USA > Missouri > Linn County > The history of Linn county, Missouri. An encyclopedia of useful information > Part 70
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WILLIAM H. LEWIS,
son of Carles and Elizabeth (nee Moore) Lewis, was born in Linn county, Missouri, where he received a common school education, and has since resided there, engaged in farming. Mr. Lewis enlisted in the Home Guards, three months' men, under W. E. Crandall, June 22, 1861, served his time out, and then enlisted in the Twenty-third Missouri Volunteer In- fantry, acting as fourth sergeant, Company G. He was wounded at the bat- tle of Shiloh, and discharged at St. Louis, Missouri, in July, 1862, came home and remained till 1863, when he entered the Enrolled Missouri Mili- tia, and was detailed as first lieutenant. Served three months, when they were disbanded. Were then reorganized under Second Provisional En- rolled Missouri Militia, and was relieved at his own request. After this, by special order from the Governor of the State, he entered the hundred day service under Captain E. J. Crandall, Brookfield, Missouri; then en- listed in the United States service, and recruited Company A, Forty-second Missouri Volunteers; was elected captain of the same, and did active and efficient service with it in the Cumberland Mountains, in Tennessee, being engaged in skirmishes with numerous bands of guerrillas. The regiment remained in the service until the close of the war, and were discharged at Nashville, Tennessee, in June, 1865. One of the most notable of the engage- ments occurred about six miles west of McMinnville, Tennessee, with a de- tachment of regular Confederate soldiers under command of Majors Childs and Johnson, consisting of about five hundred men. The Federal force numbered two hundred Home Guards, forty men of the Forty-second Regi- ment, and twenty-five of the Tennessee Cavalry, under command of Cap- tain Lewis, who gained a complete victory, driving them from the field and camping on the ground. The battle lasted three hours. The Federals had eight men wounded. The Confederates lost three killed and quite a num- ber wounded. Captain Lewis was married February 5, 1866, to Miss Emma Norris, who was born in Frederick county, Maryland, August 18, 1846. By this marriage five children have been born, Charles E., Frank M., Herman N., Edith M., and Bessie V. In 1866 Captain Lewis was deputy assessor of Linn county, and in the same year was appointed regis-
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tering officer for Yellow Creek township for 1868. He was appointed as- sistant marshal to take the census of the eastern half of Linn county, in 1870. Captain Lewis is engaged in farming and stock-raising, owning one hundred and two acres of land, sixty of which are under fence.
FIELDING LEWIS,
son of Charles and Elizabeth (nee Moore) Lewis, was born in Howard county, Missouri, July 30, 1834. He acquired a common school education in Linn county, to which locality his parents moved in 1840. Mr. Lewis was mar- ried in 1856, to Miss Paulina Hayes, who was born in Linn county, Mis- souri, October 7, 1838. By this marriage there were two children, Charles G., born September 30, 1857, and Pauline F., born February 10, 1859. Mrs. Lewis died in 1859, and Mr. Lewis was again married to Martha A. Day, May 3, 1860. She was born July 7, 1840. By this marriage there were seven children born: Alta, July 23, 1861; John H., October 7, 1862; Loretta, April 4, 1865; George W., September 20, 1867; Allen D., September 11, 1869; Guy D., May 28, 1864; Cora B., June 24, 1879. Alta died Decem- ber 11, 1862; John H. died September 20, 1864. Mr. Lewis entered the Brookfield Home Guards on its organization, at the very outset of the war, and November 10, 1861, he enlisted in the Twenty-third Missouri Volun- teer Infantry for three years, and was at the battle of Shiloh, where the gal- lant Colonel Tindall fell. Mr. Lewis was a sergeant in Company G, and was engaged in the battle early on the morning of April 6, being danger- ously wounded by a gun shot wound in the head, after firing about 100 rounds, and was left upon the battle-field. At last he was carried back to the river, placed upon a boat and taken to St. Louis, where, getting leave of absence, he came home and remained a month. Returning to St. Louis, he was discharged June 21, 1862. He reënlisted in the Forty-second Mis- souri Volunteer Infantry, and was commissioned a second lieutenant, Com- pany A, September 23, 1864, and resigned by reason of a surgeon's certifi- cate of disability on account of wounds received at Shiloh. He came home, was drafted, but was never called upon to report. He was commissioned first lieutenant Company F, Linn County Regiment, Missouri Militia, June 17, 1865. Mr. Lewis was also more or less connected with the Enrolled Missouri Militia.
