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 26
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 26
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Alexander Greene left Kentucky at the age of thirteen years, and in 1837 came to this State and located in St. Louis County, where he followed farming until 1840, when he came to LaFayette County. He was married March 20, 1845, to Miss Elizabeth, daughter of Robert and Elizabeth Owens. Soon afterward he enlisted for the Mexi- can War and served until its close. At the time of his death he was drawing a pension as a Mexi- can veteran. He also received a land warrant, which he located near what is now Blackburn, Sa- line County. He afterward removed to what is now Sweet Springs and built one of the first houses of that place, but subsequently removed to Black- burn, where he resided for a quarter of a century. He owned considerable land in this county, and dealt quite extensively in real estate. In March, 1890, he removed to Grand Pass, where he died February 19, 1892. His wife died in April, 1888, and they were laid side by side in the family ceme- tery near Blackburn.
In politics, Mr. Greene was a Demoerat and sympathized with the South during the late war. In 1849, he went to California in search of a for- tune, but after a few months returned. From a financial standpoint his life was successful, for he accumulated considerable property. He had an extensive circle of acquaintances, with whom his genial nature rendered him popular. Ile was kind- hearted and true, and for thirty-five years was a faithful member of the Christian Church. Mr. and Mrs. Greene had a family of ten children, of whom two died in infancy: John A. is now de- ceased; Julia A. is the wife of D. W. Small, of Blackburn; William T. is deceased; Mary; Robert E. resides in Grand Pass; Samuel M., our subject; Elizabeth M. is now deceased; and Maggie is the wife of Dr. T. M. Bridges, of Blackburn.
Samuel M. Greene was educated in the public
schools and the State Normal at Warrensburgh, Mo., and for about eight years followed the profession of teaching in the public schools of this county; but desiring to enter a commercial life, he em- barked in the drug business, which he carried on for five years in Blackburn. In 1889, he came to Grand Pass and established a drug store, which he still owns. He also has a warehouse at this place and is engaged in grain dealing and in the sale of agricultural implements. He is a man of good business ability, sagacious and far-sighted, and has built up an excellent trade. receiving a liberal pat- ronage from the best citizens of the surrounding country.
In May, 1886, Mr. Greene married Miss Odie, daughter of Carroll and Mary (Wilds) Logsden, now of Marshall, Mo. Four children grace their union: Georgie, Minnie, Mabel and Guy A. In politics, Mr. Greene is a stalwart supporter of the Democratic party, and in his social relations is a member of the United Workmen. He came to Grand Pass about one year after the town was started, and is one of its energetic young business men and a valued citizen, who has contributed largely to the growth and prosperity of the place.
P ROF. OLIVER GUTHRIE, the efficient and experienced Commissioner of Public Schools of Saline County, and one of the oldest ministers of the Gospel in the State of Missouri, was also one of the pioneer instructors of the Southwest, and has been a teacher of teachers, carefully laying a broad foundation for the educa- tional advancement of the coming generation. A scholar of high attainments, earnest purpose, and happy method of instruction, he has successfully guided many of the prominent and leading men and women of Virginia. Alabama, Mississippi and Missouri into the paths of wisdom and knowledge, and with ready hand lifted them upward in their search for knowledge. With old friends and ac- quaintances in almost every quarter of the South,
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he especially has a firm and sure abiding-place in the hearts of the residents of Marshall, his pres- ent home.
Ohver Guthrie was born in Virginia, seven miles northeast of Lynchburg, Amherst County, Septem- ber 26, 1818. His paternal grandfather, William Guthrie, was of Scotch-Irish descent, and was a native of either the North of Ireland or the South of Scotland. William Guthrie. the father of our subject. was a native of Hanover County, Va., and was a farmer by occupation. but also owned a line of boats on the James River, carrying freight from Lynchburg to Richmond, and conducting a pros- perous business. Hle was killed by his horse run- ning away and dragging him by the stirrup. lle was an excellent husband and father, and as a good citizen was mourned sincerely when his untimely death occurred at the age of fifty-two years. Itis wife, Elizabeth (Winkfield) Guthrie, was born in Albemarle County, and was a daughter of Dr. John Winkfield. a physician and surgeon, also of the Old Dominion. She passed away in Amherst County, Va .. September 26. 1828.
