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 33
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 33
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 33
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42 | Part 43 | Part 44 | Part 45 | Part 46 | Part 47 | Part 48 | Part 49 | Part 50 | Part 51 | Part 52 | Part 53 | Part 54 | Part 55 | Part 56 | Part 57 | Part 58 | Part 59 | Part 60 | Part 61 | Part 62 | Part 63 | Part 64 | Part 65 | Part 66 | Part 67 | Part 68 | Part 69 | Part 70 | Part 71 | Part 72 | Part 73 | Part 74 | Part 75 | Part 76 | Part 77 | Part 78 | Part 79 | Part 80 | Part 81 | Part 82 | Part 83 | Part 84 | Part 85 | Part 86 | Part 87 | Part 88 | Part 89 | Part 90 | Part 91 | Part 92 | Part 93 | Part 94 | Part 95 | Part 96 | Part 97 | Part 98 | Part 99 | Part 100 | Part 101 | Part 102 | Part 103 | Part 104 | Part 105 | Part 106 | Part 107
PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
four years, receiving for his services twenty-five dollars a month and board, or thirty dollars when he boarded himself. He generally taught two terms of three months each yearly and the re- mainder of the time tried to raise a corn crop, but he never had any great love for farming.
January 5, 1862, our subject became a member of Company E, Eleventh Missouri State Cavalry (the same in which his father had enlisted), and was given the rank of Orderly Sergeant. June 26, 1862, he was promoted to the Captaincy and served in different companies of his regiment, which later was consolidated with the Second Regiment of Missouri and thenceforth known as the Second Regiment of Missouri. His term of service extended to August 12, 1865, when he was honorably mustered out. He saw service in Mis- souri, Arkansas, Kentucky and Tennessee and took part in the Battle of Pierce's Mills, Kirks- ville, Cape Girardeau and in numerous skirmishes in Arkansas and Southeastern Missouri; at Pierce's Mills he was wounded in the hip and was laid up for two months. Toward the close of the war he had command of a sub-district, including Pemiscot, Dunklin and New Madrid Counties, with his headquarters at New Madrid. After Lee's surrender he assisted in dismantling the forts at the latter place, shipping the artillery to St. Louis. The regiment in which he served was one of ten Missouri Militia Regiments which, by special act of Congress were mustered into the United States service and paid by the Govern- ment. Capt. Bulkley had a very extensive ac- quaintance among leading military officers of the West, and was Provost Marshal for six months and member of the General Court-Martial of the Department of the Missouri.
Returning from his army life Mr. Bulkley bought a farm in Ralls County, Mo., and for three or four years was engaged in stock-raising. In 1873 he became a resident of Hannibal and, after a few years as a grocer and drygoods merchant, embarked in the manufacture of brick, after which he was a general contractor until 1891. During all this time he superintended his farm more or less, as he still does, and at present has several valuable tracts of land in this county and some in Adams County, Ill.
June 27, 1860, Capt. Bulkley married Margaret A. Silver of Ralls County and daughter of William and Margaret (Daulton) Silver. The Captain is a member of the G. A. R. and is a stanch Republican. Like most of his brave com- rades who fought for the Union, he is liberal and entertains no prejudices against his opponents of thirty years ago.
J I OHN R. TAYLOR, who for about thirty years was one of the prominent agricultur- ists of Marion County, moved into the City of Palmyra in 1894. He is a native of the Blue Grass State, having been born March 6, 1835, to John E. and Rebecca (Edrington) Taylor. John E. is the son of Richard and Mary Taylor, while on his mother's side our subject is the grandson of Joseph and Elizabeth (Bohann) Edrington.
John E. Taylor was born in Kentucky Septem- ber 23, 1803. He remained in his native place until attaining his majority, when he removed to Columbus, that State, and engaged in the mer- cantile business. He departed this life in Febru- ary, 1835. He was married to Miss Edrington at Columbus, Ky., June 2, 1827. This lady survived him many years, passing away in Marion County, Mo., April 20, 1875, aged sixty-nine years. She was married after the death of Mr. Taylor to W. K. Young, a Baptist minister. He was born in England February 24, 1800, and died April 18, 1863.
There were three children born to John E. and Rebecca Taylor, of whom Edmond J. was born February 12, 1831, in Frankfort, Ky. He is still living and engaged in the distillery business. Eugene was born September 6, 1836. By her sec- ond marriage Mrs. Taylor became the mother of a daughter, Rebecca A., who was born January 22, 1844, and is now the widow of F. A. Jordan; she makes her home in Iowa.
