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 34
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 34
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placed here. In 1866 he and his wife joined the Presbyterian Church of this city. He had been reared in the Episcopal faith, to which his mother adhered, and his wife was formerly a Methodist. He has been Sunday-school teacher and Super- intendent, and an Elder in the church for many years, and has represented the church in the Presbytery and Synod many times, also in the General Assembly, the highest position a layman can hold. For years he was one of the main sup- porters of the church, with which his children are also identified, and for many years they were faithful workers and teachers in church and Sun- day-school, as was also Mrs. De Garmo.
ON. ANDREW W. ROGERS, one of the most worthy representatives of the Johnson County Bar, has been engaged in legal pratice in Warrensburg for the past thirty years. He was elected to the State Legislature in the fall of 1882, and did effective work on many of the committees. In 1875 he was made Prosecuting Attorney and held the position two years. The cause of education finds in him a sincere friend; for six or seven years he has been a member of the Board of Regents of the State Normal School, and served on the Public-school Board about eight years previous, during which time he was President of both bodies.
Col. Thomas Rogers, the father of our subject, was born in Loudoun County, Va., in 1782, and while he was still a mere child emigrated with his father, William Rogers, to Woodford County, Ky. Later he was a resident of Bourbon County, and about 1800 settled near Chillicothe, Ohio, when that city was composed of only a few cabins. When the War of 1812 broke out Col. Thomas Rogers served as Lieutenant under General Mc- Arthur, and was a part of the army which Hull surrendered at Detroit. He was three times married, Andrew W. being a child of his second
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union. At an early day lie became one of the pioneers of Highland County, Ohio, where he owned a large tract of land, and his death oc- curred in Greenfield, Ohio, in 1872. He was a very active worker in the campaign of 1840 as a Whig, but later was a Free-soiler and a strong anti-slavery man. He voted for Fremont in 1856, and before his death saw the final destruction of slavery. Religiously he was a Presbyterian, be- ing an Elder for many years, and was also a strong temperance man. About 1820 he married Nancy Watts, the mother of our subject, who bore him eight children.
Andrew W. Rogers was born about four miles south of Greenfield, Ohio, March 12, 1825, and in his boyhood received good training and a fair common-school education. He remained on the home farm until reaching his majority, and in 1846 entered the preparatory department of the Miami University of Oxford, Ohio. After grad- uating from the classical course in the year 1851 he went South, where he taught school. Febru- ary 6, 1852, he married Sallie J., daughter of Prof. Thomas and Isabella (Brown) Mathews. Her father was Professor of Mathematics in Ox- ford, Ohio, and was a man of superior attainments.
While having charge of the County Academy at Raleigh, Tenn., ten miles from Memphis, Mr. Rogers finished the preparatory study of law, and was admitted to the Bar in the spring of 1853, in Memphis. The same year he moved to Blooming- ton, Ill., where he opened an office for practice, and there he continued to dwell for the next five years. Then, going to Carbondale, Ill., he prac- ticed there until 1862, and canvassed on behalf of the Union for nearly a year. He aided in raising the Eighty-first Regiment of Infantry in 1862, and was elected its Major. After serving on post duty at Cairo, Ill., he was sent with the regiment to Humboldt, Tenn., and was held there with the reserve force while the battle of Corinth was fought. Next the regiment was sent to La- Grange, Tenn., and was assigned to the Third Division, Seventeenth Army Corps, General Grant Commander-in-Chief. Prior to the Vicksburg campaign, he, with his regiment, was engaged in various skirmishes. May 1, 1863, he was
in the battle of Ft. Gibson; May 12, at Ray- mond, Miss .; May 14, Jackson; May 16, Baker's Creek; and May 17, Big Black; then in the in- vestment and siege of Vicksburg, which ended July 4, 1863.
While in the service our subject served as Pres- ident of several courts-martial. May 22, 1863, his Colonel having been killed in an assault on the works at Vicksburg, he was promoted to the rank of Lieutenant-Colonel, and in March, 1864, he was given command of the regiment, which was assigned to duty on the Red River campaign under Gen. A. J. Smith, the campaign lasting over seventy days. After taking Ft. De Russy they went by boat to Alexandria, then by land to Grand Ecore, or Natchitoches, and there were assigned to the river fleet. After reaching the mouth of Loggy Bayou, with the intelligence of the defeat of the main army the fleet received orders to retreat down the river. They had to fight their way back to Grand Ecore, where they again met the main army.