Our subject was next to the youngest of fourteen children. of whom thirteen grew to mature years. but only two are now living. During the early years of his life Oliver Guthrie was a pupil in the log schoolhouse, later receiving the benefit of a course of instruction in the Lynchburg High School. At nineteen years of age he began his life work by teaching in Amherst County, Va., and for the next five years taught there and in the adjacent coun- ties. At the expiration of that time, he went to Winston County, Miss .. where he taught for two years and was connected with Sharon College, un- der Dr. Beard. Hle next taught in Alabama. In 1841, he returned to Virginia, where he taught for five years. In 1816, he came West to Saline County, located in Cambridge, and as Principal took charge of a boarding-school in September, and remained in that position for one year. He then went to Monticello as Principal of a similar insti- tution there. and in 1818 established a female school in Lexington, which he controlled for two years.
In 1850, accompanied by a party, Prof. Guthrie started overland for California. journeyed on
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horseback via Sante Fe. and helped to drive one hundred head of milch cows thither. During the trip he was thrown from his horse and slightly in- jured. The company disbanded at Santa Fe, he returned by train, and in September began teach- ing at Westport, founding another female semi- nary, and successfully conducting the institution five years. Then having permanently established another well-known institution of learning, he sold out his interest and moved to a new field of work. The select school which he opened in Harrisonville prospered, but in two years his health failed him, and he was forced to abandon the pursuit of edu- cation for a time. His next occupation was that of merchandising at Morristown, at which he was en- gaged for three years, when the war broke out and injured the commerce of that locality.
Returning to this county, Prof. Guthrie located near Cambridge, where he taught school. and after- ward was Principal of the Men's Frankfort School in Saline County for three years. In 1873 he set- tled in Miami and for sixteen years remained as instructor there. In 1884, after forty-five years of untiring devotion to his profession, this prominent educational promoter retired from the active duties of a teacher, and in 1889 made his home in Mar- shall. At nineteen years of age, while in Missis- sippi, our subject was licensed to preach the Gospel, and entered the ministry of the Methodist Episco- pal Church, in which he remained one year; af- terward he entered the Cumberland Presbyterian Church, with which he has been connected for five years. Ile had charge of the Mt. Horeb Church for six years, and built the Presbyterian Church at Harmony.
In 1872 Prof. Guthrie was elected Superinten- dent of the County Schools, and in 1874, when the law changed the title to Commissioner of Publie Schools, he was elected to that office. Each suc- ceeding two years, he has been the choice of the people for the position, whose duties he so thor- onghly understands and so efficiently discharges. For the past score of years he has been the popular and successful nominee of the Democratic party, and holds grade certificates, testifying to the merit and ability of their possessor.
In Amherst County, Va., September 20, 1842,
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Prof. Guthrie married Miss Frances J., daughter of Rev. Stephen Mead, of Virginia, a member of the Methodist Episcopal Conference. Mrs. Guthrie, a lady of great worth and fine character, passed away in Miami in 1889. She was the mother of eight chil- dren: William M. was wounded in the late war by Montgomery's men, of the Kansas Fifth Regiment, while standing in his father's yard, and after seven years of suffering, died from the effects of the barbar- ous deed; Anne E. II., now Mrs. Dolan, resides in Cass County; Lney V. died in Lexington ; Mary F .. Mrs. A. C. Burnham, lives in Marshall; Charles A. is in the Asylum in Nevada; Walter S. is deceased; Prudence O. is Mrs. W. A. Marshall; and Ida M. is at home. Prof. Guthrie has for years been a meni- "ber of the State Teachers' Association, and is Pres- ident of the Teachers' Reading Cirele. After years of arduous labor in the educational field, he still continues the honored incumbent of a most re- sponsible position, to which he has been elected continuously by his fellow-citizens.
M ILTON MCDANIELS, for the past sixty- nine years a prominent and successful agriculturist of LaFayette County, Mo., whose excellent farm, all under high cul- tivation, is located upon section 5, township 50, range 26, Dover Township, is one of the most sub- stantial and thoroughly upright men in the State. llis ancestors were Scotchmen, thrifty and prudent, and withal possessed an excellent judgment which led them to bid their native land farewell, and leaving behind them the shores of a monarchy, seek in the broad field of America a home for their descendants in the Land of the Free. Indus- trious, frugal and honest, they early won the re- spect of their fellow-citizens, and soon became in heart and spirit true Americans.
