Nodaway County, Missouri - Biographical sketches, 1910 (part 4 of 6)

George F. Chappell worked on his father's farm and. attended school in his neighborhood. When eighteen years of age he moved to Atchison county, this state, and began farming on eighty acres. In 1894 he sold this and came to Nodaway county and is now located on J. B. Robinson's farm of six hundred and forty acres west of Maryville. He is interested in stock breeding, keeping the famous Aberdeen-Angus cattle. He has a sale every year of these cattle, at which time he disposes of hundreds at fancy prices. He is widely known as a successful stock man. Politically, he is a Democrat and is a member of the Christian church, and is a man whom everybody respects for his clean life.

Mr. Chappell was married on April 16, 1883, to Sarah Stephenson, daughter of Lindsay and Margaret Stephenson, natives of Kentucky. Their daughter, Sarah, was born October 5, 1861, nine miles south of Maryville. Lindsay died February 21, 1898, and Margaret October 26, 1896. To Mr. and Mrs. Chappell eight children, all living, have been born.

Perry Chappell grew to maturity in Atchison and Nodaway counties and received a good practical education in the common schools and the high school. He evinced a natural talent for auctioneering when quite young and he decided to make this his life work, consequently attended the Missouri Auction School at Trenton, this state, where he made a most excellent record and from which institution he was graduated on January 29, 1910, and is now successfully engaged in his profession at Maryville. He has conducted a large number of sales for farmers here and in the country round-about and has proven his worth, and it is not too much to predict that he will continue to be a very important factor in a great many future sales in this county. Politi¬ cally, he is a Democrat and a member of the Christian church.

Richard Hamlin

Although the state of Pennsylvania is an empire within itself and there remains even to this day much unimproved land within its borders and vast stretches of mountain and plain that are sparsely settled and which would, no doubt, yield the toiler a fair return for his labor; yet. instead of battling with a resisting nature in the old Keystone state, a vast horde of her native sons have sought their fortunes in the Middle West and West where the land is easier tilled and opportunities, in the main, greater. Of this number of enterprising men. mention should be made of Richard Hamlin, a farmer of Polk township, Nodaway county, who was born in Wayne county, Pennsyl¬ vania, April 27, 1867. He is the son of George N. and Lydia (Hembly) Hamlin, the father a native of Connecticut and the mother of England. The latter came across the Atlantic when young, met and married Mr. Hamlin in this country. They came to Nodaway county, Missouri, in 1871 and settled north of Maryville, where he bought one hundred and twenty acres of land that was comparatively rough. However, Mr. Hamlin went to work and improved it and erected good buildings on the same and there he re¬ mained until his death, which occurred on July 10, 1907, in the seventyseventh year of his age. Mrs. Hamlin and three children survive, Edward F., Ida and Richard.

Richard Hamlin, of this review, came to Nodaway county with his parents and he has made his home in Polk township ever since, devoting his attention to farming and stock raising. He is the owner of forty acres and operates one hundred and sixty acres. He has a neat little place and keeps it in good condition.

Mr. Hamlin was married in Maryville, Missouri, November 17, 1901. to Edith Ashford, daughter of William D. and Elizabeth (Bond) Ashford. Mrs. Ashford died in Maryville about 1897. She was the mother of five children, named as follows : William R., Charles W., Eva, Edith and Elizabeth. Mrs. Hamlin was born in Maryville, Missouri, October 20, 1875, and was educated in the local schools. She is a member of the Episcopal church.

William E. Crawford

The gentleman whose name initiates this sketch is numbered among the successful and representative agriculturists of Nodaway county, his attractive home being now located at Graham, his farm property being located in Hughes township. In all the relations of life he has ever been found faithful and true, performing his duty at all times unflinchingly, and, while advanc¬ ing his own interests, he has also had the good of the entire community at heart.

Mr. Crawford was born in Greene county, Pennsylvania, on October 3, 1842, the son of Israel G. and Elizabeth (Johnson) Crawford, who also were natives of the old Keystone state. Some time after the birth of the subject, the family removed to Pickaway county, Ohio, where they estab¬ lished their home and resided until 1868, when they came to Nodaway county, Missouri, settling on a farm in Hughes township, which was their home up to the time of their deaths, with the exception of a period of six years, when they lived at Maitland, this state. Their deaths occurred in Hughes township, dying at the ages of eighty-eight and seventy-six years respectively. Of the eight children born to them, four survive, namely : Sarah A.; William E., the immediate subject of this sketch; Joseph, of this county, and Hiram, of Hughes township.

William E. Crawford was about two years old when his parents removed from Pennsylvania to Ohio, where he was reared to manhood and received his education, which was such as could be secured in the common schools. He was reared to the life of a farmer, and this, combined with stock raising, has been his life occupation. Since 1868 he has continuously been a resi¬ dent of Hughes township and has materially assisted in the splendid work of development which has characterized this section of the county. His farm, which contains three hundred and twenty acres, is highly improved in every respect and is numbered among the best farms of Hughes township. Here are raised all the crops common to this section of the country, in addi¬ tion to which Mr. Crawford met with considerable success in the handling of livestock. Practical and progressive in his methods, and energetic and industrious in his habits, he allowed nothing to swerve him from his chosen line of effort, and his labors were rewarded with a due meed of success, so that in 1906 Mr. Crawford was able to relinquish the strenuous work of the farm and retire to a comfortable home in the town of Graham, where he now resides, his farm being operated by tenants.

Mr. Crawford has been married three times, his first marriage havingoccurred in Pickaway county, Ohio, to Rebecca A. Hanks, to which union were born four children, John H., Charles A., Elizabeth, the wife of Abraham Lantz, of Andrew county, this state, and Mary, the wife of Edward Bell. Mrs. Rebecca Crawford died in Hughes township, and Air. Crawford mar¬ ried Prudence Campbell, by whom he had two children, Josie, the wife of B. N. McGrew, and Edna, the wife of Charles Goff, of White Cloud town- ship, this county. After the death of Mrs. Prudence Crawford, Mr. Craw¬ ford married Ida M. Tryon, and to this union have come five children, Fred E., Lloyd, Lela, Ermil and Emmett. The members of this family belong to the best social circles of the communities where they live and all are held in the highest esteem.

Politically, Mr. Crawford is a stanch supporter of the Republican party and has always taken a zealous and commendable interest in public affairs, especially as affecting the welfare of the community. Public spirited and enterprising, he has given his support to everything which has tended to benefit the community in any way, and he is numbered among its strong and influential citizens. Religiously, he and his wife are faithful members of the Christian church, to which they give an earnest support. Because of his upright life and genial manners, Mr. Crawford is deservedly popular with all who know him.

John W. Dougherty

The true western spirit of progress and enterprise is strikingly exem¬ plified in the lives of such men as John W. Dougherty, men whose energetic nature and laudable ambition have enabled them to conquer many adverse circumstances and advance steadily to leading positions in business life. The subject is a worthy representative of his class, and is now a prominent figure in the business circles of Nodaway county, having been successfully enpaeed in the mercantile business in the town of Graham for several vears, in which time he has earned a splendid reputation for business ability and sterling qualities of character which have commended him to the good opinion of the community.

Mr. Dougherty was born in Leavenworth, Kansas, on April 28, 1857, and is the only child horn to William A. and Mary ( Vallandingham) Dough¬ erty. The father was a native of Pennsylvania and the mother of Kentucky, and both are now deceased, the former dying at Louisville, Kentucky, and the latter at St. Louis, Missouri. The subject spent the first six years of his childhood in Leavenworth, and the following seven years in St. Louis, where he attended the public school. In December, 1869, he came to Nodaway county, Missouri, and from that time until 1887 his attention and efforts were devoted to agricultural pursuits chiefly, and with a gratifying measure of success. In 1887 he accepted a clerkship in a store at Graham, filling this position until 1898, when he engaged in the mercantile business at Graham on his own account, and in this enterprise he has been eminently successful. He carries a large and well-selected line of general merchandise, and his courteous treatment of his patrons and recognized business ability have gained for him a splendid reputation in the community.

Mr. Dougherty was married in Hughes township, on October 5, 1892, to Alta M. Cramer, who was born in Forest City, Holt county, this state, on February 8, 1871, being a daughter of William H. and Dollie (Goodwin) Cramer, the former a native of New York state and the latter of Illinois. They came to Nodaway county about 1880, settling in Hughes township, where they have since resided. Of their eight children, Mrs. Dougherty was the second child in order of birth. To the subject and his wife has been horn one child, Gladys M., her birth occurring at Graham on January 22, 1896.

Fraternally, Mr. Dougherty is an appreciative member of the Inde¬ pendent Order of Odd Fellows, in the work of which he takes a deep interest. He has erected a neat, attractive and comfortable residence at Graham, where he and his family delight to entertain their many friends. Because of his genial disposition, public spirit and genuine worth, he is deservedly popular among his acquaintances.

Sylvester L. Bosley

No Monroe township farmer is better advised or better equipped for successful twentieth-century farming than Sylvester L. Bosley, who repre¬ sents one of the sterling pioneer families. He was born in Will county, Illinois, in 1867, and is the son of Sylvester and Laura M. (Johnson) Bos¬ ley. The father was long one of the prominent farmers and stock raisers of Monroe township. He was born in Trumbull county, Ohio, April 4, 1826, and was the son of Elisha and Clarissa (Wilber) Bosley, natives of New York, who settled in Trumbull county, where they lived until their deaths. Their son, Sylvester, spent his boyhood days on the home place and was ed¬ ucated in the schools of that community. On July 1, 1846. he and Laura Johnson were married. The latter was a native of Onondaga county. New York, born there April 2, 1825. and was the daughter of Charles M. and Mary (Bennett) Johnson, natives of New York. Her father was born in 1796 and died in July, 1881. They were married in 1820, locating soon afterwards in Onondaga county. New York, thence moved to Geauga county.

