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 9
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 9
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 9
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Edwin C. Spence was born in Westmoreland County, Va., October 17, 1828, and was deprived of his father's loving protection when eight years of age. He continued to live with his mother until he was fifteen years old; he learned the black- smith's trade with his brother-in-law, M. G. Light- ner, serving five ycars' apprenticeship. Then for several years he was employed as a journeyman in Kentucky, Ohio and Missouri. After living a number of years in Canton, Mo., he was for two years a resident of Vermilion County, Ill., and then returning here opened a shop on his farm in 185I, as we have previously stated. At the end
of three years, however, he gave up the business, devoting his attention to farming. March 1, 1851, he purchased one hundred and sixty acres of his present homestead and later added eighty acres inore.
October 22, 1851, Mr. Spence married Cather- ine Ann Lefoe, a native of Woodford County, Ky., born August 8, 1831. She came to Marion County when she was six years of age with her father, Abner Lefoe, who engaged in farming herc until his death. Mr. and Mrs. Spence arc the parents of eleven children, namely: Martha H., John Henry (dead), Thomas Abncr, Edwin C., Jr., Annie Maria, Catherine, William, Lucy, Kizcr, Emma (dead), and Dennie. The parents are members of the Baptist Church of Philadelphia. Mr. Spence enlisted during the late war as a regi- ment blacksmith and took part in the Battles of Newark, Kirksville and Painter Branch. With his comrades he surrendered at Palmyra and was sent to St. Louis, where he was banished and returncd to his home in Philadelphia. Since becoming a voter he has given his support to the Democratic party.
R OBERT M. KIZER is one of Marion County's representative farmers, and was born on his father's old homestead herc June II, 1838. His paternal grandparents, Jacob and Catherine Kizer, were natives of Holland, and cmigrated with their families to Pennsylvania in early days. In boyhood Jacob Kizer was cap- tured by a band of Indians and was held for four years, making his escape in 1734 and rejoining his mother. His father, Peter Kizer, was captured and brutally murdered (May 6, 1730) by the same party of Indians who made a captive of the son. In later life thic widow of Peter married John Smith. Several of our subject's relatives were soldiers in the War of 1812. They were a hardy race, long-lived and notcd for their honor and integrity.
The parents of the gentleman whose name hcads this sketch were John and Margaret (Howe) Kiz-
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er, natives of Kentucky, the former born August 30, 1796, and the latter about seventeen years afterward. They were married September 12. 1822, and had twelve children: Barbara J., born June 12, 1824, married David N. Smith, and died in this county; Jacob S., born September 23, 1826, married Miss Susan Jeffers and is a resident of this county; James William, born December 1, 1828, married Elizabeth Arnold, who survives him and makes her home in Palmyra; Julia M., born March 15, 1831, died in early childhood; John E., born April 2, 1833; Peter F., born August 20, 1835, died in childhood; Mary E., born May 15, 1842, married Samuel Hendrick; Susan M., whose birth occurred August 20, 1845, died in early womanhood; Francis M., born June 21, 1849, was accidentally killed in his youth; George Preston, born November 1, 1829, died March 30, 1840; Annie died February 16, 1864; Robert completes the family. The father of these children was called to his final rest March 10, 1874, and his wife died March 19, 1877.
Robert M. Kizer received a district-school edu- cation and has never left the old home farm. He continued to give his services to his father until lie was married, that event occurring December 28, 1859. The lady whom he chose as his life partner was Martha J., daughter of John and Saralı (Rhodes) Brown. The brothers and sisters of Mrs. Kizer, namely, Elizabeth A., James A., Mary P., Francis and Sarah, have all been called to the better land: with the exception of the last mentioned all were residents of Marion County. Sarah was the wife of John Hatten of Monroe County, Mo. Mr. and Mrs. John Brown were natives of Maryland and were carly settlers of Missouri.
