Lafayette County, Missouri - The whole text, 1881 (part 19 of 19)

Frederick W. Ridings

Mr. Ridings was born in Frederick county, Va., in 1841, where he grew to manhood and received his education. He came to Missouri in 1869, and settled in Lafayette county, where he has since resided, engaged in cultivating a fine farm. He served four years in the Confederate army, enlisting in Capt. Cutchaw's Battery, which served under " Stonewall " Jackson until his death and afterwards under Gen. Early. Participated in raised and educated in this uuunly. After becoming of age he engaged in the drug business at Wellington for a period of two years, since which he has been engaged in farming. In May. 1S61, he enlisted in Capt. Wither's Company, engaged in state ser\ hich regiment. In September of 186S is transferred to Gen. J. Shebrigade. He participated in about fifty engagements in which generals commanded, besides numerous other skirmishes. Was wounded and taken prisoner twice - the first time was held at Alton for six months and then exchanged, and the second time was taken at Vicksburg and shortly afterwards paroled at Shreveport, June 1 . 1863. was married Sept.

they remained until 1S24, when they moved to this county and settled near Lexington, Although quite advanced in years, Mrs. ML a BtiD in the full possession of all her faculties and trequendy regales her fir ith interesting episodes, incident to pioneer -::

Samuel Smith

Mr. Smith is a native of Lafayerte county, Mo. ; born April 6th, 1831 He has been a continuous resident of this con: e his birth, and in the common schools. Is engaged in farming. He is the son of Charles and Smith. His father is a native of Virginia, and came to this county in 1S20. His mother was born in Tennessee and is the daughter of Samuel Fergurson, who settled here in 1831. Mr. Smith was married Feb. 14, 1^ i N. McLaughlin, of this county, who died Oct.

The subject of this sketch is a native of Antrim county, Ireland, born in 1815. In 1840 he immigrated to the U. S. and settled in Ohio, where he remained until 1861, when he came to Lafayette county where he has since resided, engaged in farming. In February, 1843, he was married to Miss Margaret Orr, of Ohio, who is a native of the Emerald Isle, and came to the U. S. in 1839. They have seven children living, viz: Robert, Joseph W. M., Lorrimer A., Amabel, John A., Tazedith P., Emmett L. V. Mr. Fulton is a member of the A. F. and A. M. and also of the I. O. O. F. Postoffice is Greenton.

Lycurgus Wilson

P. O. Tabo, Missouri; son of John and Mary Wilson, was born December 13, 1821, in Morgantown, Butler county, Kentucky, and is of English and Scotch descent. In 1828 he came with his parents to St. Louis, where his father died in 1837, and his mother in St. Louis county, in 1867. In 1844 he visited Kentucky, remained there four years, following his father's trade, that of builder and contractor. July 1, 1847, he married Miss Mary D. James, of Butler county, Kentucky. He then moved to Waterloo, Clark county, Missouri, where he continued his trade for ten years. In 1861 he moved to Dallas county, Texas, and lived there seven years. In 1868 he moved to this county and settled in Washington township, where he now lives upon a farm of 100 acres of good and well improved land. He has kept the postoffice on the Warrensburg & Lexington mail line for seven years. He has four children living: John H., Lucy J., Mattie E., and Jeft Davis. He is a member of the Christian church, his wife a Baptist. He is a Free Mason. His two oldest children are married and settled close to him.

Daniel Alumbaugh

postoffice Tabo, Mo. Son of James and Eliza Alumbaugh. Was born April 10, 1849, in this county. His parents are of German and French descent, his father a Kentuckian and his mother from Tennessee, they being married in Sullivan county, Ind. Dan has followed the honorable avocation of farmer all his life, and was educated in the schools of the county. He has taken great interest in literary societies. He was married on the 23d of July, 1867, to Miss Eliza Wooton, of this county. She died a few months after marriage. In 1864 he enlisted under Gen. Shelby, in the confederate army and remained in service till the war closed, surrendering at Shreveport, and was in the battles and fights of Price's retreat to Arkansas. He is a member of the Missionary Baptist church, membership at Long Branch, and superintendent of the Sunday school.

