Grundy County, Missouri - Biographical sketches (2 of 8 so headed), 1881 (part 2 of 3)

Was born in Warren, Trumbull county, Ohio, October 24, 1835. His parents removed to Ashland, Ohio, where they lived until he was ten years old, and then removed to Pendleton, Putnam county, Ohio. His father being a harness-maker, he was brought up to the trade, and began work in his father's shop when he was twelve years old, and worked with him until he was twenty-four. April 24th, 1859, he married Miss H. L. Bagley, of Pendleton, and immediately went to Mill Grove, in Wood county, Ohio, and embarked in the harness business. He remained one year, and then removed his business to Pendleton, where he soon after closed np his shop. At the breaking out of the late war in 1861, he joined the Union army, enlisting in company D, Twenty-first Ohio volunteer infantry, aiid served three years and three months - three months over his term of enlistment. His regiment was in the Fourteenth army corps under generals Rosecrans and Thomas, and took part in the battles of Stone River, Chickamauga, and others too numerous to mention. He was mustered out and discharged at Galesville, Alabama, October 22, 1864, and returned to Pendleton, Ohio, sold out his property there, came to Missouri, and settled at Tltica, Livingston county, where he carried on harness-making in connection with farming until 1869. In that year he went to Chillicothe and continued harness-making until 1873, when he removed to Trenton, and established his present business, dealing in and manufacturing harness and saddles. He is doing an extensive business and employs from six to seven hands. He has four sons, George W. and Nathaniel E. at work in the shop; and Russell H. and John L. One son, Alfred, died in Pendleton, Ohio, in 1861. Mr. and Mrs. Hemley are members of the Baptist Church at Trenton. He is a member of Grand River Lodge, No. 52, L O. O. F., and of Adelphia Lodge No. 38, K. of P.

R. H. Hume

Was born near Richmond, Kentucky, March 6, 1843, where he lived with his parents until he was eighteen years old. At that age he joined the Confederate army, enlisting in company F, Third Tennessee cavalry, and served lirst under Gen. Zollicoffer, and after his death under Gen. Kirby Smith, serving in that army corps some eighteen months; was discharged and returned to his home in Kentucky, where he was soon after taken prisoner by the Union provost-guards, and imprisoned three months. Was released in May, 1865, and soon after enlisted in company F, Third Kentucky cavalry, under Gen. John Morgan, and served until July 19, of the same year, when he, with his corps, was taken prisoner near Buffington Island, Ohio, and was for a short time imprisoned at Camp Morton, at Indianapolis, Indiana, and from there taken to Camp Douglas, Chicago, Illinois, and kept until the close of the war. After his release he returned to Kentucky, and engaged in farming until February, 1866, then went to Arkansas, and was employed as superintendent on a cotton plantation for one year. Subsequently he was employed as a clerk in the store of W. K. Hocker & Co., Lonoke, Arkansas, remained with them one year, and went to Jefferson county, Arkansas, and engaged in raising cotton. The following year he returned to Kentucky, and after a visit of a few months came to Missouri, arriving in Trenton in April, 1869, where he permanently settled the following j'ear, and engaged in the grocery business, which he followed until May, 1881. With his brother he built the first brick business house in Trenton. He has made all his property since coming to Trenton, and is among the substantial men of that enterprising young city. November 8, 1876, he married Miss Irena Stombaugh, of Trenton, by whom he has three children: Ethel Lilian, Maggie Myrtle and Robert Allen, all born in Trenton.

Was born in AVurtembei'g, Germany, May 8, 1840. In 1854 he came to America with his parents, who settled in the Territory of Minnesota, where they still reside and where he lived with them until attaining his majority. He was educated in Germany. He acquired a knowledge of the English language by his intercourse with Americans and by devoting his spare moments to study. His father, desirous that he should be a farmer, gave him no opportunity to learn any other business, and on leaving home, when twenty-one years of age, to seek other employment more congenial to his taste, his father, although well-to-do, gave him no aid. He started for La Crosse, Wisconsin, on foot, with only a small bundle of clothing, his mother accompanying him a short distance to cheer and counsel him. At La Crosse he failed to find the desired employment, that of clerking. Being without money, and happening on the steamboat wharf as the Northern Belle landed he asked the mate if he wished to hire a hand, was answered in the aftirmative and ofiered $20 in gold per month, which he accepted and became a roustabout on the boat and endured the hardest of labor for about two months, when he was accidentally seen by a minister of his acquaintance, a passenger on the boat, who advised him to seek other employment and to stop ofi:" at Red Wing, Minnesota, and he would use his influence to get him a more pleasant situation. He did so, and found employment as a clerk in the store of William Eisenbrand, of Red Wing, with whom^he remained five years, or until 1866. Since leaving his old employer lie|lias seen the rough side of life. lie has failed in business twice, the first the result of inexperience, and the second of mis^ilaced confidence. In January, 1871, after being in business at Lake City, Minnesota, and at Cameron, Missouri, he started a restaurant at Gallatin, Missouri, without a dollar, and continued in that business until 1876, when he had, to some extent, retrieved his losses, and during that year he came to Trenton and en- gaged in the wholesale and retail liquor trade until September, 1881, and has engaged in the wholesale business, exclusively, since. In 1871 lie married Mrs. Minnie Ellis, of Warrensburg, Missouri. He is a Knight of Pythias, a member of Adelphia Lodge No. 38, of Trenton, and has passed all the chairs and is now tilling his second term as chancellor commander. He is also a member of Grand Eiver Lodge No. 52, I. O. O. F., of Trenton.

Thomas Kimlin is of Irish birth and parentage. He was born in Armagh, Ireland, in 1838, and accompanied his parents to the United States when eight years of age. They settled in Poughkeepsie, New York, where he attended the common schools, and in 1859 graduated from the commercial department of Eastman's Business College. In 1860 he began to read medicine privatel}^, continuing for two years, or nntil he removed to Trenton in 1862, when he placed himself nnder the preceptorship of Dr. P. N. Featherston, under whose guidance he remained until admitted as a student in the medical college of the New York University, in 1863. From this institution he received his diploma in 1865, and immediateh'' thereafter was examined by the United States board of army snrgeons, and appointed acting army surgeon and assigned for duty to the fi.eld hospital of the Fifth army corps, at City Point, Virginia, where he served until the close of the war. After his return to Trenton in 1865, he formed a partnership with Dr. W. R. Ben-y, and they practiced together until his removal to Lindley in 1866, where he carried on the drug business in addition to the practice of medicine. Six years later, in 1872, he again located in Trenton, where he has since remained, engaged in the drug business and the practice of his profession. Dr. Kimlin married Miss Lousia F. Turney, daughter of Elder Daniel Turney, of Trenton, on the 5th of October, 1865. They have six children, Henrietta, Cara, Julia, Annie, William and Walter. The family removed to Quincy, Illinois, on the first of May, 1881, that the children might receive the benefits of the excellent educational advantages of that city.

Rev. J. J. Kennedy'

J. J. Kennedy is a native of Ireland, born on the 25th of July, 1846. While an infant, his parents emigrated from the "Emerald Isle" to America, landing at Toronto, Canada, where they remained a short time and then came to the United States. After making several temporary locations the family finally settled at Columbus, Ohio. His parents were members of the Catholic Church and he was reared in that faith, and early evinced a predilection for holy orders. He entered the St. Francis Seminary at Milwaukee, Wisconsin, and began his studies for the priesthood, and from there w'ent to Cape Girardeau, where he became a student in St. Vincent's College, and graduated from the theological department in June, 1870. The same month he was ordained at St. Josepli, Missoiii-i, by the Kiglit Reverenc] Jolin J. Ilogan, bishop of that diocese. His first labor in tlie field in which he was to devote his life, was in a parish composed of the counties of Daviess, Harrison, Grnndy, Mercer, Putnam and Sullivan witii headquarters at Unionville, the count}' seat of Putnam county, where lie formed his first congregation and zealously went to work to erect a church, completing in 1871 the Church of tlie Assumption. In October of the same year he was called by the bishop to temporarily officiate at Chillicothe, where he remained until July, 1873, beloved by his congregation and esteemed by all who knew him. Leaving Chillicothe, he became permanent pastor of the congregation in Trenton, and again gave his attention to the erection of a church edifice, which resulted in the present handsome structure which was dedicated St. Joseph's Catholic Church. Father Kennedy has two other charges, St. John's, near Bancroft, in Daviess county, and St. Mary's, near Akron, in Howard county, both in the country. He is genial, courteous and affable, makes friends wherever he goes, and in Trenton is held in highest esteem by the people in general, and his congregation in particular.

Matthew G. Kennedy was born on a farm in Tuscarawas county, Ohio, September 4, 1845, where he lived and grew to manhood. When twelve years of age he entered the West Bedford Academy, at West Bedford, Ohio, in which institution he was a pupil until 1859, when he returned home and became a clerk in his father's store, remaining four years. In 1863 he accepted a clerkship in the quartermaster's department, at Nashville, Tennessee, where he continued until the summer of 1864. During the winter of 1865 he taught school, and the following spring attended the Holbrook Normal Institute, at Lebanon, Ohio, which he continued to attend alternately with teaching school, until 1867, when he began the study of law in the office of D. W. Stambaugh, at New Philadelphia, Ohio. He remained here until 1869, giving part of his time to his studies and the remainder to school-teaching. During 1869 and 1870 he took a two years' course in the law department of the Michigan State fJniversity, at Ann Arbor. The winter of 1871 he taught school in Madison county, Illinois, and in the spring of the same year came to Trenton and began the practice of law, which he engaged in until August 10, 1880, when he purchased the Grundy County Times, to the publication and editing of which he has since given his attention, and attained a most gratifying success.

