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 97
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 97
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 97
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Our subject's marriage to Gertrude List was celebrated October 25, 1893, at Shelbina, Mo. Her father, Patrick List, was born in Henry County, Ky., in 1842, and died in Shelby County in 1877. His wife was Belle Sparks, whose de- cease occurred in 1876, one year previous to that of her husband. Mr. List was a thrifty business
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man and made and lost several fortunes. Ger- trude List was born October 27, 1873, and, left an orphan at the age of four years, found an ex- cellent home in the family of William H. War- ren, of Shelbina, who is at present president of the Bank of Shelbina. The union of our subject and his wife has been blessed with one child, William Warren, who was born July 27, 1894.
The father of our subject, William T. Hum- phrey, was born in Kentucky, October 4, 1832, and is still living. He followed the occupation of farmer and stock raiser until 1887, when he engaged in the lumber business at Lewistown, Mo., where he is still actively employed in con- ducting his affairs. For many years he has been a moving factor in politics and was for a num- ber of years a member of the Democratic County Central Committee of Lewis County. In 1886 he was a candidate for Collector of Lewis Coun- ty, but was defeated by one vote. He was a par- ticipant in Porter's Raid and was one of the ten men ordered shot by McNiel at Palmyra, but was subsequently released. Mr. Humphrey was first married to Frances Smith, in 1851. In 1857 he was married to the mother of our subject, Mary S. Rodifer, who was born in Lewis County, Mo., May 10, 1840. Five boys and five giris were born to Mr. and Mrs. Humphrey, as fol- lows: David G., Samuel J., George W., John R., Robert A., Alice M., Ella R., Cora E., Katie M., and Amelia, all of whom are living.
The paternal grandfather of our subject was born in Kentucky, in 1805, and died in Lewis County, Mo., in 1890. His wife, Rebecca, died some eight years previously. They were the parents of three sons and two daughters, all of whom are living.
David Rodifer, father of Mrs. Humphrey, was born in Virginia in 1812, and died in Lewis County in 1891. His wife, Sarah, was also born in Virginia. She died in Lewis County in 1886. David Rodifer was one of the early settlers in Missouri and acquired a large tract of land in Lewis County.
After the marriage of our subject he remained in Shelbyville but a few months, and in the spring of 1894, although almost a total stranger,
he entered the race for Prosecuting Attorney of Shelby County against a prominent lawyer who had held the office one term, but was defeated by about one hundred votes. He practiced law in Shelbina until February, 1895, when he moved to Ralls County and purchased the "Perry Enter- prise," which, at that time, had a circulation of about eight hundred. By perseverance and strict attention to business, Mr. Humphrey has nearly doubled the number of subscribers. He is now enjoying a fair law practice and editing the "Enterprise," which is eight years old, Demo- cratic in principle, and one of the most influen- tial weeklies in the State. Our subject attends the Baptist Church and is a member of the I. O. O. F. and the K. of P. Lodges. Politically he is a Democrat, and at present holds the office of City Attorney.
C HANNING L. PRYOR, M. D., one of the most eminent western physicians and, in all the term implies, one of the most successful practitioners of medicine in Frankford, was born in Milton, N. C., Septem- ber 18, 1855. He is the son of William and Electa W. (Young) Pryor.
Grandfather Brasier William Pryor, of French origin, was born in the Old Dominion, where his ancestors located about the close of the Revo- lutionary War. His wife was a relative of Gen. Lafayette, who fought in the War for Independ- ence. He was for many years Collector of the Port at Norfolk, where he died, leaving a fam- ily of six children, from one of whom sprang Gen. Roger A. Pryor, of New York. In religion Grandfather Pryor was a Presbyterian and in politics a stanch Whig.
William Pryor was born in Norfolk, Va., in 1814, and was educated in William and Mary College, in which noted institution of learning he was graduated from the law department about 1843. Three years later he finished the medical course in the same college and going to Texas practiced for several years in the Valley of the
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Brazos. He afterward returned to his native State, where he became the owner of a number of slaves, which he liberated on the outbreak of the war. At the first appearance of trouble he camne with his family to Scioto County, Ohio, and after leaving them comfortable enlisted in the Union service as Surgeon of a company. He served for a time with Gen. Sherman, afterward with Gen. Grant, and had charge of the hospitals of the Union forces at both Corinth and Shiloh. On account of failing health he was obliged to re- sign his position in the army and returning to Ohio lived for a time in Portsmouth and later in Cincinnati. In 1871 he came to Missouri, locat- ing in St. Louis, and after four years' residence there made his home in Pike County, dying at Bowling Green, March 12, 1890.
