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 95
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 95
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 95
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42 | Part 43 | Part 44 | Part 45 | Part 46 | Part 47 | Part 48 | Part 49 | Part 50 | Part 51 | Part 52 | Part 53 | Part 54 | Part 55 | Part 56 | Part 57 | Part 58 | Part 59 | Part 60 | Part 61 | Part 62 | Part 63 | Part 64 | Part 65 | Part 66 | Part 67 | Part 68 | Part 69 | Part 70 | Part 71 | Part 72 | Part 73 | Part 74 | Part 75 | Part 76 | Part 77 | Part 78 | Part 79 | Part 80 | Part 81 | Part 82 | Part 83 | Part 84 | Part 85 | Part 86 | Part 87 | Part 88 | Part 89 | Part 90 | Part 91 | Part 92 | Part 93 | Part 94 | Part 95 | Part 96 | Part 97 | Part 98 | Part 99 | Part 100 | Part 101 | Part 102 | Part 103 | Part 104 | Part 105 | Part 106 | Part 107
to manhood, selected his life's partner, and re- sided there until 1816, when, with his young wife he went to Missouri and located at Clarksville, Pike County, where he remained but a short time, and then removed to a point some six miles from Frankford, where he was destined to spend the remainder of his life. He was a miller by trade, and after settling in Missouri, he built a mill on the Peno, which he operated for some years. Disposing of this mill, he later built an- other on Salt River, which for years was known as "Matson's Old Mill," but now the only thing marking the place is the dam, the mill being a thing of the past. With his milling he combined farming, being the owner of a large number of slaves. During his life he accumulated a valuable estate and his death occurred July 18, 1863. His wife was born August 17, 1794, and died March 24, 1874. Grandfather Abraham Matson was a native of Scotland and came to America with a brother at an early day, the brother going north and Abraham settling in Virginia.
The subject of our sketch grew to manhood under the parental roof and acquired his edu- cation in the common schools. He was reare:1 on the home farm and decided to pursue the call- ing of a farmer as his occupation in life. In 1855, he purchased six hundred arpents of an old Span- ish grant, which is some five hundred and eighty acres in our measurement, now a portion of his present fine home farm. His marriage to Miss Mary E. Parsons occurred August 28, 1855, an l the following spring the young couple moved to the newly acquired farm, where they have since resided with the exception of two years' resi- dence in New London, spent there on account of the delicate health of the wife. Mrs. Matson was the daughter of James and Elizabeth Par- sons, honored pioneers of Gasconade County. Her father was a native of Virginia, emigrated to Missouri at an early day and married in St. Charles County. He was a progressive man and one of the heavy slaveholders in the State in after years. To Mr. and Mrs. Matson was born one child, a daughter, Athelia, who grew to wom- anhood and married Thomas Frazier, by whom she had one child. Her death occurred July 6,
725
PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
1884. Mrs. Matson died May 25, 1878, passing away in the prime of womanhood.
On February 17, 1879, Mr. Matson married Mrs. Asbury Rose. Her maiden name was Jul- ian A. Chinn. She was the daughter of Robert and Frances (Furr) Chinn, all natives of Vir- ginia, who removed to Missouri in 1870, locating in Ralls County, but subsequently moving to Audrain County, where they now reside. The parents were members of the Christian Church. They were the parents of seven children, five of whom are living: Robert D., John A., Samuel C., James B., and William D. To Mr. and Mrs. Matson there have been born five children, all of whom are living. They are: Enoch G., Fannie E., Valentine P., Robert C., and Maggie D.
Our subject's home farm consists of eight hun- dred and fifty acres, and is one of the most hand- somely located farms in the country, the land for miles around gradually sloping from his farm house. His present handsome residence was built in 1883. In 1861, he enlisted in the United States service under Gen. Parsons and was ap- pointed to a position in the Quartermaster's De- partment, where he served eighteen months. He was captured on White River while on a forag- ing expedition, but was exchanged after a few days' detention. He was a heavy loser upon the emancipation of the slaves, owning at that time some thirty head. He lost also all his fine stock through the foraging of the troops. Politically he is a Democrat, and in religion he is a member of the Christian Church. In addition to his home farm he is the owner of two hundred and fifty acres near Vandalia in Ralls County. The fol- lowing interesting sketch will give the reader a good idea of the sacrifices made and the priva- tions endured by the pioneer settlers of the great West whose people now enjoy every com- fort and luxury of the civilized world.