John Kiek

Was born in Manchester, England, June 5, 1844. When eleven years old he entered the machine-shops of Picksley, Simms & Co., of Bedford Leigh, Lancashire, England, to learn the machinist's trade, and at the age of four- teen was apprenticed to the same company until twenty- one. He was first employed as a regular machinist in 1865, after serving his apprenticeship, by the London & Northwestern Kailway Company, at St. Helen's Junction, near Liverpool, leaving here in 1868 to take charge of the machinery in the cotton mills of C. Wright & Co., at Tyldesley, England, with whom he remained two years. In 1870 he came to the United States, landing in New York City on the 24th of April, and was at once employed in the machine shops of J. & J. Lmis, on West Street, manufacturers of stationary engines. He was called from there three months afterward to Fall Brook, Pennsylvania, where his family were visiting friends, by the death of his little dano;hter, Mary Alice. He remained there and was employed by the Fall Brook Coal Company to repair engines and do extra running on locomotives nntil January, 1871, when he w^as employed in the machine-shops of Connell, Gleason & Graham, of Rochester, New York, for six months, and in the stationary engine shops of Woodbury & Booth, of the same place, one year. In 1872, on the 10th of June, he came to Trenton to take a place in the round-house of the Chicago, Rock Island & Pacific Railway' Company as a machinist, under R. O. Carscadin, master mechanic, and in 1873 was promoted to the foremanship of the round-house, and in July, 1875, was promoted general foreman of the machine-shops and round-house, and now holds that position. In 1878 and 1879 he was a member of the city council of Trenton. In 1864 he married Miss Sarah Hampson, of Bedford Leigh, England. They have two children, Edwin John and Earl Law, and have lost two, Mary Alice and Frederick.

Francis W. Lowen

Was born on a farm near Monticello, Lewis county, Missouri, May 18, 1836. When quite young, his parents removed to Knox county, Missouri, and settled on a farm near Newark, wdiere he lived until he was seventeen, and came witli his mother - his father being dead - to Grundy county and bought a farm six miles north of Trenton. He remained on the farm, one year and then began to learn the trade of bricklaying with his uncle, William Collier, Jr., with whom he worked six years. Leaving his uncle in 1860, he went to Colorado and prospected and mined one year, then returned to Trenton and in the summer of that year joined the Union army, enlisting in company B., Twenty-third Missouri volunteer infantry, and participated in the battle of Shiloh, April 6, 1862, when his regiment was cut to pieces, their colonel, J. T. Tindall, killed, and he, with many of the company, were taken prisoners and held as such for seven months, in tlie prisons at Memphis, Montgomery, Chattanooga, Macon, Richmond, and in Libby Prison. He was finally paroled at Aikin's Landing, South Carolina, and soon after sent to Washington City, where he remained in the hospital until about the first of February, 1863, when he was sent back to Missouri. Here he remained until the first of May, when an exchanf^e was effected and with the other captives, he was ordered back to the regiment in Missouri. His regiment served in tiie State until November, when it was ordered to Tennessee, and from there in 1804 to join Sherman's array and campaii^n to Atlanta. His term of service expiring while there, in 1865, he was mustered out at that place, and immediately returned to Trenton, where he was soon after employed in the store of W. W. Hubbell & Co., as a clerk, remaining with them until 1867. In this latter year he received the appointment of de])utv sheriff and constable, holding the former position eight years and the latter nine. In 1876 he was deputy county collector, and since then has been engaged in fruit growing and dealing in nursery stock. Mr. Lowen married Miss Mary C. Allen of Trenton in October, 1865. They have two children, Bessie, fifteen, and Hallie, ten years old, both born in Trenton. Mr. and Mrs. Lowen are members of the Christian Church of Trenton. He is an Odd Fellow and has passed all the chairs and is now P. G.

H. C. Lanius

Was born on a farm near McConnelsville, Morgan county, Ohio, January 14, 1838. He never attended school more than eight months in his life, but by applying himself to study during his leisure hours he has acquired a fair business education. Startins: out in life as a farm hand, he worked in his native county until the breaking out of the war of the rebellion, and enlisted in the Union service as corporal in company D, Seventy-eighth Ohio volunteer infantry, and served three years. Was a participant in the battles of Fort Donelson, Sliiloh, Corinth, Bolivar and Memphis. After his discharge, in 1864, he came to Missouri and settled in Marion township, Grundy county, and engaged in farming as a renter until 1865, and from that time up to 1868 worked a small farm of his own, excepting about six months that he operated a saw and grist-mill in Callaway county, Missouri. Having disposed of his farm in 1868 he leased a farm in Trenton township and worked it six years. In 1874 he purchased a farm in the same township, which he still owns and rents. Leaving his farm in 1878 he came to Trenton and went into the hardware business with Thomas A. Murphy and Corwin Borders, under the name and style of Murphy, Lanius & Borders, and is still in the same business, the firm, however, having changed to Murphy, Lanius & Hubbell. On the 2d of November, 1858, Mr. Lanius married Miss Hester A. Fonts, of Morgan county, Ohio, by whom he has four children: Mary A., Annie O., Fannie and Claude.

Laffekty Brothers

This firm is composed of Jacob L. and William P. Lafterty. They were born on a farm near Cadiz, Harrison county, Ohio; the senior, Marcli 14, 1844, and the junior. May 7, 1851.

When fourteen years ofa^e Jacob was sent by his parents to Washington: College, Pennsylvania, where he attended four years, taking the preparatory course and beginning the collegiate, but quit during the junior year, and attended the Iron City Commercial College, of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, from which he graduated. Soon after he began teaching, and taught in Ohio and Missouri four years. In 1866 he came to Missouri and settled in Chillicothe where he engaged in the mercantile business and farming until January, 1869, when he came to Grundy county, and gave his attention tO' farming and teaching for seven years. From 1876 until 1879 he was variously employed in teaching and the mercantile business, and during the latter year was emplo^^ed by his brother as a clerk, and was with him until June of 1881, when the present firm was established.

William P. Latferty came to Missouri with his parents in 1866 and settled in Chillicothe. In 1867 he was an apprentice in the Constitution office, of Chillicothe, to learn the art of printing under T. B. Reynolds &r Co., and worked there until 1869, when he came to Trenton and was employed in the Rejytiblican office under W. B. Rogers, working two years as compositor and seven years as foreman. In January, 1878, he was elected treasurer of Grundy county and served two years, and during the same time was engaged in the mercantile business, which he followed until Aprils 1881, when he sold out to Pratt Brothers, and the next June became associated with his brother under the firm name of Latferty Brothers. November 12, 1875, he married Miss Anora DeBolt, of Trenton. They have three children: Austin, Willie and Raymond.

The gentleman whose name heads this sketch was born in Guernsey county, Ohio, on the 17th of January, 1828, the eldest of a family of twelve children, nine of whom still survive. His parents were natives of New Jersey, and among the early settlers of Ohio. His father departed this life in 1854; his mother is yet living. Early realizing the advantages of thorough mental discipline, he entered school at Antrim, thcTi known as Madison College, where he acquired a liberal education, and entered upon the profession of school-teaching. He continued to teach for eight years, and . in the meantime, having become a member of the Baptist Church, interested himself in church work and the study of theology, and wasordained a regular minister of the Baptist Church in August, 1855. Accepting a call from the Sarchet's Run Cliurch, he^officiated one year.. In 1856 he became pastor of Will's Creek Church, and in 1857 M^as called' to preside over the Bird's Run Church; dividing his time between the two congregations, he continued with both charges during five years of successful ministerial work: In the autumn of 1857, he was appointed by the American Baptist Publication Society to act as colporteur in the Will's

Oreek Association, in wliicli capacity lie faithfnlly served until July, 1864, when his work closed in his native State, Ohio, and he journeyed toward the settino; sun to seek a home in the distant west. In the fall of 1864, lie settled in Trenton, Missouri, where he accepted the pastorate of the Baptist Church, continuing also, in the service of the Publication Society. In the spring of 1865 he organized the North Union Baptist Church, to which he gave a portion of his time during his four years' pastorate in Trenton. In addition to this work, Rev. Mr. McCollum officiated at the Al]>ha (Liberty), Providence, Rural Dale and Lindley churches, during a period of four jears, when he gave up his ministerial labors, and entered actively into the work of the Publication Society. In 1873 he resumed his pastoral relations, and continued until 1876, when he was apjjointed by the government to give his attention to the education of the freedmen. After two years' service he returned home and accepted the financial agency of the Grand River College at Edinburg, this county, in which position he continued until October, 1880. Since this latter date he has labored as missionary and colporteur of the Grand River Association, and continues to make his home in Trenton, where he has deservedly won a large circle of friends.

Mr. McCollum was married on the 11th of July, 1854, to Miss Elizabeth, youngest daughter of John and Mar}' Keepers, of Guernsey county, Ohio. This union proved a happy one, and Mrs. McCollum has been a worthy helpmeet to her husband in his holy calling. Five children have been born to them: Mary H., born May 14, 1855; William J., hotn March 19, 1859; Emma C, born May 3, 1862, died October 14, 1878; and a twin brother to Emma who died the day of his birth; and Sarah Annette, born July 5, 1870.

