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 53
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 53
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Mr. Gritlitts was married in January, 1858, choosing for his wife Miss Martha J., daughter of John Stanley. They remained in Hancock County after their marriage, the latter event having oc- curred there, until 1869, when they located where they now live. Mr. and Mrs. Griffitts have a fam- ily of eight children living: Ambros G .; Mary A., wife of Thomas Burke; Nancy J., wife of C. C. Miller; Susan V., whose husband is John Yates; Virginia C .; Mrs. George Brown; John T., and James R.
William Gritlitts came to Saline County a poor man, and has made his way up to a position of prosperity and security through his own exertions and by his own ability. Not every farmer suc- ceeds, for the profession of agriculture, and it is, if properly conducted, a profession .- one that re- quires skill and good judgment just as truly as that of law or medicine,-is beyond the scope of many who engage in it. It is satisfactory to trace the progress of men who rise, unaided by others, to independence and a place in the history of any section of our country. America fosters and encourages such striving toward a self-sus- taining and mfluential life, and she is ever ready to give the deserved iced of commendation to
THE NEW YORK PUBLIC LIBRARY
ASTOR, LENOX AND TILDEN FOUNDATIONS R
L
A
(C. B. Ross)
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those who so rise. A self-made man is not partic- ularly rare, and yet the numbers of those who make little or no effort toward advancement in the best ways are so much greater, that everyone who wins for himself more than an ordinary posi- tion is worthy of note, and in these sketches of the men of Saline County we find many such.
Mr. Grithitts is a member of the Old-school Bap- tist Church, and politically is a Democrat, as are the majority of the prominent men of this county, He is not an aggressive politician, but is lirm in his convictions as to the right of his side. Ilis post-office address is Norton.
C C. ROSS, one of the wealthiest and most progressive farmers of Saline County, re- sides on section 23, township 52, range 21. near the town of Miami. Ilis farm, which is fa- miliarly known as Locust Grove contains first-class improvements, and its value has been greatly en- hanced by the high cultivation to which it has been brought, as well as by the substantial buildings with which it is embellished.
The ancestry of our subject on his mother's side is traced to England, while his paternal fore- fathers were Scotch. He is the son of John and Nancy (Ellis) Ross, natives of Virginia, and is one of a family of nine children, all of whom were born in the Old Dominion. Mary A., whose birth occurred in 1812, married Philip Ellis, and now resides in Davis County, Mo .; Sutherland was born in 1814 and died in Missouri; our subject. the next in order of birth, opened his eyes to the light in 1816; John was born in 1818, married Re- becca Johnson, of Virginia, and they now reside in Kentucky; Armstead, who was born in 1820, married Catherine Johnson and died in Virginia; Derinda, whose birth occurred in 1822, married Mr. Arnot, and died in Virginia; Nancy, born in 1826, became the wife of a Mr. Colter, and after his death married Robert Blunt, and now resides in Richmond, Va .; Ellen, whose birth occurred in .
1828, married a Mr. Bobbitt and resided in West Virginia; and Robinson, born in 1830, married Miss Ellen Maddy, and died in Texas.
After having gained a limited education, our subject left school at the age of sixteen and de- voted his attention to agricultural pursuits upon his father's farm. lle early displayed a talent for architecture and building, and no doubt if it had been properly cultivated he would have become celebrated in that line. llis first attempt was the designing and building of a modern house upon the farm. There he lived for a short time, and then went into partnership with his brother in the business of carpentry and building. He was very successful even in his early attempts, one of which was the construction in Virginia of a flouring-mill for Joe Aldeson, where, although he had never learned the trade of millwright, he performed the difficult operation of placing all of the machinery, constructing the pulleys, and setting up the entire shafting for running the mill.
Becoming dissatisfied with the opportunities for advancement in the Old Dominion, our subject and his brother determined to seek a new field, where more extensive operations could be con- ducted. Accordingly, armed with their carpen- ter tools, they bade adieu to friends and hopefully started out to seek a new home. The journey was made with carriage and horses, and on April 17, 1837, they anchored in Lexington, Mo., where our subject embarked in business as an architect and designer. In that city he remained until 1841, when he came to Saline County and continued to follow his trade of a carpenter here until 1844, when he made his first purchase of land.
