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 55
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 55
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The father of our subject, named in honor of the paternal grandfather, John, was the eldest in a family of six children, four sons and two daughters. lle was born in the year 1806, in the county of Jessamine, on the old Kentucky homestead. Hav- ing reached man's estate, he began life for himself, settling upon a farm four miles from his birthplace, and was both a farmer and carpenter by trade. Hle married Miss Paulina Cravens, a daughter of John and Elizabeth Cravens. of the same county. Of this marriage were born seven children, two sons and five daughters. Mary E. is deceased: Virginia C. is married to Robert Bibb, of Jessamine County; Sarah is the wife of William Mackey, of Kentucky; our subject is the fourth child; Louise is the wife of B. F. Soper, of Boyd County, Ky .; John resides at Nicholasville, Jessamine County; and Ann is the wife of R. P. Soper, of Nicholasville, the county seat of Jessamine County.
In 1864, Mr. Dickerson was married to Miss Lucy M. Young, a daughter of Richard Young, widely known throughout Jessamine County. After the death of his faithful companion and devoted wife, our subject removed in 1881 to Missouri, and lo- cated at first in Pettis County, remaining there two years. He then settled upon the farm where he now resides. The seventy acres are under high cultivation, and yield a bounteous return for the tilling of the soil. The improvements are all of the best, and the home is attractively located. Thrift and industry have wronght a change in the acres, which are yearly increasing in value. In April, 1883, Mr. Dickerson was a second time mar- ried, his present wife having been Miss Nannie C. Smiley, daughter of Sylvester Smiley, of Polk County, Mo.
Aside from the duties of general agriculture, our subject is raising graded Shorthorn cattle, and has achieved success in this venture. Mr. Dickerson has never aspired to political promotion, but is in- terested in the disposition of local and national offices, and is a Democrat. Hle and his wife are
members of the Christian Church, and are among the valued workers of that religious denomination. A useful and honored citizen, Mr. Dickerson is also enterprising and progressive, ever ready to aid in the good work of his home neighborhood, and is numbered among the important factors in the de- velopment of the leading interests of his portion of the State.
ACKSON CORDER, a representative citi- zen of La Fayette County, is a man who has taken an active and hearty interest in the upbuilding of his township, has been a wit- ness of almost all of the improvements that have taken place here, and is now one of its most pros- perous citizens. Ilis fine stock farm is located upon seetion 1, range 25, township 19, where he owns over five hundred acres of cultivated land and is engaged in raising Denmark horses, regis- tered Shorthorn cattle, and Poland-China hogs.
Our subject was born in Rappahannock County, Va., October 28, 1837, and is the son of Nathan and Nancy (Holloway) Corder, both of whom were natives of Virginia. Nathan Corder, in 1839, thinking to better his condition. packed up his household goods, and with his family and quite a large number of slaves removed to this county, where he located on the farm now owned by Maj. G. P. Gordon. At that place Mr. Corder remained for some time, but subsequently settled npon the farm which our subject now owns, and which was obtained from the Government. He was one of the pioneer settlers of the place and built the house in which our subject now lives. This was erected in the '50s and was the third house be- tween Lexington and Sweet Springs, a distance of thirty miles. At this time there was nothing to be seen but boundless prairie, and no prophetic sight had yet revealed to them the thriving little town which should arise near this site and should bear the name of Corder, in honor of the family.
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Maj. Corder, as the father of our subject was familiarly known, was a man of high intelligence and possessed a wide acquaintance. Ilis influence in the county was very marked, and when death called him away in March, 1859, La Fayette County lost one of her best citizens. The mother of our subject survived him until 1886. when she passed away at the age of eighty-four years.
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Our subject has but one brother, Nathan, and he was reared to manhood in this county. At that time the educational advantages were few in this vicinity, although in almost all of the pioneer towns the schoolhouse is erected among the ear- liest buildings. The country was then overrun with game, and our subject has seen as many as eighteen or twenty deer in a herd upon his farm. He became acquainted with all of the trials of pioneer life, such as long distance from markets, rough forest and prairie roads, unbridged streams and depredations of beasts and savages. Through all these seenes of struggle he passed unscathed and now enjoys peace and plenty.
