USA > Missouri > Pettis County > The History of Pettis County, Missouri, including an authentic history of Sedalia, other towns and townships, together with biographical sketches > Part 104
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HIRAM DYER.
Post-office, Green Ridge. Section thirty-five, Elk Fork Township. Farmer and stock raiser. He was born in Ohio, Oct. 12, 1833, and when about six years of age went with his parents to Indiana, where he was reared and educated. In 1854 he crossed the plains to California,
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and there engaged in sheep raising and farming till the fall of 1867, when he returned to Ohio. In April, 1869, he came to Pettis County, where he has since resided, following farming and stock raising. He has a fine farm of one hundred and fifty acres, situated about one mile north of the town of Green Ridge. Mr. Dyer enlisted in Company D, First California Cavalry Volunteers, in the fall of 1861, and served three years, and then was honorably discharged. While in the service he traveled through New Mexico, Arizonia and Texas; also a portion of Old Mexico. He was married in Wooster, Wayne County, Ohio, Nov. 12, 1867, to Miss Almira M. Jones, a native of that State. She was born, Jan. 20, 1836. Their family consists of two children: Franklin E., born Feb. 18, 1869, and James M., born Feb. 3, 1871. Mr. Dyer has been a Free Mason since 1866, and his wife has been a member of the Presbyterian Church for upwards of twenty years.
PETER GUIHEN.
Post-office Knobnoster, Mo. A farmer. Was born in Ruscommon County, Ireland, in Kilronin Parish, June 27, 1832, and continued to live there until he was sixteen years of age, when he emigrated to America and stopped in the State of Ohio, about five years; then came to Illinois and stayed there some two years, after which he spent one year in freighting goods from Fort Leavenworth to Salt Lake City. He returned to Illinois, spent another year there, and then went to Kansas and entered one-quarter section of land, which he now owns. One year after he settled in Johnson County, Mo. He was married to Miss Mary Donnelly, of Johnson County, on the 15th day of March, 1860. Mr. Guihen turned his atten- tion to farming, renting lands. In a short time was able to buy a pleasant home, where he now resides. He was in the Missouri Militia a short time. He went into the grocery business in Knobnoster, Johnson County. Being very successful in that business he soon was able to improve his farm in Pettis County. Mrs. Guihen was born in Dublin, Ireland, on the 12th day of January, 1842; at the age of three her parents emigrated to America, and settled in Troy, N. Y., where they remained about three years, then came to St. Louis, Mo., living there twelve years, after which they spent about two years in Scott County, Ill., then moved directly to Johnson County, where she lived until after she was married and after the war. They have had eight daughters, six living and two dead; named as follows: Mary E., Ellen, Rosalie, Lillie, Christian, Lulu, Agnes and Anna. The parents of these interesting daughters are very happy in the thought that they are growing up to womanhood in that . lady-like manner, which will be recognized as an affectionate sisterhood in after life. Mr. and Mrs. Guihen are thoroughly imbued with the spirit of education, hence their daughters are receiving every advantage that
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kind parents can bestow on them. They have a good home, a well culti- vated farm, and a large orchard of four hundred and fifty trees of apples, plums, peaches, etc. All the family are of the Catholic faith.
JOEL C. HAM.
