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 58
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 58
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good work, and ever ready to assist in benevolent or religious enterprise. and take a high place among the leading and public-spirited citizens of the county.
BRAHAM M. STANFIELD, an energetic and successful farmer and stock-raiser, and a highly respected citizen of La Fay- ette County, Mo., resides upon a valuable and finely improved homestead located on section 16, township 48, range 27, where he devotes him- self mainly to the prosperous pursuit of general agriculture. Our subject was born near Pine Vil- lage, Warren County, Ind., October 19, 1842. and is a son of Jonathan and Margaret (Metzker) Stanfield. The father was a native of Ohio and was born near Spring Valley, Greene County, Decem- ber 29, 1811. In 1837 father Stanfield journeyed to Warren County, Ind., where he purchased and improved a farm of three hundred and twenty acres. In November, 1866, he came to Benton County, Mo., and in January, 1867, re- moved to La Fayette County, and, settling upon one hundred and sixty acres of excellent land, lo- cated on section 17, township 48, range 27, made this homestead his abiding-place for a number of years. Since 1882 he and liis wife have lived in Odessa, where they enjoy the society of a large circle of friends.
'The children who gathered around the family hearth of Jonathan and Margaret Stanfield were seven in number, and all but one survived to ma- tue age. John, who was the eldest of the fan- ily, enlisted in Company G, One Hundredth In- diana Regiment, and died in 1863, in Memphis, Tenn .; A. M., our subject, was the second son; then came Samuel A., Mary M., E. Wakeman, Francis II., and Ilester E., now Mrs. Proetor. The parents of our subject have been members of the Methodist Episcopal Church ever since their location in Missouri, and are devoted Christians, ever ready to assist in the extension of good
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work and benevolent enterprise. In his political atliliations the father was an old-line Whig, but since the Civil War has been a strong Republican. llis wife was a daughter of Jacob Metzker, who served bravely in the War of 1812, and re- moved from Pennsylvania to Greene County, Ohio, and then in 1837 came to Warren County, Ind., where his wife died. They were members of the Methodist Episcopal Church, and ardent suppor- ters of that religious denomination. Mr. Metzker was in early life a Whig, and later a Republican. lle and his good wife reared a family of four sons and five daughters. The sons were Abram, Isaac, George and Alex. The daughters were Hester, Elizabeth, Mary, Margaret and Ann.
Abraham M. Stanfield was edneated in the dis- triet schools of the home neighborhood, and, early trained in agricultural duties, arrived at twenty years of age a self-reliant and earnest young man. It was then that the Civil War called the farmer boys from their peaceful avocation, and among the others who volunteered was our sub- ject, who enlisted in July, 1862, in Company 1, Seventy-second Indiana Regiment, and, immedi- ately sent to the front, engaged in the numerous battles and skirmishes in which his regiment dis- tinguished itself, beginning with the fierce eneoun- ter of Chickamauga. Mr. Stanfield was constantly facing danger and death, but never received a wound. He was discharged from the service at Springfield, but was mustered out with the rank of Corporal at Nashville.
Soon after the close of the war Mr. Stanfield came with his parents to Missouri and again re- sumed his agricultural duties, and in March, 1867, located upon his present homestead, which con- sists of two hundred and forty aeres, one of the most highly improved farms in the vicinity. Our subject also owns two hundred and ten acres in Linn County, which he purchased in 1888. Ener- getic and industrious, he has with his own hands wrought a great change in the farm, which from the virgin prairie he has cultivated until its aeres are rich with a golden harvest.
September 23, 1866, Mr. Stanfield was united in marriage with Miss Harriet A. Wakeman, who was born in Warren County, Ind., a daughter of
William and Valitta (Stow) Wakeman, natives of New York. who went to Greene County, Ohio, and thence to Warren County, Ind., where Mr. Wakeman died in 1881, at the age of seventy-one. His wife yet survives him. The wife of our sub- jeet died in 1891, and left one child, Wade S. Mrs. Stanfield was a lady of worth and intelligence, and her death was mourned by a large circle of relatives and friends.
Fraternally, Mr. Stanfield is a member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows and the Grand . Army of the Republic, and within and without these orders he has a host of true friends and well- wishers. Politically, our subject is a Republican, but he is liberal-minded, and in all things pertain- ing to the public welfare is always the same pub- lic-spirited, enterprising and upright citizen who so many years ago periled his life in behalf of na- tional existence.