The union of our subject and wife was blessed with ten children: Jolin H., born October 27, 1860, was married in 1879 to Ella, daughter of Robert and Lucinda Risk, and has had three chil- dren: Nellie M., Nettie P. and Turner, who died in infancy. Mr. Kizer resides in the northwestern part of Marion County, where he is engaged in farming. James W., born January 8, 1861, re- ceived a good education and practical training in agriculture. October 16, 1884, he married Min- nie, daughter of James E. and Emily (Douglas)
Gibson. They have had four children: Edward, born October 22, 1885; Myrtle N., born Septem- ber 25, 1888; two who died in infancy. The parents reside on the old homestead, which was purchased of the senior Kizer. George E., born January 3, 1862, died in 1868 in his sixth year. Annie E., born October 23, 1864, married Thomas Martin October 14, 1886. She died July 19, 1890, her only child, Archie O., having been summoned by the death angel on the preceding day. Mag- gie E., born December 15, 1867, became the wife of James Suner of Shelby County, November 6, 1889, and their three children are Nora L., Sylvia I. and Francis Earl. Robert Lee, born February 5, 1870, married Ada Gary; they have had one child, Bertha M., and reside at North Fork, Mon- roe County, Mo. Benjamin J., born November 26, 1872, died June 25, 1875, aged three years. Francis M., born June 29, 1874, is unmarried and lives with his parents, as does also Claud, born September 29, 1881, who is a student in the dis- trict schools.
Politically Mr. Kizer is a Democrat, and socially a charter member of Palmyra Lodge No. 28, A. O. U. W. Mrs. Kizer is a member of the Bap- tist Church, and her husband, while not identified with any congregation, is liberal in his support of religious enterprises. Formerly our subject owned the original homestead which was the property of his father, but recently he sold a por- tion of the same to his son, James W. At one time Mr. Kizer had two hundred and thirty acres of fine land, but at present he has only forty acres of fine land, on which stands the old brick home- stead. He sold the land to live a retired life.
C APT. CHARLES H. MOHR, a retired agriculturist of Marion County, is one of its leading citizens. He won his title dur- ing the Civil War, when he served in Company I, Twenty-fourth Minnesota Militia, under Col. Bax- ter. He received his commission from Gov. Swift, and was honorably discharged at the close of his term of service by the same official.
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The Captain is one of eight children born to Frederick and Angeline (Duchting) Mohr, both natives of Germany, where they passed their en- tire lives, and where the father was a farmer by occupation. The other members of their family were named as follows: Regina, Josephine, Cath- erine M., Louisa, Caroline, Joseph and William. Capt. Mohr was born in Westphalia, Germany, April 22, 1830, and received a good education in his mother tongue. When the Prussian War came on he volunteered his services, being then but eighteen years of age, and for the next three years was in the Sixth Ulanen.
On reaching his majority young Mohr bade adieu to his old friends and native land to seek a fortune in America. He embarked on the sail- ing vessel "Eagle," and landed in Baltimore, Jan- uary 2, 1852. From there he proceeded to Pitts- burgh, where he remained about two months, and then went on to St. Louis, Mo., where he met some friends. For a short time he farmed in Morgan County, Ill., but in 1854 started across the plains in a wagon, bound for the Pacific Slope. In the vicinity of Nevada, Cal., he engaged in mining for about three years and a half, and did very well financially. Returning east, he settled in Sangamon County, Ill., where he rented a farm for a year and then, going to Scott County, Minn., resided there and in McCloud County up to 1870. In the fall of that year he cast in his lot with the inhabitants of Marion County, Mo., where, hav- ing purchased three hundred and twenty-six acres in Township 59, he cleared the land and made sub- stantial improvements thereon; he subsequent- ly invested in another large tract of land, and is now the owner of four hundred and six acres, a part of which is located in Lewis County. This valuable property he has accumulated by honest toil and good business methods, for when he reached the shores of America he had but little money and his own way to make.
In Springfield, Ill., Capt. Mohr was married (April 5, 1859) to Frances, daughter of Joseph Fuchs, natives of Westphalia, Germany. Mrs. Mohr was born May 1, 1829, and, as her father died when she was only seven years of age, she made the journey to America with some of her relatives in 1858. Seven children have been born
to the Captain and wife, namely: Charles H., who is proprietor of a saw-mill in Hester, Marion County; Francisco, who died at the age of six months; Henry M., born October 12, 1864, and now assisting in the management of the home- stead; Catherine M., born July 5, 1866, and wife of Henry A. Gnuse, a farmer of this locality; Fan- nie, who is at home; Joseph, who died in his nine- teenth year in 1888; Ida, wife of Joseph Smizer, and now living near Benbow, this county. Mr. and Mrs. Mohr were reared in the Catholic faith, but in their experiences in life have grown liberal in their views and are therefore not members of the same at present. Socially Mr. Mohr is a Free Mason, belonging to Lewistown Lodge No. 494, A. F. and A. M. His right of franchise he uses on behalf of the Democratic party, as he has done ever since becoming a voter.
