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 112
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HISTORY OF GREEN RIDGE TOWNSHIP.
be paid in a few days. There was a very large congregation in attendance, including many strangers, also a full representation of our citizens. A bountiful, sumptuous dinner was served in the Grange Hall. Dr. W. T. Shivel, of the Christian Church of Windsor, presented this church with a large and handsome Bible. Richard D. Rains responded to this in an elegant and touching line of remarks. There was a resolution passed thanking the Congregational Church of this place for their kindness in allowing them the use of their church for the past many years.
The Methodist Episcopal Church of Green Ridge was organized in 1872 by the Rev. W. W. Powell, with George Anderson, James Ander- son, Mary and Jane Anderson, S. Johnson and Mentzee, as members of the class. Around this nucleus there has grown a church organi- zation of forty-two members with an influence for moral good that is felt all over the entire neighborhood. In 1878 the congrega- tion erected a nice house of worship, at a cost of $700. It is a frame structure, capable of seating 200 persons, and is neatly furn- ished. The building was dedicated in 1880 by Rev. J. N. Pierce. The Pastors that have been in charge are: Revs. W. W. Powell, James A. Little, E. H. Smith, John S. Nelson, F. Oechsli, John Lutz, John H. Gillis- pie and A. P. Salaway. The congregation keep up a Sunday School, with an average attendance of seventy-five, with M. Anderson as Super- intendent, and L. B. Ream Secretary for this year. The congregation is in a flourishing condition.
DATA .- The first marriage in the township was Josiah Nelson, from Lafayette County, to Miss Sarah Means, in the year 1840. Both are dead, the former dying near Clinton and the other at her father's place.
The first birth was in the winter of 1832, and was a colored child, who was named Julia Ann. Her mother belonged to Robert Means, Sr., and she still lives in the county north of Windsor. She has been married twice and has children and grandchildren.
The first death was that of a colored man named Solomon Cofer, in the family of Robert Means, Sr., in 1840.
The first Minister: For years there was no resident Minister. The first circuit rider was Rev. Jackson Whitsett, of the Cumberland Presbyterian denomination, and his first visit was in 1833, with Rev. Dr. R. D. Mor- row of the same church, who held their meetings in the houses of neigh- bors.
The first camp meeting was held on the farm of Robert Means in 1838. It was continued yearly for four or five years, and has since been held near Centerview, Johnson County. R. D. Morrow died at Columbus, Johnson County, Mo.
The first physician was Dr. James Hogan, from Calhoun County. He came prior to 1840, and now resides in Fort Scott, Kan.
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HISTORY OF GREEN RIDGE TOWNSHIP.
The first school taught in the township was in the present school dis- trict, No. two, and the first teacher of the school was Emma Wells.
Few crimes have been committed in the township, and none whatever were committed until the railroad was built.
In 1855 a damaging fire swept over the prairie. It was set on fire by Martin Biggs, and he was sued by Mr. B. Melvin, and paid damages to the amout of $200.
There was little immigration until after the war, and what came in came principally from Cooper County.
The early settlers' hardships were, that all the marketable stock and grain had to be driven or hauled to the river points for shipment. These points were Boonville, Lexington or St. Louis. There was but one main road from Clinton to Boonville, and from Georgetown to Lexington. In the drouth of 1854 the majority of farmers did not raise more than a hat- ful of corn per acre, and the economy practiced that year was wonderful.
THE VILLAGE OF GREEN RIDGE.
A town of about 300 population: was started in 1870-71, when the M., K. & T. Railroad came through the county. It is located in the north- eastern part of the township and is beautfully situated on the prairie in the heart of a prosperous and fertile farming and stock raising region, has a dozen places of business, three churches, a good school house, grange hall, stock yards, warehouse for grain, etc., and is an active trading and shipping point. The shipments by rail from the station for the year 1881 -82, were as follows as reported by the accommodating agent, Mr. E. C. Havely: Cattle, ninety-eight car loads; hogs, forty-five car loads; hay, fifty-one car loads; walnut logs, nine car loads; oats, eight car loads; broom-corn, eight car loads; flax seed, six car. loads; wheat, three car loads; corn, three car loads; sheep, three car loads.
