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 42

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 42
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 42
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 42

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Fatherland before arriving at the age when Ger- man youths are compelled to enter the army, he never saw military service. His parents died in Germany, the father in 1866 and the mother in 1851. Three of their sons preceded our subject to America, and after his arrival here another brother and one sister came to make their home in the New World, one brother and one sister remaining in Germany.

November 18, 1877, Mr. Gottmann married Wilhelmina E., daughter of Casper and Caroline (Wagner) Kempf. She was born March 19, 1857, in Marion County and received a district-school education. By this union were born four chil- dren, as follows: John Casper, born July 29, 1878; Louise Caroline, born August 4, 1880; Herman Christian, born July 21, 1883; Charles Philip, born February 2, 1885. The children were all born on the present homestead of the fam- ily, with the exception of the eldest, whose birth occurred at his grandparents' home, near Par- myra.

In his early years our subject united with the Lutheran Church in Germany and ever afterward strove to do his entire duty toward God and man. His funeral services were conducted by the Rev. Mr. Schuelke, pastor of the Lutheran Church in Palmyra, and a large concourse assembled to pay the last tribute of respect to their friend and neighbor. In his political faith he was a Repub- lican and a true friend to his adopted country. Energetic and industrious he managed to acquire a comfortable fortune by the assistance of his faith- ful wife. Mrs. Gottmann is one of six children, all of whom are living and residents of this county. Her paternal grandparents, who came from the best German stock, passed their last years in this vicinity, as did also her mother's parents. Mrs. Gottmann is rearing her children to be good and useful citizens and is teaching them by pre- cept and example to be honest and upright in all their dealings with their fellows.

JEROME KENDRICK.

PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

351

JEROME KENDRICK.

J EROME KENDRICK is numbered among the pioneers of Saline Township, Ralls County, and is justly entitled to a place in the history of her representative citizens. In the spring of 1856 he purchased a tract of unimproved land, but did not reside thereon until the spring of 1861. Since then he has given all his energies to the improvement and development of the homestead, which now numbers six hundred and twenty acres, in addition to which he owns a good farm of one hundred and twenty acres in Shelby County, Mo. For many years he served effi- ciently as Township Clerk and School Director, and has been very active in the ranks of the local Democracy.

Our subject's parents were the Hon. Daniel B. and Mariah (Jewett) Kendrick, the former born in Virginia, November 5, 1793, and the latter in Kentucky, June 27, 1796. They were married in the Blue Grass State, June 14, 1816, and became the parents of six sons and five daughters, in order of birth as follows: John D., deceased; Joseph J., a farmer in this township; William H., deceased; Robert, who owns a farm in this lo- cality; Ann S., deceased, formerly wife of W. C. Broughton, now a retired farmer living in Odessa, Mo .; Winefred J., widow of J. H. Gough, and now living at the home of our subject; Ma- riah L., who married James H. Elliott, a farmer of this section; Jerome, whose name heads this sketch; Susan H., widow of S. B. Elliott, of this township; Elizabeth R., deceased, and one who died in infancy. In 1828 the father of this large family emigrated to Pike County, Mo., with his wife, three sons and two daughters, and in 1830 settled in Saline Township, Ralls County, where he passed the rest of his days. For several terms he was Judge of the County Court, and for many

years acted as Justice of the Peace. Politically, he is a Democrat, and was a leader in his home neighborhood in many ways. He was a believer in the faith of the Catholic Church, and died a member of the same, June 17, 1867. His wife - survived him a few years, dying July 4, 1872.

Jerome Kendrick was born on his father's homestead, May 2, 1832, and assisted in cultivat- ing the place until he was twenty-seven years of age. At intervals, however, he had taught school for twelve years, having obtained a certificate when in his nineteenth year. His education was chiefly obtained in the district schools of this county, though for six months he attended a pri- vate academy in St. Louis. In religion, and in politics as well, he has followed the teachings of his parents, and is a prominent member of the Catholic Church.

