USA > Missouri > Johnson County > Portrait and biographical record of Johnson and Pettis counties, Missouri ; containing portraits and biographical sketches of prominent and representative citizens of the counties, together with biographies and portraits of all the presidents of the United States > Part 10
USA > Missouri > Pettis County > Portrait and biographical record of Johnson and Pettis counties, Missouri ; containing portraits and biographical sketches of prominent and representative citizens of the counties, together with biographies and portraits of all the presidents of the United States > Part 10
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In Kankakee County, Ill., in 1852, Mr. Burr wedded Miss Nancy P. Scott, a native of Craw- fordville, Ind. They became the parents of seven children, four of whom are still living. Abraham Lincoln, a bookkeeper, now resides in Georgia; Daniel G. is a carpenter by trade; George W., a Lieutenant of the United States army in the Ordnance Department at West Troy, N. Y., was graduated from West Point in the Class of '88, in which he ranked fourth; and Ida M. is the wife of Lieut. John H. Parker, who is stationed at Ft. Niagara, Buffalo, N. Y.
Mr. Burr removed to Sedalia in 1882, and be- gan contracting and building, which he has since continued, meeting with a well deserved success. Since his arrival he has built many residences and business blocks, and often has in his employ as many as twenty men. His workmanship is of a high order, and he always faithfully carries out his part of a contract. In the fall of 1894 he was elected Justice of the Peace on the Republican ticket, and took possession in November of the same year. His term of office will not expire until January, 1899. His office is now located at No. 210 Ohio Street. He takes an active part in politics, and has served as a delegate to many of the Republican County conventions. Religiously he is a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church,
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in the work of which he takes an active part, having served both as Steward and Class-Leader, and while in Illinois was Superintendent of the Sunday-school.
ON. WILLIAM P. HUNT, of Warrens- burg, was for four years Presiding Judge of the Johnson County Court, in which responsi- ble position he made a good record, both for him- self and his constituents. In July, 1894, he was elected President of the Bank of Warrensburg, with which he had been connected as Cashier for the previous thirteen years. In 1877 he was ap- pointed by the County Court to fill a vacancy in the office of County Collector, and at the expira- tion of the term, about two years later, he was regularly elected on the Democratic ticket to fill the place, in which he continued two years long- er. At all times he kept the interests of his con- stituents near at heart, and to the best of his ability discharged the duties that devolved upon him.
The following facts are noted concerning the ancestry of Judge Hunt. His great-grandfather, Jonathan Hunt, was a resident of Buncombe County, N. C., and by his marriage with Ailsey Berry there were born nine children. The sec- ond of these, William, our subject's grandfather, was born March 8, 1789, and died May 14, 1867. He settled in Barron County, Ky., September 12, 18II, and there married Nancy Jones, who was born June 21, 1795, and whose death occurred August 20, 1876. The couple moved to Howard County, Mo., in 1816, settling on Salt Creek, but in 1825 they went to Cooper County, and took up their residence on a farmi near Pisgah. They lived to see ten of their twelve children attain mature years and unite with the church, nine of them becoming Baptists, and the other a Presby- terian. When the aged couple were called to their final rest, they were buried in the Apper- son Cemetery, a mile east of Pisgah. William
Hunt was a successful farmer, and was a very prominent man in the Baptist Churchli, serving as a Deacon for a number of years. Politically a Whig, his sympathies were with the Union dur- ing the war.
The parents of the Judge were Jonathan and Martha (Lee) Hunt. The former was born Janti- ary 12, 1824, and was married December 12, 1844. William P. is the second of eight chil- dren by his father's first marriage. After the death of his mother, in 1862, his father again married, having one child by his second union. The only surviving daughter by the first union is Mrs. Nanny Jones, of Bonham, Tex., who has a family of three sons. About 1857 Jonathan Hunt left his native place, Cooper County, and bought a tract of Government land in Johnson County, Mo. In addition to cultivating this farm. he en- gaged iu merchandising and was fairly successful until the outbreak of the war. At that time he enlisted in the Confederate army and was wound- ed at the battle of Independence, Mo., being shot in the thigh and shoulder. In time he recovered a fair degree of health. His death occurred Jan- uary 18, 1881.
