USA > Missouri > Pike County > The history of Pike County, Missouri : an encyclopedia of useful information, and a compendium of actual facts > Part 17
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Joseph Sherman Barnum, grocer, of Louisiana, was born in Clarksfield IIuron county, Ohio, February 8, 1823, where he was raised. When nine- teen he was apprenticed by his parents to learn the saddle and harness-mak- ing trade. He served two years, when finding that that trade did not agree with his health he abandoned it. HIe then engaged in farming in the vicin- ity of Clarksfield, for four years, when, in 1854, he came to Missouri, and . located in Louisiana, engaging in the livery business until 1856, when he discontinued it and became associated with John W. and W. A. Gunn, in the mercantile business, in the firm name of Gunn, Barnum & Co. The Messrs. Gunn retiring from the firm in 1861 he continued the business un- til 1871, when he discontinued, becoming agent for the Keokuk & North- ern Line Steamboat Company and is still acting as such. With his steamboat
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agency he, in 1877, became associated with E. P. Brown as Barnum & Brown, aud engaged in the auction and dry goods business in Louisiana. up to 1882, Mr. Brown retiring from the firm in 1880. In March, 1882, his son Frank became associated with him in the grocery business at Louisiana in the firm name of Barnum & Son. He has served several terms in the city council and has been the licensed city auctioneer since 1872. IIe has been twice married, his first wife being Sallie A. Bacon of Huron county, Ohio, whom he married in May, 1855, and who died at Louisiana in January, 1866. By her he had three children: Charles, express agent at Pana, Illi- nois; William M., a clerk in the store of. R. II. Williams of Louisiana; and Frank, associated with his father in the grocery business and assistant steam- boat agent at Louisiana. He married for his second wife, Maggie J. Martin, of Louisiana, Missouri, October 2, 1866, by whom he has four children living: Lula L., Le Grand, Anna Belle, and Katy Adell. He is a member of the M. E. Church South, of which he has been a trustee for several years. He is a Master Mason and member of Globe Lodge No. 495, of which he was treasurer.
James Henry Barre, local editor of the River Side Press, of Louisiana, was born in New York City, June 19, 1836. His father was a retired mer- chant who had amassed a fortune while in business at Mazatlan, Mexico. We copy the following extract from a work entitled The Old Merchants of New York City. "Lonis P. Barre and J. L. Kennedy were sent out by the Howlands ( importers ) as supercargoes to the Pacific coast, and being honest, upright, and hard-working men, soon made themselves indispens- able to their employers, who conceived the idea to have them start on their own hook. Accordingly, they were dispatched with a valuable shipment, and after trading along the coast found their way to Mazatlan. They built * up a large Mexican trade with the states and were the heaviest traders on the western coast. After a brilliant career of about fifteen years they re- tired from business, well satisfied with their gains." The subject of this sketch was raised in New York City and was educated in the French Mili- tary Institute of Chelsea, New York. His tutors were Lewis and Hyacinth Pengnet, who were officers in the French army under Napoleon the First. He graduated from the institution in the spring of 1853. He was then employed, until 1860, as a clerk in the banking house of W. C. Pickersgill & Co., on Wall street. He then opened a stock brokerage office on Broad street, near the stock exchange, and was so engaged until 1870, when he made a tour to Europe, through England, Ireland. Wales, Scotland, and France. While in Paris, that city was besieged by the German artny, and
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he was detained there some time, when, falling in company with some dis- tingnished United States army officers, succeeded in making the port of Havre and returned home in the winter of the same year. During 1871 he was not particularly engaged and in 1872 he made a second tour through Enrope, returning the latter part of that year. In 1874 he went to Kansas City, Missouri, where he was engaged in the collecting business and a cor- respondent for eastern papers until 1876, when he came to Louisiana and permanently settled, where, soon after his arrival, he became the local edi- tor of the River Side Press. October, 1860, he married Mary E., daughter of the late James E. Woodruff, of New York City, by whom he has three children: James W., Sophie A., and Mary II. He is a member of Unison Lodge No. 1875, K. of H., of which he is chaplain.
