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 99
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 99
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 99
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W ILLIAM T. KIRTLEY, D. D. S. The eminent Frankford dental surgeon whose name appears at the head of this sketch impresses everyone who meets him, even in a casual way, as a man who has drifted easily and naturally into the medical profession, who realizes that he has made no mistake in the choice of his vocation and who feels thoroughly at home in the position which he occupies.
Mr. Kirtley was born in Taylor County, Ky., May 7, 1849, and is the son of Elijah L. and Mar- tha M. (Miller) Kirtley. His grandfather, who also was named Elijah, was born in Culpeper County, Va., and was descended from one of three brothers-Robert, Thomas and Elijah Kirtley-who came to this country from Wales. Grandfather Kirtley served as a soldier in the Mexican War and was commissioned Captain of his company. He was a Whig in politics, on which ticket he was elected to the responsible position of Sheriff. He came to Missouri when the cholera epidemic was raging through this portion of the country and located near New London, Ralls County, where he died a few days later from the above dread disease. His wife survived him for many years, dying in 1874. Prior to her marriage she was known as Eliza- beth Cook and to her were born the following named children: Columbus F., who was the
eldest; Lewis N., who died in California; Diani M., who departed this life while a resident of Spencerburgh, this county; Velous E., who died in Kentucky; Elijah L., the father of our subject, who was the next born; Lafayette, who passed from earth while living in Johnson County, this State; Ann L. Tucker, who died while at her home in Clarksville; Lucy Christianson, who died in Taylor County, Ky .; Elvira Stanton, who also departed this life in the Blue Grass State.
The father of our subject was born in Taylor County, Ky., in 1825, to which State his par- ents had removed in 1820, prior to their advent into Missouri. In the fall of 1849 Elijah L. came to this State, making location at Middletow11, Montgomery County. There he ran a sawmill for a time and then purchased a quarter section of land, which he cleared and developed into a good estate. In 1865 he moved to Adams Coun- ty, Ill., and on his return to Missouri (a year later) settled in Frankford, where he established himself in the boot and shoe business, which he followed successfully for several years. Then forming a partnership with another gentleman, he began milling, but was not long conducting the same, for he soon determined to retire and take life easy. With this end in view he moved to Bowling Green in 1890. He was in early life a stanch advocate of Whig principles, but later joined the Democratic party and now votes for its candidates. In religious affairs he belongs to the Missionary Baptist Church. He became the father of nine children, five of whom were reared to mature years. The names of the five are: Virginia F. Saffell, who is living in Bowl- ing Green; William T., who was the next born; Anna Masters, who is also a resident of Bowling Green; Ida Little, who makes her home in Buena Vista, Cal .; Otto L., who is living in Ne- braska. Mrs. Kirtley was born in Taylor Coun- ty, Ky., and was the daughter of William and Elizabeth (Crabtree) Miller, natives of Pennsyl- vania, whence they emigrated to Kentucky about 1820. There Mr. Miller was engaged in the blacksmith's trade until the time of his decease.
William T., of this sketch, completed his lit- erary education in 1867, being graduated then
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from a Southern college. That year he em- barked in life for himself as a clerk in one of the stores of Frankford. In 1869 he engaged to travel for a Quincy house, with whom he re- mained for three years. He then returned to Frankford and began reading medicine in the office of Drs. Smith and Craven, and, after tak- ing the course laid down in the Louisville Med- ical College, was graduated therefrom in 1874.
Dr. Kirtley located for practice at Olney, Lin- coln County, this State, whence he removed to this county and opened an office at Ashley; after a residence there of five years he came to Frank- ford. The following two years he spent in Han- nibal, clerking in a dry goods store and when re- turning to this place engaged in the drug busi- ness until January, 1895, since which time he has given his undivided attention to his profes- sion. He has a preparation for extracting teeth without pain, which process has been the means of bringing him a large patronage. The doctor travels about through the county, having an office in several different places, although he makes his headquarters in Frankford.
Dr. Kirtley and Miss Cynthia A. Franklin were married April 2, 1874. The lady was born in Clarke County, this State, near Winchester, and is the daughter of John H. and Josephine (Lowry) Franklin, also natives of the above county. Mr. Franklin was for many years Clerk of the Court of Common Pleas in Hannibal, and was the son of James Franklin, who came to Kentucky from Virginia. The father of Mrs. Kirtley was twice married, becoming by his first union the parent of one son and two daughters. His second marriage was with Ann M. Beavers (nee Burns) and to them was born a son.
