Grundy County, Missouri - Biographical sketches (4 of 8 so headed), 1881

Biographical sketches

William Baldwin was born in Preble county, Ohio, January 15, 1812, where he lived until he was about sixteen years of age, when his father moved to Montgomery county, Indiana, where he grew to manhood. He embraced religion in his early days, and afterward began preaching. He was married to Miss Elizabeth Harrison, September 6, 1832. Was ordained elder in 1838, and had charge of several churches in his native county; also carried on a farm, which he sold out in 1856, and came to Daviess count}'', Missouri, where he has made his home most of the time since. Two years ago, in 1879, he came to Grundy county and settled on the farm where he now lives. Elder Baldwin preached in several churches in this county while he lived in Daviess county; he officiated at nearly all the marriages of Elder McCammon's children, besides a great many others in this county; filled the pulpit in the Union Church on Coon Creek while Elder McCammon's lungs were affected, part of the time during the war. There are four preachers now laboring for the Master who were brought to repentance through his labors in the good cause; namely, John L. Netherton, James Poe, Joseph Wood and DeWitt Brown. He baptized the first three. He has conducted several successful revivals during his labors, has baptized as high as thirty-six persons at one going into the water, and has baptized forty persons a year for three years. He still preaches occasionally now, but has no church in charge. His first wife died September 19, 1850. They had eight children: Mary H., Alzina A., Sarah E., Nancy J., Zerilda C, Samantha E., Martha E. and John W. Mary H., Alzina A., Sarah E. and Zerilda C. are dead. He married Mrs. Mary Worley, November 6, 1851. They had three children: Robert L., Emma A. and Samuel F. Eobert L. and Samuel F. are dead. Elder Baldwin was assessor under the old township law, and was on the school board for several years.

Judge Charles P. Brandom

Charles P. Brandom was born in Rappahanock county, Virginia, September 7, 1834, where he lived and grew to manhood, and attended the district schools during the winter months, and worked on the farm in the spring and summer. He was living with his father when he married the first time, Miss Bett}' C. White, August 24, 1854, and continued to reside with him until October 7, 1855, when he moved to Greene county, Ohio, and remained until September, 1856. At this time he went into debt for a pair of horses, harness and wagon and some furniture, all of which he loaded into his wagon, and with his wife and one child started for Missouri. He landed near Gallatin, Daviess county, where he remained until the spring of 1857, then moved on a farm near Edinburg where he remained until the spring of

1859. His wife was killed by lightning Augnst 9th, the same year, and he lay in bed sick with a fever at the time the bolt struck his house, breaking every window in it and tearing up clothing and bedding; the house was nearly rended to pieces; his family had just got up from the dinner table where every dish was turned upside down, and his wife had come to his bedside to ask him what he wanted to eat, when the lightning struck her, and she fell dead by the bed; it also tore the sheet and pillow-cases that hung over the bed into strings. Judge Brandom thinks his life was saved by his lying on a feather bed. This misfortune about broke him up, besides robbing him of his dearlv beloved wife. He remained here until January,

1860, when he took his only child and went back to Greene county, Ohio, where his wife's relatives lived, and stayed there about one year, then returned to his father's, who was in Daviess county, with whom he remained until he married again, his second wife being Miss Lodey McCamraon, daughter of William McOammon, whom he married July 24, 1862. The spring of 1863 he moved on a farm his father-in-law gave him in Grundy county, where he still lives. By hard work and good management he has accumulated considerable property, and now owns twelve hundred acres of land, all told, in this county, and one of the finest farm houses in the county, has a very large barn, and in fact the-outbuildings are good and his farm is all fenced. He deals in cattle and stock generally, and has a large herd of cattle feeding for market, besides sheep, horses, mules and other stock too numerous to mention. He was elected county judge in 1877; has been one of the school board for a number of years; is one of the directors of the

-Grand River College now; and was township trustee under the old township law until it was repealed. Mr. and Mrs. Brandom are members of the Baptist Church. They have had six children, beside Olivia Belle, his first wife's child. Their names are Sylvester W., Eleonora I., Edna Earl, Oriola, Lora Leota and William M. Edna E. and William M. are dead.

John Jacob Botsford

Was born in Andrew county, Missouri, July 28, 1853, where he lived until he was about two years of age, when his father moved to Hancock county, Indiana. There he remained about two years, when his father moved back to Missouri and located in Edinburg, where he has since resided. He was educated in the Grand River College. In 1871 he was aj^prenticed to a blacksmith in Chillicothe, Missouri, where he worked for three years; after that went to Moberly, Missouri, and worked in the blacksmith department of the railroad shops at that place for several years, then thought he would start out and see the world. He traveled through Kentuck}'^, Tennessee and Illinois, and in 1875 returned to Edinburg, bought out the blacksmith shop, and embarked in business for himself. By attending strictly to business he has been enabled to enlarge his shop to double its former capacity, and has built a new wagon and paint shop, until his establishment is now about four times as large as when he started. He manufactures wagons, spring wagons and carriages, and does general blacksmithing, employing from three to four men. He .is a good business man and a credit to the town. Mr. Botsford married Miss Mary Ann A. Witten, August 3, 1876. His wife died June 4, 1881, leaving two little boys, Claude Thompson and Homer Parmlee.

William W. Barnes

Was born in Belmont county, Ohio, August 5, 1839, where he lived until he was four years of age, when his father moved to Monroe county, same State, where he was educated and grew to manhood, and followed farming and school teaching. He married Miss Amanda J. Dumm, February 12, 1860, and settled on a farm, where he was when the war broke out. He enlisted in the Ohio State militia, and his coinpany M^as called out several times, twice to go after the great raider, John Morgan, who was captured on the farm of his wife's uncle. Remaining in the militia until about the close of the war, he moved to Grund}' county, Missouri, in April, 1865, and since then has followed farming, teaching school during the winter; after having taught nine terms in succession in his own district, he gave up teaching and devoted all his time to farming. In the fall of 1880 he embarked in the fine stock business, dealing in short-horn Durham cattle and Norman horses, and owns the thorough-bred bull Paris, registered in the American Herd-book, volume 21, also two Norman mares. It is his intention to go to Kentucky this winter to purchase some pure Short-Horn heifers, and at the same time to buv some full blood Norman mares for breeding. He has a fine farm of one hundred and forty acres, and intends to devote his time to breeding blooded stock and improving the live stock of this county. He invites the farmers of this and adjoining counties to call and see his stock.

Mr. and Mrs. Barnes have six children; namely, John B., Wilbur L., Lewis N., Frank Carl, Essie and Bessie, twins. They are members of the M. E. Church.

Josiah Barnes

Was born in Belmont county, Ohio, August 23, 1815, where he lived about thirty years. He married Miss Susannah D. Barnes, in October, 1842, and moved to Monroe count}^ same State, in 1845. They had five children. His wife died in 1862, and he married Miss Mary Elizabeth Driggs, October 17, 1854. They resided in Monroe county until 1865, when lie moved to Grundy county, Missouri, and settled on a farm near Edinburg, where he still I'esides. Mr. Barnes was township trustee in his native county but has not held any oftice since he came to this county. Some years since he was asked to write up this county, giving the statistics of the amount of grain, etc., raised in the county, foi* the State Agricultural Society, and spent a good deal of time hunting up such information as was wanted ; he could not find any two men who could tell him the same tiling, but procured most of his information from Major John C. (irifHii, of Trenton. He has been the father of ten children in all: William W., Abel Benson, Mary Elizabeth, Lydia Ellen, and babe not named, by his present wife; and Benjamin Allen, Milton Orion, Ma<rgie Belle, Ellsworth Eugene (dead), and Milo Kingsley, by his first wife. Mr. and Mrs. Barnes, and two children, are members of the M. E. Church. He has been church steward for thirty-six years.

