Jamesport Township (part 2 of 2)

Prominent among the enterprising and substantial business men of Tamesport is the subject of this sketch. He was born in Belmont county, Ohio, April 8, 1847. He is the son of John and Rose (Moneghan) Murray, natives of Ireland. His education was acquired in the schools of his native State and immediately after leaving school, at the early age of sixteen years, he enlisted under the stars and stripes in Company E, Ninety-eighth Ohio Infantry, but had great difficulty in getting into the army on acevunt of youthfulness, being several times dismissed and ordered) home by the drilling officers, but nothing daunted young Murray's indumitable perseverance and pluck finally prevailed and he was mustered into the army in the month of July, 1862, and subsequently participated in the battles of Perryville, Chicamanga, Missionary Ridge; was wounded at Jonesborongh, Georgia, and sent thence to Nashville, Tennessee, arriving in time to be present on the oceasion of the battle in and around Nashville, where the Federal forces, under General George B. Thomas, brought to a disastrous close the Contederate General John B. Hood's eauinpaign in Tennessee. While eonvelascing in the hospital he was detailed as steward, and had under his charge one hundred and twenty patients, one of whom was taken with the small-pox, and in assisting him inan ambulance, he contracted that dread disease and for four weeks was prostrated with a very severe attack. After recovery he was detailed to take charge of the hospital guard, but was averse to this service, and asked to be sent to the front. He was ordered back to his old position in the hospital and served there during the remainder of the war, assisting the officer in making ont pay-rolls and other clerical work, and was discharged at Nashville, in April, 1865. He returned to Ohio and again attended school at Belmont and then worked as a telegraph operator on the B. & O, R. R. for a short time.

Quitting this business he started on « tour through Wisconsin, Michigan, Ilinois and Towa, to Omaha. From there to St. Louis, wi St. Joseph, Leavenworth, Lawrence, Kansas City, and the State capital, stopping for a short time at each place. After resting awhile at St. Lonis, he continued his travels southward, stopping on the way at Cairo, Memphis, Vicksburg, and New Orleans. From the Crescent City he went to Galveston and visited in turn Houston, Austin and all other prominent points of interest in the Lone Star State. At Corpus Cliristi he bought a Mexican pony, hired a guide and made his way, in that manner, after five days hard riding, across the heavily flonded bottom lands along the gulf coast, passing over the battle grounds of Palo Alto and Resaca de la Palma to Brownsville. Here be bought a Spanish grammar and learned that language in order to enable him to make his intended tonr of Mexico without inconvenience, (This was another exhibition of the same valuable trait of character which sceured his acceptance in the army). From Matamoras to Monterey he accomplished the distanee, three hundred miles, alone; thence to Saltilo and to San Lonis Potosi, passing the old historie battle ground of Buena Vista. From Potosi to Queratero, where Maxamillian was ¢: uptured and shot, and thenee to the eapital of Mexico. Here he remained viewing the beauties and wonders of the grand old city for fourteen months, and 'then, resuming his Bohemian lite, he visited Puebla and Vera Cruz and went to Sisal, in Yueatan, and from there to Havana. Growing tired of the wandering life he had been leading, our subject determined to return to his native land, and aceordingly sailed from Havana for New York City. There he engayved in business and remained during three years.

From New York City he came west to Tecumseh, Michigan, and lived there for six years, coming then (1878) to Jamesport and entering in partnership with bis brother, Michael, who was already engaged in merchandising ut that point. The business has been inereased and enlar ged to keep pace with the rapid improvement of the town and the demands of the community until to-day, in variety and completeness of stock, it is second to no general merchandise store in the county.

Mr. Murray was married, in Tecumseh, Michigan, February 27, 1877, to Miss Ada M., daughter of H. J. Snell. She is a native of that place. The issue of this union is one child, named Grace.

Mr, Murray is a member of the orders of I, O. O. F., No. 330, Jamesport Banner Encampment No, 90, Gallatin, and also of the Knights of Honor No. 870, Tecumseh, Michigan. Lis wife is a communicant of the Episeopal Church. In polities he isa stanneh Democrat.

