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 65
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REV. FRANCIS BRADDOCK DINSMORE,
section 26, post office Gaynor City. Prominent among the farmers and stock raisers, as well as among the clergy of this district, stands the sub- ject of this sketch. He is a native of Pennsylvania, and was born April 22, 1817. He was there raised to manhood. Mr. Dinsmore traces his ancestry to the old Revolutionary stock, being a descendent, on his mother's side, of the great Gen. Braddock, she bearing that name before marriage. Moses S. Dinsmore, the father of Francis, was a native of Ireland, but was of Scotch-Irish parentage. He was raised in America from his tenth year, was by occupation a farmer and teacher. After a long and useful life he passed away in 1836. Mr. F. B. Dinsmore, at the age of twenty years, commenced his studies for his chosen profession in the academy of West Alexander, Pennsylvania, and is a graduate of Washington College, Washington County, Pennsylvania. He completed his ten years' course of study at the Theological Seminary, of Prince- ton, New Jersey. Finishing his studies at the age of thirty, he immi- grated to Iowa and settled in Henry County, from which locality, after
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a residence of twenty-five years, in 1872 he removed to this state and settled where he now resides. Mr. Dinsmore was married June 3, 1847, to Miss Jane Patterson, a native of Pennsylvania. They have four children living : Frances C., John M., William H. and Thomas C. Mr. D. was elected judge of the county court in 1878, and served two years. He has been school director of his district three years. He is by faith a Presbyterian, and is the Pastor of Long Branch Church, having held that charge since its organization. It is due largely to his efforts that the church was organized, and is now in a prosperous condition. He has 415 acres of land that will average with any in the county, part of which is under cultivation.
WILLIAM DIXON,
section 13, post office Maryville, is among the old settlers and farmers of this vicinity. He is a native of Fulton County, Illinois, and was born December 6, 1837. At the age of one year he was taken by his father's family to Andrew County, Missouri, where he was raised to manhood and educated, following his present occupation. In 1848 he, with the family, emigrated to this county, where he has since resided. R. Dixon, the father of the subject of this sketch, was an old pioneer of this county, and a man who was closely identified with its interests from an early date. Mr. William Dixon has 320 acres of land that will average with any in the county, 200 acres of which are under cultiva- tion. He was married in 1858 to Miss Sarah J. Burns. They have from this union the following children : James C., Cyrildia J., Levander B., Celia E., and Owen W.
WILLIAM J. DOWIS,
farmer and stock raiser, section 4, post office Hopkins. The subject of this sketch is a native of Iowa, where he was born, April 24, 1846. He was there raised till 1862, in which year he removed to this state, and settled where he now resides. Isaac Dowis, his father, was one of the first settlers of Taylor County, Iowa, and a man who was closely identi- fied with the interests of that county from an early day. His death ·occurred November 11, 1877. Mr. W. J. Dowis has 240 acres of land, that will compare favorably with any in the county, all of which he has under cultivation. He was married June 7, 1866, to Miss Mary J. David- ·son. They have four children : Ora D., Leo, Oscar and Alva.
MATHIAS ERICKSON,
farmer and stock raiser, section 24, post office Gaynor City, a leading « farmer and stock raiser of this district, who has gained prominence as a successful and progressive man, is a native of Sweden, in which country
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he was born March 23, 1839. He was there raised to manhood, learning the trade of blacksmith. At the age of seventeen, he immigrated to America, settling near Galesburg, Illinois, where he followed the occu- pation of farming. After a residence there of sixteen years, he removed to this state and settled where he now resides. He has 320 acres of average land, most of which he cultivates. Mr. Erickson was married in 1866, to Miss Mary S. Holmberg. They have four children : Charles T., Minnie E., Nellie A., and Gracie B. During the late war Mr. E. enlisted in the Union cause, and served in Company D, Seventh Illinois Cavalry Regiment, being chief bugler of that regiment. He was discharged from service November 9, 1865. He is a member of the Masonic frater- nity, and also belongs to the M. E. Church, to which he is liberal in contributing toward its support.
WILLIAM A. FISHER,
farmer and stock raiser, section 13, post office Hopkins, an influential farmer and stock raiser of this county, was born in Indiana on the 12th of November, 1834, and was there raised to manhood and educated. He was engaged while in his native state in the occupation of contracting and carpentering. April 16, 1867, he emigrated to Missouri and settled in this county, where he now resides. He has 160 acres of land that will average with any in the county, ninety acres of which are under cultivation, and he has upon his place a nice residence, and his improve- ments generally are of the best. Mr. Fisher was married March 30, 1859, to Miss Melinda A. Boyer, a native of Indiana. They have seven children : Theora A., Ulysses S. G., Lydia E., Indiana E., Lulu F., Hiram, and John E. Mr. Fisher is a member of the Masonic fraternity. He was township trustee one term, and has been school director of his district for the past ten years. When first settling in this county he taught the district school now known as the Lone Star school house. This was formerly called by the old settlers, the "Green Horn school house."