Was born in Boston, Massachusetts, June 25th, 1837, where he attended school from the time he was old enough until he reached the age of twelve, when he left home on account of dislike for his step-father - his father having died when he was six years old. On leaving home he went to Randolph, Massachusetts, and served an apprenticeship in the shoemaking business with a cousin, with whom he worked as an apprentice and attended school, for nearly four years. In 1853, he came west and worked at the trade of shoemaking in various places in Wisconsin, Iowa, Illinois, Missouri and Kansas. Coming to Trenton in 1860, he engaged in boot and shoemaking with Thomas Torpey, as McGrath & Torpey, and the firm continued business until the breaking out of the late war. The following year he, in answer to the first call for troops by the governor of the State, enlisted in the State service, company A, second battalion of Missouri State troops, and served until the term of enlistment expired in 1862, when he was commissioned second lieutenant of the Thirty-third regiment of Missouri volunteer infantry, wliicli he soon after resigned and served as commissary in the State service until the spring of 1S63. He then went to Susanville, the county seat of Phimas county, California, and engaged in shoemakini; until 1864, next went to Corvalis, Oregon, and thence to Vancouver City, Washington Territory. In this latter place he remained four years, serving one year as deputy sherifi" and three years as warden in the Territorial penitentiar}'. In the fall of 1868 he returned east via Panama and Xew York Citv, to Trenton, where he engaged in making and dealing in boots and shoes, and continued the business up to 1870, in which year he was appointed city assessor and street commissioner, holding the former position until 1881 and thelatter at various times during the same period, and in 1877 and '78 was deputy county assessor. In 1881 he was elected justice of the peace and is now serving in that position. December 23d, 1860, Mr. McGrath married Miss L. J. Wisdom, of flandolph coimty, Missouri, by whom he has one child, George T., who graduated at the Trenton high school in 1880. Mr. Mc- Grath is a prominent Mason, and has served as worshipful master eight years, high priest tliree years, and is now prelate in the commandery, and has been deputy grand master of the Grand Lodge of Missouri, for five years.

Was born in Prescott, Canada, on the 13th of July, 1836. When Joseph had reached the age of seven years his parents removed to Chicago, and in that now ''great city by the lake" he grew up and received his education^ and there continued to reside until 1860, when he visited the snow-crested Pike's Peak, returning by way of New Orleans in December of the sameyear, and owing to the troubles arising previous to the outbreak of the civil war was detained for some time in the '- Crescent City." On returning to Chicago he received employment as foreman in the lumber yard of Mears,. Bates <fe Co., which situation he held until 1862 and then accepted a similar position in the lumber j-Aixi of McMuUen & Offixjer. With this latter firm he continued until 1868, when he embarked in the same business on his own account, carrying it on up to 1869, when Mr. J. L. McYickar became associated with him under the firm name of McYickar & McMullen. In 1870 he retired from the lumber business and with Mr. A. McGrath opened the store of McGrath & Co., dealers in wall-paper, etc. Another year passes and the early months of 1871 find him a citizen of Missouri and a resident of Trenton, where he opened the fir^t lumber yard in Grundy^ county and conducted the same until 1873. when he purchased the interest of Joseph Robinson in the firm of Yerian 6c Robinson, dealers in furniture^ and the present house of Yerian 6z McMullen was formed.

six children: Mury, Alice, Jiinies, Jusej)h, Edward Francis, Sarah Agnes and Frances Gertrude. January 8th, 1880, he married Miss Catharine Coan, of Leavenworth, Kansas. Mr. and Mrs. McMullen are members of St. Joseph's Catholic Church of Trenton.

Thomas A. Murphy

Was born near Mansfield, Ohio, August 2, 1842, and was tliere reared on a farm, and attended the district school during the winter terms. In his eighteenth year, in 1861, lie enlisted in the First Ohio independent battery of light artillery, and served three years, doing duty in West Virginia, in the army of the Potomac, and in the Shenandoah Valley during Sherman's campaign, in the fall of 1864, and participating in many engagements. He was mustered out at Martinsburg, Virginia, December, 1864, and returned to Mansfield, from where, after spending the winter, he started west in company with an old schoolmate and army chum, John C. Patterson, and came to Grundy county, where they purchased a farm near Trenton, and with it a large flock of sheep. They farmed one year and then sold out at an advance of $2,600 on the original price. They separated, and Mr. Murphy went into the grocery business with A. J. Spitler, as Spitler & Murphy, and the firm continued business until the summer of 1866, when liis old chum purchased Mr. Spitler's interest, changing the name to Murphy & Patterson. They did business until the latter part 1867, when he retired from the firm and engaged in the stock business with R. and J. B. Carnes, as Carnes, Murphy & Carnes. Discontinuing business in the fall of 1868, he gave his attention to farming and the stock business until 1876, when he engaged in the hardware business in connection with farming, and soon after Solomon Asher became asociated with him, as Asher & Murphy. In 1878 Mr. Asher retired from the firm, and C. Borders and H. C. Lanius became his successors, and the firm of Murphy, Lanius & Co. was formed. In 1880 Mr. Borders was succeeded by W. W. Hubbell, and the present firm of Murphy, Lanius & Hubbell was founded. He has ever been identified with the growth and prosperity of Trenton, and has built several substantial buildings, both business and residence. He gave the grounds to the Chicago, Rock Island & Pacific Railwa}^ company for their depots, round-house and switcji yard; and to secure the Quincy, Missouri & Pacific Railway, gave $300, as his share of the $40,000 raised b}' subscription for the company. October 15, 1867, he married Miss Mary E. AViggins, of Trenton, b}' whom he has four children: Martha Grace, Salome Lilian, Thomas A. and Hugh C.

Mrs. M. L. Moberly

near Trenton, where she was reared. Kovember 4th, 1859, she was united in marriage to Orville Moberly, son of George W. Moberly, of Trenton. He died at Trenton, January 11th, 1875; they had two children Bertha and Bessie, aged respectively seven and nine, both born in Trenton. Mr. Moberly was an active business man, and at the time of his marriage was in the mercantile business, which he followed until the breaking out of the late war when he discontinued, and enlisted in company B, Twenty-third Missouri volunteer infantry, under Col. J. T. Tindall, and served three years and four months, and was promoted through the various grades from private to first lieutenant. He was mustered out of service at Atlanta, Georgia, in 1865 and returned to Trenton in October of the same year, and the same fall was elected sheriff of Grundy county and served four years. He farmed as renter until 1871, when he was deputized county clerk and recorder by A. K. Sykes and acted as such until 1873, when lie went into the First National Bank of Trenton as book-keeper where he was employed at the time of his death.

Mrs. Mary A. Merrill

Mary A. McCoy was born in Booneville, Kentucky, April 29, 1818. Her parents came to Missouri when she was an infant and settled on a farm near Franklin'in Howard county, where she was reared. On the 15th of February, 1837, she was married to Benjamin Wiggins, of Howacd county, Missouri. In 1847 she came to Grundy county with her husband and settled on a farm five miles northeast of Trenton, on which they lived one year, when they removed to Trenton where she has since resided, with the exception of two years - 1850 and '51 - when she lived in St. Joe. In September, 1850, she was bereft of her husband while he was eii route for California. In August, 1854, she was married to James R. Merrill, one of the early settlers of Trenton, and a prominent citizen of Grundy county. Mr. Merrill came to Grundj^ county in 1837 and invested in land in different parts of the county. His homestead farm then adjoined Trenton, but is now a part of the city, forming a part of several additions. At the organization of the county in 1841 he was aj^pointed tlie first treasurer, which office he held until 1846. In 1850 he was elected county judge, and filled that position up to 1858, and was appointed county treasurer in 1862 to fill an unexpired term. His death occurred December 10, 1864.

By her first husband she has two children: James Wiggins, a farmer of Trenton township; and Mary E., wife of Thomas A. Murphy, hardware merchant of Trenton; and three by her second husband: Salome S., wife of James Beach, of Chariton county, Missouri; and Isabelle B. and John R., who still live with her, the latter a clerk in the store of H. Stein in Trenton.

George Wjishino:ton Moberlv was born on a farm near Lancaster, in Garrard coitnty, Kentucky, on the 18th of September, 1812. When fifteen jears of age he was apprenticed to learn the tailor's trade, at Stanford, Iventuckj, and his only opportunity for attending school was during his term of apprenticeship. In the month of Sei)tember, 1832, he bade farewell to the blue-grass fields of his native State, and journeyed to Missouri, settling in a small town called Florida, in Monroe county, and there he lived, engaged in working at his trade, until the fall of the ^-ear 1841 rolled around, when he removed to Trenton. ^ In Deceiriber, 1841, he opened a saloon in Trenton, and conducted that business some three years, selling out in 1844 and entering the mercantile business. For twenty-three years he continued to do a general mercantile business, selling out in 1867, when he removed to his farm, and gave his attention to agricultural pursuits, which he still makes his avocation. He served as postmaster at Trenton from 1843 to 1847; also held the ofhce of justice of the peace, and served a term of four years as county judge. In 1872 he, in company with others, organized the First National Bank of Trenton, and was elected vice-president. In August, 1876, the First National surrendered its charter, and the Union Bank became its successor, with Mr. Moberly as president, and he officiates in that capacity in addition to his farm duties.

Mr. Moberly was united in marriage to Miss Eliza Kibbey, of Lewiston, Lewis county, Missouri, on the 17th of April, 1834. She died in 1854, leaving him six children, all of Mdiom are now dead. In February, 1855, Miss Margaret B. liobinson, of Trenton, became his second wife. This union was blessed with three children, all of whom are living. The eldest, Mary E., is now Mrs. Benjamin C. Nichols; the second, Harriet A., now Mrs. G. W. Gardner; and the youngest, Margaret B., still at home.

O. G. Newton

Was born on a farm in Steuben county, New York, November 11, 1831. His parents left there when he was eleven years old, and removed to Lucas county, Ohio, where he lived until 1849, when he came with them to Missouri, and settled in Grundy county, five miles west of Trenton. His father being a blacksmith and gunsmith he learned these trades, and when twenty years of age established the first blacksmith shop in Edinburg, where he carried on blacksmithing, gunsmithing and wagon-making. In 1866 he retired from that business and engaged in hotel-keeping until 1874, when he left Edinburg and came to Trenton, and became proprietor of the Trenton Hotel, which he still conducts. September 17, 1854, Mr. Newton married Miss Mary J. Keys, of Ray county, Missouri. They have four children; namely, Dora, wife of O. M. Shanklin, of Trenton; Alice, wife of Thomas Elmore, Jr., of Trenton; Emma L. and Edwin, still at home. Mr.