George W. Barton

postoffice Mayview, son of Bently and Martha Barton, was born in this country June 3, 1843, where he was raised on a farm and educated. He is a self-made man, and has made himself conspicuous as an active worker in most public matters. In 1879 he tried his fortune in the silver mines of Colorado, was not very successful, and in eight months returned to his farm. He is a consistent member of the Baptist church, and has two brothers preachers in the same church. He is kind, intelligent, and a good citizen.

Robert Buchanan

postoffice Tabo, son of Robert and Jane Buchanan, was born Oct. 26, 1828, in Glasgow, Scotland. In 1842 he came with his parents to this country and landed at New Orleans. They took boat for Lexington, in this county, where they landed in June, 1842, and settled in Washington township, where he now lives. He has been twice married, first to Miss Elizabeth Saunders, of Johnson county, April 27, 1850, and has by that union six children living - Robt. C, John P., James D., Wm. F., Sallie M. and Emma F. His first wife died Sept. 23, 1878. He was married again Sept. 26, 1881, to Mrs. Jane Myers, also of Johnson county. His second wife had three children. Mr. Buchanan's mother is still living, and lives with him. She is 82 years old. He is a member and deacon of the Baptist church.

Harrison Anderson

post office Tabo, Missouri, son of William H. and Didama Anderson, was born Dec. 9, 1840, in this county, where he was raised on a farm and has been a farmer all his life. His father died when he was but eleven years old leaving him at that tender age in charge of his mother and sister. During the late war, in 1861 he was taken prisoner by Federal troops of McFeran's regiment, and held nine months in Lexington. In 1865 he took the oath of allegiance, paid his thirty dollars and went to Kansas for safety. In three months he returned and made a crop entirely without horses or mules. On the 24th of April, 1878, he married Miss Lucy Wilson, of this county, and has two children: Mary and Richard. He now owns a good farm of one hundred acres, black loam and hemp land. He and his wife are both members of the Christian church.

Charles R. Anderson

CHARLES R. ANDERSON, post office Tabo, Mo., eldest son of William H. and Didama Anderson. His mother, Didama Anderson, was a daughter of Abner and Mary Dyer, was born May 2, 1807, in Warren county, Ky., and August 30, 1827, was married to Mr. Wm. H. Anderson. The next year, 1828, they came to this county and have lived here ever since. They had nine children: Eliza J., Charles R., Elizabeth H., Nancy E., James A., Harrison H., Julia C, Tirza M. and Esther A. These were all married and Tirza is now the only one of the girls living. They were all respectable members of the Christian church. Mr. Wm. H. Anderson went to California in 1S50 and returned May 1, 1851 very ill and died the next day, May 2, 1851. Mrs. Anderson is now keeping house for her youngest son. She has forty-six living grand-children, and has nine great grand-children married. She has been a member of the Christian church for fifty years. Her health is excellent. Her oldest son, Charles R. Anderson, was born Nov. 1, 1830, in this county. He was born and raised on a farm and has been a farmer all his life. At the age of twenty he went to California during the gold fever and remained there four years. Had good luck at mining. He returned by the isthmus, and bought a farm in Freedom township. In 1861 he enlisted in the M. S. G., and in the confederate service. May, 1863 he was taken prisoner at Big Black, Miss., and was in different prisons - Camp Morton, Ft Delaware, Point Lookout, Mo., Palmyra, N. Y., was nearly starved to death and often guarded by negroes. In 1865 he was exchanged, and came home from Alabama in October, 1865. Sept. 4, 1872, he was married to Miss Mary E. Mathews, of this county, and has three children - Lee Price, Didama T. and Nancy E. He is now living on a farm of 180 acres of first-rate land in Washington township.

