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 38
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 38
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OBERT FOUNTAIN RENICK owns and operates a desirable farm located on section 15, township 47, range 27, Johnson County, and his handsome residence has as fine a location as any house in the county. The owner has given a large share of his attention to stock-raising, and has met with success in his enterprises.
A native of Missouri, our subject was born in Lafayette County, January 15, 1837, being one of eight children, only four of whom survive. The parents were Andrew E. and Sabina (Live- say) Renick, the former of whom was born in Ohio about 1804, and reared on a farm. Soon after becoming of age, he went to Greenbrier County, Va., and several years later, about 1830, moved to Lafayette County, Mo. In 1835 he set- tled near to the county line of Johnson County,
one of his fences forming the boundary at that point. In time he became one of the foremost farmers of that region, and made a specialty of the cattle business. When his cattle were ready for market he would drive them to Ohio, being com- pelled to swim them across the Missouri and Mis- sissippi Rivers. During the Mexican War he ob- tained a contract to furnish beef for the army as a sub-contractor, and in this venture made a large sum of money. In 1852, while on a trip to St. Louis with some cattle, he was stricken down with cholera and died at St. Charles. His son Robert, thien a boy of fourteen years, had accom- panied him, but he escaped the dread disease, and on his father's death took charge of his money, some $3,000. He was a long distance from home, but got back safely by riding fifty miles a day, at the same time leading a riderless horse. The senior Mr. Renick was of a very kindly and gen- erous disposition, and gathered around him a host of stanch friends here.
R. F. Renick received his education in the old- time subscription schools. He early commenced herding cattle, and spent some time on the plains in the Government employ as a freighter. He was appointed Assistant Wagon Boss, the im- portance of which position may be estimated from the fact that there were thirty wagons in the train, and an attack by the Indians was liable to occur at any time. On one occasion, some stock had wandered away from camp, and young Renick, mounting a mule, followed what he sup- posed to be their trail, but which proved to be otherwise. He passed through an Indian coun- try, and after finding out that he was lost, started to rejoin his companions, covering a distance of one hundred and eight miles in one day. After his return home he worked on a farm until the war broke out.
June 15, 1861, our subject enlisted in the Mis- souri State Guards, C. S. A., General Raines' division, Waterman's brigade, and served there until mustered into the First Brigade, Fourth Mis- souri Infantry. M. F. Cockrell was his brigade commander, Maj .- Gen. S. G. French division commander, and Gen. L. Polk commander of the corps. Mr. Renick was commissioned First
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Lieutenant of Company H, serving as such until his Captain's death, a year later, when he took charge of the company. During his long and arduous service he took part in the following bat- tles: Oak Hills, Elkhorn, Corinth, Iuka, Baker's Creek and Vicksburg. In the Georgia campaign he had three months of almost steady fighting, being in the engagements at Altoona, Franklin, Grand Gulf and Lexington. Seven times during this period he was wounded, twice at Corinth, at Sugar Creek, Baker's Creek, Vicksburg and at Franklin. At the last-named place he was cap- tured and confined in the penitentiary at Nash- ville, thence being transferred to Louisville, and finally to Ft. Delaware, where he was released after the surrender of the army. From his last wound he has suffered most severely, and is fre- quently laid up for days from its effects. At the beginning of the siege of Vicksburg he was stand- ing at one of the portholes looking at the Fed- erals; a second later, Lieutenant Cooper stepped up behind him, and, placing his hands on Mr. Renick's shoulders, awaited his turn to peep at the enemy. The Colonel shouted to our subject not to expose himself, and the latter quickly drew his head aside. On the instant, a bullet sped through the porthole, striking Lieutenant Coop- er in the face and killing him. The following day the Confederates were not allowed to leave the ditches, but had their rations served to them there. Mr. Renick and Lieutenant Lewis were in the habit of eating from the same plate, and here did as usual. After seating themselves to en- joy their meal of peas, a shell fell into the ditch within three or four feet of them and, bursting, tore the poor Lieutenant literally to pieces, while our subject marvelously escaped without a scratch. During the Georgia campaign, Mr. Renick was sitting under the shelter of a blanket, supported by poles, in company with Capt. Sam Kennerly and two other companions. Being thirsty, he rose to get a drink from his canteen about twenty steps away, and had hardly reached the spot when a shell exploded in the midst of the little group he had just left, killing them all instantly. In an engagement he had a spy-glass shot from his hand, and a short time afterward another was
shot to pieces in his pocket, and he concluded to leave spy-glasses alone in the future.