Newton, during the late war, served in the State militia, and was more or less in active service while on home duty, and was a solid union man. Mr. and Mrs. Xewton are members of the M. E. Church, and have been for many years.

Joseph L. Nichols

"Was born of Quaker ])arents near West Chester, Chester county, Pennsylvania, May 4, 1843. When he was about one year old his parents removed to Philadelphia, where he was reared. At the age of fourteen he began to su])port himself, being emploj^ed as an errand boy in a cpieensware establishment in Philadelphia, where he remained until the latter part of 1858. In this last mentioned year he went to Wilmington, Delaware, and was employed in an auction house. In 1861 he returned to Philadelphia and was employed as messenger and postmaster in the United States army hospital until the fall of 1862, when he began to learn the trade of book-binding and worked two years at that business. In 1864 he enlisted in company F, One Hundred and Ninety-second Pennsylvania volunteer infantry and served until the fall of 1865, when he was mustered out. Peturning to Philadelphia he resumed the business of book-binding, following it until 1868, when he was employed as hotel clerk in the Arch Street House, Philadelphia. In 1872 he gave up clerking, came to Grundy county and established his present business of dealing in musical instruments and fancy goods and conducting a restaurant, at Trenton. In 1875, in company with several business men of Trenton on their way east, he met with a severe accident on the Wabash Railroad, the train falling through Gower's bridge, and he received an injury from which he has never recovered. In 1877, January 17tli, he married Mrs. Josephine Pange, of Trenton. They have three children: Claude, Lee Murray and Norris. He is a prominent Mason, having taken the Knight Templar degree. He is also a Knight of Pythias and is past grand chancellor of that order.

David C. Pugh

The present county clerk of Grundy county, was born near Lebanon, Warren county, Ohio, July 15, 1828. From Warren county his parents removed to Logan county, Ohio, and thence to Perry county, Illinois, where his mother died in 1843, and his father followed her to the grave two years later. David, then seventeen years of age, returned to his native county in the Buckeye State, and there remained until 1853, when he removed to Putnam county, in the same State. His opportunities ibr acquiring an education had been few, consisting of one year's attendaiice in the district schools, where the facilities for imparting instruction were meager, but with a settled resolve he persevered, using his every leisure moment at home to supply his thirst for learning, and at the age of twenty-six, when he removed to Putnam county, his ample qualifications at once gave him the post of teaclier in the district school. On the lOtli of November, 1853, while a resident of the above named county, he wedded Miss Lydia Wamsley. Mr. Pugh continued to teach scliool during the winter months and farm during the summer until the momentous year of 18(U, wlien, among the many gallant sons of Ohio, he volunteered in defense of the Union, enlisting in company D, of the Twenty-first regiment of Ohio vohmteer infantry, and in one 3' ear's service was promoted from the ranks to corporal and then orderly sergeant, when he \vas discharged on account of sickness. Returning home, rest and attention soon restored him to health once more, and on the first day of September, 1863, he again enlisted, going out as orderly sergeant of company G, of the Twelfth regiment of Ohio volunteers. He participated in a number of engagements, the most im])ortant being the sanguinary battles of Mount Sterling, Ky., Saltville, Va., Bristol, Tenn., Wytheville, Va., and Salisbury, N. C, and was mustered out of the service as first lieutenant of his company on the 14tli of November, 1865. After a short stay at his home in Putnam county, Ohio, he started out to make a home in the West and to grow and flourish with the country. Arriving in Missouri, the fertile prairies and wooded land of Grundy county attracted his attention and he settled upon a farm in Franklin township, and for the first seven years of his residence there divided his time between tilling the soil and " teaching the young idea how to shoot " the shaft of knowledge from the bow of learninof, in the district school. In 1872 he became cashier of the First National Bank and most acceptably filled the position for two years, when he resigned his place. In 1876 he was appointed to fill an unexpired term of county clerk, and in 1878 was elected to the position for the full term by a handsome majority. He is a clever, genial gentleman, and most worthily presides over the affairs in the county clerk's ofiice, giving courteous attention and entire satisfaction to all comers who visit him.

Mr. and Mrs. Pugh have been blessed with five children, all daughters; namely, Josephine, now Mrs. J. B. Lindsay, of Kidder, Mo.; Mary, now Mrs. W. C. Key, of Trenton ; Alice, now teaching school in Colorado; Eleonora and Florence remaining to brighten home with their presence.

Stephen Peery

The subject of this sketch was born on a farm, near Jonesville, Lee county, Virginia, June 23, 1836. In 1838 his parents removed to Missouri, and settled on a farm near Edinburg in Grundy county. Pie shared in the trials and hardships with which the life of the early pioneer was fraught, and retains in memory many of the scenes and events transpiring when Grundj' county was a wilderness, and the savages roamed the forests where the startled deer bounded from their lurking places. He acquired such an education as the old log school-houses afibrded, during his earlier years, and afterward attended the Grand River College in 1852, '53 and '54, and completed his school days at McKendric College, of Lebanon, Illinois, in 1855.

Coiiclndiii^^ to adopt thele^al profession, he entered the law office of Tindall ife Slianklin, in 1856, and was admitted to the bar in 1S57. However, he continued his studies with the above firm until 1859, when he severed his connection with them, and opened an office in Trenton, where, with the exception of two years, he has practiced ever since. In 1859 he was elected probate judge, liolding the office until 1861, and in August of the same year was commissioned, by acting-governor W. P. Hall, adjutant of the Twentythird regiment of Missouri volunteer infantry, under Col. Jacob T. Tindall, holding the position until March, 1862, when he resigned, receiving a commission as major of the Thirtieth regiment of Missouri State militia, under Col. John H. Shanklin. On the 6th of April, 1864, he resigned his commission, and soon after crossed the plains, witti his family, by team, to California, where he remained until 1866, visiting IS^apa City, Cloverdale, Oakland and San Francisco, during his stay, and. returning by steamer via Panama and JSTew York, reaching Trenton in February of the year mentioned, where he has since made his home. Mr. Peery was united in matrimony to Miss Emma Hendrick, of Trenton, in 1858. Seven children are the fruits of this union, five of whom are living, whose names are Bessie E., born in California, September, 1864; Herbert born in Trenton, September 16, 1866; Nellie, born in Trenton, October, 1868; Jennie, born in California, November, 1875; Hortense born in Trenton, April, 1878. They have lost two: Carlisle aged eleven years, and Prentiss aged four years.

On the 28th of March, 1852, Charles C. Parker was born, in the county of Carroll, State of Ohio. In his native State he was destined to remain but a short time, and at an early age he accompanied his parents to their new home in Jefferson county, Iowa, where they resided for two years, at the expiration of which time, the land of the Hawkeye "knew them no more," and next the family is ensconced at home in Scotland count}^, Missouri. From Scotland county they removed to Memphis, Tennessee, where his father was engaged in the mercantile business. In the spring of 1870 our subject, while a resident of Memphis, began work for the railroad, and from the lowest round in the ladder he has gradually ascended until at the present time he holds the position of freight conductor on the Chicago, Kock Island & Pacific Eailroad. Mr. Parker and Miss Haddie Brackett, of Saybrook, Ashtabula county, Ohio, were joined in the holy bonds of matrimony, October 2, 1878. They reside in Trenton, and have one child, a son, named Earle Tracey.

Chas. E. I'Eckham

Was born at Windham, Windham county, Connecticut, in the year 1841, and lived in that county until his ninth year, then went to Brighton, Massachusetts. He remained there one year, then returned to Pomfret, Connec- ticut, wliere he lived one year, then back to Windham and resided there until he was twenty-one years old. Was educated at Dr. J. C. Fitch's Seminary at South Windham. In the spring of '62 he went to Hartford, Connecticut, and was em})loyed at Colt's armory, remaining there until tlie spring of '64, then went to Springfield, Massaclinsetts, and was employed in the United States Armory until the spring of '65, when he left for Philadelphia, arriving there on the 14th day of April - the day of Lincoln's assassination. He was subcontractor in Siiarp & Ilankin's pistol factory for one year; from there went to Sellersville and worked there until the spring of '67, then was sick and returned home, remaining there three mouths. In August of the same year he started from New York for Antigua, British West India Islands, visiting Santa Cruz, St. Thomas, San Juan and Marquesas Islands and returned to Philadelphia in the sjiring of '68. Was employed in Coo])er, Jones & Cadbnry's brass works, remained there two years, and from there w^eut to Baldwin's locomotive works where he remained six months. In the spring of '71, he went in the machine business for himself; in '72 was married to a Miss Grant, of Philadelphia; in '73 sold out his business and came out to Missouri and went to work in the machine-shops of the Chicago, E.ock Island & Pacific Railway at Trenton; in June, '76, went with his wife to Philadelphia, taking in the exposition and remaining five months, visiting in New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania and Connecticut; returning again to Trenton in the fall he resumed work again in the shops. On the 12th of January, '77, a daughter was born to them and named Florence G. Peckham ; she lived to be eight months and nine days old, dying on the 21st of September, '77. In the fall of '79 he bought the photogi'aph gallery from J. W. Oliver, and has been doing a fine class of work ever since.

