USA > Missouri > Grundy County > The History of Grundy County, Missouri : an encyclopedia of useful information, and a compendium of actual facts > Part 53
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42 | Part 43 | Part 44 | Part 45 | Part 46 | Part 47 | Part 48 | Part 49 | Part 50 | Part 51 | Part 52 | Part 53 | Part 54 | Part 55 | Part 56 | Part 57 | Part 58 | Part 59 | Part 60 | Part 61 | Part 62 | Part 63 | Part 64 | Part 65 | Part 66 | Part 67 | Part 68 | Part 69 | Part 70 | Part 71 | Part 72 | Part 73 | Part 74 | Part 75 | Part 76 | Part 77
The post-office is in charge of O. K. Munn, who, with HI. Montgomery, are the justices of the peace of the township.
Franklin township had a population in 1870 of 1,029. In 1876, after the redistricting of the county made the new township organization, the popu- lation was still 1,029, the gain at Spickardsville and in the county was nearly enough to make up for loss of population of that part of her territory attached to Lincoln. The cenus of 1880 gives the total population at 1,261, being the third in the county. Of this number Spickardsville is set down with a population of 330.
Her assessed valuation in 1874 was $169,801. That of 1880 was given by congressional townships and not municipal. The number of acres within her bounds is 20,480.
SCHOOLS.
There are seven schools in the township and all are in a flourishing con- dition. The following is an outline description of the locations and schools in the various districts :
School-house No. 4, in section 17, township 63, range 24, has perhaps the most interesting history, being the successor to the old log school-house built in 1843 by the volunteer services of the neighbors. After the removal of this first primitive structure another school-house was erected in 1857, also by the volunteer work of the neighbors. This was quite an
507
IHISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY.
improvement on the first, but still lacked a great deal of being perfect in its appointments. It was constructed of logs with such modern conveniences as a stone chimney and a fire-place, and seats made of split logs with holes bored in the ends for the insertion of the legs. John C. Reed was the first teacher, and received the munificent salary of $16 per month. The direc- tors for that term were Messrs. G. A. Spickard, John Spickard and Thomas Austin. The present school building was erected in 1868 by Thomas Aus- tin and J. B. Wilson, and cost about $700. Mr. Jefferson Steele was the first teacher, and received $40 per month for his services. The present directors consist of Messrs. G. A. Spickard, W. J. Johnson and J. B. Wilson.
The school-house in district No. 5, section 15, township 63, range 24, was built in 1868, by Chauncey Hall, and on the 25th of November, 1872, it was burned down .. Miss Adaline Robbins officiated as the first teacher of the school. A new building was put up in 1873, and is still in use.
School-house No. 9 is situated in the town of Spickardsville. It was built in the year 1873 by W. H. Newton, and cost some $400. The first preceptor was Mr. W. A. Brainerd, who taught until last year, when he was succeeded by Miss Lizzie Brainerd, who officiated up to the time of vacation.
The school-house in district No. 8 was erected by Peter Amick in 1869, at a cost of $550, and the first teacher who officiated was Benjamin C. Nichols. The building furnished food for the flames in September, 1880, and the same fall was rebuilt by II. Montgomery.
Neat and tasty school-houses have been erected in section 19, township 63, range 23, section 19, township 63, range 24, and section 30, township 63, range 23. The first numbered 3, the second 5 and 6, and the last 6 and 7. Schools have been conducted regularly since their erection. This closes the list of schools in the township.
BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES.
PETER AMICK,
Fifth son of Nicholas Amick, and Sarah Amick, nee Foust, was born in Clarke county, Indiana, September 15, 1819. His parents moved to Jennings county, in 1821; remained with his parents farming until 1843, when on April 20, he married Miss Barbara Clapp, daughter of Wmn. Clapp, and in 1851 moved to Jefferson county, Iowa. His wife died March 10, 1852, when he sent his children to Indiana, and crossed the plains to California. Returned to Madison, Indiana, by the Nicaragua route, in 1853.
