USA > Missouri > Marion County > Portrait and biographical record of Marion, Ralls and Pike counties, Missouri, containing biographical sketches of prominent and representative citizens of the counties; together with biographies and portraits of all the presidents of the Unted States > Part 103
USA > Missouri > Pike County > Portrait and biographical record of Marion, Ralls and Pike counties, Missouri, containing biographical sketches of prominent and representative citizens of the counties; together with biographies and portraits of all the presidents of the Unted States > Part 103
USA > Missouri > Ralls County > Portrait and biographical record of Marion, Ralls and Pike counties, Missouri, containing biographical sketches of prominent and representative citizens of the counties; together with biographies and portraits of all the presidents of the Unted States > Part 103
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August 4, 1862, Mr. Pettitt left his family with relatives and offered his services as a private i11 Porter's scouting battalion, commanded by Colonel Porter and Captain Benjamin Ely. The company went to Newark, Shelby County, where they had an engagement with the militia; then went to Kirksville, where they encountered the forces under Col. McNeal, and later participated in skirmishes at Chariton River, Cree, Macon County, and other points. In November, 1862, the regiment was reorganized and proceeded to Callaway County, where they captured a steam- boat, which was used for their transportation,
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after which Mr. Pettitt, under Maj. Craighead, moved to West Plains, where there were three disastrous engagements, in the first of which they lost about forty men, Edward McElroy, of Perry, Mo., being among them, and Simps Leadford, of Centre, Mo., was also killed. The remnant of their regiment was incorporated with another company at West Plains, whence they went on various expeditions to Arkansas, Clarks- ville, and Van Buren, at which latter point the forces were again organized and Col. Dorsey, of Pike County, took command. Next they en- gaged in scouting up and down the river until the fight at Fayetteville, Ark., where they lost a number of men. May 1, 1863, they were or- dered to Ozark, Ark., and paid off in Confed- erate money. They were re-organized for the purpose of coming to Missouri with Price's army and started in the direction of Pea Ridge, where they had a skirmish in 1863. They had numerous encounters with the enemy along the way, and Mr. Pettitt was for twenty days and nights almost constantly in the saddle. Reach- ing Saline County, the men were obliged to sleep in a brush heap, and one night the militia sur- rounded them, but they managed to effect their escape without injury, swimming their horses across the river. Then going to Centralia they were disbanded with the advice from Col. Dor- sey that all return home.
Going back to the old farm, where he now lives, Mr. Pettitt found that during the ravages of war everything had been destroyed and, leav- ing his wife with her mother and other friends, he took the oath of allegiance to the Government at Hannibal, then went to Macomb, Ill., and aft- erwards to Clayton, in the same State, where he found employment of various kinds, and in the spring of 1864 went with a surveying party to Kansas, traveling all through that State. Ou December 18, of that year, he and his party were attacked by the Indians at Pawnee Rock, on the Arkansas River; he was wounded in the left leg and twelve others of the surveying party were more or less injured. He was taken to Fort Laramie and kept there until spring, when he was able to return home, and as the result
of his enterprises had about $600 in cash. . Re- turning to the Wade homestead he purchased the interest of the other heirs, thus becoming the owner of two hundred acres. He has since made his home thereon and has been very suc- cessful as a farmer. He has the reputation of raising more stock than any one in this portion of the county, and often makes two or three trips to Chicago annually in order to dispose of cattle.
January 9, 1851, Mr. Pettitt and his father were present in New Orleans on the celebration of Gen. Jackson's great victory there. At the time they were on their way to California and, pro- ceeding to the Isthmus of Panama, they crossed in the old-fashioned way, twelve negroes pulling the boat on the Chagres River to Gattoon, where they hired donkeys or sedan chairs for the re- mainder of the trip. Arriving in Panama they remained there for eight days, then taking pas- sage in a vessel bound for San Francisco. Ar- riving safely they next went to Sacramento, and from there to Sutter's old mill, where the first gold had been discovered in 1849. At George- town the senior Pettitt, in company with a Mr. Leggett of New York, became associated in busi- ness and employed miners to dig gold for them near Rock Canon. They were thus occupied for one spring and summer, after which our sub- ject entered a quarter section of land and made a success of farming, and feeding and selling cattle. At length he and his father became homesick and started for Texas by the old Pana- ma route. The former had about $12,000 in $50 gold pieces, which he carried strapped around him in a belt, but he reached home in safety. Since the formation of the Republican party our subject has been one of its stanchest supporters in this region.
