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 70
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 70
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Mr. Slusher was very early trained in the habits of industry and thrift, which enabled him the more easily to make for himself a comfortable home, and amass a capital for future use and main- tenance. From very early boyhood accustomed to assisting his father upon the farm, he well um- derstood the work required at seedtime and har- vest, and was well skilled in handling stock with protit, when, at the youthful age of eighteen, he began life for himself, settling upon the farm where he now resides. The breeds of cattle to which he devotes most of his time and attention are the Polled Angus, and the well-known Short- horns. His farm is under a fine state of cultiva- tion, and look where one may prosperity and care of all details that insure success may be seen on every hand.
The valnable farming property contains two hundred and forty acres, which well repay with their annual yield all the labor of the past years, and illustrate the productive qualities of the rich soil. In November, 1879, occurred the most mo- mentous event of Mr. Slusher's life, his marriage with Miss Birdie V. Payne, a native of the Old Dominion, and a danghter of W. H. Payne, well known in Virginia in the early days. Mr. and Mrs. Slusher are the parents of two children, a son
and a daughter. Elizabeth is the eldest, and a bright and promising daughter. James P., the son, will enjoy the advantages of the educational ad- vaneement of to-day, and ere many years worthily take up the burden of life as his ancestors have done before him. Fraternally our subject is asso- ciated with Dover Lodge No. 122, A. F. & A. M. Mr. Shuisher, beyond the casting of his vote, has never taken an active part in politics, but is inter- ested in the outcome of the party struggles and triumphs, and is always anxious for the mainte- nance of right and justice, and in local elections, especially, believes the superior merits of the can- didate should decide the holding of the office. Our subject is an ardent advocate for the progress and local advancement of the various interests of the neighborhood and vieinity, and may ever be found among the law-abiding, useful and honored citizens, who are the bone and sinew of our na- tion's independence and prosperity.
N. MALLORY, a prosperous agriculturist, now residing upon section 34, township 51, range 25, Dover Township, La Fayette County, Mo., is one of the pioneers of the State, and, widely known, commands the esteem and confidence of all his neighbors and fellow-citizens. Born in Roek- ingham County, Va., in 1825, our subjeet has, since 1837, been a constant eye-witness of the growth and rapid advancement of all leading interests of La Fayette County, and has himself materially aided by word and active influence in local im- provements and progress. The immediate ances- tors of Mr. Mallory were, upon his father's side, of Irish birth, his paternal grandfather. Roger Mallory, having been a native of Ireland, and a man of wit, courage and resolution.
William Ewing, the maternal grandfather, was born in " bonny Scotland," and bequeathed to his descendants the habits of honest thrift and industry which characterize the natives of that rugged land. His early home was in Glasgow, a royal and mu-
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nicipal burgh, which has furnished to America thousands of her most loyal and upright citizens of to-day. Grandfather Ewing emigrated to the United States during the eighteenth century, and at once identified himself with all the interests of his adopted country and gave to its service a use- ful citizenship. The parents of our subjeet were James and Hannah ( Ewing) Mallory, the latter a daughter of John Ewing, of Virginia, in which State both the husband and wife were born.
Mr. Mallory spent the days of early boyhood in his birthplace, attending the common schools of Rockingham County and assisting his father in gen- eral farming duties. Before our subject was twelve years of age bis father died, and in 1837 he re- moved with his widowed mother to La Fayette County, Mo., where be has ever since been success- fully engaged in farming. The homestead of Mr. Mallory contains two hundred acres, all under ex- cellent cultivation, and is one of the most valuable pieces of farming land in this portion of the county. In 1859 1. N. Mallory and Miss Rebecca ('., a daughter of Samuel Hodges, of Norfolk, Va., were united in marriage. The happy home of Mr. and Mrs. Mallory has been blessed by the birth of two children, both daughters, Lilian and Han- nah B.
The family residence is attractively situated in a beautiful grove of walnut trees, the admiration of every passer-by, which during the warm days of summer make a cooling shade and lovely bit of waving verdure, softly shadowing the lawn and the broad approach to the house. Mr. Mallory is a sturdy Democrat and deeply interested in the success of the party of which he is a lifetime ad- herent. He and his family are well known and have a large circle of friends, acquaintances of many long years. Ilis brother, James Il. Mallory, is also numbered among the reliable citizens and useful agriculturists of Dover Township, La Fayette County, Mo.
