Nodaway County, Missouri - Chapter 35: Official Record, 1882 (part 16 of 16)

Stratford Saunders

farmer and stock raiser, section 34, is native of New Kent County, Virginia, and was born October 17, 1842. His parents were James and Elizabeth Saunders. The father was also born in that county, on the 23d of January, 1795, and died in 1879. The mother was a native of Louisa County, Virginia, born March 26, 1800. She now resides with her children. They were married January 29, 1818, and settled in New Kent County, Kentucky, moving to Nodaway County, Missouri, in 1846, and settled in White Cloud Township. Stratford came here with his parents, and spent his boyhood days and received his education in this vicinity. On the 10th clay of August, 1864, he enlisted in the Fortythird Missouri Volunteer Infantry, and was discharged at St. Louis

July 2, 1865. Returning to Nodaway County, he devoted his time to farming. Mr. S. married, August 10, 1865, Miss Araminta Lawson, a daughter of James and Julia A. (Spaulding) Lawson. Her father is a native of Sciota County, Ohio, born July 28, 1809. Her mother was born in Virginia, in June, 181 1. They were married August 1, 1830. Mr. and Mrs. Stratford Saunders have a family consisting of five children living: William H., born May 21, 1869; James C, born January II, 1875 ; Gertrude, born January 22, 1877; Mary, born December 25, 1879; Cecil, born December 15, 188 1. They lost one, John S., born April 8, 1872, and died November 8, 1876. They are both members of the M. E. Church.

farmer and stock raiser, is a native of Randolph County, and was born on the 25th of May, 1825. His father was born in Randolph County, Virginia, in 1787, and died in 1863. His mother was a native of the same county, born in 1795, and died in 1849. They were married in 18 16. The subject of this sketch passed his boyhood days and received his education in his native county, and in 1846 he started out in the world for himself, following boating on the Ohio. In 1848 he entered the employ of William Jessup, in Hamilton County, Ohio. This gentleman took a great interest in Mr. S., and encouraged him in all his- undertakings. He was married in June, 1849, to Miss Mary J. Jessup, who was born in 1834. She died in March, 1857. By this union there were three children: George, born in 1850, died in 1872; Samuel, born in 1864. and W. J. born in 1857. In 1852 Mr. Skidmore associated himself with one P. D. Clark, and fitted out a train starting from Leavenworth, Kansas. They left the old trail at Carson City and made a new one to Walker's River. Disposing of the wagons and teams, he devoted his time to freighting, and in the winter of 1852 returned to Ohio by the way of San Francisco and New York. He resumed farming till 1864, when he sold out and came to Nodaway County, Missouri, purchasing some 700 acres of land for cash. He here began the life of a western farmer, and by additional purchases, now owns about 1,000 acres of fine land, all improved. His home is a comfortable one. He also has a fine bank barn, 40x50 feet, with necessary outbuildings. Mr. S. was married the second time in June, 1858, to Miss Rebecca Adams, a native of New Jersey, born November 16, 1836. She was the second child and eldest daughter of Nathan and Mary (Lippencott) Adams. Her father was born March 10, 1809, and died in May, 1852. Her mother was born in 183 1. Mrs. S. moved to Ohio with her parents, and settled in Cincinnati in 1842. Mr. and Mrs. Skidmore have had six children: James, born April 3, 1866; Ella, born June 2, 1870; Jennie, born January 4, 1872. They have lost three: Angeline, born November 14, 1858, died October farmer and stock raiser, section 3, is a native of Bedford County, Tennessee, and was born August 25, 1819. His father was a native of Virginia, and his mother of North Carolina. They were married in 1817, and then settled in Bedford County, Kentucky. William, with his parents, moved to Clinton County, Missouri, in 1828, and settled on a farm two miles west of Hainesville. His father was one of the first county judges, and represented the county in the ^gislature in 1833-4. The family moved to the Kickapoo Reservation in 1835, and in the spring of 1837 settled in the Platte Purchase on Sugar Creek. Here his parents died. William Smith was married on the 7th of February, 1839, to Miss Jane L. Holt, the daughter of William and Elizabeth (Rainey) Holt She was a native of Orange County, North Carolina, and was born January 16, 1820. When she was two years old her mother died. In 1837 she went with a brother to Clay County, Missouri. Her father died in 1867. Mr. and Mrs. Smith settled on the old homestead in Clinton County, Missouri, and lived there till 1842, when they moved to Andrew County, Missouri, locating seven miles west of Savannah. In 1847 he settled in Nodaway County. His farm contains 412 acres of good land. Their family consists of : Michael H., Louis B., John W., Sarah C, Willard P. and Sterling P., living, and the following deceased : William R., ari infant, James C, Shelby C. and Elizabeth. In October, 1854, Mr. Smith was elected county judge, and in i860 was re-elected for four years. He is a Mason in good standing. Mr. and Mrs. S. are members of the M. E. Church, South.