Daniel Baintee

Was born in Fayette county, Ohio, October 28, 1825, where he lived until he was about twenty years of age, when he went to Henry county, Indiana, whei-e he married Miss Charlotta Corry, September 22, 1850. They lived there on a farm until the fall of 1856, then moved to Grundy county, and located on a farm about one and one-half miles from Edinburg. In 1861 he joined the home-guards, under Col. Shanklin and Major DeBolt. His company held themselves in readiness to go whenever they were called on, which was very often, in fact every time that any raiding was done north of the Missouri River; they were called on several times to hunt Quantrell and his band out of this part of the country. He remained in the service until the war was over, when he settled down to farming until the fall of 1866, when he moved to Edinburg, kept a boarding house and run his ftirm. About live years ago he " hung out his sign," and commenced to keep hotel, which he is still conducting, and keeps a first-class place where man and beast can find the best of accommodations. Mrs. B. presides over the culinary department to the satisfaction of all comers. Mr. Bainter was appointed postmaster under President Grant during his first term, which position he held for several years, then resigned in favor of Mr. Shaffer, the present postmaster, because he could not spare the time to attend to the office. He was elected town constable for several years. Mr. and Mrs. Bainter have eight children; viz., William Henry, Sarah Elizabeth, Thomas Albert, John Milton, Mary Eliza, Perry Anderson, Ella Belle, and Eddie McGilbert; William Henry, and Sarah E., were born in Indiana, the rest were born in Grundy county. Sarah Elizabeth, Thomas Albert, John Milton, Mary Eliza, Perry Anderson, and Ella Belle are all dead.

William H. Curran

Was born in Tazewell county, Virginia, May 1, 1841, where he lived until eleven years of age, then moved to Grundy county, Missouri, in 1852, where he located on the farm he still lives on. He went back to Virginia in 1861, and enlisted in the Confederate army, where he served during the war. Mr. Curran married Miss Nancy Wilson, April 24, 1862. They lived in the "Old Dominion" until 1868, then moved back to Missouri, where he went to farming again on the old place. His wife died October 10, 1874, leaving eiglit children. January 18, 1875, he married Miss Josephine J. Ketron. She was born in Carroll county, Missouri, October 5, 1842, and her parents came to this county when she was about six years old. They have had four children. The names of his lirst wife's children are William E., Hugh W., Charles F., Sarah O., Mary Y., John J., E. M., Myrtle B.; and those of his second wife, ^Nancy Y., Luvenia J., Thomas and Thompson, twins; Mary Y. and Thompson are dead.

John D. Froman

"Was born in Yermillion county, Illinois, November 24, 1838, where he lived until he was about seventeen years of age, when his father moved to Daviess county, Missouri. He married Miss Nancy J. Moore, October 11, 1860, and moved on his farm, where he lived until 1865, when he went into the mercantile business in Bancroft. He remained about two years, then sold out and went back on the farm where he stayed about two years, when he bought an interest in a grist-mill, in company with Mr. Graham; the firm was Graham & Froman, and he remained about two years, and then sold out to his brother. From there he went to (xallatin, and bought an interest in a grist and saw-mill, remained about one year, sold out again, rented his mother-in-law's farm, which he has cultivated ever since. He has been on the school board for several years. Mr. and Mrs. Froman had nine children, Lena, Linnie, Leona, Emma, James H., Harry T., Clyde M., Anna E., and Nancy J.; Lena, Leona, and AnnaE.. are dead. Mrs. Froman died December 23, 1880.

Theophilus P. Fulkerson was born in Grund}^ county, Missouri, April 6, 1845, where he has lived ever since. He was a student of the old Grand River College and attended the first school ever taught in it, under John O. Martin, continuing until the school-house burned, when he went to the district school taught by Morgan P. Scott. He worked on the farm during the summer and went to school in the winter, and when about twelve years old, he and his brother ran a carding-machine in Edinburg. For two summers he attended the sessions of the new Grand River College, under Mr. Wheeler. July 16, 1863, he enlisted in company K, First Missouri cavalry, Capt. H. F. Peery ; they did duty all over the State and were in several skirmishes; he was mustered out in 1865, and then settled down to farming again. He married Miss Sarah J. Fulkerson, July 4, 1869. They had two children, and Mrs. F. died February 21, 1874. March 2, 1876, he married Miss Phylena Eraeline Hudson. They have had two children. The names of the children by both marriages are: Fred C, Fannie (dead) Ira, and one not named. Mr. and Mrs. Fulkersoii are members of the M. E. Church. He owns a farm of three hundred and twenty acres.

"Was born in Tazewell county, Virginia, May 6, 1833, where lie grew to manhood. His early years were filled with many hardships. His father died when he was about seven years old, and he being the eldest child, was bound out to a preacher and lawj'er, with whom he staid until he was about twelve years of age; was then turned out of house and home owing to the death of his employer's wife. He returned home, as his mother had married again, and remained there about tw^o years. Was again bound out, to a farmer, with whom he lived until eighteen years of age, when he left him to try to get an education, as he had never been to school a day in his life. He went to live with a farmer, working for his board night and. morning and such time as he had to spare from school; attended school for three months, and had to walk five miles every morning and night to and from school. This was about all the schooling he ever received, and as he had lived around enough to learn that a man without an education in this world was not much respected, determined to have a little education, and used to ask people to help him to read; in that way he acquired what education he has. He learned the shoemaker's trade and employed men to work for him; used to study of nights and they would help him. This was done principally after he came to this county. To-day he is one of the best informed men in the county where he lives, and has followed up his thirst for knowledge until he has got to be a great reader, and keeps "posted" in the general news of the country. Mr. Gates married Miss Mary A. Harper, August 4, 1853. In 1856 he concluded to go West, sold off" about all he had, except some bedding and clothing, which he got a neighbor to haul to the Ohio River for him, as they were coming West in company; he and and his wife walking. He carried his seven months old child on his back one hundred miles, from his native county to the Big Sandy River at Prestonsburg, Kentucky, whei'e he and his father-in-law bought a flat-boat, which took about all the money he had, some $14. They then floated down the Big Sandy to the mouth, where they took a steamboat up the Ohio River to Guyandotte, where he had to stop and go to work, as his money was all gone. He worked on the wire suspension bridge, being built there at that time, receiving one dollar per day and boarding himself, and thought that he had found a " bonanza," as he had never received but fifty cents a day where he came from. He worked here about forty-five days, then got another job and worked there all summer to get enough to take his family on to Missouri. Leaving there October 22d, he landed at Brunswick, Missouri, November 22d, being on the river one month, and landing there with only one gold dollar, to his name. However, he had friends in Grundy county, where he came the same fall, and has been ever since, except about one year spent in Daviess county. He has followed farming most of the time since lie came, only working at his trade in winter. In 1864 he moved to Edinhiu'ix, where he still lives. Was enrolled in the Missouri militia the same year and served twenty-three days. Mr. Gates is respected by all who know him. Mr. and Mrs. Gates have live children, two of whom were horn in Virginia and the others in this county: Thomas H.. Louisa J., Althea J., William B. and James E. There are but two living, William B. and James E.

