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 18
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 18
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a skillful physician, and a noble Christian gentle- man. He was born in Albemarle County, Va., May 30. 1803, a son of James Ballard, who came West when Dr. Ballard was but a lad of six years. A common English education, such as was obtain- able at that time, was the best that William re- ceived, but when he left school he did not cease studying. In fact. he was always studious, becom- ing in time a man of superior culture and attain- ments. Especially was Dr. Ballard noted for his wonderful memory.
In connection with the above statement it may be remarked that the greater part of the Bible was at the call of Dr. Ballard. so thoroughly had he read and studied the Sacred Word. For a period of forty-six years he was connected with the Methodist Church. having united with it in 1832. in Jessamine County, Ky. Very early in his reli- gious life. he became an exhorter and local preacher. His sermons and addresses always com- manded attention, not only on account of their literary and oratorical merits, but also on account of the vast fund of stories and anecdotes with which he illustrated his remarks. A thorough Methodist, he was still liberal in his views, and often visited churches of other denominations. In 1822. Dr. Ballard married Elizabeth Tapp, near Nicholasville, Ky., a lady who was but eight days younger than himself. Their union was blessed with nine children, those still living being as fol- lows: Dr. L. J. Ballard, of Saybrook, Ill .; William A., of Clay County, Mo .; Mrs. Duvall, our subject; Miranda E., wife of Dr. Hiram II. Rutlege, of Hillsboro, Ill .; and Emily F., wife of Anderson Brown, of Peoria, Ill.
Dr. Ballard removed to Bloomington in 1855, and. excepting for about one year and a-half, al- ways lived in the house where he died. His medical diploma was received from the Transylvania Medi- cal School. of Lexington, Ky., in 1833, and for about forty-live years he successfully practiced his profession. The death of this good man, which was presumably from some affection of the heart, was not wholly unexpected. as he had been con- fined to the house for some two months. The be- loved and honored mother of Mrs. Duvall was Elizabeth Tapp Ballard, who was born in Culpeper
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County, Va., June 17, 1803, and whose demise occurred at the residence of her daughter, Mrs. Dr. II. Il. Rutlege, in Hillsboro, Ill .. at the advanced age of eighty-one years and ten months. In early life, she removed with her parents to Kentucky and settled in Jessamine County, where she was married to the late Dr. W. J. Ballard, November 11, 1824. " Mother " Ballard, with her husband, located at Nicholasville, Ky., where they resided until 1855, when they removed to Bloomington, Ill., and there lived most happily until June 26, 1878, when occurred the death of Dr. Ballard. Some time after his death Mrs. Ballard decided to spend the remainder of her days with her children in Saybrook and Hillsboro, Il. She had been a faithful mother, had lived beyond her expectations, and death found her ready and willing to go to join those who had gone before. She was a Christian wife and mother, patient, kind, intelli- gent and truc.
Our subject was reared in the pleasant town of Nicholasville, Ky., where her father was a practic- ing physician and minister of the Gospel. She re- ceived a liberal education, growing to womanhood an intelligent and fair daughter of a State noted for its charming women, and there was united in matrimony, May 1, 1851, with William P. Duvall. The latter was a native of Woodford County, Ky., born January 11, 1820, a son of George II. and Elizabeth (Price) Duvall, both of whom were na- tives of Virginia. In his native State, he grew to manhood, receiving a fair education, which he supplemented through life with varied reading. For a time following the marriage, Mr. and Mrs. Duvall resided in Kentucky, but later removed to the State of Missouri, loeating in Lexington, La Fayette County, where they resided for a quarter of a century.
At this time Mr. Duvall was engaged in the business of photographing, conducting it with great success, but the confinement told upon his health, and he found it advisable to seek a more active employment. Hence, in 1869, the family moved out to the pleasant farm where Mrs. Duvall now resides, where they lived until just prior to his deatlı, when they moved back to Lexington. His decease took place April 30, 1877, and he
passed from earth a man respected by all with whom he had ever come in contact. The Christian Church had always found in him a firm supporter, for he loved its service, and was one of its most efficient and valued Deacons. Always ready to contribute to anything which his good judgment told him was for the advancement of the material interests of the town or county, he became one of the prominent men of the community. Especially was our subject known for his hospitality, and inany there are in the county who have partaken of it. Mrs. Duvall is also an active worker, not only in the Christian Church, but in all that con- eerns the good of the neighborhood. She is a good neighbor, a kind friend, and one ever ready and willing to afford assistance, if within her power.