Before the war he was a Democrat, and in 1860 went to the polls to vote for Douglas, but because of threats that nobody should vote for Lincoln, he dared to do so and has since been a strong Republican and never lost a presidential vote. Mr. Lewis took the State income tax of Missouri in Linn county, in 1865, and in 1870, was appointed deputy United States Marshal to take the census of North Salem township. He has 100 acres of land, a good house thereon and improvements. He is engaged in farming and stock -raising.
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HISTORY OF LINN COUNTY.
LEANDER LINEBERRY
was born in Carroll county, Virginia, where he was raised on a farm, and' educated in the common schools of the country. In 1859 he came to Mis- souri, and settled in Linn county, where he has since resided. Mr. Line- berry was elected justice of the peace of Yellow Creek township in Novem- ber, 1864, on the Republican ticket; has filled the office ever since, and is still holding the office. Mr. Lineberry was married September 19, 1862, to Miss Priscilla Coulson of this county, by whom he has one child: George W. He enlisted in 1862 in the Sixty-second Enrolled Missouri Militia. He was appointed third sergeant October 6, 1864. He was commissioned second lieutenant, and June 17, 1865, he was commissioned as captain of Company F, Linn County Regiment.
His paternal grandfather was in the War of 1812.
He is the son of George and Nancy Lineberry, natives of Virginia. Mrs. Lineberry is the daughter of George and Catharine Coulsen, who came to this county in 1840. Mr. Lineberry has filled the office of justice of the peace with great satisfaction to the people, as is evinced by his repeated elec- tion to the office. Mr. Lineberry has a good farm about five miles northeast of St. Catharine, where he resides. He is a man highly respected in his com- munity.
DANIEL MC COLLUM
is a native Missourian, having been born in 1837, and raised and educated in Linn county. In 1864 he went to California, where he was engaged in freighting for two years. In 1867 he went to Chariton county, where he engaged in farming and tobacco raising until February, 1877, when he re- turned to this county, where he has since resided. Mr. McCollum was married in 1858 to Miss Missouri McCollum of Chariton county, by whom he has one child, Alfred B. His wife died in March, 1863. He again married in February, 1867, Mrs. Sarah A. Lane (nee Bills) of Chariton county, by whom he has had six children, four of whom are living: Daniel, Mary E., Emma F., Walter. Mrs. McCollum has three children by her first hus- band: William H., James S., Andrew F.
Mr. McCollum is a son of Stephen and Elizabeth McCollum. His father was a native of Clay county, Kentucky, and his mother of Lincoln county, Tennessee. His parents came to Missouri in 1819, and settled in Chariton county, where they were married. They moved to this county in 1836. Mr. McCollum enlisted in February, 1862, in the Second Missouri Cavalry Con- federate service; paroled in Mississippi in August, 1864. He was engaged in the battles of Wilson's Creek, Pea Ridge, Lexington, Cross Hollows, Sugar Creek, Inka, Corinth, Port Gibson, Grand Gulf, Baker's Creek, Blackwater, and Vicksburg. Out of one hundred and seven of the com- pany that went into service, only twenty survived, and several of those were
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HISTORY OF LINN COUNTY.
badly wounded. His maternal grandfather, Daniel Slater, was in the War of 1812. His uncles, James and William Slater were also in the War of 1812. His uncle, James Slater helped to survey the town of Linneus. He and wife and mother are members of the Missionary Baptist Church. His father died in this county, November 25, 1870. His mother resides with him. Mr. McCollum is a member of the A. F. & A. M. He now resides on the original tract of land entered by his father, and is a man who stands high in his community.
