USA > Missouri > Linn County > The history of Linn county, Missouri. An encyclopedia of useful information > Part 42
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Mr. Bradley was married September 29, 1861, to Miss Rosalie L. Per- kins, daughter of the Rev. William Perkins, deceased, formerly of Linn county. They are both church members, Mr. Bradley belonging to the Christian Church since 1849, and Mrs. Bradley to the Methodist Episcopal Church South. He also belongs to the A. O. U. W. lodge, of Linnens. Politically, Mr. Bradley votes the Democratic ticket, but is nothing of a political agitator.
THOMAS BENTON BOWYER.
This sketch is a biographical outline of the first child born within the present limits of Linn county.
Mr. Bowyer was born on Locust Creek, one and a half miles west of Lin- neus, near where the Bowyer bridge formerly stood, on the twenty-fifth day of December, 1833 .. He is the son of William and Martha (Tyre) Bowyer, the latter a daughter of Frederick Tyre, formerly of North Carolina.
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HISTORY OF LINN COUNTY.
William Bowyer was a native of Tennessee, and came with his father, Henry Bowyer, to Missouri, and settled in Howard county. It was while living in Howard county that he was married to Miss Tyre, and they had one son and one daughter, before moving from there. He had been on some hunting expeditions up in Linn county (then part of Chariton) and became so impressed with the value of the lands here that he resolved to make it his future home. Accordingly, in January, 1831, Mr. Bowyer came with his family, and struck camp on Locust Creek. His brother came with them but had left his family back in Howard. After fixing the family com- fortably, the two Bowyers went back to Howard to bring the family of the brother.
The country was still the abode of the red man, and the husband and brother had not been long gone till the Indians began to infest the camp, much to the discomfort of Mrs. Bowyer. There were in the camp, besides Mrs. Bowyer and her two children, a brother, Lewis Tyre, aged sixteen, and a young colored girl of eleven. The family were relieved in course of time by the return of the Bowyer brothers.
Four white families lived in this county at the time Thomas B. Bowyer was born. His education was such as the county and town of Linneus then afforded. The first school he attended was taught by Mr. Thomas T. Wood- ruff, a gentleman still living in Linnens.
Our subject was raised a farmer, and has always followed that occupation, and has always lived in Linn county. He was married on the third day of October, 1855, to Miss Mary A. Alexander, daughter of Edward Alexander, an old settler of this county, now deceased. They have seven children liv- ing, all single, and two dead.
Mr. Bowyer belongs to no secret order, but himself and wife are both members of the Baptist Church, and hold membership at Linnens.
In point of politics, Mr. Bowyer is a conservative Democrat, and has voted for every Democratic candidate for president since the war.
From having spent his entire life in Linn county, Mr. Bowyer is possessed of many facts and incidents pertaining to the early history of the county, and the historians are indebted to him for much information compiled in this volume.
EDWARD B. BANKS.
Mr. Banks was born in Washington county, Indiana, on the fifteenth day of April, 1842. He is the son of William and Eunice (Standish) Banks, daughter of Silas Standish, the latter a relative of the Miles Standish who figured in the early history of New England. Edward Banks was raised in Washington county and there received his education, working on the farm of his father in summer and attending school in winter. At eighteen years of age he enlisted in the defense of the Union in Company D of the
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Thirty-eighth Indiana Volunteer Infantry, regiment commanded by Col- onel Scribner, and company by Captain John B. Glover. Most of the time his regiment was with the "Army of the Cumberland," and he served fifteen months, and was then discharged at Nashville, Tennessee, on account of physical disability. Returning home he at once began buying horses and mules for the government. He continued to reside in Indiana till 1871, and then moved to Linn county, Missouri, and bought a farm three miles south of Linneus, on which he lived nearly three years. Selling this farm he came to Linneus and engaged in the livery business with Mr. McDaniels and was in that line for two years. He then began dealing in live stock, buying and shipping, till the spring of 1881. After quitting the livery bus- iness Mr. Banks bought a herd of Short-Horn breed of cattle and placed them on his farm near Linneus. Soon afterward he bought a half interest in the book, stationery, and grocery house of Frank Branson, Esq., and the firm does a thriving business in their line.
