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 52
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 52
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42 | Part 43 | Part 44 | Part 45 | Part 46 | Part 47 | Part 48 | Part 49 | Part 50 | Part 51 | Part 52 | Part 53 | Part 54 | Part 55 | Part 56 | Part 57 | Part 58 | Part 59 | Part 60 | Part 61 | Part 62 | Part 63 | Part 64 | Part 65 | Part 66 | Part 67 | Part 68 | Part 69 | Part 70 | Part 71 | Part 72 | Part 73 | Part 74 | Part 75 | Part 76 | Part 77 | Part 78 | Part 79 | Part 80 | Part 81 | Part 82 | Part 83 | Part 84 | Part 85
G 10
OEL H. WARREN, M. D., is a pioneer physician of Knobnoster, Johnson County, and though a native of Lee County, Va., has lived in Missouri since he was a year old, and has literally grown up with the country. He has been successfully engaged in practice for over forty-five years, and is known far and wide as one of the leading members of the profession in this state. It would be hard to find a man who has more friends and fewer enemies, for he is univer- sally beloved and respected. His goodness of heart and kindness of disposition are marked characteristics, and the poor and needy always find in him a friend.
Our subject's parents, Martin and Nancy (Hubbard) Warren, were natives of Kentucky and Virginia, respectively. The father removed from the Blue Grass State to the Old Dominion in early manhood, and was married there. In 1819 he emigrated to Missouri and followed the occupation of farmer in Lafayette County until he was summoned to the better land, in 1840. His wife had died some six years before, in 1834.
The birth of Dr. J. H. Warren occurred De- cember 27, 1818, and his early years were passed on his father's farm. His primary education was obtained in the old-fashioned log schoolhouses which were prevalent in his youth. When he was in his nineteenth year he turned his attention to teaching, and continued in that vocation for two years. For the following two years he was em- ployed in agricultural pursuits, and about this time moved to Johnson County. Settling at War- rensburg, he took up the study of medicine, with Dr. Calhoun as his preceptor, and in 1849 began to practice to some extent in Warrensburg. Sub- sequently he removed to Cass County, Mo., where he practiced for twelve years, or up to the break-
429
PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
ing out of the war. He enlisted in the Fifth Mis- souri State Militia, acting as Surgeon for his reg- iment for a period of two years. In the fall of 1863 he became a resident of Knobnoster, where he has since been uninterruptedly engaged in practice. He was graduated from the St. Louis Medical College in 1858, and has been a life-long student of everything relating to medical work.
In 1840 Dr. Warren married Miss Sarah War- ren, who died in 1866, leaving one child, who has also departed this life. In 1868 the Doctor mar- ried Sue, daughter of James and Kittie Young, natives of Kentucky. They have never had any children of their own, but have given a home to no less than five. Mollie De Jornett is now the wife of George Jackson, of Ft. Scott, Kan .; the others were Jennie and Susie, J. D. and W. S. MaCrae. They have all grown to maturity and are highly respected and useful citizens of the community in which they dwell.
It is now some fifty-five years since Dr. Warren became a member of the Christian Church, in which he is a valued and efficient worker. He has long been a member of the Masonic order, and is connected with Knobnoster Lodge No. 245. Politically he is a loyal Republican, and has an abiding faith in the principles of his party.
EORGE S. BRINKERHOFF, who holds the office of Justice of the Peace at Warrens- burg, has been retired from active business for the past four years, but superintends his property in this city. From 1882 until 1891 he was engaged in the lumber business in this place, and for the past twenty-five years has been a resi- dent of Warrensburg, where he is held in high respect.
The parents of our subject were John and Re- becca (Sommers) Brinkerhoff, natives of Pennsyl- vania. The progenitor of the Brinkerhoff family in the United States was one Joris Diedrich, who
came from Holland in 1638, settling on Manhat- tan Island. Several generations ago one of our subject's ancestors located in the Keystone State, and his great-grandfather, Daniel Brinkerhoff, is buried in York County. The grandfather, Dan- iel, Jr., and his son John moved to Wayne County, Ohio, in 1833. The former was a farmer by occupation, but our subject's father, who was born June 11, 1813, was a school teacher, survey- or and civil engineer. He filled various county offices, and for one year was a member of the State Legislature. He is still living in Wayne County, where he owns valuable tracts of land. Until the war he was a Democrat, but since then has been a strong Republican. When elected to the Legislature he overcame a Democratic majori- ty of over twelve hundred, and though of a very retiring disposition was induced by his friends to enter the county campaign work as a lecturer. He is a member of the United Presbyterian Church, and is a man of high moral character. His second son, Daniel O., gave up his life as a sacrifice to his country during the late war, and Joseph W., another son, is now a practicing phy- sician of Burbank, Ohio.
