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 80
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 80
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 80
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The original of this sketch was one of a family of seven children, of whom Sidney was the eldest. The others were named respectively Marion, Frank, George, Oliver, the twin of George, Loren, and Alice. They were all edu- cated in the common schools of the County and are now well established in life.
Our subject when twenty-one years of age began the struggle of life on his own account, and for the first two years thereafter was engaged in farming with his father. He was very indus- trious and economical, and at the end of that time was the possessor of a snug little sum of money. September 22, 1871, he was married to Miss Laura Brooks, who was born in Ohio in November, 1849. Her parents were John T. and Priscilla (Leach) Brooks, also born in that State, whence they came to Marion County, Mo., about 1881. They are still residents of this locality, and occupy a good farm near that of our subject.
After his marriage Mr. Oviatt removed to Henry County, Iowa, where he remained a few years engaged in farming on a tract of fifty-three acres which he had purchased. In 1882, how- ever, we find him living in this county, occupy- ing what was known as the Gullion farm. He was a renter of this property for three years, when he removed to another tract and also oper- ated it as a renter for the same length of time. After the expiration of this time he returned with his family to Henry County, Iowa, and for the three years following was a farmer of that county. Being convinced at this time that Missouri was by far the better farming region, he again be- came a resident within its bounds, this time pur- chasing the farm on which he is now residing. This tract is forty acres in extent, and although not as large as some in the vicinity, is cultivated in such a manner that it yields its owner a good income. It was all timber land when he took
possession, but it now bears the best of improve- ments in the way of buildings and the needful machinery, and Mr. Oviatt is regarded as one of the most progressive and influential men of the neighborhood.
To our subject and his wife there have been born three children, Carl, William, and Minnie. They are intelligent and well educated, and the sons are of great assistance to their father in carrying on the farm work. Mr. Oviatt is a stanch supporter of Democratic principles, and both he and his wife are devoted members of the Presbyterian Church, in which they take an act- ive part.
A NDREW J. RICE, residing on Section 24, Township 56, Range 5, known as Center Township, was born in Garrard County, Ky., March 1, 1820. He is of German ancestry, his grandfather, Andrew Rice, being a native of Germany, who came to the United States and located in Garrard County, Ky., at a very early day. He purchased there a large tract of land about twenty-five miles south of Lexington and midway between Lancaster and Danville. This was one of the best farms in that county, and here he built one of the finest stone houses in that sec- tion, it being of the best stone, of variegated color. Here he engaged in planting and distilling. In politics he was a Whig. He died on this farm and his remains were' interred in the Fork Church cemetery. His wife died in Indiana, where she lived with her daughter, and where her remains were interred. Their children were Jacob, who lived and died in Garrard County; John, wlio moved to Floyd County, Ind .; Isaac, who located first in Illinois and later in Ralls County, Mo., where he died; George, the father of our subject; Joseph, who came to Ralls County in an early day and has since died; Absalom, who left home when a boy and was never again heard from; David, who located in Ralls County, but in the gold excitement went to California and there died; Mary, who married Isaac Fleckner; Eliza-
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beth, who married Charles Rice, who was, how- ever, no relative, moved to Ralls County.
George Rice, the father of our subject, was born on the old farm in Garrard County, Ky., and there grew to manhood, receiving such educa- tion as the schools of that time afforded. He never left the home place until late in life. He married Elizabeth Smith, daughter of Jesse and Nancy (Byers) Smith. She was also a native of that county, while her parents were natives of Virginia. Nine children were born to theni: Nancy, who married John Polk and moved near Danville, Ky .; Mary, who married John Marks- bury and came to Missouri with her parents : her husband went to California and there died; she re- mained in Missouri and married William Wasson; Andrew J., the subject of this sketch; Elizabeth, who married Daniel O. Pollard, removed to Mis- souri where, after his death, she married R. N. Leek, who was killed during the war; she then married Nelson Griggs, who is now deceased; Jesse, who went to California with his father and was ambushed and killed by the Indians; he mar- ried, a few days before leaving Missouri, Martha Smith; Jacob went to California and there mar- ried Miss Glascock and moved to Montana, where he represented his county in the Legislature and was killed by the Indians; George, who died in childhood; Barbara, who came to Missouri, married Henry E. McCune and moved to Cali- fornia, where she still lives: Sarah. who married Nathaniel T. Williams in Missouri and moved to California, where she now resides.
