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 43
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 43
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 43
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Thinking farming to be a very profitable as well as pleasant business, young Preston then rented a tract of land near the city and for one year operated the same. He then returned to town life and purchasing the stock of goods owned by Mr. Hornbeck, was engaged in the mercantile business up to the fall of 1894. That year he disposed of his store and contents to his brother James S., whom he had previously taken in as his partner, and again turned his attention to farming, as in the meantime he had still re- tained the ownership of his country property.
Mr. Megown, in 1893, sold all his real estate in the city and began the erection of his present beautiful residence on the farm which was in- herited by his wife, and was a part of the J. D. James estate. He later added to this tract at one time forty acres, and again eighty-eight and one- half acres, making in all one hundred and sixty- eight and one-half acres which he cultivates. His dwelling was completed in the summer of 1894 when it was immediately occupied by the fam-
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ily. It is beautifully situated on the crest of a hill overlooking the city. The land is rolling and is one of the finest locations in the county. He de- votes the greater part of his time and attention to stockraising and has for this purpose his mead- ows and pastures sowed in Virginia blue grass.
Mr. Megown and Miss Jessie E. James were united in marriage May 15, 1888. The lady was the daughter of John D. and Virginia (Rector) James. Her father died November 9, 1886, and her mother March 10, 1892. The latter was the daughter of Jesse H. Rector and niece of Baylis G. Rector, whose biography will appear in this book. Her parents were both devoted members of the Christian Church, and were people widely and favorably known among the best residents of the county. Mr. James was a Democrat in politics and for two terms was Sheriff and Col- lector of Ralls County. To them were born six children, namely: John W., Laura and Jessie E., twins; Lolu May, Mrs. C. W. Nicholson of Quincy, Ill .; Jefferson B. and Thomas A., the latter of whom died in 1894.
The marriage of Mr. and Mrs. Megown has been blessed by the birth of two children, Nellie and Virginia. The former was born February 13, 1890, and the latter July 8, 1892,. The parents are members of the Christian Church. In poli- tics our subject is a Democrat, tried and true, and is a prominent Knight of Pythias of New Lon- don, belonging to Lodge No. 180. He is one of the progressive and enterprising young agricul- turists of the county and we are pleased to be able to place his sketch before our readers.
J AMES M. BLACKWELL is the owner of a beautiful farm of over four hundred acres, known as Sunny Slope. The farm is sit- uated on Section 17, Township 51, Pike County. The fortunate owner has made agriculture his principal business in life and has dealt exten- sively in cattle and hogs, buying and feeding them for the markets. For a short time he was en-
gaged in the dry goods and grocery business in Cyrene, and in order to give his children better educational advantages he made his home in Bowling Green a few years.
Mumford Blackwell, the father of the above named gentleman, was a native of Virginia, born in Culpeper County in 1796. He had very poor opportunities for obtaining an education and in his youth learned the blacksmith's trade. Going to Keysville, Rappahannock County, Va., he carried on a shop there for several years. He was the youngest son of Benjamin F. Blackwell, overseer on a Virginia plantation. One of his sons, Oliver, was a farmer in the Old Dominion and subsequently moved to Ohio, while another son, James, had seven sons in the Southern Army during the late war, and though they served to the end of the same, they were never injured by shot or shell. Mumford Blackwell married Mary A., daughter of Landy and Betsy Waters, who were natives of Ireland, and emigrated to Vir- ginia in their youth. Mr. Waters was a large land owner and slave holder. He owned many fine race horses and was of the old style of southern gentlemen.
The birth of James M., our subject, occurred in Rappahannock County, Va., July 25, 1846. In 1857 he moved with his parents to Lincoln County, Mo., where his father bought about two hundred acres of land. In the Old Dominion he owned a large number of slaves and when he re- moved to this State, brought eleven with hin. After the war he moved to a farm near Louis- ville, in the same county. Though he lived in a lo- cality which was raided by both armies, he was of such an even temper and jovial disposition that he bore this, as well as all other ill fortune, with remarkable serenity.
November 15, 1871, J. M. Blackwell married Annie Price, who was born in Owensburg, Ky. Their first born children were twin boys who died in infancy. Emma B., was born June 8, 1873, and Beatrice January 30, 1875. The mother died in March, 1876. The second wife of our subject, Vina Sulenger, to whom he was mar- ried in May, 1877, departed this life in May, 1879. The oldest daughter of Mr. Blackwel!,
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Emma B., was married April 21, 1891, to Joshua Warren, and now lives at Pilot Point, Texas.
