Saline County, Missouri - Biographical sketches, 1910 (part 7 of 17)

Lewis T. Phillips

A man who is prominently identified with the agricultural interests of Saline county is Lewis T. Phillips, who was born in Campbell county, Kentucky, April 9, 1834. He was reared on the farm and educated in the oldtime subscription schools, taught in log houses with crude furnishings. He is the son of John and Margaret (Kiggins) Phillips, both natives of Kentucky, where they were reared and married and where the father taught school a few years. He and his wife both died young in years, of milk sickness, about the latter part of 1834; they left two small children, John, now living in Panhandle, Texas, and Lewis T., of this review. But little is known of the family of John Phillips. His mother was a daughter of a Mr. Kiggins, of North

Carolina, who was killed at the battle of Cowpens. Later his family moved to Kentucky and eventually to Indiana. His children were: Mary, who married a Mr. Gisborn ; Nanc}-, wdio married a Mr. Saide ; Margaret, the mother of Lewis T. Phillips of this review; Elizabeth, who married a Mr. Shanklin ; Susan, who married a Mr. Ginn; Sally, married; Senith, who married a Mr. Parmore ; Ellen, w-ho married a Mr. Perry. Several of these children came to Missouri, while others remained in Indiana, near Greensburg.

Lewis T. Phillips was eight months old when his parents died and he and his brother were placed with relatives, John remaining in Kentucky and Lewis T. was sent to Lidiana to an uncle, Mathew Gisborn, who gave him as good care as was possible at that time. He was a Virginian, upright, hig'hl}' respected and a good man in all the relations of life, a devoted member of the Baptist church. In 1840 he moved to Missouri and located in Knox county, where he bought a farm which he worked successfully until his death in 1848. He left four children, two of whom died in Missouri ; one son went to California in 1849 '^"'^^ later lived in Salt Lake City. Lewis T. Phillips himself took the "gold fever" in 1852 and made the adventurous trip across the plains to the distant Eldorado, making the trip with ox teams. He w^orked at such labor as he could find to do, farming, teaming and similar w'ork. Li 1863 he visited Missouri, coming home by the water route, and in 1864 returned to California. In 1865 he resumed farming in Knox county and on December 16, 1866. he married and in 1868 he came to Saline county, rented a large farm and here remained for fifteen years. He was successful and in 1887 he bought a farm and still resides on the same, having carried on general farming in a most successful manner and has fed stock from time to time, always raising what live stock the farm would support. He has lived to see all the best development of the count}-. Being in the far \\'est during- the Civil war. he took no part in the same. He is a Democrat, but has never aspired to office or public notoriety of any kind. He is a strictly moral, honest, charitable man, a good neighbor and friend, and a man who deserves much credit for the large success which he has achieved solely through his own efi^orts, his hard work and honest dealing. He finds himself in his old age enjoying all the comforts of life, the owner of a fine farm and a C(.mfortable honie. His highly cultivated farm is located near Eairville, Miami townshi]), and is one of the best in this section.

Lewis 1". riiillips was married to Sarah E. h^isher, who was born in Kentucky in 1844, the daughter of \\'illiam and Nellie (Jackson) Fisher, both natives of Owen county, Fventuck)-. where thev grew to maturity and were married. William's father was Joseph h'isher. who ser\-ed through the war of

18 1 J. When vrmng he was captured and carried off by the Indian., and was kept bv them for a period of eighteen years, becoming a favorite with the red men and after his marriage the Indians visited him frequently. He settled in Kentucky when he married and there reared a family and died, this family being distant relatives of Gov. Claiborne Jackson. William Fisher was a tailor l)v trade and he worked at this in the city of Louisville. He was a Democrat and a Baptist. He died in Louisville in about 1847. The family returned to Bourbon county. Kentucky, and later moved to Knox county, Missouri, where Mrs. Fisher kept the family together and reared them. The children born to Mr. and Mrs. William Fisher were, James, Jarvis, John W., Joseph, Matilda H.. Charlotte A. and Mary E., the last three named dying single; Sarah, wife of Lewis T. Phillips of this review; Samuel T. is deceased; Susan died in infancy. Of these children. Joseph and Sarah are still living.

To Mr. and Mrs. Lewis T. Phillips only one child was born, John \\'., born May 6, 1868, who is a merchant at Fairville, Saline county, carrying a general stock of goods; he is a Democrat. He married Bessie C. Davis on April 2, 1901, the daughter of James O. and Nannie (Paxton) Davis, the former a native of Virginia and the latter of Missouri. ]\Ir. Davis, a man of high integrity, was a Democrat, a plain industrious man. a Presbyterian, and his death occurred on June 30, 1906. His widow, also a member of the Presbyterian church, still survives, residing in Miami township on the old home farm. They were the parents of the following children : Thomas L. is a teacher; Mary married B. Cooper; Booker lives at home; Bessie married John W. Phillips; Charles is a business man of Marshall, Missouri; Tiny married W. Crane ; Ona married E. Haney, sheriff of Saline county. John W. Phillips and wife are the parents of one child, Elizabeth, born ]May 6. 1902.

Monroe Floyd

A highly honored and substantial agriculturist of Elmwood township. Saline county, whose record is deserving of emulation by the youth who would succeed over the common barriers in the pathway to the goal of success, is Monroe Floyd, a scion of a fine old Kentucky family, he himself being a native of the Blue Grass state, having first seen the light of day in Pulaski county, that state, on June 15, 184 1. He is the son of John and Matilda (Wood) Floyd, both natives of Kentucky, the former the son of Singleton Floyd, a native of Virginia and an early settler of Kentucky in the days when these two

States were one. He settled first in Garrard county. Kentucky, where he became a noted hunter of wild game ; but he later moved to Pulaski county, Kentucky, where he made his permanent home. Singleton Floyd, mentioned above, is remembered as an exceptionally honest man, an active member of the old Campbellite church. He married Elizabeth Pinic, daughter of James and Elizabeth Pinic, and to this union fifteen children were born, named as follows: Sarah, Polly, John (father of Monroe of this review), Frank, James, Benjamin. David, Lucy. Greenville, Nathan. Singleton. Elizabeth, Lucinda, William P.. Franklin. The father of the children spent the last years of his life in Pulaski county. Kentucky. Matilda Wood, mother of Monroe Floyd, was born in Kentucky, the daughter of Elias Wood, a native of North Carolina, in which state he remained until nine years of age, his father having come to that state from England. Elias Wood ran away from home when a boy and accompanied some emigrants to Bowling Green, Kentucky, and lived there until nineteen years of age when he moved to Pulaski county, that state. He met Jane Adams at a dance and shortly afterwards married her. At that time he had nothing of value except a pair of saddle bags which he sold for five dollars and with the money bought an ax. two knives and a fork, also a plow. He entered some land, built a rude log house and cleared a small "patch" of ground upon which he began farming, making a permanent home there and in time possessed cjuite a fortune for that day. He was a remarkable man in many respects, was six feet tall, very erect, black hair and eyes, roman nose, straight lips, high forehead, large jaw and had a full set of teeth at the time of his death, decidedly military in his general appearance; he was known for his sound judgment, and although his education was limited, he was a very companionable gentleman, being a man of wide information. He was a slave owner and a Whig in politics. He w^as a soldier in the war of 1812. He never experienced any sickness until that which resulted in his death and he never took a dose of medicine until then. His wife, Jane Adams, was reared in Kentucky, daughter of Robert and Rebecca (Wiley) Adams, of North Carolina, Robert Adams having come to America from Ireland. Mrs. Wood was proud of her ancestry and she herself was a firm, noble woman. She and her husband were the parents of ten children, named as follows : Matilda, mother of Monroe Floyd, subject of this sketch; Joel Bailey, Sarah, Polly, Lewis P., Patsy Jane, Alexander, Louisa, Logan Adams. Lafayette. John and Matilda (Wood) Floyd, parents of Monroe Floyd, died in Pulaski county, Kentucky, the former on January 30. 1856. and the latter in 1846. They were members of the Christian cliurch, were slave owners and the parents of three children: h"",lizal)eth J., deceased; she married L. B. L}nch ;

Monroe Floyd remained at home assisting- his father with the work about the home place until he was twenty years of age, then entered the Union army, July 24. 1S61. Company K, Third Regiment Kentucky Volunteer Infantry. The regiment cam])e(l in that state in the fall and winter following, and in March, 1862, marched to Nashville, Tennessee, and were placed in Haskell's brigade. Wood's division, Buell's corps. The following month found them at Pittsburg Landing, in which they engaged in two fights. They then proceeded to Corinth, Mississippi, followed General Beauregard across northern Mississippi and Alabama into Tennessee and into Kentucky, later followed General Bragg into the mountains, then went back to Nashville. Mr. Floyd saw some hard campaigning and fighting. He made a gallant soldier, according to his comrades, and was promoted from private to second lieutenant of Company C. in the same regiment, receiving his commission November 12, 1861.

After the war Mr. Floyd engaged in general merchandising at Somerset, Kentucky, for a period of three years, when he sold out and took up farming, which he followed until 1873, when he left his native state and came to Saline county. Missouri, and bought his present farm of one hundred and twenty acres, which he has fenced, drained and improved in many ways. He has an attractive, comfortable home and good outbuildings. He handles all the stock that the farm will maintain, and has been very successful as a farmer and stock raiser. He fed sheep in large numbers for several years and is now breeding grade sheep.

