USA > Missouri > Buchanan County > The history of Buchanan County, Missouri > Part 98
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SOLOMON LONG,
farmer and stock raiser, section 30, postoffice St. Joseph, was born Jan- uary 20, 1820, in White County, Tennessee, and spent his boyhood days ·on a farm. He also worked for two years at the blacksmith trade. He received a common school education. He took the Western fever in the spring of 1840 and moved to Missouri, first settling in Platte County. He located where he now resides in the spring of 1841, and since that time, he has assisted in building up the county. To do this he has endured his share of the hardships common to pioneers. During the late war, he served four months in the Pawpaw Militia. He owns a fine farm of 240 acres, 160 of which are under cultivation. He has a good orchard. Was married in February, 1844, to Miss Carrie Boucher, a native of Kentucky. "They have had a family of twelve children, nine of whom are living : Ragine, now Mrs. N. Riley; Louisa, now Mrs. Geo. W. Long Isabella,
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now Mrs. John Riley; William, David, Washington, Thomas, Solomon! and Joseph. Mr. and Mrs. L. are active members of the Christian Church.
JOSEPH MATHERS.
farmer and stock raiser, section 35, postoffice Willow Brook, is one of the early settlers of the township. Was born in Belmont County, Ohio, December 12, 1822, and resided there and in Harrison County till he was eighteen years of age, when he came to Missouri with a Dr. Town- send, who settled in Crawford Township, and for whom he sold goods about a year. Then he returned to Ohio, and at the expiration of another year, in company with his father, again visited Missouri, settling in Crawford Township. At the beginning of the Mexican war he was employed in the government service, freighting stores to a line of forts then being established across the mountains to Oregon. April 22, 1849,. he married Miss Sarah Underwood, daughter of William Underwood, a resident of Bloomington Township. In 1850, he visited Oregon and. California, returning via Panama and New Orleans in 1852 to Buchanan: County, Missouri, where he had a good farm. During the civil war he served in the Union army two years as lieutenant in a company of. Buchanan County militia. Was elected county assessor in 1866 and. again in 1868. Mr. M. has a family of eight children living: James,. Mary H., Emily J., John W., Franklin O., Alexander S., Lizzie E., and Arthur. In politics he is a Republican, and during the war was a mem- ber of the Union League and of the G. A. R.
ONAN MILLER,
farmer and stock raiser, section 35, postoffice Willow Brook, was born December 22, 1817, in Orange County, Indiana, and was reared there on. a farm and attended school. He learned the carpenter trade in his. youth and has followed it considerably through life. He moved to, Illinois in the fall of 1836, resided there three years and returned to, Indiana, remaining until the spring of 1842, when he emigrated West and settled in Buchanan County, Missouri. He was rather young, and traveled around the country for some years assisting in clearing up. farms and improving the county. During the late war he enlisted in the Enrolled Mission Militia and served for six months. Mr. M. has filled his present office of school director several terms, and that of road overseer for a number of years. He was married in December, 1845,. to Miss Margaret Mathers, a native of Belmont County, Ohio. They have four children living : Mary E., now Mrs. Andrew Isaacson ; Sarah F., now Mrs. Joseph Culbertson ; John F., and Rosy M. Lost one. His. landed estate consists of 134 acres of well improved land. Mr. Miller. is a member of the Presbyterian Church.
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JOHN MONTGOMERY,
farmer and stock raiser, section 10, postoffice St. Joseph, was born December 3, 1823, in Green County, Kentucky, and lived there until sixteen years of age. He was brought up on a farm, received a com- mon school education, and came West with his parents, in the spring of 1838, by the overland route, and arrived in this county on the 8th of June. The country then was very thinly settled, and the Indian wig- wams were the only evidence left of the race that once inhabited this vicinity. Discouragements beset the new comers on every hand, and it was no uncommon occurrence for whole families to be sick at once. During the late war Mr. M. served two months in the Enrolled Missouri Militia. He has filled the position of school director and road super- visor several terms. His landed estate consists of 310 acres, 243 of ·which he cultivates. His farm is well improved. He assisted in build- ing the first court house in Sparta, and has also lent a hand in erecting other county buildings, besides the First Baptist Church of St. Joseph. He was married to Miss Julia A. White, a native Madison County, Ken- tucky. She was born February 2, 1829. They have one child, Martha J., now Mrs. H. C. Register, of St. Joseph. Mr. and Mrs. M. are mem- bers of the Missionary Baptist Church.
