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 74
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 74
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The family attends the Baptist Church, and our subject is among the valued members and workers of that religious body. Maj. True is interested always in the advancement of public improve-
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ment, and was mainly instrumental in inducing the Chicago & Alton to locate and bring a con- tinuation of their line to Marshall. In political affiliations our subject is invariably a Democrat, and faithful to the principles of the old leader, the immortal Jackson, believes that right and justice will prevail.
AMES F. SMITHI. La Fayette County has a reputation throughout the State of Mis- souri for its well-cultivated farms and fine class of citizens. Among the independent farmers who have achieved considerable success, we take pleasure in mentioning the subject of this sketch, who is located on section 18, township 49, range 26. A native of Linn County, he was born February 9, 1851, and is therefore at the present time in the full vigor and prime of his useful life
Jeremiah and Jane (Clark) Smith, the parents of our subject, were both natives of the South, the father having been born in Kentucky, and the mother in South Carolina. The family removed to Schuyler County, Mo., during the '40s, and re- sided there for several years; thence they removed to Sheridan County, Mo., where they remained for some time, afterward locating in Linn County, where they made their home for a number of years. In 1868 Mr. Smith removed with his fam- ily to La Fayette County, and in the fall of 1869 he settled upon the farm of Rev. J. Il. Jennings, where he died in 1882. He had been married four times. Of his first union one son, Madison L., sur- vives; Thomas J. is the only living child born of the second marriage; the children of the third union are: William D., James F., George W. and Alonzo L. In his political opinions, Mr. Smith advocated Democratic principles, and was one of the most publie-spirited men of his see- tion.
Since 1868 our subject has been a resident of La Fayette County, and continuously so with the
exception of several months spent in Colorado prospecting and mining, and about eleven months when he was traveling through the States of Texas, Illinois and Iowa. Although he was afforded the best advantages of the common-school system in his locality. he is practically self-educated, and is a well-informed and intelligent man.
The first marriage of our subject was with Miss Martha, a daughter of the late Rev. J. II. Jen- nings, of this county. By that marriage there was but one child added to the family, Ida M. His second union was with Miss Lillie, the daughter of Monroe Pool, formerly of this county, but now deceased. Six children have blessed this marriage, as follows: Albert O., Nellie M., Ruby, Arthur, Ernst and Walter; of these four are now living. The fine farm of Mr. Smith contains one hundred and eighty and three-fourth acres, which is in an excellent state of cultivation.
Our subject is a Democrat in his political faith, believing in the principles enunciated by the lead- ers of that great party so many years ago. In his church relationship he is highly valued, and is a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church South. The considerable degree of success which has erowned his earnest labors may well be the source of deep gratification. Among the agriculturists and stock-raisers of the county, Mr. Smith occu- pies a foremost rank.
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OIIN D. ROBINSON, a successful farmer, began agricultural duties upon his own ae- count in his present location, section 1, township 50, range 27, in Lexington Town- ship, La Fayette County, Mo. Ilis father, William Robinson, was of Irish descent, but was a native of Virginia. A man of courage, endurance and reso- Intion, he became, in 1818, one of the very early pioneers of the Territory of Missouri, which was not admitted into the Union until three years later, assuming the dignity of Statehood in 1821. At this time the State claimed a white population
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of about sixty thousand souls, mainly located in the larger eities, the farming districts and small towns being very sparsely settled.
The mother of our subject was in her girlhood Miss Rebecea Nelson, a native of Tennessee and an excellent wife and mother, who, unmurmuringly sharing the privations and laborious toil entailed upon the pioneer women, aided her family upward, caring for her children tenderly and encouraging them in all possible educational improvement. John Robinson was born February 5, 1826, and enjoyed the limited schooling attainable in the little log house, where a few months of instruction in the winter was all the teaching the farmer boys received in those days. Their time was mostly occupied in sowing, planting, and reaping the harvest of their year's toil. The industrious habits of Mr. Robinson's early life gave him the self- reliance which well fitted him to battle manfully with the cares of existence at a very youthful age.
