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 67
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 67
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Mr. Sneed was born in Garrard County, Ky., April 9, 1826. His father, Alexander Sneed, was a native of Albemarle County, Va., while his mother, Mrs. Elizabeth (Campbell) Sneed, was born in Washington County, that state. The father made the journey to the Blue Grass State when eighteen years of age, and thereafter made it his home. A few years later he returned to the Old Dominion and married Miss Campbell, who
was then living in the town of Abingdon. Of the children born to them, only three lived to mature years.
In 1837, when John M. was a lad of eleven years, the journey was undertaken to Boyle Coun- ty, Ky. The family located near Danville, where our subject was reared to mature years, and where he continued to live until 1854. He was married, October 22, 1844, to Miss Mary Stewart, the daughter of William and Dorcas (Wilmot) Stewart. Mrs. Sneed was born in Danville, Ky., March 18, 1823, and there was given a good ed- ucation in the public schools.
Our subject came to Pettis County, this state, in 1854, and at once located upon the farm which is his home at the present time. He has been very successful as an agriculturist, adding to his estate from time to time, until he is now the own- er of one of the largest and most valuable tracts in this portion of the state.
To Mr. and Mrs. Sneed there have been born eight children, of whom we make the following mention: Margaret is now the wife of John Mont- gomery, Jr .; William is living at home; Sally is the wife of J. C. Thompson; Robert C., who is an attorney in St. Louis, married Miss Mary Mont- gomery; John B. married Sally Potter, and de- parted this life January 22, 1895; George V. makes his home in Wichita; Frank W. is pastor of the First Presbyterian Church of Minneapolis, Minn .; and Harry, the youngest of the family, is in Smithton.
Hon. John M. Sneed was Presiding Judge of the Pettis County Court for four years, and as an official won an honorable record. He has always been very popular in his community and is a man always interested in public improvements. He takes an active part in local politics, and since 1860 has voted with the Democratic party.
The father of our subject served as a soldier in the War of 1812, while his father was a patriot for seven years in the Revolutionary army. The maternal grandfather of our subject, Robert Campbell, was a Colonel in the Continental army during the Revolutionary period.
Our subject is a member of the Presbyterian Church, and a faithful supporter of that body.
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Socially he belongs to the State Grange, and for many years was Master and Treasurer of that or- ganization. He is a man stanch in principle, clear in perception and decided in character, and deserves the good things which have come to him and the intimate business and social acquaintance which he enjoys.
OSEPH ATKINS is one of the old residents of Johnson County, where he has lived for over eighteen years. He was born in Town Ed Street, Sheffield, England, July 17, 1845, and lived there until he was five years of age. He can recollect crossing the Atlantic, and re- members embarking on the ship at Liverpool, and a couple of severe storms that occurred dur- ing the voyage. His parents were William and Mary (Olbrey ) Atkins, also natives of England. The father, with his eldest daughter and one of his sons, preceded the rest of the family a few months and established a home in New Phila- delphia, Ohio, where he afterwards followed his trade of boot and shoe making.
Young Joseph had but poor chance for an edu- cation, and grew to manhood in New Philadel- phia and New Cumberland, Ohio. August 22, 1861, he enlisted in the army, when but seventeen years of age, becoming a member of Company I, Thirtieth Ohio Infantry. He started from Camp Chase, went to Columbus, Ohio, thence to Ben- wood, Va., under Capt. George Hilt and Col. Hugh Ewing. From there he went to Clarks- burg, then to Sutton, being assigned to Rose- cran's army in West Virginia. He fought in the battles of Carnifax Ferry, Second Bull Run, South Mountain and Antietam. From there he was ordered back to Clarksburg, W. Va., thence took the same route as before, from Sutton went to Golley River, from there to Kenelton, and built winter quarters, but stayed in them only one night. Later he was sent to Young's Point, and from there to the siege of Vicksburg. In the
battles of South Mountain and Antietam he was in the Ninth Army Corps, under Burnside. At Vicksburg he was in the Fifteenth Corps, under General Sherman, with Grant in command of the forces.