Charles Le. Orcutt

Was born in Middletown, Rutland county, Vermont, February 15, 1845. His parents were Erasmus and Philena (Edgerton) Orcutt, natives otf Vermont. While our snbject was yet an infant his parents removed to Allegany county, New York, and after living there two years the family removed to Massachusetts, and there, in the Deerfield Academy, our subject received his edneation. After leaving school he worked on a farm until twenty years of age, when he immigrated to Missouri and located at the city of Chillicothe, where he clerked for a number of years in a drug and book store, .

He established his present drag business in Jamesport in the autumn of 1871 and has sinee built up a large and prosperous trade. Ile was appointed postmaster on the 4th of November, 1873, and has discharged the duties of that oflice efficiently and to the entire satistaction of the public ever since. Tle is treasurer of the city of Jamesport and secretary of the Grand River Agricultural, Mortienltural and Mechanical Association,

Mr. Oreutt was married at Chillicothe, Missouri, in June, 1871, to Miss Tillia Keener, daughter of George Keener, a native of Pennsylvania. Mrs. Orentt was born at Shreveport, Pennsylvania, The issue of this union is two children: Frederick OG. and Ralph E.

Mr. Oreutt is a Republican in polities, a thorough business man, and one who is respected and esteemed by all men, irrespective of political affiliations.

Francis M. Parker

Was born in Howard county, Indiana, May 23, 1852, and there received his early edueation. In the fall of 1566 he came with his parents to this State and county, and settled in Washington township. Ilere he completed his education, farming in stummer and attending school in winter. On attaining his majority he began farming for a livelihood, and continned/until the fall of 1873, when he went to Kansas. He madethe trip to the " grasshopper kingdom," overland, and was fifteen days on the road. Arriving at his destination, he again resumed farming, but only stood it one year, aud returned to Missouri after being eaten out by the pest of the redlegs, the [Kansas grasshoppers. Something possessed him to try Kansas again, so he returned to that State, after spending less than a year in Daviess county, making the second trip in 1875. His second return to Missouri is evidence of the faet that he thinks this is the best State in the Union. At this writing Mr.

Mr. Parker was married on the 10th ot November, 1878, to Miss Martha Melton, the accomplished daughter of John A. Melton, formerly of Missouri. This lady was born in St. Clair county, Illinois, August 20, 1857.

Seth H. Powers

Was born at Long Point, Canada, June 26, 1843. Tle is the son of Richard Powers, a farmer and stock-dealer of Vermont. His mother's maiden name was Phoebe Howard, a native of Canada. His parents died when he was very young, and he then came to the United States and was educated in Ohio and New York, Tle served a long apprenticeship at the blacksmithing and machinist trade in Butlalo, New York, and has since followed that business in various States of the Union without interruption, except during the time he was in military service during the Civil War. He enlisted in May, 1861, in Company B, Eighteenth Infantry Illinois Volunteers, and served under the stars and stripes during three years of strife. Ie participated in the engagements at Belmont, Port Henry, Fort Donaldson, Pittsburg Landing, Corinth, Vicksburg, and numerous skirmishes. He was discharged at Arkansas Post in 1864.

After the return of peace he resumed his trade and worked at it with excellent success in Kentucky and various points since. Tle spent some time in St. Louis and also in St. Joseph, Missouri. Je came to Jamesport on the first day of May, 1880, and formed a partnership with Mr. J. H. Higdon, and they have since condueted the carriage, wagon, and farm implement manufacturing business nuder the tirm name of Powers & Higdon,

Mr. Powers was married at Camp Point, Ilinois, October 29, 1865, to Miss Anna, daughter of Robert Crawford, a native of Missouri. Mrs. Powers was born in Livingston county, Missouri, in the month of February, 1843. They have five children now living: Riehard C., Lizzie, Robert, Kate and Charlie. Both Mr, Powers and his estimable lady are members of the Christian Church, and he is also a member of the orders of A. F. & A. M., A. O. U. W., and I. O, O. F. at Jamesport. In polities he is a stalwart Republican. Mr. Powers is a practical machinist of many years experience, and the large and remunerative business which the firm have built up attests the thoroughness and excellence of their work.

