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 51
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 51
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
The sterling qualities and irreproachable charac- ter of our subject had ever been apparent in his business dealings and dady walk in life, and at his funeral services, conducted by the Rev. Mr. Bolton, this fact was made plain in the eloquent address, which depieted him as he was, a true, sin- cere and unselfish Christian man. Mr. Norvell was never a politician in the sense of the word as it is popularly understood. He had no desire to fill official positions, but was always deeply inter- ested in the affairs of the day, and deemed it most essential that worthy men and good citizens should alone fill positions of trust and importance. lle was in party affiliations a sturdy Democrat, and was an ardent supporter of his party. Ile believed in educational progress and the advancement of the masses, and throughout his entire life was
ever ready to assist those less fortunate than him- self. Of him and in loving remembrance it might be truthfully written. "He hath done what he could."
W ILLIAM T. HILL. These few lines are intended as a brief memoir of one of the sterling men of Saline County, Mo., now passed away, he having died July 5, 1892. During life he led an upright existence, and his memory is tenderly preserved in the hearts of his family and friends, as well as in the record of prominent men of his seetion. William Hill was a native of Missouri, and was born in 1813, a son of E. P.and Malinda Ilill. Ile was sent to the schools of his neighborhood, but at the age of eighteen, he left school books behind and offered his young life on the altar of his country.
War calls were sounding at that time, in 1862. and under the command of Gen. Price our subjeet enlisted in a Missouri regiment and served three years. Though never wounded, he was taken prisoner and confined for one season in prison at St. Louis. After the war. he found in Miss Sarah Daniels a congenial companion, and they were married in 1866. Eight children have been born to them, all of whom but two remain to mourn with their mother the loss of a kind father and hus- band. The children are as follows: Elsie P., born October 11, 1867, resides at home; Mary ... born in 1869, married C. W. Franks; James T., born here in 1871, died in 1872; Dasie, born in 1874, died in 1877; Susan, born in 1877; Willie, in 1879; Samuel, in 1882, and Lemuel, in 1887, reside at home.
After his marriage, Mr. Hill bought some one hundred acres, well-improved land. from Bowlen Swinney, and became one of the most successful farmers in Saline County. This land was situated on section 2, township 51, range 19, and here by hard work he accomplished much. Mr. Hill was a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church South, and was a liberal supporter of the same. He never
437
PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
held any offices of the church, but his interest in church matters was deep and lasting.
The order of Odd Fellows claimed our subject as a member. Politically, he was a Democrat, but this last year he was a Farmers' Alliance man. Ile was honest in all his business transactions, re- spected by all who knew him. A kind and loving father, and a devoted husband, Mr. Hill left in his own family great grief. for his place can never be filled. Ilis example, if followed by his six chil- dren, will make of them good and worthy people, an honor to the State of Missouri.
R OBERT S. SANDIDGE is the proprietor and editor of the Weekly Progress, of the city of Marshall. Aside from his superior ability the moulder of public opinion, he is a whole-souled man who commends himself to the good graces of his patrons and fellow-townsmen. He has that hearty friendship and intuitive sym- pathy which appeal at once to the liking of the stranger.
Our subjeet was born near Greensburgh, Ky .. in 1838. He is a son of Aaron and Polly (Thompson) Sandidge, the former a native of Albemarle County, Va., and the latter of Kentucky. Grandfather John Sandidge was a planter in Virginia, and declared his patriotism in early days by taking part in the Revolutionary War. Ile served as Captain under Washington, and at a later date went to Kentucky, where he was employed as a large farmer until his death. Our subject's father lived and died in Kentucky, and followed the calling which his father had inaugurated for him there. Mrs. Polly Sandidge was a daughter of John Thompson, a representative of a prominent family in Virginia, who later located in Kentucky, and there carried on an extensive farm.
.
Robert S. is one of the youngest of a large family. Orphaned when a lad of fourteen, the new period in his life then began. He was reared
on a farm and educated in the common schools. After his father's death he came to Marshall, Mo., and became an inmate of the family of his uncle, John W. Sandidge, his coming hither taking place in March of 1855. For three years he was in the employ of Col. George W. Allen, of Saline County. lle then entered college, becoming a student in the Miami Institute, from which he was graduated. Ile then taught school in the county until 1860, when he bought the paper known as the Saline County Standard. This he edited until the war so depressed work of this kind that it seemed best to discontinue.
