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 86
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 86
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 86
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 86
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 86
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HARLES I. BRANHAM, the enterprising and popular young shipper and stock-buyer. now a leading citizen of Orrick. Ray County. Mo., although young in years has enjoyed an extended and practical business experience and has already prosperonly won his way up to a -- sured success. Our subject is a native of the State
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and was born in Hannibal Inly 1. 1860. His father. Henry F. Branham, a carpenter by tiade. was a successful and well-known contractor and builder of Paris, Mo., there residing for sixty-one years, but he now lives with his son William in Madison, Mo. Father Branham was born in Washing- ton County, Ky., November 6, 1821. The mother was Miss Eliza Buchanan, born in Illinois in 1832. She lived to become the mother of twelve children and passed away in Madison. Mo., in 1881. Ten sons and two daughters comprised the family. and of the brothers and sisters nine are yet surviving.
Mrs. Branham's father, Sylvester Buchanan, was the first white settler of Hannibal and estab- lished the first steamboat landing at that place. Ile was a man of executive ability and literary at- tainments and edited and printed the first news- paper ever published in the city. His three sons fitted themselves for steamboat pilots and are yet in that service. Our subject received the advant- age of a good education and since attaining his majority has been successfully engaged in business for himself. When twenty-one years of age he went to Macomb, Ill., and ran a sawmill and threshing-machine for six years. At the expira- tion of this period of time he went to Chama. N. M., and remained there one year. His farm of one hundred and sixty acres in Mahaska, Kan .. next claimed his attention for two years, and he then accepted a situation in Kansas City. working in Swift's Packing Company as chief of their fire department. Two years later he came to Orrick, where he has since successfully engaged in his present profitable occupation.
I'pon the 3rd of November. 1892. occurred the marriage of Charles II. Branham and Miss Laura L. Blythe. Mrs. Branham was one of the most popular young ladies of Ray County, and the young couple, both social favorites, received the best wishes and hearty congratulations of a host of friends. William R. Blythe, the father-in- law of our subject, was born in Tennessee, July 18, 1803, and was educated in his native State. Ile came to Ray County when twenty years of age, but after a time returned again to Tennessee, and it was not until 1826 that he entered land. a part of the present homestead, and became a permanent
settler of Missouri. A genuine pioneer, he exper- ienced the privations and hardship- incidental to life upon the frontier. but was later rewarded by financial prosperity, and at his death owned over thirteen hundred acres of valuable land, upon which he had erected a handsome and commodi- outs residence and substantial barns and outbuild- ings. The fine homestead, well watered. neatly fenced and kept in thorough order, was one of the most attractive pieces of farming property within the borders of the State.
Mr. Blythe was first married to Miss Diadama Fletcher, daughter of David and Rebecca Fletcher. of Indiana. This worthy lady was born chine 9. 1811, and was the mother of five children. of whom but two survive: Thomas, and Rebecca .I .. the wife of C. W. Stokes, who now lives near the old homestead. Mrs. Diadama ( Fletcher) Blythe died November 8. 1815. January 5. Ists. 3h. Blythe married Miss Leannah Riffe, daughter of John and Polly A. Riffe, natives of Kentucky. Mr -. Blythe was born in Casey County Ky .. in Febu- ary, 1823. The nine children of this second union were: John L., born July 29, 1819, and now a prominent business man of Orrick; James W .. horn September 1. 1850, killed by a runaway team. April 14. 1880; an infant born in September. 1853. and who died in October of the same year: Elizabeth 1., born on the 10th of October, 1854. wife of C. R. Kirkham, a prosperous farmer of Ray County; Robert D., born June 2. 1857: Franklin R., born September 1. 1859. died Angust 8. 1860; Sarah E .. born May 16, 1863; Martha Il .. born December 8. 1865: and Laura L .. born April 25. 1869, the wife of our subject and the youngest of the large family. Mr. Blythe represented Ray County in the General Assembly from 1>40 to 1812, and was State Senator from 1842 to 1816. discharging the duties of each position with abil- ity. honor and fidelity to his constituents and the general public.
