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 15
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 15
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42 | Part 43 | Part 44 | Part 45 | Part 46 | Part 47 | Part 48 | Part 49 | Part 50 | Part 51 | Part 52 | Part 53 | Part 54 | Part 55 | Part 56 | Part 57 | Part 58 | Part 59 | Part 60 | Part 61 | Part 62 | Part 63 | Part 64 | Part 65 | Part 66 | Part 67 | Part 68 | Part 69 | Part 70 | Part 71 | Part 72 | Part 73 | Part 74 | Part 75 | Part 76 | Part 77 | Part 78 | Part 79 | Part 80 | Part 81 | Part 82 | Part 83 | Part 84 | Part 85
In 1859 he graduated with honor from the Nat- ional Medical College, Washington, D. C., and re- ceived the degree of M. D. Ile immediately en- tered into the active practice of his profession at Cambridge, where he remained a full score of years, and enjoyed a large and lucrative practice. At first he had to take long horse-back rides through- out the surrounding country, but as time passed his practice improved, and at one time he ran a drug-store. He was at various times associated with Dr. Reed and Dr. Wilson in business relations. In 1879, Col. Alexander located in Marshall. and continued in successful practice by himself until 1890, when he entered into partnership upon No- vember l of that year with J. E. Harris. The handsome home of our subject is on Odell Avenue. while his ofliee is in the Rainey Block. In 1861. our subject entered the Confederate army as sur- geon. with the rank of Major, and served under Col. Edwin Price's command. As Division Sur- geon, he afterward received the rank of Lieutenant- Colonel, and really served as Brigade Surgeon of the corps. Although left ill after the battle of Lexington, he did faithful and distinguished ser- viee upon the field of war for four years, and as surgeon earned the gratitude of the wounded by his skillful handling of their various cases.
The war having ended, Col. Alexander went to Texas, and practiced there a few months, then re- turned to his former home. He was married in Cambridge, in 1867. to Miss Sarah II. Harris, who
was born in this county. Her parents were old settlers of Missouri, and members of an old Vir- ginia family. Dr. and Mrs. Alexander are the parents of one child, Kate P., now Mrs. Strother, of Fresno, Cal. This attractive and intelligent lady is a graduate of the convent school of her early home. Col. Alexander is an honored member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, and also be- longs to the Royal Arch. Masonie fraternity, and is a member of the Episcopal Church, and one of its valued and efficient Vestrymen. Politieally a Demoerat, he is not a radical, but desires the best obtainable conduet of national affairs. Our sub- ject is a member of the Saline County Medical Society. and has been its President. Ile is also a member of the National Medical Congress, and in all things pertaining to his profession, and in the active general interests of the world at large. is well known as a progressive and leading citizen. Among the other valuable pieces of property and real estate owned by Col. Alexander is a finely improved farm of one hundred and sixty acres in Saline County, Mo.
V
D ANIEL O'DWYER, a prosperous and lead- ing citizen of Marshall. is a genial and cultivated gentleman, interested in all matters pertaining to the best welfare and progress of local and national affairs, and since his residence in his present home has been closely identified with various social, benevolent and religious enterprises. Although a true Amer- ican citizen, he is not a native of the United States. but was born across the water in the ancient city of Limerick, Ireland, in the year 1852.
The parents of Daniel O'Dwyer were both na- tives of Ireland. The paternal grandfather, Thomas, who owned a farm in the suburbs of Limerick, was born there, and died upon the farm where his busy life was passed. The father of our subject, Michael O'Dwyer, deceased, also spent his life upon the farm, which still remains in the possession of the family.
1
THE NEW YORK PUBLIC LIBRARY
ASTOR, LENOX AND TILDEN FOUNDATIONS R
L
.
Very Truly yours Att. woddy
165
PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
Kate (Costello) O'Dwyer, his wife, was a daughter of Daniel Costello, a farmer of Erin's Isle. Into the pleasant home near the old city of Limerick came many sons and daughters. Eleven children were reared to maturity, and of that goodly num- her Daniel, the namesake of his maternal grand- father, was the eldest.
Receiving early advantages for study, Mr. O'Dwyer completed his education in the Jesuit Seminary and attended that institution of learning for two years. Active, energetic and ambitions, he then engaged in business as a wholesale grocer in Limeriek, managing a large establishment suc- cessfully until 1883, when, in the month of July, he left his native land, and, embarking from Cork, departed for America. The brief and uneventful voyage, lasting only seven days, was soon safely ended, and the fine steamer "City of Rome" landed Mr. O'Dwyer on our shores. Ile journeyed at once to Kansas City, where his brother Thomas was in the grocery business. After a visit of three days in that city, he came to Marshall to rejoin his brother, Father M. J. O'Dwyer.
