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 71
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 71
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The original of this sketch was married April 6, 1877, to Miss Louisa, daughter of Ilenry Hackman, of Warren County, Mo. They have become the parents of six children, whose names are: Paulina. Edward, Albert, Annie, Mamie and Lizzie. Mr. Meinershagen came to La Fayette County in 1877, and has since carried on his farming operations
here. Ile now owns one hundred and sixty-seven acres of land, and has wrested from adverse cir- cumstances a success that shows his efforts to have been energetic and sustained. The family home is all that could be desired, a fine brick residence with all the comforts and conveniences that are a part of our modern homes. It is finished inside most tastefully and furnished in keeping with the house and the station of its owner. Good fruit trees embellish the place, and the whole surround- ings are of the best sort.
Our subject is a Republican in politics, but ir- respective of party or office incumbents he desires the greatest good to the greatest number. He is a member of the church in which his parents reared their family -- the Evangelical Association.
6 B. BENNING, a prominent and well-known resident of the town of Mayview, Mo., is the subject of this notice. As President of the Bank of Mayview Mr. Benning is well known in commercial circles, and the large business he conducts by himself in lumber, white and yellow pine, building materials, hardware, farm imple- ments and harness, testifies to his success as a merchant. Mr. Benning is a native of La Fayette County, Mo., having been born here September 16, 1853, a son of Anthony D. and Bettie Ben- ning, early settlers of the county. They were the parents of the following children, beside our sub- ject: James A., Taylor B., John G., Ottie V., Rob- ert L. and Thomas E.
Our subject was reared to farm life, but as he grew older developed tastes which made of him a mereliant, although the owner of a fine farm of one hundred and sixty aeres. The hardware bus- iness has been a very profitable one, necessitating, to accommodate the business in all its branches, a building 20x80 feet. Since 1880 Mr. Benning has been located in his present quarters, and carries a stock valued at about $8,000, while he does a bus-
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iness which will average perhaps $20,000 per year. His education was received in the schools of Lex- ington. and such was his ability that upon the or- ganization of the bank in Mayview in February, 1891. he was made its President, and has served since then with credit to himself and all con- corned.
The marriage of our subject was celebrated Feb- ruary 25, 1886, with Miss Maggie Logan, and four bright and interesting children have come into the family, namely: Murray G., Bettie, Mary L. and Marguerite. The father of Mr. Benning was a prominent man in this neighborhood, and was the Postmaster of Tabo for some time, and an early settler. Our subject has also taken a front piace in politics in the county. His adherence is to the Democratic party, and in it his influence is felt throughout the neighborhood. Mr. Benning is a member of the Baptist Church, in which he finds active and congenial companionship. He is regarded as one of the successful business men of the county, and possesses the esteem and con- fidence of the community.
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E DMOND A. THOMAS, for the past twenty- six years a successful general agriculturist and stock-raiser of La Fayette County, Mo., and widely known as an upright, energetic and en- terprising citizen, now resides upon his highly im- proved homestead located upon section 3, town- ship 48, range 27. Our subject was born in Bed- ford County, Va., May 21, 1820, and is the son of William and Polly (Page) Thomas. Ilis paternal grandfather, Isaac Thomas, was born in Maryland, and tilled the soul of his native State, but later re- moved to Bedford County, Va., where he died upon New Year's Day of 1825, passing away very suddenly after his dinner. His wife was Miss Polly De Witt, and a member of an old Southern family. She was the mother of a large family of sons and daughters, who grew up to be useful, in- dustrious and honored citizens.
The father of our subject was born in January, 1790, in Bedford County, and in 1828 removed with his family to Kanawha County, W. Va. In 1850, William Thomas again removed his home, this time journeying to Missouri and settling in Jackson County, which he made his permanent abid- ing-place until his death in 1862. It was thought that his life might have been much prolonged if he had not taken a walk from Kansas City to bis home, a distance of seven miles. In religious belief he was a Baptist, and politically gave his preference and vote to the Democratic party. William Thomas was twice married, and by his first wife became the father of thirteen children, eleven of the brothers and sisters reaching adult age. Elizabeth was the eldest-born, and then came Polly, William, James, Nancy, Matilda, Ed A., Abigail, Millie and Catherine. John died young, but ten of the children married and reared families of their own.
