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 84
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 84
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Thomas Audsley was educated in the common schools and completed his studies at the age of eighteen years. A year later he found himself in possession of a well-improved farm of two hundred and eighty acres of land, which is now in an ex- cellent state of cultivation and valued at $10 an acre. The principal products of this farm are grain and hay, but at the same time Mr. Audsley is quite an extensive raiser of high-grade cattle.
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In 1879, Mr. Audsley and Miss Vietoria Olger were united in marriage. The lady was born in Tennessee in 1858, and by her marriage has become the mother of four children. The eldest, born in 1880, resides at home; llarry was born in 1882, while Alice and Pearl complete the family. They are receiving the benefits of a good education, and are more than usually bright and intelligent children.
Mr. Audsley and his estimable wife are both members of the Columbia Presbyterian Church, where they are both active workers, and of which our subject is one of the most liberal supporters, and is now filling the office of Deacon. He uses his right of franchise in favor of the Republican party, of which he is a strong adherent, and while he is not an aspirant to official positions of trust and honor, he has always taken great interest in the affairs of his party. Hle numbers many friends in this county, as does also his amiable wife, who is a thoroughly lovable and intelligent lady.
IELDIN L. SHAW, deceased, was one of those men whom it is well to know, for his influence had power to aid the struggler along the devious pathway of life, and his sym- pathy was ever ready for all who found that path- way a weary one. A straightforward, unassum- ing man, the good that was said of him during his life was said by others rather than himself, and now there are many friends and relatives who are ready to speak for the lips that could not if they would, and that if they were able to do so would be very modest in their claims for the noble man whom we desire to give due honor in these pages.
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Mr. Shaw was born in Nelson County, Ky., in 1811, and was the youngest in the family, who were as follows: Baker, who lived and died in Kentucky, where he reared a family; Jefferson, who came to Platte County in 1839, and resided
there until 1851, when he moved his family to Oregon, where he lived many years; Sadonia B .; Naney, who married a Baptist preacher; Anna, wife of Mr. Mills; and Fieldin L., who came to this State in 1839. Mr. Shaw was married in Kentucky, his bride being Catherine Miller, whose parents, brothers and sisters, all came to Platte County, Mo., in 1839, the year of Mr. Shaw's re- moval there.
Until 1813 Mr. Shaw remained in Platte County; after that year he located in Andrews County, where he lived till 1862, when he went to Illinois and remained there until 1866, then came to Sa- line County, where he purchased two hundred and sixty acres of land and engaged successfully in farming. During the war he lost all his property, but this misfortune had no power to make him misanthropic or selfish; in spite of it he continued the same generous hearted, kindly man, whom to know was to respect and esteem.
Mr. and Mrs. Shaw counted nine children among the blessings that God gave them. Three of these children were born in Kentucky, and all reached maturity. On the family tree we find: Sadonia B., the eldest ; William M., of Saline County, whose biography is given elsewhere; Jef- ferson R., who was killed in the battle of Pea Ridge, in Arkansas, being with Price at that time; Joel G., now a successful fruit-grower in San Diego, Cal. ; Samuel MI .; David F., of Washburn, Tex .; Elizabeth, wife of Il. S. Tucker; N. Jennie, wife of Robert Irvine; and Jonathan M., of Wash- burn, Tex. William M. and Jefferson were both in the Confederacy during the war.
Samuel Shaw was born in Platte County, Mo., in December, 1841, and was with his father until nearly twenty-three years of age, aiding in the support of the family. lle and his brothers helped to pay for the home. Samuel was educated at the William JJewell College, and was married in 1880, Miss Mollie Robnet, of Boone County, be- coming his wife. ller father, Noah H. Robnet, was a pioneer of that county.
Mr. Shaw, Ir., taught school ten years after leaving college, devoting all his time to his pro- fession, and proved himself a worthy son of an exceptional father, for it was one of Fieldin
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Shaw's characteristics that he was faithful in all he did. and there is no more unselfish and no grander calling than that of the earnest, conseien- tious teacher. Mr. Shaw now owns a farm of one hundred acres of good land. llis children are three in number: Annie O., F. Parker and Mar- ion A.
S. M. Shaw became interested in the People's party in the fall of 1890, and has since been ac- tively identified with it. Ile and his wife are members of the Baptist Church, of which denom- ination the father was also an active member.