Our subject and his brother went into partner- ship in buying from the Government a farm, for which they paid $1.25 per acre. The place con- tained five hundred and sixty acres of land, which Mr. Koss has improved and added to until he to- day owns a well-cultivated farm of six hundred acres, valued at $65 per acre. Ilis residence, erected at a cost of $6,000, is one of the finest and most elegant in the county, and is placed upon an eminence which commands a view of the surround- ing country.
After many years of single blessedness, our sub-
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ject married on the 31st of October, 1861, Miss 1 .. F. McDaniel, the estimable daughter of R. E. McDaniel. one of the foremost citizens of Sahne County. Their union was blessed with four chil- dren, only one of whom survives. One died in infancy, another at the age of two years, and in the year 1891 Stella Price was taken away. She was born in the year 1872, was a beautiful and accomplished girl, and her death was a sad blow to the family. Hallie, born in 1870, is the only one left to cheer and comfort her father's declin- ing years, and nobly does she perform this duty. In his political belief, our subject clings to the principles of the Democratic party, but has never had any aspirations to serve his party in any oflice.
ANIEL BIXLER is one of the most cx- tensive stock-raisers in Saline County, owning a fine farm in section 15, Salt Pond Township. He is an enterprising and suc- cessful man. a good financier, with a superior head, which is full of progressive ideas. He is Republi- can nominee for County Treasurer, a position wholly unsolicited by him, and the nomination to which came to him as a complete surprise.
Mr. Bixler is a native of Holmes County, Ohio, where he was born April 27. 1815. His father. George Bixler, who is now a resident of Holmes County. is a native of Maryland. having been born at Baltimore in 1806, but removed to Ohio with his parents at the age of seventeen. The grandparents of the subject of this sketch. John and Elizabeth Bixler, were from Maryland and Pennsylvania. ro- spectively; the great-grandfather was a native of Germany, from which country he emigrated to Maryland; while the grandfather. John, was a farmer and an early settler in Holmes County. Ile died at about the age of ninety. and his wife at about eighty years of age.
The father of Daniel has always been a farmer. I Hle has been a member of the Evangelical Lutheran !
Church for many years. The mother, Elizabeth (('lose) Bixler, was born m Pennsylvania and is of German descent. She is still living and is eleven years younger than her husband.
Daniel is the only son left of the three that were born to his parents. although he has three sisters. Ile was reared a farmer, attending the common schools until sixteen years of age, with the exception of a period at the Vermillion Institute, of Hayesville. Ohio. When he was sixteen he went to Springfield, Ohio, and entered the Wittenburg College there.
At the age of eighteen Mr. Bixler commenced teaching school, which occupation he followed during the winter seasons for thirteen years, in the fall of 1865 coming to Illinois and teaching one term in Champaign County. In September. 1866, he came to Missouri and located near Sweet Springs, purchasing land in the fall of that year in section 15, Salt Pond Township. His purchase consisted of two hundred acres of partly improved land. upon which he settled, teaching school winters and farming summers. He has done nearly the whole of the improving of his property, showing much ability in the work. His postoffice is Elmwood.
May 22. 1878, Mr. Bixler married Miss Lybbie J. Houston, who was born in California. Her par- ents, Jolin and Ellen Houston, are of trish descent. The father was born in Columbus, Ohio, moved to Illinois when quite young, and subsequently to California, where he remained for a time, coming to Saline County, Mo., in 1870. He is now a farmer of Elmwood Township and does quite an extensive business.
Mrs. Bixler is a member of the Methodist Epis- copal Church. Mr. Bixler is a Mason, and in poli- tics a Republican, as suggested before. That he is a popular man, is shown by the fact that his fel- low-Republicans of the County have chosen him to act for them in a public capacity, and that they have done so independently of any effort on his part to win the appointment. He is no oflice- seeker, but being elected, there is no doubt that he will do well and faithfully the duties that devolve upon him.
Mr. Bixler is very successful in stock-raising. which he makes his specialty. It is interesting to visit his farm, and note the flourishing condition
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of everything that meets the eye. A fine stock farm presents a scene of animal life that is instruc- tive to him who wishes to learn, and that is beau- tiful to one who views it simply from an artistic standpoint; both of these conditions are fully met on the farm of Mr. Bixler, and in that his work and judgment are clearly and characteristically shown.
