St. Clair County Biographies
From the 1883 
History of St. Clair County MO,
National Historical Co.




Biographies A-F
Biographies G-M
Biographies N-Z






ANDREW NAYLOR was born in Highland County, Ohio, November 19, 
1852. His father,. James H. Naylor, was a native of that county and 
was born in 1818. His mother, formerly Jane Kincaid, came originally 
from the same state. They had seven children, Andrew being the 
youngest. When seven years of age the family moved to Brown County, 
Ohio, and lived there until 1867, when they settled in Henry County, 
Missouri, near Windsor. From December, 1867, to the spring of 1868 he 
attended school at Clinton, Missouri. In 1868 he was engaged at the 
trade of carriage painting, which he continued two years. Going to 
Butler, Missouri, he worked at that trade till September, 1872, when 
he came to Appleton City and clerked with different firms until 
January, 1883. He then established himself in the grocery trade. Mr. 
Naylor was married January 18, 1878, to Miss Sarah B. Hodkins, of 
Ohio, a daughter of James Hodkins. They have one child, Charles A. He 
is a member of the Masonic order. 



GEORGE ALFRED NEAL was born December 17, 1856. His grandfather, 
James Neal, a native of Virginia emigrated to Kentucky at an early 
day. Moses W., the father of George, was born in Kentucky, October 7, 
1825. He married Miss Lucretia A. King. He was for many years a 
popular hotel man in Kentucky. In 1858, he removed to Indiana. At the 
outbreak of the war he enlisted in the Thirty-ninth Indiana Volunteer 
Infantry, and was commissioned first lieutenant on the 31st of 
December, 1862. He fell mortally wounded at the battle of 
Murfreesboro. The subject of this sketch is the oldest of three living 
children. He commenced attending the public schools of Indiana, when 
five years of age, and after his father's death he returned with his 
mother to Kentucky. At the age of fifteen he entered Smithfield 
College and remained there until twenty years old. He then entered the 
law office of Benjamin S. Robbins, and read law under his instruction 
for one year, soon returning to Smithfield College he resumed his 
legal studies in Louisville, Kentucky, until March, 1881, when he was 
admitted to the bar. In April of that year he came to Osceola. He was 
married December 24, 1881, to Miss Lily Bell High, of Louisville, 
Kentucky. 



SCOTT NESBIT was born in Mt. Jackson, Pennsylvania, November 
25, 1846. He received a common school education, and like many 
American boys with that slight equipment started out to "paddle his 
own canoe" in the general race. He first entered business as a dealer 
in Canada pine lumber until a high protective duty being put on it 
virtually prohibited its importation. A few months later he entered 
the dry goods business at Edenburg, Pennsylvania, succeeding quite 
well until failing health compelled him to seek a different climate. 
In 1870 he removed to St. Clair County, Missouri, and opened a stock 
farm in Monegaw Township, continuing in that business until March, 
1874. when he removed to Osceola, Missouri, to take the position of 
assistant cashier, a position he still occupies, in the St. Clair 
County Bank, of which he was one of the original incorporators. He is 
the third son of John C. and Harriett Nesbit, both of whom are still 
living in this county. The other brothers are Charles W. Nesbit, a 
farmer of St. Clair County, who is well known, as one of the most 
advanced breeders of thoroughbred stock in Southwest Missouri, and the 
Hon. Frank C. Nesbit, who represented St. Clair County in the Missouri 
Legislature in 1876, and was also the Hancock elector for his district 
in 1880, and has for two terms held the position of secretary of the 
Missouri Senate. Mr. Nesbit has a natural talent for the banking 
business, and is looked upon as one of the best financiers in the 
state. 



RILEY OVERTON, farmer and stock raiser, was born in Vego 
County, Indiana, in 1837. His father, Matthias Overton, was a native 
of Scotland, but left that country when he was ten years of age, 
coming to the United States and locating in Switzerland County, North 
Carolina. After residing there a few years he moved to Indiana. In 
1822 he married Miss Nancy Whaley, of North Carolina, and to them were 
born eight children. When Riley was but four years old his lather 
died, and he continued to live with his mother until he was thirteen, 
then binding himself out to work until his seventeenth year. This 
contract expiring, he worked at different places for a time, and was 
then married to Miss Leona Wright Gunn, a daughter of John Gunn, of 
Vego County, Indiana. They have had three sons and three daughters: 
Mary E., Ella F., Edgar R., William R., Harriet C., and Arthur H., 
politically Mr. Overton is a Republican. He is one of the prominent 
farmers of this township; and now owns 319 acres of valuable land, 
under fence and well improved, upon which is a good vineyard, 
residence and outbuildings. 



JAMES B. OWEN, section 29, a representative citizen of this 
township, is the son of Josiah and Sarah Owen, nee Butcher, and was 
born in Gasconade County, Missouri, in 1833. His father was born in 
South Carolina in 1801, and in 1824 was married, his wife having come 
originally from Calhoun, Tennessee. They had twelve children, James 
being the fifth child. Previous to his birth the senior Owen had moved 
to Gasconade County, Missouri, but when nine years old the subject of 
this sketch, leaving that vicinity, went to Camden County in 1842, to 
Dade County in 1843, Hickory in 1848, Cooper in 1860, and finally 
settled in St. Clair County in 1869. In 1855 Mr. Owen was married in 
Hickory County to Lucy A. Dickinson, and they are the parents of 
eleven children: Marion J., William, Medford, Louisa C., James M., 
Mary S., Sarah M., Nancy R., Mattie D., Charlie J. and John F. Mr. O. 
is a leading member of the Democratic party, and has been a delegate 
to conventions at Osceola every year since in the county. He took an 
active part in the rebellion, and was engaged in forty-two battles, 
first serving as lieutenant and then as quartermaster general. He 
received three severe wounds, and had three horses shot from under 
him. His landed estate embraces 240 acres. 



JOHN R. PACE, a native of Pitt County, Virginia, was born in 
1831. His father, Francis Pace, originally of Goochland County, 
Virginia, was born in 1798, and first married Miss Lucy Davis. His 
second marriage occurred in 1830, to Miss Maria Griggs, also of 
Virginia. By this union there were eight children, John R. being the 
eldest. In 1854 he was married to Miss Mary Burton, and they are the 
parents of three children: James F., William P. and Martha E. Mr. Pace 
came to this county in 1855, immediately after his marriage, and now 
owns 320 acres of valuable land. In his political preferences he is a 
Democrat. 



JOHN E. PAGE, section 10, was born October 17, 1844, in 
Livingston County, New York, and was a son of Albert and Abigal Page, 
both natives of the same state. John E. was reared upon a farm, 
receiving his education at the common schools and at the Nunda 
Academy. Coming west in 1866, he located first in Bates County, 
Missouri, where he resided about three years. He removed to St. Clair 
County in February, 1869, and came on his present farm in the fall of 
1870. This consists of 300 acres, with 240 in his home place and sixty 
acres of timber. Mr. Page devotes some attention to stock feeding. He 
was married in this county in February, 1871, to Miss Virginia Corbly, 
a native of Iowa (where she was reared and educated), and a daughter 
of William Corbly. They have two children, Mary Octavia and Jessie M. 



GIDEON PAPE, dealer in general merchandise at Tiffin, is a 
native of Germany, and was born July 21, 1846. He was reared and 
educated in his native country, and was there engaged in agricultural 
pursuits till 1865, when he emigrated to America, landing at New York. 
After this he traveled until 1871, when, coming to St. Clair County, 
Missouri, he located on the Osage, where he followed the milling 
business until 1876. Then he began in his present business, in which 
he has been very successful, and he is now one of the leading business 
men of the county. He is a member of the I. O. O. F. fraternity. Mr. 
Pape was married October 2, 1873, to Miss Elizabeth M. Bogle, of 
Niagara County, New York. They have three children: Charlotta A., 
Stella A. and Edith E. 



JOHN B. PAYNE, of the firm of Payne & Son, proprietors of 
livery and feed stable, was born in Upshire County, West Virginia, 
November 2, 1856. He remained in the vicinity of his birthplace until 
ten years of age, when, with the family, he came to Henry County, 
Missouri. He was brought up there and received his education, living 
in that county until, with his father, he established his present 
business, in November, 1881. The building which they occupy is 140x30 
feet, two stories in height and contains a good stock of horses, 
buggies, etc. Mr. Payne is a member of the I. O. O. F. fraternity, and 
is also a Good Templar. 



WILLIAM PAYNE, originally from Greene County, Tennessee, was 
born July 14, 1830, his parents being Eleazer and Elizabeth (Looney) 
Payne, both natives of Hawkins County, Tennessee, the former born in 
1808, and the latter in 1809. Their marriage occurred in 1827, and to 
them were born ten children, of whom but two daughters and one son are 
living. Emigrating to St. Clair County, Missouri, in 1842, they 
remained there for three years, then returning to Tennessee. Mr. Payne 
died September 18, 1845, and his widow now resides with her only son, 
William, in this township. In 1855 our subject purchased 120 acres of 
land in Polk Township, this county, upon which he has since lived. 
November 12, 1848, he married Miss Mahala Suiter, also a Tennesseean 
by birth. They were the parents of six sons and five daughters, all of 
whom survive save one daughter. Mrs. Payne died in 1873. About four 
years thereafter Mr. P. married Mrs. Mary A., widow of John W. Ellis, 
of this county. They have had three children, two daughters and one 
son. Mrs. Payne has three daughters by her former marriage. Mr. P. is 
one of the most enterprising agriculturists in the township in which 
he resides. In politics he is a Greenbacker. Himself and wife are 
identified with the Methodist Protestant Church. 



BENJ. F. PEPPER, wagon maker, a native of Hampshire County, 
West Virginia, was born July 13, 1833, his parents being James and 
Catherine (Wise) Pepper, originally from Virginia. Benjamin F. was the 
eldest of a family of seven children. He was reared on his father's 
farm in Virginia and there obtained his education, remaining at home 
until 1857, when he emigrated to Hancock County, Illinois. There he 
followed farming for eighteen months. Going to Alton he was employed 
as salesman for J. D. Freeman for three years when he acted as a guard 
in the prison at that place for a number of years, after which he 
worked at carpentering and wagon making in different parts of Illinois 
until 1871. Then he came to St. Clair County, Missouri, and farmed two 
years, soon settling in Roscoe. He has since been occupied in the 
manufacture of wagons, etc., and also owns a farm of 180 acres. In 
December, 1858, Mr. Pepper, married Miss Sarah Johnson, a native of 
New Jersey. They have two children: Douglas L. and Florence. 



RICHARD W. PERRIN was born January 11, 1842, in Osceola, 
Missouri, his lather being Daniel Perrin, who came to this county in 
1835 from Ohio. He was a stone and brick mason by trade and he made 
the first brick in this county. He settled on Brush Creek, east of the 
city, and married Jane Clarkston, of Cooper County. He died in 1879, 
his wife having preceded him in 1859. They had six sons: Richard W., 
James, Joseph N., Daniel (George W. died in 1881) and John Wesley. Mr. 
Perrin married for his second wife, Mrs. Sally Redman, and they had 
one son, Andrew Wesley. Richard W. learned the mason's trade in youth 
and worked at it more or less through life. In the spring of 1862 he 
enlisted in the Eleventh Missouri Cavalry, under Colonel William D. 
Woods. They were in Missouri, Texas, Arkansas and Tennessee and he 
took part in many hard fought battles and skirmishes. At the close of 
the war he returned home and in 1867, August 22, was married to Miss 
Nannie Bell. They have five children: Ann E., Jane, Charles W., James 
E. and Estella. Mr. Perrin has the contract for carrying mail from 
this city to Appleton and to Quincy and also to Humansville. 



JAMES CHRISTOPHER PHILLIPS, presiding judge of St. Clair 
County, was born in Simpson County, Kentucky, September 12, 1849, 
being the son of James Phillips, of Georgia. His mother, formerly 
Margaret F. Black, was a Kentuckian by birth. James Phillips had four 
children by his first marriage and six by the last. Of these the 
subject of this sketch is the third child. His mother died in 1879 
while on a visit to this county. His father is still living in 
Kentucky at the advanced age of almost eighty-two years. James C. came 
to Missouri in 1872 and settled in Henry County, remaining there five 
years. He then removed to Appleton Township, this county, where he 
owns a farm of 240 acres on section 4. He is one of the progressive 
men of this county, keeping well apace with all the improvements of 
the day. With the exception of a small sum received from his father, 
he has been the architect of his own fortune. His education was 
obtained at the common schools yet he had an inquiring mind, and by 
reading and study has acquired such knowledge as has qualified him for 
important positions in life. He married Miss Mary L. Harris in 1869. 
She was the daughter of Eli R. Harris, of Simpson County, Kentucky. 
Her mother was Lucinda Bland, daughter of Milton Bland, of Kentucky. 
Mr. Phillips is a Democrat and belongs to the Christian Church. He was 
elected presiding judge of the county court in November, 1882. 



JOHN R. PICKERILL is a native of Ripley, Brown County, Ohio, 
was born July 26, 1843. He was brought up upon his father's farm and 
followed that occupation till the breaking out of the war, when he 
enlisted in September, 1861, in Company M, Fifth Ohio Cavalry 
Regiment, serving three years and three months. After this he returned 
home and in February, 1865, came to Henry County, Missouri, where he 
engaged in farming. In 1870 he came to Appleton City, and embarked in 
the grocery business, continuing the same for two years. In January, 
1871, he was appointed postmaster and held that position four years, 
being the first postmaster appointed at Appleton. In 1875 he 
established himself in the livery and stock business, the former of 
which he now continues. Mr. Pickerill was married in August, 1874, to 
Miss Allie McCorkle, a native of Indiana. His first marriage, however, 
occurred to Miss Hannah Rice, October 27, 1865. They had two children: 
George R., and Willie S. Mr. P. was mayor of Appleton City, from 
April, 1880, to April, 1882. 



JOHN W. PIERCE, farmer and insurance agent, section 22, was 
born in Washington County, New York, January 20, 1829, and was a son 
of Samuel and Emily (Whitney) Pierce, the former a native of New York 
and the latter of Vermont. When our subject was about seven years old 
his parents moved to Ohio, where he grew to manhood and received his 
education. At the age of nineteen he engaged in the patent right 
business, which he followed for two years, afterward becoming occupied 
in manufacturing linseed oil for three years. In 1848 he went to 
Illinois and farmed until 1859, after which he was again in the patent 
right business for four years. In 1867 he came to St. Clair County, 
Missouri, and now owns a farm of 160 acres, all well improved. He is 
also agent for some of the leading insurance companies, and H. H. Dix' 
marble works. Mr. P. is a member of the M. E. Church. In September, 
1846, he married Miss Casinda Bird, a native of Pennsylvania. They 
have six children: William B., Maria C., Leander M., Harriett A., 
Julia D. and Baxter R. They lost three. 



J. H. PILES, farmer, section 10, a native of Hampshire County, 
West Virginia, was born August 27, 1832, and was a son of John and 
Elizabeth (Buckman) Piles, Virginians by birth. J. H. was reared on 
his father's farm in Virginia, and was educated in the common schools. 
He followed farming there until 1870, when he emigrated to Missouri 
and located in St. Clair County. Here he owns a farm of 310 acres, 
which will average with any in the township. He is also a large stock 
raiser, now having about 120 head of cattle. At the breaking out of 
the late war he was appointed captain of the 114th regiment, Virginia 
State Militia. In 1862 he enlisted in Stonewall Jackson's Brigade, and 
at the battle of Marion Hill he was wounded and afterwards was unable 
for infantry service. He was then made captain of Company K, Forty-
seventh Virginia Cavalry, and served until the close of the war. He is 
a member of the M. E. Church, South. January 17, 1856, Mr. Piles was 
married to Miss Jane Robinson, of Virginia. They have ten children: 
William T., Mary E., Martha E., Dora A., John R., Rebecca S., Richard 
J., Robert Lee, Ida May and Estella. 