Mr. Banks was married on January 19th, 1865, to Miss Dora C. Campbell, daughter of Robert A. Campbell, and a native of Kentucky. They were married in Washington county, Indiana, and have four sons and two daugh- ters, all living.
Mr. Banks belongs to no church but Mrs. Banks is a member of the Christian Church. He belongs to the A. O. U. W. at Linneus. Politically, Mr. Banks is a conservative Republican and believes in liberty, personal, political, and religious. He made his own start in the world and has amassed a comfortable competency. His standing in business circles may be sur- mised from the fact that he has never had his commercial paper protested, returned, or refused. On moving to Missouri he was desirous of settling in a good county, and, in pursuance of good judgment, chose Linn. He " brought his knitting " and has come to stay; and has been and will be identified with whatever conduces to the growth and prosperity of the town and county.
SOLOMON BRANDENBERGER (DECEASED).
This gentleman, who in his lifetime was one of the leading busi- ness men of Linn county, was of pure Hebrew extraction, and was born in Baden, Germany, March 9, 1837. His parents were Jacob and Henrietta Brandenberger, both natives of the same country as himself. Mr. B. was reared and educated in Germany and there began his business career as a clerk in the city of Manheim. He retained that clerkship nine years and then, in 1864, came to America to try his fortune in the great western world. After a short sojourn in New York and Dayton, Ohio, he came to Linn county, Missouri, and began merchandizing at Linneus in partnership with H. Emanuel. This was in 1871 and from that time forward his busi- ness was confined to this county. Jacob Berj bought out the interest of
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Emanuel after three years, and the firm then continued as S. Brandenberger & Co. till they were burned out in January, 1879. From that time Mr. B. conducted the business as sole proprietor till the time of his death. He was married at Chillicothe, Missouri, May 29, 1871, to Miss Johanna Berj, also of Hebrew blood, and a native of Bavaria.
Mr. Brandenberger died at his home in Linneus on the first day of No- vember, 1881. He was a member of the Jewish Church and belonged to three secret orders; viz., Masonic, Odd Fellow and A. O. U. W. He had made faithful provision for his family by insuring in the Masonic Mutual Life and in the Northwestern life insurance companies, beside the usual benefit of the Workmen's order. His remains were escorted in state by the orders. to which he belonged as far as Laclede, and there the Odd Fellows of St. Joseph took charge and escorted him to that city, where he was buried by them in the Jewish cemetery assisted by the members of his church. The lodges to which he had belonged passed resolutions condoning his loss, and the Linneus Bulletin of the succeeding issue said of him: "S. Branden- berger passed away from earth at his residence, in this city, at about five o'clock Tuesday evening. He had resided in Linneus for twelve years, and was one of the best citizens the town ever had. He did much for the ad- vancement of the city, and was always greatly respected as a man of integ- rity and high moral character. His death will be greatly"regretted by his many friends * * * " Mr. B. left a wife and five children to mourn his loss. He was a man whose sterling business qualities endeared him to the people, and his loss to the community is one not easily supplied.
HON. JAMES A. CLARK.
The old and prominent citizen whose biography we here outline, presents. a name that has been well known to the Missouri bar for many years, and one that has been prominently connected with legal and political affairs in the State since she was admitted in 1821.
James A. Clark was born in Estell county, Kentucky, on the twenty-sec- second day of February, 1805. His parents were Bennett and Martha. Clark, the maiden name of the latter being Bullock, a daughter of Patter- son Bullock of Virginia, where both the parents of Judge Clark were born. His grandfather on the paternal side was Robert Clark, a gentleman who was in Kentucky when that State was admitted, and served in the conven- tion that formed the constitution of the State.
The father, Bennett Clark, served Montgomery county in the Kentucky leg- islature, and after his removal to Missouri, in 1817, was elected to serve in the first State senate ever convened. James Clark, brother of Bennett and uncle of James A., served as governor of Kentucky long before the civil war, and died before his official term expired. He had been judge of the Circuit Court, judge of the Supreme Court, and had also, served in Congress, hav-
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ing been elected to succeed Henry Clay when that eminent gentleman was appointed Secretary of State under the second Adamns. He was elected several consecutive terms. In Virginia the family was, if anything, more prominent than in Kentucky, and every Missourian is more or less familiar with the honorable record of Generals John B. Clark, senior and junior, both of whom held rank in the Confederate army indicated by their titles, and both of whom have represented Missouri in Congress, the old general also having served in the Confederate congress. From the above may have been seen that the original Clark family of Virginia have been prominent in every State to which its scions have immigrated.
