USA > Missouri > Pike County > The history of Pike County, Missouri : an encyclopedia of useful information, and a compendium of actual facts > Part 31
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Robert W. Unsell, recorder of deeds, is a native of Pike county, Mis- souri, born June 30, 1550. His father, Dr. William B. Unsell, was also a native of this county. Ilis grandfather, James Unsell, came to this state in 1818. Robert's father who was a prominent physician and enjoyed a large practice, died when the subject of this sketch was quite a small boy. Ilis mother, who was a native of Lincoln county, was the daughter of James Patton, Esq. Robert W. was principally raised by his grandfather, who lived in the country. He obtained most of his education when at home, but afterwards attended the Baptist College. When about sixteen years of age he lost his right arm, which was torn off by a threshing machine.
David W. Ward, of the firm of Ward & Gibbs, livery, is a native of Ohio, born in Fairfield county in 184S. When he was abont fourteen years old his parents moved to Pickaway county. In 1867 he came to Missouri and located in Pike county. When he landed in this county his all amounted to $2.50. but his industrious habits soon found him employment. He worked first for eighteen dollars per month, and then for $250 per year, for forty months, feeding cattle. He studied of nights and in the winter of 1873 attended the high school; he then engaged in teaching school for two terms, and then was employed as clerk in a stove store. After this he engaged in business for himself in New Hartford, this county, for three years. Disposing of this business he then engaged in the livery business at Bowling Green, where he is still to be found. He was married, in 1876.
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to Miss Anna Hopka, a native of St. Louis. They have two children living: Mellie May and Mertie G. Mr. W. is a member of the Masonic fraternity and of the Knights of Honor.
Ferdinand Wenkle, clerk of the circuit court, Bowling Green. Mr. Wenkle served Pike county as probate clerk for over ten years, and in the fall of 1882 he was elected to the office of clerk of the circuit court, having no opposition either in the primary or the general election.
William P. White, proprietor of the Southern Hotel. He is a native of Virginia, and was born in Bedford county, near Lynchburg, in 1840. Ilis father died in Virginia when William P. was a mere infant, and he lived with his relatives until fourteen years of age, when he came to Missouri and was employed on a farm, and when about twenty-three years of age he mar- ried Miss Minerva Ware, daughter of Robert and Naney Ware. Her father was one of the first settlers of this state; he came from Kentucky, and was born in 1802 and died September 4, 1878. Her mother died December +, 1881, and was a native of Kentucky. Mr. White has a family of six chil- dren, four girls and two boys. Mr. White is a mild and inoffensive man, much loved and respected by his neighbors.
Charles F. Willeford. tobacconist. He is a native of Illinois, born in January, 1850; came to this county with his parents, who are natives of Kentucky, while an infant. He was reared and educated in this county, receiving the benefits of the high school. His first business was in the manufacture of tobacco with his father, Isaac Willeford. Soon after en- gaging in business he became extensively known throughout this part of Missouri, having been the first to start a factory in this place, and still con- tinues the business, his father dying in 1881. The mother of the subject of our sketch is still living, her maiden name being Nancy Baker. Charles F. embarked in mercantile business in the fall of 1867, continuing two years. Disposing of this, he engaged in the manufacture of tobacco, which is his present business. He was married to Miss K. Armill, of Pleasant Hill, Illinois, in 1880. Mr. Willeford is a prominent member of the Odd Fellows. He is a stockholder in the Bowling Green Manufacturing Com- pany, of which he is the business manager.
Wilson C. Williams, of Bowling Green, was born in Pike county, Mis- souri, on a very sacred spot called "Barnett Hill," July 23, 1829. Ilis father, George Williams, was a native of Virginia. His mother, whose maiden name was Mary Joues, was born in Kentucky. George Williams went from Virginia to Kentucky in a very early day, in which state he was married and soon after immigrated to Missouri in the year 1826, opening
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and settling on the farm now owned by W. A. MeQuie, on which he resided for many years. In 1846 he removed with his family to Indian township, this county, and settled on a farm and died two years later, having reared a family of nine children. all living to be grown and five of whom still survive. W. C. Williams, our subject, spent his boy. hood days on the farm. His school advantages were of a rural character, and the surroundings were anything but attractive, but his school-days were perhaps the happiest of his life. In this country school he acquired a suffi- cient knowledge to teach. Beginning his career as a teacher he continued to follow his chosen avocation, with a few exceptions, for twenty years. The first political office to which Mr. Williams was elected was that of county assessor in 1854, which office be filled with much credit to himself and satisfaction to his constituents. In 1870 he was elected to fill the office of recorder of deeds and held this office continuously for a period of eight years. Retiring from office he was variously engaged. In the spring of 1882 he opened an office and engaged in the real estate and abstract busi- ness, and in connection with this acts as notary public. He has never mar- ried, preferring a life of single blessedness. Although his head is frosted by many winters, he is not in the least soured, and is a social, genial gen- tleman.