Subsequently our subject was in the fight with Forrest at Guntown, Miss., after which, August 20, 1864, he was commissioned Colonel of the Eighty-first, and took part in the campaign against Price in Missouri. From St. Louis he was sent to Nashville, at the time of the siege by Hood, and thence went to New Orleans. In the spring of 1865 he was placed in the Sixteenth Army Corps, Third Brigade, Third Division. From New Orleans he went by steamer to Dauphin Island, then by boat up Fish River, thence across the country, and with his regiment opened the fight in the investment and siege of Spanish Fort, March 27, 1865. The fort was taken April 8, and on the 25th of the month the army ar- rived in Montgomery, Ala., where they first learned of Lee's surrender and the assassination of President Lincoln. With his regiment our sub- ject was mustered out at Vicksburg, and was finally discharged in Chicago, August 11, 1865.
The marriage of Mr. and Mrs. Rogers was blessed with four children, all of whom are liv- ing: Isabella C., who married W. T. Urie, of Kansas City, manufacturer of dredging machinery; Stanley T., an attorney-at-law of Kansas City;
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Anna G., wife of Arthur W. Fish, who is in the employ of Appleton & Co., of Chicago; and Eliz- abeth F., who is still at home. The parents are members of the Episcopal Church, with which they have been identified since the year 1884, previous to which time they were connected with the Presbyterian Church. Mr. Rogers is a mem- ber of the Masonic fraternity, having joined the order while in the army, and has also filled all the principal chairs in Corinthian Lodge No. 265, A. F. & A. M., and of De Mola Lodge No. 26, R. A. C. For three years he was Comman- der of Colonel Grover Post No. 78, G. A. R., and while at college was one of the founders of the Greek-letter society, Phi Delta Theta, which has since spread all over the United States.
QUIRE FRANCILLO B. FREEMAN, one of the oldest residents of township 45, range 25, located here in 1868, at a time when it bore little resemblance to its now flourishing con- dition. He is a native of Kentucky, having been born in Greenup County, April 30, 1814. His parents were Barnett and Catherine (Everman) Freeman, the former of whom was born in Vir- ginia, and the latter in Germany. They met and were married in the Blue Grass State, where Barnett Freeman was engaged in teaching school and also farming to some extent.
The father of our subject followed these com- bined occupations until about 1829, when he dis- posed of his possessions in that state and removed to Randolph County, Ind. There he became the owner of a productive tract of land and lived un- til the death of his wife. He afterward married Mary Booker, and changed his location to Henry County, where his decease occurred in 1855. When last heard from, his wife was still living in that locality. The mother of our subject was also twice married. Her first companion was David
Frame, who met his death while working in a powder-mill in Greenup County. One son was born of their union, David Frame, who is now deceased.
To Barnett and Catherine Freeman there were born ten children, of whom Francillo B. was the eldest. Alonzo died in Henry County, Ind .; Will- iam E. was killed by the cars, while living in Ran- dolph County, Ind .; Hartwell died in Lafayette County, Ind., in 1846; Valentine died in Henry County, that state; Austin departed this life in Kentucky when an infant; Napoleon Walter Je- rome died in Henry County, Ind .; Rebecca, who was born in the Blue Grass State, married Willianı Elliott, and both died in Henry County, Ind .; Narcissus died in Randolph County, that state; and Cordella was a resident of Delaware, Ind., at the time of her death.
Our subject was the only member of the house- hold to remain at home until reaching his major- ity. He learned the carpenter's trade in Henry, Delaware and Randolph Counties, Ind., working at the same until 1840. He was then married to Miss Louisa Jane Burdit, a native of Virginia, where her father lived and died. They were married in Delaware County, and there our sub- ject purchased a farm and made his home for the following eight years. Mrs. Freeman died Sep- tember 8, 1847, and February 11 of the follow- ing year he married Angeline Street, a native of Bath County, Ky., and the daughter of James and Rachel Street, also natives of that state, where they were farmers. They later removed to Indiana, where the father died in Shelby County, and the mother passed her last days in Wayne County.
In 1847 Mr. Freeman's crops failed, and conse- quently he lost nearly all of his property. In 1858 he came by wagon to this state, settling in Scotland County, where he purchased two farms, and for nine years was engaged in their super- vision. At the outbreak of the war he enlisted and entered the service as a substitute. He was at the front only a short time, however, when he returned home and lived in Scotland County un- til some time in 1867. That year he sold his in- terests there and set out for Bates County, stop-
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ping, however, in Johnson County. He was so well pleased with the outlook that he remained here and soon became classed among the practi- cal agriculturists of the county.
