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 45

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 45
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 45
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 45

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PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

of its most influential workers. In politics he is a Democrat. December 7, 1886, he married Emma Shropshire, who was born in Marion County in 1852, and whose parents, James and Lucy (Ross) Shropshire, were also natives of this county. The elder daughter, Alvina, who was born in 1851, is the wife of J. Y. Hastings, a farmer of St. Louis County, Mo. The only son, Willie S., died in infancy.

C APT. JOHN P. FISHER was a native of Ralls County, Mo., and was born July 13, 1822, in Spencer Township. His grand- father, Solomon Fisher, was a native of Virginia, but removed to Bourbon County, Ky., at an early date, when he married Mary A. Petty. He was the owner of a large estate in that county, together with a large number of slaves. In 1818 he re- moved to Pike County, Mo., and located near Frankford, where lie purchased a large tract of land. In 1823 he laid off the Town of Frank- ford and near this place carried on general farm- ing. During the War of 1812 he served with the rank of Captain. When quite an old man he was accidentally shot by his son William, who was cleaning his rifle at the time; the ball passed through the knee-joint, necessitating amputation. About five years before this time his wife was killed in a similar manner by her son John. Solo- mon Fisher was three times married, the second time to the Widow Stark, of Pike County, and his third marriage was with the Widow Welty, of the same county. By the first marriage were born nine children: Adam, Eunice, George, Par- thena, William, John, Salena, Solomon and Eni- erilla; his second wife presented him with one child, Margaret.

George Fisher, the father of our subject, was born December 4, 1798, in Bourbon County, Ky., and came to Pike County, Mo., with his parents. He was of a roving disposition, very fond of his gun, and spent a good deal of his time in hunt- ing. He was married in 1821 in Pike County to Urania Porter, a native of Harrison County, Ky.

Her father was a Captain in the War of 1812, and received a wound in one of the engagements from the effects of which he died. After their marriage they located on a quarter section of land between Ralls and Pike Counties, which was his home until 1849. He spent, however, a good deal of his time away from home, principally in the lead regions of Dubuque, Iowa, and Galena, Ill., after our subject was old enough to do farm work. In the spring of 1849 he went with a company from New London to California, crossing the plains by ox teams; he left home in May and arrived in the Golden State in September of the same year. On this trip he was accompanied by his son Adam, who was then twenty-two years of age. Our subject also had made arrangements to go, but owing to his mother objecting he concluded to remain at home and attend to the farm. While on this trip to California George, our subject's father, was taken sick and carried two hundred miles in an ox team; he lived only a month after his arrival in California. His remains were in- terred in that far-off land.

When twenty-one years of age the subject of this sketch commenced life for himself by hiring out to William Gilbert, Gilbert's Landing, Pike County, Mo., who was engaged in cutting and rafting hardwood logs from this locality to St. Louis. Here he was given charge of the force, and acted as foreman or overseer for two years, missing scarcely a day in that time. He received twelve and one-half dollars a month, and was re- quired to work seven days a week in running rafts. In 1843 he left the river and invested the money which he had saved in forty acres of land in Pike County, where the Centenary Church is now located. This piece of land he sold the fol- lowing year at an advance of one hundred dollars and bought the home place of his father, which he made his future abode. Here he kept "bach- elor's hall" for two years; then on October 5, 1848, married Emmaline L. Early, daughter of Lamach Early, an uncle of Gen. Jubal . Early. Here he made his home and engaged in farming, adding to the original tract from time to time until he owned three hundred acres. In 1853 he sold the old homestead and moved to the City of Lou-

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isiana and entered the employ of John S. Mellen, loaning him all the money he had, including that from the sale of the place, the entire amount be- ing four thousand dollars. Within one year Mr. Mellen failed and our subject lost the whole sum, having but fifty cents left. He then bought a farm on Spencer Creek for one thousand, seven hun- dred and fifty dollars, going in debt for it, and commenced farming, not even owning a horse at the time. He had five years in which to pay for the land, and succeeded in clearing it from all in- cumbrance in four years. On April 9, 1860, his wife died, when he rented his farm and engaged in merchandising in Frankford, Pike County, in which he continued for two years.