The second wife of the father of our subject was Mary Handshaw, who bore her husband one child, a daughter, Rebecca, who died at sixteen years of age. The mother of Edmond A. Thomas was a native of Bedford County. Va., and was the daughter of Edward and Elizabeth (Gutridge) Page. the maternal grandfather of our subject being a Virginia farmer. Edmond A. Thomas was mainly self-educated, and was reared to the salt work, and at nineteen years of age began life for himself, boating salt down the river. and continued in this business until June, 1865, when, after fol- lowing the river business from April 3, 1837, he retired to a small farm and there entered into the duties of agriculture, industriously improving his one hundred and eighty-eight acres until in 1867 he sold out his interests there. Coming to Mis- souri in the month of March, he settled where he now resides and bought two hundred and twenty acres, a portion of which land he has since given to his children, reserving for himself one hundred and forty acres, all highly improved.
When Mr. Thomas came to Missouri he had 85,000 which he had himself gained by industrious toil, and having won his way upward is literally a self-made man. Our subject has been twice mar- ried. His first wife was Miss Mary A. Thrush,
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daughter of George and Elizabeth (Boggus) Thrush. Mr. Thomas is the father of four chil- dren, of whom but two now survive, William W. and George R. llis first wife, a most estimable lady, died July 13, 1878, aged fifty-six years. She was born in Kanawha County, W. Va. The sec- ond wife was Mrs. Mary J. Hill, nee Duling. Mr. Thomas and his family and both of his wives have been members of the Methodist Episcopal Church South, but our subject was formerly a member of the Christian Church. An earnest, upright and intelligent citizen, ever striving to assist those less fortunate than himself, and always ready to aid in the march of local improvement, and for- ward the advancement of facilities for a liberal education which he was himself denied, our subject is a true American citizen and enjoys the esteem of the entire community, among whom his busy life has been passed.
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C ORNELIUS A. WILLIARD is manager of the agricultural department of the Confed- erate llome, which is located on section 25, Dover Township, La Fayette County. He is a na- tive of Frederick County, Md., and was born July 3, 1848, a son of Israel and Lavina (Hler) Williard, both natives of Maryland. Comparatively little is known of the ancestry of the family, but this much has been ascertained, that English and Ger- man blood are mingled in our subject's veins. His paternal grandfather, John Williard, was a native of Maryland. It is not known to us who was the founder of the American branch of the family.
Our subject spent his boyhood in his native county, laying the foundation of a good education in the common schools in the vicinity of his home, and learning many practical lessons concerning farming, with his father as director. He remained at home until twenty-one years of age, and then began farming on his own account.
In February, 1883, Mr. Williard moved to Mason County, Ill., and there remained for three years.
That locality, however, failed to fulfill his expecta- tions, and in December, 1886, he moved again and located in this county, where he farmed until 1890. Ile then accepted the position of manager of the department of the institution as above mentioned, and still holds the position.
In 1868, our subject married Miss Harriet, a daughter of Enoch Kepner, of Adams County, Pa. They have been the parents of four children, three sons and one daughter, who are as follows: Anna, John, William and Elmer. Mr. Williard is a mem- ber of Higginsville Lodge No. 448, I. O. O. F. In polities, he is a Jeffersonian Democrat, and is greatly regarded by his constituents as a firm ad- vocate of his party's principles.
AVID M. SMITHI, a well-known and suc- cessful business man of the city of Lex- ington, Mo., is the subject of the present writing. The birth of Mr. Smith took place in this city, July 5, 1852, and he was the third son in the family of five children born to Harrison and Martha (Groves) Smith. The father was a very prominent man in Lexington, at one time having been elected to the honorable position of Mayor of the city for a period covering five terms, and took part actively in the movements of the Democratic party throughout the county. Ilis business in early life was that of a distiller, but later he removed to La Fayette County, in 1844, there became a farmer, and died in 1886, in his seventy-second year. He was a son of John Smith.
