Audrain County, Missouri - Biographical sketches, 1884 (part 9 of 17)

William L. Black

farmer and fine stock raiser, P. O. Mexico. To any one who has ever traveled through the Eastern States and observed the manner in which farming and handling stock are carried on there and the style in which farms are kept, both with respect to their appearance and conven¬ ience, it is not difficult to anticipate what Audrain county is destined to be in the not far distant future. Here we have all the natural ad¬ vantages far in excess of those found in the East for an advanced state of agriculture, and all that are necessary to make the county compare favorably in the character of its improvements and in the manner in which farming and stock raising are carried on, with the foremost counties in New York or the other Eastern States, are the men with the ideas, enterprise and means to bring it up to the standard of its natural capability. Looking over the county, we already see many of this class of progressive, public-spirited and educated agriculturists, wTho are doing much to advance the county into the position which it ought justly and will ultimately occupy. These of this class who have come to the county are but the forerunners of the many who are to follow ; and indeed there are not a few farmers in the county who have been carrying on their places after the old fashion, who will profit by the example their new neighbors have set, and will introduce new and progressive methods into their system of farming. Among the new-comers of Audrain county, of the class above referred to, the subject of the present sketch is by common consent, and justly so, accorded a prominent position. Mr. Black has a fine farm of 1,000 acres in this county. He came here from St. Louis county in 1883, where he is said to have had the finest farm property in that county, a county noted all over the West for the high character, beauty and elegance of its farms. What his farm was in St. Louis county, Mr. Black expects to make his present farm in Audrain county; and such was his place in the former county, that he traded but 60 acres of it, including its building improvements, for the 1,000-acre farm he now owns. This farm is already enclosed with over five miles of fencing, is largely seeded with blue grass and timothy, and has commodious and well-built buildings including the dwelling, two large barns, etc. The dwelling, Mr. Black expects to remodel throughout, supplying it with water in every room and heating it with a furnace, in fact providing it with every modern convenience and comfort. His barns, two of the largest and best in the county, he also expects to remodel, sup¬ plying them with water in the same manner that he supplies his dwelling, and converting them into convenient and handsomely finished buildings for raising fine blooded horses, etc. Mr. Black is expecting to make a specialty of raising fine horses in addition to fine cattle, sheep and other stock ; and in pursuance of this he purposes to make his place one of the handsomest, best-arranged stock farms in the country, not excepting any in Ohio or the States further East. His land is beautifully located, being gently undulating, sufficiently so for drainage and beauty of landscape, but not so broken as to cause washes from heavy rains. Mr. Black is a man of liberal means, al¬ most an enthusiast in his devotion to agricultural life, and, being a man of the world, of wide businsss experience and extensive general information, he combines most of the qualities necessary in a pro¬ gressive, advanced and successful agriculturist. Mr. Black is a native of the city of New Orleans, born on the 3d of August, 1843. His father, Charles Black, was a native of Scotland, and came to New Orleans in about 1832. He enmi^ed in the cotton factorage business in that city, and continued it with success until the coming on of the war. He became one of the leading cotton factors and prominent men of New Orleans, accumulating a large estate and rising to an enviable position in the commercial affairs and social life of the city. Mr. Black's mother, before her marriage, was a Miss Sewell, of a highly respected family of Liverpool, England. William L. Black, the fourth of their family of children, was reared in New Orleans, and was brought up to the cotton factorage business. He of course had the best advantages for an education the city afforded. During the war, as all business was practically paralyzed, he did not enter into business to any great extent until the close of that unhappy conflict. Immediately following the restoration of peace, however, he went to New York and engaged largely in the cotton business. He continued it at that city with success until the completion of the Iron Mountain Railroad, which rendered St. Louis an important cotton center. He then came out to the latter city and established himself in the cotton business at that city. Mr. Black was one of the pioneer cotton factors of St. Louis, and by his long experience in business and his public spirit contributed as much, and perhaps more, to build up the large cotton interests of that city than any other man in it. He con¬ tinued the business there with success until 1882, and during that time was one of the leading men in his line of business. He planned the present palatial Cotton Exchange building of St. Louis, and was active in his efforts to secure its construction, contributing largely of his means for that purpose, and much of his time in urging its importance to the business interests of the city. Mr. Black always had a strong inclin¬ ation to lead the life of an agriculturist, and particularly to engage in the stock business. He now felt that he was in a situation to gratify this desire. Accordingly, withdrawing from business in St. Louis, he bought a handsome farm in the county, a short distance from the city, to the improvements of which he made extensive and handsome additions. In short, he made such a farm that it was pronounced by Robinson, the celebrated circus man, who had seen most of the fine farms in the country, one of the handsomest he ever visited. That was the place which he traded, or rather he traded a part of it, for his present farm in Audrain county. Mr. Black has large property interests in St. Louis, in the vicinity of the Cotton Exchange. His wife owns a large cattle ranch in Menard county* Texas, numbering some 30,000 acres, on which he raises cattle and sheep on an extensive scale. On the 10th of June, 1869, Mr. Black was married to Miss Camilla B. Bogert, a refined and accomplished daughter of George C. Bogert, of New Orleans, Louisiana. Mr. and Mrs. Black have an interesting family of eight children, five girls and three boys. Mrs. Black is a member of the Episcopal Church.

Shorten Blankenship

a venerable old farmer whose faculties of mind and vigor of body are still remarkably well preserved, and who, by the industry and good management of the active years of a well-spent life, has accumulated a comfortably competency on which to rely in old age, came originally.

like many of the best men all over the West, from Virginia, the grand Old Mother of good citizens, as well as of the noblest and best presi¬ dents who have ever occupied the executive chair of the Republic. Mr. Blankenship was born in Logan county, Virginia, February 26, 1818. Reared in his native county, his early educational opportunities were very limited, having only about seven month's instruction at school. Still, those were times in which school instruction was not so much depended on as now, and with limited advantages of this kind the youth of the country succeeded in acquiring fair, practical educations. So it was with Mr. Blankenship. His education has been sufficient for all the practical purposes of ordinary affairs. Brought up in an agricultural commuuity, as was to have been expected, he became a farmer, and this calling has been his occupation through life. In 1834 he was married to Miss Minerva Martin, of Lawrence county. Three years after his marriage Mr. Blankenship removed to Missouri, and located eight miles east of Mexico, where he began his career as a farmer and stock raiser in that early day in this county. Mr. Blanken¬ ship has continued these lines of industry in Audrain county up to the present time, or rather until a short time ago, when he retired from the active labors of life. While as a farmer and stock raiser Mr. Blankenship has been successful, as a man and citizen his name has ever stood untarnished among his fellow citizens ; and in the retire¬ ment of his advancing years he is left to enjoy not only the fruits of his honest industry, but the esteem and respect which his long and worthy life have inspired in the breasts of those around him. In 1852, after a happy married life of nearly twenty years, Mr. Blankenship's first wife fell to sleep in the last cold, sad embrace of death. She left two children, Isabella and Hester A. On the 25th of June, 1854, Mr. Blankenship was married to Mrs. Elizabeth Barry, originally of Kentucky. By her former marriage she had a daughter, Alice Barry. This wife has been spared in the kindness of Providence to brighten Mr. Blankenship's home with her smiles, and comfort his life with her kindness and affection, and she has borne him five children: William, Stephen, Wasley, Lucy and Jane E. William is a physician at Rush Hill. Mr. and Mrs. Blankenship are members of the Christian Church.

