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 42
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 42
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Mr. Chamblin was one of the first Sehool Diree- tors and was a member of the Board when the first publie schools were built, but is not on the Board
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now. Our subject received a call from one hun- dred and eighty citizens to make the raee for County Judge of the Eastern District of La Fayette County, and the nomination was almost unani- mous. Mr. Chamblin is connected with the An- cient Order of United Workmen and is a valued member of the society. lle was interested in se- euring the site of the Confederate Soldiers' Home at Higginsville, and was among the most liberal contributors in behalf of the project. Ile also aided in founding the La Fayette College connected with the Christian Church, which institution is not now in existence. Our subject assisted in build- ing the Christian Church, of which his wife is a member, and has been prominently connected with every leading enterprise of his home. In poli- tics, he is a straight Democrat, and ardently inter- ested in the local and national conduct of affairs. As an energetic and progressive citizen, he has from his earliest years been one of the important factors in the upbuilding and advancement of all the leading interests of his native State, and pos- sesses the esteem of all who know him.
E RNEST L. EUBANK, a prominent and prosperous agriculturist, and an energetic and progressive citizen, now residing upon seetion 4, township 51, range 20, adjacent to Stater, Saline County, Mo., is a native of the State and county, and was born July 6, 1864. Ile is an honored representative of our ambitious, self-reli- ant and intelligent young men of to-day, who are in fact the coming power in American govern- ment and independence. Always a resident of the State, our subjeet is widely known, and has been active in local progress and improvement. He is one of the leading Masons of Slater, and in the ranks of that ancient society and among the gen- eral public has a host of warm friends.
Ernest L. Eubank is a son of Reuben and Bettie (Whitaker) Eubank, early residents of Missouri. The mother is a native of Kentucky, and a most
estimable and finely cultured lady. Our subject has two brothers, John F. and Jerome D. John F. Eubank was born in Saline County, Mo., in the year 1861, and was united in marriage with Miss Luey Smith, who is the happy mother of two bright and promising children. He is a successful agriculturist and a highly respected citizen. Jerome D. Eubank is also a native of Saline County, and was born in 1866. lle married Miss Zudie Pur- dom, and with his wife makes his home in Slater, and transaets the business of a stock-dealer. Our subject was educated in the excellent schools of Slater and at twenty-one years of age engaged in the duties of agriculture, and aside from profit- able farming has been successful as a trader.
A valuable homestead of one hundred and sixty aeres was received by Mr. Eubank from his father, who purchased the land, located on the Lexington Road, some twenty years ago, paying for it then $16.663 per acre. The estate, which is pleasantly situated, has increased in value, and could not now be purchased for $75 per acre. Mr. Eubank was married, May 7, 1890, to Miss Lillie, Gaines, a na- tive of Kentucky, born in 1868. She is a daugh- ter of Benjamin Gaines, and a most attractive and accomplished young lady. After a long course of instruction in musie, under the supervision of one of the celebrated teachers of the art in Kentucky, Mrs. Eubank graduated with honor, and is a thor- onghly skilled musician.
The beautiful home of Mr. and Mrs. Eubank is modern in construction and artistie in design and finish. The ten commodious and conveniently ar- ranged and finely furnished rooms are finished in Georgia pine, and the effect is in keeping with the tasteful decorations and furnishings. The house is two stories in height, and cost $3,500. A barn, handsome in design and well finished, is a com- modious and really ornamental as well as useful structure, and is thirty feet gable, and twelve feet post, and 50x60 feet in extent and cost the sum of $1,200. The surrounding grounds and yard are kept in exquisite order, and form a pretty setting to the residence.
The valuable farm, all under a high state of cultivation, produces principally corn, wheat and a variety of choice grasses. Mr. Eubank devotes
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much of his time to the raising of a good quality of stock, horses, cattle and hogs, and has been especially successful in this department of general agriculture. The net proceeds of the farm annu- ally reach 82,500. Our subject has been a member of the Christian Church, but his wife is a member of the Baptist denomination, and in both religious organizations they number many friends. Mr. and Mrs. Eubank are both prominent in the social world of Slater, and receive and entertain with cordial hospitality. Our subject has been a mem- ber of the Blue Lodge since December 1, 1888, and advanced to the Royal Arch in 1889, and in 1890 became a Knight Templar. Politically, Mr. Eu- bank is a thorough Democrat, and has represented the party and his political friends and neighbors at various State and county conventions, ever dis- charging the duties intrusted to his care with ef- ficiency and fidelity.
