Daviess County, Missouri - Biographical sketches (3 of 3 so headed), 1882

Biographical sketches

Was born in Kentucky, November 30, 1819, and was one of a family of nine, six boys and three girls. His father was a Virginian by birth, served as a soldier in the War of 1812, and died at the advanced age of seventytwo years; his grandfather was a soldier in the Revolutionary War and was swounded at the battle of Brandywine; his mother was a native of Kentucky and died at the age of forty-six. Mr. Alexander was united in the marriage bonds to Miss Mary V. Reid, on the 5th of June, 1845, and the same year removed to Daviess county, Missouri, and located upon his present farm, where he has since been engaged in his chosen pursuit, agriculture. His farm is situated in the southwestern part of Jefferson township and eonsists of 118 acres of fertile land. Mr. and Mrs. Alexander beeame the parents of five children; named as follows: Ann M., born February 28, 1846; Mary E., born July 16, 1847; Martha J., born December 28, 1848; James D., born October 4, 1850; and Sarah E., born March 27, 1852. Mrs. Alexander died March 3, 1853. Mr. Alexander was united in marriage to Miss Eliza Reed, on the 3d of June, 1853. By this union three children were born; namely, Naney M., May 29, 1554; Daniel Tv. September 1, 1856; and John William, Mareh 7, 1561.

On the 19th of April, 1875, Mr. Alexander made a visit to the lomes of his brothers in California and Oregon, and while on his tour, which lasted until October 20th of the same year, he gathered a large collection of natural curiosities, consisting of fossils, quartz, erystals, ores, stalactites, stalagmites and shells. Many of these specimens are of wonderful formation and rare beauty. Besides this collection he is the possessor of a nuniber ol curious relies, among which may be mentioned a gourd which was used by his grandfather as a powder-flask during the Revolutionary War; several unique canes, upon the outer surface of whieh are carved varieties of birda, fishes and serpents; a laurel leaf from a shrub planted by Washington; a lump of salt from the Great Salt Lake, Utah; and a small stone from the summit of Mount Sherman, the highest telegraph station in the world. These form an interesting cabinet of eurivsities ot which Mr. Alexander

Rev. J. W. Black

' . OE Paes a 2 bas ro (sea His father was a native of Virginia, and migrated to Boone county when a young man, and was there united in marriage to Miss Ann, daughter of

Andrew Hannah, who was from Kentucky. In 1849, with his wife and family of six sons and three daughters, he removed to Daviess county, and settled in Jefferson township, one and one-half miles south of Victoria. The good mother died November 29, 1851, but the children all survive.

The subject of this sketch having received all the advantages of a good education, when eighteen years of age began school teaching, receiving tor his services the sum of $20 per month. Mr. Black acquired a proticieney in his profession and was esteemed among the best of the early educators in the county. In 1860, on the fourth Saturday in March, Mr. Black was. licensed to preach by the New Salem Baptist Church, and has continued in the ministry of that church ever since, having been regularly ordained on the fourth Sunday in December, 1877. He served one year as a missionary in the Gentry Association. He is deservedly held in high esteem, not only by the members of his flock, but by all who know him.

Mr. Black and Miss Tabitha Sappington were united in marriage on the 18th of September, 1853, and the Rev. D. Doyle, an early pioneer preacher of the Baptist denomination, who was said to have preached the first sermon in the State, ofliciated. This marriage, which las proven a happy one, has been blessed with five children, whose names and dates of birth are as tollows: Elizabeth A., born February 2, 1855; Lon Eva M., born February 8, 1857; Benjamin F., born July 7, 1859; Minerva F., born November 25, 1861; and Minnie C., born May 27, 1864. Mr. Black resides at Victoria, where he owns a pleasant home. His third daughter, Miss Minerva, is a teacher in the public school at Winston, and her brother, Benjamin F., is a clerk in a store at the same place.

Elisha Frost

The snbject of this sketeh was born in Grayson county, Virginia, December 26, 1812, and was there reared and received his education. His parents were natives of the same State, and both died there, On the 14th of Angust, 1841, Mr. Frost and Miss Elizabeth Brown were joined in marriage, the Rev. William Carico, of the Methodist Church, performing the ceremony. By this union they have nine children; namely, James H., born February 5, 1843; George H., born November 12, 1844; John W., born October 30, 1846; Nancy E., born June 5, 1848; William C., born September 24, 1850; Elisha L., born August 6, 1852; Ezekiel F., born July 4, 18545 Thomas L., born December 6, 1856; and Charles D., born June 3, 1860. Mrs, Frost died July 21, 1864, and was buried in the cemetery of the Union Church. On March 20th, 1871, Mr. Frost married Mrs. Rachel L. Black, the Rey. Mr. Horn officiating. They have one child, Lanra May, born May 3, 1872.