Father O'Dwyer was a parish priest at Marshall and had been since 1882. IIe accomplished much efficient work in the Sacred Heart Parish and built the St. Savior Academy, at a cost of $10,000. In 1887 he took charge of the Sacred Heart Parish of Kansas City, and in that flourishing city has done much for the cause of religion and humanity. IIe has been especially active and successful in paying off the church debts, and has also been the priner- pal factor in the erection and establishment of the Sacred Heart Academy, whose building cost over $20.000.
Our subjeet located and married in Marshall in the year 1883. His wife was the widow of Col. Flynn, who was Postmaster and a business man of Marshall. Mrs. O'Dwyer, an excellent and highly-esteemed resident of Marshall, is a daughter of Felix Hughes, and was born in County Armagh, Ireland, where her father was a farmer. Her mother, Mary Mullen, was also a native of Erin. Mrs. O'Dwyer came to America in 1872, being under the care of Father Edward Ilamill, the pioneer Catholic priest of Marshall. Our subject and his wife have a pleasant and
commodious home and entertain many friends and acquaintances. Ile is the owner of valuable city property, including two brick town buildings and two stores. He is an active member of the New Era Building and Loan Association of Hannibal and St. Joseph, a well-known and substantial Building and Trust Company. As an energetic and prosperous business man and a most excellent citi- zen, our subject is highly respected and has a host of well-wishers and earnest friends. He is a Demo- crat and an ardent supporter of his party, which he often represents in State and county conven- tions. - Religiously, he is a valued member of St. Peter's Church and is ever ready to aid in all its good work and enterprise.
Il. SNODDY, M. D., the able physician and successful general practitioner resid- ing in Slater, is numbered among the prominent and leading citizens of Mis- souri. Ile is a Director of the Slater Savings Bank, and a Director and Vice President of the Slater Building and Loan Association. Largely identified with benevolent and fraternal organiza- tions, Dr. Snoddy has an extended acquaintance, as well as a constantly increasing professional practice. An ardent advocate of progress, he is ever ready to aid in all local improvement, and is widely known as a publie-spirited man.
Our subject was born in Georgetown, Pettis County, Mo., November 5, 1855. Ilis father, a well- known physician of early days in Missouri, was born in Virginia, and came to this State when young. Ile was reared on a farm and for a time followed the pursuit of agriculture in Franklin County, but later entered the Eclectic College at Cincinnati, Ohio, and was graduated from that in- stitution, after which he began the practice of medicine in Carthage, Mo. Ile afterward went to Georgeton, and in 1858 removed to Lamonte, where he engaged successfully in a large practice
166
PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
until 1887. In that year he located in Warrens- burgh, and has now retired from active profes- sional duty.
The mother of our subject was born in Frank- lin County, and was Miss EHla Brown. a daughter of one of the very early settlers of Missouri. Our subject was the fifth in order of birth among eight children. He attended the public school of La- monte, and in 1873 entered the State Normal at Warrensburgh, and continued his studies in that institution until 1876. Later he taught school for one term, and then began the study of medicine under his father, and brother, Dr. A. P. Snoddy. now deceased. In 1880 he attended the American Medical College at St. Louis, a celebrated institu- tion, from which in 1882 he was graduated with the degree of M. D. Immediately after graduat- ing he located in Slater and entered upon a most prosperous career as a practitioner. Hle built an attractive residence in the western part of the city, and has his office at the corner of Main and Emma Streets. From 1883 to 1885 he was inter- ested in the drug business with Dr. Gaines, now of Independence, the firm being known as Gaines & Snoddy.
Dr. Snoddy was married in Warrensburgh, June 30, 1882, to Miss Millie Yankee, who was born in Pettis County, Mo., and received a good educa- tion at Warrensburgh. The pleasant home of our subject and his estimable wife is blessed by the presence of four children: Ona, Vera, Fred W. and Ella. Dr. Snoddy is a member of the Masonic fraternity and belongs to the home Chapter of the Royal Arch Masons. He has been Secretary of the Ancient Order of United Workmen for seven years. For eight years he was Deacon of the Christian Church, but resigned from the position, and is now Trustee of that religious organiza- tion.