A native of Wayne County, Ohio, G. S. Brink- erhoff was born April 25, 1835, and spent the first ten years of his life on the farm. He then moved to Wooster, Ohio, where he attended the public schools, and at the age of nineteen graduated from Wooster Academy. Obtaining a certificate, he taught school during the winter terms and studied the remainder of the year for the next three years. In November, 1856, he married Rebecca Briner, of Wooster, and the following year moved to Huntington, Ind., where he received the appoint- ment of County Surveyor, to which office he was afterwards elected, proving a trustworthy and zealous official. At the same time, his duties not being too arduous, he taught during the winter months.
In December, 1861, Mr. Brinkerhoff enlisted in Company H, Forty-seventh Indiana Infantry, first being made First Lieutenant and later Quar- termaster of the regiment. He was under the command of General Nelson in the Thirteenth Army Corps, and afterwards fought under Gen-
430
PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
eral Pope. The first engagement in which he took part was at New Madrid, Mo., and with his regiment he was first to pass through the city of Memphis after its surrender. For a number of months he was stationed in Memphis and Helena, Ark., subsequently entering the campaign at Vicksburg, where he was in a number of engage- ments, and for eighty-one days was under fire. After the battle at Port Hudson, near New Or- leans, he was sent on an expedition under Banks up Bayou Tasche, and in the winter of 1863 en- camped near the Crescent City. The following year he was sent on the Red River expedition; next we find him at Morganzia Bend, in Loui- siana, then in New Orleans, and later in Little Rock and Memphis. He was honorably dis- charged in December, 1864, at the end of three years of faithful performance of duty. He was fortunate in never receiving a scratch, was never taken prisoner, nor was he ever in the hospital. During the winter of 1864-65 he recruited two companies at Huntington, Ind.
In 1865 our subject went into partnership with John Kenower at Huntington, engaging in the lumber business and operating a planing-mill. Two years later, or in the spring of 1868, he bought land in Johnson County and turned his attention to its cultivation, teaching school during the winter. In 1873 he received an appointment as missionary of the American Sunday-school Un- io11, and for seven years traveled through south- eastern Missouri and northeastern Arkansas or- ganizing Sunday-schools. From 1873 until 1880 he once more engaged in teaching, and then for a few years, as previously stated, turned his atten- tion to the lumber trade in Warrensburg, where he has since made his home. The first Presidential ballot of our subject was cast for J. C. Fremont, but in 1860 he voted for Douglas. Since that time he has usually supported Republican non- inees.
November 18, 1893, Mrs. Brinkerhoff was summoned to her final rest in this city. She joined the Baptist Church in 1858 with her hus- band, and was a faithful member of the denom- ination. From 1868 she was identified with the Baptist Church of Warrensburg, in which our
subject has been a Deacon for more than twenty years. Their eldest daughter, Martha, graduated from the normal in 1878 and was a successful teacher for ten years. She is now the wife of S. C. Phelps, a merchant of Walnut Ridge, Ark., and has one child, Lorene. Laura, a younger daughter of our subject, passed through the sci- entific course in the normal, and October 25, 1877, became the wife of G. W. Rayhill. They have one son, Charles Brinkerhoff Rayhill, and three daughters, Lola, Martha and Mary.
OHN CUNNINGHAM CHAMBERS, a prominent agriculturist of Johnson County, is engaged in general farming and stock-rais- ing on section 3, township 44, range 27, Chil- howee Township. In the fall of 1869 he arrived in this county possessed of a very small capital, but by industry and strict attention to business he has since made the fortune which he now en- joys. In 1876 he purchased a tract of wild land, but upon this he has made many improvements and has placed it under a high state of cultivation. Formerly he was a member of the Farmers' Al- liance and belonged to the Grange, and at all times he has taken an active part in movements which he believed to be for the good of this region.