Joel C. Ham, son of Jabez Ham, and a grandson of Stephen Ham, a native of Kentucky, was born in Montgomery County, Mo., Nov. 23, 1818. He lived with his father until of age; then commenced business for him- self at wagon-making and other mechanical work. Also followed farming. June 29, 1839, J. C. Ham married Mary, daughter of Joseph and Elizabeth Count, a native of Pennsylvania. She was the daughter of William Groom, of Kentucky. The names of their children are: William E., born Aug. 11, 1840; Geo. B., May 23, 1842; Mary J., June 14, 1846; John S., Oct. 26, 1848; Margaret C., April 25, 1851; Laura C., Sept. 17, 1853; Isaac S., Jan. 22, 1855; Marietta H., June 14, 1858; died Sept. 8, 1865. The paternal ancestor of Mary C. Ham, mother of the above named children, was Joseph Count, son of Jacob Count, a native of Germany. J. C. Ham's maternal ancestor was Hannah Todd of the family of Peter Todd, a native of England. The names of the children of the Count family were: Huldah, Rachel, William, Sallie, Nancy, Jacob, Elizabeth, Mary, Susan, Joseph and Aaron. Of the Groom family were: Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, Moses and Aaron, who were early settlers of Montgomery County, Mo. Joseph Count had two brothers, Elijah and Jacob; also two sisters, Sallie and Rachel. Joseph Ham, father of Joel, was a minister of the Predestinarian Baptist Church, in Callaway County. Had been in the ministry twenty years when he died, in 1865, aged forty- five years. J. C. Ham's sons and daughters married as follows: William E. married Susan Hawkins, Jan., 1865; George married Minerva Nelson, Aug. 1870; Mary J. married Isaac Dorrence, July, 1865; John S. married Nancy Scranton, Aug., 1867; Margaret married James Crum, Nov., 1873; Laura married William Bogart, July, 1869; Isaac married Sallie C. James, March, 1879. Mr. Joel C. Ham moved from Mont- gomery County to Callaway County, in 1835; followed his business in that county until he came to Pettis County, in 1872, and purchased land of J. M .¿ Pemberton, who entered it at an early day. Mr. Ham is a member of the Walnut Branch Baptist Church ; is clerk of the church at the present time. Has been Justice of the Peace for several years.
EDWARD JAMES.
Post-office, Green Ridge. Section 22, Elk Fork Township. He was born in Ohio, Sept. 6, 1837, where he was reared and educated. Farming has been his chief occupation, both in Ohio and here. In the spring of 1872 he left his native State and came to this State and county, where he
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has since resided, and followed his favorite calling. His fine residence and well improved farm of 120 acres are well situated, and arranged in the best manner for agricultural pursuits. He was married to Miss Eliza J. Remly, of Ohio, daughter of Conrad and Delila Remly, March 3, 1862. Eight children were born to this worthy couple, six of whom are still living: Adaline, Rodman, Lewis W., Frankie, Maud and Clifford. Laura and Clayton, deceased. Mr. James has been a worthy member of the M. E. Church since twenty years of age, and for his many neighborly qualities is highly respected by those who know him. His mother was born in Ross County, Ohio, Dec. 10, 1816, and his father was born in the same county, May 19, 1813, and died June 18, 1876.
JOHN KENDRICK.
Farmer and stock dealer, section twenty-six, Elk Fork Township; post- office, Green Ridge. Mr. John Kendrick was born in Cooper County, Missouri, Dec. 23, 1830, where he was reared and educated. His occu- pation has been that of farming, and he now owns one of the best stock farms in Pettis County. It contains 300 acres, is well improved, and has four living wells, also ponds and cisterns. His farm is well fenced with hedge. His handsome two-story residence is beautifully located, and commands a fine view of the surrounding country. From the top of his house the city of Sedalia is plainly seen, also Green Ridge and other points of interest. Mr. Kendrick has a fine flock of Cotswold sheep, and also about seventy head of cattle, besides horses, hogs and other domestic ani- mals. He was married in this county March 9, 1853, to Miss MarthaPow- ell, daughter of S. A. Powell. Their family consists of Samuel A., born March 7, 1860; William R., born June 20, 1866; Maud E., born Jan. 29, 1873: Virginia A., born May 1, 1862, and died May 13, 1879. Mr. Ken- drick has been a member of the M. E. Church, South, since 1854, and still continues laboring zealously in the cause. By integrity and upright dealing he has won the confidence of all.
JACOB MAGLEY.
