The history of Linn county, Missouri. An encyclopedia of useful information, Part 60

Author:
Publication date: 1882
Publisher: Kansas City, Mo., Birdsall & Dean
Number of Pages: 906

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594

HISTORY OF LINN COUNTY.

and burned the town had he been so disposed, for the whole was completely in his power. We feel very certain that had Mr. Crowder not shot, and Mr. Jones halted when commanded, they would both be now alive, and this is the impression of the entire community. The raiders did not, it was thought, accomplish all they intended and the editor thinks that the people would be to blame if they were again caught asleep after the warning they received. Nave was considered the pilot of the band, his home having been near Meadville, and he was well acquainted in Laclede. He died the next day at the house of a man named Stepp. It was reported that a man named Riggan shot him while on his dying bed, and another coward by the name of Nicholas shot him after he was dead. These men went out to Captain Nave's hearing he was at Stepp's. One incident of another kind was that a Mr. Love, one of the citizens, when ordered out to the square dropped his pocket-book containing a couple of hundred dollars by a log, in hopes of saving it. His daughter, Miss Lauretta, came out to see her father while under guard, and he told her what he had done. She was quick- witted and knowing she could only get it by stratagem, quietly loosened her skirt as she came to the log, and seeing the pocket-book, let loose of the skirt as she stepped upon the log and it dropped of course. She blushed, of course, at such a mishap, but gathered up her skirt; but in doing so that pocket-book somehow was found in it on reaching home. This was two hundred dollars saved. This lady is now Mrs. Cowles, of Ottumwa, Iowa. Colonel Sartain, one of Poindexter's men, who fired on steamer White Cloud, on the Missouri River, was captured and brought to Laclede where he was tried and shot. He received his death standing, saying " he knelt to no man." His body was given decent burial.

BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES-JEFFERSON TOWNSHIP, AND TOWN OF LACLEDE.

ALBERT ANDERSON,

son of George and Agnes, (nee Hunt) Anderson, was born in Peoria county, Illinois, September 20, 1853, where he lived until fifteen years of age, being reared on a farm, and educated in the common schools. In 1866, he, with his parents, removed to Knox county, Illinois, and in 1869, came to Linn county, Missouri, where they still reside. Mr. Anderson was mar- ried March 2, 1881, to Miss Mollie Pepper, daughter of John and Frances E. (nee Maxwell) Pepper, of Linn county, Missouri. He is regarded as one of the most enterprising young farmers of Jefferson township.

595

HISTORY OF LINN COUNTY.

GEORGE ANDERSON,

son of Squire and Sophrona (nee Lord) Anderson, was born in Genesee county, New York, October 29, 1831. In 1836, his parents removed to Huron county, Ohio, and in 1838, to Licking county, Ohio, living there and in Knox, the adjoining county, until 1846, when they went to Peoria county, Illinois, and were engaged in farming there till 1866. Mr. Anderson was reared on a farm and educated in the common schools. In 1866, he removed to Knox county, Illinois, and three years later to Linn county, Missouri, where he now resides, owning a fine farm of 560 acre. He secured the land when it was wild, but has made it one of the best farms in the county. The dwelling upon it cost about $2,000, around which are ornamental trees and thirteen acres of orchard, the latter being one of the finest in the county. The farm is well stocked, especially with fine sheep, of which there are on the farm from 800 to 1,000 head. Mr. Anderson was married November 28, 1852, to Miss Agnes Hunt, daughter of Thomas and Elizabeth Hunt, of Peoria county, Illinois. They have by this union eleven children, four of whom are married and living in Linn county. Their names are Milton A., Dolly A., Sophrona E., Sarah M., Herbert L., Sylvester Andrew, George W., Effie A, Emma E., William O., and Vettie May. Mr. and Mrs. An- derson have been members of the M. E. Church for twenty-five years. He being a steward.