The family of Mr. and Mrs. Duvall consisted of nine children, four of whom are living, as follows: Elizabeth, the wife of C. W. Kennedy; George W .. Charles J., and James R. John II., a son by a former marriage of Mr. Duvall, is also living. The farm upon which Mrs. Duvall makes her home, and which is in her possession, consists of one hundred and twenty acres of land, and this is in a fine state of cultivation. Her life is a quiet, peaceful one, devoted to the ordinary duties of her station, and to the dispensing of the true hospitality which her husband so dearly loved to show. Although but sixty-three years of age, she has seen a wonderful growth and development in the State and county since her coming here. May her days be long and pleasantly occupied, until her summons comes to join those gone before.
6 SHEODORE IIUPP. The owner and occupier of the excellent farm located on section 8, township 52, Saline County, is the gentle- man whose name is to be seen at the head of this sketch. Ile is a native of the Hoosier State and was born in La Porte, November 5, 1855. Ile is a son of Abraham and Louisa IIupp. Our subjeet was
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educated at Huntsville (Mo.) Academy, and left school at the age of nineteen years well equipped to take upon himself the responsibilities of a busi- ness life
Mr. Hupp was engaged in work upon his father's farm and had a partnership in the same until the place was cleared up and out of debt. He built a good house and barn and greatly improved the place in general. Later his father gave him a tract comprising forty acres of land, which was well worth at that time $1.200. Upon this he erected a snug little house, devoting to it the savings from his hard labor. About that time he married Miss Martha Davis, their marriage being solemnized November 12, 1879. She was a native of Saline County and was born in 1861. being the daughter of Tyre and Mary Davis. The young couple immediately moved into the little home which had previously been prepared for their occu- paney. They remained there one year and added to the original tract one hundred and forty acres, which was valued at $30 per acre.
This last addition to the property was purchased on credit, but in the incredibly short space of three years he had so managed as to have discharged the entire indebtedness. It took Spartan energy and the severest economy on the part of himself and wife to accomplish this. At the same time he was in partnership with his father and purchased with him another traet of fifty-seven acres, for $19 per aere. This was sold at the expiration of three years to a Mr. Watson Wood. About this time Mr. Ilupp purchased at sheriff's sale, of the Mc Amis heirs, a tract of one hundred and seventy- two and a-half acres, for which he paid $20 an acre. This brought upon him new obligations and incumbrance, but he paid off the indebtedness, partly in work. Ile had to resort to many make- shifts in order to raise the money. growing wheat and herding cattle to get together the payments on the land, but at the expiration of four years he was again free from debt. Ile now has an attrac- tive and comfortable home, with barns and out- buildings in keeping with the place.
Mr. and Mrs. Hupp have been made happy by the advent into their home life of live children. Neither have they been spared sorrow, for only
two of their children are now living. The eldest, Erma, who was born in 1880, attends school in the vicinity of her home. Roseoe was born in 1887. Mr. Hupp is, and has been since boyhood, an ener- getic worker and a public-spirited business man. Many men who find it necessary to devote much time to the drudgery of business find the process hardening to the better nature. Not so with our subject. however, as witness his treatment of his nephew, Walter Crane, who was left as a boy of five years to the care of his grandfather. He made his home with him twelve years and then came to live with our subject, with whom he has since re- sided. sharing equally in all the property with the original of our sketeh.
Mr. and Mrs. Hupp are members of the Baptist Church, and the interest that he gives to religion is of the most active sort. When the new Baptist Church was built some few years ago, Mr. Hupp was appointed Trustee and also one of the Deacons, and has continued to be so associated ever since. Politieally. our subject is a Republican, and, al- though he is not an aspirant for office, he takes a very active interest in local affairs.
AMES E. PAYNE, the editor of the Intelli- gencer, published in Lexington, Mo., and one of the oldest newspapers in this section of the State. is a fluent editorial writer and an excellent business manager, thoroughly posted in all details of newspaper work. Our subject was born in Christian County, Ky., January 21. 1811. His father. Edward Payne, was of English descent, but was himself a native of Kentucky. and a successful agriculturist of the State. llis wife. Mary Ann Callaway, was born in Kentucky, and was a daughter of lohn Callaway, who served with courage in the Revolutionary War, and was a native of Virginia. Mrs. Edward Payne was al- so a distant relative of Daniel Boone, of Ken- tucky.
