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 81
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 81
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ner, and surrounding his beautiful residence, which was erected at a cost of $3,000, and is modern in all its appointments, is a beautiful lawn dotted by large shade trees. The barns and necessary farm buildings are models of thrift and neatness, and altogether present an attractive appearance to the passing observer.
Mr. MeDaniel is a native of the Old Dominion, born in 1836 to Reuben E. and Delia McDaniel. The family on both sides were Virginians, and his grandfather served as a volunteer in the War of 1812. Our subject is one of a family of ten chil- dren; those living are as follows: G. R., residing at present in Kansas City; A. S., a physician in this county; Frank, who is at present in Pueblo, engaged in the legal profession; Polly, who resides in Miami, Mo., where her husband is following the trade of a painter; Flora, who makes her home
in this county; and our subject. The father of these children was one of the most prominent men of Saline County, taking up land from the Gov- ernment, and at the time of his death being the owner of some five thousand acres of land, which was all well improved. lle was Judge of the County Court for several terms, was one of the strongest Democrats of the county, and for years a member of the Baptist Church.
Reuben McDaniel was educated in the schools of Saline County and in the Columbian University at Washington City. He pursued Ins studies until reaching the age of twenty years, and in 1868 was united in marriage with Miss Kate White, of St. Louis, Mo. Their union has been blessed with five children, who are as follows: Edwin, born in 1870, resides at home, and is attending the Mili- tary Academy at Lexington; Maud, who was born in 1872, was edneated in a private school, and is a very fine musician; Reed Kenneth, born in 1878; Aubrey, born in Saline County in 1879; and Lacy, whose birth occurred in 1881.
Under Henry C. Bell, Mr. MeDaniel started to learn the business of a steamboat pilot soon after the completion of his education, and took charge of various boats for fifteen years. lle had num- berless narrow escapes, one of them being the sink- ing of the boat "Carrier," when, in attempting to cross a bar in the river, a rent was made in the
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bottom of the vessel, and she almost instantly sank. Fortunately all the passengers and crew were saved. At the end of lifteen years of life on the river our subject returned to Saline County, decid- ing to take up the life of a farmer, on the prop- erty which was his inheritance. Ile has been very successful as an agriculturist, and raises large crops of wheat, oats and hay. Ile also is quite an extensive stock-dealer, raising cattle and hogs, and is much interested in his fish hatchery.
In the year 1890, our subjeet was called upon to mourn the loss of his wife, who had been a faitli- ful member of the Baptist Church for some years and was a thoroughly lovable Christian woman. Though not an aspirant for office, Mr. McDaniel takes an active interest in political affairs, and is an ardent Republican. He is numbered among the leading and progressive farmers of this county, in whose welfare he has ever been deeply con- cerned.
ILLIAM NYE, one of Saline County's most influential and enterprising farmers, is a native of the Buckeye State, and was born in Ross County in 1812. His father, George Nye, was born in Germany in 1811, and at the age of eighteen emigrated to America and settled in Ohio, near Waverly. On account of his youth he had not served in the German army, and his par- ents were obliged to pay the Government a consid- erable sum of money in order to have him re- leased from military duty so as to accompany them to the United States. The grandfather of our subjeet, Andrew Nye, came to America in 1829, bringing his family of four girls and two boys with him, and settled in Ross County, Ohio, where he died in 1840. His wife survived him until 1851. when she passed away in the State of Missouri.
George Nye remained under the parental roof until his marriage in 1838, when he was united with Miss Lucinda Warren. Mrs. Nye's people
were North Carolinians and were highly respected throughout their section of country. After mar- riage Mr. Nye embarked in agricultural pursuits on his farm in Ross County, but subsequently so1 1 the place, and in 1853 removed to Saline County, Mo. More than three weeks were consumed in making the journey by boat from Portsmouth to St. Louis, and thence to Miami, where they located on a rented farm near the city. In 1858 Mr. Nye purchased a farm in the river bottom near Lanes- ville, where he lived until his death, July 9, 1888. At that time he owned eight hundred and forty acres, and had given one hundred and sixty acres to each of his sons. Ile was a thrifty, prosperous farmer and an extensive cattle-raiser. Ile and his good wife were the parents of the following- named children: Andrew, deceased; William, the subject of this sketch; Rhoda, Mrs. William Mul- lens; Christina, deceased; Margaret, wife of Will- iam Bates; Felix, deceased; George, who resides on the old homestead; and Louisa, wife of John Blackburn, of Saline County. All but the two last-named children were born in Ohio. The be- loved wife and mother died May 11, 1889, having survived her husband one year.
