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Jefferson Township

HEATON J. CLAPPER

(Farmer and Stock-raiser, Post-office, Stoutsville). Mr. Clapper’s father Squire Poicell Clapper, a substantial Virginian, and a man of sterling intelligence and high character, immigrated to Missouri with his family in 1838, and bought land at Florida, in Monroe county, where he improved a small farm. He resided there until his death, one of the solid citizens of the township and a man greatly respected by all who knew him. He served for a short time as justice of the peace, and always exercised a marked influence for good upon those among whom he lived. He died in 1854. Heaton J.  Clapper, the subject of this sketch, was but four years of age when his parents came to Missouri, having been born in Loudoun county, Va., May 26, 1834. Reared in Monroe county, he received a fair common school education, and at the age of 18 apprenticed himself to the carpenter’s trade, at which he worked as a novice for three years. He then followed carpentering as a master workman some six years. March 10, 1861, he was married to Miss Martha J. Thompson, a daughter of John L. Thompson, of this county, but formerly of New Jersey.  About this time Mr. Clapper settled on the farm where he now resides. His first wife died September 25, 1873, leaving him two children: Anna M. and John H; two, besides, died in infancy. Mr. Clapper continued on his farm and about three years after his first wife’s death, August 12, 1877, he was married to Mrs. Naomi P. Starrett, relict of Charles R. Starrett (who died leaving one child, Jacob S.), and daughter of Jacob Painter, of this county, from Virginia. Mrs. Clapper had been a teacher before her first marriage, and after her first husband’s death she entered the high school at Shelbyville, in order to further qualify herself for teaching. She took a thorough course and was awarded a diploma for proficiency in the common and higher English branches, having attended and studied with great assiduity for two years. She then resumed teaching and taught with marked success in Missouri and Illinois for about six years, and until her marriage to Mr. Clapper. She is also accomplished in music, and gave instructions on the piano for several years. Mrs. Clapper is a lady, as the facts above show, of a high order of culture, and as all know who have the pleasure of an acquaintance with her, she is a woman of many estimable qualities of character, refined in manners, kind and gentle in disposition, and a generous, hospitable neighbor, and a most companionable friend and acquaintance, always agreeable and entertaining in conversation, and ever as sensitive for the feelings of others as she is for her own. Mr. and Mrs. Clapper have had two children, but both, alas! have been called away to the Heaven from whence they came. Both died in infancy. Mr. and Mrs. Clapper are church members, he of the Presbyterian and she of the M. E. Church South. Mr. Clapper has a fine farm, his tract of land including about 500 acres, all of which is under fence and about 260 acres are used for farming purposes, aside from stock-raising. Mr. Clapper has a large two-story dwelling, good new barn and other improvements to correspond. He is one of the well-to-do citizens of the township, and bears with worth the name and character he has inherited from his honored father.

 

MARTIN J. CLARK

(Farmer, Breeder and Dealer in Thoroughbred Cattle). Mr. Clark is a native of Montgomery county, Ky., born June 7, 1825. His father, James Clark, one of the pioneers of that State, served in the Indian War and with honor in the War of 1812. He married Eliza Burroughs, a native of Culpeper county, Va. He then removed, in 1852, from his home in Kentucky and settled in Monroe county, where he died in 1863. He had grown to be a large stock-dealer. Martin’s youth was spent on the farm. He was educated fairly well in the district schools. As he grew to manhood he began himself to trade in stock. In 1850 he removed to Menard county, Ill., where, March 23, 1851, he was united in marriage to Miss Mary E., the lovely daughter of Alvin Ringo, one of Menard county’s staunchest farmers. From Illinois he removed, in 1853, to Missouri, locating, first, in Pike county, afterwards, in 1854, in Monroe county, and finally on the farm where he now resides. From a place of little value h has by assiduous toil and diligent labor made one of the finest stock farms in the county. He owns as much stock as any man in the county, making a specialty of thoroughbred horses and graded sheep. Mr. Clark’s farm consists of 680 acres of land, fenced in, improved and in a high state of cultivation. His residence is an elegant structure, surrounded by a number of modern improvements. He has three children: James A., Alice R. and Joseph L. Two others, Charles W. and an infant, are deceased. Mrs. Clark attends the Christian Church. Mr. Clark is one of the highest members of the Ancient Order of Odd Fellows. To Mr. Clark’s indomitable energy and notable ambition is due one of the finest farms in this county, and by his worthy example, has the introduction of thoroughbred stock placed Monroe county prominent in the rank of Northeast Missouri. Mr. Clark is a child of nature. With the advantages of a common school he has by profitable experience become marked as one of the leaders of public opinion by all who know him. Abroad a man of large views and personal influence, at home he is an indulgent parent and husband.

 

THOMAS CLEAVER

(Farmer and Stock-raiser). This enterprising and intelligent gentleman was born in Grayson county, Ky., in March, 1807. His father, Gen. Stephen Cleaver, was a Virginian by birth who emigrated when a young man to Kentucky. He married there Miss Rebecca Smith and moved, in 1817, to Missouri. He entered and bought for himself and other Kentuckians a large quantity of land in Ralls county and improved a farm, upon which he spent the remainder of his life. He died in 1846. He was a man of much public importance and was chosen a delegate to the constitutional convention. He served, holding a General’s commission, in several Indian campaigns, in one of which he was taken prisoner and not released for two years. He was also a soldier in the War of 1812, and was in the battle of New Orleans. Mr. Cleaver was twice married, having four children by the first and three by the second marriage. Of both families but two children are living: T. C. and Mrs. Eleanor Cobb, now of Texas. The former grew to manhood in Ralls county, having good educational advantages, though the greater part of his studying was done after he reached his majority. The first school-house in Ralls county was built on his father’s farm. He married, December 16, 1835, Miss Margaret J. McComb, also a native of Kentucky, and a daughter of John McComb. Mr. Cleaver farmed in the same county until 1849, and then, in company with Capt. Brolasky, of St. Louis, and others, about 100 in number, he went to California. They were absent about 18 months, were in the mines for a few weeks and then engaged in cattle and mule trading.  In 1851 Mr. Cleaver returned, lived in Ralls until 1858 and then moved to his present farm. This consists of 520 acres of land, and that belonging to his son, who lives with him, swells the amount to 728 acres, all fenced and all in grass, plow land and timbered pasture. The farm is well improved, with good residence, barns, etc. Mr. and Mrs. Cleaver have six children: John S., married and living in Ralls county; Louise, wife of Dr. R. H. McKee, of Clarke county; Susan E., wife of George W. Stewart, of Audrain; Nannie May, wife of Irving E.  Hickman; Harry H., married and with one child, Mary A.; and Ruth E., wife of Leslie M. Combs, of Wichita, Kan. Mr. and Mrs. Cleaver and all their children belong to the Cumberland Presbyterian Church.

 

JACOB W. CONRAD

(Proprietor of the Stoutsville Pottery). Success in whatever they undertake is a characteristic of German- Americans, and Mr. Conrad, a native of the Fatherland, is no exception to the general rule of his nationality in this country. He is adept in pottery, and came to Missouri in the fall of 1877, since which he has succeeded in building up one of the largest and most successful manufactories in this line in North Missouri. He manufactures about 120,000 gallons annually, and such is the reputation of his pottery that he has constant demand for far more than he can supply. He burns about 30 kilns a year, and is steadily increasing the capacity of his works. Mr. Conrad was born in Bavaria, June 16, 1842, and was a son of Jacob and Mary (Sprow) Conrad, each of whose ancestors had been settled in that country for a period, in the language of Blackstone, “Whereof the memory of man runneth to the contrary.” In 1845 the family emigrated to the United States, and lived for 14 years in New York City. They then removed to Pennsylvania and settled in Jefferson county, where they still reside. Jacob W. assisted his father in timbering in Pennsylvania until 1864, when he enlisted in the service, becoming a member of Co. B, Two Hundred and Sixth Pennsylvania Infantry. In February, 1865, he was attached to the Twenty-fourth corps of Sharpshooters, and on the 2d of April was wounded in the left shoulder and fore arm, at Hatcher’s Run, Va., being thus disabled until the close of the war. He was honorably discharged July 24, 1865, and returned to Pennsylvania. In 1866 he engaged in farming in that State, but the following year removed to Ohio and located at Limaville, in Stark county, where he learned the pottery business. Remaining there for two years, he then went to Alliance, where he worked for some 18 months. In 1871 he went to Atwater, in Portage county, where he worked at his trade until 1877. Mr. Conrad then came to Missouri, as stated above, and established his pottery near Stoutsville. April 3, 1866, Mr. Conrad was married to Miss Mary Sohlinger, of Limaville, Ohio, a daughter of John Sohlinger. Mr. and Mrs. Conrad have five children: William E., Maggie, Nettie, John B. and Fred. Mr. Conrad is a member of the Ancient Order of Odd Fellows.

 

JOHN R. CROSWHITE, M. D.