Edward Payne died in Russeliville, Ky .. in
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1840, shortly before the birth of our subjeet, whose devoted mother passed away in Cass County, Mo. James E. Payne was the youngest of seven children, two girls and five manly boys compris- ing the home cirele. Our subject spent his youth- ful days in the States of Illinois and Missouri, and moved to Kansas City in 1857, attending a private school one session. In 1861 Mr. Payne entered the Confederate service, and enlisted in Company A, Sixth Missouri Infantry, Confederate States of America, of which he was First Sergeant, and participated in the following battles: Elkhorn Tavern, luka, Corinth, Ft. Gibson, Champion Hill, and Vicksburg, and in the various engagements of the long campaign distinguished himself by his courageous conduct upon the field of war. Our subject was wounded in the conflicts of Cor- inth, Champion Hill and at Vicksburgh, and gave four years of faithful service.
At the close of the war, returning to Kansas City, he engaged in business as a civil engineer, and did work for the city, remaining in this place busily employed for three years. In 1868 he be- came connected with the Commercial Advertiser and in 1871 established the Cass County Courier, which he successfully edited in Harrisonville, Mo .. for eight years. At the expiration of this length of time, Mr. Payne purchased the Sentinel, which he continued to publish at Independence until 1890, when he sold out his interest in the paper, and in 1891 bought the Intelligencer, in Lexington, which at the present time he edits and controls. The readable paper. nine-column folio, issued each week, is Democratie in politics, and has a good circulation both in the city of Lexington and in the surrounding country, and has been established since 1871. The Intelligencer is attrac- tive in appearance, and is most ably conducted, and is surely winning its way into still 'more ex- tended favor.
Our subject was married in 1878 to Miss Anna flickman, of Independence, Mo., her father, Edwin Hickman, being a well-known resident of that city. The marriage of Mr. and Mrs. Payne has been blessed by the birth of one daughter and three sons. Katherine is the wife of Fred II. Starr, of the Kansas City Bank of Commerce; Robert
Emmet and John Howard, the two sons, are well known in Lexington, while the third son is dead. Mr. and Mrs. Payne are among the members of the Christian Church, and are identified with the enterprises and good works of that denomination.
AMES B. HOOK, an excellent business man of the city of Lexington, Mo., is the subject of this sketch. His occupation is that of selling farm machinery, feed and seed, the business having been established by his father about 1868. Ile was welcomed into the world in Lexington Township, La Fayette County, Mo., January 19, 1850, a son of Joseph and Par- thena Ann (Carlisle) Hook, natives of Virginia. They came to the State of Missouri in 1843, and lived in Livingston County until 1844, when they came to La Fayette and located upon a farm, where they remained until 1868, when Mr. Hook came into Lexington and there started his store, which our subject bought in 1889, and Mr. Hook, Sr., re- tired from business and lives in this city. The mother died here in 1884, in her sixty-fifth year.
Onr subjeet is one of a family of eight children, six of whom are still living. James B. spent his early years on the farm, then attended the Lex- ington schools, and later took a business course in Spalding's Commercial College, in Kansas City. Following this he entered into the farm implement business in Odessa, but returned to Lexington in 1884, when he formed a partnership with his father in the implement trade, which he now conduets alone. llis marriage took place in Lexington. in 1882, with Miss Eliza Sandifer, of this city, a daugh- ter of Robert Sandifer, and two sons, Harry and Omar, have blessed this union.
In his political opinions Mr. Hook is a Democrat, and in 1890 was elected to till the office of Justice of the Peace for a term of four years. Socially he is a member of the order of the Knights of Pythias, having joined in 1878. ITis religious connection
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is with the First Baptist Church, in which he is a valued member. The family residence is in a beautiful part of the city, near Central College. Our subject may be called one of the rising men of Lexington, as he has displayed those business traits of character which insure success.
REDERICK R. NEET. Who has ever heard of Southerners doing without the luxury of iee? And this aid in the dainties, in the making of which the Southern women are notable, is the source of handsome revenue to many large firms. Our subject, Mr. Neet, is a dealer in Lex- ington, La Fayette County, in both natural and artificial ice. He was born in Jessamine County, Ky., and is a son of Jacob and Sarah ( Robb) Neet. They were a family of farmers, as the largest and best portion of Blue Grass residents are.
