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 29

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 29
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 29
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 29

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Coming from one of the respected old families of Pike County, William L. Dougherty was born August 9, 1857, in Calumet Township, to Jabez E. and Harriet (Vaughn) Dougherty. The for- mer was a native of Kentucky, born in Henry County, August 31, 1809, and moved westward, settling in Pike County in 1830. His father, Michael Dougherty, was a native of Dublin, but his wife, who was a Miss Stephenson, was a na- tive of Kentucky. By profession he was a lawyer, and his entire adult life was spent in the Blue Grass State. Jabez was a farmer, and after com- ing to Missouri, first settled in St. Louis County, where he entered one hundred and sixty acres of land. About a year later he came to this county and at his death owned three hundred acres. He was called to his final rest in March, 1883. For nearly fifty years he was a member of the Baptist Church and politically, he was a Democrat. A man of powerful physique, he stood six feet in height, and weighed two hundred and twenty- five pounds. His wife was a native of Culpeper County, Va., born in March, 1818, and came with her parents to Pike County at an early day, being in her fourteenth year at the time. Her father was a general merchant, and owned large tracts of land. When he came West he brought with him about a hundred slaves. Mrs. Harriet Dougherty is still living, dwelling with her son William, and is a faithful member of the Baptist Church.

Eleven children were born to Jabez Dougherty and wife: Barzella and Mary, deceased; Jane, wife of J. J. Porter of Texas; Emma and George, deceased; Jabez, Jr., a farmer of this county; Martha and Peter deceased; Robert, a farmer of Pike County, and W. L.

Our subject received his preliminary education

in the common schools and entered the Baptist College at Louisiana, Mo., when in his fifteenth year. At the end of two years he returned to the farm and engaged in its management until 1876, a part of the time keeping a store at Prairieville. In 1876 he went to Texas and for a few months lived in Fort Worth; then going further west he worked on a stock ranch in Brown County, about two years.

In the fall of 1884 Mr. Dougherty moved to Paynesville but at the same time carried on a farm which he had purchased near that place. In the fall of 1884 he was elected Constable of his town- ship and was re-elected on the expiration of his term. In 1886 he was appointed Deputy-Sheriff under John Fielder, which position he held ac- ceptably for two years and was then placed on the ticket as a candidate for Sheriff, in the spring of 1888, but was defeated by a small majority. Until 1892 he quietly attended to the cultivation of his farm, but being brought forward by his party again, was honored with the election and in the spring of 1894 was returned to serve a second term. Upon his first election to the office he sold his farm and has since resided in Bowling Green.

In May, 1878, Mr. Dougherty and Carrue Knight were joined in marriage and to them was born one child, Earl. In August, 1883, our sub- ject wedded Miss Jennie, daughter of James A. and Jane Griffith, numbered among the old families of Pike County. Mrs. Dougherty's grandfather, Uriah Griffith, was one of the pio- neers of Missouri, having moved here from his native State, Kentucky, and was one of the wealthiest men of his day. Our subject and wife have had four children, Linda, Anna, Benina and Ona, the latter of whom has been called to the better land. The parents are members of the Baptist Church and Mr. Dougherty belongs to the orders of Knights of Honor and the Knights of Pythias.

WILLIAM B. McPIKE.

PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

261

WILLIAM BURKETT M'PIKE.

W ILLIAM BURKETT M'PIKE has been engaged in the cultivation of a very desirable farm near Bowling Green for the past six years, and is the proprietor of the property, which comprises two hundred and sixty acres. He also owns another tract, forty acres of timber land near his home farm, some twenty acres in Ashley Township, and thirty acres in Cuivre Township. He is a Director in the Citizens' Bank of Bowling Green, in which he holds stock, and his influence is always sought to help advance new enterprises and industries. Though not a politician, he is a believer in the principles of the Democracy, and in 1881 was chosen to serve on the City Council, remaining in that honorable body for six years, and in 1892 was elected Mayor, a position he held to the sat- isfaction of his constituents for one term.

