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 52
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 52
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 52
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W ILLIAM CHRISTIAN, of New Lon- don, Mo., was born in Calumet Town- ship, Pike County, January 29, 1837, and is a son of Drury and Nancy (Tillitt) Chris- tian, the former a native of Amherst County, Va., born in 1806. He came to Missouri in 1825, where a brother Charles had preceded him. He was a son of James Christian, a native of Vir- ginia but of English ancestry. The founders of the family in the United States came over from England with a land grant which they held from King George. They were all planters and slave owners. Drury Christian pursued the cali- ing of a planter up to the time of his death which took place in 1872 in Peno Township, to which place he had removed some years previously. Nancy Tillitt, his wife, was a native of Kentucky, born in 1801, and a daughter of Giles and Mary Tillitt. She died in 1875. For many years she was a member of the Christian Church as was also her husband. They were formerly men- bers, however, of the Baptist Church. In politics, he was an old line Whig, and during the war a
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Union man, but later a Democrat. He was a prominent and leading man in his neighborhood, was a good speaker and an extensive reader, and was much liked. He had a farm of one hundred and sixty acres that was well improved. In the family were five children: Emily, who died young; William, our subject; Mary, who died in her eleventh year; James, now in Vernon County, Mo .; Cyrus, now living in Peno Township, Pike County, engaged in farming.
The early life of the subject of this sketch was spent at home on the farm, securing his prelimi- nary education in the common schools. In 1860 he entered Watson Seminary at Ashley and was graduated in 1865. During the war he was mus- tered into the militia from Ashley and served about two months. He was away from that place when the fight occurred there. On return- ing, he secured a permit to again enter school. After he graduated, he taught school for several years, first in Ralls County Male and Female Seminary, then in Troy where he taught five years. During the latter part of his engagement, he was President of the school, the "Troy Chris- tian Institute." In 1871 he returned to New Lon- don and entered the office of O. H. P. Ledford, for the study of law. He was admitted to the bar in 1872, after which he formed a partnership with his preceptor which continued until the latter's death in 1874. He then continued alone for sev- eral years. In 1879, he formed a partnership with Judge R. F. Roy, which lasted until 1883, when the partnership terminated and Mr. Chris- tian entered the Ralls County Bank as Cashier. He was there six years and then went to Vernon County where he engaged in banking for a time and August, 1891, he returned to New London and resumed the practice of his profession in con- nection with the abstract business. In 1877 he was elected Prosecuting Attorney of Ralls County and served one term. He was appointed Public Administrator to fill a vacancy in 1891 and was elected to the same position in 1892, and is now serving in that position. He served his county as Commissioner for two terms.
On October 27, 1867, William Christian was married at Troy, Mo., to Miss Ruth A.
Brown, a daughter of Col. Hanceford and Keziah (Penn) Brown. She was a native of Ralls County, while her father was a native of Ken- tucky and her mother of Virginia. They were numbered among the early settlers of this State. Mrs. Christian is a member of the Christian Church. In politics, Mr. Christian is a Democrat, and socially, a member of the A. O. U. W. At present he is a member of the School Board and serves as Secretary.
Mrs. Christian was educated at the Palmyra Female Seminary, where she graduated. Later she engaged in teaching in the Christian College at Columbia, Mo., during the presidency of L. B. Wilkes. About twenty summers ago, Estelle Buchanan, a niece of Mrs. Christian, was born. She is now a beautiful, accomplished and attrac- tive young lady, and the adopted daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Christian. She was Assistant Cashier of the Ralls County Bank, while Mr. Christian was Cashier, and is now a valuable assistant to him in his law and abstract business.
Mr. Christian adopted a son of Edward Shack- lett, Robert B., whom he reared and educated, only to bring sorrow to his heart, for he died at the age of twenty-five years. Mr. Christian is one of New London's progressive and active citizens and has aided largely in her growth.
G EO. T. BELL, M. D., is noted as a suc- cessful practitioner of Saline Township, Ralls County, his home being on Section 22. He is a business man of unusual executive ability, and has year by year invested his means in real estate, until at present he is the owner of nearly two thousand acres, most of which is well adapted for general farming purposes, while a portion of it is situated in Monroe City.
