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 23
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 23
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from there were transported to New Orleans, and later went by steamer to Mobile. April 9 and Io they assisted in taking Spanish Fort and Ft. Blakeley, losing about twenty in killed and wound- ed. Arriving in Montgomery, Ala., after a march of over two hundred miles, they learned of Lin- coln's assassination and Lee's surrender. Re- turning to Mobile, Mr. Hedges was made mail messenger, running from that point to New Or- leans by boat, and receiving extra pay during his six weeks' service in that capacity. He was mus- tered out July 15, and arrived in Springfield, Ill., August 4, 1865.
Resuming his interrupted educational progress, Dr. Hedges entered Lombard University, in Gales- burg, Ill., the following September, and attended that institution until February, 1867. He would have graduated in June, but was obliged to leave on account of his brother's illness. While teach- ing school in 1862, he had read medicine with Dr. J. P. Mathews, and now again took up the study with Dr. Fountain Jones, of Girard, Il1. In Octo- ber, 1867, he entered Hahnemann College, in Chi- cago, and at the close of the year's work prac- ticed with his preceptor. In the fall of 1868 he went to St. Louis, and in February of the follow- ing year was duly graduated from the Missouri Homeopathic Medical College. Returning to Girard, he engaged in practice until August, 1871.
Politically Dr. Hedges is prominent in the ranks of the Republican party, having been a member of the Congressional Committee of the Sixth District and Temporary Chairman of the Congressional Convention of the Sixth District at their meeting in Butler, Mo. Three times has he been elected as Mayor of the city, and for five years was President of the School Board and Chairman of the Educational Committee. He helped to organize the Johnson County Building Association, of which he has since been Presi- dent, and is a Director and stockholder in the People's Bank of Warrensburg and the Center View Bank. For three years he has been a Knight Templar, and was made Master Mason in 1865. With the Ancient Order of United Workmen he holds the rank of Select Knight.
Since 1857 Dr. Hedges has been a member of
HENRY C. CONNER.
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the Christian Church, and a very active worker. For fifteen years or more he has been an Elder, and he is also a member of the State Board of Missions. May 30, 1877, he was united in mar- riage with Virginia Gilkeson, who was born in Warrensburg, September 20, 1856. She gradu- ated from the normal in 1875, and is much inter- ested in literary and religious work. She is Cor- responding Secretary of the Christian Woman's Board of Missions of Missouri, and for three years was President of the Equal Suffrage Association of Missouri.
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ENRY C. CONNER is the proprietor of the Star Mills and Elevator of Holden, Johnson County. The plant is a very fine one, and is equipped with modern appliances and ma- chinery. The elevator handles two hundred thousand bushels of wheat, one hundred and fifty thousand bushels of corn, and fifty thousand bushels of oats annually, while the mill has a capacity of one hundred barrels of flour per day. He recently added to the mill a full roller corn- meal process, by which one hundred barrels of meal are ground each day.
The parents of our subject, Charles and Mary (Groves) Conner, were early settlers of Hardin County, Ohio, locating there about 1835. Grand- father Conner was of German-Irish lineage. H. C. is the eldest of four children, and as his fa- ther died when he was but eight years of age, the burden of the family support fell on his shoulders at an early day. The mother managed to keep her children together, and was greatly assisted by our subject. Notwithstanding the fact that he had to work at such a tender age, he obtained a fair education, for he was an apt pupil.
In 1862 he enlisted in Company B, Forty- fifth Ohio Infantry; with Captain Ammerman and Colonel Runkle, and for about a year was in the mounted infantry service on scouting duty in Kentucky and Tennessee, fighting with the cav-
alry. Later he went from Resaca to Atlanta, un- der Sherman's command, returning with Thomas to Nashville. He took part in many engage- ments and pursued Morgan through Ohio. The only wound he received was at Cheshire, Ohio, and from the effects of this he was laid up in the hospital in Cincinnati and was later transferred to Camp Dennison. It was impossible for him to rejoin his regiment until January following, and when at Bull's Gap he learned of the surrender of Lee. At Columbus, Ohio, he was mustered out, in June, 1865.
