Grundy County, Missouri - Biographical sketches (6 of 8 so headed), 1881

Biographical sketches

Was born seven miles northeast of Fairfield, in Jefferson county, Iowa, October 21, 1851. His father's name is Peter Amick, who is now living in this county, ten miles north of Trenton; his mother's name was Barbara Amick, and she died March, 1852, After the death of his mother he was taken to Scipio, Jennings county, Indiana, where he remained six years, then came to Grundy county, and remained with his father till he wa& eighteen years old. December 6, 1872, he was united in marriage to Miss Mary Jane Crawford. She was born in Jackson township, Grundy county, Auffust 9.1853. Their children's names are as here given : Ma^sie lona, born December 16, 1873, died June 23, 1879; Jennie Alice, born July 31^ 1876; William Perry, born September 16, 1879, died November 5, 1880. Mr. Amick has lived in this county twenty-three years, and says game of different kinds was plenty when he came here, deer, wild turkey, prairie chickens, geese, and other wild fowls; wolves, wild-cats and other vicious animals were numerous. The country then was sparsely populated, but those who lived here were more sociable, and seemed to enjoy themselves much more than they do now. Agricultural labor was then performed by means of the simplest implements, and the people all seemed interested in each other's welfare. Mr. Amick lives on a small farm of rich, productive soil, containing ninety acres, thirty acres of which are under cultivation and from which he realizes annually about seven hundred bushels of corn, and one hundred and fifty bushels of oats. He handles only enough stock for home use.

Nathan Arnold

Was born November 1, 1833, in Maumee county, Ohio, near the river of the same name. His father's name was Moses M. Arnold, and his mother's, before marriage, was Mary Ann Morgan. His father is living in Harrison county, Iowa. During their residence in Maumee county his mother was taken away from the toils of earth, in 1835, to receive the reward that awaited her in the eternal state. Mr. Arnold is the youngest of nine sons; he has one sister living in Union City, Iowa; one brother lives in Iowa and one in Nebraska; two are done with the cares and labors of life, and have entered where sickness, sorrow, pain and death are felt and feared no more. Mr. Arnold was married to Miss Angeline Lowery, of Mercer counly, Missouri, February 6, 1859, and removed to Grundy county in 1860. lie enlisted in the United States army in the spring of 1862, in the Third Miosouri

State militia cavalry volunteers, under Col. Walter Kino;; at the end of three years and four months the company was disbanded, and consolidated with the Seventh Missouri State militia cavalry volunteers under Colonel Phillips, at Greenfield, Missouri. In January, 1865, he was promoted to the rank of captain of tlie company, and when this company was mustered out, was retained as captain of a company of recruits, which position he sustained with honor and credit till the close of the war. "While in the service of his country he participated in six battles, besides many skirmishes, enduring many liardships, privations and much suffering. Mr. and Mrs, Arnold have two sons and one daughter; named as follows: William M., aged twenty-one years; Rippey B., aged nineteen years; Martha O., aged thirteen years. Mr. Arnold, during the earlier part of his life, devoted some ten years to the profession of school-teaching, in which he did good service, training youthful minds for the active business departments of life. It is worthy of notice in this sketch that he assisted in the raid which succeeded in driving General Price from the State. Mr. Arnold ranks amono- the first citizens of the county, is an extensive farmer, and handles, annually, a large quantity of the various articles, vegetables, etc., etc., for which the county is celebrated.

Was born in Franklin county, Ohio, May 7,1855, where he resided until 1868, when he accompanied his parents in their removal to Missouri. On Christmas Day, 1879, he was united in marriage to Miss Frances S. Overton. They have one daughter, Ethel Almira, born September 23, 1880. Mr (Campbell received a liberal education, and for five years devoted his attention to the profession of school-teaching, for which he is most excellently qualified. He removed to Grundy county, March 28, 1880, and settled upon a farm in Jackson township. He has a farm of ninety-four acres of fertile land, situated near the Livingston county line; has a handsome residence, built in the modern style, with most pleasant surroundings. The average yield of his farm is about one hundred and twenty-five bushels of wheat, nine hundred bushels of corn, five hundred bushels of oats, and fifteen tons of hay. Mr. and Mrs. Campbell are highly esteemed by their neighbors,

