William
T. Pattison, P. O., Arrow Rock. Son of Dr. John
Pattison, who was a native of Ireland, and came to the
United States and settled in Virginia at an early date;
his mother was a native of New England. The subject of
this sketch was born on New Years Day, 1822, in
Fairfield county, Connecticut, at which place his parents
were sojourning at that time. While he was yet an infant,
his parents returned to Monroe county, in what is now
West Virginia, and there he grew up, and was educated in
the county schools, and at YaleCollege. At the age of
twenty-three, Mr. Pattison, with a younger brother,
established the first printing press in Monroe county,
Virginia, and later the same couple founded at Omaha, the
first newspaper ever published in Nebraska. On the 31st
of October, 1849, he was married to Miss Nancy B. Clark
of Monroe county, Virginia, and had six children
two of them now living, Mary S. and Henrietta V. In 1850,
Mr. Pattison moved to this county, and taught the male
and female seminary in Arrow Rock for two years. He then
bought a farm on Blackwater, and tried farming at
the same time continued teaching and continued
both for about eight years. He then moved to Marshall,
and was appointed postmaster to succeed Michael Flynn,
and was also made a justice of the peace, which offices,
as well as that of express agent, stage agent, and notary
public, he held at one and the same time, and in addition
carried on a book and news store. During the war, Mr.
Keithly was elected county treasurer, and failed to give
bond. The court appointed Mr. Pattison to fill the
office, giving bond, which he did, and collected about
$11,000 of revenue, when he discovered that his
appointment was illegal, and resigned. In his settlement
with the court there was a difference of ten cents, and
that against himself. He then engaged in the grocery
business, in what was then well known in Marshall as the
old gun-boat house. He remained in Marshall
until 1864, when the guerrillas and militia became so
dangerous to non-combatants the he moved his family to Canada,
and remained till the war ended, and then returned to
Saline, and settled in Arrow Rock, where he now resides.
He is a justice of the peace, and has been for seventeen
years, and notary public for many years. In 1860, he took
the United States census for Saline county. His pen was
known in the old Marshall Democrat, and for the
last seven or eight years has been connected with the
Saline County Democrat. He is a well-known and
witty writer, and was the author of certain famous
articles in 1860, known as the Book of
Chronicles. He is a public-spirited gentleman, and
has done much to develop the mineral resources of
Saline.Page 535-536
Judge Stephen M.
Thompson, P. O., Arrow Rock. The subject of this
sketch was born in Jefferson county, New York, June 3d,
1825, and is now in his fifty-sixth year. His father,
Ichabod Thompson, and his mother Achsah, were natives of New
York, and are both now dead. He was raised on his
fathers farm, and was educated in the common
schools and in the Clinton Seminary, Oneida county, N.Y.
After he became of age, he engaged mostly in mechanical
work and business. In 1867 he came west, and settled in Booneville,
Mo., and lived there a short time, and then moved to
Arrow Rock, in this county, where he settled permanently,
and engaged in the milling business operating a
steam flouring mill, elevator, and saw mill. In 1870 he
was elected one of the judges of the county court. He was
a republican, but as he was never extreme, he joined the
liberal wing in 1870, and was elected for six years.
While on the bench he continued to prosecute his milling
and elevator business, and does still. On the 6th
of February, 1850, Judge Thompson was married to Miss
Cyrene L. Norton, of Jefferson county, N. Y., and has
three children Alice M., Norton S., and Bertha C.
Judge Thompson has closely identified himself with the
interests of this county, and while on the bench his
mechanical knowledge enabled him to save the county many
hundreds of dollars. Page 536
Templeton C.
McMahan, P. O., Arrow Rock. Was born in Cooper
county, Mo., October 10, 1830. His father, Wm. C.
McMahan, a native of Kentucky, came to Missouriin 1810,
and settled on a farm in Cooper county, and was killed
near Brownsville, in this county, by the Indians, and
robbed of about $20,000.
He was raised
on a farm and educated in the neighborhood schools. In
1850 he entered the store of his uncle Jesse McMahan in
Arrow Rock, and remained there as clerk for six years.
For several years after this he was occupied in teaching
school in this and Cooper counties.
In April, 1858, he married Miss
Sarah E. McJilton, of Arrow Rock and in 1864 his wife
died, leaving three children, two now living: William E.
and Nannie. In 1861 he engaged in the commission business
in Arrow Rock, and continued it until 1865. He then went
into the stove and tinware business with McGuffin, which
they continued until 1872, when he returned to the
commission business.
On the 1st of
September, 1870, he was married to Miss Annie M. Reid of
Cooper county, (now principal of the McMahan Institute),
and has two children by this marriage, Carl Templeton and
Arter Reid. Mr. McMahan has lived many years in Arrow
Rock, and is ranked among the most respectable citizens
of the place. He was often arrested during the war by the
soldiers on both sides, but was never taken from the
county. He lost heavily by the war. Pages 536-537
William M. Tyler,
P. O., Arrow Rock. Was born in Cooper
county, Missouri, October 10, 1852. His father, Wm. D.
Tyler, was a native of Virginia, but came to Missouriat
an early day, and settled on a farm in Cooper county,
where the subject of this sketch was raised, and educated
in the country schools, and at Booneville. His mother was
a native of Missouri. At the age of twenty-one he came to
Arrow Rock, in this county, and engaged in the drug
business, which he continued for several years, and then
went into the grocery and produce business. Most of Mr.
Tylers business life has so far been spent in Arrow
Rock, where he had many friends and a lucrative trade,
obtained by fair and honest dealing. On the 8th
of October, 1879, he was united in marriage to Miss M. P.
Reid, of Cooper county. He is justly ranked among the
leading business men of Arrow Rock. Page 537
Samuel C. McClean,
P. O., Arrow Rock. Was born in earborn county,
Indiana, August 31, 1848. His father was a native of
Kentucky, but moved to Indiana, and settled on a farm,
where the subject of this sketch was born and raised to
the age of sixteen. He then went to Owensville, Kentucky,
and served an apprenticeship at the saddler trade, and
then engaged in journey-work until 1871, when he left
Kentucky and came to Missouri and located at Kirksville,
in Adair county, and remained there seven years in the
saddlery and harness business. In 1878 he left Kirksville
and located in Arrow Rock, in this county, where he now
is; and as he is the only saddler in Arrow Rock, he has a
large trade, which he deserves, as he is a good workman,
and deals honestly and squarely by his patrons. On the 8th
of May, 1869, he was married to Miss Mary E. Richart, of
Bath county, Kentucky, and has had five children, of whom
only one, Charles Howe, is now living. Page 537
Pleasant Davis, P.
O., Arrow Rock. Was born in Kentucky, March
18, 1816. When he was but three weeks old, his father
came to Missouriand settled in Howard county. There he
was raised, and received such education as the country
schools afforded. His father was a native of Virginia,
but came to Kentuckywhen thirty-two years of age, and
married in that state. His parents both died in Howard
county, where they lived for thirty years. Mr. Davis was
engaged in farming until 1841. He then went to Caldwell
county, Missouri, where he remained about 8 years,
engaged in farming. When the war broke out, Mr. Davis
entered the Confederate army under Gen. Sterling Price,
and was in the battles of Wilson Creek. Pea Ridge,
Carthage, Cane Creek and Little Rock. He was under Shelby
for about two years, served throughout the war. After the
war, in the spring of 1866, he came to Arrow Rock, where
he has since been engaged in the livery business, and has
a first-class business. At twenty-one years of age he
married to Miss Berthilda Duncan, of Howard county, Missouri;
has four children; Sarah L., Wade Hampton, Lena and
Thomas. Page 537, 538
Andrew Brownlee, P.
O., Arrow Rock. The subject of this sketch is a
native of Augustacounty, Virginia, where he was born October
15, 1796. His father was a native of Pennsylvania, but
moved at an early day to Virginia. In 1825, Mr. Brownlee
moved to this county, where he worked at the
carpenters trade a number of years. He had learned
his trade in Virginia. He built the first house ever
erected in Arrow Rock, a log house of two rooms
this was in the spring of 1830. In 1831 he purchases 160
acres of land, and in 1832 went to farming. He had lived
on his farm, combining farming with his trade his
brother living with him, and running the farm. On the 9th
of July 1829, Mr. Brownlee was married to Miss Betsey
Hall of this county, and has had ten children, of whom
six are living Mary Jane (Fenwick), Eliza
(Reynolds), Florence (Herndon) Darwin, Sarah, Justin
(Jones). In 1874, Mrs. Brownlee died in Arrow Rock. Mr.
Brownlee is one of the oldest citizens of Saline county
and has the esteem of all who know him. Page 538
Jacob Bingham, P.
O., Arrow Rock. The subject of this sketch was
born in Rockingham county, Virginia. February 20, 1820.
His parents, John and Mary Bingham, were natives also of
Rockingham county Virginia, and moved to Missouri in
1825, and settled in this county on the farm where Jacob
now lives, adjoining the town of Arrow Rock, and where
the old people lived until their deaths. His father died November
5, 1838, and his mother June 25, 1863. Mr. Bingham
purchased the farm on the death of his parents, and has
added to it 200 acres. The farm is an excellent one,
finely improved, and very valuable. Mr. Bingham is one of
the first settlers in this locality and has seen it
advance from unclaimed wilderness until it has been made
to blossom as the rose. His father, with Burton Lawless,
donated the land on which Arrow Rock is built. He was but
five years old when his father came to Missouri. He has
been a successful farmer, as his farm improvements
abundantly testify. Page 538
James A West, P. O.
