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 71
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 71
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At the early age of nine years our subject be- gan to work out in order to support his widowed mother. She was afterward married, but her husband only survived three months. Her third marriage was to John McAllister, who is also now deceased. By studying every spare moment our subject managed to get a fair education, although he began to make his own way in the world when quite young. He was allowed to keep his own wages on reaching his seventeenth year, although he always contributed to the support of his mother and other members of the family. He was em- ployed by the month until nineteen years of age, making it a rule to lay aside each pay day a por- tion of his earnings.
In 1872 our subject joined a party for Texas, making the journey overland in six months. Upon reaching the Lone Star State he began working on the railroad, and for a few months held a position in a sawmill. The following year, however, he returned home, and as soon as his preparations could be made went to Colorado and engaged to work on a sheep ranch, remaining thus employed until 1875. During that time he had saved about $400, which he invested in a team and began farming on rented land. He was remarkably successful in his ventures in this in- dustry and very soon was enabled to purchase forty acres near Odessa. To this he later added ten acres which he received from his father's es- tate.
Mr. Garvin was married in West Cairo, Ohio, May 11, 1881, to Miss Margaret C. Simmons, a native of Hampshire County, Va., whom he met in Missouri. She was the daughter of Aaron and
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Mary (Cooper) Simmons, and her birth occurred February 6, 1854. In the Old Dominion she was reared to mature years and was there given a good common-school education.
Ill 1892 our subject sold his property in La- fayette County and invested his means in ninety acres of land in this county, where he now lives. He has greatly improved the estate and now has the satisfaction of knowing it to be one of the neatest and pleasantest homes in the township. The residence is a comfortable structure and is made more homelike by the many flowers and shrubs which surround it, the work of Mrs. Garvin.
Mr. and Mrs. Garvin have had five children, all of whom were born in Clay Township, Lafay- ette County, this state. Etta May, who was born April 12, 1882, died August 21 of that year. Virgil F. was born September 2, 1883; Leroy, May 25, 1887; Mary Ethel, April 7, 1890, and Otto Hinton, June 25, 1892. In politics Mr. Garvin is a Democrat and cast his first Presiden- tial vote for Tilden. He is active in political life and has been sent as a delegate to the various county and state conventions of his party.
OHN WESLEY HARRISON, of Warrens- burg, comes from a pioneer family of John- son County, as but one other family had lo- cated within its present boundaries in 1829, when they became residents of Hazle Hill Township. For twelve years our subject was engaged in the livery business in this city, and is now the owner of about eight hundred acres, most of which is situated in this county. Possessed of natural business talent, he has been very successful, and has laid up enough to surround himself and fam- ily with comforts and many luxuries during his declining years.
The father of J. W., Harvey Harrison, was a second cousin of President William Henry Harri-
son. He was born in Alabama in 1806, and grew to manhood in that state, where he married Zilpha Bell, a second cousin of John1 Bell, of Ten- nessee, who was a candidate for the Presidency in 1860. The father of Harvey Harrison, Jo- seph by name, was a native of Tennessee, and, moving to Alabama, purchased a large planta- tion. In 1827 the latter and wife, and their son Harvey and his wife and infant son, William C., moved to Lafayette County, Mo., driving across the country with an ox-team, and one horse hitched to a two-wheel cart. They located on the Missouri River near Dover, but two years later moved to Hazle Hill Township, Johnson County. Grandfather Harrison lived to be ninety-one years of age, and on his death was placed to rest in the family burying-ground at Hazle Hill, on land entered by him from the Government, and now the property of our subject. He was a Baptist, and held official positions in the church.
Harvey Harrison took part in the Osage Indian War, and also participated in the Mormon War, by which the Mormons were driven to Illinois. For many years he was Justice of the Peace, and was also Judge of the County Court for a long period. He was a member of the Cumberland Presby- terian Church, and in 1856 joined the Masonic fraternity in Warrensburg. Until 1863 he was engaged in farming, but at that time embarked in the real-estate business in this city. His death occurred March 7, 1890, his wife having pre- ceded him to the better land by about one year. His eldest son, William C., was a soldier in the Mexican War, being a teamster in Taylor's army. There were seven other sons . in the fam- ily and two daughters; nine of the number grew to maturity and six are still living.
