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 27

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 27
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 27
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 27

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PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

ent success. On his return to Ralls County he secured a part of the old farm, and for two years lived thereon. He then sold the place, and in the spring of 1878 moved to New London, where he engaged in the drug business, opening up a store on Main Street, which he has conducted ever since. He commands a lucrative trade and is regarded as a first class prescription druggist.

Mr. Emison and Mollie E. Jones were united in marriage October 13, 1881. She was the daughter of Haith and Barbara (Kennedy) Jones. Mrs. Emison was born in Ralls County, and her parents were well-to-do farmers of Missouri. Her father, who was born in 1841, died in 1865, when she was an infant, and her mother, who was born July 5, 1840, departed this life May 30, 1895, in New London.

To our subject and his wife there have been born six children, viz: Maude G., born Septem- ber 10, 1882; Claude M., April 13, 1884; Clara May, May 11, 1888; James, December 25, 1891; Hugh and Haith, twins, February 4, 1895, of whom the former died April 23, 1895. Mrs. Emi- son holds membership with the Christian Church. In politics our subject is a Democrat, and socially is a K. of P., belonging to Lodge No. 180, and Lodge No. 70, A. O. U. W.

J OHN A. BRISCOE, of New London, Mo., was born June 22, 1833. His grandfather, John Briscoe, was a native of Maryland, who moved to Kentucky in 1806 and located in Scott County. He married in Maryland Jane DeLish- met, who was of French origin. He remained in Kentucky until 1827, when he moved with his family to Ralls County, Mo., locating in the south part of the county, near Frankfort, where he bought land and lived the remainder of his life. He was the owner of a large tract of land, and a number of slaves, which he brought with hint from Kentucky. In the family were eight chil- dren: Raphael, Nancy, Phillip, John, Savilla, Artimetia, Anderson and William. Nancy mar- ried James Inloe, of Ralls County; Savilla mar-

ried Hugh Emerson, of Ralls County, and Arti- metia became the wife of Hathe Jones, of Pike County.

Phillip Briscoe, the father of our subject, was born in Maryland in 1802; his early life was spent at home with his parents, and he received such education as was common at that time, but was a man of more than ordinary intelligence, being a great reader. He engaged in farming for himself before coming to Missouri. On coming to this State he purchased land and partially improved it, but was compelled to abandon it on account of a defective title. He afterwards purchased land in Spencer Township, near Fremore Lick, where he ever afterwards resided. He was a prosperous farmer, and owned about four hun- dred acres of land. He was married in this county to Parmelia Emerson, daughter of James and Mary (Barkley) Emerson. She was a native of Scott County, Ky., and from the same neighbor- hood as the Briscoe family. Four children were born unto them: James E., John A., Jane A., and William P. His father died in 1886, and the mother in 1879. Phillip Briscoe is remembered by his children as a kind hearted and considerate parent. The owner of a number of slaves, he re- fused to sell them, even under the prospect of them being free. He said if the Southern cause was a failure the South had enough to lose, and he might as well lose them as any one else. All his slaves remained with him until they were freed.

The subject of this sketch was reared on the home farm, and was educated in the public schools of Ralls County. When he was twenty- one years of age he commenced life for himself on the land which he now occupies, and which his father, at that time, purchased for him and his- brother James. Soon after coming to the place he traded for his brother's interest, and May 20, 1858, married Elizabeth Bowling, a native of Ralls County, born February II, 1842, a daughter of John and Mary (Helms) Bowling, both of whom are natives of Kentucky, the former born in Shelby County and the latter in Montgomery County. Mrs. Briscoe was born on the place where they now reside. After their marriage Mr. and Mrs. Briscoe settled down on the farm, where

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they have since resided. Nine children have been born unto them, seven of whom are yet living: Andrew H., born June 30, 1859, resides in Ralls County; James W., born December 19, 1861; Mary C., born May 18, 1864, died in early child- hood; Robert, born April 16, 1867; Edward B., born December 21, 1870; Lizzie R., born Febru- ary 13, 1873, now the wife of W. B. Conn, of Ralls County; Jennie, Hugh, and one who died in infancy.

Mr. and Mrs. Briscoe are members of the Bap- tist Church and enjoy the respect of all who know them. The farm on which they reside is one of the best in Ralls County, and Mr. Briscoe is en- gaged in carrying on general farming.