Ezekiel Merrell Bartlett. M. D., is a native of Maine and the son of Peregrine and Sarah (Merrell) Bartlett. He was born in Bethel, Oxford connty, April 22, 1804, where he was raised. He was educated by attend- ing the Maine Weslyan and an academy at Readfield, Maine, and studying the languages under the tutorship of Rev. Daniel Gould, of Rumford, Maine. In 1827 he began the study of medicine with Dr. Jonathan S. Millit, of Norway College, Maine, studying three years. He entered. the Bowdoin Medical Seminary in 1828, and after taking two courses of lectures gradu- . ated from that institution as M. D. in September, 1830. He first practiced at Frankstown, Pennsylvania, in 1831, practicing there and at Holidaysburgh, in the same county, up to 1835, when his star of destiny led westward and, like many others, started for the then far west, and came to Missouri and settled in Louisiana, then a mere hamlet containing about 250 souls, and where, although far advanced in age, he still has an extensive practice and has a wide reputation as a skillful surgon. In the late war he was a staunch Union man, and although losing much by the emancipation of his slaves he stood by the flag that made them free. In 1861 he was appointed medical examiner for the M. S. M. by Governor Gamble, but previous to his com- mission he was blood-poisoned by making a post-mortem examination and came near losing his life, and was rendered unable to serve as commis- sioner. November 12, 1835, he married Mary Jones, of Frankstown, Penn- sylvania, who is still living. They have two children living, Freeborn Es- que, a farmer of Buffalo township; and Ione, wife of J. N. Henderson. a farmer in the vicinity of Louisiana. He is a member of Perseverance Lodge No. 92, A. F. & A. M., of Louisiana.
William Henry Bauman, dealer in boots and shoes and leather, is the son of Daniel and Augusta (Barth) Banman. He was born in Edwardsville,
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Illinois, December 12, 1856. His parents removed to Pike county, Mis- souri, and located at Louisiana, when he was an infant, and he was there raised and lived with his parents until he was sixteen. He attended the schools of Louisiana until he was fourteen, when he took a commercial course in the Gem City Commercial College, at Qniney, Illinois. When he left home he was employed as a traveling salesinan by Schott & Bro., of St. Louis, wholesale dealers in leather, saddle, and harness hardware, and traveled for them until 1875, when he was employed in the same capa- city by J. & M. Rosenfield, of Rock Island, Illinois, wholesale dealers in leather and shoe findings. In the fall of 1876 he became associated with his father in the boot and shoe business in Louisiana, in the firm name of Banman & Son, his father retiring from the firm in 1978. His business suc- cess is the result of persevering industry and frugality, and, although quite a young man, he has built up a business in his line second to none in Lonisi- ana city. June 27, 1878, he married Julia Anderson, of Quiney, Illinois. .
John Tunstall Bell, M. D., is a native of Kentucky, and the son of John T. and Grazelle (Lucky), Bell. He was born in Stanford, the county town of Lincoln county, July 13, 1818. In the fall of 1881, when he was twelve years old, he came with his parents to Missouri, who settled in Pike county near Ashley, where he was raised and lived with them until manhood. His parents gave him every opportunity in their power to acquire a good educa- tion, at one time sending him to Marion College, Marion, Missouri, where he attended some time, but in 1834 he was obliged to suspend his studies to accompany an invalid brother to the West Indies for the benefit of his health. Arriving at New Orleans his brother's health was so much improved and finding others en route for the same destination, his brother accompanied them, and he returned home and resumed his studies ander Rev. Jeremiah Lawler, completing his education under him in 1836, when he began the study of medicine under Dr. F. A. Heison of Bowling Green, Missouri, and was under his preceptorship for three years. After attending two courses of lectures he graduated as M. D. from the Transylvania Medical University at Lexington, Kentucky, in March, 1841. His first practice was at Louis- ville, Missouri, near where he was reared, where he practiced until 1844, when he went to Auburn, Pike county, where he practiced fourteen years, up to 1858, when he came to Louisana where he has been in constant practice ever since, having an extensive practice in both city and country. He has been twice married. His first wife was Elizabeth, daughter of the late Augustus Oury of Bowling Green, Missouri, whom he married September 1. 1841, and who died March 4, 1861. By her he has two children: Lou, wife
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of Cassius Blackburn of Vandalia, Missouri, and Viola. He married for his second wife, Anna Denton of St. Louis, November 5, 1866. Himself and wife are members of the Presbyterian Church of Louisiana. He is a mem- ber of Perseverance Lodge No. 72, A. F. & A. M., of Louisiana.