Arrow Rock. The subject of this sketch is a
native of Tennessee, where he was born, May 20, 1820. His
parents, Jesse and Susan West, were natives of Virginia,
moving to Tennesseeat an early day, and settled in the
eastern part of the State. His mother still lives, and
resides with him. In 1837 his parents moved to Missouri,
and settled in this county, where he went to work on his
fathers farm. He has worked hard during his life,
and has made a competence, and is prepared to live easy
the rest of his life. In 1849 he moved to Arrow Rock and
located there, and engaged in the livery business, which
he continued to conduct for twenty-five years, and for
nine years had charge of the mail route from Booneville
to Marshall the chief route from the east. He is
known throughout the county, and is esteemed as an
honorable and upright man. In 1870 he bought the farm on
which he now lives. Mr. West was married the 19th
of November, 1844, to Miss Ellen Hukill, of this county,
a native of Fayette county Kentucky. They have eight
children: Jesse, Stephen G., Susan, James, John, Emma,
Mitchell and Sallie. Pages 538-539
John B. Townsend,
P. O., Arrow Rock. Mr. Townsend was born in
Cooper county, Mo., February 20, 1821. His father moved
from South Carolina to Kentuckyat an early day, and
remained there about three years, and then moved to
Cooper county, Mo., near the Saline county line. Here
John B. was born and raised on the farm, and was educated
in the neighborhood schools. In 1849 he moved to this
county and settled on the farm where he now lives. Mr.
Townsend married at the age of forty-five. On the 20th
of September, 1866, he was united in marriage to Miss
Eliza Dysart. They have five living children: Lena F.,
John E., Robert Lester, Susan P., Anna Louisa. Mr.
Townsend is an old settler of Saline county, and a worth
citizen, who pays his taxes, lives honorably, hurts
nobody, and renders to every man his due. Page 539
Jeremiah Johnson,
P. O. Arrow Rock. The subject of this sketch was
born in Howard county, Missouri, March 11, 1820, and
there are few men living in Saline county who were born
in Missouri, and are as old as he. His parents Dabney and
Elizabeth Johnson, were natives of Virginia, and moved
to Missouri in 1815, and settled in Howard county. His
father was a soldier in the war of 1812, and died in
1835. His mother died in 1860, at a very advanced age.
When Mr. Johnson was four years old his father moved to Jacksoncounty,
and engaged in farming. He was raised there on the farm,
and educated in the country schools. In 1837 he went to
the Platte purchase, and lived in Platte county
twenty-seven years, farming. In 1856-7 he went to Kansas,
then returned to Platte. In 1865 he moved to Illinois,
lived there two years, and then returned to Missouri, and
settled in Saline county, near Arrow Rock, where he has
since resided, engaged in farming, which he has followed
all of this life, up to one year ago, when he moved to
Arrow Rock, February, 1880, where he is now living. In
1839 Mr. Johnson was married to Miss Amanda Simpson, of Platte
township, who was a native of Tennessee. They have had
six children, of whom only two Dabney and Benton, are now
living, and these two are twins. Mrs. Johnson died on the
27th of July 1880. Mr. Johnson is honored and
respected by all who know him, and is marshal of the town
of Arrow Rock. Page 539
William Davis, P.
O., Marshall Was born in Augusta county,
Virginia, May 21, 1821.When he was still quite young, his
parents moved to Howard county, Missouri where he was
raised and educated. At the age of 21, he studied law
with Judge Napton, studying at home, and the judge
examining him two or three times a week. At the age of 23
he was admitted to the bar in Marshall, and practiced his
profession in this county for about five years. February
1, 1844,he was married to Miss Nancy H. Brown, daughter
of Judge Bernis Brown. They had seven children, of whom
six are living Bernis B., Wycliff, Walton, Mrs.
Mary J. Harvey, Mrs. Willie Odell, and Mrs. Lizzie M.
Gregory.
William Davis and his wife
were divorced in 1864, Mrs. Davis bringing the suit,
habitual drunkenness being the alleged cause of action.
Mrs. Davis and her children are living on a fine farm of
200 acres of choice land. Her father came to Missouri in
1828, and settled in Saline on what is now known as the
E. W. Brown farm. He was a practical surveyor. For
several years he was county surveyor, and laid off the
town of Marshall. Page 539-540
N. H. Lewis,
farmer, P. O. Napton. The subject of this sketch
was born in Albemarlecounty, Virginia, in 1827, moved to
Missouri, with his fathers family, in 1834, and was
reared in Cooper county. In 1846 he enlisted in the 1st
Missouri Mounted Volunteers, and under Col. Doniphan,
accompanied the regiment to Chihuahua, and was engaged in
the battles of Bracito and Sacramento, and assisted in
taking the first piece of artillery captured at the
Bracito. In the spring of 1849, Mr. Lewis went to
California across the Plains, taking three months to make
the trip. He mined for two years, and then returned home,
and concluded to settle down. In the spring of 1852, he
was married to Miss Lucy Thompson, of Cooper county, and
lived in Cooper until the spring of 1860, when he moved
to Saline. They have had four children, two of whom are
living. When the war broke out Mr. Lewis was a
constitutional Union man, and refused a colonels
commission under Gen. Parsons, with whom he had formerly
served in the Mexican war. The pressure of events was too
much for him, however, and he started south with
Robertson s regiment of recruits, and was captured
at Blackwater, imprisoned at St. Louis, and then at Alton,
where the provost marshal took the oath for him (?) and
he came home. Mr. Lewis is a member of the Baptist Church,
of Arrow Rock and is a member of the Grange. Page 540
Dr. W. G. Fisher,
physician and surgeon, P. O. Napton. Dr. Fisher
was born at Napton, (then Jonesboro) in Saline county, February
10, 1845. His parents were from Virginia, and his father
died of cholera in 1854, contracted while in St. Louis,
purchasing machinery for a mill to be erected at Jonesboro.
Dr. Fisher was educated at the Kemper high school, in
Booneville, and graduated at the St. Louis Medical College,
in 1866. Since then he has practiced his profession at Jonesboro
(now Napton) in this county. He was married November 16,
1870, to Miss Mary Field, daughter of Col. Joseph Field,
of this county. They have three children: William Field,
Mabel Evangeline and Nadine, all living. Dr. Fisher is
the only physician at Napton, and has a large and paying
practice. Page 540-541 ( 14 )
Philip Leininger,
farmer and blacksmith, P. O. Napton. Mr.
Leninger was born in Landshutt, Germany, in the year
1836. Ran away from home and came to America in 1856, and
in 1857 located at Jonesboro, Saline county, Missouri,
where he has lived ever since, running the only
blacksmiths shop in Jonesboro (now Napton). In
1862, he and C. Q. Lewis, built at Jonesboro, a steam
mill of two run of stone, and two carding machines, and
also a saw-mill in connection, which they operated for
seven years, when the whole was destroyed by fire. In
December, 1861, being a southern man in sentiment, Mr.
Leininger joined the Confederate recruits from Saline,
under Robertson, and with them was captured at
Blackwater, December 19, 1861, and was taken with the
rest of the prisoners, first to St. Louis, then to the
Alton penitentiary. In the spring of 1862 was released on
oath, and returned home to Jonesboro. Mr. Leininger is an
old bachelor, and by his own unaided efforts has made all
he has quite a large estate. Page 541
William
H. Morris P. O. Napton. Is a merchant,
and owns the only store in the town of Jonesboro, and was
born in Moniteau county, Missouriin 1851; lived there
until 1864. Since then he has been engaged in farming and
school teaching in this county, until a short time ago
when he went into business in Jonesboro, with a good
stock of general merchandise. In 1873, he married Miss
Gertrude Springer, daughter of John Springer, of Pettis
county, and has three children Oliver L., Carrie
M., and Mabel C. Mr. Morris is a member of the Zoar
Baptist Church. He has only recently entered the
mercantile business, but keeps a first-class country
assortment. Page 541
George W.
Gilmer, farmer, P. O., Marshall. Born in Greene
county, Kentucky, April 23, 1832. He was about two years
old when his father, John Gilmer, moved with his family
to Saline county. He was raised on a farm, educated in
the common schools. In 1850, he had a severe attack of
the gold fever, which carried him off to California,
where he remained for six months, meeting with success in
mining. Returning home in 1861, he enlisted in the
Confederate army, Gen. Prices command, Capt.