William T. Gannaway

Was born in Harding count}^, Kentucky, Februarj^ 8, 1831, where he lived about ten yeai's, when his mother moved to LaRue county, the same State, where he lived about five years and then went to Breckinridge county, Kentucky. Here he lived some six years, then moved to Macon county, Missouri, in 1852, remaining about two years, when he went to Gentry county, Missouri. He lived there nine years, and spent the winter of 1862 and 1863 in Nebraska. In the spring of 1863 he went to Montana, remaining there one 3^ear; came back to Iowa and spent the winter of 186'i and 1865. In the spring of the last named year he engaged in freighting on the plains, wdiicli he followed that season, then came to this county. He entered the mercantile business in Edinburg, continuing until August, 1871, when he sold out and went to Gentryville, and again embarked in the mercantile business, carried it on fourteen months, and again came back to Grundy county and located on the farm where he now lives, near Edinburg, and engaged in general farming. He has been postmaster in Gentryville and Edinburg.

Mr. Gannaway married Miss Mary Olivia Wynn, September 28, 1871. She was born in Grundy count}", March 22, 1846, in the house she still lives in, was the daughter of Minor Wynn, and is a member of the M. E. Church (South). They have had three children; named, Leona, Bertiia and Martha Emma. Leona and Martha Emma are dead. Mr. Gannaway owns a farm of two hundred acres.

John M. Graham

Was born in Belmont county, Ohio, May 5, ISOi, M'here he lived about two years, when his mother died and an uncle took iiim to Fayette county, Pennsylvania. He lived there until he was about twenty-one years of age, was educated and learned the spinning wheel business, which he followed for a number of years, then moved to White count}', Illinois. In 1825 he and his brother started for that State, and having no money to pay tlieiv fare they got a skiif and rowed themselves down the Monongahela and Ohio rivers from above Pittsburgh to Mt. Yernon, Indiana, about 1,000 miles; they left tlie river at this point and footed it across Posey county to the AYabash River, where he paid out the last dime he had in the world to get across the ferry; they footed it to where their elder brother had gone nine years before. Mr.

Graham married Miss Rebecca Phillips, February 15, 1826. He lived on a farm and made spinning-wheels, and speculated on the river; loaded a flatboat with pork and lard and took it down to New Orleans, met with a good sale and did well, was very successful in his speculations and amassed considerable property before he left Illinois. He came to Missouri in the summer of 1845, and settled in Grundy county, where he has made his home ever since. Mr. Graham was one of the early settlers of this county, and he has ever been a valuable acquisition to the county. He came here with a respectable capital, about $10,000, which he invested in machinery and other improvements (he held an interest in seven mills at one time in this and adjoining counties, holding from one-third to two-thirds interest in each of them), and industries to the great advantage of this then newly settled region. He embarked in the mercantile business in Trenton, took Mr. James Austin into partnership with him, carried on business for a short time and then sold out to Ashley GuUey. In 1846 he and Mr. Phillips went into the sheep business, and he sent his sou to Clarke county, Ohio, to buy them, who bought 1,019 head, which he drove through to Missouri. They followed this business a few years, then abandoned it, as it did not pay, washed wool in St. Louis bringing only twenty-two and one-third cents per pound. He afterwards outfitted nine men to go to California, his three sons among the number; they went in the early excitement. This proved another bad investment. He has retired from all business. Mr, Graham served as postmaster for twenty years, part of the time in Illinois. " His wife was born in Westmoreland count}', Pennsylvania, October 15, 1803, and was reared in "West Virginia. Her parents moved to AVhite county, Illinois, where she lived about twenty-nine years. Mr. and Mrs. Graham have had nine children; namely, Xancy H., James, William, John M., Emily, George, Alfred, Oliver and Robert. Xancy H. and Robert are dead.

Was born in White county, Illinois, September 27, 1830, where he lived until he was about fifteen years of age, when he came with his father to Missouri, where he has lived most of the time since. He went to California in 1850, and remained about two years, when he came back to stay with his parents. He married Miss Bathsheba E. Patton, April 28, 1853, and located on a farm where he lived about ten years, after which he embarked in the mercantile business at Gentryville, Missonri, continuing ten years, then sold out and came back to the farm, where he still remains. His wife was born in Montgomery county, Virginia, January 3, 1835, where her parents lived until 1843, when her mother moved to Missouri, where she has lived ever since.

Mason Gulley

Was boru in Garrett county, Kentucky, October 12, 1820, and lived there about five years when his father moved to Jessamine county same State. There he learned the blacksmith's trade with Alex. Hamilton. He afterward moved to Johnson county, Indiana, where he went into partnership with George Creasey and they worked together until 1865, wlien he moved to Grundy county, Missouri, and located on the farm Avhere he still lives. He has a shop on his farm where he does work for his neighbors, running his farm in connection with the shop. Mr. and Mrs. Gulley have had seven children, named, Mary Frances (dead), Wm. Jordan, James A., Martha, Benjamin, Jessie W., and Ashley. Four are married and live near them. Mr. Gulley owns a well cultivated farm of eighty-three acres.

William C. Harvey

"William Cox Harvey was born in Henry county, Indiana, November 12, 1826, where he lived until he was sixteen years of age. His father moved to Grundy county, Missouri, and he lias since lived on the farm that his father located on. He was county assessor from 1848 to 1852; was next elected sheriff and collector in 1854, holding the office two terms, up to 1856; and from tliat time to 1858 was again assessor, and could have any office in the 'county he wanted. He was an old line Whig, and ran against two Whig candidates; he would not go before the convention as a candidate because he had a good many Democratic friends, and so ran independent and beat tliem both, for sheriffi Mr. Harvey is a man of very little learning, and had to hire clerks to do his writing, as he could write only enough to sign his name; but he was a man of line perception, and knew if there was anything wrong about his books by hearing his clerks read them to him. To-day he has no enemies that he is aware of, notwithstanding he has bought tax titles and dealt in real estate ever since he retired from office. He sold all tlie swamp land in the county while he was sheriff, and in all his dealings was never accused of wronging the county out of a cent; he ran for assessor and was elected under the old township law, holding the office about one year; was again elected by one hundred to six or seven votes; could command the suffrage of the county to-day for almost any office he would ask for. He has been identified with the Grand Eiver College ever since it was started, and has held several offices in connection with it, and is for anything that will improve the town and county in which he lives. Mr. Harvey married Miss Elizabeth C. Peery in 1854. They have had six children; viz., Absalom Evans, Eleanor, Stephen I., Sarah, Anna N. and Martlia L. Absalom E., Eleanor and Sarah are dead.

Mr. Harvey buys and sells real estate, is a large breeder of mules, and does a general farming and stock-raising business. He is a remarkable man, generous to a fault, and a good neighbor and citizen. To know him once is to know liini always. He is always a friend to the poor and needy.

