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 13
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 13
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On receiving his discharge, Dr. Crawford re- turned to St. Charles, Il1., resuming his practice, and there remained until 1868, when he removed to Warsaw, Benton County, Mo., where in a short time he built up a large and lucrative prac- tice in medicine and surgery. Often he was com- pelled to ride forty miles in a single day in the practice of his profession. While residing in War- saw he served as Health Officer of that city for some years, and was also a member of the School Board. Professionally he has always held a high place and has always enjoyed the confidence and esteem of his brother practitioners. In 1883 he was placed on the list of lecturers in the State University, but on account of making a trip to Europe he did not serve. He is a member of the
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Pettis County Medical Association, of the District Medical Association, and of the State Medical Association. While still a resident of Warsaw he was President of the Benton County Medical Association.
Asstated above, in 1883 the Doctor made a trip to the Old World, visiting many places and spend- ing some time in his old home at Belfast in re- newing old acquaintances. He was gone nine months, a portion of the time being spent in va- rious medical institutions and hospitals of Europe. Returning, he spent six weeks in Bellevue Hos- pital in New York, and then returned to Warsaw, where he continued in the practice of his profes- sion until 1894, when he removed to Sedalia and opened an office in the Winter Block. While in Warsaw he served as President of the Board of Medical Examiners for a number of years.
Before leaving St. Charles, Ill., Dr. Crawford was married to Julia E. Groom, a native of Buf- falo, N. Y., and daughter of Alfred J. and Me- hetabel G. (Norris) Groom. The former was a native of London, England, while the latter was a native of New Hampshire and the daughter of Col. Thomas J. Norris, who served in the War of 1812. Three children have been born to the Doctor and his wife: Mettie G., now Mrs. Tom- kins, of Warsaw, Mo .; Maud and Mabel.
Politically Dr. Crawford is a stanch Republican and for many years has been quite active in po- litical affairs. . He was Chairman of the Central Committee of the Republican party of Benton County for years, and was a member of the Re- publican State Central Committee for four years, two years of which time he was Chairman, hav- ing succeeded Major Warner. He was a del- egate from the Seventh District to the Chicago Republican Convention in the year 1888. But few state or district conventions of his party have been held of which he was not a member. In the fall of 1880 he was elected a member of the Assembly from Benton County on the Republican ticket, and was twice re-elected, serving in all six years, or three regular and two extra sessions. While in the Assembly he served on several important committees, including that of Appro- priations and Internal Improvements. He was
twice appointed as a member of the Legislative Committee to visit the state institutions, once by Governor Marmaduke and once by Governor Moorehouse. He visited in all thirteen state in- stitutions, and aided in making necessary and important changes and recommendations to the Governors. He drafted and introduced the first bill proposing suffrage for women in the state of Missouri.
The life of Dr. Crawford has been a very active one. In addition to his medical practice and his political work, he has social connections with the Masonic fraternity, Independent Order of Odd Fellows, Ancient Order of United Workmen and the Grand Army of the Republic post, of Sedalia, in all of which he has taken an active interest. On Decoration Day, May 30, 1895, the Doctor delivered a memorial address on Grant and Gar- field at Charleston, Il1. Few men in the state have a wider acquaintance or are more favorably known than Dr. S. K. Crawford.
ILLIAM WILLIAMS. This intelligent and substantial farmer of Pettis County has his pleasant home located on section 6, and he came here in the fall of 1859 from Pike County, Ill. His father, John Williams, who was a native of North Carolina and a farmer by occupation, lived to be seventy-five years of age, and was respected by all who knew him. The maiden name of his wife was Elizabeth Walk. She, too, was born in North Carolina, whence she went with her family to Illinois, making the en- tire journey overland in a wagon. She lived to be sixty-three years of age, and died in Illinois, in 1858.
The parental family included twelve children, of whom William was the eldest. Then follow John, America, Sarah, Franklin, Richmond, and Douglas, deceased. Samuel is living in Pike County, Ill .; David is also a farmer of that sec-
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tion of the Prairie State; Jonathan is an agricult- urist of Sedalia Township, Pettis County, Mo .; Emma makes her home in Montana; Jane lives in Pike County, Ill .; and the youngest is deceased.