JOHN W. PLUMBLEE was born in White County, Tennessee, March 15, 
1835, his father being William Plumblee, a Virginian by birth, born in 
August, 1800, who, while young, left that state and accompanied his 
father to Tennessee. In 1826, he was married there to Miss Sarah 
Lewellen, a daughter of Jacob Lewellen, of Tennessee. John W. was the 
fourth child in a family often children. When yet a small boy (three 
years old), he accompanied the family to Newton County, Missouri, but 
a short time afterwards removed to Berryville, Arkansas, at which time 
this place was made up of one house and a stable owned by the senior 
Plumblee. Leaving there in 1858, he emigrated to Texas, but in 1860, 
returned to Arkansas, where he was residing at the breaking out of the 
civil war. In 1862, Mr. P. entered the United States service as a 
volunteer in Company E, First Arkansas Cavalry Regiment, serving as 
such till June 30, 1863, when he was transferred to the Fourth 
Arkansas Cavalry Regiment, and mustered in as a lieutenant. He was 
discharged at the close of the war. In 1864, in accordance with a 
proclamation of President Lincoln, made to fill vacancies in the House 
of Representatives of the state of Arkansas, he was elected a 
representative and served until its adjournment in 1865. In 1863 his 
family had removed to Greene County, Missouri, and here he joined them 
in 1865, soon after locating on his present farm. In 1872 he was 
elected a judge of the county court of St. Clair, and subsequently 
served as collector of Collins Township for about three years. In 1855 
he was married to Sarah B. Hayter, daughter of Thomas B. Hayter, of 
Carroll County, Arkansas. They have had ten children: Francis J., 
Elizabeth C., Mary C., William T. (died in 1869), John B., Martha A., 
Sarah M., Paulina E. (died in 1870), James M. and Anna M. Mr. Plumblee 
is now actively engaged in farming and stock raising and owns a fine 
farm of 210 acres in section 29. 



JOHN POLING was born in Randolph County, Virginia, September 8, 
1816, his parents, John and Margaret Poling, nee Gainer, also being 
natives of the same county. The former, born in 1796, died while our 
subject was an infant, and the latter was born in 1799. Their marriage 
occurred in 1814. One year after the death of her husband, Mrs. Poling 
married Abner Schoonover, of the same county, and with him emigrated 
to Macon County, Missouri. They had nine children, and of these three 
daughters only are living. Mr. S. died March 1, 1862. He was a 
celebrated fifer, and was fife-major of the Eleventh regiment, 
Missouri State militia. His widow also died in 1862. John Poling, the 
only child in his father's family, was brought up by his stepfather, 
and was married to Miss Emily Palon, of Barbour County, Virginia. To 
them were born three children: Edith M., Arch E. and Luther G. Mrs. P. 
died August 9, 1874. He was afterwards married to Mrs. Sarah Bernard, 
widow of James Bernard, of St. Clair County, who has five children 
living, and all residents of this county. Mr. Poling now resides on 
section 9, of this township, where he owns 160 acres. He also owns a 
farm in the central portion of the township, upon which is a 
celebrated spring, known as the Poling Spring. He has been very 
successful in the cultivation and raising of wheat, and one year from 
three bushels of seed sown on less than three acres of land realized 
105 bushels, an average of nearly thirty-five bushels per acre. He 
also raises considerable corn. He is a member of the Baptist Church, 
and politically is Democratic. 



WILLIAM H. POTTER, physician and surgeon at Tiffin, was born in 
Genesee County, New York, June 2, 1838, and is the son of John and 
Julia A. (Stillwell) Potter, natives of New York. When William H. was 
about nine years of age his parents, with the family, moved to 
Washington County, Wisconsin, where he grew to manhood, his time being 
spent on a farm and in a store. In the spring of 1860 he began the 
study of medicine with Dr. Hayes, of Boston. In the spring of 1861 he 
enlisted in Company K, Second Wisconsin Infantry, and in the fall of 
the same year the company was transferred and known as Company A., 
First Artillery. He remained in service three years, acting as 
hospital steward. After this he traveled till 1869 when he located in 
Saline County, Nebraska, there commencing the practice of medicine. He 
continued it till 1879 when he located in Bates County. In 1882 he 
came to Taberville, St. Clair County and in the fall of the same year, 
took up his residence at Tiffin. The doctor is a member of the Masonic 
fraternity. He was married October 11, 1868, to Miss Helen Hildreth, a 
native of Wisconsin. 



B. N. PRIER, farmer and stock raiser, section 24, a native of 
Edgar County, Illinois, was born April 25, 1840, and is a son of 
Edward H. and Narcissia (Lowry) Prier. The family early removed to 
Illinois, and were among the first settlers of Edgar County. In 1854, 
they located in Clark County, Iowa, coming thence to Missouri in 1870. 
B. N. Prier spent his youth on the home farm, and was married in Clark 
County, Iowa, in January, 1862, to Miss Agnes Landies, a daughter of 
Samuel Landies, and a native of Greene County, Indiana. They have four 
children : Maggie, (wife of William Frazee), Samuel E., Frank L., and 
Maud. After residing in Clark County about eleven years, Mr. P., in 
March, 1873, came to Missouri and located in St. Clair County. He now 
has 240 acres of land, with 200 acres in cultivation. In June, 1862, 
he enlisted in Company D, Eighteenth Iowa Volunteer Infantry, and 
served till discharged in February, 1863. He participated in the fight 
at Springfield, Missouri, and a number of others. 



JAMES M. PUGH, circuit clerk and abstracter of titles, was born 
near Columbus, Ohio, September 2, 1845. His father was Andrew J. Pugh, 
who came to Missouri in 1857, and settled in St. Clair County. He 
served in the Mexican war and was wounded at Cerro Gordo, but remained 
through the war with the regiment of mounted rifles from Ohio. In 1861 
he took sides with the Union and became commander of Freemont's Scouts 
and Guides. After the army under Freemont were disbanded, Mr. Pugh 
joined the Sixtieth Regiment of Enrolled Missouri Militia, in which he 
received the commission of major in 1862. He served until the close of 
the war. He was soon after appointed sheriff of St. Clair County by 
Governor Gamble, but immediately resigned in favor of Mr. Roberts In 
1875, he moved to Cedar County where he now lives. Mrs. Pugh died in 
1879. James M. received but limited advantages for acquiring an 
education, but by self application he fitted himself for a teacher, 
and for several terms was so occupied. He was later engaged in 
clerking in the county offices, and in 1870 was appointed deputy 
clerk, and assisted in the circuit clerk's duties until 1874, when he 
was elected circuit clerk. In 1879 he was re-elected and again in 
1882. In 1879 he purchased a half interest of the Shields Brothers in 
their abstract books. In October, 1863 he joined the Second Kansas 
Cavalry, and was with General Steele in Arkansas for two years. Mr. 
Pugh married Miss Nannie Hicks, May 28, 1871. She was the daughter of 
J. L. Hicks. They have three children: Ruth, Addie and Bessie. 
Politically he is a Greenbacker. He belongs to the Christian Church, 
and is also a Mason, and a member of the I. O. O. F. 



J. A. PURINTON. The subject of this sketch is the leading 
merchant of Taberville, and among those prominent in St. Clair County. 
He carries a stock of goods equal to any firm in the county, and also 
has a store at Bain's Ferry. He is a son of John and Lois (Felch) 
Purinton, the former of Massachusetts and the latter of New Hampshire. 
J. A., the only child, was born in Meigs County, Ohio, August 20, 
1825. At the age of five years he was left fatherless when he moved to 
Lynn, Massachusetts, making his home with his uncle. There he was 
educated in the academy. His uncle being a manufacturer and wholesale 
dealer in shoes, J. A. was employed in the factory and store until 
1848 when he went to Athens, Ohio, where he was engaged in 
merchandising for two years. He then followed the same business in St. 
Paris, Ohio, until 1861, when he enlisted in Company A., Sixty-sixth 
Ohio, being mustered in October of the same year, and assigned to the 
commissary department in which he served until the close of the war. 
The most of the time he was quartermaster. Going to Indianapolis, 
Indiana, he became buyer and general manager for Spousler & McCrery, 
wholesale dealers in house furnishing goods and queensware, remaining 
with them for two years, when he located in Warrensburg, Missouri, 
engaging in the furniture business. After three years he purchased and 
entered large tracts of land in Vernon and St. Clair Counties, since 
which time he has been interested in the stock business. He has been 
occupied in the mercantile business at Taberville since 1876. Mr. P., 
during life has taken great interest in educational matters and is one 
of the men to whom Warrensburg is much indebted for having one of the 
finest schools of the state. He is a member of the Masonic fraternity. 
Mr. P. was married November 3, 1850, to Miss Lusetta Culver, a native 
of Madison County, Ohio. They have seven children. John, Frank A., 
James H., Charles A., Lucius L., Asa and Ella. 



GEORGE Y. PYEATT, farmer and stock feeder, section 10, was born 
in Richland County, Ohio, on March 6, 1834. Jacob Pyeatt, his father, 
also a native of Ohio, was born in 1802, and his mother, whose maiden 
name was Elizabeth Stewart, came originally from Vermont. In 1838 the 
family removed to Illinois and were among the early settlers of Perry 
County. George Y. passed his youth on the farm in that county, and was 
married there February 14, 1856, to Miss Teresa Wells, a daughter of 
Lewis Wells, of the same locality. Mr. P. after his marriage was 
engaged in farming in Perry County about twenty-one years. In 1877 he 
came to Missouri and located in St. Clair County, moving on his 
present farm in 1880. He has 120 acres of land, all improved, and upon 
it feeds considerable stock for the market. Mr. and Mrs. Pyeatt have 
six children: Virgil W., Philena F., (wife of Cyrus H. Hinkle), 
Alverta E., (wife of Harley A. Hinkle), Alfred G., Sabra W., (wife of 
Edward J. Allenson) and Herschel S. Two are deceased, Emma F., died in 
1874, at the age of fourteen years and Alice A. died in infancy. Mr. 
Pyeatt and his wife are members of the Christian Church. He belongs to 
the I. O. O. F. lodge at Osceola. 



ALONZO RAY, merchant, was born in Portage County, Ohio, May 10, 
1823. His parents were John and Elmira (Root) Ray, the former a native 
of West Virginia, and the latter of Vermont. They reared six children, 
of whom Alonzo was the second child. He was brought up and educated in 
his native state, and in 1843 he went to Chicago, where he worked two 
years at the harness trade. He then located at Lafayette, Indiana, and 
was occupied at his chosen calling two years, and also at various 
places till 1849, when he emigrated to California. There he was 
interested in mining till 1851. Returning to Kansas, where he was 
engaged in farming till 1867. Then he came to Roscoe and has since 
been engaged in merchandising. He has held the office of justice of 
the peace for some years, and he was postmaster of this place for 
seven years. Mr. Ray has been three times married, first to Miss 
Fannie Eyemer, of New York, November 26, 1853. Her death occurred June 
14, 1855. He was again married February 5, 1856, to Mrs. Caroline 
Kinyon, a daughter of James Lee. She died August 23, 1876. He was 
married to his present wife January 8, 1878, her name being Mrs. Mary 
L. Barr. He has two children by his second wife, Restory and Willis H. 



RANSOM M. RAYMOND, of the Appleton City Carriage Works, came 
originally from Orleans County, New York, where he was born April 30, 
1838. When four years old he was taken by the family to Benton County, 
Missouri, where he was reared on his father's farm. In 1858 he moved 
to Quincy, Hickory County. In 1861 he enlisted in Company A, Eighth 
Missouri Cavalry, and served until discharged, January 25, 1865. 
Returning to Quincy, he worked at the blacksmith trade until 1868. 
when he went to Greenfield, Dade County, where he lived until 1876. 
Then he established his present business in Appleton City. Mr. Raymond 
was married June 1, 1865, to Miss Harriet B. J. Long, of Dade County, 
Missouri. They have six children: Lulu, Ottie, Helen, Frank, Alice and 
Robert. He is a member of the Masonic fraternity. 



LOUIS M. REESE, dealer in lumber, etc., was born in Osceola, 
Missouri, in 1850, and was the son of Lewis M. Reese, originally from 
Tennessee. In 1866 Louis commenced working at the printing business, 
which he followed as compositor, and editor and publisher until 1881, 
having been connected with the Herald at Osceola, the Courier at 
Appleton City, and the Sun in Osceola. In the winter of 1881 he 
embarked in the lumber trade, and he is now doing a 
successful,business. He married Miss Emma J. Lewis in 1881, a daughter 
of Dr. L. Lewis, who was born in Virginia December 15, 1813. Dr. Lewis 
was a son of Howell Lewis and a grandson of Fielding Lewis, who 
married Bettie Washington, sister of George Washington. Dr. Lewis was 
a prominent physician. He came to Osceola in 1839, and for many years 
was county treasurer. Dr. Lewis died December 20, 1878. He was twice 
married, first to Mary Ferguson February 8, 1843. She died December 
24, 1845. His second marriage occurred March 14, 1853, to Mary E. 
Reynolds. Politically Mr. R. is a Republican. He is a member of the I. 
O. O. F. fraternity. 



ALEXANDER M. RICE is a native of Sumner County, Tennessee, and 
was born July 30, 1845. His parents, William and Lena Rice, nee 
Cotton, were born in the same county, and they had a family of six 
daughters and four sons, of whom there are now living Henry S., Mary 
M., Sassandre Alice, and Alexander M. Rice. The latter was married in 
1865 to Miss Ellen Hooper, daughter of Claybourne and Mary Hooper, of 
this county. They have had eight children, but only five survive: 
James A., Mary M., Anna, William E. and Estella. Mr. Rice commenced 
life for himself at the age of eighteen years, and in 1880 he 
purchased his first farm, of 100 acres, located on section 8 of this 
township, about eight or nine miles northeast of Osceola. Since that 
time he has been improving this place. He is very industrious and 
energetic, and is rapidly assuming a place among the enterprising 
agriculturists of the vicinity. His farm is well adapted for stock 
raising. Mr. Rice and his wife are identified with the M. E. Church, 
which meets at Sheldon's school house, this township. His political 
views are Democratic. 



N. L. RICKMAN is the son of Joshua Rickman, who was born in the 
state of Tennessee, August 9, 1801. He came to St. Clair County, 
Missouri, in 1840, and located in Chalk Level Township, where he was 
married to Miss Mary B. Terry in 1844. She was born in Tennessee 
November 4, 1819. Joshua Rickman died April 28, 1879. N. L. was born 
in St. Clair County, Missouri, January 21, 1850, and has since lived 
here. He learned the blacksmiths' trade with his father, which he 
followed till 1878, since which time he has been occupied in farming. 
The landed estate of the Rickman family consists of 240 acres. Mr. R. 
is considered to be one of the most respected citizens of Chalk Level 
and was township clerk one term. He is a member of the Christian 
Church. 



JOHN T. RIDGWAY, section 17, is a native of Howard County, 
Missouri, and was born January 11, 1838. his parents being Jesse and 
Anna (Wiley) Ridgway, Kentuckians by birth. The former came to 
Missouri in 1819 with his parents who were among the pioneer settlers 
of Howard County. Jesse Ridgway removed to St. Clair County, in 1840. 
John F. spent his youth on the farm in this county, and was married 
October 16, 1866, to Miss Ophelia Catherine Thompson, a daughter of 
John F. Thompson. She was born in this county and was here reared. She 
died June 2, 1875, leaving three children: Mattie Ann Lee, Robert F. 
and Ettie F. Mr. Ridgway was then married August 15, 1875, to Mrs. Ann 
Mains, widow of James Mains. She had two children by her former 
marriage: William T. and George H. Mains. There are three children by 
this latter union: James H. H., John Ed. and Mary Ann. Mr. R. now owns 
240 acres of land, of which 150 are in good cultivation. He also owns 
160 acres in another tract. In 1862 he enlisted in Company D., General 
Coffey's Regiment, Missouri State Guards, and served about six months, 
then re-enlisting in the regular Confederate service, under General 
Cockerel. He served three months in this regiment and was transferred 
to Young's Cavalry Battalion and served about one year. He 
participated in the fights of Prairie Grove, Arkansas, Springfield, 
Missouri, and others. He received a wound below the knee at 
Springfield and was disabled about two months. He was taken a prisoner 
at this time and held thirteen months, then escaping. He is a member 
of the Masonic fraternity. 