EDWARD T. GAYNOR,
section 30, post office Gaynor City, is one of the old settlers and well known men of Nodaway County. He is a native of Ireland, and was born in 1838. When, at the age of eleven years, he emigrated, with his father's family, to America, and settled in Virginia, where he was raised to manhood, there learning the trade of blacksmith. In 1865, he removed to Ohio, where he resided till 1874, when he came to Missouri, and engaged in blacksmithing, where Gaynor City now stands. That village was named in his honor. He continued his chosen occupation till 1881, when he sold his shop to Mr. McLain, and removed to where
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he now resides. He has 120 acres of land, sixty acres of which are under cultivation. Mr. G. is a member of the A. O. U. W .; also of the Grange. He was married, in 1868, to Miss Margaret Scowden, an esti- mable lady.
B. F. GILMORE,
farmer and stock raiser, section 23, post office Gaynor City. The subject of this sketch is a native of Illinois, and was born on March 22, 1837. He was raised to manhood and educated in his native state, following the occupation of farming and stock raising. In January, 1881, he immi- grated to this state and settled in this county, where he now resides. He has 250 acres of land that will compare favorably with any in the county, most of which is under cultivation. Mr. G., with pride, traces his ancestry to revolutionary stock, his grandfather being a soldier in that war. R. Gilmore, his father, was a colonel in the war of 1812, and was also one of the oldest settlers of Warren County, Illinois, and a man who was closely indentified with the agricultural interests of that county from the time of his settling there in 1833. The subject of this sketch was married to Miss Charlotte Yarder, November 15, 1860. Mr. Gilmore is a prominent member of the Grange.
CHARLES F. GRAY,
section 33, post office Gaynor City. The subject of this sketch was born in Lee County, Illinois, March 8, 1849, and was raised to manhood in his birthplace, spending his boyhood days on a farm. At the age of twenty years he emigrated to Missouri, locating in this county, where he has since resided. He has eighty acres of land that will average with any in the county, sixty acres of which are under cultivation. Mr. Gray was married Feb- ruary 23, 1871, to Miss Mary A. Mclaughlin. They have two. children : Nellie and Gracie. Mr. G., for the first two years and a-half of his residence here worked at the trade of bridge building, and in 1869 settled where he now resides.
WILLIAM J. HARRIS,
section 9, post office Oxford, a man who deserves favorable mention,. was born in Platte County, Missouri, August 23, 1842, and was there raised until the age of fourteen years, when he emigrated to Worth County, remaining there till 1877, following his present occupation. At that time he removed to this county and settled where he now resides. He has 140 acres of as good land as there is in the county, 115 acres of which are under cultivation. Mr. Harris was married October 22, 1866, to Miss Henrietta Sawyer. They have from this union five children :
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Monroe, Lurene, Embozella, Oliver, and Ollie, twins. Mr. H. has been road commissioner of his district one year.
E. T. HULL,
farmer, section I, post office Hopkins, was born in the State of Illinois on December 18, 1853, and was there raised to manhood, and educated. He has always followed the occupation of farming. In 1876, he emi- grated to this state, and settled in Nodaway County, where he has since resided. He moved on his present place in 1878, and is the owner of sixty acres of good average land, all of which is improved. Mr. Hull was married October 3, 1878, to Miss Sarah Benedict. They have from this union one child, Roy.
C. C. HORN,
section 24, probably the oldest settler in this portion of the county now living where he settled, is the subject of this sketch. He was born July 29, 1819, in Kentucky, and was there raised and educated. October 4, 1849, he emigrated to Randolph County, Missouri, where he remained three years, and from there removed to Davis County, Iowa, where he lived till 1853. At that time he went to Taylor County, and after a space of one year came to this state and settled where he now resides. He has 100 acres of as good land as there is in the county, sixty acres of which are under cultivation. Mr. Horn has been twice married. First, July 17, 1844, to Miss Eliza A. Jones. They had one child : William F. Mrs. Horn's death occurred in. 1846. Mr. H. was married the second time to Miss Matilda Lockker. They have from this union nine children : George W., Mary E., Martha M., Louisa, Cornelius, Lafay- ette, Dilly, Lucy and Florence. During the war Mr. Horn was a mem- ber of the Union League. He was constable of his township for one term, and also school director for a term of six years.
