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 32
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 32
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Mr. Ozias is a native of the Buckeye State, and was born in Preble County, December 27, 1830, being one of the eight children born to the union of Jacob and Sarah (Potterf ) Ozias. Of this family, six still survive. Jacob Ozias was a na- tive of North Carolina, where his birth occurred in the year 1797. When a mere boy, however, he left his native state and emigrated with his parents to Ohio, settling in Preble County. There he grew to man's estate, receiving a common- school education and becoming expert in farın du- ties under the instruction of his father.
Upon attaining his majority, the father of our subject secured a farm near the parental home- stead, which he cultivated very profitably, event- ually becoming owner of the home farm. He was unusually successful as a farmer, and at the time
of his death owned something over one thousand acres of land. Being a man of great integrity and moral worth, he was well known for his sterling qualities of honesty and industry. He passed to his final rest in the spring of 1866, sincerely mourned by his many friends.
The mother of Jacob A. Ozias was born in Pennsylvania, April 12, 1799, but went to Ohio in her girlhood. There she grew to mature years, and there also she met and married our subject's father. She could relate many interesting inci- dents of pioneer life and thrilling experiences of the early settlers. At one time, having occasion to make a trip of about fifteen miles, she saddled her horse, and with one of her children started on the trail which lead through a dense forest. During the ride she met a bear, but as he was disposing of a hog which he had killed, she passed by undisturbed.
Peter Ozias, the grandfather of our subject, went to Ohio in the early pioneer days and en- gaged in the work of opening up the country. At the time of his arrival it was necessary to cut roads through the primeval forests. The red- men were very numerous, but he secured their friendship by fair dealing and kindness, and con- sequently had nothing to fear from them.
Jacob A. Ozias spent the days of his boy hood and youth on the home farm, receiving such school advantages as could be secured in the dis- trict schools of that day, and during his vacations applied himself industriously to work on the farm. Arriving at the age of twenty-one, he began to think of launching out in business for himself, and for about seven years rented land from his father and farmed with a will, his energetic ef- forts bringing him financial prosperity.
October 8, 1857, occurred the marriage of our subject and Miss Lavinia Royer, a daughter of Jesse and Susan (Ebe) Royer. The father was born July 23, 1801, and his wife July 19, 1806, both being natives of Pennsylvania. The former died February 23, 1885, and the latter September 4, 1878. They were married in 1828, and became the parents of ten children, nine of whom grew to maturity, and seven of them are now living. Coming to Missouri on their wedding tour, our
FARM RESIDENCE OF J. A. OZIAS, SECTION 25. TOWNSHIP 46, RANGE 27, JOHNSON COUNTY, MO.
*HIM
8
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subject and liis wife were very much pleased with the land of this state, and Mr. Ozias purchased three hundred and seventy acres, on which his present residence is located, making his first pay- ment in a horse and buggy, which he had brought with him. They went from Cincinnati to St. Louis by boat and drove the rest of the way across the country. Returning to Ohio, hie announced his intention of locating in the new state, but his father discouraged him in this, and as an induce- ment to remain in his native state divided up his land among the children.
The subject of this sketch received his portion of the home farm and remained thereon until the fall of 1865, when, becoming discouraged at the amount of labor required to render the farm tilla- ble, he decided to come to this state and look up the prospects here. The contrast between the Missouri prairie and the stumpy home farm was so great that he decided to stay liere, and, return- ing to Ohio, he disposed of his land and removed his family to this state, coming in the spring of 1866. This move he has never had cause to re- gret, for his property here has been a very profit- able investment. From three hundred and sev- enty acres he made the money which, re-in- vested in land, finally made him the owner of ten hundred and seventy-five acres, which he has now partly divided among his children.
To the union of Mr. and Mrs. Ozias were born six children, five of whom are still living. Susie married William Delaney, who is Cashier of the Bank of Center View, and who is one of the most enterprising citizens of that place. Elmer J., Jesse R., Arthur W. and Carrie L. are still single. Carrie is attending the Elizabeth Aull Seminary at Lexington, Mo., and Arthur is living at home. He is a young man of much promise and we pre- dict for him a bright future.
Politically our subject is a Democrat, and a firm defender of the principles of that party. He is identified with the Progressive Brethren Church, and is prominently connected with all benevolent and public interests. The residence is an impos- ing one, and its hospitality is well known to the rich and poor alike, who always find a ready wel- come there.