William Henry Biggs, attorney at law, is a native of Missouri and son of George K. and Nannie (Floyd) Biggs, who came to Missouri in 1820. He was born near Alexandria, Clark county, August 1, 1813, where he was reared and lived with his parents until he was eighteen. He was educated by attending the public school of his neighborhood, the Christian University at Canton, Missouri, and the La Grange College at La Grange, Missouri. In 1866 he began the study of law in the office of Hon. James Ellison at Canton, Missouri, and was admitted to the bar at Bowling Green, Missouri, in 1867, where he began his first practice, and in the following year .he be- came associated with Hon. D. L. Caldwell as Caldwell & Biggs, they prac- ticing together for three years, when Mr. Caldwell retired from the firm. He came to Louisiana in 1873, and soon after became associated with Hons. T. J. C. Fagg & D. P. Dyer in the practice of law, as Fagg, Dyer & Biggs. Mr. Dyer retired from the firm in 1875. changing the firm style to Fagg & Biggs. He aud Mr. Fagg dissolved this copartnership in 1877, when he became associated with S. Carkener in the firm name of Biggs & Carkener, they practicing until 1880, when Mr. Carkener retired from the firm, since which time he has practiced alone. In February, 1870, he married Eliza, daughter of Jasper Shotwell, late of Pike county, Missouri. They have four children: Anna Belle. Davis, Estella, and Georgie. He is a Master Mason and member of Globe Lodge No. 495, A. F. & A. M., of Louisiana.
Jacob Block. an old resident and merchant of Louisiana city, was born in Schwehlaw, Bohemia, January 2, 1SOS, where he lived until he was twenty five years of age, when he came to the United States. He first settled at Troy, Lincoln county, and engaged in the mercantile business with Simon Lewis, a young friend who accompanied him from Bohemia. Three years after, in 1836, he went to St. Louis where he engaged in the mercantile business with Simon Mandelbaum until 1839, when he came to Louisiana where for forty years, until 1870, he has been engaged in merchandising. November 13, 1843, he married Miss Kittie Adams of Pike county, who died at Louisiana, March 20, 1866. They had five children, three of whom are living: Cecelia, wife of Floyd Harvey of near Paynesville, Pike county; Henrietta, wife of Rufus L. Pettibone, of Louisiana city; and Joseph, a book- keeper in the Sam Reid Tobacco Factory, Louisiana. He is a Mason, a member of Perserverance Lodge No. 92, Louisiana.
