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 9
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 9
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was some difficulty in securing enough men to make up the regiment and it was afterward dis- banded. In company with six of his comrades, our subject then went to St. Louis and enlisted in Company D, of the Second Iowa Infantry, November 28, 1861, under Capt. Noah W. Mills and Col. James M. Tuttle. For three years and eight months he remained in the service, and saw much hard fighting, participating in many of the most important engagements of the war. He was in the battles of Ft. Donelson and Shiloh, the siege of Corinth, and the battle at that place on the 3d and 4th of October, 1862. On the 22d of the same month he took part in the battle of Dal- ton, where General McPherson was killed; and on the 27th the battle of Jonesboro. A notable fact worthy of relating is that his regiment was the first to make a charge and hold its position at the battle of Ft. Donelson, being the indirect cause of its evacuation. Mr. Ward also went with Sherman on the celebrated march to the sea. After the order was given that all men having served two years could re-enlist and would be given a thirty-days furlough, he was mustered out at Pulaski, Tenn., and after his re-enlistment went to Iowa. After one month he re-joined his company, remaining in the service until he was mustered out at Davenport, on the 19th of July, 1865.
From that place Mr. Ward went to Kansas City, where he resumed civil pursuits, finding work in a mill. There he remained until the 15th of January, 1866, when he went to Holden, Mo., and thence to Columbus. After being employed for four years in a mill, he began farming, and has since been one of Johnson County's leading and progressive agriculturists. He was married on the 4th of June, 1867, Miss America A. Mat- thews becoming his wife. To them have been born six children, but two have been called to the home beyond. Those living are Edwin M., Stella, Mary and Mackie, who are still with their parents, and contribute their share to the happi- ness of the home. In the spring of 1869 Mr. Ward purchased a farm near Holden, and the following fall moved thereon. There the family resided for some six years, when a portion of its
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members went to their present home, the father dividing his time between the two places. Since the burning of his former residence two years since, that farm is rented and they now live near Columbus.
Mr. Ward has always been an active Republi- can, supporting the principles of his party with all the force of his convictions. Since becoming a resident of Johnson County, he has taken a lively interest in its progress and development, giving his encouragement and more substantial support to everything tending towards its ad- vancement and welfare. He stands high in the community and wins friends wherever he goes.
EORGE VICTOR BUCHANAN, A. M., Superintendent of the public schools of Se- dalia, is, and deservedly so, one of the most prominent educators of Missouri. Life to him has meant one grand opportunity for the enlight- enment and betterment of mankind and the ad- vancement of the cause of education, and the pub- lic, with a constantly increasing appreciation, is endeavoring to second his efforts. In reviewing his history one is forcibly reminded of Ruskin's words: "The thoroughly great men are those who have done everything thoroughly, and who have never despised anything, however small, of God's making."
Mr. Buchanan is a native of Illinois, and was born near Mt. Carmel, Wabash County, Febru- ary 14, 1859. He is the son of Hiram Buchanan, who was born in Lawrence County, that state, and who was in turn the son of Walter Buchanan, also a native of Lawrence County. The grand- father engaged in agricultural pursuits, and also did surveying. He was wholly uneducated, but was a natural mathematician, having a state rep- utation for ability along this line. He was County Surveyor for thirty years, and made the drawings for the first map of Lawrence County,
the original survey of which still exists. He was a Presbyterian in religious belief and a faithful member of that denomination. A Republican in politics, he was very active in the ranks of that party and was a popular and public-spirited man. His death occurred in 1880, at the age of seventy years.
The great-grandfather of our subject, who was numbered among the early settlers of Illinois, came from eastern Pennsylvania. He was of Scotch-Irish descent, and served as a soldier in the War of the Revolution. Hiram Buchanan, our subject's father, was interested in farming in Wabash County, remaining there until his death. He was quite prominent in that section of the country, and helped to establish the Chicago branch of the Illinois Central Railroad. An act- ive member of the Methodist Episcopal Church, he was much beloved, and many sincere friends deplored his early demise, which occurred at the age of thirty-two years.