Many years older than our subject, James Mal- lory was born in Rockingham County, Va., Sep- tember 5, 1811, and also attended the neighboring schools and was early trained in agricultural duties upon his father's farm. In 1837 he came with his mother and brother to La Fayette County, and has
from that time to this remained a tiller of the soil within its borders. Nearly fifty-six years have elapsed since Mr. Mallory, a young and energetie man, journeyed to the then sparsely settled State of Missouri, and wonderful has been the growth and progress of these changing years. The un- broken prairie and the heavy timber have suc- eumbed to the tide of settlement, and the rude log cabins, the early home of the pioneers, are now no more, save where now and then they have been preserved as landmarks of the past.
James H. Mallory is located upon seetion 34, township 51, range 25, and owns an excellent farm well improved, and yearly inereasing in value. He has been ever highly respected for his sterling traits and undoubted integrity of charac- ter. As is our subjeet, so is he an ardent Demo- crat and a firm believer in the principles and plat- form of the party to which he and his family lend their earnest support and active aid. Fraternally, Mr. Mallory is a Mason and a member of Dover Lodge, A. F. & A. M., and inside of the order and throughout the community where his life has been passed, he has a host of warm friends.
ILLIAM M. HUTCHERSON. Conspicuous among the sons of the Old Dominion who came to Saline County at an early date, and did their part toward the advancement of its interests, may be mentioned the name of the gen- tleman of whom we write, and who now, his busy life ended, has passed to his final reward.
Mr. Hutcherson was born in Culpeper County, Va., and came to this State and county in 1855. lle worked at his trade. that of a carpenter, until the year 1869, and then married the widow of Capt. Ed Brown, who resided near Fairville. Mrs. Ilutcherson bore the maiden name of Willis, and traced her ancestry to England. Two brothers, William A. and Robert Il. Willis, eame to this county in the fall of 1857 and 1859, respectively.
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Robert served as Sheriff of Saline County for two terms, and William entered the ranks of the Con- federate army in 1861, and was killed in the battle of Boonville during the same year.
Mr. and Mrs. Hutcherson had a family of four children: Edwin M., Lelia, Lester W. and Garnett R. The mother died in 1889. She united in her character the virtues of her Virginian ancestors, and possessed to an unusual degree their graces of disposition, which win and retain friends. Iler grandfather. Benjamin F. Willis, was a native of Virginia, and was a son of Capt. Isaac Willis, who served as Captain in the War of 1812.
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AMES II. SYDENSTRICKER has for nearly a quarter of a century been numbered among the successful agriculturists of La Fayette County, Mo., and resides upon his well-cultivated homestead on section 9, township 48, range 27. Our subject is a native of West Virginia, and was born in Greenbrier County, near White Sulphur Springs, November 27, 1842, a son of Michael and llannah (Hapstonstall) Syd- enstricker. Ilis paternal grandfather, Henry Syd- enstricker, was a native of Germany, but early emigrated to America and settled in Virginia, where he died at a good old age. His wife was a worthy and industrious German housewife, and the devoted mother of the sons and daughter who blessed her home with their presence. The chil- dren were Michael, Lewis, Samuel, Henry, James and Catherine, who grew up honest, upright and hard-working citizens. Grandfather and Grand- mother Sydenstricker were faithful members of the Old-school Presbyterian Church.
Michael Sydenstricker, an energetic tiller of the soil, was born in Greenbrier County, where he spent his entire life and died in 1868, aged about sixty. Samuel, his only living brother, re- sides in Vinton County, Ohio. James died dur- ing his service in the Confederate army. The father of our subject was a member of the An-
cient Free and Accepted Masons, and belonged to the Presbyterian Church. Ilis wife, born in Greenbrier County, W. Va., still survives, and is now eighty years of age. James H. Sydenstricker is a self-educated man, and early began to make his own way in the world. In June, 1861, he en- listed in Company D), Fourteenth Virginia Cav- alry, and was an active participant in the battles of Cannafax Ferry, Roanoke (N. C.), Fisher's Hill, Winchester, Martinsburg, Gettysburg, Spen- cerville, Opequan, Harrisburgh and Front Royal. He was captured in November, 1864, and taken to Point Lookout, Md., and discharged from prison the last of May.