June 18, 1885, James Blackwell married Annie, widow of Solon H. South, and daughter of H. H. and Virginia A. Turner. The former was a na- tive of Kentucky, born June 24, 1813, and canie to this county in December, 1838. He returned to Kentucky with his bride, but in 1840 came back to this State and entered the tract of three hundred acres on which our subject now resides. Here they reared a family of three sons and five daughters: Francis C., Martin V., Sue V., Josephine H., Annie, Missouri, Maggie B., and David T. The eldest, Francis, was born in Ken- tucky, October 25, 1838, and in June, 1861, joined General Price's army. He distinguished him- self for bravery at the battles of Lexington, Pea Ridge, Corinth and Grand Gulf. May 19, 1863, while gallantly defending the fortifications at Vicksburg, he was instantly killed by a bullet which penetrated his forehead. Sue V., born in 1843, married Walter M. Paine, of Ohio, in 1861; Josephine C., born in 1845, married Joseph South in February, 1863; Missouri, born July 31, 1851, married C. Terry; Maggie, born May 16, 1854, married in November, 1873, John Simpson, and died November 23, 1881, leaving one child, Harry W .; David T., born January 13, 1863, was mur- dered in Texas in February, 1894, and his re- mains were brought home and interred in An- tioch Cemetery.
To J. M. Blackwell and his wife Annie, were born the following children: James Kyle, June 9. 1886; Annie May, February 1, 1888; Champ Clarke, September 19, 1889, and Harry W., August 10, 1891. By her former marriage Mrs. Blackwell had one child, Hallie A.
For some years our subject has been a mem- ber of Bowling Green Baptist Church and still holds his membership there. Hs is associated with the Masonic Order, belonging to Cyrene Lodge. Politically he uses his ballot in favor of the Democratic party.
The brothers and sisters of Mr. Blackwell are as follows: Margaret S., born August 20, 1836, married N. S. Gillum and their only child, John M., lives in Bowling Green, Mo .; Matilda J.,
born in 1838, married Dennis McGruder and of her five children only two survive, Dennis and Lula, the latter a resident of Lincoln County, Mo .; Sarah E., born in 1840, is the wife of Louis H. Atkins, by whom she has two children, Edward M. and Mollie; William D., born in 1842, served in the southern army for two years, when he was taken sick with the measles, from the effects of which he died; Benjamin F., born in 1844, mar- ried Mollie Hammock, who died a few months later, after which he married her sister Ella, by whom he has six children, namely: Andrew, Mol- lie, Lou, Pearl, Benjamin and Elsie. John Mum- ford, the youngest, born in December, 1848, married Willie Mansfield, and has five children, Maggie, Thomas, John, Dana and Mary A.
G EORGE G. NUNN, M. D., a rising young physician of Maywood, Lewis County, who enjoys a flourishing prac- tice among many of the best families of this place and locality. His success has been un- usual considering the fact that he opened an office here but little more than two years since, and his future is one of great promise. He is a student and endeavors to keep thoroughly abreast of the times in all discoveries and improvements along the line of medicine.
The great-grandfather of the doctor, John G. Nunn, of English descent, was born in Virginia, April 1, 1801, and in his childhood moved to Hen- ry County, Ky., with his mother, brothers and sis- ters. When John G. was twelve years of age the father was drowned while endeavoring to cross the James River with a yoke of oxen. His family procured land in Kentucky and took a number of slaves with them from their old Virginia home. One of the sons, Walter, afterward moved to Pike County, Mo. Jane, who never married, is still liv- ing in Kentucky and Susan became the wife of William Burford of this county. At the age of nineteen years John G. Nunn married a Miss Al- exandria and continued to dwell on the old Ken- tucky estate, engaged in farming and distilling,
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until coming to Missouri in 1829. He made the trip on horseback and entered land in Lewis County, which property is still referred to as the Judge Nunn Place; he returned to his old home, however, and operated the farm until about 1835, when he settled upon and improved his new farm in Lewis County. Soon afterward he erected a grist-mill on the Fabius River and later a sawmill, which was in active operation for forty-eight years and is still standing.
