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 104
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 104
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 104
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the age of five years. The mother of these chil- dren departed this life about 1832, and a year and a half later our subject's father married Cath- erine M. Durham, their union taking place in 1834 in Boyle County, Ky. She was a native of Mercer County, Ky., and her death occurred ser- eral years prior to that of her husband in April, 1854. Of their seven children, Robert K. is the eldest and the others, in the order of birth, are William H., Mary Frances, Isaac, Emeline, who died in infancy; Thomas D., and Elizabeth Beat- ty. The sister last mentioned is a resident of Cairo, Ill .; William H. is traveling in this district for a Kentucky tobacco company ; Isaac has been engaged in mining in Silver City, Idaho, and Thomas is a farmer in the vicinity of Dallas, Ore.
Born in Oldham County, Ky., April 3, 1835, R. K. Phillips passed his boyhood on a farm and was given a good education, as were all of his brothers and sisters. He was more fortunate than most of them, however, as in company with his sister, he took a college course. When twenty years of age he left home and, going to Cairo, Ill., helped lay out the second division of that place with William Newell, the City Engineer. In the spring of 1856 he went to Marion Coun- ty, Mo., and rented a farm three miles from Pal- myra. In November, 1856, he came to this coun- ty and taught school near Centre for six months. He then resumed agricultural pursuits and a year and a half subsequently, when his father came to Missouri, went to live on his farm. Afterward the father and son settled on the farm near Perry, a tract of two hundred acres, and made substan- tial improvements on the place.
April 14, 1859, R. K. Phillips married Miss Mary Muldron, who was born in Marion Coun- ty, this State, in November, 1835, and whose father, John, better known as Jack Muldron, was one of the pioneers of this region, and well- known to the early settlers. After his marriage Mr. Phillips rented a farm not far from his fath- er's home and in a little more than a year pur- chased a farm west of Perry, living there until the war broke out. July 24, 1862, he enlisted in the Confederate service as a private in Company A, under Col. Porter and Benjamin Ely. He
took part in the numerous skirmishes and en- gagements in which his regiment was active, and also in the battles of Edina, Kirksville, Walnut Creek and others, but was never injured in any way. He was discharged near Portland, Cal- laway County, October 28, 1862. On resuming the peaceful avocations of life he went to Wash- ington County, Ky., and taught school in the vil- lage of Texas for two terms of six months each. November 1, 1867, he returned to this county and lived on his father's farm until the death of his wife, which occurred February 14, 1869.
April 21, 1881, Mr. Phillips married Marga- ret E. Gallaher, who was born in Ralls County. Her father, Allin G. Gallaher, a native of Ten- nessee, is a minister in the Presbyterian Church. In the fall of 1881 Mr. Phillips and wife moved to their present home, buying one hundred and four acres, which he set to work diligently to in- prove. By his first marriage Mr. Phillips had three children, E. Belle, now in New Mexico; Paulina A. and John I. Both he and his wife are members of the Presbyterian Church of Per- ry, and at present he is holding the office of elder. He is a man of high and honorable principles, always ready to lend a helping hand to those less fortunate than himself, but his charities are per- formed in an unostentatious manner.
J OHN W. ROY. As a worthy representa- tive of the intelligence, the integrity, and the moral worth of the people of Ralls County, the subject of this sketch occupies no ordinary position. He is widely and favorably known throughout his community, and the fact that he is well spoken of by the rich and poor, high and low, is sufficient indication of his char- acter.
Mr. Roy was born in Marion County, March 23, 1861, and is the son of Fantley J. and Vienna (Finnell) Roy, both natives of Virginia, where the father was engaged in the mercantile busi- ness at Front Royal, Warren County, until com-
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ing to Missouri with his parents in 1836. He lo- cated in Marion County, near Hester, where he engaged in agricultural pursuits and made his home for a period of twenty-one years. He then returned to his old home in Virginia, but two years later we find him living on a tract of land which he purchased, also in Marion County, Mo., where he resided until November, 1872, when he sold out and removed to Lewis County. There he was the proprietor of a valuable prop- erty for four or five years and, again disposing of it, he came for the third time to Marion County and made his home with his children until his decease, March 16, 1885.
To Fantley J. and Vienna F. Roy there were born twelve children. The first-named, William R., is a resident of St. Louis; Reuben, Circuit Judge of Ralls County, is represented elsewhere in this volume. The others were Fantley J., Mary E., and James C., deceased; John W., Robert Lee, Thomas G., Sidney Johnson, Gib- son (deceased), Annie S. and Vienna.
