USA > Missouri > Linn County > The history of Linn county, Missouri. An encyclopedia of useful information > Part 91
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HISTORY OF LINN COUNTY.
fession. He is now, and has been since April, 1879, city attorney of Brook- field.
In July, 1878, Stephen A. Field located and began practice at Meadville in this county. He was born October 2, 1850, in Randolph county, North Carolina. When he was about four years of age his father, William Field, lost his life by an accident, and not leaving much property, young Field was soon after thrown upon his own resources. The first twenty years of his life were spent principally upon the farm, during which time he acquired' his education in the common schools, aided by his studies at home of eve -- nings. At the age of nineteen he was attacked with the " western fever," and came to Missouri. He read law in the office of Hon. Luther T. Collier, of Chillicothe, until he was admitted in 1872. He came to Meadville in July, 1878, where he has remained ever since, and now has a paying prac -- tice. He is the only attorney located at that place.
In September, 1878, James A. Clark, Jr., son of Judge James A. Clark, came from Chariton county with his father, located at Linneus, and with him: opened the law office of Clark & Clark. Young Clark was born in Chari- ton county, December 17, 1855. He began reading law in 1875 with his- father, was admitted at Keytesville in May, 1877, and soon after located at Linneus.
In June, 1879, there were two additions to the Linn county bar: viz., C: W. Bigger and T. M. Brinkley. Mr. Bigger was born in Linn county, September 28, 1848. He taught school until September, 1875, when he began the study of law in the office of Carothers & Trimble, Bloomfield,. Iowa, and was licensed to practice February 12, 1877, and was admitted as. a member of the Linn county bar in June, 1879. He at once entered the law partnership of Northcott & Bigger, at Linneus, with B. J. Northcott, which continues.
T. M. Brinkley was born in Appanoose county, Iowa, April 25, 1854; moved to Linn county in March, 1858. Commenced reading law with A. W. Mullins in June, 1877, and was admitted at Linneus in June, 1879. Soon after his admission, he located at Browning, in this county, and is acquiring considerable practice. He and Colonel B. F. Northcott, who lo- cated at Browning in 1881, are the only practicing attorneys at that place.
James A. Arbuthnot, of Brookfield, was licensed to practice in Septem- ber, 1879. He was born in Highland, Ohio, September 3, 1841. He came- to Missouri in February, 1866, and engaged in farming. In 1878 he began again the study of law, with Huston & Brownlee, at Brookfield, where, after his admission, he has since practiced, making a specialty of the real estate and loan business. Frank L. Binford is a licensed attorney, residing at Laclede, but has done no practice since he came to Missouri on account of failing health. He was born at Huntsville, Texas, July 14, 1853, and came. with his father's family in 1854 to Linneus, Missouri. He graduated, and
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HISTORY OF LINN COUNTY.
was soon after licensed to practice in that State after examination before the Supreme Court, In July, 1874, he went to Los Angeles, California, and prac- ticed there until December, 1877. On account of his health he quit, returned to Linneus, and afterwards moved to Laclede.
In the summer of 1879, James K. Beauchamp, who had read law with Judge Whitaker and Huston & Brownlee for a year or two previous, was licensed to practice. He is now located at Breckenridge, Caldwell county.
The latest addition to the Linn county bar is in the person of Harry K. West, of Linneus, who was admitted in June, 1881. He was born in Put- nam county, Illinois, raised on a farm and moved with his father to Linn county in 1868. He read law with A. W. Mullins, in whose office he has been since his admission to the bar.
To prove that the supply of legal talent for this bar is not to be exhausted, it may be stated that there are other additions in course of preparation.
Henry Barber, a neighboring Brookfield farmer, is now studying law at a St. Louis law school.
R. O. Stanber and John Alexander, two talented young men of the county, sons of farmers, are considerably advanced in their law studies, which they are pursuing while engaged in teaching and will soon be pre- pared for examination for admission. If they remain in the county they will doubtless be of credit to this bar.
GENERAL REMARKS.
Linn county is proud of the fact that her bar stands as high as that of any . county in the State. 'Some of its members are known and their talents rec- ognized in the highest courts in the country. There are at present twenty- nine licensed attorneys in Linn county; of these eleven reside at Linneus, the county seat; eight at Brookfield; two at Bucklin; three at Laclede; two at Browning; one at Meadville; and one in Jackson township. Of these, twenty-five were born and raised on farms, and almost all of them remained there until they began their legal education. Politically, nineteen of these are Democrats, nine are Republicans, and one is a Greenbacker. The above statistics do not include Judge G. D. Burgess, present judge of the Eleventh Judicial Circuit, who is a resident of Linneus, and completes the number of thirty lawyers in the county.