As above mentioned, our subject is connected with the Savings Bank, the Slater Building and Loan Association, and was also for some time a member and local Director at Slater of the Equi- table Building and Loan Association of Sedalia. A stalwart Republican and an ardent supporter of the party. Dr. Snoddy has many times received the well-deserved honor of representing his fel-
low-townsmen at various State and county con- ventions. For two years he was a member of the Republican Central Committee and was Chairman of the Township Committee. He was appointed by President Harrison a member of the Board of Pension Examiners of Saline County, but on ac- count of the inconvenience experienced in meet- ing the other members of the Board at Marshall, and also owing to the loss of time thereby occa- sioned, he resigned the position. Continuing in his usual round of professional work, he has but little leisure time, yet he is always ready to do his full share in all public work demanding the attention of every true citizen, and is foremost in kind and charitable deeds.
h ON. I. S. PARSONS. Among the most in- lluential farmers of township 52, range 21, is the gentleman whose name is quoted above and who resides upon his finely im- proved farm on section 9, near Miami. The events of his life, here briefly chronicled, will possess for our readers more than the ordinary interest at- tached to biography. For seven generations our subject is able to trace his ancestry back through a long line of honorable men and women, many of the former having held offices of trust, and all having been persons of note in some way.
The name of the great-grandfather of our sub- ject was William Parsons, and his son was also named William. He with his brothers cleared the ground for the first settlement of the town of Nor- way, Me., where the father of our subject, Henry R., was born in 1787. Hle married Betsey Gross, and engaged in business at South Paris, Oxford County, Me., where the subject of our sketch was born in 1825. The grandfather was a soldier of the Revolution, and during the late war our subject showed that the ancestral bravery was not yet extinguished.
Our subject is one of a family of seven ehil- dren, six of whom are now living, all having been
167
PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
born in Maine: William II. married Miss Preston and now resides in Brooklyn, N. Y .; Emeline is married and still remains in her native State; Sarah W. became the wife of W. T. Hewett; Anna married Elisha Morse, and resides in Maine; Oliver married C. Jewell, and makes his home in Minne- sota; and Abbie, Mrs I. D. Gilkey, resides in lowa. George died at the age of eight years.
During the early life of our subject he enjoyed many advantages which the boys in frontier set- tlements did not have. Ilis education was ac- quired in the schools of South Paris and was com- pleted by the time he reached his twentieth year. A period of five years of teaching followed, for which his excellent education had prepared him. At the end of that time he decided to seek a home in the West, and made his first move into Indiana; he later went to Kentucky, and finally, November 7, 1847, he landed in the town of Miami, Saline County, Mo., coming hithier via boat up the Mis- souri River, Ilere he resumed teaching, which he followed for some time.
Desiring a change of occupation, our subject purchased a tract of land consisting of three hun- dred acres, which had been partially improved, and for which he paid $10 per acre. This he further improved and sold a portion at a fair advance, retaining, however, a snug home farm of sixty acres, which is now well cultivated and finely improved. The grove surrounding the place and the beautiful shrubbery would instantly mark this as a home of taste and refinement.
The estimable lady who directs the domestic affairs and makes the sunshine of this home was formerly Miss Kate Hill. She was born in South Paris, Me., and is the daughter of Capt. Thomas Ilill, a veteran of the War of 1812. In 1850 she became the wife of Mr. Parsons, and five children have been added to the family circle, as follows: Flora, born in 1851, married J. F. Burroughs, and resides in Saline County, Mo .; Ella, born in 1855, died at the age of twenty-six years; Betty, who was born in 1858, married William S. Booths, and resides in Dakota; Emma, born in 1860, and Annie, whose birth occurred in 1867, remain at home with their parents. The children were all educated in their native town of Miami.
Politically, our subject is a Democrat. He has had the honor of representing the people of the Ninth Senatorial District in the Legislature, to which honorable office he was elected in 1876 by a large majority. He also served in the Southern army, enlisting from Saline County in Shelby's regiment, in which he rose to the rank of Lieuten- ant, and was the commander at the time of the final surrender, the superior officers being in Mexico.
B ERNARD V. MEAD. A railroad engineer's life is so attended with danger that one needs to have a remarkably sunny and sanguine temperament to be happy and at ease in filling such a position. Our subject is an ideal member of the brotherhood. lle is a clever man and a genial, good-natured companion. As a teller of stories, either in the family, where, by the way, he is most delightful, or on the road, he is quite unapproachable. Located at Slater, Saline County, Mo., Mr. Mead is the engineer of a pas- senger train on the Chicago & Alton Railroad, running from Kansas City to Roodhouse.
