The History of Pettis County, Missouri, History of Sedalia, Part 117

Author: Demuth, I. MacDonald
Publication date: 1882
Publisher: [n.p.]
Number of Pages: 1148

USA > Missouri > Pettis County > Sedalia > The History of Pettis County, Missouri, History of Sedalia > Part 117

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the fruits of his labors and see his children occupy positions of honor and usefulness.

JONAS F. COOPER.

A clear-sighted, influential Virginian, born in Loudoun County, July 10, 1825; son of John and Magdalena Cooper, who were natives of Virginia; his mother was born in 1798 and his father in 1799. His father died Oct. 28, 1874, and his mother Dec. 26, 1858. Mr. Cooper was married in the year 1851 to Margaret A. Perry, of Morgan County, Va., whose parents were also natives of that old State. He has six children living: Mary A., born Nov. 26, 1852; Eliza V., born Oct. 18, 1855; Marcellus, born May 27, 1862; John W., born April 17, 1865; Charles M., born Jan. 20, 18-, and James O., born Oct. 28, 1874. He emigrated to Pettis County, Mo., in 1861, locating on a farm ten miles south of Sedalia, consisting of 853 acres, 6% acres of which are timber; 79 acres under fence and in cul- tivation, and fifteen acres of beautiful pasture. His farm is fenced with good hedge and rail fences, has a fine orchard of choice apple, peach, pear and cherry trees, with fine blackberries, quinces, grafted raspberries, strawberries, etc. Does mixed farming on a successful basis. Keeps a good line of cattle, hogs, horses and sheep. Mr. Cooper is an open- hearted, generous and liberal-minded man, of sound judgment, quick per- ception and genial temperament, a driving, go-ahead, enterprising farmer, and commands the highest respect and esteem of all who know him.

W. M. DEVOLL.

The subject of this sketch was born in Noble County, Ohio, in the year 1840. He was married April 7, 1867, in Athens County, Ohio, to Eve- line M. Mingus. He has one child living, Henry B., born Oct. 29, 1877; two died of small pox. He served as a soldier in the late war. Enlisted in June 1863 in First Ohio Heavy Artillery, and assigned to Company I, Captain Lewis commanding. Was in several heavy engagements. Was detailed into the mustering department as clerk on the muster rolls. Emi- grated to Pettis County, Mo., in 1877, has a fine farm of eighty acres, all under fence and in good cultivation, high rolling prairie and well watered. He has built a magnificent residence with all the modern improvements and fixtures necessary to happiness and comfort. Is an educated man, of good business sagacity, clear, quick perception, ripe judgment and most genial temperament. A few days before the robbery of the train at Otter- ville, Mo., he was called upon to extend his hospitality to Cole Younger, Clel Miller, Charley Pitts and Hobbs Casey, although he was not aware of the fact that it was they, and was called, as a witness, to Boonville, on the trial of Casey. Has served as Justice of the Peace for seventeen years, been Township Clerk and Treasurer, which offices he has filled

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with great credit. He is a man of irrepressible public spirit and unim- peachable honor, and among the leading and inspiring workers for the ad- vancement of the interests of his community.

GEORGE DUMP.

The subject of this sketch came from Hocking County, Ohio, where he was born in the year 1842. His father died at the age of forty-seven years. His mother still lives in the old State, and is seventy-nine years old. He came to Pettis County in 1873, and located twelve miles south of Sedalia, on Spring Fork, has five brothers and one sister living. He was married to Mary A. Crawford in 1875, whose parents are natives of Ohio, but reside now in Pettis County, Mo. Has two children, one son and one daughter: Minnie, born Dec. 16, 1876, and Boyd, born Oct. 1, 1880. He owns a fine farm of one hundred and nine acres, rolling prairie and bottom land. All under fence and in good cultivation. Sells on an average, one thousand bushels of corn, fattens from twenty to thirty head of hogs, feeds from thirty to forty head of cattle, besides having quite a number of horses on hand. Can raise forty bushel of oats to the acre; has raised as high as sixty bushels. Mr. D. is one of those thrifty, money- making Buckeyes; a gentleman of culture, boundless public spirit and a social nature that has always and everywhere made him "a prince among men," and is doing all he can toward the advancement of all the interests of his community.