The original of this sketch obtained his edu- cation in a log schoolhouse in Marion County, and when a lad of sixteen years began to make his own way in the world. He at once engaged in farm work, which he has made his vocation in life. The lady to whom he was married Decem- ber 27, 1882, was Miss Annie M., daughter of William and Hester (Pettitt) Crane, residents of Marion County, and whose sketch will appear on another page in this book.
Mr. Roy continued to reside on a farm in Marion County until 1890, when he came to Ralls County, and settled on Section 33, where he has ever since made his home. The estate is two hundred and eighty acres in extent, which he successfully manipulates and which is today a monument to his energy and ability.
The three children born to Mr. and Mrs. Roy are: Vienna F., Reuben R., and Walter White. They are both consistent members of the Baptist Church and are regarded as being very liberal toward the support of church work. Mr. Roy has always been a hard-working man and should derive much satisfaction from the part which he has played in life, building up a record which
his descendants may look upon with pride. By a course of prudence and good management he has become well-to-do financially, and in the fall of 1889, accompanied by his wife, he made a tour of the Western States, remaining away from home for nearly a year. In politics he is a Democrat.
N APOLEON B. LEWELLEN is a
wealthy and prominent citizen of Spen- cer Township, Pike County, and is now living retired from active business. He has been successfully engaged in general farming and stock-raising and at the present time is the owner of four hundred and twenty acres of fine land. He is a leader in the Baptist Church, with which he became connected in 1851, and for over forty years has held the office of Deacon. During a period of thirty years he has served as a School Director at intervals and his influence has al- ways been counted upon in everything pertain- ing to education, religion or other movements calculated to benefit the public.
Our subject's parents, James and Mary H. (Wylie) Lewellen, had a family of eight children: Zephalinda, born in 1818, became the wife of Judge William Brashear, now of Vandalia; Wil- liam, born in 1820, died in 1878; John W., re- tired farmer, living at Laddonia, Mo .; Charlotte, born in 1825, died in 1841; Napoleon B., next in order of birth; Kittie C., born in 1830, married Thomas V. Hill, farmer of Ralls County, Mo .; Mary A., born in 1833, became the wife of Geo. McGrue and is deceased; Dollie A., born in 1838, died in infancy. The father of these children was born in Lexington, Ky., in 1788, and died in Pike County, in 1872. His wife, Mary Harwood, was born in Logan County, Ky., in 1798, and died in 1881. She was a daughter of William and Mary Wylie, and sister of William, Dollie, Gil- more W. and Charlotte, all deceased.
The paternal grandparents of our subject were Jacob and Jane Lewellen, the former a native of Wales. He emigrated to Virginia with his par-
38
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PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
ents, then went to Kentucky, but finally settled in Ralls County, Mo.,. where he became an exten- sive slave-owner. He was the father of the fol- lowing children, namely: Samuel, John, Han- nah, Jacob, Martha, James, Robert, Rachel and Joseph. After the death of his first wife he mar- ried a Miss Rackeby. The maternal grandfather of our subject was a sailor in his early days and after moving to this State owned one hundred and sixty acres of land on which part of the City of Hannibal now stands.
James and Mary Lewellen were married in Logan County, Ky., in 1816, and came to this county three years later, settling on Indian Creek, in the vicinity of the present Town of New Hartford. The father killed a bear here which weighed seven hundred pounds.
The birth of N. B. Lewellen took place in Peno Township, Pike County, December 29, 1827. He remained on his father's homestead until he was twenty-two years of age, when he set forth to "paddle his own canoe." In 1851 he purchased on credit the homestead which he now owns and which comprised two hundred and eighty acres. His brother was in partnership with him and after our subject's marriage they divided the property. November 15, 1852, Mr. Lewellen chose for his partner in life's battles Agnes T. Lewellen, a second cousin. She was born in this county, reared here and was summoned to the better land December 5, 1891. Her parents, John W. and Jane (Tribue) Lewellen, were na- tives of Tennessee and were numbered among the first settlers of this locality. For a number of years they lived in Peno Township, the father being engaged in the manufacture of salt and in his honor Lake Lewellen was named. The broth- ers and sisters of Mrs. Agnes Lewellen are as follows: Serepha, widow of D. Bibb, who owned a farm in this township, and she is a resident of Frankford; Arimenta J., of Colorado, wife of A. Johnson; Adelia A., deceased; Jacob L., de- ceased; Susan, deceased, wife of H. Scanlan, of this county; Cynthia, deceased, wife of Tom Rus- sel, also deceased; Samuel, farmer of Oregon; Lulu, wife of Robert Graham, farmer of Ore- gon; Josephine (Mrs. Charles Lilly), of Oregon.
