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 26
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 26
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 26
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Frank H. Sosey was born February 14, 1864, and like most of the native sons of Palmyra re- ceived his education in the Seminary and St. Paul's College of that place. In April, 1892, he wedded Miss Sally, daughter of Judge Thomas W. Hawkins, one of the best known and most representative men of this section. The young couple have one child, Donald H. Socially Mr. Sosey is identified with the Masonic Order, be- longing to the Chapter and Commandery.
John M. Sosey, brother of our subject, was born April 24, 1868, and graduated from Palmyra Seminary when in his nineteenth year. He is a young man of practical ability, and like his broth- er, possesses those traits of character which sooner or later bring success. They are both personally very popular and have hosts of sincere friends.
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They are numbered among the active and inter- ested members of the Methodist Episcopal Church South. John M. married (April 16, 1895) Eloise Mumpower, daughter of Rev. J. A. Mumpower, pastor of the Methodist Episcopal Church South, Gallatin, Mo. She was born in Gallatin Decem- ber 6, 1875, and is a graduate in music of the Hardin College, Mexico, Mo.
W ILLIAM J. BRISCOE, one of the leading farmers and stock-raisers of Ralls County, and a member of one of its oldest families, was born in Monroe County, Mo., December 5, 1838. He was the first of two children born to John and Emily S. (Biggs) Bris- coe, both of whom are living. The father, John Briscoe, was a native of Kentucky, born in Scott County in 1810. He lived in his native State until his seventeenth year, when his parents ami- grated to Missouri. In his younger days he taught school, and on reaching manhood he mar- ried Miss Biggs, of Pike County, and shortly afterwards moved with his young bride to Mon- roe County, where he lived until the death of his wife some eight years later, she dying Marclı 22, 1844. With his two children he then moved to Ralls County, and settled some four miles west of where our subject now lives. On August 4, 1846, he was again married, his second wife being Miss Martha A. Hayes, a native of Pennsylvania, by whom he had two children, one of whom is living. In 1851 he moved to the place where our subject now lives, and where, except at short intervals spent in New London, he was destined to spend the remainder of a useful and a happy life. John Briscoe was a very successful agriculturist, and accumulated considerable wealth, but like many others lost much property during the Civil war. He was very liberal in his views and of a generous nature, and never allowed any one to leave his door hungry. In 1877 he gave each of his chil- dren a fine farmi. He was a devout member of the Baptist Church for fifty-six years and was a warm friend to liberal and popular education. His
death, which occurred December 17, 189.4, was a loss to the community in which he lived.
Emily S. Biggs, the first wife of John Briscoe, was born December 11, 1819, in Pike County, Mo. It was here she grew to womanhood and met and married Mr. Briscoe. After their re- moval to Monroe County, Mrs. Briscoe became one of the founders of the Hickory Grove Baptist Church, and did much to encourage the growth of the church. She was an ardent Christian and a friend to the suffering and needy, who one and all paid tribute to her memory by their presence at her funeral.
John Briscoe, the grandfather of our subject, was of Welsh descent, but was born in Mary- land January 12, 1772, moving with his parents to Kentucky when a child. He there grew to manhood, reared his family, and in 1827 moved to Ralls County, Mo., where he resided until his death, October 20, 1854. He married Miss Jane DeLashmet, who was born in Maryland July 15, 1780. Her death occurred December 3, 1859.
William Biggs, the grandfather of our subject on his mother's side, was of Scotch-Irish descent, but was a native of North Carolina. He came to Missouri with his parents and was among the earliest settlers of Pike County. He married Elizabeth McCune, and both died many years ago. (The history of the Biggs family will be found on another page of this volume).
The subject of this sketch grew to manhood under the parental roof, and acquired his educa- tion in the district schools. After obtaining his majority he chose for his life vocation the occu- pation of a farmer, to which he had been reared. He began his career on a farm of two hundred and forty acres, which he had acquired some tinie previously. This was in 1859. Plodding along until 1863, his marriage with Miss Sarah E. Clay- ton occurred, September 15, and he commenced life under brighter auspices. Some years later his health failed him, and in 1875 his physician advised him to give up farming and move to town. Acting on this advice he engaged in the drug business in Center, but after some three years, during which time he had continued to manage his farm as well, he became very much
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dissatisfied with the former occupation, and on the first oportunity he disposed of the store and returned to his farm, where he remained until 1881, when he exchanged that farm, which had become one of three hundred and twenty acres, for the one which he now owns and where he has since resided.
