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 23

Author:
Publication date: 1895
Publisher: Chicago, C. O. Owen & Co.
Number of Pages: 820

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 23
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 23
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 23

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A son of Jacob W. and Elizabeth (Sloan) Spahr, our subject was born in Booneville, Mo., June 16, 1868. His father was a native of Pennsyl- vania and was of German ancestry. For a num- ber of years he was engaged in the manufacture of

tobacco at Booneville, Mo., under the firm name of Spahr & Bruester. He had emigrated to this State when quite young and here passed the re- mainder of his life, his demise occurring Novem- ber 17, 1879, åt Booneville. He was a prominent member of the I. O. O. F., having once been Deputy Grand Master of the State, and established many lodges in different sections; on his death his fraternal brethren showed their respect and love for him by erecting a fine monument to his memory. In politics he was always on the side of the Democracy. A very successful business man, he accumulated a handsome property and owned real estate at Booneville and St. Louis, but through the failure of banks and the dishon- esty of his partners he finally lost his fortune and his family was left unprovided for. His wife was born in Lexington, Ky., and their marriage was celebrated in Booneville, Mo.,; her parents were James R. and Elizabeth (Morton) Sloan. The former was for about twenty years Sheriff of Scott County, Ky., and, though now in his eighty- third year, still enjoys good health and is a resi- dent of Booneville, this State; he remembers Lin- coln when he was a lad and was a firm friend of Henry Clay. At one time James Morton owned the ground on which the United States Capitol building stands and the deeds and papers con- nected with the recovery of the value of this land were in the hands of the late Roscoe Conklin at the time of his death. Mr. Morton left Washing- ton with his wife Elizabeth and settled in Ken- tucky, going from there to Booneville, Mo., where he departed this life.

R. S. Spahr is one of eleven children, six of whom are deceased, namely: David, Lee, Morris, Anna, Grace and Mary. The others are Calla, Robert, Ida (Mrs. H. H. Westcott), a member of the firm with which our subject is connected; Madge (Mrs. J. H. Bennett of St. Louis); Helen (Mrs. A. C. Christy of St. Louis). The mother of these children is now living with her son Robert in Hannibal; the latter was reared in Booneville, where he attended the public schools. His first independent venture was to work for his uncle, Robert Sloan, on his farm. After the father's death young Spahr removed with his mother and sisters to St. Louis and was employed as a gen-

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eral errand boy for the drug firm of Eslinger & Shehan. Remaining there for about three years he then became a clerk in a railroad office for two years more, after which he traveled for a St. Louis cigar firm. On account of failing health he gave up his position and commenced teaching a dancing school, but this business was not to his liking and for some five years he was an agent for the Corticelli Silk Company of St. Louis. In 1891 he moved to Hannibal and embarked in the manufacture of shoes, under the firm name of the Meyers-Spahr Shoe Company. When the partnership was dissolved in 1894 he became a member of the present firm, which succeeded the former. He evidently inherited many of his father's superior business talents, and his own varied experiences have made him acquainted with the needs of the people and with the best methods of meeting them in trade.

August 26, 1891, Mr. Spahr married Mattie Ledley Humphreys, daughter of the senior mem- ber of the firm in which he is a partner. Mrs. Spahr is a member of the Episcopal Church and is a lady of good education and amiable qualities. Our subject is a member of Lodge No. 175, K. of P., of this city and in his political affiliations is a Democrat.

J AMES A. ELZEA,one of the oldest pioneers of Ralls County, is a native of Shenandoah County, now Warren County, Va., and was born April 2, 1824. He was the sixth of twelve children born to Samuel and Fannie (Self) Elzca, of whom six still survive.

Samuel Elzea, his father, was also a native of Virginia, and was born about the year 1793. He grew to manhood in his native State, married, and continued to make that State his home until 1835, when, with his family, he emigrated to Mis- souri, and settled in Marion County, near Han- nibal. A portion of the land which he then owned is now within the corporation limits of Hanni- bal. There he spent the remainder of his useful and happy life, dying in June, 1851. He followed farming all his days, and although a public spir-

ited man, and one of the Democratic party's best supporters he never aspired to office, but lived a peaceful and quiet life. His wife was a native Vir- ginian, also, and was born about 1798. She was a noble type of womanhood, a loving mother, a devoted wife, a friend to the needy and oppressed ; and her long life, crowned with eighty-three years of usefulness, endeared her to all who knew her. The Elzea family is descended from a race of Revolutionary heroes. The grandfather, Stephen Elzea, and the grandfather John Self, together with a number of cousins of grandfather Elzca, were in that struggle, and many a tale has our subject heard them relate in a reminiscent way of the hardships and privations endured by the men in those trying times.

