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 40
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 40
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EVI EVANS is the owner of a good estate located on section 24, township 44, range 27, Johnson County, and in its cultivation is meeting with success. He was born in Warren County, Ky., February 19, 1832, to Francis and Malinda (Morris) Evans, also natives of the Blue Grass State. The parents spent their entire lives there, the father dying when our subject was a lad of nine years. The family included five chil- dren, of whom Daniel was the eldest; then came Elizabeth, Levi, Francis and Rachel. The mother kept the family together until her decease, which occurred in 1854.
In 1858 Levi, together with his brother Daniel, and sister Elizabeth, then Mrs. Henry Horn,
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came to Missouri. Mr. Evans and his brother- in-law purchased land where the former now re- sides, and by hard work improved it and devel- oped a good estate.
Our subject's opportunities for gaining an edu- cation were very limited, as he and his brother Daniel were the main support of the family after the father's death. They were obliged to over- see the operation of the farm and do all the buy- ing of provisions and selling of crops. When the trip was made to this state their household goods were conveyed hither by means of a one-horse wagon and an ox-team, and the journey consumed four weeks.
Levi Evans was married, April 9, 1861, to Miss Mary C. Minton, of Chilhowee, this county. She was likewise born in Warren County, Ky., tlie date thereof being June 2, 1839. Her parents were Thomas and Sarah A. (Seay) Minton, na- tives of that state, whence they crossed the line into this state in 1841. Mrs. Evans was reared in Lafayette County, where she obtained a fair education in the schools of her district. In 1860 her parents came to Johnson County, where Mr. Minton died four years later. His good wife is still living, and at this writing is in her seventy- fourth year.
When Mr. Evans first located on his present farm he made his abode in a very rude cabin, but as the years passed by and he became more pros- perous he made many valuable improvements on his place, among them being a substantial resi- dence, which was erected in 1883. During the late war, on account of having expressed himself very freely in regard to the slavery question, he was obliged to flee from home and seek refuge in another portion of the state. His wife, however, was not molested and lived in peace on the old homestead until the conflict was at an end.
Seven children were granted to our subject and his wife. Francis Marion, who was born April 22, 1862, married Fannie Thompson in 1882, and now makes his home in Vernon County, this state. Thomas H. was born November 15, 1863; his wife bore the maiden name of Nettie Malone. Daniel G. was born January 19, 1866, and died in infancy. Anna, who was born January 15,
1867, became the wife of George W. Holland De- cember 30, 1886. Minnie M. was born May 1, 1869, and is now at home. Virgil was born Au- gust 27, 1871, and died February 11, 1883. George W. was born August 20, 1874.
Our subject was originally a Whig in politics and voted for Bell and Everett in 1860. He was greatly in sympathy with the Union cause during the war, and when Lincoln ran for President cast a ballot in his favor. He is in no sense of the word a politician, yet takes great interest in the success of his party, being now a Republican. Together with his wife and three of his children, he is a member of the Missionary Baptist Church. Mrs. Evans joined this denomination when four- teen years of age, and our subject has been con- nected with the same since 1866. He has served his congregation for twenty years in the office of Deacon and is regarded as one of the influential and valued members of the church he attends.
TIS W. SMITH. This well known business man and leading pharmacist of Sedalia was born in Hannibal, Mo., June 2, 1862, being a son of James H. and Carroll A. (Harris) Smith, natives, respectively, of Ohio and Marion County, Mo. His father, who was a carpenter by trade, engaged for some years in the grocery business, and was a member of the state militia in Hanni- bal. In 1874 he came to Sedalia, where he was employed by the Missouri, Kansas & Texas Rail- way Company. From this city he removed to Joplin, in the employ of the Missouri Pacific, and still makes his home in that city.
The subject of this notice is the older of two children, his sister being Mrs. T. H. Fitzpatrick, of West Plains, Mo. The first twelve years of his life were passed in Hannibal, where the rudi- ments of his education were acquired. On com- ing to Sedalia, he entered the public schools of this place, and in 1882 was graduated from the high school here. He then began the study of
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pharmacy, and afterward entered the St. Louis College of Pharmacy, from which institution he was graduated in 1884, with the degree of Ph. G.
