USA > Missouri > Grundy County > The History of Grundy County, Missouri : an encyclopedia of useful information, and a compendium of actual facts > Part 44
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RICHARD E. BOYCE.
Richard E. Boyce was born on a farm in Daviess county, Missouri, No- vember 18, 1847. When he was ten years old his parents came to Grundy county and settled in Harrison township, and afterward in Washington 26
.
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HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY.
township. He worked on the farm until sixteen years of age, when he be- gan teaching school, having attended the district school of the township and taken a three years' course in Grand River College at Edinburg, Grundy county. He continued teaching, in Mercer and Grundy counties, up to 1867, when he accepted a clerkship in the store of W. W. Brooks in Tren- ton, remained one year, and then accepted a similar situation with Bozman & Carnes, of the same place, continuing with them until they sold out in 1869, and remaining with their suceessor, James M. Bailey, until 1872, in which year he was elected sheriff of Grundy county, and held that position for two consecutive terms. In 1876 he was elected county treasurer, and while so officiating was also engaged in the mercantile business at Trenton, from which he retired in the spring of 1878. In the spring of 1879 he again engaged in the mercantile business at Trenton, being associated with W. T. Wisdom, under name of R. E. Boyce & Company. In the spring of 1880 Mr. Wisdom sold his interest to J. M. Bailey, when the present firm of R. E. Boyce & Co. was formed. In 1871 Mr. Boyce was united in marriage to Miss Euphemia Leeper, of Grundy county. They have three children by this union; namely, Dorinda, Edwin L. and Mattie.
M. BINGHAM.
Melvin Bingham, prosecuting attorney of Grundy county, was born near Waukegan, in Lake county, Illinois, July 4, 1854. When two years old his parents removed to Bremer county, Iowa, and settled on a farm, where he lived with them until eighteen years of age. He obtained an elementary education in the common schools of Bremer county, and finished it in the Upper Iowa University, at Fayette, entering this institution in the fall of 1872, and attending four years, taking a scientific and commercial course, and graduating in 1876. After leaving the university he taught school, as he had previously done. He continued to teach until the fall of 1877, when he came to Missouri for his health, and visited at Trenton, returning home in March, 1878. In May of the same year he came back to Trenton, and began the study of law in the office of Shanklin, Low & McDougal, study- ing with them until April, 1879, when he was admitted to the bar. He remained with the above firm until January, 1880, when he established an office of his own, and has built up a Incrative practice. Although a young man, his talents are appreciated, and he has been called into public service by the voice of his fellow citizens, having been elected prosecuting attorney of Grundy county, in November, 1880. On the 15th of December, 1880, he was united in marriage to Miss Florence Ohmart, daughter of C. Ohmart, of Trenton, Missouri.
L. BALLINGER.
Libanus Ballinger was born on a farm near Chillicothe, Missouri, January 9, 1851, where he lived with his parents until his sixteenth year, and then
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HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY.
went to Chillicothe and served an apprenticeship of three years to learn the art of photographing, with Louis Moberly, after which he went to Boone county, Missouri, and spent a year with his brother. In 1869 he came to Trenton and bought out a photograph gallery; pursuing that business until 1871, he sold out and accepted a clerkship in the Trenton post-office, under Postmaster David Crook, and held it until the spring of 1874, when he went to Pahnyra, Missouri, and was employed in the bookstore of F. Krum- mel until February, 1875. Accepting a position as traveling salesman for R. S. Poppin & Company, of St. Louis, he was in their employ until the following July, when he returned to Trenton, and in October was employed by Boyles & Bowen, lumber dealers, as book-keeper, remaining with them until March, 1877. Again accepting a clerkship in the Trenton post-office, (under the same postmaster) he held the position for two years. In March, 1879, he established his present business, dealing in books, stationery and notions, and is building up a good trade. On the 13th of September, 1876, Mr. Ballinger married Miss Albina S. Devereaux, of Palmyra, Missouri: They have one child, Leon D., born in Trenton, June 18, 1878. Mr. B. is a member of the I. O. O. F. and A. O. U. W. orders.
