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 75
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POLK TOWNSHIP.
Illinois, where he worked at the wagonmaking trade. He subsequently removed to Brookfield, Linn County, and for nine years traveled in the interest of the Champion Reaper Company. In February, 1880, he came to Maryville, and embarked in his present business, in which he has been satisfactorily successful. Mr. C. was married in 1857 to Miss Lucinda Cadwell, who was born in Tennessee, but principally reared in Griggsville, Pike County, Illinois. They have four children : John W., Lois M., Mary Ada, and Nora D. Mr. Crump is a member of the Masonic fraternity, and belongs to Nodaway Chapter and Cour de Leon Commandery No. 14, of Brookfield, Mo.
CURFMAN & SHAUM,
dealers in hardware, stoves, tinware, etc., are numbered among the leading and substantial business men of Nodaway County. The firm has a branch store at Tarkio, Atchison County, and are doing a large trade, and thoroughly merit the esteem in which they are held in the community. John C. Curfman, is a native of Huntingdon County, Pennsylvania, was born February 20, 1843, and is the son of Christian Curfman and Margaret (Garrett) Curfman. In 1851 his father removed to Jefferson County, Iowa, and engaged in farming. In 1865 the subject of this sketch came to Savannah, Andrew County, and remained there four years, occupied in mercantile pursuits. In 1870 he came to this. county and established his present business. He married Miss Lenora A. Alexander in 1872. She is the daughter of the Hon. Joseph Alex- ander, an early settler of this county. Their family consists of four children : Edward C., Frederick L., George H., and Joseph C. Mr. C. is a member of Nodaway Lodge, A. F. and A. M., and White Cloud Lodge, I. O. O. F. B. F. Shaum is a native of Easton, Pennsylvania, and was born November 21, 1839. His father was John Shaum, and his mother's maiden name was Rebecca Lehr, both of whom were of German ances- try. B. F. lived at his birthplace until 1858, and then came to La Grange, Missouri, where he engaged in mercantile pursuits. During the war he enlisted in the One Hundred and fifty-third Pennsylvania Infantry, and was commissioned lieutenant. He participated in some of the most severe battles of the campaign, among which were Antietam, Fredericksburg, Chancellorsville, and Gettysburg, and at the last named engagement was severely wounded. He was honorably mustered out at the close of the war, and then came to Lisbon, Linn County, Iowa. In. October, 1870, he married Miss A. B. Armstrong, of Linn County. Mr. S. removed to Atchison County, Missouri, and engaged in farming, and in 1876 came to Nodaway County and began in his present business. His family consists of four daughters : Carrie M., Mina J., Emma F., and Jennie.
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J. H. CURNUTT,
carpenter and builder, was born in Montgomery County, Indiana, Sep- tember 14, 1847. His father, Calvin Curnutt, was a native of Maryland, and a farmer by occupation. J. H. spent his boyhood days on a farm, and received his education in the common schools. In 1863, he enlisted in Company G, One Hundred and Sixteenth Indiana Infantry, and was in the Army of the Tennessee, and participated in many of the hard fought battles in which his regiment was engaged. He was taken pris- oner at Montgomery. He remained in the service until the close of the war, and then returned to Indiana, where he worked at the carpenter's trade, having followed this business previous to his enlisting in the army. He remained in Indiana until 1875, when he came to Maryville, where he has since been identified with the building interests of the county. Mr. Curnutt was married in 1866, to Miss Lydia Newhard, of Indiana. They have six children : Iona, John. Daisy, Ella, Jennie, Annie. Lost one : Calaway.