Charles L. Spear

grain dealer, was born in Bureau County, Illinois, on the 12th day of September, 1852, and is the son of Charles W. and Louisa (Foot) Spear. His father was a native of La Porte County, Indiana. Charles spent his boyhood days and received his education in his native state, and for two years attended the high school at Princeton, Illinois. He removed with his parents to Nodaway County, Missouri, in 1873, and settled at Hopkins, and thence to Burlington Junction in 1879, where he was engaged in the grain trade. He came to Skidmore in the fall of 1880, ami during the p.ist year has handled some fifty thousand dollars' worth of grain. He is a man of strong, sharp intellect, an untiring ambition, and is very successful in business transactions.

Joseph T. Van Ansdall

carpenter, is a native of Dearborn County, Indiana, born June 2, 1849, and is the son of Isaac and Rachael (Bunnell) Van Ansdall. Joseph, with his parents, moved to Wapello County, Iowa, in 1855, an-d to Hamilton County, Ohio, in 1857. In 1859 he commenced working at his trade, and in 1870 he came to Nodaway County, Missouri, and settled east of Skidmore. He received the appointment of postmaster in 1875, and resigned in favor of H. H. Joy, the present postmaster of Skidmore, in 1880. He was married November 10, 1870, to Miss Louisa K. Williams. She was born August 30, 1848. They have four children : Harry A., Rupert, Gertrude, and Ruthilla. Both Mr. and Mrs. V. are members of the M. E. Church.

farmer and cattle feeder, section 8, is a native of Huron County, Canada, was born June 4, 1841, and is the son of Thomas and Ann J. (Thompson) Wells. His father was a native of County Down, Ireland, and was born in 1808, and died in 1878. His mother, a native of County Armaugh, Ireland, was born in 1808. They were married in 1830, and immigrated to Canada in 1832, settling on a farm in Huron County. They were pioneers of that county. VV. R.'s mother is still a resident of Huron County. Young Wells spent his boyhood days and received his education in that county, and remained with his parents till 1868, when he came to Nodaway County, Missouri, and purchased some 430 acres of wild land. He made many improvements, and now owns 600 acres of land, about nine miles southwest of Maryville. He was married August 30, 1881, to Miss Maria Johnson, a native of Jefferson County, Ohio, born April 10, 1857. She was the daughter of Alexander and Lavinia (Shull) Johnson. The former was a native of Jefferson County, Ohio, born in 1826, and died in 1874. Her mother was born in Jefferson County, Ohio, in February, 1824. She is still living. They were married in 1849, and afterwards settled in Jefferson County. Mr. and Mrs. Wells settled in Nodaway County, Missouri, after their marriage. Mr. Wells is a member of the Presbyterian Church, and Mrs. W. of the M. E. Church.

Thomas Wells

farmer and breeder of Clydesdale horses, section 31, is a native of Huron County, Canada, was born July 31., 185 1, and is a son of Thomas and A. J. (Thompson) Wells. The former, a native of County Down, Ireland, was born in 1808, and died October 23, 1878. His mother was born in County Armaugh, Ireland, in 1808. They married in 1830, and emigrated to Huron County, Canada, in 1832, and settled on a farm. The senior Wells died, but his wife still lives at the old homestead. The subject of this sketch passed his youthful days and received his education in his native county. He was married October n, 1875, to Miss Maggie E. Scott, a native of Huron County, Canada, born January 31, 185 1. She is a daughter of Robert and Agnes (Dixon) Wells. Her father was a native of Roxboro, Scotland, born in October, 18 12. Her mother was born in the same place, May 24, 18 15. With their parents they emigrated to Huron County, Canada, in 1833. They were married December 3, 1836, and settled in Nickillop, Huron County, Canada. The father still resides at the old homestead. The mother died October 26, 1880. Mrs. Wells spent' her younger days in her native county, and graduated at the normal school at Toronto, Canada, in July, 1871. Mr. and Mrs. Wells came to Nodaway County, Missouri, and settled near where they now reside, about nine miles southwest of Maryville. The farm consists of 186 acres of improved land. They are both members of the Presbyterian Church. They have three children : William, born December 25, 1876; Agnes, born December 31, 1879, and Jennie M., born December 1, 1881.

