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 34
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 34
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
306
PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
his Virginia home, his name was carved in the corner-stone of the new Presbyterian Church that was built in his native town.
J. N. Campbell married Miss Sallie McChesney. of the same locality as was he. They were the parents of eleven children, six boys and five girls. Our subject's great-grandfather on the paternal side was a Brigadier-General in the Revolutionary War, and was breveted for gallantry at the battle of King's Mountain. He died at Yorktown just before the surrender.
On entering manhood, George A. Campbell joined the Confederate army in 1862. He was in Gen. Joe Shelby's Brigade, and followed him until October 28. 1864, when he was wounded at the battle of Newtonia. Ile was left on the battlefield for dead, but on recovering consciousness was taken prisoner and confined at Alton, Ill., until the following June, when he was released. Mr. Campbell still has the bullet with which he was wounded in his possession, keeping it as a memento of the Second Colorado Cavalry.
Our subject was married at the age of twenty- four years to Miss Jennie Barnett, the eldest daugh- ter of Judge F. E. Barnett, of La Fayette County, and one of Nature's noblemen. Mrs. Campbell is one of a family of seven children, there being four sons and three daughters. After the war Mhr. Campbell started out in life with very little money, but he was possessed of an unmeasured amount of ambition. He has made a pronounced success of the calling to which he has devoted his atten- tion, and has amassed a comfortable competency. Although not a college graduate, he acquired in the common schools a good, practical education that has enabled him to hold his own with men of brains.
A leader in the People's party, Mr. Campbell has always been a friend of labor and of laboring men. Ile was elected delegate to the National Convention of the People's party which met at Omaha, and at which Gen. Weaver was nominated for the Chief Executive, but at his request Mr. Slusher took his place. Ile is purchasing agent for the members of the Farmers' and Laborers' Union of this county, and in that position handles thousands of dollars annually, but such is his reputation for probity
that he has never been asked to give a bond for the faithful performance of his duties. Mr. Camp- bell has a fine farm, comprising three hundred and twenty aeres, which has upon it most excellent un- provements. His home is as attractive as the ef- forts of a model housewife can make it. Their union has been blessed by the birth of eight chil- dren, of whom five are living, namely: Sallie. Thomas L., Findley E., Susie and Rosie.
UGUSTUS W. WILLIS. In looking through a volume like the one in hand, the cursory reader cannot but wonder as to the circumstances and reasons that have brought together in one locality representatives of so many States and nations. Our subjeet, who is a resident of section 14, Dover Township, LaFay- ette County, is a native of Carroll County, this State, and was born August 2, 1847, a son of John and Elizabeth (Spencer) Willis, both natives of Maryland. His parents married in their native State, and soon afterward moved to Missouri, for what reason we do not know.
Doubtless the newness of the country filled our subject's boyish mind with wonder, but there were passable schools. where he acquired the foundations of a good education, and he spent much time in helping his father on the farm. At the age of twenty-one, he began farming on his own account and has ever since conducted a general agricul- tural business. lle is now the owner of two hun- dred and eighty acres of excellent land, all of which is highly cultivated and well improved.
On the 21th of December, 1868, Mr. Willis mar- ried Miss Susan V., a daughter of John W. Eppes, a native of South Carolina, who moved to Missouri in 1866. Mr. and Mrs. Willis are the parents of five sons and three daughters. Their names are: Edward S., John W., Claude R., Elizabeth S., Blanche M., Forest L., Louis E. and a baby girl. not yet named at this writing. They are all in- teresting young people who promise to become
307
PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
valued citizens in whatever portion of the coun- try their lots may be cast.
Mr. Willis is in politics a stanch Democrat, and through the years during which his party was in eclipse until the present time, when they are still rejoieing in their brilliant success, has had the strength to abide by his convictions. Mrs. Willis is a devoted member of the Methodist Episcopal Church South, and in all the good works con- nected with the body in which she is interested is ready to act in any capacity.
R OBERT L. HARVEY is one of the citizens who have ever striven for the best interests of Slater, where he has been a resident for a number of years, and whose loyalty and single-mindedness have been rewarded by his fel- low-citizens by an election to the highest office which is in their power to confer, that of the May- oralty of the city. Since assuming the duties be- longing to the office Mr. Harvey has proved Inmself entirely worthy of the high trust and con- fidenee which are reposed in him. Ile was born in Fayette, Howard County, this State, November I, 1834. Ile was reared in Boonville, which was his home until nineteen years of age. Ile there re- eeived the major portion of his edneation, and later attended the Howard High School in Fay- ette.
