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 69

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 69
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 69
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 69

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The original of this sketch grew to manhood under the care and guidance of a loving and in- telligent mother, and acquired a fair education in the common schools. Reaching that period in life when he must choose a calling, he entered a flour mill, and devoted himself to the study of engineering. He was then nineteen years of age and spent several years of his life in operat- ing an engine. He then decided to abandon that business and turn his attention to farming, of which venture he has made a signal success.

The marriage of our subject to Miss Rebecca Ann Cartmell occurred December 12, 1876. He thus began with renewed zeal and earnestness to make a success of life and until the spring of 1880, lived on rented land. He then removed to his present fine estate, a portion of which he had purchased in 1873. He is a thoroughly practical farmer and, as the years rolled by and his means would allow, added to his place until now he is the proprietor of three hundred and five acres of some of the most productive land in Pike County.

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PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

To Mr. and Mrs. Rule there has been born a son, Jacob Griffin, a bright lad of nine years. Mr. Rule is an affable and courteous gentleman and commands the respect and esteem of all those about him. He is well known in this vicinity, and is numbered among its best residents. He is one of the directors of the Bank of Louisiana and, socially, has been a member of the Masonic Order since 1868. In his political affiliation he is a sup- porter of Democratic principles and candidates. Religiously he belongs to the Christian Church, to which he is a liberal contributor. His success has not been attained without difficulties, but his life verifies the old belief that everything is possible to the man possessing energy and good judg- ment.

H ARRIET (HARSELL) CLOUSER is one of the honored residents of Fabius Township, Marion County. She is the owner of one hundred and twelve and one-half acres of finely improved farm land in this town- ship, but at present is living at the home of her daughter, Mrs. Walter S. Johnson. She is a native of Mineral County, Va., her birth having occurred May 22, 1827, and for over forty-five years she has dwelt in this community where she is greatly esteemed.

The parents of our subject were Peter and Rachel (Flick) Harsell, likewise natives of the Old Dominion, where they were married. In 1847 they emigrated to this county and here passed the rest of their lives. The father was a school teacher in early life, but after coming to Missouri was not actively engaged in any busi- ness. His death occurred in March, 1871, when he was in his seventy-seventh year, the date of his birth being September 1, 1795. He was a son of Peter and Lucretia Harsell, natives of Ger- many, who crossed the Atlantic and made a permanent home in Virginia. Rachel Harsell, born August 31, 1802, was a daughter of Jacob and Susan Flick, who were also of German birth, and who at an early day took up their abode in Virginia. Mrs. Rachel Harsell died December

31, 1847. She was the mother of twelve children, as follows: Elizabeth, born February 4, 1821, married James Tate, now deceased, and resides on a farm in this county; Susan, born June 20, 1822, is the widow of George Carter, and lives on a farm in this county; Jacob, born November I, 1824, is engaged in managing a farm in Mar- ion County; Harriet is the subject of this narra- tive; Joshua, born March 1, 1829, is engaged in agricultural pursuits in this county; Juliana, born July 25, 1831, was the wife of Wade Hain- line, now living in Illinois; she died in 1879; Peter, born February 24, 1833, is also a resident of Marion County; Amanda, born February 14, 1835, married Alexander Shannon, and lives in St. Charles County, Mo .; John W., born March 31, 1837, is deceased; Zimri, born December 29, 1839, is a farmer near Sedalia, Col .; Elijah, born May 7, 1842, also lives in Marion County, on a farm; Henry H., born July 6, 1845, is an officer in the United States Army, being located at Lewistown, Idaho. These children were all born in Hampshire, now called Mineral County, Va.

Mrs. Harriet Clouser was first married in 1849 to Elisha Fogle, who was born September 23, 1829, in Virginia. His parents were Henry and Lucretia (Harsell) Fogle, natives of the Old Dominion, and who passed their last years in Marion County. Of their children, Keziah, de- ceased, first married Jacob Rice, and later Wil- liam Howard, both now deceased; Juliana wed- ded Abraham Leatherman; John was killed in the late war; Susan is the widow of Richard Ral- eigh; Eliza and Harriet are deceased. Elisha Fogle emigrated to the West in 1848, renting a farm in Marion County and some nine years later purchased a farm of one hundred and twelve and one-half acres, now known as the old Fogle homestead. At the time of his death, which oc- curred November 21, 1881, he was the owner of four hundred and thirty acres of valuable land, which was divided among his wife and two chil- dren. Their only son, James W., was born De- cember 25, 1849, and is a farmer of Fabius Town- ship; Annie V., born March 25, 1853, is the wife of Walter S. Johnson; Rachel M., born July 9, 1856, died in October, 1859.

