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 76
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 76
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In 1832 a marriage ceremony united the destin- ies of David Groves and Miss Eliza Hutchins. To this worthy couple were born eleven children,
of whom the six following now survive: Thomas A., James F .. Jane, Eliza A., David, Jr., (whose sketch is to be found elsewhere in this volume,) and William K. In 1859 Mr. Groves was again married, his union being then celebrated with Miss Elizabeth Handy, to whom was born a son, Franklin S. Mrs. Groves was called to the home beyond in 1862, and two years later our subject married Miss Docia Garner, a native of Virginia, who by her marriage became the mother of four children, namely: John G., I. L., Hiram J. and Elizabeth D. Mr. and Mrs. Groves are devoted members of the Methodist Episcopal Church South and are active in all branches of church work. Our subject bears an enviable reputation as a man of honor, strict integrity and sterling worth. Ile has a host of friends in this vicinity, whom he has made during his long years of residence, and who hold him in the highest regard. In all circles, whether social, religious or financial, the family has been ever found on the side of right and justice, which undoubtedly accounts for the high respect in which they are held.
G EORGE R. KEILL, a prominent farmer and fruit-grower of La Fayette County, resides on section 18, township 51, range 2.1. Mr. Keill was born in Cooper County, in April, 1836, and is a son of Christian Keill, who was born in Copenhagen, Denmark. The mother of our sub- ject was named, in her maiden days, Mary Bran- non, and was a native of Virginia, a daughter of Richard Brannon, of that State, who settled in Missouri in 1817. The boyhood of our subject was passed in Cooper County, Mo., and he had the educational advantages afforded by the Kemper School, at Boonville, Mo.
In 1858, our subject removed to his present place, where he began the business of farming. lle still follows this occupation and with it has engaged extensively in the raising of fruit, having large
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orchards of apples, peaches, grapes and berries. This place comprises one hundred and twenty aeres of good land, all of which is under good cultiva- tion and is well improved. In his political opin- ions, Mr. Keill is a stanch Democrat, having east his vote with that party ever since he has exercised his right of suffrage.
The marriage of our subject took place in 1856, to Miss Elizabeth, daughter of Joseph Chrisman, a native of Virginia, who settled in Missouri in 1837. One daughter blessed this union, .Jane. The family of Mr. Keill is connected with the Presbyterian Church, where they are most highly regarded. Mrs. Keill died May 30, 1892, and her deatlı was widely mourned. Among the agricul- turists of the country Mr. Keill has a good record as a farmer, and there is great hope that in the future he will develop many new and important facts concerning the raising of fruit in this State.
R. F. J. C. WALKER, one of the influ- ential citizens as well as elever physicians of Liberty Township, Saline County, is familiar with pioneer life in Missouri, having come here with his parents when the coun- try was new, and deer and other game abounded. He learned that all was not as romantie in real life as in stories of early settlements, his own ex- perience not being at all times either easy or agree- able. He has experienced all the trials of a physi- cian residing in a new country, as well as the diffi- culties of a student anxious to fit himself for the profession of medicine and to win a thorough ed- ucation.
Dr. Walker was born in Casey County, Ky., De- cember 5, 1826. His father, Hon. James T. Walker, was a native of South Carolina, where he was born in 1795. llis grandfather, Willis Walker, was also a native of South Carolina, and came of an old Southern family. Ilon. JJames Walker was a sad- dler by trade and emigrated to Kentucky when a young man, working at his trade there and also
engaging in farming. le came to Missouri in 1843, locating in Pettis County, where he pur- chased land and became quite an extensive farmer. He died in June, 1858. While in Kentucky he served in the Legislature of the State for two terms, and after coming here was Judge of the Pettis County Court. He was a prominent and influential man, and a member of the Christian Church.
The Doctor's mother was a Miss Carter, of Vir- ginia, and was born in 1800. It is a noticeable and pathetic fact that she died the same year and month in which her husband's death occurred. She, also, was a member of the Christian Church. Our subjeet is the sixth of fifteen children, but three of whom are living. He was only sixteen when he came with his parents to this State. Previous to that time he attended the common schools, in the old log sehoolhouses with slab seats and a log ent out of one side of the building to serve for windows.
