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 39
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 39
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provement, and the house which the family occu- pies was erected in 1839.
To Mr. and Mrs. Hubbard there have been born nine children. Reuben C., born August 5, 1865, in Mercer County, Il1., died there May 13 of the following year; William E. was born June 5, 1867, and died February 23, 1888; Cora L., born September 6, 1869, departed this life August 7, 1871; Thomas E. was born November 12, 1871, and is now living with his wife, formerly Miss Minnie Ebberts, on a portion of our subject's farm; Clara A. was born November 10, 1873, and makes her home with her husband, James Green, on a farm near Mr. Hubbard; Harvey H. was born July 22, 1878; Frank S., November 4, 1880; Emma F., May 30, 1883; and Hattie S., April 10, 1885.
Mr. Hubbard devotes the greater portion of his time and attention to the breeding of fine stock, raising cattle, horses and swine. He is a man who stands well with every class in the neighborhood and is one of the township's most progressive citizens. He has been Constable and School Director for many years, and in the dis- charge of the duties of these respective positions has given perfect satisfaction. He is a Republi- can in politics. His good wife is a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church South, and takes an interested part in both religious and benevo- lent work.
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HOMAS J. ALLISON, a retired farmer of Holden, was born in Jefferson County, Ohio, July 12, 1825, and is a son of Samuel and Mary (Murphy) Allison, both of whom were of Irish ancestry. The father grew to manhood in Maryland, where he was married. The paternal grandfather of our subject was at one time pro- prietor of large iron works in that state. He died when Samuel was quite young. After the division of the property the brothers separated and became scattered, all trace of them being lost, The father lived in Maryland for some
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years, carrying on his trade of tailoring. He was born in the latter part of the last century, and was a soldier of the War of 1812, serving under General Jackson at the battle of New Orleans. In connection with his trade, he bought a small farmı, which he cultivated, and where the boy- hood days of our subject were spent. He had to work hard in helping to clear the farmn, and had a poor chance of obtaining an education.
Thomas J. Allison remained at home assisting to till the farm until he was twenty-one years of age. He then learned the trade of a stone-cutter, serving two years, for which he received fifty cents per day. He worked mostly along the rail- road, particularly in Ohio, and in 1852, when twenty-seven years of age, lie married Miss Maria Davison, of Ironton, Lawrence County, Ohio, by whom there is one child, Mary, now the wife of J. A. Sterling, of Arkansas City, Kan. Her husband is a conductor on the railroad. Mrs. Allison died when her child was but three months old.
In June, 1857, Mr. Allison came to Missouri and took a contract for the building of a portion of the Missouri Pacific Railroad, which took him about three years. He brought with him to this state about $6,000. On the 7th of February, 1860, he married Miss Susan E. Garnett, of Ot- terville, Cooper County, Mo. She was born in Culpeper County, Va., June 23, 1840, and is a daughter of George T. and Mary J. (Hume) Garnett, the former a native of Culpeper Coun- ty, Va., and the latter of Madison County, the same state. They moved to Cooper County, Mo., in 1856, the present Mrs. Allison, however, re- maining in Virginia until 1859. She received a good education in the private schools of her na- tive state.
When the late Civil War came on Mr. Allison moved back to his native town in Ohio, and pur- chased an interest in a flouring-mill. He oper- ated the mill for about two years, when he sold out and again resumed work building railroads. He took a contract to do mason work for twenty miles on the Marietta & Cincinnati Railroad, which took him about three years to complete. In the spring of 1866 he returned to Missouri,
locating in Warrensburg. Before he went back to Ohio he had purchased one hundred and sixty acres of land in Cass County, Mo., but on ac- count of bushwhackers, he did not feel safe to go to that county on his return to Missouri, so he rented a farm near Warrensburg. However, in 1867 he removed to his farm in Cass County and began its development. In about two years he sold out and came to Holden, purchasing prop- erty in the town. He afterward bought four hundred and eighty acres near the city, which he has since continued to improve, though living in Holden.
