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 37

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 37
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 37
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 37


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Crossing the great American desert in 1860, Mr. Lockling finally reached the "city of tents,"


on the right bank of the South Platte River, now called Denver, Col. While there he laid off an irrigation ditch, which now supplies the city with water. After a short sojourn in the far West, he returned in the fall of 1860 to "God's country," reaching Jacksonport and Augusta, Ark., the same year. In 1860-61, he was engaged in re- claiming swamp and overflowed land on the White River, Ark., by constructing levees and ditches. While in Arkansas he earned consider- able money and procured the title to six hundred and forty acres of land, all of which, except $500, he lost during the Rebellion. In 1861 he was obliged to choose between being hanged or join the Confederate Army. With true patriotic spirit he did not choose either, but in February, 1862, jumped on his horse and "lit out" making his way to Hannibal, Mo. Here he at once joined the Enrolled Missouri Militia, in which he served for two years, fighting Porter, Quantrell and other "bushwhackers."


The people of Hannibal, recognizing Mr. Lockling's comprehensive knowledge of en- gineering, appointed him, in 1865, to the position of City Engineer, and in that capacity he served until 1870. During the same time he also served as Surveyor and Road Commissioner of Marion County, and while filling that office he made a county map and a map showing the right of way of the St. Louis, Kansas & Northwestern Rail- road through Hannibal. He also helped in locat- ing the Missouri, Kansas & Texas Railroad to Moberly, Mo. In 1871 he served in the capacity of City Assessor, after which, until 1880, he was chief engineer of the Narrow Gauge Railroad from Sullivan to Bedford in Indiana. In addi- tion, he was resident engineer in constructing tlie St. Louis & Council Bluffs road.


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PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.


For two years, from 1880 to 1882, Mr. Lock- ling was engaged on the Denver & Rio Grande Railroad from Pueblo to Leadville, Red Cliff and Silver Cliff, also from Salida over Marshall Pass into the Gunnison country near the western boundary of Colorado. During the first year he had charge of location, but afterward took charge of construction. In 1882 he ran preliminary lines from Quincy to Greenville, Ill., for a road which, however, never materialized. He was United States Clerk in the construction of the United States court house and postoffice at Han- nibal. In 1886, the position of City Engineer of Hannibal was again tendered him, and this office he held continuously to June, 1895, when the Democrats ran him out.


As yet nothing has been said concerning the ancestral history of the Lockling family. Its record is one of honor and patriotism. The family was founded in this country by Dennis Lockling, Sr., and his brother Joel, who left Scotland dur- ing the reign of George I, of England. They were gentlemen of noble birth, and were wealthy ship builders and owners of vessels, but their estates were confiscated by King George, after which they determined to seek a land of freedom and justice, and accordingly in 1700, they took passage on the good ship "Susannah," bound for America. Dennis, Sr., married Miss Sarah Wil- son, and among their children was Dennis, Jr., a native of Bolton, Mass., born September 16, 1725. He served in the French and Indian wars and won the rank of Lieutenant in the colonial struggle 'for Independence, taking part in the battles of Bennington, Vt., and Bunker Hill, and being present at the surrender of Burgoyne at Saratoga. His three sons, Jonathan, Levi and Joel, fought with him at Bunker Hill. He was a delegate from Dummerston, Vt., January 5, 1777, to the convention at Westminster, Vt., which declared for the independence of Vermont. A man of considerable wealth and influence, he was the possessor of large landed estates and was esteemed wherever known.


Jonathan, son of Dennis, Jr., and grandfather of the subject of this sketch, was born in Bolton, Mass., August 28, 1754, and died in 1795, having


won an enviable reputation as a student and scholar, as well as an honorable and upright man. He married Rachel Parker, a descendant of Thomas Parker, who emigrated to America from England in 1635, when he was thirty years of age. David Lockling, father of the subject of this notice, was born in Bolton, Mass., April 9, 1782, and for many years engaged in manufac- turing and farming pursuits at Lyndon, Vt. He married Miss Sarah Lockling, a distant relative, and to them were born the following-named children: Levi L., John, Jonathan, Calista, Lucy D., Nathan P., David, Sarah A., Jacob H., Frederick R., and Sophia.


