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 40
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 40
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
OHN F. FLOYD is a man who proves that "nothing succeeds like success," He has worked his way steadily and quickly to a responsible and remunerative position, and shows himself thoroughly competent to fill it well. He is a man of ability. elear-headed and en- ergetic. Mr. Floyd is a native of Somerset, Pulaski County, Ky., where he entered upon this mundane sphere November 7, 1865. His father, Monroe Floyd, was born in the same State and town. Ilis grandfather was a farmer in Kentucky and owned a plantation there during the War of 1812. Mon- roe Floyd was also a planter, although at one time he was engaged in a dry-goods business at Somer- set. Later, he was a farmer in the same county, and was in the Confederate army during the Civil War, filling the office of Lieutenant for over a year.
In 1871. the father came to Saline County, Mo., and located in Salt Pond, near Sweet Springs, re- maining there for one year and removing thence
THE NEW YORK PUBLIC LIBRARY
ASTOR, LENOX AND TILDEN FOI NDATHINE
L
yours Truly Geo. Farrar
353
PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
to Blackburn. He has a farm of one hundred and sixty acres that is in a good locality, and there deals extensively in cattle. He is a member of the Baptist Church, and a Democrat in politics. He married Mary A., daughter of Andrew Cain, both of whom were born near Sweet Springs. The fa- ther was a farmer in Saline County and there died. The daughter visited in Kentucky, where she met her husband, the father of John F. She is living at the present time and has been the mother of eight children, seven of whom survive. Of these, our subject is the eldest.
Mr. Floyd was born in the famous Blue Grass region and was reared on the farm, attending the public schools of the vicinity. At eighteen he learned telegraphy under an operator at Blackburn, this State, and in 1884 he was made night operator at that city, continuing to fill that position until removed to Gilliam, where he filled the same posi- tion. He was then changed to Grain Valley, whence he moved to Laddonia. After this he went to Blackburn for a time, thence to Marshall, later to Odessa, then to Higginsville, and finally returned to Blackburn, where he remained for sev- eral months. In all these various changes he was engaged as a telegraph operator and was highly considered on the force.
In 1887, our subject went to Kansas City and became night operator on the Chieago & Alton Railroad, serving in that capacity for eighteen months, after which he came to Slater as operator for the dispatcher here, serving six months and then returning to Kansas City, where he was em- ployed as day operator. In Jannary of 1890, he came to Slater again as operator for the chief dispatcher, and served for two years. In January of 1892, he became train dispatcher, which posi- tion he has since filled to the entire satisfaction of the company in whose employ he is. Ile has al- ways been successful and is faithful to his work and the responsibility it involves.
Mr. Floyd was married at Blackburn, June 5, 1889, Miss Nettie S. Burk being his bride. She was born in Sedalia, Mo., and reared in Pettis County, and is a daughter of Elisha Burk, a car- penter in Blackburn. This union has been blessed by the advent of one child, Herbert MI. The fam-
ily residence is situated in the northern part of Slater.
Mr. Floyd is a member of the order of Railway Telegraphic Operators, Kansas City Division, of which society he has been Secretary. He and his wife are members of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church, and, in politics, he is a Democrat. Slater is pleased to name him as one of her representative citizens.
G EORGE FARRAR. The pressed brick in- dustry which is carried on in Lexington has assumed important proportions, giving employment to large numbers of men and putting into circulation large amounts of capital. Our subject is the proprietor of one of the most im- portant of these yards, which is known as the Farrar Pressed Brick Works of Lexington.
Mr. Farrar was born in the manufacturing town of Leeds, England, January 14, 1825. Ile is a son of Thomas and Mary (Davis) Farrar, the former a merchant by calling. George Farrar spent his boyhood in his native place and attended the common schools until fifteen years of age. He was then apprenticed to learn the brick maker's and layer's trade, at which he worked until 1857, when he came to America, landing at Quebec, Canada. From Canada he proceeded to Chicago, where he was employed for one and a-half years.
In the fall of 1858, Mr. Farrar moved to Lex- ington, where he was engaged in working at his trade. In 1861 he began contracting for the eree- tion of dwellings and business blocks. In 1866 he began the manufacture of brick, which he has found so profitable that he has ever since con- tinned in it. During the war he was very success- ful in dealing in hemp, purchasing here and ship- ping abroad, where it was manufactured. Many of the most notable buildings in this locality have been erected by the original of this sketch. He built the Wentworth Military Academy, the Ger- man Church, the Commercial Hotel, the First
17
354
PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
Presbyterian Church, St. John's Colored Church, the Central Female College, beside many other handsome and costly structures in the city. In politics Mr. Farrar is an ardent Republican. believ- ing the tenets of that party to redound to the finan- cial as well as governmental welfare of the coun- try at large.