Mrs. Briscoe was a daughter of George and Sarah (White) Clayton, natives of Virginia and Kentucky, respectively, both of whom came to Missouri with their parents. Sarah E. was born in Monroe County, Mo., October 23, 1840, and growing to womanhood under the loving guid- ance of intelligent parents, through her sunny and cheerful nature has made our subject's home one of happiness and contentment. To this union have been born six children, five of whom are yet living. Sarah E. married J. F. Lake, of Audrain County, and has four children; Jack is a promis- ing young man assisting in the management of the home farm; Anna McCune married Nathanial Lee Inge, of Waxahachie, Texas; Georgia May and Ethel B. yet remain at home.
Politically, Mr. Briscoe is a Democrat, and re- ligiously, he is a member of the Baptist Church, his membership dating back some forty years. He is a member of the Masonic fraternity, Knights of Pythias and United Workmen.
J ACOB W. COONTZ, Postmaster of New London, is a native of Ralls County, born August 2, 1861, and is a son of Jacob and Mary Jane (Asher) Coontz. The father was a na- tive of Jefferson County, Va., and was the son of John Coontz, also a native of Virginia, but of Ger- man ancestry. He was a farmer by occupation, and came to Ralls County, Mo., in 1844, and died in 1858. His wife died in Virginia before the family came West. Jacob was born December 9, 1815, in Jefferson County, Va., and came to Missouri in 1844, settling in Center Township, Ralls County, where he purchased a farm which he cul- tivated up to the time of his death. He received his education in the common schools in Vir-
ginia, and at the age of twenty went to Ohio, lo- cating near Columbus, where he engaged in trad- ing and farming. He was there about nine years when he came to Missouri, having accumulated means to purchase a farm. His first purchase was two hundred and twenty-five acres, which he cultivated, and later added about two hundred acres to the original purchase. The family lived and cultivated the land together. Jacob Coontz was a Democrat, and took an active interest in party matters. He served his township in many conventions as a delegate, but did not desire of- ficial position. In religion he was a Methodist. His wife is a native of Kentucky, born February 18, 1827, in Scott County, near Georgetown, and is the daughter of Charles Asher. She came to Missouri with her parents in 1832, settling in Ralls County on the farm on which she now re- sides. She is a member of the Methodist Episco- pal Church. They were the parents of eight chil- dren: James, deceased; Emma, now the wife of John B. Smith, a farmer of Center Township; Eugene, living with his mother; Charles, engaged in farming in Center Township; Columbus, de- ceased; Mary, wife of B. F. Keithley, a farmer in Center Township; Jacob W., our subject; Ruth, now the wife of George M. Hart.
The subject of this sketch was reared on the home farm, where he received a common school education. In 1886 he went to Lexington and entered the commercial college of Kentucky Uni- versity, from which he was graduated December 22, 1886. Returning home he engaged in farm- ing for two years, and then came to New London to accept the Deputy Collectorship under H. W. Ogle, State and County Collector for Ralls County. He was in that service four years, or until March, 1893. He was a candidate in 1892 for the office of State and County Collector, and was defeated for the nomination by Mr. Winn, being second in a contest of four candidates. On June 15, 1893, he was appointed by President Cleveland Postmaster of New London, and took charge of the office July 4 following.
Jacob W. Coontz was married November 10, 1891, to Gussie Mayhall, daughter of C. C. M. and Belle (Miller) Mayhall. She was born in New
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London, Mo., November 3, 1872, and died Feb- ruary 12, 1895. She was a member of the Chris- tian Church. In politics Mr. Coontz is a Demo- crat, and has taken an active part in political af- fairs in this county. He is a charter member of the K. of P. of New London, and has passed through all the chairs. Mr. Coontz is a young man of sterling worth and greatly esteemed in the community where he resides. He is making a very efficient, accommodating and popular Postmaster.
