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 76
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A. T. ELLIS,
of the firm of Ellis & Prather, one of the leading business men of Nod- away County, was born in Kentucky August 21, 1843. His father, Lean- der T. Ellis, was a native of North Carolina, and his mother's maiden name was Harriet Hunter. She was born in Virginia. In the fall of 1843 the family removed to the Platte Purchase and made their home for some years in Buchanan County. There the father of the subject of this memoir, served as sheriff of the county, and one term as assessor. They moved from Buchanan County to Andrew County, and after a residence of two years came to Nodaway County, in 1855. A. T. spent his early days on a farm and in attending school. In 1862 he commenced his mercantile experience in selling drugs, and has been in the business con- tinuously in this line more years than any man in the county. The trade of the firm is large, extending beyond the limit of their acquaintance, and the favorable treatment of their patrons has given them an enviable reputation. No firm has been more closely identified with the interest of the county, or contributed more to the good name of the city of Mary- ville. Mr. Ellis was married December 22, 1865, to Miss Amanda Allen, a native of Iowa. Their family consists of three children : Mary, Cora B. and Albert T. They have lost three. He is a member of the Masonic order and belongs to Maryville Lodge, No. 165.
W. C. ELLISON,
of the firm of Beech & Ellison, attorneys, is one of the rising members of the Nodaway County bar. He is a native of Missouri, and was born in Lewis County, October 1, 1853, and is the son of the Hon. James Elli-
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son, a prominent lawyer and for years Judge of the Twenty-seventh Judicial Circuit. His mother's maiden name was Martha Cowgill. She was born in Kentucky. His father was a native of Ohio, but principally reared in Kentucky. The youth of W. C. Ellison was spent in attending school, and upon making choice of the practice of law as a profession he commenced reading under the direction of his father. After a most thorough preparation he was admitted to the bar in 1873. He soon removed to East St. Louis, where he remained until 1880, then coming to Nodaway County, where he formed an association with S. R. Beech. Mr. Ellison married Miss Laura Lucas, a daughter of Dr. J. R. Lucas, of Kentucky, in October, 1880. They have one son : George Robb.
J. V. EMBREE,
farmer and school teacher, section 25, was born in McConnelsville, Morgan County, Ohio, February 5, 1838, and is the son of Israel and and Mary A. (Vernon) Embree. The former, a farmer by occupation, was a native of Maryland, and the latter of Belmont County, Ohio. J. V. passed his youth in his native county, on a farm, and received good educational advantages at Albany and Oakdale. He also learned the carpenter trade, which he followed to some extent. He spent three years in Westmoreland County, Pennsylvania, and, about the year 1861, he commenced teaching. In the spring of 1872, he came to Missouri, locating in this county, and is now the owner of ninety acres of land, well stocked and improved, besides a house and lot in Maryville. An experience of twenty years as an instructor, has given him a reputation enjoyed by but few. Mr. Embree was married September 26, 1866, to Keziah R. Newlon, daughter of B. R. Newlon, of Pennsylvania. They have five children : Francis N., born July 20, 1867 ; Jane G., born Octo- ber 9, 1869; Mary H., born May 21, 1873; Edith G., born October 10, 1875, and Brintnall R., born January 21, 1878. Mr. E. is Republican in politics and a member of the M. E. Church.
J. F. FARMER.
proprietor of the only exclusive boot and shoe house of Maryville. is a native of Virginia, and when four years of age, was brought by his parents to Fairfield, Jefferson County, Iowa, where J. F. was reared to manhood, receiving the benefits of a good English education. His father was a banker, and the son assisted his father in the bank for a time, and afterwards commenced his mercantile experience. In 1881, he came to Maryville, and embarked in his present business. His stock is large and well assorted, representing the leading standard manufac- tures, and he already is doing a large and satisfactory business,
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BUFORD FARRIS,
a representative citizen of Nodaway County, is one of the prominent thoroughbred stock raisers of Northwest Missouri. He was born in Washington County, Kentucky, March 1I, 1832. His father was Isaiah Farris, and his mother's maiden name was Elizabeth McDowell, both natives of Kentucky. His father's occupation was that of a stock dealer, and the son early formed a taste for the business, and has pursued it as an occupation. His experiment in his native state became an assured fact, and in selecting a wider field for his exertions in this direction he selected Nodaway County, Missouri, and in 1874 made this county his home, and there is no one industry that has done more to give a reputa- tion to the county, and in making it so prominent, East and West, than the interest taken in its fine stock, and to those who have had the taste and enterprise in prosecuting this business is deserving the gratitude of all who are benefitted by the county's growth and prosperity. His herd embraces sixty head, representing strains of the best families, at the head of which are " Rose of Sharon," " Young Mary," "Louan," "Ruby's Arabellas," "Josephines," and others, all Bates stock, rich in Dutchess blood, and all eligible to the highest record in standard herd books. Mr. Farris was married June 16, 1864, to Miss Mary Williams, of Howard County, Kentucky. Their family consists of three children : James T. Buford I. and John C.