The mother of our subject was in her maiden- hood Martha J. Groves, of Tennessee, a dangh- ter of William Groves, and is now living in Lex- ington, in her sixty-fifth year. David, our subject, was reared in his happy home in Lexington, at- tended the public school, and at the age of eight- teen years, entered the mercantile business in the capacity at first of clerk. Growing ambitious, our subject began a business of his own, commencing in a small way at first in the old market-house,
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where he continued for eight years. Honesty in dealing and close application to business brought its own reward, and he was enabled in a few years to build up a first-class trade in fine groceries.
In 1891, our subjeet removed to his present stand. on Franklin Avenue, where may be found one of the best and most carefully selected stocks in the city. The marriage of our subject took place in 1892 to Miss Maria E. Wilson, who was born in Clark County, Mo., a daughter of L. Wil- son, and they reside in a comfortable brick resi- denee upon one of the pleasant streets of the city. Both Mr. and Mrs. Smith are members of the Christian Church. active in good works, and held in the highest esteem by the community. In his political opinions, our subject follows the example of his worthy father, supporting the principles of Democracy.
R EV. NATHANIEL PEACHIEE, ordained to the ministry of the Christian Church full forty-seven years ago, and universally es- teemed by all who know him, is now en- gaged in agricultural pursuits, and successfully condueta a fine farm located upon seetion 4, town- ship 50, range 27, Lexington Township, La Fay- ette County, Mo. Our subject was born in Davis County, Ind., June 1, 1822, and is the son of James and Mary (Rigdon) Peachee. The family is descended from English ancestry, and the pa- ternal grandfather, Benjamin, fought ardently and bravely under the immediate command of Gen. Washington during the Revolutionary War. The father of our subject was born in Maryland, and the mother was a native of Tennessee.
In early boyhood our reverend subject received only the educational advantages offered by the little subscription schools of Davis County, Ind. Hle well improved every opportunity to increase his stock of knowledge and is mainly self-edu- cated, as have been numerous of the eminent men
of our country. Devoting himself to the duties of general agriculture upon his farm. the time passed and he arrived at the thirtieth year of hus life without making any change in the even tenor of his way. In the fall of 1851, he removed from his birthplace, and locating in La Fayette County, Mo., settled upon his present farm in 1880, where he remained continuously until the present time. After due preparation, Mr. Peachee was, in 1847, ยท ordained to the ministry of the Christian Church, of which religions denomination he has been a faithful and honored member for over half a cen- tury. At present he is an Elder of the Lexington Christian Church, and is ever among the foremost in promoting the good work of that religious or- ganization.
In 1871 Rev. Mr. Peachee was appointed Super- intendent of the Poor Farm of La Fayette County, Mo., and ably conducting the affairs of the refuge for the unfortunate and indigent of the county, retained the position for seven years. Attending to the physical wants and spiritual needs of all who came under his kindly care, our subjeet was peculiarly well adapted to accomplish much of good during these years. In 1845 Mr. Peachee was united in marriage with Miss Martha J. Ward, a daughter of William Ward, an old resident and prominent cit- izen of North Carolina, his native State. Our subject and his excellent wife were the parents of the following children: Minerva is the eldest, Zilpha J. is the second daughter, and then accord- ing to their birth are Martha E., Emma J., Lucy W., William A., Alice, Fannie M., Ella and Ollie. In the family is also a grandson, Louis. The Rev. Mr. Peachee and family all occupy posi- tions entitling them to respect, and are re- garded as representative, earnest, true and loyal American citizens, ever ready to aid in all good work, and assist in the social or benevolent enter- prises of their homes and localities. The wife and mother of the family passed from earth June 8, 1891. Our subject is a strong Democrat, stanch in his political convictions and belief, and has al- ways voted the ticket, as did his father before him. Never taking a prominent or leading position in the political world, and never desiring promotion to official duty, Mr. Peachree has ever been extremely
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interested in the local and national conduct of af- fairs, intelligently realizing the necessity of pre- serving the power and strength of our great Republic only through the wise and judicious management of those who guide the Ship of State. During the forty-one years of his residence in Mis- souri, our subject has ever used his invaluable in- finence in behalf of the best interests of his neigh- borhood and vicinity, and that he has effected much of good who can doubt. In his unselfish labors for others, he has gained the lasting grati- tude and kindly remembrance of scores of others less fortunate than himself, and won the generous commendation and high regard of every true cit- izen.
