Preston Township

Preston Township

and wintered in Kansas, and in the spring of 1866 settled on his present farm. Mr. Ritchie has eleven children, named A. C, N. J., Martha A. and Mary E. (twins), Elizabeth J., C. H., E. J. and E. A. (twins), Alice A., Nettie G., and Fannie S. Mr. and Mrs. Ritchie are members of the M. E. Church, and always take a prominent part in church matters.

RANSOM P. ROWLAND was born Dec. 3, 1831. He married Margaret Gribble, who was born Feb. 18, 1835, and raised in "Warren county, Tenn. Mr. Rowland farmed in Warren county until 1861, and then enlisted in the Fifth Tennessee Regiment and served two years in the war. He first went to Bowling Green, Ky.; then to Mnrfreesborough; then to Montgomery, Ala.; then to Corinth, Miss.; then to Pittsburgh Landing, and was there in his first battle; from there they went to Columbus by boat; then to Chattanooga; then to Knoxville, Tenn., where they joined Kirby Smith's army; then to Richmond, Ky., and engaged in a battle there; then to Covington, Ky., where they joined Bragg's army. He then went home to see his family. Returning, he was'promoted to corporal. He was in the battle of Murfreesborough ; then went to Tallahasee, and was there promoted to third lieutenant; he then went to Chattanooga, and was there promoted to second lieutenant. He settled on his present farm in Jasper county in 1870. He has seven children, named Elizabeth J., Jackson L., Camelia, Francis M., Ransom, James T., and Sarah L. Mr. and Mrs. Rowland are members of the Presbyterian Church, and are well respected in the community.

JESSE RUDDICK was born Oct. 4, 1819, and is the son of William Ruddick, one of the old pioneers of Indiana. He came there before the Black Hawk War, and his brother-in-law, Enoch Hinton, was the first man killed in that war. He was killed and his body thrown into White River. Our subject spent his boyhood days in the big woods among tho Indians and wild animals. He used to hunt and trap a good deal in winter time. On May 17th, 1842, he married Matilda Finley in Jackson county, Ind. Her father, a native of Kentucky, has raised sixteen children, men and women grown. Mr. and Mrs. Ruddick have eight children living, named William A., Rachel R., Mary A., Hugh A., Olive B., Jesse O., Robert F., and George B. In 1852 he took a trip through Illinois to see the country. He then went to Indiana. In 1869 he moved to Jasper county and located on his present farm of 260 Acres. Mr. Ruddick is held in high esteem by his friends and neighbors.

JESSE O. RUDDICK was born Aug. 26, 1852, in Jackson county, Ind., the son of Jesse Ruddick, an old settler of Preston township. They had eight children, the subject of this sketch being the sixth child, and was raised upon a farm. Moved with his parents to Jasper county, Mo., and at the age of nineteen went to work by the day and did job work, and took a trip to Arkansas and one into the Indian Territory. Traveled some in southwestern Missouri. He was married to Miss Martha Shoemaker Nov. 5, 1877, and located in Preston township and followed farming and threshing. Has two children: Edward J., born Sept. 13, 1873, and Lula M., born Aug. 27, 1881. . Mr. Kuddick is an energetic, pushing man, and is bound to become successful and prominent.

WILLAED ST. JOHN was born May 7, 1843, in Marshal county, Ind., the son of Edward St. John, who was born in New York State and moved to Marshall county when a small boy. At that time only two other families lived in the county. In 1849 he moved to California, and is still there. Willard moved to Champaign county, 111., with his mother, and was there until sixteen years of age. His mother is a native of Canada. She was divorced from Mr. St. John in 1848, and married to Noah Knox the same year. She had not heard from Mr. St. John for three years and the same evening she got a letter from him, stating that' he had started home and had been robbed of $1,400, and had gone back to California to stay until he made it back. Mrs. Knox came to Jasper county in 1858 and moved to Texas in 1873. At the Battle of Carthage Willard was with the rebels in the morning and the Union army in the afternoon, helping to take care of the sick and wounded. In 1861 moved to Illinois and enlisted in Companj^ I, Tenth Illinois Cavalry, and served three years. Saw some pretty hard times. Was in the battles of Poplar Bluffs, Peach Orchard Gap, and battle of Little Rock, Ark. Was mustered out in 1865, and three years after came to Jasper county. Was married to Rachel Rankin in April, 1877. Their children are Samuel R. and Edward.

