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 86
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 86
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 86
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Mr. Splawn has retired from active life, but still retains four hundred acres of good land and
considerable town property. He has been a mem- ber of the Methodist Episcopal Church, South, since 1840. He was the first person initiated into Ralls Lodge No. 33, A. F. and A. M., and has oc- cupied all the important offices in that order and is now Worshipful Master. In all of this time he has not missed more than five or six meetings of the lodge when at home, and is the only surviv- ing member of those who were initiated with him. He is an earnest worker in both lodge and church, and has been Trustee or Steward of the church for fifty years.
On February 2, 1892, Mr. and Mrs. Splawn celebrated their golden wedding, which was at- tended by about fifty relatives and friends. Many valuable presents were received as tokens of re- spect and affection for his family. They are both enjoying excellent health, and it is their expecta- tion, as well as the hope of their many friends, that they will live to celebrate their diamond wed- ding. They were the parents of eight children, five of whom lived to maturity, and three are yet living: John William, who was killed in the bat- tle of Mores Mill, Callaway County, Mo., known as Gen. Porter's raid, which occurred in July, 1863; Sarah married John Smith, and both have since died, leaving three children, Jemima A., wife of Silas Hornback, of Ralls County; Dolly, who married Brock Flowerree, of Ralls County; Dixie Price, who was born on the day of the bat- tle of Lexington, in which her father was en- gaged, she being named in honor of Gen. Price, first married James Bluett, and on his death mar- ried William Harris, of Texas. Those who died in infancy were Ada B. and Benjamin S.
Mr. Splawn has always been a lover of fine cattle, and has done perhaps more than any one man in this portion of the State to improve his live stock. He is also a lover of dog and gun, and still likes to shoot. It takes an expert shot to kill as many birds on the wing as does Mr. Splawn.
a. S. Machzy. M.D
PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
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ALBERT S. MACKEY, M. D.
A LBERT S. MACKEY, M. D. Among the many physicians of Pike County who have won prominence, not one is better qualified by nature and research to take an hon- ored place in his chosen profession than the gen- tleman whose name heads this memoir. His home and professional work has been in Louisi- ana and vicinity for the past sixteen years, and he has succeeded in building up a large clientele.
Born August 21, 1844, Dr. Mackey is a son of Joseph and Martha A. M. (Sisson) Mackey. The former was born near New Lisbon, Coluni- biana County, Ohio, and was a son of James Mackey, of Scotch descent. By occupation the latter was a farmer and died where he had lived for many years in Western Virginia, at the home of one of his sons. Joseph Mackey, on reach- ing man's estate, obtained a position as a pilot on the Ohio River running from Pittsburgh to Lou- isville, Ky. Later he turned his attention to agriculture and in 1875 moved from Ohio to Pike County, Mo., purchasing a farm in Buffalo Township. This place he cultivated profitably up to the time of his demise, which occurred in his sixty-seventh year. By his neighbors and all with whom he had dealings he was justly be- loved and was a man of great charity and benev- olence. He was a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church and in politics used his ballot in behalf of the Republican party. Martha, his good wife, was a native of Virginia, her birth having occurred near the Natural Bridge, May 12, 1822. Her parents, Jesse and Eliza (Chaplin) Sisson, moved to the West at an early day and died in Clark County, Mo. Mrs. Mackey, who belonged to the Protestant Methodist Church, was an amiable and much loved lady, having hosts of friends.
Dr. Mackey is one of eight children, the oth- ers being as follows: Elizabeth J., now Mrs. T.
R. Harmon, of Fresno City, Cal .; James, who is on the old homestead in Clark County, Mo .; Amanda, wife of William Fahringer, a farmer of Clark County; Emma B., who married Peter Freed, a farmer of Clark County; John A., who died in infancy; Edward E., a Presbyterian min- ister, and Minerva A., now Mrs. P. W. Dudley, of Pike County.
The early life of the doctor was passed in as- sisting his father to manage and improve the old farm, while in the meantime acquiring his edu- cation in the common schools. When eighteen years of age he obtained a certificate to teach and was employed in that vocation a large share of the time for seven or eight years. During this period he took up the study of medicine, and in 1873 entered the College of Physicians and Surgeons, in Keokuk, Iowa, when Dr. Joseph C. Hughes, Sr., was the Dean of the institution. After three years spent in the college the young man con- cluded to put in practice his theoretical knowl- edge in the field of his profession, and it was not until the fall of 1878 that he returned to the Col- lege of Physicians and Surgeons, from which he was graduated the following spring. Since then he has been a resident of Louisiana and has won a high reputation as a practitioner of exceptional ability. He has made a specialty of obstetrics, in which practice he has never lost a case. In 1892 he became associated with Dr. D. M. Pearson, son of the Rev. E. D. Pearson.