On the death of his father and the division of the estate George Rice came into possession of the homestead. He also purchased the interest of the other heirs and conducted the farm as his father before him had done, operating a distillery and carrying on general farming. He remained in Kentucky until the spring of 1845, when he sold out and removed to Ralls County, Mo., lo- cating in Spencer Township, where he first pur- chased three hundred and twenty acres of land and, after that, other tracts for his children. Here he engaged in farming until 1850, when he went to California on a prospecting tour, engaging in mining for a time and afterward in farming. He
was so well pleased with the country that he never left the State, but sent for his wife, who joined him two years later, and both have since died there.
Andrew J. Rice, the subject of this sketch, passed his early life on the home farm in his na- tive State, receiving but a limited education in the district schools. He remained with his father until his marriage, which occurred November 16, 1848, when he married Susan K. Smelser, a daughter of Peter and Martha (McConnell) Smel- ser. She was a native of Bourbon County, Ky., of which her father and mother were also na- tives. After his marriage Mr. Rice bought two hundred and fifty acres of land on Spencer Creek, in Jasper County, on which he moved and where he remained seven years ; he then bought the place where he now resides, which consisted of one hundred and sixty acres. He added to this from time to time until he now owns four hundred and twenty acres. He followed general farming and stock-raising, being principally engaged in the raising of mules and jacks. Many a head of stock from his farm has been taken to California, and his stock is known throughout the whole State. While generally successful in all business mat- ters, he has met with some misfortunes. In 1890 he became one of three bondsmen for a friend in the sum of forty thousand dollars. His friend not paying the note, his farm and personal property were seized by the Sheriff and sold to pay the de- ficiency, amounting to about five thousand dol- lars. However, he arranged to meet the obliga- tion and regained his property.
Mr. and Mrs. Rice are members of the Baptist Church, with which he has been connected since eighteen years of age. He has been a Master Mason for forty years, and has filled all the chairs in the Blue Lodge. He has been a Royal Arch Mason for twenty years, and is now King in the Chapter.
Eight children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Rice, five of whom are living. The first child died in infancy; George, now living a retired life, was for four years Sheriff of Ralls County; John, who is single, remains at home; Mary, wife of George Flowerree, of Ralls County; Rhoda, who
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first married T. Briscoe and is now the wife of William Benedict, of Ralls County; Roy, who married Malia Smith, now resides in the Town of Center, following agricultural pursuits; Jo- anna, now deceased; an infant son, unnamed.
For several years Mr. Rice has suffered irom partial loss of sight, and for three years has been unable to read. He has consulted oculists of St. Louis and Kansas City, but has received no benefit. No family in Ralls County is more greatly esteemed than that of the subject of this sketch.
N ATHANIEL B. SUTTON. We present a pleasing picture of advanced age after a well-spent and prosperous life. Mr. Sutton can look back upon the years that intervene between childhood and age and live over in memory all the joys and triumphis that crowned an effort to benefit seli and neighbors at the same time. True, he has experienced the usual amount of "ups and downs" that come al- most invariably to a busy career, but on the whole he and his good wife have known much of success and happiness. This is in a great measure due to the fact that they have passed their days in peace, free from the dissipations and vexations of the gay world. Mr. Sutton was born in Spencer Township, Pike County, where he is now residing. February 2. 1827, and is the son of John and Eliza (Rackeba) Sutton. The father was a native of Bourbon County. Kv .. and was born on Christmas Day. 1792: he died in 1883. He was the son of Nathaniel Sutton, a native of Virginia. The grandfather passed away in the Blue Grass State, after which event his widow came to Missouri and settled in Boone County, where her son was living, with whom she made her home for the remainder of her life. dying at the advanced age of ninety years.
On his mother's side our subject is also de- scended from Virginians, for she was born in the Old Dominion, emigrating to Ralls County, Mo .. with her mother and stepfather. She was born
in August, 1806, and lived until September, 1889. Her father, William Rackeba, was a native of Virginia, in which State he died. Mrs. Rackeba afterward married Jacob Lewellen, with whom she came West, and for the remaining years of their lives they followed agriculture in Missouri.
