USA > Missouri > Lafayette County > Portrait and biographical record of Lafayette and Saline counties, Missouri : containing biographical sketches of prominent and representative citizens, together with biographies and portraits of all the presidents of the United States > Part 11
USA > Missouri > Saline County > Portrait and biographical record of Lafayette and Saline counties, Missouri : containing biographical sketches of prominent and representative citizens, together with biographies and portraits of all the presidents of the United States > Part 11
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Melver, who resides in Roodhouse, Ill .; Emma, now Mrs. Grant, of Kansas City; and Dena, who is Mrs. Noel, of Slater.
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Our subject has received the honor of being one of the Aldermen of the city, and has also been a delegate to different conventions, and is, in po- litical affiliations, a stanch Democrat. lle is a member of the Ancient Order of United Work- men and the Brotherhood of Locomotive En- gineers, in which latter he has been Chief. lle is likewise a Knight of Pythias, and Past Chancellor in that order, and is a member of the Grand Lodge, K. P., and has been a delegate for two years to St. Louis and St. Joe. Mrs. Davis is a member of the Pythian Sisters of Slater, of which she is the manager. Mr. Davis is a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church, and, together with his estimable wife, is among the earnest supporters of the organization. Etlicient in his daily and dangerous duties, Mr. Davis is esteemed by all his fellow-townsmen, and has the spotless record of an honorable and upright life.
G EORGE OSBORN, a prominent citizen of La Fayette County, Mo .. located upon sec- tion 18, range 25, township 19, is the sub- ject of whom we write. Ile is essentially a self- made man, one who is well and favorably known in the county, where he has made his home and has worked for the advancement of all public matters since 1865. The birth of our subject took place in Boone County, Mo., May 28. 1828. Ile was a son of John and Rachel ( Lemmon) Osborn, who were well-known natives of Scott County, Ky. The family trees upon both sides tell of Scotch and Irish ancestors, and among the early forefathers in this country can be found patriots of the Revolutionary War.
In 1818 the father of our subject removed into Boone County, Mo., and when George was sixteen years of age, Mr. Osborn took the family to Davis County, where they remained until our subject had grown to man's estate. Although the advan-
tages for obtaining an education in those days were very limited, our subject attended the best schools, and received as much instruction as was given any youth of the time and place. He was a great reader and has so continued, being a very well-informed man, just in his judgments and wise in administering the affairs entrusted to his charge.
September 20. 1855, our subject was united in marriage with an estimable lady, Miss Susan O. Rose, a native of Fleming County, Ky., who was born March 2, 1839, a daughter of Charles and Martha A. (Norman) Rose, the former a native of Pennsylvania, and the latter of Kentucky. She was reared in Buchanan County, Mo., and resided there at the time she became the wife of Mr. Os- born. To this worthy couple twelve children have been born, and many of them have formed connections of their own, showing to the world the virtues they learned in the home circle.
The names of the excellent family in whom our subject and wife have found reason to rejoice are as we give below: John F .; Charles E .; Luebell, the wife of L. D. Coupland; Sanford, deceased; Minnie R. L., the wife of Jasper Anson; Forest M., the wife of Richard Jennings; Ruth. the wife of Henry Lowrey; Ida A., the wife of Edward Jen- nings; George, Alvin K., Floyd and Susan. In 1865 our subject came with his family to this part of the grand old State of Missouri and located in La Fayette County, settling upon the present farm, and at this place the family has resided over since. The farm consists of two hundred and forty acres of land under a good state of cultiva- tion, with comfortable buildings.
Mr. Osborn is a man of prominence in his local- ity, having served for four years as Justice of the Peace, fulfilling the duties of the office to the satis- faction of all. Politically he is a Democrat, be- lieving that the principles of Democracy are the ones which will best carry the country through any erisis that may be in store for her. In the Missionary Baptist Church he is a prominent member and active worker. His position in the district is one to be desired as his friends and well-wishers are among the best in the neighbor- hood.