The original of this sketch attended the dis- trict school until a lad of fifteen years, when he prosecuted his studies in the schools of Frank- fort, Ky. On the outbreak of the late war he en- listed and went to the front as Captain in the
288
PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
Kentucky Infantry, participating in several well- known engagements, and at the Battle of Fred- ericktown was wounded and confined for some time in the hospital. He was later honorably discharged and returned home to his widowed mother. In 1864 he reaped his first crop of grain and the following year came to Marion County and purchased three hundred acres of land. This large tract he improved and operated in a very successful manner until 1894, the date of his re- moval into the City of Palmyra.
February 8, 1866, Mr. Taylor was married to Miss Virginia Ellis, the daughter of John and May (Rogers) Ellis. Their union has resulted in the birth of six children, namely: John, born Feb- ruary 18, 1867; Edmund Hanes, born May 3, 1869; Mary, born in 1871; Robert, born in 1874; Rebecca E., born October 10, 1876. In politics our subject is a stanch Democrat and socially be- longs to Palmyra Lodge No. 8, A. F. & A. M. He is a consistent Christian and holds membership in the Baptist Church.
J UDGE GEORGE S. LAKE, at present Pro- bate Judge of Ralls County, Mo., was born December 4, 1821, in Marion County, near Palmyra, Mo., and is the son of Burgess and Sarah (Schuford) Lake. His father was a native of Virginia, and in early life moved with his par- ents to North Carolina. He was the son of Daniel Lake, who was also a native of Virginia and a farmer by occupation. Burgess Lake removed to Missouri in 1819 and located in Marion County, where he purchased a tract of land and engaged in farming. During the second war with Great Britain he enlisted, but the war closed before he had seen active service. Daniel Lake was the father of nine children, of whom Burgess was the eldest. The other members of the family were: Ballard, Enoch, Charles, Levina, Thomas, Lai- son, Daniel and Nancy.
Burgess Lake pursued farming up to his death, which was in the winter of 1831. He had about two hundred acres of land under cultivation. In
politics he was a Democrat, and in religion a Baptist. His wife was a native of Pennsylvania, and was a daughter of George Schuford, and was of German descent. She was a member of the Baptist Church and died in 1876. They were the parents of nine children : Nancy, who died young; Mary, who married Rev. John H. Keach; Jeptha, Elizabeth, wife of John Holt; George S., our sub- ject; Gabriella, who became the wife of Robert H. Brown; Laban; James L., and Burgess. Of this number Jeptha, Mrs. Holt, Laban and George S. are living.
The subject of this sketch was reared upon a farm and was educated in the subscription schools. In the fall of 1841 he was married and started in life for himself, moving into Schuyler County, Mo., where he purchased a farm of one hundred and twenty acres of land, on which he erected a cabin and commenced farming. He lived there five years and then traded his farm for one in Marion County, Fabius Township, and moved onto it. He lived there until 1856, when, upon losing his wife, he moved to Spencer Town- ship, Ralls County, where he purchased an im- proved farm of eighty-five acres. He lived there about four years and then traded that farm for another in the same township, of one hundred and eighty acres, which he cultivated for nineteen years, when he sold it and removed to New Lon- don, which has since been his home. While liv- ing in the country he was elected a member of the County Court and served eight years, being re- elected four successive terms. He was elected Judge of the Probate Court in 1890, and reelected in the fall of 1894, and is now serving his second term1.
Judge Lake was first married September 28, 1841, taking as his bride Mary Ann C. Lear, a daughter of John and Elizabeth (Biddle) Lear. She was a native of Marion County. By this union were born the following-named children: John B., a farmer living near New London; Mar- tha G., now the wife of John R. Lydick, living in Shelby County; Jeptha T., who is engaged in farming in Spencer Township; Richard H., a farmer in Jasper Township; Mary L., now the wife of George V. Caldwell, living in Spencer
289
PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
Township, engaged in farming; Sarah, the first born, died in infancy. Mrs. Lake died Novem- ber 27, 1855. She was a member of the Baptist Church.
Judge Lake was married the second time, De- cember 20, 1860, to Sarah W. Johnson, who died July 23, 1888. He was again married in April, 1891, to Mrs. Levina Lear, daughter of James Lear. The Judge is a member of the Baptist Church, in which he is a Deacon. His wife is also a member of the same church. In politics he is a Democrat. As a citizen no man stands higher in the estimation of the people than does Judge Lake, the subject of this sketch.
