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 56
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JOHN W. CISSNA,
dealer in general merchandise, Clearmont. This business was estab- lished by Mr. C. in 1875, and now the proprietor may point with pride
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at the unusual success achieved by so young a man in so short a time. He carries a large, complete and varied stock, and has many friends and patrons, and is one of the solid men of the town. Mr. C. is a native of Ohio, and was born June 20, 1849. He was raised to manhood and edu- cated in his native state, spending his younger days on a farm. At the age of twenty-one years he immigrated to Missouri, and settled in old Clearmont. He purchased the stock of Rogers & Smith, and continued the business there till 1881, when he concluded to move to the new town. Consequently he built the commodious store which he now occu- pies. Mr. Cissna was united in marriage to Miss Lucretia B. Bennett, an estimable lady, in 1873. They have from this union four children : Edward M., John C., Frank B. and Mary. He is a member of the Odd Fellow and Masonic fraternities, and has been township assessor, and also township trustee.
WILLIAM B. COMBS,
section 25, post office Hopkins. The subject of this sketch is a native of Monroe County, Indiana, and was born November 22, 1838. At the age of fourteen he removed to Shelby County, Illinois, where he resided for fifteen years, and from Shelby County he came west, and settled in this county in 1872. He has fifty acres of beautiful farm land, forty acres of which are under cultivation. Mr. Combs was married in 1863, to Miss Freelove Sexton, a native of Indiana. Six children have been born to them, as follows : Eliza J., James A., Thomas D., Laura A., Viola B., and William L.
DAVID COOK,
section 9, post office Clearmont, is a native of Indiana, and was born October 23, 1828. He was raised to manhood and received a common school education at his birthplace, and has always followed his present occupation. In 1874, he emigrated to Page County, Iowa, residing in that county one year, after which time he came to this state and county, where he has since resided. He has eighty acres of land that will aver- age with any in the county, all of which is under cultivation. Mr. Cook was united in marriage in 1851, to Indiana Rairie, an estimable lady. They have from this union three children ; Margaret, Mark and Rufus.
CRAIG & SMITH,
dealers in hardware, tinware and sporting goods, and also agricultural implements. In 1879 this firm embarked in the lumber business at Clear- mont, and continued the same for thirteen months, doing a business in that line of $35,000. After this they sold the lumber business to Jones & Hotaling, and after erecting their large and roomy building which
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they now occupy, they started in their present occupation. Craig & Smith have one of the largest stocks of goods in the county, and do a business that would be an honor to an older established house. The senior member of this firm, Wm. G. Craig, is a native of Indiana, and first saw the light December 8, 1843. When at the age of two years, he, with the family, emigrated to Andrew County, Missouri, where he was principally raised, spending his youthful days in agricultural pursuits. In 1863 he enlisted in the Third Provisional troops, and after their dis- bandment he enlisted in Company B, Forty-third Missouri Regiment, and was corporal of that company, serving till the close of the war. After that time he returned home, and in 1867 removed to DeKalb County, this state, and engaged in the milling business. In 1870 he disposed of that and purchased the general store of John Barton, of Maysville, that county, which business he continued till 1872, when he came to Clear- mont, and bought the stock of the two drug stores then in existence. He consolidated them and continued the business with good success till November 22, 1879, when he sold out to James & Wilkin, and became associated with Mr. Smith, forming the present firm. Mr. Craig was married October 26, 1865, to Miss Julia A. Kelly, an estimable lady. They have four children living : Cynthia A., Charles W., Ernst L. and an infant. Mr. C. is a member of the A. F. and A. M., and is their pres- ent junior deacon. He was a notary public and served four years. He is at present justice of the peace of this township, and was postmaster of Clearmont, having commenced the duties of that position November 8, 1875. He served four and a-half years. W. F. Smith, the junior partner of this firm, is a native of Missouri, and was born in this county, May 22, 1858. In his youthful days he followed the occupation of farming. He received the advantages of a good education, attending for some time the college at College Springs, Iowa. He is one of our representative business men, and one of the leaders of all movements that tends to the welfare of the business or morality of Clearmont. He is clerk of this township, and was in 1876 assistant collector of the same.