The Linn county bar has been especially fortunate in having few deaths among its members during past years, and more fortunate still in having few if any disgraceful acts of its members to deplore, excuse, or palliate. It is a body to which it is a satisfaction and an honor to belong; harmonious in its fellowship and respected by all other classes of citizens in the county. May prosperity and happiness ever attend each member is the wish of this chronicler.
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ADDENDA.
CHAPTER XXXV. ADDENDA ..
Locust Creek Township Biographies-Bucklin Township-Brookfield Township.
LOCUST CREEK TOWNSHIP.
JOHN ALEXANDER
was born in Russell county, Virginia, April 15, 1816, where he was reared and educated. In 1835 he went to Tennessee, where he remained until the fall of 1844, and then came to Linn county, where he has ever since lived, engaged in farming and stock-raising. He owns a well improved farm of 320 acres and has a fine residence well located. He was married in Ten- nessee in January, 1842, to Miss Olive Root. They have had nine chil- dren, eight of whom are living: Martha J., Mary H., Margaret, Sophia, Anne, Melissa, James R., John, and Lucy (Olive, deceased). Mrs. Alexan- der died in March, 1859. He was again married, January 5, 1861, to Mary C. Easley. By this marriage they have had six children, five of whom are living: Cordelia C., Kate, Minnie, Walter D., and William T; (Ida, de- ceased).
TRUMAN CHAUNCY CORY
was born in Plattsburg, Steuben county, New York, February 8, 1823, but his father removed to Saratoga county, New York, when the subject of this sketch was about one year old, where they resided until Mr. Cory was four- teen years old, and when he first attended school. In the spring of the year 1837 his father again moved, and this time to Comstock, Kalamazoo county, Michigan. There he finished his schooling, and when of age was in the employ of the Michigan Central Railroad Company until 1864. He then purchased a farm and remained on it two years, or until July, 1869, when he sold out and with his family removed direct to Linn county, where he purchased a splendid farm of two hundred acres about one and one-quarter miles north of the county seat. From that day Mr. Cory has followed the occupation of farming, devoting most of his time to general productions, with a tendency to stock-raising. Mr. Cory was married at the age of twenty-seven years. They have five children: Eugene S., Ellery A., Joseph W., Albert, and Frederic.
ZACHARIAH W. CLARK
was born in Indiana, October 29, 1838. Two months later he came with his parents to Linn county, and was among the first settlers. Mr. Clark
879
HISTORY OF LINN COUNTY.
has always been engaged in farming and now owns a well improved farm of three hundred and forty acres. He was married in Linn county, June 15, 1865, to Miss Jane E. Fore, daughter of Silas Fore, one of the pioneers of the county. By this union they have five children: Emma L., born April 5, 1866; John S., born August 20, 1867; Daniel R., born April 17, 1869; Claudia L., born September 3, 1873; Arthur S., born September 13, 1875.
JAMES E. CLARK
was born in Linn county, Missouri, September 7, 1841, and was here reared and educated; has always followed farming, and now owns a well improved farm of four hundred and fifty-four acres. He was married in this county, November 19, 1865, to Miss Virginia, daughter of Bowling R. and Eliza- beth Ashbrook. They have had by this marriage six children, five of whom are living: Ella M., born June 16, 1867, and died October 24, 1867; Annie L., born September 11, 1868; Virginia B., born April 14, 1870; Edgar H., born October 4, 1871; Oscar L., born October 17, 1873; Cordelia J., born August 3, 1875.
JAMES M. CORNETT.
The name which heads this sketch is that of a native Missourian who was born in Howard county on the the third day of October, 1828. His father, whose name will be found on many pages of this work, was one of the pioneers of this county. He came to this county in 1836. Here our subject was reared and educated. He has always been engaged in farming and now owns a well improved farm of four hundred and twenty-seven acres. Mr. Cornett was married in Linn county, November 2, 1860, to Miss Clarinda R. Frost. By this union they have had five children, three of whom are still living: John J., born August 2, 1861; Joseph M., born July 12, 1865; Sarah P., born October 11, 1869.