J. W. Harrison was born in Johnson County, February 28, 1838, and spent his boyhood on his father's farm, attending the district schools of the vicinity to some extent. When in his nineteenth year he commenced freighting, first making a trip to New Mexico, and thence went to Salt Lake City and into Idaho. On his journey across the plains he was frequently attacked by Indians, and at times was compelled to deliver up his pos- sessions, when not able to defend then from the en-
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emy. Many times he was near immense herds of buffaloes, which apparently covered the prairies for miles. During his three years of freighting life he had many strange experiences and narrow escapes as well. About 1860 he purchased eighty acres of land in Leavenworth County, Kan., about three miles from the city of Leavenworth, and re- sided on the property until 1865, when he traded it for a farm in Hazle Township, Johnson County. Five years later he rented his farm, and, leaving his family in Warrensburg, went to Montana in search of gold; but, as he did not succeed very well, returned in about a year. His principal oc- cupation in life has been that of agriculture, in which he has met with success, and most of his investments have been in farm land, which he rents to responsible tenants.
March 3, 1860, Mr. Harrison married Eliza C. Ovens, then of this county, but a native of Nash- ville, Tenn. She is a daughter of William and Emily (Riddles) Ovens, who died in Nashville of yellow fever about a year before Mrs. Harrison came to Missouri with an uncle. Four children came to bless the union of our subject and his wife, but only two survive. Emma became the wife of M. C. Shryack, a merchant of this city, and they have one son, Charles H., a lad of twelve years. The only son of our subject, Charles H., is mentioned at the close of this sketch. Leetta and Ada died at the ages of twelve and six years, respectively.
Politically Mr. Harrison is a Democrat, and cast his first Presidential vote for Bell and Everett. His father, however, was a Republican, and voted for John C. Fremont, his last vote being cast for Benjamin Harrison in 1888. Our sub- ject is a member of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church, and is a contributor to its support. So- cially he is a non-affiliated member of the Odd Fellows' society, but is actively connected with the Masonic order and the Ancient Order of United Workmen.
Charles H. Harrison was born October 26, 1865, and at the age of thirteen years com- menced clerking in a book store. Three years later he obtained employment in a dry-goods store, and held the position for three years and
a-half. In the year 1886 lie borrowed money and started in business for himself as a dealer in books, stationery, toys, wall paper, queensware, etc., and has been very successful. He carries a large and well selected stock of goods, and by his correct business methods has won the respect of all. Like his father, he is a Democrat, and socially belongs to the Masonic and Odd Fellows' orders, and is also a Knight of Pythias.
November 8, 1885, Charles H. Harrison and Pauline Holiday, of Holliday, Monroe County, Mo., were united in marriage. They had be- come acquainted while she was a student in the State Normal. Two bright children have been born of their union: Holliday, whose birth oc- curred October 5, 1886; and Don, born in Feb- ruary, 1888.
AFAYETTE M. BARNARD, proprietor of the New York Bakery, which is the largest and finest store of this kind in Sedalia, was born in Greensburg, Decatur County, Ind., Jan- tiary 1, 1850. His father, Joseph Barnard, was born in Franklin County, that state, in the town of Brookville.
Robert Barnard, the grandfather, who was an old sea-captain, was of French descent. He left home at the age of sixteen years in order to sail upon the waters, and worked his way up to be cap- tain of a vessel, visiting almost every country and port in the world. In 1812 he was taken prison- er by a British man-of war, and held for three years, when he made his escape. Forty years of his life were spent upon the water, and after join- ing his family on terra firma he located in Brook- ville, Ind., near which place he had purchased a large tract of land.
The father of our subject followed the life of a farmer for many years in the Hoosier State, but this he abandoned in order to engage in the hotel business, owning and operating a house at Greens- burg until 1856. At that time he removed to
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Le Roy, Ill., where he established a bakery, and about 1860 moved to Osgood, Ind., where he fol- lowed the same business until retiring from the active labors of life. He is still a resident of that place, now in his seventy-sixth year, and is a val- ued member of the Christian Church. For nine- teen years he held the position of Postmaster of Osgood.
Our subject's mother, who was formerly Sallie J. Barickman, was a native of Brookville, Ind., and the daugliter of Jacob Barickman, a farmer and early settler of that locality. He later removed to Napoleon, Ind., but died at Holton, that state, aged seventy-six years.