Hon. Joseph B. Botkin

Mayor of the city of Mexico, and proprietor of the Prairie City Lively, Feed and Sales Stables. Mr. Botkin is one of those stirring, enter¬ prising Ohioans, so many of whom have made Missouri their home since the war, to the great benefit and advantage of this State. He was a gallant soldier of the Union during the Rebellion and was twice taken prisoner, making good his escape, however, each time, for he had no appetite for the luxuries of the average Confederate prisonpen, and then he could see a great deal more fun with the "boys" on his own side. Mr. Botkin was born in Clark county, of the Buck¬ eye State, August 27, 1842, and was a son of Abraham Botkin and wife, whose maiden name had been Sarah Wilkinson, both of old and re¬ spected Ohio families. Mr. Botkin's father was a substantial farmer of Clark county, and J. B. spent his youth on the farm in the festive employment of following the plow, and when not at work, attending the district schools. When the war broke out, however, soldiering seemed more desirable to him than raising corn, and accordingly he enlisted in Co. F, of the 44th Ohio Yol. Inf., in which he served for about thirty months. He then re-enlisted, becoming a member of the 8th Ohio Cavalry, under Col. Ralph Moore, of Troy, O., a regiment that became known by the sobriquet of " the boys that fear no noise." He followed the flag of his country, except when the " rebs " had charge of him, until it floated in triumph at Appomattox, and until he was afterwards honorably discharged. Returning to Ohio, after the white-winged angel of peace had flapped her wings and crowed, he remained there until 1871, engaged in the quiet pursuits of honest industry ; and then, having become aware of the many charms and attractions of Audrain county, in this State, he came out here to grow up with the country. For two years he was engaged in the retail liquor business at Mexico, dishing out pure and unadulterated Democ¬ racy to all the boys at two drinks for fifteen cents a piece. By this time he felt sufficiently " organized" to have two years of rest and fun, which, as he says himself, was equal to the value of regular quad¬ rennial coupon-clips of Standard Oil Company stocks. Following this, Mr. Botkin engaged in the liverv business, establishing the Prairie City livery, feed and sales stables, of which he is still pro¬ prietor. Of course he has fine stock and the handsomest turnouts that can be shown in North-east Missouri, and being a lively, jolly fellow, he gets all the drummers' trade and everybody else's. It goes without saying that Mr. Botkin is a favorite among the boys, and withal, he is popular among all classes, and an evidence of this fact is the position he now holds, that of mayor of the city. A man of good business qualifications, active and energetic, and public-spirited and full of life, he makes a vara avis mayor. It is not too much to say of Sallee & Brooks, dealers in books, stationery, wall paper, fancy goods, newspapers, periodicals, school supplies, chromos, fine pic¬ tures, notions, etc., etc., Mexico. For many years the name of Mr. Brooks' father, John T. Brooks, was as familiar in Audrain county, and even beyond its limits, as a household word. He was from Ken¬ tucky, and came here in 1857. A minister in the Christian Church for years, he did valuable and zealous work in this and adjoining counties in his sacred office, going from place to place on horseback, in season and out of season, to preach to his fellow-creatures gathered together wherever they might be to hear the word expounded of the living God. He was a man of strong character, indefatigable energy, of a superior mind, an enthusiastic minister, and was more than ordinarily well posted, not only in theology generally, but in the affairs of the times, and in history, political and otherwise. A fine preacher, possessing all the qualities and qualifications of the pulpit orator, he was at the same time a terse, forcible and eloquent writer, and wrote with a fa¬ cile and ready pen. In a word, he was a man of thought and action, full of energy, life and spirit, and made his influence felt in the church and out of it wherever he was. Thoroughly versed in theology, he subsequently read law, and practiced the latter profession at Mexico for several years after the war. In 1866 he bought the Mexico Ledger, which he ran with success and remarkable vim and ener<rv until he sold that paper to Col. Hutton. Under Mr. Brooks' management the Ledger took a high position among the leading interior journals of the State. He died in 1874, and a synopsis of his writing was published with an obituary notice of his death, which has been preserved, and bears high evidence of his vigor, culture and earnestness as a writer. He was a good man in every impulse of his heart and prompting of his mind, and he lived an exemplary and valuable life, a life the in¬ fluence of which was for good from the beginning of his activity until his mind and heart were palsied by the chill of death. Henry T. Brooks, the subject of this sketch, was born in Mason county, Ken¬ tucky, May 19, 1848, and in youth was given a good education. His tastes were all fora business life and he has accordingly become perma¬ nently identified with business pursuits. On the 23d of June, 1873, Mr. Brooks was married to Miss Mary E. Nelson, a daughter of Dr.

Thomas Nelson, originally of Kentucky. Mr. Brooks became a mem¬ ber of the present firm of Sallee & Brooks in 1872, since which he has continued in business in his present line. The nature and extent of the business of this firm have already been spoken of in a sketch of Mr. Sallee on another page of this work. Mr. and Mrs. Brooks have one child, Alice C. Both are members of the Christian Church, and Mr. B. is a member of the A. O. U. W.

Thomas B. Buckner

Prosecuting Attorney of Audrain county, and attorney for the Sav¬ ings Bank of Mexico. Mr. Buckner, a young man still less than thirty years of age, and who has been engaged in the practice of his profession for only about seven years, has already attained an envi¬ able position at the bar, and is recognized as one of the capable, safe lawyers of this judicial circuit. He is a native Missourian, born in Callaway county on the 8th of September, 1854. His parents are John T. Buckner, of that county, and wife, whose maiden name was Ellen M. Bernard. The father is a farmer by occupation, and is in well-to-do circumstances. He was a son of Col. R. R. Buckner, a prominent citizen of Callaway county, but now deceased. Col. Buckner came from Kentucky to Callaway county, Missouri, in an early day. The mother was a daughter of Maj. Thomas Bernard, a Virginian, who also became an early settler of Callaway count}'. Coming of good families on both sides, Mr. Buckner, the subject of this sketch, had excellent opportunities as he grew up to fit himself for the higher activities of life. Spending his early youth on the farm, his time was occupied in assisting at work about the place, and in at¬ tending the neighboring schools. While the conditions, therefore, were favorable to the development of a good, physical constitution, the improvement of his mind was not neglected. Making excellent progress in the preparatory studies taught in the common schools, at the age of seventeen he was qualified to enter college. He accord¬ ing^ became a matriculate at Westminster College, and he pursued his studies in that institution with assiduity for some four years, grad¬ uating with distinction in 1875. Young Buckner was now twentvone years of age, and he of course felt that the time had arrived for him to begin the activities of life. His object was to devote himself to the legal profession, but while preparing for that he was desirous of doing something to defray his expenses. Well educated, he ac¬ cordingly engaged in school-teaching, and he also followed surveying.

reading law while engaged in these pursuits. Earlv in 1876 he came to Mexico and entered upon a regular course of study for the leo-al profession, devoting his entire time and attention to his studies. He read law under and in the office of W. H. Kenan, Esq., and Hon. D. H. McIntyre, and made such progress than in less than a year he was qualified to enter a law school. The Law School of Ann Arbor, Michigan, being generally recognized as the best one in the West, he entered that institution in 1876, and in due time was graduated with honor. Mr. Buckner now returned to Mexico and entered actively upon the practice of his profession. A young man of solid intelli¬ gence and steady habits, as well as thoroughly qualified for the duties of the practice, he was not long in making his merits known as a law¬ yer. In 1879 he was elected city attorney, and three years after¬ wards was elected prosecuting attorney of the county, which latter position he now holds. As stated above, Mr. Buckner also holds the responsible position of attorney to the Savings Bank of this city. While his rise in his profession has been rapid, it has at the same time been substantial, and he is now recognized as one of the prominent and successful lawyers at the bar. In his practice he is careful and pains¬ taking, and relies for success more on industry and a thorough under¬ standing of the law and the facts involved in his cases, than on flashy, brilliant coup d'etat as a practitioner, or eloquence as an advocate. But while his attainments as a lawyer are substantial, and his methods of practice those of a sober-minded attorney, he is at the same time an advocate of no inferior rank. Addressing himself always to the intelligence of a jury, when in the warmth of an address, he fre¬ quently rises to the point of oratory, and he never fails to carry the mind with the heart. He has a more than ordinarily large practice, considering the duration of his experience at the bar, and has been very successful in the trial of causes. Personally, Mr. Buckner stands high in the county, and is very popular. On the 8th of January, 1880, Mr. Buckner was married to Miss Effie Hendricks, a daughter of Col. S. B. Plendricks, a leading citizen of Harrison county, Texas, but originally of Alabama. Mrs. Buckner is a native of Texas and was partly educated at Winchester, Tennessee. She completed her education, however, at the Synodical Female College of Fulton, Mis¬ souri. It was while attending college at Fulton that Mr. Buckner, who was at the time attending Westminster College, formed her ac¬ quaintance, an acquaintance which ripened into love, and resulted in their happy marriage. Mrs. Buckner is a lady of fine mental endow¬ ments and high culture, and is possessed of a most amiable disposi- tion. She is highly esteemed by all who know her, and is a very popular member of society at Mexico. Mr. and Mrs. Buckner have two interesting little children - both sons: James T. and Sterling H. Both parents are members of the Presbyterian Church. Mr. Buckner is also a member of the Masonic and Odd Fellow's orders .

Edward C. Buckner

is a native Missourian, born in Sedalia, October 4, 1856. Growing up in South-west Missouri, he received an advanced general education, and completed a thorough course of study by an honorable gradua¬ tion. In 1874 he engaged in the dry goods business at Brownsville, and continued it at that place with success until 1878, when he went to Fulton, where he sold drugs with Mr. J. T. Brown. Following this, Mr. Buckner was offered a desirable situation as traveling sales¬ man for the wholesale heavy drug house of Barstow & Whitelaw, of St. Louis, with whom he continued, to their great satisfaction and with increasing popularity, until the spring of 1883. He then en¬ gaged in the hotel business at Mexico.

