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 12
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 12
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Mr. Collier kept "bachelor's hall" for some three years after coming to Johnson County, but becoming tired of this he decided to marry, the lady of his choice being Miss Plutina E. Colbert. Their wedding was celebrated on the 1 1th of Sep- tember, 1881, and this important event has proven a very fortunate one to our subject, as the lady who now shares in his joys and sorrows has ever been a faithful and loving wife. She was born on the 24th of March, 1856, and is a daughter of George and Eunice (Winfrey) Colbert, honored and respected citizens of this county. Mrs. Col- lier grew to womanhood under the careful train- ing of her parents, and is a credit to them. By her marriage she has become the mother of two charming little daughters: Georgia E., aged twelve; and Ora, who is now eight years of age.
Mr. Collier is one of the representative men of Johnson County, and in politics affiliates with the Democratie party, whose principles he stanchly advocates. In religious belief he is a Baptist,
and holds membership with that denomination. He is a consistent Christian gentleman, and holds a prominent place among the leading citizens of the community. His straightforward course has ever won him a foremost position in both social and business circles. In 1893 Mr. Collier visited the World's Fair at Chicago.
D HARLES I. WILSON, numbered among the rising members of the Sedalia Bar, is now in partnership with H. K. Bente. His office is at No. 210 Ohio Street, and in addition to a regular law practice he is a notary public and claim collector. The firm has been very success- ful in collecting bills, employing a man for that purpose. A stenographer is also a requisite, as the correspondence is very extensive and con- stantly increasing. Our subject was appointed City Tax Collector by Mayor Hastain, and is a worker in the Republican party.
John K. Wilson, the grandfather, was for years a leading farmer in Ohio, but his parents were natives of North Carolina. Judge E. V., father of our subject, was born in Butler County, Ohio, February 17, 1824, and was a student at Miami University when seventeen years of age. Sub- sequently he studied law with John B. Weller, of Hamilton, Ohio, and in January, 1846, was ad- mitted to the Bar, practicing in Hamilton until 1849, when he engaged in merchandising at Tul- ly, Mo. His store was swept away by the Mis- souri River in 1851, and he next turned his at- tention to teaching in Knox County. While there he was for years actively engaged in the practice of law, and in 1856 was elected to the State Legislature on the Republican ticket. A strong Union man, he raised a company of home guards, and was elected Major of the Second State Reserve Corps in the winter of 1863-64. After- wards he was in the Government employ as As- sistant Provost-Marshal. In the fall of 1864 he was elected to the State Senate, and the follow-
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ing year was appointed to fill a vacancy in a Judgeship of the Fourth Judicial Circuit. A year later he was regularly elected for a full term of six years, and retired from the Bench in 1875. Though this was before the days of railroads in that section, and he was obliged to travel on horse- back, he never failed to hold court at the regular time and was prompt in the discharge of his du- ties. In 1869 he was very active in the promo- tion of the building of the railroad running from Quincy, Ill., to Trenton, Mo., known as the Quincy, Missouri & Pacific Railroad, he be- coming one of its Directors. He enlisted in the Mexican War, from Ohio, and rose to the rank of Corporal, but on account of illness contracted in the South was obliged to return home. In 1875 he retired from the Judgeship and resumed his law practice, but three years later was compelled to give it up on account of failing eyesight. At the time of his death, which occurred November 25, 1885, he was President of the Bank of Edina, which he helped to establish. In Masonic circles he was very prominent, and his funeral services were conducted under the auspices of the order, there being over two hundred and fifty of the brotherhood present. In his religious belief he was a Universalist.
In 1847 occurred the marriage of Judge Wilson and Jane Delaplane, who was born in Hamilton, Ohio. Her father, Josiah Delaplane, who was of French descent, was a dealer in and manufacturer of furniture. Mrs. Wilson received an excellent education in the female seminary at Hamilton, and has always devoted much attention to liter- ary work. Her contributions, both prose and poetry, frequently appeared in leading magazines under the nom de plume of Mrs. Lawrence, and later she wrote under her true cognomien. Her articles have met with high commendation from the best critics, and as a local authoress she has won renown. Among hier most popular stories are, "His Mother's Songs" and "The One I Would Rather Meet." The song, "Rolling To De Sea," also one of her compositions, is a beau- tiful and popular air. Mrs. Wilson's eldest daugh- ters also have literary talent, and Mrs. Minnie Armstrong, of Edina, contributes articles, princi-
pally prose, to the "St. Louis Magazine," "The Outing" and others. Sophy W. and Katie W. are residents of Denver; William, the eldest son, lives in Quincy, Ill., and is a dealer in live stock; Vic- tor is the next in order of birth; George, a farmer of Reno County, Kan., was formerly Sheriff; Fred J. is Cashier of the Edina Bank, and in 1892 was a candidate for State Treasurer on the Republican ticket; and F. A., the youngest son, is a merchant of Edina.