On leaving Boonville, Mayor Harvey came to Saline County, and, entering the family of an uncle, made his home on that uncle's farm for about two years. Ile then learned the carpenter's trade, to which he served a full apprenticeship. He followed that trade until 1884, and during the time was very snecessful in his business undertak- ings. Since then he has given bis attention en- tirely to the public interests.
Mr. Harvey was elected Mayor of Slater in April of 1883, and has held the office ever since. At the same time he performed the duties of Jus- tice of the Peace, holding that office from March,
1885, to November, 1890. Ile has always taken an active interest in local affairs. In 1861 Mr. Ilar- vey enlisted in Col. McCowan's Battalion in the Confederate service, and gave about two years to the lost cause. He was taken a prisoner near Ft. Scott, Kan., in 1864, and was confined in St. Louis until the close of the war.
Fraternally, our subjeet was a member of Cam- bridge Lodge of the Free and Accepted Masons, belonging to Lodge No. 63. He was Master of the lodge for fourteen consecutive years, belong- ing to slater Chapter No. 112. He also belongs to the Order of United Workmen. Mr. Harvey of Slater was married in Cambridge, this county, October 13, 1857, his bride being Miss Sarah E., a daughter of the late Rev. William II. Porter, who was an old settler and clergyman in Saline County. Mrs. Ilarvey was born in St. Louis, Mo. Mr. and Mrs. Harvey have been the parents of six children. The eldest son, George W., died in childhood. Emma is the wife of James M. Watts. The other children are: Sidney J., Mary HI., Rob- ert W. and Bessie Il. Mary became the wife of T. II. Gibbs, and died in Mexico at the age of twenty-two years.
R ICHIARD P. WALL, a successful farmer of Saline County, owning a good farm and a substantial residenee. all of which he can at- tribute to his own energy and skillful labor, was born in Shelby County, Ky., October 24, 1831. Ilis father was Preston H. Wall, also of Shelby County, and born in 1800; while his grandfather, William Wall, was of Southern birth and early . settled in the county mentioned above. He was a farmer, also a soldier in the War of 1812, and died at a ripe old age.
The father of Richard P., a farmer by occupation, emigrated to Andrew County, Mo., and settled near St. Joseph in 1842, moving to Texas in 1844, and back to Missouri in 1846, this time locating
308
PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
near Boonville. He returned to Texas on a visit in 1853, and died there, being buried in Grayson County. He was a member of the Baptist Church. The mother of Richard was, before her marriage, Miss Elizabeth Brown, of Shelby County. Ky. She was the mother of thirteen children, eight of whom lived to maturity. After her death, which occurred in 1819, the father agam married, and one child was born of his second union.
Mr. Wall has three brothers and three sisters liv- ing. The eldest brother, John B., now a farmer near Pomona, Cal., served in the Confederate army during the war. Another brother, Henson D., lives in Cass County, Neb., and is now a farmer, but was a photographer for many years, having gone to Nebraska at the close of the war. Harrison L., of Pierce City, Lawrence County, Mo., is a plasterer by trade. Harriett J. became the wife of George C. Dugan, and in pioncer days they located in Texas, where he fought the Indians and in time became very wealthy. Ann E. is the wife of Charles Miller, of Grayson County, Tex., a very successful farmer. Mary E. is the wife of Richard Smith a farmer in Cass County, Mo. Preston D. served in the Con- federate army and was killed in the siege of Vicks- burg.
The school advantages enjoyed by our subject were limited to about three months each year. The country here was very wild in his boyhood days, and deer and other game abonnded. The subject of our sketch started ont as a farmer in 1852 in Cooper County, one year later removing to Arrow Rock, Saline County, and in 1857 locating in Kansas City. In 1860 he crossed the plains to Mexico, and returning in the fall of the same year purchased his present farm on section 28, township 49, range 22, where he has since resided. Almost every acre was covered with brush, and the clear- ing necessitated a great amount of hard work, which he has not hesitated to put upon it, clearing and improving very extensively.
May 19, 1853, Mr. Wall married Eliza JJ. Ilawpe. of Saline County, who died in 1854. Two children, twins, were born of this marriage, but both died of scarlet fever, when about one year old. Mr. Wall married for his second wife Amanda F. Clark, of Cooper County, this State, the marriage occurring
March 21, 1861. The children of this marriage were: Ida M., deceased, who left a child, Harry H. Miller; Ella, wife of James Clark, a lumber mer- chant of Lamonte, Pettis County; Hattie A., and Richard L.
