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 66
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 66
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 66
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out, and was made his own successor for four years. He is a member of the Masonic frater- nity and, religiously, is a working member of the Presbyterian Church, which he has served as deacon for a number of years. In early life he voted for Whig candidates, but now is an uncom- promising Democrat. His estate comprises two hundred and forty-eight acres of excellent land, well stocked with good grades of animals. He is prominent, not only as one of the county's most progressive agriculturists, but as one of its most successful financiers and business men, who has become wealthy by judicious investment and good management of his affairs.
D R. CHARLES J. CHAPMAN, who is one of the leading druggists of Louisi- ana, was born in Urbana, Ohio, June 17, 1856. His parents were John L. and Anna M. (McRae) Chapman, the former of whom was also an Ohioan, born in Zanesville in 1834. He was the son of Charles L. Chapman, whose birth oc- curred in that city and who was the son of Levi, a native of Saybrook, Conn. The last-named gentleman was in a direct line of descent from Robert Chapman, who came from Hull, England, in 1630, settling in Connecticut. Levius, the grandfather of Levi, served as a Captain in the War of the Revolution. Charles, the grandfather of our subject, was engaged for many years in the service of the B. & O. R. R. Company, and de- parted this life in Zanesville. He was also inter- ested in the stoneware business, shipping to New Orleans, La. Levi was an agriculturist, and also died near Zanesville, on the old Chapman home- stead. Charles L. was a strong Abolitionist and was connected with the "underground railroad" of that period. His brother Samuel was a promi- nent attorney of Zanesville, and for many years a member of the Legislature. He died in 1895, in Zanesville, Ohio.
John L., the father of our subject, was inter- ested in a foundry in Zanesville, During the Civil
War he enlisted, at the first call of President Lin- coln, in Zanesville for the three months' service. At the expiration of that time he reënlisted as a member of Company K, Ninety-Seventh Ohio Infantry, Army of the Ohio. He participated in all of the important battles in which his regiment was engaged up to the time of his death, which resulted from wounds he had received in service; he died in the hospital at Nashville, Tenn., Janu- ary 8, 1863. In politics he was a stanch advo- cate of Republican principles. His mother, Mrs. Margaret (Erwin) Chapman, was a native of Bel- fast, Ireland, and descended from a well-known family in that Isle. She became the parent of six children: John L., Samuel, Erwin T., now in Washington, D. C .; George H., engaged in the drug business at Zanesville, Ohio; Mary and Margaret, the latter the wife of Dr. E. A. Jen- nings, of Zanesville.
John L. Chapman was reared to mature years in the above city and acquired a good education in its public schools. He learned the trade of a machinist, and for many years worked in a foun- dry, eventually becoming a member of the Brown, Sullivan Company. His wife, formerly Miss Anna McRae, was a Canadian by birth and the daughter of John and Mary McRae; she is now living with her son, Charles J. Her union with John L. Chapman resulted in the birth of three children: Our subject: Frank M., grocer of Lou- isiana; Mary C., now the wife of C. H. Robertson, same city.
Charles J. Chapman, the subject of this sketch, spent the first thirteen years of his life in Zanes- ville, Ohio, with the exception of the time when the family were in Canada, whither they went dur- ing the war. His education was conducted in the common schools of his native city, and also in Lawrence, Kan., to which place his parents had removed. He was there for five years, during which time he was graduated from the public schools. He afterward read medicine in the of- fice of Dr. M. McConnell, one of the eminent physicians of Lawrence, and then went to Louisi- ana, Mo. He later attended lectures in Cincin- nati, Miami Medical College, after which he went to Carthage, Mo., and engaged in the drug busi-
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ness in partnership with his old preceptor. Sub- sequently, closing out the business there, he went to Louisiana and clerked in the drug store of George Hurd for a period of three years. He then formed a partnership with J. E. Miller in this same line of trade, which lasted for three years; at the expiration of that time (fall of 1885) Mr. Chap- man established his present business, located 'on the corner of Georgia and Third Streets. In ad- dition to a fine stock of medicines he carries a large assortment of paints, oils, wall paper, pic- ture frames, etc. He has been remarkably suc- cessful and is well patronized by the residents of the city and surrounding country.
