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 62
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 62
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and reached the extreme old age of one hundred and ten years. His wife also lived to be very old, dying in her ninety-eighth year. Their chil- dren were named as follows: Page, Jerry, Minard, Ramey, Harrison, Jr., Sarah and Jane, and all are deceased. The children of Reuben Curnutt were John, David, William, Reuben, Jr., and Betsy. In 1832 our subject's father moved to what is now Pettis County, Mo., and bought land, on which he lived for eight years, this tract being located five miles north of Sedalia. For a few years prior to his death he cultivated a farm of eighty acres on Flat Creek. He de- parted this life April 8, 1842, and though never belonging to any church or organization, had been baptized and was a very religious man. He was prominent wherever he made his home, but never would hold public office.
John Curnutt, born in Howard County, Mo., Jannary 24, 1824, is the sixth of ten children. They were all given good school advantages, and several of them attended college. Reuben, the eldest, who is now deceased, was twice mar- ried. His first union was with Eliza O'Bannion, by whom he had three children, and after her death he married Roina Emmick, who bore him one child, and is also now deceased. Rachel, deceased, was the wife of William O'Bannion, and after his demise married Cyrus Bone. Polly married George Anderson, deceased, and at last accounts was living in Texas. Stephen died at the age of twenty-four years, unmarried. Lydia first wedded Martin Biggs, and after his death be- came the wife of a Mr. Henderson; he, too, has been called to the silent land, and his widow is living among her relatives in Cooper County, Mo. David, deceased, married Julia Ann Stutts, who is now making her home with her children in New Mexico. Lucetta married Dawson Dyle, a farmer of Cooper County, Mo., and to them have been born four children. Louisa married Watson Dyle, and both died in Cooper County. William, a farmer of Pettis County, Mo., married Margaret Forbes.
At the age of nineteen years, John Curnutt married Emily A. Stotts, their union being cele- brated February 15, 1843. A native of Illinois,
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she was born in 1823, to Andrew and Polly (Litrel) Stotts, natives of Kentucky and Illinois, respectively. They were married in the Prairie State, and lived on a farm there until 1840. Moving then to Pettis County, Mo., they oper- ated a farm until claimed by death. Their chil- dren were as follows: Nancy, John, Francis, Julia Ann, Virginia C., Lot, Sarah, Mary, James, Martha and Emily. Francis is now living in Se- dalia; John operates a farm in Vernon County, Mo .; Lot is also an agriculturist of Vernon Coun- ty; Virginia married William Lee, of Vernon County; and Sarah is the wife of Marion Lee, a resident of the same county.
After his marriage John Curnutt engaged in farming in Pettis County on a rented place. His wife died in less than a year after their union, January 25, 1844, leaving one child, Emily A., born January 12, 1844. She has never married, and is now living with relatives in Vernon Coun- ty, Mo. For several years Mr. Curmutt worked for farmers, and in 1848 was employed by Allen O' Bannion, who is well known in Pettis County. About this time occurred the second marriage of our subject, the lady of his choice being Martha N., daughter of Francis and Rhoda Martin. She was born in Alabama in 1830, and died May 9, 1861, leaving six children, namely : William Francis, whose death occurred when he was in his twenty-ninth year; John Melville, a farmer of Pettis County, who first married Millie Rath- burn, and after her death wedded Sallie Freeman; Rhoda Ellen, wife of Jackson Porter, a farmer of Vernon County; Benjamin Allen, who operates a farm in Pettis County, and who has been twice married, first to Laura McMillan and afterward to Delia Shackelford; Sallie, Mrs. Luther Cur- rent, who lives on a farm in Vernon County; and James Madison, who died at the age of eleven months. The father of Mrs. Curnutt went to California in 1849, and returned two years later, soon after which he permanently settled on a farm in this county. For eight years our subject managed a farm of two hundred and forty acres in Saline County, Mo., which he had purchased, but from the time of his wife's death until 1863 he lived on a rented farm in Pettis County.
August 5, 1861, John Curnutt enlisted in Com- pany A, Twenty-seventh Missouri Volunteers, under Captain McGuire, and was placed on de- tail duty. His army experience, however, was brief, and he soon returned home. July 2, 1862, the militia was ordered to report at Jefferson City, and remained there until December 25, 1862, when he received a partial discharge, being sub- ject to further orders, but he was never called into service. In the spring of 1863 he moved to this county and rented land, but two years later became the owner of one hundred and twenty acres in Pettis County. This place he improved and cultivated from that time until 1880, and in 1882 sold out with the intention of making his future abode in Johnson County. For four years he managed a farm on section 10, when he came to his present location.
