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 63
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 63
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Mr. and Mrs. Corse are the parents of five children : Mattie May, Thomas R. and John L. (twins), Will- iam W. and Martha Virginia. William and Martha are students at Warrensburgh Normal School, while Mattie May is a fine musician and a graduate of Central Female Seminary, at Lexington. John I. has taken a full course in a business college at Kansas City, Mo. Two of the sons are in business in Wellington and doing very well. The younger one has been for two years engaged in learning the drug business.
Mr. and Mrs. Corse are members of the Meth- odist Episcopal Church South, of which he has been Steward, and both are active in Sunday- school work, having always been teachers, and he has been Secretary for years, Mr. Corse is a mem-
ber of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, having filled all the chairs, and was permanent Secretary for thirteen years. lle is a Democrat in political beliefs, and takes an interest in pro- gressive politics, attending all rallies, speeches, etc. Our subject is a member of the Council, and has been ever since its second election. He is a progressiveand enterprising man, highly respected, an extensive reader, and well informed on a great variety of subjects. His family occupies the finest residence in the city, and it is a house where peace and happiness dwell.
E LIJJAI HARVEY, a successful and enter- prising general agriculturist, residing in township 50, range 20, Saline County, has a beautiful home about three miles from Marshall, and is widely known as a man of sterling integrity of character and undoubted business ability. Our subject was born in Virginia, February 17, 1838. ITis maternal grandfather, William Harvey, was of Trish descent, but a Virginian by birth, and was a man of energy and strong character. In his early days Grandfather Harvey hauled freight from the Blue Ridge Mountains to Richmond and was well known throughout the surrounding country, and by his native wit and honesty won the regard of all with whom he came in contact.
In early manhood, William Harvey married Miss Alice Wood, after which he bought land in Greene County, and with his wife entered upon the daily duties of agricultural life. In their pleasant home the mother of our subject was born. She was a woman of superior character and was highly es- teemed. A devoted mother, she gave to our sub- jeet the loving care which brightened his youth- ful days, and which in after life he well repaid by filial word and deed. In 1853, during the fall mouths, Mr. Harvey, then but fourteen years old, in company with his mother, grandmother and a young man named Henry Mitchell, started upon the long journey from Greene County, Va., to the
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State of Missouri. They traveled in the primitive style of those early days, their vehicle being a wagon drawn by two stout horses. Proceeding steadily forward by way of Stannton, Va., they crossed the Ohio River by ferry-boat, and safely landing upon the other side pursued their journey to Missouri, which they entered at the city of St. Lonis.
Leaving behind them this commercial eentre. the travelers crossed the Missouri River at St. Charles, and, still journeying on, they went to Co- lumbia, the county seat of Boone County. After six weeks of constant and wearisome travel by day and camping out by night, they located upon forty acres of land not far from Columbia. The mother and grandmother of our subject were entirely de- pendent for support upon his efforts, and bearing the responsibilities of manhood upon his shoulders, the brave and energetic boy toiled un weariedly and cared for the dear ones tenderly, until stern Death called both to the land beyond. In the spring of 1876, Mr. Harvey made his permanent home upon a portion of the land which he now owns near Marshall, Saline County.
Some years prior to this date, our subject had, in December, 1864, entered into the bonds of matri- mony with Miss Lucinda, a daughter of Jolin and Eliza Pritchett. Mrs. Harvey is a native of Albe- marle County, Va., and was born April 15, 1812. She was the second in a family of eleven children, all of whom are now living with the exception of three: John Allen, Lemuel, and one that died in infancy. The pleasant home of Mr. and Mrs. Harvey has been blessed by the birth of six ehil- dren, namely: James T .; Eliza Ann, the wife of Daniel Carrol; Mary Frances, John Y., Charles Earnest and Geneva Emma, all of whom reside with their parents excepting the eldest son and daughter, who are married and reside upon ad- joining farms.