was born in Oxford County, Canada, in 1842. He completed his education at the University at Toronto, from which institution he was graduated in 1859. He studied medicine in Woodstock, Canada, with Dr. Fred. Scott, who, -since that time, has been a surgeon in the United States Army. After two thorough courses of lectures at the Michigan University, Ann Arbor, Dr. Burtch graduated, in 1866. He settled in Fillmore, Andrew County, Missouri, in 1866, and lived there six years. He has had a large practice in Andrew, Holt and Nodaway Counties,, and, in October, 1881, he located at Maitland, Holt County, where he has settled permanently.

publisher and proprietor of the Maitland Independent, is a native of Tazwell County, Illinois, and was born on a farm four miles east of Fort Clark, now Peoria, on the 15th day of August, 1833. He spent his younger days in assisting his father on the farm, devoting his evenings to study. When eighteen years of age he purchased an outfit and followed prairie breaking with an ox-team until he was twenty-two years old. In 1855 he entered a college in his native county, prosecuting his studies for some four years. In 1861 he responded to his country's call, and enlisted in Company K, Eleventh Illinois Volunteer Infantry, and was on guard duty at Bird's Point. He was discharged the following August. On the 2d of the same month Mr. Moulton re-enlisted in the Sixteenth United States Infantry, receiving his discharge on the 2d of October, 1864. He then returned to Illinois and engaged in teaching school till the fall of 1867, when he moved to Atchison County, Missouri, settling on a farm. In 1878 he purchased the Riverton Enterprise. After a few months he moved to .Clarinda, Iowa, and established the Nodaway Chief. In February,' 1881, he sold out and moved to Maitland, Holt County, Missouri, where he has since continued to publish an interesting, spicy and instructive paper. Mr-. Moulton was married April 20, 1865, to Miss Roxie A. Mette, a native of Wood County, Illinois. She was born in 1844. They have one child : Ernest, born October 12, 1866.

E. R. Pratt

liveryman, is a native of Ontario County, New York, and was born on the 9th day of April, 1844. He spent his boyhood days and received a good common school education in his native county. He enlisted on the 28th day of July, 1862, in Company E, One Hundred and Twentysixth Regiment New York Volunteer Infantry. He was taken prisoner at Harper's Ferry, Virginia, was paroled and sent to Camp Douglas, at Chicago, Illinois, where he was exchanged after some two months. He then joined his regiment at Culpeper Court House, Virginia, and was discharged in February, 1863, at Convalescent Camp, Virginia. He re-enlisted on the 31st day of January, 1864, in Company E, Fourth New York Volunteer Artillery, and was with General Grant through the Wilderness and at the surrender of General Lee on the 9th day of April, 1865. Mr. Pratt was discharged June 22, 1865, after which he returned to his native place, and in the following November went to Denver, Colorado, and engaged in farming and freighting. In September, 1874, he arrived in Nodaway County, Missouri, with a drove of Colorado cattle, and settled in Graham, purchasing some stock and a stable. Thus he began the livery business, and in September, 188 r, he purchased a stable in Maitland, and associated with him William B. Bohart. They are now known under the firm name of Pratt & Bohart. He was married in 1875 to Miss Ellen McRoberts, a native of Marion County, Indiana. They have two children, Clifton B. and Edward B.

Io32 Biographical R. I. Rea

attorney, is a native of Lawrence County, Pennsylvania, and was born on the jd of September, 1843, near Newcastle. In later years, with his parents, he moved to Nodaway County, Missouri, and settled on a farm in section 2j, that is now owned by Lewis Andrews. The journey here was long and tedious, coming by steamboat to St. Louis, then shipping on the boat " Kansas" for what is now St. Joseph, it being late in the fall. When they arrived at Weston, by the pure meanness on the part of the captain, they were made to land, and were obliged to go by wagon to St. Joseph. There Mr. Rea remained some three months, and then moved to Nodaway County, locating three miles south of Graham. Here the subject of this sketch received a good education, attending the Highland University of Kansas in 1859-60. He responded to his country's call for troops during the war, by enlisting in the Sixth Missouri, on the 16th day of October, 1861. He was discharged in May, 1862, and re-enlisted in the same year in the Thirteenth Kansas Volunteer Infantry, being mustered out on July 28, 1865, at Leavenworth, Kansas. Having prepared himself for the legal profession, he was admitted to the bar in August, 1879, and began the practice of law at Maitland, in 1880. His honest}- as a man and his ability as an attorney, are of the highest order. Mr. Rea was married on the 16th day of October, 1867, to Miss Belle McRoberts, a native of Marion County, Indiana. Their family consists of two children, Eddie and Maud.