From May 1, 1881, to June, 1882, the receipts at the railroad office have been as follows: June, $616.98; July, $595.39; August, $785.62; September, $861.62; October, $882.90; November, $755.74; December, $808.78; January, $1,038.37; February, $980.16; March, $837.38; April, $640.65; May, $708.49. Total for year $9,812.00.
The business men of the town are: F. A. Logan, dealer in dry goods and groceries; George A. Tompson, dealer in dry goods and groceries; James S. Ream, druggist; William H. Owens, hardware; D. Rice, under- taker: E. C. Havely, postmaster and agent M., K. & T. Railroad; M. Shebel, saddler; Charles Nichols, blacksmith; E. M. Phillips, proprietor Phillips House; T. B. & N. Rice, carpenters; B. Melvin deputy postmas- ter; James Vaughan, proprietor of Vaughan House; William Ralls, pain- ter; W. H. Flesher, physician and surgeon; C. W. Leabo, physician and surgeon; E. C. Havely, dealer in lumber.
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HISTORY OF GREEN RIDGE TOWNSHIP.
The town has been incorporated for over a year and is in a fine condi- tion financially, having no debt and but little expense connected with its management. The first Board of Trustees of the town were James Paton, Dr. W. H. Flesher, Benjamin Melvin, James S. Ream and F. A. Logan; John Ireland, marshal.
The Independent Order of Good Templars in the town was organized in 1873. They however allowed their organization to go down, but were reorganized last October, 1881, and now have 120 members in good stand- ing. They occupy the old Grange Hall, but this is too small for their accommodation and a new hall is necessitated. The officers for the pres- ent quarter, May, 1882, are A. B. Fowler, W. C. T .; Carrie Buckner, W. V. T .; L. Anderson, R. S .; J. A. Logan, F. S .; Mattie Ream, Treasurer; M. Anderson, Chaplain; L. B. Ream, Marshal. Before their organiza- tion in October, 1881, there were two saloons in town but the influence of the Templars has succeeded in ridding the village of their presence and now it is a temperance town in the fullest sense of the word.
JOHN H. BELL.
The subject of this sketch was born in Edgar County, Illinois, near Paris, October 3, 1841, where he was raised on a farm until fifteen years of age. His father, Robt. K. Bell, came with his family, consisting of his wife and three children, to Pettis County, Mo., in 1856, and located on the land now occupied by his sons, John H. and James W. He died in 1869, and his ashes repose in the family burying ground, upon the farm, beside those of his wife, who had departed from this life ten years before. John H., his son, having received some education in Illinois, availed himself of the advantages afforded here also. Since the death of the father, his large farm has been divided among the children. In 1862 Mr. Bell enlisted in the Confederate army, and was assigned to duty in Hineman's escort, under Brigadier-General John S. Marmaduke; but towards the close of the war he was transferred to Young's battalion. A minnie ball passed through his right side in a small fight at a stockade between the mouth of the Red River and a bayou that empties into the Mississippi River. He shared all the fortunes and reverses of Young's battalion, and after leav- ing Hineman, Mr. Bell surrendered with his comrades at Shreveport, La. in June, 1865, to Gen. E. B. Canby, U. S. A., and was afforded transpor- tation to St. Louis by steamer, and thence by rail to Sedalia, and from the last named place went direct to his farm. He was married Jan. 7, 1870, in Benton County, Mo., to Miss Mary H. McDaniels, who was born and resided there, and they have been blessed with two children, viz: Francis G. and Robt. M. Mr. Bell pays some attention to the culture of and speculation in stock, principally cattle, horses, hogs and sheep, while his farm shows many very striking recent improvements.
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HISTORY OF GREEN RIDGE TOWNSHIP.