In July, 1862, Mr. Sandidge volunteered and enlisted in the U. S. Missouri Cavalry, joining Company E, and was mustered in at Lexington. Meantime three of his brothers were in the Con- federate army. Ile took part in the engagements at Prairie Grove and Little Rock. He was ap- pointed Sergeant under Gen. Steele on his expe- dition to Shreveport, La. During that time they were fighting every day and night. In 1864 and the spring of 1865, he served at department head- quarters. llis advancement to the rank of Captain was recommended, but he did not receive his commission until the close of the war.
Mr. Sandidge was mustered out of service at Lit- tle Rock in June. 1865, and the following month he returned home and at once started the Weekly Progress, which he has edited ever since. He has taken an active part in politics, especially during what was known as the reconstruction period. One of the best services which he has done this Sena- torial district was the influence he brought to bear with Col. Ritter to remove the old Registrars and appoint a new set, whom he recommended as honorable and fitting subjects for the work. In 1889, Mr. Sandidge estabished the Daily Progress, which is devoted to Saline County and the policy of the Democratic party. He has a good job office in connection with this and does a large amount of business. lle owns some valuable real estate, both at Marshall and at Sweet Springs, and has several pieces of residence property in this city.
In 1874, the editor of the Progress was married to Miss Alice Chastian, who was born in Christian
138
PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
County. Ky. Although they have never had children of their own. they have reared to honor- able maturity two homeless ones, giving them the love and advantages of a beautiful home life. They are Robert and Alice Dunn. For two years Mr. Sandidge wa- Mayor of the city. Fraternally. he belongs to the Independent Order of Odd Fellows. In spiritual matters, he and his wife believe with the members of the Christian Church. Politically, he is a Democrat, and for years has served as Secretary of the County Central Com- mittee.
M INOS ADAMS. M. D. Prominent among the physicians and capitalists of Lexing- ton is the subject of this brief notice, who by his honorable life is adding lustre to the name he bears. He is descended from patri- otie ancestors. llis grandfather, Edward Adams, who was born in 1734, became one of the patriots of the Revolutionary War. The son of Edward was Minos Adams, born May 1, 1776, in the State of Maryland, where he became a merchant and farmer. He was a Captain during the War of 1812 and, like his father, was a man of undaunted valor and patriotism. The mother of our subject was Margaret, daughter of James Wilson, whose birth occurred in England. Mrs. Adams was born in Maryland, where she married, and died at the age of eighty years. The father of Dr. Adams at- tained his ninety-third year before death.
In Dorchester County, Md., July 16, 1826, our subject was introduced upon the stage of life. His happy boyhood and youth were passed in his native place, where he attended school and grew to manhood under the care of a wise and prudent mother. He was the seventh in a family of ten children, all of whom grew to maturity, married and established homes of their own. The name is known in almost every State, everywhere in con- nection with the higher walks of life. At the age of twenty-two years, our subject became a student of medicine under the able tuition of Dr. J. B.
Eavens, of Clarksburg, Ross County, Ohio, and in 1819 entered the Starling Medical College, at Co- Jumbus, Ohio, from which he was graduated in 1851.
Previous to his graduation, our subject prac- tired medicine for two years in Arkansas, but after taking his degree he removed to Missouri and lo- cated at Pleasant Hill, Cass County, where he built up a good practice. At the opening of the Civil War, he returned to Ohio, where he contin- ued in the practice of his profession until 1866. at which time he removed to Lexington, Mo., and here he has since resided. Although not at the present time engaged in active medical work, he has been too well known as a skillful physician to permit him to entirely lay aside professional du- ties, but he is more particularly interested in the management of his excellent farm of five hundred and fifty-five aeres of land in Clay Township, and his farm is in a fine state of cultivation, and at present he has it rented.
The marriage of Dr. Adams in December, 1847, united him with Miss Miranda Clark, of Clarks- burg, Ohio, a sister of Judge Milton L. Clark, of Chillicothe, Ohio. The two children resulting from this union both passed away in infancy. In politics, the Doctor was an old-line Whig, casting his vote for Bell and Everett while first residing in Missouri, but later he affiliated with the Demo- cratic party. The pleasant residence of Dr. and Mrs. Adams is located upon Third Street, and is a modern brick dwelling, elegantly furnished and supplied with all the comforts of life.
