USA > Missouri > Pike County > The history of Pike County, Missouri : an encyclopedia of useful information, and a compendium of actual facts > Part 13
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Benjamin H. Watts, farmer and stock-raiser; post-office, Paynesville; a son of Washington and Mary Watts; was born in Pike county, May 1, 1835. His parents were among the early settlers of the county. He lived with his parents until he reached the age of manhood. He was married April 12, 1835, to Miss Madocia McCune, of Pike county. By this union he had one child, Charley, who died at the age of eight months. His wife died March 27, 185S. He was again married, December 18, 1861, to Miss Elizabeth J. Mackey, and by this union they have one child, a son, Fred Mackey Watts. Our subject and his wife are members of the Baptist Church.
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George Wells. This gentleman was born in Pike county, two miles south of Clarksville, on the farm formerly owned by his father, and still in the possession of the family on the 27th day of August, 1832. IJe im- proved the opportunities of his youth, and succeeded, with bat poor school facilities, in acquiring a good English education. When quite young, and
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HISTORY OF PIKE COUNTY.
even before he had attained his majority, he applied himself to the learning of a trade, and for eight years afterward continued to follow the business of a blacksmith. At the end of this time he engaged in teaching and for eight years successfully conducted some of the best country schools in the county. Finally he settled on a farm, to which avocation he now devotes his ener- gies, giving some attention to the raising of stock, to which his farm is well adapted. The subject of our sketch was married to Miss Mary B. Price, daughter of Bird Price, of Pike county, on September 17, 1861. They have two children living, a boy and a girl, and to their education and moral train- ing the attention of the parents is specially directed. Both Mr. and Mrs. Wells are consistent members of the Christian Church, of which our sub- ject has been the clerk for many years.
James R. Wells. Post-office Clarksville. Among the successful and enterprising farmers and stock dealers of Calumet township may be men- tioned Mr. Wells, who was born in Pike county, Missouri, July 11, 1830. George Wells, the father of James R., was born November 10, 1797, in Kentucky. Emigrated to Missouri in 180S, having come to Missouri with his parents when a small boy. His father, the grandfather of James R., was Rich- ard Wells, a native of Kentucky; George Wells, father of James R., when nearly grown joined what was then known as the Missouri Rrangers, to fight the Indians. During his term of service he met with a serions accident by the explosion of gunpowder which destroyed the sight of one eye and greatly impaired the other. After the expiration of his term of service he was em- ployed in buying and driving cattle to different points for the government. Ile was united in marriage, November 7, 1822, to Elizabeth Sherwood, a ( native of North Carolina; she was born February 5, 1803. He afterward became an extensive landholder and stock trader, and was widely known and universally esteemed. His death occurred September 23, 1849. his noble wife dying June 25, 1877, after rearing a family of nine children, six of whom still survive. James R. Wells, our subjeet, spent his youth on a farm and was educated at the common subscription schools, but being a great lover of books much of his spare time on the farm was spent in read- ing. Arriving at maturity he engaged in teaching school, which he fol- lowed some two years. In 1853 he assisted in driving a drove of cattle through to California, over what was known as the overland route. This doubtless had much to do in creating a desire to trade in stock. After return- ing to his native county he began business on his own account. In 1861 he was united in marriage to Miss Fanny I. Patton, daughter of James R. Patton of Paynesville. The mother of Mrs. Wells was a native of North
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Carolina, and came to Missouri in the year 1820, her father being from Keu- tacky, and died in 1856. Mrs. Wells during her life devoted much time to teaching school; she is a strong advocate of education, and a lady well versed in subjects in general. The happy union has been blessed with eight children, seven of whom are living: viz., Lulie E., Alva S., Mattie J. Thomas II., Minnie O., Ada A., and James R., Jr. Mr. Wells has not only been an active farmer and trader but has always taken a prominent part in politics, and is well versed in all the lending politieal subjects of the day. He and his wife are both consistent members of the C. P. Church, and are possessed of that spirit of kindness and hospitality that so generally characterized the early settlers of Pike county.
