USA > Missouri > Pettis County > Sedalia > The History of Pettis County, Missouri, History of Sedalia > Part 93
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THOMAS E. GREGORY.
Post-office, Longwood. Of the older citizens of Heath's Creek Town- ship, none stands higher in the estimation of her citizens than the subject of this sketch, Thomas E. Gregory. He is the son of Peter Gregory,
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HISTORY OF HEATH'S CREEK TOWNSHIP.
who was a native of Virginia. The grandfather was a soldier in the war of the Revolution and was killed at the battle of Trenton. The subject of this sketeh was born in Boone County, Ky., March 22, 1814, and was the second child in a family of seven children. His advantages for an education were limited, there being but few schools in his native county when he.was a boy. After Mr. Gregory had become a man, he engaged in trading, for a few years, along the Mississippi and Ohio Rivers. Then in the winter of 1848, he emigrated to Missouri, settling in the northeast part of Pettis County, where he has since resided. Mr. Gregory was married Sept. 12, 1845, to Miss Angeline Pittman, a native of Ky., and a daughter of Williamson Pittman. Mrs. Gregory dying, he was again married June 15, 1849, to Miss Susan Major, of Saline County, a daughter O. T. Major, a native of Franklin County, Ky. From this marriage there were eight children, five of whom are now living, viz: Martha L., Joseph E., Nannie S., Mary A. and Olivia M. Since Mr. Gregory has been a resident of Pettis County, he has been engaged in farming and the raising of stock. He owns a fine farm of 640 acres, well improved, with a fine residence, ample lawns, barns and other out-buildings. In politics Mr. Gregory is a Democrat, and in religion he and his estimable lady are members of the Christian Church.
PETER HAY.
Post-office, Longwood. Is the son of Peter Hay, Sr., of Fairfield County, Ohio, a native of Virginia, but who came to Ohio in the year 1802. He was a soldier in the war of 1812. The subject of this sketch was born in Franklin County, Ohio, Ang. 22, 1828, and is the fifth child in a family of ten children. Mr. Hay received his education from the schools of his native county. He remained at home with his father's family, as long as the father and mother lived. In the spring of 1870, Mr. Hay moved to Missouri, settling in the northern part of Pettis County where he has since resided. He was married Jan. 25, 1860, to Miss Lucretia McCleery, a native of Ohio, and the daughter of James McCleery. From this union there are eight children living, viz: Ida, James, Josephine, Maudie, Peter, Minnie, Harry and Harley. Since Mr. Hay has been a resident of Pettis County, he has been engaged in farming and raising of stock. He owns one of the finest farms of this section, situated on the beautiful rolling prairie. This estate consists of 544 acres, well watered with springs. The improvements are good, consisting of a large house, barns and other buildings. Mr. Hay is a man of commendable business, habits and stands well with his neighbors. Mr. Hay has on his farm fifty head of cattle, twenty-seven head of horses and mnles, 275 head of sheep, and other stock in proportion. In politics, Mr. Hay is an Independent.
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HISTORY OF HEATH'S CREEK TOWNSHIP.
EDWARD S. HARTE.
Postoffice, Lookout. One of the most enterprising young men of Pettis County is the subject of this sketch, Edward S. Harte. He is the son of Edward Harte, a native of New York, but who had lived in Washington City for a number of years previous to his death, which occurred in the year 1861. The subject of this sketch was born in Washington City, Oct. 22, 1858, and is the youngest child in a family of five children. He received his primary education principally from the common schools of Johnson County, Mo., completing his course of study at the State Normal, at Warrensburg, Mo. Mr. Harte enjoys the untrammelled fetters of a bachelor's life, though he is very popular among his friends, and the society in which he moves. Mr. Harte is engaged in farming, and the raising of stock. The home farm owned by himself and two sisters is a fine homestead, consisting of three hundred and twenty acres, situated on the eastern line of Heath's Creek Township. It is finely improved, having a handsome large residence, beautifully located on a high mound, with ample woodland groves surrounding it. The brother and sisters have other lands to the amount of one hundred and seventy acres. Mr. Harte through his industry, integrity and business qualifications, bids fair to become one of Pettis County's most prominent citizens.
DR. J. F. HEDGER.
Postoffice, Sedalia. The subject of this sketch is a native of Wood- ford County, Ky., and was born, October, 1837. He studied medicine in six different places. He graduated at Louisville, Kentucky, Medical Col- lege. In 1871 he came to Pettis County and began the practice of his profession. He was married, March 18, 1876, to Miss Victor Priest, and this union has been blessed with two children, James A. and George Priest. In 1874 he moved to his present location, where he owns a fine farm of forty acres with first class buildings.