November 28, 1861, Mr. Curnutt married Nancy A., daughter of Michael and Dardana Scarbrough, natives of Tennessee, but who died in Missouri. Mrs. Curnutt was born in Callaway County, Mo., and died August 8, 1869. By her marriage she became the mother of six children, namely: Albert Beecher, who died in infancy; Mentor, who married Alice Connor, and lives near Knobnoster; Mary Jane, Mrs. Wesley Zum- bren, of Jewell County, Kan .; Rosa May and Martha Ann, who died in infancy; and Albert M., who is unmarried and assists his father on the home farmı. After the death of his third wife, our subject married Mary, daughter of Elias Car- roll, who was a native of this county and a farmer by occupation. She passed away in 1877, leav- ing one child, Lena L., whose birth occurred in the last-named year, and who is now living with her father.
The lady who now bears the name of our sub- ject was formerly Mrs. Mollie Connor. Her par- ents were Solomon and Rosa (O'Bannion) Reed, both natives of this state. The former was en- gaged in farming until his death, which occurred in 1851, and his wife's demise took place in the same year. Their three sons were David, Will- iam and Allen. Mrs. Curnutt is a native of Pet- tis County, this state, and by her former mar- riage had six children, namely: Alice, Josepli
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M., Annie E., Rowena, James M. and John. The latter was accidentally shot while celebrat- ing on Christmas Eve, in 1881. To Mr. and Mrs. Curnutt has been born a daughter, Minnie Myrtle, her birth oocurring April 19, 1883. Mr. Curnutt has been married five times, and has had fifteen children, thirty grandchildren and two great-grandchildren.
When he was seventeen years old our subject joined the Christian Church, but for the past few years he and his wife have been members of the United Brethren Church of this locality.
1 ACOB F. MIDDLESWORTH, who is num- bered among the representative citizens of Johnson County, is the owner of a very fine farm on section 28, township 45, range 28. He is an honored veteran of the late war, and comes from one of the best and most distinguished fam- ilies of the Keystone State.
The great-grandfather of the above-named gen- tleman, John Middlesworth, was born in New Jersey, and moved to Pennsylvania in 1792, locat- ing in Northumberland County. In the War of 1812 the grandfather, Ner Middlesworth, raised a company, of which he was made Captain, and in 1814 recruited another company, serving on the Niagara frontier. In 1815 he was elected to the State Legislature on the Whig ticket, represent- ing his district for the long period of thirteen terms, during which time he was Speaker of the House twice. In 1848 he was honored with the position of State Senator, and from 1853 to 1855 served as a Member of Congress. The last pub- lic post held by him was that of Associate Judge. At all times he took an active part in the promotion of industries. He was one of the pro- jectors and leading stockholders in Beaver Fur- nace; from 1841 to 1860 owned a flouring-mill and two gristmills, and besides possessed a great deal of real estate. His death occurred in Beaver- town, Pa., in June, 1865.
Aaron J., father of Jacob F. Middlesworth, was born in Snyder County, Pa., January 23, 1814, and was a farmer by occupation. For many years he held the office of Constable, and served as As- sociate Judge from 1865 to 1870. For a number of years he was a Major in the militia and also held the office of Brigadier-General. In the Lutheran Church he was an Elder, and by all who knew him he was held in high esteem. September 9, 1891, he was called to his final rest at his old home in Pennsylvania. Our subject's mother, whose maiden name was Sarah Feese, died when he was a mere child, and he has slight recollections of her.
The sixth in a family of twelve children, Jacob F. Middlesworth was born September 23, 1839, in Snyder County. He gained a fair education, and worked in ironmills after attaining his majority for two or more years, chopping wood at intervals, in order to make an honest living. Among the first to respond to the call of duty, he became a member of the Pennsylvania Home Guards, on the hundred-days call, and was first stationed at Harrisburg. Before his term had elapsed he en- listed for three years in Company I, One Hun- dred and Eighty-fourth Infantry, and took part in the siege of Petersburg, Hatcher's Run and others. He was neither wounded nor in the hos- pital. After seeing Lee's surrender at Appo- mattox he went to Washington and participated in the Grand Review, having been in the regular army from September 7, 1864, until June 2, 1865.