SAMUEL MONTGOMERY,
farmer and stock raiser, section 15, postoffice St. Joseph, was born March 2, 1828, in Green County, Kentucky, and came to Buchanan County, Missouri, in 1838, with his parents. The county was then a vast wilderness, and the hardships and privations which they endured were enough to intimidate the hearts of the most courageous. The senior Montgomery settled on Contrary Creek, and Samuel assisted in clearing up a farm. Soon after becoming of age, he commenced farming on his own account, and has made agricultural pursuits his occupa- tion through life. During the late war he enlisted in the Enrolled Mis- souri Militia, serving for twelve weeks. He has filled the offices of school trustee and road supervisor for several terms and is widely and favorably known for his honesty, integrity and attention to business. Mr. M. owns a farm of 240 acres, well improved. He was married in 1849 to Miss Nancy J. Parker, a native of Surry County, North Carolina, born in 1834. They have had thirteen children, twelve of whom are living, Zachariah, Thomas E., John L., Emily A. (now Mrs. George Gunn), Irena, George, Cynthia, Samuel, Marion, Ulysses G., Nancy, and Walter. Two of the daughters at home are members of the Missionary Baptist Church.
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JAMES RANEY,
postmaster, Willow Brook, also farmer and stock raiser, section 36, was born November 27, 1829, in Lawrence County, Indiana, and was reared there until twelve years of age, spending his youthful days on a farm, and attending the school of that vicinity. He came West with his parents, in the fall of 1841, his father buying the claim on which James now resides. This he commenced improving, although it contained but twelve or fifteen acres. This was then considered a large farm. Dur- ing the late war he enlisted in Company H, Eleventh Kansas Infantry (afterwards made cavalry). He served. three years and twenty days, and held the position of sergeant for two years. He took part in the battles of Cane Hill, Prairie Grove, VanBuren, and many others, and assisted in driving Price from Missouri in 1864. His landed estate consists of 160 acres of well improved land, upon which is a peach' orchard of about 2,500 trees. Mr. R. has filled the office of school director several terms. He received the appointment of postmaster in April, 1881. October 10, 1850, he was married to Miss Margaret Means, a native of this state, born December 26, 1833. They are members of the United Brethren Church, in which he holds the position of class leader.
DUDLEY ROACH,
farmer and stock raiser, section 17, postoffice St. Joseph. Is a native of Estill County, Kentucky, and was born November 18, 1833. He moved with his parents to Platte County, Missouri, when about ten years of age, and lived there for ten years, receiving his education in the schools ·of that vicinity. He has principally made agricultural pursuits his occu- pation through life. In 1854 he moved to the place he now occupies and afterwards went to Platte County, Missouri, returning in 1859. He enlisted in the Enrolled Missouri Militia during the war. Mr. R. has filled the offices of school director, trustee and road overseer several terms. He owns a farm of 502 acres well improved. He was married June 9th, 1855, to Miss Susan Finell, a native of Estill County, Ken- tucky. She was born July 17, 1838, and died on the IIth of February, 1880. She left a family of six children : Katherine, now Mrs. Thomas W. Walker ; Mary E., now Mrs. John Arthur ; Johnnie, Simpson, Henry and Fountain. Mr. R. is an active member of the M. E. Church, in which he holds the position of steward. He is a member of the Masonic fraternity and belongs to the King Hill Lodge 376, and also to the Chapter at Taos.
JONATHAN ROBERTS,
farmer and stock raiser, section 27, postoffice St. Joseph, was born April .19, 1826, in Surry County, North Carolina, and was reared at his birth-
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place, on a farm, there attending school, and finished his education at Emery Henry College in Virginia. His father raised and manufactured tobacco, and Jonathan assisted in peddling it during the winter season. Emigrated West in 1852, and settled in this county. Shortly afterward he moved to Kansas, resided there one season, then returned to this county and settled on his present farm in 1854. It consists of 160 acres of well improved land. During the late war he served for six months in the famous Pawpaw militia. He has filled the office of school director for several terms. Mr. R. was married, in 1854, to Mrs. Eliza- beth Tabor, who had one child by her former marriage, Julia Tabor, now Mrs. Dr. C. R. Woodson, of Agency. Mrs. Roberts died in Septem- ber, 1871. By this union they had eleven children, of whom three are living: Alice B., Sarah D., now Mrs. George McCauley, and John W. Mr. R. is a member of the M. E. Church South. Is also a member of King Hill Lodge. His daughter Alice keeps house for her father and brother.