January 18, 1867, Dr. Mackey was married to Caroline V. Young, of Union, Clark County, Mo. Her parents, Andrew N. and Mary E. (Mc- Elhaney) Young, were natives of Kentucky and Iowa, respectively, and parents of the following children: Ellen, deceased, who was the wife of John Ferguson; Robert, who died when young; Caroline V .; Taylor; Amanda, wife of F. Brown- field, and Edward. Dr. and Mrs. Mackey have
31
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two children, Charles A., who is engaged in mer- chandising at Canton, Mo .; and Mabel M., wife of Mark Stewart, of Louisiana. Both parents are members of the Christian Church.
Dr. Mackey was reared in the faith of the Meth- odist Church, but later, having given the matter much study and reflection, he became impressed with the doctrines of the Christian Church and some eight years ago united with that body, since which time he has been one of its active and influential members, holding the position of Elder for several years past.
Dr. Mackey belongs to the Pike County Med- ical Association and to the Military Tract Medi- cal Association. For many years he was a men- ber of the Board of Examining Surgeons of the United States Pension Claims.
The doctor has devised a new instrument to be used in obstetrics, known as the placental curette, which has proven to be a great boon not only to physicians, but to their patients. At the annual meeting of the Military Tract Medical Association at Monmouth, Ill., in October, 1895, he read a paper on obstetrics, or "Abortion, and Its Treatment," in which he demonstrated the use of the curette. This paper was regarded by the association as an able treatise on the subject and was well received by that body.
In his political faith he is a stanch Republican. By nature he is warm hearted, genial and char- itable, and he may ever be relied upon to aid the worthy poor. His mind runs in the broad chan- nels of thought, taking cognizance of the spirit- ual as well as the physical side of life. He strives to contribute to the general happiness and bet- terment of humanity and his influence in the com- munity is potential for good.
L OGAN I. KELLER, of Union Township, Marion County, Mo., and a general farm- er, stock raiser and trader, is a native of Marion County, born March 4, 1855. He is the son of Francis B. and Mary P. (Maddox) Keller. The former was a native of West Virginia, and
came to Marion County with his parents when but ten years of age, where he grew to manhood and has followed the occupation of a farmer until within a few years. He now resides in Palmyra, living a retired life. Politically, he is a Demo- crat, and is a member of the Methodist Episco- pal Church South. The mother was born on the homestead of our subject in 1830. Her parents came here from Kentucky at an early day and were well known throughout the County. To Francis B. and Mary P. Keller were born seven sons: Logan I., the subject of this sketch; Chas. B., deceased; Leonidas, deceased; Edward G., a boot and shoe dealer of Palmyra; Arthur, a farmer of Marion County; Granval S., also in the boot and shoe business at Palmyra; and Benona F., deceased.
Logan I. Keller, our subject, grew to man- hood in his native county and on his father's farm. On February 7, 1883, he was united in marriage to Miss Fannie Moore, likewise a na- tive of Marion County, born November 1, 1861, and a daughter of George B. and Mary H. (Dim- mett) Moore. The latter yet resides in this county on the farm where she was born. The former died in this county, in 1875, at the age of 45 years. He was a native of Kentucky, of which State his wife's parents are also natives. They were the parents of nine children, six sons and three daughters, a's follows: William, deceased; Walter B., now City Marshal of Palmyra; Ed- ward, a hardware merchant of Perry; Fannie, the wife of our subject; William H., a butcher of San Francisco, Cal .; Joe, deceased; Pike, a farmer of Marion County; Hattie B., now re- siding with her mother; Luddie, wife of William Rose, who make their home with her mother. To our subject and wife, six children have been born, one dying in infancy. The living are How- ard B., Francis De Witt, Logan H., William, and Mary.
Our subject remained on the home farm until the age of twenty-five when, in connection with his brother, Charles B., he purchased a farm, to which he removed, and upon his marriage, three years later, he bought his brother's interest. There the young couple remained ten years,
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when Mr. Keller purchased his present farnı, where he has since continued to reside. The farm contains three hundred and sixty-six acres of fine land and is in a good state of cultivation. Here he carries on general farming and stock raising, in which he has been quite successful, and being a clever, pleasant gentleman, he has many friends throughout the whole county. In politics, he is a Democrat, and a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church South.