Benjamin F. Wilson is a native of Ohio, born in Zanesville, Ohio, in 1819. When abont eight years old he moved with his parents to Tazewell county, Illinois, where he resided until 1872, when he came to Bowling Green, Missouri, where he has resided ever since, in charge of the railroad office of the Chicago, Alton & St. Louis Railroad, and held the position for ten years, resigning to accept the position of assistant general freight and ticket agent of the St. Louis, Hannibal & Keoknk Railroad. He was mar- ried in 1876 to Miss Lizzy Murray, daughter of Judge Murray. They have one daughter, Dilla.
John R. Wise, druggist, Bowling Green. This gentleman is a native of Kentucky, born January 1, 1832. He came to Pike county, Missouri, with his parents in 1842. His father, William Wise, was originally from Mary- land; his mother, whose maiden name was Eliza Berkey, is a native of Ken- tucky. His father settled in Lincoln county, this state, where he lived until he removed to Louisiana in 1845; in 1855 he came to Bowling Green where he lived until 1857, and then went to Audrain county, where he died in 1880. The mother is living with our subject, John R., who has resided in Pike county ever since 1855, where he acquired a good common school ed- ucation. His first experience in mercantile business was clerking in his
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father's store. When his father left here for Andrain our subject embarked in business for himself for one year; he then engaged as clerk in Dr. Wil- liam Bolton's drug store, holding this position until 1864, when he bought out Dr. Bolton's stock. and has been actively engaged in the drug business ever since, his being the oldest establishment of the kind in the city. He married Miss Gabrielle Edison, daughter of H. D. Edison, one of the carly settlers of this county. They have five children, three girls and two boys. Mr. Wise is a prominent Mason, and also a member of the Knights of Honor. "He has been a member of the Baptist Church ever since he was sixteen years of age.
Robert II. Wright is a native of Virginia, born in Bedford county, Ocotber 27, 1839. When a small boy he came to Missouri with his parents. His father, William Wright, and his mother were both natives of Virginia. They raised a family of six children. They came to Pike county in 1846; he was a farmer; he died in 1859. Robert II., our subject, was raised and educated in Pike county. When grown to manhood he engaged in farin- ing for a short time, and then went into mercantile business. He was elected judge and held the office four years, and held the appointment of notary public four years. In 1871 he was appointed by President Grant postmaster at Prairieville, running this in connection with his store. In 1874 he was appointed deputy sheriff, and resigned his commission as post- master. In 1876 he was elected county collector, serving one term. Since the expiration of his term of office he has been engaged in farming, and is a stockholder in the Bowling Green Tobacco Manufacturing Company. He owns a farm of 360 acres in Prairieville township. He was married in 1881. Mr. Wright is a member of the Masonic fraternity.
CUIVRE TOWNSHIP.
John Appleton, farmer and stock dealer, post-office Bowling Green, is a native of Virginia, born in Mason county May 16, 1828. He moved to Missouri in 1871. Mr. Appleton is one of the representative men of his neighborhood; as a farmer be has few superiors. He was raised in his na- tive county and was an overseer for twenty years in the time of slavery. His father, Edward Appleton, was an extensive land and slave-holder. Since coming to Missouri Mr. Appleton has been one of the live men of the state; he takes great interest in the breeding of Short-Horn cattle and in the improvement of stock generally. Ilis fine farm is mostly sown to grass, on which he pastures his fine cattle. He feeds all of his corn and hay on his farm and drives it to market. Ile ships abent ten car loads of
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cattle annually. His farm consists of abont three hundred and five acres of very choice land, always kept in fine condition. His house and ont-build. ings are models of convenience. Mr. Appleton was married in 1861 to Miss Emily E. Edwards, of Portsmouth, Ohio, daughter of Oneis Edwards, a Virginian by birth. They have two children: William A. and John E. Mr. Appleton is a member of the 1. O. O. F., and Mrs. Appleton is a mem- ber of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church.
