Biographies of Benton County Citizens

From Goodspeed's 1889 History

 

*Disclaimer*  I think these biographies are a great resource, but they aren't always 
100% factual.  I would use them as a resource, then work toward documenting what 
you find listed in the bio, because these weren't exactly written by the people them-
selves.  But they are great sources of information, and many contain two or three or 
more generations of the family.  Good luck!

Biographies  D - G
Biographies  H - M
Biographies  N - Z



Andrew G. Nixon, a native of Tippecanoe County, Ind, is the son of James
Nixon and grandson of Andrew Nixon, formerly of Ireland. The latter served
in the War of 1812, and lived to be eighty- five years of age. James Nixon
moved to Indiana about 1825, and his son, Andrew G. Nixon, the subject of
this sketch, moved to Benton County, Mo., in 1865, and was married
September 20, 1866, to Miss Mary E. Yancey, daughter of Joel Yancey, of
Benton County, formerly of Kentucky, who came with his family to this
county in 1854, and granddaughter of Joel Yancey, of Barren County, Ky.,
who served his State in the Senate for several terms. To Mr. and Mrs.
Nixon were born five sons: Joel Edward, Herbert Andrew, William, Louis and
Melville. Mr. Nixon enlisted as a member of Company I, Second New York
Cavalry, August 9, 1861, and served three years. He then re-enlisted, and
served until June 23, 1865. Gen. Kilpatrick was his lieutenant-colonel,
and Davis was colonel of the regiment. Mr. Nixon served in the Army of the
Potomac under Phil. Sheridan, and was through all the campaigns before
Richmond, being in the second battle of Bull Run, was at Antietam, South
Mountain, Chantilla, the Wilderness, Petersburg, Winchester, Fisher's
Hill, besides numerous cavalry skirmishes. He was hit twice by
minie-balls, but escaped with slight wounds. Since coming to Benton County
Mr. Nixon has resided in the neighborhood where he now lives, and where he
has 240 acres of excellent farming land, besides fifty acres of timber. He
is a Republican by birth and education.

Samuel Orr, druggist at Lincoln, Mo., was born in Muskingum County, Ohio,
December 23, 1839. His father, Samuel Orr, was born in Ireland, and was
brought to the United States in 1801, when only four years of age. They
settled first in New Jersey, and in 1815 moved to Ohio, and were among the
early pioneers of Muskingum County. Here Samuel Orr, our subject's father,
grew to manhood, and was married to Miss Lucy C. Burham, whose ancestors,
the Burhams and Olivers, came to America at an early day, and participated
in the Revolutionary War. In the spring of 1840 they moved to Benton
County, Mo. (having entered land in Lindsey Township in 1839), and here
they improved a farm and reared their family, which consisted of two sons
and five daughters, three of the family being now deceased. Samuel Orr,
our subject, received a fair common-school education and after remaining
with his father until he attained his majority he determined to seek his
fortune in the West, and accordingly in 1864 went to Idaho, where he spent
about seven years engaged in freighting and farming. In December, 1870, he
returned to Missouri, and after spending one year in the stock business he
formed a partnership with a brother and embarked in the drug business, but
the latter's death occurred in the fall of the same year, and Mr. Orr then
assumed management of affairs, and has continued up to the present time.
In connection with drugs he also keeps a line of school-books and
stationery, and has an established and profitable trade. He was married in
Pettis County, Mo., in October, 1872, to Miss Sallie Drake, of Pettis
County, Mo., a daughter of David Drake, and by her has one daughter,
Bessie R., a miss of twelve years. Mr. and Mrs. Orr are members of the
Methodist Episcopal Church, South, and Mr. Orr is a Master Mason.

Henry T. Patten, one of the prominent citizens of Benton County, was born
in Boston, Mass., in 1840, and is the son of Thomas H. and Elizabeth
(Taylor) Patton. The father was born in Leeds, England, and the mother was
born in Tennessee. H. T. Patten was reared and educated in New England,
and graduated from Allegheny College, Meadville, Pa., in 1857. In 1859 he
went to Iowa City, Iowa, and after studying law was admitted to the bar in
1862. He then served in the War Department at Washington, D. C., under
Secretary Stanton for three years, and then resigned his position and went
to Quincy, Ill., where he engaged in the law and real estate business
until 1879. Removing to St. Louis, he there followed the same business
until 1880, and then moved to Benton County, locating at Warsaw. Here he
has followed the law, real estate and loan business ever since. January 1,
1883, he was elected probate judge of Benton County for a term of four
years. He was also elected mayor of the town, and served two years. He was
married to Mrs. Mary F. Murrell, a native of Kentucky and the daughter of
Benjamin F. Bibb, an old resident of the county. They have one child,
Harry C. Mr. Patten is at present engaged in the loan, real estate and
insurance business. He represents the J. B. Watkins Land Mortgage Co., of
Lawrence, Kan., and the Insurance Company of North America, the Home of
New York, the Hartford, the Springfield Fire and Marine, and the
Pennsylvania Fire. Mr. Patten is a Democrat in his politics.