Going back to the old farm, he resumed its management, and attended school four months. By hard study he progressed rapidly and on tak- ing an examination obtained a certificate to teach. This calling he followed during the winter of 1867 and 1868. In the fall of the latter year he started West, leaving the farm in charge of his brother, and, settling in Holden, entered into partnership with J. G. Cope, buying and selling grain. He saved about $400, which served as capital stock for his new enterprise. At the end of three years his partner retired from the firm and he conducted the business alone until 1876, then becoming associated with J. H. Smith. They put up a mill and used the old-style stone burrs. In 1885 Mr. Smith withdrew and Mr. Conner reconstructed the mill, placing therein a complete roller process. In 1891 he built an elevator across the railroad tracks, with a capa- city of seventy-five thousand bushels, and in 1894 he added another story to the mill and made additional improvements.
Mr. Conner is a Republican, and cast his first vote for President Lincoln when in the army in 1864. After serving for two years in the Thirty- fourth General Assembly he received the nomina- tion for re-election and ran ahead of his ticket, though he was beaten, as the opposite party had over three hundred majority in his district. He is a charter member of Holden Lodge No. 262, A. F. & A. M., and has been High Priest of the chapter. The Grand Army Post at Holden claims him as one of its members, and he has served on the staff of the State Commander one year.
7
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PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
December 30, 1875, Mr. Conner married Miss Emma Cheney, who was born in Illinois, and came to this state in girlhood. Three children have blessed the union of our subject and wife. Nettie E. graduated in the Class of '94 from both the scientific and musical departments of the seminary at Liberty, Mo .; Fred, a lad of ten years, is in the public school; and Fannie is the youngest. The parents are members of the Methodist Episcopal Church, and are highly es- teemed by all who have the pleasure of their acquaintance.
AMES MUDD, one of the self-made, enter- prising agriculturists of township 46, range 25, is one of the large land-owners of John- son County, and was born in Yorkshire, England, September 22, 1834. His parents were Robert and Alice (Jackson) Mudd, also natives of that shire, where the former was a lead-smelter, fol- lowing that business nearly all his life.
The maternal grandparents were also born in England and died in Yorkshire. The paternal grandparents, Alexander and Isabelle Mudd, were farmers in Yorkshire, and there lived and died. They became the parents of ten children, all of whom departed this life in that country.
Robert and Alice Mudd also reared a family of ten children, of whom Elizabeth died in England; Alexander came to America, but after one year returned to his native land and there died; James was the third-born; William, who came to the United States soon after our subject, was first en- gaged in silver mining in Nevada, and afterward embarked in farming in California until his de- cease; Isabelle died in England; Robert is now living in Yorkshire; George, who came to this country with his brother William, is now farming in California; John is in England; and Stephen and Thomas are deceased.
The original of this sketch lived at home until fourteen years of age, but, the family being large,
he was then compelled to look out for himself. He engaged in lead mining and lived in his na- tive shire until setting sail for America. This change in his life occurred in 1859, when he em- barked alone on the ship "Emerald Isle," and was on the water about five weeks. On being landed in New York, he went direct to Ontario, Canada, and for about four or five years farmed on rented land near Kingston. He then crossed the line into the United States and engaged in work in the copper mines of Lake Superior, being thus employed when the Civil War closed, at which time he left for Tennessee.
Mr. Mudd has been twice married. His first un- ion occurred in England, when he married Anna Snowden, also a native of Yorkshire. She ac- companied her husband on the journey to Amer- ica and removed with him to this county, dying at Knobnoster, December 20, 1877. Of the ten children born to their union five are now living. George married Annie Limeback and at present makes his home in Lexington, Lafayette County, engaged in mining; Judith married Robert Land- ingham, and makes her home on a farm near War- rensburg; James chose for his wife Dora Martin, and they make their home on the estate of our subject; Hannah married John Landingham, and they are also farmers of this locality; and William is unmarried and lives at home, aiding in the work of carrying on the farm. Of the five de- ceased, three died unnamed; Robert passed away at the age of two years, and Alexander when seven years of age.
Mr. Mudd left Lake Superior in 1865, and, go- ing to Tennessee, engaged to work in the Acme Mines, which were fifty miles from Chattanooga. He was there less than a year, and upon deciding to turn his attention to farming came to this coun- ty, in the spring of 1866, and invested his capital in eighty acres of land two miles from Knobnos- ter. He made his home there about thirteen years and then came to his present location. His place here includes three hundred and twenty acres of some of the finest land in Johnson County.