R OBERT B. BERRIE is the contractor and superintendent of the Lexington Triumph Pressed Brick Company. Mr. Berrie is a native of that aristocratie old Kentucky town which James Lane Allen has made so well known in his pen pictures of Lexington life and society. Mr. Berrie was there born September 16, 1851. Ile is a son of Thomas and Christma
439
PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
(Brown) Berrie, and his father was a machinist by trade. The Berrie family is of Scotch origin, its first representative in this country having settled in Kentucky at a very early date.
While our subject was still very young his par- ents removed to La Fayette County, Mo. Here Robert B. spent his boyhood and attended the public schools up to fourteen years of age. lle then began to learn the trade of a brick mason, at which he was employed until 1882; at that time he began contracting, which business he now carries on in connection with the superintendeney of the Pressed Brick Company.
September 6. 1882, the original of this sketch was married to Miss Jennie Chandlier, of Lexing- ton. Thus a happy family was inaugurated, the members of which have been increased by the ad- vent of three children. Their names are: Amelia G., Elona B. and Mary N. In politics Mr. Berrie is a strong Republican. He is a member of Orion Lodge No. 15, I. O. O. F.
The Triumph Pressed Brick Works, of which Mr. Berrie is superintendent, are located at the ter- minus of Lewis Street and have a capacity for turn- ing out thirty-five thousand dry pressed brick per day. This is one of the important industries of the town and supplies its output for most of the public works in this vicinity. Mr. and Mrs. Ber- rie are devoted members of the Presbyterian Church. The family residence is located on Twenty-fourth Street.
i
OIIN WALL, a prosperous and representa- tive agriculturist, a citizen of unflinching integrity of character, and widely known as an excellent business man, now resides in township 51. range 20, near Norton, Saline County, Mo. Ile was born January 18, 1819, in Montgomery County, Va. The paternal great- grandfather of our subject emigrated from Ger- many and settled in South Carolina. The pater- nal grandfather was a native of South Carolina,
and served bravely in the War of the Revolution, and was one of Marion's men. He removed to Virginia, where he lived to a good old age, and died in 1824, having survived to see the Govern- ment, for whose liberty he had fought, prosper and increase yearly in influence and power.
Samuel Wall, the father of John Wall, was born in Montgomery County, Va., November 22, 1790. His brothers were Adam, John and Daniel. Adam served his country faithfully in the War of 1812. In 1811 Samuel Wall married Miss Margaret Utt, whose father, Ilenry Utt, of Montgomery County, Va., was of German descent. In 1833 the hus- band and wife moved to Missouri, locating in Saline County in November, and in 1835 settled upon land where John Wall now resides. Samuel Wall was an energetic and upright man, and in political belief was a Democrat. Ile died August 15, 1865, at seventy-five years of age.
John Wall was but fourteen years old when he came with his parents to Missouri, driving a four- horse team and wagon all the way. The trip be- gan the 15th of September, and they did not reach their destination until November 3. The party passed safely over the Ohio below Louisville, Ky., near the last town in Virginia, Arlington, Washington County, at the Tennessee line, cross- ing the Mississippi at St. Louis, and the Missouri at Arrow Rock.
Accompanying the Wall family were their old neighbors the Triggs. The party brought with them one negro, and camped out all the way. The three hundred and twenty acres Mr. Wall now owns were then taken up by his father. Two hun- dred and forty acres are in the home farm, and eighty acres are in the timber lot near. The mother of our subject died in Angust, 1885, at the advanced age of eighty-five years. The brothers and sisters of Mr. Wall were as follows: Elvine, the wife of William L. Brown, resides in California; Eliza- beth, the widow of John Ryan, lives in California; the third child was our subject; Ilenry, a resident of Colorado; Mary Jane married Andrew Jackson, and is now deceased; Margaret is the wife of Will- iam Clark. and has a pleasant home in Marshall. Mo .; and William lives in Indian Territory.