John W. Payton, sheriff of Benton County, Mo., was born in the "Blue Grass
State," Nicholas County, April 18, 1834, his parents be ing Joseph M. and
Lucinda (Caldwell) Payton, who were also Kentuckians, the father having
been born in Carlisle in 1801. In 1838 they moved to Indiana, and were
among the pioneers of Boone County, the father becoming a well-to-do
tiller of the soil in that region, and there died in 1852. His widow still
survives him, and resides on the old homestead with one of her sons. John
W. Payton grew to manhood in Boone County, and remained on the home farm
until he arrived at manhood, being married there on the 11th of August,
1853, to Caroline Stone, a native of Kentucky, born in Nicholas County and
reared in Boone County, Ind. After their marriage they moved to Warren
County, Ind., and settled on a farm, where they resided up to 1867, then
sold out and moved to Missouri, making a settlement in the northern part
of Benton County, the farm which he cleared at that time being still in
his possession. Mr. Payton is a Republican in politics, and has ever held
to the principles and supported the men and measures of that party. In the
fall of 1886 he was elected by his party as sheriff of Benton County, and
was re-elected in 1888, the duties of which position he has filled in a
very creditable manner. He has always taken an active interest in
politics, and has served as a delegate to numerous county and state
conventions. His family is as follows: Anna M., wife of Everett Golden;
Mary E., wife of John Kennedy; Callie L. and Minnie B. Mrs. Payton is a
member of the Christian Church.

S. P. Priestley was born in Benton County, on a farm three miles northeast
of Fort Lyon, and is the son of J. Q. Priestley, who came from Virginia
when a young man, and was married to Miss Mary F. Cleveland, of Benton
County, Mo. She is the daughter of George Cleveland, who was a native of
Bourbon County, Ky. Mr. and Mrs. Priestley are still living, and hope to
celebrate the fiftieth anniversary of their wedding on the 19th of May,
1890. They were the parents of twelve children, seven of whom are living.
S. P. Priestley was the sixth child in order of birth. He attained his
growth in his native county, and was united in marriage to Miss E. A.
Gallaher, daughter of William Gallaher, of Benton County, who served his
State gallantly during the late Civil War in his brother's company,
composed mostly of Benton County men, who were enrolled as State Militia
to keep down lawlessness within the county. To Mr. Priestley's marriage
were born five children, three of whom died in childhood. The two now
living are named as follows: Georgia V. and Alger Paul. Mr. Priestley has
a fine farm of 160 acres lying a few miles southeast of Fort Lyon, and
aside from his farming interest he is extensively engaged in buying and
handling stock. He is a member of the Baptist Church; and a Republican in
politics.

John Ranken, whose success in farming and stock-raising has made his name
well known throughout the county, was born in Germany August 9, 1835, and
is the son of Claus and Katie Ranken, both natives of Germany, where they
died, the father in 1865 and the mother, previous to this, in 1848. John
Ranken attained his growth in his native country, and was there married,
in 1858, to Miss Anna Maggie Greemkan, who was also a native of Germany.
In the fall of 1867 Mr. Ranken and family immigrated to the States,
purchasing a farm in Benton County, Mo., and there located. In 1881 he
settled on his present farm, which consists of 350 acres of land all in
one tract, with about 135 cleared and in cultivation. Mr. Ranked has a
large brick residence and good barns and out-buildings. He and wife are
members of the Lutheran Church. To their marriage were born eight
children: Claus, Katie (wife of Henry Allday, of Kansas), Martin, John,
Fred B., William and August. All but Kate are single and at home. When he
first settled in the county Mr. Ranken bought eighty acres of land, but by
economy, industrious habits and good business ability he has accumulated
considerable of this world's goods, and is now prepared to enjoy the
fruits of his labor.

Robert Reed,who now resides on Section 6, Union Township, is a
comparatively new man in Benton County, and although his residence here
has been but a brief one, he has made many friends, and merits the respect
and esteem of all who know him. He is a native of Indiana, and was born
November 30, 1831. He was but seven years of age when his parents, Joseph
and Elizabeth (Milkins) Reed, were laid to their final rest in one grave.
He was the youngest of nine children, all now living with the exception of
one, and his youthful days were not made any the pleasanter, nor was he
any more tenderly cared for by his brothers and sisters, on account of
being the youngest child. In fact, he had a pretty hard time of it, and as
soon as he became a man he left them and came west. His ancestors were
very wealthy, but he and his brothers and sisters, being orphans, were cut
out of their share of the estate. He was about nineteen years of age when
he began working for himself, and at the age of twenty-two, having saved
some money, he was united in marriage to Miss Anna Vanvoorhis, also an
orphan, who knew but little of her parents. Her father was supposed to
have been killed, and her mother died when she was young. After their
marriage, which occurred in 1858, Mr. and Mrs. Reed came to Missouri and
settled in Greene County, where his wife died, leaving him four children:
Joseph C., now at home; M. Alice, now living in Warsaw; Louella, now in
Warsaw, and Henry, at home. Mr. Reed married Mrs. Orange (Patrun)
Shirtleff, June 16, 1877. He came to Benton County, Mo., November 18,
1884, and entered 160 acres of land, forty acres of which are under
cultivation and fenced in. By his second marriage were born five children,
viz.: John, Rosella, Arthur, Melvin and Elsie, all of whom are at home.
Mrs. Reed is a church member, and she and her husband are members of the
Wheel. Mr. Reed is a Republican in politics.