G. C. JEWETT,
physician and surgeon, Gaynor City, is among the professional men of this district, and is worthy of special mention. He is a native of Ohio, in which state he was born November 5, 1826. His father, David, was a physician, and also a D. D., and was presiding elder of the M. E. Church of his district. The subject of this sketch at the early age of fourteen, began the study of his chosen profession under the direction of his father, with whom he continued till he attained his twenty-first year. He then attended a course of studies at Race Medical College, of Columbus, Ohio, three years, and after finishing this course, he emigrated to Iowa, and settled in Decatur County. There he commenced the practice of his profession. After a successful career of ten years, he removed to Clarke
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County, where he also practiced his profession. Ten years later, or in 1881, he moved to this state, and settled in Gaynor City. Although a late addition to this county, he has gained by his successful practice hosts of friends and a lucrative business. Dr. Jewett has been twice married. First, in 1852, to Miss C. Logan. They had six children : Lizzie, Milder J., Marion, William M., Josephine and Laura. Dr. J. was married the second time in 1866, to Miss Martha Irwin, a native of Clarke County, Iowa. The doctor is a member of the Masonic fraternity.
JASPER N. JONES,
section 16, post office Pickering, is a representative farmer of Nodaway County, and was born in the state of Ohio, May 19, 1828. He was there raised, spending his youthful days in the occupation which he has ever followed. At the age of twenty-three years he emigrated to Iowa, where he remained till 1877, when he removed to this state and county, settling where he now resides. He has 200 acres of choice land, 150 acres of which are under cultivation. Mr. Jones was united in marriage to Miss Rachel Sword, March 31, 1853. They have from this union eleven children living : William A., Sarah A., Carrie A., Charles D., Margaret J., Jasper M., Edward F., Annie B., Earl V., Emma F., and Louisa E. During our late war Mr. Jones enlisted in August, 1862, in Company F, Thirty-eigthth Iowa Infantry, and served for two years.
O. N. LESTER,
farmer and stock raiser, section 12, post office Hopkins. The subject of this brief sketch is a native of Indiana, and was born September 8, 1842. At the age of seven years, he, with the family, emigrated to Warren County, Illinois, there residing for a period of twenty-eight years. In 1872, he moved to Missouri, and settled where he now resides. He owns 125 acres of good average land, eighty acres of which are under cultivation. Mr. Lester was married, in 1874, to Miss Mary A. Stobaugh. They have two children, Florence and Emma J. During the late war, Mr. L. enlisted in Company D, One Hundred and Second Illinois Regiment, Twentieth Corps. His wife is a member of the Bap- tist Church.
JACOB LINDEMAN,
farmer and stock raiser, section 26, post office Gaynor City. Among the successful and progressive farmers of this vicinity, is the subject of this sketch, who was born in Germany on September 1, 1827. He was reared to manhood in his native country, learning the machinist trade. In 1847 he emigrated to America and settled in Philadelphia, Pennsyl- vania, where he was engaged in following his trade, there residing for
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five years. From that place he went to Allentown, Pennsylvania, where he continued the same occupation and lived for five years, going next to Stephenson County, Illinois. Owing to ill health he abandoned his trade and followed the occupation of farming. After a space of sixteen years, he took up his location in Decatur County, Iowa, remaining there eight years, at the end of which time he came to Missouri and settled in this county where he now resides. He has ninety acres of good land, all of which is under cultivation. Mr. Lindeman was married in 1850 to Miss Josephine Woster. They have six children: Charlie, Jacob, Emma, Alfred, Maria, and Carrie. Mr. L. is a member of the I. O. O. F., and also belongs to the Lutheran Church. He was road com- missioner one term, and has been school director of his district for one term.
WILLIAM MCGLOTHLAN,
farmer and stock raiser, section 11, post office Hopkins, is deserving of more than a passing notice among the prominent farmers of this county. He is a native of Kentucky, and was born May 24, 1823. He was there raised to manhood and educated, and in the year 1854 immigrated to Illinois, where he resided seventeen years, following the occupation of farming. In 1871 he removed to Missouri and settled in this county, where he now resides. He has 135 acres of land that will average with any in the county, most of which is under cultivation. Mr. McGlothlan was married in 1851 to Miss Sarah A. Massey, a native of Kentucky. They have been blessed with six children : James E., Robert F., Albert W., Mattie J., Jessie L. and Charles W. Mr. McG. held, with credit to himself and the public, the office of justice of the peace for five years, resigning his position at the end of that time.