During his residence in Frankford, November 29, 1864, he married Mrs. Lucelia Jones, a native of Ralls County, and daughter of William Thomp- son, whose husband was accidentally killed while coon hunting; he had climbed a tree and was shot by a companion. During the war a com- pany of soldiers stopped at the residence of Mr. Fisher for refreshments, and while there one of them accidentally shot himself. In 1867 Mr. Fisher returned to the City of Louisiana and took charge of the toll-road from Louisiana to Frank- ford. He remained in this position until 1871, when he was appointed by Andrew Johnson as Government Storekeeper of the Louisiana Dis- tillery, owned by Gen. John B. Henderson, which position he retained three years; he then went back to the farm.

After returning to the farm our subject re- mained on it until 1875, when he purchased four hundred acres of land, which is now the Village of Saverton, where he has continued to reside; since that time he has bought land until he now owns fifteen hundred acres. During his twenty years' residence here he has continued in farming and stock-raising. Until lately he fed many head of stock, but now gives his attention mostly to grain, renting a large portion of his land. In 1890 he took charge of a stock of general merchandise in Saverton, the same now being conducted by his son. Besides his extensive land interests he is a stockholder in the Farmers' and Merchants' Bank, Hannibal, and owns a large number of

houses and lots in that city. He held the office of Justice of the Peace for a number of years, but resigned, and lately has refused the office. In politics he is a Democrat, and was a delegate to the National Convention in 1888-1892. He has attended almost every State and Congres- sional Convention for the last thirty years.

By his first marriage were born four children, three now living: Adeline, who married John Langley, in Green County; John T., now in busi- ness in Saverton; Solomon A., who when last heard from was in the West; Adam L., who died in childhood. By the second marriage seven children were born: Fluella M., wife of John Turner, residing near St. Louis; Viola B., wife of B. S. Cannon, of Lincoln County, Mo .; Jessie M., living at home; Bertha H., wife of S. W. Bur- den, Station Agent at Saverton; Porter S., Virgil D. and Russel H., all at home.

Mrs. Fisher, two daughters and one son are members of the Baptist Church, one son and one daughter are members of the Methodist Church, and one daughter is a member of the Presby- terian Church. Mr. Fisher has never indulged in the use of tobacco in any form or intoxicating liquors. He has been a Master Mason for the last forty years, his membership being in the Frank- ford Lodge. Mr. Fisher is the oldest male native- born survivor in Ralls County.

T HOMAS R. MOORE occupies no unini- portant place among the farmers of Pike County, as he is the proprietor of a well- cultivated farm in Buffalo Township, on which have been placed all the latest improvements in the way of buildings and machinery. He is the eldest son of John Moore, and was born in Han- cock County, W. Va., July 31, 1853.

The father of our subject was born in Wash- ington County, Pa., April 14, 1809, and when eighteen years of age commenced boating on the Mississippi River and its tributaries. With a flat- boat he has made the trip from Pittsburg to New Orleans in eighteen days, when his barge was

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heavily loaded with coal and flour. He usually sold both the cargo and flat-boat and returned to his home by steamer. The business proved a very lucrative one, and during the famine in Ire- land he made money very rapidly. He is the son of William and Susannah (Maxwell) Moore. His wife, mother of our subject, was, prior to her marriage, Sarah D. Willhelm, and was born in Sciota County, Ohio, October 22, 1831. She married Mr. Moore in Portsmouth, Ohio, Sep- tember 20, 1852, and the following year the young couple moved to Davis County, Iowa, where they entered two hundred and forty acres of land and remained for five years. Then they became resi- dents of Pike County, this State, purchasing the old homestead of eighty acres. This tract was at that time partially improved, and Mr. Moore made it his duty to place the remaining portion under good tillage. It is what is spoken of as bottom land, and contains very rich soil, and he has placed on it many comfortable buildings.

To John and Sarah D. Moore there have been born seven children, of whom Thomas R. was the eldest; Jacob W .; George was born in Davis County, Iowa, August 4, 1858, and died November 2, 1873; Herschel, born in this county November 19, 1860; William D., February I, 1863; Charles F., May 23, 1870; and Annie B., July 31, 1873. Grandfather William Moore was a soldier in the War of 1812. His brother and uncle fought in the Revolutionary War. On one occasion Grandmother Vanlinda (Dawson1) Moore gave a drink of water to Gen. Washing- ton and his staff while they were marching by the spring on her place at the foot of Laurel Hill, near Uniontown, Pa. The uncle and brother of William Moore, mentioned above, were both killed in the battle of New Orleans, which battle- field our subject has visited, it being located six miles below that city.

