j'.UHiiiiHHft.';; Glass E4^*\2^_ / A HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY JAMES EVERETT FORD JAMES EVERETT FORD A HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY r Treating of its Transformation from the Heart of the Wilderness of Yesterday to the Heart of the Mighty Nation of Today. A Tribute to the Pioneer and Something of the Men who are Making the Grun- dy County of Tomorrow. Printed by NEWS PUBLISHING COMPANY Trenton, Missouri, 1908. Copyright 1908 by JAMES EVERETT FORD HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY. 11 ^r:efat::e The purpose of this book is not only to narrate events, but to portray pioneer hfe; to call up our grandfathers in their picturesque attire, with their old-fashioned manners and quaint dialect, and have them show us over their log cabins; to see their rude furniture; to sit with them at the table, and by the fireplace ; and to take a bird's eye view of the dense forests and broad prairies of Grundy County sixty years ago. And in the pioneer life of this county is an epitome of the pioneer life of the state. None too soon is this work undertaken. Even now we see as through a glass, darkly, the county's earliest history. The few old pioneers who have seen the twilight of its dawn are now far in the twi- light of the evening of life. Soon such a work would be impossible. And I feel that there is need of a book of this kind ; that it should be read by young as well as old. Every educator knows the value of the study of his- tory — the study of the progress of the human mind and of the advance of the human race. But should we know more of the manners and customs of the Greeks than of our grandfathers? I think it is as essential to have a clear knowledge of the home life of the early Missourians as of the early Macedon- ians. Much space is given to biography. An insight 12 HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUXTY. into the county's history is given in the hves of her citizens. And what may be of but ordinary interest now may be of inestimable value in the course of time. Much of the credit for whatever success this book may meet is due to the newspapers of the county which have coxirteously allowed me the use of their files. I am especially indebted to the Re- publican-Tribune, whose files, extending back for forty years, have been of great assistance to me. From Birdsall & Dean's old history of Grundy County information has been taken when it seemed authentic. To the many old pioneers who have given me information and inspiration, and to J- E. Carter and O. G. Bain in particular, for articles con- tributed, I express my heartiest thanks for their in- valuable aid. Jami:s Eve:r^tt Ford. HISTORY OF CRllXDY (^OUXTY. 13 CHAPTER I. THE EARLIEST PERIOD— Early Subdivisions of Missouri— The Indians— Ths First S?ttlement— Bee Hunting — The First Set- tlers — Settlements multiply — Plowing — The Mormons — The Heatherly Gang — Commerce, Foreign — Commerce, Domestic — Post Office Facilities — Political — An Old Time Honeymoon And a Peep Inside the New Home — Brief Sketch of Uncle Jack Moore — Charles Scott, an Old Settler — Pen Pictures of The First Cabins — List of First Settlers. RUNDY COUNTY was organized in G1841. Since 1837 it had been a part of Livingston County. It was named in honor of the Hon. FeHx Grundy of Tennessee, a former United States Senator, and at that time, 1841, Attor- ney General of the United States. In 181 2, in accordance with an act of Congress, Governor Clark issued a proclamation dividing that part of the Louisiana purchase known as the Terri- tory of Missouri, into five counties, as follows: St. Charles, St. Louis, St. Genevieve, Cape Girardeau and New Madrid. In the year 1816 Howard County was created from the territory of St. Louis and St. Charles. The County of Howard comprised an empire 22,000 square miles in area, one-third the size of the present state. The territory now included in Grundy County was a part of Howard until 1820. Howard County was divided and Ray County 14 HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY. org-anized on November i6, 1820, whereupon this territory became a part of Missouritan Township, Ray County, and so remained for twelve years,, when it 1:)ecame part of Grand River Township. January 2, 1833, Carroll County was organized from the territory of Ray, and Livingston County was formed of a part of Carroll County, January 6, 1837. Up to 1795 this country was claimed by the Mis- souri Indians. They were forced to the south and west by the Sacs and Foxes, who by the year 181 2 were locating on the Missouri River. Indians here were never numerous nor did they ever permanent- ly occupy the country so far back as we have any record. The Sacs and Foxes and at intervals the lowas came in small bands hunting and trapping along the streams. They relinquished their claim to the land in 1824, but continued to revisit the place until as late as 1840. The settlers of this county never had any serious difficulty with the In- dians. The first settlement made in Grundy County was in 1833. Deer and turkey w^re numerous here then, there were some buffalo and bear, and a few elk. Wolves made the first settlers keep careful watch of their young stock; there were numerous foxes and all manner of small game, while occa- sionally a wild cat was seen. Indians were to be found here only at irregular intervals and in small numbers, hunting and trapping. Depending to a great extent upon hunting and fishing for a living, the early settlers always built their log cabins in timber land and near a stream. Not until well into the fifties did they begin to HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY. 15 realize that the prairies might be of some value. One of the chief attractions this country had to the first settlers was in the number of bee trees to be found here. While honey and wild game were among the principle articles of food, both were so easily obtained as to be wasted in large quantities. The securing of beeswax, one of the principle ex- ports, was of much more importance than the secur- ing of honey. A whole neighborhood at a time would go bee hunting, sometimes going a consid- erable distance from home. On these trips when they cut a bee tree they would squeeze out the wax, allowing the honey to run down on the ground where a part of it would be collected again by the bees. Large hollow trees being plentiful then, and bees comparatively unmolested, prodigious quan- tities of honey would often be found in a bee tree. The first settlers in Grundy County were Dr. \\m. P. Thompson, John Scott and Harvey Meek, brothers-in-law, who came here together, with their families and settled on Thompson's fork of Grand River in the fall of 1833; and Levi Moore, with his family and sons-in-law, Wm. Cochran, John Thrailkill, George Tetherow and Yancy Stokes, who formed Moore's settlement, afterwards Trenton, in 1833 or 1834. It is a disputed question as to who was the first settler. "Uncle Jacky" Moore, son of Levi Moore, is very positive that his people came in the spring of 1833. In this case they would be the first set- tlers. Others are equally positive that it was not until 1834, the spring after the coming of Thomp- son, Scott and Meek, that the Moores came to the countv. 16 HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUxXTY. In 1835 came the Watsons and Hawkins, who located in the east and southeast part of the county; the Dobbins, who located where Lindley now is. In the same year Daniel Devaul, who afterwards l^uilt the first store in the county, came to Moore's settle- ment. A few other settlers came, locating in differ- ent parts of the county. The "Heatherley gang," it appears, came the same year, but they were not bona fide settlers. In 1836 a steady stream of immigration set in. The county was surveyed by the United States government survey in that year and the next, a land office was opened at Lexington, and the land of the county was opened to entry. Lands were quickly taken up, both by incoming settlers and speculators. Immigrants were principally from Kentucky, Virginia and Ohio. They would come in squads of from five to ten families, and locate in the same neighborhood. It was not long until they began to till the soil. Breaking prairie at that time, with the implements then obtainable, was Cjuite different from modern methods of plowing. The plow of that period had a w^ooden mouldboard, cut a furrow from thirty to forty inches wide, and was drawn by from four to eight or ten yoke of oxen. This being more oxen than the average farmer had, certain settlers in each neighborhood broke prairie for their neigh- bors for wages. James Bunch is said to have put up the first horse mill. Each customer furnished his own horse and did his own grinding. The toll charged for the use of the mill was one-eighth. The horse was a verv rare animal in the forties, HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY. 17 oxen being used instead. The settler was as par- ticular to have a match yoke of steers as a farmer is now to have a match team of horses. Samuel and Wm. Benson, Evan and AVm. N. Pegry, Wm. AlcCammon, Wm. Metcalf, the Ox- fords, Grubbs, Applegates and Wynne's settled on the west side of the river in 1837. On the east side Jesse and Raison Bain, Samuel Kelso, Henry Fos- ter, Wm. Dille and others came the same year, forming the Bain settlement, in the present neigh- borhood of Tindall. The Bain settlement was then the most northerly one in the county. Other early settlers are George Peery and sons, William and Archibald, Jewett Norris, Philip ^Vild and George Bunch. j It is thought that a few Alormon families stopped for a few months in Franklin township in 1836. At this time there was a Mormon colony in Daviess Count}^ and this colony, if it existed, was an offshoot of that. The Indians reported the ex- istence of the settlement in Franklin Township, and the first white settler in that vicinit}^, James Wel- don, found evidence that the report was true. The Heatherleys, a gang of horse thieves, made this country their rendezvous as early and perhaps earlier than 1835. In the story of the Heatherley gang, as well as in many other instances of the very early settlement it is hard to distinguish between fact and tradition. According to one account in the old Grundy County History, they killed a man named Dunbar and a companion in 1836 in an at- tempt to rob them, and threw their bodies into Medicine Creek. Then to avert suspicion they gave out that the lowas and Sacs were on the war- 18 HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY. path. The settlers were, of course, wildly excited. Two companies of militia were called from Ray and two from Clay County, while one was organized here in Livingston and the force placed under com- mand of General, or Dr., Thompson. In the mean- time the settlers at Moore's and Thompson's settle- ments had assemhled at Moore's settlement and con- structed a rude block house for their defense. The bodies of the men were found, but finding that the rumor of hostile Indians was false, the settlers had the Heatherleys, who started it, arrested. One of the gang, Hawkins, turned state's evidence and the gang was sent to the penitentiary. It is said that Senator David R. Atchison commanded one of these militia companies. So ended the Heatherley The same authority in another section of the book says that this disturbance arose in 1838. That the depredations of the gang were chiefly against the Pottawatomie Indians; that after raiding an In- dian camp and stealing a number of ponies they were followed by the Indians and a fight ensued in ]\Iarion Township, in which two of their number and one Indian were killed. The Indians then, so the story goes, in retaliation commenced depreda- tions on the other settlers, which led to the calling out of 2,000 militia. The Heatherle3's lost some others of their number, and the rest of the gang left the country for parts unknown. The Indians sur- rendered, were giveri a trial at Richmond, Ra)^ County, and acquitted. An entry in the Government Field Book, dated April 27, 1837, in describing the location of certain sections refers to "a cabin known bv the name of HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY. 19 the Heatherley Den, here hvecl a nuniljer of men who created the trouble with the Iowa Indians in the summer and fall of 1836. Cabin about ten chains to the S. W. and inhabited at the present time by Minter Brassfield.'' Warden Matt Hall, of the state penitentiary, in response to an' inquiry by the author, says that after a thorough search of the records he fails to find that any person of the name of Heatherley was in the penitentiary in this period. From these evi- dences it appears that the disturbance caused by the gang- was in the year 1836 and that things becom- ing too warm here they left of their own accord instead of being sent to the penitentiary. The cabin referred to was situated northwest of tlie present site of Gait, and near the present residence of George Winters. Glasgow, on the Missouri River, loo miles away, Richmond, Ra}- County, and IJruns^vick ^^ ere the chief trading points in those days. Nearly all merchandise bought was paid for in skins, furs, honey, venison, beeswax, hogs, etc. Monev was a very scarce article, and what little there was in the community was generally used to enter land. They did not go shopping often then, once a year suffic- ing for the average settler. The annual pilgrimage to market was an important event. The equipage on the way to to\\n would consist of an ox team and a wagon loaded with skins, venison, etc., hogs fol- lowing, fattening on the mast along the way, and men enough to drive the hogs. Hogs were raised cheaply, and when driven somewhat more than a hundred miles to market sometimes brought as high as two cents a pound. On the return trip the wagon 20 HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY. would be loaded with a barrel of sugar, barrel of whiskey and other household necessities, such as turpentine, powder, tin cups, etc. Grundy County had not been settled long until it had a store of its own. Daniel Devaul, who came to Moore's settlement in 1835, built there the first store in that year. It was a pretentious building* for that time, being built of hewed instead of round logs, and plastered with lime instead of mud. The store was located not far from where the court house now stands. The first merchants to occupy it were James S. Lomax and his l^rother-in-law^ Thomas Jacobs, who for a short time were partners in the mercantile business. The settlement first called Moore's, and later known as "the Bluffs," now became known as Lomax's Store. Lomax, however, did not long" have a monopoly on the mercantile business. Wm. Thrailkill and brother started a store the following year and they w^ere soon followed by James L. Hen- shaw. Supplies for the stores were hauled from Richmond, Glasgow and Brunswick, at the rate of sixty to seventy-five cents per one hundred pounds. The land on which Lomax's store was built, with the greater part of the present site of Trenton, was bought by Wm. Cochran at Government price, $1.25 per acre. He sold it to James R. Merrill for $400. Post office facilities were the most primitive until after 1839. Spring Hill in Livingston and Mill Port in Daviess County were the nearest post offices. Any one going to either of these places would get the mail for the whole neighborhood, and, after that store was established, leave it at HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY. 21 Lomax's store. In the year 1839, liowever, a post office was established at Bluff Grove, as it \vas called, with James S. Lomax, postmaster. He was succeeded by George Moberly in 1842, w4io served eio-ht vears, durino- which time the name of the place was changed to Trenton. \\'hile a part of Livingston County, the people took an active part in political affairs. This county and Mercer formed a part of the two townships, Sugar Creek and Muddy Creek. Elections in Sugar Creek Township, which lay west of the east fork of Grand River, were held at the house of Wm. Peery ; in Muddy Creek Township, which was east of the east fork, at the house of Daniel Devaul. Wm. Thompson was presiding judge of the Liv- ingston County Court from 1839 until the organiz- ation of this county. It was in these days that the first roads were laid out in this county. The first was called the Iowa trail. Petition for it w^as filed by George Tetherow, and the road led from Chillicothe to Sec- tion 35, Township 62, Range 24, now the south central part of Lincoln Township. The next road, established in 1839, ran from Chillicothe to the house of Wm. Thompson. The first merchant's license granted for a resident in this county was g-ranted by the Livingston County Court to James Lomax in 1838 as a retailer of merchandise and liquors. Livingston County also organized our first school district. It was in Trenton Township and was organized in 1838. James Merrill was ap- pointed commissioner and Martin Winn and Samuel Benson school inspectors. "From Mrs. Jarvis W^oods, one of the female 22 HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY. pioneers, who came to Grundy County with her father, Daniel Devaul, in 1835," says the old Grundy County History, "is given a short account of what the wives of the early settlers performed as their part of the work for the regeneration of the wilderness. The old lady is hale and hearty, (1881), claims that her early days were full of hap- piness as hard work, and she holds in slight con- tempt the effeminate beauties of the present day, who lack of courage and the will to do — that was the glorious trait the young women of olden times possessed, and what made them the equals of, and fit wives and associates for the men of those days. The wedding tour of Mr. and Mrs. Jarvis Woods was a horseback ride of about six miles, ending in the woods at a temporar}- log shanty. There the young bride jumped from her horse and took pos- session of her home. It was built of slabs or puncheons, placed against a large white oak tree, and they were kept in their places by heavy logs placed against them. And in telling the author of this bridal tour and her new home, Mrs. Woods said she w^as just as happy as she could be. The floor of her house was of mother earth. Her chief cooking utensil was an iron bake-pan, used in old times to make a pone of corn bread and to bake an occasional biscuit. The wTiter was shown this relic of olden time. It is doing duty now as a lye pot. This young bride also had a skillet, and with a gourd, or a tin cup or two, she had her culinary out- fit. It would give a farmer's bride of today a chill of absolute despair if she were introduced to such an establishment. Well, that was the bride's home for six short (not long) weeks before their new HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY. 23 palace residence was completed. This happened in February, 1838 — the couple being married on the 26th of February by Squire Thrailkill, and the road to their home was simply a not over-beaten pathway in the woods. vShe milked the cow, and cooked, and sewed, wove and spun, and went to mill, thus doing her part and keeping her end of the line taut. They made their bread literally by the sweat of their brows and led happy and contented lives. They were the first couple married in Grundy county. A calico or a gingham dress in those days was a piece of finery good enough to visit in or go to church, but you would oftener see a new home spun dress do duty on the same occasion; then these fine dresses would last a year or two, and it took eight yards for a dress. Hoop-skirts had not yet put in an appearance and pin backs were of another day and generation. So w^ith the multiplicity of duties the young wife kept on her way. By and by, when the family had grown up around them, cares began to increase and the wife and mother was often com- pelled to sit up night after night that the husband's and children's clothes might be mended, their stockings darned, and the preparations for the com- ing morning's work made ready. Then it was dis- covered that the woman's work is never done. The household was asleep. The tired husband and father was resting his weary limbs in dreamland, the children were tossing here and there on their beds as restless children always do. Nature itself had gone to rest and the outer world was wrapped in darkness and gloom, but the nearly exhausted mother still sewed on and on, and the midnight was still shedding its pale light over the work 24 HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY. or the vigils of the loved and loving mother. And this is the record of the thousands of noble women, the female pioneers, whose daily presence, loving hearts, earnest work and keen judgment, made the work of civilization and progress one of success. And the question has often times been asked, 'What would the men of olden times have done if the women of olden times had not been with them.-'' and the reply comes back, 'Ah! yes, what would they have done?' " "Uncle Jacky" Moore, one of the most interest- ing characters in Grundy County, and probably its oldest settler, says that in the spring of 1833 his brother-in-law, Wm. Cochran, came to Grundy Countv and put in about seven acres of corn in a field extending from near where the court house now stands to the overhead bridge. The first plant- ing was taken by wild pigeons. He, then a boy of ten, came from Daviess County, where his father lived, and stayed with his brother-in-law, keeping the pigeons away from the corn. The birds nested in a scrub oak thicket on the present site of the fair grounds. Within a few years they had disappeared through Mercer County into Iowa. His father, Levi Moore, came with his large family in the fall of 1833, and wnth his sons-in-law formed Moore's settlement on the ground on which the city of Trenton is built. The United States sur- vey not yet being made, every man helped himself to whatever land he wanted. Mr. Moore is a man of excellent memory and tells vividly occurrences of early days. He was a soldier in the INIexican war, made the trip across the plains in the early fifties, returned by way of Ruins of old Peery home near Edinbiirg. 26 HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY. the isthmus of Panama, and has had numerous ad- ventures with Indians. On one occasion, when he was fifteen years old, the Iowa Indians came down from Fort Des Moines, Iowa, on a horse trading expedition, preparatory to moving- further west. They secured a good many horses from the new set- tlements in Grundy County, giving their notes in payment, payable when they should receive their allowance from the government. He, having learned the Indian language, was sent to Fort Des Moines to collect the notes when they became due. He w^as one night and two da3^s on the way, going the most of the time without food. A short dis- tance across the Iowa line he reached a trail which led him directly to the fort. Here he collected pay- ment in full for every note as the Indians received their allowance from the government, and after- wards had considerable excitement riding in the races in which the Indians took great delight. Charles Scott, a son of John Scott, disputes with Mr. Moore the honor of being the oldest living resi- dent of Grundy County. His father came with Dr. Thompson and Harvey Meek in the fall of 1833, and for a time the three with their families lived in one log cabin. They had previously been in this county and were attracted by the number of bee trees and the plentifulness of game. They settled on the west branch of Grand River, which in honor of Dr. Thompson, is now known as Thompson's fork. Dr. Thompson was one of the leading men in this part of the state, not only a physician of repute but a level headed business man. Mr. Scott tells a story of a unique prescription given by him. The HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY. 27 patient was very ill and nervous when Dr. Thomp- son was called. The doctor, after a critical exami- nation, said: "The first thing Til prescribe is a pint of hog's fat. yieh it and give it to me now." The wondering wife of the patient soon brought him the melted lard. The door of the log cabin, as of other cabins, was made of two puncheons stood on end and fastened together and was fastened to the side of the house by wooden hinges in such a way that it creaked hideously when opened. Without a word Dr. Thompson took the lard and poured it over the hinsres and down the side of the door and over the floor where the friction was greatest, and pro- ceeded to further treatment of the case. The typical house of that time consisted of one room. It was built of logs, of course, and had a puncheon floor. To provide light a log was left out of one side of the house. Xails were not to be had, and for a roof, clapboards were fastened overhead by weight poles. The chimney was made of sticks and clay. The fire place took up a good part of one side of the house. The door was made of puncheons, as previously described. The bed was made by fastening a post in the floor and running poles from this post into holes bored into the logs of the wall on the two cornering sides of the house. Chairs were made of hickory bark, and the few other necessary articles required to furnish a house were equally crude. The following list includes most of the names of those who were here prior to the time the county was organized. There may 1 e a few names there that ought not to be and are, doubtless, several not there that ought to be, but the list is as nearly com- 28 HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY. plete and correct as it can conveniently l)e made: Daniel Aslil)i'()ok. David Aslibrook. W. M. Ashln-ook, Stanley Arbuekle, Phillip Ashbrook, Riley Burgess, John Berry, John Bennett. James Bennett. Hamilton Bennett. Wm. Bennett. Moses Bennett. Walter Bennett, Eiehard Bennett. David Benson. Noah Benson. Wm. C. Benson, Samuel I)enson. Robert II. Benson, James Brown, Daniel Broek. Sampson Beat hand, George Bunch, B. •b)s( ph Applegate, 4aeol) Api)legate, •Ifimes Applegate, W. ^I. Anderson, Josiah Andei'son. James Ihuieh, Riason lUiin, .lesse Bain, 'laeob Bain, ]\ I inter Brassfield, James R. Blackburn, Reuben Brassfield, .b)hn l)]ackl)uri], Wm. W. l^.ond, John W. l5ond, ('aleb Brooks, Richard Belshe, Sanmel Benner, Howard B. Best, China Best, Humphrey Best, Jarvis C. Boies, James Blizzard. Thomas Cole, Thomas Clark, Wm. Cole, AVm. Cox, Zela Conkling. Samuel Chestnut. David Cole. Charles Chappel. Edward Cox. Archibald Chitwood, W. T. Cornwell. W. M. Cornwell, B. B. Cornwell, Wm. Cochran. John Charlton, Arthur C'harlton. James Chappel. John Chappel, James Claypole, John Chaney, John Casteel, Richard Chenoweth, Wm. Collins. Erris Casteel. Lemuel Casteel. AVm. Casteel. Waddy L. Curran, Peter Connor, Wm. Clark, James Cash, Thos. N. Carnes, IMichael Christian, John Carro. Benj. B. Casteline, HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY. 29 Jas. K. Danifuly. Cornelius Darnaby Jno. S. Darnaby, Daniel Devaul, James Devaul, Joseph Davis, Hugh Davis, Andrew Davis. Ezra B. Evans. Allen England. Jas S. Estes, Wm. Estes. E. G. W. Diekson, Geors:e Drinkard. JohirDille, George Doekery. Thomas Col)bins, Mrs. Da^'is. Mrs. .1. \l. Devaul, Wm. Evans. Moses T. Ellis, AYm. Elkins, Thos. Ettinger, Edmund Ferguson, AVm. Friier. B. A. Ferrill, Stephen Forbes, AA^m. Fitzpatrick, B. A. Fewell. Larkin Fields. Wm Gentry. Gideon Gouck. Moses Gee, John J. Gibson, Charles Human, James J. Hobbs, Samuel Howard. M. H. Harlan, Marshall Humphreys, Henry M. Henderson, John Henry, Henry Hampton, E. B. Harris. Thomas Hamilton. George W. Hamilton, Michael Hornbeek, John Harsher, G. H. ('. H. Forkner, A. B. Forkner, James H. Ford, Samuel Forner, Abram Fields. Henry Foster. -Joseph Faulkner, E. F. Grubbe. W. B. Grubbe, B. Gentry, James Harvey, Robert Hobbs, Jesse Harris, Wm. Hawkins, Jas. F. Hamilton, Jno. C Hamilton, Thos. Hutton, Jno. H. Hurst, Jas. Houston, Jas. L. Henshaw, John Holloway, James Hennings. John Holloway. Elisha Inmaii. u HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY. 31 Thomas W. Jacobs. John Johnson, James Johnson, Samuel Kilburn, Thomas Kilburn, Samuel Kelso, Samuel Knight, Thomas C. Jones, Samuel Johnson, Alvin Johnson, K. W. M. Keith, ]\ Loses Kirkendall, Levi Keith, James Lucas, Nathaniel M. Landy Martin D. Long, AVm. Long, Harvey Lov^% J. Livingston, M. AVm. McAfee, Daniel McAtee, John S. Miller, John Mickey, Wm. iMcCammon, John McCammon, Sr., John iMcCammon, Jr., Norris jMcCammon, ]\Iadison B. ]\loss, Kichard Minchcl, Abiel ]\liles, John Moore, Charlotte Merrill, Levi Merrill, Talton Masters, Hiram Marshel. Jam^s Morgan, Jesse Miller, N. R. T. Nance, James Nordyke, Jewett Norris, John Lambert, Benj S. Lomax, Richard S. Lomax. James S. Lomax, Henry W. Lida, r-Irs. Linney, AV. P. McAfee, Jas. H. jNIeek, Kobt. B. Moss, ]Milton I\lvers. Wiu I\Ietcalf, Lewis Myers, R. D. Manzey, AKred 3,Iordley, Benjamin IMourning, ijevi ]\Ioore, Elijah Meddle, James R. Merrill, James May, A. Moore, Geo. McCready, John ]\IcHargue, James INI ay, Norris IMetcalf, John jM Nichols, George Nocks, Russell Ox lord, Hugh Ogden, If arvev O'Dell, 32 HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY. X'. James Phillips. J(»lin Priesi, Ttobert Peeiy, C W. Pres^tt. Pavid Phillins. FraiK'is Petty, Wesley Reynolds, John Ralls, Henrv Rodgers, Alex.' V. Ralls, James D. Roberts, Morgan Ralls, Calvin Renfro. John Roekhold. R. Kvan l^eery, Albert G. Pugh, Arehi):ald Peery, Thomas Peery, Thomas Pemberton, William Reed, J. C. Renfro, Jetson Ray, ]\Iareellns Renfro, William Renfro, Carter N. Reynolds, Joseph Rooks, Priah Rooks, James Rooks. Dnncan R. Standbey, John Stueker, Jethro Sires, James Slinger, L. P. Shirley, Isaac Shirley, John Seott,' Joseph Sherring, Moses Sherring, Benj. Saxton, Charles AV. Seott, John Sires, Edward Smith, ITiram Smith, Allen Scott, Yancy Stokes, Lee Spencer, Wm. Schooler. Daniel Schooler, Chas. Schooler. Jacob Spear. James Sperry, AVilliam P. Thompson. Bazel Tiusley, George Tetherow. Rev. Thomas Thompson. Jacob Thrailkill, Sarah Tandy, Thomas Tootle, Lorenzo U. Thompson, George Trout, V. John Varney, W. Benj. P. AVood. Henrv A^^xxl. P. 11. Thomj)S()n, AVm. Thornburg, lienj. Townsend, AVm. Thrailkill, John R. Turner, Richard Turner, Thomas Tucker, Wythe Temple, Phillip AVild. James AVilson. HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY. 33 Win. Wyatt. James Work, Felix Wild, Andrew Weldon, Aaron Wilson, James Weldon, Royal AVilliams. Richard Williams, George Wood, Wm. Willis, John G. Woods. Bryan F. Woods. Harrison Weldon, Henderson Work, Alex. Work, Henry Warriner. Henry AVarmonth. Jarvis Woods, Wm. Woldridge, Martin AVinn, G. AV. AVarmouth, Carter AVhitefield, Terry Wilson, Franklin AVoods, E. L. Winters, Coonrod AVolz, D. S. AVinters, Nathan AVinters, "When the Springtime touch is lightest Or tlie autumn sings most drear; When the Winter's hair is whitest. Sleep, old pioneer! Safe beneath the sheltering soil. Late enough you crept; You were weary of the toil Loiig before you slept. Well you paid for every blessing, Bought with grief each day of cheer; Nature's arms around you pressing, Nature's lips j^our brow caressing, Sleep, old pioneer." — Will Carleton. Big Rock, near Trenton. 34 HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY. CHAPTER II. GRUNDY COUNTY ORGANIZED— Boundaries— The First Courts — County Seat Commission — First Eleven Townsliips — Condi- tion of the Country — Stock Marks — Wolves Cause Trouble — Oxen the Chief Draught Animals — Grundy a Slave Holding County — Some old Grocery Store Accounts — How Accounts were settled — The First County Judges — .Minutes of the First Court Meeting — Carelessness in Keei^ing Early Records — Work of the First Grand Juries — I^incoln Township Fights for the County Seat — The City of Trenton Laid Out — A Court House Built — The Year of High Waters — Grundy County in the Mexican War — The First Deaths — The Gold Fever — Major Hubbell on Early Times — The First Deed of Record — An Interesting Document. G RUNDY COUNTY'S official exist- ence dates from January 29, 1841. It was one of a number of counties or- ganized by an act of the legislature, approved on that date. That part of the act appertaining to this county reads as follows : "(Page 10) Section 13. All that portion of territory north of Living- ston, and included wnthin the following limits, viz. ; Beginning at the northeast corner of Livingston county, thence north, with the section line, twenty- one miles, or to the corner of section nine, ten, fif- teen, and sixteen, township sixty-three north, of range twenty-two west of the fifth principal merid- ian, thence west, thence along the section line dividing sections nine and sixteen, containing said HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY. 35 section line west to range line dividing ranges twenty-five and twenty-six, thence south with said line to the northwest corner of Livingston county, thence east with said county line to the place of be- ginning, is hereby created a separate and distinct county, to be called and known l)y the name of the County of Grundy. Section 14. — The circuit and county court of said County shall be held at the dwelling house of Jas. S. Lomax, in said County, until the permanent seat of justice for said County is established, or the county court shall otherwise direct. Section 15. — John Minnis of Linn County, Jere- miah S. Stockart and John Wolfscale of Livingston County are hereby appointed commissioners to se- lect a permanent seat of justice for said county." The County thus established is twenty and one- half miles north and south and twenty-one miles east and west. Until 1845 i^ consisted of eleven townships as follows : Washington, Jefferson, Aladison, Franklin, Morgan, Marion, Lafayette, Scott, Clark, Monticello and Trenton. The first seven were established by the Living- ston County Court in 1839. The last four by the Grundy County Court in 1841. The records of that court for the first five years, except the minutes of the first meeting, are destroyed. By this time the county was pretty well settled except in the northwest part. Imagining the i)res- ent township boundaries to have been established at the time of the county's organization, their order in population and wealth was as follows : Trenton, Lincoln, Marion, Wilson, Madison, Lib- erty, Jackson, Jefferson, Myers, Franklin, Harri- 36 HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY. son, Washington and Taylor. The principal trad- ing point was Brunswick, save for those who lived near Lomax's store. It was by this time pretty well recognized — was, in fact, almost a village; and it was the only village in the county up to 1850. The cabins of the settlers were at this time miles apart, and the country was a wilderness, full of game, and frequently visited by Indians. The set- tlers followed the streams and had as yet found no use for the rich prairie land. The first settlers to build cabins on the prairie were laughed at and told that they would surely freeze out when winter came. Still it was necessity rather than prejudice that caused the first settlers to locate on the streams. Timber was necessary for home and fuel, and here he found the game and bee trees on which his sub- sistence so largely depended. It was thought, too, that water could not 1)e had on the prairies, the set- tlers not learing to dig for living water until late in the last century. Mail was carried on horseback and delivered a I Lomax's store tri-weekly. Postage was t^^'ellty- five cents a letter and newspapers were rare. Other means of communication being scarce, every stran- ger who happened iiiio a communitv was quickl-/ and thoroughly pumped dry of all he ever knew or hoped to know. Stock ran at large. Each settler used a pecul- iar mark by which he could claim his ov;n. Cattle w'tve generally branded. Each farmer might re- cord the mark he used, thus getting preemption to that mark in this count}'. Two hundred and fifty- nine marks have been thus recorded, one hundred of which run back to i860 and thirt}'-three prior to HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY. 37 1850. Here are a few of the first marks recorded : "April 16, 1841, Thomas M. Carries records his stock mark with a crop and sht in right ear, and un- derbit in left ear.'' "April 12, 1 84 1, Wm. Evans records his stock mark with a smooth crop off of and two slits in right ear and slit in left ear." Wolves were a source of constant troul:)le and to encourage their destruction the county paid a bounty of $i.oo a scalp. On the fly leaf of an old record of county warrants some official has in- scribed in the unique spelling and penmanship of the time the following form of affidavit : "You do solemly swar (or affirm ) that the wolf the scalps of which produced by you w^ere killed by you or some meml^er of your family within this county since the first day of January, A. D. 1843." A good per cent of its people coming from Ken- tucky and Virginia, Grundy County naturally had Cjuite a number of slaves. On the tax books of 1848 one hundred and thirty slaves were assessed, and in the year 1856 there were two hundred and four- teen. The number gradually increased with the population of the county until the war. When land was bought for $1.25 an acre, negroes were valued at three to six hundred dollars, a good healthy negro being worth a four or five hundred-acre farm. Notwithstanding this, when the war broke out Grundv Countv was stronglv for the Union, and some of the most pronounced Union men were slave owners. A few free negroes lived in the county prior to 1861, the records of the county court showing that the court granted license to 38 HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY. two to live here. The orders, which were made in 1851 and 1856, respectively, are as follows: "Jef- ferson W^aterford, alias Thompson, a free man of color, files a certificate of good character, and ap- plies for a license to live within the state of Mis- souri, and it is ordered that he give bond for his good behavior. Said J. Waterford files a bond for his good behavior with Wm. Metcalf and John R. Scott as his securities, which is approved, this De- cember 16, 185 1." "Randall Darnaby, a free man of color, having been emancipated by C. Darnaby, his former mas- ter, applies for a license to remain in the state, and having produced satisfactory^ evidence of good moral character, it is ordered by the court that said Randall, now about thirt3^-five years of age, five feet six and a half inches high, dark brown color, and 150 pounds weight and scar under right ear, be and he is hereby licensed to remain in the state of Missouri, having given bond as is required by law." One of the most interesting documents among the official records of the county is the ledger of the grocer}^ firm, Renfro & Arbogart for the year 1849. ^^^^ accounts of this firm did not quite fill the book; so in strict accord with the county court's ideas of economy at that time eight pages in the back of the book were used for official rec- ords. In that way the ledger itself came into the possession of the count}'. Messrs. Renfro & Arbogart sold cigars four for five cents, tea per lb. $1.20. Whiskey and molasses, each per gal. 60 cents. Powder per lb. 40 cents. HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY. 39 Tin pan 70 cents. Coffee "Biler" 60 cents. Candy was a favorite luxury and *'Ammonds" Turpentine, Candels, Mustart, Mackerel and Vine- gar were among the articles sold. At least one member of this firm is said to have been a pillar in the church and among its custom- ers are found the names of the most prominent men in the county among them being at least one mm- ister. In view of these facts, the following typical ac- count is interesting : 1849 Sept. 6, to I box caps, 2 drinks, & tobacco 25 Sept. 6, to I cake and i drink 10 Oct. 6, to candy & i drink 15 Oct. 15, to I gal. & I quart whiskey 70 Oct. 29, to 3 drinks ^5 Nov. 3, to whiskey & drinks 55 Nov. 3, to 3 drinks & tobacco 25 Nov. 6, to cash borrowed 05 Nov. 12, to 12 lbs. coffee i-S^ Nov. 14, to I drink & cash i5 Nov. 24, to 6 apples & Tobacco 25 Nov. 29, to I gal. I qt. & i drink by Marcellus .80 Dec. 26, to crackers 05 Dec. 29, to I pint peach brandy by Alarcellus. . .35 Dec. 29, to ballance on dipper ^ • -05 The following account was made by one of the greatest men Grundy County ever had, one of whom all her people are proud. While only a month is given, it is fairly representative of his year's trade : 40 HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY. 1849. Nov. 2, to 2 drinks 10 Nov. 3, to I bottle, I pint, i drink 35 Nov. 3, to half bottle whiskey 10 Nov. 7, to 4 cigars, i drink 10 Nov. 12, 2 drinks i pint Mongehale 25 Nov. 13, 1 qt. Mongehale, i paper tobacco 20 Nov. 14, 9 drinks, 2 bottles 85 Nov. 17, to I flask & 5 drinks 35 Nov. 19 to 2 drinks 10 Nov. 22, to I pt. I glass I drink IMongehale . . .35 Nov. 23, to I bottle I qt whiskev 35 Nov. 24, to I drink 05 Nov. 26, to I drink, whiskey & cigars 55 Nov. 28, to I pt Mongehale i paper tobacco. . .20 Perhaps a third of the cnstomers borrowed money of the firm, in amounts ranging from five cents to one and even two dollars. Pa3aiients on account were often made in ^-enison. When the books were "ballanced" at the close of the year, a number of the customers who had not the cash to settle their accounts gave notes. One who was in later years a very prominent citizen, is credited with "one note of hand, 15 cents." Occasionally there was difficulty in making a settlement, as appears from the following entry in the Book of Peter H. Yakey and of Simpson Burgin, J. P. "I. C. P. H. Renfro, Againts Henry Wood. This suit brought on account as follows: Trenton, Feb. 11, 1854. Henry Wood I. C. P. H. Renfro Dr. Sept. 5 to amt on grocery book $1.85. Sum- mons issued on the 4th June, 1855 and directed to HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY. 41 the constable of Trenton 'J\3\vnship citing" the said Henry Wood to appear l)efore the cort on the 14th of June 1855 which summons was exemited as fol- lows served the within by reading to defendant this the 4th day of June 1855 R. T. Yantes Constable. Trenton Township. June 14th 1855 Plaintiff appeared and proved his account And I therefore gave judgment for $1.85 debt and damages and also for cost, 50 cents. Simpson Burgin, J. P. The County Court of Grundy County first met February 22, 1841. Wm. Thrailkill had been ap- pointed sheriff by Governor Reynolds, and the first county judges, or justices as they were called, were Jewett Norris, Robert PeiNTy and Isaac J. Harvey. W. O. Thompson was clerk pro tem. Following is a vcrhatiin copy of the record of that meeting: state of Missouri County of Grundy: Be it remembered that on the twenty-second day of Febru- ary in the year of our Lord, one thousand eight hundred and forty-one, Isaac J. Harvey, Robert Perry and Jewett Norris met at the store house of James S. I^omax in pursuance of an act of the Gene.ral Assembly of the state aforesaid approved Janu- ary the twenty-ninth, in the year aforesaid, and they severally produced their commissions as County Court justices of said county and were each severally sworn to support the constitu- tion of the United States and of the State of Missouri and faith- fully demean themselves in office as said justices, whereupon they proceeded to organize the County Court of said County by appointing Jewett Norris president of said court and William P. Thompson the clerk of said court pro tem, the court requiring the said Thompson to file a bond in the penal sum of five thou- sand dollars conditioned for the faithful discharge of the duties of his office, and thereupon the said Thompson came into the court and files said bond with James R. Merrill, Alfred Caldwell and Wm. Thrailkill as his securities, which said bond was ap- 42 HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY. proved by said court and the said Thompson being sworn into office proceed to discharge the duties of said clerk, and there- upon appointed Benjamin F. Wood who took the same oatli as deputy clerk of said court. Ordered tliat said clerk be authorized to procure the nec- essary blank books stationary and a standard of weiglits and measures for the use if Grundy County. Ordered that the clerk of this county be required to call upon the County Court of Livingston County for permission to withdraw from the clerk's office such papers and documents as belongs to the County of Grundy. Ordered that an election be held at the home of Joseph Sherrin for Jefferson Township on the 20th day of March, 1841, for the purpose of electing one county clerk for the County of Grundj', two justices of the peace and one constable for said township and that John M. Nichols, Josiah Anderson and Ham- ilton Bennett be appointed judges of said election. It is request- ed that a pole be opened for county surveyor and assessor for said County. Ordered that an election be held at the store of Isaac J. Harvey for Madison Township on the 20th day of March, 1841, for the purpose of electing one county clerk for the County of Grundy, three justices of the peace and that Evans^ Peery, David Phillips and Wm. McCammeron be appointed judges of said election it is requested that a pole be opened for county surveyor and assessor for said County. Ordered that an election be held at the home of Benj. F. Wood for Washington township on the 20th day of March, 1841, for the purpose of electing one countj^ clerk for the County of Grundy, two justices of the peace and one constable and that Thomas Carnes, Cornelius Darnaby and John McHargue be appointed judges of said election, it is requested that a pole be opened for county surveyor and assessor for said County. Ordered that an election be held at the house of John Harts for Lafayette Township on the 20th day of March, 1841, for the purpose of electing one county clerk for the County of Grundy and two justices of the peace for said Township and that David Mullins, Seaborn Rhea and Alexander Cane be appointed judges of said election. It is requested that a pole be opened for county surveyor and assessor for said County. HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY. 43 Ordered that an election be held at the house of James Mor- gan for Jklorgan township on the twentieth day of March, 1841, for the purpose of electing one county clerk for the county of Grundy and two justices of the peace for said township and that James ]\Iorgan Samuel Prewitt and James Girdner be appointed judges of said election. It is requested that the pole be opened for county surveyor and assessor of said county. Ordered that an election be held at the home of Winters for Marion Township on the 20th day of March, 1841, for the purpose of electing one county clerk for the County of Grundy and two justices of the peace and that Calvin Brummitt, Jenj. Parkers and Jacob Work be appointed judges of said election. It is requested that a pole be opened for county surveyor and as- sessor for said County. Ordered that an election be held at the house of John Thrail- kill for Franklin Township on the 20th day of March, 1841, for the purpose of electing one county clerk for the County of Grundy and that James R. Merrill, Martin Winn and James Kelso be appointed judges of said election. It is requested that a pole be opened for county surveyor and assessor for said County. Ordered that court adjourn to meet on the 26th day of March, 1841, at the school house near Bluff Grove. JEWETT NORRIS. At the election on Alarch 20th, 1841, Thomas Jacobs, a brother-in-law of James S. Lomax, was elected county clerk, a position he held five years. The county clerk at that time acted also as circuit clerk and recorder. As will be seen from the order of election, Grundy County then consisted of seven townships, four more being formed within the year. The records of this first session of the county court, long supposed to be lost, occupy three pages of an old book used as an index of deeds. No other portion of the book is given to the county court's business. It is apparent that the county court had at first no facilities for keeping permanent records and equally apparent that they did not appreciate the value of such records. It is said that the pro- 44 HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY. ceedings of the county court were taken on ordi- nary cap paper, tied with a string- at the close of a session and cast into a convenient corner. So it is no wonder that most of the records for the first five vears of the county's existence are lost. The circuit court held its first meeting at "the store house of James S. Lomax," on the 8th of April, 1841. James A. Clark was circuit judge. Amos Rees, Wm. V. Slack, Robert Ew^ing, B. F. Tarr, James Savage, Phillip Edwards and James Connor were enrolled as attorneys. Benjamin String-fellow was circuit attorney. The grand jury at this term returned fifteen in- dictments, fourteen of which were for card playing and betting, and one for perjury. The following from Messrs. Birdsall & Dean's history is no doubt pretty generally true : "The court in those days seemed to have luit lit- tle general legal business, not enough to pay ex- penses of the court, so the grand jury was called on to fill up the gap by criminal indictments, and they went to work with a will. It is proven by the cir- cuit court record that card playing was one of the leading amusements of that day, as was also betting at cards and on the elections. The same record Avill show that the grand jury made it their busi- ness to indict every man who played cards. They indicted about all the county officers, the mer- chants, lawyers, doctors, etc., in one grand swoop. The indicted ones would go up to the court, plead guilty, ask mercy of the court and walk off after paying five or ten dollars fine each. Then the play- ers would get together and lay for that grand jury. The fact is. 