Ohio, thence to Joliet, Illinois, in 1847, where he bought and improved a farm and lived there until the spring of 1870, when he sold out and moved to Nodaway county, Missouri, and bought the farm where his son, Sylvester L., now resides, about four miles east of Skidmore, owning there one hun¬ dred and sixty acres of land, on which he spent the remainder of his days, dying in 1898, the mother of the subject having passed to her rest in 1888. They were both members of the Lutheran church. Eight children were born to them, namely: William R., Edward, Alonzo, Melissa L., Laura, Lodema, Sylvester L., and Julia, who was born October 2, 1862, died in April, 1863.

Sylvester L. Bosley of this review, grew to maturity on the homestead here and, with the exception of three years, has lived here ever since coming to this county. When about twenty-two years old he began farming for him¬ self. On December 26, 1894, he married Lillie D. Chrisman. daughter of John and Mary Melissa (Middaugh) Chrisman. She came here from Cam¬ eron, Missouri. Her father was killed in a runaway accident when she was a child. She lived at Cameron until her marriage to Mr. Bosley. Her mother is a resident of St. Joseph, Missouri, and her maternal grandparents are both living, past seventy-five years of age, making their home in St. Joseph. On September 7, 1903, they celebrated their golden wedding at the home of Mr. Bosley; they are both active and in good health at this writing.

A year after his marriage Sylvester L. Bosley went to farming on the farm north of that owned by his father and there remained three years, then moving back to the home place. He has kept it well improved and his labors here have been amply rewarded. In addition to general farming, he is ex¬ tensively engaged in handling livestock, raising hogs, cattle and some sheep. He is a member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, subordinate lodge and encampment.

It is deemed advisable to here enter brief record of Edward L. Bosley, brother of Sylvester L., owing to his prominence in agricultural affairs of Nodaway county. He was born in Will county, Illinois, August 27. T850. In 1896 he married Rosa Chrisman, of Cameron, Clinton county, Missouri. She later in life lived at Skidmore, this state. From 1892 to about 1900 Mr. Bosley engaged in the grain business at Skidmore, Maitland and other places. In the spring of 1900 he moved to his farm four miles east of Skidmore. Since 1877 he has owned an eighty-acre tract and since 1900 he has devoted his attention to its management with gratifying results. He likes farming best, having been reared on a farm and been more or less connected with farm¬ ing interests all his life. Fraternally, he belongs to the Woodmen of the World.

Clarence R. Leeper

Among the citizens of Hughes township, Nodaway county, who have achieved a definite success along legitimate lines of endeavor stands the sub¬ ject of this sketch, who has spent his entire life here and who has for many years enjoyed the unbounded confidence of his fellow-citizens. He was born here on November 26, 1877, and is a son of the late Judge William Leeper, a native of Indiana, who attained to considerable prominence in the early life of this section of the state. The subject's mother, whose maiden name was Elmira Francis, was a native of Ohio. William Leeper came to Noda¬ way county, Missouri, in the spring of 1865 and in 1867 he and Elmira Francis were married in Hughes township, where they made their future home, the father's death occurring there on April 18. 1906. His widow, who survives him, is numbered among the best known and most highly respected women of the community. They became the parents of four children, Wil¬ liam F., Fred E., Clarence R. and Hiram L.

Clarence R. Leeper was reared on the family homestead in this town¬ ship and he was given a good practical education, having supplemented his common school education by attendance at the State Normal School at Peru, Nebraska. Since taking up the active duties of life he has consistently ap¬ plied himself to agricultural pursuits, in which line his efiforts have been uni¬ formly rewarded with a due measure of success His farm comprises five hundred acres of splendid land, all of which is improved and under culti¬ vation and Mr. Leeper stands in the front rank among the farmers of Hughes township, and indeed of Nodaway county, where his entire life has been spent. Thoroughly practical and progressive in his methods, he keeps in touch with the most advanced ideas relating to the science of husbandry and hesitates not to adopt new ways of doing things when their feasibility has been demonstrated by experiment. He has a comfortable and attractive resi¬ dence, large and well arranged barn and other outbuildings and everything about the place indicates the enterprising spirit of the owner. He carries on general farming and stock raising, in both of which lines he has pros¬ pered.

On August 26, 1902, at Lincoln, Nebraska, Mr. Leeper was united in marriage with Elizabeth Heidtbrink, who was born in Germany on April 28 1880, and to them have been born two children, Clarence LI. and Frances L.

Politically, Mr. Leeper supports the Republican party and he takes an intelligent interest in local public affairs, especially as relating to educational matters, being at the present time a member of the board of school direc- tors. Fraternally, be is a member of the Knights of Pythias and the Wood¬ men of the World, while his religious affiliation is with the Presbyterian church, to which he gives an earnest and liberal support. In all that goes to make good citizenship, Mr. Leeper is the peer of any of his fellows and because of his sterling qualities of character and his upright life he enjoys the sincere respect and confidence of the entire community. He is public spirited and gives earnest and effective support to all movements having for their object the general welfare of the locality in which he lives.

Hon. S. R. Beech

One does not have to carry his investigations far into the history of Nodaway county to find that Hon. S. R. Beech, the present popular and efficient postmaster of Maryville and long a well-known member of the local bar, has figured conspicuously in the affairs of this locality. He is a man whose aim has always been to do the right as he sees and understands the right and it is to such as he that our county is indebted for the stability of its insti¬ tutions and for the large measure of prosperity which it enjoys, for he has always been a leader in movements calculated to be of benefit to the com¬ munity at large and has ever stood ready to perform his full duty.

Mr. Beech was born in Crawford county, Pennsylvania, December 25, 1846, the son of O. Q. and Ruth (Baker) Beech. The father was a carpenter and contractor and died when S. R. was fourteen years of age. he being one of eight small children. Mrs. Beech, after an heroic struggle to rear them in comfort and respectability, passed to her rest in 1878.

S. R. Beech worked out on farms during his youth in order to get a start. His early education was thus interrupted, but, being ambitious and unwilling to permit obstacles to thwart him, he studied at home and became a well-informed man. In 1864, when seventeen years of age, he showed his patriotism hv enlisting in Company E, Eighty-third Regiment Pennsylvania Volunteer Infantry, in which he served very creditably for one year, taking part in some of the hottest contests of the war. He was wounded at the battle of the Wilderness, a bullet having passed through his left arm and his body; he was also wounded in the legs. After receiving an honorable discharge he returned to Crawford county, Pennsylvania, and attended the academy there, later taking a course at Eastman's Business College, at Poughkeepsie, New

S. R. Beech

York. He held the office of postmaster at Cambridge. Pennsylvania, for two years, when he resigned and came to Nodaway county, Missouri, locating eleven miles west of Maryville ; there he led a very busy life for some time, farming, teaching school and mining coal.

Mr. Beech always took a great deal of interest in political matters- and in 1872 he was elected sheriff of this county on the Republican ticket, and he made such an excellent record that he was re-elected at the expiration of his term, he being the first individual to be elected two terms successively as sheriff in Nodaway county. He began studying law during his leisure moments and was admitted to the bar in 1877, having commenced the practice of the legal profession in Maryville, and from that time to 1906 successfully applied himseld to its severe and exacting labors and duties in this city. During the years of his practice in our midst he acquired a compensating and increasing clientele, which widened with his experience and more intimate acquaintance with the public. In his profession he was characterized by signal industry, plodding investigation, scrutinizing research, a determination to familiarize himself with the legal principles involved in the trial of cases, and in what¬ ever court he had occasion to appear his careful and discriminating prepara¬ tion assured him early in his career of the highest probabilities of success and afforded him a solid vantage ground against the ingenuities and assaults of adroit and tactful adversaries. In recognition of his high legal attainments, Mr. Beech was appointed circuit judge of Nodaway county, filling the unex¬ pired term of Judge Kelly ending in 1886. In 1892 he was his party's can¬ didate for this office, but was defeated by twenty-two votes, though many con¬ tended that he was unjustly deprived of the honor through political manipula¬ tion.

Mr. Beech served ten years as chairman of the Republican central com¬ mittee, and he served very ably as city attorney for one term. In 1880 he was elected mayor of Maryville, serving until 1882, during which time he did many things for the permanent good of the community. He has been identi¬ fied with the educational interests of the city for many years. In 1906 he was appointed postmaster by President Roosevelt, and so satisfactorily did he discharge the duties of the same that President Taft re-appointed him to this important position on March 17, 1910.

As might be expected, Mr. Beech is an active member of the Grand Army of the Republic. He was married in 1866 to Matilda Burdick, daughter of Henry E. and Sophia (Hamlin) Burdick, natives of Pennsylvania. This union has resulted in the birth of five children, Minnie, Charles, Guy L. (died in infancy), Ernest and Scribner L.