The parental family of our subject numbered five children, of whom he was the third in order of birth. Of these, M. Ellen lives in Seymour, Ind .; Oliver, who was in the gunboat service dur- ing the late war, resides at Pueblo; Sallie G. is now Mrs. Gibson, of Little Rock, Ark .; and Lou- isa, Mrs. Lendenhall, resides in Holton, Ind.
Lafayette M. Barnard received a good common- school education, and when seventeen years of age left home and began farming, first in Rush County, Ind. However, soon afterward he re- turned to Osgood, and, having learned the trade of a baker, established himself in business with his father. He remained in the bakery business until 1874, when he was made telegraph operator for the Ohio & Mississippi Road at Osgood. After leaving their employ he accepted a position with the Indianapolis & St. Louis Road at Indianapo- lis, remaining there until 1876, when he went to San Francisco, Cal., and was in the employ of the Government as surveyor for about three months. He then returned to St. Louis, being employed as brakeman on the Indianapolis & St. Louis Road, between East St. Louis and Mattoon, and from the latter place to Indianapolis. This posi- tion he held but three months, when he became brakeman on the Ohio & Mississippi Road.
In 1878 Mr. Barnard became brakeman on the Missouri Pacific Road, running between Sedalia and Kansas City, holding this position for six months, when he was made conductor on the pass- enger and freight train running between Sedalia and Kansas City, and the latter place and Joplin,
Mo .; and later conductor on the regular passen- ger, his route lying between Kansas City and Joplin, Mo. For six years he held the latter po- sition, most of the time having his headquarters in this city.
In 1884, however, Mr. Barnard bought out the New York Bakery, and two years later erected his present two-story and basement brick store on the corner of Fourth Street and Osage Avenue. The building is 24x70 feet in dimensions, and the oven, which is 14x16 feet, has a capacity of from twenty-five hundred to five thousand loaves of bread at one baking. There are three or four bakers constantly at work, and besides bread and rolls they bake fancy cakes, pies, cookies, etc.
Mr. Barnard was married in Cochran, Ind., in 1880, to Miss Minnie Scoble, who was born in Cincinnati, Ohio, and who was the daughter of William Cochran. To them has been born a son, Leon W. Socially our subject is an Odd Fellow, and belongs to the Order of Railway Conductors. He is a member of the Episcopal Church, and in politics casts a vote in favor of Republican can- didates.
M AJ. WILLIAM L. WOOD is now living retired from active business cares on his beautiful farm located on section 15, town- ship 45, range 28, Johnson County. Here he has one hundred and twenty-five acres, but altogether he is the proprietor of three hundred and fifty acres, all of which he rents. He is a native of Virginia, having been born in Albemarle County, May 4, 1819. When he moved West he brought with him a negro man and woman, who were set free by the Emancipation Proclamation.
John and Mary (Terril) Wood, parents of Will- iam L., were also natives of Albemarle County, Va. The father, who was born July 1, 1765, served as a soldier in the Revolutionary War, at the early age of sixteen. He was sent out to gather supplies and was on his way to Yorktown when Cornwallis surrendered. His father, Isaac
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Wood, likewise a native of Albemarle County, also fought in the Colonial struggle and was pres- ent at the surrender just mentioned. He lived to attain the good old age of fourscore years. His father, William Wood, the great-grandfather of our subject, was born in England and was a very early settler in Albemarle County. While serv- ing in the Revolutionary War he was taken sick with smallpox, from the effects of which he died, at the age of sixty-three years; his wife also died from the same disease. For many generations the Wood family have been industrious and wealthy farmers, and now most of the descend- ants have left the Old Dominion and are scattered throughout the West. The grandfather, Isaac Wood, and all the members of his family, with the exception of our subject's father, moved to Kentucky in early days, and there the grandfa- ther passed from this life. John Wood, the eld- est son, had married before the others went to Kentucky, and remained on the old homestead in Virginia, where he died in March, 1843.
The youngest in a family of fourteen, all but one of whom grew to maturity, William L. Wood lived at his birthplace until his father's death, re- ceiving but a limited education. From 1843 to 1844 he resided in Kentucky, and then started down the Ohio River to Lexington, Mo., whence he proceeded to Warrensburg. He brought some capital with him from Virginia, and in 1855 or 1856 embarked in the mercantile business at Rose Hill, Johnson County, and was engaged in the same when the war broke out.