Dr. Bell was born in this section, May 13, 1837, and was reared on his father's homestead, his time being employed, as is usual with farmer lads, in work and play and in acquiring such education as could be obtained in the district
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schools. He was an apt pupil and made rapid progress with his studies, so that when but twenty years of age he secured a certificate and for two years engaged in teaching. In the meantime he studied medicine with Dr. J. J. Norton, and was thus occupied for two years, during a part of the time attending lectures in the Keokuk, Iowa, Medical School. These lectures were given in the winters of 1858-59-62-63, and after a short intermission he entered the St. Louis Medical College, where he was during the winter of 1869- 70. Soon afterward he commenced practicing in this county, and ere long had built up an envi- able reputation as a family physician. In 1875 he first turned his attention to agricultural pur- suits, having purchased ninety-five acres of land, a mile and a half east of his present home. This place comprises two hundred and seventy acres and in his numerous farms there are altogether nineteen hundred and fifty-eight acres. His vote is used in behalf of the Democratic party, but he has never himself aspired to public office.
In 1875 Dr. Bell was married in Indian Creek Township, Monroe County, Mo., to Sallie A., daughter of James T. and Jane (Lynch) Hager, natives of Kentucky and Maryland, respectively. The former was born January 12, 1806, and died May 17, 1856, and the latter was born July 27, 1816, and died in 1881. Their marriage was celebrated in this county, November 20, 1832. Mrs. Hager had emigrated from her native State to Kentucky with her parents and in 1829 became a resident of this county. Mr. Hager also emi- grated to Missouri, at an early day with his parents, and was always engaged in agriculture. Both he and his wife were members of the Cath- olic Church, and were highly respected by all who knew them. The wife of Dr. Bell was born in Saline Township, this county, January 12, 1847, and is one of eight children, of whom Rob- ert M., James B., John P., William C., Martha J., are deceased. Thomas E. is engaged in gen- eral merchandising in Nevada, and James F. is a farmer of this township. Mr. and Mrs. Bell have become the parents of two sons and four daughters. The eldest, James E., died in infancy, but the others reside at home and are named as
follows: Sallie H., William L., Laura J., Mary L., and Agnes T. The family is identified with the Catholic Church.
The parents of Dr. Bell were Alexis T. and Lura Bell, both natives of Scott County, Ky. The former died in 1867, aged sixty-two years, and the latter was summoned to her final rest January 1, 1893. Their union was celebrated in Scott County, Ky., and in 1833 they came to make their future home in Ralls County, passing the rest of their lives on a homestead near Hatch, in this township. Their family consisted of seven sons and four daughters, of whom the eldest, the Hon. James W., was County Judge of this county for many years and is now living a retired life in Monroe City, and Ann C. is a sister in a convent at Hannibal. Robert J., deceased, was a medical practitioner of Monroe County and was a sur- geon in the Confederate Army, being obliged to surrender to Gen. Parsons at Shrievesport, La. Leo T. is the next in order of birth. Samuel I., deceased, was also a physician. Mary H., now living in Texas, is the widow of James W. Hager. Eliza J. married Charles Mason and resides in Kansas; Fannie V. is the wife of Samuel Chris- tian, a dry goods merchant of Monroe City. Alexis T., Jr., and Edward F. are deceased, and John H., the remaining member of the family, is now engaged in managing the old homestead, and, in connection with the same, practices medi- cine. The parents of these children were devout members of the Catholic Church. Politically the father was affiliated with the Democratic party.
J OSEPH A. THOMAS was appointed Jus- tice of the Peace in 1890 to fill an unexpired term, was re-elected by the Democrats and has remained in the office since, meeting the re- sponsibilities of the position in a thoroughly trust- worthy and capable way. He is engaged in gen- eral farming and stock-raising on Section 8, Township 59, Range 6, west, Marion County, which place he has owned for the past eighteen
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years, prior to which time he leased it for some six years.