Fieldin Shaw was a Democrat in politics, but was not active in party work. He was a liberal supporter of schools and churches, as well as all other benevolent institutions, and, indeed. was ready to give a helping hand to every worthy cause. He was a man who could be relied upon under all circumstances, whose word was as good as his note, whose influence was always on the side of right as he believed it, and he was elear- sighted and charitable at all times; his friend- ship was true and lasting, and his faith in God lead him down to the verge of the river, and, we doubt not, safely across to the other side.
ABASTIAN A. ALLIS. The Chicago & Al- ton Railroad is noted for the splendid fel- lows that it has on its force, and our sub- ject is numbered among the small army, being an engineer on the Kansas City Division. lle is one who thoroughly understands his busi- ness, and, what is more to the point, conscientiously attends to it. Ile is genial, kind-hearted and al- ways ready to help a friend out of difficulty, and prodigal with sympathy in time of trouble.
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Mr. Allis was born in St. Landry Parish, La., No- vember 25, 1855. Ilis father, Sabastian D. Allis, was a native of Hartford, Conn., while his Grand- father Allis was born in England and removed to Hartford, in which city he died. Sabastian D. Al- lis was a farmer upon a Louisiana plantation at the
time of the Civil War, raising cotton and doing a flourishing business. In his earlier days he had been a clerk on steamboats running from New Or- leans. At the beginning of hostilities he enlisted as a volunteer in the Confederate army and served through the greater part of the war. After the destruction of the levees, his plantation. which was in the rich swamp-lands, was flooded with water, and in 1867 he came as far North as Mounds, Ver- non County, Mo., where he engaged in farming. After a time he removed to Texas and ran a store at Columbia, Brazoria County. He there died at the age of fifty-seven, a devout Episcopalian in his religious belief.
The mother of Sabastian A. was Caroline Single- ton before her marriage. She was born at St. Lan- dry Parish, and was a daughter of Seth Singleton, a native of South Carolina, who settled in Louisiana at an early date and was a stock-raiser upon a large plantation. The mother died at Kansas City. Mr. Allis was the third of eleven children. six of whom are still living, three boys and three girls. Both of his brothers are engineers on railroads. Our subject's home was in Louisiana until he was twelve years of age, his edueation being carried on under the governess system, as was so usual throughout the South.
In 1867, our subject came to Mound, Mo., ten miles from Nevada, and remained there until 1875. HTe then went to Rio, Knox County. Ill., and worked upon a farm until 1877, when he went to Kansas City and entered the employ of the Kansas City. Ft. Scott & Gulf Railroad as fireman. After this he worked on the Union Pacific until 1879, and then on the Kansas City Division of the Chi- cago & Alton as fireman until 1885. at which time he was made engineer. He has never had a serious accident, although having been in two collisions. The first was with a rock train between Mount Leonard and Shackleford, the accident occurring through no fault of his own. The second was be- tween Independence and Glendale, and was with a freight train that was ont of place. No one was injured in either case. Ilis run is from Roodhouse to Kansas City on a passenger, and from Rood- house to Slater on a freight.
Mr. Allis was married at Kansas City October 7,
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1885, to Miss Susie Seddon, a native of Berlin, Sangamon County, Ill., and a daughter of Alfred Seddon, an Englishman by birth, who settled in Sangamon County, and was a farmer and brick- maker. Thence he removed to Kansas City, where he died one year later. His wife, Elizabeth (Tay- lor) Seddon, was also born in England, there mar- ried, and died in Kansas City in 1880, leaving four children, of whom Mrs. Allis is the youngest. She was reared in Kansas City. She is the mother of one child, Hazel Parr.
Mr. Allis is a member of the Masonic fraternity. In his church relations, he is a Cumberland Pres- byterian, and in politics, a Democrat. Ile is one of the Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers. His residence at East Slater was erected by himself, and he also owns real estate in Kansas City. He is a young man whose history it is a pleasure to chronicle, for his life has been an honorable one, full of industry, and he has reached a vantage ground of prosperity.
S EBASTIAN W. BRANDAU, the manager of and a partner in, the Bonanza Coal Com- pany, at Higginsville, and with an office at Kansas City, is the gentleman of whom we write. lle was born at Koenigswald, in Kur- hessen, Germany, January 29, 1847, and his fa- ther, Adam, was also born in the same place, where Grandfather Brandau was Superintendent of For- estry, and his son, the father of our subjeet, was the assistant in this superior office. After the death of his father, Adam married and became As- sistant Mayor of the city until 1854, when he came to America, bought a farm, and located in Cook County, Ill., at a place called New Bremen.