October 3, 1860, Mr. Kendrick married Sarah L. Gough, who was born near Clinton, Monroe County, Mo., April 3, 1839. Her parents, James H. and Cordelia C. (Jenkins) Gough, were mar- ried in Kentucky in 1835: The father was a na- tive of Scott County, Ky., born October 18, 1813, and his death occurred February 19, 1891. His family comprised the following children, of whom John H. and George L., the two eldest sons, are deceased: Susan E., also deceased, was the wife of James L. Hardy, a farmer of Shelby County; Marcellus T. is deceased; James A. operates a farm in Shelby County; Mary C. is deceased, and Nancy E. is the wife of James F. Allgaier, a dry goods merchant of Shelbina, Mo. In 1866 James H. Gough married Winefred J. (Kendrick) Gough, a widow, who by her former marriage had one son, James R., since deceased. By her last union she became the mother of two children, Katie L. and Daniel I., both of whom have been

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PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

called from this world. James H. Gough be- came a resident of Missouri in 1827, and for a quarter of a century lived in Monroe County, afterwards settling in Shelby County. He was extensively engaged in farming and in stock- dealing, and was the owner of a valuable estate. In religion he was a Catholic.

Mr. and Mrs. Kendrick have had born to them eight children, seven sons and one daughter, namely: James H., deceased; William B., a farmer of Shelby County; John, who is engaged in farm- ing in this locality; Albert J., who operates a farm in Shelby County; Mary C., deceased; Pius E., who is preparing for the priesthood in St. Louis County, Mo .; Charles B., now at home, and Henry J., who is attending college in St. Louis.

W ILLIAM F. MAYHALL, the well- known editor and proprietor of the Bowling Green Times, the leading paper of the county, has exercised a marked in- fluence on the affairs of this section of Missouri, not only professionally, but as a progressive, public-spirited citizen, and has aided in guiding its political destiny as well as in guarding and ad- vancing its dearest interests materially, socially and morally.

Our subject was born in New London, Mo., September 22, 1854, and is the son of Jefferson A. and Ann E. (Hawkins) Mayhall, natives of Ken- tucky. They were brought to this State by their respective parents when quite young, and were reared in Ralls County. When attaining mature years, Jefferson Mayhall chose the occupation of a farmer; he is still living, and the possessor of a good income from this industry. He was the son of Wilson S. Mayhall, also a Kentuckian by birth, and at the time of his coming into this State was classed among its first settlers.

The father of our subject served as a soldier in the late war, enlisting in 1861 in the Second Iowa Infantry. He was mustered into service as a pri- vate, but such was the efficiency of his service that he was promoted from time to time, until at the

close of the conflict he was mustered out with the rank of Lieutenant, and even after that was made Provost Marshal. He is a staunch Republican in politics, and takes an active part in the affairs of New London, where he is now living. Both he and his wife are members in excellent standing of the Christian Church. The father of Mrs. Hawkins served as a soldier in the Mexican War.

To Jefferson and Ann E. Mayhall there were born six children, of whom William F. was the eldest. Ada F. died in infancy; Eugene is editor and publisher of the Centre Courier, in Centre, Ralls County; Samuel W. is deceased; Charles E. is foreman of the mechanical department of the Times office; and Virginia became the wife of J. D. B. Freeman, of Centre, this State.

The original of this sketch attended the com- mon schools until reaching his thirteenth year, when he began work in the office of the Ralls County Record. It being his desire and ambition to learn the business in all its details, he remained there for a period of eight years, when he ob- tained the position of foreman in the office of the Hannibal Clipper. From that place he went to Jacksonville, Ill., but soon thereafter returned to Missouri and became foreman and local editor of the Frankford Monitor. He remained there in that capcity for about six months, when he came to Bowling Green.

In August, 1877, however, Mr. Mayhall was induced to become foreman and local editor of the Pike County Express. At the end of three years the paper was changed to the Bowling Green Times, and Mr. Mayhall still remained on its corps of editors until October, 1880, when he purchased the plant. The Express was estab- lished by A. W. Robinson in 1875. The Times is now a six-column folio, and is issued from the press every Thursday. Mr. Mayhall devotes his best energies to its management, it being his de- sire to edit a paper which should be a potent fac- tor in upbuilding the city and county. This he has accomplished, and the journal, which owes its strength and high standing to his genius, is read far and wide, and has, perhaps, a larger circula- tion than any provincial paper. It is Democratic in politics.

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PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

William F. Mayhall was married December II, 1878, to Julia K. Kincaid, daughter of Capt. J. D. and Martha (Martin) Kincaid. Mr. Kincaid is one of the most prominent men in the county, and is at present serving as Mayor of Bowling Green. For a full history of the family, the reader is referred to another page in this book.

Our subject, socially, is a Mason, belonging to Phoenix Lodge No. 136, F. and A. M., and Triumphant Lodge No. 101, K. of P. He is an active worker and member of the Christian Church, and has been Superintendent of the Sun- day School for many years. His wife is also con- nected with that body and aids in the various phases of church work.