July 5, 1864, ]\Ir. Floyd was united in marriage with Alary Ann Cain, in Kentucky, who was born in Saline county, Missouri, near Sweet Springs; she is the daughter of Andrew and Margaret (Lynch) Cain; the former went to California with the famous band of "forty-niners." and died there. The Cain family came from Virginia to Missouri in 1840 and Mr. and Mrs. Andrew Cain were the parents of three children: \A"illiam, deceased; Mary Ann, wife of Monroe Floyd, of this review; Nancy Jane. The mother of these children died in 1850.

To Mr. and Mrs. Monroe Floyd eight children ha\e been born, named as follows: John F. married Nettie Burk and they are the parents of one child, Monroe, and reside in Oklahoma ; A\'illiam E. married Kate Schien ; he is a druggist and lives at Butler, Missouri; Monroe A., who is a distinguished educator, holding' the chair of history in the L^iiversity of Oklahoma, married Myrtle Castle and they are the parents of one child, Francis Monroe; Carl W. married Mabel DePue and lives on the home farm with his father; Margaret lar.o is the wife of M\ C. Cox, living in Kansas City; one child was born to i!iem, but is now deceased; Mr. Cox is employed at the stock-yards; Andrew C. who lives in Bismarck, Missouri, where he is principal in the public schools, married Gertie Clark: Nellie V., wife of William Bear, manager of an electric plant in Dulutli, Minnesota; Nancy Jane died in early childhood.

Mr. h^loyd and famih- are members of the Baptist church, and he has longtaken an active interest in church work, having been superintendent of the Sunday school for ten years at the old Salt Pond church, and he has been treasurer of the church for a period of fourteen years, was trustee for twenty years and moderator for the same length of time, having been re-elected each year during that time. This is sufficient proof of his high standing in the neighborhood and of the unsw^erving confidence which his fellow citizens repose in him and speaks in stronger terms than any which could be employed by the biographer. He is a thirty-second-degree Mason, having been a member of this order since 1878, this, too, being" a criterion of his genuine worth. He is also a member of the Ancient Order of United Workmen, having joined this fraternity twenty-five years ago. He is a fine man to meet, pleasant, generous, gentlemanly, and soon impresses one with his sincerity, general knowdedge and probity of character, and yet he is unassuming and avoids display.

At the time the first of this name came over here, Saline county was a l)arren prairie and given over largely to wild game of all kinds. The coyote and prairie wolf had none to fear, the prairie chicken went unhunted, the foxes caught cjuail at their leisure and squirrels gamboled in thousands without disturbance from the guns of boys. Such were conditions when Richard Durrett came here from distant Virginia, after making the long trip over nK.untain and valley, rivers and roads for hundreds of wearisome miles. He soon found, hcnvever, that Saline county was a good place for a poor man to come to, as the land was cheap, the soil rich and productive and everything readv for the plow. The newcomer lost no time in securing some of this land in Clay township, which he cultivated industriously, and when he died, at the age of seventy-five, he had a comfortable home and a reasonable share of wealth, for those days. Besides other members of his family, he had brought with him from old Virginia a bright and promising nine-year-old boy, who afterwards became well known as B. B. Durrett. He, too, became a farmer and all his working days were devoted to agricultural pursuits. He served as a soldier in the Mexican war and ranked high in his community as an honest and loyal citizen. His death occurred March 8, 1874, at the comparatively early age of fifty-two years, the homestead he had so long occupied witnessing the final scene. He married Mildred Grimes, a native of Fayette count}-, Kentucky, who came to Saline county with a sister and here met her future husband. She died on August 14, 1906, after becoming the mother of eight children, whose names are thus recorded in the family annals: Emma, deceased wife of S. P. Allen, of Marshall; Richard, who lives at Slater: Lilla. wife of J. C. Orear, of Slater; Georgia, deceased wife of Doctor W'insboro, who also is dead; Marshall, deceased: David, who resides in Kansas City and one that died in infancy.

W. G. Durrett, eldest of this family of children, was born on his father's farm in Clay township. Saline county, Missouri, July 17, 1850. Circumstances arose which presented his leaving the farm and he made his home there for fifty-five years, living with his mother after his father's death and attending to the agricultural interests and other business connected therewith. His education was obtained in the Clay township schools, supplemented by one term at Professor Newton's private academy, in Pettis county. Mr. Durrett was elected county clerk in November, 1906, and entered upon his term of office on January 7th, of the following year.

September 18, 1889, Mr. Durrett married Josie P., daughter of Joseph M. Pettis, of Marshall, but formerly of Madison county, Kentucky, where Mrs. Durrett was born. There are four children, Joseph W., a student of the high school at this writing; David G., Amos and William P.

David P. Vanmeter

Prominently identified with farming and stock raising, two of the leading industries of Saline county, is David P. Vanmeter, who was born in Miami township, this county, March 25, 1879, and while yet young in years he has been very successful. He Avas reared on a farm and educated in the common schools of Miami township. He later attended Colonel Fleet's Military School and while he was a student there the building was destroyed by fire, and he then took a course in Musselman's Business College, at Quincy, Illinois, from which lie was grachiated ; thus he was well equipped for the struggle of material existence. He is the son of David P. and Margaret (Nye) Vanmeter, the former a native of Virginia and the latter of Ohio and the daughter of George Nye, of Germany, later a prominent farmer of Saline county, Missouri, where he owned and resided on his father's old farm, near Laynesville. His father, Andrew Nve, emigrated from Germany in 1829 and settled in Ross count}-, Ohio, whither he brought his family of four daughters and two sons, and his death occurred in that county in 1840, his widow surviving him until 1854, dying in Missouri. George Nye remained under his parental roof until 1838, when he married Lucinda ^^'arren, whose people were natives of North Carolina, prominent and highly respected. He then went to farming in Ross count}-, Ohio, which he continued very successfully until 1853 when he sold out and emigrated to Saline county, Missouri, coming on a steamboat, which landed at Miami. Here he rented a farm until 1858, wdien he purchased land near Laynesville, which he managed very successfully until 1888 when he was ushered into the silent land, owning at the time of his death over eight hundred acres, and he had given each of his sons one hundred and sixty acres. He was a very prosperous farmer and cattle man. The following children were born to Mr. and Mrs. George Nye : Andrew ; William ; Rhoda married William Mullen ; Christena married A. J. Vanmeter ; Margaret was three times married, first to David P. Vanmeter, father of David P. Vanmeter, Jr., of this review-; then she married William Bates, and her third husband w-as J. Allen; Felix Nye is deceased ; George, and Louisa, now Mrs. I. Blackburn. The mother of these children passed to her rest on May 11, 1889. George Nye, the father, was a Republican, but not an office aspirant. His two oldest sons, \\'illiam and Andrew-, served through the Civil war in the Federal army.

David P. Vanmeter, Sr., w-as born in Hardy county, Virginia, and he was the son of Abraham and Elizabeth (Parsons) Vanmeter. The latter, born in Hampshire county, Virginia, died in Saline county, Missouri, in 1863. Abraham Vanmeter was born in Hardy county, Virginia, in 1785; his father, Joseph Vanmeter, was a soldier in the Revolutionary war, with Washington, and Al)raham X'anmeter served through the war of 18 12. The older Vanmeters were all very patriotic citizens. Abraham came wnth his family to Saline county, Misouri. in 1835, ^^^^ located in the southern part of the county and rented a farm ; he liad brought slaves here from Virginia. Soon afterw^ards he entered land in Miami tow-nship, where he moved, and on which he built a log cabin, later bringing his family and making permanent settlement, placing his farm under cultivation, w-hich was soon self-supporting. He also soon became interested in dealing in cattle and other live stock; later he added more land to his original |)urchase until he owned a large and valual)Ie tract.

He fed cattle for the market, which he found by driving his cattle to St. Louis, for there were no railroads at that time. He also drove them to other places, at one time driving sixteen hundred head of cattle and a large number of sheep to Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, a remarkable feat. In those days it was not possible to get hogs that would follow cattle in the feed lot and he used sheep instead for this purpose and marketed them with the cattle. The trip to Philadelphia required four months, one month of which was spent in Ohio, waiting for the grass to grow so that the cattle could be properly fed along the road. He became the most extensive cattle dealer in northwestern Missouri, continuing until old age prevented him from looking after the business properly, ttien his son David did the necessary work. The elder Vanmeter was very successful and created a large estate. Religiously he was devoted to the Methodist Episcopal church South, which he joined in Virginia. Politically he was a Democrat. His death occurred at the old homestead in 1866. His family consisted of four children, David P., Sr., father of the subject; Mary C. married J. P. Henning ; Rebecca A. married Joseph D. Prosser ; A. J. became an extensive farmer and stock raiser and dealer and he still resides on the old home farm.

When Abraham Vanmeter located in Miami township it was sparsely settled, game was plentiful and wild beasts roamed at will through the great woods, and he and his family made the early history and started the development in this part of the county, undergoing the usual hardships and privations incident to a life in a new country. The family became widely known and highly respected.

During his father's life David was "put in the saddle" and carried forward the work inaugurated by his sire, and after the father's death the property was divided and he continued farming and stock raising successfully until his death in 1884. He was a Democrat, but never an office seeker. He was a man of strict integrity and honor; his family consisted of three children, namely : George, who died when two years old ; David P., Jr., of this review; Lucinda M.. wife of George P. Haynie, of Miami. After the death of the father, the mother of these children married W. Bates, by whom two children were born, one dying in infancy; the second child, Martin Bates, is still a student at school. After Mr. Bates' death, his widow married J. Allen, who now resides at Miami, having retired from active business. Mrs. Allen is a member of the Christian church.

