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 38
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 38
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Mr. Olson is a Director and stockholder in the bank of Saline, and owns much valuable real- estate. lle has a handsome residence at the corner of English and Jackson Streets, and owns and rents other houses. He built the substantial and commodious Young Men's Christian Association building, two stories in height, and in every part of the city he has been busy at various times. Mr. Olson was married in Chicago, in 1869, to Miss
Caroline Boman, who was born in Sweden. Four children have blessed their union : Emily, a gradu- ate of the High School, died November 27, 1892; Tillie Lee, attending the Missouri Valley College; William. also in the Missouri Valley College; and Grithth, the youngest of the promising sons, now attending the public school. The family are widely known, and have a large circle of friends.
Mr. Olson is interested in all enterprises tending to the advancement and uplifting of the masses, and is in every way an earnest citizen, but he has no desire for office or political preferment, but de- votes much time to church work. For fifteen years he has been a Ruling Elder, and for a long time one of the Trustees, and is one of the most promi- nent supporters of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church, and was a member of the Building Com- mittee of the new church. He, however, does not conline his attention or liberality to one organiza- tion, as he has assisted in building other churches. Mr. Olson and his partner, Mr. L. W. Scott. ma- terially improved the business portion of the citk when they erected a substantial brick building on the west side of the square. In connection with George H. Althouse, he owns the building on the east side of the square occupied by Rose & Buck- ner. Self-reliant and energetic. our subject has experienced the prosperity which America awards to the honest toilers in her midst, without regard to creed or nationality. Identifying himself with the interests of the people of this great country, Mr. Olson has not only won a fortune, but has gained the priceless confidence and esteem of all with whom he has been associated.
B ALDWIN HARL, a well-known resident of Saline County, Mo., is the subject of this sketch. llis birth took place December 29, 1790. in Loudoun County. Va., but when about six years of age his parents emigrated to Mason County, Ky., and there he grew to mature
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years and received a common-school education, as that was understood at that time. He was first married to Miss Mary Gates, who died, leaving him one child, John P., who grew to mature years, mar- ried, and died in Kentneky, and left two children, one of whom, Mary, became the wife of Thomas Boatwright, of Marshall; the other was John B., of Barton, Mo.
After the death of the first Mrs. Harl, our sub- jeet married Elizabeth, the daughter of David Evans, and to this union one son was born, Baldwin E., whose birth oeenrred in Kentucky in 1852. Soon after this Mr. Harl came to Saline County and settled on the farm where he has since resided. His life has been one of hard work, but through it all he has remained a temperate, Christian gentleman. Many years ago he became one of the pious fol- lowers of the reformation established by Alexander Campbell, and has ever since been a good and eon- sistent member of that denomination.
Politically, Mr. Harl was originally an old-line Whig, but upon the organization of the Republican party, he joined the ranks of the Democratic party, and has been its stanch supporter ever since. Hle is now a fecble old man, but has borne well his part in life, and when the great call comes which must be obeyed by all, he will pass from earth la- mented by many.
Baldwin E. Ilarl, the son of the above-mentioned subjeet, grew up in Saline County, Mo., and was given every opportunity for education in the com- mon schools, and then entered the William Jewell College at Liberty, from which place he entered the ministry of the Baptist denomination in 1879. and has so continued ever since. Previous to this time he had married Miss Maxcy Campbell, and to them has been born one daughter. In January, 1885, Mr. Harl became the beloved pastor of the Baptist Church of Fairville. and has officiated in this pulpit ever since. He is the Secretary of the Ex- eeutive Board of the County Association of that church.
Mr. Harl has been actively connected with the County Board of the Association since 1884, and has had charge of all of the correspondence and is thoroughly acquainted with the workings of the body in every field of usefulness. His liberal and
progressive manner of thought has made him very much esteemed in other denominations and in secular life. Socially he is a member of the Ma- sonie fraternity, and has been thus connected for some years. Ilis field of work in Fairville is a large one, and under his wise guidance has been very prosperous in the past.
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ILLIAM B. MILLER. merchant and Post- master at Blue Lick, is a man whose busi- ness experience has been quite varied, and who has been successful in the different pursuits in which he has interested himself. He was born in Danville, Ky., in 1832, and came to Saline County with his parents in May, 1837, so he may almost be elaimed as one of Saline County's own children.
