USA > Missouri > Linn County > The history of Linn county, Missouri. An encyclopedia of useful information > Part 78
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HISTORY OF LINN COUNTY.
milling business, till the latter part of 1861, when he left for the war, and joined the Thirty-fifth Regiment, Company B, Missouri Infantry Volun- teers. He remained in the service until he died from an illness contracted therein, on the twenty fourth day of February, 1864, at Cairo, Illinois.
Not long after his father joined the army, Mr. B. went with his mother and sister to Sullivan county, where he remained about a year; and from there proceeded to Bryant & Stratton's Commercial College, Louisville, Kentucky. He there took a commercial course, and afterward obtained a. position in the United States Custom House as steamboat admeasuring and recording clerk, which he held two years and three months. But the con- finement and close application the duties of the office rendered necessary be- gan to tell upon his health. He became much reduced in flesh, and thinking- it better to make a change of climate, he came west and settled near Enter- prise, in Linn county, where he remained two or three years, and then in the spring of 1873, moved to Texas. After rambling over the State he set- tled in the northern part, taking a position as commissary for three months- with a grading company on the Trans-continental Railway.
He then took another trip over some parts of the State and located in Madison county, where he was appointed deputy clerk of the District Court, a position which he held for three years, and improved the leisure moments afforded him in the study of the law. He was admitted to practice in No- vember, 1874, by Judge James Burnett, of that district. He practiced about one year. Whether or not Mr. B. found it as unprofitable a business- as some young men in the State of Missouri, we are not prepared to say; but after the lapse of a year, he bade farewell to Texas and the law, moved to Browning, and opened a lumber yard, keeping also a stock of farm ma- chinery, implements, etc. Beginning with the town and having but little capital, his business, small at first, has gradually grown, till now he and his brother-in-law, Mr. F. A. Fleming, whom he took into partnership about two years ago, handle annually about one hundred car loads of lumber, and several of farm machinery.
On the twenty-fifth day of February, 1877, he was married to Miss Sarah O. Fleming, daughter of Judge J. T. Fleming. He and his wife are mem- bers of the Christain Church at Browning. He is a member of the A. O. U. W. Lodge No. 187, at Browning; also of the I. O. O. F., Browning Lodge No. 173.
In politics he is a Republican, but too deeply immured in business to in- dulge much therein.
D. W. BISWELL.
Mr. Biswell was born in Randolph county, this State, March 7, 1844. He is the son of John Biswell, whose father, Major Biswell, served in the War of 1812. His mother's name is Rebecca. Both parents are from the
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HISTORY OF LINN COUNTY.
State of Kentucky. His father came to Missouri in 1823, and settled on a farm in Randolph county, where he lived until the time of his death, which occurred in 1859. His mother is still living.
Mr. Biswell lived at the old homestead till 1863, when he moved to Macon City. After his father's death in 1859, he and his other brothers, among whom was Y. J. Biswell, two years his senior, managed the farm until his removal to Macon City. In this city and county together Mr. Biswell was. engaged at different times in several avocations for a period of eight or ten years. From Macon, in the year 1873, he removed to Browning and went into the mercantile business with his brother, above spoken of, in which pur- suit he has ever since continued. The facilities afforded by the common schools of his boyhood days were but meager; and not having an opportunity of se- curing educational advantages elsewhere Mr. B. owes his early training rather to the hard knocks of experience than the doctrines instilled by wise pre- ceptors into the minds of ingenuous youths.
On January 29th, 1873, he was married to Miss Emma F. Harshey, at Macon City. They have had four children, all of whom are living. He is a Mason, an' Odd Fellow, and a member of the A. O. U. W. fraternity ; also a Good Templar, but there is no lodge in the town at present. Since the death of his brother, in the spring of 1881, Mr. B. has had control of the house known as the store of Y. J. Biswell & Bro. The business is car- ried on at the same old stand and under the accustomed sign, which has long since grown familiar to the eyes of the numberless persons who flock thither, to exchange the products of their farms for something with which to replen- ish the wants of the inner man, or shield them from the chilling blasts of an inhospitable winter. Having stood the test of an active experience with the success already attained, and possessing youth, energy, and a determined purpose, we think we may safely say that nothing but prosperity can attend an enterprise of which Mr. B. has control.
JOHN BROWN.