Accordingly, on the 20th of October, 1882, Mr. Buckner and Miss Susan B. Hord, of Mexico, were married. She was a daughter of Col. Lewis Hord, a prominent citizen of Audrain county. They have an infant son, Harold G., born November 23, 1883. Mr. Buckner is of the old Virginia family whose name he bears. His father was William G. Buckner, of that State. This family has long been prominent in several of the Southern and Western States, representa¬ tives of which all came originally from the Old Dominion, either by nativity or descent. There was Hon. Richard A. Buckner, originally of Fauquier county, Va.,and afterwards a distinguished Congressman from Kentucky, and a Presidential elector on the Harrison ticket in 1841 ; and then there was Hon. Aylett Buckner, who was a member of Congress in the same district in Kentucky ; and in our own State was Hon. Alexander Buckner, originally of Indiana, who represented Missouri in the United States Senate subsequent to J831, and died of cholera at St. Louis in 1833, while still a member of the Senate ; in Mexico, the life of Hon. A. H. Buckner is familiar to all. Besides these, there are numerous other representatives of the family dis¬ tinguished in the various walks of life, which we have not the space here to refer to. On his mother's side, Mr. Buckner comes of the well known Brown family, of Kentucky, and his mother's father, Judge J. S. Brown, was of Frankfort, Ky. He died in 1866.

a successful farmer of Salt River township, has proved himself a worthy son of one of the sturdy old pioneer settlers of Central Mis¬ souri, and was born in Howard county, Missouri. His father was John Bybee, who came out from Kentucky in the territorial days of this State, and bv his brawn and brain contributed the full share of a worthy citizen to the up-building of the commonwealth and the mate¬ rial development of the country. Mr. Bybee's mother was a Miss Polly Adams before her marriage, and also originally from the Blue Glass State. She died while our subject was quite young, and his father was married several times afterwards, being singularly unfor¬ tunate in the loss of his companions in life. He reared a large num¬ ber of children, leaving five families of children at his death,' 'one by each of his wives. M. By bee was reared on his father's farm, the latter years of his youth being spent in Monroe county. In 1847 he was married to Miss Edith Williams, of that county. This union has been blessed with a numerous family of children : Thomas J., Mary F., James R., Minerva J., Annie B., Cinderilla, Edith, William F. and Martialis (twins), Sarah E., Shelton C. Mr. Bybee commenced life for himself without any means to go on, and by his own industry and good management has accumulated what he has. For five years, when young, he worked out at farm labor, and then bought a piece of land of his own in Monroe county. Subsequently he increased his landed possessions until he had a good farm. He has( been a resident of Audrain county for many years, and his place now contains a half a section of fine land. This is one of the choice farms of Salt River township, and he is comfortably situated on his place. Mr. Bybee has taken a warm interest in educational affairs, and has been school diiectoi tor a number of years. He is an earnest member of the church at West Zion, as is also his wife. Three of their family of children are now deceased. Their son, Thomas J., the oldest is now engaged in merchandising at Molino.

Robert A. Calhoun

farmer, is of Irish parentage on his father's side, as John C. Calhoun, the greatest of American statesmen, was of Irish ancestry, and doubt¬ less the two branches of the family in this country have a common origin in the Green Isle beyond the sea. However that may be, it makes but little difference, for in this country every man stands or falls by his own character. Mr. Calhoun's father, Robert Calhoun, came from Ireland in 1824, being then a young man eighteen years of age. He located at first in West Virginia, where he lived for about fifteen years, and where he was married to Miss Elizabeth Bright, a native of that State. Robert A. was born while his parents resided in West Virginia, on the 8th day of January, 1836. In 1839 the family came to Missouri, and the following year settled in Audrain county, where they both lived until their death. The father died in 1864, the mother in 1878. She reached the advanced age of seventy. The father, on coming to this county, entered a large body of land, about 400 acres, on which he improved a fine farm. Robert A. was partly reared on the farm in this county, and when he became of age en¬ gaged in farming for himself, which he has since followed. On the 25th of January, 1860, he was married to Miss Martha R. Craig, a daugh¬ ter of Carter T. Craig. Mrs. Calhoun was born in Callaway county, on the 3d of May, 1840. The same year of his marriage he settled on his present farm, where he has since resided. Mr. Calhoun has a good place of 200 acres. Mr. and Mrs. Calhoun have two children : Irvin M., born December 1, 1860, and Robert C., born November 26, 1870. Mr. Calhoun has two brothers and two sisters living: William and Margaret A., who reside on the old homestead; Samuel lives near Concord in Callaway county, and Sarah J. is the wife of John A. Y. Boyd, of Callaway county.

Judge David W. Campbell

retired farmer, Mexico. Judge Campbell is one of those well-pre¬ served, active old gentlemen, who, having lived long and useful lives, have so lived both with regard to personal habits and to conduct that neither their health nor ease and strength of mind have been broken down. Looking back over the past they see much from which to derive consolation and comfort and but little to regret, and in the serenity of old age they are surrounded by neighbors and acquaint- ances who esteem them for the good that they have done as well as the worthy lives that they have lived. Having accumulated a comfortable competency by his own industry, and reared a worthy family of chil¬ dren, Judge Campbell, now six years past the allotted age of three score and ten, is still left hale and hearty to enjoy with ease and satis¬ faction the fruits of a well-spent life, the love and veneration of his family, and the esteem and respect of all who know him. Judge Campbell is a native of the Blue Grass State, horn in Jessamine county, January 8, 1808, and his parents being in comparatively easy circumstances, he had good advantages for an education, and acquired as he grew up more than an average knowledge of books. He remained on the family homestead until his marriage, which was on the 13th of February, 1834, when he was married to Miss Elizabeth M. Walter. He then became the head of his own household and followed farming in Jessamine county on his own account for the four following years, after which he removed to Missouri, and located in Monroe county. There he entered land and improved a good farm, and soon became prominent both as a farmer and citizen. Being a man of more than ordinary general intelligence, and taking a worthy interest in public affairs, he came to be regarded as something of a leader in the county. His high character was never called in question, and his business qualifications and stirring habits were recognized by all. He accumulated property with steady strides, and in 1849 he was ap¬ pointed a judge of the county court by the Governor, and was after¬ ward continuously re-elected, and held the office until May, 1860, when he resigned his term, then, however, having four years more to serve. The war coming on, like most of the better citizens of Missouri, he was not heard of any more in public affairs until after its close, except when his name appeared in the list of men who had been arrested and robbed and dragged about from prison to prison over the country. He suffered heavy losses by the war, and of course did not escape arrest, although he was guilty of no wrong more than any other honorable man of Missouri to-day. The satraps and the scum of the State were then in power, and they showed their authority by outraging the better elements of society. While Judge Campbell was a resident of Monroe county, and long before the war, he had the appointing of an agent to locate the swamp lands of the county to which the school fund was entitled under act of Congress of 1850. His Avork in this commission resulted in increasing the school fund over $80,000, besides securing scrip for 1,700 acres of land which was located in Howell county, and an indemnity of $2,200 in cash. Some years after the war Judge Campbell removed to Audrain county, where he has resided with his son a part of his time, though he still claims to be a citizen of Monroe County. He formerly handled stock quite extensively, and was very successful in that line of industry. Judge Campbell can say with truth what few men can join him in as to themselves, that he never took a chew of tobacco in his life, nor smoked a cigar or pipe ; and that he has been hardly less abstemious in the use of ardent spirits. He also says that he never had a tooth¬ ache nor a headache in his life. His appearance bears strong proof of the fact, if any proof were necessary in addition to his word (which it is not), that his life has been a most temperate and well-regulated one ; and while he has ever been a man of action and industry, he has so lived that in his green old age his powers of mind and body have come down with him unimpaired. Judge Campbell's wife died only a few years ago, on the 23d of August, 1877. She was a faithful and loving wife, an affectionate and devoted mother, a kind and hos¬ pitable neighbor and a devout Christian women. No one was ever borne to her grave more deeply regretted and mourned than was she. Of the family of children of the Judge and his good wife, six are living : Mary A., David W., John A., William J., Peter W. and Richard. One is deceased, Sarah T. Judge Campbell has been a member of the Masonic Order, Union Lodge No. 19, Paris, Mo., since the fall of 1841, and has also been a member of the Monroe Chapter No. 16 for many years.

dealer in staple and fancy groceries, Mexico. Mr. Campbell, a son of Judge Campbell, whose sketch precedes this, and an active, enter¬ prising business man of Mexico, was born in Monroe county, Feb¬ ruary 28, 1839. He was brought up on a farm in that county, and educated in the common schools; and in the month of September, 1860, he was married to Miss Cynthia Atchinson, originally of Illinois. She was born in Fleming county, Kv., February 26, 1840. Mr. Campbell had already engaged in farming for himself in Monroe county, and he was busily occupied when the war burst upon the country with all its fury. Coming of Southern parentage, he natur¬ ally sympathized with the Southern cause, being identified with the South in interest as well as by kindred. In 1862 he became a mem¬ ber of Capt. Williams' company of Southern scouts, and served with them until his capture. Mr. Campbell was slightly wounded at Newark, Missouri, and was afterwards taken prisoner. He was held in confinement a short time at Mexico, and from here was taken to St. Louis and afterwards to Alton. Following his imprisonment, he was banished North under heavy penalty not to return South of the line of the Springfield Railroad, of Illinois, during the remainder of the war. After the restoration of peace in 1865, Mr. Campbell returned home to Monroe county, Missouri, where he followed farming with success until his removal to Audrain county. He engaged in his present business at Mexico in February, 1882, and has since met with excel¬ lent success. He carries a fine stock of goods in his line and has a large and steadily increasing custom. Mr. and Mrs. Campbell have two children, Walter and Alice. Both parents are members of the Christian Church, and Mr. C. is a member of the A. O. U. W.

