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 58

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 58
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 58
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 58

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To Francis E. and Elizabeth Yager there were born a large family, numbering fourteen children. Nicholas is now living in Monroe County, Mo .; William is a resident of Nodaway County, Mo .; Benedict and Mary are deceased; Elizabeth be- came the wife of William G. Pike and makes her home in Monroe City; Sarah is now Mrs. James Hardie and makes her home in Adair County, Mo .; Harry fought as a Union soldier in the late war and gave up his life soon after the surrender of Vicksburg; he served in Company I, Thirtieth Missouri Infantry. Our subject was the next born; John died when young; Bernard is living in Monroe City; Susan is the wife of John D. Pier- soll, and lives in Monroe County, Mo .; Rose Jane died in infancy; Catherine is the wife of Henry Whalan, and is a resident of Monroe County, and Martha, Mrs. John Woolfork, died in March, 1895.

The early life of our subject was spent in Mar- ion County, Mo., and it was there he received his schooling and worked at farming. When a lad of fifteen years he became interested in the man- agement of stationary engines, and two years later took charge of an engine. He was engaged in this business off and on for thirty-three years. In 1882 he came to Pike County, first locating at Bowling Green. In 1884 he came to Louisiana, and for the following eight years was engineer for the Excelsior Mills. In October, 1894, however, he engaged in business for himself, and now, in company with his son George, carries on a thriv- ing business as miller and dealer in grain and farm produce. The firm is becoming well known and conducts its affairs under the style of Ya- ger & Co.

Samuel C. Yager and Miss Cornelia Buckles were united in marriage September 27, 1864. The lady was the daughter of George W. and Eliza- beth (Wakely) Buckles, and was born in Greene

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County, Ohio, of which locality her parents were also natives. To our subject and his wife have been born six children, of whom James died when young. The others are George, John, Alice, Eleanor and William. Mrs. Yager is a member in good standing of the Methodist Episcopal Church, while her husband is a devout Catholic. In politics he is liberal, and votes for the 'best man. Socially he is a member of the Knights of Father Mathew.

Mr. Yager has won the respect and confidence of the citizens of Louisiana by his habits of in- dustry and his integrity. He has established a business that will not only prove remunerative to him, but a benefit to the community.

W ILLIAM N. TINSLEY is President of the Addison-Tinsley Tobacco Com- pany, of Louisiana. This well-known and extensive concern was incorporated in Oc- tober, 1882, under its present title. They com- mand an immense trade in all parts of the United States and Mexico, and year by year the busi- ness is increasing in volume.

The birth of the subject of this narrative oc- curred August 25, 1836, in Bedford County, Va. His parents, Rodney and Polly (Whitten) Tins- ley, were both natives of the same county, the father born October II, 1791, and the mother November 19, 1792. The father of Rodney was James Tinsley, likewise a native of Bedford County, Va., and his wife, who was born and reared in the saine section, was Miss Lucy Mc- Donald before her marriage. The mother of Mrs. Polly Tinsley bore the maiden name of Jennie Gady and the father was Elisha Whitten. Both he and Grandfather Tinsley were soldiers of the War of 1812. On both sides of the house the fam- ily is long-lived, for our subject's paternal grand- father lived to be ninety-two years of age, while his maternal ancestor reached her seventy-fifth year. The family of James Tinsley comprised four sons and four daughters, namely: William,

Daniel, Rodney, Nelson, Lucretia, Peggy, Emily and Elizabeth. Lucretia married John Major; Peggy became the wife of W. Oglesby; Emily was married to Joshua Rucker, and Elizabeth was married to Joseph Reece.

It was in 1849 that Rodney Tinsley emigrated to Missouri with a colony of settlers and for three years resided in Buffalo Township, Pike County. Then moving to Lincoln County, he cultivated farms there for the next fifteen years ; later he took. up his abode near Paynesville, Pike County. Then after dwelling for a time in Buffalo Township, he went to live with his son James in Hartford, dying there June 28, 1878. In politics he was a Democrat of the old school. In religious faith he was a Methodist and was noted for his honesty and integrity of life both of word and deed. His wife's death occurred a few years previous to his own, on July 3, 1872. Their family comprised eleven children, as follows: Elisha, deceased; La- fayette, who died in Missouri; Mary Jane, de- ceased; Leonard, died in childhood; Addison, deceased; Albern M., who is connected with the tobacco factory ; Elizabeth A., widow of Lunsford Ogden; Martha M., deceased; James R., a resi- dent of Bowling Green; Cleopatra, deceased, and William N., the youngest, and subject of this sketch.