THE NEW YORK PUBLIC LIBRARY
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R. B. Eubank
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R EUBEN B. EUBANK resides on section 33. township 52, range 20, of Saline County. Mr. Eubank was born in the town of Glas- gow, Barren County, Ky., February 9. 1824, Ile is the son of Henry and Maria (Garnett) Eubank, the former a native of Virginia, and born September 14, 1795, the latter of Barren County, Ky., and born May 19, 1807. Our subject's father had a considerable knowledge of military tactics and held the office of Captain and after- ward Major in the State Militia of Kentucky. lle was engaged in the merchandise and trading business in Glasgow, Ky., until 1829, when, on ac- count of failing health he removed to his farm, giving up active business and spending his latter years in rural enjoyment. He was identified with many public interests of his county, which he served as a successful and energetic business man.
The paternal grandfather of our subject was .Jo- seph Eubank, a Virginian, who was born May 9, 1763. lle was a farmer and dealer in merchandise, and besides owned and operated a flouring-mill. One of the sons of Joseph Enbank was the ac- knowledged local genius of his day, and though he never patented he claimed the honor of discover- ing the principle of a self-feeder for a cotton gin, and also invented the steam governor for engines. Ile was a watch-maker by trade. Grandmother Eubank bore the maiden name of Elizabeth White, and was born in Virginia November 8, 1774. She was married to Joseph Eubank Novem- ber 27, 1794, and they became the parents of ten children, all of whom lived to years of maturity. The family is of English origin, our subject's great- grandsire having emigrated to this country in 1727. Ile was one of four brothers and made settlement in Virginia, and our subject still has in his possession a little account book kept by this first American founder of the family, which shows by the accuracy with which it was kept that he was a man of education and business ability. llis wife was Miss Margaret Lewis, whom he married in Virginia.
Reuben Eubank is one of a family of seven chil- dren, all of whom are living: America, who was born in Glasgow, Ky., May 11, 1827, now lives in Jackson, Tenn .; Margaret D., born September 15,
1829, was married to Robert T. Graley, and they reside in Saline County; James, who was born April 27, 1833, and married Martha Thomas, now lives in Texas, where he is a farmer and money- loaner; Richard, who was born October 1. 1835, and married Catherine Wolfskill, lives in Califor- nia and is engaged in farming and in grape cul- ture; Elizabeth, who was born September 9, 1838, married J. C. Irby, and now lives in Tennessee, where her husband is one of the faculty of a Baptist school; llenry, who was born March 28, 1844, married Miss Fishback and lives in Barren County, Ky.
Our subject was educated in the common schools of Kentucky. Ile left school at the age of eigli- teen years, and then engaged as clerk for David R. Young, a bachelor who was store-keeper at Glasgow. Our subject received only his board and clothing, as he took the position rather to learn the principles of conducting a business. At the expiration of a year he entered the employ of Jo- seph Glazebrook, in consideration of $100 per annum with board and washing. He remained with him three years and then went to llopkins- ville, Ky. After a few months in that place he returned to his former employer. Thus he was variously engaged until his marriage, when he went to farming, his wife having been presented by her father with a tract of two hundred acres of land. This was later traded for a money consid- eration, and he went to tobacco-raising, devoting five years to the improvement of the tract. Be- coming dissatisfied with the narrow scope of his life and opportunities, he sold his little farm for $10 per acre including improvements, and in 1855 he moved to Saline County and rented a farm for two years. Ile then purchased a tract of partially improved land, which he bent his energies toward clearing. From time to time he added to his origi- nal purchase until he owned thirty-seven hundred acres. Part of this is improved and all is well fenced and in good pasture condition. This beautiful and well-improved home farm makes him the owner of thirty-seven hundred acres of good land, beside some eight hundred acres which he has given to his children.
The original of this sketch was married October
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30. 1818, to Martha Thompson. a daughter of Robert S. Thompson, and a member of an old and representative family of Hart County, Ky. Mr. and Mrs. Eubank became the parents of three chil- dren: Robert (deceased), Henry, and Reuben. The first-born was a native of Barren County, Ky., and made his advent into the world in 1819. Ile mar- ried Miss Mary Bumbarger and until the time of his death, which occurred December 24, 1875. lived near Slater. He was a farmer and left one son who now lives in Bourbon County, Ky. Henry, who was born in Hart County. Ky., in 1852. mar- ried Jane Jenkins, of Slater, this county; he now lives in Chariton County, this State, where he is a farmer and preacher. Reuben, who was born in Saline County, married a Miss Campbell. They live in Lexington, where he is engaged in busi- ness.