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Joseph Block, book-keeper for the Sam Reid Tobacco Manufacturing Company of Louisiana, is the son of Jacob and Catharine (Adams) Block. His father is a native of Germany, and his mother of Kentucky. He was born in Louisiana, Missouri, October 12, 1851, where he was reared and educated. While not attending school he spent his boyhood days as a clerk in his father's store up to 1879, when he became associated with his brother-in-law. R. L. Pettibone, in the grocery business, in the firm name of Joseph Block & Co., they doing business one year, when they dissolved and he accepted the position of teller and assistant cashier in the Bank of Pike County at Louisiana, and was so employed until 1874, when he became associated with M. J. & S. C. Hassler and engaged in manufacturing cider vinegar and Alden dried fruits, in the firm name of Hassler. Block & Co. He retired from that firm in 1875.and became a member of the firm of Jordan & Block in the grocery business for a short time, when he was chosen by the stockholders and creditors of the Bank of Pike County, then insolvent, to close out its business, which he consummated in March, 1879, when he became associated with T. M. Rhea in the banking business as "Rhea & Block, Bankers.". They carried on banking until 1882, when they, with others, incorporated the Exchange Bank of Louisiana, he filling the po- sition of cashier until June of that year, when he accepted the position of book-keeper and general office manager for the Sam Reid Tobacco Mann- facturing Company of Louisiana. From 1879 to 1881 he was a member of the board of directors of the Louisiana Loan and Building Association. He is a member of Anchor Lodge No. 60, K. of P., of Louisiana.
Frank Boehm, Sr., baker, and proprietor of the Missouri Bakery, of Louisiana, was born in Frankenthal, Bavaria, September 3, 1833. He lost both his parents by death before he was eleven years of age. When he was thirteen he was apprenticed to learn the baker's trade and served three years. Hle then followed his trade as a journeyman baker and worked in the cities of Manheim, Spyer, Nuestat, and other German cities until he was eighteen, when, in 1852. he came to the United States, where he again traveled as a journeyman baker, working in Cincinnati, Toledo, and St. Louis until 1860, when he came to Louisiana, where he was employed in the bakery of George Reid for nearly a year, when he enlisted in Company A, Fourth Missouri Volunteer Cavalry, and served until the expiration of term of en- listment in 1864, after which he was employed in the government bakery of Jefferson Barracks, St. Louis, until the close of the war in 1865. While in the service he participated in many battles, the most important being Pea Ridge. Pittsburgh Landing, and Bird's Point. He returned to Louisiana in
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the fall of 1865 and established his present business. December 2, 1855, he married Mary Ault, of Cincinnati, Ohio, by whom he has five children: Frank, Jr., and Charles of Louisiana, and Henry, John, and Lucas at home. Himself and wife are Catholics and members of St. Joseph's Church at Louisiana.
James Marion Briscoe, M. D., of Louisiana, was born near Paris, Mon- roe county, Missouri, March 15, 1844. He is the son of John and Emily (Biggs.) His mother dying when he was three years of age, he was taken by his uncle, O. C. Tinker, of Louisiana, and raised. Ile was mostly educated in the public schools. He attended the Watson Academy, at Ash- ley, Missouri, one term, and one terin in a select school in Louisiana. taught ." by Prof. Parker, under the auspices of the M. E. Church. In March, 1865, he began the study of medicine under Dr. E. M. Bartlett, of Louisiana, and the following winter took a course of lectures in the Medical College at Keokuk, Iowa. He was then under the preceptorship of Dr. William C. Duncan, of near Dover Church, Pike county, until the fall of 1867, when he entered the St. Lonis Medical College. at St. Louis, Missouri, from which he graduated as M. D. in the spring of 1868. His first practice was at Dover with Dr. Duncan, they practicing together until the spring of 1870. He continued the practice at Dover until the spring of 1872. when he came to Louisiana and became associated with Dr. W. T. Stewart, they practicing together until the spring of 1873, when he pursued farming and practicing medicine in the vicinity of Louisiana until 1881. when he went to Curry- ville, Pike county, and practiced until September, 1882, when he located at Louisiana permanently. May 12, 1873, he married Mrs. Mollie Burbridge, of Louisiana. Ile is a member of the Baptist Church and a member of River Side Lodge No. 22, A. O. U. W., of Louisiana.