'thev all did it,' and when court ad- HISTORY OF GRUXDY COUNTY. 45 journed, 'the boys' went to work to play with the late members of that august body, and by the time the next session of court came around, some three months later, they had the entire grand jury. When the new grand jury was installed the 'boys' then stepped forward like little men, and had the pre- vious grand jury indicted to a man for playing cards or allowing card playing in houses in their posses- sion. It didn't take a great many years to convince the grand jury that card playing wasn't so much of a criminal affair as was at first supposed. By that time civil and criminal suits had become numerous enough to make expenses without calling on inno- cent and fun-loving gentlemen to contribute their mite to support the law and its worthy officers. There was a good deal of this kind of fun going on in these good old days, and many a diamond cut diamond affair is hidden away in the forgotten rec- ords of the past." Among the earlier causes of offense frequently figures the charges of keeping grocery without license, keeping dramshop without license, and trad- ing with Indians. Convictions for these offenses were comparati\'ely rare, and the offenders were, when convicted, generally let off with a very light fine. At the second session of the circuit court began the fight between Trenton, or Bluff Grove as it was then called, and the Bain settlement in Lincoln township for the location of the county seat. The latter claimed it by virtue of being in the geograph- ical center of the count}-, the former because of age, population and natural location on Grand river. The act of the legislature creating the county. 46 HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY. named a commission consisting" of John ^linnis of Linn County and Jeremiah Stockart and John Wolfscale of Livingston County, to select the per- manent seat of justice for the county seat. These gentlemen, from adjoining counties, were supposed to be, and no doubt were, impartial. This commit- tee, it appears, made the decision in the month of May and they reported to the circuit court in the August term at Lomax's Store as follows : To the honorable, the judge of the circuit court of the County of Grundy, State of Missouri: We the commissioners apointed at the last session of the legislature of the State of Missouri for the purpose of locating a permanent seat of jus- tice for the County of Grundy, beg leave to offer the following as the result of their proceedings: Having met in pursuance of the law we proceeded to examine the face of the country and have selected a part of section 34 and 3 in townships 61 and 62 range 24, as exhibited in the enclosed deeds and paper. JOHN W. MINNIS, JNO. WOLFSCALE, JEREML\H J. STOCKART, Commissioners. Athens, May, 24, 1841. The land thus described was in Lincoln Town- ship, almost in the exact geographical center of the county. There was nothing there bearing sem- blance to a village, and the citizens of Bluff Grove strenuously objected to locating the county seat in the woods. James S. Lomax led the fight in pro- test against the committee's decision, offering eip-htv acres of land to the countv free of charge. Ten petitions were drawn up and vigorously circu- lated in all parts of the county, being worded as follows : "To the Honorable, the County Court of Grundy County, Missouri: Your petitioners would respectfully represent to your honors that the seat of justice of Grundy County, Missouri, has HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY. 47 been located and not agreeable to our wishes, therefore, we your petitioners, would and do prefer the seat of justice at the store of James S. Lomax in said County and would therefore pray your honorable body to appoint five commissioners to locate the seat of justice according to law, and your petitioners will ever pray." Indorsed on the back of each petition was the following : "For which I, James S. Lomax, bind myself to donate to the County eighty acres of land at Bluff Grove for the location of said seat of justice. JAMES S. LOMAX. May 18, 1841." To change the location as proposed it was nec- essary to have three-fifths of the taxable inhabit- ants of the county on the petitions. Considerably more than that number, in all 260 names were se- cured on the petitions, the county having 312 tax- able inhabitants at that time. Five commissioners from adjoining counties were accordingly named by the County Court, who staked out the eiglity given by James Lomax and reported to the circuit court as follows : "To the Honorable Judge of the Grundy Circuit Court: In compliance with the order of the Grundy County Court to us directed as commissioners appointed by said court for the pur- pose of locating the permanent county seat of said County, re- spectfully report that we met on the ground selected by the peti- tioners of said County on the 5th day of August, 1841, and after being duly qualified proceeded to the discharge of our duties, and after examining the ground within the boundary prescribed by law, have selected the following described premises for the permanent seat of said County, to-wit: Beginning at the half mile corner stake, being the noi'thwest corner of the northeast quarter of section No. 29, of Township No. 67, range 24, run- ning south one hundred and twenty-five poles to a stake, then east ninety poles to a stake, thence north twenty-eight poles to a stake, thence east seventeen poles and four links to a stake, thence north ninety-seven poles to a stake, thence west 116 poles 48 HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY. to the place of beginning and containing eiglity acres, donated by James S. Lomax, for the use of said county for a county seat to which premises we, the commissioners, have received a deed for the use and behalf of said county, which deed is herewith attached. All of which is respectfully reported to the Honorable Judge of the Grundy Circuit Court, this 6th day of August, 1841. TH. R. BRYAN, THOMAS JENNINGS, JOHN AUSTIN, SAMUEL FERNANDIS. JAMES H. WILSON. To Hon. James A. Clark, Judge."' Hereupon, George Tetherow, who led the fight for the Bain .settlement, through his attorney. Win. Slack, hegan a legal fight to compel the County Court to rescind their order taking the county seat awa}^ from the banks of the Big Aluddy and re-lo- cating it at Lomax Store. His first legal document follows: state of Missouri, County of Grundy: County Court, special term, Sept. 13, 1841. George Tetherow, a resident householder of Grundy County, Missouri, by his attorney, Wm. Y. Slack, moves the court here: First, to rescind the order made by the court on the 29 day of June, A. D. 1841, at a special term thereof receiving a petition of James Livingston and others for the removal of the county seat of Grundy County, Missouri, ordering the same to be filed and also appointing Thomas R. Bryan, Thomas Jennings, Samuel Fernandis and others, commissioners to locate the county seat of the said Grundy County, Missouri, and second, to rescind all further orders and proceedings made and had in this said court relative to or concerning the removal of said county seat of Grundy County. Filed of record this 13th day of September, 1841. W. Y. SLACK Attorney for Plaintiff. . THOMAS W. JACOBS, Clerk. This paper the court o^'erruled. Tetherow, HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY. 49 throiigh his attorney, resorted to every means which gave any hope of defeating- the removal ot the county seat to Lomax Store, l3Ut being defeated at every turn, finally gave it up as a hopeless task. He failed to appear in the December term of the court for 1841, his petition was stricken from the docket, and F. W. Poage of Gallatin, Jonas Boyce, the first county surveyor, and Mahlon H. Moore divided the eighty acres given by Lomax into town blocks and lots. In the year 1842 a contract was let for the build- ing of a new court house. The first sessions of the county and circuit courts had been held in Lomax' s Store, and succeeding sessions in an old log house that was a school house through the week and a church on Sundays. Grand juries retired to the woods for their deliberations, and indicted ones were uncharitable enough to say that a portion of the grand jury would engage in a quiet game while the remainder ground out indictments, of which there were always a large number. Wm. Collier, Larkin Richardson and Joseph Thompson, all of Howard County, were given the contract for building the new court house. It was a brick structure, 45x40, two stories high, and cost the county $6,000. This building, however, was very well in keeping with the population and w^ealth of the county at that time. In 1841 there were but 312 tax payers in the county. 1844 was a year of high waters. In this county considerable damage was done to stock and farm improvements. Wm. Perry in this year took two flat boats loaded with wheat and corn from Tren- ton to St. Loui-. 50 HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUiNTY. In 1847 Grundy Count)^ responded loyally to the call for volunteers for the jNIexican War. The Governor appointed John C. Griffin to raise a com- pany here. The company, consisting- of 112 men, was a part of Doniphan's command and ^vas with him on his famous march through the southwest. These Grundy countians constituted a part of the company : First Lieutenant, Oliver Bain : Second Lieutenant, Ashley Gulley; Third Lieutenant, Ira Benson; Privates, J. H. Shanklin, N. A. Winters, James ^^'inters, Thomas Auhrey, \\m. \Mnters, Milton Aubrey, James Williams, Robert Williams, Hlisha A^anderpool, Dock \^anderpool, Jacob T. Tindall, David Arbogath, James Tindall, Simon Adamson, John Re}'burn, L}'man Odle, Overly Clark, J. Puck, John Booher, Sol Spear, Wm. Hughes, Ezekiel Long, Sol Cole, Alf Turner, Jno. W\ Moore, George Inman, Caleb Knight, John Swopes, Geo. Swopes, Wm. Steer, Joseph Moore, Tellery Pruit, John R. Clark, Samuel Clark, Gov- erneur Fisher, Milton Moore, Sr., Milton Moore, Jr., Jacob Bain, Vandyke, Jos. Munn, Joseph Kennedy, Jno. I)Urns, Joseph Applegate, John Biols, AA^ash Duskins, Lafayette \\^armouth. A ferry license across Grand river was granted to Samuel Benson in 1848. At that stage of the county's development the expense of building a bridge was not to be thought of. The records for the year 1848 give the names of 506 taxpayers li\'ing in the county, who owned property to the assessed value of $81,365. Almost as much was owned by non-residents. The amount of state and county taxes collected for the year 1857 was $6,529.60. HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY. 51 Perhaps the first death in the county was that of Mrs. Daniel Devaul, in February, 1837. Her cof- fin was made of a wagon box belonging to Samuel Benson. Plank was extremely scarce in the earliest period of the county's settlement. Sometimes a death would occur and there would l^e no boards in the neighborhood to make a coffin. In such cases boards were hewed out with a broad ax and sa^ved with a whip saw. Grundy contributed her share of fortune hunt- ers when the gold fever ran high. Of fortune find- ers though, she had not so many. Throughout the greater part of the fifties the exodus to the west continued. The demand for cattle and horses for the trip across the plains made trade rather brisk, but so many men left home the industr}- of the county was neglected for a time. Following is an excerpt from a historical ad- dress delivered by Major George H. Hubbell on the Fourth of July, 1876: "The situation as regards general business had up to 1842 been depressed for several years. The monetary crisis of 1837 still hovered over the land. For nearly five years prices of goods and ]M-oducts of every description had ruled very low and the pros- pect for a raise still seemed far from encouraging, and the time somewhat distant. In 1842 I ])aid five dollars for the first cow I ever owned, and $7.50 for a good cow and calf in trade. Horses w^re also cheap ; while the best could be had for $40 others could be purchased at from $25 to v$35. AVorking cattle were down to what they called in those days almost nothing, $22 buying a good yoke. Hogs, dressed, without much regard to weight. 52 HISTORY OF GRUXDY COUNTY. were held at the enormous price of $1.25 to $1.50 each — neither were they full of trichina. Garnered wheat only brought from 35 to 40 cents a bushel; corn 50 cents a barrel, delivered and a good veal calf, 75 cents. You could go out into the woods and cut down a bee tree, gather the honey and bring it to market, and you got 25 cents a gallon for it; it was thought the bees got well paid for their honey. And such honey, so clear and transparent that even the bee keeper of today with his patent hive and his Italian swarms would have had a look of envy cov- ering his face from ear to ear on beholding it. The wild deer came forward and gave us their hams at 25 cents each, and the settlers generally clinched the bargain by taking the skin, which, when not cut up into strings or used for patches, brought another quarter, cash or trade, as demanded. It was also a ha1)it in those clays for farmers to help each other, and their sons to work in the harvest fields or do the logging to prepare for a new seeding. This was a source of wealth to the early settler and to his ris- ing family. They raked in 25 to 50 cents a day and board. That was wealth. It was the foundation of their future prosperity. It was the first egg laid to hatch them a farm, and it was guarded with scrupu- lous care. Economy was often whittled down to a very fine point before the}^ could be induced to touch that nest egg, the incipient acre of the first farm. And then again, a day's work meant some- thing besides getting on the shady side of a tree and three hours for nooning. It meant labor in all its length and breadth and thickness, from holding the breaking plow behind two yoke of oxen to mauling rails. Rieht here we will mention that rails were HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY. 53 made at 25 cents a hundred. Just think of sphtting rails at 25 cents a hundred. It is enough to take the breath away from every effeminate counter jumper in the state. This covers a good deal of what the old pioneer had or received for labor and farm products." Following is the first deed of record filed in Grundy county : FIRvST DEED OF RECORD. ■ This indenture, made the i8th day of March, in the year of our Lord, one thousand, eight hundred and forty-one, between George Peery and Jane, his wife, of the one part, and Milton L. Moore of the other part, of the county of Grundy and the state of Missouri. \\'itnesseth that the said George Peery and Jane, his wife, for and in conciduation of the sum of one hundred dollars to them in hand paid, the receipt whereof is hereby fully acknowledged, hath o-ranted, bargained, sold, confirm and con- veyed, by these presents doth grant, bargain, sell, confirm and convey unto the said Milton L. Moore and his heirs and assigns forever, all of the two fol- lowing described tracts of land, lying and being in the County of Grundy and State of ^Missouri, in all containing eighty acres of land, be the same more of less, to be particularly known by the following numbers, (viz:) one piece containing forty acres, being the north half of the northwest half of the northwest quarter of section no. thirteen in town- ship no. sixty-one of range no. twentyfive, north of the base line and west of the fifth principal mered- ian : To have and to hold all of the above discribed tracts of land together with all and singular the hereditaments and appretenances ther l^elonging or 54 HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY. in any wise appertaining, and also all the estates, right, title, interest, claim or demand whatsoever of him, the said George Peery and Jane, his wife, either in law or equity, of, in and to the above dis- cribed tracts of land and all and every part and par- cel thereof, unto the said Milton L. Moore, his heirs and assisgns forever against the lawful let, claim or demand of them, the said George Peery and Jane, his wife, or their heirs or assigns and all and every person or persons whatsoever, shall, will and by these presents do warrant and forever defend. In the testimony thereof we have hereunto set our hands and seals the day and year above w^'itten in the presents of Wm. Renfro. GEO. PEERY, (seal) JANE PEERY, (seal) State of Missouri, County of Grundy, ss : Be it remembered that on this i8th day of March, A. D. 1841, before me, a justice of the peace within and for the count}' aforesaid, personally came George Peery and Jane, his wife, both per- sonally known to me to be the persons whose nan.i.es are subscribe to the foregoing instrument of writ- ing as having executed the same and severally ac- knowdedged the same to be their act and deed for the purpose therein mentioned, and she, the said Jane Peery being by me first made acquainted with the contents thereof and examired separate and apart from her husband whether she executed the said deed and relinquished her dower to the said lands and tenements therein mentioned, voluntarily, freely and without compulsion or under influence of her said husband, acknowledged and declared that HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY. 55 she executed the said deed and rehiKiuishes her dower to said lands and tenements thereni men- tioned voluntarily, freely and without compulsion or under influence of her said husband. Taken and certified the day and year first above written. WILLIAM! RENFRO, ^ Justice of the Peace." One of the most interesting official documents of early times is a mortgage filed on page 27, volume one,' of the recorder's books, of which a part tol- lows: .. 1 • ^ ,^t "This deed, made and entered into, this tentli day of December, A. D. one thousand, eight hun- dred forty-one, between Wm Uttinger, ot the State of Missouri, and County of Grundy, of the first part and John Uttinger of the same state and county aforesaid, of the second part, witnesses that the party of the first part hath this day m considera- tion'of the sum of nine hundred and eighty dollars and thirty-six cents, the receipt whereof is hereby acknowledged, hath this day granted, bargamed and sold and by these presents doth grant, bargain and sell unto the party of the second part, his heirs and assigns forever, all his right, title and interest in and to the following described real and personal property, To-wit : The east half the southwest quar- ter of section no. twelve, in township no. sixty ot range no. twenty-four, containing eighty acres and the southeast quarter of section no eleven m the same township and range, as aforesaid, containing one hundred and sixty acres and also the west halt of the southwest quarter of section no. thirteen, m same range and township, as first aforesaid, con, taining eighty acres and the said party of the first 56 HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY. part doth also by these presents convey and assign unto the said party of the second part, a certain negro girl named Milly, aged thirty-three and a boy named James, aged eighteen months and also three head of horses and eighteen head of cattle and also all his household and kitchen furniture consisting of one bed and bedding, one looking glass, one set of chairs, and divers cooking utensils, the party of the first part binds himself, his heirs, etc., to war- rant and defend the title of the above discribed lands, goods and chattels to the said party of the second part, etc." County Farm, 5 Miles East of Trenton. HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY. CHAPTER III. THE WAR PERIOD— Sentiment Divided— Workers for tlie Union — Companies Raised at Trenton — Men Lost at Shiloh — Roll of Company B — Other Grundy County Companies — No Confed- erate Organization — Picture of Home Life During tlie War — The Country — Trenton in 1861 — Politics — Ruffianism — Social Life — Correspondence — War Alarms — With the Militia. r THE outbreak of the Civil War senti- Ament in Grundy County was divided. At one time, both Union and Confeder- ate troops drilled in the streets of Tren- ton. Union sentiment, however, soon predominated. Jacob T. Tindall, Jewett Norris, Geo. H. Hubbell, Jno. T. Shanklin, R A. De- Bolt and Andrew Shanklin were especially active in crystallizing sentiment for the Union. In May, 1861, two meetings w^ere held, Union and Confed- erate, at w4iich it w^as clearly shown that this county had allied herself strongly with the Union cause. Hereupon w^ork was at once begun towards raising a regiment. This w^ork was completed in August, 1861, seven companies being raised. An election was held at Trenton, August 25th, at which Jacob Tin- dall was made Colonel, and Jacob Smith of Linn County, Lieutenant Colonel. The latter, being made circuit judge, was not commissioned and was succeeded bv Ouinn Morton. John McCullough Odd Fellow Building, Water Street, Trenton, Mo. HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY. 59 of Sullivan County was elected Major. R. A. De- Bolt was recruiting officer for the regiment, which was known as the Twenty-third Missouri infantry. This regiment became a part of Prentiss's com- mand, fought heroically and was almost annihilated on the field of Shiloh, with the loss of their leader, Colonel Tindall. Of the i,ooo of the regiment who went into the fight, all but three hundred were killed or captured. The roll of Company B, almost entirely from Grundy County, is as follows : K. A. DeBoh. Captain. Samuel Rooks, first lieu- tenant. Q_ Stephen Perry, second heutenant, Richard Smith, orderly sergeant, J. W. Babb, T. L. Baulser, Harver Brazier, Chas. Brown, Richard Blew, David Bravenstott, George Blew, Calvin Bridges, R. A. Collier, John Channie, Michael Crisman, Hans Crisman, Chas. Cash, James Davis, John Davis. Benj. C. Eddy, Martin Eagan, Richard Fleshman, Edgar Funk, Thomas Farrell, John Fleshman, Samuel Fleshman, Wm. Flesher, Ed. Gray, Alfred Gardener, Carl Leach, Geo. Leslie, Benj. Leslie, AVm. Long, Thos. Long, Daniel Loraax, Juo. AV. Lomax, Joseph Moore, Sidney Moore, Clay McCord, Orville Moberly, P. McThaney, ]\IcCammon, McCammon, Hiram Morris, Bose Nichols, Benj. Nichols, Silas Parres, John Phillips, Wm. Parr, John Pratt, James Petree, Wm. Petree, A. Reynolds, Wm. Rooks, Joseph Rooks, Levi Rinker, Frank Rook, L. Rickets, W. B. Scott, Owen Smith, Marion Sprout, 60 HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY. Beiij. House, W. T. Sprout, B. F. Harding, A. F. Slocum, Seth Hathaway, Marvin Scott, Ed. Henderson, H. H. Shelton, Marion Jones, Allen Smith, Henry Jones, Samuel Smith, Joseph Jones, James Scott, Solomon Johnson, Sol Skagg, Hiram Johnson, Hiram Scott, Jonathan Knightly, Benj. Scott, W. C. Kirk, Calvin Slover, Thos. Kirk, Thomas Torpey, Press Kirk, Columlnis Thompson, Samuel Kirk, W. C. A^orris, Francis Kirk, W. T. Wisdom, F. AV. Lowen, Jas. Tobbert. The Grtind}' County Battalion of six months militia, composed of five companies, was mustered in in Octol:)er, 1861. The hattalion was officered as follows : Walter King, Lieutenant, Colonel; James Coop- er, Surgeon; W. W. Hubbell, Adjutant; Jew^ett Norris, Quartermaster. First Company — Captain, James H. Creighton; First Lieutenant, Franklin Froman ; Second Lieit- tenant, Perry Froman. Second Company — Captain, Samuel Haycroft; First Lietitenant, Henry Stutt; Second Lieutenant, Wm. Dunlap. Third Company — Captain, E. L. Winters ; First Lieutenant, Wm .Rucker; Second Lieutenant, Sam- uel J. AA'arner. Fourth Company — Captain, Martin B. Carvin; First Lieutenant, P. H. Yakev; Second Lieutenant, W. W. Hubbell. Fifth Company — Captain, E. A. Morton; First Lieutenant, George Longhead; Second Lieutenant, James Martin. Christian Church, Corner Chestnut and Winter Streets, Trenton, Mo. 62 HISTORY OP GRUNDY COUNTY. It was the principle object of this battahon to break up secession encampments within the state and to prevent the secession idea from getting a foothold here. A regiment of state militia known as the Forty- fourth was organized in the fall of 1862, under com- mand of Colonel W. B. Rogers. It was in service but twenty-five days. The Forty-fourth regiment, (Home Guards) was organized in August, 1864, and contained many Grundy County men, among whom were R. A. DeBolt, Major; W. B. Rogers, and M. A. Winters, Captains, and James Overman, First Lieutenant. Though enlisting late in the war, the regiment saw hard service. Man}' Grundy County soldiers fought in other regiments. The Confederates were unable to make any or- ganization in this county, but perhaps something- like two hundred men left, singly or in small bands, to join the southern army. A graphic picture of home life during the war is given by Dr. Thomas Kimlin in the old Grundy County history. The article follows : "In the month of June, 1862, the writer of this sketch, then a young man of twenty-four, walked from Chillicothe, in Livingston County, to Trenton in Grundy. He had come from New York, and on arriving at Chillicothe, found his means exhausted, consequently was obliged to resort to natural loco- motion to reach his destination. The Harr}^ House was the only hotel in Chillicothe, and as the tired traveller rested there for one night, thinking of his walk on the morrow, he was anything but delighted . to hear that the bushwhackers had been seen on the Trenton and Chillicothe road the dav before, and HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY. 63 were raiding- around Spring Hill. The next morning- dawned bright and beautiful, and as our traveller struck north he thought he never saw a more lovely country. The prairie was of a gentle, undulated character, covered with fine growths of grass and interspersed with belts of tim- ber — hickory, oak, ash, elm, cottonwood and black walnut. Numerous streams crossed the country along the banks of which the wild plum and crab apple grew in the greatest luxuriance. The soil was of a fine, deep, dark loam. The woods and streams abounded in game. The chattering squirrel ran across the road or, perched on a stump, scolded like a fish woman ; the shy rabbit hopped along under the shade of the bushes; coveys of quails from time to time rose whirling in the air ; and on passing the creeks and waterpools many a wild duck flew away on clamorous wing. Only the road was deserted. In the entire distance he met not a single individual. No farmers were at work in the fields ; no loaded teams wended their way to town ; no market wagons filled with noisy lads, rosy lasses, or aged parents, went clattering home with recent acquired stores of dry goods and groceries. Even the few houses along the road looked deserted — in one or two the doors and windows were jealously closed, and in a few others the widely open door and broken win- dows revealed empty desolation within. ''About half way between Trenton and Chilli- cothe stood two farm houses a short distance from the road which were some months afterward the scene of a terrible tragedy that today invests the neighborhood with a strange horror. Again a few blackened beams, a pile of crumbling brick or stone, '^4 HISTORY OP GRUNDY COUNTY. showed where a house had been. What had hap- pened here? What had become of the inhabitants? Happily for the traveller's peace of mind he did not kno.v llicri. nor imtil long afterward, for those who knt^v of these occurrences were very reluctant to s].>eak about them. ''()vir traveller, how^ever, arrived safely in Tren- ton, V hich iie ffjund to be a town of perhaps seventy or eighty h.ouses, clustered irregularly round a square l^rick building, the county court house. The appearance of the place was not such as to impress a stranger ver}' fax'orably. Instead' of being located on one of the fine prairies with which Grundy County aljormds, the tow-n w^as built on and bet^\■een a number of scraggy bluffs adjacent to Grand River. These bluffs had been washed out of all shape by rains, and cut into gulleys so deep that some of the streets were impassable. The streets were over- growai with a prodigious growth of 'jimson" and dog fennel, which, when in bloom, filled the atmosphere with an odor that was more striking than pleasant. The population was rather heterogeneous. The war had swept off the best part of the people — the VL-nng men to join the Union army; the feeble and weak-kneed in body and loyalty to the more bracing climate of Montana and Oregon. "In politics Trenton had been Democratic, so much so that in the election of i860 but two or three votes W'Cre cast for Lincoln. Now it was all the other wav. Trenton got so loyal it leaned back- Wfird; or, rather, when the really patriotic men had joined the army, many rough characters came to the surface, who, otherwise, w^ould have remained hidden in their native obscurity, and these ruffians, HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY. 65 assuming" the garb of loyal men and Republicans, v.;ere a disgrace, alike to the cause of the one and the name of the other. "In no state in the Union did men, l)oth Demo- crats and Republicans, turn out in defense of their country more enthusiastically than in North Mis- souri; and no county in North Missouri exceeded 'loyal old Grundy.' "Rampant ruffianism made it almost as dan- gerous for a man to say he was a Democrat as to say he was a rebel. Even the families of Demo- crats, whose sons perhaps were in the Union army, were not altogether safe. * "The Reverend Mr. Starr, an infirm Methodist preacher, whose only son was in the Union army,, and who was on Grierson's staff on his famous raid to New Orleans, was subjected to numerous petty persecutions. One was the nailing of the Union flag over his front door, not as a sign of loyalty, but as a mark of disgrace — pretty much the same char- acter as the red flag nailed to houses suspected of containing small pox. "Street fights were common, and it was a poor day that did not afford two or three fights, perhaps coming off at one and the same time. "The business of the town had suffered a severe shock from the war. Some of the best firms had succumbed ; probably the largest amount of trading was done at 'Moberly's Corner,' and carried on chiefly by Wm. C. Benson, who was at that time treasurer of the county. "The people were frank and hospitable in their manners, and their tastes were simple. They had few amusements. Amono- the ladies, q-ood looks 66 HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY. were then as well as now, the rule, especially among the girls up to the age of twenty, and plain looks the exception. The writer don't remember of seeing a real ugly woman except once, and she hailed from an adjoining county. To join in their social recrea- tions, one might easily fancy himself in some primi- tive Arcadia, where the shepherds piped to their lasses on wheaten straws. Indeed one favorite game was called 'Weevily Wheat,' from an artless song of that name. "This song was sung by the entire company while marching two and two around a circle. The refrain was: I won't haA'e none of 3'our weevily ^vheat, I won't have none of your barle}^. For I must have the best of wheat To bake a cake for Charley — "The song went on to tell who Charley was and what were his qualifications, thus : For Charley is a nice young man, And Charley he's a dandy ; And Charlev loves to kiss the girls — As sweet as sugar cand3\ "But for the matter of that, each young lad}'- mentally fitted the name of her own particular ad- mirer. "There was one piano in town, perhaps two, but for good, downright ear-piercing music the fife bore off the palm. We may be mistaken, but we believe the fifer's stock of music consisted of two pieces, the one he was always playing, at least when we could hear him — and that was daily — the other tune was never heard. "Pitching dollars into a hole in the ground was HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY. 67 a favorite outdoor game. It was generally carried on in front of a grogger)-, and the players were sure to be surrounded by a circle of highly interested spectators, their interest being partly accounted for by the fact that, with western generosity, many of their games were played for 'drinks for the crowd.' "Correspondence wath the outer w^orld w^as car- ried on by means of a hack which made a tri-weekly trip to Chillicothe. The arrival of the hack was al- ways the signal for a crowd to gather around the post office and listen while the address on each let- ter and paper was called out by the worthy postmis- tress, Mrs. Collier. When the papers w^ere dis tributed, they adjourned to some convenient fence corner to hear the news about the war. This \V'as generally read aloud by Mr. A. K. Sykes, wdio has done more gratuitous work of this kind for the peo- ple than any other man in the county. "At times the monotony of this life would be broken by a report of a raid of bushwhackers some- where in the neighborhood, and the men and bo)S would be hastily gathered together, enrolled as mili- tia and either stationed as guards on the roads lead- ing to town, or sent off to protect some more threat- ened or scared locality. "The writer has a distinct recollection of a cer- tain hurried march to the neighboring town of Edin- burg, taking possession of the college there, and be- ing quartered in the town for a day of two, very much to the disgust of the inhabitants, who ip- peared more relieved by our departure than over- joyed by our presence. "Truth compels me to say that the militia made no nice distinction between uicuiii ef tcuiii, in the 6S HISTORY OF GRUXDY COUNTY. matter of corn and chickens. These mihtia raids were sometimes more extended, even on occasion going- as far as the Missouri river. On one memor- able tour the Grundy County mihtia were gone two weeks, and scoured the counties of Livingston, Ray, Carroll and Caldwell. The militia from Alercer, Harrison, Daviess, Sullivan and Putnam, took part in this demonstration, as well as a few companies of Illinois cavalry. The writer, who never had been on horseback, was mounted on a little scrub of a pony that had a vicious tendency of falling on its nose every few yards. Two of the heaviest doctors in the county accompanied the men, well laden with lint and bandages. Several preachers also went along, presumably, to attend to the morals of their flock. The company was under the command of Captain R. A. DeBolt. The first day's march brought them to Chillicothe, where muskets and am- munition were distributed to the men, who were then slightly drilled and the new recruits initiated into the duties of militiamen, i. e., stealing fodder and trading horses. As Chillicothe was a friendly town and near home, the first was generally done by moonlight or starlight under the guidance of a more experienced comrade. The latter was per- formed on authority of an order issued by our worthy colonel, J. H. Shanklin, directing his men if the inhal)itants did not supply them with horses when they needed them, to take them by force. "The recruits were all apt .scholars. Indeed, how could they be otherwise with suclrteachers? To be sure, the preference was given to rebel corn crilis and rebel horses, and a Union corn crib, if emptv, was not touched, and a Union horse, if l:)lind or HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY. 69 lame, was considerately left to its owner. The ex- pedition was a grand success. All the more so, per- haps, because it fell in with no bushwhackers. Rebel chickens were plenty, and so were rebel horses, and the men of Grundy helped themselves as cooly to the one as to the other, so that the fame of their exploits went through all that region round about. Indeed, it was maliciously said that when the women would hear the Grundy militia were coming they hastily gathered up their children and valuables and hid themselves in the brush. It is hard to say what gave them this notoriety; whether it was from their hungry looks (for by accident they had been assigned to the rear of the column where there was but a scanty picking ) or whether it was because they had so many preachers in their company, and a nat- ural inference in regard to chickens was the conse- cjuence — one divine had the 1)ow of his saddle adorned with a defunct rooster, that caused consid- erable merriment — or whether it was, as the writer suspects to l)e the fact, because the militia from the neighboring counties stole anything and were caught at it in^'ariably said they were from Grundy County. At any rate the Grundy County militia got the blame for all the depredations committed, and for years afterward were hated by the people of the river counties even as the Jews hated the Philis- tines. The truth is, that except taking a little corn fodder, occasionally borrowing a horse when their own gave out, leaving their name and address with the owner, the Grundy county militia paid their ex- penses out of their own pockets. "One beautiful morning down on the Missouri 1)ottom the bugle sounded tlie companies to fall into 70 HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY. line. The tired militia, who had been reclining on the grass, or eating their scanty breakfast, mounted their horses in haste and took their stations in their respective companies. The militia of Grundy, al- ways the first to obey an order, were soon in their places, wondering what was going to take place next. On their right and left were stationed vari- ous other militia companies composing the expedi- tion, and on the extreme left the Illinois cavalry. Some important order w^as about to be given. Some said the bushwhackers had escaped and that they would be followed over the river. This was good news, for there was not one that would not willingly have gone over the Arkansas line if necessary. The officer commanding and his staff w^ere posted some little distance off. Suddenly an adjutant left the group and rode to the place where DeBolt's com- pany was stationed. Halting, he took out a paper and read the following : "\Miereas, continual complaints have reached the ears of the commanding officer that the militia company under the command of Capt. R. A. DeBolt, have been guilty of numerous crimes and misdeeds, whereby the morals of the command in general have been very much deteriorated, therefore they are dis- charged from fiu'ther participation in this cam- paign. They are ordered to report in Chillicothe and be discharged.' "And so the poor militia — victims of unjust sus- picion and lying accusation — turned their horses heads and sadly w^ended their way in silence over the hills to the right of the encampment and struck out for home. The same evening on halting for the night an examination was made of the entire com- HISTORY OP GRUNDY COUNTY. 71 pany, at their own request, to ascertain it any had been guilty of steahng. The result was: One old horse blanket, one curry comb, three onions and twenty ears of corn. "The greater part of the company had too much respect for themselves to forget, for a single mo- ment, that they w^ere gentlemen and men of honor, and would have scorned to commit the petty crimes with w^iich they were charged. "Tw^o days afterwards the company reached Trenton, where, in the the welcome they received, they soon forgot their fatigue, hunger, and mortifi- cation. In the foregoing sketch, w4ien alluding to the Grundy County militia, DeBolt's company, com- posed of men living in and about Trenton, was more particularly meant, as that was the company that was especially honored on the Missouri bottom. "Before the war closed, the disorderly spirits in Trenton, got so outrageous in their conduct that Colonel Shanklin was ordered to take a company of militia from St. Joseph, proceed to Trenton to ar- rest the violators of the peace, and to take them to St. Joseph, for trial. This was done and Trenton had no more trouble. The war came to a close, and w'ith the return of the heroes who went, happiness and peace settled down, though here and there a mournful face looked out on the silent night, and the gazer thought of her loved ones lying dead be- neath the stars that twinkled so tremulously in the southern sky. "The time passed on, the clouds of war faded away one by one, and instead of the roar of the dis- tant cannon the roll of the emigrant's wagon was heard on all the roads of Grundy and adjacent coun- 72 HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY. ties. Many passed on through, crossing the Mis- souri river and seeking a home in the distant prairies of Kansas and Nebraska, but many remained and made their homes on the rich prairie that lay be- tween Grand River and Medicine creek, and none ever regretted having done so. Law and order, peace and plenty, ^'irtue and happiness have existed in old Grundy for many years, and that they may ever continue to do so is the sincere wish of one who came here a stranger and found friends; who came penniless and found a competence; who came a bachelor and found a companion to cheer him to his life's end." HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY. 73 CHAPTER IV. REMINISCENCES, J. E. CARTER— Peculiarities of Country and People — Manner of Living — Religious Services — With "the Boys" — Amusements — Colored People — The Liquor Question — The Hamlet of Trenton — Game and Fish — Horse Racing — The Days of the Ferry — Sports and Incidents. 1 5^ IM m ' ^K HE history of Grundy County would be incomplete did it fail to contain a few personal reminiscences, and the writer, who, if not one of the earliest pioneers, dates back to a period which may en- title him to the distinction of being one of the "old timers.' It was in 1853 when pressed me with the idea that the Creator did not use the same pattern, in his creative work. The broad and fertile prairies of Missouri was a great change from the heavy timbered districts of the Hoosier state, where the tall poplar, walnut, oak and hickory trees, made the seemingly dwarf like for- ests of Missouri seem insignificant in comparison, first I breathed the pure air of Grundy County, when a boy of sixteen years of age, with others, in a prairie schooner, I was on an exploring expedition. I was a Hoosier boy from near the old battle ground of Tippecanoe in Indiana, and the change of scenery, country and manners and customs peculiar to the people of Missouri, im- 74 HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY. Another peculiarity of this country, or rather its people, they choose to settle along the streams and brakes of the county, ignoring the prairies, as only fit for grazing lands for stock. The wild deer, the turkey and the prairie chicken, made up a large pro- portion of what enjoyed the unused domain and wild meats and wild honey, to early settlers, was a most providential supply of the necessaries and luxuries of life. I doubt very much if ever a hap- pier condition has prevailed among the people of Grundy Coimty than those primitive times afforded. The log cabin and ordinary shack, which the whip saw and the woodman's ax procured from the tim- ber, were places of unalloyed comfort. The coon skin tacked on the outside, was a most common at- traction and denoted that the "varmints" of the country contributed largely, in a commercial way, in supplying "store goods," such as Orleans sugar and molasses, coffee, rice and other luxuries of the cabin home, also ammunition, consisting of powder, caps and lead. It was possible to dispense with cof- fee and sugar, but the ammunition was an indispen- sible article. Among the interior decorations of the cabin was the long barrel rifle, in a rack, sometimes made of the horns of a buck deer. That rifle in the hands of a pioneer, was a most unerring weapon, and the bullet, made in the old time bullet moulds, into which the lead was poured, rarely went astray of bringing down the deer or turkey. My first experience in hearing the gospel pro- claimed was at a camp meeting on Tombstone creek, near where Melbourne now is. For several weeks the woods was full of religiotis excitement. At night the most interest seemed to prevail, when the HISTORY OP GRUXDY COUXTY. 