He married Miss Lydia Ann Sailors, July 8, 1856, and in October, 1857,
508
HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY.
moved to his present farm in Franklin township. Being opposed to slavery, he was branded as an Abolitionist, which caused him considerable trouble before and during the war. In 1860 only three men in his voting precinct voted for Abraham Lincoln, and he was the only one who publicly ac- knowledged it. He joined the Missouri militia for six months, and his eldest son, Abram P., enlisted in the Twenty-third Missouri infantry for three years, and was in the battle of Shiloh, and with Gen. Sherman on his march to the sea, and was discharged in the fall of 1864. In the spring of 1863, Mr. Amick took another trip to California, returning in May, 1864. After his return he lived in Trenton two years, and then returned to his farm, where he has since remained.
He has been the father of thirteen children, eight of whom are living, and named as follows: Abram P., married Sarah J. Townsend and they have two sons, William and George; Festus F., Zur. Z., Joel F., Oscar P., Walter F .. Seretta A. and John Sherman.
JACOB ASHBROOK.
The subject of this sketch is a native of Logan county, Ohio, born No- vember 29, 1831. When about eight years old his parents removed to Grundy county, and located a farm upon the banks of Muddy Creek, where he grew up and received an education in the early log school-houses of the country. Reared upon a farm, he naturally took a great liking for the pro- fession of agriculture, and upon reaching manhood began the life of a farmer on his own resources, and is now the possessor of one of the finest farms, of one hundred and twenty acres, to be found in Franklin township. He has a comfortable residence, beautifully located, commanding a fine view of the surrounding country. At the youthful age of eight years he became a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church, and has ever since been a faithful and consistent member. In 1878 he was licensed an exhorter and through his instrumentality much good has been achieved. Mr. Ashbrook has won a well deserved reputation as a man of honesty and fair dealing. He was united in marriage to Miss Rachel White, on the 10th of March, 1859, in Franklin township. Nine children were the fruits of this union, five of whom are living; namely, Margaret A., William M., Janette E., David F. and Orville. Those dead are: Joseph G., Louise, Wesley and Isu B.
ELI A. COOK,
Son of John and Sarah Cook, nee Wilson, was born at Salem, Henry county, Iowa, September 8, 1843, and educated at the high school of his native place. In August, 1862, he joined the Nineteenth Iowa infantry and took part in the battle of Springfield, January 8, 1863, the several engagements and siege and surrender of Vicksburg, July 4, 1863. Was in General
4
509
IIISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY.
Banks's expedition through Texas and remained at Brownsville nine months; took part in the siege and capture of forts Gaines and Morgan in Mobile Bay; also in the engagements at Bagdad, Florida, and Pascagoula, Missis- sippi; was discharged at Davenport, Iowa, then went home to Henry county, same State. In the fall of 1865 moved to Alpha, in this county, and taught school.
On October 6, 1867, he married Miss Mary I. Littrel, step-daughter of the late Samuel Wilson, of Alpha. Was appointed justice of the peace for Marion township in the spring of 1871, and after the township was reorgan- ized in 1872, was elected three times consecutively justice of the peace for Wilson township. In December, 1879, he resigned the office and moved to Spickardsville, where he has since lived, carrying on his present mercantile business. Mr. and Mrs. Cook have four children; viz., Edgar A., born Sep- tember 2, 1868; Emma, born January 27, 1871; Cara, born August 31, 1873; Albert P., born November 24, 1875.
NATIIAN M. COON,
Son of Jacob B. Coon and Julia C. Coon, nee Blair, was born in Mercer county, Missouri, July 29, 1852, and was educated at the district schools. June 23, 1872, he married Miss Minerva J. Drinkard, of Grundy county, and engaged in farming. In 1873 he was licensed an exhorter in the Methodist Episcopal Church, and was Sunday-school superintendent from 1873 to 1879, and in 1877 became a licensed preacher. In 1878 he was elected justice of the peace for Washington township, Mercer county, and held the office until the fall of 1879, when he resigned and moved to Spickardsville, Franklin township, Grundy county, and commenced to build the steam flouring-mill, which was completed in the following year at a cost of about $6,000, and which he is now running, in partnership, in the firm name of Coon Bros. & Co. Mr. and Mrs. Coon have three children; viz., Fred. W., Leslie E. and Luetta C.