Dr. Chapman and Miss Jennie A. Thomas were united in marriage September 27, 1882, in Circleville, Ohio. The latter, born in Illinois, was the daughter of Michael and Margaret (Por- ter) Thomas, natives of Ohio, whence they re- moved later to the Prairie State. They afterward came to Louisiana, where the father died and Mrs. Thomas then returned to Ohio with her two children. To the doctor and his wife have been born five children: Anna M., Charles Judson, Jr., Edward Petrie, Ada May, and Babe, who died in infancy. Mr. Chapman was called upon to mourn the loss of his beloved wife, who died August 2, 1892. She was a devoted wife and mother, and a member in excellent standing of the Methodist Episcopal Church.
In politics Mr. Chapman is a Republican. He was a Deputy Internal Revenue Collector under President Harrison for the First District of Mis- souri, serving from May, 1890, to 1894. He was elected a member of the City Council in 1894 from the Third Ward, and is Chairman of the Or- dinance and member of the Police Committee. He is very active in politics and is Secretary of the Republican County Central Committee, and also a member of the City Central Committee. He was delegate to the Republican State Convention of League Clubs, also to the State Convention held at Excelsior Springs in 1894, and was alter- nate to the Convention of National League Clubs at Denver, Col., in 1893. He has also been a delegate to the State Convention of Republican League Clubs at Springfield, held in 1893, and a
delegate to the Congressional Convention at St. Charles, which nominated the present member of Congress from the Ninth District. He is Chairman of the Township Committee, and was Chairman of the Pike County Republican Con- vention in 1894, also Chairman of the City Con- vention, 1894. He belongs to the I. O. O. F., and is also a K. of P., belonging to Anchor Lodge, of Louisiana. He has rendered efficient service on the School Board for several years, and is altogether one of the most progressive, prominent and influential citizens of the county.
OHN H. KEMPF is a worthy representative of a thrifty and sturdy German family and is one of the most loyal citizens of Fabius Township, Marion County. A man who attends strictly to his own business affairs, he has become well-to-do as an agriculturist and has won the respect of all with whom he has come in contact, whether in a business or social way. He is strict- ly upright and just in his treatment of his fellow- men and strives to put into daily practice the faith which he professes as a member and Deacon in the Lutheran Church.
The birth of our subject occurred in Union Township, Marion County, November 20, 1860. His parents were Casper and Caroline (Waggon- er) Kempf, natives of Germany, who emigrated to the United States and became identified with the upbuilding of this county, where they are still living. Young Kempf was given the benefits of a district-school education, to which he has since added by judicious reading and keen habits of observation. In the home of his boyhood he was a dutiful son and always tried to lighten the duties of his parents in every possible way, in return for which he received instruction in practical matters and in his conduct toward others, which have proved invaluable to him in later life.
When about twenty-four years of age Mr. Kempf was married, at the home of the bride's father, Fred Vopel, to Elizabeth, who was born in Palmyra in 1866. This marriage took place
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November 20, 1884, and four children have come to brighten their home: Mary C., born October 7, 1885; Caroline F., born July 23, 1886; Dora E., born April 7, 1893; Herman Christian, born February 5, 1895. Mrs. Kempf's father is a thrifty and successful farmer of this county, to which he immigrated from his native land, Germany, many years ago.
Soon after his marriage in 1884 Mr. Kempf pur- chased his present farm on Section 30, the place comprising two hundred acres, and well adapted for raising a general line of crops or live-stock. The homestead is improved with good buildings, fences, etc., and would command a large sum if placed on the market. Since becoming a voter our subject has cast his ballot in favor of the can- didates and platform of the Republican party, and keeps well posted on the political situation and is well informed on current events.
R OBERT M. SPALDING is a wealthy and influential citizen of Clay Township, Ralls County, and is proprietor of the famous health resort, Spalding's Springs. He erected a hotel in 1886 and has since put up several cot- tages on the shores of a beautiful little lake which covers three acres or more. Accommodations have been made for one hundred guests, and everything possible provided for their entertain- ment and pleasure. The springs have long been known in this portion of the State to possess un- usual medicinal properties, and in July, 1887, Dr: Lee Harrison, of Peoria, Ill., chemist for the American Glucose Company, analyzed the waters and found them to contain magnesia, sulphur, iron, salt and pure hydrogen gas. The same au- thority states that these ingredients are almost identical with those of the waters of the celebrated Blue Lick Springs of Kentucky, and at the same time are not so offensive to the taste or smell. The springs were drilled to a depth of three hun- dred feet by William Muldron in 1820, and a three-inch stream pours forth continually. Spald- ing's Springs are situated about four miles south
of Rensselaer, on the M., K. & T. R. R., some twelve miles west of Hannibal. Guests are pro- vided with free use of boats and bath house privi- leges.