Levi M. Fox

P. O. Odessa. Son of Jonathan and Elizabeth Fox. Was born in Cook county, Tennessee, August 20, 1808. When he was nineteen years old, about the year 1827, he came to this county and settled one mile south of Dover. He was married October 31, 1833, to Miss Mary Nelson, of Lexington. He joined the state militia as a private to help drive the Mormons out of the state, and helped to guard Jo Smith before he went to Nauvoo, Illinois. Mr. Fox owned a fine farm of 320 acres, south of Dover, splendidly improved, upon which he raised annually from forty to fifty tons of hemp. He has reared a family of nine children, four boys and five girls, all living and married, except one girl, Margaret, who died at the age of nine years: Francis M., Calvin R., Wm. C, L. M., are the names of his sons. His wife died in the old home, February 11, 1874, at the age of sixty-three years. Since that event Mr. Fox has been living with his children. At present he is at Eureka Springs, Arkansas, with his youngest son and namesake, Levi Monroe, who was born June 25th, 1852, and was married December 23, 1875, to Miss Corintha A. Tracy, by whom he has two children: Willie L. and Lettie May. He is a good citizen, teaching and farming. His health was much shattered, and he went into the drug business in Odessa. Recently he has gone to the Eureka Springs, Arkansas, for the benefit of his health.

James A. Anderson

post office Tabo, son of William H. and Didama Anderson, was born in this county June 20, 1838, two miles south of where Higginsville now stands, where he was raised and educated. During the years 1858 and 1859 he was in the employ of Russell & Majors, government freighters to the west and in the spring of 1860 was employed by Jones & Cartwright in the same business, when he crossed the plains, returning late the following fall. Then had a hard spell of the typhoid fever it being twelve months before he recovered, which kept him out of the army. February 16, 1864, he was married to Miss Mary E. Roach, of Johnson county, Mo. They have seven children now living: Charles R., Carrie E., Flora M., James H., Sue Ella, Arthur and Willie A. With two ponies and $160 he began married life, renting a farm for two years. In 1866 he purchased 100 acres of land of his uncle, Ira Anderson, at $1,250 on twelve months time, which he paid for and on which he now lives; and has now a farm of 240 acres.

James Milan

P. O. Mayview. Son of John and Ellen Milan, who came from Ireland in 1840, settling in Maysville, Kentucky, where they lived thirty years. About 1870 they moved to this county, and improved 100 acres in section 6, township 48, range 26, which farm James now manages. He has managed well, and they are prospering. James was born in Kentucky, Maysville, June 17, 1857, and nature marked him for a good farmer. Coal abounds in the neighborhood, near the surface, and his whole farm is underlaid with coal.

Addison Hook

was born May 20, 1828, in Hampshire county, Virginia. In 1857 he moved to Lafayette county, and in 1865 purchased a farm of 192 acres, 120 acres of which is in a high state of cultivation, well fenced and plenty of water, with good, rich pastures. Mr. Hook was married January 25, 1853, to Miss Mary Carlyle. By this union they have seven children living: Walter, Edgar S., Laura E., William N., Charley A., Lucy M. and Arthur Duvall. Mr. Hook died on the 14th of February, 1881. He was a good citizen, esteemed and respected by neighbors. Edgar L. Sency Hook was born August 23, 1856, in Hampshire county, Virginia. He came to Lafayette county with his father and has remained here ever since, excepting one year spent in Colorado prospecting. At present he

Edmond J. Chambers

The subject of this sketch was born in Lexington, Missouri, December 25, 1847. His father died while going to California in 1849. Up to 1864 Mr. Chambers worked hard, supporting himself and mother. At that time he enlisted in the confederate cause, under Gen. Shelby, in Gordon's regiment, and served until the close of the war. He surrendered at Shreveport, Louisiana, and on the 27th of June, 1865 returned home; he was married November, 1876, to Miss Cerelda Bates. Mr. Chambers was licensed to preach in March, 1874, in the M. E. church, south. He has a family of two children living: James L. and Annie May. Mr. C. is a quiet and peaceful citizen, honored and respected by his neighbors.