In the year 1849, our subject, in company with thousands, journeyed across the Great American Desert, attracted to California by the fabulous stories of the gold there attainable. Every inci- dent of the interesting trip, each novel experience, and the many pecuhar people he encountered, are all a store of interesting reminiscence, never to be forgotten by Mr. Robinson. After several years of labor in the Golden State, in which his time was principally devoted to mining, our subject re- turned to his home, reaching his native State in 1855. One year later, in 1856, he began the im- provement of his home farm of two hundred acres, and in the thirty-three years of continued resi- dence has brought the land into a high state of cultivation, and in a comfortable competence has reaped the rich reward of energetic industry. The fine stock raised upon the farm is a paying invest- ment.
During the year 1857, Mr. Robinson was united in marriage with Miss Caltha Cole, a native of La Fayette County and a daughter of Jesse Cole, who made his home in the Territory of Missouri when it was in its early infancy. Ile arrived in the al- most unbroken wilderness in 1817, the date when the Assembly applied for permission to frame a State Constitution preliminary to the admission
into the Union of Missouri. The population of the farming country was scattering, and few and far between were the towns and cities, but about this time began the steadily increasing in- flux of immigration from the surrounding States, and all were welcome.
Mr. and Mr. Robinson, as natives of the county which has been their lifetime home, enjoy the ac- quaintance of an unusually large circle of friends, and possess the esteem and confidence of all who know them. Eye-witness of the growth and progress of Missouri, our subject has been ident- ified with its best interests, aiding with intelligent ability in local enterprise and improvement. Mr. Robinson is a Democrat, and always a firm sup- porter of the party, and is especially desirous to secure for the management of local affairs the best man for the place. An excellent and honored cit- izen and worthy representative of the pioneers who, braving all dangers, established their homes upon the frontiers of the country, and by their efforts made our nation what it is to-day, our subject takes a foremost place in the early history of Missouri.
R OBERT W. KEENE, a prosperous agricul- turist and stock-raiser, handling a high grade of cattle, is located upon section 23, township 50, range 27, Lexington Township, La Fayette County, Mo., and is well known as a progressive citizen interested in all matters of local improvement, but especially devoted to the cause of educational advancement. Born in George- town, Scott County, Ky., November 21, 1821, our subject is a descendant of the Revolutionary vet- erans. The Keenes came from England in the Co- lonial days, and soon established a reputation for courage and patriotism, by bravely defending the canse sacred to the American heart.
Thomas Keene was a man of sterling integrity of character, and. fearless by nature, passed through
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the privations of that wondrous campaign, the Revolutionary War. He married, and became the paternal grandfather of Robert W. Our subject is the son of Richard T., a native of Maryland, and a very early settler of Kentucky. The mother of Mr. Keene was originally Miss Priscilla, daugh- ter of Robert A. Wilmot, a native of Virginia. Mr. Keene spent his youth in his birthplace, and there received the advantages of a common-school education, and was likewise employed in various duties which occupied much of his time until, at twenty years of age, he went to Louisiana, and there engaged in the mercantile business for four years.
In 1844 our subject returned to Georgetown, Seott County, Ky., and resumed the mercantile business, which he successfully conducted until seven years had elapsed, when, in 1851, he retired from the active duties of that calling. In the fall of 1852 Mr. Keene moved to La Fayette County, Mo., and bought a farm of two hundred and eighty acres, which has proved an exceedingly profitable investment. the fertility of the soil quickly responding to culture. Large numbers of famous horses and cattle are raised annually upon the productive farm, and have ever proven, when intelligently handled by sueh men as our subject, a source of increased revenue and future pros- perity.
In 1845 Mr. Keene married Miss Catherine Will- iams, a daughter of John Williams, a native of Kentucky, and granddaughter of Virgil Me- Crackan, who was killed at the battle of River Raisin. Mr. and Mrs. Keene are the parents of five children, four daughters and one son. The son and daughters in the order of their birth are: Virgil W., a prosperous business man, connected with the house of D. G. Bernard & Co., of St. Louis, Mo .; Bodie, the wife of Joseph S. Laurie, a practicing attorney-at-law in St. Louis; Mattie A., still in the pleasant home of her parents; Katie W. and Fannie, who are also with their parents. All of the family in their several homes are well known and highly respected, and are among the active factors in benevolent enterprise and social re-unions.