For some time after his marriage our subject engaged in a general merchandising business, and also practiced law. Upon his arrival in Johnson County he purchased fifty acres of land, built thereon a good residence, and has since made it his home. His wife died a few months after coming here, passing away April 26, 1868, and he still resides on the home place with the chil- dren. He became the father of twelve sons and daughters. Riley F. married Sarah Jane Miller, and both are now deceased. Barnett E. was born March 25, 1843, and is now living on the home place. Charles H. was born November 20, 1844; he was married in Arkansas and died about 1870, leaving a daughter. Francis M. was born Sep- tember 30, 1846; he married Mary Winnegar, and is now living in Rich Hill, Bates County, this state. Martha E. was born June 29, 1850; she married T. D. Connell, and is now a resident of Camden County, Mo. La Fayette was born June 30, 1852, and died in Arizona. Josephine, who was born July 6, 1854, became the wife of George Houck, who died May 5, 1883; June 5, 1885, she became the wife of George T. Swift, and now lives with our subject. Lurinda J. was born Au- gust 24, 1857; she first married James Dunn, and is now the wife of Adolphus Flick, and their home is in the World's Fair City. Indiana, who was born July 20, 1860, is now living with her hus- band, Wiley C. Atwood, in Bates County, Mo. Emma, who was born September 28, 1862, mar- ried William H. Hendrick, who was killed in a wreck on the Wichita Road; she is now the wife of William H. Corbridge, of Chicago. Almeda, who was born February 27, 1865, married John Harrison, a farmer living northwest of Warrens- burg. William H. was born April 16, 1868; he now farms a tract of land near Valley City, this county.
There were very few settlers in this township when Mr. Freeman located here. The farm which he occupies had been rejected by all the pioneers as being too poor to work. He, however, has
placed it under the best methods of cultivation, and now has one of the most productive tracts in the township. In 1892 our subject was elected Justice of the Peace of Montserrat Township on the Democratic ticket, serving a term of two years with entire satisfaction. While a resident of Ran- dolph County, Ind., he was Constable for one year. His second wife was a member in good standing of the Methodist Church, while his first companion was connected with the Dunkard Church.
I LBERT A. POTTERF, M. D., is one of the leading physicians of Center View, and - although his residence here has extended over a period of only six years, he numbers his friends by the score, and his ability to conquer disease and restore health to the suffering ones is so well understood in the locality in which he makes his home, as to make lengthy mention of his skill unnecessary. He has conquered many difficulties in attaining his present position, and deserves great credit for his persevering and painstaking efforts.
The subject of this sketch is a native of Ohio, and was born in Eaton, January 13, 1852. He was the eldest of seven children whose parents were William H. and Susan M. (Shideler) Pot- terf, and the family circle is yet unbroken by the hand of death. William H. Potterf was also born near Eaton, Ohio, in the year 1829, and was reared to the life of an agriculturist, following that calling the greater part of his life in his birthplace. He was a man much beloved for his many noble qualities, and his death was deep- ly mourned. His good wife, who is a native of Ohio, is still living and makes her home in Ard- more, Ind. T.
Reared to manhood in the old home, A. A. Potterf received the rudiments of his education in the common schools. In 1866 he came with his parents to Missouri, locating in Warrensburg. They remained there but a short time, how-
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ever, soon locating on a farm about ten miles distant. Here, after one short year, the father died, February 29, 1868, and the management of the farm devolved on the young shoulders of our stibject. It was here that he displayed the traits that have since been such a noted factor in his success, and taking hold with a will he succeeded in educating his younger brothers and sisters. Accomplishing this, he turned the management of the home farm over to a younger brother and gave his attention to finishing his own education.
In the year 1884 our subject bought a cattle ranch in Oregon and, after stocking it, gave it into the hands of a brother; about the same time also he purchased a fanch in Kansas and placed another brother in charge; but as cattle de- clined in value, both ventures proved disastrous. In 1879 he bought the home place and for some six years was engaged in its cultivation, also en- gaging in stock-raising. For two years prior to leaving the farm, he read medicine, and in 1887 he entered the Missouri Medical College of Ho- meopathy, graduating from there March 14, 1889. Coming to Center View after his graduation, he began the practice of medicine and has built up one of the best paying practices in this section. He gives special attention to the treatment of can- cer and rectal troubles, and that he has been very successful in these lines may be seen from testi- monials from some of the best men in the state. He has established offices in Kansas City and St. Louis, and visits many other towns professionally.