PETER DUMP.

An earnest, successful farmer and stock dealer, who also comes from Hocking County, Ohio, where he was born in 1839. Was married in 1865 to Sarah J. Immell, who also is a native of Ohio. Mr. D. came to Pettis County in 1871, and has a superb farm of three hundred and seventy- two acres, three hundred and thirty acres of which is in fine cultivation, and forty acres of fine timber. His farm is all under fence, handsomely improved, with good buildings, orchards and vineyards. Has a magnifi- cent barn, which was built at a cost of $1,000. His fences consist of rail, hedge and wire. He yearly feeds about one hundred head of cattle, from fifty to seventy-five head of hogs, fifteen to twenty head of horses and mules, is continually buying, selling and shipping stock, handling about $8,000 worth every year. Has a fine young orchard of sixty apple, one hundred peach and one hundred cherry trees. Has a fine well, which is calculated to furnish an ample supply of water for all the stock he keeps and for domestic purposes, besides five living springs, and an abundant supply from Spring Fork stream, which passes through his farm. Mr. D. is a careful cultivator, an ambitious, honorable stock dealer, and is rendering invaluable service to the live stock industry

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in his community; is well known as a gentleman of liberal views, decided public spirit, and a man of superior business qualities.

ALVIN FARRIS.

Born in Clinton County, Ky., March 17, 1846. His parents were natives of Kentucky. His father served as a soldier in the Mexican war, during which time he died, in the twenty-second year of his age. His mother still lives, and is fifty-four years old. He came to Missouri in the year 1856, and settled in Cedar County. He was married Aug. 30, 1866, to Miss Mary Condon, who is a native of Randolph County, Mo. Her parents are both dead. They have three sons: James W., born July 14, 1867; John W., born Aug. 22 1871, and Peter B., born Jan. 17, 1878. He owns a fine farm of ninety-two acres, ten miles south of Sedalia, eighty acres in cultivation and ten acres of good timber. It is well improved, with good fences of hedge and rails, and most excellently watered by a stream that never dries, as well as a living spring of the purest water. He car- ries on mixed farming on a successful basis, has a fine herd of fifteen head of cattle, six head of horses and a nice flock of sheep. He raises from twenty to fifty acres of corn every year. He is a live, energetic, progres- sive man, a good farmer, a gentleman of great public spirit, and one of the foremost men of his community. He is connected with the Baptist Church, being an exemplary member and a devoted christian.

JOHN E. FERGUSON.

The eldest son of J. J. Ferguson, of Flat Creek Township, Pettis County, Mo. He is one of the finest young business men of the county, being highly educated, and a young man of sterling qualities. Although raised on a farm, yet he improved all the opportunities presented to store his mind with those things which would prove beneficial to him in life, and now stands among the leading educators of the community. He has taught several terms, and has received the highest commendations of all his patrons. He is also a practical farmer of most creditable standing in the community. He is a successful stock dealer, his judgment being of such excellence as to command the attention of noted stock men, who, in many instances have secured his services to purchase stock for them, relying wholly on his judgment in this matter. He is at present handling quite a large number of cattle, as well as keeping on hand a good line of other stock. In short, Mr. F. is a young man of large intelligence, ready tact, good experience, and of unusual energy and public spirit.

JESSE J. HALE.

