USA > Missouri > Grundy County > The History of Grundy County, Missouri : an encyclopedia of useful information, and a compendium of actual facts > Part 73
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Mr. Berry was married, in this county, in July, 1866, to Miss Susan, daughter of James Ellidge, and a native of Pike county, Illinois. They have five children: Mary D., Ulysses G., James L., Zonie Effie and Carrie Florence. Both himself and wife are members of the Christian Church.
WILLIAM BENNETT
Was born in Warren county, New York, March 24, 1816. His father, Jeremiah Bennett, also a native of New York, was a leading farmer. His mother's maiden name was Susannah Wilkerson. The family moved to
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HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY.
Iowa in 1843 and were residents of that State for twelve years. He then moved to this county and settled upon his present place. Mr. Bennett was united in matrimony in his native county, in 1838, to Miss Mary Ann Somerville. The result of this union is six children, now living: Margaret E., now Mrs. Wm. Chipps; Eleanor; Nancy, now Mrs. Joseph Baldmaut; William S., Richard W., and George M. Both Mr. and Mrs. Bennett. have been members of the Baptist Church for twenty years. He owns a good farm well stocked and abundantly watered. It is fairly improved and in a fine state of cultivation. Mr. Bennett is one of the oldest settlers. and most highly respected men in the township.
JAMES E. BERRY
Was born in Coshocton county, Ohio, October 29, 1846. His father, Daniel Berry, is a native of Belmont county, Ohio, and his mother, Annie (Dillon) Berry, was born in Pennsylvania. When James was twelve years of age- his parents removed to Grundy county. His father is one of the oldest set -. tlers and most prominent property owners of Myers township. James E. Berry was married in this county May 16, 1867, to Miss Mary A., daughter of Robert and Lucinda Whan. She was born in Ohio. Mr. Berry and his estimable lady are members of the M. E. Church. They are the parents of a family of bright and promising children. Mr. Berry is the owner of a farm of two hundred and eighty acres of excellent land, and is an indus- trious and thriving young farmer.
FRANCIS M. BRITTAIN
Was born in Rock Castle county, Kentucky, July 10, 1817. He is the son of Parks and Sarah (Price) Brittain-his father a native of Pennsylvania,. and his mother of New Jersey. His home was in Kentucky until he was. about fourteen years of age, when he removed with his parents to Indiana, remaining five years; then went to Illinois, and from that State to Iowa .. He came from Iowa to Grundy county, in the spring of 1856, and has since been a resident of this county and engaged in farming.
Mr. Brittain was married in Illinois, February 22, 1838, to Miss Femina- Larrimore. They became the parents of twelve children, eight of whom, five boys and three girls, are now living. Mrs. Brittain died in 1860, and Mr. Brittain married Miss Lydia Barnes, a native of Mercer county, Mis- souri. She died July 3, 1862, and, on the 13th of November following, he- wedded Mrs. Elizabeth Lickey, nee Dalton. By his last marriage six chil- dren were born, two of whom, Minda E., born August 3, 1865, and Nathan M., born February, 1873, are yet living.
Mr. Brittain and his entire family are members of the Baptist Church. He owns a valuable farm of two hundred and forty acres, and is a pros- perous farmer.
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HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY.
D. R. BERRY.
The gentleman whose name heads this biography, is a native of Ohio, born in Coshocton county, November 11, 1850. He is a brother of James E., Daniel R., and Lewis O. Berry, whose biographical sketches appear else- where in this work. At the age of six years he removed with his parents to Quincy, Illinois, and one year later to Grundy county, Missouri, where he has since resided.
Mr. Berry was married in Sullivan county, Missouri, October 4, 1875, to Miss Alfaretta, daughter of Abram and Emily (Wear) Clark, natives of Ohio. Mrs. Berry was born in Johnson county, Indiana. The issue of this union has been three children: Nora, Everett and Eugene. Mr. and Mrs. Berry are members of the Christian Church.
He is a prosperous business man, the owner of a fine, large and well improved farm, gives much attention to live-stock, and by his good man- agement and sound judgment makes that part of his business very profit- able.
JAMES G. BRITTAIN
Was born December 10, 1840, in Knox county, Illinois. When about three years of age he accompanied his parents from Illinois to Keokuk county, Iowa. In April, 1856, he migrated to Grundy county, Missouri. On the 9th of September, 1860, he married Miss Mary E. Barnes, daughter of John B. Barnes, one of the earliest settlers of Grundy county. August 13, 1862, James G. Brittain enlisted in the Twenty-third Missouri volunteer infantry, under Col. W. P. Robinson. Mr. Brittain lost his wife February 17, 1867, and was married again October 4, 1868, to Miss Maria E. Brown, daughter of W. W. Brown
James G. Brittain is the father of one living child by his first wife: Mary F. The issue of his second marriage is six children, named as follows: Maggie, Effie L., Richard, Fannie and Jessie. Mr. and Mrs. B. are mem- bers of the Baptist Church.