H ARRISON RANDOLPH. This gentle- man is well known as a successful farmer of Cuivre Township, Pike County, who pursues the most approved methods in the man- agement of his estate, keeping it above par in its improved and orderly appearance, and making of it an attractive as well as remunerative piece of property. He is also held in good repute as an honest, upright man and citizen, who contrib- utes liberally of his means toward all worthy en- terprises.
Our subject received a good common school education, after which he began working in the lumber camps during the winter season and as- sisted in the dairy business in the summer. When twenty-nine years of age, the Civil War being in progress, he became a member of Company C, One Hundred and Twenty-Sixth New York In- fantry, which was organized in Geneva, Seneca County, N. Y., August 8, 1862. A few days later his regiment was ordered to Harper's Ferry, and August 14th was engaged in the battle of Mary- land Heights. They held their position there all day long and sustained a heavy loss. During this battle the Colonel of Company C was shot, and every commissioned officer of the company was killed or wounded. On one occasion, when the order was given to fall back, Mr. Randolph did not hear the command, and after loading his mus-
ket looked around to find that the regiment had disappeared and that he was uncomfortably near the lines of the enemy. Col. Miles, who was in command of the Union forces, after holding the place for three days, surrendered. The prisoners were then paroled and sent to Camp Douglas, at Chicago, Ill., where they remained until ex- changed in November, 1862. Our subject, who was among the number, immediately joined his regiment at Arlington Heights, where the soldiers suffered greatly, there being neither shelter nor food provided for them, and the ground at the time being covered with snow. From that place they were ordered to Centerville, Va., where they were assigned to the Second Brigade, Second Division, Second Army Corps, commanded by Gen. Han- cock. Winter quarters were at once constructed, and during their stay there Mr. Randolph did both picket and guard duty.
In the spring of 1863 occurred the battle of Chancellorsville, which was soon followed by the engagement at Gettysburg, July Ist, 2d and 3d, in both of which conflicts our subject participated. He was captured by the enemy during the last engagement and, being taken to the rear of their lines, was being hurried along after night when an opportunity presented itself whereby he made his escape. The next morning he found a cherry tree laden with ripe fruit, and he needed no urg- ing to climb it and satisfy his hunger, for he had been without food for many hours. He worked his way through woods and fields, avoiding the Rebel pickets, to Baltimore, and later joined his regiment. The next battle in which he engaged was Bristol Station, which was the last battle for the summer. The regiment then went into winter quarters near the Rappahannock River, and the following March Mr. Randolph was one of ten men who volunteered to serve as provost guard. at Gen. Hancock's headquarters. His next ex- perience was in the noted Battle of the Wilder- ness, the terrors of which no one who was not an eye witness could picture. This was followed by the battle of Cold Harbor; later the engage- ment on North and South Rivers, when the Union forces crossed the James River, and on June 18 occurred the siege of Petersburg, and the
290
PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
battles of Mine Run and Weldon Railroad. July 30th they quartered for the winter at Petersburg, in trenches built around the city. April 3d of the following year they took possession of the city, and they immediately moved out after Gen. Lee's retreating army. Mr. Randolphi was present at the battle of Appomattox Court House, when the Confederate Army surrendered to Gen. Grant. April 9, 1865, he took part in the Grand Review at Washington. During the entire war the regi- ment of which our subject was a member was never defeated. At Gettysburg they lost their Colonel and three Captains of Company C were killed. Out of sixty men who reported for duty at the beginning of the war only twenty-five an- swered to their names at the final roll call, nine being killed and twenty-six wounded. The One Hundred and Twenty-Sixth New York Infantry numbered eighty men all told, and when the regi- ment was mustered out, after all detailed men and convalescents were accounted for, it numbered two hundrd and twenty-one men who were mus- tered out of service at Arlington Heights and discharged at Elmira, N. Y., June 6, 1865.
The lady to whom our subject was married July 27, 1856, was Miss Elizabeth, daughter of Sylves- ter and Hannah (Jones) Kelsey, of Tioga County, N. Y., where her father was a prominent luniber- man. The Kelsey family included the following- named children : Selah, who came to Pike County, this State, in 1868, was a lumberman and con- tractor; he married Hannah Randolph, and is at present living at Louisiana. Rachel married Charles Randolph, and they make their home in Tioga County, Pa., where her husband is also en- gaged as a lumberman; Elizabeth, the wife of our subject, was the next born; then followed Felix, Walter, Lois and Samuel.