M ICHAEL ARTHUR BAKER is Chief Train Dispatcher and Superintendent of Telegraph for the St.L., K. & N .- W. R R. and the C., B. & K. C. Ry. at Hannibal. His superiors feel that all matters left in his hands are safe and it would indeed be hard to find a man better qualified to fill the position or one more reliable in every way. In placing him at the head of this important department the Burling- ton system made an excellent choice and mani- fested their keen judgment of men. He has risen from the ranks strictly upon his own merits.
The birth of our subject occurred in Rome, Henry County, Iowa, September 29, 1862, his parents being Patrick and Johanna (Ambrose) Baker. The former was born March 17, 1819, in County Clare, Ireland, and crossed the At- lantic, landing on the shores of the New World (New York City) in June, 1849; in that city he remained for about six years and then became a resident of Elmira, N. Y. A year later he came west and settled in the city of Burlington, Iowa. While in New York he was engaged in clerking in a store and when at Elmira was employed on a farm. After his arrival in the West he engaged in railroading and was employed by the B. & M., now the C., B. & Q. R. R. In 1888 he retired from this arduous business and is now living near . racy and attends the Catholic Church.
Mount Pleasant, Iowa, where he has a farm. In Henry County he has held different positions, among which were those of Supervisor and Treas- urer of the School Fund of Tippecanoe Township. He is a Democrat, having been identified with the party since receiving his naturalization papers. Religiously he is a member of the Catholic Church. His father was a soldier in the English Army and was a man of fine physique and upright bearing; the latter's wife Johanna was a native of County Limerick, though she was of French de- scent, and came to the United States with her parents at an early day, settling in New York. There she was married in 1855, and her death occurred August 2, 1890, at Rome, Iowa; her parents died in New York State.
M. A. Baker is the second in a family of seven children: Katharine of Centerville, Iowa, is the eldest; John C. is a ticket agent and telegraph operator for the Burlington Road at Mount Pleasant, Iowa; Margaret and Josephine and James (the two last named the youngest of the family) are at home; William is Train Dispatcher for the Burlington system at Hannibal, Mo. Our subject attended the public schools of his native town until fourteen years of age, when he left home to carve out his own way in life. Going to Burlington, he entered the general offices of the Burlington system as telegraph operator, having learned the art while at school; this position he held until 1881, when he was promoted to be clerk of Chief Train Dispatcher J. Q. Beck. The fol- lowing year he was again promoted and made Train Dispatcher, and in 1883, when the Burling- ton System absorbed the St. L., K. & N .- W. and C.,B. & K. C. roads, he was transferred to Keokuk, where he remained two years. The value of his fidelity to duty was manifested when he was made Chief Train Dispatcher and Superintendent of Telegraph, in 1885, and three years later, when the headquarters of the company were moved to Hannibal, he was transferred there. Like his father before him he is a member of the Democ-
Cuclark
PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
243
HON. CHARLES NELSON CLARK.
H ON. CHARLES NELSON CLARK, member of Congress from the First Con- gressional District of Missouri. The great work of the subject of this biography, and one of which he has dreamed since boyhood, is the rec- lamation of Mississippi River bottom lands, and for twenty-five years he has devoted much of his energy to the accomplishment of this purpose. He has neglected no means and has appeared be- fore the local Legislatures time and again in order to get appropriations passed or bills carried through which would aid him in this immense un- dertaking. About one million dollars has been expended in building necessary levees, and, with the exception of a Government appropriation of fifty thousand dollars, this large sum has been realized by taxing the land thus reclaimed. . The . sanitary importance of the enterprise is undoubt- ed; Hannibal, Louisiana and many other river towns have reaped much good and the channel of the river has been deepened, and thus naviga- tion has been assisted.
Jonathan Clark, grandfather of the gentleman whose name heads this biography, was three gen- erations removed from Thomas Clark, of Eng- land, who founded the family in the United States. Jonathan Clark took part in the War of the Revo- lution from the beginning to the end and was present at the celebrated "Boston Tea Party." He afterward was granted a pension for his services and died in Washington, N. H., in January, 1846. His son Thomas, father of Col. Clark, was born in that village, and to some extent followed the occupation of his sire as a farmer, engaging also in contracting. He was connected with the build- ing of the Binghamton & Chenango Canal, and
about 1843 moved to Ohio, where he settled on a farm in Chesterfield, Lucas County. His death occurred at the home of his son in Morenci, Len- awee County, Mich. He was a prominent mem- ber of the Baptist Church and politically a Whig. His wife, Miss Rhoda Kinney, was likewise a native of New Hampshire. By their union nine children were born, namely: . Rolna, wife of the Rev. S. S. Day of the Coromandel Mission, India ; Hosea, who is living in Otsego, Mich .; Edward, who died in infancy; James, who died while being educated for the ministry at the Theological Sem- inary at Hamilton, N. Y .; Edward, the second of the name, a resident of Morenci, Mich .; Gilbert, of Adrian, Mich .; Murilla, wife of Joseph L. Roise; William H., who is in College Springs, Iowa; Charles N.