Judge James A. Clark came to this State with his father in 1817, and settled in Howard county, where he grew to manhood, and received such an education as the schools of that primitive period afforded.
At the age of twenty he began the study of law in the office of Hon. Peyton R. Hayden, a distinguished lawyer of Boonville, Missouri. He remained the pupil of Mr. Hayden for about two years, and was then licensed at the Howard county bar to practice in all the courts of this State. This was in 1827, and he soon afterwards went to Galena, Illinois, and was licensed to practice in the State courts there and in the courts of the United States. He returned to Missouri in 1833, and moved to Linn county, then a part of Chariton county. He opened a farm a mile north of the present site of Linneus. When not in attendance at the courts, Judge Clark spent his time on this farm and in hunting the wild game with which this new country then abounded. In that calling he became quite proficient, and many a wild buck of the forest succumbed before his deadly aim. The world knew Judge Clark as a successful lawyer, and this history bears record that he was also a successful hunter.
Judge Clark was residing here when Linn county was organized, in 1836, and he was her first representative in the legislature in 1838. During that session the Eleventh Judicial Circuit was formed, and Judge Thomas E. Birch, of Richmond, was appointed to fill the circuit bench. He died before the first year of his term had expired, and Judge Clark was appointed to fill the vacancy. Under the law at that time judges were appointed to serve during "good behavior." Judge Clark behaved as long as that was the law, and was then twice elected by the people, after the law was altered. He served altogether over twenty years, till the civil war begun. At that time Judge Clark refused to take the oath required by the Gamble govern- ment of Missouri, and went out of office. He recommended his friend, Judge Jacob Smith, who was willing to take the required oath. Smith was accordingly appointed, and he and Judge Clark continued the warmest of personal friends, till the former was killed.
Judge Clark moved from Linn to Chillicothe, in Livingston county, in 1843, and in 1844 moved to Keytesville, Chariton county, and in 1846
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moved to Monticello, in the same county, where he continued to live till 1878, all the time engaged in the practice of the law from the time he quit the bench. He moved back to Linneus in 1878, and has resided here ever since.
Judge Clark was first married in March, 1833, to Miss Martha A. Lewis, of Howard county, daughter of Edmund Lewis. This lady died July 15, 1845, and Judge Clark was again married January 5, 1847, to Miss Mary Jane Lewis, a sister of his former wife. By the first marriage he had two daughters, both of whom are dead. Three children were born of the second marriage, one son and two daughters, one of the latter being dead. The other daughter lives with her father. James A. Clark, junior, is the only son of Judge Clark, and he resides at Linneus, where he is in the practice of the law.
Judge Clark formerly belonged to the Masonic fraternity, but has not been in fellowship with any lodge of late years. He was the founder of the lodge at Keytesville in about 1847.
We have thus condensed the biography of a pioneer settler which, writ- ten in full, would fill a large volume. The old landmarks are passing away, and the time will soon come when Judge Clark will close his long, useful, and eventful life, and be gathered to his fathers.
JOHN H. CRAIG.
Mr. Craig is a native of Kentucky and was born in Versailles, Woodford county, that State, on the eighth day of September, 1844. His father, Mr. Herman B. Craig, also a native Kentuckian, was a saddler by trade and was in that business, operating a saddle and harness shop in Versailles. The family continued to live there till our subject was about eleven years old,. when in 1855 they moved to Missouri and settled at Linneus, the county seat of Linn county. This county has been the home of the Craig family since that date, and here John H. grew up and was educated. At the age of fifteen he began learning the saddle and harnessmaking trade under his father and worked with him till the spring of 1874, with the exception of 1864-65. In April; 1864, Mr. Craig left Linneus and made a trip overland to California with a four-mule team, his destination being Sacramento, which city he reached in July of that year. He was there nearly two years and was engaged in mining near Nevada City. In the fall of 1865 Mr. Craig came back to Linneus, making the return trip by water and across the "Isthmus," thence by water to New York City. He again went in bus- iness with his father till 1874 when he moved to Brookfield and opened a shop there and engaged in the saddlery business, in which he continued till 1878. In the summer of that year he received the nomination on the Dem- ocratic ticket for county recorder and at the ensuing election was duly elected over his two competitors, one a Republican and the other a Green-
& B, Harvey
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backer. Soon after his election he closed out his business in Brookfield, and in January, 1879, assumed the duties of the recorder's office. At this writing Mr. Craig's official term is unexpired, it being a four years' office.