Before settling down to the business of an agri- culturist our subject took advantage of the sub- scription schools, taught near by in a little log cabin, and later went as far as Lexington for a short time. Since then he has kept abreast with the times. The lady who became the wife of our subject bore the maiden name of Bessie Wall, the marriage ceremony taking place July 5, 1860. She is the daughter of Benjamin and Susan Wall, and a native of North Carolina, but was reared in Johnson County. Mo., where her parents resided. By this happy union, Mr. and Mrs. Corder have become the parents of the following-named chil- dren: Susan, now the wife of W. H. Walton; Leona A. and Henry F. The family resides upon the tine farm of five hundred and forty acres of choice Missouri land, respected by their neighbors and esteemed by the whole county.
Not only has Mr. Corder made a success of his farming and stock-raising, but he also has a fine record as a brave soldier. For three of the best years of his life he was a soldier in the Confederate army under Gens. Shelby and Marmaduke, be- longing to Col. Gordon's regiment. The conflicts in which our subject bore a part have become a
part of history. Long will be pointed out the spots where were fought the battles of Lexington, Cane Ilill, Cape Girardeau, and many other en- ยท gagements of minor note. where danger was just as imminent. At Bentonville. Ark., our subject was captured just before the close of the war, but he was soon exchanged and returned to La Fayette County. In his political convictions, he is a Dem- ocrat, and exerts quite an influence in the county. Both he 'and his wife are esteemed members and hearty workers in the Methodist Episcopal Church South. Socially, he is connected with the Ma- sonic order, and in the community he is regarded as one of the most prominent of its citizens.
ON. J. W. DANIEL, elected to the Bench of Saline County in 1890, and again al- most unanimously returned to the honored position of County Judge in 1892, is not only one of the most popular citizens of Missouri, but is distinguished by his ability and efficiency in the discharge of the duties entrusted to hiscare. Possessing a strong character, energetic and wise in judgment, he is well fitted to become a leader, and now commands the confidence and esteem of the entire community among whom he has resided many years. Deeply interested in all matters per- taining to public progress, and a liberal giver in behalf of religious and benevolent enterprises, Judge Daniel is widely known as a thoroughly unselfish, true-hearted, Christian gentleman. Born in Virginia in 1816. he removed to Missouri in very early life, and is an old-time settler of his present locality, upon section 3, township 51, range 19, contiguous to the flourishing town of Gilliam.
E. J. Daniel, the father of our subject, was a man universally beloved and respected, and was deeply mourned when he departed this life in 1869. Ile had two brothers who served in the War of 1812, and was himself made Captain under the administration of William Henry Harrison. The mother, S. R. Daniel, was a lady of culture
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and worth, and became the mother of seven chil- dren, four sons and three daughters, all of whom were born in Virginia. S. V., Marsh L., James R. and Sarah Ilill reside in Saline County; the second daughter, Etta Lesley, resides in Chariton County; and Jennie Lucas makes her home in Carroll County. In 1870. our subject was united in mar- riage with Miss Anna Lucas, who was born in Carroll County, Mo., in 1849. Four children have blessed their happy home, and one by one enter- ing sehool, have proved by their bright intelli- gence their adaptability for the useful and pro- gressive work of life.
Judge Daniel attended the common schools of both Virginia and Missouri, and at twenty years of age engaged in Carroll County in the pursuit of agriculture; he also was a trader. Although unassisted in the battle of life, he prospered from the very beginning of his business career, and in a comparatively brief time owned three farms in Carroll County. His present home farm in Saline County is pleasantly located and extensive in area, comprising five hundred acres, all under a high state of improvement. Aside from the pur- suit of general agriculture, Judge Daniel has been very fortunate in handling large droves of cattle, accumulating handsome returns from his various investments in live stock. lle has also given special attention to the raising of fine blooded stock, principally horses, and lias owned some of the best thoroughbred racing horses in the State. Everything upon the farm is in exquisite order, and well portrays the energy and thrift of the owner of the valuable property. The home is an attractive and modern house, commodious and well arranged. The outbuildings correspond in size and exterior finish, and the general appearance of the farm denotes prosperity and success.
