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 19
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 19
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In 1849 Capt. Barnett. allured by the fabulous stories of the golden El Dorado of the West. started on the overland trip to California, and, slowly crossing the country by team. was six months on the road. Reaching the Golden State our subject at first devoted himself to mining and prospecting. After a time he engaged in transporting Govern- ment supplies, and a full decade had passed away when, in 1859, he returned once again to Missouri and successfully entered into the agricultural du- ties which have ever since claimed his steady at- tention. For some time he has profitably handled thoroughbred Jersey cattle and also owns some es- pecially fine trotting stock. llis commodious sta- bles hold thirty head of trotting horses of the famed Hambletoman. Wilkes and Mambrino stock. These finely bred horses have already established a record as fast trotters and give great promise of speed on the track. The farm of one hundred and fifty acres is thriftily managed, and its constantly increasing harvest yields a handsome return for the care and labor expended in enriching and eul- tivating the soil.
Capt. Barnett took unto himself a wife in 1871, at this date marrying Miss Clarice, a daughter of Lawson Grant, a native of Marysville. Ky., who made his home in Missouri when he was a young and energetie man. Our subject's wife was born and reared in Missouri, and both Captain and Mrs. Bar- nett are widely known and highly esteemed. Our subject has passed years of usefulness and honor. and is numbered among the substantial citizens whose best efforts in life are given in behalf of the upward progress and rapid advancement of the prominent interests of their immediate homes and vicinity. Actively realizing the importance of wise and efficient conduct of local and national
THE NEW YORK PUBLIC LIBRARY
ASTOR, LENOX AND TILDEN FOUNDATIONS R
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J. J. Gross.
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polities, Capt. Barnett is a strong Democrat and rejoices in the success of that party whose princi- ples and platform his ancestors worthily sustained. As for himself, never seeking political preferment, he is content to do his duty at the polls and abide by the result with the calin certainty that the great privilege is given to every true American citizen to aid in the guidance of our glorious Ship of State.
OIIN J. GROSS is a prominent and highly respected farmer of Saline County, and re- sides on scetion 26, township 49, range 23, where he and his amiable wife have estab- lished a cozy home. Ile is well informed, and has a store of knowledge gained by actual experience in different portions of the country, having traveled quite extensively, and seen not a little of the hard- ships of life, His biography reads like a story- book, and is more interesting than the ordinary novel, because it is known to be true. Ilis ex- perience in the Western country as a gold-hunter furnishes some thrilling incidents, as well as tales of suffering and danger, that would fill a good- sized volume if written out in detail.
The subject of our sketch was born in Bavaria, Germany, on the 27th of Marel, 1830. His par- ents, Conrad and Salome (Dather) Gross, were also from Bavaria, The father, who was a farmer, emigrated to America with his wife and two chil- dren. Elizabeth and John, in the year 1830, sailing from Ilavre, France, and landing in Philadelphia after a voyage of more than two months. He located in Warren County, Pa., and engaged in farming, buying land there. In June, 1836, the family moved to Naperville, Du Page County, Ill., where they bought land, and there the father died in April, 1850, at the age of fifty-four. lle had been sick much of the time for years, having in- jured his health when clearing land in Pennsyl- vania, where he was a pioneer among the Alle- ghanies. When in the Old Country he served six years in the army in Bavaria, with head-quarters at Londau. After coming to America, he joined
the Whig party. In the Evangelical Association he served as Class-leader, exhorter and Trustee. The mother was again married, taking for her second husband Jacob Schnaveley. She died in 1864.
Of the five children of his father's family, our subjeet was the second, and he with a sister, Mrs. E. G. Morton, of Naperville, Ill., are the only survivors. A younger brother, Daniel N., served in the late War, being an Orderly under Gen. Sumner, and was wounded in the battle of the Wilderness. He died in Yankton, S. Dak., in 1890, being at the time of his death a hardware mer- chaut of that place, and also County Auditor. HIe had been Treasurer of Du Page County, III., and tor thirteen years served as Postmaster of Naper- ville, the same county. Ile was a prominent mem- ber of the Congregational Church and a highly esteemed man. Another brother crossed the plains in 1852, and died in California at the age of twenty-one.