Our subject's father, Benjamin H. McPike, was born in Henry County, Ky., April 7, 1812. His father, Edward, also a native of the Blue Grass State, was born March 15, 1772, and died in De- cember, 1830. Roger, father of Edward McPike, was a son of the Emerald Isle, and came to the United States about the time of the Revolution- ary War. His death occurred in Texas in 1814, and though he had accumulated a valuable estate, his heirs never secured any of its benefits. He was a weaver by trade, and was a very industrious, hard-working man. Benjamin McPike was one of twelve children, namely: Mary, Sarah, James, John, Elijah, William, Benjamin, Aaron, Eliza- beth, Ann, Hannah and Rachel. The only sur- vivors of this large family are Benjamin and Aaron. The former moved, in 1838, to Marion County, where he engaged in farming, and in 1847 returned to his old Kentucky home. In 1852, however, he came back to Missouri and

lived in Marion County until December of the following year, when he took up his residence in Cuivre Township, this county, where he is still living, being in his eighty-third year. In early life he was a Whig, but later espoused the cause of the Democracy. For a man of his years he is quite active, and attends to his own affairs about the farm. He and his good wife, whose maiden name was Rachel J. Bowen, are members of the Baptist Church. She was born November 7, 1815, in Fauquier County, Va. Her mother, who was a Miss Nancy Johnston, was born November 17, 1791, and was married to John Bowen in Vir- ginia, and after his death moved to Kentucky. The marriage of Benjamin and Rachel McPike took place in Henry County, Ky., February 3, 1835, and four children graced their union. James A. resides on the old homestead in Indian Town- ship, and assists in the management of the farn !; William B. is the next in order of birth; Benjamin F. died in childhood, and John E. is also de- ceased. The parents celebrated the sixtieth anni- versary of their marriage February 3, 1895.

William B. McPike was born in Marion County, Mo., October 16, 1841, and lived under the parental roof until twenty-one years of age. His elementary education was obtained in the common schools, and June 24, 1868, he gradu- ated from Watson's Seminary. After this, for two years he taught school in Pike County, and for a like period was employed in the Louisiana schools, and subsequently for five years taught in Curreyville. In 1880 he engaged in the grain business, coming to Bowling Green in the year mentioned and following this enterprise for nine years. His operations proving successful, and having managed to lay aside a large sum of money, he concluded to invest the same in land,

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PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

and prosperity has attended him in this venture as well.

September 1, 1874, Mr. McPike married Au- relia M., daughter of Judge A. P. and Barbara F. (Peay) Miller. She was a native of Virginia and he of Kentucky. In the fall of 1835, Mrs. Mc- Pike's grandfather, George W. Peay, moved :0 Missouri, where he followed his trade of carriage- making, in connection with farming, in Pike County, and at one time was Treasurer of the county. They had eight children: Robert W., Fannie B., George W., Catherine M., John J., Matilda J., Anna Eliza, and Mary ; Matilda, John J., Mrs. Ann E. Johnson and Fannie B. are the only ones of the number living. The parents are also both deceased, the father having been killed by accident in St. Louis, in February, 1884.

Mr. and Mrs. McPike are the parents of the following children: Ben Miller, Alexander P., Burkett and James H. Mr. and Mrs. McPike are members of the Baptist Church, and are noted for their readiness to relieve the sufferings of the poor and needy.

A MBROSE SHAFFER, who is engaged in farming in Marion County, was born April I, 1827, at Whitehouse Ferry, Va. His parents were Jacob and Christina (Kauffman) Shaffer, also natives of the Old Dominion, the father being born April 30, 1790, and the mother November 10, 1811. The father of our subject received a good education for the day in which he lived and his early life was passed in farm work; after attaining his majority he left home and making his way to Richmond apprenticed himself to learn the blacksmith's trade. He had been thus engaged two years when the war of 1812 broke out, and being fired with the spirit of patriotism he enlisted and served until within five months of its close.

In the year 1830 Jacob Shaffer moved to Pitts- burgh, Pa., and in that city obtained a position as engineer in a flouring mill; he remained there until 1833, when we find him en route for Jeffer- son County, Ohio. In the Town of Smithfield he

engaged in the blacksmith's trade, but lived there only a year, when he changed his location, this time removing to Harrison County. In 1835, however, he thought to better his condition in farm work and accordingly rented a tract of land and resided on this until his removal to this State. His demise occurred just three years after coming hither, taking place in November, 1873; his wife died in Ohio in 1862. They were the parents of eleven children, ten of whom grew to mature years. Of this large family Mary was the eldest; Barbara married in 1835 Henry Steward and makes her home in Iowa; Anna is a widow; Susan died at the age of ten months; Noah; Martin is engaged as a miller in the City of Han- nibal, Mo .; Ambrose, of this sketch, was the next born; Margaret makes her home in Mount Pleas- ant, Iowa; Catherine departed this life in Ohio in 1889; Alexander C. also died there; John is engaged in the manufacture of pressed brick in Ohio. In politics the father of this family was a Whig and in religious affairs belonged to the Baptist Church.