EORGE W. LUDWIG, who is engaged in farming and stock-raising on section 27, township 44, range 29, Johnson County, is very prominent in fraternal circles, and for thirty years has been a member of the Odd Fellows' so- ciety. His membership is with Garden City Lodge No. 296, of Cass County, and he belongs to the encampment at Holden. He is also a member of the Grand Army of the Republic, be- ing connected with the Holden Post.
Our subject was born October 31, 1843, in Chillicothe, Ross County, Ohio. His father, William Ludwig, was a blacksmith by trade, and at an early day moved to Dayton, Ohio, where he died when George W. was about twelve years of age. His wife, whose maiden name was Ann Jemima Weber, departed this life October 25, 1876. Of their eight children five died in infan- cy. One son, Noah W., served for one hundred days in the Ohio National Guards, and died in Dayton, Ohio, when in his twenty-first year. William Henry, of Cass County, Mo., who is married and has one child, is the only surviving brother of our subject.
George W. Ludwig went to live with his grand- mother in Pickaway County, Ohio, on a farm after his father's death, and remained there until he en- listed in the army, in the mean time receiving a fair education. October 14, 1861, he became a member of Company C, Sixty-first Ohio Infantry, but was later transferred to Company I, Fifty- eighth Ohio, commanded by Capt. Samuel Mor- rison, with Colonel Bosenwain in charge. Young Ludwig took part in the battle of Ft. Donelson, and at Shiloh received a slight wound in the left cheek. He was stationed on a gunboat during the siege of Vicksburg, was later made Corporal, and June 9, 1864, was promoted to the rank of Sergeant-Major. January 3, 1864, he veteran- ized, and continued to serve until the close of the war, being granted an honorable discharge Sep- tember 16, 1865, at Vicksburg. After Lee's sur- render, he was placed on patrol duty for several months. In September, 1862, when at Helena, Ark., he was in the hospital for a short time, and suffered severely with malaria for several months.
After his return from the South Mr. Ludwig
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attended school in Dayton, Ohio, for a few montlis, and in 1866 went to Kansas City, where he worked in a planing-mill. He had used the wages re- ceived during his army service in assisting to take care of his widowed mother, to whom he was ever a most dutiful son. In the spring of 1867 he first landed in Johnson County, and for a year and a-half was employed by Chesley Gates, a farmer.
October 1, 1868, Mr. Ludwig married Nancy E. Gates, daughter of his late employer. She was born in what was then Van Buren, but now Hen- ry County, Mo., January 21, 1841, and has been a true helpmate and assistant to her husband in the journey of life. Of their eight children, three died in infancy, and the others are Omar W., Mary Etta, Ida May, Inda Ora and Clara Belle. The eldest, born June 26, 1870, is a graduate of Spaulding Commercial College of Kansas City, and is a young man of promise. The daughters have all received good common-school educations and are well fitted to grace any society.
After his marriage, Mr. Ludwig removed to a farm of two hundred acres which his wife had in- herited from her mother. He improved the place, clearing some of the land, putting out a good orchard, and building substantial fences thereon. In 1884 he erected the comfortable family resi- dence in which he has since dwelt. Mr. Gates subsequently gave to his daughter a tract of land, and the farm now comprises altogether two hun- dred and sixty-six acres. The land was formerly prairie, but Mr. Ludwig soon commenced to im - prove it, and now has it all under tillage or past- ure. Good fences enclose the fields, and a fine productive orchard of peach, apple and other fruit trees embellishes the home place. The residence before mentioned is one of the best appearing and substantial buildings in this section, and good barns and other farm buildings are conveniently arranged. All of these improvements have been brought about by the energy and industry of Mr. Ludwig.
Politically our subject is a Republican, though his father and surviving brother were adherents of the Democracy. In 1864 he voted for Lincoln and for Governor Brough of Ohio. Though he had no expectation of being elected, Mr. Ludwig
was nominated by his party friends for the position of Justice of the Peace in 1872, and has served as a delegate to county conventions.
RESTON G. SANDERS, a retired farmer, is now engaged in merchandising in Quick City, Johnson County, where he erected a store in 1894, and put in a well selected stock of dry goods. Since 1848, when he cast his maiden vote for the Whig candidate, he has supported either that party or its successor, and while in Worthington, Ind., served as Township Trustee for four years acceptably, having been chosen by the Republicans of that community to fill the po- sition.