The mother of our subject died in Bowling Green, Mo., May 30, 1895. She was born Jan- uary 29, 1816, in Concord, N. H., and became the parent of six children, by two marriages, four of whom were reared to mature years. Her first union was with John Nevins, and her sons who lived to manhood were: Charles, now City Clerk of Hannibal, Mo .; Edward S., an officer in the Twenty-second Kentucky Regiment, who died on the bridge spanning the Black River, Vicksburg, Miss. Of her marriage with the father of our subject two lived: Florence B., now Mrs. Mitchell; Dr. Channing L. The father of Mrs. Pryor was Daniel Young, an iron manu- facturer of Ohio, where he died. He was one of the early preachers in that State of the Meth- odist faith, emigrating there about 1820 or 1825. He organized the first Masonic lodge in that sec- tion of country. He was the father of three sons and three daughters. Charles, Jesse, John B., Eliza, Mary and Electa.
Our subject first attended the common schools of his native State, and later, entering St. Xav- ier's College, Cincinnati, Ohio, pursued the course there and was graduated with the class of '68. When taking up the study of medicine he became a student with William H. Mussey, of Cincinnati, in the Miami Medical College, and when receiving his degree two years later lo- cated for practice in the Queen City. There he
remained for five years, when he took a post- graduate course in the St. Louis Medical Col- lege, and in March, 1876, located in Frankford, where he has resided ever since, with the excep- tion of the time spent in the Beaumont Medical College, where he paid attention to some spe- cialties in his profession. He is a fine surgeon and has been successful in performing many wonderful operations and cures. He acts as surgeon for the St. L. & H. R. R. Co.
Socially Dr. Pryor is a member of the Colum- bia Medical Association, and has been Vice- President of the Missouri Medical Society, with which he is still connected. It was not long after he located in this city before the public began showing its appreciation of his ability, his earn- est effort and his conscientious devotion to the duties of his profession. He has been called to various portions of the State to perform opera- tions and is often required to meet with emi- nent surgeons of the Mound City in critical cases. He has many patients who come to seek his aid from distant points and indeed too much can- not be said in praise of his painstaking, pro- fessional efforts in the treatment of disease.
Dr. Pryor was married November 22, 1877, to Mrs. Mary E. Eoff, daughter of Griffin and Elizabeth Close, both of whom were born in England. Their union has resulted in the birth of a son and daughter, Charles E. and Lura D. Our subject and his wife are members of the Christian Church of this city. The former is a K. of P., a Master Mason and is Past Grand in the I. O. O. F.
W ILLIAM E. JONES, the well-known editor and proprietor of the Frank- ford "Chronicle," one of the leading papers of Pike County, was born in Cedar County, this State, July 3, 1852. He is the son of the Rev. William W. and Jane M. (Kennedy) Jones; the former was born in Cynthiana, Harri- son County, Ky., and at twenty years of age entered the ministry. He came to Missouri
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in 1842 or thereabout and preached in the inter- est of the Methodist Episcopal Church in all parts of the State. He served as Elder of St. Charles and Chillicothe Districts. He died Oc- tober 10, 1888, at Allville, aged sixty-six years.
The father of our subject was twice married, his first union being with a Miss Moore, by whom he became the parent of a son, Joshua S., now a merchant of St. Louis. His marriage with Miss Kennedy resulted in the birth of these chil- dren: Caleb S., the eldest, is living at Lamar, this State; Robert P. is a resident of Rocheport, Mo .; William E. was the next born; Edward W. is a traveling man; Benjamin died when young; Rosa L. married D. W. Wright; George A. makes his home in Lamar; Clarence K. is a traveling man; Charles V. died when an infant; V. Selly is living in Lamar. Rev. William Jones was a member of the Masonic and Odd Fellow's orders.
Mrs. Jane M. Jones was born in September, 1829, and is still living, being in the sixty-sixth year of her age, at Martinsburg, W. Va. She was the daughter of Robert S. Kennedy. Her father was a carpenter by trade and came west about 1842 to St. Louis, where his wife died; he passed away at Green Ridge, this State, at an advanced age. Their three children were: George S., Henry C. and Jane M.