He was born in Switzerland, Feb. 13, 1835, and remained in that coun- try until he was twelve years of age, when, with his father, he emigrated to America, landing in New York. From there they went to Ohio, and remained in that State three years, and then they went to Indiana, where he finished his education. After leaving school he learned the carpenters' trade and followed it continuously until 1869, when he came to Pettis County, Missouri, settling in Elk Fork Township, where he has since resided, and engaged in farming and carpentering. He was married in Indiana, June 22, 1862, to Miss Matilda Summers, a native of Ohio, and
49
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daughter of Solomon and Phœbe Summers. This union has been blessed with eight children, of whom six are living: lda C., born April 18, 1863, died October 13, 1864; Emmet B., born in September, 1864; Laura P., born August 6, 1866; Orpha D., born June 14, 1868; Phœbe J., born April 14, 1872; Nellie E., born August 30, 1875, died July 9, 1877; Dora E., born June 25, 1876, and Joseph M., born February 10, 1879. Mr. Magly is an enterprising business man, owns a neat 100 acre farm, and has a nice home, located on a commanding spot of ground, surrounded by every comfort of life.
JAMES M. McCOLLOCH.
James M. McColloch was born in West Virginia, February 12, 1856, where he was reared and educated. After finishing his education he engaged in school teaching and continued at it until 1877, in which year he came to Pettis County, and where he continued to teach for a few years, and then he engaged in farming. He now owns a nice farm of 118 acres, well improved and well fenced, and has a fine residence, beauti- fully located, with complete out-buildings. Abraham McColloch, the father of the subject of this sketch, was born in West Virginia, October 25, 1797, and followed the occupation of farming up to the time of his death, which occurred February 17, 1882. His wife, Susan V., was also a native of Virginia. They were married October 25, 1840. She died in the fall of 1862. James M. McColloch was married in Johnson County, Missouri, August 21, 1878, to Miss Mary A. Wharton, a native of West Virginia, a daughter of Silas W. and Elizabeth E. Wharton. She was born June 18, 1859. By this union there are two children, Olive P., born August 28, 1879, and Ettie M., born August 7, 1881.
GEORGE V. S. McKINLEY.
George V. S. McKinley, son of Joseph Mckinley and grand-son of Peter Mckinley, a native of Virginia. G. V. S. Mckinley was born Jan. 25, 1834, in Rush County, Indiana, and lived with his father until his majority. At the age of seventeen he took charge of his father's farm. In the year 1836 the family moved to Madison, Indiana, remaining there until 1848, when they came to Pettis County, Missouri. In 1854 they went to Johnson County, and returned to Pettis County in 1860, and set- tled on the old homestead where he now resides. Joseph McKinley's family consists of four members, viz: himself, wife and two sons, George V. S. and John. Peter Mckinley's children were, Willie, Peter, Joseph, John, Patsey, Anna and Sallie. John died April 2, 1848. The mother of the last named children was of the Henry family, of Virginia. Geo. V. S. Mckinley married Miss Matilda Stephens, daughter of Robert and Eliz- abeth Stephens, February 17, 1859. Matilda Stephens Mckinley was
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born April 28, 1836. The maternal ancestors of G. V. S. Mckinley were the Wells family, who were natives of England, and came to this country at an early day and settled in Virginia. Andrew Wells, Sr., the ancestor of this branch of the Wells family, was born May 16, 1755. William, his first son, was born in September, 1785; Jeremiah was born May 22, 1790; Andrew J. was born Nov. 29, 1792: Coleman was born May 10, 1794; Katie was born March 7, 1796, and Sallie was born Aug. 25, 1801, mak- ing six children by the first marriage. Andrew Wells, father of the above named children, married for his second wife Miss Eva Houx, a native of Pennsylvania. Their children were Michael, born Nov. 14, 1807; Hannah and Nancy, twins, born in 1808; George, born Oct. 2, 1810; Rebecca, born Jan. 21, 1814; Malinda, Dec. 5, 1813; Levi, born Oct. 30, 1815; Permelia, born Sept. 8, 1817; Thomas, born Sept. 9, 1819, and John P., born Jan. 12, 1822. Eva H. Weils, mother of the above named children, died Dec. 17, 1855, aged seventy-four years. Andrew Wells, Sr., died Feb. 16, 1834, aged seventy-nine years. Adam Houx, brother of Mrs. Eva H. Wells, was administrator of the Wells estate. Mrs. Matilda Stephens McKinley's grand-father, David Stephens, was a native of New York State. Her maternal ancestor was Rebecca Mc- Clanahan, a native of Tennessee, and who came to Cooper County, Mis- souri, in an early day. Mr. G. V. S. Mckinley settled in 1860 on land entered by the Wells family, and still has possession of the old homestead. He remained on his farm during the war and suffered many inconven- iences incident to that time. The only child of G. V. S. Mckinley is Ida, born Nov. 25, 1867. Mr. G. V. S. Mckinley has been School Director for several years. He supports all enterprises which are designed to im- prove the moral sentiment of the community.
