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 49
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 49
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 49
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42 | Part 43 | Part 44 | Part 45 | Part 46 | Part 47 | Part 48 | Part 49 | Part 50 | Part 51 | Part 52 | Part 53 | Part 54 | Part 55 | Part 56 | Part 57 | Part 58 | Part 59 | Part 60 | Part 61 | Part 62 | Part 63 | Part 64 | Part 65 | Part 66 | Part 67 | Part 68 | Part 69 | Part 70 | Part 71 | Part 72 | Part 73 | Part 74 | Part 75 | Part 76 | Part 77 | Part 78 | Part 79 | Part 80 | Part 81 | Part 82 | Part 83 | Part 84 | Part 85 | Part 86 | Part 87 | Part 88 | Part 89 | Part 90 | Part 91 | Part 92 | Part 93 | Part 94 | Part 95 | Part 96 | Part 97 | Part 98 | Part 99 | Part 100 | Part 101 | Part 102 | Part 103 | Part 104 | Part 105 | Part 106 | Part 107
lived and died in Virginia. Charles, the father of the subject of this memoir, was a tailor by trade and emigrated to Missouri in the spring of 1860, locating at Paris, where he remained about twen- ty years, pursuing his vocation. He departed this life at Higginsville, Mo., in 1893. In poli- tics he advocated the principles inaugurated by Jackson. In religion he was an adherent of the Christian Church. Susan, his wife, was the daughter of John Daugherty, a native of Ireland, who was brought to the United States by his parents when a child. She was a member of the Methodist Church, and in that faith she passed to the life beyond in 1875. She was the mother of ten children: Sallie, John, Nannie, Joe, Jen- nie, Lucy, Nettie, Fannie, Ida, and Charles, all living and married. Sallie is the wife of A. B. Long of Paris, Mo .; Nannie was married to R. A. H. Hall of Greenton, Mo .; Jennie is now the widow of W. L. Smiley of Higginsville, Mo .; Lucy became the wife of John G. Harris of Chi- cago; Nettie was married to William T. Goss of Nevada, Mo .; Fannie is the wife of A. Chipley of Shelbina, Mo., and Ida is now Mrs. Walter Hutchason of Higginsville. After attending school up to about the age of fourteen the sub- ject of this sketch began an apprenticeship at the printer's trade in Paris, Mo., in the office of the "Mercury." He passed through all the grades of the business, and acquired such proficiency that, in 1873, he became a partner, and was asso- ciated with the "Mercury" for thirty-five years, when he sold out his interest to take possession of the "Record," which he had purchased. He took possession on September 1, 1895, and in conducting this well-known paper he brings to bear an experience as a newspaper man of thirty- five years. The "Record" is a six-column quarto, issued every Friday, devoted to the interest of Ralls County and the principles of the Demo- cratic party. It is hardly necessary to say that with the ability and long experience of its editor, that the "Record" will be ably conducted.
Mr. Burnett was united in marriage, Deceni- ber 9, 1874, to Fannie, daughter of Volney and Elizabeth (Stone) Gore, a native of Bloomfield, Ky., where her parents lived and died. This
398
PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
union has been blessed with six children: Vol- ney G., Herbert, Horace, Jeff G., Ella, and Lyle, of whom Herbert and Horace are now deceased. Mr. and Mrs. Burnett are members of the Chris- tian Church. Mr. Burnett is a member of the Masonic Order, belonging to the Paris Union Lodge, No. 19; Monroe Chapter, No. 16; Par- sifal Commandery, No. 44, K. T. He is now Past Master, Past High Priest, and Past Emi- nent Commander.
Editor Burnett is making many friends in his new field of labor, and it is not too much to pre- dict that he will make of the "Record" one of the most popular and influential country journals in the State.