For four years after he had returned home from the war, Mr. Renick assisted in the manage- ment of the home farm. Subsequently he moved to his present home, where he has since continu- ously resided. February 13, 1868, he was united in marriage with Mary Wallace, daughter of Al- len and Ann (Dinwiddie) Wallace, natives of Illinois and Kentucky, respectively. Our subject and his estimable wife have two daughters, Fan- nie W. and Anna H., both accomplished young ladies.
Politically Mr. Renick has always lent his support to the Democracy. He and his family are members of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church, and contribute both money and time to its various departments of activity.
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OHN MURPHY, a veteran of the late war, is the owner of a farm of two hundred and ten acres, located in township 45, range 25, Johnson County. He is a native of the Emerald Isle, and was born in the city of Cork, December 25, 1826. His parents, John and Eliza (Shana- han) Murphy, were born and reared within three miles of the city of Cork. The former was a ma- son by trade, following that occupation in con- nection with farming until his decease, which oc- curred nine days after he was taken ill. At that time John was four and one-half years of age, and therefore remembers very little about him.
Mrs. Murphy was living on a farm three miles distant from Cork at the time of her husband's decease. She then moved to the city of Passage West, where she made her home for some time, but returned to Cork in order that her children might attend the schools of that city. She died
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there about 1879, after having attained the age of threescore years and ten. To John and Eliza Murphy there were born four children, of whom our subject is the only survivor. Richard, who was born in 1822, married Catherine Fitzgerald, and together they emigrated to America in 1856. He was employed at his trade, that of a mason, in Jefferson City, this state, where his death occurred, and where his widow and family now reside. Mary Ann, who was born about 1824, married a Mr. Hanly, and died in 1883. Anthony died when twelve years of age. The children were well educated in the schools of their native land, and Mr. Murphy thinks the city of Cork has the finest institutions of learning of any country.
Upon attaining his eighteenth year our subject left home and, going to London, worked for the following year at his trade, that of a mason. He then returned to his native city, and was there but a short time when he decided to try his fortunes in America. Accordingly he made all arrangements to leave, and June 17, 1847, em- barked on the ship "Parliament" bound for Bos- ton. He was on the Atlantic five weeks, and on reaching his destination remained there for one year, working in the mean time at his trade. At the expiration of that time he made his way to New York City and was employed there until 1851. In November of that year he was united in marriage with Miss Eliza Sheahan, also a na- tive of Ireland, who was born in Cork about 1831. She was the daughter of Daniel and Hannah (Mahoney) Sheahan, also natives of the Emerald Isle, where the father worked as a stonemason, following that industry all his life. He died when his daughter, Mrs. Murphy, was about four years of age. Mrs. Sheahan departed this life about 1845. They were the parents of ten children, namely: Patrick, Thomas, Hannah, Mary, Ellen, Margaret, Catherine, Daniel and Eliza. They are all deceased with the exception of Mrs. Murphy. She crossed the Atlantic in 1847, join- ing a sister who was living in New York City, and while there she was married to our subject.
Mr. Murphy continued to make his home in the metropolis until March, 1856, when he moved
to the World's Fair City, remaining for sixteen months working at his trade. Upon leaving the latter place at the expiration of that time, he went to Jefferson City, Mo., where a brother was liv- ing. He was a resident of that city for the fol- lowing two years, and then went to Knobnoster, this county, and for six months was employed here. In the fall of 1859 he went to Warrensburg, where he was living on the outbreak of the war. July 5, 1861, he enlisted in Company E, Twenty- seventh Missouri Mounted Infantry, under Colo- nel Groves and Capt. M. U. Foster. He was mustered in at Benton Barracks, January 20, 1862, and on the expiration of his term of serv- ice re-enlisted, this time becoming a member of Company E, Missouri Volunteer Cavalry. He participated in many engagements and skirmishes, and while in Arkansas was injured by the break- ing of a shell. On account of sore eyes he was confined in the hospital at Little Rock, from which place he was honorably discharged, July 20, 1862.
