Benton Township (part 2 of 2)

Thomas Prather

is a native of Mason county, Kentucky; born November 23,1807. His parents were Ross and Nellie Prather, both natives of Virginia. Thomas lived in Kentucky till 1833, and then moved with his parents to Indiana, where he resided till 1830. In this year he came to Missouri, settling first in Monroe county, where he lived till 181:0, when he moved to Linn county and located in Benton townshij), where he has ever since resided. Mr. Prather has alwaj^s been a farmer, though he engaged in other occupations in California, where he went during the gold excitement of IS'IQ, He returned in 1852, and since that time has given his undivided attention to farming. Mr. Pratlier was married in 1833 to Miss Lucinda Dawson, daughter of Abraham and Phoebe Dawson. They have had five children, only two of whom still survive. Their names are Sarah Jane (deceased), Ross (deceased), William Thomas, Mary Ellen (deceased), and Abigail. His first wife died June 6, 1876, and he was again married October 23, 1877, to Maggie A. Linhart. Mr. Prather belongs to no church or organized societj^ of any kind, though his present wife is a member of the Methodist Oharch. He and wife are a thrifty couple and raise most of what they consume. He has a fine young orchard near his residence in section nine, of township sixty, range twenty.

This gentleman is the son of Dr. William and Annie E.Robinson, and was born in Cincinnati, Ohio, October 27, 1836. When about three years old he moved with his parents to Manchester, Ohio, where he lived for ten or twelve years. From there he moved to Mason county, Hlinois, and remained there about nine years, and then came to Linn county, this State. This was in 1857, and he has been a citizen of this county ever since, except when temporarily absent. He taught school for some time in Linn county, before going to Brookfield. He was for some time engaged in the printing office of the Brookfield Gazette. The last year he spent in Brookfield, he published a paper called the We8tern Citizen. On leaving Brookfield, Mr. Robinson went to Kansas City and spent three years, publishing while there a journal called the Western Cultivator. He then returned to Linn county, and engaged in publishing the Broioning Reporter., which paper he has been editing since June, 1881. Mr. Robinson served in three different companies"on the Union side during the war. He first enlisted in Company A, of the Twenty-eighth Illinois Regiment; subsequently he was in Company K, Eighty-fifth Illinois, and lastly in Company L, of the Twelfth Missouri Cavalry, in' which he was sergeant, and served two and a half years. He was in the battles of White Station, Tennessee, Murfreesboro, Nashville, and the battle below Louisville. He was never wounded or captured. Mr. Robinson was married January 17, 1858, to Miss Margaret J. Oxley, a daughter of Eli and Mary Oxley. They have eight children living and one deceased. Mrs. Robinson is a member of the Methodist Church, but Mr. Robinson is not now in communion with any denomination.

William R. Robinson

Among the old settlers who came here at an early day and who had to endure the hardships of a frontier life among the beasts of the forest and savage Indians, was Dr. William R. Robinson, who has for many years been recognized as a prominent physician in the vicinity where he has so long resided. The Doctor was born near Urbana, in Champaign county, Ohio. His father's name was Joseph H. Robinson, and his mother's, before her marriage, was Eve Runner. He lived with his father on the farm till he was twenty-three years of age. He commenced reading medicine at the early age of seventeen. While reading he was examined two or three times a week by Dr. Dunlap, who practiced in the neighborhood. This he did for two or three years, after which he moved to town, Urbana, and read under Drs. Carter and Musgrove till twenty-one or twenty-two years of age.