Our subject enjoyed but seanty advantages for schooling, so early had he to begin the battle of life, but through manly and self-reliant energy and patient industry he has gained a comfortable competence. lle owns three hundred aeres of valuable land near Marshall, and no home in this portion of the country is more attractive or more
pleasantly located than his. Mrs. Harvey is a member of the Christian Church, and has liberally aided in the extension of its work and religious influence. Our subject and his entire family are prominent factors in local enterprises, social and benevolent, and command the esteem and confi- dence of a large circle of friends and acquaint- ances. In political affiliations, he is a Democrat, and an ardent advocate of his party. Interested in local and national issues, he does his duty as a true American citizen and casts his vote conscien- tiously and intelligently.
C. EWING, who passed away universally lamented after a life of busy usefulness, January 14, 1888, was widely known and highly esteemed for the integrity of his character and the kindliness of his heart, which ever prompted him to do unto others as lie would have them do unto him. For many long years a success- ful agriculturist, he resided continuously in the same neighborhood, and was the promoter of all enterprises of worth, and liberally aided in local improvements. During the last thirty years of the life of our subject he was one of the eflici- ent Deacons of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church, and was among the most active of the members in extending the influence and field of work of that religious organization.
Mr. Ewing was a native of La Fayette County, and was born September 24, 1830. Ilis parents, Robert and Elizabeth (Campbell) Ewing, were both natives of Kentucky. The father of our subject came to La Fayette County when the Ter- ritory of Missouri had not attained to the dig- nity of Statehood. The year of his arrival was 1818. The remote ancestors of the Ewing family were of Scotch and Irish descent, and early in the history of the Colonies emigrated to this coun- try. Our subject spent his boyhood, as did the majority of the farmer lads, in aiding in the work on the farm, and when he could be spared,
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especially in the winter months, attended the little subscription schools of his neighborhood. and sometimes studied at home.
Energetie, ardent and ambitious, Mr. Ewing de- sired more extended educational advantages than the home schools offered him, and when sixteen years oldl entered Chapel Hill College, in La Fay- ette County, and pursued his studies there for two years. At the age of eighteen he attended the Masonic College at Lexington, from which he . graduated with honor upon the completion of the course. Ile then returned home, and the death of his father soon after ensuing, he received in 1853 full control of the home farm, pleasantly located upon section 21, township 50, range 27, La Fay- ette County. Mr. Ewing was married, in 1856, to Miss Catherine Wilcoxon, a daughter of Hora- tio Wilcoxon, a native of Maryland. Mr. and Mrs. Ewing were the parents of thice children. Anna Il. is the wife of John Eggleston, of Lex- ington, Mo .; Joel II. resides on the farm; and Young Ewing is a prosperous grocer in Lex- ington. The mother, the wife of our subject, is still living, her declining days blessed with a con- sciousness that she has done what she could to advance the "good cause." Both Mr. and Mrs. Ewing were very regular attendants at the Cum- berland Presbyterian Church, and for long years the most active and substantial supporters of the organization in whose membership they were early enrolled. During the long and efficient term of Deacon Ewing his heart and hand were engaged in behalf of all who needed his attention and ministration.
The late home of our subject is attractively lo- cated and surrounded by a beautiful grove of walnut trees, and, look where one may, the thrifty and prosperous appearance of the broad-spreading acres and excellent improvements suggest the en- ergetic and skillful management of the master hand, now stilled in death. Four times the chang- ing seasons have come and gone since this hon- ored citizen and most excellent husband, father and friend passed away, but he is not forgotten, and lives, and will live through many years, in the hearts and memories of old-time friends and the community whom his kindly presence blessed
so long. Mr. Ewing was never a politician in the ordinary acceptation of the word, but he was alive to the needs of the hour. Since 1860 he al- ways voted the Democratic ticket. In the death of our subject the county lost one of the earnest promoters of all its best efforts. I'mostentatious, sincere, a devoted Christian, Mr. Ewing lived and died in the faith which overcometh all evil and winneth the victory.
AMES E. GLADISH. Among the repre- seutative men of La Fayette County is classed the subject of this sketch, who is lo- cated upon a fine farm in township 49, range 26. A native of Warren County, Ky., he was born July 22, 1836. His parents were Elijah and Elizabeth (Cooke) Gladish, the father a na- tive of Warren County, Ky., and the mother of Virginia. In 1811, they emigrated from Ken- tucky to La Fayette County, Mo., and settled on section 36, township 49, range 26. Here Mr. Gladish entered land, and became one of the pio- neer settlers of the county. llis life is yet spared, and, at the age of eighty-three, he still possesses luis faculties and enjoys narrating reminiscences of those old days of hardship, bravely borne and safely passed.