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Z ACHARIAH P. GLASS, M. D., is pro- prietor of the Elmwood Park Sanitarium, Hannibal, Mo. This beautiful building stands in the midst of twenty-one acres of ground, in the northwestern part of the city, near the junc- tion of St. Mary's Avenue and Paris Gravel Road -about two miles from the Union Depot, and opposite Indian Mound Park, the terminus of the street railroad.
The doctor's grandfather, a native of Virginia, was a farmer by occupation and became an early settler of Scott County, Ky., where he passed the remainder of his life. Our subject's father, Flem- ing Glass, was born in Culpeper, Va., and died in 1832, aged fifty-two years. He was in the War of 1812 and took part in the engagements of Tip- pecanoe and Thames. His wife was born in De- cember, 1792, and died January 19, 1856; she likewise was a native of Virginia.
Dr. Z. P. Glass was born near Georgetown, Scott County, Ky., November 1, 1820, and was twelve years old when his father died. Later the mother moved with her family to Versailles, Ky., where the children obtained a fair education. Our subject was apprenticed to learn the tailor's trade
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and was master of the business in less than one and a half years. On account of ill treatment he ran away from his master and worked as a jour- neyman, but at the end of six months returned and was given good wages by his former employ- er. From 1832 to 1848 he continued in this oeeu- pation, employing his spare hours in the study of medieine. He then gave up his tailoring business and began his practice. His ability soon became known and in a short time he had a fair elientele. In 1848 the eliolera scourge reached Port Royal, where he was living, and claimed numerous vie- tims; many of the other physicians fled and the young doetor was left almost alone to combat the disease. Of the sixty-five cases which he treated all but three recovered. During this trying period he met, in consultation, Dr. Norvin Green, who afterward was known the world over as presi- dent of the Western Union Telegraph Company, and this noted man's friendship he enjoyed for years. Among the other celebrated people whom lie has known and who have been among his best friends were Richard M. Johnson, once Viee- President of the United States, and the great statesman, Henry Clay.
In the fall of 1848 Dr. Glass entered the Physio- pathic Medical College at Cincinnati, Ohio, and was graduated in the elass of 1850. Until 1853 he condueted an office in that city and then moved to Florence, nine miles distant. He left Florence in 1861 and went to Covington, where he remained about eight months, and then went to Greenfield, Ind .; then to Indianapolis and Cambridge, Ind. In 1862 he took charge of Dr. Trall's Sanitarium, Wernersville, Pa., and in 1863 went to Minneapo- lis. In 1864 and 1865 he was eonneeted with the sanitarium owned there by Dr. Trall, but as soon as possible he ereeted and carried on a similar institution for himself in the same city. From 1865 to 1868 he was located in Quiney, 111. He then removed to Hannibal, where he erected his sanitarium1, and has since met with gratifying suc- cess.
April 3. 1838, Dr. Glass married Eliza A. Bran- ham of Scott County, Ky. Her parents were
T. Abner and Fannie (Osborn) Branham, the lat- ter a sister of Ben Osborn, the wealthiest resident of Seott County. Four of the doctor's children lived to grow up, namely: Annie, wife of William C. Lindsay of Greenfield, Ind .; George N., of Sheridan, Ind .; Fleming, now of Bird's Station, Lawrence County, Ill .; Thomas L., a resident of Hannibal. All of the sons were in the Union Army; the younger ones were members of Com- pany G, Seventy-ninth Indiana Infantry, and served from 1862 until the close of the war, taking part in many great battles, among which were those of the Atlanta and Nashville campaigns. George was engaged in the pursuit of Morgan through Ohio. Thomas was only fourteen years of age and Fleming not yet sixteen when they entered the ranks. The mother died April 30, 1887, leaving many friends. The present wife of the doctor was Miss Viola, daughter of L. K. and Irene (Leland) Hewett, natives of Orleans County, N. Y. Mrs. Glass was born in Michigan and was married November 2, 1887.
In many respeets the doetor is a very remark- able man, and though he is now seventy-five years of age, he enjoys good health, and his thick dark hair, undimmed eye and activity are such as would befit a man perhaps thirty years his junior. He attributes his immunity from illness to a striet vegetarian diet, to abstinence from the use of tobacco and liquors and to the fact that he is accustomed to take a bath in warm water in the open air every day during the entire year. He was a Republican when the party was organized and during the war was a staneh friend to the Union; now he is a believer in free trade and the single-tax idea. Religiously he is a Swedenbor- gian. In medicine the doctor opposes the idea of poisoning people because they happen to be sick; he claims that all the healing power resides in living organisms. To eure disease re- move the cause and supply to the living, healing power within the body the conditions of health. Drug poisons cannot supply a condition of health. These principles govern the doctor's practice and his sueeess is remarkable.