SOLOMON CAIN,
dealer in real estate, Wilcox, was born in Nodaway County, Missouri, and is a son of Charles L. and Sarah (Kennedy) Cain. The former is a native of North Carolina, and was born November 18, 1818, he being a son of Jesse and Marion (Bogley) Cain. Their parents were natives of England. The parents of Charles L. married and settled in North Car- olina, and moved to Rush County, Indiana, in 1830, and to Platte County, Missouri, in 1842, settling in Nodaway County, Missouri, in 1851. They located some eight miles west of Maryville, having been pioneers of three different counties in two states .. Charles L. passed his boyhood days in North Carolina, and Rush County, Indiana, and in the spring of 1840, went to Platte County, Missouri. He returned the same fall, and in the spring following, again went to Platte County, Missouri. Febru- ary 16, 1843, he married Sarah Kennedy, a native of Guilford, North Car- olina, born October 18, 1823. She was a daughter of John and Charity McMickell, who were born in North Carolina. They moved to Rush County, Indiana, and to Platte County, Missouri, in 1845, and to Noda- way County, Missouri, in 1850. Mr. and Mrs. Cain located in Platte County, Missouri, and afterwards moved to Nodaway County, where he purchased his present farm, some six miles west of Maryville. Solomon passed his youthful days, and received his education in Nodaway County. He began life as a farmer, and in 1878, entered the employ of the Cen- tral Branch of the Union Pacific Railway, remaining till May, 1879, when he returned to Nodaway County, and February 28, 1881, purchased of the Western Improvement Company, all unsold lots at Wilcox. Since that time he has devoted his time to the sale of lots. He married April
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21, 1878, Miss Clementine Brogan, a native of Nodaway County, Mis- souri, born April 20, 1857. She is the daughter of Joel D. and Dortia (Whitten) Cain. Her parents were natives of Tennessee, and after being married settled in Nodaway County, Missouri. Mr. and Mrs. Solomon Cain have two children : Dorr, born January 20, 1879, and Byron, born September 2, 1880.
W. G. DARLEY,
civil engineer and railroad contractor, is a native of England, and was born in London September 27, 1817. He was reared and educated in his native country, and in 1836 he immigrated to the United States and set- tled in New York, where he continued to reside for some years, engaged in civil engineering. In 1853 he was on the Cleveland and Mahoming Railroad, after which he was chief engineer of the New Castle and Beaver Valley. Besides other positions filled by Mr. D., of importance, he was chief engineer on the St. Louis, Saline and Little Rock Railroad, and remained until the completion of the road. He then was employed on the Clarinda Branch of the Wabash road. He has made his home in Maryville since 1878. He is the owner of a valuable stone quarry near Gallatin, which is unsurpassed as a building stone. Mr. Darley was mar- ried in 1841 to Miss M. E. Weeks, of New York. They have a family of four children.
HENRY DAVIS,
proprietor of the Maryville Woolen Mills, is a native of Trowbridge, England, and was born in 1843. His father was a woolen manufacturer, and the son early in life commenced the same occupation, in which he became very proficient. In 1863 he immigrated to the United States, and settled in Malvern, Massachusetts, near the manufacturing town of Woonsocket, working in the leading factories of the place. He then spent two and a-half years in the employ of the Clinton Woolen Mills, Michigan, and returned to the East, where he remained two years, and upon coming West he entered the employ of the Hanover Woolen Mills, in Illinois ; and it is owing to his experience and skill that this manufac- tory was raised from a non-paying to a profitable investment, and the product the best reputation in the West. After spending four years in Hanover, he came to Maryville and became proprietor of the above named mills, and in which he is fast building up a reputation for the quality of his work that will give him a prominent place among the enterprising business men of the town. Mr. Davis was married in 1874, to Miss Mary A. Rhodes, daughter of Samuel Rhodes, of Yorkshire, Eng- land. They have four children : Edwin F., Florence E., Jesse and Alfred T.
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BIOGRAPHICAL.