Mr. and Mrs. Keene have been members of the
Christian Church for the past forty years, and dur- ing this length of time have devoted themselves to the advancement of all good work of that re- ligious organization. Our subject and his excel- lent wife are unostentatious Christians, doing with zealous fidelity all that their hands find to do in behalf of their less fortunate fellow-men. Politi- cally, our subjeet is a strong Democrat, and cast his first vote for James K. Polk. For many long . years an adherent of the Jacksonian party, he now sees no reason for changing his views or changing his vote, which has always been conscientiously cast in accordance with the principles of right, justice and honor.
AMES R. DANIEL, a prominent farmer of Salme County, residing on section 2, town- ship 51, range 19, is numbered among the representative and public-spirited citizens of his community, and by his upright life has won the confidence of his fellow-men. Mr. Daniel was born in Rockbridge County, Va., February 12, 1857, and is the son of E. J. and Susie R. (Tur- pen) Daniel, natives of Virginia. Four brothers and sisters with our subject comprise the parental family.
Upon the home place our subject was reared to manhood. At the age of nineteen years he left school, where he had acquired a practical educa- tion. California still presented charms to the seeker after wealth. although this was not by any means all that Mr. Daniel sought, for he wished also to get out into the world and see things for himself. During the three years in which he re- sided in the far West he followed the occupation of a cattle herder. L'pon returning to this State he purchased fifty acres of land in Carroll County and embarked in the cattle business. Six months later he sold out and returned to Saline County. Here he and his brother bought two hundred acres for $19 per acre, and after a residence of eight , years upon that place, they sold out at $30 per
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acre. In 1891 our subject purchased from W. C. Kelly two hundred acres of land at $30 per acre. This place he has improved and brought to a fine state of cultivation, and here he raises principally grain and hay.
The marriage of Mr. Daniel was celebrated in Missouri, in 1879, with Miss Nettie Lucas, a dangh- ter of Bazil Lucas. Mrs. Daniel was born in this State in 1862. Three children have blessed the union, as follows: Marvin, born in Saline County in 1882, died in 1885; Sasie was born in 1884, and died when only two years of age; Julia was born in Saline County in August, 1885. Mr. and Mrs. Daniel are very prominent in their neighborhood, and are active workers in the interests of the Methodist Episcopal Church South. From train- ing and deep conviction, our subject is a supporter of the principles of Democracy. He has not de- sired office, but has unselfishly worked for the ad- vancement of his party in every way.
Le OUIS F. THIEMAN is the junior member of the firm of Thieman Bros., dealers in hardware in the town of Concordia, Mo. He is a representative of an old family in the county, a very successful and pleasant gentleman. The father of our subject was John Henry Thie- man, a native of Hanover, Germany, whose father, also named John Henry, was a native of the same place, where he was engaged in farming, and died full of years. The father was reared upon a farm and lived there until he married, and was the father of two children when he decided to come to this country. After a voyage of eleven weeks, he reached the United States and landed at New Orleans. The winter was spent in St. Louis, and in the following spring Mr. Thieman, Sr., entered one hundred and twenty acres of land, southwest of here, from the Government.
At that time all of this country was wild and un- cultivated, the prairie blossomed with wild flowers of every Inte, and the deer roamed in droves over
the very farm of Mr. Thieman. There were no roads, no bridges over the streams, no houses and no markets. Ile came here with limited means, and after his land was entered there was little left. However, Mr. Thieman was made of the true kind of pioneer material, and with his pluck and energy he combined great hopefulness. llis log cabin soon sheltered his wife and little ones, and, despising no honest work, he went to work at first for but twenty-five cents a day and submitted to being paid in trade, but fought his way out through the difficulties.
All of the trading and milling had to be done at Lexington with teams, but he worked on and de- veloped that farm, and in time added land to it, and at the time of his death he owned one hun- dred and sixty-live acres of land, and he was per- mitted to live to pass his eighty-first birthday. The mother of our subject was Sophia Wilhelmina Baar, born in Boehme, Hanover, which is now a part of Prussian Germany. She reared five boys ont of nine children, and they were named as fol- lows: llenry W., Fritz D., William J., Louis F. and Angust D. The children who died were August, Sophia, Dora, and an infant. The mother died at the age of sixty-eight years. Both parents were Lutherans in Germany, but became Method- ists in this country, while in politics the father was a radical Republican, and was a man of great memory and strong natural ability.