Judge Daniel and his family enjoy an undoubted position of influence, and are prominent factors in the social world of their neighborhood. Fra- ternally, our subjeet is a member of the Independ- ent Order of Odd Fellows, and politically, is tirst and last a Democrat, a firm believer in his party. and an advocate whose sound arguments have strengthened the wavering forees at various times, and, as it were, has frequently assisted the ticket
to "win victory from the very jaws of defeat." It is not everyone who has the tact and happy faculty of making friends of former foes, but in this branch of diplomacy Judge Daniel excels, not by the force of logie alone, but also by the sterling integrity and upright walk of daily life which distinguish the eloquent pleader for pure and honest Democratic rule,
B ,F. LEMMON, a prosperous and well-known resident of Saline County, one whose sympathy for the Southern cause was very earnest, resides upon his tine farm located on section 8, township 52, range 21, near Miami. He belongs to a family whose members have been noted for valor. llis maternal grandfather, Clai- born Chandler, was a brave soldier under Gen. Washington in the Revolution, and also served in the War of 1812. He was of German origin, a man of great determination of character. IIIs wife, whose maiden name was Taylor, was con- nected with the family of "Old-Rough-and-Ready," President Taylor.
Benjamin and Emily (Chandler) Lemmon, pa- rents of our subject, had a family of seven chil- dren, all natives of Kentucky, and five of whom are yet living. John died at the age of forty years; Thomas married Miss McMillin, and they re- side at present near Marshall, Saline County, Mo., where he is engaged as a farmer; George married Miss Thomas, and they live in Jackson County, Mo., where he is the manager of a large feed sta- ble; James is at present residing in the State of Illinois, where he follows the trade of carpenter; Mary married a Mr. Coleman. and they reside in Sandoval, Ill., where he is a railroad employe; and Claiborn died at the age of thirty-five years.
The education of our subject was acquired in a little log schoolhouse with furnishings of a primi- tive kind, but he had meagre advantages, for his time was mostly devoted to farm work. After the death of his father, which occurred in 1849, his
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mother again married, and he remained with his stepfather until 1852, when he rented a place in that vicinity, and began farming for himself. In 1876, he came to Saline County, Mo., where he purchased one hundred and forty acres of land. and to this added another purchase of one hun- dred aeres, for which he paid $37.50 per acre.
At present our subject has a beautiful and well- improved farm of two hundred and forty-five aeres, with a modern two-story frame house of seven rooms, which was erected at a cost of $2,000. Ile has also a very fine barn, 10x40, which is worth $1.000. The land has a valuation of 850 per aere, and the owner takes a pardonable pride in its fine improvements. In farming he has been very successful. his wheat averaging thirty-two bushels to the aere, and the gross receipts from this last year were $1,500.
Our subject was first married in Grant County, Ky., to Miss Lizzie MeDowell, by whom he had four children: M. F .. W. F .. Lola G. and Robert II His second union took place March 13, 1873, also in Grant County. Ky., when Miss Lizzie Berry be- came his wife. Mrs. Lemmon is a native of Ilar- rison County. Ky. For many years Mr. and Mrs. Lemmon have been members of the Methodist Episcopal Church South, and he has contributed most liberally of his means for the spread of the Gospel. Politically, our subject is a Democrat, be- lieving in the great principles of Democracy. Ile takes an active interest in the affairs of his party, but, aside from being a member of the School Board, has accepted no ollice at its hands. So- cially. he is much respected in his neighborhood.
ENRY HIEMME is one of the leading Ger- man citizens of Saline County. Ile takes great interest in church and educational matters, and has given liberally of his means to his church, the Lutheran, which is located near his farm; also to St. Paul College at Concordia
La Fayette County, this State, of which institution he is a Trustee. He has been an Eider in his church for two terms of six years, and is closely identified with its interests.
Mr. lemine was born in Hanover, Germany, June 15, 1833. His father, John Hemme, was born in the same place in 1799. and was a plasterer by trade, also owning a small farm. Ile emigrated to America in 1819, with his family. sailing from Hanover, and reaching New Orleans after a voyage of eight weeks and two days, in which a severe storm was encountered. The travelers went up the Mississippi to St. Louis, and up the Missouri to Lexington. this State, and located in La Fayette County, where the husband and father engaged in farming. Subsequently, in 1853, he settled in Saline County, in Salt Pond Township. He died in June, 1886, at the age of eighty-six. Hle was one of the early settlers of this county, and was a member of the Lutheran Church.