Up to seventeen years of age our subject re- mained at home and attended the common school. Hle was then apprenticed to learn the carpenter's trade, at which he worked until 1852. when he came to Lexington and was employed at his trade until 1861. In April of that year he enlisted in the First Regiment of Missouri Infantry, com- manded at that time by Frank Blair. He was the sixty-first man in the State of Missouri to enlist in the Union army, and for three months gave faithful service. Ile was then appointed Captain to recruit a company, and was breveted Captain of the First Regiment from New Mexico.
Mr. Neet was taken prisoner at the battle of Lexington, Mo., but was exchanged and enlisted in the Eighth Regiment of Kansas Infantry, with which he served until after the battle of Shiloh. In 1862 he was promoted to the office of Major of the Tenth Missouri Cavalry, and remained with them until the close of the war. Thus it may be seen that Mr. Neet is of the fiber of which heroes are made.
Our subject engaged in the cultivation of fruits and vegetables near Lexington, which business he
condueted until 1882. The demand for ice had then become so great as to promise an important industry, and the opportunity was seized by our subject to develop the enterprise. He has been very successful, and handles large quantities of both the natural and artificial article. In politics Mr. Neet is a Republican, the principles of that party having been his for many years. He is a member of the ,James A. Mulligan Post No. HI, G. A. R., and was Commander for four years.
In 1868 our subject married Miss Ella, a daugh- ter of William A. Bethel, of this city. Mr. and Mrs. Neet are the parents of one daughter. Alva by name, and the light of the household. Aside from his business as described. our subject pays considerable attention to the raising of fruit, for which he finds a ready market at home.
HARLES W. HOUSTON. Among the pleas- ant, genial residents of Saline County, none are more favorably known than the subject of this sketch. Although his birth took place in the old Dutch county of Laneaster, Pa .. upon JJune 27, 1826, his family originated among the dells and glens of Scotland. The first representatives of the Houston family in America came here with a colony of Scotch-Presbyterians at a very early day, and settled in Pennsylvania. There were five brothers, of whom the great-grandfather of our subject was one. They all did not remain together, but two settled in the South, and there reared families, from one branch of which de- scended the Texan patriot, Gen. Sam Houston.
The grandfather of our subjeet, who bore the name of Samuel, was a native of Pennsylvania, and at a place locally known as " The Gap." six- teen miles from the thriving city of Lancaster, he passed his last years. He had been a man of con- siderable property and of influence in the county. At that home the father of our subject, named Will- iam, was born in 1800, and there passed his boy - hood and youth. At the age of maturity, he en-
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gaged in the iron business in Bellefonte, Centre County, Pa. He married Miss Elizabeth B. Noble, a lady born in Philadelphia, July 21, 1803. who died July 4, 1868, in Saline County, Mo. She was the daughter of William Noble, of Chester County, l'a.
In 1847, Mr. Houston discontinued his iron business, and in 1849 went to California, taking the Isthmus route. There he died in 1859, having made but one visit home during all those years. llis family consisted of tive children, as follows: Samuel N., deceased; Charles W., our subject; Franklin, deceased; William, deceased; and Ilenry A., who lives near Grand Rapids, Mich. The see- ond son of the above-named Mi. Houston is the immediate subject of the biographer's notice, and if he had not been a prominent man in his county his life would not have possessed the interest which it does for the general reader. lle has seen life in several of the best States in the Union, hav- ing grown up under his father's care and in his business while residing in the Keystone State.
In the spring of 1849, our subject came to Waverly, La Fayette County. Mo., and at that time he found but a wild, uncultivated streteh of land. It possessed much natural beauty, but it is not probable that this influenced the early settlers as much as did the unmistakable fertility of the soil and the salubrity of the climate. Ilere on subject made his home, and often enjoyed the pas- time of hunting, as the country at that time was simply overrun with wild turkeys, geese, brant, ducks and quail. This pastime was principally car- ried on in the winter, as the summer brought more serious duties. The love of sportsman-like enjoy- ments has not yet left our subject, and it is no un- usual sight to see him upon a brisk autumn morn- ing, with gun on shoulder, accompanied by friend and dog, on his way to some old haunts, although he does not find game as plentiful as in the days gone by.