At Hudson, Mich., October 16, 1854, was solemnized the marriage of the subject of this biography and Maria, daughter of Ebenezer and Mary C. (Power) Stuart. Her parents were na- tives respectively of Massachusetts and New York. Her mother, who was born in Farming- ton, in 1803, is still living and makes her home with Mrs. Lockling, being quite active and bright notwithstanding her extreme age. She remem- bers having seen General Lafayette upon the occasion of his last visit to the United States in 1824, and once had the pleasure of hearing him speak. The Stuart family, as the name implies, is of Scotch extraction. Mr. and Mrs. Lockling are the parents of two children, namely: Frederick S., of Hannibal; and Paul P., Secretary and Treas- urer of the Duffy Trowbridge Stove Manufactur- ing Company, of Hannibal.


Socially Mr. Lockling belongs to St. John's Lodge, No. 28, A. F. & A. M., has passed through the Royal Arch Degree, and is also a member of the Triple Alliance. Politically, as the reader may infer from the above sketch, he is a stanchi adher- ent of Republican principles. He is justly held to be one of the best citizens of Hannibal, both in respect to his private life, which is irreproachable, and in every public position he has held, in which he always acted for the best interests of the city and county. All enterprises that have for their object the good of this locality or the increase of the material wealth, have ever found in him an advocate and friend, ready to take hold and give them substantial aid, and that, too, without hop-


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ing to reap any direct personal gain, but looking only to the welfare of others.


Although Mr. Lockling has engaged in civil engineering for a half century, he is yet in good health and looks forward to further usefulness in his profession. He is now considering offers from various railroad companies, who recognize and value ability and experience. He has been an able and faithful servant of the city of Hanni- bal, and her fine system of sewerage and graded streets are largely due to his professional skill, hard work and care. He stands high in the com- munity he has served so well, and is highly re- spected by all. In his character he combines those qualities of mind and heart that win for him the friendship of all who know him.


J AMES W. HIGGINBOTHAM. This gen- tleman, who is one of the prominent and in- fluential residents of Pike County, was President of the Farmers' Bank in 1894, and is still a large stockholder in that institution. He was born in Amherst County, Va., August 3, 1848, and at present occupies his time in farming and stock-raising.


Rufus A. and Sarah E. (Hargrove) Higgin- botham, the parents of our subject, were born, the father in Amherst County, Va., and the mother in Nelson County, the same State. The ancestors of our subject on the paternal side came from Scotland in a very early day and made settlement in the Old Dominion, where tlrey be- came well-to-do and prominent citizens. There they owned large estates and built the Higgin- botham College, a noted institution of learning in the East. Absalom, the father of Rufus, was also born in Amherst County, where in later years he was the owner of many slaves.


James Higginbotham completed his education in a rough five-cornered log schoolhouse, the fifth torner being the fire place. This log house was in Amherst County, Va., and he walked four miles across the fields to reach it. When through


school he worked in his father's mill and assisted in farm work. At the age of nineteen he started for Missouri and while on the way to the depot was so unfortunate as to have his trunk stolen. He did not turn back, however, although his possessions were small and April 12, 1868, he ar- rived in Louisville, with eight dollars in money. His first work was to put in a crop of tobacco on rented land and at the end of the first year, after paying four dollars a week for board he had sixty- six dollars left to loan at ten per cent interest. The following year he began clerking in a store and continued in this capacity until 1872, when he purchased a one-third interest in the stock of goods and four years thereafter was given a one- half interest. Things moved along in this way, the firm in the meantime making money, until 1882 when Mr. Higginbotham bought out his partner and for three years conducted affairs alone. In 1885, however, he sold his stock to his brothers, H. H. and T. J. and that year became the owner of two hundred and eighty acres of land, which is now included in his valuable estate. He still owns the store building in town, although he traded his residence property for land adjoining his Pike County farm, upon which he moved in March, 1887. He built here his present resi- dence in 1890 and into this substantial structure the family moved on December 16 of that year.