D. B. Rolstin was born in County Huldeman, Canada, and is the son of
Alexander Rolstin, who was born near Dublin, Ireland. D. B. Rolstin, with
his parents, two brothers and his two brothers-in-law, came to Benton
County, Mo., in May, 1865. Later they all, with the exception of the
subject of this sketch, moved back to Canada, and there the mother died.
D. B. Rolstin bought a farm three miles west of where he now lives, but
afterward sold out and bought 560 acres, on which he is now living, four
miles northwest of Lincoln. He pays considerable attention to
stock-raising, and is one of the successful agriculturists of Benton
County, Mo. He has been prominently identified with the Democratic party
since living in Benton County. Five years ago Mr. Rolstin joined the
Christian Church. He was married to Miss Josephine Chastain, daughter of
Elmer and Elizabeth Chastain, formerly of Kentucky, and six children were
the fruits of this union, viz.: Mary E., Jessie, Adalaide, Anna C., Edna
N. and Frankie H. Mrs. Rolstin died at the age of thirty-seven years, May
24, 1886, on the place where she was born July 16, 1849. J. W. Rolstin
came from Ontario, Canada, in June, 1865, and left that country with the
intention of going to Memphis, Tenn. He proceeded as far as Louisville
when he found affairs in an unsettled condition, and also that a pass was
necessary from the Federal authorities to enable him to go farther south,
so he concluded to look for a location near where he was. Himself and
brother, Henry, who was looking for a location to settle as a practicing
physician, and who had graduated from the Buffalo (N. Y.) Medical College,
arrived at St. Louis, and went from there to Sedalia, where they hired
teams and went over the country searching for a location. They found
Missouri, and especially Benton County, the most delightful spot ever
seen. Here Mr. Rolstin invested in land and bought the farm known as the
Bowman place, situated four miles west of where Lincoln now stands. In
1870 Mr. Rolstin bought the place where he now lives, and afterward built
one of the finest residences in the county. Two years after coming here he
returned to his native country and brought back a bride-Miss Eliza Clark,
daughter of William Clark, of St. William, Ontario. This happy union
resulted in the birth of three daughters and one son: Brittie, Belle,
William and Louise. Mr. Rolstin is a member of Veritas Lodge No. 379, I.
0. O. F., located at Lincoln. He is a supporter of the Democratic party.

Alonzo Rouse, who is also classed among the prominent and enterprising
farmers and stock-raisers of the county, is a native of New York, born in
Jefferson County, February 19, 1818. He is the son of Hon. William Rouse,
a native of Connecticut, and Sophia (Collins) Rouse, a New York lady by
birth. The father followed farming in Jefferson County, N. Y., for many
years, and represented his county in the New York Legislature several
terms. He held other local offices in his county; was a soldier in the War
of 1812, and died January 21, 1886. Alonzo Rouse grew to mature years on
the farm in Jefferson County. He remained with his parents until
twenty-one years of age, and was married in that county January 31, 1841,
to Miss Olivia Crumb, a native of Jefferson County, who was reared and
educated there, and who is the daughter of Weightstill Crumb. After his
marriage Mr. Rouse settled on a farm in Jefferson County, and there tilled
the soil until 1866. He then moved west in February of that year, locating
at Cole Camp, and purchased a farm adjoining that village. He has 200
acres principally of meadow land and fifty acres of timber. Mr. and Mrs.
Rouse have reared several orphan children, and have two with them now,
rearing two in New York State. They are both members of the Congregational
Church, and Mr. Rouse is a deacon in the same. The latter lost his first
wife June 18, 1856, and was married the second time, in Jefferson County,
January 31, 1858, to Miss Rebecca Canfield, a native of Jefferson County,
and the daughter of Albert Canfield, also a native of that county. Mrs.
Rouse is also a member of the Congregational Church.

Louis Schroeder, a successful merchant of Cole Camp, Benton County, Mo.,
was born in the county November 9, 1856. Cord Schroeder, his father, was
born in Germany, and when a lad of nine years was brought by his parents
to the United States (in 1839), and made a location in Benton County,
being among the first settlers of Williams Township. After reaching
manhood, Mr. Schroeder was married to Miss Margarita Ohlrogge, who was
also born in Germany, but was reared and educated in Benton County. Mr.
Schroeder and family reside on the old Ohlrogge homestead. During the late
war he served in the State Militia. Louis Schroeder, our subject, received
a good education in the schools of Sedalia, and afterward began clerking
in a store in that town, remaining six years, and becoming thoroughly
familiar with the details of retail mercantile business. At the age of
twenty he entered a wholesale store, and then became a commercial traveler
for a Sedalia house, afterward being connected with a Cincinnati house in
the same capacity. He then traveled for a St. Louis house for about two
years, but left the road in the latter part of 1884, and formed a
partnership in the general mercantile business, and opened a large retail
store in Cole Camp. The firm dissolved partnership in March, 1888, since
which time Mr. Schroeder has been in business alone, and has been very
successful, his trade extending over a large area. He was married in
Benton County, September 25, 1887, to Miss Meta Schnakenberg, who was born
and reared in Benton County. They are members of the Lutheran Church, and
are the parents of one child, Augusta.

