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 106
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 106
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 106
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42 | Part 43 | Part 44 | Part 45 | Part 46 | Part 47 | Part 48 | Part 49 | Part 50 | Part 51 | Part 52 | Part 53 | Part 54 | Part 55 | Part 56 | Part 57 | Part 58 | Part 59 | Part 60 | Part 61 | Part 62 | Part 63 | Part 64 | Part 65 | Part 66 | Part 67 | Part 68 | Part 69 | Part 70 | Part 71 | Part 72 | Part 73 | Part 74 | Part 75 | Part 76 | Part 77 | Part 78 | Part 79 | Part 80 | Part 81 | Part 82 | Part 83 | Part 84 | Part 85 | Part 86 | Part 87 | Part 88 | Part 89 | Part 90 | Part 91 | Part 92 | Part 93 | Part 94 | Part 95 | Part 96 | Part 97 | Part 98 | Part 99 | Part 100 | Part 101 | Part 102 | Part 103 | Part 104 | Part 105 | Part 106 | Part 107
Our subject obtained a fair education in the common schools and during vacations worked hard on the home farm. He resided with his par- ents until reaching his twenty-third year, when he was married to Annie E. Wolf. She was born in Virginia on November 13, 1833, and was the daughter of Daniel and Sarah E. (Balthorpe) Wolf, both of whom came to this State at an early day and died on a farm which they owned in Shelby County.
Two years after his union with Miss Wolf our subject purchased one hundred and sixty acres, which are included in his present farm. It was timber land when he took possession and its nice- ly improved condition represents much hard la- bor on his part. To this land he added until now he owns three hundred and seventy-five acres of some of the most valuable land in the county. It lies in Township 59, Range 8, and the uses to which it is put yield its possessor a handsome in- come.
To Mr. and Mrs. Simmons have been born seven children, whose names are: Dora, now the wife of William K. Bragg, and living in Shelby County, this State; Sarah E., now the wife of Charles Carlyle, who also makes his home in the
same county; Annie May, who died when four- teen years of age; Lulu B., now Mrs. George Jones, of Shelby County ; Etta H., now the wife of Carson Swisher, and living in this State; William L., now a resident of St. Louis; Lydia May, now the wife of George Taylor, farmer of Shelby Coun- ty. They have all been given the best educations possible to obtain in the public school and are in- telligently informed on all subjects of interest and importance.
Our subject has served in the capacity of School Director for many years and during the existence of the Whig party voted for its candidate; now, however, he is a stanch Democrat. He is self- made in all that the term implies and is well thought of in the community wherein he has re- sided for so many years. Both himself and wife are active members of the Baptist Church, toward the support of which they are liberal and constant contributors.
D R. HUGH P. LEWIS is a popular prac- ticing physician of Curryville, Spencer Township, Pike County. He has re- sided here since April, 1867, and is known far and near in this region for his faithful attention to his duties and the efficient manner in which he has always discharged the same. Although inter- ested in public matters and in political affairs, he has never had time to hold office. His first Presi- dential ballot was cast for Bell and Everett, and since then he has always rendered his allegiance to the Democracy.
The Doctor's parents were Luke and Eliza- beth A. (Pearcy) Lewis, natives of Shelby County, Ky., the father having been born in 1810 and the mother one year later. Mr. Lewis was a son of Jesse and Rhoda (Bell) Lewis, Virginians, who emigrated to Kentucky, where they were among the pioneers. Mrs. Elizabeth Lewis was a daughter of Hugh and Ann (Chastine) Pearcy, natives of Virginia and Tennessee, respectively. Mr. Pearcy was in the War of 1812, under . Jackson, and on being mustered out of the
793
PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
service at New Orleans walked from that city to his home in Kentucky. He died at a good old age in Monroe County, Mo. Luke Lewis died in April, 1884, but his wife was called to her final rest a number of years before (1862). They were married in Shelby County, Ky., and had four sons and two daughters, namely: Sarah and John, deceased; Jesse, who taught school for some thirty years and was a School Commis- sioner for ten years, and afterward served as Circuit Clerk of Monroe County, Mo .; Ann E., widow of Kindred Rose, is now the Postmistress of Curryville; Joseph A., youngest of the family, is engaged in farming near Vandalia, Mo. Luke Lewis was for several years a Justice of the Peace and was a man of much prominence in his sec- tion.