After disposing of his business Mr. Wood vol- unteered his service in the Confederate army, be- ing placed in Company E, Tenth Missouri Cav- alry, Marmaduke's brigade. He took part in the battle of Jenkins' Ferry, Ark., Pilot Knob and Jefferson City, Mo., and was in an engagement near Kansas City during Price's raid. He was also present at the battle of Mine Creek, in Kan- sas, and in a number of smaller skirmishes. Though he was in the service for about two years, he was neither wounded nor taken prisoner, nor was he ever in the hospital. After Lee's surren- der he went with his command to Shreveport, where he laid down arms. Returning to this
county, he commenced farming with a nephew on rented land, although at that time he owned some property in Cass County and also some in this county.
February 28, 1871, Mr. Wood and Laura H. Smith were united in marriage. She was born near Lexington, Fayette County, Ky., and is a daughter of Benjamin F. and Elizabeth (Ander- so1) Smith. Three children grace the marriage of Mr. and Mrs. Wood, namely: Grace Alma, born in Rose Hill Township, December 5, 1874; Benjamin A., born in the same township, Novem- ber 18, 1876; and Lewis R., also a native of Rose Hill Township, and born February 19, 1881. Grace graduated from the public school at Hol- den in 1895; and Benjamin, who graduated a year previous, is now attending the Warrensburg State Normal.
Until 1884 Major Wood was employed in the cultivation of his land near Rose Hill, but for the past eleven years has been a resident of township 45. He has never been an aspirant for office, but was nominated and elected Tax Collector of Rose Hill Township without his having anything to do with the matter. In 1848 his first Presiden- tial vote was cast in favor of Cass, and he has been a life-long adherent of the Democracy. Mrs. Wood is a member of the Christian Church.
T. GRAY. Among the enterprising and successful firms of Sedalia is that of Gray, Rippey & Suter, who have their office on Second Street and conduct an extensive business in this city and the surrounding country. Though the firm has been in existence here a short time only, he has already gained an enviable reputa- tion for skillful work and accurate judgment in matters pertaining to this occupation. He has had charge of the plumbing in many of the pri- vate residences and public buildings of the city, and has introduced apparatus for steam heat-
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ing in the Hoffman and Cassiday Blocks, the Se- dalia National Bank, the residences of R. C. Mc- Beth and Dr. Britt, in Clinton Wing's hotel in Marshall, and Stephens College in Columbia.
Born in Columbus, Ohio, in 1849, our subject is the son of Thomas and Julia (Taylor) Gray, natives, respectively, of Baltimore, Md , and Nova Scotia. The former, who was a farmer by occupation, died near Columbus, Ohio, at the age of sixty-three. The paternal grandfather, Theo Gray, died in Maryland. The maternal grand- father, James Taylor, a native of West Virginia, was a cousin of President Taylor, and served as Captain in the War of 1812. A sailor by occu- pation, he was for some years captain of a ship, but finally retired and settled in Ohio, where soon afterward he was killed by the falling of a timber at the time he was building a house. The moth- er of our subject died in Ohio.
The subject of this notice is the next to the youngest of eight children, there being three sons and five daughters, of whom two sons and two daughters survive. He was reared on the home farm and attended the district schools, subse- quently entering the University of Delaware. Ou completing his studies he took charge of the home farm, and for some years devoted the summers to farm work and the winters to teaching school. In 1870 he came to Missouri and settled in Jack- son County, near Independence, where he engaged in agricultural pursuits until 1879, and he still owns his farm there.
In the year last named, Mr. Gray embarked in the mercantile business in Independence, and at the same time he served as assistant superintend- ent. of the Water and Gas Company of that city. In 1888 he entered the plumbing business, and in it he has since continued, having been a resident of Sedalia since 1892. In addition to this, he also takes contracts for sewer work, and in busy sea- sons employs fifteen or twenty men. He is a member of the State Association of Master Plumb- ers, and is at present serving on the executive committee.
Socially Mr. Gray belongs to the Woodmen of the World, and in political belief he advocates Republican principles. He is a member of the
Broadway Presbyterian Church, and a generous contributor to its charitable enterprises. His marriage, which took place in Jackson County, Mo., in 1870, united him with Miss Mary Powell, a native of Columbus, Ohio, and the daughter of Jacob Powell, at present a farmer of Jackson County.