John and Eliza Sutton were married in Ralls County in 1824 and to them were born thirteen children, six sons and seven daughters, as fol- lows: Susan, now deceased, was the wife of Jar- vis Gentle, a farmer of Spencer Township; Na- thaniel B., our subject; Clara J. and William, de- ceased; George, iarming in California; Marion A., married to Gabriel Hostetter, a farmer of Peno Township, Pike County; Joe A., likewise engaged in the Golden State; Cynthia, married to John Lewellen, is a resident of Audrain County. Mo .; Victoria, widow of A. James, for- merly a farmer and stock-raiser of this county; Dellia, deceased. was the wife of William Joha- son, also dead; John A., practicing medicine in California: George A., farming in California. which State is also the home of Pleasant C., who is similarly employed.
The father of these children was a farmer of prominence in Pike County, and also derived a good income from the manufacture of chairs. He was never an office-holder, but as an upright citi- zen was justly deserving of the respect conierred uopn him as a useful member of the community.
In IS51 Mr. Sutton married Miss Polly Brice. who was born in this township. October 19. 1834. and died March 13. 1865. To them were born eight children: John and William, deceased: Samuel, a farmer in Audrain County. Mo .: Eugene. a farmer of Nebraska, and Treasurer oi Chase County: Erastus, died in infancy: Susanna. deceased: Jefferson D., farming in Audrain County; Robert L .. a prominent attorney of Lin- coln County. Mo.
Our subject chose for his second wife. Miss Dazrine Grafford, who was born in Macon County. Mo., July 28. 1849. She was the daugli- ter oi Elza and Margaret (Thomas) Grafford, highly respected residents of this section. The union of Mr. and Mrs. Sutton was celebrated June 25. 1868, and their ten children are named as fol-
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lows: Addie, George E. and Willie, at home; Abbie L., wife of George Reading, a farmer of this township; Olie, died in infancy; Maude, wife of Frank Reading; Maggie, died when young, as did also Gracie; James B. and Mary V., with their parents.
When twenty-four years old our subject left home and began the battle of life for himself. His first step was to rent a farm; after managing this for two years he purchased a quarter section of land, which he was ten years in clearing from debt. He had been reared by a farmer and his knowledge of the industry of farming was worth a great deal to him and was in a great measure the secret of his marvelous success. He soon owned three hundred and sixty acres, of which he has retained two hundred and sixty-six acres in his present farm. He is truly self-made, and his handsome competence has been acquired by the sweat of his brow. He has never aspired to hold office, though he is greatly interested in public affairs and especially so in the success of the Democratic party. He is an active member of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church, and with his good wife is highly esteemed by those who know them for their consistent and useful lives.
J AMES H. C. BONDURANT is a retired farmer and stock-raiser of Spencer Town- ship, Pike County. He is a native and one of the pioneers of this township, where he has passed his entire life with the exception of two years, when he operated a farm in Indiana. For many years he was a School Director and has held other local offices of more or less importance.
Our subject's father, Ephraim M., born in 1800, died in 1885. In early days he emigrated to Ken- tucky with his parents, Joseph and Elizabeth (Davis) Bondurant, likewise natives of the Old Dominion. The former was a farmer and was also a practicing physician. About 1831 Ephraim M. Bondurant removed to Pike County, and within its limits passed the remainder of his life,
with the exception of two years spent in Indiana. He married Jane West, who was born in Ken- tucky and whose death occurred in 1883 at the age of seventy-two years. She was a daughter of William and Mariah (Vant) West, natives of Vir- ginia, who moved to Kentucky and thence to Indiana. Mr. West was a farmer and a cabinet maker by trade. The marriage of our subject's parents was blessed with six sons and six daughters: William, deceased; Joseph, a farmer of this township; Elizabeth, widow of G. W. Swain of Bates County, Mo .; Serelda, deceased, wife of T. Kindred, a stock-dealer of this place; J. H. C., of this sketch; George T., a farmer of Audrain County, Mo .; Mariah and Rebecca, de- ceased; Ben F., a farmer of this township; Jeffer- son N., a merchant of Vandalia, Mo .; Susan A., deceased, and Sarah W., who died in infancy.
The birth of our subject occurred February 18, 1835, and his boyhood passed happily on his father's farm in this township. On reaching his majority the young man set forth to paddle his own canoe and obtaining a position with a neigh- bor worked at $12 to $15 per month for about two years. He then rented a farm for the same length of time and having laid aside a sufficient sum of money purchased a tract of land which he im- proved. After living on the homestead for nearly twenty-five years he traded it for another farm, and there continued to dwell for about seven years, since when he moved to his present home of fourteen acres, which joins Curryville.