ROBERT L. BELL.
The subject of this sketch, Mr. Bell, was born in Paris, Edgar County, Ills., Sept. 4. 1835, where, until twenty years of age, he resided upon a farm. At that age, in 1855, he came to Green Ridge Township, Pettis County, Mo., and entered 320 acres of government land at $1.25 per acre. He was married in Johnson County, Mo., in 1857, to Miss Nancy J. Coats, a native of Fulton, in this State. The result of this marriage is five child- ren, viz: James O., John, Lillie, Robt. B. and Benjamin F. Mr. Bell died Sept. 20, 1873, in the faith of the gospel, having been a member of the O. S. Presbyterian church since his seventeenth year. John Coats, the father of Mrs. Bell, was the first sheriff of Callaway County, upon whom the duty of hanging a criminal devolved, and her mother, now living in John- son County in her seventy-eighth year, rode on the first boat that came up the Missouri River. Mrs. Bell and her children have charge of a large and well improved farm.
JOHN W. CHRISTIAN.
The subject of this sketch, Mr. Christian, was born near Lexington, Fayette County, Ky., in 1831. His father brought him, when but nine years old, to Boone County, Mo., and settled on a farm near Ashland, and the subject of our sketch became inured there to farm life and obtained an excellent education at the neighborhood schools. In 1852 he was mar- ried in that county to Miss Mary Black, and in 1854, with his small family, he came to Green Ridge Township, Pettis County, where he bought and improved his farm. But in 1861 his wife returned to Boone County, Mo., with her children, and died near Ashland in 1863, leaving four children, viz: David M., Louamma A., Katie and William S. At the beginning of the hostilities in 1861, Mr. Christian espoused the Confederate cause, and joined Col. B. F. Gordon's regiment, in the brigade of Gen. J. O. Shelby, so distinguished for raids and desperate fighting in concert with and inde- pendent of Gen. Sterling Price. But Mr. Christian obtained a transfer to Price's escort in the fall of 1863, with which he remained until the war closed. He participated in all the principal battles fought by Gen. Price, and surrendered with his comrades at Shreveport, La. He then returned to Boone County, Mo., gathered up the surviving members of his family, and in the fall of 1865 was again industriously laboring to repair his bro- ken fortunes upon his farm in Pettis County, Mo. He was married the second time Dec. 24, 1865, in Callaway County, this State, to Miss Julia A. Blythe, a native resident of said county. Through this union they have eight children, viz: Churchill, Sallie, Samuel M., Thomas, John, Charles R., Frank H. and Edmund F. Another child, Lee, died in Nov- ember, 1871. Mr. Christian still suffers from a fever contracted while following the hard life of a soldier in 1862. He was taken prisoner once
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HISTORY OF GREEN RIDGE TOWNSHIP.
during the war, near Huntsville, on the War Eagle River, in Arkansas, but was released immediately afterwards and returned to his regiment. He has been a member of the Baptist Church for thirty-one years; his wife also has been a member for twenty odd years. He is an industrious farmer and very popular in his neighborhood.
MICHAEL DOHERTY.
Mr. Doherty was born May 22, 1844, in Kilkenny County, Ireland, where he lived until he was ten years old, attending the private schools. May 4, 1854, having crossed the Atlantic Ocean, he located at Peoria, Ill., and during the seven years of his residence there he attended school. He then went to Livingston County, Ill., where he rented a farm and followed that vocation for seven years. During part of this time he was constable of Pike Township, Livingston County. Mr. D. was married Oct. 15, 1865, to Miss Elizabeth Murphy, a native of Columbus, O. They have five children living, Edward W., Katie, Jno. T., Mary E. and Clarence J., and one dead, Nellie, who departed from this life in 1877. In November, 1868, he removed to Green Ridge Township, Pettis County, Mo., where he purchased a farm of 160 acres of land. He now has 480. He also has 100 head of steers, six cows, ten head of horses and a house whose eleg- ance is in keeping with the surroundings, proving that all who come across the waters to America do not come here in vain.