Joseph Thomas, grandfather of our subject, was born in Maryland and emigrated to Breckin- ridge County, Ky., when a young man. He was married in Grayson County to Elizabeth Golds- berry, who was also a native of Maryland and who had removed to Kentucky with her brother Ben- nett, who had been a comrade of Mr. Thomas in the War of 1812. The latter, after the Battle of New Orleans, marched with six companions all of the long journey home, enduring many hard; ships and at one time for seven days having noth- ing to eat with the exception of one skunk and one snake, which they captured. Mr. Thomas is a tanner by trade and embarked in the business after settling in Kentucky, his home being at the county seat of Breckinridge County. He fre- quently made trips to the northern and western towns, taking cargoes of leather to Keokuk, Bur- lington, Davenport, Dubuque, etc., and in 1851, while on his return home, was taken sick with the cholera on board the boat and died in Dubuque; his wife passed away in Linn County, Iowa, in 1869. The following members of their family lived to maturity: Isaac, our subject's father; James B., who is a resident of Linn County, Iowa; Al- fred of Walla Walla, Wash .; Goldsberry, who died in that State; Joseph, who went to California in 1848 on a prospecting tour and, as he was never heard from, is supposed to have been killed by the Indians; Margaret J., wife of John Lanning of La Fayette, Iowa; Wallace B., a resident of Wal- la Walla, Wash .; Susan, who died in Kentucky.
Isaac Thomas was born in Breckinridge Coun- ty, Ky., in 1817 and at the age of twelve learned the tanner's trade with his father. It was the de- sire of his mother, who was a Catholic, that he should enter the priesthood and, in order to in- fluence him in that direction, he had been educat- ed in a Catholic school. This, however, did not coincide with the ideas of the young man, who de- termined to devote his life to other fields of use- fulness. When in his nineteenth year he com- menced teaching, his first school being in a build- ing known as Bethel Church. After three years
as a teacher he engaged in boating on the Ohio and Mississippi Rivers, acting as a pilot, and was thus employed at the time of his marriage. The lady whom he chose to share his fortunes was Mary A., daughter of Aaron and Elizabeth Miller, natives of Kentucky. From that time until his death, which occurred June 12, 1851, Mr. Thom- as devoted himself to cultivating one of his fath- er's farms. His widow remained with the family until 1865, then moved to Linn County, Iowa, and has since dwelt principally with her widowed daughters. Her oldest child, Susan E., married John Dicken of Linn County, Iowa, and now de- ceased; William H. also lives in the same county ; Joseph A. is the subject of this narrative; Sarah died in childhood in Kentucky; Mary H. married James Norris (now deceased) and makes her home in Linn County.
J. A. Thomas was born in Breckinridge County, Ky., February 15, 1849, and when he was ten years of age went to live with his paternal grandmother, who had moved to Linn County soon after her husband's death, as the latter had previously en- tered six hundred and twenty acres of land there. In 1866 our subject commenced working by the month and during the succeeding three years man- aged to lay aside a large share of his salary. Then in company with his brother William he rented a farm, which they managed for a year. In 1870 he: removed to Marion County and in October rented the Biddlestone Farm, where he is now living; this he rented for a few years and then became its owner, as previously stated. He is a member of the I. O. O. F., belonging to Fabius Lodge No. 267, Maywood, Lewis County, Mo.
December 30, 1876, Mr. Thomas married Mrs. Demaris Bittleson, daughter of Montgomery Godman and widow of Richard Bittleson. Mrs. Thomas died September 2, 1882, leaving four children: Alice and Maud, who were born by her first marriage and are now keeping house for our subject, and two sons, Eugene R., born November 16, 1876, and James P., born July 30, 1881. Mr. Thomas has one hundred and sixty acres of fine land, on which site stands a handsome two-story brick dwelling.
LUKE M. EMERSON.
PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
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LUKE M. EMERSON.
L UKE M. EMERSON is well known in Mis- souri and, indeed, throughout the United States as the proprietor of the Pike County Jack Farm. Nor is his reputation limited to this country, but in his travels in Europe, and through his business interests there, he has formed a large acquaintance. He may be regarded as a repre- sentative type of a Western man. He is thor- oughly imbued with the spirit of Western enter- prise and push, and it is to these qualities that his remarkable success is largely attributable. Now in the prime of life, his past success may be re- garded as a type of what the future holds for him.
About five miles from Louisiana, Mo., Mr. Emerson was born, March 7, 1860, being the son of Edward and Catharine (Peag) Emerson, na- tives respectively of Missouri and Virginia. His education was gained in the Watson Seminary, and from a very early age he gave evidence of su- perior business ability. When twelve years old he became interested in the stock business, and at that time he made his first shipment to St. Louis, realizing therefrom a profit of ten dollars. With that sum he invested in a few head of stock, and these he shipped to Holt, Payne & Co., of the Union Stockyards of St. Louis, continuing in this way until he shipped by trainload both to St. Louis and Chicago.