William Wells. Post-office, Clarksville, Missouri. Farmer. Mir. Wells, the eldest son of George and Elizabeth Wells, was born in Pike county, Missouri, on the 31st of January, 1824. His youth was spent on his father's farm, and he received a limited education at the common schools of that day. He spent much of his time in assisting his father clearing and opening a farm, which was heavily timbered. On attaining his majority he engaged in farming. In 1852, during the gold excitement, he went to Cali- fornia, where he was engaged in mining some three years, during which time he had many successes and reverses, In the winter of 1855 he re- turned to his former home and again engaged in farming, which he has fol- lowed till the present. For many years he was engaged in trading in hogs and cattle. He has been twice married; first to Miss Martha J. McCoy, of this county, who died in 1865. leaving a family of nine children, all of whom are living. In 1870 Mr. Wells was married to his present wife, who was Amanda M., daughter of Win. Luck, and the widow of Cannon Johnson, who was a native of Tennessee. Mr. Wells has a choice little farin of 150 acres of good land, well adapted for growing wheat and all kinds of grain. Personally, Mr. Wells is a plain, honest, unassuming man; is a good Mason, and belongs to Lodge No. 17, and he and his wife are both consistent mem- bers of the Baptist Church.
Byron D. Woodsen, farmer, post-office Paynesville, was born in Am- herst county, Virginia, January 31, 1833, and came to Pike county, Mis- souri, with his parents, William and Sarah E. Woodson, in the year 1836, alid settled in Calumet township, where, about two years after, his mother died, and his father died in 1856. Our subject was reared in Paynesville, and educated in the common schools. In 1845 he was apprenticed to B. B. Shipp, a blacksmith, with whom he served a long term, thoroughly mas- tering the trade, after which he attended school for a season, and then 40
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HISTORY OF PIKE COUNTY.
taught school for a time. In 1857 he opened a blacksmith shop at Paynes- ville, which he operated for twenty years with remarkably good success. By honest and fair dealing with his pations he won the confidence and re- spect of the entire community. He has been twice married, first on Oeto- ber 19, 1856, to Miss E. O. Mulherin, a daughter of John D. and Theodocia Mulheriu, who were among the first settlers of this part of the county. She was a consistent member of the Christian Church. By this union they had one child, John, who died in infancy. Mrs. Woodson died November Jo, 1857. Our subject was again married October 29, 1859, to Miss Lucy C. Sharp, of St. Louis county. From this union were born five children, four of who died in infancy, and one grew to maturity, Lillie B. Our subject was again bereaved by the loss of his second wife. December 15, 1874; slie was also a member of the Christian Church. In 1877 he gave up his busi- ness at Paynesville and turned his attention to farming, which avocation he has since followed. He has two fine farios, containing respectively 180 and 117 acres, which are under a high state of cultivation. Mr. Woodson is a member of the Masonic order and the Christian Church. As may be inferred from the above Mr. Woodson is a self-made man, and has always given liberally to every enterprise that would benefit the community, and bas oc- enpied many important positions which were for the benefit of the Christian, moral, and educational interests of the county.
CHAPTER XVII.
BUFFALO TOWNSHIP.
Topography-Streams-Stone-Springs-Settlements und Occupations-Road Facilities- Homes and Residences-Churches-Buffalo Cemetery. LOUISIANA-La Crosse Lumber Company-The Freeman Box and Wooden Ware Manufacturing Company-The City Foundry-Louisiana Foundry-MeCure, Palmer & Knight Tobacco Factory-The Sam Reid Tobacco Factory-Hassler Bros. Vinegar Works-Cigar Factory, Siebert & Co .- The Addison Tinsley Tobacco Manufacturing Co .- Louisiana Public Schools- Colored Schools-Mccune College-Churches-Civic Societies-Catholic Cemetery-Hc- breve Cemetery.
This township is situated in the eastern portion of Pike county, border- ing upon the Mississippi. In size, except Calumet, it contains the greatest area of arable land of any township in the county. In its general topogra- phy it is very like Calumet, which has been more minutely described. Along the river are the bluffs, and back of these the foot-hills. Ranges
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of knobs stretch out in different directions in many portions of the town- ship, and between these are the fertile valleys, lying, for the most part, along the creeks and other water-courses. The bottoms are usually narrow, but the uplands are, for the most part. productive, while many of the hills have been brought into cultivation and yield large and profitable crops. The township is well watered and sufficiently rolling to receive all the advan- tages of the most perfect drainage.
STREAMS.