GEORGE W. SAMPLE was born in Morgan county, 111., March 13, 1837, and is a son of Aaron and Annie Sample, natives of Illinois. He worked at home until twenty-two years of age, and in September, 1858, married Miss Lucy Braden of Macoupin county. 111. By this union they had the following children : James H., Mary L., John, and Sarah A., also born in Illinois. Mr. Sample farmed there eight years, then moved to Iowa, and then to Kansas. He then returned to Illinois and lived there ten years. In 1872 he moved to Jasper county, and located on his present farm of eightyfive acres. Mrs Sample died Nov. 5, 1875. Mr. Sample then married Mrs. Burnette A. Wilson, who died June 30, 1879. Mr. Sample again married; this time to Louisa J. Smith, who was born in McMinn county, Tenn., and came to Jasper county in 1872, and was married Feb. 29, 1880. Mr. Sample is a member of the Baptist Church, and takes an interest in all church matters and is a valuable member of society.

EDWIN SHOEMAKER, son of Seth Shoemaker, who was born in Virginia in 1790, and was quartermaster in the War of 1812; and was one of the pioneers of Ohio, where he moved at an early date and settled in Adams county. Edwin was born there Dec. 29, 1822. At the age of twelve he moved with parents to Indiana, and in 1839 came to Missouri, and the next, year settled on his present farm. He was married May 3, ^826, to Julian Stockton a native of Kentucky, and daughter Nuberg Stockton, an old pioneer, who was in the Black Hawk War. They have the following children living: Elizabeth S., Thersa M., James S., John N., Martha S., and William R. During the war he was scout for the Union army for a short time. He moved to Kansas, and there joined the Kansas Militia, and was in the battles of the Blue, when Price made his last raid. He returned to Jasper county after the war and improved his farm. Mr. Shoemaker sometimes sighs for the old pioneer days, and thinks he had pleasanter times then than now. He is a sociable and enterprising man, and very highly esteemed by all his friends and neighbors.

SOLOMON M. SMITH was born in Knox county, Ky., Sept. 9, 1838. Was raised on a farm and remained at home until twenty-six years of age. He then enlisted in the Forty-ninth Kentucky Infantry and served about eighteen months. He then returned to Knox county, Ky., and was married to Sidney A. King, daughter of Dempsy King, who is now farming in Arkansas, and was a member of the legislature in Kentucky. In 1877 the subject of this sketch moved to Arkansas, lived there two years, then moved to Jasper county. Mo. He now has 80 acres in section 29, all under cultivation. It is situated about one-half mile from the village of Preston. He has four children: John, Uriah, James, and Charles. Mr. and Mrs. Smith are members of the M, E. Church, and in the community stand high.

DRUEY STITH, born Dec. 15, 1850, in Harding county, Ky., is the son of Henry and Eliza Stith, also of Kentucky, who followed farming. His parents died when he was young and he lived with his grandfather and worked on the farm until twenty years of age. Then married Mary Crume Dec. 7, 1870, who is the daughter of L. W. Crume, also a native of Kentucky. In Jan., 1847, Mr. Stith moved to Jasper county and settled on his present farm of 190 acres, 140 under cultivation. He has a good orchard and good buildings, and everything bears the stamp of prosperity. They have four children, named Gabriel W., Henry J., Ord C, and Chester A. Mr. and Mrs. Stith are members of M. E. Church (South), and always take a prominent part in church matters.

Indiana when a young man. His mother is a native of Indiana. G. "W". Tabler went to Illinois in 1850; was in Macon county for two years; then resided in Christian county until 1857; from there removed to Newton county, Mo. After looking for land he finally bought 100 acres in Barton county. In February, 1882, he settled on his present farm of 240 acres, in section 14, township 30, range 31, Jasper county; 160 acres are under cultivation, the rest is timber. Was married to Ursula Rankin, May 9, 1875, daughter of S. Rankin, who was a very successful trader and stock dealer. Mr. Tabler's children are William S., Elmer E., and Arthur.

DAYID WALLACE, born July 7, 1858, in Atchison county. Mo. He was raised on a farm and has a meager education. Is the son of Isaac F. Wallace, who was one of the early settlers of Jasper county, and was born in 1817, in New York State. His father was in the War of 1812. The subject of this sketch moved with his parents to Jasper county at the close of the war, and located on his present farm of 182 acres, which joins the village of Jasper on the northeast; at that time there was only one house in Carthage and the neighbors were few and far between. Young David has traveled some through southwestern Mo., but has remained at home most of the time. Himself and brother are now carrying on their father's farm; is considered a successful farmer, and soon bids fair to make one of the substantial men of Jasper county.