The birth of our subject took place near Con- cordia, June 15, 1850, and he was reared on the farm until he was twenty-one years of age, and received his edneation in the district schools. not only in English but in German also. When only nineteen years of age he helped to run a sawmill and also a threshing-machine, and at these employ- ments he kept himself busy until the fall of 1877. In 1871 he purchased a half-interest in the saw- mill three miles south of here, and in 1874 he and two of his brothers bought and ran the threshing- machine until the fall of 1877. At this date our subject bought out the partner of his brother in the hardware store at this place.
The marriage of our subject took place January 29, 1882, when he took for his wife Miss Emilie K. Meyer, who was born in St. Louis, July 30,
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1857. and of their seven children six are living- to fill the home with life and glee. They were named as follows: John 11., Emma S., Milton W. (de- ceased), Alvin W., Lillian C., and Walter and William, twins.
Mr. Thieman carries a general line of hardware and agricultural implements, and the store is 24x 60 feet. two stories, with a buggy warehouse 20x 60 feet ; another warehouse, which is 34 x 100 feet. two stories in height, is used for imple- ments, and there is a brick warehouse which is 24×60 feet. This is one of the largest firms in the county, its trade extending over four counties, and it handles a good many threshing-machines. Our subjeet has considerable mechanical ability, and is a good practical engineer. He and his good wife are members of the Methodist Episcopal Church, and are highly regarded in that connec- tion. In commercial eireles Mr. Thieman is re- garded as a good business man. He owns twenty shares in the Farmers' Bank, which was organized September 5, 1891, and of which he is Secretary and one of the Directors.
Our subject has real estate in Kansas City, which is very valuable. In his political opinions he is a Republican, and for six years has served as Alder- man of the city. For two months he served as Constable and then resigned. When he started out in life he had but little except his land, but honesty and energy always open a way to sue. cess.
A.I. GEORGE P. GORDON. This prom- inent citizen of La Fayette County resides on section 18, range 24, township 49, where he owns almost two hundred aeres of fine land. The birth of our subject took place in Henry County, Tenn., August 8, 1828, and he is the son of Thomas and Elizabeth W. (Brooks) Gordon, the former a native of Kentucky and the latter of South Carolina. As early as 1830, the parents left their Tennessee home and with teams
and wagons conveyed their household goods to the State of Missouri, locating in the county of La Fayette.
In this county, Mr. Gordon bought from the Government a tract of land about four miles east of Lexington, paying $1.25 per acre for the prop- erty, and here he developed a fine farm. He was one of the earliest settlers of this community and his death in Lexington January 22, 1852, was widely mourned. Of his children, four survive, as follows: Emily HI., who is the widow of W. II. Spratt, of Kansas City, Mo .; Naney Il., the widow of Christopher Catron, of Saline County, Mo .; Thomas B., who residesin St. Joe, Mo .; and George P., our subject.
For several years, Mr. Gordon, Sr., had served as Presiding Justice of the County Court, and was filling that position at the time of his death. Ile was well known throughout the county as a ster- ling citizen, worthy of esteem and confidence, and was a member of the Whig party, with which he took an active part. Ilis religious feelings made of him a Methodist, and in every relation in life he was a man above reproach.
Our subject was reared on his father's farm and resided there until after his marriage. Ile was educated in the subscription schools and had the advantage of two years at Lexington. Since that time he has maintained such interest in publie af- fairs that he is one of the most intelligent men in the county. The first marriage of our subjeet took place February 12, 1857, with Miss Susan A. Corder, who was a danghter of Nathan Corder (deceased), an early settler of the county. Of the eight children resulting from this union, but three survive: Nathan J., residing near Alma, Mo .; John P., living in Lexington, Mo .; and Bird, the wife of D. G. Jackson, of Corder, Mo. For his second wife, Maj. Gordon chose Mrs. Nancy Corder, the widow of the late Addison Corder, of this county. Iler maiden name was Thompson, and she was formerly of Lewis County, Mo. This marriage was solemnized March 31, 1874, and from the union one daughter, Lulu, was born.
