USA > Missouri > Clinton County > The History of Clinton County, Missouri : containing a history of the County, its cities, towns, etc., biographical sketches of its citizens, Clinton County in the late war, general and local statistics, portraits of early settlers and prominent men etc > Part 74
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G. R. SHEPHERD,
section 28, post office Plattsburg, was born in Harrison (now Carroll) County, Ohio, February 10, 1818. His father, James, a native of County Fermanah, Ireland, came to America in 1815. The subject of this sketch was educated and reared to manhood in his native county, follow- ing agricultural pursuits until 1861, when he became a resident of Clinton County. His present farm he purchased in 1862, and it now consists of 407 acres of choice land, in a good state of cultivation. His imposing and handsome residence was built in 1876. A fine barn and orchard adorn the farm, and everything indicates a skilled and experienced man- agement. Mr. S. is a great reader, and his mind once made up, it takes strong and convincing arguments to change it. He was married in 1844, to Miss Letitia Atwell, a native of County Fermanah, Ireland. They have had eight children, five of whom are living: Eliza A., John F., Charles W., G. Alexandria, Letitia May ; lost three, Mary Jane, Tursey and James M. Himself and family are members of the M. E. Church.
DANIEL SMITH,
justice of the peace. This gentleman has long been intimately associ- ated with the interests of the town of Gower, and is also one of Clinton County's early settlers. He is a native of Lincoln County, Kentucky. His father, Elias, who was a native of Virginia, was among the old set- tlers of Kentucky, and removed to Barren County, of that state, when
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Daniel was quite young. He was there raised to manhood, and edu- cated, his early days being spent in tilling the soil. In 1857, he came to Missouri, locating in La Fayette Township, Clinton County, where he engaged in farming, and there resided until 1866, when he removed to his present location. He owned the land on which Gower now stands, . laid out the town in company with the St. Joseph Land Company, the plat being made in Mr. Smith's name, and he gave one-half of the lots away, and has done much towards making it the live trading point that it has become. Mr. Smith is a man of clear judgment, and, since 1858, has been justice of the peace, at different periods, holding the office in La Fayette Township for seven years, discharging the duties creditably. He was married in 1841, to Miss Mary E. McDaniel, of Kentucky. They have had nine children : Elias T., Sarah E., John R., Albert, Daniel W., Henry C., Birdella, William B. and Bettie W., deceased. Himself and wife are active members of the Christian Church.
T. J. SODOWSKY,
farmer and stock raiser, section 25, post office Gower, a distinguished agriculturist of Clinton County, and a pioneer in Northern Missouri, who is favorably known, is a native of Jessamine County, Kentucky, and was born March 16, 1825. His father, James, was also a native of that state and emigrated, with his family, including T. J., to Missouri, in 1845, locating in Buchanan County, close to the Clinton County line and a short distance from where Gower is now situated. He was engaged in farming until the time of his demise, which occurred October 1, 1851. Having been born May 30, 1801, he was, consequently, in his fiftieth year. His wife was formerly Miss Fannie S. Gatewood ; she was born February 2, 1799, and died January 13, 1873. The subject of this sketch taught his first school in the neighborhood of where the family located in Buchanan County, during the winter of 1845-6. The building was a log structure, 16x16 feet. Among his scholars was Thomas Finch, present deputy clerk of Buchanan County, and Eph. Kelly. In 1849, Mr. S. located where he now resides, and has since been identified with the growth and prosperity of the county. He is a successful farmer, and owes his success in life only to his own exertions and business tact, having been supported by untiring attention to his labor. In all com- mendable enterprises for the advancement of the public good, he is to be found among the foremost. Mr. S. has been twice married. First, in 1848, to Miss Josephine Biggerstaff ; she was born February 26, 1833, and died December 30, 1871. The result of this union was ten children, seven of whom are living: Dorcas D., deceased, Larkin E., deceased, Robert M., Rufus A., James S., John Thomas, George L., Joseph Wyatt, and Kelly Woodson, deceased. On the 22d of June, 1873,
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Mary Eliza Evans became his wife. Their family consists of Rhoda, Maggie and Birdella, twins, born January 15, 1876, former is deceased ; Toliver, born March 9, 1877, and Evans, born May 31, 1880.