REV. W. V. DENSLOW.
William V. Denslow, second son of John H. Denslow, and Martha, his wife, nee Shepherd (his father was a native of New York, and his mother of Kentucky), was born in Jennings county, Indiana, February 7, 1823. He attended a subscription school a short time in Jennings county. In the fall of 1839 his parents moved to Cedar county, Iowa, and he engaged with his father in farming. In 1854 he moved to Benton county, Iowa, and there married Miss Martha M. Cockburn, on July 26, 1855, and the same year was elected township assessor. · In 1857 he removed to Franklin town- ship, this county, and bought a farm in section twenty-five, township sixty- three, range twenty-three. In the spring of 1859, he sold out and went to Pike's Peak, but came back in the fall, and bought his present farm. On August 26, 1861, he joined the Twenty-third Missouri infantry, company C,
510
HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY.
Captain Jacob A. Trumbo, and was with the regiment in the battle of Shiloh, April 6, 1862, when he was taken prisoner and sent to Montgomery, Ala- bama, and then to Macon, Georgia. While at Macon he, with three others, escaped by excavating under the wall of the prison. They traveled by night and hid by day, their principal food being peaches and raw roasting- ears; they managed to get one goose, which they also ate raw. This made them very sick, and after about a week's absence they surrendered at a farm- house and were sent back and put in irons. They were then sent to Libby Prison for a short time, and afterward paroled. The Union authorities re-
ceived them in a steamboat on the James River, October 16, 1862, and when he again found himself under the old flag, his feelings of joy were in- describable. He was taken to Trinity Hospital, Washington, and to the hospital in Baltimore, under charge of Dr. Quick, after which he was moved to Camp Parole, Alexandria, where he was discharged, December 6, 1862. His wife and three children remained at the farm, the eldest about five years and the youngest less than a year old, with no friends or relatives in the county. He was elected justice of the peace for Franklin township, in 1858 and in 1860. November 6, 1866, he was elected one of the three judges of the Grundy County Court, for six years, and served four years, when an act of the legislature declared his office vacant. During these four years no saloons were licensed, and the $200,000 railroad bonds were voted on and issued.
He became a member of the M. E. Church about the year 1865, and was licensed to preach in 1872, and still remains a minister. Mr. and Mrs. Denslow have three children, named, respectively, Cornelius E., born July 5, 1856; William M., born August 9, 1858, who married Caroline Schooler, May 22, 1880; and John A., born December 10, 1860.
PHILIP C. DEVAUL,
Youngest son of Daniel and Sarah Devanl, nee Rhodes, was born in Daviess county, Missouri, August 9, 1836. His parents had lived in Grundy county and moved to Grundy again when he was very small. His mother died when he was five months old and was buried near Water Street, Trenton, and he went to live with Jarvis Woods, whose wife was his sister (and who were the first couple married in Grundy county). When about sixteen years old he moved to Daviess county and remained two years, then moved to Ray county, where he married on August 31, 1856, Miss Eliza Kinyon, daughter of Joseph Kinyon, of Clinton county, Missouri. On November 10, 1863, he enlisted in the Twelfth Missouri cavalry, company D, Captain Rickards and Colonel Wells, and was mustered in at St. Louis. Went to Memphis, Tennessee, drilled for a while and was then ordered to the front as skirmisher. Went through Tennessee, Mississippi and Alabama, and was taken prisoner on the skirmish line at Campbellsville, Tennessee, a few
511
IHISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY.
days before the battle of Franklin, after which he was marched south to Andersonville prison. Those who had good shoes had them taken away, and most of them went barefoot, with feet bleeding so that they could be traced by the blood. He was kept a prisoner five months and eight days, enduring sufferings and horrors beyond description. On June 2, 1865, he returned home to Grundy county, where he has since lived. After he came home his toe nails and several of his finger nails eame off, besides losing his hair. Mr. and Mrs. Devaul have had five children, one dead and four liv- ing, whose names follow: George W., born June 23, 1857, married Miss Emily Massengill: they have one child, Mary E .; Sarah E. F., born April 20, 1859, married John J. Scott: they have one child, Mary Irene; Mary Jane, born April 25, 1866; Alwilda, born February 27, 1869.