After the second capture of Jackson, the troops went back to Vicksburg, from there the corps was ordered to Memphis, thence to Chattanooga and Missionary Ridge, where the battle was fought. From there Sherman was ordered to Knoxville to relieve Burnside, then back to Chattanooga, and later to Bellefontaine, at the beginning of 1864. Thence the troops marched to Larkinsville, Ala. January 31, 1864, Mr. Atkins was veteranized, and in April he was granted a furlough of thirty days, which he spent at his Ohio home. Subse- quently he went on the Atlanta campaign in the Fiftieth Corps, commanded by General Logan, and after following Hood a short distance went on the memorable march to the sea, and was at the capture of Ft. McAllister; then went on the Carolina campaign to Columbia and Raleigh, and was in the fight at Bentonville.
During his entire service Mr. Atkins was never wounded nor taken prisoner. In the charge of Kenesaw Mountain he had a narrow escape, a hole being shot through the brim of his hat, close to the crown. When on the way to Vicksburg he received a sunstroke, but did not give up and go to the hospital. He marched to Washington and was present at the Grand Review, after which he was sent to Louisville, Ky., and started for Mexico, but was mustered out at Little Rock, Ark., August 13, 1865. He returned to Colum- bus, Ohio, and received his final discharge at Todd's Barracks.
March 15, 1866, Mr. Atkins married Rebecca J. Hoopingarner, who was born in Tuscarawas County, Ohio, September 2, 1847, her parents being George and Christina (Steese) Hoopingar- ner. About two weeks after their marriage the young couple, in company with Mr. Atkins' fa- ther and mother, moved to Owen County, Ind., and bought forty acres of land. Soon afterward the father moved to Bowling Green, Clay Coun- ty, Ind., and our subject, after ten years of farm- ing in the Hoosier State, sold out his possessions
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and came West. Three of the five children were born in Owen County. The eldest, Sherman, whose birth occurred January 26, 1867, is mar- ried and has one child. The next younger, Lydia Ann, was born October 27, 1870, and Mary C. May 9, 1872.
For a few months after coming to Missouri, Mr. Atkins rented a farm, and in November, 1877, he bought eighty acres on section 24, town- ship 45, range 28. As the years have passed he has continued to make valuable improvements on the farm, putting up a new barn, and in many ways increasing its valne by judicious invest- ments. He is a practical and progressive agri- culturist, and has made a success of his business enterprises in most instances. Two of his chil- dren were born in Missouri: Dora May, October 27, 1877; and Earl Edward, April 12, 1886.
William Atkins was a Union Democrat, but his son Joseph has always been a Republican and cast his first Presidential ballot for Lincoln, when in the Union ranks near Marietta, Ga. He is a member of the Independent Order of Odd Fel- lows, belonging to the lodge at Holden, and is also a Grand Army man, having had the privi- lege of attending the re-union at Topeka, Kan.
HECHO
Se a: 19-3 Pace 312
OHN M. LOGAN was honored by being elected Assessor of Pettis County in the fall of 1890, on the Democratic ticket, his popular- ity being shown by the fact that he received a majority of about four hundred and forty-five votes. In 1892 he was re-elected, and his term will not expire until June, 1895, which will make him an incumbent of the office just four years. In 1885 he served as City Assessor for one term, and was also appointed Census Enum- erator for Sedalia, where he is one of the land- marks, as he has resided here for the past thirty years.
Our subject is of Scotch-Irish descent, and is
the son of Hon. Benjamin H. Logan, who was born in Virginia. The father was a millwright by trade, and constructed a number of mills on the Big Kentucky River, and also was engaged in operating mills for many years. Later he was elected Justice of the Peace, and for one term served as Sheriff of Trimble County, whither he had removed. In 1857 he settled in Windsor, Ill., where he held the offices of Justice of the Peace and Police Magistrate up to the time of his death, which occurred when he was over seventy- four years of age. He was a very prominent Democrat, and in 1848 was elected from Trimble County to serve as a member of the Kentucky Legislature. His wife, who before her marriage was Catherine Caplinger, was born in Pennsyl- vania, and died in 1846. Of her nine children, only four are now living. One son, Benjamin Harrison, was a member of the Black Horse Reg- iment of Kentucky, a part of the Union army.