JOHN H. HENDERSON.
Born in Buckingham County, Va.,, Jan. 9, 1805, and is the third in a family of ten children. John Henderson, his father, was a native of Vir- ginia, who removed to Allen County, Ky., in the year 1833, where he lived till his death, which occurred in a few months after settling in that State. The subject of this sketch received his early education from the schools of his native State. In the fall of 182S he moved to Kentucky, where he lived about eleven years; then in the spring of 1839 he emigrated to Missouri, settling in the northeastern part of Pettis County, in which neighborhood he has since resided. He was married, June 24, 1832, to Miss Mildred Faulconer, a daughter of James Faulconer, of Kentucky. From this union there were five children, three of whom are living: Emily
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HISTORY OF HEATH'S CREEK TOWNSHIP.
G., born Sept. 8, 1834; Wm. H., born Nov. 22, 1840; Julia A., born July 13, 1842. Since Mr. Henderson has been a resident of Pettis County he has been engaged in farming and raising stock. He has held different official positions, having been a magistrate of the peace for over fifteen years. He has never aspired to political honors. He owns a fine farm of one hundred and thirty-seven acres, well improved and adapted to the purposes of farming. In politics he is a Whig from principle, but has voted the Democratic ticket for several years. In religion, Mr. and Mrs. Henderson are members of the Christian Church.
CHARLES R. HIERONYMUS.
Postoffice, Longwood. One of the few who first came to settle among the wild Indians, and to prepare this garden spot of the west for those who were to come after, is the subject of this sketch. Charles R. Hieronymus is the son of John Hieronymus, who was a native of Virginia, but who at an early day moved to Kentucky, and about the year 1822 or '23, he moved his family to Missouri, settling in Howard County, where he remained until his death, which occurred about the year 1825. Afterwards, about the year 1826, the mother moved her family to Pettis, then a part of Saline County, which is now known as Heath's Creek neighborhood, where she lived until her death, which occurred, August, 1860. The subject of this sketch was born in Clark County, Ky., Oct. 25, 1810, and is the ninth child in a family of twelve children, all of whom are now dead excepting a brother living near Longwood, and a sister living in Iowa. Mr. Hieronymus' advantages for an education were very poor; there being no schools in this part of the country for years after the family had settled here. On the present site where Mr. H. now lives there was nothing but a wild and unbroken wil- derness of forest and prairie when the mother with her family first settled in this section, fifty-six years ago. The only persons who had up to that time braved the frontier, and erected their cabins, were Hiram Jenkins, Sylvester Hall, Thos. Marlin, who had come with the Jenkin's family from Tennessee, and Ambrose Anderson. These are the first and hardy few who first settled in this part of the county. The Indian trail, which led to their trailing posts at Boonville and Arrow Rock, came in a short distance of the present residence of Mr. H., and on many occasions he remembers of seeing them following in their trail to their trading posts. And fre- quently he has stood in his door yard and shot the wild deer as he bounded by, or loitered on the green hills near by his cabin. All kinds of wild game were plentiful, such as wild deer, elk, bear, wild cats and turkey, etc. Mr. Hieronymus, who is a mason by occupation, has on several occasions taken trips south to Arkansas and Texas, to work at his trade and see the country. He was married, April 22, 1841, to Miss Susan France, a
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HISTORY OF HEATH'S CREEK TOWNSHIP.
daughter of Henry France, who is at the present time living in Bates County, Missouri; from this marriage there are eight children, viz: John H., Mollie, Sallie, Nancy, Vassie, Frank, Benoni and Elizabeth. Mrs. Hieronymus dying, he was again married to Miss Susan Kemp, a daughter of Wm. Kemp, of this county; from this union there are seven children, viz: Willie A., Charles, Susan, Eliza, Hopie, Reuben and Kemp. Since Mr. H. has been grown, he has been engaged at farming, and working at his trade. Before the war he raised considerable of stock, such as mules and cattle. His home farm consists of one hundred and seven acres, and he owns other lands to the amount of two hundred acres, and also a forty acre lot adjoining Longwood.
AARON JENKINS.