Helen Blood was the maiden name of our sub- ject's mother, and her birth occurred near Mid- dlebury, Vt. Her father, Horace Blood, was one of the sturdy pioneer farmers of Wabash County, and died when about seventy years old. On ac- count of the early death of her husband, Helen Buchanan had the entire responsibility of the rearing of her family, and bravely did she strive to train them for positions of usefulness. She now makes her home in Carbondale, surrounded by many comforts, and is spending her declining days in the enjoyment of a well earned rest. She is a consistent member of the Methodist Episcopal Church.
In the parental family were five children, of whom we make the following mention: Walter is a farmer of Wabash County, Ill .: Addie, now Mrs. Wilson, resides in Bennington, Kan .; G. V. is the subject of this sketch; Clara, Mrs. Merry- man, lives in Carbondale; and Mary, who resides with our subject, is advertising manager for the Central School Journal, published at Sedalia.
Reared to manhood on a farm in Wabash County, Mr. Buchanan attended the district schools, his first experience being in the old log schoolhouse, with its primitive furnishings. At
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the age of seventeen, however, he left home and went to Olney, Ill., where he worked for his board and tuition, and also attended the high school, graduating from that institution in 1879. While a high-school student he taught two terms of school in Wabash County, and in 1880 grad11- ated in the teacher's course at Central Normal College at Danville, Ind. The following winter he was engaged as Principal of the Mt. Carmel High School, and in the fall of the next year, with his mother and two sisters, he removed to Carbondale. He then entered the Southern Illi -. nois Normal University, taking the classical course, while his two sisters pursued the English course. During his summers he read law with Judge Andrew D. Duff. In 1884 the brother and sisters graduated, and Mr. Buchanan was chosen Superintendent of the Salem (Ill. ) public schools, continuing there two years.
In 1886 Mr. Buchanan was called to fill the chair of mathematics in his Alma Mater, and re- mained in that connection seven years. In the autumn of 1893 he became Superintendent of the Sedalia public schools, in which capacity he is giving the greatest satisfaction. The high school has been brought up to a high standard since his connection with it, and graduates are thoroughly prepared to enter the freshman classes of our best colleges, the course calling for four years of Latin. He gives instruction in only one study, that of pedagogy, but finds his time quite taken up with the various duties of his position. The school system of Sedalia includes ten schools (graded), besides the high school. The latter is located in an elegant new stone building, modern in every particular. Nine rooms have been added since our subject came here, and in all seventy-one teachers are employed. In 1894 McKendree Col- lege bestowed on Mr. Buchanan the degree of A. M., an honor well deserved.
In 1886 Mr. Buchanan chose a wife in the per- son of Miss Hattie Starr, the ceremony being per- formed in Kankakee, the home of the bride. She is a daughter of Judge C. R. Starr, who is a na- tive of Nova Scotia, and received his education in New England .. He was a prominent attorney of Kankakee, and is now Judge of the circuit. Mrs.
Buchanan was educated at Kankakee, graduat- ing from the high school of that city and later attending the St. Louis Art School. She is the mother of the following children: Helen, Agnes, Rachael and Richard Bell.
In religious affairs our subject is connected with the Methodist Episcopal Church, in which he is serving as Steward. Politically he is a Re- publican. Socially he is a Master Mason, and is also identified with the Royal Tribe of Joseph, Lodge No. I, of which he is a charter member. He is very prominent in literary circles, being connected with almost every organization which tends toward the advancement of educational in- terests, and is a member of the State Chautauqua, being Vice-President of its executive board. He is also Vice-President of the Sedalia Public Li- brary Association, being one of its organizers. The Board of Managers of the Young Men's Christian Association claims him as a member, and he is an active member of the State Teachers' Association. Besides being a regular participant in the deliberations of the National Educational Association and the National Superintendents' Association, he is an active member of three of the six distinct teachers' associations of Missouri. He also contributes to many of the educational papers, having written articles for the following publications: Central School Journal, Southern Illinois Teacher, Kindergarten Magazine, and the New England Journal of Education.
ENRY CHAPEL, one of the Missouri Pa- cific's most popular engineers, and a well known citizen of Sedalia, was born in Great Barrington, Mass., October 28, 1839. He belongs to a family that originated in England, and has been represented in America since Colonial days. His paternal grandfather, a native of Rhode Island, removed thence to Massachusetts, where his remaining years were spent. During the Revolutionary War he enlisted in the Colonial
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army, and served faithfully, enduring all the vi- cissitudes of the patriots and sharing their hard- ships.