LEWIS O. BERRY
Was born in Coshocton county, Ohio, August 16, 1851. He is the son of Daniel and Annie (Dillon) Berry, natives of Pennsylvania. At the age of eight years the subject of this sketch removed to this (Grundy) county, with his parents, and has lived here sinee, engaged in farming and stock-raising. Mr. Berry was married in this county, on the 13th of May, 1875, to Miss Mary Wescoat, a native of Iowa and the daughter of Cyrus K. and Eliza- beth Wescoat. Mr. and Mrs. Berry are the parents of three children: Frederick A., Alma A., and Oscar. Both Mr. B. and his wife are mem- bers of the Christian Church. He is a rising and prosperous young farmer
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and stock-raiser and is well esteemed by all who know him. He owns a fine farm, handsomely improved and devotes particular attention to raising and feeding live-stock.
WILLIAM T. COLEMAN.
William T. Coleman was born at Port Gibson, Mississippi, on the 26thr day of June, 1827. His father, Michael Coleman, was a native of Kilkenny county, Ireland, and came to the United States on a British ship, in 1812. His mother, whose maiden name was Mary Parish, was born in Mississippi. At the age of two years our subject removed, in company with his parents, to West Tennessee where they resided till 1831, and then removed to Indi- ana. There Mr. Coleman was educated and lived until 1869 when he im- migrated to Missouri, settling first in Putnam county. At the expiration of six years' residence in Putnam he came to Grundy county (1875) and has since made his home here. Mr. Coleman was married, in Decatur county, Indiana, July 29, 1851, to Miss Ellen, daughter of William and Delilah Ruddle. The issue of this union was thirteen children, nine of whom are yet living: Emma, Angeline, Elizabeth, Annie, Ella, Thomas, Frank, Oliver, and Edgar. Mr. Coleman has been a member of the Masonic order for a quarter of a century. He owns a neat, well improved and finely cul- tivated farm and devotes special attention to raising and feeding cattle and other live-stock. In politics Mr. Coleman has always been a staunch Re- publican. He is a pleasant, agreeable gentleman, a good business man and a valuable citizen.
WILLIAM COOKSEY
Is a native of Indiana. He was born near Danville, in Hendricks county, February 9, 1830. He is the son of John and Saralı (Martin) Cooksey, na- tives of Virginia. When our subject was seven years old his father re- moved to Illinois and there William received his education and grew to manhood, engaged in duties upon his father's farm. From Illinois Mr. Cooksey made an overland trip to California and Oregon. He spent five years in the great new West and during that time was engaged in mining, merchandising and other pursuits, enjoying a varied and interesting experi- ence during his sojourn in the "land of gold." At the end of five years he returned by way of the Isthmus and New York to Illinois, and soon after came to this county and has lived here ever since. He was married in Grundy county, Missouri, May 16, 1858, to Miss Angeline Ford, daughter of James HI. and Amelia (Cochran) Ford, who were among the earliest set- tlers of the county. Mr. and Mrs. Cooksey have five children, all living; viz., Mary M., Maria J., Eli M., Amelia and Saralı Jane. Mr. Cooksey enlisted at the beginning of the civil war in the Missouri State militia and served during four years in defense of the Union. He was discharged at Chillicothe at the end of the war and soon after resumed the peaceful life
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HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY.
of a farmer. He owns a farm of two hundred and twenty acres admirably adapted to stock-raising, to which business he devotes considerable attention with good success. His estimable lady and several of the children are members of the Christian Church.
JAMES B. DUFF.
James B. Duff was born in Perthshire, Scotland, November 29, 1824. His parents, William and Jean (Watt) Duff, were also natives of Scotland, as were his grandfathers, John Duff and John Watt, all of whom lived and died in Perthshire. Our subject was educated in the excellent schools of the city of Perth, and after finishing his education he engaged in farm- ing in his native land for five years, and then went to Ireland, where, in Kil- kenny county, he was overseer and surveyor for the Earl of Desart for a number of years.