Mrs. Black was the widow ot Merriwether G. Black, who was a 'native of Kentucky, born January 26, 1836. She was born in Wayne county, Kentucky, November 26, 1832. They were united in marriage by the Rev. L.

Moore, February 21, 1858. The fruits of this marriage were two children; named, respectively, Thomas U., horn April 9, 1859: and N, Alice. born January 25,1861. Mr. Black was wounded at the battle of Franklin, Tennessee, from which he died December 2s, 1863.

Mr. Frost owns a valuable farm of 300 aeres, 200 geres of which are under cultivation. His place is well watered, having several excellent wells, beside a fine spring: be has also a quarry of sand-stone suituble tor builk ling purposes. His farm is ten miles west of the county seat and about tires: fourths of « mile from the district sehool-house.

M. W. Gamble

Is a native of Indiana and ove of eight children, four sous and four danghters. His father was a native of Pennsylvania and his mother was born in Virginia. They removed from Kentucky to Indiana in 1857 and lived there about twenty years going trom there to Illinois and settling in Logan county, twenty-five miles northeast of Springfield. From there "they went to Keokuk county, Towa, where the mother died, and the father returned to Tlinois where he died,

M. W. Gamble was united in marriage to Miss Elizabeth L. Randolph, of Logan county, Illinois, August 30, 1847, the Rev. James Woodard, of the Methodist church, officiating. Mr. and Mrs. Gamble became the parents of ten children; namely, Mary E., born September 19, 1845, died Ovtober 16, 1876; William W., born November 23, 1549; Randolph, born November 13, 1851, died on the 26th of the same month: Medora A., born December 24, 1852, died January 8, 1853; Columbus J. and Joseph S., twins, born February 3, 1854, died on the 22d and 24d, respectively, of the same month; Sarah A., born October 16, 1855; [Lattie T., born September 20, 1857, died February 9, 1560; Stephen A. D., born August 20, L860; and Elizabeth F., born in October, 1862, died May 4, 1865.

Mr. Gamble came to Jetferson township in the fall of 1866, and in 1867 moved to the farm where he now resides. [lis farm consists of forty acres of good land. He isa carpenter by trale and occasionally works at that business. He is a member of the Baptist Clureh, aud Mrs, G, is a mem ber of Methodist Episcopal Chureh.

Cuarles Harrison

The subject of this sketch was born in Laneaster county, Pennsylvania, February 29,1841. His parents were natives of Germany; his father died in Pennsylvania and his mother in Kentucky. He came to Missouri in 1859, and when the dark cloud of Civil War began to east its baleful rays over the country in 1861, though but eighteen years of age, he enlisted in the canse of the Union, joining Company C, First Regiment Nebr aska Volunteer Intuntry, under Captain Thomas C. Majors, July 8 . 1861. The regi- ment was mustered into service on the 6th of the following August and at once boarded the steamer //esperian for St. Joseph, Missouri, thence by train to Hannibal, and while en route were attacked by the rebel forces under General Clark, but with no effect. From Hannibal the regiment went to St. Louis, thence to Pilot Knob, where they were detailed to guard bridges. They were next sent to Springtield to oppose the forces under General Van Dorn, but on arrival found the enemy routed with considera. ble loss. Moving on to Warsaw they encountered the Confederates under General Rains, who had possession of the town, and in the engagement which ensued the rebels were defeated. The First Nebraska was next detailed to intereept recruits for the Confederates from northwest Missouri, and on the 18th of December, 1861, sueceeded in capturing 1,300 new men on their way to join Price's army, beside 1,000 stand of arms, 600 horses, rations, ammunition, ete. From Georgetown, the scene of this exploit, they joined the forces under General Grant and participated in the capture of Fort Donaldson. On the 7th of April, 1862, Mr. Harrison was wounded and laid in the hospital at Evansville, Indiana, for six weeks, when he was able to join his company at Jackson, Mississippi, but in remembrance of that wound, he still carries the ball, which at times eauses him considerable pain. He participated in the battles of Jackson, Little Rock, Poplar Bluff, and Pine Bluff, after which he contracted a fever which laid him up in the hospital again, and on the 26th of December, the same year, he was discharged and sent home. In June, 18@4, he again enlisted, this time in the Forty-third Missouri Volunteer Infantry, under Col. C. Harding, and was pon detail service as a scout until the close of the war. While still in this service, April 8, 1865, he was detailed to earry the mails between Independence and Pleasant Hill, this State. The reason tor this was the fact that mails in transit between the above named points had been repeatedly robbed, and he was put on duty to see if the criminals could be discovered. In company with four comrades who oceupied seats in the hack, he set out upon his journey, having as a passenger Ex-Governor Crawford, of Kansas. The stage was attacked by four bushwhackers whom they succeeded in putting to flight, leaving one of their number seriously wounded; but the fleeing ones returned to the attack further along on the same road with reinforeements and they were compelled to surrender, and were each robbed of their personal effects, money, clothing, ete. This was his last service during the war.