Henry Clay Crawford was born in Hocking county', Ohio, June 30, 1838. His parents were William and Eliza Ci'awford, both natives of Pennsylvania, who came to this township in 1857. He was united in marriage to Miss Mary Jane Eades, of Schuyler county, Illinois, March 26, 1866. She was born in Schuyler county, May 26, 1849. Mr. and Mrs. Crawford have two sous and six daughters living; whose names and dates of birth are as follows: George Washington, born October 20, 1858; Carrie, born February 8, 1868; Mahala, born July 27, 1870; Alma Yictory, born November 3, 1872; Lena, born February 12, 1875; Grant, born October 29, 1876; Stella, born May 31, 1881; and Lilian, born April 21, 1873. Besides these, there are three dead; namely, Lou Ella, Maggie, and Adelia; each of the three was one of a pair of twins. Mr. Crawford was mustered into the service of his country March 19, 1862, under Captain Estes, in Chillicothe, Missouri, in company I, Third regiment cavalry volunteers, and served in Missouri, Arkansas, and Indian Territory. At the close of the second year of his service, he, with the remnant of his regiment, consolidated with the Sixth and Seventh Missouri State volunteer cavalry, and was promoted to fourth sergeant of company K, Seventh regiment; was mustered out April 11, 1865, at St. Louis. He was in the following named battles: Springfield, Neosho, Big Blue, Marais des Cygnes, Mine-Run, and Jefterson City, and took part in a great number of skirmishes with guerrillas. His clothes were perforated by many a ball, but he escaped unhurt, amid the showers of missies that whistled around him. Mr. Crawford's farm is situated in the southwestern part of Jackson township, and consists of one hundred and seventy acres of rich and productive land, all under cultivation, excepting ten acres. The annual average of his farm products approximates fifteen hundred bushels of corn, forty tons of hay, and wheat enough for home corfsum])tion. He has a fine orchard, containing five hundred trees of selected varieties. lie also has about $1,500 invested in live-stock.

Columbus M. Evans

Was born in Howard county, Missouri, March 9, 1834. He came to Grundy county, March 9, 1845, and settled on the farm on which he still resides. His occupation is that of agriculture, and by diligence and industry he has acquired a competency. He is an active member of the Christian Church. On J^ovember 5th, 1874, Mr. Evans was married to Miss S. F. Crowley, Elder H. U. Dale olficiating. Mr. and Mrs. Evans have been blessed with two sons; named, respectively, L. D. Evans and E. M. Evans. Mrs. Evans was born in Ray county, Missouri, March 8, 1848. He owns a very handsome farm, and produces abundant crops of wheat, corn, oats and hay. His residence is a liandsome frame house, situated some five miles southeast of Trenton, the county seat of Grundy county.

Augustus Evans

The subject of this sketch was born in Randolph county, Missouri, April 10, 1837. His parents removed, to Grundy county in 1845, and settled on the farm where he now resides. In 1857 he was united in marriage to Miss Mary E. Browner, of Clinton county, Missouri. By this union they have had three sons; namely, Charles B., born July 28, 1861; Claude, born June 11,1867; and Rupert, born December 19,1879. Mr. Evans owns an excellent farm located near the center of the township, consisting of two hundred and sixty-five acres, most of it tillable, and one hundred and seventy-five acres under fence. He produces annually about seven hundred and fifty bushels of wheat, two thousand bushels of corn, four hundr6d bushels of oats, and one hundred bushels of timothy seed, besides fruits and vegetables. The buildings are all in good j-epair and have the appearance of the thrift and enterprise which characterize the owner.