Mr. Nunn was an active and energetic man and accumulated a large estate, owning about eight hundred acres of land. He brought with him from Kentucky about twelve slaves whom he subsequently liberated. During his residence in this locality he held the office of County Judge and was looked up to as an authority on nearly everything pertaining to the upbuilding of this region. His death occurred in Lewis County March 5, 1893, at an advanced age. He was three times married, his second union being with Eliz- abeth Foley, a native of Kentucky, and his third wife was Miss Priscilla Watkins of Hardin Coun- ty, Ky. Thirteen children were born of the first marriage, as follows: John M. and Sanford J., of Lewis County, Mo .; Elbert, who went to Texas in early manhood and died in that State; Joseph- ine, wife of Joseph Biggs, now of Montana; Lucy J., who became the wife of Wilson Mitchell of this county; Willis J., who was born in Lewis County, May 22, 1837; Louisa, wife of David Smith; William H., who operates a portion of the old home place; Milton W., farmer; Adeline (Mrs. William Goodman), all living in this coun- ty; James, now a resident of Oregon; one who died in infancy. Willis J., our subject's father, was the first of the family born in Lewis County. His half-sisters were: Melvina (Mrs. John Wood) of Shelby County; Sallie (Mrs. Smith Scott) of Marion County; Emily (Mrs. John W. Steele) of Canton, Mo.
W. J. Nunn received a common-school educa- tion in Lewis County and remained at home until his marriage. The lady whom he chose as com- panion and sharer of his joys and sorrows was Elizabeth, daughter of George P. and Adeline (Wash) Harrison and born in Kentucky. The young couple settled on the place where they have
since resided. Mr. Nunn has devoted his life to farming and stock-raising and for fifteen years bought, sold and shipped live-stock extensively. He now owns eighty acres of land, which is amply sufficient to provide for the needs of himself and wife. In 1861 -he entered the Confederate service under Gen. Porter, but was taken sick and returned home. He and his good wife are members of the Baptist Church. Their five sons and four daugh- ters are named as follows: George G .; Adeline L., born July 9, 1864, and wife of George Shaw; Lucy J., born April 19, 1867; Ida M .; John C., born October 24, 1873, and now a student in the Louisville Medical College; Reason V., born July 9, 1875; William H., born in November, 1878; Myrtle and Joseph. With the exception of the doctor, who is the eldest, the married sister and John C., the children are all at home.
Dr. George G. Nunn of this sketch was born December 2, 1861, in Lewis County and passed his boyhood on the old farm. He attended the common schools of the district and pursued his higher studies in Maywood, and when nearly at his majority entered the State Normal College at Kirksville, where he remained for a year. Sub- sequently he was for a year under the instruction of Prof. Cook at La Grange College and then en- gaged in teaching for two years in his home coun- ty, after which he again entered La Grange Col- lege, taking up the study of scientific branches for a year, and then taught for two terms in Lewis County. During the last year he took up medical studies alone and devoted about one and a half years to this pursuit; he then entered the Hospital College of Medicine in Louisville, Ky., and at the end of a two years' course graduated June 17, 1891, with the degree of Doctor of Medicine. Hc also has a diploma from John A. Larrabee of Louisville, under whom he took a private course of instruction on the diseases of children. In 1891 he opened an office for practice at Hester, Mo., and a year later removed to his present location. In his early business life he was engaged in buy- ing and shipping live-stock, more or less, for ten or twelve years and in this manner obtained a financial start. The business took him to all parts of the county and he has made shipments from nearly every station within its boundaries.
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Socially the doctor belongs to Wyaconda Lodge No. 24, A. F. and A. M., and is identified with Fabius Lodge No. 267, I. O. O. F., of May- wood. Religiously he is a Baptist and belongs to the Dover Church. His political proclivities cause him to espouse the principles of the Demo- cratic party.
T HOMAS JEFFERSON AYRES, JR., the leading dry goods and clothing mer- chant of Bowling Green, was born in Pike County, this State, March 15, 1845. His parents were Thomas J. and Elizabeth (Lewis) Ayres, the former of whom was a native of Woodford County, Ky., and born August 29, 1800. He was the son of John Ayres, born in Virginia of Scotch- English parents. John was a hatter by trade, and came to Kentucky in a very early day, and there lived for the remaining years of his life.