The union of Mr. and Mrs. Napoleon Lewellen was blessed with ten children: Mary, born Sep- tember 1, 1853, married William Dickerson and died at Frankford, November 13, 1873; John, born March 21, 1855, is a farmer of Greene County, Mo .; Rolla, born January 12, 1857, is a farmer in Arkansas; Serepha J., born May 14, 1859, married Frank Alvis, farmer of Phelps County, Mo .; James D., born July 23, 1861, ope- rates a farm near Vandalia; Willis N., born No- vember 20, 1863, is a farmer of Audrain Coun- ty; Dollie J., born February 24, 1866, is the wife of James M. Baity, farmer of this township; Ed- die, born May 23, 1869, is a merchant of Annada, this county; Theodore C., born November 10, 1871, married Cora Sisson, and manages the home farm; Pearl, born May 22, 1874, and wife of Tony Smith, completes the family.
J ACOB R. WELTY. The gentleman to whom we call the attention of our readers is a prominent and influential farmer of Ralls County, where he operates a quarter section of land, lying on Section 2, Township 53, Range 7. Eighty acres of this is a part of the old home- stead, and the entire property is well improved, well stocked, and in all respects an attractive and valuable piece of real estate.
Our subject, born in Jefferson County, Va., June 15, 1829, is the son of Jacob and Mary Elizabeth (Coontz) Welty. The former was born in Washington County, Md., January 13, 1793, and died January 1, 1877, while the mother's birth occurred in Jefferson County, Va., September' 13, 1797; she died June 25, 1847. Mr. Welty lo- cated in Jefferson County in 1824, and was there married to Miss Mary E. Coontz, and worked at his trade of a blacksmith until June, 1836, the year in which he made the journey to Missouri. The trip was an overland one, and Mr. Welty on his arrival here settled a mile and a half north- east of Cincinnati, Ralls County, where he lived on a rented farm for three years. We then find
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PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
him living on rented property two and one-half miles north of Perry, which he operated for a period of twenty years. From that place he moved to the tract of which our subject is now the owner. He took possession of this place when it was perfectly raw and in its primitive condition, but so ably did he manage affairs that at the time of his death, January 1, 1877, it was one of the best farms in the township.
Jacob and Mary Elizabeth Welty became the parents of three sons and three daughters. Eliza- beth Ellen is now living with our subject; John Monroe died aged nineteen years; Drusilla Ann also makes her home with our subject, who was third born; Emily Susan married Charles Phil- lips and makes her home on a farm north of Perry, and Hiram Cheney died when eight years of age. 1
The original of this sketch remained at home, aiding in the cultivation of the farm until the death of his father, our subject being then forty- eight years old. March 13, 1865, he took a trip to Christian County, Ill., and worked out on a farm until August of that year, when he returned home, and has lived there ever since. The home- stead was at first evenly divided between Jacob R. and his two sisters, and to this the former after- wards added eighty acres more, making his estate to contain one hundred and sixty acres.
Socially Mr. Welty is a Mason, belonging to Lick Creek Lodge No. 302, at Perry. In poli- tics he has always voted for Democratic candi- dates, this being the party of his choice. He is successful in his ventures as a farmer, and is well known and popular with the residents of his coni- munity.
E DWARD W. WALKER. Since sixteen years of age" Mr. Walker has made his home in Marion County, and during the greater part of that time has been engaged in agricultural pursuits. He is enterprising and in- dustrious, and through the exercise of these qual- ities has succeeded in making ample provision
for the wants of his family, and has, moreover, laid aside a certain proportion of his income, and is now living in retirement on his well culti- vated farm.
Mr. Walker was born in Virginia, January 29, 1816, a son of Benjamin C. and Ann (Wilson) Walker, also natives of the Old Dominion, the father being born there in 1788. The father was the son of Thomas and Susan (Haley) Walker, Virginians, who lived and died in that State, among whose residents they were highly re- garded. Their children, all of whom are de- ceased, were as follows: James, born August 18, 1762; Elizabeth, in April, 1764; Daniel W., January 25, 1767; Mary, April 5, 1769; Richard W., February 25, 1771; Jarrard W., May 25, 1773; Henry, May 3, 1778; Sarah, May 25, 1779, and Benjamin C., December 5, 1788.