In passing down the Burlington & Southwestern Railroad, looking over toward the headwaters of Locust Creek, the traveler can but be impressed with the scope of country which is one of great beauty and surpassing fer- tility. Nature has done much for this country, but the effect produced by art, such as used by the enterprising husbandman of the region, is most marked. Among the energetic fariners of this section is one known by the common and unassuming name of John Brown. He was born in the county, July 23, 1849, and is the son of Henry T. and Susan Brown, both of whom are still living, respected and honored, and the more so as these noble representatives of pioneer times become fewer and still fewer. Mr. Brown has confined himself for many years to the improvement of his farm, and there finds exercise and diversion enough, without seeking
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HISTORY OF LINN COUNTY.
either in travel. Though now in the full tide of manhood, he has but once been outside the boundaries of his native State. He was married to Miss Fannie Runnels, June 4, 1877. Have two children.
THOMAS CARTER (DECEASED).
Captain Carter was a native of Virginia, born September 10, 1810. When he was quite small, his parents moved to Kentucky, where they re- sided till Thomas was fifteen years old. They then moved to Delaware county, Ohio, where Thomas served five years as a millwright's apprentice, and became a scientific workman. His son John has a fine case of tools formerly owned by his father, some of which have been in use for fifty years. Mr. Carter was, perhaps, the first millwright who operated in this part of the State. He left Ohio in the spring of 1829, and moved to Liv- ingston county, Missouri, where he remained four years and built several mills. In 1834, he moved to Linn county, and settled at the old Botts mill, and was living there during the flood of 1844, when the water rose so high he had to get his family out in a flat-boat. Froin there he moved to Miles's mill in 1848, which here built; and also built a bridge across Locust Creek, just below the mill. In 1851, he bought a farm three miles from the mill, and lived there till 1854, when he broke up housekeeping. He assisted in building and operating too many mills to make mention of all. The last milling enterprise in which he engaged was in partnership with his son Frank, they having bought out Beckett & Trumbo, in Benton town- ship. Mr. Carter enlisted in the Union service in August, 1861, in Com- pany F, Twenty-third Missouri Infantry, of which he was elected captain. He resigned, however, again becoming a private, and served two years and nine months. He was in the battle of Shiloh, and was in the thickest of the fight. After the war, he never engaged in active life to any great ex- tent. He had been twice married. His first wife was Annie Conkling, to whom he was married in Ohio, September 18, 1833. After her death, he was again married to Mrs. Martha A. Moore, of Linn county. By his first union he had ten children, eight of whom still survive. In 1868, he was elected county treasurer, beating his opponent three or four hundred votes. On taking sick, he resigned this office; his son John was appointed to fill the vacancy. Captain Carter departed this life June 5, 1868, and was buried at Linneus. In religion, he was a Cumberland Presbyterian, and in politics he was formerly an old line Whig, but latterly a Republican. He was always a Free-soiler, and fully believed in both religious and politi- cal liberty.
TAYLOR P. CHRISTY,
was born in Fleming county, Kentucky, May 4, 1845. His parents were Philip W. and Nancy Christy, both of whom were Kentucky-born. When
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HISTORY OF LINN COUNTY.
he was eight years old his parents moved to Missouri, and settled in Benton township, this county, where Taylor P. grew up and was educated. Dur- ing the civil war Mr. Christy entered the government service in company F, Second Missouri. Provisional Cavalry, in which he served six months. After that he went to recruiting for the Twelfth Missouri Cavalry, United States Regulars, and went with that regiment to St. Louis in January, 1864. He was made commissary-sergeant, and went south with his regiment, par- ticipating in the Memphis and Guntown fights. He was taken sick and soon afterwards returned home. After eight months he rejoined the ser- vice and was assigned to duty in the Forty-second Missouri Infantry, and after quite a campaign in the South, returned to St. Louis, and was soon afterwards sent with the regiment west for the frontier service. He was as far out as the Black Hills, and had several brushes with the Indians. He returned in the spring of 1866, and in August following, was united in marriage with Miss Lucilla E. Elliott, daughter of Dr. James Ellictt, of Clayton, Illinois. Have had four children, Agnes Belle and Julia Etta, liv- ing, Julian W. and James Grant (twins), deceased.
Mr. Christy engaged in farming for two years after his marriage, and then began merchandizing. At present he is in the grocery and implement business at Browning, though his business experience has not been confined to this State. He spent some time in the far West, part of which time he was in the hotel business at Piedmont, Wyoming Territory, and subse- quently in the fur and robe trade at Greeley, Colorado. After that he started a robe tannery at Kansas City, which he operated one year. He and his brother then went down to western Texas and hunted buffalo on the Staked Plain with the Comanche Indians. They returned to Kansas City, bringing seven hundred robes and a lot of furs, and again started up the robe tannery; a fire struck the concern, however, and burned them out of business, when the subject of this sketch returned to Linn county, and is still here in business.