A native of Greene County, Ind., Mr. Sanders was born February 27, 1827, to Herbert and Jincy (Jessup) Sanders, both natives of North Carolina. They emigrated to Indiana with their respective families in 1816, and were married in Greene County, where they were numbered among the pioneers. Mr. Sanders, who was a farmer by oc- cupation, resided in the Hoosier State until after the war, when he sold out, and moving to Atchi- son County, Kan., bought a quarter-section of land. This place he cultivated for twelve years, when he returned to Indiana and passed his last days at the home of our subject, his death occur- ring in August, 1882.
In a family of nine children, P. G. Sanders is the third in order of birth, and in his boyhood he received good training and fair common-school advantages. When twenty years of age he com- menced running a flat-boat from his home down the White River, the Ohio and the Mississippi to New Orleans. As a cargo he carried farm prod- ucts, for which he found a ready market, and for nine years his time was thus employed. He managed to lay aside some money, and then for four years engaged in operating his father's land
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on shares. His father having purchased a tract of wild land, our subject commenced its improve- ment, and paid for the same, some eighty acres, on installments. When the war broke out he enlisted in Company H, Seventy-first Indiana Regiment, and was subsequently transferred from the infantry to the cavalry service. He enlisted July 11, 1862, went into camp at Terre Haute, and was mustered in on the 18th of August. The same night he started for the front, and August 29 took part in the battle at Richmond, Ky., where he was captured. He was sent to Indian- apolis ou parole, remaining there for seven months, and when exchanged was placed in the cavalry. Then, going to Muldron's Hill, Ky., to guard a railroad trestle, he was again captured by Breck- enridge and Morgan. On being paroled and once more exchanged, he was sent to Kentucky and thence to Georgia. At Tunnel Hill he took part in a battle, from there went to Atlanta, and par- ticipated in the battles of Resaca, Kenesaw Moun- tain and in the capture of Atlanta. Next he was sent to Nashville to assist Thomas, and there fought his last great battle. Though he was in many skirmishes, and for three months was con- stantly under fire, he was never wounded. At Nashville he was taken sick and was sent home, where he remained until the regiment was dis- charged in September, 1865.
While absent fighting for the Stars and Stripes, his wife, formerly Elizabeth Fiscus, had died, this sad event having occurred in 1862. Their marriage occurred April 29, 1849. She was born in Owen County, Ind., and of the children born to her only one survives. Mary, the wife of J. W. Fort, died leaving four children; and John F., who died in March, 1895, in Arkansas, left a family of six children. Zachary T., who is pro- prietor of a sawmill in Arkansas, is married and has two children. In March, 1866, Mr. Sanders married Lucy G. Dayhoff, a native of Greene County, Ind. They became the parents of five children, who one by one were summoned by the Angel of Death. William P., a bright, promis- ing young man, lived to be nearly eighteen years of age. In March, 1895, he was out hunting with a companion, when he was accidentally wounded
in the right arm by the premature discharge of his comrade's gun, and from the effects of his in- jury his death soon resulted. The other children died at the ages of nine, seven and two years, and one when but seven months old.
For four years after returning from Southern battlefields, Mr. Sanders engaged in commercial pursuits at Worthington, Ind., and then traded his plant for a farm in Greene County, that state, where he made his home until 1882, much of his attention being given to dealing in live stock. In the spring of 1883, he moved to Holden, this county, and a few months later purchased a home- stead on section 21, township 44, range 28, where he has a quarter-section of land. In 1890 his store and stock in Quick City were destroyed by fire, and his loss was indeed severe. During the next three years he gave his exclusive attention to his farm, after which he opened a stock of gro- ceries, and in 1894, as previously stated, opened a dry-goods store in Quick City. He is a mem- ber of the Grand Army of the Republic, and in former years was active in the Odd Fellows' so- ciety. He and his estimable wife are members of the Christian Church, the former now holding the office of Elder in the congregation. They possess the friendship and respect of a large circle of acquaintances, and we are pleased to give them a place among the representative citizens of this community.