JOSEPH DAWES,
section 27, post office Clearmont. The subject of this sketch, one of the early settlers of Nodaway County, is a native of Kentucky, and was born in Madison County, June 23, 1834. He was there educated and raised to manhood. In 1858, he started west, stopping for some six months in Nebraska. From there he immigrated to Andrew County, Missouri, remaining there till 1860, when he removed and settled in this county. In 1872, he settled on his present place, a farm containing 200 acres, 120 acres being under cultivation. Mr. Dawes was married August 13, 1860, to Miss Katie A. Hudgeons, a native of Missouri. They have had nine
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children : John B., Tabitha I., Mary A., Margaret E., James T., George R., Arlington L., (now deceased), Eliza A., and Luticia. Mr. Dawes has been road master and school director of his district.
BENJAMIN C. DOWNEY,
section 31, post office Clearmont. The subject of this sketch is a native of Michigan, and was born March 31, 1854. He was raised in his native state till he attained his fifteenth year, when he emigrated to Missouri, and settled where he now resides. He has 160 acres of land, all of wh ch is under cultivation. M. Downey was married, in 1875, to Miss Martha Hicks, an estimable lady. They have three children : Rosa L. ; Hugh B. and Arthur T. Mrs. Downey is a member of the M. E. Church.
L. C. EVANS.
John M. Evans, dealer in general merchandise, established business in Clearmont in 1880. Since opening, he has had a large and con- stantly increasing trade. The gentlemanly manager of this firm, L. C. Evans, to whom their success is largely due, is a native of Wales, and was born October 4, 1840. At the age of nine years he was brought by his father's family to this country. They settled in New York, and after a residence there of ten years, emigrated to McLean County, Ill., where L. C. resided ten years. From there he came to Missouri and settled in this county. In 1877, he went to Colorado, remaining for two years in the mountains, and in 1879, he returned to Missouri and accepted the agency of the Wabash Railroad at this point, a position which he still holds. Previous to his trip to Colorado, he was engaged in the grocery business at Maryville. Mr. Evans was married January 1, 1870, to Miss Rachel J. Jones, an estimable lady. They have three children : Mary, Ella, and Elizabeth. During the war, in 1862, Mr. E. enlisted in Company K, Ninety-fourth Illinois Infantry, and served three years, participating in the following battles : Siege of Vicksburg, Ft. Morgan (Lousiana), Spanish Fort, and the defense of Mobile, and others. He is a member of the I. O. O. F., and also belongs to the Presbyterian Church.
PERRY A. FARRENS,
sections 21 and 22, post office Clearmont. The subject of this sketch is a native of Page County, Iowa, where he was born February 13, 1857. He was there raised to manhood and educated, following the occupation of farming. In 1880 he removed to Missouri, and settled where he now resides. He has 160 acres of land that will compare favorably with any in the county, 100 acres of which are under cultivation. Mr. Farrens was
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united in marriage to Miss Lizzie McDonald, March 1, 1880. They have from this union one child : Vina M.
THOMAS E. FROST,
section 14, post office Hopkins. The subject of this sketch is a native of England, and was born in 1851. He there remained till his sixth year, when he emigrated to America and settled in Massachusetts, where he resided six months. After that time he, with the family, located in Iowa, and after living there ten years, he accompanied the family to this county and settled where they now reside. He is exten- sively engaged with his father, Thomas, in the cultivation of the farm, which occupation he has followed through life.
JOHN H. FRYMIRE,
section 13, post office Clearmont, is one among the many successful and progressive farmers of this county, and deserves more than a passing notice. He is a native of Kentucky, and was born October 4, 1828. At the age of eight years, with the family, he emigrated to Warren County, Illinois, where he spent his youthful days on a farm. In 1854 he embarked in mercantile pursuits in Monmouth, Illinois, and was during the ten . years following the most prominent business man of that place, conduct- ing at that time no less than five separate lines of business-dry goods, grocery and wholesale liquor store, a tannery and was engaged in buy- ing grain. After this he returned to the occupation of farming, at which he worked till 1878, when he emigrated to Missouri and settled in this county. In 1881 he located where he now resides. He has 160 acres of good average land, all of which is under cultivation. Mr. F. was married June 21, 1849, to Miss Mary L. Griffee. They have eight children : Wil- liam T., Ellen, Eva, John, Emmel, Barney, Sarah and Effie. Mr. F. at one time was city treasurer of Monmouth, Illinois. He is road commis- sioner of the township. Mr. F. is a member of the Masonic fraternity.