(Physician and Surgeon, Stoutsville). One of the most brilliant young physicians, whose rising star ever cast a flood of light over the medical horizon, is Dr. John R. Croswhite.  Though not yet arrived at the meridian of life, he has achieved a success which grey hairs need not despise. Of most unusual force, he keeps well up with all the newest discoveries in his profession, and his large and steadily growing practice bears witness to the skill and ability with which he applies his learning, showing a practicability of mind that in no calling is more useful. He is every day more thoroughly establishing himself in the confidence of his fellow-citizens, and in time will no doubt be at the head of the fraternity which his talents so adorn. He was the son of John R. Croswhite, a farmer and stock-raiser of Kentucky, who was born in Clark county in 1807, and moved in 1833 to Audrain county, Mo. Twenty years after (1855) he was chosen as the most able representative of the county in the legislative hall. His wife, formerly Miss Rosa Mosley, was also born in Kentucky, in 1811, and is still living in Boone county. Dr. J. R., born March 27, 1852, resided with his father until his education was completed, then was for a number of years in the drug business at Sturgeon. He then, in 1874, commenced the study of medicine at the Missouri Medical College, graduating in 1877. He returned to Sturgeon, practiced there one year, then moved to Stoutsville, in Monroe county, where he now enjoys the most flattering success. He is a live and wide-awake man, and has already made a name which will be the proudest inheritance of his children. Dr.  Croswhite loves his profession as the artist his brush, and striving to penetrate ever deeper and deeper into its mysteries, he purposes attending in the near future a course at the Bellevue College, in New York. The Doctor married, June 21, 1882, Miss Minnie L. Searcy, the beautiful and accomplished daughter of Col. J. J. Searcy. They have one son, Roy S., who inherits the combined intellect and attractiveness of both parents. Dr. Croswhite is a member of the Paris Union Lodge No. 19, A.F. and A.M., also the Chapter No. 16, and Parsifal Commandery No. 44.

 

ROBERT H. CRUMP

(Farmer and Stock-raiser, Post-office, Florida). Mr. Crump is a native of the township of which he has long been a substantial citizen, and was born October 4, 1836. He was reared to a farm life in this township, and, receiving a good education, he early became a school teacher, and made that his profession for a number of years. Even upon to a few years ago, he alternated teaching and farming. He long had the reputation of being one of the most successful and popular teachers of the county. On the 15th of March, 1866, Mr.  Crump was married to Miss Josie Morrow, the accomplished daughter of Allen Morrow, of Cass county, Ill. She died, however, three years afterwards, April 11, 1869. There are no children living by this union. April 19, 1870, Mr. Crump was married at Rushville, Ill., to Miss Hannah Wheelhouse, daughter of George Wheelhouse, of Schuyler county, Ill. Mr. Crump located on the farm where he now resides in 1866. He has a place of 160 acres, substantially improved. He also has two other good farms situated in the vicinity -in all aggregating about 600 acres. Mr. Crump is a successful stock-raiser and breeder of horses, cattle, sheep and hogs. His father, William W. Crump, was one of the early settlers of this county. He came here from Virginia in 1830. He entered and bought land and improved a farm, on which he lived until his death, in 1875, at the age of 75. His wife, whose maiden name was Susan Jordan, also of Bedford county, Va., died in 1880.

 

ALBERT G. DILS

(Mail-carrier between Stoutsville and Florida). Mr. Dils was born July 30, 1846, in Coahoma county, Miss. He was the fourth child in a family of ten children. His father, Albert G. Dils, was a Virginian, and his mother, Nancy Rownd?, a native of Maryland. They were married in Ripley county, Ind., October 15, 1833, and the husband giving up his position as pilot between Cincinnati and New Orleans, moved to Mississippi and became a planter. In 1849 he returned to Indiana, and in 1857 moved to Ralls county, Mo., where he was a successful farmer and stock-raiser up to the time of his death, which occurred November, 12, 1870. Mrs. Dils is still living at Stoutsville. Albert G., Jr., grew up and was educated in Ralls county. On coming of age he went to farming, but after a year, with unusual ambition and independence, returned to school and pursued his studies until he felt himself prepared for the conflict with the world. On the 23d of December, 1869, Mr. Dils married Miss Lulu Boren, a native of Marion county, Mo. He then resumed his interrupted farming operations, also raising stock. In 1880 he went West with a view of making it his future home, but disappointed in his expectations, he returned to Stoutsville in December of the same year and accepted the position of contractor for the Hannibal Lime Company, shipping wood. He was next, for awhile, connected with the livery stable of Dils Brothers, and in 1883 began carrying the mail between Stoutsville and Florida, in which occupation he is now engaged. Mr. Dils is an active and energetic man and will always be successful in anything he undertakes. He has five children: Albert P., Minnie V., Centennial, George H. and Darthula?. He is a member of the Florida Union lodge, A.F. and A.M., No. 23. His mother and three sisters belong to the Missionary Baptist Church.

 

JUDGE HENRY DOOLEY

(Farmer and Stock-raiser, and General Business Man, Stoutsville). It was a saying of Kant, the greatest of German philosophers, and without question one of the greatest minds humanity has ever produced, that the abilities and character of men should be measured with reference particularly to their opportunities or environments. He often said he estimated the force of a man by the distance he had come, the difficulties he had to overcome, and the individuality that marked his efforts. One, in favorable surroundings and forwarded by altruistic help, may attain to a high degree of success in life, and still be essentially devoid of the stronger and better qualities of a successful manhood; while another, who may not reach so high a station as the former, may show, by the rise that he does make, far greater strength of mind and character than the first, having come up without assistance from those around him, but by his individual exertions and personal worth. These views of Kant, old and well known as they are, are vividly brought to mind by contemplating the record Judge Dooley has made. Without any early opportunities whatever, and in the face of the greatest difficulties, he has risen to a position by his own efforts and mental force, alone, equaled even by that of but few citizens in the county, or throughout the surrounding country, whose advantages were of the best. Not a man of State prominence, or whose name has been sounded by the trumpet of fame, he is yet a man of such solidity of character, such strength of mind and sterling intelligence, and such vigor and success in affairs, that by the intelligent observer he can not but be recognized as a man of a remarkable and superior individuality. The impression at a glance is unavoidable that if his earlier opportunities had been at all favorable, eminence would have come to him as a matter of course. Left an orphan in childhood and practically friendless, and brought up where schools were not in reach, long after his marriage he was able neither to read nor write; yet today, he is, and for years past has been, accounted one of the most successful men in Monroe county, indeed, the most successful, as well as one of the leading property holders in North Missouri, his landed estate numbering over 2,500 acres, and for a number of years he occupied with ability the bench of the county court, esteemed one of the most capable and efficient judges who ever sat upon the bench, showing the same vigor and forcible comprehension of duties in administering the affairs of the county that he has always shown in the management of his own interests. Whilst he has exhibited the mental force and the perseverance to accumulate a handsome fortune from worse than no beginning, he has at the same time not neglected the improvement of his mind, and has become, first, through the instruction of his wife and the teaching of a hired hand on his farm, and then by his own reading and untiring investigations, a man of wide and thorough general information, and a business man of superior qualifications. Nor has he become successful in the accumulation of property or in advancement among men of education and information, by selfishness or a sordid care only for his own personality. On the contrary, he has ever shown his heart to be as large and his generosity as unlimited as his mind is broad and liberal and his industry untiring. There are many to bear witness to the kindness of his heart and liberality of his hand. The smallest voice of distress or the most diffident plea of the worthy find in his breast a responsive echo and his hand is not less generous to help such a one than his heart is sympathetic. Among the many instances which illustrate this noble and humane quality of the man, is one where a little girl came to him penniless, and with tears asked him to buy her a book that she might attend the neighboring school. His heart was touched. He not only bought her a book, but sent her to school and educated her, paying her board and other expenses throughout, although he himself, had never learned a letter within the walls of a schoolroom. And the record of his candidacies show in a generous light how he is regarded by those who have known him for a lifetime. Although the candidate of the opposite party for the office of judge was considered one of the strongest men in the county, Judge Dooley was elected almost unanimously. Of a large vote in his own township he received all but four, and his re-election to the same office was even more complimentary to him. The life record of such a man as this is certainly eminently worthy of an enviable place in the history of the county where his long and worthy record has been made. Judge Henry Dooley was born in Madison county, Ky., January 20, 1831, and two years afterwards his parents removed to Monroe county, settling in Jefferson township. The father died when Henry (the Judge) was quite young, he being the youngest in the family of children. From this forward his future was to be only what he himself could make it. But generous nature had given him a good mind and a vigorous constitution, and above all an inflexible purpose to rise in the world by honest methods, untiring industry, blameless habits and good management. He had no chance to attend school but had to work from early morn till dewy eve at farm labor, and when night came he was wise enough to know that refreshing hours of sleep would be of more value to him in the end than what little knowledge of books he could pick up when wearied with the day’s work. Coming up to farm employments, he of course became a farmer, and subsequently married Miss Nancy Nolen, who was born in Kentucky. He soon became able to buy a small piece of land, which he improved, and with this as a nucleus he afterwards made a large farm. With farming he combined stock-raising and feeding. In 1854, now thirty years ago, he was able to start a small store, carrying a stock of general merchandise and his business, like his farming, greatly prospered. His house became one of the leading establishments of Paris. In 1883 he built a fine brick hotel in Paris, a handsome structure, which is a substantial improvement to the town. Judge Dooley has always taken a commendable interest in public affairs. Years ago he accepted the office of constable and discharged its duties to the great satisfaction of the public. Afterwards, as has been noted above, he was elected county judge, holding the office for several years from 1874, being re-elected. He has been a delegate to county conventions a number of times and also to State senatorial and congressional conventions, and for over 20 years he has served with more or less regularity on the grand and petit juries of the county. Judge Dooley has never been identified with any church, but believes earnestly in the great fundamental principles of religious truth. He is bound to no sect, and in the confusion of jarring doctrines, where-

“You can and you can’t,

You will and you won’t;

You’ll be damn’d if you do,

You’ll be damn’d if you don’t,”

- he prefers to take the plain road to Heaven marked out by his own conscience

“Slave to no sect, who takes no private road,

But looks through nature up to nature’s God.”