James B. Duff was married in Ireland, on the 22d day of November, 1849, to Miss Ann Low. Three days afterwards he sailed for America, leav- ing his bride behind him. He had the misfortune to be shipwrecked near the West Indies and was cast away on an island for nineteen days, at the end of which time he was rescued and soon after landed at New Orleans. This was February 2, 1850. From New Orleans he made his way to Iowa and bought a farm in Des Moines county, where his wife joined him the following autumn. Mr. Duff subsequently sold his farm in Iowa and removed to Sullivan county, Missouri, near the town of Wintersville, where he lived about ten years and then came to Grundy county and located upon his present place. Mr. and Mrs. Duff became the parents of six children, named as follows; viz., Charles M., died, while occupying a teacher's chair in the college at Edinburg, Missouri, July 21, 1873. Jennie L., married C. S. Mace, and is living at. St. Johns, Kansas. Maggie A., married J. B. Howard and lives near her father. William T. and Mary H. are at present (Angust, 1881,) living at home. Mrs. Duff died in October, 1879, at the age of sixty-one years. She was universally esteemed for her many excel- lent qualities and her death was mourned by a large circle of friends and relatives. She was the daughter of John Low, an inn-keeper in the town of Downhill, Scotland. Mr. Duff has a farm of four hundred and eighty acres of excellent land in a fine state of cultivation and stocked with valu- able breeds of horses, cattle and hogs.
JOIIN B. FORD
Was born in Marion county, Missouri, November 1, 1837. He is the son of James H. Ford, one of the oldest and most highly respected settlers of the township in which he now resides. While John was in his infancy his parents removed to Shelby and soon after to Knox county, whence they came to Grundy county where he received his education and has since lived, in the occupation of a farmer and stock-raiser.
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HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY.
Mr. Ford was married, in this county, on the 28th day of August, 1859, to Miss Sarah Cooksey. They are the parents of seven children: Rachel E., Maria J., Thomas B., George W., Mary A., Ella May, and James E. Mr. and Mrs. Ford have been members of the Christian Church for twenty-three years. He was enrolled and served in the State militia during the civil war. Mr. Ford is the owner of a valuable farm and devotes his attention largely to stock-raising. He is a practical and successful farmer and busi- ness man, a good neighbor, and highly respected.
BENJAMIN F. FORD
Was born in Shelby county, Missouri, April 20, 1841. His parents James H. and Amelia Ford, are natives of Kentucky. When but three years of age his parents removed to Grundy county where he has since resided. He received his education here and grew up on his father's farm in the northeast corner of the county. He has been engaged, all his life, in agricultural pursuits. Mr. Ford was married, in Grundy county, on the 15th day of December, 1869, to Miss Nettie MeCracken, daughter of John A. and Catherine (Barbee) McCracken, natives of Indiana. They have had five children, three of whom are now living: Eva E., Sylvia J. and Cora B. Mrs. Ford is a member of the Christian Church. Mr. Ford enlisted in 1861, in company A, Twenty-third Missouri volunteers, and was captured at the battle of Shiloh and held a prisoner at Montgomery, Alabama, and Macon, Georgia; was subsequently exchanged and entered Sherman's army and par- tieipated in the siege and capture of Atlanta. Soon after the surrender of that place he was discharged and returned to this county. Mr. Ford owns a good farm and enjoys the confidence and respect of the entire community.
JOHN W. GARRIOTT
Was born April 16, 1831, in Clarke county, Indiana. His father, Ambrose Garriott, was an engineer, and was killed by the explosion of a boiler on a Mississippi River steamer. In 1852 John W. Garriott left Indiana for Iowa, where he remained about three years. After leaving Iowa he made his home in Putnam and Mereer counties, Missouri, until the close of the war. He enlisted from Putnam county in the United States army under Colonel Morgan. October 8th, 1865, Mr. Garriott married Miss Susan E. Martin, daughter of John F. Martin, of Mercer county. Their marriage was blessed with six children; viz., Martha J., Hiram N., John E., Oliver S., Cirilda A., and Joseph M. February, 1866, Mr. Garriott migrated to Grundy county. Mr. and Mrs. Garriott are both members of the Baptist church and enjoy the reputation of good neighbors and highly respected citizens.
JOHN M. HUDSON
Was born in Tuscarawas county, Ohio, September 13, 1834. He is the eighth child of John and Olinda Hudson, nee Ward, natives of Maryland.
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IIISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY.
The other children of the family were named as follows: Mary, born August 22, 1821; Eliza, born October 9, 1822; Lee, born March 27, 1824; Phobe J., born January 4, 1826; Asahel W., born January 1, 1828; Lois Ann, born November 18, 1830; Cawala W., born October 30, 1832; James, born October 17, 1836; Jesse A., born August 27, 1838; Henry A., De- cember 4, 1841; James, died September 8, 1837; Henry died after the siege of Vicksburg, Mississippi, September 15, 1863.