DR. J. W. DEAN,
stock dealer, was born at Gosport, Owen County, Indiana, February 20, 1842. His parents, John and Mary (Gardner) Dean, were both natives of Kentucky. J. W. was reared to manhood at his birth place, receiving his education at Ausbury University of Greencastle, Indiana. When eighteen he commenced the study of Medicine at Rush Medical College of Chicago, from which institution he graduated in January, 1863. Dr. Dean then became assistant surgeon of the Sixty-seventh Indiana, and went to Vicksburg. While there he was taken sick and returned home. In the fall of 1863 he commenced a course of lectures at Jefferson Medi- cal College and was graduated in March, 1864. He soon began prac- ticing at Gosport, Indiana, and continued therein until the 7th of Sep- tember, 1868, when he immigrated west and arrived in Maryville the 9th of September of the same year, having to travel by stage from Savannah. He continued his practice until 1879 at this place, when he was again taken sick and was obliged to give up his calling. Since that time, Dr. Dean has given his attention to raising thoroughbred cattle. He has some twenty-five head at present, and owns 70 acres of land in the southeastern part of town, 10 acres of which lay inside the town limits. He also owns a fine farm of 320 acres southwest of Maryville, and a fine residence. The Dr. is a member of Nodaway Lodge No. 470, A. F. and A. M. of Maryville, also of the Nodaway County Medical Society. He was married August 20, 1863, to Miss Nancy A. Dyer, daughter of Elijah C. Dyer, of Gosport, Indiana. She was born in that place September 28, 1845. They have five children : Charlie G., born April 27, 1867 ; Florence D., born June 18, 1868 ; Luella P., born Feb- ruary 20, 1872 ; Leslie E., born January 31, 1876; May E., born April 7, 1878. Himself and wife are active members of the M. E. Church of Maryville.
WILLIAM DENNY,
farmer and stock raiser, section 24, was born in Orange County, Indiana, on the 29th of June, 1831, and is the son of John M. and Diadama B. Denny. The former, a cabinet maker and millwright by occupation, was a native of Shelby County, Kentucky, and the latter was a Virginian by birth. William received a common school education, and, while young, he learned the trade of his father. When eighteen years of age, he commenced business for himself in Lawrence County, Indiana, and, in 1854, he moved to Warren County, Iowa, where he entered a piece of land. Soon after, having been burned out, he returned to Indiana, and in the spring of 1856, he came to Missouri, and has made this his home most of the time since. In 1861, he went back to Indiana, where, in August, 1862, he enlisted in Company A, Sixty-seventh Indiana Infantry,
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POLK TOWNSHIP.
and held the position of corporal for some time. He served until May 23, 1865, having participated in the battles of Munfordsville, Kentucky, Haines Bluff, Arkansas Post, was with Grant in his Vicksburg campaign, and then under General Banks in Louisiana. He was taken prisoner, and was soon after parolled, after which he took part in the battles of Forts Morgan, Gaines and Blakeley, Alabama. The whole regiment were taken prisoners at Munfordsville. Mr. Denny returned to this county again in 1867. He now owns 272 acres of land, well stocked, and one of the best residences in the vicinity. He now holds the posi- tion of school director. He was married October 23, 1853, to Margaret Storm, daughter of Peter Storm, of Indiana. They have had six chil- dren : James W., born June 2, 1855 ; Sarah A., born June 30, 1861, (now Mrs. J. Meek) ; John M., born May 2, 1866; Howard L., born March 7, 1868 ; Iva M., born April 3, 1871, and Lelia M., born November 1, 1879. Mr. D. is a member of Pickering Lodge, No. 472, A. F. and A. M. He is a Republican in politics, and belongs to the Methodist Church.
JOHN S. DISS,
farmer and stock raiser, section 28, was born on a farm in Perry County, Ohio, December 26, 1841, being a son of Peter Diss, a farmer by occupa- tion, and Catharine (Rose) Diss, both natives of France. He received a common school education, and made his home at his birthplace until six years of age, when, with his parents, he moved to Brown County, Illinois, in 1855. There he remained until May, 1869, when he came to Nodaway County, Missouri, and is now the owner of 165 acres of well improved and stocked land, upon which is a young orchard. He has held the office of constable, and has been school director most of the time since old enough. He is independent in politics, and a member of the Catholic Church. Mr. Diss was married November 14, 1865, to Miss Catharine Shonen, daughter of Peter Shonen, a native of Germany. They have seven children : Charles E., born September 3, 1866 ; William J., born January 18, 1869 ; Frank J., born June 11, 1871 ; Mary, born December I, 1872 ; Frederick, born April 5, 1874 ; Lizzie, born August 25, 1875, and Lewis, born August 2, 1879.