WILLIAM HARRISON MEYERS
is the son of Peter and Margaret Meyers and was born in Caldwell county, Missouri, May 6, 1841. When he was two years old, his parents moved to Daviess county, and soon afterwards to Indiana, where they resided till Wil- liam was five years old. They then returned to Missouri and lived in Chari- ton county till 1849, when they removed to Linn county and settled near Brookfield, and there William remained till during the civil war. In No- vember, 1861, he enlisted in Company E of the Fiftieth Illinois Volunteer Infantry, at that time stationed at Chillicothe, Missouri. He was dis- charged in 1862, because of physical disability. He had improved his time while in the service in learning to write, being kindly instructed by his fellow soldiers, and thus made some amends for his lack of education, arising from spare opportunities in boyhood. He took part in the battles of Fort Donelson, Shiloh, and Corinth, and from the last fight was con- stantly in United States hospitals till his discharge, when he returned home. Mr. Meyers was married March 1, 1864, to Miss Martha A. Watkins, of Linn county. The following year he began farming for himself on a forty- acre tract given him by his father. The farm he now owns (seven miles from Brookfield) contains two hundred and sixty acres, all improved. Five chil- dren have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Meyers, named: Mary Josephine, Fran- cis, Jennie, John William, and Georgie. Mr. Meyers and wife belong to the Missionary Baptist Church.
WILLIAM G. MOORE.
This gentleman is a native Missourian and was born in Chariton county, living there till he was five years old. From there he came with his parents to Linn county where he has ever since resided, engaged in farming and stock-raising. He is the son of William David and Mary A. Moore, both of whom were natives of Tennessee. His father came to this State in 1836 and settled first in Chariton county, where Mary A. Moore, William G.'s mother, died.
Mr. Moore was married October 9, 1869, to Miss.Eliza A. Lee, of Linn county, by whom he has three children, named, respectively, Frederick Ar- thur, Charles, and "Pony." He has a large farm of over 400 acres of good
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HISTORY OF LINN COUNTY.
productive land, most of which is in cultivation and all well improved. He is one of the self-made men of Linn county who, though he started poor, has by industry, perseverance, and good management, amassed a compe- tency.
THOMAS ONEILL
was born April 27, 1853, in Lafayette, Tippecanoe county, Indiana, his father being William Oneill, a native of Monagahan, Ireland, and his mother Catharine, who was also a native of Ireland. He received a common school education in St. Catharine, Linn county, Missouri, having removed to that place with his father in 1861. He was engaged as a stock dealer until 1873,- when he learned telegraphy and three years later took charge of the night office at Chillicothe, Missouri. He remained there until January, 1877, when he took charge of the office at Easton, Buchanan county, Missouri; was agent and operator there until 1878, when he went to Stewartsville and occupied a like position. Some time later, when he was transferred to St. Catharine, where he has since remained as express, freight, and ticket agent and operator for the Hannibal & St. Joseph Railroad Company.
Mr. Oneill was married to Miss Eva E. Stolp, who was born in Empire, . Whiteside county, Illinois. Mr. Oneill is a member of the Catholic Church and his wife is a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church. Both of them are active members of the order of Good Templars. Mr. Oneill has built a fine residence in St. Catharine and has half a block which he is greatly beautifying.
WILLIAM ONEILL, SR.,
was born in county Monagahan, Ireland, December 24, 1831. His father and mother were William and Catharine Oneill. He received a common school education in his native land, and emigrated to America, landing at New York City in 1851. There he resided a short time and removed to Montgomery county, Indiana, where he engaged in railroading. Thence he went to Kankakee county, Illinois, and engaged in railroad building. He then removed to Camp Point, Adams county, Illinois, still following rail- roading. From there he removed to Coatsburg, and engaged in the hotel business until 1861, when he located at St. Catharine, Linn county, since which time he has been hotel keeping, railroading, and dealing in stock.
