USA > Missouri > Grundy County > The History of Grundy County, Missouri : an encyclopedia of useful information, and a compendium of actual facts > Part 71
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HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY.
1873; Maud, December 3, 1874; Robert, February 28, 1877. He is a man who has made his own way in the world, and now owns eighty acres of fine land, al! improved. He is about to obtain a patent for a weed and stalk cutter, an article of acknowledged merit and usefulness, pronounced a suc- cess by all who have seen it.
DAVID PAYNE
Was born in Chariton county, Missouri, April 2, 1835. His father, Nathan Payne, was a native of North Carolina, and his mother, Nancy Payne, of Indiana. In 1824 his father settled in Boone county, Missouri, and became a noted hunter; afterwards moved to Chariton county, and in the year 1842 located in Grundy county. His father died in California in 1871. His mother came to Missouri when only three years of age, her parents locating in Chariton county. She died in the year 1859. The subject of this sketch was reared upon a farm and only went to school a few weeks altogether, and then had to walk five miles. He was married, December 19, 1858, to Melissa F. Sires, a native of Grundy county. She was born March 31, 1841, and is a daughter of Jethro and Margarete Sires, very early settlers in Missouri. By this union they have had five children; viz., William, born January 8, 1862; Amy, born September 16, 1866; David, born April 19, 1869; Johnnie, born May 25, 1860, died June 30, 1869; and Louisa J., born December 3, 1863, died September 25, 1865. Mr. Payne has worked hard and become prosperous. He has dealt largely in stock and was one of the first to ship from Grundy county. He has a fine farm of one hundred and thirty-eight acres. He is a leading member of the Masonic fraternity, and the family are highly respected in the community.
J. N. SIRES
Is a native of Kentucky, born April 8, 1837, and a son of John and Eliza- beth Sires, nee White, both natives of Virginia, but who settled in Ken- tucky, when first married, and lived there until 1841, when they settled in Grundy county, Missouri, and are now living in Franklin township, this county. Our subject has been a continual resident of this county ever since he was four years of age. On April 3d, 1863, he married Miss Lucy M. Tompkins, a native of Randolph county, Missouri, born November 21, 1847, daughter of James and Elizabeth Tompkins, nee Grimes; her father was a native of Kentucky, and her mother of Howard county, Missouri. They are still living in Howard county. Mr. and Mrs. Sires have seven children; viz., Ada, born February 7, 1864; Frank, born April 16, 1866; Lottie, born December 19, 1867; Elizabeth, born February 15, 1870; Nellie, born August 21, 1872; Emily, born April 11, 1875; John, born February 1, 1878. By diligence and good management he has succeeded, and now owns three hun- dred and sixty acres of fine land ; the home, one hundred and sixty acres, said
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HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY.
to be the best in the county. He makes stock-feeding, buying and selling, a specialty, and has made his business a success. When he left school, which he had but little opportunity to attend, he could not write his name or make any caleulations with figures, but now he is acknowledged a good business man and learned by home application.
S. W. SIRES,
Son of John and Elizabeth Sires, nee White, was born in Grundy county, Missouri, December 19, 1850. His parents settled in Grundy county in 1841, and are now living in Franklin township. At the age of eleven years he began to make his own living by working on a farm for twenty-five cents per day, and now owns a fine farm of one hundred and ten acres of well im- proved land, and all this has been accumulated in a few years by industry and thrift. He married, August 2, 1874, Miss Matilda A. Patton, a native of Clinton county, Ohio, born August 1, 1854; a daughter of Wm. J. and Rachel Patton, nee Garrett, who were both natives of Ohio. They came to Missouri in the year 1873 and remained about one year; then returned to Clinton county, Ohio, where they still live. Mr. and Mrs. Sires have one child, Myrtle, born April 9, 1876, to brighten and make pleasant the home circle. Mr. Sires is a well known young man and one possessed of more than ordinary business ability.