CAPTAIN SYLVESTER V. DOOLEY,
retired merchant, was born in Ireland. He was there educated, and when about fourteen years of age, he came to America, landed in New York, and located in Rome, New York, where he resided two or three years, and there learned the carpenter's trade. He then went to Chicago and was engaged at his trade for some five years, when he located in Peoria, Illinois. There he continued his occupation till 1861, when he
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BIOGRAPHICAL.
raised a company for the Union army, but the quota was filled before they were called into service. In August, 1862, Mr. D. raised the second company, Company C, One Hundred and Eighth Illinois Infantry, of which he served as Captain till the close of the war, having participated in many important battles, among which were Vicksburg, Champion's Hill, Arkansas Post, and many others. After peace was declared, he returned to Peoria, and resumed work at his trade, which he followed till 1868, when he moved to Livingston County, Illinois, and located on a farm. He was there engaged in farming till 1870, when he sold his property and came to Maryville. Here he began in the grocery busi- ness, and in this industry he was occupied more or less till January, 1882. Captain Dooley, was married February 7, 1862, to Miss Hannah Wash- ington, a native of Henry County, Illinois. They have three children : Richard M., Sylvester and Mary E. Mr. D. and family are members of the Catholic Church.
JOHN DOWELL,
farmer and stock raiser, section 13, was born in Knox County, Ohio, November 12, 1818. His father, Elijah Dowell, was a native of Virginia, and by occupation a farmer. The maiden name of his mother was Miss Mary Dunn. She was born in Virginia, but principally raised in Mus- kingum County, Ohio. John's birthplace being on the line between Knox and Licking Counties, he was reared in both counties. He received the benefits of a common school education, and when sixteen years of age he commenced to learn the carpenters' trade, which he fol- lowed exclusively until 1878, after having devoted forty-seven years to this occupation. He remained in the vicinity of his birth until 1855, when he moved to Wayne County, Iowa, and remained there some ten years. Thence to Fulton County, Illinois, and after fifteen years resi- dence there, he came to Maryville, Missouri, in the spring of 1881. He remained two months in town, then purchased his present farm and settled thereon on the 5th of July, 1881. He owns 120 acres of land, and has a good residence with a view of the City of Maryville some four miles distant. His orchard contains about 130 trees. During the war he was a strong Union man. He volunteered in Company D, Twenty-third Iowa Infantry, in 1862, and went into the barracks and remained some two months. His health failing, he was discharged and returned home. Politically he is a Democrat. He has filled the posi- tion of justice of the peace and other small offices. Mr. Dowell was married September 23, 1841, to Miss Mary J. Perkins, a daughter of William Perkins, of Ohio. She was born in Knox County, Ohio, on the 10th of December, 1826. They have five children living : William W., born December 27, 1846 ; Clarinda M., born April 14, 1851, (now Mrs. Henry Lechleiter); Martha L., born October 26, 1859 ; Thomas E., born
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POLK TOWNSHIP.
October 22, 1864 ; John W., born March 10, 1869. Mr. D., his wife, and youngest daughter are members of the M. E. Church.