The oldest living settler of Pettis County. He is the son of Hiram Jenkins, who was a native of Pennsylvania, but at the first settling of Ten- nessee the father, then nineteen years of age, settled in Tennessee, where he remained until he was about forty-five years of age, when he emi- grated to Missouri, crossing the Mississippi River, a little above the mouth of the Missouri River. He then journeyed up to Arrow Rock, where on account of floating ice in the river he remained in camp from eight to fifteen days, at which time the river freezing, he crossed his family on the ice. After crossing at Arrow Rock, he made his way to the mouth of Heath's Creek where he stopped until spring, then proceeded to what is known as Marlin Branch of the above named creek, and there settled. Marlin Branch derived its name from Thomas Marlin, one of the pioneers who came from Tennessee with Mr. Jenkins. These three pioneers were Thomas Marlin, John Bolds and Hiram Jenkins. It is said that these were the first settlers within the present bound's of Pettis County. It was in the spring of 1817, long before the county was organ- ized or named. In the year 1808 or 1809, Hiram Jenkins, who was one of the noted " Nimrods" of his day, came to Missouri on a hunting and trading expedition, landing at St. Louis. He bought a lot of salt kettles and freighted them to the mouth of Heath's Creek. The kettles were for John and Robert Heath, who were here engaged in making salt. The Heaths remained here manufacturing salt until about 1811, the Indians then becoming hostile and killed or captured two of their employees. The Heath Bros. then abandoned the salt works and returned to St. Louis. This was the first manufactory of salt in this whole region of the country. The creek ever after retained the name of these brothers. After Hiram Jenkins had settled on Marlin Branch, he remained till 1834, when he returned to Tennessee. Aaron Jenkins, the subject of this sketch, was born near Murfresborough, Tenn., July 9, 1808, and was brought to Missouri with his father's family in the winter of 1816, and the following
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spring came within the present bounds of Pettis County. The father, Hiram Jenkins, lived here several years before the land was placed in market, and then entered from the government a good farm. Aaron has made his home on this land from that day to this. Many are the interest- ing incidents and stories Mr. Jenkins relates of the early settlers, their trials, hunting expeditions and toils in their efforts to subdue the frontier and establish for themselves homes. This was at that time a wild and unbroken forest and prairie, but is now a beautiful and well cultivated domain of farms provided with all the advantages of modern civilization. The Indians who had been removed by the government westward, often returned on hunting expeditions, and while here invariably gave the set- tlers great annoyance by pilfering. and committing other small depreda- tions. At one time when the Shawnees were in this neighborhood, Hiram Jenkins gave their chief orders not to return; but contrary to instructions the following fall they returned to the neighborhood, whereupon Hiram Jenkins with his sons and a few neighbors went to the Indian camp and treated the chief to a severe whipping with hickory rods. This had its desired effect. The Indians immediately departed and heeded well the instructions of Father Jenkins. The first day of May was by long custom called " Wolf Day," when the settlers collected and divided into two com- panies for the purpose of hunting wolves, and the company which brought home the greatest number of wolf scalps were treated to a supper by the other. The reason they selected the first of May was, that at about this time the old wolves rendezvoused with their young, when, at about the break of day, they would howl as a signal for the younger ones to col- lect and hide themselves in some thicket. After Aaron Jenkins had grown to manhood he engaged in farming and raising stock. In the year 1832 he was appointed sheriff and held the office till the next regular election. When this (Pettis) county was about to be set off from those north, Mr. Jenkins took an active part in forwarding the project and rode through every settlement, advocating his views. Mr. Jenkins has held several county and governmental positions. He was married Feb. 6, 1836, to Mary J. Fristoe, a daughter of Amos Fristoe, the first clerk of Pettis County. Nine children were reared by this worthy pair, seven of whom are now living, viz .: Susan D., Lucy A., Thomas H., Lydia V., Kate, Richard H. and Annie M. Mrs. J. having died, he was again married in September, 1859, to Mrs. Margaret Solomon, and one child, Sallie E., is still living. Mr. Jenkins has a farm of 300 acres, where he now resides and has lived since March 1, 1836.
JAMES S. JENKINS.
Post-office, Longwood. Is the son of Baldwin Jenkins, who was a native of Tennessee, but an early settler of Pettis County, locating in that
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HISTORY OF HEATH'S CREEK TOWNSHIP.
part of the county known as Heath's Creek township, but at that time it was a part of Saline County. Here the father remained until his death, which occurred about fifteen years after his locating in this county. The sub- ject of this sketch was born in Pettis County, Feb. 14, 1834, and is the fourth child in a family of six children. He received his education from the common schools of his native county. Mr. Jenkins was married in April, 1858, to Miss Susan Kelley, a native of Kentucky, but who came to Missouri with her father's family when quite young. From this union there are ten children living, viz: Robert B., Rodney, James, Ida, George, Ellen, Charles, William, Nimrod and the baby. Since Mr. Jenkins has been doing business for himself he has been engaged in farming and the raising of stock. He owns a fine farm of 200 acres, well improved, with dwell- ing, a fine new barn and other buildings. He has recently bought a mill which he will soon put in operation.