75 spirit seemed to be the most moving. The singing of the old style hymns was in no sense classical, but seemed to come from sincere and earnest hearts. The interest seemed to grow more intense as the singing progressed and often induced dozens to give vent to their feeling with shouting, amens and praise the Lord. Sometimes these camp meetings, which in the early autumn, were numerous in Mis- souri, were characterized with an element not so en- thusiastically religious, but were of the rowdy na- ture. Frequently, it was necessary to have a picket guard to protect the camp from toughs, who deemed it great sport to interfere with the services in a way that ended in a battle with clubs and other weapons and I think old pioneers will testify to the fact, that the toughs generally got the worst of it. It was not until 1856 that the writer became a citizen of Grundy County, and of the little hamlet of Trenton, where I am yet permitted to live. It is hardly necessary to inform the reader that at this date I am no spring chicken, and that I am inclined to look backward, more than for future events. I am reminded of the lines : "Backward, turn backward, oh time, in thy flight. Make me a child again, just for tonight." The recollection of the times, when Avith other young men of the little town of Trenton, I was one of the boys. Being one of the bo}\s in Trenton in 1856-7-8 and i860, meant more than would be proper to record in a history of Grundy County. In those days, it always paid a peace officer to be on good terms with the "boys." To be otherwise meant trouble. Don't understand me to mean that the Trenton boys of that age were ^-icious or mean in 76 HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY. the sense to l^e law ])reakers of a serious character, but were certainly very much alive when it seemed necessary to start something doing for the fun there was in it. To get under the influence of booze was one of the easiest and cheapest efforts one could make. The grocery stores generally kept a "barl" of the stuff to sell by the gallon and treat their cus- tomers. A gallon of genuine "sod corn whiskey'* could be had for 25 cents and old "Monongehale" for 50 cent per gallon. The sports peculiar to the loafers of the streets and a few farmers who came to town Saturdays was pitching horseshoes and pitching dollars for the drinks. On the campus of the old court house the game of marbles was a most popular and interesting game of skill. I could name many of the artists whose skill at marbles, horse- shoe pitching and dollar pitching was enviable. Poker was not an unknown scientific game in those days and I could name a few old timers, who im- agined themselves invincible, until a real scientific poker player from the city came along and taught them that gambling was a science by cleaning them up to the tune of several dollars. Poker chips was an unknown convenience those days. Colored people of those times, were regarded as an inferior animal and of a commercial value, rated according to age, gender and physical development. A good male negro, sometimes was valued at from $1,000 to $1,500. The selling of a negro was of rare occurrence in Grundy County, and it was gen- erally due to misbehavior of the colored man or woman, that the master would dispose of them for a consideration. Colored people were not privi- leged to roam the streets later than 9 o'clock. A HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY. 77 "patroller,"' was an authority, whose duty it was to see that colored people were in their quarters at that hour. The temperance question in the latter part of the fifties, had its friends, and I well remember, when the "Sons of Temperance" was an organization in- stituted by good temperance people, with a view of bringing about a great reformation. The order prospered and became a power in one sense — that is, joiners came in by the dozens and old time in- ebiates were welcomed in the order with a cordial- ity that should have had l^etter effect, but it seems, onlv curiosity prompted many to join, with perhaps a desire to break up the order by burdening it with members who were not sincere in taking the obliga- tion. Anyway, the time arrived when it was impos- sible to expel a recreant member for the reason that those were in the majority, who had not reformed. I well remember on one occasion when the chair officer (the w^orthy Patriarch) was so intoxicated he could hardly sit up straight in his chair. I be- lieve it was in 1857 that a temperance wave struck the town, that seemed likely to wreck the liquor business. It was when William Ross, a great tem- perance lecturer and reformer, came at the solicita- tion of the temperance peo])le, and lectured on tem- perance in the old Baptist church on South Water street. He was a most fearless advocate of the cause, and gave it to the rummies in italics. One night he made a proposition, in one of his lectures, to buy out all the liquor sellers in the town and said : "Where are you, Air. Liquor Sellers, are you here tonight? Wliat will you take for your stuff?" One liquor seller arose and said: "I'll take cost and car- 78 HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY. riage for mine." "Wliat!" said Ross. "Bring hell and damnation into a community and offer it for cost and carriage?" From that on Ross had a tar- get for his abuse, and wit, sarcasm, etc., was the ammunition he used. The next night, while Ross stood on the floor, in front of the large pulpit, pour- ing out hot vindictive abuse for the lic[Uor dealers, a half brick came through the rear window with force enough to bury it in the plastering in the front end of the church. Had Ross been in the pul- pit his lecture w'ould have ended at that moment if the brick bat had struck him. Pandemonium reigned for a moment and to find the man who threw the brick was the next move. Ross's voice was heard above the roar, sa3nng, "Let the devil outside alone, nobody is hurt." I mention this incident, il- lustrative of the fact that temperance waves are not of modern times only, but date back for many generations, and that wave was the first to strike Trenton since I became a citizen. In the year of 1856, the first year of my adoption of Trenton as my home, the mercantile business, so far as I remember, was as follows: AA\ H. Robert- son, on lot I, block i, on the corner, directly west of the court house; the next door southwest down Water street, a Mr. Maupin, then Austin and Coop- er, then Dr. J. H. Short, drug store, then on the cor- ner, Jas. H. Cooper's hotel, across the street. Nel- son, Brooks & Taylor, then on up the street Arbo- gast & Renfro's grocery, store in front and saloon in the rear, next came Ison Morris and Froman, and on the corner Samuel Ells' saloon. Not one of those l)usiness houses is standing today to testify to the commercial enterprise of that day. On the HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY. 79 block opposite the court house, south, was WiUiam Blew's blacksmith shop and plow factory — an old log edifice, now only a memory. Across the street, where now stands the old Winters hall, was the Smith shop of Socrates England, and immediately north was a restaurant kept by an old colored man, Jeff VVaterford, whose wife. Aunt Jane, was a cook unsurpassed in any country or age. A carding ma- chine, located a few blocks south on Water street, run by oxen on a large inclined wheel, owned and operated by George W. Moberly, was an enterprise patronized by customers coming forty or fifty miles, with loads of wool who sometimes were compelled to wait for days to get their turn. Colliers' brick yard, near the old Jennings & Flemming mill, was another enterprise of great import to Trenton. I believe that was about all of the business of a mer- cantile and factory nature of the town. The educational institution of Trenton was un- der the management of Joseph Ficklin, in an old log structure, where now is located the jail. Prof. Ficklin afterward became prominent in the state, as a professor of mathematics, and indeed was recog- nized as an author and teacher of that educational branch of national repute. Prof. Terrence Brad- ley came about 1857 and built up a splendid school and built a two-story edifice, where now stands the Farmers" Store. Many prominent men of the county and state, first drank at this fountain of learning, and the name of Bradley became famous as a teacher, but his enviable career as an educator ended with his death, which occurred in 1859 or '60. My earliest recollection of what Trenton af- forded, as a place of religious worship was the old 80 HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY. Baptist church, ah'eacly referred to, where Mr, Ross lectured on temperance. It was there I first attended Sunday school, of which W. H. Robertson w-as superintendent. His words of admonition, on our first interview, impressed me in a way I never will forget them. Said he: "Come and go with us and we will do thee good." He was one of the pio- neer merchants of the village, well remembered by old timers as a most exemplar)^ , upright Christian gentleman. He died near Laredo, Mo., in 1905, loved and mourned by all who knew him. In 1856 the foundation of the Christian church building was laid and is yet standing and is in a dilapidated con- dition, on the next block southeast of the court house. William Collier, Sr., was the prime mover in this worth}^ enterprise, who lived many years to enjoy the fruits of his labor, in attending religious services in the same. It was dedicated by Rev. T. P. Haley, now a superannuated minister, living at Kansas City. Those tw'O churches had plenty of material out of which to make a good membership. Religious con- troversies in those days were of more frequent oc- currence than now. Debates on doctrinal differ- ences kept alive a degree of sectarianism hardly consistent with the spirit of Christianity. I remem- ber a debate in the old 1)rick church, between Dr. Ben. Franklin of Cincinnati, representing the Chris- tian church, and Dr. Bush of Missouri, represent- ing the M. E. church. South. It held several days and when ended it is questionable if any one was changed in his or her way of thinking and only served to fortify those holding to their opinions more intenselv, in their sectional faith. HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY. '81 A game and fish law, such as we have today, would have been an outrage on the liberties of the people, that would have been "killing" to the politi- cal popularity of the author of the bill, and to all who voted for it. The hunter of that period did not look in vain for the deer, turkey and prairie chicken and to shoot a (|uail was deemed a waste of ammunition when they could be caught in the net by the dozens. The boys of this age will never know what success means in hunting compared with the hunter with a squirrel rifle in 1856. That was a time too when the fisherman on the banks of Grand river, was re- paid for his bait and patience. Fish in Grand river were of a size and variety that would make a fish story discounting anything the modern fisherman could fabricate. A catfish weighing 150 pounds was caught in the wheel of the old water mill. Buf- falo fish were often shot with the rifle when "root- ing" along the banks of the river and when "float- ing" near the surface, as they often did in the sum- mer months. The "Jack Salmon" was also a vari- ety quite plentiful in those days and many caught weighed ten or twelve pounds. I remember dis- tinctly of a peculiar "catch," which in a fish story might be considered rather "fishy," but neverthe- less is true. An old colored man, Randall Darnaby, baited his hook on a "trot" line, for catfish. Dur- ing the night a catfish about a foot long was caught on the hook. The fish, before Darnaby came to take it off, tempted a very large fish, weighing 70 pounds, to take a nibble. It swallowed the fish head foremost, and that ended the career of the larp-e fish which was taken ashore next morning by the fisher- man, \\-ith great difficulty, and it was no easy mat- 82 HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY. ter to pull the smaller fish from the larger one. Fish stories may not be just the proper thing to be writ- ten in a county history, but in these reminiscences of the events of the county, a "true" fish story is certainly admissible. "Hoss racing" was among the sports of the fif- ties and the race horses and jockies would cause a smile on the countenances of the sports of this age. Charles Cullers, on his old mule, on the track of a Grundy County fair, would discount the races of that age. The race hoss was not cared for, as is now a blooded courser. To plow all week, with har- ness marks cjuite visible, the racer and its owner would meet on the l:)Ottoms south of Grand riA-er, with several others of the sporting fever. The race track was a quarter of a mile in length and straight as an arrow and when the signal was given no "jockeying" was indulged in for an advantage in the start. It was "go" and was as exciting and per- haps more so, than the races of modern times. Only a few of the sporting men of that day yet live in (irundy and prominent among them, who was then and is yet a splendid judge of "hoss" flesh and mus- cle, is Capt. Alex Tate, who will testify to the fact, than anything l)ut a square deal in a "hoss" race was deemed an outrage and the man that suggested any thing unfair was put off the track. Another popular sport of the fifties was that of the "shootin' " match for turkeys and beef. A group of sportsmen, with the long eight-squared barrel, assembled for the "shoot" would make a splendid picture. "Champion shots" or marksmen were sure to be on hand, and it sometimes happened HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY. 83 one of these would win the whole beef and drive it home. I have in mind one of these whose name was James Pratt, father of Al. Pratt of Trenton. As a hunter and "sharp shooter" with his old time rifle he was deemed hard to excel. Athletic sports were also a most popular amusement, and then as now, this county was well stocked with "home talent" in that line. The "sprinter" then, a name unknown to the foot racer and the "jumper" was a character of repute. Occasionally a professional from other states would arrive in our village, (which Trenton was then) and challenge the town for a contest and leave it with more than ordinary respect for our home athletes. I remember on one occasion a professional ath- lete from "furrin" parts, swelling with important mien, boasting of his phenomenal feats at jumping, challenged the town to "trot" out its best athlete, and see him make him feel small. The town boasted of no champion, but it was know that William Col- lier, Jr., a well known citizen who died in Trenton a few 3^ears ago, possessed superior powers as a jumper. Mr. Collier expressed a willingness to test the agility of the professional, conditionally, that no wager be made on the result. That condition, so far as he knew was agreed to, but on the side it was be- lieved a stake was made unkno\Mi to Mr. Collier, w^hose convictions of right and wrong, regarding betting were very strongly opposed to that species of immorality. When the contest came off the pro- fessional came out behind almost a foot and left town, convinced of his inferiority to an unprofes- sional of Trenton. Grand river, at the foot of Water street, which M HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY. was then a back water, caused by a dam, which fur- nished the power, to run the mill, a few hundred yards below, was crossed by a ferry boat of very ordinary design and build. To get on or off the ferry boat was sometimes a most hazardous under- taking. The fee for crossing was 5 cents for a foot- man and 10 cents for a horseman and 15 cents for a wagon or carriage. A large rope from bank to bank, with ropes and pulleys attached to the boat, served to keep the boat in position for passage, one end of the boat inclined up stream, the current serv- ing to propel the boat across. To bail the boat with a scoop shovel about every other trip, gave the ferry man plenty of exercise, while waiting for a fare. An amusing suggestion by Henry Parberry, a well known celebrity of "Poosey," (Jefferson Twp.) on one occasion, is entitled to space in these reminis- cences. The ferry man was bailing out the old boat, throwing the water over the "gunnell," up stream. Henry said, "You ain't doing that right." "Why ain't I," said the ferry man. "Because, when you throw the water up stream it will all run back in yer darned old boat." The possibility of ever building a bridge across Grand river was a very remote proposition. A rivalry in the ferry business sprang up, when a ferry was established where is now the bridge at the water works pumping station. The road to Edinburg then, was to cross at the lower ferry and thence over the bridge at Big Rock. To change the course of travel and make more business for the upper ferry the bridge at Big Rock was de- stroyed by fire, which was followed by the arrest of one Joshua Epperson, on suspicion of burning the bridge. While many believed Epperson guilty, the HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY. 85 evidence failed to sustain the charge and Joshua went free. These reminiscences are only a few of the many I might relate of the fifties, under my observation, but to impose further on the pages of this history of Grundy County might impair its interest so will close by saying I have never had cause to regret that in 1856 I found a home I never felt inclined to leave and a companion who has contributed to my happiness, as only a true wife can and not the least of all my pleasures is the consciousness of the fact that in Grundy County I have been associated, re- ligiously, socially and politically with the best peo- ple on earth, and with them I hope to sojourn so long as life shall last, and trust when the end does come I can leave the world, at peace with all man- kind, and that Trenton and Grundy Countv may be no worse for myself having been a citizen in it from boyhood to a ripe old age. Resp., John Eddy Carte:r. HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY. 87 CHAPTER V. COUNTY'S DEVELOPMENT SINCE THE WAR— Price of Land in the Sixties— Stray Notices— Deer Still Plentiful— Jail Built — Building Improvements — County Business — The County Fair in 1870 — The Market in 1871 — Country, Towns and Schools in the Seventies — Post Office Service — The Coming of the Rail- road — Wealth of the County in the Eighties — In the Nineties, — Rural Free Delivery — Court House Built — Local Option. ^ ^ >^ ^: THE development of the county was of course greatly retarded by the war. Conditions were still quite primitive. Good prairie land sold for three dollars an acre. Stock still ran at large, and fences were few. Many stray notices for all kinds of stock are found on record for these times. The following notice, undated, which was probably published in 1863 is typical: WM. KNIGHT'S STRAY BOOK. State of Missouri County of Grundy, ss : Personley appeared before me, the undersigned Justice of the Peace in and for Trenton township, James Leeper being duly sworn by me Deposed that he had Takenup as a Stray on is Plantation, one Red Sorrel Mare, Supposed to be five years old, about fourteen hands High, with Small Star in hir fore head and saddle marks upon her Back and a lit- tle white on the inside of her left hind foot, Peter H. 88 HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY. Yakey and George Slotenback, Appraisers, being duly sworn appraised it at fifty dollars. WM. KNIGHT, J. P. The Republican, in its issue of December 2, 1869, contains the following item : "Dick Burke * '•' on the i(Sth of November knocked over a buck which weighed 190 pounds net and on the 26th two Inicks and a doe went down be- fore his unerring aim. '•' ''" Dick will accept our thanks for a nice venison roast." In the meantime, the town and county was pro- gressing steadily, surely, if not rapidly. The county jail was completed in 1867. It had four cells below and three rooms up stairs for the use of the sheriff, and it was a thing of beauty, a joy for every liberty loving transgressor who was locked therein, as they all with one accord would quietly depart. Captain Winters collected $29,000 taxes for the year 1869. In the same year agitation for a national bank be- gan. "Time and again since we have been a citizen of Trenton," says the Republican, "have we heard men wish that there was a bank in this place." According to a resume given by that paper, building improvements to the value of $64,707 were made in Trenton from January i to December i, 1869. About eighty buildings were erected or re- paired. The highest price paid for a single building was $2,300 for the Methodist church. The county court from time immemorial has practiced the most rigid economy, at times to the extent of parsimony. In 1870 they for a time failed to publish the financial statement of the county, as the law required, which dereliction of duty was nat- urally extremely repugnant to the Republican. The HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY. 89 statement was finally published, however, showing the total disbursements of the county for the year 1869 to have been $34,646.21, an excess over the receipts of $10,303.22; which statement would seem to warrant the cutting down of expense. The assessor's book for 1870 gives the names of 2,420 tax payers in Grundy County. 220 of whom were non-residents. An incident of that year which might be mentioned was the Iniilding of a bridge across Grand river. ]n that year the county and probate courts were separated, the probate judge having formerly been ex-officio member of the countA' court. The (irund}' County fair, then in full blast, awarded the following premiums in 1870: Best domestic jeans, $3. Best homespun woolen yarn, $2. Best hose, mittens, etc. Best patched clothing. Best yoke oxen, $10. Best draft oxen, tested on ground, $5. Few awards were as high as ten dollars. In 1 87 1 came the railroad, an epoch making event in the history of the county, which is dis- cussed elsewhere. No sooner was the Rock Island secured than agitation was begun for another road, the Quincy, Missouri & Pacific, afterwards the Quincy, Omaha & Kansas City, having made a sur- vey through this county as early as 1871. This sur- vey went through the county about two miles south of the Mercer County line, but Lindley and Edin- burg felt confident of being able to secure it. The Trenton market in 1871 was as follows: Sugar, lb., 13 i-2c. Coffee, Rio, 20c. 1^1 Dr(. FOSTER'S DAIRY H6RD. TRfNTON.MO. HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY. 91 Coffee, Java, 30c. Salt, bbi., $3.25. Candles, lb., 25c. Soda, IOC. Tea, lb., $1.25 to $2.00. Tubs, wooden, $1.40. Pails, wooden, 35c. Washboards, 40c. Eggs, doz., 8 I -3c. Chickens, dozen, $1.25. Good Suits, $7.50. Coal oil, 30c a gal. up. As late as 1875 one-third of Grundy County was covered with timl^er. In this year she had seventy- eight school districts, and seventy-seven school houses; sixty-nine frame, three brick and five log. There was a select school at Lindley and a college at Edinburg. There were five towns in the county, Trenton, Edinburg, Lindley, Nevada and Spick- ardsville. Lindley was a thriving village with a population of about three hundred. Nevada was a small town in the southeast corner of the county, which had a flour mill and considerable local trade. Spickards, a bran new town, claimed three hundred people, had one church, one railroad, (and hoped to get another), and a number of business houses. The Republican, July 17, 1879, says: "The daily mail between Trenton and Edinburg has been dis- continued for the present, no contract having been let for its conveyance. A tri-weekly has been estab- lished between Trenton and Bethany by way of Edinburg, Bancroft and Blue Ridge, and is carried in a hack; and a semi-weekly from Edinburg by way of Grubtown, Bollen and Thomas." 92 HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY. The Ouincy, Missouri & Pacific railway, coming in 1 88 1, aided in the development of the county, and gave birth to the city of Gait. 'I'his road was pro- moted by Theodore Oilman of Xew \'ork, through Trenton to Pattonsburg to connect ^vith another road in 1897, prior to which time Trenton was the western terminus. This road it was thought for a time ^^■ould pass through Lindley, and perhaps Edinburg, and efforts were made to induce it to do so by the gift of a handsome sum of money. When the road passed to the north of these towns their death knell was sounded. A severe storm passed through the country in 1883, unroofing and blowing down a number of houses and doing much damage to orchards. The approximate loss to the city of Trenton was $75,000. The assessed wealth of the county in 1883 was as follows : Wilson township $ 254,448 Marion township 305,636 Liberty township 214,591 Myers township 221,990 Jackson township 231,680 Trenton township 978,653 Lincoln township 293,253 Franklin township 176,515 Jefferson township 209,474 Madison township 234,216 Harrison township 158,857 Taylor township 69,687 Washington township io5'375 Total $3,464,260 The Chicaso, Milwaukee & St. Paul railway H 94 HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY. came in 1887, made Laredo and killed Alpha. Lit- tle of general permanent interest occurred in the la t - ter part of the eighties, the country surely and steadily increasing in population and wealth. The census of 1890 showed the population of Grundy County to be 17,876, and of the city of Trenton 5.039- A. H. Burkeholder, as good an authority as the county had, gave to the Northwest Missouri Immi- gration Society a report of Grundy County in 1889, which is in part as follows : "A considerable portion of the lands in Grundy County are accessible to the purchaser. !\Iany of the farms are too large, and a reasonable price would induce their reduction ; so that good land can, at all times be found for sale. We have carefully investigated the question and find the price of the lands for sale in this county to be : L'nimproved, $5 to $12.50 per acre, and improved lands and stock farms, with good houses, liarns, orchards, fences, and with ample water supply, from $12.50 to $35 per acre. * '^ The average price of improved farms in the county will not exceed $18 to $20 per acre. "Some idea of the surplus products of Grundy County may be gained from the following state- ment of the number of car loads actually shipped from the county for the year 1887: Piorses, 36; cat- tle, 162; hogs, 234; sheej), 62; grain, 135; timothy seed, 2;i,\ pressed hay, 10; native lumber, 13; ties and piling, 75 ; hoops, 34 ; brick, 4 ; coal, 8 ; hides and tallow, 11; poultry, 6; wool, 15; apples, 26\ flour, 5 ; hay rakes, 3 ; making a total of 852 car loads." Local option went into effect in 1886. Much HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY. 95 complaint was made of the illegal selling of liqiior by dives and club houses. A club house conducted by Drury Davis in a building owned by H. Brady. just outside the city limits of Spickard was raided February 14, 1887, by a number of women armed with clubs, axes, hatchets, etc., who went in a body, sinaslied the windows and poured the liquor into the gutter. The incident caused great excitement at the time. A special train brought the offenders to Trenton February 21, where they were tried and fined for destruction of property. Those in sym- pathy with the women conducted a parade through the city and made great demonstrations. In the summer of 1895 ^^^ unsuccessful attempt w^as made to secure the St. Joseph Central railway, with division and shops at Trenton. Rural free delivery of mail was begun in this county in 1901, and now there are comparatively few farmers in the county who have not their mail delivered at their door, routes being established from all the principle towns of the county. The as- sessed wealth of the county in 1901 was $4,816,380. In that year bonds to the amount of $60,000 w^ere voted for the purpose of building a court house, of which the corner stone was laid in December, 1903. The building was dedicated October 25, 1905. It is a stately and substantial building, a credit to the county. A substantial jail was erected at the same time. HISTORY OF GRUXDY COUXTY. i>7 CHAPTER VL TOWNSHIPS AND TOWNS-Franklin Township-Spickards- Harrison Township— Jackson Township— Jefferson Town- ship— Hickory— Liberty Township— Gait— Elizaville— Lincoln Township— Tindall— Madison Township— Edinburg—:^Iarion lownship—Lindley—Diinlap— Granville— Mvers Township— Cookseyville— Taylor Township— Brimson— Trenton Town- ship— Wa:. hington Township— Wilson Township— Alpha- Laredo. FRANKLIN TOWNSHIP was one of the first seven townships organized in 1 84 1. It was probably inhabited tem- porarily by a few Mormon families be- fore 1838. James Weldon, the first _^__^^ permanent settler, came in 1838. Gar- rison Carmine and Joseph Mendenhall came the same year, and Andrew Weldon in 1839. In 1 84 1 Wm. Schooler, David Ashbrook and Wm. Fitzpatrick were chosen justices of the peace for Franklin township. The present officials are J. G. Nichols, trustee;. C. B.Cook, collector; John B. Keith, Jr., clerk and assessor; James T. Boatman, constable; L. D. Cornwell and W. H. Newton, mem- bers of board; H. Montgomery and W. H. Newton, justices of the peace. Outside of Trenton township, Franklin is one of the most thickly populated and wealthiest townships in the county. 98 HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY. SPICKARD. Spickard is located on the Rock Island, thirteen miles north of Trenton, on the land of G. A. Spick- ard, for whom the town. was named. It grew cjuick- ly, and was incorporated in 1873. James D. VVams- ley, C. E. Wilkerson, James M. Cooper, David G. Pug'h, and Milo Robertson was its first trustees. Being in a good trade district, the town has grown steadily and permanently. In 1880 the population was 330, in 1908 it is about 800. The business firms of Spickard, or Spickardsville, as it was formerly called in 1881, were E. A. Cook, general merchan- dise; W. H. Brewer, drugs and groceries; George M. Brown & Co., drugs; Samuel Benner, groceries; H. Montgomery, wagon shop ; Burkeybile & Wyatt, blacksmiths; A. Burkeybile, blacksmith; R. M. Crocket, shoe shop; I. J. Godfrey, harness shop; Coon Bros. & Co., millers; D. W. Stapp, saw mill; F. A. Bonner and N. F. Munn, boarding house; Mary E. Taylor, telegraph operator; O. G. Bain, notary and law^yer ; C. E. \^'ilkerson, physician. Spickard suffered a $15,000 fire November 8, 1906. The heaviest losers were Guy A. Thompson, The Farmers' Store, and R. S. Neil. Since that time the city has established a very creditable system of water works. ^inrxisxtii Harrison township was organized in 1872. It is irregular in shape, lying between Washington and Lincoln townships on the north and east and Grand river on the south and west, containing 13,423 acres. Charles W\ Scott settled here in 1834 and HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY. 99 John McHargue and Alvin Johnson in 1837. While the township is small and not thickly populated it contains some of the richest farms in the county. Its officials are D. C. Marrs, trustee; J. P. Pryor, col- lector; E. C. Wilson, clerk and assessor; J. M. Ren- fro, constable; J. E. Maxson and Dennis Thompson, members township board and justices of the peace. ^jtrksxiit Jackson township's first settlers, William and Josiah Evans, came in 1837. Jas. May and Ad- kinson came in the spring of 1838. Jackson was formerly a part of Trenton township, receiving a separate organization in 1872. Its first township officers were Wm. Evans, Patrick Conniff and James Mack, township board ; Isaac Mulford, col- lector; Thomas Hubbard, assessor and George Blivens, constable. Its present officers are W. W. Mack, trustee; J. D. Cline, collector; R. J. Mulford, clerk and assessor ; Stephen Spencer, constable ; C. H. Burns and A. C. Dickman, members of board and justices of the peace. Its area is 18,920 acres. ^tiftxsitxx Jefferson township is in the southwest corner of the county. It has an area of 22,'/20 acres. It con- tains much excellent farm land and some broken timber land. The township w^as organized 1)y the Livingston County court in 1839 ^^^^^ reduced to its present size in 1872. Its first settlement was made 100 HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY. in 1836 by the families of Jesse Harris, Cornelius Darnaby and Wm. Davies. The township officials are John M. Grimes, trus- tee ; W. A. Tate, collector ; Elias Brown, clerk and assessor; George Sharp, constable; Theo. Bratton and Ira Cyphers, members of township board and justices of the peace. HICKORY. Hickory is a station on the Rock Island and a trading point, located in the east central part of the township. It has three stores, a restaurant, black- smith shop, etc. Jtt^rti Liberty township was first settled in 1838 and organized in 1845. Until 1872 it included Myers township. The township is bounded on the north by Myers, on the east by Sullivan County, on the south by Marion and on the west by Lincoln town- ship. It is seven miles east and west and five north and south. No Creek passes through it on the west and Little Medicine touches it on the east. Most of the soil is undulating prairie land. In 1837-8 came to this place Minter Brass- field, Mary Brassfield, Thomas Brassfield, Hugh Davis, Calvin Brummett, G. F. German, John Priest, Alayberry Splawn, Anderson Malone and Reuben Brassfield. Many others came in 1839 and' 1840. The first wedding in. the township is said to be that of Reuben and Lucinda Brassfield, cousins. in January, 1839. The first child born was May- berry Brassfield, son of Minter and Jane Brassfield, May, 1878. The first school was taught by J. W. HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY. 101 Bunnell in 1842. He had thirteen pupils, and re- ceived $1.50 per pupil per month. This school was taug"ht in a residence, the first school house, a log cabin without doors, windows or fire place, being- built some time later. The township officials are L. W. Moberly, trus- tee; Byron Jones, collector; Thomas Fleshman, clerk and assessor; E. E. Wilford, constable; Emory Hamilton and H. C. Flagg, members of township board; H. C. Flagg and W A. -Cooper, justices of the peace. GALT. Gait was brought into existence by the building of the Quincy, Missouri & Pacific railroad in 1881, and at the expense of Lindley. The correspondent for the Trenton Republican, in December, 1881, says : "Gait is a new town laid off by E. L. Winters. Since the location of the Wabash railroad * * it has already made a fine start. All the talk about it being a low, wet, swampy place is all bosh." The correspondent further refers to the burning of numerous brush piles and the rapid clearing off of timber and says that Gait can no longer be called "Brushy Station." He reports the business men of that time to be Judge M. Humphre3^s, just moved from Lindley, general merchandise; J. W. Osborn, hotel; R. W. Thompson, hotel; Jewett & Jewett, drugs; Thos. Jones, livery; Lewis & Crantz, black- smiths ; Andrew Collins, lumber ; David Jackson, meat; Palmer & Thompson, saw^ mill; Snell, grocer- ies; Rooks & Rush, groceries. Lindley was at this time reported as losing trade but still active. A number of new houses were going up m trie new town. The town suffered a severe fire in 1883, and 102 HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY. another in 1891. The loss in the latter approached $15,000. Among the heaviest losers were the Jewett estate and Morris Bros. A shaft was sunk for a coal mine in 1894, and the mine was worked intermittently for a few years. The coal was of fine quality, but the vein was too small to make its operation profitable. Gait is now a town of about 800 people. Its loca- tion in a rich agricultural section and its distance to larger towns insures it a large permanent trade. The business directory for the year 1908 shows about twenty mercantile firms. A fire in February, 1908, destroyed five frame buildings, with the in- evitable loss accompanying such fires, and another followed in June of the same year, destroying two buildings. But the business section of the town is now nearly altogether composed of brick and con- crete. ELIZAVILLE. Elizaville, the first town in Liberty township, was laid out and a plot filed in the recorder's office in 1857. It was located about the M. Wolz place, near the Lincoln township line. ^Inrijlit Lincoln township, in the central part of the county, north of Trenton and south of Franklin, is six miles north and south and eight east and west. It is an unusually fine agricultural country. The Bain settlement was formed here in 1837, consist- ing of the families of Riason and Jesse Bain, Sam- uel Kelso, Henry Foster and Wm. Dille. The band came from Ohio and Indiana. The first school HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY. 103 taught in the township was by Amos Dille in 1839 and 1840. The school for some years was taught in de- serted cabins, the first school house being built in 1849. The township was organized in 1872. Its officers are W. P. Marrs, trustee; W. H. Tavener, collector; A. T. Cornwell, clerk and assessor; A. H. Tavener, constable ; S. D. Murphy and W. T. Wil- son, justices of the peace and members of township board. TINDALL. Tindall is a station on the Rock Island, six miles north of Trenton. It was made a station shortly after the building of the railroad in 1871. While its short distance from Trenton will pre- vent it becoming a large town, it is an active little village wnth a bank, general store, drug store, and hardware store, and is surrounded by some of the finest farms in the county. ct:hisxJtt Madison township, located in the west central part of the county, is six miles square. While some of its land is broken, there is much fertile prairie and rich bottom land in the township. It originally comprised both Madison and Taylor tuwnships. The first settlement in Grundy County was perhaps the one made in Madison township in 1833 by Dr. Thompson and others. That settle- ment is discussed in another portion of this work. The early history of the township being identical with that of the county need not be here discussed. The present township officials are N. E. 104 HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY. Stephenson, trustee; F. M. Prewitt, collector; Luther Burnett, clerk and assessor; James C. Bryant, constable; D. A. Hudson and B. F. Hum- phreys, members of board and justices of the peace. EDINBURG. Edinburg, the second town in the county in age, was located in 1838, Isaac J. Harvey building a store here at that date. The town l^eing only four and a half miles from Trenton, it had not the natural ad- vantages conducive to growth, and it was not until the establishment of Grand River college that it be- came an important place. This institution, organ- ized in 1850, did much for the town. The town was incorporated in 1877. In 1880 its population was 174. The removal of Grand River college did much toward bringing about the decline of Edinburg, and the passing of the O., O. & K. C. railroad to the north and the founding of the town of Brimson did more. ^nxxitn JMarion township was one of the original town- ships established before the county was organized in 1841 . It then included all of Wilson township and a part of Liberty. It was reduced to its present size in 1842. Its first settlement was made in 1838, loseph, LTriah and Samuel Rooks, John and Joab Holloway, Robert Ishmael, John Brown and James Chrisman coming in that year. Marshall Hum- phrevs and Thomas Dobbins came in 1839. A con- siderable number of settlers came within the next few years. The first church of the township was built at HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY. 105 Lindley in 1858. David Wright, a Christian minis- ter, was its first pastor. Its congregation came from Linn, SiilHvan and Grundy Counties. Marshall Humphreys taught the first school in the townshipj in 1845, in a typical school house, with split log seats, oiled paper window panes, six foot fireplace and mud chimne}'. The first township officials of Marion township were Samuel Rooks, W. C. Fenner, members of township board; Albert Dunlap, assessor; Andrew Beckner, clerk ; John Barr, constable, The present incumbents are J. C. Stephenson, trustee ; E. W. Ful- lerton, collector; Neal Elliott, clerk and assessor; C. E. Showers, constable; T. A. McClure and S. A. Hartley, members of board and justices of the peace. LINDLEY. Lindley was at one time a thriving town. The land on which it was built was entered in 1841 by Thomas Dobbins. The first store was put up in 1842 by John Austin, Dobbins having as an induce- ment to the enterprise given him an acre of ground. The store house was a log cabin, and a general line of merchandise, including liquor, was carried in stock. The town was at first called Stringtown, the cabins composing it being strung along in a row. In 1845 it ^'^''^^ l^i<^l off and named in honor of Congressman James Lindley. The town grew steadily until the coming of the O. M. & P. railroad, since which time its decline was rapid. It was raided by bushwhackers in 1863, ^^'^o robbed the store of Marshall Humphreys, and destroyed considerable property. The Milan Acorn, in July 1872, says this of "the livelv little town of Lindlev" : 'Tt is the center of a Roweiia 2nd, Champion Dual-Purpose Cow, St Louis World's Fair 1903, Property of H. J. Hughes, Trenton, Mo. HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY. 107 large business at present and in the event of the completion of the Kansas City, Keokuk & Lexing- ton railroad to this place it is bound to make a country seat of no ordinary importance. During our rambles about town we called on Mr. C. H. Cook, one of the most prominent merchants of that place and took a peek at his mammoth stock of goods. * * We also called on Dr. Kimlin, the gentlemanly druggist * * also had the pleasure of meeting Dr. Johnson." Lindley was incorporated in 1876, the eastern line of its corporate limits being the Sullivan county line. The history of Messrs. Birdsall & Dean, 1881, says: "At the April election, 1881, the following gentlemen were elected for the ensuing year : H. H. Wilson, mayor; C. H. Cook, treasurer; J. D. Boy- ers, T. A. Wliite, Jacob Osborn (council). Nathan Harty was appointed clerk and Wm. C. Woods marshal. "The postal facilities include a mail three times a week from Trenton, two mails weekly from Wheeling, and the same from Browning. The post office is under the efficient charge of C. H. Cook. 'Xindley has had two schools for the past three years, with two departments, secondary and pri- mary, which have had a large attendance gradually increasing, until the past year 150 pupils were en- rolled. Under the excellent management of Mr. T. A. White and Miss C. E. Crouch, who have con- ducted the respective departments the past year, the schools have been numbered among the best in the county, and are the especial pride of the citizens of Lindlev. 108 HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY. "The flourishing trade of Lindley is catered to by the following list of merchants, representing the various branches of trade designated: 'C. FI. Cook, Marshall Humphreys, George T. Moberly, general merchandise; Jewett, Elwood & Co., C. H. Cook, drugs; O. P. Johnson, furniture; Doty & Cox, hard- ware ; Cole & Dunlap, hardware and tinw^are ; G. W. Patton, groceries and notions; Mrs. Phillip Robin- son, Mrs. Annie Clark, millinery; Nathan Harty, attorney; Drs. H. H. Wilson, R. M. Dobson, R. H. Cabell, physicians; Lewis & Crantz, Wm. Allen, blacksmiths ; Bantz & Overman, blacksmiths and wagon makers ; John Osborn, barber ; John A. Pat- terson, hotel; H. C. Flagg, boots and shoes, harness and saddles; Graham & Cook, flouring mill; Sam- uel McCormick, meat market; S. L. Jewett, livery stable." DUNLAP. Dunlap received its name in 1888. Prior to that it was called Corneau. The village was established about the year 1882, shortly after the building of the O., M. & P. railway. Its proximity to Trenton and Gait, about seven miles being the distance to either place, has kept it from attaining any great size. But it is a good trading point, surrounded by a good country. It has one bank, one general store, one restaurant and other business houses. GRANVILLE. Granville, an old town, flourished in the fifties, very near the present site of Dunlap. It had a gen- eral and grocery store, whose principle trade was in whisky, and a blacksmith shop. Here occurred the killing of McAfee and Phipps, about 1858. HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY. 109 ^g:et:35 Myers township, in the northwestern corner of the county, was organized in 1872. It was previously a part of Liberty township, which it resembles in soil with perhaps more rough and broken land. Two branches of No Creek traverse the township, with Honey Creek through the western side and Little Medicine through the east. The first settlement in this township was made in 1840. In that year came Thomas Pemberton, Jacob Thrailkill, James H. Ford, John, Alexander and Morgan Ralls, Coonrod Wolz,'w. W. Cartfill, James B. Duff, Lewis and Milton J. Myers. The first school house was built of hewn logs in 1842 on the land of John Ralls in the eastern part of the township. The second was known as the IMyers school and was built near the center of the township. The first religious services were held by Rev. Rich- ard Minshall, Methodist, in the Myers neighbor- hood: (he held services at the homes of his flock), and Wm. Reed, Christian, who preached in the Ralls school house as well as in the residences of his people. The Myersville M. E. church was or- ganized in 1865, with Mr. New as pastor. Its serv- ices were conducted in a school house. The town- ship's first officials were: Township board, W. T. Chipps, J. H. Alorris and James H. Lord; assessor, James Warren ; clerk, John Reed. Its present offi- cials are J. H. Schierbaum, trustee ; Sublett Moore, collector ; Irvin Kirkwood, clerk and assessor ; Fred Koon, constable; E. A. Ralls and Wm. Cunning- ham, members of board and justices of the peace. 110 HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY. A country post office called Muirton, formerly existed in the southwest part of the township. A post office called Cookseyville was established in the eastern part of the township in May 1888, and was conducted for awhile by J. S. Cooksey, who ran a country store at that time, and later by J. H. C. Bondurant. It was discontinued within a few years. (Lftitlur Taylor township was organized in 1S72. It is north of Madison and east of the Thompson fork of Grand river. It has some fine country and some broken land. The first settlement in tliis township was made in 1838. Washington B. and Thompson Grubb, and \A. W. McClelland came in that year. In 1840 Washington Grubb opened a cabinet shop. His tools were a broad ax and whip saw^ The first school house in the township was built in 1855. The first officers of Taylor township were Hciiry S. Lewis, Solomon Cole and Jacob McClure, township board ; James W^ McClay, assessor, and Joshua Fulkerson, collector. Its present officers are F. D. Fulkerson, trustee ; J. R. Kent, collector ; E. N. Hobbs, clerk and assessor ; P. R. Fulkerson, con- stable; Enoch McClure and A. M. Davidson, mem- bers township board; A. M. Davidson and D. C. Brown, justices of the peace. BRIMSON. Brimson, the youngest of the towns of Grundy county, is one of the livest and perhaps the best town of its size in North Missouri. While its entire population would perhaps not exceed 150, it has HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY. Ill two general merchandise stores, a bank and other enterprises that would do credit to a 'town of i,ooo. The O., O. &. K. C. railroad left Edinburg, a for- mer thriving village, practically off the map. Its close proximity to Trenton also added to its decline. About nine years ago the idea was conceived of building a new town on the railroad to the north and west of that village, far enough away to meet the demands of a fine trade district w4io were suf- fering the inconvenience of having to go a distance of perhaps ten miles to a trading point. Acting upon this idea, the town of Brimson, in Taylor township, w^as born in 1898. It is nine miles by rail from Trenton, near the border line of Harri- son County, from which county the town draws perhaps more than half its trade. The promoters of the town are among the wealthiest, most enter- prising of Grundy County citizens, which fact has been greatly instrumental in making it the live little place it is. ^ttninn Trenton township, the most thickly populated and wealthiest township of Grundy County, is six miles north and south and eight east and west. Its early history is sketched with the settlement of Lomax's Store. The tow^nship was organized in 1841. Its history is for the most part identical with the history of the city of Trenton, elsewhere dis- cussed. It was said of that township in 1881, by Messrs. Birdsall & Dean : "Trenton township offers every inducement for settlement. There is still abundance of land in its primitive state that can be Street scene in Trenton on a busy day. HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY. 113 purchased from eight to twelve dollars per acre, and improved farms from twenty to thirty-five." The average farm land of Trenton township today runs from seventy-five to one hundred and twenty- five dollars an acre. The township officials are S. P. Love, trustee; Wm. Drinkard, collector ; H. W. Sawyer, clerk and assessor; A. F. Welch, constable; W. H. McGrath and Wm. Brantner, members township board ; Wm. Brantner, W. H. McGrath, Lesley P. Robinson and John Hack, justices of the peace. Wnshht^iiJit Washington was one of the original townships constituting Grundy County. It was organized by the Livingston County court in 1839, extending from the forks of Grand River. In 1872 the towniship was given its present boundaries. The first settlement was made in 1838, Abraham and Larkin Field, Andrew \\'eldon and Elijah Burgess coming in that year. A school house made of round poles was built in 1839. The officers of Washing- ton township are R. \\ Kennedy, trustee; Joe Moore, collector; D. L. Taylor, clerk and assessor; John Hickman, constable; A. M. Robins and J. E. Wooderson, meml3ers of board and justices of the peace. TO:1 smi \\'ilson towmship is situated in the southeast corner of the county. It is in large part made up of rich, gently rolling prairie land. The first settle- 114 HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY. ment was made in 1838, the large Works family, the Castiles, Alexander Carroll, Wilson G. Perkins and Meredith Blalock coming in that year. In 1839 came the Andersons, Richard Belshe, and others. The township was separated from Marion, of which it was formerly a part, in 1872. Its officers are L. V. Woods, trustee ; L. F. Moore, collector ; F. L. Wood, clerk and assessor; J. D. Meeker, con- stable; A. M. Warren and J. E. Thomas, members township board ; J. E. Thomas and J. G. Robertson, justices of the peace. ALPHA. Alpha, a town which was situated on the east bank of Medicine Creek and one and a half miles north of the Livingston County line, was made a trading point in 1850, when Samuel Dunham opened a store at that place. A second store was built in 1852, and the place soon became quite a vil- lage. It was at first called Lickskillet, afterwards Nevada, then Alpha. It was incorporated in 1876. The census of 1880 gave the town a population of 128. The following merchants were then doing business there. Solomon Kilburn, general mer- chandise; Thos. Hancock, groceries; O. R. Miller, drugs; H. B. Phillips, drugs; Jackson Pridemore Owen Kilburn, blacksmiths ; Patrick Woods, wagon maker; David Loutzenheiser, harness; Thomas Hancock, boarding house; H. B. Miller, James P. Thomas, J. M. Stone, physicians. By the time the Milwaukee was built Alpha had become a neat little village of perhaps two hundred inhabitants. The building of the railroad was a death blow to Alpha, leading to the making of a new town, Laredo. HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY. 115 LAREDO. Laredo became a town in 1887. A plat of the village was filed June 20 of that year, under the name of Gorham, and a sale of lots was made the next day. It was incorporated in 1890. In 1891 its population reached the 400 mark, and the town had twenty business institutions. Being on a good rail- road and in a good trade district, the town has pros- pered from the start. In 1904 it was made a divis- ion of the Milwaukee road, the shops being moved there from Chillicothe. This caused the business and population of Laredo to practically double within a year. It is now a close rival of the older towns of Gait and Spickards in business, population and wealth. G. Williams, Mayor City of Trenton. HISTORY OP GRUNDY COUNTY. 