GEORGE L. DRENNAN
is a native of Illinois, and was born in Sangamon County, November 27, 1843. His education was attained in the Lutheran University of Spring- field. He was reared on a farm and made agricultural pursuits his voca- tion while in his native county. In 1862 he enlisted in Company B, One Hundred and Fourteenth Illinois Infantry, and remained in service till the close of the war, when he returned to Sangamon County. In 1871 he came to Nodaway County, Missouri, and located on a farm in Green township, where he resided one year, and then moved to Maryville and embarked in the lumber business, which enterprise he continued till 1877. From that date till the beginning of the present year he has been in the stock business. He has just completed a fine residence at the head of Main Street, being in the most conspicuous locality in the city of Maryville, and which adds much to the appearance of the north portion of the town. He has served the city efficiently as a member of the coun- cil. He is a member of Maryville Lodge, No. 165, A. F. and A. M., also Nodaway Chapter U. D., R. A. M. Mr. Drennan has been twice mar- ried : First, January 11, 1870, to Miss E. Ridgeway, a daughter of Samuel L. and Charlotte (Stout) Ridgeway, who were both natives of Kentucky. Mrs. Drennan died November 24, 1871, leaving'one son, Franklin. Miss Mary Walker became his second wife October 16, 1876. She is a daugh- ter of Jesse H. and Eliza Walker, who were both natives of Ohio. Mrs. D. was born in Ross County, Ohio. They have two children : Ralph and an infant.
S. M. DUNN, M. D.,
was born in Jasper County, Indiana, July 30, 1830, and is the son of Samuel M. Dunn, a physician of considerable prominence. His mother's maiden name was Nancy Walker. His parents moved to Iroquois County, Illinois, while he was young, and spent his early days on a farm. He commenced reading medicine early in life, with his father as pre- ceptor. In 1852, he removed to Polk County, Iowa, and settled in Car- lisle. The following year he changed to Decatur County, Iowa, and while living here was elected clerk of the circuit court, holding the office four years. He attended medical lectures at the Rush Medical College, and was graduated in 1862. In 1863, Dr. Dunn came to Maryville, Mis- souri, where he has since been engaged in active practice. He is a member of the faculty of the North Western Medical College, in St. Joseph. He was married, in 1853, to Miss Nancy J. Harah, of Iowa. They have a family of four children : Arthur C., Nanme A., Cora B. and Joseph M.
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BIOGRAPHICAL.
B. A. DUNN,
. editor of the Maryville Republican, the leading exponent in Nodaway County of the principles and interests of the political party whose name is embodied in its title, was born in Hillsboro County, Michigan, August 4, 1842. His father, Archibald Dunn, was a farmer by occupation. His mother's maiden name was Sallie A. Monroe. She was a native of the State of New York. At the age of six years, B. A. moved with his parents to Cass County, where he received his primary education in the common schools of the same. He served in the army during the civil war, having enlisted in Company C, Ninth Indiana Infantry, joining his regiment at Shiloh, and participating in all the engagements in which his regiment served, including sixteen pitched battles and sieges, besides skirmishes without number. At the battle of Chickamauga he was wounded by a spent ball, and again at Nashville, in which action he was crippled for life. At the close of the war he engaged in teaching, and subsequently took a full course of study in Hillsdale College, from which he was graduated in the class of 1870. August, 1871, he moved to Nod- away County, Missouri, and settling in Maryville for the period of four years, filled the position of superintendent of public schools of that city. In 1875 he concluded to retire from the profession of teaching, and con- nected himself with the Republican, of which ably conducted and influ- ential journal he is now editor-in-chief. January 25, 1873, he married Miss Ida Saunders, daughter of James H. Saunders, a prominent mer- chant of Maryville. They have three children : Roland, Roy and Baby.
WILLIAM DUNCAN,
farmer and stock raiser, section 34, is the son of James and Annie (Jobson) Duncan, both natives of England, and was born on the 8th of June, 1841, in Workworth, Northumberland County, England. His father being a Presbyterian minister, William received excellent educa- tional advantages. He immigrated to the United States in the spring of 1853, landing at Portland, Maine, and soon went to Montreal, and from there to Canada West. He resided some sixty miles north of Port Huron, until the spring of 1872, when he came to Missouri, and located in Nodaway County. At the age of twenty-four years, he commenced in life for himself, by first teaching. This he continued for six years, and, after coming here, was engaged in the same profession during the winter, and farming during the summer months. After obtaining con- siderable stock and partially improving his land, he gave his whole attention to agricultural pursuits, and, as a reward of his industry and ecomomy, he now owns 160 acres of improved laud, not surpassed in the township for stock purposes. There is a good orchard on the place.