Our subject was born in Brown County, Ohio, in November, 1823. His parents, Jolin and Sylvia (Trichett) MeDaniels, were Southern born, and both native Virginians. The paternal grandfather,
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Samuel McDaniels, was well known in the Old Dominion, and was a man of earnest purpose, strong in his opinions, and clear in his judgment. Milton passed the early days of his youth in the Buckeye State, and attended the common schools there, also working diligently as occasion de- manded upon his father's farm. Ile remained at home until twenty-three years of age, when he de- termined to begin the work of life for himself, and entered into the full control of a homestead, which he cultivated for a number of years.
The home which our subject made upon this farm was shared by another, Mr. McDaniels mar- rying, in 1846, Miss Ellen, daughter of John Wal- lace, of Ohio. This estimable lady did not sur- vive her marriage many years, and upon her deatlı our subject was left comparatively alone in the world. In 1854, he removed to La Fayette County, Mo., and at once located upon his present farm of seventy-five acres, which, under his excel- lent management, yield him bounteous returns. Although devoting his time and care to the pur- suit of general agriculture, our subject has raised some fine cattle and other live-stock, prospering in the operation of the varions interests which center on bis acres.
Six years after his arrival in Missouri, Mr. Mc- Daniels married the second time, uniting his for- tunes with Miss Michell E. Greer, of La Fayette County, a lady possessing here a large circle of friends. Mr. and Mrs. McDaniels are the parents of two children, a son and a daughter. Thomas is the eldest, and was born in La Fayette County; Ellen, the wife of William White, was also a native of La Fayette County. Mr. and Mrs. McDaniels are highly valued members of the Christian Chureli, and are ever active in the religious work of that organization. During the thirty-two years of their union our subject and his worthy wife have been a unit in the promotion of good works, and, liberal in sentiment, are foremost in aiding all local enterprises, whether social, religious or purely benevolent.
Mr. MeDaniels has never experienced any desire to occupy politieal positions of trust, but he is de- termined to do his duty as a Christian citizen by intelligently casting his vote in behalf of the can-
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didate who is fitted by training and natural at- tainments for the responsible duties of office. Our subject affiliates with the party which he believes to be the sterling representative of honor and jus- tice, and clings closely to the doctrines of the Democrats.
ITLINS G. COE is the editor of the Odessa Moon. Ile was born in Rockingham County, N. C., September 24, 1859, and is a son of Joseph P. and Nancy (Pearson) Coe. both natives of the Tar Heel State. The father was a carriage manufacturer at Warsaw, and the grandfather, the Rev. John Coe, was a minister of the Protestant Episcopal Church, and was well known as one of the founders and promulgators of the doctrines of that church in his day. Ile was also a soldier in the Revolutionary War.
Our subject's parents were married in North Carolina, where the father died at the age of fifty- five years. Ilis widow came to Missouri in 1882, and died in this city at the age of sixty-seven years. She was the mother of six children, there being one daughter and five sons; two of these, how- ever, died in infancy. The children were as follows: William, Pinkney, Mary A., John F., Thomas and Julius G. As will be seen, our subject is the youngest of the family. llis first school days were passed in the district schools of North Carolina, in the vicinity of his home, and he completed his education at Reidsville (N. C.) College, securing his certificate at the early age of seventeen.
In 1876. Mr. Coc engaged in the printing busi- ness at Reidsville, having a position on Web- ster's Dollar Weekly. He remained on that paper for four years, and then came to Missouri, locat- ing at Warrensburgh. There he started a paper which is now condueted as the Johnson County Star, but was then known as the Warrensburgh Star. Disposing of his plant there, our subject came to Odessa in 1881. He was at first employed
as one of the reportorial staff, but later bought a half-interest and ran the paper known as the Odessa Democrat for two years. At the end of that time he sold out and began to publish another sheet, which he christened in February. 1891, the Odessa Moon. This has had all the sue- cess that a paper published by so able an editor as Mr. Coe would be assured of.
The original of this sketch was umted in mar- riage August 9, 1885, with Miss Eva A., daughter of the Rev. T. P. Cobb. She was born and reared in La Fayette County. Mr. and Mrs. Coe are the parents of three children: Melvin, Bessie and Mabel. Our subject is a member of Triple Alli- ance No. 47, of this city.