After the death of his lirst wife, our subject was a second time married, his bride being Miss Eliza- beth Whittaker, who was the daughter of John Whittaker. of Boone County. Ky. She was born May 18, 1834, became the wife of Mr. Eubank in Boone County. June 22, 1861. and died February 28, 1873. Their union was blessed by the advent of three children: John, Ernest. and Jerome. John was born on the 12th of April, 1863. in Saline County, married Luey Smith. and is now engaged in farming in this county; Ernest was born on the 6th of July. 1861. in this county. where he married Lillie Gaines, and is now a farmer; Jerome, who was born October 3. 1865, married Zudie Purdom, and lives in Slater. where he is engaged in stock buying. In July of 1873, Mr. Eubank married Miss Anna, the daughter of James Leeper, who was born in Lewis County, Mo. They have been the parents of two children: Preston L. and Katie M.
Mr. Eubank has been a member of the Christian Church since 1858. In addition to his liberality in church work. he is well known for his good and charitable deeds. Impecunious young men with ambition and talent have found in him a ready sympathizer and helper. Politically. he was orig- inally a Whig, but at the fall of that party he be- came a Democrat of the first water, and. although not an ollice-secker, has always taken an active
interest in party affairs. Numbered among the wealthiest and most honored citizens of Saline County, we feel that it is still a far greater encom- ium to pass upon our subject to say that his nature is as broad as his heart and impulses are true and kindly.
B ITLER MOORE, SR. This venerable rep- resentative pioneer of La Fayette County resides upon one of the finest farms in this part of the State, located in township 19. range 26. lle was born in Lexington. Ky., Feb- ruary 7. 1816. a son of Butler and Courtney ( Web- ster) Moore, the latter a relative of Daniel Web- ster. The father was a native of Virginia, who came to Kentucky at an early day. and the mother also was of Virginian birth, removing with her par- ents to Grant County. Ky. Her father was a sol- dier in the War of the Revolution, and also in the War of 1812. where he was one of the daring pa- triots under Gen. Jackson at New Orleans.
Our subject remained on his father's farm until the age of eighteen years: then becoming anxious to see the world for himself. he left the parental roof and engaged at any work that he could find. . At one time he labored for a very penurious man. who paid only twelve and a-half cents per day with board, and our subject continued at very low wages for several years, which prevented his accumu- lating much money. llis accumulation was prin- eipally experience. At a later date, he received the position of superintendent, overseeing hands in the making of twine, bagging and rope.
In 1810. Mr. Moore came to Missouri and located in La Fayette County, residing at first in Lexing- ton, but later removing to a farm south of Lexing- ton, which place is now owned by Mrs. Eckle. l'pon this farm he lived for four years, then came to his present place in 1856, and here he has re- sided ever since. In his youth. Mr. Moore had few advantages to obtain even an ordinary educa- tion. The subscription schools were held in rude
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log houses at irregular intervals during the year. with a change of teachers as suited the general convenience, making any well-directed effort im- possible. At the early age at which he wascut off from home, his education was very limited, but in this he showed the manner of man he was.
The biography of this fine old pioneer woukd not be complete did we not emphasize the fact that by his own efforts he overcame the obstacles of every kind which appeared in his path, and made of himself the honest, well-informed man, the successful agriculturist, and the respected eiti- zen holding a place in the esteem of all the resi- dents of La Fayette County. When Mr. Moore came to this county he found that he must work out his way almost unassisted and alone. Those were the days when labor-saving processes were either not yet invented or not known in the unset- tled parts of the Western States, and only by indi- vidual effort could he reduce the wild land to a state of productiveness.
After one year of lonely living, Mr. Moore in- duced a loving woman to cast in her lot with his, and in the long years since that time how often has he blessed kind fate for the happy chance. April 19, 18.11, he was married to Miss Mary A. llall, a native of Lexington, Ky., born July 15, 1822, a daughter of William llall, who was a na- tive of Virginia. To the home in Missouri Mr. Moore took his bride, and with her came the com- fort of his life. To her as much as himself he de- sires all honor to be given, as her wise counsels and ready sympathy and help have enabled him to accomplish so much. Three children came to bless this union: William F .; Mary J., wife of P. R. Kinchelol; and Butler, Jr.