S. H. THOMPSON,
farmer and stock raiser, section 8, post office Plattsburg, owes his nativity to North Carolina, having been born in Orange County, March 11, 1810. His father, Samuel, moved to that state from Pennsylvania. S. H. spent his early days in tilling the soil of North Carolina, and there resided until 1836, when he became a resident of Clay County, Missouri. In 1843 he came to Clinton County, engaging in agricultural pursuits near Hainesville. He early was an eminent tiller of the soil in that section, and held the office of justice of the peace for several terms. In 1867 he located where he now resides, his estate now consisting of 250 acres, 200 of which are under cultivation. His residence, an attractive one, is pleasantly located, and indicates comfort and taste. He was married in 1843 to Miss Elizabeth Hale, of Kentucky. By this union they have had five children, three of whom are living: James, Laura and John B .; lost two, Monroe and Annie.
REV. W. W. TILLERY,
farmer, is a native of Woodford County, Kentucky, and was born near Versailles, October 7, 1814. His father, James, was a native of that state, and in 1821, with his family, including W. W., emigrated to Mis- souri, and located in Clay County, three miles northwest of Liberty. He was one of the pioneers of that county, and was there engaged in agricultural pursuits. The subject of this sketch was here raised to man- hood, receiving the benefits of the schools of that day, which were few in number and inferior in quality. He pursued the vocation of farming until 1856, when he came to Clinton County, locating where he now resides. Since that time, he has been interested in its agricultural developments, and its religious and educational progress. Mr. T. is liberal in his views, a deep thinker, and is possessed of excellent con- versational powers. He assisted in suppressing the Morman difficulties in Caldwell County, with which many of the old and new settlers are familiar. Mr. Tillery has occupied the pulpits of the Baptist Church for several years. He has been three times married. First, in 1838, to Miss Susan H. Poe. They had eight children, four of whom are living : Mary, Thomas, Emily and Jennie. Mrs. Tillery's death occurred Jan- uary 6, 1856. On the 19th of April, 1857, Miss M. A. Poe became his wife, and by this marriage they had four children : Albert D., William, Annie B., now living, and Leander, deceased. Mrs. Tillery died July 19,
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1867. On the 24th of May, 1869, he married Mrs. Maria C. Vermillion. By the latter union he has had five children : Embree D., S. J., Myra Grace, Gold Allen ; lost one, Leander J. His father, James Tillery, was a resident of Clinton County, until his death.
GRANVILLE WEAKLEY,
farmer and stock raiser, section 2, post office Gower, is one who has done his part towards giving the county its present enviable reputation. He is a native of Shelby County, Kentucky, and was born September 17, 1811. His father, Thomas, is supposed to have been a native of Virginia. The Weakleys are of English ancestry. The subject of this sketch spent his early days in tilling the soil, and received a limited education in the old fashioned log school of that period. When a young man, he met with a serious misfortune, whereby one of his limbs was injured. He then forsook farming, and learned the harness making trade, which he followed for five years. In 1852, he came to Illinois, and, in the spring of 1853, came to Clinton County, locating where he now resides. He had many of the difficulties with which early settlers have to con- tend, but, being a man of sterling merit, and one not afraid of work, soon overcame these perplexities. His success in life is evinced from the fact that 475 acres of choice land now comprise his estate, the greater portion of which is under cultivation. Mr. W. was married, in Kentucky, to Miss Elizabeth Thralka. They have ten children : Mary, Eliza, Leander, Orin, Charlie, John, Willard, Orfie, Lucy and Thomas Jackson. Himself and family are members of the Missionary Baptist Church.