Mr. Oneill was married to Sophia Mitchell, February 14, 1851. By this union there have been born Thomas, April 27, 1853; William, May 2, 1855; Patrick, May 8, 1857; John, June 3, 1859; James, April 17, 1861; Catha- rine, January 6, 1864; Michael, April 22, 1866; and Edward, May 7, 1869. Catharine died the day of her birth. James was shot by an assassin at Ma- con City, Missouri, January 29, 1881, and died from the effects of the wound February 1, 1881. His assassin was sent to the State Penitentiary for nine-
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teen years. The father of these children sprang from the Oneill stock of the Kings of Ulster, Ireland. He has a commodious residence and several other valuable pieces of property in St. Catharine, and recently purchased 120 acres of land near that town. He is a member of the Catholic Church. Previous to coming to America Mr. Oneill served three years in the Royal Irish Constabulary. At present he is engaged in stock dealing, buying and selling land, and following somewhat the vocation of an independent trader.
WILLIAM ONEILL, JR.,
was born in Pana, Illinois, May 2, 1855. He is the son of William and So- phia Oneill. Received a common school education in Linn county, Mis- souri, and lived in Illinois until January, 1862, when he came to St. Catha- rine, Linn county. He was married May 4, 1879, to Miss Alice C. Mulhol- and, who was born in Chariton'county, Missouri, in October, 1861. By this union two children were born, Sophia and James, Jr. The former died March 18, 1880. Mr. Oneill has been principally engaged in railroading, but has devoted a part of his time to the study of medicine under Dr. R. Haley, and has acquired quite a reputation as a correspondent for the local papers, having also contributed articles of interest to the St. Louis dailies. He has recently built a fine residence, has six lots, and is now in charge of a force of men on the Hannibal & St. Joseph Railroad. He is a member of the Catholic Church.
CHARLES L. SPALDING
was born at Ravenna, Portage county, Ohio, December 11, 1844. His par- ents were Ebenezer and Frances L. Spalding. He was educated at Union High School, Ravenna, Ohio, where he lived until October, 1865. At eight- een years of age he received from the C. & P. Railroad Company heavy contracts for timber, which proved very remunerative. Removing to St. Louis, he took an interest in and became engaged as clerk on the steamer Rosa Lee, which was lost in the winter of 1865-66, when the great ice-' gorge occurred at the levee in that city. He was then employed by Alkire & Co., wholesale grocers of St. Louis, for a short time, and was by them recommended to W. H. Elliott as confidential clerk and book-keeper, with whom he came to St. Catharine, Linn county, April 6, 1866, and took charge of his store and mill accounts. This position he held until 1875, when he purchased the stock of goods and buildings and has built up a trade which, in 1881, amounted to fifty thousand dollars. He is also one of the largest buyers and shippers of wool in north Missouri. Mr. Spalding was married, December 26, 1870, to Miss Adella Crandall. She was born at Concord, Erie county, New York, May 5, 1849. Two children have been born of this union: Elliott, June 8, 1872; and Irene, August 17, 1880. Mr. Spalding is a member of King Solomon Lodge No. 90, A. F. & A. M.,
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HISTORY OF LINN COUNTY.
and has served two terms as worshipful master. He has a beautiful- resi- dence, located on Jefferson Street, and is extensively engaged in the dry goods, grocery, grain, and agricultural implement business, and also in shaved hoops. He makes a specialty of wool.
JAMES M. SCOTT
was born in Union county, Indiana, July 8, 1837, being the son of William and Ellen Scott. He received a common school education in that State; removed to Connersville, Fayette county, Indiana, and apprenticed himself to learn the tinner's trade with N. H. Burke, with whom he remained until 1861. Mr. Scott was married to Miss Nellie C. Hyatt, at Jefferson City, Missouri, May 19, 1863. She was born at Portsmouth, Scioto county, Ohio, November 27, 1844. By this union there were cight children: Charles H. was born October 20, 1865; Mary, May 1, 1867; Edith Maud, April 8, · 1870; Ella, March 14, 1872; Georgie Kate, March 27, 1875; Hattie E., April 1, 1877; Bertie H., May 7, 1880. Mrs. Scott died May 18, 1880; Charles H. died October 28, 1865; Ella died January 11, 1873; Hattie E. died January 27, 1878.