David P. Vanmeter. Jr., was born and reared on the old Vanmeter homestead, in sight of his present home and farm, and he was reared to farming and stdck raising. He received a good elementary education and remained under tlie parental roof with his mother until he married, on October 4, 1899, settling soon afterward on a farm which had been provided for him by inheritance, consisting of six hundred and nineteen acres, and, being a judicious manager and having applied himself very carefully to his business affairs, he has prospered and added over six hundred acres to his original tract, making one of the largest, best located and most desirable farms in Saline county. It is well improved and in a high state of cultivation. It is very fertile and never fails to attract admiration of the stranger, for it is well kept and everything about the place shows that a gentleman of good taste, good management and thrift is its owner. After everything had been well started along systematic lines, when he first began farming here, Mr. Vanmeter began remodeling the dwelling, and he erected a practically new three-story frame house, commodious, attractWe and modern in architectural design. He also erected a large red barn and other substantial outbuildings, set out a splendid orchard and in various ways beautified the surroundings of the home. He has also' three well arranged and remodeled houses for tenants. His farm is all under "hog-tight" fence. He is faith full V carrying on general farming and stock raising, following up the work so successfully begun by his worthy father. He is also the owner of three hundred acres in the bottoms, with forty acres in timber for the support of the home farm, the balance being under cultivation and on it stands good tenant buildings. Mr. Vanmeter is regarded as one of the leading farmers and stock men of the county, always abreast of the times, always honorable in his dealings with his fellow men so that he has both the confidence and esteem of his neighbors and acquaintances, and he takes considerable interest in whatever tends to promote the general good of his community. Although a strong- Democrat, he has not aspired to public office, preferring to devote his time exclusively to his business affairs. He is a member of the Baptist church and a liberal supporter of the same. Mrs. Vanmeter belongs to the Christian church. David P. Vanmeter, Jr., married Florence Hisle, a lady of refinement and the representative of an excellent old family. She was born in Miami township, Saline county, Missouri, and she is the daughter of Samuel J. and Mollie (Dobbins) Hisle, both natives of Virginia, in which state they grew to maturity; however, they came to Saline county, Missouri, when young and were married here. Mr. Hisle always followed farming. He is a Democrat but never a public man. Both he and his wife are members of the Christian church and they are highly respected in their community. They are the parents of six children, namely: Florence, wife of Mr. Vanmeter of this review; James lives in Kansas City ; Ida married Guy Webster, a popular grocer of Miami ;

William A. J. Grayson

A prominent farmer and influential citizen of Miami township. Saline count3^ is William A. J. Grayson, who was born in Madison county, Virginia, Julv 14. 1849, where he was reared on the home farm and where he received his education in the common schools. He is the son of Henry M. and Jane M. ( Price) Grayson, both natives of Virginia where they grew to maturity, married and settled on a farm, the wedding taking place March 31, 1842. After spending a number of years tilling the soil in old Virginia, the results of their labor not being satisfactory, in 1856, with a small colony of four other families, they started on a journey to a new Eldorado, Missouri. Including slaves, there were sixty-two in the company, twelve covered wagons and twenty-four horses being required to transport them. Twelve dogs followed all the way. They camped along the route at night, the trip requiring two months, and, the weather being good for the most part, they greatly enjoyed the trip, arriving in Saline county in November, 1856. Mr. Grayson located for the winter in Salt Pond township and during the following year he rented John Spear's farm, on which he remained one year, then rented James Huey's farm near Shackelford, after which he rented J. Smith's farm, Mr. Smith having been elected sheriff of Saline county, consequently Mr. Grayson remained on his place for four years. He then rented a farm nine miles east of Miami for one year, and then returned to the Spear farm for one year. He made this kind of farming pav, and in 1866 he purchased a farm of two hundred and thirty acres, which was partly improved. He remodeled the dwelling, built a large barn and made good, substantial improvements and increased the acreage of cultivation ; here he established a comfortable home. Mr. Grayson w^as the first to sow wheat and make garden in this locality. He carried on general farming and raised hemp, for which he found a ready market. He also engaged in stock raising, fed and handled cattle for the market. One season he raised three thousand bushels of wheat, which he marketed at Miami at one dollar per bushel, and he became well-to-do as a result of his farming and stock raising. He was a Democrat, but never aspired to public oft'ice, and although his sympathies were with the South during- the Civil war. he took no part in the same. He was <^reatly annoyed hv tlie l^>deral troops foraging on his farm, and they frecjuently compelled his family to cook and feed them, large numbers at a time, taking from the farm whatever they wanted. At one time had it not been for a Republican friend - a Federal militiamen - he would have been killed, a posse overtaking him while he was driving in his buggy, from which they took him, ran his horse into a fence corner and were using him rough!}-, when a militiaman arri\-ed and persuaded them to desist. The war caused hini hea\'y losses of property and slaves. Two of his brothers came to this country from Virginia; they were Horace and William Grayson, both dying here, William leaving children; both were successful farmers.

Henry M. Gravson was a model farmer and an honorable and upright man in all his dealings, charitable to the afflicted and needy; he was a good friend and neighbor, truthful and strictly moral ; however, he was not a member of any church or fraternal society. He was called to his reward on February 25, 1895. His wife, Jane M. Price, was born in Madison county, Virginia, April 17, 1814; she was the daughter of Emanuel and Sallie Price, the father being a prominent farmer of Virginia, who spent his life in his native state ; the only member of the family that came west was Jane M. She grew up in an epoch when times were hard, when it was necessary for all to work, to learn how to do something worth while, so Jane M. not only assisted with the work al)out the house but also in the fields, learning to spin, weave, weaving rag carpets and from raw flax, spun, wove and made garments and wearing apparel for the family ; she took the wool from the sheep's back, spun and wove it into clothing; she was an adapt dressmaker, often making dresses and other clothing for women of her family and neighbor's families, wove counterpanes for the beds, - in fact, there was practically no kind of work that she could not do. She was educated in the rural schools, and as long as she could she used her spare moments in reading- and keeping pace with the times. She was reared in the Methodist church, from wdiich faith she has never departed ; however, she has not united with any church. Heaven has given her an unusual span of years, she being now in her ninety-sixth year. Her hearing is almost gone and her eyesight dim. but her mind is yet clear and her memory fairly good, but neither affliction nor the lack of ability to do have taken from her that old-time hospitalit}- that has always prevailed at the old Southern home where friends are welcomed and wayfaring men are not turned away. After the death of her husband William Grayson became her dependence and support, and he has given up his own j^leasures and many demands for self-gratification in order to minister to her every want, and his devotion to his mother commends him to the highest esteem of all and shows a very praiseworthy trait. Mrs. Grayson-has six grandchildren and two great-grandchildren.

To Henry M. and Jane (Price) Grayson three children were born, namely : John was born in A'irginia and came west with his parents and in 1864 entered the Confederate army and went south with General Price's command and saw some hard service. At Pine Bluff, Arkansas, he took a congestive chill and died April 16. 1865; Sarah E.. who was the wife of E. M. Haynie. died in October. 1907: \A'illiam A. J., of this review, owns the old homestead farm and also another farm nearby. He carries on general farming and raises stock, having been very successful at both. He is a Democrat, but does not find time to devote to politics. In his devotion to his mother he has not chosen a life companion and is still enjoying single blessedness.

Jackson Long

A man who has been prominently identified with farming and stock raising in Saline county is Jackson Long, who is also known as an honest, public spirited citizen, always interested in the progress of his neighbors and the community in general. He is a native of Mason county, West Virginia, where his birth occurred September 17. 1827, and he has therefore reached an advanced mile post along the highway of years, having come down to an old age filled with good deeds and honor. He was reared to farm pursuits and educated at the old-fashioned log school houses. He is the son of Alexander and Catherine ( Yeager) Long, the former a native of Virginia, the latter of Pennsvlvania, her parents being of Gennan descent, farmers, and they were early settlers of West Virginia, where they started, with others of their type, the general development which has resulted in a great state. The subject's paternal grandfather, Philip Long, was of Scotch descent and an early settler in U'est Virginia. He was an extensive farmer, a Democrat, and led a quiet life on his farm, where he died. He and his wife were the parents of these children; Alexander, father of Jackson Long of this review ; Joseph died in Virginia in 1850, leaving four sons and three daughters: Alexander also spent his life in the Old Dominion and died there. He was an active Democrat and represented Mason county in the state Legislature, but his attention was directed principally to his farm. He was a good citizen in every respect and a man of fine personal traits. Fourteen children were born to Air. and Mrs. Alexander Long, named as follows, seven of them growing to maturity: David, a strong secessionist, died after coming to Missouri: Jackson, of this review: Mary married H. Brown ; Elizabeth married William Brown : Emily married G. Brown : Caroline married H. Johnson; Catherine married j. Johnson; Lucinda became the wife of Jndge Hanna ; Ab)roan was drowned; the other children died when youni^".

Jackson Long remained under his parental roof until he was twenty-five years of ag-e. In 1852 he came to Missouri and bought land in Knox county, then returned home and the following year settled on his place and began improving it. leading the life of a bachelor. In 1854 he returned to Virginia again and married, and he and his wife, with the help of some slaves, developed his Missouri farm, continuing to live in Knox county until 1870, when he sold out and came to Saline county and bought three hundred and forty-five acres, on which there were only slight improvements. He built a commodious house, a good barn and improved the place in every way, making it rank with any in the county. As he prospered he added to his real estate holdings, finally owning several hundred acres of very valuable land. He has given each of his children a good home, consequently he now has no land to pay taxes on. Since coming- to Saline county he has given his attention exclusively to farming, with the result that he has prospered and become one of the leading agriculturists of the county. He has been a successful feeder of cattle for the market.