AVID S. PLAIN is a self-made and self-ed- ucated man, and owes to himself the success he has achieved in the battle of life. He is engaged in farming and stock-raising on his de- sirable homestead, comprising eighty acres on section 12, township 44, range 29, Johnson Coun- ty. From a very early age much responsibility was thrown upon his shoulders, and he was in- ured to the duties of farm life while yet a mere boy. In 1874, he and his wife came to visit their eldest daughter, who is married and living in
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Cass County, Mo. Taking a great liking to the state, Mr. Plain returned home, sold his farm and bought one hundred and twenty acres in Cass County, subsequently adding thereto another tract of forty acres. In 1888 he sold tlie place and removed to his present home, where he in- tends to remain permanently.
A son of David and Sarah (Gish) Plain, our subject was born February 27, 1824, near Green- ville, Muhlenberg County, Ky. His mother died when he was only two weeks old, and at her re- quest he was taken into the family of Samuel Short, with whom he continued to live until reaching his majority. When he was a lad of eleven years, or in 1835, the family moved to San- gamon County, Ill., and settled in what was then a new country, only a few pioneers having locat- ed along the edges of the timber. Mr. Short bought a farm on the prairie and set young Da- vid to work breaking the ground and driving four yoke of oxen. He was a very strict and stern taskmaster, and denied his young charge many of the privileges that commonly fall to the lot of young people. The boy had but little chance to obtain an education, but he was faithful to his employer and did as well as he could until the summer after he was twenty-one years old, when he decided to embark in business on his own ac- count. Renting land from Mr. Short, he raised a crop, and thus was encouraged to go forward.
September 4, 1845, David Plain and Elizabeth Roach were united in marriage. She was born April 14, 1823, in Christian County, Ky., being a daughter of John and Dorothy (Utley) Roach, who moved to Sangamon County, Ill., about 1836. For a number of years Mr. Plain rented land, and by the help of his wife managed to lay by a sum of money each year, and at last invest- ed this money in eighty acres of wild land. He made and hauled the rails with which it was divided into fields, and after a time sold that prop- erty, buying a similar tract, which he also im- proved and sold. Later, buying one hundred and sixty acres, he engaged in the cultivation of this tract until 1874, when he moved to this state.
Ten children were born to David S. Plain and
his wife. Emily J., born February 8, 1847, mar- ried W. A. Lowdermilk, February 26, 1877, and now lives in Macoupin County, Ill .; Miranda, born June 12, 1848, married Thomas R. Stroud, May 11, 1870, and lives at Latour; Jesse S., born February 20, 1850, was married, September 16, 1873, to Fannie Bryant; Samuel S., born Decem- ber 17, 1851, married Mattie Jernigen, Septem- ber 3, 1872, and lives on a portion of his father's farm; America R., born February 24, 1854, be- came the wife of W. C. McGlothin, December 24, 1873, and is a resident of Latour; David E., born November 20, 1855, and now making his home in Latour, was married, in 1876, to Eliza- beth Butler; Charles, born October 1, 1857, died at the age of two years and six days, October 7, 1859; Eliza I., born November 5, 1859, is the wife of Charles Scholl, of Index, Cass County; Mary C., born December 26, 1861, married Ly- sander West, and lives in this county; and Mar- garet M., born May 4, 1864, married William Holcomb, of Cass County. Mr. Plain has twen- ty-six grandchildren. The first Presidential vote of our subject was cast in 1848, and since that time he has been a loyal supporter of the Dem- ocracy.
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OHN FLETCHER HOWETH is engaged in general farming and stock-raising on sec- tion 10, township 45, range 29, Johnson Coun- ty, his property comprising two hundred acres of finely cultivated land, one hundred and twenty acres of which Mrs. Howeth inherited from her father, who died when she was only four years of age. In 1849 he went to California and died of cholera on shipboard, while on the return voyage, being buried at sea. For nine years our subject served as School Director, but since re- signing that office he has never acted in a public capacity. His first Presidential ballot was cast for Horace Greeley, and, like his father, he is a Democrat.
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The parents of our subject are Harvey and Susan (Dorsett) Howeth, natives of Alabama and Texas, respectively. The father, who is still living, was born October 1, 1822, and went to Texas with his parents about 1845. During the last of the Mexican War, he enlisted in the serv- ice, being with Scott at the capture of the City of Mexico, and served a little over a year. He was married in Rusk County, Tex., about 1848, and moved to Cooke County the following year. Of their eleven children all but three are still living. For about two years Mr. Howeth served as a private in the Confederate army, as a member of a Texas regiment, and after the war joined the State Militia, assisting in keeping the Indians in check. He is a farmer, and at one time had one hundred and sixty acres. This tract he sold, how- ever, buying land near Gainesville, the county seat of Cooke County.
