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 59

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 59
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 59
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 59

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Mr. and Mrs. Darr are members of the Mis- sionary Baptist Church, and take an active inter- est in all religious and benevolent work. In poli- tics he is a Democrat. The family are highly respected and greatly esteemed by all who know them.

W ILLIAM H. BALLINGER was born on the old homestead on Section 29, Township 59, Range 7, Marion County, where he is now living. This place, which com- prises two hundred acres, he purchased at his father's death and now has some one hundred and twenty acres under high cultivation. He is a self-made man and has usually prospered in his business undertakings. A life-long resident of this county, he is numbered among its best citizens, and was one of her pioneers.

Our subject's parents were Eastham and La- visa (Smith) Ballinger, natives of Garrett County, Ky., the former born February 5, 1801, and the latter July 29, 1808. They were mar- ried in Kentucky and a short time afterward started for Missouri in wagons. It was in 1831 that they landed in this region, where Mr. Bal- linger entered two hundred acres of land, which is now his son William's home. It was covered with timber for the most part and this the father cleared by himself, making many other improve- ments. February 5, 1845, a substantial log house, which he had built, was destroyed by fire, but his neighbors, with whom he was very popu-

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lar, came to the rescue, cut logs and put up another house in a very short time. It is still in good preservation and under its roof tree our subject has dwelt for many years. In 1820 East- ham Ballinger commenced preaching the Gospel in the Christian Church, and upon reaching this neighborhood organized a congregation at Em- erson, this county. At that time there were two other churches in the county and Mr. Ballinger was the only ordained minister. In 1838 he performed the first marriage ceremony cele- brated in the county, and for a number of years he held services in Lewis, Clark, Scotland, Mon- roe, Ralls and Pike Counties, Mo., as well as in Marion County. He received no salary for his preaching and many a time had a long ride, which would take three or four hours, after the close of his evening service. At the same time he was cultivating the home farm with the help of his son. His first wife died July 31, 1845, and subsequently he married Belinda Sanford, who was born in 1807 in Mercer County, Ky., and whose death occurred in January, 1892. The father departed this life February 5, 1874. By his first marriage he had eight children, as fol- lows: Francis M., who was drowned in Lewis county, Mo., April 8, 1851; William H., of this sketch; Achilles, who was killed by Indians in the Indian Territory; John W., who died in Illi- nois, May 15, 1879; James, who died July 18, 1872; Smith, who passed away in Illinois, May 29, 1863; Eastham, Jr., who married Louisa Kerrick, and now lives on a part of the old home farm; and Sarah Louisa, who died in infancy. The children all received a common-school edu- cation with the exception of John and James, whose advantages were better and who after- ward engaged in teaching.

William H. Ballinger was born February 17, 1833, and remained at home with his parents until he was married, with the exception of two years, when he was engaged in farming in Greene County, Ill. March 29, 1860, he mar- ried Mary M. Throckmorton, a native of Nicho- las County, Ky., born February 24, 1834. Her parents were Thomas R. and Lucinda (McKim) Throckmorton, also natives of Kentucky. The

father was a tanner by trade and was also engaged in merchandising to some extent. In 1840, they removed to Missouri and both departed this life in Lewis County. After his marriage Mr. Bal- · linger removed to Lewis County, where he ope- rated a farm for fourteen years, and then bought his father's old farm, where he has since resided.

Mr. and Mrs. Ballinger are the parents of five children of whom Alma, born April 23, 1861, is the wife of William A. McPike, a farmer of this township; Lucinda E., born April 19, 1863, is the wife of Barkley Hutchinson, of this county; Eastham C., born January 29, 1866, died August 7, 1878; William Thomas, born May 27, 1868, died December 18, 1889; and Mary Lee, whose birth occurred April 18, 1876, is the wife of Ancel White. The family are all members of the Christian Church and are respected and held in high regard by all their acquaintances and neigh- bors. Politically Mr. Ballinger is identified with the Democratic party.

D AVID WALLACE was elected Prose- cuting Attorney of Ralls County in No- vember, 1894, having received 1,466 votes, the highest number cast in the county at the election that year for any candidate on the State or county ticket. Mr. Wallace resides in the Town of New London, the county seat, and is held in high esteem by its people and the citi- zens of Ralls County. His parents were William and Elizabeth (Ritchison) Wallace, the former of whom was born in County Limerick, Ireland, March 13, 1819. William Wallace was a well- educated gentleman, whose parents were well-to- do people in Ireland, hence able to give their children more than an ordinary education. The father of our subject was early imbued with the impulse of patriotism, and while yet a young man, became a follower of John Mitchell, D'Arcy McGee, Thomas F. Meagher and others of the "Young Ireland Party," whose struggle for Ire- land's freedom gave England trouble in 1848.