George W. Scitapfer

The subject of this sketeh was born in St. Lonis, Missouri, July 4, 1847. His parents removed, during his boyhood, to Galesburg, Tllinois, where they resided several years. Returning to St. Lonis, Mr. Schaffer engaged in the butcher business, and eontinned there until the fall of 1868. lis next field of operation was Kansas City, where he followed Lis trade for some time. From Kansas City he went to St. Joseph, where he remained until 1874, and then returned to St. Louis. Ile lived in St. Louis one year, during which time he had a rib broken while separating some unruly cattle. The butchers' association, to which he belonged, then sent him ont with Cole's Lightning-rod Company, and he traveled with them in Kansas. After another trial of the butchers business in Kansas City, he went to Chicago in the fall of 1875 and remained there one year in the employ of Fowler Brothers. From Chicago he proceeded to Atchison, Kansas, and thence again to St. Joseph. On first coming to Daviess county, he stopped in Gallatin, but moved out to Jamesport in the spring of 1880, and again began butchering beef for the hungry. He is one of the firm in the meatmarket business of Dinsinore & Sehaffer, and is also senior ember of the firm of Schaffer & Parks, confectioners and restaurateurs,

He is a good business man, and has the contidence of the citizens of Jamesport and vicinity. Born on the anniversary of our national independence, Mr. Schatler's parents could not lave given him a more appropriate name than George Washington.

Wesley Thurlow

Was born in Morgan (now Noble) county, Ohio, June 10,1822. His father was Silas Thurlow, of Newbury, Massachnsetts, [is mother's maiden name was Susannah Swett, and she was a native of New Hampshire. Mr. Thurlow was reared in his native State and pursued the occupation of tailoring until about lifty years of age, and was then engayed in the hotel business at Olive, Ohio. Ie immigrated to Missouri, and has since engaged at various times and places in farming, merchandising and hotel-keeping. He came to Jamesport in April, 1880, and has conducted the Sherman House sinee that time. Mr. Thurlow was inarried in Noble county, Ohio, to Miss Sarah J. Hill, daughter of Willian and Jane Jil. Mrs. Thurlow was born in Belmont county, Ohio, April 24, 1824. They became the parents of four children, three of whom, Lacy A., Mynda J., and Lda, still survive. The family are members of the Methodist Episcopal Cliareh. Mr. Thurlow is Republican in politics.

Lucy A., eldest daughter of Mr. Thurlow, was married at Laclede, Missourt, on the Yth of January, Les, to Robert L. Schrock. Mr. Scluruck was born in Hampshire connty, Virginia, December 1, 1834. They are the parents of one child, named John Audubon Elsworth Moreland Roye. Mr. Schruck Jives with his father-in-law and assists in couducting the hotel.

Robert C. Williams

Tho subject of this sketch was born in Surry (now Yadkin) county, North Carolina, December 21, IS17, Ile lived with his tather, who was a farmer

In June, 1839, Mr. Williams immigrated to Missouri and located in Ray county, where he taught school until 1842 and then removed to what is now Harrison county. After living there one year our subject came to Daviess county, and has resided here ever since.

On the 31st day of May, 1844, Robert C. Williams was married to Eleanor, daughter of John Gillilan. The issue of this union was seven children, two sons who died in infancy, and five daughters who are married and prosper. ous. After his marriage Mr. Williams followed the ocenpation of farming and stock-raising with good snecess until June, 1872, when he retired from active business upon the farm and located in Jamesport, where he continues to live handsomely upon the rents of his lands and upon the proceeds of his business as capitalist and broker,

Our subject stands in the frst rank with the most highly respected and honorable citizens of the county, and has been honored by his fellow-citizens with various offices of trust and responsibility. He was elected justice of the peace in 1844, and filled that office fora period of twenty years. In 1860 he was elected to represent the county in the General Assembly of the State, and always, both in public and private lite, honesty, integrity and justness have characterized his actions. He occupied a seat on the bench as justice of the County Court, in 1874, and helped to so manage the finances of the county as to raise the value of warrants from a discount of fifty per cent to par, without increasing the rate of taxation in the least.

Mr, Williams began life as a poor boy, but by industry, economy and good management has secured a competency for his old age. Although nota member of any church, he has donated more to the Methodist Episcopal Church South at Jamesport, than any other man. He is also an ardent supporter of all edneational institutions, and was active in securing the excellent school building at Jamesport,

The reeord of the lite of Robert C. Williams is such that his word is as good as his bond, and a simple statement froin him would be eredited against the attidavit of those less trustworthy.