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 64
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 64
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 64
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F REDERICK LOUIS DUBACH, of Han- nibal, is living a retired life in his elegant home which he erected in 1866 on Fifth Street. He comes from a noble family, is gen- erous and charitable to all and enjoys the respect and affection of all who have known him. His brother, David Dubach, another prominent citi- zen of Hannibal, is represented elsewhere in this volume, and in his history may be found a full sketch of our subject's parents and their early experiences in America.
John A., father of F. L. Dubach, was born in Canton Berne, February 29, 1794, and was brought up by his father to agricultural pursuits, the elder Dubach owning an Alpine homestead. In 1820 John A. Dubach left his native land to seek a home in the New World, in company with a colony of one hundred and seventy-seven persons, many of whom perished in the bleak Hudson Bay regions, whither they had been in- duced to go by English speculators. After many vicissitudes John A. Dubach settled on a rented farm in Switzerland County, Ind., and later moved to Madison, Ind., where he was success- fully engaged in business up to the time of his death, which occurred April 1, 1837. His wife, who was before their marriage Maria C. Van
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Gunten, born in 1800, was wedded to him about a year and a half before they left Switzerland. She was a woman of great courage and endur- ance, one who always looked on the bright side and always acted according to the dictates of her conscience. She died May 24, 1880, in the Lutheran faith, to which she had been reared. She was a great lover of nature, and only a few days before her death said to her daughter, "How beautiful everything is around us."
Of the seven children born to John A. Du- bach and wife, John is deceased; Mary Ann, wife of Edmond P. Gillette, died March 31, 1864; David resides in Hannibal; Frederick L. is the next in order of birth; Charlotte M. resides in a house which was built especially for her and her mother, and is adjacent to the one occupied by our subject; Rachel died in childhood and George W. died June 24, 1872. He enlisted in Company C, Sixty-seventh Indiana Infantry, in 1861, and was in the battle of Arkansas Post and the siege of Vicksburg. He was taken pris- oner at Mumfordsville, Ky., and was finally dis- charged on account of disability as he had lost his health during the siege of Vicksburg. Though he went to Europe, hoping for benefit from travel and change of air, disease had fastened on him and his life soon passed away.
F. L. Dubach was born July 22, 1828, in Jef- ferson County, Ind., and his education was ob- tained in the public schools of Madison. Learn- ing the painter's trade he was specially employed on steamboat painting until 1864. That year he embarked in the wholesale and retail grocery business at Madison in company with John J. Craig, the firm being known as Craig, Dubach & Co. In April, 1866, he joined his brother David, of Hannibal, in the lumber business and this connection existed until 1890, when the firm sold out their lumber and planing business, both brothers retiring. Mr. Dubach is a stock- holder in the Delles Lumber Company of Eau Claire, Wis., and in partnership with his brother is interested in lands in this county and in Boone County, Ia. He is also a stockholder in the Hannibal Milling Company, part owner of the Park Hotel of this city, and owns stock in the
First National Bank, the Farmers' and Mer- chants' Bank, and the Bank of Hannibal.