HON. THOMAS J. TAYLOR,
The present representative of Grundy county, was born in Brown county, Indiana, September 15, 1839, and is a son of Henry and Catharine Taylor, nee Davidson. His father was born in Kentucky, and his mother in Tennessee. His parents came to Indiana in 1828, and to Missonri in 1840. His father died in 1853, and his mother in 1875. He remained at home till 1861, then enlisted in company F, Merrill's Horse, and served over four years; was with the regiment in many hard fought engagements and always in the line of duty; was promoted to first lieutenant and brevet captain, and had command of five companies during the summer of 1865. While home on recruiting service, in 1864, on the 21st of January, of that year, he married Miss Eliza Jane Rowland, who was born in Ray county, March 22, 1844, daugh- ter of David and Elizabeth Rowland, nee Lee, both natives of Kentucky. Mr. and Mrs. Taylor have four children; named, respectively, Laura Belle, born July 25, 1866; De Sully, born June 18, 1869; Lenora D., born Sep- tember 29, 1871; and De Soto, born September 28, 1873. He is the owner of two hundred and ninety acres of fine land; and has served as justice of the peace for ten years, and in fact has held all the offices in the gift of the people of his township. At the general election in 1880 he was elected, on
. the Republican ticket, State representative from Grundy county, and ran one hundred and thirteen votes ahead of Garfield, by a. popular majority of
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HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY.
nine hundred and forty-three. During his first session he introduced some very important bills in regard to the school system. He is a Royal Arch Mason, and was master of Modena Lodge four years. Mr. Taylor and family are highly respected members of society.
II. R. THOMPSON
Was born in this county, February 7, 1852. His father, Milton V. Thomp- son, is not the oldest settler in the county, but one of the best known men and the most extensive land owners. H. R. Thompson received a fine bnsi- ness education at Grand River College. On the 4th of November, 1874, at the age of twenty-three years, he was united in marriage to Miss Hattie MeClure, a native of Scotland county, Missouri, born December 9, 1855, daughter of William and Mary Jane MeClure. Her father died in 1865, and her mother is still living, in Daviess county. By this union they have had two children; namely, Maud, born October 14, 1876; and Willove, born October 31, 1878, died September 28, 1879.
Mr. Thompson, in August, 1875, moved on his farm in Washington town- ship, acknowledged to be one of the best in Grundy county. Here he makes a specialty of sheep husbandry, having a choice flock of graded Cots- wold and Merino. He is highly esteemed for his striet business integrity, and he and his excellent wife are noted for their hospitality and social qualities.
P. W. THOMPSON,
Son of Milton V. Thompson, a well-known resident of Grundy county, was born in Grundy county, Missouri, August 29, 1850. He is a grandson of Dr. Wm. P. Thompson, who is still remembered as the first regular physi- cian that practiced in Grundy county, and who settled in this county in 1833.
P. W. Thompson finished his education at Grand River College, having taken a five years' course. At the age of twenty-one he located upon his farm and kept house by himself until April 1, 1875, when he married Miss Huldah Webster, a native of Athens county, Ohio, born January 25, 1851; a daughter of Charles and Hannah Webster, who settled in Grundy county, in 1865. Her father died January 2, 1871, and her mother April 14, 1876. Mrs. Thompson only lived about one year after her marriage, died February 19, 1876. June 22, 1878, Mr. Thompson married Miss Olive F. Webster, a sister to his first wife. She was born March 10, 1847. By this union two children have been born : Milton, born May 8, 1879, died September 26, 1880; and Paschal, born February 24, 1881. Mr. Thompson is possessed of five hundred and three acres of very fine land, all well improved and heavily stocked. He makes a specialty of graded cattle, having at present a herd of one hundred and seventy head. He is a thorough-going business man, has filled varions offices and is a man in whom the community has the most im- plicit confidence.
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HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY.
DANIEL WELCH
Was born in Virginia, February 3, 1822. His parents, Christopher and Elizabeth Welch, moved to Ohio in 1834, and after living there seven years, moved to Crawford county, Illinois. His mother died in 1840, and his father in 1854. The subject of our sketch learned the carpenter's trade and worked at that business about fifteen years, since which time he has been en- gaged in farming and stock-dealing. He married, November 9, 1845, Miss Sarah A. Irwin. She was born in Lieking county, Ohio, May 30, 1827; a daughter of Elijah and Mary Irwin. Her father died September 17, 1879, in the seventy-ninth year of his age; her mother is still living, in the seven- ty-eighth year of her age. Mr. Welch in 1854 located in Grundy county and has since lived here with the exception of eighteen months spent in Wapello county, Iowa. He had no financial help in starting in life, but has become wealthy and is now one of the leading farmers and stock-dealers in the county. Mr. and Mrs. Welch had two children; namely, William B., born April 24, 1849; and Mandilla, born August 7, 1846. Mandilla was the wife of John Johnson, who died January 4, 1865, and afterwards became the wife of William Houseman; she died February 8, 1879. By her marriage with Mr. Johnson she had one child, William H. Johnson, born August 30, 1855, now making his home with his grandparents, Mr. and Mrs. Welch; he is a young man of fine business qualifications and is already accumulating considerable property. His grandparents on his father's side, Alvin and Jestin Johnson, are still living in the county, and were among the first settlers of Harrison township and are yet among the most honored and esteemed.