The boyhood of W. N. Tinsley was passed in his native county in Virginia until he was in his thirteenth year, when he came to Missouri. The principal part of his education was obtained in private schools at Amherst, whither his parents had moved in order to give their children better facilities. The youth assisted his father as much as was within his power, and on reaching his ma- jority commenced farming on his own account in Calumet Township, where he purchased a tract of land. He was thus occupied for six years, after which he moved to Louisiana, and for two years engaged in the leaf tobacco business.

Subsequently our subject, in company with Lafayette Tinsley and Edwin C. Bright, formed a partnership for the purpose of manufacturing plug tobacco. About a year later he sold out his interest in the old concern and bought a share in the A. Tinsley & Company factory, which had

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been founded in 1871. The building, located on the corner of Seventh and Jackson Streets, was burned down March 4, 1886, and a new one was put up at the corner of South Carolina and Levee Streets. When the company was incorporated under the title it now bears, A. J. McCune was made President; William N. Tinsley, Vice Presi- dent; A. M. Tinsley, Secretary and Treasurer, and Addison Tinsley, General Manager. The present officers are: W. N. Tinsley, President and General Manager; A. J. McCune, Vice-President; Thomas L. Tinsley, Secretary and Treasurer. The firm buys the tobacco leaf in Louisville, Ky., Vir- ginia and North Carolina, and manufactures both chewing and smoking tobacco. Among their favorite brands are the Tinsley Best, . W. N. T., Natural Leaf (sixteen ounce), the Missouri Leaf, Premium Natural Leaf, Happy New Year, etc. The factory's capacity is three million pounds per year, and employment is given to from two hun- dred and twenty-five to two hundred and fifty hands. Thus it may be seen that the industry is an important one and is one of the distinguishing features of Louisiana.

October 14, 1858, occurred the marriage of Mr. Tinsley and Margaret J., daughter of William N. and Delilah Goodman. Mrs. Tinsley died at the early age of twenty-five years, August 22, 1864. August 22, 1866, our subject was united in wedlock 'with Margaret H., daughter of Charles R. and Elizabeth B. (Mason) Morris. She departed this life June 1, 1871, when in her thir- tieth year. The lady who now bears our subject's name was formerly Miss Allie L. Robinson, and their marriage was celebrated December 1, 1871. H'er parents, Edward and Martha (Terry) Robin- son, were natives of Bedford County, Va. The following children have been born to them: Mar- garet H., now Mrs. John A. Pearson; Edmund H., who is attending Central College of Lafayette, Mo .; Lulu, a student in Howard Female College, of Fayette, Mo .; Mary E., who died in October, 1892; Bessie, whose death occurred at the age of nineteen months; Jessie M., her twin sister, also deceased, and Addison A.

For the past thirty-five years Mr. Tinsley has been a faithful member of the Methodist Episco-

pal Church South, with which his wife is also iden- tified. Politically he is affiliated with the Demo- cratic party, and socially belongs to Perseverance Lodge No. 68, A. F. and A. M. He has never been desirous of holding public office, but has served efficiently as a School Director. By his energy and good business judgment he has won success and has contributed largely to the welfare of others in the legitimate channels of trade. He is highly regarded in the community for his moral worth, public spirit and good fellowship.

J OHN M. CRANE is a young farmer of good ability and practical experience and one of the native sons of Marion County. He is self-made in every respect, having won a comfort- able fortune, a good home and a position of influ- ence in his neighborhood by the exercise of his inherited characteristics of perseverance and in- dustry. His residence is on Section 25, Fabius Township, where he has dwelt for the past five years.

Our subject's father, James Crane, was born in Kentucky in 1825 and on reaching man's estate married Miss Catharine Taylor, by whom he had nine children. He became one of the early set- tlers of Marion County, permanently locating here at an early day. His son, John M., was born April 18, 1852, and was reared on the old home- stead. He managed to get a good general educa- tion in the common schools and by actual experi- ence learned the proper management of a farm.

On attaining his majority Mr. Crane determined to seek a companion and helpmeet in life's journey and found the lady of his choice in Miss Roxy Anna Warren, their marriage being celebrated July 23, 1883. Mrs. Crane is a daughter of Wil- liam and Jennie (Pemberton) Warren of Ralls County, Mo. The young couple have had born to them three children: The eldest died in infancy ; the second, Lilburn, was born July 4, 1886; the youngest, Vera Pearl, was born July 14, 1891.