The father of our subject, Stephen H. Chapel, was born in Rhode Island, but grew to man- hood in Massachusetts, where he learned the trade of a pattern-maker, and engaged in the manufacture of gauges. Later in life he came to Missouri and settled in Dresden Township, Pettis County, where he lived in retirement until his death, at the age of seventy-six. He was a man of the strictest sense of honor and most correct principles of life, and his upright spirit won for him the regard of his associates. While he was unable to give his children many advantages, he trained them, both by example and precept, for positions of usefulness and honor in the business and social world.
Through his maternal ancestors our subject traces his lineage to Scotland. His grandfather, Capt. Thomas Baker, spent his entire life in New England, and his occupation was that of a whaler. While serving as Captain of a ship, he was lost at sea, the vessel being wrecked in a storm. His daughter, Alice, our subject's mother, was born in Nantucket, Mass., and died in Pettis County, Mo., in 1890, aged eighty-eight. She was a wo- man of great piety, and was a devoted member of the Methodist Episcopal Church.
The family of Stephen H. and Alice Chapel consisted of thirteen children, all but one of whom attained years of maturity, but only five are now living. One of the sons, Charles F., was a midshipman in the navy during the Civil War, and died on board a flag-ship. Another son, Thomas A., who is now a resident of Sedalia, served as a Lieutenant in a Missouri regiment during the Civil War. Our subject was reared in Massachusetts, and after completing the stud- ies of the common schools he entered the acade- my at South Adams, where he remained until nineteen years of age. He was then apprenticed to the machinist's trade, in the Troy & Boston Railroad shops, where he remained for three years, and afterward secured a position as fire- man on the same road. Later, until 1865, he was employed on the Hoosac Tunnel Railroad,
and then went to New York City, where he was Master Mechanic on the Brooklyn & . Coney Island Road.
It was in 1867 that Mr. Chapel came to Mis- souri and settled in Sedalia, where he has since made his home. He was one of the first engi- neers on the Missouri, Kansas & Texas Railroad, and for a number of years ran Engine No. 34, continuing with the company until February, 1876, when he entered the employ of the Mis- souri Pacific. He is now engineer on the through passenger train running between Sedalia and Kansas City, a distance of ninety-five miles. By his superior officials he is considered one of the most reliable and trustworthy engineers on the road, and he occupies a high place in their esti- mation.
The residence owned and occupied by Mr. Chapel is situated at No. 714 East Broadway. It is presided over by his wife, whom he married at Brainard's Bridge, N. Y., July 6, 1864. She bore the maiden name of Mary E. Atwater, and was born in Nassau, N. Y., being the eldest of five children, all of whom are still living. Her paternal grandparents, Tuttle and Catherine (Ferry) Atwater, were residents of New York State, the former being a marine engineer by oc- cupation. Her parents, Daniel A. and Emeline (Vickery) Atwater, were natives, respectively, of Brooklyn and Nassau, N. Y., the latter being a daughter of Caleb Vickery, who was born in York State. For some years Mr. Atwater en- gaged in farming in Rensselaer County, but later embarked in the hardware business in Garfield, N. Y., carrying on a large trade for a time. Now, seventy-seven years of age, he is living in retire- ment from life's active cares. During the Civil War he enlisted in the defense of the Union, and served as a private in a New York regiment. His wife died in the Empire State at the age of forty- four years.
Five children comprise the family of Mr. and Mrs. Chapel, namely: William H., who is fire- man on the West Division of the Missouri Pa- cific Railroad; Charles A., who is employed as brakeman on the Missouri, Kansas & Texas; Lillie M., Floyd J. and Maude A., who are with
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their parents. Socially Mr. Chapel is identified with Granite Lodge No. 272, A. F. & A. M .; the Order of Chosen Friends, in which he has been Vice-Conncilor for two terms; and the Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers, being an officer in Sedalia Division No. 178. His political belief brings him into active co-operation with the Republican party, the principles of which he invariably supports. His wife is a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church, and is an active worker in the Woman's Relief Corps. The famı- ily is one of prominence in social circles, and is recognized as among the best people of Sedalia.