MARCUS A. GAUGH, M. D.,
physician and surgeon, Clearmont. The subject of this sketch is a native of Crawford County, Pennsylvania, and was born June 30, 1850. When he was six years of age, the family immigrated to Iowa, and set- tled in Sioux City, where he was raised to manhood. At the age of eighteen years, he began the study of his chosen profession, under the guidance of Doctor Long, of St. Joseph, with whom he remained nine years. He graduated from the Hospital Medical College, of that City, and subsequently began the practice of his profession in St. Joseph, continuing the same for four years. After this time Doctor Gaugh
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removed to Clearmont. He has a large and lucrative practice, and is an affable and perfect gentleman, as well as a thorough physician. Dr. G. was united in marriage October 15, 1874, to Miss Lizzie Toole, daughter of Judge Toole, of St. Joseph. They have had two children to bless their union, Eva A. and Charles R. The doctor is a member of the I. O. O. F., Enterprise Lodge, No. 232, of St. Joseph.
H. P. GILLESPIE,
section 10, post office Hopkins. The subject of the following narrative, is a native of Pennsylvania, and was born May 15, 1846. He was raised in his native state till he attained the age of fifteen years, when, with the family, he migrated to Iowa County, Iowa, where he resided two years. From there he removed to Illinois, where he made his home ten years, after which time he located in Page County, Iowa. After a resi- dence there of one year he returned to Illinois, remaining one year, and then came to this county, where he has since resided. He has 165 acres of good average land, most of which is under cultivation. Mr. Gilles- pie was married March 17, 1869, to Miss Mary Grace, an estimable lady. They have from this union two children : Effie and Robert. Mr. G. is a member of the I. O. O. F. He is a thorough and progressive farmer, and is favorably known as such throughout the county.
JESSE N. GOODSON, M. D.,
physician and surgeon, Clearmont. The subject of this sketch is a native of Clinton County, Ohio, and was born September 20, 1846. He was reared to manhood and educated at his birth-place, and began the study of his chosen profession with Dr. Gillum, of Tolona, Missouri, remaining under his tutorship one year. After that time he studied under the guidance of J. C. Hubbard, and one year later he entered the College of Physicians and Surgeons of Keokuk, Iowa, of which insti- tion he is a graduate. In 1875, Dr. Goodson came to Clearmont and commenced the practice of his profession. He has a large and increas- ing practice, and ranks high among the men of his profession. He was united in marriage March 8, 1870, to Miss Mary J. Anderson, a native of Missouri. They have from this union three children : V. E., Bertha J., and Florence. The doctor is a member of the I. O. O. F., belonging to Burlington Lodge, No. 440. He is also a member of Bur- lington Lodge, No. 442, A., F. and A. M. During the late war he belonged to Company F, 188th Ohio Infantry, and was discharged with that regiment after nine months' service. He has a fine farm of 160 acres, in section 21, of Atchison Township ; also some town property in Clearmont.
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ALEXANDER GRAY,
section 29, post office Clearmont. Prominent among the men who have been closely identified with the agricultural and mercantile interests of this district stands the subject of this sketch. He is a native of Indiana, and was born September 27, 1835. He was there reared to manhood, fol- lowing farming as an occupation. In 1857, he immigrated to Missouri, and settled where Clearmont now stands. In 1867, he engaged in mer- cantile pursuits in that place, and after a lapse of six months, he sold a half interest to W. M. Gray, the firm then being Gray & Gray. With this firm he was engaged in business for fourteen months, then selling out. Mr. G. was next occupied in operating a saw mill, which he continued for one year, at the same time managing his farm. Then with his old part- ner, W. M. Gray, he purchased their old business, which they continued one year, W. M. Gray then selling to the subject of this sketch. Under the name of the latter it was conducted one year. Mr. Gray then dis- posed of his stock to Smith & Rogers, and devoted his time to farming on the place where he now resides. He has two hundred acres of fine land, 150 acres of which are under cultivation. Mr. G. has been twice married. First, April 11, 1858, to Miss Mahala Shanklin. They had four children : James A., Asa A., Effie F., and Ada M. Mrs. Gray's death occurred April 27, 1879. He was again united in marriage Sep- tember 2, 1880, to Mrs. Mary J. Miller. At the breaking out of the war, Mr. G. enlisted in the State Militia, serving six months, and in 1862, he enlisted in Company F, Eleventh Missouri Cavalry, and was sergeant of that company for about two years, when he was commissioned second lieutenant. This position he held till the close of the war. He is one of the township trustees, and was justice of the peace for two years. He is a member of the Masonic fraternity, and has held the offices of secre- tary and senior and junior wardens.