The subject of this sketchi was born in North Carolina, October 20, 1821. He was a lad of six years when the trip was made to their home in Illinois, where he was reared, and where he se- cured a limited education, attending school about six months during the year, the balance of the time being devoted to work upon the farm. His parents were pioneers of Pike County, and there was consequently much to do in preparing the soil for cultivation and keeping the place in good condition.
William Williams lived at home until attaining his twenty-seventh year, when he was given a tract of eight acres by his father. He was mar- ried about that time, and locating upon the place remained there until 1859, the date of his advent into Pettis County, this state. Three years pre- vious to this time he had visited the state with his brother Jonathan, and being pleased with the outlook they purchased together an unimproved tract of six hundred acres, although eighty acres were fenced.
Our subject was loyal to his country during the Civil War, and for eighteen months belonged to the Missouri Enrolled Militia, doing good serv- ice in protecting property and staying the law- less hands of the guerrillas. He is a practical farmer, and has been successful far beyond his ex- pectations. As his children have grown to mature years, lie has been enabled to give them good ed- ucations and a fair start in life.
Mr. Williams was married, in Indiana, to Miss Ellen F. Posey, a native of Warrick County, Ind. Their family comprises seven sons and daugliters. Emma married David F. Palmer, and resides in this county; John is also a resi- dent of this section; Charlie is engaged in busi- ness in Sedalia; Belle married Samuel Stevens, an agriculturist of this county; Seymour, Sher- man and Nellie all make their homes here, the latter being the wife of Moses Hogan, Jr.
For many years Mr. Williams affiliated with the Democratic party, but he is now a free-silver
man. He keeps himself well informed on the financial issues of the day, and possesses intelli- gent and well defined ideas of the same. He does not believe that there was any good reason for making the change in the unit of value in 1873 from silver to gold, and thinks that change the source of all our late financial troubles. He is convinced that silver was early established by the founders of this Government as our unit of measurement. Three hundred and seventy-one and a-quarter grains of pure silver were a dol- lar in gold, and everything else was measured by this standard until 1873, when it was changed to gold. Silver, of course, began to decline and all other property with it. In religious affairs, both himself and wife are members in excellent standing of the Christian Church. Mr. Williams has many friends throughout the county, and is regarded by all as a thoroughly good man, who identifies himself with every worthy movement for the benefit of the community.
HARLES A. PAIGE, a prominent agricult- urist and well known citizen of township 44, range 23, Pettis County, was born in Stock- holm, N. Y., in March 1840, and is the eldest now living of the family of Anson and Jane (Flan- ders) Paige. The father was born in the state of Vermont, and there passed his early life. He emigrated to New York shortly after attaining his majority, and was there successfully engaged in agricultural pursuits, following this vocation un- til the year of his death, that event occurring in Vermont in 1855, while he was visiting. After the death of his father Charles A. resided with an uncle in that state nntil 1861.
Mrs. Jane Paige was born in Sandwich, N. H., and preceded her husband to the grave, dying in the year 1851. Chiarles A. was a lad of eleven years when this calamity overtook him, and al- though he attended school some in his earlier years, he was then prevented from carrying on his stud-
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ies until reaching the age of fourteen. He was determined to become well educated, and at this time attended the common schools for several terms, when he was given the advantage of an academic course.
When he had just attained his majority, and while engaged in farm work, the tocsin of war was sounded throughout the country, and our subject immediately buckled on the armor of the Union soldier and went to his country's aid. He was mustered into Company E, Fourth Vermont Regiment, at Brattleboro, and was in active serv- ice for more than three years. He took part in all of the many engagements in which his regi- ment participated until May 5, 1864, when, at the battle of the Wilderness, he received a gun-shot wound which disabled him from further service. After being honorably discharged and mustered out he returned to Vermont, where he remained for a few months, then went to New York, there operating a farm for one year. At the end of that time he came to Missouri and located upon an es- tate near the one he now owns. Two years later, however, he purchased his present farm of forty acres, which, although small in extent, is so thoroughly improved that it yields as large a crop of grain as many other estates twice its size and not so well managed. It is situated near the main line of the Missouri, Kansas & Texas Railroad and in close proximity to the village of Green Ridge.