J. C. WEAKLEY,
farmer and stock raiser, section 2, post office Gower, was born in Shelby County, Kentucky, November 1, 1830, and is a son of Thomas Weakley, who was a native of Virginia. In 1849, J. C. came to St. Joseph, Mis- souri, and in the autumn of 1853, located where he now resides. His estate consists of 243 acres of choice land. He has been twice married ; first, in 1852, to Mary Thomas, by whom he had four children : Ella and Mary T., now living ; two are deceased : Annie and Laura B. Mrs. W. died during the war. His second wife was Mary Lyons, and by this latter marriage there are four children living : Lulu D., Robert E., Ben F. and Ira. Lost one, John. Himself and family are members of the Mission- ary Baptist Church.
GEORGE W. WHITSON,
section 3, farmer and stock raiser, post office Gower. One of the earli- est settlers of Clinton County, was Mr. Abraham Whitson, who was a
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native of Virginia. He was among the first to locate in Clay County, Missouri, and came to Clinton in the spring of 1833, and here he was closely identified with the development of the county, being one of the first to make his home in the vicinity of where Gower now stands, hav- ing located one mile south of that point. His death occurred in 1840. He was a public spirited and enterprising citizen, and was admired by all. He had been a soldier in the war of 1812. His son, G. W., was born in Tennessee, July 12, 1811, and came to this state with his father in 1821, living first in St. Louis County, thence to Saline County, and afterwards to Clay and Clinton Counties, where the greater portion of the time he has since been a resident. In 1837 8, he was in the Seminole war in Florida. In 1843, he located in Platte Township, Buchanan County, residing there until 1846, and was one of the first farm openers and resi- dents in that locality. In 1846, he returned to Clinton County, and settled where he now resides. His present estate consists of over 266 acres, the greater portion of which is under cultivation. Mr. W. is a well informed gentleman, and to him we are indebted for many valuable articles per- taining to the earlier settlement of Atchison Township. He was mar- ried in 1844 to Miss Nancy Smith. She is the daughter of Hugh Smith, of Mercer County, Kentucky. They have three children, John Madison, James Harvey, and Mary Frances. Mr. W.'s mother, formerly Miss Sarah Jeffries, died in Clinton County, in 1872.
LA FAYETTE TOWNSHIP. .
JOHN F. ATCHISON,
farmer, section 35, post office Easton, was born in Bath County, Ken- tucky, January 23, 1823, and in the fall of 1843 he came to Missouri, and located at Lexington, where he was engaged in various business till 1845. In September of the same year he was married to Miss Ephemia A. Clark. They then located on a farm in La Fayette County, where they remained till 1847, then moving to Buchanan County. There Mr. A. resided till 1872, when he moved to his present location. His farm contains 160 acres. Mrs. Atchison was born in La Fayette County,
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Missouri, December 17, 1825. Their family consists of seven children : John F., Anna M., Wm. W., Jesse L., A. C., Mattie M. and Laura L.
JAMES P. ARTERBURN,
farmer and stock raiser, section 22, post office Plattsburg. The subject of this sketch was born in Washington County, Tennessee, but was raised in Sullivan County. He received a common school education. His father, being quite an extensive farmer, James' time was devoted principally in looking after that business. He was married, March 4, 1849, to Miss Nancy Chase, a native of Tennessee. In 1856, Mr. and Mrs. A. came to Clinton County, and settled near their present location. The farm now consists of sixty-two acres of well improved land. Mr. A. has a pleasant residence, with all necessary out buildings, and an orchard about three acres in extent. He is a man of decided character, with strong and enduring convictions of right. He served in the Mexi- can war, but did not take any active part in the late rebellion, although his sympathies were with the South. Mr. and Mrs. A. have three child- ren living : James M., Mary M. and Sarah M. They are members of the Christian Church.