Franklin P. Canterbury

one of the old representative citizens, and for many years a leading stock raiser and stock dealer of Audrain county, is now in the Indian summer of a ripe old age, closely approaching the mortal allotment of three-score and ten years, nearly half a century of which has been usefully and well spent within the borders of this county. Mr. Can¬ terbury descends from one of the oldest families in England, and comes of a place in the Imperial Isle beyond the sea, made im¬ mortal by the pen of the gifted father of English poetry, Geoffrey Chaucer. His grandparents, Gidethear and Nancy ( Franklin ) Can¬ terbury, came from Canterbury, England, prior to the Revolution, and settled in North Carolina. Gidethear Canterbury was of the same family which produced Viscount Canterbury, for many years speaker of the House of Commons of England, and of the family for which Canterbury itself, a place five hundred years old, was named. Benjamin Canterbury, who subsequently became the father of Frank¬ lin P., the subject of this sketch, was born in North Carolina, and was there married to Miss Susanna Hooser, of an old Tennessee family. Benjamin Canterbury became an early settler of Kentucky, living in Greenup county for many years, and there Franklin P. was born on the 6th of February, 1807. Benjamin and Susanna Canter¬ bury had a family of nine children : Franklin P., the subject of this sketch; Reuben P., died about a year ago; John C., also of this county; Narcissa, now Mrs. Thomas Perry, of Rush Hill; Mary, now Mrs. David H. Woodson, of Callaway county; Susanna, now the widow of Michael Crudle, of Rush Hill ; Nancy, now Mrs. Greenbury Floyd; Benjamin, Jr., now of Saline countv; and Elizabeth, now

Mrs. Edward Perry, of Rush Hill. In 1839 the family came to Mis¬ souri and settled in Audrain county, where the father died seven years afterwards, but the mother lived for nearly thirty years following, dying in 1875 in the ninety-fifth year of her age. In the meantime, before the family came to Missouri, Franklin P. Canterbury, our sub¬ ject, had grown up in Kentucky and married, and had removed to Missouri in 1835. He had settled in Audrain county, and when his father's family came out he was the owner of 600 acres of fine land on the Littleby. Mr. Canterbury lived on the Littlebv, in Audrain county, for nearly forty years, but came to his present farm in 1878. Three years prior to this he had lived on another place of his near Mexico, about three years. In the farm where he now resides, Mr. Canterbury has over 200 acres of good land. In the days of his activity he was an enterprising stock man and has shipped thousands of head to the markets. In the serene evening of his life now, how¬ ever, he is taking his rest in ease and comfort, and enjoying with that tranquility and wisdom which a long and upright life brings to the aged, the fruits of years of honest industry and the respect and ven¬ eration of those among whom he has lived for half a century, as well as the reverence and love of his own family. Such an evening of life is well worthy the day that has preceded. In the language of Seneca: Ante senectuten curadi ut bene viveren, in senectute ( euro ) ut bene moriar ; bene autem mori est libenter mori. Away back on the 23d of October, 1848, Mr. Canterbury was married to Miss Nancy Can¬ terbury, a cousin of his. She lived to brighten his home and cheer his way through life for over thirty years, but at last was taken away on the 5th of June, 1860, by the inexorable hand of death. She left a family of eleven children: Harriet, the widow of Milton Blythe ; John M., of Lafayette county ; Alfred, Mary, now Mrs. Thomas McCord ; Nancy, now Mrs. John McKane ; Virginia, now the widow of Lafayette Trimble, of Greene county, Illinois; Susan, Franklin, Jr., is deceased, and Eliza is the wife of Jeff. Uzzel. The others are deceased. On the 5th of February, 1863, Mr. Canterbury was mar¬ ried to Mrs. Mary M., widow of John Thornburgh. She lived for nearly twenty years, dying June 10, 1880. There were two children by this marriage, Charles L., and Maud L., both now at home. Mr. Canterbury has been a member of the Christian Church for thirty-five years, and was first brought to humble himself before the cross of Christ in 1849, under the powerful preaching of Rev. Henry Thomas, a giant pulpit orator of those days.

Alfred H. Canterbury

farmer, was born in Marion county, this State, September 27, 1836, and was a son of Franklin P. and Nancy Canterbury, who settled in Audrain county in the spring of the following year. Alfred H. was reared in this county, near Mexico, and in 1861 enlisted in the State Guard, under Gov. Jackson's call, and served with fidelity until the expiration of his six months' term. After that he took no further part in the war, but remained quietly at home, engaged in agricul¬ tural pursuits, the calling which makes " the wheaten garland grow. " On the 31st day of December, 1862, Mr. Canterbury was married to Miss Malissa A., eldest daughter of Judge Shell, a sketch ot whose life appears on a succeeding page of this work. Mrs. Canterbury was born in Tennessee, February 6, 1842. Following his marriage, Mr. C. settled on the Littleby, where he was engaged in farming for seven years. He then accepted the superintendency of the county farm, which he carried on until 1872. Mr. Canterbury now returned to farming on his own account, but in 1878 was again solicited to ac¬ cept the superintendency of the county farm, which he acceded to, and still has charge of it, but owns a farm of his own, to which he will remove during the present year. His own farm contains over a quarter-section of land, and is well improved. Mr. and Mrs. C. have a family of five children : Carrie C., who is to graduate at Hardin College during the present year; Hattie V., who is also soon to grad¬ uate at that institution ; Claude A., Ollie E. and Frankie M. Mr. and Mrs. C. are members of the Christian Church. Mr. C. is an en¬ ergetic farmer and well respected citizen.

Alexander Carter, Sr

farmer and stock raiser. Mr. Carter, one of the oldest and best citi¬ zens of Audrain county, for years prominent in the agricultural and public affairs of the count}7, himself a native of Kentucky, comes of one of the oldest and best families of Virginia. He is a lineal de¬ scendant of Robert Carter, who was President of the Council of Vir¬ ginia in 1726, and the owner of over 1,000 slaves and 300,000 acres of land. A very interesting history of this family has recently been published by the Virginia Historical Society, in a volume entitled " The Records of the Administration of Robert Dinwiddie, Lieuten¬ ant Governor of Virginia, 1752-1757. " Much in this country as we depreciate heredity, that there is a great deal in it cannot for a mo¬ ment be questioned by any well informed person or even close ob¬ server. While England has carried the doctrine of heredity too far in one direction, we have gone even farther in the other, and affect to despise the merits of an ancient and honorable ancestry. " That the physical, mental and moral qualities, " says Rev. Talmage, in a recent sermon on heredity, " are inheritable is patent to any one who keeps his eyes open. The similarity is so great sometimes as to be almost amusing. Famous families, regal or literary, have kept the same characteristics from generation to generation. The large lip of the House of Austria is seen in every generation, and is called the Hapsburg lip. The House of Stuarts always meant cruelty* bigotry, sen¬ suality. Witness, Queen of Scots and Charles I, and Charles II and James II, and all the other scoundrels of that imperial line. Scottish blood means persistence. Welsh blood means religiosity. Danish blood means fondness for the sea. Indian blood means rov¬ ing disposition. English blood means reverence for the ancient. Irish blood means fervidity. Roman blood means conquest. The Jewish facility for accumulation may be traced away back to Abra¬ ham, who was very rich in silver, gold and cattle (and who got them by very questionable means), and through Isaac and Jacob, who are alike celebrated. Some families are characterized by longevity, and are positively Methusalemish in tenacity of life ; and some families are Golithan of statue. Vigorous theology runs in the line of the Alexanders ; tragedy in the line of the Sheridans ; literature in the line of the Trollopes ; philanthropy in the line of the Wilberforces ; statesmanship in the line of the Adams. Henry and Catherine of Navarre, and nearly all of that great family were religious from age to age ; the celebrated family of Casini were all mathematicians. The celebrated Medici family - grandfather, father and son, and Cath¬ erine - were characterized for wisdom. The celebrated family of Gustavus Adolphus were nearly all warriors." While the mental and physical characteristics continue from generation to generation, the conditions and circumstances of the different representatives of a family, of course, often vary. Some may be in affluence and distin¬ guished, while others may be in poverty and obscure ; but whatever the leading characteristics of a family are, to whatever position in life these characteristics tend to place it, that position will its repre¬ sentatives, as a rule, occupy. So it is that we see families noted for generations for their worldly possessions, or for prominence in public life, or eminence in literature or the sciences ; yet the opportunities of the members of such families greatly vary, illustrating and proving that as water seeks an equilibrium, so the qualities of a family will al¬ most invariably bring its members to the position in life it is suited to occupy. Some have every advantage wealth and influence can af¬ ford, and others have to rise from poverty by their own exertions ; yet the latter are generally not less successful than the former. When, therefore, King Saul said to David, after the latter had slain the giant, "Whose son art thou, thou young man?" he showed his own appreciation of the importance of this doctrine of heredity. Nor is the Carter family, of which the subject of the present sketch is a representative, an inapt illustration of the truth of this doctrine. The Carters who remained in Virginia are still, and have ever been, amons: the leading citizens of that State. The branch of the family which went to Tennessee became equally prominent, sending its representa¬ tives to Congress, and producing some of the first citizens of the State. All Kentuckians know what the Carters are in the Blue Grass State. And in other States where they have settled they occupy hon¬ orable and enviable positions in industrial, business, professional and public life. Mr. Alexander Carter, as has been intimated, comes of the Kentucky branch of the family. Families, like everything else, are subject to the vicissitudes of fortune ; so it happened that when it came for Alexander Carter to start out in life for himself he was without means, and, indeed, with hardly a sufficient education for the ordinary affairs of life. But possessing, to a marked degree, the characteristics of his family - superior natural intelligence, indomi¬ table energy and an unfaltering ambition to rise to a worthy position in life - he went steadily forward, facing and overcoming all obstacles, until he finally placed himself in the front rank of the best citizens in the community with which his fortunes are cast. Not favored with school advantages, he made up for this by study at home, and acquired an excellent general education. Mentally as industrious as he was otherwise, he improved all his leisure by a useful class of reading, and became a man of extensive and accurate general information. Devoting himself to farming and stock raising - and the Carters all have a fondness for agricultural life - he became abundantly prosper¬ ous and successful in a material point of view. Mr. Carter was born in Green county, Ky., February 6, 1822, and was a son of Robert Carter and wife, whose maiden name was Mary Smith, both formerly of Virginia. Growing up on his father's farm, in Green county, his school advantages in that early day, as has been said, were very lim¬ ited. But educating himself, mainly, before he attained manhood, he was qualified to teach school, and, as teachers were in great request at that time, he engaged in teaching, which he followed for several years with excellent success. But in the meantime, Missouri had be¬ gun to attract immense tides of emigration from Kentucky and the other States, and Mr. Carter, informing himself of the advantages this part of the country offered for successful agriculture, decided to cast his fortunes with the new State beyond the Mississippi. He therefore came to Missouri and located first in Callaway county. There he resided for about five years, and while in that county, in the fall of 1843, was married to Miss Martha A., a daughter of Presley Thomas, an early settler from Kentucky. Two years after his mar¬ riage, Mr. Carter removed to Cass county, but returning to Callaway the year following, he came, in 1848, to Audrain county, and settled on the land forming a part of his present place. Audrain county was, even then, almost a pathless wild, and Mr. Carter was the first set¬ tler on the prairie north of Mexico. Here he went to work and opened a farm, and by industry and good management has come to be one of the leading agriculturists of Audrain county. His home farm numbers over 1,000 acres, over 700 acres of which he has in blue grass pasturage and meadow. Like the Carters of Kentucky, Mr. Carter has always made a specialty ot stock raising, and has been one of the most successful men in the county in this line of industry. He is justly regarded as one of the finest judges of stock in the coun¬ try. A desire for public life has never been a marked characteristic of his family, and if, from time to time, various representatives of the family have held positions of high public trust, it has been because thev have been more sought after than seeking. Nor has Mr. Carter ever been troubled with political ambition. His controlling desire has always been to lead a quiet and successful life as a private citizen, surrounded by the comforts of home and the good will and respect of his neighbors and acquaintances. In this country the time has passed for such men to be called, unless at rare intervals, into the public ser¬ vice. Now every one seems to be unalterably impressed with the con¬ viction that " unless ye ask ye shall not receive," and, therefore, most of those who are elevated belong to the asking class. But notwithstanding Mr. Carter is not one of these, he has several times been called into public service. As far back as 1869, such were his recognized qualifications as a business man and high character as a citizen, that he was appointed, without his solicitation and barely with his knowledge, sheriff of the county by the Governor, over a num¬ ber of prominent applicants. At the following election, in the fall of