September 9, 1883, Miss Fannie L. Murray be- came the wife of our subject. She is the daugh- ter of David Murray, a prominent pioneer settler of this county. Mrs. Potterf began reading med- icine under the tutelage of her husband about three years ago, and in the fall of 1892 she en- tered the Kansas City Homeopathic College and will graduate from that institution this coming spring. She is a cultured and accomplished lady, and by becoming acquainted with the art of heal- ing will be a very valuable helpmate to her hus- band.
To the union of Mr. and Mrs. Potterf have been born two daughters. Maggie, the elder daughter, is a bright little maiden of nine years; and Lulu
is a sunshiny girl of seven. Politically our sub- ject affiliates with the Democratic party, and relig- iously is an active member of the Presbyterian Church. He is also identified with the Junior Order of American Mechanics. Benevolent en- terprises always receive his support, and no needy person is ever turned from his door.
LINTON J. RUCKER is one of the enter- prising young farmers of Johnson County, who, for the past eight years, has carried on farming in township 46, range 25. He is a self- made man, and received his start in life by in- vesting his earnings in a steam thresher, which he ran nine years, making $3,000 clear profit in that time. He is now President of the School Board No. 36, Union Prairie. In his political convic- tions he is a Democrat and a firm believer in the platform of the party.
John Rucker, the father of our subject, was a native of Luray; Rockingham County, W. Va., where he lived on a farm for many years. He also built boats and rafted lumber down the river. In 1855 he moved to Greene County, Ohio, where he bought a farm and lived until March, 1873. Selling out his Ohio possessions, he start- ed for Missouri in the year last mentioned and settled on eighty acres of land which he had pre- viously bought in this county. The place was in what was known as the Gallahar Addition to Warrensburg, and there he continued to reside until his death, which occurred in 1887. He was prominent in that locality. His widow lived in Warrensburg until her demise, September 23, 1893. Her maiden name was Mary J. Smith, and her birth occurred in the same county as that of her husband. She was one of eight children, only three of whom are now living: William, Jef- ferson and Mrs. Cheek, all large land-owners and farmers of Pike County, Ill. The father had two brothers: Ambrose, a farmer in California; and
STOCK FARM AND RESIDENCE OF C. J. RUCKER, SECTION 9, TOWNSHIP 46, RANGE 25, JOHNSON COUNTY, MO.
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Smith, who is a farmer and stock-raiser in Iowa; and three sisters, Julia, Peachy and Mary, who live in Illinois. At the time of his death, John Rucker was the owner of eleven hundred acres of valuable farin land in this county.
Clinton J. Rucker, who was born near Xenia, Ohio, on a farm, March 11, 1857, is the fourth in a family of ten children. The others are as fol- lows: Mary, the wife of Jesse T. Ellis, a mer- chant of Arrowsmith, I11 .; Sarah, wife of John C. Barnhardt, a machinist of Grand Rapids, Mich .; Jennie, who married Dr. Alexander Smith, now of Pottersburg, Union County, Ohio; William, who first married Mary Watkins, of Pike County, Ill., and after her death was married, in Kansas City, to Ella Wyricks; Alice, deceased, wife of Henry T. Hitt, who is a farmer three miles southeast of Warrensburg; Frank, deceased, who married Lucy Whorton, now the wife of Edward Houx, of Center View; Rosalie, wife of Dr. Wesley Bol- ton, a graduate of St. Joseph (Mo.) Medical Col- lege, and now a resident of Siloam Springs, Ark .; May, wife of J. O. McBride, a druggist of War- rensburg; and Annie L., Mrs. Harry Leary, also a resident of Siloam Spring, Ark. Lee F. grad- uated at the St. Louis Medical College, and later located in Center View, this county, where he practiced until his death. William, who is a master engineer of Kansas City, attends to the erection of steam machinery.
