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 37
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 37
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of a mill, and there received some provisions, with which they started for Indian Territory. Our subject was permitted to go to Ft. Smith for supplies, where he paid $100 for one hundred pounds of flour, and on rejoining his company they moved on to Bonham, Tex., where they arrived in October, 1864, remaining there one month. They then started for Hillsboro, Ark., where, on the 25th of January, 1865, Mr. Holmes received an order to leave his company and re- port to Maj. James R. Shaler, at Washington, Ark. From there he was ordered to Maj .- Gen. John Fagan at Camden. He was at Pine Bluff, Ark., at the time of the surrender, and at Shreve- port, La., was mustered out, returning to St. Louis June 23, 1865, where he took the oath of allegiance to the United States.
On returning to Missouri, Mr. Holmes found his wife living in Macon County, and his father in Howard County, as nothing was left of the old home except the fireplace, everything being burned by the Union men. Sending for his wife, they lived in a log schoolhouse containing two rooms for some time, when a house was erected on the home farm, obtaining the lumber for its construction from St. Louis. They there remained for several years, when they removed to the Rathfon Farm, but in 1867 a house was erected on a farm of eighty acres given Mr. Holmes by his father. He has made many good improve- ments and added to his land, until he now has four hundred and forty acres, about half of which is under cultivation.
In the family of our subject and his wife were seven children, five of whom are still living. Robert H., born May 20, 1861, died July 8, 1876; Charlie A., born January 8, 1863, is engaged in the cattle business in Duncan County, Ariz .; James R., born May 24, 1866, lives in Barber County, Kan., where he is engaged in farming; Minnie M., born March 9, 1868, is at home; Wil- son H., born June 7, 1871, is a farmer of Barber County, Kan .; Almira L., born September 19, 1874, died on the 29th of November of the same year; and Benjamin E., born July 2, 1876, is with his parents.
Mr. Holmes is an extensive farmer, raising
principally corn and wheat, but his chief business is that of stock-raising, in which he meets with excellent success. He has also good coal land on his farm. Formerly he voted with the Dem- ocratic party, but now is an Alliance Democrat. For two years he served as Assessor of the coun- ty, and has held several township offices, includ- ing those of School Director and Road Overseer. In the spring of 1888 a new postoffice was orig- inated, called Aubrey, which he is carrying on at his own home. Both he and his wife are mem- bers of the Baptist Church, attending one near their home, and are earnest, consistent Christian people, having the respect of all who know them.
OHN P. GILLUM is one of the leading men of Knobnoster, Johnson County, and is in- terested in several enterprises of this locality. Though now in his seventy-fifth year, he possesses the ambition and energy more commonly found in men who have not seen half his years. A na- tive of Kentucky, our subject was born June 25, 1820, to William and Maria T. (Oglesby) Gil- lum, both natives of Virginia. After reaching maturity they located in the Blue Grass State, but only continued to live there until 1831, when they took up their permanent abode in Missouri. For three years they remained in Cooper County, after which they became inhabitants of this coun- ty, settling about seven miles from this village. During his entire active life the father was en- gaged in farming, and his declining years were spent in Knobnoster, where his death occurred in 1863. His wife survived him several years, pass- ing to the home beyond in 1877.
Mr. Gillum whose name heads this article had very limited advantages for obtaining an educa- tion, but made the best of what the primitive schools afforded. From boyhood he was accus- tomed to farm work, and on reaching his majority engaged in agricultural pursuits and in running a sawmill for several years. Later he was in
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business in Dunksburg, Mo., for two years, then removing to Knobnoster. When the war broke out he enlisted, but on account of poor health soon left the service. When the battle clouds had rolled away he went to Texas, where for some years he owned a farm and handled live stock successfully, but since 1878 his interests have been exclusively identified with this locality.
August 1, 1842, Mr. Gillum and Susan M. Houks were united in marriage. The lady's father was John Houks, an early settler of Coop- er County, Mo. Mrs. Gillum was called to her final rest in 1883. and two of her three children survive her, namely: Margaret E., who is the wife of Charles L. Newton, a native of this coun- ty; and John F., of this city. The eldest of the family, William N., died leaving a wife and five children, who are now living with our subject. In his religious belief Mr. Gillum has long been a Presbyterian and an active worker in the local church. Politically he adheres to the princi- ples and candidates of the Democratic party.
