USA > Missouri > Grundy County > The History of Grundy County, Missouri : an encyclopedia of useful information, and a compendium of actual facts > Part 57
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SELAII HART
Was born August 15, 1830, in Morgan county, Ohio. His parents, Selah and Mary Hart, were both natives of Ohio. He was educated in the com- mon schools of Ohio, and began teaching school at the age of nineteen, which he followed during the winter, for six years, and gave his attention to the milling business when out of school. He was assessor of his township in Ohio for three successive terms. In 1874 he came to this county and settled where he now lives, made farming his business, and is now the owner of a fine farm of three hundred and seventy-five acres. Mr. Hart was united in marriage June 24, 1869, to Mrs. Rebecca Murphy. She was born March 13, 1841. Her maiden name was Elliott, and she was married to Washington Murphy, October 21, 1861. They had one child, Julietta, born July 2, 1861. Mr. Murphy died in March, 1865. Mr. and Mrs. Hart had three children; viz., Mary D., born June 2, 1870; Frank E., born No- vember 29, 1871; and Annie, born February 7, 1873. Mrs. Rebecca Hart died March 31, 1878. Mr. Hart married, a second time, September 4, 1879, Mrs. Rachel Dewees, widow of Caleb Dewees. Mr. and Mrs. Dewees were married December 25, 1858, and had two children: Charles H., born September 5, 1859, and John A., born August 16, 1861, died December 12, 1862. Mr. Dewees was killed at the battle of Gettysburg, Pennsylvania, July 3, 1863.
PIIILIP HILL
Was born December 23, 1823, in Washington county, Pennsylvania. When fourteen years old his parents removed to Morgan county, Ohio, where he was educated in the common schools, and learned and worked at the trade of cabinet-making for about fifteen years; then engaged in the mercantile business for five years with his brother, S. R. Hill, in Unionville, Morgan county, Ohio. He was united in marriage June 12, 1850, to Miss Mary
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HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY.
A. Reed. She was born February 10, 1828. Their family consists of seven children; named, respectively, Ann E., born August 10, 1852, died July 13, 1881; Stephen B., born September 24, 1854; William M., born March 4, 1857; John S., born November 14, 1860; Marietta, born July 8, 1863; Emma J., born September 4, 1867; and Nettie S., born July 5, 1871. Mr. Hill served nearly two years in company H, Sixth regiment Missouri State militia; was discharged on account of disability. He came to this connty in 1858, and has since been engaged in farming, raising and feed- ing cattle.
C. D. HOSKINS
Is a native of this county, and was born May 13, 1844; educated in the common schools of this county. He enlisted at the early age of seventeen years in company B, Second regiment Missouri volunteers, where he served for three years; was discharged May 5, 1865. His service was mostly ren- dered in Missouri, hunting bushwhackers; was in most of the heavy raids, but the hardest service he had was while after General Price. It would seem that he was not born to be shot, as he fought guerillas, not by skirmish but by the month, fighting the bands of Quantrell, Cole Younger, Anderson, Hayes, Hill, Dave Pool, and others. While on the Price raid he went four days at one time without anything to eat. After his discharge he returned home and has been engaged in the pursuit of farming since, excepting one year when he was in the circuit clerk's office at Trenton. March 9, 1875, Mr. Hoskins married Miss Mary M. Dunlap. She was born September 2, 1851, in Belmont county, Ohio. They have two children: Emma, born February 5, 1876, and Vade, born May 25, 1878. His parents were among the pioneers of this county. His father is a native of Delaware and his mother of Ohio. She died August 6, 1877, at the age of sixty-five years. She was a member of the M. E. Church for about forty-five years.