117 CHAPTER VII. THE CITY OF TRENTON— The Legend of Its Founding- Crooked Streets— Slow Growth— The Village of Bluff Grove — The Railroad Brings a New Era — Trenton in 1871 — Trenton in 1878 — Fires — Building Improvements — Water Works — The Trenton of Today. T RADITION being- the father of history and generally founded upon facts, the following tradition of Trenton's origin is given for what it is w^orth. It is taken from that conservative and XS PV scrupulously reliable journal, the Gal- latin Democrat, in an April number, in the vear 1874: "Away back in the early days of Alissouri, even so far back that the memory of man 'runneth not crosswise,' a farmer living near the spot where Trenton now stands proceeded to lay out a town. "■' "^ In the center of what he intended for the pub- lic square he set a barrel of whiskey on end, took the head out and hung tin cups around the outer edge to accommodate the weary careworn traveller. * * The citizens coming from all points of the compass to the 'pool of Siloam' or 'fountain of youth,' ^' * soon made the paths very plain and buildings began to be reared on each of the thorouo-hfares. So at this time Trenton wears the 118 HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY. appearance of a huge spinning wheel with the rim knocked off. No trace of the barrel remains." A more plausible if less poetic theory to account for the artistic irregularity of the streets is that in early times the roads followed the natural contour of the land, without regard to the points of the compass and as the village of Bluff Grove, Lomax's Store, or Trenton, as it was variously called, grew, the houses naturally faced the roads. Thus the streets ran and the town was laid out according to nature rather than in a stiff and artificial accord- ance with the points of the compass. The history of Trenton and of Grundy County being insepara- bly connected, the founding of the village is given in Chapter I, in the account of the settlement of the county. Its first store built in 1838, the village was commanding a considerable portion of the trade of the surrounding country by the time the county was organized, in 1841. When the county seat fight was finally decided in her favor, the future of Tren- ton was assured. It lived the life of a typical pio- neer town, growing slowly and gradually, until the coming of the railroad in 1871. Then it grew by leaps and bounds. In 1870, in the thirty-two years of its existence, Trenton had acquired a population of 945. In 1880 her population was 3,370. In 1890 it was 5,039, in 1900, 5,396, and in the enumeration made in 1907, 6,221. As heretofore stated, the plat of the town was made in 1841, on a tract of ground given by James Lomax in order to secure the county seat for Bluff Grove. It was incorporated in 1857. In the village of Bluff Grove and in the town of Trenton up to the coming of the railroad, the principle business section was on Water street, and HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY. 119 the business center of the town was probably about where the Peery House now stands. With the com- ing of the railroad the city grew to the north and east. In 1869 building improvements to the value of $65,700 were made, eighty buildings being erected or repaired. In 1872 the value of such improve- ments was $101,000. The building of greatest value put up in 1869 was the Methodist church, at a cost of $2,300, and in 1872 the Elmore Hotel, $15,000, Kackley Row, $6,000 and the Shanklin & Austin bank, $4,000. The Rock Island, coming in 1871, revolutionized the town. In the same year the machine shops were located in Trenton, at a cost to the town of about $15,000, all told. The Republican says, July 27, 1871 : "Now that the railroad is completed there should be a 'buss' started to carry passengers to and from the depot. If either of the livery stables would start one it would accommodate all the hotels and no doubt prove a profitable enterprise." At that date Mr. Wiseman, editor of the Washington, Iowa, Gazette, describes the town thus: "Trenton, Missouri, we found to be the most thriving town on the entire line except Fairfield and possibly Centerville. * * It possesses a finely arranged public school build- ing, three churches, three flouring mills, a great number of business houses, bright and new, and a population of about 1,000." And in 1873 the Leav- enworth Commercial comments on the fact that the •business men of Trenton are becoming tired of frame buildings and that brick buildings are going up. A fire company, called the "Trenton Fire 120 HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY. King," was established in 1873, Ijut judging- from the work of fires for the next decade this king had very Hmited control over his monarchy. In 1878 Trenton had four mills, one woolen fac- tory, seven dry good stores, two groceries, six drug stores, five millinery stores, two clothing stores, one shoe store, two hardware stores, two banks, two newspapers, two boot and shoe manufacturers, three blacksmith shops, one second hand store, two harness shops, four barbers, four butchers, two dentists, twenty doctors, twenty-one lawyers, nine preachers, three saloons, two billiard halls, one lum- ber yard, one saw mill, two livery barns, six hotels, six restaurants and two school houses. The fire company formerly organized having become defunct, a new one, calling itself the "Rough and Ready Fire Company," was organized in Feb- ruary, 1881. At this time the city had no water works, and the fire fighters must work in the most primitive way. January 4th, 1882, fire, starting from Torpey's restaurant, burned the greater part of the two best business blocks of the city. The total damage was something like $75,000. Among the heaviest losers were INI. A\'etzler, George Sheets, Fred Day, N. Shanklin, Wm. Collier, H. B. Nichols, Star Printing Office, Bailey & Kerfoot. March 9th of the same year another fire equally as disastrous burned the Elmore Hotel and the block in which it was located. A traveling man, who was a guest at the hotel, lost his life in this fire. Other guests had narrow escapes, most of them los- ing their clothing. Some of the property owners suffering the heaviest losses in this fire were R. E. Boyce & Co., L. D. Bailey, Curd Bros., S. W. El- HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY. 121 more. For the next four years Trenton suffered a number of fires, some of them very serious. One in February, 1885, burned nearly all of two bus- iness blocks. The greatest losers in this fire were Mrs. Hemley, Henry Wettstein, W. H. Howsman, B. C. Nichols & Co.,'c. A. Hoffman, N. H. Rogers and J. B. Carnes. At least a part of these fires were probably the work of incendiaries. In 1885 agitation for waterworks began in earn- est^ and they were secured the year following. The water came from a vein northwest of town. In 1887 the water company decided to extend the mains to the river. The city now owns its own w^ater works. A great reservoir was constructed in 1907, capable of holding enough water to last the city several weeks. This is not only for use in time of drought, but when Grand River is up and its water muddy, water is taken from the reservoir, and thus the city is never without good clear w^ater. Trenton's sew- er system is far superior to that of the average city of its size, and is continually improving. The elec- tric light system is unusually good, the city is well lighted and electricity is furnished every night and all night. Three of Trenton's principle streets, AVater, Elm and Chandler, are paved, work is now^ in progress on Prospect, and plans for the paving of other streets are to be carried out soon. Trenton's splendid churches, eleven in number, •with large congregations, able and zealous pastors and stately and elegant buildings, are a credit to the city. Among these are The First Baptist church, erected in 1906 at a cost of approximately $30,000, and the Christian church, which cost over $20,000. The Methodist, Presbyterian, United Brethren, 122 HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY. Episcopal, and Catholic churches are well repre- sented. Her business directory contains the names of three banks, fifteen groceries, six dry goods stores, four bakers, ten barber shops, six bus and cab lines, three jewelry stores, seven drug stores, three fur- niture stores, sixteen notaries, fourteen doctors, eight tailor shops, and a great many other business firms. She has a court house, erected in 1905, which is the envy of the surrounding counties, and a free public library, which will make the memory of Jewett Norris revered as long as Trenton lives. The county fair has, after a few years of great suc- cess and a few years of apparent decline, become one of the greatest events of its kind in the state and for the last three years, each year broke all pre- vious records for attendance. The Trenton Chautauqua is an organization of which every citizen may well be proud. Organized in 1906, its first program in that year established its rank at the head of the Chautauqua institutes of the state. The program of 1907 perhaps eclipsed that of 1906 in talent and attendance, and while various neighboring Chautauquas suffered from small at- tendance and insufficient revenue, this one with costlier talent, paid expenses. HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY. 123 CHAPTER VIII. POLITICALr— The First Election— The Barbecue— The Men Who Have Led— Early Political Battles— The Grange— The First Temperance Move — Local Option in 1886 — Local Option in 1907— County Officers, 1842 to 1908. FROM the year 1864 Grundy County has been overwhelmingly Republican. In a few instances issues of a local nature have been raised which have enabled the Democrats to win one or two county offices, but such instances have been rare. The first presidential election in which the peo- ple of this county were interested was that of 1840. The log cabin and hard cider campaign of "Old Tippecanoe" caught the fancy of the frontiersman of that day ; besides, Wm. Henry Harrison had been a farmer boy and a soldier. As a means of expressing genuine enthusiasm, the big barbecues of pioneer times make our own political rallies fade into insignificance. Succeeding elections, however, from the time of Wm. Henry Harrison to the time of Lincoln, were less exciting and no records exist of local campaigns in those times. Before the war the county was close be- tween Whigs and Democrats. 12A HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY. Prominent among the men who bore the l)runt of poHtical battle in the twenty years following* the war are John H. Shanklin, George H. Hubbell, R. A. DeBolt, Jewett Norris, W. B. Rogers, A. H. Burkeholder. George Hall, Luther Collier and Stephen Perry. By the close of this period E. M. Harber was already becoming quite prominent, and P. C. Stepp and O. G. Bain with a number of others were taking a leading part in county affairs. To- ward the close of the century there was a large in- fusion of new blood. Among the ablest and most aggressive of the younger men were C. D. Morris, A. G. Knight, Samuel Hill, Hugh Smith, Homer Hall, W. C. Myers, O. P. Hubbell, O. G. Williams and others. In 1869 Representative Freeman introduced a measure in the legislature abolishing the office of probate judge, who was at that time ex-officio pre- siding judge of the county court, and of the two other county judges, and substituting in lieu thereof one county judge with probate jurisdiction. W. B. Rogers was especially active in opposition to this measure, taking the ground that it was designed to frustrate the plans under way to build a railroad by cutting off the political heads of the members of the county court. At that time prospects for a rail-, road looked dark and there was strong opposition to the court's policy of continuing to issue bonds which had been voted for it. The measure was defeated. George W. Hubbell was elected representative in 1870, over the republican nominee, after a pretty fight. True to the theory that a legislator should represent his constituents rather than his own views, Mr. Hubbell, a stalwart Democrat, voted for HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY. 125 John B. Henderson, the RepubHcan nominee for United States senator, against Frank Blair, the Democratic candidate. Following- the panic of 1873 the secret order of the Grange, or Patrons of Husbandry, swept the country. The first lodge was organized in Grundy County August 30, 1873. Within six months the county was a net work of granges, and in August 1875 it contained thirty-five. One of the cardinal aims of the order was to do away with "middle men" so far as possible, and have goods produced or used by farmers go direct from producer to con- sumer. Needless to say, this idea was not very pop- ular with merchants and other middle men. While it protested that it had nothing to do with politics, the order probably owes its early downfall in the count}' to the extreme measures it tried to carry in county politics. A great convention held at the court house January 31, 1874, recommended a re- duction of 25 per cent in the fees of the circuit clerk and recorder and 50 per cent in the fees of the county clerk. The treasurer's salary w^as to be re- duced from $800 to $400 a year, and the county school commissioner was to have the very attrac- tive salary of $3.00 per day for work done in con- nection with his office. They advocated biennial sessions only for the general assembly, which at that time frequently held extra sessions, and that taxes be collected semi-annually. They agreed further not to "patronize any man- ufacturers of agricultural implements or machinery or their agents that will not sell to patrons or their agents at wholesale rates at the factory." They de- cided to ship grain through their own county agent, 126 HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY. and deplored the action of the Rock Island in refus- ing special rates granted other shippers. Petitions were prepared for the state and national govern- ment asking for lower freight rates and great quan- tities of grain were hauled in wagons across the country to Chillicothe, the granges boycotting the Rock Island because of its refusal to meet their de- mand for lower rates. These demands of the Gran- gers in Grundy County were comparatively mild. In Chariton County they attempted to do av^^ay with all the county offices, and substitute instead only two offices, a county auditor and a county judge. After a few years of prosperity the grange died out in this county almost as rapidly as it had grown. But in 1874 it was a power in the land, and there were comparatively few farmers of influence who did not belong to the order. The first temperance move was inaugurated in 1854. In that year John H. Shanklin presented a petition signed by a majority of the tax payers of Trenton against granting dram shop licenses for a year. The petition was approved and for a year no licenses were granted. In 1886 a widespread local option movement was carried in this county to a vic- tory at the polls, and local option went into effect in 1887. After a long and hard fight against the law it was finally declared unconstitutional in 1889. In 1907 the question was again put before the people, carrying in the county by a great majority, but be- ing defeated in the city of Trenton by a close vote. The county being overwhelmingly Republican, the chief interest in local campaigns is the contest for nomination by that party, nomination being Iliiy ifci iil 1 • •'l^p-*^ " •i 1 ^^ Trenton Derby, Scene at Grundy County Fair. 128 HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY. generally ec[uivalent to election. The Democrats, through party loyalty, and in order to keep itp an organization, generally put out a ticket for at least part of the offices. In the following- list of officers, a part of the names appearing after each of the earlier elections are holdovers, with two years of a four years term still to serve. In later elections the holdovers are generally omitted from the list of officers of each biennial election. ELECTION OF 1842. Sheriff— W^m. Thrailkill. Circuit and County Clerk and Recorder — Thomas W. Jacobs. Representative — John C. Griffin. County Treasurer — James R. Merrill. County Judges — Jewett Norris, Robert Peery, Isaac J. Harvey. ELECTION OF 1844. Sheriff— Wm. Thrailkill. Circuit and County Clerk — Thomas W. Jacobs. Representative — John C. Griffin. County Judges — No record. ELECTION OF 1846. Sheriff— Ashley Gullev. Circuit and County Clerk — Thomas W. Jacobs. County Treasurer — George W. Moberly. Representative — James Livingston. County Judges — Benj. F. AVood, Abraham Field and Carter B. Whitfield. ELECTION OF 1848. Sheriff— Wm. Metcalf. Circuit and County Clerk — George H. Hubbell. HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY. 129 County Treasurer — James Austin. Probate Judge — Wm. Renfro. Representative — James Livingston. ELECTION OF 1850. Sheriff— Wm. Metcalf. Circuit and County Clerk — George H. Hubbell. Treasurer — James Austin. Probate Judge — J. H. Shanklin (?) Representative — Jacob F. Tindall. Judges — Giles Songer, Abner Drinkard, Jas. R. Merrill. ELECTION OF 1852. Sheriff— W. C. Harvey. Circuit and County Clerk — George H. Hubbell. Treasurer — James Austin. Probate Judge — J. H. Shanklin (?) Representative — Edson P. Harding. County Judges — E. P. Harding, D. F. Wood, G. Songer. ELECTION OF 1854. Sheriff — W. C. Harvey. County and Circuit Clerk— George H. Hubbell. Treasurer — J. S. Austin. Probate Judge — J. H. Shanklin. Representative — Edson P. Harding. County Attorney — J. T. Tindall. County Judges — Giles Songer, W^m. Collier. ELECTION OF 1856. Sheriff — James S. Estes. Circuit and County Clerk — George H. Hubbell. Treasurer — George M. Cooper (appointed) Probate Judge — John B. McDonald. Representative — Wm. H. Nelson. Prosecuting Attorney — J. F. Tindall. 130 HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY. County Judges — G. W. Parker, Andrew Evans, James Tolson. ELECTION OF 1858. Sheriff — James S. Estes. Circuit and County Clerk — George H. HubbelL County Treasurer — S. Isom. Probate Judge — John D. McDonald. Representative — John Cullers. Prosecuting Attorney — J. F. Tindall. County Judges — Zela Conkling, Abner Drink- ard, Casey Tate. ELECTION OF i860. Sheriff — E. P. Harding. County and Circuit Clerk — George H. HubbelL County Treasurer — S. Isom. Probate Judge — Stephen Peery. Representative — VVm. D. McGuire. Prosecuting Attorney — County Judges — S. Brooks, J. F. Downing, C. S. Reynolds. ELECTION OF 1862. Sheriff — E. P. Harding. Circuit and County Clerk — George H. Hubbell. County Treasurer — James R. Merrill. Probate Judge — Wm. Metcalf. Representative — E. L. Winters. Prosecuting Attorney County Judges — Abner Drinkard, John Mc- Hargue, James G. Benson. ELECTION OF 1864. Sheriff— Orville Moberly. County and Circuit Clerk — George H. Hubbell. Treasurer — Wm. C. Benson. Probate Judge — D. C. Gibbs. HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY. 131 Representative — Lewis Myers. Prosecuting Attorney — County Judge — Wm. B. Dillon. ELECTION OF 1866. Sheriff— Orville Moberly. County Clerk — R. P. Carnes. Circuit Clerk — N. T. Doane. Treasurer — Wm. C. Benson. Probate Judge — A. H. Burkeholder. Representative — J. B. Freeman. Prosecuting Attorney — Daniel Metcalf. County Judges — A. H. Burkeholder (ex-offi- cio), George A. Spickard, W. V. Denslow. ELECTION OF 1868. Sheriff— N. A. Winters. County Clerk — R. P. Carnes. Circuit Clerk and Recorder — A. K. Sykes. Treasurer — W. C. Benson. Probate Judge — A. F, Burkeholder. Representative — J. B. Freeman. Prosecuting Attorney — John M. Norris. County Judges — George A. Spickard, W. V. Denslow. Assessor — J. B. Cooper. Surveyor — Wm. Murry. Road Commissioner — Luther Collier. Coroner — John W. Conduit. ELECTION OF 1870. Sheriff — Nathan Winters. County Clerk — Wm. H. Roberts. Circuit Clerk — A. K. Sykes. Treasurer — Robert Collier. Probate Judge — George Hall. Representative — George H. Hubbell. ' 132 HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY. County Judges — Gabriel Williams, George Moberly, James McCune. Assessor — John W. Conduit. Coroner — W. H. Flesher. Prosecuting Attorney — Fred Hyde. ELECTION OF 1872. Sheriff — R. E. Boyce. County Clerk — Wm. H. Roberts. Circuit Clerk and Recorder — A. K. Sykes. Treasurer — Robert Collier. Probate Judge — George Hall. Representative — E. F. Horton. Prosecuting Attorney — A. H. Burkeholder. County Judges — Chas. Conrads, Geo. W. Mob- erly, Jas. McCune. Surveyor — P. C. Stepp. Coroner — \^^ H. Flesher. ELECTION OF 1874. Sheriff — R. E. Boyce. County Clerk— W. H. Roberts. Circuit Clerk and Recorder — J. B. Berry. Treasurer — Hugh S. Carnes. Probate Judge — George Hall. Representative — R. C. Young. Prosecuting Attorney — H. J. Herrick. County Judges — G. A. Conrads, Felix Wild, Wm. Metcalf, Marshall Humphreys and V. Briegel. Surveyor — P. C. Stepp. Coroner— C. M. Stevens. ELECTION OF 1876. Sheriff — S. J. Atkinson. County Clerk — D. C. Pugh. Circuit Clerk and Recorder — J. B. Berry. Treasurer — R. E. Boyce. HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY. 133 Probate Judge — George Hall. Representative — P. C. Stepp. Prosecuting Attorney — H. J. Herrick. County Judges — C. A. Conrads, Fulkerson, Marshall Humphreys, Wm. Metcalf. Surveyor — B. F. Thomas. Coroner— I. M. Patton. ELECTION OF 1878. Sheriff — S. J. Atkinson. County Clerk— D. C. Pugh. Circuit Clerk and Recorder — J. B. Berry. Treasurer — W. P. Lafferty. Probate Judge — P. C. Stepp. Representative — Benj. Lockhart. Prosecuting Attorney — Stephen Peery. County Judges — Jas. G. Benson, Wm. Pond, Isaac Brainard. Collector — Ben F. Harding. Coroner — Clarence L. Webber. ELECTION OF 1880. Sheriff— Wm. H. Wilson. County Clerk— D. C. Pugh. Circuit Clerk and Recorder — J. B. Berry. Treasurer — John Carter. Probate Judge — P. C. Stepp. Representative — Thomas Taylor. Prosecutino- Attorney — M, Bingham. County Juugcs — I. Brainard, Freman Dunlap, I. Washburn. Assessor — J. W. Conduit. Collector — B. F. Harding. Surveyor — C. K. Brown. Coroner — C. L. Webber. ELECTION OF 1882. 134 HISTORY OP GRUNDY COUNTY. Sheriff— Wm. H. Wilson. County Clerk— R. A. Collier. Circuit Clerk— B. F. Harding. Recorder — W. A. Berry. Treasurer — John E. Carter. Probate Judge — P. C. Stepp. Representative — Thomas Taylor. Prosecuting Attorney — E. M. Harber. County Judges — Wm. Pond, L. H. Shaffer, J. H. Morris. Surveyor — C. K. Brown. Coroner — G. A. Maupin. ELECTION OF 1884. Sheriff — Thomas Torpey. Treasurer — D. W. Coon. Representative — Brown Stewart. Prosecuting Attorney — O. G. Bain. County Judge — H. H. Yakey, J. H. Morris. Surveyor — F. L. Cole. Coroner — A. Clave. ELECTION OF 1886. Sheriff — Thomas Torpey. County Clerk— Robt. Collier. Circuit Clerk — B. F. Harding. Recorder — Hugh S. Carnes. Treasurer — D. W. Coon. Probate Judge — P. C. Stepp. Representative — Thomas Taylor. Prosecuting Attorney — A. G. Knight. County Judges — Wm. Pond, Peter Yakey, J. W. Root. Surveyor — C. K. Brown. Coroner — Solomon Stewart. HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY. 13^ ELECTION OF il Sheriff — Jesse F. Bain. County Clerk— R. A. Collier. Circuit Clerk — B. F. Harding. Recorder — Hugh S. Carnes. Treasurer — Wm. C. Benson. Probate Judge — P. C. Stepp. Representative — Jas. S. Parker. Prosecuting Attorney — A. G. Knight. County Judges — J. W. Root, P. H. Yakey. Surveyor — C. K. Brown. Coroner — Solomon Stewart. ELECTION OF 1890. Sheriff — Jesse F. Bain. County Clerk— R. A. Collier. Circuit Clerk — Poe Burkeholder. Recorder — Hugh Carnes. Treasurer — W. C. Benson. Probate Judge — Samuel Plill. Representative — J. E. Carter. Prosecuting Attorney — O. G. Bain. County Judges — J. B. Gass, H. L . Crawford, J. W. Root. Coroner — J. E. Leeper. ELECTION OF 1892. Sheriff— C. M. Winters. Treasurer — H. C. Lanius. Representative — J. E. Carter. Prosecuting Attorney — O. G. BaiU. County Judges — H. C. Crawford, E. A. Cook. Coroner — D. W. Coon. Surveyor — D. K. Brown. ELECTION OF 1894. Sheriff— C. M. Winters. 136 HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY. County Clerk — W. H. Howsman. Circuit Clerk — A. U. Spickard. Treasurer — H. C. Lanius. Probate Judge — Samuel Hill. Representative — W. M. Denslow. Prosecuting Attorney — J. W. Schooler. County Judges — C. F. Cooter, H. C. Crawford, E. A. Cook Coroner — D. W. Coon. ELECTION OF 1896. Sheriff— J. M. Myers. Treasurer— W. M. Morris. Prosecuting Attorney — J. W. Schooler. County Judges — A. J. Dix, W. A. McCracken. Surveyor — J. C. Vannatta. Coroner — D. W. Coon. Representative — W. M. Denslow. ELECTION OF 1898. Sheriff— J. M. Myers. County Clerk — J. W. Schooler. Circuit Clerk — A. U. Spickard. Recorder — Hugh S. Carnes. Treasurer — W. M. Morris. Probate Judge — A. B. Crooks. Representative — Homer Hall. Prosecuting Attorney — H. C. Smith. County Judges — H. C. Crawford, A. J. Dix, J. J- Clark. " Coroner — D. W. Coon. ELECTION OF 1900. Sheriff— W. C. Myers. Prosecuting Attorney — H. C. Smith. Treasurer — E. M. Crawford. Representative — J. E. Carter. HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY. 137 Surveyor — W. H. Spencer. Coroner — Dr. S. Sheldon. ELECTION OF 1902. Sheriff— W. C. Myers. County Clerk — A. U. Spickard. Recorder — Samuel Hill. Circuit Clerk — R. F. Schooler. Treasurer — E. M. Crawford. Probate Judge — A. B. Crooks. Representative — Jno. E. Carter. Prosecuting Attorney — C. J. Bain. County Judges— H. C. Crawford, F. M. Mad- den, J. J. Clark. Surveyor — V. O. Hobbs. Coroner — S. Sheldon. ELECTION OF 1904. Sheriff — James E. Estes. Treasurer — Jno. E. Carter. Representative — D. C. Brown. Prosecuting Attorney — C. J. Bain. County Judges — R. E. Boyce, G. W. Pollock. Surveyor — Marvin Mooney. Coroner — Dr. J. A. Asher. ELECTION OF 1906. Sheriff — Jas. E. Estes. County Clerk— W. M. Morris. Circuit Clerk— O. A. Picket. Treasurer — J. E. Carter. Probate Judge — A. B. Crooks. Representative — J. E. Ford. Prosecuting Attorney — Geo. H. Hubbell. County Judges— H. C. Crawford, G. W. Pol- lock, W. E. Elliot. Assessor — H. C. Myers. 138 HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY. Collector — Jno. Newman. Surveyor — Marvin Mooney. Recorder — Samuel Hill. ELECTION OF 1908. Sheriff— J. R. Dillon. Treasurer — John E. Carter. Representative — J. E. Ford. Prosecuting Attorney — Geo. H. Hubbell. County Judges— W. E. Elliott, G. T. Jackson. Surveyor— Marvin Mooney. Coroner — Dr. S. Sheldon. Vote of Grundy County in 1908. President Governor ^ ^ ffi ^ 3 3 c« 3 Precincts ffi <— ( X h H b3 0- 3 p a =r s* a ^ P po a. Wilson East Marion S. W. Marion. . .. N. W. Marion. . . Liberty Myers Jackson Trenton, 1st Ward Trenton, 2nd Ward Trenton, 3rd Ward Tsenton, 4th Ward East Lincoln . West Lincoln Franklin Jefferson Madison Taylor Harrison Washington Total 181 44 72 87 222 106 67 103 203 226 302 51 129 248 123 98 62 48 52 161 21 11 24 107 34 53 80 127 137 160 28 57 72 107 82 35 50 28 187 46 72 67 226 107 68 107 213 232 322 54 131 251 123 100 63 48 62 2408 1366 2480 1308 159 19 11 23 106 33 52 78 118 129 139 26 56 71 106 76 33 45 29 HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY. 139 -- ,, «■- .. ?r_Q jj g ^ 5j /1_^ S 15 ■ c = § S' ~ = K < < p: ■ -! P S ^ • 9 -^ — ^ T — CO ci: 4* o ic o o - ^ ro — M lO - .O'Xt0*-0C'3CO'V>*'J0i0 c: X t; lo := — I— i.; i; — iio - cc-j'*'-i— ico tc 4- io i.; 30 ^ ic ic cc •*-. oci ^^^ccyic;— li' rf*. ■ ?c ■ *^ (U-i—i. ^3C5^^^scc^ti'^**-c^*».^D• — m xz- ic ^- *■ c: i: -^ '.o — c- rf' = ex tc *■ ■»■ err ai a^ 4>- JO to Gr:o.occ~oci^ict«:.— 0*0 0-5 4- -no»**- o ro JO *- cc -i C-. -T io 'C := ^-T i; !•: -1 t- — c to *- iO o; -I CO ^' tc — 4- -o 1 CO ai V K c; — il -» - JO cr: re lO CC 4* 4- c;' 4^ to ■ ^ (O to ■ JO — - ,. - C: -liO 4* GT GC CJ" CT* 4- to JO oc JO .^ o — -.c JO :^ •— w o JO w CI 4^ -} JO ^ o tOt0*-0D!COi-5>-tD— OTCCtO-l !-• — tOtO 4.*tocoocoj4^a:-5CSH-»— -:ic*.c;itnci;c:«ui CC JO- t*fc to- i; tito to "-■ 4-CSWCCO-— 0;4-O30^4'G0^CCn0T4»..— to QC — tc CO — = OJ JO to = O to O -I *■ -1 JO x; o tC Kl*- •» JT C: -1 — CO O *; C h- JO C-. to — iO 4- 4- 4- .( O JO -■» •- — CD lO -1 o; ui ui w c; — Tin t- JO to JO — 'a 'qsiuna;^ •Q 'nospoo^ •oos -adod •OJ J 'jjo a '3I1IA8K •Q •S8A'BJ9 •oog 'ijaoq •ojd -sjine a ■9iiqA\ a 'ssff) oog -suajq^a •ojj '.xau'Bqp mo •■jj -ag^ngij •Q 'ifqsaiSo M -1 -1 «l CD O bo& CD C 140 HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUXTY. Dr. Thompson, the most prominent man in the county's early history, was a member of the county court when this and Mercer constituted a part of Livingston County. As previously stated the store house of James Lomax was the first meeting plac€ of the Grundy County court. Afterwards a log house, built as a Baptist church was used. In 1842 the contract to build a court house was let to Wm. Collier, father of Luther Collier, Larkin Richard- son and Joseph Thompson, all of Howard County. The building cost $6,000. A jail was built in 1859. All the county's business was conducted along lines of most rigid economy. Jurors received fifty cents a day. In 1850 $3 was allowed for taking the cen- sus. What it consisted of is not known. In that year the old clerk's office was ordered sold, but the court changing their minds, it was repaired instead, and burned in a few years, destroying, among other things, the records of the probate court. The first senatorial district of which Grundy County was a part comprised the counties of Macon, Linn, Livingston and Grundy. The next, Daviess, Harrison, Mercer and Grundy, the next was Mer- cer, Grundy, Livingston and Carroll; then Living- ston, Mercer, Putnam, and Grundy. It now forms a part of the Fourth senatorial district, composed of the counties of Grundy, Harrison, Livingston, Mer- cer and Putnam. The district is overwhelmingly Republican. This county has sent the following per- sons to the senate: Elected in Jewett Norris 1846 John C. Griffin 1850 Jewett Norris 1854 142 HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY. William H. Lyda 1858 Jewett Norris 1862 W. B. Rogers 1868 A. H. Burkeholder 1876 Stephen Peery 1884 The first circuit judge elected from this county was R. A. DeBolt in 1864. He held the office ten years. Paris C. Stepp was elected in 1892 and served eight years. Grundy County is in the Third circuit, which includes the counties of Harrison, Mercer and Putnam. Thus the circuit is strongly Republican. This county forms a part of the second congres- sional district, which is normally nearlv fi\e thou- sand Democratic. The other counties in the district are Chariton, Carroll, Linn, Livingston, .M(mroe,. Randolph and Sullivan. Grundy Count}' has fur- nished but one congressman, R. A. DeBolt, elected in 1874. The people of Grundy County h;i\-c rea- son for ]:)ride in the fact that peanut politics is never injected into public affairs of a non-political nature and more especially school affairs. A number of our county school commissioners have been Demo- crats and have received the unanimous sup])ort of the Republican voters of the countv. During the greater part of the time in recent years Trenton has had a Democratic mayor and township officials are oftentimes selected without regard to politics. HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY. 143 CHAPTER IX. EDUCATIONAL^The First Schools— Description of the Old Log School House — The Teacher — The Course of Study— District Organized — Early Enumerations — Teachers Wages — ^Llst of Teachers in 1881 — County School Commissioners — The Jewett Norris Library — Grand River College — Its First Course of Study — A New Building — Period of Prosperity — The Men at the Head — Avalon College — Its Establishment The Vrooman Co-operative Scheme — The Trenton High School Proper — Growth of the School — List of Superinten- dents — The Trenton School of Today. "If we work upon marble, it will perish; if we work upon brass, time will efface it; if we rear temples, they will crumble into dust; but if we work upon immortal minds * * *we en- grave on those tablets something which will brighten to all eternity." — Daniel Webster. S CHOOLS were established within a very short time after the county was first settled, the first one on record be- ing taught by Miss Louisa Berry in Madison township in the winter of 1835 and 1836. It was located about a mile north of the present site of Edinburg. An Englishman named Moore taught school in Trenton in 1838. The very first schools were as a rule taught in private houses. It was but a few years, however, until school houses were comparatively common. 144 HISTORY OF CxRUNDY COUNTY. The school house of the forties was built of logs, generally hewn, and was in size perhaps sixteen feet square. A fireplace took a large part of one end of the house. The chimney was made of sticks and clay, as were the chimneys of all other cabins. The roof was made of clapboards, and at first these were kept in place by weight poles. The seats were split logs supported on sticks which were fitted into holes bored into the ends of the logs. Such a thing as an individual desk was unheard of. A long board, fastened against the wall slantwise and held in place by pegs, was the writing desk, and the pupils would line up to this desk in a row for in- struction in penmanship. The ordinary school house had two small windows in which oiled paper was used for panes, l)ut sometimes light was fur- nished by leaving out a log from the side of the house. Log school houses were not uncommon so late as 1880. The first schools were conducted on the sub- scription plan, the teacher, who was generally a man, making from fifteen to eighteen dollars a month. His mental and educational equipment was often very meager, and as in later times, some teachers were more successful in making impres- sions on the back than on the mind. Now and then, however, an ambitious young man of culture who was seeking his fortune in the new country would start by teaching a few terms of school. Reading, writing, spelling and arithmetic constituted the course of study. Any unreasonable desire for more learning was gratified by going farther in the arithmetic; but the teacher who had been through fractions was a very learned man. HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY. 145 The first school district in Grundy County was organized in Trenton township in 1840. Within the course of a few years a number of others were organized in various parts of the county. Public schools were at first controlled by the townships in which they were, the chairman of the school's board of trustees being a member of the township school board, which had general supervision over educational affairs of the township. This system gave way to the present system of giving each dis- trict full control of its own school. By 1850 schools w^ere organized in all parts of the county. An enumeration of the children of school age in the county in 1853 shows a total of 1,781. Trenton had four districts, with 294 children; Madison township, two districts, 314 children; Jefferson, one district, 176; Franklin, four districts, 244; Clarion, four districts, 246; Liberty, five districts, 259; Washington, four districts, 240. In all, twenty- four schools in the county. The state school money for that year amounted to 42 cents per capita. In 1854 the enumeration had increased to 2,010. In 1886 it was 5,526, and the county had eight3^-five school districts and one hundred and twenty-five teachers. For many years teachers' wages here, as else- where, were ridiculously low^ As a natural conse- quence incompetent teachers were not uncommon. Yet low as wages w^ere, it was an ordinary thing for the ambitious young man in moderate circum- stances to teach a few terms as a stepping stone to something better. A surprising number of our best citizens have begun their business life in this way. The following teachers attended county institute 146 HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY, in August, 1871 : A. S. Bradley, Alice Wyatt, Rena Stanbaugli, Francis Pratt, Addie Robbins, Maria Price, Maggie Wright, Hattie Powers, Alice Smith, Hettie Benson, Mary Diinlap, R. C. Norton. C. E. Buren, W. J. Axtell, J. B. Mulford, J. F. Daniels, O. G. Bain, J. A. McClure, T. A. Canady. R. D. Hall, In I I the foUov^ing (Ti-undy County : Mrs. P. Ilahlindale, B. F. Wood, J. D. Linviile, Nellie Van Horn, Katie Canipsey, C'harlcs Evans, Lydia Clark, ( 'arrie Turner. Augusta Casebeer, A. Tidrick, J. D. Canipsey, ( 'arrie Hill, Joel Turner, Lizzie Anderson, Otis Broyle, Mattie Keith, Fred Williams, Thomas Jollv. F. A. Elliott. Wm. Elliott. T. A. White. ( 'loc Crouch. J. Pollock, J. Robb, F. Coles, Matthew Park, P. C. Stepp, T. Price, C. H. Longfellow, W. S. Phillips, M. A. Adams. AV. M. Hendriekson, T. M. Cart well, A. W. Kelso. J. Reed, A. D. Freeman, AV. A. Brainard, Milton Asher. C. M. Duff. C. W. Davis. C. R. Davis. persons were teachers in W. P. :\Iadden, W. G. Fowler, A¥. B. McVey, Page Weston. G. W. Pollock, Linna Root, Barton Weston, G. AV. Fisher, J. H. Bunnell, C. H. Savage, D. W. AVarren, W. M. Denslow. J. L. Steele, J. M. Crabb, L. D. Spencer. H. Spencer. A. Clendenen, David Sealock, Jennie AVarren. Thomas AVitten, W. T. Flesher, Lulu Perrv. HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY. 147 K. H. Bailey, James Goodwin, J. R. Donoho, Frank Wilson, J. W. St. Clair, Maria Ford, C. E. Smith, • w. S. Kent, F. E. Fenner, r. r. Pollock, D. Fulkerson, j \\r. Maxey, S. C. Barr, H. A. Schooler. J. M. Snyder, Lizzie Brainerd, A. R. Dougherty, James Gallatin. Cy Ramage, j. \y. Wilson. Minnie Crick. H. B. Groff, S. H. Love, B. F. Proctor. Mulda Mueller. q h. Baker, W. T. Proctor. c! H. Douglas. S. A. D. Elmore, Clara Ware. Mary Buren. Gee Perry, Florence Perry, ]\Iary Perry. Alice Downing. Jennie Crowder, The office of county school commissioner or su- perintendent has been on the whole exceptionally well filled, and has been singularly free from poli- tics. Grundy County's superintendents and com- missioners are as follows : 1846 — Wm. H. Robinson, commissioner for Trenton township. 1859 — R. A. DeBolt, elected county commis- sioner. 1865 — George H. Hubbell elected. 1866— R. C.^^orton. 1868 — Jno. E. Vertrees. 1870— Geo. P. Beard. 1872— R. C. Norton. 1876 — B. F. Thomas. 1878— T. B. Pratt. 1885 — J. D. Campsey. 1895— H. G. r^Iurphy. 1899— W. C. Ryan. ' 1901 — R. C. Norton. 1905 — Miss Lizzie Brainerd. 148 HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY. County school supervision being adopted in 1908 by an overwhelming majority, the county commissioner, Miss Brainerd, became county su- perintendent by virtue of her office. " The Jewett Norris Library is an institution of which Trenton is justly proud. Jewett Norris, the old pioneer statesman, soldier and business man, who in his reclining years left Trenton for a home in the north, retained a big heart full of love for the town and the people among whom the prime of his life had been spent. In 1890 he made a formal of- fer of $50,000 to the Trenton school board for the erection of a free public library, which offer was promptly and gratefully accepted. Chauncey Hall was given the contract for erecting the building in May 1890, and it was completed and formally opened October 13, 189 1. It is one of the most beautiful and artistic buildings in the city, and, next to the public schools, the most useful educa- tional institution. Following is the proposition made by Mr. Norris to the Trenton school board. Gentlemen : I herewith offer to give to the pub- lic schools of the city of Trenton, fifty thousand dollars in trust, for the purpose of estal)lishing and maintaining a free public library and reading rooms in your city. I make this donation on the following- conditions, to-wit : That your board procure a suitable site for a library building, to be deeded to your board for that purpose, (and be equipped with furniture, pictures, books, and literature), a suitable building for the purpose aforesaid, and that the library and read- ing rooms so established shall be forever maintain- ed as a free public library and reading rooms in HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY. 149 the city of Trenton, under such rules and regula- tions as your board may from time to time adopt for its successful maintenance and support, having in view the use of the said library and reading rooms, free to the people of Trenton and Grundy County forever, and that the same shall be kept open to the public every day, from nine a. m. until nine p. m. Sunday and legal holidays excepted, and on such other days and hours as you see fit, and that the said building shall be kept in good repair by your board, and that a competent librarian and necessary assistants shall be employed to take charge of the property and serve the public, and that your school board shall annually provide for the defraying of all necessary expenses, for the support of the aforesaid institution ; and I further stipulate that your board shall never sell or convey the building, or land on which it is situated, but for- ever retain it for the use of the people of Grundy County. If the above conditions are accepted by your board, I will place the sum of thirty thousand dol- lars in the Union bank, subject to your order, as fast as it is required for the erection for the build- ing, and whatever amount of the said sum is not re- quired for the building, may be used for the ec^uip- ment of said library and reading rooms with furni- ture, books and literature. When the library building is completed and fur- nished with furniture, books and literature, as far as the funds at your disposal will admit, and the in- stitution is in successful use and operation, I pro- pose to furnish twenty thousand dollars more, five thousand of which shall be made available for its 150 HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY. further equipment if your board think it necessary, and the balance as a permanent endowment fund to be invested in the same manner and under the same restrictions as the common school fund is now re- quired to be invested by the school law of your state, the annual income from which is to be used in the support of said institution. Should your board approve of all the above con- ditions, you will please give me your formal accept- ance of the same and have it recorded with the pro- ceedings of your board. JEWETT NORRIS, St. Paul, January 22, 1890. This offer was formally accepted by the school board. Grand River College, Grundy County's pioneer institution for higher education, was organized in 1850. I. B. Allen was its founder and John O. Mar- tin its first teacher. Attaining great success and a wide influence through many years, it was a strictly private institution, depending on tuition fees for its support. Its course of study is interesting com- pared with that given by a first class high school today. The first contract read as follows : "The undersigned agrees and promises to have taught in the Grand River Academy any of the fol- lowing branches of study for five months, at the following prices per scholar ; to-wit : Orthography, reading, writing, arithmetic commenced, at six dol- lars; English grammar, modern and ancient geo- graphy and arithmetic completed, at eight dollars; logic, rhetoric, natural, ancient and modern his- tory, natural, mental and modern philosophy, at ten dollars; chemistry, botany, astronomy, geometry. HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY. 151 surveying, bookkeeping, Latin and Greek language, at twelve dollars. For fuel per winter session, fifty cents per scholar. (signed) I. B. ALLEN. Its first board of trustees were W. H. Lyda, Benjamin Fulkerson, and Evans Perry. John Ord- way of Massachusetts was principal of the college from 1 85 1 to 1853, when the building burned. Grand River Academy, as it was called, was at this time the only institution of its kind in North Mis- souri, and the only school which made even a pre- tense of teaching higher than rudimentary branches. A boarding house was run in connection with the school, and its students were furnished board for $1.50 per week. After the burning of the building in 1853 the college W'as closed temporarily. A company headed by John T. Witten and Wm. Perry was organized and incorporated in 1858, and put up a new build- ing, at a cost of $6,000, meeting the expense by a sale of scholarships. With the exception of a sus- pension during the Civil War, the college was suc- cessfully operated as a private institution until 1876, when it was turned over to the North Grand River, West Fork, Gentry and Mount Moriah Bap- tist associations. Under their control the high rep- utation the school had acquired was well main- tained until recent years, and man}^ of our best citi- zens are proud to claim Grand River College as their alma mater. The school was finally closed and moved to Gallatin in 1893. It is now an auxiliary of Wm. Jewell College of Liberty, Mo. The men at the helm in the college's palmy days are as follows : 152 HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY. 1850 — Jno. Martin. 185 1 — Jno. Ordvvay. 1859 — -Jno S. Tucker. i860 — James F. Bruner. 1 861 — Prof. Bassett — school closed. 1865 — Messrs. Shaw and Lewis. 1866 — Jno. E. Vertrees. 1879 — Thos. Storts. 1 88 1 — Jno. E. Vertrees. 1885— j. T. Williams. Avalon College, an educational institution under control of the U. B. church, changed its location from the village of Avalon, in Livingston County, to Trenton in 1891. F. A. Z. Kumler was the lead- ing spirit in getting the institution established in this city. Money for the establishment of a school was raised by buying a farm adjoining the cit}^ on the east, dividing it into town lots, and selling those lots to public spirited citizens at high prices. Build- ings were erected on most of these lots, and a hand- some college building was placed in the central part of the addition. The farm thus bought and divid- ed now constitutes College Addition. After a struggle of over a half dozen years, dur- ing the course of which some very able educators were enrolled in the faculty, the college closed and the building was turned over to a band of socialists under the lead of Walter Vrooman, who rechris- tened it Ruskin College. They undertook to run not only the school but the town as well on social- istic principles, and got possession of a number of business institutions of the city which they ran on a co-operative plan. Their doctrines did not take with Grundy County people, and the school broke HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY. 153 up, some of its leaders attempting to establish an- other in the suburbs of Chicago. The college build- ing was bought for the public high school in 1905. Trenton's school history dates back to 1838, when an Englishman named Moore taught in a cabin on the present site of the old cemetery. He was followed by Jarvis Boyce in 1839. he by Geo. H. Hubbell in 1842. A regular school system was adopted in 1844 and a school board chosen. Col. Jacob Tindall was the first teacher chosen by this board. In 1853 D. T. Wright built a school house in Trenton at his own expense, and became a teach- er therein. In 1855 a school house was built at public expense, and Joseph Ficklin, afterwards teacher of mathematics in the state university, was chosen teacher. He was shortly followed by T. Bradley. Mr. Bradley held his position until i860, when he died and his wife taught out the remainder of that school term. Messrs. CoUey and Luther Collier followed Mrs. Bradley, Mr. Collier being- succeeded in 1863 by R- ^- Norton, a young man from Ohio. A separate department, devoted to music, was established during the incumbency of Mr. Bradley and was filled by his wife. In 1865 the high school proper was organized by Mr. Nor- ton. The number of pupils it contained in that year was twenty-three. In 1866 the enrollment had in- creased to one hundred. Mr. Norton bought an old building for school use, and rented it to the district for $48 a year until 1870 when a high school build- ing was erected at a cost of $17,000. The number of pupils in 1868 was 150, and the total expense of conducting the school $1,480. In 1869 a school was organized for the colored children. In 1870, the 154 HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY. year the new building was completed, 370 pupils were enrolled; in 1871 there were 532; in 1872, 400, and in 1885, 1,414. Professor Norton remained superintendent from 1865 to I ^^75' when he resigned his position to accept a better one with the Warrensburg State Normal, and was succeeded by W. D. Dobson. The Grand River Republican in the early fall of 1869 contained a display advertisement for the high school, signed by H. J. Her rick, secretary of the board, soliciting attendance of students living out- side the district. Tuition for the high school was cjuoted at $2 and for the grammar school at $1.50 per month. The school at that time employed four teachers, R. C. Norton, teaching the high school; B. F. Thomas, the grammar department; Miss Bell Rozell, the primary, and Mrs. Hattie Robertson, painting and drawing. In 1874 Professor Norton's salary was raised from $800 to $1,000. Professor Dobson remained superintendent from 1875 until 1880, when he was succeeded by Jno. E. Vertrees, who taught one year. G. A. Smith w^as elected in 1881. In 1882 a contract was let for the erection of a new building, for a price, in round numbers of $20,000. The following list of superintendents of the Trenton school is complete, and practically correct as to date: 1865— R. C. Norton. 1875— W. D. Dobson. 1880— J. E. Vertrees. 1881— G. A. Smith. 1883 — Professor Carroll. 1886 — Professor Cornell. HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY. 155 1888 — Professor Rippetoe. 1894 — Professor Dubois. 1899 — Professor Tomlin. 1 901 — W. C. Ryan. 1903 — T. B. Ford. 1906 — C. A. Green. The Trenton high school not only articulates with the state university with twenty-three and a half units of approved work, now ranking second in the state, but is one of thirteen Missouri high schools that are approved by the Northern Federa- tion of Colleges and Secondary Schools. This per- mits our high school graduates to enter any college or university without taking entrance examinations in any one of the following states : Missouri, Kan- sas, Colorado, Nebraska, North Dakota, South Dakota, Minnesota, Iowa, Wisconsin, Illinois, Michigan, Indiana and Ohio. There are three courses offered the pupils in the high school, any one of which when completed will enable the pupil to enter any higher institution of learning in any of the states before mentioned. The English course is designed for those pupils who do not expect to pursue their studies beyond the high school, thus giving them a very thorough and practical education. The scientific course is intended to prepare the pupil for entering any of the engineering courses at the university. The classical course is intended to fit those students who complete it to enter the arts and science department of the university. HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY. 157 CHAPTER X. NEWSPAPERS— The First Attempt— The Republican— The Times The Star— The Tribune— The News— The Gait Herald— The Gait Sun — The Laredo Tribune — The Grundy County Gazette — The Spickard Herald — The Brimson Banner — The Brim- son Booster. From one who midst alternate joy and care Has occupied an editorial chair, Has solved some mysteries that its methods take, And learned how easy papers are to make, Has undergone from friends much mental aid, And wondered where on earth they learned his trade. Has heard from them how papers should be run. How things they never have to do, are done, This short chapter is proffered to his brethren of the quill, with confidence that under their guidance the press of Grundy County shall in no wise swerve from the high plane of honor nor lose aught of the power that has characterized its history. THE first newspaper ever published in Grundy County was the Trenton Pio- neer. It was estabhshed in 185 1. David T. Wright was its founder, and for two years its editor, seUing the plant in 1853 to R. C. White. In 1854 Mr. Wright bought back the paper from Mr. White, moved it to Lindley, changed its name to Christian Pioneer, and its na- ture to a religious pamphlet, which Mr. W^right ran, 158 HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY. assisted by Rev. H. O. Howard. The paper was moved from Lindley again to Trenton in 1859, and bought the material of the defunct Herald. The plant was burned in 1862, and for two years the county was without a newspaper. The Trenton Herald was started by E. C. Jones, who sold it in 1853 to S. P. Mountain. Mr. Moun- tain was a man of strong rebel proclivities, which he did not hesitate to express. And it was probably because of his radical southern views that his paper died for want of support in 1859, ^^^^^ the material was bought by the Christian Pioneer. The Grand RiA-er News was established in 1864 by A. O. Binkley and C. W. Buckingham. The plant was brought from Corydon, Iowa. Bucking- ham soon retired, and Binkley in 1865 sold the paper to John E. Carter, who the same year sold it to N. T. Doane, who enlarged it from a six to a seven col- umn folio and changed its name to the Grand River Republican. Editor Doane died in 1868 and his administrator. Dr. Kerfoot, leased the plant to E. S. Darlington, who, in partnership with \\\ H. Roberts, bought the paper in 1869. In September of that year they sold it to W. B. Rogers, who has held the editorial chair since that date. When bought by Col. Rogers the Grand River Republican was a seven column folio, neatly printed, with a good advertising patronage. His first num- ber was issued September 2. In the fall of 1871 it was increased to eight columns. In June of that year Col. Rogers informs his readers that he has ordered a job press, and that letter heads, envelopes and similar work which had heretofore had to be ordered from the city, could be ])rinted in Trenton. HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY. 159 In July the Grand River Repu1)lican was advertis- ing its job office. In 1872 the name of the paper was changed to the Trenton RepubHcan. In that year its circulation statement showed 800 sub- scribers. In the spring of 1873 the paper contained the following announcement : "From and after May 30 all subscribers who get their mail at the post office will have to pay post- age. Some are getting it at this office." In June, 1879, the size of the paper was enlarged to a nine column folio. The subscription lists of the Trenton Star were sold to the Republican in 1885, which for a time bore the name Republican-Star. The Daily Republican, a five column folio, was started September 3, 188). In April. 