On being mustered out of service, Mr. Murphy returned to Warrensburg and resumed work at his trade, remaining there until 1868, the year he moved upon his present farm. It is fifty acres in extent, and at the time he took possession was all covered with timber. This place he improved in an admirable manner, and as the years passed, purchased eighty acres more. Mr. Murphy is also the proprietor of a tract of eighty acres in another part of this township, so that his estate includes in all two hundred and ten acres.
To our subject and his estimable wife there were born seven children, five of whom are now living. John B., who was born March 4, 1853, in New York City, remains at home and aids his father in the work of carrying on the farm. Liz- zie, who was born January 7, 1857, married Patrick Sheady, and makes her home in Warrens- burg. Hannah M., born in April, 1860, is now under the parental roof. Richard was born in December, 1862, and when last heard from was in Kentucky. Daniel T., who was born in 1868, is also at home. Catherine died in infancy; and Thomas died when eighteen months old.
Our subject is a strong Republican in politics,
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and takes great interest in the success of his party. Socially he is a Grand Army man, belonging to Grover Post No. 78, at Warrensburg. Both him- self and wife belong to the Catholic Church.
ENRY C. ROSE. Throughout this portion of Missouri few of the residents are better known than Mr. Rose, whose fine estate of two hundred and sixty-two acres is pleasantly lo- cated on section 14, township 46, range 28. He has been a resident here for twenty-three years, and has therefore been an eye-witness of the won- derful transformation which has taken place in the county and state, and has not been an idle factor in their development.
Sanford H. Rose, the father of our subject, was born in Kentucky, but left that state when five years of age and accompanied his parents on their overland journey to this state. Here he made his home for forty-eight years, when he was called hence. The family first located on land which is now the site of Boonville, in Cooper County, and after a residence there of two years changed their abode to Henry County. Four years later, however, we find them living in what is now Jackson Township, Johnson County. Sanford Rose was a man of enterprise, and at- tained a good standing among the agriculturists of his community solely through his own unaided efforts.
The father of our subject was united in mar- riage to Mrs. Susan Peak, nee Crow. By her first union she became the mother of the follow- ing children: Joseph, deceased; James, a resident of Lexington, this state; Jurdon and Charlotte, deceased; and William J., who makes his home in Nebraska. To Mr. and Mrs. Sanford Rose there was granted a family of five children, of whom Henry C. was the youngest but one. The eldest son, Wallace, is living in Henry County, this state; Charnel J. is deceased; Richard is en-
gaged in business in Sacramento, Cal .; and Ri- ley M. makes his home in Johnson County, this state.
Our subject was born in Gallatin County, Ky., May 17, 1844, and there attended the subscrip- tion schools held in a log building, with clap- board roof and doors, the seating capacity of the room being ample for a dozen pupils. Meager, indeed, were the advantages offered the youth of that day, and those who attained fame did so through their own indomitable will, unaided by fortune.
Young Henry worked on the farm and lived with his parents until eighteen years of age, when he started out to battle with life on his own re- sponsibility. He was a strong and enthusiastic Union man, and in 1862 enlisted in Captain Duncan's company of the Forty-fifth Missouri Enrolled Militia. They were called upon to guard the property and homes of the people from depre- dations by the bands of guerrillas who were en- gaged in the most hazardous kinds of warfare. These brave men were called upon to pass through dangers even worse than a hand-to-hand conflict with the enemy, for they were liable to be shot down from ambush when unable to protect them- selves. In the discharge of his duties in this company, he was shot through the lung, and for three weeks was confined to his bed, and even now he is troubled at times from the effects of this injury. On the establishment of peace, Mr. Rose returned to the home farm, and after reap- ing one crop rented land, which he operated for the following six years. He was then enabled to purchase a tract, buying the eighty acres com- prised in his present homestead.
Mr. Rose was married, in September, 1866, to Sarah Brown, a native of this state. After a happy wedded life of only eleven months, his wife was taken away. He afterwards married Mary Jones, a native of North Carolina, and to them were born five children, namely: Will- iam G., Martha Susan, Mary E., and two who died in infancy.
In politics Mr. Rose is a true-blue Republican, and can give good reasons for the faith that is in him. He worships with the Cumberland Pres-
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byterian Church, while his good wife is a mem- ber of the Baptist Church. He is a gentleman genial and cordial with all and popular among the residents of his township.