April 26, 1848, Mr. Farrar was united in mar- riage with Miss Elizabeth Boothman. She became the mother of three daughters, two of whom are living. Mary is the wife of Charles Kriehin, of Marshall, Saline County; Emma is the wife of Thomas Tibbs, of La Fayette County; the de- ceased daughter was Carrie, wife of Charles Kid- well, of Parkersburg, W. Va. Mrs. Elizabeth Farrar died July 24, 1870. Our subject was again married September 24, 1872, this time to Miss Mary A. Hol- land. a daughter of George Hoiland, of Texas. She has proved herself to be a capable matron and an admirable wife and mother. Their family in- cludes four children, two sons and two daughters, whose names are: George T., Walter C., Katie M., and llannah L.
Pressed brick is now so much used in our supe- rior class of buildings that it is easy to see that the brick turned out from Mr. Farrar's yards is of the best quality, being hard, free from cracks, and of a good color. . Thirty-live men are employed in the yards and the capacity of the works is about two million in a season. He ships throughout the adjoining counties. The family residence is lo- eated on South Street and is a pleasant, homelike dwelling.
R S. ANDREWS. Men are known by their fruits as well as trees, and judged by this standard our subject would never be een- sured because of a failure to yield a good and large crop. Faithful in the small things of life. he has reached a point where he commands the respeet and confidence of his fellow-citizens. His father, Rev. Milton Eldridge Andrews, a native of
Bedford County, Va., was born in 1806, being the son of Wyatt Andrews, a soldier of the Revolu- tionary War. Our subject's mother, Keziah (Ar- nold) Andrews, a native of Campbell County, Va., is living at the age of seventy-two years. She was married in the State of her birth, and has always lived there. Of her nine children, our subject was the fifth, though five of them only are now living. She and her husband, who died in 1861, were zeal- ous and devoted members of the Methodist Epis- copal Church South.
Our subject was born October 22, 1851, in Camp- bell County, Va., where he received an excellent academic education, and left there at the age of nineteen years to come to this county, where he settled on a farm in Clay Township, upon which he remained until 1890. He had three brothers in the Southern army, one of whom was killed while fighting under Gen. Lee's command, in an engage- ment just before the surrender. Mr. Andrews was married December 27, 1877, to Miss Ida May Lee, daughter of Richard Lee, now deceased. one of the earliest settlers of La Fayette County. She was born September 8, 1858, in Clay Township, and received a superior education, completing it at Central Female College. Mrs. Andrews became the mother of four children, namely: Bessie Lee, Eugene Leslie (deceased), Carrie Virginia and Mand Arnold.
Our subject has been a Steward and Trustee in the Methodist Episcopal Church Sonth, of which his wife as well as himself is a member. For a number of years he lilled very creditably the im- portant station of Superintendent of Sunday- schools of Clay Township. Ile is a member of the Masonic order, and is First Lieutenant of the order of Woodmen, both of Odessa. The political aflil- iation of our subject is with the Democratic party, in whose deliberations and campaigns he always takes a very active part, and as a reward for his services and in appreciation of his merits he was nominated and elected County Court Judge in 1890, and re-elected in 1892. A warm friend of the publie schools, in his position as member of the School Board he is able to render very efficient help to the cause of education. llis farm of one hundred and sixty-five acres in Clay Township is
355
PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD
well improved and a valuable piece of property. The home of our subject is a very neat residence, built in 1891 at a cost of $1,200, and has a fine lo- cation just west of Odessa, and overlooking that picturesque village.
W J. POLLARD, the subject of this bio- graphical sketch, born in Lincoln County, Mo., in Jannary, 1847, and son of G. W. Pollard, a native of Virginia, is President of the Alma Creamery Company, Alma, La Fayette County, Mo. The father of W. J. was an early settler of Missouri; the mother, Serepta (Blancks) Pollard, was a native of Virginia. Ilis paternal grandfather was named John Pollard. The ances- tors of the family came over from Scotland and settled in Virginia in the last century.