The mother of our subject's wife died in 1866, aged twenty-seven years. She was the daugh- ter of John P. and Cynthia A. (Higbee) Lowry, who came to this State from Kentucky about 1830. Her father was a very prominent man in public affairs and for twenty years was a Judge in Clarke County. While living in Kentucky he was Sheriff of Jessamine County.
To Dr. and Mrs. Kirtley have been born four children: Otto F., Mattie J., Lutie F. and Vi-
neta. They are both members in good standing of the Christian Church, with which the doctor united when fifteen years of age, and of which Mrs. Kirtley has been a member since her eight- eenth year.
W ILLIAM D. M'LEAN, grocer, of Louisiana, Mo., was born in Argyle- . shire, Scotland, May 2, 1839, and is a son of John O. and Mary McLean, both of whom were natives of Argyleshire. They emigrated to Canada in 1847, locating in Bromptongore, Lower Canada, now the Province of Quebec; the father was a farmer by occupation. In 1869 he moved to Louisiana, Mo., and later to Wich- ita, Kan., where he died in 1892. His father was in the British war and took part in the war against Napoleon. He died soon after the battle of Waterloo. His widow is now living in Wich- ita, Kan. She and her husband were members of the Presbyterian Church. They were the par- ents of fourteen children, eleven of whom are now living: Lauchlin, railroad contractor in Canada; Thomas K., of Wichita, Kan .; William D., our subject; Flora, widow of David Lestor, of Sedalia, Mo .; Sarah, wife of Samuel W. Tem- pleton, of Louisiana; John W., of Chicago, with Harper Bros .; Agnes, wife of John A. Lake, of Louisiana; Mary, wife of John McLeod, of Ari- zona; Katie, wife of James Burke, of Bowling Green, Mo .; Abby, wife of Joseph Dyer, of Wich- ita, Kan .; Murdock, of Wichita, Kan.
The subject of this sketch remained at home until he was thirteen years of age, receiving a common-school education, and then engaged as clerk in a store at Richmond, Lower Canada, where he remained until the war broke out, when he went to Chicago and offered his services to Uncle Sam. He enlisted April 30, 1861, and was mustered in June 15, at Camp Douglas, as a member of Company C, Twenty-third Illinois Volunteer Infantry, Col. Mulligan's Regiment, and was appointed Orderly Sergeant. The first action was at Booneville, and then, after wan-
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dering about Missouri, the regiment went into camp at Lexington, Mo., where they met Price, and after several days' fight, surrendered on the 3Ist. He was paroled and sent home afoot. He was subsequently exchanged and was trans- ferred to the Sixty-fifth Illinois, a Scotch regi- ment, and assigned to Company K. This regi- ment became a part of the Potomac army under the command of Gen. McClellan. Mr. McLean took part in the Harper's Ferry fight and was again taken prisoner. He was sent to camp at Annapolis, Md., and was discharged November 14, 1862. Not being satisfied with his army ex- perience, he later went to Ohio and enlisted in Company F, Tenth Ohio Cavalry, which regi- ment was sent to the Army of the Cumberland. He was duty Sergeant, and detailed as clerk to the Provost Marshal of the cavalry corps, ex- cept when fighting was going on. He was in Kilpatrick's Cavalry and met the enemy in bat- tle at Snow Hill under Morgan, who was routed. He was next at Shelbyville, Tenn., then at Chick- amauga. He was on detached duty as a scout through the winter following and when a move on Atlanta was made he was with Sherman's Army and took part in all of the engagements of the regiment from the commencement of the. campaign against Atlanta to its final capture. After the fall of Atlanta he had the satisfaction of making out the list of the Twenty-third Missis- sippi soldiers who were taken prisoners. His regiment now went into camp and subsequently was sent to Louisville, Ky., where it was mus- tered out. Our subject then came home to en- gage in peaceful pursuits, having, as he thought, done enough to entitle him to citizenship. But on the invasion of Missouri by Price the old war spirit retook possession of him and he enlisted September 27, 1864, as Fifth Sergeant of Con- pany C, the Eleventh Enrolled Militia, but was relieved from duty November 3, the same year. This was his last service and he then settled in St. Louis and engaged as clerk in the grocery house of P. J. Hannon. He was there until March, 1870, and then went to Louisiana, Mo., and engaged in the groccry business for himself for two years. He removed to Bowling Green,
where he carried on the same business for twenty years, and then returned to Louisiana and opened a store again at No. 119 Georgia Street, where he carries a fine line of fancy and staple groceries and has a large and increasing trade. It is a fact worthy of note that the principal trade in the grocery business is carried on by veterans of the late war. .