UGH G. ALLEN is the Recorder of Deeds for Saline County, to which office he was appointed to fill an unexpired term May 6, 1891. He was born in Jessamine County, Ky., April 10, 1814. and is a son of George W. and Eliza (Sals) Allen. Both of the parents were born in Virginia, their removal to Kentucky tak- ing place when they were children. There they were married and engaged in farming, living in that State until 1860, when they removed to a place near Slater, in Saline County. The father resided upon the farm where he then located until the time of his death, and, although he himself was not an active worker, he was an ideal superin- ten dent.
Our subject was one of a family of ten chil- dren: Thomas Jefferson, James W., Elizabeth, Sarah, John, Richard M., our subject, Samuel P., George W., Jr., and L. R. Ehzabeth is the wife of G. E. Darnaby; and Sarah is Mrs. James R. Soper. The decease of the father took place in January, 1876, and the mother died in April, 1878. They were both members of the Christian Church.
llugh G. Allen acquired his education in Ken- tucky and Missouri. After he had finished his
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own course he began teaching, and alternated that work with farming for seven years. and then launched into the mercantile business at Marshall, conducting it for seven or eight years. He sold out his interest in this business in 1884, when he made a set of new and complete ab- straet books and engaged in the real-estate busi- ness, both buying and selling for himself and other parties.
At first Mr. Allen worked with a partner under the firm name of Allen & Graham, but for the past few years has been alone and has carried on the business in his own name. He has the best set of abstract books in the county, every transfer oceur- ring from the Government down being recorded, and in consequence lie has a very good patronage. His real-estate business he now leaves largely in the hands of other persons, and since his appoint- ment he has devoted his entire time to the busi- ness relating to his office, and so satisfactorily has he discharged the various duties that he has gained the approbation of all the best people.
Our subject was married to Miss Virginia Adams, of Lexington, Ky., February 9, 1871. She has made him a delightful home, and has ever been his cheering companion and helpmate. They have but one child, a daughter, Minnie L. They are members of the Christian Church. Our subject is united fraternally with the Ancient Order of United Workmen.
R ICHARD W. NICOLDS, a well-known and respected citizen of Marshall, was born April 21, 1835, upon the site of the present town of Glasgow, Mo., where his parents had located after their marriage. They were na- tives of the Old Dominion and bore the names of John F. and Elizabeth M. (Woodson) Nicolas. The former was born in Henry County, in Febru- ary of 1807, and was a descendant of Scotch-Irish ancestors.
In Virginia, John F. Nicolds grew to manhood
and was very liberally educated. In those days the young heirs of cultured Southern homes were very fortunate individuals. Education was almost universal, and few were the sons of wealthy Vir- ginia planters who did not see the inside of col- lege walls. When John was ready to start out in life for himself, the great West offered such at- tractions that he located in Missouri. IFere he en- gaged in manufacturing tobacco and in farming, in both of which he showed good management and business ability.
There was a time when the great State of Mis- souri suffered from a disgrace which no Southern gentleman could brook. The Mormons had settled there, and gave promise of so thoroughly estab- lishing themselves as to defy legislation for their removal. When soldiers were ordered to remove the unwelcome settlers by foree, Mr. Nicolds was made Captain of a company and assisted very ma- terially in the good work.
In 1833, Mr. Nieolds married Elizabeth M. Woodson, the daughter of a pioneer family who had settled in the State as early as 1820. He be- came one of the leading men in the county where he resided, and took part in every enterprise which promised good for his section. For many years he was active in the Methodist Episcopal Church South, and assisted it with his purse and presence. Until the elose of that party, he was an old-line Whig in his politics. Twelve children were born into the family, four sons and eight daughters, and seven of the children are yet living.
Our subject grew to manhood in Iloward County, and when the Civil War broke out he enlisted in the Howard Grays, and was at the surrender of Shrevesport, La. At that time he held a commis- sion as Major of the Thirteenth Missouri Cavalry, and took part in the battles of the Central South- ern States under the command of Gen. Price. After the unhappy struggle was over, our subject bravely took up the lines which had fallen when he entered the army. He is a man of education, having inherited his father's scholarly tastes, and was graduated from Central College, in Howard County.
