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 20
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 20
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 20
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
197
PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
party of people who had been caught in the floating ice.
The father of our subject was ordained in 1838 by the McGee Presbytery of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church, and preached in various counties of Northern Missouri all his life; he died at the home of his daughter, Mrs. John A. Fox, near Macon, in 189i. He was married to Eliza- beth A. Young, daughter of the Hon. Benjamin Young, September 6, 1838. To them were born ten children, only four of whom lived to attain mature years; they were: Benjamin Eli, Robert James, Virginia A. and Lavinia E. The sons at- tended school at Savannah, conducted by Rcv. Charles Goshen, in 1851-52. Subsequently the elder son attended Chapel Hill College, Lafay- ette County, this State. During the winter of 1856-57 he and his brother were students of Col. A. W. Slayback, St. Joseph, Mo.
In 1858 both sons were pursuing their studies in the McGee College, and were there when Gen. Jackson issued his call for fifty thousand volun- teers (1861). Our subject was within two weeks of being graduated, but, loyal to his country, hc laid aside his books and entered the service of the State and was in Gen. Price's campaign of 1861. He commanded a company which he took into the Confederate service, and in April of the next year it became Company I, Fifth Missouri In- fantry. He suffered many hardships and priva- tions as a soldier, on one occasion being taken prisoner. He was later, May, 1865, paroled at Jackson, Miss., and in June he began teaching near Grenada.
In 1867 he was elected to the chair of Lan- guages in the McGee College, Macon County, Mo., and continued to teach there until 1874. That year he resigned his professorship, and in April, 1875, was elected County School Commis- sioner of Macon County, serving in this capacity for two terms. In September of the same year he was admitted to the bar, and in 1878 was elected Prosecuting Attorney. He occupied this very trying position for a period of four years, since which time he has devoted himself to pri- vate practice. In 1879 he was appointed Reporter of the Kansas City Court of Appeals.
Mr. Guthrie was married August 31, 1873, to Miss Susie A., daughter of Robert C. Mitchell of College Mound, this State. They occupy a beat- tiful home in. Macon and are numbered among its most useful and respected citizens. They have one son living, Robert Allen, who resides with his parents and attends Missouri Valley College.
J OHN C. ALLISON was born on the old Davis Farm, Township 58, Marion Coun- ty, July 3, 1845. He was early thrown on his own resources and has been the architect of his own fortunes. His years of industrious toil and unremitting effort have been rewarded and he is now the owner of a valuable farm in Town- ship 58, Range 8.
Our subject is a son of William and Frances (Davis) Allison, the former a native of Washing- · ton City, D. C. He was a cabinetmaker by trade and at an early day moved westward to Hannibal, Mo., then a small town. For several years he was employed at his trade, and was finally hon- ored with the position of City Marshal. In 1849 he resigned his office in order to go to California. He arrived on the Pacific Slope in 1849 and worked as a teamster, and for some time was engaged in mining with fair success. While working in a mine the earth caved in and when he was extricated by his comrades he was breath- ing his last. His wife died in this county, near Hannibal. They had four children, of whom El- len (Mrs. Culler) resides in Oakdale, Mo .; James W. lives in the West, and Samuel F. is a resident of Shelbyville.
When our subject had reached his fifteenth year he began working for neighboring farmers, and was thus employed for several years, a portion of the time working in tobacco factories in Hanni- bal; learning the trade of rolling tobacco he worked at the same a year or more. His inclina- tions from boyhood, however, had pointed to ag- ricultural pursuits, so about 1875 he purchased eighty acres, his present home. He has made substantial improvements on the place and keeps everything in excellent condition.
198
PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
In 1875 Mr. Allison married Adelaide F. Pope, who was born August 16, 1856, and who was called to her final rest September 16, 1892. She was a daughter of George H. Pope, a well-known farmer of this township and who is represented elsewhere in this volume. Mr. and Mrs. Allison are the parents of the following children: Fran- ces G., born September 28, 1876; William, born August II, 1879; Emma, born July 28, 1881; John, born September II, 1883; Gertrude, born November 4, 1887. The children are all attend- ing the district schools and are bright and prom- ising. In June, 1893, Mr. Allison married Ella, daughter of Zachary and Mary Anton, all na- tives of Virginia; Mrs. Allison, when only four years of age, came to Missouri with her parents, who are still residents of this township, their home being on a farm located on Section 30.