Mr. Hudson was married in his native county, October 2, 1856, to Miss Nancy Ann Taylor, daughter of James and Phoebe Taylor, nee Holmes. She is, also, a native of Ohio. Mr. and Mrs. Hudson have one child, John T., who was born July 31, 1875.
Our subject enlisted in the Second provisional regiment of the Missouri State militia in the summer of 1863 and served about six months. Mr. Hudson lived in Iowa, during five months after leaving his native State, in the spring of 1857, and then came direct to this county, where he has since made his home. Mr. Hudson has filled the office of collector of the revenue in his township to the satisfaction of his constituents for a term of two years.
BENJAMIN LOW
Was born in Columbiana county, Ohio, July 18, 1833, the son of Henry and Sarah Low, nee Grate, also natives of Ohio. His father died when Benjamin was quite young and his mother married again and removed with the family to Illinois where he learned the blacksmithing trade. He enlisted in May , 1861, in company B, Sixteenth Illinois infantry and served, in defense of the Union through the war, and was with Gen. Sherman on his celebrated " march to the sea." Was discharged at Goldsborough, N. C., in 1865, and soon after returned to Illinois.
Mr. Low came to Grundy county in 1868. He was married, in Septem- ber 1879, to Miss Sarah Wilson, a native of this State.
He owns a good farm of one hundred and twenty acres in a productive state of cultivation, besides a blacksmithing business.
HON. LEWIS MYERS.
Lewis Myers, in honor of whom Myers township was named, was born in Bath county, Kentucky, on the 26th of October, 1818. His father, Jacob Myers, was born in Fayette connty, Pennsylvania, in the year 1792, and when seven years of age came with his parents down the Ohio River in a flat-boat, landing at the mouth of Cabin Creek near Maysville, in Lewis county, Kentucky, where he located for a time, then moved to Bath county and remained the rest of his life. He died April 24, 1872. Lucy Corbin was the maiden name of Mr. Myers's mother. She was born in Culpeper county, Virginia, and subsequently removed with her parents, Martin and Nancy Ann Corbin, to Kentucky. Her mother was Nancy Ann Scott, a near relative of General Winfield Scott.
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Lewis Myers was educated in Kentucky, and after leaving school taught for a number of years in his native State. He married, in Bath county, Kentucky, August 4, 1842, Miss Nancy Ann Ralls, also a native of that county. He left Kentucky in the spring of 1855 and came to Grundy county, Missouri, and, entering his present place, at once commenced improv- ing his farm.
Mr. and Mrs. Myers have six children now living, named as follows: Lucy E., married I. P. Martin; Mary Jane, Ann Eliza, married Wm. T. Hughes, now deceased; John, Richard, Ruth and Andrew.
Mr. Myers enlisted in the enrolled militia of the State under Governor Gamble's first call, and served in the capacity of orderly sergeant during the war.
He has served as justice of the peace for many years, and in 1864 was elected, by a handsome majority, to represent Grundy county in the General Assembly of the State where he served with credit during two sessions of the legislature. He has been postmaster at Muirton for nearly eight years and has discharged the duties in a highly satisfactory manner. In politics Mr. Myers was originally an "old line Whig." He lived near the great Henry Clay and imbibed the sentiments and doctrines of that statesman. Since the war he has voted and affiliated with the Republican party. Mr. and Mrs. Myers have been leading members of the Methodist Episcopal Church for nearly forty years. The majority of their children are also members of that church.
Mr. Myers possesses a productive farm of rich and valuable prairie land, beautifully situated and well watered. He is a leading farmer and a highly respected and influential citizen of the community in which he has lived for more than a quarter of a century.
JABEZ H. MOSES, M. D.
Jabez H. Moses was born in Cayuga county, New York, October 7, 1836. He left New York with his parents when about one year old, and settled in the State of Illinois, remaining there about one year, during which time his father died. Soon after his father's death, in the care of his mother, he returned to New York. When about five years of age he left his native State for Michigan, where he grew to manhood. In the days of his early manhood he commenced the study of medicine, in which science he grad- uated February 1, 1864, from the Rush Medical College, of Chicago. Soon after graduating Dr. Moses was appointed assistant surgeon in the Mississippi squadron of the United States Navy, under Admiral Porter. About the time of his appointment he was married to Miss Maria Ver Beryck, daugh- ter of Dr. Abraham Ver Beryck, of Granville, Wisconsin. The issue of this marriage was two children, whose names are Sidney and Lula.
Soon after the war Dr. Moses engaged in the practice of medicine in 43
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Granville, Wisconsin, and in October, 1867, came to Grundy county, where he lived on a farm until 1877, at which time he moved to Half Rock, in Mercer county, where he is now engaged in selling drugs and the practice of medicine. As a result of his energy and superior qualifications the doctor enjoys a large and lucrative practice.