Absalom Harvey

"Was born in Kandolph county, North Carolina, June 13, 1791, where he lived until he was about thirteen years of age. His father then moved to the Territory of Indiana, where he resided about thirty-four years. He lived on a farm and used to buy hogs and drive them to Cincinnati, Ohio, to market, following the business about fifteen years. He seiwed in the War of 1812, under General Harrison. At the close of the war he married Miss Eleanor Julian, October 5, 1813, and settled on a farm in Wayne county, Indiana, where he lived until 1820, then moved to Blue River, Henry county, same State, and lived there twenty years. In the fall of 1842 he moved to Grundy county, Missouri, where he settled on the farm now owned by his son in Edinburg. He was a noted hunter and used to indulge in the sport a great deal, and kept several hounds; he used to take his dogs and go up the country and start up a deer in the woods on the spot which is now Main Street, Edinburg. The deer went through the place snorting, and when the town was started it was originally called " Bucksnort," owins to this snorting: as soon as thev got into the town, and was so called for a long time, when the people became possessed of the idea that it was not a nice name, and it was changed. They wanted to call it Harveyville, but Mr. Harvey would not have it that way, so an old Scotchman, named McFarland, had the naming of it, and he called it Edinburg after the classical city in Scotland where he came from. Mr. Harvey very frequently went with the Indians on their hunting excursions, as they had to have a white man with them to keep from being molested on those hunting tours. His death occurred September IT, 1872. He was a kind husband and father, beloved by all who knew him. He was grandlather to thirty-four children, and great-grandfather to sixteen children. His wife still survives. She was born in Randolph county, ISTorth Carolina, October 9, 1796. She lived with her parents, Isaac and Sarah Julian, until she was married. She has been a pioneer all of her life and helped to settle up two new Territories before coming to this county. Their family consisted of eight children; named, respectively; Jennie, Isaac J., Sarah L., Evans, William C, Elizabeth E., Sophronia J. and a babe not named. She is grandmother to thirtyseven children, great-grandmother to twenty-nine children, and great-greatgrandmother to three children. She is a woman of many sterling qualities. Her eldest son came from California to visit her in 1874, and she accompanied him back, as she wanted to see those of her grandchildren she had never seen ; she remained about three months. She was reared a Quaker, but not liking that creed, felt as though she ought to join some church, and so united with the Baptist Church, and still remains an active member.

Jacob H, Kackley

"Was born June 5, 1836, in Jessamine county, Kentucky. He is the third chikl of James and Eliza Kackley, who migrated from Kentucky to Missouri in 1844. Jacob H. Kackley lived with his parents, working on the farm, until he grew to manhood, at which time he commenced to farm on his own resources. August 3, 1861, he enlisted in the Twenty-second regiment of Missouri volunteers, under Col. Merrill. He served about three years, and was discharged September 23, 1864. December 25, 1864, he married Miss Mary Embry, daughter of George Embry, all of Grundy county. She died August 31, 1865, and March 20, 1866, he married Miss Nancy Lucas, daughter of James Lucas, then residents of Grundy county. By his second wife Mr. K, is the father of five children, whose names are, Alice M., "Walter S., Ella M., Izetta and Orie J. Mr. Kackley is now one of the most prosperous farmers of Grundy county.

Was born in Clay county, Kentucky, January 4, 1811, where he resided until grown, and attended school a short time, but received most of his education since he came to Missouri. Lie used to study. at night by the light of the fire-jDlace, after he had done a hard days' work. He married Miss Eosanna Oxford, March 13, 1834. In 1837 he moved to Grundy county, Missouri, then called Livingston county, where he still lives on the farm he first settled on. Their post-ofiice then was Spring Hill, about twenty miles distant.. His father and mother were members of the M. E. Church, but he took a dislike to the church when he was a boy, for in those days they had what were called circuit riders, and they used to ride up to his father's house and call him, "here, William, you take my horse and take good care of him, feed, water and clean him oft'." Then when he would go to the house, if it happened to be cold weather, they would order him to bring in some dry wood and build up a fire, and William you do this and that, when they were great big strapping fellows and did nothing but eat and drink. Every quarter they would ride up to his father's and sa}', " Brother McCammon, we want so much money to-day, as your part towards paying us for preaching"; and his father and mother would scrape up every cent they could find, and they denied themselves a good many necessaries of life to pay those men, who were better able to work than his father. Such things as these disgusted him, and he said that if ever he preached he would never charge people anything as long as he was able to work. He joined the Baptist Church, was ordained elder in that society in September, 1843; when the Union Church on Cook Creek was built in 1844, was called to take charge of it, which position he has held ever since, except one year. The church then called him again, which call he has accepted and will con- timie to hold as long as he lives. The elder has never received but $7.50 cash for his services since he took charge of the church. His church members offered to pay him something for preaching, but he told them that they were as poor as he was, and he could work on his farm and make a living for himself and family, and if they had anything to give, to give it to the widows and orphans who needed it, as he did not want any pay for doing his Master's work. The elder used to hunt up neighborhoods where there were no appointments, and would- send them word that he would be there on Sunday to preach to them, and they would all turn out to hear the word of God, as it was seldom they got a chance in those days to listen to a preacher. He has organized several churches in this and adjoining counties, and has been a self-appointed missionary, doing good where he could without pay, often riding on horseback fifteen miles on Saturday morning and preaching twice on that day and the same on Sunday, then return home and go to plowing on Monday morning. The elder had a good business woman for a wife who looked after his farm when he was away; was very saving and would not let anything go to waste, and he attributes his success in this world, pecuniarily, to his wife's management. She was born in Buncombe county, i^orth Carolina, August 6, 1811. She was as good as she was saving, and never saw any one suffer for want of anything she had to give, but gave it freely. She reared a large family of children; namely, Elizabeth, Rebecca, Locky, William Henry, Rosanna, Sarah, Cornelia and Minerva Frances. The lirst two were born in Kentucky, and the rest were born on this farm, married here, and live Avithin a radius of ten miles. William Henry and Cornelia are dead. Mrs. McCammon died August 14, 1874. In 1880 the elder made a division of his property among his children, so they all have good homes; he gave np all work at that time thinking that as he was getting old he would do no labor the rest of his days, but his church insisted he should continue to preach for them. This he has consented to do, and will as long as he is able. He lives with his youngest daughter and. husband, who have the old homestead.

Judge William Metcalf

William Metcalf was born in Rock Castle county, Kentucky. His parents moved to Laurel county while he was qnite young, and his early manhood w^as spent in that county, where he remained until 1835, when he came to Missouri. He stopped for a short time in Randolph county, then moved to Macon county, this State. There he remained a short time and moved to Grundy county, then called Livingston, in 1838. Mr. Metcalf served out the unexpired term of Ashley Gulley as sheriff, when Mr. Gulley was in the Mexican War in 1847, and was elected to the office of sheriff^ in 1850; was appointed to serve out the unexpired term of James Sutton as assessor of this county; was appointed county judge to serve out an unexpired term, wliicli lie resigned owing to some misunderstanding between him and the other two judges; was afterwards appointed to serve out the unexpired term of Judge Casey Tate; was elected to the office afterwards. He was twice married; his lirst wife was Miss Elizabeth Elkins, whom he married in January, 1827. They had eight children: Elmira, Stephen, Leanna, Reuben, Mary Ann, Daniel (who was the first white male child born in this county; was born June 13, 1838), Wm, Henry, Sarah Elizabeth. His wife died December 26, 1843, and he remained a widower about one year when he married Mrs. Abigail Bowman. They had three children; viz., Pernecia Ann, Amos C, and Edwin B. The judge was a delegate to the State convention to elect delegates to the national convention that nominated Abraham Lincoln the second time. He was an old line Whig in his young days. He died March 31, 1878, and it was said that during his residence in this county he had been elected to various public offices within the gift of his fellow citizens, and notably engaged in enterprises affecting the welfare of the people, and for more than thirty -five years had been a member of the Baptist Church. Judge Metcalf's integrity stands unquestioned, his conviction of duty, his principles, his course in life, are commendable, and he always lived evenly and conscientiously toward his neighbors and felloM^ men. As he exemi^lified the upright, straightforward man in all dealings, and as a father and citizen, we all know that a good man has g-one from our midst.