The subject of our sketch grew to manhood under the parental roof, acquiring but a limited education in the primitive subscription schools, and was a lad of but eleven years of age when his parents moved to Marion County, Mo. It was here that he grew to manhood, and until some six years after attaining his majority he continued to remain at home. On October 29, 1850, his marriage with Miss Rebecca A. LaFever oc- curred, after which he removed to a farm, about seven miles north of Hannibal, and for four years farmed as a renter. He was a persevering young man, ambitious to get on in life, and his spare dol- lars during this time were laid aside to accumu- late until, at the end of the fourth year, he was in a position to buy land of his own, and with his young wife came to Ralls County and bought one hundred and sixty acres of land where he :10w lives. This was then nearly all heavily timbered, and wild game of all kinds was in abundance, although the wolves were pretty well all gone at this time. Here he gave the best years of liis life in developing the land, but as the years rolled by and he continued to increase the acres of his clearage land, he began to engage in the raising of stock, and from this on his advancement was rapid. he investing his surplus capital in more land, until his farm numbered some four hundred and forty acres.

Mrs. Elzea, the wife of our subject, was a daughter of Samuel and Rebecca (Kelso) La

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Fever, natives of Pennsylvania and Maryland re- spectively, who came to Missouri in 1820 from Ohio. Her father was born January 26, 1793, and lived to the unusual age of ninety-five ; ears, dying February 22, 1888. He was a veteran of the war of 1812, and for years drew a pension for his services then rendered. His wife, the mother of Mrs. Elzea, was a native of Maryland, born July 30, 1795, and survived her husband three years, dying March 13, being in her ninety-sixth year.

To Mr. and Mrs. Elzea have been born six children, five of whom still survive: Lindora married J. M. Keach; Van Buren is married and has three children; Fannie married John Frec- man and has three children; Emily, now the wife of Morton Bunch; Olive, now the wife of Ned Rice, and has one child. Mr. Elzea is a Demo- crat in politics, and is a member of the Baptist Church. He is a most highly respected citizen.

W ILLIAM MARTIN ELSEA, a lead- ing farmer and stock-raiser of Ralls County, is a native of this State, and was born in Macon County, May 29, 1842. He was the first of eight children born to Isaac D. and Elizabeth Ann (LeFever) Elsea, of whom five now survive. Isaac D. Elsea, the father of our subject, was born in Warren County, Va., in 1817. He there grew to manhood, and in 1840 came to Missouri and settled near Hannibal, and was there married one year later. In 1842, with his young bride, he moved to Macon County, where he bought land and settled down, there re- maining until 1865, when he removed to Pike County, Mo., and settled near Frankford, where he was destined to spend the remainder of his life, his death occurring in August, 1869. His life was devoted to farming, but he was a public spir- ited man and was always associated with any movement for the advancement of his county's welfare. He was of a kindly, genial and jovial nature, which won for him the esteem and good will of all who knew him. The mother, Eliza-

beth Ann LeFever, was born in 1821, and was a daughter of Samuel and Rebecca LeFever.

The subject of our sketch grew to manhood on his father's farm, and his education, of the most limited kind, was acquired in the primitive schools of the early days. When he reached that period of life in which he must choose an occupation, he determined to follow the life to which he had been reared, that of a farmer, and to begin life with a partner, accordingly his marriage to Miss Mary Wine occurred February 20, 1866. Shortly atfer he and his young bride came to Ralls County and settled down. Mr. Elsea is one of our self-made men, beginning life after his marriage with less than ten dollars in his pocket, with no stock on his farm, and his future possessions to be made by hard work and perseverance. For ten years he farmed as a renter, his first purchase of land being ninety-five acres some three miles northeast of his present handsome home. This was in 1875. He started under circumstances that would dis- courage the young man of the present genera- tion. After allowing for some modest building that must be done, he had but eighty dollars which he could count his own with which to pay on the land. However, he was equal to the occasion, and in five years his land was unencumbered. He then sold it and bought two hundred and twenty acres southwest of Center. This he re- tained three years, and then sold it for $1,000 more than the purchase price. He now began to think of a permanent location, and after some ex- tensive prospecting he located where he now re- sides, and had he the whole world to choose from he could scarcely have chosen a more picturesque and delightful spot. In 1891 he erected his pres- ent imposing residence, which is one of the sightly homes of this county.