September 22, 1890, our subject married Sa- rah Frances Drinkwater, a native of Indiana,
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having been born in Shelbyville. They have an adopted daughter named Gracie Bradley, a niece of our subject's, whom they have taken as their own. Mrs. Mudd is a very estimable and intelli- gent lady and a worthy member of the Baptist Church.
For many years Mr. Mudd was a Democrat, but he is now a Third Party man. He has made his own way in life since fourteen years of age, and is therefore self-made in both an educational and financial way. A practical farmer and an honest, upright citizen, he has always tried to do his duty as a friend and neighbor, and in this re- spect has been successful, as is shown by the es- teem in which he is held by the community.
A LSON G. BODENHAMER, who owns a good farm on section 32, township 48, range 25, Johnson County, has been a resident of this section since 1876. He was born in Schuyler County, Ill., May 15, 1837, and is the son of Coston and Kizzie ( Horney) Bodenhamer, both of whom were born in North Carolina. The paternal grand- parents of our subject were Pennsylvanians, but many years ago they located in North Carolina, giving their attention to farm pursuits. Of their family of children three are all of whom we have any record. Of these, William is deceased; John is farming in North Carolina; and Coston is the father of our subject.
Coston Bodenhamer was married in his native state, where he lived for some time thereafter on a farm. He then moved to Schuyler County, Ill., where he became the possessor of a farm and lived until 1856. That year we find him resid- ing in Lafayette County, this state, farming on rented property located five miles from Concordia. He made this place his home for two years, and then came to Johnson County, settling east of Cornelia. He was very prosperous in his under- takings in this section, and at one time was the
owner of the present site of that town. After a residence there of five years he returned to Lafay- ette County, settling just north of Simpson Post- office, which was his home at the time of his wife's death, in. April, 1862. His household then being broken up, he left the farm, and for the fol- lowing five years lived with liis son-in-law in Cornelia. Being desirous of once more trying his fortunes as a farmer, he went to Linn County, Kan., and, purchasing a small tract of land there, was engaged in its cultivation a few years. Fi- nally retiring from labor, he lived with his son Philip, at whose home he died about 1882.
The parents of our subject had ten children, of whom the two youngest died in infancy unnamed. Philip married Sarah Bilderback, and is now a resident of Greeley County, Kan .; Solomon died at the home of our subject in 1877; Alson G. was the third-born; Jane became the wife of John Wesley Sullivan, and lives on a farm in Texas; William chose for his wife Amanda Hart, and is living in Idaho; John Wesley married Lizzie Vandeventer, who is now deceased, and he makes his home one and one-half miles east of our sub- ject; Eliza is now Mrs. John Hendreliter, of Miami County, Kan .; and Martha died at the age of fifteen years.
After attaining his majority, our subject com- menced working for other parties, and at first operated a threshing-machine, receiving $1.75 per day. His employers soon, however, hired him at $28 per month, and he continued to work for them for nine months, in the mean time sav- ing a snug amount from his earnings. He was married, November 15, 1857, to Esther Worth- ington, who was born September 12, 1836, in Davidson County, N. C. She was the daughter of Brooks and Hannah (Green) Worthington, also natives of that state, where they were farm- ers. Brooks Worthington was also an expert shoemaker, and after his removal to Indianapolis, Ind., worked at this business for one year. In 1840, however, he came to Missouri, choosing Lafayette County as his future home. There the wife and mother died in 1855. Mr. Worthington was again married, the lady on this occasion be- ing Lucy Lanear. He continued to make his
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home on that farm until the decease of his second companion, when he moved to California, where his daughter was living. On his return from the Golden State, he spent a few years on the old place, and then went to Carroll County, Ark., where he died, December 24, 1894, at the age of eighty-eight years.