Amos C. Metcalf

Was born in Grundy county, Missouri, January 24, 1848, on the farm that he still lives on and owns. He attended the district school in his younger days; attended the Grand River College, and also went to Prof. R. C. Norton, at Trenton. Mr. Metcalf married Miss Mary R. Tate, October 8, 1871, and settled on the farm. His wife was born in Grundy county, September 3, 1853, on a part of the farm her husband now owns. They have had five children: Amy A., Nettie, Edwin, William and Alma M. Amy A. and William are dead.

Mks. Lauvisa B. Moore

Lauvisa Peery was born in Tazewell county, Virginia, December 17, 1811, where she resided until she was about twenty-four years of age, when she came to Missouri with her father, who settled on a farm near Edinburg. She was educated in her native county, and taught the first school in Grundy county, then called Livingston county, in the summer of 1836. She taught in a small log house, with a floor of linden bark, weighted to to hold it from warping. She taught one term that year. She was married to Milton L. Moore, April 6, 1837, and moved on a farm about one and one-half miles north of Edinburg, where they lived about two years, when they sold out and bought a farm adjoining her father's farm, where she still lives, Slie joined the M. E. Cliurch when she was about sixteen years of age, and still remains an active member. Her husband died leaving her with eiirht cliildren. She tan2:ht school one term after she was married, while her husband was in California. She lias kept boarders, run her farm, and educated her children, ller eldest daughter married Prof. John Morse Ordway, second president of the old Grand River College, now professor of chemistry in Boston, Massachusetts. Her second daughter married John D. Froman, a farmer, who has run Mrs. Moore's farm for several years. She is very hale looking, and intelligent, and it is a ])leasure to sit and listen to her stories of old times, and what they did in the early settlement of this county. Her children were named as follows: Virginia, Nancy Jane, Sarah Amanda, a babe not named, Elbert, James Fickling, Luther Brown and George Henry. Sarah Amanda, Luther Brown and George Henry are living. Her husband, Milton L. Moore, was born in Tazewell county, Virginia, June 6, 1807, where he lived about twenty-three years. He learned the bricklayer's trade, which he followed until he was married, and some little after. His farm took most of his time and he gave up work at his trade. He came to Grundy county in the fall of 1836, and lived here until the gold fever broke out in California in the spring of 1850, when he thought he would try his fortune in that land of gold, and remained there until 1853, when he started for home, but only got as far as Lake Nicaragua, where he died.

Burl Masters

Was born in Garrard county, Kentucky, January 14, 1818. His father left there when he was quite small and came to Chariton county, Missouri, where he lived until 1834, when he came to Livingston county, then called Carroll where he settled on a farm at the head of Clear Creek. He remained there and married Miss Nancy Harris, January 28, 1844, and lived on his father's place about two years, when he moved to Gees Creek, Grundy county, lived there until 1854, when he moved on the farm that he is still living on, about two and one-half miles south of Edinburg, and has followed farming and hunting ever since. He has hunted all over this county when there were but few settlers. Mr. Masters took a trip with his team down to Jasper county, Missouri, and back, in 1879; he enjoys very good health. Mr. and Mrs. M. had twelve children; viz., Mary, Charlotte, Columbus, George Washington, babe not named, Nancy Jane, Burl, Martha, Benjamin F., Elizabeth, Hester Ann and Eva; all are living excepting Columbus, George Washington, babe, Burt, Martha and Nancy Jane. Mr. Masters owns a farm of one hundred and sixty acres.

William P. Miller

Was born in Bath county, Kentucky, November 20, 1822, where he lived about two years, when his mother took liim to Mercer county, the same State, where he was reared b3='aman named Curry. When sixteen years of age he made a trip to South Carolina with a drove of hogs, and on his return went to Cincinnati, Ohio. He engaged in steamboating from there to New Orleans for some time. Next he went to Schuyler county, Illinois, and stopped about eighteen months, then moved to Gentry county, Missouri, in 1841, where he made his home for several years. He learned the plasterer's trade, which he followed in various places in the State. He helped to cut the hemp off the ground where the old port of St. Joseph was built in August, 1843, and by Christmas there were about three hundred families living there. He_ left Gentry and went to Chariton county, where he married Miss B. M. Moore, and rented a farm and farmed for three years. Came to Grundy county in 1849, and lived on the old Wild farm that winter^ when he took up a claim in Mercer county, which he sold the same fall, then wintered in Daviess county as houses were scarce in this county. In the spring of 1851 he built a cabin on the bluffs this side of Trenton, which he gave up, as other parties claimed it; then he rented alarm in the southwest corner of the county, of Jesse Harris, where he lived one year; rented a farm in Livingston county, where he stayed two years; took up a claim over in Daviess county, and lived there about six years, then sold out; went back to Livingston county, remained about one year; came back to this county, about six miles east of Trenton; stayed there about two years; then began moving, stopping a while in Livingston and Grundy counties; moved on a farm northeast of Trenton and lived there about seventeen months; next moved on a farm near Lindley; then left and went into Sullivan county, near Lindley, where he bought a farm; lived there about six years; sold out and came back to this county and bought the old Warner farm, where he still lives. Mr. and Mrs. Miller have had nine children: Mary Jane, Cerilda E., Sarah E., James T., William Henry, Nancy Ann, Oliver G. S., Arviley, Miriam, and a babe not named. Cerilda E., and Sarah E., are dead.

Jesse Miller

Was born in Virginia, January 12, 1802, where he lived until about the close of the war in 1812, when he moved to Franklin county, Ohio, lived there about twenty-seven years, and followed farming. He n:iarried Miss Mercy Ann Everett, in October, 1826, then moved on his farm where he lived until he came to Grundy county, September 20, 1839, and located on a farm near Grubtown, tlien in Livingston county, where he died. He was county judge at the same time Dr. W. P. Thompson and Judge Woods served, and was one of the first grand jurors; he died the last year of hi& judgesliip, December 18, 1845. His wife remained a widow about two years when she married William Willis, November 18, 18-47. They settled on the old Jesse Miller farm, and lived there about six years, when they sold out there and bought the old Oxford farm where they lived about twentyfive years, when he rented his farm and moved on the old Freeman farm with his son Thomas, who, as they were getting old, wanted them to live with him. They came to Edinburg and he embarked in the mercantile business which he carried on about one year, in connection with his farm, then sold out the store to James Peery. He was born in England, May 19, 1805, where he lived until he was twenty-five or twenty-six years of age, when he came to America, settled in New York State and lived there about six years; moved to Franklin county, Ohio, and lived there about the same length of time when he came to this county, with Mr. Miller, in 1839. He died September 10, 1879. His wife still survives him and lives in Edinburg. She bad six children by her first husband: Mary Ann, Sarah Jane, Catherine, Amelia Avis, Albert Chapman and Sylvania; and three children by her second husband:. Thomas G. P., a babe, not named, and Millie.

Geogre W. Nichols

Was born in Boone county, Missouri, August 1, 1828, where he lived until he grew to manhood. He was in the Mexican War under General Price, iind served about fourteen months in the Boone company. He went to California at the breaking out of the gold fever in 1849, remained about three years, and came back to Missouri, Mr. Nichols married Miss Louisa E. Patton, of Grundy county, December 16, 1857. He moved to Gallatin, -where he and his brother embarked in tiie dvy goods and grocery trade, under the firm name of B. F. & G. W. Nichols, and then moved to Bancroft, where they built the first house, and opened a branch store, which he ran about two years. When the war broke out they closed uj) and he moved on a farm near Edinburg wdiere he lived about eighteen months then mov^ed on the Patton farm south of town. Was in the Missouri militia, and served about one year. He moved back to Daviess county, near Gallatin, where he lived one year, then moved to Gentryville, Missouri, where he staved about three months, then returned to the Patton farm in Grundy county where he still lives and does a general farming business. His wife was born in Pussell county, Virginia, March 27, 1839, where she lived until she was about three years old when her mother came to Grundy county, Missouri, November, 1841 (her mother was the first school teacher in this part of Grundy county and taught six terms), and settled on the farm where she still lives, Mr. and Mrs. Nichols belong to the M. E. Ohurch (South); he was steward in the church for several years. They have had eight children: Laura E,, William A., Edward, Robert Lee, Harry P., Barbie K., David M. and Paul N.; William A. and David M. are dead.