DR. B G. FORD
was born July 8, 1824, in Pulaski County, Kentucky, near a town named Somerset. His father at one time was wealthy, being one of the leading citizens of his neighborhood. Bourne spent his boyhood days on his father's farm, and received that vigor of physical life and purity of mind incident to country life. He obtained as good an education as could be acquired in the neighboring schools at that time, and afterward studied medicine with Dr. William Stone, a celebrated physician of Somerset, who subsequently went to California, and continued the practice of med- icine there. After finishing his studies Dr. Ford began the practice of medicine in his own neighborhood, and continued it for several years. In the spring of 1850 he went across the plains to California, where he remained eight months. During all that time he suffered much from inflammatory rheumatism, and was disabled thereby from engaging in any active pursuits. He then returned to Kentucky, and resumed the practice of medicine in his old field. In 1853 he came to Nodaway County, and settled in Maryville, where he entered into the practice of medicine. In 1856 he moved to the present site of Barnard, and bought a mill, which he superintended for about two years. He then moved back to Maryville, and continued the practice of medicine until 1860,
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when he was elected County Clerk of Nodaway County. He held this office about seven years, but voluntarily resigned it during the war, Mr. Joseph Jackson becoming his successor. By his own exertions and by judicious investments in real estate, Dr. Ford acquired considerable property. After resigning the office of county clerk he engaged in an active business life, manufacturing brick and erecting many buildings in Maryville, in connection with some practice of his profession. In 1875 he was elected justice of the peace, and re-elected in 1877, and held the office until the time of his death, which occurred September 1, 1878. At the time of the doctor's demise, all the Maryville papers contained fitting tributes to his personal worth and character. From many such notices we quote the following from the Maryville Democrat of that date: "It can truthfully be said that B. G. Ford was a man respected by all who knew him. Honest himself, he believed all others to be so, and hence could be easily imposed upon. He had large benevolence, and any object of charity, if in his opinion worthy, could command the last cent in his pocket. His was a tender, generous heart, always open and sus- ceptible to appeals for sympathy. *% * He possessed many noble traits which will be cherished in the hearts of those with whom he was most intimately related in this life. He was a good man, one respected and honored by all who knew him. Such was Bourne G. Ford." July 30, 1854, Dr. Ford married Miss Lucinda Lemmons, of Maryville, who still resides there. As the result of this union there have been born nine children, whose names according to their ages are as follows : Medora, Eliza, Katie, Elizabeth, Ionia, Charlie, Otta, Mattie and Helen.
JAMES S. FRANK,
of the firm of J. S. & M. C. Frank, dealers in real estate and negotiators ot loans, is a native of Owen County, Kentucky, and was born Novem- ber 7, 1830. He was reared with a mercantile experience and followed it for many years. Removing from his birthplace to Carroll County when young, he continued to reside there until his removal to Nodaway County in 1881. He was married in 1852 to Miss Eva P. Craig. By this. union there are seven children : Milton C., associated with his father in business ; John E. and Joshua C., living in DeKalb County, Missouri ; Eva, James D., Inda C., and Laura. Milton C. Frank was born in Car- roll County, Kentucky, December 8, 1852, and was educated at Wash- ington and Lee University. He studied law and was graduated from the law department of the Kentucky University in January, 1874. In March, of the same year, he came to Nodaway County, and settled first at Graham. After a residence there of eighteen months he located in Maryville. He was married December 7, 1875, to Miss A. Kavanaugh, who was born and reared in Nodaway County. They have three chil- dren : Eva, Archer, and James S.