The principal streams are the Noix, which flows from west to east through the entire township and finds its confluence with the Mississippi near the south- ern limits of the city of Louisiana; and Buffalo Creek, which drains the south- ern portion of the township, flowing in a like direction, and also emptying into the Mississippi. Clear Creek, a short but beautiful stream, is situated between Buffalo and the Noix. In the northern portion of the township are Grassy and Sugar creeks, while in the extreme northeast flows the sluggish waters of the historic and far-famed " Salt River." Most of these streams continue to ruu during the greater portion of the year, and at no tiene is there any scarcity of water for stock or other purposes. Along all these streams the lands are unusually rich and productive, though it is generally believed that the best portion of the township is found along its southern border and near where it is touched by the alluvial lands of Calumet.
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STONE.
In almost every part of the township stone, admirably adapted to build- ing purposes, is to be found, while near Louisiana quarries of limestone have been opened and something attempted in the manufacture of lime for the markets of the country.
SPRINGS.
There are some very bold and valuable springs situated in different por- tions of the township. On either side, north and south, of Louisiana, is a spring whose flow is constant the entire year, and whose water supply would be more than sufficient to meet the wants of all her citizens were both the river and cisterns removed. In the southern portion of the township, and near Buffalo Creek, are the Upper and Lower " lieks," two very valuable mineral springs, whose health-giving waters would prove as valuable to myriads of sufferers as the far-famed waters of the White Sulphur, Bath, Allum, or Eureka. It has only been from want of enterprise that these springs have
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HISTORY OF PIKE COUNTY.
not been annually thronged with visitors from all portions of the country, seeking in the restorative properties of these splendid waters renewed vigor and reeuperative energy. The name "lick," as applied to these springs, was evidently given from the bare surface of the ground surrounding them. which was made so by the animals, both wild and domestic, which for more than a century have frequented these places and drawn their supply of salt and sulphur from licking the surface of the earth contiguous to the springs.
SETTLEMENTS AND OCCUPATIONS.
This township, while not densely, is, nevertheless, comparatively thickly settled. The people address themselves principally to farming, raising wheat, corn, oats, and tobacco, to which the lands are for the most part well adapted. To stock-raising considerable attention has within the last few years been devoted, and a great many graded cattle and superior hogs are annually sent to market from this township. One gentleman, R. F. Ayers, Esq., has for some years been engaged in breeding Short-Horns, and his herd has been frequently mentioned as being among the best in this por- tion of the state, Kissinger's and Pritchard's being excepted. Mr. Shannon and others have made a success in breeding Jerseys, while Dr. Butts is said to have a large and splendid collection of Alderneys. R. K. Smith has brought the celebrated Red Berkshire hogs into the township, and their in- troduction is becoming quite general. Horses of superior style and quality have also been brought into much more general use than ever be- fore, while to the raising of mules, and to their purchase as well, quite a number of the moneyed men of the state are devoting their attention.
ROAD FACILITIES.
The road facilities of the township are very good. The southern portion can reach the city of Louisiana on the Lonisiana and Prairieville gravel road ; those from the west on the Louisiana and Bowling Green macadam, and those resi- dent in the northern portion of the township by means of the Louisiana and Frankford road. The last road, we understand, is no longer kept up, but as it was once graveled it affords, in the dry seasons of the year, reasonably good facilities for getting to market. There are also dirt roads extending ont from neighborhoods to intersect some one of the roads named, and thus the entire township is provided with fair means of transit to and from the only town in Buffalo township. Two railroads extend through Buffalo, the Chicago & Alton from east to west, and the Chicago, Burlington & Quincy from north to south. In addition to these the river furnishes cheap and safe
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BUFFALO TOWNSHIP.
transit for the produce of the farmer, and St. Louis and other markets are thus brought almost to the very door of the producer.
HOMES AND RESIDENCES.
