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 79
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THOMAS MCROREY,
farmer, section 11, was born in Orange County, North Carolina, in June, 1808, and came to Clay County, Missouri, in the fall of 1840, here buy- ing a farm. He remained upon it for twenty-eight years, and in the fall of 1868, he came to Clinton County, and bought the place where he now resides, containing eighty acres of good land. He married Miss Sally Prather (who was a sister of Mrs. Austin R. King), in North Carolina, in August, 1837. They have ten children living: John, Thomas, Austin T., Marticia Esteline, Elosia Madeline, Mary A., Susan M., Emery Francis, Nannie Kate and Joseph V. Mr. and Mrs. McR. are members of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church, and are universally respected by all who know them. They have raised a large family of children, who are nearly all married and settled in every part of the country. Mr. and Mrs. McR., in their declining years, can look back over their hardships, and trials, and successes, with pleasure, and are made to rejoice that their lives have not been failures.
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ZACHARY T. MARTIN, M. D.,
was born in Winchester, Kentucky, October 4, 1847, and came to this city in December, 1880. He received a good education in Kentucky, and studied medicine under the tutorship of A. S. Allen, M. D., of Win- chester, Kentucky, in 1864. Subsequently, he attended lectures at Jefferson College, in Philadelphia, from which institution he was gradu- ated in March, 1867. He practiced in Louisville, Kentucky, for two years, but on account of the poor health of his wife, he moved to Beatty- ville, Kentucky, and there resumed the practice of his profession until 1875. Dr. M. again attended a course of lectures at his old Alma Mater, and in the summer of 1876, he returned to his home in Winchester, and entered into active practice with Dr. Sympson. There they were very successful for some four years. After stopping in Hamilton, Ohio, for a few months, Dr. Martin having a desire for the western country, came to this city and opened an office, and is now receiving a very liberal and satisfactory patronage. He is a physician of undoubted skill, and occu- pies a prominent place in the estimation of his brother practitioners. He married Miss Mattie Hampton, of Winchester, Kentucky, in 1867. He is fast gaining the confidence and respect of the people.
DANIEL MILLER,
lumber merchant, was born in Cumberland County, Pennsylvania, March 13, 1852, and was brought up with a mercantile experience, receiving a good business education. He embarked in business in Green Springs, Pennsylvania, where he continued until 1861, when he sold out and entered the One Hundred and Fifty-eighth Pennsylvania Infantry Regiment, commanded by Colonel Foster. He was quarter master and commissary of the regiment, and, after serving for two and a half years, he received an honorable discharge. He then returned to Pennsylvania, and in 1870, came to this county, buying a farm near this city, upon which he remained until 1873, when he came to Lathrop. In 1879, he took charge of the lumber business of Harriman & Waples. The old yard of O. M. Comfert & Co. was purchased by the present firm in 1878. From a small beginning, this yard has increased with the growth of the city, until now it is selling over $30,000 worth of lumber annually. They keep a full stock of sash, doors, blinds, etc. Mr. Miller is well known, and his manner of doing business calls forth the admiration of all. He married Miss Salina C. Wagoner, in Pennsylvania, in 1858. They have two children, Alfred and Mervin. Alfred is a carpenter by trade, and Mervin is clerking in a store. Mr. Miller is one of the lead- ing business men here, full of enterprise and energy. He has been a member of the school board for some time.
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ABRAHAM NEELY,
a son of Abraham Necly and Hannah, nec Dill, was born on the 31st day of March, 1809, on a farm, near Little Flats, Herkimer County, New York, and, with his parents, moved to the western part of the state, in 1825. After acquiring a common school education, in 1831, he entered Lawn Seminary, at Walnut Hill, Cincinnati, Ohio, in which he remained for two years. In 1833, he and sixty others left the institution on account of the anti-slavery question. He then entered Oberlin College, in Lorain County, remaining as a student till 1834. He then spent some two years at the Utica Institute, New York, and afterwards returned to Ober- lin College, and continued therein for one year. Going to Galesburg, Illinois, Mr. N. engaged in the door and sash business, and, in 1870, came to Clinton County, Missouri, and purchased his present farm, con- sisting of eighty acres of finely improved land, surrounded by an osage hedge. He was married, on the 15th day of June, 1836, to Miss Charlotte Johnson, a native of New York, born October 4, 1815. She died October 3, 1842, leaving three children : Edwin, Charlotte and Ann M. Mr. N.'s second marriage occurred the 23d day of April, 1843, to Miss Eliza Pratt, a native of Massachusetts, who was born February 11, 1809. She died on the 7th day of March, 1881, leaving two children, Sarah P. and Eliza Julia. All of the family are church members.