Embarking in business for himself, Mr. Smith opened a drug store at No. 918 East Third Street, and for nine years conducted a thriving business at that stand. In January, 1895, he removed to his present location, No. 501 Engineer Street, where he has a large and well equipped pharmacy. His store is supplied with a complete assortment of everything to be found in a first-class establish- ment of the kind, and he does an especially large business among railroad men, making a specialty of the preparation of their tinctures.
In St. Louis, in 1885, occurred the marriage of Mr. Smith and Miss Mattie Dowdall, a native of St. Louis, and daughter of John T. Dowdall, a retired manufacturer of that city. Their two children are Otis F. and Wilmer O. Politically Mr. Smith is a Republican, firm in his allegiance to every principle of his party's platform. He takes a commendable interest in everything per- taining to his profession, and holds membership in the Missouri Pharmaceutical Association. For two terms he has filled the office of Chancellor Commander of the Knights of Pythias, and is also an official in the Uniformed Rank. Considering the fact that he started in business with very lim- ited means, the success which has attended his efforts is remarkable, and proves beyond doubt that he has chosen an occupation for which na- ture has fitted him. As a citizen he is progress- ive and energetic, believes in the great possibili- ties of this city, and cherishes the warmest hopes of its future growth and prosperity.
EORGE G. HENSON, an energetic young farmer of Pettis County, is engaged in cul- tivating a farmi on section 34, township 45, range 21. He is a native of east Tennessee, and was born in Knoxville, May 15, 1865, being the
son of Jesse H. and Margaret (Allison) Hensou. The family of which he is a member is well and favorably known in the South. His maternal grandmother was a sister of Governor Houston, of Texas, and one of his maternal uncles was a Judge in that state.
The father of our subject was born in Tennes- see, May 15, 1827, and spent his entire life in that state, where he died August 9, 1880. His wife passed away in March, 1891. His life occu- pation was that of an agriculturist, and he was thus engaged during the Civil War, at odd times working as a teamster. Though his sympathies were strongly on the side of the Union, he was never molested. His family consisted of twelve children, of whom George G. was the ninth in order of birth. Three of the number died in childhood, and of those who survive, all reside in Tennessee except our subject and his eldest sister, Isabella, wife of Jolm Grahl, of North Carolina. One of his cousins was killed at Shiloh, and two uncles, being allowed to choose whether they would enter the prison or the Confederate army, chose the former, and were sent to Andersonville, where they both died.
Upon his father's farm near Knoxville, our subject passed his boyhood years somewhat un- eventfully, and his advantages were such as the common schools afforded. At the age of nine- teen he left home and came to Pettis County, Mo., where an older brother then lived. For a few years he worked by the mouth at various places in Missouri and Kansas, and then he went to St. Louis, where he learned how to manufacture horse-collars, and also served an apprenticeship at the carpenter's trade. He resided in that city for four years, his time being devoted principally to the former occupation.
In St. Louis, February 14, 1891, Mr. Henson was united in marriage with Miss Lena Recker, who was born in that city July 26, 1872. In September, 1893, he moved to his present home, and has since cultivated a tract of ninety-five acres belonging to his mother-in-law. Politically he is a stanch advocate of Republican principles, and is always willing to give a reason for his de- cided partiality in favor of this organization. He
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never voted at any Presidential election until that of 1892, when he cast his ballot for Benjamin Harrison, the unsuccessful candidate. He has been a member of the Carpenters' Union, and is still identified with the Protective Home Circle at St. Louis.
EORGE K. ROBERTS. The gentleman whose honored name appears at the head of this sketch is one of the old and prominent residents of Johnson County, having lived on his present excellent farm since 1860. This property is located on section 25, township 46, range 28, but the owner is retired from its management, and is enjoying the comforts which the toil of the early years of his life has made possible.
William R. Roberts, father of our subject, was a Kentucky farmer, and died in that state after having passed his eightieth birthday. He mar- ried Miss Margaret Tood, who lived to be about sixty-five years of age. To them were born three sons and three daughters. Of this household Margaret, Thomas and William are deceased; Jackson is living in Clay County, this state, and James is a resident of Madison County, Ky.