The children born to our subject and his wife are Chiarles, whose birth occurred December 20, 1858; he is a farmer and owns, in partnership with Harry Dougherty, a quarter section of land in Cuivre Township, this county; Harriet S. was born August 8, 1860, and married Capt. Hedges January 17, 1888, and their children are Bernie, Bessie and Blaine; Berthia was born May 2, 1874. and resides at home with her parents.
The father of our subject, Clayton W. Ran- dolph, was born in Virginia, but spent his early life in Tioga County, N. Y. He was a farmer by occupation, but gave a great deal of attention to the business of a dairyman. He married Miss Sarah Ufford, daughter of Nathaniel and Hannah Ufford, and became the parent of the following children, viz: Sarah A., Charles, Harrison, Ame- lia, Hannah, Mary, Electa, Joab, Lottie and Luke.
G EORGE EDWARD EMERSON is one of the leading citizens of Bowling Green, Pike County. He became a resident of this place in April, 1892, when he opened a livery business, and he now has an extensive establish- ment. He carries a full line of carriages and coaches and keeps a good grade of driving horses and roadsters. He has prospered in his business undertakings, and still owns an interest in the large stock farm which he formerly man- aged.
Mr. Emerson was born in Buffalo Township, Pike County, Mo., January 14, 1854, and is a son of Edward D. and Catherine (Peay) Emerson. The former is a native of Pike County, and one of its pioneers. The date of his birth was July 12, 1824, and from boyhood he was reared to farm life. His property was at first located in Buffalo Township, and there he continued to reside until 1864, when he moved to Ashley Township, where lis son, Luke, now owns a stock farm. He has been a staunch Republican ever since the forma- tion of the party, and is a man who is thoroughly respected by all. His wife was born in Virginia, being a daughter of George W. and Matilda (Martin) Peay. She was a faithful member of the Baptist Church, and was always present at the regular services whenever it was possible. She was called to her final rest at the close of a happy and useful life June 3, 1884. Our subject's grand- father, whose birth occurred in Virginia, emi- grated with his family to Missouri in 1814, set- tling on land lying along Buffalo Creek, in Pike
291
PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
County, where he continued to manage a farm until shortly before his death, which took place in 1853. His wife, whose maiden name was Eliza- beth Downs, was also a native of the Old Do- minion, and died on the old homestead in Pike County.
Of the eight children born to E. D. and Cath- erine Emerson, our subject is the second in order of birth. His elder sister, Lizzie, is the wife of Capt. John W. Hendrick, whose sketch appears elsewhere in this volume. The others are: Luke, before mentioned; Molly, deceased; Anna, a resi- dent of Des Moines, Iowa; Douglas, who died in 1882; Fannie, also making her home in Des Moines; and James, a stock-raiser. The early life of George E. Emerson was spent on his father's homestead in Buffalo Township. Thence he moved with the family to Ashley Township and obtained his elementary education in the dis- trict schools of the neighborhood. For some years he devoted himself to farming and stock- raising, in both of which he was successful.
January 21, 1880, occurred the marriage of Mr. Emerson and Laura B. Easton. Her parents, Rufus and Nancy (Irvine) Easton, were old set- tlers of Pike County. Mr. Easton is still living, but his wife departed this life in 1880. To our subject and wife have been born two sons, Adol- phus and Druien P. In his political inclinations Mr. Emerson is a Republican of no uncertain stamp. In manner he is quiet and unassuming, and is esteemed by those who know him best to be worthy of all confidence and respect.
J OSEPH H. McPHEETERS. This promi- nent old pioneer of Marion County, who is now residing in the City of Palmyra, was born in Fayette County, Ky., January 3, 1818. He is the son of William and Nancy (Bowman) McPheeters, the former of whom had his birth in Virginia. He was well-to-do in this world's goods and passed his entire life in cultivating the soil. The father of our subject was three times mar- ried. His first union occurred with a Miss Gam-
ble, who died three weeks after her marriage. He later married a Miss Wardlaw, who, on her death, left three children: Addison, who died in Illi- nois; Margaret and Martha. William Mc- Pheeters was then married to Miss Bowman and to them were born six children, those besides our subject being John, William G., Charles, Jacob B., James S., all deceased.
In 1795 William McPheeters emigrated from Virginia to Kentucky, where he took up land and lived until 1838. That year he moved from Fayette to Warren County, Ky., and in 1830 made his advent into Boone County, Mo. Here he also entered a tract of land, but did not make his home on it longer than a twelvemonth, when he came to Marion County and purchased a quar- ter section of excellent land, on which he resided until his decease.