ALBERT J. OREM,
druggist and Mayor of Lathrop. Among the many worthy citizens of this city, none are entitled to more respect than the subject of this sketch. He was born in Porter County, Indiana, March 2, 1851, and received his early training on a farm. He acquired a good education, mainly by his own exertions, and when only fifteen years old commenced teaching. He afterwards took a regular course at the State Normal School, which further qualified him for a successful instructor. He was afterward employed in teaching for ten years, always commanding the best schools and the largest compensation. His father, Joshua Orem, moved with his family to Caldwell County, Missouri, in 1858, and is now one of the old and respected citizens of that locality, where he is engaged in general merchandising. In 1875, Albert J. came to this place, then a small town, and in 1876, embarked in the drug business. He now carries a complete stock, and is in possession of a liberal patronage, which he justly merits. When the city was organized, in April, 1881, he was unan- imously elected the first mayor. In politics he is a staunch Republican. As mayor he endeavors to do his whole duty, carefully noticing that just ordinances are enacted and that they are respected. Mr. O. married
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Miss Martha A. Lealer, of Ray County, Missouri, in July, 1872. By this union they have three sons : Walter C., Frank M. and Archie C. He is an active member of the Baptist Church.
RUFUS PATCH,
is a native of Groton, Massachusetts. His early home was in the near neighborhood of the battlefields of Lexington and Concord, and in the same county as Bunker Hill and the city of Lowell. Wachusett and Monadnoch Mountains were in the distant horizon, and Lawrence Acad- emy was a source of culture within easy reach. At the age of seven years, he was left an orphan, and found a home for the next eight years in the families of neighboring farmers. At Randolph Academy, Orange County, Vermont, he began his course of instruction in the Latin and Greek languages, and entered Western Reserve College, near Cleveland, Ohio, at the age of eighteen years. After graduation, in 1841, he taught a year in the institution, and soon after found his way to Marshall, Mich- igan, where he had charge of the preparatory department of Marshall College for nearly two years. In 1844, he was called to the principalship of La Grange Collegiate Institute, in La Grange County, Indiana, a situ- ation which he held during nearly twenty-eight years, not including absences at different times, aggregating six years. In 1857-8, he spent a year at›Lane Theological Seminary, near Cincinnati, Ohio, and subse- quently was pastor of churches at Centralia and Concord, Illinois. His connection with La Grange Collegiate Institute was finally closed in April, 1878. For a third of a century the institution had been to the neighboring counties a nursery of teachers for the public schools-the first teachers' institute in the state having been held in its school room in 1846, and conducted by its principal. Under its influence the public school system came to the front, established its own institutes and Nor- mal schools, and in process of time, it closed all the private institutions within a radius of forty miles, recognizing this to the last, as an illustra- tion of " the survival of the fittest." It survived the business prosperity of the village, on the borders of which it was located, and closed its work only when its mission was manifestly completed. Removing to Lathrop in May, 1878, Mr. Patch purchased the Monitor in the following Novem- ber, and has been its proprietor and editor for over three years. In February, 1880, he became pastor of the Plymouth Church, in Lathrop, and for the last nine months has held a similar relation to the Congre- gational Church, at Kingston, Caldwell County. For a term of six years, he was a member of the board of visitors of the Congregational Theolog- ical Seminary, at Chicago. In November last, by special appointment, he preached the annual sermon before the State Association of Congre- gational Churches, at their meeting in Brookfield. He has one of the
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largest miscellaneous libraries in the county. Mrs. Mary D. Patch is a native of Newburyport, Massachusetts, and a graduate of Worcester Female College. After teaching at Almira College, at Alton, and at Champaign, Illinois, nearly five years, she was, during two years, princi- pal of the ladies' department of the Baptist State Institution, at New London, New Hampshire, and subsequently held a similar position at Lawrence Academy, and La Grange Collegiate Institute. Mrs. Julia B. Mckinlay, wife of Rev. George A. Mckinlay, of Gallatin, Missouri, is a daughter of Mr. Patch, by a previous marriage. Mary Lydia Patch is a daughter of Rufus and Mrs. Mary D. Patch.