Mr. Long is a Democrat politically, but he has been too busy to take much interest in political affairs or to run for office. He was not subject to service during the Civil war, ha\'ing been crippled. But he was much abused and troops foraged oft' his farm, taking his stock, corn and wheat; they often made him a prisoner, and in order to avoid further molestation, during the latter part of the war he took his family to Virginia. He is a self-made man and is deserving of a great deal of credit for what he has accomplished. He has shown himself to be a broad-minded, intelligent business man and by hard work and honest dealing he has created a large estate and is widely known and highly respected. He is now. in the golden evening of his life, enjoying the fruits of his former years of activity - the fruits of a useful and well-spent life, having reached the mellow age of eighty-two years. He has a good memory and is a very interesting conversationalist, especially in recalling reminiscences of the early days.

Mrs. Jackson Long was known in her maidenhood as Jane A. Summerville. born in Mason county. West Virginia, in 1836, and she married in 1854. She was the daughter of William Summerville, a native of Virginia, of Irish descent; he was a prominent farmer, but had no public record ; he and his w^ife both died in West Virginia. They reared two children. E. Green, who is living on the old homestead in Virginia, and Jane A., wife of Mr. Long.

To Mr. and Airs. Jackson Long- the following children have been horn: William, x\lexander and James, all farmers, living" in Saline county; Lydia married E. Hawkins ; George is a farmer, as is also Robert. They are all well situated in reference to this world's affairs.

The mother of these children, who was a woman of beautiful Christian character, passed to her rest on November 5, 1906. She was reared in the faith of the Presbyterian church, from which she never departed.

John A. Gauldin

A gallant ex-soldier and one of the most prominent and respected farmers of Saline county is John A. Gauldin, a native of Amelia county, Virginia, where he was born February 18, 1844, reared on a farm and educated in the district schools. He is the son of John S. and Mary A. ( Johnson) Gauldin, both natives of Virginia, where they grew to maturity and where they married. Alary Johnson was the daughter of Edward Johnson, of Virginia, wdio spent his life there on a farm, and reared a large family. Alary being the third in order of birth. John S. Gauldin began life in Virginia as a farmer, owned slaves and was very successful. In 1848 he moved to Saline county, Missouri, bringing his slaves and entering land in Aliami township. He underwent all the hardships incident to a life in a new country, but he in time had a well improved and productive farm. He made the trip here overland in covered wagons, bringing his family and household effects, the way being a tedious and difficult one. He was a Democrat, but no public man, but he became well known here and was highly respected for his exemplary life. He operated a large farm, raised hemp and much live stock. His death occurred in 1850 on his farm here; his wife survived and remained on the old homestead, dying on April 2, 1880. They were married in 1836. They were members of the Baptist church, and to them seven children Avere born, namely; James AL, now in the Confederate Home ; Thomas J. and Josiah are both deceased, neither having- any children; John A., of this rcAiew ; Alartha J., who married J. V. Gauldin. died in young womanhood, leaving one son, Thomas J., who is now a resident of Slater and secretary c^f the Young Alen's Christian Association at that place; \\'illis A\\ is a farmer in this county; Richard S. lives in Slater.

John A. Gauldin came from his native home in Virginia with his parents to Missouri in 1847 ^^^^ assisted in the establishment of a home in Saline county, remaining with his parents until the breaking out of the Civil war, enlisting in the fall of i(S6i in Company K, Colonel Robertson's regiment of infantry, which went into camp at Blackwater; they had no arms except shot guns and were preparing to go south to the main Confederate army when the Federals surrounded them and took them prisoners, confining them at Mc- Dowell's College. St. I.ouis. later at Alton, Illinois. They took the oath of allegiance to the government and were sent home. Later Mr. Gauldin re-enlisted in Company K. as a recruit. Shank's regiment, Shelby's brigade. The regiment soon starting south, joined a larger command and re-organized in Arkansas with headquarters at Van Buren. Mr. Gauldin's services were rendered in Missouri, Indian territory and Texas. He came back to Marshall in Shelby's raid and later took part in Price's last raid north. He did much skirmishing and was in some hotly contested battles, including that at Helena, Arkansas, also Prairie Grove, Cape Girardeau and Springfield, Missouri. After Lee surrendered the command went to Shreveport, Louisiana, surrendered and was parolled, the federal government furnishing transportation home by steamboat. Although Mr. Gauldin saw some hard service, he was never wounded. After returning home he resumed farming, remaining with his mother for some time, then began farming for himself which he continued successfully until 1874, when he married. He had purchased forty acres on which he yet lives. He moxed into a small cabin when he first settled here, later moved to the home of his father-in-law\ where he remained until the latter's death, then returned to his farm where he has since resided, now owning a veiy comfortable home and a well improved and productive farm. Prospering, he has added to his original purchase until he now owns two hundred and forty acres, all rich land and in a high state of cultivation. He carries on general farming and stock raising in a most successful manner, having at times also fed cattle for the market, and he has raised some excellent horses which have been widely admired. In politics he is a Democrat, but has never sought office. He is a Missionary Baptist in his religious views. He is deserving of the greatest credit for what he has accomplished, being a purely self-made man. By hard W'Ork and honest dealing he has created a handsome estate and now in the bright Indian summer of his age he is surrounded by all the comforts of life as a result of his former well spent A-ears. enjoying, too. the undivided respect of all who know him.

Mr. Gauldin was married to Elizai^eth E. r\)pe, who was born in Saline county, April 25, 1856, the daughter of Thomas and Ellen (Logan) Pope, both natives of Kentucky where they grew to maturity, married and began farming and wdiere their first child \vas born. In 1848 they came to Saline county. Missouri, bought land and improved it into a good farm; they made hemp and were successful in a general farming business. Mr. Pope was not able to go into the army during the Civil war ; however, his sympathies were with the South. During, the war he fed soldiers in both armies, attended strictly to his own affairs and had no fear of molestation. He was a Democrat. He w^as a good and useful man and his death occurred in 1880, his w'lie having preceded him to the grave in 1879. She was a member of the Baptist church. Their children were, \A\ R. and Daniel T.. both farmers in this county; Elizabeth E.. wife of John A. Gauldin ; John L., who died in August, 1885.

To Mr. and Mrs. Gauldin the following children were born : Dodson J.; who w'as twice married, first on January i, 1904, to Addie Hickman, daughter of James Hickman, a prominent farmer, and she died May 29, 1904, at the early age of twenty-three years, without issue ; the second wafe was Neoma D. McDonald, daughter of J. W. McDonald, a farmer and carpenter ; Thomas W., a farmer of Miami township, married Eva How^ell, of Lafayette county. Eebruary i, 1907, and they are the parents of one daughter, named Velma Louise ; Nancy P. is living at home. The grandmother of Mrs. Gauldin was Elizabeth Layer, the second female child born in Kentucky, and she often nursed Abraham Lincoln when he was a baby; she lived to the remarkable age of one hundred and four years. She was twace married, first to a Mv. Brady, by whom two sons were born. Her second marriage was to Thomas Pope, by w'honi four sons and three daughters were born, one of the sons being the father of Mrs. Gauldin.

Hardin D. Bailey

The backbone of this country is made up of families which have made their ow-n homes, who are alive to the best interests of the community in whicli they reside, who are so honest that it is no trouble for their neighbors to find it out. Among such is the family represented by Hardin D. Bailey, a venerable and highly honored pioneer of Elmw^ood township. Saline countv. where he has long made his home and where he has one of the most valuable landed estates in the county, a man in wdiom the utmost confidence is reposed bv all who know him and w-ho is eminently deserving of the high esteem in which he is held, as one will readily determine by a cursory glance at his life record. He is a scion of a fine old Southern family, having been born in Albemarle county, Virginia, July 27, 1832. He is the son of John D. and Man- (Dawson)

Bailey, natives of Virginia, the former the son of James L. Bailey, also born in the Old Dominion. James and his son, John D., and their families came together to Saline county, Missouri, in 1839, when Hardin D.. of this review, was seven years of age. They made the long, tiresome journey across the Blue Ridge mountains and the long blue grass stretches of "the dark and bloodv ground." in old-fashioned covered wagons, camping along- the way, fording unbridged streams and traveling unfrequented roads, making the trip from L(juisville, Kentucky, to St. Louis, Missouri, on the rivers, and from the latter city to Saline county by wagon, bringing their stock along. They bouslit from the government the farm where Hardin D. Bailey now lives, in 1839, soon after their arrival here, for one dollar and twenty-five cents per acre. They cleared the land, which was then in primitive timber and altogether wild, abounding in various kinds of wild game. They made an excellent farm of this, and prospered, both the grandfather and the father of the subject living here until their deaths. They were men of sterling worth and integrity, brave, courageous, hardworking- and influential. Mary Dawson was born in Virginia, the daughter of Jack Dawson, a native of Virginia, an extensive farmer and slave owner, he having spent his life in that state.

To John D. and Mary Bailey seven children were born, named as follows : James X. lives in North Dakota on a farm; Charles M. is deceased; Hardin D., subject of this review; Hettie is the wife of Charles Tolliver, living in Saline county: Sarah is deceased; Mary is the wife of J. W. Sims and lives in Texas; Bettie is the widow of Oscar Page, living in Saline county.