De. Archibald Peery

Archibald Peery was born in Tazewell county, Virginia, December 15, 1818, and lived there until he was seventeen years old. His father moved to Grundy county, Missouri, in 1835, then called Carroll county or Territory of Carrol], and their nearest post-office M^as at Kichmond, Ray county, Missouri. His father, (^eorge Peery, settled on a farm near where Edinburs: is now situated. He remained with his father until he was about twenty-iive years old, when he went to read medicine under Dr. Keith, of Chillicothe, Missouri, and afterward attended one course of lectures at the University of the State of Missouri, at St. Louis, during the winter of 1847 and '48. Since that time he has practiced his profession in this and adjoining townships. In the early daj's the country was sparsely settled and he had a circuit of about twenty miles, and had a great deal to contend against, as there were but few roads anywhere in this part of the country* Dr. Peery was the third physician who located in this county, Drs. Thompson and Cooper were first, and thei-e were two or three others who came here but did not stay very long, so he claims the honor of being the third one. He married Miss Elizabeth A. Kirk, September 18, 1851, and settled down in Edinburg, where he lived three years, practicing his profession, then moved to his farm about three-fourths of a mile east of town, a part of his father's old place, where he still resides. He has since followed his profession and carried on his farm besides. He does not practice much now, but attends calls when he can't refuse, as a good many of his patrons will not emplo}^ any one else, so he has to still keep going. Dr. Peery was deputy sheriff of this county under William Thrailkill, who was appointed the first sheriff in 1841. Dr. and Mrs. Peery have eight children: Horace Jewett, Florence H., Nash A., Trusten P., Mary C, Archibald K., Daniel William, and John T.

William H. Peery

Was born in Tazewell county, Virginia, October 16, 1828. His father moved to Montgomei-y county, same State, when he was an infant, and they lived there until 1836, when his father moved to Montgomery county, Missouri. While there he married Miss Nancy Jane Witten, March 9, 1853. In 1854 he came to Grundy county, and located in Washington township, where he lived about ten years, then moved to Edinburg, and went into the mercantile and general trading business. In 1867 he sold out, went to Chillicothe, embarked in the livery business, and cari'ied it on about two years, when he sold out, and bought a steam saw-mill on Wolf Creek, at a place called ''Dog Town," which he ran for five or six years, when he sold out and bought the farm that he is living on now, about three and one-half miles south of Edinburg. He opened a meat market in Treu- ton in 1875, and ran it about two years then sold out; has dealt in lumber, ties, and wood for a number of years. He has been a member of the school board for some time. Mr. and Mrs. Peery have had eleven children; named, respectively, Kebecca R., Sarah E., Joseph A., Cosby F., Thomas A., Edward II., Caroline L., Willie J., Carenia G., Ward H. and Robert W.; Cosby F., Edward H. and Ward H. are dead.

William Kobertson

Was born in Breckinridge county, Kentucky, January 23, 1841, where he lived until 1850, when his father moved to Grundy county, Missouri, where he lived and worked on a farm until the war broke out. He enlisted July 18, 1862, in company F, Thirty-fifth regiment Missouri volunteer infantry, and served three years. He was mustered out at St. Louis, then went back to Grnndy county, where he remained a short time. He came to Washington township, where he married Miss Minerva Frances McCaramon, November 10, 1869, and went into partnership with his father-in-law, William McCammon, in general farming and stock-raising, which business they carried on until March, 1880, when the partnership w.as dissolved by his father-in-law retiring from the firm. He still carries on the farm and lives on his fathei'-in-law's old homestead. Mr. and Mrs. Robertson have five children: Henry Orville, Charles, William, Emerson Elbert, Rosanna Sarah, and Wilber Esta.

Abraham Ruddell

Was born in Harrison county, Kentucky, February 24, 1823, where he lived until he was ten or eleven years of age. His father moved to Logan county, Ohio, where he lived about twelve years, then moved to Shelby county, same State. There he lived about eight years, when he moved to Daviess county, Missouri, and remained one winter, then moved to Grundy county, remained One year, returned to Daviess county and resided there about two years, when he moved back to this county again, and located on the farm he now lives on. Mr. Ruddell married Miss Christina Brandenburg, February 20, 1850. They had two children, Mary A. and a baby, not named.

Was born in Rappahannock county, Virginia, March 27, 1834, where he lived until he was about twenty-three years of age; went to school winters and worked on the farm during the summer. He married Miss Sarah A. Brandom, August 22, 1855, and lived on a farm until he moved to Daviess county, Missouri, in the fall of 1856. Came with his brother-in-law, C. P. Brandom, and settled near Gallatin, where he remained until the spring of 1857, when he moved on a farm near Edinburg, lived there two years, then returned to Daviess county, remaining about four years, when he bought

Mr. and Mrs. Sealock have had eight children: John W., David A., Lou Emma C, Mary E., Edwin S., Yiola O., Mortimer G., and a baby not named. John W., Viola O. and the baby are dead.

Was born in Mercer county, Kentucky, November 19, 1809, where he lived about sixteen years, when his father moved to Decatur county, Indiana, and he lived there eight or ten years. They next moved to Shelb}'^ county, same State, where he lived four or five years. He married Miss Elizabeth Cole, J^ovember, 1831, in Decatur county, Indiana. They had one child. Mrs. Shirley died December, 1833. December 10, 1836, he married Miss Susannah Burns, in Bartholomew county, Indiana. He took her to his home in Decatur county, where they lived until 1839, when he moved to Grundy county, and settled on the farm where he still lives, on Coon Creek. They have ten children: Daniel G., Mary E., Isaac, Catherine J., William H., L. P., Martin, Joel C, Jonathan and Absalom Harvey. All are living except Martin.