MRS. ELIZABETH SMITH,
farmer and stock raiser, section 12, postoffice St. Joseph, was born July .8, 1829, in what is now Boyle County, Kentucky, where she was reared until eleven years of age. She was deprived of the care of a mother when quite young, and accompanied her father west in 1840. They set- tled in Jackson County, Missouri, where her father died in 1842. She came to St. Joseph about 1846, and here became acquainted with and married Henry Smith, on the 11th of April, 1849, a native of Garrett County, Kentucky, and was born November 12, 1819. He was among the early pioneers, and took an active part in building up and improving the county. He served in the Mexican war, and held the postion of captain. During the late war he served for three years, and participated in many of the hard-fought battles, and held the position of captain. He died January 1, 1876, leaving a large circle of friends to mourn his loss. The attendance at his funeral was one of the largest ever wit- nessed in the county. He was a member of the Masonic order, also of the Grangers, and was buried with the honors of these orders. He left three children-Posy N., born April 21, 1850; Ann E., born January 30, 1852, now Mrs. J. W. Fogg ; and Price, born March 28, 1866. The eldest son, Posy N. Smith, is one of the rising young men of this county, and was educated at Central College. Is a member of the Masonic fraternity, .and also belongs to the Methodist Church.
ALEXANDER SMILEY,
farmer and stock raiser, section 26, postoffice Willow Brook, was born June 20, 1816, in Belmont County, Ohio, and is of Scottish-Irish nation-
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ality. His parents were natives of Pennsylvania and moved to Ohio about the year 1800 and were among the early settlers there. Alexan- der was reared at his birth place and received a common school education. His father was a carpenter by trade and Alex. worked at the same trade while he remained in Ohio. He came west in the spring of 1852, by water from Wheeling to St. Louis, thence up the river to St. Joseph, arriving on the 9th of April. He settled where he now resides and since that time has given his attention to agricultural pursuits. He owns 200 acres of land well improved. He has filled the position of school director for fourteen years, but has never been an office-seeker. During the late war he was a strong Union man and held the position of President of the Union League of this vicinity. Mr. S. was married April 20, 1851, to Miss Sarah J. McConnell, a native of Belmont County, Ohio, born August 17, 1832. They have had a family of seven children : Mary A. M., Nancy B., now Mrs. W. H. Young, James A., Sarah E., Joseph A., Ida J. and Luretta. Himself and wife are mem- bers of the United Presbyterian church in which he has held the position of elder for twenty-three years.
JOHN H. UTZ,
farmer and stock raiser, section 19, postoffice St. Joseph, was born Sep- tember 30, 1840, in Page County, Virginia, and was there raised, spend- ing his boyhood days on a farm, receiving a common school education. Came West with his parents in the fall of 1856, and landed at St. Joseph November 7, and has been identified with the interests of this county since. During the late war he enlisted in the Confederate army in the fall of 1861, and served for twelve months, taking part in the battles of Lexington and Pea Ridge. He returned home and afterward re-enlisted, and was captured and held as prisoner until the close of the war. Owns a farm of 57 acres, on which is a good residence. He has assessed the township three times, and holds the positions of school director and road supervisor. Mr. Utz was married, February 20, 1863, to Miss Sarah E. Duncan, a native of Alabama. They have had a family of eight children: William H., Silas B., Robert E. L., John A., Jane K., Amanda M., Anna S. and Sarah D. They are members of the M. E. Church South, in which he holds the position of steward. Is also a member of the Masonic fraternity.
JAMES WEIR,
farmer and stock raiser, section 16, postoffice St. Joseph, was born April 20, 1819, in Belleville, Illinois, and was taken when quite young to a. farm near Springfield, Illinois, where he was principally raised and
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received his education. He there became personally acquainted with Abraham Lincoln, Stephen A. Douglas, Governor Yates, General Logan and other noted men of that State. He emigrated West in the fall of 184I and landed in this county September 10. Being a young man, he traveled around over the country and mustered regularly at Sparta. He finally married and settled down, commencing farming. He owns a fine farm of eighty acres, which is well watered and contains a good orchard. He has never been an office seeker, but has always given his attention to his legitimate business. He was married March 25, 1845, to Miss Julia A. Barges, a native of Kentucky, born in 1821. She died May 24, 1880, leaving four children, Jane B. (now Mrs. C. W. Harris), John S., Elizabeth, and James G. They lost one. Mr. W. has been a member of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church since 1844, and held the position of elder until his age prevented his attending to the office any longer. He is also a member of the Masonic fraternity. The eldest son, John S., was born September 18, 1848, in this county, and has been raised here as a farmer, and is also a member of the Masonic fraternity. He resides with his father.
