USA > Missouri > Linn County > The history of Linn county, Missouri. An encyclopedia of useful information > Part 63
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622
HISTORY OF LINN COUNTY.
ABRAHAM SCOUTON, .
son of David and Angelina Scouton, was born in Onondaga county, New York, October 28, 1820, where he grew to manhood, being reared on a farm and educated at the Fayetteville schools, in his native county. His grand- father was a captain in the war of the Revolution, and his father a captain in the War of 1812. The latter was wounded in the battle of York, while leading his company in a charge, in storming the fort. The subject of this sketch, at the age of twenty-one years, was engaged in some public works, and became superintendent for contractors in the construction of several Eastern railroads. At the breaking out of the Mexican War he enlisted in the Fifth Infantry Regiment, and in February, 1847, was appointed by Pres- ident Polk second lieutenant of Company D, Tenth Regiment, Infantry. He participated in the battles of Monterey, Buena Vista, and was at the cap- ture of Mier, at which place he filled the position of post quartermaster and commissary for ten months. When the war closed his regiment re- turned to New York, where he was honorably discharged. At the begin- ning of the California gold excitement, in 1849, he went to that State on the first steamer that left New York City. He followed mining in Califor- nia eighteen months, then returned to his native State and engaged in farm- ing for a while. After this he had the contract for building bridges on the Erie Canal, and in 1857, constructed fourteen miles double track of the New York Central Railroad. In 1859, he again engaged in farming, which he continued until 1865, when he was appointed by the Governor of New York as superintendent of the sixth section of the Erie Canal. This position he held six years, meanwhile being engaged in merchandizing in Fayetteville, which latter occupation he followed until 1876. A year later he removed to Linn county, Missouri, where he now resides and owns a fine farm of 400 acres, well improved and adorned with a splendid residence. There are also a fine barn, eighty head of cattle and other stock in proportion. His farm and improvements have cost him over $12,000. When Mr. Scouton purchased this farm, in 1877, it was wild prairie land. Now it will com- pare favorably with any farm. In 1881 he raised seventy bushels of oats per acre on it. Mr. Scouton was married in 1851, to Miss Adaline Rich- mond, daughter of Jacob and Esther (nee Clark) Richmond, of Onondaga county, New York. She died in 1865. There were by this union four chil- dren; namely, Fowler H., Henry R., Lillie V., and William A. Mr. S. was again married in 1868, to Mrs. Jane Cox, formerly a Miss Blanchard, daughter of John and Vancy (nee Hiscock) Blanchard, of Onondaga county, New York, and a cousin of the Hon. Hiscock, a member of Congress from that State. By this union there is one child, Glenn A.
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HISTORY OF LINN COUNTY.
HERBERT A. STONE,
depot agent for Burlington & Southwestern Railroad, is a son of James D. and Lydia C. (nee Cooms) Stone. He was born in Fitchburg, Massachusetts, January 8, 1858, and lived there until twelve years of age. His parents re- moved in 1870 to Brookfield, Missouri, where his early life was spent in ac- quiring an education. When sixteen years old he began learning teleg- raphy at Brookfield, and worked in the railroad office there one year: In October, 1877, he accepted a situation as night operator for the Hannibal & St. Joseph Railroad at Laclede, which position he held antil July 15, 1880, when he tock charge of the business for the Burlington & Southwestern Railroad at Laclede as depot agent and operator, together with the entire passenger and freight departments. Mr. Stone has discharged the respon- . sible duties devolving upon him to the general satisfaction of his employers and their patrons. He is a young man of strictly temperate habits, and is a member of the Odd Fellows' and Good Templars' orders.
SAMUEL A. STALEY,
son of Jacob and Mary (nee Arthur) Staley, was born in Tippecanoe county, Indiana, June 10, 1825. He lived there until fifteen years old, being reared on a farm and receiving his education at the common schools. In 1840 he removed to Carroll county, Indiana; in 1850 to Howard county, same State; later to Grundy county, Missouri; in 1858 to Sullivan county, same State; and in 1860 to Linn county, Missouri. Up to this time he had been en- gaged in farming. Going into the milling business, he run the Miles Mill, south of Linneus, until 1863, when he enlisted in Company F, First Regi- ment of Missouri Cavalry, and served south of the Missouri River. He was engaged in numerous skirmishes with guerrillas, and on one occasion, in a fight with Bill Anderson in 1864, was wounded so severely as to dis- able him for further service. He was honorably discharged, returned to Linn county, and resumed milling. This he continued until 1868, when he pur- chased the farm of ninety acres on which he is residing.