John J. was reared on the farm. llis education was limited to the instruction received in the old log schoolhouse of that day. His father's health being poor, and he being the eldest at home, natur- ally a great deal of care and work devolved upon him. He remamed at home until 1850, and on March 21 of that year left Naperville to begin a journey across the plains to California, where he wished to mine for gold. Ile went with a com- pany of men with teans, and en route stopped at Salt Lake City, and listened to the preaching of Brigham Young. Toward the end of his journey, his provisions gave out, and he suffered the lack of food for many meals.
The party camped on the summit of the Sierra Nevada Mountains on the night of July 23, and there our traveler was obliged to leave his horse, taking his pack upon his back. In crossing the Great American Desert he almost perished for want of water, but meeting a few good Samaritans received aid from them, Mr. Gross began mining August 7, 1850, the second day after his arrival at Placerville, Cal. At this time he was in debt to the amount of $51.50, but was so successful that he soon found gold enough to clear his indebted- ness, and purchase a few tools beside.
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About that time, when everything seemed so fa- vorable, our miner was taken il with typhoid fever and other complications, and here again he found good Samaritans to care for him. But his sick- ness cost him a large sum of money: he paid $18 a week to be waited upon; his doctor's bill was 88 a day, and at the end of his two months' illness, he was about $1000 in debt. This was a discouraging state of affairs, but he went to work bravely to make good the loss, as soon as he was sutliciently recovered, This time his work was in "Dead Man's HoHow," and along "Muddy Springs." He worked there during the winter of 1850-51, doing well, and paying each week something toward his debt. On Sunday he usually carried his little sack of gold dust that he had earned during the week to those whom he owed for caring for him. He had to walk eight miles to do this, but continued doing so until he had paid every cent of the debt. The people who saved his life at the critical period mentioned were .James Johnson and Mr. and Mrs. Alverson, all from Naperville, IH., and Dr. Clark from Chicago.
After his debt was paid, Mr. Gross went to Northern California and worked for a short time in the mines at Weaverville, when his health again failed. Ile then hired out to a company on the east side of the Sacramento River to make hay. Ile soon gained the confidence of his employers. and was appointed overseer in charge of the men. Ile was then twenty-one miles east of what was called Reding Springs, and in a part of the country where Indians were numerous and troublesome, necessitating the keeping of a guard during the night for two months. He slept with his weapons near him every night during this time. They were attacked on several occasions about daybreak, and were obliged to fire upon their foes. One morning when the men were out at work, the Indians sneaked into the camp and murdered the cook, a fine young man of eighteen; they then stole a good many useful things from the store of the miners, and made their escape. Pursuit was made, and the second day the Indians were found and attacked, twenty of them being killed and two taken prisoners. In the fall of 1851. Mr. Gross and his comrade returned home by way of the
Isthmus. During his absence, his health had been nearly ruined by drinking the alkali water from the Humboldt River. On his return he took charge of his father's property and engaged in farming.
Mr. Gross was married December 23. 1852, his bride being Miss Eliza Meyers, who was born in Laneaster County. Pa .. and came to Illinois in 1844 with her parents. They have had eight chil- dren: John W .. who is clerking in a store at Seda- lia; Alice S., wife of August Elsner, a merchant in Sweet Springs; Walter J., who married Maria Parrish, and is a telegraph operator at Wheaton, Minn .; Lydia F., wife of James Magness, of Sweet Springs; Daniel W., at home; Samuel .I .. deceased; Milly A. and Edwin S., at home. All have had good educational advantages, and the eldest daughter has taught school several terms.
Mr. Gross remained on the old homestead in Ilinois until 1875. in the spring of which year he came to Saline County, and purchased one hun- (red and sixty aeres of land in Salt Pond Town- ship, where he now lives. He has re-fenced the property, and cleared and otherwise greatly im- proved the land. In July, 1886, his house was destroyed by fire; fortunately, he was insured, and so rebuilt, putting up a substantial frame house. lle has one hundred and seventy acres of good land, which makes one of the fine farms of the county. He has all the more reason to feel satis- fied with his work from the fact that he started poor. He is a Republican, and a member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows in Missouri. Both he and his wife are members of the Evan- gelieal Association.
S USAN W. HAGOOD. It is a pleasure to indite a biographical sketch of the lady whose name appears above, and who has for many years been associated with the growth and molding of the social part of this k- cality. Mrs. Hagood lives in township 29, range
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26. She is a native of La Fayette County, having been born April 10. 1837, and has spent her whole life here. She is a daughter of William and Rhoda (White) Beatie, natives of Virginia. Iler maternal grandsire, Richard White, is said to have been a Revolutionary soldier.