S. R. 11ILL
Was born July 30, 1826, in Washington county, Pennsylvania. His par- ents moved to Morgan county, Ohio, when he was twelve years old, where he lived until 1874, when he came to Grundy county. He was educated in the common schools of Morgan county, supplemented by a few terms at the select school and two terms at Sharon College. He began teaching at the age of seventeen and taught eight terms. Entering upon mercantile pur- suits in 1853 he continued until 1861. October 1, 1862, he enlisted in company D, Ninth regiment, Ohio cavalry; was elected first lieutenant, then captain; was with the Army of the Cumberland in 1863 and '64, and was discharged on account of disability. After his return home he was elected treasurer of Morgan county, Ohio, which office he filled for four years. In 1866 he engaged in mercantile business in McConnelsville with
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HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY.
W. F. Pears, and after his term of office expired went into the business alone. He remained in MeConnelsville until 1873; was on a farm one year; in 1874 came to this county, and has given his attention exclusively to farming since. Mr. Hill was united in marriage March 4, 1856, to Miss Rebecca J. Filkill. She was born in Morgan county, Ohio, July 9, 1839. They have five children, whose names are Rufus P., born January 19, 1857; Wil- liam H., born November 21, 1858; Samuel, born July 14, 1865; Jessie G., born September 12, 1868, and Stephen M., born August 30, 1872.
DANIEL KINSLEY
Was born August 2, 1829, in Summit county, Ohio. His parents, George and Elizabeth Kinsley, were both natives of Pennsylvania. His mother died when he was small, and, with his father, when ten years old, he moved to DeKalb county, Indiana, where he lived until 1872, then came to Grundy county. His education was received in the common schools of Indiana of that day. He worked at farming until the beginning of the late war, and then engaged in the mercantile business for a few years. Was next engaged in the milling and lumber business about five years, then came to this county and helped to build the mill known as the Richardson Mill, and has been engaged in running the same most of the time since. He has a nice farm upon which he lives, and works in connection with his milling business.
Mr. Kinsley was united in marriage, March 30, 1854, to Miss Hannah C. Livingood, who died April 15, 1857. By this union they had one child, Catharine E., born April 12, 1857, and died when two and one half years old. He again married March 27, 1859, to Miss Rhuama Richards. She was born March 30, 1839, and was a daughter of Abraham and Mary Rich- ards of this county. They have had three children: Emma and Mary, twins, born March 15, 1860; Mary died September 15, 1860, and Emma September 18, 1860; and George C., born December 27, 1865.
W. C. KING
Was born June 16, 1830, in Preble county, Ohio; his parents, John and Elizabeth King, being natives of Pennsylvania. When he was four years old his parents moved to Darke county, Ohio, where he was reared and ed- ucated in the common schools. He was engaged in railroading about five years, and the remainder of his life has been given to farming. He was united in matrimony September 25, 1863, to Miss Martha Doty, a native of Darke county, Ohio, born March 18, 1837. They have five children, whose names are, Edwin B., born February 28, 1865; Lizzie E., born February 11, 1867; James, born May 30, 1869; John R., born April 5, 1873; and Joseph W., born June 19, 1880.
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IIISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY.
ELLING LEE
Was born October 10, 1818. His father, Hiram Lee, was born January 18, 1794, and his mother, Julia Lee, was born .January 21, 1798. With his parents he moved to Connecticut, where his father died when he was thirteen years old, and three years later, with his mother, he moved to Portage county, Ohio, and in 1864 moved to this county. March 22, 1848, Mr. Lee married Miss Marinda, daughter of Jacob and Fannie Rider, both of Ver- mont. She was born August 26, 1826. By their union they had three chil- dren born to them: Edward A., Angust 20, 1849; Jacob H., May 19, 1851; and Frank W., September 17, 1853. They were all educated in the com- mon schools of the county, and have made farming their business. Edward has been engaged in the lumber and milling business for a few years. After living a successful life, Mr. Lee died March 4, 1880, leaving to his family a farm of three hundred and seventy acres. Farming was his occupation through life, although he served as postmaster for eight years previous to his death, at Rural Dale. The mother of Mr. Lee was poor, and he, the eldest of five children, had to meet the burthen of caring for the younger members of the family, and when married he and his wife began life with only willing hearts and hands.