Hardin D. Bailey delights to recall the days when he, a mere lad, came to Saline county, where his grandfather and father built a rude log- cabin, in wdiich they lived many years. The surrounding woods were full of wild hogs, deer, wildcats, wild turkey and many varieties of smaller game. Both the elder Baileys were great hunters, and they supplied their table with wild meat for many years. Hardin D. also took after his father and grandfather in this respect and in his youth he was a renowned and successful hunter as long as there was any game, and it is indeed interesting to hear him tell of those days, the times when free hospitality reigned and all were happy, though poor. James L. Bailey had the distinction of being a soldier in the war of 181 2.

Hardin D. Bailey has lived for the prolonged period of seventv vears on the same farm, having- inherited it from his father. He has taken the very best care of the place and. notwithstanding the long years it has been under the plow, it is still very jiroductixe and yields abundant harvests, owing to the skillful farming of its owner. Mr. Bailey received a meager education in the primitive schools taught in the old log school houses, with puncheon floors and greased paper in lieu of window panes. He also attended school three seasons at Sweet Spring-s, this county, eventually getting a good common school education for those early times, and he has always been an extensive reader, consequently is a well infoniied man on general topics and a most interesting conversationalist, retaining an excellent memory. He remembers well the trip the family made from Virginia here and he has lived to see that faithful and happy family circle disbanded by the common fate that awaits us all, and. one by one, laid to rest in the "narrow house" in the old family burying ground, confident in a final reunion beyond this "bank and shoal of time."

Mr. Bailey has devoted his life to agricultural pursuits and he has made a great manv improvements on his farm of about one hundred and seventy acres, which he now rents, his advanced years making it necessary for him to merely oversee his farm, leading a practically retired life. His home is a neat and cozv frame cottage in the midst of beautiful surroundings and he has large and substantial outbuildings.

Mr. Bailey was married in 1858 to Mary W'inslow, a native of Virginia, the daughter of Henry B. Winslow, an early settler of Saline county, Missouri, ha\'ing come here about 1850. Mrs. Bailey was called to the unseen world about 1889 and he has never re-married. Nine children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Bailey, named as follows: Ella, wife of L. D. Harrison; Lizzie, wife of C. M. Mopin ; Anna, who married Jennings Mopin ; Mattie is single and living at home: John H., a farmer living in Pettis county, Missouri, married Lela Urtin : Drucy is the wife of Robert Ash ; Sarah is the wife of Austin Ash : the two youngest children died unnamed.

^Ir. Bailey is a member of the Providence Baptist church and a trustee in the local congregation, being interested in the afiairs of the church and a liberal supporter of the same. Politically he is a Democrat.

Robert Campbell, Sr., formerly a merchant in ^Marshall, but now livingretired, is a native of Forres, Scotland, born July 9, 1833. His parents, James and Janet Campbell, were also of Scotch birth, the former a son of James Campbell, who was a soldier in the British army. Both he and his wife were members of the Presbyterian church, in the faith of which they died and have long 1)een sleeping the sleep of the just beneath the soil of their native heath. James Campbell, his father, was reared to maturitv in Scotland, married, when a voung man, Janet Finley, and lived near the place of his birth until 1849. Then he emigrated to Canada, settled near Toronto, thence removed to Southampton, Ontario, and engaged in farming, which he continued for a number of years, and died aged about eighty-four years, his wife having died when about sixty years old and they are both buried in the cemetery at Southampton. The children of James and Janet Campbell, seven in number, were named as follows : Mrs. Ann Ross, who died in Canada : Catherine, who also married a Mr. Ross and departed this life while living in Canada; Elizabeth died in Marshall, Missouri ; James died in childhood ; Jane, who married John Anderson, died in Canada; James the second is living retired in Chicago; Robert of this reviev^^ is the sixth child in order of birth.

The family moved to Inverness, and after acquiring an education in the high school there, Robert Campbell, Sr., having spent his childhood in his native town of Forres, studied law in the office of Duncan McLennan, expecting to fit himself for a Scottish lawyer. He remained in Inverness until 1849. The family moved to Canada, and shortly after this Robert secured a clerkship in a store at St. Catharine's, Ontario, afterwards in Whitby, holding these positions until he had become familiar with the mercantile business, when he embarked in business upon his own account. After a fairly prosperous career of about thirty years at that place, he closed up all his affairs in Canada and moved to Saline county, Missouri, locating at Marshall, where again for a short time he engaged in the mercantile business, selling out in 1894 and retiring from business. Since then, however, he has dealt in real estate, owning at this time several farms in Saline county. Mr. Campbell gives personal attention to his various business interests and in this way keeps the time from becoming a burden on his hands.

Mr. Campbell is a Democrat in politics, but in matters purely local has always stood for law and order and advocated the election of the l)est men for office, irrespective of party ties. Although of foreign birth, he is proud of his adopted country and to all intents and purposes is as true and loyal a citizen of the United States as if he had been born and bred on American soil.

Mr. Campbell was married in Canada in the year 1864 to Eliza Byrne, daughter of Rev. James Byrne, a native of England and for many vears a well known and popular minister of the Congregational church. Four children were born to this union, viz: Robert, who died in Marshall, Missouri, at the age of thirty-six; James B., a farmer of Saline county: Edith married Dr. B. M. Spotts. a physician of Marshall, and Frank W., a real estate dealer of Marshall. Mr. Campbell's second marriage was solemnized in 1885, with Jean Laird, who was born in Scotland, but when quite young accompanied her par- ents to Canada, where she grew to maturity and received her education. After a lingering ilhiess of two years, she passed to her reward on May 26, 1908, the union being without issue.

]\Ir. Campbell was reared by pious parents and grew up under the influence of the Presbyterian church, to which he has ever proved loyal and of which he is now a member. His second w'ife was also identified with the same religious body and exemplified her faith by her daily life and triumphant death.

Robert Burns Ruff

Though still in the prime of life it is not too much to say that the above lamed gentleman is one of the leading and most successful lav^'yers now practicing at the Missouri bar. The family is of Scotch origin and claims kinship ri\h the immortal bard who sang- so sweetly of the loves and hopes of the :ommon people. James A. Ruff, a nephew of Robert Burns, was born near xlinburg and after coming to America located near Hagerstown, Maryland, he engaged in the manufacture of silks. He left a talented and enter- )rising son in the person of John A. Ruff, who was only three years old wdien rbrought by his father to the United States. His youth, early manhood and reneral education was obtained at Hagerstown. He followed his father as silk manufacturer, but also operated a line of steamtoats plying the waters of Chesapeake bay. While still a young man he removed to Audrain county, Missouri, where for several years he was engaged in the manufacture of wagons. Subsequently he located on a farm near ^^'inchester, Illinois, in the cultivation of which he spent twelve years. Removing to Roodhouse, in the same state, he continued farming there until 1881, when he came to Missouri and purchased a farm in Marshall township. Saline county. From that time on he was closely identified with this section and became an extensive landowner, including the ownership of several fine farms and valuable business property in the city of Marshall. During the Civil war he served as captain in a Missouri regiment of the Federal army. His fraternal relations were confined to the order of Odd Fellows and his religious views were with the old-school Presbyterian church. He died in March, 1897. when about sixty-three vears old, and left a name that enjoyed general respect. In early life he had married Lucy Ann Norris, who died in 1895.

Robert Burns Ruf¥, their distinguished son, was bom at Winchester, Illinois. July 29, 1869, but obtained his education in the schools of Roodhouse and llie Marshall high school. After the completion of his studies he devoted two Nears to the management of his father's farm, then entered the law office of Scott & Cooney at Marshall, studied hard and effectively, and was admitted to the bar of 1891. his first practice being at Marshall, part of the time in connection wath J- S. Chiswell. He was successful from the start, and few lawyers can show such a career of uninterrupted mastery of his undertakings. At present he is regarded as one of the best criminal lawyers in the state. The Democratic party, of which he has always been an enthusiastic member, appointed him city attorney of Marshall in 1894, and by reappointment extended his term to 1898. However, he resigned before his official time was out. in order to devote his energies exclusively to his rapidl}- growing practice. He has sensed as chairman and secretary of the Democratic congressional central committee of the seventh cong-ressional district of ^Missouri, and as a leader, worker and adviser is hig'hly valued b}' his party associates. His record as a criminal lawyer has been exceptionally brilliant and he has successfully defended more men accused of murder than any of his contemporaries, in his home county and throughout the state. A noted case in Saline county in which he acted as counsel for the defense was that of Frank ]\Iason, accused of killing his father-in-law, Ferdinand Schwartz, in 1896. Another case was that of James Kirby, charged with killing William Hughes. In both of these causes, which were generally regarded as "bad cases." Mr. Ruff succeeded in obtaining- ac(juittals. James W. Ming, who was indicted in March, 1900, for killing Emmett Craddock, was acquitted on the ground of insanity, but not without much skillful w^ork on the part of his lawyer. Thomas O. Purcell was con\-ictcd of murder in the first degree and was sentenced to imprisonment for thirty years, after a trial lasting tw^o weeks. In this famous case, one of the most important ever tried in Saline county, the popular clamor demanded the death penalty, and Mr. Ruff was highly complimented for saving his client's life. Possibly the most famous criminal case in the state of Missouri, and in w^hich Mr. Ruff took the leading part for the defense, was the State of Missouri vs. Agnes Marguerite Myers ("Aggie Myers"), jointly charged with l-'rank Hottman with murder in the first degree for killing her husband in Jackson county. Missouri. For more than four years this case was fought in the various state and federal courts and finally going upon writ of error to the supreme court of the United States, where same was heard twice. This case was submitted to a jury in Clay county, Missouri, and a verdict of guilty and the death penalty assessed against both defendants. Then the strenuous battle began for the life of the woman and covered two years and finally the sentence commuted to one of imprisonment in the state penitentiary. This case at- traded national attention and comment and stands as Missouri's greatest legal battle. Mr. Ruff also enjoys a large corporation practice, and his ability in that difficult branch of the law attracts the most important clients. He owns residences both in Marshall and Kansas City, his family residing in the last mentioned place, and he also maintains an office there in the New York Life Building. He owns several farms, coal properties and much valuable business property in Marshall, including "The Ruff"" and "The Southern." two of the handsomest hostelries in Missouri. He belongs to several of the secret fraternities, including the Elks. Odd Fellows and others.