MRS. JULIA K. WILD,
Widow of Emery Wild, deceased, was born in Bedford county, Pennsyl- vania, December 17, 1855, a daughter of Philip and Mary Steckman. She came with her parents, when five years of age, to Brown county, Illinois, and lived there till 1871, when they located in Grundy county. Her father died November 2, 1880, and her mother is still living in this county. She was married to Emery Wild, July 4, 1876. He was a native of Grundy county, born July 12, 1837, and said to be the first white child born in the county. He was a son of Philip and Sallie Wild. His father died October 4, 1864, and his mother September 22, 1875. Mr. Wild had previously been married to Miss Susanna Markwood, and by that marriage there were seven children; viz., Robert, born June 15, 1861; Araminta, born April 7, 1863, died March 22, 1868; Sallie, born June 2, 1866; Charles, born June 22, 1868; Hattie, born March 25, 1870; George, born May 14, 1872, died April 10, 1879; Armilda, born March 25, 1874. The first Mrs. Wild died March 31, 1874. By this second marriage one child was born; to-wit, Emily, October 20, 1877. Mr. Wild died November 4, 1877. At the time
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HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY.
of his death he was master of the grange, had filled many offices in the township, and was an active, public spirited man in all that was for the good of his town and county; he was highly esteemed in his neighborhood, and was a kind and affectionate husband and father. He left a fine estate of six hundred and thirty acres. . His widow is an estimable lady, and a member of the Baptist Church.
HENRY WILLIS.
This gentleman stands in the front rank of the pioneers of Grundy county. He was born in the North Riding of Yorkshire, England, March 20, 1814. His parents, John and Alice Willis, were well-to-do farmers. They had lived on one farm for over seventy years. His father died at the age of eighty- two, and his mother at the age of seventy-six years. They reared a family of seventeen children to manhood and womanhood. He always took great delight in farming and stock-raising, and preferred that to attending school. At the age of seventeen years he left the home of his birth and childhood, and, inex- perienced, poor and alone, landed in Quebec, June 22, 1831; then made his way to Onondaga, New York; here he found himself destitute of money and began work in the harvest field at eight dollars per month; after re- maining eighteen months he made his way to Franklin county, Ohio; here he was stricken down with fever and laid eleven months and was entirely destitute of means, but being a man of prepossessing ways and good morals, he found many kind friends; lived in Ohio two years and then went to Mor- gan county, Illinois, remained there eighteen months; then came back to Franklin county, Ohio, where, on September 16th, 1837, he was married to Miss Mary Everett, a native of that county, born December 10, 1815. With his young wife he left Ohio and sought a home in the then far west, and on February 28th, 1838, located in Grundy county, Missouri. . They remained in the county of Grundy but a short time, then moved to Mercer. Here he built a small cabin without floor, door or windows, and with scarcely an article of household furniture they commenced their western life, and lived happily there for five years, then moved back and permanently located in Grundy county. He is now possessed of seven hundred and forty acres of fine land, highly improved and well stocked. By this marriage they had one child, Sarah Jane, born August 28, 1841, died September 28, 1842. Mrs. Willis died March 17, 1863. May 19, 1864, he married Miss Keturah Rubert, a native of Madison county, Ohio, born August 31, 1828. Her parents were very early settlers in Ohio. Mother died January 14, 1867, and her father September 26, 1877. The following children were born to them: Alice May, April 3, 1865; John D., June 27, 1867; Hannah E., May 30, 1870; and Mollie Maud, September 2, 1872. Few men have succeeded so well in life as Mr. Willis and it must all be attributed to his indomitable energy and strict integrity.
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HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY.
CHAPTER XXVI.
JACKSON TOWNSHIP.
Its Early Settlement-From Indiana, Illinois and Virginia -- Trading-point-Forest and Streams-Prairie-Births and Deaths-First Physician-Wedding Bells-Christianity and Education-Extent of Domain-First Township Officers-Where they Met -- Popula- tion-Present Town Board-Biographies.
JACKSON TOWNSHIP.