Ilere Adam Brandau bought a farm of one hun- dred and sixty acres and improved it, but in 1868 sold out and removed to Charles City, Iowa, and there he still lives at the age of seventy-eight years. He is a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church. The mother of our subject was Elizabeth
Sipple, who was born in Germany, and her father, William, was the honorable Mayor of the same place as was the father of our subject, and there he died at the age of sixty-two, a member of the Reformed Church. The mother of Sebastian still lives, at the age of seventy-five years, in Iowa. There were eight children born in the family, and of these five are yet living. William was a sol- dier in the Fifty-seventh Illinois Infantry from 1863 to the close of the war. Paul was in the One Hundredth Illinois Infantry and was wounded at Franklin, from the effects of which he died.
Our subject is the youngest son in the family, and was reared in Germany until his seventh year. The family came to America on the sailing-vessel "Anna Lange," and landed at Baltimore after a voyage of eight weeks and three days, and came to Cook County, III. Onr subject was reared upon the farm and learned the business, and attended the common schools. Later he was sent to Bald- win University, at Berea, Ohio, for one year, and thien taught school for one winter. In 1869 he went to Charles City, Floyd County, Iowa, and started in the grocery business, but, on account of the failure of crops, he could not collect his bills, and was forced to close out this business.
After this experience our subject"went to work for a publishing house in Burlington, lowa, trav- eled in Missouri in 1880, and then returned to Illi- nois. He traveled a little in Illinois, and then gradually drifted into the agricultural implement business, and traveled in 1882 for the house of William Deering & Co., but one year later lo- cated in Higginsville and went into business for himself. This venture was in agricultural imple- ments, with Fred Ritter as his partner, carrying it on under the style of Brandau, Ritter & Co., and the business continued until our subject decided to go into the coal trade. Mr. Ritter bonght him out, and for two years our subject traveled for William Deering as expert and salesman.
In 1888, John Cook and our subject engaged in the coal business and opened a mine. They prospected somewhat in the fall. then sunk the shaft and opened the mine. The company is known as the Bonanza Coal Company, and owns six acres and the coal under one hundred and
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twenty-five acres, located one mile and a-quarter from the city. The mine is seventy feet deep with a twenty-inch vein. The coal is of a fine quality and gives satisfaction. The capacity is three to four carloads in eight hours. Until Sep- tember, 1891, the coal was soll in lots, but then a yard was established in Kansas City, and to this all the coal is shipped. The location is Third Street and Grand Avenne, and is one of the most convenient yards in the city. The mine gives employment to about fifty-five men. Our subject is the manager at this point, and he has just put in six hundred feet of side track. Their property in this city is valuable, and their com- mercial standing is of the best. The coal from this mine is as good as any in La Fayette County, and has given great satisfaction in domestic uses.
Mr. Brandan was married in Wisconsin, in 1867. to Miss Johanna Babette Kuhn, who was born in Switzerland and educated there. Four children have been born to the family and bear the names of Louis, Walter, Bertha and Katie. The family are members of the German Methodist Episcopal Church. Our subject is a temperance man in all things and votes the Prohibition ticket.
AMES M. RYAN, pastor of St. Joseph's Par- ish, including St. Joseph's Church, in Slater, All Saints' Church, at Glasgow, and the Church of the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary, or St. Mary's Church, at Frankfort, all in Saline County, has been constantly engaged in the arduous labors of his sacred profession in this lo- cality for the past nine years, during which time he has never been absent from his post of duty. At- tending closely to the spiritual needs of the vari- ous missions under his special eare, he is recog- nized by all who know him as one of the most un- tiring and efficient workers in the religious field. Our subject was born in the town of Peter-
borough, township of Monaghan, county of Peter- borough, Province of Ontario, Canada, upon Au- gust 23, 1857. His father, James Ryan, was born on the Island of Guernsey, in the English Channel, while his paternal grandparents were re- siding temporarily there.' His paternal grand- father, Patrick Ryan, was a native of Bruff, County of Limerick, Ireland, and was reared in the Old Country; he entered the English army as a soldier, and served for several years. It was during the time that his regiment was stationed on the Isle of Guernsey that his son James was born. After Grandfather Ryan retired from the army, he resided in County Limerick for some years, and about the early '30s brought his family to Canada, and remained for a brief period in Kingston, but shortly afterward settled permanently in Peter- borough, where he ran a tannery. He was a man of resolute character, ambitious and energetic, and served with honor as a magistrate. The father of our subject did business as a general merchant in Peterborough, and also engaged in the commission business in the latter part of his life, but retired from business some years before his death, which occurred at about the age of sixty years.