In 1862 Mr. Bondurant married Ellen R. Lacy, who was born in Pike County in 1837. Her parents were Jonathan and Lydia (Barbe) Lacy, natives of Tennessee, who came to this county about 1835. They passed the remainder of their lives on their farm in Spencer Township, the father dying in 1847, aged forty-three years and the wife in 1863. Their only son, Abraham, is deceased; Susan is the widow of William Bon- durant of this township; Catherine married William Ayres, a farmer of this vicinity, and Martha, became the wife of Joseph Bondurant. To our subject and wife have been born two daughters, Alice J. and Ollie B. The elder mar- ried J. N. Pace, a merchant of Curryville. The
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young couple have three children, Mary I., Joseph L. and Grace B. The younger daughter of our subject is unmarried and resides with her parents.
During the war Mr. Bondurant served for six months and seven days in Company E, Mounted Infantry of the South, under General Price, and took part in the battles of Lexington and Pea Ridge. He was honorably discharged and left the service at Van Buren, Ark. Politically hie uses his right of franchise in favor of the Demo- cratic party. He is a member of the Baptist Church, in good standing and Mrs. Bondurant is a faithful member of the Presbyterian Church.
T HOMAS JEFFERSON NALLEY, one of the representative farmers and stock- raisers of this county, was born on the same farm where he now makes his home, Janu- ary 27, 1856. He was the youngest member of the parental family, which included eight chil- dren, born to James S. and Elizabeth M. (Rector) Nalley, of whoni two survive. These are Charles William Davenport and Thomas Jefferson, of this sketch.
James Simpson Nalley was born in Virginia, June 7, 1812. There he grew to manhood and became a farmer, to which occupation he had been trained.
Elizabeth M. Nalley was born in the Old Do- minion April 11, 1820. She was the daughter of Vincent and Artimacy (Bowie) Rector, who for years were old and honored residents of Virginia. There she grew to noble womanhood and met and married the father of our subject, February 23, 1841. Her father was born August 21, 1782, and followed an agricultural life. He came to Missouri in an early day and located in Pike County, where the remaining years of his life were passed. His wife was born September 25, 1784, and was married to Vincent Rector on Christmas Day, 1809. She died October 20, 1843.
The subject of this sketch grew to manhood
under the parental roof and acquired his educa- tion in the common schools. His father died when he was nineteen years of age, and thus early in life he assumed the management of the home farm of two hundred and forty acres, on which he has continued to reside.
Hezekiah, the paternal grandfather of our sub- ject, was born in Halifax County, Va., June 17, 1781. His death occurred May 12, 1861. He came to Pike County in 1840 from Virginia, and settled on the subject's present homestead, where he remained for the balance of liis days. He served in the War of 1812. Hezekiah was the son of Aaron and Sallie (Bozzile) Nalley, who were natives of England and emigrated to the United States in early days, where they remained the rest of their lives, dying at a ripe old age. Hezekiah was married to Susanna Bowie April 22, 1810, in Virginia, where she was born Feb- ruary 22, 1791.
Mr. Nalley was married October II, 1876 to Miss Clarissa Duffie Bryson, the daughter of William and Eliza A. Bryson, a sketch of whom the reader will find on another page in this work. Mrs. Nalley is a woman of many personal and in- tellectual charms, and her pleasing manners and sunny disposition endear her to all who have the pleasure of her acquaintance.
To our subject and his wife there have been born three children, namely: James William, whose birth occurred October 12, 1877; Thomas J., February 15, 1880, and Annie, February 27, 1887. Mr. Nalley is a thoroughly practical farmer and his progressive spirit has placed him in the front rank among the substantial agriculturists of the county. He has been for a number of years a breeder of blooded stock, and in connection with this industry has gained an enviable repu- tation.
His residence is a commodious and pleasant building and its location is one of the most de- sirable in this section. He is an affable and cour- teous gentleman, hospitable and kind, and com- mands the respect and esteem of all who know him. In his political affiliation he is a stanch supporter of the Democratic party and its prin- ciples, and in religion he and his wife are mem-
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bers of the Presbyterian Church. He is a liberal contributor to all worthy enterprises and justly deserves an honored place among the representa- tive citizens of Pike County.