LBERT G. ROBERTSON, a very success- ful farmer and stock-raiser, who is located near Mt. Leonard, Saline County, is one more of that honorable, substantial and helpful class of citizens-the cultivators of the soil. In the Old Country a land-owner is regarded as a more important adjunet to society than a man who does not own land can be, and there is some- thing in that old feeling which has been handed down through the generations that are the deseend- ants of Old Country people, as we nearly all are more or less, because there is something definitely solid in real estate, something reliable, and which can not fluctuate as some other forms of prop- erty do.
Mr. Robertson comes of a good old family who trace their ancestry back to Scotland and its sturdy people, than whom there are none stronger in mind or body. Albert G. was born in Wyandot County, Ohio, February 20, 1821. His father, Josiah Robertson, was born in Virginia in 1789, and his grandfather, also Josiah Robertson, was of
Scotch descent. The grandfather served in the Revolutionary War, while his brother was a Cap- tain in that war, and was killed at Norfolk, Va.
Mr. Robertson's father was a farmer, and emi- grated to Ohio before 1820, locating temporarily in Highland County, but after his marriage moved to Wyandot County, where he purchased land and improved a farm. He came to Missouri in 1837, locating in Marion County, where he bought land and lived about sixteen years. After this he moved to Knox County, where he died in 1863. He served in the War of 1812, was Judge of what was Crawford County, Ohio, at the time that he lived there, and was a prominent man, very soci- able and well liked. The mother of the subject of this sketch, Eliza (Terry) Robertson, of Virginia, moved to Ohio with her parents when she was only seven years of age. She died in Saline County in 1889, in her eightieth year.
Albert G. is the second child and eldest son of five children, three of whom are living. His edu- cational advantages were necessarily limited, as the school facilities of that time were meagre; we know of the old log schoolhouses with their rude accommodations, yet many of our ablest men have received all their school education in just such educational institutions, proving that " where there's a will, there's a way " to gain some knowl- edge as a nucleus for future acquisition; and this Mr. Robertson did, using the advantages that he had to the fullest extent possible.
Mr. Robertson was seventeen years of age when his father came to Missouri, and he remained with him ten years, during which time he and his brother managed the farm. In 1848, he located in Knox County on a piece of land which his father gave him, and lived there sixteen years. In 1865, just after the war, he came to Saline County and bought his present farm, located in section 2-1, township 50, range 23. This seetion was quite new at the time and hut few improvements were seen. lle purchased quite an extensive tract of land, and now owns three hundred and twenty acres of as fine farming property as can be found anywhere. He has always been actively engaged in stock-raising and has made a success of it.
May 3, 1849, Mr. Robertson married Miss Mary 1
.
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Black, of Perry County, Ohio. Iler people were natives of that State and were a fine family. The following children blessed this union: Josiah J .; George M., deceased; John M., married, a farmer near Grand Pass, this State and county; Dorothy J .; Daniel B., married, and a farmer near here; Thomas J., Minnie, and two deeeased. Min- nie is a teacher in the convent in Springfield, Mo. All the children have been given good school ad- vantages. The gentleman of whom we are writing affiliates with the Democratic party, but is not an active politician. Ile is one of our best citizens, a statement that means much when we take into consideration the number of fine men we have in the county.
AMES W. BELLES, living upon a beauti- ful farm of one hundred and sixty-six aeres of land, located on section 17, town- ship 49, range 25, in La Fayette County, Mo., is the subject of this sketch. Ile is one of the prominent and thrifty farmers of this vieinity, and was born in this county November 2, 1850. His parents were William Il. and Caroline V. Belles, both of them natives of Kentucky. The father of our subjeet emigrated from Kentucky to La Fayette County, Mo., at an early day, when still a young man, and later settled upon a place about two miles east of the present site of Hig- ginsville. There he became one of the early settlers.
The death of William II. Belles took place in October, 1854, in this county, but the beloved mother lived until 1883, when she, too, passed away at about the age of seventy years, a devout member of the Christian Church. Mr. Belles had embraced the Baptist faith, and with their deaths passed away two of the real old settlers who were pioneers of the State. Our subject was reared upon the farmn of his father and early learned the duties pertaining to agricultural life. His education was rather limited, being only that
1
to be obtained in the district school, but he was a youth with natural intelligence and has become a man of superior information.