W. H. MCLAIN,
dealer in general merchandise, Gaynor City. The subject of this sketch is the principal merchant of this town, and is also its founder. He is a native of Pennsylvania, in which state he was born June 26, 1853. While yet an infant, with the family he emigrated to Decatur County, Iowa, where they resided twelve years, after which time Mr. McLain removed to Illinois, settling in Brown County. After a residence there of twelve years, during which time he was engaged in farming, in 1879, he again returned to Iowa, where he lived six months. After that he went again to Illinois, and from there came to Missouri in 1879, and started the business that now occupies his attention. He has a large trade, and thoroughly merits his success .. He is honest in his dealings, and is pos- sessed of sterling principles of right, and carries a full and complete stock of goods, in his line. Mr. McLain was married April 28, 1876, to
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Miss Rebecca J. De Witt. They have by this union two children : Hat- tie J., and Lenvil D. Mr. McL. is the postmaster of Gaynor City. This town was established by W. H. McLain, and took its name from Edward Gaynor, who at that time had a blacksmith shop where the town now stands. This shop is now operated by Mr. McLain. The town is situ- ated on the corners of sections 26, 25, 35, 36, although the stores are on section 26. The business portion is composed of a store and a black- smith shop and a drug store, the latter operated by Dr. Cadwallader ; also a few residences.
WILLIAM MCLAUGHLIN,
farmer and stock raiser, section 33, post office Defiance, is prominent among old settlers and pioneers of this county. He i's a native of Ireland, and was born April 8, 1810. When two years of age, the fainily immi- grated to America, and settled in Chester County, Pennsylvania, where William was raised till the age of fifteen, at which time he emigrated to Ohio. There he was engaged in the occupation of farming till 1839, when he removed to Illinois, and after a long residence there of nineteen years, he moved to Iowa, where he remained one year. He then came to Missouri, and settled where he now resides. He has 119 acres of good average land, forty acres of which are under cultivation. Before dividing his land among his children, he had a tract of 640 acres. Mr. McLaugh- lin was married in 1843, to Miss Eliza Miller. They have five children living : John, James M., Richard S., Mary A. and Fannie. Mr. and Mrs. McL. are members of the M. E. Church.
M. MURDOCH,
section 2, post office Hopkins, is one of the successful young farmers of this county who owe their standing in society and success in life to their own endeavors. Mr. Murdoch, is a native of Louisiana, and, at an early day, with the family, he emigrated to Peoria County, Illinois, where he was raised to manhood, and educated. After a residence there of twenty years, he removed to Missouri, and settled in this county, where he has since resided. He has 160 acres of well improved land. In 1871, Mr. Murdoch married Miss Eliza White, a lady of noble qualities and genial habits. They had by this happy union three children : Harry, Annie and Mary. After a period of ten years, she passed away from earth, in June, 1881. Mr. M. is a member of the United Workmen.
FREDERICK A. ORR,
merchant and postmaster, Orrsburg. The subject of this sketch is a native of Brown County, Illinois, and when at the age of twelve years,
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with the family, he emigrated to Hancock County, Illinois, where he was reared to manhood and educated, following the occupation of farming. In 1871 he removed to Missouri, and settled in this county, and on Octo- ber 1, 1881, he started his present business. He carries a general stock of goods, valued at $1,600, which is large and complete, and he is doing an increasing business. Mr. Orr was married February 16, 1873, to Miss Henrietta Stingley, a native of Missouri. They have from this union three children : Effie, John A. and Myrtie O. Mr. Orr is a member of the Masonic fraternity, and is junior warden of Gaynor City Lodge, U. D. A., F. and A. M. He was school director of District No. 6, of Jackson Township for two terms, and was also assessor of that township for one term.
ELIAS REDDICK,
farmer and stock raiser, section 21, post office Gaynor City. . The sub- ject of this sketch is an old settler and prominent citizen of this district, and a man who is deserving of special mention. He is a native of Ohio, and was born June 23, 1828. He was there raised until he attained his twenty-fifth year, at which time he immigrated to Indiana, where he resided three years. After this he returned to Ohio, and three years later went to Iowa, settling in Taylor County. After a residence there of four years, in 1860, he removed to this state and county, settling where he now resides. He has 200 acres of land that will compare favorably with any in the county, eighty acres of which he has under cultivation. Mr. Reddick was married August 31, 1856, to Miss Mary Boyer. They have to bless their union nine children : Elias A., Martha J., Ida, Lilly, Clara M., Annie A., John, Ferdinand and Jesse L. At the breaking out of the rebellion Mr. R. enlisted in Company F. Twelfth Missouri Cavalry Regiment, and was quarter-master sergeant of his com- pany, remaining in the service three years. He has held the position of school director and constable of his district. He and his wife are mem- bers of the German Baptist Church.