John Chambers was born near Wilkesboro, N. C., and ivent to Greene County, Tenn., with his father, William, when a mere boy, growing to manhood in that section. He was a farmer and stock-raiser, besides which he was a minister in the Regular Baptist Church. He was born Octo- ber 23, 1806, and January 2, 1827, was married, in Blount County, Tenn., to Rhoda Dunn. The latter's birth occurred February 22, 1807, near New Albany, Ind., where her father owned a large tract of land. Eleven children came to bless the home of John and Rhoda Chambers. Willis died at the age of two years; Levi D. is a farmer in Georgia, and served in the Confederate
431
PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
army about two years; William B., who was in the Federal army, died in Nashville in 1865, while in the service, leaving three children; Eliz- abeth married Lawson W. Cable, now of White County, Ark., and has two children; Martha E., Mrs. George W. Slaughder, of Cherokee County, N. C., has three children; Alyzana married At- gusta Cooper, and resides in Chattanooga, Tenn .; John C. is the next in the family; Mary M. is the wife of David Webb, of Blount County, Tenn .; Lydia L. wedded W. W. Freshour, of Oklahoma; Benjamin B. is now in Colorado; and Andy M. completes the number. The father died in 1887, and the mother in April, 1890.
John C. Chambers was born in Blount County, Tenn., September 25, 1842, and passed his boy- hood under the parental roof. His advantages in an educational way were such as the common schools afforded, to which he has since added by private study and experience in the world. March 6, 1864, he was united in marriage with Pru- dence M., daughter of Henry and Mary B. (Mc- Campbell) Mitchell. The father was born at Petersburg, Va., July 26, 1803, and the mother near Frankfort, Ky., November 14, 1795. The Mitchells were of Dutch origin, while on the pa- ternal side the ancestors were from Scotland. Mrs. Chambers was born near Knoxville, Knox County, Tenn., December 20, 1838, and was ten years of age when with her parents she moved to Dade County, Ga. In 1853 they became resi- dents of Blount County, Tenn. She is the young- est in a family of five children, of whom Charlotte E. is deceased; Martha married Isaac McCamp- bell and has one son; Harriett became the wife of William Alexander; and Margaret J. married George Alexander, and died leaving three chil- dren.
After our subject's marriage he lived in Blount County until 1865, when he moved to Illinois and rented land near Mattoon, Coles County. He raised five crops, and after paying his expenses had but $150 in money, a team and a few house- hold effects. Thinking that he could do better further West, he drove to this county in the fall of 1869, being seventeen days on the journey. He secured a favorable lease of a farm, operating the
same for twelve years, and in 1876 bought three hundred and twenty acres of raw land. He has improved this farm until it now bears little resemblance to what it was a few years since. He was formerly a Republican, having voted for its nominees since casting his first ballot for Lincoln, in 1864, until 1892, when he became interested in organizing the People's party, and was nominated for the office of County Treasurer. Though he was not elected, he received about five hundred votes, which fact demonstrates his popularity with his friends and neighbors.
IRAM F. FRARY is one of the extensive land-owners of Johnson County, and is en- gaged in the management of his desirable homestead on section 18, township 45, range 28. He may well be proud of the success which he has achieved, for he began life empty handed, and through his industrious and persevering qualities has risen to a place of prominence, and gained a competence. Just and fair in his dealings with all, he takes pleasure in the fact that he has never had to mortgage a piece of property, has never had a lawsuit of any kind, and has promptly met all payments.
For many generations the Frary family were natives of the Green Mountain State. Our sub- ject's grandfather, David Frary, died about 1859, at the home of his son Harry. The latter, the father of Hiranı F., was born in Pawlet, Vt., in 1808, and was called to the home beyond in March, 1885. He married Priscilla Ransom, likewise a native of Vermont, who moved to Os- wego County, N. Y., in childhood. Harry Fra- ry also went with his parents to Oswego County and there grew to maturity and was married. He was the father of six children, of whom our sub- ject is the third.
Born in Oswego County, N. Y., December 19, 1835, H. F. Frary early learned the duties pertaining to farm life, and attended the com-
.
432
PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
mon schools of the district, which were much better than those in many sections of this coun- try at that time. In 1856 he went to Lake Coun- ty, Ill., where he worked for nearly a year at $20 a month, driving a team in a brick-yard. He also spent a few months in Wisconsin, and made a trip to Iowa, helping to drive livestock there. Within a year he returned to his old home and for a few years assumed the management of his fa- ther's farm. In 1864 he went to northern Indiana, and there and in southern Michigan rented land for the next eighteen years. Coming to Johnson County in 1882, he bought two hundred acres of land, having by years of economy saved enough money to pay for the place and yet have a good sum left. He has made additions to the house, built a good barn and has bought more land. A few years after locating here he invested in forty acres, subsequently purchased sixty acres more, and in 1891 became the owner of a tract of eighty acres, his possessions now reaching nearly four hundred acres. While renting land he was es- teemed to be a first-class tenant, and never left a place except on account of its being sold.