The father of our subject is a member in good standing of the Presbyterian Church. He was a Democrat prior to the nomination of Abraham Lincoln for 'President, since which time he has been a stanch Republican. Mrs. Sarah D. Moore had two brothers who served in the Union Army from 1861 to 1865. George W. was Captain of a

company raised in Portsmouth, Ohio, and was wounded at the battle of Vicksburg, Miss. He is now a resident of Greenville, Miss. John W. served through the entire period of the war in the Eastern Army.

Our subject was married January 4, 1874, to Miss Mary T., daughter of James and Amanda E. (Watson) Sutton, and their five children are Iva L., Curtis and Escue, twins, Daisy M. and Wiley J. Mr. Moore is a finely-educated gentle- man, having been a student at the Pardee Col- lege in Louisiana, and the Highland University of Highland, Kansas. Socially he is a member of the A. O. U. W. and the Farmers' and Laborers' organization, of which he was President in 1894. He has been a member of the Baptist Church since 1886, which denomination his wife joined two years later.'

J OSEPH HENDERSON is one of the old and respected citizens of Pike County, and is now a resident of Bowling Green. He operated a valuable farm in Cuivre Township until 1885, and had acquired upwards of six hun- dred acres, which he portioned off to his children from time to time, but for the past five years has been retired from active life. He is justly entitled to a place among the representative men and founders of Pike County's prosperity, for he has been identified with her interests for many long years, and has been a prominent factor in her de- velopment.

The parents of this honored old settler were Samuel and Rhoda (Ware) Henderson, the for- mer of whom was born in Virginia and was of German descent. His father, John, was a farmer who was born and passed his entire life in North Carolina. Samuel Henderson emigrated to Mis- souri in 1834 and purchased a farm in Cuivre Township, Pike County. Before his death he had accumulated some four hundred acres of land and made a specialty of raising tobacco, corn and wheat. He was born February II, 1780, and died on the farm where he had lived

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for thirty-four years, in February, 1868. His wife, Rhoda, born March 2, 1787, departed this life May 21, 1863. Their family comprised the fol- lowing children: John; Elizabeth, Mrs. Wesley Lee; Hiram; Rufus; Priscilla, who married Eli- sha Ingram; Stephen H .; Joseph; William; Nancy, Mrs. Perry; Rutherford; Martha. Only four of this large family survive, namely: Joseph, Stephen, Priscilla, and Hiram.

Joseph Henderson was born in Caswell County, N. C., May 25, 1819, and his early years were spent on his father's farm in the pursuits common to boys of that day. When he was about twenty-three years of age he started out to make his own way in the world, his father having given him eighty acres of land in Cuivre Township. This farm he continued to cultivate until 1885, but had extended its boundaries many times. His chief business was that of raising live stock, corn and oats, and success attended his efforts in every direction. Formerly he was a Democrat, but voted the Republican ticket on the second election of Lincoln and has continued to do so ever since.

November 20, 1845, Joseph Henderson and Mary Ware were united in marriage. Her par- ents were John and Polly (Holcomb) Ware, na- tives of North Carolina. By this union were born two children, John W., now a farmer of Indian Creek, and Arian, who married Harvy Adams, and resides in Roodhouse, Ill. The mother of these children departed this life March 22, 1851. February 16, 1854, our subject wedded Cather- ine Anderson, a native of Pike County. Her parents, James and Lydia (Holland) Anderson, were born in Kentucky, came to this section about 1816, and from thenceforth were honored and prominent citizens of Calumet Township. Mrs. Henderson is one of nine children, and one of four survivors, the others being Margaret, wife of Hopeful Woods; Reuben, of Cyrene, Mo., and Lydia, Mrs. George Thompson. To our subject and wife were born the following children: Mary E., who became the wife of George Ware, of Cuivre Township; James S., who lives near his elder sister; Louise C., who married S. R. Bran- stetter, of Bowling Green; Maggie J., deceased;

Joseph C., who lived in Louisiana, Mo .; William S., of this city; Lucinda; Pinckney A., whose home is in Waco, Texas; and Laura. The par- ents are members of the Presbyterian Church, and are liberal contributors to worthy charitable and religious purposes.

