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 40

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 40
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 40
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 40

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Mr. McAdams was formerly a Whig, as was his father before him. For many years he has been identified with the Democratic party. He is the owner of three hundred acres of fine land and is considered a well-to-do and prosperous farmer.

J OHN STAMBAUGH is one of the wide- awake farmers and stock raisers who finds both pleasure and profit in cultivating the soil. His valuable estate is located on Section 29, Township 55, Range 4, Ralls County, and is well managed and well equipped with the necessary buildings, machinery, etc.

Mr. Stambaugh was born in Frederick County,

Md., February 27, 1837, and was the eighth in order of birth of the family comprising eleven children, belonging to John and Elizabetni (Iler) Stambaugh, all of whom are yet living. The father's birth occurred in Pennsylvania in the year 1800. He was a boy when taken to Mary- land by his parents and there grew to manhood, was married and lived until his death, which took place in the year 1876. He was a farmer by oc- cupation, and an exemplary member of the Luth- eran Church, his long life being one of upright- ness and good deeds. His wife was born in Fred- erick County, Md., about the year 1805, and passed her entire life within the boundaries of her native State. She too was a Lutheran in religion, dying firm in that faith in 1881.

The subject of this memoir is of German de- scent, his great-grandfather on his father's side having emigrated with his parents from that Em- pire to America when a child. John, our sub- ject, lived with his parents until grown, in the meantime attending the public schools regularly. He assisted his father in the cultivation of the home farm for several years after reaching his majority, and then began life for himself as a farmer. For some two years he worked as a farm hand, but in the fall of 1864 decided to come West, and November of that year found him in Illinois, where he remained until the following year. During that time he was married and, with his young wife and her parents, came to Mis- souri. In partnership with his father-in-law, he purchased one hundred and ninety-three acres of land in Spencer Creek, which adjoins his pres- ent estate. In the year 1877 he became the pro- prietor of the tract on Section 29, and the next year located upon it and has since made it his home.

Miss Sarah M. Baumgardner, to whom our subject was married November 24, 1864, was the daughter of Peter and Sarah E. (Shoemaker) Baumgardner, natives of Maryland, in which State Mrs. Stambaugh was also born, the date thereof being March 10, 1832.

Of the four children born to our subject and his wife, only two are living, namely: John M., who remains at home and assists in the manage-

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ment of the farm, and Lilly, now the wife of Reuben Holliday of Pike County, Mo. In poli- tics Mr. Stambaugh is a supporter of Democratic principles and candidates. He is a true Christian gentleman and an active member of the Presby- terian Church. He thoroughly identifies himself with whatever will best promote the highest in- terests of his community, his liberality helping forward many schemes for its improvement, and he is numbered among its most loyal citizens.

W ILLIAM JACKSON SISSON, a prominent citizen of Bowling Green, Pike County, is now retired from busi- ness, but for many years was identified with the milling interests of the county. In July, 1879, he formed a partnership with McAllister Brothers and purchased an unfinished mill in this place, which, after completing on modern plans, they continued to conduct successfully for ten years, and then, owing to poor health, he sold out the plant to W. J. Hume in 1889. Mr. Sisson is well off in this world's goods, having won success by his own industrious efforts, and well deserves to reap the reward of his years of earnest and zealous toil.

Our subject's parents were John and Mary (Strother) Sisson, who were married September 23, 1819. The father, who was born in Fauquier County, Va., January 25, 1794, and was of Scotch- Irish descent, was reared to an agricultural life. During his boyhood he obtained the rudiments of an education by attending a private school for a few weeks each winter, and was only eighteen years old when he enlisted under Maj. Jeffries and served during the entire war of 1812. He then commenced an apprenticeship as a miller, follow- ing the trade until 1832, when he embarked in farming, and managed a Virginia plantation for six years. In 1838 he emigrated to Pike County, Mo., and leased a farm, where he passed the re- mainder of his life, his death occurring Septem- ber 16, 1845. He was a devout Christian and a

member of the Baptist Church. Politically he was an old line Whig. His wife, Mary Strother, was born June 7, 1804. Mrs. Mary Sisson died Oc- tober 2, 1840, and in December of the following year John Sisson married Miss Mary Noel, by whom he had three children, namely: Samuel L., now a resident of Frankford; Harriet N., wife of Mr. Jones, and Barbara F.