Mr. Miller's parents, Gen. William and Elizabeth (Gaines) Miller, were natives repectively of Ken- tucky and Virginia, the father having been com- - mander of the militia of twelve counties in his na- tive State, and having held that position until he came to Missouri. For thirty years he was engaged in dealing in hogs across the mountains into the Virginia Valley, and after coming to Missouri he was a successful farmer and stock-raiser, adding one more to the list in that honorable and inde- pendent calling. llis family was of German de- scent. William B.'s maternal grandfather, Capt. Gaines, was a soldier in the War of the Revolution.
As has been indicated before, the subject of this sketch grew up in this county. In 1856 he mar- ried Rachel A. Wayland, of Clark County, and to them was born one child, John G., who is now Jus- tice of the Peace at Marshall. The Millers have been Democrats since 1860, previous to which they were Whigs. John G. Miller, one of the brothers of William B., served three terms in the Missouri State Congress, so that the family have been well represented in Governmental positions.
Mr. Miller has been engaged in the mercantile business for twenty-five years, for the past two
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years having been located at Blue Liek. He is also the Postmaster, as stated before, combining the two occupations very happily. Ile is interested in church work. being a member of the okl-school Presbyterian Church. It is not necessary that a man's life shall be full of exciting incidents in or- der that it may be interesting and influential, as is shown by the life of our subject, for every one who goes on in the even tenor of his way honorably and strongly is a power in the community and an important factor in the life of a nation.
D. WOOLDRIDGE, one of the honored pioneers of Missouri, an energetic citizen and excellent business man, and later a successful agriculturist, now retired from the act- ive labor of life, is numbered among the promi- nent and influential residents of Cambridge, Sa- line County, Mo. Born in Nelson County, Va., in 1833, our subject was the son of Francis M. and Jane K. (Land) Wooldridge. Both his father and mother were native Virginians, and there reared the eldest of their family of eight children. The paternal grandfather was also of Southern birth, and served bravely in the War of 1812, about six months after the termination of which he died.
But three of the children who blessed the mar- riage of Francis M. and Jane K. Wooldridge now survive. Martha Wooldridge, the eldest daughter. born in Virginia in 1820, married B. F. Ayers, a carpenter, and resides with her husband in Cam- bridge; Amanda, born in Virginia in 1822, was married to George P. Norvell, and died in 1849; Mary Ann. also a native of the Old Dominion, born in 1821, was married to B. F. Ayers, and died in 1818; J. B. Il. Wooldridge was born in the State of Virginia in 1826, and was united in marriage to Miss Booker, who died in 1819, her husband afterward marrying Miss Sarah Long. ... B. Il. Wooldridge was a Methodist preacher for forty-two years, and the reverend minister of the
Gospel was also a teacher in Jefferson Prison. The other brothers were William, Robert, Frank and our subject. Robert N. Wooldridge was born in Virginia in 1826, and journeyed to California in 1850, dying in the Golden State the same year. Francis M. was born in the Virginia home in 1828, married Miss Sarah Norvell, and with his wife resided in Saline County. where he was profit- ably engaged in the trade of carpenter and buikler, but is now deceased. William was born in Virginia, and died there in 1872.
Our subject was but four years old when he came, a little boy, with his widowed mother to Missouri. Ile was carefully reared and educated in the best schools the State afforded in those days, and devoted much of his time to study, until at the age of fifteen years he determined to work his own way upward, and to that end engaged in business, first in Cambridge, then in New Frank- fort, and afterward in Glasgow. The ambitious and energetic young lad had many trials and ditli- culties to overcome, but he was resolute and stead- ily persevered, reaping prosperity and success as the reward of honest, manly self-reliance. In 1879 Mr. Wooldridge engaged in the pursuit of agriculture, purchasing one hundred and twenty- live acres, which he brought to a high state of cul- tivation, and has been able to rent it to excellent advantage.