The father of our subject emigrated to the State of Missouri in 1829, locating in the western part of Pike County, where he lived and died. He, too, was a hatter by trade, following that business in Kentucky, where he also operated a distillery. After coming to this State, however, he gave his attention to farming until his decease, June 27, 1871. He was a Whig prior to the disor- ganization of that party, and afterward voted the Democratic ticket. He was a man of large phy- sique, weighing upwards of three hundred pounds, and was over six feet in height.
Mrs. Elizabeth Ayres was born in 1806, also in the Blue Grass State. She was the daughter of Mark Lewis, and died in June, 1883, firm in the faith of the Baptist Church, to which denomina- tion her husband also belonged. They became the parents of ten children: Martha J. married James Kessler, and after his death became the wife of John Cash, who is also deceased; she makes her home in New London. Agnes R. married John B. Brown, and is deceased; Re- becca B. is now the widow of F. M. Read, and re- sides in Farber, Audrain County, Mo .; John H. is living in Pike County, and is a farmer; Eliza-
beth Ann married John A. Rose, and is now de- ceased; Joseph S. is farming in this section; Eliza A. became the wife of John A. Gates, and de- parted this life at her home in this county; Sala- thiel B. is practicing medicine in Louisiana; Amos B. is engaged in the mercantile business in St. Louis; Thomas J. was the youngest of the family.
The early life of our subject was passed in farm work, until attaining his eighteenth year. In the meantime he attended school during the winter months, and so profitably did he spend his time that he was given a certificate to teach when eighteen years of age. While engaged in this vocation he pursued his studies continually, and in the fall of 1863 entered Bethel College, at Pal- myra, Mo. During the last year of his course there his health failed rapidly and, acting under the advice of his physician, he left school, and after the necessary rest taught again in the dis- tricts near his home.
In 1870 our subject engaged in the dry goods business at Spencerburg, in partnership with E. K. Gates, operating under the firm name of Gates & Ayres. This connection continued for about two years, when David Bryan purchased the in- terest of Mr. Gates in the business, who was later succeeded by K. A. Laird, to whom Mr. Ayres later sold out on account of ill health. He after- ward removed to Curryville, where he went into business with J. W. Caldwell, under the name of T. J. Ayres & Co. They conducted a thriving trade until 1880, when a nephew of our subject, T. M. Rose, purchased Mr. Caldwell's interest, and these gentlemen operated together for three years following. In 1883 Mr. Ayres went to Bowling Green, although still retaining his share in the dry goods establishment at Curryville. He opened up another store in Bowling Green, on the west side of the square, and after taking in as his partner Volney Pugh, put in a large stock of clothing in another store a few doors above, which partnership still exists, in addition to which Mr. Ayres carries a general line of dry goods, carpets, boots and shoes in his own name, and although his trade is large it is ever on the increase.
Mr. Ayres was married April 29, 1869, to Miss
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Mary Ellen, daughter of James Edward Briddell, a native of Pike County. They have had three children, Betty B., Mary F. and Edward Roy, who died in infancy. Both our subject and his wife are members of the Baptist Church. The former is a Mason of high standing belonging to Curryville Lodge No. 399, and the A. O. U. W. at that place. In politics he is Democratic, on which ticket he was elected to the position of County Superintendent of Schools in 1871. He is Deacon in his congregation and also Moder- ator of the Salt River Baptist Association. Mr. Ayres has been the architect of his own fortune, and has earned an enviable reputation among the business men of the county. He has ever been ready and willing to aid all enterprises for the development of his city, and to the poor he stands as a friend in need.
J OHN T. HERRIMAN, late of the firm of Herriman & Waples, of Hannibal, was a native of New Jersey, having been born in Morris County, December 7, 1818. He emigrated westward when about twenty-one years of age, first locating in St. Louis. From that city he- went by team to Chillicothe, Mo., where he es- tablished the Keystone Flour Mills, which are still in operation. He later opened up a store for the sale of general merchandise, conducting this business in connection with his milling enter- prise, and, prior to removing from that city, which he did in 1864, had built up an extensive trade as lumber merchant.
In the above year Mr. Herriman went to Han- nibal and engaged in the lumber business, and at the same time retaining his interests in that line in Chillicothe, and having as his partner E. B. Waples. His partner in this city was Mr. F. P. Hearne, who withdrew from the company in 1872, when it became Herriman & Waples. On the death of our subject, which occurred April 7, 1883, the stock company was organized and was thereafter known as the Herriman & Curd Com- pany, the members of the firm being Edward W.