Mr. Blythe also served with distinction in the Black Hawk War and was First Lieutenant in Capt. Clark's Company. From a friendhes hoy. poor and unknown, he rose to honor and high usefulness and became a prominent and wealthy man and leading citizen, leaving at his death a
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large estate of worldiy goods and bequeathing to his children also the remembrance of his successful career, untarnished by dishonest word or derd. His valuable property, personal and real. has been . divided among the various heirs, the widow re- taining the old homestead, where she still resides, and which is hallowed to her as the place where her husband lived and died. Mrs. Branham, a most agreeable and cultured lady, and possessed of a high order of ability, is a true home companion and yet a leader in the social circles of her locality, where she is universally beloved and highly es- teemed. Mr. Branham is a progressive man of to-day and, politically a Democrat, is an enthus- iastie supporter of the party. In all matters of `publie progress and reform he is ever ready to do his part and is a genuine representative American citizen, patriotic, earnest and self-reliant.
HOMAS S. KITCHEN, one of the most pros- perous farmers of Chariton County, Mo .. resides in great comfort upon his fine farm of five hundred acres, located on section 30, town- ship 51. range 16. During his life he has seen many States, and has lived in various widely sep- arated parts of the country; but when he came to found a home in which to pass his declining years, the State of Missouri and the county of Chariton were selected as the most desirable places of them all.
Our subjeet was born in North Carolina in 1817, a son of Moses and Polly Kitchen, who were also North Carolinians. The paternal grandfather of our subject, Thomas S. Kitchen, followed the trade of blacksmith in his native State. where the grand- father on the maternal side, Thomas Stephens, also lived. The latter was one of the soldiers of the Revolutionary War, and the father took part in the War of 1812, receiving a grant of land in Lin County, Mo., for his services.
Our subject is one in a family of cleven children. three of whom are yet living beside our subject. These are: Sallie C .. born in North Carolina in
1827. and married to William Puffett: Cornelia. born in North Carolina in 1829, married to .1- Gunn. and residing in Chariton County, where Mr. Gunn owns extensive coal fields; and Pamela A., born in Missouri in 1833, married to David Burton, and residing in Randolph County.
Mr. Kitchen was educated in the subscription school of North Carolina, and came to this county with his father, where they cleared land. built cabins and together hunted deer. he remaining with his parents until he was twenty-two years of age. At this time he married, and moved upon a tract of land one mile from the old homestead. In 1843 he lost his wife, and on account of this trouble his brother bought his land, so that he was free to go as he wished. \ surveying party was abont starting for Texas, and he joined this and assisted in the survey of the land at Ft. Worth. Tex. Coming back home after the work was a- complished, he then took a trip to Oregon, remain- ing there for two years engaged in farming, and this brought him to the time of the great gold ex- citement in 1849. With thousands of others he went to California, remaining fourteen months. when, in 1850, he once more came back to good old Missouri. Our subject had been more fortun- ate than many who started out with as high hopes. for he brought back with him the sum of $1.543 as a result of his labors. With this capital he pur- chased a tract of seventy acres of land. paying for it $21 per acre.
However, this acquisition did not satisfy our subject, for he has been increasing his posession- ever since, adding tract after tract, until at the present time be owns five hundred choice acres of Missouri land, which is valued at $25 per acre. During the late war he faithfully served in the Confederate army until the last year, doing his full duty and setting an example of heroic con- duet worthy of more extended mention. His pa- litical allegiance is with the Democratic party, and in its ranks he is held as a worthy member. alway- having taken an active part in it- deliberation- in the county.
Our subject first married Mary Mellaigue, who was born in Kentucky in 1820; but Mrs. Kitchen died in 1813. as before stated. having two chil-
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dren, one of whom, John, was born in Chariton County, Mo., in 1812. married Malinda Wheeler, and is now a practicing physician in Oregon. Af- ter living thirteen years a widower, our subject married Miss Mary Best, a native of Chariton County, born in 1837. The marriage took place in 1856, and they had the following children: Laura, born in Chariton County in the year 1857, married Isaac Sanders, and died in the year 1880; Moses, born in Missouri in 1859, married Lizzie Hickerson, and they reside in Chariton County; Thomas J. was born in Missouri in 1861, married Miss Mollie Skinner, and lives in Chariton County; Henry and Gilliam are both dead; Elizabeth, born in Missouri, died at the age of twenty; Martha is * also dead; Lottie was born in Missouri, and mar- ried Henry Teeter, and resides at home; David B. is dead. and Samuel T. resides at home. These children were all educated in Chariton County.