GEORGE WASHINGTON ADAMS,

son of Dr. Spencer and Mary Ann Adams, nee Holmes, was born in Otsego county, New York, June 5, 1834. In 1840 he, with his parents, removed to Meigs county, Ohio, where they lived, and in Jackson county, Virginia, until he grew to manhood. At the age of twenty years he clerked for Armstrong & Rice, at Ravenswood, Jackson county, Virginia, for three years, the last two years having full charge of the store. He then engaged in farming in the same county, which he followed until 1865. He then re- moved to Laclede, Missouri, and in 1866 bought a farm in Chariton county, same State. There he resided till 1869, when he returned to Virginia, and in 1870 moved back to Linn county, to the farm which he now owns, near Laclede. There he has since resided, and stands deservedly high in the esteem of the entire community. Mr. Adams has been a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church and also of the Masonic orders since he be- came twenty-one years of age. His wife has been a church member since her fifteenth year. Mr. Adams was married December 22, 1859, to Miss Celina E. Kendall, daughter of Elisha and Betsey Kendall. She was born in the State of Georgia and reared in Jackson county, Virginia. By this union there were seven children, four of whom are living, their names being, Francis G., George G., Myrtle B., and Clarence E. Adams.

596

HISTORY OF LINN COUNTY.

GEORGE W. BENWAY,

son of Moses and Percilla (nee Passano) Benway, was born in the District of Montrebal, Canada East, May 11, 1837. In 1838 his parents removed to the United States, and located in Jefferson county, New York, where he was reared on a farm and received a common school education. In 1867 he removed to Linn county, Missouri, and located near Brookfield. Three years later he removed to the farm where he now resides. This he owns. It comprises two hundred and forty acres, well improved and well stocked; besides other stock there are fifty head of cattle and fourteen head of sheep. Mr. Benway was married July 4, 1861, to Miss Maria Vasburgh, daughter of Jacob and Clarissa (nee Crane) Vasburgh, of Jefferson county, New York, but natives of Canada. Mr. and Mrs. Benway have had five children: Freddie F., Charles A., and Willie H. are living. George died when eleven months old, and Martin when seven months old. Willie H., aged twelve years, has a natural talent for music and excels in mathematics. His tal- ents are truly remarkable for one of his age.

SAMUEL BOYD,

son of William and Margaret (nee Simpson) Boyd, was born in Belmont county, Ohio, April 30, 1840. His father was prominent in the United Presbyterian Church, being an elder for over fifty years. The son was reared on a farmn and educated in the common schools. In May, 1864, he enlisted in Company F, One Hundred and Seventieth Regiment. Ohio In- fantry, and served out his time as one of the one hundred day men, being stationed at Washington City during that time. He then engaged in farm- ing in Belmont county, and in 1866 moved to Mason county, Illinois. Three years later he came to Linn county, Missouri, and purchased the farm where he now resides. In 1874 he returned to Ohio, to regain his failing health, occupying himself there upon his father's farm. In 1880 he came back to his farm in Linn county, and resides there now. This farm, which he owns, comprises one hundred acres, all inside the corpora- tion of the town of Laclede. Mr. Boyd was married October 25, 1866, to Miss Angeline E. Simpson, daughter of William and Elizabeth (nee Burns) Simpson, of Belmont county, Ohio. Her father was a prominent member of the Presbyterian Church, being an elder a number of years. By this union there have been four children: William A., Adelbert S., Anna L., and James McFarland. Mr. and Mrs. Boyd have been members of the Presbyterian Church for over twenty-six years. He was one of the organ- izing members of that church at Laclede, and has been one of its most faithful and efficient elders ever since its organization.

597

HISTORY OF LINN COUNTY.