Judge and Mrs. Dooley have eight children living, namely: John W., Alonzo G., James H., Lulu M., Annie L., Eva L., Charles E. and Samuel Tilden. He is a member of the A.F. and A.M.

 

UNDERWOOD DOOLEY

(Farmer and Stock-raiser, Post-office, Stoutsville). Mr. Dooley’s grandfather, Jacob Dooley, a native of Virginia, was a gallant soldier under Washington in the War for Independence, and his son, Job Dooley, the father of the subject of this sketch, was a soldier in the American army during the War of 1812, and afterwards drew a pension on account of disabilities received whilst in the service of his country. The Dooleys became pioneer settlers in Kentucky, and Job Dooley married Miss Lucy Searcy, of the well-known family of that name in Virginia, Kentucky and Missouri, and several other States. Underwood Dooley was born of this union in Madison county, Kentucky, May 6, 1809, and was reared in his native State. After he grew up he spent four years in the stock trade between Kentucky and North Carolina. In the fall of 1838 he was married to Miss Martha Dooley, a daughter of his uncle, Jacob Dooley, of Kentucky. But in the meantime both he and his father’s family had come out to Missouri. He came here in 1832 and entered land and improved a farm on Otter creek, in Jefferson township, of Monroe county, and his father’s family came out the year following, where they also opened a farm. The father died here in 1854, and the mother May 15, 1874. Mr. Dooley lived on his first farm for a number of years, but since then he has bought land and improved three other farms in this township. He came to his present farm which he improved in 1854, and has therefore been residing on it continuously for 30 years. This place contains 270 acres, and, indeed, constitutes two farms, having two sets of improvements. His house is a substantial two-story building, and the other house is a one-story building of three rooms. Both places are well improved. Mr. Dooley’s first wife died September 3, 1855. By her he reared a family of seven children; Angeline, who died after becoming grown; Thomas N., Christina, Perry W., Cicero and Alexander, twins, and Lizzie, the second child, also deceased.  To his present wife Mr. Dooley was married May 26, 1858. She was formerly Miss Arzelia Renfro, daughter of John Renfro, of this county, but originally of Madison county, Ky. There have been four children by this union: John W., deceased; James P., Sallie and Laura. Mrs. Dooley is a member of the Missionary Baptist Church.

 

UNDERWOOD DOOLEY

(Farmer, Post-office, Stoutsville). England gave to this country its original white population, and above all those ideas of free government and personal liberty under

the aegis of which has been built up one of the first nations of the earth, a nation that is destined to surpass all others in wealth and population and power, in intelligence and learning and in the onward march of civilization. The parent country is still contributing its brave sons to help the great Republic forward in its splendid career, and every ship that comes over brings Englishmen to unite their energies with ours in the great work going forward. Every State and every county in this country can point to its citizens who are natives of the Empress Isle of the seas. Among this class of citizens in Monroe may be mentioned the subject of the present sketch. Mr. Ellis was born in England, August 15, 1832, and was a son of William and Alice (Crawford) Ellis, his father an Englishman by nativity, and his mother, also a native of that country. In 1837 the family came to America and settled in Courtland county, N. Y. December 25, 1854, he was married there to Miss Alexina Beattie, a daughter of Alexander and Allen(Ellen?) Beattie, originally of Dunbreeshire, Scotland. Mrs. Ellis came to the United States with her mother and grandparents, her father having previously died, when she was four years of age, and

was reared in Courtland county, N.Y. Mr. and Mrs. Ellis have five children: John B., Rachel, wife of O. S. R. Honeyman; Jane, Mary and Robert E. Mr. Ellis continued farming in Courtland county, N.Y., to which occupation he had been brought up, until the spring of 1866. He then removed to Missouri and located in Monroe county, where he resumed farming, which he has since continued. In 1869 he bought his present place and settled where he now resides. He has a place of 160 acres with good improvements. He and wife are highly esteemed residents of the neighborhood where they reside. Mr. Ellis is a man of great industry and is steadily coming to the front as a successful farmer and influential citizen of the township.

 

BENEDICT GARWOOD

(Farmer and Stock-raiser, Post-office, Stoutsville). Mr. Garwood is one of the thrifty Northern farmers and worthy citizens who, with their wives have settled in this county since the war, and contributed by their brain and energy to build up the county and develop its resources. He has all excellent farm of 180 acres, all under fence and in cultivation and pasturage, the principal branch of cultivation being wheat-raising. Stock-raising is another branch of industry in which Mr. Garwood takes great interest. He is one of those business-like farmers who have shown the acumen to see that stock-raising is one of the most profitable industries in which a man can engage. His farm is well improved and finely watered, and is one of the choice homesteads of Jefferson township. Mr. Garwood is a native of Pennsylvania, born in Fayette county, about 30 miles from Pittsburg, February 4, 1832. His father was of the same given name, and his mother, formerly a Miss Hannah Swindler, was a native of Maryland. Mr. Garwood, Jr., was reared in Fayette county, and received a good common school education. He came to Ohio in 1856, and followed farming in Carroll county until the year 1862. October 10, 1861, he was married in that county to Miss Elizabeth Maple, a daughter of Jacob Maple, of Carroll county. Five children are the fruits of this union: 1st. Matilda J., now the wife of A. D. Paynter, of this county; 2d, a daughter, Mary A., died in infancy; then two sons were born to them, William T. and John H., and lastly a daughter, Cora S. Mr. Garwood removed to Illinois the second year after his marriage, and located in Pike county, near Kinderhook. Four years later he with his wife and family came to Missouri, where they have since resided. Mr. and Mrs. Garwood and their eldest daughter, Mrs. Paynter, are members of the M.E. Church.

 

JAMES GOODIER, M. D.

(Physician and Surgeon, Florida). Dr. Goodier was reared in North Missouri, and a sketch of his life shows what difficulties young men with an ambition to accomplish something in the world, had to meet and overcome in this section of the country at that early day in order to succeed. Generally they had to educate themselves, and with but very limited opportunities for doing that. Means were not as easily to accumulate to defray expenses, or for any other purpose then, as they now are. By hard study, principally at home, and without an instructor, he succeeded in gaining a sufficient knowledge of books to teach school. He then taught at the small salaries paid in those days for means with which to complete his education, and finally to take a regular course at a medical college. In this way he became not only a man of excellent general education, but a thoroughly accomplished physician. Dr. Goodier, though reared in this country, is a native of England, having been born in Lancashire June 3, 1825. In 1831, his parents, James and Alice (Willett) Goodier, immigrated to the United States and located in Philadelphia, where, they lived for six years. They then came to Missouri and made their home in Marion county for several years, but finally settled permanently in Ralls county. The father improved a good farm there on which he lived until his death, an active, upright and respected life. The facts of Dr. Goodier’s early career have already been outlined above. He completed his general education at the Hannibal Collegiate Institute. His preceptor in the study of medicine was Dr.  R. N. Anderson, a leading physician of Hannibal. He completed his medical education at the Missouri Medical College, of St. Louis, under the presidency of Dr. McDowell, in which he took a regular course of two terms, graduating with distinction among the first in the class of ‘51. He now returned to Ralls county and entered actively into the practice, his ability and acquirements as a physician being such that he was invited to become a partner in the practice with Dr. Tyre Rodes, an old and established physician of Ralls county, with whom he formed a partnership. A year later, however, he came to Florida and has since been engaged in practice from this point, for a period now of 32 years. It is unnecessary in this connection to speak of his unqualified success and high standing as a physician, for he is well known to the people throughout this whole section of country as one of the ablest physicians who has ever practiced in their midst. Dr. Goodier was married away back in the winter of 1853-54, in January, to Miss Martha E. Holmes, a daughter of Amanca? W. Holmes, for some years sheriff of Monroe county, and originally from Virginia. Dr. and Mrs. Goodier have two children: Robert H. and Alice. Robert H. is a practicing physician, and was graduated from the St. Louis Medical College with distinction in March, 1883. Miss Alice is a young lady of rare culture and refinement, still at home with her parents. Dr. Goodier and family are members of the M.E. Church South, and young Dr. Goodier is a prominent member of the Masonic order.