Frederick Schwettmann, merchant of Lincoln, Mo., was born in the City of
St. Louis, July 25, 1858, being a son of William Schwettmann, who was born
and reared in Prussia, Germany, and who came to the United States when a
young man, marrying in Charleston, S. C., Miss Minnie Meyer, who was also
born in Germany. They became residents of Benton County, Mo., in 1866, and
here purchased land and made the farm on which they are now residing, near
Lincoln. Frederick Schwettmann, our subject, grew to manhood on a farm in
Benton County, and received a good education in the common schools and the
State University at Columbia. After finishing his education, he engaged in
farming and stock-dealing for about four years, and then purchased an
interest in the mercantile business of Stege & Schwettmann, continuing
thus connected until about two and a half years later, or until January 1,
1888, when our subject and his father purchased the entire stock of goods
and became sole proprietors. Their establishment is, in all probability,
the largest of the kind in the county, their annual sales amounting to
about $30,000. They also deal in all kinds of farming implements. Mr.
Schwettmann is a member of the I. O. O. F., and has been Noble Grand of
his lodge.

Judge B. F. Shaver, one of the leading men of Union Township, is a native
of Middle Tennessee, born February 15, 1844, and is the son of William and
Susan (Langford) Shaver, also natives of Tennessee. The father was a
carpenter and farmer by occupation. He died in the fall of 1846, and the
widow and six children then came to Benton County, Mo., settling in
Fristoe Township, where the mother spent the remainder of her days. She
was a member of the Baptist Church, and died September 22, 1881, at the
age of sixty- three years. Judge B. F. Shaver grew to manhood in Benton
County, and was there married to Miss Leatha M. Black, a native of Benton
County, and the daughter of James M. Black. Mr. and Mrs. Shaver are the
parents of five children, all at home: James H., Mary S., Thomas W., Jesse
and Luther Dee. Judge Shaver and wife are members of the Methodist
Protestant Church, and he is steward of the same. He is the owner of 430
acres of land, and is one of the prominent farmers of the county. He is a
Republican in his political views; was elected by that party to the
position of associate judge in 1886, and held that office two years. He
commenced life a poor boy, and has made all his property by his own
individual labor. He is engaged in farming and stock-raising. For a number
of years he was occupied in teaching school. He enlisted in the war for
the Union, in 1863, and served until cessation of hostilities. He was in
numerous skirmishes with the bushwhackers.

Jordan L. Shaver, merchant at Fairfield, Mo., is a native of Wilson
County, Tenn., born April 2, 1846, and the son of William H. Shaver, who
was born in Sumner County, Tenn., and who was married in the same county
and State, to Miss Susan E. Langford, also a native of Tennessee. The
family moved to Missouri in 1839, and located in Benton County, where they
remained one year, but afterward moved back to Tennessee. Mr. Shaver died
in 1846, and in 1859 his widow returned to Missouri, and settled in
Richwoods, Benton County. She died November 22, 1881. To their marriage
were born six sons, and Mrs. Shaver was the mother of one child by her
subsequent marriage to T. W. Dalton. The brothers are all living, four in
Benton County and three in Tennessee, and all are married with the
exception of the eldest brother, James M., who is in the store with his
brother, J. L. Shaver. The last named was but thirteen years of age when
he came to Missouri, and his youthful days were spent on the farm, where
he received a good practical education in the common schools of Benton
County. This was supplemented by a year at New Middleton College,
Tennessee. Later he followed teaching in Benton County for three years,
and in 1878 commenced merchandising at Mt. View, Benton County, where he
sold goods up to March, 1888. He then sold out, and purchased his present
property in October of the same year. He succeeded A. J. Wisdom, of
Warsaw. Mr. Shaver carries a stock of general merchandise, and has built
up a good trade; has also a stock of drugs, and aside from this is the
owner of a good farm. He was married in Benton County, Mo., December 5,
1872, to Miss Florence V. Smith, a native of Pennsylvania, but who was
partly reared in Wisconsin, and the daughter of Lafayette Smith. This
union resulted in the birth of eight children: William C., Bertha I.,
Nellie B., John R., Jordan E., Florence V., Leslie V. and Vivian.