JOHN F. BOYD,

was born on the Atlantic Ocean, on board the ship Lagrange, August 20, 1840. When he was about three years old his parents were drowned at sea, the ship Lagrange being wrecked in the voyage from Liverpool to New York, April 14, 1843. John F. and his brother, only a babe, were saved. The subject of this sketch was reared by his uncle in Clermont county, Ohio. At the age of fifteen years he went to Cincinnati and served at the edge-tool trade, with the firm of Cunningham & Fowler. He remained with them until the breaking out of the war, and, August 14, 1861, enlisted in company A, First Kentucky Cavalry. He was with General Hobson at Knoxville and Perryville; then with General Burbridge, and later with General Portmer's command, with which he served until the close of the war. He participated in numerous battles and skirmishes. In Stoneman's celebrated raid he was taken prisoner June 3, 1865, in Tennessee, but made his escape the same evening, and the next day had the good fortune to be captured by the Twelfth Ohio Cavalry. In October, 1862, he was married to Miss Hannah J. Sechrest, of Grant county, Kentucky. In 1868 he lo- cated in Cass county, Missouri, at Pleasant Hill, where he remained ten years, working at his trade and farming. Mr. Boyd then removed to La- clede, Linn county, where he has since resided, engaged in blacksmithing and doing an extensive business in making and repairing edge-tools. Mr. and Mrs. Boyd have five children living: Rebecca, John, James, Joseph, and Lee. One child is dead. Mr. Boyd is a member of the Masonic order.

WHORTON RECTOR BARTON, JUNIOR.

This gentleman is a native of Linn county, and was here born February 1, 1853. Mr. Barton was reared on the farm, and received his education in the schools of the county, completing his course in the graded schools of Linneus.

At the age of twenty he began clerking in a Brookfield house, and re- mained one year. In 1874 he went to Cunningham, in Chariton county, and there engaged in the grocery business. He was next engaged in farm- ing, in which he spent five years. His coming to Laclede for business pur- poses, was in January, 1880, when he bought an interest in the drug house of Mr. Edward O. Mitchell, in which he is still engaged.

Mr. Barton was married on the twenty-fifth of December, 1876, to Miss Ella McCoy, of Chariton county, Missouri. They have two children, named, respectively, Myrlie and Eddie.

Mr. Barton is one of those successful individuals who make their own way in the world, he having but one dollar and a half when he started out for himself at twenty years of age.

598

HISTORY OF LINN COUNTY.

EDWARD BARTON,

was born in Linn county, Missouri, February 12, 1841. His father's name was Whorton R., and his mother's Jane (nee Warren) Wharton. The latter was born in Howard county, Missouri, in January, 1812. The subject of this sketch received his education at McGee College, Macon, Missouri, and then removed to Howard county, same State. There he was engaged in clerking in a store until 1870, when he went to California, spent the winter, and then located in Nevada, where he engaged in ranching and mining. Mr. Barton came back to Linn county, Missouri, in December, 1881, hav- ing lived about three years alone on a ranch twenty-five miles from any neighbor, and having had some narrow escapes from bands of hostile In- dians. In 1861 he enlisted in Company B, Third Missouri Infantry, Con- federate States of America. Participated in the battles of Lexington and Pea Ridge, Missouri and Iuka, Mississipi. Reënlisted in the Second Mis- souri Infantry, Confederate States of America, in March, 1862; was wounded in the breast by a piece of shell, taken prisoner and kept at Corinth, Mis- sissippi until paroled and sent into the Confederate lines. Was exchanged at Holly Springs, Mississippi in 1863, found his regiment at Grand Gulf, same State, and participated in several important battles. He was in Vicks- burg during the siege, and present at the surrender. Mr. Barton was per- mitted to go into the country because of the wound in his breast, and saw very little more service. In July, 1865, he came home to Linn county, where he purchased a farm of two hundred and forty acres, which he lets to a renter.