Mr. Craig was married on April 21st, 1871, to Miss Mary H. Waters daughter of Mr. R. G. Waters of Linn county. They have three children, all boys and all living. Mr. Craig is a member of the Masonic fraternity and also of the A. O. U. W. Politically, Mr. Craig has always been a Dem- ocrat and never voted any other ticket, having come of a race of Democrats on both the paternal and maternal sides. Though still young in years Mr. Craig has made an efficient officer and won for himself many warm personal and political friends.
ELIAS CHESROUND.
This gentleman is a native of Pennsylvania and was born and reared in Washington county, that State. He is the son of Peter and Elizabeth (Stacker) Chesround, the latter a daughter of Mr. Lewis Stacker, of Penn- sylvania. The date of Mr. Chesround's birth was the twenty-ninth day of April, 1821. His mother was the second wife of Peter Chesround. Though married after he was sixty years old he raised a family of twelve children, of whom Elias was the eleventh child and youngest son. His father lived to be ninety-seven years old and after the death of his second wife, when he was past ninety, Elias saddled the old gentleman's horse for him to go courting again.
Elias received his education in Washington county, Pennsylvania, and lived there till 1851, and then made the trip to California by water and the "Panama," going as an adventurer during the gold excitement of that period. He spent two years in that State, most of the time engaged in mining. He was more fortunate than most gold-seekers and made his trip pay well. In 1853 he returned to his home in Pennsylvania, and soon afterward sold out and moved to Illinois where he lived fourteeen years engaged in farming, seven years in La Salle and seven in Putnam counties.
Mr. Chesround left Illinois and moved to Linn county, Missouri, in the fall of 1867, having previously purchased and prepared a farm adjacent to Linneus, part of which (since sold) laid in the corporate limits on the north. This farm is still the home of Mr. Chesround. In the summer of 1874 Mr. Chesround received the nomination on the "people's ticket" to make the race for sheriff. At the ensuing election he was duly elected over his Dem- ocratic competitor, Cary, of Brookfield. Mr. Chesround served one term, and though strongly urged by his friends to make the race a second time he refused to do so, preferring the quiet of his farm to any official service.
Mr. Chesround was married at twenty-one years of age, on the eighteenth day of May, 1842, to Miss Lavinia Bumgardner, of Pennsylvania. They have no children. Mr. Chesround is a member of the Freemasons' order 27
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and belongs to Jackson Lodge at Linneus. Politically, Mr. Chesround is a Democrat and has always been, never having voted any other ticket, and the most of the votes that elected him sheriff were Democratic votes.
CYRUS F. COLLINS.
This gentleman is a native of Ohio, and was born in Mansfield, Richland county, on the first day of September, 1846. He was reared in the county. of his birth and there received his education, chiefly in the Belleville graded school. When about twenty-one years old he began learning the trade of millwright, under his brother-in-law, J. F. Lash, whose biography also ap- pears in this work. He worked at that business some time after mastering its details, and subsequently ran the lumber yard of Captain Lash, at Lin- neus, Missouri, for about a year. Soon after this, in 1871, he bought a steam saw-mill in Richland county, Ohio, which he operated in partnership with his brother till 1880. At the same time he engaged in mill-building and other vocations, his saw-mill not requiring his entire time. In October, 1880, Mr. Collins came back to Linneus, and engaged in the hardware business with Mr. Lash, under the firm name of Lash & Collins. The house has done a good business since they have been its proprietors, and they carry as complete a stock in their line as any in the county. Their motto in business is " live and let live," and no house undersells them, con- sidering the quality of goods they handle, as they always supply their stock with the best quality. Mr. Collins was married in his native State on De. cember 30th, 1875, to Miss Mary Ann Maglott, also a native of Richland county. They have one son, named William Franklin, born in May, 1878. Mr. Collins and wife were members of the Evangelical Association in Ohio, but as there is no organization here, they are for the present not members.