ILLIAM F. DENNEY. Few citizens of Johnson County are more deserving of spe- cial mention, or of a more prominent place in the history of the honored and representative old settlers within her boundaries, than the gen- tleman whose name heads this biography. He was born in North Carolina, April 1, 1828, and there passed his boyhood and youth. After com- ing to this county he became the owner of a tract of land, which he has developed into one of the finest estates in township 46, range 28. The place comprises sixty-five acres, is in a desirable neighborhood, with attractive surroundings, and is one of the hospitable abodes of the township.
Our subject, who is well known throughout this section, is the son of Jurdon Denney, whose birth also occurred in North Carolina. In 1850 he decided to locate in the West, and gathering together his household goods, loaded them onto a wagon and started overland to Missouri. Al- though possessing but little education, he was a good financier, and accumulated quite a sung lit- tle fortune through his efforts in this state.
The mother of our subject, prior to her mar- riage known as Miss Martha Burcham, was also born in North Carolina, and at the time of her demise, which occurred in her native place, was
the mother of six children, of whom the original of this sketch was the youngest, and the only one now living. The others were Candis, Carrie, - Harvey, Rachel and John.
Jurdon Denney chose for his second companion Polly Gibson, a sister of the present Probate Judge of Johnson County, and they were married in North Carolina in 1831. To them was also born a family of six children, but all are now deceased.
William F., of this sketch, had not much oppor- tunity for gaining an education in his native state, as he was put to work when quite young and made to earn his own living. A year after at- taining his majority, in 1850, he left his home in North Carolina, which was in sight of old Pilot Mountain, and came to Johnson County, this state. Here he found no difficulty in making a selection of a farm, as the country round about was not very thickly settled, and most of the land was in its primitive state. This has been his home ever since, with the exception of three years which he spent in Nebraska, near Aspin- wall, where he was engaged in farming.
Prior to leaving his native state our subject was married, in 1848, to Miss Millie Bolejack, and to them were born twelve children. Of this large family we make the following mention: Zenith married John Burris, and with her three children, Otis, Elmer and Dollie, lives in this county. Mary and Victoria are deceased. Rossie, now the wife of Jacob Burris, lives one-fourth of a mile from her father's home; her family com- prised nine children, of whom those living are Henry, Arthur, Harry, Emmett, Gertie and Andy. Charlie, Annie (the twin of Andy), and an infant are deceased. Ellen, the fifth child of our sub- ject, is deceased. Oliver married Flora Caldwell and has three children, Katie, Burt and Dazie. John married Mrs. Martha Long, the widow of Thomas Long, and their one child, French, is deceased. Frances married Goodly Paul, and has four children, namely: Parrie Irvin, Lee, Iva and Cleveland. Harvey married Mattie White, and has a son, Everett. As the records show, our subject is grandfather to seventeen children.
Up to a few years ago Mr. Denney voted the Democratic ticket; now, however, he casts his
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vote and influence with the Populist party. Re- ligiously he is a member of the Cumberland Pres- byterian Church, with which denomination his good wife is also connected.
ILLIAM W. SIMS, who since 1870 has been a resident of a splendid estate on sec- tion 19, township 46, range 28, is one of the influential residents of this section. He is engaged in general farming and stock-raising on one hundred and twenty acres, which property he has made one of the most desirable and beau- tiful tracts in the county.
Our subject is the son of Richard Sims, a Ken- tuckian by birth, from which state he started for Missouri. He died from cholera, while en route, and was taken from the boat and buried at Boon- ville. Our subject being the eldest son of the family, the responsibility of their support fell up- on him. They continued their way to this state, and, locating in Cooper County, rented a farm, securing from its products a good income for his mother, brother and sisters. The mother, who was in her maidenhood Priscilla Bishop, was born in Virginia and died in Johnson County in 1868. The ten children of whom she was the mother were Mary Elizabeth, deceased; William Wesley, of this sketch; Martha, unmarried, and living in Kentucky; Arminda, a resident of the Cherokee Nation; Sarah, Benjamin Franklin and Lucinda, deceased; Nancy, a resident of Anderson Coun- ty, Kan .; John B. engaged in business in Joplin, Mo .; and Rhoda W., who makes her home in Cass County, this state.