Mr. Harrison was united in marriage to Miss Eliza J. Walters, June 22, 1865. The issue of this union has been six children, names and births as follows: William IT., born December 20, 1866; Lilly, born May 27, 1867; Anna, born July 7, 1870; Catharine, born April 1, 1872; Melvina, born May 15, 1876; and Stella May, born May 24, 1881. Mrs. Harrison is a member of the Methodist Episcopal Chureh. Mr. Harrison has lived in Daviess county for thirteen years and in Jefferson township for three years,

This gentleman was born in Franklin county, Kentucky, November 25, 4850, and six years later aceompauied his parents in their removal te this 'county, where they settled upon a farm near the spot where the town of Winston is now located. His father was a native of Virginia, and died in this county, February 7, 1879; his mother was born in Kentucky; and is still living. When they came here in 1856, land was then subject to entry at from $1.25 to $1.50 per acre, wild game was plentiful, while wild-cats, wolves, bears, ete., roamed the woods at will.

In 1871, Mr. Hughes went to Dakota and Utah on a prospecting tour, remaining two years, visiting many places of picturesque and romantic interest, among which was the summit of Mt. Uenta, the highest peak in Utah, and also made a trip into Wyoming Territory, returning to Daviess 'county in 1873. While on this tour he and his companion, Joseph J. Smith, had a fearful encounter with three large grizzly bears, in which Smith was badly lacerated betore they sueceeded in putting an end to the fierce inhabitants of the mountains.

Mr. Hughes and Miss Josephine Mallory were joined in marriage by Elder T. S. M. Kenney, on December 29th, 1879. They have two ehildren; namely, Edson W., born September 30, 1880; and Judson J., born October 13,1881. Mr. H. isa member of the Baptist Church, while Mrs. Hughes belongs to the Seventh Day Adventists.

Mr. Hughes has lived in this county twenty-six years, but upon his present farm, which consists of eighty acres of fine land two and a half miles northwest of Winston, only six months.

Iohn Kincaid

Was born in Guernsey county, Ohiv, April 25, 1845, and is ason of Jacob and Elizabeth Kineaid, both natives.of Ohio; the father is now living in Grundy county, this State, but his mother died in Morgan county, Olio. Our subject accompanied his father to Grundy county in 1865, and lived upon the farm there until January 19, 1878, when he was noited " mur. riage to Miss Maria Vandalson, of Mercer county, Tllingis, the Rev. Charles Atherton, officiating. Shortly after his marriage he removed to this county and rented a farm in Jetferson township, and one year later purchased his present farm of eighty acres, whieh he has under a fine state of cultivation. Mr. and Mrs. Kincaid have two children, whose names and dates of birth are here given: Claude, horn November 2, 1878; and Carrie P., born March 7, 1881. They are highly respected citizens of the township.

Wesley Lee

Son of James and Margaret Lee, was born in Holmes county, Ohio, January 1, 1843. Tis father was of French descent, and a native of Virginia; while his mother's ancestors hailed trom Wales, and her birthplace was in Maryland. They came to Ohio in 1815, and settled in Hlolmes county, where they lived, reared a family of fourteen children, and died. James Lee served as a soldier in the War of 1812.