Constantly exposed to dangers and privations, our subject was never wounded, but was captured four times during the fearless service which he rendered in those troublous times. He was a Cor- poral when taken prisoner first at Roanoke, N. C. Hle was paroled after fourteen days and exchanged. Later he was captured at Lewisburgh, but escaped; then made a prisoner at Lynchburgh, but agam escaped, and in the last encounter had six bullet holes shot through his overcoat, and his horse shot from under him. The war having ended, Mr. Sydenstricker entered upon the duties of agricul- ture and farmed until 1866, when he came to Car- rollton and worked in a furnace for six months, making oil. In July, 1866, our subject went to Vinton County, Ohio, and worked upon a farm four years.
In September, 1869, Mr. Sydenstricker came to La Fayette County, Mo., and settled near May- view in 1875, buying and locating upon eighty aeres where he now resides. Prospering steadily, our subject is now the owner of a valuable farm of two hundred and nineteen aeres, pleasantly situated, and the home of a happy family. Mr. Sydenstricker married Miss Sallie E. Whitsitt, born in Jessamine County, Ky., a daughter of Preston and Catherine (Hunter) Whitsitt, who were native Kentuckians, but removed to Missouri and settled in La Fayette County in 1858, where they both died.
Mr. and Mrs. Sydenstricker have been the parents of eight children, seven of the sons and daughters now surviving. Vernon is in college, studying
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for the ministry; Josie M., Minnie L., Clemons, Mary, Lily and Albert. James is deceased. Our subject and his estimable wife were formerly members of the Christian Union Church in Ohio, but since 1871 have been connected with the Cumberland Presbyterian Church, of which they are both valued members and active supporters in the benevolent enterprises and extension of its Christian influence. Politically, our subject is a strong Democrat, and is deeply interested in all that pertains to the welfare and prosperity of his fellow-citizens.
R EV. GEORGE D. WILLINGHAM, B. E. D., A. B., pastor of the Cumberland Presby- terian Church of Slater, and a man who is loved and respected by his people, as indeed by all who know him, was born in Audrain County. Mo., near Mexico, February 22, 1852. llis father, George Willingham, was a native of Henderson County, Ky., and was born in 1818.
Mr. Willingham, Sr., was four years old on com- ing to Missouri with his parents, who at that time located in Warren County, where he was reared. Later. he moved to Audrain County, thence to Macon, Randolph, Chariton and Saline Counties successively, remaining at Blackburn, in the latter county, three years. While in Randolph County, he engaged in farming. In 1885, he removed to Prescott, Ark., and was there connected with the Methodist Episcopal Church South. His wife was Permelia A. Wilson, daughter of David Wilson, a native of Tennessee but one of the early settlers in Boone County, Mo., and later a resident of Au- drain County. The daughter was born in Boone County, in 1824, and was the mother of twelve children, there being seven girls and five boys, of whom ten are still living. The three older broth- ers served in the war-John in the Tenth Illinois from 1863 to the close of the war, and Thomas and Warren in the State Militia at Macon.
George D. Willingham was reared in Macon
County near Bloomington and remained there un- til sixteen years of age, attending the district school, which was a log edifice in the forest with most pioneer appointments. At sixteen he came to Randolph County and was engaged on a farm for four years, after which he attended the State Normal School at Kirksville and graduated in 1875 and received the degree of B. E. D. After this he taught, and then attended the Normal until he be- came a candidate for the ministry, having been converted in 1874, at which time he had become a member of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church. In March, 1879, he received his license to preach in the McGee Presbytery, and in the fall of the same year he entered the Lincoln University at Lincoln, HI., and graduated in 1882 with the de- gree of Bachelor of Arts. Ilis first charge was m supplying a pulpit at Bethany, Moultrie County, 111., until September. 1882, when he entered the Union Theological Seminary of New York City. While there he served as a supply and did mission work in the city and on Long Island to defray his expenses. During this time he was ordained, the ceremony taking place at Waynesburgh, Pa., in 1884, while he was supplying the church there. Ile graduated from the Theological Seminary in May, 1885.
After graduation the Rev. Mr. Willingham re- ceived a call from the church at Mckeesport, Pa. This he accepted and remained there two years and two months, lifting from the church at that time an indebtedness of $2,600. In September, he resigned to accept a call to Garden City, Kan. There he took charge of a young and thriving church, whose pastor he continued to be for two years and eight months, or until coming to Slater.