W ILLIAM D. BISHOP of Section 28, Saline Township, Ralls County, is a man of more than usual intelligence and information. He possesses a liberal educa- tion and during his early career taught school for several years, in Virginia and in Missouri. Edu- cational matters have always had great interest for him and to the best of his knowledge he has advocated better advantages in this direction for the rising generation. He believes that in this lies the solution of many of the great problems of our country, concurring thus with the opin- ions of most of our statesmen and political econ- omists.
Mr. Bishop is a native of Fauquier County, Va., having been born August 12, 1832, and was brought up in that section. Good principles of life and action were instilled into him both by example and precept by his worthy parents, and the foundations of his character were thus laid along lines of the utmost honor and integrity, kindness to his fellows, and fair judgment to all. He obtained a good education and pursued his higher studies in an academy of his native county. In the spring of 1857 he came to Mis- souri with his maternal uncle, Harvey C. Glass- cock, and stayed several months in Hannibal. Then obtaining a certificate, he taught school in
Marion County for a year, after which he returned on a visit of a few months to his Virginia home. Coming back to the West, he had charge of a school at Hydesburg, Mo., for three consecutive years, and all together was a teacher for nine years. . It was not until 1864 that he turned his exclusive attention to farming, though for a short time previously he had conducted a farm in Mar- ion County. In 1864 he rented a farm near Hydesburg, Ralls County, and at the end of his year's lease moved to Sidney, where he engaged in agriculture for two years. Then, for three years, he was a tenant on his present farm, during this interval laying up money with which to pur- chase land of his own. In 1871 he made the first payment on his homestead which now comprises three hundred and sixty acres, of fertile and arable soil. The proprietor is a member of the Farmers' and Laborers' Union and is thoroughly in sympathy with the tillers of the soil. In his political affiliations he is a Democrat. .
April 3, 1862, Mr. Bishop married Mary E. Neal, who was born in Marion County, Mo., near Hydesburg, February 6, 1829. Her parents were James and Elizabeth (Hornback) Neal, na- tives of Kentucky. They were married in the Blue Grass State and came as pioneers to Ralls County. Some years later they located perma- nently in Marion County. Mr. Neal was an ex- tensive farmer and a man of prominence in the community. His family comprise the following : Michael, John W., and Thomas, deceased; Ruth P., who married Owen T. Barbee, who is now a retired farmer of Marion County ; she is deceased; Martha A., wife of James Jones, a farmer of Mar- ion County; Mary, Mrs. Bishop; Joseph, who was a Captain in the Confederate Army and was killed at Fort Blakely, Miss., and James W., a farmer of Marion County. Mrs. Bishop died January 30, 1891, leaving two children, a son and daughter, who are now both at home with their father. James H. is a minister in the Meth- odist Episcopal Church South, and the daughter, Mary A., is her father's housekeeper. The fam- ily have for years been associated with the Meth- odist Episcopal Church South and are liberal contributors to its enterprises.
399
PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
The parents of our subject were James and Mary (Glasscock) Bishop, natives of the Old Do- minion. The former died in January, 1863, aged sixty-two years, and the latter departed this life in 1874, aged sixty-one. They were married in Fauquier County, Va., where Mr. Bishop died, and a few years later our subject returned home and brought his widowed mother to 'Ralls County. She lived with him from that time until her death. The father was an extensive farmer and owned a number of slaves, but notwithstand- ing this, was in politics an old line Whig. Both he and his wife were members of the Methodist Episcopal Church. Their family numbered four sons and four daughters, of whom the eldest died in infancy: Sarah J. is also deceased; William D. is the next in order of birth; Margaret A. is the wife of Albert McAllister of Loudoun County, Va .; Eliza C. married Preston Turner, a Lou- doun County farmer; Marietta, deceased, was the wife of J. P. Wilson of California; Harvey B., farmer of Ralls County, and Hezekiah, the youngest, is still living on a farm in Virginia.