Was born in Mercer County, Ky., May 1, 1827. He is the son of Elias and. Cynthia Hale, who were natives of Kentucky, born in the years

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1799 and 1802. They emigrated to Missouri in 1837, stopping first in Monroe and Randolph Counties, where they remained for two years, and then located in Pettis County in 1839. In February, 1852, he married Ellen May, daughter of Rev. William May, of Mercer County, Ky. By this union there were two children: Mary E., born Nov., 1852, and William J., born in May, 1855. His wife died Jan. 6th, 1856, at the age of twenty-five years. He married his second wife in March, 1857. She was a daughter of his uncle, Jesse Hale, of Mercer County, Ky. She only lived seven months. She is buried in Pettis County. He is now mar- ried to his third wife, Ellen Black, daughter of Daniel and Polly Black, who reside in Mercer County, Ky. By this marriage they have eleven children living, seven daughters and four sons: Marion C., born March 22, 1861; Ellen, born Sept. 6, 1864; Arabella, born Feb. 15, 1866; Syl- vania, born Oct. 3, 1867; Almilda, born March 23, 1869; Amanda, born April 28, 1871; Viola, born Sept. 14, 1873; John T., born Oct. 3, 1875; Henry Clay, born Oct. 17, 1877; Edward, born Oct. 17, 1879, and an infant, born March 22, 1882. Mr. H. owns 100 acres of fine land, eighty acres under fence and in good cultivation, and twenty acres of good tim- ber. He devotes his time to mixed farming, on a successful basis. He is one of the representative farmers of the community as well as a clear- sighted gentleman of prime standing.

D. D. HAMMOND.

Born in the State of Ohio in the year 1850. His father died in Ohio at the age of forty-five. His mother is still living in the State of Texas. There are five brothers and one sister, all of whom are in Missouri except two, one in Ohio and one in Texas. He located in Pettis County, in 1871. He was married in 1879, to Dora Elliott, whose parents are both dead. Of her father's family there were five brothers and two sisters. He owns a fine eighty acre farm, all under fence and in a good state of cultivation. He has worked hard, and put all the improvements on the place himself. He has a fine residence and is getting everything about him in good shape. He grows about forty bushels of corn to the acre and keeps a good sup- ply of cattle, hogs and horses. Is a young man of high standing, a thorough farmer and one held in high esteem by all who know him.

JAMES H. McCORMICK.

Was born in Cooper County, Mo., in the year 1825. His parents emi- grated to the State of Missouri in 1819. His father was a native of Kentucky and his mother of North Carolina. His father assisted in building the first house in the city of Boonville, Mo. His parents are both dead. His mother died in the year 1860 and his father in 1861. He. came to Peitis County in 1831, and was married in 1850 to Armilda J.

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Bohon, who was born in the State of Kentucky in the year 1829. Six children, have been born to them, four sons and two daughters, two of whom are dead. William E. was born July 27, 1854; Martha A., born Feb. 13, 1851; Nettie, born May 5, 1852; Walter V., born Feb. 2, 1858; George H., born Sept. 22, 1860, and James E., born in Aug., 1863. He owns 383 acres of fine land, 100 acres of which is timber. 283 acres are under fence and in good cultivation and fine pasture. He entered 120 acres, eighty acres at $1.25, and forty acres at 122 cents per acre. His farm is admirably watered, and grows about thirty bushels of corn, twelve bushels of wheat and forty bushels of oats to the acre. He feeds about 100 head of cattle, and has a good line of horses and other stock. He is a popular man, and one of the representative farmers of the county.

J. S. McFADDEN.

Born in the State of Ohio, in the year 1845. Emigrated to Pettis County in the year 1869. His father is quite aged, being seventy years old. His mother was sixty-four years old when she died. He was mar- ried in 1873, to Eliza Funk, who was born in Boone County, Mo. Her parents were natives of Virginia. She has three brothers and five sisters. Mr. McFadden has a beautiful 160-acre farm, well improved, and all under fence by beautiful hedges, and in a fine state of cultivation, everything about him going to prove that he is a wide-awake farmer, and a progress- ive man of the community. Is superintendent of the poor of Pettis County, and from observation it would be said that the county had the right man for the position, everything being in first-class order and in good shape. He has been in charge since March 1, 1882, and the county officers are extremely well pleased with his management. He is a thrifty, money-making farmer, and takes a liberal interest in the advancement of the county. He has two children: James A., born May 11, 1877, and William W., born July 6, 1881.