During the first two years that Mr. Willingham was in Slater, in addition to his work here he preached at Mt. Horeb, three miles away, but that church has since become self-supporting. Ile was called to this church in April, 1892, and was in- stalled by the New Lebanon Presbytery the third Sunday in June, 1892. Since he has been here the membership of his church has grown from sixty-seven to one hundred and five, and a new parsonage has been built.
Mr. Willingham was one of the three who came
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from the Kansas Synod and located the Missouri Valley College at Marshall. He was elected a Trustee by the Synod, but on moving to this place could no longer serve. Ile has organized various church societies and gives his devoted attention to his church work.
Our subject was married at La Grange, MIo., February 22, 1887, to Miss Clara L. Cook, whose birthplace was Amboy, Ill. She was reared in Ohio and is a daughter of James M. Cook, of that State, his residence being at Findlay. She is a graduate of the High School of Ravenna, Ohio, and later entered Wellesley (Mass.) College, and then Lincoln University, at Lincoln, Ill. She is a highly educated and cultured woman, whose advantages are of great assistance to her husband in his work. They have one child, who is named James Cook.
Mr. Willingham is a member of the Free and Accepted Masons of Madison, Mo., belonging to Lodge No. 91. He is also a member of the Inde- pendent Order of Odd Fellows, Garden City En- campment. In politics, he is a Prohibitionist. Ile is a pleasant, affable gentleman, having that royal gift of magnetism which brings him into harmony with the sinner as well as the saint. Ile is a learned man, an eloquent preacher, and a pastor with whom Slater will be very sorry to part and whose place could not readily be supplied.
C OL. HENRY C. CHILES, a prominent resi- dent of Mayview, Mo., is the subject of the present notice. The birth of Col. Chiles took place in Montgomery County, Ky .. July 6, 1818, and he is a son of William and Nancy (Pugh) Chiles, the former a native of Virginia, and the . latter of Kentucky, both families having descended from sturdy Scotch and Welsh stock. In his na- tive State our subject passed a happy boyhood, growing to man's estate with the strength and vigor of perfeet healthi, and he soon outstripped his companions in the little log schoolhouse, as he
! also excelled them in the manly sports of the times. Before the attainment of his sixteenth year Col. Chiles had displayed those military | tastes which have clung to him since, making of him at one time in his career a prominent member of the State militia.
Although the advantages offered by the schools of his time were very inadequate, our subject was a youth of quick perception and readily absorbed all the mental food which was provided, later sup- plementing it with much reading and association with cultured society, so that Col. Chiles has never felt any educational deficiency, whatever the posi- tion he has been called upon to assume. The first marriage of Col. Chiles was with Miss Maria Wil- son, November 4, 1840, in the State of Kentucky, and two children resulted from this union: Will- iam II., now an attorney at Lexington, Mo., and George P., now a resident of Colorado. Mrs. Chiles was removed by death from her family in 1815, and in 1858 our subject became the hus- band of Mrs. Ruth Fearing, of Helena, Ark., and one son, Walter, a resident of this county, was born to them. The mother passed away in 1865, and three years later, in October, 1868, Col. Chiles married Mrs. Levinia C. Graves, of Lexington, Mo., and one daughter, Mrs. B. II. Campbell, was born of this marriage.
In 1859 Col. Chiles came to La Fayette County, settling upon section 1, township 49, range 27, where he remained until 1889, and then removed to the village of Mayview, which has been his place of residence ever since. For many years the Colonel has been a prominent man in the political life of the county, and in 1862-63 he was called upon to represent his district in the State Legisla- ture. IIis election was upon the Democratic ticket, in which party his influence has been felt all over the State. Much of the progress of the county has been made since his residence here, and with almost all of the important measures Col. Chiles has been in sympathy.
Col. Chiles is one of the Directors of the Amer- ican Bank of Higginsville, and is also a Trustee of the Village Board of Mayview. Formerly he was a strong Democrat, but latterly has become inter- ested in the new issues started by the People's
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party. taking a deep concern in the workings of the Grange and Farmers' Alliance. Whatever Col. Chiles undertakes he does with his whole heart, and to his progressive and enterprising spirit many of the advances made in this county and part of the State may be directly traced. His character is above reproach, his social and commercial standing of the very best, and among the citizens of La Fayette County he is pointed out as one of the most popular and prominent in the community.