BARKLEY LAMBERT
was born in Ohio, November 4, 1822, where he was raised and educated; he came to Linn county, Missouri in the spring of 1865, and with the excep- tion of one summer has made Linn county his home ever since, always engaged in agricultural pursuits; he owns a well-improved farm of three hundred and eighty-four acres, well stocked, and a fine residence. Mr. Lambert is a man of good business habits, and well deserves the success and high standing he holds in the community. He was married in Ohio December 7, 1843, to Miss Alice Edgerton. Their family consists of seven children: Ida E., born July 30, 1864; died August 13, 1864; Abner E., born September 17, 1844; Esther A., born July 23, 1846; Joshua S., born No- vember 30, 1848, Elmira J., born December 7, 1851; Mary E., born January 20, 1854; John H., born February 2, 1857, died September 8, 1862; Zilpha D., born January 2, 1859; Robert B., born September 29, 1862.
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ADDENDA.
WILLIAM JOHN MILLAR.
was born in Baltimore, Maryland, Angust 23, 1826. When but six years of age he removed with his parents to Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, where he was reared and educated. After leaving school he engaged in the whole- sale drug business, which he followed for some time, and was afterwards engaged in various pursuits until coming to Linn county, Missouri, in the fall of 1867, since which time he has followed the occupation of a farmer, and owns a fine farm, well improved, of two hundred and ten acres. Mr .. Millar was married in Allegheny City, Pennsylvania, in July, 1854, to Miss. M. B. Copeland, who died in May, 1855. He was married a second time in Pennsylvania, June 27, 1860, to Ellen C. Caven. By this marriage they have had five children, three of whom are living, Alexandria, Charles, and George (William H. and Ellen, deceased).
GEORGE D. PHILLIPS
was born in Locust Creek township, Linn county, Missouri, July 20, 1838, where he was reared and educated. September 11, 1861, he enlisted in Company H, Second Regiment Missouri State Guards, where he remained until February, 1862, when he reënlisted in the Confederate service under Captain Flournoy, and served with him until the close of the war. He. then returned to Linn county, and has followed farming principally ever- since. March 1, 1881, he was appointed superintendent of the poor-farm, and still holds said office at this writing. He was married in this county. January 29, 1857, to Miss Elvira Harvey. They have had seven children, four of whom are living, John P., Edward H., Robert W., and James H.
BENJAMIN L. POWELL
was born in Albemarle county, Virginia, May 28, 1838, in the fall of 1857. He came to Missouri and to Linn county in 1858. He was married in Jackson township, this county, December 27, 1859, to Miss Sarah E. Powell. They have by this union two children, Franklin A., born December 9, 1860; Nathaniel, born June 20, 1864.
EDWARD R. RAVIS
was born in London, England, December 11, 1835. When he was six years of age his uncle sent for him to come to the United States. He landed in Boston, and was there reared and educated. In 1856 he came west and located in Illinois. Here he followed steamboating, holding the position of first mate of the Gray Eagle, which he continued until 1861. He then engaged in farming, and soon after freighting on the plains, and afterwards railroading. He came to Linn county in 1869, where he has ever since lived, engaged in farming. He owns a good farm of ninety acres, well im- proved. He was married in Linn county, August 21, 1869, to Miss Hul-
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HISTORY OF LINN COUNTY.
dah Nichols, a native of Missouri. They have two children, Mary A., born July 6, 1874; Annie M., born November 6, 1879.
AUGUST RHEIN
was born in Germany, December 17, 1814, where Mr. R. was reared and educated. After finishing his education, he was employed by the Govern- ment for sixteen years. In July, 1856, he came to the United States, land- ing in New York. From there he went to Wisconsin, where he was en- gaged in government surveys one year; afterwards engaged in farming with his brother, which he continued until the fall of 1870, when he came to Linn county, where he has since made his home, following the occupation of farming, hotel keeping, surveying, etc. Mr. R. is a man of good busi- ness qualifications, prompt and reliable, and has won many friends.
WILLIAM N. STILLMAN
was born in Madison county, New York, January 10, 1833, where he was reared and educated. After leaving school he engaged in the hardware business, which he followed ten years. He then engaged in farming, which occupation he has followed ever since. In the spring of 1869 he came to Linn county, where he has ever since made his home. He owns a farm of one hundred and sixty acres, well improved and stocked. He was married in New York September 20, 1859, to Miss Ann E. Hoxie, a native of Brookfield, Madison county, New York. By this union they have one daughter, Jennie M., born August 26, 1861.
FRANK L. TRAOY
was born in Indiana, October 24, 1854. He came to Linneus in 1866, where he has ever since lived. He was married in Laclede, November 24, 1873, to Miss Mary E. Gillespie. Their family consists of two children: Ida L., born August 16, 1874; Frank L., Jr., born August 10, 1877.