DIETRICH MAHNKEN.

Was born in the Kingdom of Hanover, Germany, in the year 1844. Emigrated to America in 1853 with his grandparents, and settled in Ben- ton County, Mo. In 1867 he was married to Catharine Yeagels, whose parents live in Benton County. Of this union there are three children, two sons and one daughter. Annie, born Sept. 26, 1868; John' H., Sept. 17, 1874, and Henry, born Sept. 8, 1877. He removed to Pettis County, and has a fine 160-acre farm, all under fence, 130 acres in cultivation, and thirty acres in pasture. He grows about forty bushels of corn and oats to the acre, and has a good supply of stock on hand. Mr. M. enlisted as a soldier in the three months' service, in the year 1861, after which he joined the Twelfth Missouri Infantry, Colonel Waugling commanding;

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was assigned to Company C, commanded by Captain Meyer. Left Rolla, Mo., in the year 1862, for Springfield; followed Price to Bentonville, Ark., thence to Pea Ridge. On the sixth of March, 1862, he was in the engagement at Sugar Creek, then the battle at Pea Ridge, Helena, Ark., St. Genevieve, Ft. Pemberton, Yazoo Pass, Chickasaw Bayou, Arkansas Post, Milliken's Bend, Grand Gulf, Jackson, Champion Hill, Vicksburg, Memphis, Chattanooga, Lookout Mountain, Missionary Ridge, Ringgold, Resaca, Altoona, Big Shanty, Kennesaw Mountain, Rossville, Decatur, . Izzard's Church, at which battle he was wounded. He was taken to the hospital at Marietta, Georgia. After his recovery he joined his regiment at Chattanooga, and was mustered out of the service at St. Louis in Dec., 1864, having served his country faithfully for three years.

JOLLY S. PARRISH.

Post-office, Sedalia. One of the oldest settlers of Flat Creek Town- ship is the subject of this sketch, Jolly S. Parish. His father bore the same name as that of the son. The father was a native of Virginia, but at an early day moved to Kentucky. The grandfather was a Captain in the Revolutionary War. Jolly S. Parish was born in Mercer County, Ky., Sept. 8, 1821, and is the sixth child in a family of eight children. His advantages for an education were somewhat limited. In the fall of 1833 there was a school house built in section thirty-four, township forty-five, and range twenty-one. This was the first school house built in southern Pettis County, and the first term of school was taught by Reuben McFar- land. At this term of school young Parrish received about all the school instruction he ever gained. The next term of school was a short term, for before it closed the house was burned, and with the house went for- ever Mr. Parrish's advantages for school education. However, being deprived as he was of school advantages, he, not discouraged, sought to store his mind with practical knowledge, and became a student of men as well as of books. In life Mr. Parrish has displayed that wise and judicial judgment which only a practical knowledge of men and affairs can give. In the fall of 1832 Mr. P.'s father moved his family from Kentucky to Missouri, settling at Boonville. Here they remained until the next spring, when the father moved them to Pettis County, locating in the southern part of the county, where he lived until his death, which occurred Oct. 8, 1852. Since then the son has lived in the same neighborhood. Mr. Parrish was married Jan. 6, 1853, to Miss Sallie C. McCormick, a daughter, of Judge McCormick, a native of Kentucky. From this marriage there is only one child, Leander S., who is married and living with his father. Since Mr. Parrish has been doing business for himself he has been engaged in farm- ing and stock-raising. He owns a fine farm, where he resides, of 200 acres, well improved, with dwelling, barn and other out-buildings. He also

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owns other lands to the amount of 210 acres, all improved. In business affairs Mr. Parrish is honorable and upright, and as a citizen, he is held in the highest esteem by his friends and neighbors.