J. B. BERRY,
The present genial circuit clerk and recorder of Grundy county, was born in Coshocton county, Ohio, November 29, 1833. He was reared in his na- tive county, and began life for himself in 1851, engaging in the photograph- ing business, which he followed until 1856 or '57. In 1853, March 13th, he was joined in marriage to Miss Anna Green, of Coshocton county, Ohio, who died at Trenton, May 27, 1877. In 1857 our subject went to Illinois and lived in the cities of Peoria and Fulton, where he was engaged in car- pentering until 1867, in which year he came to Grundy county. Settling on a piece of wild land he improved and lived upon it until 1875, and, with farming, was also engaged, to some extent, in raising hedge plants. In 1875 he rented his farm and came to Trenton, having been elected cireuit clerk and recorder the previous year. In 1878 he was elected his own suc- cessor, and is now worthily serving his second term. His great popularity deserves mention, for having been twice elected, as Grundy county is strongly Republican and he is a Democrat, and was defeated when brought out by his party for the election of sheriff in 1872. December 1, 1878, Mr. Berry married Mrs. Sallie H. Miles, of Linn county, Missouri. He has six children-all by his first wife; viz., William W., of Kansas City; John, clerk in the store of Boyce & Co., in Trenton; Mary, living at home; Frank, clerking for M. S. Flynn in Trenton; and Cora and Jennie, living at home.
MRS. NANCY BENSON.
Nancy Wilson, a native of Virginia, was born in Tazewell county, in 1830. Her parents, John and Sarah Wilson, came to Missouri in 1840, and
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HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY.
settled near Keytesville, Chariton county, until 1844, when they came to Grundy county and permanently located on a farm near Trenton. On the 5th of January, 1851, she became the wife of James G. Benson, who was one of the pioneers, and a prominent citizen of Grundy county. Mr. Ben- son was born in Maryland in 1813, and came to Grundy county in 1836. In 1865 he was appointed county judge by the governor, and in 1877 was presiding justice of the county court of Grundy county, and held that office up to the time of his death, which occurred November 22, 1878. Mr. and Mrs. Benson were the parents of four children: Lou Emma, wife of Mr. Bert Tomlinson, of Trenton; William T .; Ruth, wife of J. W. Proctor, of Trenton; and Charles. Mrs. Benson, sinee her husband's death, has owned and conducted the Union House, of Trenton.
GUSTAV BARTII
Was born in Illingen, Prussia, June 19, 1857, and was educated in the high school of the city of Illingen, completing the higher branches in. the Hebrew Seminary of the same city. When fifteen years of age he came to the United States, and on his arrival, in 1872, accepted a position as salesman in the store of his brothers, J. and V. Barth, at Columbia, Missouri, and continued with them three years. In 1875 he came to Trenton and engaged in business with his brother, under the firm name of Simon V. Barth & Co., and dealing in clothing and gentlemen's furnishing goods. He is also associated with his brother, at Atchison, Kansas, where they are doing business as S. V. Barth & Co. He was reared, and still adheres to the Jew- ish faith and worship.
JOHN BUCKLEY
Was born at Lindsay, Province of Ontario, Canada, August S, 1840, where he was reared, attended the common schools and served an apprenticeship of three years to learn the blacksmith's trade under John Thirkell, an ex- tensive and prosperous carriage-maker of that place. After the expiration of his apprenticeship he was employed in the same shops as journeyman three years. In 1863 he came to the United States and was employed in the shop of T. D. Demorest, of Unionville, New York, in the agrienltural works of Seymore, Allen & Co., of Broekport, same State, in the ear manu- facturing shops of L. Gill & Son, of Columbus, Ohio, and in the shops of the Atlantic & Great Western R. R. Co., at Cleveland, Ohio, going to Chicago in May, 1866, where he was employed in the shops of the Chicago, Rock Island & Pacific R. R. Co. There he worked until 1872, when he was promoted to the foremanship of the company's blacksmith shops at Trenton, Missouri, under R. O. Carseadin, master mechanic. October, 13, 1872, he married Miss Rose M. Coughlin, of Chicago. They have one child, Anna Elizabeth, two years old, and born in Trenton. Mr. and Mrs. Buckley are members of St. Joseph's Catholic Church of Trenton.
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HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY.