The education of our subject, until his sixteenth year, was obtained in the common schools of Lincoln County; then followed one year's course at the Mexico Academy, Mexico, Mo. After an interval of two years, or when at the age of nine- teen, Mr. Pollard spent a year at college in Wentz- ville, Mo. Now fully equipped by education for any business, he chose the occupation of a farmer, a calling he followed until 1884. At this june- ture the season seemed favorable for embarking in mercantile trade; so our subject went into the grocery business in Laddonia, Mo., continuing in it for four years.
From 1888 until 1891 Mr. Pollard was a travel- ing salesman for F. Smith & Sons, of St. Louis, a position he filled with great credit. lle was elected in March, 1892, President of the Alma Creamery Company, a position he yet holds. In May, following, the creamery was put in operation, and under the management of Mr. Pollard has made steady progress, until now it is one of the leading institutions of its kind in this part of Missouri. The creamery is fitted out with the latest improvements in the way of machinery and
creamery apparatus. Fine cold storage is also connected with the plant. The creamery has a capacity of sixteen thousand pounds of butter per day, pronounced to be of the most superior qual- ity, and for which a ready market is easily found.
Good, solid men compose the list of stockhold- ers, and the institution is flourishing. A most ex- perienced butter-maker. J. W. Nelson, is employed, and the success of the enterprise is largely due to his skilled business methods. The officers of the company are: W. J. Pollard, President; I. P. Tay- lor, Vice-president; Jaines Goodwin, Jr., Secretary; William Lohoefner, Treasurer.
Mr. Pollard was married in 1871 to Miss Fannie 11., daughter of John K. Lindsay, of Kentucky. Three children bless the union of Mr. and Mrs. Pollard, namely: Henry N., Josie and Elizabeth. Our subject is a Democrat, holding strongly to the principles of that party. Mr. Pollard's home at Alma is a good frame residence, nicely located and with beautiful surroundings.
G ROVE YOUNG, one of the most successful and wealthy men in La Fayette County, was born in Freedom Township, this county, August 26, 1843. His father, Joseph L. Young, was born in Morristown, N. J., and the grand- father, Maj. Grove Young, was also born in New Jersey, where he was a successful farmer. His title of Major was bestowed upon him in the War of 1812. Ile died in his native State.
The father was an extensive manufacturer of carriages in Newark, N. J., where he was extremely successful, having the largest manufacturing estab- lishment in that vicinity. In the panic of 1836, lie, like others, had to close up business. . In 1837 he came to St. Louis, where he worked at the trade of blacksmith, in which he was a skilled mechanic, until 1840, when he located in La Fayette County, entered Government land in Freedom Township, and improved it.
In 1849, during the gold excitement of that
356
PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
time, he went to Calfornia, across the plains, and engaged in trading very successfully for two years, when he returned home via the Isthmus of Panama and New Orleans, and resumed his agri- cultural labors. In 1858 or 1859, he started West to California, taking a herd of cattle with him, but the Indians were so troublesome that he traded his stock for land in Shawnee County. Kan., and there improved a large farm near Topeka. This valuable land is now owned by our subjeet and his brother. The father died aged seventy- three years. The mother, Lydia Rogers, was born in Newark. N. J., of English descent, from a very prominent family both in England and the East. She died in Kansas after bearing her husband six children, five of whom are now living, four boys and one girl.
Our subject was reared on a farm in Freedom Township and enjoyed the advantages of a com- mon-school education in the district schools; he also attended the school at Sweet Springs and the academy at Richmond, Mo., but at the first tap of the drum in 1861, when he was only seventeen years old, he enlisted in Company F, Fifth Kan- sas Cavalry, being mustered in at Ft. Leavenworth as a private. The regiment served in the Trans- Missouri army, and Mr. Young participated in nearly every engagement of his regiment until his three-year term of enlistment expired and he was mustered out as a Second Lieutenant.
At the close of the war, Mr. Young began farm- ing and stock-raising in Freedom Township, this county, until 1875, when he engaged in merchan- dising in Aullville, in which he remained until 1879, and then located in Higginsville and en- gaged in the same business, in which he has since carried on a very active trade. In addition to his fine store in Higginsville, he has established branches in some of the near villages. In llig- ginsville, he has a large double store, in which he carries the largest stock of dry goods. eloaks, etc., in the city.
In addition to the business mentioned, Mr. Young has been interested in other enterprises, among which are the platting of the south side addition of sixty aeres, which he built up almost all himself, his interest in some of the most valua-
ble coal mines in the State, and his farming lands in this county and Kansas. lle is one of the larg- est real-estate owners in the city.