William Preston Thompson, the first white man to settle in Grundy county, was born in Washington count3', Virginia, in 1788. He attended school there, read medicine, and attended the medical college at Richmond, Virginia, and practiced his profession a short time in that city. He was a general in the War of 1812, was paymaster of the army at Norfolk, Virginia, during a portion of that war. Was elected to the legislature of that State, and was also a member of Congress from there; was considerable of a politician and an old line Whig. He moved to Ray county, Missouri, near Richmond, in 1821, and was appointed general of the Missouri liiilitia soon after; was in command of the troops during the Mormon War in this State. He followed his profession in Ray county when he was not engaged in the militia, and was still a general in the militia when he moved to Grundy county, then called Carroll, in the fall of 1833. He located on a farm in what is now Madison township, and his was the first white family and the only one that fall and winter in Grundy county. J. Harvey Meek, a brother-in-law, came with him to help him put up a cabin, and went back that fall and brought his family, and another brother-in-law, John Scott, with him in the spring of 1834. They settled near the doctor, and formed the only settlement in the county. The doctor's nearest neighbor when he came was Samuel Peniston, three miles east of Gallatin. In the fall of 1834 Levi Moore settled near where Trenton now is, about ten miles from the doctor, and they were glad to have neighbors so near. Dr. Thompson's practice extended from Ray county to tlie Iowa line, and from Linn county to the Missouri llivcr on the west, and he also had consideraible practice in Decatur county, Iowa. At that time he was the best physician in north Missouri, and several of his old ])atrons now living say they have never had so good a physician. The doctor named all the streams in north Missouri. Thompson's Fork is named after him. He was judge of this county when he had to go to Carrolton to transact business, then had to go to Chillicothe when this was Livingston county, and to Trenton, and a judge at his death. He lived in the same ])lace all the time he represented the three counties. Was twice married, his first wife being Miss Kussell, daughter of Major Kussell, of Burke's Garden,- Vii'ginia. They had six children. She died there and heVnarried Miss Sallie Meek about the year 1820. They moved to Missouri shortly after their marriage. His first children were: Eliza, Maria, John H., Patrick, James and William. Maria married Rev. David R. McAnally, editor of the Christian Advocate^ of (St. Louis, and she died in 1862; Eliza married a lawyer named Williams, of Ashland, North Carolina, who moved to St. Louis in 1861; both died the same year Mrs. McAnally died. Rev. John H. Thompson, a Methodist preacher, the last of his first children, died in 1880, at Ashland, Kentucky. By his second marriage there M'ere nine children, named Caroline A., Milton v., Catherine S., William Preston, James Winston, Evans Shelby, and Columbus Keyes; Sarah Jane and Mary Jane died in infancy; Caroline married John S. Darnaby, she had two children, and died in 1850. -Catherine S. married William N. Peery, and she is dead. William Preston and James W. died young; Evans Shelby went to California for his health, and came home and died shortly after; Columbus K, enlisted in the Twentythird regiment Missouri volunteers, was captured the 6th of April, 1862, at the battle of Sliiloh, was paroled July, 1862, contracted the chronic diarrhea, got back as far as Nashville, Tennessee, where he was taken to the hospital; Milton went after him and brought him home, and he died soon after. Milton is the only living representative of Dr. Thompson's family. Dr. Thompson died November 22, 1848. His wife survived him until October, 1851. She was born in Washington county, Virginia, in 1802.

Alexander R. Tate

Was born in Daviess county, Lidiana, August 22, 1830, where he lived until lie was eleven years old, when his father moved to Buchanan county, Missouri, in 1841, where he lived about one year, then moved to Andrew county, this State. He married Miss Margaret Carson, of Andrew county, December 18, 1851, and rented and lived upon a farm until he came to Grundy county in the spring of 1853. He rented a farm the first years after he came here, then bought the farm that he is living on now. He enlisted in company F, Thirtieth regiment Missouri volunteer infantry on the 27th of July, 1862; was elected captain of the same company October 10, the same fall, and commissioned by Governor Gamble; held the i^osition until 1865, wdien the regiment was reorganized, and he was reelected to the same office, which he held nntil they were discharged; his second commission was signed by Gov. Thos. Fletcher; their headquarters were at Chillicothe, and they were called on whenever there was any raiding done north of the river. Mr. Tate ran for sheriff on the independent ticket in the fall of 1878 and was beaten by eighty-six votes. The Democratic party thought they could elect him to an office so he allowed his name to be used ; was a candidate for sherifi'on that ticket again last fall (1880), was beaten worse than ever and has retired from the held. He has been on the school board for sev-eral years, and is one of the stockholders and directors of the North Missouri Central Agricultural and Mechanical Association of Grundy county.

Milton V. Thompson was born in Ray county, Missouri, August 22, 1826, where he lived until he was about seven years of age, when his father. Dr. W. P. Thompson, moved to Grundy county, then called Carroll, in the fall of 1833, where he still lives. He attended school here, and was a pupil of Miss Louisa Peery, and afterwards attended two terms at Richmond College, Ray county, Missouri. When he was ten years of age he could talk the Indian language lietter than he could English, as he had no playmates except the little Indian children, and was almost as much of an Indian as they were, until the county began to be settled- up. He read medicine under his father and practiced with him a while before his death, then took his father's place, practiced about twelve years, and then went into the stock business, which grew so large that he either had to give up his practice or farming, and being in poor health he abandoned the practice of medicine, there bing so much exposure attached to it he could not stand it. He began to raise mules and cattle; the war broke out and he dealt largely in mules, buying and selling them to the government; toward the latter part of the war he had to take all of his mules up into Iowa to keep the ragged Missouri militia from stealing them; they took everything in the shape of stock they could get hold of, and judged a man's loyalty by the number of liis horses and mules; if he had a line lot he was disloyal and they took them. After the war he went more into the cattle business and not so much in mules, which business he still follows, and has several large farms on which he raises feed for his stock. He is the oldest settler now living in the county. He has been justice of the peace for several years, also road overseer; when the country was new they needed good roads, and he helped to lay out a good many of them. Dr. Thompson married Miss Elizabeth H. Ish, May 30, 1848, danghter of William Ish, of Lafayette county, Missouri. She was born January 18, 1829, in that county. They have had twelve children; namely, WilHaiu Preston, Taschal W., Horace R., Evans Dickey, James M., Shelby H., Lenora M., Belle C, Colnmbus D., Catharine N., Porter A. and Lon Octaviall.; William Preston, Evans Dicky, James M., Slielby II., Catharine K. and Lou Octavia K are dead. His son, Shelby II., was strnck by lightning and killed in a bari> on liis farm, near Grubtown, at the age of eleven years.

Was born in Grundy county, Missouri, September 18, 1848, where he has lived ever since. He M'as educated in the district schools and Grand River College. He lived at home until his father's death, when he went to farming for himself, buying a farm just over the line in Daviess county, where he lived about two years, then rented his farm, and moved to Edinburg. He commenced to bu}'- stock when he was about twelve years old, and has followed the business ever since; has considerable stock on hand now, about thirty head of fine mules and horses and about ninety head of young cattle, besides other stock too numerous to mention. His farm is all under good cultivation, and is the best watered farm in this section of the State, a fine spring furnishing all the water necessary for his stock. Mr. Willis married Miss Ella L. Mitchell, August 19, 1879. She was born in Daviess county, Missouri, May 1, 1862, where she has lived most of the time since. They have one child, Willie M.

Mrs. Melvina Wynn

Widow of Evans P. Wynn, was born in Pettis county, Missouri, February 7, 1834, where she lived until she was about six years of age, when her father moved to Daviess county,,same State. There she was married, September 14, 1854, and lived until 1856. Her husband was engaged in selling goods for two years after they were mai-ried, when they moved to Middlebury, Mercer county, Missouri, where he sold goods for eighteen months, and then moved on the farm where she now lives. Her husband died September 27, 1875. She joined the Methodist Episcopal Church (South), when she was about nineteen years old, and is still an active member. Her sons run the farm. She has had eight children ; namely, David B., James G., William K., Frank E., Edward W., Robert P., Sallie B. and Mary L. Daniel B. is a school teacher; he was born in Daviess county, Missouri, May 29, 1855; was reared in Grundy county, and attended the Grand River College and graduated in 1880; he follows the profession of teaching in the winter.