1860, he was elected to the same office, which he held until the war was under full headway. Then, affairs in Missouri becoming revolu¬ tionary, like milk in a thunder storm, the better class of citizens went to the bottom, and the whey of society rose to the top. Mr. Caller was, therefore, not heard from in public affairs until after the war.

Since the war Mr. Carter has neither held, nor desired any official position, although, as a lifelong Democrat, he has taken an active in¬ terest in securing for the party the best nominees to be had for the different offices to be filled, county and State, and has been, from time to time, a prominent member of county, congressional and State con¬ ventions. He is justly regarded as one of' the safest and best dele¬ gates to a convention the county can select, and has often been honored in this way. On the 1st of December, 1863, Mr. Carter had the misfortune to lose his first wife, a woman greatly devoted to her family, and of many estimable qualities of head and heart. She left him nine children: William P., (married), Robert E., Ellen, now wife of Enoch Mason, Alexander, Jr. (married), Franklin P. (mar¬ ried ), Laura, Mollie, Sterling and Braxton. In August, 1865, Mr. Carter was married to Mrs. Frances A., widow of the late John W. Rickets, and a daughter of William P. Rodman, of this county. Mrs. C. is a lady of marked intelligence and great amiability of character, and is much esteemed in the neighborhood. She has a daughter by her first marriage - Mary F. Mr. and Mrs. Carter have an elegant home, their residence being one of the most commodious and tastily built in the township, and Mrs. C. does full honor to her surround¬ ings by her grace and dignity, and the hospitality which characterizes her home. She and husband are both members of the Christian Church, and Mr. Carter has long been an elder in the church ; he is also a prominent member of the A. F. and A. M. at Mexico.

Alfred Cauthorn

Among the early pioneers to settle in Audrain county and this vicinity was the Cauthorn family, and it has ever since been promi¬ nently and closely identified with its progress and development. Mr. Alfred Cauthorn was born in Essex county, Virginia, September 16, 1815, where he spent the earlier days of his life, receiving such edu¬ cation as the common schools of his county afforded at that time. In 1834 he was married to Frances A. E. Broocke, daughter of Lewis

Broocke, of King and Queen county, Virginia. This vvas a fortunate marriage. Miss Broocke was a young lady of rare qualities and possessed many of the traits of character that fitted her so admirably as the companion of him to whom she was to give the energy of her life. And to her strength of mind and good judgment, Mr. Cauthorn is largely indebted for his success in life, a success, though not counted in dollars and cents, that brought him a good name, a happy family, and in his advancing years peaceful surroundings. After his marriage he settled down to business and was engaged in mercantile pursuits until the year 1840, when he left the home of his childhood, moving West with his wife and three children, William, James and Benjamin, reaching Mexico, Audrain county, Missouri, in the autumn of 1840. Here he settled with the determination of making it his future home. Mr. Cauthorn by trade is a tailor. On locating in Mexico, therefore, he opened up a shop and continued his trade until the gold excitement in 1849, when, in the spring of that year, with many others, he went to California, remaining there until the winter of 1850, when he again returned to Mexico. It has been said of Mr. Cauthorn, that, during his trip to California, which was overland, every night, in camp, he Would call his traveling companions about the camp fire and lead in prayer before retiring for the night ; and that he was held in such high esteem, even by the most wicked of the com¬ pany, that his devotions were always recognized with reverence and respect. And those who knew him at home and during his stay in the El Dorado of '49, have often brought up his godly life in compari¬ son with others, accompanying it with the declaration that, " they believed that Mr. Cauthorn was the only man who went to California in 1849, with his religion, and brought it back." He was the same devout and pious Christian amidst the rough and wild scenes of minelife as when at his hearth-stone surrounded by his happy family. On returning from California, Mr. Cauthorn came back to New Orleans by ocean steamer. An incident which occurred during the voyage, illustrating the character of the man, was related to the writer by a friend of his who returned on the same vessel, and who lived in the same county (Audrain). He was a young physician, and though raised with religious reverence, was not a religious man, and had been quite wild while in California. In giving an account of the scene, he said: " A storm came upon us after we had gotten to sea and the vessel was not considered perfectly safe. As the vessel was tossed upon the billows and rocked to and fro in a frightful manner, the pas¬ sengers generally were thrown into a terrible state of excitement, many of those stricken with terror prayed and pleaded with the stronger ones to save them, and in wild and delirious confusion ran about the cabin not knowing what to do. Amid all this excitement I discovered Mr. Cauthorn seated on the floor, near the side of the cabin, perfectly com¬ posed, singing that old familiar hymn, ' How Firm a Foundation,' etc. When I had sufficiently recovered from the excitement, his composure attracted my attention, and as I listened and became calmer I heard the words of the old hymn as he quietly and reverently sang (he had just reached the words) :

" As these words fell from his lips I almost unconsciously crept to his side, and there, during the remainder of the storm, I sat in com parati ve co m pos u re . "

On returning to Mexico, in 1850, Mr. Cauthorn entered into the mercantile business, and for fifteen years he was one of the leading merchants of his day, having the confidence of all who knew him, and only retiring on account of disastrous financial consequences brought on, at the close of the war in 1865, by the shrinkage of values of real estate of which he was a large owner. In the fall of 1864 he closed his business life in Mexico, and in the spring of 1865 sought new fields in the far West. With his family, consisting of wife and children, he moved West and reaching Corvallis, Oregon, in September of that year, there located, where he has ever since re¬ sided, and where he is now engaged in his old occupation of merchant.

After settling in Oregon, with his family located around him, and eighteen years of peaceful life had been given them in the far West, death came, and on the 28th day of February, 1883, took from his side the companion of his declining years. For nearly a half century they had walked life's pathway together. It was a sad moment, therefore, when death visited his home and his wife was taken. It was but the second death in his family since his children had grown to majority, and but the fourth since his marriage. It came, there¬ fore, with greater force to one who had not been inured to the loss of friends, and at a time of life when the companionship of man and wife is of greater need, if possible, than at any other period of life. Yet the bright hope which gives promise of the future cheered him in the home of his affliction, for he knew a noble Christian woman had passed away, but to live in the future of an eternal life.