THOMAS ROBERTS was born in Rutherford County, Tennessee, in 
1841, and was the son of Jesse Roberts, originally of South Carolina, 
born in 1778. About the year 1798 he was married, but his wife 
subsequently dying, he removed to Tennessee, where In 1833 (or 
thereabouts) he married for his second wife Miss Rachel McChristian, a 
Tennesseean by birth. They had seven children, of whom our subject was 
the fifth child. Four years after the birth of Thomas his father, 
leaving Rutherford County, emigrated to Kentucky, and four years 
later, or in 1849, came to Missouri and settled in Benton County, 
about ten miles above Warsaw on the Osage River. In the spring of 1854 
he brought his family to St. Clair County, locating at Tyler's Bend. A 
few years later he died, leaving the family in straightened 
circumstances. His widow dying soon afterwards, the care and support 
of the family fell upon Thomas and his brother Joseph. They were equal 
to the emergency, however, and being possessed of an indomitable will 
and energy, succeeded admirably in their undertaking. After 
encountering many obstacles and privations brought about by the late 
civil war they now own 250 acres of as valuable rolling land as is in 
the county, it being located in section 13. On September 6, 1866, 
Thomas Roberts was married to Miss Martha I. Graham, and they have two 
sons and three daughters: William, Mary E., Lucy Belle, Marian F. and 
Emily Lucretia. Joseph Roberts was born February 15, 1842, in 
Rutherford County Tennessee, and also accompanied his father to this 
county. The education of these brothers has been obtained entirely 
through their own efforts and by the light of the fire at night, no 
one having taught them even the alphabet. They are both identified 
with the Greenback movement and are numbered among the prominent 
citizens of this county. 



ABRAM W. ROBINSON, was born in Peoria County, Illinois, 
October, 18, 1841. His father, William Robinson, was born in Jefferson 
County, Virginia, November 27, 1805. He came to Peoria County, 
Illinois, in 1827, and remained there until his death, which occurred 
at his home in Medina Township, September 14, 1881. He was married in 
1833 to Catharine Wiedman who was born in Champaign County, Ohio. They 
had a family of six children, four sons and two daughters. The subject 
of this sketch was the third son and was brought tip on his father's 
farm, receiving his education at the common schools during the winter. 
He lost his mother at the age of eight years. With the outburst of the 
civil strife in 1861, he responded to the nation's call for troops and 
enlisted in the three months' service, returning at the expiration of 
that time. For several years after that be was employed by the 
government in buying cattle and shipping them to the armies in the 
South, until ill health obliged him to discontinue the business. After 
the war he spent about a year in St. Louis and in traveling. He then 
returned to Macoupin County, Illinois, and worked as a farm hand. He 
then rented a farm for awhile, and in October, 1871, with what he had 
accumulated, he came to St. Clair County and bought 160 acres in 
section 15. The 14th day of January, 1872, he commenced its 
improvement, and by hard labor, toiling in a way utterly detrimental 
to his health, earned and built up a home. October 22, 1873, he 
married Miss Cora H. Clark, who was born in DuPage County, Illinois, 
October 9, 1848. Her father, David H. Clark, was struck dead by 
lightning March 17, 1850. (Mr. Robinson's mother died the next day, 
the 18th of March, 1850). He was born in Ohio and was one of the first 
settlers in Illinois. He married Mary Jarvis, who was born in New 
York. Her parents were among the first settlers in Illinois and her 
father built the first frame house in Chicago. She died in St. Clair 
County, Missouri, May 2, 1872. Mr. Robinson bought in 1875, 160 acres 
of land in section 23. In 1878 he purchased eighty acres more, and in 
1879, five acres in section 1, also owning forty acres in section 16. 
He was a great worker and a warm friend to the poor and those in need 
of assistance. He was the father of three children: Frank C., born 
April 19, 1875; Roy D., born June 25, 1876, and Harry E., born July 
13, 1879. The summer of 1881 he bought a steam threshing machine and 
went with that part of the summer and fall. November, 5 he was injured 
by slipping from the step of a wagon box and this terminated in 
pneumonia fever. He died December 1, 1881. He was a member of the A. 
F. & A. M. fraternity for twelve years and his burial was conducted by 
them the following Sunday. A large concourse of friends followed him 
to his last resting place - the Appleton cemetery. 



WILLIAM T. ROBINSON, postmaster and merchant at Chalk Level, 
was born in Lawrence County, Illinois, October 1, 1839. His parents 
were Alexander and Mary A. (Gibbon) Robinson, both natives of 
Kentucky. W. T. was reared in the county of his birth, and in 1855 
came to St. Clair County, Missouri, where he followed farming till 
1881. Then he began his present business, in which he has met with 
good success. He was married January 3, 1868, to Miss Elsie J. Landon. 
They have one child, Edmond Landon, and have lost two: Ida and Eddie. 
Mr. and Mrs. R. are active members of the Christian Church. 



BUCKNER RUSSELL, farmer and stock dealer, section 21, was born 
in Moniteau County, Missouri, May 13, 1837. His father, John Russell, 
was a native of Kentucky, and married Miss Nancy Alley, of the same 
state. They had nine children, the subject of this sketch being the 
fourth child. He was reared to manhood in his native county, and was 
there educated, also following farming in the locality till 1866, when 
he came to St. Clair County, Missouri. His landed estate consists of 
600 acres. During the war the greater part of his time was occupied in 
the Confederate service. Mr. R. is a member of the Masonic fraternity. 
November 8, 1866, he was married to Miss Matilda Harriman, of 
Illinois. By this union they have four children: John W., Geneva, 
Elsie G. and Myrtie. 



EDWARD D. SAYLES, farmer and stock raiser, section 12, was born 
in Summit County, Ohio, August 8, 1856. His father, Dr. Dwight Sayles, 
married Miss Estella Wright, and they were also both natives of Ohio. 
The former died July 24, 1862. Edward D. was raised a farmer and 
received a good education at the common schools and the Talmage High 
School. After completing his studies he was foreman in a fire brick 
establishment for one year. In 1871 he came to Missouri and purchased 
the land where he now resides. After living there one summer he 
returned to Ohio. In 1876 he came back to his farm in St. Clair 
County. He went to Colorado in the spring of 1880 and spent the 
summer, returning to his farm in the fall. He has eighty acres of good 
land, and is devoting some attention to the breeding and raising of 
fine stock. He has a flock of 120 graded Cotswold sheep and a herd of 
eight head of thoroughbred shorthorn cattle. Mr. Sayles was married 
February 23, 1882, to Miss Barbara Warner, a daughter of Abraham 
Warner. She is a native of and was reared and educated in Washtenaw 
County, Michigan. 



J. B. SCOTT, farmer, section 7, was born in Bucyrus, Ohio, June 
26, 1849, being a son of T. W. and Susan (Kintner) Scott. The former 
was born in Pennsylvania, and the latter in Indiana. T. W. Scott early 
went to Ohio with his parents, who were among the first settlers of 
Richland and Crawford Counties. He removed to DeKalb County, Indiana, 
in 1861, where the subject of this sketch grew to manhood. He was 
educated in the common and higher schools, and after completing his 
studies was engaged in teaching and taught for six years in the public 
schools of Michigan and Indiana. He has made the study of phrenology a 
specialty, and delivers an able lecture on this subject. Mr. Scott was 
married in DeKalb County, November 5, 1874, to Miss Emeline A. Clark, 
a daughter of O. C. Clark. She died in 1877. He was again married in 
DeKalb County, December 30, 1880, to Miss Minnie Wagner, a daughter of 
Jacob Wagner. She is a native of Michigan but was reared and educated 
in DeKalb County. Mr. Scott came to Missouri in the spring of 1882, 
and located on land which he had previously purchased in this county. 
He has 160 acres, but at present resides on a tract of eighty acres 
belonging to his father, which he is farming. 



JOHN SEEVERS, physician and surgeon, was born in Oskaloosa, 
Mahaska County, Iowa, in 1843, his father being Alfred Seevers, a 
native of Coshocton County, Ohio, he having emigrated to Iowa in 1840. 
He was largely and most successfully engaged in the nursery and fruit 
business, and in an early day supplied trees for many adjoining 
counties. His fine collection of fruit at the Centennial was admired 
by many. The maiden name of John's mother was Maria Bryan, of 
Pennsylvania. His grandfather Seevers served through the war of 1812 
and his grandfather Bryan came originally from Ireland. His father is 
a near relative of Judge Seevers, of the supreme court of Iowa. Having 
determined when a boy to be a physician, John bent all his energies in 
that direction. In 1862 he went to Colorado and spent two years. On 
his return in 1864 he commenced the study of medicine. In 1865 he 
attended a course of lectures at the Medical College at Keokuk, Iowa, 
where he graduated in 1876. His professional education was acquired by 
his own efforts, and he is deserving the success that has attended his 
career here. He came to Osceola in 1881. Dr. Seevers married Miss 
Fidelia E. Freeborn in 1868. She was the daughter of Joseph Freeborn, 
of Winterset, Iowa, formerly from Ohio. They have four children: Iowa, 
Grace, Nellie and Roxy. The doctor is a prominent member and elder in 
the Presbyterian Church. He is a Mason and also belongs to the I. O. 
O. F. He has been a member of the city council and takes an active 
part in the improvements of the city. 



WADE W. SHAFFNER, attorney, was born in Harrison County, 
Virginia, September 11, 1848. He attended in youth the common schools, 
though the greater part of his education was obtained at home. In 1859 
the family moved to Pennsylvania, and in 1861 they went to Sangamon 
County, Illinois. In 1869 Wade Shaffner came to Missouri, settling on 
a farm and divided his time between teaching school in winter and 
working on a farm in summer with his father. In 1874, he became editor 
of the Farmers' Friend, a paper published in Osceola in the interests 
of agriculture. He continued teaching until March 9, 1878, when he 
entered the law office of the late John C. Ferguson, where, under his 
instruction, he was prepared for admission to the bar, September 11, 
1879, before Judge John D. Parkinson. Mr. Shaffner married Miss 
Josephine O. Clevenger January 1, 1880. She is the daughter of the 
late George Clevenger. They have lost one child Gertrude. Politically 
Mr. Shaffner is a Democrat. He belongs to the Presbyterian Church and 
is a Mason. Isaac Shaffner, father of Wade W., is a farmer by 
occupation, and now lives in Chalk Level Township. He was born in 
Dauphin County, Pennsylvania, June 17, 1823, and was the son of 
Frederick Shaffner. His mother was formerly Catharine Dihler, who died 
in 1860. Isaac, the third of eleven children, early went to Virginia, 
residing there until 1855. He then came to Illinois and remained until 
1868, when he moved to this county and settled where he now lives. He 
married Melvina Leach, December 9, 1847. in Fauquier County, Virginia. 
She is the daughter of Thornton K. Leach, of Virginia, a soldier in 
the war of 1812. They have four children: Wade W., Mary A. (now Mrs. 
John Warner), Jacob M. and Luther L. Politically he is a Democrat and 
his religious preferences Presbyterian. 



ROBERT D. SHEEKS was born in Obion County, Tennessee, in 1830, 
and was the son of Jesse Sheeks, a Kentuckian, by birth, who after his 
marriage in that state, removed to Tennessee. After his death his 
widow married again, and in 1845 Robert D. accompanied his stepfather 
to St. Clair County, Missouri. He was married in 1858 to Miss Nancy 
Deshazo, of Collins Township, this county, and a daughter of Robert 
and Elizabeth Deshazo. They have eight children: Rufus P., Martha J., 
William R., Cornelius, Benjamin F., Mary E., Lucy and Cora. Mr. Sheeks 
is the owner of a good farm of 415 acres. 



ALBERT B. SHELDON was born December 27, 1816, near Hartford, 
Connecticut, his parents being Pardon and Nancy Sheldon, nee Mann, 
both of whom were born near Providence, Rhode Island, in the year 
1780. They had three sons and three daughters. Pardon died June 18, 
1822, in Connecticut, and his widow departed this life in 1836 in 
Rhode Island. In 1837, leaving the state of his birth, Albert B. 
Sheldon went to St. Louis, Missouri, and was occupied for a time in 
traveling through Missouri, Illinois, Arkansas and the Cherokee Nation 
in the interest of a clock business. Subsequently, with Nicholas 
Campbell, he purchased a stock of general merchandise and took it as 
far as Boonville, then going in search of a suitable location. Upon 
reaching Fairfield, in Benton County, they opened up a business in a 
log structure erected for the purpose on August 20, 1837. In December 
of that year Mr. S. received an appointment as postmaster. He 
continued this trade for three years, and on December 25, 1839, Miss 
Eliza Gardner, of St. Clair County, who was born September 10, 1822, 
in Marion County, Missouri, became his wife. Her father, James 
Gardner, was among the oldest pioneers of this county. He was 
originally from Georgia, but emigrated to Tennessee in an early day, 
going thence to Marion County, Missouri, and later to this county in 
1833, before it was organized. He, together with Crow and Crutchfield, 
located the town of Osceola, erecting the first store above the 
government trading post, conducted by Bishop and Hogle. Mr. and Mrs. 
Sheldon have had nine children, six sons and three daughters, of whom 
there are living: William P., married a Miss Seaby, of Osceola; Luther 
W., married Anna White, of Monroe City; Thomas J., born September 15, 
1853, and Marietta, born December 15, 1855, (wife of Dr. Nathaniel 
Wright, of this county. After his marriage Mr. S. purchased eighty 
acres of land on King's Prairie, but eight years later sold it and 
bought 120 acres in Polk Township. He has since then been a large land 
owner, but now has only 160 acres, upon which he resides. He and his 
wife have been members of the Christian Church for thirty-five years. 
His political views are Democratic and he has served as magistrate in 
this township. 



LUTHER W. SHELDON was born January 23, 1845, in St. Clair 
County, Missouri, and was the son of Albert B. and Eliza (Gardner) 
Sheldon, who had been married December 25, 1839. The former was born 
near Hartford, Connecticut, December 27, 1816, and the latter was born 
December 10, 1822, and of the original family of nine chidden - six 
sons and three daughters - four children survive: William P., Thomas 
J., Marietta and Luther W. The last named son married Miss Anna E. 
White, of Marion County, Missouri and they have had five children. 
William Albert, born September 9, 1871; Shelby W., born January 9, 
1873; Bessie and Byron (twins), born September 2, 1877, (both died in 
early infancy); and Hattie May, born May 14, 1879. In 1868 Mr. Sheldon 
purchased seventy-five acres of land on section 8, of this township, 
and subsequently bought eighty acres adjoining. He has since been 
actively engaged in farming and stock raising and is one of the model 
farmers of Polk Township. He is a member of the I. O. O. F. fraternity 
at Osceola and is also connected with the M. E. Church, South, while 
his wife belongs to the Missionary Baptist Church, at Osceola. 
Politically he is a Democrat. 



WILLIAM E. SHELTON, M.D. was born in Spartanburg District, 
South Carolina, August 5, 1838. His father, Michael Shelton, was a 
native of Pittsylvania County, Virginia, but was reared in South 
Carolina. His mother, Delila (Keller) Shelton, was born in South 
Carolina. Their family consisted of six children, our subject being, 
the youngest. In 1845 they removed to Lexington, Missouri, where Mrs. 
S. died in 1857, and Mr. S. in 1863. In 1858 William removed to 
Warrenton, Warren County, Missouri, and the fall following (1859) 
began the study of medicine under Dr. C. D. Strother, with whom he 
remained as a student until 1861. In. 1861-2 he attended the St. Louis 
Medical College. In March, 1863, he enlisted in Company D, First 
Mississippi Regiment, Light Artillery, C. S. A., and was taken 
prisoner in the rear of Vicksburg, and held at Camp Morton, 
Indianapolis, Indiana, till February, 1865. The succeeding three 
months he spent in Mississippi. About June, 1865, he returned to 
Warren County, Missouri, and October 10, 1865, came to St. Clair 
County, and was actively engaged in the practice of medicine near 
Johnson City till 1870. In that year he went to Papinville, Bates 
County, Missouri, and devoted his attention to his profession for 
three months. Going back to Johnson City he resided there till 
October, 1872, when he came to Appleton City. Since his arrival here 
he has been a prominent practitioner. During the term of 1881-2 he 
attended the Bellevue Hospital Medical College of New York, and 
graduated from that institution at the expiration of that term. He is 
a member of the Masonic order and has attained to the Templar degrees. 
He also belongs to the I. O. O. F., and is a prominent member of the 
Good Templars. Dr. Shelton was mayor of this city in 1873-4-5, and has 
been chairman of the school board for the past eight years. He was 
united in marriage in April, 1866, to Miss Elizabeth Dodgson, a native 
of this county. They have three children, Mitchell C., John D. and 
Theodocia H. 