J OHN BLAND of Section 35, Clay Town- ship, Ralls County, and one of our most successful agriculturists, is a son of tlie beautiful Emerald Isle, and for the past thirty years has been a resident of Missouri. He is selfmade, as when he reached America he was almost entirely without means, but, possessing a rugged constitution and a brave and manly heart, was not easily discouraged by difficulties, and pressed forward to the goal of success.

The parents of the above, William and Bridget (McLaughlin) Bland, were natives of Ireland, where they passed their entire lives. The father was a slater by trade and devoted some attention to gardening. He died in 1831 when only forty- five years of age, being stricken with the dread disease yellow fever, and within the next three months two of his daughters and one son died with the same plague. Mrs. Bland lived until 1870, her death occurring at the age of sixty- three years. She was a woman who bore mis- fortune bravely, as she possessed great strength of character and was a devoted member of the Catholic Church. Her children were Ann, Mary, and James, deceased, and John, of this sketch, the only survivor. After the death of her first husband, Mrs. Bland became the wife of Patrick Tigne, also of Ireland. He died in the fall of 1857, aged forty-six years. Their family com- prised two sons and a daughter: James, who is still living in Ireland; Bridget, who died in Ohio, and Patrick, Jr., who enlisted in the Southern Army in the United States during the late war and was never again heard from.

John Bland was born in the north of Ireland in October, 1829, and has no recollection of his father, who died when he was but little over two

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years of age. In 1849 young Bland emigrated to the United States and after a sailing voyage of seven weeks and three days landed in New Or- leans. Two weeks later he proceeded up the Mississippi to Cincinnati, and resided there for a few months. The next five years he worked on farms in Hamilton County, Ohio, and then re- turning to Cincinnati, found employment in a marble factory for two years. From that time until the outbreak of the war his home was in Butler County, Ohio, and from there he enlisted as a member of the Second Heavy Artillery of the State, being mustered out at Nashville, Tenn., in 1865, at the close of a year and a half of service.

November 15, 1854, Mr. Bland had married in Ohio Mary N. Edinger, who was born in the Buckeye State, October 15, 1833, and on rejoin- ing his wife on the termination of his army serv- ice, Mr. Bland continued to come westward. Ac- cordingly they located in Hannibal, Mo., the father having preceded his family to make neces- sary arrangements, and later they moved to Mar- ion County, settling near West Ely, South River Township. There Mr. Bland raised two crops, in the meantime prospecting and keeping a look- out for a permanent home. Liking what he had heard of Ralls County, he settled on his present farm of one hundred and sixty-five acres in 1867 and has never had reason to regret his decision. He has improved his place with good buildings and keeps everything in a thrifty and creditable manner. In his political belief he is a Democrat of the strictest type, never having wavered in his allegiance to the party. He was reared in the faith of the Catholic Church, and still adheres to its teachings.

The parents of Mrs. Bland were Philip and Mary (Hicksman) Edinger, natives of North Car- olina and early pioneers in the Buckeye State. The father was a farmer and stockdealer who met with good success in his various undertak- ings, but was killed by a falling tree. His widow afterward married John Barrett and moved to In- diana, where they both died on their farm. By her first marriage Mrs. Edinger had eight chil- dren, namely: Katie, wife of Daniel Collins, a Kansas farmer; Elizabeth, deceased; Rachel,

widow of Samuel Milligan of this township; Mary A .; Mattie, deceased; Christ, a mail agent of this township, and Jacob and Spencer, who are deceased.

The marriage of Mr. and Mrs. John Bland has been blessed with three sons and five daughters, two of whom, Lucy and Lizzie, have been sum- moned to the better land. William is a stone ma- son and a successful business man of Hannibal. John H., Edward J., and Johannah are at home; Alice married Marshall Hoff, a well-known farm- er of Saline Township.

S IMON SCOTT. Among the worthy and prominent agriculturists of Marion Coun- ty is this gentleman, whose birth occurred within her limits and who has taken part in the development and progress which have been made therein during the last quarter of a century. He is the owner of a well-improved and highly culti- vated farm in Township 59, Range 7, which in- cludes one hundred and twenty broad acres.

Simon Scott was born in this township April 1, 1852, to James and Martha (Johnson) Scott, both of whom were born in Henry County, Ky. They were farmers in their native State, living there until 1845, when they emigrated to this State and located in this township, on Section 22, which tract had been given James by his honored father and included eighty acres. There he made his home for many years and then moved to the es- tate on which lie is at present residing, on Section 33, this township.