Dr. H. P. Lewis is a native of Monroe Coun- ty, Mo., his birth having occurred November 22, 1838. He was reared on his father's farm, in that locality, until he was twenty years of age and supplemented his elementary education by a year's study in the Shelbyville Seminary. After- ward he taught school in his home county for about seven months and then attended Bethel College, Palmyra, for one term. He then re- sumed teaching and for one year had charge of schools in Pike County. In 1862 he took up the study of medicine and read in the offices of Drs. Tucker and Wicks, Spencerburgh, Mo. In 1863-64 he attended lectures at Rush Medical College, Chicago, and then entered into partner- ship with Dr. Benjamin Tucker, in Monroe County, Mo., where he remained for two years. Then going to Frankford, Pike County, he prac- ticed for one year in company with Dr. M. Tucker; finally he settled permanently in Curry- ville, where he has lived for over a quarter of a century.
February 14, 1862, Dr. Lewis married Miss Lou Givens, born in this county June 8, 1844, and a daughter of Samuel R. and Elizabeth (Chinn) Givens. The former was born in Ken- tucky in 1814 and many years since was an ex- tensive farmer and slave-owner. He died in Clarksville, Mo., in 1895. The doctor and wife have had four sons and three daughters, namely:
H. Ernest, now in the livery business in this place; Samuel L., a merchant of Tanner, Mo .; Jesse C., deceased; Nanny B., wife of Samuel Williams, a farmer of Indian Township, this county ; Pearl and Lillie, twins, who died in in- fancy; Elizabeth, who also died when young. Mr. and Mrs. Lewis are members of the Mission- ary Baptist Church and enjoy the friendship of a large circle of acquaintances.
W ILLIAM L. SHOULTS is one of the progressive farmers of Ralls County, his home being on Section 17, Town- ship 53, Range 7. That the farmers of the coun- try constitute its bone and sinew is a fact which has long been recognized by political economists, and it would be difficult to find a more worthy representative of the tillers of the soil than he of whom we write. He was born three and a half miles north of Centre, Ralls County, Mo., No- vember 21, 1833, grew to maturity and has passed nearly his entire life within its boundaries.
Our subject's father, Alexander Shoults, was born in Germany, and with his parents came to America in 1801, settling in Charleston, S. C., and later settled on the line between that State and North Carolina. There the grandfather carried on a blacksmith shop in connection with farming for several years, when he moved to Perry County, Mo., in which he built a shop and worked at his trade, besides managing a farm until his death. Alexander Shoults was one of eight children, who, upon the demise of their father, started out to make their own way in the world. He married Eleanor Whitledge, and began housekeeping in Louisiana, Pike County, on a farm about a mile from that place. In 1832 they moved to Ralls County, entering eighty acres of timber land, a few miles north of Centre. This the father cleared and erected thereon a good home, making many other im- provements, and here he continued to dwell until death put an end to his labors, July 10, 1884, at
794
PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
the ripe old age of eighty-six years. His wife died in 1866, when in her sixty-seventh year. Their eleven children were named as follows: Eliza, Jane, Mary Ann, Caroline, Marcus G., William L., Hettie, Nancy, Margaret, Elder, and Lucy. As there were very few schools in those days the children received very limited educa- tional advantages and were early set to work to carn their livelihood.
When seventeen years of age, William L. Shoults commenced learning the blacksmith's trade in Pike County, Mo., where he worked for · some time, then going to Audrain County, where he opened a shop for himself. At the same time he cultivated a farm of one hundred and sixty acres in that locality for five years. September I, 1857, he was united in marriage with Mary J., daughter of Leonard and Jane (Hissen) Kelch. She was born in Virginia, June 9, 1842, and was deprived of her father's love and care when she was but four years of age. He was of Scotch- Irish lineage, and was one of the pioneers of Mon- roe County, Mo., his death occurring near Paris. After that event his widow removed to Shannon County, Mo., where she died in 1860. In the spring of 1871 Mr. Shoults moved to the farm where he is still living, buying a quarter section of land on which he built a comfortable dwelling and other farm structures.
In the spring of 1862, Mr. Shoults enlisted in the State Militia at New London, under Col. Tinker and Capt. Southwood. He took part in several skirmishes and engagements that year, and in 1864 enlisted in the regular service as a member of Company E, Thirty-ninth Infantry, commanded by Capt. Weldon and Col. Kutzner. At Jefferson City they met the forces of Gen. Price and engaged him in a battle. Next they were ordered to Tennessee, but arrived too late to participate in the battle of Nashville, and there- fore went to Macon City, Mo., where, March 28, 1865, they were honorably discharged. While at Huntsville, Mo., our subject was in the hospital for three weeks, suffering from throat trouble, but with that exception was not absent from the post of duty. On his return home he resumed the care of his farm, which he has changed greatly
for the better, and has bought additional property, making the place one of two hundred acres.