MRS. DAMARIAS WALLAR, widow of the late Noble G. Wallar. He was born Feb. 14, 1840; was a native of Ohio. He followed mercantile pursuits and also taught school. Was married March 4, 1869, in Guernsey county, Ohio, to Miss Damarias Irwin. She was born Aug. 19, 1839, also a native of Ohio. Mr. Wallar moved to Jasper county. Mo., in Oct., 1874, and engaged in the drug business for six years; died June 19, 1879. Mrs. Wallar has four children living, named Orphia, Yerney C, Childe R., and Laura, Mrs. Wallar has a fine farm of 200 acres in Barton county, three miles northwest of Jasper; 160 under cultivation and has a fine orchard; also has nine acres in Jasper with two good houses thereon. Mrs. Wallar is a lady well known and highly res]>ected by her friends and neighbors.

JAMES WARD was born Jan. 1, 1824, in Perry county, Ohio. His father was born in Yirginia, and reared in Ohio. His mother was born in Maryland. James was reared on a farm, and received a common school education. Mr. Ward has been married three times. He was married to Harriet Ward, Oct. 5, 1848, in Allen county, Ohio. By this marriage they have three children living, named William H., Martha J., and John A. Mrs. Ward died Aug. 14, 1858. March 31, 1859, Mr. Ward was married to Miss Dillon, who was born in 1842. Mr. Ward enlisted on May 12th,

1863, in Company D, One Hundred and Fifty-first Ohio Yolnnteer Infantry, as second lieutenant, enlisting for one hundred days. He was sent to "Washington City, D. C, and was there mustered out. In 1868 he moved to Henry county, Mo., farming two years, and then bought his present farm of eighty acres in 1869. Mr. Ward's children by his second wife are Sarah E., Mary M., and James L. Mrs. Ward died Aug. 29, 1869, and he was again married in September, 1879, to Elizabeth Henry. Mr. Ward, is a member of the Dunkard Church; is a pleasant, sociable gentleman and a good farmer.

JOHN P. WARD was born Jan. 20, 1858, in Auglaize county, Ohio, and is the son of Daniel Ward, who was born and reared in Ohio, and died in March, 1881. His mother was also a native of Ohio. She married Jessie Heston. He was born in Bucks county, Penn., and moved from Ohio to Jasper county, Mo., in 1870. Young John worked on the farm until twentytwo years of age, and during that time got a good common school education. In 1879 he engaged in a drug store as clerk for Mr. Lewis, in Jasper, one year, and then went to keeping hotel, but did not keep that quite a year, selling out to Mrs. McFarland. He engaged in threshing some time. Next engaged as clerk for Prichard & Thompson, and is still with them, enjoying the esteem and confidence of his employers. Mr. Ward has a fine farm of ninety- three acres.

MRS. ELIZA WARNER was born June 15, 1838, in Oswego county, N. Y., reared near Cleveland, Ohio, and moved to Will county, 111., in 1845. She was married to A. P. Warner Sept. 9, 1858, in Will county. He was born in Canada, in 1833. He came to Illinois and married Miss Eliza Goal. They had seven children, named Eugene, Waller, John, Frank, William, Benjamin, and Hallie. They moved to Jasper county. Mo., in 1879. Mr. Warner died Sept. 27, 1879. Mrs. Warner has carried on farming, with the help of her sons, for the last eleven years, as Mr. Warner was not able to work for a good many years before his death. Mrs. Warner is a lady of culture and refinement. Her oldest boys are very near grown. Eugene, the eldest, is very fond of hunting, but is a good boy to work and is well liked by all. Mrs. Warner and family are highly esteemed by all their friends and neighbors.

EUGENE L. WARD was born July 1, 1855, in Auglaize county, Ohio. He has lived with his grandfather, John Ward, almost all his life. His grandfather was born in Perry county, Ohio, April 5, 1810, and was one of the pioneers of Ohio. He has cleared up three farms in the big woods; has cut his'four cords of wood many a day, and then gone home and chopped until 9 or 10 o'clock at night. He moved to Henry county. Mo., in

1869, and lived there twenty-two months, and then moved to Jasper county and settled on his present farm of forty acres, well improved, with a good orchard. The subject of this sketch is now living with him and carrying on the farm. He was married to Ella A. Griffin Dec. 30, 1879. She died July 17, 1881. Mr. Ward bids fair to become a leading man.