ON. JOHN S. BLACKWELL, an able and successful legal practitioner of Lexington, Mo., and from 1888 to 1882 the Prosecut- ing Attorney of La Fayette County, has held several positions of trust, and, ever discharg- ing the several duties committed to his care with efficient fidelity, enjoys the esteem and confidence of the general public. Our subjeet was born in Anderson County, Ky., January 8, 1832. His father, John Blackwell, was a native of Fanquier County, Va., and was a planter and trader of the Old Dominion. The paternal grandfather was Robert Blackwell, whose direet ancestry were En- glish born, members of the family coming to America in the year 1600. The maiden name of -
Mr. Blackwell's mother was Rachel Lawrence, a native of Kentucky, and a daughter of Samuel Lawrence, who was born in Virginia.
The Lawrence family were originally from the Queen's dominions, and were of English nativity. The early life of our subject was passed in Ander- derson and Franklin Counties, Ky. At the age of eighteen years, attracted to the Pacific Coast by the fabulous stories of the golden wealth of Cali- fornia, Mr. Blackwell. leaving behind him home and friends, took the long journey thither and there engaged in mining and trading. Remaining
in the Golden State for a number of years, he read law in the office of Atty .- Gen. Thomas 11. Williams and John J. Musser, and was admitted to the Bar of California at Placerville, El Dorado County. Later our subjeet went to Nevada Ter- ritory and entered into partnership with John Reed, of Lander County, and successfully engaged in the practice of law for three years.
After an absence of fifteen years Mr. Black well returned to his early home, but remained only a brief time in Kentucky, soon loeating in Welling- ton, La Fayette County, Mo., where he opened an office and at once entered into a prosperous prac- tice, continuing in the same until his election to the position of Prosecuting Attorney of La Fay- ette County. His duties then required his resi- dence in Lexington, and since 1878 he has been an honored and well-known citizen of the county seat. In 1886, retiring from the office to which he had been elected four years before, he con- tinued the practice of law, and has prosperously continued in the same from that time to this. Our subject is a prominent Democrat, especially interested in the county and State elections and the general conduct of local affairs.
While Prosecuting Attorney Mr. Blackwell was Chairman of the Democratic Central Committee, and is now Chairman of the Democratic County Committee, and has been prominent in the politi- cal gatherings in various portions of the State sinee 1872. Ile also received the honor of being sent as a Delegate to the National Convention, which, meeting in Chicago in June, 1892, nomi- nated Grover Cleveland and Adlai Stevenson to the high positions of President and Vice-Presi- dent. It is a little more than a score of years sinee, upon May 7, 1872, our subjeet entered into the bonds of matrimony with Miss Bettie M. Rog- ers, a daughter of Elijah and Sarah E. Rogers. Mrs. Blackwell is a native of La Fayette County, and has a large circle of friends in her lifetime home. Mr. and Mrs. Blackwell are the parents of three children: Horace F., a graduate of Bethany; George Pattenburg and Mary K. Our subject is an ardent advocate of educational advancement, and the sons and daughter of his household have ample opportunity to receive an extended course
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of instruction. Actively and efficiently aiding in in all social, benevolent, religious and business en- terprises of his county and home neighborhood, Mr. Blackwell has been among the most liberal supporters of the several colleges located in the city, and is numbered among the publie-spirited citizens, whose pleasure it has ever been to pro- moto the best interests and local improvements of the State. Progressive in his ideas, energetic in his methods, and withal possessing excellent judg- ment, our subject is thoroughly adapted to occupy with ability and honor a leading position in the community, whose confidence and esteem he long ago won, and yet worthily retains.
Fraternally Mr. Blackwell is associated with the Masons, and is a member of the De Molay Com- mandery No. 10, K. T. He was Master of the Blue Lodge three terms. and for two terms was High Priest of the Chapter. and was also twice Eminent Commander of the Commandery. The friend of others less fortunate than himself, ex- tending a ready relief to all worthy objects of his beneficence, and socially genial and liberal in sen- timent, our subject has a host of friends and well- wishiers throughout Missouri, Kentucky, and the far West.