October 5, 1863, Mr. Frary married Emma Sanborn, of St. Lawrence County, N. Y., and three children were born of their union, namely: George S., Harry B. and Emma. While they were residents of Michigan the wife and mother was called to the silent land. March 28, 1876, Mr. Frary married Mrs. Matilda Warner, daugh- ter of John and Elizabeth (Breeden) Cooper. They moved to Van Buren County, Mich., in 1836 and were among the pioneers of that locality. Mrs. Frary was born in Perry County, Ohio, April 23, 1836, and when she was twelve years of age removed with her parents to Lasalle Coun- ty, Ill. She was first married, January 18, 1855, to Orson S. Warner, and moved to Three Oaks, Mich., a year later. She was still a resident of that place when she became the wife of our sub- ject. Brought up in the Methodist Episcopal Church, she is yet a believer in the tenets of that church, though for some years she was a member of the Congregational Church in Michigan.
The father of Hiram F. Frary was a Republi- can and served as County Commissioner for a
number of years. Religiously he was connected with the Baptist denomination. Our subject first voted for John C. Fremont, in 1856, and has always been a loyal Republican, though not a pol- itician. He became a member of the Masonic order in his early manhood, in Oswego County, N. Y., later belonged to the lodge at Three Oaks, Mich., but when he moved West took a demit and has never since been affiliated with the so- ciety.
HILIP S. DAY is a prominent citizen of Post Oak Township, Johnson County, and owns a desirable homestead six miles south of Warrensburg. In 1870 he bought forty acres of this land, and has since extended his possessions until he now has one hundred and sixty acres in the homestead. When he first located here he built a small cabin, which sheltered his family for a few years, or until he was enabled to build a good frame structure. During the war, while he and his brother were away on military duty, his father's house was burned by bushwhackers. Another house was soon built, but in the mean time the family was obliged to live in a small shed.
The parents of the gentleman above mentioned were Richard and Sarah (Stone) Day, natives of North Carolina. After making their home in Indiana for twelve years, they moved to Post Oak Township, this county, in 1847 Richard Day departed this life December 30, 1892, when in his eighty-second year. His wife, who was born in June, 1815, is still living on the farm which her husband entered in 1850. The family lived for years in a log cabin sixteen feet square, and made the journey overland to this state in a three-horse wagon. The maternal grandmother is also living and has passed the one hundredth anniversary of her birth. Richard Day was formerly a member of the Society of Friends, but in later years joined the Methodist Church, to which his wife also be- longs. After the war he was a stanch Repub- lican.
RESIDENCE AND STOCK FARM OF P. S. DAY, SECTION 23, TOWNSHIP 45, RANGE 26, JOHNSON COUNTY, MO.
-
435
PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
Philip S. Day was born in Henderson County, Ind., January 5, 1842, being one of nine children. Joseph M., a farmer of this county, served as a member of the Twenty-seventh Missouri Volun- teers, and afterward in the Fortieth Regiment of the State Militia. Deborah is the wife of S. H. Taggart, who owns a farm north of Warrensburg. William is deceased, his death having occurred in June, 1876, in California, whither he had gone for his health; he was also a member of the Twenty-seventh Missouri Infantry. Mary is the wife of James H. King, a farmer of this township. Nancy C., the widow of Alexander Scott, is liv- ing near her father's home. Daniel is a farmer of Chilhowee Township. Christina S. resides with her mother; and Serena J. died at the age of three years.
Until entering the army Philip S. Day lived on his father's farm. He enlisted, August 10, 1862, in the Seventietli Regiment of Missouri Enrolled Militia, and at the end of a few months' service the company disbanded for a time. When it was re-organized he joined Company B, Fortieth Reg- iment, for six months. From April I until July 8, 1865, he served under Captain Chester with Johnson County volunteers, and though in 110 regular battle, he took part in several skirmishes with Quantrell. From the close of the war until 1867 he was assistant to Sheriff T. W. Williams. About 1866 he bought a farm in company with a brother and became interested in stock-raising, and for the past twenty-five years has cultivated his present farm.
October 27, 1870, Mr. Day married Ruan C., a daughter of Thomas J. Cull. She was born in Johnson County, Mo., and died April 24, 1872, leaving a daughter, Minerva Jane, who passed from this life in her third year. September 3, 1874, our subject wedded Elizabeth C., daughter of James C. and Temperance E. (Weaver) Bux- ton. She was born in Iredell County, N. C., July 7, 1837. Mr. and Mrs. Day are members of the Methodist Episcopal Church, the former being a Trustee of Houts' Chapel, which he was very active in organizing. He was the one who broke the ground when the church foundation was laid, and in company with Maj. T. W. and
T. D. Houts did much for the infant congregation. He has also served in the capacity of Class-lead- er, Steward and Superintendent of the Sunday- school.