W. H. RODGERS.

The subject of this sketch was born in Washington County, Tenn., in the year 1832. Emigrated to Missouri in 1852, having first gone to New Orleans and then back to Evansville, Indiana, where he was taken sick, but came on to Missouri and landed at Boonville, in fall of 1852. After his recovery he went to Osceola, at which place an uncle of his lived, where he remained until the following March, 1853, when he returned to Cooper County. In the year 1854 he returned to Tennessee and brought his mother, brother and sisters, his mother being a widow. She was forty-five years old at the time of coming. She died in the year 1856 and was buried in Cooper County. In his father's family there were seven children, all of whom are dead, except one son and two daughters. One daughter resides in the State of California, and the other in Pettis County. Mr. R. married, in the year 1855, Adaline Stephens, of Cooper County. Her father was a native of South Carolina and her mother of Virginia. There were nine children in the family, eight of whom are still living. Mrs. Rodgers was born in 1835, and was twenty years old at the time of her marriage. Mr. and Mrs. Rodgers have had eleven children born to them, five of whom are still living, three sons and two daughters. their eldest son is a mute, and is at this time attending school in Fulton, Callaway County, and will finish his education this year. Thomas O. was born Dec. 22, 1857; Louiza F., July 18, 1864; James A., Feb. 8, 1866; William W., April 17, 1868, and Laura A., Feb. 18, 1870. Mr. Rodgers and family settled in Pettis County in the year 1859. He entered one hundred and twenty acres of land in Flat Creek Township, at seventy-five cents per acre. He owns at the present time three hundred and six acres,. two hundred and sixty of which are under fence, one hundred and sixty acres in cultivation, one hundred and ten acres in pasture, and thirty-five . acres in timber. He grows about forty bushels. corn and oats, and ten to fifteen bushels wheat to the acre. Keeps a good line of horses, but is. paying considerable attention to sheep and cattle raising, having about eighty head of sheep and twenty-five head of cattle on hand. His fencing is good and his farm is well watered. He has a magnificent orchard, which yields an abundance of standard fruit. Mr. R. has been connected with the Baptist denomination for quite a number of years, and is now pastor of four congregations. He was licensed as an exhorter in the year 1868 by the Flat Creek Church, and regularly ordained as a minister by order of the same church in the year 1870, and has worked arduously as a minister of the gospel ever since that time. He has solemnized sixty-

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eight marriages. during his ministerial work. Although a farmer, and having a great deal of hard labor to perform, yet he is ever found at his post in the work of the Master. He is an ambitious and an honorable man, much esteemed by all who know him.

MATTHIAS REED.

Was born July 4, 1829, one mile and a quarter northeast of where Georgetown, Pettis County, now stands, on what is now known as the widow Wright farm. This place was at that time in Saline County, Pettis County not having been struck off. His parents came to Missouri about the year 1811. They settled in what is now Cooper County, and about the year 1814 removed to the above named place. His father died at the age of ninety and his mother sixty-five. They were buried, near Green Ridge, Pettis County. Mr. R. was married Nov. 4, 1852, to Mary C. Yankee, daughter of Judge Jacob Yankee. She was born in the year 1834. By this marriage there are four children, three girls and one boy; all in Pettis County, except a daughter, who resides in the State of Kansas. In the year 1863 Mr. Reed lost his wife, and in the year 1864 married again, to Louise C. Phillips. By this marriage they have had six children: Samuel H., born June 3, 1865; Jane, Feb. 23, 1867; Jacob Truman, Feb. 28, 1869; Christopher H., Feb. 21, 1871; Marion E., Jan. 22, 1873; Ed. C., March 9, 1875. Mr. Reed owns a fine one hundred and sixty acre farm in a good state of cultivation, and exceedingly well watered. He has been connected with the Baptist Church since 1854, and is a live, energetic worker in the church, as well as an honest, upright and influential citizen in the community in which he lives.