Stephen O. Keeyer

From two sterling old families is descended Stephen O. Keever, one of the hustling farmers of Nodaway county. He was born in Randolph county, Indiana, October 17, 1869, and is the son of Elias and Melinda (Hunt) Keever. The father was born in 1808. The Keevers came from Ohio ; the Hunt family originated in England, having come to America in an early day. Malinda Hunt's parents were Miles and Mary (Botkin) Hunt and she was born near Knoxville, Tennessee. The father of Miles Hunt and two brothers came together from England; two remained together, the third trying his fortune alone. The father of Miles Hunt and one brother located In Fleming county, Kentucky. The parents of Elias Keever were Stephen and Mary (Crammer) Keever. She was born in New Jersey and was said to have been heir to a large estate in New Jersey that was granted to an ancestor of hers by George III.

Stephen O. Keever, of this review, is one of a family of four children, of whom Albert Ora died in childhood ; those living are Mrs. Mary Emma Stevenson; Mrs. Rachael Belle Hart, wife of J. E. Hart, whose sketch ap¬ pears elsewhere in this volume; and Stephen O., of this review. When the last named was about eleven years old his parents came to Atchison county, Missouri, where he lived until about 1902, the father having bought a farm there, about six miles west and nearly a mile south of Quitman. Elias Keever's death occurred on May 19, 1887. He took a great deal of interest in public schools and other public affairs. He was a Mason and a believer in the Christian faith. In the early days he was a Greenbacker in politics, but was later independent. After his death his widow continued to live on the old place until after her son, Stephen O., of this sketch, removed to Nodaway county. Missouri, and she now makes her home with him. The son here mentioned grew to manhood on the home place and was educated in the neighboring schools. He was married in July, 1890. to Anna Knepper, daughter of Hiram and Fredrica (Stull) Knepper. Her parents came from Ogle county, Illinois, when she was about four years old and she grew up in Atchison county, Missouri. Her father died Tune 30, 1901 ; her mother is still living, making her home with her children. Mrs. Keever has three brothers living, David. Clinton and Edgar, also Mrs. Emma Turner. Mrs. Mollie Keever and Mrs. Alice Hayes, wife of Milton R. Hayes, whose sketch appears elsewhere in this work; one brother, George, died in infancy.

about one and one-half years near Fort Cobb. He had three farms, two at Fort Cobb and one at Oklahoma City. Eighteen months later he came back to the old home place in Atchison county. He has since sold both his farms in Oklahoma. In the fall of 1907 he bought a farm in the northeast part of Monroe township, Nodaway county, and in January, 1909, moved to the same. It is well improved and has a good dwelling and other buildings, in fact, everything that makes farm life comfortable and desirable. He has two hundred and forty acres of as good land as the county affords. It is located in one of the best communities of the county in every respect.

To Mr. and Mrs. Keever six children have been born, four sons and two daughters, namely : Elmer Ora, Henry Clay. Carl Frederick, Gladvs Malinda, James Oliver Ray and Beulah Ann.

Richard Kyle

The subject of this sketch has for many years ranked among the mod¬ ern and up-to-date agriculturists of this section of the state, where his entire life has been spent, resulting in the accomplishment of a comfortable living for himself and family. He is a native of Hughes township, where his birth occurred on the 21st day of April, 1858. His father was James Mad¬ ison Kyle, who was born in Hawkins county, Tennessee, in 1813, while his mother, also a native of the old Volunteer state, bore the maiden name of Elizabeth Anderson. They were reared and married in Hawkins county and remained there until 1849, when they removed to Buchanan county, Miss¬ ouri, where they remained a short time, their next place of residence being in Andrew county, this state. In 1850 they came to Nodaway county, settling in what is now known as Hughes township, where they continued to reside. James M. Kyle died in 1899, his widow surviving him at an advanced age. The father was a successful farmer and stock raiser and was highly respected in the community where he lived. They were the parents of eleven children, seven sons and four daughters, the subject of this sketch being the sixth child in the order of birth.

Richard Kyle spent his boyhood days under the parental rooftree and he has always been a resident of Hughes township, his education being re¬ ceived in the common schools of the neighborhood. He has always devoted himself to the pursuit of agriculture and has met with pronounced success, as is evidenced in the fact that he is now the owner of six hundred acres of fine land in this township, all of which is improved and under cultivation, lie has erected one of the finest residences in Nodaway county and is very com¬ fortably situated as regards this world's goods. Stock raising has re¬ ceived some attention from Mr. Kyle, who has met with splendid success in all his operations. He is thoroughly practical and progressive in his methods and has achieved definite results by the most honorable and praiseworthy means.

Mr. Kyle was married in November, 1880, to Carrie Scott, who was born in Hughes township on October 16, 1858, a daughter of George and Jemima (Baugher) Scott, the former a native of Kentucky and the latter of Virginia. These parents were among the early pioneers of Hughes town¬ ship. Nodaway county, where they both died, the father's death occurring in August, 1864. To Mr. and Mrs. Kyle have been born two children, Robert E., of Hughes township, and Ora, the wife of Dr. H. Campbell, of Logan, Utah.

Politically, Mr. Kyle renders a stanch allegiance to the Democratic party, believing that the platform of that party most nearly represents what is best for the American people. I11 local affairs he takes a commendable interest, though he is not an office seeker. He is keenly alive to current events and gives his support to those movements which promise to be of the greatest benefit to the people generally. He is genial and courteous in his re¬ lations with others and because of his high personal character he enjoys universal respect in the community.

Charles E. Ballenger

Perhaps as many Hoosiers are to be found in Nodaway county as rep¬ resentatives of any other state. Of recent years the number who have cast their lot here has been small, for they seem to have a tendency to pass through this state to the far West, but when northern Missouri was first settled the enterprising citizens of the Hoosier state were quick to realize the oppor¬ tunities here and they have been of great value in the development of the localities where they have located. Of this number Charles E. Ballenger, a farmer of White Cloud township, should be mentioned. He was born in Henry county, Indiana, May 2, 1838, and he is the son of Elwood and Hannah (Berkshire) Ballenger. The father was a native of New Jersey. These parents, after living in several different places, finally settled in Jack- son county, Kansas, where they died. Eight children were born to them, of whom Charles E., of this review, was the oldest in order of birth. When he was four years old his parents moved to Missouri and settled in Platte county, where he grew to manhood and attended the district schools. He remained there until 1856, when he went to Kansas with his father and the rest of the family, and located in Jackson county where he lived for about ten years, then went to Leavenworth county, Kansas, and remained there two years After spending two years traveling through the West he came to Platte county, Missouri, where he married and lived about twelve years, and then came to Nodaway county, in 1880, and he has since been a resident here, living in White Cloud township since 1893 He has devoted his at¬ tention to farming and stock raising. He is the owner of one hundred and twenty acres of improved land and he has a good residence and other build¬ ings.

Mr. Ballenger was married in Platte county, Missouri, January 28, 1868, to Mary Tanner, who was born in Virginia on January 31, 1844. She is the daughter of Levi B. and Mary B. Tanner, who were the parents of seven children, of whom Mrs. Ballenger was the fourth in order of birth. To Mr. and Mrs. Ballenger six children have been born, namely: Ella L., Robert O., Mary M., the wife of C. E. Baker; Emma P., Joseph Claude and (Jrace Alice.

Mr. Ballenger takes a lively interest in the affairs of his township and county, and has been a member of the township board and justice of the peace. Politically, he is a Democrat. He and his wife are active members of the Baptist church.

Lewis C. Miller

Although primarily interested in his own affairs, his large farm claim¬ ing the major portion of his attention, Lewis C. Miller, one of Nodaway county's successful agriculturists, manifests an abiding regard for the ad¬ vancement and welfare of the community and for any measure or enterprise bv which his fellow-men may be benefited. He encourages churches and schools, is a respecter of law and order and has no use or sympathy for any calling or business which tends to lower the moral status of the county or degrade the youth of the land.

Mr. Miller is one of the large number of citizens of Nodaway county who were natives of McDonough county, Illinois, his birth having occurred there on September 3, 1861. He is the son of Isaac and Martha J. (Berry) Miller, both natives of Indiana, from which state they moved to McDonough county, Illinois, thence to Nodaway county, Missouri, in the fall of 1868, and settled in Hughes township, where they established a comfortable home, owned a good farm on which they spent the remainder of their lives. They were the parents of thirteen children, of whom Lewis C., of this review, was the eighth in order of birth. He was seven years old when his parents came to Nodaway county and he was reared to manhood in Hughes township and educated in the common schools of the same, and lived there until 1909, successfully engaged in general agriculture and stock raising, which has been his chief life employment.

In December, 1909, Mr. Miller moved into Maryville, where he now resides in an attractive home. He owns the old NT i Her homestead and has excellent farming land in this county to the extent of two hundred and forty acres, all improved land, and as valuable as any in the locality.

Mr. Miller was married in Andrews county, Missouri, on January 5, 1888, to Sophia P. Ingman, who was born in Ohio, on April 22, 1861 ; she is the daughter of Henry E. and Rebecca (Brandt) Ingman, both natives of Fairfield county, Ohio.

Mr. and Mrs. Miller are the parents of three children, namely: Fayetta is the wife of Guy W. Williams, who lives on Mr. Miller's farm in Hughes township ; Frank P. and Valentine Floyd.