WILLIAM M. PLEAS,
farmer and stock dealer, section 26, was born in Columbus, Ohio, June 15, 1830. He received a good common education, and, with the family, came to Illinois in 1842, and in 1858, he settled in Leavenworth Kan- sas. He first engaged in the livery business, which he carried on for several years, in the mean time, building a store. He next embarked in merchandising. Full of enterprise, and anxious for goverment work, he purchased teams and outfits, and engaged in government transportation to Denver, Fort Laramie and Salt Lake City, continuing this until 1861, when he took a contract, from the government, to supply horses and mules to Fort Leavenworth. He thus continued through the war, after which he at once commenced freighting on a large scale. In 1866, he started, with a train of supplies, for Salt Lake. Arriving at Fort Casper, on the North Platte, his whole train was pressed into government ser- vice, his wagons were used for lumber, and he also lost 100 head of cat- tle of his train, and was left in this crippled condition in that far off region. For this loss, Mr. P. has a just claim now before congress. In 1862, he bought a steamboat and commenced in the cotton trade, from Memphis, down the river. After making several successful trips, his boat was taken by the United States officers, and sunk. Previous to this, in 1859, he had taken the first train load of goods to Denver City, then a small town of three or four houses, which he sold out in two weeks, to the miners, and returned home. In 1867, with two other gen- tlemen, he bought the Planters Hotel, in Leavenworth, Kansas, paying for it, $100,000. In 1868, he bid off the government contract to deliver 25,000 head of beef cattle for the northern supply. The contract was declared his, yet, by some technicality, was not allowed. His hotel proved to be a serious loss, financially, as the town grew away from it, and other hotels were erected. Mr. P. became convinced, by this time. that a good farm in Clinton County was better, to depend upon, than any speculation. Consequently, he settled on the old Tillery farm, the second farm opened on the prairie, and one of the best located, as it
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adjoins Lathrop on the west, along the Pleasant Ridge. He has now 240 acres under fence and well cultivated, and is an extensive dealer in stock, making it a specialty. He also feeds 100 head of cattle a year, and in this important branch has been very fortunate. Mr. Pleas' life has been an eventful one, and, although having met with many losses, he has, during later years, prospered, and is now one of the solid men of the county. He married Miss A. Gordon, of Clay County, in 1862. They have eight children : Carrie Mary, Willie, Walter, Lela, Freddie, Darzey, Sally and Eddie. Mrs. Pleas' father, the Hon. Thomas Gordon, of Clay County, Missouri, was born in Kentucky, and came to Clay County in an early day. He was a large dealer and raiser of stock. He took an active part in politics, was a member of the legislature for three years, and manifested great interest in its deliberations. He was one of Clay County's most wealthy and honored men, and died during the session of the legislature, in 1870. Mrs. Pleas received her educa- tion at Camden Point, where she was graduated.
LEWIS JACKSON ROGERS,
farmer, section 26, was born in Clay County, East Tennessee, October 24, 1803, and came to this state in 1841. Uncle Lew., as he is familiarly called, is one of those genial old gentlemen who are appreciated in every locality. Honest, high minded and noble, disdaining a mean act, he lives, in his extreme age, enjoying the result of the principles he has ever lived to maintain. His father was a preacher, and presiding elder of the M. E. Church and a warm friend of General Jackson, and was his chaplain and spiritual adviser all through his campaigns. He died in 1836. Lewis J. bought his father's farm, on which he remained until he came west. He settled first in Platte County, and five years later on account of sickness in his family, he located in Lathrop Township, where he improved a fine farm and reared his family. His estate embraces 240 acres of good land. Mr. Rogers married Elizabeth Carr, of Claiborne County, Tennessee, November 6, 1824. Twelve children were the result of this marriage, six of whom are living : William, David, Rueben, Sarah, John C., and Mary. Sarah was married to James Strickland August 23, 1861, and they have five children, Molly, James, Ida, Emma, and Andrew J. Mrs. L. J. Rogers died February 8, 1868, aged sixty-two years. His son, John C. Rogers, was born June 19, 1841, in Tennessee, and received a good education at the William Jewell Col- lege. He settled in Beaver Head County, Montana, where is one of the leading men of the territory. He was elected senator in the legislature, and has ever taken a deep interest in the improvements of the territory. Mr. Lewis Rogers is a lineal descendant of John Rogers, who was
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burned at the stake. Like him, he has always been a positive Chris- tian, and a member of the M. E. Church. He has taken a great interest in promoting the advancement of religion, and now his main comfort is living after the principle inherited from his father.