Politically Mr. Allison is a Republican, but was at first a Whig, having voted for General Taylor in 1848. In 1856 he voted for General Fremont, and has since supported the Republican ticket at all national elections. He is a stock- holder and Director in the bank at Holden, and was one of its organizers. This was the first chartered bank in the place. He and his wife have long been members of the Baptist Church, in which body he has been a Deacon some twelve or more years, Mrs. Allison is quite an active member of the Ladies' Missionary Society of the church, and both have greatly at heart the cause of the Master.
AMUEL J. REED, a prosperous farmer and stock-raiser of Johnson County, moved to his present home on section 5, township 44, range 28, in 1883. Here he has a valuable home- stead, comprising two hundred and ten acres, on which stand good buildings, fences, etc., which are kept in a thrifty manner. He is quite a lead- er in the local Democracy, and has served as a delegate to conventions frequently, but is not an office-seeker.
The parents of our subject are Samuel and Sarah (Adams) Reed, the former born in 1800, in Virginia, being of Scotch descent. His father died in the Old Dominion, and with his mother he
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moved to Kentucky when a lad of five or six years. About the time of reaching his majority, he was married, and to him and his wife were born seven sons and five daughters, of whom S. J. is the sixth. In 1836 the family moved to Howard County, Mo., making the journey with team and wagon. Mr. Reed purchased three hundred and twenty acres of land, and continued to dwell in Howard County until 1858, when he sold out, re- investing in two hundred and eighty acres in Johnson County. By his extensive dealings in hogs and live stock, he made a fortune, and in order to sell them he made several trips to Ken- tucky, and sometimes went as far east as Virginia. In 1824 he cast his first Presidential ballot, and from that time forward was always a Democrat. His death occurred March 8, 1888, but his wife preceded him to the silent land several years, dy- ing in April, 1872. One of his sons, Joseph, was killed in the Confederate service, at the battle of Prairie Grove, Ark .; and another son, Albert, died while in camp near Ft. Smith.
Samuel J. Reed was born in Montgomery Coun- ty, Ky., May 28, 1832, and was only four years of age when he came across the country to Mis- souri. He received a fair common-school educa- tion, and continued to make his home with his father until past his majority. Following his father's example, he commenced trading in horses to a small extent, and was quite successful. On the outbreak of the war he entered the Confed- erate service, and fought until the close of the con- flict. He was present in the battles of Lexing- ton, Carthage, Wilson Creek, Springfield, Iron Mountain, Prairie Grove and Cape Girardeau, besides participating in many skirmishes. Much of this time he was in the cavalry, and at Helena, Ark., he took part in the disastrous battle there, and also went with Price on his famous raid, every day being one of carnage. In his opinion the worst fight which he ever saw was one near Ft. Scott, Kan. When the southern army sur- rendered, he was at Shreveport, La., and after- ward he returned home and resumed farming.
New Year's Day, 1867, Mr. Reed married Miss Mary Scott, who was born on the 31st of Octo- ber, 1842, and is a native of this county. Her
father, Richard Scott, was a native of North Caro- lina, while her grandfather, William Scott, was born in Scotland. Her mother, who bore the maiden name of Jane Beatty, was born in Ten- nessee, and her maternal grandfather was a na- tive of Ireland. Seven children graced the union of Mr. and Mrs. Reed. Florence married Van Reed, and lives in Kansas. Marion Albert, born July 25, 1871, took a commercial course at Se- dalia, and recently has been engaged as a clerk at Latour. The younger children are Mollie L., Lena K., Nannie L., George Emmett and Octa Bernice. Lena K. is now a student at the State Normal at Warrensburg, and the other children are receiving good educational advantages. Aft- er his marriage Mr. Reed rented land for about two years, when he had acquired enough means to purchase eighty acres. Assisted by his faith- ful wife, who is a true helpmate, he is now the proprietor of a valuable homestead and enjoys a good income.
AMUEL R. SANKEY is a member of the firm of S. R. Sankey & Bro., of Holden, and is a well known insurance, loan and real- estate business man. In December, 1889, he bought out Bradley Brothers, his predecessors, and has since given his entire attention to his present occupation. He owns a number of pieces of valuable town property, and one hundred and thirty acres of farm land. He is in every respect a self-made man, as he was obliged to start out in his active career without capital, other than his determination to succeed.