W. C. BENSON.
William C. Benson was born on a farm near Snow Hill, the county seat of Worcester county, Maryland, on the 2d of September, 1820. His mother dying when he was two years old, and his father when he was ten, our sub- ject was placed in care of an uncle living near his native place. With this uncle he remained until he reached the age of fifteen years, having worked on the farm except such time as he attended the district school in winter. In 1836 he accompanied his uncle in his removal to Missouri, stopping at Lexington, the county seat of Fayette county, where he remained until the following fall, and then struck out for the Grand River country, and settled near where Trenton now is, then in the county of Livingston. When nine- teen years old he started ont to make his own living, securing employment at splitting rails by the hundred, which he shortly gave up to accept a situ- ation at driving a breaking plow at $10 per month, continuing that business until he became of age. At that time he began to learn the carpenter's trade, and worked at the business for fifteen years, when, in 1856, he went into the store of G. M. Cooper & Co .. of Trenton, as clerk, and remained three or four years. This firm sold out to Harris & Cook, with whom he remained a short time, and then accepted a similar situation in the store of Parker & Chandler. In the employment of this firm he continued until 1861, when he received the appointment of deputy sheriff under Edson P. Harding, served about six months, then accepted a po- sition in the store of G. W. Moberly, which he held until 1877, and was next in the employ of D. M. Rice & Sons, successors to Mr. Moberly. In 1868 he embarked in the mercantile business on his own account, and the following year John A. Shanklin became his partner, under the firm name of W. C. Benson & Co. This firm con- tinued to do business until the spring of 1874, when Mr. Shanklin retired, and Edward A. Benson succeeded him, under the name and style of W. C. Benson & Son, and they still continue to carry on a large business, average- ing annually about $25,000. During the time Mr. Benson was in the employ of Mr. Moberly, and afterward, he was elected and reelected treas- urer of Grundy county, serving in that capacity eight years. He is a prom- inent member of the I. O. O. F., and has filled all the offices in the subor- dinate lodge, and is now deputy grand master of his district.
Mr. Benson has twice been united in matrimony; the first time to Miss Elizabeth Walker, of Tennessee, in 1844. This lady died in 1865, leaving her husband three children; namely, Beatrice, now Mrs. Erwin Dunlap; Ruth, now Mrs. John A. Shanklin; and Edward A., of the firm of W. C. Benson & Son.
In 1867 Mr. Benson was married a second time, Mrs. Martha Thomas becoming Mrs. Benson. They have two children, Cora and Carl.
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IIISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY.
Mr. Benson was county treasurer during the war, and owing to the troub- lous times, when the war waged fiercely and bushwhacking parties raided the country, he was in constant fear of being robbed of the county funds in his keeping. He at last threw the key of the safe away, so that if he should be called on for it, he could not surrender it or tell where it was. Mr. Benson is a member of the Baptist Church.
ISAAC COLES, M. D.
Isaac Coles was born on a farm near Deerfield, Portage county, Ohio, October 1st, 1819. His father was of New Jersey birth and his mother was a native of Massachusetts. When Isaac was six months old his father removed to Pennsylvania, and settled upon a farm he had traded for on Scrubgrass Creek, in Venango county, fifteen miles from Franklin, the county seat. Here little Isaac, when old enough, attended his first school, trudging along for a mile and a half through the unbroken forest to the temple of learning, which consisted of a rude log school-house with bench seats, the backs of which was the invigorating atmosphere which whistled through the cracks of the structure. The teacher was supported by sub- scriptions from the patrons, but these sums were never large enough to ena- ble him to acquire fabulous wealth by his labors. Isaac attended this school until the spring of 1832, when his father sold the farm and removed to the western part of Mercer county, in the same State, and they lived upon a farm bordering upon the Shenango River, for one year. From here the family removed to Hartford, Trumbull county, Ohio, where Isaac attended the district schools a short time and then went to live with the family of Mr. Seth Hayes, at Burgh Hill, in the same county, working during the summer and in the winter attending the select school at Burgh Hill. When fifteen years old he entered the academy at Farmington, in Trumbull county, and the winter he was sixteen taught school at Brookfield. From this time on he continued to teach in winter and study in summer for some six years, when in the spring of 1838 he entered the office of Dr. Joseph Truesdale, of Poland, Mahoning county, Ohio, and began the study of medicine. The following summer he taught three months in Poland, and the next winter conducted a select school in Bourbon county, Kentucky, returning to Dr. Truesdale's office the ensuing spring. The winter of 1840 found him teach- ing in Rossville, Butler county, Ohio, and employing his leisure moments perusing medical works borrowed from a neighboring physician. He pre- sided over the school at New Harmony, Indiana, the winter of 1841, and the following spring returned to Dr. Truesdale's office, where he remained until the school season and then went to Brookfield, Ohio, thus teaching his last school at the same place he first officiated. The summer of 1842 he read medicine with and assisted Dr. Joseph Cowden, of Lowell, Ohio, and the next fall attended to the practice of Dr. Wood, of Pulaski, Mercer
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HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY.