MRS. J. L. FAUCETT.
Melinda Jane Weldon, daughter of Andrew and Matilda Weldon, nee Ham, was born in Lincoln county, Kentucky, on March 5, 1831. Her parents left Kentucky September 3, 1838, and landed in Franklin township, this county, January 3, 1839. The county was not then organized, and they moved in a log house on what is now Mrs. Anstin's land. Garrison Car- mine and Joseph Mendenhall were living there at the time. In the fall of 1838 the battle of Honn's Mill was fought between the Mormons and citi- zens of Missouri, and at that time two Mormon families, named Lathrop and Jackson, lived in this same house. The night and day after the battle these Mormon families kept her sister-in-law, Naney Hatfield, and several others, prisoners until they, the said Mormons, were ready to leave the country, which they did with all speed.
In February, 1839, her family moved two and one-half miles west of their first cabin home, and there she remained until her mother died, in April, 1849. In the following August she went to Decatur, Iowa, and June 26, 1856, was united in marriage to Joseph Hanley. In 1869 she moved to Lincoln county, Kansas, but returned in 1860 to Livingston county, Mis- sonri. In 1862 her husband joined the Twenty-third Missouri infantry, company K; was taken prisoner at Pittsburg Landing on April 6, 1862, and paroled in August, and died February 21, 1863. 'After her husband's death she removed to Grundy county, and in March, 1867, was married to J. L. Fancett. She became the mother of four children, all of whom are dead. The Weldon Fork of Grand River was named after her cousin, James Wel- don. Her second husband, J. L. Faucett, was born in Orange county, North Carolina, July 31, 1817, and lived there until 1840, when he moved to St. Joseph, Missouri, and in the spring of 1844 moved to Liberty, Clay county, and in the fall of the same year went back to North Carolina. In 1850 he moved to Richland county, Illinois, and in 1855 came to Grundy county, where he has since resided. On October 24, 1849, he married Miss
512
HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY.
Mary A. Pettigrew, who died May 8, 1866, leaving one daughter, Isabel, who married Joseph Moore. On March 11, 1867, he married Mrs. Melinda J. Hanley, his present wife.
ALSON A. HART,
Fourth son of Absalom and Deborah Hart, nee Hodson (of North Caro- lina), was born in Highland county, Ohio, September 6, 1825. In 1827 his parents moved to Madison county, Indiana. In 1839 went to Henry county, Iowa, and his mother died there in 1840. Moved to Jefferson county in 1842, and in 1843 left there and went to St. Joseph, Missouri. In the fall of 1844 he moved back to Iowa, and on February 28, 1845, mar- ried Miss Mary Rape. In October, 1847, he enlisted in the Second regi- ment, United States dragoons, company C, for the Mexican War; went to St. Louis, Jefferson City (Missouri), New Orleans, landed at Vera Cruz, " marehed to Camp Washington and to the City of Mexico under General Scott. ( When the General was arrested by order of Generals Pillow and Worth he was one of his escorts from the City of Mexico to Vera Cruz. At the west gate of the latter city Gen. Scott, before parting, made them a very encouraging speech in which he showed great emotion.) He visited the old city of Montezuma. When the treaty of peace was ratified he re- turned home, having been discharged in July, 1848. Continued farming in Jefferson county, Iowa, until 1856, then traveled with goods through south Iowa and north Missouri until 1858, when he moved to Linn county, Kan- sas, and lost considerable property while there and returned to Iowa. In May, 1869, he bought land in Franklin township, and has farmed it ever since. Mr. and Mrs. Hart have had seven children, four of whom are liv- ing; viz., Lonisa Jane, born July 14, 1847, married John Francisco, and has six children; Elston W., born February 10, 1853, married L. Covey, has four children; Ann G., born January 11, 1855, married A. M. Deane, has three children; Sarah M., born February 14, 1857, married E. Browning, has two children living and one dead.