They had eleven children born to them and they had seen all but two grown to manhood and womanhood and well fixed in the affairs of life, honored and respected by all who knew them, and doing well both in the business and professional pursuits. It is exceedingly gratifying, therefore, to Mr. Cauthorn to look upon his children and know that the fruits of a pure parentage and the example of an almost faultless life have had their reward. Two children died in infancy and another, Carter B., an unusually intelligent young man, was killed during the war. William L., James A., Wilbur F., Fannie E. (Mrs. A. Pardy), Thomas E., Emma (Mrs. H. Finley), and Frank all reside in Oregon. Benjamin R. still lives in Audrain county, Mis¬ souri, and is one of the popular and leading men of his county. He was deputy sheriff and collector of Audrain county during the years 1871 and 1872, and was elected Collector of Revenue of the county for the years 1873 and 1874, and having filled that office with such universal satisfaction, he was again elected for the years 1875 and 1876. At present he is one of the officers of the First National Bank of Mexico, Missouri, and has the confidence of business men everywhere. Thomas Elliot, next to the youngest son, is now a Senator, from his district, in the Oregon Senate, having been elected in 1882 for four years. ,

Mr. Cauthorn, though having decided political opinions, is not a politician, and, therefore, has never sought office, yet he was elected during his residence in Audrain county, constable, justice of the peace and county assessor, and also councilman of the city of Mexico.

It was in the business and social walks of life that his influence was felt and his worth appreciated, during his long residence in Missouri, and now in his new home it is gratifying to know that he yet carries that influence with him. He has been from his childhood a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church, South, and for the twenty-five years he lived in Mexico his home was always a welcome place for the minister. Faithful to his God and constant in his religious duties, his influence has ever been on the side of right. He has always been a man of deep piety with strong religious convictions, yet his religion is not of the gloomy kind. He enjoys innocent amusements, has a streak of humor running through his nature, and is void of that severe austerity too often possessed by the religiously pious. The young as well as the aged enjoy his company, and his children always meet him with that reverence and filial love, interminojed with freedom from restraint, that gives to home its pleasant associations. From such a home the children do not " fly like birds from the nest, and foiget their cradle and their parents ; but loving memories cluster around it, strong cords of affection hold the spirit ; those who go out revisit it often in dream and fancy, and whenever it is possible their pilgrim feet return to this Mecca of the heart." Such a home was that of Alfred and Frances Cauthorn. Mr. Alfred Cauthorn had three brothers and one sister, as follows : -

Allen Cauthorn was born in Essex county, Va., February 14, 1800. He was married to Miss Elizabeth Harmond, daughter of John Harmond, of Essex county, and moved to Audrain county, Missouri, in

Carter Cauthorn was born in Essex county, Va., in 1802. He was twice married; his first wife was a Miss Eliza Hudson, of Culpeper county, Va., who died soon after her marriage. His second wife was Miss Eliza A. Colvin, daughter of James Colvin, of Culpeper county, Va. . They were married in 1830 and moved to Audrain county, Mis¬ souri, in 1835. Mrs. Cauthorn died in 1882. By the second marriage they reared a large family, mostly sons, who are numbered with Audrain's best citizens. Their second son, W. A. Cauthorn, honor¬ ably fills the position of Professor of Mathematics in the Missouri State University.

James Cauthorn was born in Essex county, Va., March 6, 1813. He was married to Miss Frances L. Colvin, daughter of James Colvin, of Culpeper county, January 5, 1837. He came to Missouri in 1836.

Frances E. Cauthorn was born in Essex county, Va., November 25, 1821, and was married to William N. Garrett, of King and Queen county, Va., December 2, 1841. Mrs. Garrett removed to Audrain county, Missouri, in 1855.

James Clacher

of Clacher & Ruloff, dealers in hardware, stoves, tin-ware and cutlery ; the leading manufacturers of farm and spring wagons, carriages and buggies, threshing and harvesting machinery, and all other implements used on a farm ; also manufacturers of tin and copper waie, etc., etc., Mexico. Connected with their business (and their establishment is one of the prominent houses in this line in Mexico), is a tin-shop department, which Mr. Clacher as a part of his duties in the firm superintends. He, himself, is a practical tinner, and has worked at the trade from early manhood. He is, perhaps, one of the most thorough and experienced tinners and hardware men in the county. Mr. Clacher is amative of Scotland, born in Glasgow, June 15, 1844. His father, William Clacher, was a confectioner by trade, and followed that with success for many years. Mr. Clacher' s mother was a Miss Sarah Weirn. In 1869 the family immigrated to America, and settled at Patterson, New Jersey. There James, the subject of this sketch, who had learned the tinner's trade at Glasgow, in his native country, worked at his trade for a short time, and then came to Missouri, stopping first at St. Louis, and subsequently coming on to Mexico. Here he worked with Blivin & Dutcher for about six years, and in 1876 he engaged in business for himself. A short time afterwards, and during the same year, Mr. Rulotf became his partner, and they have since continued the business together. In Mr. Ruloff 's sketch we have spoken of the prominence to which their house has attained among the business establishments of Mexico, and it is, there¬ fore, hardly necessary to add here that they have built up one of the most successful houses in their line in the city. They are both men of character and industry, who have made what they have by their own energy and intelligence, and having come up gradually in the world, it goes without saying that their business will continue to prove, as it has done heretofore, one of the influential factors in the mer¬ cantile prosperity of Mexico. They keep the best classes of goods and sell them at prices which give them nothing to fear from compe¬ tition. They so deal with their customers that their patrons can never complain of unfair treatment either in the quality of goods or prices charged, and they cannot, therefore, help increasing their trade as the country develops and custom multiplies. On the 27th of Febru¬ ary, 1863, Mr. Clacher was married to Miss Hannah D. McCrindee, originally of Scotland. They have nine children: Margaret, Sarah, Hannah, James, Jane, David, Mary, William, and Jacob. Mr. C. is a member of Mexico Lodge, No. 26, A. F. and A. M.

Judge John P. Clark

real estate and loan agent, Mexico. Judge Clark, for over forty years an honored citizen of Audrain county and long identified with the public affairs of this county, is a native of the Old Dominion. He was born in Orange county on the 19th of December, 1819. The follow¬ ing year his parents, Henry J. Clark and Mary L. (Mansfield) Clark, removed to Kentucky and settled in Christian county, near Hopkins- ville, where they lived for about sixteen years, and where John P. was therefore principally reared. They then removed to Illinois and located in McLean county. The father was a farmer by occupation, and followed that until his death. Young Clark's youth was spent on the farm in Christian county, Kentucky, and as his father was not able to send him off to school his advantages for an education were very limited, for m Kentucky at that early day, or at least in the part of it where he lived, neighborhood schools were by no means kept open regularly, and the few there were were of a very indifferent character. But possessed of a marked natural taste for study, and ambitious to raise himself in life above the position which circum¬ stances seemed to indicate that he was destined to occupy, he improved all his leisure to good advantage with books, and thus, by his own efforts and without an instructor, succeeded in acquiring, as he grew up, an education far above the average among the young men around him. This habit of study he kept up after the family removed to Illi¬ nois, and he soon became well qualified for the ordinary business affairs of life, and, indeed, for teaching. In Illinois he assisted on the farm until he was in a situation to engage in business, for he had early formed a purpose to devote himself to business life. His first business experience was at Washington, in Tazewell county, where his parents resided. He then went to Bloomington, of that State, where he con¬ tinued until 1843. Young Clark, having learned something of the character of the country of North-east Missouri, decided to cast his fortunes with this State, and accordingly came from Bloomington to Mexico, the latter then being a small frontier place of only a few houses. Audrain county, at that time, was of course very sparsely set¬ tled, its broad prairies being almost as devoid of the habitation of white men as the bosom of sailless seas. The early settlers who came to this county were generally people of intelligence, and with a proper appre¬ ciation of the importance of education. Accordingly, when young Clark came to Mexico there was a demand on the part of those in and around this place for a capable teacher to open a school. He was young and qualified, and at the time had nothing else on hand, so that he complied with the wishes expressed to him by so many of the citi¬ zens of this vicinity and opened a school here, which he carried on with efficiency and success for a number of years. A student himself, he was an enthusiast almost of education, and worked with great zeal for the advancement of those under his instruction. He established a wide and enviable reputation as a teacher, and his school was known as one of the best at that time throughout a large section of the sur- rounding country. A young man of unblemished character and of an agreeable, pleasant address, he at once became very popular, and in the spring of 1844 was elected by a highly complimentary vote to the responsible office of circuit clerk and recorder of deeds, for the duties of these positions were then discharged by a single officer. Nor even then did they occupy all his time, for he was able to keep the business of his office up in good order and to carry on his school besides. He was elected for six years, holding the office by re-election for six more, until 1850. In the meantime he had retired from his school, and had become interested in merchandising at this place. In 1856 Mr. Clark was elected a judge of the county court. This was for a term of four years. Following this, and until the war was well on the way, Judge Clark was mainly occupied with business interests. During the pro¬ gress of the war the circuit clerk resigned, and Judge Clark was appointed by Judge Gilchrist Porter to fill the unexpired term, and was elected to this position for a period of four years. Since then he has been engaged in business at Mexico, and also conducting a farm in the suburbs of this citv, where he resides. Judo;e Clark established his present business immediately after retiring from the office of county clerk. It is needless to say, being known in Mexico and Au¬ drain counties as he is, that he commands an excellent business. Conversant with real estate values and transactions and all their minutiae, he is at once one of the safest and best agents in the real estate business, and one of the most accurate and correct judges of land and other real property, in Audrain county. In the loan agent line, Judge Clark does a large business, and places his loans to the best advantage for the lender, and so as to be not unduly burdensome to the borrower. Judge Clark was married soon after comins to Audrain county. Miss Mary L. Muldrow, of this county, but formerly of Kentucky, became his wife on the 80th of December, 1846. This has proved a long and happy union, and has been blessed with a worthy family of children. Those living are: George H., Mary B., John M. and Eddie W. The judge and his good wife have long been members of the Christian Church. In a property point of view, Judge Clark's life has been one of satisfactory success, although the acquisition of wealth has been by no means -his controlling ambi¬ tion. Comfortably situated with a good home, and blessed in advanc¬ ing old age with a well preserved physical and mental constitution, his situation in the Indian summer of life is one of great satisfaction and good fortune. But notwithstanding he is in a position to rest from active labor, such are his spirit and resolution, and such his desire to make his old age of value to the county where he has lived so long, that he is still as busily engaged at work almost as he was when a young man. Remembering with gratitude what the people of Audrain county have done for him, how they have never failed when appealed to to honor him with the most eloquent testimonials of con¬ fidence and esteem a people can give - their suffrages for high and responsible positions of public trust, he is striving to repay them to the utmost of his ability by attracting to the county the best class of immigration, thus contributing in the most effectual way to the devel¬ opment of its material resources and to its growth and prosperity. This work and his expressions of gratitude are all he can give, but these are given in a spirit that indicates the true nobility of his heart. No man in the county has done more in past years or is doing more now for the advancement of its best interests ; and it was largely with this object in view, for he is not compelled to work now, that he en¬ gaged in the real estate business, considering this, as he did, the best means of accomplishing that end. Above all, a longlife of upright¬ ness and unsullied integrity, as well as of usefulness to those among whom he has lived, has brought him the respect and confidence, and the veneration of the whole community and the county where his name has stood out for over forty years as a synonym for honorable citizenship.