Browns company, Marmadukes regiment. In 1862,
he was transferred to Gen. Armstrongs command, east
of the Mississippi river. He participated in the
following battles: Booneville, Springfield, Wilson Creek,
Carthage, Dry Wood, Lexington, Cove Creek, Pea Ridge, Corinth,
Jackson, Bolivar, Holly Springs. Afterwards he was with
Gen. Forrest when he engaged in the battle of Fort Pillow,
where he was wounded in the leg with a minnie ball, which
laid him up for six weeks. He was wounded the second
time, in the shoulder, at a battle which occurred on the
Mobile & Ohio railroad at Guntown. After this he was
promoted to the rank of third lieutenant, in which
capacity he served till the close of the war, coming home
with a good record. In 1873, he bought the farm, of 120
acres, upon which he now resides. Page 541-542
Chas. H. Bradford,
farmer and stock-raiser, P. O. Napton. Born in
Arrow Rock, Saline county, June 13, 1845. He is the
second child of C. M. Bradford. His early education was
obtained in Arrow Rock. In 1858 he went to the St. Louis University,
spending two years there. At St. Johns College,
Fordham, Westchester county, N. Y., he spent two years,
being obliged to leave the latter place on account of the
sickness of his father. In 1863 he went to Poughkeepsie,
N. Y., where he spent one year at the Mill. Institute,
completing his education. Returning home, he settled upon
a farm near Arrow Rock, where he resided for eleven
years. In 1878 he removed to the farm where he now
resides, situated eight miles west of Arrow Rock. His
farm consists of 120 acres of very fine, tillable land.
He was married to Susan L. Smith, daughter of Thos.
Smith, a native of Cooper county. They have three
children, two boys and a girl: Charlie E., Thomas G., and
Helen L. Page 542
Samuel H. Kennedy,
farmer and miller, P. O. Napton. Born in
Davidson county, North Carolina, in September 4, 1828.
His father, Bryson Kennedy, was a native of South
Carolina. He married Lydia Teague, by whom he had seven
children, five now living, all boys: A. J., Moses E.,
Joseph, Jacob and Samuel. Bryson came to Saline county in
the fall of 1865 and died in July 1869. He was buried at Jonesboro.
His wife died during the war and was buried in North
Carolina. Samuel H., the second child, was educated at Salem,
North Carolina, in the common schools and also at the
high school. In 1850 he came to Lafayette county, Missouri,
and settled at Lexington, where he engaged in milling. He
did a flourishing business, his patronage extending
within a radius of fifty miles. In February, 1852, he was
married to Rebecca A. Wilburn, a native of Indiana, and a
daughter of Philip Wilburn, Esq. They have eight
children, five boys and three girls, all living: Alonzo,
William, Samuel H., Jr., Stonewall, Leslie H., Emma
Crutches, Kate Thorpe and Annie. His first wife died in
March 1866, and was buried at Jonesboro. He afterward
married Mrs. M. Hicks, widow of Dr. Hicks of Kentucky.
They have two children, one boy and one girl; Percy and
Mollie. In 1857 he moved to Saline county, where he was
engaged in milling for three years. He afterwards turned
his attention to farming and stock-raising, and has
continued in the same business up to the present time. He
is a member of the Baptist church, at Zoar. Page
542
John S. Staples, P.
O., Arrow Rock, stock raiser and farmer. Born in
Henry county Virginia, December 4, 1828. At the age of
eleven years, came to Saline county, Missouri, with his
father, James Staples. He was educated in the commercial
schools of said county. In 1861, he enlisted in the
Confederate army, under Gen. Price, in Capt. Wm.
Browns company, Col. Bob Woods regiment, Gen.
Shelbys division. He participated in the following
battles: Booneville, Lexington, and Dry Wood. At the end
of six months he came home. In 1864, he re-enlisted under
Gen. Price, in Capt. Thos. Woodsons company, Col.
Bob Woods battalion, where he served until the end
of the war. On the 31st of October, 1865, he
was married to Martha C. Lakin, a native of Cooper
county, and daughter of Thos. Lakin, who was killed by
the militia. Their union was blessed with three children,
two of whom are now living; Wm. C., and John Henry. He is
the possessor of a fine farm of 200 acres, which was
given him by his father, and upon which he has resided
since 1866. Page 542-543
James K. Staples,
farmer, P. O., Arrow Rock. Born in Cooper
county, February 26, 1845. His uncle, James Staples, was
a native of Virginia, and came to Missouriin 1839. In
1840, came to Saline county, where he entered the tract
of land where he and his nephew now reside. James
K.s father, Joseph, was a native of Henry county,
Virginia. He was married to Elizabeth A. Poindexter, December
21, 1825. They became the parents of seven children, six
of whom are now living. He brought his family to Cooper
county, Missouri, in 1835. Joseph Staples died May 28,
1859. His wife died February 27, 1863. Both lie buried in
Cooper county. James K., the sixth child, was educated in
the common schools of Cooper county. In October, 1864, he
enlisted in the Confederate army under Gen. Price, Capt.
Pools company. Afterward he was transferred to
Capt. Woodsons company, Gen. Shelbys
division, Col. Woods battalion. He served until the
close of the war. November 12, 1867, he was married to
his cousin, Ruth Staples, daughter of James Staples. They
have two children, both living, Alonzo and James Joseph.
In the year of his marriage he moved to Saline county,
where he now resides. Page 543
James Thornton,
farmer and stock-raiser, P. O., Arrow Rock. Born
in Howard county, Missouri, March 13, 1827. His father,
Peter Thornton, was born in Virginia, 1779. He married
for his first wife Mary Miller, January 20, 1802, by whom
he had five children, all deceased. He moved to Howard
county, and married Elizabeth Snyder, September 16, 1824.
They had one child James. Peter Thornton moved to Saline
county in 1830, and settled on the farm where his son
James now resides. His wife died July 6, 1857, and he
followed her February 5, 1860. They are both buried on
the home place. James the only child, was educated in the
common schools of Saline county, He was first married to
Amanda M. Bridgewater, November 21, 1844. They had five
children, three of whom are now living, two boys and one
girl: William D., Emma E. Crockett and James C. His first
wife died May 26, 1863 and was buried in the family
graveyard. He was married again August 1, 1865 to Eliza
E. Talbott, daughter of Rev. N. M. Talbott. They have six
children, all living, three boys and three girls: Susan
J., Frances E., Nathaniel P., Luraney D., Edward F. and
Henry B. He owns 300 acres of splendid land. Is engaged
in farming and stock-raising. In 1864, he enlisted as
private in the Confederate army, under Gen. Price, in
Capt. Divers company, Col. Woods battalion,
Gen. Shelbys division. Was in the following
battles: Lexington, Blues, Independence, Newtonia, and
Little Osage, where Gen. Marmaduke was captured. In the
battle of Independence he had a very narrow escape. He
was ordered to dismount and advance ten paces to the
front. His regiment was ordered to form on him. Just then
the enemy made a flank movement, and his colonel ordered
the regiment to retreat. Mr. Thornton, with two of his
comrades, did not hear the order, and when the regiment
fell back, they were left alone to receive the fire of
300 Federals. They, however, miraculously escaped without
a scratch. In the fall of 1872, he was elected county
assessor of Saline county. In 1874, he was re-elected,
serving two terms with credit to himself and his county.
He has been an honored member of the Baptist Church since
the age of twelve years. Page 543-544
Charles S. Fetters,
coal miner, P. O. Arrow Rock. Born in Clinton
county, Ohio. August 24, 1850. Came to Saline county in
1875. Was married to Martha Harrel, a native of Kentucky,
in March 1878. He discovered the celebrated cannel coal
on the farm of W. B. Sappington. It is a fine vein of
nineteen feet in thickness. The bituminous coal
underlying it is forty feet in depth. He is now working a
bituminous vein in the north part of section 8, township
49, range 19, the thickness of which is about eight feet.
Page 544
Henry Crouch, brick
mason and farmer, P. O., Arrow Rock. Born
in county of Kent, England, August 8, 1839. His father,
Edward Crouch, was was born in England, 1800. Was
married to Jane Brisley. They had five children, three
boys and two girls, all living: John, Henry, William,
Annie, and Jane. Edward Crouch still lives in England.
His wife died December 23, 1880, and was buried in the county
of Kent. Henry the second son, was educated in the common
schools. Was married to Mary A. Leach, a native of England,
June 9, 1860. They have four children, all living, three
girls and one boy; Agnes, Ellen, Edith, and Bernard. In
1871, May 15, he landed at New York. He came to Saline City,
Saline county, Missouri, July 12th, 1871,
where he followed his trade for two years. In 1879 he
bought the farm where he now resides, ten miles east of Marshall.
He is energetic and industrious, and is gradually
accumulating a handsome property. Page 544-545
Edwin Crockett, P.
O., Marshall. Born in Rockland, Maine, February
20, 1829. His father, James Crockett, was born in Maine, April
9, 1798. On the 10th of January, 1822, he was
married to Mary Haskell, a daughter of an old
revolutionary soldier. They had eleven children, six of
whom are now living, four girls and two boys. Edwin,
Edward, Annie, Amanda, Celia, Marian E. About the year
1831, James Crockett moved with this family to Seneca
county, Ohio, where he died in the autumn of 1873. His
wife died in the spring of the same year. Both lie buried
in said county. During his early life, he followed the
sea. While living in Ohio, he engaged in agricultural
pursuits. Edwin Crockett, the fifth child, was raised on
a farm. During youth, he attended the common schools. At
an early age he graduated at an academy in the town of Republic,
Thomas Harvey, principal. At the age of 23, he had a
severe attack of the gold fever, which
carried him off to California, overland route, where he
remained six years, engaged in mining. While here he was
moderately successful. From here he went to Frazer river,
Dominion of Canada, where he remained two years mining.