WESLEY G. SHEPHERD, was born in Wells County, Indiana, December 
29, 1853, his father being Thomas Shepherd, originally from Ross 
County, Ohio, who was one of the first to settle in Bluffton, the 
county seat, he building the first house in the city. In 1857 he went 
to Navoo, Illinois, remained for two years, and then came with a 
colony to Henry County. In 1874 they moved to this county and settled 
one mile from Osceola, on the old Cox farm. Wesley's mother was 
formerly Clarissa Gracey, of Ross County, Ohio. They have two children 
living: W. G. and Ellen. In 1870, Wesley went to the Indian Territory, 
and was one of the parties driven out by the order of the government, 
losing everything he had. He returned home and made a new start. He 
was then engaged in various occupations in different localities. In 
1879 he opened a restaurant, which has since grown into an hotel, and 
he is doing a successful business. He has held the office of city 
marshal. He married Miss C. Lyon, November 8, 1880. She was a daughter 
of Samuel Lyon. Her grandfather, Thomas Sheppard served in the Federal 
army, and he was the guide of the first company of United States 
soldiers in Henry County. 



CHRISTOPHER SHOE, proprietor of the Appleton City Mills, came 
originally from Germany, where he was born July 23, 1831. When he was 
two and a half years old the family emigrated to America, locating in 
Richland County, Ohio, which was their home for six years. Moving 
thence to Rock Island County, Illinois, they lived there one year, and 
then farmed in Scott County, Iowa, until 1849. For five years they 
gave their attention to saw milling and after this farmed and operated 
a saw mill alternately each for three years. Going to Union County of 
the same state, Mr. Shoe ran a saw mill and carding factory, which was 
destroyed by fire. As a result he erected a large grist and saw mill, 
conducting it for five years. In 1869 he came to St. Clair County and 
engaged in farming. In September, 1877, he erected his present large 
mills. He is also a prominent farmer of the county, owning one of the 
finest farms in this section. Mr. Shoe was married September 22, 1847, 
to Miss Nancy Forgey, a native of Indiana. They have nine children 
Margaret, David, Esther, Mary, John W., Christopher L., Sarah E., 
William E., and Nancy L. He is a member of the Masonic fraternity. In 
1873, he was one of the county commissioners. 



GEORGE W. SHORT, a native of Kentucky, was born June 18, 1811, 
his parents being George and Catharine (Monical) Short. George W. was 
the second son of six sons and five daughters. In 1813 the family 
removed to Indiana and located in Washington County, where they were 
among the pioneer settlers. Our subject grew to manhood in Washington 
County, and was married October 13, 1831, to Easter Carleton, of that 
county. There were nine children by this marriage: Elizabeth 
(deceased), Nancy C., William L., Hannah (wife of C. Minns), George F. 
(deceased), Samuel R., Margaret (wife of John Lewellen, Easter Ann 
(deceased) and David W. Mrs. Short died in the fall of 1862. Mr. S was 
married in Putnam County, Indiana, January 24, 1865, to Mrs. Cynthia 
Ann Hines, a widow of John Hines and a daughter of Thomas Read. She 
was a Kentuckian by birth. She has one son by her former marriage, 
Franklin Hines. There are two children by this last union, General 
Alonzo Sherman and Ama Cynthia. Mr. Short removed from Indiana to 
Missouri in 1839 and first located in Howard County, but in the fall 
of 1840 came to this county and settled on his present farm. He now 
owns 235 acres of land, but has owned 800 acres, of which he has given 
the larger portion to his children. He enlisted in March, 1862, in 
Company E of the Seventh Missouri Cavalry and served till discharged 
in the spring of 1863. After this he returned home, and re-enlisted 
and served in the Home Guards until the close of tile war. Mr. and 
Mrs. Short are members of the M. E. Church. 



JOHN W. SHOUP, farmer, section 30, is a son of Reason Shoup, a 
native of Adams County, Ohio, his parents having come originally from 
Pennsylvania. The mother of John W., whose maiden name was Elizabeth 
Foster, was also born in Adams County, Ohio. Her parents were 
Virginians by birth. The subject of this sketch, the third child in a 
family of six children, was born in Adams County, Ohio, August 9, 
1839. When he was six years old his parents moved to Lee County, Iowa, 
where he grew to manhood, spending his boyhood days on a farm. He has 
made farming his occupation during life. August 20, 1861, he enlisted 
in Company A, Thirteenth United States Infantry, and remained in 
service three years, participating in many important battles, among 
which were Chickasau, Bayou, Arkansas Post, sieges of Jackson and 
Vicksburg, and others. After being mustered out he went to Putnam 
County, Missouri, where he was married to Miss Mollie E. Price, after 
which he resided in Putnam County till 1870. Then he came to his 
present location, where he has a farm of 110 acres. Mrs. S. was born 
in Jefferson County, Iowa, May 16, 1844. She was a daughter of Joseph 
and Mary A. (Puffenbarger) Price, who were natives of Ohio. The family 
of Mr. and Mrs. S. have numbered eight children, six of whom are 
living: Ostella F., Cora L., George T., Effie A., James M. and Fannie 
A. 



JOHN R. SINK is a native of Wilmington, Delaware, and was born 
in 1826. John Sink, his father, who was born in Pennsylvania in 1800, 
was married on the 14th day of July, 1822, to Miss Sallie A. Peterson, 
of Wilmington, and by this union there were three children, of whom 
John R. was the youngest. He accompanied his father to Kentucky while 
young, and lived there until seventeen years of age, when he emigrated 
to Green County, Illinois, living there until 1880. Then he came to 
St. Clair County, Missouri, and has here gained for himself an 
enviable reputation as a progressive agriculturist and citizen. In 
1848 he married Miss Mary M. Story, a daughter of Vincent Story, Esq., 
and a resident of Morgan County, Illinois. They have had a family of 
twelve children: John Vincent, George W., James J., Lydia A., Sallie 
J., Mary J., Nancy H., Charles M., Martha E., Harry A., Ida E. and 
Eugene. Two of these are deceased. Mr. S. first came to this county 
during the fall of 1873, purchasing the land which he now occupies, 
consisting of 288 acres. Politically he is a Democrat. He is master of 
the Grange at Mitchell, Greene County, Illinois. 



ISAAC SLUDER, farmer and stock raiser, section 4, was born in 
Hendricks County, Indiana, August 30, 1839. His father, Henry Sluder, 
was a native of the same state, and his mother, whose maiden name was 
Nancy Lockhart, came originally from West Virginia. The family early 
removed to Owen County, and from there to Washington and then to 
Sullivan County, where Henry Sluder died in 1864. Isaac grew to 
maturity in Indiana, and after removing to Sullivan County he learned 
the shoemakers trade, working at the business about twenty years. He 
was married in Sullivan County April 20, 1859, to Miss Nancy Chestnut, 
a daughter of James Chestnut. They had four children: Martha E., (wife 
of Walter Kennett), Mary F., (wife of Martin Anderson), Ollie O. and 
Emma. Mrs. Sluder died in St. Clair County February 16, 1881. Mr. S. 
was married in this county June 2, 1881, to Mrs. Eliza Parker, widow 
of Elias Parker. She was born in Ohio, but moved west after her 
marriage and settled in St. Clair County. She has three children by 
her first husband, Estella Ann, Frank C. and Alice J. Parker. Mr. and 
Mrs. Sluder have one child, John Edward. Mr. S. removed to Missouri in 
1880, settling on the farm where he now resides in 1881. There are 400 
acres of excellent land in his place. 



J. O. SMITH, farmer, section 5. The subject of this sketch was 
born in Crawford County, Illinois, October 15, 1836. He is a son of 
James W. and Elizabeth (Watts) Smith, the former originally from 
Kentucky, and the latter of Illinois. When J. O. was two years old, 
his father moved to Wayne County, Kentucky, his mother having died in 
Illinois. Mr. Smith was reared in Wayne County and received an 
academic education. In 1860, he went to Wayne County, Iowa, and in 
1862, to Putnam County, Missouri, where he resided till 1867. Since 
that time he has been a citizen of St. Clair County. He has followed 
farming during life and now has a farm of ninety acres. Mr. S. was 
married in September, 1858, to Miss Sarah A. Huffaker, a native of 
Wayne County, Kentucky. By this union they have eight children: Henry 
S., James J., Maggie A., Rosa B., William, Charles R., Walter and Lulu 
E. 



JOHN S. SMITH, editor of The Voice of the People, is a native 
of Jay County, Indiana, and was born March 13, 1848. His father, Aaron 
Smith was born in Ohio and his grandfather, Martin Smith, was a 
Virginian by birth. The mother of John S. was Mary Dillman, of 
Randolph County, Indiana, she being a daughter of William Dillman, 
whose father was robbed and murdered for his money in Chester County, 
Pennsylvania, in 1852. The subject of this sketch is the oldest of 
eight children. His father removed to Dallas County, Iowa, while he 
was young, and there he was reared, improving his limited facilities 
for acquiring an education until he was qualified for teaching school. 
In 1864 he enlisted in the Forty-sixth Iowa Volunteer Infantry, and 
after some months spent in the service he was discharged on account of 
disability. After his return he attended school for a time, and in 
1867 went to St. Clair County, Missouri, and taught one term of 
school. He then returned to Iowa, and the succeeding ten years he was 
engaged in teaching, and succeeded in winning an enviable reputation 
as a painstaking, competent and faithful instructor. In 1877 he 
returned to St. Clair County and took charge of a school at Johnson 
City. In 1879 he took charge of The Voice of the People, and conducted 
it for the company owning it until 1882, when he purchased it, and he 
has since associated Dr. A. C. Marquis with him, and they are 
publishing one of the most readable papers in Southwest Missouri. In 
1881, in the interest of the Greenback and Reform party, Mr. Smith was 
elected county school commissioner, an office he has proved himself 
amply qualified to fill. He was married October 21, 1881, to Miss 
Annie B. Nalley, a daughter of William Nalley, of this county, 
originally from Pike County, Missouri. They have one son, Clyde S., 
born September 1, 1882. 



THEODORIC SNUFFER, deceased, a pioneer in southwest Missouri, 
was born in Henry County, Virginia, July 15, 1799, and traces his 
paternal ancestry to Germany, his grandfather, Jacob Snuffer, and his 
wife, Sally, having emigrated to the United States in 1760. He served 
as a soldier in the revolutionary war, and participated in the battle 
of Brandywine Station. After the close of the war he settled on a farm 
east of the Blue Ridge Mountains in Virginia, where he spent his 
remaining days, attaining the remarkable age of 110 years. He left a 
large family widely scattered, and among those remaining in Virginia 
was George, the father of the subject of this sketch, who was born in 
Virginia and in 1797 married Miss P. Janiet, of Virginia. By this 
union there were four sons and six daughters. Mr. Snuffer died in the 
service of his country in the war of 1812. Theodoric Snuffer was 
married in 1834 to Miss Margaret Baker, a native of Montgomery County, 
Virginia, and a daughter of Colonel Josiah Baker, an officer in the 
war of 1776. He married Miss Sallie Patton in 1793. In 1836 Mr. 
Snuffer came to Missouri and settled in Henry County near the present 
site of Calhoun, living in this county until the spring of 1838, when 
he removed to what is now St. Clair County, on the Osage River. His 
first building was a cabin ten feet square, and in this building he 
resided until July, 1839. Then he built, with the assistance of 
neighbors, a log house eighteen feet square. This building still 
remains on the old homestead. Mr. S. was, at this time, in the prime 
of vigorous manhood. He commenced farming by clearing and planting a 
few acres in Indian corn, and each year clearing and breaking a few 
more acres. Mr. and Mrs. Snuffer had five sons and one daughter born 
to them. Of these the daughter died in infancy, the third son died 
when four years of age; Cyrus R., the fourth son, was murdered in the 
Choctaw Nation by a band of outlaws, the leader of which was afterward 
hanged in Texas; Josiah, the eldest son, died in 1863 at Little Rock, 
Arkansas, while a soldier under General Price. Owen M. was an officer 
in the confederate army, and now resides on the old homestead. He was 
born on the 14th day of February, 1837, in Henry County, Missouri. In 
1864 he married Mrs. Susan Tunstall, widow of Captain E. B. Tunstall, 
who fell at the battle of Elk Horn, in Arkansas, under General Price. 
By this union there are now living two daughters, Sallie and Esie. 
Mrs. Snuffer died in Arkansas in 1876. Mr. Owen Snuffer, to whom we 
are indebted for this sketch, has written several articles for the 
press, and among these contributions are "The Early Settlers of the 
County" and "The Sacking and Burning of Osceola by Jim Lane." "The 
Battle of Lone Jack," written by him, is acknowledged to be a fair and 
impartial history. He also assisted A. C. Appler in writing the only 
true life ever written of the Younger Brothers. 



DAVID SNYDER, farmer, section 16, came originally from Darke 
County, Ohio, where he was born in 1845. His parents, Pearson and 
Susan (Hidley) Snyder, moved to St. Clair County, Missouri, in 1857, 
where David was reared and educated. He now owns a fine farm, which 
contains 165 acres, and it is a good stock farm. He was married in 
1867 to Miss Milliard Woolry, a native of Missouri. They have three 
children living: Pearson, Charley and John. 



H. H. SNYDER, farmer, section 28, was born in Darke County, 
Ohio, November 6, 1842. His father, Pearson Snyder, a native of New 
Jersey, died in this county March 13, 1862. The maiden name of the 
mother of our subject was Susan Hidley, originally from Ohio. She died 
in November, 1850. H. H. came to St. Clair County with his parents in 
1857. He received his education in the schools of Ohio and Missouri. 
He has followed farming in this county since his arrival at manhood. 
In March, 1863, he enlisted in Company B, Eleventh Missouri Cavalry, 
and was discharged August 11, 1865. Mr. S. held the office of township 
constable six years. September 6, 1866, he married Miss Hannah J. 
McKinsley, a native of Kentucky. They have four children: Ida B., 
James W., Effie M., Elizabeth T. They lost one son, David E. 



JAMES P. SNYDER, farmer and stock raiser, section 17, is a 
native of Ohio and was born in Darke County, May 28, 1847, being the 
son of Pearson and Susan Snyder, nee Hidley, natives of New Jersey and 
Ohio respectively. James P. was the third of a family of six children. 
When ten years old his parents came to St. Clair County, Missouri, 
where he was brought up, attending for a time the common schools. He 
owns a farm of 300 acres, most of which is under fence and well 
improved. May 9, 1867, Mr. S. married Miss Frances Bunch, of this 
county. They have two children, Birdie A. and Arvel. 



JAMES R. STILES was born in Johnson County, Missouri, in 1847, 
and was the son of Dennis Stiles, a Kentuckian by birth, born in 1818, 
who, in 1838, emigrated to Johnson County, being one of the first 
settlers there. He was married twice, the second time in 1845, to Miss 
Tamson Bazzill, daughter of Ezekiel Bazzill. They had seven children, 
four sons and three daughters, James being the eldest child. In 1866 
the senior Stiles leaving Johnson County, came to St. Clair County. A 
few years later, or in August, 1870, James R. was united in marriage 
with Miss Mary M. Jackson. They had five children, four of whom are 
living: James Henry, Lizzie S., Clara B. and Rolla J. The eldest son, 
Johnny Lewis, died August 18, 1881. Mr. Stiles is the owner of a farm 
of 100 acres, located in section 7. He is much interested in stock 
matters and gives considerable attention to fine stock, having some 
excellent animals. Formerly he was politically a Democrat, but later 
began to be found in the ranks of the Greenback party. He is a member 
of the Baptist Church at Macedonia and also belongs to the Grange, 
Concord lodge. Mr. S.'s mother, a native of Virginia, born in 1807, is 
now living and in the enjoyment of good health. 