Henry's mother died when he was an infant of six months, he being the youngest of three chil- dren. The father married again and had two chil- dren by his second wife, only one of whom is liv- ing, while of the first wife's children but two re- main. Our subject attended school in Ilanover until he was fourteen years of age, coming to this country with his father at the age of fifteen, and remaining with him, buying his land in 1863, and taking care of him after that until the time of his death.
August 26, 1859. Mr. Hemme married Miss Mary Borlind, who was born in Hanover July 14, 1838. She came to America with a sister in 1858, her parents having died in the Old Country. She, as well as her husband, is a member of the Lutheran Church. Mr. Hemme is a general farmer and ex- ceedingly prosperous. Ile started in life without means, and his present position is due to his energy and ability. He has served as administrator three times, the last being for the Jacob Pepar estate in 1891, and is quite familiar with the settlement of estates. In politics he is a Democrat.
Mr. Homme's children are well educated, both in German and English, which alone speaks well for the good judgment of the father. These chil- dren are eight in number, and are: Henry L .;
THE NEW YORK PUBLIC LIBRARY
ASTOR, LENOX AND TILDEN FOUNDATIONS R L
Roll. Ruxton
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Louis, married, and a farmer in this township; George, who is married, and resides on section 7; Sophia, wife of Claus Wienberg, living near the parental home; Martin, Theodor, Mary and Martha, all at home. To each of the married children has been given at the time of marriage $2,000. Large tracts of land have also been purchased for the children, so that they are abundantly provided for.
During the war, Mr. Hemme served seventeen days on the Union side, but was discharged on ac- count of physical disability. That he entered the service although unable to continue in it, proved the spirit of the man, and should win for him the gratitude and respect of his fellow-men. Ilis life has been a successful one. Ile owns one hun- dred and thirty acres of land on sections 5 and 32, Salt Pond Township. This land he purchased in 1863, settling upon it the following year, and has since that time made it his home. He has made new purchases from time to time, giving land to his children, as stated above. His land has cost him some $14,000.
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R. OBERT RUXTON, a prominent citizen of Miami and a native of Scotland, brought with him to this country the perseverance and thrift which in any land make the name of Scotland respected. In that country our subject was born in the year 1820, a son of James and E. Allen Ruxton. He is one in a family of seven children, six of whom are living, scattered over the world as follows: One in Canada, one in Australia and three yet in Scotland, while our sub- ject is the only member of the family in the United States.
Coming early to the State of Missouri, our sub- ject received his first instruetion in the schools of this neighborhood, Boonville being the nearest. and he was graduated from the Kemper School of that place at the age of twenty-five years. In 1839, he came to Saline County, and here taught school until 1849, when he made a trip to Califor-
nia. In that State he remained for three years, at the expiration of which time he came to Miami and embarked in the mercantile business, in which he continued until 1855. At that time, he saw an opening in the warehouse and grocery business and in 1856 he conducted a large and prosperous trade in that line, and at one time carried a stock val- ued at $10,000, beside a large amount of hemp.
This business flourished until the breaking out of the war, when every branch of trade was para- lized. Our subject entered the army, volunteering under Col. Mitchell, where he served a short time, then came home to do recruiting duty. He suc- ceeded in raising a company of infantry at Miami and was made Captain, but was taken prisoner and removed to McDowell College and from there was taken to Alton, Ill., where he remained for nine months as a prisoner. After he was exchanged, he returned to Priee's command in Arkansas and re- mained there until the close of the war. When the struggle was ended, our subject returned to Saline County and embarked in the dry-goods Business, continuing thus engaged for one year. Afterward he was employed in a flouring-mill for a short time. His good judgment assured him that the grain business would be an increasing one in the State, and, acting upon his judgment, he built two warehouses, one 80x 13. and the other 80x30, where he engaged in buying and shipping grain. This has proved most profitable and he sold as high as seventy thousand bushels a year.