Herriman, son of our subject, W. B. Curd and Mrs. H. E. Herriman, widow of our subject.
The lady to whom Mr. Herriman was married March 26, 1854, was Harriet E. Rowland, born in Boone County, Mo. Her parents were William and Elizabeth Rowland, large slave owners, formerly of Kentucky, who moved to Missouri in an early day. Mrs. Herriman de- parted this life April 2, 1888. They were the parents of two children, Celeste B., now Mrs. Curd, and Edward W., of whom we will make mention further on. In politics our subject was a strong Democrat and a member in excellent standing of the Park Methodist Episcopal Church, being a member of the Board of Trus- tees at the time of his decease. He was one of the leading contributors toward the erection of the new church edifice now occupied by this de- nomination, and indeed he always gave liberally toward all worthy causes. His good wife was also connected with the Park Methodist Church. Socially, Mr. Herriman was a Mason of high standing. He was very domestic in his tastes, a kind father, loving husband and a friendly neigh- bor.
Edward W. Herriman, the son of our subject, was born in Chillicothe, Mo., February 16, 1858. He received his preliminary education in private schools and later attended Hannibal College. When ready to launch out on the business world, he entered his father's lumber yard with the de- sire of becoming thoroughly acquainted with all branches of the business and started at the bottom round of the ladder, working as a common day laborer at $1.25 per day for several years ; then he became foreman of the yard and from this posi- tion rose to salesman on the road. Hc then be- came bookkeeper and manager of the business for one year prior to the death of his father. He is a member of Park Methodist Church and was elected to fill the vacancy on the Board of Stew- ards and Trustees of this church made by the death of his father, which office he has since held.
Edward W. Herriman was united in marriage November 4, 1891, at Fulton, Mo., to Miss Mary F., daughter of Hans and Virginia Lawther. Her father was a native of Belfast, Ireland, while Mrs.
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Lawther was born in Calloway County, Mo. They were classed among the substantial residents of Fulton, where the father carried on a general merchandising business. He still makes his home at that place, although his wife is deceased. They were the parents of six children: John, William, Samuel, Mattie, Lillian and Mary. The eldest daughter is now the wife of Hon. C. H. Hughes, M. D., of St. Louis, where he is Presi- dent of Barnes Medical College, which he or- ganized; Lillian married Edward Duncan of Salt Lake City, Utah, where he is cashier in the First National Bank.
J OSEPH MINCH, one of the enterprising young farmers of Marion County, is the proprietor of a well-kept farm in Township 59, Range 7. He was born in Quincy, Ill., De- cember 10, 1859, and is the son of Otto and Mary (Rickert) Minch, natives of Germany.
The father of our subject, in order to escape being pressed into the German Army, determined to come to America; accordingly in 1848 he set sail from his native land and was forty-two days on the bosom of the Atlantic, being landed in New York harbor July 11, 1849. He remained in the metropolis for three years, working at his trade of a cabinetmaker, and at the end of that time moved on westward, his destination being Davenport, Iowa. Failing to obtain work at his trade and his funds being then quite low, he found a position on a boat on the Mississippi River. This kind of life did not suit him at all, and a short time thereafter we find him in Kentucky, where he plied his trade for the succeeding four years.
Otto Minch was married about that time and with his bride moved to Quincy, Ill., where he was a cabinetmaker for two years, when he came to Palmyra, this State, and one year later tried his fortunes as a farmer. His first purchase con- sisted of eighty acres, and, being successful in his operations, he added to his tract until he is now the proprietor of one hundred and sixty broad and well-kept acres. He was deprived of the
companionship of his good wife and helpmeet in January, 1892, the date of her demise. To them were born a family of thirteen children, seven of whom are now living.
The original of this sketch was an infant of six months when the journey was made to this State. His book education is somewhat limited, as his parents could not afford to send him to school very long, but, associating early in life with men of good judgment and practical views of life, he became well informed. In 1885 he purchased his present farm of one hundred and eighty acres, then known as the Peake Farm. He did not move upon this tract, however, until after his mar- riage, on July 2, 1889, when he was united to Lena Fichtner, a native of this county and the daughter of Martin and Minnie (Clause) Fichtner. Her parents were born in Germany, in which country her father was a wagonmaker. Since coming to America he has given his attention to farming and is now living in this county on a good estate.
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