Matthew R. Biggs is a native of this state, born July 25, 1832. His father, William Biggs, was a native of Virginia, born March 20, 1785. He went from Virginia to Kentucky, and from there immigrated to Missouri in 1817 and settled on Ramsey Creek, where he lived one year and then moved to Peno on the farm now owned by our subject, where he purchased five hundred acres of land, and besides this he owned lands in different parts of the state. He was elected to represent his county in the state leg- islature from St. Charles county, and also served in the state senate for three years. The mother of our subject was Elizabeth, daughter of John McCune, and was married in Kentucky in 1810. They raised a family of twelve children. all living to be grown men and women. He died April 15, 1817, at the age of sixty years; the mother died July 11, 1878, in her eighty-third year, her mind unimpaired to the day of her death. Matthew R. was reared on the old homestead and educated, in part, in the district school, but attended Woods's Seminary at Louisiana for two years. He then returned to his home and lived with his mother until her death, taking charge of the farin. He was married in 1852 to Miss Catharine A. Scovel. of Monroe county, this state. They have eleven children, six boys and five girls, three of them still living, one in Colorado in the stock business. Mr. Biggs is one of the successful wheat raisers; he also gives much attention to raising good stock.
A. C. Burks. Among those who have long been identified with the in- terests of' Pike county is the subject of this sketch, who is a native of Am- herst county, Virginia. He was born May 7, 1810, and is the son of Wil- liam and Nancy (Gillum) Burks. Being left an orphan when very young, he was reared and educated by his grandmother Gillum, who gave him a good education for those days. When he was eighteen years of age he commenced to teach school, following teaching for several years with good success. In 1841 he arrived in Pike county, coming the entire way on horseback. Our subject taught school in the Norton district for some four years, giving unanimons satisfaction. Ile followed teaching until 1875. He never had to solicit a school; they were always offered to himn. Many
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of his pupils have since filled positions of trust and honor. lle was married in March, 1843, to Isabella M. Boyd, of this county. They were the parents of six children, five sons living: Thomas A., Robert P., Francis A. (de- ceased), Aaron Melike, William Porter, and James Campbell, who are twins. Mr. Burks is the owner of 145 acres of good land, well improved. Ife is a member of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church. He is a genial man and has many friends in Pike county.
A. Bradbury, post-office Bowling Green, farmer and stock-raiser. Among the enterprising men of Cuivre township noted for their thrift and enterprise is the subject of this sketch, who is a native of l'ike county, Illinois. He was born April 22, 1837, and is the son of Lemuel and Lydia (Lepsher) Bradbury. He was reared a farmer, and received his education in Pike county. Illinois. He was married February 15. 1865, to Mary Tedson, of Pike county, Illinois, a young lady of culture and refine- ient, who makes his home pleasant. By this union there has been four children: E. Ross, Lydia Ivey, Lizzie, and Ora Mand. Mr. Bradbury is a member of the Legion of Honor, Bowling Green Lodge No. 43, and a worthy member of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church. He is the owner of one of the best farms in Cuivre township, consisting of 175 acres, under a high state of cultivation, with a fine residence, two stories, 16x32, built in modern style, and furnished in a manner that shows the enlture of the fam- ily. He has a good barn, 20x32, that is an ornament to any farm. and everything about the place shows the thrift. industry, and taste of its owner.
J. B. Carver, post-office Bowling Green. Among the enterprising and successful farmers and stock-raisers of Cuivre township is the subject of this sketch, who is a native of Missouri. He was born in Ralis county, in March, 1830; he is the son of Thornberry and Catharine (Bayliss) Carver, who were natives of Fauquier county, Virginia, and who settled in Ralls county in 1837, where they resided some three years, and then came to Pike county. Our subject was reared on a farin and received his education in the common schools. He was married in November, 1564, to Miss Lizzie Unsell, daughter of Joseph Unsell, deceased, of this county. This union has been blessed with three children: Ida Ura. Mand E., and Lnella. Mr. Carver is the owner of one of the best farins in the township, which con- tains 340 acres, and which is well adapted for stock. His farm is well im- proved. He has a fine two-story residence, and a good barn thirty-two by forty-two feet, with sixteen-foot posts, which is planned and built in a man- ner that is very convenient for stock, in which Mr. Carver is quite exten-
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sively dealing. He is a prominent member of the Baptist Church, and is considered among the best citizens of the township.