J. M. Logan was born in Shelby County, Ky., November 24, 1828, and from the time he was nine years old was reared in Trimble County. He attended the old log schoolhouse of the period, which was conducted on the subscription plan. With his father he learned the millwright's trade, and continued to dwell under the parental roof until 1854, when he started on a prospecting tour, traveling through Arkansas, Mississippi and Tennessee. Finally he concluded to locate in central Illinois, and for six or seven years dwelt in Windsor, Shelby County, where he was em- ployed in carpentering and building. In 1865 he came to Sedalia, and for a quarter of a century was steadily employed as a contractor and builder. During the last five years, however, he has found it necessary to devote much of his time to his public duties. While in Illinois he was an officer in the Odd Fellows' lodge, and was identified with the lodge at Sedalia for some time, but is now non-affiliated.
October 25, 1855, Mr. Logan was married, in Illinois, to Mary J. Taylor, who was born in Cal- laway County, Mo., and who is a daughter of B. B. Taylor, a farmer by occupation. Three sons and a daughter graced the union of our sub- ject and wife. The eldest-born, Joseph B., who
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was employed with the Travelers' Insurance Com- pany, died in Denver, Colo., in 1888, aged twen- ty-four. James A. is in the general office of the Missouri, Kansas & Texas Railroad at Parsons, Kan. Mary F., a graduate of the Sedalia High School, resides at home and is engaged in teach- ing. William F. is manager of the postal tele- graph office of this city. For the past ten years Mr. Logan has been a Deacon of the Christian Church, with which he and his family have been identified as members for a great many years. He is a man whose life has been upright and honor- able in every respect, and to his children he will leave the blessing of an unblemished name and record.
EWIS REDMOND MAJOR, whose name opens this sketch, occupies the important position of Superintendent of the Pettis County Home, which institution is located in Cedar Township. He is the son of John T. and Mary (Wood) Major, natives of Virginia and Missouri, respectively, who after their marriage settled in this county and passed the remainder of their lives in farm pursuits in Cedar Township. They both departed this life about 1873.
The parental family included nine children, of whom Lewis R. was the fourth in order of birth, and his natal day was August 25, 1860. He was reared in Cedar Township and obtained a good education in the common schools. His father was the possessor of a good estate, and young Lewis aided in its cultivation until his marriage. This event occurred October 12, 1891, when Miss Allen Burnamn Shawnty became his wife. She was the daughter of John H. and Sally (Wool- ridge) Shawnty, both of whom were Kentuckians by birth. In the Blue Grass State they attained mature years and were married, soon after which they made the trip to Missouri and became resi- dents of Cooper County. They made their home
in that section until 1891, when they removed to Sedalia, where they are now living in ease and comfort, retired from work of any kind. They were the parents of two sons and three daughters, of whom Mrs. Major was the youngest but one. She was born in Cooper County, Mo., December 13, 1873.
The subject of this sketch was appointed to his present position as Superintendent of the Pettis County Home in May, 1894. He has brought about many improvements in the institution since he assumed its management and is so conducting the affairs of the office as to meet with the ap- proval of all concerned. With his good wife he is a member in good standing of the Baptist Church and lives a consistent Christian life.
Mr. Major is the owner of a fine farm of one hundred and twenty-five acres, located in Cedar Township, to which he gave his undivided atten- tion prior to being appointed to the superinten- dency of the home. The place is well stocked with good grades of animals, and the buildings erected thereon stamp its owner as a man of enterprise and progressive spirit. In politics he is an influential member of the Democratic party and has the confidence and esteem of all who know him.
OHN GREAVES, a well known business man of Kingsville, has established himself in the confidence and good-will of the people of this village and locality by his uniformly fair and up- right dealings. In partnership with James Ruff he has been successfully engaged in operating the Kingsville Mills since 1871. The firm also deals quite extensively in cattle and hogs. They have been closely identified with the growth and pros- perity of Kingsville since coming here, and take great interest in whatever affects its welfare.
Thomas Greaves, the father of our subject, was a native of England, but left his native land with
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the intention of making permanent settlement in the United States, locating in Paterson, N. J. Later, however, he removed to Bridgeport, Conn., and subsequently became a resident of Steuben- ville, Ohio. He was skilled in the manufacture of cotton goods, and in 1845, having a good po- sition offered him with a firm in St. Louis, Mo., he came hither, but died four years later from chol- era, being then fifty years of age.
By his marriage the father of our subject had a family of six children, of whom three are now liv- ing. Anna is now Mrs. Fitch and makes her home in Norwalk, Conn .; John is the subject of this sketch; and Peter is engaged in buying wool and farming in Ephraim, Utah.