Our subjeet was born in Birmingham, Erie County, Ohio, September 13, 1840, a son of Dr. Alric B. and Sallie (Warner) Mead. Ilis father was a native of Hartford, Conn., as was also his grandfather, who was a manufacturer of iron, hav- ing a furnace and foundry. Mr. Mead traces his ancestry back to his Puritan fathers of English origin. His father graduated as a physician at Ilartford, Conn,, and on removing to Ohio, studied two years at Oberlin College. Ile began prac- tiee at Birmingham, Ohio, but in 1844 located at Twelve-Mile Grove, Ill., near Wilton Center. In connection with his profession as a physician, he carried on farming, being the owner of one hun- dred and twenty acres of good land. In 1847, he removed to doliet, Ill., where he practiced until November, 1879, at which date his decease oc- curred. Ile was a prominent man and a highly
168
PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
esteemed physician. He served as County Coroner for many years and also as County Physician.
Our subject's mother was born in Vermont, near Montpelier, and was a daughter of Alfred Warner. a farmer in the Green Mountain State, who early settled in Ohio. His daughter Sallie graduated from a college in Virginia and was engaged as a teacher. She still survives and makes her residence at Morris, Il. Of her six children our subject is the second in order of birth. The others are: Flavius JJ., who is in the furniture business at Georgetown, Colo .; Solon S., who resides in Indi- anapolis; Melville, who is in charge of the library at Joliet; Amanda, who is now Mrs. Bowers and lives at Ilennepin, Ill .; and Theresa, who is Mrs. Field, of Morris, IH.
Our subject was but four years old when taken by his parents to Ilinois. The journey was made with team and they located at Twelve-Mile Grove. After a residence of seven years there, they re- moved to doliet, and in that early day Mr. Mead shot more than one deer, beside other game. Ile attended the public and High Schools at Joliet, and his ambition to get on in the world found vent by working on the neighboring farms, for which labor he received from $7 to 814 per month. Ile later purchased a threshing-machine and a span of horses, and did a good business with this outlit.
Upon the breaking out of the war, our subject enlisted in Company A, of the Fourth Illinois Cavalry, in August, 1861. He was mustered in at Ottawa, at Camp Hunter, and marching to C'entra- lia took the train for Cairo. He participated in the battles of Belmont and Ft. Henry, and in March, 1862, was in the six days' siege at Donelson. He was also a participant in the battles of Shiloh, Corinth, Iuka, Holly Springs and Coffeeville. He was then sent to Louisiana and joined the camp at Milliken's Bend, where he was detailed to scout duty and engaged in several skirmishes. On ro- turning to HHinois, he was dispatched to the front, and took part in the siege of Vicksburg, also in the battles of Grand Gulf, Point Gibson, Raymond, Jackson ( Miss.), Champion Hill. Black River, and in the forty-seven days' siege at Vicksburg. Ile then accompanied Gen. Custer on the Red River expedition, and was taken sick at Alexandria, La.
After convalescing in hospital, he went to Galves- ton in 1865, and during the furlough home which was granted him, received his discharge by general order. Ile was made Orderly-Sergeant, and while lying sick at Galveston received his commission as Second Lieutenant. His term of service extended from August, 1861, 10 April. 1866. Naturally, our subject had many adventures and escapades that would be interesting reading could they be here given.
For a time after the close of the war, Mr. Mead was very ill, and on recovering was placed in charge of the cooper shop and chair factory in the penitentiary at Joliet. While there one hundred and fifty-eight convicts were working under him. His shop was an extensive place and his responsi- bility was great. On one occasion, he discovered a plot laid by the prisoners for the escape of all. March 7, 1867, Mr. Mead was offered a position on the Chicago & Alton Railroad by lol A. Mitchell, the President. The position was that of a fireman out of Joliet. In 1869, he took charge of engine No. 12 and continued to run on that until Octo- ber, 1871, when he came to Missouri. He ran a construction engine at the time of laying the track between Mexico and Cedar City. He then en- gineered a passenger train for five years, and in the fall of 1877 ran engine No. 165 on the Kansas City Division.
In 1879, our subject encountered a broken rail, which whirled his engine around, heading it the other way. The expressman was killed and our subject received twenty-seven euts on his body. On recovering from his two months' sickness after this catastrophe, he was given charge of No. 188, while since 1886 he has run engine No. 222. Mr. Mead has laid up a comfortable sum out of his earnings, and owns some valuable real estate in Kansas City, beside a residence in Slater that makes a comfortable and pleasant home for his family. Ile was married in Joliet, October 16, 1867. to Miss Mettie A. Campbell, who was born in Quiney, Branch County, Mich. Her father, Thomas Campbell, was a native of Schenectady, N. Y., and was a farmer in Michigan. He now re- sides with our subject. Mr. and Mrs. Mead be- came parents of three children, whose names are
169
PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
Fred E., Louisa and Adell. The eklest is a fore- man on the Chicago & Alton Railroad. The elder daughter died at the age of nineteen, at Cold- water, Mieh. The younger daughter, Adell. is at home.