Prior to entering the army Mr. Middlesworth was married, the date of the event being April 2, 1860, and the lady of his choice Matilda, daugh- ter of George and Margaret (Kern) Fall. She was born in Snyder County, November 7, 1840, and by her marriage became the mother of seven children. Elmer Ellsworth, born December 24, 1861, lives on a tract of fifty acres near his fa- ther; Alice Lydia was born September 9, 1863; Horace Grant, who was born December 27, 1864, resides in Madison Township, is married and has two children; Sarah Margaret, born May 16, 1867, is the wife of John Stewart, a farmer of Chilhowee Township, Johnson County, and has three children; Mary Priscilla, born March 2,
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1870, in Lagrange County, Ind., married Virgil Richardson, is the mother of one child, and lives in Johnson County; Millard J. was born in La- grange County, Ind., April 11, 1875; and Fred- erick Edward was born May 26, 1882, in the same county. The elder children are natives of Snyder County, Pa.
At the time of his marriage our subject was a poor man, and was variously employed for a few years. In 1869 he moved to St. Joseph County, Mich., where he engaged in carpentering, which occupation he had followed to some extent in his native state. In 1870 he went to Lagrange Coun- ty, Ind., and there made his home for twelve years. The forty acres of land which he owned he sold in 1882 and settled upon his present home- stead. It comprises eighty-five acres, on which the proprietor has put up a good residence and made other substantial improvements.
The first Presidential ballot of Mr. Middles- worth was cast for Lincoln in 1860, and he has steadfastly adhered to the Republican party since. Though both he and his wife were reared in the Lutheran faith, they are now members of the Presbyterian Church at Holden.
12 R. P. DAVIS HUGHES, one of the solid, reliable and representative farmers of Rose Hill Township, Jolinson County, Mo., now makes his home on section 36, township 45, range 28. He was born in Jackson County, Tenn., on the 30th of March, 1831, and is a son of Harrison I. and Mary (Quarles) Hughes, both of whom were natives of Bedford County, Va., where they were reared and married, removing to Tennessee in 1821. The father was born August 25, 1778, while the mother's birth occurred on the 12th of January, 1783, and their wedding was celebrated January 19, 1808. They became the parents of nine children, eight sons and one daughter, all but one of whom lived to rear families of their own. Our subject is the youngest of the family,
and has but one brother now living, H. Y. Hughes, of Warrensburg, Mo. The great-grand- father, Blackmore Hughes, came from Scotland to America, locating in Bedford County, Va., where he married Prudence Harrison, a cousin of William Henry Harrison, President of the United States. Their son John, who was born in 1740, was the grandfather of the Doctor.
The father of our subject was a carpenter by trade, but also owned a farm, on which the boy- hood days of Dr. Hughes were passed. As his father died in 1846, when the Doctor was but fourteen years of age, he had not much chance of obtaining an education. Later he attended Al- pine College, in Overton County, Tenn., where John L. Beveridge, who afterward became Gov- ernor of Illinois, was Principal, and his wife was one of the teachers. He remained in that school for three years, taking up the study of algebra, surveying, Latin, Greek and French. After leaving school he began to read medicine, in 1850, under the direction of Dr. Hazzard, of Hunting- ton, Carroll County, Tenn., with whom he re- mained for two years. He also took a course of lectures at the Nashville Medical College, from which he was graduated in the Class of '54, and began practice in the neighborhood of his old home, living on a farm with his mother until 1858, when he came to Chilhowee Township, Johnson County, Mo. Here he and his brother, H. Y. Hughes, purchased a stock of general mer- chandise and established a country store, but the Doctor still engaged in the practice of his chosen profession. They were doing a good business until the 18th of October, 1861, when their store was raided by Lane and his freebooters of Kansas, who destroyed their stock and left the brother barefooted.
In June, 1861, our subject joined Company A, of Missouri Confederate Infantry, serving under Capt. Hal Myers and Col. Searcy for six months, during which time he participated in the battles of Little Blue and Carthage, Mo. He was taken sick at Neosho, Newton County, receiving his discharge in December, 1861, at Osceola, but he remained with the army that winter.