Mrs. Elsea is a daughter of Leroy and Louisa (Cox) Wine. The father was a native of Vir- ginia, and removed to Kentucky with his par- ents when a child. He there grew to manhood, married and later removed to Macon County, Mo., where he still lives, his wife and himself hav- ing reached the ages of eighty-three and seventy- nine respectively. To Mr. and Mrs. Elsea have been born seven children, of whom four now sur-

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vive. They are: Ida Bell, who married Charles Homer, a progressive young farmer of Illinois; William Elliot, married and residing in Ralls County; Leroy D., and Anna Louisa, living at lome.

The subject of this sketch is well known, and is a most worthy citizen. His support of all worthy charitable movements has won for him the esteem of those who know him. Politically he is a Dent- ocrat, and religiously he is a member of the Chris- tian Church. He is also a member of the Masonic lodge, and we are pleased to give him a promi- nent place among the leading and representative men of Ralls County.

J ESSE F. ANDERSON, one of the leading grocers of Louisiana, Pike County, Mo .. was born in Macoupin County, Ill., May 26, 1837, and is a son of Thomas and Mary (Scott) Anderson. The elder Anderson was a native of Putnam County, Ind., and was a son of James Anderson, also a native of Indiana, and of Scotch ancestry. He, as well as his son Thomas, was a farmer by occupation.

Thomas Anderson settled in Macoupin County, Ill., about 1831, where he pursued farming and engaged also in the carpenter trade. He died in 1845. His wife was a native of North Carolina, and the daughter of Robert Scott, who was also a native of the same State. She died in 1839. The father was a member of the Baptist Church. They were the parents of five children: William, a farmer of Macoupin County, Ill .; James M., of Jersey County, Ill .; Robert, a twin brother, who died in infancy; Jesse F., our subject, and Joseph M., who lives in Jasper County, Mo.

The early life of our subject was spent on a farm in Macoupin County, Ill., where he remained until sixteen years of age. He then went to learn the trade of a machinist at Carlinville, and was there about a year and a half when the firm failed, and he went to Missouri and ran a sawmill in Buffalo Township, Pike County. This business he carried on for about eight years, when the

Civil war aroused the country to arms and he en- listed in Company D, Thirty-Third Regiment, Missouri Volunteer Infantry, and was mustered in at Louisiana. Before this, however, he was in the State Militia. His regiment was first ordered to St. Louis, and later to Rolla, and from there to Memphis, Tenn. While the regiment was at St. Louis, our subject was taken sick and sent to the hospital, where he remained about two months. He was mustered out of service in March, 1864, on account of disability, and returned home.

After his return, and when health was fully re- stored, Mr. Anderson engaged in farming in Buf- falo Township, where he continued for ten years. He then sold his farm and removed to Louisiana and engaged in the grocery business in partner- ship with M. J. Hassler, under the firm name of Hassler & Anderson. This arrangement con- tinued about three years, when Mr. Anderson bought his partner's interest and carried on the business in his own name. In 1890 he sold out to accept the position of City Marshal, to which * office he was elected on the Republican ticket. He was reelected in 1891 for a second term.

In 1894 he again entered the grocery business in connection with stock-buying. under the firm name of Scott & Anderson. Their grocery house is located at No. 117 South Third Street, where they carry a full line of fancy and staple groceries and have built up a fine and profitable trade. They are also doing a good business in the stock trade, shipping mostly to St. Louis.

Mr. Anderson was married October 12, 1865, to Martha Jane Scott, daughter of Andrew J. and Ann (Templeton) Scott, the latter a native of Pike County, while her parents were natives of Indiana and Missouri respectively. They are yet living in Buffalo Township. One child was born to our subject and his wife, Owen, who is now about eighteen years of age and is taking a course at the Gem City Business College at Quincy, Ill. Mrs. Anderson died June 13, 1892. She was a member of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church.