T. B. Pratt

Was born near Kokomo, Howard county, Indiana, September 26th, 1852,. where he lived till 1855, when his parents moved to Grundy county, Missouri, and settled on a large tract of land near Trenton. He assisted on the farm and attended his home school till in the spring of 1867 when he accepted a position in a store where he remained till fall, when he returned to his school. In tiie spring of 1868 his father sold the large home place and moved to southwestern Missouri, and T. B. entered " Spring River Seminary " and was one of its hardest working students; in the spring, application was made for a teacher and the faculty were a unit in recommending him. At the close of his school he returned to the seminar}^ and continued his studies. In the spring of 1870 he returned to north Missouri, taught a fall and winter school and then entered the Trenton high school. He continued to teach and attend school till 1875, when he graduated with the highest honors of the school. He took charge of the Edinburg public school, the fall and winter term, and continued with a select summer school. The next year he taught the Spickardsville school, and during the summer of

1877 assisted in surveying and mapping the county. In the fall he was elected principal and superintendent of the high school, Princeton, where he met with most flattering success. In the fall of. 1878 he was induced to return to Edinburg and take charge of the public school again. During this time he had been an active worker in the "Teachers' Institute " of which he was president, and here as well as in the school-room, had distinguished himself as an able and efficient educator. And in 1879, the time for the election of county commissioner of public schools, he was largely petitioned by teachers and others to run for the ottice, and although not in the race one week was elected by a handsome majority. In the fall he was elected assistant supei'intendent and first assistant teacher in the schools where he graduated. In the summer of 1880 he retired from the teacher's profession and embarked in the mercantile business in whicli he is at the time of this writinjj enjjao'ed. It is justly due to say that in his retiring from teaching the profession lost one of its most faithful, eflficient and worthy members, who has done much for the cause of education in this part of the State. He still held the oftice of county commissioner, and in 1881 was again urged to make the race. He had two very worthy opponents. The race grew warm and exciting - more than usual, but he was again elected by an overwhelming majority - receivins: more than double the number of votes of the other two. Mr. Pratt, is a member of the Methodist Episcopal Churcli and a faithful worker in tlie Sunday-school. His uniform kindness and pleasantness render him very popular.

Col. W. B. Rogers

William B. Rogers was born in Fayette county, Ohio, February 8, 1835' where he remained with his father until his eigliteenth year, his mother dying before he was six years of age, and accompanied him in his removal to Noble county, Indiana. He received a common school education in Fayette and Noble counties, which was afterward supplemented by one year's attendance at Grand River College, at Edinburg, this county. Leaving Indiana, Mr. Rogers settled near Ravenna, Mercer county, Missouri, in 1856, and secured a position as school-teacher, and was subsequently engaged in the same work in Andrew county, Missouri, and Wayne county, Iowa, and also oflSciated as assistant instructor while pursuing his studies at tlie Grand River College. His last work in this capacity was at Princetion, Mercer county, where he taught school for fifteen months. This brought him up to the year 1861, when the country was thrilled by the prospect of war, and in August lie enlisted in the State service, serving six months under Lieutenant-colonel Jonas J. Clark. Returnino; home, he was elected sheriif and collector of Mercer county, in the fall of 1862, and while acting in that capacity was commissioned colonel of the enrolled militia of that county, by Gov. H. R. Gamble, Before the expiration of his term as sheriif, he raised a company for the United States service, which became company D of the Forty-fourth re«;^iment of Missouri volunteers, of wliich he was elected captain, Col. 11. C. J>radshaw (now of St. Josei)h) commandino-. He received his commission from Gov. W. P. Ilall, and served un- « til the close of the war, partici})atini>- in the battles of Franklin, Sprin<^ Hill and Nashville, in Tennessee, and the capture of Mobile, Alabama. He was mustered out of service in 18C5, and returned to Mercer county and eno-ao-ed in the mercantile business at llavenna until 1868, when he was elected to the State senate, from the Fifth senatorial district, composed of the counties of Livingston, Grundy, Mercer and Carroll, and honorably acquitted himself of the duties of the jwsition during his term of four years. In September, 1869, he moved to Trenton and purchased the Graiful River Republican, which name he changed to Trenton Reimhlican, July 25th, 1872, under which title he has continued its publication with eminent success up to the present date. Col. Rogers early took an interest in the growth and development of the section in which he lived, and was elected one of the directors of the Chillicothe & Des Moines City Eailroad Company, in 1868, and much of the success of Trenton in securing the building of tiie Chicago, Eock Island & Pacific Railroad (which was the successor of the first named company) from Princeton, and the location of the machineshops at Trenton, are due to his well directed eflbrts and influence. He is still a director of the last named company.

Col. Rogers married Miss Cynthia A. Buren, of Daviess county, Missouri, April 14th, 1863, by whom he has three children: Carrie, William B., and Koble G. Col. and Mrs. Rogers are members of the Baptist Church of Trenton. He has been a member of the church since 1863, and has held the position of church clerk for nine years. Mrs. Rogers, prior to her marriage, was a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church, from which she withdrew and joined the Baptist Church in 1870.

Henry Reed

The subject of this sketch first saw the light of other days in Brattleboro, Vermont, on the 10th day of February, 1842. He is the son of Henry and Mary Reed {nee Liscond). His father was a native of the Green Mountain State, and his mother was of New Hampshire birth, and "Harry," as he is familiarly called, was reared a farmer's lad, amid the invigorating atmosphere and mountain breezes of his native State. Pages might be filled with a graphic recital of the sunny hours of his childhood, " but enough is given to show the respectability of his birth and his claim upon life." At the youthful age of sixteen, Harry left his home to bravely battle with the world, and " earn his own living." In 1861 we find him in the employ of the New York & New Haven Railroad Company, an d thus eai-ly he became attached to a life on the iron rail, which has been his principal occupation ever since. He remained with this company until 1863, when we find him following the "star of empire" in its westward course until he reached

Oliio, where lie found eniploj'ment witli the Lake Erie & Louisville Railroad, afterward the Cleveland & Toledo, now the well-known Lake Shore ' road. From the Buckeye State hb returned eastward to New York, where he was engaged with his brother oti the wood work of the Fisk opera house^ corner of Fourth Avenue and Twenty-third Street. His stay here was short,, and through the kindness of Col. "Jim" Fisk, who gave him a letter, he secured a position of conductor on the Erie Railroad. Later we find him "punching tickets" on the New Jersey Midland road, the third conductor in the service of that company, and he had the honor of running the first train into Jersey City. He worthily filled liis position with this company until 187T, when the western fever again attacked him, and April of the same year finds him a resident of Trenton, Missouri, and wearing a passenger conductor's cap, in the service of the Chicago, Rock Island & Pacific Railroad. He still runs over this line, and is known for his genial qualities and for the j)rompt and efiicient discharge of his duties.

Mr. Reed was married on the 22d of September, 1869, to Miss Helen S. Hatibrd, an amiable and accomplished young lady, at her home in Fremont,. Sandusky county, Ohio. She is the daughter of James H. Hafibrd and Florilla Hafibrd, tiee Williams. Mrs. Reed has proved a loving helpmeet to her husl)and, and their home has been blessed with the sunshiny presence of three children, two boys and a girl; Frank LL, born April 2, 1870, Sidney, born June 18, 1878, and Julia E., born March 14, 1880, the joys of their parents' hearts.

N. Harvey Rogers \\as born near Greenfield, Highland county, Ohio^ May 25, 1836, where he lived with his parents until he was nineteen. He received his education by attending the common schools of his town and the Greenfield Academy. On leaving home he worked as a farm hand in the vicinity of his old home until the fall of 1857, when he came to Missouri and taught school in Mercer and adjoining counties. In the fall of 1861 he enlisted in company E, Second Missouri volunteer cavalry and served four years. He went out as a private and was promoted to corporal^ and from that to first lieutenant, and assigned to the command of coraj^any H of his regiment. He participated in a number of important battles;, was dangerously wounded at the battle of Mooresville, Missouri; and was mustered out of the service at St. Louis in the fall of 1865. Returning to Mercer county he engaged in the mercantile business at Ravenna with his brother, W. B. Rogers, doing business one j^ear. In the fall of 1866 he began to study law in the office of Hyde & Norton, of Princeton, was admitted to the bar in the fall of 1867, and began practice at Princeton, and continued until 1872, during three years of which time he also edited the Princeton Advance. During the session of the legislature of 1868 and '69 he was elected, by the State senate, sergeant-at-arms of that bod}'-, and served the whole term of two years. In 1872 he removed from Princeton and returned to Ravenna and engaged in merchandizing, also practicing law with F. M. Evans and W. W. Holmes, of the law firm of Rogers, Evans & Co. In 1876 he removed to Mill Grove, Missouri, where he continued in the mercantile business, associating with liim R. M. Decker, and did business there one year, when he returned to Princeton and discontinued the practice of law and engaged in the grain and agricultural business. In the spring of 1879 he came to Grundy county and engaged in the lumber business at Trenton with his brother, W. B. Rogers, under the lirm name of N^. H. Rogers &Co., he managing the business. In 1865, July 20, he married Miss Susan D. Reed, of Huutsville, Missouri. They have three children: John Lincoln, aged fifteen; Otis J,, thirteen; and Rosa, eleven. Mr. and Mrs. Rogers and daughter are members of the Baptist Church of Trenton.

John H. Shanklin was born in Monroe county, Virginia (now West Yirginia), on the 2d day of Kovember, 182'1. His father, Absalom Shanklin, was a native of Botetourt count}^, Virginia, and his mother, whose maiden name was Nancy Luster, was a native of Campbell county in the same State. He was the eighth child in a family of ten - six sons and four daughters, all of whom attained their majority, and six of whom are still living. From the age of ten until he was sixteen, he attended school in the rough log school-houses of the county, and afterward taught one term. The summer after he was twenty he "cropped on shares" with his brotherin-law in Mercer county, Virginia, and from this realized his first ready money. Returning to Monroe county he taught another term of school the following fall, and on the 2d day of the next March, 1846, with a meager wii.rdrobe and less than one hundred dollars in money, he bid farewell to relatives in his good old mountain home, and in company with a young friend as poor in purse and as rich in hope as himself, started for the ''great west." Taking passage on a steamer at Charleston, on the Kanawha, and changing boats at Cincinnati and St. Louis, they reached Weston, Missouri. Remaining there and in Buchanan county but a short time, he came to Grundy county, arriving at Trenton April 10, 1846. His first employment was the teachino' of two terms of school in the "Schooler neio-hborhood," near Spickardsville, and a third term about three miles north of Trenton. In the summer of 1847, he enlisted as a private for "during the war with Mexico," in Capt. John C. Griffin's compan}', Lieut.-Col, William Gilpin's battalion, for service on the Santa Fe trail, in the Indian countr}- between Missouri and Santa Fe, New Mexico. The company was mustered into service early in September, 1847, and j)articipated in the marcli through Kansas, np the Arkansas River to near Bent's Fort, in Colorado, thence across the mountains to Moro, in New Mexico, and down the Canadian

River into the Cainanche coiTutry. In the spring of 1848 he was promoted from the ranks to quartermaster and commissary-sergeant, under Lieut. Ashley Gnlley, The summer following a severe attack of inflammatory rlieumatism eom])elled him to use crutches until after his return home, mustering out of the service at Independence, Missouri, in the fall of 1848. The winter of 1848-49 found him engaged in settling up the accounts of Lieut. GuUey, with the department at Washington, after ^vllich he resumed teaching near Trenton the following spring.