R. B. ROGERS,
farmer and cattle feeder, section 14, post office Lathrop, is a native of Knoxville, Claiborne County, Tennessee, and was born on the 29th day of October, 1832. When ten years of age he, with his parents, moved to Platte County, Missouri, in 1842, and remained there till 1848, when he came to Clinton County, settling in section 25. Here he assisted on the farm till about 1868. When sixteen years of age he had begun spec- ulating on his own account, and before becoming of age had done much business in this line, principally in the northern counties of Missouri. In 1861, he became a member of an independent cavalry company. In 1862, engaged in the cattle trade quite extensively. During the rebel- lion he was an active politician, being a staunch Republican. He is a good illustration of what economy and perseverance can accomplish ; having began in life with small means, and having been prudent in his expenditures, he richly merits the success which has attended his career. He found a wife in the person of Miss Nanna Allnut, whom he married in October, 1872. Their family consists of six children : Minnie, Daisy, Maggic, Richard, Ellen and Willard.
DR. J. V. SCRUGGS,
section 13, post office Lathrop, was born in Scott County, Kentucky, and was raised at Warsaw, Gallatin County, some seven miles from Georgetown. He received an excellent education, and is a master of the Latin and German languages. Having long had a taste for the medical profession, he commenced reading in 1848 with Drs. Chambers and Baldwin, of Georgetown, Kentucky, with whom he continued until 1851. In the winter of 1851-2 he attended lectures at Jefferson College, Phila- delphia, Pennsylvania, and there continued reading, in 1858, moving to Greenville, Clay County, Missouri. He was there engaged in the prac- tice of his profession till the summer of 1860, when he returned to Ken- tucky and graduated from the Kentucky State Medical University in 1861. Upon coming to Missouri, he located at Hainesville, Clinton County, and devoted his time to his chosen profession, and in 1870 moved to Kearney, Clay County, where he practiced till 1880. At that time Dr. Scruggs moved to his present place of abode. He was united in marriage in February, 1852, to Miss H. S. Frank, a native of Ken-
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tucky, born on the 25th of March, 1832. They have two children, C. D., and Jennie V. The family are members of the Christian Church. Their estate consists of 100 acres of well improved land, situated within one- half mile of the city of Lathrop.
WILLIAM A. SEATON,
farmer and stock raiser, section 18, post office Lathrop, is one among the leading farmers of Clinton County. He is a native of Tennessee, and was born on the 15th day of November, 1833. He resided in his native state until the age of nine years, when, with his parents, he moved to Daviess County, Missouri, in 1842, and there remained till 1843. He then settled in Platte County, and in 1851, moved to Clinton County, where he assisted his parents in cultivating the farm till 1855, when he apprenticed himself to Thomas Palmer, for the purpose of learning the carpenter's trade. After working some six months under that gentle- man, he entered into partnership with him, they continuing as a firm for three years. Into whatever Mr. Seaton undertakes, he throws his whole energy, and to this end his success may be largely attributed. On the LIth day of April, 1858, he was married to Miss Tabitha Ann St. John. After his marriage, Mr. Seaton purchased a farm, and has devoted his time to improving it. His estate comprises 250 acres of land, the result of his own industry and good management. Mr. and Mrs. S. have a family of eight children : Thomas I., Nancy J., Francis M., William H., Solomon I., Adelia M., Lulu B. and Charles G. They are members of the M. E. Church.
MONROE I. SIMPSON,
farmer and stock raiser, section 4, post office Lathrop, is a native of Warren County, Kentucky, and was born on the 3d day of January, 1844. He lived in that county until the age of sixteen years. His father having died, when Monroe was two years old, in 1859, with his mother, he came to Clinton County, Missouri, and settled where he now resides, purchasing a farm, which he improved. Mrs. Simpson here reared her family, and deserves great credit for the manner in which she brought them up, giving them the benefits of a good education. Mr. Monroe Simpson is a man of good moral principles, industrious and an excellent manager. He is very positive in character and possesses indomitable will and energy, which never yields even to the most adverse circum- stances. He was married on the 4th day of January, 1872, to Miss Telitha J. Walker, who was born on the 6th day of March, 1848. She is a native of Clinton County, Missouri. Their family consists of two children : Albert D., born March 2, 1874; and Williard M., born March 17, 1878. Mr. and Mrs. Simpson are both church members.