In politics Mr. Anderson is a Republican, and was City Treasurer in 1888 for one term. He was City Marshal for two years. In 1890 he was nominated by the Republicans for Sheriff, but

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the county being Democratic, he was defeated. In the spring of 1885 he was elected Alderman for the Second Ward, and was Chairman of the Fire Committee and was a member of the Street and Alley Committee. Socially he is a member of Anchor Lodge No. 60, K. of P .; Riverside Lodge No. 22, A. O. U. W., and of the G. A. R. Post No. 20. Mr. Anderson is a member of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church, and takes an active interest in all church matters. In politics, as has been indicated, he is a Republican, and has served his party on various committees. He is interested in the development of his city and contributes largely of his time to this end. As a citizen he is much esteemed.

J AMES T. TISDALE. Perhaps no man now living in Cuivre Township is more widely known, and certainly no family stands higher in the annals of this region than that of which the subject of this sketch is a worthy rep- resentative. He is the son of James D. and Mar- tha A. (Boxley) Tisdale, the former of whom was born August 10, 18II, in Louisa County, Va. He made the journey to this State in the fall of 1831, at once entering land in Pike County. He married in 1832 the daughter of Thomas and Patsy Boxley, and their five children were James T., Catherine, William, and twins; the latter were born in March, 1844 and died in June of the same year.

James T. was born December 2, 1835, and when at the age of nineteen began learning the blacksmith's trade. After serving an apprentice- ship and becoming familiar with the business, he built a shop in Bowling Green and operated it until 1861, in partnership with R. M. Penn. In addition to smithing they manufactured wagons, carriages, etc., and did a thriving business.

In June, 1861, our subject disposed of his in- terest in the shop and entered the ranks of the Union Army. He enlisted in Company D, Third Missouri Infantry, and rendered efficient service guarding the border and scouting through the

State. After the war our subject, accompanied by his mother and sister Catherine, moved upon a quarter section of land which Mrs. Tisdale had purchased at $16 per acre.

James D. Tisdale, father of our subject, was the proprietor of the inn in the county seat of this county, which was erected in 1837. At the same time he ran a stage line from St. Charles to Pal- myra, in Marion County, this being the first line of coaches ever made use of in the county. In 1840 he rented property in Bowling Green, and later, moving upon a farm on the banks of the Mississippi, conducted a wood yard in addition to cultivating the soil. To these industries was afterward added the stave business, blacksmithing and grocery store, the latter of which was located on the Illinois side. In 1844 he lost three thou- sand cords of wood, together with all his fences, by the overflowing of the river. In the spring following we find him located in Bowling Green, where he established himself in the tobacco busi- ness, conducting the same for a twelvemonth. He then moved back to his river location and built a large warehouse for the storage of farm produce, which he shipped by boat to the large cities. At the same time he was the owner of a wood yard, which he carried on until the spring of 1851, and on September 9 of that year he died. His wife survived him until February 23, 1869, when she, too, passed away. Their son, William, was drowned in August, 1848, by falling from a skiff while boating on the Mississippi River.

Mrs. Tisdale had one sister, Catherine S. Box- ley, who was born June 18, 1807, and married James Cowherd, a resident of Louisa County, Va. Emily Young, a half sister, married Charles Baker, and also makes her home in the above county in Virginia. The mother of our subject made the journey to this State in company with her sister, Mrs. Cowherd. Her mother was Miss Patsey Day before her marriage, and was born in Spottsylvania County, Va., where her parents were owners of a large plantation, worked by slave labor. Her mother, great-grandmother of Mr. Tisdale, bore the name of Taylor and was a relative of President Taylor.

Catharine Tisdale was born December 13,

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1838, near Bowling Green, and during her girl- hood was given good advantages for obtaining an education, of which she made the best use. Her later years were passed in attendance at the Ladies' Select School of Hannibal, where she was a student for two years. She was a true Christian lady and a devoted member of the Baptist Church.

G EORGE C. WISE is one of the promi- nent and respected citizens of Bowling Green, and is local representative for a number of the leading life, fire and accident in- surance companies of the United States. It is now some fifteen years since he embarked in this venture, and during this time he has won the esteem and confidence of all who have had deal- ings with him in any way. He comes from one of the sterling old families of Missouri, and is a na- tive of Pike County, his birth having occurred in Louisiana, November 12, 1850.