The beloved mother of our subject died in 1873. She had been the mother of eight children, the six surviving ones being James E., Mordecai, Mary A., Frank M., Edwin and John. Mr. Glad- ish is a member of the Baptist Church, one of the good old men whose seat is seldom vacant in the sanctuary. His lines have not all been cast in pleasant places, but in the main he may call him- self a successful business man. Our subject has been reared in this county, and at an early day took part in the hard work and privation of pio- neer life. The education of the farmer lads was not then as closely attended to as at the present day; perhaps those pioneer boys possessed keener
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mental faculties, for seldom do we find one of the lads of those times who have made less of them- selves, when thrown out into the world, than have those who have enjoyed mueh superior advan- tages.
The marriage of Mr. Gladish was celebrated April 12, 1863, with Miss Isabella M. Burnett, a native of Boone County. They reared a family of four children, as follows: Edwin B., Cora S., Charles H. and John G. The Gladish family al- ways possessed uncompromising Union sentiments, and continued so during the war, when one's po- litical opinions were not safe to utter, as those were times to try men's souls. In the summer of 1861, our subject enlisted in Company K, Four- teenth Missouri Infantry, whose operations were confined to the State. Hle took part in the battle of Lexington and other skirmishes. With many others, he was captured by the enemy, but after a space of two weeks was paroled.
Mr. Gladish then went into Pettis County, and there engaged as a dealer in hemp until 1866, when he returned to his farm and has remained here ever since. Ilis land comprises two hundred and sixty aeres, which he has not only gained by his own exertions, but has brought to a fine state of cultivation. He holds membership with the Grand Army post at Higginsville; also the Davis Creek Grange, and at one time filled the position of Master of the Grange.
ON. ROBERT L. BROWN. The subject of the present notice is a well-known repre- sentative of an old pioneer family of Saline County, and far beyond its limits is known and honored. In 1888-89 he represented the cit- izens of Fairville in the State Legislature, and such was the fidelity and efficiency with which he served his constituents that he added luster to the enviable reputation he had already established.
The father of our subject was William Brown, a native of Cumberland County; Va., born in 1796,
and the son of a Revolutionary patriot. He grew up to the life of a farmer and served in the War of 1812. Upon coming to this State and county, he entered land, and before his death became the owner of considerable property, although at the time of his arrival he was quite poor. Ilis was the first farm opened on the prairie between Glasgow and Grand Pass, and it was predicted at the time that he was so far from civilization that he would never have any neighbors.
The first marriage of William Brown was with a Miss Palmore, by whom he reared seven children: William, Edward J., John R., Sallie, Martha, Mary, and Marian. In 1832, while on the way to Saline County, the wife and mother died. About 1836 Mr. Brown married Lucy A., daughter of Henry Gutherie, of Virginia, and unto them were born four children, only two of whom grew to mature years, and these were llenry JJ., and Robert L., the subject of this sketch. Politically, Mr. Brown was a Democrat and the last vote he cast was for Sam- uel Tilden for President. He was permitted to live until December 25, 1876, and witnessed the development of the country which had been so wild and uncivilized at the time of his settlement.
Our subjeet was born in this county, May 3, 1841, and here he grew to mature years, with the advantages of an excellent education. When the war broke out, in 1861, he, in company with three brothers, enlisted in the State Guard, in a company commanded and raised by his brother, E. J., and in March of that year entered the Confederate service. One brother, John R., died in St. Louis, while in prison. Another, H. J., was also captured, but survived the imprisonment and hardships of war.
In 1863, occurred one of those distressing events which clouded the fair fame of both armies at differ- ent times. We refer to the cruel assassination of Col. Brown at his home near Fairville, in this county, by a band of Federal troops who came for that purpose. The service of our subject continued under the brave Gen. Price until the close of the war. He was a member both of the State Guards and the regular army, and during his entire ser- vice was neither wounded nor taken prisoner. The surrender was made in June, 1865, after which
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Mr. Brown returned to his old Missouri home with the proud consciousness of having valiantly and faithfully defended what he believed to be right.