William Beatie, our subjeet's father, moved with his family to Missouri in 1833, locating at first in Boone County; thence coming to La Fay- ette County. In the same year he settled on the farm now owned by Mr. McMeeken, on section 11, township 29, range 26, and was regarded as one of the earliest as well as most progressive settlers in this locality. His decease occurred in 1873, while on a trip to California. His wife survived until March 12, 1884.
In her girlhood our subjeet attended the pio- neer schools which the early settlers ambitiously denied themselves many comforts in order to se- cure, but which at best were poor makeshifts for acquiring an education. The country was very undeveloped at the time of her earliest recollec- tions and she has frequently seen herds of deer grazing where now there are well-cultivated farms. Later she was sent to a private school at Lexing- ton and was considered a highly accomplished young lady. She met in her early youth William F. Hagood, whom she married September 30, 1857. Mr. Hagood was a native of Todd County, Ky., and was born November 19. 1818. He was a son of Robert and Harriet (Payne) Hagood, natives of Kentucky. The former is long since deceased; the mother still survives and makes her home in La Fayette County, Mo. Her husband was a sol- dier in the War of 1812 and the aged lady. ninety- five years of age, is still in the receipt of a pen- sion from the Government. She is counted among the oldest women in the county.
William F. Ilagood was reared in his native State until twenty years of age, when with his parents he moved to Missouri and located in St. Louis County. Thence he removed to Benton County, where he lived for several years, and from there came to La Fayette County about 1818. This continued to be his home until the time of his death, which occurred in 1880, his obsequies having taken place February 27, He was a man
greatly esteemed by all who knew him and had a high standard of honor, morality and business in- tegrity.
Our subject has been the mother of six children, whose names are: Joseph B., Mary V., Thomas B., Clara (Mrs. H. C. Baker), Florence G. and Mattie R. Mr. Ilagood was in politics a Democrat, his opinions being molded after the Clay pattern. Ile was a member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows at Lexington and was popular among his confreres. Ile was a kind father and good husband, always doing for his family all that was in his power to develop the best that was in them. For many years he and his wife were identified with the Presbyterian Church. Mrs. Ilagood still lives on the home farm and owns about one hun- dred and forty-two acres of land, which is under good cultivation.
R EV. T. PEYTON WALTON is President of the Elizabeth Aull Female Seminary. which is located at Lexington, Mo. Before taking up the personal history of the original of this sketch, we will glance in a cursory way at the history of the institution with which his name is so prominently connected. The school, which is the oldest in the State, was founded by the lady whose name it bears. Elizabeth Aull, and is under the con- trol of Trustees chosen by the Presbyterian Church of Lexington and the Presbytery of La Fayette. It was chartered March 12, 1859, and was endowed by the Missouri Legislature with full collegiate privileges.
The other officers of the Seminary at the present time (1892) are S. G. Wentworth, Vice-President; Dr. P. H. Chambers, Secretary; W. G. MeCausland, Treasurer. Prior to the incumbeney of the Rev. Mr. Walton as head of the institution, the follow- ing Presidents in their chronological order were at the head of the institution: Rev. Lewis G. Barbour, D. D., 1860-1865; R. W. Finley, 1865-1867; An-
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thony Ilaynes, 1867-1870; Rev. J. A. Quarles, D. D., 1870-1873; J. M. Chaney. D. D., 1873-1876: A. II. Todd, 1876-1877; Rev. J. A. Quarles, D. D., 1877-1886; J. D. Blanton, 1886-1892; our subject completing the list of Presidents.
Rev. T. Peyton Walton was born in Cumber- land County, Va .. May 23. 1853. He is the son of the late Dr. Richard P. Walton, of Norfolk, Va., his mother having been Miss Mary J. Woodson. Our subject's paternal grandsire was Thomas II. Walton. The family is of English origin. the originator of the American branch having settled in Virginia at an early date. Mary Woodson's family were French-Ihuguenots.
The original of this sketch spent his boyhood days in Cumberland County. Like most Virginia youths whose parents were in comfortable circum- stances, he was sent to a private school, where he was prepared for college, and entered the college at Hampden Sidney, Prince Edward County, in 1874. In that old college, in which Christianity holds so prominent a place, our subject diligently pursued his studies and graduated in the classical course in 1877. Ile then entered the I'nion Theological Seminary of Virginia, where he pursued his studies for three years, graduating in 1880. and in the fall of that year he was ordained by the Missouri Presby- tery at Mt. Olivet Church, Callaway County, and immediately took charge of a mission field in Chariton County. Since then he has been succes- sively in charge of churches at Brunswick, Ashley, Pike County, and Court Street Church at Ports- mouth, Va., also Mizpah Church, of St. Louis County, Mo.