J OHN J. SUTER is numbered among the leading agriculturists of Marion County and for the past thirty years has been en- gaged in general farming and stock-raising on his farm, situate in Liberty Township. He has never been an aspirant for public offices, but for many years was Road Overseer and has also been Justice of the Peace.

Born August 27, 1834, our subject is a son of Verdner and Matilda (Baskett) Suter and grand- son of John W. Suter, who was buried in Scotland County, Mo., March 8, 1848. He was one of the early pioneers of that locality, to which he re- moved in the fall of 1837.

At the age of three and a half years J. J. Suter was brought from Sangamon County, Ill., to this county. In the spring of 1838 his father pur- chased and settled on the farm now owned by our subject, and here the latter spent his boyhood. He attended the district schools for some time and also was a student in the Palmyra Seminary. When he was in his twenty-second year he se- cured a position as a reporter on the staff of the "Patriot," published in Quincy, Ill., which posi- tion he soon gave up and from that time to the present has made farming his chief business in life. He purchased and improved a farm in Audrain County, residing there from 1857 until 1865,

when he bought his present home from his father.

November 25, 1856, the marriage of J. J. Suter and Lucy Ann, daughter of Francis and Elizabeth (Morris) Smith, natives of Kentucky, was cele- brated. Mrs. Suter was born and reared in Clark County, Mo., and by her marriage has beconie the mother of nine children, as follows: Ella Z., born February 12, 1858, finished her education in the Baptist College of Palmyra and October 7, 1879, became the wife of Dr. Joseph W. Norris of Palmyra; Eugenia, born March 2, 1860, re- ceived the same educational privileges as her sis- ter and resides at home with her parents; Lulu Belle, born May 16, 1861, also received a good education and October 17, 1882, married Richard H. Stevens, a lawyer, their home being in Clayton, St. Louis County, and their family comprising three sons-John V., Richard H. and Edwin Mc- Donald; Mary Elizabeth, born August 28, 1862, married, June 8; 1887, John W. McElhinney of Clayton and their three children are Lucy, Robert and Herbert; Francis V., born June 25, 1864, died when an infant of seven months; Amanda M., born September 27, 1866, became the wife of T. Jones Watson of New London, Ralls County, Mo., on November 4, 1886, and had one child who died in infancy; Matilda, born November 11, 1868, is a graduate of the Centenary College of Palmyra, for three terms taught at her alma mater and then graduated from the Wesley- an Seminary at Delaware, Ohio, whence she re- turned home and, after pursuing a business course, spent some months as clerk in the office of her brother-in-law, Mr. McElhinney, after which she taught for a time one of the local schools and in September, 1894, was tendered the position of Principal in Hillman College, Clinton, Miss .; Robert E., born October 17, 1870, completed his education in Centenary College and in the busi- ness college of St. Louis and at present is taking a second year's course of lectures in the Missouri Medical College at St. Louis; John W., born Au- gust 14, 1872, also received superior advantages and has assumed the management of the home farm, being of great assistance to his father.

Mr. and Mrs. Suter are members of the Baptist Church. The former is affiliated with the Demo- cratic party and socially belongs to Palmyra

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PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

Lodge No. 18, A. F. and A. M., and to Palmyra Chapter No. 2, R. A. M. The parents of Mrs. Suter were natives of Kentucky. Her father, Francis Smith, was born near Frankfort about 1802 and his wife's birth took place about a year later. Their five children were: Martha, born in 1830; Mary, born in August, 1832; James, who died when two and a half years old; Robert Will- iam, born July 22, 1836; Lucy A., born Septem- ber 1, 1839. Immediately after their marriage Mr. and Mrs. Smith moved to Missouri, arriving here in 1830. After a short residence in Marion County they went to Clark County, where for twelve years Mr. Smith was Judge of the County Court. Subsequently he represented his district in the State Legislature. His death occurred in 1880, when in his seventy-ninth year; his wife departed this life in August, 1861. Their daugh- ter Martha married Madison Foree and bore him eight children. She died about 1860, and her hus- band is also now deceased. Mary became the wife of John T. Board, reared a large family and died in Scotland County, April 12, 1892, her hus- band having preceded her to the grave by some six weeks. Robert William married Mary Norris of Clark County and is engaged in operating a farm; to himself and wife have been born two sons and a daughter.