I SAAC NEWTON BRYSON is one of the oldest living pioneers of Pike County, and is now living a retired life in Louisiana, Mo. He came with his parents in 1816, to what was then the territory of Missouri, the father pre- empting land in Pike County, which is now the site of Louisiana. Our subject has continuously made his home in that place for the past sixty- four years, and has seen it advanced from a tiny village to the large and thriving place which it is today. Though he has never cared for official honors he served for several years as a member of the City Council. During the war he firmly maintained the supremacy of the Government and was an ardent Union man.
Our subject was born on a farm near York- ville, S. C., February 13, 1809, being a son of John and Elizabeth (Craig) Bryson. His brothers and sisters are named as follows: Will- iam, Mary E. Venable, Catharine Brown, and Martha Jane Yeater, all now deceased. William died in 1864, having reared seven daughters and two sons. The latter, William N. and John, are now living on the old Bryson homestead, and their sisters, with the exception of one, who is deceased, are all married and have families of their own. John Bryson, the father of our sub- ject, after selling the land on which Louisiana is now located, purchased a farm on Grassy Creek, five miles west of there, and died thereon in 1821.
After the death of his father, I. N. Bryson co:1- tinued to cultivate the homestead for his mother
until reaching manhood. Her death occurred in 1849. He attended the old-time subscription schools and when in his twentieth year com- menced teaching and was thus employed for two years. In February, 1831, he came to Louisiana and was employed in the store of Campbell & Burbridge as a clerk for three years. He then became associated with John L. Williams under the firm name of Williams & Bryson, and con- ducted a general mercantile business. His part- ner died some eighteen months later and Mr. Bryson continued the business, under the firm name until the term of their partnership expired in 1838. The following year he became con- nected with William C. Hardin and Julius C. Jackson, under the title of I. N. Bryson & Co., but Mr. Jackson soon retired from the firm. For fifteen years, or until 1855, the firm did business under the same title and in 1845 put up the block of stores on the corner of Main and Georgia streets, which they still own. Since 1855 Mr. Bryson has never embarked in commercial pur- suits but has dealt extensively in real estate, and owns two farms in this vicinity, leasing the sanie to tenants. In 1877 he lost heavily by the sus- pension of the National Bank of the State of Missouri, at St. Louis, in which he was a stock- holder. He was interested in the organization of the Louisiana & Middletown Macadamized Road Company in 1853, and served as secretary for fifteen years. Formerly he was a Whig, but is now a Democrat.
December 24, 1848, Mr. Bryson married Eliza- beth S., daughter of Thomas and Catherine (Jones) Baird. They have four children: Or- pheus C., an attorney-at-law; Isaac N., Jr., pro- prietor and editor of the Louisiana Press; Ora B., wife of Robert H. Williams, of the same place, and Mollie F. Mr. and Mrs. Bryson, their two sons and youngest daughter are mem- bers of the Christian Church.
GEORGE W. PEAK, SR.
1 PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
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GEORGE W. PEAK, SR.
G EORGE W. PEAK, SR. The record of a useful, well-spent life not only perpet- uates the deeds of him who has thus lived, but is also most instructive as a guide and an incentive to others. In writing this brief me- morial of Mr. Peak, we are but doing justice to one who spent the best years of his life in Marion County, and whose influence for good has been felt in both the business and social circles of his community. As one of the pioneers of the county, he is entitled to prominent mention on the pages of this volume. For many years a witness of the development of this section of the state, he con- tributed largely to its material progress and won for himself a name as a public-spirited and pro- gressive citizen.
In introducing this biographical review, some mention of the ancestry of Mr. Peak will be of interest. He is the son of Spencer and Nancy (Taylor) Peak, natives of Virginia. His father, who came to Marion County in 1837, settled in Round Grove Township, where he spent the re- mainder of his life engaged extensively in agri- cultural pursuits and having upon his place a number of slaves. From an early day he was identified with the Christian Church, and in that faith he died in 1860, aged sixty years. His father, Jesse Peak, a soldier of the Revolution, was a member of a Virginian family, but spent the greater part of his life in Kentucky, where he was occupied as a tiller of the soil. Nancy (Taylor) Peak was the daughter of John and Blanche Taylor, also natives of Virginia, whence they removed to Marion County about 1840 and here remained until death. John Taylor was one of the heroes of the Revolutionary War.
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