wilson, of Ray County, who is a daughter of Andrew and Rhoda A. (Crain) Wilson. Two children grace this union, Thomas B. and Rhodell. The pleasant home of the family is situated on Thornton Avenue, where their many friends are at all times welcomed and pleasantly entertained by the hospitable inmates. Our subject is a Democrat, and fraternally, belongs to Richmond Lodge, 1. O. O. F.
E DWARD M. WILLIAMS, one of the largest stock dealers of the county of Chariton, Mo., and a man who stands high in the estimation of the public in every way. is the subject of this sketch. Mr. Williams is a lover of the State of Missouri, for within its borders he was reared. having been born in the township of Salisbury, Chariton County. April 22, 1841. The interesting sketch containing the family history of our sub- ject appears in another part of this volume, and it shows from what sterling ancestors our subject ob- tained his excellent qualities. He was the fourth in a family of ten children, and early learned to toil, thus fixing habits of industry and economy which have done him good service in his after life.
The education of our subject was obtained in the pioneer log schoolhouse, with its slab benches and huge chimney, and under the watchful eye of a master who was expected not only to enlighten the understanding, but aiso to correct the tempers and form the manners of the hapless pupils. Mr. Williams remained at home until the death of his father, when he took charge of the farm. Ile went into hemp raising at first. later raised tobacco and finally engaged in raising stock.
After purchasing the old farm from the other heirs, our subject bought more land and added to
it until now he is owner of some eighteen hundred aeres in the vicinity, and one hundred acres in one body. Ilis residence on Broadway and Sixth Street is the finest one in this city, and his grounds are watered by the east fork of the Chariton River. The barns and tenant houses on his place are well looked after, and in consequence are in fine condi- tion. In late years he has engaged extensively in the raising of horses. Cotswold sheep and Shorthorn cattle. lle located in the city in 1888, but still carries on the farm.
In dealing in real estate, our subject has had much success. In partnership with M. R. Williams. he laid out the Williams Addition to the city, con- sisting of eleven acres of land, and this is now all built up. The location of the farm is five miles to the south of the city, and all of it is considered good wheat land, much of it being what is called bot- tom land. and upon it he has the best of improve- ments. In 1882, Mr. Williams became one of the promoters of the Chariton and Montana Cattle Company, with a capital stock of $125.000. He was made one of the Directors and went out there to start the business in that fine grazing country. remaining for three months. The company now have from five to seven thousand cattle there and a great many horses. Our subject is interested in a new town at New Decatur, Ala., and owns shares in it, and is also a stockholder in the Bank of Salis- bury and in the North Missouri Institute, of which he is one of the Directors.
April 12, 1871, occurred the marriage of Mr. Williams and Anna E. Allen, who was born in this township, the accomplished daughter of John HI. Allen. of Mercer County, and the granddaughter of Dr. Allen, an old physician of this county, where he ministered to the people until his lamented death. Her father, who was a farmer here, had served in the Mexican War under Col. Price, who was later made a General. He was a Baptist in his religious convictions. The mother of Mr -. Will- iams was Miss Elizabeth Hayes before marriage, a native of this State and county, and a daughter of Robert Hayes; the latter, a native of Kentucky. was a farmer all of his life. Mrs. Williams wa- the eldest of six children and was educated at De- catur, III. She is a lady of rare charm of manner
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and makes for her husband a home worthy of hin. A part of her leisure is given to charitable work in the Baptist Church, of which she is a member. !!! politics, Mr. Williams is a Democrat and in this connection he is as true and honest as in all other relations of life. Liberal and kind-hearted. he de- ; servedly stand- high in the estimation of the com- munity.
OSEPH BAIER, a member of the firm of Baier & Haysler, wholesale and retail deal- ers in meats, is a successful business man of Salisbury. He was born March 8. 1835, in the village of Weigheim, Wurtemberg. Germany, where both father and grandfather before him had been born, and where they both died. His grand- father followed the occupation of a farmer, while the father made a specialty of stock-raising, and died in 1881 at the age of seventy years. The mother of our subject was named Mary ( Werner) Baier, and was born in Baden, Germany, where she died at the age of seventy years. She had been a devoted member of the Roman Catholic Church, and was the mother of sixteen children, only four of whom survive.
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Our subject was the eldest of the family, and was the only one who made a home in America. He was reared in Germany, where he received his education in the excellent schools and worked on the farm. He had read of the United States, and through correspondence with friends had found out something of the resources of the land beyond the sea, and at the age of seventeen he decided to emigrate to the New World.
In the spring of 1852, Mr. Baier left Havre on a sailing-ve-sel, and after a voyage of seventy days reached New Orleans, but not without mishap. Off the coast of Cuba the vessel was injured so that she sunk on a rock, but was pumped ont. raised, and the passengers again set sail. All of the pro- visions had been spoiled. hence there was a great scarcity of food during the latter part of the journey. From New Orleans our subject went
up the river to St. Louis and commenced to learn: the trade of blacksmith, but was taken sick, and after recovery made his way to Glasgow. There with nis unele Philip he engaged in the maible business, and remained thus occupied for two years. Afterward he was apprenticed to learn the butcher business under Joseph Stendens, in which capacity he continued for three years. Ile then became a clerk in a grocery store at Glasgow, and for four years was in the employ of Stillman & Phipps.
Just at that time great excitement was occa- sioned by the report of vast treasures to be found on Pike's Peak, and our subject was prepared to journey thither, but fortunately he heard of the disappointment of those who had gone and aban- doned the idea. He then engaged in business for one year. The desire to travel and investigate for himself induced him in 1860 to take a trip to Colorado. With two wagons and four mules he started overland alone, crossing the Missouri at st. Joseph. reaching the Platte at Ft. Kearney, and by way of Ft. Laramie arriving in Denver. The trip consumed six months, and oftentimes he was in close quarters with the Indians. From Denver he made his way to the mines of California Gulch, and thence to Frying-pan Gulch. At the latter place he did a thriving business as butcher for three months, and then went down the Arkansas River, where he prospected and mined. It was necessary to lie out all night wherever he happened to be at work, and to carry wood for fuel one-half mile. While the mines were productive. the necessities were so expensive that he did not get much ahead, and the frost soon compelled him to stop work.
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