Mr. Wall owns two hundred and eighty acres of land, which is in good condition. Ile raises mules extensively, but deals also in other stock, and. starting with nothing, furnishes another example of what it is possible for a man to do for himself. Ile participated in the Price raid, and carries a bullet in his leg to this day as a memento of it. lle was wounded in the battle of Mine Creek, and was a member of the escort of Gen. Marmaduke. Ile is a Democrat. Socially, he is a member of Friendship Lodge No. 40, I. O. O. F., also of the Ancient Order of United Workmen. Both he and his wife are members of the Methodist Episcopal Church South, of which he is Trustee, and has served in the capacity of Steward for several years.
AMES LOPER, a well-known farmer, and one of the prominent citizens of Saline County, claims Indiana as the State of his nativity. He was born in 1845, and is a son of Napoleon Bonaparte Loper. The family was founded in America by emigrants from HIol- land, who settled in this country in Colonial days. The grandfather of our subjeet, James Loper, Sr., removed from New Jersey to Indiana about 1817. lle was an extensive farmer and speculator, and on removing to the Buckeye State located first in Cincinnati, which was then a small village. Sub- sequently he removed to a farm and established a tavern, and around him sprang up a little town, to which the name of Fairfield was given. IIe and his wife there died, leaving several children, one of whom, John. resides in Fairfield, Ind., at an advanced age.
N. B. Loper was born in New Jersey, in 1811. about fifty miles from Philadelphia, and ac- companied his parents on their removal to Indiana.
=
PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
309
He married Mary Paty, daughter of James Paty, of Tennessee, and after his marriage engaged in teaming from Fairfield to Cincinnati. Ile after- ward engaged in farming in Decatur County, where he reared his family. When our subject was a lad of fourteen years the father removed to Lawrence County, Ill., where he carried on agri- cultural pursuits for six years, and then became a resident of Davis County, Mo., where he spent the succeeding four years of his life. His next place of residence was in La Fayette County, where he spent four years, and was then called to the home beyond. His wife had died in Indiana about 1853, and he had been married a second time, the lady of his choice being Mrs. Cox, and by that union was born a daughter, Josephine. By the first mar- riage were born ten children, of whom three are yet living: William 1 .. , a resident of Nebraska; James, of this sketch; and Margaret, wife of George Pur- vis, who is living in Indiana.
Under the parental roof the subject of this sketch was reared to manhood, and to farm work he devoted much of his time during his boyhood days. With his parents he came to Missouri. Having attained to mature years he was married in Illinois, September 19, 1861, to Miss Mary E., daughter of David E. Appling, of Kentucky. Her grandfather was Joel Appling, a native of Vir- ginia, who at an early day removed to Ken- tucky. His wife bore the maiden name of Sarah Breadlove. They had a family of eight sons and three daughters. David Appling married Sarah A. Morgan, daughter of Joseph Morgan, of Logan County, Ky. They were of the same family as Gen. Morgan, the noted Southern cavalryman, For many years Mr. Appling engaged in farming in Kansas. lle died in June, 1882, but his widow is still living and makes her home in Wichita. They had a family of seven sons and five daugh- ters, of whom the following are now living: Win- field, a resident of Kansas; Wesley, who makes his home in Nelson. Mo .; Fillmore, a resident of Kan- sas; Sidney, who is located in Nebraska; Ella, wife of William Dominy. of Nebraska; Mattie, who is living in Kansas; and Mary E., wife of our sub- ject, who was born in Logan County, Ky.
On leaving Illinois, Mr. Loper returned to In-
1
:
diana, where he engaged in operating a sawmill for two years. In 1867, he removed to Davis County. Mo., where he spent one year, and then went to LaFayette County, where he remained un- til 1880. In that year he came to Saline County and leased the farm on which he now resides. It comprises two hundred and forty acres of land, and in 1892 became lus by purchase. Almost the entire amount is under a high state of cultivation and well improved, and our subject is now suc- cessfully carrying on general farming.
During the late war, Mr. Loper supported the Union, and in 1864 enlisted in the One Ilundred and Thirty-fifth Illinois Infantry, in which he served for about five months under Gen. Rosecrans. In politics, he is a supporter of the People's party, and socially, is a Knight Templar Mason, belong- ing to Missouri Commandery, No. 36, K. T., of Marshall. Ile also holds membership with the An- cient Order of I'nited Workmen. Unto Mr. and Mrs. Loper have been born two children: Amazialı. who married Miss Carrie Price, and now resides on the old home farm; and Albert L., who wedded Miss Nellie Young, of Nebraska. The parents are both widely and favorably known in this com- munity, and by their large circle of acquaintances and friends are held in the highest esteem.