The subject of this sketch was the third child born to his parents, his birth occurring January 15, 1812, in Madison County, Ky., on his father's farm, eight miles south of Richmond. Here he was reared to man's estate, and although there were schools conducted on the subscription plan in the neighborhood, he was not permitted to at- tend very regularly, as his services were in de- mand on the farm. This temple of learning, how- ever, was very primitive in its construction, be- ing built of logs, with a fireplace in one end of the room and holes cut in the wall for windows, over which hung greased paper. The seats were rough boards with wooden pins inserted in the ends for legs, and some of the smaller pupils found great difficulty in mounting to their as- signed places. Mr. Roberts was very quick to
learn, and being observing, soon added to the fund of information gained from books by actual experience.
Our subject was married, when twenty-one years old, to Miss Elizabeth Rhodes, a native of Kentucky. They continued to live in the Blue Grass State until 1840, when they changed their location to Franklin County, Tenn., and later were residents of Coffee County, that state. In 1857 they came northward to Missouri and lo- cated in this township. Here he speculated in land, making money out of almost every trans- action. He was considered an excellent judge of property, and when a tract came into his pos- session lie held it until new settlers came in who desired to purchase, when he sold and located elsewhere. His first farm included one hundred and twenty acres, for which he paid $1,400, be- sides a few oxen and a few lots of which he was the owner. This estate he sold later for $3,686, and buying another farm for $800, afterward dis- posed of it at a profit of $400. He now makes a specialty of raising a good breed of hogs, which he ships in large numbers each year to the city markets. He has been a resident of his present farm for thirty-five years, and having devoted himself energetically to its cultivation during his younger years, he is now enabled to live com- fortably.
To our subject and his wife has been born a large family of twelve children. Emily is the wife of A. Longacre, and lives in Kingsville. Samuel is deceased. Joseph was killed while in the service of his country during the late war. William Franklin married Miss Lacy, and their five children are Willie, Pearl, Callie, Carney and an infant. John Miller married Jennie Downey, and lives in Arkansas; they are the parents of six children, Ada, William, George, John (de- ceased), Anna and Bowen. Jackson, who lives on a farm three miles east of the home of his fa- ther, married Catherine Hays, and of the seven children born to them, two are deceased; they were named respectively, Anna, Bettie, Ada, Min- nie Ruth, Maggie Lee, Alberta May and Allen. James Allen, whose home is also in this locality, married Nancy Wide, and has seven children,
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namely: John, James A., Thomas Lee, Mary Etta, Margaret Irene, Hattie Bell and Fannie Gertrude. Margaret Elizabeth is the widow of James Middleton Harmon, and her family includ- ed George William (now deceased), Tevis B. and Irene. Bradford married Wallace Thompson, and is residing in this county; their family com- prised three daughters, Jessie, Nora F. and Pearl, of whom the two latter are deceased. Eliza Jane married J. Green, and is living in Bates County; their four children are Maude, Willis C., George K. and Lawrence R. George Washington mar- ried Julia Ferguson, and also makes his home in Bates County; he is the father of four children, William M., Ethel, Beulah and Nora Frances. One son died unnamed. Our subject is the grand- father of thirty-five grandchildren. His wife de- parted this life November 26, 1889, and his daugh- ter Margaret Elizabeth now lives with him and superintends the housekeeping. She is a lady of refinement, and is a great comfort to her father, caring for him tenderly during his declining years.
In politics George K. Roberts is a stanch Dem- ocrat, and in religious affairs is a member of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church. He has been very influential in his community, and during his early years took an active part in everything per- taining to the welfare of his township.
HARLES C. MCCOWN has been engaged in agricultural pursuits for about twenty-five years on the farm which he still owns and cultivates, and which is located on section 26, township 45, Johnson County. He has served as Justice of the Peace for two terms, and has also held other official positions. He comes from a well known and respected family in these parts, the name being associated with the upbuilding of this region from its pioneer days.