Col. Green Clay

who for several years has been a prominent citizen of Audrain county, comes of the distinguished family of Kentucky whose name he bears, and of which his father, Brutus J. Clay, his uncle, Cassius M. Clay, and his grandfather, Gen. Green Clay, are honored representatives. The history of this family is so well known to every one, even to those of only general newspaper information, that it would seem su¬ pererogation to more than name the fact here of Col. Clay's family connection. His father was for many years one of the most promi¬ nent men in Kentucky, both in public life and agricultural affairs. He was very wealthy, and a man of commanding ability, and filled various positions of distinction, both in the service of the Govern¬ ment and the State. Brutus J. Clay, the father, was born in Madi¬ son county, Kentucky, July 1, 1808, and received a liberal education at Danville College, subsequently becoming a leading farmer and stock raiser of Bourbon county. He married Miss Amelia Field, an accomplished daughter of the well known E. H. Field, of Richmond, Virginia, of which union Col. Green Clay, the subject of this sketch, was born February 11, 1839. The same year of the son's birth the father was elected a member of the House of Representatives of Kentucky from Bourbon county. He afterwards represented that county in the Legislature, and was also President of the Bourbon County Agricultural Society, and for four years, from 1853 to 1857, President of the State Agricultural Society. In 1862 he was elected a member of Congress from his district, and served with distinction until March 3, 1865. Subsequently he devoted himself to agricul¬ tural pursuits alone, and occupies the position in the history of Ken¬ tucky of one of its most eminent agriculturalists and distinguished citizens. The name of his brother, Cassius M. Clay, is as familiar all over the country as a household word, and to give even an outline of his career would occupy more space than the nature of this sketch would justify. Col. Green Clay was reared at his father's countryseat, in Bourbon county, and after availing himself of the advantages of the schools and colleges of Kentucky, he became a matriculate at Yale C.ollege, in which he continued as a student until his graduation in the class of '59. Like his father, Col. Clay has devoted himself mainly to agricultural pursuits, although, like the former, he has also had considerable experience in public life. He has served as Secre¬ tary of Legation from this country at the Court of St. Petersburg, and also at Florence, Italy. After the war, Col. Clay became largely interested in cotton planting in the South, and he still owns and con¬ ducts an extensive plantation in Mississippi. He was also for a num¬ ber of years a member of the Mississippi Legislature, and has held the position of President of the Board of Mississippi Levee Commis¬ sioners. Col. Clay came to Audrain county in 1873, and has been identified with this county in property interests ever since that time. He has been a permanent resident of the county, however, only since 1880. In 1871 he was married to Miss Jane Rhodes, a daughter of Hon. Rufus N. Rhodes, of New Orleans, a leading lawyer of that city. Mrs. Clay, a lady of strong character and an amiable disposi¬ tion, was reared in affluence and in the best society of New Orleans, and had every advantage for mental culture which ample means and parental affection could bestow. She is a lady of rare accomplish¬ ments, and of most charming manners and conversation. Col. and Mrs. Clay have three interesting children: Green, Jr., Rhodes and

Cassius M. Those who know the Clay family - and who does not? - need not be told the character of man Col. Clay is. Even to speak of one's just claims to consideration is not always in taste, and per¬ haps hardly so in a biographical sketch of the living, especially when the subject, as in the present instance, is more than ordinarily sensi¬ tive in this regard. Suffice it, therefore, to say, that Col. Clay is in every sense a worthy representative of the distinguished family of which he comes.

Talton D. Coates

of James & Coates, proprietors of livery, feed and sale stables, Mex¬ ico. Mr. Coates, although a native Missourian, has had quite an ex¬ tensive and not uninteresting experience in the Rocky Mountains, for he participated in some adventures in that far-off region worth relat¬ ing. He was twenty years of age in the spring of 1875 when he went to the Far-West. He spent eight years out there and was main!}7 oc¬ cupied with freighting, but he also took part in the Sioux war. He participated in several engagements fought with the Sioux. Though not present at the time of Gen. Custer's massacre, he Avas on the scene of the outrage a short time afterwards. The body of the Gen¬ eral Avas not disturbed bv the Indians after his death, it beino- a superstition Avith them that if they mutilated the body of a brave man killed in a light, they will be haunted by the " Good Spirit." He as¬ sisted in carrying off the Avounded from several bloody fields, hauling them in heavy wagons drawn by six or eight yoke of cattle, and re¬ members Avith Avbat horror he heard their screams and moans as the Avagons jolted along the rough roads up and doAvn the sides of almost impassable mountains. His experience in the Sioux war Avas such that he will never forget it ; and he relates many incidents of the most thrilling character, Avhich Avould contribute very materially to the facts and interest of the history of that terrible campaign. Mr. Coates freighted for Gen. Miles for about two years, and aside from this and his other freighting business, he Avas engaged in runnino- a large horse ranche the balance of the time, except Avhile engaged in the Sioux war. He made some money Avhile out West and returned to Missouri in 1883, Avhereupon, during the fall of that year, he engaged in his present business with his partner, Mr. James. They have an excellent livery stable, and keep constantly on hand a good supply of first-class buggies and other vehicles in their line, and also a large number of good driving and riding horses. Their building is 60x120, and accommodates forty horses with a proportionate stock of buggies,

-etc. Besides the general livery business, they deal in horses and mules to a considerable extent, and have been very successful in the different lines of their business. Their stable is quite popular with the public and commands a fine custom. Both are gentlemen of char¬ acter and business energy, and carry on their stables with enterprise, and keep everything up to the latest mark in their line. They have several of the best buggy teams in the city, and these are much sought after by those who fancy a regular " fly drive." Mr. Coates was born in Randolph county, near Moberly, April 1, 1855, and received his education in the common schools, supplemented by a term or two at college. His parents are John and Amanda (Smith) Coates, both originally of Virginia. His mother was a daughter of the well known Joel Smith, of the Old Dominion.