June II, 1891, Mr. Ruff" married Elizabeth E., daughter of Andrew M. Holmes, of Saline county, this union resulting in the birth of five children; Mary Ellen. Robert Burns, Jr., and William Harrison are now living. Mr. Rnft" is a man of strong personality, possessing remarkable energy and a fondness f(ir that hard and obstinate work which has been described as genius. To his endless capacity for details is added a most generous and genial character and the combination has proved a winning one among people in all walks of life.

The present age is essentially utilitarian and in the life of every successful man are found lessons which, told in contemporary narrative, are productive of much good in shaping the destinies of others. There is, therefore, a due measure of satisfaction in presenting, even in brief resume, the life and achievements of such men. and in preparing the following history of the well known, capable and highly esteemed physician, agriculturist and stock raiser, whose name initiates this paragraph, it is with the hope that it may prove not only interesting and instructive, but also serve as an incentive to those who contemplate making the medical profession their life work, or following any given line of endeavor which requires a definiteness of purpose, persistency of effort and nobility of character.

Dr. Louis Calhoun Neel is a descendant of an old family of sterling worth, having been born in Monroe county. West Virginia, August 25, 183 1, the son of Abner and Catherine (Osborne) Neel, both natives of West Virginia and each representative of influential families. Abner Neel was the son of Owen Neel, a native of Pennsylvania, but an early settler of West Virginia. He devoted his life to farming and his death occurred before Doctor Neel was born. Catherine Osborne was a daughter of George Osborne, a na- tive of Virg-inia and a farmer by occupation. The Osborne family were natives of Green Brier county. West Virginia. The Doctor's parents spent their hves in \\est Virginia, the father dying in 1874 and the mother in 1881. They were the parents of six children, named as follows : Amanda, deceased ; Dr. Louis Calhoun, of this review; Allen G.. deceased; Cyrus lives in Staunton. Virginia : Harvey A. is a resident of Monroe count)-. West Virginia ; Catherine is deceased. The parents of these children were staunch members of the Presbyterian church. Abner Neel was later in life a Democrat, but in his youth he supported the Whig party. He took considerable interest in political affairs, especially locally, and he at one time served very acceptably as justice of the peace for many years at his home in West Virginia.

The Doctor spent his youth on the old family homestead, where he assisted with the lighter work in his boyhood, attending the district schools during the winter months, also attending high school. Actuated by a desire of long standing, he began reading medicine under Dr. J. Lewis W^oodville. and in 1854 he entered the Virginia Medical College, at Richmond. Virginia, from which institution he was graduated with a very creditable record in 1857. He then decided to follow the trend of migration to the \Vest. and accordingly started on the long journey, making part of the way on horseback, part by boat and part by train, landing at Lexington. Missouri. Soon afterwards he came to Saline countv, where he purchased land in what is now Elmwood township. He began the practice of medicine here, meeting with success from the start and continuing until about 1896, when he retired, having gained a liberal competency and won a reputation second to none in this part of the state, his services having been in great demand throughout this locality. It is indeed interesting to hear the Doctor tell of his adventures while practicing here in the early days, when the country was undeveloped and most of his practice was done on horseback. He had great success as a general practitioner, being well grounded in the science, keeping well abreast of the times in all matters pertaining to the same and possessing the innate attributes necessary to gain and retain the confidence of the public. He is reg^arded with the respect due the pioneer ]:)hysician of such a thri\ing community.

Doctor Neel was c|uick to see the g'reat opportunities existing here, the possible development of the country from the first, consequently he purchased land from time to time until he is now the owner of between one and two thousand acres of very productive and valuable land in Saline county, and he now spends the major part of his time looking after the same. He keeps his land well improved and properly cultivated and it is all very desirable property. The Doctor is an admirer of good livestock and he is an excellent judge of all varieties, raising large numbers of all kinds, especially mules, for which he finds a ready market at fancy prices owing to their excellent quality. He has one of the best large farms in this favored section of the state, having greatlv improved the land in eveiy way, especially by erecting first class Iiouses. barns and outbuildings in general - in fact, his possessions never fail to attract the admiration of all.

Doctor Neel was married in 1859 to Sophia E. Miller, a native of Saline countv, the daughter of Samuel and Julia (Francisco) Miller, natives of Virginia, but early pioneers of Saline county, where they have become established as among the most representative citizens. Mrs. Neel was reared and educated here and she is a woman of excellent personal traits and refinement. Two children have graced this union, namely: Samuel is single and is living at home, assisting in managing the farm; Kate has also remained single and is still a member of the family circle.

Mrs. Neel is a member of the Methodist Episcopal church. Doctor Neel is a loyal Democrat and interested in the welfare of his county politically and everv other way ; however, he is no politician. He is interested in Masonry, having been a member of that ancient and honorable order since 1865. Personally the Doctor is a pleasant and interesting man to know, always affable, gentlemanly, hospitable and at once impressing the stranger as a man of learning, poise, culture and fortitude.

Thomas Austin Smith

The gentleman whose name initiates these paragraphs has well earned the honor to be addressed as one of the progressive, public-spirited men of Saline county, and it stands to his credit that he has attained prosperity through his own efforts, since he started in life with little other reinforcement than that implied in a stout heart, willing hands and a determination to succeed through honest and earnest efforts.

Thomas Austin Smith was born in Monroe county, \\>st Virginia, September 6, 1840, the son of Madison and Julia (Neel) Smith, natives of West Virginia, the former a son of William Smith, a native of Virginia. Madison Smith was a blacksmith and wag'onmaker, and died when his son. Thomas Austin, was small. He and his wife were the parents of three children : Isabella died in young womanhood : ^^^illiam O. died in 1906; Thomas Austin, of this review. The mother of these children died in the seventy-fifth year of

Thomas Austin Smith was reared on the home farm in West Virginia, and received his education in the old-fashioned district schools. In 1869 he came to Missouri and worked for Doctor Neel for some time. Later he bought one luindred and twenty-three acres of land and began farming for himself and together with land inherited by his wife. The present homestead consists of four hundred acres, which is one of the best places in Elmwood township, highly improved and under a fine state of cultivation ; only a small portion of the place is not cultivated. It is well fenced, well stocked with a varietv of good live stock, and a modern, commodious and attractive dwelling and excellent outbuildings are to be seen here - in fact, everything about the place shows thrift and good management.

Mr. Smith was married in 1873 to Elizabeth Francisco, a native of Saline county, Missouri, the daughter of Andrew M. and Mary (Lewis) Francisco, natives of Virginia and Kentucky and early settlers of Saline county, people of excellent worth. Mrs. Smith was reared and educated in this county. She is the mother of seven children, named as follows: Mamie, wife of Dr. Luther Woods, of Elmwood township, this county ; Nellie, wife of John Miller, living in Marshall, and they are the parents of one child. Hazel ; Charles married Comora Harrison and they have one child, Aubra; Hugh married Ollie ^^'heelen, a farmer of Elmwood township, and to them one child, Irene, has been born ; Belle married F. Miller, and they have two children, Kenneth and Lucile ; Laura and Austin are both single and living at home.

Mr. Smith is a Democrat and while he takes more or less interest in political affairs, as he does in all matters looking to the good of his vicinity, he has never sought or held office, preferring to devote his attention exclusively to his own affairs.

Mr. Smith served in the Confederate army during the war between the states, enlisting in 1862 in Company B, Twenty-sixth Virginia Battalion. He saw much hard fighting, having been in several hot engagements, such as TuckAviler's Hill in Green Brier county, Virginia, also at Dry Creek; he served in the Shenendoah Valley under Gen. John C. Breckenridge, and was in the battle near Harper's Ferry and Martinsburg, Cold Harbor, Lynchburg, having been wounded by a shell in the last named engagement, while fighting in the trenches; he was also in the battle at Monocacy river, Winchester, Fisher's Hill. Cedar Creek and Currinstown. He served some on detached sennce, assisting in procuring forage in the winter of 1864-1865. also helped guard prisoners at Danville, Virginia.

Of a most excellent family from the Blue Grass state comes James G. Carson, a successful farmer of Elmwood township. Saline county, he himself havino- been born in Rock Castle county. Kentucky, September 2, 1839, the son of William and Louisa (Dysart) Carson, both natives of Virginia, representatives of the best Southern families of the Old Dominion. Both the Carson and Dysart families were early settlers of Kentucky. William Carson's father was named Campbell Carson, a Virginian, who, in an early day. moved with his family to the Blue Grass state and in 1853 came to Buchanan county, Missouri, where he farmed until his death, which occurred during the Civil war. He was a Southern man in sentiment. William Carson, father of James G.. came to Buchanan county. Missouri, in 1851 and there farmed until his death, in 1886. at the age of seventy years, having been born on November 15, 1816. He owned a valuable stone quarry. The record of Campbell Carson as a soldier in the war of 18 12 was one of which his descendants are justly proud, having risen from a private t(T captain of a company by reason of his bravery and ability. William Carson and wife were the parents of nine children, named as follows: James G.. whose name initiates this sketch; Agnes. Charles. Andrew. Mary J.. Georgia. Mitchell, Walter and Robert. The mother of these children, Louisa Dysart, was born in Virginia, and her death occurred in 1902 at St. Joseph. Missouri. She and her husband were members of the Presbyterian church, having been devout Christians since early childhood. They made the trip from Kentuckv to their new home near St. Joseph. Missouri, in an old-fashioned wagon drawn by an ox team, and settled on unimproved land, where they developed a good home in time by hard work.