The original of this sketch received a common- school education and when a lad of sixteen years began in life for himself. His first position was as a deck-hand on board a flour-boat running from Pittsburgh to New Orleans. He continued to be thus engaged for four years, when he entered the mill of his brother, determining to become thoroughly acquainted with the business. This was in 1847 and at that time his brother was lo- cated in Columbiana County, Ohio. He worked at this industry for a period of nine years, after which he came to Missouri and secured a position to work on a farm; for the succeeding eight years he was variously employed. In 1866 Mr. Shaffer purchased a tract of land and ever since has farmed on his own account. In addition to cultivating the soil he is employed by the farmers of the surrounding country to aid in sheepshearing, in which industry he is thoroughly informed, having made it a business for many years.

December 18, 1855, Mr. Shaffer was married to Hannah Jane, daughter of David and A. Davis, natives of Pennsylvania, but who removed later to Indiana, where they both died. To Mr. and Mrs. Shaffer have been born seven children:

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PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

Elma, born September 26, 1856, married Joseph Smith; Lawrence, engaged in farming; Larkin, a business man of Hannibal, Mo .; George, a resident of Marion County; Cicero, at home; Jennie, who married Thomas Hermell of this county; Charles, at home. Mrs. Shaffer is a· de- voted member of the Christian Church.

April 18, 1864, our subject was mustered into the service of the army to do guard duty in the State and after six months of faithful service he was discharged. In politics he never fails to sup- port Republican candidates. He is not identified with any particular religious denomination, but is a man of upright life, high morality and good-will toward all.

J OHN REDD YEAGER lives on Section 36, Fabius Township, Marion County, and was in former years the efficient and capable Road Supervisor and Magistrate of this township. He gives his allegiance to the Democratic party, with which he has been identified since becoming a voter. He was born and reared partially in Kentucky and in this county, where he has con- tinued to reside since 1853, and comes from an old and honored Southern family.

Our subject's father, Elijah Yeager, was born in Culpeper County, Va., February 5, 1782, and passed his early years on the plantation. Later he embarked in the mercantile business and met with fair success. He obtained only an ordinary edu- cation, though he made the best of his privileges and was a well-informed man. In his youth he emigrated to Kentucky and built the first house at Floydsburgh, Oldham County, and in this structure he opened a drygoods store, which he conducted for years. Afterward he moved to Louisville and opened a hotel and in connection with the same ran a livery. His last years were passed quietly on a farm in Shelby County, Ky., his death occurring August 23, 1852. He was not long separated from his devoted wife, who had preceded him to the silent land by only ten days. She was Miss Elizabeth Redd before their mar- riage, which occurred in Kentucky, of which

State she was a native, having been born March 23, 1803. The first marriage of Elijah Yeager had been with Nancy Snyder, who was born in Virginia October 5, 1784, and died, leaving eight children, namely: Henry B., Elvira, Mildred, Juriah, Theresa, James M., Elijah, Jr., and Robert S. The children of the second marriage were: John R., of this sketch; Minor W., born Novem- ber 15, 1832; Nancy, born March 17, 1834 (died in infancy); Ed T., born November 13, 1835; Eliza A., born April 18, 1837; Lucinda, born April 18, 1839; Elizabeth F., born November 8, 1841; Robert L., born August 26, 1843; Susan C., born April 26, 1849.

J. R. Yeager was born in Oldham County, Ky., October 1, 1831, and was only four years old when with his grandparents he came to Marion County. In 1840 his parents came here and returned to the Blue Grass State, where young Yeager at- tended school until 1844. Then for two years he dwelt in Marion County and finally going back to his native State lived there until 1850, when he took charge of his grandfather's farm, work- ing it on shares. A year later this relative died and Mr. Yeager turned his attention in another direction, grading and paving streets in the City of Louisville, Ky.

In 1852 our subject bought a farm of one hundred and sixty acres in Fabius Township, this county. The place was covered with timber, which he proceeded to cut down and by 1879, when he sold out to George Hastings, great im- provements had been inaugurated by him. He invested a portion of the proceeds of his former farm in another tract of eighty acres, which he also improved, and thercon he dwelt until 1887, then disposing of the homestead. He next rented three hundred acres of the estate of George W. Mathews and is still managing the same.