Mr. Scott came to Hannibal, Missouri, in January, 1865, engaging in the grocery trade; removed to Brookfield, Linn county, in August, 1865, and was engaged in various occupations up to September, 1876, when he removed to St. Catharine and followed the business of a tinner and general hardware merchant. He was appointed township clerk in 1876, and was elected to the same office in 1877, holding it until the abolishment of the township organization. In April, 1881, he was elected township clerk and assessor, and still holds that office. Mr. Scott enlisted in the three months' service in 1861; failed to reach Indianapolis, Indiana, in time to be mustered in, but was held to serve with the State Guards on the Ohio River. July 24, 1861, he enlisted in the Third Indiana Battery, serving until October 24, 1862; was wounded by minie and musket balls at the battle of Lone Jack, Missouri, August 16, 1862; was transferred to the Twenty-second Indiana Battery and promoted to be a first lieutenant. In this capacity he contin- ued in active service until March 29, 1863, when he resigned, finding his health was rapidly declining and he was suffering severely from the wounds received at Lone Jack. Mr. Scott has a handsome residence and four lots at St. Catharine, Missouri, and is doing a thriving business.
.
JOHN C. SCOTT,
son of Bazwell and Marinda Scott, was born June 24, 1840, in Tazewell county, Virginia. He received his education at Mount Pleasant College, Huntsville, Randolph county, Missouri, and came to Linn county in 1854. He graduated in medicine at the Keokuk University, in 1868. Up to the time of his entering upon the study of medicine, Dr. Scott was engaged in
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HISTORY OF LINN COUNTY.
farming. He was married, July 27, 1875, to Miss Eliza A. Williams, who was born in Chariton county, Missouri, November 20, 1852. One child has blessed this union, Florence A., born April 27, 1876. Dr. Scott is a member of the Masonic fraternity, and is coroner of Linn county, having been elected in 1880. He was secretary of the Linn County Medical So- ciety one year. Dr. Scott has eighty acres of land adjoining the town of St. Catharine, where he has a fine residence, located on Jefferson Street. Besides having a lucrative medical practice, he is largely engaged in stock- raising.
ALBERT P. SWAN.
This gentleman is the son of Avery and Catharine M. Swan, the former a native of Connecticut and the latter of New York. Albert was born in Oakland, Michigan, where he grew to manhood, and engaged in farming in that State before coming to Missouri. He came to Linn county in 1869, and engaged in farming. Mr. Swan was married, April 13, 1865, to Miss Elizabeth Langworthy, of St. Clair county, Michigan. She is a native of New York State, and went to Michigan with her parents when she was quite young. Her paternal grandfather served as a soldier in the cause of freedom in the War of the Revolution. Seven children have been born of the union of Mr. and Mrs. Swan, five of whom are still living, named, re- spectively, Mary Estella, Katie Lydia, Cora Belle, Arthur L. and Alice L. (twins). He and wife are both members of the Methodist Episcopal Church, and Mr. Swan belongs to the Patrons of Husbandry. He is quite an extensive fruit-grower, and is doing much to improve fruit culture in Linn county.
JOHN T. RAWLINS,
son of Oscar F. and Eliza (nee Ridgway) Rawlins, was born in Howard county, Missouri, May 15, 1843. He came to Linn county with his parents in 1844, and has since resided here and been chiefly engaged in farming and stock-raising. Mr. Rawlins was married September 8, 1874, to Miss Virginia Speece, who was born in Campbell county, Virginia, September 28, 1849. By this union two children have been born, Mary E., born June 30, 1876; and Estrella A., born May 25, 1879. Mr. Rawlins is a member of the Missionary Baptist Church and is also a member of the King Solo- mon Lodge No. 90, A. F. & A. M. He was elected township collector in 1873-4-5, and held that office up to the time that law was repealed. He was appointed deputy sheriff January 1, 1877, and held that position until Jannary, 1881. Mr. Rawlins has 240 acres of land all under fence, and about forty acres under cultivation, with residence upon it. He keeps quite a number of thorough-bred cattle, and deals in cattle, buying, feeding and selling. Although having received but a limited common school education
43
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HISTORY OF LINN COUNTY.
in Linn county, Mr. Rawlins, by his native intelligence, thrift, and enter- prise has succeeded admirably in life, and stands high in the regard of all people.