AMILLUS BARNETT, a prosperous farmer and highly respected citizen now residing upon section 10. township 50, range 26, Lexington Township, La Fayette County, Mo., has been for fifty-seven years a daily observer of the growth and improvement of his adopted State. Earnest, energetic and progressive, he has mate- rially aided in the advancement of the leading in- terests of his neighborhood and vicinity, and been an important factor in the upward tendency and broad development of enterprise. Our subject was born in the State of Kentucky, Madison County, March 7, 1821, and is a son of Alexander and Elizabeth M. (Dinwiddie) Barnett.
The parents of Mr. Barnett were both native Virginians, and were reared and educated in the Old Dominion. The Dinwiddies are of Scotch descent and claim a prominent place in the early history of our country. Robert Dinwiddie, Lieu- tenant-Governor of Virginia, arrived in the colony in 1752, and remained until January, 1758, when he went to England. Ilis administration covered a stirring period in Colonial history, and he had the sagacity to discern the capacity of Washington, whom, in 1753, he appointed Adjutant-General of one of the four military districts of Virginia. The county of Dinwiddie is named in honor of Governor Dinwiddie, and numerous descendants perpetuate the name, not only in Virginia, but throughout the North, South, East and West.
Mr. and Mrs. Alexander Barnett made their home in Kentucky and there our subject spent his boyhood, attending school and assisting his father in the duties of agricultural life. In the year of 1836, his father having in the meantime died, Camillus came with his widowed mother to Lexington Township. where they set- tled upon a farm, and he, assisting in the culti- vation of the soil, still found time to attend the winter school, and thus increased his stock of knowledge. At the age of twenty-one years he began life for himself, and from that day to this has prosperously continued a general agriculturist, and stock-raiser. His valuable farm of six hundred and twenty-five aeres is one of the best managed in this portion of the State. Mostly under high cultivation, the acres annually yield an abundant harvest, and are a shining example of the success which honest and well-directed energy can achieve in the production of the necessities of life.
The pleasant home and the comforts which the broad acres afford are shared by Mr. Barnett with a family widely known and highly regarded for their intelligence and native worth. The mar- riage of our subject occurred in 1843. during which year Camillus Barnett and Miss Martha Young were united in the bonds of matrimony. Mrs. Barnett was the daughter of .James Young, a na- tive of Tennessee, an upright man and excellent citizen. The home of Mr. and Mrs. Barnett was blessed by the birth of ten children, eight of whom, four sons and four daughters, now survive. These brothers and sisters are Martha, the wife of Ben Higgins; Camillus, Jr., married Minnie Good- win; Margaret, the wife of William Waddell; Rob- ert D. married Rose W. Young; Samuel W. mar- ried Mary A. Yancey; Hattie, the wife of Charles 1. Glascock; Carrie F; and Edward M. married Mary Bennett. Occupying positions of respect and influence, and each and all honest and re- liable citizens and worthy representatives of Amer- ican manhood and womanhood, our subject may rejoice in the descendants who will preserve his name and honor in the coming generation.
Mr. Barnett and his wife have a large circle of friends and are numbered among the pioneers of the county. for so many long years their per-
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manent home. Our subjeet has never sought po- litical office, but nevertheless is deeply interested in the political situation, and in the management of both national and local positions deems it most important that such grave interests should be only intrusted to the hands of men of tried in- tegrity and upright principle. As have been all his family, so is he a staneh Democrat, and an ardent advocate of party principles.
L'GUST G. MEINERSHAGEN is a farmer and stock-raiser living on section 11, town- ship 49, range 26. Ile is a native of War- ren County, Mo., where he was born March 12, 1852. Ilis parents, William and Minnie Mei- nershagen, both of whom are natives of Germany, are now residents of this county, where the father is a successful farmer.
The Meinershagen family comprise the follow- ing named children, of whom our subject is one: Henry; llerman; Frederick; Charles; Catherine, wife of II. A. Schoppenhorst; August G .; and Annie, wife of Charles Shaffer. These children were reared in the teachings of the Evangelical Association, and the principles of the highest type of manhood and womanhood were early inculcated in their youthful minds. Our subjeet was reared to man's estate in the county where he was born. Hle received the educational advantages enjoyed by the youth of his home district, and the inter- vals in school work were filled with the duties in- cident to his farm life. He has always been a farmer, and being one who is enthusiastic in his chosen calling, his efforts have been crowned with success.
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