REV. N. W. KEITII.
Nathan W. Keith, fourth son of William Keith and Elizabeth Keith, nee Asbury, was born in Harrison county, Kentucky, September 23, 1827. His parents moved to Logan county, Ohio, about 1828, and in 1839 moved to Franklin township, Grundy county, where he attended a subscription school (Co). J. H. Shanklin, of Trenton, being one of his teachers), and worked on the farm with his father until 1849, December 9th of which year he mar- ried Miss Margaret Schooler, and farmed in Grundy county until 1854, when he moved to Mercer county, remained there until 1858, then bought a farm in Franklin township. In 1861 he moved to Wayne county, Iowa, and remained there twelve years, then returned to Franklin township and bought the farm on which he now lives. He was licensed as preacher for
513
HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY.
the M. E. Church in 1866, and continued to preach in that church until 1880, when he changed to the United Brethren and now has charge of the Spickardsville station. Mr. and Mrs. Keith have eight chil- dren living, as follows: Christopher C., born December 8, 1850, married Hannah E. Harron, who died December 18, 1878, and then mar- ried Rachel Dinsmoor; Sarah Jane, born October 17th, 1852; Wm. Wesley, born February 19, 1855, married Elvina Trussel; Francis M., born May, 14, 1857, married Hannah Ellis; Ezekiel born November 30, 1860; John N., born July 4, 1863; Thomas H., born December 26, 1866; Alfred Asbury, born January 8, 1870.
N. F. MUNN,
Son of James and Philena Munn, nee Oliver, was born in Burlington, Law- renee county, Ohio, June 16, 1819. Was educated in Logan county and married there to Miss Sophia Ellis on October 17, 1838, and engaged in farming. In the fall of 1840 he moved to this county, taking up one hundred and sixty acres of land on Honey Creek, about five miles southeast of Spick- ardsville. When he commenced, his whole outfit for himself, wife and child, weighed about one hundred and seventy-five pounds, and he had seven- ty-five cents in cash. He built a log cabin in the spring of 1841, and cleared and fenced about five acres of land, and as he had no team, carried all the rails used in fencing on his shoulders. He borrowed a team to break the ground, and his wife dropped the corn and carried the baby. In 1842 he traded his elaim for $50, taking a horse for pay which died in less than a week and he was just as poor as ever, but they were happy. The county was so full of natural resources that if a man had his health he felt rich. He then moved to Mercer county, but returned in 1849. In 1850 he went to California and in the spring of 1852 returned to Franklin township and bought the Blakely farm (now owned by D. C. Pugh) and lived there until 1873, excepting the time spent in a visit to Pike's Peak in 1860. Mrs. Munn died August 19, 1872, leaving five children. On March 13th, 1873, he married Mrs. Amy Hooker, of Sullivan connty, Missouri, and moved to Spiekardsville and engaged in the mercantile business until 1880, when he sold out. From 1865 to 1872, Mr. Munn was a licensed minister of the church of the United Brethren.
By his two marriages Mr. Munn has been the father of seven children. Five by his first wife; namely, Oliver K., Eliza J., now Mrs. S. D. Lowe; Benjamin F .; James W., married Annie M. Rhinehart; and Armand L. By his second wife, Nettie F., and Alice P.