By his first marriage Mr. Worthington became the father of nine children. Charles married Margaret Meadows, and is now living in Califor- nia; Joab married Eliza Alkire, and is now de- ceased, but his wife makes her home in Indian Territory; John never married, and died during the late war; Elizabeth is now Mrs. Johnson Mulky, and lives in California; Mrs. Bodenham- er was the next-born; Jacob chose for his wife Elmira Couch, and they make their home on a farm in Boone County, Ark .; David is single, and is a resident of the Golden State; Ellen mar- ried James Fulkerson, and both are deceased; and Catherine died when six years old.
Soon after his marriage our subject moved to a farm near Cornelia, this county, and after a resi- dence there of four years returned to Lafayette County, where he had been living, making his home there from 1861 to 1876. In the mean time, August 4, 1863, he enlisted in Company A, Seventh Missouri Infantry, under Captain Tag- gart and Col. Henry Neale. The only engage- ment in which he participated was at Lone Jack, Jackson County. He was honorably discharged November 24, 1863, on account of disability, and, returning to his home, resided there until his re- moval to Johnson County.
Mr. Bodenhamer purchased one hundred acres on locating within the confines of this county, but now has only eighty acres, having sold the other twenty at a good price. To him and his wife there were born eight children, only four of whom are living. Sarah was born in 1859, and died when five years old. Julia was born in 1861, and since her marriage to John Green lives a mile and a-half from the old home. Charlie was born in 1864; he married Laura Bayless, and lives on a good farm three miles southwest of Hazle Hill, this county. Fanny is the wife of Joseph Bayless, and they make their home near
the estate of Mr. Green. Lester died July 23, 1891, at the age of seventeen years. William is at home. John's death occurred when in his fifth year, and Margaret L. died in infancy.
Mrs. Bodenhamer is a member of the Cumbei- land Presbyterian Church, and takes an active interest in church work. She is a most estimable lady, and, with her husband, enjoys the sincere friendship and esteem of a large circle. Her grandfather, Joab Worthington, was Captain in the Revolutionary War, and died in Lafayette County. Our subject uses his right of franchise in favor of the Republican party, and is always to be found on the side of advancement and the upholding of the cause of liberty.
EORGE W. SMALTZ, a highly respected and substantial farmer of Johnson County, resides in township 45, range 25, where he has a valuable homestead, comprising eighty- seven acres. Upon the place may be noticed a sub- stantial residence and other farm buildings, all of which our subject caused to be erected. He is a native of Virginia, and was born in Rocking- ham County, October 31, 1823.
The parents of our subject, by name George and Catherine (Rader) Smaltz, were also born in the Old Dominion, and there spent their entire lives, engaged in agricultural pursuits. The grandfather, Conrad Smaltz, came to the United States from Germany, and after locating in Rock- ingham County engaged in business there until his decease. He reared to manhood two sons, George and John, both of whom are now de- ceased.
The brothers and sisters of our subject were five in number. Henry died in Virginia. John married Susanna Dinkle, but the latter is now deceased, and he lives in Maryland. Ann mar- ried Colonel Long, who was taken prisoner dur- ing the late war and starved to death in Cape May. She is now living in West Virginia. Will-
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iam married Clarissa Hanna, and they make their home on a fine farm in Ohio. Mary Catherine married John Linsey, and is a resident of Carroll- ton, Mo.
The original of this sketch was given a good education, and the year he attained his majority commenced teaching in Hampshire County, Va. This vocation he found to be very congenial, and for fifteen years he taught in the districts in that county. During this time, May 27, 1848, he was married to Matilda Orndorff, whose birth oc- curred in Virginia, February 16, 1829. Her par- ents, William and Margaret (Sweeny) Orndorf, are now deceased, the father passing away while a resident of Lewis County, Mo., and the mother dying in Carroll County, this state.
Mr. Smaltz continued to teach for several years after his marriage, after which he purchased a farm in Hampshire County, Va., and for the seven years following was engaged in its cultiva- tion. In 1860 he took up the line of march West, and for the same length of time taught school and superintended the operation of a tract of land in Clinton County, Ohio. Thinking that better op- portunities lay before him in the farther West, he came to Missouri, choosing a home first in Jack- son County, where he farmed for four years. His next move was to Cass County, but his stay there was only of seven months' duration, when he next located in Carroll County, purchasing a small tract of land there, which he operated in connec- tion with running a saw and grist mill. For four years he was very profitably employed, but at the end of that time he sold these enterprises and his land and moved to Johnson County. This was the year in which the grasshoppers infested the country, and as he found them very trouble- some he journeyed to Carroll County, and there made his home until 1873, the year of his final advent into Johnson County. That year he pur- chased his present farm, and has made his home here ever since.