county, Pennsylvania, during the doctor's absence. He attended the ses- sions of 1843 and 1844 of the Willoughby Medical College, and in the spring of the latter year began practice at Milton, in Trumbull county, Ohio, removing the next year to Palmyra, Portage county, in the same State, where he practiced his profession until August, 1860, and then located at Pilot Knob, Iron county, Missouri, practicing there up to the latter part of 1862, when owing to troubles growing ont of the civil war he returned to the land of the Buckeye and settled in Shalersville, Portage county. While living upon his farm in Portage county, in 1864, Dr. Coles entered the army as a volunteer surgeon, and was immediately sent to the front to attend upon the wounded in Rosecrans's army at Chattanooga, Tennessee. He at- tended the course of lectures of 1866-67 of the Charity Hospital Medical School, at Cleveland, Ohio, from which institution he graduated. In the spring of 1867 Dr. Coles retraced his steps to Missouri and located in Tren- ton, where he has since resided and secured a large and extensive practice in the various branches of his profession. Shortly after his arrival in Trenton he was associated with Dr. Wm. R. Berry, until that gentleman's removal to Macon City. Dr. Coles is a frequent contributor to the press, and in 1876 composed and read the centennial poem at the grand fourth of July 'celebration of that year. He still holds the position of examining surgeon of Grundy county, having been appointed in 1867. He has served two terms in the city council, and for four years was director of the public schools of Trenton and was also treasurer when the high school was erected. Dr. Coles cast his first vote for Martin Van Buren in 1840, and remained a member of the Democratic party up to the time of the repeal of the Mis- souri Compromise and the Kansas-Nebraska agitation, when he entered and assisted in the organization of the Republican party, voting for Fremont in 1856 and Garfield in 1880.
Dr. Coles was united in marriage in Shalersville, Portage county, Ohio, August 1st, 1847, to Miss Elizabeth Viets, daughter of Chauncey and Clarissa Viets. The issue of this union was two children: Vietta, now Mrs. H. H. Lord; and Fiat-both of Ohio birth. Dr. Coles's father died in 1841 and his mother in 1847.
C. A. CONRADS.
Clemens Augustus Conrads is a native of Prussia, and was born Feb- ruary 18, 1838, in the city of Coblentz, which takes its names from its sit- uation at the confluence of the Rhine and Moselle rivers. He received an education in the common schools of his birthplace, and worked with his father as a machinist until he reached his twentieth year, when he emi- grated to the United States, and located at Lindley, in Grundy county, in May of 1858, where he engaged in the stove and tinware business with his brotlter, F. C. Conrads, who had preceded him to this country some four years. Retiring from the firm on account of ill health, in 1862 he made a
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HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY.
trip to Nevada and California, where he, for a short time, engaged in min- ing. Returning to Grundy county in 1865 his brother had removed to Trenton, where he again became a partner under the firm name of Conrads & Bro., which firm still condnets a general stove and tinware business. In 1866 Mr. Conrads married Miss Annie E. Lowen, of Trenton. By this marriage they have four children, Lena, Rupert, Kate and Ralph. Mr. Conrads is conservative Democrat in politics. Was a member of the city council from 1870 to 1872; in 1873 was elected county judge, reelected in 1877, and served until 1879. At the time of his visit to California, and be- fore, he suffered severely from chills and fever, which usually attacked him in July and remained with him "closer than a brother" until February, but his trip across the plains proved a panacea for all his ills, and from the date of his return his health has been excellent.
LUTHER COLLIER,
The present mayor of Trenton, was born in the town of Fayette, Howard county, Missouri, June 19, 1842. His father, William Collier, was the con- tractor and builder of the Grundy county court-house, at Trenton, and was in Trenton at the time of his son's birth, making arrangements for the removal of his family to that place. In April, 1843, the family took up their residence in Trenton, where the subject of this sketch was reared, receiving an education in the common schools and high school of Trenton. This latter institution was at that time under the charge of Prof. Joseph Fieklin, now professor of mathematics in the State University. Mr. Collier gradnated in the fall of 1859, and in 1860 became assistant instructor at the high school under Prof. W. D. Stewart, principal, and continued until May, 1861. In the summer of the same year he opened a select school in Tren- ton, and taught one month, when he gave it up to a young lady, and enlisted in the Missouri State militia for six months. He was mnstered out in March, 1862, and resumed teaching in Trenton, but after a three months' term, again enlisted in the service of his country, this time in company B, of the Twenty-third regiment of Missouri volunteer infantry. He was snc- cessively promoted fifth sergeant, orderly sergeant and captain, but before receiving his commission as captain of company A, of the Twenty-third, he was detailed as acting adjutant of the regiment, and while in discharge of his duties was ent off from mail. facilities, and so failed to get his commis- sion until mustered ont of the service in Washington City, in June, 1865. Adjutant Collier was an active participant in the battle of Peach Tree Creek, Georgia, the siege of Atlanta, and battle of Jonesborough, Georgia, the fight at Bentonville, North Carolina, besides a number of others, and accompan- General W. T. Sherman in his famous march from Atlanta to the sea. Returning to Trenton after his honorable discharge from service, he accepted a clerkship in a store, which he held but a short time when he became assis-
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HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY.