N ICHOLAS W. DRESCHER is one of the enterprising farmers of Warren Town- ship, Marion County, and at the present time he is engaged in managing one hundred and sixty acres of his father's old homestead, which is under high cultivation. Since his boyhood he has given his energies and industry to agricul- ture and is thoroughly practical and well in- formed on everything pertaining to the best methods of conducting a farm.
Mr. Drescher was born February 26, 1841, in this township, to Daniel and Gertrude (Weaver) Drescher, natives of Germany. The father was born in Hoeringhausen, Hasendamstad, and died in 1850, aged sixty-five years. His wife departed this life in 1881, being at that time eighty-one years old. They were united in marriage in the Fatherland, whence they crossed the Atlantic in 1840. After landing on the shores of the New World they continued their westward way until Marion County was reached when they located for a short time in Palmyra. When again chang- ing their place of residence they came to the farm now occupied by our subject. Daniel Drescher was well educated and while in Germany was the proprietor of a hotel. Daniel Drescher was first married to Miss Elizabeth Pope, who departed this life in 1826. To this union were born the fol- lowing children: Henry, deceased; Susan, the widow of Jacob Ronstadt, now residing in Ger- many; Lisette, wife of Henry Dasdach, residing at La Grange, Mo., living a retired life. John, his
wife and three children died in 1849 of cholera; William B., a retired merchant, residing at Han- nibal. Daniel Drescher was married the second time to Joanette Rathschlag, who passed away to the better world in 1834 and to this union were born: Christian C., an extensive gold miner of California; Eliza, now Mrs. William B. Foster, of Texas; Mary, the widow of Gotmar Dumback, Rock Island, Ill. He was a Democrat in politics and an active member of the Lutheran Church. He was in the army from 1806 to 1809 under Napoleon.
The parental family of our subject included four children, those besides Nicholas W. being Augusta, now deceased; Margaret P., widow of H. Best, lives in Palmyra, and Elizabeth, who is the wife of William Moss, a farmer of California.
The original of this sketch has passed his entire life on the farm which he now owns. His educa- tion was carried on in the district school and by his father he was trained to a full knowledge of agriculture in all its detail. He was married in 1869 to Miss Mary E. Moss, a native of Pike County, who departed this life in 1882, at the age of thirty-seven years. She was the daughter of Thomas H. and Hester (Griffith) Moss, natives of Kentucky. By his union with Miss Moss, there were born the following-named six children: Daniel and Henry at home; Alexander, a farmer of this county; Gertrude, attending school at Palmyra, and William J. and Mary E., deceased.
Mr. Drescher was again married in 1882, this time to Alice C. Moss, whose birth also occurred in Pike County, this State, March 15, 1855. She was a sister of his former companion, and the youngest of seven children. William, the eldest, is a farmer in California; Catherine is the widow of James Shaw of this township; Fannie married John Horne and on his death became the wife of Elijah Phears, a farmer of Pike County; Mary E., the deceased wife of our subject; Alice, now Mrs. Drescher, and Newton, a farmer of this county.
To Nicholas W. and Alice Drescher there have been born five children, viz .: Paul L., Belle G., Margaret P., Charles L. and Lulu M. Our sub- ject has running through his farm, Cease Creek, a clear body of water which adds greatly to the
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value of his place and makes it a fine location for stockraising. The old log cabin is still standing which was erected by his father. He is a valued member of the Methodist Episcopal Church, and for several years was a licensed preacher. He is Class-Leader in that denomination and takes great interest in the work of spreading the Gospel. He is a Democrat in politics, and although never an office seeker, has been placed on the school board as clerk for the past eight years. He has been a member of the Masonic Fraternity for thirty years.
J AMES P. GREGORY, of Center Township, is a native of Virginia, born in Mecklen- burg County, December 5, 1821, and is the son of Barrett Gregory, a native of the same county and State, as was also his grandfather, John Gregory. The latter was an extensive land- owner, with a large number of slaves.