Mr. McLean was married in St. Louis, Mo., October 26, 1866, by Rev. J. J. Armstrong, to Laura Mosely, daughter of William and Nancy (Keithley) Mosely. She was born in Bowling Green, Mo., October 15, 1847, and died Febru- ary 24, 1883, at Bowling Green, where she had lived the greater part of her life. She was a member of the Christian Church and was edu- cated at Watson Seminary, Ashley, Mo. She was an invalid for a long time, and, feeling that she was about to leave this world, she called the children about her and gave them good Chris- tian counsel and requested them all to meet her in heaven and then peacefully passed to that brighter world.
Rest, weary hand, from all thy silent griefs and secret pains,
The profitless regrets and longings vain, Wisdom and love have ordered all the path, All shall be blessedness and bright at last.
Cast off the cares that have so long oppressed, Rest, sweetly rest.
The children by this marriage are: Virgie, at home; John L, now in Denver, Col., the pat- entee of the clectric switchboard; Harry, with Siegel, Cooper & Co., Chicago; William B., with his father in the grocery store; Nellie, at home. Five children died at an early age.
October 28, 1884, our subject married Cora Howard and of the union two children were born: Metta, who died at the age of nine months, and Abbie, now in her eighth year. Mrs. Mc- Lean is a member of the Methodist Church North, while her husband and family are mem- bers of the Presbyterian Church. Hc is a meni- ber of the I. O. O. F., A. O. U. W., G. A. R., and the O. of M., and has passed through all the chairs in the I. O. O. F., in which fraternity he stands high.
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In politics Mr. McLean is a Republican. He is the owner of some real estate in Bowling Green and the owner of two twenty-acre tracts in Cicero, which he rents. He also owns his store property and has a dwelling on the corner of Ninth and Griffith Streets. Mr. McLean evident- ly deserves the success he has met with in his business. From the landing on the shores of this country he became devoted to the principles of the Republic, which he fought to preserve and still upholds. He is an honor to the country of his nativity and to the country of his adoption.
T HOMAS M. EVANS is one of the largest landholders and honored residents of Ralls County. He enjoys the reputation of being not only a successful agriculturist and progressive citizen, but a thoroughly posted man in all public affairs. He has always been noted for honorable and upright dealing, and his ex- ample of industry and his earnest and sincere endeavor to succeed in life are well worthy of imitation by the rising generation.
Mr. Evans was born in Bullitt County, Ky., May 16, 1847, and is the son of William H. and Martha (Clayton) Evans, born respectively in Virginia and Kentucky. William Evans was young when his parents removed westward to the Blue Grass State, and settled in Bullitt County on a farm. There he was reared to ma- ture years and married, after which event he be- gan farming on his own account. He was a wagon-maker and wood-worker by trade and worked at this business at odd times, having a shop located on the home place.
In the year 1859 the father of our subject dis- posed of the homestead in Bullitt County and started for Missouri. He chose for his home a large farm of two hundred and forty acres, in Cass County, and there lived in peace and quiet until 1863, when his sentiments regarding the war not agreeing with those of his neighbor- hood, he was ordered to leave the country. He
accordingly sold out and became a resident of Ralls County, residing near Madisonville. There he leased land and improved the same, making it his home until his decease, which occurred April 13, 1875. Mrs. Martha Evans is still liv- ing, making her home with her son, William G., near our subject's place.
To Mr. and Mrs. William H. Evans there was granted a family of seven children, of whom Mary married Henry Leiter and resides in this county; Samuel C. married Mrs. Susan Carr, and on her decease chose for his second com- panion, Miss Nannie Leiter, and now makes his home in this county; our subject was the third born; William G. resides on a good farm near Thomas M., and with him his mother makes her home; Julia is now Mrs. John Houser and re- sides near New London; her husband is de- ceased; Martha married Joseph Bridgewater, and on his death she became the wife of David Wallace, also of New London, Mo .; James B. married Miss Cassie Brothers and is living one- half mile distant from our subject.