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JOHN P. FRAZEE,
farmer and stock raiser, section 4, was born on a farm, in Richland County, Ohio, April 16, 1832, and was the son of Joshua and Anna (Pitman) Frazee, the former a native of Pennsylvania, and the latter of Ohio. When eight years of age, John accompanied his parents to Andrew County, Missouri, where he was reared, receiving a common school education. He there passed through many hardships, incident to pioneer life, and, in 1840, his father went to Liberty, Clay County, Missouri, for corn for bread, being obliged to pay one dollar per bushel for it. The family, in the meantime, were out of bread, and had to live on buttermilk for two days. In the spring of 1853, he came to Noda- way County, and, in 1855, he entered a portion of land where he now resides. On this he settled when the county was sparsely populated, and was among the pioneers here. He now owns 320 acres of land, and makes stock raising his principal business, having excellent facilities for that occupation-feed lot, running water, etc. He has an orchard of 400 apple trees, and small fruit, peach trees, grapes, etc. Mr. Frazee served in the Home Guards during the war. He was married December 22, 1870, to Miss Celia Shanks, daughter of William Shanks, of this county. She was born December 6, 1846. They have four children : Rosella M., born May 1, 1872 ; Lawrence H., born February 21, 1875 ; Chester J., born May 19, 1878, and Alpha W., born February 1, 1881. Mr. F. has held the position of road overseer. He is a Greenbacker in his political preferences, and a member of the Christian Church.
REV. ALFRED C. GANN,
farmer and stock raiser, section 31, was born in Union County, Pennsyl- vania, on the 14th of April, 1837. His father, Christian Gann, was a native of Pennsylvania, and by occupation a shoemaker. His mother, whose maiden name was Annie E. Cummings, was born in Pennsylva- nia. Alfred was raised at his birthplace, spending his boyhood days on the farm and receiving his education at Lewistown Academy and at Williamsport. He then turned his attention to teaching, and taught for some fifteen terms. About this time he traveled from one place to another as a Methodist preacher, and served for two years in the Balti- more Conference. In 1865 he went to Bellevue, Ohio, thence to Flat Rock, same state, where for two years he taught the high school at that place. On the 8th of March, 1866, he married Miss Hannah M. Close, a daughter of Daniel Close, of Bellevue, Ohio. They immigrated west in the fall of 1868 and settled in Andrew County, Missouri, about six miles north of Savannah, remaining until 1879. He was one of the most active workers while he resided there, and assisted in organizing a church
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and erecting a $2,000 building on a part of his farm. Mr. Gann located on his present farm in Nodaway County on the 14th of February, 1879. He owns 360 acres of improved land, has a fine residence situated a short distance south of the city of Maryville, and also a good wind-mill and creamery, fine orchard, etc. His farm is well stocked with graded stock. When nine years of age his mother died, and he went on the bench with his father to learn the shoemaker's trade at the age of ten. He followed that business until seventeen, working at odd times. He is a self-made man, and has worked his own way up through life. He is at present largely interested in buying and selling stock. Mr. G. still holds the position of local preacher in the M. E. Church, and preaches twice a month, gratuitously. Mr. and Mrs. Gann have had two children : Byron L. C., born June 6, 1867, and Christian Le Grand, born October I, 1870. They are active christian workers, and hold their membership in the church at Maryville.
W. T. GARRETT,
was born in Jackson County, Indiana, April 18, 1840. His father, David Garrett, was a native of Kentucky, while his mother, formerly Miss Elizabeth Sparks, was a native of Indiana. Mr. T. was reared to manhood at his birthplace, spending his boyhood days on the farm and receiving the benefits of a common school education. When nineteen he commenced to learn the tinners' trade, and served a two-years apprenticeship. On the 20th of August, 1861, he enlisted in Company F, Eighth Indiana Cavalry, and took part in twenty-nine battles, among which were Green Run, Shiloh, Siege of Corinth, Prairieville, Stone River, the Atlanta Campaign, and many others. He was discharged on the 30th of October, 1864. He afterward went as a volunteer under General Kilpatrick on his raid. He was wounded in the head at the battle of Stone River. At the close of the war Mr. G. turned his atten- tion to farming and stock raising in his native county. He started west on the 28th of February, 1868, and landed at Maryville March Ist, of that year. Here he engaged in farming and stock raising, and since that time has improved six farms, purchasing uncultivated land, improv- ing and selling it. He owns a fine farm of 160 acres adjacent to the city of Maryville, part of which lays inside the fair grounds. He also has fifteen acres inside the town limits. He has a good residence in the southeast part of town, and is quite largely interested in the raising of Poland China and Berkshire hogs. On the 7th of December, 1881, Mr. Garrett became associated with Messrs. Airy & Son in the grocery busi- ness. They have a large and complete stock and do a flourishing busi- ness. He is a member of Maryville Lodge, No. 165, A. F. & A. M. Politically he is a Republican. He has been twice married ; first, on
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the 18th of April, 1864, to Miss Sarah J. Stafford, a native of Jackson County, Indiana. She died in April, 1873, and left two children : Charles, born June 24, 1865, and Oliver, born July 8, 1867 ; two are deceased. He married again September 5, 1873, to Mrs. Josephine Forbes, a native of Jackson County, Indiana. She has one child by her former husband, Elizabeth E. Forbes, born in July, 1861, (now Mrs. C. H. Airy, of Maryville.) By his second wife Mr. G. has four children : Berdella, born in April, 1875 ; Lula, born in April, 1876; Jennie, born in March, 1878, and Frank L., born in April, 1880. Mrs. G. is a member of the M. E. Church of Maryville.