On April 20, 1854, was celebrated the mar- riage of F. L. Dubach and Louise Z., daughter of Capt. Frederick L. and Zelie C. (Simon) Gri- sard, natives of Switzerland. Capt. Grisard was born in Canton Berne August 14, 1808, and with his parents, Frederick and Mary A., sailed for the United States in 1818. They left Havre, France, and arrived in New York city at the end of a forty-four days' voyage. Thence they proceeded to Philadelphia and Pittsburg, from which point they worked their way down the Ohio River in flat-boats. December 15, 1818, they reached the new town of Vevay, Ind., which had been laid out about four years pre- viously. After putting up a log cabin in the woods the father worked at his trade of black- smithing and cleared his land. Among these primitive surroundings Frederick L. Grisard grew to maturity, and after pursuing a three years' apprenticeship to the blacksmith trade in Cincinnati returned home and worked with his father. Then from 1838 until 1845 he was in business alone and later conducted a hardware and agricultural implement business. Many of the articles which he sold were manufactured by himself; he made the first steel plow ever used in Switzerland County, and assisted in building the first steam engine in that locality. In the course of time he accumulated a hand- some fortune, and was noted for his public spirit and enterprise. After the organization of the county in 1840 he was made the first Treasurer and for many years served as a School Trustee. From the start of the First National Bank unt:1 his death he was a Director, and for several years was president of the Vevay, Mt. Sterling and Versailles Turnpike Company. When he was a young man he had organized an artillery company, of which he was Captain, and when the war broke out Gov. Morton made him Cap- tain of a company of artillery. This proved very disastrous to him, as his large warehouses, con- taining much personal property, but supposed to hold Government supplies, were burned to the ground by Confederate sympathizers. He
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was married April 24, 1828, to Miss Simon, who was born December 7, 1807, and their union was blessed by seven children. Of these Lucilla is the wife of Joseph Jagers; Perret J. is de- ceased; Rudolph F. was killed while trying to rescue a little girl who was in danger of being run over by a horse; Zella C. married A. P. Du- four of Vevay, Ind .; and the younger ones are Fred L. and James S. Capt. Grisard died in Vevay January 30, 1880, and his widow died in the same place in November, 1892. Her father was educated and was a professor in the Switzerland College. He was one of the unfor- tunate victims of the colonization scheme pre- viously referred to and with his family suffered great losses and privations. He finally safely arrived in Switzerland County, Ind., in August, 1823, having traversed many hundred miles of the wilderness lying between the Red River of the North and the United States domains. Mrs. Zelie C. Grisard and her mother were among the first white women who ever made this long and hazardous journey.
The wife of F. L. Dubach was born in Swit- zerland County, Ind., May 26, 1835, and was there reared to womanhood. They are the par- ents of four children, of whom but one, George G., of Hannibal, survives. The others, Mary L., Louisa Z., and William T., died in childhood. Our subject and wife are members of the First Presbyterian Church, the former being one of the ruling Elders. In politics he is an unwaver- ing Republican.
J OHN M. WATTS is a native of Ralls County, born May 9, 1853, and is of Ger- man descent, his great-grandfather Watts emigrating from that country to Culpeper County, Va., where he lived and died. Grand- father Watts emigrated from Culpeper County, Va., to Kentucky, where he remained the balance of his days. He reared a large family, of whom George W. Watts, the father of our subject, was one. George W. Watts was reared in Kentucky
and early in life was apprenticed to learn the tan- ner's trade. He worked at that trade until his removal to St. Charles County, Mo., about 1835. He was first married in Kentucky to Miss Mat- hews, and by that marriage were born two chil- dren: Frances, who married H. Alexander, lo- cated in Ralls County, but is now living in Kan- sas, near Eureka Springs; James, the second child, died in early manhood. After his marriage the father of our subject moved to St. Charles County, Mo., and there engaged in farming. On the death of his wife he removed to Ralls County, Mo., and subsequently married Pauline Farrell, a native of Kentucky. Shortly after this marriage he returned to St. Charles County, where he died in 1856. By the second union were born four children, of whom three lived to maturity and one died an infant. The living are: Sarah M., who first married Orin Kenney, and later William Eles, and who died in June, 1893; John M., our subject; Ella, who married Charles M. Owens, and resides at Huntington, Ralls County. The one dying in infancy was named Simeon.
John M. Watts, the subject of this sketch, was left fatherless at the age of three years. He re- mained at home attending the common schools as the opportunity was afforded him until he was ten years old. He then commenced working for Stephen D. Ely by the month, receiving five dol- lars per month as wages. This, however, was paid him in corn, the amount received being five barrels at five dollars per barrel. During the season he plowed sixty acres of corn the last time by himself, which was certainly a good task for a ten-year-old boy. He continued working by the month until twelve years of age, when he rented land and planted a crop. The land was new and had just been cleared from the timber and was broken by him and another boy his own age. This crop he lost entirely by the overflow of Salt River. For the two succeeding years he worked by the month for his brother-in-law, Orin Kenney, receiving a portion of the crop in payment. He again rented land and continued to do so until his marriage. In the meantime he worked at intervals with his brother-in-law, Chas. M. Owens, at manufacturing chairs.
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On January 1, 1880, Mr. Watts was united in marriage with Mary C. Baxter, a native of Ralls County, born November 14, 1859, the daughter of John R. and Minerva (Richards) Baxter, whose sketch appears elsewhere in this volume. After his marriage he rented a farm in the Salt River bottom in Saline Township, where he re- mained one season and then purchased the farm on which he now resides. This, however, in- cluded sixty-seven acres that his wife received from her father's estate. Since then he has pur- chased at different times until he now owns three hundred and ten acres. In 1881 he erected a resi- dence to which he has since made additions, mak- ing the present comfortable home in which the family resides. He has followed general farm- ing and stock-raising, in connection with which he has operated a threshing machine for the last twenty years.