JAMES GRAY,
section 21, post office Clearmont. Mr. Gray is a native of Washington County, Pennsylvania. When at an early age he removed to Marshall County, West Virginia, where he resided until fifteen years of age. He then went to Noble County, Ohio, where he made his home for twenty- one years, following the occupation of farming. In the year 1856 he emigrated westward, and settled in Missouri. He has 180 acres of land that compares favorably with any in the county, most of which is under cultivation. He was married in 1845, to Rachel Haines, a native of Ohio. They have raised a large family of children, as follows : James D. C., Charles M., Sarah J., Isabella, Elizabeth A., Louisa, Rachel L., Dora E. and Ida E. Mr. Gray has been constable of this township for three years. During the war he was a member of the state militia.
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ELI HICKS,
section 19, post office Clearmont. The subject of this sketch is a native of Tennessee, and was born May 16, 1808. When one year old he was taken by his parents to Highland County, Ohio, where he was raised to manhood, following the occupation of farming. At the age of twenty- three he immigrated to Mongomery County, Indiana, and, after a resi- dence there of six years, he returned to Bond County, Illinois, where he remained seven years. From there he went to Jefferson County, in 1844, and resided there two years. At the end of that period Mr. H. returned to Illinois, and settled in Schuyler County, where he lived for eighteen years, next going to Minnesota. Seven years later, he migrated to Montgomery County, Iowa, and made his home in that vicinity two years. He then came to Missouri, settling in Maryville, · Nodaway County, where he resided eighteen months, after which time he came to Clearmont. After a short residence there, in 1873, he set- tled where he now resides. He has over eighty-two acres of good land, all of which is under cultivation. Mr. Hicks has been twice married. First, in 1834, to Miss Mary A. McMillen. They had one child, Hester A. Mrs. Hick's death occurred in 1841. Mr. H. was again united in marriage November 23, 1841, to Jalah Stollard. They have nine chil- dren : Mary E., Annie J., John K., Martha E., Nancy M., George S., Anna M., Benjamin L. and Joseph J. Mr. Hicks is a member of the M. E. Church.
JAMES S. HOVER,
section 26, post office Clearmont. James S. Hover is a native of Mercer County, Pennsylvania, and was born in 1808. At the tender age of three years, he removed to Logan County, Ohio, where he resided for twenty-six years. When twenty-nine years old he moved to Allen County, and at the age of thirty-two years he located in Jackson County, Missouri ; residing there some six years, he again changed his home, this time coming to Nodaway County. He finally settled upon his present farm of eighty acres, of which he has most all under cultiva- tion. Mr. Hover was joined in wedlock to Miss Melville Collins in 1835. She is a native of Ohio. Four children have been born to them, as follows : David N., Louisa K., Mary A., James E.
WILLIAM HOUSTON,
section 32, post office Clearmont. The subject of this sketch is a native of Jackson County, Indiana, and was born November 3, 1839. At the age of two years, he, with the family, emigrated to Andrew County, Mis- souri, and after a residence there of five years he moved to this county,
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where he was educated and reared to manhood, following the occupation of farming. In 1879 he moved to the place where he now resides. He has 150 acres of land that will average with any in the county, all of which is under cultivation. Mr. H. was married March 15, 1866, to Miss Margaret Orme, a native of Indiana. By this union five children were born to them : James N., Louisa E., Henry L., Charles E. and Albert I .. Mr. and Mrs. H. are members of the M. E. Church. Mr. H. was also a participant in the late war, he having enlisted in 1863 to the call for six months volunteers. He was with the Eleventh Missouri Cavalry, Com- pany D. After a number of engagements he was discharged from ser- vice July 27, 1865.
ALEXANDER M. HULS,
section 33, post office Clearmont. Among the old settlers and present successful farmers of Nodaway County, is the subject of this sketch. He is a native of Kentucky-was born June 30, 1814, in Fleming County. He was there educated and raised to manhood. Mr. H., like many others, found it difficult to procure an education ; but with others, and by hard perseverence, he did succeed in procuring such schooling as could be obtained in those days, from the old log-cabin school house of that date. In the month of September, 1853, he emigrated to Marion County, Indiana, and after a residence there of three years, he moved, in 1856, to Missouri, and settled where he now resides. He has 190 acres of fine land, eighty acres under cultivation. Mr. H. was married January 16, 1845, to Matilda Hart, a native of Kentucky. Two children were born to them : Sarah E. and Mary A. Mrs. Huls' death occurred June 16, 1853. Mr. Huls was again married April 20th, 1856, to Miss Eliza J. Shanklin, a native of Indiana. By his second marriage there are eight children : John, born January 24, 1857 ; Corrilla, born January 25, 1859 ; Matilda A., born May 26, 1861 ; James A., born April 30, 1864 ; Charles H., born October 14, 1866; Eliza E., born January 13, 1869; William S., born January 29, 1872, and an infant. Mr. H. is a member of the Second Adventist Church, and also belongs to the Masonic fra- ternity of Clearmont. He has been justice of the peace of this township for two years, was township trustee one term, and judge of the county court one term, filling that position very acceptably.