ICHOLAS HAERLE. It is pleasant to find in a man who has passed the meridian of life that he still retains a taste for the lighter and more artistie touches that relieve life so wonderfully of its monotony. It is one delight- ful feature of our subject's nature that his love for music, poetry and the drama is as strong now as ever. Mr. Ilaerle, who is a retired business man living in Lexington, was born in Cochem, Prussia, October 1, 1831.
Mr. Haerle is a son of Frederick and Margaret (Michels) Hlaerle, the father being a tailor by trade. The family included five children, and of this number our subject was the eldest. He attended school until fourteen years of age, and was then apprenticed to the tailor's trade, at which he worked up to 1854. Hle then came to America, landing at New York City, whence he proceeded to Chicago, remaining in the Windy City for two years.
In 1856, Mr. Haerle moved to Boonville, Mo., where he remained two years, and then came to
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Lexington and opened a cigar and tobacco store, of which he was the proprietor for two years. At the expiration of that time he assumed the man- agement of the Lexington Turner Hall, which he conducted until 1861. At that time he went to St. Louis and was employed by the board whose duty it was to distribute rations throughout the city. After the war he returned to Lexington and became proprietor of the Franklin House, which he conducted for a number of years.
To Mr. Haerle belongs the honor of organizing and originating the Liederkranz Society, of Lex- mgton. He is a member of the Turners, and his name appears in the charter membership of Gut- emberg Lodge No. 323, I. O. O. F. He is also a member of Erwin Lodge No. 121. A. F. & A. M.
The original of this sketch was married May 4, 1855, to Miss Elizabeth Leonard, daughter of Nicholas Leonard, of Chicago. Mr. and Mrs. Haerle are the parents of three sons: Frederick R. and Gustav reside in Lexington ; William F. livesin Salt Lake City, Utah. Our subject has always taken a great interest in the development of home talent, and has been in requisition in getting up theatri- cal entertainments, concerts, tableaux, etc. Ile is also a contributor to several county papers, writing both prose and poetry. Beside this, he has ar- ranged several plays and concerts for the people of Lexington, showing marked talent in this direc- tion. Politically, he is an ardent Republican.
R OBERT T. RUSSELL. The gemal Nestor of real estate and insurance, whose field of operations is the thriving Missouri town of Odessa, is well known to the citi- zens of his community. He is a native of the State which is said to produce more "Colonels' than any other in the Union, namely Kentucky, and made his entrance into this world March 24, 1830, m Bourbon County. Ilis father, Dr. Robert S. Russell, also a native of Kentucky, was born
October 27, 1807. Ile was reared with all the ideas of Kentucky chivalry and was a graduate of the Transylvania College, being a pupil under the cel- ebrated educator, Dr. Ben Dudley.
Our subject's mother, also a native of that State which is noted for its beautiful women, was before her marriage Miss Sallie C., daughter of Thomp- son Ware, who, as did most of the best families of Kentucky, came from Virginia. The Wares were of English descent. The senior Mr. and Mrs. Russell located in Kentucky after their marriage, and removed to Callaway County, Mo., in 1836. Our subject's father was a physician and contin- ued in the practice of his profession until the time of his death, which occurred in 1840. Grandfather Robert S. Russell was a native of Culpeper County, Va., having been there born in 1762. He was a General in the Revolutionary War.
After the death of Dr. Russell our subjeet's widowed mother with her five children, four daughters and one son, returned to her native State, where she still resides at the age of eighty- six years, making her home with her eldest daugh- ter, Mrs. Sallie R. Wasson. Only three of the family are now living. They are the daughter whose name we have just mentioned; Mrs. Eliza- beth F. Allnutt, of St. Louis; and the original of this sketch, who is the only son and second child. He was reared in his native place and from ten to fourteen years of age was one of the household of his uncle, Thomas A. Russell. At the age of four- teen, he commenced to clerk in a general store with Wasson & Son, of Leesburgh, Ky. Ile remained with them for four years, and then commenced trading in stock, buying horses and cattle in Ohio and selling them m Kentucky. He continued at that business until twenty -three years of age.