E DWARD C. CROW, one of the principal business men of Bowling Green, is an en- terprising and public-spirited young citi-

zen. In October, 1889, he purchased the turni- ture business of Ross Bros., enlarged its facilities and put in an extensive stock of goods. He car- ries a full line of fine and moderate-priced furni- ture and enjoys an extensive patronage. He also conducts an undertaking business and is a gradu- ate from two schools of embalming, the Hohen- schuh and the Sullivan Institutes, of St. Louis, having completed the course of the former in 1892 and the latter the year following.

His father, Martin Crow, was a native of Ken- tucky, and with his mother came to Pike County in 1830, settling on a tract of one hundred and sixty acres in Cuivre Township, which the hus- band and father had located in 1820. Martin Crow is still living on this farm. His father, James, had returned to the Blue Grass State soon after making the purchase, and died in 1822, and in 1827 his wife, who was a Miss Rhoda Stem- mons before her marriage, and also a native of Kentucky, made the journey to this land on horse- back to examine the same and see if it was worth settling upon, and was so pleased with the prop- erty that she came with her children and made her home there. James Crow was born in 1788 in

Kentucky, and was married in 1810. His father, who was born in the same State and bore the Christian name of Jacob, was a planter. His wife was a Miss Nellie Wright, and of their union were born ten children, eight sons and two daughters, of whom James was the eldest, and all of the sons became Missouri pioneers. The father of Jacob Crow was born in Virginia and was of Holland descent. Martin Crow and one sister, Mrs. Sallie Van Winkle, of Illinois, are the only survivors of five children, the others being Nancy, Harriet, Sallie and Jacob.

Martin Crow has always lived on the old home- stead with the exception of two years spent in California. During the gold excitement he ac- companied his uncle, Walter Crow, and his cous- ins, William, James, Benjamin and Mack, across the plains with eight hundred head of cattle. Three hundred were lost on the way but the others brought a good price in the markets. The little party joined a company of forty in order to have better protection. Our subject engaged in the mining business for a time but at the end of three years, in 1853, returned home by way of the Isthmus. In 1892 he was elected President of the Farmers' Bank of Bowling Green and was re- elected in 1893, but on the expiration of that year declined to serve longer though he is still a direc- tor. He owns in his homestead six hundred and ninety acres of well-improved land and gives most of his attention to stock raising. He is also the proprietor of other lands in the county which he leases. He was born July 14, 1820, and October 18, 1855, married Hannah L. Hendrick, whose birth occurred in Pike County, June 27, 1835 .. Her parents, Moses and Amanda (Daniels) Hendrick, were natives of Kentucky, and came to this State at an early period. Mrs. Crow is a devoted member of the Universalist Church. In politics the father is a Democrat and was County Judge four years, having been honored with that office in the election of 1886. He was re-elected in 1888, occupying the post altogether four years.

In a family of nine children Edward C. is the fourth in order of birth. His eldest sister, Emma E., married James A. Dixon, a hardware mer- chant of this place; James M., died in childhood;

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Henry Clay, is a lawyer of Springfield, Mo .; John S., is Postmaster at Mosca, Col .; Warren E., died in infancy; Sallie M., is the wife of Dr. G. H. Sherman of Ashley; Ora B., and Lowell E. are at home. E. C. Crow was born in this county January 20, 1862, and in his boyhood attended the district schools. For a year he studied in Watson's Seminary and in 1882 went to the State University at Columbia where he graduated from the Commercial department. Subsequently he engaged in farming for five years on his grand- father Hendrick's old place. Coming to Bowling Green he was next interested in the hardware business with his brother-in-law, J. A. Dixon, some seven months, after which in connection with W. H. Gentle he bought, sold and shipped stock for one season.

September 5, 1883, Mr. Crow and Lizzie, daughter of William H. and Maria (Middleber- ger) Marzolf were united in marriage. Mrs. Crow was born in this county as was also her father, but her mother is a native of St. Charles, Mo., and both parents are now living on a farm near Con- cord. The only child of Mr. and Mrs. Crow is Martin, Jr., who was born May 30, 1885. Our subject is a member of the Universalist Church while his wife belongs to the Christian denomina- tion. Fraternally he is connected with the I. O. O. F., belonging to Cuivre Lodge, No. 242, and in politics is a Democrat. He still owns the farm which is known as the Moses Hendrick homestead, and is situated in Cuivre Township.