The birth of Judge Hunt occurred in Cooper County, Mo., January 8, 1847. He was the eld- est surviving child when death deprived him of a mother's care, and as his father was absent in the army, the responsibility of caring for his young- er brothers and sisters fell upon him. He there- fore received but limited educational advantages, attending the common schools and later Prairie Home Institute for about a year. Upon starting out for himself, he settled in Kingsville, where lie was succesfully engaged in business for a number of years. For a time he taught school in the country. He then had charge of the graded schools of Kingsville for a year. Afterward he was successfully engaged in the mercantile busi- ness at this place.
Coming to Warrensburg in 1872, Judge Hunt has since been closely identified with the growth and advancement of this city, being numbered among its leading citizens. It may with truth be said of him that no measure having for its ob- ject the promotion of the welfare of the people
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fails to receive his sympathy and support. A zealous Mason, he has filled all the chairs in the blue lodge of tlie Masonic order, and is a meni- ber of the Warrensburg Commandery. Active in educational affairs, he was for many years a Director of the city schools. At all times he lias been a faithful worker in behalf of state recogni- tion and aid to the Normal School of the Second District, located at . Warrensburg. He is now Treasurer of its Board of Regents. .
September 23, 1868, Judge Hunt married Miss Medora McFarland, of Pleasant Hill, Mo. She was born in Cooper County, in 1847, and was a schoolmate of the Judge in childhood. They are the parents of five children, two of whom, Annie and Louise, died in early childhood; Au- gusta, who was born in Kingsville, is a graduate of the Warrensburg State Normal. Albert Per- ry is pursuing his studies in that institution, hav- ing finished the preparatory course in 1893; Her- bert is now in the preparatory department of the normal.
Noted for his enterprising public spirit, his sterling integrity and conservative business meth- ods, Judge Hunt enjoys the respect and good will of the entire community. Always ready to help a friend, he has been especially earnest in his efforts for the advancement of young men. His life has been full of hard work, and as the results of his labors and the prosperity he has gained are due entirely to his unaided exertions, he is justly entitled to be termed self-made. Though amply successful in business, his best re- ward is in the kindly esteem in which he is uni- versally held.
OHN SHEPHERD. In the early part of 1865 Mr. Shepherd came West from Virginia and with his family settled upon some land iu township 46, range 24, where he has since re- sided. He is the owner of one of the valuable and highly improved farms of Johnson County,
and while, on account of his generous gifts to his children, his possessions are not as large as in former years, he still retains a sufficient property to provide him with a good income, insuring his declining days against poverty or care.
In that portion of the Old Dominion now in- cluded in West Virginia, the subject of this sketch was born August 8, 1814. He is the eldest child in the family of Nathaniel and Rebecca (Lewis) Shepherd, natives of Virginia, who spent their entire lives in that state, dying about 1864. The father, who was a farmer by occupation, was one of the leading men of his section, and by his up- right character and persevering industry won the regard of his associates.
In Brooke County, where he was born, our subject passed the years of boyhood in an un- eventful manner. His advantages were inferior to those enjoyed by the youth of the present generation. His educational opportunities were exceedingly limited, consisting of a brief attend- ance at the neighboring subscription schools. Reared upon a farm, he was early trained in that calling, and when the time came for him to select a life occupation he chose that with which he was most familiar. He remained with his father, assisting him in the cultivation of the home place, until his marriage, at the age of twenty-five, after which he began life's pursuits for himself. For a number of years thereafter he cultivated a farm in Brooke County, meeting with fair success in his undertakings.
Resolving to seek a home in the West, at the close of the Civil War Mr. Shepherd brought his family to Missouri, and has since made his home in Johnson County. He has been a very indus- trious and energetic agriculturist, and by economy and frugality has accumulated a considerable amount of this world's goods. To his children he has deeded some of his property, retaining in his possession a tract of ninety acres. Owing to the infirmities attendant upon advancing years, he is unable to engage in active manual labor as in days past, but still gives his personal supervision to his place, which he keeps under excellent cul- tivation.
The marriage of Mr. Shepherd in 1839 united
JUDGE W. W. WOOD.
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him with Miss Amanda M., daughter of Henry and Rhoda Stockman, natives of Virginia. Mrs. Shepherd, who was born in Wheeling, W. Va., came to Missouri with her husband, to whom she was a devoted helpmate and counselor until her death, October 15, 1894, at the venerable age of eighty. Eight children were born to them, two of whom have closed their eyes in death. Those living are Nathaniel Bruce, Joseph Warren, John Wells, Milton Lee, Basil Eugene and Clarence Elmer, all residents of Johnson County except the last-named, who lives in West Virginia.