EMMANUEL R. KELLER.
Post-office, Lookout. A history of a county would be incomplete were we to confine ourselves strictly to the early citizens and first settlers of the county, for we find that among the influential and thorough business men are those of more recent date. And such a one is the subject of this sketch, Emmanuel R. Keller. He is the son of Daniel and Susanna Keller, they being natives of Pennsylvania; but when young his father moved to Fayette County, Ohio, where he resides at the present time, at the advanced age of eight-five; his wife, the mother of Emmanuel, is living with the father at the advanced age of eighty-one. They are living on the old homestead farm the grandfather settled when he first emigrated to Ohio. The subject of this sketch was born in Fairfield County, Ohio, Jan. 4, 1829, and is the fourth child in a family of eleven children. He received a good, liberal education from the schools of his native county, attending two terms of college at the Otterville University of Westerville, Ohio. After Mr. Keller had completed his education he engaged in farming with his father in Ohio, where he remained until the year 1864, when he moved to Kansas, settling at Ft. Riley, remaining there until the spring of 1868, when he moved to Missouri, settling at first in Henry County, where he remained until December of that year, when he moved to Pettis County, settling in the northern part of the county, where he has since resided. He was married Jan. 9, 1851, to Miss Elizabeth Emmick, a native of Virginia. From this union there are nine children liv- ing, viz: Sylvia A., Virgil E., Milton W., Clinton W., Alma E., Luella C., Fannie F., Ollie M. and Lovina. Since Mr. Keller has been a resi- dent of Pettis County he has been engaged in farming and the raising of stock. He owns a fine farm of 750 acres, well adapted to the purposes of farming and grazing; these lands extend to the rich bottoms of Lamine
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River. In politics Mr. Keller is an Independent, and in religion is a mem- ber of the Christian Church.
WM. L. POWELL.
William L. Powell is the son of Wm. C. Powell, and a first cousin of the great poet Cowper. The grandfather, Wm. Powell, was a soldier in the Revolutionary War, and received a wound in the battle of Bunker Hill. The subject of this sketch was born in Wilson County, Tenn., Jan. 7, 1825, and is the fifth child in a family of six children. He received his education in the common subscription schools of this county. When he was but eleven years old, his father emigrated to Missouri, settling in the northeastern part of the county, where he lived until his death, which occurred August 25, 1843. Since the son has been a man grown he has been engaged in farming and the shipping of stock. He was married Nov. 29, 1849, to Miss Mary J. Tussey, a native of Howard County, Mo., the daughter of Jonathan Tussey. From this union there are ten children, all of whom are now living, viz: Nathaniel R., Richard M., Annie E., James A., Sallie C., Wm. L., John S., Frank B., Ernest B. and Rosie L. The farm on which Mr. Powell resides was settled by Mr. Alfred Brock in the year 1833, and the first frame house built in this part of the county was built on this farm. Mr. Powell has in his possession, . as a memento, a gun owned by his grandfather 140 years ago. Mr. Powell owns a farm of 260 acres, well improved, and well adapted for the purpose of farming and grazing.
DR. H. C. SPEARS.
Post-office, Longwood. Is the son of Geo. C. Spears, of Fayette County, Ky. The grandfather, John Spears, was a soldier in the Revolu- tionary War, and was at the surrender of Cornwallis. The subject of this sketch was born in Fayette County, Ky., Feb. 14, 1828, and is the fourth child in a family of six children. He received a primary education from the subscription schools of his native county, and after reading medi- cine about two years he took a course of lectures at Transylvania Medi- cal College, Lexington, Ky., it being the great medical college of the southwest, presided over by that celebrated surgeon, Dr. Dudley, who was a lecturer and instructor at the time young Spears was a pupil. After graduating he located in Mercer County, Ky., where he practiced his profession for three years. In the spring of 1854 the Doctor moved to Missouri, settling in Cass County, where he remained until 1861, when he enlisted in the cause of the South, serving under Gen. Forest and remain- ing in the service about four years. When the war closed he moved his family to Boyle County, Ky., where he practiced his profession for two
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HISTORY OF HEATH'S CREEK TOWNSHIP.'