At the age of eighteen years J. C. Allison en- listed in Company K, Thirty-ninth Missouri In- fantry, under Col. Cutzner and Capt. Lyle. At the end of nine months' service he was honorably discharged and returned home. He has always been an advocate of the Republican party plat- form and uses his influence on its behalf. Mrs. Allison, who is a well-educated and lovable lady, is a member of the Baptist Church.
H ORACE QUINTUS HUMPHREYS. To this gentleman belongs the credit of establishing a new industry for Hannibal, as in October, 1894, he organized a company un- der the firm name of the Humphreys-Spahr Shoe Company, whose factory is located at No. 137 Market .street, in the German-American Bank Building. The proprietors manufacture infants' soft-soled shoes and moccasins, overgaiters of va- rious descriptions and several kinds of soft-soled house shoes and slippers for ladies. They are making extensive preparations to enlarge their business and to make ultimately all kinds of la- dies' and children's footgear. In their particu- lar line of goods they are pioneers in the West, but the field is promising and they have already more orders than they can immediately fill.
Mr. Humphreys was born in Georgetown, Ky., January II, 1836, and is a son of Dr. James H., a native of Kentucky. In 1839 he moved to Ralls County, Mo., where with his sons he engaged in farming and also practiced medicine to some ex- tent. In 1849 he came to Hannibal and embarked in the drug business with N. P. Kunkle. His death occurred in 1855 and that of his wife in 1865. She was before her marriage Miss Joanna Hickey of Kentucky, in which state their union was celebrated. They became the parents of nine children, as follows: David, the eldest, died in British Columbia (whither he had gone from Cali- fornia and was engaged in mining interests) from the effects of eating what he supposed to be mush- rooms; James H. is now living on the Pacific Slope; Sallie is the widow of George A. Hawes; Thomas died in California; Elizabeth (Mrs. J. M. Armstrong) is a resident of Denver, Col .; Charles died in Hannibal; Perry and Walter died in infancy; Horace Q. completes the number.
The first ten years of our subject's life were spent on his father's farm in Ralls County, Mo., where he attended private schools on arriving at a suitable age. After coming to Hannibal he was a student in the public schools and was the first boy to sell newspapers on the streets of this city, being thus employed for about a year. Dur- ing Buchanan's administration he was given a clerkship in the postoffice and afterward clerked in a dry-goods store for about ten years, his em- ployers during all this period being Hawes & Armstrong. In 1894 he became interested in the insurance business, but finding a better opening, as he believed, abandoned this pursuit within a few months. In October, 1894, he bought out the senior member of the Meyers & Spahır Shoe Company, which had started in business the pre- vious summer, and a new company was formed, extensive plans at once being made to enlarge the business; its trade is steadily increasing and ex- tends over all the Western and Southern States and Territories. It is an enterprise of much promise and will undoubtedly be of great assist- ance in the development and upbuilding of Han- nibal. At present the firm employs an average of twenty-five hands, but it will soon be necessary to have a much larger force to keep abreast of its
.
199
PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
trade. Mr. Humphreys is a man of quick and active mind, one who improves his opportunities, and, being practical as well as enthusiastic, he is bound to rise in the world. His varied business experiences have fitted him for the industry he has taken up and which is steadily growing in popularity.
November 30, 1865, Mr. Humphreys was mar- ried in Hannibal to Sallie B., daughter of J. J. and Martha (Ledlie) Cruikshank, old and respect- ed settlers of this place; the father is a prominent lumber dealer. Mrs. Humphreys was born in Pittsburgh, Pa., and by her marriage has become the mother of six children, namely: Charles H., a resident of Macon, Georgia, city electrician; John C. (deceased), twin brother of Charles; Joseph (deceased); Mattie (Mrs. Robert S. Spahr); Edith C., at home; Horace Q., Jr. Mrs. Humphreys is a devout member of the Episcopal Church, to which our subject also belongs. He uses his ballot in favor of the Democratic party, though his father was a Whig; the latter came from a prominent Kentucky family and was a friend of the great statesman, Henry Clay.