Our subject received a good education in the public schools, and in 1869 entered the office of the Huntsville "Herald." In 1872 he went to Keytesville, where he was given the position of foreman in the office of the "Herald," published at that place. Two years later he became the proprietor of this paper, but in 1878 sold it in order to come to Frankford, where he was ad- vised was a good opening for a live sheet. The "Chronicle" is a sound family paper, well sup- plied with solid and useful information and has a circulation of over six hundred.
Mr. Jones was married September 30, 1874, to Eva M., daughter of Robert and Anna Car- mon. Her father was killed during the late war by bushwhackers, while acting as Sheriff of Chariton County, this State. They became the parents of two children, George E. and Maude
C., and the wife died in May, 1880. She was a most estimable lady and a devoted member of the Methodist Episcopal Church South. His sec- ond companion was Miss Bell Fisher, daughter of Adam and Sarah E. (Brown) Fisher, of Pike County, this State. Mrs. Jones has been a mem- ber of the Christian Church since her girlhood. In social affairs our subject is a member of the K. of H. Although reared in the faith of the Methodist Church he joined the Christians of this place in 1890, and is now an active and in- fluential worker in the congregation at Frank- ford.
F RANK K. GREEN has long served as a member of the Hannibal City Council and has always advanced the best interests of his fellow citizens. He was first elected Alder- man in 1884, from the First Ward, on the Demo- 'cratic ticket, and was again elected in 1886, thus serving four consecutive years. In 1893 he was returned to the position and is now fulfilling the duties pertaining thereto. In politics he has been quite active, and has frequently served as a dele- gate to the city and county conventions, and at this writing is a member of the County Executive Committee. For a little over a year he has been in the employ of the Hannibal Sawmill Company, and just prior to January, 1894, was in charge of the plant owned by the Herriman & Curd Com- pany.
Mr. Green was born March 14, 1848, near Eliz- abethtown, W. Va. His father, James B., was born February 22, 1805, in Baltimore, Md., where he grew to manhood. Subsequently he went to West Virginia, where he engaged in prac- tice as a physician until 1849, when he moved westward. Settling in Marion City, Mo., he there passed the remainder of his life, being called to his final rest February 23, 1862. For a number of years he had been Justice of the Peace of the County Court of Marion County, and in politics was a strong Democrat. His wife, Maria (Sack- man) Green, was a native of West Virginia, her
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birth having occurred September 17, 1810. She was a daughter of Henry Sackman, and was mar- ried to Mr. Green June 2, 1831. She was a faith- ful member of the Methodist Episcopal Church, with which her husband was also identified. She survived him a few years, her death occurring March 31, 1867. To their marriage were born eight children, viz: Susan, wife of Dr. Francis Parrat, of Emerson, Marion County; Agnes A., now Mrs. John Cherry, of Palmyra; Adeline, who died while young; Henry S., whose death oc- curred in 1861; Leora N., who married John Shirley, both deceased; James B., Jr., deceased; Ammon L., whose death occurred in 1894, and Frank K., of this sketch.
Our subject received good educational advan- tages in Marion City, Mo. The first school which he attended was at Marion City, and was washed away by the overflow of the river, and after that event he went to one which was located on the hill. In 1867 he went to Hannibal and for a year engaged in the fishing business. Then entering the employ of Dubach & Company, in their plan- ing mill, he started to learn the business, and thus, commencing at the bottom round, gradu- ally worked his way upward. With this one firm he remained for twenty-one and a half years, serving for three years as assistant foreman, and then being promoted to foreman, in which ca- pacity he acted for twelve years. The business of the concern was closed up in 1890. Herriman & Curd Company purchased the plant the year fol- lowing, and upon opening the same for business showed their wisdom in placing Mr. Green in charge, for which his long experience amply qualified him. He continued with the firm about four years, then severing his connection with them.
September 27, 1871, our subject wedded Ma- tilda Hoy, who was born in Iowa. She was a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church and a lady who was beloved by all who knew her. March 28, 1883, she was summoned to the silent land, leaving a little daughter, Rosa Lee. June 19, 1884, Mr. Green married Miss Mary, daugh- ter of John Kennedy, and they became the par- ents of three children, Frank K., Mary Leora
and Ammon C. Mrs. Green, who was a life- long member of the Catholic Church, died Feb- ruary 10, 1894. Mr. Green's four motherless children are all at home. His eldest daughter, Rosa Lee, was educated in the public schools of Hannibal and is a young lady of many accom- plishments. As a member of the graduating class of 1891 from the High School, she was chosen Valedictorian on account of her high rank and standing, and is now engaged in teaching in the First Ward School. She is a good musician and is an efficient teacher, popular with both pupils and officials.