From the time of entering the stock business until 1888 Mr. Emerson was alone, but during the latter year he formed a partnership with an En- glishman, with whom he remained for a year, and since that time has been sole proprietor of the business. While in partnership he imported twenty-five fine full-blood draft horses, and, the venture proving a successful one, he was encour- aged to continue foreign importation. In Febru- ary, 1889, he went to Europe. Upon his arrival
in Liverpool he was followed by thieves to Lon- don for the purpose of robbery, and that night was attacked by some five or six in number, but he was prepared for them, and by defending him- self with his revolver shot at them, killing one and wounding another out of self-defense. Fortun- ately, he escaped without injury to himself or the loss of any money, having at the time over three thousand dollars on his person. He immediately gave himself up to the authorities for the shoot- ing and was detained for sixty days, went through a preliminary trial before Judge Grantham and was defended by Sir Charles Russell and Waddy, Q. C. Counsel. It was soon learned that he had broken up the worst gang of thieves ever in Lon- don, and he was exonerated completely. At the close of his trial he called upon the Spanish Con- sul, who gave him the necessary information in regard to the kind of money to take to Spain and the best breed of animals to purchase. While in Spain he purchased twelve Jacks, one of which, however, died while en route to this country.
On his return to America Mr. Emerson had no difficulty in disposing of his stock at a handsome profit, and, encouraged by the result, he returned to Spain in 1890 and bought ninety head. As before, on his return he found a ready market for his purchase. In 1891 he went to Spain again, this time returning with one hundred and forty animals, and in the fall of the same year he im- ported two hundred and forty more. In 1892 he made a fourth trip to Spain, purchasing one hun- dred and forty-six head. At his visits to Spain in 1893 and 1894 he purchased two hundred and fifty and two hundred and sixty respectively. In 1892 his business was so large that every Western State had a buyer representative attending the sales and one day forty customers were present;
18
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during that season the sales amounted to from ten thousand to fifteen thousand dollars a day, averaging nine hundred and sixty dollars each, as high as two thousand one hundred and fifty dollars being paid for a single Jack.
In 1884 Mr. Emerson purchased his present farm, which is situated on a fine gravel road, four miles from Bowling Green. Every train over the C. & A. and the St. L. & H. roads is met by a hack which conveys visitors to the farm. Both in Bowling Green and at the homestead he has hotel accommodations for visitors, and no charges are made for those who come to buy Jacks, whether a purchase is made or not. On this place there are at present over two hundred Jacks, and the farm is the largest of the kind in the world. Mr. Emerson has three hundred thousand dollars in- vested in this business, and his barns accommo- date one thousand head, there being single box- stalls for five hundred. The barns are ten in number and are one hundred and sixty by seventy- five feet in dimensions. The property consists of four hundred and eighty acres of the finest land that may be found anywhere in the county or State, and every acre is under cultivation. An ad- dition to the Jack farm has been made this year of the Festis Williams farm of one hundred and sixty acres. Included in his last importation are prize winners at the Royal Agricultural and Live Stock Exhibitions in France and Spain. He makes shipments to Nova Scotia, Australia, West Indies, South America, Mexico and, in fact, to all parts of the world.
In addition to the place where he makes his home, Mr. Emerson owns farms in almost every State in the West. His property interests in Bowl- ing Green are extensive, and include the Emerson Hotel, the only brick hotel in the city, it being a three-story structure, with forty-eight rooms and every modern convenience. He is also the pro- prietor of two livery barns and other property in Bowling Green. His business is transacted with the Third and Fourth National Banks of St. Louis and the St. Louis National Bank, where he is well and favorably known. Strictly honest and up- right in his character, he has made friends who are as numerous as his acquaintance is extensive.
From his portrait presented on the accompany- ing page it will be seen that nature endowed him with a pleasing personality. Those who know him recognize the fact that he has also been en- dowed with a vigorous mind. He is quick to see an emergency and equally quick to devise means to overcome it. His energy is one of the most conspicuous traits of his character. He is con- stantly occupied with devising plans for the fu- ture, which his superior executive ability gives him the means to carry out, and it is safe to pre- dict for him increasing successes as time passes by.