WILLIAM COTTER.
This gentleman, who is a native of Tennessee, and son of Stephen W. and Elizabeth Cotter, was three years in the government service during the civil war. He was in the company commanded by Captain Rice Morris, of the Twenty-third Missouri, and he enlisted in August, 1861. Was in the battle of Shiloh, and was with Sherman at Atlanta and Jonesborough. Mr. Cotter lived in his native State till he was about eight years old, and then moved to Osage county, Missouri, where he lived two years, and thence to Linn county in 1844. The date of his birth was December 17, 1834. He has been engaged in farming all his life, except the three years he was in the war. He was married November 4, 1858, to Mary Oxley, a native of Indiana, and daughter of Eli H. and Mary Oxley, natives of Kentucky.
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HISTORY OF LINN COUNTY.
They have had eleven children, ten of whom still survive: Amanda E., Mary J., James E. (deceased), Lydia E., Vina Melcena, Benjamin S., Sallie O., Minnie B., Annie S., William, and John M. Mr. Cotter is perhaps as. young a looking man of his age as can be found anywhere.
HENRY WAYNE CRAWLEY
was born in Glasgow, Howard county, Missouri, May 7, 1852. His father's name is B. F. Crawley; his mother's, Louisa A. Crawley. Both parents were natives of Virginia. His mother came with her parents to Missouri, in 1833; she died when he was about three months old. His father is still living, and by profession is a school teacher. He is a graduate of Yale Col- lege, and was principal for a number of years of the public schools at Keytesville, Chariton county, and also the principal of the school at Roa- noake. He is quite proficient in Latin as well as English literature. At present he occupies the position of clerk and recorder of Chariton county. On his mother's side Mr. Crawley is of French extraction, his grandmoth- er's name being Fountain, originally written De la Fountain-a name prominent among the early Hugenots of Carolina. 'She was the great grand- daughter of the illustrious Patrick Henry and was raised by his oldest daughter. Mr. Crawley's father was twice married. By the first marriage there was besides himself a sister who now lives in Chariton county. By his second marriage his father had two children, one of whom still lives. His second wife died in 1861. H. W. Crawley was raised by his grand- father, the Rev. William Perkins, who was the father of Doctors P. H. and E. F. Perkins, of Linneus, and who was well known for a number of years to the people of Linn county as a prominent minister of the Methodist Episcopal Church South. When only a few months old he was taken in charge by his grandfather, who at that time, and for some years afterward, was engaged on the circuit, and consequently did not reside at any one point for a protracted period. After living one year at Glasgow he spent two years at Brunswick, Chariton county. He then moved to Parkville, Platt county, and remained four years, and from there went to Plattsburg, Clin- county, and staid two years. The next point was Richmond, Ray county, where he remained two years, and from there went Carrollton, Carroll county, and spent two years. From Carrollton he moved to Linneus, Linn county, in the fall of 1865. In February, 1879, he moved from Linneus to Brown- ing, where he has since resided, engaged in the business above spoken of. At nineteen he left the school-room for the active duties of life. He first clerked in the drug store of Perkins & Bradley, at Linneus, where he remained about eight years, some changes taking place, however, during that time in the members of the firm. The principal portion of his in- struction in pharmacy was acquired under the especial care and manage- ment of Dr. E. F. Perkins. In February, 1878, he was employed in the
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HISTORY OF LINN COUNTY.
recorder's office, where he remained several months. In February, 1879, he and J. P. McQuown formed a partnership, and moved to Browning and opened a drug store under the firm name of J. P. McQuown & Co., which they are still running. He is a member in good standing of the Scarlet Degree of the I. O. O. F., Lodge No. 51, at Linneus, which he joined in 1873. Considering the success he has attained in so brief a pe- riod, and that he is located in a thriving busy town which is rapidly push- ing ahead, we can but bespeak for him prosperity in the future.
BENJAMIN F. CARTER.