The parents of the above-named gentleman are William Wallace and Susan (McLoed) Wise. The former was born in Maryland February 27, 1792. and emigrated to Kentucky with his parents in an carly day, settling in Butler County. In the first part of the '30's he moved to Missouri, and for some time lived near Chantilly. Lincoln County. At length he came to this county and engaged in commercial pursuits in Clarksville : thence going to Louisiana in 1844, where he also was interested in merchandising. Next he went to Sugar Creek, where he owned a store, and, being a physician by profession, also practiced to some extent. For two years he operated a farm in Cuivre Township, and in the fall of 1857 went to Audrain County, where for ten years lie practiced and cultivated a farm. In 1867 he re- sumed merchandising in Louisiana, but in Feb- ruary, 1870, returned to his farm in Cuivre Town- ship, Audrain County. Mo., where he died June 4, 1880. A member of the Baptist Church, he was noted for his generous and kindly disposition. At

one time he was Judge of Pike County, and was also Justice of the Peace, being elected on the Democratic ticket. His wife, a native of Ken- tucky, came to Missouri in 1822 with her parents, William and Sallie (Stark) McLoed. They set- tled in Calumet Township, west of Clarksville, and there Mrs. Wise grew to womanhood. She became the mother of five children, of whom George and James are deceased; Susie died at the age of ten years, and Caleb P., resides in Wells- ville, Mo., and at his home the mother is now passing her remaining years.

George C. Wise spent his boyhood at Louisi- ana, and when the family moved to Bowling Green attended school at that place. During the war he and his elder half-brother carried on the old farm, but afterwards he returned to Louisi- ana and attended the private school conducted by the Misses Martins, during the winter of 1867- 68. The following year he engaged in agricul- tural pursuits, and was thus employed until 1869, when he came to this place and embarked in the drug business, in which he was fairly successful for about thirteen years, when he sold out to his brother, John R. He now represents the New York Life, the Germania Fire, the Northwestern National of Milwaukce. Wis., the American Fire of Philadelphia. the Western Assurance Com- pany of Toronto, and many other insurance com- panies, among which are Lloyd's Plate Glass of New York. From 1890 to 1892 he was a mem- ber of the City Council, to which honor he was elected by the Democratic party. He is a mem- ber of the Masonic order, belonging to Phoenix Lodge No. 136, of this place.

September 22, 1881 G. C. Wise was united in marriage with Sallie C. Smith, in this city. She was born in Pike County, but her parents, who are both deceased, and who were named respect- ively John and Amanda (Hawkins) Smith, were natives of Kentucky. Mr. and Mrs. Wise have had five children, namely: Cass, deceased; Wal- lace W., John S., George C., Jr., and Ruth A. The parents are members of the Baptist Church, and have a pleasant and hospitable home.

JUDGE GEORGE L. HARDY.

PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

225

HON. GEORGE L. HARDY.

H ON. GEORGE L. HARDY is one of the old and honored residents of Ralls County, where he has made his home for the past sixty-five years. With the exception of two years, he has dwelt within the limits of Saline Township, and since 1857 has lived on his present homestead. About 1835 he was elected Justice of the Peace and made a most efficient officer for twelve years. He was elected to serve as Judge of Ralls County in 1849, and held the position for eight years, when he resigned, with the expecta- tion of leaving the county, but ultimately changed his plans. Thus, as can be readily seen, he held very important positions in the early judiciary in this section, and helped materially in molding the government of the infant county.

Our subject's parents, Casper and Elizabeth (McAtee) Hardy, were natives of Hagerstown, Md., and Emmetsburg, Md., born respectively March 6, 1788, and June 4, 1790. The former died April 4, 1874, and his good wife in 1852. Their marriage occurred in their native State, April 16, 1811, and a short time thereafter the young couple moved to Scott County, Ky., where our subject was born, July 27, 1813. They re- mained in Scott County until 1830, when they made a permanent settlement in Salt River Town- ship, Ralls County, this State. Casper Hardy ran a distillery and engaged in farming while in Ken- tucky, shipping products to New Orleans on flat- boats. He owned large tracts of land and a nuin- ber of slaves, but after his arrival in this section lived retired from active business. To himself and wife were born five sons and six daughters, namely: Joseph A., deceased; George L .; Ver- linda, Mrs. Leake, deceased; James R .; George W., deceased; Susan M., widow of James McFer- ran, of Jasper County, Mo .; Theresa, Mrs. J.

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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 23

Author: Publication date: 1895 Publisher: Chicago, C. O. Owen & Co. Number of Pages: 820

Author:
Publication date: 1895
Publisher: Chicago, C. O. Owen & Co.
Number of Pages: 820