By the union of John M. Watts and May C. Baxter nine children have been born, all of whom are yet living: Ione, born November 30, 1880; Lera, born August 24, 1882; George M., born February 3, 1885; Baxter, born September I, 1886; Lonley, born January 16, 1888; Una D., born October 26, 1889; Margaret E., born July 23, 1891; William May, born November 25, 1893 : Susan Angelia, born January 27, 1895. It is worthy of mention that in the large family of lit- tle ones they have never had occasion to employ a physician.
Our subject can truly be said to be a self-made man, never receiving help from any source, with the exception of the land of his wife. He is a remarkable example of what it is possible to accomplish by industry and energy. From the time he was ten years old he worked to support his widowed mother and sister. He has been a member of the Christian Church since fourteen years of age. Mrs. Watts is also a member of the 'same church. Their membership is with the Ariel congregation, of which he has been dea- con for eighteen years. He has also held the office of Clerk and Treasurer. An earnest and consistent man, he is always a ready contributor to church or benevolent purposes. Politically he is a Democrat. He is also a member of Ralls
Lodge No. 33, A. F. and A. M., at Center, Mo. Since living on his present place Mr. Watts has engaged in stock-feeding and shipping, and usually has a load or two of his own stock to ship each season. He also buys and ships from Hunt- ington, the first carload of stock shipped from that point being by Mr. Watts. In 1891, in partner- ship with Theodore Baxter, he engaged in the mercantile business in Huntington, but continued in that line only six months, when he sold out to his partner, and has since given his attention to other interests.
W ILLIAM H. WHALEY. This gentle- man and his family are numbered among the best citizens of Ralls County and have a pleasant, happy home on Sec- tion 24, Clay Township. He is a pioneer of Mar- ion County, where his birth occurred January 6, 1836, and it was not until 1882 that he cast his lot with the inhabitants of this region.
Our subject's father, Capt. Franklin Whaley, was born September 27, 1807, in Bourbon County, Ky., and died in January, 1893. He won his title in the Black Hawk War, and was a man possessing the true frontier spirit. With his par- ents he came to Marion County, Mo., in 1819, and remained in that locality the rest of his life. As an agriculturist he was very successful and owned large tracts of land and many slaves. A man of good education and superior attainments, he en- joyed the respect of all who knew him and was elected on the Democratic ticket to be the second County Surveyor of Marion County. His father was the first Surveyor of Marion County, the duties of which he discharged in an able manner. Capt. Whaley returned to Bourbon County and there married Sarah A. Landers, February 12, 1835. She was born in that county January 30, 1814, and died March 21, 1876. By her marriage she became the mother of four sons and a daugh- ter, William H. being the eldest. Charles E. is a retired merchant of Palmyra, Mo., and the others are deceased. Frances C., was the wife of James
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E. King, Collector of Marion County, and the younger ones bore the names of John T. and Franklin L.
The boyhood of Mr. Whaley passed in the usual manner of farmer lads, the greater portion of his time being devoted to giving such assist- ance to his father as was in his power. He con- tinued to dwell under the parental roof until twenty-four years of age, when he settled on a farm near West Ely, Marion County, and im- proved the homestead, which numbered two hun- dred and twenty acres. After cultivating the place for twenty-one years he sold out and purchased his present farm of four hundred acres.