Mr. Benjamin F. Carter was born in Delaware, Delaware county, Ohio, March 18, 1837. He is the son and third child of Thomas Carter, who came to Missouri in 1840. Mr. Carter was enrolled in March, 1862, and served three years during the late war. He was in Colonel McFerran's regiment, First Cavalry Missouri State Militia, and first sergeant in the company. Though he was seriously ill during the time for about two months, he stuck to his post and did not quit the service. His company was principally engaged in several counties south of the Missouri River; was in a skirmish with General Jo Shelby in Saline county, and had quite a number of skirmishes with the noted Quantrell, in fact almost daily. In the fall of 1864 they had a good deal of skirmishing with General Price at different points; at Boonville, the Little and Big Blue, and Mine Creek, near Fort Scott, General Price having from twenty-five to thirty thousand men, and they, under the command of General Pleasanton, of the Poto- mac army, consisting of about twenty thousand. Mr. Carter was discharged at Warrensburg, Johnson county, Missouri.
Since his release from the war he has been, with the exception of a short period, in the milling business. He first went to Scottsville, Sullivan county, where, in partnership with Captain Hutchinson, he operated a saw and grist-mill for about five years. Afterward he ran a portable saw-mill in Linn and Sullivan counties up to 1878, when he removed to Browning and engaged in the furniture trade. In 1879 he and Mr. Madison Fourman built the mill at Browning which he is now running. Shortly afterward Mr. Fourman sold his interest to Mr. John Mairs, and Mr. Mairs leased his interest to Mr. Carter, who has ever since operated and controlled it alone. The mill is a four-run mill, new process, and is driven by an Atlas engine made at Indianapolis. The mill is running constantly, doing a good, pay- ing business, and does custom work on Friday and Saturday of each week. It is well built, three stories and a half high, nicely painted and in good trim. In justice to Mr. Carter we must say it is the best mill in the county.
Mr. Carter was first married on the - day of -- - to Miss Rebecca Myers.
He was married the second tinte on the ninth day of May to Miss Mar-
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HISTORY OF LINN COUNTY.
tha J. Jacobs, daughter of Wesley Jacobs of Sullivan county. They have had five children, three boys and two girls, all living. In October, 1881, he and his wife, both together, joined the Christian Church at Browning. Mr. Carter is also a member of the city council and of the school board, and of the A. O. U. W. lodge at Browning.
JAMES SHAND DUNCAN,
was born in Elgin county, Scotland, April 10, 1837, and is the son of William and Barbara Duncan. Both parents are still living on their native soil, and are worthy representatives of a virtuous and hardy people, whose mental traits and physical characteristics have been so well described and made so familiar by Burns and Scott, the prince of poets and the peerless- man of letters. Young Duncan was sent to his grandfather at an early age, whose apprentice he became in the harness trade. After learning the trade he entered upon the career of a roving journeyman, which lasted for several years, in which time he visited the chief cities and towns of Eng- land, Ireland, Scotland, and Wales, among which might be mentioned Ed- inburg, London, Belfast, Londonderry, Liverpool, and Birmingham. Sailed from Londonderry for America, and after a rough voyage of fifteen days, landed at New York City .March 16th. After landing in America he indulged in his propensity for travel, and before settling down to business visited various places of interest in different parts of the country. Was married to Miss Sallie Johnson, daughter of A. I. and Elizabeth Johnson. of Sullivan county, Missouri, August 1, 1880. Has one child.
ENOCH FISHBACK (DECEASED).
The subject of this sketch was a native of Bracken county, Kentucky, born February 23, 1818. He was the son of Frederick and Peggy Fish- back, and he continued to reside in Kentucky till 1854, when he moved to. Effingham county, Illinois, and lived there eleven years. From there he moved to Linn county, Missouri, and has ever since resided there, with the exception of five years spent in Holt county. For the greater part of his life Mr. Fishback was engaged in the laudable vocation of farming. He was- married November 28, 1839, to Lucinda Mullins, daughter of Henry and Mildred Mullins of Clark county, Kentucky. Mr. Fishback departed this. life May 17, 1879, leaving a widow and three children living. He had one- daughter deceased, named Lucy Margaret. Frederica Jane, Lucius E., and John M., are still living. Lucius is married and farming in Jackson town- ship. John Milton Fishback, who is till unmarried and resides with his- widowed mother, was born in Effingham county, Illinois, September 13, 1860. He came with his parents to this State and county when about five- years old, and here grew up and received his education. He is the business- manager for his mother in the working of the farm. Both his parents ad- hered to the Baptist faith, but John belongs to no church as yet.
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HISTORY OF LINN COUNTY.