WILLIAM B. STOUT, of the firm of Stout & Co., is a native of 
Harrison County, West Virginia, and was born July 3, 1854. His father, 
also originally of that state, was born November 4, 1818. His mother, 
whose maiden name was Amanda Blake, was born in West Virginia August 
5, 1816. They had eight children, William being the sixth child. His 
father died September 24, 1876. He resided in the county of his birth 
until sixteen years old, when the family came to St. Clair County, 
Missouri, and here he farmed for three years. Then he engaged in 
school teaching, which he continued until April, 1881, when he 
embarked in his present business. He is a member of the Baptist 
Church. 



HON. M. B. STRICKLAND. Among the prominent men of St. Clair 
County is the subject of this sketch, who was born in Franklin County, 
Missouri, August 8, 1835. His father, E. B. Strickland, was a native 
of Georgia, and his mother, formerly Sarah K. Caldwell, was a 
Kentuckian by birth. E. B. Strickland was one of the early settlers 
and leading men of Franklin County. M. B. grew to manhood at his birth 
place on a farm, receiving a good common school education. He was 
married in St. Louis County, May 5, 1857, to Miss Mary Conway, a 
daughter of Samuel Conway. She is a native of St. Louis County. After 
this event Mr. S. resided in Franklin County until 1877, and in March 
of that year came to St. Clair County and purchased the farm where he 
now resides. He has 480 acres, improved, and makes a business of 
raising and feeding cattle, fattening annually about two car loads of 
steers. He takes a prominent part in the political issues of the day, 
and was nominated and elected to represent his county in the 
legislature at the general election of 1882. This position he filled 
with honorable distinction. Mr. and Mrs. Strickland have a family of 
five children: Virgil C., Mary, Virginia S., Ada L. and James L. 
Himself, wife and oldest daughter are members of the Presbyterian 
Church. 



SAMUEL C. STURTEVANT, a descendant of the old Puritan stock, 
traces his lineage back to the Allerton family, who were on board the 
Mayflower, and also to the Cushmans, who, as the agents of the 
Pilgrims in England, chartered the vessel for the first voyage. 
Samuel's father, Carleton Sturtevant, was a native of Litchfield 
County, Connecticut, and in 1823 emigrated to Ruggles, then of Huron, 
now of Ashland County, Ohio. Our subject was born on July 24, 1838. 
His primary education was received in the common schools, but this he 
supplemented with an attendance at Huron Institute, Milan, Ohio. In 
October, 1860, he married Adelaide E. Taylor, a most estimable lady. 
Emigrating to Bates County, Missouri, Mr. S. settled in Deepwater 
Township in the winter of 1867-68, and devoted his attention to 
farming and school teaching. He was a prominent citizen of that county 
until the summer of 1882, when he removed to Appleton City, St. Clair 
County. He has five children: Carleton W. (now in the class of civil 
engineers at the State University, Columbia, Missouri), Cora Allerton, 
Marion Cushman, Adelaide E. and Winfield E. 



RUDOLPH SUTMILLER, a member of the extensive establishment of 
Sutmiller & Co., dealers in hardware, stoves, tinware, furniture, 
etc., is a native of Hanover, Germany, and was born July 20, 1840. He 
was reared in that country, and when fourteen years of age was 
apprenticed to the cabinet maker's trade, at which he served a term of 
four years. Emigrating to America, he landed at New Orleans, and there 
worked six weeks, when he went to St. Louis, Missouri. He followed his 
trade in that city and vicinity till June, 1862, then enlisting in the 
United States army, and serving one year. He soon came to Warren 
County, Missouri, and was engaged in contracting and building six 
years. He made his home in Clinton for eighteen months, after which he 
came to Appleton City and continued contracting and building, and 
erected many of the best buildings in the city. In April, 1877, he 
with his present partner, R. L. Booth, embarked in the hardware 
business at Schell City, Missouri, where they had a good trade till 
1880. They then removed their business to Appleton City, and now carry 
a large stock in this line, and are enjoying a lucrative patronage. 
Mr. Sutmiller was married June 1, 1883, to Miss Frances C. Hawkins, a 
native of Illinois. They have two children: Mary E. and Eliza M. They 
are members of the Lutheran Church. 



SALATHIAL TALBOT, sections 4 and 5, originally from Barber 
County, West Virginia, was born October 3, 1832. His parents Robert 
and Mary (Woodford) Talbot, were both natives of that county, and were 
there reared and married. They had a family of thirteen children, of 
whom our subject was the seventh child. He was brought up on his 
father's farm, and when nineteen years of age began school teaching, 
which profession he continued six years. In the fall of 1865 he moved 
to Henry County, Missouri, and resided there till 1872, then returning 
home. In 1875 he again came to Missouri and located in St. Clair 
County on his present place. His farm contains 320 acres of choice 
land in excellent cultivation. Mr. Talbot was married March 1, 1854, 
to Miss Rachel Dickison, of West Virginia. They have had eleven 
children, eight of whom are now living: Jasper M., L. D. M., Demetrias 
W., Salathial S., Mary B., Harriet L. Rosa G. and Myrtle A. They are 
members of the Baptist Church. During the war Mr. T. enlisted, in 
1862, in Company E, Sixty-second Virginia Regiment, and was acting 
quartermaster of the same toward the close of the war, and at the 
surrender of General Lee he was commissary of the Twentieth Virginia 
Regiment. 

The following information was generously provided by Will Babb, 
a descendant of Salathial Talbot:

"One daughter of Salathial Talbot was Lillie Harriet Talbot, my grandmother
and mother to my father, Lee Talbot Babb.  Inside the Bible belonging to
Lillie Talbot I recently found a handwritten note:
................................................................

Jasper N. Talbot was borned 29feb1856
Dee Talbot                   23 may 1858
Met Talbot                   26 dec 1860
SJ Talbot                      20 feb 1863
Belle Talbot                  27 mar 1870
Lillie Talbot                27 feb 1872
Rosa Talbot                  17 jul 1874
Myrtle Talbot               17 dec 1878
Father              3 oct 1832
Mother             28 nov 1836"



JOHN F. TALLY, farmer and miller, was born in St. Clair County. 
Missouri, November 15, 1851, and was the son of George W. Tally, who 
was born December 30, 1824, in Virginia. His mother, formerly Miss 
Amanda Kincade, was born January 21, 1829, and was also a Virginian by 
birth. They were married in 1846, in St. Clair County, Missouri, and 
are the parents of nine children, five now living. Mr. T. came to Pike 
County, Missouri, in an early day, and soon after moved to St. Clair 
County with his parent, his father-in-law, Mr. Kincade, also being one 
of the early settlers of the county. John F. Tally married Miss Laura 
J. Wheeler, of this county, August 7, 1873. They have two children 
living: Thirza H. and John A. George W. was born May 1, 1874, and died 
December 7, 1874. Mr. T. erected his steam saw mill in 1882, and is 
now doing a good business. There is attached to it a run of stone for 
grinding corn, which is well patronized. Politically he is a Democrat 
and together with his wife, belongs to the Baptist Church of Wright's 
Creek. 



THOMAS TERRY, the son of James and Nancy P. Terry, was born in 
King William County, Virginia, on the 25th of December, 1817. His 
father, a native of the same county, was born in 1778, and died there. 
In 1797 his marriage occurred, his wife also being a Virginian by 
birth, and they had a family of ten children, of whom Thomas was the 
ninth child. In 1842, leaving the state of his birth, he emigrated to 
St. Louis County, Missouri, and after living there. for eight years, 
moved to St. Clair County, which has since been his home. About the 
year 1845, he was married in Cole County, Missouri, to Miss Mary J. 
Walser, a daughter of Squire P. Walser. They have had ten children: 
Elizabeth A., Squire Walser, Elvira, Cass, John S., Eliza, Daniel 
Elias, Magoon, Stanton, and Albert G. In politics, Mr. Terry is a 
Republican, though never having taken any active part in political 
matters. He is connected with the Baptist denomination. 



ERVIN THOMAS, farmer, section 10, was born in Grayson County, 
Virginia, June 16, 1812. His father, Nathan Thomas, born in North 
Carolina, was a soldier in the Revolutionary war under General Green, 
and was at the battle of Guilford court house, North Carolina. Ervin's 
grandparents were originally from Wales. His mother, formerly, Rebecca 
Pool, (of English parentage) came from North Carolina. He was the 
ninth of ten children. After the war his father moved into Virginia, 
when he bought a farm. Young Ervin remained at home for several years, 
and for a time was in Florida. In 1839 he came to Missouri and settled 
in Roscoe Township, near where he now lives. In 1849 he went to 
California with William Walters and others and remained three years. 
He now has a finely improved farm of 120 acres. During the late war 
General Lyon's army destroyed nearly all his property while on their 
raid after Price's army, and then Mr. Thomas joined Price for 
protection. He was out six months. He married Nancy Crider, November 
17, 1833, in Grayson County, Virginia. She was the daughter of Henry 
Crider, of Virginia. They have four children living: Margaret Ann (now 
Mrs. Thomas Hackett, of Kansas City), Jane (Mrs. Thomas J. Sherley, 
who died in 1881), Sarah (now Mrs. H. Gest), Susan (wife of Charles 
Bidell), and Edwin E., now in Colorado. Politically he is a Democrat. 
He belongs to the Christian Church, and is a member of the Masonic 
order. 



S. C. AND R. B. THOMAS, farmers; section 33, are among the 
prominent citizens and early settlers of St. Clair County. S. C. was 
born on section 33 of this (Chalk Level) township February 11, 1846. 
His father, Elisha Thomas, was a native of North Carolina and came to 
St. Clair County in 1839. The mother of our subjects, whose maiden 
name was Jane W. Goff, came originally from Tennessee. S. C. was the 
eighth of a family of twelve children. He went to Henry County, 
Missouri, in 1864, where he followed farming for some time, then 
returning to St. Clair County. R. B. Thomas was born June 21, 1848. 
His youth was spent, like that of his brother, on the farm in this 
county. They own 185 acres of farm land, 100 acres of which are in 
cultivation. The senior Thomas died May 9, 1862, and his widow October 
5, 1873. 



WILLIAM L. THOMAS (deceased) was born in Nicholas County, 
Kentucky, August 9, 1809. He was there brought up, following farming 
till 1850, when he came to Saline County, Missouri. Here he was 
engaged in farming and stock dealing till 1865. Going to St. Charles 
County, Missouri, he continued to reside in that locality till 1871, 
in which year he came to St. Clair County, and at that time had some 
1,000 acres of choice land. Mr. Thomas was married May 16, 1866, to 
Miss Lizzie McFadden, a daughter of John McFadden, of Henry County, 
Kentucky. Mr. Thomas' death occurred May 8, 1880. He was through life 
an honest, upright and enterprising man, and his liberality, kindness 
and benevolence were well known. Almost the last act of this man was a 
generous one. Mrs. Thomas, since her husband's death, has successfully 
managed the most of his estate. She is beloved and respected by all 
who know her. 



WILLIAM F. THOMPSON was born January 10, 1836, in Simpson 
County, Kentucky, and was the son of Tillman Thompson, who was also 
born in Kentucky in 1811. He lived in that state until 1840, when he 
came to this county, locating where the subject of this sketch now 
resides. In 1834 he married Miss Adaline Earnest, daughter of Jacob 
and Lucinda Earnest. They had twelve children: William F., Jacob, 
Monroe, Carrol, Edwin, Matilda, Perry, Ellen, Paulina, George, 
Cornelius and Lomba. William F. remained at home until 1858, and on 
March 24th of that year was united in marriage with Miss Leah 
Culbertson, of St. Clair County, and a daughter of Isaac Culbertson, 
mention of whom is made elsewhere in our history. To them eleven 
children were born: Paulina, born in 1861; Adaline, born in 1863; 
Harriet, born in 1865; one unnamed, born in 1867; Julia, born in 1868; 
Sherman, born in 1870; Flora, born in 1872; Logan, born in 1874; 
Della, born in 1876; Lulu, born in 1879; and Genevia, born in 1882. Of 
these only five are now living. Mr. Thompson is the owner of 150 acres 
of excellent land, and to some extent is engaged in the stock 
business. Politically he is a Republican. 



WILLIAM H. TILLERY owes his nativity to Knox County, Tennessee, 
having been born there September 20, 1840. His parents, Sampson and, 
Catharine (Yoast) Tillery, both of Knox County, were married December 
23, 1840. The former was born January 17, 1791. William H. was the 
twelfth of a family of thirteen children. In August, 1859, he was 
united in marriage with Miss Martha E. Parker, of Knox County, 
Tennessee. In October following, leaving his native county, he came to 
St. Clair County, Missouri, and settled on the farm now owned by J. P. 
Butcher in this township. In 1860 their eldest child, Mary L., was 
born, and since then they have had nine children: Sampson M., Emily 
T., Catharine E., C. L., William M.. James J., John A., Frederick M. 
and Lulu G. The family has never experienced a day of sickness, and 
with one exception, when the arm of Emily was broken, never has a 
physician been in the house for the purpose of administering medical 
relief. Mr. T. was formerly a very extensive dealer in mules, and was 
the acknowledged leader of this industry in this vicinity. In 1880, on 
account of failing health, he discontinued the business, and now 
devotes his attention to the cultivation of his farm, one of the 
finest in the township, situated on Coon Creek, and under good 
improvements. Politically, he is a staunch Republican. He is a Master 
Mason and a prominent member of the Grange in this township. Mr. 
Tillery once had a narrow escape from death, the circumstances of 
which were as follows: "Having been deputized, in August, 1880, to 
serve a warrant of arrest on a horse thief who had previously stolen a 
horse in that district, he started after the criminal, overtook and 
arrested him, and while returning to Osceola, his attention being 
directed to other parties coming down the road, the thief with great 
rapidity drew his revolver and fired at Mr. T., the ball entering his 
neck just back of the jugular vein on the right side, and passing 
behind the throttle, came out on the left side; it then entered the 
shoulder, and glancing back from the blade, fell into his vest 
pocket." 



JAMES W. TITUS, farmer and stock raiser, section 18, was born 
in Loudoun County, Virginia, February 22, 1839, his parents, Jeremiah 
and Susan (Goodheart) Titus having been Virginians by birth. James W. 
was the oldest of a family of six children. When sixteen years old he 
was taken by his father to Muskingum County, Ohio, where he grew to 
manhood. He farmed in Ohio until 1860, when he moved to Coles County, 
Illinois, continuing his former occupation until 1868, when he came to 
St. Clair County, Missouri. He owns a farm of 183 acres, well 
improved. Mr. T. has worked at the carpentering business for the last 
twenty years. In August, 1862, he enlisted in Company H, Seventy-ninth 
Illinois Volunteers, and was discharged December 15, 1863. He is a 
member of the M. E. Church, and belongs to both the Masonic fraternity 
and the Grange. February 23, 1860, he married Miss Caroline Roberts, 
of Ohio. They have seven children: S. A., Martha S., Lydia, Thomas J., 
James F. John H. and Ira N. They lost two children. 



D. C. TREMAIN, M.D. section 3, is a son of Edwin Tremain, who 
was born in England in May, 1803, and who was married in Ohio to Miss 
Sarah Hutsell, born in that state in February, 1804. They now reside 
in Vinton County, Ohio. They had a family of four children, D. C. 
being the second child. He was born in Athens, (now Vinton County) 
Ohio, March 26, 1843. He was there reared and received the advantage 
of a common school education, after which he entered the Normal School 
of Lebanon. In June, 1861, he enlisted in Company D, Fourth Virginia 
of the Federal army, and remained in services four months, when he was 
mustered out as commissary of subsistence. Returning to Ohio he 
continued the study of medicine, which he had began previous to the 
war, and in 1836 was graduated from the Ohio Medical College. In 1877 
he located in Johnson County, Kansas, having received the appointment 
from the governor as physician and surgeon for the Shawnee Indians. He 
held that appointment for two years, but continued the practice of 
medicine in that county until 1876, when he came to St. Clair County, 
Missouri. Here he is considered to be one of the most prominent in the 
profession. He is a member of the I. O. O. F. fraternity, and the 
encampment. Dr. T. was married September 26, 1859, to Miss Lizzie 
Evans. She was born in Mason County, Kentucky, September 24, 1850. 
They have three children: Dema, Ralph and Mabel. 