MOSES R. METCALF
Was born in Belmont county, Ohio, March 12, 1836. His parents, Abram and Nancy Metcalf, were also natives of Ohio. When he was seventeen years old he moved to Coshocton county, and while there learned the car- penter's trade. In 1854 he moved to Indiana and worked at his trade until the beginning of the war. He was united in matrimony September. 20, 1857, to Miss Adelia Chultz. She died February 6, 1866. They had two children: Mary R., born October 25, 1858; and James F., born October 1, 1861. Mr. Metcalf married Miss Rachel Mitchell, January 3, 1867. She was born September 9, 1830, in Delaware. They have one child, John R., born March 10, 1868. Mr. Metcalf enlisted August 8, 1862, in company I, Eighty-eighth regiment Indiana volunteer infantry, and took part in the battle of Perryville just two months after his enlistment; was next at Stone River; was with the army of the Cumberland until Sherman took com- mand, then was with him until the fall of Atlanta; came back to Nashville with General Thomas, and after the battle of Nashville was discharged on account of expiration of service. While in the army he participated in twelve heavy engagements, besides a number of skirmishes.
Mr. Metcalf came to this county in 1870, and has been engaged in farm- ing most of the time since, only working at his trade at intervals. He was elected justice of the peace in 1877, and has held the office since, with credit to himself and the county.
. 549
HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY.
GEORGE F. MOORE,
A native of Macoupin county, Illinois, was born April 21, 1854. His father, George Moore, is a native of Indiana, and his mother, Nancy C., of Tennessee. They moved to this county when George, of whom we write, was one year old. He was educated in the public schools of this county. George F. Moore was united in marriage March 31, 1878, to Miss Nancy A. Crossen, a native of Ohio, born March 5, 1858. They have one child, . Daisy A., born May 22, 1880. Mr. Moore began business for himself by working as a farm hand, and as a result of his labors now has a farm of one hundred acres.
WM. MOCK
Was born January 12, 1799, in North Carolina. In 1839 he moved to Putnam county, Indiana, where he lived until 1856, when he moved to this county. In December, 1825, Mr. Mock was united in marriage to Miss Annie M. Slater, a native of North Carolina. She died April 15, 1851. Six children was the result of this union; viz., Caleb, born March 29, 1827; Jane C., born May 9, 1829, died September 11, 1836; Thomas M., born October 4, 1831; Fiza A., born April 5, 1840; William R., born November 20, 1845; and Sarah J., born January 6, 1851, died April 2, 1855. Mr. Moore was married a second time, February 20, 1852, to Miss Rebecca Bar- low. She was born February 25, 1827. They have one child, John H., born March 26, 1855.
William R. Mock, son of William Mock, was educated in the common schools of this county. On the 28th of February, 1868, he married Miss Sarah A. Osborn. The date of her birth was July 4, 1847. They have three children: Minnie A., born May 19, 1869; Julia B., born April 18, 1871; and Claude, born January 6, 1879. William R. Mock enlisted in company H, Sixth regiment Missouri volunteer cavalry, in April, 1862, and served two years; then reënlisted as a veteran in company B, Thirteenth regiment Missouri volunteer cavalry, and served until the close of the war. After his discharge he returned home and began farming which has been his business since, together with shipping stock.
GEORGE OSBORN
Was a native of Lee county, Virginia, and born October 24, 1817. When he was a child his parents moved to Martin county, Indiana, and twelve years later to Daviess county, in the same State, where he lived until 1852, when he came to this county and settled near Lindley. In 1838, while liv- ing in Indiana, he married Miss Rhoda Skaggs. She was born November 12, 1818. By this union they had six children: Jacob, born October 21, 1840; Rebecca, born January 8, 1843; Sarah A., born July 4, 1848; John
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HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY.
W., born in October, 1850; Hannah and James, twins, died in infancy. Mrs. Rhoda Osborn, wife of George Osborn, died December 4, 1880; Mr. Osborn was an early settler and well known through this county. He was afflicted for about twelve years, and died July 4, 1881.