Enoch Matson, the father of the subject of this biography, when he came to Missouri, ant- ticipating the lack of necessities in a new coun- try, brought with him a pair of hand millstones taken from the Lawrie mill in Virginia and brought to Kentucky by his father. These were used for the purpose of grinding corn into ineal
for family use, and are now in possession of one of his descendants living on the old homestead.
Having a large family to provide for and no land ready to cultivate, Enoch Matson went to work clearing off the heavy growth of timber and preparing the ground for planting. This was a laborious undertaking and was done in the winter months.
In those early days all the settlements were niade in the timber, the prairie land being consid- ered worthless as farm land, much of it being wet and miarshy; the vast swarms of prairie flies also made life unendurable for man and beast. Mr. Matson, being much interested in fine stock, bought a bull of what was then called the big English shire breed, now known as the short horn cattle. After raising a quantity of this stock he procured from Kentucky another animal of what is now known as the Hereford stock, this one being a descendant of the Henry Clay im- portation.
Finding it very inconvenient to procure bread- stuff Mr. Matson in 1826 began building a tread mill, which was finished in the following year, and which was a great improvement on the old horse or sweep mill. He then occupied his time in raising wheat, grinding it and sending the flour to Palmyra by wagon, where it was sold. He also sent one boat load to St. Louis, which was sold to Daniel D. Page, who at that time kept a bakery in that city.'
The clothing for the family was made from the wool, flax and cotton grown on the farm. The shoes were made from the hides of domestic ani- mals, which were taken to the country tanners and prepared by them, they taking in payment one-half of the skins. The hogs bred for pork were principally fattened in the woods on acorns, they needing but little grain to put them in fine order for use. The lack of schools was scarcely felt as the population was so sparse. When one was established the school year did not extend over four or at the most six months, the hours being from eight in the morning to six in the evening. The school-houses were very prim- itive affairs, being of log with puncheon floor and split slabs for benches and desks, wliile
726
PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
the windows were generally a square hole cut in the logs and covered with greased paper. But few of the teachers were further advanced in learning than the "three R's," and consequently the education obtained was very limited.
In spite of all these drawbacks, however, the youngsters of those days grew up with sturdy bodies and strong, well-balanced minds, al- though lacking the polish now acquired by the school children of our times. To-day the younger generation of this favored section of country is given every advantage of physical and mental training while the older people are enjoying the results of their long lives of hard, self-sacrificing toil, in pleasant homes among their children and grandchildren, to whom the stories of pioneer life will always be of absorbing interest.
J OHN C. BRIGGS, whose death the cont- munity was called on to mourn September 19, 1895, had been a resident of Ralls County for seventy-three years. When the fan- ily came to the county the only water mill in this section was situated about one mile north of New London and was owned by Richard Matson. It was also the only water mill for miles around, and here people came from Monroe, Audrain, Pike, Marion and Ralls Counties to have their grain ground. The mill was an ungeared one, the burrs being on one end of the shaft and time water wheel on the other. Farmers were often required to remain one week waiting for their turn. When they were fortunate enough to have wheat to grind it was carried in sacks to a house on the hill and bolted by a hand bolt. White bread was a delicacy that was not indulged in oftener than once a week.
The subject of this sketch was born in Warren County, Ky., one mile from Bowling Green, August 5, 1817. His grandfather, Robert Briggs, was a native of Scotland, who emigrated to Amer- ica, about 1765, locating in Culpeper County, near Culpeper Court House, Va. He had
learned the trade of a combmaker in Scotland, but on coming to Virginia engaged in farming. Soon after his arrival in Virginia he married Miss Judith Roe, of Irish descent, but born in Vir- ginia. He remained in Virginia a number of years, then moved to Warren County, Ky., then called the Green River country, where he spent the remainder of his life. Of his family of six children William T. lived and died in War- ren County, Ky .; David subsequently moved to Tennessee; Ebenezer married in Kentucky, and moved to Illinois, and from there to Ralls County, Mo., in 1819; George located in Ten- nessee, where his descendants still live; Robert was the father of our subject; Benjamin removed to Sangamon County, Ill., in 1822, where his descendants still live. There were three daugh- ters in the family, one of whom married a Latham, and one a Craddock. The husband of the third is not known.