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The marriage of our subject took place October 1, 1868, to Miss Annie, the daughter of Thompson Tucker, and one son has been born of the marriage. Since the beginning of the Republic the family has been one of the stanch and consistent supporters of the Democracy. The ancestors of both families came from English counties and their descent can be traced to the F. F. Vs. The Methodist faith has upheld them in times of trial and trouble. The family now resides upon the fine old homestead which once belonged to their pioneer grandfather, and is the more highly valued by them for that reason. It has always been the home of our subject, who is now the owner. The farm is a beautiful place of two hundred acres, and here our subject. wife and son have a delightful rural home.
APT. MARCUS L. BELT, the enterprising and ellicient manager of the Confederate llome of Missouri, and also Secretary and manager of the Rocky Branch Coal Company, has long been prominently identitied with the leading interests and upward progress of the State. For the past six years, he has been numbered among the representative and energetic citizens of Ilig- ginsville. Capt. Belt is a native of Kentucky, born September 16, 1837, in Lebanon, Marion County, but was only four years old when he went to Rich- mond with his parents, who then made their resi- dence in Missouri.
Dr. William M. Belt, the father of our sub- jeet, was a native of Jessamine County, Ky. The family was of English descent, but had long been prominently associated with the his- tory of our country and occupied a position of social distinction. Dr. Belt followed the pur- suit of agriculture in early life, but soon aban- doned farming for the medical profession and
after a long course of study was graduated in Ken- tucky with the degree of Doctor of Medicine, and entered upon the duties of a medical practitioner in Lebanon. In 1841, he removed to Richmond and engaged in the practice of his profession here, but although in a comparatively short time he es- tablished a successful practice, he decided to lo- cate in Independence, Jackson County, where for twenty-four years he went his daily rounds and enjoyed an extensive practice and the full confi- dence of the general public.
At the expiration of nearly a quarter of a cen- tury's service here, Dr. Belt settled in Denver, C'olo., when that now large city was a mere hamlet. When the war broke out he entered the service as a surgeon of a Colorado regiment under Gen. Canby. and died in 1862 at Peralta, N. M., and was buried there. The mother of Capt. Belt was born in Caroline County. Va., and was a descendant of an old Virginian family; she now resides in Mexico, Mo., and is a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church and a lady highly esteemed as a Christian woman. She became the mother of twelve children, of whom four daughters and one son now survive. Our subject is the second oldest in the family and came to Richmond with his parents in 1841; he afterward resided in Independence, there attending the private schools and completing his studies in the Buchanan Academy; he also clerked in a general merchandise store.
In 1859, accompanying his father to Denver, Colo., our subject enjoyed an overland trip thither, traveling by slow mule-team, and occupying a full month's time in the journey. During the Pike's Peak excitement, he prospected and engaged in mining, but when the war broke out he returned home by overland stage, and in Springfield, Mo., joined Gen. Price's command and remained with the Confederate army until the close of the war, surrendering at Lexington with the rank of captain. Our subject then received employment in a St. Louis hat and cap wholesale store, and after a time came to Dover, where he successfully engaged in the general merchandise business for twelve years. At the expiration of this length of time, Capt. Belt engaged in railroad contracting, and now has the same partner, Charles Erskine. They
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furnished supplies for building the Memphis & Kan- sas City and Missouri Pacific & Lexington Branches and had three stores along the line; they also had an interest with the principal contractor of the road. Our subject went to Texas for A. Talmage & Co., and engaged in the cattle business. and as a member and representative of the Missouri Land & Cattle Company, fenced seventy-five thousand acres of land, forty-eight miles in circumference, managed Mr. Talmage's interests, wound up the business, and came to Iligginsville in 1887.