Owing to the part Mr. Wallace took in that

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memorable effort to throw off the English yoke, he found it best to quit his native land, as many a "son of the Emerald Isle," before and since, has had to do, and came to America, landing in Mas- sachusetts about the year 1850, settling at Wal- . pole, Norfolk County, where David was born on January 3, 1852. The elder Wallace made his home in Walpole until 1856, during the time contributing many articles to the Boston Pilot, a Catholic journal, against the Know-nothing or American party, whose presence in the politics of the country, was at that time, in the estimation of many, a very bigoted and disturbing element. In that year he journeyed Westward to Rock Island, Ill., and from there, four years later, he moved to Hannibal, Mo., and in the year 1861 to Clay Township, in Ralls County, and became a farmer. After renting farms for several years he purchased one in Jasper Township, near Mad- isonville, where he died in November, 1869. In politics he was a Union Democrat, and a devout member of the Catholic Church. Mrs. Elizabeth Wallace, the mother of David, was born in Dum- friesshire, Scotland, in March, 1823. She left her native land about the year 1850 and came to America, and, meeting with William Wallace was married to him near Boston, Mass. In religious belief she was in her early life a Presbyterian, but after her marriage she became an earnest Cath- olic. She is now living in New London, a stout and hearty lady for her years, in easy reach of most of her worthy children, who are unceasing in their efforts to make the remainder of life to her as comfortable and happy as love and filial devotion can do. She is respected and loved by all who know her.

Mrs. Wallace is the mother of five children, of whom David is the eldest; William is a farmer residing on the old place in Jasper Township, Ralls County; Thomas, the "Rambler," who has traveled extensively throughout this and many other parts of the world (see his biography on another page); Jennie Agnes is the wife of John M. Alexander, a prominent merchant of New London, and Lizzie is the wife of Mr. Frederick Roberts, the owner of a large sheep ranch in Wyoming.

Our subject was about four years of age when the family left the vicinity of Boston and settled in Rock Island; he attended the public schools in that city for a short while, when the family again removed, this time to Hannibal, Mo., where he attended the public schools of Ralls County. In 1872 he attended the State University at Co- lumbia, and again the same institution, in the law department, in the year 1890. In 1889 he was clerk on the House Journal staff of the Thir- ty-fifth Missouri General Assembly, at the State Capitol. He held the position of Deputy Asses- sor in 1890 under John S. Briscoe, Assessor, now Clerk of the County Court of Ralls County. Jan- uary 1, 1891, he was appointed Clerk of the Probate Court, holding that position with credit until June, 1894, when he resigned to prepare himself for the duties of the office of Prosecuting Attorney, to which he had been nominated in May. In 1891, he was admitted to practice law in all the courts of the State.

Mr. Wallace was married March 9, 1886, to Mrs. Mattie J. Bridgwater, daughter of William and Martha (Clayton) Evans, both natives of Kentucky. Mrs. Wallace is a devout member of the Presbyterian Church. She has two chil- dren by her former marriage: Dallie, sixteen years of age, and Josie, fourteen.

Our subject is a Catholic in religion, and so- cially an Odd Fellow, belonging to New Lon- don Lodge No. 69. He has always taken a very active part in the politics of the county and was a candidate for representative of Ralls County, in 1882, and again in 1884, each time receiving a strong support, though not sufficient to secure the nomination of his party. He has frequently been a delegate to the Democratic county, district and State conventions. Mr. Wallace is of the strictest moral and temperate habits; never hav- ing used intoxicating liquors of any kind, nor to- bacco in any shape, nor spoken a word that a lady would blush to hear. Since early manhood he has been a strong advocate of temperance, Sunday schools, debating societies for the young, and our common-school system. A public speaker of much power and ability, he has es- poused every good cause and with great earnest-

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ness and untiring energy and industry has en- deavored to improve the moral and social condi- tions about him.