JOHN H. TRISSEL, postmaster at Lowry City, was born in 
Montgomery County, Ohio, February 28, 1846, being the son of Joseph 
and Rachael (Garwood) Trissel. His youth was spent in Ohio and he was 
educated in the common schools, following engineering in that state 
until 1889, when he came to St. Clair County, Missouri. Here he 
manufactured brick for one year, after which he gave his attention to 
farming and carpentering until 1873. Returning to Ohio he was employed 
as engineer until 1878, when he again came to St. Clair County. August 
1, 1881, he was appointed postmaster, which position he now fills. In 
June, 1862, he enlisted in Company K, First Ohio Heavy Artillery and 
was discharged July 25, 1865. He is a member of the M. E. Church and 
belongs to the I. O. O. F. fraternity. August 25, 1868, Mr. Trissel 
married Miss Elizabeth J. Houk, a daughter of George W. and Caroline 
(Simmon) Houk, the former a native of Ohio and the latter of Maryland. 
Mr. and Mrs. T. have a family of six children. Harvey L., Lucy A., 
Garlie, Callie, George and Bessie. 



T. F. TRUE, farmer, section 20, was born in Dearborn County, 
Indiana, October 4, 1845, being a son of Nelson and Mary E. (Piles) 
True, also natives of Indiana. T. F. was reared and educated in the 
county of his birth, where he was engaged in farming till 1866. Then 
he came to St. Clair County, Missouri, and now owns a farm of 220 
acres. In 1861 he enlisted in Company G, Fifty-seventh Indiana, 
remaining in service till the close of the war. Mr. True was married 
July 5, 1867, to Miss Fannie Tives, a native of Moniteau County, 
Missouri. They have four children: Nelson, William A., Laura J. and 
Charles F. 



JOHN RYLAND TUCKER, a native of Johnson County, Missouri, was 
born in 1842, being the youngest child in a family of four sons and 
four daughters. Early Tucker, his father, was born in Lincoln County, 
Kentucky, February 4, 1802, and followed farming there until 1832, 
when he removed to Lafayette (now Johnson) County, Missouri. Soon 
after his settlement there he built a cabin, having to send fourteen 
miles for men to assist in raising it. About the year 1827 he was 
married to Lucretia Owsley, a niece of George Owsley and a native of 
Lincoln County, Kentucky. John R. remained upon the farm of his 
father, in Johnson County, until February 9, 1862, when he was married 
to Jane Richardson, of that county. To them were born six children, 
but three only survive: Logan M., Lulu Belle and Lilly May. Mr. T. was 
at one time a Republican in his political views, but is now connected 
with the "National" party. His wife is a member of the M. E. Church, 
South. 



JOHN T. TUCKER is a native of Gasconade County, Missouri, and 
was born in 1853, being the son of Thomas and Jane (Miller) Tucker, 
both originally from Tennessee, the former having been born in 1830. 
They were married in 1852. In 1866 John T., still a small boy, came to 
this township, and has since continued to reside here. In 1874 he was 
married to Miss Mary Walters, a daughter of William Walters, and by 
this marriage there were four children, three of whom survive: William 
C., Nellie F. and Effie. One died in infancy. Mr. T. is by occupation 
a farmer, but occasionally follows the trade of blacksmith, in which 
he is quite an adept. 



WILLIAM TUCKER, a twin brother of Elizabeth Tucker, was born in 
Lincoln County, Kentucky, in 1828, the eldest of a family of eight 
children, seven of whom grew to maturity. Early Tucker, his father, 
who was also born in Lincoln County in 1802. remained there occupied 
in farming and trapping until 1832, when he emigrated to Johnson (at 
that period Lafayette) County, bringing his entire possessions in an 
ox-cart, while the family, who were large enough to do so, walked by 
the way. After his arrival here in order to build a cabin he was 
compelled (as elsewhere stated) to send fourteen miles for help to 
raise the structure. Previous to this, in 1827, he had married Miss 
Lucretia Owsley, of Lincoln County, Kentucky, and a niece of Governor 
Owsley. William was brought up in this vicinity upon a farm, and while 
school was held attended the sessions, though compelled to travel a 
distance of four miles through a trackless forest to the school house. 
On January 11, 1846, he was married to Miss Amanda Bazzill, daughter 
of Ezekiel Bazzill. To them were born six children: Mary F., born in 
1851; Samuel H., born in 1853; James M., born in 1855; Melvin J., born 
1856; John F., born in 1860; and William P., born in 1866. Mr. Tucker 
was brought up a Whig, afterwards voted the Democratic ticket and is 
now a Greenbacker. He is a member of the M. E. Church, South, belongs 
to the Grange and also to the Masonic fraternity. He is the owner of a 
most excellent farm in section 7, and upon it raises considerable 
stock, the quality and purity of which is surpassed by none, and in 
numbers but few are in advance of him. In 1850 Mr. Tucker's brother 
Henry, together with William Smith and a man named Moore, left Johnson 
County for the gold fields of California. Within three years Smith and 
Moore died, and Henry Tucker, having amassed quite a fortune, began to 
make preparations for his return. Starting he got as far as Boonville, 
where, overtaken by robbers, he was poisoned, stripped of even his 
clothes, robbed of his hard earned money, and placed upon the stage in 
an unconscious condition for Georgetown, where he arrived but he never 
knew his own father, who met him at that point. William Tucker now has 
in his possession the purse that contained the money of his murdered 
brother. 



GARLAND C. TURNER, farmer and stock raiser, section 17, was 
born in Simpson County, Kentucky, September 25, 1835. His father, John 
Turner, was a native of Kentucky as also was his mother, whose maiden 
name was Elizabeth Bluette. Garland was reared and educated in his 
native county, and there resided till 1870 when he moved to Henry 
County, Missouri, and in 1881 he came to St. Clair County. He has made 
farming his occupation during life and now has a well improved farm of 
140 acres. During his residence in Henry County he was assessor for 
one term under the township organization. He has always taken great 
interest in educational matters. Mr. Turner was married August 28, 
1856, to Miss Sarah Breedlove who was born in Virginia, August 28, 
1836. They have five children: John W., Sallie, Forrest E., Georgia 
and Bascar. Mr. and Mrs. F. are members of the Cumberland Presbyterian 
Church. 



JOSEPH H. URICH was born November 20, 1846, in Dauphin County, 
Pennsylvania, while his brother, Harry B., was born in Blair County of 
the same state. Their father, a carpenter by trade and also a farmer, 
was born December 21, 1818, in York County, Pennsylvania, and now 
resides in Cook County, Illinois. He was married in 1844 to Miss 
Elizabeth Drawbaugh, of Cumberland County, born September 18, 1818. 
Their family consisted of William, who died in infancy, John D., 
Joseph H., Harry B., Martha R. (now Mrs. E. C. McCloud), Edward O., 
and David, who also died while an infant. Mrs. Urich died March 21, 
1877. Joseph H. (our subject) leaving his native state in August, 
1865, settled in Grundy County, Illinois, where he remained for four 
years. In August, 1869, he came to this county. August 21, 1871, he 
married Miss Henrietta M. Peebly, daughter of Thomas A. and Margaret 
Ann Peebly. She died September 27, 1882, leaving three children: 
Hamilton W., born March 10, 1872; Mattie E., born December 9, 1874, 
and Della May, born August 23, 1877. Harry B. Urich, upon removing 
from Pennsylvania in April, 1863, went to Morris, Grundy County, 
Illinois, where he lived for fourteen years; then, on account of 
failing health, he visited Florida for eighteen months and returned 
north as far as St. Clair County, Missouri. In April, 1881, in 
connection with his brother, he erected a saw mill, and they are also 
associated together in farming and raising stock. Mrs. H. M. Urich was 
a member of the Christian Church. Joseph H. Urich is a Democrat, while 
his brother is Republican in politics. The former belongs to the A. F. 
& A. M. fraternity. Thomas Ashford Peebly was born December 10, 1811, 
in Knoxville, Tennessee, and in 1818 accompanied his parents to Howard 
County, Missouri. Moving to St. Clair County in 1834, he purchased 
land. He owned at his death 530 acres. December 11, 1839, he married 
Miss Margaret A. Hoover. Her mother, with five children, came to this 
county in 1835. Mr. and Mrs. Peebly had five children: Mary J., born 
July 20, 1841, married Paris Brown July 11, 1861, and died June 10, 
1862; Martha A., born April 4, 1843 (wife of David Tapping); James, 
born March 15, 1845, died October 11 following; Ellen, born October 
28, 1847, died November 7, 1847, and Henrietta M., whose death is 
recorded above. Mr. P. died February 14, 1876, and his widow now 
resides upon the old estate. 



 JAMES B. VAUGHAN, a native of Coffee County, Tennessee, was 
born in 1840, his parents being Obediah and Nancy Vaughan. The former 
was born in Culpeper County, Virginia, in 1821, and early emigrating 
to Tennessee, was married there in 1839. He continued to live in that 
state until James was two years old, when, in 1842, he came with the 
family to St. Clair County, Missouri. He was a hardy pioneer, and 
endured many hardships in his new home. Being a great trapper and 
hunter, he found ample time here to engage. in this sport. Young 
Vaughan spent his early life in this county, tilling the soil in 
summer and hunting during the winter months, and he well remembers 
when the hide of the deer, wolf, etc., was the currency of the day. In 
1858 he married Miss Martha Lord, daughter of James Lord, one of the 
oldest settlers of St. Clair County. To them were born nine children, 
eight of whom are living: Nancy E., Sarah, Mary, Maudy, Daisy, Emma 
and Eddy. Sarah F. died when two years old. Mr. V. is a Republican in 
his political preferences, and he is a member of the Baptist Church at 
Bear Creek. 



GEORGE WAGNER, farmer and stock raiser, section 17. The subject 
of this sketch is one of the prominent men of Speedwell Township and 
one worthy of mention in the history of this county. He is a native of 
Germany and was born January 28, 1826. When but four years old he was 
brought to America by his parents, who located at Petersburg, 
Virginia. George there received the benefits of the common schools, 
and in 1842 he went back to Germany, where he entered the Heidelberg 
University of Baden-Baden. There he took a thorough course in 
surveying, engineering and jurisprudence, learning the Greek, Latin 
and Hebrew languages. He was graduated from that institution in 1847. 
Returning to Petersburg, Virginia, he was engaged in ornamental 
gardening, at which he accumulated a large amount of wealth. This was 
all lost during the war. In 1861 he enlisted in the Confederate 
service and was made regimental quartermaster of Roger A. Pryor's 
regiment, and after a short time was promoted to brigade 
quartermaster, which position he filled for eight months. After that 
time he filled the position of first assistant chief quartermaster of 
General Longstreet's corps until the surrender of General Lee. After 
the close of the war he remained in Petersburg, Virginia, for eighteen 
months, when he went to Kingman County, Kansas. He was occupied in 
farming and raising stock till 1878, when he came to St. Clair County, 
Missouri. Here he now has 320 acres of land, eighty acres in Vernon 
County and 320 acres of good farming land in Kansas, and he is one of 
the most practical farmers of this county. In 1874 he was elected 
probate judge of Kingman County, Kansas, which office he held four 
years. Mr. W. is a member of the Masonic fraternity. In February, 
1849, he was married to Miss Caroline Bloom, a native of Virginia. She 
died in 1878, leaving five children: George, Herman, William, Caroline 
and Louisa. He was married again in July, 1881, to Mrs. Mary J. Price, 
of Ohio. Her maiden name was Russell. Mr. and Mrs. W. are members of 
the Baptist Church. 



DAVID WALKER, farmer, section 17, a native of Darke County, 
Ohio, was born January 7, 1842, being the son of Alexander and 
Catherine (Sheppard) Walker, natives of Virginia. David was the fourth 
child of a family of ten children. In 1856 his parents moved to St. 
Clair County, Missouri, where he arrived at manhood, engaging in 
farming and stock raising. His farm is well improved and contains 120 
acres. His fine residence was built in 1881. Mr. W. was in the 
Missouri State Militia during the late war. February 23, 1864, he 
married Miss Frances Kellerinan, who was born in Indiana May 9, 1842. 
They have seven children: William, Anna B., James P., Mary E., 
Charles, Minnie A. and Cora. 



JOHN WALKER, farmer, section 21, was born in Miami County, 
Ohio, May 12, 1834. His father, Alexander Walker, a native of West 
Virginia, was a son of James Walker, a Virginian by birth and a 
soldier in the war of 1812. The maiden name of John's mother was 
Catherine Sheppard, originally from Maryland. John was reared in Ohio 
and was educated in the common schools. In 1856 he came to St. Clair 
County, Missouri, where he has since followed farming, now owning 
eighty acres of good land, well watered, etc. Mr. W. has held a number 
of township offices, among which are those of trustee and constable. 
September 18, 1856, he was married to Miss Mary Riegel, a native of 
Ohio. They have nine children: Sarah A., Jacob A., Nehemian, Lydia, 
John L., James M., Oliver S., Rudolph and Nellie M. 



P. WALLACE, farmer, section 7, was born in Hancock County, 
Indiana, November 22, 1850. His father, John J. Wallace, a native of 
North Carolina, was married to Miss Eliza Sergeant, of Indiana, who 
now lives in Bates County, her husband being deceased. The subject of 
this sketch was reared and educated in the county of his birth. When 
about seventeen years old he came to Missouri and located in Bates 
County, where he lived until 1875, then coming to his present 
location. Here he now has a farm of 160 acres. He was married February 
5, 1873, to Miss Naomi F. Fleemer, who was born in Monroe County, 
Indiana, July 30, 1853. She was a daughter of Samuel and Mary 
(Hendricks) Fleemer, the former of Indiana, and the latter of 
Kentucky. The family of Mr. W. consists of two children, Minnie and 
Eva. They are members of the Christian Church. 



SAMUEL ADAMS WARDEN, attorney at law, is the fourth of a family 
of nine children born to Samuel and Loretta (Richards) Warden, natives 
of Pennsylvania. Samuel was born in Wilkesbarre, Pennsylvania, July 
27, 1838. He received a practical education in youth and when 
seventeen years of age was employed as a clerk in a store, where he 
remained two years, and during his leisure hours read law. He 
subsequently took a commercial course in bookkeeping and was employed 
as a bookkeeper in Chicago and St. Louis, but the business being too 
confining he went to Cooper County, Missouri, in 1866. The following 
three years he was interested in agricultural pursuits. Having early 
formed a desire to become a lawyer, he resumed the study of law, and 
in 1869 was admitted to the bar by Judge Rice in Cooper County. In 
1871 he opened an office in Sedalia and lived there ten years. In May, 
1881, he removed to Osceola. Mr. W. was married June 4, 1862, in St. 
Louis to Miss Virginia E. Fisher, a daughter of W. P. Fisher, a native 
of Virginia. Mrs. Warden died December 22, 1882, leaving two children: 
William Fisher and Beverly S. Mr. W. is a prominent member of the 
Greenback party and he started the Labor Greenback Advocate in 
Sedalia, the first paper of its kind in the state. He has rendered his 
party efficient service as a forcible and effective speaker. He is a 
member of the I. O. O. F. and the A. O. U. W. lodges. 



PHILIP WARNER, section 11, a native of Washtenaw County, 
Michigan, was born February 28, 1858, and is a son of Abraham and 
Barbara (Layer) Warner, who were natives of Germany. Philip spent his 
youth on the farm at his birthplace, receiving a common school 
education. In the fall of 1870 he came to Missouri and bought land and 
settled in St. Clair County. Here he has a farm of eighty acres. Mr. 
Warner was married in this county September 17, 1878, to Mrs. Mollie 
Ruebush, a widow of Joseph Ruebush, and a daughter of Henry R. Holden. 
She has one child by her former marriage, Thomas Ruebush. Mr. and Mrs. 
W. have two children, Birdie B. and Harry T. He and his wife are 
members of the Presbyterian Church. 