Mr. Paige was married, in June, 1866, to Miss Augusta L., daughter of Joseph L. and Saralı (Westover) Morgan. The Morgans were natives of the Green Mountain State, but of the West- over family little is known. Mrs. Paige was born in New York State, and by her union with our subject became the mother of nine children, one of whom is deceased. Of those living we make the following mention: Joseph M., C. Ira, Ella L., Martin H. and Hugh are living in St. Louis, while Harry W. (the twin of Hugh), Effie J. and James G. are with their parents. Mr. and Mrs. Paige are members of the Congregational Church, in the faith of which they have reared their children.
Socially our subject is a member of E. D. Baker
Post No. 68, G. A. R., and in politics is a true- blue Republican. Besides serving as Justice of the Peace in his township, he has also represented his district on the School Board.
APOLEON G. TEVIS, one of the solid agriculturists of Pettis County, now owns a quarter-section of land of section 18, town- ship 44, range 23, which he conducts in a pro- gressive manner. He gives his undivided atten- tion to farm work, and as he has been a resident of his present homestead since 1874, is consequently well known in this locality and highly esteemed as one of its best residents.
Our subject is a native of this state, having been born in Cooper County, March 27, 1840. His parents, Snowden and Susan (Morris) Tevis, reared a large family of children, of whom he was the eleventh-born. Snowden Tevis was a native of Madison County, Ky., and remained in that state until twenty years of age, when he crossed the line into Missouri and engaged in agricultural pursuits in Cooper County. He made that por- tion of the state his home for the remainder of his life, dying in 1853. His good wife, the mother of Napoleon G., was born in North Carolina, and departed this life in 1852. Our subject was thus doubly orphaned when a lad of thirteen years. He had previous to this time fair advantages in the subscription school of his neighborhood, and when old enough to begin the battle of life on his own account chose the vocation of a farmer, to which occupation he had been trained. He moved to his present fine estate in 1874, and has since that time ably conducted the same. It is one hundred and sixty acres in extent and gives evidence of the care and labor bestowed upon it. The stock on this farm is of the best, and the most approved farming implements and machinery of all kinds are used to carry on the work.
Our subject was married, in 1862, to Miss Cor-
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delia J. Martin, the daughter of William H. and Rhoda (Moore) Martin. Her father was born in Tennessee, while Mrs. Martin was a native of this state. The birth of Mrs. Tevis occurred in Cooper County, September 28, 1844, and by her union with our subject she became the mother of six children, of whom the eldest, Mattie, is deceased. Alice is the wife of William Calvert, a farmer of Johnson County; they became the parents of two children, Roxy and one deceased. Rhoda, the twin of Alice, is living at home. George W. and Thomas H. reside in Johnson County, and Lester N. is at home.
Mr. and Mrs. Tevis are members of the Baptist Church. In politics the former is an ardent Democrat, but has never aspired to office-holding, preferring to give his attention to his private in- terests and let those hold office who wish to do so. He is a good citizen, always interested in obtaining the best schools for the rising genera- tion, in making good roads, and, in short, in ad- vancing the community's welfare in every possi- ble way.
*G
C OHN WILLIAM ATKINSON is one of the enterprising and progressive farmers of John- son County, now residing in township 47, range 27. He was born on the 31st of January, 1831, in Green County, Ky., and is the eighth in the family of twelve children born to John E. and Parthena (Williams) Atkinson, eight of whom are yet living. The father's birth occurred in Amelia County, Va., in 1809. His parents re- moving to Kentucky, however, when he was but a child, there the days of his boyhood and youth were passed, and his marriage was celebrated. In 1852 he emigrated to Missouri, and after a two-years stay in Jackson County, removed to Lafayette County, locating eighteen miles south- east of Lexington, on the Lexington and Warrens- burg road. Here he was destined to spend the remainder of his life, his death occurring in 1866. He was a public-spirited man and did much
toward the development of his county. He was of a retiring, kindly nature, but gathered many friends around him, who felt when he died that they had indeed lost a valued citizen.