WILLIAM T. SHADES,
farmer and stock raiser, section 21, post office Defiance. The subject of this sketch is a native of Ohio, in which state he was born January II, 1844. He was there raised to manhood and educated, following general mercantile pursuits till 1869, at which time he immigrated to this state, and settled where he now lives. Since his residence here he has followed the occupation of farming, and now has 160 acres of land that will aver- age with any in the county, eighty acres of which are under cultivation. Mr. Shades was married in 1867, to Miss Charlotte E. French. They have from this union seven children : William F., Roland C., Cora H.,
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Mary, Delphine, John K., and Arthur G. During the war Mr. Shades enlisted in Company G, One Hundred and Seventy-third Ohio Infantry Regiment, and was second lieutenant of his company. He is now school director of his district.
GEORGE R. SHROCK,
section 4, post office Defiance, Worth County, is a prominent and repre- sentative farmer and stock raiser of this district, and was born in Penn- sylvania, on February 2, 1835. He was there raised to manhood, being brought up in the occupation which he now follows. At the age of twenty years, he emigrated to Colorado, and engaged in the occupation of mining, remaining in the west eight years, a part of which time he spent in Montana and California. From there he removed to this state, and settled in Harrison County, and, after a residence of one year, he went to Worth County, remaining six years. He then came to this county, and settled where he now resides, being the owner of 246 acres of land, 175 acres of which are under cultivation. Mr. Shrock was mar- ried in January, 1869, to Miss Mary Coy, an estimable lady. They have, to bless this union, five children : Irene, Hubert, Earl, Marinda and Essie. Mr. Shrock is school director of this district.
JULIUS C. SIMMONS,
section 9, post office Gaynor City, is a leading young farmer of this township, and deserves more than a passing notice. He is a native of Illinois, and was born November 7, 1848. He was there raised to man- hood and educated, spending his boyhood days on a farm. In 1875 he emigrated to Missouri and settled in this county where he now resides. He has 160 acres of land that is as good as any in the county, most of which is under cultivation. Mr. Simmons was married Ssptember 29, 1870, to Miss Belinda Hahn, a native of Knox County, Illinois, and a descendant of an old pioneer family. They have from this union four children : Hannah, Mary, Phoebe, and Dolly. Mr. S. is at present one of the school directors of his district.
CHARLES SIMMONS,
section 9, post office Gaynor City. The subject of this sketch is a native of Warren County, Illinois, where he was born in 1856. He was there raised to manhood, being brought up in the occupation which he now follows. In 1875 he immigrated with his father's family to Missouri, and settled in this county, where he now has eighty acres of land that will compare favorably with any in the county, all of which is under cultiva- tion. Mr. Simmons was married April 26, 1880, to Miss Elsie A. Jenkins,
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a lady in every sense worthy to be the helpmate of the subject of this sketch. They have to bless this union one child : Ralph.
REZIN SMITH,
farmer and sheep raiser, section 14, post office Hopkins. The subject of this sketch is a native of Washington County, Pennsylvania, where he was born April 15, 1820. When at the age of six years he, with his father's family, emigrated to Indiana and settled in Floyd County, from whence, after a residence of four years, he removed to Arkansas. There he resided only a short time, and then he went to Illinois ; but not liking the country, he soon came to Missouri and entered the employ of the American Fur Company. This state was then in its infancy. Mr. Smith remained with that company five years, when he returned to Illinois and settled, following the occupation of a cabinet-maker and carpenter for thirty years. Tiring of a settled life, he emigrated in 1869 to Iowa, where he resided only eighteen months, and from there came to this state and county. In 1878 he located where he now resides. He has over eighty-one acres of good average land, all of which is under culti- vation. Mr. S. is one of the largest sheep raisers of this district, and to that industry alone he attributes his success in Missouri. He has been twice married ; first, in 1845, to Miss Elizabeth Gilliand. There are from this union four children living : Adelaide, Angeline, Emeline, and Catherine. Mrs. Smith's death occurred in 1855. After a period of two years, or in 1857, Mr. S. was united in marriage to Miss Nancy Watson. They have seven children : Martha E., Charles C., Fannie B., Clement L. V., Teddy E., Matilda, and Rezin. To Mr. Smith is attributed the honor of importing the first Cotswold sheep into this county.
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