J AMES M. BARR is the proprietor of one of the finest farms in Lewis County, his home being located in Union Township. In 1894 he built the handsome residence he now occupies and has furnished it in excellent taste. He follows general farming and stock-raising and, though in his career he met with many difficulties and discouragements, he pressed bravely forward, overcoming the obstacles, and has at last reaped his reward.
The paternal grandfather of the above-named gentleman was born in North Carolina and at an early day moved to Breckinridge County, Ky., where he engaged in farming and acquired a large tract of land. He fought in the War of 1812 and at the Battle of New Orleans narrowly escaped being made a prisoner by the Indians, as he was sick and helpless, but was rescued by his com- rades. He continued to dwell on his Kentucky plantation until his death, which occurred at a
ripe old age on January 10, 1891. His son, Jerry B., father of James M. Barr, was a native of Breckinridge County, where he was born January 19, 1819. In 1840 he wedded Mary A. Dowell, also of the Blue Grass State, who died in 1856; some time after her death he married Sarah J. Cochran in La Harpe, Ill. The Barr family have been faithful members of the Methodist Episcopal Church for four generations. J. B. Barr was known as a very zealous and earnest worker in the Church and led a sincere Christian life. In the fall of 1861 he moved to Lewis County, where he lived for several years, during which period he was twice elected Justice of the Peace. In all his relations with his fellows his dealings were above reproach, as justice and integrity of word and deed marked every action.
Like his father, a native of Breckinridge Coun- ty, James M. Barr of this sketch was born Jan- uary I, 1843. He was reared under the guidance and constant example of his worthy parents and attended the common schools of Illinois. After his father had removed to Missouri James re- mained on the Illinois farm for several months in order to effect a final settlement of the senior's business affairs, which were in a complicated condition. At this time disaster seemed to pur- sue the family, for when our subject arrived at the new home in Missouri he found that early in the day his father's hand had been cut off in his saw- mill. When twenty-two years of age James started on his independent career, working at various employments as opportunity afforded, and for nearly six years had charge of his father's sawmill. About 1874 he came to his present homestead and the following year lost his entire crop and the result of his summer's work by freshets and floods. When he took possession of this farm it was a tract of land covered with wild brush, and by good management he has changed all this, bringing it to its present high state of cultivation. He may well be proud of his success and of the fact that he has never in his life had a lawsuit with anyone.
November 12, 1874, Mr. Barr married Alice, daughter of William and Henrietta (Hopkins) Gill of Lewis County, but the following year (Sep- tember 4, 1875) Mrs. Barr was summoned to the
200
PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
silent land. December 10, 1876, our subject mar- ried Fannie Gill, a sister of his first wife, and one child, William H., born December 31, 1877, is the result of this union. Mr. Barr realizes the advantages of a good education and is giving his son liberal advantages in that direction. Relig- iously he and his wife are members of the Meth- odist Episcopal Church of Hebron; fraternally he belongs to Maywood Lodge No. 267, I. O. O. F., and has held a number of offices in the same. He affiliates with the Democratic party and has served efficiently as School Director in his district.
I SAAC D. ELSEA bears the reputation of being an enterprising agriculturist and a straightforward, honest man. He is now the owner of the home farm, which he has managed with skill and profit since it came into his posses- sion. Mr. Elsea was born July 5, 1858, in Macon County, this State, and was the youngest but one in the parental family of eight children.
Isaac D. and Elizabeth Ann (Le Fever) Elsea, the parents of our subject, were old and respected residents of this section and their loss in the com- munity was greatly felt at the time of their de- mise. A full history of this couple will appear in the sketch of our subject's brother, William M. Elsea. The other members of the family who sur- vive are Victoria, the wife of S. L. Sisson; Vir- ginia, Mrs. G. T. Brown; and Emmet. J.