J. F. Howeth was born in Cooke County, Tex., March 5, 1850, and while his father was in the army the main dependence of the family fell upon his young shoulders. Thus he did not obtain much of an education at school, but has acquired his knowledge mainly through private study and observation. When he was twenty years of age he commenced learning the carpenter's trade, re- ceiving nothing for the first three months, but at the end of that time getting about $1 per day. He served three years, finally being given fair wages. He continued to follow his trade in Tex- as until 1875, when he moved to his present home.
December 31, 1872, Mr. Howeth married Mrs. Mattie Venable, nee Frier, who was born in Coop- er County, Mo., June 3, 1844. Her parents were James H. and Margaret (McCulloch) Frier, na- tives of Kentucky and Virginia, respectively. The father emigrated to Missouri in his early manhood alone, and the mother came with her parents. Their marriage was celebrated at New Franklin, Mo., in 1829, Mrs. Frier being then only seventeen years of age. Mrs. Howeth first married Thomas B. Lee, at the age of twenty years, and subsequently became the wife of J. A. Venable, who died in Texas. There were no children by either marriage. Mr. and Mrs. How-
eth have two daughters and a son, namely: Ella J., born April 1, 1875; Robert Stanley, June 4, 1878; and Besta, May 8, 1890, and all three are natives of this county. The two elder children are attending the normal school at Warrensburg.
Harvey Howeth is a Democrat, as is also his son, our subject. The latter was reared a Meth- odist and his wife a Universalist. She united with the Christian Church when she was nineteen years of age, but they are both now identified with the same congregation, as are their two eld- er children. They are in favor of woman suf- frage, and take great interest in the indications which point to the speedy fulfillment of their de- sires in this direction.
RANK DEERMESTER, who is Assistant Professor in Mathematics and Professional Training in the State Normal at Warrens- burg, is a young man of superior talents and education, besides having a number of years of valuable experience as a teacher. His present position he was offered in the fall of 1892, and since accepting the same has given full satis- faction to all who have come under his jurisdic- tion. During the summers of 1889 to 1893, in- clusive, he took up special work in the summer institutes, the first year in Barton County, and the remainder of the time in Bates County. The vacation of 1894 he spent profitably at Harvard · University, making a special study of psychol- ogy. He has also made good progress in German and higher mathematics, having few equals, es- pecially in the latter branch.
The parents of our subject are John and Ma- hala C. (Gunn) Deermester, the former a native of Wurtemberg, Germany, born June 21, 1842. When sixteen years of age he left the Father- land in order to avoid military service, and after landing in New York he went to Philadelphia, where for two years he worked in a bakery. Then, going to Bond County, Il1., he engaged in mill-
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ing, following the business until 1864. March 2 of that year he enlisted in the cavalry service, and while in Arkansas was under General Steele, and at Nashville and Franklin, Tenn., under General Thomas. He was honorably discharged in June, 1865, and was afterward sent to Dakota to assist in putting down the troublesome Indians. He was never wounded, but had some narrow escapes, and in one battle a ball lodged in a rail imme- diately in front of him. On his return to Bond County he engaged in farming on rented land, and in 1868 moved to Bates County, Mo., where he became the owner of two hundred acres of wild land, which he has since engaged in culti- vating. He has been successful in his efforts, and is now the proprietor of four hundred and eighty acres of valuable land. March 4, 1864, he was married, in Bond County, Ill., to Miss Gunn, who was born in Pennsylvania, November 30, 1842, and whose father died while she was quite young.
Frank Deermester was born at Greenville, Ill., August 28, 1866, and was only about two years of age when his parents moved to Bates County. He attended the country schools, and in his sev- enteenth year entered the State Normal, graduat- ing from the "C" Course in 1885. For the next three years he engaged in teaching country schools in Bates County, and as he liked this line of work, returned to the State Normal in the fall of 1888 for further instruction, graduating in June, 1889. The principalship of the public schools of Adrian, Mo., being offered him, he accepted the position, and the next year was made Principal of the Montrose School, in Henry County, at a better salary. While there he was elected Commissioner of Bates County, and filled the office for two years. In the mean time he was for one year first assistant in Butler Acad- emy, and in the fall of 1892 resigned the office of Commissioner in order to accept the position he now holds.
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