Socially Mr. Green is a member of Mystic Lodge No. 17, I. O. O. F., of Hannibal. In re- ligion he is a Methodist and is identified with the local church. He is justly esteemed as an up- right and honorable man and has won the re- spect of all. ยท
H ON. DAVID D. ROSE, a retired capital- ist and ex-Judge of the County Court of Pike County, is President of the bank at Curryville, in which place he has made his home since 1876. In 1860 he was elected Justice of the Peace of this township, a position which he held for two years, and again in 1876 was elected to that position and served for ten years. In 1890 he was honored with the presiding Judge- ship of the County Court, officiating as such until January, 1895, when he declined to again become a candidate. The Curryville Bank was organized in 1888 as a stock company with a capital of ten thousand dollars, the officers being William K. Biggs, President; Hon. D. D. Rose, Vice-President, and J. W. Hawkins, Cashier. In January, 1894, Mr. Rose was elected to the Presi- dency. In 1877 he was made Mayor of this place and served acceptably for some ten years.
The paternal grandparents of the Judge were Reuben and Patty (Mason) Rose, natives of North Carolina, but subsequently owners of one thousand acres of land in Robertson County, Tenn. They reared fourteen children to matu-
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rity and were not long separated by death. Mrs. Rose was the first to be summoned by the death angel, the husband dying thirteen days later after having made out his will. Our subject's parents were Mason and Nancy (Parker) Rose, the for- mer born in North Carolina December 4, 1805, and the latter in Virginia, March 18, 1807. Mrs. Nancy Rose is a daughter of John B. and Mary (Woods) Parker, of Virginia, and is still living on the old homestead in Spencer Township, this county; Mason Rose, her husband, died in August, 1875. Their marriage took place in Rob- ertson County, Tenn., in 1827, and of their union were born seven children, as follows: John A., David D., Susan, Martha A., Mary A., Har- riet K. and Nancy J. Only two survive, our subject and Martha A., who is the wife of B. T. Bondurant, a farmer of Ralls County, Mo.
The Hon. D. D. Rose was born in Robertson County, Tenn., April 3, 1831, and received his education in private and subscription schools. In April, 1834, he moved with his parents to this township, and remained on the farm until twen- ty-four years of age. His father had entered for him a tract of one hundred and sixty acres and this he began improving after reaching his ma- jority. Soon after his marriage he built a house on the farm and remained there until 1876, when his health failing him he moved to Curryville. In 1853 he entered three hundred and twenty acres of land adjoining his first farm and dur- ing his career as an agriculturist has owned some fifteen hundred acres, but now reserves only three hundred and sixty acres.
January 9, 1855, the marriage of Judge Rose and Elizabeth L. Lemon, of this county, was celebrated. She was born October 3, 1836, and is a daughter of Jacob and Ann (Schooler) Lemon, the former of whom was born in Penn- sylvania; he died in May, 1855, aged sixty-two years. In 1831 he emigrated to this county from Kentucky, whither he had gone with his par- ents in childhood. He was one of three chil- dren, and his first marriage was with Miss Cath- erine Harris; four children were born to theni. His second marriage was with Ann Schooler, who was born in Kentucky, and died in Texas
in 1885, aged sixty-five years. Her parents were John and Mary (Pond) Schooler, natives of Vir- ginia, who after moving to Kentucky owned and lived upon a large plantation. The half brothers and sisters of Mrs. Rose are as follows: Marga- ret, deceased; Thomas, a retired stock merchant, of Arizona; Mrs. Ann Houston, of Vandalia, Mo .; James A. Her own brothers and sisters were: Mary A., deceased; Robert, of Texas; Joseph R. and John N., farmers of Ralls County, Mo .; Jacob V., deceased; Serlina V., wife of James Montague, a farmer of Audrain County, Mo .; Susan (Mrs. James Crawford), of Bowie, Tex .; Aurelia A., wife of Charles March, a farmer near Warsaw, Mo .; George W., engaged in agricultural pursuits in Arkansas.