Next we find him on the border, mining and trading during
one summer. From here he went to Washington territory,
where he lived for six months during the winter of
1860-61, engaged in splitting rails. He next went to Idaho,
being among the first to enter that territory. With four
others, he invested $7,000 in a mine, which yielded them
$23,000, a handsome profit. He then went back to Ohio. On
the 26th of May, 1862, he was married to Miss
Jessie, daughter of Thomas Reed, a Scotchman, from the county
of Ayr. They have a family of seven children, all living,
five boys and two girls: Thomas, Josiah, James, Edward,
Charles, Marion and Mary. In 1863, he volunteered as a
private in company G, 65th New York infantry.
He was engaged in the following battles: Wilderness, in
the eight days fight, beginning there and ending at
Spottsylvania; Cold Harbor, Petersburg. Washington, Shenandoah
Valley. He was wounded at Cedar creek, and was taken to
the hospital at York, where he remained six months. He
returned to the service in time to engage in the battle
of Richmond, after which he returned home. He lived in
Henry county, Ohio, engaged in farming, until February
1880, when he moved to Saline county, Missouri, and
settled on the farm where he now resides, nine miles east
of Marshall, on the Arrow Rock road. His farm consists of
226 acres of very fine land. Page 545
Elihu Green,
farmer, P. O. Marshall. Born in Howard county, Missouri,
September 16, 1828. His father, Samuel H., was a native
of Estelle county, Kentucky, born in 1797. He married
Elizabeth McKinney, by whom he had ten children, eight of
whom are now living. He came to Saline county at an early
day, and settled on a tract of land about one and
one-fourth miles west of Arrow Rock, now known as the
Green farm. He died in 1871 and was buried at
the Arrow Rock cemetery. His wife is still living. Elihu,
the second son, was educated in Saline county at the
public schools. In 1849 he was married to Emily C.
Rumins. They became parents of ten children, nine of whom
are now living six sons and three daughters: John H.,
Samuel H., Stephen E., Elihu H., Abram E., Thomas W.,
Susan Elizabeth, Wilmoth Ann, Elna J. His wife died in
1877 and was buried at Napton. In 1851 he purchased a
farm lying about eight miles west of Arrow Rock, and
consisting of eighty acres of very fine farming land,
which by prudence and good management he has since
increased to 103. In 1862 he enlisted in Captain
Binghams company, Seventy-first regiment, E. M. M.
In 1864 he was discharged on account of disability. Page
545-546
Cyrus A. Kirtley,
farmer and justice of the peace, P. O., Marshall. Born
in Livingstoncounty, Missouri, August 22, 1841. His
father, Asa F., was a native of Kentucky. Came to Saline
county in 1839. In 1840 he moved to Livingstoncounty,
where he remained until 1867, moving there to Lafayettecounty.
His first wife was Miss Mary B. Rogers, by whom he had
eight sons, six now living. His wife died February 24,
1854. In 1857 he married Mrs. M. Herndon, by whom he had
three children, two of whom are living. C. A. Kirtley,
the fourth child by his fathers first wife,
completed his education at Carrollton Seminary, in 1858.
In 1861 he came to Saline county. May 28th, he
enlisted in Captain Crews company, Missouri State
Guard. While in this service he was in the following
battles: Booneville, Carthage, Wilson Creek, Dry Wood and
Lexington. In November he enlisted for three years or the
war. He entered Captain G. R. Kirtleys company, Jo
Shelbys regiment, under Gen. Marmaduke. He
participated in all of the battles in which his command
was engaged. He was wounded twice and captured at Linn
Prairie. He killed his guard with a secreted derringer
and succeeded in making his escape. At the close of the
war he returned to Saline county. October 24, 1866, he
married Mattie A. Huey, a native of Boone county, Kentucky.
They have had seven children, five of whom are now
living, two sons and three daughters: Russell A., Mary
K., Mattie C., Nora C., and Robert L. From 1866 to 1872
he was engaged in farming and milling. In 1876 he bought
the farm on which he now resides, consisting of 200 acres
of raw prairie, which under his skillful management, has
become one of the finest farms in the county. During the
years of 1877, 78, 79, 80, he sold
produce to the amount of $6,299; raised and marketed at
an expense of $1,100, realizing a handsome profit of over
$5,000. In 1878 he was elected justice of the peace for
Arrow Rock township, which office he still holds.
Sixty-seven different cases have been brought before him,
and in none of them has there been an appeal from his
decision. Since 1858 he has been a member of the Baptist
church. Page 546-547
John Swinney, P.
O., Arrow Rock. Was born in Bedford county Virginia,
January 28, 1816. His father, William Swinney, was born
in Buckingham county, Virginia, and was married to Sarah
Johnson, also a native of Virginia. They had three
children, two girls and one boy, only one of them living
now: John. William moved to Wilsoncounty, Tennessee, with
his family, engaged in raising tobacco, and died August
29, 1855. John lived in Tennesseeuntil, 1838, when he
moved to Posey county, Indiana. In 1857, he was married
to Celia Hambleton, who died and was buried in Posey
county in 1840. In October, 1846, he married Miss Maria
French, a native of Indiana. Her father was born in Hopkins
county. Kentucky, and was one of the first settlers of Indiana.
John Swinney and his second wife have had twelve
children, ten of them now living: Wm. D., John T.,
Lardner C., Loyd E., James T., Lenora, Mary Senter, Emma,
Esther Morris, and Ann. Mr. Swinney lived fifteen years
in Indiana, and in 1856 moved to Polk county, Missouri,
but not liking that county he moved to Chariton county
and lived there about eight years, tobacco farming. In
the spring of 1865, he moved to Illinois, and lived there
twelve years, and then purchased the farm in this county,
on which he now resides, containing 152 acres of
excellent tobacco land. Page 547
Robert Emmett
Beazley, P. O., Arrow Rock. Mr. R. Beazley was
born in Culpepper county, Virginia, March 5, 1834. His
father, Charles Beazley, was a native of the same county,
and was married to Lucy Randall, also a native of Virginia.
They have had eight children, five now living: Mrs. M. E.
Sidenstriker, Mrs. Sarah J. Levy, Mrs. C. Clemmens, Mrs.
Martha Harris and Robert E. In 1842 he moved from Virginia
west, and settled in Saline county, in what is at present
Liberty township. He then purchases a farm near Arrow
Rock and there settled. In June, 1862, he died, and was
buried at the Arrow Rock cemetery. In 1838 his
wife died and was buried in Virginia. Robert E., the
eldest son, was raised and educated as a farmer in Saline
county. September, 1861, he was married to Lucy Fenwick,
a native of Cooper county. They have had ten children,
six of them now living: Minnie, Pettis, Maud, Nellie,
Jesse, and Emmet. While confined with a spell of
pleurisy, one night in 1860, he got out of bed and
(unconscious of the act) left the house, and wandered off
several miles. The weather was so cold that his feet were
frozen, and had to be amputated. In 1861 he went to Texas,
and stayed there until 1865, teaming. After the war he
came home, and lived on his farm near Arrow Rock. In 1880
he ran for constable of Arrow Rock township, and the
election was a tie. The election was held over, and Mr.
Beazley received a unanimous vote, his opponent refusing
to run against him. Page 547-548
Peter J. Hillen, P.
O., Arrow Rock. Was born in Prussia, September
19, 1849. His father, Franz J. Hillen, was a native of
the same place, and was married to Miss Dorodea Lower,
also born and raised at the same place. They had eight
children, six of them now living: Franz J., Nicholas,
Jacob, Philip, Peter and Margaret. Franz, Jr., and his
wife are still living in the old country. Peter was
raised and educated in Prussia. Want of health exempted
him from military service and in December, 1870 he left
the Faderland for the United States and
landed in New York in the Christmas holidays. In his
early life he had learned the shoemaker and butcher
trades. Early in January, 1872, he came to Arrow Rock in
Saline county, and did every sort of work to make a
living. As soon as he could he went to butchering in
Arrow Rock for about six months, and then in the saloon
business for about the same time. He then went to
butchering again, farming and selling ice, at which
occupation he is now engaged. May 18, 1872, he was
married to Barbara Alflen, of Germany. They had five
children, four of whom are now married: Peter J.,
Dorodea, Horace, and Gertrude. They are both members of
the Catholic Church. Page 548
Wm. McJilton, P. O.
Arrow Rock. Born November 6, 1813, in Maryland,
where he was raised and educated, and came to this county
in 1830. He was a carpenter by trade. In 1839 he was
married to Miss Rachel Huston, daughter of Jos. Huston, a
native of this county. Rachel was born February 18, 1822.
Her father, Joseph Huston, was born in Augusta county,
Virginia. He came to Saline at a very early day, and
before he came he married Sarah Brownlee. After her
death, he married the widow Lalliss, of Saline. He died
in 1862, and was buried in the Arrow Rock cemetery, as
also, his second wife. He had five children by his first
wife, of which three are now living: Mrs. McGoffin, Mrs.
N. Huston, and Mrs. McJilton. By his second wife he had
five children, two now living Joseph and Samuel.
In 1839, the marriage between Rachel Huston and William
McJilton took place, of which union there were born seven
children, two of who are living: Mary Emma and Charles.