Mr. Sankey was born in Harrison County, Ohio, October 14, 1862, and is a son of Samuel Farmer and Eliza J. (McGee) Sankey, whose his- tory appears at length in the sketch of our sub- ject's brother, A. M. Sankey, which is found elsewhere in this volume. In February, 1869, Samuel R. emigrated with his parents to Johnson County, Mo., and passed the intervening years
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between that and his majority on his father's farm. He received a good education in the pub- lic schools, and was a student in Holden for two years. He was but twenty years of age when he began to teach, following this vocation for two winters. During the vacation he went out on the plains as a cow boy, and traveled through southwestern Kansas, the Cherokee Strip and into Texas. In 1885 he went to California and worked on a large grain ranch, thus paying his way while seeing the country. In the spring of 1886 he returned, and entering Spaulding's Com- mercial College at Kansas City, graduated from that institution in April, 1887.
On being offered a position on the Missouri Pacific Railroad as baggagemaster, night ticket and express agent, Mr. Sankey accepted the place and served faithfully in that capacity for two years. In the spring of 1889 he went to Colorado, and for some months was in the employ of the Denver & Rio Grande Express Company. In the last month of that year he came to Holden, and has since given his attention to his present busi- ness. Fraternally he is a Knight of Pythias, be- ing Past Chancellor, and having filled various other offices. In his political convictions he is a Democrat of the most unswerving order. Per- sonally he is held in high respect by his fellow- citizens, for he is uniformly courteous, and, above all, his business methods are above reproach.
ILLIAM W. WOODMANCY is now living retired from active life at his home on sec- tion 13, township 46, range 24, Johnson County. He is a veteran of the late war, having enlisted as a private and later rising to the rank of Lieutenant. His service in the Union army covered a period of nearly four years, extending from September 11, 1861, until January 9, 1865. He was a soldier on whom his superiors felt that
they might safely rely, for he was never absent from his post of duty and his bravery was un- questioned.
The fifth child born to David and Esther (Hurd) Woodmancy, our subject is a native of Tompkins County, N. Y., the date of his birth being March 16, 1835. His parents were like- wise natives of the Empire State, where they spent most of their lives, and where their deaths occurred. The mother died in 1857, aged sixty years, and the father died in 1882, at the vener- able age of fourscore and two years. When in his seventy-first year, he came to visit his son William, who had often urged him to do so, and he remained a member of his household for ten years, at the end of which time he desired to re- turn to his native state, and carried his resolu- tion into effect. The Woodmancy and Hurd families were among the pioneers of New York, and were noted for their worthy and sturdy qualities of character.
As his father was in straitened circumstances financially during his boyhood, William W. Woodmancy was obliged to assume the responsi- bilities of life at an early age, and worked for farnı- ers from his eleventh year. In 1854 he went to Bloomington, Ill., and three months later moved to Wisconsin. For a short time afterward he lived in New York, but in 1857 returned to Wis- consin. Thence he proceeded to Nebraska, and two years later landed in Jefferson, Mo. With the exception of the time spent in the army, he has since had his time and attention occupied in farming near Knobnoster.
While a member of the Johnson County Home Guards Mr. Woodmancy was one of the one hun- dred and fifty men who volunteered to go to Lex- ington, Mo., for the purpose of securing arms and equipments which had been reported as being transported to that city by steamer from St. Louis. After two days of patient waiting the steamer ar- rived and preparations were being made to turn them over to the volunteers, when a man well supplied with pistols, knives and firearms ap- peared on the scene. He defied any man or num- ber of men to arrest him for anything that he might say or do. He went so far in his bravado
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that it became necessary for the boys of "Hoop Pole" County to arrest hint. This was, done adroitly, without the shedding of blood, and the man was sent to Jefferson Barracks. After an absence of nine days the detail party returned with the arms to Warrensburg and distributed them to the Home Guards, after which they made another trip of similar importance. This kind of military manœuvre did not suit Mr. Wood- mancy, who much preferred the regular service. Going to Jefferson City, he learned that G. B. Boomer was then trying to form a regiment, but had so far only recruited six men. He joined him September 11, 1861, and after studying tact- ics and drilling about ten days, they organized a camp rendezvous at the old town of Medora, twen- ty miles east of Jefferson City. After four months of hard service our subject was mustered in for three years, and was in all the actions of his regi- ment until the expiration of his term, when he was mustered out at Savannah, Ga. Once while in camp at Medora one of his associates in the "Boomer Battalion," R. C. Crowell, who was on recruiting service at Fulton, was captured by the Confederates. In order to secure his safe return, it was agreed among his comrades that three prominent Confederate citizens should be made prisoners. To do this it was necessary to have a detail of fifty men, supplied with knapsacks and sixty rounds of ammunition. Thus furnished, they proceeded cautiously under cover of the dark- ness across the Missouri River and without much difficulty secured two of the men, who were un- armed. On reaching the remaining victim, he feigned sickness, but Captain Koops, a German, told him they would haul him away, and when he asked how this would be done, received the ans- wer, "Mit the bayonet." The man at once con- cluded that he was able to walk without such as- sistance. After holding these men captive for a few days they were released and permitted to return home.