The first Presidential ballot of the Judge was cast for Franklin Pierce, since which time he has adhered to the Democracy. Religiously he is a member of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church, with which he has been connected for the last twenty-eight years, and is now an Elder in the Congregation.
H ON. JAMES PERRY WOOD, deceased. The hand of death is unsparing, and tlie brightest and best of earth fall as readily before his fatal touch as the veriest beggar whose life is a burden to himself and others. To us, who see "as in a glass, darkly," these things are in- scrutable, and it takes the faith which believeth all things to reconcile us to the partings which every day wrench our heartstrings, and to see in the open grave of intellect, genius, and good- ness, the love and wisdom of the all-wise Father. The untimely death of such a man as the sub- ject of this sketch brings these thoughts upper- most; and all that is left for the historian to do is to set forth the story of his life as an example to those who come after, which they will do well to follow.
James Perry Wood was born July 6, 1854, in Ralls County, Mo., and was a son of John O.
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and Elizabeth (Broadley) Wood, the former a native of South Carolina and the latter of Calla- way County, Mo. His grandfather, a native of Kentucky, served in the second war with Eng- land and came with his family to Missouri in 1827, settling in Ralls County. John O. Wood, who is a thrifty farmer, was in the Confederate Army during the late war.
The subject of this sketch assisted his father upon the farm until he commenced his studies at college. He took the course at the Christian University at Canton, Mo., graduating with the class of '74. After finishing his studies at that institution he began reading law with Johnson & Wingate, a leading law firm of St. Louis, and was admitted to the bar before the Supreme Court of the State, September 25, 1876. After practicing for a few months in Monroe City, Monroe County, Mo., he settled in New Lon- don, the seat of justice for Ralls County, and in November, 1878, was elected Prosecuting At- torney of the county. He was re-elected in 1880, and again in 1882. In 1884 he was elected State Senator and served one term. While in the Sen- ate, Mr. Wood introduced and pushed through the bill known as the Wood Local Option Law, and which he supported with such resistless elo- quence as will never be forgotten by those who heard him speak on the measure. He was a can- didate for Congress from his district in 1888 and, after a most exciting contest, was defeated by a' coalition of the two opposing candidates-a fu- sion that few men could overcome.
In his profession Mr. Wood took great pride, and ranked among the best lawyers of the State. He worked hard and conscientiously, and the interest of his client, whether it was a single in- dividual, a railroad corporation, or the people of the county, was the uppermost thought in the prosecution of his cases. He possessed the con- fidence of those who had occasion to seek his counsel, to an unlimited degree, and never was he known to violate that trust. An honorable man and a just one, his career as a public officer and a professional man was untainted by even the suspicion of corruption. In this, as in other respects, his example is a shining one, and a safe
one for the young men of his community to imi- tate.
In all matters of public interest Mr. Wood took an active part, and to him, perhaps more than any one man, is due the construction of the Perry branch of the St. Louis & Hannibal Rail- road, of which company he was a director and also attorney for the road. It was on this road - that the terrible accident occurred in which Mr. Wood was fatally injured, dying five weeks later, on June 2, 1895, from brain trouble caused by wounds received at that time.
Mr. Wood had for many years been a valued member of the Christian Church, in which he worked, as in other lines, with mind and heart, giving of his time and money freely in the fur- therance of the cause of religion. For three years he was Superintendent of the Sunday School at New London, and at the time of his death was a Deacon in the church. Personally he was very popular, his genial, whole-souled nature showing itself in everyday life and win- ning him friends on every hand. His influence was always on the side of right and will be felt in the community long years after his dust shall have mingled with mother earth. In his family he was ever the considerate, loving son, the de- voted husband, and the tender father. To them the loss is irreparable. Socially Mr. Wood be- longed to the I. O. O. F., and was a prominent member of the Masonic fraternity, having been Grand Master of the Grand Lodge of the State for two years, and under their direction the fu- neral services were held, with all the imposing ceremonies of the order.
Mr. Wood left an aged father and mother, a. wife and two children, and several brothers and sisters to mourn his taking away. His wife was Miss Mary F. Owsley, who was born at Canton, Mo., February 16, 1855, and is the accomplished daughter of Asher B. and Susan G. (Colley) Owsley. Her father was born in Hardin County, Ky., February 17, 1815, and died August 19, 1891, being over seventy-six years old. He came to Missouri with his father's family about 1830, and settled in Lewis County, where he lived for sixty years. His wife was born January
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