HENRY H. BENJAMIN,

son of Anson and Cornelia (nee Clark) Benjamin, was born in New York City, August 25, 1841. At the age of five years his father died, and the lad went to live with his uncle, remaining with him until sixteen years old. He then came to Dupage county, Illinois, resided there two years, and re- moved to St. Charles, Illinois, where he spent the summer of 1861, and September 18, of that year, enlisted in Company E, Eighth Illinois Cavalry, and served three years, participating'in the battles of Yorktown, Mechan- icsville, Williamsburg, Gaines Mill, Malvern Hill, Shepherdstown, Fred- ericksburg, and many others in Virginia; and Antietam, Maryland. A long list of important minor engagements in which he took part, are omitted. In the latter part of 1863, Mr. Benjamin was transferred as orderly to Gen- eral Wilson, in which capacity he served till October, 1864, when he was mustered out of service at Chicago. After the war Mr. Benjamin went to Russell county, New York, and was employed by Platten & Co., manufac- turers of cotton batting, as foreman, and later as superintendent of the fac- tory until 1869. Coming to Linn county, he purchased the farm where he now resides, to which place he removed in 1871. This fine farm of 200

599

HISTORY OF LINN COUNTY.

acres, splendidly improved and cultivated, is the result of the remarkable energy, industry and enterprise displayed by the subject of this sketch. Mr. Benjamin was married July 4, 1866, to Miss Julia H. Howard, a native of Onondaga county, New York. By this union there are five children. Bertha and Beulah, twins; Lilian May, Howard and Jupont. Mr. and Mrs. Benjamin are active and highly regarded members of the M. E. Church.

HARRISON E. BIGGER,

son of William and Margaret (nee Thomas) Bigger, was born in Marion county, Kentucky, February 3, 1812. His parents were both natives of Virginia, and his father was a colonel in the War of 1812. Mr. Bigger grew to manhood in his native county, and received his education in the old log school-house common in those days. He was reared on a farm and followed that calling until 1844, when he removed to Linn county, Missouri, and set- tled five miles west of Linneus, being one of the earliest pioneers of that section, and somewhat noted as a hunter. He was an expert at killing wild turkeys, but had poor success in shooting deer. After wounding them they generally managed to escape. He had one of the poorest guns in the county, and his neighbors actually called a meeting and voted to take his gun from him if he did not do better execution with it. Mr. Bigger generally hunted with William Kirby. The latter would kill deer while Mr. B. would keep a keen lookout for snakes, he being always in great dread of rattlesnakes. In 1859, the subject of this sketch removed to his farm of 168 acres, upon which he still resides. In 1865, he was elected judge of the Linn county court, and held that office eight years, with great credit and efficiency. Mr. Bigger has had three wives. The first time, in 1833, he was married to Miss Lucinda Crews, daughter of Gideon and Elizabeth Crews, of Marion county, Kentucky. She died in March, 1858. By this union there were five chil- dren, two of whom are living, Charles W., a prominent lawyer at Linneus, and Clellen G., the present county surveyor. Mr. B. was married the sec- ond time, in 1860, to Mrs. Clarinda Fowler, formerly a Miss Clarinda Gil- lespie, daughter of John and Rebecca (nee Watson) Gillespie, of West Vir- ginia. She died February 18, 1878. By this union there were four chil- dren, all living, and named William H., Cicero, Socrates, and Fannie F. Mr. B. was again married August 20, 1880, to Mrs. Margaret Brown, form- erly a Miss Hardwick, daughter of John and Smily (nee Shrause) Hardwick, who was born and reared in Kentucky.

CICERO C. BIGGER,

son of Judge Harrison E. and' Clarinda (nee Gillespie) Bigger, was born in Linn county, Missouri, August 17, 1855, was reared on a farm and edu- cated in the common schools of his district and also at Laclede. When twenty-one years of age he began teaching school; has taught every winter

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HISTORY OF LINN COUNTY.

since and farmed during the summer. He owns a well improved farm of eighty acres, and is industrious and popular in both callings. Mr. Bigger was married March 16, 1881, to Miss Mollie Meanes, daughter of Jacob and Margaret (nee Hartsook) Meanes, of Linn county, Missouri, formerly of Ohio. By this marriage there is one child, Berenice.

LEO BITTEKER.