As our subject grew older he felt the need of a broader education and in 1849 he went to Louis- ville, where he entered a commercial college, from which he was graduated. Ile then accepted a po- sition as clerk in a dry-goods house and remained there until 1851, when he went to Centerville, Ky., and opened a general store for himself. After conducting that business for two years, he sold out and joined the caravan that was crossing the plains to California. Ile joined the Blanton and Taylor
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party, driving with Inm a herd of cattle and hav- ing charge of thirty-three head of horses. They took the route via Salt Lake City. stopping in that haunt of the Mormons for three or four days, and thence proceeded to Grass Valley. Cal., where Mr. Russell engaged in mining, and he was also at Ronng Tent and lowa Hill.
It was while our subject was at the last-named place that he met Mrs. Rebecca (Jordin) Cox, the widow of Daniel Cox, and they were married in 1855. Mrs. Russell was born in Pocahontas County, Va., October 26. 1829. When six months old she was taken to Davis County by her parents, Isaac and Mary Jordin, the former of whom was a Vir- ginian and of Irish descent. After his marriage, Mr. Russell continued his mining operations for three years, moving from place to place and build- ing his own home of logs, the chinking of which was mixed with gold dust. The household furni- ture consisted of a stove and iron bedstead, blan- kets and a few cooking utensils.
In 1857, Mr. Russell and his wife located at the foothills of the mountains in Yuba County, Cal. There he was engaged in ranching and herding stock; he also kept a hotel. In the spring of 1859 he sold his ranch and with his wife started back for the States, shipping on the vessel known as the old " John L. Stephens" via Panama and Aspin wall. where they took the "Star of the West" for New York City, thence to Philadelphia over the Balti- more & Ohio, and from Wheeling to Cincinnati; there they crossed the river to Kentucky, where there was a glad reunion with his mother and three sisters.
After remaining with the family a short time, Mr. Russell came to Missouri and located on a farm in Davis County. This he improved and lived upon until 1865, when he removed to Cov- ington. Ky., and engaged in the grocery business, living there until the following fall, when he sold out and located where he now lives. Ile was en- gaged in farming until 1882, and part of the town of Odessa stands on what was his old farm. He has made four additions to the city and is the lead- ing real-estate man in the place, having done as much as any man to advance its interests.
A Democrat in politics, our subject has been
awarded by his constituents the highest positions in the local political calendar, he having been Al- derman and Justice of the Peace. He is a leading member in the Methodist Episcopal Church South and was one of the organizers of the church here. He has been a Steward for twenty-five years and also Superintendent of the Sunday-school. Fra- ternally, he is identified with the Mt. Hope Masons. being a charter member of Lodge No. 476. He was Master for two years and is Secretary of the Triple Alliance. Ile was Vice-president of the Farmers' Bank of Odessa and is now one of the Directors.
B. SWISHER, a leading agriculturist and successful stock-raiser of Saline County, is pleasantly located in township 51, range 20, near Norton. For the past thirty-five years a constant resident in the immediate neighborhood of his present home, our subject has been closely identified with all the marked improvements and progressive advancement of his locality, and has long been known and highly respected by the entire community among whom his life of busy useful- ness is passed. He was born September 21, 1840, in Berkeley County, Va. (now W. Va.).
The paternal grandfather, Henry Swisher, went from Pennsylvania to Berkeley County, Va., in an early day. He was a soldier in the War of 1812, and was at the bombardment of Ft. McHenry. which celebrated event was the inspiration of the national poem, "The Star Spangled Banner." He was a farmer by occupation, and died at the ad- vaneed age of ninety-two, near Leavenworth, Kan., where he lived with some of his children. The father of our subject, also named Henry, was born in Berkeley County, Va., May 25, 1809. He was one of a large family of children, and until twenty-one years of age, assisted his father upon the farm. Ile also learned the carpenter's trade, and helped to build the court house at Charleston, Va., where John Brown subsequently had his trial. The mother of Mr. Swisher was Elizabeth, a
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daughter of Michael and Phoebe (Tabler) Barnes, and a native of Berkeley County, Va. The par- ents of our subject continued to reside in Virginia until 1857, when they removed to Saline County, Mo., and located upon section 20, township 51, range 20. Henry Swisher here continued his trade as a builder, and also did farming, but in the latter years of his life he withdrew from aetive business, and, although remaining on the farm, he gave up the management of the place to his sons. He was a man of strong character, honest and upright, and was a worthy member of the Cumberland Presby- terian church. In politics, he was a Democrat and an ardent advocate of his party. For many years he had been an Odd Fellow, being one of the charter members of the Hedgesville Lodge, of HIedgesville, Berkeley County, Va., and with this lodge he maintained his connection until the day of his death. He was a prosperous man, an enter- prising and honored citizen, and when he died, upon December 12, 1875, his demise was mourned as a loss to the community. He left a widow and five sons: Adam Tabler, Vineyard B., Michael S., Frank- lin L. and Mathias D. These sons are all now living upon the land bequeathed to them by their father, exeept Adam, who resides in Marshall.