August 30, 1855, our subject married Emily P., daughter of Anderson and Elvira (Mathews) Brown, who were among the oldest pioneers of this section. Mr. and Mrs. Yeager became the parents of eight children, as follows: Edward R., born June 22, 1856, a well-known resident of this county; Katie, born May 15, 1858, died Feb- ruary 12, 1860; Ella A., born February 9, 1861, is the wife of John McKay of Denver, Col .;

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PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

Robert, born March 3, 1863; James, born Au- gust 21, 1865, is now living in Cripple Creek, Col .; John R., born January 25, 1868, is in Flor- ence, Col .; Benjamin M., born February 21, 1872; Hiram A., born January 21, 1871. The mother of these children departed this life Jan- uary 18, 1879, and was placed to rest in the ceme- tery at Palmyra. October 27, 1881, Mr. Yeager wedded Mary McRenolds, formerly Mary Gash and daughter of an old and respected settler of this county. Mr. Yeager is a member of the Christian or so-called Campbellite Church and Mrs. Yeager of the Baptist Church. The former is not identified with any secret society excepting the Masonic fraternity, with which he has been connected since 1853 as a member of Palmyra Lodge.

H UMPHREY J. STEPHENSON is Sup- erintendent of the Chicago & Alton bridge at Louisiana, a most responsible position, as hundreds of lives each day depend on his faithfulness and prompt attention to duty. He was promoted to this place and entered upon his work September 23, 1889, and in August, 1893, was transferred to the General Roadmaster's de- partment.

A son of Samuel F. and Anna E. (Whitledge) Stephenson, our subject was born September 24, 1852. His father was a native of Monroe County, WV. Va., born February 12, 1807, and was a son of William Stephenson, a native of Virginia, whose father was born in Scotland. William moved to Pike County, or what is now known as such, about 1819, and located in the country a few miles from Louisiana. He engaged in farming and from a sense of duty and owing to the scarcity of teachers, for several years conducted a school, he being a man of good education. He was also among the first Judges in this section of the State and served on the bench for several years. He died about 1839, after a well spent and energetic life. Samuel, his sixth child, followed his father's example and embarked in farming, also buying

and selling cattle. He settled in Louisiana in 1844, and although he had been unfortunate in losing his possessions, he was not easily discour- aged and before long had got on his feet again financially. In time he acquired a goodly estate by his ventures in the cattle business, but once more met with disaster by going security for some friends. The large sums for which he was re- sponsible he settled dollar for dollar at the sacri- fice of everything, thus being left comparatively poor in his old age. In answer to his friends who plead with him not to do this and to save some- thing for his family, his invariable reply was that he would settle his debts if it took the last dollar and brought him to starvation. His son, our sub- ject, had reserved $6,000 for the family's needs, but the father insisted that it should be placed in the bank and checked on to meet his obligations. He was a strong Abolitionist and an active ment- ber of the "underground" railroad. First a Henry Clay Whig, he later became a Republican and was one of the noted thirteen citizens of Pike County who voted for Fremont in 1856. For several years he was a member of the City Coun- cil and was loved and esteemed by all who knew him.

The wife of Samuel Stephenson was a native of Kentucky, born February 22, 1821, to Lyna and Mehitabel (Mayberry) Whitledge, of Mont- gomery County. The father served in the War of 1812, being a member of Johnston's Kentucky Rifles, and took part in the battle of the Thames and of Cowpens, when he became a prisoner. He was the owner of a large number of slaves and was a planter of the true Southern type, fond of sport, hunting, etc. Of his nine children, Rolf J., Mark, Lyna, Cassandra, Rosaline, Mary, Rebecca, Sarah and Anna E., all are deceased with the ex- ception of Lyna and the last named. Mrs. Stephenson still enjoys good health and is pass- ing her declining years at the home of her son. She has long been a member of the Baptist Church. She is the mother of nine children, as follows: Sarah, who died in childhood; Maggie, wife of Colonel N. G. Ferguson, of Glenwood Springs, Col., a soldier of the late war; Mehitabel, deceased, and formerly wife of C. C. Mayhall,

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PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

editor of the Ralls County Record; Levi P., a resi- dent of Lansing County, Kan .; Humphrey; James W., of Louisiana; Samuel F. Jr., who is connected with the bridge as an employe; Elmer E., and Ella, twins, the latter being the wife of Joseph S. Swan of Glenwood Springs, Col .; and Ellsworth, who is a brick mason in Louisiana.