The mother of our subject was the daughter of Edward and Ann (Bulington) Wilson, also na- tives of Virginia, in which State they were farm- ers and where they resided all their lives. They were the parents of seven children, as follows: Robert, Josiah, Erwan, Judy, Mary, Harry and Ann. Benjamin and Ann Walker were married in their native State January 27, 1813, and to them were given a family of five children, of whom Francis B. was born May 25, 1814, and died in 1883; Edward was born January 29, 1816, and is the original of this sketch; Robert H. was born April 13, 1822, and is deceased, as is like- wise Sarah H., who was born July 30, 1824; Emma C. was born September 15, 1827; she is now the wife of William T. Payne, of this county.
Edward W. Walker was united in marriage in 1840, to Miss Elizabeth Payne, who was born in Kentucky, March 8, 1822, and departed this life in January, 1863. Her parents were Francis and Harriet (Bowles) Payne, natives of the Blue Grass State, whence they came to this county in 1827. The father was a farmer and mechanic and became quite well-to-do in his ventures in Missouri, where he passed the balance of his life. To Mr. and Mrs. Payne there was born a large family, of which we make the following men- tion: David is-engaged in growing fruit in Flor- ida; Jesse is a retired farmer, living in Vernon
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County, this State; William is an agriculturist of prominence in this county; Charles is cultivat- ing a tract of land in Knox County, Mo., in which section John is also living; Benjamin is deceased; Warren makes his home in Florida, and is a traveling salesman; Elizabeth and Me- lissa are deceased; Susan A. is now the wife of J. P. Hiner, a farmer of Marion County; Berilla married W. B. Stevens and is living at Monroe City. Her husband is a retired farmer and for some time was the popular Clerk of Ralls County, Mo.
To our subject and his estimable wife there have been born thirteen children, as follows: Miss Emma F. makes her home with her par- ents; Susan is deceased; Harriet is the wife of W. B. Dresher, a retired merchant of Hannibal; Sarah is deceased; Benjamin is engaged in rais- ing fruit in Florida; William departed this life while in California; Lillie is now Mrs. W. A. Bix- ler, and lives on a fine farm in Monroe County, Mo .; David B. is an agriculturist of prominence of this county; America is now deceased, and the remaining members of the family died in in- fancy.
The original of this sketch passed the first six- teen years of his life on his father's homestead in Virginia. The family came about that time to Missouri, his father purchasing land in this county and township, where Edward lived for two years after attaining his majority. He then began the battle of life for himself, his first em- ployment being as a farm laborer. He worked for one man eighteen months and then spent the next year on the farm of his father-in-law. He then undertook to cultivate a tract on his own responsibility, renting property for two years. At the expiration of that time he moved upon a tract of forty acres which had been given him for services rendered and for fifteen years he was engaged in its cultivation. Then in company with his brother Robert he became the proprietor of his present farm, which comprised one hun- dred and twenty acres. They continued to work the place together for two years when our sub- ject purchased his brother's interest and from that time until 1890 was engaged in its opera-
tion with good success. That year he sold out, but soon thereafter bought back fifty-one acres, upon which he makes his home at the present time. He has accumulated a sufficient amount of this world's goods to enable him to live in com- fort and enjoy the fruits of his early years of toil. He is not connected with any church or- ganization and in politics never fails to cast a vote in favor of Democratic candidates. Social- ly, he is a Mason of high standing and takes great interest in the work of that order. His life has been such that he has won and held the high regard of the people of his community, and in- deed of the entire county, for he is widely known.
H ON. JAMES H. UNDERWOOD. There is probably no man better known or more favorably held in the estimation of all tlie citizens of Ralls County, than is this gentleman, whose home is on Section 29, Township 54, Range 7. The confidence reposed in him was manifested in November, 1874, when he was elected Judge of the County Courts on the Dem- ocratic ticket. That position of trust and honor was ably filled by him for four years, during which time he was noted for his wise decisions, his clear discernment of human nature, and his knowledge of right and justice. He is pre-eminently a self- made man, and owes all that he now possesses to his own hard work for years past.