Isaac D., of this history acquired his education in the common schools and became well in- formed in all of the common branches then taught. He was deprived of his father's care when a lad of eleven years, but was carefully trained by his excellent mother, who looked well to the ways of her household. Besides car- ing for her large family, she assumed the re- sponsibility of managing the estate, carrying on operations in a business-like manner until her sons were old enough to relieve her of the work. When our subject attained mature years the management was gradually turned over to him, until, with the assistance of his younger brother,
he carried on the farm work alone. In 1886, however, he purchased the interest of the heirs in the home place, with the exception of his mother's share, which she retained until her death, when he was given the deed to the entire property. He is a thoroughly practical farmer, and his progressive spirit shows itself in the improvements which he has put on the place and the handsome profit which he reaps' each year from its cultivation. He occupies a front rank among the representative farmers of the county, and bids fair to become well known throughout the agricultural circles of the State. He has hosts of friends in this community who wish for him a long and prosperous life.
Mr. Elsea helps forward the Democratic cause in his township, but is in no sense of the term an office-seeker. In his religious views he ad- heres to the faith of the Cumberland Presby- terian Church. He has always attended strictly to his own business and always gets along well with his neighbors. He begrudges happiness to no one, is no man's enemy, and has no ene- mies of his own, but on the contrary has many friends.
J AMES M. KEACH is a representative of one of the pioneer families of Missouri, and is a native of Ralls County, born in the house where he now lives, January 21, 1855. He is the last of nine children born to John H. and Mary (Lake) Keach, of whom six still survive. (See sketch of John W. Keach on another page of this work).
The subject of this sketch grew to manhood in his native county and acquired his primary edu- cation in the common school, finishing with a course at the Kirksville Normal School. Reared to farm life, he determined to continue in that vo- cation, and accordingly began his career as an as- sistant manager of his father's farm. After the death of his mother, who followed her husband to his long rest some two years later, the home farm was sold and the subject of our sketch, in con- junction with his brother John W., purchased it.
201
PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
The farm consisted of two hundred and fifty acres, and the brothers at once began its cultivation in partnership. In the fall of 1884 they purchased another tract of land, consisting of two hundred and forty-seven acres, and until the year 1890 they continued to share the results of their labor. At this time their business interests became such that they could more advantageously work separ- ately, and they decided to divide their landed in- terests.
1 Since the division of their land, our subject has acquired some additional land, and his farm is now one of the most valuable in this section. He was married November 20, 1879, to Lendora El- sea, a daughter of James A. and Adeline (Le Fever) Elsea. The family is one of the oldest in Ralls County, a sketch of which appears else- where in this volume. With a cheerful and lov- ing wife to preside over his household, our sub- ject's life became one of renewed interest. By their union two children have been born, one of whom died in childhood. Mary R., the surviv- ing one, is yet an inmate of the parental home, and the pride of her parents. Mr. Keach holds · the esteem of those who know him second to none in the county. The name of Keach is synon- ymous with honesty and straightforward dealing. In politics he is a Democrat, and religiously he is a member of the Missionary Baptist Church, of which his wife is also a member.
J OHN M. HAMEL, who is one of the most popular officials of Macon County, was elected to the office of Recorder of Deeds in 1894. Previous to that time he had been Post- master of La Plata, where he makes his home, and while living in La Plata was chosen by the people of that city as their Mayor.
Mr. Hamel was born in St. Joe, this State, October 24, 1860, and is the son of John J. and Rosina (Aubenschein) Hamel, natives of Ger- many. The father learned the saddler's trade in Wurtemburg, and after coming to America in 1844 made his way from New York City to Pitts-
burg, Pa., where he was given Government work, making harness and saddles to be used in the Mexican War. He afterward came west to St. Louis, Mo., and joined the forty-niners going to California. On arriving in the Golden State he mined for a time, but spent the greater portion of his stay there working at his trade, being em- ployed by the authorities at Yreka in fitting out a regiment of soldiers for the Modoc War. When ready to return to the Mississippi Valley he came by way of the Isthmus of Panama and New York City. In the latter place he met Miss Auben- schein, who became his wife in December, 1859. The young couple then came to St. Joe, where the father of our subject was established in the grocery business. The breaking out of the Civil War led him to close out his stock of goods at this point and going to St. Louis he again worked at the saddler's trade in the employ of the govern- ment.
