USA > Missouri > Nodaway County > The history of Nodaway county, Missouri, containing a history of the county, its cities, towns, etc., biographical sketches of its citizens > Part 38
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HISTORY OF NODAWAY COUNTY.
was born at Valley Forge, in Chester County, Pennsylvania, December 8, 1836. In 1837, his parents removed to Highland County, Ohio, and settled near Leesburg, where they are still living. Robert Edwards is of Welsh descent. His ancestors were among the first immigrants who peopled Berks County, Pennsylvania.
Mr. Edwards was reared on a farm. In 1856, he attended the acad- emy at South Salem, Ohio, then conducted by Professor J. A. J. Lowes. In September, 1858, he entered the freshman class of Miami University, at Oxford, Ohio, in which institution he pursued the regular classical course and was graduated with the highest honors of his class for scholarship, July 3, 1862. During his stay at the university, he was under the tuition of Professor David Swing, a distinguished scholar and divine, now living at Chicago. Mr. Edwards, during his course as a student, was successively the recipient of all the honors awarded by his class. He was chosen to address the Elodelphian Literary Society, was elected poet laureate, and delivered the valedictory address to his classmates at their gradua- tion in 1862.
After graduating, in 1862, he was elected in the fall of that year to the position of superintendent of public schools at Hillsborough, Ohio, which he resigned in 1864, and in September of that year was chosen superintendent of public schools in the city of Hamilton, where he con- tinued till his resignation of that position in 1867. July 5, 1865, for dis- tinguished scholarship, the degree of Master of Arts was conferred upon him by the Miami University.
During the three years of his stay in Hamilton, he studied law under Hon. Robert Christy, afterwards United States District Attorney at Cin- cinnati, Ohio. He was admitted to the bar at Hamilton, Ohio, before Hon. Josiah Scott, of the Supreme Court of that state, in 1867. In the fall of that year he commenced the pactice of law at Hillsborough, O., forming there a co-partnership for that purpose with Hon. James Sloane and Judge S. F. Steel.
In August, 1868, he removed to Maryville, Mo., where, during the winter of 1868-69, he filled the position of superintendent of public schools.
In July, 1869, he formed a co-partnership with Hon. Lafayette Daw- son in the practice of law. The firm was dissolved by mutual consent January 1, 1877. In the fall of 1876, he was elected Prosecuting Attorney of Nodaway County, which position he filled until January 1, 1879.
January 1, 1878, he formed a co-partnership with Mr. William W. Ramsay in the practice of law, which still continues.
Mr. Edwards was reared under Quaker influences-his mother being a strict member of that sect. He was married February 12th, 1864, in Hillsborough, Ohio, to Mrs. Elizabeth A. Hays. She was born in Dal- las County, Alabama, August 22, 1839, and was the daughter of Colonel
you tuly John ahn Echauch 4
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HISTORY OF NODAWAY COUNTY.
James B. Diggs, of New Orleans, who commanded a regiment under General Jackson in the battle of January 8, 1815.
Mr. Edwards' wife, her daughter Anna D. Hays, by a former mar- riage, his two sons, Edward D. and Robert J., and one daughter, Mary L., constitute his family circle.
As a lawyer, Mr. Edwards ranks among the best in Northwest Mis- souri. He is thoroughly conversant with the elementary principles of the law, and applies them with great clearness and candor. He is a forcible, logical speaker, and conducts his cases with marked ability. His proficiency as a pleader, his accuracy of statement and power of reasoning rarely fail to carry conviction to the court or jury. His mind acts quickly and with precision. His temperament is poetic, even romantic, but guarded by fine taste and the most delicate sense of the ludicrous. He is a ripe scholar, and possessing a tenacious memory, his mind is well stored with a vast fund of useful information, both of a his- torical and classical nature. No blemish mars the purity of his private life, and having a large heart, full of charity and noble impulses, he is held in high esteem by all who know him. He has written a number of poems, many of which have been published, and have obtained a wide circulation, notably, " The Deliverance," "Death," "The Battle of the Fens," and "Ode to the Mound Graves," and are greatly admired for their easy, vigorous and classic style. His "Ode to the Mound Graves," being perhaps his best, as well as his most popular production, we here insert it :
ODE TO THE MOUND GRAVES.