1884 steam power was added to the plant. In January, 1887, J. A. Gilluly, for a long time city editor of the Repub- lican, became a partner of Col. Rogers. In May 1 89 1, Col. Rogers, having again acquired entire control of the plant, sold a half interest in it to C. J. Colvin, formerly of the King City Chronicle. At the same time the paper was made a seven column quarto. In 1900 the subscription price of the paper was reduced from $1 .50 to $1 .00 a year. The sworn circulation for the year of 1901 was 1,777. ^^ ^9^^ N. G. Rogers, the son of Col. Rogers, became a partner in the establishment which has since been known as W. B. Rogers & Son Printing Co. Politically, this paper has since the war been Republican. It was consolidated with the Trenton Tribune, a rival Republican paper, in 1903, taking the name Republican-Tribune. Its weekly edition consists of sixteen and its daily of eight five column 160 HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY. pages, all home print and machine set. The W. B. Rog-ers Printing Co. is now a corporation, with a capital stock of $i 5,000. It maintains a separate job office and an excellent plant. The proprietors are members of the Associated Press. The Grundy County Times was established in 1 871 by Grundy County Democrats. The plant was purchased from the Chillicothe Constitution. S. L. Harvey was its first editor. He was succeeded by Frank Dinsmoor in 1874 and Mr. Dinsmoor by C. L. Beechem in April, 1879. Mr. Beechem retired from the management of the paper in Noveml^er, 1879, '^^^1 Dinsmoor again assumed control. He sold to M. G. Kennedy in August, 1880. In July, 1887, the Times was changed to a stock company and a daily started. W. W. Witten was the editor. In December, 1888, Mr. Kennedy again assumed control of the Times and has been its editor since that time except during the period from May i, 1896, to May I, 1898, w4ien the paper was under control of W. W. Witten. In politics the Times has always been uncompro- misingly Democratic. It was from the first a seven column folio, later doubling the number of pages. Like both other Trenton papers, its presses are run by electricity. The Trenton Star w^as established as a monthly in 1877 by G. S. Dunn. It was a three column quarto, and dealt with general rather than local news. It was publi..ned a year. It resumed publi- cation in May, 1879, and was in August of that year made a weekly. The paper was an eight column folio, always Republican in politics. In May, 1890, Mr. Dunn sold the Star to a company composed of HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY. 161 Thos. A. Murphy, Solomon Stewart, George Hall, B. F. Harding, R. V. Young, J. E. Carter, C. L. Webber, L. Garrett, M. L. Boyles, G. L. Winters, H. J. Herrick and A. I. Lord, who incorporated as the Star Publishing Company. Mr. Lord was bus- iness manager of the paper and Mr. Carter editor. The latter retired in July, 1881, Mr. Lord taking editorial control. The Star plant was ruined by the great fire of 188 1. A new plant was put in, how- ever, and the paper continued publication until March 5, 1885, when it was sold to the Republican. In the meantime G. S. Dunn had succeeded A. L Lord as editor. The Trenton Tribune was established Septem- ber I, 1890, by W. P. Wardrip and A. D. Starr. In one month Starr retired, Judge Stepp acquiring a controlling interest in the paper. C. D. Morris bought Wardrip's interest in the paper in Decem- ber. The Tribune was established as a daily and weekly, the daily a five column folio and the weekly a six column quarto. The weekly was enlarged to a seven column quarto in September, 1893, and the daily was afterwards increased to a five column quarto. It was for a time edited by Morris & Free- man, then by Morris & Rowley, the latter retiring in June, 1894. Mr. Morris then became sole pro- prietor of the paper, which he published until Au- gust I, 1895, selling a half interest on that date to E. S. Bronson, who retained that interest until 1899, when Mr. Morris again became sole propriet- or. The Republican bought the Tribune in 1903. The Tribune was a strong Republican paper. It was attractively gotten up, was very active in both political and business affairs, and, especially under 162 HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY. the management of Mr. Morris, who was instru- mental in making the paper a power in poHtics, had a very bright, aggressive, and readable editorial page. The Trenton News, Trenton's latest venture in the newspaper business, is owned and controlled by a stock company of Trenton and Grundy County business men and is incorporated with a paid up capital of $10,000. It is aggressively Republican in politics. The first issue of the News was published May 30, 1907, with Charles Allen and H. W. Saw- yer as editors. Mr. Sawyer soon withdrew from the paper and in July Mr. Allen retired, W. C. Myers taking charge. Under Mr. Myeis the busi- ness patronage and subscription list of the paper grew rapidly, until September 15, 1907, when J. E. Ford became editor and publisher. The business of the paper continued to grow steadily, and January, 1908, a sworn circulation statement showed the paper to have 1,164 subscribers. Mr. Ford sold the plant to the gentlemen who now own it in March, 1908. W. M. Denslow is editor, B. C. Nichols pres- ident of the company and W. C. Myers, treasurer. The News was started as a weekly, five column quarto, patent inside. Under Mr. Ford's manage- ment the paper was made all home print. The new proprietors have added about $8,000 worth of new material, doubled the size of the weekly, and are putting out an eight page daily, all home print, well printed and edited. Before the daily was six months old its sworn circulation statement showed it to have more than a thousand regular subscribers. The job department of the News is equalled by few papers in Missouri. HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY. 163 The Gait Herald, Volume I, Number i, was is- sued by Charles D. Parks, formerly of Cambridge, Iowa, September 8, 1887. An attempt to start a paper of the same name was made by S. J. Graves in 1886, which was unsuccessful, only a few numbers being issued. Among the Herald's first advertisers are M. Humphreys, G. M. Brown, Dorsey & Knight, A. H. Pratt, Garriott & Haley, G. W. Bid- well, Wm. Duff, E. D. Chesman, Gault House, (Jennie Winters, prop.) and the Huston House, (J. P. Huston, prop.) In 1888 the Herald was sold to the Herald Publishing- Company, who in four months sold it to Garrett & Butts. These gentle- men failing to meet their payments, the plant fell back to the company who in December, 1889, leased it for two years to M. Bingham. In 1891 the paper was sold by order of sale in partition, the buy- er being Col. Rogers of the Trenton Republican, who leased it to M. Bingham. It was also run for a short time, in 1895, by J. T. Smith. Col. Rogers afterward sold the paper to Sam and Abe Tolle, De- cember, 1895, the latter selling his interest in 1897 to Joseph Warren, who in turn sold his to Sam Tolle & Son. The Tolles changed the paper to an eight page six column, which form it retained. They ran the paper until 1898, selling it May 12 of that year to W. E. Payton and Frank Bondurant. Mr. Payton in 1900 sold his interest to Bondurant Bros., A. R. Bondurant acquiring an interest there- in. Most of the time from 1900 to 1904 the paper was managed by Frank Bondurant, individually, he selling to J. E. Ford, July 21, 1904. The latter, May 31, 1906, sold the paper to Fred S. Tolle, editor of the Sun, with which it was consolidated. 164 HISTORY OP GRUNDY COUNTY. The Herald was Republican in politics. It was at first a six column folio, patent inside, afterward increasing in size, the last year being a six column quarto. The Gait Sun, Grundy County's most unique and one of the most successful ventures in journal- ism outside the county seat, was started September 22, 1900, by Sam S. Tolle. He was editor and proprietor of the paper until his death, July 2y, 1903. Since that time it has been published by his son, Fred S. Tolle. The Sun is a five column, eight page paper, all home print and all home news. It prints perhaps more strictly local matter than any country paper in North Missouri in a town the size of Gait. In 1905 the proprietor of the Sun bought the Herald and the two papers were consolidated under the name of the Gait Sun and Herald. The Sun has always been Democratic in politics, but suf- ficiently broad in its political views to hold a large number of Republican readers. One of the best hits ever made in the county was a series of humorous articles originated by Sam Tolle, describing the proceedings of "the Old Men's Club," an imaginary club of the old men of the town, whose peculiarities of speech and manner were set out in a friendly but highly ludicrous way. The plant and home of the Sun and Herald burned in June, 1908. The plant has been refurnished and a new building erected. The Sun uses gasoline power and sets its type with a Simplex machine. The Laredo Tribune was started March 6, 1890, by S. J. Graves, formerly editor of the Harris Voice. It was a six column folio, patent outside. E. R. Anderson became publisher of the paper in HISTORY OP GRUNDY COUNTY. 165 February, 1891, and W. E. Pay ton in July, 1891. January i, 1896, Ben F. Wood bought the paper, which he managed individually until January i, 1900, when he formed a partnership with C. C. Crossen, who is now its editor. The paper has been enlarged to a five column quarto, four pages of home news. It is non-partisan in politics, though its editors, Messrs. Wood and Crossen, have been and are prominently connected with the Republican party. Prior to the establishment of the Tribune an unsuccessful attempt was made to establish a paper in Laredo in 1888. It was called the Grindstone and was printed by the Gait Herald, under the guidance of Dr. A. B. Morris. The Grundy County Gazette, published at Spick- ards, was founded by J. H. Rockwell in 1887. In November of that year W. M. Denslow, now of the Trenton News, assumed charge of the paper. It was started as a six column folio, and was for a long time patent inside or patent outside. The files of the paper January 1890 to 1894 are missing. Will A. Morris became editor of the paper within this time and Fred Burri41, under the firm name of Mor- ris & Burrill, joined him in a partnership. In 1894 the paper was published by the firm of Denslow & Burrill, who made a five column eight page paper of it. In 1895 W. M. Denslow again assumed entire charge. He sold the paper to Messrs. Tolle and Newlan, who dissolved partner- ship within a year, Messrs Sam Tolle & Son con- tinuing the publication of the paper. They sold out to P. G. Wild February 8, 1898. J. T. Morgan be- came connected with the paper as editor in June, 166 HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY. 1900. In the fall of that year J. J. Noah became publisher. Mr. Wild severed his connection with the paper November 29, 1900, J- A. Davidson be- coming owner and editor. In May, 1901, he sold to E. E. and J. G. Sanders, the latter becoming edi- tor. E. E. Sanders took charge of the paper Sep- tember 7, 1902. In 1905 Mr. Sanders retired, P. G. Wild becoming manager of the Gazette. C. W. Claybaugh was publisher from April 13, 1905, to January i, 1906. Leon Tracy became publisher February i, 1906. The Spickards Herald was started in the mean- time by E. E. Sanders, former editor of the Gazette. It began publication October 25, 1906. The two papers were consolidated by Mr. Sanders buying the Gazette subscription list, April 25, 1907. Since July 24 of that year he has published an eight- page four column paper, all home print, under the name Spickards Herald and Grundy County Gazette. The politics of the paper, as of the old Gazette, is Republican. The Brimson Banner was established by Tom Brown in the town of Brimson about the year 1903. It continued publication at Brimson until the first of January, 1907, when it was removed to Mel- bourne, and is now published as the Melbourne Herald. The Brimson Booster was established in 1904. Its first editor was Fred W. Badger, a man of con- siderable ability as a writer. He left in August, 1905, and was succeeded as editor by Truman B. Gibson, who remained until May, 1907, when the paper suspended publication, Mr. Gibson coming to Trenton to become foreman of the News. HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY. 167 CHAPTER XI. INDUSTRIAL — County Ranks High in Agriculture — Valuation of Property — Manufacturing — Table of Industries — Table of Wage Earners' Salaries — Review of Manufacturing Indus- tries — Mining — Surplus Products of County — Telephone Sys- tems — Railroads — First Efforts — Company Organized — Bonds Voted — The Rock Island Comes — Machine Shops — Quincy, Omaha & Kansas City — Chicago, Milwaukee & St. Paul. THIS is pre-eminently an agricultural county. It excels not only in general agriculture, but especially in register- ed live stock. Seldom is there a live stock show of any consequence in this or any other state that Grundy County is not well represented among the winners. Perhaps more interest is taken in cattle than any other ani- mal, Shorthorns, Herefords and Angus breeds pre- dominating, with some fine Jerseys. There are many breeders of pure bred hogs in this county, and some very noted herds. Poland China is the favorite breed. Of late years a considerable inter- est, rapidly increasing, has been taken in the grow- ing of fine poultry. Grundy County has 460 square miles of land, or 294,400 acres, of which about 200,000 acres are under cultivation. Number of farms, 2,298; aver- age size, II 8.6 acres, including land of arable, pas- ture, and other character. It is drained to the south- 168 HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY. ward by a fork of Grand river and several other small streams. Between these streams are found prairie ridges. Uplands are black, vegetable- mould soil, twelve to twenty inches in depth, under- laid with yellow, porous clay. Bottom lands are a heavier black soil which originally was covered with heavy, wild prairie grass. When cultivated it becomes lighter weight, and is underlaid at twenty- foot depth with sheet water. Farm improvements are equal to those of southern Iowa. Numerous farm homes cost $1,500 to $3,000 each ; better in east half of county. Valley land sells at $40 to $75 ; prairie, $50 to $100, around Trenton, $100 and up. The cheapest land in the county is in small creek-bor- dering patches, selling at $35 to $40. Assessed valuation of property in Grundy County for the year 1907 was as follow^s : Farm lands and improvements $2,898,990 Town lots and improvements 1,019,190 Horses 250,189 Mules 41,090 CatUe 366,845 Sheep 21,988 Hogs 56,269 Assessed value of all stock $ 743,486 Total assessed value real estate $3,888,180 Total assessed value personal property. . $1,946,876 Total assessed valuation $5,835,056 The value of the surplus products in Grundy County in 1907 was $2,014,648. It shipped out more than fifty per cent more millet seed than any other county in the state, sending out that year 36,220 bushel. The value of the miscellaneous products exported from Grundy County in 1906 was, accord- ing to the report of the state labor commissioner, nearly three times as much as any other county, in all 164,000 pounds. In addition to the amount used HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY. 169 at home, Grundy County in 1907 produced the fol- lowing exports : Lire Stock — Cattle, head Hogs, head Horses and mules, head Sheep, head Jacks, stallions, head Value, $1,375,520. Farm Crops — Wheat, bu Corn, bu Oats, bu Rye, bu Timothy seed, bu. . Clover seed, bu Millet seed, bu Alfalfa, ton Hay, tons Blue grass seed, lbs Planting and gar- den seed, lbs. . . . Nuts, lbs Miscellaneous, lbs . Value, $135,307. Mill Products — Flour, barrels 1,010 Corn, meal, lbs. . . . 19,860 Bran, shipstuff, lbs. 54,000 Chops, etc., lbs 25,000 Value, $5,995. Farmyard Products — Poultry, live, lbs... 263,736 Poultry, dressed lbs 1,828,905 Eggs, dozen 1,024,890 Feathers, lbs 44,874 Value, $417,526. Apiary and Cane Products — Honey, lbs 2,100 Beeswax, lbs 128 Sorghum molasses, gallons 1,500 Value, $940. Forest Products — Hardw^ood lumber, feet 8,360 Soft lumber, feet . . 45,000 Cordwood, cords . . 2,250 17,320 47,985 2,891 4,284 29,300 70,221 56,229 6,220 3,200 33 36,220 1 402 175,220 ( 155 1,180 54,000 Walnut lumber, feet 30,000 Apple wood, cars.. 3 Dairy Products — Butter, lbs 76,106 Milk and cream, gal 2,760 Ice cream, gal 200 Value, $15,913. Flowers and Nursery Products. Nursery stock, lbs. 7,600 Cut flowers, lbs... 180 Value, $904. Fish and Game Products — Game, lbs 1,915 Furs, lbs 4,098 Value, $1,363. Packing House Products — Hides and pelts, lbs 121,399 Dressed meats, lbs. 300 Tallow, lbs 6,015 Lard, lbs -. . . . 1,100 Value, $13,734. Medicinal Products — Roots and herbs lbs 300 Bark, lbs 100 Value, $40. Vegetables — Vegetables, lb 5,800 Potatoes, bus 1,337 Canned vegetables and fruit, lbs 20,535 Fruit- Apples, barrels . . . 308 Value, $924. Wool and Mohair — Wool, lbs 29,403 Value, $7,351. Mine and Quarry Products — Coal, tons 11,000 Stone, cars 3 Value, $18,918. Stone and Clay Products — Brick, common 139,000 Sewer pipe and til- ing, cars 4 Value, $1,712. Unclassified Products — Junk, cars 13 Ice, tons 1,627 Aggregate value, all commoditties $2,014,648 Fifty-four manufacturing establishments in this county reported to the state labor bureau. Ac- cording to statistics given out by that bureau, the 170 HISTORY OP GRUNDY COUNTY. value of goods manufactured for the year was $332,889. Value of material and supplies used, $161,172. Capital invested, $246,867. Value of grounds, $15,000, of buildings, $54,033 and of ma- chinery $130,097. They paid in that year for rent, $3,916, for taxes, $3,051 and for insurance, $1,168. They employed 239 males and 35 females, and paid in wages $106,120. The following information in detail is from the report of the state labor bureau: RESUME MANUFACTURING— GRUNDY COUNTY. Bakeries — The earnings for establishments ranged from $600 to $1,200 a year. Three work- ing owners figured on an average of $52 a month for their toil and profits of about 6 per cent on their investment. Bakers earned from $9 to $14 a week; helpers from $5 to $7. Sales girls were paid $13 a month. One shop worked its bakers only 8 hours a day; others 10 to 11 hours. Brick, tiling — The manager was paid $75 a month. He took care of the office work. Brick set- ters were paid from $10 to $15 a week; clay miners, $10 to $12; brick pitchers, $10; brick graders, $12; helpers, $6; teamsters, $10; truckers, $10. The time was 10 hours a day. Canning — Managers and superintendents drew $54 each a month. Cappers were paid $9 a week and cooks and processors from $7 to $9; laborers, $5, and boy helpers, $3 to $4. Females, forewomen, $10 a week; peelers, $6 to $9; helpers, $3 to $4. Time, ten hours a day. Carbonated Beverages — Owner cleared $900 for work as a bottler and selling the products of his HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY. 171 SK'CJlH^"-~-05 — >^^- — ^50l->-'"l-'05 ^^^stc i-' coiOOOGDOoccoo<3<:DoootC'c:ctco OOOOwOCCOmOOC^OODOCDK _ OOO UlOOOOOmOOGDOUtOOOO ^s — c. CO H- 05 -^ OD C< CO to o> cc t c: lO O O en )OOOCOOCnO>OC^O = -iloooooooo-ioooooooooo O O CO C3 o O O CC -1 o ^0 C C CC O O O C O OOO o o o o o o o o o c>o o*i-b: rf^^^OT*— ?c OOIO CnooO(30DO=OOC;tOOOOOO OOOOOO— 00^3«00000000 ^^^sc>JCccoccc^: — cccototcwtocjCL'w i-'za -^ t0"-000< . CCio— OODOCnODO*»C-! 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Pi O (A a < a w O < < O o S Pi < >^ 1-1 b^ w Q Total of all wage- earners Total . $10 to $12. $9 to $10. $7 to $8 . . . $6 to $7 . . . $5 to $6 . . $4 to $5. $3 to $4.. Under $3. Total . $25 and over $20 to $25. $15 to $20. $12 to $15, $10 to $12. to $10. to $9., $7 to $8. to $7 . $5 to $6. $3 to $4 Under $3. (M e<^ lo lo i-t i-H Cv) O rj< i-H CM CM lO lO Tjl i-H ■<* .-I Tj< i-H CM .-H t^ i-H i-H CM 00 1— I 1—1 CM CM CM CM lO e>/^'\, a cow caused a wreck on the Rock Island which killed a voung man hv the name of ]\1 organ and wounded four others. Dr. W. W. Smith, a prominent physician of Trenton, was killed hy his horse while the doctor was on his way to see a patient March 27, 1874. Clement Merkart, a farmer who lived eight miles north of Trenton, was killed September 17, 1874, by a log which he was skidding rolling on him, crushing his hips. He was dug out from un- der the log by a fourteen-year-old 1)ov and lived twenty-four hours after the accident occurred. Charles Scott was drowned in Moberly lake, where he went skating, November 26, 1874. Rev. John Evans, a Baptist minister, living eight miles north of Trenton, was burned in his house in 1875. It is not known whether or not he was murdered. \\m. Hall, who lived near Lindley, shot him- self October 14, 1875. Airs. Jane Sayers, a notorious character of town, was shot and killed by Dick ]\litchell, Octo- ber 16, 1875. Wm. H. Mason, aged t\vent}--eight, died of an •overdose of opium, taken to reliexe neuralgia, July 6, 1876. INIiss Paxby Kern, a }'oung lady living near Alpha, drowned herself June 6. of the same vear. The body of AW \\'. Ioi"dan( a well known brick maker of Trenton, was found on the railroad track 196 HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY. September 15, 1878. It had been run over by a train. Whether he met death by accident, suicide or murder is not known. James Renfro, a Rock Iskmd car repairer, was killed while on duty July 28, 1881. He was at work under a car when the yard men threw another car against it, running it over him. As a result of a quarrel arising over the terms of rental, Millard Adams killed JNlilton Schooler, who had rented a farm of him, near Spickard, in July, 1882. Adams was sentenced to two years in the penitentiary. The killing was done with a knife. George Howard of Trenton blew off the back of his own head with a shotgun, April 26, 1882. In the year 1883 Dr. C. E. Webster of Tren- ton thrust a lance into his own heart, self. Harry Royston, thirteen vears old, was drowned in June, 1884, while Ijathing in Grand river. Susie Justis, a young girl, drowned herself April 24, 1886. In June of that year Wm. Hotch- kiss, an employee of the Rock Island, was killed by a train. That July Oliver Smith, a farmer, living six miles southeast of Trenton, while mowing fell from the mower seat in front of the sickle, was dragged fifty yards and killed. Robert Kerfoot, a young man, committed suicide in November, 1876. December 10 Charles Hancock, a ten-year-old Trenton bo}', was drowned, breaking through the ice while skating. August 26, 1887, J\Iiss Ida Sprout of near Gait, committed suicide. August 27, Joseph Cable, who HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY. 197 lived southwest of Lindley, was killed in a runaway. Wm. Kirk, while drunk, knifed his cousin and brother-in-law, Robert Kirk of Franklin Township, in a quarrel starting over a dog fight, December, 1887. Sarah Brown, the sixteen-year-old daughter of A. T. Brown of Trenton was accidentally shot by J. W. Hill in March, 1888. In September, 1888, Wm. Myers was killed in a stabbing affray near Trenton. July 5, 1889, Maud Jones of Gait poisoned her- self.' In April 1889, Curt Nichols killed Jack Peffers, an old man who lived in a little house in Grand river bottom near Trenton, with a club, and buried the body in a pile of refuse near the house where it was not found for several weeks. At the time of the murder Nichols was hired to Peffers. He was sentenced to the penitentiary for life, but afterward pardoned out as a consumptive. Joseph Howell, who murdered Mrs. Minnie Hall, her four children and set fire to their home in Linn County, January 19, 1890, was tried, sentenced and hanged in Trenton. Sunday, Septemljer 28, 1890, Daniel Berry, eighty years old, a very prominent citizen of Myers Township, was trampled to death by his cattle in his pasture where he had gone to salt them. Frank Ellis, a young man of Franklin township, was drowned while trying to cross Muddy creek, two miles east of Spickard, August, 1890. The body of John Endicott, of Trenton, who mysteriously disappeared the week before, was 198 HISTORY OF GRUXDY COUXTV. found in Grand river, December 3, 1891. His drowning- is thought to have been accidental. Clem- ens Syres, who lived near Spickard, committed suicide September 12, 1891. Mrs. Flattie ^^IcCammeron, sick and despon- dent, sliot lierself, Septeml)er, 1892. Hamilton Bran(l\', in a fit of insanit\', hanged himself in ]\Iay, 1892. Al Clavton of Trenton, a drv grx^ds salesman, was drowned while bathing in (irand river, July, 1893. Policeman Isaac Dillcy in December, 1894, was caught between the drawheads of two cars on. the Rock Island tracks and killed. Novem1)er 6, 1895, Edward Ricketts was caught and killed in a ilour mill at Spickards. In 1896 Mrs. Anna \'irden committed suicide. ]\lrs. Lon Anderson, two miles northwest of Tren- ton, shot herself March 7. Albert Haling, age six- teen, was (lro\Mied in Grand river, Franklin Town- ship, August, 1896. Sam Sanders, colored, com- mitted suicide in August of that year. S. C. A\'ilson, proprietor of the Ron Ton res- taiu"ant, Trenton, was called to his back door at night, ]\!arch 2=^, i8(j7, and knocked in the head with an ax. Nearly a vear later W'm. Ferguson was arrested for the murder, and after a long legal battle, convicted and sentenced to the ])enitentiary for life. IJaker Smith was killed bv the accidental discharge of his gun while hunting, Ajjril 12, i8()7. Charles ^\. Payne had his neck broken by a fall while on a fox chase near Edinburg, Augwst, 1898. In the Septem1:er following J. P. Jarman, mad with HIS'IUIIV OF GRUXDY COUNTY. 109 despondency, took his own life. In Octol^er, 1898, Mrs. J. D. Anderson, an old lady living- near La- redo, was killed in a rnnawa}-. Tn i8(j9 Sam Rinard ot Trenton, assistant road- master on the O. (). & K. C, was killed in a wreck near Gait. May 15, Leonard Elmore, the three- year-old son of Mr. and Mrs. S. A. D. Elmore of Gait, fell into a well and was drowned. Fire Chief Vannatta shot Ed Taylor, colored, porter of the Benlah hotel, in making an arrest, Jannary, 1899. John O. Parsons, a }-onng- l)nsiness man of Edin- burg-, was accidentally shot in a scnffle in May, i89(;. In December Lloyd Deal, son of Dr. G. F. Deal, was killed by a train. EA'ents of the character here sketched which oc- curred since 1900 are still comparatively fresh in the people's minds. Two tragedies, however, stand out above all the rest. One is the murder of Bert Joiner, ()ctol)er jy), 1905. He was in Trenton that day and started home, north of Trenton, at night, in his Imggv. His body, badly 1)nrned, and with a bullet in the l)reast, was found in the buggy which was on fire when the horse was stopped on the road three miles north of Trenton. His mur- derers ha^•e ne\-er been disco^'ered. B. B. King, station agent at Brimson, in a carriage with his wife, daughter, granddaughter and a niece and nephew from Kansas City, visit- ing them, attem])ted to (lri\e across Sugar creek during an overflow. The carriage was swe])t over l:)y the water. ]\Irs. King and the ne])hew and niece were drowned, the bodv of the former not being 200 HISTORY^ OF GRUNDY COUNTY. recovered for several days. The rest of the party were rescued after a desperate struggle. This hap- pened in the early summer of 1908. HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY. 201 CHAPTER XIII. GRUNDY COUNTY'S GREAT MEN— Jewett Norris, the Carnegie of Grundy County — Col. John H. Shanklin, lawyer and .Jurist — Rezin A. DeBolt, Politician and Lawyer — Stephen Peery, Lawyer and Farmer — George H. Hubbell, Student and Lawyer — Richard C. Norton, L. L. D., Pioneer Educator. "These Were Giants In Those Days." I T IS THE purpose of this chapter to re- view, briefly, the career of some of Grundy County's greatest men who have passed over the divide. While many a man of commanding intellect has taken an active part in the develop- ment of this land, some who rose through sheer brain power above an unlettered environment and some who had all the education and culture of the day, six men, perhaps stand out above the rest. They are Jewett Norris, John H. Shanklin, Stephen 202 HISTORY OF GRUXDY COUNTY. Peery, R. A. DeBult, (;eorg-e H. Hul)ljell and R. C, Norton. JEW'ETT NORRIS, the Carnegie of Grundy County, was Ijorn on a New Hampshire farm June II, i8o(j, and died in St. Paul, Minnesota, May 12, 1891. 'J'he first fourteen }ears of his Hfc were s]:)ent on that farm. His opportunities for securing an education were very Hmited, his schoohng being" confined to a three months' term a year in the coun- try school, yet he became a man of l)r()a(l culture and ripe scholarshi]), and head an unusual amount of good common sense. At fifteen he became a clerk in a country store. He worked there alxitit a year, then was in commer- cial employ in Boston for three years and in New York for se\'en years. In 1835 he came to ^lissouri, locating on what is now the AW A. ]\rcA ay farm, then unstu'veyed land, near the present limits of Trenton. He married Sarah A. Perry in 1837. He lived here in a log cabin characteristic of the time, and farmed for twentv years. During this time he took an active part in public affairs, being a meml)er of the first county court of this county, and aiding in the organ- ization of the county. In 1855 he moved to Trenton and engaged in the mercantile business. Jewett Norris was elected to the state senate in 1858, and re-elected in 1862. Fie was a resourceful and useful legislator, taking high rank among his colleagues. At the outbreak of the war he did much to crvstallize union sentiment in this part of the state; with both voice and purse he rendered effec- tive aid, speaking in behalf of the Union all over this HISTORY OF CiRrXDY COUXTY. 203 part of the slate, lie was eaptain and ([uarlernias- ter of the Grundy County l)attaHon of militia organ- ized in 1862, furnishing suppHes to this and to the Mercer County battahon out of his own ])rivate means. In 1863 and 1864 he was Heutenant colonel of the Thirteenth enrolled Missouri militia, and was mustering officer for many cotmties. In 1870, his health being then impaired, Mr. Norris moved to St. Paul, Minnesota. In Grundy County he was always successful as a btisiness man, and in Minnesota he made in\-estments which yield- ed him good returns. In 1890 he gave the city of Trenton $50,000 with which the Jewett Norris Library was bfiilt. He died ]\lav I J, 1 89 1, shortly before its completion, and was buried in this city. COL. JOHN'h. SHANKLIN, a broad minded, capable law}-er, was born in Monroe County, West Virginia, (then Virginia), November 2, 1824. He was the eighth child in a family of ten. He attended school in the rough log school houses of that time until he was sixteen, afterwards teaching two terms there. At twenty-one he was working on a farm in \'irginia. In 1846 in com])anv with one com])anion, and with less than one hundred dollars in his pocket he started west, arriving in Grundy County April 10 of that year. The rest of his life he was a citizen of Trenton. For three years after arriving he taught school. In 1847 he enlisted as a private in the ^Fexi- can war, in Capt. (no. C. Griffin's company, and took part in the piclures(iue march over the Santa Fe trail. In the spring of 1848 lie was made quar- 204 HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY. termaster and commissary sergeant under Lieuten- ant Ashley Gulley. Mr. Shanklin married Miss Kitty Ann Collier January 22, 1850. They had five children, three of whom are living: Orville M., Walter H. and Carrie Vannatta. Shortly after his marriage he was ap- pointed probate judge, which led him to take up the study of law. He was a partner of Jacob T. Tindall from 1855 until the latter fell in the battle of Shiloh, 1 86 1. Mr. Shanklin was made division inspector, with rank of colonel, by Gov. Gamble. He enlisted most of the six months militia from this and neigh- boring counties. In 1862 he was made lieutenant colonel of the Third Missouri state militia, which regiment he helped to raise. Soon after that he was elected a member of the Missouri state convention, to fill a vacancy caused by Col. Tindall's death, and served in that body in its sessions of June, 1862 and 1863. Ii"^ August 1862 he was made Colonel of the Thirtieth enrolled militia and was with that regi- ment in command of the post at Chillicothe until March, 1863, when, at his recjuest, he was relieved. After a year spent in law practice he went again in- to military ser\^ice in which he remained until the close of the war. In 1868 Mr. Shanklin became president of the Chillicothe & Des Moines Railroad company, and it was largely due to his influence that its roadbed was transferred to the Rock Island, thus bringing that road into Trenton. He was a delegate to the state constitutional convention in 1875, and took a con- spicuous part in the proceedings, especially in secur- ing liberal provisions for the common schools. HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY. 205 He became interested in the mining business in 1880 and 1 88 1, investing considerable capital in the silver and copper mines of New Mexico. Meanwhile James Austin had joined the law firm of Tindall & Shanklin in 1858, and upon the death of Tindall the firm became Shanklin & Austin. Mr. Shanklin and Mr. Austin continued to be asso- ciated in business for a number of years, the latter partner finally retiring from the law to devote his time to the banking business, in which they were jointly interested. Colonel Shanklin formed a part- nership with Messrs. Low and McDougal of Galla- tin in 1876, which partnership continued about ten years. He was president of the Missouri Bar asso- ciation in 1882 and 1883, had charge of the task of building a railroad and highway bridge across the Missouri river at Fort Leavenworth in 1886, and in 1890 was a member of the towaisite committee at Guthrie, Oklahoma. He took a leading part in many home enterprises. Colonel Shanklin retired from business several years before his death, which occurred on June 14, 1904. While he achieved success in many lines of endeavor, his greatest prominent is due to his legal ability. A man of sound judgment, quick intuition and clear intellect, he was always fair, broad, and impartial. He was a critical student, and relied for success upon superior knowledge rather than upon brilliant abilit}', and did not resort to trickery or pettyfogging tactics. Grundy County has never yet produced a man who stands higher with the bar of the state than Colonel Shanklin. In politics he was a whig before the war, and afterwards a Democrat. 206 HISTORY OF GRUXDY COL'NTY. A\'hile always active in politics he was never an of- fice seeker. REZIX A DEBOLT, who was born in Ohio, January 20, 1828, was in many ways the opposite of Colonel Shanklin. A\'hile the latter was calm and judicious, the former was quick and impetuous. Mr. Shanklin was always conservative. Mr. DeBolt was always radical. Air. DeBolt li\ed on a farm and attended coun- try schools until seventeen years old. In 1845 he was a|)i)renticed for three years to a tanner and fol- lowed this trade for a few years after working- out his apprenticeshi]). In the meantime he was study- ing law and was admitted to the bar in 1856. In 1858 he came to Missouri, settling in Trenton. The next year he was appointed county school commis- sioner and was elected to the same office in i860. His spare time he gave to the practice of law. When the war broke out he spoke earnestly and effectively for the Union cause. He was made cap- tain of the Twenty-third Missouri volunteers and was captured at Shiloh. Entering the service again in 1864 after a term of imprisonment and a term of retirement he was commissioned major of the Forty- fourth ]\Iissouri volunteers, remaining with his com- mand until the close of the war. In 1863 ^^^- DeBolt was elected circuit judge, which office he held till 1875. For a time supporting the Republican partv, he changed his political affiliations and in 1877 was elected to congress on the Democratic ticket. After a term in congress he devoted his entire time to the practice of law. HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY. 207 ]\Ir. DeBolt was married to Maria IMcClery in Ohio, in 1840. His wife dying- in 1869, he was mar- ried to Miss Laurestine \J. Dinsmoor of Canada. Mr. DeBoh died Octo1)er 29, 1891. STEPHEN Ph:]^R\' was liorn on a \'ir-inia farm June 2/, 1836. ] lis parents came to ?^Iissouri in 1838, setthng- on a farm near Edinburg, where he grew to manhood. He attended Grand River col- lege for some time, afterwards taking a course in law at ?^IcKendrick college, Illinois, 1855. Mr. Pcery entered the law of (ice of Tindall & Shanklin in 1856 and was admitted to the bar in 1857. He opened up a law office in Trenton in 1859, where he practiced for many years. ]\lr. Peery was married to Miss Emma Plendrick of Trenton in 1858. Seven children were born to them. In politics he was an aggressive Repul:)lican. His first political office was probate judge, he being elected to that place in 1859. He was elected to the state senate in 1890. Pie was perhaps more a shrewd, live, active business man than politician, though he had much influence in politics. Pic lost his health about the close of his term in the senate, traveled west at the expiration of that term, and at last, despairing of recovery, shot him- self through the heart at Phoenix, Arizona, January 31, 1896. The body was Ijrought to Grundy County for interment. GEORGE PI. HUBBELL was born in New York, Eebruary 11, 1818, where he lived till sixteen years old. In 1835 he came west, becoming a stu- dent of Marion college, then a thriving institution in 208 HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY. Marion county, Missouri. Here he remained three years, leaving for Howard County, where he taught school and studied law. In 1842 he moved to Buch- anan County settling at Sparta, then the county seat, the next year coming to Grundy County, which he made his home until his death. Air. Hubbell prac- ticed law until 1847 when he was elected clerk of the county and circuit courts which office he held seven- teen years, making one of the best officers the county ever had. In 1870, notwithstanding the fact that he was a staunch Democrat and this a strong Republican county, he was elected representative. A trait of his character which made him popular is shown in the fact that he voted for John B. Hender- son, the Republican candidate for United States sen- ator against Frank Blair, the Democratic candidate, because the majority of his constitutents were Re- publicans who wanted Henderson. jMr. Hubbell for a number of years lived on a farm in this county. To the last days of his life he took a keen interest in the educational, political and industrial affairs of the county, and even in his ex- treme old age his mind was vigorous and keen and his memory remarkably retentive. He died Decem- ber 16, 1906. RICHARD C. NORTON, L.L.D., pioneer edu- cator and father of the Trenton High school, was born near Hiram, Portage county, Ohio, June 16, 1840. Died at his home in Trenton, Missouri, Tvlon- day. May 18, 1908. He spent his early life on the farm, attending the public schools and afterward fin- ishing his education in Hiram college, of which James A. Garfield, was president. Possessed of HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUxXTY. 209 more than average natural ability, strengthened by the vigor of a country life, under the shadow of Hiram college, which brought him in contact with scholarly men and with commendable aspirations, he soon acquired a deep culture of mind and heart that pervaded his after years and fitted him for the manifold duties of a useful and successful life. He united with the Christian church in 1864. At the breaking out of the civil war, though a young man with a bright prospect before him, his love for his country prompted him to become one of its 'defenders. He became a member of Company A, Forty-second regiment, Ohio vounteers, commanded by James A. Garfield. On account of ill health he was disch-arged March 18, 1863. On the 17th day of March 1864, he was united in marriage to Miss Marian Lucretia Mason, who survives him. In the spring of 1865 they moved to this county, where he was made prin- cipal of the Trenton public school, then occupying two rooms. He at once reorganized the schools which grew until additional room was required, and the central part of the Central school building com- posed of eight rooms was erected. He also filled the position of county school com- missioner under the law enacted immediately after the civil war, and organized the entire county into districts. He was also one of the engineers and did much of the work of locating the C, R. I. & P. railroad, through the county. In 1875 Dr. Norton resigned the principalship of the Trenton schools to accept a chair in the War- .210 HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY. rensburg state normal, taking with him many stu- dents to that institution from this county. When the state normal school was established by the legis- lature at Cape Girardeau, he was made president, "which position he held for thirteen years. Feeling that his life and that of his companion were suffi- ciently far advanced, that they should have a per- manent home, he resigned the presidency of the Cape Girardeau school, very much against the wishes of the entire board of regents and returned to Trenton to erect a home for his declining years. But he was not permitted to stay out of the school work long. After six months rest he was elected to a chair in the state normal in Kirksville, which he held for several years, but making Tren- ton his settled home. He afterward taught a few classes in Avalon college in Trenton under Prof. Kumler, the founder of the college, and also filled the position of county school commissioner until he declined to serve longer. He was one of the promi- nent educators of the state and was often urged to become a candidate for state superintendent. HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY. 211 CHAPTER IV. BY H. J. BAI>. PEN PICTURE OF CITY— Schools— Library— Churches— Banks — Park — Hotels — Court House — Fire Company — Railroads — Gas and Electric Light Co. — Newspapers — Mining — Tele- phone — Postoffice — Ice Company — Brick and Tile Company — Poultry Plant — Missouri Auction School — Wholesale Busi- ness — Golf — Automobiles — Corn Show — Chautauqua — Lecture Course — Sewers — Paving — Water — Resume. T RENTON as it is today, has a popula- tion estimated at 7,000 people and is one of the thriving little cities situated in North Missouri. It measures a mile and a quarter North and South and two miles and a quarter East and West and is situated near the center of Grundy County. It has never had the excitement of a boom, or the relapse of a backset, but has reached its present size and importance by gradual growth and steady development. Unlike most cities, it. is not laid out after the fashion of the prosaic checkerboard, but instead its streets and avenues meander where- soever they will. Some of its thoroughfares are as 212 HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY. winding and run as unmindful of the compass as those of historic Boston or ancient Rome. The principal business streets are Water and Elm streets. The former begins at the Chicago, Rock Island & Pacific Railway depot and runs thence to Five Points and from there it winds back and forth like the trail of a huge snake in a south- ward course until it reaches Water Street bridge. Along this street coming north from the river, the business of the town has grown and developed. Time was when the court house block was the cen- ter of the business activity of the town, lout this has changed as the years have come and gone, and bus- iness has now moved northward to Five Points and is still continuing farther north on Elm street. The city is justly proud of its industries and resources and all the institutions within its border Vsdiich have contributed to its prosperity and growth. Foremost among the list is the excellent public school system. There are located within the city, a central school building, two ward schools, the high school building and the Garfield school for colored students. The central school is at the cor- ner of Elm and Winter streets near the central part of town and is composed of a large tw\o-story main building with one three-story wing on either side, making it a very imposing structure v\hich rarely fails to excite the curosity of a stranger when vis- iting our city. The main building or middle struc- ture was Ijuilt in 1868 and the wings were added about 1884. The entire building as it now stands, contains twenty-four recitation rooms, besides the superintendent's office and assembly rooms. The HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY. 213 two ward schools w^ere built in 1896, one in the third ward and one in the fourth ward of the city and they contain four rooms each. The high school is located in College addition and is the building originally built to be the home of Avalon College. The college hav- ing failed of success was purchased by the Trenton school district in 1906 at the very reasonable figure of $10,000.00, and converted into the Trenton High School. The building has three stories, is modern in all its equipments, with laboratories and all facilities for instruction by the most approved methods of modern schools. The Garfield School is maintained exclusively for col- ored pupils and located in northwest part of town. The Trenton High School has an enrollment of 157 pupils. The grade schools, embracing all below the high school have an enrollment of 9_i.o. The prin- cipal of the high school is Mr. L. D. Roberts; of the third w^ard, Anna Westernacher ; of the fourth ward, Myrtle Magee; of the Central school Miss Sadie Yates, and of the Garfield school. Miss Edna Cooper. At the head of the entire system as super- intendent, is Mr. C. A. Greene, an energetic and ca- pable young educator, w-ho took charge of the schools as superintendent in the fall of 1906. By his unceasing efforts to improve and raise the standard of proficiency of our schools, he has suc- ceeded in getting our high school placed in the sec- ond rank among the high schools of the state in the requirements necessary for entrance to the State Universitv, and it is now one of thirteen Missouri high schools that are approved by the Northern 214 HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY. Federation of Colleges and Secondary Schools. This permits our graduates to enter any college in any one of the following states: Missouri, Kansas, Colorado, Nebraska, North Dakota, South Dakota , Minnesota, Iowa , Wisconsin, Illinois, Michigan, Indiana and Ohio. The high school em- braces four years of work with a well arranged course of study and is well supported and thorough- ly patronized by students in Trenton and the sur- rounding towns. At the corner of Prospect and Elm street, stands the Jewett Norris library, a magnificent three-story building of pressed brick and stone. It is not a Carnegie library, but came as a gift to the city from Jewett Norris, one of its public spir- ited citizens, who made his wealth among Grundy county people, and left at his death, this lasting monument to his name and memory. The building and equipment represents $50,000.00 and was erected in iSgo. It has an endowment of $15,000 besides, on annual income from the Trenton school district of $500.00. The equipment consists of over 6000 \'()]umes purchased at a cost of $15,000.00, with substantial additions made to it annually The advantages of this most generous gift are fully appreciated