tant deputy in the county elerk's office, continuing until 1868. He then began the study of law in the office of Shanklin, Austin & Herrick. Feb- ruary, 1870, he was admitted to the bar, and in 1871 opened an office in Trenton and began the practice of law. With the exception of the winters of 1871 and 1872, when he was doeket elerk of the House of Representa- tives, at Jefferson City, he has continued uninterruptedly in the practice of his profession. He has held several offices of trust at the hands of the peo- ple, having been elected elerk of the school-board for seven years in sucees- sion, city attorney of Trenton for six years, city elerk from 1869 to 1880, when he was elected mayor, which office he now holds.
Mr. Collier has been twice married. The first time to Miss Martha B. Carter, of Trenton, who was taken from him by death, June 16, 1878. By this union his fireside was blessed with five interesting children, named, respectively, Annie D., Oscar L., Kate, Jewett and Luther. His second wife, Miss Fannie Browner, of Clinton county, became Mrs. Luther Collier, October 29, 1879. They have one child, Leland H. Mr. and Mrs. Collier are members of the Christian Church of Trenton, of which church the first Mrs. Collier was also a devout member.
DR. JAMES COOPER.
James Cooper was born near Carver's Ferry, in Madison county, Ken- tueky, on the 19th of February, 1814, where he was reared to manhood, and received a common school education. In 1837 he migrated to Missouri and taught school three months in Boone county, and then began the study of medicine under Dr. Wilcox, of Rocheport, in the same county. He con- tinued to study, alternating with school-teaching, until 1839, when he removed to Linneus, Linn county, Missouri, and practiced for five years, removing to Trenton in 1844. Here he formed a partnership with Dr. Thompson, and practiced with him for one year, then opened an office alone, and has attended to the ardnous duties of an extensive practice for thirty- eight years, four of which, from 1854 to 1858, he was associated with Dr. E. Harris. In 1861 he was commissioned army surgeon, and placed in charge of the hospitals at Chillicothe and Trenton, holding this position until 1863, when he resigned and removed to Canton, Illinois, where he acquired a large practice during his six years' residence. He returned to Trenton in 1869, continuing his residence and practice there sinee.
On the 10th of August, 1837, Dr. Cooper was joined in wedlock to Miss Mary Ann E. Harris, daughter of Major Robert Harris, of Madison county, Kentucky. Three children were the fruits of this union; namely, Ann E., now Mrs. R. A. Collier, of Trenton; Eberle B., present deputy county elerk of Grundy county; and Nannie J., now Mrs. W. S. H. Marsh, of Trenton. Dr. and Mrs. Cooper are members of long standing of the Methodist Epis- copal Church of Trenton.
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IIISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY.
J. E. CARTER.
John E. Carter was born near Lafayette, Tippecanoe county, Indiana, December 31st, 1836. He grew up in the Hoosier State, and learned the trade of blacksmithing. In 1854 the family migrated to Missouri and settled in Trenton, {where the subject of this sketch began business on his own re- sources by engaging in blacksmithing, in which he continned until 1863, excepting the time he served as captain in the Missouri State militia, in 1862. In the latter part of 1863 he launched his bark upon the journal- istic sea by purchasing the Grand River Republican, which he edited and published only a short time, then sold out and returned to his business of blacksmithing to which he added wagon and carriage making, carrying on the business until 1879, when he accepted a position as traveling salesman for Semley Bro., of Quincy, Illinois. With this firm he remained only a short time, then returned to Trenton and in 1880 was elected treasurer of Grundy county, which position he is at present acceptably filling. In May of the year last named he purchased an interest in the Trenton Weekly Star, and was elected editor of that paper by the stockholders. Mr. Carter con- tinued to edit the Star until July 28th, 1881, when he retired, having won during his occupancy of the chair editorial a wide reputation as a bright and popular writer. After retiring from the newspaper business, he once more began work at his trade of blacksmithing and carriage making, in which .he is still engaged.
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