B. A. BALL,
farmer and stock raiser, section 31, post office Stewartsville, is a native of Abbeyville District, South Carolina, and was born on the 6th day of September, 1842. He received a common school education, and at the age of fifteen years, with his parents, he moved to Greene County, Arkansas, and assisted his father on a farm until the spring of 1861. He then enlisted in Company E., Fifth Regiment, Arkansas Volunteer Infantry, and did guard duty until the following fall, when he was mus- tered into the Confederate service. He participated in the battles of Nashville, Tennessee, and Shiloh, and was wounded at the last named place. He was also at the battles of Chickamauga, Mission Ridge, and Kenesaw Mountain, and afterward returned to his home, in 1865. Mr. B. remained at home with his parents until he was married, on the 26th day of December 1866, to Miss Nancy F. Elwood, a native of Grayson County, Virginia. She was born on the 16th day of December, 1855, and, with her parents, moved to Arkansas. Mr. and Mrs. Ball came to this county in the fall of 1868, and for one year resided near Stewartsville. They then moved to DeKalb County, in 1869, and lived there until 1875, at that time returning to Clinton County. The subject of this sketch rented land, and, in 1877, made his first purchase of land, and is now the owner of 200 acres of well improved land, surrounded and subdivided by fine osage hedges. They have been blessed with a
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family of six children, all of whom are living: Mary C., Dora I., Lulu V., James E., Laura E., and Bennie.
JOSEPH H. BREEDEN,
(deceased) was a native of Tennessee, and was born in the month of May, 1820. He was reared to manhood in his native state, and about 1842 he came to Daviess County, Missouri, where he remained till the fall of 1858, and then moved to Texas, with the intention of making that his home. He and his family not being satisfied with the country, the spring following found him a citizen of Clinton County, Missouri. He located on the farm in section 32 now occupied by his widow. While in his native state he learned the cabinet trade, which he followed for a number of years after settling in Daviess County, Missouri. In April, 1845, Mr. B. was married to Miss Elizabeth J. McCulley. After his marriage he followed farming till the time of his demise, which occurred May 18, 1866. He left a farm of 100 acres to his family, which consisted of nine children, eight of whom are now living : John T., Mary J., Alexander L., Mattie A., Charles P., Louis C., Emily E. and Lizzie B. Mrs. Breeden is a native of Missouri, and was born April 5, 1830. Charles P. Breeden, who has taken charge of the farm since the death of his father, was born in Clinton County, Missouri, April 6, 1859, and has adhered closely to agricultural pursuits from boyhood.
HIRAM BROWN,
farmer, patentee and manufacturer of the Flora Washer, section 8, post office Stewartsville, was born in Canada West, Elgin County, October 4, 1841, and was reared and educated in his native state until sixteen years of age. In 1853, he accompanied his parents to Carroll County, Missouri, where he followed the painting business. In 1861, he enlisted in the Confederate service, and was detailed as pilot. He participated in the engagements at Boonville and Lexington, and in 1862, returned to Carroll County, and was united in marriage with Miss Lizzie Teeter, a native of Missouri, born July 28, 1845. In the autumn of 1863, he removed to Illinois, near Quincy, and engaged in farming for two years, and in 1865, came to this county and settled near Stewartsville, and in 1867, purchased his present property, comprising forty acres of well improved land. In 1877, Mr. Brown invented the Floral Washer, a machine of superior merit, and the trade he has built up is a sufficient guarantee of its usefulness and labor saving qualities. Their family consist of seven children living : George W., Mary E., Anna E., Adda D., Effie M., James O. and Charles H. Lost one son-Willard P. Mr. and Mrs. Brown are members of the Baptist Church.
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GEORGE N. BURCH,
farmer, section 30, post office Stewartsville, is a native of New York, and was born in Columbia County, November 8, 1841. He received a fair education, and was for some time engaged in teaching. He was also employed at various occupations during his younger days. In the fall of 1862, he enlisted in Company D, 150th New York, and remained in service fourteen months. In 1865, he went to Texas, where he was occupied in a mercantile establishment as book-keeper, for two years, then returned to New York, and, in a short time, came to Missouri, and located in Kansas City, where he remained during the winter of 1868-69. He then located where he has since resided, except from 1871 to 1873. during which time he made his home in New York. His farm contains eighty acres. Mr. B. was married, October 28, 1868, to Miss Ann Eliz- abeth Dexter. She was born at Long Island in January, 1843. They have six children : Bernice L., N. Dexter, Carrie H., Charles E., George B. and H. Berkley.