John Wynn

Was born in Tazewell county, Virginia, May 25, 1840. His father left there when he was about four months old and came to Grundy county, Missouri, where he grew to manhood, and was educated at Trenton, and Grand River

College, working on the ftxrm in summer and going to school in winter He enlisted in company C, First Missouri Confederate cavalry, June 17, 1861, and served until January, 1862, when he went to Virginia and enlisted in Lee's army, April 14, 1862; was discharged April 14, 1865, came back and settled on the farm. He married Miss Anna Holt, March 11, 1866, and went to farming for himself; sold out to C. P. Brandom, and bought the farm where he lives now. He has been on the school board for several years. Mr. and Mrs. Wynn are members of the Methodist Episcopal Church (South) and he is one of the trustees of Antioch Church on Hickory Creek. They have seven children; named, respectively, Anna B., Mary E., Theodore H., Eleanor, John W., Archibald P., and Grace. All are living except John "W.

John Ward

"Was born in Morgan county, Illinois, September 20, 1842, where he lived aintil he was about four years of age. His parents moved to Lee county, - Iowa, where he lived until 1856, when they moved to Grundy county, where lie settled on a farm, near Grubtown, and lived until the war broke out. He in the Union army, company H, Twenty-third regiment, Missouri infantry, August 25, 1861; was taken prisoner at the battle of Shiloh, April 1862, and paroled in July the same year; was sent to Benton, Roanoke and St. Louis; remained until lie was exchanged; same fall was sent to join the regiment and remained until his three years expired; he participated in :all the battles his reo^iment was eno^awed in during that time; was mustered out, came back and worked on the farm. He married Miss Sylvania Miller, September 20, 1865, and then he went to teaching, and taught school on Coon Creek that winter. In the spring his father gave him a faiun of fortylive acres, when he began farming for himself, and has been very successful, noM' owning a farm of one hundred and eighty-two acres. He continued to farm until he moved to Edinburg, in August, 1876, and in September of that year went into the drug business, which he conducted until January 1, 1877, when he took W. T. Gannaway into partnership, and put in a stock -of general merchandise in connection with drugs, and carried on the business until May, 1878, when they removed their general stock to Hickory -Creek station (selling their drugs to McDougal & Wynn), where they remained until they were burned out October 18, the same year. He then went back on the farm but returned to Edinburg, in August, 1879, and began to build to his hotel property, and now has the largest hotel in the village. In February, 1881, he again embarked in the drug business, which he runs in connection with his hotel. His wife was born in Grundy county, Missouri, May 20, 1845. They have had live children; viz., Lora V., Angle H., Millie Ann, Leona and Leota, twins; all are living except Millie A.

John T. Wittkn

Was born in Tazewell county, Vir<^inia, September 27, 1820, where he lived until he was twent)'-three years of age, when he and his brother Samuel came to Grundy county, in 1843. lie located on the farm where he still resides, near Edinburg, and has his farm under good cultivation; does general farming, feeds cattle for the market, and raises considerable other stock. He has made farming pay, as he looks after everything himself, and goes in for all kinds of machinery that helps him to save labor; is possessed of good business tact, has accumulated considerable property, and has given all of his children, who have married, a good start. Mr. Witten married Miss Caroline V. Thompson, August 4, 1842. They had seven children. She died August 20, 1866, and he married Mrs. Lucy A. Peery, February, 1868. Was divorced in April, 1876, and married Miss Evelina Fulkerson, his present wife, September 26, 1878. He, and a neighbor of his, Mr. William Peerj', built what is now known as the Grand River College. It was started on the scholarship plan in 1858, and they ran it on that plan until 1861, when the war broke out and the State government used it as quarters for troops for several months; it was next used as a district school for some time, and then they sold it to a joint company. He has taken an active part in all public enterprises, and feels a pride in all educational aifairs in his town; has been on the school board for about twenty years. He was county assessor in 1845, and was elected justice of the peace for several years. His children are named as follows: James H., Louisa R., Thomas O., Susan E. Y., Mary Ann, America, John R, and Emma J.

Henry B. Witten

Was born in Tazewell county, Virginia, March 1, 1833, where he lived until he was eighteen years of age. His father moved to Grundy county in 1851, and settled on a farm near "Buck Snort," now Ed inburg, where he still resides. He married Miss Emily Graham, October 21, 1852, and went to farming for himself on a farm he owned on Coon Creek, and remained two years. He improved a farm in Daviess county, just over the line from this, where he dealt in mules and horses, bu^'ing and selling to the government, and continued the business until 1865, when the disease called glanders broke out among his stock; he lost heavily, abandoned the mule business and devoted his time to raising cattle. In 1874 he bought the Graham grist-mill on Thompson's Fork of Grand River, and has followed milling and farming up to the present time. He was enrolled in the State militia and was in active service about thirty days. Mr. Witten is a member of the A. F. & A. M. Lodge No. 311, at Trenton, also of the I. O. O. F. Lodge No. 394, at Edinburg, and is a member of the district school board, and has been for a number of years. He and his wife are members of the M. E.

Church (South), joining in 1867; he is sahbath-school superintendent and has held the office for several years. Mr. and Mrs. Witten have had twelve children, whose names are: John T., James W., Charles H., Samuel C, George T., Oliver E., Harry A., liebecca T., Emma J., John M., Arch. P. and Nancy E. Three, John T., Oliver E. and John M. are dead.

James A. Woodress

Was born on a farm in LaRue county, Kentucky, November 22,-1825, where he was reared and lived until 1849. His father being a blacksmith he was brought up to that trade, and on leaving home went to Green Kentucky, and established himself in that business and carried it on Aintil 1856. In this latter year he came to Missouri, and after prospecting in Harrison and Andrew counties, came to Grundy county in the summer 1857 and settled at Edinburg, where he established himself in the blacksmithing business and carried it on until 1865. Durino; the late war he was a Union man, and was enrolled in the State militia and held himself ready for duty, but was out only thirt}'^ days. In 1866 he embarked in the -mercantile business at Edinburg with Lucius M. Abbott, under the firm name of Woodress & Abbott. Mr. Abbott retiring from the firm in 1868, William Albin became his successor, chanffino' the firm to Woodress & Albin. In 1869 he retired from the firm and eno^asfed in farming and .blacksmithing until 1871, then bought out Mr. Albin and carried on the (mercantile business alone until 1873, when his son-in-law, L. H. Shafer, i)ecame associated with him, and the present firm of Woodress & Shafer was formed. Mr. Woodress was united in marriage to Miss Hannah Woolridge, of Green county, Kentucky, January 1, 1851. She died at Edinburg, September 3, 1857. They had three children: William, who died in Kentucky; Laura, wife of L. H. Shafer; and Thomas A., a merchant of Trenton. November 10, 1869, he married Mrs. Phcebe C. Willis, of Edin- .burg. They have four children: Katie, Maggie, Pearl and Nellie.

R. W. Witten was born in Tazewell county, in the State of Virginia, on the 22d day of April, 1832. Opened an office as practicing jthj'sician at Oceana, the county seat of Wyoming county, in the State of Virginia (now West Virginia), on the 8th of April, 1855, and continued the practice of medicine at that place until the year 1857, when he removed to Bickley, county seat of Raleigh county, in the same State, and there practiced medicine until the breaking out of the war between the States. He accepted a surgeon's commission in the Confederate army, and served in that capacity during the greater part of the war. After the war he removed to Grundy .county, Missouri, and has been engaged in the practice of medicine at the .town of Edinburg ever since. He married Miss Sarah F. Riggs, of Vir- ginia, on the 11th of Muy, 185r.. They have four sons: Tlionias A., who is a hiwyer at Trenton ; William Wirt, also a hiwyer at Trenton; Evermont Ward, a medical student, liaving attended one full course of lectures at the College of Physicians and Surgeons at Keokuk, Iowa; and Robert Pickett, now in his thirteenth year.