Our subject belongs to the Brotherhood of Lo- comotive Engineers, being a Chief. He was a de- legate to the National Convention in 1885, and to that held in Chicago in 1887. Hle is the General Chairman of the Brotherhood Adjusting Com- mittee on the Chicago & Alton Railroad. Ile be- longs to the Free & Accepted Masons and also to the Royal Arch Masons, and to the Missouri Com- mandery No. 36, of Knights Templar, Marshall, Mo. In politics, Mr. Mead is a Democrat.
Mr. and Mrs. Mead celebrated their silver wed- ding on Tuesday, October 18, 1892 (their annivers- ary falling on October 16, it being Sunday), when they were the recipients of many costly presents from their friends.
QUIRE J. FITZGEREL, one of the repre- sentative pioneer citizens of La Fayette County, Mo., is the subject of the present writing. The changes which have taken place in the forty years of his residenee in the county are almost startling. Many of these he has taken part in, while he has witnessed most of them, and feels that he has cause to rejoice, that, not- withstanding the ravages of war and the visits of storms and floods, the county of his choice has so bravely held her own in the march of civilization. Mr. Fitzgerel was born in Shelby County, Ky .. November 27, 1818, a son of Silas and Susan (Tyler) Fitzgerel, both of whom were natives of Virginia who had removed into Kentucky at an early day.
Several of the uncles of our subject were sol- diers in the War of 1812, and his maternal ances- tors ean be traced back to William Tyler, who was born December 27, 1747, in Virginia. Our sub- jeet was a mere child at the time of the death of
his father. At the age of sixteen years he was doubly bereft by the death of his mother, and he was thus early thrown upon his own resources. For about one year he worked for his uncle Benja- min on a farm, receiving $5 per month, and he subsequently worked for a year and a-half for Dr. R. J. Spur, at 88 a month. Then he served an ap- prenticeship of three years at the trade of a car- penter and joiner, following this for some twenty years.
The only education he received was a short term in the early subscription schools, but all of his life he has been fond of reading, and although he is entirely self-made, a stranger would not imagine it from any discoverable lack. The marriage of Mr. Fitzgerel took place in September, 1840, when he was united in wedlock with Miss Emeline Car- ter, who was born in Bourbon County, Ky. Of her children the following survive: Frances, the wife of Moses Anson; Henry C .; Mary F., who is the wife of .I. B. Santmyer; and Anna, who is the wife of William B. Martin. Those deceased are: James William, a soldier in the Confederate army, who died leaving a wife and four children; and John H., who left at his death a wife and two chil- dren.
The first wife of our subject died in 1872, and in 1873 he married Mrs. Susan C. Seeber, the widow of the late Dr. Seeber, of La Fayette County. By this union two children have been added to the family, Squire 1. and Evaline. With the family is Cornelius W., the son of Mrs. Fitzgerel by her former marriage. In the fall of 1851, Mr. Fitz- gerel located in La Fayette County, and the next spring he brought his family here. They settled upon a farm a short distance northwest of Aull- ville, where he first purchased one hundred and sixty aeres of land, forty of which were under cultivation.
Our subjeet continued to add land to his orig- inal purchase, until he had about eight hundred acres. As his children married he gave each a portion, but remained upon the old place until 1872, and the next year he came into the town. His landed possessions are still large, as he has been a very successful business man, and has un- derstood how to manage his financial affairs. Dur-
170
PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. .
ing the war his business was interfered with to some degree, as he joined Shelby's brigade and was one of Capt. Bladso's battery. participating in the battles of Carthage, Springfield and Lexing- ton, suffering capture at one time by Lane's com- mand, about twelve miles west of Clinton, Mo .; but he was duly exchanged, and about two days after the war ended he returned and resumed his usual occupations.
Mr. Fitzgerel is a Democrat in his political feel- ings, and takes an active part in the deliberations of his party, although early in life he was an old- line Whig. The church which accepted the re- forms made by Alexander Campbell, and is now called the Christian Church, has many good and pious members throughout the State of Missouri, and among them stands our subject. He is a man of great intelligence, and very interesting are his reminiscences of pioneer life. Looking over his broad and well-cultivated fields and at his sleek horses, it seems impossible to realize that there was a time when these fields were broken and plowed by the slow-moving oxen. Mr. Fitzgerel is spend- ing his last years in peace and comfort, after a life full of adventure and toil.
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.