R. M. Spalding is a native of Marion County, Ky., born November 6, 1822, to Benjamin A. and Matilda (Hager) Spalding. The former, a native of what was then known as Washington County, Ky., died in 1873, aged seventy-five years. His father, John A., who was born in Maryland, emi- grated to Kentucky soon after the Revolutionary War, in which he participated. He was wounded in the service and for the remainder of his life was a cripple. His family comprised seven chil- dren, only two of whom, Benjamin A. and his youngest half-brother, came to Missouri. Ma- tilda Spalding was born in Marion County, Ky., her parents being James and Monica (Fenrick) Hager, who were from Hagerstown, Md. They were the parents of the following children: Rob- ert, James, Hatton, John, Elizabeth, Matilda, Mil- dred and Louisa. With the exception of Mildred, Robert and John, who died in Monroe County, they all departed this life in Ralls County. The marriage of Benjamin A. Spalding and wife oc- curred in Marion County, Ky., and in 1828 they settled in Saline Township, Ralls County, there engaging in farming as long as they lived. The father was Justice of the Peace and Constable for many years and in the neighborhood of his honie was jocularly termed "Father of the Democracy." He was a member of the Catholic Church, in which faith he died, regretted by a large circle of friends.
The subject of this sketch is one of ten children, the others being Thomas A., a farmer and stock- raiser of Saline Township; Zerelda, deceased, for- merly the wife of George W. Whitecotton, who is retired from business and a resident of New Lon- don, Mo .; William, who is in the furniture busi- ness in Paris, Monroe County, Mo .; James was killed during the war; John died in Texas; Emer- ine is deceased; Benjamin S. is a retired merchant of Waxahatchie, Texas; Eliza J. and Edward are deceased.
When but six years of age Robert M. Spalding came to Missouri with his parents, his cousin,
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Robert Spalding, and his uncle, John Hager, and Clement and Leonard Green. They settled in a log cabin west of the present home of our sub- ject, whose father entered a quarter section of land near Sidney, buying the improvements already on the place. Subsequently the latter made five or six trips on horseback to his old home in Kentucky. When he had reached. his majority young Spalding started forth to make his own way in the world, being employed for some time as a carpenter, and for a year worked in the lead mines of Wisconsin. On his return home he once more turned his attention to car- pentering, making a specialty of putting up cabins for emigrant settlers and thinking himself well off if he could make fifty cents a day.
In the spring of 1848 Mr. Spalding rented a farm in this township, and two years later pur- chased two hundred acres of unimproved land, a portion of his present homestead, on which he has since resided. From time to time he invested in · more land, until he once owned fifteen hundred acres, but has since disposed of a portion, though still retaining one thousand acres. He is an en- terprising business man, largely self-educated, and possesses that industry and thriftiness which insures success. He was reared in the Catholic faith, and in his political relations is a Democrat.
In this county Mr. Spalding was married in February, 1847, to Minerva, daughter of Thomas P. and Rachel (Robinson) Norton. The father was born in South Carolina and the mother in Hancock County, Ky., in which their marriage was celebrated in 1812. Three years later they emigrated to Illinois, but in a few months located in Pike County, Mo., settling on Sugar Creek, near Frankford. When three years had elapsed they came to this county, the journey being made on pack horses. Their first settlement was near Hydesburg, where they remained until 1819, then permanently locating on what is now known as the old Norton place in Centre Township. They were both members of the Baptist Church, and were upright, honest citizens. Mr. Norton died in February, 1848, aged fifty-eight years, and his wife, who reached the same age, departed this life January 12, 1850. Mrs. Spalding was born in
Ralls County, August 20, 1826, and to herself and husband have come three sons and seven daughters, of whom the four eldest are deceased, namely: Douglas P., Inez, Rachel J. and an in- fant, the last three named having died in infancy. Judith A. is the wife of Columbus Alexander, a farmer of this township; Norton F. is deceased; Rollie resides with her parents; Sterling P. is a farmer of this locality; Babe is still at home, and Minnie died in infancy.
C HARLES CHRISTIAN MYERS is an old and representative farmer of Marion County and owns a tract of desirable land comprising nearly five hundred acres. His home is on a farm of one hundred and thirty acres situated three miles and a half east of Palmyra, and this he manages with the assist- ance of two of his sons. He is still hale and hearty, having been blessed with a good constitu- tion, which he has not impaired in any way by bad habits or abnormal living.