I.
Beneath the mould of this unstoried heap,
Close wrapt in coffins of their kindred clay, Hushed in th' embrace of de ith's cold, dreamless sleep,
While untold years above them fleet away, Like the winged moments of the short lived day, May haply rest some nation's glorious dead,
Consigned to dark oblivion and decay,- Save that poor pride hath made them here a bed, That lifts above the common clod its turf-crowned head.
II.
The warrior here hath wrapt him in his shroud,
That shroud whose woof, though strong of old, I ween, Now melts within the breath like the dim cloud That fades before the daylight's ardent beam. Sleep on ! though in your sepulchre no dream
Of the to-morrow shall wake you again,
Nor in your eyes reanimate the gleam Of passion's fire, as once the voice of fame, To win on sanguine fields of war for you a deathless name.
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III.
Ah! could ye from this tenement arise, Incarnate, as of old, with vocal tongue, Some race of yore, mayhap, might greet mine eyes, Untold in fable and by muse unsung,
Who, when the sires of these old oaks were young
Whose deep ning roots amid your bones have crept, And o'er your tomb their hoary branches flung,
Their haunts in these wild vales and forests kept,
Or o'er these hills, with bow and lance, on martial errands swept.
IV.
No harp of muse can to my listening ear, From the far, dim oblivion of the past, Call up the story of the race who here, Deep pillowed, sleep death's sleep, the last, Ere from the grave awakened by the blast
And loud reveille of that trumpet's peal, Each quickened ghost shall rising stand aghast,
And e'en the bosom of this pile shall feel
The tramp, and from its dusty depths its dead reveal.
WILLIAM WHITTINGTON RAMSAY, ESQ.
"Some things admit of mediocrity : A counsellor or pleader at the bar, May want Messala's pow'rful eloquence, Or be less read than deep Casselius ; Yet this indiff'rent lawyer is esteem'd."
Josiah Ramsay, the great great-grandfather of the subject of this sketch, was a native of Virginia. Back in the colonial days, when the borders of Virginia constituted the wild frontier, he was captured by the Indians in his childhood, and remained with them seven years. On his release from this captivity, he returned to Virginia and was there married to a lady by the name of Patterson in the month of November, 1775. Jonathan Ramsay was born of this marriage, in the year 1788. Josiah Ramsay moved from Virginia and settled in Robertson County, Tennessee, where, on the 2d day of May, 1793, Jonathan Ramsay was married to Hannah Lambkin, a native of North Carolina. Some time during the year 1794, Josiah Ramsay, Jr., was born of this marriage, and in the year 1796 or 1797, Jonathan Ramsay moved from the State of Tennessee to Kentucky, where he resided for several years. During the early part of the war of 1812, Jonathan Ramsay was commissioned Brigadier General of Kentucky Militia, and commanded a division of men under General Samuel Hopkins in the northern campaigns. In Colins' History of Kentucky, General Ramsay is recorded as a member of the Kentucky Legislature from Livingston County for the year 1813.
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HISTORY OF NODAWAY COUNTY.
Some time after this he moved from the State of Kentucky and settled in Callaway County, Missouri, where he resided to within a short time of his death. On the Ist day of June, 1860, at the residence of his daughter, Jane Ewing, near Jefferson City, this State, in his eighty-sixth year, he died. Josiah Ramsay, Jr., took part in the southern campaigns during the war of 1812, and was at the battle of New Orleans, January 8, 1815.
Shortly after the close of this war, at Belle Fountain (a garrison in St. Louis County, Missouri), he was married to Martha W. Lockwood, a daughter of Captain Lockwood, then commanding the garrison.