William J. Sisson was born in Fauquier County, Va., August 22, 1822, and is one of nine children. His brother, Henry L., died December 16, 1847, aged twenty-six years. Margaret A. is the widow of Henry Kelley, of Curreyville, Pike County; John James is now living in Pueblo, Col. George Edward died while on a trip across, one year; Mary C., is the widow of Jeseph Mc- Cune, of McCune Station, Pike County; Jane Elizabeth is the widow of William R. Brown, of Curreyville; Julia Virginia married Barnett Shell- house. She was born March 26, 1839, and died in 1858.

In 1850 W. J. Sisson went to California and for five years engaged in gold mining, with fair suc- cess. He then concluded to return home, and doing so launched out into the milling business. In 1855 he purchased a grist mill near Ashley, in this county, and operated the same until March, 1863, when in partnership with P. P. Bell, he bought a flour mill in the village of Ashley and carried on the plant until 1878. In 1888 he pur- chased a farm as a matter of speculation and sold it to good advantage in 1891.

In 1855 Mr. Sisson married Emily Elizabeth Kneedler, who was born in Virginia, November 19, 1832, her parents being Thomas J. and Mary Jane (Hesser) Kneedler. The father by trade was a merchant tailor. After reaching his majority he moved to White Post, Va., where he died Oc- tober 10, 1839. Her only brother, James Ed- win, who died November 5, 1862, was born May 31, 1831. Mr. and Mrs. Sisson have only one child, Maggie, who is now the wife of J. C. Biggs, of Curreyville. Mrs. Sisson is a faithful member of the Methodist Church; with which de- nomination her parents were also associated. Our subject is an Elder in the Presbyterian Church, although his parents were Baptists. Politically

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he is a Democrat, and socially he belongs to the Pholix Lodge No. 136, A. F. and A. M., Pike Chapter No. 86, K. T., and Cyrene Commandery No. 13. He is a worthy representative of the good old Virginia type, his character being above re- proach.

S TEPHEN G. SMITH, M. D., justly consid- ered one of the leading physicians of Han- nibal, has been engaged in practice here since the spring of 1878. In the winter of 1888 -- 89 he attended lectures at Bellevue Hospital Med- ical College, New York City, and under the in- struction of the noted Prof. Bryant took a special course in surgery and gynecology, in both of which branches he is now very proficient. It is his constant endeavor to keep up with the times in everything relating to his profession; he is broad in his views and takes great interest in pub- lic affairs.

The first ancestor of Dr. Smith, of whom he has authentic record, was John Smith, who was born in Holland in 1745 and married a Miss Schneider in 1766. Although it is not known at just what time he arrived in America it is a fact that he set- tled in Morris County, N. J., where he reared his family. One of his sons, David, born in 1768, was the grandfather of our subject. He married and had a good family, of whom Isaac, born in 1800 in Morris County, was the eldest. In 1812 David Smith moved with his family to Ohio, pur- chased land from the Government near what is now Columbus, but which was then a wilderness, and began its improvement.

Isaac, the father of S. G. Smith, spent his boy- hood at home, sharing in the labors and sports common to his day and frontier life. When only- thirteen years of age he was noted as a successful hunter and one night while in a tree near a salt lick awaiting the coming of deer, he saw a large black bear approaching and shot the brute, kill- ing him instantly. In carly manhood he turned his attention to contracting for stonemasonry and constructed many of the locks on the Ohio Canal in Tuscarawas County, and also erected an aque-

duct along the course of the same canal. About 1830 he purchased a wild tract of land of one hun- dred acres, upon which he erected a cabin, and which he improved. This tract was near his fath- er's and where the subject of this sketch was born. This land in later years became very valuable, as it was near the growing City of Columbus. He was the only one of three sons who survived child- hood. Of his two sisters but one is living, Jane, who married Charles Hand more than sixty-five years ago and now resides on the old farm which David Smith entered nearly a century ago. Both David and his wife lived to be over four-score years of age. In 1872 Isaac Smith emigrated to Missouri, locating in Hannibal, where he died at the age of seventy-five years. His widow, whose maiden name was Eliza Wright, survived him sev- eral years, departing this life in 1888. She was born in Maryland in 1809 and became the wife of Mr. Smith in 1831.