Henry Patton Brown, grocer. of Louisiana, is the son of William and Jane (Kendrick) Brown, formerly of Tazewell county, Virginia, who came to Missouri in 1834 and settled near Hidesburgh. Ralls county, where he was born, March 5, 1840. He was reared at his birthplace, and lived with his parents until his twentieth year, when. in 1860, he came to Pike county. He was educated by attending the common schools and the Van Renssalear Academy near Hannibal, Missouri. He began life for himself as a teacher, teaching his first school near Bowling Green, Missouri. He quit teaching in 1864, came to Louisiana, and engaged in the grocery business, and has become identified among the leading and successful business men of the city. Starting out with a very small capital he has built up a lucra- tive trade and has become quite a property owner, and has built several
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buildings, the most important being his present residence on corner of Main and Maryland streets. a brick structure of modern achitecture. He is a member of the city council and has been since 1870, and is also a member of the school board, of which he has been secretary ever since his election in 1880. December 19, 1860, he married Elizabeth A. Rodgers, of Bowling Green. They have four children: Willie II., a clerk in his father's store; Ada F., Clarence R., and Bessie. Himself and wife are members of the First Baptist Church of Louisiana, of which he is sabbath-school superin- tendent. He is a Master Mason and member of Globe Lodge No. 495, A. F. & A. M., of Louisiana, of which he is secretary. He is also a member of Riverside Lodge No. 22, A. O. U. W., of Louisiana.
Isaac Newton Bryson, Sp., is one of the few old residents of Louisiana still living. He was born on a farm near Yorkville, the county seat of York county, South Carolina, February 13, 1809. His parents came to Missouri in 1816, and settled in Pike county, then a portion of St. Charles county, his father pre-empting the land that is now the site of Louisiana city, which he soon afterwards sold. when he purchased land on Grassy Creek, near Mud Lick Spring. five miles west of Louisiana, where he died in 1821. After his father's death, our subject continued to live with his mother on the farm until manhood, and received a fair education by attending the common subscription schools. At the age of nineteen he began teaching and tanght in the country schools for two years. In February, 1831, he came to Louisi- ana, and was employed in the store of' Campbell & Burbridge as a clerk for three years, when he became associated with John L. Williams in general mer- chandising in the firm name of Williams & Bryson, Mr. Williams dying some eighteen months after they engaged in business. Mr. Bryson carried on the business in the firm name until the expiration of the term of partner- ship, in 1938. In 1839 he became associated with William C. Hardin and Julius C. Jackson in the same business, in the firm style of I. N. Bryson & Co. Mr. Jackson soon after retiring from the firm, he, with Mr. Hardin, retaining the firm name, continued in business without interruption for fifteen years, up to 1833. In 1845 they built the block of stores on the corner of Main and Georgia streets, which they'still own. After be and Mr. Hardin discontinued the mercantile business, he never embarked in it again, but invested in real estate, buying two farms in the vicinity of Louisiana, which he has farmed by tenants, he residing in Louisiana. In 1877, he being a stockholder of the National Bank of the State of Mis- sonri, at St. Louis, with many others, lost heavily by its suspension. Al- though not an aspirant to office, he has served several years in the city
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conneil of Louisiana. During the late war he was a Union man and firmly maintained the supremacy of the Goverment. December 24, 1848. he married Elizabeth S. Baird, of Louisiana, who is still living. They have four children : Orpheus C., attorney at law; Isaac N., Jr., proprictor and ed- itor of the Louisiana Republican; Ora B., wife of Robert II. Williams, of Louisiana, and Mollie F. Himself, wife, and children, excepting Mrs. Wil- liams, are members of the Christian Church, of Louisiana. In 1823 he be- came one of the proprietors and stockholders of the Louisiana and Middle- town gravel or macademized road and served as secretary for the company fifteen years.