Though a devout Catholic, he makes his love for every good cause and the rights of others broader than his creed, hence he is regarded by all who know him as a liberal-minded, public-spir- ited citizen. Every public affair or enterprise seeks his help, and success almost invariably at- tends his efforts. He is a great lover of books and has one of the largest family libraries in the county. As an attorney he is careful and pains- taking in the preparation of his cases and is re- garded as a strong prosecuting officer. The peo- ple of Ralls County may well be proud of their attorney and rest assured that law and order will be maintained, so far as work, energy, and abil- ity in a public official can avail.

S QUIRE JOEL R. ROWLEY, who is well known in Pike County, where he has long resided, was elected to the position of Jus- tice of the Peace in November, 1894, on the Re- publican ticket, and is performing the duties of his office zealously and in a manner which gives great satisfaction to all concerned. We are pleased to accord him a prominent place among the leading citizens of this section, for he is well deserving, and his genial, courteous manner, together with his recognized sturdy qualities of character, have made him justly popular. Squire Rowley comes from families who have been distinguished for their patriotism and good citizenship. His grand- father, Seth Rowley, served from the beginning until the close of the Revolutionary War, and for bravery and heroism was promoted to a Cap- taincy. Our subject's maternal grandfather, John Allen, was a native of Connecticut and also fouglit in the War for Independence, participating in the battle of Bunker Hill, and serving until the final siege of Yorktown. The wife of Seth Row- ley was a Miss Salisbury, and her father, whose Christian name was John, served with the rank of Captain in the same struggle for independence.

Joel Rowley, father of our subject, was born in Schoharie County, N. Y., July 30, 1787, and in 1808 emigrated to Kentucky. The following spring he proceeded to Missouri, and on the way stopped in St. Louis, where he met Miss Sallie Allen, whom he married February 14, 1814. He remained in St. Louis for some time, where his ability and public spirit brought him to the front, and he was called upon to serve as Constable, Deputy Sheriff and later Clerk of the Court. He served in the war of 1812 under Gen. Taylor, and in 1814 went on the Rock River expedition. He returned home after the battle of New Orleans in 1815, before which he assisted in building Fort Madison, on the Mississippi River, in Iowa. In his youth he had learned the carpenter's and mili- wright's trade, but his later life was devoted to farming. At one time he lived in St. Charles County, where he owned large tracts of land, and in 1820 moved to Pike County, Mo., and twelve years later went to pass his declining years in Pike County, Ill., his death occurring December II, 1867. His wife was born September 6, 1795, in Lexington, Ky., and was only three years old when she moved to St. Louis with her parents. By her marriage she became the mother of twelve children, only five of whom are now living.

Squire Rowley was born in Martinsburg Town- ship, Pike County, Ill., June 25, 1834, and in his boyhood received only limited educational ad- vantages, as the schools of that early day in this section were poorly conducted. He served an apprenticeship at the plasterer's trade, following this occupation until the Civil War broke out. He enlisted in the Pike County Home Guards, serving under Col. G. W. Anderson, until the re- organization of the troops, when he became a member of Col. Fagg's regiment, the Fifth Mis- souri State Militia. In the summer of 1862 he en- listed in the Forty-Ninth Enrolled Militia, and the following March became identified with the First Regiment of Provisional Militia. November 14 of that year he enlisted in the Forty-Ninth Regiment, and during a part of 1864 did not serve, owing to disability, but in the spring of 1865 returned to his post and was elected Second Lieutenant, in which capacity he acted until the

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close of the war. Going home he settled down to a quiet life as a farmer, and remained until 1881 on a farm about a mile distant from his present home. He had owned the land on which his resi- dence is situated for some years, and built a pleasant and substantial dwelling thereon, in which he has since lived.

October 30, 1856, Mr. Rowley married Mar- garet A. Givens, whose death occurred November 27, 1888. She was a daughter of Samuel and Sarah (Gilmore) Givens, old and honored pio- neers of this county. Only two of the five chil- dren born to our subject and wife survive, namely: Homer Lafayette, a progressive young farmer of this township, and who is married, but has no children, and Virgil Arthur, a promising young man, who is still single and living at home.

September 5, 1895, our subject was united in marriage to Mrs. Amanda F. (Barby) Russell, who is a native of Howard County, Mo. She is the daughter of Col. Thomas and Rhoda (John- son) Russell, who were natives of Kentucky, and who met in Howard County, where they were married. They remained there several years and then removed to Lynn County, Mo., where they spent the rest of their days. Thomas Russell was a cabinet-maker by trade, and was a Captain in the Mexican War.