Mr. Atkinson, whose name introduces this review, acquired his literary education in the common schools, and spent his boyhood days un- der the parental roof. On nearing manhood he chose the trade of a blacksmith, and being u11- usually handy with tools his apprenticeship was a short one. That vocation he followed in the Blue Grass State for some three years, when he came to Missouri, and for two years worked at his trade for the firm of Russell & Waddle, at Lone Jack. During that period he began farming to a limited extent, but as the years rolled by he devoted more and more of his time to tilling the soil, until to- day he only does such work at his anvil as his own necessities require and an occasional accom- modation for a neighbor.
An important event in the life of Mr. Atkinson occurred on the 24th of March, 1857, when he was united in marriage with Miss Catherine Ann Baker, a daughter of William C. and Nancy (McGinnis) Baker. She is the second in their family of six children, of whom four still survive. She was born in Tennessee, October 31, 1832, and was brought by her parents to this state when nine months old. Here she grew to womanhood, and by her marriage has become the mother of three children. Nannie E. and Warner S. are still with their parents; while John W. is attend- ing a business college at Los Angeles, Cal., fitting himself for a business or professional career, as he is at present contemplating the study of medicine.
In August, 1862, Mr. Atkinson enlisted in the Confederate army, serving as regimental black- smith. For three years he remained in the serv -. ice, when he was mustered out at Shreveport, La. An accident occurred just prior to his reach- ing that place which nearly cost him his life. The steamer on which he had taken passage sank when within five miles of Shreveport, and some three hundred persons were drowned, but he managed to reach the land in safety.
Mr. Atkinson removed to a farm four miles east of Odessa in 1881, where he purchased land.
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For four years he made that his place of residence, when he sold out and removed to his present valuable farm, consisting of two hundred and forty acres. He is a thorough, practical farmer and his success in life is well merited. He uses his right of franchise in support of the Democracy and is a stanch advocate of the free and unlimited coinage of silver. In religion he is a member of the Meth- odist Church and is charitable and benevolent, giving his support to all worthy objects. He is a pleasant, genial man who has the respect and con- fidence of all with whom he comes in contact, and Johnson County numbers him among her most honored and influential citizens.
EORGE L. OSBORNE, an able and well known educator, is President of the War- rensburg State Normal. He has made the profession of teaching his life work and has been eminently successful in his various fields of labor. For the past twenty years he has officiated in the position which he now holds, and during this pe- riod the school has prospered amazingly. At the time of his coming here the enrollment of stu- dents was but little over four hundred, but during the past year there have been more than one thousand student in regular attendance. The faculty has also increased in number from nine to twenty-one of the most practical instructors who can be found. The graduates of this institution are scattered not only throughout all sections of the state, but in all parts of the West, and the influence of their Alma Mater is through them becoming a strong factor in the civilization of the country lying westward of the Mississippi.
The birth of G. L. Osborne occurred in Fay- ette County, Pa., in December, 1835. His par- ents, Abraham and Jane (Gregory) Osborne, were likewise native of the Keystone State. The
former was of Scotch-Irish ancestry, but his fa- ther was born in Loudoun County, Va. He bore the Christian name of Jonathan, and became one of the honored pioneers in the western part of Pennsylvania. The great-grandfather of Mrs. Jane Osborne came from England to America with William Penn. Abraham Osborne was a farmer by occupation, as were his forefathers, and in his political faith he adhered to the Whig party.
George L. Osborne is the youngest of six sons, four of whom are still living. He received a common-school education in his native county and at the age of nineteen became a teacher in the public schools. At the close of his first term of school he entered Waynesburg College, where he studied for some time, defraying his expenses by short terms of teaching in the country schools of his native county. Before his course in col- lege was fully completed the Civil War came on and turned his attention in other directions: At the close of the war, however, the institution con- ferred on him the degree of A. M., in recognition of his work as a student and success as a teacher. He is not proud of his military record, although he was a member of Company C, Fifty-eighth Pennsylvania, and participated in the lively chase after General Morgan during his raid through Ohio. Soon after this his regiment was mustered out, and he resumed the profession of teaching. During his career of fourteen years in Pennsylva- nia, he passed through various stages of advance- ment, from the ungraded country school to the position of Superintendent of City Schools. The latter position he held for several years in Union- town, Bridgeport and Brownsville, successively, and before coming West he also held the position of Professor of Mathematics in what is now the State Normal School at California, Pa.