Our subject began to read medicine with Dr. William N. Lowrey, of Georgetown, Pettis County, continuing with him for two years, after which he spent a year as clerk in a store in Georgetown. Hle studied medicine under Dr. Wilkins Watson in 1854, and continued under his instruction for about six years, during which time he practiced some. In 1860, he entered McDowell Medical College at St. Louis, and was graduated in 1861. In 1862 he located at Longwood, Pettis County, but removed during the fall of the following year to Liberty Township, Saline County, where he has practiced for thirty years. During a part of this time he had a large cirenit, being called to attend patients at a distance of fifteen miles. This, as well may be imagined, made no easy life; but the Doctor was faithful to his trust, knowing well that his profession is one that calls for self-sacrifice and the constant jeopardy of the life whose own comfort is sacrificed to aid a httle the suffering ones of earth. At that early time there were no fences to interfere with travel in any direction.
Dr. Walker was married November 8, 1866. to Miss Sallie M. Davis, of Saline County, whose par- ents came to Missouri from Virginia at an early day. Six children were born of this marriage:
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James A. married Gabrilla Grayson, both of them being teachers; Charles, Maggie, Mary, Nellie and Kate. The Doctor is a member of the Saline County Medical Society, and was one of its founders. Politically, he is a Democrat. Ile is a member of the Christian Church, while his wife is a communicant of the Methodist Episcopal Church.
The farm which belongs to Dr. Walker consists of two hundred and thirty acres on seetion 26, township 19, range 22, this county. He has made extensive improvements since purchasing, and now has a line piece of property. lle formerly gave considerable attention to raising a fine grade of stock, but of late years has given that up, not having sufficient time to devote to the work. In his successful life he proves what a man may do, although with only limited means, when he works with a fixed determination to succeed, and to make for himself a name and position in some special line of work, as well as to win a compe- tence. He has struggled against difficulties all along the way, but has risen superior to them, and has accomplished that for which he worked. Ile has been successful as a physician, and continues to hold the confidence of a large circle, who look to him for advice and attention in illness; while at the same time, he owns an excellent farm, and occupies a high place in the respect of the com- munity.
OHN W. TOMPKINS, the popular and effi- cient Postmaster, also the leading merchant and proprietor of a large general store in Page City, La Fayette County, is widely known as an energetic and able business man and a citizen of undoubted integrity of character. Possessing the confidence and esteem of the gen- eral public, our subject was elected in 1882 to the office of Justice of the Peace, and aside from other interests has discharged the duties of this position with honor and judgment. In 1890 he represented his political friends as Delegate to the Democratic State Convention held at St. Joseph,
and successfully sustained the interests of his constituents. Ile is an extensive buyer and ship- per of grain and hogs, and is one of the busiest men in the county, having but little time for amusement or relaxation from daily cares.
Our subject was born in Lexington. Fayette County, Ky., October 1. 1813. lle is the son of Whitefield Tompkins, a native of Jessamine County, Ky .. and his wife, Elizabeth (Ingles) Tompkins, a daughter of dames Ingles, an extensive Kentucky farmer. Whitefield Tompkins was an industrious and intelligent citizen. and one of the substantial business men of Lexington, where he was a well- known builder and contractor. The remote ances- tors of John W. came from England in Colonial times, but the paternal grandfather was born and bred in Culpeper County, Va. Mr. Tompkins passed the days of his boyhood in his birthplace, where until twelve years old he attended the public schools; then, entering the university at Transyl- vania, there continued his studies two years. lle finally completed a two-years course of classical instruction in Bethany College, West Virginia, from which institution of learning he was gradu- ated at sixteen years of age, carrying away the first honors in a class of forty-three students.
Having won an enviable position as a graduate, our subject began the battle of life by teaching in the public schools of Kentucky. After twelve months' experience in the city, he accepted a re- sponsible position as instructor in the country and taught there the succeeding three years. In 1863 he became one of the faculty of Sayre Insti- tute. of Lexington, Ky .. and remained in that work for three years. In 1866 he removed with his mother and sister to Scott County. Ky., and, locating upon a farm, entered energetically into . the pursuit of agriculture. For five years he sue- cessfully tilled the soil of Kentucky, but in the spring of 1871 he journeyed to. Saline County, Mo., and resumed his farming duties there. In 1871 he came to La Fayette County, and taught school in Lexington Township. In 1873 he began a double business, farming in spring, summer and autumn, and teaching school in the winter, and continued these employments the succeeding seven years.