To Rufus and Sarah Higginbotham there were born eleven children, two of whom died when young. They were Lucinda, now Mrs. John W. Myers, who is living at Forks of Buffalo, Amherst County, Va., where her husband died. She is now Postmistress of that place, and also conducts a store, owns a farm and has been a school teacher. Her son Henry is now attending a school of medicine in New York; H. H. Higginbotham during the late war was in the Second Virginia Cavalry with Fitz Hugh Lee. He is now living in Louisville, this State; Bettie A. C., married John H. Parr who is a general mechant at All- wood, Va., and who was a soldier during the en- tire period of the war; Thomas J. was also a mem- ber of the Second Cavalry, enlisting in 1862 and serving until the close of hostilities. He is now in the mercantile business at Louisville, Mo; Pitt


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A., was killed near Richmond in a battle, about three weeks after enlisting in the Second Cavalry; our subject was the next born; Nora J., married Samuel Watts, a farmer of Amherst County, Va. He too served with Fitz Hugh Lee; Samuel B., was educated at Columbia, this State, and return- ing to Virginia is now living on the old home- stead; Fletcher H., is a general merchant and Postmaster at Long Mountain, Va.


Our subject married Mettie D. Paxton, Octo- ber 14, 1877, and their six children are Rufus L., born July 19, 1878; Mary E., December 14, 1879; James W., born October 6, 1883, died July 8, 1887; Mattie G., born August 7, 1886, died August II, 1887; Henry H., born August 3, 1888, and Annie P., September 24, 1890. It is the in- tention of our subject to give all of his children a college education.


Mrs. Higginbotham is the daughter of Luke H. and Mary A. (Prewitt) Paxton, the father being a native of Virginia and the mother of Ken- tucky. To this worthy couple ten children were born as follows: James Robert, a farmer of Louisville, Mo .; Ann E., the wife of W. M. Grey, farmer of Painsville, Mo .; George V., a merchant of Georgetown, Ky .; Martha C., died when a child; Luke H., a United States pension ex- aminer at Kirksville, Mo .; John W., a farmer near Clarksville, Pike County, Mo., and who re- sides with his mother; Mettie, Mrs. Higgin- botham; Caswell P. and Jefferson D., both farm- ers near Clarksville, Mo., and Joseph F., a grad- uate of Harvard and a professor in the State University at Columbia, Mo. Mrs. Higgin- botham is the seventh child and youngest daugh- ter and was born at Louisville, Mo., November 20, 1856. She obtained an excellent education in the public schools of Pike County, and is a woman of fine accomplishments and of Christian char- acter. She is a consistent member of the Chris- tian Church and foremost in all its good works. The father, Luke Paxton, was one of the first merchants in Louisville and built the large brick store in that place, now owned by Mr. Higgin- botham.


Mr. Higginbotham's farm comprises five hun- dred and sixty acres, besides two hundred and


sixty acres which lie near his home place. He also owns property in Ashley and Louisville and furnishes employment to many persons in this county. In politics our subject is a Democrat and at all times gives his voice and influence in favor of this party.


B ENJAMIN H. M'PIKE, one of the oldest residents of Missouri, is at present living in retirement, having gained for himself and family a good competence through the in- dustrious labors of former years. He was born April 7, 1812, in Henry County, Ky., and was the son of Edward and Sarah (Van Cleve) McPike.


The father of our subject was likewise a Ken- tuckian by birth and made his home in that State until attaining his fifty-fifth year, when he started for Crawfordsville, Ind., but never reached that place as both he and his wife died on the way. Mrs. McPike was born in Shelby County, Ky., and was a member of the Presbyterian Church.


After the death of their parents the brothers and sisters of our subject returned to their old Kentucky home. They were twelve in number, six sons and six daughters, namely: Mary, Sarah, James, John, Elijah, William, Benjamin, Aaron, Hannah, Bettie, Ann and Rachel, all of whom are deceased with the exception of our sub- ject and Aaron. The latter is now a resident of Vandalia.


The original of this sketch spent the first twenty-six years of his life in his native State. He attended the private schools near his home and received a good education for that early day. When twenty-two years of age he was united in marriage with Miss Rachel J., daughter of John and Nancy Bowen, and to them were born thir- teen children, of whom we make the following mention: James A. was the eldest; William B. was the second born; Benjamin F. died in in- fancy; John E. departed this life in Bowling Green, Mo., when thirty-eight years of age. The other members of the family died unnamed.