On reaching his majority, C. J. Rucker left home to make his own livelihood, and for three years was employed by farmers in Greene County, Ohio. Later he bought and improved a farm of twenty-seven acres, paying therefor $75 per acre. He built a house, in which he continued to live for a short time and then sold out. January 13, 1883, he emigrated westward, joining his brother, who had come to the vicinity of Warrensburg about six months previously. In March follow- ing their father came here with his family, and our subject lived with him until his marriage. For two years after that event he conducted a farm about a mile and a-half southeast of War- rensburg, after which he moved to a tract of forty acres twelve miles south of that city. Subsequent- ly he came to what is known as the Pratt Farm,
buying a portion of his present possessions, which comprise two hundred and fifty-five acres.
March 18, 1885, Mr. Rucker and Sadie E. Drummond were united in marriage. The lady was born in Guernsey County, Ohio, February 16, 1858. She is one of eight children, whose parents were Samuel and Sarah (Tingle) Drum- mond, those beside herself being Albert, who married Eliza Day, and now lives in Warrens- burg; Theodore, who also lives in that city, and who married Georgia Gilliland, since deceased; Rowena, wife of Ezra Davies, a hardware mer- chant of Fayetteville, Ark .; Rhoda, Mrs. Rich- ard Fickas, of San Diego, Cal .; Joseph H., who is in the real-estate business in Aransas Pass, Tex .; William, of Los Angeles County, Cal .; and Edward, a civil engineer of San Diego, Cal. The father of these children was a cabinet-maker by trade, but after removing to Missouri, in 1867, gave his time to the management of his farm south of Warrensburg, where he died in July, 1878. His wife survived him until November, 1890.
Three children have come to bless the home of Mr. and Mrs. C. J. Rucker, namely: Pearl, born February 6, 1886; Grace, September 3, 1887; and Mabel, November 16, 1889. Our subject and his wife are not members of any church organi- zation, but contribute of their means to benevo- lent and religious purposes, and are interested in whatever tends to upbuild mankind.
OHN B. LAMPKIN, Justice of the Peace and Notary Public, is a leading citizen of Kingsville. Politically he is a Democrat, but his personal popularity is shown by the fact that he has been Justice of the Peace for a period of ten years, during which period he has settled amicably more cases than any other man hold -
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ing a similar office. Beside fulfilling the duties incumbent on him, he also deals extensively in live stock, and altogether is a business man of well known ability. He was named after John Bell, at one time candidate for the Presidency, and a man whom his father greatly admired.
Mr. Lampkin has been a resident of Kingsville since 1882, having come hither from Osage Coun- ty .. His father, Andrew Jackson Lampkin, a namesake of "Old Hickory," was a farmer by occupation, following this industry for some time in connection with his trade as a stonemason. The earlier years of his life were passed in Will- iamson and Davidson Counties, Tenn., but at the present time he makes his home with our subject, being now seventy-five years of age. He left Tennessee in 1840, and, traveling across the line into Missouri, lived for a time at Jake Prairie. He later returned to the state of his birth, but in 1854 we find him again a resident of Missouri, this time as a resident of Osage County. There he entered land on the Gasconade River, near Prior's Mills, under the "Bit Act," and on this made his home for many years. The property at that time was almost a wilderness, but he had the satisfaction of seeing the results of his arduous toil before disposing of the place, in the well cul- tivated fields and orchards which he planted.
The mother of our subject, Rosama (Adams) Lampkin, was born in Baltimore, Md., in 1820, and lived until 1879, when she was called to her long home. Her children were four in number. Sarah Elizabeth, now the widow of Albert Davis, makes her home at Centropolis, Mo .; Frances is the wife of A. L. Goddard, of Kingsville; John B. was the next-born; and James H. is also a resi- dent of Kingsville.
The original of this sketch was born in Will- iamson County, Tenn., November 5, 1848, on a farm eighteen miles southeast of Nashville, and seven miles east of Franklin. His birth occurred on the day General Taylor was elected President of the United States. He was reared to farm life, and remained in his native state until 1869, in the mean time being given opportunity for securing a limited education in the primitive schools of the neighborhood.
During the winter of 1869-70, our subject packed his household goods in a wagon, and, to- gether with several other families bound for Tex- as, journeyed to within ten miles of Dallas, where he lived for one year. The following year found him a resident of Collin County, in northern Tex- as. Subsequently he lived at Armstrong Academy, the capital of the Choctaw Nation. In the fall of 1873, however, he made his way to Osage County, this state, and was there employed in farming for five years. At the end of that time he was elected Constable, and moved with his family to Linn, the county seat. On the expiration of his term of office, he was appointed Deputy-Sheriff, hold- ing the office for two years.
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