The union of Mr. and Mrs. Shoults was blessed with thirteen children, viz: Alice, born January 10, 1859, died September 13, 1874; Ella, born December 23, 1860, became the wife of Samuel McElroy, a farmer of this township, and died June 21, 1875; Mary, born May 28, 1862, widow of William Burns, resides with her parents; Sarah, born April 4, 1865, died in infancy; Amanda, born December 9, 1866, married John Richards, and lives in Arizona; Alexander, born April 18, 1868, died October 2, 1869; Jacob L., born June 15. 1870, is now a resident of Monroe County ; Annie May, born November 8, 1872, is at home; James L., born April II, 1875, died August 17, 1877: Bertha, born November 28, 1876, died in in- fancy; Myrtle, born August 7, 1878, is still with her parents; Rob Ray, born January 20, 1880, died September 30, 1887; and Eddie K., born September 28, 1883, died July 5, 1884.
In his social relations Mr. Shoults is a member of the Ancient Order of United Workmen, be- longing to the lodge at Perry. He is a stanch Republican in politics and a firm believer in the principles and measures set forth by that party. He and his estimable wife are members of the Christian Church and enjoy the friendship and good will of all who have the pleasure of their acquaintance.
N OAH SWISHER is an enterprising and progressive farmer of Township 59, Range 8, Marion County. He moved to his present farm a number of years ago, and has since made substantial improvements on the place, greatly increasing its value and desirability. He deserves great credit for his success in life, as he started out a poor boy, being a member of a large family and early obliged to make his own way in the world. By degrees he advanced toward a po- sition of affluence by constant attention to busi- ness and by unremitting energy in all his transac- tions.
795
PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
Mr. Swisher is a native of Virginia, his birth having occurred in Shenandoah County August 22, 1833. His parents, Joseph and Anna (Funk- hansen) Swisher, were also natives of the Old Do- minion and passed their entire married life in Shenandoah County, the father dying in the spring of 1875 and the mother in the same year. By trade he was a tanner and worked at that call- ing and at farming until shortly before his de- mise. To himself and wife were born ten children, namely: Daniel, William, David, Levi, Noah, Morris, Joseph, Mary, Martha and Rebecca.'
Our subject remained at home until he was twenty-one years of age and then started forth to seek a fortune, or at least a home and competence. Going to Hancock County, Ill., he rented a farm for two years, after which he went to Pottawatta- mie County, Iowa, and there engaged in agricul- tural pursuits for a year. After a few months spent in Virginia, whither he had gone for a visit, he came West again (1867), settling near Palmyra, this county. He rented a farm at first and continued to cultivate the place for fourteen years. He then moved to the homestead which he now operates and which comprises two hundred and forty acres. He has been very successful in his business undertakings and what he now pos- sesses represents his own and wife's honest labor. In 1867 he was elected Justice of the Peace and made a capable officer during the year of his term. Since becoming a voter he has given his ballot to Democratic nominees and takes much interest in the prosperity of that party.
February 9, 1859, Mr. Swisher married Sarah A. Carson, who was born February 1, 1841, in Marion County, and is the daughter of Simon and Ann Carson, natives of Virginia, and pio- neers of this county. The father came here when he was only twelve years of age and is now en- gaged in farming seven miles west of Palmyra.
Our subject and his wife have had a family of eleven" children, all of whom have received good common-school educations: William I., the eld- est, is now teaching in Nebraska; Simon Carson is the second of the family; Cyrus died at the age of fifteen months, and Ada Virginia married Dr. Rhodes and is at present living near Cherry Dell.
The younger children, who are at home, are: Ella, Cora, Alvin, James, Emmet, Anna and Guy.
Mr. and Mrs. Swisher are members of the Bap- tist Church of their home district and contribute both of their means and influence to the promo- tion of its various departments of activity. They are worthy people, much esteemed by their large circle of friends and acquaintances.
B ENJAMIN C. JOHNSTON. Among the successful business men of Marion County is this gentleman whose home is on Sec -- tion 9, Township 59, Range 6. He makes a spe- cialty of raising and feeding hogs and cattle, of which he raises large numbers, and besides this he buys and ships extensively, his market being Chicago for the main part. He makes shipments from every station in this vicinity along the road from La Belle to Quincy. He owns one hundred and eighty acres of improved farm land, whereon he grows a general line of crops common to this locality, and raises and feeds from one hundred and fifty to two hundred hogs per year, an ex- cellent average for a non-professional stockman.