The original of this sketch was well educated and remained at home until attaining his ma- jority, when he began the battle of life on his own account. He worked the farm of Henry Butler for two years on shares, after which he rented land from that gentleman and was an inmate of his household for two years more. March 2, 1873, he was married to Miss Betty Alford, a native of this county and the daughter of Capt. Thompson and Martha (Yeager) Alford, both natives of the Blue Grass State. The Captain obtained his title by commanding a company in the Confederate service during the late war. He is now living in Vandalia.
Soon after his marriage Mr. Evans rented for two years a farm three miles south of Madison- ville, this county, after which he purchased the eighty acres included in his present fine estate. He prospered from the first in his management of the place and gradually added more land, un- til today he is the possessor of three hundred and seventy acres, nearly all of which is under the most advanced state of cultivation. Mr. Evans carries on general farming and also raises
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a large number of the best breed of horses, cattle, etc.
To our subject and his wife there have been born a family of seven children, namely: Eva M .; Claud T .; Bertie M .; Bessie M .; William; Josie Y .; and one who died unnamed. In poli- tics Mr. Evans is a stanch Democrat. He takes a leading part in local affairs, and his influence is devoted to the advancement of the best inter- ests of the community in which he resides. He has made many friends during his long residence in this county, who esteem him highly for his worth and upright character.
C OL. CORNELIUS VOORHIS. The subject of this memoir is a native of Ohio, having been born on a farm adjoining the town of Lebanon, Warren County, May I, 1827. His parents were Peter and Susan W. (Stephenson) Voorhis. The former was born on the same farm as our subject, and was the son of Daniel Voorhis, a native of Hackensack, N. J., who married Maria Rollman and had many chil- dren, among whom was Cornelius Voorhis, the grandfather of the subject of this sketch. Cor- nelius Voorhis was born May 29, 1767, and was the son of Daniel, who was born in 1737. Daniel was the son of Petres Albertse van Voorhis, born in 1706. The latter was the son of Albert Ste- vense van Voorhees, who was a son of Stevense Coerte van Voorhees, a native of Hesse, Holland. Peter Voorhis was born March 7, 1798, and his wife, Susan, March 17, 1802. The family is of Dutch origin, the progenitor of all the Voorhises of this country, now scattered over pretty nearly all the States and Territories, having emigrated from Holland in 1660, and settled at Flatlands, on Long Island, N. Y. One of his sons settled at Hackensack, N. J.
The ancestral name was written Van Voorhees. Nearly all the descendants have dropped the prefix "Van," and some have changed the "ees" into "ies," "is," and some curtail to Voris.
Cornelius Voorhis, the grandfather, for whom
our subject was named, when a young man, with two brothers, sought his fortune in Pennsylva- nia, late in the last century, and paused at Hunt- erstown, where resided a family named Montfort, whose ancestors were Huguenots who fled from persecution in France to Holland. The an- cestors of this family had preceded the Voor- heeses to this country. They had lost all their French characteristics except their name, and knew no language but the Dutch. There were three sisters in the family, whom three brothers, Cornelius, Albert and Johannes, married, and all migrated to Kentucky and took up abode in Daniel Boone's fort until they could look out for a permanent location.
Cornelius, and perhaps his two brothers, pur- chased lands from Daniel Boone in the vicinity of where Bardstown was located. Boone did not know as much about land titles as he did about hunting and fighting Indians, and he neglected to secure his titles. Even in those early days the land shark was abroad in the land, and Boone and all who purchased from him became his vic- tims. Near the close of the last century Corne- lius Voorhis, with his wife, Margaret, and three sons, Jacob, James and Daniel, an infant in arms, together with other dissatisfied land losers, turned their faces toward the new El Dorado, Ohio, where they determined to form a colony. Peter, the father of the subject of this sketch, was born in 1789. His brothers and sisters all married and established homes, but he remained at home with his widowed mother and, procuring the int- terests of the other heirs, worked the homestead, married and carried on farming until he had three children born to him, when, farming be- coming unprofitable, hay selling at three dollars a ton, he began to cast about for something bet- ter. He at length sold the farm and purchased a store and dwelling in the Village of Palmyra, six miles from Lebanon, on the high road leading to Cincinnati and twenty miles from that city. The name of the village was subsequently changed to Mason. Cornelius was but two or three years old when this removal transpired. Here he spent most of his boyhood, attending the district school in an ancient log school house, which accommo-
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dated the village children as well as those from the neighboring country around. In the sum- mer time, when there was no school, he generally took to rod and gun, or sundry youthful sports with village companions. He, however, was most fond of squirrel hunting with a rifle in the neigh- boring woods, where the gray squirrel more or less abounded, and in the autumn when the wild pigeon came in cloud flocks. His father always kept a rifle, and before Cornelius had grown to the height of the gun he was wont to shoulder the heavy weapon and away to the woods, seldom returning in the evening without squirrels or birds dangling at his belt.