In the early days in the county, Mr. Moore took great pleasure in hunting, going on long hunts for bear, deer and turkey, camping out at night for weeks at a time. Both Mr. and Mrs. Moore are valued members of the Methodist Episcopal Church South, in which their interest is active, making of them living Christians, examples of the truth of their professions. In political life, Mr. Moore has always voted with the Democratic party, both from his education and belief in the principles of Democracy. Mueh change has come
over the county since he first came hither; life has become easier and times have changed for the bet- ter; but we wonder if this good old pioneer and his wife, if questioned, would not say that those earlier days were among the pleasantest in their lives.
M. CHAPPELL, whose post-office address is Marshall, Mo., is one of the representa- tive citizens of Saline County, and a man of sterling worth and progressive ideas. To go back two generations and trace the history in brief of the Chappell family will, we think, prove interesting in this connection. In the year 1833 Elisha Chappell came to Saline County, bringing with him eleven of his twelve children. These children were: Ambros T .; Meueinda; Dan- iel; Elisha W., who became a leading physician and surgeon in De Kalb County, Mo., and was sur- geon in Price's army; Chapman, Lorenzo D., llenry. Thomas W., Sarah A., Rachael, JJoshua and E. Caroline. All but one of the children grew to mature years. Mr. Chappell came from North Carolina. of which State he was a native.
Thomas W., the eighth of the children men- tioned above, was twelve years old when he came to this county, and was educated in the common schools of the vicinity. Ile was married in 1814, taking for his wife Miss Atra, daughter of John MeAlister. The children of this union were five in number, three of whom were spared to reach mature years, namely: J. Madison, John E., and Annie, wife of William L. Johnson, who resides near Marshall.
J. M. Chappell, the subject of this article, was born in 1844, and was reared in this county, re- ceiving a liberal education in the common schools. In 1864. he enlisted in the Confederate army, re- maining with it until the surrender at Shreveport, La. Ile returned home in 1865, and engaged in teaching, which occupation he has followed, more or less, ever since. In 1867 Mr. Chappell married
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Miss Cynthia Bogart, of Tennessee. This union was blessed with seven children: George L., who is one of the progressive teachers of the county; Leona A., Lulu M., Gertrude. Ethel V .. Percy M. and William M.
Mr. Chappell and family are members of the Baptist Church. He is a member of the Ancient Order of United Workmen and of the Farmers' Al- lianec. He helps to swell the ranks of that im- portant and reliable class of citizens, the farmers, from whom have sprung so many of our worthiest and most powerful citizens. Breathing in the pure country air, drinking in. consciously or un- consciously, the full, free beauties of the natural scenery around him. living as independent a life as it is possible for dependent man to live, and re- moved a greater or less distance from the con- taminating influences of crowded cities and towns, the farmer boy has a better chance to grow up pure-hearted and healthy in body and mind than the city boy; he inhales strength with every breath; he is early taught self-reliance and help- fulness; he lives nearer to God; and we have grown to expect, because we have so often found it so, and because from the nature of things we might reasonably depend upon its being so, that the farm-reared boy will be more honest (other things being equal) more willing to exert himself, more likely to make his way against great ditlieul- ties than will his brother from the city. However just these conclusions may be, it is true that the subject of this sketeh is one of those who fulfill our expectations as to the sterling worth of the farmer.
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W ILLIAM T. DUGGINS, a prominent citi- zen of Saline County, resides upon his fine farm on section 5, township 51, range 20, near the town of Slater. He was born in Albe- marle County, Va., in 1838, the son of Thomas C. and Elizabeth W. (Jackson) Duggins, and is de- scended from English ancestry. His great-grand- father married an Irish lady from the city of Dub-
lin, and the one child born to them was the grand- . father of the subject of this sketch. After the death of her husband, the widow, with her only child William, emigrated to America and settled in Fredericksburgh, Va. There she afterward mar- ried Robert Wilkinson, by whom she had three children, and passed her last days in that town.
When about twelve years of age the grandfather of our subject went to Louisa County and learned the trade of blacksmith and silversmith, and be- came a first-class workman. At the beginning of the Revolution he joined the Continental army, and during the war his handsome fortune was dis- sipated. Hle served until the end of the war, and then married Miss Elizabeth, a daughter of William Perkins, of the well-known family of that name in South Carolina. They reared twelve sons and one daughter. John, Lewisand Thomas C. settled in this county; Fleming P. and Franklin A. located in Texas; Pouney made his home in Perry County; Robert, Jefferson and James remained in Louisa County, Va., where all the children were born; William removed to Hanover County, Va .; and John to Goochland County, of the same State; and Jane married Joseph Cross, and remained in her native county.