Wm. H. Carver, farmer and stock-raiser, post-office Bowling Green. The subject of this sketch is a native of Fanqnier county, Virginia. He was born December 24, 1832, and is a son of Thornberry and Catharine (Bayliss) Carver, natives of Virginia. In the fall of 1837 his parents came to Mia- souri, Jocating in Ralls county, where they resided until the spring of 1841, when they came to Pike county, settling northwest of Bowling Green. Our subject's early life was spent in working on the farm and attending the district schools and Watson Seminary, at Ashley, after which he taught school for several years with good success. He was married Jannary 12, 1860, to Miss Emily Ogle, daughter of Adrian and Mary Ogle, early settlers of Spencer township. They are the parents of four children, three sons and a daughter: Homer T., Eugene, Ova, and Laura May. Mr. Carver has a good farm of about 100 acres. He is engaged in general farming and stock-rais- ing. He was elected constable in 1860, and was deputy sheriff under M. Arthur for some two years. Ile and wife are worthy members of the Mis- siouary Baptist Church. He is given to hospitality and is frank and social in his manners.
Reuben H. Carver. The subject of this sketch is a son of the late Reu- ben Carver, a native of Virginia, but was among the pioneers of Pike county. Our subjeet was born September 22, 1830, and at the age of teu years came with his parents to this county, where he has since made his home. Ile was married May 22, 1855, to Miss Mary C. Robnett, of Boone county, Missouri. To them have been born ten children, of whom nine still survive: Warren W., Pleasant R., Katie H., Arthur D., Clara W., Liz- zie H., Cora B., Addie B., and Stella. He is a member of the A. F. & A. M.
John B. Dunbar, farmer, post-office Bowling Green, is a native of Ken- tucky, born February 12, 1830. Thomas Dunbar, his father, who was also a native of Kentucky, came to Missouri in 1835, and to Pike county in 1836. His wife's maiden name was Elizabeth Miller, sister of Judge A. P. Miller. Thomas Dunbar settled two miles west of Bowling Green, on land entered from the government. He was born in March, 1804, and died in July, 1874, his wife dying in 1843. Our subject, John B., is the only child of the marriage named above. He was reared in Pike county, receiving his education in the Bowling Green Seminary. On arriving at manhood he de- voted his time principally to farming and teaching school. He has been twice married; first, to Elizabth Frier, by whom he has one son, Thomas M. His wife dying he was again married in 1860, to Lucy B. Brown,
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daughter of T. W. and Lucy B. Brown. They have six children: Lizzie, Aunie, Dick, Mollie, Eva, and Anola B. Mr. D. has held the position of deputy collector, and deputy assessor, and justice of the peace. He united with the Baptist Church at Pisgah in 1850; Mrs. D. is also a member of the same church. He is a member of the Masonic fraternity and of the Legion of Honor. He moved to his present place of residence in 1861, where he owns 235 acres of valuable land, with 205 acres in a high state of cultivation. He has a good house, with other improvements to correspond.
William W. Fisher (deceased), was a native of Kentucky, born in Mer- cer county May 28, 1808; he spent his boyhood days on a farm and came to Missouri with his parents in 1829. His father settled near New London in Ralls county, where he continued to reside until 1848, when he moved to Pike county. He was married to Miss Electa Watson, daughter of James Watson, who was a native of South Carolina and immigrated to Missouri in 1811; he built the first log cabin in Louisiana. Mrs. Fisher well re- members the first steamboat that ever landed at Louisiana; it was named the Pilot, and landed there in August, 1815. Mrs. Fisher remembers when the Indians were numerous in this part of the country. Her grand- father, Capt. John Barker, was a captain in the Revolutionary War. Wil- liam W. Fisher was a farmer and stock-raiser; he moved to the farm which is now the old homestead in May, 1854, where he continued to reside until the time of his death which occurred on the 9th of Jannary, 1882, in his seventy-fourth year. Mr. and Mrs. Fisher raised a family of six children, five of whom are still living: Eliza Jane, died in 1876; James L., Bur- nett. W .; Sarah E., now Mrs. Campbell; Joseph A., now in Texas; and John D. Mr. Fisher was a member of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church, of which Mrs. Fisher is also a member. The Fisher homestead consists of two hundred and fifty-five acres of excellent land, all finely im- proved and in pasture, with good buildings and all the conveniences apper- taining to a substantial home.