WILLIAM EDE.
Mr. Ede was born in Surrey County, England, in the year 1832, and enjoyed the splendid facilities there afforded for education and prepara- tion for life's duties. When sixteen years of age his father brought his family across the Atlantic and came directly to Missouri, locating on a farm in Jefferson County. In 1854 Mr. Ede went to California and mined extensively in Butte, Plumas and other counties in that State. He joined, in 1865, the Indian scouts of the United States army, known as Company A, First California Cavalry. He returned to Jefferson County, Mo., in 1866, and the same year married Miss Samira E. Parker, of said county, who died at Miller's Landing, Franklin County, in 1875, leaving two children, Margaret A. and Flora J. Mr. Ede went from there to St. Louis County, where he resided several years, his several occupations being farm- ing, building county roads and railroading; afterwards removed again to Franklin County, where he was railroading on the Missouri Pacific. He there was married to Miss Lucinda Null, a native of said county. They have five children, Mattie, Mary S., Ada, Dora and Cora. He moved again, this time to Henry County, where he followed railroading until January, 1880, when he located in Green Ridge, Pettis County, where he has since been section foreman on the M., K. & T. R. R.
1048
HISTORY OF GREEN RIDGE TOWNSHIP.
T. M. EDWARDS.
The subject of this sketch was born near Smithton, Pettis County, Aug. 23, 1848. He received a good preparatory education in the same locality, and was raised on a farm, which occupation he has followed all his life in his native county. He was married Aug. 31, 1876, to Miss Cassie Mc- Gee, a native of Hickory County, Mo., and they have one child living, Lizzie L., and one dead, Augusta F. Mr. Edwards will continue his agricultural life, it having now become to him a lucrative and pleasant occupation.
W. H. FLESHER, M. D.
Dr. Flesher was born in the year 1829 in Jackson County, Va., where he passed his childhood in acquiring a good preparatory education. His thorough medical education was obtained at two of the most noted col- leges in this country. He attended the Louisville Medical Seminary, now the Louisville Medical College, first, graduating in 1850. He afterwards received the benefit of lectures at the Cincinnati Eclectic Medical Col- lege from 1854 to 1855. The eminent Dr. Jno. King, author'of the Ameri- can Dispensatory, was then a professor in that excellent institution. Dr. Flesher practiced medicine for several years both in Virginia and Ohio, crossing the Ohio River to Great Bend. He was married March 2, 1852, to Miss Mary Parr, a native of Marietta, Ohio, the marriage having taken place in Meigs County, Ohio. Seven children are the offspring of this union, one of whom, Irwin W., was born in Virginia; two, Rosa and Lucy E., in Ohio; and four in Illinois, Minnie, Cora, Mamie and' Nellie. The Dr. practiced his profession several years in Meigs County, O., returning in 1860 to Worth's Bottom, Va., where he resided until the breaking out of hostilities in 1861. He then entered the U. S. army as assistant sur- geon in the Eleventh Virginia Volunteer Infantry, Col. D. Frost com- manding. He was connected with it but a brief time, however, for he was detached for recruiting service, and was rapidly promoted from the rank of First Lieutenant to that of Captain, and from the latter to the rank of Major, having recruited the battalion known as the Third Virginia Cavalry, whose head-quarters were at Parkersburg, W. Va. Major Flesher was next assigned to the Third Regiment of West Virginia Cav- alry, which was annexed to Gen. Avery's command, and participated with him in his operations in and around Harper's Ferry. Soon after this regi- ment was reorganized, and attached to Gen. Geo. A. Custer's command. He followed Sheridan, the dashing and brilliant cavalry officer, in all his campaigns in the Valley of Virginia, and Maj. Flesher's command led the charge at the battle of Cedar Run, one of the most brilliant on record. His regiment was mustered out at Washington at the close of hostilities. Dr. Flesher went thence direct to Olney, Ill., with his family, where he
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HISTORY OF GREEN RIDGE TOWNSHIP.
resumed the practice of his profession, doing quite a prosperous business for thirteen years. In 1878 he came to Sedalia, and established a practice in that city and the surrounding country, which he held until April 10, 1879, when he located in the town of Green Ridge, where he now has an extensive business and enjoys the confidence of all the good people for miles around in his integrity and thorough medical skill.