In the spring of 1850, our subject, joining in with a party of some sixty others, made an over- land trip to California. The company formed at Lexington, Mo., going by the way of Salt Lake, a part making the trip north of it, and the other west of it, both parties re-uniting about one
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hundred miles beyond Salt Lake, arriving within a few minutes of each other. Our subject reached California in August, 1850, and remained there until the winter of 1851. when he returned home by way of Central America, spending the greater part of the winter in that wonderful country, and arriving at home in the spring of 1852.
The first marriage of our subject took place No- vember 15. 1853, with Miss Margaret Major, and the following children blessed this union: Laura L., who became the wife of llenry Scearce, of La Fayette County, and Noble M. Mrs. Houston was the daughter of O. T. and Nancy J. Major, and died November 6, 1857. The second marriage of Mr. Ilouston was celebrated October 12, 1858, with Miss Frances A. Fackler, in Leavenworth City, Kan., and two children, Charles F. and Martha E., have resulted from this marriage.
In the spring of 1855, our subject embarked in business in Waverly, Mo., and later settled upon the farm in Saline County where he now lives. This is a fine piece of property, consisting of one hundred and sixty-five aeres. Until recently Mr. Houston had been a Democrat, but he has he- come a member of the Farmers' Alliance and now votes the Third party ticket. The family of Mrs. Ilouston has an interesting record, which we take pleasure in giving below: The ancestors of the Fackler family came to America from Ger- many, and the father of Mrs. Houston, Jacob Fackler, was born in llagerstown, Md. The fam- ily name is an old one in the State of Maryland, having been known there for over two hundred years. One of its early members became Presi- dent of the second college that was founded in this country. Grandfather Fackler, a Captain in the Revolutionary army, later became a merchant in Richmond, Va., moving from there to Staunton, Va., where he carried on the same business until his death. During life he leased property for a term of ninety-nine years. and upon this his de- scendants lived until within three years of the ex- piration of the lease.
Jacob Fackler, whose birth occurred in Maryland, in 1771, died in Saline County, Mo., in 1855. When he had attained his majority, he entered into the mercantile business with his father in
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Virginia, and there married Miss Matilda Morris. of Louisa County. Va., in 1810. She was a daugh- ter of Guthrie Morris, a prominent resident of that county. When seventy-five years old. Mr. Fackler came from Virginia to Missouri on horse- back and bought a farm six miles south of Mar- shall, where he lived until 1850. He then, with his son George, located on section 5, township 50. range 23. The mother's death occurred in Sept- ember, 1844. These worthy people had been the parents of twelve children, of whom the following survive: Mary C .. wife of Thomas Gaines, of Sa- line County: Elizabeth E., residing in Los Angeles. Cal .; Martha L., the widow of Albert Major, of Los Angeles; Frances A., Mrs. Houston ; Rev. D. M., pastor of an Episcopal Church in New York City; Dr. G. M., of Kansas City; and George I., also of Kansas City. The rest of the family have passed away.
APT. JOSEPH R. BARNETT, a well-known and prosperous agriculturist and successful breeder and stock-raiser of blooded cattle and fine trotting horses, is numbered among the prominent and progressive citizens of Lexington Township, La Fayette County. Mo. His valuable farm. highly improved and yielding, under the excellent management of our subject, an abundant erop annually. is located upon section 20, township 50, range 26. Capt. Barnett is a native of the good oldl State of Kentucky, whose proud boast has always been that no State in the Union has ever produced more brave men or lovelier women. Madison County was the carly home of our subjeet, and within its borders he was born in July, 1829.
The paternal and maternal ancestors of the Bar- nett family were of Scotch. English and Irish do- seent. The grandfather of our subject. Judge Joseph Barnett, was a member of the first families of the Old Dominion and was born and educated in Virginia. Hle later became one of the early set- tlers of Kentucky and was a man of eminence and
ability. The father and mother of Capt. Barnett were Joseph and Elizabeth (Ryland) Barnett. both natives of Virginia, who afterward removed to Kentucky and reared their family in their adopted State. where they were well known and highly re- spected. Our subject spent the early days of his boyhood in Madison County. and in attending school and assisting his father the years went by until reaching his eighteenth year, when he came in the fall of 1818 to La Fayette County.
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