Mr. Bitteker is the son of Victor and Mary Bitteker, and was born in Switzerland, March 25, 1850. His parents came to America when he was six years old and settled at Clinton, Oneida county, New York, and there Leo grew to manhood. He received his education partly at Clinton and partly at Utica, in the same county. At the age of twelve he began learning the tanner's and currier's trade, at which he worked for some time after he had mastered the art. Still later he learned the carpen- ter trade and also shoemaking, following the former in summer and the latter in the winter months. Mr. Bitteker came to Missouri in 1868 and worked the first seven months at the carpenter's trade in Chillicothe. In the spring of 1869 he bought a farm near Laclede, and followed farming for three years in Linn county. After this he located at Laclede and be- came engaged in the manufacture of boots and shoes, constantly working several hands. He is also acting as agent for the sale of wagons and farm- ing implements. Mr. Bitteker is a man of steady, temperate habits, en- dowed with the spirit of industry and perseverance. He has made his own living since he was twelve years old, and has supported his parents since he was sixteen, both of whom now reside at Laclede, the father being seventy-two and the mother seventy-three years of age.

MARTIN D. BOSWORTH.

" This gentleman is a son of Daniel and Catharine Bosworth, and was born in Marietta, Washington county, Ohio, July 17, 1853. He was reared in the city of his nativity, living there till past seventeen, and was educated in the schools of that place. He started in life for himself in his eighteenth year, and began "firing " an engine on the Marietta & Cincinnati Railroad, remaining one year, when he secured a position on another road and worked three years, two of which he acted as engineer. In 1876 he went on the Iowa Central and ran an engine for nearly two years. He then took a trip to Texas in the summer of 1878, and in the following year began " running baggage" on the Burlington branch of the Wabash, and remained one year. The Burlington & Southwestern next enjoyed his services, and in the fall of 1879 he took charge of the round-house at Laclede, and is still engaged in that capacity, and has ever proven himself an energetic and trustworthy man. Mr. Bosworth was married on the ninth day of June, 1880, to Miss Laura Welch, daughter of Judge Welch, of Linn county, formerly of Ohio.

601

HISTORY OF LINN COUNTY.

JOHN B. HURLBUT.

The subject of this sketch is a son of George J. and Martha Hurlbut, and was born in Wayne county, Indiana, on the first day of July, 1839. He moved with his parents to Linn county, this State, in May, 1840, and the family settled four miles northwest of Linneus, and there built what was known as the Hurlbut Mill, at that time the principal grist-mill in the county, people coming as far as sixty miles to get their " grinding." John worked in this mill in his early boyhood and attended such schools as the country afforded at that primitive period. He began learning the carpen- ter's trade at seventeen years old, but his health would not admit of his continuing, so he gave it up after one year's trial and engaged in farming till the outbreak of the civil war. On the eleventh of March, 1862, he enlisted in Company F, of the First Regiment of Missouri State Militia, and served creditably till February 14, 1863, when he was discharged on account of physical disability. In 1864 he took a trip for the benefit of his health to the Rocky Mountains, and spent the summer working at a quartz mill west of Denver City. He returned in the fall and located at Laclede, this county, where he has since resided, partly engaged in farming, and some of the time running a meat market. During the years 1866 and 1867 he served as constable, and in 1880 was again elected to the same office, and his last term is unexpired at this writing. He has also served as street commissioner and city collector, and gave good satisfaction in all these positions. Mr. Hurlbut was married May 29, 1861, to Miss Louisa James, of Linn county, formerly of Illinois. They have four children, two of whom, William F. and Homer F., are still living.

J. H. BRUNEMER,

the subject of this sketch, was born in Greene county, Ohio, September 4, 1838. When but a year old he was taken by his parents to Johnson county, Indiana, where he attended school until he was thirteen years of age. He then went to Wisconsin and resided there till 1861, when he en- listed in Company H, Seventh Wisconsin Infantry. Mr. Brunemer took part in General Pope's Virginia campaign, participating in the second bloody battle of Bull Run, August 30, 1862, and in that of Gainsville, August 28, 1862. At the battle of South Mountain, Maryland, September 14, 1862, Mr. Brunemer was struck in the left leg by a minie ball; he was then borne from the field and taken to a hospital. There his limb was amputated. After remaining in the hospital several months he was discharged on ac- count of disability, at Frederick City, Maryland, when he went to Grant county, Wisconsin. He served as postmaster there for two years, and sub- sequently was postmaster during one session of the Wisconsin legislature, in the House of Representatives. In 1867 he came to Missouri and has