When about eleven years old the subject of this sketch accompanied his parents to Missouri. Ile received his education in the public schools of Ohio and Missouri, attending to his studies in the winter and farm duties in the summer. In 1862, like other brave Union boys, he enlisted for ser- vice, joining the Missouri Enrolled Militia, Seven- ty-first Regiment, in which command he remained six months. They were then organized into the Fifth Provisional Regiment and he was appointed First Sergeant, in which capacity he served until the regiment was disbanded November 27, 1863, when he returned home. Ile had tasted the de- lights and terrors of warfare, and home seemed tame after the exciting scenes he had passed through, so in the spring of 1864 he joined a company of Saline County Home Guards and served as First Sergeant until the close of the war. At the time of the surrender of Glasgow, Mo., he was in the cavalry, and with some thirty-five others escaped without being captured.
After the close of the war Mr. Nye returned
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home to his father's farm. Jannary 13, 1867, was an eventful day in his life, for then it was that he married Margaret O .. daughter of John D. Mc- Kown. of Saline County, who was born November 15. 1818, and came from Baltimore, Md., to Mis- souri. His wife, Caroline Bayley, was born in Bal- timore, October 10, 1823. Mr. and Mrs. MeKown were first cousins, their mothers being sisters, who were born in Baltimore. The grandfather of Mrs. Nye. Capt. James B. MeKown, was born in Scotland. but came to America and made a settlement in Balti- more. Later he removed to St. Louis, Mo., where he died in 1863. Capt. MeKown had a factory where were manufactured blacksmith bellows. His wife, whose maiden name was B. P. Donaldson. was also born in Baltimore. John D. MeKown was married in 1811 in St. Louis, where Mrs. Nye was born in 1842.
In 1852 Mr. MeKown removed to Saline County and settled in Marshall, where his death occurred April 10, 1883. By trade he was a bricklayer, stone mason and plasterer, and was a worthy man. Mrs. McKown is still living and resides at Marshall. Mrs. Nye is the eldest of ten children, of whom eight are living, namely: Margaret O., wife of our subject; Jennie, wife of G. L. Burnside; James B., William, Kate, Annie, Mary and Eugene. Charles L. and Arthur II. are deceased. Mrs. Nye has borne her husband five children, namely: Car- rie L., John G., Clara B., Louis O. and William 1 .. Two of these bright and interesting children. Clara B. and William L., are deceased, the former dying at the age of eleven years and the latter at five years.
After his marriage, Mr. Nye began work for himself on one hundred and sixty acres of land belonging to his father. This property was lo- cated in the river bottom, and was subsequently given to him by his father and is still owned by himself. In the spring of 1883 he removed to another farm, which he rented for five years, leas- ing his own farm. In 1887 he removed to his present home, consisting of fifty acres on the bluff, located on sections 7 and 18. This land he has since improved and erected on it a nice residence in which he now lives. In the winter of 1891 he purchased two hundred acres of the home farm
near Lanesville, and now owns four hundred and ten acres of land, on which he raises grain as his principal crop. The present home is two miles from Malta Bend, and here in their country resi- dence Mr. and Mrs. Nye dispense a generous hos- pitality to their friends. Mr. Nye and family are firm members of the Presbyterian Church. with the exception of one daughter who is a Methodist. In politics, he is a Republican and is warm in his convictions. He is a member of Arthur Crochett Post No. 106, G. A. R., located at Marshall, Mo. Hle is one of the reliable men of Saline County, and he and his good wife occupy a prominent position in the community in which they reside.
T. MCGINNIS is a very successful general merchant in Slater. Saline County, and carries the largest stock of goods in the city. Ile is a popular citizen and has served as Alderman from the Second Ward. His birth occurred in Oswego, N. Y .. on the 10th of August. 1856. His father, a native of County Meath, Ireland, emigrated to the New World when in his youth, locating at Oswego, where he lived until 1858. at that time removing to Ot- tawa, in the same State; his mother, who bore the maiden name of Isabel Lynch, was also a native of the Emerald Isle, her birth having occurred in County Clare. Her father was a merchant, deal- ing in ship supplies in Ottawa, Ontario, on the Ottawa River. after his arrival in the New World. Our subject is one of six children, of whom five, all sons, are living.