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PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

October 6, 1888, Mrs. Harriet Fogle became the wife of David B. Clouser. He was a native of Pennsylvania and his death occurred July 12, 1893, at the age of sixty-three years. He was a man of sterling qualities and had hosts of warm friends in this neighborhood. In his political be- lief he was a Republican and never failed to dis- charge his duties as a citizen.

Walter S. Johnson was born in Warren Town- ship, Marion County, April 1, 1843, and married Annie Fogle, daughter of our subject, Febru- ary 19, 1871. Mr. Johnson is a son of Horatio N. and Juliana (Tabor) Johnson, natives of Ne:v York State. They moved to Marion County in 1835 and here passed their remaining days. The former was born July 31, 1809, and died Septem- ber 19, 1877, and his wife, who was born Octo- ber 5, 1811, died April 21, 1865. Their seven children were named as follows: William P., Orson D., Sarah A., Walter S., Elizabeth R., John N., and Tabor T. Walter Johnson learned the carpenter's trade in Philadelphia, Mo., and after reaching his majority, rented various farms in that locality for six years. Then for three years he worked on a salary in this township and for six years after his marriage leased a farm in this vicinity. Afterward, on account of his health, he went to Colorado, where he remained for three years. In 1884, he moved to his present homestead which comprises one hundred and five acres. He and his good wife are members of the Baptist Church. Politically he is affiliated with the Democracy.

R ICHARD A. JACKSON is a well-to-do and energetic agriculturist of Township 56, Range 8, Marion County, his resi- dence being on Section 6. He is a fitting exam- ple of the self-made men of this region, of whom there are many and prominent ones. His only capital in life was a good general education, a few hundred dollars and native characteristics of determination, industry and energy in whatever

he undertook, and thus in time he wrought out for himself a goodly heritage. He has been a lifelong resident of this Township, having been absent from its limits only a few months, and has thus been identified with its development and increasing prosperity.

William P. Jackson, father of our subject, was born in Kent County, Delaware, June 12, 1819, and on reaching man's estate married Emily Sharp, a native of this Township. She died May II, 1849, aged only twenty-three years, and left three children, one of whom died in infancy. Mary E., since deceased, was the wife of John T. Ragland, who is also deceased. Subsequently William Jackson married Sarah F. Taylor, who was born in Kentucky, and is still living in this Township, and a sketch of whom will be found on another page. By this union were born the following children: James W., of Buckland, Mo., engaged in merchandising: John T., who is a farmer in this township; Eliza F., deceased; formerly the wife of Mr. Settles, a farmer of Boone County; Sarah J., who lives with her mother; Emily E., wife of John W. Rouse, a banker of Bucklin; Lula, wife of Alfred Cassa- day, a merchant in Lamar, Mo .; Julius, de- ceased; M. Fannie, a school teacher, living at home; J. Beatrice, who married Dr. W. L. Stamper, a school teacher in Montana; William W., a farmer of Barton County, Mo .; and Annie E., who is also a school teacher and living with her mother. The father of this large family moved to Shelby County, Mo., from Delaware at an early day, and when twenty-five years of age settled in Warren Township, where he passed the remainder of his life. He was a man of good education and taught school for many years in addition to carrying on his farm. For a number of years he served to the satisfaction of all con- cerned in the capacity of Justice of the Peace, and at the end of his busy and useful life was called to his reward, September 7, 1891, aged seventy-three years.

The birth of Richard A. Jackson occurred in Warren Township, this county, November 23, 1843. His boyhood passed quietly on his father's farm, his time being occupied in the usual pur-

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suits of a country lad until he was twenty years of age. He had then completed his course at the District school and entered the Central Col- lege at Fayette. At the end of one term he re- turned home, intending to resume his college course, but on the breaking out of the war was obliged to change his plans. Later he went to Abingdon College in Knox County, Ill., for six months, but on account of sickness was obliged to give up his studies for a time. When he had partially regained his health he obtained a teach- er's certificate, and conducted a school for a year and a half. He was careful and economical, thus being able to lay by a portion of his income, and in 1869 made his first purchase of land, a tract of one hundred and forty acres. For one year he was engaged in the men's furnishing goods busi- ness in Monroe City, but aside from that has given his sole attention to his farm, since becom- ing the owner of his original homestead. By subsequent purchase he has extended its bound- aries until at present it numbers five hundred and forty-five acres.