J AMES LONERGAN, ESQ., is one of those progressive, wide-awake farmers who find both pleasure and profit in cultivating the soil and by means of dignity and ability tend to raise the standard of their occupation. Mr. Lon- ergan is one of the old and honored residents of Pike County, and was born in the southern part of Ireland, in County Tipperary, April 5, 1819. To his parents, William and Mary (Quinn) Lon- ergan, were born thirteen children, of whom he was the eighth. Of this large family five only survive, who are: Bridget, wife of John Quinn; Johanna, married a Mr. Bannan, of Pennsyl- vania; Col. P. F., who lives retired in Dwight, Ill., with one of his sons, a prominent physician of that place; John V. Lonergan, a machinist of Fort Wayne, Ind.
The father of our subject was also a native of the Emerald Isle, and after attaining mature years
was married to Miss Quinn, likewise of Irish birth and parentage. His business was that of a general merchant and the income derived thereby was fairly good. Later in life, accompanied by a portion of his family, he emigrated to America, locating in Canada. After two or three years' residence there, and being satisfied that he de- sired to make it his future home, he returned to Ireland and in 1830 brought the remainder of the family over to the new home, located near Montreal. But he remained here only three years, when he crossed the line into the States and took up his abode at Pottsville, Pa., where he was destined to spend his last days. He died in 1840. He was a very wide-awake and pro- gressive man, and ere he had spent many years in this country he became a naturalized citizen, and was a supporter of all movements pertaining to public welfare. After his removal to Potts- ville he retired from active life and prepared to pass his declining years in ease and comfort. He was noted for his hospitality and had many friends in the community in which he lived.
James Lonergan, our subject, was a lad of about eleven years at the date of the removal of the family to America and his education, which was limited, was acquired in the common schools of this country. He was a youth of push and energy and when seventeen years of age left the parental roof and began in life for himself. Turn- ing his face westward, he came to St. Louis, Mo., arriving there in the spring of 1836. Apprentic- ing himself to a carpenter he spent three years in that city mastering the trade, and in 1839 removed to what is now Red Bud, Randolph County, Ill. There he began life under brighter auspices, reap- ing the full benefits of his early labors as a car- penter.
In 1841 our subject was married to Miss Bridget O'Neill, the ceremony being performed on November 26. In 1849 he purchased the land on which Red Bud now stands, which he cleared from the thick undergrowth of trees and bushes and built thereon a carpenter shop. The hamlet soon grew into a village, thus furnishing him plenty of work, and from this time on prosperity attended his efforts. In 1850 he was honored by
400
PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
being elected Justice of the Peace, and for his efficient services in the performance of the duties appertaining to that office he was, after four years' service, elected the second time, but prior to the expiration of this term his removal from Red Bud compelled him to tender his resignation.
In October, 1854, our subject went to Lou- isiana, where he located and lived for ten years. During that time he was interested in various en- terprises, which proved successful, and in 1864 he purchased and removed to his present farm, where he has since lived. In 1876 he was elected to the Magistracy of his district and for four suc- cessive terms of four years each filled the office faithfully, discharging the duties thereof in a ca- pable and satisfactory manner.
To Mr. and Mrs. Lonergan there have been born eight children, only one of whom survives, Mary Ann, wife of James Hickson, a progressive farmer of this county. Shortly after his removal to Louisiana a cloud of sorrow darkened the honte of our subject in the death of the wife and mother, who passed away February 23, 1856.
Esq. Lonergan during the years of his resi- dence here has, by his upright life, gained the re- spect and confidence of all who know him. He is liberal in his contributions to all worthy en- terprises and has done his share toward the de- velopment of this section. He is ever ready to assist suffering humanity, and has lightened many a heavy heart by words of cheer and con- fort. In his political affiliations he is a stanch supporter of Democratic principles, and in his re- ligious views is a devoted member of the Catholic Church.