On the 22d of January, 1850, he married Miss Kitty Ann Collier, with whom he has lived happily. Their union has been blessed with five children, three of whom - Orville M., Walter II. and Carrie - are still living. The sons have grown to manhood while the daughter is an amiable young lady of seventeen. Soon after his marriage he \vas appointed judge of the Probate Court, vice Judge Renfro, resigned. He had never read law, but in conning the statutes of the State pertaining to the duties of his new position, he became deeply interested, and consulting his friend, Jacob T. Tindall, then a young attornej'^, he received so much encouragement that he at once entered upon the study of law. At the spring term, 1851, of the Grundy Circuit Court, he was licensed as an attorney and counselor at law, and practiced with the usual indifferent success until the fall of 1852, when he embarked in a small mercantile business until the winter of 1854- 55, when he entered into partnership with Jacob T. Tindall, then in active law practice, and continued until the death of the latter at the battle of Shiloh in 18G2. In 1858, James Austin became associated with them, and until 1862 the firm was Tindall, Shanklin k Austin.

In politics Mr. Shanklin was a Whig, and supported the men and measures of that party until its dissolution. In 1860 he voted for Stephen A. Douglas. Since the war he has adhered to the principles of the Democratic party.

In the fall of 1861 he was commissioned by Gov. Gamble as division inspector, with rank of colonel, and enlisted most of the six months' militia from Grundy, Sullivan, Mercer and Harrison counties, who were stationed at Chillicothe and Utica. During the winter of 1861-62 he was authorized, with Col. Walter King, to recruit a regiment of M. S. M., and in the spring of 1862, the Third regiment of Missouri State militia was raised, of which he was commissioned lieutenant-colonel. In the meantime, owing to the absence of Col, Tindall and himself, the business of the firm had been mainly without attention, and as the family of Col. Tindall, on that officer's death, were dependent upon his interest in the business, Col. Shanklin resigned his commission to look after their interests. About this time he was elected a member of the Missouri State Convention, to fill the vacancy occasioned by Col. Tindall's death, and served in that body in two short sessions - June, 1862 and June, 1863.

After arranging his business aftairs, he was commissioned by the governor, in August, 1862, colonel of the Thirtieth E. M. M., and assigned to duty, with part of the regiment, at Chillicothe, Missouri, where he remained in command of the post and adjacent country until March, 1863, when, at his own request, he was relieved. From that time he was actively engaged in the practice of law, until August, 1864, when he was again ordered into military service, and assigned to the command of a district "of eight counties, with headquarters at Chillicothe, and continued through Gen. Price's last raid into Missoilri, until about March 1, 1865. lie again engaged in the practice of law until 1868, Avhen, as president of the Ciiillicothe & Des Moines City Railroad (]/ompany, he undertook to obtain for the people of Grundy and Mercer counties, access by rail to the outer world, and in 1871 finally succeeded in obtaining a transfer of the road-bed between Trenton and Princeton to the Chicago & Southwestern Railway Company (now the C, R. I. & P. Railroad), and its completion through Grundy and Mercer counties. In 1871, as division solicitor for the C, R. I. & P. Railroad, he attended to all the business of that company in the State of Missouri.

He was elected a delegate to the Constitutional Convention in 1875, from the district composed of Grundy, Mercer, Livingston and Carroll counties, and during the ninet}^ days' session of that body, which formed the present constitution of Missouri, was conspicuous for his industrj'^, zeal and knowledo-e of constitutional law.

Shanklin & Austin continued with marked success the business of the old firm. Col. Shanklin giving his attention to the law practice, while Mr. Austin takes charge of the banking business, which the firm have been engaged in for a number of years. In Januarj', 1876, Col. Shanklin desiring to divide the labor of his large practice, and avail himself of joint counsel in important causes, formed a copartnership with Marcus A. Low and Henry C. McDougal, of Gallatin, Missouri, under the firm name of Shanklin, Low. & Mcr)ougal, practicing in the courts of northwest Missouri.

In the winter of 1880-81, Col. Shanklin became interested in a group of silver and copper mines in the Gallinas Mountains, New Mexico, and spent the spring and summer of 1881 in that Territory, looking after the j^roperty and developing the mines. The Gallinas Mining and Smelting Company was incorporated, with a capital stock of one million dollars, of which Col. S. was elected president and general manager.

Standing full six feet one inch in height, with an average Aveight of two hundred pounds, and blessed with splendid physical and mental vigor. Col. Shanklin bears lightly his age at fifty-seven. A careful, patient, diligent student, a conscientious lawyer, an honest man, he has attained a proud position among the many able lawyers of this State. Combining those qualities which have rendered him an eminent jurist and advocate, his kindness to the younger members of the bar, and courtesy to the court and opposing counsel, have for years been proverbial. Tliat generous hospital- i itj and unaffected simplicity which characterizes the people of his early " home in the "Old Dominion," is well exemplified in his daily life.

Paris C. Stepp was born near the city of Bloomington, in Monroe county, Indiana, on the 17th of May, 1845, and there lived upon a farm until 1853, when his parents removed to Missouri .and settled upon a farm in Grundy county. Paris went through the usual routine of the country' lad, performing his share of the farm work during the season and attending district school in the winter. This round was continued without much variance until his nineteenth year, when, in June of 1864, he enlisted in the United States service as a private in company E of the Twelfth regiment of Missouri volunteer cavalry, served until the close of hostilities, and was promoted corporal, and then acting sergeant. He was with the detachment under General Hatch which received the attack of the Confederate General Forrest, and participated in the ensuing fierce conflict at Eastport. Was also with the army that met Hood in his daring but disastrous campaign in Tennessee, and took part in the battles of Franklin and Nashville in that State. After being mustered out of the service on the 13th of April, 1866, he returned to Grundy county, completed the course of study under Prof. R. C. Norton, Trenton schools, said county, attended the University at Bloom- ; ington, Indiana, during the years 1868 and '69, and then engaged in teaching, which he continued until 1870, when he entered the ofiice of Col. John H. Shanklin and began the study of law, and in January, 1874, was admitted to practice at the bar. His engaging qualities of head and heart gave him a popularity all over Grundy county, and in the fall of 1876 he was elected to represent his district in the lower house of the legislature, in which position he efficiently served until 1878. At the expiration of his term he received the nomination of the Republican party for probate judge^ and was elected for the term of four years. Judge Stepp, though still a young man, stands deservedly high among the prominent citizens of Grundy county.

Paris C. Stepp and Miss Mary E. Fleming were united in the marriage I covenant on November 24, 1872. Mrs. Stepp is a native of the State of Indiana. By this union they have one child, W. Dale, born in Trenton, September 12, 1873. Mr. and Mrs. Stepp are members of the Christian Church of Trenton.

R. T. Short was born near Washington, the county seat of Fayette county, Ohio, November 29, 1829, wliere he lived with his parents, receiving a good common school education at home and completing it at the high school in.

Greenfield, Highland county, Ohio, in his seventeenth year. In 1846 he began the study of medicine under Dr. Eleazer Martin, and studied with him until 1849. During the winters of 1849, '50, '51 and '52, he attended lectures at the Starling Medical College. He first began to practice in Wilmington, Clinton county, Ohio, where he remained until 1855, and while there, on the 2d of December, 1852, married Miss R. M. Fowler, of Wilmington. In 1855 he removed to Springfield, Illinois, and there practiced until 1865, when became to Grundy count3\ Settling at Edinburg, he practiced until 1876, and acquired an extensive business, extending over the western portion of Grundy county, giving him long and laborious rides. He came to Trenton in 1878, where he still has a large practice. Dr. and Mrs. Short have five children: liolla E., Mollie, Kittie G., Lorena and Erlin Y.

G. D, Smith

Gilbert D. Smith, of Trenton, was born near Wellington, Lorain county, Ohio, January 15, 1833. His father was a farmer, and Gilbert was reared amid the sturdy, wholesome influences of rural life. He attended the neighborhood schools in winter and bent his enerijies to the harvest work in suraraer, and when he reached his twenty-first year was ready to battle with the world, the possessor of a good common school education and a vigorous constitution. In 1854 he rented a farm and started out to make his living: by the cultivation of the soil; his success was such the first year that he continued three 3'ears longer in his native State, and in 1858, at the expiration of four years of toil for himself, he migrated to Missouri, and purchased a farm in Grundy county, ten miles north of Trenton. Upon this farm he lived until 1871, when he removed to Trenton and began his successful business career by accepting a clerkship with Smith & Jacobs, dealers in agricultural implements, grain, etc., a new house which had just been established by J. W. Smith and W. A. Jacobs. He remained in the employment of the firm until 1875, when Mr. Jacobs withdrew, and continued another year with Mr. Smith, w4ien in 1876, in connection with Dr. E. F. Horton, he purchased the business interests of his former employer, and under the firiJi name of Smith & Horton conducted the business until 1878, when Dr. Horton retired. Mr. Smith carried on the business alone for eighteen months, when he sold an interest to E. T. Connor, and the firm of Smith & Connor was one of the reliable establishments of Trenton until January 1, 1881, when Mr. Smith again became sole proprietor. The house continues to deal largely in grain, and the annual shipments to Chicago and Peoria, Illinois, are largely increased each succeeding harvest.