Robert Briggs, the father of our subject, was born in Culpeper County, Va., November 27, 1777. His early life was spent on a farm in that county, and he was about grown when he moved with the family to Kentucky. He was married in Warren County, Ky., to Jane Cook, a native of that State. After his marriage he remained in that county until 1822, when he came to Ralls County, Mo., arriving between Christmas and New Year's. The family came in a light wagon, tlien called a dearborn. He first located three miles west of New London, on what is now known as the Fleming farm, where he remained four or five years, then moved to the place now known as the Cowen place, four miles from New London, which he bought before coming to Mis- souri. His circumstances were greatly reduced by the old system of Continental money, and it was to give his children a chance to acquire some land that he came to Missouri. His first wife died in Kentucky in 1820, and he subsequently married Rebecca Stone, widow of Elijah Stone, of Milton County, Ky. Her maiden name was Duncan. By the last marriage there were no children. When a young man, Robert Briggs met with an accident which rendered him a crip- ple for life. He was a quiet, unassuming man,
727
PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
and later in life was a member of the Baptist Church, but was always a consistent believer in the Christian religion. He died on the house place in 1853. Of his family eight children lived to maturity and one died in infancy. They were: Mary J., who married Marshall Kelley, of Ken- tucky, and subsequently moved to Missouri, lo- cating near Palmyra; Judith R., who married Robert Hager, of Ralls County; Margaret P., who married Chapel Carstarphen, who was Sheriff of Ralls County, and who represented that County in the State Legislature in an early day; Maria J., who married Thomas J. Wise, of Pal- myra; William T., who located in Ralls County, and has since died; Robert C., who located in Ralls County, moved to California, in 1857, and has since died; John C., the subject of our sketch; Benjamin M., who now lives in Hanni- bal
John C. Briggs, when five years of age, came from Kentucky to Ralls County with his par- ents. He grew to manhood on his father's farm and received an education in the log school- houses of that day; he described the school-house as being built of round logs with a fire place run- ning across one side of the building, split log's for seats, and a small aperture sawed out for a window, which in winter was covered with greased paper to make it transparent. The larger boys employed their noon-hour in cutting and carrying wood. It was under such circuni- stances that he acquired his education.
On Christmas Day, 1838, Mr. Briggs was united in marriage with Davideller Ely, daugh- ter of Joshua S. and Mary (Stone) Ely. Her mother was a widow when she married Mr. Ely, her first husband being Daniel Ralls, for whom the county was named. Joshua Ely was a na- tive of Kentucky and was among the first settlers of Ralls County, moving here in 1818. After his inarriage Mr. Briggs entered and bought land in the southeast part of Center Township, on which he erected a log cabin in the fall of 1839; which continued to be his home until 1893. His first purchase was two hundred and seventeen acres, and when the war broke out he owned thirteen hundred acres. He engaged in general
farming and stock-raising, also shipping stock in company with Col. Splawn. For fifteen years he shipped mules to Vicksburg and Natchez. His loss occasioned by the war was about $15,- 000. At his death he owned 600 acres of land. In September, 1892, he gave up the cares of the farm to his son, E. W., and moved to Centre, where he resided up to the time that he was called to the better land.
Mr. Briggs had been married four times. O11 the death of his first wife he married Elizabeth Ely, daughter of John J. Ely. She died and he subsequently married Mrs. Fanny McGrew, widow of George T. McGrew. His fourth mar- riage was with Miss Georgiana Ellis, daughter of Walter and Cynthia Ellis. By his first marriage were born eight children, two of whom died in infancy, while six lived to maturity: Mary J. became the wife of Andrew R. Rice, of Ralls County, and moved to California, where she died, leaving two sons; Joshua E. married Sarah M. Flowerree, and resides in Ralls County; Mar- garet, wife of James Daniel, was married in Cali- fornia and returned to Ralls County, where slie died, leaving four children; Benjamin C. mar- ried Miss Richard E. Leake and resides in Center Township; Louisa H. is the wife of William A. Mason, of Nevada, Mo .; Susan F. is the wife of Irvin Treadway, of Audrain County, Mo. By the second marriage there are four children, as follows: Della, wife of B. T. Alford, of Fresno City, Cal .; Edwin W. married Dalcena C. Keith - ley, of Ralls County; John K. married Nellie E. Waters, also of Ralls County; Ada I., wife of James H. McPike, is now living in Towner Coun- ty, N. D.
During the three-quarters of a century in which Mr. Briggs was a resident of Ralls County he witnessed and participated in many of the great changes that have been made. It has al- ready been stated that there was but one mill for miles around when the Briggs family settled in this county. For years he went to mill on horse- back, and sometimes went as often as half a dozen times for one sack of flour or meal.
Mr. Briggs was a man who never indulged in card playing, nor did he chew or smoke tobacco.
728
PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
He was a devoted member of the Christian Church and affiliated with the Democratic party. He was one of Ralls County's most honored and respected citizens, and through his honorable and charitable ways won the esteem of all who knew him.