Mr. McGinnis received his education in the common and Iligh Schools of Ottawa. N. Y., and was graduated from the latter when sixteen years of age. Ile then entered the Notre Dame Univer- sity, from which institution he graduated in the Class of '76, with the degree of Master of Science. In the meantime he had picked up considerable knowledge of telegraphy and accepted a position at a point in Illinois on the Rock Island Railroad
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as operator and agent, occupying similar positions at La Salle and Ottawa, in the later place being in the employ of the Chicago, Burlington & Quincy Road. With the latter company he was for a time train-dispatcher in Aurora, and in the year 1884 filled a like position for the Chicago & Alton Road in Slater. Ile was on this division of the railroad for six years steadily, being considered one of the most reliable employes of the company. In 1890 he resigned linally from railroading, and purchased the interest of Mr. Wood in the firm of Wood & Conners, general merchants.
In 1879 Mr. McGinnis and Miss Mollie Carlin were united in marriage. The lady is a native of Illinois, and is a daughter of Daniel Bernard Car- lin, a prominent farmer of that State. Three children have graced the union of Mr. and Mrs. MeGinnis, who are called Marion, Ella and Dan- iel. Their home is commodious, pleasant and well furnished, and is the abode of good cheer. Our subject has been very successful in his busi- ness undertakings, and has displayed unusual abil- ity as a merchant, having entered that line of trade so recently. lle is personally very popular, courteous and friendly to all, thus making his customers feel that he is very desirous of keeping their good-will and dealing with them justly.
. ILLIAM HARRISON, M. D. One of the most eminent medical practitioners in the eity of Marshall is the gentleman whose name appears above. As his name will suggest, he is a member of that eminent family which has twice received at the hands of the Nation the greatest honors that can be conferred upon an in- dividual. Dr. Ilarrison was born in Fayette County, Ohio, near Madison Mills, July 8, 1850. lle is a son of Capt. Scott Harrison, who was born in Fay- ette County, Ohio, in 1817, and served during the late war as a member of the One Hundred and Fourteenth Ohio Infantry.
The ancestry of our subject is distinguished and
includes the names of many of the most patriotic men our country has ever had as eitizens. Tracing his lineage back several generations, we find Be )- jamin Ilarrison, who served as Captain in tre Revolution under Gen. George Washington. He was born in Sweetbrier County, Va., married a Miss Vanee, moved to Wheeling. W. Va., and in 1783 came down the Ohio River and settled where now stands the town of Cynthiana, which was named in honor of his daughters, Cynthia and Anna. Harrison County, Ky., was named for him.
The children of Benjamin Harrison were Will- iam, Cynthia, Anna, Batteal and Aristodes. Will- iam located in Crawford County, Mo., and had a large family. Batteal was born m Virginia in 1780, and was three years old when his parents moved to Kentucky. As the Indians were trouble- some and very hostile, he was left at Wheeling with his Uncle Vance, with whom he remained nn- til he was eighteen. Then removing to Belmont County, Ohio, he there remained until 1811. He enlisted in the United States army at Chillicothe, Ohio, and was commissioned by President Madison First Lieutenant of the Nineteenth Infantry, United States Army, the commission being dated July 12. 1812. He served with ability in that position un- til March 17, 1811, when he was commissioned Captain of the Second Company of Riflemen, United States Regular Army, and served in that capacity until peace was declared in 1815. Hle married Miss Elizabeth Scott, of Lexington, Ky., whose brother, M. T. Scott, was Cashier of the Northern Bank of Kentucky for years.
At an early day Gen. Harrison moved to Fay- ette County, Ohio, and located a large tract of military land in the wilderness on the waters of Paint Creck, which is now Madison Township. lle erected the first cabin in that section of the country, and by industry in a short time had one of the best stock farms in the country. In 1817. he was elected Associate Judge of the Court of Common Pleas for Fayette County. Ile was also elected Representative to the Ohio Legislature, and was an efficient member of that body. He was a powerful writer and a good thinker. Gen. Harri- son was elected and commissioned Brigadier-Gen- eral in 1838, and served until the repeal of the
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military law. The following are the names of Gen. Harrison's children : Benjamin Scott, William 11., David V., Joseph and Mary M. John, who served in Company D, One Hundred and Four- teenth Ohio Infantry, died in the Civil War. Scott was a Captain in the late war and David was a Lieutenant.
