Benton Township (part 2 of 2)

The parents of Rey. James Witten with their fiumily, moved to Sequatchie Valley, Tennessee, James then being sixteen years of age and the oldest of the fumily, and his father being quite feeble, nearly all the work of opening up a new farm in a heavily timbered country devolved upon him; he never attended school to exceed six months in his lite, but so thoroughly did he mingle hard study with hard labor that he mastered all the branches of mathematics and also acquired a fine knowledge of all branches of an English education. Ile served as first lientenant in the war of 1812, and shortly after the close of the Civil War was licensed as a preacher in the Methodist Episcopal Chnrech and labored in various pastoral charges in Kentueky, Tennessee, North Carolina and Virginia. In the year 1820 he married Miss Eliza 8. Ewing, of Lee eounty, Virginia. In 1848 he came to Missouri and labored as an itinerant, his field of labor being all of northwest Missouri. He was once threatened by a mob in Clay county, that if he did not quit preaching, that for the first offense he should lave tar and feathers, and for the second, hemp rope. To this he replied: " Then you ean come ov now with your hemp rope, for I shall not only commit the first but the Jastalso; butif searing is what vou want, you have strnek the wrong man. 1 have faced the mouth of the cannon in the defense of my country without fear, and I can do it again, and bear in mind that I served my country in the War of 1812, and my father and grandfather in the Revo- Intionary War. We fought for liberty and we intend to have it!"

Of such noble patriots and hardy pioneers did the subject of this sketch spring. At ten years of age Robert R. Witten became a plow-boy and so labored on a farm until of age, attending school a little in the winter, He received a collegiate course at Grand River College. In 1851 he went with his father into the missionary work with the Wyandotte, Delaware and Kiekapoo Indians, and taught the mission sehool. December 25, 1852. he received his first license to preach, and three years atter entered conference and went into itineracy, As he says, he then left the poetic Kickapoo to the luxury of his blanket and bow and went to try the fiercer forms of border dife in Missouri, and ever sinee then has labored faithtully and endured many hardships and privations, but has accomplished much good and is well known all over northwestern Missouri. By reqnest of conference he delivered an historical address at Cameron, Missouri, March 23, 188], showing the brilliant history of Methodism in Missouri tor the last quarter of' a century. This was a very able effort, and by reqnest of conference it was published in pamphlet form, a eopy of which should be in the hands of all desiring to know the early history of the church in Missouri.

As has been appropriately expressed by Elder Shumate, Mr. Witten is a grand specimen of backwoods lite - a real homespun nobleman. He is still laboring in the ministry at Pattonsburg, Daviess county, and, as he Says, is still fighting the good fight of faith, and by the help of God is determined to gain the victory.

G, F. Woodward

Is a native of Lee county, Virginia, born February 10, 1834. His parents, Henry and Elizabeth Woodward, were natives of Virginia. Many of his ancestors on his mother's side were soldiers during the Revolutionary War; one, a graud-unele, William Ely was bayoneted through the body, but survived and lived to be over 110 years of age. His father died in 1873 and his mother in 1877. G. F. Woodward was educated at the high sehool in Haneock county, Tennessee, and at Jonesville, Virginia, and receiving a liberal education, qualified himself for teaching. Le eame to Missouri in 1856 and located in Harrison county, and March 2, 1857, was married to Miss Margaret Richard, a native of Tennessee, but who at the time of her marriage was one of the most suecesstul and leading teachers in uorthwest Missonri. She began teaching when only fourteen years of age, and 'continued to teach constantly for fourteen vears. Ter mother died in Tennessee when Margaret was but a child. She then came to Missouri with her father, who died in Ray county, in 1854. By this marriage three daughters were born; namely, Martha E., born January 19, 1858; M.J., born August 6, 1861; and Lilly M., born October 11,1864. Mrs. Woudward died March 1,1875. She was a consistent Christian and model wife and mother, and 'died Jeaving many warm friends. Mr. Woodward married, September 7;

H46 History Of Daviess County

1875, Miss Mary E. Steele, who was born in Marshall county, Virginia, July 22,1848. She came with her parents, John and Elizabeth Steele, when she was but two years of age, to Des Moines county, Iowa, and there her parents stilllive. By this marriage Mr. and Mrs. Woodward have three children; namely, George D., born June 24, 1876; Jesse W., born July 24, 1877; James H., born August 30, 1879.

Mr. Woodward is no office-seeker and refuses to take any position, although amply qualitied. He owns a very fine and highly cultivated farm of 300 aeres, which is well improved and stocked. Mr. and Mrs. Woodward are members of the Methodist Episcopal Church South, and he is also one of the main members of the A. F. & A. M.

Was born in Bethany, Franklin county, [linois, on June 23d, 1852. His parents, W.J. and Maria L. Yost, zee Goodner. His father was of German descent, and died in January, 1879, His mother of Scotch descent, and died in September, 1866,

At the age of twelve years young Yost commenced to earn his own living, first being employ ed as notice boy for a railroad company at Cairo, Illinois, and little by little has worked himself up to his present responsible position, asagent of the Wabash, St. Lonis & Pacific Railroad at Pattonsburg. He was married, June 10, 1872, to Miss Lucy A. Ilostetter, a native of Chester county, Illinois, and born June 14, 1853.

They have three bright little children; viz., Adah, William H. and Leona Cordelia. Few men have made sueh rapid strides to popnlarity and position as Mr. Yost, and trom his gentlemanly manners and the esteem in which he is held, we judge he is deserving of it all.