Our subject's mother was Mary Brophy, a native of County Tipperary, Ireland, and a daughter of Michael Brophy, who brought his family to Can- ada and farmed near Peterborough, and for sev- eral years before his death lived there retired. Father James M. Ryan was the eldest of eight children who blessed his parents' home, but four of whom are now living. Our subject was educated in the parish and public schools of Peterborough. In 1876, he entered the classical course at Mont- real College, was always under the direction of the Fathers of St. Sulpice, and completed the four years of study. Then entering the School of Philosophy at Nicollet College in the Province of Quebee, he remained there as a student one year. In 1880 Father Ryan came to Missouri and entered the Diocesan Seminary at Conception, Nodaway County, where he continued the study of theology until he was ordained, March 12, 1883, by the Rt .- Rev. Bishop Marty, of Sioux Falls, S. Dak., for the Diocese of Kansas City and St. Joseph. Our subject was first appointed assistant pastor of
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St. Patrick's Church of St. Joseph, where he served two months, when the vacancy at Slater occurred, and he was made pastor of St. Joseph's congrega- tion May 17, 1883, appointed by the Rt .- Rev. Bishop John J. Hogan, of the Kansas City Diocese.
Father Ryan came immediately to Slater, whose parish had only previously enjoyed the temporary services of a priest. The Slater congregation was organized by Rev. F. Murphy, of Marshall, previ- ous to the building of the church. He at once took active charge of affairs, and finding the church heavily in debt, never rested until with persevering patience and untiring energy and de- termination, he had gathered enough money to- gether to pay off the debt of $1,000, build a com- fortable parsonage, and add another lot to the church property for the future erection of a much- needed school building. This parish now has the finest church property in the city of Slater, so that Father Ryan really was the organizer and blessed instrument in building up St. Joseph's Catholic congregation, which now numbers forty families.
In 1885 our subject organized and built the church at West Glasgow, called All Saints' Church, and has served there ever since, and has now a thriving congregation of thirty-five families. In the year 1888 he built the parochial school at West Glasgow, which is destined to bear good fruits. In 1885, the Church of the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin at Frankfort was added to the list of his missions, and he has had charge of it ever since. The church was built in the year 1868 by Rev. Father Meurs, of Boonville, after which it was attended by Revs. Meurs, Zechenter, Bush, Willenbrick and Panck, of Glasgow, successively, and has a congregation comprising fifteen fam- ilies. The work of Father Ryan has been won- derfully prospered, and the people to whom he has ministered so long and devotedly trust that in God's good providence their faithful pastor may be with them through many coming years. His friends, earnest and true, are not confined to the members of his creed or religious belief. As an earnest and enterprising citizen, he is highly respected by the general public, and holds the con- fidence of the entire community among whom his life of self-sacrifice is passed.
OIIN W. BLANCHARD is engaged in gen- eral farming and stock-raising on his well- enltivated farm of two hundred and seventy acres in Saline County. He was born Oc- tober 21, 1853, in Marion County, Mo., his educa- tional privileges being those of the public schools of Ralls County, and of the Central College at Fay- ette. In 1872, he located on a farm nine miles east of where he now resides, which he engaged in culti- vating until the spring of 1890, when he purchased and removed to his present farm.
William Blanchard, grandfather of our subject, was a native of England, and emigrated to Vir- ginia, settling in Winchester. To himself and wife were born four sons and a daughter, who were as follows: William, living near Dayton, Ohio; George, whose death occurred in Kansas; Hiram A., the father of our subject, who lives in Waverly, Saline County; Martha, widow of Mr. Martin, of Dayton, Ohio; and Isaac, deceased. After coming to America Mr. Blanchard was not actively en- gaged in any particular calling. lle was a man of strong Umon sentiment, and after the birth of the Republican party became one of its stanchest supporters. He was called to his final rest in 1869.