The early life of the subject of this biography was passed near Hamilton, N. Y., whither his par- ents had removed in order to give their children better educational advantages. He was born in Cortland County, N. Y., August 21, 1827, and, after passing several terms in Hamilton Academy, went with the family to Ohio; here he practically became the head of the family, as his father had suffered severe financial losses. After his mar- riage he went to Wauseon, Fulton County, Ohio, and assisted in getting the county seat located at that place, and also put up one of the first dwell- ing-houses in the town. In 1859 he located tem- porarily in Mount Pleasant, Ill., where he engaged in general trade until the breaking out of the war of the rebellion.
August, 1861, Mr. Clark enlisted in Company G, Third Illinois Cavalry, being mustered in as Orderly Sergeant. He was sent to Camp Butler,
8
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near Springfield, where the regiment was regular- ly organized with Eugene A. Carr as Colonel, and then sent to Benton Barracks, near St. Louis. Later they were stationed at Rolla, Mo., and spent the winter in scouting. In the spring they moved westward and, under the leadership of Fre- mont, assisted in driving Price into Arkansas. They followed the celebrated Confederate as far south as Boston Mountain, Ark., when they turned back and were followed by Price, with whom they had the well-known engagement at Pea Ridge, on March 6, 7 and 8, 1862. Mr. Clark was promoted to be Second Lieutenant of Com- pany G, which company was detached from the regiment and made the bodyguard of Brig .- Gen. Carr, who had been promoted. About this time Mr. Clark was made First Lieutenant, and with his command began the march across the State to Helena, fighting nearly all of the distance, and for thirty days the Government lost trace of them, all communication being cut off. They remained in Helena until November, having numerous en- gagements in that locality. Gen. Carr, who had been wounded at Pea Ridge, was afterward or- dered to St. Louis to occupy a position as Com- mandant at that post, and Lieut. Clark's company was ordered to attend as a bodyguard. They helped to capture Arkansas Post and, under Sher- man, made the first attack on Vicksburg. In the spring of 1863 Lieut. Clark resigned on account of disability and returned home to recruit his shat- tered health.
As soon as Mr. Clark was sufficiently recovered he embarked in the commission business at Quin- cy, Ill., and in 1865 became a permanent resident of Hannibal. He first turned his attention to the insurance business and took an active part in revising the laws governing the same. In 1870 lie gave up all his other lines of work to devote himself entirely to his project of recovering the alluvial land which is covered by the Mississippi a large portion of the year unless held back by dykes. He was obliged to do pioneer work in this direction, as there were no laws which cov- ered the case, either in Illinois or in Missouri, and in company with O. H. Browning of Quincy, Judge Underwood of St. Clair and several others he drew up'a bill which was passed in the Spring-
field Legislature and became a part of the statutes. This act provided for the construction of drains, ditches, levees, etc., and Col. Clark was now in a position to go ahead with his plans. He organ- ized a company which was called the Mississippi Agricultural and Drainage Association. The cap- ital stock of the concern was one hundred thou- sand dollars; S. M. Spencer was made president, Col. Clark vice-president and secretary and M. D. Massey of Canton, Ill., treasurer. A topograplı- ical survey was made of the country lying along the river with the result that it was believed that over one hundred thousand acres might be re- claimed at an estimated cost of five dollars per acre. The following winter Mr. Clark went to Springfield, where he obtained the proper authori- ty to issue bonds for use in the enterprise. The bill was passed, but Gov. Palmer was opposed to it as unconstitutional and against public policy, but after a long conflict his signature was finally secured through the able management and diplo- macy of Col. Clark. The bonds were given to meet the contract on the estimates of civil engi- neers and the ground was broken September 2, 1872, some sixteen miles of levee being put up during that fall and winter. Before this a petition was circulated in this county and a jury was ap- pointed by the Court under the provisions of the statutes to make investigations and find out if it would be beneficial to this section of the country to become interested financially in the matter. They reported favorably and a jury of twelve men was instructed to assess the lands thus reclaimed in proportion to the benefit received, this assess- ment to be paid in ten equal annual installments, and bonds were issued under the law, which were a lien upon this assessment; from the sale of these bonds means were raised for the construction of this levee. Messrs. Kelsey, Fuller and Pierce of Chicago were the contractors. By 1874 fifty-two miles of levee had been completed and over one hundred thousand acres reclaimed. That year the company issued bonds for one hundred and fifty thousand dollars more to complete the work. Col. Clark had bought several thousand acres of land in the meantime and engaged extensively in culti- vating wheat and corn. Although the levees oc- casionally broke, they were soon repaired. As
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there had been some litigation on the ground of unconstitutionality, the affair was carried into court and an amendment to the constitution was made. The maximum assessment on the land is now twenty cents an acre annually for repairs necessary.
