Dover Township (part 2 of 2)

Alfred O. Downing

P. O. Page City, Mo. The young gentleman whose name heads this sketch, and who is one of the enterprising farmers of the vicinity of Page City, was born in Lexington, Ky., May 3, 1849. He is the son of Samuel Downing, Sr., who died in this county in 1876. His mother was Miss Amanda Offatt, a native of Kentucky, where she also died. His father then, in 1856, married Miss Margaret Combs, of Lexington, Ky., his second wife, who, after his death, married Judge Walker, of Lexington, Mo. In 1857, when between seven and eight years old, Alfred moved with his father to Boonville, Mo., and after a year's residence there, they moved to this county, and settled on a tract of 440 acres of land in Dover township, upon part of which Alfred now lives. He was educated at White's Seminary at Dover. He was too young to take any part in the civil war, though his sympathies were with the South, and a brother served four years under Shelby. On the 22d of September, 18S0, he was married to Miss Lura Logan, daughter of Henry Logan, deceased, of Parkersburg, Va. They have one child, a daughter named Mary, born June 27, 1881.

Samuel Downing

P. O. Page City, Mo. One of the old battle-scarred veterans of Shelby's famous command, was born in Lexington, Ky., August 12, 1842. Concerning his parents, Samuel and Amanda Downing, see biography of his

1858, where he has since lived. He was partly raised and educated in Kentucky, and partly at Dover, in this county. He was raised on a farm and has never followed any other calling. In 1861 he volunteered in Company " A," 3d Mo. Cav., the first company of Shelby's old brigade, which was organized by Shelby himself. The regiment was commanded by Col. Frank Gordon. About twelve months after he enlisted, the regiment was put into Shelby's brigade, mostly recruited from this county. His company being the oldest and best drilled in the brigade, they generally had the brunt to bear in battle, and when picked men were chosen for special and daring service, they were generally taken from Company " A " of Gordon's regiment. Mr. Downing served the entire four years under Shelby, being in nearly all the battles west of the river, Pea Ridge, Oak Hill, Little Rock, Prairie Grove, Hartsville, Springfield, Marshall, Lexington, the Big and Little Blue, Westport, etc., etc. He was altogether in about two hundred fights. He was never seriously wounded, and had his horse shot under him. He was twice captured, once in 1861 in Bates County, Mo., by Jim Lane, was paroled, and returned to this county on foot. He was then dragged, with his father, to Lexington and imprisoned in a dungeon by Capt. Clayton, of the Kansas troops, who refused to recognize Lane's parole. He was, however, released in a short time, and made his way at once to Shelby, considering that his arrest by Clayton released him from his parole. He was again captured, in 1865, at Duval's Bluff, Ark., taken to Little Rock, where he was at the surrender. He was released in April, 1865. and reached home in May, since which time he has lived on his farm, but a short distance from the home and farm of his old leader, Gen. Shelby. Mr. Downing has never been married. As he was a good soldier, so he has proved a good citizen, and stands high among his neighbors, who are, many of them, his old comrades.

Frederick D. Fulkerson

deceased. Though no longer among the living, Mr. Fulkerson will long be remembered among the old citizens of Lafayette county. He was born in Lee county, Virginia, March 17, 1809, and was the son of Peter and Margaret Fulkerson. He was raised and educated in Lee county, and moved to Missouri in 1S56. Being raised on a farm, he never followed any other calling. He operated a large farm in Virginia, and owned there a large body of slaves. Having sold his land in Virginia, in 1856, he moved his family and slaves to this county, where he purchased a large farm, on which his widow still resides. They moved from Virginia to Louisville, Kentucky, in wagons, and there embarked on the river, by which they came to this county, two and one-half miles southwest of Hig- ginsville, where he continued to live until his death. He was twice married - first to Miss Nancy A. Dunn, May 31, 1842, daughter of John Dunn, a Scotch gentleman who had settled in Lee county, Virginia. She lived about seven years, and died December 5, 1849. His second marriage was February 16, 1851, to Miss W. Melissa Dunn, a younger sister of his first wife, who now survives him. By his first marriage he had one son and three daughters living; all married except one daughter. By his last union he had ten children, six of whom are living. Mr. Fulkerson took no part in the civil war, but remained quietly at home. He was always a union man and strongly opposed secession. He was driven from his home for a short time. He was a member of the Presbyterian church, as was also both his wives. He also belonged to the masonic order, though he attended no lodge after coming to this state. He suffered greatly with rheumatism prior to his death, but died peacefully July 18, 1868. In his death the county lost a first-class citizen, and his family a faithful husband and father.