Sewall W. Smith was born in Lewiston, N. Y., July 23, 1823, and after a
number of years' residence in his native town moved to Youngstown, near
Fort Niagara, where he succeeded in obtaining employment, his residence
there being varied by occasional trips as a sailor on the steam, sailing
and fishing vessels on the Lakes, St. Lawrence River, and also on the
Welland Ship Canal. He acted as ferryman' s assistant, also, on the
Niagara River, and was clerk in his father' s store, but, owing to his
love of adventure and roving disposition, his early school experience was
limited, although he had choice of all of the advantages of the common
schools and academies of that period. After a time he was tendered a
clerkship on one of the sections of the Illinois & Michigan Canal, and at
the age of seventeen years made the long trip around the lakes to Chicago,
which was then the frontier of civilization, and found himself in that
city without a cent, but among true friends. He could have bought many
acres of land there for a very small sum of money at that time, but like
the man who was offered a thousand acres of land for a jackknife, he had
not the jackknife. During the intervals of severe attacks of intermittent
and malarial fever, his leisure was spent at the home of his father, who
had moved his family there, passing much time in shooting wild ducks and
prairie grouse around ponds at and near the spot where the Palmer House
now stands. After a short residence in Joliet, Ill., Grand Rapids, Mich.,
and other towns in the latter State, he drifted back to Chicago at a time
when, in spite of commercial depression, it was being rapidly built up.
Salaries, however, were small, and after a period of clerking, medical
study and school-teaching, he accepted an offer of a lieutenancy in a
marching company in the war with Mexico. The company was consolidated with
another, and after enlistment in the ranks, and months of exposure in the
malarial districts of Tampico, he was stricken with a severe attack of
yellow fever; his coffin was sent for, and guard detailed for his burial,
but the crisis passed, and he soon began to recover. He then spent some
time in caring for others stricken with the fever; was attached to the
medical department in line of promotion, and later received orders to
march to Vera Cruz, Perote and the City of Mexico, thence back over the
route to Pueblo delos Angelos, where he was promoted to a vacancy as
captain in command of Company I, Sixth Illinois Infantry, and at the close
of the war returned to Chicago. He served as bookkeeper for the Two Rivers
Lumber Company, then engaged in business with E. R. Smith, and in 1855 he
entered journalistic life, founding the Manitowoc (Wisconsin) Tribune,
which is still running. He was an ardent politician, and was a number of
times chairman of the county, senatorial, and assembly district
committees; was an officer in the Wisconsin Legislature; commanded the
"Wide Awakes," and assisted in the equipment of a number of regiments,
serving as a staff officer in the Thirty-ninth, and was captain in command
of a company in the Fifty-second Regiment Volunteer Infantry, during the
late war. He was complimented by Govs. Randall and Harvey with high
military appointments in the militia, but never assumed duty under them.
Becoming favorably impressed with the advantages offered in Missouri, he
came to Benton County after his muster out at the close of the war, and
established the Warsaw Times, assisted by Assistant Adjt. Gen. John M.
Read, who soon retired, and the paper has since been published without a
week's intermission or change of management. He has served six years as
judge of Benton County Court, nearly as long as justice of the peace,
seventeen years as notary public, and is now serving a fourth term as
mayor of the city of Warsaw; for over sixteen years was chairman of the
Republican County, and a member of the senatorial and congressional
executive committees; is an elder in the Presbyterian Church, and was, for
a number of years, a superintendent and president of the Sunday-school
Association of the county. He is a past presiding officer of the
subordinate lodges of the Masons, Good Templars and Sons of Temperance;
president and vice-president of editorial associations; was Grand Master
in the R. W. Grand Lodge of Wisconsin, and Dis- trict Deputy and
authorized Grand Lecturer of the Missouri 1. 0. 0. F. He is a prominent
officer in the G. A. R., and was a delegate to the State Encampment; is
president of the Missouri State Central Association Veterans of the
Mexican War, and prominent as representative in the national conventions
of that organization. Few of his relatives are living; one brother, Hon.
0. B. Smith, is State senator from St. Augustine District, Florida, and
more than ordinarily prominent as an ex-army officer, journalist, railroad
official, and an extensive business man in that city; one, P. A. Smith,
died recently at Pontiac, Ill.; another, W. N. Smith, who was a Chicago
postal clerk, former route agent and late justice of the peace and
postmaster at Englewood, Ill., is now in business in Savannah, Ga., where
a widowed sister, Mrs. Hattie, relict of Dr. E. McArthur, with her son, F.
E. McArthur, prominent as a business man, also resides. Another sister,
Mrs. J. E. Throop, resides in Los Angeles, Cal. Mr. Smith is a son of Hon.
Obed Smith, a soldier of 1812, who was probate judge, justice of the
peace, and prosecuting attorney at Alpena, Mich., and was once prominent
in the business circles of Western New York; was building and managing
ship and ferry owner at Lewiston and Youngstown; was a heavy contractor on
the Illinois & Michigan Canal, and at the time of his death, which
occurred quite recently, held claims against the State of Illinois for
work unpaid for as such, amounting to many thousands of dollars. His wife,
whose maiden name was Asenath Goff, died in Joliet, Ill., in 1842. Mr. S.
W. Smith's first marriage was at Manitowoc, Wis., with Miss Lena Schetky,
a teacher in the public schools of Philadelphia, and sister of Commander
Schetky, of the United States Navy, and of Rev. Dr. George Schetky, late
rector of St. James, Marshall, Mich., of H. P. Schetky, cashier of the C.
E. National Bank of Philadelphia, and Mrs. Lizzie Taylor, of Ridgefield,
N. J. Her death occurred at Manitowoc, Wis., in 1853. His second marriage
was to Mary A. Laird, a granddaughter of Capt. John Stevens, of the United
States Army, and a niece of Mayor Laird, of Erie, Pa. His present wife has
the management of the composing and press-rooms of the Times, and also
assists in the sales department of the stationery establishment, which
nets them a fair income. Of a large family of their children but two are
now living. One son, Fred. H. Smith, former local editor and foreman of
the Warsaw Times, is now residing in St. Louis, and another, Charles
Smith, is in business at Kansas City, both assuming some prominence in
societies and business circles. Frank, a young man of rare promise and
fine qualifications, died recently, aged twenty-two, in New Mexico, on his
way home from California, and is buried in the Warsaw cemetery. The
industry and efficiency of all these three young men have left their
imprint upon the Times establishment, which can justly claim prominence
among the progressive institutions of Benton County, the Osage Valley and
the city of Warsaw.