 

ROBERT G. HANNA

(Farmer and Stock-raiser). This enterprising and reliable farmer is the son of Robert Hanna, of Augusta county, Va., who came to Missouri in 1828 a young man full of bright and glowing hopes and dreams. Behind he had left that purest and strongest incentive to a man to brace every nerve in the struggle with life’s perplexities. A tender heart counted the moments until he should return to claim his own. A pure and lovely maiden waited to crown his life with her love. After a year, of patient endeavor, Mr. Hanna was able to return to Virginia, and Miss Jane E.  Berry, also of that State, plighted to him her troth and accompanied him, in 1830, to Monroe county, where he entered land and improved the farm upon which his son, Robert G., now lives. He gradually added to his property until he owned upwards of 1,000 acres, and spent the rest of his days in peaceful prosperity. He died in 1867. Mr. Hanna’s first wife dying in 1845, he married again, and had five children in all, four by his first and one by his second marriage. Of these, William A., the eldest son, was killed in the Confederate service, in 1863, at the battle of Corinth. Robert G., the second son, grew up on the farm he still owns, which was willed to him by his father. He received a good common school education, and upon reaching years of discretion became a farmer. He married, October 30, 1867, Miss Victoria E., daughter of Hiram Wommack, of Monroe county, formerly from Virginia. Mrs. Hanna was born in Lincoln county, and was almost a woman when she came to Monroe. There are five sons by this marriage: Albro?, Eddy P., Hiram W. and Benjamin J. and Perry B., twins. Mr. Hanna has always lived on the home place, which contains 420 acres, 380 fenced and in meadow pasture and plow land. The farm is supplied with every convenience and improvement, and reflects unbounded credit on the systematic management and industrious energy of its owner. Mr. and Mrs. Hanna are members of the Presbyterian Church at Perry, Ralls county. They are among the most highly honored citizens of Jefferson township.

 

WINFIELD S. HAWKINS

(Farmer). Mr. Hawkins was born in Culpeper county, Va., on St. Valentine’s Day, 1821. His father, Benjamin Hawkins, was a soldier in the War of 1812, and married Miss Susan Green, both natives of the Old Dominion. Mr. Hawkins, Sr., in later life emigrated to Kentucky, where he finally ended his days. Winfield S. lived in his native county on the home farm until he was 17 years of age, attending the common schools. In 1837 he moved to Missouri, learned the carpenter’s trade and worked at the same through the counties in the eastern part of the State for 10 years. He then came to Monroe and for some time followed carpentering in and around Paris. In 1850 he went to California, worked in the mines there for a year and a half, and returned by Central America and New York. In 1854 he began farming in Audrian county, which he continued until the close of the war, then returned to Monroe county and bought the farm he still occupies. He has 160 acres of fine land, 140 fenced and in a good state of cultivation; has a comfortable residence, good buildings, fine orchard, etc. It may be safely said that there is no more correct and estimable man, as well as reliable and intelligent farmer in the township. Mr. Hawkins went up, in 1840, on the first four-horse coach that ever made the trip from St. Louis to Palmyra. He has always been identified with every movement tending to promote the general good, and in him the county possesses a faithful and valuable citizen. Mr. Hawkins has been twice married. His first wife, whom he wedded January 26, 1849, was Miss Sarah P., daughter of Braxton Pollard, of Florida. She died January 15, 1871, leaving eight children, viz.: James William, married and living in Henry county; Mary E., wife of Bela Hughes, of Monroe; Charles B., in Illinois; Virginia L., Hugh B., George N., John W. and Henry M. Two children died in infancy, and one, Benjamin F., died in May, 1873, aged 25 years. On the 12th of October, 1871, Mr. Hawkins married Miss Mary E., daughter of Wilkinson Crump, one of the early settlers of Monroe, who emigrated in 1844 from Bedford county, Va. By this marriage there was one child, who bloomed but to fade. Mr. Hawkins is a member of the Presbyterian Church, while his worthy and superior wife worships according to the faith of the Methodist Episcopal Church South.

 

 J.G. HICKMAN

(Post-office, Florida). Mr. Hickman, a son of Hugh A. Hickman, was born in November, 1837, in Monroe county, Mo. Having some taste for learning, he acquired a fair classical education, and has always manifested some interest in matters of thought. He was married to Miss M. K.  Campbell, in April, 1863. Two children are living, a son and daughter, the former 17 and the latter 19 years of age. He is proprietor of the Excelsior Mills, north of Florida, which he hopes to make a success.

 

 

PHILANDER W. HICKMAN

(Farmer and Stock-raiser). Mr. Hickman is a native of Monroe county, born in South Fork township, July 15, 1847. His parents, Anderson and Susan (Cowherd) Hickman, were from Kentucky. P. W. grew up in the county, spending his youth on the farm and receiving a good common school education. Upon reaching his majority, it was natural that in his choice of a calling he should be swayed by his early associations and training. Having, therefore, been brought up on a farm, among farmers, and feeling that he was well fitted to make a success of agriculture, he embraced it as his own field of action. He farmed with his father up to the time of his marriage, then settled on a farm he owned near by, and lived there for three years. In March, 1882, he took possession of his present farm. Mr. Hickman owns 160 acres, all fenced and in meadow pasture and plow land. He has a handsome residence, new buildings and fine young orchard. His home is further adorned by the presence of a beautiful and charming young wife, to whom he was united March 21, 1878. She was Miss Ella, daughter of Darius and Martha Poage, of Monroe county, where Mrs. Hickman was born and raised. One noble boy blesses the married life of this interesting and attractive young couple, Elbert A., born August 28, 1883:-

A royal guest with flaxen hair,

He rules by his divine right of helplessness,

And the light of love shines over all.

 

Mr. Hickman is quite young, and life blossoms before him like a garden wooing his plucking hand. With such a mind, heart and temperament as his, he can not fail to wreathe a garland of fairest beauty. He and his wife belong to the Presbyterian Church.

 

THOMAS. W. HURD

(Farmer, Post-office, Stoutsville). Mr. Hurd, though a native of Kentucky, born in Harrison county, October 17, 1820, was principally reared in Missouri, his parents

having removed to Monroe county in an early day, whilst he was still a lad. Coming up in those times, his opportunities for an education were, of course, limited, but, as was said of Sir William Jones, that he might have been sewed up in a sack and placed on the most barren spot in England to die, yet he would have found a way to get out and accomplish something in the world, so there are some who can not be kept down, it matters not in what circumstances they are placed, and Mr. Hurd is one of these. He found a way to educate himself, almost entirely regardless of school and of instruction from others, and has become one of the well informed men of the county. Not only this, but as a farmer he has been entirely successful. By his own exertions and sterling intelligence he has placed himself among the substantial farmers of the county. He has an excellent farm and is comfortably situated in life. Above this he is one of the public spirited citizens of the township, having an intelligent appreciation of the needs of the people and the country to make them prosperous, and is ever ready with counsel and to assist with his own efforts and otherwise to help along any movement designed for the general good. Mr. Hurd was a son of Judge Thomas Hurd, of this county, a pioneer settler of the county, and previously a citizen of Harrison county, Ky. He was a gallant soldier in the War of 1812, and afterwards a judge of the county court in Kentucky. He came to Monroe county with his family in 1832, and improved a large farm here. He served as justice of the peace in this county for a number of years, and died May 1, 1861. His wife, whose maiden name was Martha Stevenson, died March 6, 1860. They had a family of 16 children, 14 of whom grew to maturity. Thomas W. was one of seven sons, three of whom are living, and only three daughters are living. Thomas W. Hurd was married February 20, 1845, to Miss Margaret I. Kerr, a daughter of John and Susan Kerr, originally of Virginia. Her father also had a family of 16 children, 14 of whom attained majority. He was twice married, and had 12 children by his first wife and four by his last wife, the mother of Mrs. Hurd. Mr. and Mrs. Hurd have seven children, namely: Susan J., wife of John H. Clapper; John W., Martha E., relict of Frederick Clapper; James P., Robert B., Laura E., wife of John M. Jones, and Thomas F. Mr. Hurd settled on the farm where he now resides immediately after his marriage. This is one of the oldest places in the county, the land having been entered at the first land sales in the State, at St. Louis. Mr. and Mrs. Hurd are members of the Regular Presbyterian Church.

 

WILLIAM H. POAGE

(Retired Farmer). Mr. Poage is the son of a gallant Virginia gentleman, Maj. James Poage, of the militia of that State. His wife, Jane Poage, was also born in Virginia, and was reared on the south branch of the Potomac. The family emigrated to Kentucky in about 1805, and were among the pioneer settlers of Green county. In such a wild condition was the country at that time that bear still roamed in unrestrained freedom through the forests, sometimes causing the farmers much annoyance He was reared on a farm and educated in by their depredations among the stock. So bold were these that often they would chase the hogs into the very farmyard. In 1882 Mr. Poage moved with his family to Missouri, and farmed until his death in 1850, on a place four miles east of Paris. William H. was born in Greenup county, Ky., August 15, 1815, and accompanied his parents to Missouri.  (?... (something is missing here …) the common schools. In 1849, with the adventurous spirit of youth, he took a trip overland to California, where for a year he worked in the mines, golden visions of the future dancing before his eyes.  Realizing with the sober judgment of growing experience that fortune smiles only on patient and long continued efforts, he returned in 1850. (something missing?) Previous to this to his home and the life to which he had been brought up, making the journey by way of the Isthmus and New Orleans.  little episode in his history, Mr. Poage had assumed the responsibility of a wife. In February, 1843, Miss Elizabeth Ann, daughter of B.C.  Pollard, of Florida, Mo., formerly of Kentucky, stood with him before God’s holy altar and vowed to be to him that most priceless of all treasures, a true and faithful wife. Mrs. Poage was born in Kentucky. Her father was well known as having the first tanyard in Monroe county, at Florida. Mr. Poage farmed until 1852 near Austin Station, in March of that year changing his residence to his present location. He first bought 500 acres of land, a part of which he has since-disposed of. His place is all fenced, with 240 acres in cultivation. His improvements are good and his whole farm presents an appearance of smiling prosperity. He is not only a successful farmer, but one of the most esteemed citizens of the township. His household is enlivened by the sunshiny presence of seven children: James A., Samuel B., Charles W., Sarah C., wife of Albert Henderson; Mary Jane, wife of B. F. Vaughn; Amanda C., wife of James Yowell, and Ruth E. Mr. and Mrs. Poage and their family belong to the Presbyterian Church.