The marriage of our subject took place in 1853 in Saline County to Miss Mary, the daughter of William Brown, who was born in Virginia. The union was blessed with three children, two of whom survive and are highly respected and enter- prising men. Alvan K., born in Saline County in 1854, received a good education in Miami and is still unmarried. At present he is acting as pilot and captain on a river steamboat which runs on the Missouri River. Spencer P. was born in Saline County, and died there in 1876, at the age of twenty years. William R. was born at the family home in 1860; he married Miss Lucy Guthrie, and their place of residence is Springfield, Mo., where he is engaged as a clerk in a wholesale hardware business.
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Mr. Ruxton is a member of the Methodist Epis- copal Church South, as is also his estimable wife, and they are generous contributors to the various enterprises originated and carried on by their de- nomination. Politically, he is a Democrat. In 1860. he was nominated for Sheriff but was de- feated, although he made a splendid run. Few residents of the county are more respected than the subject of this notice. The fearless champion of the cause of justice, the unswerving adher- ent of what is true and right, loyal as a friend and citizen, honored as an enterprising business man, the position which he occupies is among those who have most largely contributed to the country's progress and rendered most efficient service in the community.
II. HANLEY is one of those Christian gentlemen of whom enough good can not be said, and about whom it is always a grateful task to write. The only trouble is that the sketch will be too feeble to do justice to the subject of it. Mr. Hanley is a farmer and stock-raiser of Saline County, his farm being lo- cated in township 18, range 21, on sections 15 and 16, making over three hundred acres of good land which he has accumulated and successfully carried on. He does a general farming business and has always kept a good grade of stock.
The gentleman whose name heads this sketch was born in Monroe County, Va., in March, 1819. and grew to maturity in that county, receiving his education in the common schools, kept in old log schoolhouses, with slab benches, seated upon which Young America was to imbibe a love for learning that should go with him all through the years, and, in addition to that, a store of useful information that should be of service to him in waging the battle of life. That these old schools, rude as they were in outward appearance, did, in many instances, the work that they were intended to do, we have too many instances to allow of
doubt or contradiction; for some of our grandest and most powerful men owe to them the entire school education that they have ever received.
Mr. Hanley married, in 1843, Miss Flora Clark. and that same fall came to Saline County and settled on a farm of forty acres, which he proved up from the Government with money earned at fifty cents a day. When he reached his destina- tion in this county, he had but 812 in his pocket. but so frugally and wisely did he manage his af- fairs that he succeeded from the first. In 1853 Mrs. Hanley died, leaving four children, only two of whom grew to maturity. These are Mary E., wife of Austin Jones, of Bates County; and John C., a resident of the same county.
Mr. Hanley's second wife, who, before her mar- riage, was Julia A. Claycomb, lived only four years, and left one child, who died at seven years of age. For his third wife Mr. Hanley married Phobe E. Claycomb, and to them were born six children: Virgie, wife of Henry MeDaniel, of Ilig- ginsville; James M., of Beaumont, Kan .; Lillie B., wife of R. A. Marshall, of Pitts County; George W., who died while in school at Columbia; R. E. Lee, who is still at home; and Daisy D. Mr. Han- ley's post office is Wanamaker.
Archibald and Susan (Kinkaid) Hanley, the parents of our Mr. Hanley, were both natives of Virginia. Their family consisted of eleven chil- dren, of whom A. H. was the seventh. His grand- father was born in Virginia, but was of Irish de- srent. So far as known, the family have always been agriculturists.
Mr. Hanley came to the southern part of Saline County when there were few houses there, and put the first rail and broke the first piece of ground on the prairie in that part of the county. He was instrumental in organizing the Christian Congrega- tion near his home, and in 1870 started the church building. He was a charter member when the de- nomination had its birth, and is the only one of those now living. He has been a Democrat all his life, as were both his father and grandfather. He is a member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, and has been District Deputy Grand Master for the past twenty years, attending all the national meetings.
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Mr. Hanley's mother was buried in the cemetery at the church near his home, a titting resting- place, and one that must seem more than ordin- arily appropriate to the son whose life is so true an exponent of the teachings of that sacred place; for Mr. Hanley is a model Christian gentleman-one who is always doing good wherever he can, always trying to follow, in every walk of life, the teach- ings of the Master. Than this, nothing higher can be said of any man, and all who know Mr. Ilanley feel sure that he will hear the "Well done, good and faithful servant," for which all true Christians are waiting.
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