Our subject's paternal grandparents were John Christian and Fredericka (Shry) Myers, natives of Germany, and who passed their entire lives in that country. Our subject's parents, John Jacob and Frances.(Conrad) Myers, were both natives of Wurtemburg, and their family num- bered fourteen children. Eight of these died in infancy and one when only ten years of age, while the family was still living in Germany. One son, Jacob, who was born October 28, 1824, emigrated to America about 1845, and served for three years in the Mexican war, and after being honorably discharged received as a bounty a quarter section of land in Pennsylvania. He married Fredericka Benkether, who died many years ago, leaving two children; John Christian, born January 29, 1827, crossed the Atlantic in 1848 with his parents. He first married Margret Koelbinger, by whom he had ten children, and then took for his wife, Helen Haden, who also bore him two children; Frances, born in Feb-
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ruary, 1845, became the wife of Isaac Schuyler, now of Bowling Green, O., and has seven chil- dren; August F., born in October, 1848, has never married. The father of these children died at the home of our subject March 12, 1868, and his widow survived until September, 1876. They were interred in the cemetery at Palmyra.
C. C. Myers was born in Wurtemburg, Ger- many, November 5, 1829, and was well educated in his mother tongue. He was in his seventeenth year when he came to the United States and set- tled in Pennsylvania, where he lived for seven- teen or eighteen years. About 1865 he came to Marion County and purchased the farm on which he has ever since resided. April 6, 1854, his marriage with Barbara, daughter of Anton and Barbara Koelblinger was celebrated. Mrs. Myers was born in Bavaria, Germany, October 20, 1835, and there passed the first sixteen years of her life. She came to seek a home in the new world with her parents, who located in the Key- stone State, where the mother died in 1858.
Mr. and Mrs. Myers have had ten children. Charles William, born July 11, 1856; in Har- mony, Pa., married in 1879 Katie Stark, by whom he had three children. He died January 10, 1886, and his widow survived him until Novem- ber, 1892, then being placed by his side in the Palmyra cemetery; Caroline, born September 29, 1858, in Harmony, was married April 10, 1884, to Alexander Garletts of Coatsburgh, Ill., and has five children; Mary, born October 16, 1860, died September 5, 1863; and Elizabeth, born March 14, 1862, died March 14, i864; Sarah, who was the first of the family born in Missouri, the date of that event being January 20, 1866, is still living at home. Elizabeth, born December 9, 1867, died September 28, 1877; Annie, born November 6, 1869, became the wife of Frank Mahon, of this county, in March, 1893; Barbara, born Oct. II, 1871, and Benjamin, born November 8, 1873, are both unmarried; Joseph Myers, the fifth of the family, was born in Penn- sylvania December 18, 1863, and came to Mis- souri with his parents when only two years of age. He was educated in the public schools and continued to live on the home farm until he was
thirty-two years of age. February 26, 1895, he married Lizzie, daughter of James and Mary Finnigan.
In 1853 Mr. Myers purchased his first land, a tract of thirty acres lying in Butler County, Pa., but a few months later sold out and came west to this county, with whose prosperity he has since been identified. He and his wife are ad- herents of the Lutheran Church, to which their entire family belong, following the example of their ancestors on both sides. In politics Mr. Myers is an ally of the Republican party. Mrs. Myers' father was born in 1798 in Germany, and on reaching his majority married Barbara Wagner. Their second daughter, Margaret, married John C. Myers, of Honeywell, Mo .; John, the eldest son, served about three years in the Fourth Pennsylvania Cavalry, and after being held a prisoner at Andersonville returned home, but to die; Fred died at the age of six- teen years with typhoid fever; Caroline married Charles Gibson, by whom she had two children, and later married Linheart Moyk, and by this union had three children. She was a third time married, her last husband being Joseph Greas- icer; Katie married Conrad Bentrun, of Burling- ton, Ia., and had twelve children, one of whom is deceased; Elizabeth died unmarried; Andrew, who was born in Harmony, Pa., lived for a year in Missouri and afterward died in Montana; Joseph, also born in Harmony, lived for a year in Missouri after reaching his majority, and then went to Nebraska, where he was married and has since resided. The father of these children died in March, 1860, and his wife departed this life in November, 1858.