The marriage of Mr. Belles was solemnized February 16, 1888, with Miss Roberta Graham, a native of La Fayette County, and a daughter of Charles Graham, of Aullville, Mo. She was a bright and intelligent maiden, and has made a sensible and congenial wife, the thoughtful and fond mother of two children: Virginia, born Mareh 1, 1889, and little Graham, July 28, 1891. Our subject had originally six brothers and sis- ters, but four of these are the only ones left. They are all in homes of their own and are as fol- lows: Naney B., who is now the wife of F. M. IIa- good; Martha; and Elizabeth R., who is the wife of R. F. Warren.
Mr. Belles, of this notice, is the owner of one hundred and sixty-six acres of land and takes pride in them, knowing that his own untiring efforts earned them. Ilis district has entrusted him with the position of School Director, and he has shown himself to be in favor of all those in- terests which will advance the county. In the Democratic party our subjeet takes a prominent place, being quite active in its ranks in this town- ship. Ilis church connection is with that denom- ination known as the Christian. Altogether. in looking through the county, there is no family more deserving of the high esteem in which it is held than that of James W. Belles.
W ILLIAM O. SMITII, deceased. There is no subject to which it is so difficult to do justice as to the memory of the distin- guished dead, yet we cannot refrain, in a biogra- phical work, from the mention of those eitizens who have been so closely identified with the early settlement and growth of our county, though they may have long since taken their departure from among the living.
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Among those men of prominence who deserve mention at the hands of the truthful biographer, and who will never be forgotten, stands that of William O. Smith, who departed this life in 1880. Although years have passed since he was called away from the things of life, his memory is ver- dant in the hearts of his friends.
Mr. Smith was born in Clarke County, Va., and was a son of Lonis and Malinda Smith, who were also born in the Old Dominion. Ile was a member of a family of three, the only brother. His first marriage took place in 1841 to Miss Marion Adams, but she was removed by death, and left three children, Edward, Louis and Hariette. The second marriage of Mr. Smith took place in Har- riet, when he chose Miss Mary Adkins to become his wife, but she too was called away, and at her death, in 1858, left also three children, W. O., Mildred J. and Mary A. Again Mr. Smith sought a companion, and in 1860 Miss Martha B. Winston consented to become his wife, and one child was born of this union, J. W. Smith, who now resides upon the home farm.
Our subject came to Saline County in 1847, having resided for one year in Howard Coanty, Mo. Looking backward, that seems a long time, and, judging by the wonderful growth and devel- opment of the country, seems still longer, but many yet live who can tell of a pioneer life like that of Mr. Smith. He was a poor man at that time, and brought almost no money with him, but was able in after years to look backward to this time and realize how all of the advancement he had made was by his own efforts.
Mr. Smith owned a few negroes during the war, but lost them, and when he reached this place he bought such land as his limited means would al- low. This he improved until he owned a tract much larger, having added to it from time by judicious purchase, and at the time of his death owned three hundred and eighty-six acres. This is all highly cultivated and would sell for 865 to $70 per acre. Our subject was a member of the Bethel Baptist Church from 1858 up to 1876, when he became a firm believer in the Hope Puri- tan Baptist faith, and was baptized into that church.
Mr. Smith had many good qualities, and in the times of his pioneer life these were strongly brought forth. There was none more willing to help a neighbor, or to lend a hand in any enterprise for the good of the church, school or community. Hle is remembered as always liberal to the religi- ous bodies and a contributor to all charitable pur- poses. Socially he was a member of the Inde- pendent Order of Odd Fellows, and politically he was a Democrat, and most naturally a Southern sympathizer.
h G. NIEDERJOHN. We are pleased to present to the readers of this work the intelligent gentleman and prominent poli- tician, as well as substantial farmer, whose name opens this sketch. His fine place is located on section 2, township 50, range 24, in La Fay- ette County, where he has one of the best farms in the neighborhood. Since 1873 he has been a resident of La Fayette County, and by his good ' judgment and practical good sense has become known as one of the most reliable citizens of the community.