C. I. Wilson was born in Edina, Mo., Decem- ber 12, 1868, and was reared and educated there. For a year it was his privilege to attend the Man- hattan Agricultural College, and later Chaddock College, of Quincy, Ill. Entering Cumberland University, at Lebanon, Tenn., he remained there until a senior, when he entered the law depart- ment, and graduated with the degree of Bachelor of Laws. Having passed an examination before Judge Turner in Scotland County, Mo., he was . admitted to the Bar and came to Sedalia. For two years he was associated with G. W. Barnett, afterward was with Louis Hoffman, and in April, 1894, became a member of the firm of Bente & Wilson, practicing before all of the courts. He is a charter member of the Royal Tribe of Joseph and isa Knight of Pythias. Like his father before him, he is a loyal Republican. At present he is Treasurer of the Sunday-school and is a Deacon in the Cumberland Presbyterian Church.
JOHN HYATT, a leading Democratic poli- tician of Sedalia, was appointed Street Com- missioner by Mayor Stevens in 1890 and was elected for four successive terms without a dissent- ing vote. He now has under his jurisdiction a force of from fifteen to twenty men, and it is a matter of public comment that the streets have not been in such good condition during the past few years as they are at present.
Mr. Hyatt was born in St. Louis, Mo., June 18, 1852, and is a son of William and Sarah
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(Tyler) Hyatt, natives of St. Louis County and Virginia, respectively. The Hyatts are of Scotch- Irish descent, and our subject's grandfather, Frederick, was born in Kentucky. Coming West, he located in Glasgow, Mo., and built the first house west of the Missouri River, this being about 1812. He took part in several Indian fights, and returned to his native state, where he was married in 1818. With his bride he started on the trip to the new home which he had provided for her, but at St. Louis learned that the Indians had burned the structure to the ground. He then settled near Florisant, St. Louis County, where he engaged in farming until his death. His son William was County Surveyor of St. Louis County for one term, and was an expert at civil engineering. In 1859 he moved to a farm in Moniteau County, near Tipton, where his death occurred when he was in his fifty-third year. His wife was a daughter of George Tyler, own brother of President Tyler, and in early days moved from the Old Dominion to St. Louis County, Mo. Mrs. Sarah Hyatt is still living on the old farm and is now in her sixty-ninth year. For a long period she has been a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church, and is a lady of admirable qualities.
John Hyatt is next to the eldest of six children, all of whom are living, and was reared to farm life, receiving common-school advantages. On attaining his majority he engaged in the manage- ment of his father's farm, and was thus occupied until 1880. At that time he moved to Pettis County, and for four years operated a farm five miles southwest of Sedalia. In 1884 he removed to this place and built a residence at No. 1609 Vermont Avenue. At this time also he became in- terested in the management of a lumber-yard, and for a few years bought, sold and shipped wood by the wholesale and retail, meeting with fair success. For the last five years he has served in his present official capacity and has made a good record.
September 25, 1873, Mr Hyatt was married, in Versailles, Morgan County, Mo., to Miss Marga- ret J. Bowlin, a native of that county, and daugh- ter of W. M. and Jinett (Winn) Bowlin. The
former, a farmer by occupation, was a native of Alabama, but his wife was born in Missouri. Five children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Hyatt, namely: Sarah J., Mrs. Russell, of this city; Effie J., Walter, Daisy J., and one deceased. Mr. Hyatt is a member of Amity Lodge No. 69, A. O. U. W., and belongs to the Knights of the Maccabees.
He and his family are members of the First Congregational Church and are liberal in their contributions to worthy charities.
ILLIAM M. JOHNS, one of the most active and enterprising young business men of Sedalia, is interested in several large financial concerns. In the spring of 1888 he became a partner in the firm of S. P. Johns & Sons, with which he has since been connected, and July 27, 1894, went into partnership with E. L. Looney, buying out the old lumber firm of H. B. Scott. The business has been greatly enlarged, and the yard is known as the " Old Home Lum- ber Company Stand." The yard is located at the corner of Second Street and Montreal Avenue, occupying three quarters of a block, most of which is under cover. A full line of building materials is kept in stock, and an increasing trade is the re- sult of the well directed energies of the partners.