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A. C. SMITH,
farmer and stock raiser, the oldest son of ex-Governor George Smith, is a native of Columbiana, Ohio, and was born in 1836, on a farm. At the age of nine years, he, with his parents, moved to Caldwell County, Mis- souri, in 1845, settling on a farm. A. C. attended school during the win- ters, and assisted his father on the farm in the summer months. At the age of twenty-two he entered the Eclectic College, at Hiram, Portage County, Ohio, in which institution he remained, diligently pursuing his studies, for one year. Returning to Missouri, he was engaged in farming until 1861, when he enlisted in Company A, Sixth Missouri Volunteer Infantry, and served for thirteen months. He was also a member of the Thirteenth Missouri Volunteer Infantry, with which regiment he served one year. In 1866, he was united in marriage with Miss Jennie J. Smaly, a native of Cincinnati, Ohio. They have seven children : Wil- liam C., Edwin M., Blanch I., Llewellyn, George L., Clara B. and Roy. Mr. and Mrs. Smith are both church members.
A. T. STAPLES,
farmer, stock raiser and dealer, section I, was born in Champaign County, Ohio, June 30, 1836. His father moved to Michigan, where he lived for several years, and then took up his abode with his family, in Indiana, where he died, in 1844. In 1854, the subject of this sketch went to California, remaining until 1861, when he returned to Indiana. In 1868, he came to Clinton County, Missouri. Here he bought a portion of the farm he now owns, and has been adding to it, from time to time, until it now embraces 367 acres. He has been a hard working man, has dealt largely in stock, and in feeding the same has succeeded beyond his most sanguine hopes. Mr. S. is one of the thorough, substantial farmers in the township, and has done much towards its improvement. His farm land is stocked with the best of blooded cattle and hogs. He mar- ried Miss V. A. Foodray, of Fulton County, Indiana, in 1866. They have three children, Willie C., Eda O., Malta Laverna. Mr. S. and his brother-in-law, Simon Bickle, who died some time since, both settled on section I, of this township, at one time owning nearly all of that section. The latter was one of the most enterprising men in this vicinity.
EBENEZER STEEL,
farmer, section 2, was born in Green County, Ohio, April 6, 1821. He received a good education and was brought up as a farmer, after which he bought the old homestead, there living for fifty years. In 1876, he exchanged the old farm for his home in Clinton County, Missouri, upon which he immediately moved. This he has greatly improved, and
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now owns 280 acres of land. As a stock farm it is unsurpassed by any in the county. Mr. Steel, although not an old settler in the county, has made many friends here by his steady habits and obliging nature. He married Miss Catharine Shirey in Warren County, Ohio, May 19, 1842. They have five children living, Henry E., Joseph Granville, Warren But- ler, Ebenezer C., and Oliver P. Morton. Five died while in infancy. John W., his eldest son, was a member of Company E, Ninety-fourth Ohio Volunteer Infantry. He passed through nine hard fought battles, and during the last one, which was at Buzzard's Roost, he fell bravely defending the old flag. Melvin D., aged twenty-four, died in this county in August, 1876. Mr. Steel has belonged to the German Reformed Church for forty years. He is a consistent Christian and a liberal supporter to its treasury. In politics he has always been a republican.
MASON SUMMERS
was born in Montgomery County, Kentucky, February 6, 1801. His paternal grandfather and parents moved from Virginia to Kentucky in 1791. His father, John Summers, volunteered in the patriot army at the age of sixteen, and was present at the surrender of Cornwallis. His grandfather died, in Kentucky, at the advanced age of one hundred and nineteen years. At the age of one hundred and ten years, he voted at an election in Mount Sterling, Montgomery County, Kentucky. Mason was the eighth of a family of twelve children, seven sons and five daughters. The two eldest were born in Virginia ; the others in Ken- tucky. He left May's Lick, Mason County, his home in Kentucky, on the Sth of September, 1836, and reached Clay County, Missouri, October 15, following. He continued to reside there till the spring of 1849, when he moved to a locality in Clinton County, within two and a half miles of what is now the town of Lathrop, where he owned a farm of 1,120 acres. He continued to farm there, on a large scale, for the period of seven years. In 1856, he moved to Hainesville, in Jackson Town- ship, where, in partnership with James P. Gee, he opened the largest stock of goods ever offered for sale in the place. They continued to operate till the civil war compelled them to suspend and wrecked their fortunes. In the spring of 1875, he moved to Lathrop, where he has since continued to reside. December 4, 1823, he was married to Miss Maria Bell, a daughter of Daniel Bell, of Virginia. They had ten chil- dren, four sons and six daughters. Of these (in 1881) two sons, James Mason and John T., and two daughters, Mrs. Matilda Peters and Laura Summers, survive. One son, Aaron M. Summers, a youth of rare gifts of intellect, was graduated in Bethany College with high honors in the class of 1857, and died shortly after from the effects of intense mental applica-
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