When he first came to Arrow Rock, he followed the milling
business, with Samuel Huston. He died, and was buried in
the Arrow Rock cemetery. After her husbands death,
she continued to reside in Arrow Rock to the present
time. In 1876, she commenced keeping the Arrow Rock
hotel, where she does a good business. Page 548
William R. Rhoades,
P. O., Arrow Rock. Was born in Saline county, April
16, 1853, where he was raised. His father, Judge George
Rhoades, was born in Virginia. He was first married to
Miss Hawkins, a native of Virginia, also. They had four
children, only one of whom is now living Rev.
Richard Rhoades. After the death of his first wife he
married Jane Hall, also a native of Virginia. They have
had nine children, all now living five sons and
four daughters: William Rufus, M. M., George, Jr., John
T., Ethel L., Henrietta Gilliam, Miriam Mead, Mary Mead,
and Hattie. In 1826, Judge Rhoades came to Saline county,
and settled in Jefferson township, where he now lives.
William Rufus, the fourth son of his fathers second
wife, was educated at William Jewell College, Liberty,
Missouri, afterward, in 1873, attending the school of
Pharmacy in St. Louis. Returning home he entered the drug
business, at Arrow Rock, where he has since continued,
and is doing a prosperous business. January 3, 1878, he
was married to Miss C. J. Bowers, born in this county,
and a daughter of Dr. G. H. Bowers, a prominent physician
of Saline. They have two children: Zeta A. and Marcus
Rufus. Page 548-549
Elias Shannon, Sr.,
P. O., Arrow Rock. Was born in Scott county, Kentucky,
September 8, 1802. His father, E. Shannon, was also a
native of Kentucky; married Nancy Shannon, a native of
Woodford county, Kentucky. He died and was buried in
Woodford county, as also his wife. They had six children,
only one, Elias, now living, who was the youngest, and
raised and educated in Henry county, Kentucky. In 1824,
he was married to Jane Shannon, a native of Woodford
county. They had ten children, six of them now living:
James D., Nancy, Samuel, Catherine, Elias and William. In
1844, he moved to Missouri, and settled in Saline county,
five miles east of Marshall, where he continued to live
over thrity-three years, and then moved to Arrow Rock. He
and his son William keep the city hotel, and are
proprietors of one of the large livery and sale stables
of Arrow Rock. Mrs. Shannon died November 18, 1879, at
the age of seventy-nine, and was buried at the Gilmore
graveyard. Page 549
Mathew Gaunt, P.
O., Arrow Rock. Was born in Yorkshire, England, April
21, 1821, where he was raised and educated. In 1840, he
was married to Sarah Hainesworth, an English lady. They
had eleven children, only three of them now living. In
1844, he came to the new world, and settled in St. Louis,
where he lived about five years. In 1857 he came to this
county, and located a carding machine in Arrow Rock, to
which he built an addition of grist and woolen mills, at
a cost of $4,000, the total cost being about $10,000. At
that time, this was the only woolen mill in the county,
and here was done the first spinning, weaving, and
fulling otherwise than by hand; and some of the cloth
made at this mill is yet being worn, though made twenty
years ago. The business done here, at one time, was
enormous; often as many as forty wagons were in the yards
at once, and as many as five or six hundred pounds of
wool carded in one day. People came with their wool as
far as one hundred miles to these mills, because they
were fixed to do business cheap and on a large scale.
They continued all right until just before the war
closed, when, in the absence of Mr. Gaunt, the mills went
down. There is no better place in the county for a woolen
factory. Page 549-550
Mrs. M. C.
Ballantine, P. O., Arrow Rock. Mrs. Ballantine
was born in Booneville, Cooper county, Missouri, March
21, 1842. Her father, N. Dickinson, was born in Virginia.
He was married to Henrietta Sites, also a native of Virginia.
They had nine children, six of them now living: John,
Oliver, Elizabeth Randolph, Griffith, William and M. C.
Mr. Dickinson first came to Cooper county in 1841, and
then to Arrow Rock, where he went into merchandising. His
first wife died in 1862, and was buried at Arrow Rock
cemetery. Afterward he married the widow Grove. He died
in 1876, and was buried at Arrow Rock cemetery; his
second wife died in 1878. Mrs. M. C. Ballantine, the
youngest daughter of her fathers first wife, was
educated in Arrow Rock. July 20, 1865, she married D. J.
Ballantine, a native of Indiana, raised in Booneville.
Mr. Ballantine was a steamboat clerk for a number of
years, on the Missouri and Mississippi rivers. Afterward,
he kept hotel at Macon City, Missouri, where he died October
17, 1878, and was buried at Walnut Grove cemetery. After
her husbands death, Mrs. Ballantine moved to Arrow
Rock, and engaged in millinery and dress-making, in which
she is now doing a flourishing business. Page 55
Daniel Urick, P.
O., Arrow Rock. Was born in Lebanon county, Pennsylvania,
January 14, 1815. His father, Nicholas Urick, was a
native of Pennsylvania, also, and was married about the
year 1798, to Mary Brightbill, also born in Pennsylvania.
They had seven children, of whom four are now living
Daniel, Jacob B., Mrs. Mariah McClure, and Mrs.
Sarah Hetrick. Nicholas Urick died September, 1863, in Pennsylvania,
and was buried near Mechanicsburg; his wife died in 1820,
and was buried at Walnut C. H. graveyard, Lebanon county.
Daniel Urick, the second son, graduated at the Gettysburg
(Pennsylvania) college, in 1840. He was married in Pennsylvania,
to Margaret Reigel, also a native of Pennsylvania. They
had seven children, four of who are now living; Jacob C.,
Daniel E., Sarah Wilson and Florence. While he remained
in Pennsylvania, he was engaged in farming and in
merchandising. In 1864, he moved to Keokuk, Iowa, and
lived there until 1869, engaged in the commission
business. September 1869, he moved to Arrow Rock, where
he has been engaged principally in fruit-raising. His
oldest son is proprietor of one of the Arrow Rock lumber
yards, and is doing a flourishing business. Page 550
Jesse McMahan, P.
O., Arrow Rock. Mr. Jesse McMahan was born in
Cooper county, Missouri, April 19, 1813. His father,
Samuel McMahan, was born in Clark county, Kentucky, in
1774, and was married in Madison county, Kentucky, to
Sarah Clark, daughter of Benjamin Clark, and a native of Albemarlecounty,
Virginia. They had five children, three of them now
living: Jesse, Thomas A., and John W. In 1810, he moved
west, and with others, made a settlement in Cooper
county, six miles south of Arrow Rock, and about four
miles south of Arrow Rock, built a block house, or fort,
called Andersons fort. They brought their families
west in 1811. His immediate neighbors were Wm. Anderson,
Andreas Anderson, George Anderson, David Jones, J.
Wolfskill, Wm. Ried, and Stephen Turley. In 1813, the
Indians drove them away, to Coopers fort, and
burned Andersons fort, and while there, he was
killed during the Christmas week. He had recrossed the
river to get his cattle, and while driving them to the
river, the Indians (who were on the lookout for a man
named Mukchax) saw him, and opened fire on him. His horse
fell, shot under him. He started to run, but hearing the
voice of the chief, whom he knew, and supposed to be
friendly, he halted and turned around. As he faced them
the Indians shot him dead. His body, cut into several
pieces and scalped, was recovered, and buried at
Booneville. His widow survived him until 1872, and was
buried six miles below Arrow Rock. Jesse, the youngest
child, and his friend, Jesse Reid. Were the first
children in that neighborhood, born south of the river.
He was raised on a farm, and in 1831 he went to the
Indian nation on a trading expedition and returned in
August. While there, the Indians got after him, and in
his efforts to spur his mule he sprained his knee so
severely, that it rendered him a cripple for life. He
escaped, however, and returned to Arrow Rock, where in
1834, he went into the dry goods and grocery business,
which he continued until 1875. Since then he has traveled
a good deal. In 1837, he was married to Miss Susan
Vaughan, a native of Tennessee. They have four children,
all living: Clayton, Henry T., Mrs. Nannie H. Sutherlin,
and Mrs. Sallie R. Piper. Page 551
Joseph H. Green, P.
O., Arrow Rock. Was born in Green county, Kentucky,
May 23, 1850. His father, D. D. Green, was a native of New
Jersey, and came to Kentuckyat an early day. He first did
business at Danville, then at Lexington, and then moved
to a farm near Greensburg, in Green county. He was
married to Miss A. C. Phillips of Green county, in 1846.
They had three children, only one of whom, Joseph M., is
now living. In 1852, his father came to Saline county,
and went into the harness business at Arrow Rock. He died
in 1875, April 2d, and was buried at the Arrow Rock
cemetery. His widow still survives, and lives with her
son in Arrow Rock. Joseph was educated in this county,
and learned the saddlery and harness business, which he
followed here, and in Booneville, until 1875. He then,
with Mr. G. Dickinson, purchased a stock of groceries in
Arrow Rock, which they continued together for three
years; he then bought out his partner, and has been in
business alone ever since, and is now one of the most
prominent grocery men in Arrow Rock, owning two business
and two dwelling houses in the town. Page 551-552
Philip Goetz, P.
O., Arrow Rock. Mr. Goetz was born in the Kingdom
of Wurtemburgand in the town of Kemnath, October 7, 1839.