ALEXANDER E. MENTZER.
Alexander E. Mentzer, son of Samuel Mentzer, a native of Pennsylvania, was born July 22, 1821; lived with his father until his majority, and, from boyhood, until his marriage, he followed brickmaking with his father and became master of the business. Mr. A. Mentzer married Catharine, daughter of Samuel and Elizabeth Metzler, Sept. 10, 1848. In 1862 he went to Polk, Ashland Co., Ohio, and commenced merchandising. Soon after, the post-office of the town was brought to his business house, and Mrs. Mentzer was appointed postmistress, and continued in that office for six years, until the family came to Missouri. The names of their children are: Samuel A., born Aug. 25, 1849; Thomas, born Sept. 18, 1851; Abel E., born Sept. 2, 1853; Flora Belle, born Jan. 19, 1859. Thomas died Sept. 4, 1852. Catharine, mother of the above named children, was born Jan. 7, 1829. Her father, Samuel Metzler, was in the War of 1812. Her maternal ancestors were of the Forbes family, natives of England.
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Mrs. C. Mentzer's maternal grandfather was Robert Forbes. an only son of Gen. Forbes, an officer in the English army, who owned a large tract of land in New York City, under a colonial grant from the crown of Eng- land. Samuel A. married Allie Goodrich, April 8, 187.4. Mrs. Allie G. died Feb. 17, 1882. Flora Belle married Asa La Baw, Dec. 23, 1875. They reside in this township. Mr. Mentzer has given his time princi- pally to farming. After getting his farm under fair improvements, has erected a good substantial brick residence, worth about $3,500. Soon after coming to this township, finding the church privileges very poor, and the membership scattered over two or more townships, the members held a preliminary meeting in an unfinished house at Green Ridge, and organ- ized a church according to the form and discipline of the M. E. Church. Mr. and Mrs. Mentzer are liberal supporters of the church and Sabbath- school, and are energetic laborers in all enterprises which tend to main- tain good moral and religious sentiment in the community. Mr. M. has been a director of the public schools for several years.
ELDER JOHN DAVIS MERCER.
Post-office, Lamonte. Born in Washington County, Tenn., May 25, 1814. His father, Mr. John .Mercer, died when John D. was but two months old. He lived with his mother until he was sixteen years of age. Her maiden name was Miss Eliza Wallace, a native of Virginia, and a descendant of the family of Wallaces who emigrated from Scotland, and settled in the Connecticut Colony in an early day. The subject of this sketch left home to learn the carpenter's trade, which required three years, then he continued to work at that trade for eight years. He had, at the time of his apprenticeship, only a common school education. Dur- ing the eight years he worked at his trade, he attended the 'Tusculum College, in Green County, Tenn. He emigrated to Missouri in 1837, and settled in Pettis County, where he turned his attention to farming and stock-raising. He was married in 1838, to Miss Pemberton, the daughter of Mr. George Pemberton, a native of South Carolina, who was of Scotch descent. They commenced keeping house in a cabin situated on one hun- dred and twenty acres of land, which formed a nucleus for the large landed estate which they once owned, containing 1,000 acres, most of which they have given to their children, or sold to actual settlers. The present farm contains 180 acres. They are the parents of seven children, , as follows: America, the wife of Mr. John H. Barber, living in Cedar County, Mo .; Marion D., who is also living in Cedar County; Alice W., the wife of Joseph P. Higgins, living in Pettis County. The rest of their children are dead. The soil of his farm is clay mixed with loam, which makes it a good wheat farm-worth $30 per acre. Of late the prosperity which has followed him so many years has been reversed, in the loss of a fine
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dwelling house by fire. Elder Mercer and wife are acceptable members of the Old School Baptist Church, for which he has preached ever since 1848. His troubles during the war were very light, except the loss of money and horses, amounting to over $2,000. He is nearly sixty-eight years of age. Having spent his life in usefulness, he is now looking forward to that rest which is just over the River, where peace and joy forever reigns.