OHN ALBERT ADAMS. This prominent agriculturist of Johnson County is the owner of two hundred and forty acres of productive land in township 45, range 25. His father, Judge Daniel Adams, was a very popular man in this locality, and departed this life February 7, 1892. He was born December 18, 1813, in Wilkes County, N. C., while his wife, who bore the maiden name of Susan McCreary, was a native of Howard County, Mo.
In the year 1834 the father and grandfather of John Adams emigrated to this county. The latter was a soldier in the War of 1812, and bought two land-warrants in township 45, range 25. Daniel Adams bought one warrant, entitling him to one hundred and sixty acres of the northeast quarter of the northeast quarter of section 15 of this town- ship. The grandfather built a house on section
II, in which his widow now lives, and inade that place his home until his death, which oc- curred in June, 1870. He was married twice, his first wife having been Miss Abby Gill Adams, who departed this life when our subject was about seven years of age. Her family included ten children, namely: Daniel, Susan, Elizabeth, Thomas, Abraham, Jackson, Margaret, Hugh, Jane and George. Jane, Margaret and Hugh are the only survivors.
The father of our subject lived at home until his marriage with Miss McCreary, in January, 1840. He then entered three hundred acres of land from the Government, located on sections 14 and 15, on which he built a log cabin and re- sided until his death. This cabin, which is still standing on section 14, was built of logs, which he hewed himself and hauled to the spot with oxen on a solid-wood wheel wagon. Mr. Adams died February 7, 1892. His widow, who is still liv- ing, resides on the old homestead, and is a mem- ber of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church.
The parental household included twelve chil- dren, all of whom are living with one exception. John A., of this sketch, was the eldest. Annie E. married William H. Denton, the proprietor of a grocery in Warrensburg. William P. married Josie McCurdy, and has been engaged in farm- ing in Kansas since 1876. Abby J. is at home with her mother. Christina became the wife of A. W. McCoy, and they make their home in Cass County, Mo., on a farm. Elijah married Lulu Smith, and is now an extensive farmer of Sumner County, Kan., having located there in 1876, soon after his graduation from the Fowler & Wells School of Phrenology in New York; he also taught school for several years. Susan Ellen has for the past eighteen years been engaged in teaching in the Foster School at War- rensburg. Thomas married Kate Goodrich, and makes his home on a good estate in Sumner County, Kan., where he also located in 1876. Clara Emma married William Thornton, who is engaged in the general merchandise business in Blackstone, Kan. Robert H. lives on the old home place with his mother. Mary F. died when ten years of age; and James L., who graduated
RESIDENCE AND FARM OF JOHN A. ADAMS, SECTIONS 15 AND 10, TOWNSHIP 45, RANGE 25, JOHNSON COUNTY, MO.
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from a St. Louis medical school, is a prominent physician of Morgan, Minn.
Our subject was born October 16, 1841, and remained at home, aiding in carrying on his fa- ther's farm, until the war broke out. He en- listed July 24, 1861, as a member of Company B, Twenty-seventh Mounted Infantry, under Col. B. F. Grover and Captain Isminger, and after being mustered out at Benton Barracks returned home, January 27, 1862. April I of that year, how- ever, he again enlisted, this time in the Seventh Missouri Cavalry, under Col. John F. Phillips and Capt. Melville Foster. From that time until he was mustered out and discharged at Warrens- burg, Mo., April 27, 1865, he was on guard duty through the state, protecting the property and lives of the inhabitants from all invaders.
Upon his final return home, Mr. Adams re- sumed farming pursuits with his parents, remain- ing at home until his marriage, September 27, 1866, with Miss Dorothy Mack, who was born in Bavaria, Germany, August 2, 1847, and was the daughter of Gotfried Mack. Soon after his mar- riage Mr. Adams erected a small cabin on forty acres of land belonging to his father. This he cleared of the brush and trees, cultivating it in a most intelligent and profitable manner. In Sep- tember, 1872, he bought another forty-acre tract from his grandfather's estate, for which he paid $10 per acre. He was greatly prospered in the cultivation of his eighty-acre farm, and has since been enabled to enlarge its boundaries, until he now owns two hundred and forty acres, all of which, with the exception of about fifteen acres, is under a good state of cultivation. He has his farm finely drained and underlaid with about two miles of drain tiling. Besides his farm he also has about seven acres of orchard, stocked with choice trees, and for twelve years owned and ran a steam-thresher.