Benjamin C. Johnston was born December 4, 1854, on the old Johnston homestead, whither his grandfather had come, about 1828, from Harrison County, Va. He settled first in St. Louis County, but two years afterward concluded to locate in this vicinity. He was born in the Old Dominion and was married in his native county to Hannah Wiseman. He entered three hundred and twenty acres of Government land in Fabius Township, which homestead still goes by his name, and on this is situated the old Johnston Mill.
Our subject and wife became the parents of twelve children, as follows: Sarah, who married and with her husband is deceased; Isaac, father of our subject; Jacob, who was unmarried, lived with his next older brother until his death; Eliza- beth, deceased, wife of Andrew Anderson, also de- ceased; Joseph, who is now a resident of Lewis County; Benjamin, who was the proprietor of the.
796
PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
old farm until 1892, when he sold out, removing to Lewis County; Rebecca, deceased, wife of Jo- siah Wiseman of this county; Abraham, who is living in this State; John, who died in early man- hood; Calvin, who is a resident of Fabius Town- ship; Mary, who married Alexander Wiseman of this county; Frances, who died in childhood.
Isaac Johnston was born in Harrison County, W. Va., on November 8, 1813, and was a youth of fifteen years when he emigrated to Missouri with his father. Soon afterward in company with his brother Jacob he entered four hundred and twen- ty acres of land, now the property of our subject and his mother. The brothers continued their business in harmonious relations until they were parted by death. They owned everything in part- nership with the exception of the land, which was deeded separately. Isaac Johnston departed this life on July 30, 1877, but his wife who was Miss Nancy Singleton before their marriage, which oc- curred on January 12, 1843, is still living on the old home place. She was born on October 8, 1821, in Culpeper County, Va., and is a daughter of Minor W. and Anna (Barbie) Singleton. For over eighteen years she has been a faithful mem- ber of the Christian Church at Antioch.
Benjamin C. Johnston is one of six children, the others being: James W., born May 19, 1847, and died August 23, 1863; Mary A., born December 29, 1849, and who married William L. Nelson, of this county; John C., born September 16, 1851, and died July 26, 1862; Ella V., born September 3, 1863, married Charles Throckmorton, and died in Lewis County, July 6, 1886; Ada F., born May 9, 1867, and now the wife of John A. Dear- ing, of this county.
Our subject was reared under the parental roof and given a common-school education. When he was twenty-four years of age he was married February 12, 1880, to Minnie, daughter of Alex- ander and Rebecca Lindsey, natives of Pennsyl- vania and Virginia respectively. Mrs. Johnston was born in Marion County, February 21, 1861, and had three children, namely: Grace, born January 20, 1881; Everett C., born October 16, 1884; Bessie E., born October 29, 1888, and died November 2, 1890. The children are very bright
and the little daughter has become quite proficient in music.
After the death of his father B. C. Johnston took care of the farm, but after his marriage pur- chased the adjoining place, which had been tlie property of his Uncle Jacob. He built a good house and made other improvements on the farm, where he has since been a resident. He is a young man of much ability and is prospering even be- yond his ambitious expectations. He enjoys the companionship of his wife and children and is es- teemed by his neighbors. In 1889 he became one of the charter members of Round Grove Lodge No. 421, A. O. U. W., of Hester, and has held the office of Overseer. He is also identified with Fabius Lodge No. 267, I. O. O. F., of Maywood. Politically he supports the Democratic party.
R OBERT RICHARDS MENEFEE. In the history of the early settlement of Ralls County there is probably no more honored name than that borne by many representatives of the Menefee family. Our subject's paternal grand- father Richard, a native of Kentucky, was a pio- neer of Bath County and donated the land on which the county seat of Owensville was located. He was a well-to-do farmer, ran a pottery shop, and was a Captain in the War of 1812. He repre- sented his district in the State Legislature for some time, serving with honor to himself and constitu- ents. His death occurred in Bath County, where he had so long resided. His son, Alvin Mene- fee, father of him whose name heads this sketch, was born in 1803, and emigrated to Ralls County, Mo., in wagons about 1833, and after living for a year with his sister, Mrs. Meyer, entered two hun- dred and twenty-two and a half acres of land, on which our subject is now living. His entries were made under Presidents Van Buren, Jackson and Tyler. Most of this land was covered with timber and the old log cabin which he erected in 1834 is still standing in a good state of preservation. In this cabin the senior Menefee continued to dwell
797
PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
until his death, which occurred in 1878. He was a successful farmer and was a great hunter, hav- ing a local reputation as such. He was Justice of the Peace for many years and was identified with the Masonic Order, of which he was one of the oldest members at the time of his death. He was first a Whig, but later became a Democrat, and was a member of the Christian Church.