JAMES OVERMAN.
The subject of this sketch is a native of Clarke county, Indiana, and was born October 15, 1813, his father being a native of North Carolina, and his grandfather on his mother's side (Ramsey) was a soldier in the War of. 1812. He was educated in the common schools of Indiana. October 5, 1837, he married Miss Jane Robertson. She was born in Clarke county, Indiana, March 12, 1818. They have nine children: John M., born July 25, 1838; Eli R., born July 14, 1840; Elizabeth A., born August 7, 1842; Isaac W., born June 30, 1844; William J., born October 25, 1846; Mary C., born April 15, 1850; Margaret F., born October 5, 1852, died January 15, 1854; Maria J., born June 22, 1855; and Charles W., born August 6, 1857. James Overman and two of his sons, John and Isaac, enlisted Sep- tember 21, 1861, in Capt. Haycraft's company of State enrolled militia, for six months; at the expiration of that time they again enlisted in com- pany H, Sixth regiment Missouri State militia. James Overman was elected first lieutenant, and after six months' service resigned, and again enlisted in August, 1864, in company K, Forty-fourth regiment Missouri volunteer infantry; was again chosen first lieutenant, and served in that company until the close of the war. During his last enlistment he was in the Army of the Tennessee, and was in many of the battles fought by that army. Isaac Overman, after serving nearly two years, reënlisted as a vet- eran in company B, Thirteenth regiment Missouri volunteer cavalry, where he served until May 15, 1866, when he was discharged. John reënlisted March 18, 1862, in company H, Sixth regiment Missouri State militia, and served until July 23, 1865.
JOSEPH RUSSELL,
Son of John and Elizabeth Russell (both natives of Pennsylvania), was born June 25, 1822, in Harrison county, Ohio, where he was reared, educated in the common schools, and worked at farming. He was united in marriage, May 14, 1846, to Miss Susanna, daughter of Lewis and Phamy Bevans, both natives of Virginia. They have six sons and four daughters: Tru- man B., born February 23, 1847, died at Rolla, Missouri, October 18, 1864; Lewis J., born May 17, 1848; Phamy, born January 20, 1850, died October 26, 1850; Martha M., born September 19, 1851, wife of Isaac Sheppard, of this county; James F., born February 12, 1854; Joseph A., born November 12, 1855; Anna E., born January 17, 1858; John W., born January 28, 1861; Mary E., born July 11, 1864; and Elma E., born Decem- ber 17, 1867.
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HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY.
Mr. Russell came to this county in 1860, settled on and improved the farm where he now lives, which comprises three hundred and twenty acres, well improved. He has made a specialty of raising cattle and hogs, and buying and selling of the same, and by close attention made a success of his business. He has a pleasant family, well educated and highly respected by all who know them.
MILAN D. RUSK
Was born in Shelby county, Indiana, February 23, 1835. He was reared in Putnam county, where his parents moved when he was small, and was there educated in the common schools. He came to Grundy county in 1855, learned the carpenter's trade, and worked at it for a few years. Mr. Rusk, married October 4, 1863, Miss Sarah E. Moore. She was born May 28, 1846. They have seven children; viz., Lydia W., born July 26, 1864; Idris . O., born September 21, 1866; Edwin G., born April 24, 1868, died October 17, 1869; Minnie F. and Emma, twins, born June 2, 1871, Minnie died January 26, 1874; Myrtle M., born April 30, 1878; and one not named, born June 17, 1880. Mr. Rusk was the orderly-sergeant of company D, Thirtieth regiment enrolled State militia of Missouri.
GEORGE W. SHEPPARD.