H ON. JAMESON F. HAWKINS, de- ceased, was one of the most prominent citizens of Hannibal, and did. perhaps, more for her upbuilding than any other citizen. The esteem in which he was held by all was mani- fested when, as a mark of respect to his memory, the business houses of the city closed and many other testimonials of affection were tendered to the bereaved family on the occasion of liis de- mise. In everything that promised to be bene- ficial to this community he was enthusiastically

concerned, and many of the railroads which now center here and have added greatly to the financial well-being of Hannibal, were brought here through his unremitting efforts.

The father of J. F. Hawkins was Elijah, a na- tive of Scott County, Ky., and son of Jameson Hawkins, who was born in Crawford County, Va., and moved to Kentucky after the Revolu- tionary War, settling in Scott County. He was a minister in the Baptist denomination. Elijah Hawkins was a farmer by occupation, and pur- chased a large tract of land in Ralls County, Mo., at an early day, but resided chiefly in Hannibal after coming to Missouri. He brought with him from his old Kentucky home a large number of slaves. September 11, 1814, he married Sophia Bradford, by whom he had eight children: Eleanor, now Mrs. Younger Pitts; Jameson F., whose name heads this sketch; Benjamin, who served as a Lieutenant Colonel in the Confeder- ate Army, was for many years Sheriff of Marion County, and now a resident of Nashville, Tenn .; Elijah, who died in St. Louis County several years ago, and was for many years a merchant in Hannibal; Catherine, who was married to James Marnell, a hardware merchant, formerly of Han- nibal, but now of Nebraska City, Neb .; George William, who was a dealer in groceries and pro- duce, and was a Lieutenant of a cavalry company in Price's army; Anna Laura, who was married to Dr. James Frazier, of Ralls County, since de- ceased, and Jefferson, who died when young. Jameson Hawkins married Ruth Ann Threlkeld, October 4, 1776, who was a native of Culpeper County, Va. Her parents were John and Nancy (Johnson) Threlkeld, the former of whom was a member of Capt. Mercer's Company of the Third Virginia Regiment in the Revolutionary War. Mr. and Mrs. Hawkins were buried in Crown Hill Cemetery, Indianapolis, Ind. Jameson, grandfather of our subject, was a son of John Hawkins, who married Margaret Jameson in March, 1767. The parents of John were Philc- mon and Sarah (Smith) Hawkins. The former was a son of John and Mary Hawkins, who were of English ancestry. The death of John Haw- kins occurred in 1742.

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A native of Scott County, Ky., the Hon. Jame- son F. Hawkins was born January 11, 1819. He received his higher education at Georgetown Col- lege, Kentucky, and in 1839 went to Hannibal with his parents. Here he opened a general store, and soon after started a sawmill and also estab›- lished a ferry boat system. In 1849 he started with a company across the plains to California, where he remained until 1851; meeting with good success. Upon his return home he purchased some three hundred acres west of this city, and from that time until shortly before his death was engaged in the dairy business. When the Han- nibal & St. Joseph Railroad was projected he interested himself greatly in the matter, and was sent, by his fellow citizens to the State Legislature to obtain a charter and other privileges for the road. It was through his influence a law was passed to prevent the tapping of the road within forty miles of its eastern terminus. The City of Quincy, Ill., backed by the "Q" Railroad, man- aged to effect a repeal of the act by the Legisla- ture during the war, and the St. Joseph Railroad was tapped at Palmyra, Mo. Had the bill secured by Mr. Hawkins been maintained, Hannibal would have been the leading city in this part of the State. With a view to the ultimate good of the city Mr. Hawkins succeeded in getting his neighbors to pay heavy taxes for railroad enter- prises, which they did to a remarkable extent, the taxation amounting to as much as six per cent of the valuation for their property. At the same time, be it said to the credit of this worthy man, tliat he was never identified with any of the rail- road corporations in any manner by which he could personally realize profits therefrom, his only object being the public good. He secured the right-of-way for nearly every one of the rail- roads which were laid through Hannibal. On Main, between Center and Bird Streets, he erected a row of buildings which are now occupied by stores. In politics he was always to be found on the side of the Democracy.