MARGARET M. MYERS.
Margaret M. Trumbo was born in Bath county, Kentucky, November 5th, 1828. Her father is Manasset Trumbo and her mother's maiden name was Miss Hannah Taylor. Miss Trumbo was reared in Kentucky and married in Bath county to the late Milton J. Myers. With her husband she immi- grated to Grundy county in 1854. She is the mother of seven children living; viz., George H., Mary A., now Mrs. William C. Henderson; Lucy H. Jacob M., William C., Martha E., and Alfred T. Mrs. Myers has been a widow little over one year. Herself and children own one of the finest farms in Grundy county.
WILLIAM A. M'CRACKEN.
The subject of this sketch is one of the leading farmers of Myers township. He was born in Carroll county, Kentucky, on the 3d day of September, 1848. His parents were John A. and Catherine (Barbee) McCracken. They re- moved to Indiana when our subject was but three years old, remaining there only a short time, came to this State and settled in Putnam county, and lived there during ten years. Mr. McCracken was educated at Chillicothe, Mis- souri, and subsequently lived for a number of years in Sullivan county. From there he went to Mercer county and after a residence there of six or seven years, came to Grundy county where he has since continued to reside. His occupation has always been farming. William A. McCracken was mar- ried in Sullivan county, Missouri, on the 8th day of December, 1870, to Miss Ann M. Ford, daughter of James H. Ford. Mrs. McCracken was born in Sullivan county, Missouri, January 11, 1848. They are the parents of two children: James A., and Pearl. Mr. McCracken has been assessor of the township for two years, and is an industrious and enterprising business man.
NATHANIEL PETTIT
Was born in Beaver county, Pennsylvania, June 29, 1829. His parents, George and Hannah Pettit, were also natives of Pennsylvania. In his early youth his parents removed to Coshocton county, Ohio, and there our subject was educated and grew to manhood. He was married in Ohio, in October, 1851, to Miss Hannah, daughter of Abram and Nancy Miller. Mrs. Pettit is a native of Ohio. The fruits of this marriage have been twelve children, nine of whom, five boys and four girls, are now living. Mr. Pettit owns a
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HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY.
fine prairie farm of three hundred and twenty acres very handsomely im- proved. He is a leading farmer and a respected citizen.
MORGAN RALLS.
Morgan Ralls, one of the earliest settlers of this section of the country, was born in Logan county, Kentucky, December 25, 1815. His father, William Ralls, was a native of North Carolina, and his mother, whose maiden name was Naomi Montgomery, was born in Kentucky. When Morgan was ten years old his father removed to Marion county, Missouri, where our subject received all the education offered him (about three months' attendance upon the common schools) and grew to manhood. He began life for himself as a farmer and has never changed his occupation. He lived in what is now Knox county during five or six years, and from there went to Adair county where he farmed for fifteen years. From Adair he came to Grundy county for a time and then lived in Sullivan, from which county he subsequently removed again to Grundy and established his permanent resi- dence there. Mr. Ralls was married, in Knox county, Missouri, April 5th, 1837, to Miss Lydia, daughter of George and Annie Abbott. They are the parents of ten children: George W., Charles L., Green B., Judith A., John C., Sarah J., Cardwell M., Louisa, Elizabeth and Emma C. Mr. and Mrs. Ralls have been members of the Christian Church for more than forty years. Mr. Ralls is, also, a member of the Masonic lodge at Wintersville. He is an old and highly respected citizen.
JAMES ROBINSON
Was born in Logan county, Ohio, January 28, 1820. His father, Laborn Robinson, was of Scotch parentage. His mother was the daughter of James Logan, in honor of whom that county was named. When James was but three months old his parents removed to Gallatin county, Illinois, where he lived until fourteen years old, and then went to Rock Island and remained three years. Thence to Pike county, in the same State, where he engaged as a boatman on the river for seven years. In 1844 he went to Iowa City, and six months later made a trip to the mouth of the Yellowstone River. He returned to Rock Island and resumed the boating business, con- tinuing until the fall of 1846, and then attended school at Rock Island for one year. Soon after leaving school, May 20, 1847, he married Miss Ellen Brown, a native of Sangamon county, Illinois. After his marriage he re- turned to freighting and piloting on the Illinois River and continned that business until 1851, when he went back to Rock Island and farmed until 1853. Then on the 5th day of April, he started with a team of four yoke of cattle, overland, to California, which journey he accomplished in a little more than six months. He spent three years in California, chiefly engaged in mining, for the most part with good success; returning via Panama and
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