The marriage of Mr. and Mrs. Pettitt has been blessed by eight children: James Seneca, born December 21, 1859, died January 17, 1860; An- dred Eugene, born October 27, 1860, now lives in Washington; John Thomas, born September 20, 1862, is in Idaho; Dora McAfee, born Sep- tember 22, 1864, married William Bell, and re- sides in Washington; George Ewell, born Febru- ary 16, 1867, married Nellie Gilbert, and is a
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resident of Idaho; Myra Elizabeth, born April 20, 1869, is teaching in Washington; and the two youngest daughters, Margaret Ray and Mil- dred Maude, whose births occurred on October 21, 1871, and October 25, 1873, respectively, are the only members of the family at home. Mrs. Pettitt is a member of the Presbyterian Church of Perry. Socially our subject belongs to Perry Lodge No. 302, A. F. and A. M., and Ralis Chap- ter No. 56, of which he was formerly secretary.
H IRAM C. PRAY is an enterprising and successful business man of Louisiana, Pike County. He is a young-looking man for a veteran of the late war, but such is the case, and for many years he has been a member of the G. A. R., at present being identified with Maj. James Wilson Post No. 20. In his political creed he is a Republican and strongly in favor of good government, better systems of educa- tion for the young and everything which pertains to the advancement of the people.
Mr. Pray was born March 28, 1843, in Cin -- cinnati, Ohio, and is the son of Hiram H. and Mary A. Pray, natives of Ohio and Baltimore, Md., respectively. The father was engaged in agricultural pursuits throughout his life and lived to a good old age, his death occurring January 27, 1894. He was a man of sterling principles and honor and in religion was a Pres- byterian. In early life he supported the Whig party, later becoming an ally of the Republican party. His wife died April 15, 1892. They were the parents of six children, namely: John R., of Cincinnati, Ohio; Thomas, who died in 1862; Hiram C .; Catherine, now Mrs. James L. Good, of Xenia, Ohio; Margaret W., now Mrs. Ben- jamin Van Arter, of Wellington, Ohio; Arabella, who died when young (in 1850).
When H. C. Pray was three years of age his parents moved to Lackland, Ohio, and subse- quently dwelt for a time in Goshen, Clermont County ; then in Lebanon, Warren County; then
in Mason, same county. In all of these places the lad attended the public schools and succeeded in obtaining a good education. When the war broke out he responded to the call of his country and enlisted September 17, 1861, at Cincinnati, as a member of Company C, Merrett's Cavalry. After being duly organized at St. Louis the troops proceeded to Springfield, Mo., and then went to Sedalia, where they remained during the winter, doing guard and scout duty and a portion of the time being under command of Gen. Fremont. The next spring part of the regi- ment proceeded to Sturgeon, where for three months they were stationed, then being ordered to Palmyra, Mo., where they were located for a like period. At this time they had three encount- ers with Porter's men and at Kirksville several of the Union soldiers were killed or wounded. The following winter Mr. Pray was in camp at Warrenton and then went to Arkansas under Gen. Steele, taking part in the capture of Little Rock. For a time he was in camp.at that point and veteranized at Brownsville, Ark., obtaining a furlough and going home. On his return to St. Louis the company was reorganized and sent forth against Gen. Price, whose forces were marching toward St. Louis. The Union troops succeeded in driving back the Confederates and subsequently under the same Colonel were or- ganized into the Second Missouri Cavalry. From the pursuit of Price they were called to Chatta- nooga and held in reserve and on scout duty. The regiment were soon ordered to Atlanta and had scarcely been encamped there two days when they received marching orders to return. After passing the winter in camp at Chattanooga they were finally mustered out at Nashville Sep- tember 19, 1865. Mr. Pray was never injured during his war service, though his comrades fell on all sides in the many battles and skirmishes they had with the enemy.
Soon after returning from the war Mr. Pray engaged in railroading and May 27, 1881, was placed in charge of an engine on the C. & A., running between Louisiana and Bowling Green. For over thirteen years he was an engineer on this line, always faithful at his post of duty and
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considered a most reliable employe. He belonged to Lodge No. 220, B. of L. E., Roodhouse, Ill. April 2, 1895, Mr. Pray opened a grocery at No. 113 Third Street, and has since given his atten- tion to this business; during the summer of 1895 he removed to No. 400 Georgia Street. He car- ries a general line of staple and fancy goods and has everything about his store in systematic or- der. His trade is rapidly increasing in propor- tion and his earnest attention to the wants of his customers wins for him their respect and friendship.
