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 65
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 65
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Mr. and Mrs. Whitsitt are the parents of one child, who bears the family name of James A. Whitsitt, and who is a useful and honored eitizen. Our subject is a lifelong Baptist, and, in political belief, is a strong Democrat. The son of one of the brave and fearless early pioneers of Missouri. he received as inheritance the sturdy independ-
ence of those days when the pioneers were obliged not only to work extremely hard for their own sustenance. but had to protect themselves from the Indians, who were their too frequent visitors and carried away. without leave or license, whatever they desired as edibles, and constantly menaced the lives of their wInte brethren. Early trained into habits of industry and self-reliance, James A. Whitsitt has been an important factor in the loeal progress of the best interests of La Fayette County, and is to-day one of the most highly esteemed cit- izens within the limits of its territory.
FG RANCIS J. O'NEILL, the reverend father of St. Peter's Catholic Church at Marshall, is well known as a gentleman of education and eulture, earnest and energetic in his pastoral duties, and withal an excellent and progressive eiti- zen, liberal and intelligent in publie affairs, and in social life genial and kindly. Our subject was born in County Tyrone, Ireland. llis paternal grand- father, Neill O'Neill, was born in a house made famous by the Irish Rebellion. His parents, Francis and Catherine (Sweeney) O'Neill, were both natives of Ireland, where the father lived and died upon a farm which he had industriously cultivated for many years. Ilis mother is still living there at the advanced age of ninety-seven years.
Father O'Neill was the youngest of seven chil- dren, of whom four are now living. lle was well grounded in the primary studies at an early age, and learned Greek and Latin in a elassical school preparatory to entering All Hallow College in Dublin. Ile became a student in that institution of learning in 1875, and remained there for one year. Having long since determined to make America his future home, he bade his native land farewell, and in 1879 made a swift and pleasant voyage across the Atlantic, leaving Londonderry by the steamer " Europia," and arriving safely in New York after ten days upon the ocean. Re-
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maining in the Empire State, he entered the Theo- logical Seminary of St. Bonaventure, at Cattar- augus, and studied there three years. He received numerous orders and a Sub-Deaconship in the Buf- falo (N. Y.) Catholic Church. A Deaconship in the College Seminary of our Lady of Angels, Canada, was conferred upon him. He was ordained priest June 21, 1882, by Bishop Ryan, of the Buffalo Diocese.
Father O'Neill was ordained for the diocese of Kansas City. After spending some time in Phila- delphia, in August, 1882, he went to Springfield, Mo. There he was assistant priest under Father S. K. Kussman for about seven weeks, and then took charge of the Church of the Sacred Heart in Springfield. Ile was thus engaged until the fol- lowing November, when the church was destroyed by a cyclone. Without delay our energetic sub- jeet set about making good the great loss the parish had sustained. llis efforts met with a ready re- sponse from other congregations who sympathized with the parish of the Sacred Heart, and he also received encouragement from the general public, who appreciated his energy, courage and deter- mination.
Almost entirely owing to the work of Father ('Neill the church was rebuilt the same year, and the new edifice was even more substantial and commodious than its predecessor and was unin- cumbered with debt. Our subject continued in that pastorate until February 6, 1887, when he came to receive the charge of St. Peter, succeed- ing Father M. J. O'Dwyer. St. Peter's Church was built by Father Hammill, who gathered to- gether the people in the parish and labored ear- nestly to establish a church in their midst. The first priest of St. Peter's was Father Murphy. Father O'Neill has accomplished much good since he took charge of his present parish, and the people of St. Peter's Church appreciate his constant efforts in their spiritual behalf.
No matter what the weather or the time of day or might, the reverend father is always ready to attend the sick, suffering and dying of his flock. Advising them ever for their best earthly and spiritual good, ready with acts of self-sacrifice and words of cheer for those cast down and in afflic-
tion, he receives in return the esteem and confi- dence of all who know him. It may be said of him that he is liberal in sentiment, generous in ex- pression and just in judgment. In common with all good citizens of this great republican Govern- ment, he is in full sympathy with reform and progress, and is in every sense of the phrase a true and loyal American. Aside from the other valu- able work he has accomplished in Bishop Hogen's Diocese, he has improved the pastorate by an ex- tensive addition, and is always vigilant in the care of the church possessions.