On the 10th day of May, 1818, in the city of St. Louis, Lycurgus Lockwood Ramsay was born of this marriage. He grew to manhood in St. Louis and Cole Counties, Missouri, and on the 8th day of February, 1838, at Columbia, Boone County, Missouri, was married to Elizabeth Jane Fenton, then a resident of Columbia, and a native of this state. Some time after his marriage Lycurgus L. Ramsay settled in Andrew County, Missouri.
There were seven children-five sons and two daughters-born of this marriage, the youngest of whom is the subject of this memoir.
William Whittington Ramsay was born in Andrew County, Mis- souri, on the 6th day of April, 1850. The spring of his birth was one of excitement throughout the country, on account of the late discovery of gold in California. His parents were comfortably situated upon a fine farm, in a land of great promise to those who were truly contented ; but Lycurgus L. Ramsay longed to behold the gold-beds of the great Eldorado. Accordingly, in May, 1850, he left his family upon the farm, which had been heavily mortgaged to procure funds for his journey, and went to California.
Thus, at less than two months old, left to the sole control of his mother, with his little brothers and sisters, William W. Ramsay com- menced to solve the problem of life.
In childhood, he attended such schools as were taught in his neigh- borhood, and, by the aid of his mother, who guided and directed his early education, at the age of ten years had mastered such elementary studies as were then taught in the common schools of that country. It was the desire and wish of his mother to continue his education, but by this time the old homestead had been wrested from her under the mort- gage, and she was compelled to rent and move annually from place to place, while his older brothers were forced to work out from home for the support and maintenance of the family.
While thus situated, James M. Ewing, principal of the North Prairie Farmers' Institute, proposed to take the lad into the institute, without charge, and teach him all the branches taught in that school. The fam- ily decided that his work could be spared at home, and that he should
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HISTORY OF NODAWAY COUNTY.
have the favorable opportunity of acquiring a more thorough education. In the fall of 1860, he entered this institute, and continued during the following winter and spring. In this school he made a thorough review of the elementary studies and some advancement in the higher branches, and was favorably situated to pursue his studies when the institute was suspended by the breaking out of the civil war. Here ended his school days for several years.
In 1864, he left Andrew County and went to Nebraska City. In the spring of 1866, he concluded to try his fortune in the west ; hiring as a teamster, for forty-five dollars per month, he drove an ox team to Pike's Peak and back that summer. In the fall of 1866, in company with his mother and one brother, he went to the state of Texas, where he spent one year. In the summer of 1867, he returned to Hamburg, Iowa. On this homeward journey, on the 23d day of July, 1867, at North Fork, in the Indian Territory, he lost his mother, who fell a prey to the cholera, then prevalent in that country.
During the winters of 1867-8-9, he attended the public school at Hamburg, Fremont County, Iowa, under Prof. Beard, principal.
In the fall of 1869, Mr. Ramsay came to Nodaway County and com- menced teaching a district school. He continued in that business, read- ing law at intervals, until the spring of 1875, when he moved to Maryville and entered the law office of Messrs. Dawson & Edwards. In the month of July, 1875, he was admitted to the bar. In the fall of 1875, he formed a law partnership with Judge Andrew Royal, which continued about one year, and was dissolved by his partner's removal to St. Joseph, Missouri. Mr. Ramsay continued alone in the practice up to January 1, 1878, at which date he formed a partnership with John Edwards, Esq., which partnership still exists. Politically, Mr. Ramsay is a Democrat. He regards it the duty of every good citizen to study well the measures and and policies of government-to look upon politics as a science.
"A thousand years scarce serve to form a state, An hour may lay it in the dust."