AMES S. REAM, the leading druggist of Green Ridge, was born in Pettis County, March 4, 1847, being next to the eldest in the parental family of Absalom and Mary V. (Biggs) Ream. His parents were both natives of this state, the father having been born in Cooper County, and the mother in Pettis County.
The father of our subject, who followed the oc- cupation of a farmer during his lifetime, was in turn the son of Absalom Ream, Sr., who emi- grated from his native state, Ohio, to Missouri, very many years ago and died when his son was young. The latter was sent to Ohio in order to complete his education and did not return to this state until twenty years of age. He was prosper- ous in his various undertakings and well deserved the success which he enjoyed, for he had risen al- most entirely through his own well directed efforts and sterling characteristics. He departed this life May 16, 1892. His good wife, the mother of James S., is still in the enjoyment of good health, although now past threescore years and ten.
Our subject obtained his education in the schools of Georgetown, and spent his vacations upon the home farm. This continued until at- taining his nineteenth year, when he was mar- ried, and three years later came to Green Ridge, where he engaged in the drug business. His es- tablishment is well stocked with a full line of pure drugs and medicines, toilet articles and per- fumes, in fact everything usually found in a store of this kind. In addition to this business, he has
GEORGE W. HOUX.
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for the past twenty years been interested in ship- ping grain and stock from this point, and is one of the most extensive buyers in the county.
Mr. Ream has been instrumental in the organ- ization of two building and loan associations at Green Ridge, and is now President of one of these enterprises. He has been of great benefit to his community in many ways, and by its best citizens is regarded as an upright and thoroughly good man, and well does he deserve the high esteem in which he is held.
The marriage of James S. Ream and Miss El- len F. Melvin was celebrated March 4, 1866. This lady was the daughter of Benjamin and Is- abella (Cockrell) Melvin, natives of the Old Dominion, while Mrs. Ream was born in Ohio. Her union with our subject has been blessed by the birth of four children, of whom Minnie F. is deceased. The others are, J. Ed, who is associ- ated with his father in the drug business; Mande Alma; and Frederick E., who is also connected with the drug business. Mrs. Ream and her daughter are members of the Congregational Church at Green Ridge.
In his political relations our subject is a strong Democrat, and is consequently opposed to mnou- opolies. Almost ever since the town was incor- porated he has been a member of the City Council. He is Chairman of the Board of Village Trustees and is also a Notary Public, his commission being signed by five different Governors of Missouri.
EORGE WASHINGTON HOUX, a wide- awake and intelligent citizen of Johnson County, and a prominent farmer residing in township 46, range 27, is a native of Missouri, having been born in the log portion of his pres- ent home, where he has since resided. His birth occurred on the 25th of December, 1839, and he is a son of Philip S. and Margaret H. (Morrow) Houx, who were the parents of eight children, though, with the exception of our subject, but one, James H., survives.
The father was born in Logan County, Ky., November 3, 1804, and with his parents removed to Indiana about 1814, where they remained but a short time, owing to the depredations of the In- dians. The pioneers had to keep constantly on their guard, and even then many brutal and hor- rible murders were committed. On returning to Kentucky, they remained there but a few months, when they emigrated to Missouri, settling in Cooper County, near Boonville, which then con- tained only two or three houses. There the grandfather of our subject, Jacob Houx, spent the remainder of his life. He liad become a pros- perous farmer, and did much for the development of the county, where he was held in the highest esteem. His public spirit always manifested itself when any movement was on foot for the commu- nity's interests. His death occurred in 1853.
The early life of Philip S. Houx was spent up- on the frontier, living in both Indiana and Mis- souri when they were very sparsely settled. On reaching manhood he went to Lafayette County, Mo., where he began farming, and for thirteen years made that county his home. During that time he improved two farms, but in 1838 came to Johnson County, where he entered land and built a log house. Being an industrious, energetic man, prosperity soon crowned his efforts, and he was enabled to add to his original tract, until at the time of his death he was the owner of some two thousand acres of land in township 46, range 27. He was accustomed to the hardships and privations of pioneer life, and seemed to adapt himself to almost anything. In the early days he often devoted his spare hours to making shoes for his family. His wife, who was born in South Carolina, September 15, 1798, departed this life on the 26th of April, 1884. She was a faithful helpmate to her husband and did much to insure his success. She spun a great deal of yarn and made the clothes for the family.
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