In 1873, Mr. Young married in Johnson County Miss Ella L. Greer, a native of that county. This lady has ever been a faithful, loving wife and one of her husband's most enthusiastic admirers. Mr. Young is a Master Mason and Odd Fellow socially , and one of the county's most stanch and loyal Democrats. lle is a man of sterling worth, who has carved his way to fortune through many difficulties, but now has reached an eminence from which he can look down and offer encouragement to those still struggling up the ladder of fame. In spite of his wonderful snecess, Mr. Young is a quiet, unassuming gentleman whom it is very pleasant to meet, and his many friends unite in pronoune- ing him one of the most esteemed citizens in big- ginsville.
EWIS PHILIP KNOBLE, a prominent and successful coal operator, and proprietor of the well-known Bruce & Knoble Coal Com- pany, is the subject of this writing. He was born in Lexington, Ky., February 1, 1854, the son of David Knoble, who was a native of Germany, and followed the oeeupation of a tailor. Ile came to America when a young man, and located at Nash- ville, Tenn., and after marriage opened a tailor shop there, but later moved to Kentucky, and went into the nursery business near Lexington. Ile is a man well regarded by his neighbors and is a consistent member of the Methodist Episcopal Church.
The mother of our subject was Charlotte Myers, who was born in Central Port, Ohio, and was the daughter of John Myers, a farmer of Ohio. The mother of our subject died in 1875, having been a devoted parent to nine children, six of whom grew up. Edward entered the Twenty-first Ken- tueky Infantry, Union army, and later was trans- ferred to the staff of Gen, Rosecrans as an Aid,
357
PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
with the rank of Major from that time to the end of the war. He was made a prisoner and confined in Libby Prison for six months. He now resides in Washington State and is engaged in the hard- ware business. John was in the Fifth Kentucky Artillery from 1863 for a space of eighteen months, and now resides in Kansas. Florence is employed upon the railroad; David is a Govern- ment gauger at Lexington; and Annie is at home.
Our subject was reared in Lexington to the age of fourteen years and attended the public schools. In 1868 he came with his brother John to the State of Missouri, and brought some eattle through for John C. Young, who became his employer for two years at Dover. Later he returned to Ken- tueky, and there went into the employ of Capt. R. Todd, and remained in that State until 1880. During this time he developed into a horse trainer and breaker, and in the last-named year loeated in Higginsville, and opened a breaking and train- ing stable on the fair grounds.
The love of a man for a fine specimen of the equine family is something not to be wondered at, but not all have the peculiar power of subduing the fiery temper, nor of quieting the nerves, of the thoroughbred. It seems strange to remember that horses were unknown in America before 1493, and that our own great Columbus, to whom we are doing tardy honor in these late days, was the in- troducer of these noble animals on his second voy- age to the West Indies. A shipwrecked Spanish vessel on the coast of Florida in 1527 is supposed to have distributed a part of its eargo of horses upon the mainland.
This dissertation upon the horse was only an introduction to the statement that our subjeet had that love and admiration for horses whichi gave him the gift of being able to sueeeed with them. After locating here he became very pros- perous, and engaged in raising standard breeds of horses, and can point to some very famous ones, among which we may name: "Bessie Mambrino," with a record of 2.26, and "Allegro," with a record of 2.37 at three years. Notwithstanding his success, Mr. Knoble decided to make a change in his business, and in 1886 went into the eoal- mining business.
When our subjeet went into this new interest he associated Robert Beatty with him as partner, and the firm operated the present shaft until 1888, when J. D. Bruce bought Mr. Beatty out. This paying mine is located one and one-half miles south of Higginsville, and is known as the W. C. Beatty farm; it is on the belt line which connects with the Chicago & Alton and Missouri Pacific Railroads. The depth of the mine is forty- five feet, with double shaft, and horse power. The vein is of eighteen inehes and is full quality, as good as any in La Fayette County. The pres- ent capacity of the mine is four cars per day, and sixty men are employed.
Since 1888 the firm has had a retail market in Kansas City, which consumes the whole output. Mr. Knoble manages the business at the mine, and Mr. Brnee at Kansas City, and they find a ready market for their produee, as it is regular furnace coal. Mr. Knoble has built a residence at this place. In 1883 he married Miss Julia Higgins, who was born, reared and educated near here. Her father is Harvey Iliggins (see sketeh). Four chil- dren have been added to this family, Harvey L., Edgar II., Myrtie S. and Annie E.