WILLIAM F. GIBSON
was born in South Carolina, June 7, 1810. His parents were Thomas N. and Ruth Gibson, who moved out to Tennessee at an early day. On the way out, William F., then a small boy, knocked a tomahawk out of a "kid" Indian's hand and brained him with it. It seems, however, that they ar- rived safe in Tennessee. The father was a carpenter by trade, and William had the pleasure of seeing a roof he had put on, fifty years afterwards, and it was still in good condition. He (the father) also operated a farm in con- nection with his trade, and his sons did the work thereon. He died when William was about thirteen years old, and his mother married again; after which he never lived at home, but bound himself out to a man with whom he worked till he was twenty-one years old. On September 3d, 1833, he was married to Miss Rachel, daughter of Thomas and Rebecca Brookshire. They have twelve children, eight of whom still survive. His first wife died July 28, 1857, and he was again married October 3, 1860, to Rebecca C. Schrock, daughter of Robert L. Schrock, by which union he has three children. His coming to Linn county was as early as the spring of 1835, and first settled below Linneus. In 1837 he moved to Benton township and has lived there ever since, engaged in farming. Soon after the county was organized he was appointed justice of the peace, and afterwards elected, making him thirteen years in that office. He has been a member of the Methodist Church for over forty years, and was always an active working member, and most of the time has been a class-leader. He taught school a short time in this county. Before the war he was a Whig, but since has taken small in- terest in politics. He has a farm of 150 acres, all under fence, on which he has a good orchard.
JOHN GABEL
is a son of William and Mary Gabel, and was born in Preston county, Vir- ginia (now West Virginia), where he continued to reside till he was ten years old. He then went to Fayette county, Pennsylvania, where he lived till 1868, when he came to Linn county, Missouri, and has ever since re- sided here, chiefly engaged in farming, though he sometimes works at the carpenter's trade. He was married in December, 1844, to Miss Mary Rum- ble, daughter of David and Catharine Rumble. Ten children have resulted from this union, nine of whom are still living. Their names are : Catha- rine (deceased), James Irvin, Martha Jane, Ida A., William B., John, Jus- tice De Friend, Hattie Melissa, Elizabeth Olive, and Alice May. He and wife are members of the Baptist Church, and Mr. Gable also belongs to the Odd Fellow's fraternity at Browning. Both he and wife are of Dutch descent, and are a thrifty, energetic couple. He raises quite a variety of products on his farm, including fruits and tobacco. Also raises considera- ble honey, having several stands of bees.
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HISTORY OF LINN COUNTY.
GEORGE W. GIBSON
is a tiller of the soil, being a native-born Missourian, his birthplace being two miles southeast of Linneus, where he was born March 1, 1837. He has spent his whole life thus far in farming, and in Linn county. In him is readily recognized a representative of the representative class of Missouri. The typical Missourian is a farmer and that, too, a farmer not wholly unambitious, but one content with his lot, who stays at home and thinks it the best place on earth. He has long since recognized the importance of combining stock-raising with the business of farming, and in raising stock his motto is, " the best is most profitable." He gives special attention to cattle, and now makes a specialty of the Short-Horn breed. Mr. Gibson was married to Miss Harriet A. Schrock, in Sullivan county, Missouri, October 24, 1854. He has six children, four of whom are living. Mr. Gibson is a member of the Browning Lodge, I. O. O. F., and both himself and wife are exemplary members of the Methodist Church.
JAMES D. JENKINS
is a native of Ohio, and was born in Marion county, August 25, 1829. He is the son of David and Magdalena (nee Reinhart) Jenkins, the former of whom was a native of Pennsylvania, and the latter, of Ohio. His father had been a merchant in Ohio and continued there till James was about nine years old, when he moved to. Missouri, and, after a temporary sojourn in Howard county, moved to Linn county and settled in what is now Benton township. This was in 1838, and the family became a fixture in this county.
ames lived with his parents till he was twenty-four years of age, and then on the first of September, 1853, he married Sarah T. Cassity. They have had five children, three of whom, two sons and one daughter, are deceased. Mr. Jenkins lived in the suburbs of Browning from 1856 till 1865, when he moved to the northwest part of section twenty-nine, township sixty, range twenty, in sight of the place his father had settled years before. Mr. Jenkins and wife are members of the Christian Church, but he does not belong to any secret order. His mother died December 3, 1864, and his father, March 13, 1871. He has a well improved farm with good residence and new barn, and other improvements to correspond.
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