As his future companion along life's highway Mr. Jackson chose Alice B. Johnson, to whom he was married in this Township in 1874. She is likewise a native of Marion County, having been born November II, 1846, to Dr. Daniel and Frances R. (Graham) Johnson, natives of New York State and Tennessee respectively. Mrs. Johnson, who was born in 1811, departed this life July 22, 1895. She was a woman possessing many amiable qualities, and was beloved by all. Mrs. Jackson is one of nine children and a twin sister of Annie L., who is a school teacher in Covington. Another sister, Cornelia, a resident of the same city, is the wife of Watson Sayers, a merchant. The eldest of the family, Juliet, who was the wife of Isaac L. Owens, a farmer of this Township, has passed to the silent land, as has also the next sister, Delia, who was the wife of John T. Sullivan, now a retired business man of Covington. Henry G., one of two brothers, is a retired merchant of Monroe City, and Susan, the youngest sister, is the wife of James Sullivan, who is engaged in commercial pursuits in Mon- roe City. Daniel, Jr., is a farmer in California.

Dr. Daniel Johnson came to Marion County in 1832, and during his residence here lived in sev- eral sections of the same. He owned a farm and also conducted a large practice in the vicin- ity, and was also a large slave owner. In 1865 he was found a short distance from the depot in Monroe City dead, and it is supposed was killed by a railroad train.

Mr. and Mrs. Jackson have become the par- ents of eight children, namely: Wm. Leaman, born December 22, 1875, died October 22, 1876; Richard Elmo, born February 25, 1877; Juliet, born September 19, 1878; Emily Alberta, born August 3, 1880; Francis Everett, born March 6, 1882; Susan Cornelia, born March 20, 1884; Julius Augustus and Jessie Graham, twins, were born January 13, 1887; Jessie, died October I, 1893. All reside at home. In order to afford them better educational advantages the family reside in Monroe City during the winter season. Our subject and wife are devoted members of the Methodist Episcopal Church, and their names are always to be found on the list of contributors to worthy causes. They are public spirited and take great interest in whatever pertains to the good of the country at large and this locality in particular. Mr. Jackson uses his ballot in favor of Democratic nominees and principles.

E MMET J. CRAWFORD, an industrious young agriculturist, who resides in War- ren Township, is a self-made man. His career may well serve as an example to those younger of what can be accomplished by a man who possesses ambition, energy and good com- mon sense. Mr. Crawford began for himself when attaining his majority and has become prosperous and highly respected through his untiring efforts. . His homestead, which is two hundred and forty acres in extent, is greatly im- proved since he took possession of it.

Our subject was born in Salem Township, Ralls County, this State, December 19, 1864, to

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James D. and Lucetta (Yager) Crawford, na- tives respectively of the above county and Vir- ginia. The father was born November 2, 1836, and Mrs. Crawford's birth occurred in August, 1836. They were married in Ralls County, in February, 1854, and became the parents of five children: Louisa F., is the wife of Samuel J. Melson, representative from Ralls County in the State Legislature; Addison Y., is a farmer of that county ; Emmet J., of this sketch, was the next born; Edward N., is also carrying on farming operations in Ralls County, in which section Albert D. also farms. The father of this family is now living in retirement in Ralls County, where he was for many years an extensive farmer and stock-raiser. He was fairly well educated and takes an active interest in school affairs in his neighborhood. Religiously he is a member of the Baptist Church, and in politics always votes the straight Democratic ticket.

Emmet J. remained under the parental roof until a young man of twenty-one years, and when starting out to seek his own livelihood he first worked by the month at farm labor for two years. He then had saved a sufficient sum of money to enable him to rent a tract of land and for one year he was engaged in its operation. So suc- cessful was he in this undertaking that he pur- chased his present estate and has continued to make it his home ever since.