When old enough our subject aided in the work of clearing and cultivating the new farm. His education was very limited, as there were no schools in the county at that time and he was permitted to attend but a short time in his native State. He was very ambitious to start in business for himself and at the age of nineteen had a one- third interest in a water, saw and grist-mill, in which work he continued for about eight years, meeting with signal success. In the meantime he was married (on the 21st of December, 1838) to Ann W. Redd, daughter of John and Anna (Bul- lock) Redd.
In 1842 our subject disposed of his milling interests and came to Marion County, where he rented a tract of ninety acres and for five years was engaged in its operation. At the expiration of that time he became the owner of two hundred and thirty-seven acres, on which he moved with his family and worked the same until 1857. That year he retired from farm work and moved into Palmyra, in which place he established a lumber business in company with his son, James R. They continued in this but two years, when Mr. Mc- Pheeters purchased a tract of prairie land, on which he made his home for a twelvemonth; then selling it, he became the proprietor of another farm, but in 1844 returned to his former pur- chase. After one year, or in 1845, he went into partnership with his father-in-law and for some
292
PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
time worked a two-hundred-and-forty-acre tract on shares.
The next venture of our subject was in the grocery business, in which he was engaged until the opening of the late war. During the trying times which followed his property was destroyed by invaders and he was arrested time and again. On the cessation of hostilities Mr. McPheeters occupied his time in putting up mill machines, but since 1872 has been retired from business of any kind. He sustained a severe loss in March, 1873, when his wife was called away. His only son and child, James, was born September 10, 1838, and died in the army.
In politics Mr. McPheeters is a strong sup- porter of Democratic principles and candidates. In religious affairs he is one of the valued mem- bers of the Christian Church, with which body he has been connected for many years. He is highly respected in this community, and indeed all over the county, for he is widely known.
J AMES W. TALIAFERRO is a leading dentist of Hannibal, Mo., and enjoys a good practice. He has been a resident of this city since December 24, 1886, and in the meantime has gained a desirable reputation in his chosen field of work. He took up the study of dentistry with Dr. Llewellyn of Saverton, Mo., and for four win- ters was thus employed, his sumniers being spent in farming. Coming to Hannibal in 18-, he spent six months with Dr. Stockton, soon after which he commenced practice, and for three years traveled between stated points, treating patients at certain specified times. Opening an office at Louisiana, Mo., he spent two years there, then for two years was located at Elsbury, after which he returned to Louisiana and remained there two years more. In this way he obtained wide ex- perience before coming to Hannibal and has been uniformly successful.
The doctor's grandfather, a native of Italy, set- tled in Virginia, where lie married a lady of Irish descent. The name was originally spelled Tag- liaferro, but the "g" was dropped to simplify
and facilitate pronunciation. Grandfather Talia- ferro was a man of very small stature, not more than five feet in height, and his descendants have, in most cases, been'below medium height. About 1835 he moved to Missouri, settling on Grassy Creek, near Louisiana, where he bought a small farm. He was a great hunter, as were also some of his sons, notably M., who killed one of the largest bears ever found in the Rocky Moun- tains. The grandfather's family comprised five sons and two daughters, most of whom settled in Missouri. He lived to be over ninety years of age, dying about 1859. His wife, who survived him a few years, also attained an extreme old age.
Charles, father of James W., was born in Vir- ginia and died when in his eighty-third year. He was a cabinetmaker and tanner by trade and for several years conducted a tannery in company with his brother John at Ashley. During the war he enlisted in the Confederate Army, under Capt. John Herring. His son Philip (a child of his first marriage) served throughout the war on the Southern side and now resides at Leland, Miss. James W. is a son of his marriage with Winifred Martin, a native of Louisiana, Mo., and daughter of Judge Tyra, an old settler of this State, who died in California in 1849. James W. has three sisters, namely: Mrs. Henrietta Bress- ler, Mary J. (wife of Edmond Cheatham) and Ada Butter (Mrs. William P. Gilbert). The only brother is Charles H.
The birth of our subject occurred October 25, 1852, and he received but meager educational ad- vantages on account of the unsettled condition of things during and preceding the war. He re- mained on his father's farm until twenty-three years of age, when he went to Huntsville, Texas, and learned the saddler's trade with his uncle; he was very apt as a pupil and completed his appren- ticeship in a year. Next he was for six months a guard at the Texas Penitentiary. In the fall of 1871 he returned home and suffered for some time with malaria contracted in the South.
March 26, 1890, Mr. Taliaferro married Miss B. M., daughter of Benjamin M. and Martha (Lee) Briggs of this city. The young couple have one child, a daughter, whom they have named Mar- guerite C. Religiously he is identified with the
293
PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.