C ASPER KEMPF is numbered among the German-American farmers of Marion County who have contributed not a little to the upbuilding and progress of this portion of the State. He is a good citizen of his adopted country, and in accordance with his political be- lief supports the Republican party, and is always a friend to educational measures, as he believes in this direction lies the solution of many national difficulties. It was a most fitting thing that he should be chosen by his neighbors to serve as a member of the local school board, in which he has efficiently served for many years. He is the proprietor of a well-kept and fertile farm situate on Section 5, Union Township.

The subject of this article was born May 16, 1832, in Hesse-Darmstadt, Germany, being a son of John and Mary (Witzel) Kempf, likewise na- tives of the Fatherland. The father followed agri- culture in Germany until 1847, when he decided to seek a home and fortune in the New World. Reaching New Orleans he proceeded with his family to Quincy, Ill., and a few days afterward settled on the Fabius River, Fabius Township, Marion County, Mo. Here he purchased one hundred and sixty acres of partly improved land, which he cultivated until shortly before his death. He was in his early manhood a German soldier in the Napoleonic Wars and after coming to the United States became an ally of the Democracy. He was a member of the Lutheran Church and a man of uprightness and integrity.

Casper Kempf is next to the youngest in a family of ten children, only four of whom are now living. He received his education in the excel- lent schools of his native land, which he did not leave until he was in his sixteenth year; he con- tinued to give his services to his parents until 1850, when he became imbued with the California gold fever, and started for the mines. On the way he was taken sick, but persevered in his original intention of going to the Pacific Slope. However, he was not strong enough to go to the mines and instead acted in the capacity of cook in a restau- rant at Nevada, remaining there for two and a half years, at the end of which time he thought it best to return home, where he worked on his father's farm for a year; later he came to this township and invested his savings in a portion of his pres- ent farm. Of the original one hundred and cighty acres only a small portion had been cleared or improved and he set energetically to work to remedy affairs. From time to time as he could afford it he has invested additional money in land until he is at present the fortunate possessor of four hundred and ten acres, which represent his own hard labor and of which he may be justly proud.

May 16, 1856, Mr. Kempf married Caroline, daughter of Herman and Catherine (Schimele) Waggoner, all of Germany. Three sons and three daughters grace the union of Mr. and Mrs. Kempf, namely: Minnie, wife of Christ Gottman, a farmer

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in the vicinity of Palmyra; John H., represented elsewhere in this work; Henry resides at home and assists in the work of the farm; Fred, whose wife was formerly a Miss Wible; Katie, wife of Henry Voibel of this county; Mary is unmarried and living at home. The eldest daughter, Mrs. Gottman, has four children, namely: Casper, Caroline, Herman and Charlie; Mrs. Voibel is the mother of a daughter, Pearl.

B ENJAMIN T. M'PIKE is a general farmer and stock-raiser on Section 16, Township 58, Range 6, Marion County. He is the proprietor of a fine homestead, within the bound- aries of which are comprised some six hundred and fifty-four acres; everything about the place is kept up in a thrifty manner, giving evidence of the constant care and wise supervision of the owner. He has passed nearly his entire life in this section and enjoys the good-will and respect of all who knew him. As an agriculturist he is practical, and though in a manner conservative, is not averse to accepting modern ideas in line with progress.

James, father of our subject, was born in Ken- tucky in 1805, and immigrated from his native State to Pike County, Mo., in 1839, where he re- mained for one year, then moved to Round Grove Township, Marion County, where he continued to dwell 11p to 1852. His last years were spent in this township, where he owned extensive tracts of land and, according to the custom of the locality in which he was brought up, kept a number of slaves. He was first married to Sarah Suduth, who bore him four children, namely: Sarah J. (deceased), who was the wife of J. W. Scott, a farmer of this county; Edward and William F., who are engaged in agricultural pursuits in Marion County; Mary A., widow of Eliza Gullion, and a resident of Round Grove Township. October 12, 1827, James McPike married our subject's mother, then the widow of Smith Scott; her maiden name was Mary Chilton and the place of her nativity Fauquier County, Va., the date of her

birth being in November, 1804. By her marriage with Mr. Scott she had four children, namely: John W., James A. and Smith, Jr., all farmers of Marion County; George M., engaged in the fruit business in California. Mr. and Mrs. James Mc- Pike had five children: Benjamin and Charles A. (twins), the latter deceased; Keziah, wife of James M. Proctor, a farmer of Monroe County, Mo .; Jefferson, engaged in agriculture in Knox Coun- ty, Mo .; Zachary (deceased). The father of these children died in 1878, his good wife preceded him to the silent land in March, 1873.