HIRAM C. NELSON.
The subject of this sketch was born in Indiana, September, 30, 1856. When about eight years of age he went with his parents to Kansas, where they remained until the spring of 1866, when they came to Missouri and settled in Elk Fork Township, Pettis County, where Mr. Nelson was reared and educated. After leaving school he engaged in farming, and in this occupation he is still engaged, owning a neat 100 acre farm of well improved land. He has a handsome new residence, beautifully located, commanding a fine view of the surrounding country, and it is in fact one of the best small farms in the township. His father, Anderson Nelson, was born in Alabama July 12, 1816, and while a boy moved to Indiana. When a young man he followed the carpenter trade. His mother was born in Kentucky, April +, 1824, and was married in Indiana to Anderson Nelson October 10, 1844.
GEORGE M. PEMBERTON, (Deceased).
The subject of this sketch, who was the eldest son of Jesse B. and Tabitha Pemberton, was born in Caldwell County, Ky., March 5, 1810. He came to Missouri in company with his brother, Dr. Thomas B., in 1836, and was married in 1839 to Miss Malissa M. Pemberton, daughter of Judge Pemberton, by whom he raised a family of eight children. Mrs. Pemberton died in 1859 with typhoid fever, and also near the same time two of the eldest sons and one daughter died. The names of the children were: Warren G., Mariam B., Lucinda B., George M., Brooks G., Thomas F., Jesse B., and Elizabeth T. The three latter died near the time of their mother's death. In 1860 Mr. Geo. M. Pemberton married Miss Sarah E. Pemberton, a sister of his first wife, by whom he had four children, viz: Matilda C., now Mrs. J. H. Tague; J. Lee, Dixie E. and Thomas M. Mr. Pemberton was one of the leading stock dealers of his township, and contributed largely to the development and prosperity of the county. Was also at one time an extensive land owner, having owned in connection with his brother, Dr. Thomas B., nearly 4,000 acres. He died November 10, 1878. He had been a member of the Regular Bap- tist Church for many years, and was a good neighbor, widely known and universally respected. His grandfather, Geo. Pemberton, served as a
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captain of a company of Virginia troops, under Col. Washington, in the campaign with Braddock's army, and it was through their coolness and bravery that the small remnant of that command was saved from com- plete destruction. Capt. Pemberton was also a member of the Regular Baptist Church for eighty years. He had a family of five children, one died young, and the others reached the venerable ages of eighty, eighty- seven, ninety and ninety-three years. He sold his farm in Virginia to the brother of Gen. George Washington, Col. Samuel Washington. He died on the 29th day of December, 1854, at the residence of the subject of this sketch, at the ripe old age of 109 years.
DR. THOMAS B. PEMBERTON.