G I EORGE WATERS BRIGGS, a bank director and one of the leading farmers and stock-raisers of Ralls County, Mo., is a native of that county, born December 28, 1838. He is the oldest of seven children born to William Thompson and Nancy J. (Waters) Briggs. The father was a native of Kentucky, born in 1813, but in early life came with his par- ents to Missouri and located in Ralls County. Here he selected his wife and settled down to a quiet farming life. He was never physically a strong man and made several trips to the south for his health. He was, however, a public-spir- ited man and was always interested in any move- ment pertaining to the public welfare. His death, which occurred April 24, 1856, was a seri- ous blow to the community in which he lived. Grandfather Robert Briggs was a native Ken- tuckian, who emigrated to Missouri about 1832. He was a farmer, and followed that occupation all his life, dying about 1849. On the death of her husband, the mother of our subject was again united in marriage, in 1859, becoming the wife of Willis Samuel, a prosperous farmer of Monroe County, with whom she lived but one short year, Mr. Samuel dying in 1860.
The subject of this sketch grew to manhood under the parental roof and acquired his educa- tion in a common school. Reaching that period in life in which he must choose an occupation, he decided to see a little more of the country be- fore settling down, and accordingly in 1859 turned his face westward, bound for the Pacific Coast. Here he spent one year, during which time he saw a great part of California. In 1860 he returned to Missouri, and his step-father dy- ing shortly afterward, he took up his residence
with his mother and resumed the responsibili- ties of the home farm. He continued to live there until his marriage to Miss Jennie Flowerree, cn September 14, 1869, when he, with his young bride, moved to his present place of residence, where he has since resided. In 1892 the H. & St. L. R. R.extended its line by running a branch to Perry, which extends through Mr. Briggs' farm, on which a station is built, named after the Briggs family. On account of the station being placed on Mr. Briggs' place he erected the pres- ent imposing structure, which is one of the most sightly residences in Ralls County.
Mr. Briggs is a progressive man and this has rapidly placed him in the front ranks of men of his occupation. Mrs. Briggs, nee Jennie Flow- erree, is the daughter of John Richard and Mary A. (Glasscock) Flowerree, old and honored pio- neers of this county. She is a noble woman of a cheerful, sunny nature, and brings happiness and contentment into our subject's home. They are the parents of eight children, six of whom still survive: Richard T., Robert B., Leo, George W., Eugene and Jennie V. The children all re- side at home. The political affiliations of Mr. Briggs are with the Democratic party, and in re- ligion he and his wife are members of the Christian Church. He is a member of the Ma- sonic and K. of P. Lodges, and it is a pleasure to give him a prominent place in the records of Ralls County.
J OHN L. VOGT is the owner of a fine home- stead on Section 17, Township 57, Range 6, Marion County. He is one of the sterling German-American citizens of this section who have been prominently identified with the growth and prosperity of the county. He has been the architect of his own fortunes, having worked his way upward from poverty to a competency.
Born in Prussia, Germany, November II, 1832, our subject is the son of John and Mary (Neusol) Vogt. The father died in Germany in 1842, when in the prime of life, being but forty
729
PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
years of age, and his wife departed this life in 1860, aged fifty-five years. They lived on a small farm and were fairly well-to-do. One of their chief endeavors was to give their six children good educations, and in this they succeeded. Their family, comprising three sons and three daughters, were as follows: Theresa, deceased, was the wife of A. Tholt, a wagonmaker of Bur- lington, Wis .; John L., of this sketch; Joseph, a farmer in Wisconsin; Flora; Nicholas, who owns a farm in Iowa; and Rachel, who is married and a resident of Baltimore, Md.
The early years of our subject were passed on his father's farm in Germany, where he continued to dwell until he was twenty-three years old, in the meantime obtaining a good general education in the excellent schools of his native land. In 1855 he set sail for the United States, and after a voyage which consumed forty-seven days, ar- rived safely in New York City. After remaining there for a short time he started for Burlington, Wis., where his sister, Mrs. Theresa Tholt, was living. As he was short of funds he was obliged to stop several times on his westward journey and earn money with which to meet his expenses. On reaching Burlington he engaged in working on farms for about three years. In 1859 he came to Palmyra, Marion County, and soon secured a position with a farmer. Thus passed the next six years, the young man saving as much as possible of his wages, for he was ambitious and determined to get a start in life. At length he rented a farm and remained upon it as a tenant some four years, and in 1870 purchased his present homestead, comprising one hundred and forty acres. In politics he is a Democrat, but has never been an office-seeker.