THOMAS YOUNG,
farmer and stock raiser, section 4, postoffice St. Joseph, was born in County Tyrone, Ireland, on the 6th of December, 1817, and until four- teen years of age spent his time on a farm, attending the school of his neighborhood. For a short time he was employed as clerk in a whole- sale liquor establishment, aud afterwards removed to Belfast. In 1832, when but fourteen years old, he emigrated to America, landing at Balti- more in September. He went at once to Wheeling, West Virginia, and found employment with R. H. Sweeney & Co., in the iron and glass manufacturing business, for ten years. In 1842, he went to New Orleans, and, contrary to his intention upon starting out, came to Missouri, arriv- ing in St. Louis in the fall of 1842. Returned to Wheeling, and after- wards settled in this county in that same year. In the spring of 1840, he had preempted one hundred and sixty-seven acres of land, where he has since made his home. Two or three years after coming, he was chosen justice of the peace, and filled that office for twenty-two years. He has been school director over thirty years. During the late war he was a strong Union man, and had two sons in the service. They enlisted in Co. A, Twenty-fifth Missouri Militia, serving on the mounted militia. His eldest son remained four years, taking part in all the bat- tles of the Mississippi campaign, and was with Sherman in his march to the sea. Mr. Y. owns a farm of two hundred and eleven acres, well stocked. July 27, 1837, he was married to Miss Jane Greer, a native of Ireland. They have eight children : James G., John H., Robert I.,
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Harry H., Margaret I., now Mrs. Robert Hensley ; Eliza Ann, now Mrs. Henry Knight ; Mary, now Mrs. Cure, and Kittie, wife of Captain J. E .. Dickinson, of Kansas. For two years previous to the war Mr. Y. served as assessor of the county, and since the war, for a like period, acted as county coroner. He has been twice nominated for county judge by acclamation, but private affairs prevented his accepting the honors.
GEORGE W. YOUNG,
farmer and stock raiser, section 6, postoffice St. Joseph, was born Decem- ber 4, 1829, in Shelby County, Kentucky, and was there reared, spending his youth on a farm. Received his education at Dr. Waller's Military College, from which he graduated and received a diploma. In 1856, he- entered the service of the Government, and engaged in driving stock from Old Mexico through to Boonville, Missouri. In 1857, he com- menced steamboating on the Mississippi River, and followed this busi- ness for five years. During the late war he espoused the Confederate cause. Returned to Marion County, Kentucky, and raised a company at St. Mary's College, and was elected its captain. This was known as Company K, Sixth Kentucky Cavalry. They joined General Morgan, and nearly half of the company was killed at the battle of Pennington, Kentucky. They then joined General Lee, in the entrenchments around Richmond, and remained there until the 27th of January, 1864, when they started with Morgan on his raid through Ohio, and were captured in Columbiana County, Ohio, and taken to the Columbus prison. From there Mr. Young, with a few others, made his escape to Canada, and thence by water to Wilmington, North Carolina, where he again joined the army. Took part in the Cynthiana raid, then returned to Virginia, and was with General Morgan when he was killed. He came to this county after the war, and settled on the farm he now occupies, his landed estate consisting of 359 acres of well improved land, and it con- stitutes one of the finest farms hereabouts. There is an excellent spring upon the place. Was married May 10, 1872, to Miss Cynthia Brown, a native of Nodaway County. They have had five children, two of whom are living-Maggie and Wallace. Mrs. Y. is an active member of the. Cumberland Presbyterian Church.
WAYNE TOWNSHIP.
FRED BANKER,
farmer and stock dealer, section 22, postoffice Hall, is a native of New York, and was born in Dutchess County, July 8, 1831. Was there edu- cated in an academy and received a fair education. Followed farming during life. March 20, 1857, he started to Leavenworth, Kansas, and from there came to Buchanan County, Missouri, where he has since resided. His landed estate consists of 309 acres, his home farm con- taining 120 acres. He acted as justice of the peace a part of one term. Was married, May 14, 1868, to Miss Nancy L. Starmer. She was born in Tennessee, February 27, 1842, and died December 29, 1879. They had four children: Mary H., born November 6, 1870; Frederick W., born August 16, 1873; John K., born November 13, 1874; Bettie A., born June 24, 1877.
JOHN F. BARNES,
farmer, section 34, postoffice DeKalb, was born in Jackson County, Mis- souri, January 11, 1840, and when five years of age came to Buchanan County, Missouri, where he has since resided. With the exception of ten years when he was engaged in milling, Mr. B. followed farming. In February, 1865, he enlisted in the Federal service in Company A, Fifty-first Missouri, and served till the close of the war. His farm con- tains sixty acres. He has been justice of the peace for about five years. He was married August 23, 1860, to Miss Rebecca Keith, who was born in Bartholomew County, Indiana, January 31, 1842. She died March 28, 1875. They had eight children, five of whom are living : James H., born November 3, 1862 ; Sarah E., born October 19, 1864 ; Lydia J., born November 27, 1866 ; Aaron E., born November 14, 1869, and Mary A., born April 5, 1872. Mr. Barnes was again married January 14. 1877, to Mrs. Elizabeth F. Finch, whose maiden name was Meers. She was born in Green County, Ky., July 29, 1833. She was first married February 10, 1847, to Jeremiah Finch. He was born in Halifax, Virginia, and died February 10, 1866. They had ten children, of whom six are living: Eliza J., born July 22, 1850 ; John A., born December 2, 1852; Jesse, born December 20, 1854 ; Thomas L., born August 4, 1856 ; Jeremiah, born June 22, 1858, and Martha A., born November 18, 1864.