In 1828 Alvin Menefee was married to Jenelly Richards, who was born in Bath County, Ky., in 1818, and died in 1848. She was a daughter of Robert Richards, who was a distinguished man in his native State. Of this union nine children were born, as follows: Mary, born in 1829, be- came the wife of E. H. Hopkins, and died in 1874; her husband afterward removed to Perry, Mo .; Jaala R., born in 1831, became the wife of James A. Abbey, now of Mexico, Mo .; they have never had any children of their own, but always had several adopted children under their care; Je- mima, born 1835, died in 1856; Richard, born in 1837, was murdered in Ralls County, May 31, 1871; Robert, of this sketch, is the next in order of birth; Henry, born in 1844, married a Miss Parish, since deceased, and is now living on a farm in Illinois; John Q., born in 1846, married Miss Matilda Mayhall, and died in 1886. His wife is also deceased, and their children are living at the home of our subject. The two youngest of the Menefee family died in infancy.
Our subject was born in the old log cabin on the Menefee homestead, February 1, 1841, and re- ceived his education in an old-fashioned log school-house. He continued to live with his par- ents until he was twenty-four years of age, when he rented the farm which belonged to his brother Richard, in this county, and carried it on suc- cessfully for three years. In 1878 he determined to see a little of the West and in company with Robert Campbell and J. C. Whitman started for California across the plains. They went direct to Yolo County, where he worked at farming and various pursuits until October, 1886, when he re- turned home, his father having died in the mean . time. He then took charge of the old farm and soon bought out the other heirs. He now has one hundred and forty acres of valuable land, all
but forty acres of which is under good cultiva- tion, corn, wheat and oats being the principal crops.
In December, 1861, Mr. Menefee enlisted in Company E, Eleventh Missouri Cavalry, under Capt. Cohen and-Col. Lipscomb, but on account of poor health was soon discharged. He took part in several engagements but was never in- jured in any way. After returning home from the regular army he was commissioned as First Lieu- tenant by Gov. Thomas Fletcher, of Missouri. He has been a life-long Democrat and an enthus- iastic believer in the principles of the party. So- cially the only fraternity with which he is iden- tified is the I. O. O. F. He has never married and his brother's children live with him in order to be of assistance and to keep him company. For years he has been a faithful member of the Christian Church, and holds the office of Elder.
P O. SCHOLL and L. B. BUCHANAN, liverymen of Clarksville, are widely · known throughout Pike County, where they are conducting an honorable, first-class business. Their barns are filled with the best make of vehicles, which they let at reasonable prices. They give their entire attention to in- creasing their already large patronage and are justly classed among the live business men of the city.
Perry O. Scholl, the senior member of the firm, is a native of Pike County and was born on June 17, 1854. His parents were Lycurgus G. and Sarah (Limerick) Scholl. Perry was edu- cated in the common schools of his home town- ship, and in the schools of Clarksville. He re- mained on his father's farm until he had attained the age of thirty years, when he began in life for himself on a tract of land in Calumet Township. The vocation of farming he continued to work at until in August, 1891, when, in partnership with Mr. Buchanan, he became. established in the livery business at Clarksville.
.
39
798
PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
Mr. Scholl was married December 29, 1887, to Miss Lou E. Buchanan, daughter of Williani and Sarah (Dugan) Buchanan, and sister of his partner. He is a stanch supporter of Democratic principles and withal a very pleasant gentleman, who is esteemed by all who know him.
Grandfather Mountjoy Scholl and Grandfather John Limerick were : both pioneers of Pike County, coming here sometime in the twenties. The first named was a native of Maryland, while on his mother's side he is descended from a Ken- tucky family. Both these ancestors of our sub- ject took up Congress land when locating here, one making his home in Prairieville Township, where he was the owner of over two hundred acres of land, and the other settling in Calumet Township, where was located his tract of one hundred acres.
Lloyd B. Buchanan, the junior member of the above firm, is a native of Montgomery County, Mo., and was born October 6, 1860. His par- ents were William B. and Sarah (Dugan) Bu- chanan, natives of Virginia, who emigrated to Montgomery County, this State, in an early day in its history. There Lloyd was reared to man's
estate and attended the schools taught in the dis- trict. When twenty-five years of age he began farming for himself in this county and township, whither his father and family had removed in 1865. He continued to make agriculture his vo- cation until August, 1891, at which time he be- came associated with Mr. Scholl in the livery business.
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.