The homes of the farmers of Buffalo exhibit much taste and are very gen- erally supplied with all the comforts of life. The farms are well laid out, well kept, and splendidly cultivated, and many of their owners have grown rich through their industry and perseverance. The residences are usually of a very substantial character, built generally of briek, or are frame edtices of a neat and tasty appearance, and for the most part surrounded with substantial ont-buildings and yards tastefully and beautifully orna- mented with flowers and shrubs. In the southern portion of the town- ship this feature is particularly noticeable, and some of the finest and best houses in the county are to be found here. The people themselves are in- telligent, enterprising, and hospitable, and have long been engaged in carn- est endeavors to advance the material interests of their portion of the connty. They have contributed to every character of public enterprise, and to furnish additional railroad facilities to the township they imposed upon themselves an enormous tax, which will require the effort of all for a period of not less than twenty years to entirely liquidate. They have, however, consummated an arrangement with their creditors by which they will be able to meet their obligations, and to this duty they are now industriously ad- dressing themselves. They have also built up in every district in the town- ship a good publie school, which, under the careful management of a com- petent teacher, is doing good work in the cause of education. Neither have the interests of the canse of religion been permitted to languish, but good chureb houses are to be found in every part of the township, and, upon the sabbath, there is a good attendance upon the administration of the "word of life." We propose, in this connection, to give a brief history of the churches of the township, mentioning the time of their organization, with the constituting members, and such other facts of interest as may have come into the writer's possession.
BUFFALO C. P. CHURCH.
This church was first organized in 1817 or 1818, as an Old School Pres- byterian Church, by the Rev. John Matthews, one of the earliest ministers of the county. The constituting members were William McConnell and wife, James Wilson and wife, Robert Hemphill and wife, John Prince and wife, James Templeton and wife, Miss Sarah Templeton. and Mrs. - Gos-
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HISTORY OF PIKE COUNTY.
line. For a long time services were held in a small log honse, located near to where the present church now stands. Mr. Matthews continued to preach for this church until 1832, when a new organization was effected under the charge of the Rev. James W. Campbell, and the church passed from the control of the " Old School" into the hands of the Cumberland Presbyterians. The original members in this organization were Robert Kelso, Rowland Burbridge, James Allison. Mary Allison, Alex. Allison, Samuel C. Allison, Nancy Allison, Josephine Jordan, Elizabeth Smith, and Elizabeth South. In this year a new log structure was begun, but was not entirely completed before 1834. This honse was built by the community in general and was to be nsed by all denominations; the Cumberland Pres- byterians, however, being the first to organize, had the prior claim upon the house for such days as they desired to use it. The Erst elders of this church, under its new organization, were Robert Kelso and Samuel C. Alli- Bon, the latter gentleman also serving as first clerk of the church. Mr. Campbell, the dearly beloved pastor, remained as preacher in charge from 1832 until 1872, a period of forty years, when his declining health admon- ished him to retire from the labor of active ministry. He was succeeded by Rev. W. B. MeIhree, who, after several years of faithful and efficient labor, was followed by the Rev. T. S. Love, the present pastor. The present offi- cers of this old clinreh are J. Y. Fry, John L. Pickens, James W. Hunter. and James C. Jordan, elders: and J. R. Fry and -- -, deacons. Mr. J. C. Jordan is the clerk of the church. The present church-house, a substan- tial frame structure, was built in 1873, and is, in size, thirty-six by sixty feet, and is sixteen feet high. It is neatly seated with scrolled and walnut seats, and occupies the site of the old log-house. This church has a present membership of 192 communicants. It has been a long time since the for- ests abont this old church were first made vocal by the praises of the few trusting children of Israel's God; but neither their hymns have been hushed nor their prayers failed to ascend, for at this day, more than sixty years since the first early settlers worshiped here, their children and grandchildren continue to assemble and offer up to the God of their fathers adoration and praise.
NOIX CREEK BAPTIST CHURCH.
This church was organized July 29, 1833. The original members were S. B. Clark, Nancy Clark, Mary Dodds. Margaret Lynch, Sallie Hedges. Nancy Smith, Catharine Jackson, Thomas Hedges, Jennie Shannon,
Morriss, Sandline, and Louis, a colored man, and Nellie, a colored
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woman. The first mectings were held in a grove one and a half miles west of where the church now stands. The first service was conducted by the Revs. Davis Biggs and Jeremiah Vardeman. During inclement weather the services were held at the honses of the different members. The first regular pastor of this church was the Rev. Walter MeQuie, who was ordained on the 29th day of October, 1833. The stated times for holding services were regulated by the fourth Saturday of each month. Mr. Me- Quie remained with the church as their pastor until November, 1837, when . Rev. David Hubbard was called, and the time of meeting was now changed to the third Saturday of each month. Mr. Hubbard severed his connection as pastor of this church some time in the year 1839, when Rev. Davis Bigys was called to succeed him. Mr. Biggs officiated as pastor until 1841, when Rev. Landram became the pastor and continued to serve the church for & period of ten years. In the February following Mr. Landram's retirement, Rev. James F. Smith was called to the charge of the church and continued to serve it until 1856, when he was succeeded by Rev. M. M. Modissett, who continued until September, 1837, when Rev. J. T. Williams accepted the call and was its pastor until September, 1860. For the period of one year the Rev. King was how in charge, when Rev. Modissett was recalled in 1861 and continued in charge until September, 1870. J. T. Williams followed Rev. Modissett for two years, when Rev. James Biggs was elected to succeed him and remained with the church until 1878. In November of this year (1ST8) Rev. James Reid was called to the pastorate of this church. and continues at this time to minister to the spiritual wants of the congre- gation. This church is both numerically and financially strong, and it is to be hoped that spiritually it may be found strong in the might of the Lord. It has done much good in the past and its future usefulness can only be measured by the faith and zeal of its members.