Lewis B. Thomas, a merchant at Hastain, Union Township, Benton County,
Mo., was born in Dallas County, Mo., in 1853, February 23. He carries a
full stock of general merchandise, and is one of the wide-awake,
thorough-going business men of the county. His business was established in
1883 by C. W. Young, and was purchased by Mr. Thomas in February, 1887.
The latter has been a resident of Benton County since 1880. He is a son of
Elizur and Catherine (Reser) Thomas, natives of Kentucky and East
Tennessee, respectively. They came to Missouri at an early day, and here
the father followed agricultural pursuits all his life. He was a soldier
in the Mexican War, and was also in the late war. He died while in the
service. Lewis B. Thomas was educated in the district schools, and
supplemented this by attending the graded schools. At the' age of
seventeen years he commenced working for himself as a school teacher and
followed this occupation for nineteen years in Benton and other counties.
He was married February 13, 1877, to Miss Nancy A. Walls, a native of
Indiana. He is a Republican in politics, and in 1888 was elected to the
office of county assessor by that party, serving two years. His wife is a
member of the Methodist Protestant Church.

William M. Thompson, a native of Kentucky, is the son of Horatio and Lucy
(Thompson) Thompson, and grandson on his father's side of John Thompson,
and on his mother's side the grandson of Samuel Thompson. William Thompson
was reared in Kentucky and married Miss Lucy C. Yancey, of the celebrated
Yancey family of Virginia. She is the daughter of Joel Yancey, and the
granddaughter of Joel Yancey, who served the State of Kentucky in the
State Senate and in the Lower House of Congress for almost fifteen years.
Mrs. Thompson's maternal grandfather Twyman was a soldier in the
Revolutionary War. In 1856 Mr. Thompson moved to Benton County, Mo.,
brought his wife and family, which consisted of two children, with him,
and settled on a farm a few miles north of where they now live. In 1858
they moved to their present property, where they have a tract of five
hundred acres. They became the parents of three more children after coming
to Benton County, and at the present time both Mr. and Mrs. Thompson are
living with their sons, Joel A. and John P. Another son, William G. T., is
in Columbia College, from the medical department of which institution he
expects to graduate next year. Mattie died of consumption at the age of
twenty-four, and L. G. T. was accidentally killed by the discharge of a
gun when he was thirteen years of age. Mr. Thompson is Democratic in his
political views, and is a member of the Christian Church at Cloverdale. He
is quite extensively engaged in farming and stock-raising; has a number of
fine horses, of which he is justly proud, and some very fine cattle. Mr.
Thompson is a direct descendant of the Jennings family, his
great-grandmother being a Jennings.

William S. Thurston, a resident of Section 5, Union Township, and one of
the pioneers of Benton County, Mo., having been a resident of the same for
fifty-eight years, was born in Pettis County, Mo., August 10, 1831, and is
the son of William R. and Mary (Walker) Thurston. Their family consisted
of nine children, who were named as follows: Jane (deceased, who was
burned to death), Elizabeth (deceased), Nancy, John. Sally, William S. and
James and Myra (twins, and both deceased) and Samuel (deceased). William
R. Thurston, father of our subject, was born in Virginia in 1792, and died
in the year 1858. He came to Missouri at a very early day, settling in
Pettis County, but afterward moved to Benton County, where he was
successfully engaged in agricultural pursuits. He was a Democrat in his
political views. Mrs. Thurston was a native also of Viriginia, born in the
year 1788, and died in 1879. Their son William S. was but a child when his
parents moved to Benton County. He grew to man hood in that county, and at
the age of twenty-two years was united in marriage to Miss Matilda
Philips, who bore him thirteen children: three died in infancy, William
Hiram (deceased), James S., Eliza J. (deceased), Margaret A., Robert F.,
John C., Charles J. (deceased), Hannah L., Mary E. (deceased), Nancy M.
Mrs. Thurston died October 31, 1880, and Mr. Thurston married Mrs. Cassie
(Maybery) Riley, February 11, 1886. Mr. Thurston owns 240 acres of land,
with some 175 acres of farm land and 160 acres under cultivation. He
handles about 100 head of cattle, and about thirty or forty hogs. He has
never held an office, and does not aspire in the least to official
positions. His father, though, was justice of the peace for thirty years.
Mr. Thurston is a Republican in politics; is a member of the G. A. R., and
of the Wheel.