The wife of our subject was born in Fairfax


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County, Va., whence she accompanied her par- ents on their removal to Shelby County, Ky., where she took advantage of the opportunities given her for attending the pioneer schools. She was married to our subject when nineteen years of age and they have journeyed together a period of sixty years. They are both members in good standing of the Baptist Church and during their earlier years took an active part in church work. Mr. McPike first located in Marion County, Mo., in the year 1838, and after nine years' residence here returned to his native State and engaged in running an old-time tavern at Port Royal. He also operated in conjunction with this a carding machine. He continued at Port Royal for the fol- lowing five years when he again took up his abode in Marion County, living on rented property for the first year. After this he removed to Pike County and there purchased farms at different periods, finally locating on his present place, which is one of the best in the locality. It is now two hundred and twenty acres in extent and is well improved in every particular. Mr. McPike has been very successful in life and when each of his two sons was ready to embark in life for themselves he gave them $2,000. He attributes much of his success to the good advice and pru- dent economy of his wife, who has been his help- mate and companion for so many long years. In politics, he is a dyed-in-the-wool Democrat, and although never an office seeker has always taken great interest in the success of his party.


J OHN M. DICK, one of the leading grocers of Hannibal, has risen to his present inde- pendent position through his own unassist- ed efforts; by strict attention to correct methods and to the wants of his customers he has gained many friends and numbers among his patrons the best families of this place. His store is a large double one, fully equipped with a good line of staple and fancy groceries.


J. M. Dick was born October 30, 1853, in


Hannibal, being a son of Nathaniel and Mary J. (Dunn) Dick, natives of Kentucky; the grand- parents were also natives of the Blue Grass State. In 1842 Nathaniel Dick moved to this city and engaged in the drygoods and grocery business. The firm of which he was a member, Dick & Smith, was probably the best-known in the busi- ness at this point for a long period and com- manded an extensive trade. Their location was on the site of the present First National Bank, corner of Broadway and Third Streets. Owing to the insecurity of affairs during the war the firm was compelled to suspend business opera- tions, but afterward Mr. Dick once more turned his energies to commercial pursuits and was thus. employed until shortly before his death, which occurred in March, 1892. In early years he was a member of the city police force and during his entire life was actively concerned in political af- fairs; for many years he served as City Recorder and was also Coroner of Marion County. The only secret society to which he belonged was that of the I. O. O. F. A believer in total abstinence, he never used intoxicants or tobacco in any form and he retained his superior mental faculties un- impaired until his demise, which occurred in his seventy-eighth year. His first wife, a Miss Berry of Kentucky, died, leaving him two children, namely: Naomi, wife of Alvin Huser; Minerva (Mrs. D. B. Newbury). His second wife, Mary, bore him three children: John M., of this sketch; Andrew J., an employe of the United States Ex- press Company ; Mary E. (Mrs. Nathaniel Squires), of this county.


As opportunity offered our subject went to school until he was old enough to obtain a clerk- ship in a store, when he combined the two pur- suits. For four or five years he worked for B. Knopfel and then for some time was employed by James Smith. In 1885 he entered into partner- ship with Mr. Huser, under the firm name of Dick & Huser, and started in the grocery business for himself in a very modest way, as may be imagined from the fact that his capital was only one hundred dollars. At the end of six months he had pros- pered so well that he was able to buy out his part- ner and has since conducted his business alone. The small grocery has grown to large proportions


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in a few years and the proprietor is rapidly acquir- ing a fortune in legitimate branches of trade.


October 22, 1884, Mr. Dick was married to Elizabeth, daughter of James R. and Betsey (Overton) Smith. Three children came to bless their union, namely: John Edward, now a bright little fellow of four years; Ralph M. and Rupell W. Mr. Dick is a K. of P. and a strong advo- cate of democracy.


J OHN W. MALLORY, who for a number of years was engaged in railroading, retired from that branch of business and October 10, 1886, took up his residence in Palmyra. Dur- ing his long years of service as a railroad employé he managed to acquire a snug little fortune and invested a portion of this in land in this vicinity; for some six years he lived on the farm and then moved to the city proper. He has held many offices of trust and honor during his residence in various localities and has always discharged the cluties which devolved upon him with strict re- gard to the best interests of others. He is very popular in the circles of the local Democracy and is prominent in church and business relationships.