In his religious views Mr. Shepherd holds membership in the Cumberland Presbyterian Church. From youth he has supported the prin- ciples of the Democratic party, and to these he is as true and loyal in his age as he was in boy hood. He keeps posted concerning the great questions of the present age, and in mental vigor is the equal of many men twenty years his junior. In the welfare of Johnson County and the progress of the people he has ever been warmly interested, and enterprises of a progressive nature find in him a stalwart friend.
( UDGE WILLIAM W. WOOD has been well known as a lawyer and jurist in War- rensburg for nearly a quarter of a century, and few, if any, members of the Johnson County Bar stand higher in the esteem of all. In the spring of 1875 he was appointed by Governor Hardin, of Missouri, to fill an unexpired term as Public Administrator, and in the fall of the next year, without solicitation on his part, he was nominated by the Democratic party and was duly elected, holding the position for five years, after which he refused to serve longer. In 1882 he was elected Prosecuting Attorney, was re-elected two years later, and received the nomination in 1886, but on account of the political upheaval
was defeated by a few votes. In 1892 he was elected Judge of the Seventeenth Judicial Circuit, and is frequently called into adjoining circuits to hold court. During his administration of affairs but few of his rulings have been reversed. He has always been a stauch Democrat, and has often served as a delegate to state and other conven- tions.
Judge Wood was born on a farm eight miles north of Warrensburg, May 1, 1850, and is a son of James M. and Angeline (Thornton) Wood. The former, a native of Albemarle County, Va., born January 9, 1808, was of English ancestry. He grew to man's estate in the Old Dominion, and when about twenty-five years of age removed to Saline County, Mo. There he was married, March 4, 1834, and soon afterward moved to Johnson County. His wife was born in Orange County, Va., September 12, 1817, and moved to Saline County with her parents in 1828. Mr. Thornton was an extensive slave-holder and land- owner, and was one of the second set of County Judges of Johnson County, having been elected on the Democratic ticket. James M. Wood was a Whig in political faith. His death occurred February 21, 1852, but his wife, a hale and hearty old lady, is still living, her home being in this city.
The Judge was deprived of a father's love and protection when he was a little over a year and a-half old, but his mother managed to keep the family together on the old farm. He received a fair education in select schools, but his studies were interrupted by the outbreak of the war. Among his early recollections of school days was a school taught by a Presbyterian minister in an old negro cabin. At the age of nineteen years young Wood took up the study of law, and in 1870 entered the University of Kentucky at Lex- ington, where he took the junior and senior courses in one year, graduating in 1871. Madi- son C. Johnson, one of the most eminent lawyers of Kentucky, was then at the head of the law de- partment of the university. Returning to Mis- souri, Mr. Wood opened an office for practice in Warrensburg, where he has since remained, with the exception of a short time in 1874, when he
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went to Sherman, Tex., but before long conclud- ed that there was no place better than Missouri.
May 21, 1873, Judge Wood married Eulalia, daughter of Lafayette and Mary (Cock) Cruce, of this place. Mrs. Wood was born in Henry County, Mo., January 19, 1855, and was a stu- dent in the normal school for some time. Her father was a native of Kentucky, and her mother of Virginia, and both came to this state with their parents when young. Three children have been born to the Judge and his wife: William A., De- cember 22, 1876; Ralph L., July 11, 1880; and Angeline T., April 24, 1884. The eldest son is now in the employ of the Lombard Investment Company of Kansas City.
Judge Wood and his wife are both members of the Christian Church, the former having united with the same when he was sixteen years old, and the latter when she was fourteen years of age. They are both interested workers in the various departments of religious activity, and the Judge has been a Deacon and is now an Elder in the congregation. Since 1878 he has belonged to the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, and has filled numerous chairs in the local lodge. A man who is courteous and affable to all, he wins hosts of friends, and, what is better, retains them.
G EORGE W. HOUT. For the past quarter of a century this gentleman has been classed among the enterprising and pushing busi- ness men of Warrensburg, and is one who has been greatly interested in its progress and up- building. He is now engaged in the lumber busi- ness, dealing in builders' materials, sash, blinds, etc., and specimens of his handiwork as a con- tracting carpenter are to be seen in all parts of the city and vicinity. To the latter line he gave his entire attention for a number of years after locating here, and it was not until 1880 that he opened the lumber-yard. He is a leading Demo- crat, and, though not desirous of holding official
positions, has served to the satisfaction of his con- stituents as Alderman for some ten years.