Benjamin C. Ridge

P. O. Higginsville, Missouri; son of one of the oldest citizens of this part of the county where he now resides. His father, Wm. Ridge, died in May, 1874. He emigrated to this state and county in 1834, from Adair county, Kentucky, and settled on the farm where his son now lives, between two and three miles southwest of Higginsville. Benjamin C. was born in Adair county, Kentucky, September 20, 1833, and came with his father to this county the next year, 1834, where he was raised on a farm and educated. During the border war in Kansas, he went there to lay claims, and to assist the pro-slavery side in the struggle - was not, however, engaged in any of the fights. In 1861 he volunteered in the 3d Missouri cavalry, Gordon's regiment, under Gen. Shelby. He served throughout the war, and was in the battles of Cathage, Wilson's Creek, Lexington, Prairie Grove, Mark's Mill, Jenkins' Ferry, Little Rock to Camden, in Shelby's raid, and in the battles of Price's last raid. He was wounded in the Westport battle in 1864. After the war he returned to this county and to farming; in which he has since been engaged. May 8, 1866, he was married' to Miss Winnie R. Warren, daughter of Anderson Warren, one of the pioneers of the county. He has had six children, five of them now living. Both himself and wife are members of the Christian church.

Thomas Shelby

postoffice, Lexington, Mo. Was born in Marion county, near Lebanon, Ky., Sept. 23, 1818, and is the son of William and Nancy Shelby, {nee Edmonson). Both his parents were natives of Virginia. He was educated and raised partly in Kentucky, and partly in Missouri. In 1836 he came with his father to this county, and shortly after purchased land between Lexington and Dover, on the old state road. He was raised on a farm, and has devoted his life to agricultural pursuits. He took no active part in the war, many circumstances combining to keep him at home, but did what he could to aid the southern cause. He has had a large experience as a trader in negroes and mules, which he pursued before the war. His father had increased his landed possessions to 2000 acres at his death, of which Thomas now owns about 1100 acres, improved, with an elegant residence. He was married in January 1838, to Miss Nancy H. Gordon, daughter of Geo. H. Gordon, a native of Kentucky, who was once surveyor of this county. His first wife died, April 21, 1876. He again married in Dec. 1877, to Miss Margaret R. Huston, of Ohio. By his first marriage he had thirteen children, five of whom are now living. By his last marriage he has had no children. He is a member of the Christian church, and has been since 1818, to which his first wife also belonged. His present wife belongs to the Episcopal church. His children are members of the Christian church.

Travis Buford

P. O. Lexington, Mo. The subject of this sketch was born Oct. 1, 1847, raised and educated in this county, and has always lived here. His father, Manville T. Buford, is a citizen of this county. His mother, Elizabeth Buford, was a daughter of Wm. Shelby, deceased. He was raised on a farm, which is now and has been his vocation. He has a fine farm of 325 acres six miles east of Lexington, and for years past he has been largely engaged in dealing in stock - buying, feeding and shipping. He was first married on the 9th of December, 1866, to Miss Alice Shelby, daughter of Thomas Shelby, who was also his cousin. She died in 1870, and he subsequently married Miss Mattie Gordon, daughter of Linn B. Gordon, of this countv. By his first marriage he has one son named William, and by his second two sons: Linn B. and Manville T. He is not a church member, but is a Mason. Mrs. Buford is a member of the Christian church.

Andrew J. Slusher

P. O. Dover, Mo. Was born in the old Slusher homestead in this county, four miles west of Dover, March 5, 1829, and is the son of Christopher Slusher, who came from Virginia to this county in 1828. He was raised and educated here, and has lived here all his life, engaged in farming. He was a southern sympathiser, and joined the confederate army in 1861, during Price's last raid, and was engaged in nearly all the fights of the retreat. After the war closed he returned home and gave his attention to his farm. He had, of course, lost his slaves, and nearly all his personal property, and had to renew and build up his broken fortunes. He has prospered since the war, and now has his splendid farm of 867 acres in fine condition. He was married December 1, 1851, to Miss Susanah Jane Woods, daughter of Archibald C. Woods, deceased, of this county. They have had ten children, seven of whom, two sons and five daughters, are now living. He is a member of the Grange, and stands high as an energetic and enterprising citizen.