James G. Carson was educated in the common schools and remained at home until he reached manhood, assisting to clear the place on which his father settled. He enlisted in the Confederate army in April. 186 1. taking a definite stand early in the conflict ; he was in Capt. Henry Smith's company. Boyd's battalion, under Colonel Gates' command, and most of his service was in Missouri and Arkansas. During the period of sennce in Boyd's battalion he was wounded at the fierce engagement at Pea Ridge. Later he became a member of the Thirty-second Arkansas, known as Matlock's regiment and McKay's brio-ade. in which he was elected lieutenant of Company G, and served in that capacity until the spring of 1865. He then resigned and joined General Marmaduke's escort, with which he served until the close of the war. After the war he returned home and for several years he freighted on the plains from Denver, Colorado, to Salt Lake City, Utah, for Claggett & W'ellis: later he went to Montana and freighted for some time until 1869. His life in the \\>st was often fraught with hardship, but it was one that ai)i)ealed to his youthful, adventurous spirit and. although beset with dangers of various kinds, was picturesque and developed an independent and courageous spirit that has led to success in his subsequent life. After returning to Missouri he bought and shipped cattle while living in Sweet Springs. He came to his present fine farm in 1875, and in that year he married Anna Dysart, who was born in Elmwood township, Saline county, the daughter of Thomas and Elizabeth B. (Beatie) Dysart, both natives of Kentucky. Elizabeth Beatie was the daughter of James E. Beatie, a native of Virginia, but an early settler of Kentucky, and in 1836 came to Saline county, Missouri, settling on government land on which he remained until his death. He was a member of the Methodist Episcopal church South. Thomas Dysart, father of Mrs. Carson, was the son of Samuel, a native of Kentucky. The former came to Galloway county, Missouri, where he remained awhile, then moved to Elmwood township. Saline county, settled and improved the farm where Mr. and Mrs. James G. Carson now reside and on which Mrs. Carson was born. Her father died in 1881, his widow surviving until 1888. They were members of the Methodist Episcopal church South, and politically the father was a Democrat. Thomas Dysart was one of the famous band of "forty-niners." who crossed the great plains in 1849 when the gold "fever" spread over the world from California. He returned to Missouri and resumed farming. He and his wife were the parents of five children, namely: James B., Anna, wife of James G. Carson, of this sketch; Martha. William and Samuel. One child. Bessie, has been born to Mr. and Mrs. Carson ; she is single and still a member of the home circle.

Mr. Carson's farm now consists of about two hundred acres, well improved and under a high state of cultivation. He is a very skillful agriculturist in a general way. The Carson home is a comfortable and substantial one, surrounded by good outbuildings and an ample orchard and garden.

Mrs. Carson is a member of the Methodist Episcopal church South. Mr, Carson is a Democrat and he has taken more or less interest in local affairs for some time, having served very faithfully as township commissioner and clerk of the board from 1901 to 1907.

Joshua Barbee

This name bring's up pleasant recollections of one of the most estimable and high-minded men that ever figured in the citizenship of Saline county. His business was to "call souls to repentance." and his work chiefly among the religious bodies, but he was a go(^d "mixer," and found time to get acquainted with the common people, by whom he was much beloved. Iliough he passed away at a comparatively early age. the period of his active life was made busy by missionary work among all sorts of people, and much good was accomplished by this pious man for the welfare of individuals as well as that of the various communities in which he resided. He was alwavs found on the right side of public cjuestions, which had a moral phase and could be depended upon to be on hand when the forces of evil were t(^ be smitten and the cause of reform advanced. Joshua Barbee was born in Boyle county, Kentucky, and grew to manhood in his nati\-e state. Always of a religious turn of mind, his ambition was to become a clergyman, as he decided that there was more good work to be done in that field that in any other. He came to Missouri about 1866, and settled first in Pettis county, but soon after cast his lot with Saline, and for many years was an influential figure in the religious, social and moral movements of the county. He was a Presbvterian minister and had devoted his whole life to that calling, the principal and best part of his efforts being expended during his long residence in Saline county. In the early nineties his health began failing and in 1892 he removed to Excelsior Springs. Missouri, in hopes of obtaining relief. These expectations were not realized, and slow but sure decline brought him to his death, in October. 1900. He was married in Johnson county to Mary Medora Morrow, a native of Fayette county. Missouri, who is at present making her home with her son. There were three children, the eldest being Rev. Iliomas M. Barbee. a Presbyterian minister at Palmyra. Missouri. Mary, the onlv daughter, resides with her mother.

Joshua Barbee. the third and youngest child, was liorn on a farm five and one-half miles southwest of Marshall. September 23. 1874. He remained under the parental roof, assisting in the farm work, until the completion of his eighteenth year, when he began making plans to confront the struggles of life. He had been attending the common school at intervals for some \'ears and later had the benefit of higher education at Westminster College in Fulton. Missouri. He entered that institution in 1891, and four years later left it the proud possessor of a diploma, which conferred upon him the degree of Bachelor of Arts. Immediately following he became a teacher of Latin in the ]\Iar- shall high school, a position he held for a period of two years. In the fall of 1897 he entered the law school at Ann Arbor, Michigan, and was graduated in the spring class of 1900, with the degree of Bachelor of Laws. He began practice at Marshall in the fall of 1900. in partnership with George Davis, son of Judge Samuel Davis, under the firm name of Davis & Barbee. This partnership was dissolved after one year, and Mr. Barbee practiced alone until 1905. when he formed a partnership with James L. Roberts, which still continues. In 1906 Mr. Barbee was elected prosecuting attorney of Saline county, was re-elected two years later, and has given entire satisfaction to his constituents by his alertness in looking after evil doers during his terms. He is regarded as a young man of promise, his friends predicting for him a successful legal career and he is quite popular with the general public. The name of his father is an asset of value to him and it is a guarantee that he belongs to a good family and so far in life he has proven a worthy son of a worthy sire. Mr. Barbee is a member of the Presbyterian church at Marshall, belongs to the Masons and Elks, is a Democrat in politics, and unmarried.

Jacob Carter Keithley

Among the best known and most highly respected citizens of Elmwood township. Saline county, is Jacob Carter Keithley, a descendant of sterling pioneer ancestors and he himself a product of pioneer days and a man who has done his full share of the work that has fallen to the past generation in developing this section of the state, for he has been public spirited, delighting in the advancement of his neighbors, leaving nothing undone in the way of promoting the general good ; but all this has been done with no desire for the praise of his fellow men. but merely through his innate desire to be of service to others. Such qualities as he possesses are always rewarded and he is today one of Saline's honored and trusted representative citizens. He was born in Ralls county,, Missouri. March 4. 183 1. the son of Levi and Fanny (White) Keithley, each representatives of excellent old families. For a complete history of the subject's ancestors the reader is directed to the concluding paragraphs of this article.

Jacob C. Keithley was the eighth child of a family of nine children, of the first of his father's five marriages, and he was reared on the home farm, assisting in developing the same from the wilderness; he worked out for his brother about six months. He received a good education for those early days in Missouri, attending the old-fashioned district schools and the high school at Westely, Marion county. He then taught school for one year, and entered Van Rensselaer Academy in Ralls county, where he took a two-years course ; following this he taught school two years in Monroe county, this state. Desiring to gain a higher text-book training he entered Westminster College, in Fulton. Missouri, where he spent the years 1855 and 1856, then taught school for a period of five years very successfully. He came to Saline county in 1857. Having saved his earnings, he bought two hundred acres of good land which comprises his present farm and which he has brought up to a high state of cultivation through skillful farming, improving it in a manner that makes it rank with the model farms of the county. When he bought the place it was all in wild prairie. He has erected a commodious, substantial and attractively located dwelling, a substantial barn and other convenient outbuildings. He is not only a modern agriculturist in all its diversified phases, but he has handled live stock very successfully, showing that he is a good judge of the same, and altogether he has been very successful.

Politically Mr. Keithley is a Democrat and he has taken more or less interest in political affairs for some time. In 1866 he was elected treasurer of Saline county, Missouri, but he gave up the of^ce before his term expired. He is a liberal supporter of the Presbyterian church, in which he is an elder.

Mr. Keithley was married to Jane Vawter on October 27, 1857. She was born in Monroe county, Missouri, the daughter of Col. William Vawter and wife, this being a prominent and influential family in that county, where Mrs. Vawter was reared and educated. Mrs. Keithley is a woman of culture and has a host of friends here and in her native community. This union has resulted in the birth of eight children, named as follows : Erving W. is single and is living at home; Herbert R. married Hattie Tinker; Flora is single and is a member of the home circle; Ella is the wife of George Buchanan; George E.. single, is a Presbyterian minister at Cripple Creek, Colorado; he was born in 1868, graduated from the Westminster College at Fulton, Missouri, and also from the McCormick Theological Seminary at Chicago, and was ordained a minister in the Presbyterian church in 1893; li's first charge was at Duluth, Minnesota, then at Coronado, California, then at Cripple Creek. Colorado. The sixth child of Mr. and Mrs. Jacob C. Keithlev was Joseph, who died in infancy; Stanley also died in infancy; Roland H. married Mary Tuttle and they have one child named Susan.