JAMES B. GATES,
farmer and stock raiser, section 13, was born near Oshkosh, Wisconsin, on the 19th of May, 1851, and is a son of S. G. and Eva (Fitzgerald) Gates, the former a farmer by occupation, and a native of New York, and the latter of Pennsylvania. When three years of age James was taken to Muscatine County, Iowa, by his parents, they locating about ten miles west of Muscatine. There he was principally reared as a farmer boy. At the age of twenty-one, he commenced on his own account, and moved on a rented farm. In 1874, he came to Missouri, and on the 26th of April of that year, he located in Nodaway County, where he now owns a farm of eighty acres, well watered and stocked, upon which is a young orchard of 225 trees, and an excellent barn. He has earned his own way through life, and is worthy of his success. March 31, 1874, Mr. Gates was married to Miss Minnie C. Moore, daugh- ter of John Moore, a native of Jones County, Iowa. They have two children : Laura A., born September 23, 1876, and Lilly M., born Novem- ber 18, 1880. Mr. G. is a Republican. He has taken great interest in educational matters, and is a well informed man.
LEMUEL E. GAULT,
farmer and stock raiser, section 21, was born on a farm in Blount County, East Tennessee, on the 29th day of November, 1840, and is the son of John and Mary (Logan) Gault, both natives of that county. Lemuel was brought up on a farm at his birthplace, and received a common school education. When twenty-six years of age, he left his home and started west, locating in Andrew County, in the fall of 1866, from whence, after a short stay, he came to this county in the spring of 1868, and settled where he now resides. The land was wild prairie, and he was among the first to make his home on the prairie. He at present owns 160 acres of land, improved and stocked, upon which is an orchard of 140 trees, and a maple grove two and a-half acres in extent. Mr. Gault was mar- ried November 5, 1873, to Miss Mary J. Roberts, daughter of Andrew
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Roberts, a native of Virginia. They have four children : Maudie, born August 4, 1874 ; Lawrence, born November 19, 1875 ; Monte Verdie, born December 12, 1877, and Ica E., born January 15, 1879. Mr. Gault has held the office of school director. Politically, he is a Republican. He was brought up religiously in the Presbyterian faith.
T. W. GAUNT,
nurseryman, was born in Staffordshire, England, on the 4th of April, 1830. His father, Thomas Gaunt, and his mother, whose maiden name was Catherine Wooley, were also both natives of England. The former kept a fruit and flower garden. T. W. was reared to manhood in his native country, and received the benefits of a good business education. He started for America on the 3d of August, 1853, and landed in New York City on the 12th of September of the same year, and remained with some friends in the city that winter. In the spring of 1845, he immigrated west to McDonough County, Illinois, where he was engaged with Smith & Franklin, nurserymen, remaining there some twelve months. They then desired to start a nursery in Andrew County, Missouri. Mr. G. came west to take charge of it, arriving in April, 1855. He came from there to Nodaway County in 1857, and started a nursery at Maryville. He now has one of the finest nurseries in Northwestern Missouri. He owns over seventy-two acres of land adjoining the town plat of Mary- ville; has a handsome brick residence, and keeps a large and well selected assortment of the best varieties of trees, to which he is con- stantly adding. Since becoming a resident of this county he has taken a leading part in its building and improving. During the war he served in the Enrolled Missouri Militia, and held the position of captain of Company G, Thirty-sixth Regiment Missouri Militia. He is a member of Nodaway Lodge, No. 470, A. F. and A. M., of Maryville. In his polit- ical views he is a staunch Republican. He is a strong temperance advocate, and every good cause receives his support. His capital in commencing life was an excellent constitution and willing hands. He early determined to leave the mother country, and laid his plans to run away when eleven years old, but did not leave home for America until twenty-three years old. Mr. Gaunt was married January 20, 1861, to Miss Mary Ann Castillo, daughter of Michael Castillo, a native of Ken- tucky. They have four children: Josephine, born October 28, 1861 ; Martha J., born December 12, 1863; Carrie, born July 8, 1865; and Rubie, born May 26, 1867.