Upon the termination of his army service Mr. Woodmancy went on a visit to his old home and friends in New York State. On coming back to Missouri he purchased the beautiful farm upon which he still lives, in July, 1865. The place
comprises sixty acres, conveniently located for all purposes, and is one of the most fertile farms in this neighborhood. Soon after settling here our subject chose Miss Laura V. Askren to be his future companion and helpmate, their marriage being celebrated October 9, 1865. The lady is a daughter of William Askren, of Cole County, Mo.
Since becoming a voter Mr. Woodmancy has adhered to the doctrines of the Republican party. He had two brothers in the Federal army, one having enlisted from New York and the other from Colorado, and both of them, as well as our subject, were fortunate in escaping serious wounds or falling into the hands of the enemy.
G EORGE L. BAIRD, one of the representa- tive mercantile men of Center View, is a na- tive of Illinois, and was born in Albany, Whiteside County, July 21, 1859. Coming to Missouri, however, when a mere child, this state has been the scene of his trials and triumphs, and justly claims him as her own. He was the son of George W. and Libby H. (Henry) Baird, and was one of seven children, of whom six are still living.
George W. Baird, the father of our subject, was a native of the Buckeye State, where his birth occurred in 1827. He spent his early life in steam-boating, serving in the capacity of clerk on some of the principal steamers plying the Ohio River, and also filled that position on the lower Mississippi. Deciding to change his occupation, he emigrated to Kansas and launched into the nursery business, engaging in that work for about seven years. Finding himself very success- ful in that line, he came to Missouri, and, locat- ing in Center View, continued in the business with great success until 1870, when he sold out and moved to Lebanon, remaining there until his death, which occurred August 11, 1872. He was
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a man of integrity, his word being considered as good as his bond, and in his death the community sustained a severe loss.
The mother of our subject survives her hus- band, and presides over the home of her son George L. Though advancing in years, she still retains her sunny, ready disposition to look on the bright side of things, and her home is one of peace and comfort. Beloved by all who know her, she is passing her latter days in the con- sciousness of a rest well earned.
The subject of this sketch was reared at home, and, as his educational advantages were cut short by the death of his father, he, in company with his brother, manfully faced the necessities of the case, and at the age of thirteen years assumed the responsibility of maintaining the family. Though the father left his family well provided for, the management of the estate was a great undertaking, and as the sisters had to be edu- cated, that responsibility was added, too. The brothers assumed the obligation, and were suc- cessful in the undertaking. This early training taught our subject a self-reliance that he could otherwise not have acquired, and it has in a measure been the cause of his later successes.
At the age of eighteen years our subject learned the carpenter's trade, and plied his plane and chisel for about eleven years, continuing, how- ever, to make his home under the parental roof, except when called away by his work. During this time he acted as foreman of the building de- partment of the Ft. Scott & Gulf Railroad, and later served in the same capacity for the Wyan- dotte & Northwestern Railroad for about two years, making his headquarters at Kansas City, and at Atchison, Kan.
Deciding to change his occupation, in the fall of 1887 our subject came to Center View, and, with the money he had saved, launched into the grocery business in this place. In this line his success was gratifying indeed, and so encourag- ing were his prospects that he decided to embark in general merchandising. Having gained the confidence of the people, he found it an easy mat- ter to establish a paying business, and his prosper- ity was continuous until January 6, 1894, when
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a fire swept away his store and its entire contents. This was a great loss, the stock being insured for only about one-half its real value; but Mr. Baird was not discouraged, and before six months had passed on the site of the ruins the model store building of the village was in process of erection. In his new building he continues to serve not only his old customers, but many new ones, and all are treated with due courtesy and kindness.