The subject of this sketch was born in Pater- son, N. J., July 9, 1835. His education was very much neglected, for when a lad of nine years he entered a cotton factory, working at the business for three years. He was a natural mechanic, and as this industry did not meet with his ideas of business, he began learning the trade of a moulder in his native state. He worked at different places until the fall of 1859, when he came West and es- tablished for William Bullard the first foundry ever put in operation in Kansas City. At the breaking out of the war Mr. Bullard failed, and Mr. Greaves then turned his attention to learning the milling business in Kansas City.
After leaving Kansas City Mr. Greaves located in Clay County, just across the river, and in the spring of 1865 came to Columbus, Johnson County. His adventures proving successful, he remained there until 1871, the date of his advent into Kingsville, when he and Mr. Ruff established their present industry. Our subject gives his per- sonal attention to the management of his business, and under his efficient care it has increased very rapidly, the firm of Greaves & Ruff being well known throughout Johnson County. As has been illustrated in the life of our subject, industry and economy will win in the race for fortune; he com- menced at the bottom in his business, and, un- aided, has climbed upward to a substantial posi- tion among the reliable citizens of this place.
The lady to whom Mr. Greaves was married in 1861 was Miss Mary E. Davis, of Tennessee.
Their children are four in number, and of them we make the following mention: Annie married C. B. Hall, and they make their home in Kings- ville. Their family includes the following chil- dren: Ollie, Fred, Harly, Errett, John and Eulice. William Greaves married Rettie Hastings, and their only son bears the name of Joseph Allen. Joseph and Eli A., who are attending school in Kansas City, are both brilliant young men and will graduate from the University Medical Col- lege of the above city in the spring of '95.
In politics Mr. Greaves was a stanch Democrat until about three years ago, when he changed his views and opinions and now votes for Prohibition candidates. He is an active member of the Christian Church and gives liberally to the sup- port of the same. Having had very little educa- tion himself, he appreciates the value a knowl- edge of books gives, and it has always been his desire and ambition to give his children a colle- giate education. He is a man of studious habits and good sound judgment, pleasant and affable in his manner, and is much respected by his fellow- citizens.
OHN HANLEY PILKINGTON, ex-Coun- ty Recorder, is a prominent real-estate man of Sedalia. In 1885 he was elected on the Democratic ticket as City Collector, serving for one year, and upon being re-elected in 1886, filled the office for the two years following. In 1888 he was returned to the office, serving until the spring of 1890. In the fall of that year he was elected to the responsible office of Recorder of Pettis County, and capably discharged the duties pertaining thereto for four years, from January, 1891, to January, 1895. Since that time he has been a member of the real-estate firm of Pilking- ton & Rosse. He is also a member of and stock- holder in the Commonwealth Land and Develop- ment Company.
The paternal grandfather, Samuel Pilkington,
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PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
was born in England, but later went to Ireland. From there he emigrated to America, and for a few years lived in Pennsylvania. Afterward he settled in Lexington, Ky., where he was a iner- chant, and where his death occurred. Religious- ly he was a member of the Episcopal Church. Our subject's father, Joseph M., who was born in Jessamine County, Ky., was also a merchant in Lexington, and in 1858 came to Missouri and bought a farm near Georgetown. Then for sev- eral years he was engaged in commercial pursuits in Sedalia, making a specialty of selling agricult- ural implements. Disposing of his business, he traveled as a salesman for an eastern concern some fifteen years, and upon retiring made his home with our subject until his death, at the age of sixty-eight years. Both himself and wife were members of the Sacred Heart Catholic Church. The latter, Mary E., a native of Jessamine Coun- ty, Ky., was a daughter of Maj. John Hanley, who was born in Ireland. He located on a farm near Camp Nelson, and, with one other exception, was the only man in the county who voted for Andrew Jackson. He lived to attain the extreme old age of ninety-nine years, dying in Kentucky. Of the eleven children born to Joseph M. and Mary Pilkington, only seven are now living. For a year their father was a member of a Missouri militia company, and served in the Quartermas- ter's department at Warrensburg until the close of the war, and subsequently was a member of the Grand Army of the Republic.