Son of James and Hannah Sheppard, was born October 19, 1829, in Bel- mont county, Ohio, where he lived until he was twenty-two years old, receiv- ing an education in the common schools, and working on the farm. While living there he was united in marriage to Miss Elizabeth, daughter of Abraham and Nancy Metcalf. This union was blessed with ten children, as follows: Isaac H., born May 14, 1852; Mary J., born September 7, 1854, now wife of L. J. Russell, of this county; Nancy E., born January 17, 1857, wife of J. F. Russell, of this county; Wilber A., born August 30, 1859; Tanner E., born March 10, 1862, died June 22, 1864; May, born April 4, 1864; Carrie E., born July 7, 1866; George W., born April 14, 1869; and Etta B., born June 26, 1873. Mr. S. moved to Rock Island county, Illinois, in 1853, where he lived as a farmer until 1870, when he came to this county, bought and settled on the farm of one hundred and ninety-two acres, where he now resides.
L. D. SIERROW,
An old settler of Marion township, was born in Garrard county, Kentucky, on the 19th of January, 1811. His father, Reuben Sherrow, was a native of Virginia, while his mother claimed the famed "Blue-grass State," Ken- tucky, as the place of her birth. When eight years of age, his parents moved to Orange county, Indiana. From Orange county Mr. Sherrow moved to Daviess county, in the same State, where he remained until 1852, when he made his home in Grundy county, Missouri.
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HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY.
On the 6th of August, 1833, Mr. L. D. Sherrow and Miss Mary Ham- mersly were united in holy wedlock. The bride was a native of Campbell county, Kentucky, and was born March 28, 1813. Her parents removed to Indiana when she was a child. By this union, Mr. and Mrs. Sherrow have ten children, all of whom with but one exception, reached the years of matu- rity. The dates of their births are as follows: Sarah, July 17, 1834; widow of Jacob Weaver, of this county. Samuel, October 6, 1836; died May 8, 1874. Lousia, November 6, 1838; wife of William Hoffman, of this county. Andrew, September 23, 1841; a resident of Illinois. Mary E., July 15, 1843; wife of Newton Beckner, of this county. Nancy, March 26, 1846; died August 12, 1873. Orrena, January 15, 1848; wife of John Kelly, of this county. Daniel A., April 12, 1851; Hiram T., June 10, 1851; James, June 15, 1858; farmers in Grundy county. Mr. and Mrs. Sherrow are members of the Separate Baptist Church, and genial, hospitable people.
SOLOMON SKAGGS
Was born October 2, 1839, in Daviess county, Indiana. His father, John W. Skaggs, was of Tennessee birth, his mother, Elizabeth, from Virginia. He was educated in the common schools, and in 1853, came to this county with his father. Their family, like a great many others who came west, were poor, but as land was cheap they managed to secure a home, and it may be said grew up with the country. The subject of our sketch enlisted August 26, 1861, in company B, Twenty-third, Missouri volunteer infantry; was in Missouri during 1861, but in the spring of 1862 went to Tennessee and participated in the battle of Shiloh, their first engagement; there Mr. S. was taken prisoner, and taken to Corinth, then, for safety, to Memphis, Jackson, Mississippi, Mobile and Montgomery, then to Macon, Georgia, where he remained in prison five months; was then, with many others, sent to Richmond, Virginia, and was two days in Libby Prison, then paroled, after being a prisoner six months and thirteen days; after two months in a United States hospital, he again joined his company, and was with Sher- man until the fall of Atlanta. After his discharge he returned home, and to the pursuits of the farn.
He was united in marriage Jannary 8, 1874, to Miss Maria E. Baker, born Febuary 16, 1841. By this union they have two children, Willie, born June 21, 1876, died August 24, 1877; and Alice L., born September 13, 1880.
John W ., father of Mr. Skaggs, was born November 29, 1813, and died No- vember 2, 1876. Elizabeth, his wife, now in the seventy-third year of her age, lives with Mr. Skaggs.
W. B. SEARCY
Was born November 1, 1827, in Howard county, Missouri, and his parents, Alexander and Mary Searcy, were natives of Kentucky. His father died
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HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY.
when he was a child, and his mother then moved to Kentucky, and after a seven years' residence came back to Howard county, where our subject was reared. In 1850 he went to California, driving an ox team across the plains; starting from this county April 1, he reached California in September, and engaged in mining most of the time while there. He returned by water, but spent two years en route. He settled in this county in 1852, and has improved one of the finest farms in the county, of three hundred sixty acres.