On the Ist of April, 1862, Dr. Hughes was
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united in marriage with Miss Sarah Jane Cocke, of Rose Hill Township, Johnson County, and to them have been born ten children, nine of whom are still living. Mary C., born March 14, 1863, wedded A. W. Jones, a farmer of Rose Hill Town- slip, and they have four sons; John, born May 27, 1864, lives in Chilhowee Township, Johnson County, and by his marriage has become the fatlier of three sons; Laura Belle, born December 3, 1866, married S. A. Kem, a resident of El Reno, Okla., and they have one son; Baxter, born De- cember 17, 1869, is still at home; Ella J., born September 24, 1871, married T. R. Howerton, of Rose Hill Township, and has two daughters; Annie Lee, born December 14, 1873, Eva Davis, born April 19, 1877, and Harvey E., born July 16, 1879, are still with their parents; Stella M., born September 17, 1881, died December 11, 1885; and Lena M., born August 31, 1884, completes the family. The children have all received good educational advantages and are highly respected in the communities where they reside.
After his marriage the Doctor did not locate permanently until 1864, but spent a portion of the time in Illinois, Missouri and Tennessee. In that year, however, he returned to Johnson County and resumed the practice of medicine in the neigh- borhood where he now lives. This he followed 1111til 1867, but now never engages in practice except when called upon to doctor a neighbor. In 1863 he purchased eighty acres of land at $2 per acre, which he still owns, but has added to that tract until he now has two hundred and ten acres, which he has placed under a high state of cultivation. At the close of the war he had nothing, but by his own industry and perseverance he now has a comfortable competence.
The father of the Doctor was formerly a Whig in politics, but later became a Democrat, and our subject has followed in his political footsteps, being a supporter of the Democratic party, and cast his first vote for Franklin Pierce. He served as Clerk and Treasurer when the county was under township organization, and for twenty-one years acted as School Director, being a member of the board when the first schoolhouse was erected in the district. Mrs. Hughes and some of the
children hold membership with the Cumberland Presbyterian Church, as did also the parents of the Doctor, the father serving as Elder for many years. Our subject is not connected with any religious organization, but gives his support to all, having aided in the erection of many of the churches of the county. He is one of the honored citizens of Johnson County, and has many warm friends throughout this portion of the state.
OHN T. COLAFLOWER. The business men of Sedalia are a power which cannot be ignored in studying the history, commercial or social, of this city. To every department of ac- tivity they impart a vitality which is productive of great results. As a class they have added greatly to the financial strength of the place of their abode, and in that way they have promoted the commercial importance of the state. Their pro- bity and enterprise, their intelligence and united efforts for the upbuilding of its business interests, have been a power which cannot be lightly esti- mated.
As a prominent representative of this class men- tion should be made of J. T. Colaflower, one of the successful contractors and builders of Sedalia. He is a native of Pennsylvania and was born in Fayette County, near Connellsville, April 19, 1846. His father, Samuel, was born in Ha- gerstown, Md., in 1820, and in boyhood was orphaned by the death of his parents. At an early age he settled in Fayette County, Pa., where he was employed as a brick contractor. Early in the '5os he removed to Rock Island, Ill., and from there went to Moline, where he built the first plow works for John Deer.
Removing from Illinois to Iowa, Samuel Cola- flower built the court house at Sidney, Fremont County. From there he went to Council Bluffs, thence to Nebraska City, and in 1866 to Kan-
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sas City, some of the first buildings in the last- named place having been erected under his super- vision. In 1874 he became interested in lead mining in Joplin, Morgan County, but after a short time thus spent he went to Sherman, Tex., where he carried on a contracting business in part- nership with our subject. Afterward he was similarly engaged in Pueblo, Colo., and then, closing out his business, he traveled for a time. In 1880 he came to Sedalia and formed a partner- ship with our subject in the brick-contracting business, which he conducted until his death, in the fall of 1888.
The mother of our subject bore the maiden name of Rebecca Trumph, and was born in Fay- ette County, Pa., where her father, John Trumph, engaged in agricultural pursuits. She died in Kansas City in 1868. In religion she was a Pres- byterian and a devoted member of that churchi. Of her six children, three attained years of inatt1- rity, John T. being the eldest. He accompanied his parents on their various removals, and being an observing lad, he gained a wide fund of infor- mation that assisted him in later life. During the winter months he attended the public schools, while in the summer he assisted his father.
In 1872, embarking in business for himself, Mr. Colaflower began as a contractor for public sewers and large cisterns in Kansas City. Two years later he went to Morgan County, where he engaged in prospecting and mining. In 1876 he removed to Texas, and, settling in Sherman, in partnership with his father, built a brick plant and manufactured brick. He also did a large business as a contractor and builder, and many of the business houses and private dwellings of that city were erected under his personal supervision. About 1875 he was temporarily employed in Se- dalia, and in October, 1879, he located in this city permanently.