Mr. Keithley was elected and served some time as trustee of Elmwood township, during which time he built four school houses. He is a well informed man on all current topics, a good conversationalist, broad-minded.

Reverting to the subject's ancestral history, it may be noted that the Keithleys are of German extraction, the first member of ^vhich came to America prior to the Revolutionary war and settled in Pennsylvania, and wheree\e'- his descendants have dispersed they have been leaders in various walks of life, one of the most sterling and successful having been Levi Keithley, who was born in Warren county, Kentucky, in 1794. and after a long and interesting career died in Ralls county, Missouri, October 28, 1875, over eightyone vears of ag'e. He was one of the pioneers of Missouri, and he was the son of Jacob Keithley, a native of Pennsylvania, who was born before the commencement of the Revolutionary war, and while the country west of the A]:)palachians was still the domain of the various warring savage tribes he came to Kentucky and located in Warren county, where he spent the remainder of his life, pioneer fashion, developing a farm from the wilderness, and rearing an unusually large family, consisting of eighteen children. He was the son of Samuel Keithley, who was born in Pennsylvania and who. with his three sons, Jacob, Isaac and Daniel, emigrated to Kentucky and established a home in Warren county. Jacob reared his thirteen sons and live daughters there, three of the daughters emigrating to St. Charles county, Missouri, before it was admitted to the Union. Nine of the sons also emigrated to the same place, this county then being controlled by the Indians. Following are the names of Jacob Keithley's children : Abraham, who emigrated to Missouri as early, it is thought, as 1796, and was killed by the Indians in St. Charles county in 1812; Polly married Isaac Hostetter and they came to Missouri about 1798; Joseph ran away from home in Kentucky and about 1800, when a boy, came to St. Charles county, Missouri ; Samuel, William, Daniel, Absalom and Obediah, all came to the same locality from about 1808 to 1817: Roland settled there about 1808 and in 1817 went to Ralls county, this state; Levi arrived in St. Charles county in 181 7, moved to Pike countv the following year and from there to Ralls county in 1827, settling on Salt river: John died in Kentucky ; Elizabeth married Casper Rolan : Patsy married a Mr. Detherage. The other five children died in infancy. Samuel, a brother of Levi Keithley. and uncle of the subject of this sketch, left the following children : Obediah, Samuel, Julius, John, Simion, Dare, Murvin. Griffith. George, Julian, Hcmiasynlhia. Lucy Mary and Cordelia. Daniel, also a brother of Le\i, was the father of the following children; Daniel. King. Mary, Bedford, Sally Woodford, John S. Another brother, Obediah, left three children, Ellen, Henry and Dan. The children of Absalom Keithlev were: John, facob.

Wilshire. Harrison, Mack, Dock, Abraham. Hiram. Caster, Henry, Mary. Usella and Sarah. Polly Keithley, who married Isaac Hostetter, lived to be seventy-five }'ears old and her husband seventy-four; to them the followingchildren were born: Amnion, Enoch, Gabriel, Anna, who reached the age of ninety-nine years. Mrs. Polly Hostetter accompanied her husband from Kentucky to Missouri in a canoe, sixty feet long, which carried them and two other families down the Ohio river and up the Mississippi and Missouri rivers to St. Charles county, Missouri. This canoe was hewn from a huge poplar tree found on the banks of the Licking river in Kentucky, the work being' accomplished by three men.

Levi Keithley was reared in Kentucky, and when twenty-one years of age he married Fannie White, near Bowling Green, Kentucky. Two years later the young couple left their native state and came to Missouri, three years before the state was admitted to the Union. They settled in St. Charles county, and after a year's residence there, moved to Pike county, where they remained nine years, and, as already stated, moved to Ralls county in 1827, where M\\ Keithley farmed until his death. It was very interesting to hear him relate incidents of the early days here, when the red men and all kinds of wild and ferocious beasts roamed the dense forests, then scarcely familiar to the ring of the woodsman's axe. He literally hewed his way into the forest, made a clearing' for his rude log cabin and soon had a small place in cultivation, which he developed as the years went by. The bears, wolves and other animals devoured his pigs, lambs, calves and poultry. Landing on Spencer creek in November, he began erecting a rude shelter for the winter, five miles from any other house. His first year in Ralls countv was attended by severe hardships, privations and dangers, but he was a typical pioneer, hardy, a stranger to fear and he delighted in battling with an adverse nature and wresting a living from the soil and the forest. He manufactured his own shoes and many other necessities for himself and family and eventuallv had a pleasant home, which he finally sold and moved to the fann on Salt river, which he developed from similar primitive conditions and on which he spent the remainder of his life. By industry, frugality and perseverance he acquired a competency, nature rewarding abundantly his labor. He was one of the brave men who served in the Black Hawk war. He was an honest and kind hearted man, always hospitable. He was a member of the Christian church for over thirty years. He delighted to tell in later life of his earlv experiences, of his battle with snakes and wild beasts and of his establishment of a home in the primeval woods, of his service against the Indians under Captain Matson. He was a man of marked force and soliditv of character.

Avitli daiintiess energy, and he believed that success was attainable to every vouth who applied himself in a proper manner, the word fail having little place in his vocabulary. He despised all kinds of chicanery and sophistiT, and believed in strict honesty in all his walks of life.

Levi Keithley was five times married, and by his first wife, of whom mention has already been made, nine children were born, named as follows: Nancy, 1816; Martha, 1817; Edwin, 1819; Malissa, 1821 ; Louisa, 1822; Zelda. 1826; Mary, 1828; Jacob, 1831 (mentioned fully in preceding paragraphs) ; Robert, born in 1834. Levi Keithley 's second marriage, which was to Helen Bell, resulted in the birth of four children, namely: John W.. born in T837; Joseph. 1838: Frances, 1839; Levi. Jr.. 1841. His third wife was Drusella Thompson, who died without issue, after which Mr. Keithley married Mary Kouch, by whom two children were born: Benjamin F., 1857, and Margaret, i860. After the death of the mother of these two children, Mr. Keithley married Ailsey Hail, who lived several years after his death, making an excellent step-mother for his children.

George H. Althouse

The cashier of the Bank of Marshall is a man well worth knowing. Quiet and unassuming in manner, he possesses a reserve force that makes him valuable as a business man and as a counsellor to others. Whenever there is a movement on foot to establish a new industry, organize a new corporation or take other steps to benefit the city. Mr. Althouse is one of the first men to be consulted. His advice is sought for and is always found to be safe and sound. He is generous as well as enterprising and no worthy man or cause is turned away with indifl'erence. Lnpecunious young men of ambition and talent have often sought his assistance, and not in vain, as he sympathizes with the unfortunate and is always ready to extend a helping hand. He comes from German lineage on both sides of the family. His father. George Althouse. was born in Germany and after coming to America first settled in Pennsylvania, where he lived several years and then decided to tr\- his fortunes in the \Wst. In 1836 he came to Missouri and found a location in Howard county, where for a number of years he manufactured plows and wagons by the process in use before the adoption of machinery for this work. Li the early fifties he bought a farm and cultivated it with fair success until the time of his death, which occurred in Januai-y. 1881, when he had reached the age of sixty-nine. Before leaving Pennsylvania he had married Catherine Hester, also a native of Germany. She died in July. 1900. after completing the eightyfiftli year of her age. This worthy pioneer couple had nine children, of whom there are only three surviying; Mrs. L. Hunker, the eldest, is a resident of Roanoke, Missouri, and her sister, Mrs. Eliza Althouse. liyes at Boulder, Colorado.

George H. Althouse, the other surviyor, was l)()rn at Roanoke, Howard county. Missouri, September 4, 1855. He was four years old when his parents moved upon a farm and his earliest experiences were those of the country boy "doing chores." It was, however, a healthful and invigorating experience, as many a man has found out, and Mr. Althouse never regretted the drastic training of the farm. He went to school at Roanoke for some years, and also attended Jones Commercial College in St. Louis, where he was graduated in 1876. Before his graduation, however, he had some experience as clerk in a store at Glasgow and shortly after leaving college he came to Marshall, first engaging in the grocery business. He continued in that line for ten years, and in 1886 went to Kansas City to secure a larger field for his operations. Embarking in the wholesale grocery and produce business, he prosecuted it on a considerable scale for six years and then determined to come back to Marshall. In 1892 he organized the Bank of Marshall, and has ever since held the position of cashier in that popular and well managed financial institution. His good judgment, watchfulness and close attention to business have been essential factors in building up a successful banking business.

In 1880 Mr. Althouse married Elizabeth B., daughter of Capt. Alex Denny, of Roanoke, Missouri. The only child by the union was Alex Denny Althouse, who was born in October, 1881. and died in May. 1899. Mr. and Mrs. Althouse are members of the Presbyterian church, of which the former is a ruling elder. He is also treasurer of the Missouri Valley College. Marshall's most important institution of learning.

Jacob Van Dyke

Measured by the highest standards of civic usefulness, Jacob Van Dyke, of Marshall, occupies a conspicuous place among the worthy and substantial citizens of Saline county, where he has made his home continuously since nine years of age. Coming from a long line of distinguished ancestry. Mr. Vnn Dyke was born in Princeton, New Jersey, May 22, 1843. The Van Dyke family comes of good old Knickerbocker stock, the first members of the family coming from Holland in 1652 and settling in New York state. This was Jan