OHN W. TRADER, M. D., has been a prac- ticing physician and surgeon of Sedalia for the past thirty years, and enjoys the distinc- tion of being one of the oldest members of his profession in the city in point of years of service. Since 1889 he has been County Physician, and from January, 1866, until 1893 was Examining Surgeon for the United States Pension Board, and would probably have continued longer in that of- fice had it not been for the change of administra- tion. During the last few years of that period he was President of the board, and for five years has been Surgeon of the Second Regiment of Mis- souri National Guards, with the rank of Major.
Dr. Trader comes from a very patriotic line of ancestors, and has had relatives in all the import- ant wars of the United States. His paternal great-grandfather was killed in the Colonial strug- gle for independence; his father served in the War of 1812, and several of his own brothers were in the Union army during the Civil War, and fought nobly in defense of the Old Flag. His paternal grandfather was a farmer by occupation, and died early in life. The Doctor's father, Rev. Moses Trader, was born in Virginia, as was also his first wife, whose maiden name was Elizabeth Mc- Donald. Mr. Trader moved to Ohio at an early day, settling in Greene County, and cleared a farm on the Little Miami Bottoms. He did a noble work throughout northwestern Ohio in or- ganizing congregations and in doing pioneer work for the Methodist denomination. In 1839 he set- tled in Sheridan County, where he bought and improved Government land, and, as was the cus- tom in those early days, occupied the pulpits free
of charge. He was Presiding Elder of the St. Joseph and Northwestern Missouri Conference, and until the last was active in the ministry. He died while in the harness, at the close of the Sunday services held in the Walnut Schoolhouse, in Daviess County, Mo., in 1854, aged seventy years. His first wife, Elizabeth, died in Xenia, Ohio, and he afterwards married Rebecca R. Wells, our subject's mother. She was born in Maryland, and was a daughter of Joshua Wells, a native of the same state. She was reared and ed- ucated at Wellsville Academy, in Steubenville, Ohio. Her death occurred in 1843, when she was only thirty-two years of age, and of her three children two now survive. The father was mar- ried for a third time and had four children by that union, all of whom survive. Of the four children born of his first marriage, all have passed to the silent land.
Dr. Trader was born in Xenia, Greene Coun- ty, Ohio, March 6, 1837, and was but three years of age when his father moved to this state. At first his home was in Chariton County, but in 1844 the family moved to a point three miles west of Linneus, Linn County, Mo., where he received a good education in the common branches. Then taking up the study of medicine, he graduated from the Missouri Medical College in 1860, with the degree of Doctor of Medicine. He refused to be enlisted in the State Militia under Governor Jack- son (who was a Confederate), but later joined Company B, First Battalion of Major Dickson's militia, to fight for the Union, and was made Captain of his company in Putnamı County, Mo. He saw service throughout the state, and April II, 1862, went with the battalion to St. Louis, Mo., where he passed an examination and was commissioned Assistant Surgeon of the First Bat- talion, First Regiment of Missouri Cavalry. For a year and a-half the duties of his position called him to many points along the Hannibal & St. Joseph Railroad and south of the Missouri River, between that and the line of Arkansas. Later he was commissioned Surgeon of the First Regiment of the Missouri Cavalry for gallant services on the battlefield, with the rank of Major, and was also Surgeon of the First Brigade, under General
13
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Pleasanton's army corps. After being mustered out and honorably discharged at St. Louis, April II, 1865, he re-enlisted and was made acting As- sistant Surgeon in the United States Medical Corps, being stationed at Jefferson Barracks, and for some time on the steamboat "Baltic," running on the Mississippi River south of St. Louis. In May, 1865, they brought the last of the poor An- dersonville prisoners up the river, attending to their injuries and health as best they could. At Mine Creek our subject was wounded by the fall- ing of a timber and sustained a fracture of the skull. In various engagements he met with slight injuries. He was finally mustered out June 1, 1865, in St. Louis, and since that time has been successfully engaged in practice in Sedalia, where he has built up an enviable reputation. The "boys in blue" have always had a warm place in his heart, and he is now connected with Gen. George R. Smith Post No. 53, G. A. R., of which he is surgeon. Following his honored father's example, he is very active in the Method- ist denomination, and belongs to the First Church ot this city.