Mr. Crawford was married April 12, 1888, to Miss Ada Owens, who was born in this county, March 30, 1866. She is the daughter of William L. and Margaret M. (Patton) Owens, natives of Kentucky. Mr. Owens was born in Bourbon County and departed this life July 25, 1885. He was three years of age at the time his parents removed to Hancock County, Ill., where his father's death occurred. In 1848 he came to Marion County with his mother and made this portion of the State his home until his decease. His wife was born in Bourbon County, January 15, 1835, and was the daughter of Hugh and Jane (Nesbeth) Patton, also Kentuckians, in which State they passed their entire lives. To them were born eight children, two of whom died in infancy: Ann, now deceased, married Wil-

liam Layson, who is also dead; Sarah is the de- ceased wife of Andrew Smither; Joseph is a far- mer of Henry County, Mo .; William is farming in Arkansas; Hugh is a farmer of Montrose, Henry County, Mo .; Mrs. Margaret Owens, who was the youngest.

William L. and Margaret (Patton) Owens had no children, the wife of our subject being their adopted daughter, whom they took into their hearts and home when young, and reared as their own. Mrs. Owen makes her home with our subject. In politics he is a Democrat and never fails on election day to cast his ballot for the nominees of that party, to which he has always been loyal. He is known as a man of sterling in- tegrity of character and good business qualifica- tions, and is hence ranked among the substan- tial citizens of the county. To the subject and his wife were born the following children: James E., born October 14, 1888; Mary L., born May 14, 1890; Emmet O., born November 30, 1891; Helen, born June 18, 1894.

J OHN W. PAYNE, who is engaged in gen- eral farming and stock-raising, is one of the enterprising agriculturists of Marion County, and as such is entitled to a place in this volume. His life has been full of adventure and wide experience as for nearly a quarter of a cen- tury he lived in the West, during that time being engaged in mining, farming, prospecting, etc. At length he tired of his unsettled condition and having been fairly successful, returned to Mis- souri and purchased his present farm, adjoining the old homestead. This place is situated on Section 17, Township 58, Range 8, and has been greatly increased in value and desirability by the unremitting efforts of the owner in its improve- ment.

Daniel Payne, one of the worthy old settlers of Fauquier County, Va., and father of the above, was born in that county, January 19, 1795, and on arriving at maturity was married in that State

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PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

to Nancy Hilleary, likewise a native of the Old Dominion. She was born February 14, 1798, and, after surviving her husband many years, was called to her final rest December 9, 1865. In Virginia Mr. Payne had owned slaves, according to the custom of that locality. He was sum- moned to the home beyond, June 29, 1839, and three years afterward his widow moved to Mis- souri, settling in that township with her chil- dren, and in 1842 rented a farm, which she man- aged for three years. Then she purchased one hundred and twenty acres (the tract next to the place now owned by our subject); on this home- stead her death occurred a few years later. Of her seven children, five sons and two daughters, the record is as follows: Ramsdell, born Janu- ary 22, 1822, died March 9, 1888; John W. is our subject; Madison, born July 27, 1827, is a mer- chant and postmaster at Warren, this county; Elizabeth, born August 31, 1830, is the wife of William Hilleary, a farmer of this township; Mary J., born July 24, 1833, married John C. Hil- leary, who died March 28, 1889, and she now re- sides at the home of our subject; Leonidas, born December 16, 1835, also lived with Mr. Payne; and Basil, born April 9, 1839, and a farmer by occupation, is now a resident of Monroe City, Mo.

J. W. Payne, like his parents, is a native of Vir- ginia, his birth having occurred in Fauquier County, June 12, 1824, and there he passed his early years. He came with the family to this State in 1842, and assisted his mother in the cultivation of her new farm until 1852. He had long been desirous to go West with the gold- seekers and now carried his plans into effect. He started with an ox team across the plains, leaving here April 12, 1852, and on the way stopped at Diamond Spring, Cal., for a short time. He went to Placer County and made that locality his headquarters during the twenty-four years which he passed on the Pacific slope. In the spring of 1876 he returned home and has since given his attention to agricultural pursuits. He has never married, having become a confirmed bachelor, while he led his life of adventure and roughed it in California. His education was ob-

tained in the district schools, but his experience in the world and observation have made him a well-informed and liberal-minded man. He is now wealthy and possesses a competence amply sufficient to provide for his needs, but is naturally industrious and thus keeps steadily at work, being interested in the improvement of his farm. He is charitable and kind to the poor, lending a helping hand to others whenever an appeal is made to his benevolence. Politically he is a Democrat, and has always used his ballot in support of the nominees and platform of that party.