H. C. Gibbs, post-office Cyrene. The subject of this sketch is a native of Bedford county, Virginia. He was born October 15, 1815. He was the son of William and Sarah (Dent) Gibbs. His early years were passed on the farm and attending school. He was married March 1, 1841, to Miss Maria L. Owen, of Bedford county, Virginia. They came to this county in 1848, first settling near Clarksville, where they lived for six years. He moved to his present farm in 1854, which he has since called home. He has raised a family of six children, three sons and three daughters: Anna Edwards, Sarah G. Jett, Albert M., deceased, W. N., Alice G., and A. B. Mr. Gibbs
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is the owner of a good farm, which contains 160 acres of fine land. Here- sided in Louisiana for some two years, engaged in the tobacco business with his son, A. B., and a nephew, George Gibbs. Mr. Gibbs is a consistent member of the Baptist Church. In politics he has always been a Dem .. crat. . During the late war his sympathies were with the south. He fed the hungry, though at times he did it at the risk of his own life. He was a wanderer and stranger from home for three years during the war, at the urgent request of wife and children, who feared he would be killed if he re- mained at home.
Clemens Grote is a native of Germany, kingdom of Hanover, born Feb- ruary 17, 1820. He was reared and educated in his native country, where be continued to live until he was twenty-three years of age, when in 1843, he came to the United States, landing at New Orleans. He immediately came up the Mississippi to St. Louis, where he engaged in the wood busi- ness and the manufacture of brick. In this business he continued until 1873, when he traded his St. Louis property for his present farm. He is a very industrious and energetic. as well as economical man. After having comfortably settled himself and family he interested himself in having his friends come to the neighborhood. and he now has the satisfaction of being surrounded by over forty families of his countrymen. He made the brick to build the splendid church in his neighborhood. Mr. G. was married in 1853 to Anna Robe, a native of the same country as himself. They have raised a family of seven children, three boys and four girls: viz., A. C., B. II., Joseph, Caroline, Christina, Mary, and Maggie. Mrs. Grote died Jan- uary 6, 1852. Mr. G. and all the family are members of the St. Clement Church. He has served as a trustee of the church ever since it was built, except three years. His father, Hammond Grote, and his mother were born in the same kingdom as himself. They raised a family of seven children, six of whom are still living. Five of thein came to America, and all of them are residents of Pike county. Hammond Grote was an extensive land owner, all of which, with the old homestead, is now in the possession of the oldest brother, Varart Grote, who is an extensive farmer.
Col. William Gordon Hawkins was born in Caldwell county, Ken- tucky, February 26, 1809: moved with his parents to Owen county, in the same state, in 1513, and thence to Pike county, Missouri, in 1527, and set- tled on the farm on which he now resides, having lived there for a period of fifty-five years. The father of the subject of this sketch was Harrison Hawkins, a native of North Carolina; his mother, Jane Robinson, was born in North Carolina also. There were three sons of this family: Harri-
. Lalon
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son, who died in 1855; James who died in 1813. William G. Hawkins was twice married, first to Martha Bondurant. July 26, 1836, from which union there were eight children, five of whom are still living. He lost his first wife in August, 1854. Ile was again married April 3, 1857, to Mary S. Mackey, of this county. They have by this marriage four children, all of whom are still living. Col. Hawkins united with the Baptist Church in December, 1832, at Peno; he was made a Master Mason in 1854. Ile was the first assessor ever elected by the people of Pike county, in 1832, and was again elected in 1836 or 183; he served as deputy sheriff under Capt. Grimes from 1846 to 1850; was elected sheriff in 1852 and again in 1854, and was also appointed United States deputy marshal for the eastern dis- trict of Missouri; he was chosen representative to the legislature in 1856, and in 1860 was again appointed United States deputy marshal to take the census of Pike county. In 1872 he was again chosen to represent the county in the legislature of the state, and was re-elected in the fall of 1874. Col. Hawkins performed military service under the militia system of the state in 1836 as adjutant of the Eighteenth Regiment for two years, when he was elected colonel of the same, serving until the repeal of the militia law. Col. Hawkins was a volunteer in the Black Hawk War, discharging the du- ties of orderly sergeant in Col. Mace's company of Missouri volunteers. Al- though seventy-three years of age Col. Hawkins still looks after the inter_ ests of his farm, which contains over five hundred acres, and occasionally visits another farm some distance from his homestead.
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