LARENCE VIVION, the popular and suc- cessful general practitioner of law in Higgins- ville, La Fayette County, Mo., is well versed in professional duties, and is widely known as a skillfuland experienced lawyer. During his ten years of residence in Higginsville, our subject has identified himself with the interests of the city, and is numbered among its leading men and represen- tative citizens. Ilis paternal grandfather, Thomas Vivion, was a native of the Old Dominion, but in early manhood left Virginia. and located in Ken- tueky. where he was one of the pioneers of Clarke County, and there passed a useful and busy life, and died in that State.
Willis D. Vivion, the father of our subject, was born and married in Kentucky, but later removed to New York City, where he engaged in mercan- tile business with the firm of Lathrop, Luddington & Co., wholesale and retail dry-goods dealers. With this firm he remained until 1869, when he re- moved to Mexico, Mo., and brought his family Trom Kentucky to this State. For seven years he devoted his attention to the grocery business, which he successfully conducted in Mexico until 1876, when he retired from active business duties, and spent his last years in Andrain County. His death occurred in 1891, at the home of his son Clarence in Higginsville, at seventy-one years of age. Ile was an earnest Christian gentleman, and was highly respected by all who knew him.
Nannie S., the mother of our subject, was a native of Mercer County, Ky., and a daughter of John Woods, who was born in Virginia, but was an early settler of Kentucky, and a successful agriculturist.
Mrs. Nannie S. (Woods) Vivion died in Kentucky in 1860, leaving four children, all of whom now survive. Clarence, the second, was reared npon his father's farm in the Blue Grass Region and at- tended the private schools of the neighborhood un- til ten years of age, when he went to Harrodsburgh Ky., and studied in the excellent schools of that city. Born in Winchester, Clarke County, Ky., August 27, 1855, our subjeet was but fourteen years of age when he went with his father to Mexico, in 1869. Energetic, ambitious and industrious, he worked in the store during vacations, and after a full course of instruction, graduated with honor from the High School in Mexico. At eighteen years of age he began teaching school, and was sue- cessively Principal in the schools of New Bloomfield and Cedar City, in Audrain and Callaway Coun- ties.
During this time, Mr. Vivion studied law under Kennon & MeIntyre, a prominent legal firm, and in 1881 devoted his entire time to acquiring a thorough knowledge of the profession. In June, 1882, he was admitted to the Missouri Bar by Judge Elijah Robinson, now of Kansas City. Mr. Vivion remained for a few months in the office where he had prosecuted his studies, and then went to Pleas- ant IJill, where he spent six months. In the sum- mer of 1883 he came to Ihigginsville, which had at that time about seven hundred inhabitants, and has continued to reside here ever since. Mr. Vivion has an excellent practice here, and has especially distinguished himself by the expert handling of desperate criminal cases, being mostly employed for the defense. He has established more than a local reputation in this particular branch of his profession, but is also an unusually able and sue- cessful general legal practitioner, and occupies a convenient office on Russell Street.
Our subject was married in Higginsville, in 1885, to Miss Jennie Warren, who was born in La Fay- ette County, a daughter of James L. Warren, a respected and a prominent citizen of the State. Mrs. Vivion was educated in the home schools, and is a highly esteemed lady, a favorite in social cir- cles, and the mother of three children, Warren, Nanme, and Clarence L., bright and promising little ones. Mr. and Mrs. Vivion are members of
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the Christian Church, and are ever ready to aid in the benevolent and social enterprises of that relig- ious organization. Mr. Vivion is a member of the Democratie County Committee from Davis Town- ship. and always takes a deep interest in both na- tional and local politics. An eloquent advocate for educational advancement, progressive in his logie and arguments, he is an important factor in the upbuilding and growth of public enterprise and improvement. Occupying the position of City Attorney for two years, our subject has given ju- dicious advice and valuable assistance to his adopted home, and has well earned the confidence of his fellow-citizens.
ETER A. CHAMBERLAIN, deceased. This lamented gentleman was one of the worthy and prominent farmers of Saline County, Mo., where his death occurred. Mr. Cham- berlain was a native of Kamouraska County, Que- bee, Canada, his parents being Noel and Lucy Chamberlain, both French-Canadians. Our sub- ject resided in the place of his birth until his eighteenth year. when he emigrated to the State of Missouri, and settled in Saline County in 1852. Here he worked at the trade he had learned in his native place, that of carpenter. until 1860, when he purchased a farm and engaged in agricultural pursuits.