W ILLIAM HENRY SISSON, one of the old landmarks and representative citizens of Pike County, was born in Fauquier County, Va., in 1830. For the past fifty-six years he has been successfully engaged in the management of his fine homestead, which is located on Section 17, Township 53, Range 3. He is the fortunate possessor of three hundred and fifty-five acres of land in this county, and with the assistance of his son cultivates the whole.

The parents of our subject were Henry and Elizabeth (Carver) Sisson, who were likewise na- tives of the Old Dominion. The grandfather, Henry Sisson, Sr., a native of Fauquier County, was of Irish descent, as his parents were born in

County Cork. They emigrated to the American Colonies prior to the Revolutionary War, and for several generations their descendants were re- spected citizens of Virginia, and as far as known, have been almost exclusively tillers of the soil. In 1839 Henry Sisson, Jr., emigrated with his wife and five children to Missouri, settling on Sec- tion 17, of this township. He was called to his final rest March 12, 1871, at the close of a good and useful life. His wife died March 29, 1883. Her parents were William and Mildred Carver, and her grandmother's maiden name was Bailey. Henry and Elizabeth Sisson were baptized into the fellowship of the Mt. Pisgah Baptist Church on the first Sunday in April, 1840. They were the parents of five children, as follows: Mildred C., born February 28, 1824, and wife of G. R. Wad- dell, died May 4, 1859; William H. is the next in order of birth; Anna married Thomas Pritchett, and died in 1853, aged twenty-six years; Mary M., born July 6, 1833, became the wife of John W. Lewellen, and died June 20, 1860, aged twenty-seven years; Elizabeth F. died at the age of ten years and nine months.

In January, 1852, W. H. Sisson was united in marriage with Mary Ann, daughter of Woodson and Lucy (Hilliard) Brown, natives of Virginia and North Carolina, respectively. Their family numbered eight children, namely: Adolphus W., William R., Henry W., Lucy B., John J., Thomas B., Gilford B., and Mary A. Six children came to bless the home of our subject and wife. Henry Woodson, the eldest, born November 13, 1852, married Katie, daughter of Thomas and Melinda Dunbar, and their three children, Lena, Homer and Ernest, aged respectively sixteen; fourteen and ten years, were all born on the fourth of Jan- uary. Missouri B., whose birth occurred June 22, 1855, became the wife of William Green Mc- Cune. William Thomas, born March 29, 1861, wedded Edna, daughter of Thomas and Nancy Pritchett, and they have four children. Ella Lee, born June 14, 1863, married James Miller, who died January 4, 1887. Their only child, Gene S., died January 24, 1887, aged twenty-seven months. Since becoming a widow Mrs. Miller has made her home with her parents. James C., born Feb-

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ruary 2, 1865, is unmarried, and is now living in Pauls Valley, I. T. Harvey O., born December 18, 1868, married Ella, daughter of Thomas and Ann Beshears.

In his youth W. H. Sisson received a good gen- eral education and has increased his knowledge by study and observation. He has never cared for public life, being content to devote his ener- gies to his farm and family interests. Politically he is a Democrat. His good wife is a member of the Baptist Church and, though he is not iden- tified with any denomination, Mr. Sisson inclines toward the same faith, and is liberal in his support of religious and benevolent work. Mrs. Sisson came to Missouri in 1838 and from that time until the present has been an inhabitant of Pike County.

H ARVEY M. BRAMBLET, a farmer and stock-raiser, residing in Township 55, Range 4, was born in Ralls County, Sep- tember 6, 1846. He is the oldest of ten children born to Thornton and Rebecca (Jeffries) Bramnb- let, of whom eight are still living, two having died in infancy. Thornton Bramblet was born Jan1- ary 16, 1818, and was a native of Bourbon County, Ky., coming to Missouri with his parents when a boy, and settling in Ralls County. Here he grew to manhood and reared his family, and still re- sides, his present home being some six miles south of Hannibal. He has followed farming since his boyhood days, but for the past six years has been living a retired life. His wife was a native of Tennessee, and was born about 1826, moving to Pike County, Mo., in her girlhood days. A short time previous to her marriage she moved to Ralls County. In early life she united with the Methodist Church, and was a devout member until her removal to her husband's present home, where she found no church of her denomination and united with the Baptist Church. Her death occurred in 1887.