Mr. Staley was married in 1857 to Miss Pruda M. Mize, daughter of John and Annie (nee Murphy) Mize of Pulaski county, Kentucky. By this union there were eight children, four of them living, John A., William T. S., Sarah A., and Minnie L. Staley.
WILLIAM P. SPURGEON, M. D.
Dr. Spurgeon is the son of John and Sarah Spurgeon, both of whom were natives of Bourbon county, Kentucky. William P., however, was born in Adams county, Ohio, on the fifteenth of March, 1833. He was reared on a farm, and in his boyhood days attended the common schools of his neighborhood, completing his academic course at Greenfield Seminary,
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HISTORY OF LINN COUNTY.
Highland county, Ohio. At the age of nineteen, he began the study of medicine, but-soon afterwards suspended his studies to make a trip to Cali- fornia, whose gold-fields had wrought an excitement which had reached across the continent. Dr. Spurgeon spent two years in the mines of that State, returning to Ohio in 1855. He again resumed his reading, at the same time teaching school to obtain the means of pursuing his professional studies. In 1857 and 1858 he attended lectures. In the spring of 1861 he graduated in medicine from the Ohio Medical College at Cincinnati, the faculty honoring him with the degree of doctor of medicine. Immediatly thereafter he located for the practice at Rarden, Scioto county, and re- mained till October following. The civil war had risen like a giant in his wrath, and Dr. Spurgeon resolved to give his services to the cause of the Union. Accordingly, he enlisted in Company B of the Seventieth Ohio Volunteer Infantry, and was appointed second lieutenant of that company. His regiment was ordered to active service, and Lieutenant Spurgeon par- ticipated in the battle of Shiloh, and the taking of Corinth. In January, 1863, he resigned because of physical disability, and returned to Ohio, again locating for practice, this time at Decatur, in Brown county. Here he remained till 1868, when he came to Missouri, living in Chariton county till 1874, when he removed to Laclede, this county, where he has since lived, and enjoys a fine practice.
Dr. Spurgeon was married in 1856 to Miss Ann Eliza Arbuthnot, daugh- ter of the Rev. James Arbuthnot of Adams county, Ohio, and a minister in the Presbyterian Church. Five children have been born to the Doctor and Mrs. Spurgeon, four of whom still survive, named as follows: Charles R., Carey F., James A., and Sarah B.
Dr. Spurgeon is a member of the Christian Church, and also belongs to the following secret orders: Freemasons, Ancient Order of United Work- men, and Independent Order of Good Templars. He is a most efficient worker in the latter, and is a zealous advocate of the temperance cause. A genial, courteous gentleman, of fine social qualifications, Dr. Spurgeon en- joys the respect and confidence of the people of his town and county.
ZACHARIAH T. STANDLEY, M. D.
He whose biography is here outlined is a native of Illinois, and was born in Paris, Edgar county, on the thirteenth of January, 1847. His early life was spent on a farm, and enjoying the educational facilities of his neigh- borhood. Afterwards he attended the Edgar Academy, in the town of Paris. Dr. Standley became imbued with an ambition to study and practice medicine, and, after reading awhile, attended lectures at Ann Arbor, Mich- igan. This was in 1866 and 1867. In 1869 and 1870 he took a course at Rush Medical College, Chicago, graduating from that institution with the degree of M. D., in the spring of 1870. In June of the same year he came
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HISTORY OF LINN COUNTY.
to Laclede, this county, and located for the practice of his profession. He soon enjoyed a good practice, and in 1880 embarked in the drug business with other parties, under the firm style of Markham & Co.
When Dr. Standley first came to Laclede, his cash capital consisted of twenty dollars, all told; and his stock in trade was his professional educa- tion, backed up by a will and a spirit of energy that knew not the word fail. At once devoting himself to his calling, and giving strict attention to his business, it was but a short time till he was on the high road to-suc- cess.
Dr. Standley was married on the seventh day of June, 1871, to Miss Jen- nie Vance, who was born in the same town as himself.
They have had three children, two of whom, Kate V. and Horace M. are still living. Dr. S. belongs to the Methodist Episcopal Church, and also to the Masonic and Odd Fellows' orders.
ERASTUS M. TRACY.