Soon after his marriage Mr. Crane rented a farm comprising two hundred and twenty acres of land

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in Fabius Township and there made his start in life by the assistance of his thrifty and helpful wife. After renting this place for four years they moved to another farm of eighty acres, near Beth- el, and a year later leased the Ben Schofield Home- stead, a mile east of Bethel. When another year had elapsed Mr. Crane found himself able to pur- chase land of his own and invested his savings in one hundred and twenty-four acres, his present iarm. He has made nearly all of the improve- ments thereon to be found and it is today consid- ered one of the best in this region. He has been successful as a stock-raiser and devotes much of his attention to the business. Politically he is af- filiated with the Democracy; religiously both he and his wife are strong in matters of faith and hold membership with the Union Church.

E ZRA STILES ELY HAMPTON has lived for almost half a century on the old homestead, located on Section 28, Saline Township, Ralls County. His farm is well equipped with good buildings, a windmill and all the latest improvements which go to make up a model homestead. In September, 1888, the proprietor erected a pleasant and substantial residence, which he has furnished in good taste. He has never cared to hold public office, but has been prevailed upon by his neighbors in a few instances to accept positions of trust and honor. For twenty-seven years he has been a school director and at all times has manifested his interest in educational affairs.

Our subject's parents were Squire Joseph M. and Harriet (Hathaway) Hampton. The father was a native of Chester County, Pa., born June 18, 1801, and died March 1, 1869. His marriage took place in Philadelphia, Pa., March 6, 1823, his future companion and helpmate having been born and reared in the Quaker City. Her death occurred May 5, 1882, at the age of seventy-nine years, six months and ten days. The young couple continued to live in Philadelphia until

1835, when they emigrated westward, settling on the farm now owned by our subject. Mr. Hamp- ton was a saddler by trade and was fairly success- ful as a farmer. For many years he held the office of Justice of the Peace and was a man of influence in his community, largely owing to the fact that he was better educated and possessed a greater fund of information than most of his neighbors. For a long period he served as Clerk of the Missionary Baptist Church at Bethlehem.

The five sons and five daughters born to J. M. and Harriet Hampton were in order of birth as follows: Elizabeth G., born November 28, 1823; Edwin M., March 28, 1825; Sarah A., January 5, 1827; Joseph M., Jr., July 27, 1829; Harriet H., April 4, 1831; Catherine H., March 27, 1833; Mary S., May 16, 1835; Samuel S., June 18, 1838; John C., August 22, 1841; and Ezra S. E., Octo- ber 25, 1845. The oldest daughter married Wil- liam E. Jones, a farmer of Saline Township, and died February 18, 1869, leaving six children. Edwin M. departed this life in California, Oc- tober II, 1880; Sarah married Noah Donnelly, by whom she had three children; she died De- cember 22, 1868, and her husband is also de- ceased; J. M. is a miner in California; Harriet married Martin J. Dawson, a farmer and fruit- grower in Texas, and they have six children; Catherine, who died May 16, 1860, was the wife of Harrison Donnelly, who, with his three chil- dren, is now living in Monroe City. Mary is the wife of Newton Ronner, who owns a farni in Knox County, Mo., and their family com- prises seven children: Samuel is a farmer and stock-raiser of Saline Township, Ralls County, Mo .; and John C. is a mine operator in Cali- fornia. The elder children were born in Penn- sylvania, but the three youngest are natives of Ralls County, Mo.

E. S. E. Hampton, subject of this sketch, was born and brought up on the farm of which he is now the proprietor. He had added to the origi- nal tract by purchase until his possessions cover some six hundred and thirty-eight acres. The old farm house which his father built and occu- pied is still standing on the homestead and is in a good state of preservation. Our subject ob-

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tained such education as the district schools af- forded, wisely supplementing the same by private reading and study. For some sixteen years he has been clerk of the Baptist Church, while his wife is connected with the Catholic Church.