The pleasant home of our subject is one of the most attractive in Cambridge, and contains all the modern improvements. Five commodious, well-arranged rooms, broad hall and porches, or galleries, are the main features of the convenient house. Mr. Wooldridge was married in 1851 to Miss Mary E., a daughter of James A. and Sarah (Guerent) Norvell, all of Cambridge, where the marriage occurred. Mrs. Wooklridge was born in 1832. and became the mother of five children. The eldest child, Mary A. Wooldridge, was born in Saline County, Mo., in 1851, and married Wal- ter Burke, now deceased, and continuing to reside in Gilliam, is at present Postmistress there. James M., born in Saline County in 1856, married Miss Powell, and they now live upon a farm in Gilliam. Martha J .. also a native of Saline County, born in 1868, was educated in Cambridge, and now teaches
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sehool in Gilliam. Susan A., born in Saline County in 1862, is also a successful school teacher and resides in Cambridge, where she enjoyed the advantage of an excellent course of instruction. Beulah, born in Saline County in 1865. is mar- ried to T. W. Swinney, and with her family lives in Cambridge Township.
Mr. and Mrs. Wooldridge are highly esteemed members of the Methodist Episcopal Church, and together with their sons and daughters deservedly command the confidence and regard of the publie. They are all ready to aid in every good cause, and our subjeet and his wife are among the liberal supporters of their church. Mr. Wooldridge has for a full quarter of a century been connected with the Masons, and is a valued member of the order. Ile is also fraternally associated with the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, and in politics is a Democrat, adhering to the principles of his party. Mr. Wooldridge has experienced no desire for political preferment or office, but he takes an active interest in the local and national conduct of various responsible positions. As an early set- tler of Missouri, he has been an eye-witness of her rapid growth and improvement, and has himself materially aided in the educational advancement and upward progress of his adopted State.
E DWARD T. SMARR, one of the large land- owners and prominent farmers of La Fay- ette County, resides on section 32, range 26, township 49, where he has a farm of three hun- dred and twenty acres of land, upon which he is engaged both in farming and stock-raising. The birth of Mr. Smarr took place in Marion County, Mo., April 2, 1839. The great-grandfather of our subjeet came from Ireland to America, settling in Virginia, where the father of Edward was born. The latter became a pioneer of Marion County, Mo., having settled near Hannibal when the coun- try was all woodland. The usual trials of pioneer life followed, as at that time the country was wild
and sparsely settled. So wild was it, that our subject remembers seeing deer upon his father's farm in his childhood years.
The mother of the subject of this sketch was Elizabeth Smarr, a native of Kentucky. Four children of Mr. and Mrs. Smarr. Sr., survive, as follows: Mrs. T. C. Wilson, Mrs. Thornton Ham- mack, Mrs. Garland C. Graham and Edward T. Early in the '50s Mr. Smarr brought his family to La Fayette County, settling at first upon rented land in township 48, range 26, and here he was also an early settler. Later he located upon the farm where our subject now resides. The death of Mr. Smarr occurred in 186-1, after a life of great hardship and honest industry in opening up land and making possible the improvements which have since taken place in the county.
The beloved mother of our subject still survives, and bears her weight of eighty years with surpris- ing ease. She is regarded as one of the pioneer women of the county and many and interesting are her accounts of those early days, when if life was hard for the "men folks." it was doubly so for the weaker sex. Our subject was reared to manhood among scenes which would probably fill the hearts of his grandchildren with dismay. As eiviliza- tion increases and life becomes easier, people be- come more luxurious in their tastes, until the former luxuries become necessities. However, Mr. Smarr grew to vigorous maturity upon the farm, and after a short season devoted to acquiring an education, such as could be gained in the old log schoolhouse, he was prepared to begin life for him- self, and to put into practice those lessons of thrift and economy in managing a farm which he had learned from his father.
Our subject remained with his father until he was ready to establish a home of his own. In Sep- tember, 1869, he married Miss Sarah J. Greer, a daughter of Alexander and Sarah J. Greer, and by this union was reared a family of seven chil- dren. five of whom are yet living, namely: Will- iam A., Rovilla, George G., Robert L. and James. E. Those who have passed away were named Ed- ward R. and Ella L. In the fall of 1862, our sub- jeet enlisted in Cockerill's Battalion, and was sent to Arkansas, where he was connected with Hine-
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man's Confederate army. being detailed on courier duty. Subsequently becoming a member of Shel- by's Division, he took part in the battles of Perry Grove. and other engagements of minor import- ance.