years. Then in the spring of 1868 the Doctor moved his family to Pettis, settling in the northeastern part of the county, where he has since resided, engaged in the practice of his profession. He was married in May, 1850, to Miss Susan M. Munday, a native of Woodford County, Ky. From this union there are five children, viz: Geo. E., Margaret A., Sarah J., Mary B. and John C. Mrs. Spears dying, he was again married, August, 1877, to Mrs. Henrietta Aldredge, a native of Missouri. From this union there are two children, viz: Hugh O. and Lee. The Doctor owns a fine farm of 300 acres, well improved, and excellently adapted to the purposes of agriculture and grazing. Dr. Spears is one of the leading physicians in his part of the county. He keeps abreast with the progress of his pro- fession and in his practice is universally popular and very successful. He is a genial, hospitable gentleman.
FRANK S. TESCH.
Post-office, Lookout. If we were to confine our biographical sketches strictly to the young men of Pettis County, we could do no better than beginn with the subject of this sketch, Frank S. Tesch. He is of German descent, and the son of James G. Tesch, who is a native of Ger- many, but who came to America in the year 1836, and is now a resident of Sedalia, where he has lived most of the time since he came to this county. The subject of this sketch was born Feb. 24, 1261. He received his education from the public schools of Sedalia. He is a single man, and has been engaged in farming his father's farm, which is situated in the northeastern part of Pettis County. This farm has a historical connection, besides being one of the finest farms in Pettis County. At a point on this farm, near the intersection of Pettis and Cooper counties, is the place where it is supposed a large number of Spaniards were massa- cred by the Indians. One thing is true: at a very early day there were erected at this point fortifications, their works being plainly visible at this time. And besides there is a large mound, which has been partly exhumed and the bones of human persons found, other than those belong- ing to the Indian race. To what race of people these belonged can only be conjectured, for the mound and fortifications had all the marks. of age when the first hunter and settler came to this part of the country. There might be many pages written describing these ancient landmarks, but we must conclude by saying that the fortifications seem to be ingeniously con- structed on a ridge of high, white sand stone, overlooking an extensive valley along what is now known as Lamine River. Here is a field, wide and extensive, for the historian and scientist, and, strange to say, there are . hundreds living on the entensive prairies and along the beautiful water courses of this beautiful country who do not know that such a land- mark exists. There is also on this farm one of the finest springs in Pettis
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HISTORY OF HEATH'S CREEK TOWNSHIP.
County, to see which, and drink of its cool waters, is worth a day's ride to anyone .. Young Tesch was the first male child born in Sedalia, and we believe the young Queen City of the Prairies can look upon her first born with all the feelings of pride; for he possesses those traits of character which go to make up the honorable, prosperous business man.
MRS. SARAH W. WHARTON.
Post-office, Longwood. Is the relict of the Rev. W. Wharton, who was a native of Guilford County, N. C., but who came to Missouri about the year 1837 and settled in Green County, where he lived until the fall of 1843, when he engaged in the ministry, he being connected with the Methodist Church South, in which work he was engaged until his health failed him. Mrs. Wharton is the daughter of Spencer Clark, of North Carolina, but who moved to Missouri in 1834, and settled near Springfield, in Greene County, where he lived until about the year 1847 or 1848, when he moved to Texas, where he lived until his death which occurred about the year 1870. Mrs. Wharton was educated in the schools of her native county in North Carolina. She was brought to Missouri with her father's family, and lived with them in Greene County until her marriage with the Rev. Warren Wharton, which event took place May 5, 1840. She shared the young minister's struggles through the first years of his ministerial work, and rejoiced with him in the success which after years had brought. And thus
"To love, to bliss, their blended souls were given, And each, too happy, asked no brighter heaven.".
The Rev. Wharton's life was one of untiring industry and activity in his field of labor, and although nature had given to him strength an buoyancy of life, his health at length gave way and he was forced to give up the work he loved so well, and at Marshfield, in Webster County, on the 12th day of December, 1874, his active and useful life, after a long and gradual decline, was brought to a close. After his death Mrs. Wharton moved to Pettis County, and made her home for, about two years with her brother-in-law, D. W. Burford. She has since moved to her farm, where she has made her home with her nephew. The homestead is a fine one, consisting of 275 acres, finely improved, with a fine residence and other buildings.
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