To Mr. and Mrs. Adams there have been born ten children. Benjamin F. was born February 19, 1868; Margaret A., born December 31, 1869, married John W .. Williams, who is engaged in farming near Nevada, Mo .; Sophia J., born De- cember 12, 1871, became the wife of Daniel Bur- ford, and is living near Prairie City, Mo .; Archie
G., born December 1, 1873, is now attending the normal school; Jessie was born September 8, 1875; Daniel G., October 5, 1877; Emma F., September 18, 1879; John A., November 4, 1881; Effie E., December 18, 1883; and Elmer E. E., April 2, 1888.
Mr. Adams is greatly interested in the cause of education in his district, and is now serving as President of the School Board. He is giving his children the best advantages for an education, and the older ones are attending the normal school at Warrensburg. The Adams School, which is located near the home of our subject, was named in honor of his father. Our subject is a member of the Grand Army of the Republic, belonging to Colonel Grover Post No. 78, at Warrensburg. He is also connected with the Select Knights of that city, and belongs to Sandstone Lodge No. 137, A. O. U. W., of Warrensburg. In politics he is a stanch Republican, and with his wife is a men- ber of the Methodist Episcopal Church, which meets in a building located near his farm. He is a self-made man in the truest sense of the term, and is one of the most extensive farmers and stock-raisers of the township.
M ATTHAUS PFEFFER is the fortunate pos- sessor of a splendid farm in township 46, range 26, Johnson County. His home- stead numbers three hundred and sixty acres, about two hundred acres of which are under a high state of cultivation. He is a self-made man, having acquired his property in the past few years by assiduous toil and well directed efforts. He is interested in everything that tends toward the upbuilding and development of the county, and is a public-spirited citizen.
The birth of Mr. Pfeffer occurred in Wurtem- berg, Germany, December 19, 1846. His par- ents, Matthaus and Margaret (Schmidt) Pfeffer, were likewise natives of the Fatherland, and lived on a farm. The mother died when our subject
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was only twelve years of age, but the father is still living, though now in his seventy-seventh year. He is a very prominent man in his com- munity, and has led an industrious and useful life. Agnes, his eldest daughter, is the wife of Frederick Warenberger, who owns a farm in Wurtemberg. Catherine, wife of Casper Shick, a cabinet-maker, lives in Cincinnati, Ohio. Ja- cob married Margaret Baier, and is a liquor deal- er in Cincinnati. Mary, who has never married, keeps house for her father in the Old Country. John married Mary Coomer, and operates a farm in Wurtemberg.
After receiving a good general education in his mother tongue, Matthaus Pfeffer started for Amer- ica on the good ship "Germania," landing in New York. As he had an uncle living in Cin- cinnati, he proceeded to that city, and was em- ployed in his flouring-mill and bakery for a year and a-half. Subsequently he was for seven years in a distillery in the same city, but becoming homesick returned on a visit to his native land, where he remained for a year. Returning to Cin- cinnati, he worked in the same distillery for two years, after which he embarked in business for himself in company with a brother. For about three years they ran a saloon in Cin- cinnati, but not meeting with great success sold out, and, going to Lebanon, Ill., ran a dis- tillery there until 1881. About this time he de- termined to try his hand at agricultural pursuits, and bought two hundred acres in this township. To this he afterwards added one hundred and six- ty acres more, and has invested large amounts of money in the improvement of the farm.
While living in Cincinnati, Mr. Pfeffer was married, in December, 1877, to Barbara Thierin- ger, likewise a native of Wurtemberg and born in 1848. She was a daughter of Johannas Thierin- ger, who died on his farm in the Old Country. His wife died when Mrs. Pfeffer was only ten years of age, and the latter crossed the Atlantic at the same time as did her future husband. To our subject and his wife were born five children, namely: George, Charles, John, and two little daughters who died in infancy. The sons are receiving good educational advantages, and are
being fitted in a practical manner for life's duties. Mr. Pfeffer does not belong to any party politic- ally, but uses his ballot in support of men whom he thinks worthy and qualified to carry out the wishes of the public.
EHU F. ROBINSON, M. D. Although but a recent addition to the medical fraternity, Dr. Robinson is winning an enviable reputa- tion as a practitioner of the healing art and is building up a lucrative practice. He is at pres- ent living on section 24, township 47, range 24, in Johnson County, on the old homestead, where his birth occurred July 31, 1869.
Our subject is the eldest in the family of John E. and Maggie (Hocker) Robinson, of whom a sketch will appear elsewhere in this volume. Their son was given a good education in the pub- lic schools of his native county, and later, when desirous of following an advanced course, he be- came a student in the State University, located at Columbia, this state.