Elder J. Mack

James Mack was born in Lanarkshire, Scotland, eighteen miles south of the city of Glasgow, March 3, 1826. His parents, Hamilton and Christina Mack, were natives of Scotland, and the former died there, at the age of eixty-three; his mother died in Adams county, Illinois, at the age of eightytwo. In 1844 he accompanied his mother and familj'^ to Illinois, and they settled in Adams county, fourteen miles southeast of Quincy; and he secured work on a tarm for one year, for which he was to receive $120. On the 19th Gf May, 1850, he was united in marriage to Miss Alpha Lawrence, of Adams county, who on that day was just twenty years old. Her father was one of the first settlers of that county. The marriage ceremony was performed by Elder H. Bowles. By this union Mr. and Mrs. Mack have had ten children, eight sons and two daughters. Three died in infancy, and the names of the remaining seven are here appended: Hamilton Craig, born March 23, 1851; Mary Louise, born April 7, 1854; Woodford W., born May 14, 1856; James Marion, deceased, born December 20, 1862; Oites Franklin, born December 5, 1865; and Arvilla Jane, born October 1, 1867. Mr. Mack was reared in the " Old School " Presbyterian faith, and continued in that belief until his twenty-third year, when he united with the Christian Church, and has occupied the position of a minister of that denomination for twenty-six years. He officiated with honor in that capacity in the counties of Adams, Pike, Brown and Hancock, in Illinois, and in Grundy and Uvingston in this State. Elder Mack owns a good farm which produces an abundant yield, and occupies considerable of his attention, but he still labors in the ministry, and goes about doing good whenever opportunity ofi'ers. He is an honored resident of Jackson township.

George Washington McClain was born in Bath county, Kentucky, September 18, 1838. In 1845, his parents removed to Iowa and settled in Jefferson county, and after a residence of nine years, they came to Missouri and settled in Mercer county. Here they resided seven years, when the clarion note of war sounded throughout this broad land, and George W. McClain responded to his country's call, and was mustered into the service of the Union at Chillicothe, Missouri, on the 15th of August, 1861. He was enrolled as sixth sergeant of company D, Second Missouri volunteer cavalry, under Captain George C. Marshall and Colonel Lewis Merrill. He served until the fall of 1864, was promoted to fourth sergeant, participated in one des])erate battle and several severe skirmishes, and received his honorable discharge from the service in September of the year last mentioned.

September 5, 1872, Mr. McClain and Miss Melvina Cantrell were united in the marriage bonds, Rev. James Mack, of the Christian Church, performing the ceremony. She was born November 9, 1855. Mr. and Mrs. Mc- Clain have been blessed with two children; named, respectively, Zanie Agnes, born October 18, 1873; and Stella May, born July 3, 1875.

Mr. McClain owns a farm of one hundred and thirty-three acres, ninetythree of which are fenced and under cultivation, producing one hundred bushels of wheat, four hundred bushels of oats, seven hundred bushels of corn, and twenty tons of hay, per annum. He also deals in live-stock, and has considerable invested in the business.

tucky, <and born July 27, 1811; the latter was born in Morgan county, same State, June 14, 1814, and died in Grundy county, June 27, 1870. Mr. McClain was reared upon a farm, and lias given his attention to that calling through life. He lives upon a tract of excellent land, the ])roperty of his father, containing three hundred and seventy-three acres, two hundred and seventy-three of which are prairie, one hundred and fifty fenced, and one liundred and thirty acres under cultivation. His average annual total yield of cereals, amounts to 2,150 bushels, and fifty tons of hay. He also engages ; laro;elv in stock-raisino*.

November 4, 1877, Mr. McClain was united in marriage to Miss Mary Jane Thompson, of Hydesville California. She is a native of Davis county, Iowa, born March 17, 1859. They have two children; namely, Bertie Elma, born September 17, 1878; and Edna M, born May 9, 1881.