as is evidenced by the fact that the annual circulation is now over twenty thous- and volumes. Mrs. Carrie Rogers Clark is the present librarian and Mr. J. H. Flesher, the assist- ant. Within the past three years , Trenton has spent over $55,000.00 for churches, the last to be HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY. 215 completed, being the Baptist church, located at the corner of Elm and Chandler streets. It is a mag- nificent structure, massive and imposing, and built of Trenton pressed brick, at a cost of $25,000.00. It is complete with modern appointments and con- veniences and has a seating capacity of 1000 per- sons. The present pastor is Rev. J. B. Benton. The year preceding the building of the Baptist church marked the completion of the Christian church. This is also a large and handsome struc- ture, erected at a cost of over $20,000.00. Its audi- torium and galleries will seat 1200 people and is lo- cated at the corner of Chestnut and Winter streets. This church is the largest yet erected in the city and is equipped with a pipe organ. Rev. W. A. Schuel- lenberger is the pastor. The Presbyterian church of which Rev. E. S. Brownlee is now pastor, was erected the year preceding that of the Christian church, and although not quite so large, is a neat and comfortable chiu*ch and substantially built. It is located also on Chestnut street on the site of the old building, which has been the location of the Presbyterian church for more than thirty years. It was erected at a cost of $8,000.00. The Episco- pal church has been built about seven years and is the quaint little structure on College avenue, built of stone, from the f|uarries west of the city. It is not a large building, and recently regular service were suspended on account of its diminished mem- bership. The Methodist Episcopal church on Col- lege avenue has been built about fourteen years, but is modern in arrangement and design. It is one of the large churches of the city and has an ex- 216 HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY. cellent pipe organ. Their new pastor who has just recently arrived in Trenton, is Rev. L. C. Sappen- field. This organization also maintains a small mission church on Carnes street which is a very substantial little structure erected in 1903, out of cement blocks. The United Brethren churches are not as the name might imply, united in one church, but maintain two separate organizations, each witb its own church building. The older one located in Holt's addition, where the church was first es- tablished, growing out of a series of tabernacle meetings, held there many years ago. It is known as the Holt United Brethren church, out of def- erence to Mr. William Holt, whose liberal donation made possible the building of the church. The pres- ent pastor of both churches isRev. A. C. Tudor. The other church was established in connection with Avalon College, being a school of the same denom- ination. It now occupies a new frame building which was erected in 1907. The Catholic church is located at the corner of Prospect and Chestnut streets. It is a frame structure and the oldest church building in the city. The Rev. Father H. B. Tierney is the rector. The negro people have two churches, the Methodist and Baptist, located in the northwest portion of the city and within the past few months the re-organized church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints has been organized with a small following, too small yet to maintain its own house of worship. There are three excellent banks in Trenton, two state and one national. The Trenton National Bank, one of the old institutions of the city, is cap- HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY. 217 italized at $75,000.00 and had on deposit at its last statement, June 30th, 1908, $342,626.00. It was or- ganized in 1893 by the consolidation of the First National and Grundy County National bank. Its president, C. A. Hoffman; Vice-president, C. H. Cook; Cashier, W. E. Austin, and Assistant Cash- ier, W. H. Shanklin, are all bankers of long ex- perience and men of sound business ability. The The Citizens State Bank grew out of what was formerly the old Union Bank at Five Points. It is capitalized at $50,000.00 and is operated by the following very efficient officers : president, George Gilmore; cashier, S. S. Day; assistant cashier, J. H. Clawson. The bank by its last statement had on deposit $230,000.00 and is in excellent financial condition. The Farmers Exchange Bank is the youngest bank of the three, having been organized in 1904 by the consolidation of the old Farmers Ex- change Bank and the American Bank, retaining the officers of the latter, and the name of the former. It now has a capital of $80,000.00. Its president, W. O. Garvin, and cashier, R. J. Green, are men of wide banking experience and are well and favor- ably known in this community. The bank's last statement showed deposits in the sum of $192,424. The total bank deposits of the city as thus shown by their statements, now amount in the aggregate to $765,050.00. The city is possessed of a small park, which, like the library, was also the gift of one of its public spirited citizens, George W. Moberly. It consists of a tract of twenty acres near the northwest limits of the city. It was conveyed to the city by the 218 HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY. deed of Geo. W. Aloberly upon condition that said tract of land should be improved and forever used as a public park. It was also provided that the park should always bear the name of the donor and be called Moberly park, the deed also containing a provision, that said land might be sold upon a two- thirds vote of the citizens of the city but the proceeds should be re-invested in a similar park and bear the same name. The city has not been able financially to improve the park as it should be, and since 1886 when it was conveyed to the city it has twice been sued for failure to improve the park, but each time has been successful in the courts. The land today is valued at $100.00 per acre and is getting to be a valued accjuisition to the city's wealth. The city has a better play house than many cities of larger size in the state are able boast of. It was built in 1886 and remodeled in 1903, and is finished in a neat and artistic manner with a seating capa- city including the main floor and galleries of loooo persons. It is lighted with electricy, steam heated and has a slooping floor to the parquet and dress circle. W. W. Hubbell, is the owner of the theater and also its manager. There are three leading hotels in Trenton. The Peery is the oldest and is located opposite the court house. It is, perhaps, the largest hotel in the city, having 30 guest rooms, each eciui])ped with private telephone. The Elks hotel is located on the east side of Water street in the block adjoining Five Points. It is now being remodeled and equipped with mod- ern conveniences, including sample room, heating plant and other necessary accessories. The Elks HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY. 219 Cafe maintained in connection with the hotel en- joys the reputation of furnishing good meals with excellent service. The latest addition to the hotels of the city is the Harber, which is the new three story hotel just erected near the Rock Island depot. While not as large as the other two, it is complete in every particular, having several rooms with bath, as well as private telephones. When finished, it promises to be the most complete hotel in the city. The court house stands on the block of ground where the court house has stood for sixty-five years. But within the last five years a new and commodious three story structure has been erected by the people of the county, built of alternating courses of smooth and rough bedford stone, which makes it a magnificent ornament to the south part of the city, in which it stands. The County jail which stands north across the street was built at the same time and out of the same material. The county built these buildings at a cost of $60,000.00, which is much less than they could be built for at the present time. The people of the county promptly responded and carri- ed the election to vote the bond issue for these buildings at the first election called and they stand now as a monument to coming generations of the generorisity of the ])eople, who provided so well for the county's need. The city hall stands one block north of the court house and is a neat commodious building in which are located the city clerk and collector's offices, the fire department and city jail. On the second floor are located the police court rooms and the council chamlier. The 220 HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY. fire department is composed of a fire chief and a volunteer company of 15 men. It is equipped with a good fire team, drop harness, an up to date hook and ladder wagon and also a hose cart with 2,200 feet of hose. The fire chief, G. Heinen, takes ex- cellent care of his team and they are ready for ac- tion at any time of the day or night. The city hall was erected about twelve years ago at an expense of $10,000.00. Trenton is also favored with two trunk line rail- roads. The Quincy, Omaha & Kansas City, nuv\ owned by the Burlington, which traverses the state from east to west, and the Chicago, Rock Island & Pacific which runs northeast and southwest. Since the Rock Island tracks were laid in 1871, Trenton has been the division of the road. It has be- come the chief city between Davenport, Iowa, and Kansas City, Mo. The Rock Island maintains here its machine shops, round house, paint and repair shops and freight and passenger depots. A superintendent and force of clerks and dispatchers handle the office business of the di- vision here and all engines and crews, except pas- senger brakemen and conductors are changed at this point. The Rock Island road employs at Tren- ton, 560 men and the monthly payroll of the com- pany is $41,000.00. The city has a gas and electric plant, known as the Citizens Gas & Electric Company. Under the new management, the company is furnishing coal gas instead of that made from oil products and is ex- tending its mains throughout the city. The com- pany has also rebuilt its electric machinery and pro- HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY. 221 vicled same with complete duplicate outfit, to be used in case of accident and is furnishing continuous cur- rent day and night and supplanting nearly all the steam machinery of the city with electric power This company also furnishes the street lights of the city which burn all night each night in the year. There are very few cities of the size of Trenton that are as well supplied with newspapers. Three daily newspapers, each publishing a weekly are established here. The Republican-Tribune is the oldest paper. It is a consolidation of the Republi- can and Tribune, which occurred in 1903. It is one of the oldest Republican papers in the state. It is edited and published by W. B. Rogers and Son, under the firm name of the W. B. Rogers Printing Co. It maintains an up-to-date print shop and sep- arate job office. The Trenton Times is a Demo- cratic paper edited and published by M. G. Kennedy. The Trenton News is a young and growing paper established in the fall of 1907. It is a Republican paper and owned and operated by the News Pub- lishing Co., with W. M. Denslow as its editor. It has recently added a new linotype to its equipment and it ranks with the best newspapers printed in this part of the state. The Trenton ^Mining Company is the successor of the Grundy County Coal Co., which operated two mines previously here in Trenton until the coal sup- ply of each was exhausted. The new company is in- corporated at $30,000; has recently sunk a new mine near the northern limits of the city and is now minins: the best erade of coal that has vet been dis- 222 HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY. covered here. The present mine produces a good quahty of engine coal, which is much sought after by the raih"oads. The Trenton Telephone Company is the name of a corporation which started in Trenton in 1895, operating eighty-five phones. It has gradually developed and grown with the city until it now op- erates over two thousand 'j)hones and its plant and equipment is valued at $50,000.00. The plant has been remodeled and is now modern in every partic- ular, and all of its main lines within the city are now replaced with cables. The company emplo3^es six- teen operators at the central office and about forty people in all, including those operating its toll lines. Trenton 'phones now have direct connection with all the long distance lines throughout the country, enabling a subscriber to talk to almost any point within the United States from his own office or home. While Trenton has not yet succeeded in obtain- ing from the government a postoffice building, yet the bill appropriating $10,000.00 for the site of such building has already been passed and it is probable that in the very near future a government post of- fice building will be erected here. The present post- office is the distributing point for large quantities of mail. Free delivery was established in this city, December i, 1902. Rural free delivery has also proved very popular among the farmers and at pres- ent there are nine rural carriers carrying mail out of Trenton daily. The present postmaster is B. C. Nichols and his assistant is J. W. Schooler. The Trenton Ice Company is a corporation organ- HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY. 223 ized in 1905, and manufactures artificial crystal ice for the city of Trenton and neighboring cities. It is capitalized at $30,000.00 and its busines has steadily grown and increased since it was organized. The president of the company is H. Wettstein and R. J. Martin is its present manager. The wholesale business of the company has been keeping the plant running the year round, averaging a car a day as its output. The Rock Island railroad has just re- cently closed a contract with the company whereby it takes all the ice used by the railroad on the "SUs- souri division, which will keep the plant running at its full capacity the entire time. The ice pl:mt is lo- cated in the brick building just south of the College Avenue viaduct and is the building formerly oc- cupied by the axe handle factory. Just north of the ice plant stands the Trenton Ruskin Canning Factory. This company was or- ganganized about 1900 and was one of the several institutions established by the Western Co-opera- tive Association headed by Walter Vrooman. The scheme of Air. Vrooman, which was founded on a socialistis basis, failed, but the canning factory sur- vived the general dissolution which followed and is still running for a period each summer in which it cans corn, tomatoes, and other vegetables raised by the farmers near Trenton. Brick have been made in and about the city of Trenton for many years. But the business of mak- ing brick and tile in marketable quantities the year round was not begun in Trenton until the forma- tion of the Trenton Brick and Tile Copany about four years ago. The plant of the company is locat- 224 HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY. ed on the banks of Grand river near the Water Street bridge where it is daily turning into brick and tile a large bank of shale located there, which has developed into material of extraordinary qual- ity. The plant is well equipped with a forty-horse pov^-er motor and machinery for grinding, dry press- ing and burning twenty thousand brick a day. The products of the plant include common building brick, sidewalk brick, drain tile of various sizes and also paving brick which have recently been burned and were used exclusively in paving one of the alleys in Trenton the past year. The president of the company is H. F. Hoffman and the manager of the company is G. M. Wolz. The poultry plant of Swift & Company at Tren- ton is one of the largest and most profitable of the company in the entire West. It is looated just west of the Rock Island freight depot where it has all the necessary track facilities and has now be- come one of the most sut)stantiai' enterprises of the city. The plant handles practically all of the poultry product of Grundy county, as well as many adjoin- ing counties. The local plant is the collecting point where poultry is dressed, iced and prepared for shipment to the New Yory market. The manager of the plant is Mr. E. C. Lightner and the phenom- enal success and growth of the business is due to the energy and experience of ATr. Lightner, who is thoroughly familiar with the poultry business and has spent a lifetime studying the details of the industry. In the single month of December, 1908, this plant shipped from Trenton, poultry, including chickens, turkeys and other fowls, amounting ia HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY. 225 value to over $60,000.00. The plant employs thirty men. Trenton also has an unique institution known as the Missouri Auction School. There are only four schools for auctioneers in the United States and one of these is located here. It is the only school where students are given actual practice at selling in real sales of property, along with the theory and practice of the work. W. B. Carpenter, its presi- dent, is an auctioneer of twelve years practical ex- perience and is one of Trenton's substantial cit- izens. The school term begins in January and Aug- ust of each year and continues for four weeks. Dur- ing the last session which has just closed in August^, there were 88 pupils enrolled who came from four- teen states in the union. The Lathrop Sunbonnet Company is the name of a new manufacturing establishment, located in Trenton, October i, 1907. It is capitalized in the sum of $5000.00, and is equipped to manufacture all kinds of ladies' sunbonnets. The factory at present employs ten machines and fifteen opera- tors and is just in its infancy, but is rapidly de- veloping into a substantial business and is supply- ing- its products to many of the retail dealers, both in Trenton and surrounding territory, including the western and southern states. The plant was first organized and started at Lathrop, Mo., and after its removal to Trenton, still retained its former name. The manager of the establishment is Mr. R. L. Cochran. Within the past year, Trenton has had estab- 226 HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY. lished in the city, its first wholesale business house, \vhich attends strictly to the wholesale trade. The Christopher-Thurber Wholesale Grocery Company was moved here from Warrensburg, Mo., in the spring- of 1908. The business of the company has .greatly increased since moving to Trenton, and covers a large territory extending over the northern part of the state. Trenton also has a volunteer company of the National Guard, known as Company "D," of the National Guard of Missouri. The company has en- listed sixty men, and has an armory for regular practice, maintained by the United States Govern- ment. W. D. Stepp is the Captain of the company. During the spring of 190S, the Riverside Coun- try Club was organized, composed of one hundred anembers from among the citizens of Trenton. The (clubhas leased a tract of land just south of the city :along Grand River, composed of twenty-three acres, for a period of ten years. Upon this property they liave erected an artistic log club house and the grounds have been laid out for golf links, tennis, and other out-door sports. Within the past three years the automobile has come into use in Trenton, as a permanent passenger -vehicle, Dr. J. B. Wright, having brought the first one into use which he is using extensively in his imedical practice. Other citizens have since follow- ed, until there are now many automobiles of var- ious sizes owned and used in the city. ^ The city has for the last three years maintained an annual corn show in Trenton, held in October of HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY. 227 each year. Prizes are given for the different breeds and grades of corn and a great interest is taken by the farmers of the county in the growing and se- lecting of fine varieties of corn. In 1906, Trenton organized a chautauqua as- sociation composed of one hundred members and has estabhshed the reputation of holding one of the best chautauqua meetings in the state. The best talent obtainable has been secured for each annual program and the association receives the support and encouragement of every citizen of Trenton. The organization is formed on the guarantee plan in which every year each stockholder advances a cer- tain per cent of his stock, to be held or returned as the case may require. There has never yet been a year, but what the entire amount has been return- ed to each stockholder, leaving money in the treas- ury for the next year, thus demonstrating the suc- cessfulness of the enterprise and the hearty support which it receives. In addition to the chautauqua in the summer season, Trenton supports a lecture course during the winter months. This lecture course was estab- lished in 1904, by the Ministerial Allitnce, an or- ganization composed of the local ministers of the city. During the past year, this alliance has asso- ciated with it, a number of the prominent business men of the city, who assist in the management of the course and guarantee its financial responsi- bility. The course has always received the hearty support of Trenton people and has become one of its permanent or anizations. 228 HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY. Trenton has just completed a series of district sewers composed of seven districts in all, which cover the main parts of the city, including the bus- iness and resident districts. The first of these dis- tricts was laid out in 1904. In all these districts, main sewers together with laterals are constructed so that each and every property therein contained can be thoroughly sewered by connecting with the inlet provided for that purpose. The city is well fa- vored with the natural lay of the land for the con- struction of these sewers and they are built so that they drain toward Muddy creek and Grand river. The seven districts have been laid out and sewers constructed within them during the last four years and the total cost of the improvement thus made has amounted to $23,235.34. The sewer system of the city, while not among its sightly improvements, nevertheless, is at the foundation of all later im- provements, and Trenton is fortunate indeed, in having the foundation work so thoroughly laid. Immediately following the sewering of the city, a number of the principal streets have been paved. The paving thus far, has all been composed of brick, with the exception of one alley now ordered to be paved with granitoid. The first job of street paving was laid in 1904, and extended on Water street from the court house past Five Points to Prospect street. The paving was constructed at a cost of $18,263.57, and is one of the most substantial jobs of paving in the city. In the following year, 1905, North Elm street was paved, extending from Prospect street to Bridge street. This job of work also included the HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY. 229 curbing- of the street and was put in at a cost of $7967.31 to the property owners. In 1906, the alley in the block on the east side of Water street from Ballew's lumber yard to the court house was paved with vitrified paving brick made by the Trenton Brick and Tile Company. The work was done at a cost of $2185.33, '^^^ ^^^^ home made brick have proved to be thoroughly satisfactory in every par- ticular. In 1907, the city council ordered the paving and curbing of Chandler street throughout its en- tire length from Water street to West Lawn street, and for the first time a new company was organized in Trenton to handle street paving, which is prob- ably the only one of its kind in the state. The com- pany is known as the Trenton Manufacturing and Construction Company, and was organized by the property owners along Chandler street for the pur- pose of doing the paving and improving of their street themselves. An accurate account of the total cost of labor and material is kept by the company and at the conclusion of the work, whatever amount over this figure is made by the company as profit, is returned to the stockholders in the nature of a credit on their paving taxbills, thus permit- ting the property owners to do their own work of paving at the actual cost of material and labor. It has proved to be a successful way of handling street paving and succeeds in saving the property owners from fifteen to twenty-five per cent on the cost of their w^ork. The total cost of Chandler street as thus paved, amounted to $19,242.54. In 1908, Pros- pect street from the Rock Island depot west to Nor- 230 HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY. ton avenue was paved and curbed, the property owners on Prospect street buying up the stock of the Trenton Manufacturing and Construction Com- pany, and doing their own paving in the same way as Chandler street was paved. The work of paving and curbing this street has just been completed and is pronounced by everyone to be one of the best jobs of paving in the city. Tax bills for this work are now being issued by the city and the total cost of the improvement as thus completed amounts to$i7,- 099.21. During the present year, 1908, the city has just finished paving the small thoroughfare immedi- ately west of the Rock Island depot, which connects Prospect and Water streets, known as Depot street. This is the narrowest and shortest paved street in the city, being fifteen feet wide, and one block long. The work of paving was completed by a local con- tractor, Mr. Benjamin Agee, at a cost of $720.00. The city has also within the past few months, or- dered the pavement of the alley in block Seven, Merrill's First Addition to Trenton, Missouri, to be paved with a new material, known as granitoid. The work is an experiment and embraces but one block. It is also cheaper than regular brick paving and if it proves successful, more paving of the same kind may be laid later. The first water works system was established in Trenton in 1886, at which time the city of Tren- ton granted a franchise to a private company known as the Trenton Water Co., for a period of twenty years. During all that period of time, the water service was more or less un- HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY. 231 satisfactory most all the year round, the water being- muddy with the exception of a short time each year. The company tried many experiments with the wa- ter but none of them seemed to prove satisfactory. In 1906 when the franchise of the company expired, the city proceeded to buy the plant of the Trenton Wat- er Company. After repeated negotiations, it was :ound impossible to make a deal with the president of the company, Mr. Herbert N. Smith, of Boston. Mass. A board of arbitration was then appointed, consisting of Mr. C. A. Hoffman, acting for the city, and Mr. H. Wettstein acting for the water company. This board assessed the value of the plant at $39,000., which was paid by the city and the water works system turned over, July 25, 1906. Before making this purchase, however, the City of Trenton voted $65,000.00 in water works bonds, which were issued for this purpose. The remainder of this money, after paying the purchase price, is to be used to improve and extend the water works system, under the management and direction of the Board of Public Works. The present membership of this board consists of C. A. Hoffman, president, C. A. Foster, vice president, E. C. Lightner vSecre- tary and S. G. Witten. While this board has the supervising control of all water works property, the active management and care of the entire plant is under the control of Mr. W. Andrews, the super- intendent appointed by the board. Mr. Andrews was formerly the water supply man for the Chicago, Rock Island & Pacific Railway at Tren- ton, but resigned his position with the railroad and took charge of the water plant of the city when it 232 HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY. was purchased in July, 1906. Being a man thoroughly familiar with all the details of the water works business, he has carefully ijone over the en- tire plant and remodeled and replaced it where nec- essary with new and up to date machinery. He also devised a system for clarifying the city water, which was taken up and adopted by the board and put into operation and now renders the water clear, pure and wholesome throughout the entire year, •which had not been accomplished before since the plant was established. It consists of a large reser- voir covering about ten acres with a capacity of about 40,000,000 gallons constructed near the pres- ent pumping station. \Mien the water is per- fectly clear in the river, it is pumped into this reservoir until full, which holds enough water to supply the city through any ordinary muddy spell. The plan is simple enough, but it remained for a water expert to put it into practice. The bank of the reservoir is lined inside with rock to prevent washing. The building of this immense basin re- quired five months and was constructed at a cost of approximately $5000.00. Since the city has taken charge of the plant, 10,000 feet of cast iron water pipe have been laid throughout the residence district of the city, which have greatly increased the efficiency of the water system and added to the city's fire protection. It will be seen that within the past five years there has been spent for the four items of churches, sewering, paving and water works within the city the sum of $198,713.30, and it is probable that HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY. 233 just a beginning has been made. The spirit of progress and improvement is awakening in every department of the city and the probabihties are, that within the next few years, Trenton wih be one of the most thoroughly im- proved of any city of its size in the state. HISTORY OF GRUriDY COUNTY. 235 CHAPTER XV. Biographical Sketches "Should auld acquaintance be forgot, And never brought to min'? Should auld acquaintance be forgot, And days o' auld lang syne?" ROBERT WILEY ALLARDICE was born Kilwinning, Ayrshire, Scotland, October 12, 1862. Kilwinning is one of the oldest towns in Scotland, and has helped to make the history of that country. It is also known as the home of Scottish Rite Ma- sonry, for here is located lodge No. o of that order, Edinburg, the capitol, coming next with No. I. One mile from Edinburg on the shores of the At- lantic ocean, is the largest explosive factory in thft world, and more than once the old town has been shaken to its very foundation and hundreds of lives lost by the explosion, which occurs at all works of this kind, either sooner or later. Ten miles south from Kilwinning and two miles north of Ayr, the county seat, is the cottage, where on January 25, :236 HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY. TRENTON MINING PLANT 1759, Robert Burns was born. Although this cot- tage is modest in appearance and architecture, its walls are built of brown sandstone that is taken from the hills close by and it is said there is no sandstone produced anywhere to ecjual it, and with its white- washed walls and thatched roof it looks like it will be good for many generations to come. Mr. AUardice came to America, landing in Pa., in 1881. He worked in the mines of West Virginia for a time, coming to Trenton in 1883, when he began work for the Trenton ]\Iining Co. He was made manager of the company in 1905, and since 1908 has been secretary and manager. Mr. AUardice was married to Minnie W. Myers, in this city, October 20, 1887. They have two children, Wm. A., born November 2^, 1889 an'^ Minnie May, February 2, 1892. A full account of the institution managed by Mr. AUardice is given in another part of this vol- HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY. 231 CHARLES ADDISON, son of Edward and Emeline (Leaf) Addison, was born in Macon County, Illinois, September 7, 1852. He now lives two and a half miles north of Dunlap. His parents left Illinois in 1856, coming to Macon county, Mis- souri. They came from that county to Grundy in 1861. Mr. Addison was married December 25, 1872, to Ellen George. Three children were born to this union, two of whom survive. Emma, born Decem- ber 13, 1874, and Ethel, born November 2, 1884. Elmer, born October 22, 1877, died }^Iarch 12, 1882. Mr. Addison was raised on the farm he now owns, a beautiful little farm of eighty acres, well improved. He has followed farming and stock rais- ing for a long time, and for a number of years bought and shipped stock extensively. He w^as pro- prietor of the Dunlap hotel for two years. The father of Air. Addison was born in New York, and his mother in Pennsylvania. Emma, the elder daughter of Mr. Addison and his estimable wife, was married to W. H. Holloway, January i, 1894. The younger daughter, Ethel, w^as married to Lee I. Evans, April 18, 1904. Mr. Addison is a Republican and takes an active interest in politics. GEORGE M. ANDERSON, son of W. C. and Mary A. (Myers) Anderson, was born in Liberty township, April 23, 1876. After completing a com- mon school course he attended the Chillicothe Nor- 238 HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY. mal, and Avalon college, Trenton. He was mar- ried September 7, 1904. to Miss Osceola Koon. Two children have been born to them : P. Crawford, July 24, 1905, and Amber L., born January 3, 1907. P. Crawford, an unusually bright little boy, died after a week's illness, June 29, 1908. Mr. Anderson was elected clerk and assessor of Myers township in 1903, and made a very popular official. He is a member of the K. of P. and I. O. O. F. Mrs. Anderson is a daughter of Elias B. and Nancy R. Koon. Her father died March 7, 1886. Her mother still resides on the old home place in Myers township, where she has lived since 1870. The family came to this county from Virginia. Mr. Anderson's farm is located on Gait R. F. D. number one. He deals extensively in live stock and is a breeder of O. I. C. hogs, having one of the best herds of that breed in this part of the state. In politics he is a Democrat. HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY. 239 CHARLES E. BANTA, (deceased), was born in Montgomery County, Indiana, September 12, 1854. His parents were W. R. and Hester (Budd) Banta. He was married to Mary R. Metcalf, Sep- tember 16, 1875. Nine children were born to this union: Ida, August 27, 1876; Eva, November 17, 1878; Fred, March 27, 1881 ; Maud, December 28, 1884; Grace, February 17, 1888; Floyd, November 15, 1891 ; Howard, February 27, 1893; Emmet, De- cember 13, 1896; an infant born July 10, 1886, died March 14, 1887. Mr. Banta was raised on the old Banta farm south of Dunlap. He followed farming for awhile, then went into the creamery business. He moved to Dunlap in April, 1901, and was appointed mail •carrier for route one the next year, which position he held until his death. He was stricken with typhoid fever July 20, 1908, and died after a lingering illness of five weeks •duration. Mr. Banta was an honored member of M. W. A., and a good citizen. His remains were laid to rest in Rural Dale cemetery, August 26, 1908. MRS. PEARL BANTA, daughter of J. P. and Maria (Luke) Cox, was born in this county Octo- ber 7, 1880. She now lives at Dunlap, Missouri. Miss Cox was married to Fred Banta, September 5, 1903. They have one child, Maurice Banta. born in 1904. Mrs. Banta was raised on a farm. She follow- •€d school teaching for a number of years, and is in- •terested in all educational work. She is at present 240 HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY. HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY. 241 correspondent for the Yeomen lodge at Dunlap and is a member of the Baptist churcli. H. J. BAIN, city attorney, is a son of O. G. and Rosa (Briinson) Bain. He was born near Trenton, Sept. 9, 1879. After graduating in the Trenton High school, J\Ir. Bain attended the state university, graduating in the law department in 1901. He was married to Miss Fern Hubbird, June 1 6th, 1 90S. On completing a four years academic course Mr. Bain graduated in the law department of the university and returned to Trenton in 1901. He formed a partnership with his father under the firm name of O. G. Bain and Son, in the practice of his profession, after his graduation from the law school. Mr. Bain is a Republican and takes an active interest in politic:^. He was elected city at- torney in 1905 after a spectacular campaign, and re-elected without opposition in 1907. O. G. BAIN, a son of Jesse and Katherine (Ogletree) Bain, pioneer settlers of Grundy County was born in what is now Lincoln township, a mile east of the present site of Tindall, January 4th, 1 8 so. ^Ir. Bain's father came to this county in Mr. Bain received his education in the coun- try schools and in the Trenton school. He was married to Rosa Brunson, Feb. 14, 1878. They have one son, H. J., born Sept. 9th, 1879. Another, El- don, was born Sept. i, 1881. :~242 HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUXTY. When Mr. Bain, Sr., came to this county, the land was not yet oj)en to entry, and the survey "\vas just l)eing made. (). Ci. was born on huid entered by his father, and hved on that farm until twenty-eight years old. lie taugiit school for seven years, in the meantime reading law at night, and was admitted to the bar while teaching. In 1878 lie took up the practice of law in Spickard, coming to Trenton at the end of two years. He was elected prosecuting attorney in 1SS4. After the expiration of his term of office he was not again a candidate imtil 1890, when he was elected and re-elected in i[892. He was for a number of years chairman of tthe Republican county central committee. Mr. Bain makes a specialty of criminal law. Since June, 1901, he has ]:een in partnership with ^liis son, H. I. Bain. EDWARD N, BAKER. EDWARD N. BAKER a son of Henry and Susie E. Baker, was liorn at Enisburg, Vt., Nov. 22, 1880. He left that state with his parents when 3Dut tw^o years old, going to Kansas wdiere he lived HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY. 243 until 1890, moving then to Kingfisher, Okla., where they Hvcd five years. They then came to Missouri, setthng near Holt, where Mr. Baker lived until 1896 when he came to Trenton and on June 7, 1906, in connection with A. L. Broyles, bought the photo- graph business belonging to J. A. Alleshouse. A few weeks later he bought out his partner's interest and has since conducted the business himself with great success. He was united in marriage January 15, 1907, to Miss Blanche Cooper. They have one child, Bernie Imogene, born March 14, 1908. CLAUDE J. BAIN, son of P. W. and Angeline (Linney) Bain, was born on a farm near Tindall, October 7, 1872. He lived on the farm for ten years, when he came with his parents to Trenton, where he has since lived. He went from the Tren- ton High school to the Missouri State University. He was admitted to the bar in August, 1894, and at once took up the practice of law. He was elected city attorney of Trenton in 1900, and two years later was elected prosecuting attorney of Grundy County. He was re-elected to this office in 1904. At the expiration of his term he retired to private practice. In addition to his law business Mr. Bain is also largely interested in the telephone industry in Grundy County and North Missouri, being presi- dent of the Trenton Telephone Company. Mr. Bain was married to Maude L. Gessler, June 28, 189S. They have one child, Willard S., born October 13, 1900. 244 HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY. C. J. BAIN HISTORY OF GRUXDY COUNTY. 245 DR. D. T. BAILEY was born in Trenton, Dec. i8, 1874. He is a son of the late James M. Bailey, one of Trenton's pioneer merchants. \\ ith him lives his mother, whose maiden name was Dobbins, and who comes of one of the first pioneer families. Dr. Bailey was married to Miss Emma Kar- ner, of Cleveland, Ohio, August i, 1898. They have two children; Lucian, born Feb. 23, 1900; and Ken- neth K., born June 4th, 1903. Dr. Bailey's boyhood was spent in Trenton. At sixteen he entered Oberlin College, Ohio, where he remained three years, taking academic work. Following this he continued his academic work) in Chicago University one year, taking up the study of medicine later. He also took a course at the Marine Biological Laboratory at Woods Hall, Mass., where he became expert in the use of the microscope. In 1896 Dr. Bailc}' entered the medical de- partment of the Ohio Wesleyan University, at Cleveland, graduating therefrom in 1900. He then took up the practice of his profession in his old home, Trenton, wdiere he has since remained. In 1903 he took a post graduate course in the Post Graduate College and Hospital of New York, mak- ing a specialty of pathology and surgery. He has a well equipped office and keeps in line with the progress of his profession. Dr. Bailey is a member of various medical and fraternal societies, including the Masons, Elks, Eagles, Modern Woodmen and Knights and La- dies of Securitv. 246 HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY. DR. D. T. BAILEY. HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY. 247 |. C. IjARR is a son of James C. and Lydia (Knight) Barr. He was born in Grundy County, February 9th, 1864. After completing the common school course, he attended the Kirksville Normal. Mr. Barr was married to Maude Miller, Sept. 5, iS(S(j. Thev have no children. He taught school in this county for fifteen: years, at Lindley, Laredo, and other places. He was clerk and assessor of Marion township from 1892 to 1896. ]Mr. Barr is an active working Re- publican, a party leader, and is the postmaster of Laredo which office he has held since 1907. He likes a good dog, and has a fine pack of fox hounds.. He is a member of the 1. O. O. F., Eagles and M. W. A. Mr. Barr's parents were among the very early settlers of this county. His father was born in Ohio in 1822, and died in 1899. His mother, a daughter of Samuel Knight, was born in Ohio in 1837 and died in April, 1902. \\'. D. BEXGE, son of Aaron and Elizabeth Benge, was born at Centerville, la., March 10, 1877. He now^ resides in Trenton, where he has l)een con- ducting a meat market lousiness since 1905. AJr. Benge was educated in the Trenton schools. He married Linnie Thomps(3n, l^ec. 29, 1902. They ha\-e no children. ]\Ir. Benge came to Trenton with his parents when four vears old. He worked for a time with Irvin Dunlap, then with George Owens, then with Wm. Dummler, in the meat market business, going" 248 HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY. into business for himself Thanksgiving-, 1905. In January, 1906, he moved into his present location. He keeps six men employed, and has built up an extensive business, selling canned goods and bak- ers goods as well as meat. JAMES N. BENNETT, a son of Natley and Evaline Bennett, was 1x)rn in Grundy County, Nov. II, 1850. He married Alice Sweetman, March 26, 1876. They have had six children, four of whom died in infancy. Of the other two, Melissa, born June 20th, 1878, married Charles Wilson of West Plains. Myrtle, born October 29th, 1883, married Ray Robbins of west of Spickards. Mr. Bennett has lived all his life in Grundy County, and has devoted his attention to farming and stock raising until recently, when he rented his farm west of Spickards and moved to that citv where he now lives. REV. J. B. BENTON, a Kentuckian by birth, is a son of W. T. and Elizabeth (Jarvis) Benton. He was born April 29, 1870. He was married to Myrtle Cooke, daughter of Hon. W. H. Cooke, June 12, 1900. Mr. Benton lived on a farm until grown, when he went to Bethel College at Russelville, Ky. Here he graduated, receiving an A. B. and afterward an A. M. degree. The same institution conferred upon him the honorary degree of D. D. in 1907, after he had come to Trenton. Upon graduating from Bethel College in 1896, Mr. Benton spent HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY. 249 three years in the Louisville Theological Seminary, where he received the degree JNIaster of Theology. He was pastor of several country churches while a student, and was for five years pastor of the Baptist church at Smith's Grove, Ky. While Jiere he built a $10,000 church. He was also pastor of the church at Adairville, Ky., where he built a ■$2,000 parsonage. From there he came to Tren- ton in 1904. During his pastorate of the Baptist church here a fine $25,000 building has been erect- ed and nearly three hundred additions have been made to the church. The children of Rev. and Mrs. Benton are _Estella, born June 6, 1902; Wm. Cooke, born April 15th, 1904; J. B. jr., born Nov. 26, 1906. FRED A. BERRY, son of L. C. and Mary L. (Wescoat,) Berry, lives in Myers township, five miles north of Gait, on R. F. D. route one. He was born near his present home, April i, 1S77. His education was received in the common schools, in the Kirksville State Normal, and Ruskin college, at Trenton. Mr. Berry was married April i, 1905, to Miss Kate B. Best. They have one child, Gerald L., born September 7, 1906. Mrs. Berry is a daughter of C. B. and Martha Best, two good Grundy County citi- -zens. Mr. Berry has been engaged in farming and -Stock raising all of his life. He now owns a fine farm of 120 acres, on one of the beautiful 250 HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUXTY. prairies of 3>]}-ers township, well stocked, with a modern home and modern improvements. He is a good, proi>-re'R(A\'X'S father is L. AI. Brown, now of Ciallatin, formerly a banker in this city and one of the organizers of the Farmer's Ex- change l)ank. Herbert \vas born at Jameson, Sept. iS, iS.Sj. He was educated in the public schools and in the Alissouri State University. Air. I'rown was married to Aiiss I^)lanche Shanklin, of Trenton, A lay 10, 1906. Air. Brown came with his parents to Trenton in 1901. In 1902, on his return from school, he went into the hardware business in Trenton, be- HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY. 251 coming a partner of G. A. Easterday in the Trenton Hardware Company. Mr. Brown bought ^Ir. Easterday 's interest in the luisiness January i, 1908, since which time he has maintained entire control of the store. HARX'EY BROW NINO is the son of Robert and Ehza1)eth (Hedrix) Browning, who are among the best and most influential people of Myers town- ship. He was born in Myers township, March 2, 1879. He now hves on R. F. D. numl^er one, four miles north of Gak, ^^•here he owns a vcvy produc- tive and well stocked httle farm, and a good home. ]\]r. l]rowning was married March 5, 1902, tO' Miss Lizzie C. Briegel. Five children have l^een born to them, four of whom are living. They are: Floyd H., ])orn Deceml^er 10, 1902; Oral \\'., born August 3, 1904; Albert E., born March 17, 1906, and Leta, born February 3, 1908. Betha, born Fel^ruary 3, 1908, died Fel^ruary 6, of that year. ^Irs. Browning is of German parentage. Her parents, Adam and Louise Briegel, are old and sub- stantial citizens of this county. JNIrs. Briegel was born and educated in Franklin township, this C(mnty. She and her husband are active workers in the Christian church and Sunday school. 