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THOMAS J. C. FAGG.
PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
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THOMAS JAMES CLARKE FAGG.
T HOMAS JAMES CLARKE FAGG, the Nestor of the Pike County bar, is a native of Albemarle County, Va., born July 15, 1822, on the ground where Gen. Burgoyne's army camped, and is a son of John Fagg, a native of Maryland, Prince George's County, born August 5, 1774. He was a son of John Fagg, who was also a native of Maryland, but whose father came from England. John Fagg, the grandfather, was a farmer by occupation. He lived in Prince Will- iam County, Va., and later removed to Spottsyl- vania; he died at his son John's house, Albemarle County, at the age of ninety-one. His son John, the father of our subject, was by trade a carpenter and builder, and was at one time employed at the Capitol, Washington, D. C. He remembered seeing Gen. George Washington on his old white horse inspecting the work. John Fagg removed from Albemarle County in 1836 and settled in Calumat Township, Pike County, Mo., near the Town of Prairieville, where he located on an old claim known as the Le Ducke Claim. These were the claims established before the purchase of Louisiana Territory from France. Here he lived until his death (1846). His farm consisted of about three hundred acres, which were mostly put in tobacco. He was a man of large build, weighing on an average two hundred and fifty pounds. He was reared in the Episcopal Church, but on coming to Missouri became a Methodist. Politically he was a Jeffersonian Democrat.
John Fagg was at one time a tenant of Thomas Jefferson, he with another man renting some lands belonging to the "father of the Declaration of Independence," near the Monticello Home- stead. His wife was Elizabeth W. Oglesby, a daughter of Jacob and Mildred (Martin) Oglesby. The father was a native of Virginia, of Scotch an-
cestry, and was one of the same family from which Gen. Richard J. Oglesby sprang. The grandmother of our subject on his father's side was Lucy Gray. Her brother, Benjamin Gray, was in charge of all the wagon trains in Lafay- ette's army. Jacob Oglesby was a farmer by oc- cupation. Grandmother Oglesby remembers the expedition to capture Jefferson and the Legisla- ture of Virginia. Mrs. Fagg was a member of the Methodist Church, and departed this life in 1851, at the old homestead in Pike County. They were the parents of five children: John M., who died (1837) at Jacksonville, Ill., while attending col- lege; Thos. J. C., our subject; Orville, who died in Virginia at the age of four years; Mary A., now deceased, was the wife of S. P. Kent, and they had one son, who was killed at the battle of Corinth; Lucy M., who married Jeremiah Rob- erts, died (1868) at Clarksville, Mo., leaving one son, John A. Roberts.
The early life of our subject was spent at home. He attended the preparatory school of the Uni- versity of Virginia, but before entering the regu- lar course his parents removed to Missouri and he was sent to the Jacksonville (Ill.) College, where he remained three years, leaving there in 1842, after his brother's death. After leaving the college he entered the office of Gilchrist Porter, where he studied law, and was later admitted to the bar at Troy, Lincoln County. He commenced practicing his profession at Bowling Green with James O. Broadhead, now Minister to Switzer- land. This partnership continued for about two years, when it was dissolved, Brodhead going to the Legislature. He then continued alone for a time, and in the spring of 1856 moved to Louisi- ana, Mo., and formed a partnership with Hugh Allen, which continued about three years. He
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was then alone until the war came on, when he entered the army and was made Colonel of the Fifth Regiment of Missouri Militia, organized in September, 1861. This regiment was for protect- ing property and keeping peace in northern Mis- souri. In February, 1862, he was appointed Judge of the Third Judicial Circuit and served until 1866, when he was elevated to the Supreme Bench by appointment of Gov. Fletcher. He served on the Supreme Bench until January I, 1869.
Judge Fagg organized a probate system and was elected Probate Judge in the fall of 1850, and was reelected in the fall of 1854, but resigned in 1855, having been elected to the Legislature at a special election. In 1858 he was reëlected to the Legislature and served until 1860. In that year he was nominated for Lieutenant-Governor on the Bell and Everett ticket. He was in the Leg- islature when Col. Benton made his last struggle for reelection to the United States Senate. After leaving the Supreme Bench he formed a partner- ship with D. P. Dyer, now of St. Louis, which partnership continued until 1875, when he formed a partnership with W. H. Biggs, now on the Court of Appeals. This partnership lasted about two years, when he continued in practice alone until 1882. He then removed to St. Louis, and in the fall of 1890 returned to Louisiana and formed a partnership with Gov. Ball, under the style of Fagg & Ball, which partnership still con- tinues, with the addition of Mr. Hicks to the firm. Ile has been retained in many great cases, among then the Grove will case, which lasted several years; the case was finally compromised.