ELDER WILLIAM WILCOX WARREN was born in Boyle County, Kentucky, 
June 25, 1837, and was the son of Dr. William W. Warren, who was born 
in Kentucky, in 1808, he being of English ancestry. He received a 
liberal education, and was graduated at the Transylvania University of 
Kentucky. After practicing for some time he went to Mississippi, and 
in 1843 came to Missouri and settled in Lafayette County. He died in 
1876. He married Miss Maria S. Speed, of Kentucky, who was of Scotch 
descent. They had nine children, of whom William was the third. He 
received an academic education, and in 1859, he came to St. Clair 
County and taught school, and he has been engaged in this occupation 
for many years. In 1867 he commenced preaching and in 1868, he was 
ordained by the Christian Church and since that date has been an 
active minister. He owns 700 acres of land and lives on section 14. 
Mr. W. married Miss Mary E. Coonce, in March, 1862. She was the 
daughter of Jacob Coonce, the first settler to make a home in St. 
Clair County in 1831. They have five children: Bailey and Wirt 
(twins), Mary P., Willis K., and Henry Jacob. In politics he is a 
Democrat. He has held the office of county school commissioner. He is 
a Mason and a member of the A. O. U. W. fraternity. 



ANDREW WAYMIRE, blacksmith at Roscoe, is a native of Warren 
County, Indiana, and was born October 29, 1828. He is a son of Isaac 
and Rachel Waymire, who were natives of Ohio. Andrew was the fourth of 
a family of nine children. When ten years of age he accompanied his 
parents to Buchanan County, Missouri, where he was reared to manhood, 
and he was engaged in farming in Missouri and Iowa till 1859. Then he 
worked at the gunsmith's trade in Iowa till 1868, when he removed to 
Arkansas, becoming occupied at the trade of blacksmith for three 
years. He worked in Lawrence County, Missouri, till 1874, when he came 
to Roscoe, and has since been interested in blacksmithing. Mr. Waymire 
was married December 1, 1846, to Miss Malissa Barrow, of Kentucky. 
They have five children living: Huldah, Maria, John, Charles and 
Albert. 



H. WEBER, the son of Anton and Catherine G. Weber, natives of 
Baden, Germany, was born in Alsace, Germany, January 9, 1851. He 
received a good practical education in his youth, and learned the 
trade of shoemaking. In 1873 he emigrated to the United States and 
settled in St. Louis, working at his trade in that city three years. 
Then he went to Clinton, Henry County, from whence, after working two 
years, he removed to Osceola and opened a shop. He owns a good 
business building, carries a complete stock of goods and is doing a 
successful business. Mr. Weber married Miss Louisa Morelly March 10, 
1878. She is the daughter of Charles Morelly. They have two children, 
Charles and Florence. He is a member of the I. O. O. F. Politically he 
is a Republican, and in his religious preferences a Catholic. 



JOHN E. WELLS, hardware merchant at Roscoe, was born in Carroll 
County, Missouri, September 22, 1857. His parents were Daniel W. and 
Margaret (Craven) Wells, the former a native of Illinois, and the 
latter of Missouri. When John E. was an infant he was taken by his 
grandfather to Clay County, Missouri, where he was reared and 
educated. In 1875 he removed to Harrison County, Missouri and clerked 
in a store there, and then in Gentry County till 1878, when he came to 
St. Clair County, Missouri. Here he followed school teaching till the 
spring of 1883, when he engaged in the hardware business. He is a 
member of the M. E. Church, South, and belongs to the I. O. G. T. 



JOHN CALVIN WHALEY, M.D., comes of old revolutionary stock. His 
great grandfather, James Whaley, born in Virginia, removed to Kentucky 
at an early day. He served in the revolutionary war, and furnished his 
hired man with a horse and paid him a salary for service in the same 
cause. Edward Whaley, the son of James, came to Kentucky with his 
father when thirteen years old. He married and settled in Bourbon 
County, Kentucky. In 1819 he located lands in what is now Marion 
County, Missouri. He entered these lands at the first land sales in 
St. Louis in 1821. Albert Whaley, the father of John C., and Polly 
Bird were married December 21, 1826. The doctor's grandfather came to 
Missouri with his family and slaves in 1821 and improved the lands he 
had previously located. He was the first county surveyor of Marion 
County and a member of the first grand jury. The subject of this 
sketch was born in Marion County, Missouri, December 16, 1838, and was 
the seventh of a family of thirteen children. He was reared on a farm, 
and received a good practical education at McGee and St. Paul 
Colleges. After leaving school he taught for seven years in Texas. In 
1861 he enlisted in the Confederate army at the call of Governor 
Jackson and was commissioned a first lieutenant. After the battle of 
Lexington he was appointed adjutant to Colonel Franklin with the rank 
of captain, and he served in that capacity until wounded and captured 
near Bragg's School House in Shelby County. He was confined at 
Palmyra, St. Louis and Alton and succeeded in making his escape. He 
rejoined Price's army in Mississippi and became a volunteer aid to 
General Green in the Iuka Springs expedition. He went to Texas on 
important duty, and after the surrender he went to New Mexico and the 
mountains. In 1866 he was at Waco, where he engaged in teaching school 
and pursuing his medical studies. He commenced his professional career 
in Clernard County. In 1869 he removed to Arkansas, near Fayetteville, 
and practiced there until 1875, when he came to Osceola, where he has 
since been actively pursuing his chosen profession. In connection with 
Mr. G. W. O'Conner he is largely interested in stock raising. Dr. W. 
was married in September, 1867, to Mrs. B. Deckerd, widow of B. 
Deckerd, who was killed in a battle in the Red River expedition. Mrs. 
W. has three children by her former marriage: Hugh, Ben and Bettie. 
Dr. and Mrs. W. have one son. Politically, the doctor is a Democrat, 
and he is also a Mason. 



DR. J. W. WHEELER, merchant at Johnson City, was born in 
Dearborn County, Indiana, September 7, 1844, his parents being Captain 
Piercy and Jerusha Ann (Holiday) Wheeler. In July, 1862, when in his 
eighteenth year, J. W. enlisted in the Ninety-first Indiana volunteer 
infantry, and after nine months service he re-enlisted in the 105th 
regiment. After four months in this regiment he again re-enlisted in 
the 147th, and served till discharged in June, 1865. After his 
discharge he returned home and attended school at Moors' Hill College 
for two years and received a good education in the English branches. 
In the fall and winter of 1867 and 1868 he took a course of lectures 
at the Cincinnati Eclectic Medical College. Coming to Missouri in the 
spring of 1868, he commenced the practice of his profession at Hudson, 
Bates County. The following year he came to St. Clair County and 
located at Johnson City, and has since continued in the practice at 
this place. The Doctor has built up a large patronage and is accounted 
one of the most successful physicians in the county. He engaged in the 
drug business in 1870, and in 1878 he added a complete stock of 
general merchandise. He is identified with the Republican party; was 
elected township collector and collected the tax for two years. He 
owns about 1,300 acres of land in St. Clair County, about 600 acres of 
which are improved, besides considerable town property and land in 
Cedar County. He is extensively occupied in feeding cattle and hogs 
for the market. The doctor is a man of good business habits and 
qualifications, and has made what property he owns since coming to the 
county. He was married here December 8, 1870, to Miss Ariadnah 
Isabelle Peck, a daughter of John W.. Peck, of Greencastle, Indiana. 
They have two children: Glennie F. and Harry P. He is a member of the 
Masonic fraternity. 



CHARLES M. WHITE, of the firm of White Bros., druggists, is a 
native of Cedar County, Missouri, and was born April 15, 1855. When he 
was four years old the family removed to Morgan County, Missouri, 
where he was reared to manhood there also receiving his education. 
When seventeen years old he engaged in the drug business as clerk at 
Versailles, Missouri, where he remained one year. Then he held a like 
position at Otterville, Missouri, for two years. He subsequently went 
to Bonham, Texas, and after residing there one year, returned to 
Missouri and for two years made his home at Pilot Grove. Then he 
embarked in the drug trade at Houstonia, where he carried on business 
two years. The following year he spent as a commercial traveler for a 
Sedalia house. He removed to Colorado and was engaged in mining from 
the spring of 1879 to the spring of 188i, when he came to Appleton 
City, and with his brother purchased their present stock of drugs. 
They are now doing an excellent business. 



ROBERTSON WHITE, farmer and stock dealer and the owner of 500 
acres of land, was born in Sussex County, New Jersey, June 13, 1813. 
He was the son of John White, of New Jersey, and his grandfather was 
born in Scotland, His mother was formerly Jane Robertson, daughter of 
Robert Robertson, of New Jersey. John White was in the war of 1812. He 
had a family of twelve children, of whom four sons and two daughters 
are now living. In 1815 the family moved to Guernsey County, Ohio, and 
thence to Muskingum County, where they remained for many years. In 
1836 Robertson went to Knox County, Illinois, entered a farm and 
improved 160 acres. In 1850 he took a trip to California, working in 
the mines while there. In 1861 he moved to California with his family, 
and after remaining two years, the climate not agreeing with his 
wife's health, he sold out and returned by way of New York, arriving 
in Knox County May 1, 1864. In 1866 Mrs. W. died, leaving five 
children: Aaron, Henry, George, Francis and Hattie. In 1867 he married 
Charlotte Ramboe, of Pennsylvania, a daughter of George Ramboe. By 
this union they have five children: John, Stella, Elizabeth, Theodore 
and Stephen A. Douglas. Politically he is a Democrat. Mrs. White is a 
Presbyterian. He is a Mason. He now resides on section 32. 



T. E. WILKINSON, farmer, section 11, was born in Warren County, 
Tennessee, February 28, 1836. His parents, Charles and Malissa 
(Cantrell) Wilkinson, were natives of South Carolina, and his great 
grandfather was a general in the Revolutionary war. When T. E. was 
about two years old the family moved to Missouri and located in 
Crawford County where they resided until he was sixteen years old, 
then going to Gasconade County. There he grew to manhood, receiving 
his education in the common schools. He followed farming in that 
county until 1870, when he came to St. Clair County. His present farm 
contains 170 acres of land. Mr. W. is a member of the Baptist Church 
and also belongs to the Masonic fraternity. November 25, 1860, he was 
married to Miss Sarah Walton, a native of Missouri. They have five 
children: Elizabeth M., George W., Mary M., Eliza B. and John T. They 
have lost two children. 



JOHN S. WILSON, dealer in general merchandise at Chalk Level, 
was born in Warsaw, Benton County, Missouri, January 26, 1848. and was 
a son of Dr. Joel Y. Wilson, a native of Kentucky, whose father, John 
D. Wilson, was a Virginian by birth and of Irish ancestry. The mother 
of John S. was formerly Mary Burch, a native of Virginia. John S. was 
the eldest of a family of six children. He grew to manhood in his 
native county and was there educated, being for many years engaged as 
clerk in different localities. He was for three years conductor on the 
Louisville & Nashville Railroad. In 1880 he located in Chalk Level, 
having previously been engaged in business at Appleton City for two 
years. He now carries a stock of drugs and other articles of 
merchandise and is doing a good business. He is a member of the I. O. 
O. F. Mr. Wilson was first married to Miss Fannie Campbell, a native 
of Missouri, who died August 4, 1870, leaving two children: Annie and 
William Y. He was again married February 8, 1873, to Miss Annie Van 
Allen, originally from New York. 



JOSEPHUS WINCHESTER, section 4, was born August 4, 1815, in 
Guilford County, North Carolina, his parents being William and 
Margaret (Witty) Winchester, natives of the same state. In 1830 the 
family removed to Kentucky and located in Callaway County. Josephus, 
the second son of five sons and seven daughters, spent his youth on a 
farm in that county, and was married May 14, 1839, to Miss Nancy Ann 
Rayburn, a daughter of John Rayburn. She was a native of Stewart 
County, Tennessee, but removed to Kentucky when a child and there grew 
to maturity. Mr. Winchester, after his marriage, resided in Kentucky 
about eleven years, coming to Missouri in 1850, and locating in St. 
Clair County. Here he bought land and improved the farm where he now 
resides, it containing 300 acres with about 100 under fence. He has 
nine children: Newton L., Eliza J. (widow of S. Hoover), Melinda (wife 
of C. Weir), Emily (wife of Lee Carroll), Rebecca (wife of D. L. 
Herndon), James J., Margaret (wife of C. S. Reding), William W. and E. 
C. Mr. and Mrs. Winchester are members of the Baptist Church. The 
former belongs to the Masonic fraternity. 



JOHN S. WINGFIELD, was born in March, 1816, in Virginia, his 
parents being Christopher and Nancy (Stockton) Wingfield, also 
Virginians by birth, who were married in 1814. The former was born in 
1788, and the latter in 1793. John S. the eldest of ten children, was 
brought up in the county of his birth, and lived at home principally 
until his marriage, in 1847, to Miss Harriet M. Bondurant. They have 
had ten children: Mary F, Christopher T., Millard F., Nancy J., Sarah 
E., Susan L., Charles P., Harriet M., and James M., and of this number 
three have died. In 1859 Mr. W. came to St. Clair County, locating in 
Collins Township, where he has since lived, gaining for himself an 
enviable reputation. The Republican party, recognizing his ability, 
nominated him for the position of county judge, but the Democratic 
party being in the majority, he failed to be elected. Mr. Wingfield's 
farm, one of the best to be found in the eastern part of the county, 
consists of 210 acres on the Weaubleau Creek. 



ALONZO C. WINTERS, plasterer at Lowry City, was born in Pike 
County, Illinois, March 20, 1858, and was the son of Benjamin B. and 
Emeline (Cobb) Winters, the former a native of Ohio and the latter of 
New York. Alonzo was reared in his native state and was there 
educated. His father was a plasterer by trade and the son worked with 
him in Illinois until 1877, when he came to St. Clair County, 
Missouri. He is a member of the I. O. O. F. fraternity. March 13, 
1881, Mr. Winters was married to Miss Lula Gracy, a native of Indiana. 
They have one child, Irving B. Mr. and Mrs. Winters belong to the M. 
E. Church. 



JOHN A. WISNER was born May 3, 1837, and was a native of Canton 
Basel, Switzerland, where his parents, Adam and Catharine Wisner, were 
also born, the former in October, 1811, and the latter March 23, 1817. 
They were married April 6, 1836, and had seven sons and six daughters. 
and of this number two sons and three daughters have died. Emigrating 
to America in 1843, they first settled in Virginia, purchasing 100 
acres of land and remaining upon it for four years. In 1847 Mr. W. 
sold this property, went to Sciota County, Ohio, and three years later 
removed to Van Buren County, Iowa, where he bought a forty acre tract. 
After residing in Iowa about six years, he came to Cooper County, 
Missouri, in the spring of 1859, and in 1860 to St. Clair County. He 
bought 160 acres of land in this township, but in two years exchanging 
places. secured one of 170 acres in Osceola Township, where he lived 
until his death, July 30, 1871. His widow now resides with one of her 
sons in this township. John A. Wisner, our subject, was married April 
1, 1860, to Miss Lora Clark, of Van Buren County, Iowa. They have 
eight children: Joseph, born January 29, 1861; Sarah, born September 
1, 1862, (wife of George W. Garrison, of this county); Martha A., born 
March 20, 1864; Laura and Lora, (twins) born April 29, 1867; Jessie, 
born December 17, 1869; Jeremiah, born May 16, 1872, and Adam Clark, 
born January 30, 1875. In 1866 Mr. Wisner purchased a farm of eighty-
two acres in Polk Township, upon which he still resides. In 1876 he 
was nominated and elected to the position of magistrate, and was re-
elected in 1878 and again in 1880, still holding that office. Mrs. W. 
and five children are members of the M. E. Church. He is a Democrat. 



P. B. WONACOTT, school teacher, was born in Cass County, 
Illinois, in 1853, and was the son of K. B. Wonacott, who was married 
in 1841 to Margaret Bell, of Virginia. They were the parents of eight 
children, of whom the subject of this sketch was the eighth in number. 
He remained at home until at the age of twenty-three years, when he 
entered school at Weaubleau Institute, remaining there for two years, 
and then left thoroughly prepared for the duties of teaching. On May 
9, 1848, Mr. W. married Miss Nannie J. McConnell, daughter of Joseph 
McConnell. They have two children, Maggie and Lawson. He is a 
Greenbacker in his political faith and a member of the M. E. Church. 
He is at present teaching school in this township. 