Reared to farm life, our subject worked at this occupation when not in college until attaining his majority, when, in order to fit himself for the medical profession, which he was ambitious of fol- lowing, he entered the office of Dr. Decker, a prominent doctor of this section, studying under his guidance for one year. Later he entered the Barnes Medical College of St. Louis, from which he was graduated with honors in 1893, after tak- ing the prescribed course.
When looking around him for a suitable loca- tion in which to commence practice, Dr. Robin- son settled on the old home place, and is kept very busy in making calls throughout the town- ship. With his professional skill he combines the tact which makes fast friends of the patients who come to him for treatment, and his close at- tention to business is bound to bring him in a good income.
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Dr. Robinson and Miss Minnie H., daughter of John G. and Josephine (Honey ) Senior, were married, April 18, 1893. Mrs. Robinson's par- ents were natives of Johnson County, this state, and Kentucky, respectively. They are now liv- ing on a good estate in Pettis County, Mo. In politics the Doctor is a Democrat, and is regarded as one of the influential members of his party.
ENRY GREEN. Reference to the agricult- ural affairs of Pettis County would be in- complete were no mention made of the sub- ject of this notice, who is one of the efficient farmers, stock-raisers and dairymen of township 45, range 21. He is the owner and occupant of a valuable farm on section 23, where he has made his home since his marriage. The property con- sists of one hundred and eighty-seven and one- fourth acres, under good cultivation, and im- proved with a neat house and substantial out- buildings.
The family of which Mr. Green is a member has been noted for the patriotism of its representatives. His great-grandfather, Duty Green, a native of Rhode Island, was one of the brave soldiers of the Revolution. After the war he moved to New York, and from there went to Ohio in 1798. He and his descendants were loyal to the Whig party as long as it was in existence. Grandfather Duty Green, who was born in New York State, held the rank of Captain in the War of 1812.
The parents of our subject were Charles W. and Susan (Park) Green, the former born in January, 1811. His first Presidential vote was cast for Andrew Jackson, but he lived to regret that he had done so. In 1856 he voted for Fremont, and his last ballot was cast in 1876 for Ruther- ford B. Hayes. During the war he was a stanch Union supporter, and from the organization of the Republican party until his death he was a loyal advocate of its principles.
Born in Barlow Township, Washington Coun-
ty, Ohio, March 21, 1840, our subject during his boyhood years was employed on the home farm in summer, and worked at logging during the winter months, his father being the owner of a sawmill run by water power. In August, 1861, he enlisted in Company F, Thirty-sixth Ohio In- fantry, and went to West Virginia, where his regiment was engaged in scouting. Among the battles in which he participated were the follow- ing: Lewisburg, May 23, 1862; South Mountain, Md., September 14, 1862; Antietam, Md., Sep- tember 17, 1862; Hoover's Gap, June 24, 1863; Chickamauga, Tenn., September 19-20, 1863; Brown's Ferry, October 25, 1863; Missionary Ridge, November 25, 1863 (where he was wound- ed in the left arm); Cloyd Mountain, W. Va., May 9, 1864; New River Bridge (where they burned the bridge) and Cold Mountain Gap, W. Va., May 10, 1864; Salt Pond Mountain, May 13, 1864; Lexington, Va., June 11, 1864; Lynchburg, June 17-18, 1864; Salem, June 21, 1864; Cable- town, July 20, 1864; Strasburg, August 3, 1864; Charlestown, August 8, 1864 (where our subject saw John Brown's grave) ; marching to the Ohio River and from there going by the Baltimore & Ohio Railroad to Winchester, the scene of a battle with the Confederates July 20-24, 1864 (in which our subject was slightly wounded in the foot, but managed to rejoin his regiment a day later) ; Hall- town, August 26, 1864; Berryville, Va., Septemi- ber 3, 1864; Opequan, September 19, 1864; Fish- er's Hill, Va., September 22, 1864; and Cedar Creek, October 19, 1864, where Sheridan made his famous raid.
The original term of Mr. Green's enlistment was for three years, but at the expiration of that time he re-enlisted, serving another year. He was never in the hospital, and was taken prisoner but once, at the battle of Strasburg, when, after being held for an hour, General Merritt's cavalry made a charge and defeated the enemy, bringing freedom to the prisoners. He was honorably discharged at Wheeling, W. Va., July 27, 1865. Returning to his native county, he continued to reside there until June, 1867, when he came to Pettis County for the purpose of attending to some business for his father. He remained here until
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August, 1868, when he returned to Ohio and on the 26th of that month was united in marriage with Miss Rachel McGrew, who was born and reared in Washington County.