Forming a partnership with his father, Mr. Colaflower built a brick plant on the corner of Ohio and Twentieth Streets, where for two years he manufactured brick. Two years later he re- moved the plant to East Fourteenth and Engineer Streets, and there continued the business until his father's death in 1888, when he sold out. Since
that time he has devoted his attention to the con- tracting business, and many of the most substan- tial structures of the city are the result of his skill and artistic ability. Among them are the Knights of Pythias Hall, Storey Block, W. Z. Baum's building, the Sheldon residence, Opera House, Broadway Presbyterian Church, Messerly Flats, Prospect School, and the F. E. and Charles Hoff- man buildings. In the busy seasons he employs from twenty-five to fifty men. His reputation for energy, skill and ability is of the highest, and at all times he has as much work as he can at- tend to.
At No. 1210 East Tenth Street, on the corner of Engineer, Mr. Colaflower has a commodious and well appointed residence, erected by himself and containing all the modern improvements. The lady who presides over this cozy home was formerly Miss Frances Mitchell, and was born and reared in Morgan County, Mo., where she was married in 1877. She is a lady whose refinement of character wins the esteem of those whom she meets in society, and as a member of the Baptist Church she has taken an active part in religious and benevolent enterprises. Her six children are named Mamie R .; Myrtle; Mabel, who died at five years of age; Samuel, who died when five months old; Roy and John.
The father of Mrs. Colaflower, William Mitch- ell, and her grandfather, William, Sr., were born in Kentucky, whence the latter brought his fam- ily to Pettis County and settled on a farm south of Sedalia. Later he went to Morgan County, where he purchased and improved a farm. Her father was reared in Pettis County, and after re- moving to Morgan County married Miss Mary Creamer, a native of Delaware County, Ohio, who still resides on the old homestead. Mr. Mitchell engaged in farm pursuits until his death, in 1860. The father of Mrs. Mitchell was Willian Creamer, a native of Pennsylvania and for some years a farmer and blacksmith of Delaware County, Ohio. In 1838 he brought his family to Missouri and settled on a farm in Morgan County, where, in addition to the occupation of a tiller of the soil, he also followed his trade.
The public affairs of the age receive from Mr.
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Colaflower the attention they deserve. He is in- clined to be independent in his political belief, though, being an advocate of free trade, he leans toward the Democratic party. Socially he is identified with the Knights of Honor and the Woodmen of the World. He is numbered among the progressive and energetic citizens of Sedalia, and deservedly occupies a high place among the business men of the city.
RANKLIN HESSE, one of the influential farmers of Johnson County, purchased his homestead on section 24, township 45, range 28, in 1874. He has placed most of the improve- ments on the farm himself, and has brought it under a high state of cultivation. During the War of the Rebellion he fought for the Union from the beginning until the close of the conflict, and though he had many narrow escapes and endured many hardships common to the life of a soldier, was fortunate in escaping injury or capture.
Lebrecht Hesse, the father of our subject, was a native of Saxony, Germany, and was born in 1808. He learned the weaver's trade in the Fa- therland, and came to America in 1830, being the second of his family who sought a home in the New World. Locating at Somerset, Perry Coun- ty, Ohio, he continued to work at his trade for several years, and in 1865 purchased a farmi near Columbus, living thereon until his death, which took place in the year 1868. Until 1856 he was a Democrat, but then transferred his allegiance to the Republican party and voted for Fremont. In Somerset he became acquainted with and mar- ried Magdalena Nuding, who was born in Wur- temberg, Germany, in 1818, and came to the United States when about twelve years of age.
Franklin Hesse, born November 20, 1836, in Perry County, Ohio, was reared in the village of Somerset, where he attended school. From his father he learned the trade of weaving flowered coverlets, and for his first work commenced filling
spools. Until he was twenty-two years of age lie devoted his time to weaving, but in 1859 left the business and went to Nemaha County, Kan. Entering a quarter-section of land near Seneca, he improved the farm by working on it summers. He also put up a cabin and broke some of the land, and after proving up his claim and paying for it he started, in the spring of 1861, for Pike's Peak, taking a load of provisions with the ex- pectation of making some money on the transac- tion. The expedition turned out to be only a loss, for he found that he could hardly give away the supplies he had taken so far, and thus lost about all he had put into the scheme. Buying a few dry hides, he took them to St. Joseph, but as the war had commenced there was not much sale for them, and only about $20 was realized front the hides.
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