A native of Lewis County, Mo., Mr. Mallory was born February 13. 1841 and is a son of Ed- ward H. and Mary Jane (Carson) Mallory. The former was born in Virginia, October 12, 1808, and was the son of Edward and Lucy (Hum- stead) Mallory, who were married March II, 1806. Their family comprised the following: Clement P., born December 23, 1806; Edward H., born October 12, 1808; Nathaniel O., born March 1, 1810; Susannah, born January 1, 1812; Sidney M., born November 29, 1813; Thomas, born December 19, 1816, and the only one of the sons living (1895); Mary E., born December 15, 1819; Sarah J., born in August, 1822; Elias M., born May 18, 1826. Susannah married Thomas Ball; Sidney chose for her husband Nimrod Towles; Mary E. wedded William Turner; Sarah J. is the wife of Joseph West. All are dead but Mary E., Sarah J. and Thomas (1895). Mrs. Mary Mallory was born in October, 1819, in Frederick


County, Va., and came from a long-lived family, her grandfather reaching the ripe old age of one hundred years. She became the wife of Edward H. Mallory September 12, 1839, and bore him six children, of whom J. W. is the eldest. The others were Lavina J., born September 19, 1842; Clement, born November 30, 1844; Sarah, born November 9, 1846; Harriet A., born in Septem- ber, 1849; Edward C., born March 3, 1852.


Our subject's father was a life-long member of the Methodist Church, but his wife was a Bap- tist. During the war his sympathies were with the Union and in politics he used his franchise in favor of the Democratic party. At the close of a good and useful life he was summoned to his reward December 14, 1881. For thirty years he was engaged in working at the carpenter's trade and helped build the lock gates on the O. & C. Canal prior to coming west.


The first years of J. W. Mallory passed un- eventfully in the usual occupation of farmer boys; during the summer months he helped on the homestead and in the winter-time pursued his studies in the common schools of the district. In 1859 he entered the Baptist College of Palmyra, where he remained for a year. Then going to La Grange, Mo., he stayed in that section until the outbreak of the war, when he enlisted in the First Regiment, Second Division of the Missouri State Guards, being under command of Gen. Green. He was ordered to Clapp Ford and in the sharp skirmish which took place at that point met with defeat. With the others he retreated south- ward to Shelbina, having a running fight with the Union forces, but finally reached Price's Army, near Marshall. With them Mr. Mallory pro- ceeded as far as the Osage River and was placed to work on a flatboat, ferrying supplies across the river. Owing to exposure he was taken ill and returned to Palmyra, where he was arrested and for three months kept a prisoner in the old hotel. On being released he took a position with the H. & St. Jo. R. R. as a brakeman, in which capacity he served for two years. He was then appointed Conductor on a short run between Quincy and Palmyra and two and a-half years later began running between Hannibal and Brookfield. In 1873 he went to Topeka, Kan., and for the next


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fourteen years was one of the most trusted em- ployés of the Santa Fe system. While in Kansas he was a member of the City Council and for two terms Mayor of Nickerson, Kan.


May 26, 1864, Mr. Mallory married Ellen M., daughter of Capt. William Carson, who was very popular and well known in this community. One son and four daughters were born to Mr. and Mrs. Mallory, namely: Lena, born April 10, 1865; Ella J., born October 28, 1866; Lucy H., born November 1I, 1868; Clara K., born February 24, 1871; Albert C., born July 20, 1874. The eldest daughter married George Sanders and lives in Kansas, as does also the next daughter, Ella; Lucy is the wife of George W. Moore, a farmer of Marion County; Clara K. is still at home with her parents; the youngest son is now absent in Kansas. Mr. and Mrs. Mallory are workers in the Baptist Church and are liberal contributors to religious enterprises. Mr. Mallory is Secre- tary for the Marion County Farmers' Fire Insur- ance Company. He has two hundred and twenty- three acres of land of his own and has charge of two hundred and seventy acres of his mother's land. Mr. Mallory is a Thirty-second Degree Mason, having taken all the degrees of both the York and Scottish Rites, and is now Worshipful Master of the Masonic Order of Palmyra, No. 18. He is also a member of the A. O. U. W. and was Chief Conductor of the O. of R. R. C., Nickerson, Kan., for six years. Our subject's grandfather, Edward Mallory, was a soldier in the War of 1812. Mr. Mallory served as President of the Conduc- tors' Insurance Association of Chicago in 1885 and 1887.


J ACOB E. STOUT is a native of Ralls County, born in Saverton Township, May 13, 1843, and is a son of Francis B. and Anna (Stowers) Stout, who were the parents of seven children, of whom three survive. The father was a native of Culpeper County, Va., born Au- gust 6, 1808. He there grew to manhood, was married, and in 1837, shortly after the death of his wife, he emigrated to Missouri and settled in




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