H. H. GEIGER,
postmaster, Maryville. There are few persons in Nodaway County who as men are more highly esteeemd by all who know him, than H. H.
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Geiger. He is a native of Rockville, Parke County, Indiana, and was born April 9, 1840. His father, Martin, was a native of Pennsylvania, and settled in Southern Indiana at an early day. He was a blacksmith by trade. The Geigers are of German extraction. The subject of this sketch was reared and educated in his native state, there residing until 1862, when he tendered his services to the Union cause, enlisting in Company A, Eighty-fifth Indiana Volunteer Infantry. He passed through the usual routine of warfare for a number of months, when he was honorably discharged, on account of sickness. In 1865, he came to Missouri, sojourning temporarily in Jackson County, and took up his abode in Maryville, in the spring of 1866, here engaging in the saw mill business. In 1870, he was elected county treasurer, serving in this important office two years, after which, for a year and a half, he was ยท occupied in the stock trade. In 1873, he was appointed postmaster. Mr. Geiger was married, in 1871, to Miss M. S. Davis, of Nodaway County. By this union they have had two children, Bessie and an infant. He is a member of the A. O. U. W.
JOSEPH GERHART,
farmer and sheep raiser, section 21, was born on the river Main, Bavaria, Germany, on the 30th of May, 1830, and is the son of George and Mar- garet (Breckner) Gerhart, both natives of Germany. The former was a blacksmith and farmer by occupation. Joseph received a common school education, spending his youthful days in his birthplace. When fourteen years of age, he commenced to learn the cooper trade, which he followed for about sixteen years. In 1847, he crossed the ocean, was fifty-two days on the voyage, and at the end of that time he landed at Quebec, Canada. He soon went to Marietta, Washington County, Ohio, remained there two years, and then located in Fairfield County, where during the summer seasons he farmed, and worked at his trade in the winter months. There he remained until the spring of 1870, when he came to Missouri, and located in Nodaway County, on the place where he now resides, four miles west of Maryvilie. At that time there was but one farm between his place and the town. He now owns 170 acres of land, well improved and watered. He raises considerable stock, and is greatly interested in the raising of sheep. Upon the farm is a good, bearing orchard. Mr. Gerhart has filled the various township offices. During the war, with others, he was after John Morgan, on his raid through Ohio. He was married January 1, 1852, to Mary M. Coney, daughter of Frederick Coney, a native of Germany. They have eight children : John, born in Novem- ber, 1854; George H., born February 8, 1856; William, born September 2, 1858; Mary E., born March 29, 1861 ; Sarah, born December 29, 1862, (now Mrs. William Hardesty); Margaret, born July 24, 1865, (now Mrs.
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James Edgar); Lucy, born February 2, 1868, and Frederick, born Sep- tember 6, 1877. One is deceased. Mr. G. is a Greenbacker in politics. He belongs to the Catholic Church of Maryville.
DR. J. T. GLAZE,
physician and surgeon, Wilcox: This gentleman is a native of Wash- ington County, Iowa, and born July 14, 1855, being a son of James and Melvina (Copeland) Glaze. The former is a native of Ripley County, Ind., born in 1828, and the mother is a native of the same county, born in 1830. After they were married they settled in Louisa County, Iowa, and moved to Washington County in 1854, locating on a farm, which they improved, being among the early settlers of that county. Here Mrs. Glaze died in 1857. J. T. spent his boyhood days and received his common schooling in Washington County. In 1874, he entered Howe's Academy at Mount Pleasant, Iowa, where he remained till 1876, when he entered Bryant & Stratton's Business College at Burlington, Iowa. In the fall of the same year he began the study of medicine under Dr. C. Brown, a graduate of Keokuk Medical College, and Dr. J. Hull, of Bellevue Hospital, New York. He attended lectures in the winters of 1879-80 at Iowa State Medical College at Iowa City, Iowa, and in the spring of 1880 attended a course of lectures at Rush Medical College, Chicago, and returning to Ely, Iowa, he practiced till the fall of the same year, when he again went to the Iowa State Medical College, from which he graduated March 4, 1881. He then located at Wilcox, on the Wabash Railway, in Nodaway County, Missouri. Dr. Glaze entered into partnership with G. H. Booth and opened a fine stock of drugs. He married November 27, 1877, Miss Mary J. Harding, a native of Mus- kingum County, Ohio, born in 1853. Mrs. G. is the daughter of Thomas and Elvira (Seers) Harding. Dr. and Mrs. G. are both members of the M. E. Church. The Dr. was appointed postmaster of Wilcox January 5, 1882.
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