His father, Christian Goetz, was a native of Germany, and
was a carriage painter by trade. He was married to Mary
Gauder, having six children, only two of them now living,
Philip and Mrs. Sophie Heinesh, who is still living in
the old country. He died in Germany, December 23, 1872,
where he was buried. His widow still survives him.
Philip, the third child, was educated in Germany, and
served six years in the army, and obtained his discharge April
6, 1866. In that same year he came to the United States.
He stopped first in Cincinnati, and stayed three months
in a furniture factory. In the old country he had served
an apprenticeship at, and learned the shoemakers
trade. He then went to New Orleans, where he worked at
his trade two years. Then moved to Booneville, Missouri,
and then to Arrow Rock in June, 1868, where he has
followed his trade ever since and carries a considerable
stock of boots and shoes. He is the only business man in
Arrow Rock who handles boots and shoes, and has an
excellent trade. He was married in March, 1871, to
Margaret Sauerysing. They have had five children, only
two of whom are living: Willie and Mary. Page 552
Charles M. Bradford,
P. O., Arrow Rock. Was born February 27, 1817,
in New York City. His father, Joel Bradford, was born in
1753, in New York, and was married to Sarah Stockin. They
had ten children. He died in 1836, in New York, and was
there buried, his wife dying in Chatham, Connecticut.
Charles M. was the youngest, and was educated in Pennsylvania,
and graduated in medicine at the Penn University. In
March, 1839, he moved to Missouri, and in 1840 began the
practice of medicine at Arrow Rock. October 26, 1841, he
was married to Lavinia M. Pearson, granddaughter of Dr.
John Sappington, and step-daughter of Gov. C. F. Jackson.
They had seven children, four of whom are living: Ida,
Mrs. Belle Baker, Mrs. Lavinia Nelson, and Charles
Bradford. The deceased were: Mrs. Helen Russell, Mrs.
Sarah Price, and George H. Bradford. Dr. Charles M.
Bradford died August 21, 1862, at the age of forty-two
and was buried at the Sappington cemetery. He was a very
successful physician, but his health was feeble during
the last half of his life. He was the postmaster at Arrow
Rock for some time after he came to that city. Mrs. L. M.
Bradford was educated in Saline county, and now resides
in Arrow Rock. She was born in Howard county, August 23,
1825. Page 552
George Dickson, P.
O., Arrow Rock. Was born in Bourbon county, Kentucky,
March 3, 1799, but was educated in Mercer county, Kentucky,
where he lived until he was grown. His father, Josiah
Dickson, was a native of Scotland, and was married to
Isabell Reed, also of Scotland. They had eleven children,
only two of whom are now living George and Rev.
Wm. Dickson. Josiah Dickson moved to Cooper county in
1819, and went to farming there. He died in 1829, and was
buried four miles east of Booneville, he wife surviving
him until 1831, and was buried at the same place. George
Dickson came to Missouri with his parents, and in 1827 he
was married to Miss Nancy Calvert. They had but three
children, and only one now living, James L. Dickson.
After the death of his first wife, he married Prudence
Simpson, September 14, 1837. They had seven children,
five of them now living Josiah, William,
Catherine, Sarah P., and Dorsie. October 22, 1868, his
second wife died, and was buried at the Arrow Rock
cemetery. Mr. Dickson came to this county in 1868, and
settled two miles west of Arrow Rock, where he now lives
on a farm of 160 acres of first-rate land. Page
552-553
Henry J. Blackwell,
P. O. Arrow Rock. Was born in Hickman county
Tennessee. His father, Joseph Blackwell, was born in North
Carolina, and was married to Mary Wilkins. They had
thirteen children, only seven of whom are now living:
Henry G., Richard, James C., Thomas, Mrs. Nancy Baker,
Sarah and Joseph. He died March 4, 1857, in Franklin
county, Arkansas, where he was buried. His widow survived
him until 1863, when she, too, died, and was buried with
him. Henry J. Blackwell, the youngest child, was raised
and educated in Kentucky, until he was sixteen years old,
when he moved with his father to Franklin county, Arkansas,
and continued to work on his fathers farm until
March, 1856, when he was married to Elizabeth J. Campbell
a native of Perry county, Tennessee, where she was raised
and educated. They had three children, two now living:
Mrs. Martha Buley and Mrs. Mary Lowe. In 1862 Mr.
Blackwell enlisted in the Confederate army in Arkansas,
as sergeant, and was in the following battles: Fayetteville,
Newtonia, Clarksville, Crooked Creek, Hartsville, Little
Rock, Ft. Smith and Helena. After the war closed he lived
at Granby, mining and merchandising for four years. Then
went to Joplin, in mercantile business, four years. In
October, 1880, he bought the farm he now lives on, in
Saline county, three and a half miles west of Arrow Rock.
April 1879, with Dr. McClelland, Thos. Moppin and Chas.
Walters, he leased with privilege of buying, 200 acres,
in section 19 township 49, range 19 and they are mining
for lead with bright prospects of success. Page 553
Mrs. Ida R.
Gambrell, P. O., Arrow Rock. Was the youngest of
the twelve children of Judge Bernis Brown, and was born
in Saline county, November 27, 1837, and was educated at McPherson
Female College, Lexington, Missouri. Her mother died
when she was quite young, and she was living with her
sister in Lexingtonat that time. She was also two years
at the Tracy College, in Booneville. Soon after returning
home from school, she was married, July 26, 1855, to W.
J. Gambrell, a native of Virginia. He came when quite
young to St. Louis, and then moved to Kansas City, where
he was living at the time he was married. He was in the
commission business. They lived in Kansas Cityuntil 1863,
when they moved to St. Louis, where he purchased an
interest in the steamboat Sultana, running from St. Louis
to New Orleans, and was her captain. April 27, 1865,
while loaded with 2,000 Federal soldiers, taken on at Vicksburg,
and about 200 passengers and crew, the Sultana burst one
of her boilsrs, a few miles above Memphis, took fire and
burned to the waters edge. In this disaster, over
1,500 persons perished, and among them Captain Gambrell.
His body was never recovered. Mrs. Gambrell then returned
to Saline county to the farm, on which she now lives. She
has three children: William J., Rowena, and Lillie.
Page 553-554
Richard Gaines
Robertson, P. O., Marshall. Was born in Petersburg,
Virginia, December 1, 1838. His father, Francis A.
Robertson, was descended from John Robertson, of Scotland,
who settled near Sappony Church, in Chesterfield county, Virginiawhere
Deacon Francis A. Robertson was born. He was the son of
John and Catherine (nee Taylor) Robertson. Born at Mt.
Pleasant on the Appomattox, July 26, 1810. He was
married to Mary E. Gaines, daughter of Richard Gaines and
Mary A. C. Gaines. In 1829 he moved to Petersburg, and in
1831 united with the Baptist church. In 1834 he removed
to Farnesville, and with his brother, Deacon B. M.
Robertson, laid the foundation for the great prosperity
of the Baptists at Farmville. In 1836 he returned to Petersburg,
where, except short intervals during the war, he
continued to reside until his death, which took place at
his home, October 8, 1880, where his widow still survives
him. He was a most earnest Christian, and, according to
the Religious Herald, Richmond, Virginia, his name
was well and widely known through Virginia. Mr. F. A.
Robertson had eleven children, ten of whom are now
living, six sons and four daughters: R. Gaines, John J.,
Marcus W., Francis H., Joseph T., Linneus P., Catherine
S., Mrs. Mary E. Talley, Mrs. Maria J. McManaway, and
Sallie G. The oldest son, Richard Gaines, and the subject
of this sketch, was educated at the Charlottesville
Military Institute, and at the Richmond Baptist College.
In September, 1858, he came to Saline county, Missouri,
and taught school, first in the Good Hope school house,
he being then only nineteen years old, and has been
teaching nearly ever since, in Missouri, Texas, Arkansas,
and Illinois, and holds first-grade certificates of each
state. He is now teaching in the Jester school house,
four or five miles east of Marshall. March 1, 1861, he
was married to Miss Annie Garrett, a native of this
county, and daughter of James Garrett. A few months after
his marriage he enlisted in Capt. Wm. B. Browns
company, M. S. G., and was drill master of that company.
He afterward enlisted as orderly-sergeant in Andersons
company, Robertsons recruits, and was captured with
the whole command, at Blackwater, December 9, 1861. In
prison three months, went home on parole and was
exchanged 1862. In August, 1862, he joined (and was
orderly-sergeant) Garretts company, 1st
Mo. Cav., Col. Shelby, afterwards Gordons
Reg., Shelbys brigade, and Marmadukes
division. Was in the battles of Booneville, as
flag-bearer, 2d Lexington, Coon Creek, Prairie Grove, Cape
Girardeau, Helena, Little Rock, Bayou Meter, fighting
every day for forty miles south of Little Rock, Cane
Hill. In Shelbys raid in 1863, Mr. Robertson was
captured in Saline county, and in prison to the end of
the war. At the battle of Helena he assisted the battery,
and helped to take a piece from a critical position,
where out of thirty men detailed, sixteen were wounded,
more or less severely. Page 554-555
James Gilmer, P.