After the close of the war, our subject returned to La Fayette County, and resumed his occupation of farming on the homestead where he has since remained. At this place he owns three hundred and twenty acres of land, called the home farm, and in Freedom Township he has one hundred and forty-eight acres. Mr. Smarr is a well-known man, one who is noted for his strict attention to his own affairs, although at all times ready to respond to calls upon his time or means, if convinced of the advantages which will accrue to his township or county. His views have made of him an active Democrat, and in that party he sees the redemp- tion of the country from all the ills which affliet ler.
ENRY SLUSHER, a prosperous and enter- prising farmer and representative citizen of Dover Township, La Fayette County, is one of the oldest residents and earliest pio- neers of his neighborhood and vicinity. A con- stant dweller within the limits of Missouri since he was a little boy, and living in La Fayette County for sixty years, he has been engaged in the pursuit of agriculture upon his highly improved farm of one hundred and sixty acres on section 9, town- ship 50, range 25. for the past forty-five years. Well known to all the settlers of his portion of the State, he enjoys the confidence and regard of the surrounding community, with many of whom he has labored in the common cause of local prog- ress and much-needed improvement, which within the last half-century have transformed the almost unbroken wilderness into smiling villages and farming country rich in harvest.
Mr. Slusher is a native of Virginia and was born in Montgomery County, March 16, 1816. The
Slusher family is of German descent, its members having been thrifty people, intelligent and pro- gressive. The freedom of the new world across the seas, and the better opportunities offered here for the education and advancement of their de- scendants, were the arguments which drew our subject's forefathers to America in early Colonial days. Law-abiding, industrious and thoroughly upright in their character, the Slushers have long been numbered among the substantial men and women of our great republic. The parents of Henry Slusher were both born and reared in the Old Dominion, and there married and settled in life. Christopher and Hannah ( Meyers) Slusher gave their children the training in habits of ener- getic industry which made them earnest and self- reliant, and when our subject was old enough to assist upon the farm his father instructed him patiently in the lessons of daily duty, which through after years were of valute and inestimable profit-a veritable enpital in life.
In the common schools of Virginia, Mr. Shisher received a rudimentary education, and was but twelve years old when his parents removed to Mis- souri, locating on a farm in La Fayette County. From that time, 1828, until he reached twenty- one years of age, our subject remained upon the family homestead, but in 1837 located upon his present farm and began the world for himself. The soil has yielded to culture, and the then mostly wild land is now finely improved and an example of what may be wrought by intelligent toil. Mr. Slusher has been twice married. His first wife was Miss Rebecca Robinson, whom he married April 11, 1839. She was the daughter of John Robinson, a well-known resident of La Fayette County. She survived her marriage but a few years, leaving at her death three motherless little ones, of whom two are now living, Euphemia and Christopher.
The second marriage of Mr. Slusher was solem- mized January 23, 1845, when he was married to Miss Cassandra M. Hogan, the daughter of Alex- ander logan, a native of Kentucky, but a settler of 1837 in La Fayette County, arriving in the month of May. Mr. and Mrs. Slusher are the parents of a large family, twelve children having
THE NEW YORK PUBLIC LIBRARY
ASTOR, LENOX AND TILDEN FOI NOATIONS
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Farina if Somnamom
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blessed their hearth and home. Ten of the brothers and sisters yet survive: Alexander B .. Elizabeth. Jolın, Thaddeus W., Emma .J., Addie W., Cassandra, Beauregard, Lulu. and Henry. The children of our subject have all reached mature age and most of them are now caring for families of their own. They occupy positions of influence and are widely known as upright and industrious citizens, worthy of all due respect and honor. Mr. and Mrs. Slusher have a large circle of friends and neigli- bors and now, passing adown life's vale, enjoy the happiness which a well-spent life confers. Mr. Shusher is a Democrat, firm in his belief in the pop- ular party, which embodies the principles of right, justice and truth.