Wesley Lee traveled westward and settled in Daviess county in 1865. Shortly afterward he returned to his native State, and was there united in marriage to Miss Sabina Bouton, of Fulton county, Ohio. They have four children; namely, James G., born July 29, 1868; John T'., boru April 14, 1870; Anna B., born October 2, 1871; and Loren E., born February 23, 1873. Mrs. Lee died on the 19th of April, 1875. August 1,1876, Mr. Lee married Miss Mary E. Evernden, of this county. By this union they have two children: Homer T., born November 12, 1878; and an infant not yet named,

Mr. Lee enlisted in Company A, One Hundred and Second Ohio Infantry, under Captain Huston, August 9, 1862, and was mustered in at Covington, Kentueky, where the regiment was in line of battle for sixteen days, im defense of the city of Cincinnati from the Confederate forces under General Kirby Smith. Te was in active service from this time on, participating in the battles of Pulaski and Athens, and was taken prisoner by General Forest's troops at Athens, Alabama, when hostilities were nearing a close, and was in prison six months, being released after the surrender. He rejoined his regiment at Vicksburg, Mississippi, and three weeks later boarded the steamer Su/tene, bound for Cairo, on his homeward trip. When within eight miles of Cairo, the steamer's boiler bursted and the boat burned to the water's edge, going down amid the mingled shrieks and groans of the brave iow many of whom were literally roasted alive upon her decks. Out of 2,200 soldiers on board, only TOO escaped alive. He received his honorable discharge at Cairo,

Mr. Lee owns a fine farm of 275 acres. Tle has served his township as justice of the peace, and also as a member of the County Conrt. Mr. and Mrs. Lee are members of the Missionary Baptist Chureh.

Joseph H. Mallory

Was born in Grayson county, Virginia, July 11, 1819. His parents were born, reared and died jn the same State. Our subject came to Daviess county, Missouri, in 1841, and settled npon the farm where he now resides. This farm covers 250 acres of good land, 170 of which are under eultivation, but thirty-one years ago when he first staked off his claim, the county was new and ature seemed clothed in robes of primitive beauty, while wild ani- mals roained the unbroken prairies and birds of many kinds flitted from branch to branch in the dusky shadows of the woodland. Then, too, people lived in peace and harmony, and were kind, friendly, generous and ever ready to render assistance when a neighbor or a stranger was in need. Time has rung the changes sinee.

Mr. Mallory was united in marriage to Miss Myra Creckmore, December 17, 1844. Of this union nine children were born, named as follows: Stephen W., born October 23, 1846; Emmet E., horn October 160, 1848; George M., born October 10, 1853; Sophronia J., born May 23, 1856; John I, born April 22, 1858; Rosamond F., born April 26, 1860; Winfield S., born March 18, 1862; Joseph G., born Mareh 16, 1864; and Thomas M., born August 23, 1869. Mrs. Mallory died March 10, 1878. Mr. Mallory remained a widower two years and was then united in marriage to Mrs. Zeviah E, Newton, of Hamilton, Caldwell county, Missouri. Both himself and wife are members of the Church of the Seventh Day Adventists.

The present comfortable residence of Mr. Mallory is the work of his own hands, having been erected in 1860. At that time he was in very poor health, superinduced by the excessive use of tobacco, and he resulved to aban don the habit. Thongh the task was not an easy one he succeeded, and is to-day possessed of excellent health and capable of performing as much work as any min of his age in the eounty. He is among the most valuable and highly respected citizens of Jefferson township.

The subject of this sketeh was born in Malifax, Dauphin county, Pennsylvania, March 5, 1838. His father, George Matchett, wasa native of Ireland, and his mother, Mary Matchett, was born in the Keystone State. At the age of twenty years our subject migrated to Ohio and settled in Muskingum county, where he lived until 1862. In September of that year he enlisted in Company A, Seventy-eighth Reginfent of Ohio Volunteer Infantry, Capt. T. P. Wilson and Col. M. D. Leggett. After a three months' stay in camp near Zanesville, the regiment reported ready tor duty, and were ordered to the front, arriving in time to take part in the *wind-up" of the siege at Fort Donaldson, February 17, 1862. He participated in the battles of Bolivar, Tennessee, Raymond, Champion's Hill, and the siege of Vieksburg, through all of which he passed unscathed. After the siege of Vicksburg he was on detail duty until the close of the war. Returning to Muskingum county, Obio, he continued to reside there until September 6, 1871, when he removed to Missouri and settled in Grundy county. In March, 1876, he removed to Daviess county and settled on the farm where he now lives, consisting of eighty acres of rich, productive, land, in Jefferson township, three-quarters of a mile northeast of Winston. .

by the Rev. J. Q. A. Miller, February 13, 1862. Mrs. Matchett was born near Dunean Falls, Muskingum county, Ohio, May 24, 1843. Ter parents were Jacob K. and Naney H. Hollingsworth. Mr. and Mrs, Matchett are the parents of four children; namely, Laura N., born March 28, 1866; Charles T., born March 14, 1868; Frank L., born March 11, 1870; and Cora R., born June 22, 1871.