The birth of our subject occurred at Shepherds- town, Jefferson County, W. Va., August 7, 1844. His parents were David and Margaret A. (Miller) Hout, who were natives of Virginia, and both of whom are still living. The former was born in 1821, and the latter in 1824. The Hout fani- ily was of German origin. The Millers are sup- posed to be of Irish descent, though the name points to a distant German ancestry. David Hout in his youth served an apprenticeship to the car- penter's trade with a man who was also his guardian. In his keeping had been left the pat- rimony of Grandfather Hout's estate, which should have been turned over to our subject's fa- ther when he arrived at age, but the guardian proved false to his trust and no money was forth- coming. David Hout was first a Whig, and later affiliated with the Democracy.
The boyhood days of G. W. Hout were passed in the town of his birth, and, though his educa- tional privileges were not of the best, he man- aged to pick up a fair knowledge of the element- ary branches, and with this as a foundation after- ward became well informed on practical topics by reading and observation. At the age of eight- een years, in 1862, he enlisted in Company B, Second Virginia Infantry. He was in Stonewall Jackson's brigade, and with him took part in many important engagements. For some time he was a member of the band, and remained with the army until the surrender at Appomattox Court House, at which time he happened to be in that locality. In 1867 Mr. Hout decided to come West, having lived in the mean time at his old home. Proceeding direct to Warrensburg, he at once began working at his trade, which he had learned of his father. He has been quite suc- cessful in his various undertakings and possesses a secure income.
December 28, 1868, Mr. Hout and Miss Eliza G James, of this city, were married. The lady was born in 1847, in Alabama, and grew to womanhood in Mississippi, but at the time of her marriage was residing with a brother in War- rensburg. Of the six children who came to bless
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the union of this worthy couple, but three are now living, namely: Walter, Leslie and Earl. Those deceased were Burton Lockwood, Daniel Miller and India Lenore. Those living have all had good public-school advantages in this city, and are bright and intelligent young men. The family have a pleasant home, and often throw open its hospitable doors for the entertainment of their many friends.
D. DONNOHUE, who is numbered among the wide-awake and pushing young business men of Sedalia, is engaged in real-estate and loan transactions, and is Secretary of the Sedalia Loan and Security Company. Fortun- ately possessed of just those persevering and ener- getic qualities which bring sure success, he has a bright and promising future before him in the world of finance.
Capt. J. C. Donnohue, our subject's grandfa- ther, was in the Union army during the late war, and there won his title. He was born in Ken- tucky, near Mt. Sterling, and came to this county about 1835, locating in the southern part of Dresden Township. There he engaged in farm- ing until his death, which occurred in 1880, at the age of seventy years. He was a faithful mem- ber of the Christian Church. Daniel Donnohue, father of J. D., is a native of Pettis County, and at one time owned a valuable farm in Dresden Township, but now lives on the home farm in Bates County. He was also a soldier in the Union army, and fought gallantly in defense of the Old Flag. The good wife and mother, Olivia Kidd, was born in this county, being a daughter of Os- wald Kidd, who was humorously called "Captain Kidd." The latter was an early settler of George- town, and kept a hotel there for many years. Mrs. Donnohne departed this life in 1876, when our subject was but ten years of age. The other child, Marian, resides with her father.
The birth of the gentleman whose name heads this article occurred near Sedalia, December 23, 1866, where his boyhood was passed, and later he went to Bates County. After leaving the pub- lic schools he entered the Butler Academy, from which he was finally graduated. In 1887 he ob- tained a position as clerk in the freight office of the Missouri Pacific Railroad at Kansas City, and there he remained two years. In 1890 he came to this city, and, entering the firm of Porter & Van Riper, devoted his attention to the real-es- tate business for one year. In the spring of 1891 he embarked in trade on his own account and opened his present general real-estate and loan of- fice. He laid out the Donnohue & Hughes Ad- dition, comprising eighteen lots in the eastern part of the city, and twelve acres known as the Donnohue & Ramsey Addition, in the northern part of Sedalia. To the south of the city lies the Donnohue & Hoffman Addition, a tract of five acres, and in this also Mr. Donnohue is interest- ed. Besides his real estate he conducts a gen- eral loan, brokerage and financial business. In 1891 he organized the Sedalia Loan and Security Company, with a capital stock of $10,000. From the beginning he was the Secretary, and the for- mer President, P. G. Stafford, has been succeed- ed by B. F. Hughes.