Barrett Gregory was born in 1792, and during the War of 1812 enlisted, but did not reach the seat of action. He spent his early life on his father's plantation and in early manhood married Sarah Owens, who was also a native of Mecklen- burg County. On his marriage he moved on a farm of his own, where he remained until 1834, when he moved to Troy County, Ky., and there remained two years, removing from thence to Ralls County, Mo., and locating in Saverton Township, where he purchased land and made his home the remainder of his life. He was a member of the Christian Church, and his wife of the Baptist Church. Their children were as fol- lows: Eliza, who married Richard Murray, lo- cated in Tennessee; Julia, who married William Tilloson; James P., the subject of this sketch; John B., who died in Troy County, Ky .; Thomas S., who moved to Texas, where he died; Asa, who lived in Knox County, Mo .; Paulina, who mar- ried Lewis Dodd, of New London, Mo.
Our subject received his first schooling in Sa- verton Township after he had reached the age of fourteen years. He remained at home until twenty
years of age and was then employed as a laborer and continued as such for four years. He was married February 5, 1846, to Amanda E. Craw- ford, a native of Ralls County, born January 5, 1831, on the farm now occupied by our subject, and a daughter of Wilkinson and Nancy (Simms) Crawford, the former a native of Virginia and the latter of Ralls County, Mo. Soon after his mar- riage he entered a farm two miles west of the home of his wife, where he remained two years, and in 1847 bought one hundred acres in Center Town- ship and at once erected thereon a log cabin. He remained there six years, improving the land, after which he sold it and bought two hundred and eighty acres four and a half miles southwest of Center, where he has since lived. Of his family of eight children, seven are yet living, the first born dying in infancy. The living are: Mary J., wife of William Beshears, of Jasper Township; Ann, wife of James Lane, of Jasper Township; Elizabeth, who first married Roger Smith, and on his decease married Henry Lane; Thomas, liv- ing on the farm; Louisa, who married Arch Fitz- patrick, of Jasper Township; James C., living in Jasper Township; Wilkinson, who yet resides in Ralls County. The children are all married and have comfortable homes.
Mr. Gregory has followed farming and stock- raising during his entire life. He has always made it a practice to pay as he goes. He is a man well respected, and is numbered among the best citizens of Ralls County.
S QUIRE LEWIS H. GARDNER, a pioneer of Ralls County, Mo., was born in Scott County, Ky., August 22, 1822. His grand- father, Thomas Gardner, was born in Scotland and came to this country prior to the Revolution- ary War and located in Maryland. He married in that State and engaged in farming, and during the struggle for independence served in the army of his adopted country. He removed to Scott County, Ky., about the year 1812. In his family
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were the following children: Joseph, who re- mained in Kentucky; Bennett, the father of our subject; Elizabeth, who lived and died in Ken- tucky; Mary, who married David Pulis and moved to Missouri in 1830, and subsequently to Shells- burg, Wis., where she died; Ann, who remained single and died in Ralls County. Thomas Gard- ner was a member of the Roman Catholic Church and died in that faith.
Bennett Gardner, the father of our subject, was born near Baltimore, Md., January 15, 1785. His boyhood was spent on a farm and his education received in the common schools. He married in Maryland Margarette Chadburn, a daughter of Joseph and Elizabeth Chadburn. Her father was a native of England, and ran away from home when a boy of twelve years to escape the severity of his step-mother. He was compelled to carry water on Sunday for the Monday washings, and one Sunday set his bucket down at the spring and never afterward returned to his home. He settled in Maryland, but moved to Kentucky in 1812 at the same time with the Gardners. In 1830 he removed to Missouri and located in Cen- ter Township, Ralls County, which was his home until his death, May 12, 1845. His wife survived him until 1854, and they were both buried in St. Paul Cemetery, Center Township. They were faithful members of the Roman Catholic Church.
Bennett and Elizabeth Gardner were the par- ents of the following children: Ann, born De- cember 17, 1807, married William Pulis in Ken- tucky, moved to Missouri in 1830, and died in 1844; Julia A., born March 10, 1809, married Jo- seph Hardy in Ralls County, moved to Wiscon- sin in 1845, and then back to Missouri and again to Wisconsin, where she died; Teresa, born Janu- ary 16, 1811, married Phillip McBride in Wis- consin; John C., born March 6, 1812, went to Jo Daviess County, Ill. (1832), returned to Missouri and went to school ten years and then returned to Illinois; Elizabeth, born February II, 1815, was married in Ralls County to Abraham Sibert and moved to Wisconsin in 1841, then to Dubuque, Ia., where she died; Susan, born January 23, 1816, was married to Conrad Pulis in Ralls County, moved to Audrain County, and from
thence to Shellsburg, Wis., thence to Dubuque, Ia., where she died; Margaret, born February 22, 1820, died in Ralls County at the home of our subject; Lewis H., our subject; Sarah H., born August 12, 1824, married John Shuck, who died in 1863, and she now resides in Hannibal, Mo .; Thomas B., born November 9, 1827, left Missouri in 1847, and never returned; he was last heard from in the Wisconsin pineries and is supposed to have perished in one of the forest fires in that State; William M., born January 27, 1832, died at the home of our subject in 1858. The father of these children died in 1845 and the mother in 1854.