JESSE REED.

One of the representative and among the noteworthy farmers of the county. Was born in Warwickshire, England, in the year 1828. Emi- grated to America in 1855, and located in the city of Philadelphia, where he remained two years, during which time he was married. He then removed to Illinois, in which State he remained two years, thence to Texas, and after a sojourn of eight years he returned to Pettis County, Mo., and now lives on a magnificent farm of two hundred and fifty acres, two hundred and forty of which are under fence, and ten acres of good timber. He cultivates one hundred and sixty acres, and has a fine pasture of eighty acres. Has a fine orchard of peach and apple trees, in which he grows fruit of the finest grade. Has a good line of stock consisting of cattle, horses, mules and hogs. Has improved three farms in the county, and is now living on the fourth. Has taken quite an interest in educa- tion, and has been a school officer for quite a number of years. He has seven children living, five sons and two daughters, one of whom is married.

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Jessie, born in the year 1860; Smith W., in 1862; Lewis, in 1864; Thomas, in 1867; Lethe, in 1869; John, in 1872, and Ezra, in 1875.

ROBERT WOOLERY.

The son of Joseph and Eliza Woolery, and was born in the year 1855, near Smithton, Pettis County. His parents were natives of Cooper County, Mo. His father died in 1877 and his mother in 1875. Mr. Woolery was married June 3, 1880, to Susan Epperson, who was born in Johnson County, Dec. 28, 1860. Her father died during the war, but her mother is still living. In the father's family there were only two children, one son and one daughter. Her brother died at the age of seventeen years. Mr. Woolery has one child, Emmet W., born May 13, 1881. He owns 120 acres of land, all under fence; forty acres of good timber, eighty acres in cultivation, admirably watered by Walnut Creek, and grows forty bushels of corn and fifty bushels of oats to the acre. He is one of the sys- tematic and successful farmers of his community.

WILLIS WARREN.

Born in Grundy County, Pennsylvania, Oct. 17, 1839. Was married in Tennessee in January, 1865, to Rachel E. Burris, who was born in Ten- nesse Jan 13, 1848. Her parents died when she was quite young. His father died at the age of seventy-three and his mother at the age of sev- enty. There are five brothers and five sisters living of his father's family, three brothers and one sister in the State of Missouri. Mr. Warren has these children: Mary E., born Nov. 19, 1861; Sarah V. A., Oct. 23, 1863; Eliza F., Sept. 15, 1869; Josie E., Oct. 23, 1871; Margaret L., Dec. 8, 1874; Linnie A., Dec. 7, 1877, and Julia B., April 2, 1880. Three of his brothers served as soldiers in the late war, two of whom died, one at Columbia, S. C., from a wound received in the Battle of Richmond, and the other of disease contracted in the army. Mr. Warren came to Pettis County in 1870; has not as yet purchased land, but thinks of doing so soon. He has about twenty head of cattle and a good supply of horses, is connected with the Baptist Church, and is a man highly esteemed by all who know him.

JUDGE JACOB YANKEE.

The subject of this sketch was born in Boyle County (formerly Mercer County), Ky., Oct. 1, 1812. Emigrated to Pettis County in 1835, and on the 11th day of March, of the same year, was married to Ruth Goodnight, who was born in the same County as Mr. Yankee, on the 28th day of October, 1814. Of his father's family there were twelve children, five sons and seven daughters, four of whom are still living. His parents were quite aged when they died, being eighty-two years old. Mr.

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The History of Pettis County, Missouri, History of Sedalia, Part 117

Author: Demuth, I. MacDonald Publication date: 1882 Publisher: [n.p.] Number of Pages: 1148

Author: Demuth, I. MacDonald
Publication date: 1882
Publisher: [n.p.]
Number of Pages: 1148