EGBERT N. WARDLGW was born in Brown county, Ghio, March 28, 1826, and was raised on a farm. His father, Philander Wardlow, was one of the early settlers of Ghio. Young Robert had meager school advantages. He married Susanna Heaton, who was also a native of Brown county, Ghio, April 26, 1846; she was born May 13, 1830. In 1855 Mr. Wardlow removed to Appanoose county, Iowa, where he remained several years; then removed to Putnam county. Mo,, and after one season again removed to Iowa and settled in Davis county. In March, 1880, he came to Jasper county, Mo., and bought his present farm of 100 acres, 60 of which is under a high state of cultivation and the remainder under fence. He has a fine orchard and about 40 acres of timber. Their family consists of ten children: Samuel E., born March 24, 1847; married Temperance Craig, and now resides in Barton county; John T., born June 5, 1849; married Elzada Kincart in November, 1873, and now resides in Taylorsville, Cal.; Alfred J., born July 1, 1858; Robert B., born Jan. 30, 1856; married Martha Draper Jan. 13, 1878, and now resides in Wilmington, Cal.; Benjamin F., born Get. 18, 1860; married Mary E. Clarkson Feb. 7, 1878, and is now living at Dublin, Barton county. Mo.; James G., born Dec. 18, 1862; Ida Belle, born Dec. 12, 1865; Elbert C, born July 8, 1868; William L., born June 12, 1851; married Laura E. Kincart April 7, 1873, and is now living at Dublin, Barton county; Thomas T., born Dec. 28, 1872. Mr. Wardlow is highly respected by his neighbors and friends for his many good qualities as an upright man and an honest constituent of society.

JGHN WATSGN was born Sept. 25, 1837, in Hardin county, Ghio, and was raised on a farm. His father was born in Ireland and his mother was a native of Maryland. He remained at home until twenty-six years of age, and then enlisted in the Fifteenth Ghio Regiment, Company E., going immediately to Chattanooga, Tenn. He was in his first battle at Rocky Ridge, and fourteen days afterward was in the Resaca fight in Georgia; was then on the march until the battle of Picket Mills; was sent to the hospital, and returned to his regiment at Atlanta, Ga. ; was in the siege of Murfreesboro; was again taken sick and sen't to the hospital; in returning to his regiment be was cut ofi" by Bragg's army, and was several days reaching it; after joining his regiment he went to east Tennessee; then to Nashville; then they were ordered to Texas; was there mustered out and returned toColum- bus, Ohio, and was discharged. He was married July 17, 1866, to Mary M. Shriver, of Ohio, who was born in June, 1838. By this union they have seven children living: Luanna, Clara, Milton, William H., Sarah Belle, Lillie B., and Martin. Mr. Watson is a member of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church.

JOHN T. WOODROW was born in Greenup county, Ky., Nov. 4, 1833, and is a son of John T. Woodrow, who was extensively engaged in iron works, and built the first or second furnace in Kentucky that was run by engine power. The subject of this sketch moved with his parents to Ohio when a small boy, and his father engaged with the Ohio Furnace Company. His mother was a native of Kentucky, and her maiden name was Mary Cain. They had one child. John spent most of his time in school until the age of fourteen; he then engaged as clerk, and followed that until he was twenty-four years of age. He was married in 1857 to Malinda Gordon, who was a native of Virginia and raised in Coles county. In 1S57 Mr. Woodrow went to Jefferson City, Mo., and bought a farm of 300 acres. In 1861 he was enrolled in the Missouri Militia and went into the quartermaster's department, where he remained three years. In 1864 he returned to his farm, and farmed until 1879. He then moved to Jasper count}'. Mo., settling near Carthage for one year. He then bought his present farm of 160 acres, all improved; has two good wells; has 60 acres under cultivation, and has an excellent farm. His children are Charles F., Emma Y., Urias, and Mary A., who is a mute. She is a lady of culture and refinement, and highly educated. Mr. and Mrs. Woodrow are considered a valuable acquisition to the society of Preston township.

JOHN WRIGHT was born Jan 1, 1852, in the state of Missouri. He is the son of Ansley and Sarah Wright, natives of Missouri. At the age of eight years the subject of this sketch moved with his parents to Hancock county, 111., and there got a good common school education and worked on the farm until of age. He was married to Lydia Ford, Sept. 21, 1873. She is the daughter of George and Elizabeth Ford, natives of Ohio. Mr. Wright moved to Jasper county. Mo., in 1871. In 1877 he took a trip to Colorado; also took a trip to Arkansas, hunting and looking at land. He likes Jasper county better than any that he has seen; he also took a trip to Kansas. He has two children, named Victoria and Lillie M. Mr. Wright is now engaged in farming and teaming and is doing well.