His literary education was acquired at the district schools in the country and at Urbana. His medical course was received at the Ohio Medical Collese, Cincinnati, one of the foremost medical schools in the country. Before attending lectures he went to La Salle county, Illinois, near Peru, and practiced two years. From Cincinnati* he went in the spring of 1837 to Brown county, Ohio, where he practiced for about two years, after which he moved to Manchester, in the adjoining county of Adams. He practiced in Adams county about twelve years. The Doctor was first married in La Salle county, Illinois, in May, 1835, to Miss Amanda Shepherd, daughter of Abraham Shepherd, who was several years before speaker of the House of Kepresentatives. She died about one year after he moved to Adams county. By his first marriage he had two children, one of whom is dead. Shortly after his wife's death the doctor went to his parents in La Salle count}'', Illinois, taking his children with him. After a short visit with his parents he went to Livingston county, in same State, in 1840, where he remained three or four months and left on account of sickness, and went back to Manchester, Ohio, where he was again married on the tenth day of November, 1840, to Misss Dorcas Coppell, who is still living. The Doctor and his present wife have had eleven children, eight of whom are still living; over fifty grandchildren, forty-five of whom are living, and two great-grandchildren, both alive. After his second marriage he lived in Manchester till about 1850. Then moved from Manchester to Madison county, Illinois, and purchased a farm in the neighborhood of where Topeka is now. Here he resided upon his farm and did a very lucrative practice. When he was ready to leave for the West he sold out in 1855 to Dr. Reynolds. He then moved to Missouri and settled in Linn county on four hundred acres of land in sections seven and eight (a portion in Sullivan county), township sixty, range twenty, where he has ever since lived. In March, 1861, himself and wife, with their children, went to Havana, Illinois, and remained fifteen months. They went for the purpose of educating their children. They expected to remain two years, but finding things going to destruction at home, returned sooner than he had intended. He and his wife are both members of the Methodist Church in Browning. He is a member of the Masonic lodge, at West Union, Ohio, No. 43, and a Master Mason. In politics he was an old line Whig before the war and since a liberal Republican. The doctor continued his practice till within the past few years, when failing health did not justify his longer pursuing it. At present he practices only among his connections and a few intimate friends. - son of John and Anna Rogers, was born in Ripley county, Indiana, April 30, 1827. Tlie father was an early settler of Indiana, as was the son of Missouri, he having located there in 1820.' Mr. Rogers started west when nineteen years of age, lirst settling in Yau Buren county, Iowa, In the spring of 1852 he went to Oregon and stopped two years in the Williamette Valley. From Oregon he went to California and for some time worked in the mines. In 1855 he traded a claim in Oregon for a quarter section of land in Sullivan county, Missouri, whither he removed with his family the same year. Here he erected a saw-mill which he operated for live years, and in 1865 sold the farm and removed to Laclede where he engaged in mercantile business. After several years in business, removed to a farm where he lived four years. He then returned to Laclede where he engaged in manufacturing. After some time he sold out his interest in the manufacturing business at Laclede, and engaged in the business of manufacturing farm wagons at his present location. He was married in Yan Buren countv, Iowa, to Miss Nancy Simmons, in the year 1847. Was again married in 1864 to Miss Margaret Schrock. There have been born to Mr. Rogers three children by first marriage and seven by the second marriage.

Mr. Stone was born in Greene county, Pennsylvania, September 22, 1822. His parents were Aaron and Priscilla Stone, both of whom were natives of Pennsylvania. Benjamin lived in his native State till 1858, when he moved to Missouri and located in Benton township, Linn county, on the place where he still resides. While living back East, he was engaged in buying and selling stock, but on coming to this county gave his attention wholly to farming. When the civil war began, Mr. Stone entered the Union service in Company F, of the First Missouri State Militia. His first fight was with General Porter, over on "Painter" (Panther) ( 'i-eek, in Macon county. He was in the Marshall, Saline county, fight, against General Shelby, and was also at the defense of JefiPerson City, during Price's last raid. He was in a "bush" fight with Quantrell, after that famous guerrilla had sacked Lawrence. He was never wounded or captured. Just before the war Mr. Stone was elected justice of the peace, and after the war served by appointment as registration ofiicer, and was subsequently elected supervisor. Mr. Stone claiifts to have brought the finest horse - a "Black-Hawk Morgan" - that ever came to Linn county. He now has on hand a lot of very fine cattle, almost thorough-breds. He has a good farm of one hundred and seventy acres, which he knows well how to cultivate. He was married in liis native county, October 6, 1847, to Miss Mary Boughner. They have had seven children, four of whom still survive. Mr. Stone is

Benjamin C. Southern

This gentleman has had a strange and somewhat adventurous career, and did space allow, a detail could be here given that would prove very interesting.