AMES W. JACKSON, deceased, was one of the honored citizens of Marion County up to the time of his death, which oc- curred in February, 1881. In 1858 he moved to the farm known as the Sharp Homestead, for- merly owned by his wife's father. It is situated on Section 3, Township 56, Range 8, and has
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been in the family for sixty years. The small village in the vicinity is called Sharpsburg, and during the lifetime of the Rev. Richard Sharp had the distinction of having a postoffice, but this has since been discontinued.
Mr. Jackson was born in Delaware November 24, 1825, being a son of Julius and Elizabetli (Walls) Jackson. The former, likewise a native of Delaware, died in Shelby County, Mo., in 1847, aged fifty-six years. His wife, also of Dela- ware nativity, died September 23, 1825, when but twenty-five years of age. They were the parents of two children, the elder of whom, William P., is deceased. After his first wife's death, Julius Jackson married Miss Mary Grif- fith, who was born in Delaware April 22, 1808, and died February 9, 1846. Their three children are deceased, and in order of birth were as fol- lows: Elizabeth, who married Dr. Franklin, now of Shelby County, Mo .; Eliza, and Julius A., Jr.
James W. Jackson first landed in this county in 1838, settling in Warren Township, and later moved to Shelby County, Mo., where his parents lived until death called them from their labors. In 1848, when he was twenty-four years of age, our subject was married and began housekeep- ing on a farm in this township, where he and his wife resided for two years. The next three years were spent on another farm in this county after which they moved to the old homestead on which Mrs. Jackson is now living. Mrs. Jackson was a daughter of the Rev. Richard and Rebecca (Enix) Sharp, and was born in Shelby County, Ky., May 25, 1828. Seven chil- dren came to bless the home of Mr. and Mrs. Jackson, namely: William R., who is cashier in the Farmers' and Merchants' Bank of Monroe City; Mary E., deceased; James B., a merchant of Monroe City; Emily E., wife of Frank Dim- mitt, Circuit Clerk in Shelbyville, Mo .; Edwin A., a farmer of this township; Thomas C., who is living with his mother on the old farm; and Christian S., the proprietor of two hundred and sixty acres of fine land in Ralls County.
The birth of the Rev. Richard Sharp occurred in Albemarle County, Va., May II, 1787. He
was married in Kentucky to a lady of that State and of their union were born a son and four daughters, namely: Thomas, who is engaged in farming in Monroe County, Mo; Nancy, widow of Daniel Stewart, of the same county; Emily, deceased, who was the wife of William Jackson, since deceased; Sarah E., widow of our subject; and Susan F., widow of John Hay- den, now making her home with Mrs. Sarah E. Jackson. The mother of these children was born February 26, 1793, and died in September, 1828. The father had previously married Eliza- beth Row, a native of Virginia, and had the fol- lowing children: James, William, Mrs. Elizabeth Williams, John A., and Temperance, who mar- ried George A. Rucker, of California. These children have all been called to the better land. The Rev. Mr. Sharp moved to Monroe County, Mo., with ten of his children, settling near Mad- ison, where he remained for a year. He then purchased a farm near Palmyra during the chol- era epidemic, but later returned to the old resi- dence and continued to dwell there for another year. Afterward he bought the farm now owned by Mrs. Jackson, and here passed the rest of his life. He was a very prominent man during his life and was a local minister in the Methodist Episcopal Church. Politically he was a thor- oughgoing Democrat. His death occurred Feb- ruary 4, 1850, his loss being deeply mourned by the early settlers and the many sincere friends he had won by his manly and honorable conduct in life.
P ERRY COLEMAN is a native of Alle- gany County, N. Y., born March 6, 1821, and is the son of John and Elsa (Green) Coleman. His father was a native of Montreal, Canada, where he remained until thir- ty years of age, when he went to New York in company with his parents. He remained with his mother until his marriage, and then went to farming, which he continued about thirty years, moving thence to Whiteside County, Ill., when
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he again engaged in farming and remained twelve years. He then came to Marion County and lived with our subject until his death in 1878, at the age of eighty-seven years. In politics he was a Whig, and religiously, his connection was with the Presbyterians. His wife, the mother of our subject, was a native of New York. She died in 1887 at the age of ninety-three years. To John and Elsa Coleman, the following named children were born: William, deceased; Perry, our subject; Sallie and Almira, deceased; Betsy, now residing in Whiteside County, Ill .; Hester, wife of Martin Hathaway, a farmer of Marion County.
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