h ON. JOIIN J. HALL, the popular Mayor of Waverly, La Fayette County, Mo., is a pioneer resident of the State, and has been a leading business man of this locality for many years. Efficient in the discharge of public duty, he commands the esteem and confidence of his fellow-citizens, and has received various offices of trust and has been one of the important factors in the growth and rapid advancement of his present home. Mayor Hall is a native of Ken- tucky and was born in Scott County, in 1814. llis father, Braxton P. IFall, was also a Kentuck- ian, and a man well known and highly respected throughout his neighborhood and county. The paternal grandfather, John Hall, was born in Vir- ginia, but was numbered among the early settlers of Kentucky, being one of the most enterprising and progressive citizens in his part of the State.
The mother of our subject was Miss Catherine Shroyer, a daughter of Jacob Shroyer, a native of Maryland, but a pioneer of Kentucky, where he made for himself and family a permanent home. The boyhood of John J. Hall was passed in Scott County, Ky., and here he attended the subscription schools and received the training in habits of self- reliance and honest industry which has been his main capital in life. At the age of seventeen years our subject removed with his parents from Kentucky to Missouri, and locating at first in La
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Fayette County, engaged in farming, and for three successive years continued in the duties of agri- culture. At the expiration of this time, he went to Henry County and embarked in a mercantile business, which he prosperously conducted from 1834 to 1837.
In the meantime he engaged in the manufacture of rope, and for a few years retained his interest in this successful venture, which first claimed his attention in 1836. In the latter part of 1837 Mr. Hall returned to La Fayette County, and engaged in the manufacture of rope until 1840, then moved to Miami, Sahne County, and engaged in the same business, continuing about four years. Ile then returned to La Fayette County and engaged in farming for four years, and then devoted himself to the general merchandising and commission busi- ness. When the thriving town of Waverly was incorporated as a city, John .I. Hall became at once one of the "City Fathers," and through his ability and wise management of the prominent interests intrusted to his care secured the regard of the gen- eral public, and was in 1878 elected Mayor of Waverly, retaining this position for some years. After four years' retirement from this honored ollice, Mayor llall was in 1891 again elected to take charge of the city government, and his ac- ceptance of this responsible position gave general satisfaction to the community, who, regardless of politics, know their Mayor to be a man of sterling integrity of character and excellent business at- tainments.
Mr. Hall has ever been a stanch Democrat, and was elected upon the party ticket in 1867 as Jus- tice of the Peace, an office which he has held for the past twenty-six years, his legal decisions in the various cases brought before him being uniformly sustained by the judgment of the upper courts. The duties of public life do not detract from the enjoyment of the home pleasures shared by our subject with his family. It is now a little more than a half-century ago, since, in 1841, JJohn .J. Hall and Lucretia M. Craig were united in the bonds of matrimony. Mrs. Hall was the daughter of Robert Craig, of Virginia. Mr. and Mrs. Ilall have been the parents of seven children, and of their bright and intelhgent family of sons and daugh-
ters, four now survive: Blanche, Elizabeth, Dixie and Ella. Mr. and Mrs. ITall are valued members of the Christian Church and have always been ae- tive workers in the social, benevolent and relig- ious enterprises of that denomination. Mayor HIall has been an eye-witness of the remarkable growth and rapid development of Waverly and the surrounding country, and has the proud satis- faction of having materially assisted in the prog- ress of local affairs and the ultimate advancement of the State of Missouri.
ENRY MEIER. The individual to whom this memoir is dedicated was a native of Germany, born there in 1848, the son of IIenry and Caroline Meier, both of whom, with their family of live children, reside in that country at the present time. llenry Meier was educated in the village of his birth and came to America in 1869, and first took up his residence in the city of Quincy, III., where he hired out as a farm hand. He was strong and willing, and had formed the determination of having some of these broad acres for his own, if honest and persis- tent effort could procure them.
Mr. Meier was attracted by the superior advan- lages which the State of Missouri held out to the poor man with no capital. So, in 1871, he came here. For ten years he worked by the month and saved his scant earnings until he was able to pur- chase a tract of eighty acres of land in Saline County, Mo. A portion of this first tract he after- ward sold and bought one hundred and sixty acres, which, added to the original purchase, made him a snug farm of two hundred and ten acres. This is located in township 52, range 21, and is one of the nicest pieces of property in the neigh- borhood. llad the life of Mr. Meier been spared, no doubt the farm would have been much more improved.