Coming back to Pettis County in October, 1868, Mr. Green for a time made his home in a log cabin near the site of his present residence. A few years were spent there, after which he built a part of the house he now occupies. He and his wife have six children, namely: Charles H., who is married and lives in Flat Creek Township; Jesse M., who was born March 31, 1874; Mary E., a student in the Sedalia High School; William E., Wilson A. and Dan Park, who are at home. While at Cedar Creek, W. Va., Mr. Green cast his first Presidential ballot for Abraham Lincoln, in 1864, and from that time to this he has been a stanch upholder of Republican principles.
2) G
AMES W. KNIGHT. In the various enter- prises in which he has engaged, Mr. Knight has been uniformly successful, and this state- ment is certainly true of the occupation of an agriculturist, which he now follows. A Missou- rian by birth, much of his life has been spent in Pettis County, and he now resides upon section 8, township 44, range 21, where he owns three hun- dred and forty acres of well improved land. He is a man who has traveled widely, having visited many of the states of the Union, and this, in ad- dition to thorough schooling, has given him a broad fund of information upon all general topics.
In Round Prairie Township, Callaway County, Mo., August 2, 1851, the subject of this notice was born to the union of James F. and Trinvilla (Crooks) Knight, natives of Kentucky, the for- mer born in Fleming, and the latter in Montgom- ery County. The paternal grandfather, William S. Knight, was born near Baltimore, Md., re- moved thence to Kentucky, and in 1825 settled in Callaway County, Mo., where he entered Government land. The great-grandfather, Lay
Knight, was born in England, and was a minis- ter in the Methodist Episcopal Church, filling a number of pastorates in Maryland, but removing from there to Kentucky when his son, William S., was about fifteen years old. Both the father and grandfather were slave-holders.
At the age of seven years James F. Knight came to Missouri with his father, and for sixty years he was a resident of Callaway County. His father, who at one time was a man of wealth, lost his property in his old age by going security for friends, which fact obliged the son to make his own way in the world. Being energetic and ca- pable, he achieved success in business, and at the time of his death was worth about $20,000. His entire capital at the time of his marriage consisted of $23 and a horse, while his wife had a bed and a few articles of furniture. Politically he was a Democrat, and in religious faith a member of the Christian Church. His death occurred at our subject's home in 1886.
The only brother of our subject is W. C., a resi- dent of Boonville, Mo., where he is engaged in the banking and real-estate business. The only sister, Anna, is the wife of George W. Anderson, a farmer of Flat Creek Township. The boy hood years of our subject were spent upon a farm in Callaway County. His educational advantages were excellent, and after completing the common- school studies, he entered Westminster College, at the age of eighteen. Two years later he began to teach, in order to earn the money with which to continue his studies. At the time of leaving college, he lacked only six months of completing the required course necessary for graduation. For sixteen years he devoted much of his time to teaching, and at one time spent four months in the State Normal School at Kirksville, Mo.
September 5, 1877, Mr. Knight married Miss Susie Johnson, who was born in Callaway Coun- ty, Mo. The only child born of that marriage was Odon Wilkes, whose birth occurred in Calla- way County, November 17, 1878. His second marriage occurred October 17, 1886, his wife be- ing Miss Isora Hatton, of Flat Creek Township, Pettis County. She was born here October 29, - 1863, and is a daughter of Oliver P. and Martha
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(Elliott) Hatton. In addition to common-school advantages, she attended the State Normal School at Warrensburg, and afterward taught a number of terms in country schools in Pettis County. Their four children are James F., born October 27, 1887; Nina, May 3, 1889; Katie, July 29, 1881; and William Stone, June 28, 1893.
After the death of his first wife, Mr. Knight made his home with his father until the latter's death, when he inherited one hundred and sixty acres. Later he began to do work for mail con- tractors, and has traveled extensively in various states. While living in Callaway County, he engaged in the drug trade at Fulton with C. M. Wright, continuing thus engaged for two and one-half years. He has added to his farm by the purchase of other property, and now owns three hundred and forty acres. Politically he is a Democrat, and in 1889 he was elected School Commissioner, serving one term. At different times he has represented the party in local con- ventions. In religious connections he and his wife are members of the Christian Church.
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