William Carter

was born February 19, 1827, in Jessamine county, Kentucky. In 1869 he moved to Missouri and located in this county, in Freedom township. In 1881 he moved to Washington township, where he now resides. Mr. Carter was married on April 15, 1849, to Miss Mary J. Sharp. He has a family of five children : Vina C, James, Almeda J., Thomas A., and George R. Himself, and wife and two daughters are members of the Missionary Baptist. Mr. Carter is highly esteemed by his neighbors, enjoying their entire confidence, as a Christian gentleman and a good citizen.

James Buchanan

P. O.Tabo, Missouri, son of Robert and James Buchanan; was born in Glasgow, Scotland, March 1, 1833. His father was a weaver by trade. In 1841 he came with his parents to this country, landing in New Orleans. They then came direct by river to this county, settling in Washington township on a farm. James was married January 15, 1857, to Miss Rebecca Donaldson of Johnson county, Missouri. They have five children: Lydia, James H., Charles, Rollie, and Eva. He has a fine farm of 160 acres, and in fine condition. There is plenty of fine coal on his farm. Both he and wife are members of the Christian church. He is an excellent farmer, a quiet, peaceable, and highly respected citizen.

Rev. W. Y. Russell

was born February 25, 1856, in Buchanan county, Missouri. In 1860 his parents moved to Kansas, and returned in 1861. In 1863 they moved to Iowa, and remained there two years, the next three years were spent in Missouri, Texas, Indian Territory. His parents are now living in Kansas, where the subject of this sketch left them, and returned on a visit to his old home, Buchanan county. While attending a protracted meeting there he was converted. In 1874 he entered college, remaining there two years at his own expense, acting as janitor, and on Saturdays sawing wood. He was licensed to preach February 16, 1877, by the Beaver Creek church, in Miami county, Kansas. In 1880 he left college, and has since been preaching, during which time he has converted not less than one hundred souls. His work has been in protracted meetings up to May last, since which time he has had charge of two congregations, one at Odessa, the other at Mound Prairie, this county.

Additional Biographies George Kenton

Davis township, P. O. Aullville. Son of John and Judith Kenton, was born in Missouri, Jan. 29, 1840. His father was married three times, and had twenty children. George was born in Carroll county, where he was raised and educated. At the age of twenty-five he engaged in the mercantile business at Milespoint three years. In the fall of 1869, he moved to the country. In 1874, he went to Independence Mo., and kept the old Independence hotel for six years. In 1880, he returned to Carroll county , and in 1881, came to a farm of 170 acres in Davis township, in this county where he now is. Nov. 23, 1865, he married Miss Sarah C. Hudson, of Jackson county Mo., and has five children: Eugene, Mary E., Wm. C.,. .Lou H. and Clara F. He is a grand-nephew of the famous pioneer, Simon Kenton.

George B. Kneedler

Davis township, P. O. Aullville. Son of Jacob and Martha W. Kneedler, was born July 12, 1840, in St. Louis, Mo. His father was a brick-layer in St. Louis. When he was seven years old, he moved with his parents to Madison county, 111., twelve miles from St. Louis. He lived mostly in Illinois, until 1881, when he and his brother Wm. C. bought a tract of 689 acres in this county where they now live. It is a fine farm, 400 acres in cultivation, underlaid with coal. They deal largely in stock, especially in sheep of fine class. He was married Feb. 9, 1865, to Miss Aurelia Winship of Collinsville, 111., and has two boys, Frank and Charley. He and his wife are members of the M. E. church south. His brother William married Jan. 2, 1866, to Miss Sarah E. Stoutzenberry of Illinois, and has five children.

William Walter

Davis township, P. O. Aullville. Eldest son of John and Elizabeth Walter, was born June 1, 1825, in Adams county Pennsylvania. His parents were of German descent, and died in Virginia, in 1845, where they lived twelve years. In 1849, he married Miss Sarah A. Mills, on the 10th of August, and in 1856, he moved to this county and settled in Davis township, one mile southeast of Higginsville. In 1880, he bought a farm of 160 acres, one mile north west of Aullville, where he now lives. He has a fine quarry of limestone rock upon his farm. He has five children, Mary E., John H.> Newton S., Lilly and Sindy. Mr. Walter took no part in the war.