Prominent among the pioneers of this county may be mentioned Dr. Pemberton, who was born in Caldwell County, Ky., April 23, 1812. His father, Jesse B. Pemberton, was a native of Virginia, and was born in May, 1770, in Frederick County. He went to South Carolina when a boy, and here he married Miss Tabitha Brooks. In 1801 he moved to Caldwell County, Ky. Geo. Pemberton, the grandfather of Thomas B., was of English ancestry, and was among the first families of Virginia. He moved to Kentucky with Jesse B. Pemberton, in which state he died in the year 1854, at the advanced age of 109 years. Jesse B. Pemberton, the father of Thomas B., came to Missouri in 1835, and lived with his brother, George Pemberton, who had previously moved to Pettis County. In 1836 Thomas B. and his brother, Geo. M. Pemberton, brought their families through to this county and settled in Elk Fork Township, near the waters of Muddy Creek. Here, on a farm, the father of the subject of this sketch resided, until his death in 1854 in his eighty- fifth year, Thomas B., our subject, was principally raised in his native State. He studied medicine under Drs. Stewart and Pemberton and received his lec- tures at the Transylvania Medical College of Lexington, Ky., in 1835. He practiced one year in Kentucky; then moved to Pettis County, Mo., where he at once resumed his practice, which he followed until 1856, when he retired. Since he retired, the Doctor has been dealing largely in real estate, sometimes owning as high as two thousand acres. He has at the same time been an extensive trader in stock. The Doctor owns yet about 700 acres. He was married to Miss Lucinda Pemberton in 1847. She died March 20, 1879, leaving no children. In politics the Doctor is a Democrat. He became a member of the Regular Baptist Church in 1856. The Doctor is living in the brick house on the old home- stead, known as the Locust Grove farm.
CHAS. H. POWELL.
Post-office, Green Ridge. Farmer and stock raiser, section twenty-two,
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Elk Fork Township. He was born in Pettis County, Mo., Jan. 29, 1854, and was here raised and educated; then engaged in farming and stock raising. His farm of 260 acres occupies a favorable location for all pur- poses of profit and beauty. He was married to Miss Katie Whitman, Dec. 22, 1876, and they have two children: Samuel A., born Dec. 12, 1877, and Charles L., born June 8, 1880.
WILLIAM O. POWELL.
William O. Powell, son of Samuel Powell, a native of Virginia, was born in Franklin County, Va., Feb. 11, 1834, and lived with his father until he reached his majority. In 1836, Samuel Powell came to Callaway County, Mo., and in the fall of the same year came to Pettis County, and settled on land near his present residence. The nearest neighbors were George Pemberton, Rev. Martellus Embree and Seth Botts. Samuel A. Powell entered several tracts of land in this township, which remained in his possession and are now held by his children and grandchildren. He died Feb. 14, 1859. While away from home buying cattle, he was taken ill and did not recover sufficiently to be taken home before his death. William O. Powell married Mary E., daughter of Willis and Jane Record, May 15, 1858, and has followed farming and stock raising as his principal business. The names of their children are: Edward, born Aug. 12, 1865; Alice, born July 28, 1867. Mary E. Powell, mother of the above named children, died July 14, 1878, of paralysis, after suffering several months. After the first attack, medical aid seemed unavailing, and a second attack proved fatal. She was a member of the Hickory Point Baptist Church of the Tebo Association. Her paternal ancestors were of the Record family, natives of Boone County, Ky. Her maternal ancestors were of the Wilson family, natives of Bourbon County, Ky. The paternal ances- ors of Hope A. Powell, wife of Samuel A. Powell, were the Dudleys, of Franklin County, Va. Samuel A. Powell's family consisted of William O., born in Virginia; Martha A., James T., Docia V., Charles H., born in Pettis County. Hope A., mother of the above named children, died May 10, 1865. William O. Powell was one of the first school directors in his district.
JEREMIAH D. RENFROW.
Post-office, Knobnoster. Farmer. Born Dec. 26, 1827, in Sevier County, Tenn., where he lived with his parents until 1834, when they emigrated to Missouri, and settled in Cole County, now Moniteau County, when the county was new. His parents were born in East Lynn. His father, Mr. John Renfrow, was a farmer and raised his family, especially his twosons, to be farmers. The father died in 1839, leaving the care of a large family to J. D. Renfrow, the subject of this sketch, which remained
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