James C. Smock

of the firm of Smock, Owens & Co., dealers in groceries, queensware, etc., is a native of Nodaway County, Missouri, born July 13, 1861, and is the son of Henry and Sarah (Linville) Smock. His father was a native of Bartholomew Count)-, Indiana, and his mother of Missouri. His father died in 1863, and his mother in 1868. From this date he made his home with relatives in Nodaway Count}-, receiving a good common school education. In 1876 he commenced his mercantile experience in the employ of G. D. Mowry, at Graham, and soon after with M. M. Dougherty, and the next year with Baublits, Snyder & Co., for two years. In September, 1880, he was with S. S. Dougherty for one year, next in the employ of the Home Insurance Company, and in October, i88l, associated himself with Isaac Owens in the grocery business at Maitland. Being deprived of a father's and mother's care in youth, he has profited by the advice and counsel of those older than himself, and in whatever position he has been placed, lie has proven himself a straightforward and reliable business man.

Joseph R. Stone

dealer in harness, saddles, trunks, valises, is a native of Atchison County, Missouri, was born January 30, 1859, an<^ is a son of J. R. and M. S. (White) Stone, who settled in Atchison County, Missouri, in 1857. Joseph, with his parents, moved to Worth County, Missouri, in i860, and remained till 1864, when he went to St. Joseph, and lived there till 1865. Thence to Plattsville, Iowa, and, in 1866, he located at Graham. Here his father carried on the harness and saddle business till 1879, when he moved to Burlington Junction. Joseph received a good education at Graham, and, when but a boy, began working at the harness business, and, after his father's removal, he opened a shop in Graham, and did a good business. November 10, 1880, he came to Maitland, and now commands a large trade. Miss Lydia Eberlin became his wife. She is a native of Wisconsin, born the 7th of August, 1861, and is the daughter of Thiebant and Mary E. (Hamm) Eberlin. Her father is a native of Germany, born October 14, 1826. Her mother was born in France, October 15, 1825. They were married April 25, 1853. Mr. and Mrs. Stone settled at Maitland after their marriage. Mr. Stone is a member of Hesperian Lodge No. 189, I. O. O. F., also of Lodge No. 202, A. O. U. W.

Addendum-City Of Maryville Mrs. E. P. Powell

An attempted historical review of the public schools of Maryville, would be incomplete without at least a brief review of the services of perhaps one of the most accomplished and thorough female instructors, that ever participated in imparting knowledge to Maryville young people. In the year 1876, the educational interests of Maryville had reached a crisis. Competent teachers were in demand. The question was, shall teacher and pupil be fettered by the old systems ? Shall the systems of antiquity continue to be instilled into the juvenile mind, as the exclusive models of excellency ? Professor Charles, then in charge, favored a new departure. Who should be his assistants in the new enterprise ? Among others, he wisely selected Mrs. E. I'. Powell, who was his most trusted advisor. They condemned the old theory as cold and narrow, and opposed alike to the true interests of literature and progress. Together they pointed out and held to .view the vast changes in thought, habits and manners, in morality and religion, which separated the present age from former ages. In other words, that to follow exclusively and blindly in the footsteps of ancient authors and aged systems, was to repress all originality and creative power ; that the mind should enjoy freedom, which was necessary to its development. The new departure was determined upon, and Mrs. Powell took charge of the third department, where she continued for two years, giving universal satisfaction. On account of her superior literary entertainments and proficiency she was then promoted to the position of assistant principal, which position she held and enriched with her mature learning and fidelity until, as a matter of her own choice, she declined to longer occupy. Mrs. Powell's maiden name was Scylla Cartright. She was born in the State of New Jersey, in the year 1849. Her early education began at Matamoras, Pennsylvania. She was afterwards a close student at Fremont, Indiana, and in 1864, graduated at the head of her class at the college of Calva, Illinois, under the supervision of that distinguished educator and scholar, S. M. Etter. Not satisfied with her acquirements then so ample, she, in 1865, studied and mastered the Pestilozzian system of imparting knowledge to her pupils, the utility of which had been demonstrated by the most distinguished educators of Switzerland. This method she adopted and pursued with marked success for nearly three years in the states of Indiana and Illinois. In 1868, she was united in marriage with Mr. E. P. Powell, one of Nodaway's most prominent stock shippers. In 1869, she, with her husband, came to Nodaway County, where they have since resided. As a teacher Mrs. Powell was a rigid disciplinarian, yet there was a vein of kindness in her nature, a personal magnetism that fascinated and attached her pupils to her and inspired them with confidence and energy in the pursuit of their studies. Her literary attainments are of the highest order, her honor for mental enslavement is marked, her love of intellectual freedom is one of her leading characteristics, and many regrets there are that she conchided to abandon a profession for which she is so eminently qualified.