Samuel Wilson Buckner, M. D .. of Louisiana city, was born near Washington, Rappahannock county, Virginia, October 30, 1824. ITe is the son of Bailey and Mildred (Strother) Buckner. Ilis father dying when he was an infant, he lived with his mother at his birthplace until he was ser- enteen years old, when he came to Missouri. He stopped at Bowling Green, Pike county, where he was employed in the county clerk's office for one year. He then began the study of medicine privately, and studied one year, when he went to St. Louis, Missouri, and studied under Dr. Thomas Barber, professor of obstetrics in the Missouri Medical College of that city, about two years, and in the spring of 1848 he graduated as M. D. from the same college. He first practiced in a little town called Concord, in Calla- way county. June 17, 1847, he came to Louisiana city, where he resided and practiced until 1871. During that time the doctor took an active part in organizing the Louisiana high school, and was one of the principal movers in the enterprise of building the present public school building. He was also one of the originators of the Louisiana and Kansas City Railroad, now a part of the Chicago and Alton, and was one of the directors of the company that built it. In leaving Louisiana in 1871, he removed to the southern portion of Pike county, where, with practicing medicine, he also engaged in farming. In the spring of 1882 he returned to Louisiana and became associated with Dr. W. T. Stewart in the practice of medicine, in the firm name of Buckner & Stewart. Although being importuned by his friends, the doctor has never aspired to any political preferments, bat chose to confine himself to his profession. June 6, 1854, he married Miss Fanny Robertson, of Pike county. By her he has seven children: Lucie, wife of W. T. Wells, of Clarksville, Missouri; Lizzie, wife of Dr. W. H. Robertson, of St. Louis; and Bailey B., Thomas, and George, all law students in vari- ons law offices, and Julia and Eliza, at home.
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Gustavus A. Buffum, manager of the La Crosse Lumber Company of Louisiana city, was born in Waldo county, Maine, between the Penobscot and Keunebec rivers, December 26, 1826. When quite young his parents, Samuel and Mary (Neil) Buffum, left his birthplace and removed to Orono, Maine, where he lived with them until manhood, and received a good business education by attending the common schools. His father being an extensive Imberman, young Buffum early imbibed a fondness for that avocation, and in carly boyhood was well versed in every branch of the business. He followed lambering, either as a sawyer or in running loge on the Penobscot and its tributaries until 1851, when he with a company of his neighbors went to California by way of the Isthmus of Panama, where he engaged in mining in Big Ravine, near Auburn, six months, and from there he went to the Yuba River where his skill and knowledge in lumber- ing was called into requisition, he being one of a number of men who made the first plug and sock-down log raft of saw-logs made in California and run to Sacramento, for which he received $9 per day. From Sacramento he returned to the Yuba River, and successfully mined on Indian Creek for two years, when, in 1858, he established a trading post, dealing in camp equipments and general merchandise, at Indian Valley, and in connection with it he ran a train of pack mules from Marysville to various mining points on the Yuba River. Selling out his trading post in 1854 he removed to Downersville where he continued to run his trains of pack mules, and also engaged in mining until 1858, when closing up his business he returned to his home in Maine. March 29, 1838, he married Miss Mary B. Wash- burn, of Livermore, Maine, and immediately started for the west where he for a short time located at Monroe, Wisconsin, and was employed by his brother-in-law, the late Covernor C. C. Washburn, and engaged in lumber- ing on the Mississippi River. In 1860 he became associated with Mr. Washburn, and established a lumber yard at Iowa City, Iowa, which being discontinued in 1861, they established a yard at Clinton and Lyons, Iowa, he acting as manager. In 1873 the yard at Lyons being discontinued, he came to Louisiana in the interest of the La Crosse Lumbering Company, consisting of Mr. Washburn and others, he taking charge of their exten- sive yard at that place as manager. At Lyons, Iowa, in 1867, his wife died, leaving him five children: Frank W., in the office with his father; and Ada W., still at home, Charles B., attending the Normal School at Whitewater, Wisconsin; and twin boys, Benjamin and Cadwallader, both dying in in- fancy. Ile married for his second wife, Mrs. Roxana Chase, of Orono, Maine. Mr. Buffum is a man who has experienced much of the rough side of life.
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