Jacob Edward James

Indefatigable industry, sound business judgment and wise management have been the elements which have contributed to the success achieved by Jacob E. James, an enterprising and progressive farmer of Monroe town¬ ship, Nodaway county. His farm is well improved and highly productive, being numbered among the good farms of the township in which he lives, and because of his high character and unc|uestioned integrity, he enjoys to a marked degree the sincere respect of the community.

subject was but a child, came from Illinois to Nodaway county, locating at Burr Oak Grove, about three and a half miles west of Skidmore. There they lived until the subject was about twenty years of age, when they moved to St. Joseph. When Jacob E. James was about fifteen years old his mother died and the father afterwards married Anna Bartlett, of Illinois. After residing about a year in St. Joseph, the subject returned to near Skidmore and for about a year and a half was in the employ of his uncle, L. F. Hammond,, then during the two years following he rented land from his uncle, which he operated. He then rented other land for three years, the next six years being devoted to farming land ownd by Robert Wells, in the southwestern part of Monroe township. Mr. James then bought another place southeast of Skid¬ more, to wihch he devoted his attention for three years, at the end of that time selling the place and buying another farm near by, which he improved and on which he lived during the following six years. In March, 1908, Mr. James bought the farm which he now owns, comprising a quarter section of land three miles east of Skidmore. The farm, which is eligibly situated, is well improved and is practically all under cultivation. Mr. James has made a number of permanent and substantial improvements and so conducts the operation of the farm as to secure the best results. He is progressive in his methods, keeping in touch with advanced ideas relating to agriculture and as a farmer he enjoys a good reputation. Personally, he is a man of excellent qualities of character, standing "four square to every wind that blows," and his life has been so ordered as to win the admiration and respect of his fellow-men. Besides carrying on a general line of farming, Mr. James has devoted considerable attention to the raising of hogs, in which line he has met with most excellent success.

On February 8, 1893, Mr. James was united in marriage to Fola Martin, the daughter of David and Martha Martin, and to them have been born two children, Harold and Martha. Politically, he is affiliated with the Republi¬ can party and he takes at all times a right interest in local public affairs, though he is not a seeker after public office. Religiously, he and his wife are members of the Methodist Episcopal church, with which he bears official re¬ lations, being a member of the board of stewards for nearly a decade, and he is also the present treasurer of the Sunday school, in the working of which he takes a commendable interest. He is wide-awake to the best interests of the community and gives a whole-hearted support to all worthy movements for the good of his fellows. Pie enjoys a wide acquaintance and is well liked by all who know him.

William A. Sewell

The subject of this biographical review has well earned the title to be addressed as one of the progressive, self-made men of Nodaway county, being the owner of valuable landed estate in Hughes township, though he is now living at Graham, having practically relinquished active labor owing to advancing years. He is well liked, his popularity having been gained by his high personal character and his genuine worth. Mr. Sewell was born in Athens county, Ohio, on February 27, 1833, and he is a son of Samuel H. and Elizabeth (Blackwood) Sewell. Both of these parents were natives of Ohio and their deaths occurred in Athens county. The subject was the second child in order of birth of their seven children. He was reared on his father's farm and remained in Athens county until 1864, engaging the meanwhile in farming and stock raising. In November, 1864, he came to Missouri, locat¬ ing in Andrew county, where during the following summer he operated a rented farm. In October of the same year he came to Hughes township, Nodaway county, and bought two hundred and twelve acres of land, located four miles northeast of Graham, which he resided on and operated until March. 1908, when he came to Graham and has since resided here. He is now the owner of two hundred and twelve acres of fine land, all of which is highly improved and under cultivation.

Mr. Sewell was married in Morgan county, Ohio, on October 25, 1855, to Lydia R. Tryon, a native of that state and whose death occurred in Hughes township on November 11, 1872. They had a family of eight children, name¬ ly: Phoebe, the wife of Amos Croy; John, who is engaged in the hardware business at Burlington Junction, this county; Abner, who died at Hot Springs, Arkansas, when about thirty-four years old, is mentioned in a later paragraph ; Isaac, a farmer in Texas; Frank, in the South; Mary, the wife of Edward \Y. Geyer, of Graham, whose sketch appears elsewhere in this work; Rozella, who died in Graham when about twenty-five years old ; Milton, a farmer. In Hughes township, on April 3, 1873, Mr. Sewell was married to Amanda Warner, a native of Illinois, and they are the parents of three children, namely: Guy, a successful farmer in Hughes township, this county; Claud, a farmer in South Dakota; Merl, who is engaged in farming the home place in Hughes township.

Mr. and Mrs. Sewell are members of the Baptist church and have always taken a keen interest in the activities of the society. In fact, everything that has promised to be of benefit to the community in any way has at all times received Mr. Sewell's earnest endorsement and support and he is justly re¬ garded as one of the representative citizens of the community, where so many years of his life have been spent.

Of the life and death of the subject's son, Abner Sewell, the following excerpts are taken from the Skidmore Standard of May 28. 1897: "Abner Weston Sewell was born in Athens county, Ohio, July 19, 1862, making him at the time of his death thirty-five years, ten months and two days old. * *

"A. W. Sewell, with his parents, left his birthplace at the tender age of three years, for Andrew county, Missouri, where they resided one year and then moved to his father's present home, in Nodaway county, seven miles southeast of Skidmore.

"While a boy, on the farm with his father, he suffered from an attack of hip disease which made him a cripple for life. * * * He remained with his father on the farm until about eighteen years of age, when he went to Graham and engaged in the general mercantile business as a clerk for A. C. Snyder. From Graham he went to Maryville where he acted in the capacity of assistant general manager of the Co-operative Grange Store. He filled this position honorably and successfully for over two years, when he re¬ signed his position and came to Skidmore and engaged in the drug and livery business. Later he left for Grand Island, Nebraska, where he successfully operated a large livery business and later conducted the same kind of busi¬ ness at Aurora, that state. He then returned to Skidmore for a short time and wras engaged in the drug and livery business here. From Skidmore he went to Burlington Junction, where, with his brother, John H. Sewell, he was interested in the livery business, also being connected with Sam Butcher in the drug business at the same time. From Burlington Junction he went to Everest, Kansas, and for a number of years run a drug business at that place From Everest he returned to Skidmore and with his brother, I. N. Sewreil, engaged in the general mercantile business, which they were very successfully operating at the time of his death.

"Mr. Sewell met and loved Miss Nora E. Conn at Burlington Junction and they were married in St. Joseph January 5, 1887. Their union was happily blessed by six children, three girls and three boys. * * * Mr.

"He was a very successful and energetic business man, having a mind that conceived of and successfully executed great possibilities. He was thor¬ ough, business-like and untiring in the business world and was well known and respected by all the wholesalers in this part of the country for his sterling integrity and business qualifications. Skidmore business men have suffered a great loss from their ranks in his death and how well they esteemed him is given in silent testimony by their actions during the sad bereavement to his family."

Asa Ramey

Nearly a half century has elapsed since the North and the South were engaged in the greatest struggle of modern times and the hosts that fought therein are rapidly falling before the only foe that mortal man cannot meet. Government statistics in 1910 show that they are answering the last rollcall at the startling rate of one per minute. This means that ere long not many will remain, like the veterans of the Mexican war today; consequently we of the younger generation should pay those that remain due deference upon all occasions, realizing the great work that they did for us.

One of these honored veterans is Asa Ramey, farmer, of White Cloud township, Nodaway county. He was born on a farm in Montgomery county, Indiana. January 12, 1839. His father was Isaac J. Ramey and his mother was known in her maidenhood as Martha Lunger. They were natives of Ohio, and were the parents of eleven children, of whom Asa was the tenth in order of birth. He spent the early years of his life in Montgomery and Fountain counties. Indiana, and when about sixteen years old he accompanied his parents to Tama county, Iowa, and while living there the war came on and young Ramey, though but a youth, showed his patriotism by enlisting on July 14, 1862, in Company D, Twenty-eighth Regiment Iowa Volunteer In¬ fantry. and served with a very creditable record until the close of the war, taking part in many a trying campaign and hot engagement. He was mustered out at Savannah, Georgia, and returned to his home in Tama county, Iowa, remaining there until the spring of 1867 when he moved to Ottawa county, Kansas. He lived there until the spring of 1889. when he came to Nodaway county. Missouri, and settled in Polk township and lived there seven years and then moved to White Cloud township where he has since resided. He has always been engaged in farming and stock raising. He is the owner of a valuable farm of one hundred and sixty acres, most of which is improved.

Mr. Ramey was married at Concordia, Kansas, on January 28, 1874. to Eliza Brockson, who was born in Lake county. Illinois, January 16, 1852; she is the daughter of William and Susan (Wamsbley) Brockson, both natives of England, her father dying in Take county, Illinois, and the mother in Ot¬ tawa county. Kansas.

Mr. and Mrs. Ramey are the parents of eight children, namely : Ada A. died in childhood; Leon also died in childhood; Susie is the wife of Ed¬ ward Busby; Arthur A., John A., William H.. Roy and Ruth.

John Barrett

Nodaway county. Missouri, is characterized by her full share of enter¬ prising and progressive farmers, who have been the mainstay and backbone of the wonderful development which has marked this section of the state during the past few decades, and today among this class stands John Barrett, whose finely improved and highly cultivated farm lies in Monroe township, where he enjoys a high standing among his fellow-citizens.