March 5, 1867, Mr. Pray was married at Buck- lin, Linn County, Mo., Miss Sarah Williams bc- ing the lady of his choice. She was born in this State and by her marriage became the mother of two children, namely: Richard S., now in Kala- mazoo, Mich .; Charles H., who is at home. No- vember 1, 1883, Mr. Pray married Nettie B., daughter of Henry and Nancy (Zumwalt) Mosier.
C OL. JOHN H. GARTH. There are few men more widely or favorably known in this section of the State than the man whose name heads this sketch. John H. Garth, President of the Farmers' and Merchants' Bank of Hannibal, Mo., was born in Botetourt County, Va., March 10, 1837. His father bore the name of John Garth, while his mother, prior to her marriage, was known as Miss Emily Houston. The former was born in Louisa County, Va., in 1784, and was one of the sons of David Garth, also a native of the same county, and of English ancestry. David was a planter and after fol- lowing this business for many years in the Old Dominion, emigrated to Kentucky, where he died.
The father of the subject of this memoir ac- companied his parents on their removal to the Blue Grass State, but subsequently returned to Virginia, and later moved to Missouri, settling in Hannibal. This was in 1842. While in his native State he was engaged in the milling and
iron manufacturing business. After coming to this city he operated in tobacco and grain, and also had a commission house in New Orleans, La. He was an ardent politician and an old- time Whig. He died in January, 1857. His wife, Emily Garth, was a native of Rockbridge County, Va., and was descended from an old and well known family of that State. She was a cousin of Gen. Samuel Houston, of Texas fame. She departed this life in Hannibal in 1844.
John and Emily Garth were the parents of two children, John H., of this sketch, and Matthew C., deceased. John H. was reared chiefly in Kell- tucky, where he secured his preliminary educa- tion, and later took a college course at the Mis- souri University, which he attended in 1851 to 1854. After completing his education he en- gaged in business with his brother, D. J., operat- ing under the firm name of D. J. Garth & Co., at Hannibal.
During the second year of the late war, our subject went to New York City, where he en- gaged in manufacturing and banking and brok- erage with his brother and William N .. Hearne. He continued with them in the Empire State until 1871, when he returned to Hannibal, and upon the organization of the Farmers' and Mer- chants' Bank, of which he was one of the incor- porators, he was made the Vice-President, short- ly afterward succeeding to the office of President, which position he still holds. About this time he purchased a farm near Hannibal, comprising six hundred acres, and erected thereon a beautiful residence. There he has lived for a period of twenty years. He gave special attention to the breeding of full-blood short-horn and Jersey cat- tle, numbers of which animals were to be found on his fine estate. He did not confine his atten- tion exclusively to farming operations, however, as during this time he was President of the Han- nibal Lime Company and also President of the Missouri Guarantee, Savings and Building Asso- ciation, the Garth Lumber Company, of Delta County, Mich., besides being interested in vari- ous other successful enterprises.
Col. Garth was married October 18, 1860, to Miss Helen V. Kercheval, daughter of William
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F. and Annie Kercheval. Of the son and daugh- ter born to them, Anna H. is now the wife of Robert M. Goodlett, of Kansas City, Mo., and John D. is attending college at New Haven, Conn. Mrs. Garth is a member of the Episcopal Church. In politics the Colonel is a Democrat and has been an active member of the party, often being sent as delegate to the various National and State conventions. During the campaign of 1884 he was a National delegate to Chicago when Cleveland was nominated. He was a member of the staff of Gov. Francis for four years and Colonel and Aid-de-Camp. He has been a delegate to the Mississippi River Im- provement Conventions, one of which was held at Washington and the other at New Orleans. Socially, he is a Mason of high standing. The father of Mrs. Garth was for many years one of the prominent dry goods merchants of Hannibal. Both parents are now living in retirement in Ralls County, Mo.
There is a tendency in chronicling the attain- ments of an eminent financier to deal altogether in terms of money; the word success has become almost wholly debased to this use latterly, so that when we speak of a successful man, financial suc- cess alone is understood. This is particularly true when among the successful attainments of a man there has been displayed distinguished abil- ity in the great art of money getting, which seems to so dwarf his other successes, if he has achieved any, as to obscure them entirely. This works much injustice in many cases, and it may be that the subject of this sketch has suffered from the prevailing misuse of the term.