JAMES & WILKIN,
dealers in drugs and stationery ; also, postmaster, Clearmont. In 1879, this firm purchased the drugs and stationery stock of W. G. Craig. Since then they have been doing a large and profitable business. They carry a complete and well assorted stock of goods, and are one of the . live business firms of this place. The senior member of this firm, Mr.
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James, is a native of New York, and was born June 30, 1853. At the age of three years, he was taken by his family to Aurora, Illinois, where they resided one year. They then removed to Champaign, Illinois, and after remaining one year, located in Quincy, Illinois. In August, 1877, Mr. James emigrated to Missouri, and settled in Clearmont, where he was engaged in teaching the school of that place. In 1879, he was offered the position of agent of the C. B. & Q. R. R., which he accepted and has since held, he being the first and only agent which the com- pany has had at this point. He is by profession a dentist, and does some work in that line. Mr. James was married October 28, 1877, to Miss Nora M. Wilkin, an estimable lady, a native of Ohio. The junior member of the firm, William P. Wilkin, is a native of Ohio, and was born March 21, 1865. At the age of seven years, he removed to Hanni- bal, Missouri, residing there ten years. From that point he returned to his native state, remaining two years, after which time he emigrated to this state, and settled in Clearmont, engaging in his present business. He is a young man of good address, and a favorite with all who know him.
E. W. JOHNSON,
section 35, post office Hopkins. Among the foremost of the oldest pioneers of this county, and men who have been identified with the agri- cultural interests of the same from its infancy, may be mentioned the subject of this sketch. He is a native of Indiana, and was born near Connorsville, March 28, 1808. At an early age he removed to Lawrence County. David Johson, his father, was an old settler in that county, and was closely linked with its interests for a great many years, he being the first blacksmith in that district. In 1841, Ephraim immigrated to Mis- souri, and in March, 1842, he settled where he now resides. On landing at his destination his finances consisted of seventy-five cents, and his provisions of five pounds of pork and half a bushel of corn meal. Thus, with a large family to support, he commenced his first winter in Missouri. Of the privations endured by them for the first few years we mention in another part of this work. He now has a good farm of 160 acres, 120 of which are under cultivation. Mr. J. was united in marriage in 1830, to Miss Margaret Allen, a native of Lincoln County, North Carolina. Her father, Jehu Allen, was an early settler of that county. They have had a family of eleven children, nine of whom are now living: Levi R., Joseph A., Mary E., Jehu A., Nancy C. (deceased), Sarah E., John R., Eli B., Rebecca (deceased), Margaret E., Malinda E. (deceased). They are, and have been members of the M. E. Church for forty-nine years.
LEVI R. JOHNSON,
section 2, post office Hopkins, the eldest son of E. W. Johnson, is a native of Lawrence County, Indiana, and was born October 14, 1831.
E. B. STEPHENSON (DECEASED)
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He was there reared till ten years of age, when, with the family, he migrated to Missouri, and settled. He has since resided here, following the occupation of his father, that of farming. In 1855, he located where he now resides. He has 134 acres of land, that will average with any in the county, ninety-four acres of which are under cultivation. Mr. J. was married February 19, 1852, to Miss Mary J. Minard, a native of Park County, Indiana. They have nine children living : Margaret E., Eliza- beth A., Lorinda C., Mary E., Martha C., Schuyler C., Cora A., Ephraim M. and George W. Mr. J. is a member of the M. E Church, and has been justice of the peace of his township for the past twenty years. He is also a notary public.
JOSEPH A. JOHNSON,
section 35. The second son of this illustrious family is a native of Law- rence County, Indiana, and was born March 27, 1833. At the age of eight years the family came to this county, where he was raised to man- hood and educated. He has always followed his present occupation. In 1855 he settled where he now resides. He has a fine farm of 480 acres, which is well improved, 400 acres being under cultivation. He has a nice residence on his place, and is one of our most successful and pro- gressive farmers. Mr. J. was united in marriage, May 20, 1855, to Miss Jane O. Knox, a native of Pettis County, Missouri. He is a member of Xenia Lodge, No. 50, A. F. and A. M., of Hopkins. He has been school director of his district and also road commissioner of his township.
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