Mr. Barrett is a native son of the old Keystone state, having been born in Warren county, Pennsylvania, on May 20, 1847. He is the son of Edmund and Matilda (Taylor) Barrett, and for further details as to the subject's ancestral history the reader is referred to the sketch of the sub¬ ject's brother. Charles W. Barrett, which appears elsewhere in this work. John Barrett was reared on the parental homestead and is indebted to the common schools for his educational discipline. He -was one of a large fam¬ ily of children and early in life he commenced work on his own account. In 1876 he came to Nodaway county, Missouri, having been preceded here by his brothers. Reuben and James. During their first years here the brothers engaged in the operation of rented land, but in the fall of that year the sub¬ ject and his brother James bought one hundred and sixty acres of land in section 14, in the southwestern part of Monroe township. The two brothers farmed together for a time, but eventually John bought his brother's interest in the farm and operated it alone ever since. He has added to his landed possessions from time to time, having been successful in his business affairs, and now lie and his sons own four hundred and eighty acres of good land in Monroe township. Mr. Barrett has been a hard worker, by which means be has gained his present degree of prosperity, and his life has been character¬ ized by an inflexible integrity and honesty of motive that has won for him the unstinted praise of his fellow-citizens. The farm is well improved, com¬ prising a comfortable residence, commodious barn and other buildings, the general appearance of the place being calculated to reflect credit on the owner. He carried on a general line of farming, and gives considerable attention to the handling of livestock, of which he fattens many head for market each

On February 26, 1884, Mr. Barrett married Maggie Roberts, the daugh¬ ter of Ephraim Roberts. She was born in Highland county, Ohio, August 11, 1849, her birthplace being not far distant from Cincinnati, where she lived until soon after the war, when she came to Missouri with her parents, who located west of Maitland, in Holt county, where she grew to woman¬ hood. To -Mr. and Mrs. Barrett were born three children, John R., Robert W. and Lucy M. On August 28, 1909, Mrs. Barrett closed her eyes to earthly scenes. For fifteen years she had been an almost helpless invalid from rheu¬ matism, but she bore her sufferings with Christian patience and fortitude, and by her thoughtfulness and planning contributed appreciably to the pleas¬ ure and comfort of the home. She was a life-long member of the Methodist Episcopal church and hers was a beautiful and radiant Christian character, in which was ever evident the influence of a pure religion. The daughter, Lucy M., deserves praise for the able and unselfish way in which she as¬ sumed the burdens of the household when her mother became to a great de¬ gree incapacitated for the work, and, though still only in her teens, she is an accomplished housekeeper.

Politically, Mr. Barrett assumes an independent attitude, believing that, in local elections at least, the personal fitness of the candidates for office should be considered rather than party affiliations. Fraternally he is a mem¬ ber of the time-honored order of Freemasons, holding membership in the blue lodge at Skidmore. Mr. Barrett has gained success through his own efforts, is regarded as a man of splendid character and is highly esteemed by all who know him.

Charles E. Taylor

Through struggles to triumph seems to be the maxim which holds sway for the majority of our citizens and, though it is undeniably true, that many a one falls exhausted in the conflict, a few by their inherent force of char¬ acter and strong mentality rise above their environments until they reach the plane of prosperity. Such has been the record of the gentleman whose name appears as the caption of this sketch and who is today numbered among the representative citizens of Hughes township, Nodawray county, Missouri.

Mr. Taylor is a native of the county in which he now lives, his birth having occurred in the northwestern part of Nodawray township on March 20. 1859. His parents were Dr. John C. and Marietta (McVeigh) Taylor, na¬ tives respectively of Kentucky and Indiana. After their marriage these par- ents located in Indiana, where they continued to reside until the fall of 1858, when they came to Nodaway county, locating in Nodaway township, where the father engaged in the active practice of his profession for many years. Eventually he removed to Topeka, Kansas, where for ten years, or up to the time of his death, he was numbered among the leaders in the medical pro¬ fession, his death occurring when he was eighty-four years old. His wife died in Graham, this county, when seventy- four years old. Of their eight children, the second in order of birth was Charles E. He was reared in Nodaway county, where he has always resided, and he secured a good, practical education in the common schools. His school discipline has been liberally supplemented by much reading and habits of close observation of men and events, so that he is considered a well-informed man on general topics.

In 1880 Mr. Taylor came to Graham and engaged in the mercantile business, in which for a quarter of a century he was recognized as one of the leaders in his line, enjoying a large and remunerative patronage and the re¬ spect and confidence of all who had business dealings with him. In 1905 he sold his business interests, since which time he has given his attention mainly to farming. His rise in the business world was steady and permanent, and it is worthy of note that for six years prior to 1880 he acted as clerk in the same store which he afterwards owned. He is now the owner of two hundred and ten acres of finely improved and productive land, which is a source of a very satisfactory income.

Mr. Taylor was married in Graham, Missouri, on May 27, 1884, to Jennie Turnure, who was born in Boone county, Illinois, on January 1, 1862, a daughter of Egbert and Emily ( Compton) Turnure. Her parents, who were natives of New York state, came to Nodawav county in 1866 and for a time lived in Polk township, going then to Maryville, where they lived until 1879, when they came to Graham. Here the father died at the age of fiftyone years, his widow still surviving. They were the parents of seven chil¬ dren, Mrs. Taylor being the fourth in order of birth. To Mr. and Mrs. Tay¬ lor have been born six children. Beryl D., Harvey C., Bronson W., True D. and Lura E. ; a son died in infancy.

Politically, Mr. Taylor supports the Republican party and takes an in¬ telligent interest in local public affairs, having held a number of offices, in¬ cluding those of township treasurer, school director and member of the town¬ ship board. Fraternally, he is a member of the Woodmen of the World, while his religious affiliation is with the Presbyterian church. He is a man of public spirit and progressive ideas and is numbered among the strong and influential citizens of his community, as such being eminently entitled to representation in a work of this character.

Rev. James L. Jones

It is with no small degree of satisfaction that the biographer essavs to set forth the salient facts in the life history of the estimable gentleman whose name initiates this review, for his life has been one singularly full of good deeds and of the most pronounced success in his chosen calling, that of spread¬ ing the gospel of the Nazarene, and his influence has ever been wholesome and ameliorating, so that today he is held in the highest respect and admiration by all who know him.

Rev. James L. Jones, residing in White Cloud township, Nodaway county, was born on his father's farm in Buchanan county. Missouri, May 29, 1851. He is the son of Alfred and Eliza A. (Heflin) Jones, both natives of Fleming county, Kentucky, who when young children accompanied their par¬ ents to Rush county, Indiana, where they grew to maturity and were mar¬ ried. They remained in that county, on a farm, until they came to Buchanan county, Missouri; from there they came to Nodaway county, in 1854, and settled in White Cloud township, six miles south of Maryville, where they lived until their deaths, Mr. Jones dying on December 24, 1896, when seventyfive years of age, his widow surviving until August 12, 1905, in her eightysecond year. They were greatly beloved for their simple, honest and kindly lives. To them four children were born : Melvina is the wife of J. M. Busby; Nannie was the wife of H. C. Fleming, and she died in Hopkins about 1876: James L., of this review, and William R., of Johnson county, Missouri.

Rev. James L. Jones was but three years old when his parents came to Nodaway county and here he grew to manhood on his father's farm in White Cloud township. He was educated in the common schools, engaging in farming in the meantime until he was forty-three years old. having turned his attention to farming exclusively after he left the school room. He then turned his attention to the ministry and has since been actively engaged in the same since 1894. He united with the Missionary Baptist church when twentyfive years old. After holding pastorates at Central Friendship, north of Mary¬ ville, for five years, he moved to Texas and was engaged in the ministry there for six months, when he returned to Nodaway county and was the pastor of the church at Center Grove, near Tarkio, Atchison county, for two years. He then moved to Hopkins and was pastor of the church there for two years, later preached at Vernon, Andrew county, one year. During that time he also filled the pulpit at Good Hope, in Independence township, this county. He again came to Maryville where he made his home about three years, during which time he supplied pulpits in different places. He then went to Clearmont. where he had charge of the church of this denomination for two years, and supplied different pulpits. Early in November, 1909, he settled on the farm where he now lives in White Cloud township, having re¬ signed his work in the ministry. He is the owner of an excellent farm of two hundred and seventeen acres, well improved and very fortunately situated for general farming, which he carries on successfully.

Rev. Mr. Jones was married in Hughes township, March 9, 1871. to Mary A. Toel, who was born in Luxemberg, Germany, September 22, 1854; she is the daughter of Henry and Margaret Elizabeth Toel, both natives of Germany.

Rev. and Mrs. Jones are the parents of six children, namely: Nannie is the wife of George A. Greeson, of Polk township; Oliver E. is a farmer in Nodaway county; Raymond T. is a farmer in White Cloud township; Al¬ fred is a farmer in White Cloud township; James L., Jr., is a farmer in White Cloud township; Marie A. is a teacher in the Conservatory of Music in Maryville and is a musician of much talent. All these children have been well educated and have engaged in teaching with the exception of Alfred.

Byron W. Archer

One of the most enterprising and successful of the younger generation of farmers in Nodaway county, who has been rewarded in his life work becaused he has labored along' proper channels, is Byron W. Archer, who was born in Independence township, this county, of an excellent old family, long well known there. The date of his birth is recorded as August 16, 1882, and he is the son of A. C. and Mattie (Perpont) Archer, the father a native of West Virginia, born in 1844, and the mother was born there also. They grew to maturity there and received their education in their home community. They came to Nodaway county, Missouri, in 1875, and bought two hundred and forty acres in Independence township, which Mr. Archer added to until he had four hundred and forty acres, which he farmed in a manner that brought him large returns. In 1907 he retired to a cozy home in Maryville, where he still resides. In politics he is a Republican and in fraternal matters is a Mason.

To Mr. and Mrs. A. C. Archer three children were born, namely: Ola, Ida and Byron W. Their mother passed to her rest in 1886, and Mr. Archer later married Phebe Kelley, and one child, Blaine, now a student in Mary- * ville, was born to them.