Young Hicklin

The gentleman whose name heads this sketch is a native of this county and was born on the old James Hicklin homestead, two and one-half miles east of Lexington. He is son of James and Agnes Hicklin, and was born July 29, 1842. His mother was a daughter of Wm. Cross, of Howard county, Mo. His father was from Tennessee, and died in June, 1875. Young Hicklin was raised and educated in this county, and has lived here all his life, and since the war on the old homestead farm, where he was born. When about fifteen years old he left home and went to Texas, and after being there for a few months joined the Texas rangers on the frontier, and was with them under Gen. Ben. McCullough when the civil war broke out, and entered the confederate service under McCullough in 1861, but remained only a short time and then returned home. But the militia soon got after him, and he then went to Jackson county and joined the recruits under Capt. Hays and went south. His father sent for him to return and assist in getting his slaves to the south, which he did, being released for that purpose; but he was forced to take to the brush to save himself as soon as he got to this county. He then went into the regular service under Gen. Raine, and was in a battery, commanded by Capt. Roberts, at Pea Ridge, and was with this battery until after the battle of Jenkins' Ferry, where a section of the battery was captured, and most of the men and horses killed. The battery was charged by two negro regiments, who murdered the men promiscuously after the capture. Hicklin escaped by jumping into a lake - was afraid to surrender to the negroes. He then made his way to Shelby, and soon went into the recruiting service under Cols. Coffey and Crisp, with a captain's commission. He was in Price's last raid, but left the army on leave after it returned south. Went to Ellis county, Texas, where he remained until the surrender. He was in the battles of Lexington, Jenkins' Ferry, Prairie Grove, and numerous minor engagements, and in the battles of Price's raid. He was captured once, at Little Rock, but was exchanged in a short time. After he returned home in 1865 he still had trouble with the militia element, but held his own, until the times got quiet. While with a friend, Arch Clemments, in Lexington, they were attacked. Clemments was shot down, but Hicklin escaped by running and going for a time to Saline county. He was married June 6, 1869, to Miss Eliza Plummer, of Saline county. They have three children, one son and two daughters. He was engaged five years in the cattle business in Colorado, where he made money, and in 1875 returned and bought the old homestead and handsomely improved the same. Both he and his wife belong to the M. E. church, south.

Lock Terhune

P. O. Lexington, Missouri. The subject of this sketch was born in Mercer county, Kentucky, near Harrodsburg, August 6, 1835, where he was raised and educated, and came to this state shortly before the beginning of the war. His parents, Isaac and Sallie Terhune, are still living in Mercer county, Kentucky. At the age of twenty years Mr. Terhune moved to Jackson county in this state, where he remained about four years, engaged in farming. In 1859 he moved to this county, and was engaged in managing the business of Mr. Catron, until the death of the latter in 1862. After his death he has continued to manage the farm for Mrs. Catron, to the present time. He owns two farms in this county, one of 118 acres on the Dover road, and one of 350 acres on the Salt Pond road, which he manages besides managing the two farms of Mrs. Catron. He was married in October, 1876, to Miss Mary Ramey, daughter of Andrew Ramey, deceased. They have two daughters living. Mr. Terhune is a Granger, and a man of large business experience and sound judgment.

Capt. James B. S. Kirtley

P. O. Lexington Capt. Kirtley was born in Boone county, Kentucky, February 2, 1841:. His father, William Kirtley, is now living in this county, a short distance south of Dover. His mother, Elizabeth Kirtley, was a daughter of Isaac Shelby, who formerly lived in this county. In the year of his birth, 1844, Captain Kirtley moved with his parents to this county, and settled on the farm where his father still resides. He was raised in this county and partly educated here and partly in the Baptist college, at Georgetown, Kentucky, where he graduated in 1867. During the war he served under Gen. Shelby in the confederate army. He first enlisted in 1861 in the state guard, in which he was captured by Jim Lane in Bates County. He was released on parole, and came home and assisted his father in moving his slaves to Arkansas, and then rejoined Shelby. After the batttle of Corinth he enrolled in Company A, First Missouri cavalry, Gordon's regiment, of which he was elected second lieutenant, and was captain from 1863 to the end. During that period he was on Col. Shank's staff. After the surrender he went with Shelby to Mexico. He was in nearly all of the principal battles west of the river, and some east, from Carthage in 1861, to Price's last raid in 1861. After remaining a year in Mexico, he returned home and went to Georgetown, Kentucky, college, and graduated. He was married on November 11, 1873, to Miss Sarah T. McCord, daughter of William McCord, deceased. They have had four children, all girls, the two youngest of whom are living. He is a member of the Missionary Baptist church. He was raised on a farm, and is now engaged in farming on the old McCord farm three miles east of Lexington. He also deals largely in stock.