Mr. Smith was united in the bonds of matrimony to Miss Caroline A. Powers, of Huntington, Ohio, on the 25th of April, 1854. One daughter, Mildred F., is the issue of this marriage, which has been a happy one. Miss Mildred is now Mrs. E. T. Connor, of Trenton.

Was born in East Rupert, Vermont, Marcli 2, 1832, and was there reared and lived until 1858. He obtained his education in the district schools of his town and the academies of Randolph, Northfield, and Milton, Vermont. In the winter of 1850 he be^an teacliino- and tauffht durino- the winter months until 1858. During 1856 and '57 he studied law with Fajette Potter, of Rutland count}', Vermont, and was admitted to tlie bar at Fontanelle, Iowa, in the fall of 1858. In the spring of 1859 he came to Grundj county and settled at Trenton and established himself in the practice of law, and in the winter of 1860 became associated in the law practice with Stephen Peerj. They remained together until the breaking out of the late war, when they, by mutual consent, dissolved. During tlie long struggle when business was depressed and unsettled he did little or no practice. In '1864 he went East, and on the 22d of December, of that year, married Miss Helen Cranston, of Woodstock, Ohio, and soon after returned to Trenton and resumed the law practice. In 1867 he was elected circuit clerk and recorder of Grundy county and reelected in 1871, holding that office eight years. Since then he has devoted his time to looking after his farms and private business and keeping himself informed as to the news of the day. His wife is a member of the Universalist Church, and he is liberal in his religious views, and Republican in politics.

Dr. Steward came to Grundy county in 1866 and settled upon a large tract of land five miles south of Trenton. He had, prior to this date, practiced medicine for nineteen years in and around the city of Mansfield, Ohio, and in consequence of the trying duties devolving upon him from an extensive practice, his health had become much broken, and to remedy this and recuperate his system, he came West resolved to give up practice and turn his whole attention to farming and stock-raising. He was born in Mansfield, November 11, 1823; was there reared; received a common school education, and studied medicine under Dr. William Bushfield, of the same place, beginning study in 1843. Three years after he entered the Cleveland Medical College, graduated in the class of 1848, and began practice in his native city. In 1863 he was commissioned assistant United States army surgeon, and assigned for duty to the general hospital at Mound (3ity, Illinois, where he served during 1864 and '65. After leaving the army at the close of the^ war he made a visit to his old home in Mansfield, and in the spring of 1S6Qsettled in Grundy county, as above stated. Having regained his health, in 1872 he removed from his farm to Trenton and once more entered upon the active practice of his profession. Dr. Steward was united in marriage to. Miss Olive D. Hyde, of Mt. Vernon, Ohio, in 1857. They have two daugh-

Was born in Trenton, Missouri, September 10, 1854. He is the son of Colonel John H. and Kitty Shanklin, was educated in the Trenton liii^h school, and in 1873 he beo-an tlie study of law in his father's office. Was admitted to the bar in 1877 and immediately beiiran tlie practice of law at Jamesport, Missouri, where he remained until July, 187!j, and then returned to Trenton and engaged in teaching in Grundy count3^ In 1881 he engaged in the life insurance business, and became district manager of the Centemiial Mutual Life Association of Burlington, Iowa. September 19, 1877, he married Miss Dora A., daughter of O. G. Newton, of Trenton. They have two children: Alice and Floy. Mrs. Shauklin is a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church of Trenton. In 1880 he was the nominee of the Democratic party for county attorney of Grundy county but was defeated by a small majority.

William C. Swayze

Was born in Pinckney, Warren county, Missouri, June 19, 1841. When he was five years old his parents removed to Canada West. Living there until he was eighteen years of age, he came with his parents to Grundy county, and settled on a farm near Lindley, where he lived with them until 1861. He was enrolled in the State militia and served until 1862, when he enlisted in company C, Eleventh Missouri volunteer infantry, and served during the war. While in the service he was detailed as clerk at regimental headquarters, and was mustered out in August, 1805, and returned to Grundy county and engaged in farming. In 1870 he was deputized sheriff, under N. A. Winters, and served nntil 1873, when he, with N. A. Winters and H. J. Herrick, formed the firm of Herrick, Swayze & Winters, and engaged in the mercantile business for a short time. After the dissolution of this firm, he, with N. A. Winters, went into the o^rain and forwardinii: business, which they carried on until 1874. In 1870 he was one of the original incorporators of the Grundy Countj- Coal Company, and while he was acting as superintendent, in 1875, a shaft was successfully sunk and mining began in 1876. In 1877 he was appointed deputy county collector, under W. T. Wisdom. In 1873 he married Mrs. Amaiida H. Fisher, of Trenton, a lady who had established herself in the millinery business in Trenton in 1868, which she still carries on, her establishment being one of the oldest in the city.

John R. Schooling

Coleman, with whom he lived on a farm, near Trenton, four years, when he came to Trenton and was employed to take chai-ge of the livery stable of his brother-in-law, J. W. Coleman, for one year. At the expiration of that time, Mr. Coleman employed him as clerk in his grocery store, where he remained two years, and was then engaged in the drug business with T. W. Allen and T. B. Head, under the firm name of J. R. Schooling & Co. They carried on business until August, 1860, when the establishment was purchased by R. K. Featherston, with whom he remained, as clerk, until 1872> in which year he began working at the trade of harness making, which he has followed ever since, working for different firms in Trenton. In May, 1872, he married Miss Sallie Keynolds, of Trenton. They have two children, Jessie and Gordon L.

George W. Smith

George W. Smith was born near Syracuse, New York, December 12, 1841. When he was twelve years old his father moved to Ingham county, Michigan, where he lived until he was fifteen, and from there went to Hillsdale county, Michigan, working for a while on a farm. He next removed to Janesville, in the same county, and was employed in a livery stable four years. In the spring of 1862 he went to California via New York and Panama, and from there to Nevada, engaging in the mercantile business until December, 1865, at which time he started upon his return to Michiigan. The spring of 1866 found him in Livingston county, Missouri, where he farmed one year, then removed to Chillicothe and became proprietor of the Browning House of that place. Remaining in the hotel business until 1868, he removed to Trenton and eng-ao-ed in the liverv business, which he still follows. He has been vice-president of the North Missouri Central Agricultural and Mechanical Association for several vears and still holds that position. In 1871 Mr. Smith married Miss Rosa Carnes, of Trenton. The}' have two children: Hugh C. and Hallie.

Henry Stein

Was born in Baden, Germany, April 14, 1832, where he lived, was educated and remained until his seventeenth year, when he emigrated to America, arriving in New York City July 5, 1849, an entire stranger, having neither relatives nor acquaintances, and with a cash capital amounting to only twelve dollars. His first enterprise was that of peddling, buying his first stock of goods in New York City, and making his territory the counties of Orange, Sullivan, Delaware and Ulster, in the same State. Continuing business in those counties until 1S54, he came to Missouri and peddled in Saline county one year, when he engaged in the general dry goods and grocery trade at Arrow Rock, doing business there until 1864, and from there to Qiiincy, Illinois, continuing in the same calling until 1868, when he went to Cliillicotlie, Missouri, and from tliere came to Trenton in the spring of 1869 and establislicd his ])resent dry goods and grocery business. Mr, Stein lias no aspirations for political preferment, but has been elected a member of the school board of Trenton and served four years. August 28, 1859, he married Miss Ilebecca Strouse, of New York City. They have eight children: Morris, Guss. and Nathan, clei'king for their father; and Adolph, Abram, Eddie, Carrie and Lottie, living at home. Mr. and Mrs. Stein were brought uj) in the Jewish faith but are not members of any congregation,

Henry C. Sykes

Was born on a farm in West Rupert, Vermont, December 10th, 1839, where he was reared and educated, and lived until attaining his majority. In the spring of 1869 he came to Grundy county and purchased a tract of land six miles southeast of Trenton which he has partly improved. In January,

1873, he |)urchased the one-half interest in tlie marble business of R. A. Collier, they doing business as R. A. Collier & Co., until the summer of 1877, when Mr. Collier retiring from the firm, he became sole proprietor and has carried on the business ever since. Mr. Sykes, on the 31st of April,

Nathaniel Shanklin & Brother

The members of this firm, Nathaniel and William, are sons of Andrew T. Shanklin, one of the oldest pioneers of Grundy county. They were born and reared on a farm near Trenton. Nathaniel on the 3d of November, 1842, and William, March 27th, 1852. When quite young, Nathaniel began business for liimself, dealing in and feeding stock, which he followed two years, when in 1864 he engaged in the mercantile business with James Austin, W. W, Ilubbell and J. II. Shanklin, under the firm name of W. W Hubbell & Co., with whom he did business until 1868, and during which time Mr. Ilubbell retired from the firm, changing it to N. Shanklin & Co. After the latter firm closed out business in 1868, he began business again, to deal in and feed stock, and farm at the same time. In 1874 he engaged in the grocery business with his brother, J. A. Shanklin, and they did business together until 1877, when he retired from the firm and became interested in coal mining. Being a member of the Grundy Count}' Coal Company, in 1870 he was chosen superintendent of their coal shaft at Trenton, and still fills that position. October 17th, 1867, he married Miss Annie Austin, of Trenton, by whom he has six children: Minnie, Susie, James, Ernest, Ethel and Ida.

William Shanklin began business for himself when twenty-three, as a farmer, following agricultural pursuits until 1879, when he engaged in grazing buying and shipping cattle and hogs to eastern markets, at Trenton, continuing this until May, 1880, when he became associated with his brother and the present firm ot'N. S. Shanklin & Brother was founded. November, 1st, 1874, he married Miss Mary E. Bunnell, of Grundy county. They have three children: John M., Andrew L., and Anna May.