To James and Martha Scott were born a family of nine children, namely: John, Henrietta, Emily, Priscilla, James, Annie, Ella, Simon and George R. The original of this sketch was given a fair education in the district school and remained at home with his parents, aiding in the farm work until his marriage with Miss Jennie Stovall, which was celebrated March 1, 1876. Mrs. Scott was born August 20, 1851, in Scotland County, this State, and is the daughter of George W. and Eliza (Board) Stovall, both of whom were born in Vir-

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ginia, whence they came at an early day to Mis- souri and are now engaged in farm work in this county.

After his marriage our subject lived on the Dunn Farm for a period of two years, and then moved upon a tract located in Fabius Township, which he made his place of residence for the suc- ceeding four years, when he became the purchaser of the Darr Farm, this township; it included eighty acres, for which he paid fifteen hundred dollars. Two years later he disposed of it at a good price and bought one hundred and twenty acres of his present farm, to which he added later twenty acres on Section 21, and is now the pro- prietor of one of the best-cultivated and produc- tive tracts in the township. On this place Mr. Scott has made many valuable improvements in the way of buildings and machinery and being a practical tiller of the soil has succeeded in almost every venture in which he has engaged.

To Mr. and Mrs. Scott have been born four children: Daisy Love, born July 14, 1878; Jessie, born September 4, 1885; Georgia, born June 5, 1887; Willie James, born January 20, 1891. In politics our subject is a stanch supporter of Dem- ocratic principles. Both he and his wife are mem- bers in excellent standing in the Baptist Church, in which he is now holding the office of Clerk.

J OB MARTIN BASKETT, one of the hon- ored old citizens of Marion County, is a progressive agriculturist and has always followed the most scientific methods in the man- agement of his farm, which is located on Section 3, Miller Township. He is well entitled to a place in this volume, for he is a representative citizen and is respected by all who know him.

Job and Sarah (Mitchell) Baskett, parents of the above, were natives of Fluvanna County, Va. They were married in Kentucky, whither they had gone with their parents in childhood. The father died March II, 1833, and the mother passed away November 6, 1879, their ages at the time being forty-nine and eighty-nine respectively. They

were the parents of eleven children: Mildred and Charles died in Kentucky; Lemuel remained in that State, while the others-Horatio N., Mary Ann, Elizabeth, Caroline, Sarah L., Emeline, Job M. and James Thomas-emigrated to Missouri.

J. M. Baskett was born near Shelbyville, Shelby County, Ky., October 6, 1829, and was reared to farm life, having fair school advantages. In 1851 he came to this county, settling on a farm adjoin- ing his present homestead. Soon after his arrival here he purchased a tract of two hundred and fifteen acres, and at the present time is the owner of five hundred acres, four hundred of which he cultivates, while the remainder he rents to a re- sponsible tenant.

August 16, 1855, Mr. Baskett married Frances J., daughter of Gabriel and Lucretia (Sherfield) McRea. Ten children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Baskett, namely: Mildred A., born June 6, 1856, died April 2, 1865; Mary E., born Novem- ber 7, 1857, married Robert Chandler (February 25, 1880) and had four children ; Charles William, born July 26, 1859, is unmarried and assists in the work of the home farm; Edwin Mitchell, born April 2, 1861, died November 8, 1873; James Thomas, born August 18, 1863, died August 28, 1880; Sarah E., born August II, 1865, was mar- ried (in February, 1888) to John Edward Amick of this county and died November 2, 1893, leaving four children ; Lemuel L., born July 9, 1868, mar- ried Mary Elizabeth McWilliams (December 23, 1891) and resides four miles north of Palmyra; Luella E., born December 10, 1870, is living with her parents; Job A., born October 22, 1872, is now a clerk with Bowles & Trainer, Hannibal, Mo .; Eugene Clay, born May 28, 1878, is now at- tending the district schools. Mrs. Mary Chandler departed this life March 28, 1880, and her husband subsequently married Miss Mary Williams. He resides at Norman, Okla. Ter., and has with him his three eldest children; Arthur, Gertrude and Robert; Mary E. resides with our subject.

The father of Mrs. Baskett was born in Marion County, Mo., while her mother was a native of Adams County, Ill., and she is their only child. She was left an orphan when she was a mere infant and lived with her grandfather until she was in her tenth year; from that time until her marriage

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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 45

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