I. M. WOODALL, county treasurer and one of the most worthy and 
popular officials of St. Clair County, was born in St. Clair County, 
Missouri, in May, 1845, and was the son of Christopher Woodall, of 
Virginia, who came to this state in 1840. The mother of I. M. was 
formerly Margaret Simms, who was born in Virginia, and died in 1847. 
Mr. W. died in 1858. They left six children, of whom our subject is 
the youngest. He made the best use of his limited opportunities for 
acquiring an education in youth. He now owns a farm of 265 acres on 
section 21, in Collins Township. He was collector under the township 
organization, and has been a leading citizen in the township and 
county for many years. In 1882 he was elected county treasurer, and 
entered upon the duties of his office January 1, 1883. He enlisted in 
the Fifteenth Missouri Cavalry, Company M. for two years, and was 
mustered out at Springfield, Missouri, July 17, 1865. Mr. Woodall 
married Miss Minnie Fletcher in 1867. She was the daughter of Nathan 
and Sarah (Barnett) Fletcher, of Georgia. They have four children: 
John D., William, Sarah Margaret and James Francis. Mr. W. is a 
Democrat and a member of the Baptist Church. 



JOHN J. C. WOOLF was born in Caldwell County, Kentucky, on the 
20th of June, 1817, his father being Alfred Woolf, of the same county, 
born July 26, 1784. He was married in 1812, his wife, a Kentuckian by 
birth, having been born in 1786. John J. C. Woolf was united in 
marriage in 1836 to Miss Ellen Bigs, a daughter of Elisha Bigs, of the 
same county as himself. Soon after emigrating to Missouri, he located 
near Warsaw, Benton County, and upon living there for two or three 
years, in 1840 came to St. Clair County and settled, where he now 
resides, upon Weaubleau Creek. By his first marriage he had one child, 
a son, Henry Clay, now living in Livingston County. He was married a 
second time, in St. Clair County. to Miss Elizabeth Stealy, daughter 
of Jack Stealy, July 20, 1840. His third wife was Sealy M. Wade, to 
whom he was married in 1876. In 1856 Mr. Woolf purchased a mill on 
Weaubleau, known as Woolf's Mill, and successfully operated it during 
the war and after for twenty years. During the course of the civil war 
he remained neutral, taking no part on either side, and by his uniform 
courtesy and gentlemanly bearing was unmolested. He is now the owner 
of 1,080 acres of very fine land situated in the bottoms of Weaubleau. 



C. W. WRIGHT, merchant at Iconium, is a native of Washington 
County, Kentucky, and was born August 14, 1851, being the son of 
Nathaniel and Elizabeth Wright, who were married October 11, 1831. The 
former was born October 14, 1806, and the latter October 11, 1813, and 
they were the parents of twelve children, six sons and six daughters, 
of whom all but one son are living. C. W. Wright attended the State 
Normal Institution at Warrensburg, Johnson County, Missouri, where he 
received a good education, and after leaving the school was engaged in 
teaching for a few terms. In 1877 he accepted a situation as salesman 
at Lowry City, the style of the firm being J. P. Wright & Co., in 
which capacity he served for three years. Being desirous of engaging 
in business on his own account, he selected a site, and for eighteen 
months has been enjoying a fine general merchandise trade, in the 
southern part of this township. His present place of business was 
opened January 6, 1882. His stock is a complete one, and he richly 
merits the success which has thus far attended his career. He is 
acting as magistrate and is very popular in this community. 



EDWIN WRIGHT, farmer and stock deafer, section 5, was born in 
Licking County, Ohio, June 10, 1840. His parents were William S. and 
Samantha (Stedman) Wright, natives of Massachusetts. A colony had 
emigrated from Granville, Massachusetts, and located in Licking 
County, Ohio, when William Wright was about six years of age, hence 
the name of Granville, Ohio. Edwin was reared and educated in his 
native county, and there engaged in farming till 1859, when he came to 
St. Clair County, Missouri, where he resided till 1861, then returning 
to Ohio. He went from there with a number of men and enlisted in 
Company D, Thirteenth Missouri, which was afterward changed to the 
Twenty-second Ohio. He remained in service fourteen months, holding 
the position of corporal. In the fall of 1863 he went to Coles County, 
Illinois, and in the summer of 1865 came to St. Clair County, 
Missouri, where he has since followed his present occupation, having a 
landed estate of 880 acres. His farm is one of the best improved in 
this vicinity, and upon it is located a commodious and convenient 
residence, and one of the best barns in the county. On his farm is a 
number of medical springs, equal to those of Eldorado, his nearest 
trading point. He has also a very fine stone quarry equal to any in 
the state. July 27, 1864, Mr. Wright was married to Miss Fannie 
Bartlett, a native of Indiana. She was born in February, 1843, being a 
daughter of Charles and Emeline Bartlett, the former of New Hampshire 
and the latter of Kentucky. The family of Mr. and Mrs. W. consists of 
three children, Charles E., Maud and George S. 



GEORGE W. WRIGHT, merchant at Lowry City, is a native of 
Washington County, Kentucky, and was born July 4, 1844, being the son 
of Morgan Wright, a Kentuckian by birth, whose father, William P. 
Wright, was one of the pioneers of Kentucky, and a revolutionary 
soldier. The mother of George W., formerly Elizabeth Hickerson, was 
also born in Kentucky. The subject of this sketch was the sixth of a 
family of nine children. He grew to manhood on his father's farm, and 
was educated in the common schools. In October, 1861, he enlisted in 
Morgan's company, and was in the service until 1863. After this he 
returned to Kentucky and followed farming until 1865, when he began 
the study of medicine with Dr. J W Wright. He read with him one year, 
and then attended one course of lectures at Miami Medical College at 
Cincinnati. Returning to Kentucky he remained until 1870, when he came 
to St. Clair County, Missouri. In 1871 he built the first business 
house in Lowry City, and engaged in trade. He carries a full stock of 
drugs, groceries, etc., and is doing a good business. He is also 
proprietor of tile Wright House, an excellent hotel. Mr. W. was 
township clerk six years. He is a member of the I. O. O. F. 
fraternity. November 21, 1872, he married Miss Jennie G. Shinn, of 
this county. They have three children, Lillia, Minnie M. and Franklin 
P. 



JAMES POLK WRIGHT, M.D., was born in Washington County, 
Kentucky, December 23, 1844. His parents were Nathaniel and Matilda 
(Moore) Wright, natives of Virginia. James Polk grew to manhood in his 
native county and there received the advantages of the common schools. 
He was engaged in farming till 1866, when he embarked in merchandising 
in High Grove, Kentucky, and at the same time was occupied in reading 
medicine with his brother, Dr. J. W. Wright. After this he was 
graduated from the medical department of the University of Louisville, 
Kentucky. In 1871 he located at Lowry City, where he has since been 
interested in the practice of his profession, and he is recognized as 
being one of the leading citizens of that vicinity. He Is also the 
senior member of the firm of J. P. Wright & Co., merchants of Lowry 
City. He belongs to the Baptist Church, and also to the Masonic 
fraternity. December 14, 1879, Dr. W. was married to Miss Emma Hubner, 
a native of Ohio. They have one child: Walter E. 



DR. JOHN W. WRIGHT, was born December 20, 1836, in Washington 
County, Kentucky. His father, Nathaniel Wright, was born October 14, 
1806, and on October 11, 1831, married Miss Elizabeth Parker, daughter 
of Richard and Elizabeth Parker, she was born October 11, 1813, in 
Culpeper County, Virginia. John W., the second child and oldest son in 
the family, received a good education in youth, attending the 
Georgetown College at Georgetown, Kentucky, where he graduated in the 
class of 1861. Entering the Medical College of Kentucky at Louisville, 
he graduated in 1863, and in 1864 was a graduate from the Louisville 
University, having been a member of the College of Physicians and 
Surgeons of that institution. He first commenced the practice of his 
profession at Louisville, but after remaining there one year, went to 
High Grove in 1865, where he had an extensive patronage for four 
years. April 1, 1868, he married Miss Amanda Rouse, a daughter of 
William A. and Amanda Rouse, of Bullitt County, Kentucky, and they 
have two daughters: Nancy A., born April 19, 1869, and Matilda B., 
born August 28, 1875. In 1870 Dr. W. purchased a tract of eighty acres 
of land in Jackson Township, St. Clair County, Missouri, and devoted 
some attention to agricultural pursuits and the raising of stock. He 
added, from time to time to his original purchase until he is now the 
owner of 1,200 acres of excellent land, several hundred acres of which 
are under fence and well adapted for fine stock raising to which he is 
giving considerable interest. In 1880 he represented this county in 
the state legislature and since his return has resumed his practice, 
which is very extensive and constantly on the increase. The doctor is 
a man well versed in his profession, kind and gentle to the sick and 
affable in his manners. He belongs to both the A. F. & A. M. and A. O. 
U. W. fraternities. Politically he is Democratic. 



NATHANIEL P. WRIGHT, M.D., a native of Washington County, 
Kentucky, was born May 1, 1849, and was the son of Nathaniel Wright of 
the same county. born October 14, 1806, who on October 11, 1831, 
married Miss Elizabeth Parker, who was born in Culpeper County, 
Virginia, October 11, 1813. Of their original family of twelve 
children eleven are now living: Elizabeth V., John W., Amanda F., 
Missouri, James K. P., Kitty H., C. W., Alice A., Anna E., Albert S., 
and of this number the subject of this sketch was the fifth son and 
eighth child. One son, Thomas J., a graduate of the medical college at 
Louisville, died in his native state. Nathaniel P., was educated at 
his birthplace, and also an attended the medical college at 
Louisville, where he graduated in the class of 1875-76. In 1868 the 
senior Wright, with his family, emigrated to St. Clair County, 
Missouri, settling first in Jackson and later in Polk Township. The 
Doctor was married November 1, 1876, to Marietta Sheldon, daughter of 
Albert B. and Eliza (Gardner) Sheldon, of this township, They have 
three children: Leo S., born December 6, 1877; Julia, born August 27, 
1879; and Ethel, born January 9, 1882. Though commencing his practice 
against a strong and well established competition. Dr. Wright has met 
with flattering success, and to a patronage which he richly deserves, 
it extending beyond the limits of St. Clair County, into Hickory and 
Benton. The first mill in this locality was erected on a part of his 
present farm. He owns 350 acres of land and has had great success in 
the raising of wheat. He is a member of the Mt. Olivet Baptist Church, 
Henry County, and also belongs to the A. F. & A. M., and A. O. U. W. 
fraternities. Politically he is a Democrat. His wife is connected with 
the M. E. Church, South, of Bear Creek. 



REV. WILLIAM P. WRIGHT, pastor of the Wright Creek Baptist 
Church, was born in Lincoln County, Missouri December 15, 1830, his 
parents being William Wright, originally of Washington County, 
Kentucky, born in 1808, and Ann (Thomas) Wright, also a Kentuckian by 
birth, born in 1812. They were married in 1830, and have seven 
children living: William P., Elizabeth P., Morgan, Martin V., Nancy 
J., Milton F., and Henry F. One son, Thomas J., died in June, 1875. 
Coming to Missouri the senior Wright settled in Lincoln County in 
1830, and after remaining there four years moved to this county (then 
Rives) and located in Jackson Township, where he entered eighty acres 
of land from the government. In 1840 selling out he bought 160 acres 
in Butler Township, but disposed of this in 1849 and purchased eighty 
acres in this township, where he remained until his death, February 
15, 1854. Mrs. Wright, after being a widow for two years, married 
James Addington, of this county, and died in 1867. The subject of this 
sketch when a boy had limited advantages for acquiring an education, 
and being a great lover of books he was determined to prepare himself 
for a life of usefulness. While applying his mind to mathematics and 
somewhat to the sciences, he took a deep interest in the study of the 
Bible, and later became well versed in its truths and doctrines, which 
he at once put in practice. He was licensed to preach in 1854, and in 
1855 was ordained a Baptist preacher by Revs. Peter Brown and James 
Cole, of this county. Since his ordination he has been pastor of 
different churches, and has been occupied in missionary work, in the 
old path association. His farm in section 8 contains 160 acres. He is 
actively engaged in farming and has done much surveying, being well 
learned in the principles of that science. His wife and five of his 
children are members of Wright Creek Church. Mr. W. married Miss 
Elizabeth Crabtree, of Benton County, December 18, 1850. They have 
eight children living: Columbus born October 24, 1851, and died August 
31, 1852, Missouri A., Andrew E., W. 



JOSEPH YANCE, a member of the well known establishment of Stout 
& Co., was born in St. Clair County, Missouri, November 11, 1842. His 
parents were among the first settlers of Taber Township. He was reared 
to manhood on his father's farm and obtained his education in the 
common schools. In August, 1862, he enlisted in Company I, Colonel 
Shelby's battalion, serving until paroled at Fort Scott, Kansas, in 
June, 1865. He then farmed in Vernon County, Missouri, for eight 
months, and later went to Platte County, Missouri. In the fall of 1866 
he returned to St. Clair County and lived here until 1873, when he 
took a trip to California. After one year he came back here and farmed 
until 1881 Then he became identified with the firm of Stout & Co. Mr. 
Yance was married November 19, 1868, to Miss Mary Ketcham, of Indiana. 
They have four children: Bertha B., Nona K. L., Tamer B. and Louis A. 



FRANCIS YOAST, farmer and stock dealer, section 16, is the son 
of John Yoast, who was born in Germany in 1794, emigrating to the 
United States in 1808 with his father - a cooper by trade, he having 
come to this country to follow that occupation. He first located in 
Virginia, and after living there one year went to Ohio, and in 1810 
emigrated to Knoxville, Tennessee. In 1812 John Yoast was married to 
Miss Elizabeth Ware, of Blount County, Tennessee. From this marriage 
there was born on the 23d day of December, 1814, a son, Francis. The 
senior Yoast, together with his family, came to Missouri in 1836, 
locating in Collins Township, of this county, and our subject has done 
much toward its improvement since his residence here. At that time 
this county was known as Rives, and he has often visited Osceola when 
it contained but one store. In 1838 one of the first, if not the first 
marriage ceremonies, was solemnized in Collins Township. During the 
late war Mr. Yoast was actively engaged in the cause of the union. He 
is a member of the Methodist Church and politically a Greenbacker, 
though formerly a Republican. He owns 265 acres of land. 



ANDREW YONCE, one of the pioneers of St. Clair County, who 
resides on section 12, of this township, is a son of John Yonce, a 
native of Virginia, and of German descent. Andrew was born in Wythe 
County, Virginia, April 3, 1810. He was there reared and educated in 
both English and German schools. November 10, 1830, he was married to 
Miss Esther Coulthard, and in 1838 they moved to St. Clair County, 
Missouri, locating on Big Monegaw, three miles northeast of where he 
now resides. He afterwards entered the land that comprises his present 
farm, which contains 160 acres, a portion of which is underlaid with a 
rich vein of coal. When he first settled in this vicinity his nearest 
neighbor was five miles distant and the Indians were more numerous 
than the white men. His trading points were Osceola and Harmony 
Mission, his post office being at the former place. He and his wife 
are members of the M. E. Church and for some two years religious 
services were held at their residence. Mrs. Yonce was born in England, 
November 25, 1814. She was a daughter of Thomas and Ester (Craig) 
Coulthard, who crossed the sea with nine children in 1829, and located 
in Wythe County, Virginia. Mrs. Y. was educated in England. Their 
family have numbered twelve children, nine of whom are living. Joseph 
T., born November 11, 1842, and married November 16, 1868, Miss Mary 
E. Ketcham, of Indiana; Flarvious J., born May 4, 1844, married June 
5, 1873, Miss Susanna Burke; William H., born July 4, 1846, married 
November 14, 1875, Miss Mary E. Campbell; John A., born September 10, 
1849, and married July 19, 1875, Miss Rebecca Burke; Frances, born 
October 11, 1840, married February 22, 1866, A. C. Ditty; Maria L., 
born December 12, 1847, and married April 22, 1869, A. Landon; 
Henrietta E., born November 6, 1853, married March 13, 1873, John B. 
Ditty; Florence O., born August 31, 1856, married February 4, 1877, G. 
L. Woolsey; Adriana C., born June 21, 1858, married July 4, 1878, H. 
Landon. 





Biographies A-F
Biographies G-M





Missouri Records
Kansas Records
Cemetery Transcriptions


Census Transcriptions
Marriage Records
Obituary Index


Family Research
Research Requests
Email Webmaster

 



Alienware Computer Coupons