Lewis H. Gardner, the subject of this sketch, was eight years of age when he came with his parents to Missouri. He remained at home until of age and then went to the lead mines of Illinois and Wisconsin, and in 1844 cast his first Presiden- tial vote at Elizabeth, Jo Daviess County, Ill., for James K. Polk. He returned in 1847 and took charge of the home farm. He was married in Marion County, April 5, 1849, to Mary Baxter, a daughter of Elijah and Rebecca (Fry) Baxter, and who was born in that county November 21, 1824. To them were born seven children: An- drew J., born January 8, 1850, married and located in Audrain County, Mo., and died August 9, 1881 ; Susan R., born August 16, 1859, married James Hager and died June 28, 1881; William O., born August 2, 1853, married Laura Alexander and now resides in Center Township; Annie M., born July 6, 1856, married George Little, of Ralls County; Mary J., born August 2, 1858, at home ; Lewis F., born January 28, 1861, died March 20, 1881; Frances E., born August 19, 1865, married Robert O'Donnell and died February 22, 1886. Mrs. Gardner, the mother of these children, died April 19, 1881. Mr. Gardner remarried Novem- ber 9, 1882, choosing as his bride Susan M. Little, daughter of Benedict and Louisa Little. She was born in Ralls County December II, 1847. Her father was a native of Kentucky and her mother of Maryland. Two children were born of this sec- ond union, John H., born October 22, 1883, and Robert L., June 6, 1885.
In 1853 Mr. Gardner was elected Justice of the
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Peace and served in that capacity for several years. In 1870 he was again elected and served four years. He has been Road Overseer, hold- ing that office for nine years. Mr. Gardner has always been a hard working man, and is the pos- sessor of two hundred and eighty acres of fine land, where he carries on general stock-raising. When his sons were with him he handled a great deal of stock, dealing extensively in mules and cattle. During the late war he was drafted, but being opposed to war and bloodshed he paid seven hundred dollars for his substitute. As a citizen he stands high in the estimation of his fel- low men, and in the sixty-five years of his resi- dence in Ralls County he has labored hard and long for its material interests.
W ILLIAM RENNIE BROWN. Throughout this portion of Missouri there is perhaps no resident of Pike County better or more favorably known than the gentleman with whose name we introduce this sketch, and whose loss the community was called upon to mourn August 23, 1892. By dint of per- severing application and energy he rose from a position of poverty to one of wealth and influ- ence. His life furnishes proof of cheerful, honest labor, and a zealous determination to make the most of every advantage offered, and as one of the most extensive farmers and stock-raisers of this section, he commanded the respect and es- teem of all who had the pleasure of his acquaint- ance.
Like many of the best residents of Pike County. our subject was a native of North Carolina, where he was born, January 28, 1835, and was therefore in the fifty-seventh year of his age at the time of his death. His parents were Woodson and Lucy B. (Hilliard) Brown, the former of whom was born in Louisa County, W. Va., June 2, 1803, and departed this life July 16, 1878. The mother was a native of North Carolina and was born in Grandville County, August 13, 1803, and
lived until 1889, passing away November 5, of that year.
The parents of our subject were united in mar- riage at Red House, N. C., July 15, 1829, and to them were born in due time a family of six sons and two daughters, of whom three of the former died in infancy. Of these children we make the following mention: Mary A., was born April 14, 1831, and is now the wife of William H. Sisson, a prominent farmer of Cuivre Township, this county, and the representative of an influential family in this section: Adolphus, who was born in 1833, died two years later; William R., born January 28, 1835, is the subject of this sketch; Henry W., was born in 1836, and died the follow- ing year; Lucy B., born July 2, 1838, is the wife of a well-to-do farmer of Cuivre Township; John W., whose birth occurred June 18, 1840, died when an infant of twelve months; Thomas P., born November 25, 1841, is engaged in farm pursuits in Audrain County, this State, and Guil- ford B., the youngest of the family, is one of the most successful farmers and stock-raisers of Pike County, and a sketch of whom may be found elsewhere in this volume.
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