Three of the five sons were in the Confederate army, in which service their courage and fearless- ness were remarked. The mother of our subjeet died May 18, 1885, and in her death the sons lost a loving and unselfish friend, whose greatest hap- piness had ever been to do for others. Mrs. Swisher had two brothers: Adam died in Mississippi; and William Barnes is a highly respected citizen of the county, and lives on land adjoining the Swisher estate. The Barnes family is of German descent. V. B. Swisher, our subject, was born in Berkeley County, Va., where he remained with his parents until the family removed to Missouri, in March, 1857, traveling by rail to Wheeling, then by boat to Cambridge, Saline County. Ile lived with his parents until his marriage, when he settled upon the land where he now resides. lle was married April 28, 1870, to Elvira, daughter of Harvey and Catherine (Miller) Hedges, of Saline County. Mr. and Mrs. Swisher have been the parents of four chil- dren: Early, the first-born, is deceased; Sarah AI-
len, Charles V. and Alma are all at home with their parents, and are entering upon life with bright prospects.
Mr. Swisher is a pronounced Democrat. He en- tered the Confederate army in November, 1862, and belonged to Company K, Shanks' Regiment, Shelby's Brigade, Missouri Cavalry, and bravely remained in constant duty until June 19, 1865, when he was paroled at Shreveport, La. Mr. Swisher was twice severely wounded, first at Big Blue, Jackson County, Miss., and later at Ft. Scott, Kan., where he was shot through the leg, and later his horse under him was hit three times, but not mortally hurt. Our subjeet was chiefly in the bat- tles and skirmishes of Arkansas and Missouri.
Mr. Swisher participated in all the conflicts in which his regiment engaged, except one skirmish, when his wound incapacitated him from aetive duty. After the war he returned home and once more engaged in the peaceful occupation of farm- ing and busily devoted himself to the care of his two hundred and twenty acres. His live-stock is a prominent feature of his successful ventures, and his Galloway cattle are pronouned to be of a high grade. Earnest and energetic, he takes a deep interest in all that pertains to local progress and public advancement, and generously aids in social and benevolent enterprises.
57.
.I. POWELL, proprietor of the Lexington Saturday Herald, published at Lexington, Mo., is one of the rising men of this city. His paper is a handsome eight-page, six-column journal, Republiean in its politics, and enjoying a good circulation through the best parts of the State, reaching almost every home in the city. Not only is it newsy, but clean and wholesome in its presentation of the news of the day, never pan- dering to low or vicious tastes; hence its welcome at the firesides of the most cultivated people of the place.
The Herald was started in August, 1889, and has
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all of the latest improvements, a cylinder press built in Cincinnati, Ohio, and also a job office which turns out execHent work. The editor of this newsy sheet. O. J. Powell, is a native of Wash- ington County, Md .. whence he emigrated to Ohio in 1862, and from that State to Indiana in 1877. In the latter State he conducted the Garrett Herald. Mr. Powell is a veteran newspaper man, having been engaged in the business for twenty-nine years. lle is a member of the Grand Army post, having been a soldier in the Union army, belonging to the One Hundred and Forty-fourth Ohio Regiment.
The marriage of Mr. Powell with Miss Sophia Smith was celebrated at Upper Sandusky, Wyandot County, Ohio. She is a daughter of Samuel and Catherine Smith, early settlers of the State of Ohio. Mr. and Mrs. Powell have become the parents of five children, as follows: Ella M., the wife of J. B. Mountjoy, of St. Louis, Mo .: Mary, Florence, Sophia and Willis B., of Cleveland, Ohio. The family enjoys the esteem of the community where Mr. Powell is laboring toward the upbuilding of the county, and endeavoring to make known to the outside world how pleasant and desirable a place is La Fayette County, Mo.