From the spring of 1876, until the spring of 1878, he served as chair- man of the Democratic Central Committee of this county. In the fall of 1878, he was elected on the Democratic ticket to the office of prosecuting attorney, and in the fall of 1880, was re-elected to the same office, which he now holds. He took an active part in the campaigns which preceded the elections of 1876, 1878 and 1880. In the caucus, the convention, or upon the stump, his action is open, well defined and sincere. Passion- ately fond of debate, he is always willing to meet his opponent in joint discussion, and measure swords with him in an open field. Notwith- standing the interest he takes in the recurring political canvass, his time and energies have not been diverted from the law. Few lawyers of his
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HISTORY OF NODAWAY COUNTY.
age can point to more legal contests, or with modest pride, to a brighter record at the bar.
On the 22d day of February, 1874, Mr. Ramsay was married to Madora A. Lamar, only daughter of Charles J. and Kasiah Lamar. His home has been blessed with one sprightly little boy, Charles A. Ramsay, born November 1, 1876.
HON. LAFE. DAWSON.
No introductory remarks are needed to present this distin- guished gentleman to the public, as he is as familiarly known as any man within the borders of the Platte Purchase. He was born in McClean County, Illinois, May 13, 1839. His father, James R. Dawson, was a native of Kentucky, and his grand-father, James Dawson, was a Virgin- ian, and among the pioneers of Kentucky, where he met his death at the hands of the Indians. James R. Dawson was one of the substantial agri- culturists of McClean County, Illinois ; was County Judge, and promi- nently identified in political circles, being an associate and intimate friend of General Shields and other noted men of his day. Young Lafe's early education was received in the common schools of his native county, after which he took an academic course at Lexington, Illinois. When nineteen years of age he went to Fort Scott, Kansas, where he followed school teaching. Having a desire to see more of the western country, he journeyed into New Mexico, thence to Colorado, eventually returning to Kansas. In 1862, he came to Nodaway County, locating temporarily ; returned to Colorado, from which point he went to Illinois, remaining until 1865, when he returned and became a permanent resident of Maryville.
Mr. Dawson has attained a wide and well-merited reputation in the Northwest, both as a civil and criminal lawyer-as a criminal lawyer, he has been on the defense with marked success in many noted cases in Nodaway and other counties. Of. these the most noted are the State vs. Torrance, tried in Worth County ; State vs. Bain, tried in Andrew County ; State vs. Cornell ; State vs. Wood ; State vs. Fluegel ; State vs. Cox ; State vs. Alexander ; State vs. Talbott Brothers ; State vs. Grant, and State vs. Harmon, both in Gentry County.
He was Presidential Elector on the Democratic ticket during the celebrated Tilden campaign, and made a most brilliant canvass of his district.
He has a splendid physique ; is just now in the prime of life, and is one of the most genial and companionable of men. He has many strong friends, who are for "Lafe." first, last and all the time.
Although deficient in his early education, yet as an orator he ranks among the best in Northwest Missouri, and his power before a jury, or a popular audience, is something wonderful.
25
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HISTORY OF NODAWAY COUNTY.
Possessing an ardent temperament, a vigorous imagination and a volubility of speech, he is ready at a moment's warning to discuss pub- licly, and in a pleasing and effective manner, any theme which may delight an audience.
Since the Chicago, Burlington & Quincy and the Wabash, St. Louis & Pacific railroads reached Maryville, he has been the attorney for both of those popular lines.
Dawsonville, on the Wabash, St. Louis & Pacific, west of Maryville, was named after the subject of this sketch.
At the March term of court, in 1878, Mr. Dawson was elected judge of the circuit court by the bar, the term lasting three weeks.
In 1862, Miss Calecta Thornhill became his wife. By this union they have three children-John M., Cora E. and Eva M.
HON. CYRUS A. ANTHONY.