A history of Samuel P. Johns, Sr., father of William M., appears elsewhere in this volume. Our subject was born in Pana, Ill., August 1, 1866, and received a public-school education in that place. In his fourteenth year he came to Sedalia and attended the high school and after- wards the Sedalia University. From his boyhood he had a strong desire to embark in a business career, and was not yet seventeen years of age when he induced his father to take him into his office. In the spring of 1888 he was admitted as a partner into the firm, and his ability was mani- fested from the start. In company with his father and brother, he owns an interest in the lumber yard at Hughesville, and he is a stockholder in
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the Universal Savings and Loan Company of St. Louis, being Vice-President of the local branch. He is also Vice-President of the Sedalia Land and Development Company, which was mainly instru- mental in getting the Legislature to agree to the removal of the capitol.
For several years Mr. Johns has been a worker in the ranks of the Republican party, and since June, 1894, has been Chairman of the County Central Committee. In the fall of 1894 the cam- paign was under his management, it being the first time in the history of the county that a solid Republican ticket was elected; and he has often been called upon to serve as a delegate to county and state conventions. He is a member of the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks, the Knights of Pythias, the Ancient Order of United Workmen, Woodmen of the World, and the Royal Tribe of Joseph.
In this city, June 3, 1891, Mr. Johns was unit- ed in marriage with one of Sedalia's most accom- plished daughters, Alice Newkirk, who was born here and who was educated at Wellesley ( Mass.) College. She is a daughter of Cyrus Newkirk, the late President of the First National Bank of Sedalia. Mr. and Mrs. Johns have two children, named, respectively, Gwendolyn and Cyrus N. Mr. and Mrs. Johns have many sincere friends, to whom they delight to extend the hospitality of their pleasant home, and are members of the Presbyterian Church.
A NDY DEXHIMER. While the stock busi- ness is not the most prominent industry of Pettis County, it is at present receiving a greater proportion of the attention of the people than in former years. Among those who have contributed to the development of this industry in the county and who have in its pursuit gained a commendable degree of material success, promi-
nent mention should be made of Mr. Dexhimer, one of Sedalia's foremost citizens. In addition to the buying and selling of cattle, he conducts the largest wholesale meat business in the city, and is carrying on a large and profitable trade among the people of this section.
The Dexhimer family is of German origin. The parents of our subject, William and Cather- ine (Rodman) Dexhimer, were born in Hesse- Darmstadt, Germany, and thence emigrated to America, settling on a farm near Cleveland, Ohio. During their residence at that place our subject was born, February 5, 1851. From there in 1860 they came to Missouri, and after a sojourn of several years in Ste. Genevieve County, came to Sedalia, in March, 1867. In this city the father engaged in gardening and in the dairy business until his death, which occurred at the age of six- ty-five. His wife passed away in Cleveland, Ohio, at the age of eighty-six.
Of the family of eight children, six of whom survive, our subject is the youngest in order of birth. He was a mere child when his parents moved to Missouri, and his boyhood years were passed in Ste. Genevieve County, where he was a pupil in the district schools. At the age of sixteen he came to Sedalia, where for a time he assisted his father. In 1880 he embarked in the wholesale butcher business, which he has since conducted on an increasing scale. He has a slaughter-house on Brushy Creek, near the tracks of the Missouri Pacific Railroad, the main build- ing being 24x36 feet in dimensions. In it are to be found the latest appliances for the slaughter- ing of stock and the preparing of the beef for the market.
The real-estate holdings of Mr. Dexhimer in- clude his elegant residence on West Second Street and a farm of sixty-one acres in Cooper County, near Tipton, Mo. All that he has repre- sents the result of years of arduous toil, for he has had to depend entirely upon his own exertions. In matters of public interest he gives his active co-operation, and his support may always be re- lied upon to secure needed municipal improve- ments. While not a partisan, he is firm in his allegiance to the Republican party. Socially he
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is connected with Unity Lodge, A. O. U. W., and in religious belief is a member of the English Lutheran Church. His marriage, which was solemnized in California, Mo., in 1875, united him with Miss Helen Neighbors, who was born in Chariton County, this state. Their six chil- dren are named Charles, Mattie, Christine, James, Andrew and David, the eldest of whom assists his father in business, and the others are students in the Sedalia schools.