J AMES C. M'CLURE. Numbered among the substantial citizens of Louisiana, Pike County, is this well-known builder and stone contractor. He is held in high regard by all his acquaintances and has an enviable reputation for straightforwardness and integrity of word and deed. He is a member of the Honte Forum Benefit Association and is President of the local
lodge No. 180, of Louisiana. On matters of po- litical importance he is always to be found on the side of the Democracy.
Joseph McClure, father of the above-named gentleman, was born in Argyle, Scotland, and with his father, John, and the other members of the family, emigrated to the United States in 1805, locating in Greene County, Pa., where he e11- gaged in farming up to the time of his death. His wife, who was Miss Mary Sweeney, was a native of Ireland and their family comprised four chil- dren: Joseph; Maria, who married Solon Le- mars; John W., who married Elizabeth Garrison; Minerva, who died unmarried. Joseph McClure obtained a common school education in Penn- sylvania and learned the stone-mason's trade, in which occupation his entire active life passed, his death occurring at his old home in Greene County November 12, 1865. For twenty years he was a class leader in the Methodist Episcopal Church, and his personal habits and life were above reproach. Politically he used his ballot in behalf of the Democracy. His wife, Rebecca South, her name before marriage, was born in 1829, and died in 1881. She was a daughter of Charles and Mary (Eberly) South, who had emi- grated to Pennsylvania from Ireland and engaged in agriculture; both lived to be about ninety years of age. James C., of this sketch, is one of seven children, the others being: Louisa, wife of George Shaw, of Connellsville, Pa .; John Milton, living in Greene County, Pa .; Charles Wesley, a resi- dent of Logan County, Kan .; Mary (Mrs. James Hill), of Uniontown, Pa .; one who died in in- fancy; Clement L., of Pittsburg, Pa.
J. C. McClure was born August 8, 1845, in Greene County, Pa., where he secured a good education and learned the trade at which his father was employed. In 1868 he started forth to make his own way in the world, and proceeded as far as Cheyenne, Wyo. Ter., that point being the terminus of the U. P. Ry. at the time. He secured a position as conductor on a construction train through the influence of an old friend, Capt. Abrams, who had formerly run on the Monon- gahela River. Mr. McClure was in charge of the train for only three weeks when all hands were
401
PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
captured by the Indians under Black Kettle; the engineer and fireman were killed and the savages started off with their other captives, when they were overtaken by Gen. Custer's command and the little party was by this means restored to free- dom. Mr. McClure then became one of the sur- veying party which engaged in laying out the line from Cheyenne to Denver, and subsequently was employed in the same capacity on the old Southern Pacific route. During this period he spent some time in parts of Utah and Salt Lake City and later (in 1869) returned to Cheyenne by way of Ogden, over the old stage route. Thence he went to Jefferson City, Mo., and then to Mar- shall County, Ill., where he engaged in farming for about two years. His next venture was to pur- chase a tract of land in Taylor County, Iowa, and for three years he improved and managed this farm. In 1871 he took a contract for grading a portion of the B. & N. Ry. from Creston to Bed- ford, and on the completion of this work obtained another contract for grading the ground around the depots of the Sheridan Branch of the same road. In the fall of 1873 he graded three miles of the B. & S. W., having his headquarters at Unionville, Mo., after which he went to Hanni- bal and did contract work on the Sni Levee for some two years. Then settling on a farm in Ross Township, Pike County, Ill., he remained until the fall of 1881 ; since the spring of the following year his home has been in Louisiana, where he has permanently located. Many of the best build- ings in the city stand as evidence of his mechan- ical skill and knowledge of his trade; among many others may be mentioned the First Baptist Church of Louisiana and the Christian Church at Frankford, put up by him and considered fine specimens of architecture. In 1891 Mr. McClure entered into partnership with Henry L. Hart, which connection still exists.