This gentleman, one of the leading business men of Linn county, was born in Licking county, Ohio, December 24th, 1831, and there grew to manhood. The foundation of his education was laid in the public schools of his native county, and he completed it at the Wesleyan University, a Methodist institution located at Delaware, Ohio. Mr. Tracy began life without a dollar, his first business experience being that of running a wholesale notion wagon in Ohio. Subsequently he sold lightning rods for two years in the State of Tennessee. In 1854 he located at Jonesborough, Indiana and engaged in the mercantile business, remaining there for twelve years. Here, however, he was overtaken by those reverses that even the most careful are liable to, and lost all that he had accumulated. He was, of course, forced to start afresh, and came to Missouri, as a field offering good inducements for business pursuits. Locating at Laclede in 1866, he there engaged in merchandizing, and has built up a large trade in the dry- goods and clothing line.
Mr. Tracy is the oldest merchant in the town, and his square method of doing business has won for him many friends among all classes of citizens. He carries a stock ranging from thirty to forty thousand dollars annually. His liberality in giving to churches and public charities, and his enterprise in donating to, and urging on, all needful public improvements, all prove him a valuable citizen in any community.
Mr. Tracy was first married on his twenty first birthday, December 24, 1852, to Miss Dorcas L. Ink, of Monroe county, Ohio. She died October 20, 1867, and he was a second time married December 24, (on his birthday,) 1868, to Miss Marietta A. Neff, of Laclede.
Mr. Tracy had two children by his first marriage: Frank L., and Ida C., and has two by the last, named Edna M. and Jennie M. He is a leading
626
HISTORY OF LINN COUNTY.
member of the Methodist Episcopal Church, and also belongs to the Odd Fellows' and Masonic orders, and has filled nearly all the offices in each.
VIRGIL TRUE.
This gentleman, one of the successful business. men of this town, was born in Kennebeck county, Maine, March 16, 1838. He was reared on a farm, and grew to manhood in the county of his birth, receiving his educa- tion in the public schools under the efficient educational system of his State. Mr. True was one of the first of the sons of Maine to offer his services to his country when the war of the Rebellion broke out. As early as April, 1861, he enlisted in Company H, of the First Maine Infantry, his term of enlistment being for three months. At the expiration thereof he reënlisted in Company H, of the Tenth Maine Regiment, and served with Benjamin Banks in his campaign in the Valley of Virginia. He was at the battle of Winchester, and was then assigned to Pope's command. At the battle of Cedar Mountain, August 9, 1862, he was seriously wounded. After his recovery he was assigned to the quartermaster's department, where he served till the war closed. For two years succeeding his return to Maine, Mr. True engaged in farming. He then, in 1868, embarked in the hard- ware. business in Oxford county, that State, and continued till 1870, when he moved to Missouri and located at Laclede, in this county, still in the same line of business. At this time he carried one of the heaviest stocks in hardware, stoves, and tinware in Linn county, and enjoys as large a trade as- any other house.
Mr. True was married December 30, 1866, to Miss Annie C. Bearce, of Androscoggin county, Maine. They have had three children, two of whom, Susan B. and Blanche L., are still living.
Mr. True belongs to the Odd Fellows' fraternity, and takes an active in- terest in all affairs which concern the order. He is a gentleman of fine business qualifications, and by energy and close attention to business has- built up a good trade and secured to himself and family a competency.
WILLIAM TAYLOR,
son of George and Rebecca (nee Raymond) Taylor, was born in Sevier county, Tennessee, October 12, 1813. His father was a soldier of the War of 1812, and was wounded while in the service. The subject of this sketch grew to manhood in his native county, receiving but a limited education. In 1833 he removed with his parents to Clay county, Missouri, and three years later came to Linn county, Missouri, being one of the pioneers of the county, and one among the very few of the early settlers now living. The hardships of his frontier life seem to have so strengthened and blessed him with hardihood as that now, at the age of sixty-nine years, lie retains much of the vigor and freshness of his early manhood.
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HISTORY OF LINN COUNTY.
Mr. Taylor was married in 1842 to Miss Elizabeth Beckets, born Septem- ber 18, 1825, and daughter of John and Rhoda (Morris) Beckets, of Linn county, Missouri. Her parents were natives of Kentucky, removed to Linn county in April, 1834, and were among the early pioneers of this section. Mr. and Mrs. Taylor have been members of the church for over thirty years. He owns a farm of 150 acres, well improved, and has lived upon it for more than thirty years. Notwithstanding he commenced life perniless he has so prospered that he has given each of his three children sixty acres of valuable land. The names of these children are Mary E., Martha, and Sarah, all of whom are married.
THOMAS L. WATSON (DECEASED),
was the son of Thomas and Sarah Jane (nee Fowler) Watson. His father was one of the earliest settlers of Linn county, Missouri, having come here in 1833 from Chariton county, Missouri, from which he was once a member of the legislature. He also represented Linn county in the legislature, and kept the first tavern in this county. He and his wife were natives of Virginia. The grandfather of the subject of this sketch was a native of Ire- land, and was a soldier of the Revolution through all the seven years of that struggle. He died in this country in 1845, aged ninety years.