The subject of this sketch grew to . manhood under the parental roof and acquired his educa-

tion of a district school. At the age of eighteen years he began to teach in the public schools, and for four years taught in different districts in this county, afterwards going to St. Charles County and becoming instructor in the schools of that county. During his residence in St. Charles County he became acquainted with Miss Lucy Keithley, and on December 26, 1871, they were united in marriage, and shortly after removed to Ralls County. Here he bought his present farm and settled down to farm life. He has two hun- dred acres of valuable land under a high state of cultivation. His wife is a daughter of Samuel Keithley, and was his twentieth child, her mother, Nancy Keithley, being his third wife. She was born in St. Charles County, February 12, 1850.

To Mr. and Mrs. Bramblet have been born four children, three of whom are living and are at home, namely: Eulah, Clara and Walter. Clara is now teaching in the public schools and is an accomplished musician. Walter is assisting in the cultivation of the home farm. Our subject is an affable and courteous man, and is a supporter of all worthy and charitable movements, which has won for him the esteem of his many friends and neighbors. In politics he is allied with the Democratic party, and in religion he is a Meth- odist.

J OHN HENRY PEITER, a native of Han- over, Germany, is actively engaged in gen- eral farming and stock-raising in South Riv- er Township, Marion County. By his own indus- trious efforts and years of toil he has become well off in this world's goods and has won an enviable place in the estimation of all who know him. He is very prominent in the Lutheran Church and has been an Elder for the past twenty-two years. In 1884 he was engaged in merchandising at West Ely, Mo., and remained there for one and a half years. While there he was honored by being made Postmaster of the town and is now a School Trustee of his home district, having served in this office for fifteen years.

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PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

Casper H. Peiter, father of our subject, was born February 25, 1806, being a son of Conrad and Mary (Smithing) Peiter, all of Germany. The latter's family comprised Casper H., Henry, Mary and Gertrude, of whom all but the eldest are de- ceased. Casper H. Peiter was employed in farm- ing and operated a lime-kiln in Germany. In the fall of 1883 he left his native land in company with our subject, who had gone home on a visit, and since that time has resided under the latter's roof tree. His wife, who was a Miss Nora Stolty, died in 1857, aged fifty-two years. John H. is one of nine children, four of whom survive. Mary, now living in Germany, was first married to a Mr. Mosburn and afterward became the wife of a Mr. Fricker, both now deceased. Mary E. is the wife of Henry Wallcutter, who has an exten- sive grocery business in Toledo, Ohio. Casper H., of the same city, is the proprietor of a large cigar manufactory.

J. H. Peiter was born August 23, 1839, and obtained a good education in the Fatherland, where he continued to dwell until 1866. He em- barked for America on the steamer "Stellera" and after a nineteen days' voyage landed in New York City. After a short time he went to Cleve- land, Ohio, where he worked at his trade as a stonemason some two years. Then in company with his brother-in-law, Gerhart Stockhouse, he came to Marion County and with him purchased one hundred and sixty acres. After working hard for three years he was able to buy out the other's interest and has since carried on the place alone. As he could afford it he invested in tracts of land and now has five hundred and seventy acres, after giving his son one hundred and thirty-six acres with which to make a good start in life.

In 1862 John H. Peiter married Gertrude M. Stockhouse, who was born in Germany October I, 1838. Her parents, John F. and Mary E. (Hen- dricks) Stockhouse, passed their lives in the Old World. The former, who was a well-to-do farmer, died in 1860, aged sixty-two years, and his wife, who departed this life in the same year, was fifty-two years of age. Their eldest son, John, is engaged in farming near Cleveland, Ohio; Ger- hart, the next younger, is a retired business man of Cleveland, and Henry is a wire manufacturer

in the same city. To our subject and wife have been born sons and daughters as follows: Henry, a farmer of this township, was born January 12, 1865; Liza, born November II, 1867, married Henry. Bode, a farmer of this neighborhood; Er- nest, born March 20, 1870, assists on the home farm; the younger ones-Caroline, born July 30, 1874 .; John, born May 25, 1876, and Emma, born November 15, 1882-are all at home; one child, Godfrey, died in infancy. Mr. Peiter is identified with the Democratic party.

P RESTON W. MEGOWN. This promi- nent young citizen of New London comes of a most honored family in the city, lie being the son of Judge John Megown. He was born in that place January 23, 1867, and spent his early days in attendance at the district school. When a lad of seventeen years he engaged as clerk in a store kept by Theodore Hornbeck in New London, being in his employ for about four years.

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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 42

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