The father of our subject was a fancier of fine stock, and raised thoroughbred horses. Ilis wife, who was Miss Fannie Young, of Pickaway County, Ohio, is the mother of eight children, whose names are, Annetta, Batteal V., .I. V., Elizabeth, William, Belle, John and James Cook. Scott Harrison came to Cooper County in 1865, and the following year located on a farm near Marshall. After improv- ing a large farm he died in 1875. His wife still lives and is a resident of this city.
Dr. Harrison was educated in Fayette County, Ohio, and at Newton's Private School in Marshall, Mo. lle began reading with Drs. Tucker and An- derson, now of Colorado Springs, and attended lectures at the St. Louis Medical College, from which he was graduated in 1874. On seeking a location he determined to return to Marshall, and since coming here, nineteen years ago, has estal- lished himself in the good graces of scores of pat- rons. Because of his wife's ill health he has traveled considerably over the Western States, and in these peregrinations practiced for six months at Los Angeles, Cal.
Dr. Ilarrison is a member of the Saline County Medical Society and is its President. lle is also a member of the State Medical Society and an ex- member of the American Medical Association, having been a delegate to the Medical Congress held in Washington City. Ile is local surgeon for the Chicago & Alton Railroad. Our subject owns a good farm three miles east of Napton that com- prises two hundred and sixty-five acres, and also owns a farm of one hundred and ten acres, just north of Nelson. The family home is a beautiful cottage located at No 230 Arrow Street, this city, and its interior arrangement with books and dainty appointments indicates the scholar and man of re- fined tastes. Ile is a member of the Masonic order, belonging to Tridumni Lodge No. 205, Chapter No. 74, and Missouri Commandery No. 36.
Mrs. Harrison was before her marriage Miss Sal- lie Akin Marmeduke, and a daughter of Col. Vin- cent Marmeduke of this county. They were mar- ried October 4, 1881. Mrs. Ilarrison was educated in St. Louis, and also attended Monticello Semin- ary at Godfrey, Ill., then went to Lexington, Mo., where she carried on her studies in the Methodist Episcopal College. She is a member of the Epis- copal Church
J. ALLISON, a farmer and stock-raiser of some prominence in Clay Township, Sa- line County, is the subject of the present sketch. He was born in Cooper County, Mo., in 1828, where his father had located at a time when there were few settlers in the county, and indeed in the State. A. J. was the third in a family of seven children born to Thomas and Lydia (Jones) Allison, the former of whom had been born in North Carolina and the latter in Ken- tucky. The mother of our subject had a frightful experience at an early day, as she was one of the women in Ft. Cooper during an Indian uprising.
Thomas Allison came to Missouri with his parents, whose names were well known in that day, Ephraim and Elizabeth (Coffey) Allison, who were natives of Carolina and Virginia, respectively. The occupa- tion of the family had always been agriculture and in the new home Thomas followed the same life. Ilis family consisted of seven children. viz .: Josephine. who became the wife of William Claycomb, and still lives in the county ; Salinda became the wife of William Adkinson; our subject; Ephraim, a namesake of his grandfather, who resides in Clin- ton; Sarah JJ., the wife of Thomas Dysart, of this county; Matilda, who married Thomas Terry; and William, who is a resident of Clinton. Salina and Matilda are deceased and both left families.
Our subject came to Saline County in 1818, and in 1850 married Miss Mary Frances, the daugh- ter of James S. Ingraham, and to them the fol-
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lowing children were born: Sarah M., who be- came the wife of Frank Kidd; Mary J .; James T .; Edwin B., of California; Addie, Lenore and Terry. Politically, Mr. Allison is a Democrat, and has been one of the active workers for his party in the county. Socially, he is a member of the Masonic order, in which he is highly regarded. His fine farm of four hundred acres is in a fine state of cultivation, and he has kept himself occupied upon it ever since locating here.
Mr. Allison has found that he can make profit- able both grain and stock and has given much at- tention to the best methods in both branches of business. He has seen much of the growth of the county, and has assisted everything of public in- terest to the best of his ability.
AMES R. AVITT, a wealthy and retired farmer, who makes his home in Higginsville, has been very successful as a dealer in farm - property. In 1890 he located in this place, building a fine residence on Grand Avenue thie following year, which, as regards location, style of architecture and well-kept grounds, is the finest in the city. He is also a stockholder in the Citizens' Bank.