Socially Mr. Donnohue is identified with the Royal Tribe of Joseph, being a charter member of the lodge, and is a Knight of Pythias. His right of franchise he exercises in favor of the Re- publican party.
ILLIAM H. NOFTSKER, who is one of the prominent business men of Sedalia, is the largest contractor in plastering in the city, and makes a specialty of laying cement sidewalks. He is a native of Pennsylvania, and was born in Shippensburg in 1855.
Henry Noftsker, the father of our subject, was
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also born in the last-mentioned town, and for many years was a plasterer. His parents were farmers by occupation, and the grandfather was also employed for some time in teaming between Baltimore and Pittsburg. Henry Noftsker died March 29, 1895, after having accumulated a goodly amount of this world's goods. He was a Democrat in politics, and a devoted member of the Evangelical Lutheran Church.
The maiden name of our subject's mother was Ann Barbara Tritt. She was born in Franklin County, Pa., and was the daughter of John Tritt, a farmer in that state. She celebrated her golden wedding in the fall of 1894, being at that time seventy-two years of age, while her husband was four years her senior. They became the parents of ten children, of whom eight are living. John T., the eldest, is engaged in business in Rock Island, Ill .; William H., of this sketch, was the next-born; David E. deals in cornices in Rock Island; George W. is a carriage manufact- urer of Shippensburg, Pa .; Luther G. is a plas- terer of that city; Sadie C., Emma J. and Ella all reside in Shippensburg.
The subject of this sketch was educated in the public schools, and when quite young was ap- prenticed to learn the plasterer's trade. He re- mained at home until one year after reaching his majority, and in 1877 came West, locating in Se- dalia, Mo. He joined his uncle, William H. Tritt, who was living here at that time, and with him was engaged in business for some time. He has been given the contract for the plaster work in many of the public buildings and residences of the city, among them being the Prospect, Sum- mit North and Southeast Sedalia Schoolhouses, the Methodist Church, the Broadway Presby- terian Church, Hoffman Building, Knights of Pythias Building and the court house. He now makes a specialty of constructing cement side- walks, and his workmanship in this line gives perfect satisfaction. In the busy season he em- ploys about twenty men, and is regarded as the best man in his particular line of work in the city.
Mr. Noftsker owns considerable property in Se- dalia, and during his long residence here has maintained an unblemished reputation as a man
of integrity and honor. He was married in this city, in 1881, to Miss Florence Wright, who was born in Pettis County, and who is the only daughter of Felix Wright, a farmer of Washing- ton Township, who located liere on his removal from Kentucky, his native state. His wife, for- merly Elizabeth M. Mather, is a native of Hamil- ton County, Ohio, and now makes her home with her daughter, Mrs. Noftsker. Mr. Wright died many years ago. Mrs. Noftsker's maternal grand- father, B. T. Mather, was born in Philadelphia, Pa., where he was a hatter and furrier. He later removed to Ohio, and about 1857 came to Missouri, settling in Washington Township, where his daughter was married. She is therefore one of the oldest residents of that section.
The two children born to our subject and his wife are Harry and Anna. Mr. Noftsker is a Knight of Pythias, in which order he is a past officer, and is Treasurer of the Royal Tribe of Joseph. He has served as a member of the City Council, and takes a prominent part in local af- fairs, actively supporting Democratic principles. In religious matters he is identified with the Methodist Episcopal Church.
TEPHEN T. LUPE is proprietor of the Sedalia Elevator, which was erected in June, 1892, and which has a capacity of fifty thou- sand bushels. He is also extensively engaged in buying and selling grain and providing stor- age for the same. Several of the leading fraterni- ties here claim him as one of their members, he being Past Grand of Neapolis Lodge No. 153, I. O. O. F., Captain and Aid-de-Camp on Gen- eral Cadie's staff, and Patriarch Militant in the Odd Fellows' society. He also belongs to the Benevolent Order of Elks, and is a past officer in Sedalia Encampment No. 53.
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