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POLK TOWNSHIP.
He takes an active interest in education, and has been school director several terms. He was formerly a member of the Patrons of Husbandry, and also of the Sons of Temperance. Mr. Duncan was married in December, 1866, to Miss Jane Wells, daughter of Thomas Wells, a resi- dent of Canada. They have five children : Harry, born November I, 1867; Arthur, born September 30, 1869; Annie, born June 6, 1872 ; Dora, born August 12, 1874, and Charlie, born September 22, 1875. Mr. D. is a strong Republican in politics, and is a member of the Presbyte- rian Church, of Maryville.
HENRY ECKERT,
farmer and stock raiser, section 31, was born on the 19th of March, 1836, near Carlisle, Cumberland County, Pennsylvania, and is the son of John and Elizabeth (Kenor) Eckert, both natives of York County, Pennsylva- nia. Henry spent his youth at his birthplace, on a farm, attending the common schools to some extent. In the spring of 1862, he enlisted in Company A, Seventh Pennsylvania Infantry, and served for three years, participating in the battles of Antietam, Gettysburg, Fredericksburg, the second battle of Bull Run, and many other engagements. He was mustered out at Chicago, after which he returned home, and soon moved west, locating in Whiteside County, Illinois, where he resided five years. He then moved to Marshall County, Iowa, and after living there one year went to Kansas, coming to Nodaway County, Missouri, in the spring of 1871. He now owns 210 acres of improved land, well stocked, and with a young orchard. Mr. Eckert is Republican in politics. He was married January 1, 1873, to Miss Madora Conrad, daughter of Cassimere Conrad, of this county. They have one child, Charley, born January 20, 1878.
JAMES I. EDDY
is of the firm of Eddy & Smith, grain dealers. The principal office is at Maryville, while their branch offices are at Mineola, Lawrence, and Sol- omon, Iowa. At Silver City, Iowa, the firm is F. Smith & Co .; at Imo- gene, Iowa, Smith, Richardson & Co .; Shenandoah, Iowa, Eddy & Smith ; at Bedford, Iowa, Smith & Williams. James I. Eddy was born in Lansingburg, New York, December 5, 1842. His father was a native of New York State. His mother's maiden name was Catherine Ryn- ders, and she was also born in New York State. James was reared to manhood at his birthplace, spending his boyhood days in the city and receiving good educational advantages. He completed his education at Bryant & Stratton's Business College of Troy, New York, and fitted himself for a mercantile life. In 1864 he started out in business for himself, and engaged in the manufacture of lamp black at his native vil-
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BIOGRAPHICAL.
lage in partnership with his brother. They still carry on the manufac- tory at that place under the name of James I. Eddy & Bro. Mr. E. emigrated west in June, 1873, and settled at Maryville, where he opened a real estate and loan office in partnership with Mr. Fayette Smith. They continued to do a large and extensive business until 1879, when they engaged in the grain trade, and now ship about one million bushels per year. They have six elevators, one each at Blanchard, Brigham, Shenandoah, Imogene, Solomon, and Silver City. They also own a large dairy farm adjoining the city limits on the east consisting of some 600 acres, on which is kept 100 milch cows. These supply the city with milk. Their farm is the largest and finest in Northwest Missouri. Mr. Eddy was married in 1867 to Miss Carrie A. M. Kelsey, a native of the same place as her husband, and an old school mate. In May, 1878, she died. Mr. E. is an active member of the M. E. Church of Maryville. He is a public spirited and enterprising citizen, and helps every good cause by his support.
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