The birth of our subject took place in Warren County, Mo., December 11, 1847. He is a son of II. II. and Florentine (Koelling) Niederjohn, the former a native of Germany, and one of the early settlers of Warren County, Mo. The boyhood of our subject was spent similarly to that of other lads of his age, in attending the common schools and doing the "chores" which so naturally fall to the boys in a family. Not being satisfied with the advantages afforded at the common schools, our subject at the age of twenty-one years en- tered the Central Wesleyan College. at Warren- ton, Mo., where he remained one year.
After leaving school, our subjeet went into a general merchandise business in Warrenton, con- tinuing there for two and one-half years. In 1873 he removed to La Fayette County, and obtained a fine farm of two hundred and seventy-tive acres,
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upon which he has since engaged in general farm- ing, having two hundred and forty-six acres well cultivated and improved. In his political life Mr. Niederjohn upholds the principles of the Repub- lican party, believing that those are the best for the management of a great country like this. He has beeome a prominent factor in the ranks of his party in this section.
In connection with the above statement, we may mention that Mr. Niederjohn was nominated upon the Republican ticket this fall (1892) for the position of County Judge from the Eastern Dis- triet of La Fayette County, Mo. Our subject is a member of Middleton Lodge No. 186, A. O. U. W., in which he takes a lively interest. In 1876, he married Miss Amelia, daughter of E. H. Koenig, of Concordia, La Fayette County, and seven in- teresting children gather around his hearth, as follows: William H., Flora II., E. W., Benjamin F., Horace G., Lydia May, and an infant habe. Our subjeet and his wife are valned members of the Methodist Episcopal Church South, in which Mr. Niederjohn holds the position of Steward. For many years he has acceptably filled the office of School Director, and is a man who is esteemed by the community.
ON. WILLIAM T. GAMMON, elected to an honored position upon the Judicial Bench of Virginia. served with ability as Judge of the County Court, and afterward made Judge of the Probate Court in La Fayette County, Mo., discharged the responsible duties of his various offiees with energetic efficiency. An enterprising and progressive citizen, he has suc- cessfully engaged in various lines of business. Our subject was born August 6, 1826, and is the son of Thomas and Jane ( Bradshaw) Gammon. Ilis paternal grandfather, Anderson Gammon, was of Scotch-Irish deseent, by occupation a farmer, and lived and died in Louisa County, Va. Grand- mother Gammon, who was a Miss Strong, became
the mother of four sons and one daughter: Will- iam, Thomas, Harris, George A. and Mary. The Gammons were of the Baptist persuasion, and up- right, earnest, Christian people.
The father of our subject was born in Louisa County, Va., and was a successful farmer and a carpenter by trade. In 1820, he moved to Poea- hontas County, and with two others built the first court house. After his marriage he devoted himself entirely to agricultural duties. His wife, born in Augusta County, Va., was a descendant of Judge John Bradshaw, who was the presiding Jurist at the trial of King Charles I, of England. The maternal grandfather of our subject, John Bradshaw, was born in Virginia, and was num- bered among the wealthy planters of the State. He served with distinguished bravery in the Revo- lutionary War, and participated in the battle of Cowpens. His wife was Naney MeCamey, and the children who gathered in their home were James, John, William, Thomas, Elizabeth, Nancy and Jane. In religious belief, the Bradshaws were Presbyterians.
In political affiliation, Thomas Gammon was an ardent Whig. He was an active worker in the Presbyterian Church and a leader in the promotion of its enterprises. He was a sincere, earnest, Chris- tian man, and, when he died in 1851, was deeply mourned by a large cirele of true friends. The sons and daughter of his household were John A., William T., Thomas Franklin, Cyrus S. and Martha J. The mother of our subject had been twice married. Judge Gammon was reared upon a farm, received a good English education, and at seven- teen years of age began the management of his father's business, superintending slaves. When twenty-four years of age he engaged as a clerk in the mereantile business, and two years later was admitted into the firm as a partner, but lost all his property by fire. Immediately succeeding this misfortune he taught school for two winters, also engaged in farming, and devoted himself to agri- eultural duties until the breaking out of the war.