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HIRAM L. BREWSTER,
merchant and postmaster, residence section 29, postoffice Hall, was born in Wayne County, Ohio, February 10, 1844, and was raised in Medina County. He was educated in the common schools and the High school at Spencer. In 1859 he went to St. Joseph County, Michigan, where he was employed as clerk in the postoffice and bank till the spring of 1861, when he enlisted in Company G, Twenty-fifth Michigan Infantry ; was mustered in as a private and a part of the time was clerk in the medical headquarters of Louisville. He participated in all the battles in which his company were engaged, serving for three years. He returned to Michigan, remaining in Detroit one year, employed as bookkeeper in a commission house, after which he came to his present location. Here he has been engaged in farming and teaching. He began in his present business in 1877 ; has acted as postmaster since 1873. His landed estate consists of 280 acres.
WILSON BRITTAIN,
farmer, section 21, postoffice Hall, is a native of Iowa, and was born September 2, 1838. He was brought to Buchanan County, Missouri, when but a year old, and has made farming his occupation through life. His landed estate consists of 121 acres of fine farming land. Was mar- ried August 3, 1856, to Miss Sallie Singleton. She is a native of Indi- ana, and was born November 2, 1838. They have had eleven children, seven of whom are living: John S., George W., Marvin G., Charles, Eliza- beth, William H., and Hettie J.
W. A. T. BROWN,
farmer and stock dealer, section 26, postoffice St. Joseph, was born in Campbell County, Tennessee, February 21, 1828, and when about nine years of age his parents moved to Missouri and located in Platte County, where they remained till 1852. Then he went to Nodaway County and remained till 1862, when he came to Buchanan County. While in Nodaway County he lost considerable on account of the war ; he served under Clabe Jackson about six months, and was also in the Pawpaw militia about nine months. Previous to this he had served six months in the Mexican war. His farm contains over 113 acres. He was married October 8, 1852, to Miss Mary J. Moore, a native of Ten- nessee. She was born March 1, 1834. She died leaving four children, G. L., born November 18, 1856; Carrie L., born August 5, 1854; William L., born December 21, 1858, and Alice L., born October 1, 1.864. Lost one. Mr. B. is a Mason and member of Wellington Lodge, No. 22.
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RICHARD CAPP,
farmer and carpenter, section 25, postoffice St. Joseph, was born in Lebanon County, Pennsylvania, September 14, 1837, and when fifteen years of age he began to learn the carpenters trade serving as an apprentice about three years. After this he traveled working at his trade over the states of Ohio and Michigan, Indiana, Illinois, Iowa, Minnessota, Nebraska, Missouri and Colorado, finally in the fall of 1862, locating in Buchanan County, Missouri. Since he became a citizen of this county he has in connection with his trade been engaged in agricul- tural pursuits ; his farm contains fifty-seven acres and is well improved. He was in the State Militia nearly three years. Mr. Capp was married August 7, 1867, to Miss Martha Moser. She was born in Knox County, Tennessee, November 7, 1841. They have five children living : Abi- gail E., born September 7, 1865; Wm. H., born August 14, 1867 ; Michael A., born September 14, 1871 ; Anna B., born November 7, 1876 ; James M., born August 14, 1879. Two are deceased.
HENRY DITTEMORE,
farmer, section 35, postoffice DeKalb, was born in Greene County, Ten- nessee, January 25, 1813, and when two years of age his parents moved to Indiana. In 1840, he came to Buchanan County, Missouri, and has fol- lowed farming during life ; now has about 460 acres of land, which is fairly improved. In April, 1837, he was married to Miss Elizabeth Yeakley. She is a native of Indiana. They had thirteen children, ten are now liv- ing: William T., Nancy A., Samuel P., Mary, Adam, Belle, Alexander, Josephine, Alice and George. His second marriage occurred in Septem- ber, 1866, to Miss Jane Roberts, of Illinois. Their family consists of Henry, Ida, Frederick, Mary J. and Charley.
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