A native of Franklin County, Ohio, Dr. Smith was born August 10, 1845, and though he was brought up to farm life his inclinations did not tend in that direction. At intervals he attended school until 1864, when he enlisted in the Ohio Na- tional Guards, becoming a member of Company B, One Hundred and Thirty-third Regiment, and was mustered into the one hundred days' service at Camp Chase May 2, 1864. With his command he was hastily ordered to the front and was under fire in the entrenchments between Petersburg and Richmond nearly all of the time up to August 20, when he was mustered out. On his return home Mr. Smith resumed his interrupted studies and in 1865-66 attended the Normal School at Johns- town, Ohio; later he entered Central College of Franklin County, Ohio. Then he engaged in teaching school for one term, when he determined to come west, and in 1868 located in Ralls County, Mo., where he engaged in teaching for seven or eight years.

Having long been desirous of entering a pro- fessional life, Dr. Smith entered the office of Drs. Knox and Asbury, Monroe City, in 1875, and after due preparation went to Columbus Medical College, Ohio, graduating therefrom in 1878, since which time his field of practice has been in this thriving city, where prosperity has attended

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him. In his political belief he is a Republican, but is not desirous of public office. For several terms he has been President of the Hannibal Med- ical Society, which honor bespeaks his influence in the community. Fraternally he is identified with the Masonic Order and the K. of the M.

January 7, 1873, was celebrated the marriage of Dr. Smith and Susan B., daughter of Henry Hayes of Monroe County, Mo. She was called to the home beyond January 25, 1875. In October, 1889, the doctor wedded Cora L. Bauer of Han- nibal. She is the daughter of John Bauer and by her marriage has become the mother of one child, Leota Gladys. The doctor and wife have a pleas- ant home and are highly esteemed by all who know them.

J AMES DICKSON, a veteran of the late war, is now, as he has been for many years, a res- ident of Natchez, Miss., though his family have their home in Liberty Township, Marion County, whither he returns for two or three months annually. For three years he was Dep- uty Revenue Collector, for two years was Assess- or of Adams County, Miss., and for some time was Chief Deputy Collector of the Port of Natch- ez, filling this position without remuneration on account of the rule that pension attorneys cannot hold any position with salary. During the past two decades he has conducted a pension claini agency with good success.

The birth of James Dickson occurred in Man- chester, England, January 24, 1838, and when he was but four years of age he went to live with his paternal grandmother, who resided near Dum- fries, Scotland. There the boy received his edu- cation in Hutton Hall Academy until he reached his twelfth year, when he came to America with his father, James Dickson, and then until he was twenty-three years of age he spent his time on a farm. In 1862 he enlisted as a private soldier in the Thirtieth Missouri Infantry, Federal Army, under Col. B. G. Farrar of St. Louis. He served for three years and nine months, being promoted to the rank of Lieutenant.

He came to Marion County in 1850 and was interested in agricultural pursuits here for twelve years. In 1866 he went to Natchez, Miss., and in May, 1867, was appointed Registrar of Voters for Adams County, Miss., under Reconstruction Laws of Congress and occupied the said position until November, 1868, when the office ceased to exist. In 1868 he was made bookkeeper of the National Cemetery and in 1870 was appointed Assistant Adjutant-General (with rank of Major) on the staff of Brig .- Gen. Castello, who com- manded the militia of the Fifth District of the State of Mississippi. His parents, James Dickson and Margaret (Muir) Dickson, were born in Dum- frieshire, Scotland. Mr. Dickson's maternal grandmother, Mrs. Muir, was a sister of Sir John Jardine of Jardine Hall, in the vicinity of Dum- fries.

October 4, 1871, James Dickson and Mary A., daughter of William and Margaret (Hodgkins) Cherry, were united in marriage and at once took up their abode in Natchez. Mrs. Dickson was born in Marion County, Mo., March 4, 1848, and after receiving a good district-school edu- cation attended the seminary at Monroe City, Mo. In 1884 Mr. and Mrs. Dickson returned to Mis- souri, remaining here about four years, when the former's business interests made it necessary for him to go back to Natchez.

Seven children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Dickson, as follows: Clarence James, born in Natchez, July 21, 1873, is yet unmarried and lives at home; Annie L., born September 6, 1875; Al- bert Edgar, born July 9, 1878; William Cherry, born July 5, 1880; Mary Grace, born September 4, 1883; Adelbert G., born September 21, 1888; Lorraine V., born August 31, 1890. All but the two youngest are natives of Natchez, while the others were born near Palmyra, Mo.