J. H. Pilkington was born in the same county as were his parents, November 7, 1856, and in his youth attended the public and high schools of Sedalia, and for some time was a student in the Christian Brothers' College in St. Louis. When but seventeen years of age he obtained a position as fireman on the Missouri Pacific Railroad, serv -. ing on both divisions, and in three years was pro- moted to be engineer. During the next seven years he had charge of the engines on the Mis- souri Pacific and the Missouri, Kansas & Texas Railroads, after which he commenced serving in a public capacity, as previously related.
The marriage of our subject and Carrie Little- field was celebrated in Auburn, Ind., in 1884, the
lady being a native of that place. They are mem- bers of the Sacred Heart Catholic Church of this city, and have many warm friends in this com- munity. Mr. Pilkington is a member of the In- dependent Order of Odd Fellows and is also a Knight of Pythias. He is Secretary of Sedalia Division No. 178, B. of L. E., and was Chairman of the State Legislative Board.
C OHN L. WIGTON was promoted to be general foreman of the Missouri, Kansas & Texas Railroad car-shops of Sedalia in 1890, since which time he has discharged his duties with marked ability and fidelity. He is quite promi- nent as a Republican politician, and in 1891 was elected to the City Council from the Third Ward (noted for its usual strong Democratic proclivi- ties), by a majority of forty-five votes, serving for two years. He was Chairman of the Sanitary Committee, and was a member of the Committee on Waterworks, Electric Lights and Supplies. He has also been a Republican Committeeman, and is in high favor with those of his own polit- ical faitlı.
Josiah Wigton, father of J. L., was born in New Castle, Pa., and was of English descent. By occupation he was a stone contractor, and about 1861 went South, where he engaged in tak- ing contracts for railroad work in Mississippi. When the war broke out he became a Captain of a Confederate company, and died while in the service. His wife, Rosanna, who was a daugh- ter of Philip Lamm, a farmer of German ancestry, was born in Pennsylvania, and died in that state in 1887. She had two children, the one besides our subject being Lawrence P., who is a farmer of Lawrence County, Pa.
J. L. Wigton was born in New Castle, Law- rence County, Pa., December 5, 1850, and grew up on his maternal grandfather's homestead. When only eleven years old he commenced work- ing on the Pittsburg & Erie and the Pennsylva-
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nia & Ohio Canals. He worked for one man five years, and finally was placed in command of a boat running between Pittsburg and Cleveland, being thus employed until 1870. That year he came West and settled on a farm near Sedalia, where he began raising broom corn. He had learned to manufacture brooms during the win- ters in his youth, and now succeeded very well at the business. The first farm which he leased was that belonging to Mr. McVey, a tract of four hundred acres, where, in addition to raising grain and cereals, he planted one hundred and twenty- five acres of broom corn. The manufactured ar- ticles he shipped to the city markets, there find- ing ready sales.
It was in 1881 that Mr. Wigton had his initial experience in railroading. He commenced at the bottom of the ladder as a truck repairer, and four years later was made wrecking foreman and coach- yard foreman, at that time attending to all the wreckage for the Missouri Pacific Railroad from Kansas City to Chamois. In 1890 he was given his present position, and now has over two hun- dred men under his supervision. He attends to the manufacture of new cars, and to the repairing of old ones, being thoroughly acquainted with the business in every detail.
In this county, in 1872, Mr. Wigton was mar- ried to Maggie Briscoe, who was born in Cass County, Mo. The couple have two children, a son and daughter: Ernest T., a graduate of the high school, and a clerk in the Treasurer's office of the Missouri, Kansas & Texas Railroad at St. Louis; and Fay, who is still at home.
ILLIAM MCCLELLAN HOOVER, one of the active and enterprising young farmers of Pettis County, resides on the old home- stead, occupying a portion of section 1, township 43, range 23. It is a highly cultivated farm, upon which his father took up his abode over twenty-eight years ago.
Our subject was born in the state of Iowa, the date of this event being April 9, 1864. His par- ents were Jacob and Annie E. (Border) Hoover, the former of whom was born in Pennsylvania. He spent his early life in that state, and later em- igrated to Iowa, where he made his home until 1866, the date of his advent into Pettis County. He immediately selected as his future abiding- place the tract of land now occupied by his son, our subject, and lived upon the same until his retirement from active work, in 1892. Having been very successful and prosperous in his farming ventures, he determined to enjoy some of his hard earnings, and consequently moved into the village of Windsor, where he has a comfortable home. He has now passed his seventy-third birthday, but is still hardy and strong and gives promise of many more years of life.
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