Mr. Chamberlain was a poor boy when he landed in Miami, his cash in hand consisting of but twenty-five cents. but by persistent effort he ac- cumulated enough to purchase a good farm. That same year he had the pleasure of gaming the hand of Mary A., daughter of Michael Langan, and to- gether they began the struggle of life on a farm in the wilds of Missouri. Hard, persistent labor and close economy enabled them to purchase ad- ditional land, until at the time of his death they were the owners of two hundred and forty acres of valuable land, which the widow now manages.
Ten children were added to this family during
the years of happy married life, as follows: Emily, wife of fames Mitchell; Emmett, a resident of Kansas City; Nora, wife of Robert Bennett; Noel, a resident of Illinois; Peter A., of California; Mary, wife of Frank Campbell; Salina, George, Lucy and Chester. Mr. Chamberlain's death oc- curred in 1882, and he is still mourned by his faithful wife and loving children as a good de- voted father and husband. All his friends miss the kindly, honest neighbor, who never hesitated to aid anyone who desired his assistance in any way.
Mrs. Chamberlain was the fifth child in the fam- ily of twelve children born to Michael and Mary (Moran) Langan, both natives of North Carolina. The grandparents of Mrs. Chamberlain, James and Margaret Langan. and John and Mary Moran, were all from County Mayo, Ireland. Mr. Langan was a merchant in South Carolina, but after coming to Saline County in 1816. he followed agricultural pursuits, and at the time of his death was the owner of seven hundred acres, on which was a large number of stock. He was a very popular man, and one who never had a dittienlty with anyone. His death was much lamented, not only by bis family, but by all who knew him, on ac -. count of his many good qualities. The whole family, root and branch, were and are firm adher- ents of the principles of Democracy.
R J. MCMAHAN. For twelve years our sub- ject has held the responsible position of Clerk of Saline County, and during that time has established himself not only in the liking and confidence of the people, but high in their esteem, because of his diverse and thorough ability. Ile was first elected to the office in 1880, and after a service of two years was re-elected, and served four years, and in 1890 was re-elected for another term of four years.
Mr. McMahan was born in Cooper County, near the line, January 23, 1833. Ile is a son of flames
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and Helena (Jones) McMahan, both natives of Ken- tucky, who came to Missouri while the Indians were still possessors of the land. They first went to Cooper's Fort, and later took up some new land which the father bent his efforts to improve, and to which he added until he had a farm of five hun- dred and eighty acres in Cooper County. There he made his home until his decease, which occurred in 1857. He and his wife were the parents of nine children, named as follows: Araminta, Asenath, .Jesse, Jane, Melissa, Laura L., Mary, Sophia T. and Robert J. The eldest daughter is now Mrs. John H. Sutherland; the second is Mrs. Robert K. Taylor; Jesse is deceased; Jane married W. II. Wal- lace, but is now deceased; Melissa is Mrs. W. H. Wallace, having married her brother-in-law on the decease of her sister Jane; Laura L., who became Mrs. Howard, is also deceased; and Sophia is the wife of George A. Murrell. The mother of this family died in 1867.
Mr. McMahan was educted in Cooper and Saline Counties and remained under the parental roof until 1854, when he joined a company who went to California by the overland route. On returning from the Pacific Coast he remained at home until the war, when he enlisted in the Confederate service, under Robinson, being first Aid to Col. Brown, at Boonville. lle was captured at Black Water, and was sent to McDowell College and later to Alton, where he remained in prison forseven months. On the Doctor's advice he finally took the oath and came home. In the meantime his father had traded his farm in Cooper County for one in Mar- shall Township. This continued to be his home until 1865, when he went to Montana with a mer- cantile stock, and was engaged in freighting goods for a year. On coming back he engaged in farm- ing until 1871.
At the last-named date our subject went to Arrow Rock and was engaged as a merchant there until the fall of 1880, when he was elected County Clerk. During the interval between his election and tak- ing office, he was in the gram business, in which he still continues. lle is interested in the Marshall Elevator, on the Chicago & Alton track, which has a capacity for thirty thousand bushels. He is a member of the Masonic lodge at Arrow Rock.
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Mr. McMahan was married November 1, 1859, to Sarah E. Wing, of Cooper County, a daughter of Freeman Wing. They are the parents of five children, who are named as follows: Virginia C., Helena R., Stella B., Robert W., Jr., and Sophia A. The only son is now at college at Quincy, IN.