The father of Mrs. Dickson, William Cherry, was born December 3, 1806, in Westmoreland County, Pa. His wife Margaret was born near Chambersburg, Franklin County, Pa., March 9, 18II, and was of German descent, as was also Mr. Cherry. Mr. and Mrs. Cherry had nine children, namely: John H., born July 20, 1831; Joseph, born November 23, 1832; David, born July 9, 1834; Jacob, born January 22, 1836; William H.,

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born January 1, 1838; Charles W., born April 22, 1840; Benjamin F., born March 11, 1843; Daniel W., born May 3, 1845; Mary A., the youngest. Mrs. Dickson's paternal great-grandfather, Peter Cherry, was born in Germany, but her grandfatlı- er, William Cherry, was a native of Pennsylvania, and there married Elizabeth Hostetter, by whom he had eight children. The maternal grandfather of Mrs. Dickson, Jacob Hodgkins, was born July 5, 1875, and his wife, Sarah Hoke, on January 15, 1790. The father of Sarah was Philip Hoke, who came to America as a soldier in the British service from Hesse-Darmstadt, and deserting, en- listed in the Colonial Army, thenceforth being a patriotic citizen of the United States. Mrs. Dick- son is a member of the Methodist Church, while her husband adheres to the Presbyterian faith. In politics he is a Republican; fraternally he belongs to Frank P. Blair Post, G. A. R. of St. Louis, is a K. of P. and a member of the I. O. O. F. Society.

T YRE A. HAYDEN, now deceased, was well known, having been a substantial and leading farmer and stock-raiser of Ralls County. His estate lay in Township 55, Range 4, and bore all the improvements of a first-class modern farm. Mr. Hayden was a na- tive of this State and county, and was born De- cember 19, 1844. He was the eldest of three chil- dren born to Josephus and Elizabeth (Barnard) Hayden, of whom only one survives. Josephus Hayden was likewise a native of Ralls County and made this section his home throughout life. He, too, was an agriculturist, and in following this vocation attained success and prominence. He was at all times interested in public affairs and at his death, which occurred in August, 1882, the county lost one of its best citizens.

The original of this sketch grew to manhood under the parental roof, in the meantime acquir- ing a good education in the common schools. When arrived at mature years and ready to estab- lish in life for himself, he very naturally chose the occupation to which he had been so thoroughly

trained and like his honored father made it his business through life. After his marriage, Au- gust 2, 1866, he, with his young bride, located on the place which Mrs. Hayden now owns, but which at that time he farmed as a renter. In 1873 our subject moved with his family to Pike County, Ill., where for a period of fourteen years he re- sided on a farm previously acquired. He made that section his home until 1887, when he returned to Ralls County and, purchasing the interest of the other heirs in the home farm, made his abode upon it until his decease, which sad event oc- curred December 19, 1891. He was a supporter of the Democratic party ; he was a member of no church, yet at the same time was a liberal con- tributor toward the good of churches. He was one of the best-known men of this section, pro- gressive and enterprising, and during the course of his long life witnessed many changes in his community, and also accumulated a handsome property.

The lady whom our subject chose for his wife was in her maidenhood Miss Emma Freeman, daughter of John and Mary (Barney) Freeman. She was born in Pike County, this State, but her father was a Kentuckian, his birth occurring in 1813. He grew to manhood in the Blue Grass region, and when a young man came to Missouri. His stay here was of short duration, however, for he soon moved to Pike County, Ill., where he was married to Miss Barney and spent her entire life, with the exception of a short time after his mar- riage, when he resided in Pike County, Mo. Mrs. Freeman was born in Michigan (1826) and when young was taken to the Prairie State with her par- ents, where she grew to mature years and was well educated in the common schoools.

The five children born to our subject and his estimable wife are: Lulu, wife of Thomas Ogle, of Adams County, Ill .; John, a promising young man of twenty-four years, operator for the C., B. & Q. Railroad Company; Myrtie, Clarence and Bessie, all at home. Mrs. Hayden and daughters are members of the Methodist Episcopal Church. She is a true generous-hearted woman, and holds a warm place in the affections of those about her. The farm on which she resides is one hundred

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and seventy acres in extent and in point of im- provement is one of the best in the township. The family have many friends and are deserving of the respect conferred upon them as useful members of the community.

A NDREAS OLNHAUSEN is one of the sterling German-American citizens of Hartford Township, Pike County. He owns a valuable farm on Section 24, and may justly be proud of the place, for it represents years of toil and struggle. He commenced his life in the New World without means and grad- ually worked his way upward, until he is now possessed of a comfortable fortune and stands high in the respect of his fellow citizens. He is, moreover, entitled to praise on account of the fact that he volunteered his services in defense of the flag under whose colors he intended to make a permanent habitation, and suffered priva- tions, hardships and wounds for his adopted land.