The father of Mr. McCown, James McCown, was born in Kanawha County, W. Va., in 1815, and on reaching manhood married Caroline F. Bur- gess, a native of the same county, born in 1821. A few years later the young couple moved from West Virginia to Missouri, settling in Henry County, near Calhoun. About 1845 they moved to a farm in Chilhowee Township, this county, where Mr. McCown entered land. In the course of time his possessions numbered about fifteen hundred acres of finely improved farm land, be- sides lots in Warrensburg. Most of this was lost during the war, and by going security for friends. He was very generous, and never knew how to say no to those who applied to him for assistance. In Henry County he held the offices of Constable and Sheriff, and after coming here was made County and Circuit Clerk and Recorder, serving as such for three terms. When a young man he was for some time engaged in steam-boating on the Ohio River, and before leaving his native state was elected Colonel of a militia company.
Early in 1861 James McCown raised a com- pany for a Missouri regiment, of which he was elected Colonel. Afterward the Third and Fifth Confederate Infantries were consolidated, and he continued to serve in the same capacity. In 1862 he went east of the Mississippi River, and took part in many important battles, among theni be- ing Baker Creek, Corinth, Chickamauga, those of the Georgia campaign, and many others. He was at Ft. Blakely at the time of its surrender, and soon afterward joined his family at Waco, Tex., where they were then living. They re- turned to Johnson County, where they were obliged to begin at the bottom round of the lad- der once more, for though they had formerly been in affluent circumstances, they now had nothing left. Mr. McCown formed a partnership with E. A. Nicholson, an attorney, and on one of his business trips through Texas, Louisiana and Kentucky, contracted an illness which re- sulted in his death, July 8, 1868. For years he was a member of the lodge and chapter of Ma- sons at Warrensburg, and held offices at different times. Politically he was always a strong Den- ocrat. In religious faith he was a member of the
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Southern Methodist Church, to which his widow still belongs. She is now making her home in Warrensburg.
The following children were born to James Mc- Cown and his wife: J. S., who is connected with one of the Washington State institutions at Walla Walla; Charles C., our subject; John W., a com- mercial traveler of Kansas City; George, a stock- raiser; Mathew, who is connected with the Mis- souri, Kansas & Texas Railroad; Virginia D., wife of James Smith, of Warrensburg; William H., a promising young attorney, who died at Pied- mont, Mo .; Mary, who died in 1860; and Mattie, formerly the wife of George R. Foster, of St. Louis County, Mo., but now deceased. Two of the sons, J. S. and W. H., were in the Confed- erate army. The latter was a Captain and held a Colonel's commission. He was actively engaged in many noted battles, among which were Lex- ington, Wilson Creek and Springfield, Mo. In the last-named encounter, he received severe wounds. The other brother was in the battles of Pea Ridge and Vicksburg, being under his fa- ther's command and in Parsons' brigade.
Charles C. McCown was born in January, 1848, in this county, and attended school in Warrens- burg. During the war he was with his father for a time, though he was really much too young to be in the service. Nevertheless, he carried a musket at the battle of Drywood. In 1863 he went with the other members of the family to Texas, and as he was the eldest of the children, he was for the time being the protector and head of the family, the father being at the front. They first located in .Dallas, then moved to George- town, and finally to Waco, where the Colonel met them at the close of the war.
On Christmas Day, 1873, Charles Mccown mar- ried Engenia, daughter of James T. Ferguson, who is now living in Kansas City. Mrs. Mc- Cown was born in St. Louis, and by her marriage became the mother of six children, five of whom are living, namely: Stella, Cora, Florence, and Hugh and Lillie, twins. Mary died in childhood.
For about a quarter of a century Mr. McCown has been engaged in agricultural pursuits on his present farm, and is a thoroughly practical and
well posted business man. His homestead com- prises eighty acres of very fertile land, on which stand good buildings. In his political belief he is a Democrat. With his good wife, he holds membership with the Methodist Episcopal Church South, and has officiated in the congregation as Steward.
HOMAS S. FOSTER is one of the old and respected citizens of Johnson County, and for many years has dwelt on section 27, township 47, range 24, where he owns a finely cultivated farm. Altogether his estate numbers some four hundred and forty acres of improved land. He has about retired from arduous labor, his sons having assumed the principal business of the farm management.