C ILBERT S. LANDER, of Sedalia, is one of the oldest employes of the Missouri, Kan- sas & Texas Railroad, and is one of their most reliable and trustworthy men. He is now foreman of the wood-working department of the car-shops, and has under his jurisdiction about fourteen men. When he first came to this city it was a small place of about three thousand in- habitants, and the car-shops were scarcely half as large as at present.
The parents of our subject were Seneca and .Polly (Shaw) Lander, natives of Maine. The former was a dealer in livestock, and passed his entire life in Oxford County, where his demise took place when he was in his eighty-fifth year. His wife was the daughter of Gilbert Shaw, a farmer, and died when in her sixty-sixth year. Both parents were members of the Baptist Church, and were held in high esteem by all who knew them.
G. S. Lander was born in Woodstock, Me., November 13, 1827, being the third in a family of six children, all but two of whom are still liv- ing. He was reared on a farm and remained with his parents until nineteen years of age, when he went to Portland and began serving a three- years apprenticeship as a carpenter. Next he worked at his trade for two years in Boston, and in 1854 moved to Wisconsin. He soon found em- ployment as a car-builder in the Chicago & North-
western shops at Fond du Lac, and after twelve years of steady work there went to Wyandotte, Kan., and from 1870 to 1876 was in the Union Pa- cific car-shops. In July of the last-mentioned year he became a resident of Sedalia, having been tendered the post which he now occupies.
The first marriage of Mr. Lander took place in Wisconsin, the lady of his choice being Miss Helen Henry, a native of New York State. She died, leaving one child, Jolın H., who is now a printer in Worcester, Mass. In Wyandotte Mr. Lander and Mrs. Louisa A. Cockrell were united in marriage. Mrs. Lander was born in Clay County, Mo., and is a lady of amiable and genial qualities. Our subject is identified with the Knights and Ladies of Honor, and Equity Lodge No. 26, A. O. U. W., in which he is a past officer, and in 1882 was a Representative to the Grand Lodge in St. Louis. On political ques- tions he is always to be found on the side of the Democracy.
ENRY CALDWELL. There is not a finer farm throughout this portion of Missouri than that owned and occupied by the origi- nal of this sketch. It is over four hundred acres in extent and is pleasantly located on section 26, township 44, range 26, Johnson County. Mr. Caldwell was born in that part of Center County, Pa., now included in Clinton County, February 24, 1824, his parents being James and Deborah (Stover) Caldwell.
The paternal grandfather of our subject was a Scotchman, and after coming to America settled in the Keystone State, where his sons and daugh- ters were born and reared. James Caldwell there passed his entire life, and during his mature years worked at his trade of a blacksmith. Henry, of this sketch, also learned that business, at which he began working when a lad of fifteen years. He continued to busy himself in his father's shop un- til the death of the latter, in 1847.
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When twenty-four years old our subject was married to Miss Esther Will, who was born in Clearfield County, Pa. In 1866 they took up the line of march to this state, being accompanied by a family of seven children. They first went to Pittsburg, where they took a boat which con- veyed them down the Ohio River and up the Mis- sissippi and Missouri Rivers to their destination, the journey occupying three weeks. The little party were landed at Boonville, where they made their home for about a year. There Mr. Caldwell followed the butcher's trade, and at the expiration of that time he began farming on the land now comprised in his present estate. This he pur- chased in partnership with a friend, and for some time they very successfully farmed the four hun- dred and forty acres. When a division of the property was made our subject was given three hundred acres, to which he afterward added one hundred and twenty-seven.
Two years after locating here Mr. Caldwell's house was blown down, killing his wife and one son. This disaster occurred at night, after all had retired. Mr. Caldwell and one of his chil- dren, with the bed on which they were sleeping, were blown into the yard, but the occupants es- caped serious injury.
To Henry and Esther Caldwell there were born twelve children, seven of whom are now living. Mrs. Mary Stone makes her home in this county; Adeline married William Medley, and lives in Post Oak Township; Elnora still resides at home; Griffin R. is also under the parental roof; Henry was engaged in traveling through the West when last heard from; Frank and Thomas live in Post Oak Township. Mr. Caldwell was a second time married, May 29, 1870, Miss Nancy Shafer, of Clinton Counry, Pa., becoming his wife. She was born in Bellefonte, Center County, that state, April 22, 1827, and by her union with our sub- ject has become the mother of a daughter, Ger- trude C., born July 2, 1871.
During the late war Mr. Caldwell had five. brothers in the Federal army. George was killed while at work tearing up a railroad in Georgia, but the other four returned home unin- jured after their discharge. In politics he is a
stanch Democrat, supporting the principles of that party ever since casting his first vote for Polk, in 1844. He is a man of prominence in his commu- nity and is held in the highest esteem by his neighbors for his uniform uprightness and integ- rity of word and deed. He is a member of the Christian Church and has been identified with this religious body for a period of thirty-five years.