October 27, 1867, John L. Vogt and Mary H. E. Engelhardt were united in marriage. The lady was born in this county February 4, 1848, to Christian L. and Mary C. (Hoffland) Engelhardt, natives of Germany, though they were married in Palmyra, Mo. Their only son, Frederick, died in infancy. Mr. Engelhardt departed this life in California, both he and his wife dying when Mrs. Vogt was quite young. To our subject and wife have been born the following children: John H.,
a farmer of this township, born February 22, 1869; Christopher J. E., born December 10, 1870, and now in the grocery business in St. Louis; John P. W., born August 28, 1873, and also in the grocery business in the same city; Christian L., born·October- 15, 1875, and still at home; an infant son who died August 23, 1877; Joseph A., born December 16, 1878; Mary C., born July 1, 1881; Katie C., September 14, 1883; and Eliza- beth A. L., born September 8, 1890. The parents are members of the Lutheran Church and are held in the highest regard by a host of true friends and acquaintances. They are industrious and strictly honorable people who have made their own way without reliance upon others, and are justly entitled to credit for the success they have made in life's battles.
R OBERT ELLIOTT is one of the old and respected citizens of Hannibal, having been a resident here for the past twenty- five years, and during this time has been closely connected with its growth and development. He is a member of the Elliott-Dulany Grocery Com- pany, which was organized in 1892, succeeding the firm of Elliott & Wyman, and is one of the leading concerns of the city in that particular line of business.
The birth of our subject occurred in the vil- lage of Staleybridge, Lancashire, England, Sep- tember 6, 1845. He is a son of James and Cath- erine (Mathieson) Elliott, natives of England. The former died when our subject was an infant, and in 1847 the widow removed to Boston, Mass. The family resided in Fall River, Mass., for some ten years, then in 1857 settled in Taun- ton, Mass.
The education of Robert Elliott was obtained in the public schools of Fall River and Taunton. When he was sixteen years of age he began liis business career as a clerk in a dry goods store in Taunton, and remained there nine years. In 1870 he decided to go west, believing that better
730
PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
opportunities would be there afforded a young man of energy and ability. Accordingly he came to this city in 1870, and soon embarked in busi- ness. In his political belief he is a Republican on questions of National importance, but holds that local issues should be voted on irrespective of party lines, and that the best man should be chosen for any particular position without refer- ence to his politics. He has always been a firm friend of free schools, free libraries and whatever tends to advance the intellectual development of the people, being President of the Board of Edu- cation and of the Free Library Board. Person- ally he is very fond of study and is a patron of literature and art. He was reared in the re- ligious belief of the Pilgrim Fathers, and is a Congregationalist of the liberal type, but is at present a member of the Presbyterian denomina- tion.
In November, 1869, Mr. Elliott married Alice M. Reed in Taunton, and by their union three daughters have beeen born, namely: Katherine R., Alice W., and Ruth. Mrs. Elliott is a daugh- ter of Edgar H. and Ellen A. (Godfrey) Reed. who were natives of Massachusetts.
J OHN READING is a native of Pike County, and is engaged in farming in Township 54 north, Range 3 west. His homestead comprises two hundred and forty acres, which he has purchased by degrees, as his means afforded.
The parents of our subject were William and Margaret (Sheehan) Reading. both natives of Kentucky. It is supposed that our subject's grandfather, George Reading, was also born in the Blue Grass State, but his last years were spent in this county, and Clarke County, Mo. He lived to be over four-score years of age, and his wife, Nancy (nee McCune), also reached the same ripe old age, her death occurring about 1842 in Pike County. She was born in Bour- bon County, Ky., and by her marriage had eight
children, namely: William, John, George, Sam- uel, Thomas, James, Rebecca and Elizabethi. John Reading lived for many years in Pike County and passed the remainder of his days in Lewis County, where he reared a large fam- ily; George lived in Missouri for about twenty years and then settled in Davis County, Iowa; Samuel died about 1833, unmarried; James, who was a single man and devoted himself to admin- istering to his parents' wants, died about 1841; Rebecca first married a Mr. Holliday and sub- sequently became the wife of Francis Grant; Elizabeth married Richard Ayres and died in this county about 1835. William came to this vicin- ity about 1820 in what was known as a keel-boat by the Ohio and Mississippi Rivers. He mar- ried Margaret Sheehan, who shared with him all the privations of frontier life. Before leaving Kentucky two children were born to them, and subsequently six more came to bless their hearthstone. Prior to coming here the father purchased a claim from Joseph Yeater, this tract lying on Section 24, Township 54, Range 3.
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.