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B ENJAMIN M. LEWIS. A stranger visiting La Fayette County in search of the home of the subject of this sketch, would only have need to make inquiry of the first per- son he encountered, so widely is Mr. Lewis known. Ile is a well-to-do farmer, residing on section 19, township 50, range 24, and was born in Wood County, W. Va., in 1833. His father, Charles Lewis, a native of Loudoun County, Va., was born in 1803, and resided with our subject until December 22, 1892, when he passed quietly away. The mother of Benjamin was a most estimable woman and bore the maiden name of Ehzabeth Mayberry. She was a daughter of Benjamin Mayberry, a native of Virginia. The paternal grandfather of our sub- ject was Jonah Lewis, whose ancestors came to the United States from England.
The worthy subject of this life record has but little recollection of the mountain-locked county where he spent the first six years of his life. At this immature age he became a traveler, journeying with his parents from Wood County to Marion County, Mo. Subsequently his home was made in La Fayette County, where he now resides. The schools of his youth were not so thorough as those of the present time, nor were the terms so long, still our subject realized that he attended them for something besides play, and by faithful application obtained a fairly good common-school education, one that has served him well in his business life.
Our subject was married to Miss Anna E. Lewis in 1871, and by this union two children have blessed their home, namely: Robert L. and Margaret, the latter being a student at Central College. Mrs.
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Lewis is a daughter of George V. Lewis and is a native of the State of Virginia. The affiliations of our subject are with the Democratic party, whose principles he strongly endorses.
J. WARDEN, who resides on section 11, township 18, range 26, La Fayette County, Mo., is a farmer who believes in the dignity of labor and the value of husbandry to a nation. lle is a son of John Warden, a native of Kentucky, born in 1801, son of Elijah Warden, a native of Virginia, and a soldier in the War of the Revolution, his ancestors being from Virginia. The mother of our subject was Martha (Kelly) Warden, a native of Kentucky, born in 1801. and daughter of Giles Kelly, a native of Virginia.
The parents of our subject were married in Kentucky, always lived there on a farm. and had nine children, seven of whom are now living. The father died in 1815 and the mother in 1865. Our subject was born on the 9th of February, 1834, in Allen County, Ky., was reared on the farm, and received a fair distriet-school education, and finally left his home at the age of twenty-three years. Ile was married in 1857 to Miss Mary Mor- gan. a native of the same county as he. born in 1838, and whose demise occurred in 1870. She was the mother of five children, four of whom are now living, as follows: Mary Anna, wife of Calvin Smith, has three children; Lycurgus, married to Lillie Woods, has one child; Mattie, wife of Jona- than Smith, has four children; and Charles, who lives in Texas.
Our subjeet was married a second time, in 1871, taking as his wife Mrs. Naney Jane Melton, a daughter of George and Elizabeth ( Wallace) Ilodge, both natives of North Carolina, but who removed to Alabama. The father died in 1834, and the mother in 1875. Of their three children, Mrs. Warden is the only survivor. Mrs. Warden was born May 12. 1841, in Perry County, Ala., and has borne her husband four children: William
T., Eddie 11 .. Bennie F. and James L. After his first marriage our subject settled on a farm in Al- len County, Ky., but in 1859 removed to Barren County; then, in 1863, returned to Allen County, where he remained for three years; he then went to Warren County and remained until 1882, when he settled in La Fayette County, Mo .. upon his present farm.
This farm consists of one hundred and fifty-four acres, which are under good cultivation and all well improved, Mr. Warden being a careful and clever farmer, carrying on general farming. He is a Deacon in the Baptist Church. where he is greatly esteemed, while his wife is also a member of and much beloved in that body. The cause of education is always dear to him. and when elected a member of the School Board, he served with great efficiency. This, however, is the only position he has ever accepted, although he has been-frequently nominated for office and pressed to run. Ile is a staneb Republican. yet cast his first vote for Bell and Everett: but, as he says, came up all right in 1861, when he voted for Abraham Lincoln, and has cast his ballot for Re- publiean nominees ever since. Mr. Warden finds pleasure in the field of politics. In Warren County, Ky., he was a member of the County Central Com- mittee of his party, and has been frequently elected a delegate to conventions of his party in Missouri. Mrs. Warden has one daughter by her first mar- riage, Lizzie, now Mrs. Joseph Johns. She is the mother of two boys, Herbert, five years old, and Watson, two years of age.
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