ARREN D. CRANDALL. "Of good re- port among his neighbors" -one can seareely hope for more than this, and this can truthfully be said of the Postmaster of Brook- field, Mo., the subject of this sketch, who was born at Manlius, Onondaga County, N. Y., July 8, 1838. At the age of four. in 1812, he went with his par- ents to Marine, Madison County, Ill .. where he was reared and received his schooling. His father, Daniel Crandall. was a native of Vermont. and a skilled and industrious carpenter and builder.
While a student at Jacksonville College the toe- sin of war sounded and our subject promptly aided in forming a company at Marine in July. 1861. The Illinois quota being filled. it was taken to the Arsenal at St. Louis, and became Company D), Ninth Missouri Regiment. our subject being made First Lieutenant. In February, 1>d2. thi- regi- ment became the Fifty-ninth Ilinois, the campaign up to this time having been in southwestern Mis- souri, under Col. Kelton, now Adjutant-General. Previous to this, in the fall of 1861, it had been sent West to relieve Lexington. Mo., where Mulli- gan surrendered; it wintered at La Mine, Mo.,
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after marching South to dislodge Price at Spring- tield. Price again occupying Springfield, again the troops marched there to dislodge him. and took part in the battle of Pea Ridge, where the younger brother of our subject was killed. Lieut. Crandall was in command of the company during this campaign, the Captain having fallen into dis- grace. llis company, which had taken the name of the Fifty-ninth just before the battle, was hotly engaged and several were killed.
Our subject, with five other officers and fifty men, was detailed in April, 1862. from the regiment, not knowing what for. but expecting a secret service. At West Plains, Howell County, he took charge of a body of one hundred prison- ers, taking them to Rolla, where they were placed in prison; then the little command proceeded by rail to New Albany, Ind., at which place each of the six officers was placed in command of a vessel to go on the Mississippi River. under command of Capt. Ellet; Col. Ellet, a brother of the captain, was placed in command of the fleet. Secretary of the Navy Welles had refused to rec- ognize the scheme, but Secretary Stanton gave it encouragement. They were drilled in a peculiar manner. the design being to run down the rebel boats. About May 1, they dropped down to Cairo and went on to Ft. Pillow, whence the little fleet followed the rebel vessels to Memphis after Ft. Pillow was abandoned, the rams being re- quired to tow coal barges. June 6, 1862, the little flotilla formed into line to go down the river. Our subjeet left his barge and was on the ground soon enough to see several rebel vessels sunk. Col. Ellet's vessel had stranded and signalled Lient. Crandall to come alongside. to carry a letter demanding the surrender of the city of Memphis. Under the flag of truce he called upon the Mayor, the party consisting of Lieut. Crandall. a medical cadet and two men. The Hut was crowded with people, witnessing the battle, a- the boats had drifted below the city. Mayor Park wrote out his reply, and then declared it would be dangerous to place the flag upon the post-office. No heed. was given to this warning: the roof was reached, and in the absence of a ilay- staff a pine plank was split, the two end- - plevi
PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
and the Stars and Stripes waved over the building. The little party was fired upon and the Mayor urged them to de-ist. but they stood by their col- ors. Soon after Lieut. Crandall and a companion returned to the boat. secured all the men and placed a guard over the post-office. The citizens had scattered on hearing the explosion of the "Little Rebel" on the river. some two hours later Indiana troops landed and took possession of the city. Time bring its changes: recemle our subject visited the city of Memphis with the Mis- souri Press Association and he was most hospitably entertained by the citizens where thirty years be- fore effort had been made to kill him.
The following winter the Mississippi Marine . Brigade was formed with Lieut. Crandail as Cap- tain and Assistant Adjutant-General, this com- mand doing very efficient service on the river up to and after the Red River expedition and the sur- render of Vicksburg. Later Gen. Rosecrans placed Capt. Crandall on his staff, where he remained until November. 1864, when he was ordered to re- port to the front on the James River, to fill a vacancy caused by the death of some captain. After three and a-half years of service. he resigned at the close of 1864, and returned to St. Louis.
Completing the study of law at st. Louis, our subject was admitted to the Bar in 1865: and, hav- ing two cousins at Brookfield, he came here and practiced law for ten years: later, in 1867. he bought the Gazette, which he edited and conducted until he was made Postmaster by President Har- rison, June 15, 1889, when he sold a one-half interest, and one year later sold out entirely. Capt. Crandall was married October 8, 1863. at St. Lonis, to Miss Georgie Nance. a teacher in the St. Louis schools, who was born at Boston. Mass.