O., Marshall. Born in Green county Kentucky, August
14, 1824. John Gilmer, his father was born in 1791, in Virginia,
and moved to Kentucky, when quite a boy with his father,
to Adair county. He was married to Elizabeth Phillips,
also a native of Virginia. They had thirteen children,
seven now living, five boys and two girls: James
Campbell, Washington, Robert and Squire A., Mrs. Martha
S. Reynolds and Mrs. Bettie P. Phillips. In 1834, Mr.
John Gilmer moved to Saline county, Missouri, and settled
on the farm where his son James now lives, six miles east
of Marshall, and died February 8, 1873, and was buried on
the home place. Mrs. Gilmer died June 10, 1865, and was
buried in the same place. Mr. James Gilmer was the second
son, and was ten years old when his parents moved to this
county. Neighbors at that early day, were few and far
between. His father first built a log house of one room
and the next year, added another log room. The
land was purchased from a man named Goff, who begun a
cabin, but had not finished it. Mr. Gilmer finished and
lived in it. The Marshall and Arrow Rock road, though
received by the county court, was still called the
Indian, and by some the buffalo
trail. Religious services were held mainly in
private houses, and people made their own clothes, of
flax, wool, cotton, and buckskin. Mr. Gilmer went to
school in the neighborhood, and lived with his father on
the farm until he was married. In 1842, the brick house
in which he now lives, was put up by his father. In June,
1856, he was married to Miss Catherine A Harvey, who was
a native of Saline, and raised by Jacob Keyster, her
father James Harvey, dying when she was an infant. They
have eight children now living, six boys and two girls:
Jacob W., James W., John M., Robert A., Wade H., Martha
E., Harvey and Mary J. Mr. Gilmer has a splendid farm of
240 acres under fence, and 125 acres of it in
cultivation, and is a successful farmer. Page
555-556
Daniel M. Embrey,
P. O., Arrow Rock, Missouri. Mr. Embrey was
born in Staffordcounty, Virginia, in 1845, where he was
raised and educated. He left Virginiain 1868, and came
directly to Saline county, Missouri. He was raised on a
farm, and after being in this county about one week, he
went to work on a farm, and in the employ of Mr. Joel
Scott. The war had ruined his father, as it had done most
Virginians, (and many Missourians). Mr. Daniel Embrey
came west in the endeavor to better his fortunes, and
those of his family. He has two brothers in this state,
E. E., living five miles east of Miami, in this county,
and John W., living in Dalton, Chariton county. In 1876,
Mr. Embrey was elected school director for the Neff
district. In 1870 he was married to Miss Mahala Nave,
daughter of Henry Nave, one of the oldest settlers of the
county. Page 556
John Q. Moore, P.
O., Marshall, Missouri. Was born in Hampshire
county, Virginia, May 3, 1837, came to Saline county at
eight years of ago with his parents, and here received
his education. His father, Philip Moore, was also a
native of Hampshire county, Virginia, and was married in
1821 to Miss Hester Byser, also of Virginia. They had ten
children, six of them now living three boys,
Solomon, John Q. and Daniel, and three girls, Mrs. Millie
Chappell, Mrs. Julia A. Baker and Mrs. Elizabeth Kennedy.
In 1845 Philip Moore came to Saline county with his
family, stopping first, for one year, near Marietta, Ohio.
Landed near Cambridge, and first settled near Miami,
where they lived several years. In 1849 he moved to Jonesboro
where he lived until 1876; after which time he lived
around with his children until he died January, 1879, and
was buried at Jonesboro. His wife died January 17, 1878,
and was buried at the same place. John Q., the fifth son,
in 1862, purchased his fathers farm near Jonesboro,
where he farmed until 1876, when he sold the farm, and
moved to the farm he now lives on, nine miles east of Marshall,
containing 200 acres of splendid land. November 21, 1865,
he was married to Laura A. Hansbrough, a native of this
county, and daughter of Hector Hansbrough. They have
seven children, three boys and four girls: John, Obz. G.
and Charles E., Lucy D., Lucy B., Mary W., and Pearler W.
In 1861 he enlisted in Captain Emmersons company
under Colonel Robertson, and was captured with the
command at Blackwater, December 19, 1861. Released on
oath in 1862 and came home. Page 556
James Neff, P. O.,
Marshall. Mr. Neff was born in Cook county, Tennessee,
April 27, 1833. His father, Isaac Neff, was born in Jefferson
county, Tennessee, in 1798, and was married to Lucy
Romines, of which union there were five children, four of
whom are now living: John, Abram, James and Susan. Isaac
Neff came to Saline county in the fall of 1836, traveling
in wagons, with his family and twelve or thirteen
negroes. He died in 1879, and was buried on the home
place. His widow still survives him, and is living at the
old home place. His name originally, was Nave, but he had
it changed to Neff. Mr. James Neff, the oldest son, was
but three years of age when his parents moved to Saline.
He was educated at the country schools, and continued on
his fathers farm until 1866, when he moved to a
farm which his father entered, and on which he now lives,
eight miles east of Marshall, where he now owns 600 acres
of fine land, 180 under fence. In the spring of 1861, he
was married to Miss Mary Hungerford, who is a native of
this county, born September 13, 1844. Seven children have
been born to this union, six of whom are now living,
three boys: Isaac, Robert, and James; and three girls:
Ella, Lulu, and Sadie. Ida, the eldest daughter is now
deceased. In 1861, Mr. Neff enlisted in the
Confederate army, first in Capt. Wm. B. Browns
company, then in Col. McCulloughs regiment; was at
the battles of Booneville, Carthage, and Wilsons
Creek. After which he was taken sick, and returned home,
and in December, 1861, he intended, with his brother, to
go in Robertsons command, but failed to get ready,
and thus escaped capture. He could not stay at home, so
he went to Logan county, Illinois, and stayed there until
the war was over, and then returned home. Page
556-557
Norwood Wiley,
farmer, P. O., Arrow Rock. Born in Gilford
county, North Carolina, in 1819, June 27, where he
obtained his education and was raised, and worked at the
carpenters trade, which he carried on extensively
until 1859. His father, Hewey Wiley, was a native of North
Carolina, and married Jane Garrison, widowed daughter of
William Matthews. They had two children: one boy, Norwood,
and one girl, Caroline. In 1840, Norwood Wiley was
married to Alice Gosset, who died in 1863. Afterward he
married Lydia Dixon, a widow, and a native of Saline
county. In 1859, he moved to Saline county, where he has
since resided, settling on Fish creek, on the Isaac Neff
farm; and, in 1870, moved to the farm he now occupies,
four miles northwest of Arrow Rock, and is now engaged,
generally, in farming and stock-raising. In 1852, he
served as representative for Guilford county in the
legislature of North Carolina. Mrs. L. Wiley was born in
Saline county, March 12, 1826. Her father, Daniel
Thornton, was born in South Carolina, October 26, 1788,
and went to Tennessee when quite a boy; and was married
to Mary Neff, sister of Isaac and Henry Neff, in
Tennessee, about 1816, They came all the way from North
Carolina to Missouri by water down the French
Broad and Tennessee rivers to the Ohio. Page 557
Joel Scott, farmer,
P. O. Arrow Rock. Mr. Joel Scott was born six
miles east of Georgetown, Scott county, Kentucky. His
father was also a native of Scott county, Kentucky, and
his mother, whose maiden name was Hawkins, was a native
of Mason county, Kentucky. His father was also a farmer
before him, and moved to Missouriin 1832, stopping in
Boone county, and moving to Saline county the next year
purchasing 650 acres of land ten miles east of the
present county seat. Joel, the fifth son, now lives at
the old homestead, ten miles east of Marshall. He was
only four years old when his parents came to Missouri,
but still has an indistinct remembrance of coming from Kentucky
in wagons. The family were in a carriage made in the Kentucky
penitentiary, for which, with the harness, they paid
$1,000. Mr. Scott, after the lapse of half a century, has
still some remains of those harness. Joel was educated at
the neighboring schools of Jonesboro and Arrow Rock,
until the age of eighteen, when he assumed charge of the
farm for his father. In 1857, at the age of twenty-one,
he went to California and worked in the gold mines, and
trading between Sacramento and the mines, in which he had
good luck for over two years., when he returned home with
a check on Page, Bacon & Co., St. Louis, for $6,000
over all expenses. Returned by the isthmus of Panama. Mr.
Scott was married, in November, 1857, to Miss Nannie
Townsend, daughter of A. S. Townsend, deceased of Cooper
county. He has six living children, and is now a
flourishing farmer and stock man, on the old Scott
homestead, which he has enlarged to over 1,000 acres. Mr.
Scott lost one of his eyes by the glancing of a nail
which he was driving, striking him in the pupil. Page
557-558
Bernis B. Brown, P.
O., Arrow Rock. Is a native of Saline county,
born December 16, 1832. His parents came to Saline county
from Albemarlecounty, Virginia, in 1828. His father
served as one of the judges of the county court of Saline
for about fifteen years. He was also a surveyor of the
county for a number of years. He died in 1867, his wife
having died in 1840. Bernis B. Brown, the fourth son, now
lives ten miles east of Marshall, near the old homestead.