Being recognized in his church as a man of deep scholarship as well as piety, Mr. Walton's value in the educational work of the church was soon seen, and he was summoned from Portsmouth, Va., to take charge of Watson Seminary, which was located at Ashley, Pike County. this State. He had sus- tained his position with that school with marked success for two years, when, on account of failing health, he was compelled to retire from educational work and accepted the charge of the Mizpah Church m St. Louis County, where he remained five years. June 1, 1892, he was elected President of the The paternal grandfather of Rufus Bigelow Elizabeth Aull Seminary, and the following day , served bravely in the War of the Revolution, and
entered upon his duties. In spite of his having been so recently connected with the institution, former knowledge of our subject enables us to speak reas- suringly of the success that will undoubtedly attend his labors. The Board of Trustees has selected the right man for the right place. Ilis energy and ambition will supplement his scholarship most ad- mirally in the educational work.
Mr. Walton is a Knight Templar, and a member of Ashley Lodge. Bowling Green Chapter, and Cyrene Commandery, of the A. F. & A. M. May 20, 1884, Mr. Walton married Miss Annie M., daughter of Ferdinand and Lucy A. (Harrison) Billingsley, of Glasgow. this State. Mr. and Mrs. Walton have been the parents of five children, the following of whom are living: T. Peyton, Jr., Har- rison Billingsley. Annie Louise, and Lavinia Caro- line. The family make their home at the Semin- ary. and extend most delightful hospitalities to both friends and those who are drawn to the place through educational interests or curiosity. The family are well fitted for the position they hold.
R UFF'S BIGELOW, a prominent and influ- ential citizen and leading manufacturer of tile, owning and managing the largest plant in Saline County, Mo., is located in Gilliam, and resides upon section 34, township 51, range 19. Born in St. Charles County, Mo., in 1821, our subject enjoyed the confidence and es- teem of his early associates and friends, and held various official positions of trust. Ile was Assessor of St. Charles County for two years, and there discharged with honor and ability the varied and arduous duties of a JJustice of the Peace for a full score of years. The Bigelows are of German de- scent, but the parents of our subject. Moses and Perthema (Bogart) Bigelow, were natives of Penn- sylvania and Kentucky, the father having been born in the Quaker State in the year 1800.
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the maternal grandfather, Daniel Boone, was num- bered among the early pioneers of Missouri, hav- ing settled in the State in 1800. Our subject was one of a family of six children, having two broth- ers and three sisters. The eldest son, James Bige- low, was born in St. Charles County, Mo., in 1822. Ile married Miss Hopkins, and engaged in the pur- snit of agriculture. Phoebe Bigelow was born in St. Charles County, and became the wife of Mr. Costello, and resides with her husband upon a farm in her native county. Rufus received his ed- ucational training in the schools of St. Charles County, early completing his studies and school attendance, and beginning life as a farmer at the age of twenty.
For ten years our subjeet industriously engaged in the duties of agriculture, cultivating one hun- dred and seventy-eight acres, and at the expira- tion of half a score of years removed to Saline County, where he entered into the mercantile bus- iness, which he prosperously conducted until the Civil War, when, robbed by the opposing parties, alternately, he was at last financially ruined. In 1847, Mr. Bigelow married Miss Henrietta E. Ev- ersman, born in Warren County, Mo., in 1834, and after the war once more turned his attention to farming, cultivating a tract of land owned by his wife. Beginning for the second time at the foot of the ladder, he has steadily climbed upward, and is again enjoying prosperity. In 1889 he rented his farm, and commencing upon a very small scale in the tile business, has gradually extended its proportions, adding improvements of value, and now contemplates building a stoneware kiln, and is also arranging for the establishment of exten- sive tile works at Slater, continuing his interest in both places as manager and President of the com- bined enterprises.