Capt. Belt then bought and leased the coal mine, opened the bed of coal and worked it, building a railroad first to the Chicago & Alton Railroad and then to the Missouri Pacific Railroad, eight miles long, with side tracks to all the mines. There are two mines in the company's property, which fur- nish steady employment to a large number of skilled miners. The coal is bituminous. The railroad ex- tends to other mines and carries the employes to and from work and also the coal, they receiving for the latter fifteen cents per ton. The Rocky Branch Coal Company hold the key to five or six thousand acres of as fine eoal as ever was mined in the State of Missouri. There are fourteen dwellings at the mines, two boarding-houses and two blacksmith shops, engine house, etc. The company has a lease of two hundred and seventy aeres of coal, and in all gives employment to over four hundred men. The railroad has a capacity of over sixty cars a day and eost with the engine $100,000. The mines have a deposit of twenty- two inches of black eoal, which overlies a bed rock from six to thirteen feet, and is underneath two and one-half feet of fire elay.
In 1889, the company was incorporated as the Rocky Branch Coal Company, and since then Capt. Belt has been Secretary and Manager. Mr. Erskine is President and Treasurer, and these two enterpris- ing gentlemen are the sole owners of this valuable business. The two together planned the railroad, bought the right of way and built the line. Our sub- jeet resides in Higginsville and here has a pleas- ant and commodious home. He was married the first time in Davis Township, La Fayette County, in 1857, to Miss Mary S. Burton, who was born in Randolph County, Mo., and died in Dover,
leaving four children: William R., a resident of St. Louis; George M., weighmaster at the mines; Jo- seph Sheiby, a book-keeper for his father; and Mark L., who is in the livery and transfer business. Our subjeet was married the second time in Lexington, in 1885, to Miss Jennie E. Burton, a native of this county and a sister of the first wife. This estima- ble and well-known lady is the mother of two children, Mildred and Alfred E.
Our subject is a member of the Free & Accepted Masons and enjoys a well-deserved popularity among the fraternity. In polities, he is a Democrat and has served as delegate to numerous State and county conventions. He is now filling a second term as Alderman of the First Ward and is on various important committees, giving his earnest efforts in behalf of local improvements. Onr sub- ject was among the leading factors in establishing the Confederate Home here. He raised money to buy the land, was mainly instrumental in securing its location upon the farm, and was appointed its Superintendent from the day of its opening. He assisted in planning the Ilome and built the cot- tages. The site covers three hundred and sixty- two acres, one and one-half miles from the Chicago & Alton depot, and is all finely improved. There are eleven cottages, hospital, one main building, ten rooms, and a new chapel. It is almost self-sustain- ing, this latter fact being principally due to the efficient management of the judicious and ener- getie Superintendent. Iligginsville is fortunate in having as a dweller in its midst a citizen so pro- gressive and publie-spirited as our subject, much of whose life has been given to lending a helping hand to those less fortunate than himself.
OHN H. MILLER is the local conductor on the Kansas City Divison of the Chicago & Alton Railroad, having a run beween Kan- sas City and Slater. Ile came to Slater Sep- tember 6, 1884, and has since been a resident of
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this city. Mr. Miller was born in Hardin County, Ohio, in the town of Patterson, JJune 24, 1855, and is a son of Nicholas and Barbara (Stall) Miller. Ilis father, a native of Germany, came to the United States when fourteen years of age, and settled in Hardin County, where he was employed on a farm. Later he was married there and farmed for himself. lle now owns eighty acres of good land at a dis- tance of only three-quarters of a mile from Patter- son, also another farm of one hundred and sixty acres. Hle is still an active and hale man, and in polities is a strong Republican. Religiously he is a member of the Christian Church.
Our subject's mother, who was born in Pennsyl- vania, was a daughter of Jacob Stall, an early settler in Champaign County. Later he removed to Indiana, where he yet resides. Our subject's par- ents had ten children, three girls and seven boys. of whom one of the daughters is now deceased. Six of the sons are railroad men, and four of them are conductors. Of these, our subject is the eldest.
The boyhood days of John Miller were passed on a farm. lle attended the public schools only in winter and was early set to work. He remained at home until twenty years of age, and then was employed as a brakeman on the Cincinnati, San- dusky & Cleveland Railroad. The six months following the severing of his connection with that company were spent in the employ of a lumber and stave company. In 1878 he became brakeman on the Baltimore & Ohio Road, and after filling that position for six months, he was made conduc- tor to run a local train, in which capacity he served until May 8, 1881. He then had leave of absence for ninety days and took that opportunity of com- ing West to visit a brother who was living here, and who had a run between Argentine and Ottawa.
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