In 1857, Mr. Nieolds was united in marriage with Miss Sallie A., the accomplished daughter of
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Judge O. Hurt, and to them have been born six children: Edward F., who now is a resident of St. Marcus. Tex., is a lawyer by profession and a tal- ented young man; Fannie is the wife of Thomas F. Montgomery, who has charge of the Brinker- hoff & Farris Loan and Investment Company. at Dallas, Tex .; Lorena B. is the wife of Joe James, of Sedalia; Mary M. married Lee Wagner, of Mar- shall; Ione and Richard are at home. The chil- dren have enjoyed exceptional educational ad- vantages, graduating from good colleges.
Mr. Nicolds and his family are members of the Methodist Episcopal Church South. Socially he, like his father, holds membership in the Masonic order. Ile devotes his time to farming on his land, which joins Marshall and lies but a short distance from the city. He owns half a section of valuable land in Saline County, besides farms in the surrounding counties. In manner and ap- pearanee, he reealls the days of courtly Southern chivalry. He is a man most highly respected in his locality as a citizen, neighbor and friend. Al- though not particularly active in politics, he he- lieves in the principles of Democracy.
ARTIN A. GAULDIN, one of the substan- tial citizens of Saline County, residing in Marshall, comes of an old family of Eng- lish origin, which was established in Vir- ginia in early days. Ilis father, Jacob Gauldin, was born and reared in Buckingham County, Va., and died in Campbell County. He served as a soldier in the War of 1812. By. trade he was a wheel- wright and manufactured cotton and llax wheels. Ile was twice married, and by the first union had three children, but all are now deceased. He after- ward wedded Rachel Martin, daughter of Thomas Martin, who was of Scotch descent. They became parents of one son and four daughters, namely: Martin; Sarah, who became the wife of Joseph Self and died in Missouri; Theresa. deceased, wife of Al- len England; Mary A., who wedded James Wilson
and died in Bath County, Ky .; and Adeliza, who was married and died in Kentucky. The mother of this family died in 1837. and the father in 1838.
Our subject was born in Campbell County, Va., March 22, 1818. and remained at home until the death of his parents, when he removed to Mont- gomery County. Mo., and there worked for about a month. lle next spent a year in Lexington, em- ployed at carpentering, after which he came to Saline County and worked at his trade for several yenis. In 1817 he built the Grand Pass Chapel, a Methodist Church, which wasrebuilt in 1891. On the breaking out of the late war be enlisted in the Confederate service, but while his regiment was on the way to join Gen. Price, he was captured at Black Water and sent as a prisoner to St. Louis. whence he was transferred to Alton, Ill., and was released in March, 1862. The following winter, while in his own home, he was again made a prisoner and his captors took some horses and stock belong- ing to an estate of which he was administrator. Mr. Gauldin was sent to Jefferson City, where he was incarcerated for two months.
On the 9th of July, 1846, our subject was united in marriage with Nancy Kiser, who was born in Rockingham County, Va., and is a daughter of Daniel Kiser, of that State. Her father located in Saline County, Mo., in 1828. accumulated a large landed property here, and died in November, 1860. Hle had served as a soldier in the War of 1812. Religiously, he was a member of the Presbyterian Church. The Kiser family numbered ten children, but all are deceased with the exception of William and Mrs. Gauldin.
Unto our subject and his wife were born twelve children, nine of whom are yet living. Edmund married Fannie Moore; Giles died in 1881; Adeliza is the wife of Charles Carver; Mary Ann is the wife of John Miner; Marcellus wedded Sarah Me- Keever; Joshua married Minnie Chrisman; Robert married Maggie Clemens: Bettie is the wife of Quincy Blosser; Martin resides in Sacramento, C'al .; and Callie is a student in Hardin College. of Mexico, Mo. The children, with the exception of Martin, all reside in this county upon lands given them by their father.
When Mr. Gauldin first came to this county the
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tax upon his property was about forty-one cents. By his energy and enterprise, he steadily in- creased his possessions until he became the owner of almost twelve hundred acres of land, and his taxes amounted to between $300 and $100. On account of his increasing years, and not wishing to be bur- dened with the responsibilities that his possesions brought him, he recently divided one thousand acres of his land among his children, retaining only a farm of two hundred acres for himself. His entire possessions have been acquired through his own efforts except about one hundred and sixty acres inherited by his wife and a legacy of $800. He may truly be called a self-made man and his success is certainly well deserved.
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