Mr. and Mrs. Bigelow are the parents of the fol- lowing children: G. A. Bigelow, born in St. Charles County, Mo .. in 1848, married Miss Lou Wilhite, and resides with his family in Texas: J. B. Bigelow, born in 1850, was united in marriage with Miss Lou Willard, and makes his home in Colorado; E. C. Bigelow, born in Saline County in 1856, married Miss Iluff, and is farming near Gilliam; James, born in Saline County in 1872, is
a Texas rancher ; Rudolph, born in Saline County in 1874, is yet a member of the home eirele; Alice, born in St. Charles County, Mo., in 1852, is the widow of Charles King, and is now with her parents; Eva, born in Saline County, in 1857, married J. T. Goodman, a farmer near Gilliam; Addie, born in Saline County in 1859, was mar- ried to L. L. Huff, a successful agriculturist, farm- ing near Gilliam; Lena, born in Saline County, in 1862, married Mr. Harding, who is engaged in business in Gilliam as a painter.
Our subject, although he has never connected himself with any religious denomination, has ever been a cheerful giver to the maintenance of relig- ious organizations, and has also interested himself in educational advancement, his children receiving the full advantage of the schools of their home. A strong Democrat, Mr. Bigelow is a lirm believer in the principles of his party, and is a member of the Farmers' Alliance, and is thoroughly posted in local and national affairs of moment. Widely known and highly respected, our subject and his estimable family are in their various homes and localities numbered among thie useful, energetic and prominent citizens of our country, and are representative. self-reliant Americans, who, over- coming all obstacles, steadily win their upward way to fortune and prosperity.
R. MATHIEW W. HALL, of Saline County, comes of a family of professional men, who trace their ancestry baek through professional men; and he himself is hand- ing down the title to his sons, among whom are three practicing physicians, a banker and a Circuit Clerk. Dr. Hall's birthplace is in Washington County. Ky., where he first saw the light of day May 15, 1817. He was reared in La Fayette County, graduating in 1837 from the Transyl- vania Medical College, at Lexington, under its first Board of Instructors. Soon after graduation,
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he went to Salem, Ill., and practiced eight years' and there married Miss Agnes Lester. a native of the State of Virginia.
The Doctor came to Arrow Rock, Saline County, Mo., in 1843, practiced here twelve years, then re- moved to his present home, purchasing a farm of three hundred and sixty acres of fine land, and continuing his practice until his advanced age made it advisable for him to lead a more quiet life.
Dr. Hall's family consists of eight children: Dr. C. Lester, a practicing physician of Kansas City; William E., who is a banker of the same city; Louisa F., wife of William W. Trigg, of Boonville, Cooper County; John R., a practicing physician of Marshall; Florida L., wife of Dorsey W. Shackle- ford, of Boonville, a prominent lawyer of that place: Thomas B., who resides on the old home farm with his father, and is a practicing physician; Mathew W., the present Circuit Clerk; and Effie B., wife of Fred B. Glover. a business man of Kansas City.
Dr. Hall's parents, Rev. Nathan H. and Annie (Crawford) Hall, were from Virginia and Ken- tucky. The Rev. Nathan Hall preached at the First Presbyterian Church at Lexington, Ky., for twenty-seven consecutive years. llis family con- sisted of seven children, the four sons all being professional men. Both Randalland Nathan Hall, grandfather and great-grandfather of Dr. Hall, were Revolutionary soldiers, and were with Wash- ington at the surrender of Yorktown.
The Halls are of Scotch extraction, with the strength for which that nationality is noted. The Doctor's great-grandfather was at one time an Episcopal minister, but did not continue in that church, and his son became a Baptist minister, so several denominations have been represented.
Dr. Hall's sons who are doctors are graduates from the St. Louis Medical College, and the older two have taken post-graduate courses in New York. As has been noticed, one of his sons-in- law is a lawyer, adding another professional man to the family. Dr. Hall has been greatly blessed in his children. all seeming to fulfill the expecta- tions that might reasonably have been indulged in with regard to them, and helping to prove the
theory of inherited tendencies, as indeed would seem to be the case with the Doctor himself.
In 1861, and again in 1875. Dr. Hall represented Saline County in the Legislature, being elected to that position on the Democratie ticket, having al- ways been an ardent supporter of that party. Dur- ing the war he was surgeon in Col. Robinson's Regiment, and was taken prisoner on the Black Water River, and sent to MeDowell College, and later transferred to Alton, Ill., where, after three or four months, he received his parole. Ilis eldest son, C. Lester, was taken prisoner at the same time. llis second son was also in the Confederate army, and served under Joe Shelby.
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