GRASSY CREEK BAPTIST CHURCH.
This church is of recent date. It was organized in August, 1873. The constituting members were J. J. Smith, Martha W. Smith, W. W. Waddle, Elizabeth Waddle, William Briner, Vinn Briner, William B. Smith, Z. T. Smith, Hester A. Smith. W. H. HI. Johnson, Eliza B. Morphy. J. J. Ar- thur, J. R. Sparks, and W. D. MeLeod. The first pastor was the Rev. G. W. Foster. The church edifice, a wooden structure, 20x31 feet, was built in 1879, and dedicated in the same year by Rev. Burnham, assisted by D. B. Ray, of St. Louis. The successor of Rev. Foster was Rev. A. P. Dodge, and the present pastor is the Rev. S. G. Giveus. The deacons are William
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B. Smith and James Love, and the present membership numbers forty-three communicants.
EPISCOPAL CHURCH.
The very germ of the Episcopal Church of Pike and Lincoln counties is found in the organization formed about the year 1839, in a little log school- house sitnated in the northern part of the last named county and very near the dividing line between Pike and Lincoln. The membership of this church consisted of but a few families, all of whom were Virginians, and residents of both Pike and Lincoln counties.
The Clarks, Lewis, Merriwethers, Miners and a few others, living at no great remove from the place of worship, were among the earliest mem- bers and have from that time until the present done much to perpetuate the existence of the church in Pike county. The first services were conducted by John Long, a tutor in the family of Walker C. Merriwether, who was also a theological student and who also officiated as lay reader. There were, however, occasional services conducted by regularly ordained ministers, among who may be mentioned Rev. Mr. Gassaway, who was killed by the explosion of a steamer near Alton, Illinois, on his way to or from the church mentioned. Bishop Kemper would also visit the church at stated intervals, and after preaching would administer to those, if any, who desired to receive the ordinance of confirmation. Some years after this time an Episcopal church, St. Johns, was built at Prairieville, and those who had before worshiped in Lincoln county transferred their membership to this church. For a while this church had no regular pastor, but the Hon. Peter Carr, once'a state senator and a gentleman of liberal culture and great moral worth, was authorized to read for the congregation, which he did in a man- ner so acceptable that many of the members long regretted the change, even after having been served by several very able pastors. The church at Prai- rieville continued to flourish antil the war when for quite a time the preach- ing of this denomination almost entirely ceased in the county.
MT. ZION BAPTIST CHURCH.
This church, which is situated in the extreme southwestern portion of Buffalo township, was organized about the year 1859 or 1860. by Rev. E. Jennings. At first the place of worship was a school-house at but a little remove from where the church now stands. There were but few members in the first organization, and these, as far as learned, were Joel Milan and wife, I. D. Warner and wife, James Findley and wife,, and a few others,
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whose names cannot now be had. The church, a log structure, abont thirty by forty feet in size, was built by the Baptists in 1862, with some assistance from the Cumberland Presbyterians, who were to be permitted to use it when not ocenpied by the Baptists. The ministers who have officiated here are Revs. E. Jennings, Samnel Noel, A. P. Rodgers, Thomas Sanderson, J. B. English, and M. M. Modissett, the present pastor. There is at present a membership of from seventy to eighty communicants. A sabbath-school, which is fairly attended, is kept during the spring and summer seasons. I. D. Warner is the present clerk, and, indeed, he has long served the church in this capacity.
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