The family increased to four sons and three daughters, viz: Robert, Stephenson, Hetty L., Charles L., David J., Margaret Ann and Mary Frances, the subject of this sketch being the third child. The father looked about him, and, seeing no prospects for his sons, but possibly an idle life in their then condition, and no opportunity in the village for the beginning of a successful life, determined to give his boys a better educa- tion than the village school afforded. He selected Cory's Academy, situated on Pleasant Hill, six or seven miles from Cincinnati, on the Mill Creek turnpike road leading to Hamilton and other towns, an institution at which Col. John Noble and other distinguished men received their pri- mary education. Accordingly, with his elder brother, Cornelius was sent off to the Academy, where they remained for several years "imbibing of learning's imperial springs." It was the father's wish that the subject of this sketch should pre- pare himself to enter upon the profession of the law. In the meantime the father disposed of his properties in and about Mason, and purchased a small farm in Hamilton County, four or five miles from Cincinnati, on Duck Creek, and moved onto it. Here the daughter Hetty was married to Dr. J. M. Baxter, who was located at the village of Chester, in Butler County. This was the first break in the family. Dr. Baxter moved onto a farm in Iowa. He finally took up his residence in Mount Pleasant, Iowa, where he died several years ago. His widow now resides with a married daughter in Elreno, O. T.
Mr. Voorhis, though proving himself an in- dustrious student, became restless under scho- lastic discipline, and longed to enter into the con- test of life, so he persuaded his father, who would not be able to set him up in business, to allow him to obtain a situation in a mercantile estab- lishment in the city. The father therefore pro- cured him a situation in a retail dry goods house, where he bent all his energies on acquiring a knowledge of mercantile business. He remained in this position until a young man, a relative, came from St. Louis, who informed him that that city was the place for a young man to begin life, and assured him that if he would accompany him back he could secure him a good situation in a first-class retail establishment. His ambition was excited at the prospect and he concluded to ac- cept the invitation. He accordingly informed his family of his intention, and the father and mother gave their consent, not without some misgivings, for St. Louis at that day seemed far off in the un- certain farther West.
In due time Mr. Voorhis found himself in the great Mississippi Valley metropolis, and was in- troduced to the proprietors of a leading retail dry goods house as an applicant for a situation. The proprietors, perceiving a young and inex- perienced youth before them, hesitated, doubting his ability to fill the position satisfactorily, but on solicitation of his relative concluded to give him a trial. He entered enthusiastically into his work and was not long in convincing them that he was the right man in the right place. He re- mained in this situation for several years, until 1854, giving his attention to and becoming ac- quainted with all the details of the dry goods business. In that year he was offered a promis- ing situation in Salt Lake City, which he hastened to accept. Engaging in mercantile pursuits for a period of three years with successful results, le returned to St. Louis and started in the wholesale dry goods business. Desiring to be anchored permanently, he sought in marriage the hand of Louie B. Hull, daughter of Joseph S. Hull, a re- tired merchant and influential citizen, and she be- came his wife. But his happiness was short-lived, for she soon after died in accouchement. This
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was the first great sorrow of his life, and he mourned the loss of his beloved wife with a true affection. For several years he was retired from business, attending to his various property af- fairs.
Even during the uncertain and depressing days of the Civil War Mr. Voorhis succeeded fairly well, and by thrift and judicious economy 'ac- quired property interests of increasing value. After a retirement of six or seven years from active business, in 1874 he became a resident of Hannibal and again entered upon mercantile pur- suits. At first he became a member of the firm of Worthington & Co., in the dry goods business, and after that firm was dissolved he became con- nected with Williams & Co., and later with Cobb & Co., in the clothing and shoe business.
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