November 1, 1859, Mr. Whaley and Willie A. Nichols were united in marriage in Marion County. The lady was born in Chambersburg, Clark County, Mo., January 13, 1839, and is a daughter of William and Mahala (Worthington) Nichols. The father, who was born in Scotland, was educated for the Presbyterian ministry and died prior to the birth of Mrs. Whaley (1838). His wife was born in New Castle, Ky., May 20, 1814, and died January 6, 1889. She was married in Chambersburgh, Mo., and was left a widow ere four months had elapsed. In 1848 she became the wife of John Bush, a native of Pendleton County, Ky. He emigrated to Miller Township, Marion County, in 1818, and continued to reside there until a few months before his death, which occurred in 1873 in Palmyra, when he was in his seventy-ninth year. Mr. and Mrs. Bush had two sons and two daughters: Dr. Frank W., who is now on the old homestead in Marion County; Laura B., wife of John B. Stevenson, a clothing merchant of Fort Madison, Iowa; Charles, de- ceased, and Rose R., Mrs. George Allen, whose husband is a merchant of Monmouth, Ill. The father of these children had previously married Margaret Garner, a native of Kentucky, who died in 1846, leaving six children, namely: William P., a stock-dealer of Monroe County, Mo .; James T., a retired farmer of Shelbina, Mo .; John S., a farmer of Marion County; George W., a retired agriculturist of Shelby County, Mo .; Elizabeth, deceased, formerly the wife of James McWilliams, of Texas, and Mary F., who married Samuel
Baynum, a farmer, now of Shelbina. Mr. Bush was a self-made man, and by assiduous effort and tireless industry became very wealthy, leaving a large inheritance to his children.
Mr. and Mrs. Whaley have had six children, of whom the eldest, Ella C., died at the age of twenty- two months; Franklin E. is a carpenter of Ralls County; Lulu W. married S. P. Spalding, a farmer of this township; Allen W. is a book- keeper for a well-known firm in Oakland, Cal., and Charles W. and William N. are residing witli their parents.
Mr. Whaley received a college education, is well read and an entertaining companion. He is a Democrat, but has never cared to hold office. For a great many years he has been a faithful member of the Christian Church, and until he left Marion County was an Elder in Mount Zion congregation.
R ICHARD M. RINGO, now holding the responsible position of Cashier of the Kirksville Savings Bank, is descended from a family which originated in Holland. When the first representative came to America is unknown, but they were among the earliest fam- ilies in Virginia, and at the present time many bearing that name are scattered throughout tlie South and West and are regarded as enterpris- ing and loyal citizens.
The original of this sketch was born in Clay County, Ind., February 5, 1834, and was the son of William and Eunice (Clinton) Ringo. On his mother's side he is of Irish extraction, her father having been born in the Emerald Isle. He died when a young man, and his wife, who was a Vir- ginian by birth, survived him sixty-four years, being aged eighty-eight years at the time of her decease.
William Ringo was born in the Blue Grass State in 1798, and made his start in life as a mail contractor. He removed to Indiana in 1830 and made his home in the vicinity of Terre Haute, Ind., for eleven years, when he again changed his
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location, this time coming to Missouri. He lo- cated in Adair County, where he owned a good farm. To himself and wife there were born thir- teen children, two of whom died in infancy. Those now living are James T., a retired farmer in Ne- braska; Leah, the widow of Jonathan Ford, is living in Green Castle, Sullivan County, Mo .; Richard M., of this sketch; Elizabeth, the widow of Rev. Mr. Coward, who was a Methodist Epis- copal minister of Nevada, Mo .; Amanda, the wife of Casper Fisher, a farmer of Nebraska. The father of this family died in 1875, at the age of seventy-eight years, while his good wife departed this life in 1856, aged fifty-seven years.
Richard M. Ringo was reared to a full knowl- edge of farm life, and in those early days, when very few of the farmers possessed plows, he turned the primitive soil with a wooden mold board, and harrowed the ground with a home- made machine with wooden teeth. When twenty- four years of age he was elected County Clerk of Adair County, and was therefore compelled to leave the farm and give his attention to the duties of that office. He was the incumbent of the same for a period of six years. On the expiration of that time he was engaged in merchandising, con- tinuing in that business from 1865 to 1873, when he organized the Kirksville Savings Bank, which began operations with a capital of $10,000. He was elected Cashier, which position he has con- tinued to fill. The bank rapidly grew in favor, and, being a reliable institution, was weil patron- ized by the business men and farmers of the county, until to-day its capital stock amounts to $80,000.
December 22, 1869, Mr. Ringo was married to Miss Quintillia T. Haynes, the daughter of Cyrus Haynes, a native of Tennessee. Her father was educated at Princeton, Ky., for the ministry of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church, having for his first charge a congregation at Cherry Grove, Knox County, Ill. He was a noted teacher, and during the years in which he was engaged in teaching had among his students ex-Gov. S. M. Cullom.