Mr. Southern was born in Kurachee, Bengal Presidency, East India, September 25, 1853. His parents were Thomas and Elizabeth Soutiiern, the father having been a native of London, England, and the mother of Madrid, Spain. His father was a railroad manager and director, and was engaged with the first railroad ever operated in the country where Benjamin C. was born. At eleven years old, the subject of this sketch returned to England, where his mother still resides (his father having died in 1863), and entered the Duke of York School, and remained three 3'ears. He and his motiier then made a trip to the United States, but returned to England and spent six or seven years at his mother's country residence. He then returned alone to the United States, and located at Detroit, Michigan, where he remained three years. After another extensive tour, in which he visited Spain and many otlier places on the Mediterranean coast, having spent some time with his mother at Madrid, he returned to tliis country, and made a temporary sto]) at Paterson, New Jersey, and from there back again to Detroit. He had learned telegraphy when in America on the former occasion, and began as an operator. He was a while train dispatcher in Chicago for the Chicai):o & Northwestern Railroad. His next enirao:ement was at Mt. Pleasant, Iowa, and while there he married a daughter of Wellington and Mary Leach, who is a member of the Methodist Church, Mr. Southern is a Master Mason, and member of St. Johns Lodge. Though he has but recently accepted his present situation in the railroad office at Browning, Mr. Southern lias built him a neat residence, and is fast improving his place into a comfortable home.

His father was at one time a rnan of great wealth - perhaps a quarter of a million - but lost heavily before his death in railroad speculations. Was a director of the London & Brighton Railroad when he died.

William Thomas Stephenson

He is the son and eldest child of Dr. David I. Stephenson, of Linneus, whose biography appears elsewhere in this volume. When William (or as he was familiai'ly known among the boys. Bill}') was about six years of age, his father moved to Linn county, and settled near Enterprise, upon a farm which he had purchased, where he continued in the practice of his ])rofession until 1863. when he removed to Linneus, where he now resides. In the schools of our county seat, the literary training of the subject of our

He commenced the practice of his profession in August, 1873, at Enterprise, in the vicinity of where his father had, some years before, been actively engaged in the same pursuit. Indeed, we inight say that so prominently, for years past, have father and son been identified in this section with the above mentioned calling, that the name has become linked with \\\Q jprofession in the minds of the people of the northern part of the county. After practicing for about two years at Enterprise, thinking that the young and growing town of Browning afforded a better field of operation, he, in June, 1875, removed thither, notwithstanding that four other physicians were already established therein. But the result has fully proven the wisdom of his choice.

The Doctor was married jSTovember 3, '1878, to Miss Anna Lee Clark, daughter of R. J. and M. A. Clark. They have one child, a fine chubby boy, born in 1879. Dr. Stephenson is a Mas^on, Odd Fellow, and one of the charter members of the A. O. U. W. lodge of Browning.

Since his marriage (it could not have been expected before), he has made some rapid strides in a financial point of view, and promises ere many years have lapsed to wield an influence in this direction, as well as in that of his profession.

We were pleased to notice, upon the shelves of his library, a number of standard works of the latest eminent authors of the profession, showing that he was determined to avoid the ruts of old fogyism, and keep pace with the advancing views and theories of the present.

Considering his youthfulness and the success which he has already achieved, may we not, with safety, predict for him a career of great usefulness in the future?

Francis Elias Stone

was born in Greensborough, Greene county, Pennsylvania, on the thirteenth day of March, 181C. He is the son of Aaron and Priscalla Stone, both of whom were natives of Greene county, Pennsylvania. Mr. Stone lived in the county of his birth until he was twenty-four years of age. Thinking there were better opportunities afforded out in the distant west for men of nerve and energy who had the hardihood to risk their lives and fortunes among savage Indians of the forest, he left the home of his boyhood and with wagons and teams slowly wended his way, and at last landed in Linn county on the sixth day of October, 1840. He located on section seven, township sixty, range twenty, and either upon or very near this section he has ever since lived. Like the majority of old settlers farming has been his principal occupation since he has been in the State. He has also a portion of the time been engaged in merchandizing and in the milling business; and for a while ran a carding machine. Many incidents of early days lie calls to memory and loves to relate how they used to weigh down the tax collector with wolf scalps, bear and deer skins instead of greenbacks or something of a more solid nature. On the twenty-seventh day of October, 1837, he was married to Miss Elvira Lantz, a sister of Mr. Lot Lantz, another old settler, who came to this county with Uncle Frank but is now a resident of Sullivan county. Mrs. Stone is also a native of Greene county, Pennsylvania. They have had in all nine children, three of whom are dead. They have had about thirty grandchildren, a few of whom are dead. They have a few great-grandchildren. Uiicle Frank has held the oftice of constable, justice of the peace, and is the present mayor of Browning, the duties of which position he has so satisfactorily performed that the people ran him without opposition the second time for the office. At the present writing his second term is unexpired. He was among the foremost to go into the late war and was enrolled on the twenty-ninth day of January, 18G2, in the First Regiment Cavalry, Missouri State Militia, under Captain Henry Wilkinson, He was discharged the second day of December, 1862, at Sedalia, While in the army he proved a valuable accession to his company in the capacity of veterinary surgeon, the duties of which position he performed very efficiently and to the great delight and satisfaction of all his comrades.