JOSEPH B. THORNE
was born in Kentucky, October 30, 1846. When he was four years of age he came with his parents to Linn county. He has always lived on a farm and now owns a splendid farm of three hundred and eighty acres. He was married in Linn county, Missouri, November 13, 1873, to Miss Lucy B, Sutherland, a native of Missouri. They have a family of three children: Mary, born September 13, 1874; Joseph T., born August 22, 1877; William W., born March 6, 1880.
GEORGE W. WESTGATE Clara Clarks Father
was born in La Salle county, Illinois, April 16, 1841. He was there reared. In the fall of 1861 he enlisted in Company C, Seventh Illinois Cavalry, and served for three years, when he was honorably discharged. He was en-
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ADDENDA.
gaged in the battle of Stone River, and at this battle was wounded in the right arm, which laid him up for two months. He was also in the battles of Chickamauga, Mission Ridge, and numerous skirmishes. After his dis- charge he returned to Illinois, where he remained until 1869, when he came to Linn county and located in Grantsville township. He there fol- lowed the occupation of cattle dealer until 1879, when he came to Linneus, since which time he has been engaged in the livery business. Mr. West- gate was married to Janet C. Cochran, October 10, 1866. She was born in Scotland, September 4, 1842, and came to America in the fall of 1853. Their children's names and ages are as follows: Robert H., born Septem- ber 4, 1876, died October 13, 1876; Laura A., born March 27, 1869; Ida W., born April 15, 1871; Clara W., born April 13, 1873; Martha E., born September 23, 1876; George C., born April 5, 1879. The children were all born in Linn county except Laura A.
BUCKLIN TOWNSHIP.
THOMAS WHITAKER
was born in Yorkshire, England, September 8, 1824, where he was reared and educated and came to this country at the age of twenty-two years, and settled in Livingston county, New York, where he remained four years, fol- lowing the business of clerking in a dry good's store. He then removed to Alleghany county, New York, where he engaged in farming, and at the age of thirty-four years removed to St. Joseph county, Michigan, where he com- menced the study of law in the office of Judge Perran M. Smith, at Center- ville, in that State. He continued that until 1861, when he entered the reg- ular enrolled troops from that State, joining the Eighth Michigan Regiment, which belonged to Burnside's corps.
From the Eighth Michigan the Judge was transferred to the engineer corps of the regular army, where he continued until the close of the war. On receiving his discharge he returned to his home at Centerville, and soon after entered the law department of the Ann Arbor University, taking a full law course at that thorough college. Soon after the close of his studies he removed to Linn county, Missouri, settling at Linneus in June, 1866, where he was admitted to the bar and commenced the practice of law. In the winter of 1866-67 he taught school one term with satisfaction to all. In. May, 1868, Judge Whitaker removed to Bucklin, where he remained in the practice of his profession until 1878, when he made Brookfield his home for a period of three years. June last the Judge concluded to return to Bucklin, where he has since resided. The Judge has long been a prominent citizen. of the town and county.
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HISTORY. OF LINN COUNTY.
At the general election held in November, 1874, Judge Whitaker was elected judge of the Court of the Common Pleas, a court which in all civil cases held coordinate jurisdiction with the Circuit Court, and was established at Brookfield. This position the Judge held until the common pleas court expired by limitation, January 1, 1881.
The Judge was married just before he Left England to Miss Charlotte Hatfield, daughter of John and Mary Hatfield, of Yorkshire, England. By this marriage there were born to the Judge two children, John C. and Edith M. Mrs. Whitaker died in June, 1865. The Judge was again married in this county, at Bucklin, 1870, to Miss Elmira Owenby, a native of Virginia,
There are no children by this marriage. The two children are both living in Linneus, the daughter, Edith, being the wife of Prof. Nick- erson, of this city, and the son now holds the responsible position of pre- scription clerk in Bradley's drug store, Linneus, Missouri.
BROOKFIELD TOWNSHIP.
EDWARD BRADSHAW.
was born in England, March 5, 1836, where he lived until 1851, when he came to the United States. Landing in New York in the spring of 1855, he went to Ohio where he remained only one summer, thence to Michigan, and there engaged in agricultural pursuits, which he has ever since followed. In 1872 he came to this county and located in Brookfield township, where he owns a well improved farm of 340 acres.
He was married in Michigan, on the twelfth day of August, 1858, to Mis- Hattie Dunbar. They have had six children, five of whom are living, named: William D., Frank E., Charles B., Clara C., Minnie P .; and Sarah J., de ceased.
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