George Tindall

George Tindall, son of Col. Jacob T. Tindall (who fell at the battle of Shiloh), was born in Trenton, September 10, 1852. He attended the common and high schools of Trenton preparatory to a finishing course in the State University at Columbia, where he graduated in 1868, in his twentieth year. In 1872 he entered the office of Judge Stephen Peery, at Trenton, and pursued the study of the law until 1875, when he was adniitted to the bar and at once began the practice of his profession, continuing until 1877, in which year he was obliged to relinquish practice on account of ill health. After several trips to Colorado he returned much improved in health, and in the latter part of 1877 established himself in the loan and real estate business in Trenton, and has been so engaged since that time. In 1875 he was chosen superintendent of the Grundy County Coal Company, which position he held until 1878. The following year he was elected mayor of the city of Trenton, and presided over the interests of the city in that capacity until 1881.

Mr. Tindall was united in marriage to Miss Lizzie Campbell, of Garrard county, Kentucky, on the 15th of March, 1875. They have two children: Austin, aged six years, and Lucy, aged four. Mr. Tindall is a prominent member of the Masonic fraternity, having taken the blue lodge, chapter and commandery degrees.

Was born in Tipperary, Ireland, August 12, 1835, and when two years old^ his parents eniigra ted to the United States and settled in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, where he was reared. When twelve years of age he began to support himself, and at fifteen was apprenticed to learn the shoemaker's trade, serving three and one-half years, and from that time until 1857, he worked at his trade as journeyman, in Philadelphia, and various towns in Iowa and Missouri, when he came to Grundj^ county and settled in Trenton, continuing to work as a "jour" until 1859, when he engaged in the boot and shoe business. At the breaking out of the war of the rebellion in 1861, he enlisted in company B, Twenty-third Missouri volunteer infantry and served three years; was taken prisoner at the battle of Shiloh, April 6,1862, and incarcerated in different southern prisons until October 19, 1862, then released on parole at Aiken's Landing, Virginia, and from there sent ta Washington, D. C, where for two months he was in the hospital recovering from the effects of prison exposure. He was sent home on a furlough of six weeks and afterwards joined his regiment at Franklin, Missouri, Hia regiment was kept in the State until the following fall, then ordered tO' Nashville, Tennessee, and soon after joined the Army of the Cumberland in the Fourteentli army corps, and particii)ated in all the battles of that division up to the capture of Atlanta, September 20, 186-lr, when he was mustered out, and immediately returned to Trenton and again engaged in the boot and shoe trade. In 1806, with Martin Eagan, he went into the marble business at Trenton, under the firm name of Eagan & Tor])ey. Closins: out that business in 1869 he resumed dealin<j: in boots and shoes whicb he continued until January, 1881. Selling out he entered the restaurant business, in which he is at present engaged. During the years 1871, 1872, 1879 and 1881, he was a member of the city council of Trentun. November 4th, 1860, Mr. Torpey and Miss Sarah E. Crouch, of Trenton,, were united in marriage. They have five children: Thomas E., Charles A.,. Maggie G., liallie and Mabel. Maggie died at Trenton, June 27, 1881. Mr. Torpey holds a prominent place among the enterprising merchants of Trenton.

Horace B. Tinsman

Among those who have more recently come to Trenton, and one who ishighly esteemed by all who know him, may be mentioned Conductor Horrace B. Tinsman. He is a Fennsylvanian by birth, born in Lackawaxen, Pikecounty, on November 1, 1839, and is the son of John A. and Celia (Ridgway) Tinsman. Our subject was reared in his native town, receiving the advantages of the schools of that place, supplemented with two years at the University of Northern Pennsylvania, located at Bethany, Wayne county. After, leaving school he was employed as clerk in his father's store, and at the age of eighteen left the paternal roof, and soon after we find him in the employ of the New York & Erie Railroad, where he continued for twO' years, and then accepted a position on the Lackawanna & Bloom sburg Railroad. Later we find him in the employ of the Albany & Susquehanna Railroad, and from that road he accepted a train on the New York & Oswego Midland Railroad in 1869, and had the honor of being the first conductor in the employ of that company. In April, 1878, he came to Trenton, since which time he has been in the employ of the Chicago, Rock Island & Pacific Railroad as passenger conductor. On the 3d day of Feb- /'uary, 1863, Mr. Tinsman was joined in marriage to Mary J., daughter of hi. B,, and Esther Jolnison, of Sullivan county, New York. Their family circle consists of Flora E., Scott and Frank N., and they have lost one son,. Charles E. Mr. Tinsman is a man of untiring energy, and his friends know him as one careful of the interests intrusted to his keeping. His longexperience in railroading has well fitted him for the position he now occupies, and his genial ways have won for him a host of friends.

C. L. Webber is of Pennsylvania birth, born in Center county, December 10, 1843, where he lived nntil he was twelve years old, when his parents removed to West Union, Fayette county, Iowa. In this latter place he resided seven years, attending; the common schools of the county until his nineteenth 3'ear, when he offered his services in tlie cause of the Union, enlisting in company G, of the Thirty-eighth Iowa volunteer infantry, in which he served during tlie war, and was mustered out at Houston, Texas, in 1865. Returning to West Union, Iowa, he began the study and afterward practice of dental surgery, which he continued until the fall of 1869, when he began the study of medicine under doctors Boucher and Shrader, of Iowa City. Next he entered the medical department of the Iowa State University, and March 4, 1872, graduated a doctor of medicine. The folowing 3^ear he located in Trenton, and established himself in the ]u*actice of his profession, and in 1874 became assistant surgeon of the Chicago, Rock Island & Pacific Railway Company. He holds the position of examining surgeon for the Traveler's Accident Insurance Company, of Hartford, Connecticut, and was county physician of Grundy county for tlie years 1879 and 1880, and during the same time was city physician of Trenton. He is now filling his second term as coroner of Grundy county. Dr. Webber married Miss Mary S. Newcomb, of West Union, Iowa, in 1867, from whom he was orranted a divorce in 1873,

Isaac M. White was born in Greensborough, Guilford county, North Carolina, May 19, 1829, where he lived with his parents until their death in 1846, and then with an uncle, E. Hoskins, of the same place, working in his tannery and attending the Quaker college at New Garden, near his native town. His parents and relatives being Quakers he was also reared in that belief and still adheres to the faith to a great extent. September 19, 1848, he left his native State in company with a young companion, Thomas Coffin; they started on foot, each carrying all his worldly goods in a small hand valise, for Knightstown, Indiana, arriving on the first of November. They stopped with relatives until Jul}^, 1849, when his comrade bought .a quantity of chickens and shipping them on a flat-boat, started for New Orleans, and he, purchasing a horse, returned to Greensborough, North Carolina, where, soon after, his comrade also returned, having lost all he had i\^ his investment and trip to New Orleans. After being together for a short time they concluded to go to California, but after due consideration he determined to return to Indiana with relatives. To enable young Coffin tO' make the trip to California he loaned him $50, and, although Coffin became quite wealthy in mining speculation while there, the sum was never re- turned. On his return to Indiana he rented a farm in Henry county, and fanned one year. In 1851 he invested in the old National Turn])ike leading from Richmond to Indianapolis, hnying seven shares of $250 each, and began to work on tlie road as a bridge-builder - tliat being his first ex])erience as a carpenter and builder. Pursuing that business for one year he went to Raysville, in the same county, and took a contract to manufacture butter firkins, and after completing his contract, in 1852, began working at bridge building on the Indianapolis & Peru Railroad; which he followed two years. In 1854 he went to Kokomo, Howard county, Indiana, and engaged in contracting and building until 1856, when he went to Dubuque, Iowa, and worked as carpenter and joiner until December of the same year; from -there he removed to Cedar Falls and remained there nntil the spring of 185Y, and thence to Hampton, Fraidclin county, Iowa, still working at his trade. In 1858 he was elected one of the county judges of Franklin county and filled the office for two years, and in 1860 was elected justice of the peace at Hampton for a term of four years, but resigned in 1861 to enlist in company F, Second Iowa volunteer infantry, to serve three months. At the expiration of that time he went to Indianapolis, Indiana, and enlisted in company D, Thirty-ninth Indiana volunteer infantry, and with his regiment took part in the battle of Shiloh and all others up to the time of the taking of Corinth in 1862, and afterwards participated in the battles of Perryville. Stone River, Murfreesborough, Liberty Gap, Chickamauga and Missionary Ridge. In 1868 he was detailed some six months as a sapper and miner for making famines and gabions for earthworks at Murfreesborough. April, 1864, his regiment veteranized and were given thirty days' furlough, and at the expiration of the furlough were assigned to Rosecrans's division, with which he participated in the raids in Alabama and Georgia under generals Rosseau, Thomas, Cook and Kilpatrick, and accompanied General Sherman in the great march from Atlanta to the sea. In 1865 he was transferred to the First regiment of veteran volunteer engineers and served until his discharge September 30, of the same year. After his discharge from the service he returned to Hampton, Iowa, and during the winter of 1866 left there and came to Missouri, settling at Chillicothe, where he engaged in the carpenter and joiner's trade. November 20, 1867, he married Miss M. A, Lafferty, of Chillicothe, and soon after removed to Wheeling in the same (Livingston) count3\ In 1870 he was elected supervisor of registration, and receiving the appointment of postmaster under President Grant,, served from 1870 to 1873, when he resigned and removed to Trenton, where he has since resided and followed his trade, excepting a short time in 1880, when he was in the mercantile business with W. P. Laffert}^ under the firm name of White & Lafierty. Mr. and Mrs. White are members of the Presbyterian Church of Trenton, of which he is a ruling elder and one of" the board of church trustees.