August 16, 1865, Mr. McClure and Lydia J. Tuttle, of Fayette County, Pa., were united in marriage, the lady being the daughter of Ely and Sophia (Kretchum) Tuttle; she departed this life December 1, 1881, in Louisiana. Mr. McClure married a second time, his union with Miss Charlie A. Clayton being celebrated September
3, 1883. Mrs. McClure is a daughter of Madison and Elizabeth (Lamberson) Clayton, natives of Pike County, Mo. The former is living at the home of our subject, but the latter is deceased. Mr. and Mrs. McClure have one child, a bright little son, Earl Ray by name. The parents are members of the Methodist Episcopal Church and take great interest in religious matters.
J OHN R. BAXTER for many years pursued agriculture with zeal and intelligence, win- ning from the soil an abundant share of the various grains which he cultivated, and in this way secured a handsome competence. He is one of the largest landowners in Ralls County, and is at present living retired near his splendid estate, including four hundred and sixty-five acres of land, located on Sections 8 and 20, Township 56, Range 6, and Township 55, Range 6, Sections 4 and 5, Ralls County. His home is in Hunting- ton, where he has a beautiful residence and is pre- pared to spend the remainder of his life in the enjoyment of the fruits of his early years of toil.
Our subject was born in Palmyra, this State, January 28, 1828, and is the son of Elijah and Re- becca (Fry) Baxter, natives of Kentucky. The father died in 1855, when aged fifty-five years. His wife departed this life in 1844, aged thirty- six. They were united in marriage in Marion County, Mo., whence the father came in 1818. He remained only a short time, however, when he returned to the Blue Grass region and lived until 1821, when he again came to Marion County, settling near Palmyra, where the re- mainder of his life was passed. He was a very successful farmer and a prominent politician, serving in the ranks of the Democratic party.
By his union with Miss Fry, Elijah Baxter be- came the parent of five sons and three daughters, as follows: Mary, deceased, was the wife of Lewis H. Gardner, a farmer of this county; Eliza- beth married Theodore Palmer and both are de- ceased; John R., of this sketch, was the next
402
PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
born; William is engaged in farming the old homestead, near Palmyra; Benjamin F. and Henry are deceased; the next born died in in- fancy, and Susan is now the wife of William Brown, a well-to-do agriculturist of Marion County.
The original of this sketch was well trained to farm life and worked at this vocation when not in . school on the old homestead. He remained with his parents until 1852, when he began in life for himself. He came to Ralls County at that time, making location in this township, where he en- gaged in farming for about a year. At the end of that time he removed to Salt River Township, near Perry, and for three years following made that section his home. We next find him occu- pying property near New London, and three years later he removed to Marion County, set- tling eight miles west of Hannibal. He was there for eight years, when he returned to this county and township, and for ten years was a resident near Cincinnati. At the end of that time he came to his present farm where he has continued to make his home ever since. That he has been successful is acknowledged by all, for his large estate attests to that fact. His farm is one of the best located in all the county, and during the years in which he operated it brought forth a large income. The fields are finely improvedl and the buildings which have been erected there- on are neat, substantial, and include every neces- sary and convenient edifice.
Mr. Baxter was married in this county, in 1852, to Miss Margaret Wilson, who was born in Indi- ana and died four years after her marriage, when twenty-three years old. To them was born a son, Theophilus, who is at present engaged in the grain business at Center, this county. In 1858, Mr. Baxter was married to Miss Minerva Rich- ards, whose birth occurred in Bath County, Ky., October 16, 1837. She was the daughter of John L. and Elizabeth (Moore) Richards, natives of Kentucky, where they were married and lived un- til 1853. That year they came to Ralls County
and made their home near Perry, where Mr. Richards is still living. The wife and mother died while on a visit at Hannibal, in 1873, when in her fifty-fourth year. John L. Richards was born in the year 1811, and during the years in which he followed farming accumulated a hand- some fortune, which he is now enjoying. He is prominent in his community and respected by all who know him. He is a devoted member of the Christian Church and gives liberally to the sup- port of its work. In politics he votes in the Democratic ranks.