To Mr. and Mrs. Ringo there have been born four children, of whom Evelyn Lee died at tlie
age of six years, and Althea, Ethel and Eugenia are at home. Mrs. Ringo and her daughters, Al- thea and Ethel, are members in excellent standing of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church. In poli- tics our subject is a Jeffersonian Democrat, tried and true. He has been Treasurer of Kirksville and Assessor under township organization, and at the present writing is Treasurer of the State Normal School at Kirksville, Mo. Socially he is a Mason of high standing, taking great interest in that order.
A NDREW JACKSON ASBURY. It is safe to say that no one is more popular in Macon County than our subject, who fills the responsible position of Sheriff of the county, discharging the duties of this office with credit to himself and satisfaction to the people. He is a native of Missouri, having been born in Howard County April 22, 1855. He is the son of Thomas and Catherine (Downing) Asbury, natives of Clinton County, Ohio, where the for- mer was born March 4, 1812. Thomas Asbury was the son of Calvin Asbury, whose birth oc- curred in Ohio.
The father of our subject was a farmer all his life. He came to Howard County, this State, in 1838. He removed to Marion County about 1865 and was a resident there for seven years when he came to Macon County. He was widely known in this section as a substantial and pro- gressive tiller of the soil and died within the con- fines of this county January 26, 1888. His wife died January 15, 1885. To them were born nine children, whose names are as follows: William, the eldest son, killed during the late war in the battle of Kirksville, August 14, 1863, being at the time a member of Company A, Ninth Missouri Cavalry; Dennis, a well-to-do farmer of Macon County, died in 1885; Mary, who married James E. Sickles and is living on a farm, this county; Louisa J., the wife of William Neff, an agricultur- ist of this section; Calvin, a soldier and like his brother a member of Company A, Ninth Mis-
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souri Cavalry, died in Howard County in 1864; Margaret E., who married James K. Evans and on his death married A. Billings, departed this life January 4, 1895, in Macon; Milton, who died in early childhood; George W., who is a farmer of this county ; Andrew J., our subject, the young- est member of the parental household. The latter was reared to farm life, but in 1890 camé to Macon City and established himself in the grocery business, carrying on a thriving trade for two years. He then served for a short time on the po- lice force, after which he returned to farm life. His fitness for the special office which he now occupies, however, was noted by his friends, who brought him prominently forward in 1894 as a candidate for the position of Sheriff. His popu- larity in the county is evident from the fact that he was elected by a large majority.
Andrew J. Asbury was married to Jennie B. Fleming February 25, 1877. The lady was the daughter of Richard and Rebecca Fleming, na- tives of Pennsylvania. Mrs. Asbury was born in Blair County, Penn., in 1859 and by her union with our subject became the mother of five chil- dren: Harry W., Frank H., Jesse T., Cline R. and Ruby Kate. The wife and mother died A11- gust 20, 1891, in Macon City. The lady our sub- ject married September 25, 1893, was Ida M., the daughter of John and Mary Vanatten. Mr. Asbury is a member of the Christian Church, having united with that denomination in 1872. In politics he is a stalwart Republican. His father was a Democrat until Buchanan's time, after which he always cast a vote in favor of Republican candidates.
H ON. JACOB H. DICKASON, of Hanni- bal, Mo. Were it only for the present generation that this volume is being com- piled it would be unnecessary to give place on its pages for the worthy citizen whose name is presented above, for he is so well and favorably known among the people that but little can be said of him not already familiar to them. As
history is written for the future so in a large sense is biography, and to preserve in a substan- tial book for one of Hannibal's most honorable townsmen is the object of this memoir.
The Dickason family is of English ancestry, the founder of the line from which our subject is descended coming across the Atlantic in an early day in the history of this county. Alex- ander Dickason, the father of our subject, was born on the eastern shore of Maryland. He was there reared, and while in young manhood went to Armstrong County, Pa., with his wife, whose maiden name was Susan Ford, also a native of Maryland. The husband followed the occupation of a farmer there until 1874, when he turned his face westward and settled in Han- nibal, where his death occurred in 1884. In politics he was a Democrat, and in religious affairs a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church, in the faith of which he was supported by his good wife. She died in 1879. While they lived in Armstrong County, Pa., all their children were born. Of this family all are deceased with the exception of our subject, William M., Marga- ret, Davis H., Milton and James S. They were named respectively, Valentine, Elizabeth, Alex- ander, Jacob H., William M., Margaret, Daniel, David H., Milton, and James S.
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