H. J. Stephenson was educated in the private schools and the Baptist College of Louisiana, graduating from the last named institution in 1869. For the next three years he devoted him- self to farming and then went with a surveying party on the Keokuk & St. Louis railroad, being thus employed for one year. He then re- turned to the farm and a year later took a con- tract for grading on the aforesaid railroad. Then for two seasons he conducted an ice and fruit business. September 10, 1878, he was given a position as helper in the engineering department on the drawbridge of the Chicago & Alton Rail- road, and March 1, 1885, his long service was re- warded by his promotion to be second engineer of the draw span, in which capacity he acted about four years. His appointment to his present place was made September 24, 1889. His high stand- ing with the company is shown by the following letter which was written by one of the railroad officials, under date of August 31, 1893:

H. J. Stephenson, First Engineer Mississippi River Bridge at Louisiana.

My Dear Sir:

I am advised by the Chief Engineer of this company that hereafter you will receive orders and make your reports to William Riley, General Roadmaster. The official relations which have for a long time existed between you and myself, being thus terminated, allow me to thank you on behalf of the officers of this department, and for myself in particular, for the faithful and efficient service you, and the men under you, have always rendered in the discharge of your duties, and I trust that you and your men will show to your new officers the same courtesy shown me, and that you will each continue to exercise the same zeal and efficiency in the discharge of your duties as heretofore has been your unvarying rule of conduct.

Yours Truly, Thomas H. Hubbard,

Division Engineer of the C. & A. Railroad Co.

March 28, 1877, Capt. Stephenson married Eva Wasson, who was born in Warren County, Ohio, and who departed this life December 19, 1889. Her parents were Hugh and Elizabeth (Brenna- man) Wasson. Our subject's three children, Lena E., Elmer E., and Florence E., are now living with their aunt, Mrs. Ferguson. Mrs. Stephenson was a faithful member of the Baptist Church and a lady who was greatly loved for her amiable qualities.

Politically, Mr. Stephenson has been a Repub- lican of no uncertain stamp and is now a member of the County Central Committee. He was elected Alderman in 1888 and was twice re- elected, serving for six years. During this time he was chairman of the Committees on Streets and Alleys and on Police. Socially he belongs to Perseverance Lodge, No. 92, A. F. & A. M. and Evening Star Lodge, No. 28, I. O. O. F.

A LEXANDER ROYAL COBURN, Prin- cipal of Watson Seminary at Ash- ley, is undoubtedly one of the youngest men in the whole country who holds such an exalted position in an educational institution. His thorough and efficient methods of teaching and . his wise disciplinary powers have won him great popularity with the patrons of the college, and have brought him rapidly to the front as one of the leading teachers in the eastern part of Mis- souri. Under his management a number of modern improvements have been made in the building and in the system of study. Financially the seminary is in an excellent condition and the enrollment of students for the past year has been about- forty per cent larger than the preceding one.

Prof. Coburn was born April 12, 1872, in Mor- gan County, Ohio, being the second of four sons whose parents are Richmond L. and Patience A. Coburn. He has Puritan blood in his veins and some of his ancestors were among the first set- tlers of Massachusetts and others were numbered among the first forty-eight settlers of the North-

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west Territory, having located at Marietta, Ohio, in 1788. The early life of our subject was spent on a farm and his rudimentary education was ob- tained in the schools of the neighborhood. He was an apt pupil and was especially inclined toward mathematics, as when only eleven years of age he had completed Ray's higher arithmetic and passed severe examinations thereon. Later he entered Beverly College and Marietta Acad- emy and at the age of seventeen was enrolled as a student in Marietta College, graduating from the classical course in 1893 with distinguished honors. He also received special commendation in Latin, Literature, History and Political Sci- ence. While in college he was actively connected with every progressive movement among the students, being a member of the Oratorical, Ath- letic, Literary, and Young Men's Christian As- sociations. He was President of his Literary Society during the senior year and served on the executive committee of the Athletic Association. In June, 1893, before completing his college course, he was selected by the Republicans of his home county as a delegate to the State Conven- tion, where he helped to nominate William McKinley to the Governorship of Ohio. He was the youngest delegate in the convention, being but a few days past his twenty-first birthday. At his old home he was superintendent of the Sunday-school of the Methodist Episcopal Church, and while in Marietta was one of the officers of the Epworth League. At present he is President of the Young People's Society of Christian Endeavor in Ashley, and President of Pike and Lincoln Counties' Musical Association.

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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 29

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