O. B. BURGESS,
farmer and stock raiser, is a native of Mason County, Kentucky, and was born on the 15th day of August, 1820. His father was a prominent and wealthy farmer of that county, and young Burgess turned his attention to the breeding of fine stock. He was united in marriage on the 2d day of February, 1842, with Miss Phebe D. Killgore, a native of Kentucky. She was born on the 8th day of February, 1824. Mr. B., after his mar- riage, continued farming and the breeding of fine stock until 1860, when he moved to Minerva, for the purpose of educating his children. There he remained until 1864, when he closed out his entire business and moved to Platte County, Missouri. He was engaged in farming until 1867, when, with his family, he came to this county and lived at Plattsburg for one year. Mr. B. soon purchased his present farm, which now con- tains 120 acres of well improved land, situated in section 22, about eight miles northwest of Plattsburg. Mr. Burgess, in common with many others, lost heavily during the late war. He took no active part in that engagement, although his sympathies were with the South. He has been a life long Democrat. Mr. and Mrs. B. have eight children living : Ann D. S., Martha M., R. O., Cora, Harrison G., Abbie, Ella, Mary F., and one deceased-Wm. S.
CORNELIUS H. CLAWATER,
farmer, section 21, post office Stewartsville. The subject of this sketch is an aged man, whose head has been frosted by many winters. For several months he has been disabled from performing any physical labor,
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on account of paralysis. He is a native of Ulster County, New York, and was born January 2, 1810. When an infant, he, with his parents, moved to Lycoming, (now Trenton), County, Pennsylvania, where he was reared to manhood. While a young man he learned the blacksmith trade, which he followed as his occupation for seven years. He was then employed by the Pennsylvania Canal for a period of time, his duty being the sharpening of tools, and blasting. He was afterwards con- nected with a railroad company as superintendent of bridge work, for four years. In the year 1842, Mr. C. emigrated to Missouri, and located in Clinton County, near Plattsburg, where he resided for ten years, when he moved to his present location. Since coming to Missouri, he has been engaged in agricultural pursuits, and now has a farm of 150 acres. He was married February 10, 1846, to Mrs. Mary E. Smith, (her maiden name was Peck), and she was born in North Carolina in January, 1817, and died in 1875. Their family consists of four children living : William J., Jane E., Sarah S. and Fannie E. Mr. C. is a member of the Presby- terian Church.
THOS. J. COOK,
section 7, post office Stewartsville, is a native of Shelby County, Ken- tucky, and was born on the 17th day of October, 1846, on a farm. At the age of fifteen years, he came to Missouri, accompanied by his elder brother, and settled in Buchanan County, where he remained five years, and then came to Clinton County, in 1865. In 1867, he sold his prop- erty, consisting of only a saddle horse, and entered college, where he pursued his studies for one year. He then returned to his home, and devoted his time in herding stock to enable him to procure funds to complete his education. In 1868-9, he taught school, and, in the latter year, entered the William Jewell College, and continued his studies for two years. He was united in marriag, on the ioth day of February, 1870, to Miss Marceline Jones, a native of Georgia, born on the 13th of January, 1856. She moved to Buchanan County, Missouri, in 1867, and to Clinton County in 1871. Mrs. Cook was educated at St. Joseph. Their family consists of Grace, M. Hope, James B., Walter S., and Eugene, deceased.