SRAEL G. DYER is another of the prominent and successful farmers of Saline County whose parents came from Virginia and Kentucky. So well are those States represented in this county, and so fully have their representatives proven themselves strong and worthy citizens, that we are ready and anxious to welcome any number of newcomers from the same section.
Mr. Dyer owns a valuable farm of one hundred and ninety-six acres, located in section 3, town- ship 50, range 22. The land has been brought to its present flourishing condition by himself and family, which fact makes the home all the more interesting. A part of this property was pur-
310
PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
chased by Mr. Dyer in January, 1868, at which time he first came to Saline County. He became the possessor then of one hundred and sixty aeres of unimproved land, which he proceeded to break. Having added to that later, the result of his in- dustry and good management is seen in his present farm.
Mr. Dyer is of English descent, his grandfather Dyer having been a native of England. The lat- ter gentleman was an only son, and came to Am- erica probably a single man. His home subse- quently was in Virginia, where he reared a family of five sons and one daughter. These children were: Samuel, William, John, Frank, Robert and Naney. The latter married a Mr. Payne. All but Frank and the sister came to Missouri and reared families.
The gentleman whose name heads this sketch was born in Callaway County, Mo., in 1836, being the eighth in a family of ten children, whose par- ents were John and Evaline ( Warren) Dyer. The mother was a daughter of William Warren, of Virginia. The senior Mr. Dyer came to St. Louis about 1820, when it was a small French village, and soon located in Callaway County, where he and his wife met and married. His family consisted of Sarah, who married John Ellis; Helen, wife of William Bloomfield, of New Orleans; Samuel W., who died in New Orleans; Minnie, deceased, who was the wife of Frank Huntington, now also de- ceased, and both of whom died in Callaway County; Emily, wife of Henry C. Wells, of Columbia, Mo .; Nanny, wife of E. Il. Manchester, of California; a child who died in infancy; the subject of this sketch: Celia B., whose husband is Theodore Harvey; and one other who died young.
Israel G. Dyer grew to manhood in Callaway County, and in 1860 went to Nevada, where he re- mained six years, engaged in timbering and freight- ing. In 1866, he returned to Callaway County, and in January, 1868, came to Saline County, as mentioned at the beginning of this sketch. h 1870, Mr. Dyer followed the Bible teaching that " it is not good for man to be alone," by marry- ing Miss Bell, daughter of James Irvine. They have been the parents of eleven children, eight of whom are still living. These children were: War- ren, Anna, and an infant, all deceased; Gertrude,
Nellie, John, Ernest, Roy, Emmet, Lester and Ielen.
Mr. Dyer does a general farming business, and is the owner of one of the finest pieces of property in the county. lle is a Democrat, as were all his family. and is a man who stands by his convictions and is true to his beliefs. lle has the strength and solidity that might be expected from his an- eestry, and is a worthy citizen of this flourishing county. He and his family are members of the Presbyterian Church.
HARLES E. MEINERSHAGEN. Our sub- jeet belongs to a little colony of Ger- man American farmers who spied out the goodly lands of La Fayette County, and have there become prominent citizens. Mr. Meiner- shagen resides on seetion 2. township 19, range 26, where he devotes his attention to general farming and stock-raising. He is himself a native of this State, having been born in Warren County, May 15, 1847; but his parents, William and Minnie Meinershagen, are both natives of Germany. When a young man, our subject's father emigrated to the United States, our subjeet's mother also hav- ing come hither in her girlhood. After their mar- riage they settled in Warren County, and later came to La Fayette County, where they now re- side.
Beside our subject, his parents had the following children: Henry, Herman, Frederick Charles, Cath- erine (Mrs. Il. A. Sehoppenhorst), August, and An- nie (wife of Charles Shaffer). Charles was reared to man's estate in his native county. He was early taught the secrets of husbandry, and has de- voted his life thus far to reaping a competency from mother earth. As a boy he received the ad- vantages of the public schools in his native county, and for a short time was a student at the Con- tral Methodist College, at Warrenton, this State, llis is a keen and well-balanced mind, and like
THE NEW YORK PUBLIC LIBRARY
ASTOR, LENOX ANII TIDEN FOUNDATIONS E 1
yours truly Turner Williamson
313
PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
most of our American citizens, he is thoroughly posted in both national matters and local affairs.