Our subject was certainly a successful man. From the time of his landing upon these strange shores,
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among people of a different tongue, some of them always ready to betray the innocent stranger, to the time of his demise, in 1892, our subject was always occupied, never giving himself time to re- gret what he did not have, and always anxious to provide well for his family.
In 1879, Mr. Meier married Miss Mary Deibel, who was born in Wisconsin in 1859, of German parents, and to this union three children were born, Henry, Lawson and Anna May, all of whom are yet spared to their mother. During life Mr. Meier merited and received the respect and esteem of all with whom he was brought in contact. Ile was a good man in all the relations of life, a lov- ing husband and a kind father. llis connection with the Lutheran Church was very dear to him, and to its support he contributed as his means permitted. Politically, Mr. Meier was a Democrat and took an active interest in the party affairs, al- though he never desired any oflice. In his death the community suffered a loss, and the bereaved family had the sympathy of all.
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IIARLES N. MARTIN, a prosperous and in- fluential agriculturist of Saline County, has for nearly two-score years resided upon his homestead in townslup 50, range 20, near Mar- shall. Our subject was born in Shelby County, Ky., January 24, 1815. His paternal grandfather, Peter Martin, a native of Virginia, whose ances- tors were originally from llolland, died at an ad- vanced age in Shelby County, Ky. His children were: Phoebe, Moses, Joseph, James, Abner and the father of our subject, Peter Martin, who was born in the Old Dominion, and when a boy re- moved with his parents to Shelby County, Ky. Ile was a tiller of the soil, and farmed upon the old homestead where the grandfather of our sub- ject died.
The mother of our subject was Sarah Neal, the daughter of Micajah Neal, of Shelby County, Ky.,
and both she and her husband lived to their eighty- third year, the good wife surviving her life-part- ner for two or three years. A large family gath- ered in their home, namely: Elijah, Micajah, John, Ira, Charles, Luther, Ambrose Dudley. Peter B., Eliza, Lucy and Sarah. Of these, Luther, Ira, Eliza, Lucy, Elijah and Micajah are deceased. The father was actively interested in politics, and was an ardent Whig. Charles Martin, our sub- ject, was married November 26, 1816, to Levenia S., daughter of Gervas and Mary B. (Sibley) Smith, of Henry County, Ky. Mrs. Martin was born August 31, 1827, and came with her husband to Missouri in 1854, settling November 8 upon land now owned by him. The family traveled by wagons, bringing ten head of horses, and crossed the Ohio River at Louisville, Ky., and the Missis- sippi at St. Louis, camping out by the way.
The party was composed of Mr. Martin, his wife, two children, and two brothers and two sis- ters of Mrs. Martin. During the journey their wagons were reinforced by other conveyances, and the train of travelers thus increased in size and numbers, pursued steadily their onward way. Starting upon their long journey in October, 1851, they were twenty-six days in reaching the place on Blackwater to which the father of Mrs. Martin had preceded his family, coming by water and bringing with him his slaves. Having purchased two hundred and ninety-four aeres of excellent prairie and timber-land where he now resides, Mr. Martin entered upon the daily duties of agri- cultural life and soon brought his farm to a high state of cultivation.
Our subject and his wife are the parents of six children, three sons and three daughters, namely: Gervas P., born September 18, 1817; James L., November 5, 1851; Mary E. Alice, who was born October 3, 1855, and is now the wife of J. T. Jones, of Saline County; Lucy C., who was born in February, 1861, and married J. B. McFadden; John C. B., born July 25, 1864; and Mignonette, who was born November 11, 1866, and is the wife of G. W. Walker, of llenry County, Ky. The eldest son, Gervas, was in the Confederate service, and bravely faced the dangers of the prison pen and battlefield. Mr. Martin and his wife are
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both members of religious denominations. the former being a Baptist and the latter a Method- ist. Liberal in sentiment and upright in charac- ter. our subject has aided both churches in their good works, and, ever ready to promote local prog- ress and improvements. is numbered among the public-spirited citizens of Saline County. In pol- ities he is a Democrat and a devoted adherent of party principles and platform.