January 21, 1873, Mr. Hampton and Susan C. Hardy were united in marriage in this township, at the home of the bride's parents, by Father Bonicum. She was born August 21, 1843, in Saline Township, being a daughter of Judge George L. and Teresa (Leek) Hardy, whose his- tory is given on another page of this volume. Mr. and Mrs. Hampton have had three sons and three daughters, of whom two died in infancy, and Joseph M., the second child, born June 2, 1876, was killed June 6, 1878, while climbing a fence, one of the rails falling upon him. The eldest daughter, Susan C., born October 29, 1873, is a young lady of good education and is still under the parental roof. George L., the only surviving son, was born January 21, 1881, and Lucy S. was born August 2, 1883. Politically Mr. Hampton is a Democrat. The Hamp- tons are of English origin. William Hampton was the son of Sir John Esham, of Langport, knight and baronet, from whom the Hamptons descended. August 13, 1662, their coat of arms was granted to Wm. Hampton, rector of Bleek- ingly, in Surry, by Edward Beyshew Claren- seaux.

C APT. WILLIAM CLINTON ALLISON is one of the leading farmers and stock- raisers of Pike County, born within its bounds, May 18, 1834, his birth occurring six miles southwest of Louisiana, Buffalo Township. There were eleven children born to Robert H. and 'Louisa J. (Carroll) Allison, of whom. he was the fourth; of the eleven four survive.

Robert H. Allison was born in 1804 in South Carolina. His parents came to Missouri when he was a boy of six years and here he grew to man- hood. He was reared to the occupation of a farmer and chose that vocation for his life's work;

he had gained a good standing among the well- to-do agriculturists of the county at the time of his decease, which occurred when he was forty- three years of age. He was well-known in this vicinity and for several years served efficiently as Justice of the Peace. He also taught school for some time in what is now known as the Hickory Grove District, being one of the leading spirits in the organization of the district and also in the erection of the school building. He took an ac- tive part in all movements calculated to improve the community in which he lived and his death was deeply regretted by all who knew him.

Louisa J. Carroll was born in South Carolina in 1810. She was brought to this State when a child by her parents, under whose guidance she attained to a noble womanhood. She lived to the age of seventy-five years, the last thirty-eight years of her life being spent in widowhood. Grandfather Alexander Allison came to Missouri about 1810, being at that time one of the earliest pioneers of the State, and experienced all the perils, hardships and privations to which the early residents were subjected and also suffered much from the depredations of the Indians. The few families then in the neighborhood erected the first fort in 1813, in which they were obliged to live for some time.

The original of this sketch remained at home until reaching mature years, in the meantime gaining a good education in the primitive schools of the neighborhood. As soon as old enough he went to work on the farm and when some time later an elder brother, who had car- ried on the home place, left, the former was obliged to assume its management. This he operated until 1882, when he moved upon his present estate, located on Sections 30 and 31, Townsip 54, Range I.

In 1862 Mr. Allison was married to Miss Martha Emerson, an intelligent lady who has since presided over his household in a most worthy manner. To them were born eight chi !- dren, of whom five are living. Mrs. Fannie Ed- monds died in December, 1894, leaving one child. Those living are: Mary, wife of William Parker of Louisiana, this State; Lou Belle, the wife of

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Ulysses Thurmond, more familiarly known as "Bud," is a resident of this township; Clement H., a promising young man, is now residing with his parents; Robert and Carlie, two bright lads at- tending school.

Since purchasing his present property Mr. Al- lison has increased in wealth and is to-day one of the well-known and honored men of the town- ship. His farm residence, which is delightfully located, commanding a view of hundreds of acres of remarkably fine land, is a comfortable and conveniently arranged structure, well built and tastefully furnished.

On the outbreak of the late war our subject enlisted in the Home Guards, serving until the organization of Col. Fagg's Regiment of State Militia, when he joined that body of troops. In August, 1862, however, he organized a company, of which he was elected Captain. It was known as Company A, Pike County Battalion of the Enrolled Missouri Militia, which Mr. Allison commanded until the spring of 1863, when the several regiments were formed of picked men of the regular militia for State service and were known as the Provisional Regiments of Enrolled Missouri Militia. From that time until mustered out of service, near the close of 1863, our subject was commander of Company I. In his political affiliation Mr. Allison is a supporter of Republi- can principles and candidates, though his first Presidential vote was cast for James Buchanan. Religiously he is a member of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church and his name may always be found upon the list of donators to worthy charities.