Robert 8. Osborn is a native of Boone county, Missouri, and was born October 31, 1826. In April, 1841, he accompanied his parents in their removal to Daviess county, and has lived upon the farm upon which they settled in Jefferson township for forty years. He owns a very desirable tract of land containing 544 acres, upon which he lives and is engaged in farming and stock-raising. His parents, who were natives of Seott county, Kentuaky, are both dead.

Mr. Osborn was joined i in marriage to Miss 'inde Osborn, on the 14th of March, 1850. Their union was blessed with five children; named, respectively, Mary E., born March 11, 1851, died November i 1856; Parmelia E., born January 30, 1856; Richard J., born January 8, 1859; Ruth A., born Febrnary 6, 1863; and Stella L., born May 28, 1866, ie Taasiary 13, '1867. Mrs. Osborn died April 15, 1872, and her remains repose in their last resting place in Victoria Cemetery. On the 2d of February, 1873, Mr. Osborn and Mrs. Agnes Reid were married. They have two children by this union; namely, "Dudley C., born December 9, 1873; and Clay, born September 28, 1879. Mrs. Reid was the mother of five children by her first marriage as follows: Adelbert W., born November 10, 1861; Saran A., born August 31> 1863; Elsie, born June 19, 1865; Oscar B., born September 18, 1869, died June 9, 1872; and Merritt, born June 23,1871. Mrs. Agnes Osborn is a regular descendant of the Randolphs of Vi irginia. Mr. Osborn has a vivid remembrance of the early pioneer days when he ground corn with a handmill and had to go fitteen or twenty miles to a blackerith shop to get a plow sharpened.

John H. Searcy

Ts a native of THinois, and was born November 9, 1844. He was partly educated in his native State and completed his education in Daviess county, this State, to which his parents moved when he was about twelve years old. On arriving at-an age to transact his own business, Mr. Searey began farming and stock-raising, and is still so engaged at this writing, He owns a Sarth of 181 acres of land in Jefferson township, which he has well improved, having one of the finest residences in the township. He is a man of large experience and fine judgment, and his integrity of character is well known in the county. Mr. Searcy was first married, in Daviess county, to Miss changed to Missouri, and for six years he lived near Liberty, in Clay county. From thence he removed to what was then known as the Grand River conntry, Plattsburg then being the chiet town in the distriet, now comprising the counties of Daviess, DeKalb, Harrison, Grundy and Gentry. He went to DeKalb county from Clay, and remained there until he was twenty-one years old,

On the 20th of March, 1844, Mr. Taylor was joined in marriage to Miss Elizabeth Blackburn. The fruits of this union were nine children; namely, Naney Jane, born March 20, 1845; Henrietta, born Jannary 25, 1847; Mary E., born February 17, 1849; David A., born August 24,1851; Martha, born April 2, 1854; William, born June 11, 1856; Benjamin F., born February 21, 1859; Jacob L., born January 12, 1861; and Rebecea E., born July 21, 1563.

Mr. Taylor settled on his present farm in 1847, and there he has resided ever since, He owns 540 acres of fertile land, 400 acres of whieh are under cultivation, and has some two miles of hedge fence upon his farm. Mr. Taylor has traveled extensively in California and Texas, and says that he has never seen a country that can equal the Grand River Valley in the richness and fertility of the soil, or the picturesque beauty of the scenery. He rejoices over the downtall of slavery, and says that its existence was the only thing that retarded the progress of Missouri tor many years, but that now she will become second to no State in the Union. When he first came to Missouri there were no roads, and traveling was done by stakes and "blazes" upon trees, Indians and wild animals made their homes in the stately forests, and the closest horse-mill was forty-five miles away. All is changed now, and he can stand upon his veranda and, looking over bis broad, well-cultiyated fields, see the residences of his children around him, while years ago there was but a dense wilderness.