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M. WALTERS, A. B., is Professor of Phy- sical Sciences in Warrensburg Normal, hav- ing held this position for the last three years. He takes great interest in educational matters, and holds them paramount to politics, conse- quently always votes with the party which has the most liberal and progressive measures relating to the cause of education.
The Walters family from whom our subject descended is of German origin, while on the ma- ternal side he is of Swiss descent. His parents were F: M., Sr., and Mary (Wiseman) Walters, both natives of Indiana, the former of whom died with the measles when his namesake was a mere child. F. M. Walters, Jr., was born in Switzer- land County, Ind., August 30, 1862, and passed his boyhood on a farm. As his parents were quite poor, he was obliged to earn his own liveli- hood as soon as posible, but managed to attend school during the winters. When about eighteen years of age he entered the high school at Vevay, Ind., and was graduated from that institution in 1884. In addition to carrying on his studies, during the last year of his school work he also engaged in teaching to some extent. After four years of study in the State University at Bloom- ington, Ind., he graduated with honors in the spring of 1887.
Shortly after his graduation, June 22, 1887, Mr. Walters was married to Miss Jennie E. Harıl- ing, who was brought up near Logansport, Ind. She had taught for a number of years, and met Mr. Walters while a student in the State Univer-
S. K. CRAWFORD, M. D.
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PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
sity. Since their marriage she has also engaged in teaching, as she enjoys the work, and was very successful while connected with the State Normal at Terre Haute, Ind. Of the Professor's three children, two died in infancy, and the only one remaining is Frank M., who was born in Monti- cello, Ind., April 25, 1888.
In the fall of 1887 Mr. Walters becanie Prin- cipal of the Monticello public schools and was aft- erward placed in charge of the chair of natural sciences in a college in LaPorte, Ind., where he taught for four years. On his graduation from Bloomington University he was given the degree of Bachelor of Arts, and while at LaPorte com- pleted the post-graduate studies and had confer- red upon him the degree of Master of Arts.
ON. S. K. CRAWFORD, M. D., was born in Belfast, Ireland, December 25, 1838. The Crawfords, who were of the Presbyterian faith, were originally from Scotland, but settled in Ireland some two hundred and fifty years ago. Samuel Crawford, the grandfather of our subject, was a civil engineer in Belfast, where he spent his entire life. His father, Thomas Crawford, came to America in 1847, landing in Canada, but soon afterward removed to Iroquois County, Il1. By occupation he was a farmer. He died in Iro- quois County at the age of seventy-four years. His mother, Usilla (Kerr) Crawford, was born near Belfast, Ireland, and died in that city when our subject was three years of age. Of their children, Samuel K. was the only that lived to maturity.
The early life of our subject was spent in Bel- fast, where he received his primary education, and where he remained until fourteen years of age, when he came to the United States, ship- ping from Liverpool, England, and being six weeks upon the ocean. The vessel on which he sailed was wrecked off the coast of Ireland and had to return to Liverpool for repairs. Arriving
in New York, he went by way of the Hudson River and railroad to Chicago, and thence to St. Charles, Ill., to make his home with an uncle. From childhood he had a desire to study medi- cine, and soon after his arrival began the study of the same in the office of his uncle, Dr. Henry M. Crawford, an eminent physician of Illinois, who served as Surgeon of the Fifty-eighth Illinois In- fantry during the late war. In 1854 he entered the University of Michigan, where he took the scientific course of three years, and then entered Albany (N. Y.) Medical College, graduating therefrom in 1857. Returning to St. Charles, he at once commenced the practice of his profession, and continued in the same until the breaking out of the Rebellion, when he was commissioned by Governor Yates First Assistant Surgeon of the Eighth Illinois Cavalry. The regiment was as- signed to the Army of the Potomac and in that army it served under MacClellan, Burnside, Hooker, Stoneman, Pleasanton and Meade, tak- ing part in all the various battles of that grand army. Later Dr. Crawford was made Surgeon of the Seventeenth Illinois Cavalry, with the rank of Major, and served until the close of the war, being mustered out at Ft. Leavenworth in De- cember, 1865. The Seventeenth Cavalry served for a long time on the plains of the West. In a cavalry engagement near Rapidan Station, Va., he was slightly wounded in the right thigh, the same ball that wounded him first killing his horse.
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