 

JUDGE JAMES M. POLLARD

(Farmer and Stock-raiser, Post-office, Stoutsville). Judge Pollard has been a resident of Missouri for nearly half a century, from youth up to approaching old age, and during his entire career as a citizen of this State, his life has been one of continued activity and usefulness. Judge Pollard is a native of Kentucky, born in Owen county, October 17, 1826, and was a son of Thomas Pollard, a leading citizen of that county, and sheriff of the county, and Nancy, nee Marsh. His father was a Kentuckian by nativity, but his mother came with her parents from North Carolina, and was married in Kentucky. In 1840 the family removed to Missouri and settled where the Judge now resides, the father having improved his farm from raw land. He died here in 1864, and his wife died the following year. Of their nine sons and two daughters, only two brothers and a sister are living. When 21 years of age, young Pollard went to the town of Florida, where he learned the wagon making and carriage trade. When he came to Missouri he was old enough to have left a sweetheart behind, a schoolmate, whose form and features were never for a moment effaced from his mind. Accordingly, in 1851, being then 24 years of age, and having a trade as a means of making a living, he went back to claim the hand, as he had already won the heart, of her with whom he parted in Kentucky, 11 years before. They were married in Owen county, April 23, 1851. She was a daughter of Turner Gentry of that county, Miss Malinda Gentry, as true as she was fair, and as pure in thought and word as angels are. Bringing his happy young wife out to Missouri, he now located at Platte City, and went to work at his trade with the courage of Trojan and heart as light and free as the balmy zephyrs of May: -

“But all that’s bright must fade,

The brightest still the fleetest.”

 

Hardly more than a year had circled around when the pall of death settled over their happy little home, and the spirit of his fair young wife was borne away to Heaven. She died July 15, 1852. Judge Pollard bore his heaviest of all bereavements with the courageous resignation that only the brave and true man that he was could. He accepted the decree that robbed him of all that was near and dear and continued on to work out the thread of his destiny. He remained at Platte City until 1855, and then returned to this county. In 1857 he removed to Shelby county, where he followed farming until 1863, when he engaged in selling goods in Hunnewell, in that county. But on account of war troubles he soon left and moved his family to Illinois, where he remained until the restoration of peace. Meanwhile, on the 11th of October, 1853, he was married to Miss Mary J. Blackburn, a daughter of Samuel Blackburn, of Shelby county, but formerly of Kentucky. This has proved a union of great happiness and is blessed with five children: Samuel Thomas, Viola, wife of O. A. Marr; James C., Henry M. and William Lee. Returning from Illinois after the war, the Judge settled on the old Pollard homestead in this county, where he has ever since continued to reside. This place contains nearly 300 acres, over half of which is improved with good substantial and comfortable improvements.  Judge Pollard was elected presiding justice of the county court in 1878, and served with ability and to the general satisfaction of the public for four years.  Prior to that he had filled other positions of public trust, including that of magistrate, an office he held while a resident of Shelby county for five years. He has always taken an intelligent and somewhat active interest in public affairs, though entirely disinterested so far as his own advancement is concerned, for he has never sought office, and has only entered the public service when called by the votes of his fellow-citizens, unsolicited by him. He has been a member of numerous conventions, town, township, county, etc., and, indeed, has always occupied a leading position in affairs in general. He and wife are worthy members of the Baptist Church at Stoutsville, and he is a prominent member of the Masonic Order. He has ever been a faithful worker in the temperance cause, and a friend to the poor and needy.

 

MARCUS M. POWERS

(Farmer and Stock-raiser, Post-office, Florida). Mr. Powers has a large stock farm of nearly 500 acres, and he makes a specialty of raising and handling stock, producing no grain whatever, except for feeding purposes, on the farm. He is one of those clear-headed, practical men who do everything of a pecuniary nature from a common-sense business point. According to his ideas and figures, if it pays at all to raise grain and grass, it pays twice as well to feed them to stock and put them on the markets in the shape of cattle, hogs, sheep and other farm animals. At least, this is his policy as a farmer, and his success in it shows that it is a sound one. Mr. Powers has led a very active life and one not devoid of substantial results. He was eight years of age when his parents came to this county, then Ralls county, in 1830, having been born in Green county, Ky., January 22, 1822. He grew up in the county and had the benefit of one of the old-fashioned puncheon floor educations, distributed by the occasional itinerant old-field Virginia school teachers, who taught school here in those days, when the timber was so hard frozen that they couldn’t make boards. Still of a studious mind, young Powers studied at home and succeeded in obtaining a very good knowledge of books, quite sufficient to get along with in the world. January 16, 1844, he was married to Miss Mary Terrell, a daughter of Robert Terrell, of Randolph county, but formerly of Kentucky. After his marriage, Mr. Powers engaged in farming in Jackson township, and was getting along first-rate until the California gold excitement broke out. He then caught the general fever to cross the plains and get rich in a little while digging gold. Accordingly, he went overland to the Pacific coast in 1850 in company with his brother, Tom Reavis and others, and spent nearly three years on the shores washed by the Pacific. He was principally engaged in mining and freighting out there, and while there, his brother, Robert, died. Mr. Powers returned to Missouri by water in 1853, and having made some money he bought a farm in South Fork township, where he resided for about 17 years, successfully engaged in farming. Whilst there his first wife died in 1864. She left him eight children: Robert C., Richard E., Cyrus B., Orville H., George M., James W., Harvey T. and Arthur L. Three of these are married and have families of their own. Mr. Powers was married to his present wife, March 11, 1866. She was previously Mrs. Angeline Nesbitt, relict of Nicholas Nesbitt, and a daughter of James Field, formerly of Kentucky. There are two children by this union, Minnie and Beulah C. Mr. Powers’ second wife died November 15, 1880. Meanwhile, in 1870, he sold his farm in South Fork township to his two youngest brothers, and bought the old Powers’ paternal homestead in Jefferson township, consisting of 475 acres. This is one of the best stock farms in the township and all the improvements are substantial and well arranged, both as a home and for stock-raising.  Mr. Powers is a genial, whole-souled man, hospitable and generous, and is as pleasant to meet or to spend an evening with at his own home as it is to have your shirt-front blown open by a gust of cool wind in a harvest field of a sultry day in July. Mr. Powers has been an exemplary member of the Presbyterian Church for the past 43 years, and is one of the sterling men of that denomination in Florida. Mr. Powers was a son of R. D. and Harriet (Poage) Powers, his father originally of Virginia, but his mother a native of Kentucky. They were married in Kentucky and came to Missouri in 1830. The father bought and entered over 700 acres of land here and improved a fine farm. He became one of the prominent citizens of Jefferson township and served as magistrate some years. He died in 1859, wide and sincerely mourned. He was twice married. There were eight children by his first wife and four by his last, Marcus M., being the eldest by his first marriage. Four sons by his first marriage are still living, and all the children by his second wife.

 

THERON B. POWERS

(Farmer and Stock-raiser, Feeder and Dealer). Mr. Powers was born in Monroe county, Jefferson township, February 23, 1834. He is a brother to Mr. M. M. Powers, whose memoir adds greatly to the interest of these pages. Theron B. received a good education in the common schools, and at the age of 20 went overland, in company with James and John Terrell, of Randolph county, to California, taking a large herd of cattle. He was four months making the trip. Its tediousness, however, was amply compensated for by the success which met him upon his arrival. He was engaged for 15 years in freighting upon a large scale from Sacramento to different places in Nevada. Longing for home after so many years, Mr. Powers returned by way of the Isthmus, New York and Chicago in 1869, after which, for five years,, he was engaged with his brother, J.N. Powers, at Long Branch, in farming and the stock business, which seems always to have had a fascination for him, and of which he has made a complete success. In 1870 Mr. Powers became enamored of the fresh charms of one of Monroe county’s fairest daughters, Miss Lucy M., daughter of Joseph Hocker, formerly from Kentucky, and one of the earliest settlers of the county, and on the 23d of February, of the same year, “ they twain were made one flesh.” Naturally enough he was drawn through this influence to Monroe county, to which he moved in the spring of 1874. He now has a beautiful place of 620 acres of land, all fenced, except one tract of 80 acres, which is ill timber. The home farm is almost all in meadow and pasture and contains every comfort and convenience. Mr. Powers makes a specialty of raising and feeding cattle for the wholesale market, and ships as fine specimens as ever crossed the boundaries of Monroe county. In November, 1880, he shipped 27 head, making three car loads, and averaging 2,145 pounds in weight. The following year he fed 18 head that averaged 1,885 pounds. Mr. Powers is one of the most experienced and skillful stock-raisers in the county. His judgment is always good, and possessing unbounded energy and, with a strong taste for his chosen business, he has made his place a model stock farm, and his utterances on the subject of cattle are received as those of an oracle by all for miles around him. He is a leading man in the county, and strives ever to elevate his profession by his uniting efforts and example. Mr. and Mrs. Powers have six children: Mary Emma, Cassie V., Hattie R., Homer N., Oscar B. and Charles O. Mr. Powers is a member of Florida Lodge, A.F. and A.M., and he and his wife belong to the Baptist Church.