Hon. Cyrus A. Anthony was born April 29, 1839, in Hackettstown, New Jersey. His father, Francis Anthony, was a native of Tyrone, Ireland, and emigrated to America about 1818, settling in New Jersey. In 1852, he came west, selecting as his home a beautiful farm in Stark County, Illinois, where he died in 1876, after a happy, useful life. His mother, Elizabeth Hager, daughter of Jacob Hager, a German farmer, was a native of Warren County, New Jersey. The subject of this sketch was raised on the family farm in Stark County, Illinois. He attended a course of literary reading at Lombard University, Galesburg, Illinois. In 1861, he entered as a private soldier Company K, Fifty-first Illinois Infantry, and remained in active service until peace reigned, being mustered out in 1865. Mr. Anthony possesses firmness and self-reli- ance, combining the two qualities indispensable to great action. Add to these daring, and you will readily see why his promotions followed so rapidly. He was first a quartermaster sergeant, then first lieutenant, and finally promoted to Captain of Company G.
He was engaged in service in Missouri, Tennessee, Alabama and Georgia. He was admitted to the bar in April, 1869. In 1870, he located at Maryville, Nodaway County, where he now resides, engaged in the practice of his profession. He was county attorney of Nodaway County during 1875-6, and city attorney of Maryville during 1874-5-6.
He is now (1882) member of the Lower House of the State Legisla- ture from Maryville. His success as a lawyer lies in his noble devotion to his profession. Politically, he is a Democrat ; religiously, a Pres- byterian. In 1864, he was married to Miss Charlotte Shaw, of Stark County, Illinois.
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HISTORY OF NODAWAY COUNTY.
11ON. JEFF. CHANDLER.
Hon. Jeff. Chandler, of St. Louis, was born in Maine, educated in Michigan and elevated to fame in Missouri. He is a college graduate, and in his youthful days imparted a portion of his lore, firmly implanted by a liberal use of the birch, to many male and female Michiganders, several of whom have climbed into national renown. In the latter days of the civil war, then an ambitious young man of about twenty-one years, he went west and located in St. Joseph, Missouri. Amid the clash of contending arms the laws were silent, and young Chandler, fired with patriotic zeal, enlisted in a regiment of Missouri militia. Much to his regret, however, the regiment was never ordered to the front. Hanging out his shingle when peace was established, he quickly secured a lucrative practice and was in turn elected city, county and district attorney. In 1872, he was nominated by the Conservatives of Missouri for Attorney-General and made a glorious campaign, in company with ex-Senator John B. Henderson, who headed the ticket. He made a splendid race, but the whole ticket was defeated by over 40,000 majority. Then he abandoned politics and devoted his entire attention to the law. Locating in St. Louis, where he is universally respected, he speedily took a front rank at the bar of the western metropolis. He has an elegant country seat and delights in bucolic pastimes. The Democrats of the Third District of Missouri have repeatedly manifested a dispo- sition to send him to Congress. Mr. Chandler is most happily married to the daughter of one of Missouri's leading families. He has five bright-eyed children, three of them pursuing their studies at the George- town Convent of the Visitation. He is special counsel for Gen. Brady in the Star Route cases. Mr. C. is now a resident of Washington, D. C.
HON. HENRY S. KELLEY
was born in Hamilton County, Ohio, near Cincinnati, on the 18th day of December, 1832. His father, Samuel Kelley, was born in Ohio, and was a merchant and farmer. His mother's maiden name was Mary Holder, who was also a native of Ohio. The subject of this sketch was raised on a farm, and received his education in the common schools of his native county. He studied law and was admitted to the bar at Marion, Indiana, in 1853. From 1854 to 1856, he was prosecuting attorney of a district in Indiana, and from 1856 to 1860, was judge of the common pleas court, embracing the counties of Grant, Blackford and Delaware.
In 1861, September, he moved to Dakota Territory, and in 1863, he removed, going to Iowa In 1866, he came to Andrew County, Missouri, locating at Savannah, where he engaged in the practice of his profession, continuing therein until April, 1872, when he was elected Judge of the
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Twentieth Judicial Circuit. He was again re-elected judge in 1874, and in 1880, and is the present incumbent of that office.