6 HOMAS II. HITCHINGS, an energetic and enterprising agriculturist, successfully con- ducting a fine farm, located pleasantly in Washington Township. La Fayette County .. Mo., is one of the substantial citizens of the State, and, a good friend and neighbor, upright in character, commands the confidence of the community among whom his busy life is passed. Our subject was born in South Wales, county of Pembroke, Octo- ber 12. 1830, and was the son of Thomas and Sarah (Points) Hitchings. The father was a farmer of South Wales, and was twice married. Thomas II. was the only child of his mother, and was reared by his paternal grandfather, George Hitelings, a tiller of the soil. When but a young lad ten or
twelve years of age, our subject began to be self- supporting, and, making his own way in the world, at seventeen years of age entered the British army, and served as a soldier for two years and eight months, being honorably discharged in the fall of 1852.
Mr. Ilitchings then decided to try his fortunes in the United States, and arriving safely in New York, at first made his home in Albany. From there he went to Rochester, and in 1854 journeyed to St. Louis, thenee by river to Kansas City, and with his wife and thirteen associates located on Seven Mile Reserve, taken from the Pottawatomie Reservation, and settled upon a claim of one hun- dred and sixty acres. He was one of the original settlers of Oewattama, and prominent among its founders. llis wife died here in 1855, and in 1856 the Border Ruthians forced him to leave his home. Entirely destitute after being driven from his homestead, he came to La Fayette County, Mo., and hired out by the mouth. The old neighbors and friends in the vicinity of his late home endeavored to induce him to return and assist them to make Kansas a slave State. He, however, remained in Missouri, and continued to work out by the month until his marriage, when he rented a farm for three years and was prosper- ing, when the war broke out, and for the second time he lost all the accumulations of hard labor.
In the fall of 1862, Mr. Ilitchings enlisted in the State Militia, Federal service, Company F. Seventy-first Missouri Regiment, winch later was consolidated with Company 1, Fifth Pro- visional Regiment. Our subjeet served as Cor- poral, and later was honorably discharged. lle immediately enlisted in the twelve-month volun- teers, and was made Sergeant, serving with effi- cient allity and bravery until the elose of the war, in 1865. lle was in the detail used by the Govern- ment in hunting down the guerrillas and numer- ous desperadoes who then infested that portion of the country. The war ended, our subject located upon forty aeres where he now resides, and which he has improved and added to until he now owns one hundred and ten acres of valuable property, which he has industriously and successfully brought from timber-land into a high state of cultivation.
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Mr. Hitchings married his first wife, Sarah Thomas, a native of England, while he was in the British army. She was the mother of one son, who died at five years of age. As before stated. this estima- ble woman died in Kansas.
On the 3d of August, 1859, our subject was united in marriage with Miss Sarah E. Starr, daughter of Sampson and Anna Mary (Scaggs) Starr. Mr. and Mrs. Hitchings are the parents of the following children: Charles resides in Wash- ington; John II. is a citizen of Portland, Ore .; Sarah J. is the eldest daughter; Anna E. is the wife of Sherman Kinnamon; and Mary E. is the youngest. The two sons who died are James W. and Walter Me. Our subject, his wife and the daughters, are all valued members of the Cumber- land Presbyterian Church, and are ever foremost in the promotion of the good work of that relig- ious organization. Our subject was one of the original John Brown men in his county, and par- ticipated in the early border war. In political affiliation, Mr. Ilitchings is an ardent Republican, and earnest advocate of the principles of the party. He is always ready to assist in local improvement, and is a friend to educational advancement, and in all things pertaining to the best interests of the State and county is a publie-spirited and enter- prising citizen.
ENRY CONRAD, a prosperous general agriculturist and successful stock-raiser re- siding upon section 21, Washington Town- ship, La Fayette County, Mo., is an intelli- gent, industrious and upright citizen, and com- mands the esteem and high regard of all his friends and neighbors. Our subject was born July 12, 1842, in llesse-Darmstadt, and is the son of George and Catherine (Kile) Conrad. John Conrad, the paternal grandfather, was a carpenter by trade and an enterprising man, emigrating to the United States in 1846. He was accompanied by his wife,
Elizabeth, and his son George and the latter's family, but left behind him one daughter, who continued to reside in the Fatherland. The Conrads were twen- ty-one days upon the broad Atlantic, and safely landing in New York, proceeded upon their way to Beardstown, Ill., where the mother of our subject had two uneles living.
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