J OHN S. DARR, a general farmer and stock- raiser, and proprietor of a sawmill, now re- siding on Section 4, Union Township, was born in Henry County, Ky., July 23, 1828, and is a son of Joseph F. and Matilda (Club) Darr, who are also natives of Kentucky-the father of Woodford County, and the mother of Henry County. They were married in Henry County

and remained there until 1839, when they emi- grated to Missouri and settled in Shelby County, where they remained one year and then came to Marion County, locating near Emerson. The father was born March 4, 1810, and died Feb- ruary 25, 1859. The mother was born October 12, 1805, and died March 20, 1879. Joseph F. Darr was an extensive farmer and slave-owner and also proprietor of a sawmill. For many years he was a school director and was greatly interested in educational work. In politics he was originally a Whig and subsequently an American or Know-Nothing. He was a mem- ber of the Christian Church. During the Black- hawk War Mr. Darr was a volunteer from Illi- nois and was made Corporal of his company. In the battle between Blackhawk and Tecumseh, which took place about 1831 or 1832, at Rock Island, Ill., he would have shared in the fate of his comrades had he not been detained in camp to take care of a sick soldier. In the history of the old Indian Chief, the latter tells of seeing a small company of whites approaching and he and his warriors concealed themselves in a sink- hole, as they could not make out how many soldiers there were in the party. Mr. Darr was one of the little band and has often related the story to his children, telling them that there had been three days' rain at the time and that he did not believe there was a gun in the party which could have been fired, and that if the Indians had attacked them they would all have been murdered or made prisoners. To Joseph F. and Matilda Darr were born the following children: John S., our subject; Drucilla, born September II, 1831, wife of M. C. McCristy, a farmer of Marion County; Rebecca, born Octo- ber 27, 1834, died June 22, 1861 ; Martha J., born July 18, 1836, the wife of William Yarbrough, a farmer of Union Township; Melvina, born Oc- tober 12, 1837, is the wife of Alonza Cheeny, a farmer of Marion County; William, born April I, 1839, was drowned in 1851, while engaged in fishing; Henry, born August 8, 1840, died Feb- ruary 18, 1860; Barton, born February 23, 1843, died July 21, 1861 ; Merrill C., born November I, 1832 (deceased); James S., born September I,

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1847, is a farmer and music teacher, residing on the old homestead.

The subject of this sketch removed with his parents in 1839 to Shelby County, Mo., where they remained one year and then came to this county. He continued to reside with them until his marriage, November 24, 1850, to Miss Ro- berta Herington, who was born July 9, 1832, in Fauquier County, Va., and is a daughter of Sam- uel and Susan (Grant) Herington, both of whom were also natives of the same county and state. Her parents remained in their native state until 1832, when they went to Ohio and there remained eight years, emigrating to Missouri in 1840, and locating in Union Township. They were the parents of six children: Cordelia, widow of James Carter, of Marion County; Julian, de- ceased; Sophronia, deceased; John, deceased; Roberta, wife of our subject, and Mary E., de- ceased.

Soon after his marriage Mr. Darr rented a farm in Marion County, where he remained two years, and then purchased forty acres, which he improved and on which he remained two years. He then sold out and moved to Lewis County, Mo., where he purchased one hundred acres, and for the next five years engaged in general farm- ing. Trading this farm for a half interest in a sawmill in Marion County, he returned and for eighteen months ran it in partnership with his father. On the death of his father, which oc- curred at this time, he continued to run the mill for eighteen months longer in partnership with his mother. The Civil War now commenced and he abandoned the mill. Although taking no active part in the war, Mr. Darr's sympathy was with the South. He then rented a farm and for ten years continued in farming on rented land. At the time of giving up the sawmill he was in debt $1,000. In 1871, he quit renting, paid all his debts and went to Carroll County, Mo., and there remained one year, and then went to Lewis County and purchased forty acres. After re- maining there one year, he sold out and came to his present farm, which was then a very rough, hazel thicket. At present he is the owner of one hundred and forty-nine acres of as fine land as

there is in Union Township. He has continued to run the sawmill off and on for the past three years.

To Mr. and Mrs. Darr have been born the fol- lowing children: Sarah M., at home; Vernon O., deceased; Elizabeth, wife of William Clou- ser, a farmer of Marion County; Evaline, wife of Nathan Spencer, a farmer of Audrain County, Mo .; Samuel, who married Edna Banks, and to which union there are two daughters, Mamie L. and Nina M., now resides on the old homestead. Lula, deceased; Roberta, wife of T. Razey, of Brown County, Ill.

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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 58

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