S. H. DANIEL,
section 6, post office Stewartsville. The subject of this sketch, familiarly known as "Sam," was born at Shelbyville, Shelby County, Kentucky, on the 24th of August, 1835, on a farm. His educational advantages were excellent, and in the fall of 1843, he, with his parents, moved to the south- eastern part of Buchanan County, Missouri, there locating on a farm. His father died when Sam. was but sixteen years of age, and left his
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mother with the care of quite a family. S. H. assumed the responsibility of caring for the family, and carried on farming. When eighteen years of age, he made a trip to New Mexico, as a freighter, and returned and continued farming. In 1859, he again crossed the plains to Salt Lake City, being interested in a merchant's train, and, subsequently, returned by a pack train. He then devoted his time to tilling the soil, and spec- ulating in live stock, and at various times would make shipments east. In the summer of 1865, in connection with J. D. Clasbey, he fitted out a wagon train, loaded it with government corn, and delivered it at Fort Halleck, Dakota Territory, a distance of 850 miles, receiving a compe- tency of $15.00 per hundred, as freightage. After returning, he resumed his business as a live stock merchant, and, for many years, was one of the heaviest shippers in Northwest Missouri. In June, 1878, he accepted the position of live stock agent for the Wabash Railway Company, his headquarters being at St. Joseph, Missouri. Mr. Daniel is a member in good standing, of the Masonic fraternity, both Blue Lodge and Chap- ter, at Stewartsville. His home consists of 200 acres of land, well improved in every respect. He was married on the 10th day of Septem- ber, 1861, to Miss Elizabeth F. McWilliams, a native of Missouri. The family of Mr. and Mrs. D. consists of: Willie, born May 20, 1862, James, born March 19, 1864, Dollie M., born October 8, 1866, Oria A., born February 18, 1869, and died August 31, 1871, Pinkie, born February 10, 1871, Joel, born February 10, 1873, Maude, born November 13, 1876.
GEORGE DELANEY,
blacksmith, farmer and stock raiser, is a native of Crab Orchard, Lincoln County, Kentucky, and was born on the 10th day of December, 1840. He received a common school education, and at the age of sixteen years, commenced learning the trade of blacksmith with James Hendricks. He continued in this gentleman's employ for three years, when, having mas- tered his trade, he went to Lexington and worked two years. Thence to Terre Haute, Indiana, where he worked for two years, and then moved to Elbridge, Illinois, remaining one summer. His next move was to Cainesville, Harrison County, Missouri, where he carried on business for seven years, then selling out. He went to Stewartsville, DeKalb County, Missouri, remained ten months, and then came to this county in 1873. Here he has since resided, and is now the owner of 175 acres of well improved land, situated in section 4. Mr. D. is a charter member of Stewartsville Lodge, I. O. O. F. He was united in marriage to Miss S. M. Dyerle, a native of this state, and by this union they have a family of seven children : Katie, Oda D., Ollie C., Nora W., Ada M., B. B. and Emma W.
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JOHN DUCOING,
farmer and stock raiser, section 8, post office Stewartsville, was born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, on the 8th day of June, 1833, and lived there until :845, and then came with his parents to Buchanan County, Mis- souri. The following year his father enlisted in the Mexican war, and the care of the family devolved on young John. He engaged in agricul- tural pursuits, and continued the same until eighteen years of age, and then commenced working for a Jacob Bohart, as a farm hand. In 1852 and 1853, he was engaged in breaking prairie. On the 14th of Septem- ber, 1854, he married Miss Martha Vaughn, of Clinton County, who was born on the 28th day of March, 1835, she being the first white child born in Plattsburg. HIe settled on a farm near his present residence. In 1863, he accepted a position as purchasing agent for Tilden, Curtis & McBath, of the American Packing Company, Chicago, and at the same time car- ried on his farming operations. His farm now consists of 220 acres of good land. Mr. Ducoing is a member of the Masonic fraternity, and both himself and wife are consistent church members, the former of the Christian, and the latter of the Baptist Church. Their family con- sists of nine children : Katie F., William A., Lucy J., Templeton J., John W., Frank B., Anna L., George D. and Martha M.
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