The subject of this sketch was born April 22, 1833, near Pruitt's Knob, Ky., which is located in the vicinity of Mammoth Cave. As his father lived on a farm, he was trained to a full knowl- edge of agriculture, and when left with the care of the family was fully able to assume the man- agement of an estate. He was permitted to at- tend school only a few months in each year, but
as he made the best of his limited opportunities, gained a fair knowledge of the common branches taught.
As before stated, on first coming to Missouri, Mr. Sims settled in Cooper County, near Pisgah. He farmed this rented tract from 1850 to 1863, when he removed to Iowa, and spent the follow- ing three years in agricultural pursuits in Taylor County. At the end of that time we find him again living in Cooper County, whence he came soon after to Johnson County. This was in 1867, and his first location was on property three miles from his present place of residence. The latter he bought in company with his brother, and at that time it comprised only forty acres. As the years passed by and he became more prosperous in his ventures, lie bought the interest of his brother in the estate and has made it his home ever since. It now includes one hundred and twenty acres, well improved and comparing favorably with the best in the township. This state of affairs has been brought about by his indefatigable industry and good management, as when it came into his possession it bore no improvements whatever.
The marriage of our subject, which occurred in 1857, united him with Sallie Ann Longley, who was born in Cooper County, in 1837. Her parents, Leonard and Tabitha Longley, who were natives of Tennessee, are both dead. They moved to Iowa during the Civil War, but on their return to Missouri spent their last days in Miller. Mrs. Sims died about seven years ago, leaving a daughter, Nancy M., who is her father's house- keeper. Our subject has an adopted son, Will- iam E. Banes, whom he took to his home when a boy.
At the time of his marriage our subject had but $5 in money, and one-half of this was required to pay the preacher for performing the wedding cer- emony. He was not afraid of work, however, and with the assistance rendered by his good wife soon bought land and from its cultivation was en- abled to lay by each year a sum of money which will maintain him comfortably in his declining years.
In 1859 Mr. Sims went to Denver, Colo., with the expectation of returning home wealthy as the
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result of working in the gold mines. Like many others at that time, he was disappointed in this, but at the same time made the trip pay, as he took with him two teams loaded with supplies, which he disposed of at an immense profit. How- ever, he has since been satisfied to follow farming in Missouri. Mr. Sims has led a very active and temperate life, enjoys good health, and promises to live to a good old age. He has never aspired to office-holding, but is a man of public spirit, in- terested in local affairs and the improvement of his community.
5 EORGE W. BURR, a contractor and builder of Sedalia, is one of the wide-awake and progressive business men of the city. He is now serving as Justice of the Peace, having been elected to that office in the fall of 1894. He was born in Coles County, Ill., and is a son of Sam- uel P. and Margaret ( Moddrell) Burr, the former a native of New Hampshire, and the latter of Kentucky. The paternal grandfather, Laban Burr, who was born in the Granite State, re- moved to Edgar County, Il1., where he engaged in farming in North Arm Township, and there his death occurred. The father of our subject was educated in his native state, and became a minister of the Methodist Episcopal Church. For thirty years he preached in different parts of Illinois, during which time for one term he served as Presiding Elder. He then removed to Ne- braska, where for five years he engaged in the work of the ministry. He died near Elkhorn, that state, at the age of seventy-two. The mother of our subject had died many years pre- vious, in Coles County, Il1., at the early age of twenty-two years. She left two children, twins, the brother of George being Laban, a resident of Tolono, Ill., where he is engaged in the furni- ture and undertaking business, and is serving as Chairman of the Board of Supervisors of Cham- paign County.
The boyhood and youth of our subject were passed in many places in Illinois. He attended school in Paris, that state, being under the direc- tion of Prof. J. H. Moore, after which he learned the carpenter's trade. Later he again entered school, paying his own tuition, and then taught for three terms in Will and Champaign Counties, Ill. He then located in Kankakee, that state, where for a time he engaged in the furniture business, and later was similarly employed in To- lono. While a resident of the latter city he served as Collector of his township two terms, was also Justice of the Peace, for six years was Dep- uty Sheriff, and for two terms held the office of Coroner of the county. He was with the Union army in Missouri during 1862 and 1863, serving as a sutler. He then returned home, where he succeeded in raising a company, but, becoming ill, was unable to enlist with it.
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