ENRY RECHTERMANN, one of the promi- nent German-American farmers of La Fay- ette County, located upon section 18, range 26, township 19, is of German birth and parentage, having first seen the light of day in the province of llanover, Germany, October 15. 1824. lle grew up in his own country, where he attended the common schools, and there ob- tained a good German education. When he had reached a proper age he was given duties about the farm, and in time learned the principles of agriculture, which have been of great advantage to him in this country.
In the year 1858, the subject of this sketch came to America, taking passage on a sailing- vessel at the port of Bremen. and after a voyage of six weeks landed in New York City. Ilis des- tination was the city of Cincinnati, within which and its vieinity he remained for several years. In 1866 our subject removed to La Fayette County, Mo .. with his family, and located upon his pres- ent farm. While in Ohio he had been united in marriage with Miss Rosena Welker, a young lady residing in that State, Two children blessed this union, William F. and Carrie, who is now the wife of Augustus Rabeos.
Our subject was married a second time, in 1867, in La Fayette County, Mo., the year after mak- ing his home there. The present Mrs. Rechter- mann was Miss Anne Knopf, a native of Prussia. who was born December 25, 1839. When abont twenty-five years of age she came to this county
with her brother from their native land. Five children have been born of this union, as follows: Augustus; Matilda, who is the wife of John Herr; Mollie, Henry and Louis. Our subject is the owner of two hundred and sixty acres of land, which are under a fine state of cultivation. Ilis early training in agricultural pursuits gave him a practical knowledge. which he has made available upon his present farm.
Both our subject and his excellent wife are mem- bers of the German Evangelical Church, and in this connection they are well and favorably known. In politics Mr. Rechtermann is a Repub- liean, having early decided that the principles of that party were the ones to which he could best give his allegiance. He has been a strong advo- cate of all educational measures. and for some time has been one of the School Directors of his district. This family is well known and much esteemed in the neighborhood.
OIIN WILLIS. Our subject takes great pride in the development of the agricul- tural interests in this locality, more so, per- haps, as he is a native of this State, having been born in Carroll County, June 3, 1814. His interests are now mostly concentrated on the breeding of fine stock, although he also engages in general farming upon his fine place, which is Joeated on section 36. Dover Township, La Fayette County.
Mr. Willis is a son of John and Elizabeth (Spencer) Willis, the former a native of Maryland, who moved to Missouri and settled in Carroll County in 1811. The mother was a daughter of Jonathan Spencer, a native of Maryland. When the original of this sketch was but ten years of age his family moved to La Fayette County. Here he was in attendance at the common schools, and helped his father on the farm. We must not think, however, that his boyhood life was one of drudgery entirely, for Missourian youth are noted
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for the many vigorous sports and gallantries in which they indulge. Ambitions to acquire a good education, in 1864 he entered Desperes Institute, which is located in St. Louis County. There he pursued his studies for eighteen months, and made excellent progress. His love for bucolic life, how- ever, was as strong as ever, and in 1877 he began farming on his own account, engaging in general farming until 1884, when he began breeding line stock, devoting the greater part of his attention to trotting horses.
In 1888 Mr. Willis bought four blooded mares and one thoroughbred stallion. He has given the preference to the Hambletonian and Mambrino breeds. He now owns a two-year-old filly which has already made a record of 2:48. This promising animal is named "Leona Hardpine." He also has a two-year-old paeer, "Tesin," which has a record of 2:50, and "Lalla Rookh" trots half a mile in 1:23. She was sired by "Ily Azum." Mr. Willis also has several good yearlings and two-year-old colts. Our subject is at the present time having graded a fine private track, which is half a mile in length, and which he expects to complete by 1893. Here he intends to train his own horses, after the style of the noted Kentucky stables.
In addition to the trotters above named, our subject also breeds thoroughbred Polled-Angus cattle and Chester-White hogs. He has been very much interested in raising the standard of stock bred in this locality. He has a good farm of two hundred and eighty acres which is all under culti- vation and finely improved. The home is a frame residence of a very attractive style of architecture, beautifully located and surrounded with all that will please the eye. Its interior finish and furnishing are in keeping with the whole establishment and speak well for the taste and culture of its owner. His barns are models of shelter for domestic creatures.