Rufus Littleton Coldwell

farmer and stock raiser. Mr. Coldwell is one of those industrious, intelligent men, who, having the energy and enterprise to succeed in life, establish themselves comfortably, it matters not what their early opportunities may have been. He commenced at the black¬ smith's trade and had nothing to begin life on but his own muscle and brain. Now, not yet more than a middle-aged man, he has a fine farm of his own of some 300 acres, which he has comfortably im¬ proved and well stocked. Such is the result of the noonday years of life well spent. Mr. Coldwell is a native of the old North State, born in Lincoln ( now Catawba) county, November 6,1828. His father being a blacksmith by trade, the son was brought up to that occupa¬ tion. In 1853, then twenty-five years of age and unmarried, he came to Missouri with his brother-in-law, Monroe Hoover and family, and located in Audrain county, where John Hoover, his brother-in-law's brother, had preceded them. Here young Coldwell bought land north of Mexico and improved a farm, and in 1855 he was married to Miss Martha A. Dungan, a daughter of Elijah Dungan, previously of this county, who died during the gold excitement, in California. He was originally from Kentucky, where Mrs. Coldwell was born December 20, 1832. Her mother was formerly a Miss Lucinda Reed, who died about seven years ago. After his marriage Mr. Coldwell settled on the old Dungan homestead, where he has since resided, but which then contained only about eighty acres and was but partially improved. To this Mr. Coldwell has added subsequently by his own industry and good management until now it is one of the choice farms of the town- ship. Mr. Coldvvell is now making a specialty of raising and handling mules in which he is meeting with excellent success. He was formerly engaged in the cattle business, and in raising and shipping hogs to a con¬ siderable extent, and he still does something in these lines. Mr. and and Mrs. Coldwell have nine children ; Rebecca J., Sarah E., Mary S., James W., Collison L., Fannie E., Alice A., Lilu, Emily and Birdie, all of whom are at home. Two are deceased, the second and seventh children, Andrew A. and John R. Mr. and Mrs. Coldwell are members of the Presbyterian Church.

John S. Crawford

retired farmer and stock raiser, Mexico. The Crawford family is one of the old and highly respected families of Virginia. Its founder in this country came to the colony of Virginia prior to the Revolution¬ ary War, and branches of the family have since settled in various other States, including Georgia, Tennessee, Kentucky, Missouri and half a dozen others. Of the Georgia branch of the family Hon. William H. Crawford was the founder and its most distinguished rep¬ resentative. He was U. S. Senator for many years from Georgia, was a minister from this country to France, was Secretary of War and Secretary of the Treasury, was one of the most distinguished lawyers and jurists of the country, and was the Democratic candi¬ date for President in 1825, when the election was thrown into the House of Representatives and John Q. Adams was elected. He was born in Amherst county, Virginia, February 24, 1772, and died at Elberton, Georgia, September 15, 1834. Others of the family in different States have become onlv less distinguished. John S. Crawford, the subject of this sketch, was born in Augusta county, Vir¬ ginia, March 31, 1834. He was a son of James E. Crawford, of Virginia, who was a nephew to Hon. William H. Crawford. The Crawfords being one of the better families of Virginia, James E., like the others, had good advantages for an education, and although schooling was not then so general as it is now, nor carried to so high a point of advancement, he received more than an average general education. In early manhood he was married to Miss Eleanor Welsh, of another well-to-do and respected family of Virginia. In 1839 he came to Missouri with his family and located in Monroe county, where he became a successful farmer and influential citizen. Havino* no taste for public life, he lived quietly at home on his farm, and devoted himself to his duties there and to his family ; and as a private citizen he was upright and faithful in every relation of life. He died in that county at a ripe old age, and amid the sorrow of all who had ever known him, for he was in the truest and best sense of the words a true and good man. John S. Crawford was five years of age when his parents came to Missouri, and was therefore principally reared in Monroe county. The circumstances of one's early life almost inva¬ riably control his choice of a calling; and brought up on the farm, and in a farming community, young Crawford very naturally looked to the pursuit of agriculture as his mission in life. Inheriting the strong character and intelligence that has ever marked his ancestry, and being a man of great energy and of the most industrious, stirring habits, he of course became a successful farmer. Engaging in farming for himself on reaching; manhood, he continued it in Monroe county for many years, and soon combined stock raising with general farming. As a stock raiser and dealer Mr. Crawford took a promi¬ nent position among the more progressive and enterprising men of his county. In 1882 Mr. Crawford sold his farm and other property in the country and removed to Mexico, where he has since been inter¬ ested in banking, that is, he is a prominent stockholder and director town, and is situated on a beautiful plot of thirteen acres of land, handsomely improved. This place is one of the most desirable pieces of residence property in Mexico, 'and is supplied with every comfort and convenience to make home attractive and pleasant. The residence building is a handsome two-story brick, surmounted with a fine observatory, and otherwise constructed on the most approved plans of modern dwellings, including bay windows, alcoves, etc., etc. The yard surrounding it is one of singular beauty and attractiveness, being large and covered with velvety and tastily kept blue grass, and ornamented with shrubbery, exotic and indigenous, and of the rarest and most beautiful varieties. The out-buildings, including barns, etc., etc., harmonize with the general tout ensemble of the place. Mr. Crawford was married nearly twenty years ago, when Miss Mary A. Smiley became his wife. This was on the 9th of February, 1865. They have no children of their own, but have an adopted son, Arthur T. Crawford. Mr. Crawford lost considerably by the war, but his estate was not seriously embarrassed. He and wife are members of the Presbyterian Church.

John T. Crews

This is known as the Arnold farm and is situated about three miles south¬ west of Mexico. It contains 130 acres of fine land and is neatly and sub¬ stantially improved. Mr. Crews was born near Concord in Callaway county, January 11, 1848. His parents were Thomas P. and Miranda (Redikin)Crews, of that county, old and respected citizens of the north¬ ern part of the county. Mr. Crews was brought up on the farm near Concord and remained with his parents until a few years before his marriage. He was married on the 30th of October, 1878, across in Montgomery county. His wife's maiden name was Miss Rebecca Gammon. She was born in that county April 21, 1851. Mr. and Mrs. Crews have one child and have lost three, all the latter dying in in¬ fancy. The other, John S., was born December 21, 1882. Mr. Crews settled on a farm near Concord after his marriage, and remained there engaged in farming with good success until his removal to this county in the spring of 1881. Mrs. Crews is a member of the Baptist church. Mr. Crews is an energetic farmer and is one of the worthy and valuable citizens of Audrain county.

J. Newton Cross

Editor of the Mexico Press. Mr. Cross, who occupies an enviable position among the journalists of North-east Missouri, and is one of the highly respected and influential citizens of Mexico, is a native Mis¬ sourian, born in Howard county, December 20, 1850. His parents are William B. and Mary J. (Shores) Cross, old and respected residents of Randolph county. They removed to that county in 1852, and the father has been very successful as a farmer and stock raiser. J. New¬ ton Cross was reared in Randolph county and spent his youth on the farm, alternated between farm work and attending the neighborhood schools. Later along, however, he attended college both at College Mound and at Huntsville. Subsequent to this, he engaged in teach¬ ing and was occupied with the duties of the school-room for ten years. He also was interested in farming and continued school teachi ns: and farming up to something near two years ago. In the fall of 1882 Mr. Cross became identified with the Press of this city, with which he has since been connected. A man of advanced general education and large experience in the affairs of the world, and well informed in public and other matters, he was well qualified for the duties of an editor when he began his journalistic career. Practice in writing has made him ready with the pen, and he lias come to be one of the pun¬ gent, forcible writers of this section of the State. Mr. Cross conducts the Press with dignity and more than ordinary ability, and under his management it has attained to a high rank among the interior journals of the State. It is newsy and full of life, and quite up to the times as a newspaper, while in the discussion of questions of importance in its editorial columns, its views are sober and well considered, and it never fails to make an impression on public opinion in the county, and wherever it circulates. On the 12th of April, 1876, Mr.s Cross was married to Miss Olivia M. Harris, a daughter of Thomas B. Harris of Howard county. Two children are the fruits of this union : Lula H. and Annie H. Mr. and Mrs. Cross are highly esteemed as members of societv in Mexico and otherwise.

Lewis B. Cudworth

nurseryman and florist, Mexico. The Cudworth family is one of the oldest in the history of this country, and has been settled in Massa¬ chusetts for over two centuries and a half. Lewis B., the subject of this sketch, is a lineal descendant of Gen. James Cudworth, who came from England to Massachusetts in 1632, less than twelve years after the landing of the Pilgrim Fathers. Lewis B. Cudworth was born at Assonett, in Bristol county, Massachusetts, March 20, 1834. He had both a common school course and academic instruction. While still young he learned the carpenter's trade and also that of car builder. He followed these until his removal West, in 1858, when he came to Missouri and settled in Audrain county. A true son of Massachusetts, during the election of 1860 he cast his vote in pro-slavery Missouri for Abraham Lincoln, and his was the only vote cast at that election for the first Republican President of the United States in Audrain county. Up to 1870 Mr. Cudworth followed farm¬ ing in Audrain county, and was satisfactorily successful. He then came to Mexico and started his present nursery, and also has an apiary, making a specialty of the honey industry. He has an excel¬ lent nursery and does a substantial business in that line. Mr. Cud¬ worth also continued to work some at carpentering and is known as a competent and reliable mechanic. In May, 1856, Mr. Cudworth was married to Miss Catherine M. Barrett, originally of Philadelphia. They have four children: George L., Fannie T., Josie C. and Hattie M. Mr. Cudworth is a member of the Masonic order and also of the Sons of Temperance. His father, Luther Cudworth, was a captain on the sea and spent most of his life on shipboard. His mother, whose maiden name was Miss Batsey B. Phillips, was of an old Massachusetts family. Mr. Cudworth is a man of fine intelli¬ gence, great industry and upright character, and his residence in Audrain county for over twenty-five years has been such that he com¬ mands the respect and esteem of all who know him. In a word, he is a worthy representative of the ancient and respected old Massa¬ chusetts family of which he comes.