In 1883 Col. Clark managed to secure a con- vention in Washington, having previously been appointed one of an executive committee of sixty members to advance the idea of the improvement of the Mississippi River in various ways, and was made chairman of the Missouri delegation. He clearly demonstrated to the members of the con- vention the advisability of maintaining and con- structing levees both for the good that would be done in reclaiming such tracts of alluvial soil and to promote better navigation. It is estimated that the increased value of land, which was formerly almost useless on account of the overflows, is from twenty-five to fifty dollars an acre. In 1892 Col. Clark was a candidate for State Senator (on the Republican ticket) for the Thirteenth District, but was defeated, as the party was in the minority. Two years later, however, he was a candidate for the Fifty-fourth Congress, and, after being nomi- nated at Macon City, July 10, was elected the following November by a majority of four hun- dred and twenty-nine votes. He has always been a stanch Republican since the party was organized, and, though he has never been an office-seeker, it is believed that he will be a potent factor in securing laws to advance the commercial and other interests of the country bordering on the Mississippi River.
Col. Clark was married July 6, 1850, in Ohio, to Lucia, eldest daughter of Elisha and Nancy (Hill) Huntington, natives of Oswego County, N. Y. Mr. Clark and his estimable wife lost their only son, Edward, who was born April 24, 1854, and died December 3, 1860. Socially the subject of this sketch is a charter member of W. T. Sher- man Post, G. A. R., and has served as Adjutant- General of the G. A. R. for the Department of Missouri.
Col. Clark has now a fine opportunity to ad- vance the great enterprise of his life, and in Con- gress and out of it his indefatigable mind and un- tiring energy will not rest until it is accomplished.
He will then become one of the benefactors of the country, and will go down in history an honor to the State and the Nation, his name enrolled among the famous men of his time.
M ATTHEW EMISON, one of the leading druggists of New London, was born in Ralls County, October 10, 1842. His par- ents were James and Susan (Turley) Emison, the former of whom was born in Scott County, Ky., November 12, 1809. He was brought to Mis- souri by, his parents when quite young, locating with them in Ralls County. The grandfather, James, was a well-to-do farmer in this section, and lived in Spencer Township, where he died. His family included six children, viz: Hugh, Matthew, James, Polly, Amelia and Thomas.
The father of our subject was educated in farm work in the above township, but abandoned that in order to take up engineering, and when compe- tent in this business he was employed to do a great deal of surveying in the county. He was a Whig in politics. His death took place January 16, 1859. His wife was a native of Ralls County, born September 21, 1823, and was the daughter of James Turley, a substantial farmer. The mother survived her husband four years, passing away October 29, 1864. She belonged to the Baptist Church, and was active in all good works in her neighborhood. She became the mother of six children, bearing the respective names of William, living in Oregon; Mary, formerly the wife of Harrison Smith, is deceased; Matthew, of this sketch; James, a resident of New London; Samuel, and Thomas.
The early life of our subject was passed on the home farm, where he attended the common schools. He later aided in the support of the family, remaining at home until the decease of his mother. He then started out to battle with life for himself, occupying the farm adjoining the home place for a period of three years. He then went to Oregon and for four years spent his time working chiefly in the placer mines, with indiffer-
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