In 1841 Mr. Hawkins married Sarah Ann, daughter of Asa and Ann R. (Thomson) Smith, and a native of Kentucky. Rodes Smith, the father of Asa Smith, was a Revolutionary soldier

and was at the battle of Yorktown, and witnessed the surrender of Lord Cornwallis. Many years afterward, when he was an old man, Richard Johnson, then Vice President of the United States, offered to secure for him a pension to which he was entitled. He refused, saying that pensions were not intended for persons who were able to take care of themselves. After serving for nine years in the Kentucky Legislature, he de- clined reelection. Ann Rodes Smith was the mother of Gen. Gustavus W. Smith, who com- manded Company A, Engineer Corps, of which the late Gen. G. B. McClellan was Second Lieu- tenant, in the Mexican War. He was Commander of the Second Army Corps, C. S. A., of Northern Virginia, during the late war, and was subse- quently commander of all the forces south of Lee's Army, and including those in North Caro- lina and Richmond, Va. In this capacity he was recognized by Jefferson Davis, in the absence of Gen. Lee, as his military adviser, his headquar- ters being at Richmond, Va. For several weeks Gen. Smith was Secretary of War pro tem of the Southern Confederacy, during the interval be- tween Secretaries Randolph and Sedden. At length he resigned from the army on account of differences between himself and Mr. Davis, and subsequently he was appointed Commander-in- Chief of the forces in Georgia by Gov. Brown, serving as such until the close of the war, and fol- lowing up Sherman on his "march to the sea." He is now living in New York City.

Twelve children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Hawkins, and all of the number are yet living, and are as follows: Elijah; Thetis C., wife of the Hon. William H. Hatch, M. C., to whom has been born one child, Sallie Rodes; Anna W., Mrs. Francis L. Hewitt, of Winfield, Mo .; William B., who is engaged in breeding fine horses and Jer- sey cattle near Lexington, Ky .; Jameson, a dairy- man of this city; Jennie L .; Asa Smith, a life in- surance agent at Seattle, Wash .; John Rodes, Superintendent of the Chester, Wabash & West- ern Railroad, at Chester, Ill .; Sallie A .; Mary E .; George T., who is a topographical engineer in the Government employ; and Laura F., a resi- dent of Washington City.

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Elijah Hawkins was born January 26, 1842, and spent his early life in this vicinity, where he received his education in the private schools. · When nineteen years of age he enlisted in the Confederate army, his company being com- manded by Benjamin Hawkins. He was mus- tered in as Second Sergeant and served to the end of the war, and was mustered out as Captain, having secured that rank as Aide-de-Camp to Gen. G. V. Smith. In 1865 he returned to Han- nibal and later was employed by his father in a packing house at St. Louis, Mo., for several years. Subsequently he engaged in the insurance busi- ness, first in St. Louis and subsequently in San Francisco, Cal., where he became manager of the Union Mutual Life Insurance Company of Maine for the Pacific States and Territories, comprising California, Washington, Oregon, Utah and Arizona. Acceding to a request made by his esteemed father, Mr. Hawkins returned to Hannibal upon the latter's death, to administer liis estate, at which place he now resides.

January 5, 1885, Elijah Hawkins and Mrs. Isa- bel J. Coffin were united in marriage. Mrs. Haw- kins is a daughter of Joseph McAlpin, a native of Macon, Ga., and by her marriage has become the mother of two children: Sarah A., born June I, 1887, and Joseph McAlpin, born February II, 1889.

of our country. In this respect she is above the average Congressman. Yet she is essentially a domestic woman, and derives more pleasure when in her beautiful suburban home at Hanni- bal, surrounded with domestic cares and their at- tendant responsibilities, than when residing at the Capital of the Nation.

J OSEPH M. WILLIS, an old settler and representative business man of Palmyra, was born in Nicholasville, Jessamine County, Ky., August 12, 1829. His father, Henry Willis, was a native of Virginia, who moved when a boy to Mercer County, Ky., in company with his parents. By occupation he was a farmer and about the year 1820 moved to Nicholasville, where he engaged in the hotel business. Closing the hotel he came to Marion County, Mo., arriving here October 15, 1829; his household at that time con- sisted of about thirty-five people, white and black. He located one mile east of Philadelphia, where he engaged in farming and was subsequently in- terested in the building of the Marion College, afterward the Masonic College, of which he was one of the trustees. He was a R. A. M. and one of the prominent members of the order. In the early days no man was better known in the coun- try, his home being headquarters for the emi- grants to the county. He was a member of the Presbyterian Church. His first marriage was with Maria Laddock of Mercer County, Ky., by whom he had six children, all growing to man- hood and womanhood. His second marriage was with Mary Liggett, by whom he had eight chil- dren, all growing to manhood and womanhood. His third marriage was with Jeannette Sebert, by which union were born five children, each of whom reached man's estate or woman's estate. He (lied in this county at the age of eighty-nine. The family were of English origin. Robert Willis, the subject's grandfather, was a native of Vir- ginia.