Judge Kelley is the author of " Kelley's Treatise for Justices and Constables in the State of Missouri," published in 1869, a book contain- ing 800 pages, and revised in 1881. He is also the author of " Criminal Law and Practice," published in 1876, 700 pages, and author of the " Pro- bate Guide," published in 1872.
Since 1872, he has, at stated times, lectured on Criminal Law and Practice in Missouri, at the State University. He lectures also on Med- ical Jurisprudence, in St. Joseph College of Physicians and Surgeons, and is a contributor to the Central Law Journal, St. Louis.
He married Miss Adelia Harlan, in 1855, at Sturgis, Michigan, who was the daughter of Andrew J. Harlan, of Marion, Indiana. They have seven children, five boys and two girls, the eldest being twenty-two years of age.
Judge Kelley was a Democrat until the organization of the Repub- lican party ; since then he has been a Republican. He is a member of the Ancient Order of United Workmen, but has no religious preferences. He is a good lawyer and an able jurist.
I. V. M'MILLAN, ESQ.
Prominent among the many substantial and worthy citizens of Mary- ville, is he whose name heads this sketch. He was born in Belmont County, Ohio, May 13, 1842. His father, J. McMillan, was a native of Pennsylvania, and among the comparatively early settlers of Belmont County. I. V. received the benefits of the common schools of his native county, after which he attended college at Haysville, Ohio, and upon the completion of his course, took up the study of law at St. Clairsville, Bel- mont County. He was admitted to the bar in the autumn of 1865, and soon after came to Missouri, locating temporarily at Mexico, and in Feb- ruary, 1866, took up his abode in Maryville. Few men have been more closely and officially identified with the interests of the county than Mr. McMillan, having held the offices respectively of county attorney and public administrator, the former for over two years and the latter four years ; was also city attorney three years. In the different trusts he was diligent and faithful, securing a high reputation for fidelity, liberality and the courtesy he extended to all. As a lawyer he possesses fine oratorical power, is a ready speaker and speaks with clearness and precision. The Republican doctrine is his rule of faith ; he, however, is a gentleman of decided and independent spirit, and does not allow party fealty to bias his judgment, and condemns wrong wherever found. Ile is a Royal Arch Mason. Has been twice married-first in 1868, to Miss R. V. Howarter. By this union they had three children : Frank J. and I. H; lost one, Ida
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R. Mrs. McM. deceased in 1872. By his present wife, nee Mattie L. Hosmer, he has had two children-one living, Rosa, and one deceased, May.
HON. S. R. BEECH, MAYOR OF MARYVILLE.
This highly esteemed fellow citizen is a native of Pennsylvania, and was born in Crawford County, December 25, 1846. His father, O. O. Beech, was a Pennsylvanian, and his mother, nee Ruth Baker, was a native of Ohio. His father was a carpenter and contractor of consider- able note, and for a time was identified with mercantile pursuits in Crawford County. His death occurred when S. R. was in his fourteenth year. The mother, with eight children, was left in limited circum- stances, consequently his early educational advantages were meagre. He resided in his native state until 1864, when he tendered his services to the Union cause, enlisting in Company E, Eighty-third Pennsylvania Volunteer Infantry. At the battle of the Wilderness he was danger- ously wounded, one ball taking effect in his left arm, and passing through his body, and received a slight wound in one of his lower limbs. After serving one year he was honorably discharged, returned to his home in Pennsylvania, and for a time attended an academy in Crawford County, after which he took a course at the Eastmann National Business College at Poughkeepsie, New York. Upon return- ing home he was appointed postmaster at Cambridge, Crawford County, which position he held two years, when he resigned and came to Mis- souri, taking up his abode in Nodaway County, eleven miles west of Maryville, where he engaged in farming, coal mining, and devoted a portion of his time to school teaching. In 1872, he was elected sheriff by the Republican party, and at the expiration of his term re-elected, being the first time in the county that a sheriff was his own successor.
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