Public opinion in Hannibal gives his breeding of gentle and cleanly stock for many years, and mentions his youthful training which carefully disciplined a character well grounded in sterling principles, and from the companions of his boy- hood it is learned that he moved among them even as a boy and youth, under nature's in- mutable law which breeds like from like, and which constitutes the boy father to the man. A gentleman, surely the accomplishment of this success is worthy of the term.
Beginning the career of usefulness early, as
glanced at in the preceding data, the subject of our sketch inaugurated for himself a course of mental drill in which he has persisted through life, training his mind to conservative judgment; thoughtfully studying the safe process of exam- ining facts and carefully pondering the relations between propositions until his mental discipline has acquired for him a remarkable power to ar- rive at correct conclusions. His work in life has been all mental, and to his aid he has, with able discrimination, directed his own education through channels of erudition the most ad- vanced. He is a hard student of books and a natural reader of men ; to these faculties has been added extensive travel with close observation, re- sulting in a culture which of itself is worthy to stamp success upon life.
No portraiture of this life would be complete without mention of a characteristic which is one of its salient features, and which is ever present and inborn-a keen sense of the ludicrous. No ridiculous view of a subject escapes him. It is this quality, with its accompanying pungency. together with other social attributes, which ren- ders his companionship so enjoyable.
JOHN HENRY SHEPHERD is a worthy representative of a pioneer family of Ralls County, within the boundaries of which he has resided since boyhood, with the exception of only a few years. He purchased the home- stead where he has dwelt for several decades, May 1, 1856, and from time to time invested in more land, until he is now the proprietor of three hundred acres. When he came to this county there were very few settlers here, and at one time it was his boast that he knew every man within its limits. In his earlier years he was a Whig and later became a Republican. He was elected Constable of Township 54, in 1852, holding the office to the satisfaction of all for several years.
Our subject's father, Solomon Shepherd, was a native of Kentucky and one of the pioneers
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of Breckinridge County. He was a life-long agriculturist and succeeded in providing well for his large family. In 1825 he moved to Boone County, Mo., renting a farm there for four years, when he came to this county and purchased forty acres of land in partnership with his brother-in- law. The place was covered with timber which he proceeded to clear off, but only lived there about two years, then selling out and taking up his abode on a farm north of the one where our subject is now living. He entered one hundred and sixty acres of Government land, on which he made substantial improvements during his five years' residence thereon. From 1836 until his death, which occurred in 1866, his home was near Mexico, Audrain County, Mo. His wife de- parted this life in 1835. Of their ten children only four survive, namely, Jeremiah, John, Julia, and ·Benjamin. Melissa, Lucretia, Thomas, and one other, all died in infancy or childhood, and Mary and Rhoda A. have also passed away.
The birth of our subject took place in Breckin- ridge County, Ky., April 5, 1818. He grew up on his father's farm, and when in his nineteenth year left home to make his own living. For some time he worked in a brickyard in Grant County, Wis., and was also employed on farms. He can say what few men can with truth, that he has crossed the plains twelve times, a most un- usual record in view of the difficulties and dan- gers which the daring adventurers of early days encountered. As schools were very few and poorly conducted when Mr. Shepherd came to this county, and as he was obliged to give his services to his father on the farm, it is little won- der that he had a small chance of obtaining an education. Nevertheless he is a man of keen observation, fond of reading and study, and by his own efforts became well informed.
In 1850 Mr. Shepherd was married in Audrain County to Sarah McGee, a native of Monroe County, Mo., but who was reared to womanhood in Ralls County. Her parents were James and Polly (See) McGee, both natives of Kentucky. The father was one of the early settlers here, and with his wife passed his last years in this community. For two years after his marriage
our subject lived at the home of his wife's mother, then moving to a farm near his present home, and three years later coming here. The land is suitable for general farming, though corn and wheat are the principal products. The owner also gives considerable attention to raising live- stock, and has been very prosperous.