602

HISTORY OF LINN COUNTY.

resided in Linn county since 1868. In 1877 he was appointed postmaster at Laclede, and is still serving in that capacity. He is also engaged in the grocery and newspaper business, having established the Linn County News, a weekly Republican paper, at Laclede, in 1881. Mr. Brunemer, in 1877, was married to Miss Mary V. Black, in Pickaway county, Ohio. He is a member of the order of Odd Fellows.

JOHN L. BURKE, M. D.

The gentleman whose name stands at the head of this sketch is a native of Morgantown, Butler county, Kentucky, and was there born on the elev- enth day of January, 1847. His father, now a retired physician of Living- ston county, Missouri, was once prominent in the practice in Kentucky, and is a graduate of Louisville University. Dr. Burk, senior, moved with his family from their Kentucky home and settled in Tazewell county, Illinois, in 1856. They were living there when the war broke out, and John enlisted in 1864, for defense of the Union, in Company D, of the One Hundred and Fifty-second Illinois Infantry, his father being surgeon of that regiment. He served till the close of the war in this regiment and company. In 1865 his parents moved to Spring Hill, Livingston county, this State, where, in 1866, John began the study of medicine under the direction of his father, and continued for four years. He clerked in a store from 1870 till 1873, and the following year went to Saline county, Kansas, for the purpose of practicing medicine. Being an under-graduate he was not allowed to prac- tice till he had obtained a certificate from the State Board, in conformity with the law pertaining to that subject. This, however, he had no difficulty in obtaining, and he practiced there four years. In 1878 he went to St. Louis and did clinical practice in the hospitals of that city, in the mean time attending lectures at the Missouri Medical College. From that institution Dr. Burke graduated in April, 1881, and was awarded his diploma with the degree of M. D. At examination he received prize honors in chemis- try, in a class numbering one hundred and twenty-nine.

Immediately after his graduation, he located at Laclede, this county, and is already enjoying a lucrative practice.

Dr. Burke was married on February 27th, 1873, to Miss Mary Moss of Livingston county. They have three children, named, respectively, Foster W., Marshall E., and Louis H.

Though still young in years, Dr. Burke has already evinced a love of his calling, and a disposition for close application to his profession, which must place him in the front rank of those of his calling.

GEORGE E. COLE,

son of Nathan and Ann M. (nee Goble) Cole, was born in Parke county, Indiana, January 19, 1830, where he lived until twenty-two years old, being

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HISTORY OF LINN COUNTY.

reared on a farm and educated in the common schools. In 1852, he re- moved to Lee county, Illinois, and two years later, February 14, was mar- ried to Miss Frances Goble, daughter of Ezekiel and Margaret (nee Thomp- son) Goble, of Lee county, Illinois. In 1864 he. removed to Taylor county, Iowa, and in 1368 to Linn county, Missouri; in 1870 to Chariton county, Missouri, and in 1876 back to Linn county, locating on the farm upon which he now lives. Mr. Cole owns a farm of 120 acres of land, has been farming ever since he was twenty-one years old and has raised a crop every year until last year, when he rented his farm out. He has been an active member of the Baptist church for seventeen years. Six children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Cole, five of whom are living: Aditha V., Clayton C., Gertrude E., Irwin M. (deceased), Beulah M., and Ezekiel G. Cole.

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The history of Linn county, Missouri. An encyclopedia of useful information, Part 60

Author: Publication date: 1882 Publisher: Kansas City, Mo., Birdsall & Dean Number of Pages: 906

Author:
Publication date: 1882
Publisher: Kansas City, Mo., Birdsall & Dean
Number of Pages: 906