 

THOMAS M. REAVIS

(Farmer and Stock-raiser, Post-office, Florida). Mr. Reavis’ grandfather, Mark Reavis, an early settler in Kentucky from North Carolina, became a pioneer settler in Saline county, Mo., but finally made his home near Columbia, in Boone county, where he resided until his death. He moved from Virginia to Buncombe county, N. C., and from there moved to Warren county, Ky., in or about 1800. After a residence in Kentucky of some 18 or 20 years he came on to Missouri in 1820, locating at first in Saline county St. Charles, Cote Sans Dessein and Old Franklin were then small landings or villages on the river. In the upper part of Saline county, his uncle, Ned Reavis, discovered a valuable salt spring and decided to engage in the manufacture of salt. He accordingly procured kettles in St. Louis or some other place where they could be obtained, and other utensils necessary for that purpose. He made salt in that county until after steamers began to navigate the Missouri, in 1819. They made the cost of transportation so cheap that salt could be brought up the river from other and larger works at a distance and sold for less than it could be made for in Saline county or this part of the country. The manufacture of salt was therefore discontinued. Mr. Reavis, the subject of this sketch, remembers hearing his father relate what an excitement the advent of the first steamboat up the Missouri created. The father went some distance to see it, and knew of many who went miles to view the great wonder. Saline county then being too far away even from the outposts of civilization, the family moved back and settled near Columbia, Boone county, where the grandfather spent the remainder of his days, one of the highly respected old citizens of that county.

Mr. Reavis’ father, Jones B. Reavis, the son of Mark Reavis, was about six or seven years of age when the family moved to Kentucky from North Carolina. He enlisted in the War of 1812 from that State and served from 1814 till its close under Gens. Adair and Thomas, and embarked in flat boats at Smithland, Ky., and went down the Ohio and Mississippi rivers to New Orleans. After the war they marched back to Kentucky on foot, where they were honorably discharged. Jones B. Reavis in a few years after came out to Missouri, the year previous to his parents, in 1819, to Saline county, and finally moved to Boone county. He was married in Boone county in 1823 to Miss Hannah Morton, who was on a visit to see relatives, of Woodford county, Ky. In 1830 he removed to Monroe county, where he became a farmer and stock-raiser, and resided here until his death, which was in 1858. He was a man of industry and intelligence and was highly respected in this county. His wife died in 1871. They had a family of 11 children, five now living: Thomas M. Reavis, of Monroe county; James O. Reavis, Mrs. Bartlett Russell, David M. Reavis, Andrew Reavis, of California.

Thomas M. Reavis was born in Boone county, March 7, 1826. He was therefore four years of age when the family removed to Monroe county. Reared in this county, in the winter of 1847 he enlisted under Lieut. John H. Hawkins as recruit for Price’s army in New Mexico, and served till the close of the war. He was honorably discharged at Independence, Mo., in the fall of 1848. Subsequently he made several trips to California, but finally settled down permanently at farming in this county. At the outbreak of the Civil War, in 1861, he enlisted in the Missouri State Guard, Southern service, as a private under Col. Brace, and afterwards was promoted to the position of first-lieutenant in Capt. Grigsby’s company, at Springfield. After the close of his term in the State service, he enlisted in the regular Confederate army and was out until the close of the war. After the war he returned to Monroe county and engaged in farming, which he has since followed.

 

JOSHUA RICHMOND

(Farmer and Stock-raiser). Mr. Richmond was born in Frederick county, Md., November 14, 1815. His parents, natives of the same State, were Francis and Susanna (Stottlemyer) Richmond. The father held the commission of first lieutenant in the War of 1812. He moved to Missouri in 1837 and settled near Hannibal on a farm, where he died in 1844. He was twice married, his second wife drawing a pension until her death, in 1881. Joshua Richmond lived in Maryland on a farm until he was past boyhood, receiving a good common school education as he grew up. At the age of 17, he came West and fixed on Dayton, Ohio, as the scene of his struggle with life. He began learning the brickmason’s trade, but after working at this for three years, the strong associations of childhood drew him with restless power to his own home. After a visit of one year with renewed resolution and courageous hope he again set his face toward the setting sun. He settled in Hannibal, Mo., where he worked at his trade most profitably for 16 years. In 1854 he removed to Monroe county, bought some raw land and improved the place upon which he now lives. He owns 240 acres of land, 160 of it is fenced, and about 120 improved. He has a commodious residence and good buildings, also a fair orchard. In farming, as in all else he has undertaken, Mr. Richmond has brought to bear qualities which can not fail of success. Pluck, energy and patient industry never have but one result, and this has crowned Mr. Richmond’s labors. He fell a victim, in 1844, to a fever that sooner or later must scorch the being of all weal mortals with its burning breath, love; that tyrant, restless as death, bound him in his chains, those chains so fair, so sweet, so alluring, that we voluntarily clasp them round our chained hearts, and which, when we feel the bitter pain of their merciless power, we struggle vainly to tear away:-

Time flies. The swift hours hurry by

And speed us on to untried ways;

New seasons ripen, perish, die,

And yet Love stays.

On the 17th of June, 18-,? Mr. Richmond wedded Miss Aurelia Torry, a bright young school teacher from Massachusetts. Three years later she was torn from his despairing arms by the Death Angel who envied his joy. January 16, 1849, Miss Angeline M., daughter of Hiram Cook, of Hannibal, formerly of Massachusetts, became Mr.  Richmond’s second wife. Mrs. Richmond was born in Massachusetts, but came to Missouri at the age of nine years. Seven children have made the poetry of their married lives: Lizzie C., wife of Harmon Vaughn, of Ralls county; Charles F., now at Westminster College, Fulton, Mo.; Angeline A., a teacher in Colorado; Cora L., also a teacher of Monroe county; Hiram C., Adella and Joshua are living. Ella J. died in 1876, aged 20 years, and one flower fell from the stalk ere its first leaves were opened. Mr. Richmond and his family are members of the Presbyterian Church, of which he has been a deacon for 25 years.

 

LE GRANDE ROUSE

(Dealer in Drugs, Groceries, Etc., Florida). Mr. Rouse is a business man of long experience, and has an established trade in and around Florida which he has built up by close attention to business, fair dealing and his accommodating way of treating customers. He has been engaged in business more or less continuously for over 20 years, and at Florida, without any interruption whatever, for the last 18 years. He carries a general stock of drugs and groceries and keeps everything in these lines to be found in a village store of a place even much larger than Florida. He is well known to the people of Jefferson township and, indeed, of the eastern part of Monroe and the western part of Ralls counties, and commands a good trade throughout the entire territory tributary to this point. Mr. Rouse was born in Boone county, Ky., March 4, 1832, but was reared in Monroe county, this State, his parents, Maj. Jeremiah and Nancy (Barlow) Rouse, having immigrated to this county in 1836. His father received the title of Major in the old Muster days, which ever afterwards clung to him. He bought and entered land in this county and improved a farm, on which he lived until his death in 1866. He and wife were both originally from Virginia. Le Grande Rouse’s opportunities for an education consisted of an occasional three months’ school in the winter time, which was attended usually about every other day, or, in other words, when the snow was not blowing in at the cracks at the school house or not melting on the roof and leaking through, or the weather was not so cold but that the room could be kept warm by a log fire in the stick chimney at the end. Those were the good old days of spelling matches at the schools, and the boys and girls had any amount of fun, if their only books were Pike’s Arithmetic and the Life of Marion, interspersed now and then, by way of variety, with an interesting chapter in the Scriptures. Mr. Rouse succeeded in acquiring a sufficient knowledge of books to move along very well in business affairs, and afterwards, by study and reading, made himself a man of good, fair general English education and liberal information in affairs, business, political and otherwise. June 24, 1858, he was married to Miss Polly Scobee, a daughter of Capt. John Scobee, formerly of Kentucky. He then located on a farm in Jefferson township, which he improved from raw land. He lived there for about five years and then engaged in merchandising in Ralls county. A year later he resumed farming in Jefferson township and in 1866 sold the farm he then owned and bought another place, where he farmed for a while. He then sold that and bought the old Rouse homestead. Later along he traded that for his present property and business at Florida. He owns his business building here and also his residence. One of his sons is now in business with him. Mr. and Mrs. Rouse have five children: Jeremiah F., Elvira, wife of Josiah Heavenridge; Sarah E., Robert J. and John C. They have lost three: James W., John A. and Lucy L., all between two and four years of age. Mr. Rouse is a member of Florida Lodge No. 23, A.F. and A.M.

 

ROBERT SCOBEE, SR.