January 20, 1862, Mr. Shepherd enlisted in the Union service as a private in Company E, Second Regiment of Missouri Cavalry, under Col. McNeal and Capt. Cowen. In August, 1862, he took part in an engagement at Perry Grove, Mo., where they met the forces of Green and Porter. His next battle was at Pierce's Mill in Shelby County, Mo., and at Kirksville there was a sharp skirmish with the enemy. Then with his company he went to the southern part of the State and met Marmaduke's soldiers at Cape Girardeau, Mo. He was in several other engagements of lesser note during his three years' service, and finally received an honorable discharge, May 12, 1865. With the exception of a slight injury incurred during his first battle he was never wounded, and was always present at his post of duty.
Mr. and Mrs. Shepherd have never had any children of their own, but have adopted several to whom they have stood in the light of parents, giving them loving care and every possible ad- vantage. At present a member of their house- hold is Miss Lettie Henderson, who has lived with them for many years. Mr. Shepherd is a member of the Christian Church, while his wife is a Methodist, and both take great interest in religious progress.
C HRISTIAN S. JACKSON is numbered among the enterprising and progressive young farmers of Ralls County and, in view of the fact that he has not long been en- gaged in independent effort, has succeeded re- markably well and bids fair to be one of the principal agriculturists of the district ere. many more years have rolled over his head. The home-
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stead on which he has made substantial improve- ments and which has been in his possession but three years, is situated on Section 36, Township 54, Range 7.
Our subject is the son of James W. and Sara'h E. (Sharp) Jackson, of whom a sketch is given on another page of this work. His father was born in Delaware, November 24, 1825, his par- ents being Julius and Elizabeth (Walls) Jack- son, both natives of Delaware. James Jackson came to Missouri when a boy, with his parents, and settled in Shelby County, afterward going to Marion County, where he married Sarah E. Sharp, a native of Virginia. Of this union seven children were born, of whom the eldest died in infancy. The others are William R. P .; James B .; Emma E .; Edward A .; Cornelius C., and Christian S. The father died February 28, 1881, and since that time his widow has resided upon the farm in Marion County, and has taken charge of its management. In this she has shown her- self to be a woman of excellent executive ability and good judgment.
Christian S. Jackson was born in Marion County, Mo., September 18, 1867, and his boy- hood was passed in the usual way of farmer lads, his time being divided between work and play. He assisted his father in the management of a farm and after the former's death was an inval- uable aid to his widowed mother. When he was in his nineteenth year he assumed much of the responsibility and soon afterward began working a portion of the farm on his own account. Two or three years later he came to Ralls County and purchased sixty-seven acres, his present home. He has instituted many improvements and car- ries on general farming. Corn and oats are the principal staple crops and the farm also seems well adapted for raising horses, cattle and hogs. The owner is a man of practical ideas and is not so conservative that he will not adopt new and well-sanctioned methods. He is a young man of good general information and in his political faith is an ally of the Democracy.
October 30, 1890, the union of our subject and Mary C. Allison took place at the home of the bride's parents, Capt. J. W. and Catherine Alli-
son, of Ralls County. (See their sketch else- where in this work.) Mrs. Jackson was born Oc- tober 10, 1866, in this county and here grew to womanhood, receiving a liberal education. By her marriage she has become the mother of two children: James A., born October 2, 1891, and whose death occurred when he was but four months old, and Owen R., born August 27, 1894. Mr. and Mrs. Jackson are members of the Meth- odist Episcopal Church South and are actively concerned in its various lines of usefulness.
R OBERT K. PHILLIPS has been Post- master of West Hartford, Ralls County, for the past ten years, having entered upon his duties in May, 1885, and since then having had the office in his own dwelling. Po- litically he has always voted the Democratic ticket since the war and has held a number of local offices in this district, such as School Di- rector, etc., acquitting himself in a thorough, practical manner. For some fourteen years he has been the proprietor of a farm on Section 32, Township 54, Range 6, but he has been an in- habitant of Ralls County for over a quarter of a century and intimately associated with its prog- ress.
Isaac Phillips, father of our subject, was born in Pennsylvania, but his parents were natives of Ireland. His birth occurred in 1793 and in 1820 he removed to Jefferson County, Ky., and in the spring of 1857 located near Centre, Ralls Coun- ty. There he rented a farm for two years and then purchased a farm on Lick Creek, in this county, near our subject's present home. This was his dwelling place until he was claimed by death July 17, 1880. He was three times married, his first wife being a Miss Woolfolk, of Oldham County, Ky. She survived their marriage only a few months and later Mr. Phillips married her cousin, also a Miss Woolfolk. Their children were: Agnes, who married Dr. A. S. Newton, now of Louisville, and Margrette, who died at.
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