JAMES L. WHITE
was born in Albermarle county, Virginia, November 9, 1839. His parents were James E. and Matilda A. White. He received a common school edu- cation in Illinois and Missouri and removed to Linn county, in the latter State, in 1855. He has been engaged in farming and stock-raising.
Mr. White was married in 1877 to Miss Carrie H. Jackson, who was born in Knox county, Ohio, October 14, 1857. By this union three children have been born: Winina L., Mary, and Gertrude. The subject of this sketch served in the late civil war in the Twenty-sixth Illinois Infantry three years when he reenlisted in the Sixth Connecticut Infantry and served until the close of the war. He was with Pope and Rosecrans at the capture of Island No. 10; was engaged in the latter part of the seige of Vicksburg; partici- pated in the battles of Corinth, Resaca, and Jackson, Mississippi, and served with Sherman in his March to the Sea. At the termination of hostilites he was discharged at Beaufort, South Carolina. Mr. White owns eighty acres of valuable land in Linn county, and is a prosperous farmer and stock- raiser.
CHAPTER XXVI.
PARSONS CREEK TOWNSHIP.
Metes and Bounds-Topography-Its Sandstone Rock-Streams and Timber-When and by Whom Settled-Game-What They Sold and Where They Sold It-Progress, Accidents and Crimes-Township Organization and Its Officers-West Baltimore- Bottsville, and Meadville-When and by Whom Settled-Melange-Incorporation of Meadville-Its First Officers-Schools and Churches-The Meadville Newspaper-Busi- ness Houses-Lodges and Societies -- Biographies.
METES AND BOUNDS.
Parsons Creek was one of the three original townships which formed the municipal division of Linn county. Its territory comprises all that portion of the county lying west of Locust Creek and extending to the Iowa line. The richest agricultural section of Linn county was this township, and set- tled more rapidly for farming purposes than any other portion of the county. Originally the south line of Parsons Creek township was the channel of Grand River from the mouth of Locust Creek to where the west boundary line of the county crosses that stream, but by an act of the legislature the
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HISTORY OF LINN COUNTY.
township line between townships fifty-six and fifty-seven became the south line of Parsons Creek and Linn county as well. The above metes and bounds continued until the year 1845, when Highland county, changed to Sullivan, was organized into a separate county. That year a commission was appointed to divide Linn county into municipal townships, and the re- sult was that Parsons Creek was cut into two townships, the north half be- ing called Jackson and the south half retaining the original name. This continued for several years, in fact until after the late civil war, when Clay township was made by taking off four miles from the north part of Parsons Creek and three miles off of the south part of Jackson. This leaves. the present territory of Parsons Creek seven miles east and west on an average, and eight miles north and south; its eastern border following the mean- derings of the channel of Locust Creek. This gives it, without counting fractions, fifty-five sections of land or 35,200 acres, and in an agricultural point of view it is the richest township in the county. It ranks the third in wealth, only exceeded by Brookfield and Locust Creek townships, its as- sessed valuation for 1881 being $415,993. Parsons Creek lies principally in township fifty-seven of ranges twenty-two and twenty-one, but two miles of its northern border is in township fifty-eight, same ranges. It has really but one town within its border, Meadville, peopled by a progressive com- munity who believe in their town to an unlimited extent. Fountain Grove, formerly "Wolf Grove," is a station on the St. Louis & Omaha Railroad, nearly in the southwest corner of the township and county. The west line of Parsons Creek is Livingston county, with Clay township on the north.
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