Henry Tiemeier, ex-judge of Benton County, Mo., and a prosperous farmer
and stock-raiser of Williams Township, was born in the Kingdom of Hanover,
Germany, February 16, 1832. His parents, C. A. and Anna M. Tiemeier, were
also native Germans, and in 1842 immigrated to America, locating in Cass
County, Ill., where they bought a farm, reared their family, and spent the
remainder of their lives. Henry Tiemeier, our subject, is the eldest of
two sons and six daughters, all of whom grew to mature years and became
heads of families; he is the only one living in Missouri. He was reared in
Cass County, Ill., and remained with his father until he attained his
majority, and was there married, about 1858, to Miss Anna Decker, who was
born in Prussia, a daughter of Anton Decker. They resided on a farm in
Cass County until 1882, then sold out and moved to Missouri, where they
purchased the farm on which they are now residing, which consists of 240
acres, and is considered one of the valuable farms of the county, it being
well improved, with good buildings and orchard. Mr. Tiemeier has always
been a Democrat in politics, and in the fall of 1886 was elected on that
ticket as judge of Benton County for two years, which position he filled
very creditably. While a resident of Cass County he held several local
offices. He and wife are members of the Lutheran Church, and are the
parents of the following children: John and Frank, in Dakota; Lizzie,
Anna, Lydia, Henry, Carrie, Rudolph and Herman. Another child died in
early childhood.

Henry C. Tonjer is one of the prominent men of Benton County, and is
closely associated with the farming and stock-raising interests of that
county. He is the son of Claus and Anna (Schroeder) Tonjer, and was born
in Hanover, Germany, May 14, 1854. The parents were both natives of
Hanover, Germany, and there passed their last days. Henry C. Tonjer grew
to manhood in Hanover, and received a fair education in his native
language. At the age of eighteen, or in 1872, he immigrated to the United
States, locating in Benton County, and worked on a farm for several years.
He was married in that county March 5, 1880, to Miss Kathrina S. Muller, a
native of Benton County, and the sister of Henry Muller, whose sketch
appears in this history. After marriage Mr. and Mrs. Tonjer purchased
their present property, which now consists of 340 acres of land, 300
cultivated. Mr. Tonjer has excellent buildings on his farm, and aside from
his farming interest he is engaged in raising and feeding stock. He is the
father of two children, Anna Sophia and Gerhart Ernest Amiel. Mr. and Mrs.
Tonjer are members of the Lutheran Church.

G. W. Weaver was born in Montgomery County, Ohio, and is the son of
Gabriel Weaver, a native of the same place, who moved to Benton County,
Mo., in 1869. His family at that time consisted of three married sons and
two married daughters, his wife and one single son, the subject of this
sketch, being the eldest of the four. J. C. Shepherd and R. N. Sharp, who
had married daughter of Gabriel Weaver, came to Missouri the next year.
Mr. Shepherd still lives in Benton County, where he has a family of three
children. Mrs. Weaver died in December, 1884, but Mr. Weaver is still
living. G. W. Weaver was married in Ohio, May 10, 1859, to Miss Morris, of
Darke County, Ohio, who lived only two years after arriving in Benton
County. Afterward Mr. Weaver lived in Illinois a few years, and returned
to Missouri in 1878, where he was united in marriage, January 28, 1878, to
Mrs. Sallie F. Thomas, daughter of William Mc- Daniel, of Benton County.
Mrs. Thomas was the widow of J. P. Thomas, of Callaway County, Mo., who
died in March, 1872, leaving three children, W. S., C. P. and Susie.
William McDaniel came to this section before the county was formed, and
settled on the place where he now resides, being probably the longest
continuous resident on the same farm of any man now living in the county.
On this place Mrs. Weaver was born, and she says she can remember
distinctly hearing the wolves howl and also recalls seeing Indians as they
were on their hunting expeditions from the Territory of Kansas.