OHIN FRAZIER i- now the owner of forty- three acres of his father's old homestead in township 52. range 27. Ray County, which he is engaged in carrying on successfully. He was born near Lexington Landing. Ky., Febru- ary 22, 1838, and is ason of Eli and Mary (Ar-
buckle) Frazier. The former was a son of Jauin . Frazier, and was born in Anderson County. Ky .. where he grew to manhood on a farm and received common-school privileges. Hle was married in his young manhood in his native State. and a few years later removed to the West with his wife and one child, locating in Ray County as early as 1830. coming the entire distance with teams. He took up Government land. where he remained un- til removing, in 1853, to the farm now ocenpied by our subject. Ilis occupation throughout life was farming and stock-raising. He was a member of the Baptist Church, while his wife belonged to the Christian denomination. He was a life-long Democrat and at one time a member of a county grange.
Our subject is the youngest of three children. hi- brothers being Jackson., and Thomas, who i- now deceased. After his father's death. he -total out to make his own way in the world. being then thrown entirely upon his own resources. lle re- ceived such education as he could obtain in the old-fashioned log schoolhouse in the frontier. Some years previous to the death of his father. he rented a portion of his farm and here he has since resided, devoting himself to its cultivation and proper management. He is successful in agricul- tural lines, having been brought up to that kind of occupation, and having been thoroughly famil- iar with the practical details of the same from his earliest recollection. The bountiful crops which his fields yield him, and the profits of his other farm products, now amply repay him for all pre- vious trouble.
Mr. Frazier was first married to a second con-in. Margaret A., daughter of Pitman and su-an Frazier. To them were born four children: Auna E., Susie R. Luther E. and Virgil F. The wife and mother was called to the home beyond about the year 1875, and some three years later our stil- ject married Leah. daughter of Jo-hua and Nancy (Jerrid) Morris, who were both born in the ofl Dominion, but soon after their marriage removed to this State, locating in Ray County, where Mrs. Frazier was born. Her mother is a member of the Christian Union Church, but both our subject and his wife are devoted members of the Methodist
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Episcopal Church. In his political belief, Mr. Frazier is a thorough-going Democrat, and person- ally has the good-will and respect of his fellow- citizens and neighbors.
AMES B. GATES, our subject, has followed a natural attachment for that noble animal, the horse, the employment of his life hav- ing been the caring for equines. His livery, feed and sale barn at Brookfieldl is an establish- ment that would be creditable to a city of ten times the size of Brookfield; while his carriages and other vehicles, and his excellent horses, will compare favorably with those in any city, how- ever large. Ile began his business November 1, 1877. and has about $7.000 invested in the liverv department, exclusive of the buying and st liing department, he shipping quite a number of horses on his own account. He possesses twenty fine ve- hicles, and uses twenty-eight superior horses in his livery. He also does a funeral business, hav- ing some fine hearses. both black and white.
Our subject was born in Macon County, Mo., three miles south of Cullon, May 10, 1849, his father, William Gates, being one of the first set- tlers of Macon County, going there from Illinois. The parents of our subject have been dead a num- ber of years. Mr. Gates lived upon the farm until he was fourteen. when he went to Macon City, where for several years he was engaged in the selling of groceries. After this, hespent five years upon a farm south of Callao, and then came to Brookfield, which has been his home ever since. February 16, 1875, he was married to Miss Mol- lie Owens, of Macon County, the fruits of the marriage being the following: Charles Roy. Rose, Thomas Cleveland: Blossom, who died at the age of eighteen months; and JJohnnie aged one year.
The religious views of Mr. and Mrs. Gates are in consonance with the doctrines of the Christian Church, in which body they are active members. Mr. Gates is a Democrat, and takes interest in the contests between the great parties; but he is in no sense a politician. His success in business is due
to a elever, accommodating spirit, as well to a thorough understanding of horses and the needs of the pabtie. He has made a study of horses. and cannot be deceived by tricks of jockey -. or by the dishonesty of stockmen. His dealings are square and upright. and those who have once dealt with lim prefer to resume those relations when oc- casion again arises.
ILLIAM E. THOMAS is a resident of Bo- gard, Carroll County, where he is a dealer in lumber, window sashes, hardware. farm implements and wagons. He is the son of William W. Thomas, who was born in Missouri. and whose father, Elisha, was a native of Kentucky. The mother of our subject bore the maiden matte of Belle Hundley, and was born in Kentucky. and came to Missouri at the age of six years.