Chakles Skinner

Was born in Loudoun county, Virginia, March 25, 1813, in the village of Aldie, near the city of Alexandria. His parents were Peter and Sarah Skinner, both natives of Loudoun county. While a young man he went to Kentucky and worked on a farm with his uncle, John Skinner, for about eight months, when failing in health he returned to his native county and continued to reside there until September, 1838; he then came to Missouri, and stopped with a former acquaintance in Lincoln county, until the autumn of 1839. From there he went to St. Louis county, and remained there till February, 1841. During his stay there he won the aftections of Miss Amanda Herndon, with whom he was united in marriage February 18, 1841, by Rev. Mr. Hurley, of the Baptist Church. With his wife he returned to Lincoln county, and from there went to St. Charles county, where they remained sixteen years. During this time he labored in agricultural pursuits, adding considerable to his financial interests. He then, with his family, came to Grundy county, and settled on the tract of land on which he still resides. William Skinner owns one of the most desirable farms in Grundy county. The location is beautiful, and the surroundings cheerful; buildings substantial and modern in architecture. He owns about six ; hundred acres of land, all under fence and nearly four hundred acres in cultivation, supplied with the agricultural implements necessary to render farming profitable and pleasant. Mr. and Mrs. Skinner have had twelve children, six sons and six daughters. Of these three sons and three daughters are living. The names of the children with date of birth, are as follows: Sarali Alice, born March 5, 1842; Howard Malcolm, born Octobers, 1843; ; Charles Hubert, born September 3, 1844; Isabella Frances, born August 30, 1846; John Kichard, born August 22, 1848; Martha Ann, born P'ebruary 9, 1850; James Henry, born September 9, 1852; Mary Eugenia, born January 19, 1855; Margaret Elizabeth, born November 20, 1856; Annie ;

William E. Spencek

Was born in Macomb county, Michigan, IsTovember 26, 1836. His father, Samuel B. Spencer, was a native of New York, born June 2, 1806; his mother died in August, 1855, aged forty-eiglit years. January 8, 1867, Mr. Spencer was united in marriage to the present Mrs. Spencer, in Utica, Michigan. By this union they have had two sons; namely, Lucian H., born March 25, 1868; and Edward L., born November 4, 1875. He enlisted in the United States service at Detroit, Michigan, August 21, 1861, joining the First regiment of Michigan cavalry, under Col. T, F. Broadhead. In August, 1862, he was taken prisoner at the second battle of Bull Kun, paroled and sent to Camp Chase, Ohio; was exchanged the following November and returned to his regiment; in December, 1863, the regiment veteranized, under Col. C. H. Town, and remained in the service until the close of the war. He participated in the battle of the Wilderness, lost his right arm in the battle of Five Forks, served under Custer at Gettysburg, and during his enlistment was engaged in about fifty battles and skirmishes. At the conclusion of hostilities he returned to Michigan, remained there nearly three years, then removed to Missouri and settled upon the farm upon which he now lives, January 1, 1868. He owns four hundred and seventy-five acres of land, most desirably located, with substantial buildings and neat surroundings. His farm produces an abundant yield of wheat, corn, oats, hay, flax, fruits and vegetables. Mr. Spencer is one of those cheerful, whole-souled gentlemen who make it pleasant for all with whom they come in contact.

Geokge H. Tolle

Was born upon a farm nine miles east of Maysville, Mason county, Kentucky, March 31, 1817. His father was a soldier in the War of 1812, and served under Gens. William Henry Harrison and " Mad Anthony" Wayne, and his grandfather did valiant service in the War of the Revolution. Mr. Tolle was reared upon the farm of his birth, and received an educati0.n in the common schools. November 2, 1834, he was united in marriage to Miss Mary E. Eads, of Mason county. The issue of this union was nine sons and four dauirhters; names and dates of birth as follows: One unnamed died in early infancy; Frances Louise, born August 27, 1836; William C, born October 29, 1838; Mary E., born June 25, 1841; Moses C, born January 17, 1844; James F., born March 17, 1846; Samuel S., born July 18, 1848; Mary E., born January 22, 1853; Jarvis C, born October 15, 1856; Juliet L, born March 21, 1857; George W. H. and Mary E. M., twins, born May 21, 1860; and Abraham L., born August 17, 1862. Three have been called to another world: Mary E., died April 1, 1859; George W. H., July 1, 1860; and Moses C, May 15, 1863, while in the service of his country. Mr. Tolle owns a line farm containing one hundred acres, situated in the southwestern part of the township, and realizes a handsome profit aunually from liis farming operations.