The parents of T. S. Foster, Valentine and Lena (Rucker) Foster, were both natives of Ken- tucky, but his grandparents on both sides of the house were Virginians. Grandfather Foster served throughout the War of the Revolution, and his son, Valentine, was a patriot of the War of 1812. In 1835 the latter, with his family, moved from Kentucky to Missouri, and spent the remainder of their lives in this state. Mrs. Fos- ter died in Warrensburg, and the father departed this life on the homestead now owned by our subject.
In the parental family Thomas S. Foster is next to the oldest, his birth having occurred in 1822, in Kentucky. He was in his fourteenth year when he became an inhabitant of Missouri, since which time his history has been interwoven with the development of this locality. He re- ceived a very limited education, and in fact was not able to attend school until after he had reached his majority. He acquired a practical knowledge of farming, however, and also followed the black- smith's trade to some extent in his youth. What- ever success he now enjoys has been brought . about by hard work, and he is justly entitled to prosperity.
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The first marriage of Mr. Foster occurred in 1843, when Miss Temperance McCallister, of this county, became his wife, but their union was brief, as she only lived four months. In 1851 our sub- ject wedded Sarah Brown, of this county, and to them were born two sons, James William and Jo- seph F., who lived until nearly grown and were then cut short in their careers by death. Their mother departed this life about 1855. The third wife of Mr. Foster was Miss Lizzie Carroll, who died in 1875. She became the mother of seven children, namely: Jesse, who died in St. Louis at the age of twenty-three years; Jerry E .; Jacob Dahlgren; John C .; Joseph M .; Emma, wife of John O. Banion, of Pettis County; and Elizabeth M., wife of William Hughes, of Johnson County.
For a great many years Mr. Foster has been an esteemed and valued member of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church. He is a pronounced Re- publican in his political views and takes cred- itable interest in whatever tends to elevate the condition of society and the public at large.
AMES H. RUSSELL is one of Missouri's sturdy, native-born sons, and has been iden- tified with her history for a period of fifty- two years. He was born in Boonville, Cooper County, March 11, 1843, and was the younger of the two children born to James H. and Margar- et J. (Wyan) Russell. Thomas W., the elder brother, is still living and resides in Kansas City. Our subject, however, has never left his native state, and has materially aided in the development of her resources, and has rejoiced in her prosper- ity.
The father of our subject was a Virginian by birth, and was born about the year 1818. Com- ing with his parents to Missouri when a mere boy, and settling. with them in Cooper County, he there passed his remaining days, his death oc- curring at the early age of twenty-five years. He had been reared to agricultural pursuits, and
though but a short time a resident of that county, had made many warm friends and was looking forward to a bright and happy life among them. His death occurred in 1843, and was deeply re- gretted by all who knew him. The mother of our subject was a native of the Blue Grass State, and after the death of her first husband was mar- ried to James M. Nelson, in the year 1849. Mr. Nelson was a prominent banker and business man of Boonville, and by this marriage became the fa- ther of four children, three of whom still survive. L. C. Nelson, the eldest child, is President of the St. Louis National Bank, and is very prominent in St. Louis business circles. Nadine is the wife of C. E. Leonard, who is the President of the Central National Bank of Boonville. Maggie, the youngest daughter, is the wife of Lon V. Stephens, State Treasurer.
Jacob Wyan, the maternal grandfather, was the first settler of Boonville, and was the propri- etor of the very first store ever established in that place, being identified with its early struggles and energetically aiding in all projects for its ad- vancement. He was industrious and enterpris- ing, and willingly sacrificed personal comfort to the advancement of the public good.
James H. Russell was reared at home and re- ceived good educational advantages. Upon com- pleting his common-school education, he took a business course at Jones Commercial College, lo- cated at St. Louis, thus preparing himself for the active duties and responsibilities of business life. At the age of eighteen years he left home and began business on his own account, under- taking the management of one of his step-father's farms. In this position he had the opportunity to display his executive ability, for he had under
him a large number of slaves, his step-father be- ing an extensive slave-owner. One year later he decided to remove to Saline County, and there engaged in farming. Here, also, he met Miss Mary Elizabeth George, who later, July 19, 1866, became his wife. Mrs. Russell is a lady of much intelligence and true refinement, and all who have been privileged to enter their home have greatly enjoyed its hospitality.
After two years of successful farming in Saline
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