William E. Thomas, whose name heads this sketch, is one of the native sons of Carroll County, where his birth occurred in January, 1868. His youth was passed in the usual work and play of farmer lads, and his early education was that of the district schools.
Ife further pursued his studies for one year in Stanberry College, in Stanberry. Gentry County. of this State, which institution of learning he en- tered at the age of nineteen years. I'pon finish- ing hi- school days, Mr. Thomas turned hi- atten- tion to farming for a time, but soon concluded to adopt a mercantile life. In 1889 he accordingly located in Bogard, where for two years he engaged in merchandising in partnership with John Math- ieson. under the firm name of Mathieson & Thomas. In 1891 he embarked in his present business on his own account, and has now a flourishing trade. supplying much of the surrounding county.
In 1890. Mr. Thomas was united in marriage with Miss Mary Walker, whose father, A. W. Walker. is a well-known citizen of Bogard. The union of our subject and his wife has been blessed with two children, who are called respectively Alexander R. and Ruth, and who are the sunshine and joy of their parents' home. Mr. Thomas uses his right
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of franchise in favor of the Republican party. of which he is a stanch ally. He takes an important part in the advancement of all enterprise- for the welfare and improvement of Bogard, and is num- bered among its best citizens.
R IFUS J. CLARK, our subject, was a brave soldier in the Union army during the late war, since which time he has followed the peaceful pursuits of a farmer. and in both callings has gained the approval of all who know him. He was born in Clay County. Mo .. in 1810. and is a son of Ransler Clark. a native of Ken- tneky, who was born in 1790. The latter was a son of Phineas Clark. a native of New York, who emigrated to Lexington. Ky .. and thence to Mi- souri. finally dying near St. Louis. He was a farmer by occupation. a stonemason by trade, and a Baptist preacher. After a life of much useful- ness he died at a good old age. Ilis wife bore the Christian name of Charlotte.
Ransler Clark. our subject's father. learned the trade of a stonemason in his youth, and followed it in connection with farming throughout his life. Ile remained with his parents until he was twenty- one, when he struck out for himself, and seven years later. in 1818. near Lexington. Mo .. mar- ried Nancy Tarwater. a native of Tennessee. and the daughter of Jacob and Sallie (Rollen ) Tar- water, natives respectively of Pennsylvania and Tennessee. In the year last named. in company with Frank MeGuire and Mathew Rollen, all hay- ing their families with them. he came in wagons to Ray County. and settled in the Missouri River Bottoms, near the present site of Orrick. His death occurred at the age of about fifty year -. Jacob Tarwater bought a large tract of land and owned fifteen slaves. He was a member of a lodge of Master Ma-on -.
The children of Ransler Clark are as follows: Sarah, wife of Jefferson Turner; Ephraim: Jere- miah; Margaret. wife of Lilburn C. Harris: Mary. deceased, wife of L. C. Harris: Hiram; and Ru- ! fus .. , our subject. From his fifteenth year up-
ward the latter has been the support of his widowed mother. and has always resided with her. she now being with him on his home farm. lle received his education in a cabin built of round elm logs, with a fire-place stretched across one end of the room. slab seats, and desks of slabs rest- ing upon wooden pins driven into the wall.
Our subject was married, at the age of twenty- seven years. to Mary A .. daughter of Aiden and Elizabeth J. (Click) Humbird. all natives of Coche County, Tenn. The father was a farmer and re- moved with his family to Arkansas and thence to Ray County. Mo .. in 1866, where he purchased land. upon which he lived until his death. Mrs. Clark was one of six children, namely: William: Mary A .; Julia, wife of Robert McCorkel: Louisa. wife of Patrick Vaughn: George: and Margaret. de- ceased. wife of Isaac Smart. Nine children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Clark, of when one died in infancy. The others are Darthulia. Mary. Howard L., Ollie, Nora, Decatur, Othir and Doatie. Our subject remained on his mother's farm until fifteen years ago, when he purchased his pres- ent one of one hundred and two aeres situated in township 52, range 27. Ray County. He and his wife are very prominent members of the Mis- sionary Baptist Church of Richmond. Politically. he is a warm supporter of the Republican party. HIe and his four brothers were in the Union army. he enlisting for one year in Company B. Forty- fourth Regiment. under Col. Bradshaw. He wa- taken sick with the measles at Rolla. Mo .. and was never again in active service, but remained in the army until July. 1865.
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