Byron W. Archer was reared on the home farm, and early in life became acquainted with hard work, having assisted with the crops during the sum¬ mer months and attended the public schools in winter. He quite naturally turned his attention to farming as a livelihood, and he is now the owner of a good and well-improved place consisting of one hundred and sixty acres, on which he raises a diversity of crops and different kinds of livestock. He also feeds a great deal. In politics, he is a Republican.

Mr. Archer was married on March 15, 1908. to Minnie Temmerman, who was born in Iowa, the daughter of A. C. Temmerman. a prominent farmer in Independence township, this county.

Adolphus O. Mason

In the history of Nodaway county, as applying to the business interests, the name of Adolphus O. Mason occupies a conspicuous place, for through a number of years he has been one of the representatives of Maryville's commercial and industrial life, progressive, enterprising and persevering. Such qualities always win success, sooner or later, and to Mr. Mason they have brought a satisfactory reward for his well directed effort, and while he has benefited himself and community in a material way he has also been an influential factor in the moral, educational and political uplift of the county.

Mr. Mason was born November 23, 1863, at Sweet Home, Jackson township, Nodaway county. Missouri, and is the son of Adolphus and Martha (Moberly) Mason, the former born June 18, 1808, in Marietta, Ohio, the son of George and Mary Mason. George Mason was a farmer and spent his life on a farm in Washington county, Ohio. Adolphus Mason, Sr., was reared on a farm, and later devoted his attention to a general merchandise business in Marietta, Ohio. In 1857 he sold out and came to Nodaway county, Missouri, and settled in Jackson township, where he purchased one hundred and sixty acres of land at five dollars per acre ; after farming there a while he built the first store in Sweet Home, a little village near Ravenwood. During the Civil war he moved to St. Joseph and conducted a grocery store in that city. He sold his store in Sweet Home, but held his land. Selling out in St. Joseph, he returned to Nodaway county and bought one hundred and sixty acres, southwest of Barnard, and there he farmed until his death, December 21, 1886.

Politically he was a Republican ; belonged to the Masonic fraternity and the Baptist church. He married Martha Moberly in Washington county, Ohio, in 1851. She was the daughter of James and Sarah Moberly. who lived on a farm in that county. Mrs. Mason was born March 11, 1831, and died May 21, 1905. She was the mother of five children, four of whom are living at this writing: Charles, living in Montana; Amelia is the wife of A. J. Anderson, county treasurer of Worth county, Missouri; Emma is the wife of L. M. Phipps, of Grant City, Missouri; Adolphus O., of this review.

The gentleman whose name introduces this biographical record was reared on the home farm and when sixteen years old went to Avalon to school, from which he was graduated two years later ; returning to the farm, he worked there until 1890. During this time he bought the interests of the other heirs of his father's place, consisting of one hundred and sixty acres, also purchased one hundred and twenty acres more. Selling out in 1890, he moved to Barnard and established a meat market, also dealt in con¬ fectionery and handled stock. Believing that the new country of Oklahoma offered peculiar advantages, he moved thereto in 1891 and remained two years engaged in handling livestock. In 1893 he moved to Grant City, Mis¬ souri, and engaged in the lumber business for a period of eight years. While residing in Grant City he was elected treasurer of Worth county in 1900, on the Republican ticket, overcoming a Democratic majority of three hundred. In 1899 he entered the hardware field. Disposing of this business in 1905, he went to South Dakota, and there established an electric light plant and flouring mill, bought and sold grain on an extensive scale. He obtained a contract to light the town of Beresford, South Dakota, also engaged in the real estate business and became the owner of over fifteen hundred acres of land near Oaks, South Dakota, which he purchased for seven dollars and fifty cents per acre and sold for thirty dollars per acre in 1906. His mill burned; he rebuilt the light plant and sold out, coming to Maryville in 1907, engaged in the real estate business one year, then went into the implement business, handling automobiles, buggies, wagons, etc., in the block he bought on the east side of the public square. In 1909 he bought the Braniger grocery store on North Main street, which he still owns, it being one of the largest, neatest and best patronized in the county. Mr. Mason is the owner of three very valuable farms, one of three hundred and ten acres in Polk township; one of one hundred and sixty-three acres in the same township, and one of three hundred and twenty acres in Morgan county, Missouri. He owns a block of building lots on West Seventh street, a house and two lots on East First street and a block of lots on West Eleventh street.

Mr. Mason is a member of the Knights of Pythias, the Independent Or¬ der of Odd Fellows and the Modern Woodmen of America. He is a Repub¬ lican in politics and a member of the Methodist church.

Mr. Mason's domestic life began on February 23, 1887, when he married Jennie Phipps, daughter of J. R. and Lucinda Phipps, near Barnard, Mis¬ souri, where this family is well established and has long been influential. Mrs. Mason was born September n, 1863, is well educated and has a wide circle of friends.

Three children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Mason, namely: Estella L. is teaching in the Rockford school, Polk township ; Mabelle is a member of the home circle and cashier of her father's grocery store, and Gertrude is attending the Maryville high school.

Mr. Mason has shown that he is a business man of no small caliber, able to cope with any situation successfully, and, by his unaided efforts, he has forged his way to the front in the business world by straightforward and honorable methods.

William B. Scott

The farmers who have the largest rewards for their labors have simply taken better advantage of their circumstances than their fellows. This truth runs through every occupation. The farmer who rises above his fellows does so by taking advantage of conditions which others overlook or fail to grasp. The family represented by William B. Scott, of Polk township, has always been classed with the best and thriftiest residents of their localities in point of skill in farming and stock raising.

Mr. Scott js a native of Jefferson county, Ohio, where he was born October 25, 1852. He is the son of Alexander F. and Eleanor (Barnes) Scott, the former a native of Jefferson county, Ohio, and the latter of West¬ moreland countv, Pennsvlvania. The father died in Cadiz, Ohio, November

25, 1865. The mother was killed at Pittsburg, Pennsylvania, by falling from a train and being run over. Eight children were born to them, named as fol¬ lows : Margaret R., William B., of this review; Josiah L., David M., John McDowell, Ella B., Nannie M. and Mattie E.

William B. Scott was reared in Harrison county, Ohio, where he lived until reaching manhood, assisting with the work about the home place and attending such public schools as the times afforded, remaining there until 1880. In the spring of that year he came to Nodaway county, Missouri, and settled on the farm where he now lives and where he has since resided. He has been very successful as a general farmer and stock raiser, devoting his ex¬ clusive attention to these lines of endeavor. He has a well improved farm of two hundred and eighty acres, on which he has made extensive improve¬ ments and erected excellent buildings. He has set out large numbers of shade and fruit trees and has a very desirable farm in every respect.

Mr. Scott was married in Harrison county, Ohio, December 25, 1884, to Mary Dunlap, who was born near Cadiz. Ohio, October 8, i860. She is the daughter of Hugh P. and Sarah J. (Kennedy) Dunlap, both natives of Ohio; the father died at Cadiz. They were the parents of seven children, named as follows: Robert K., Mary, John A., Joseph B., Amanda B., Samuel P. and Albert C. William B. Scott and wife are the parents of four children, named as follows: Bertha B. is the wife of Leslie D. Giffen : Ross A. ; Ella O. is the wife of Otis Lyle, of Nodaway county; Walter F.

Mr. Scott has held the office of school director for many years. He is a Republican in politics, and he and his wife are members of the Presbyte¬ rian church. Their attractive and desirable farm was entered from the government by Mr. Scott's father, about 1855, the patent being obtained during the administration of President Buchanan; but Alexander F. Scott never lived on the land, having remained in Ohio.

Dillard R. Palmer

A thoroughlv practical man, one who stands high in the community in which he lives as well as wherever he is known, is Dillard R. Palmer, owner and operator of an excellent farm in Polk township, Nodaway county, who is deserving of the success that has attended his efforts because he has worked for it along legitimate lines, and has not depended upon any one to do either his work or his planning. Given a fair chance, such men as Mr. Palmer al¬ ways succeed.

Mr. Palmer was born in Bartholomew county, Indiana, August 8, 1862, the son of William F. and Madaline (Wheaton) Palmer, the former a native of Kentucky and the latter of Indiana. They came to Missouri in 1868 and settled in Rolls county; later, in 1869. they came to Nodaway county, and located in Green township, where the mother died in January, 1893. The father died near Raven wood, this county, in August, 1900. They became fairly well established here and had many friends throughout the community. Eight children were born to them, of whom Dillard R., of this review, was the second in order of birth. He was reared in Nodaway county, having been seven years old when he came here, and he certainly deserves the title of self-made. Pie has always given his attention exclusively to farming pur¬ suits, also stock raising, and, having resided in Nodaway county since No¬ vember, 1869, is well acquainted here and has played well his part in the general development of the locality.

Mr. Palmer was married in Green township, this county, January 14, 1891, to Mary E. Pifer, who was born at Quitman, Missouri, in the same locality where Mr. Palmer was reared, and there she grew up and was edu¬ cated in the common schools. Her birth occurred on March 7, 1872. She is the daughter of Theodore and Martha E. (Brown) Pifer. They were na¬ tives of Pennsylvania and Kentucky, respectively. They came to Nodaway county, Missouri, when young, and married here, and began life on a farm in Green township, spending the balance of their lives there, Mr. Pifer dying on March 25, 1893, Mrs. Pifer having preceded him to the grave many years, dying on July 14, 1878. Four children were born to them, of whom Mrs. Palmer was the third in order of birth. To Mr. and Mrs. Palmer three children have been born, named as follows: Theodore F., Mildred M. and Ralph E.