Hiram A., our subject's father, was born in Eng- land in 1812, and with his parents removed to Virginia when about two years of age. From the Old Dominion he removed to Zanesville, Ohio, about 1834, where he engaged in his trade of har- ness-making and coach-upholstering. In Virginia he was married to Miss Jane, daughter Martin Stephens, of Newtown. She was a native Virgin- ian, and soon after her marriage went with her husband to Ohio, from which State they later re- moved to Missouri. For a time Mr. Blanchard was engaged in agricultural pursuits, but afterward became a merchant in Philadelphia, Marion County. Upon their first arrival in this State they located in St. Louis County, this 'being about the year 1836. The wife departed this life in 1879, leaving eight children, Angeline, now deceased; George, a resident of Marshall; Amanda, wife of Joseph Spencer, of Shelby County; Luverine, wife of llenry Foreman, of Shelby County; Caroline, who became the wife of John Asher, of Kansas City; Emily and Lydia (twins), the former the wife of
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R. B. Wright, and the latter the wife of W. Spencer; and our subject.
On June 22, 1875, John W. Blanchard was married to Miss Samantha, daughter of Allen MeReynolds. Two children grace their union, whose names are Lula and Marvin. Our subject is a loyal supporter of the Democraey, and socially, is a member of Blackburn Lodge No. 86, A. O. U. W. He holds membership with the Methodist Episcopal Church South, to which his father also belongs, and of which the latter is Steward. Our subject is one of the leading farmers and successful business men of the county, and is much esteemed and respected by all who have had the pleasure of making his acquaintance.
G
E. STARKEY, a pioneer of Missouri and an honored citizen of Slater, is undoubt- edly the most venerable resident in his region of the country. Although he is nearly one hundred years of age, his mental vigor is unimpaired and his bodily health excellent. He is still able to attend to daily duties and manage his business affairs and property. A most interest- ing conversationalist, he possesses a valuable store of historical reminiscence. Ilis experiences of early days, and vivid remembrance of notable and dis- tinguished characters he has seen, prominent among whom is Napoleon Bonaparte, are thoroughly ap- preciated by many eager listeners.
Born in the month of June, 1793, in Lohr, in the kingdom of llanover, Germany, our subject will in a few months arrive at the centennial anniversary of his birth. Ilis parents, Casper and Mary (Falk) Starkey, were natives of Germany, where his fa- ther lived, and after years of patient toil, died. He is the youngest child and the only son in a family of four children. lle was reared on a farm and trained to habits of thrift, and gained a primary education in the schools of the Fatherland. Grown to man's estate, he married. and in his native land began the support of a family of his own.
In 1829, Mr. Starkey determined to try his for- tunes in America, and making the venture alone, sailed from Bremen and safely landed in New Orleans, thence voyaged up the Mississippi River and located in Louisville. Ile found immediate employment working on the streets, and never ex- perienced any lack of work or money. As soon as he was sure of making a comfortable living for his family in the New World, he sent for them, and three years later rented land in Warren County, and successfully engaged in farming. After a time he purchased one hundred and sixty well- improved acres of land, and there engaged in the duties of general agriculture.
In 1870, Mr. Starkey went to West Glasgow, this county, where he bought two hundred aeres of farming property, and devoted his attention to the cultivation of the soil for five years. In 1884, he removed to Marshall, and after a four-year residence there, settled in Slater, where he invested in land and houses. Mr. Starkey has been thrice married. His first wife, Gertrude (Ilodhoh) Star- key, was born in Germany and died in her native land. Ilis second marriage occurred in Germany, and the first name of this lady was also Gertrude. She joined her husband in America, and died soon after he settled in West Glasgow.
The third and last marriage took place in West Glasgow, where our subject and Mrs. Mary Gul- zue were united in marriage. Mrs. Starkey, a most estimable and worthy lady, was born in Montreal, Canada, and was the daughter of Louis Bezourlte, a native of Montreal. and a farmer. Her mother was Phillis Choekers. Mrs. Starkey was first married in Chicago to P. Mucshion, who kept a grocery store in Galena, Ill., where he died. Her second marriage was to Judge F. A. Cutzue, a Judge and attorney of Gasconade County, who died in Portland. Mrs. Starkey is the mother of five children: F. A., a prominent business man of Slater, a grain dealer, representing a large commis- sion house; Minnie, Mrs. Cook, residing in Kansas City; Mollie, Mrs. Ross, who lives in Marshall County; Josie, Mrs. Beiesont, who resides in Calla- way County; and Jennie, Mrs. Bochart, who lives in Moberly. Mr. Starkey has a son by his first wife, located in Ray County. By his second mar-
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