On the maternal side, the great-grandfather of our subject was Thomas Jackson, a native of Vir- ginia. The grandmother was Margaret, a daugh- ter of Daniel White, who was a captain in the Revolutionary War, and was present at the sur- render of the English troops at Yorktown. Hle married Miss Elizabeth McGee, and they reared a family of four sons and six daughters. Ile was of Welsh and his wife of Scotch ancestry. Grand- father Jackson was of Irish nationality, and was a cousin of President Andrew Jackson.
The distinguished father of our subject, Thomas C. Duggins, was one of the early settlers of the West, and was a man of energy, with small capital, who left the more densely populated sections of country that he might obtain the advantages to be found in the comparatively sparsely-settled regions of the new States. He was born in Louisa County, Va., March 10, 1810, and was reared to manhood within his native county. He received a liberal education, embracing a thorough course in mathe-
RESIDENCE OF J. M. WILHITE, SEC.17. TP. 51. R. 20. SALINE CO. MO.
RESIDENCE OF W. T. DUGGINS. SEC.5. TP. 51. R.20. SALINE CO. MO.
THE NEW YORK PUBLIC LIBRARY
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matics, astronomy, philosophy, etc., and a partial course in Latin. He made a specialty of survey- ing, in which he figured prominently after becom- ing a citizen of Missouri. Early in life he studied all of the details of the profession, the thorough knowledge of which afterward gave him the rep- utation of being the best surveyor who has as yet laid out lands in this county. From 1829 to 1838 he taught school in Virginia. He was married in 1833 to Miss Elizabeth W., daughter of Thomas and Margaret (White) Jackson. A man's wife is al- ways his safest counselor, and such it proved to be in this case, as it was in accordance with his young wife's advice that Mr. Duggins left the endeared scenes of home and friends, and set his face toward the setting sun. They bade farewell to old Virginia, September 19, 1838, and arrived in Boone County, this State, November 4, traveling the entire dis- tance by wagon.
Mr. Duggins and his wife remained nearly two years in that county, where he was chiefly employed in surveying, having received an interest in a con- tract obtained from the Government for surveying the Platt Purchase. Ilis partner so managed affairs as to allow Mr. Duggins to have all of the honor, while he took all of the profits to himself. After bearing all of the expenses, he never received more than $2, thus incurring a loss of about $10,000. This was a rather severe introduction to Western life, but the lesson proved a salutary one.
In August, 1840, Mr. Duggins removed to Sa- line County, and made location in the neighbor- hood where he ever afterward resided. From 1843 to 1845 he entered and located the lands compos- ing portions of the present farm. After coming here he spent some years in teaching, until his election to the office of County Surveyor in 1843, which position he held until 1859. In 1864 he was re-appointed by the County Court, and served until 1868. Hle passed through many vicissitudes, experienced some heavy losses, but as a final result owned about twelve hundred acres of land, most of which is under cultivation, and upon which there are good improvements. This farm contains large quantities of fine building sandstone, is un- derlaid with an abundance of coal, has an inex- haustible supply of water, and is in every respect
well adapted to stock-raising, for which it has been successfully used for a number of years.
Altogether, Mr. Duggins was very successful in life, and though he may not have realized in full the extent of his youthful ambition, still he amassed a sufficiency of this world's goods. With his wife, the companion of his youth, the sharer of his toils and comforts, he passed his later years in peace and plenty. In his domestic relations he was highly blessed, and gave each of his children a good edu- cation. He was a man to be remembered for many noble traits of character, and was a devout Chris- tian, and a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church South. A strong-minded, active business man, he accumulated property rapidly, and was generous in his support of worthy enterprises.
William T. Duggins was educated in the com- mon schools of Saline County, where he carried on his studies until the age of eighteen. After- ward he became interested in a store at Cambridge. At the age of twenty-three he enlisted under Capt. Brown in the Rangers' Division, with which he served until it disbanded. Later he entered Shelby's Division, Company E, Williams' Regiment, and re- mained there until the close of the war in 1865. Among the severe engagements in which he partici- pated were those of Lexington and Dry Wood. He was taken prisoner at Glasgow and was held for six months in Boonville, in Southwest Missouri.
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