OHN WEEKS CANADAY. Noticeable among the farms of Pettis County is one ly- ing on section 34, township 44, range 22, the owner of which is the gentleman above named. There are the usual improvements of a first class farm, including a comfortable residence, substan- tial outbuildings, windmill, orchard, etc. In ad- dition to cultivating the one hundred and forty acres included in the farmn, Mr. Canaday has for years leased a tract of four hundred acres, a por- tion of which is under cultivation, while the re- mainder is in grass.
Born in Randolph County, I11., March 31, 1836, our subject is the son of Emanuel and Mary Ann (Mclaughlin) Canaday, natives of South Caro- lina. His father, who was orphaned in childhood, went north to Illinois at a very early day, and his first work was splitting rails, for which he was paid thirty cents per hundred. Throughout life he was a hardworking man, industrious and persevering, but he never gained wealth, and his children were obliged from an early age to become self-supporting. He was twice married, John W. being the eldest child of his first union.
The boyhood years of our subject were years of hard work and diligent effort, but having no means with which to start in life, he found the road to success a steep one. For his helpmate in life he chose Miss Nancy Mary Stroud, and their marriage was solemnized November 18, 1858. Mrs. Canaday was born September 6, 1838, and is a daughter of Isaac and Elizabeth (Nich- ols) Stroud, who had removed to Illinois from Kentucky, and at the time of their daughter's marriage were residents of Randolph County.
4.36
PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
For a number of years after his marriage Mr. Canaday continued to live in Illinois, where he owned and operated eighty acres of farm land. In 1872 he sold his property and moved to Pettis County, Mo., the trip being made overland with wagon and team, and fifteen days being spent on the way. Arriving here, he rented land near his present farm. To this county lie brought with him his wife and their four children, his brother, and an orphan girl who had been adopted into the family.
In 1875 Mr. Canaday purchased one hundred acres constituting a portion of his present prop- erty. The following year, accompanied by his family, he made a visit to his former home in I11- inois, leaving Pettis County in August and re- turning in September. While there the children suffered greatly from ague, and they were not sorry to return to the more equable climate of Missouri. Iu purchasing his present farm, Mr. Canaday paid half down, going in debt for the remainder. So well was he prospered, that in a few years he bought a forty-acre tract, and now owns one hundred and forty acres. For some years he made a specialty of raising cattle, and at times had on his place as many as one hundred head. Upon his place there is a well that will furnish water for twelve hundred head of cattle, and that has never been known to fail in the dryest season.
Five children were born to the union of Mr. and Mrs. Canaday, the eldest of whom died un- named. Thomas Ira, who was born in Randolph County, Il1., July 28, 1861, received a common- school education, and in boyhood was his father's main dependence. April 8, 1887, he married Miss Julia Kinnikin, and they reside upon his farm of one hundred and sixty acres in Pettis County; they have three children, Lawrence, Mary Catharine and John Maurice. Mary E., who was born in Randolph County, Ill., April 9, 1863, married Franklin P. Honefelt, November 6, 1889, and they live on a farm in Pettis County. George W., whose birth occurred in Randolph County, Ill., November 17, 1864, attended a school at Danville, Ind., for a time, and is a well informed young man. When about twenty-two years of age he went to Montana, and has since
made his home in York, Meagher County. He married Miss Celia C. Ingersoll, October 17, 1894. Joseph French, the youngest of the family, was born in Randolph County, Il1., January 9, 1871, and is a bright and intelligent young man; he makes his home with his parents, and assists in the cultivation of the home farm.
Before any of their children were born Mr. and Mrs. Canaday adopted an orphan child, Martha Ellen Steele, who was born in Randolph County, I11., March 30, 1858. She was married, October 14, 1879, to Edgar M. Perkins, and they and their three children live near Lamonte, Pettis County. Politically our subject, following in the footsteps of his father, adheres to Democratic principles, as do his sons also. Since coming to Pettis County he has served almost uninter- ruptedly as School Director, and in that capacity lias advanced the educational interests of this community. His wife and daughter, also his adopted daughter and her husband, are active members of the Christian Church, the services of which he attends, and to the support of which he contributes, though not himself a member.
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.