ASSIU'S MELVIN CLAY JAMES, a repre- sentative American citizen, energetic. am- bitious and enterprising. is a practicing at- torney-at-law in Higginsville, and although com- paratively a new-comer within the State, is con- ducting a successful legal practice in his present home. A thorough student and well versed in the knowledge of the law, he enjoyed an excellent practice in the far West, and justly occupied a leading position among the prominent legal talent of that portion of the country. Our subject is a native of Indiana, and was born November 13, 1856, in Helt Township, Vermillion County, in which locality his paternal grandfather had settled upon a homestead when the State was little more than one vast wilderness.
The James family originated in Wales. In 1775 three brothers by that name emigrated to this country, located in the Old Dominion and founded the city of Jamestown. near which Grandfather Zachariah James was born in the year 1809. This resolute and energetic ancestor of our subject early left Virginia, and, settling in Vermillion County, Ind., entered from the Government five hundred and fifty acres of land, which he farmed success- fully for some time. Afterward he engaged in the sale of merchandise in Montezuma, Parke County, Ind. Later, he returned to the vicinity of his old home and resided in Bono. Vermillion County. He was an active member of the Meth- odist Episcopal Church, and a most worthy man. In early life he was a Whig in politics, and after the formation of the Republican party he joined its ranks.
John S. James, father of Cassius Melvin Clay. was born upon the old homestead in Helt Town- ship, Vermillion County, Ind., in the month of October. 1833. He successfully tilled the soil of the home place until in 1882, when he removed to Danville, Ill., and became a merchant. In 1892 he retired from active business and still resides in the above-named city. His wife. Matilda (Ford) James, was a native of Helt Township. Vermillion County, Ind., and a daughter of Richard Ford, also born in the same township. He was a thrifty man and prosperous farmer, and when he died in 1815, at thirty-three years of age, was worth $15,- 000. The mother of our subject was a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church and a lady of in- telligence and upright character. She died at fifty- nine years of age in 1892.
The children of the family were four in num- ber. two daughters and two sons, all of whom are living. Cassins, the second in order of birth, was reared upon the old home farm, and early trained to work. He attended the common sehooi held in the little old log schoolhouse, and when nineteen years oldl began teaching at Horace Station, Edgar County. Ill. He continued in this avocation for six years, and taught in Illinois, Indiana and lowa At twenty-one years of age he began the study of law with Ilogate & Blake, of Danville, Ind., and while afterward located in Newport of the same
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State, read law under Martin G. Rhoads, and was admitted to the Bar of Indiana April t, 1881. He then journeyed to Oskaloosa, lowa, and was in the office of Lafferty & Johnson, two of the most prominent members of the legal profession in the State. November 1, 1881, Mr. James was admitted to the Iowa Bar. Ile returned to Danville, Ill., with William A. Young, and tanght school until February 1, 1883, when he was employed by D. M. Osborne & Co., of Auburn, N. Y., as traveling collector through the States of lilinois, Wisconsin and Minnesota. For several years our subject faithfully and energetically pursued this line of business, and then removed December 1, 1888, to Saguache, Colo., in the San Luis Valley. There he opened an office and was soon enjoying a most successful practice as an attorney-at-law.
In February, 1891, Mr. James was obliged, on account of the health of his wife, to make a change of climate. and located in his present quarters at Iligginsville. His office is in the American Bank Building and his practice is large and important. Ile takes an active part in polities as a pronounced Re- publican and is Chairman of the Republican League of Higginsville. Mr. James was united in marriage in Paris, Ill., October 1, 1883, to Miss Josie Dollar- hide. This lady was born in Ohio, reared in Edgar County, studied law under Col. Henry Van Sellar. of Paris, and after having been admitted to the Illinois Bar, practiced there with her brother until her marriage. She is the mother of two children, Mabel and Etelka. Mr. and Mrs. James are both important factors in the social workl of Higgins- ville, and are ever ready to assist in the promo- tion of all good enterprises.
S TEPHEN W. BARKER, a representative and prosperous general agriculturist and stock-raiser, and a prominent citizen and leading business man of La Fayette County, has self-reliantly won his upward way in life, and through honest industry and earnest effort has
successfully gained a competence and enjoys the esteem and confidence of a host of friends and neighbors. Born in Estill County, Ky., January 28, 1825, our subject is a son of Elias and Eliza- beth (Warner) Barker, both natives of the State of Kentucky. Grandfather Stephen Barker, who was a native Virginian, was among the early pio- neers of Kentucky, having settled in Estill County, from which part of the country he emigrated to Missouri in 1831, and, traveling by wagon, reached La Fayette County and located in Washington Township, upon section 7, where he resided until his death, in 1839.
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