'Sir. Ih-owning is a member of the Yeoman lodge, Half Rock Homestead 1205. He is a Repub- lican ill |)0'itics. JUDGE A. H. BURKEHOLDER traces his ancestrv back one hundred and fiftv vears and finds :252 HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY. them all Pennsylvanians. Joseph Latshaw Burke- holder, his father, was too young to enter the war of 1812, and too old for service in the civil war. His mother, whose maiden name was Barbara Harmon, was born on what later became the famous battle- field of Gettysburg. Abraham Hudson Burkeholder was born June 27, 1835, at Dillsburg, York County, Pennsyl- vania. At Newport, Pennsylvania, where his par- ents had moved in his fourth year, he attended common school and at nineteen he began the battle of life for himself. He successively became boat driver, bowman and steersman on the Jaunita and Susquehanna canal. After a few months of this work he was taken with malarial fever, from which he recovered in about a year and then entered the Markleville Normal Institute, where he remained until he graduated, receiving second honors in his ■class. By teaching school and other labors he paid for his education and after graduation he took up the reading of law. He was admitted to the bar in 1862. On December 25, 1862, he married Miss Rebecca Ada Waltner of Putnam County, Ohio. Six children were born to them, three of whom died in infancy. Those living are : Poe, an employee of the Rock Island; Norton, cashier of a bank at Spickards; and Bliss, a teacher in the Trenton :Schools, Judge Burkeholder enlisted for the Union cause :in 1863 ^"d served until the end of the war, becom- :ing quartermaster for his regiment, the One Hun- HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY. 25S' dred and Seventy-Xinth volunteer infantry. At the close of the war he came to Trenton and took up the practice of law, being elected judge of the pro- bate court, and ex-officio member of the county court in 1866, on the Republican ticket, serving to 1870. He was thus president of that court when $200,000 bonds were voted and issued for the Q., C. & D. railroad, and was to a degree instrumental in finally securing the C, R. I. & P. railroad. In 1872 he was elected prosecuting attorney, he having been appointed to this office on the expiration of his term as probate judge, and in 1876 state senator. As a legislator Judge Burkeholder was an industri- ous and influental worker. As soon as his term expired he resumed the practice of law. In 1888 he was presidential elector, and in 1892 he was the Republican nominee for congress from this district, materially reducing the great Democratic majority. Air. Burkeholder has always taken an active in- terest in everything tending to promote the progress of this city and community, taking a prominent part in religious and educational as well as political af- fairs. He has been a member of the Baptist church since 1867, and was one of the board of trustees for Grand River college from 1875 to 1886. He has served many years on the school board. He has been an Odd Fellow for fifty years, and in 1891 was one of the degree staff to win a prize offered by the sovereign grand lodge. He is also a Mason, and' a prominent member of the G. A. R. Mr. Burke- holder is actively engaged in office business and 254 HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY. doing the work of an office lawyer since he sold his law Hbrary five years ago. WALTER W. BRUlMMITT was born May 14th, 1871, five miles south of Trenton. He stayed on the farm with his parents until the spring of 1 89 1, when he went to Portland, Oregon, return- ing to Missouri in the spring of 1892. He was mar- ried to Loretta Jones, May 29th, 1892. From this date until 1898 he lived on the farm. He was ap- pointed local agent for the Standard Oil Company in 1899, which position he still holds. Since 1898 Mr. and Mrs. Brummitt have lived in Trenton. Mr. and JVIrs. Brummitt have had five children; Charley F., Jesse \Y., V^n C, Leon, and L. D. Brummitt. FRED C. BURRILL is a son of Stephen and Camelia (Conant) Burrill. He was born in Spring- field, 111., September 2(;, 1869. He was married to Miss Lillie Collier, daughter of Win. Collier, Oct. 5, 1894. They have three children; Ma1)el C, born June I/, 1895; Nellie K., b.orn January 2t^, 1897; and Forrest C, born January nth, 1899. Mr. Burrill left Illinois with his parents when ten years old, coming to Brookfield where they re- mained four years, moving from there to Trenton. When grown Mr. Biu*rill went to his old home in Springfield and worked at the i)rinter's trade, going to work for the Republican when sixteen years old. On his return from Illinois Mr. Bur- rill bought a half interest in the Spickards Gazette and was one of the pulilishers of that ])aper for two vears. He then came to Trenton and was HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY. 256 foreman of the Tribune under C. D. Morris. For several years he has been a mail carrier on one of the rural routes. Mr. and Mrs. Burr ill are members of ithe Christian church, and take a very active part in church affairs. He is secretary of the rural mail carriers organization, an Odd Fellow of high ■standing, and a member of the M. W. A. JAMES BUREN CARNES, one of the foremost citizens in the history of Trenton Avas born in Daviess county, Missouri, De- cember 4, 1846, and died at his home, in Trenton, April . 24th, 1908. l^^e was the sol of Thomas R. and Anna (Perry) Carnes, a promi- nent family in the history of the county. Mr. Carnes was married to Miss Laura Austin February 16, 1875. Seven children were born to them, of whom the following six survive : James T., Jewett Norris, Austin Kenneth, George Smith, Elizabeth Harber Carnes, and ]\Irs. Anna Austin Range, wife of C. E. Range. During his business career, Mr. Carnes accu- muhted considerable property, including Trenton and Grundy county real estate, bank stock, and min- ing interests in the West. He was reared near Edinburg, and educated in Grand River College. "The following excerpt from an article printed in the Republican-Tribune on the day of his death, gives an accurate review of his character and career. "Few men of IMr. Carnes' prominence in fi- nance and public affairs have been so retiring. He JAS. B. CARNES. HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY 25T avoided titles or publicity; seldom came before the public and was always in the background of the: great enterprises he promoted. Though active po- litically, he never held nor sought an office. Though? a man of large interests, his name seldom appeared! in the propaganda of any enterprise. For this reas- on his achievements are best known to those closest to him, among men who were high up in the world' of finance, mining and railroading. He was a life- long friend of M. A. Low of Topeka, and was as- sociated with him in a number of business enter- prises. It was through IMr. Carnes that Mr. Low made many investments here, and on his advice that he always relied for handling them. For many years Mr. Carnes has served as live stock agent for the Rock Island Company, a position that kept him in active touch w'ith the officials of that rail- road, and by whom he was regarded as a man of un- usual business capacity. He was for years a large stockholder and di- rector of the Citizens State Bank, and was one of the original Grundy County Coal Company, w^hich developed the first mines in Trenton. He was alsos' prominent in the afifairs of the local electric light company, and furnished n:uch of the capital that led to its final development. Being a stock raiser himself, and a lifelong- buyer and shipper, he was in close touch with the farmers and breeders of the county. In addition to his other business, he has for years, maintained a- local shipping business, the same being now^ run in the name of Carnes & Brown. General Crowder, formerlv of this count v, in 258 HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY a letter concerning the death of Mr. Carnes, says: *'It was indeed a heavy loss to his family, his home town and to the state in which he lived. I have al- ways had a great respect for the rugged pioneer element of our western people which dealt with the primitive conditions of life which environed the earlier development of the country, helped to battle them down, and established the new and better con- tions which now exist. There were always a few leading spirits in every community upon which pro- gress depended. James was conspicuous among these, and few, if any, contributed more than he." AMLLIAM BENTON CARPENTER is the son of Rufus K. and Sarah (Aloore) Carpenter. The former was born in Kentucky, the latter in Missouri. W. B. was born in Lincoln township, Grundy county, November 28, 1869. After fin- ishing the public school course he attended the Kirksville Normal. On March 26, 1893, he was married to Miss Dora M. Fisher of this county. They have two cliildren: Bessie Allene, and Marie. sir. Carpente-r lived on a farm until 1S8S. He then entered the Kirksville Normal. After leav- ing school, he taught five terms and then engaged in the mercantile business at Half Rock and Dunlap. He organized the Dunlap bank and is now president of that institution. He is connected with a number of mercantile, financial and manufacturing enter- prises. For the last ten years he has been an auctioneer. Mr. Carpenter is tlie founder of the Missouri Auction School. It is an unicjue institution, prob- HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY 259 ably the most successful of its kind in the world, and has the largest enrollment of any school of its kind in the United States. It draws students from all parts of the Union, and last term had one from Scotland. Mr. Carpenter is a Republican, a Christian, and a member of the K. of P. and Yi. \Y. A. orders. JOHN E. CARTER. JOHN E. CARTER, county treasurer, w^as born in Indiana in 1836 and came to Grundy County in 1856. Until the civil war he was a blacksmith. He volunteered in King's battalion as musician, and was later captain of Company E, Thirtieth E. M. M. In 1864 he bought the plant of the Grand River News, a weekly publication, which he conducted for about six months, then resuming his old trade until 260 HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY 1879. After a year's experience as a traveling salesman, he became editor of the Trenton Star, giving up this position in 1881 on taking office as county treasurer, serving two terms. After an in- terval spent in the hardware and furniture busi- ness, Mr. Carter was elected to the legislature in 1 89 1 and re-elected in 1893. He was on the clerical force of the thirty-eighth general assembly, was elected to the legislature in 1900 and 1902 and was doorkeeper of the forty-third general assembly. He was elected county treasurer in 1904, re-elected in 1906 and again in 1908. Mr. Carter was married in i860 to Miss Alary Wethered of near Trenton. They are the parents of six children. Mr. Carter has perhaps the widest acquaintance in Grundy County of any living man. Aside from his newspaper work previously men- tioned he has traveled over the county as solic- itor and correspondent for the Trenton Republican, thus extending his wide acquaintance. He is a ready writer as will be seen from his reminiscences in another cha])ter of this book. \MLLIAM CATE, son of Silas W. and Nancy (Self) Cate, was born in Floyd County, Indiana, September 30, 1853. He w-as killed in June, 1909, by the accidental discharge of a gun. Mr. Cate was married to Estella E. Ritchie, Au- gust 25, 1878. They have had five children: Roy R., born July 2>>, 1879, died July zy, 1880; ]Mary B., born February 12, 1881 ; Nora A., born April 15, 1883; Ruth A., born March 2;^, 1894, and Wil- liam C, born December 2/, 1897. HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY 261 Mr. Gate was brought up on a farm. He lived three years in Iowa and twenty years in Nebraska, coming to Missouri j\Iarch i, 1902. He owned a well stocked, well improved farm of three hundred acres, located near Dunlap. Mr. Gate was a gentleman of firm moral con- victions, a staunch advocate of temperance. He and Mrs. Gate w^ere members of the A. O. U. W., mem- bers of the Baptist church and Sunday school work- ers. GLAUDE GHALFANT, wdio lives on a fine 160-acre farm in one of the prairies of the eastern part of Myers township, was born in Kirksville, November 13, 1877. He is the son of Glark and Alice (Milstead) Ghalfant. After finishing the common school course Mr. Ghalfant took a course in Humphreys college. He w^as married to Miss Maggie Fisher October 30, 1898. They have three children, Glifton, born October 16, 1899; Betha, born July 16, 1901, and Helen, born January 2, 1908. Mr. Ghalfant clerked in a store for some time, but during the greater part of his life he has been engaged in farming. He is a straightforward young man, full of push and energy. He is a Re- publican, and takes considerable interest in politics. Mrs. Ghalfant is the daughter of W. D. and Mary Fisher. Her mother belonged to the Haley family, one of the oldest and most influential families in the country. The farm on which Mr. Ghalfant lives is seven miles north of Gait, on R. F. D. number one. 262 HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY W. N. COLLEY, is a son of E. W. and Mary Colley, the latter being a AlcCulley l^efore her mar- riage. Mr. Colley was born at Cambridge, Ohio, February it,, 1864; he now lives in Myers town- ship. On the 1 6th of September, 1890, he was mar- ried to Miss Annie Harris. They have two chil- dren, \V. E., born February 24, 1888; and Odessa, born December 12, 1893. Mr. Colley has spent the greater part of his life in farming and stockraising. He is among the leading citizens of Myers township, a Demo- crat and takes an active interest in politics, being one of the leaders of his party in this county. LUTHER COLLIER is a son of WilHam and Susan Collier, some of Trenton's first and best peo- ple. They came from Kentucky to Missouri in 1827^ and Luther was born in Fayette, Howard County, June 19, 1842. William Collier built Grundy County's first court house, a description of which is given elsewhere in this book. Mr. Collier has been married three tmies. To Martha B. Carter, sister of J. E. Carter, March 2y, 1862, who died in 1878 ; Fannie C. Brawner of Clin- ton County, October 29, 1879, who died in 1893; Alexia W. Marshall of Clay County, his present wife, February 28, 1895. ^'^ children are, Annie D. wife of C. M. Brawner of Converse, Missouri; Oscar L., of Spokane, Washington; Kitty, wife of Charles Mason, Trenton; Jewett of Trenton; Luther C, of Colwell, Kansas; Leland H., a medi- cal student; Cora B., wife of B. C. Biggerstaff, Maryville, Mo. ; Joseph N., stenographer for Rock HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY 263 Island; Susie, in Chicasha, Oklahoma; Woodson E. and John W., at home. Mr. and Mrs. Collier are active members of the Christian church, Mr. Collier having been for a long time president of the official board. He takes great interest in educational affairs, and has for fifteen consecutive years been a member of the school board. Politically he is a Republican, and has for years been an influential factor in local poli- tics. Air. Collier was a school teacher when the war broke out, resigning his position to enlist. He was in active service during almost the entire war, tak- ing part in a number of engagements, and was with Sherman on his march to the sea. Shortly after the close of the war he was made deputy clerk, serv- ing during the year 1868 after which he began the study of law. He opened an office in Trenton for the practice of his profession in 1871. He has served as justice of the peace, fourteen years as clerk and attorney for the city, and one term as mayor. For the past five years Lesley P. Robinson has been associated with him in the real estate, loan and insurance business. Mr. Collier does a great deal of work as an abstractor. HARDY H. CLOYD was born in Hastings, Neb., August 26, 1881. He completed his education in the University of Nebraska, taking both techni- cal and academic courses. Mr. Cloyd was married to Miss Frankie Coon, daughter of Dr. Coon, of Trenton, March 15, 1904. Mr. Cloyd went from Hastings to St. Edwards 264 HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY. Neb., when nineteen years old. Before leaving lliome he installed at Hastings an electric light plant which is still in operation. At St. Edwards, Neb., he put in an electric light plant, and at Albion was superintendent of the electric light company. He .installed plants at Humphreys, Fullerton, Stans- .berr}^ Okmulgee and various other places. Mr. -Cloyd came to Trenton in 1904 and since that time has been manager of the Trenton light and power company. JOHN COLLINS, the son of Henry and Mary Collins, was born in Wayne County, la., March 23rd, 1 868. He was married to Laura B. Inman of Trenton, July 21,1 889. Mr. Collins lived in Iowa until seventeen years old, W'hen he came to Trenton, which city has since been his home. He was for a considerable time railroading for the Rock Island and afterwards worked in the mills in Trenton. ]\Ir. Collins w^as elected night police in 1905, and served tw^o years, at the end of which time he was elected marshal. He is now serving in the latter capacity, being re- elected b}' a large majority in the spring of 1909. U. S. COOKSEY, son of J. S. and Mary A. (Minor) Cooksey, was born in Saline County, Illi- nois, January 23, 1867. He now lives four miles west of Gait, on rural route number three. His education was completed in the Kirksville State Normal, where he completed the two years course. Mr. Cooksey w^as married February 22, 1893, to Miss Clara B. Babb. They have two children, HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY 265 Kclna L., born November i, i SAMUEL HILL. Stephen R., Samuel, jr.; and Richard Peery Hill. Mr. Hill read law and was admitted to the bar in 1890. He was elected Judge of the Probate court in 1890 and served two terms. He was then engaged in law and real estate and loan business until 1902, when he was elected Recorder of Deeds. He is now serving his second term in that office. Mr. Hill is considered a shrewd, wide-awake politician, and is an excellent public speaker. His speeches abound in dry keen wit, and epigram, and in forceful logic. His official record is above criti- cism. 300 HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY. GEORGE H. HUBBELL, prosecuting at- torney of Grundy county, was born May 24, 1878. He is a grandson of the late Major George H. Hub- bell, one of the biggest men intellectually that ever lived in the county. The prosecuting attorney is himself a big man physically, and not small men- tally. He is a good mixer, and in campaigning, has many points of resemblance to his noted grand- father. Mr. Hubbell is a son of Loring G. and Nannie M. Hubbell. He graduated at Avalon College in the class of 1897; taught school four years, two in the county and two as principal of a ward school in Trenton. In the meantime he was studying law, and resigned his position in the city schools to form a law partnership with his brother, Piatt, which partnership has proven very successful. He was married in October, 1907, to Miss Essie Barnes, of Trenton. In 1905, ]\Ir. Hubbell made the race for city attorney against H. J. Bain, and after a very ex- citing campaign, was defeated by five votes. The next year he participated in a very warm three- cornered fight for the office of prosecuting attor- ney, and won by an overwhelming majority and w^as re-elected in 1908. He is the only Republican in the Hubbell family, his brother being now, and his grandfather having been a Democratic leader. JAMES TAYLOR HUDSON, the son of J. M. and Nancy Hudson who were prominent in the early annals of the county, was born at the Hudson HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY. 301 farm near Half Rock, Oct. 31, 1875. After com- pleting a public school course he attended school for some time at Avalon College. He was married Oct. 16, 1904, to Miss Hallie Hubbell of Trenton, a sister of Piatt and George Hubbell. He is Republi- can in politics. Mr. Hudson lived on the old home farm until 1900, from that time until 1902 serving as deputy county clerk under John Schooler. From 1902 to 1905 he traveled in the west, especially Colorado and Texas. In 1905 he accepted a position as as- sistant cashier of the Citizens State Bank of Tren- ton, resigning that position to become cashier of an Altamont bank. He is at present salesman and district manager for a Kansas City hardware manufacturing company. Mr. Hudson now lives in Altamont. U. G. HUMPHREYS is a son of Judge Mar- shall Humphreys and Eliza Humphreys. His father was very prominent in the county years ago, and his mother was a member of the Haley family, which was one of the most influential families of early times in this and Sullivan Counties. Mr. Humphreys was born in i8.36. Pie at- tended the Lindley High school, a highly creditable institution in its day, and later graduated at the Ivirksville State Normal. He also completed a bus- iness course at the Gem City Business college. Mr. Humphreys was married to ^.'iss i\[attie B. Planna, of Kirksville, September 21, 18S7. They have one child, Eugene, a gentlemanly young man who grad- uated last year, 1908, at the Kirksville Normal. Eugene Himphrtjs. Hcn.e of U. G. Humphreys. HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY. 303 Mr. Humphreys was in the mercantile business in Gait for five years. Since retiring from that business his attention has been given chiefly to the management of his fine farm, which extends to the suburbs of the city of Gait. Mr. Humphreys handles considerable live stock. He is a Republican in poli- tics, and all the family are active workers in the M. E. church. W. H. HUMPHREYS was born at Lindley, Mo., December 2nd, i86S. He is a son of Marshall and Eliza A. (Haley) Humphreys. He was educated in the Gait high school and the Chillicothe Normal. He is also a graduate of the American school of correspondence, having completed their course in architecture and engineering and is a skilled ar- chitect. Mr. Humphreys was married to Miss Nettie A. Cooper, March 7, 1888. They have two chil- dren, Grace E., born February 2, 1889, and Wal- ter A., born March 24th, 1890. The former was married to J. E. Ford, December 31, 1907. Mr. Humphreys has real estate and business interests in Gait and elsewhere. He devotes the greater part of his attention to farming, and stock raising. He has a large farm extending from the suburbs of Gait southward, and a fine home just out side of the city limits. Mr. Humphreys is Republican in politics and a member of the Masonic lodge at Gait. Mrs. Humphreys is the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. J. A. Cooper, well known in Grundy County. 304 HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY. Mr. Cooper died in 1902. Mrs. Cooper lives in Gait. WILLIAM R. JACIvSON. W^ILLI A^I R. JACKSOX, son of William and Lyda (Brock) Jackson, was born in London, Laurel County, Kentucky, June nth, 1S36. He was mar- ried to Julia Williams, from Dublin, Ireland, 1862. Eight children were born to them ; G. T., born June 23rd, 1867; Mary E., born June 15th, 1869; Dora A., born August 13th, 1871, who died when six years old; Ed L., born May 15th, 1874; William W., born September ist, 1876; Robert E., born June HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY 305 22nd, 1878; DolHe, born July 22nd, 1880, died.' August 2nd, 1881 ; Mollie, born July 23rd, 1882, died August i8th, 1883. Mrs. Jackson died Janu- ary 9, 1884. William R. Jackson entered the last 160 acres of land in Grundy county, a tract lying about two and one half miles southwest of Gait. He bought his present farm of one hundred and forty acres about four and one half miles north of Gait in the fall of 1867 and has lived on it al- most continuously since that date. jMr. Jackson enlisted in the Union army August 1 8th, 1 86 1, and served until August 1865, when he was honorably discharged. He was wounded in the battle of Shiloh ; fought with Sherman and was with him in his march to the sea, and in the latter part of the war served as sergeant in Company C, 1 8th, jMissouri Vet. Vol. Before the days of the railroad he hauled merchandise from Bruns- wick to Trenton with an ox team. He is a Republi- can in politics. WM. W. JACKSON, son of Wm. R. and Julia Jackson, was born near Gait, Missouri, not far from where he now lives Sept. i, 1876. He was married March 17, 1903, to Miss Lettie L. Smith, a very popular young school teacher. They have one child, Veva. Mr. Jackson is a very successful farmer and owns 100 acres 4 miles northwest of Gait, and is devoted to his occupation. He is a Re- publican in politics. MR. AND MRS. W. VV. JACKSON. HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY. 307 ROBERT F. JACKSON, son of William R., and Julia (Williams) Jackson, a good old Grundy County family, was born on the Jackson farm four and one-half miles northwest of Gait June 22, 1878. He now resides near Dunlap. Mr. Jackson was married to Miss Allie Bell McAfee January 28th, 1900. They have two children; Meurl, born Sep- tember 20th, 1 90 1, and William Kenneth, born De- cember 31th, 1904. Mr. Jackson was raised on a farm and spent the earlier part of his life in the occupation of farm- er and stockraiser. Some years ago he took up the work of painting and decorating in which he at once achieved success. He is an excellent painter and decorator and there is a large demand for his services. He is a Republican in politics. Mrs. Jackson is a daughter of Robert and Mar- garet S. McAfee. Her father was a native of Ken- tucky, her mother was born in Iowa. Mr. McAfee died January 24th, 1904; Mrs. McAfee died De- cember 1 6th, 1907. WM. H. JOHNSON was born in Trenton, where he now lives, October 8th, 1869. He has made this city his home all his life. For ten years Mr. Johnson railroaded on the Rock Island, going from that position to the night police force, in 1902, being appointed by Mayor Wettstein. He also served a year as deputy sheriff under the late Sher- iff Estes. He is a Republican in politics. Mr. Johnson is a carpenter by trade, and is now engaged in that profession and conducts a repair shop, also performing the duties of night policeman, 308 HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY. to which position he was appointed by Mayor Wil- liams, SAMUEL S. KELSO was born in Grundy County, near Tindall, October loth, 1863. He lived on a farm until 1884, when he came to Trenton and read law with O. G. Bain. He was admitted to the bar in 1886, and has continued a general law practice since that time. Mr. Kelso was elected justice of the peace for Trenton township in 1890, and re-elected at the expiration of his term. He was elected police judge in 1900, and served eight years in that capacity and was re-elected in 1909. He was also assistant prosecuting attorney under O. G. Bain. In addition to his law practice Mr. Kelso de- votes much of his time to writing fire and tornado insurance. A. C. KNIGHT is a son of Galeb B. and Mary M. Knight. He was born near Dunlap, Feb. 6th, 1863. He attended the common schools, the Trenton High school, and the State University. Mr. Knight was married January ist, 1891, to Miss Jessie G. Hill. They have three children, Martineau, Samuel and Ashley G. Mr. Knight was admitted to the bar in 1884, and since that time has practiced law. He was city attorney from 1885 to 1887, and prosecuting attorney from 1887 to 1891. In January 1891 he formed a partnership with Col. E. M. Harber, which partnership lasted until March ist, 1906. The firm of Harber & Knight attained great promin- HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY 309 ence throughout the state, each partner thereof being inimitable in his way. Mr. Knight is a man of brilhant parts, and one of the best extemporaneous speakers in the land. His quick wit, his ready command of lan- guage, and his power of appealing to the sympathies as well as to the reason of his hearers, make him a power before any audience. While he is an en- thusiastic Republican and always takes an interest in things political, since the expiration of his sec- ond term as prosecuting attorney, he has always refused to be a candidate for office, though he is well qualified for any position in the state. Mr. Knight owns a fine farm, and is widely known among stock men as a breeder of Poland China hogs. He is also a lover of a good horse and a good judge of horse flesh. I. F. KOON is a son of Elias B. and Nancy R., (Parish) Koon. He was born in Grundy County December loth, 1881. He was married to Miss Hattie M. Foster December 22nd, 1907. Mr. Koon has a good farm of one hundred and fifteen acres ten miles east of Spickard, on which he lives. He is a wide awake industrious young fellow^ a member of the I. O. O. F. lodge and in politics is a Democrat. He was elected constable of Myers township in 1905 and re-elected in 1907, being the present incumbent. Mrs. Koon is a daughter of Mr. and Mrs. J. M. Foster of Myers township. J. L. LEEPER, son of J. L. and Nancy J., 810. HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY. (Carberry) Leeper, was born in Scotland county. Mo., January 27th, 1864. He was married to Callie Koon, November 7th, 1886. They have five children: Bert A., born August 21st, 1887; Minta v., born August 31st, 1890; Lucy M., born August loth, 1892; Victor W., born November 12th, 1898;, Gilbert H., born March 9th, 1904. Mrs. Leeper is the daughter of Elias B. and Nancy R. Koon. She was born July 5th, 1867, i^ Marion County, West Virginia, but since she was three years old she has lived in Grundy County. Mr. Leeper lives eight miles east of Spick- ard. He has spent the greater part of his life in farming, but lived for eight years in Trenton. He is a son of a veteran of the Mexican and of the Civil wars. The family came to Missouri from Indiana. W. J. McADAMS, a son of James and Mary McAdams, was born in Ontario, Canada, June 13, 1868. On January ist, 1900, he was married to Helen M. Cowden, of Marquette, Michigan. Mr. McAdams lived in Ontario until he had finished school, then came west to Dakota. He started to work in 1888 for the Northern Pacific Bridge and Building Department, and remained with it until 1890 when he took charge of a bridge and building crew. On December 7th, 1903, Mr. McAdams entered the service of the Rock Island, coming to Trenton where he took the position of master carpenter. Mr. McAdams is a Mason, an Elk, a member of the M . W.A. and a K. T. HISTORY OP GRUNDY COUNTY 311 W. J. McADAMS. JACOB W. McGEE was born in Sullivan County, Mo., June 19, 1857. He was married Feb- ruary 1 2th, 1882, to Miss Maria Ford, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. J. B. Ford. Seven children were born to them. Susie May, born May 3rd, 1883, died May 4, 1883; Pearl, born April 25, 1885; Everett, born June 20, 1887; Charles T., born August 21, 1890; Bryant, born Feb. 12, 1893; Sadie, born March 21, 1895, and ]\Iary, born June 6, 1898. Mr. McGee was a farmer and stock raiser, and lived practically all his life on his farm just west and north of Osgood. He was interested in the milling business for a time previous to his death. He died December 21, 1897. Since his death Mrs. McGee has managed the farm. She is also a director of the Osgood bank. 312 HISTORY IF GRUNDY COUNTY. C. C. MC CALL, son of Sam R. and Martha (McCaudles) McCall, was born in Butler County, Pennsylvania, December 8, 1846. He was married to Margaret Ann Hume, December 8th, 1869. They have eight children: Elmina Jane, born April 5th, 1871; Oliver C, born May i6th, 1873; Nina Maude, born May 23rd, 1875; Flossie May, born May 25th, 1877; Nova J., born August 24th, 1879; Vada Linn., born October 12th, 1881 ; Mary Helen, born September 15, 1886. A babe born April 23rd, 1888, died May 8th, of that year. Mr. McCall has a one hundred and twenty acre farm and a good home on rural route number one, northwest of Gait. Two of the children, Misses May and Helen, are still at home with their par- ents. Mrs. McCall has a number of interesting cur- ios and relics. Among them is a postal card to her father from a fraternal order notifying him of his election to membership in that order written at Glasgow, Scotland, September 26, 1807. She has a chiffonier one hundred and twenty-five years old, still in good condition, being of the best of nia- terial and unexcelled workmanship. She has a coffee mill sixty-eight years old still in use, and a snuff box ninety years old. All of these articles came from Scotland and formerly belonged to her ancestors. Mr. McCall has been an Odd Fellow for twenty-nine years. He enlisted in Company A.,. Thirty-ninth Ohio Volunteer Infantry January 28, 1863 ' ^^^ served until the close of the war, being with Sherman on his march to the sea, and was honor- HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY 313 ably discharged in July 1865. JAMES McCOWN, a son of Wm. H. and Delia A. McCovvn, was born at West Plains, Mo., July 2, 1873. He was educated at Christian Broth- ers College, St. Louis. Mr. McCown was married to Margaret Smith, of Dayton, Ohio, March 12, 1905- After leaving school Mr. McCown spent a few years in Montana. He then went into the candy business at Springfield, Mo. Selling out at Spring- field, he went to Kansas City, where he was engag- ed in the grocery and hotel business. He was dur- ing this time assistant custodian of public property. Mr. McCown went from Kansas City into the hot^^' and restaurant business in Chicago, where he re- mained four years, coming from there to Trenton in March, 1907, when he was managers of the Elks cafe until August, 1908, at which time he bought the Elks hotel. The hotel is thoroughly modern, with steam heat, private and long distance telephone and other modern conveniences. It has thirty-three rooms and is conducted on the European plan. DR. C. L. McCLANAHAN, son of R. B. and Nancy (Triplett) McClanahan, was born in Sulli- van County, October 29th, 1874. He now resides at Half Rock, across the Grundy County line in the edge of Mercer County, but has a large practice in Grundy County. Dr. McClanahan was married to Miss Ruth Cooper December 26th, 1900. They have four children; Robert C, born January i6th, 1902; Lois Edalyn, born April 25th, 1903; Amber 314 HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY. Ruth, born December 3rd, 1904; and Jean Rose- mond, born June 14th, 1906. Dr. AlcClanahan attended school at the ChilH- cothe Normal, Harris College, and the Keokuk (Iowa) College of Physicians and Surgeons. The latter is one of the oldest medical colleges west of the Mississippi river. Dr. McClanahan graduated from medical college in 1898. Since that time he has been engaged in the practice of his profession, and has a large practice in Grundy and Mercer Counties. His early life was spent on a farm. Politically Dr. McClanahan favors the Demo- cratic party. JUDGE W. A. McCRACKEN was born in Carroll County, Kentucky, September 3rd, 1848. His parents were John A. and Catherine McCrack- en. Mr. McCracken came to this state with his parents when quite young, lived for ten years in Putnam and for some time in Sullivan and Mercer Counties. Mr. McCracken completed his school life at the Chillicothe Seminary. He was married December 21, 1868, to Miss Annie M. Ford, daugh- ter of James H. Ford, of Myers township. They have two children living, James A., and Pearl, wife of Ed Smith of Jamesport, Mo. Mr. McCracken lived for many years on a farm in Myers township. He was elected judge of the county court for the Second district in 1896. In 1892, w4ien the Gait State Bank was organized, he became its first cashier, which position, with the exception of a few months in 1906, he has held ever since. Judge McCracken has always been a strong Republican and before his election as County HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY 315 Judge he often held township offices. Since be- coming cashier of the Gait State Bank he has not been active in politics. IRA W. McRAE was born at New Middleton, Indiana, August 9, 1859. He attended high school at Muncie, Ind. Coming to Missouri in 1879, he located in Adair County, where he taught school for a number of years, joining the annual confer- ence in 1884 and engaging in the ministry, in which work he continued until 1898, when he entered the American School of Osteopathy, graduating there- from in 1900. He located in Trenton in July, 1900, for the practice of osteopathy, and has since lived here. Dr. McRae was married to Elizabeth C. Van- sickle, Julv 2, 1882. To them eight children were born: Roy G. ^NlcRae, aged 25; Ora Willis, died at the age of 19; Mary E., age 19; Harrison I., age 16; Rosie E., age 14; Grace P., age 7; Still McRae, and a daughter died in infancy. A\'m. A. McRae, father of Ira W. McRae, was born in 1833 at New Middleton, Indiana, and died Dec. 24, 1862. He was married to Priscilla Mc- Caudles, in 1858. The latter, who was born in Pennsylvania, in 1838, is still living in Adair Coun- ty, Mo. Elizaljeth C. (Vansickle) McRae was born in Adair County, January i, 1864. Her father, Gab- riel Vansickle, was born in Ohio in 1830. Her mother, Elizabeth (Sanders) Vansickle, was born in 1834. They were married in 1857, and moved to Adair County, where they now live, in 1858, 316 HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY. DR. IRA W. McRAE. FRANCIS MARION MADDEN, ex-mayor of the city of Trenton, judge of the county court, and a man who has been, to a large degree, instru- mental in moulding the city of Trenton into its pres- ent municipal excellence and industrial prosperity, was born at \\'alton, Indiana, May i8, 1846. He was educated at Grand River college, Edinburg, having come to this county with his parents in 1865. Mr. Madden was married March 24, 1870, to Eliza Mitchell, who died June 22, 1907. They have two children, Viola E., wife of Rev. W. H. Owen, and Leona L., wife of C. E. Holtz. Mr. Madden's father, Julian Madden, was born in Kentucky in 1819. His mother, Jemima Julian was born in Indiana. Mr. Madden is one of a family HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY 317 of ten children, eight of whom Hved to be grown. His father died in 1872 and his mother in 1877. Only three of the children are now living, F. M. of this city, W. P. of Oklahoma, and Dr. J. H., of Colorado Springs, Colorado. For a number of years Mr. Madden devoted his attention to farming. He left the farm and came to Trenton in 1893. In 1S9S he w^as elected to the city council where he served tw^o consecutive terms. At the close of his second term he w^as appointed by Governor Dockery as a member of the county court, to fill the vacancy caused by the resignation of Judge A. J. Dix. He served the remainder of this unex- pired term, and was elected to succeed himself in 1903. During this period there came before the court perhaps the greatest undertaking it has yet accom- plished, the planning and erecting of the present court house and jail. Judge Madden devoted his entire energy to the work and spared no pains to secure for the people of the county the very best building that could be built for the money. From the county court he was elected mayor of the city of Trenton in 1905, in which capacity he served until 1907. No sooner had he been installed in office than notice was served on every saloon keeper that ex- act obedience of the law w^ould be required. And in compliance with the request, every saloon in the city closed on Sunday and opened up its curtains to the public. The water works franchise under which the city had operated for twenty years expired the first FRANCIS MARION MADDEN. HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY 319 year of his administration. During the negotia- tions which followed, the city voted a bond issue of $65,000 with which to buy the old plant and re- organize and improve it and now has one of the best plants in the state. But aside from all else, Mayor Madden's admin- istration stands out most prominent as marking the beginning of an era of public improvement in the city. A thorough system of district sewers em- bracing six districts was established with more than six miles of pipe line, besides pavement was laid on some of the principal streets of the city and many miles of sidewalk were built. JOSEPH MARTIN, son of James and Mar- garet (lUiff Martin, was born in Decatur county, Indiana, May 13th, 1840. He was married Decem- ber 1st, 1869, to Sabina P. Browning. Seven chil- dren were born to them: Loring H., born Novem- ber 24th, 1872; Emma A., born February 14th, 1875, died January 31st, 1876; Lucie B., born July 6th, 1877, died April 4th, 1881 ; Marvin A., born October 27th, 1879, died March i6th, 1881 ; C. Sidney, born November 3rd, 1882; A. Bruce, born June 22nd, 1888, died May 30th, 1903; Winnie B., born April 9th, 1893. Mr. Martin is in the employ of the Q. O. & K. C. railroad. Mrs, INIartin is a daughter of John M. Browning, who was born January 14th, 1823 and died March 5th, 1867. Her mother, Jane McB. (Ewing) Browning who was born August 28th, 1821, lived with Mrs. Martin until her death. She lived to be one of the oldest residents of Grundy 320 HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY. County, dying in her 89th year. Sidney Martin was married to Miss Glenna Gibson October 23rd, 1905. her 89th year. Sidney Martin was married to Miss Glenna Gibson October 23rd, 1905. Mr. Martin spent a number of years farming then engaged in milHng. He enhsted in the Union army September ist, 1861, for a period of six months. September 26th, 1862, he enhsted in the 23rd Missouri, w^iere he served until the close of the war. In politics he is a Republican. He came to Missouri in 1855. Mr. and Mrs. Martin have lived in Gait for twenty-five years. GEORGE E. MARTIN was born at Newtown, Sullivan County, Mo., Nov. 10, 1868. He is a son of the late E. B. Martin and Martha A. Martin of Trenton. He completed his school work with a course in Grand River College at Edinburg in 1893 and after graduating he taught several terms of school. He was married March 22, 1899, to Miss Nellie ]\lcHargue at Edinburg, Mo., a mem- ber of an old pioneer family. They have one child, Marie, born Feb. 20, 1900. Mr. Martin when cjuite small moved with his parents to Breckenridge, then to Daviess county on a farm in 1879. He came to Grundy County in 1899 and settled on a farm near Jamesport where he remained until September, 1900, when he moved to Trenton where his home has since been. He has been an employe of the Rock Island for a num- ber of years; has traveled considerably; is a mem- HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY 321 ber of the B. R. C. of A. and the M. W. A. He takes an active part in public affairs and is a Democrat in politics. JOSHUA MARTIN son of James and Mar- garet (IHff) Alartin, was born in Decatur county Indiana, June 3rd, 1842. He has hved in Laredo, about twelve years. December 27, 1863, he was married to Judith A. Ford. Four children were born to them. Annie, born December 23, 1864^ died March 21, 1891 ; Floy B., born June 3, 1871,, died August 9, 1872; Florence, born September 22^ 1873, died August 27, 1874; James N., born Feb. 14, 1880, was married to Miss Ethel Linderman, of Kansas City, October 16, 1906. He is in the employ of the Milwaukee road. ]\Ir. Alartin spent the greater part of his life farming and stock raising. He later engaged in the milling business at Gait and has for some time been connected with a livery business. He is an old soldier and a Republican in politics. ]\Irs. Martin is a daughter of James H. Ford^ formerly of Myers township. E. J. MOBERLY is a son of L. W. and Mary (Sprout) Moberly. He was born in Sullivan County, May 27th, 1881. He was married on the sixteenth of February, 1905, to Miss Ella Limes, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. William Limes, one of Grundy County's best old families. They have one child, Harry, born January 4th, 1906. Mr. Moberly was raised on a farm in Sullivan County. He came to this county in 1901, and locat- 322 HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY. ed on the two hundred acre farm he now owns. He is a young man of sterhng quahties and of excellent business abilities, and is making a decided success financially. Politically Mr. Moberly favors the Republican party. W. M. MORRIS, County Clerk, was born in Zanesville, O., Nov. 3. 1859. He came with his par- ents, Richard E. and Sophia (McNutt) Morris to Missouri in 1877. His education was completed at the Kirksville Normal. He was married to Miss Rosa F. Ralls of Gait, July 15, 1900. They have one son, Victor G., three years old. Mr. Morris has been farmer, merchant, teacher, traveling sales- man and county official. For quite a number of years he lived in Gait where he w^as engaged in the mercantile business. He was elected County Treasurer in 1897, serving till 1901. When his term of office expired he worked as traveling sales- man until he was elected to the office he now holds, in 1906. He is a Republican. HARRY R. MORRIS, son of Richard E., and Sophia Morris, was born in Delavan, 111., Feb. 17, 1869. He w^as married to Carrie M. Collins, of Gait, August 16, 1890. They have five children: Addie L., Carl R., Thomas Byron, Fern E., and William E., an unusually bright and promising family. Mr. Morris moved from Illinois to Missouri, with his parents, in 1877. He was a farmer for some time, moving from the farm to Gait, where he was engaged in the mercantile business for HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY 323 twenty years, retiring from that to accept the posi- tion he now holds as deputy county clerk. During his residence in Gait Mr. Morris was active in edu- cational matters, serving a good while as a member of the school board. Politically he is a sterling republican, and though he has never sought a county office he has taken active part in local poli- tics and has served as township trustee. A. T. MYERS, son of Milton J. and Margaret Myers, was born in Myers township September 14, 1869. He was married February 14, 1894, to Miss Tina Monk. They have one child, Ada, born in 1896. Mr. Myers comes from an old pioneer family, one of the first to settle in the northeastern part of the county. For them M}^ers township was named. The earlier part of his life was spent in farming. Later he moved to Trenton, and he is now proprietor of the Eagle saloon. E. L. MASON was born in Hiram, Ohio, in 1837. He now resides on route six, Trenton Mo. Mr. Mason was married to t.n'eroy E. H^odley September 18, 1861. They had one child. Alice M., born Feb. 3, 1864. Mrs. Mason died Oct. 21, 1879. Mr. Mason was raised on a farm. When twenty years old he worked in the store of Prentiss and Hopkins of Ravenna. Ohio, where he remained un- til the store was burned and soon after went to Memphis, Tenn. This was soon after [ohn P>rown had been hung and a very l)itter feeting existed to- wards men from the north. From Memphis he 324 HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY. HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY 325 went to Jefferson County, Mo., where he had ac- quaintance and from there returned to Hiram, Ohio. When the war broke out he enhsted in the 42nd O. \\ I. under Garfield and served sixteen months when he was discharged on account of sickness. Af- ter he had regained his heaUh somewhat he went into the store of H. and S. S. Beecher of Garretts- ville, Ohio, where he remained some eighteen months and then accepted a position in the comissary department. This took him to various points in the south but mainly in Texas, where the army was retained months after the real war was over. From Texas he came to Trenton, Mo., arriving towards the close of the year of 1865. Soon after his arrival here Mr. Mason en- gaged in the nursery business locating first some five miles east of Trenton and later where the pres- sent coal mine is located. After being in this busi- ness a number of years Mr. Mason went into the Rock Island freight office where he remained some twelve years and then engaged again in the nursery business mainly on his present place. Mr. Mason and his daughter, Alice, are members of the Presby- terian church. B. C. NICHOLS is a son of Ben and Anna (Huston) Nichols. He was born in Grundy County, Nov. 22, 1844. Mr. Nichols was married to Laura Yakey. Mr. Nichols spent his early life on a farm. He unlisted in the Union cause in 1863, joining the 44th Missouri Infantry, with which regiment he served until the close of the war. He was pro- 326 HISTORY OP GRUNDY COUNTY. moted to the rank of sergeant for gallantry in ac- tion at the l)attle of Franklin, Tenn. After the close of the war Mr. Nichols returned to Trenton, where he attended school and worked in a store. Since that time he has l^een interested in the mer- cantile husiness. For ten years from 1880 Mr. Nichols was a memher of the firm of B. C. Nichols & Co., dealers in shoes. This firm was succeeded by Boyce, Nichols & Patterson. This in turn gave way to the firm of Patterson & Nichols, the latter firm selling out the shoe store to Robertscm Bros. in 1908. Messrs Patterson & Nichols then bought the store of T. H. Rader, consisting of men's fur- nishing goods. ^fr. Nichols was appointed postmaster of Trenton in 1905, and re-appointed in 1909. He has long been prominent in G. A. R. circles, and poli- tically is an active Re]mblican. He has attended every national encampment of the G. A. R. for twenty-five years. At the encampment at Toledo, 1909, he was made aide de camp for the commander in chief. M. N1CH(3LS was born in Syria, June 15, 1870 He lived in Syria until October 21, 1891, when he came to New York. He stayed here two months then went to Kansas City where he remained three years. From Kansas City he went to Linn Coun- ty, where he went into the mercantile business. He next moved to Lexington, Mo., then to Trenton in 1899. In 1902 he went to St. Jose]:)h where he stayed until 1905, at which time he returned to Trenton and opened a store which he now owns HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY 327 and nianai>-es. Mr. Nichols deals in o-roceries and general merchandise, and is located at the corner of Elm and Prospect streets. He was married Xoveml)er 26, ICS99, to Mary Carter. They have two children; Elias, born Oct. I 1890, and Elizabeth, born August 17, upi- Mr. Nichols's first wife died just before he lett Syria. ALISON NICHOLAS, son of George and Josephine Nicholas, was born in Howell County, Dec. 2S, 1^72. He was educated in the public schools and in the state university. Mr. Nicholas lived in Howell County until nineteen years old, when he went to Bethany.^ He taught school four years, then worked in T.