D AVID E. LILLARD, who departed this life at his home in Union Township, Lew- is County, May 18, 1886, was long one of the leading citizens of this community and won the good will and respect of all with whom he came in contact. In addition to carrying on gen- eral farming he was extensively engaged in buy- ing and shipping live-stock and his correct busi- ness methods were usually crowned with success. He and his worthy companion and helpmeet on the voyage of life were both members of the Bap- tist Church of Dover, Lewis County, and the lat- ter is still identified with the congregation. Mr. Lillard was a man of sterling honor and integrity, his word being considered as good as his bond.
A son of David S. and Sarah (Cox) Lillard, the subject of this biography was born Septem- ber 19, 1840, in Lewis County, where he was reared and educated. He remained at home on his father's farm until his marriage, which oc- curred March 15, 1860. The lady, who survives him, was Mildred A., daughter of Gabriel and Elizabeth (Brooking) Long, natives of Kentucky and Virginia respectively. Mrs. Lillard, how- ever, was born in Lewis County, Mo., whither her parents had moved at an early day. After his mar- riage Mr. Lillard located five miles west of La Grange, Lewis County, on land given him by his father, and continued to cultivate the place until the spring of 1865, when he rented it and removed to Adams County, Ill. For a few months he kept
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a boarding-house at Columbus and also engaged in buying and selling live-stock to some extent. Then returning to his farm he continued to dwell there for the next nine years, in the meantime raising stock extensively and buying and shipping cattle, giving almost his entire attention to this branch of business. In 1874, upon the death of his wife's father, the former came into possession of a portion of his estate, and after building a substantial house and barn thereon, Mr. and Mrs. Lillard made it their home until the former was called to the home beyond. In the meantime he had purchased the old Long Homestead, which Gabriel Long, Mrs. Lillard's father, had entered and improved and which had descended to the son, David Long; this valuable and improved farm comprises two hundred and eighty acres. Mrs. Lillard has of late years disposed of her landed possession, reserving only her pleasant residence, surrounded by nine acres of land. Our subject had been a member of the I. O. O. F., belonging to Buckhorn Lodge until a few years before his death.
The union of Mr. Lillard and wife was blessed with four children: David G., who married Nanny L. Taylor, and lives in Lewis County, was born January 24, 1861 ; Maggie, born January 23, 1863, died in infancy; Sarah E., born May 24, 1865, married William D. Barr, and lives on a portion of the old Long Estate, near Maywood; Artie P., born October 20, 1867, is the wife of Henry Loudermilk and a resident of Lewis County. Three of the children are members of the Baptist Church.
Anderson Long, the grandfather of Mrs. Lill- ard, was born in Culpeper County, Va., and was there married to Mildred Slaughter, a native of the Old Dominion. Soon afterward they emigrated to Kentucky, then a new State, making the jour- ney on pack-horses. Subsequently Mr. Long came to Marion County, where he resided for many years, but died in Tennessee while on a visit to his daughter. He was a soldier of the War of the Revolution and his two eldest sons, Francis and Nimrod, both fought in the War of 1812. His daughter Sarah never married and died in this county; Mary became the wife of Jesse Grid- er and settled in Tennessee; Ellen died in child-
hood; Reuben made his home in this county. Gabriel Long was born September 6, 1801, in Kentucky and came to this State with his father, entering Government land in Lewis County, the original patent of which is still in possession of the family. He married Elizabeth, daughter of Edward and Margaret (Andrews) Brooking, and settled on the place now owned by Mrs. Lillard, who was born and has lived nearly all her life on the homestead. Her parents were both members of the Baptist Church. David, the eldest son, who formerly owned the farm, was accidentally killed in Marion County by being thrown from a horse. His wife Hattie, now deceased, was a daughter of Josiah and' Harriet Smoot. The only child of David Long, Edina E., is now living with her aunt, Mrs. Lillard. Margaret E., the latter's sister, died unmarried at the age of twenty-one years, and another sister, Pink, died in childhood. John F. studied law and had just completed the course at Lexington, Ky., when he died with the measles soon after reaching home.
J OHN B. M'LEOD has been engaged in the cultivation of his present farm since Octo- . ber, 1886, when he purchased the Nelson Lovelace Place. The homestead, which comprises four hundred and thirty-five acres, is located on Section 28, Township 59, Range 6, Marion County, and is one of the best to be found in this region. Commencing his career as a poor boy without capital, our subject deserves great com- mendation for his achievements, for he owes to himself alone the competency which he now en- joys.
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