J UDGE NIMROD WATERS, of Centre Township, has a nice farm located on Sec- tion 30, of Township 55, Range 5. The family are of Virginia origin, his grandfather, Shelah Waters, being a native of that State, but removing to Tennessee in 1810. He was by oc- cupation a farmer the greater part of his life, but on going to Tennessee he operated a mill. He located in Wilson County, forty · miles east of Nashville. In the great campaign of 1840 Wilson County sent the largest number of two-horse wagons to the great Whig rally at Nashville. Our subject made a visit to the old neighborhood in 1875 and found the old Baptist Church with a membership of over four hundred people, all of whom were said to be related to him. Shelah Waters was a Whig and a member of the Baptist Church. Of his family, William T., who was a soldier in the War of 1812, lived and died in Ten- nessee; George is the father of our subject; She- lah lived and died in Tennessee; Thomas also re- mained in Tennessee.

George Waters, the father of our subject, was born in Virginia in 1795. His early life was spent at home, and what little education he had he se- cured in the schools of that early day. In 1818 he married Polly Clark, daughter of George and Jane Clark, who removed from North Carolina in 1790, when Nashville was only a block-house. She was born in Tennessee in 1800. After his

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marriage he located on a farm and engaged in shipping his own produce from Nashville to New Orleans. Selling his produce in the latter city, he would then walk back to his home. On one occasion a steamboat left New Orleans at the same time he did, and when he arrived at Nashi- ville he saw the same steamboat passing under the bridge over which he was walking. He was a soldier in the War of 1812. About 1826 he com- menced preaching in the Christian Church, hav- ing been converted under the teachings of Barton W. Stone, who was the leading minister in that church.

In 1829, in company with C. Clark, an uncle, he came to Missouri and located in Pike County, near Elk Springs, and later removed to Ralls County. This was during the winter of the deep snow, in 1830-31. He located in Centre Town- ship, entering about 400 acres of land, the original patent being signed by Andrew Jackson, and which is now in possession of our subject. On the southeast quarter of Section 13 he erected his house and at once commenced the improvement of the farm. He was a great Bible student, well versed in Bible lore, and was also a historical student, a fluent speaker and an interesting and successful minister of the Gospel. He continually preached until old age required him to retire. He died in 1869, and his wife in 1846. He was, how- ever, thrice married, his second marriage being with Mary Coontz in 1849. In the year 1859 he was again married to Annie Rowland, now re- siding in Ralls County, Mo. By the first mar- riage there were six children: Nancy, who was thrice married, first to William T. Briggs, then to Will Samuels, and then to John D. Biggs; Nini- rod, our subject; Sallie A., who married B. W. Harris and lived and died in Tennessee; Julia, who married Cortez Jackson, is now located in Denver; Mary, who married G. W. Waters, of Tennessee, and there lived and died; George W., now living in Canton, Mo., is the father of H. J. Waters, Dean of the Agricultural College of the State University of Missouri, and who held a similar position in the State of Pennsylvania. By his second marriage there were five children: Emily, who married Henry C. Wilson, of Ralls

County; Edwin C., now at Vandalia, Mo .; Irene, who married Hugh W. Ogle, of Ralls County; Cornelia, who married James Poor, of Ralls County, and Anna, who married W. H. Cummins.

Nimrod Waters came to Missouri with his par- ents when three years of age. Notwithstanding his early age he remembers some events of his journey and some incidents that occurred before leaving his Tennessee home, among them, cross- ing the river on a horse ferry. The family brought a female slave who was a little older than hini- self, who is now in the family of the brother of our subject, and old "Aunt Wese" is known by every one. The boyhood of our subject was spent on his father's farm, and his primary education was received in the common schools, supplemented by private lessons from his father. In 1834 our subject witnessed the raising in Centre Township of the first schoolhouse, built of round logs, with- out the use of nails. At the age of eighteen he commenced teaching, and taught his first term in the Cold Spring schoolhouse, in his own district. He continued teaching and farming until 1850, when he went to California, making the trip over- land in one hundred and ten days. He did not see a house after he left the Missouri River until his arrival in California. He first located in Ne- vada County, Cal., and remained there a short time, engaged in mining in various portions of the State for fifteen months, being reasonably successful. He returned home by way of Central America and the Mississippi River.

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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 69

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