Maj. Gordon located upon his present farm in 1858 and has resided here ever since. His land consists of one hundred and ninety-two acres, and
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each one of his children has received a fine start in life through the thoughtfulness of the father. A prominent Democrat in the county, he has served his fellow-citizens as Clerk and as School Director for many terms. The Presbyterian Church is his religious home, and to this denomination he liberally contributes of his means. Although the whole State of Missouri is dear to the heart of Maj. Gordon, this county is especially so, as he has seen its growth and development from the begin- ning He is identified with the Masonic order at Corder, and is one of the popular and prominent men in this vicinity.
h ENRY FICKEN, one of the leading men of Concordia, Mo., is the subject of this sketch. He is the Cashier of the Concordia Savings Bank, stands high in the esteem of every one, and is a wealthy, influential man.
Our subject was born in Oldendorf, Hanover, Germany, August 8, 1843. The father of Mr. Ficken was a native of the same place, and the grandfather, llenry, was also born in the well- known town and province. By trade he was a farmer and this occupation he followed all his life, and died of old age about the time our subject was born. The father learned the trade of carpenter, which he followed all his life, and died at the age of eighty-one years. The mother of our subject was named Charlotte Peters, and was reared in the place of her birth, the same as that of her husband. She became the mother of four children: Annie, Henry, Catherine and Margaret. The mother died at the age of seventy-eight years, having been an estimable woman, and with her husband a mem- ber of the Lutheran Church.
Our subject was reared in his native place and educated in the village school. His father desired to make a school teacher of him, as he displayed quickness at learning and was of a studious mind, and at the age of fourteen Henry was sent to the academy at Stade, Germany, and spent one year
there and then taught school in the villages of Lohe and Welle for two consecutive years. After this he assisted his father in the carpenter trade until he was twenty years old and was then drafted into the army to serve in the war against Deu- mark. This was not at all to his taste, and soon his wits were put to work, which resulted in the desertion of himself and cousin, Dick Ehlen, from the service of the Emperor, and together they came to America, the home of the free.
The youths set sail in 1864 from Liverpool, England, and spent thirty days in a sailing-vessel on the ocean. After landing our subject obtained employment in a cracker factory in New York City and then clerked in a grocery store until the fall of 1866. He then came to. the home of his uncle, Henry Peters, in Benton County, Mo., and re- mained there until February, 1867, when he came here and took a job at breaking hemp in the winter and worked on a farm in the summer by the month until 1869. For one year our subjeet clerked in a general store for llenry Detert, of this place, but this seemed too slow a way to become rich and in- fluential. Ilence, he rented land and went into farming, and two years later felt justified in ask- ing Miss Louisa Klingenberg to become his wife, and April 1, 1872, the marriage took place. Three little lads died in infancy, but Mr. and Mrs. Ficken have three bright children left: Herman II., Mary and Bertha.
Our subject became Assistant Cashier of the bank in the spring of 1875, and in 1876 he was elected Cashier and has held that responsible posi- tion ever since to the satisfaction of all. The bank is capitalized at $50,000, and is incorporated under State laws, and has done a fine business with the exception of an unfortunate occurrenee which took place August 29, 1878. We copy from a local paper, as giving an account more suc- cinetly than can be obtained elsewhere: "Mr. Ficken stands high in the public esteem and is Mayor of the city. He ean recount a most inter- esting and thrilling experience, dating back some eleven years. On the 29th day of August, 1878, soon after he had returned to the bank from din- ner, it being then 1.30 r. M., three men entered the bank, one of them remaining near the door.
PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
The other two advanced to the center of the room, and one of them laid a tive-dollar bill upon the counter, asking for change. Mr. Ficken turned to comply with the request, but was instantly grabbed from behind by one of the men, who had jumped over the counter. and was commanded to open the money drawer. This he did under the persuasion of drawn revolvers, and in turn the safe. The two men proceeded to stow away what they found in a flour sack and backed out of the bank, cover- ing Mr. F. with their revolvers, while their accom- plice, who had been watching from the entrance, hurried around the corner to get their horses in readiness. As soon as possible Mr. Ficken raised an alarm, but they got away with about $1,169, which was the amount of surplus at this time. It was supposed at the time that these were members of the James gang, but later Mr. Ficken learned from the confession of one of them that it was McCoy, Cummings and Miller, well known by rep- utation at least as members of this band of desper- adoes." The money was never recovered.
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