Thomas L. Watson was born in Chariton county, Missouri, July 25, 1825, and when about eight years of age his parents removed to Linn county, Missouri, where he was reared on a farm. When the Mexican War broke out he and his two brothers enlisted in Captain Barber's company and was in General Price's command. They served through the whole war and at its close returned to Linn county. In 1849 he went to California, came back a year later, and March 13, 1851, was married to Miss Eliza J. Parks daughter of James and Frances (nee Heyford) Parks, of Chariton county, Missouri. Her father settled in that county in 1816. He then located on the farm where his widow now lives, he having been granted the land for services in the Mexican War.
Mr. Watson was very fond of hunting and it was supposed that he had killed more deer than any other man in Linn county, he always keeping an abundant supply of venison the year round. He kept the first ferry on Lo- cust Creek in this county, carrying a hickory club as he went to and from the ferry with which to kill snakes. Mr. Watson was a deacon in the Baptist Church for twenty-three years, and a worthy and useful citizen. He died December 25, 1877. He was the father of thirteen children. Charles H., the oldest, was badly hurt while discharging a gun, the breech-pin entering his forehead, from the effects of which wound he died seven years afterward, aged twenty-four years. There had been over forty pieces of his skull taken out. The names of the other children are as follows: Missouri F., William P., James (deceased), Jordan P., Bettie L., Mary E., Sarah R., Oscar Y., Ada E., Ellen L., Florence B., and Cella M. Watson.
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HISTORY OF LINN COUNTY.
ELDER JOHN W. W. WAUGH,
son of Jacob and Mary (nee Brown) Waugh, was born in Upshur county, West Virginia, July 6, 1850. His father was a prominent man in his part of the State, having been a justice of the peace ten years, county commis- sioner four years, circuit clerk eight years, and a local preacher of the Methodist Episcopal Church all his life since manhood. Mr. John W. W. Waugh was reared on a farm until he was fourteen years old, and was edu- cated at the common schools and Allegheny College. When yet a mere strip of a lad, in 1864, he enlisted in Company E, Third Virginia Cavalry, and served until the close of the war, having taken part in numerous severe skirmishes and scouts. At the age of sixteen years he was appointed deputy circuit clerk under his father, and held the office for four years. He then engaged in farming and school-teaching. In 1871 he came to Cunningham, Missouri, and taught school there. A year later he returned to Virginia, and in 1873 removed to Davis county, Iowa, where he was or- . dained an elder in the Christian Church, and was subsequently assigned to a pastoral charge in that church. Continuing in the ministry there until 1879, Mr. Waugh removed to Laclede, Missouri, where he organized the Christian Church and was its pastor for one year, when he was forced to resign on account of ill health. He then engaged in the insurance busi- ness, and in 1881 entered upon the grocery business under the firm name of Brunemer & Waugh, which is still continued. Mr. Waugh was mar- ried September 7, 1871, to Miss Mary C. Smith, daughter of Murphy and Charity (nee Simmons) Smith, of Chariton county, Missouri. By this marriage there have been four children, three of whom are living, named as follows: Maud, Flora, and Murphy Waugh.
EMERSON C. WRIGHT,
son of Charles and Perlina (nee Wood) Wright. His father was born Au- gust 17, 1807, and his mother April 22, 1815. Emerson was born in Ni- agara county, New York, May 18, 1835. When two years old his parents removed to Lapeer county, Michigan, where they were residents until 1848. Thence they removed to Detroit. There young Wright went to railroading, which he followed until 1858. He and his father assisted in taking the first locomotive to Columbus, Ohio, having to haul by teams from Xenia, Ohio, to Columbus, a distance of fifty miles, along the old National Pike road. In 1858 Mr. Wright located in Leavenworth, Kansas, and was there en- gaged in the hotel business, when, in 1862, he enlisted in the ordnance de- partment of the Federal army, and served until the close of the war. He was in General Blunt's campaign and also in General Thomas's Georgia campaign. At the cessation of hostilities the subject of this sketch removed to Linn county, Missouri, and located on his present place of residence.
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HISTORY OF LINN COUNTY.