He attended school and worked on the farm until he was
eighteen years old, when, in 1850, he took the gold
fever, and went to California. He returned home from California,
after working in the mines for a time, through Mexico, it
taking about six months to make the trip. In March, 1867,
he was married to Miss Emma Tarrant, daughter of Henry
Tarrant, of Cass county, Missouri, having four children,
two boys and two girls. When the war broke out, he
enlisted in Capt. Browns company, and was at the
first Booneville fight. Continued in the State Guards
until his time expired, and returned home. Could not stay
long; went south and enlisted in the Confederate army,
under Gen. Shelby, and continued until the surrender, in
the spring of 1865. Since the war Mr. Brown was turned
his entire attention to farming. Page 558
Ezekiel W. Brown,
P. O., Arrow Rock. Mr. E. W. Brown was born in
Saline county, August 4, 1834. He was educated at the
country schools and at the Masonic College in Lexington.
In 1853, he took the gold fever, and struck out for California,
and with his brother-in-law, took a drove of cattle over
the plains to California, and came near to starving to
death in the passage of the Nevadamountains. He remained
in the far west until 1867, when he returned home on
horseback, without having made much of a fortune, as he
was sick for the last three years of his stay in
California. Mr. Brown was married at Arrow Rock, Missouri,
in 1868, to Miss M. E. Durrett, daughter of Richard
Durrett, a native of Albemarlecounty, Virginia. He has
had five children, only two of whom are now living. Mr.
Brown resides upon his farm, about ten miles east of Marshall,
and is a good farmer and a hospitable gentleman. Page
558-559
MARSHALL D. PIPER,
P. O., Arrow Rock.
Marshall Piper was born in Albemarle county,
Virginia, April 26, 1817, and obtained his education at
the country schools of that county. At the age of
twenty-three he moved to Saline county with his mother
and her ten children, moving by land. About two years
after he first came to Saline, he married Miss Sarah
Brown, daughter of Bernis Brown. After his marriage, he
continued on his farm, about fifteen miles east of
Marshall, until the breaking out of the war. His ill
health not permitting him to take an active part in the
war, he remained quietly on his farm, though a southern
man in sentiment. On the 8th day of August,
1864, Col. Lazear, of the first regiment, M. S. M.,
ordered all the male residents in Mr. Pipers
neighborhood to repair to Arrow Rock on the following
day, where he intended to make them a speech. Mr. Piper,
with many others, obeyed this order, and while there, he
was suddenly arrested and ordered to be shot, on charges
unknown to his family. He was shot that same day, near
Arrow Rock, by a detail of ten men, but upon examination,
eleven wounds were found upon his body. Upon permission
from Col. Lazear, his friends took his body to his home
and buried it decently. His widow Mrs. Sarah E. Piper,
was born January 22, 1826, and came with her parents to
Saline county, when only two years of age. Since her
husbands death, she has tarried on the farm with
her children, two of whom are now married, and
comfortably settled around her.
Submitted by Vicki Piper July 2004 ( See "The War in 1864"
for more
information and see additional information in a family sketch
submitted by Ken Pickard, Kpickard@flash.net (Dallas, TX) Kpickard@sprynet.com (Austin, TX) and Old Union or Frazer
Cemetery.
Vicki notes : (
starting here) you will notice a change in presentations,
ie the P. O. sometimes does not appear. It feels as
if it might be a different author. I am
not changing anything, including punctuation and
spelling! And to complicate things further the first bio
of this set states plainly the man is a resident of Clay
township!
Harman D. Ayres.
The subject of this sketch was born in Bourbon county, Kentucky,
March 18, 1835, where he spent most of his live. His
education was obtained in the country schools of Bourbon
county. His father also, Harman Ayres, was born in
Bourbon county Kentucky, in 1810, and was married to Miss
Charlotte Lutton, of Bourbon county. They had three
children, one boy and two girls; Mr. H. D. Ayres being
the only son. One daughter, Mrs. Kate Halladay, now
living in Bates county; the other is dead. Mr. Ayres was
married in Bourbon county, Kentucky, February 6, 1855, to
Miss S. L. Turner, daughter of William Turner, a farmer
of Bourbon. In KentuckyMr. A. was engaged in farming and
stock-raising, mostly blooded cattle. He moved to Saline
county, Missouri, with his family, October, 1878. Mr.
Ayres brought a lot of fine stock, thirty-five cattle,
eight horses, twenty-one sheep and thirty-five hogs. He
his now engaged in farming a fine farm of 400 acres in
Clay township. Page 560
Joseph Schiesser
was born near the Rhine, in Wurtemburg, Germany, February
12, 1834, where his early life was spent, and his
education obtained. His parents were both natives of
Wurtemburg, and had nine children, (five boys and four
girls) of whom Joseph was the eldest son. At the age of
nineteen years, Joseph, in company with two companions,
started to the United States. He worked in New York
several months, and then gradually worked his way to the
west, until he reached St. Louis, Christmas eve, 1853. He
worked in and about St. Louis for some time, until he was
taken sick. He was finally cured in Jefferson, by Dr.
Grouce, after a nine months spell. He then worked
around at St. Paul and Dubuque, staying at the latter
place nearly four years. In 1857 he was married to
Caroline Ostwalt, in Iowa, now dead. Farmed for five
years in Minnesota. He married again, to Agnes Gartner,
who is also dead, February 17, 1871. His third wife,
Barbara Keller, is still living. In 1880 he came to
Saline and settled on his present farm. Page 560
William Davis, was
born in Sullivan county, Ind., in 1823, where his early
life was spent, and his education received. At the age of
25, he moved to Iowa, and in 1857, he was married to
Elizabeth Major, a daughter of Andrew Major, a native of Ohio.
About nineteen years of his life were spent in Wapello
county, Iowa, when he moved to Missouri, first to Pettis
county, then to Saline, 1868, to the farm where he now
resides, consisting of 720 acres of first-class land. He
has four children, all boys; Andrew J., Simon, Thomas J.,
and John G. Mr. Davis has a splendid farm and elegant
orchard, finely improved, and is a successful farmer.
Page 560
James S. Thomas, P.
O., Arrow Rock. The subject of the following
sketch was born in Clarkcounty, Kentucky, February 8,
1820, where he grew up to manhood and received his
education from the country schools, and also at
Whittleseys Academy, Harrison county, Kentucky.
Moved with his father, Geo. Thomas, to Bourbon county, Kentucky,
where he lived until 1870, farming. His father was born
in Bourbon county, Kentucky, 1799, where he was married
to Susan Strode, daughter of Jas. Strode. They had five
children. He afterward married a widow by the name of
Thomas, and by her he had three children, all girls.
After the death of his second wife he married Emily
Berry, and by her he had three children. He died in 1855,
in Bourbon county, and was there buried, at his
home place, five miles from Paris. In 1846, James S.
Thomas was married to Julia A. Thomas, of Bourbon county,
Kentucky. In October, 1870, he moved to Saline county, Missouri,
and settled on the farm he now occupies, two and a half
miles northwest of Arrow Rock. He has ten children, five
boys and five girls. While living in Kentucky he was
taken prisoner by the Federal authorities in 1862-3, and
incarcerated in Lexington, Covington, Mt. Sterling, and Camp
Chase. As fast as he would pay his way out he would be
re-arrested and imprisoned. In earlier years he engaged
in intimate acquaintance with Henry Clay, whose
hospitality he many times enjoyed. The names of his
children are: James M., George A., H. Clay, William S.,
John T., Mrs. Susan E. Haggin, Mrs. E. M. Piper, Mrs.
Phoebe M. Webb, Mary Lee and Emma D. Page 561
Joseph Connell,
farmer, P. O., Arrow Rock. Mr. Joseph Connell
was born in Page county, Virginia, in the year 1846,
where he grew to manhood and received his education. His
father, Brice Connell, was a native of Page county,
Virginia, born, 1798, and about the year 1820, was
married to Elizabeth Summers, daughter of George Summers,
also a native of Page county. He died in 1880, and was
buried in Page county. At the age of twenty-three Joseph
came west to the southern part of Illinois, where he
remained about two years. He then went to central Indiana,
and farmed for a year or two. In the spring of 1869, he
came to Luter Island, in Montgomery county, Missouri, and
farmed there three years. In 1874, he moved to Saline
county, and settled on what is known as the Chestnut Hill
farm, one mile and a half from Arrow Rock, which farm he
cultivated for several years, and then moved to Wm.
Prices farm, and then to the farm on which he now
lives, four miles northwest of Arrow Rock, and is one of
the prominent stock feeders of Saline county. He was
married February 20, 1877, to Miss Bettie Smith, of
Howard county, Missouri; three children, two boys and one
girl. Page 561
JESSE
ROMINE, born in Cox county Tennessee, March 20
1808, where he spent his early life, and received his
education. In 1833, he came to Saline county and settled
down to farming, and married Catherine Nave of Saline.
They had twelve children, six of whom are now living:
John, Isaac, Abram, Mrs. Mary A. Hensick, Mrs. Rhoda
Talbott, and Mrs. Catherine Maddix. Mr. Romine died in
August, 1865, his wife died in April 29, 1875. Isaac
second son of Jesse Romine was born in Saline county,
October 12, 1852. In 1879, he was married to Victoria
Piper, daughter of Benj. Piper. At present he is engaged
in farming on the old Romine homestead. Abram, third son
of Jesse Romine, was born in Saline, June 21, 1855. He
was married in 1879 April 26, to Miss Bettie Thornton,
daughter of Jack Thornton, of Saline. Abram, and his
brother, both live at the old homestead. (page 561)
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