Our subject was born in Wurtemberg, Ger- many, November 24, 1832, and is a son of Chris- topher and Hannah (Mintling) Olnhausen. His grandfather, Joseph, was also a native of the Fatherland, and was in the German Army fight- ing against Napoleon and won a medal for his gallant services. For three years he resided in France, but returning home engaged in farming until his death in 1845. Christopher, our sub- ject's father, was born in 1806 and was also a farmer. For some time he engaged in the manu- facture of sashes but lost money, owing to debts which could not be collected and at last sailed for America with his family in 1853. He landed on these hospitable shores with very little in the way of capital and worked at anything he could find to do, whereby he might earn an honest living. His son assisted him to buy a small tract of land in Albany County, New York, and there he dwelt until 1894 when he moved to Caro, Mich. To himself and wife were born four chil- dren: Andreas, Fred, Christopher and Hannalı. When Fred volunteered in the late war, he gave his bounty money to his father, who invested it in

a small homestead. On the expiration of his arniy life Fred moved to Livingston County, Mo., married a Miss Cramer and is still a resident of that section. Christopher moved to this State soon after his elder brother set the example, and also made a permanent settling in the same County. Hannah when sixteen years of age went to Ohio and lived with an uncle until 1855, at which time she moved to Illinois with our sub- ject. In December of that year she became the wife of John Baumgarten, a farmer, and is now living in Stephenson County, Ill.

Andreas Olnhausen learned the carpenter's trade in Germany and crossed the ocean a year in advance of the other members of the family. He worked at his trade in New York City; from there went to Pennsylvania and for a short tinie worked on the railroad and on a canal. Then he resumed his trade at Scranton, Pa., being em- ployed by S. Heller, and in 1855 moved to Illinois, where he obtained a position as foreman in a fanning mill factory at thirty dollars per month. He saved a large share of his earnings and in- vested the amount in land. On the commence- ment of the war he enlisted as a private in Com- pany C, Forty-sixth Illinois Infantry and be- ing sent to Fort Donelson, participated in the celebrated battle there, then went to Fort Henry and to Pittsburg Landing. Here he was wounded in the left arm, the bones of which were terribly lacerated and broken. Being sent to the hospi- tal he was absent from the ranks about four months, but rejoined his command August 4, 1862, at Memphis. From there he proceeded to Bolivar and soon met the Confederates near Corinth, October 5, 1862. July 7, 1863, occurred the engagement at Jackson, Miss., and April 9, 1865, our subject was in the famous battle of Ft. Blakesly near Mobile. Thence he was sent on the Red River Expedition and remained at Sa- lubrity Springs until January 20, 1866, when he was sent home and honorably discharged.

Resuming the management of his farm Mr. Olnhausen soon looked around for a partner in life's battle and was married March 29, 1866, to Kate, daughter of David and Hannah (Barnhart) Heigh. The father was born in Berks County,

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Pa., in 1811, and was a miller and farmer by oc- cupation. In 1851 he moved to Illinois and set- tled on a farm where he passed the remainder of his life, dying in 1876. His wife, Hannah, was a daughter of Samuel Barnhart, who emigrated from Germany with his parents in boyhood and grew up on a farm in Berks County, Pa., where his death occurred in 1830. In 1832 David and Hannah Heigh were married and for several years lived in Berks County. They had nine chil- dren, namely: Matilda, Samuel, Kate, Solomon, Caroline, Henry, Levi, Hannah and Elizabetlı. The two youngest, twins, died in infancy; Matilda and Levi died in childhood; Samuel married Sarah Calhoun in 1857; Caroline is the wife of Theodore Messinger, a farmer, stock-dealer and bank director in Hazelton, Iowa; Solomon went to Colorado in early manhood and entering a Cavalry Regiment served for one year as an In- dian fighter, and Henry, who volunteered in the Thirteenth Illinois Cavalry, died at Memphis in 1864. Samuel was a member of the Eighth Illi- nois Cavalry, was sent in pursuit of Mosby and served altogether for one year. He is a carpenter and farmer by occupation and lived in Illinois until 1870, when he sold out and has since been a resident of Nebraska.

Andreas Olnhausen is identified with the Grand Army of the Republic and is a stanch believer in the principles of the Republican party. Though he was brought up as a Lutheran he is now a member of the Presbyterian denomination.

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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 40

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