Mr. Collins is a young gentleman of good business habits, and ambitious, and he aims so to deal with his fellow men as to build up a well-merited reputation as a solid business man.
THOMAS CRAMPTON, JR.
Mr. Crampton was born in Yorkshire, England, in May, 1845. He is the son of Thomas Crampton, Sr., who resides at St. Catharine, and has been a citizen of Linn county for over twenty-five years. Our subject was educated partly in England and partly in America, having come here with his parents in 1855. Formerly he was engaged in merchandising with his father and brothers till he came to Linneus. Since the first coming of the family to this country Thomas has lived here, excepting three years that he spent in Stockton, Cedar county, from 1868 till 1873. Mr. Crampton's first occupation in Linneus was that of deputy under Collector James Tooey, from the time that gentleman took charge of the office in 1878. At
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one time Mr. Crampton's friends of St. Catharine and Yellow Creek town- ship wanted to run him for county assessor, but he declined. Later, how- ever, in 1878, he consented to make the race for circuit clerk, and was put on the Democratic ticket as the nominee of that party. He was defeated, however, by his Republican opponent, Mr. Fred W. Powers. As a testimonial of Mr. Crampton's popularity, he received a majority of one hundred and sixteen in his home (Yellow Creek) township, the usual majority being fifty Republican.
The real estate firm of which Mr. Crampton is a member is the only firm of the kind in Linneus, and they have a superior set of complete abstract books. Mr. Crampton is a member of the Masonic fraternity, though he belongs to no church, nor to any other secret order. Politically he is a Democrat, and always supports the party ticket. He cast his first vote in 1870, when Missouri was just struggling to her feet from the oppression of the Draconian outrage. Mr. Crampton has lost every president he ever voted for, but has gained every State governor.
JUDGE THORNTON T. EASLEY.
Judge Easley is another of the old settlers of Linneus and Linn county, having come here as early as September, 1843. He is a na- tive of Kentucky, and was born in Shelby county that State on the seventh day of May, 1818. The family is supposed to be of Scotch-Irish origin, Joseph Easley, great-grandfather of our subject having settled in North Carolina in an early day. Joseph Easley, a son of the original Jo- seph, and grandfather of Thornton T., was born in the Blue Ridge Moun- tains near the line between North Carolina and Virginia. He raised a family of some thirteen children, of whom Woodson Easley was second child and oldest son, and he became the father of Thornton T. Woodson Easley was married to Miss Sallie Tinsley, who bore him ten children, of whom Thornton Tinsley was the oldest son. He continued to live in Shelby county, Missouri, where he was born, till he was eighteen years old, and there received his education. In 1837 he went in January to Frankfort, and there began learning the carpenter's trade under James F. Dryden. He was apprenticed to him and served three years and four months. He then being master of a good trade started out to seek his own fortune, and in February, 1840, came to St. Louis, Missouri, where he worked at his trade and assisted in finishing the Planters' House. From St. Louis he went to Clarke county, Missouri, and followed his trade at Waterloo, the county seat. He was there till 1843, when he came to Linneus, Linn county, Missouri, and has been a citizen here ever since. In 1857 Mr. Easley was elected judge of the Probate Court, having no opposition. He served one term of four years, or until the civil war began. When that dark and bloody period of our country's history was inaugurated, Judge
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Easley laid aside the habiliments of peace and marched to the defense of the Union in the Twenty-third Regiment Missouri Volunteer Infantry, commanded by Colonel Jacob Tindall. Judge Easley was commissioned quartermaster and commissary of this regiment by Governor Gamble, and served two years and resigned in order to come home to his family, who much needed his care.
His oldest son, George Woodson Easley, was adjutant in this regiment when his father resigned, having been promoted from a private. Judge Easley did not re-enter the service.
After the war he was elected justice of the peace as a Republican in a township (Locust Creek) that had been a hundred Democratic majority. He served as justice before the war from 1844 to 1860, and has been in the same office ever since the war, altogether about thirty-four years.
Judge Easley was married on the fourteenth of March, 1841, in Clarke county, Missouri, to Miss Almeda Alexander, daughter of Edmund and - Eliza Alexander.
Judge E. and wife have had ten children, two of whom died in infancy. The others are living at this writing, the eldest being Hon. George W. Easley, now attorney for the Hannibal & St. Joseph Railroad at Hanni- bal Missouri.
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