Samuel M. Wenger, of the firm of Wenger & Carlin, proprietors of the
Lincoln Flouring Mills, was born in Rockingham County, Va., October 20,
1839, and is a son of John Wenger, who is also a native of Virginia. The
latter was married there to Anna Burkholder, and afterward moved to
Indiana, about 1851, and spent two years in Elkhart County. They next took
up their abode in Grundy County, Ill., where they made a farm, reared
their family and resided until their respective deaths. Samuel M. Wenger
grew to manhood in Illinois, and remained with his father until the
latter's death, his time being employed in farming and running a threshing
machine. In October, 1872, he was married in Greene County, Mo., to Emma
P. Hunter, who was born in Missouri, and was reared and educated in Morgan
County, and from that time until 1875 was engaged in tilling the soil. At
the latter date his wife died, and he then went to Missouri and located in
Stoddard County, and at the end of two years took up his abode in Morgan
County, and spent the summer of 1879 in Pettis County. In the fall of the
same year he came to Lincoln and purchased the flouring mill, with which
he is now connected. The mill was then quite old and Mr. Wenger caused it
to be rebuilt and put in new and improved machinery, the mill being now
one of the best in Benton County. In the spring of 1884 he took two of his
brothers in as partners, but in the fall of 1888 they sold their interest
to Mr. Carlin, and he and Mr. Wenger are now equal partners. Mr. Wenger
married, in Morgan County, Miss Mary E. Gabirel, a native of Morgan
County, who has since died at Lincoln. About 1882 he married, in Benton
County, his present wife, Mary Ann Orr, a native of Ohio, and by her has
two children, Agnes A. and Henry H. Mr. Wenger is a member of the I. O. O.
F., and is the treasurer of his lodge.

T. B. White, editor and proprietor of the Enterprise, an instructive and
carfully edited Democratic newspaper published at Warsaw, Mo., was born in
Kalida, Putnam Co., Ohio, May 7, 1843, being the youngest of seven
children. By the death of his father he was left an orphan at the age of
five years, after which his mother moved to Ashland County, of the same
State; and in the towns of Perrysville and Londonville, Mr. White received
a good common-school education and a brief academic course. He then served
a four years' apprenticeship in the office of the Ashland (Ohio) Times,
and in November, 1861, enlisted in Company H, Forty-second Ohio Infantry,
of which James A. Garfield was the first colonel, and was with his regi-
ment in active service as corporal and sergeant in Kentucky, Tennessee,
West Virginia, Mississippi, Arkansas and Louisiana, and received a flesh
wound in one of the assaults on Vicksburg. He was also on detailed service
in Maryland, and after three years' service was honorably discharged at
Washington, D. C., in December, 1864. He then began working as a
journeyman printer in Iowa and Colorado, and was married in Denver, of the
latter State, in 1872, to Miss L. A. Walker, of Canandaigua, N. Y., to
whom have been born five children, all living. For about six years, from
1.875 to 1881, he was in the mercantile business at Antioch, Cal., and has
also lived temporarily in New York, North and South Carolina and Kansas.
Since October, 1883, he has resided in Warsaw, Mo., where he has been the
proprietor and editor of the Enterprise, one of the best advertising
mediums of South-central Missouri, and a paper of large circulation and of
recognized merit by the press and the public.

Peter Wienberg, one of the leading farmers of Williams Township, Benton
County, Mo., was born in Germany, April 21, 1846, and is one of six
children: Mary, Margaret, John, Peter, Henry and Claus, who were born to
John and Anna M. (Gafleman) Wienberg. Peter Wienberg left Germany in
September of the year 1865, and landed at New York after a voyage of nine
weeks. He remained in New York a short time and then came to Illinois,
where he remained at Peoria for about four and a half years engaged in
working by the month at various employments. In 1869 he left that State
and care to Missouri, settling in Benton County, where he worked by the
month for three years. He then bought eighty-six acres where he now lives,
and afterward, in 1874, he was united in marriage to Miss Martha Barke, a
native of Benton County, Mo. To this happy union were born five children:
Anna Maggie, born April 21, 1875; John J. (deceased) was born September
14, 1877, and died February 2, 1889; Emma M., born April 14, 1880; Claus,
born March 14, 1883; and Catherine, born July 23, 1886. These children are
all at home. In his political views Mr. Wienberg affiliates with the
Republican party. He and wife are members of the Lutheran Church

William M. Wright, proprietor of Warsaw or Power's Ferry, also farmer and
stock-raiser of Tom Township, was bora in Warren County, Ky., December 25,
1826, and is the son of J. B. Wright and Mary G. (Wallace) Wright, both
natives of Kentucky. The parents left their native State for Missouri in
183, and located in Benton County, near Warsaw, where the father entered
land at the Springfield land sales. Here he died August 13, 1863, being
shot by militia. William M. Wright came to Missouri with his parents when
a lad of thirteen years. He spent his youth on the farm until 1884, when
he purchased the ferry property at Warsaw, and this he has been engaged in
running ever since, and it is said to be the oldest ferry on the Osage,
having been established some time in the 20's. Aside from this Mr. Wright
is also occupied in agricultural pursuits, and has been quite successful.
His first marriage was in Benton County, Mo., to Miss Elizabeth Powers, a
native of Missouri, where she was reared. She died in 1850. Mr. Wright was
married in Henry County, Mo., to Miss Sarah L. Higden, a native of
Kentucky, but who was reared in Missouri. This wife died in 1879. Mr.
Wright is a member of the Baptist Church, and one of the first-class
citizens of the county. One son, John Edward, was born to his first
marriage. He grew to manhood in Benton County, was here married to Miss
Lizzie Denison, a native of Missouri, and to them were born two
children-Mattie E. and Charles C. Mr. Wright and son, John Edward, are the
owners of 400 acres of land, with about 300 acres under cultivation.







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