Judge Fagg was married March 11, 1847, in Ashly, Mo., to Medora Black, daughter of Eleazer and Catherine A. Black, who were na- tives of Germany, and who settled in Pike County at any carly day. Nine children have been born unto them: John M., now residing in San Fran- cisco, Cal .; Elias B., at Minneapolis; Thomas J. C., at Duluth, Minn., in charge of a large grain business; Alice M., wife of C. W. Bright; Mary A., wife of Mathew G. Reynolds, United States Attorney for the new Land Court of Private Land Claims; Katie, who died in 1874; Delia, oldest
daughter, who died in 1851 ; Henry and Emanuel, who died in infancy.
Judge Fagg has been identified with the Re- publican party since the war. In both of his terms in the Legislature he was elected by the American party. He has been a member of the Masonic Order since 1846. His political education was received from such men as Lincoln, Douglas and Baker. He is held as one of the ablest jurors in the State, and his record is bright and unim- peachable. He is a gentleman of the old school, courtly and dignified in bearing and pleasing in address.
W ILLIAM ELLIS, one of the oldest resi- dents of Marion County, Mo., is owner of the farm which formerly belonged to his father, and which is situated in Township 57, Range 5, and known as Miller Township. It is well improved with good buildings, fences, or- chards, etc. His father, John Ellis, was known far and wide owing to his position as County Sur- veyor. He was considered an expert and was often called to establish disputed lines in adjacent counties as well as his own. He had made a study of the business before coming to Missouri and fixed the lines of nearly every road in the county, many of these having previously been the occa- sion of much discord. He was induced to retain his office until advancing years compelled him to resign.
Hezekiah Ellis, the grandfather of our subject, was born in Virginia, but when a child removed with his father to Fayette County, Ky. He mar- ried Miss Duval and they settled on a farm near Lexington. Before he was twenty-one years of age he had served in one of the Indian wars of the period in place of his stepfather, who had been drafted. He passed the remainder of his life in Fayette County, Ky., where he reared his seven children. William, the eldest son, was a civil engineer and surveyed the first line of the first railroad built in Kentucky, extending from Lex- ington to Frankfort. His death occurred in his
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native State. Mary, the eldest daughter, never married, and recently died in Kentucky. Heze- kiah, the third son, was well known in Marion County, with whose interests he was prominently connected. He held the presidency of Bethel Baptist College of Palmyra for several years. Sub- sequently he taught at Hannibal and then at Chilli- cothe. He died March 18, 1887, and was placed to rest in the Palmyra cemetery. He was hon- ored and respected by all, and was an intelligent and refined Christian gentleman. James was edu- cated to be a teacher and was thus employed in early manhood. Ann married a Mr. McCann and lived until her death in Monroe County, Mo. Lucy J. became the wife of Howard Parker and died a few years later near her old home in Ken- tucky, leaving two children.
John Ellis, the father of our subject, was born November 15, 1806, in Fayette County, Ky., and devoted his time for many years to assisting his father. He received but a scanty education in the common schools, but improved his opportunities and engaged in teaching when but a mere youth. On December 30, 1828, he married Miss Mary C., daughter of James Rodgers, of Bryant Station, Fayette County, Ky., and continued to teach for another year or two. In 1830 he decided to go west and fitted out a team drawn by a span of oxen and a team of horses, and in this way moved his family and possessions. Coming to this county he purchased what is now known as the Berkley Farm, a mile south of Palmyra, and remained thereon until 1839, when he sold it and invested the proceeds in another farm, which is now known as the James King Farm. Unfortunately there was a defective title to this place and at the end of the year he gave it up and located on another farm of one hundred and sixty acres. Subsequently he entered three hundred and twenty acres in Shelby County, Mo., and later became the proprietor of a quarter-section farm, the present home of our subject. After he had given up his duties of Public Surveyor he was employed by individuals as long as he lived. For over forty years he was a consistent member of the Baptist Church, was a Deacon most of the time and for twenty years was Treasurer of the Bethel Baptist Association. Originally he was an old-line Whig, but afterward
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