He was united in matrimony to Miss Parmelia I. Yates, on the 6th of December, 1855. She was a native of Howard county, Missouri, born Jan- uary 15, 1833. By this marriage they have five children: James W., born October 1, 1856; Mary E., born March 3, 1861; Christopher I., born Au- gust 8, 1863; Nora W., born April 4, 1866; and John F., born April 10, 1872.
C. SWAYZE
Is a native of Oxford county, Canada West. He was born November 14, 1847. His father was a native of New Jersey and his mother of Kentucky. With his parents he moved to this county in 1857. His parents died in this county. Here he grew up, and was educated in the common schools. On the 6th of April, 1876, he was united in matrimony to Miss S. F. Thomp- son, a native of Fairfield county, Ohio, born September 16, 1851. They have two children, Julia May, born June 7, 1877; and Delbert C., born September 9, 1878. Mr. S. is a farmer, and gives his attention chiefly to growing cattle and hogs.
D. C. SMITII.
David C. Smith, one of the pioneers of this county, was born October 17, 1831, in Tazewell county, Virginia. His parents were natives of the same State, and when he was eight years old they moved to Missouri and settled first in Linn county for one year, then came to this county in the spring of 1841. His home has been here ever since, and his time has been given to farming, with the exception of a few years he was engaged in the milling business. Mr. Smith was united in matrimony to Miss Delia Ship- ley, July 24, 1853. The date of her birth is June 10, 1834. By this mar- riage they have had eleven children, six sons and five daughters, whose names are as follows: George W., born August 18, 1854; Marion C., born September 21, 1856, died November 28, 1880; Eliza J., born December 15, 1858, died July 11, 1878; Margaret A., born April 15, 1862, died in in- fancy; Tecumseh S., born April 3, 1864; James T., born October 14, 1866; Nancy A., born February 15, 1870; Alonzo S., born June 27, 1872; Elina E., born July 28, 1875; and Bessie J., born September, 14, 1879. Two incidents are narrated in the township history, the first of which Mr. S. par- ticipated in, the other he related from his knowledge.
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HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY.
ISAAC F. SHIPLEY
Was born in Sullivan connty, Missouri, February 24, 1841. His parents, Thomas and Louisa Shipley, were natives of Pennsylvania and Ohio, re- spectively, and came to Missouri in 1840. Like most of those who grew up on the frontier, Mr. Shipley received but a meager education. He was born and reared here, and has witnessed the march of civilization from the pioneer days to the present. When he was young his chief delight was with his gun; to-day it is with young Shipleys. At the beginning of the rebellion he espoused the cause of liberty and in July, 1861, enlisted in company C, Eighteenth regiment Missouri volunteer infantry. The battle of Shiloh was his first engagement, there he was wounded in the leg-his regiment being in the heaviest of the fight was badly cut up. Only about one hundred and fifty came out of the fight, and quite a number of them were wounded, the rest being killed, wounded and taken prisoners. Owing to the condition of their regiment after this battle they were sent home to re- cruit, and after a year they again went south and joined Sherman's army, and were with him on his famous march to the sea. While in the advance of the army he met an advance of the rebel army, and in a skirmish was wounded in the right foot, which affects him to the present day. He was with Sherman until after the surrender of Lee and Johnson's army, and divided scanty rations of hard-tack and bacon with the hungry "Johnnies " after they surrendered. Mr. Shipley was married February 18, 1866, to Miss Susan McClarron. She was born August 26, 1848, in Holmes county, Ohio. They have eight children, five of whom are living; namely, Mary E., born January 7, 1867, died May 11, 1872; Alvin, born September 11, 1869, died next day; Lanra J., born April 13, 1874; Mary E., born May 13, 1876; Delia, born May 4, 1877; Florence R., born April 19, 1879; and Amanda E., born March 15, 1881.
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