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In 1882 Mr. Tompkins settled in Page City and opened the general store which he has so prosper- ously conducted, and whose business, rapidly ex- tending, now eovers a large territory, and yields to its enterprising manager and owner a handsome return for money and time invested. In 1882 our subject received his appointment as Postmas- ter at Page City, and although there have since been changes in the administration, he still retains his position as dispenser of the mail, discharging the duties of this position with great satisfaction to the citizens of the town. His legal decisions as Justiee of the Peace are seldom questioned, and in cases carried to the higher courts his rulings are almost invariably sustained. As a buyer and shipper of grain and live stock, our subject en- joys the reputation of understanding the condi- tion of the markets and when to buy and when to sell, thus making the business a profitable venture. As a finely educated man and an experienced edu- cator, he takes an especial interest in all matters pertaining to the instruction of the young, and was a most efficient member and Director of the School Board from 1882 to 1891.
Our subjeet was first united in marriage with Miss Nannie Shelby, a daughter of Thomas Shelby, of La Fayette County, entering into the marriage relation with this estimable lady on February 13, 1872. Mrs. Nannie (Shelby) Tompkins survived her union with our subject eight years, passing away January 19, 1880. In the month of May, 1882, Mr. Tompkins married his present wife, Mrs. Virginia Scott, a daughter of llenry Crox- ton, of Bourbon County, Ky. Mrs. Tompkins is a sister of Gen. Croxton, who received an official appointment as Minister to Bolivia. Mr. and Mrs. Tompkins have a pleasant home in Page City and have a large circle of friends and a wide ac- quaintance throughout the county. They are members of the Christian Church, and are among the most liberal supporters of that religious denom- ination. They are invaluable aids in all good work. are foremost in social, religious and benevo- lent enterprises, and are both highly esteemed and respected. Our subject is an earnest Democrat, and rejoiees in the success of that party, but is in- telligently anxious that only men adapted to the
honorable and able discharge of official duty shall receive positions of trust. A thorough, conscien- tious and upright citizen, he is an important fac- tor in local progress and national prosperity, and is the leader of his fellow-citizens in weighty mat- ters of advancement and reform.
C OL. BENJAMIN ELLIOTT. The verdict of popular approval after one has lived years of faithful adherence to duty is cal- culated to fortify a man against adverse condi- tions. When the approval of conscience and the confidence of the community are supplemented by the favor of fortune, then adverse circumstances can scarcely force themselves in. Col. Elliott is peculiarly fortunate, in that all these blessings are his. The following review of his life cannot fail to be instructive as well as entertaining.
The father of our subject was John M. Elliott, a native of Frederick County, Va., and born in the latter part of the eighteenth century. Grandfather Benjamin Elliott was a native of Virginia and a Captain of the War of 1812. Ile was descended from good old Englishi stock. Our subject's mother was Lucy (Bryarly) Elliott, a native of the same county as her husband and the daughter of Samuel Bryarly, of an old Virginia family. In that State she married John M. Elliott, and there she passed her entire life. They were the parents of three children, two of them living, our subject and John S., of Oregon, Recorder of Deeds of Union County. The mother was an Episcopalian, and was identified with the church at Orange Court House. The father, a farmer, died in Sep- temiber, 1817, and the mother followed him three years later.
Our subject is the elder of the living children, and was born August 8, 1830, in Frederick, now Warren County, Va. He was reared on the home farm, attended neighboring schools, and at eigh- teen entered the Military Academy at Lexington,
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where he took the full course and was graduated in 1851. Ile then traveled from Winchester, Va., to the Pacific Ocean on horseback, at a time when the cholera was in America. Reaching his destin- ation, he engaged in mining, also for a time was proprietor of an hotel and had a stage line. Ilis return was by steamer, and after a brief stay in Virginia he took his slaves across country to Mis- souri and settled on the John Kelly farm of four hundred acies near Bates City, which was in a -4 wild state, but with his slaves he soon put it in excellent condition.