REDERICK BEERMANN, one of the promi- nent and wealthy old settlers of Freedom Township. La Fayette County, is the sub- ject of this notice. Ilis record for liberality in educational and religious interests is an enviable one. Ever since the adventurous Henry Hudson steered his bark up the river which bears his name, other natives of llolland and her sister. Germany, have shown the same spirit, and have sought a home in this land, which they have made better by their citizenship.
The subject of this sketch was born in llanover, Germany, February 8, 1818, the only son in a family of six children, and was reared on a farm in his native land. His father died when Fred- erick was seven years old, and he was reared by an administrator. Ile remained in his native country until the age of twenty-four years, when he decided to cross the ocean to the United States and there carve out a fortune in a way that was impossible in his own country. After a voyage of nine weeks he reached New Orleans, in November, 1844, and was obliged to make that city his home for four months, as the river was frozen and navigation therefore impossible. As soon as navigation was opened in the spring of
1845, he made his way to La Fayette County, Mo., and immediately secured work by the month. Wages were good, and for four years he faithfully pursued whatever work came in his way.
In the spring of 1847 our subject obtained a commission from the Government to haul pro- visions to Mexico. Starting out with a load. he successfully accomplished his purpose, and returned home in safety, with money in his pocket, having been absent five months and three days. In 1818, he purchased forty aeres of his present place, on which was a log cabin; however, there was very little broken land. Ilis home was located almost in a wilderness, as at that time the country was sparsely settled. Wolves were numerous, but they never annoyed him as much as the deer, and lie found it necessary to keep a watch on the latter or they would have devoured all his corn. Ile never engaged in regular hunting, but it is safe to say that when he found deer in his corn one night, there was venison in his larder the next. At that time all the trading and milling had to be done by team to Lexington, some twenty-five miles dis- tant.
Our subject was united in matrimony, May 6, 1848, with Miss Sophia Bookhart, a native of Hanover, Germany, and twelve children, six boys and six girls, were born unto them. Only three of this large family are now living, namely: llenry; Sophia, who married John Viber, a farmer in Saline County; and Mary, who married Will- iam Slater, a farmer of this locality. The be- ginning of our subject's life in this country was at the very bottom of the ladder, but it is pleas- ant for him to look back on those days of hard- ship and realize that by his own efforts he has ac- complished so much. Ile now looks over four hundred and forty acres of finely cultivated land which he is able to call his own. On this he has engaged in mixed farming, raising stock and grain ; formerly he raised wheat, which he hauled to Lexington and sold for twenty-five cents a bushel; but in these days of quick transportation and Boards of Trade he has no difficulty in disposing of all that his land will produce, at prices that are no doubt gratifying. Since 1879 he has not engaged actively in work on the farm, as his son is capable
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of managing the entire business. The home place is a comfortable dwelling. and the barn is commo- dious and convenient.
Mrs. Beermann died April 16, 1880, and her loss was a heavy bereavement to the family. She was a good Christian woman, and a member of the Lutheran Church, with which Mr. Beermann is iden- tified. The latter has always contributed liberally to religious affairs, and has been instrumental in the organization and building of five churches. In politics, he is Republican, and during the war suffered for his principles. Many times he was shot at by bushwhackers, and at one time he had forty-live head of cattle stolen, which he had entirely given up, when nine days later they returned to him, with the exception of one yoke of oxen. Those were exciting times in this border State, but so well known was he for his peaceable and kindly disposition that his property was re- turned to him by those in authority, although they did not agree with him in politics. That was the place and those were the times when it cost something to be a Republican. He has seen almost all of the development of the county, and what he takes the most pleasure in is the fact that but for him the churches probably would not have been built. The first one erected was a log church. He has willingly given to all, and to the last edifice built contributed 8235 in cash.
B URWELL STARKE, a retired agriculturist and honored pioneer of Missouri, now lo- cated upon section 10, township 50, range 25, Dover Township, La Fayette County, was born in Hanover County, Va., upon May 27, 1806, and has been a resident of his adopted State for the past forty-five years. The parents of our subject were Thomas and Elizabeth (Talley) Starke. John Starke, the paternal grandfather, was a native of Virginia, and there the father of Burwell was born and married, having passed his carly manhood in his native State.
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