After coming West he served four years as Su- perintendent of the public schools of Macon City and three years as Superintendent at Louisiana, Mo. At the end of his third year in Louisiana, in June, 1875, he was called to the Presiden- cy of the Warrensburg Normal, and has since giv- en his entire attention to the upbuilding of this celebrated institution. Larger and better accom-
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modations have been added to the original struct- ure and every appliance convenient and useful for pupil and teacher is to be found there.
November 27, 1861, Professor Osborne married Sara V. Swisher, of Uniontown, Pa., a native of West Virginia. They have two children. Myrtle, born in Louisiana, Mo., graduated from the War- rensburg Normal in 1891, after which she entered Stanford University and completed the English course in that institution as a member of the pio- neer class of '95.
Professor Osborne was reared in the Methodist Church, and united with it when about twenty- five years of age. On coming to Missouri he became identified with the Cumberland Presbyte- rian Church, to the doctrines of which he yet ad- heres. Heis not a politician, but was a member of the Board of Regents of the First District at Kirksville during a large portion of his residence at Louisiana, and is now (1895) a member of the Missouri School Textbook Commission.
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RANKLIN R. HULLAND, now serving as Alderman from the First Ward in Sedalia, has been longer a continuous resident of this city than any other person in the place. In 1883 he built a residence and office at the corner of Jefferson and Ohio Streets, on a point where was formerly located the old homestead of Gen. Bacon Montgomery. In 1894 Mr. Hulland was elected on the Republican ticket to serve for two years as Alderman. He is Chairman of the Fire Depart- ment Committee and a member of the Finance, Streets and Alleys, Taxes, Sewerage and Police Department Committees.
Richard Hulland, the father of F. R., was born in Devonshire, England, and learned the carpenter's trade. After his marriage he moved to the United States, settling in Dubuque, Iowa, and from there went to Rockford, Ill., where he engaged in buying and selling cattle and live- stock. In the spring of 1859 he went to Cole
Camp, Benton County, Mo., and there found em- ployment at his trade until November, 1860, when he moved to Sedalia and embarked in busi- ness as a contractor and builder, giving employ- ment to from thirty to fifty men. Our subject is now living in a block adjacent to the one in which his father dwelt for several years. Dur- ing the war he was a member of the Home Guards. In 1864 he was elected Alderman in this place, and was again honored with the posi- tion in 1867, being elected on the Republican ticket. Fraternally he was a member of the Ma- sonic order and of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows. In 1878 he made a trip to England, and died at his old home, aged fifty-four years, being buried in the same grave in which his mother was sleeping her last sleep. He was a member of the Episcopal Church, to which his wife also belongs. She was formerly a Miss Eliz- abeth Sing, a native of Devonshire, England, and is now living in Sedalia, being in her seventy- third year. Her only daughter, Mary, a widow, was the wife of John Burkhard, of this place.
Franklin R. Hulland was born June 22, 1857, in Rockford, Ill., and came with his parents to this place when but three years of age. His father built the second residence in the city, and here young Hulland's boyhood was passed, his educa- tion being obtained in the subscription and public schools. After working for four years at the car- penter's trade with his father, he entered upon an apprenticeship to A. E. Stewart, May 3, 1875, and became a practical workman. In 1881 he embarked in contract painting and decorating, in which line he has prospered beyond his ex- pectations. His work has not been limited to this vicinity, as he has frequently been called to take contracts in adjoining villages, and he gives em- ployment to from fifteen to eighteen hands.
March 29, 1881, Mr. Hulland married Clara Brown, who was born in Stark County, Ohio, and they have become the parents of four chil- dren: Richard, Fayetta, Armstead S. and Clara. Mrs. Hulland is a daughter of Thomas Brown, a native of Bedford County, Pa. For a few years he resided in Stark County, Ohio, and in 1866 came to Sedalia, where he was engaged as a con-
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