JOHN MOORE,
Fourth son of Levi and Rachel Moore, nee Haines, was born in Chariton county, Missouri, September 14th, 1822, and with his parents moved to Randolph county, from there to Daviess county, and when he was quite
514
HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY.
small settled about two miles north of where Gallatin now stands, Rich- mond, in Ray county, being the nearest town. They moved from there to where Trenton is now located in 1833 or 1834. His father was the first white man who raised a crop in Grundy county-on ground near the present site of the railroad machine-shops at Trenton, where the first corn planted was destroyed by pigeons, which were so numerons that the branches on the trees where they roosted broke off. Deer, wild turkeys and honey were very plentiful, which, with hominy, was their principal food. His pants were made of buckskin, his cap of coonskin, and he never saw a pair of boots or shoes until he was about twelve years of age, wearing, in winter, moccasins made of cowhide. The county was surveyed by Mr. Applegate, in 1836, and he carried the surveyor's provisions. When Trenton was laid off he moved to where Mr. Val. Briegle now lives and while living at this farm the Indians often came to trade, and buy horses, giving their notes payable when the government paid them, with the old chief Tuckwash, as their security. This chief frequently went to Des Moines in behalf of the settlers to collect these notes which the Indians always paid promptly. Mr. Moore learned their language, while dealing with them. In Angust 1847 Mr. Moore joined the Indian battalion for the Mexican War; was mus- tered in at Leavenworth and marched to Santa Fé, under General Price; was not inside of a house for thirteen months; took part in two engag- ments with the Indians in Mexico. When peace was declared he returned to Independence, Missouri, where the battalion was disbanded in Novem- ber, 1848. On May 18th, 1849, Mr. Moore married Miss Emmeline Was- son. In the spring of 1850 he started over the plains for California, and meeting a company from Illinois at Council Bluffs, the two parties united and elected him captain, and they journeyed on together, taking five months to reach Hangtown, California. He went to the China diggings seventy- five miles east of Stockton, in October, and in the following April, at the request of his comrades, started back home to bring their families. He was seventy-seven days on the way from San Francisco to Panama, crossed the Isthmus on foot and took a steamboat, via Havana, for New Orleans. Soon after his arrival in Grundy county he received a letter from his friends in California stating that they would be home in the fall, so he did not return. He joined the militia, in 1862, as second lieutenant of company A, and was stationed at Chillicothe. In May, 1863, he joined the provisional militia and was elected first lieutenant, and participated in one skirmish with the bushwhackers under Anderson. The militia disbanded in the fall, when captain G. A. Spickard and he made up a company, and went to St. Joseph, at their own expense. On arrival they found the regiment nearly full and he, with others returned home.
Mrs. Moore died in March, 1861, and Mr. Moore married Miss Mary Flowers in July, 1862. IIe has seven children living, and two dead. The
515
HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY.
names of those by his first wife are Nova Zembla Sublet, Bernettie, Seliss- abel, Cordelia Ellen, and Mary Emmeline; and by his second wife, Fortress Monroe and John Mayland.
DR. J. M'LAUGHLIN.
John Mclaughlin, third son of Thomas and Susan MeLaughlin, nee Maple (his grandfather and grandmother came from Scotland), was born in Greene county, Pennsylvania, August 26th, 1822. In 1825 his parents moved to Knox county, Ohio, where he was educated at the district schools, and remained until 1845, engaged in farming. April 13th, 1844, he married Miss Melissa Young and in the following year moved to Bartholo- mew county, Indiana. In 1857 he moved to Mercer county, Missouri, and in 1858 commenced to practice medicine. In 1861 he joined the Missouri militia and was commissioned lieutenant. In the fall of 1877 he moved to Spickardsville, in this county, and in March, 1878, purchased the farm on which he now lives, and continued the practice of medicine. His wife died May 25th, 1851, and left two children; namely, Lyman, born May 25th, 1846, married Miss Mattie Thogmartin, has five children; Sarah Jane, born May 25th, 1850, married James K. Vanderpool, has seven children. August 13th, 1852, he married Miss Nancy A. Sullivan. They have five children living and three dead. Their names are: James S., born May 29th, 1853 married Mattie Vanderpool, has two children; Thomas Jefferson, born December 29th, 1854; William Allen, born October 29th, 1856, married Sarah E. Colman who died December 29th, 1879, leaving three children; John S., born August 10th, 1859; Melinda, born September 22d, 1861; Nancy Belle, born September 22d, 1872.
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.