John Wall and Miss Mary Gault, a daughter of
440
PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
John and Salome Gault, of Saline County, Mo .. were united in marriage in 1856, and six sons have brought joy and sunshine into their pleasant home. They are Edward E., John E., Samuel G., Henry W. and George C., all men of usefulness and influence in their several homes and locali- ties. Charles G, died at the age of four years. In May. 1816. our subjeet volunteered in the Mexican War, and went to Ft. Leavenworth, where he was mustered into the United States service. Mr. Wall served in Company D, First Regiment Missouri Mounted Volunteers. The regiment was commanded by Col. A. W. Donithan at the battles of Brazito and of Sacramento. Our subject was mustered out in June, 1847, at New Orleans. He was at first under Gen. Kearny, afterward being in the command of Col. Donithan. Upon return- ing from the war, our subject came to his father's farm, and in the spring of 1819 went to Califor- nia with the great tide of travel which moved toward the setting sun. The company in which Mr. Wall journeyed was composed of fifty-four men, who with their outfit of sixteen wagons crossed the plains, starting from Marshall, Mo .; they tarried for a brief time at Grand Pass, Sa- line County, were there reinforced, and journeyed on, taking the old Oregon trail, striking the river at Ft. Kearney, then going via Ft. Laramie, South Pass and Ft. Hall, to the head of the Humboldt River, then down its current and by a certain pass across the Sierra Nevada Mountains, and then to Sutter's Fort, in Sacramento Valley, where the party scattered and went their several ways. At this time Sacramento was a tent-town, boasting only one house.
Mr. Wall prospected and mined in different places for three years-first on Wood's Creek, then on the Yuba River, and at a mining town called "Rough and Ready," and lastly at the Chinese camp. Finally returning to the East in 1852, our subject settled in Saline County, Mo., and en- gaged in both the saw and flour milling business. Ile afterward handled merchandise in Cambridge, Saline County, and in 1878 located where he now resides. During the Civil War Mr. Wall was in the State service in the Federal cause, from 1862 to 1865, and liable to call at any time, but did
not leave the State. He served in what was called the Missouri enrolled militia. He now draws a pension for his services in the Mexican War. Mr. Wall is a stalwart Republican in political affilia- tion, and held with ability the office of Sheriff from 1866 to 1870. Universally respected by the community of his neighborhood, our subject, up- right and straight-forward in character, may be literally said to have won friendship from politi- cal enemies, who appreciate the virtues of their candid fellow-citizen.
R ICHARD M. BARLEY is a farmer in Dover Township. La Fayette County. and is greatly esteemed as a man of excellent parts by his friends and neighbors. lle was born in Winchester, Va., that old town which during the late Rebellion was the battlefield and meeting-ground of North and South. Mr. Bar- ley's natal day was November 22, 1822. Ile has now reached that age that he can afford to look back with pleasant reminiscence over the years checkered by success and failure, happiness, and the usual modieum of trouble.
Mr. Barley is a son of John and Sarah ( Marsh) Barley, both natives of Virginia. llis paternal grandsire, Frederick Barley, emigrated from Scot- land and settled in Frederick County, Va. The maternal grandsire was John Marsh, also a native of Virginia.
The original of this sketch spent his boyhood days in his native State and there attended the public schools. Ile also helped his father on the farm and in that way acquired a good knowledge of agricultural duties in a practical way. In 1849 he started across the country on a trip to Califor- nia in search of gokl, and remained on the Pacifie Coast for seven years. He returned to Virginia in 1856, and three years later moved to Missouri and settled on his present place in La Fayette County. He has a good farm of two hundred and forty aeres of land, all of which is under cultiva-
411
PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD
tion. Although he reaps the advantage secured in scientific methods of farming, he finds that his practical knowledge of the calling is worth most to him. In politics he is a stanch Democrat. Fraternally he is a member of La Fayette Lodge No. 437, of the A. F. & A. M.
In 1864 our subject was appointed Justice of the Peace, and has held the office continuously until the present time. In 1856 Mr. Barley mar- ried Miss Anna E. Nelson, a native of Virginia. She died in 1861, leaving two sons, L .N. and J. 11. Both are married and living on the home farm. In February, 1862, Mr. Barley married his present wife, who was Miss Mary V. Cooper. She is a thorough lady and an admirable Christian woman, a devoted member of the Presbyterian Church. Mr. Barley is an equally devoted worshiper with the Methodist Church. Their present home is lo- cated on seetion 2 of the township above-named.
C HARLES II. VANSTONE, the energetic and successful proprietor of the Marshall Mills and Elevator, is an important factor in the business world of Saline County, and is well known in various portions of Missouri as an enter- prising and self-reliant man, who, through excel- lent judgment and rare ability, has won his upward way unaided by capital or influential friends. Mr. Vanstone was born near Plymouth, in Devonshire. England, upon August 20, 1844. 1Jis father and paternal grandfather were both native-born Eng- lishmen, and farmers in the Queen's dominions.