Our subject's paternal grandfather was a farmer in Kentucky. In that State the father of our sub- ject, Andrew Avitt, was born and passed his entire life. lle was an extensive farmer, miller, distiller, and also a boat-builder on the Ohio. Ile owned a farm of several hundred acres situated in the val- ley, while his residence was on the bluffs. He was very successful, a great friend to the poor, and generous to a fault. In his political belief he was a Henry Clay Whig, and in religious faith was a Uni- versalist. He departed this life in 1846. The mother of our subject, who bore the maiden name of Jane Helm, was also horn in Kentucky. Her grandparents, John and Sallie Ilelm, were natives of Virginia, where their parents, who were of Scotch and English descent. respectively, were carly pio-
1
neers. The grandfather participated in the Indian War with Gen. Hardin, and was in a battle with the noted chief, Tecumseh, and was defeated. J'e was wounded severely, and traveled sixty miles to get away from the enemy. Later he engaged in farming on the banks of the Ohio River, and was the owner of large tracts of land, comprising thousands of acres. In his youth he was a civil engineer, and surveyed the whole county. lle was called from this life at Elizabethtown, at the age of over eighty years. Ilis wife departed this life in Kentucky, in the year 1829.
Mr. Avitt, whose name leads this sketch, was born May 10, 1826, in Breckinridge County, Ky., and was reared on his father's large farm on the banks of the Ohio River. Ile received good school ad- vantages at Mt. Morma College, and then engaged in teaching for a few terms, but did not enjoy that occupation, and for a time was clerk in a store. Desiring to see more of his native country, he next engaged in boating on the Ohio and Mississippi Rivers on steamers running to Memphis. During this time he became the owner of and improved one hundred and sixty acres of land, and in 1853 landed in La Fayette County, locating near the town of Corder, where he entered one hundred and sixty acres of land. IIe erected a log cabin and variously improved the property, which he afterward sold. For many years thereafter he continued to buy, improve and sell lands, hav- ing been the owner of a great many farms in La Fayette County. At one time he was located at Brownsville, now Sweet Springs, where he im- proved a place and where he lived on account of his health. Returning to La Fayette Connty, he there engaged in his former occupation of buying and selling real estate until 1890, when he practi- cally retired from business, and since has made his home in Higginsville. Before he came to Missouri he was at one time owner of seven hundred and forty acres in Kentucky, and has since owned as high as four hundred and fifty acres in this State. During the Civil War he went to Illinois, remain- ing in Warren County for a year, and then visited his native State. On his return to Missouri he found his fortune much impaired, was the owner of very little land, but with energy he proceeded
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to build up his finances, and was for some time in- terested in growing hemp and raising live stock.
In Kentucky Mr. Avitt was united in marriage, in 1817, to Miss Frances N. Van Miles, who was also a native of that State, her father being a large farmer. Eleven children graced the union of our subject and his wife, seven of whom grew to ma- ture years. The eldest, Isaac W., is a real-estate dealer and capitalist in Kansas City; Howell is en- gaged in the drug business at Orville: Sarah E., Beauregard and Lewis II. died when young; Mis- souri, wife of Mr. Welbourn, died in La Fayette County; Laura .J. is now deceased; Malcolm resides in Iligginsville; George is a resident of Buchmer, Iowa: Oliver is Cashier of the bank in the same place; and Mona died in infancy. Our subject is a member of the Baptist Cliurch, and though a stanch Whig until the war, has since that time been a sup- porter of the Democratic party. Ile is very pop- ular and influential, and a man who has made hosts of friends wherever he has gone.
B OYER & SON is the name of a well-known firm of contractors and builders in the town of Higginsville, Mo., where they not only carry on the leading business in these lines, but are also the most prominent architects of the place. Ezra Boyer, the elder member of the firm, was born in Montgomery County, Md., De- cember 27, 1827, the son of Peter Boyer, who was a farmer of Frederick County. Md., and died there at the age of sixty-three years. Ezra was reared on the farm and attended private schools, but when sixteen years of age was apprenticed to a carpenter and remained at that trade until he was twenty years of age, when he spent one year on the farm. In 1850, he came to Missouri by way of the Mississippi and landed at Lexington, where he remained four years working at his trade.
At Lexington, our subject married in 1851 and then located in Dover Township and engaged in his trade and also built some and did farming. Ile spent the year 1882 in the lumber business in
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