William H. Hatch served the Hannibal dis- trict in Congress for sixteen years, but was de- feated in 1894, with many other Democrats, not only in his State, but throughout the United States. His long term in Congress is a clear proof that he served his constituency not only ably, but satisfactorily and well. His devoted wife has many of the characteristics of her dis- tinguislied father, Jameson Hawkins. Possessed of good education and a bright, enquiring mind, she has been well fitted to share the honors of her husband, and has always made it a rule to attend the sessions of Congress with him. There, brought in contact with the representatives of the Gov- ernment and other public officials, and the dis- cussions of public measures of the day, she has become well versed in political economy and civil The subject of this sketch was the fourth child questions, and their application to the best needs ' by his father's second marriage, was about two

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months old when he landed at Palmyra, Mo., and remained with his father until eighteen years of age, assisting on the farm and attending district schools in the winter. He then went to Hannibal, from which place he started for the lead mines at Galena, Ill. On arriving at Keokuk and learn- ing that the cholera was then raging at Galena, he changed his course and went to St. Francisville, Clark County, Mo. He there engaged in the mer- cantile business in partnership with E. C. Hyde and continued there two years. In 1850 he sold out and went to California, crossing the plains with teams. He located at Murderers' Bar, on the middle fork of the American River, where he en- gaged in mining for two years. He then returned home, coming by way of the Isthmus of Panama to New Orleans, thence by steamer to St. Louis and to Marion County.

On his return Mr. Willis engaged for a short time in setting in order the farm at home, and then went again to St. Francisville, Mo., and in com- pany with his brother Thomas engaged in the mercantile business until the fall of 1855. Selling the stock to his brother he bought a farm one mile north of where the county seat (Kahoka) is now located, and there remained until January 1, 1857, when he sold the farm and in company with Jona- than Hewitt, a brother-in-law, bought the Pearl Street House at Alexandria, Mo., and until the spring of 1858 engaged in the hotel business. He then sold out to his partner and bought a half interest in the Skinner House at La Grange, Mo. Subsequently selling this house, he located at Callao, Macon County, Mo., and was Station Agent for the H. & St. Jo. R. R .; while there he was also engaged in other business. In 1860 he left the station and took the General Agency for the Land Department of the H. & St. Jo. R. R., in which position he remained twenty-two years at a salary of one hundred and fifty dollars per month. In 1865 he moved to Palmyra, Mo., where he remained six years and then moved to a farm one-half mile north of Woodland Station, Marion County, remaining there sixteen years, when he returned to Palmyra, where he is at pres- ent engaged in the real-estate business.

On the 30th of August, 1854, Mr. Willis was united in marriage to Miss Mary Brown, a native

of Brown County, Ind., and a daughter of John Brown. Nine children have been born unto them: Anna J. (deceased); Willie, of Brookfield, Mo .; Charles O., of Palmyra; Maggie L., at home; Lucy M., wife of V. J. Howell of Kirks- ville, Mo .; Sarah B., at home; Arthur R., at home; Frank E., of Brookfield, Mo .; Mary J., at home.

Mr. Willis was a member of the Masonic Order for many years and at one time was also a mem- ber of the I. O. O. F. He was a charter member of the S. of T. organized at Palmyra in 1847. He is a member of the Presbyterian Church, of which body his family are also members, and for some years he was a deacon in the same. In 1888, when he left the H. & St. Jo. R. R., he ac- cepted a position as Chief Land Examiner for the Nor. Pac. R. R., and had charge of four parties of examiners; the examinations were quite ex- tensive and of the value of about four millions of dollars. He remained in the service of that road for eighteen months, then returned home to Palmyra, sold his farm and has since been en- gaged in his present business.

E DWARD D. KELLEY, who is numbered among the leading business men of Pal- myra, has resided here but little more than two years, but is rapidly coming to the front. He is a young man of great energy and strength of character and is destined to become influential, judging by what he has done in the past. In 1894 he transacted the largest real-estate business in the city and March 20, 1895, embarked in a new line, becoming the proprietor of a livery stable, which he is managing with ability.

Our subject comes from one of the best fam- ilies of Marion County, his parents being Alex- ander S. and Ida C. (Kneisley) Kelley. The father was born January, 1845, in Marion County and is a son of William and Susan (Shannan) Kelley, natives of Virginia and Kentucky re- spectively. William Kelley, though born in the Old Dominion, was reared in Kentucky and soon after his marriage moved to this vicinity, where

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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 27

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