This township, which bears the name of the iron-willed "Hero of New Orleans," was first settled in 1837, by the families of William and Josiah Evans, who came from the prairie land of Illinois. They were the pioneer settlers, but were not allowed to remain long alone in their new home, for 'ere the budding flowers of the following spring had opened, they had neigh- bors, in the families of James May and Willis Adkinson. The first came from the land of the "Hoosiers," Indiana; and the latter family was from Illinois, but their location was just over the line in what is now Livingston county. Amid the perils and hardships of pioneer life the year passed quickly by, and in the fall of 1839 other settlers came, in the families of George Williams, from Virginia; Solomon Tolliday, from Illinois; and William Uttinger, from Indiana; this made quite a settlement, and although it was ten or twelve miles to a neighbor's, the lonesome feeling had left the community. The year of 1840 brought the family of John Henry, who came from the southern part of the State. Later came the families of W. S. Pond, James Roberts, and Gedaliah Hughes, so that in 1841, when Grundy was taken from the jurisdiction of Livingston county, there was quite a settlement in what was then the southern part of Trenton township. These early settlers were all in the prime of life, and went vigorously to work to build their cabin homes and till the fertile soil. The greater part of the township was. grass-covered prairie, with plenty of timber along the streamns. Oxen were used, as there were no horses in the township. The nearest horse-mills were at Spring Hill and Chillicothe, in Livingston county, sixteen miles distant, to which they slowly traveled with their ox-teams to get their necessary snp- plies. Later Trenton became the trading-point. Like the settlers of other townships, their clothing was of home manufacture. As early as 1839 the first loom was made by James May for his wife, Mrs. Perlina May, still a hale and hearty old lady with good memory of the early struggles of her husband and herself, and the neighboring families. Hers was the first loom and she did the first weaving. There were no other looms in the town- ship for some time afterward, and Mrs. May often loaned hers to the neigh- bors.
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HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY.
BIRTIIS AND DEATHS.
Creighton Smith, son of Mrs. Rachel Smith, was the first child born in the township, which event occurred in 1839. The little fellow lived to be only four or five years old, when he was called to a better land than this. In the following year, 1840, James and Minerva Roberts became the happy parents of a bouncing boy, who was given the name of Thomas. Father, mother and child have long ago sought their resting places beneath the sod.
In September of 1839 Samuel Smith died. This was the first death, and the remains were quietly laid away under the shade and rustling branches of the trees along the banks of Grand River. Here, too, all that was mortal of the infant child of William Evans was placed, and the winds whispered a requiem over the little mound that marked the last sleeping place. Theirs were the only graves in that early burial-ground.
Dr. William Clark was the first medical practitioner and his home was in Livingston county, at Spring Hill. Physicians were not in demand in those days, and the practice extended over many miles of territory.
WEDDING BELLS.
The first glad chimes of the wedding bells rang out in 1859, when Mr. Robert Belshe and Miss Susan May were united in the holy bonds. The ceremony was performed at the family residence of James May, father of the bride. The couple are still living in the township.
CHURCHES AND SCHOOLS.
The Rev. James Johnson, a Methodist divine, conducted the first religions services in the township. The meetings were held at the homes of the set- tlers, the cabin of William Evans being the oftenest used. This was in 1840, and it was three years before other denominations held services, when a Presbyterian minister officiated, holding the meetings at the home of James May.
In this same year, 1843, the first school was taught in the township. An old cabin which had been deserted for a better one, was used as a school- house. It was located on Grand River, in the western part of the town- ship. Mr. Samuel Brooks was the first teacher, and his pupils numbered not over a dozen, sometimes less. For his services he received a dollar per montlı for each pupil, and the school continued in session three months, which was considered a long time, and the children were expected to pick up a fair education in two or three terms. This school-house was continued in use until 1848, when a school-house was built especially for the purpose. Hewn logs were used in its erection, and it was considered an elegant structure, and probably was at that time. It occupied a site on land owned by William Evans. On Sundays the building was dedicated to religions worship.
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HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY.
The first church erected in the township was built in 1866, and was known as the Skinner Union Church. Services were held in the building by any denomination that wished to use it. In 1873 the Pleasant Grove Methodist Episcopal Church was erected. At present no services are con- ducted in it, the congregation being without a pastor. The Honey Creek Christian Church is located in the northern part of the township, and was dedicated in 1872, and religious worship is conducted regularly by the Rev. James Mack. These are the only church edifices in the township, although several other denominations are represented.
There are, at present, four substantial school-houses in the township, in which from four to six months schooling is held.
EXTENT OF TERRITORY.
Until the year 1872 Jackson was a part of Trenton township, but under the new organization law the County Court of Grundy county issued the following:
" It is ordered by the court that all of township No. sixty, of range No. twenty-four, lying east of Grand River, and sections seven, eight, seventeen, eighteen, nineteen; twenty, twenty-nine, thirty-one and thirty-two, of town- ship No. sixty, of range No. twenty-three, be named and known as Jackson township."