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? WILLARD HUBBARD, one of the influen- tial agriculturists of Johnson County, is the owner of one of the largest and best im- proved estates within the confines of the county. It embraces four hundred acres on sections 27, 34 and 35, township 48, range 25, and only about one-half of this amount was cleared when he took possession of the place.
Our subject was born in Mercer County, I11., in the town of New Boston, June 13, 1845. His parents were Willard and Nancy (Burns) Hubbard, natives, respectively, of Massachusetts and Kentucky. The maternal grandparents, John and Nancy (Riggs) Burns, were farmers in the Blue Grass State, where the former died. His wife was afterwards married to Charles Bur- ris and with him removed to Illinois, when Nan-
cy was twelve years of age. They there made their home until about 1854, when they moved westward to California, where they both died some years later.
The paternal grandparents of our subject were Daniel and Sarah Agnes Hubbard. The former was a shoemaker, and followed this business in the Bay State for many years. There he met and married his wife, who was also born there, and soon thereafter they traveled overland to Mercer County, Ill., where the grandfather plied his trade for two years. He had lived in Massa- chusetts too long to be satisfied anywhere else, and consequently returned thither with his wife and lived retired until his death. They had six children: Daniel, William, Jonas, Willard, Sr., Lucy A. and Sarah A. The eldest son married, and is now farming in Nebraska. He is the only one living, with the exception of his sister Ag- nes, Mrs. Sampson, who makes her home in St. Louis.
Willard Hubbard, Sr., left the parental roof in Massachusetts the year prior to attaining his ma- jority. His destination being the Prairie State, he never stopped until he reached Mercer Coun- ty, where he engaged in farming. He was one of the earliest settlers of that section, and in ad- dition to cultivating the soil was occupied in making brooms. He was a lover of horses, and kept constantly on his place several fine head of these animals. He was married in Mercer Coun- ty, in 1840, to Miss Burns, and there continued to make his home until his decease, May 20, 1857. He became very prominent in the public affairs of his community, and, being a breeder of fine horses, was well known all over the county. His wife is now living in Mercer County and is seventy-three years of age. After the decease of her husband she became the wife of his brother Daniel.
To Willard and Nancy Hubbard there were born eight children, of whom we make the fol- lowing mention: The first-born died in infancy unnamed; J. Willard, of this sketch, was the sec- .ond son; Harrison married Eliza Jackson, and is now conducting the old home place in Mercer County, Ill .; Agnes Sarah married Marion Riggs,
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a farmer of the above county; Martha Vashtie married Samuel Morris, also an agriculturist of Mercer County; Lucy A. and her husband, Elias Robison, make their home in that county; Frank married Sarah Catherine Braucht, who since his death continues to live in Johnson County, Mo .; and Thomas Edward married Martha Brown, and their farm lies in Mercer County, I11.
Our subject was given such an education as the locality and times afforded, and lived at home un- til his marriage with Miss Mary Ann Braucht, which occurred September 17, 1864. This lady was born in Hancock County, Ohio, August 1, 1842, and is the daughter of Daniel and Annie Catherine (Spreacher) Braucht, natives of Penn- sylvania. Her paternal grandparents lived and died in Ohio, while her mother's parents depart- ed this life in Illinois. Daniel Braucht moved to the Buckeye State when a lad of fourteen years, and later changed his location to Mercer County, Il1., the removal taking place after his marriage. He was a farmer there, and this vocation he also followed after coming to Johnson County, Mo., some years later. His death, however, occurred at the home of his daughter, Mrs. Hubbard, Jan- uary 15, 1892. Mrs. Braucht is now living with her son in Hazle Hill Township, this county. Of the nine children of whom she became the mother, all are living except Ora, and are named, respectively, Lavina Maria, Mary Ann, Eliza, Samuel, Harrison, Emeline, Sarah Catherine and John.
After his marriage our subject continued to re- side it Mercer County until 1868. February 24 of that year he landed in Johnson County, Mo., to which locality a number of his neighbors had removed in 1865. They were greatly pleased with the outlook and gave our subject a very fav- orable report of the work accomplished here. He decided to become one of the party, and after fif- teen days of travel he located upon a rented tract, which he had previously engaged, living on this place for thirteen years. At the end of that time he purchased the four hundred acres of part of which he is now the owner and which is one of the most valuable pieces of property in the county. The entire acreage is under im-
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