The original of this sketch was married March 29, 1871, to Miss Hannah Hackmann, a daughter of llenry Hackmann, of Warren County. She has made him a good wife, and is a capable and pru- dent head of the household. They have been the parents of eight children, whose names are Will- iam, Samuel, Charles, George, Mate, Clara, Nettie and Laura. Our subject came to La Fayette County in the fall of 1872, and has made his home here ever since. Ile has a fine farm, which com- prises one hundred and fifty-eighty acres of land, all of which is well-cultivated. Ile has been elected to several responsible positions in the township. He has served as School Director for several years, and is greatly interested in the new methods that are raising our present system so far above anything before known in an educational way. In politics, he is a Republican. He is a member of the Evan- gelical Church, as were his parents before him.
6 URNER WILLIAMSON, the well-known and honored President of the Citizens' Bank of Higginsville, is among the able and representative citizens who, settling in Missouri at a very early day, have been closely identified with the progress of the Southwest. A full half-century has passed since our subject came into the then new and sparsely populated locality destined to be his lifetime home. The store of reminiscences possessed by Mr. Williamson is of great interest and incalculable value, as illustrating the wonder- ful advancement of our Nation, and clearly indi- cating the resolute endurance, self-reliance and heroic sacrifices of the pioneer men and women of America.
Our subject was born near Georgetown, Scott County, Ky., November 15, 1820. The Williamson family is of Welsh descent, their ancestors having been honest, industrious people, who early settled in America. Grandfather Williamson was an ex- tensive farmer in Kentucky, widely known and
highly respected, who for many years had made his home in Virginia. There Anderson Williamson, father of our subject, was born, in Culpeper County, and was but a little lad when he removed with his parents from the Old Dominion and settled in Scott County, Ky. In the latter State he lived and died, passing away in Paris, after a long life devoted mainly to agricultural pursuits. He was a brave man and a good citizen, and fought in the War of 1812. Ilis wife, Hester Johnson, was also a native of Culpeper County, Va., and came with her parents to Kentucky, where they resided until their death. She was the mother of eleven chil- dren, of whom ten survived to adult age.
Turner Williamson was reared upon his father's farm in Scott County until seven years of age, when the family removed to Paris, Bourbon County. He attended private schools, and when fifteen years old was apprenticed to a millwright, in whose service he remained for five years. At- taining his majority in 1841, he determined to try the Western field of Missouri, and first went to Glasgow, Howard County, and later settled in Lexington, then a small town in La Fayette County. Here, and in the immediate neighbor- hood, he remained fifteen years. Ile built a large mill in Lexington, also erected several in Ray County, and one in Utica, Livingston County. Af- ter a time he bought a farm in Clay Township, and engaged in agricultural pursuits, still continuing his trade as occasion demanded. During the gold excitement, he made an overland trip to Cali- fornia in 1852, spending four months en route.
Upon his large farm of one thousand acres, located within one mile of the Missouri River, our subject raised hemp and tobacco, and dealt in stock, raising and selling many fine horses. He suffered severe losses during the war, as did so many citizens, but was undaunted by misfortune. Always ready to assist in local improvements, he gave the right of way to the Missouri Pacific Railroad. He built some of the first houses in Wellington, and was among the chief promoters of the Wellington Bank, in which he still continues to hold stock. Mr. Williamson was also one of the organizers of the Mercer Bank, at Lexington, in which he is a stockholder, and has served as one of the Bank Di-
15
.
311
PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
rectors. In 1890 he disposed of his farm and re- moved to Independence, whence, after a sojourn of but six months, he came to lligginsville and organ- ized the Citizens' Bank with a capital of $30,000. Of this flourishing financial institution he is President, as well as one of the Directors. and has been the chief factor in its present prosperity. Mr. William- son was married in JJackson County, Mo., in 1852, to Miss bicy Cox. a native of that county. A large family of children blessed their home, and nine sons and daughters are yet living. William resides near Emporia. Kan .. and is an extensive farmer of that State. Richard is a merchant in Buckner, Jackson County: Lee is also a merchant, and is engaged in business in Saline County; Thomas follows mer- cantile pursuits in Buckner; Renick is a druggist of Iligginsville: Burt is at home; Lizzie, Mrs. Ragland. resides in Higginsville; Lena remains with her par- ents; and Sally, Mrs. Thurman, lives near Lexing- ton. Our subject and his family ocenpy leading positions in the business and social enterprises of their various homes, and have ever commanded the respect and high esteem of the general public.
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.