ELMER L. FOWLER, (Deceased ).
Mr. Fowler was born in April, 1828, in Rush County, Ind., where he was raised until, in his sixth year, his parents removed near Wabash, the county seat of Wabash County, on the Wabash River, being among the pioneers of that region. Here the father was employed as first County Surveyor, and his knowledge of the soil, etc., caused the settlers who wished to enter land to apply to him for assistance. The elder Fowler was born, raised and married in West Virginia. He died in Wabash County, Ind., when his son, Elmer L., was but eight years of age, who con- tinued to reside on the same farm until the year of his marriage. He was united in matrimony in 1852 with Miss Mary E. Berget, also a native of Indiana, who died in the town of Wabash the following year. She left a son who lived but five months. Mr. Fowler was married again in 1854 to Miss Sarah Donaldson, a native of Decatur County, Ind., born in 1829, her parents having moved to Wabash County when she was six years old. The next year the family went to the Indian Reservation, held by half-breeds, in Minnesota, where they farmed about three years. In June, 1857, Mr. Fowler sold his effects in the reservation and returned to Indiana, and resided for ten years continuously in Wabash County, run- ning a saw-mill three-fourths of the time. Mr. Fowler was also a carpen- ter, and possessed considerable genius and skill in several mechanical employments. He worked at the carpenter's trade for several years. Finally, in the fall of 1868, he removed to Pettis County, Mo., and pur- chased the farm now occupied by his family. Ang. 4, 1881, while cut- ting bands at a threshing machine, his shirt sleeve became unbuttoned, caught in the cylinder, drew his hand in after it, and it was so terribly crushed and the subsequent weather was so intensely hot that amputation became necessary. He lingered on, in much suffering, until Aug. 27, 1881, when he expired, with his weeping wife and children surrounding his death-bed. He had been raised by pious Presbyterian parents. Those of his family who survive him are his widow and six children: Wilbur E., Mary E., Arthur B., Marion L., Ella F. and Alice M. Another child, Fmma L., is dead. Mr. Fowler was Justice of the Peace in Green Ridge Township, Pettis County, Mo., at the time of his death, having been elected to that office, though unsolicited by him, two years before. His sons are the principal broom-corn raisers of the county, cultivating from
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HISTORY OF GREEN RIDGE TOWNSHIP.
100 to 125 acres, with an average yield of 500 pounds per acre. One of the sons, Wilbur E., studied medicine under Dr. J. W. Trader, of Sedalia, in 1881, and is now at Ann Arbor, Mich., pursuing his studies. Arthur B. Fowler has charge of the farm, in the management of which he is assisted by Marion L., his youngest brother.
EDWARD C. HAVELY.
Railroad agent, Green Ridge, Mo. Though Mr. Havely has not reached the meridian of his life, it has been very active and replete with pleasing episodes. He is a native of Pettis County, having been born in Green Ridge, Dec. 28, 1858; received a home education, and was raised on a farm. He commenced the study of telegraphy in Sedalia, at the excellent school of A. W. Nohe, and completed his knowledge of that art in his present position. Feb. 7, 1878, he was married to Miss Hattie Edwards, a native of Peoria, Ill. He was appointed agent at Green Ridge station on the M., K. & T., Jan. 26, 1877, having managed the office for Mr. Keightly, his predecessor, from September, 1876. Since his appointment the sta- tion has been managed in his name, and with the exception of a visit to Colorado in 1879, he has himself been assiduously attending to its duties.