After he had lived here a number of years Uncle Frank took a trip back to the land of his younger days and was surprised to find on his way the many wonderful changes - the woods converted into houses for the homes of men, and long lanes well fenced on either side, in places where on his former trip were expanded and unobstructed prairies. The old landmarks of the camping grounds of his previous experience were effaced by the onward progress of civilization.

So far as politics are concerned Uncle Frank is a Eepublican. Notwithstanding his advancing years, there are few who display more vim and energy than he, and we might perhaps include his wife under the same description. Even now he could take his favorite weapon, the rifle, go into the woods, and in pursuit of game fairly lay most young men in the shade. He is a man of his word, honorable in his dealings with his fellow men, and any one who has Uncle Frank on his side in a controversy feels assured that his side must be in the right. We sincerely hope that he may be blessed with life, strength and prosperity for many years yet to come.

was born in Washington county, Iowa, December 20, 1849, and is the son of David P, and Maria Sturges, His father was a native of New England. His mother was born in New York City, was of German descent, and her name, prior to her marriage, was Scrouder. His father, who was a carpenter by trade, moved from the country, in January, 1850, to Washington, the county seat of Washington county, where the doctor remained with him till he was twenty-two years of age. While there he availed himself of the educational facilities which the town afforded. He then went to Iowa College at Grinnell, Iowa, where he received the rest of his literary training. His course at Grinnell was interrupted by several months of hard work in the printing office at Washington, in whicli he was engaged both before and after leaving college, making altogether several years. In the fall of 1870 he began reading medicine at home in the office of Doctors Rousseau and Clapp, with whom he remained a year. In the fall of 1871 he attended lectures at Iowa City, in the Medical Department of the Iowa State University. The following summer he was occupied in the study of his profession, and the succeeding winter in teaching school. He attended the Chicago Medical College during the terms of 1873-74 and 1874-75, and graduated in March, 1875, taking the degree of M. D. In 1875-76 he attended lectures at the Rush Medical College, wlierehe also graduated in the spring of 1876, taking the degree of M. D. While attending lectures in Chicago he spent the summers of 1874, 1875 and 1876 at Mercy Hospital, But he was not only diligent enough to thus advantageously employ the intervals between the terms of lectures, but during the winter was actively engaged' through the day in storing up knowledge for his future career in his profession, and at night busily employed in the office of the Chicago TimeSy earning the means with which to obtain the instruction he was so eagerly seeking. He moved to Browning in the spring of 1877 and commenced the practice of his profession. On the thirtieth day of May, 1879, he was married at his old home in low^a, to Miss Abbie L. Geach, a young ladj^ originally from Ohio. They have had two children, a boy living and a little girl dead. The Doctor's father died since he came to Browning, and his mother in the spring of 1870, is a son of Moses and Lydia Sleeper, and was born in New Hampshire, July 10, 1828. His parents also were natives of the same State, and John lived there till June, 1843. The family then moved to Dundee, Kane county, Illinois, where they lived over a year. From there John W. came to Linn county, Missouri. This was in 1844, and he has been here ever since, except temporary absence. He went to Texas in the fall of 1852, and wintered at Austin. He went out with teams and returned by steamer. Most of the time he has been farming and working at the carjienter's trade. Mr. Sleeper was married at Scottsville, in Sullivan county, May 14, 1854, to Miss Nancy Keller, daughter of Isaac and Elizabeth Keller, natives of Tennessee. Eleven children have been born of this union, seven of whom still survive. Mr. Sleeper was not in the war, except being enrolled in the Provisional service. Company L, under Capt. H. D. Johnson.