(Farmer and Stock-raiser). Mr. Scobee is a native of Monroe county, born October 21, 1821. His father, Stephen Scobee, was born and raised in Kentucky, and there married Miss Sarah S. Ely, also of Kentucky. The family moved to Missouri in 1821, and settled in what was then Ralls, but is now Monroe county, where Stephen Scobee entered land to the amount of 7,000 acres. He was a large and prominent stock-dealer and farmer.  He died in St. Louis in 1855. Robert S. was raised on the farm in Jefferson township where he still lives. Upon arriving at his majority and after his marriage Mr. Scobee settled in Ralls county and improved a farm, which he made his home for 20 years. He then sold it and bought the old homestead, endeared to him by a thousand tender associations, and sweeter in his eyes than any home on earth could ever be. He moved to the county in 1859, and now owns 280 acres of land, mostly in meadow, pasture and plow. He has a handsome residence and all other necessary improvements. His property was even larger than at present, but he has sold a portion and has also given with lavish generosity to his children. Of these he has eight: Martha Ann, wife of Isaac P. Bibb, of Randolph county; Stephen T., Elizabeth J., wife of S. H. Scobee; R. G., married and living in Adair county; J. D., also married; D. A., a young man at school at College Mound, McGee College; M. B. and James W. Besides his own goodly flock, Mr. Scobee has taken into his noble heart and hospitable home two fatherless little ones, Robert D. and Katie E. Norman, upon whom he bestows the same affection and parental care which fell to his own children. If nothing else were known of this good man beyond the above recorded fact, that alone would stamp him forever as living in a moral atmosphere as far above that breathed by mankind generally as are the pure, white stars above the senseless clods of the earth’s clay. “ Inasmuch as ye have done it unto the least of these, ye have done it unto me,” Christ hath said, and he to whom these words have been more than empty sounds, can have but little to fear at the last trump. Mr. Scobee is an intelligent and industrious farmer and stands as high as any man in the township. His wife, a woman well worthy of a place by his side, to whom he was married January 24, 1843, was Miss Dulcinia, daughter of Saunders and Elizabeth Norman, formerly from Boone county, Ky. Mrs. Scobee was born in that county in 1824, but was brought to Missouri when a tiny maid of three summers, and has spent the rest of her life in Monroe county. She and her husband present a beautiful example of Christian life. They are both members of the Baptist Church.

 

STEPHEN H. SCOBEE

(Farmer and Stock-raiser). Mr. Scobee was born in Monroe county, July 20, 1845, of Frances Wood, of South Carolina, and Capt. Stephen Scobee, a native of Kentucky. The latter served as captain of militia during the drill times. He moved to Missouri when a young man, entered land and improved a farm in Monroe county, where he lived until his death in November, 1876. He was one of the earliest settlers of the county. Of the 11 children who grew to maturity, Stephen H. was the fourth son. He has always lived in Monroe county and is now one of its model farmers. He owns 360 acres of land with 260 in meadow pasture and plow land. His improvements are first-class and his orchard is especially fine. During the war Mr. Scobee served for about nine months in Col. Pinnell’s regiment. He was on duty in Louisiana and Texas but was in no engagements. Upon the cessation of the hostilities he returned to his home and in January, 1866, married Miss Bessie, daughter of Robert and Dulcina Scobee, of Monroe county. After this important event he went to work in earnest as a farmer, and has met with the brightest success. Every opening vista of life has been but a fresh and fair surprise. He enjoys the cordial respect and good will of all who know him. Mr. and Mrs. Scobee have six living children: Cena J., Minnie L., Thomas, Katie F., Sallie S. and Christy C. Two died in infancy, and Robert, aged 18 months and Mattie aged three months. Mr. and Mrs. Scobee are members of the Missionary Baptist Church.

 

DENNIS THOMPSON

(Dealer in Drugs and Groceries, Stoutsville). Mr. Thompson, a business man of long experience, was the pioneer merchant of Stoutsville, having opened the first stock of goods here ever brought to the place. He came to Stoutsville in 1867 and has been here merchandising continuously ever since, a period now of 17 years. He carries a good stock of drugs and groceries, commodities not only to make well but to make fat his fellow creatures, and being a man without reproach and of popular address he, of course, seeing the commendable lines which he is in, does an excellent business, for all the goods he keeps are for the good and nothing for the hurt of humanity. Mr. Thompson is one of the sterling business men and public-spirited citizens of Stoutsville and has contributed his full share to the prosperity of the place. He is a man whom all respect and have confidence in and whose influence in the community is only for good. He is a native Missourian, born in Ralls county, September 29, 1824, and a son of Hiram T. Thompson, who came to this State away back in 1818. His father married here, having lost his first wife, to Miss Elizabeth Dale, who became the mother of the subject of this sketch. She came to Missouri when a child with her parents in 1807, when the white men of the interior of the State could almost be numbered on one’s fingers, but when the Indians and the wolves and the wild beasts of the field and forest were hardly less numerous than the blades of grass that waved before the summer breezes on the boundless prairie like the waters of a horizon-bound sea. Mr. Thompson’s parents removed to Monroe county, near Stoutsville, in 1827, where they resided for 20 years. The father died in Texas in 1863, whence he had removed a year or two before. Dennis Thompson, after he grew up, followed stock trading for about eight years and then sold groceries at Florida, in this county, for a short time. He subsequently followed either farming or the grocery trade until 1867, when he came to Stoutsville, as stated above. January 30, 1845, he was married to Miss Sarah F. Yowell, a daughter of Ephraim Yowell, of this county, but formerly of Virginia. Mr. and Mrs. Thompson have three children: Clarissa A., wife of Shedrack Woodson; Elizabeth J., wife of William Carter and George W. Mr. Thompson served eight years as justice of the peace of Jefferson township and is, therefore, generally called by his neighbors and acquaintances Squire Thompson, for in this country, although a man may quit an office, the title of the office never quits him, unless it is for one a little more high sounding. Hence the country, in these piping times of peace, is filled with generals and colonels and captains, but never a corporal is seen, Private Dalzell being the only private thus far heard from.

 

JOHN W. VANDEVENTER

(Farmer, Stock-raiser and Merchant). Mr. Vandeventer was born in Monroe county, February 27, 1844, on the same farm which is still his home. He was the son of William Vandeventer, who came to Missouri from Virginia, in 1831. He was a young man and settled in Monroe county, afterwards marrying Miss Sarah Conrad, a native of Kentucky. He entered and bought land to the amount of 800 acres, and improved a splendid farm, upon which he lived until his death, December 26, 1866. J. W. grew to manhood on the home farm, and at the age of 20 enlisted in the Confederate army. He took a brave part until the close of the war, being under Col. McDaniel. In 1865 Mr. Vandeventer came home, and once more taking up his old life as a farmer, married, January 15, 1875,

Miss Mary Buchanan, daughter of Robert Buchanan, of Monroe county, formerly of Virginia. Mrs. Vandeventer. was born in the county. Of this marriage were born three children: Antha L., Hattie B. and Maggie H.            Mr. Vandeventer owns, in partnership with Mr. Goss, upwards of 1,200 acres of land, nearly all fenced and in grass. They are large dealers and feeders of cattle and hogs and ship annually about ten car loads. The firm of Goss & Vandeventer also own the Florida Flouring Mills and in addition carry on an immense mercantile business at Florida, this branch of enterprise being erected under the immediate supervision of the other partner, Mr. Goss. This is one of the staunchest and most reliable firms in Monroe county, and do a trade second to none. The brightness of their prosperity is largely due to the capable management and untiring energy of Mr. Vandeventer, who possesses to an eminent degree every characteristic most necessary to success. He and his family are also shining additions to the society of the township. Mrs. V. is a member of the Presbyterian Church.

 

CAPT. BENJAMIN F. WHITE

(Farmer, Stock-raiser and Dealer). One of the oldest of those heroes who fought, bled, and risked death for the preservation of Southern rights is the subject of the present sketch. Capt. White is a son whom Missouri proudly claims as her own. His parents, James M. and Nancy White, came from Kentucky in 1832, and settled in Jefferson township, Monroe county. Benjamin F. was born in Monroe county, July 2, 1838, and spent the early years of his life on his father’s farm; having fair educational advantages. In 1861, being of a suitable age, and his heart full of zeal and enthusiasm in the cause of the land of chivalry, Mr. White enlisted in Col. Brace’s regiment of Calvary, Co. B, State Guard. His intelligence and natural capacity to rule elevated him at once to the rank of lieutenant. In the spring of 1862, he enlisted in the regular Confederate service, Col. Porter’s calvary, and fought with brilliant gallantry until the close of the war. He was captain of Co. F. Mr. White was wounded three times: first, at Monroe City, through the hand and arm, losing the end of one finger, also received a flesh wound in Newark, and on another occasion had two ribs broken. He took part in many battles, among them, Lexington, Kirksville, Little Rock, Arkansas, Camden, and skirmishes innumerable through Missouri, Arkansas, Louisiana and Texas.

When peace once more

Lay like a shaft of light across the land,

Capt. White, who had lived to see his beloved banner trailed in the dust, wended his mournful way homeward, and taking up his plow, endeavored in the peaceful life of a farmer to find repose and happiness. March 15, 1866, he led to the altar Miss Sarah J., daughter of William S. Briggs, of Ralls county, but formerly of Kentucky. Capt. White came to his present farm in 1877, and is now one of the well-to-do men of the township. He has 480 acres of land all fenced and almost all in cultivation, meadow and pasturage. His buildings are neat and substantial and mostly new, and his farm presents a very attractive appearance. He has been no less deserving as a citizen than as a soldier, and bears a reputation of which his family may justly feel proud. He has three children living: Joseph T., Benjamin T. and Robert M. Mr. and Mrs. W. are connected with the Christian Church, and he is a member of Florida Lodge of the A.F. and A.M., in which he fills the responsible position of treasurer.