Mr. Knoble is a Deacon in the Presbyterian Church, which he helped to build, and is very much respected in this connection. In his politi- cal opinions, Mr. Knoble inelines toward Democ- racy, believing in the principles of that party. He is a very enterprising and progressive man, and has done much for the development and ad- vaneement of this county.
OHN R. VANCE, a prominent member of the Saline County Bar, and a leading and influential eitizen of Marshall, Mo., re- ceived in 1892 the distinguished and de- served honor of being appointed from the Seventh District as delegate to the National Republiean Convention held in Minneapolis. For over a quarter of a century closely identified with all the
358
PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
best interests of his county and State, our subject ably represented his constituents in the great po- litical gathering in Minnesota, and through his fidelity and energetic service in behalf of their in- struetions has won the esteem and confidence of the general public.
The paternal grandfather of John R. Vance was born in the North of Ireland, and was the purser of the first vessel which sailed after the close of the Revolutionary War. James Vance, this worthy ancestor of our subject, built the first house erected in Martinsburgh, Va .. and there engaged at his trade of cooper. Later, he became one of the early settlers of Ohio, and named Martins- burgh, Knox County, where he gave his time to agricultural duties until far advanced in life. An energetic, enterprising and upright man and worthy citizen, he passed peacefully away in his eighty-seventh year.
James Vance was a consistent member of the Scotch Presbyterian Church all his life, and gave to all religious duty and work the conscientious and earnest effort of a true Christian. His son, Andrew Vance, was born in Martinsburgh, Va., April 29, 1808, and removed to Martinsburgh, Ohio, when that country was little more than a wilder- ness. Ile was trained in agricultural duties upon his father's farm, and, arriving at manhood. im- proved a homestead of his own. He held official positions in the county, discharging the duties with honor, and served as Captain in the militia in the boundary trouble between Ohio and Michigan. Politically, he was a Democrat, and in rehgious alliliation a Presbyterian. He died October 8, 1887, of old age.
Mary J. Agnue, his wife, was born in Pennsyl- vania April 27, 1809. She was the daughter of Capt. Agnue, who was born in Ireland, and who was a sailor in his youth, and also a master of a vessel, and who settled in Knox County in a very early day, and was engaged in farming when he died. This grandfather of our subject was of Scotch deseent, and possessed a strong and earnest character. Mr. and Mrs. Andrew Vanee were the parents of six children: Joseph M., the eldest son, lives in Mclean County, III .; James S. is a resident of Ohio; William was killed by the Indians on the
plains in 1858; John R. is our subject; Rowland is a broker in the grocery business in Columbus; and B. Eastburn is a resident of Columbus, in a general merchandise business. The mother of these sons died September 11, 1886, just thirteen months prior to the death of her husband. The excellent couple both attained an advanced age, and commanded the respect and esteem of all who knew them.
Our subjeet was born July 9, 1835, upon a farm in Knox County, Ohio, near Mt. Vernon. He at- tended the district school of the neighborhood when a little child, and afterward studied in llayes- ville, and taught school, meantime ambitiously preparing himself for college. In 1862, after a full classical course in Kenyon College, at Gam- bier, Ohio, he graduated with the degree of A. B., and immediately began the study of law in the Buckeye State. After a time he accepted the su- perintendonce of the schools of Columbus, Ind., . and was thus engaged one year, when he entered the law department of the University of Ann Arbor, Mich., and graduated in 1865 with the de- gree of LL. B. Mr. Vance then began the study of law in Columbus, but upon July 9, 1865, lo- cated in Marshall, and has practiced his profession here with great success ever since. A part of the time he has been in partnership with T. J. Yerby, associated in the general practice of law, his office being on North Street.
Upon April 9, 1868, Mr. Vance was united in mar- riage with Miss Annette Wilson, a native of Mar- shall, and a daughter of William A. Wilson. a Colonel in the Federal army, and attached to the Seventy- first Regiment, E. M. M. Mrs. Vance was reared and educated at her home, and possesses a large circle of friends and acquaintances. She is the happy mother of three bright. promising young people, all preparing to fill positions of honor and usefulness. Minnie is a Post-graduate of the High School; Rufus A. is in his junior year in the Missouri Valley College; and Berenice is at home. Our subject is Trustee and Vestryman in the Episcopal Church, and has been Superinten- dlent of the Sunday-school. lle and his interest- ing family are among the important factors in the social, benevolent and religious enterprises of
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.