When Mr. Palmer married he settled in Green township and lived there for two years, then settled in Polk township, where he has since resided, locat¬ ing in March, 1897, on the farm where he has since made his home. His well-improved and carefully tilled place consists of one hundred and sixty acres, and he has a good home and keeps some good stock.

Mr. and Mrs. Palmer and their two elder children are members of the Christian church, and fraternally Mr. Palmer belongs to the Masonic order, the Modern Woodmen of America and the Independent Order of Odd Fel¬ lows, while he and his wife are members of the Odd Fellows' auxiliary order, the Daughters of Rebekah, in all of which he takes much interest and stands high in their councils.

Prince L. Trapp

The financial and commercial history of Nodaway county would be in¬ complete and unsatisfactory without personal mention of those whose lives are interwoven so closely with the industrial and commercial development of this portion of the state. When a man. or a number of men, set in motion the machinery of business, which materializes into many forms of practical utility, or where they have carved out a fortune or a name from the common possibilities, open for competition to all. there is a public desire, which should be gratified, to see the men as nearly as a word artist can paint them, and examine the elements of mind and the circumstances by which such success has been achieved.

P. L. Trapp is a native of Missouri, he having first seen the light of day on a farm in Andrew county, on September n, 1851. His parents were Elder William R. and Mary A. (Garner) Trapp, the former having been born in what is now Lafayette county, Missouri, on September 22, 1818, and the latter born in Ray county, this state, on June 3, 1821. They are both now deceased, the father having died near Filmore, Andrew county, in December, 1878, and being survived for nearly two decades by his widow, whose death occurred in Graham, this county, on July 5, 1897. They were the parents of eleven children, of whom the subject of this sketch was the sixth in order of birth.

William R. Trapp was a leading and prominent citizen of Missouri. He was ordained an elder in the Christian church in 1843, being one of the pioneer preachers in this section of the state. He also gave some attention to farming, which he carreid on in connection with his ministerial labors. At the outbreak of the Civil war he enlisted in the Fourth Regiment Missouri State Militia, with which he served as chaplain for one and a half years, be¬ ing compelled to resign and return home because of ill health. In 1863 he was selected to the Missouri Legislature on the Republican ticket and served one term with credit to himself and to the satisfaction of his constituents.

Prince L. Trapp spent the first fourteen years of his life in his native county, coming to Graham, Nodaway county, in February, 1866. After three years' residence here the family returned to Andrew county, where the subject remained until February, 1870, when he went to Colorado, where he engaged in silver mining during the following six years. Returning then to Graham, Mr. Trapp engaged in the clothing business, but two years later he turned his attention to farming in LIughes township, to which he devoted his attention until December, 1898, when he again located in Graham and en- gaged in the lumber business, with which he has since been actively con¬ nected. The business was conducted under the name of the M. M. Rhoades Lumber Company until June, 1904, when Mr. Trapp bought the entire interests and at that time formed a partnership with his son, Clyde C. Trapp, under the firm name of P. L. Trapp & Son. The firm is one of the foremost in its line in the county and commands a splendid patronage from a wide extent of country. They carry a large and complete line of all kinds of lumber and builders' supplies and because of the progressive business methods and accommodating and just treatment of their customers they enjoy the re¬ spect and confidence of all Avho have dealings with them.

Mr. Trapp has been married twice. On November 11, 1877, he married Adele E. Wyman, who was born in Blandinsville, Illinois, November 14, 1859, the daughter of C. J. and Elizabeth (Coe) Wyman. To this union were born three children, Clyde C., Demos R. and Edwin W. Mrs. Adele Trapp died on the Hughes township farm on January 16, 1884, and on April 29, 1885, at DeSoto, Iowa, Mr. Trapp married Hattie A. Harper, a native of Iowa and a daughter of Adam and Lillie (Carmean) Harper, natives of Indiana. Of the subject's children, Clyde C. was born in Hughes tow-nship, December 8. 1878. and has always resided in that township. On June 28, 1905, in Holt county, Missouri, he married Grace M. Weller, who wras born in that county on April 24, 1884. They are the parents of two children. Irma A. and Marjorie R. The youngest son, Edwin W., is manager of a branch house for Swift & Company, at San Jose, California.

Mr. Trapp is a Democrat in his political views and has taken a deep interest in public affairs, his support being ever given to those movements which have tended to stimulate the best interests of the community, morally, educationally, socially or materially, he being numbered among the substan¬ tial and influential citizens of the county. Religiously he is a member of the Christian church, to which he gives an earnest and liberal support. Genial, courteous and accommodating, Mr. Trapp has easily made friends and is held in the highest esteem bv all who know him.

In all matters involving the interests of Hughes township of Nodawav county, in which the subject of this sketch resides, he takes much interest, being enterprising and vigilant and many of the movements looking to the public weal have been supported by him during his long practice here, for he is known throughout the county and has long enjoyed a large practice, his name having long since become a household word in this locality, for he has ever held very high rank in the medical fraternity.

Marcus M. Rhoades was born on a farm in Saline county, Missouri, on June 11, 1840, and is a son of George and Jane (Hall) Rhoades, the former a native of Virginia and the latter of Maryland. George Rhoades settled in Saline county in 1826, being numbered among the earliest pioneers of that section, and he maintained his residence there until his death, his wife also dying there. They became the parents of nine children, of which number the subject of this sketch was the eldest. The latter was reared on the paternal farmstead and secured his elementary education in the common schools, supplementing this by two years' attendance at Mt. Pleasant Col¬ lege, at Huntsville, Missouri, his studies being interrupted by the inception of the Civil war, enlisting in the fall of i860 in the Confederate army. Soon after entering the service he was taken prisoner and was held for nine months, at the end of which time he was exchanged. He then enlisted in the Ninth Regiment Missouri Infantry, with which he served until the end of the war, attaining to the rank of adjutant of the regiment. Upon the completion of his military service, Mr. Rhoades returned to Saline county and took up the study of medicine, later matriculating in the St. Louis Medical College, where he graduated in 1868, with the degree of Doctor of Medicine. In the following year he entered upon the active practice of his profession at Bigelow, Holt county, Missouri, but after one year there he came to Graham, Nodaway county, where he has since remained in the active practice. For many years he has stood admittedly in the front ranks of Nodaway county's professional men, possessing a thoroughly disciplined mind and keeping in constant touch with the trend of modern thought relating to the noble calling to which his life and energies have been devoted. He has been prospered financially and is now the owner of a fine farm of one hundred and seventyfive acres in Hughes township, this county, which is well improved and yields a handsome income. The Doctor has through a course of years enjoyed at all times the unbounded confidence of the entire community, where his pro¬ fessional ability and sterling qualities of manhood have been recognized and appreciated.

On September 12, 1872, Doctor Rhoades married Mary T. Bond, a native of Clinton county, Missouri, and a daughter of UTiah and Louisa (Fentress) Bond. Doctor and Mrs. Rhoades have become the parents of six children, three of whom are living, namely: Ralph, who is engaged in the lumber business at Downs, Kansas ; Verne, who is engaged in the govern¬ ment forestry service in New Mexico ; Wayne is a lumber dealer at Linn, Kansas; two died young, and Pierce died in New Mexico, February 27, 1910, when about thirty years old; he was a chemist.

Doctor Rhoades has always maintained a live interest in the general welfare of the community and has always given an ardent support to all movements having for their object the welfare of his fellow-citizens. He enjoys a wide acquaintance and is well liked by all who know him.

William Workman

The great state of Indiana made a liberal contribution to the early settle¬ ment and development of Nodaway county, many of our most enterprising and progressive early pioneers having been natives of that state. In fact Lhiion township, this county, was at one time known locally as the "Hoosier settlement." from the fact that in the early settlement of that section natives of Indiana assumed a prominent part. As early as 1857 the following Indianians were settled here: Jacob Taylor, Peter Storms, Washington Storms, Hardin Carmichael, Peter Sayers, William Denny, William Pettigo, Hen¬ derson Lafon, Wesley Carter. In 1859 came John Workman, William Weaver, Jonathan Weaver, Samuel Weaver, George Floury, James Car¬ penter, William Lamar, John McFadden and William Marr. In i860 the newcomers here from Indiana were Starling Carmichael, Archibald Car¬ michael and his son Archibald, Augustus Carmichael and William Oliphant. A worthy scion of one of these early settlers is the subject of this sketch, William Workman, who is now living in Maryville, having laid aside active toil after many years of honest and earnest endeavor, which brought to him a gratifying measure of prosperity.