To Mr. and Mrs. Smaltz there have been born eight children. The eldest, Napoleon, married Mattie Stevenson, and is now farming in this county. Robert M. married Lou Cecil, and they also make their home in this section. William
G. is at home. Maria is now Mrs. Columbus Cecil, and lives at Shanghai, this county. Net- tie became the wife of Irwin Hill, and makes her home in Quincy, Il1. James is at home; and Margaret and Virginia are deceased.
Mr. Smaltz has never sought office, finding that he has all he can do to manage his farm. He is a stanch Democrat in politics, and is espec- ially interested in the cause of education in his neighborhood. With his wife, he is a member in good standing of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church.
M INOR GILMORE is a highly respected and well-to-do agriculturist of Johnson County, residing on section 12, township 45, range
25. He is a native of this state, having been born in Morgan County, October 8, 1845. His parents, Scott and Nancy (Burch) Gilmore, were born, respectively, in Kentucky and Tennessee. They first located on a farm in Morgan County, this state, prior to the birth of our subject. This tract Scott Gilmore entered from the Govern- ment, and there the parents continued to live for many years. On selling their estate they re- moved to Pettis County, where they had a large tract of land within twenty miles of Sedalia.
The parents of our subject carried on farming and stock-raising on the above farm until their return to Morgan County. The farm which they then purchased was two hundred and eighty acres in extent, and it was on this property that Minor was born, the father dying there nine years later. Mrs. Gilmore lived to the age of threescore years and ten. Her children were seven in number, those besides our subject being William, John, Giles, Jane, Lean and Monroe, all deceased.
Minor Gilmore when quite young assumed the responsibility of caring for and supporting his widowed mother. He sold the old place two years before her death and removed seven miles northeast of the homestead, where they were renters. After the death of his mother he con-
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tinued to make his home on that place with a brother until his marriage, in 1877, to Miss Nancy A. Kendrick. She was the daughter of Henry and Elizabeth Kendrick, who were then living in Pettis County, and was born in 1859.
On establishing a home of his own, our subject rented a farm two miles from Florence, where he lived for two years. His wife died in the mean time, but he continued to live there until remov- ing to Pettis County, a few months later. While there he lived with his father-in-law, and a year threafter took up his abode with them in Johnson County, whither they had removed. For four years he was an inmate of their household, and at the end of that time was married to Miss Louisa Atwood, a native of North Carolina. Her parents are still living, the mother making her home on the farm in Dallas County, this state, while Mr. Atwood is a resident of Tennessee.
After his second union Mr. Gilmore located 011 a piece of property one-half mile south of his present estate, but only lived there three years, when he moved to another tract two miles south- west. His stay there was of short duration, for within a year we find him living on the former place, where he made his home for eight years. He then took up his abode on his well improved farın located near Pleasant Point Church. Mrs. Louisa Gilmore was called hence in June, 1893.
By his first marriage our subject became the father of one child, who died in infancy. He is not a member of any church organization, and in the matter of politics always votes for Democratic candidates.
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J. TEDDER. On section 12, township 47, range 24, lies a pleasant, finely tilled and well improved farm, which is the property of our subject. He has been a resident of this es- tate for about thirty-five years, and has thus aided
very materially in the pioneer labors which have brought Johnson County to its present high posi- tion among those in the state.
Mr. Tedder is a native of Tennessee, having been born in Roane County, February 18, 1822. He is the eldest in the family of James and Eliza- beth (Todd) Tedder, both of whom were born in North Carolina. Their removal to Tennessee was accomplished in a very early day, and there they continued to live until their decease. The father was advanced in years at the time of his death, being at that time fifty-six years of age. He fought as a soldier in the War of 1812. His good wife preceded him to the grave, dying when T. J. was fourteen years old. They were farmers by occupation, and accumulated a good property by downright hard labor, by that wise economy that knows how to spend as well as save, and by the exercise of sound judgment in all that they did. They were classed among the most respect- ed citizens of Roane County.
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