His father died there in 1877, and his mother in 1881. Mr. Wright was married in 1857 to Miss Emma Little, daughter of William and Lucy (nee Willets) Little, of Muscatine, Iowa. Her father was a native of Michigan, and her mother of Vermont. The former was a soldier of the War of 1812. By this union there were six children, five of them living; namely, Ida T. Clara A., Lizzie P., Fred H., and Burt C. Elmo R. died at the age of ten months. Mr. Wright owns and lives upon a rich farm of one hundred and sixty acres, which is handsomely improved and well stocked. He has been a member of the Masonic order since he was twenty-one years old, and both he and his wife are members of the Methodist Episcopal Church.
REMUS WISE
was born in Laurel county, Kentucky, March 10, 1819, was left an orphan at the age of three years, and was reared by Chapman Watkins. He was married in 1842 to Miss Sarah Grindstaff, of Knox county, Kentucky, and lived in Laurel county, in that State, until 1851, when he removed to Henry "county, Missouri, and in 1873 to Johnson county, same State, where he owned a good farin of two hundred acres, but lost his property on account of the war. In 1862 he located in Lafayette county, and from there went to Linn county, Missouri, in 1864, where he has since resided, engaged in farming. In 1878 he settled upon the finely improved farm of eighty acres, which he owns. Mr. Wise is the father of ten children, six of whom are living; namely, George W., Abram, Catharine, Larkin, Louisa E., and J. 'Bynum. All of them are married.
JESSE BYNUM WISE,
son of Remus and Sarah Wise, was born in Johnson county, Missouri, March 27, 1859. In 1862 his parents removed to Lafayette county, and in 1864 to Linn county, Missouri, where they have since resided. Jesse was reared on a farm and and still follows that occupation. He owns a valuable tract of forty acres, and has it in a good state of preservation. October 27, 1880, Mr. Wise was married to Miss Fannie E. Bigger, daughter of Judge Harri- son E. and Clarinda (nee Gillespie) Bigger, of Linn county, Missouri. There is one child by this marriage.
LARKIN WISE,
son of Remus and Sarah.(nee Grindstaff) Wise, was born in Laurel county, Kentucky, April 7, 1850. In 1852 his parents removed to Henry county, Missouri, and in 1855 to Johnson county, in that State; a year later to La- fayette county, and in 1864 to Linn county, Missouri, where they have since resided. The subject of this sketch was reared on a farm and educated in subscription schools. He has constantly followed farming, with much suc- cess, and now owns a well improved place of one hundred and twenty acres.
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HISTORY OF LINN COUNTY.
Mr. Wise,was married July 27, 1868, to Miss E. Glenn, daughter of Absalom and Artemecy (nee Pepper) Glenn, of Linn county, Missouri. Her parents were among the pioneers of this county. By this union there were seven children, five of whom are living, named as follows: Abram E., Euratus W., Ethelin, Clara M., and Floy A.
JAMES M. WELSH.
The subject of this sketch is a member of the grocery house of Welsh & Morgan, and was born in Belmont county, Ohio, July 8, 1838. He is the son of John and Mary Welsh, the father having been, for several years, judge of the Common Pleas Court of his district, was also an incumbent of several State offices of Ohio, and the entire family to which he belonged were more or less prominent in political circles of that State. The early life of James M. was spent on a farm and in clerking in his father's store. on the same farm. He received his education at Richmond College, in Jefferson county, Ohio. When the civil war began Mr. Welsh enlisted September 1, 1861, in Company F, of a regiment of infantry then being recruited in his section. It was soon after organized into the Fifteenth Ohio Volunteers, and Mr. Welsh was commissioned first lieutenant of his. company, and was assigned to the Army of the Cumberland. He was in the battle of Shiloh and siege of Corinth. Though he was taken sick on this campaign he never left his command till they reached Bowling Green, Kentucky; there he was left in the hospital in November, 1862. He was taken to Ohio in June, 1863, and placed in charge of the invalid corps at- Columbus. He was discharged because of physical disability, in August of the same year. After this he engaged in merchandizing in Belmont, Ohio, till his coming to Missouri in 1866. The last named date was the period of his advent in Laclede, and he was engaged in merchandizing till 1869, when he embarked in the nursery business. This scheme did not. prove successful and he gave it up after four years, and again began mer- chandizing in the grocery business, in which fortune favored him better. Mr. Welsh is a member of the Methodist Church, and has been for up- wards of twenty-six years. He is also a member of the I. O. O. F., and the I. O. G. T. lodges. At this writing he is serving as township treasurer, and is one of the most substantial citizens of Laclede.
He was married October 10, 1861, to Miss Louisa Neff, of Belmont county, Ohio. They have had six children, five of whom survive; named, re- spectively, Ulysses Grant, Charles B., Marietta H., Diantha, and John L. These children receive every attention from their parents that intelligence and good words can impart.
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