February 16, 1871, Mr. Willis was united in marriage to Miss Jennie, daughter of Dr. R. HI. Corrin, who is a native of the Isle of Man. Mrs. Willis herself was born and bred in the Isle of Man. She is an estimable lady, who seconds the efforts of her husband admirably in elevating the tone of their social circle. They have one son,
who is named William C. Our subject and his wife are divided in their faith as to the tenets of religious belief, Mr. Willis being a devoted Meth- odist and Mrs. Willis a member of the Episcopal Church, but in the fundamental principles of Christianity and in the higher duties of man to man they are one.
ETER B. LA BERTEW. Our subject, who is a retired merchant now residing in the town of Dover, La Fayette County, is a native of Harrisburg, Mercer County, Ky., where he was born December 3, 1820. After a long and eventful life, he can look back with satis- faction over years marked by industry and grati- fying results. He is a son of Asher and Betlisheba (Brokaw) La Bertew, both natives of New Jersey. lle is, however, a descendant of French ances- tors, his grandfather, John G. La Bertew, having been born in France. The latter emigrated to America and settled in New Jersey. The name was formerly spelled La Boyteaux.
Our subject's boyhood days were spent in his native place. He attended the public schools near his home and at the age of fourteen years entered the college at Bloomington, Ind., and there pur- sued his studies for three years. Ilis father was a merchant by occupation, but had an idea that all his sons should have a trade to fall back on in case of need. Thus our subject was apprenticed after leaving college to learn the tailor's trade, and worked at the same for a number of years.
In 1842, Mr. La Bertew came to La Fayette County and was employed at tailoring until 1850, when he began merchandising, and was thus occu- pied until 1864, when he retired from active busi- ness pursuits. His success in a business way may be traced to several sonrees. Not only has he ability and foresight, but his career has been marked by a constancy of purpose that could not well have done otherwise than yield him success. In politics our subject is a Democrat and now in
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his later years takes great pleasure in the sweeping success that his party has enjoyed during the last campaign (1892).
The original of this sketch was fraternally a mem- ber of Dover Lodge No. 122, A. F. & A. M., and his membership dates from the sealing of the char- ter, 1850. The family life of our subject has been marked by the harmony that has also pervaded his business relations. February 28, 1841, he was mar- ried to Miss Cynthia A. Sutfield, a native of Har- risburg. Ky .. and the half-century and a little more that they have passed together has been a shining testimony to inquirers that marriage is not always a failure. Mr. and Mrs. La Bertew have been the parents of three children, two of whom are living, William A., and Adthe, who is the wife of E. S. Van Anglin. of La Fayette County. In church re- lations, our subject and his wife are associated with the Baptist denomination of Dover. Their home is a pleasant residence, centrally located and with charming surroundings.
LSUP BROOKS LANE is a popular en- gineer on the Chicago & Alton Road, hav- ing a run between Kansas City and Rood- house. There is no engineer quicker to grasp a point or to seize an opportunity to inform himself on any desired subject than he is. Ile is master of his trade, being not only thoroughly well grounded in the workings of the monster of which he is master, but conversant with all tech- nical points. He has once, at least, run the gaunt- let in the chances that a railroad man takes when embracing the profession. llis engine was entirely demolished and he himself nearly killed.
a stone mason and in teaming, and hauling goods between Ripon and Princeton. Afterward hie lo- cated on a farm near Kenosha and followed the agricultural calling until he retired from active labor and took up his residence in the town of Kenosha. He is an ardent Republican.
Our subject's maternal grandfather was Owen Reynolds, a native of Wales, who came to the United States and located in Kenosha at an early day. The Lane family comprised six boys and one girl. The eldest brother was in the navy and belonged to the Mississippi Squadron. Our sub- jeet is the second in order of birth and was reared on his father's farm. He enjoyed the advantages of a distriet school until thirteen years of age, and then started out in life for himself, being vari- ously employed until eighteen.
For a time Mr. Lane was a telegrapher at Keno- sha, and later became a brakeman on a passenger train between Kenosha and Chicago. Remaining thus employed for two years, at the end of that time he became a fireman on the Chicago & North- western Road and was thus employed for five years. lle then entered upon a run between Chicago and Green Bay, keeping that for two years. Later he was promoted to a position as an engineer on the Chicago & Northwestern Railroad, being a switch engineer in Milwaukee, and then had a run from Chicago to Milwaukee and also from Chicago to Janesville. In 1881 he went to Montana and spent one delightful year in traveling and hunt- ing buffaloes and bears.
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