To Mr. and Mrs. Richards there were born six sons and six daughters, of whom the wife of our subject and her twin sister Mary were the eldest. The latter is now deceased. James W. is a mer- chant in Nevada. Isaac is deceased. Catherine married E. Hopkins, a carpenter of Perry, and she too is deceased. Sarah is Mrs. John Moss and her husband is a well-to-do farmer of this county. Marion is engaged in the mercantile business at Perry. Eliza is at home with her father. Thomas is deceased. Alpheus is a prominent merchant of Perry. Charles is at home and John L., Jr., is a well-to-do farmer near Perry.
To Mr. and Mrs. Baxter there have been born five children, as follows: Mary C. is the wife of John M. Watts, a farmer of this township. William L. is practicing law at Elreno, Okla. Dora is de- ceased. Annie M. married Wallace Bond, a car- penter of Monroe City, and Effie G. is attending college at Fulton, Mo.
Following in the footsteps of his honored father, our subject is also an active member of the Christian Church, in which he has held the position of Elder for the past eighteen years. He possesses intelligent views on political questions and is an ardent supporter of the Democratic party. He is active in all good work in his neigh- borhood and is in fact a man whose sketch will do honor to our volume, and prove interesting to the many friends who hold him in the highest esteen.
-
J. W. LYELL.
1
MRS. J. W. LYELL.
PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
407
JOHN W. LYELL.
J OHN W. LYELL is one of the prominent and wealthy agriculturists of Marion Coun- ty, his home being in Township 58, Range 8. He is practically retired from active business and now rents out the main part of his land, which comprises some six hundred and forty acres, four hundred and eighty of which are under cultiva- tion, corn and wheat being the chief products of the latter portion of the rented land.
Our subject was born in Westmoreland Coun- ty, Va., August 21, 1829, and is one of nine chil- dren. His brothers and sisters were named as follows: Mary, Thomas T., Lucy F., Virginia H., Albert G., Bertha Ann, George and Julia; four only of the number are living. Their parents were John A. and Sarah (Plummer) Lyell, both natives of Westmoreland County, Va. The father was engaged in the operation of a farm until 1831, when with his wife and four children he emigrated to Marion County; settling on the Ragar Farm in this township, he entered one hundred and sixty acres of timber land, cleared it and made many improvements on the place. Afterward he built a flouring-mill near Ebenezer Church and con- tinued in that business until his death, which oc- curred in August, 1861. His faithful wife did not long survive him, as her demise took place the following year.
John Lyell remained with his parents until he was twenty years of age, at which time he was taken with the prevalent gold fever and went to the "Rough-and-Ready Diggins," Placer Coun- ty, Cal. He engaged in mining, but was not very successful and returned home in 1853. After staying with his father about a year the latter gave
him one hundred and sixty acres in Shelby County, Mo. The young man took charge of his new farm and lived thereon for a year, when he married and for the next fourteen years continued as a resident of Shelby County; then selling out his homestead he came back to Marion County and bought his present farm, where he has since lived without interruption.
November 6, 1854, John Lyell chose, as a com- panion on life's journey, Miss Emily E. Sharp. Her parents, James A. and Elizabeth F. (Swindell) Sharp, were both natives of Virginia; they settled in this region at an early day and were always engaged in farming. In 1852 Mr. Sharp bought the homestead now owned by Mr. Lyell; in 1872 he sold his place and with his wife went to Mon- roe City, where they both died. Mr. and Mrs. Lyell have had eleven children, as follows: Mollie, wife of Oscar Paul of this county; Virginia B. (Mrs. Cass Landrum) of Shelby County; John T. (deceased); Annie F., wife of John Cox of Shelbina, Mo .; Minnie Lee, Joseph S., Lizzie (died when twenty-three years of age); Lena N., Burnaldotte, James S. and Laura Etta. The chil- dren have received good educations, thus being well qualified for the duties of life.
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.