In 1864 John J. Hamel went to Ottumwa, Iowa, where he continued to follow his trade, but two years later returned to this State and made his permanent home at La Plata, where his death occurred January 14, 1894. He had led a very busy life and was recognized throughout the community as a man of sound judgment and good business ability; his widow still survives. To them were born eight children: John M., the original of this sketch, the eldest; Emma, the wife of Emmett Smith, a traveling man residing in Fort Worth, Texas; Lucy, engaged in the millin- ery business at La Plata; Linnie, wife of W. J. Griffin, of the above city; Mollie makes her home at Fort Worth, Texas; James F., a harnessmaker of La Plata; Tillie and May, at home.
John M. Hamel was brought up to the business of his father, working at this trade from the time he was old enough to be of any assistance until elected to the honored office of Mayor of La Plata. In May, 1889, he was appointed Post- master under the administration of Harrison, but in January, 1894, was succeeded by a Democratic friend. He was not long in private life, however, for that same year he was brought forward as a candidate for the office of Recorder of Deeds and being elected was installed January 1, 1895. He
-
202
PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
has always been very popular in his official ca- pacity, discharging the duties of every position with characteristic fidelity and to the satisfaction of all concerned. Socially Mr. Hamel is a K. of P., being a member of La Plata Lodge, No. 256. In politics he is a Republican first, last and all the time, having cast his first Presidential vote for James G. Blaine.
T HOMAS WASHINGTON LAFOE is numbered among the energetic and enter- prising young farmers of Marion County, where he has passed nearly his entire life. He was born on the farm which he is now engaged in cultivating December 7, 1860, and grew to maturity on these broad and fertile acres. He has always been interested in whatever has tended to advance the interests of this community and is esteemed by a host of sincere friends.
The parents of our subject, Abner and Elizabeth (Moreland) Lafoe, were natives of Kentucky and Virginia respectively. The former came to Mis- souri among the first settlers and located one hun- dred and ninety acres on North River, this town- ship. He made many improvements on his farm and lived there for several years, then selling out and investing in eighty acres, the tract now owned by his son Thomas. This was in 1855 and a few years later Mr. Lafoe bought another forty acres and actively engaged in its improvement until shortly before his death, which occurred in 1866. His first wife died, and some time after that event he married our subject's mother. Three children graced their union: William Abner, the eldest, married Emma Antney and is a resident of this neighborhood; Thomas W., next in order of birth; Samuel R., the youngest, married Nettie Stevenson and is a farmer of this locality.
The boyhood of our subject passed uneventful- ly, his time being devoted to work and play in the usual manner of farmer lads. He received a good general education, and being an apt student, made rapid progress on the road to learning. He con- tinued to live at the old home until he was nine- teen years of age, when he started for California
with Mr. Kizer and remained on the Pacific Slope about eight months; returning home he stayed here for a few months and then went again to the Golden State, where he worked on a ranch for three years.
In January, 1889, Mr. Lafoe married Lena Ragar, who was born in Kentucky in 1874, being a daughter of James and Susan (Matlock) Ragar, who are now living on a farm two miles north of our subject's homestead. The young couple have three children, namely: Lizzie Myrtle, Anna Lee and Thomas Clay. After his marriage Mr. Lafoe moved to the eighty-acre farm which his father left to him, and has since been engaged in the management of the place. He is a practical young man in his ideas relating to agriculture and has amply demonstrated his ability. Since casting his first Presidential ballot he has stanch- ly defended the principles set forth by the Dem- ocratic party.
J AMES SAMUEL KEITH is a representa- tive farmer of Ralls County, and a native of Marion County, Mo. He was the second of a family of eight children born to James H. and Sarah A. (LeFever) Keith, a sketch of whom ap- pears elsewhere in this work. He grew to man- hood under the parental roof, and acquired his education in the common school. Arriving at the age when one begins to think of doing for himself, he chose a life partner in the person of Miss Anna Collins. Their marriage occurred July 27, 1882, after which he settled down with his young wife to life under a cloudless sky for two years. After his marriage, he farmed as a renter and then his father gave him the use of one hundred and twenty-nine acres of growing tim- ber land, under condition of his clearing off the ground and keeping up the fences, since which time he has gotten under cultivation eighty-five acres of land, and is gradually making it one of the valuable farms of the county.
Mrs. Keith is a native of Adams County, Ill., born May 26, 1864. She was the second of eight children born to John B. and Eliza (Dempsey)
203
PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
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.