The Judge was born in Pike County, Mo., June I, 1829, being a son of James and Elizabeth (Bur- bridge) Underwood, natives of Virginia and Ken- tucky, respectively. The father emigrated from Virginia to Kentucky while young and en- gaged in farming. He was married in Bath County, and continued to operate his farm in that vicinity until 1827, when he started with his fam- ily and household effects by wagon to Missouri. Arriving here he settled on what is now known as the "Chilton" farm in Pike County, renting this homestead for a year and a half. Then moving to the farm which is now owned by our subject,
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PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
he entered a quarter section of land, which was then thickly covered with timber. By the help of his sons he cleared most of the forests away and made numerous substantial improvements. As he could afford to do so, he purchased addi- tional tracts of land, until at one time he owned four hundred acres. He took a lively interest in politics and public affairs, and enjoyed the friendship and respect of all with whom he had any business or social dealings. His death oc- curred in 1876, when he had survived his faithful and loving wife some twenty years. They were the parents of seven children, of whom Julia Ann, deceased, was the wife of Alvin Powell, now also deceased; Alfred died at the age of twenty-eight years, in 1848; Mary J. is the widow of Joseph D. Tatlow, and is a resident of Monroe County, Mo .; Martha died when in her eighteenth year; George M. passed away when sixteen years of age; J. H. is the next in order of birth, and Jehu died in infancy.
The boyhood of Judge Underwood was spent in a quiet, yet happy way on his father's farm, and during a part of each year, after arriving at a suitable age, he attended the district schools of the neighborhood. He was of great assist- ance to his father in managing the farm, which he helped to clear and increase in value. He con- tinued to live with his father until the latter's death, and therefore inherited the home farm, where he has passed nearly a lifetime. The place comprises three hundred and eighty-eight acres, about two hundred and fifty acres of which is now under cultivation and finely adapted for raising corn, wheat, and other cereals, which are the principal products. The pleasant and substan- tial house in which the Judge makes his abode was erected by him in 1859.
On May 26, 1859, was celebrated the marriage of the Hon. Mr. Underwood and Miss Mary F. Phillips, a native of Oldham County, Ky., and a daughter of Isaac Phillips, who settled in Ralls County about 1857. The union of our subject and wife was blessed by six children, two of whom are deceased. Florence, the eldest, became the wife of William Culellan, of Texas; Katie E. and Leda live at home and keep house for their father ;
Jessie married John McElroy, a farmer of Mon- roe County; Samuel L. died at the age of five years, and the youngest died in infancy, unnamed. The children have received good educational privileges and have attended the High School. Mrs. Underwood was summoned to the home beyond, February 7, 1879, leaving a wide circle of sincere friends who cherish her memory. Our subject is a member of the old school Presby- terian Church, and has always been prompt and ready to contribute money for religious and be- nevolent purposes.
A LEXANDER GOSNEY is one of the leading farmers and stock-raisers of Mar- ion County, and makes his abode on his well-equipped homestead, which is located on Section 5, Township 56, Range 8. His life has been marked by the utmost honesty and fairness in all his dealings with others and thus he has constantly risen in the opinion of his neighbors and all those with whom he has come in con- tact. For many years he has been a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church and has em- bodied its exalted teachings in his daily perforni- ance of duties.
A native of Adams County, Ohio, our subject was born March 13, 1832, to David and Ann (Wilson) Gosney. The father was born in West Virginia in 1797 and in 1821 was married to Miss Wilson, who was born on the Eastern shore of Maryland, and whose death occurred November 4, 1875, when she was in her seventy-fifth year. Their union was blessed with five sons and four daughters, in order of birth as follows: Robert H., now a retired farmer of Lewis County; Eliza- beth, deceased, wife of H. P. Shaw, also deceased; Sarah J., Mrs. R. M. Clarke, a resident of this township; James W., a retired farmer of Clarence, Shelby County, Mo .; Alexander; David, de- ceased; William F., who is engaged in agricul- tural pursuits in this township; Mary A., de- ceased; and Eliza M., who became the wife of Charles H. Gosney, who, though he bore the
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same surname, was not a relative. Both she and her husband have passed from this life. David Gosney, Sr., came to Marion County in the spring of 1843 on a prospecting tour, then re- turned to Ohio, but the next year settled in the southeastern part of this township, where he pur- chased a farm and continued to dwell during his declining years. Until the war he was identified with the Whig party, but at that time voted for Breckenridge. His death occurred August 10, 1863, and his loss was widely felt in this com- munity. He was brought up in the old school Presbyterian doctrines, but never associated him- self with any congregation.
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