At the breaking out of the Kansas Border War, he was First Lieutenant in Capt. Boyce's company and went from Lexington to Westport and Bull Creek. Returning home, he gave his full time to his farm duties until the spring of 1861, at the outbreak of the war, when he raised a company, drilled it at Chapel Hill, took it to Camp Holla- way, near Independence, on to Lexington, Mo., and attached it to Graves' regiment, Missouri State Guards, part of which went with Price and the re- mainder disbanded. What remained of our sub- jeet's company joined Capt. James M. Withers' company, and the Colonel was made Drill-mas- ter of the whole. He took part in the battle of Carthage, Mo., journeyed to Cowskin Prairie, camped there and then marched to Springfield, taking part in the battle, in which he was Adjutant of the regiment which supported Woodruff's bat- tery. Ilis company marched to Lexington, Mo .. joined Ront's command at the fair-grounds and opposed Col. Mulligan. Graves' regiment then went to Index and reorganized into a new regi- ment, of which our subject was made Colonel in September, 1861 The regiment was attached to l'rice's army at Index, then proceeded to Warrens- burgh, and followed Mulligan to Lexington, his regiment being in the advance. It took part in the siege of Lexington and helped in the capture of Mulligan's command, then marched to Neosho, then to Osceola and went into winter quarters. At the expiration of its time, the regiment was dis- banded.
Gathering up a number of recruits from La Fayette County, Col. Elliott joined Capt. Sam Taylor at Stockton and marched to Cove Creek,
Ark. They formed a company. electing Taylor as Captain, the Colonel being a private through choice, and joined Price's army, the company be- ing attached to the Sixth Missouri Infantry under Col. Eugene Irving. The Colonel was severely wounded in the right side of his head by a minie- ball while on the skirmish line at the battle of Pea Ridge, Ark. Dr. William Gordon assisted him upon his own horse and took him twelve miles to a private house, where he found Gen. Slack, for whom some one had performed the same kind office. It was deemed necessary in order to deceive the Fed- erals that a substitute for Gen. Slack should be pro- vided. This our subject volunteered to be, and he was taken to a point twelve miles distant, where he was tenderly cared for, being hidden part of the time in the woods and cliffs of White River. When about recovered, he started to join Price, supposed to be at Frog Bayou, near Van Buren, Ark., but on reaching Little Clifty learned that the army was moving toward Des Are on its way to Memphis; so the Colonel and his party changed their course, making for Buffalo, on White River, others joining them on the way. They bought a ferry boat with a Confederate $20 note and floated down the river to Des Are, then followed Price to Memphis, but finding himself unable to do active duty the Colonel stopped at the house of the Rev. Mr. Davis to regain his health.
lust as soon as he was sufficiently strong, the Colonel joined Price at Tupelo, when, at the sug- gestion of Capt. Taylor, Price ordered our subject west of the Mississippi to raise another regiment. The Colonel traveled across country on the back of a mule to Ilelena, Thomas Hinkel and Thomas Johnson being his companions, and there he found a number of men under Joe Shelby who formed the nucleus of a regiment. Journeying to Van Buren, they met an expedition under Col. Vard Cockerill, also Cols. Jackman, Tracey and Coffey, each having a command. At Newtonia they en- countered a body of Union troops under Maj. Hubbard. Reaching Lone Jack, they learned that Maj. Emory Foster was coming from Lexington and our subject was sent out as a spy to learn the number and movements of his troops. Between Lexington and Lone Jack he counted the men three
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times, first from the brush, next from a treetop, and then from a hill, discovering that there were eight hundred and twenty-five soldiers and two pieces of artillery, which fact he induced William Satterfield, a citizen, to report to Cockerill. Our subject re- joining the command after the battle of Lone Jack, then joined the command of Shelby in Ar- kansas, and formed a regiment of which Shelby was made Colonel and he the Captain of Company 1. Sent with his company by Shelby to fight the Pin Indians near Carthage, Mo., he charged them, kill- ing nearly two hundred and putting the others to flight. After this he was given command of two companies and made Major, being in charge of .Shelby's permanent advance guard.