Benjamin T. McPike was born in Henry Coun- ty, Ky., November 2, 1838, and was mainly reared on his father's homestead, this county. When twenty-three years of age he enlisted in Company B of Lewis County, Mo., under Capt. Richardson, and served in the Confederate army during the entire war. He was never wounded or taken prisoner, and on the expiration of his term of ser- vice was honorably discharged in June, 1865, re- turned home on November 16 of the same year. He resumed the management of the old farm, and tenderly cared for his parents during their remain- ing years. Since that time he has year by year increased his possessions by honest and unremit- ting effort, and was long since numbered among the influential and wealthy farmers of the com- munity.

Mr. McPike was first married in 1867 to Mary, daughter of John and Frances Johnson. She was born in this county and died in 1873, when only twenty-five years of age, leaving two children: Francis M., a farmer of this township; Mary E., now the wife of John Best, a hardware merchant of Palmyra. The parents of Mrs. McPike were .early settlers in Marion County, having removed here from Kentucky, of which State the father was a native, his wife being of Virginian birth. In December, 1876, our subject married Alice Hans- brough, who was born in this county September 19, 1849, being a daughter of Richard N. and Mary E. (White) Hansbrough; the father, born June 1, 1808, died October 24, 1864, and the moth- er, born July 9, 1823, died in March, 1873. The brothers and sisters of Mrs. McPike are as fol- lows: William, born November 24, 1844, now engaged in farming in this county; Virginia, born

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December 30, 1846, now deceased; Alfred, born July 6, 1853, now engaged in mining operations in Dakota; Richard, born November 25, 1855, now a farmer of Lewis County, Mo .; Mary, born May 2, 1858; James, born November 30, 1860; Minnie (deceased), born May 26, 1863; Charles, twin brother of Minnie, is a farmer of Lewis Coun- ty, Mo.

The marriage of our subject and wife has been blessed with five children, of whom Minnie, born November II, 1877, is attending school at La Grange, while the younger members of the family are at home; Hattie K., born November 19, 1879; Carroll S., born October 26, 1883; Benjamin J., born November 13, 1886; Willie, born November 17, 1888. Since 1854 Mr. McPike has been a member of Bethel Church, in which he has long served as a Deacon. Socially he belongs to the A. O. U. W. and in politics he is an ally of the Democracy.

The paternal grandparents of our subject were Edwin and Sarah McPike, the former born March 15, 1772, and the latter October 14, 1780, and their marriage took place February 3, 1801.

J OHN ADDISON OWEN, a prominent and progressive farmer of Ralls County, was born September 7, 1870, in this county. He was the second of five children born to Lewis C. and Julia A. (Biggs) Owen, all of whom are still living.

Lewis C. Owen was a native of Clark County, Ky., having been born September 29, 1830. He was the son of Addison and Edna (Halloway) Owen, who reared a family of seven children, of whom he was the eldest. Of this household three are now living. The father of our subject was a lad of six years when his father removed to Missouri, where he grew to manhood under the guidance of a good mother. When gold was dis- covered in California he went West with a wagon train and engaged in mining. He remained for several years and on his return purchased land adjoining the old home place. He located on this

property and during his life accumulated some six hundred acres of valuable land.

Mr. Owen was married to Miss Biggs, March 31, 1868. She was the daughter of John D. and Harriet (Bentley) Biggs, and was one in a fam- ily of fifteen children, of whom seven are now living. The parents were born in the Blue Grass State, the former January 30, 1811. He came to Missouri when a boy with his parents, who located in Pike County. Here he married his wife, who had also come from Kentucky in her youth.

Soon after his marriage the father of our sub- ject came to Ralls County, Mo., and engaged in farm pursuits, locating on land some two miles east of Center, where he owned about eighteen hundred acres of land. During his life he rep- resented his district in the legislature two terms, the first time being elected in 1861. He was one of the prominent men in the State. During his last years his health failed very rapidly and in consequence he spent some eight years at Eureka Springs, Ark., prior to his death, which occurred August 10, 1889. His wife was born July 10, 1820, in Clark County, near Winchester, and was under twelve years of age when coming to Missouri. She united in early life with the Bap- tist Church, in the faith of which she passed away April II, 1875, after a long and useful life, full of good works.

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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 59

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