In the fall of 1861, Judge Gammon was elected Captain of Company 1, Twenty-fifth Virginia Regiment, and was a participant in the retreat from Laurel Ilill. Ile was afterward made Captain
18
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under Col. Walker, and was with Gen. Jackson in the battles of the Shenandoah Valley. He was wounded in the battle of Cross Keys by the ex- plosion of a shell, and, his left leg being severely injured, was obliged to remain in the hospital at Lynchburgh for six months. Recovering from his wound, he removed with his family to Georgia, where he made his home for four years. In April, 1869, our subjcet came to La Fayette County, and remained here one year, and in 1871 bought eighty acres of land on Texas Prairie. In 1874, he was elected Indge of the Probate Court, and held the position for six years. In 1880, he removed with his family to where he now resides on two hundred acres purchased in 1879. and pleasantly located upon section 31, township 19, range 27, La Fay- ette County. To the original purchase a son of Judge Gammon has added eighty aeres, all the land now being under a high state of improve- ment.
Our subjeet was married March 11, 1850, to Miss Elizabeth 1. Slaven, born in Pocahontas County, Va .. and the daughter of Jacob G. and Eleanor ( Lockridge) Slaven. The father of Mrs. Gammon was an extensive farmer and stock-raiser, in polities, a Democrat, and lived and died in Vir- ginia. llis father, also a native of the Old Do- minion, was a farmer and a soldier in the War of the Revolution. Ihs wife. Elizabeth Warwick, was the mother of two sons, William and JJacob, and reared six daughters. The family name was formerly spelled Lochridge. The Slaven family is of Seoteh-Irish descent, and its members were among the early and most patriotic of our Ameri- can citizens.
Judge Gammon and his wife are the parents of eight children, but only five of the sons and daugh- ters lived to adult age. Massie A., the oldest, is the wife of G. B. Chamberlin; Ella F. is the wife of 11. C. Armstrong; Thomas E., William L. and Minnie A. complete the list of the children, who are now numbered with the prominent and influ- ential residents of their various communities. Judge Gammon and his wife and family are among the valued members of the Presbyterian Church, and enjoy the confidence and esteem of a large circle of friends. Our subject has passed through
various changes of fortune with brave courage and the unfailing resolution and fortitude inher- ited from a long line of distinguished ancestry. In Virginia, holding various official positions of trust. a Judge upon the Bench, and serving as Commissioner in Chancery. he never lost an op- portunity to gain practical knowledge, and was an excellent surveyor and civil engineer. Left at the elose of the war without means, he self-reli- antly again won his upward way, and worthily gained the prosperity and undoubted suecess which have crowned his later efforts in life.
HARLES A. ROBINSON, formerly engineer of the Excelsior Mines, was born in Craw- ford County. near Washington, Ohio, Sep- tember 20, 1818. llis ancestry traced back to his great-grandfather finds Dr. John Robinson a na- tive of Georgia, where he was a successful physi- cian and a large planter and slave-owner. After a time, however, he became imbued with anti- slavery views, sold his farm and freed the slaves. From Georgia he removed to Vermont and prac- ticed medicine there. Later, he moved to Ohio and located in Crawford County. The grand- father was a soldier in the War of 1812. Hle was a farmer and the owner of a large sawmill in Crawford County, whence he moved to Green Bay. Wis., and there died.
The father of our subject, George Robinson. was a harness-maker by trade and conducted an establishment. He was in the Mexican War as one of the officers, and then went to California with stock, freighting back and forth. llis wife was one of the plucky women of the day, and drove a four-horse team to and from California twice along with the train. She learned the use of a ritle, and had many encounters with the In- dians, in which she did not come away second best. ller maiden name was Laura Grant, and she was a native of Ohio. Her father was Josiah
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Grant, a connection of the family of Gen. Grant and a pioneer in Ohio. Mr. Robinson crossed the plains a number of times, but finally tired of this life of danger and adventure, and bought a farm in St. Joseph County, Ind., and devoted his atten- tion to the improvement of the place. Ile was a Republican in his political belief.
The only child in the parental family is our subject, who was reared in Crawford County until he was six years old. Later, he resided at Cold- water and Grand Rapids, Mich. For three years he lived with his uncle, A. B. Grant, in Elkhart County, and then went back to St. Joseph County, Mich., near Sturgis and Coldwater, where he re- mained until he entered the army, when but six- teen years of age. Mr. Robinson inherited much of the determination of his father and the bravery of his mother, and three times did he make the effort before he was accepted. In 1864, he suc- ceeded and volunteered in Company E, Twenty- fourth Michigan Infantry. He was mustered in at Kalamazoo and joined the regiment at Camp Butler. Springfield, Ill. He remained on guard at the camp there until he was mustered out, June 25, 1865, and then he returned to Indiana to St. .Joseph County and aided his father on a farm for one year.
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