 

WILEY M. WILKERSON

(Dealer in General Merchandise, Florida). Mr. Wilkerson was born in Monroe county, June 15, 1833. His father came from Kentucky when a young man, away back in 1822, and was married here to Miss Phoebe Dean, formerly of Lawrence county, Ind. He settled in this county and remained here until 1850, when he went to California, crossing the plains. He remained there two years and died at Havana, Cuba, while on his way back by the Isthmus route. Wiley M. was reared on the farm, and in 1850 he, too, went to California, remaining for four years, engaged in mining. Returning in 1854, he engaged in farming on the home place, which he continued for several years. But in 1858 he engaged in the grocery business in a small way at Florida, which he continued until 1861, when he enlisted in the Southern service. He was out for about two years, participating during that time in fights at Kirksville, Walnut Creek, and numerous other engagements. Returning in 1863, he went to Carrollton, where he remained until after the close of the war. He then came back to Florida and resumed merchandising at this place, which he has since continued. He has built up quite an extensive business, and now carries a large and well selected stock of dry goods, clothing, hardware, farm implements, groceries, queen’s-ware, glassware, etc. He has a large trade, which is steadily increasing. Mr. Wilkerson is one of the leading business men of this part of the county. June 14, 1859, he was married to Miss Amelia J. McQuary, a daughter of Robert McQuary, of this county. Mr. and Mrs. Wilkerson have two children, William R. and Exie May. He and wife are members of the M.E. Church at this place. Mr. Wilkerson is in easy circumstances, and owns his business building, his residence property, and does exclusively a cash business, at least so far as buying is concerned. His career as a business man has been one of entire success, and personally he is highly esteemed and popular with all who know him, for he never sought to prosper by the injury of any one, but, on the contrary, to live an upright life and accumulate what he could by honest methods.

 

HIRAM WOMMACK

(Farmer and Stock-raiser). Mr. Wommack was born in Tennessee, Sumner county, April 5, 1811. His parents, Richard and Catherine (Street) Wommack, moved from Virginia to Tennessee at an early day, and were among the pioneer settlers of Sumner county. There the father was ruthlessly torn from his family by death in 1812. After this dread calamity the bereaved ones, no longer able to bear the scene of such a misfortune, moved to Missouri and settled in Lincoln county. Hiram was the youngest of a family of eight children, all of whom grew to maturity.  He was raised in Lincoln county, on the farm, and had but limited advantages in schooling, but his natural intelligence triumphing over all accidents of circumstances, he acquired an unusual store of information, and his mind is now well trained and stocked with a more than ordinarily wide range of reading. In September, 1833, Mr. Wommack married Miss Louisa, daughter of Judge G. W. Zimmerman, of Lincoln county, formerly connected with a mercantile house in Falmouth, Va., of which State Mrs. Wommack is a native. After his marriage Mr. Wommack settled on a farm in Lincoln county and farmed with much profit to himself until 1867, when he sold his place, and, moving to Louisiana, in Pike county, there embarked in the wholesale and retail grocery business, in which trade he continued for four years. At the end of that time he again sold out, moved to Monroe county and bought his present farm. Mr. Wommack has 300 acres of land all fenced and in a good state of cultivation, on which he has placed improvements of the very best order. He is, in every sense of the word, an enlightened farmer, and his example is of great benefit to those around him. Before the war Mr. Wommack was quite a large slave owner. He and his wife have had nine children: Catherine, wife of Dr. Brown, of Audrain county; Ann, who died in 1878, the wife of A. J. Reed; Washington, now in Denver; Mollie, wife of E. F. Matthews, of Louisiana, Mo.; Victoria, wife of R. G. Hanna; James M., married and living at Laddonia, Audrain county; Zulina, widow of William G. Proviance; Alice, wife of Dr. Bledsoe, of Perry, Ralls county, and Lillie, a young lady and teacher of instrumental music. Mr. Wommack and family are members of Perry Presbyterian Church.

 

DRURY L. WOODSON

(Faramer and Justice of the Peace, Post-office, Stoutsville). Squire Woodson, a substantial farmer and leading citizen of Jefferson township, is a native of the Blue Grass State, born in Edmonson county, December 29, 1825. Both his father, Shadrach Woodson, and his mother, whose maiden name was Betsey Haines, were originally from Virginia but were married in Kentucky. When Drury L. was less than a year old his parents removed to Missouri, and settled in that part of what was then Ralls county, which is now included in Marion county, near Hannibal, where the father entered land and improved a farm. He died there in 1863. He had been twice married, Drury L.’s mother being his second wife. There was a son and daughter by his first marriage, and three sons and three daughters by his second marriage, all of whom lived to reach their majority except one daughter, but only four are now living. Drury L. is the youngest of the family and was reared on the farm near Hannibal, receiving a good common-school education as he grew up. He then engaged in teaching school, and continued to study while teaching, following teaching desultorily, alternated with either farming or merchandising, up to within twelve years ago, having taught in all a length of time that would be equal to perhaps 15 consecutive years. May 31, 1849, he was married to Miss Nancy Johnston, a daughter of Rev. John M. Johnston of Ralls county, but originally of Kentucky. Prior to this he had become bookkeeper for a mercantile house in Hannibal, but the year after his marriage he began farming and continued farming, attending his place during the summer and teaching during the winter, until 1859. June 21, of that year, he had the misfortune to lose his wife, who at her death left him four children. After his wife’s death he quit the farm and followed teaching exclusively for three years. December 30, 1862, he was married to Miss Martha A. Warren, a daughter of Richard Warren, of Ralls county. He was living in Audrain county at the time of his marriage and he now settled on his farm in that county, where he followed farming until 1866.  However, he sold his place in 1865 and in the fall of the following year came to his present place, where he has since resided, where he has 100 acres of good land comfortably improved. Since coming to Monroe, up to within a few years past, as stated above, he has worked on the farm in the summer and taught in the winter, and for a short time he was engaged in merchandising at Stoutsville. While living in Audrain county he was elected justice of the peace and served for four years. In 1870 he was elected magistrate in Jefferson township, of this county, and has since been continuously re-elected, still being an incumbent of that office. Squire Woodson has the reputation of being one of the best magistrates, if not the best one, in the county. For three years he held the office of deputy assessor, and has been a notary public since 1880. He is prominently identified with the Democratic party of this county, and has been a delegate to different conventions for a number of terms, county, district and congressional.  The Squire and Mrs. Woodson have six children: Richard, Pink, Robert L., William I., Lizzie and Effie. Two are deceased, Elmer and Ora S., both of whom died at the age of four years. There were four children by the Squire’s first marriage, namely: Rose, wife of George W. Woolwine; Jennie, wife of A. W. Woolwine, both of Audrain county; John M., of Sumner county, Kans., and Joseph, who died at the age of 12 years. Mr. and Mrs. Woodson are members of the Baptist Church at Stoutsville, and he is a member of the Masonic order.

 

PROF. TOWNSEND WRIGHT

(Of Townsend and J. B. Wright, Editors and Proprietors of the Monroe County Democrat). Prof. Wright, one of the prominent educators of the county, and for the past year also identified with the Monroe Democrat as one of its editors and proprietors, is a native Missourian. He was born in Howard county, June 2, 1853, and is a grandson of one of the pioneer settlers of that county, Townsend Wright, who came there from Young Wright Kentucky as early as 1819. The Professor’s father, John R. Wright, a well-to-do and respected citizen of Howard county, was born and reared in that county, and still resides there, near Fayette, and within a mile from where he was born. Prof. Wright’s mother was a Miss Jane Hern before her marriage, a daughter of Solomon Hen, who came from Madison county, Ky., in 1830. (He?) spent his early youth on the farm, assisting in such work as he could do, and attending the neighborhood schools when they were in session. He early became qualified to teach school, and having an ambition to rise something above the humbler stratum of life, he engaged in teaching as a means, not only of advancement, but of self-culture. He alternated teaching with attending school himself, the better to prepare himself for his work in the school-room, or, rather, he attended college. He attended Mt. Pleasant College desultorily for some four years, equal to, perhaps, two years of consecutive attendance. Studying all this time with assiduity, whether in or out of college, he succeeded in acquiring a superior general education. Since quitting college he has continued to teach uninterruptedly, and is now teaching his fifth year at Florida. At this place, as, indeed, at every place he has ever taught, he is esteemed by common consent one of the most capable, successful and popular teachers who ever presided over a schoolroom. In April, 1883, Prof. Wright formed a partnership with his brother, J. B. Wright, for the purpose and publication of the Monroe Democrat, which they have since edited and published. This is the first paper ever established at Florida, and was first published here in 1882, but its publication was suspended a few months afterwards. Its career since these gentlemen have conducted the paper has been one of entire success, and a prosperous future for it seems to be assured. Editorially it is ably conducted, and its business management is all that could be desired. It is a weekly paper of dignity and character, and is obtaining a wide influence in affairs. On the 26th of August, 1879, Prof. Wright was married to Miss Katie A. Tulley, an amiable and accomplished daughter of James Tulley, Esq., of this county. But she was taken from him by death a few years after her marriage. She died November 23, 1882. They were blessed with one child, a little girl, Mary J. But she too now sleeps in the same churchyard where her mother is buried. Prof. Wright is a worthy member of the Baptist Church, and he is also a valued member of the A.F. and A.M.