THOMAS HEMPHILL.
The subject of this biographical sketch was born in Ohio County, W. Va., eight miles from Wheeling, in the year 1819, and raised on a farm. He experienced the usual vicissitudes of a farmer boy's life until he attained his maturity. In 1845 he was married to Miss Mary A. Austin, also a native of Ohio County, W. Va., who died in 1865, leaving ten children: James P., Charles M., Geo. W., Benton A., William C., Thomas C., Alonzo L., McClelland R., Mary L. and Margaret O. He was again married in the same place March 4, 1869, to Miss Hannah E. Wallace, whose native place was the same as his own, and this union has been blessed with four children: Albert B., Martha M., Lottie L. and Alice V. He had come that year to Pettis County, Mo., and returned to his native State for the purpose of marrying, and located the same year four miles west of Lamonte, where he farmed for eleven years. In 1880 he purchased and improved his present fine farm in Green Ridge Township, Pettis County, on which there is an orchard of 150 trees. Mr. Hemp- hill and wife are members of the M. E. Church, South.
GEORGE HOLLENBECK.
Was born in Ohio, Nov. 27, 1850, and when about eight years of age, came with his parents to Pettis County, Mo., where he was reared and educated. After leaving school he engaged in farming and stock dealing, and is still following the same occupation. He owns a farm of two
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HISTORY OF GREEN RIDGE TOWNSHIP.
hundred and thirty-four acres, well improved, with a fine residence. His father, Alphonso, was born April 2, 1826, in Hudson, Ohio, where he grew to manhood; emigrating to Missouri in the spring of 1859. He died in California, June 26, 1873. Amanda, the mother of our subject, was born April 14, 1829, and reared in Ohio. Alphonso, the father, and Amanda, the mother, were married June 2, 1849, and in March, 1852, he emigrated to California, where he continued in mining until 1857; then returned to Ohio, thence to Illinois, where he remained until 1859, when he came to Pettis County, Mo. In October, 1861, he went into the army as wagon-master, serving in that capacity until 1863. After leaving the army he returned to his farm, where he continued until 1870, when he went to Nicaragua. In August, two years later, he went to California, where he engaged in farming, and continued in that employment till the time of his death, which occurred June 26, 1873. Mr. Hollenbeck was a man highly respected by all who knew him, a kind father and an affec- tionate husband.
ROBERT P. HUSTON.
This old and much respected citizen was born in Fayette County, Ky., near Lexington, in 1811. He was raised there on a farm until his twelfth year, when his father, Robert Huston, an inhabitant of Kentucky at that early day when canebrakes and Indians were the most familiar companion, and who served his country honorably in the war of 1812, in expeditions against the Indians, being for some time wagon-master in the army of Gen. Wm. H. Harrison, came to Boone County, Mo., where he farmed till 1833. In Columbia Robt. P. Huston, Jr., learned the hat- ters' trade with his brother, Wm. B. Huston, now residing in California, under James and Seneca Sutton; the firm being known as Sutton Bros. Both of whom are now dead. Mr. Huston and his brother bought them out in 1832, and Robt. P. sold out his interest two years later to Mr. Matthew Culbert. He was married in Boone County, Mo., in 1834, to Miss Nancy G. Wiseman, who was reared in Kentucky, her father having moved there when she was quite a child. They have seven children living: Robt. T., married and living in Henry County, Mo .; James H., married and living in Colorado City, Col .; Joseph W., married and living in Henry Co., Mo .; Jeannette T., wife of Harden B. Bell, residing near Stevensville, Montana; George B., married and living in Henry County; John G., married and living with his father, and William O., married and living in New Mexico. One child, Chas. D., died in November, 1864, near Lincoln, Ill. He was not in the army, however. In 1837 Robt. P. Huston went to Illinois, where he farmed until 1846; then returned to Boone County, Mo., and farmed there until 1866, when he located permanently in Pettis County, Mo. Mr. H. joined the Presby-
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