Col. Elliott was in several battles with the In- dians, always whipping them and sometimes kill- ing large numbers. In the battle of Prairie Grove he had a battalion known as "Elliott's," with which lie charged upon Maj. Hubbard in command of the advance of the Federal army, capturing him and four hundred men, and also thirty-six wagons of the train, but, meeting the Federal infantry, they fell back. During a charge his horse slipped and fell upon him, disabling him for several days. At the battle of Springfield, Mo., he assisted Col. Mc- Donald and others to capture the stockade and drove the enemy into its last breastworks. In this battle, where Marmaduke commanded, the Colonel's regiment was under heavy fire, six bullets being shot through his horse, three of which went through his saddle-skirts and one through his hat. Col. Elliot was ordered to hold a certain street at all hazards, which meant death for some one. Part of his men were under cover of the houses and part were to be kept across a street where the bul- lets were raining like hait. In trying to form his line amid this hail his horse was shot, and while in this predicament a soldier eried, "We are out of ammunition." From Elliott came back the response, "Catch it in your hats," and, suiting the action to the word, he waved his hat above his head and got a bullet through it. When asked afterward why he acted so foolhardily he replied, "I knew that the cry of want of ammunition was demoralizing and feared a stampede."
A council of war was held, composed of Gen.
McDonald, Col. Porter, John M. Winner, Col. Gor- don, Col. Shanks, Col. Thompson, and other brave and experienced officers, in which all advised go- ing to Missouri except Col. Elliott, who voted in favor of Arkansas, giving as a reason the fact that the Federals rode shod horses and those of the Confederate army were mostly unshod. Gen. Marmaduke followed the advice of our subject and proceeded to Hartsville, where was fonghit a drawn battle. The Colonel and his little command were left to meet the enemy, while the main army was taken away, Marmaduke telling him that some- body must be sacrificed and he knew of no one who could stand it better than he.
While expectantly awaiting the attack, it was learned a retreat had been made by the enemy and our subject seized a lot of camp equipage, ammunition, medical stores, etc., to the valne of about $10,000. With characteristic humanity, he caused the dead to be laid away in the bosom of mother earth. Our subject was encamped near Arkadelphia during the battle of Mark's Mill, which took place while Gen. Steele was marching from Little Rock to Camden. Col. Elliott pro- ceeded to Mark's Mill, where he intercepted a de- tachment on its return journey to Little Rock. Sent to guard a ferry on the Saline River at St. Elmo, he found the enemy in possession of the ferry. A battle was fought across the river and his command killed a goodly number of the enemy, beside from fifty to sixty horses, and put the others to rout. In an expedition formed to pro- ceed against Gen. Clayton at Pine Bluff our sub- ject had Company A, of Gordon's regiment, two companies from Col. Bob Wood's regiment and two companies from Col. Lawther's regiment, with or- ders to draw Steele from Little Rock.
ITaving often tested the Kansas steel, our sub- ject knew that his little command of less than four hundred men could never successfully cope with one thousand well-disciplined cavalry, especially with Powell Clayton at their head, and he at once resolved to try the "Fabian" method of tactics, viz: fight in detail, fall back, and form in ambush; fire and fall back again. In this way he led them on ten or twelve miles with very few casualties, but on approaching Monticello, where they had
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considerable stores and some Federal prisoners, Col. Elliott was ordered by a superior officer to make a precipitate retreat and fall in with the forces at Monticello. This he knew was an im- possibility and so reported to the commanding officer. adding that he was not losing any men and believed the enemy was losing heavily. The aid-de- camp returned with this message, but the answer came that the order was imperative.
When the messenger came the second time, Col. ' Elliott said to him, "I know if the commanding Colonel knew how well we are getting along liere lie would let us stay. I cannot be disobedient to a superior officer, but will you please go with me and look at my line of battle?" Half protesting, the messenger consented. They went to the top of an eminence overlooking the field, and just as they had taken their position, their left, which was com- manded by Capt. Tuck Thorp, had charged and were beating back the right of the enemy. Thorp was noted for his dressy appearance and wore a long, black plume. "Do you see that black plume yonder waving majestically in the charge?" "Yes," replied the aid, "whose is it?" In great triumph, Col. Elliott answered, "Sir, that is Tuck Thorp, my "Marshal Ney.' Sir, go back and tell your superior officer that as long as that black plume waves on the battle-field and I have such men as Bob Tucker on my right, and Snavle and Walton and Holt and Dorsey, I never retreat precipitately." No one ever heard anything said about a court-martial after that, and the Federals retired to Pine Bluff. After helping in capturing a gunboat on the White River the Colonel, worn out by arduous work, retired from active duty for one month, when he joined his command and took an active part in Price's raid, capturing the posts at Doniphan and Irondale, Mo., and burning the stockade. Ile aided in taking Potosi and Boonville, after which his battalion was augmented to a full regiment and he was made its Colonel.
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