The township covers an area of eighteen thousand nine hundred and twenty acres, mostly beautiful prairie land. With Grand River as its west- ern boundary line, Big Muddy Creek skirting its northwestern corner, Honey Creek flowing through its center, and No Creek crossing the township on the east, it is well supplied with water from running streams. Trenton township bounds Jackson on the north, Wilson on the east, Livingston county on the south, and Grand River divides its territory from Jefferson on the west.
The first township board met at the house of William Morris, and was composed of the following members: William C. Evans, justice of the peace and chairman of the board; Patrick C. Conniff, justice of the peace; James Mack, trustee; Isaae Mulford, collector; Thomas Hubbard, assessor; William Morris, clerk; and George Blivens, constable. They promptly transacted the township business and proved an efficient set of officers.
The United States census of 1880 gives to Jackson township a population of five hundred and forty.
The present officers are Patrick C. Conniff and Loren B. Hubbell, justices of the peace; William Spencer, trustee; Edward M. Crawford, collector; George W. MeLain, clerk and assessor; and Christopher C. Griffin, consta- ble. These gentlemen are giving entire satisfaction in their several posi- tions to the citizens of the township.
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HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY.
BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES.
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F. F. AMICK
Was born seven miles northeast of Fairfield, in Jefferson county, Iowa, October 21, 1851. His father's name is Peter Amick, who is now living in this county, ten miles north of Trenton; his mother's name was Barbara Amick, and she died March, 1852. After the death of his mother he was taken to Scipio, Jennings county, Indiana, where he remained six years, then came to Grundy county, and remained with his father till he was eighteen years old. December 6, 1872, he was united in marriage to Miss Mary Jane Crawford. She was born in Jackson township, Grundy county, August 9, 1853. Their children's names are as here given: Maggie Iona, born December 16, 1873, died June 23, 1879; Jennie Alice, born July 31, 1876; William Perry, born September 16, 1879, died November 5, 1880. Mr. Amick has lived in this county twenty-three years, and says game of different kinds was plenty when he came here, deer, wild turkey, prairie chickens, geese, and other wild fowls; wolves, wild-cats and other vicious animals were numerous. The country then was sparsely populated, but those who lived here were more sociable, and seemed to enjoy themselves much more than they do now. Agricultural labor was then performed by means of the simplest implements, and the people all seemed interested in each other's welfare. Mr. Amick lives on a small farm of rich, productive soil, containing ninety acres, thirty acres of which are under cultivation and from which he realizes annually about seven hundred bushels of corn, and one hundred and fifty bushels of oats. He handles only enongh stock for home nse.
NATHAN ARNOLD
Was born November 1, 1833, in Maumee county, Ohio, near the river of the same name. His father's name was Moses M. Arnold, and his mother's, be- fore marriage, was Mary Ann Morgan. His father is living in Harrison county, Iowa. During their residence in Maumee county his mother was taken away from the toils of earth, in 1835, to receive the reward that awaited her in the eternal state. Mr. Arnold is the youngest of nine sons; he has one sister living in Union City, Iowa ; one brother lives in Iowa and one in Nebraska; two are done with the cares and labors of life, and liave entered where sickness, sorrow, pain and death are felt and feared no more. Mr. Arnold was married to Miss Angeline Lowery, of Mercer county, Mis- souri, February 6, 1859, and removed to Grundy county in 1860. He en- listed in the United States army in the spring of 1862, in the Third Missouri >
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HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY.
State militia cavalry volunteers, under Col. Walter King; at the end of three years and four months the company was disbanded, and consolidated with the Seventh Missouri State militia cavalry volunteers under Colonel Phillips, at Greenfield, Missouri. In January, 1865, he was promoted to the rank of captain of the company, and when this company was mustered out, was re- tained as captain of a company of recruits, which position he sustained with honor and credit till the close of the war. While in the service of his coun- try he participated in six battles, besides many skirmishes, enduring many hardships, privations and much suffering. Mr. and Mrs. Arnold have two sons and one daughter; named as follows: William M., aged twenty-one years; Rippey B., aged nineteen years; Martha O., aged thirteen years. Mr. Arnold, during the earlier part of his life, devoted some ten years to the pro- fession of school-teaching, in which he did good service, training youthful minds for the active business departments of life. It is worthy of notice in this sketch that he assisted in the raid which succeeded in driving General Price from the State. Mr. Arnold ranks among the first citizens of the county, is an extensive farmer, and handles, annually, a large quantity of the various articles, vegetables, ete., ete., for which the county is celebrated.
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