William Workman was born in Monroe county, Indiana, on March 5, 1834, and is a son of John and Elizabeth (Motley) Workman. These parents were both natives of the state of North Carolina, where they were reared and married, removing to Indiana in 1832. In 1859 they came to Nodaway coun¬ ty, Missouri, making the long overland journey with an ox team and wagon, the other members of their little party being William Weaver and family, and two nephews, Jonathan and Samuel Weaver, with a widowed sister. John Workman had, prior to this time, made an examination of the country and had been favorably impressed by the soil, climate and general conditions, and also was influenced by the fact that there were already a number of Indiana people here, as has been stated in the opening paragraph of this sketch. On his arrival here, John Workman bought one hundred and sixty acres of land located one mile from Storms, in Union township. The land cost him eight dollars an acre, a very few acres being broke and the only improvement being a rude board shanty, but he at once set to work and in a few years his farm was numbered among the best in the 'township, and has remained the family homestead ever since, now being owned by the subject of this sketch. Here John and Elizabeth Workman reared their children to lives of honor and usefulness, and here their deaths occurred, the former at the age of eightysix years and the latter at seventy-six. They were a grand old couple and few enjoyed to so marked an extent the respect and veneration of their neighbors. John Workman took a deep interest in the welfare of the community and in about 1903 or 1904 he erected on his farm a church known as Workman Chapel, donating land for the same and for a cemetery, this being all the more notable from the fact that he himself did not hold membership with any society. His generosity was extended for the benefit of the entire commun¬ ity and the only condition he imposed on those who wished to use the chapel was that no collections should be taken in public services held there, and this rule has always been observed. The church has remained in the hands and control of the family, though they are generous in giving its use, John Work¬ man stating that if, in the absence of collections, money was needed for cur¬ rent expenses, he would foot the bills. He was eminently public-spirited and was a stanch advocate of good roads, bridges and school houses. A Demo¬ crat in political principles, he was liberal and broad-minded and stood ever for the greatest good to the greatest number.

The children born to John and Elizabeth Workman were as follows : William, the immediate subject of this sketch; John who married and reared his family in Nodaway county, but is now residing near Springfield, Missouri ; David, of Union township; James, also of Union township; Francis, a resi¬ dent of Polk township, this county; Joseph i'homas. of Maryville; Celia, the wife of Starling Carmichael, of Pickering, this county; Margaret became the wife of Joel Burch, who came to Missouri with the Workman family in 1859; she is now deceased; Nancy Ann became the wife of William Oliphant, who came to Missouri in i860, but subsequently they removed to Indiana, where she died and where he is still living.

William Workman was reared on the Indiana homestead and there re¬ ceived his education in the common schools. On attaining mature years he married Margaret Weaver, a daughter of Joshua Weaver and sister of Nancy.

Jonathan and Samuel Weaver, all of whom came to Missouri with the Work¬ mans. When he arrived here William Workman possessed an old wagon, two yoke of light oxen, a cow and a colt. His progress was slow at first and it was several years before he owned a place of his own, he finally secur¬ ing a tract of land in Union township, on which was a rude log shanty. He was several years in paying for this land, but he eventually accomplished this and then he traded his original tract for more land and as he prospered in his affairs he invested in more land until now he is the owner of over twelve hundred acres of splendid land, including the old homestead of eighty acres entered by his father. His land, which adjoins the homestead, lies nearly all in Union township, and for some of it he paid as high as twenty-five dollars an acre, though the greater part of it cost from five to ten dollars an acre. Mr. Workman has made many splendid improvements on his property, having erected a neat, comfortable and attractive residence and other necessary build¬ ings. He has here carried on general farming operations, with which he has combined stock raising and feeding, in both of which lines he has met with a gratifying measure of success. He devoted his attention unremittingly to the operation of this farm until 1908, when he retired from active labor and has since had his residence in the beautiful city of Maryville, his pleasant home being located on East Seventh street. To him and his wife was born one daughter, Elizabeth, the wife of John Thornhill, of Maryville.

Politically, Mr. Workman is a stanch Democrat, but he has never aspired to public office. He is public spirited and progressive in his ideas and with¬ holds his support from no movement which promises to be of material benefit to the community in general. Frank and candid in his dealings with others, he enjoys an excellent reputation for integrity and honesty of motive and he deserves the high esteem in which he is held by all who know him.

John M. Wilson

John M. Wilson, banker of Graham, is a Missourian by birth and may justly bear the title of "self-made man," having worked his own way to the admirable and influential position he now occupies. The success attained in his business affairs has been greatly owing to his stead}' persistence, stern integritv and excellent judgment, qualities which cause him to take rank with the leading business men in this section of the county, besides winning for him the confidence and esteem of the public to a marked degree.

John M. Wilson, the popular and efficient cashier of the Citizens' Bank of Graham, was born in Hughes township, this county, on September 22, 1876, and is a son of William G. and Loretta E. (Mcllvaine) Wilson. These par¬ ents were both natives of the state of Kentucky, the father born in Bath county and the mother in Mason county. They were married in that state, and in 1874 they came to Nodaway county, Missouri, settling in Hughes township, where the mother's death occurred in July, 1907. Although Mr. Wilson maintains his residence in Graham, much of his time is spent in Texas, where he has business interests. To him and his wife were born six children, four of whom are living, namely : Alfred, who died at the age of seventeen years; one son, who died in infancy; Mamie, the wife of George P. Wright, of Maryville; Lutie, the wife of John A. Gex, of Hughes township.

John M. Wilson was reared on the paternal farmstead in Hughes town¬ ship and is indebted to the public schools and the old Maryville Seminary for his educational training. He was reared to the life of a farmer and devoted his attention to that line of effort until 1900. when he accepted the position of assistant cashier of the Citizens' Bank at Graham, filling this position until 1904, when he was promoted to the position of cashier, in which capacity he is now giving efficient and eminently satisfactory service. The Citizens' Bank is one of the solid and influential financial institutions of Nodaway county and has had an important part in the activities in a com¬ mercial way of the community. The institution has been prosperous from its inception, not a little of its present success being due to the executive ability and sound business judgment of its cashier. Courteous and accommo¬ dating, yet wisely conservative, Mr. Wilson has proven a most popular official and the wisdom of his selection to the position he holds has been abundantly vindicated.

Mr. Wilson was married in Hughes township on December 17, 1899. to Frances S. Gex, a daughter of R. B. and Bettie Gex, her birth having oc¬ curred in this township. The wedded life has been most happy and con¬ genial and their home is the center of a large social circle, in which they enjoy a well deserved popularity. Fraternally, Mr. Wilson is a member of the Ancient Free and Accepted Masons, in the work of which he takes a deep interest. He enjoys a wide acquaintance throughout his section of Nodawav county and wherever known he is held in the highest esteem. His father, William G. Wilson, is also numbered among the prominent and well-to-do men of Nodaway county, where he owns over two thousand acres of fine farming land, from which he derives a considerable income.

William Yates Cox

It is \\ ith marked satisfaction that the biographer adverts to the life of one who has attained success in any vocation requiring definiteness of pur¬ pose and determined action. Such a life, whether it he one of calm, con¬ secutive endeavor or of sudden, meteoric accomplishments, must abound in both lesson and incentive and prove a guide to young men whose fortunes and destinies are still matters for the future to determine. The subject of this sketch is distinctively one of the representative agriculturists of Nodaway county. For a number of years he directed his efforts towards the goal of success and by patient continuance succeeded at last in overcoming the many obstacles in his way.

William Y. Cox was born in Madison county, Kentucky, on June 20, 1842, and he is the son of Isaac and Lucy A. (Bootwright) Cox. the former a native of North Carolina and the latter born in the Blue Grass state. In 1843 these parents came to Buchanan county, Missouri, where they lived for two years, and then came to Nodaway county, settling in Polk township, where they spent the rest of their days, the father dying in his ninety-seventh year and his wife at the age of sixty years. They were the parents of four children, namely : Elizabeth, who died at the age of sixty-five years : William Y. ; Theodore ; Benoni, a resident of White Cloud township, this county.

William Y. Cox was reared to manhood on the parental farmstead in Polk township, where he has resided continuously since 1845. He received a good, practical education in the common schools and has devoted himself during the subsequent years to agricultural pursuits and stock raising, in both of which lines his efforts have been rewarded with a due measure of success. He owns two hundred acres of splendid and fertile land, on which are raised all the crops common to this section of the country. The improvements in¬ clude a comfortable and attractive residence and convenient outbuildings, everything about the place indicating comfort and good management. Mr Cox has had an active part in the development of this part of Nodaway county, in the improvement of which he has always taken a deep interest, and he is rightfully numbered among the representative citizens of the town¬ ship.

On July 29, 1869, in Polk township, Mr. Cox was united in marriage to Martha R. Jones, who was born in Buchanan county, this state, on December 28, 1852, a daughter of Jonathan and Nancy (Lankford) Jones. These par¬ ents w^ere both natives of Kentucky, who came to Missouri and settled in Polk township, Nodaway county, in 1869. Subsequently they moved to Kansas, where the father died. The mother afterwards went to Oklahoma, where her death occurred. Of their eleven children, Mrs, Cox was the sixth child in order of birth. Mr. and Mrs. Cox. are the parents of nine living children, namely : Benoni, a farmer in Polk township, Jonathan H., Alva J., William E., Lucy A., the wife of Edgar Russell, Nellie J., Nannie B., Nettie G., and Thomas R. Two other children died in infancy unnamed.

Religiously, Mrs. Cox is a faithful member of the Baptist church and takes an active interest in the work of the society. Mr. Cox is a man of acknowledged business ability, whose influence has ever been exerted in the direction of right things in the life of the community, supporting those move¬ ments which have tended to benefit his fellows. He enjoys a wide acquaint¬ ance throughout his section of the county and is well liked by all who know him.

Samuel P. Huston

To indulge in prolix encomium of a life which is one of distinctive modesty and unpretentiousness would be most incongruous, and yet in re¬ viewing the career of the subject of this sketch, who is one of the sterling agriculturists of Polk township, Nodaway county, and who holds a position of unequivocal confidence and esteem in the community in which he has long lived and labored to so goodly ends, feelings of admiration are prompted.