Source changes here: from Young's History of Lafayette County, Missouri, by Young, William, published 1910; 773 words in this source stream.

Dover Township

Dover was platted on section 29, township 51, range 25, August 7, 1835, by John Duston. It is beautifully situated on the eminence of the bluffs to the south of the Missouri river, about one and a third miles distant, by wagon road. Its railroad station, on the Missouri Pacific line (river division), is on the river front. It is one of the old boat landings in the county, and has much interesting history connected with it. In the palmy days of steamboating Dover held a prominent place in river traffic. At a very early date there was a log church built at Dover jointly by different religious denominations. Churches and schools were in the minds of the pioneer band that started to build Dover, and this influence has gone on until the present. The town has never made rapid growth, but always has been a good trading place, made up of enterprising, hospitable citizens, who believe in living and letting others live. The present population of Dover is about two hundred and fifty. It supports Christian, Baptist, Catholic and Methodist churches, histories of which appear under proper church headings. For its school history see elsewhere.

Dover Lodge, No. 122, of the Masonic order, was instituted in May, 1850, but about 1880 moved to Corder. The present fraternity of Dover is that of the Odd Fellow order.

The place was incorporated in 1897. Among its mayors have been: Capt. W. A. Redd, R. P. Howard, George Zysing, Samuel Pile, L. B. Cole, R. P. Howard. The present trustees are : R. P. Howard, Jewett Redd, B. L. Vaughan, George F. Zysing, William Pauling ; clerk, Jewett Redd ; marshal, S. C. Hodges.

Among the postmasters of Dover may be named, since 1854: Messrs. Thomas Miller, S. S. Vangelen, James Clayton, William Meng, John Plattenburg, James Clayton, Mrs. E. J. Stolte.

Among the retail dealers and professional men of Dover in the years gone by should not be forgotten: In 1857, the general dealers were Plattenburg & Howard, Charles and Samuel Whiting; Peter Thoma. Dr. Caleb D. Baer, druggists; Joseph Wiles, hotel keeper; a flour mill, that in 1865 was run by F. C. Vivion, was in operation, but was abandoned in 1867, since which there has been no mill in Dover.

In 1858, the business of Dover was in the hands of: Judge Plattenburg, George B. Warren, James Howard, general stores, and John Ridge, village blacksmith.

At the close of the Civil war the business factors were: Plattenburg & Howard, Edgar Ashberry, Robert Cox, general dealers, and Samuel Meng, druggist.

Business Interests In I9Io

At the date of this book being published the following conducted the business of Dover: Redd Brothers (Jewett M. and H. T. Redd, sons of Captain William A. Redd), who succeeded their father, who established his business first in Waverly and in 1897 removed to Dover. The other general dealer of the village is George Zysing. The drug business is now conducted by E. Zysing, who succeeded R. W. Ashworth in 1906. The physician of Dover in 1910 was Dr. R. P. Howard; liveryman, B. W. Vaughan; hotel, R. P. Howard ; blacksmith, Joseph Bertrand ; pool hall, B. Gray.

The Dover State Bank, established in 1906, with a capital of ten thousand dollars, Henry Corbin, president, and O. G. Congdon, cashier, is the only bank Dover has ever had.

A log church was built at Dover by different denominations. Early ministers there were : Revs. Trapp, Linville, Ewing, King and Robert Mare. The three last named were Cumberland Presbyterians. Rev. Ransome Clark was also a pioneer "Old School" Baptist. Union meetings were frequently held and the pastors left it to the converts to decide which denomination they should finally join.

The first marriage in Dover township was that uniting John Lovelady and Mary Cox, daughter of Enoch Cox. This was in 1818, and it is thought to be the first marriage in the county after actually organized as Lafayette county.

The first death in the township was Martin Tripp, in 1820; the next was William R. Cole, and both were buried in the cemetery near Dover, which Mr. Cole had laid out himself.

The pioneer school of this section was taught in a log house just south of the village of Dover in 1822, by George Marquis, who soon afterwards died.

The first public school district was formed in May, 1840. In 1909 the total enrollment of pupils was eighty-one ; teachers employed, three ; average wages paid, forty-two dollars and fifty cents ; valuation of district, one hundred and sixty -five thousand dollars ; tax levy, sixty-five cents on a dollar.