Mr. Baird is yet a young man, and he looks toward a still more promising future. Realizing that energy and push are the price of success, he steadily presses forward, and his name is already prominent among those of the citizens of Center View. Politically he is a Republican of stanch- est principles, and ever faithful to the support of his party. Socially he is identified with the In- dependent Order of Odd Fellows, of which he is a worthy member. All benevolent objects find ready sympathy in Mr. Baird, and he is much esteemed by all those with whom he has been brought in contact.
ACOB BRUNER GILTNER has lived for the past twelve years on section 2, township 45, range 28, Johnson County. It is now nearly thirty years since he moved to Holden, a village not far distant, and began to work at his trade of carpentering. Holden was then only a mere hamlet, and our subject has erected many buildings both there and in the adjoining country, thus being closely associated with its develop- ment and progress. I11 1883 he bought one hun- dred and twenty acres of his present homestead, paying $40 per acre, and has since added another tract of forty acres to the original place. Among the improvements which he has inaugurated on the farm are a comfortable house and large barns, and everything about the place shows the con- stant attention of the careful and thrifty owner.
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He is a self-made man, and commenced his career not only without money, but with very little ed- ucation, for his opportunities in an educational way were extremely limited. He was the eldest in a family of nine, and as his parents were poor he had to earn his own livelihood from the time he was about thirteen years of age, the greater part of his wages going toward the support of the other members of the family.
Mr. Giltner was born in what was Columbia, but is now Montour, County, Pa., January 20, 1830, his parents being J. F. and Mary (Bruner) Gilt- ner, the former a native of Lehigh County, Pa. The first of the family came from Holland to the United States in 1612, settling in Philadelphia, and some of the descendants located in Lehigh County. The great-grandfather of our subject, John Francis, and his son, John Christian, were likewise natives of Lehigh County. The latter died from the effects of being kicked by a horse, when Jacob B. was a small boy. As far as known, the family have always been farmers and very industrious, hardworking people. In 1854 J. F. Giltner moved to Stephenson County., Ill., mak- ing the trip by team. He had learned the shoe- maker's trade, and followed this both in his na- tive state and after moving to Illinois.
It was not until after he was in his twenty- first year that J. B. Giltner, of this sketch, be- gan to reap the profits from his own labors. He then began an apprenticeship to the carpenter's trade, and for two and a-half years' work he was to have $60 and his board. He was also allowed a week's vacation in harvest time, when he managed to earn quite a little money by raking and stacking grain. When he had learned his trade he hired out as journeyman at fifty cents a day, but after working for six months was cheated out of his pay. Some farmers by whom he had been previously employed then gave him work as a carpenter, paying him $1 per day, and soon he had enough money to take him to his parents in Stephenson County, Il1. At first he worked at his trade by the day and then took contracts, con- tinuing to make his home in Lena, Ill., until 1868, when he moved to Missouri.
May 15, 1857, Mr. Giltner married Elizabeth
Galbraith, of Stephenson County, Ill. She was born in Huntingdon County, Pa., March 14, 1836, and has become the mother of three chil- dren. Charles William, born June 15, 1858, was married, September 25, 1889, at Warrensburg, to Miss Virginia Smith, by whom he has two chil- dren. He is a carpenter and is now living in Tulsa Creek Nation, Ind. T. James Franklin, born February 18, 1860, was married in Holden, December 7, 1890, to Lizzie Markley, of that place, whose birth occurred in Virginia, Decem- ber 3, 1866; they have no children. John Henry, a barber by trade, and now a resident of Newton County, Mo., was born March 3, 1862; he was married to Nannie Douglas in January, 1893, but they have no children. The father of our subject was a Democrat, and he likewise espoused the principles of that party until after the Civil War. During the strife and contentions between the two parties which followed lie did not give his allegi- ance to either one, and for twenty years did not use his right of franchise. However, he later voted for James G. Blaine, but is strictly in- dependent. He is a strong temperance man, and if he knows it will never use his ballot in favor of men who have any connection with the liquor traffic.
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