In 1845 Samuel Vanstone, the father of our sub- ject, brought his family to Canada, and located near Goderich, on Lake Huron, where he bought a large tract of heavily timbered land, and, dwell- ing in a humble log-cabin, industriously began the clearing of the four hundred acres which were in- deed a homestead in the wilderness. The family, which consisted of father. mother and ten ehil- dren, had been seven weeks in crossing the ocean to Quebec, and many an hour upon the slow sail-
ing-vessel was passed in discussing the probabilities and possibilities of their new home. Industrious, honest and ambitious to get on in life, the little band of pioneers worked sturdily together to re- claim the land and bring it under cultivation. There was hard work in abundance, but as they from time to time burned the stumps and refuse to clear the land, the daneing flames lit up the merry, happy faces of the children clustering about. A few brief years went by, and in 1852, when the father was but fifty-two years old, he died. He was a religious man, a member of the Methodist Epis- copal Church, and was mourned by friends and neighbors when he passed away.
The wife and mother survived her husband un- til 1883. when, at the advanced age of eighty years, she was called to her long rest. Iler maiden name was Mary Stephens, and Devonshire, Eng- land, was the place of her nativity. Her father, Thomas Stephens, an English farmer, emigrated to Canada m 1840, and settled within a short distance of the locality where his daughter and her family afterward resided. Mr. and Mrs. Vanstone were the parents of eleven children, and of the ten sons and daughters who came with them from the mother country, but three survive. Our subject was next to the youngest, and was reared upon the farm, but after the death of his father lived with his brother Richard, who was a miller at Egmondville. He went to school there, and worked in the mill. and when he was sixteen years of age was ap- prenticed to Samuel Platte, proprietor of a large water-mill, and one of the most prominent and successful men in that section of the country. Mr. Platte discovered the first salt found in Canada, and was everywhere regarded as an enterprising citizen.
After an apprenticeship of nineteen months, Mr. Vanstone received wages, and remained seven months longer with Mr. Platte, afterward engaging as a journeyman-miller in several mills in that part of the country, and in the adjoining counties. At the end of about two years of experience in mill- ing for others, he bought a water-power grist, flour and sawmill, with a capacity of seventy-five barrels, and located at Bayfield, on Lake Huron. Here he successfully manufactured flour and lumber. and
112
PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
had put in a large circular saw, when a great freshet did much damage to the mill. In 1868. our sub- jeet sold out to his brother James, now of Malta Bend. Saline County, and in the spring of the same year came to Lexington. I'pon April 7 he engaged as miller at Dover, remained there four months in the employ of Flay Vivion, then went to Waverly, where he worked at milling by the day for W. F. Robinson, a Kentuckian, with whom he stayed ten months.
Mr. Vanstone then settled in Laynesville, and bought a half-interest in a steam-power sawmill, and in eighteen months purchased from his part- ner. Mr. Layne, his share of the business, and con- tinued industriously for eight years to saw fifteen thousand feet a day of cotton-wood; he can be truthfully said to have fenced in the whole county with the produet of his mill. During this time, in about 1872. our subject built a fine touring- mill. and ran both together. In 1877, he com- meneed shipping grain from baynesville and Malta Bend Landing, on the Missouri River, where he built houses to receive it. and also erected a ware- house in Laynesville. He had previously removed his mill to Malta Bend, and sold ont to his brother James. Ile also gave a portion of his time to agri- cultural duties, and improved several farms.
In 1876, Mr. Vanstone built a mill on the pres- ent site of the Rea & Page Milling Co., and in 1878 made his permanent home in Marshall. One year later. he bought out his partner, Mr. Holmes. ran the business alone one year. then took in as partner Mr. McCormick, but in 1881 sold out to Mr. Johuston, and started a lumber-yard on his present site. In 1882, he purchased an interest in a mill on his present site, having a capacity of fifty barrels. Mr. McCormick remained as his partner one year after he opened the lumber-yard, which was a successful venture. In 1883, onr sub- jeet built an elevator. and in 1885 put in mill ma- chinery. The well-known Marshall Mills, with a fifty-horse power steam-engine, and a capacity of one hundred and fifty barrels, roller system, is lo- eated upon four acres adjoining the Chicago & Alton Railroad and manufactures Sweet Sixteen, Iligh Patent, Crystal, Extra Fancy and King Fancy, as well as corn-meal. The elevator has a
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.