^ B. Sherer's drug store five years beginning in 1S96. He came to Trenton and began work for B. J. Mc- Guire in 1901. In 1903 he bought the Co-op drug store, which he has enlarged and improved up to the ]:)resent time. Mr. Nicholas is a registered pharmacist. He is a member of the K. of P., having held the office of IMaster of Finance for three years, and is a Mason and Knight Templar. E. J. NICCUM, son of Jesse and Anna Nic- cum, was born at Newtown, Mo.,. June 15, 1876. He was married to Maggie Mayers, of Trenton, March 2H, 1901. They have one child, Ray W., born April 12, 1902. Mr. Niccum lived on the farm until grown, then went to Newtown where he remained three years. At the end of that time he went to Wyom- 328 HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY. ing, where he worked at the barber trade, as at Newtown, until 1899, when he returned to Mis- souri, and moved to Trenton. For a years after his arrival he worked at the barber trade, going from that work to the Rock Island train service, remain- ing four years as brakeman and four as conductor. In 1908 he went on the road as traveling salesman. J. F. ORCHARDS was born in Des Moines County, la.. May 7, 1861. At twenty-three years of age he was married to Belle Phillips, of Fair- field, la. They have three children, Flossie, Lester, and Ethel. Mr. Orchards lived in Iowa until of age. He then went to Nebraska, where he was in the mer- cantile business a short time. Returning to Iowa, he engaged in farming for seven years, when he moved to Trenton. He spent four years with the Witten Hardware Company, then was appointed deputy sheriff and is now special officer for the Rock Island. GEORGE BURREL PADGET is the son of Joab and Elizabeth A. (Chapman) Padget of Spickard. He was born in Wayne County, la., Jan. 12, 1886, and educated in the public schools. June 29, 1887, he was married to Miss Emma M. Howe, daughter of Ransom B. and Rebecca A. Howe, of Spickard. They have two children : Judson F., born May 22, 1888, and Mabel A., born September 16, 1889. Mr. Padget came to this county with his par- ents when a boy, and lived five years in the east- HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY 329 GEO. B. PADGET ern part of the county. He spent two years in Kansas and one summer in Iowa, when he returned to Missouri and quit the farm for the barber busi- ness at the age of twenty years. With the exception of one year spent at Harris, and one month at Newtown he has made his home at Spickard since that time. Mr. Padget studied law while working at his trade, and was admitted to the bar on the 12th day of June, 1901. He does a general law practice in addition to his work as a barber. He was the can- didate of the Democratic party for prosecuting attorney in 1904, and is now and for several years has been city attorney for the city of Spickardsville. Mr. Padget's father, Rev. Joab Padget, is widely known in this part of the state, being one of the pioneer ministers of the Christian church. He has 330 HISTORY OF GRUND/ COuNTY. preached for many years in various sections of this and other counties, as well as in other states. CiiARLES A. PENNELL was born in this county Septenil er 14th, 1S73. He is a son of Abraham and Eliza ( W'edon ) I'ennell. On the 24th of April, 1907, he was married to Miss Lulu Gehl- bach, daui2,'hter of Otto Gelhljach of Trenton town- ship. i\Ir. Pennell was raised on a farm and has lived in Grundy County all of his life except one year which he spent in the West. For the last six years he has been a photog"ra])her in Trenton. His work is of a high order of artistic excellence and is very popular. ADDJSON MONTGOMERY. O. A. PICKETT, circuit clerk, was born in Mercer county, February 3rd, 1871. He came to HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY. 332 O. A. PICKETT. Grundy in 1SS3. He is a son of E. N. and Elizabeth ( Keener) Pickett, of this city. The great- er part of the intervening time he has Hved in Myers township. He attended the Princeton High school, Harris college, and the Chillicothe normal. He has taught school for eight years, but the great- er part of his attention has been given to farming. He is also a very successful auctioneer. He was married June 3, 1896, to Miss Nora Berry, daugh- ter of Mr. and Mrs. D. R. Berry. Mr. and Mrs. Pickett are the parents of three children. Dale, Fred and Russell. Mr. Pickett has always been an active repub- lican. He w^as elected assessor of Myers township four successive times, resigning in order to accept his present office in 1906. This is the first county of- 332 HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY. fice he ever held. Mr. Pickett is not a ward heeler or a spell binder. He is a steady, conservative busi- ness man in whom the people have great confidence. T. H. RADER THOMAS H. RADER, son of Joseph and Martha (Brown) Rader, was born in Daviess County, Mo., December 3, 1866. He attended the public schools and Grand River College. He is not married. Mr. Rader was born and raised on a farm near Bancroft, Mo. He left the farm at the age of eight- een and went to Bancroft, where he worked in a general store with F. M. Brown, his uncle. He ^ame to Trenton in 1887 and began work for M. Wetzler, with whom he remained twelve years, or until his employer quit business here. He then worked for the Farmers Store two years, after HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY 335 which he took charge of a department store at Rocky Ford, Colo. Finding the altitude too high for his health, he returned to Trenton and remain- ed two years with the Farmers Store, then opened a store of his own, dealing in men's furnishing goods. This store he sold to Patterson & Nichols in 1907, and has remained with it as manager of the sales department. HENRY RENSCH son of Henry and Hattie Rensch, was born in Grundy County, February ii, 1876. He was educated in the Trenton public schools and Avalon College. He was married to Lucile Benson, daughter of Henry Benson, Sept. 21, 1898. Mr. Rensch was born on a farm and lived there until six years old. His father died in 1881, after which he moved with his mother and his brother, Clarence, to Trenton, where the boys attended school. After leaving school they went to work for A. W. Hunt, cigar maker, and served an appren- ticeship of three years. He worked five years af- terward for Mr. Hunt, after which he went to Fort Worth, Texas, and remained until 1903. Return- ing to Trenton, he and his brother, Clarence, bought the cigar factory known as Rensch Bros. They manufacture three regular and two private brands of cigars. The former are Missouri Girl and Bos- ton Straight, five cent cigars, and Pedro Vegas, a ten cent cigar. Mr. Rensch is a member and manager of th(» K. of P. band, and an artist on the violin, trombone 334 HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY. and barotone. He is a member of the K. of P. and B. P. O. E. orders. DANIEL DALE RIDGWAY, son of N. M. and Rachel A. Ridgway, was born at Rossville, Ind., November 5, 1850. His education was received principally in the public schools of Osceola, la. Mr. Ridgway was married in 1881, March 15th, to Miss Laura J. Fanning. They are the parents of seven children, all living; Daisy Dean, wife of Chas. T. Wolf; N. M. jr., tailor; Fllanche, musician. Mr. Ridgway went from Indiana to Iowa with his father, and from Iowa came to Trenton in 1866. He entered the grocery business with his father, continuing in business until 1886, when the father retired, since which time he has conducted the busi- ness alone. Formerly Mr. Ridgway did consider- able wholesale business. He has dealt extensively in real estate, and now owns a fine 100 acre farm east of Tindall. LESLEY P. ROBINSON, attorney and jus- tice of the peace, is a member of the real estate and insurance firm of Collier & Robinson. He is a son of the late Peter L. and Mary E. Robinson, and was born at Corydon, la., August 17, 1881. Mr. Robinson attended Avalon College, the state uni- versity of Kansas, and the Kansas City Law School, where he graduated in the year 1904. Before at- tending law school he taught one year. In addition to his real estate, loan and insur- ance business, Mr. Robinson is a practicing lawyer. He was elected justice of the peace over a Republi- HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY. 335 can opponent in 1907, notwithstanding the over- whehiiing- Repubhcan majority of the city. He is a very active party worker in the ranks of the Demo- cracy, and has l)een honored l)y his party in various ways. He was a candidate for prosecuting attorney in 1906 and again in 190S. in tlie latter year run- ning far l)eyond his party strength. He was con- spicuously active in the county and city campaign for local option. Ah*. Robinson was married to Miss Nellie Songer, daughter of John Songer, of Trenton. Nov. 11. 1908. J. W. ROOT, whose parents were Levi and Polly (Stewart) Root, was born at Rome, Athens County, Ohio, October 5, 1(840, and was educated in the public schools of that state. He was married to Anna Eliza Moore, September 8, i860.. To this un- ion, eight children were born: Mrs.Linna Schooler, Mrs. Alice Meighan, ("^eorgc N., j^-'rs. Rosa F.l- ledge, Will W., James F., Mrs. Gr:\ce Proctor, and Miss Nellie. Judge Root lived on an Ohio farm in his boy- hood. He served through the civil war from 186; to 1865 ^^ sergeant in Company C, Eighteenth Ohio volunteer infantry. He moved to Grundy County in 1867, and engaged in farming and stock raising. Judge Root has long been a strong and active Republican in politics. He served as judge of the county court from 1890 to 1896. In 1898 he was appointed postmaster at Gait, which position he now holds. He is a Methodist, a Mason and a member of the Eastern Star. Mrs, Root, a loyal chnrcli worker and a popu- lar and home loving v/oir.rn, died Fei^ruary 9, 1908, HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY. 337 W. L. RUCKER was born in Harrison Co .- ty, May 27, 1876. He was married to Miss Elsie Day, daughter of S. S. Day, Nov. 9, 1900. Tlic/ have two xi.'dren; Samuel Day, born in November, T901, and Mary Frances, born December 28, 1907 Mr. Rucker Hved in Harrison County until the outbreak of the Spanish- American war in 1898, when he enlisted in the ist Nebraska infantry and went to the Phillipines where he saw six months active field service. He then went into the custom service, and remained a year at Manila. He return- ed to the central states in 1900, was married at Gal- latin, and went into the banking business at Chula where he was cashier four years. He came from Chula to Trenton, where he did a brokerage busi- ness and also handled real estate. Mr. Rucker is now cashier of a bank in New Jersey not far from New York City. CHARLES L. RUPPERT, son of Charles and Bertha Ruppert, was born at Dusseldorf, Germany, on the river Rhine, October 7, 1867. He came to America with his parents in 1871, living a short time in New York and Brooklyn, whence they moved to Wayne County, Michigan, where he at- tended school, and remained till grown. He work- ed in a store about five years, or until 1887, then started in the railroad business at lona, Michigan. He worked for the Pierre Marquette road fifteen years, as operator, clerk, dispatcher and chief dis- patcher successively. He left here in 1902 for Springfield, 111., where he worked as dispatcher for the Chicago & Alton. He went to Santa Fe in 1903, 338 HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY. CHARLES L. RUPPERT. and worked three years as chief dispatcher and train master. He came to Trenton in 1906 to accept his present position, trainmaster on the Rock Island. ]\Ir. Rnppert was married to Grace M. Robin- son, of Holland, Alichigan, January 17, 1892. They have two children : Roy M., born August 23, 1894; and Max K., born June 5, 1899. He is a Mason, a Knight Templar, an Elk and a member of the Lutheran Church. J. H. SCHIERBAUM is the son of Henry and Anna M. (Buldermann) Schierbaum, who came to the United States from Germany about the year 1852. His father was born in October, 1822, and died December 24th, 1900; his mother was born in 1824 and died October ist, 1886. Mr. Schierbaum was born in Erie County, HISTORY OF GRUXDY COUNTY. 339 New York, June 29th, 1857. He was married to Louise Brandt, April 27, 1882. They have six children; Nettie L., born April 28, 1883; Charles H., August 31, 1884; Benjamin H., born Decem- ber 8, 1885; Edwin C, born June 6, 1887; Ella K., born February 6, 1889; and David P., born April 4th, 1893. All the children were born in Des Moines, la. ]\Ir. Schierbaum came from Iowa to the Myers township farm where he now lives in March, 1886. He owns a three hundred and eig'hty-six acre farm, and is especially interested in the breeding of Short Horn cattle. Since coming to this county he has taken an active part in public affairs. He has served the township as collector, as trustee and member of the township board. He was re-elected township trustee in 1907, and now holds that of- fice. For the last ten years he has been director of his school district, and takes an interest in educa- tional advancement. J\Irs. Schierbaum's parents were both from Germany. Her father, Henry Brandt, died No- vember 7, 1899; 1^^^' mother, Mary (Rethemie) Brandt, now seventy-seven years old, lives at Bur- lington, la. WILLIAM SCHELLHASE, the tailor, is a native of Germany. He was born in Magdeburg, Neustadt, August 28, 1849. His parents were Peter and Dora (Alberts) Schellhase. Mr. Schell- hase came to the United States in 1871, and on the nineteenth of February 1879, was married to Lue Bloom. They have two children, Carrie, born 340 HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY. January 3, 1885, and Dora, born November 13, 1886. Harry, born May 26, 1880, died on the 26 of December 1892. Mr. Schellhase is an enthusiastic member of I. O. O. F. and the K. of P. orders. He came to Trenton in 1891, and estabHshed the business he is at present conducting. He is not only a good tai- lor but has established a reputation as a trustworthy gentlemen. SAMUEL SHELDON, deputy state veter- inarian, is the son of Truman and Sarah C. Shel- don. He was barn on a farm near Turney, Clin- ton County, Missouri, April 29, 1873. After com- pleting a common school course he entered the Kan- sas City Veterinary College, graduating in 1896. He then studied medicine, graduating at the Uni- versity Medical College, Kansas City, in 1900. Dr. Sheldon was married June 20, 1899, to Miss Myrtie O. Cant. They have one child, Sarah Velma, three years old. Dr. Sheldon lived on the farm where he was born until he was twenty-one years old, when he went to the veterinary college. After graduation he came to Trenton where he has since lived and practiced his profession except during the time he was in attendance at the medical college. Dr. Shel- don is not only a successful veterinary surgeon, but a very competent physician and at the present time is coroner. He is a loyal Republican in politics. M. F. SHEPHERD, son of Lsaac and Sarah HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY. 341 (Coblin) Shepherd, was born in Behiiont county,0., March 1 1, 1855. He now resides two and a quarter miles northeast of Dunlap. Mr. Shepherd was married December i8th, 1879, to Mary E. Black- burn. Mr. Shepherd was raised on a farm. He came to this county when eight years old, and has since remained loyal to old Grundy. He owns a well im- proved, productive little farm, and is a public spirit- ed citizen. In politics Mr. Shepherd is a Republican. Mrs. Shepherd is a daughter of J. H. and Sarah Blackburn, formerly well known and highly respect- ed citizens of this county. Mr. Blackburn died February 20th, 1901, and Mrs. Blackburn October 5th, 1897. JOHN SHINE, son of Patrick Shine, was married April 30, 1884, to Lora B. Robb, of Wis- consin. They have two children; Regina M., born July 14th, 1888, and Carlos, born September 21, 1893; Nellie P., born Feb. 28, 1886, died Feb. 9, 1906. Mr. Sl'ine was born on a farm and lived there until twenty-two years old, when he went into the plumbing and gas fitting business. He came to Trenton September 23rd, 1886, and worked with the gas company seven years, at his trade, going into business for himself in 1894, during the most of which time he has had full control of all the plumbing and gas fitting business of Trenton, and employs several men. Mr. Shine not only under- stands his profession, but is a good business man. 342 HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY. E. N. SMITH. E. NOBLE SMITH, son of Samuel G. and Mary (Gannce) Smith, was born near Winters- ville, Sullivan County, November igth, 1862. He was married February 25th, 1884, to Sarah J. Stringer. They have six children : James M., born January 28th, 1885 ; Clifton C, born June 8th, 1887; Ethel A., born Fe1;ruary ist, 1889; Anna, born September 6th, 1891 ; Alice AI., born April 5th, 1894; and Wineva, born December 19th, 1901. Mr. Smith's father died ]\lay 20th, 1900; his mother died January 17th, 1884. James M. Smith was mar- ried to Miss Sadie B. Whan, April 22nd, 1905; Clifton B. married Susie E. Fisher January ist, 1907, Ethel and Noel Jewitt March nth, 1908. ]\Ir. Smith was born and raised in Sullivan County. He owns land in that county and in HISTORY OF GRUXDY COUNTY. 343 Grundy, his home Ijeing a short distance on the Sulhvan County side of the hne, five miles south of Harris. He has a fine farm of 222 acres on which he Hves, and another of eighty acres in Grundy County, seven miles north of Gait. Mr. Smith is one of the hig, jolly, good natured kind of men. He is a Republican and an active po- litical worker. Mrs. Smith is the daughter of J. M. and R. A. Stringer, an old Sullivan County family, who have in late years moved to Oklahoma. She is an ener- getic woman of good business ability. G. W. SI^ilTH was born at Lindley August 1 8th, 1855. His parents were I). C. and Delia (Shipley) Smith. He was married to Mary E. Rains February 27th, 1877. Eleven children were born to this union : William Oscar, born January i8th, 1878; Eva May, born February 27th, 1880; Hattie Lee, born November 4th, 1883; Nettie, born Alarch 1885; Walter, born August loth, 1887; Lenna, born September 25th, 1889; Delia, born No- vember i6th, 1891 ; Edna, born October 3rd, 1895; Rachel, born April loth, 1898; Truman, borH August 25th, 1900; Wesley, born June 27th, 1902. Mrs. Smith died August 5th, 1903. Four of the children are dead. Edna died February 23rd, 1900; Hattie, May 26th, 1901, Truman, January 31st, 1 90 1, Nettie August 5th, 1905. Mr. Smith's father was born in Tazewell county, Virginia, in 1832; his mother in 1835 in Morgan County, Ohio. The latter died May 21st, 1883. On June 17th, 1905, ]\Ir. Smith married Lena 344 HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY. Pearson of this county. With the exception of a few years spent in Trenton he has Hved on a farm all of his life. He now lives near Gait. He is a member of the I. O. O. F., Maccabees and M. W. A., and is a Republican in politics. H. C. SxMITH. HUGH C. SMITH, son of George W. and Rose (Carnes) Smith, was born in Trenton, in 1873. His mother was a sister of the late J. B. Carnes. Mr. Smith attended college at Terra Haute, Indiana, af- ter completing the Trenton high school course. He was married in September, 1899, to Miss Leona Conover, daughter of Col. John Conover. They have one child, Conover Carnes, born October 21, 1903. Mr. Smith graduated in the law department of Ann Arbor in 1894, and was admitted to the bar in that year, and began the practice of law in Tren- HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY. 345 ton. He was elected prosecuting attorney of Grun- dy County in 1898, and re-elected in 1900. He left Trenton a few years ago to locate in the city of St. Joseph, where he is a member of the firm Fulkerson, Graham & Smith. Mr. Fulkerson of this firm is Frank Fulkerson, last Republican candidate for At- torney General. JAMES M. SMITH was born at Humphreys, Sullivan County, Mo., January 28, 1885. He is a son of E. N. and Sarah J. Smith. Mr. Smith attend- ed school at Kirksville and the Chillicothe Normal. He was married to Miss Sadie Whan, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. J. M. Whan, April 22, 1905. They ha\-e two children ; Thelma Maxine, born February 12, 1906; and a baby boy, born November 30, 1907. Mr. Smith was raised on a farm. He began teaching at the age of eighteen, and is still in that profession. He has taught in Grundy and Sullivan counties, and for three years has taught at Os- good. He is at present principal of the Osgood school. Mr. Smith was elected collector of his town- ship in 1907, and now holds that office. His time, aside from that taken by the duties of his office, is divided between teaching and managing his farm, located three and a half miles from Os^ good. He favors the Republican party. T. L. SMITH, son of H. H. and Emily (Bun- nell) Smith, was born in Mercer County, Kentucky, June 27, 1867. He was married to Miss Annie 346 HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY. Berger July 30, i8(jo. They have one child, Harry, born August ist, 1892. The earlier part of Mr. Smith's life was spent on a farm. For twelve years he was associated with T. A. Woodress in the grocery business in Trenton, being one of the best salesmen in Grundy county. Later he was connected with Coon's hard- ware store, and was afterwards in the ice business. He has been the proprietor of a restaurant for some- thing over two years, and has built up a thriving business, running one of the most popular if not the most popular resort in the city. He lately added a bakery to his restaurant and does a very large bakery business. Mr. Smith is a Republican in politics. He takes an active part in public affairs, and has been a member of the city council for six years. J. D. SPECK is a son of John and Caroline Speck. He was born on the old home place near Spickard, October 23rd, 1869, ^^^^^ ^"^'^-^ educated in the public schools and in Avalon College. He was married to Daisy Spencer, of Trenton, October 22, 1893. They have five children. Mr. Speck lived on the old home place until nineteen years old, when he went to work for Fish and Brewer, clerking eight years. He also work- ed for Messrs King, Hershberger & Cornwell of the same city for five years. After this he went back to the farm near Spickard. This farm he sold and went to Texas. He came from Texas to Trenton, where he worked in the Farmers Store a short time, then went to New Mexico. Returning, HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY. 347 he lived on the Joseph Payne farm for two years, then went into the mercantile business at Tindall in which business he is no\v engaged, carrying a line of hardware, implements, furniture, buggies, wagons, etc. ROY SPICKARD, son of John F. and ^lary (Shinn) Spickard, was born one and one half miles northwest of the town of Spickard, August 12th, 1874. He was married October ist, 1893 to Maude M. Aloore. They have four children : Goldia, born September 20th, 1894; John M. born September 15th, 1897; Frank, born June 13th, 1902; and Mil- dred, born July 13th, 1905. Mrs. Spickard is the daughter of John M. and ]\Iary E. Moore. Her father died in 1879. Her mother is still living. ]\Ir. Spickard was born and raised on a farm, and has fought the battle of life for himself since he was nine years old. For four years he was an employee in the Rock Island shops at Trenton as blacksmith and he spent about two years work- ing at the 1)lacksmith trade in St. Joseph. The rest of the time he has farmed in Grundy County. Mr. Spickard now owns a good one hundred and sixty acre farm lying seven miles north of Gait, and handles considerable live stock. He is a Republican O. J. STAR, son of George and Eliza Jane (Wyatt) Star, was born in Mercer County, Mo., August 4th, 1856. He was married to Laura Hol- mes, March 3rd, 1879. They have four children; F. M., born July 24, 1880; Emma A., born February 348 HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY. 20, 1882; C. F., born February 2, 1884; and M. J., born March 22, 1889. Mr. Star was raised on a farm in Mercer County. He spent three years in the west, princi- pally in the state of Nevada. The remainder of the time he has lived in Grundy County. Here he farm- ed near Tindall for a number of years, afterwards moving to Gait where he engaged in business then returned to the farm. In politics he is a Democrat. Mrs. Star is a daughter of Daniel Holmes. Her parents lived in Iowa, and she was born in that state. Her father died in 1866, and her mother in 1864. DR. BERTHA E. (WIGGINS) SUTTON was born near Trenton, February 12, 1879. She was educated in the Kirksville Normal and the Missouri State University, holding an A. B. degree from the latter institution. She completed the medical course in the Iowa state university, and took a post graduate course in the Kansas State University. She was married to Dr. N. E. Sutton, a Trenton physician and a highly respected Chris- tian gentleman, November 25, 1903. Her husband died November 20, 1906. Dr. Sutton moved to Harrison county in 1893, returning to Trenton for the practice of her pro- fession upon completing her post graduate work in 1901. Since that time she has practiced medicine and surgery in this city. Dr. Sutton is an active worker in the Christian church. HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY. 349 E. V. SWANK, a son of John and Charlotte Swank, was born in Noble County, Ohio, December 24, 1864. He lives on route three, Trenton. Mr. Swank was married to Iva Rensch, February 20th, 1900. They have one child, Thelma Helen, born April 20, 1901. Mr. Swank left Ohio with his grandparents and came to Putnam County, Mo., where he lived until nineteen years old. Then he came to Grundy County and lived a short time, when he went to Kansas and stayed three years. Mr. Swank then returned to Grundy County and moved to his pres- ent two hundred and eighty acre farm, where he has since lived. JACOB SWANK was born in Nobel County, Ohio, August 5, 1844, and died July 9, 1907. He was married June 26, 1863, to Rebecca McCreary, of Ohio. They have six children; Lucy A., born Nov. II, 1864, now Mrs. G. W. Ziler, of Nobel County, Ohio; W. E., born May 9th, 1866, of Man- hattan, Montana; Ettie, born July 25, 1868, now Mrs. G. W. Ellington of Manhattan, Montana; Delbert, born Nov. 3, 1870; Wealtha B., born Dec. 3, 1872; Earl P., born Feb. 25, 1884. Mr. Swank farmed in Ohio until 1868 when he moved to Grundy County, a half mile west of the present farm. Since his death his youngest son has managed the farm. G. H. TITCOMB, son of Edward and Eliza- beth Titcomb, was born in Hartford, la., March 8, 1870. He completed his education in the Cameron, 350 HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY. (Mo.,) W'esleyan College, and the Chillicothe Normal. He was married August 8, 1895, to Carrie Sheldon. They have three children; George Shel- don, born January 19, 1897; Silas Woodson, Janu- ary 2, 1900; and Frances E., June 28, 1903. Three children died in infancy. Mr. Titcomb came with his parents to Mis- souri when small, and settled in De Kalb County. He made that county his home until 1898, and taught school for ten years at Maysville, Weatherby and W^inslow. Mr. Titcomb came to Trenton in 1900 and went into the grocery business. At the expiration of one and a half years, R. L. Evans bought an interest in the business, and since that time the partnership has existed. Mr. Titcomb is an Odd Fellow, a Modern \\^oodman and a Yeo- man. He is a member of the official board of the Methodist church. ANDREW CREWS TOLSON is a son of James W. and Annie (Stewart) Tolson, both of Lexington, Kentucky. He was born at Alpha, Grundy County, Octoljer 22, 1853. On the 27 of March, 1872, he was married to Amanda Ellen Owens. They have three children : James W., born May 12, 1874; Mrs. Hattie Stewart Anderson, born August 30, 1876, and Ora Cleveland, born May 20, 1885. After completing the common school course Mr. Tolson completed a course in the Gem City Business College. The greater part of Mr. Tolson's life has been spent in farming. In 1882 he was in the mercantile business in Alpha. In 1902 he moved to Laredo and HISTORY OF GUIINDY COUNTY. 351 went into the livery business which he conducted for some years. Sehing it, he continued to reside in Laredo, managing his farm which is not far from that city. Tn pohtics Mr. Tolson is a Democrat. MRS. DILEINIMA THOMAS is a daughter of Andrew J. and Ehzabeth (Koon) Batson. She was born in Marion County, West Virginia, May 13th, 1853. She was married June 30th, 1872, to W. R. Thomas. Eight children were born to them: J. A., born June 2nd, 1873; ^^- E., born June i6th, 1876; E. W. and F. P. born January 24, 1880; Grace V., lx)rn February 22nd, 1882: J. Pearl, born October 19th, 1887; William R., born September 17th, 1889; and O. R., born June 13th, 1892. F. P. died in July 1880, and M. E. in August 1877. Airs. Thomas' mother was born in 1830 and is still living. Her father was born in 1829 and died in 1875. They came to this county from Virginia in 1855. W. R. Thomas was born on the 27th, day of ]\Iarch, 1 85 1, and died December 27th, 1901. Mrs. Thomas has a comfortable home and nice little farm in Myers township six miles west of Os- good. Her sons, William R., and O. R., help their mother with the management of the farm. Mrs. Thomas is a woman of good judgment, a good citi- zen and interested in church work. WALTER THOAL\S is a son of John A. and Margaret (Kincaid) Thomas. He was born near Trenton, where he now lives, on the 19th day 352 HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY. of January, 1875. He received his education in the pubhc schools, Kirksville Normal and Avalon College. Mr. Thomas was married June 23, 1901, to Jessie Day. They have three children, Hugh Russell and Wendell, all at home. Mr. Thomas was reared on a farm near Trenton, coming to this city in 1902, where he has since made his home. He entered the mail service in December, 1902, and is now a carrier on one of the city routes. He is a Republican in politics. FRED S. TOLLE is the son of Sam S. and Angeline (Perry) Tolle. He was born in thi^ county August 4th, 1873. On the 8th day of June, 1898, Mr. Tolle was married to Miss Orlena Fen- ner, daughter of W. C. Fenner, of Gait. They have two children, Gerald and Forest. The earlier part of Mr. Tolle's life was spent on a farm. He was later engaged in the photo- graph business for about three years. Since July 27, 1903, he has been the publisher of the Gait Sun, which was consolidated with the Gait Herald, un- der the name Sun and Herald, in May, 1906. Mr. Tolle assisted his father in newspaper work here and at Spickard, and his style of journalism resem- bles his father's to a considerable degree. He is a Democrat. JOHN G. TOOT, son of Moses and Hannah (Gilbert) Toot, was born at Carrollton, Ohio, Janu- ary 20th, 1848. He now lives in the northern part of Myers township. Mr. Toot was married April 24, 1884, to Lizzie (Newton) CaSebeer. The}^ have two children: Lyda, now Mrs. Frank Linder, HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY. 353' born September 6, 1886; and Lula, born July 10, 1888. Mr. Toot has been a farmer and a carpenter for forty years. He owns a well kept farm, and gives considerable attention to stockraising and fruit growing. Air. Toot is a man of sturdy charac- ter, whose rugged honesty is proverbial wherever he is known and is one of his township's foremost citizens. He is a Methodist in religion and a Re- publican in politics. MRS ADA WADE, daughter of Wm. R. and Hester (Budd) Banta, was born in Wayne Coun- ty, Indiana, April 21, i860. She was married to Wm. A. Wade October 14th, 1880. One son, R. L., was born to them on March 4, 1891. Mrs, Wade taught school for a number of years, then engaged in dressmaking. She moved to Dunlap in February, 1893, and at present holds the position of telephone operator in that village. She and her son live in a neat little cottage of their own in that town, ELMER E, WILFORD was born in Athens County, Ohio, March 30th, 1863. He now lives three and one half miles north of Gait, on Rural route number one with school house and church, adjacent. He is the son of Jake and Eliza (Riggs)> Wilford. Mr. Wilford was married November i/;. 1901, to Miss Ella Simpson. They have three chil- dren: Lee A., born July 9, 1903; Fay O., born April 18, 1905; and Lavetta, born September 16. 1907. Mr, Wilford was raised on a farm and re- 354 HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY. mains true to that occupation. He is a Republican, and has long been honored by the party in his township. He was elected constable of Liberty township in 1898, and re-elected five consecutive times and still holds that office. His long service iis evidence of the satisfactory way in which he has performed his official duties. Mr. W'ilford is a member of the Yeoman and K. of P. orders. Mrs. Wilford is the daughter of Thomas and Mary Simpson, who came to this county from Tennessee in the fifties. She is a women of ex- cellent character. OSCAR G. WILLIAMS, mayor of the city of Trenton, is a son of the late Colonel T. V. and Sal- lie Williams. He was born in Tazewell County, Virginia, July 16, 1866, coming with his parents to Grundy County in 1876. They located on a farm near Edinburg. His father was a physician, and was prominently known in the county years ago. After a course in Grand River college Mr. Williams studied law in the State University, completing his study in the office of Judge DeBolt. He was ad- mitted to the bar in 1889. Though a Democrat, Mr. Williams has been city attorney two terms, and has been assistant prosecuting attorney. When the township organ- ization law was declared unconstitutional in 1908 he was appointed county assessor by Governor Folk. In 1907 Mr. Williams was elected mayor, by unanimous consent. During his incumbency the city has had a business like administration. The water works reservoir has been built, with a ca- HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY. 355 pacity of forty million gallons, solving the question of clear water which had perplexed th-e city for a generation. The mayor lias introduced a new era in street cleaning, and is r^iter Street. He has HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY. 395 built nearly two hundred houses in Trenton and Grundy County. SAMUEL A. HARTLEY, son of Georg.e and Harriet Hartley, was born in Yorkshire, near Shef- field, England, April i8, 1843. He was married Feb. 20, 1857, to Anna Hinkley. She was born May 16, 1847, at Hiram, Ohio. They have four children living, and two dead. O. A., born Oct. 28, 1868, lives near Laredo; Arthur, born Jan. 12, 1874, died the next fall; Walter C, born August 26, 1879; Charles E., Jan. 18, 1881 ; Geo. H., March 12, 1884. Mr. Hartley's father died in England when he was small. His mother married Thomas Spring- thorp. He came with them to America in 1847, and lived with them at Ravanna, Ohio, until grown. He went to Hiram college in 1867, and came to Grundy County, Afo., in 1869, buying the farm he now owns, in the Rural Dale neighborhood. In his youth he learned the blacksmith trade, and worked at that before he came to Missouri, and at times for some time afterward. He also worked in the Rock Island shops at Trenton, for three and a half years directly after coming to Missouri, his brother-in- law running the farm. He lived at Spickard two years, blacksmithing, and has since been on his farm. He has a hundred and sixty acres, well located and well improved. He has been a director of the Farmers Mutual Insurance Company since its organization. He has been a member of the 396 HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY. township board and justice of the peacv: iov some time. Mr. Hartley at the outbreak of the civil war joined the 42nd, Ohio cavalry, was transferred to Buell's signal corps, serving six months. He re- enlisted in the 171st Ohio, w^as transferred to the 39th Ohio, Co. K., and served to the end of the war, serving in many important engagements. He is a member of the R. P. Carnes Post G. A. R. WARREN HARRIS, son of Daniel and Lizzie Harris, was born in Champaign County, Ohio, May 12, 1833. He was married November i, 1855, tc Henrietta L. Cranston w4io was also born in Cham- paign County, Ohio, September 28, 1837. They have eight children; Ralph C, born July 12, 1857, died June 19, 1865; C. D., December 21, 1858, lives in St. Joseph, Mo.; Sybil Irene, August 30, i860, died June 24, 1865; Eugene G., October 31, 1863, died July 12, 1865; Glen C, March 4, 1867, ^"^o^^' i^'i Walla Walla, Washington; Anna L., December 21, 1868, now Mrs. Joseph Thompson of near Laredo, Mo.; Guy, December 19, 1871 ; Louis H., March 26, 1875, "ow in Walla Walla, Washington. Mr. Harris came to Missouri in 1858 and bought his present place in i860 which contains three hundred and thirty-eight acres located five miles northeast of Trenton. His son, W. G., was married June 2, 1909, to Jennie Blattner, daughter of Isaac Blattner who recently came here from Ne- braska. Mr. Harris handles registered shorthorn cat- HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY. 397 tie also registered Percheron horses and registered Shropshire sheep. Jordon Jr., a thorough bred Percheron horse owned by Guy Harris took first prize at the Grundy County Fair at Trenton iii 1908. J. W. HENDRICKSON was born on the farm he now owns, ten miles east of Trenton, Jan. 3, 1864. He was married Sept. 25, 1887, to Miss Ida Mueller, daughter of Jacog Mueller. She was born in Monroe County, III, June 24, 1864, coming to years old. Mr. Hendrickson lived on a farm with his father the greater part of the time until his mar- riage. He then moved into a house on the old home place, where he remained until the death of his father, in 1908, when he moved into the old home. He bought the farm adjoining, to which he moved, and afterwards bought other adjoining land. After the death of his father, his mother, who lives with him, deeded him the home place. He has a well improved farm, on which there are two good residences. Mr. and Mrs. Hendrickson have six children. Lillie was born Jan. 20, 1889; John M., Feb. 16, 1893; Etta F., Feb. 9, 1895; Sarah G., July 28, 1897; Earnest ]\T., June 21, 1900'; Mildred, Nov. 2, 1906. Mr. and Mrs. Hendrickson are members of the Christian Church. JOHN S. HILL'S father is Phillip Hill, a Pennsylvanian by birth. His mother is Mary A. 398 HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY. Hill. He was born in Marion township, Grundy County, Mo., in the year 1861, and was educated in the public schools of this county. Mr. Hill was married to Bertha Sheppard, in 1904. Mr. Hill was one child, Nettie, born in February, 1900. Mr. Hill has always followed farming for a hvelihood, and has always had the wisdom to know that Grundy County is a good place to live in. He is a Republican in politics. J. B. HINKLEY is the son of J. B. Hinkley, who died Dec. 4, 1901, and Elizabeth Hinkley, who lives with him. He was born in Grundy County, March 11, 1882, on the place he now owns. He was married Jan. 2, 1908 to ]\Iiss Ethel Blazer, daugh- ter of James Blazer. Until the death of his father ]\Ir. Hinkley as- sisted him on the farm. Since that time the farm has been conducted by hi mand his mother. He handles pure bred Poland China hogs. J. B. Hinkley, Sr. was born in Hiram County, Ohio, May 2, 1839. He was educated in that state, taking a course in Hiram College, and came to Missouri in 1866. He was married Nov. 13, 1871, to Elizabeth McCreary. Their son, Avery D., born Sept. A, 1872, died April i, 1873; Curtis T,., born June 10, 1880, died August 17, 1881; Eber Mc, born June 7, 1884. died Jan. 23, 1892. VICTOR O. HOBBS, a son of W. B. and Esther J. Hobbs, was born at the old home place three and one half miles south of Trenton, January 10, 1878. His father was one of the old pioneers HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUTNY 399 VICTOR O. HOBBS. of this county, coming here in 1837. INIr. Hobbs spent his early Hfe on the farm, graduating from the Trenton High School and later took a course at Avalon College; for several years he was en- gaged in teaching, beginning when but eighteen years of age. He still lived at the old home place and spent his leisure time in studying surveying, completing a course with the I. C. S. and later attending the Armour Technical Institute at Chic- ago. He was elected Assessor for this township and served two terms; while holding this office, he was appointed County Surveyor by Gov. Dockepy; he resigned this office in 1904 to accept the office of City L\tigineer of Trenton, which place he has held continuously since that time. He has one of the 400 HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY • most complete surveying e(|uipments of any civil engineer in the state, and is often employed for special work. During the 1909 session of the legis- lature he was appointed minute clerk, but his pri- vate business prevented him from serving; he was also offered a splendid place in the U. S. Revenue service, luit was forced to decline for the same reason. He has recently become much interested in raising pure l^red chickens and has a lot of S. C. Buff Orphington<. among the finest in the country. He was recently appointed a member of the State Poultry Board liy (^lOv. Hadle}'. Mr. Hobbs was united in Marriage Feb. 26, 1900 to Laura E. Kackley, a daughter of L. M. Kackley. Three children have been born to this union; Walter, born May 30, 1901, Benton, Jan. 14, 1903, and Ray, June 17, 1905. DR. W. C. HUNTER is a son of E. R. and Emily Hunter. He was born at Lathrop, Mo., Sept. 28, 1870. His Dresent residence is Kansas City, Mo., he having left Trenton last year, 1908. Dr. Hunter received a general education in the Trenton high school, and studied medicine in the Kentucky School of Medicine, Louisville, Ky. He was married to Allie M. \\'oldr!dge, daughter of John Woldridge, Dec. 2y, 1894. They have one child. Lexie. born June 18, 1896. Dr. Hunter graduated in the medical college in 1893. He has also taken a four years course in the state university. Dr. Hunter practiced for nine years in Livingston and Grundy Counties, lo- HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY 401 cated in Trenton, and left Trenton in August 1908,, to practice medicine in Kansas City. While en- gaged in the general practice of medicine, Dr. Hun- ter is a specialist on diseases of the eye and ear. RAYMOND B. JACKSON, son of B. and Josephine Jackson, was born at Dunlap, Iowa, Oct. 17, 1880. He now lives at Tindall Mo. He re- ceived his education in the public and high schools and the Capital City Commercial College at Des Moines and spent two years in the Iowa State Col- lege. He was married to Anna M. Gehlbach Feb- ruary 3, 1904. Mr. Jackson was born on a farm and moved to Dunlap, la., where his father was in the hardware business. They lived several years in Des Moines, where his father was manager of a brick company. He sold out his interest three years ago and bought the Clark farm of over six hundred acres four miles north of town. He and his father bought the hardware store of J. D. Speck at Tindall, May 12, 1909. The firm is called B. Jackson and Son. MARSHALL JOHNSON, a son of Luther and Adelia Johnson, of Farmersville, was born in Carroll County, Mo., Sept. 3, 1882. He was mar- ried March 12, 1906, to Miss Daisy Moore, daugh- ter of George F. Moore. They have one child, John, born August 14, 1907. Mr. Johnson lived in Carroll County for a number of years, and spent some years in Kansas and in the west, farming and ranching. He came to Grundy County in 1904, and worked at various 402 HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY places. After his marriage he leased a farm near his father-in-law, then leased the Long farm, where he now lives, five and a half miles east of Trenton, on route two. He is an expert paper hanger and painter, and works at that trade between crops and at odd times. Mrs. Johnson belongs to the Methodist Church. WILLIAM p. JOINER. WILLIAM P. JOINER was born in Clinton County, Ohio, January i6th, 1874. He was edu- cated in the public schools of that state and at Ava- lon College. In 1881 he came to this county with his parents, his father buying a farm near this city, on which he still resides. Mr. Joiner made his Iiome on the farm until 1899, when he entered the €mploy of the Rock Island, soon becoming con- ductor. June 1 6th, 1905, he was appointed cir- cuit clerk of Grundy County by Governor Folk, to HISTORY OF GRUNDT COUNTY 40S fill a vacancy. He quit the railroad work to ac- cept this place, whfch he filled until 1907. When his term of office had expired Mr. Joiner went into the coal business, in which he is still engaged. He is secretary of the local chau- tauqua association and of the local poultry associa- tion, being a breeder of pure bred Black Orping- tons. For five years during his residence on the farm Mr. Joiner taught school, the lady who after- wards became his wife being one of his pupils. J. FRANK JONES. J. FRANK JONES, the subject of this sketch, is a native of Grundy County, having been born on the old Jones homestead ten miles northeast of Trenton. His father, Simpson Jones, was one of the pioneer settlers of this county, having come here from Kentucky about 1854, and, with the ex- 404 i). HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY ception of a short time, made his home here during his Hfetime, where he became a prosperous farmer.. His son, J. Frank Jones, Hke the other members of the family, was raised on the farm and attended the pubHc schools. Later, when he had grown to manhood, he attended the Kirksville and Warrens- burg normals, and also took a commercial course. He then taught school for a number of years, his last work in teaching having been as Superintendent of the schools of Keytesville, the county seat of Chariton County. After considerable experience in other professions outside teaching, Mr. Jones re- turned to his first love, the farm, about eight years ago. Since that time he has practiced scientific farm- ing. He has owned a number of good farms in the county, and at present has nearly six hundred acres of fine land, well stocked and well kept. On the fourth of Sept., 1889, he was married to Miss Alice Clay, of Saline County, of an old family whose history may be traced back many years. To this union the following children have been born: Gladys Clay, Sept. 6, 1892; Bernice Simpson, July 27th, 1904; J. Frank Jr., July 17, 1902; Charles Edward, August 2nd, 1908; and one who died in infancy. REV. N. W. KEITH was born Sept. 2t„ 1827 in Harrison County, Ky. He moved to Ohio when small and from there to Grundy County, Mo., in June 1839, locating two miles east of where Spick- ard now is. He remained in that section until 1861, when he moved to V\'avne county, la., returning HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY ' ' ' 405 to Missouri in 1873 and locating on a farm east of Spickard near where he had first located. ' Mr. Keith entered the ministry when eighteen years of age and continued in that calling until tjie last few years during which time he has been unable to travel, but is still a very energetic worker in the church. Mr. Keith was married December 9, 1849 to Margaret Schooler by Rev. Ira Blakely, a pioneer minister known to all old settlers; to this union there were born eight children, seven boys and one girl, all of whom are living and married and the youngest of whom is thirty-nine years old. Attorney T. H. Keith of Spickard is next to the youngesr. child. THOMAS HENRY KEITH is a son of N. W. and Margaret Keith, who came to Missouri in 1839. He was born in Wayne county, la., Decem- ber 26, 1866. He was married to Mary E. King, daughter of N. W. King, of Myers township, March 8, 1891. They have one child, Warnic Earl, born March 31, 1S92, who is now a graduate of the Spickard high school, and now teaching in this county. Mr. Keith spent his early life on a farm, and taught school for ten years. He read law under the instruction of O. G. Bain, of Judge George Hall, and of Harber & Knight, and was admitted to the bar in 1899. Since that time he has practiced law, and has in addition to his legal practice dealt in real estate and written insurance. Mr. Keith lives in Spickard. He is one of a 406 HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY REV. AND. MRS. N. W. KEITH. HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY 40T T. H KEITH. family of eight, se\ en loys and one girl, and is next to the youngest. The entire family and both par- ents are still living. Mr. Keith's parents are among Grundy County's oldest living pioneers. He is a republican in politics, and has served as township assessor, justice of the peace, city attorney and in other offices. J. H. LEE, son of Allen and Alarinda Lee, was born in Hiram, Portage County, Ohio, j\Iay 19, 185 1 He lives on route six, Trenton. Mr. Lee and Miss Attelia Perry, daughter of Rees and Elanore Perry, were married January 2, 190S. Air. Lee lived in Ohio until 1864 when he came to Grundy Countv and moved to a farm six miles east of Trenton. He lived here until 1896 when he 408 HISTOHY OF GRUNDY COUNTY J. H. LEE'S RESIDENCE. moved to the farm now owned by James LeHew. Hq bought the farm he now owns, just east of Tren- ton, in 1905. Mr. Lee is a stockholder in the Dunlap bank. He is superintendent of the grain and vegetables department of the Grundy County fair, and keeps in line with modern farm methods. J. C. LEHEW was born at Fort Wayne, In- diana, May 16, 1870. He lives on route six, Tren- ton, Mo. Mr. LeHew was married to Miss Ella Crawford, daughter of Wm. C. Crawford, Decem- ber 24, 1901. They have three children: Cassie Maurine, born November 10, 1902; Clifton Craw- ford, March 15, 1904; Helen Mildred, September 6, 1905. His parents came to Grundy county when Mr. ■ HISTORY OF GRtJNDY COUNTY 409 LeHew was three years old, and lived northeast of Trenton until he was grown. After he was married he bought a farm near Edinburg. After living there three years he moved to his present farm two miles east of Trenton. Mr. LeHew has a w^ell improved one hundred acre farm. His house is lighted by electricity. He ' is a member of the I. O. O. F. and M. W. A. lodges, and both he and Mrs. LeHew are members of the Baptist church. J. M. LOWEN, son of Hamilton H. and Sallie A. Lowen, was born in Knox County, Mo., Sept. 3, 1844. He lives on route six, Trenton, Mo. He was married to Miss Mattie A. Arbuckle, daugh- ter of Isaac R. Arbuckle, June 7th, 1893. She was born in Wood County, West Virginia, July i, 1859, moved to Illinois when small, and came to Grundy County in 1880. They have two children living, and one, born August 26, 1894, died in infancy. Harry M., was born Oct. 27, 1895 ; Charles F., June 16, 1897. Mr. Lowen lived on a farm in Knox County until ten years old, his father dying two years ear- lier. The family then came to Trenton, where they lived a year, then bought a farm east of Tindall, on which they lived until 1882, at which time Mr. Lowen quit farming and went to work for the Rock Island. He remained here nearly ten years. A few years later he married, after which he went to farming. He rented the Terry place for two 410 HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY years, and in 1895 bought his present eighty acre farm four miles. northeast of Trenton. Mr. Lo<>ven was. a meinber of . the home .guards during the war. He is an Odd Fellow, and a mem- ber of the Christian Church. Mrs. Lowen is a Baptist. D. W McKEE'S RESIDENCE. D. W. A.cKEE, a son of David and Anna AIc- Kee, was l^.orn in TittslAir;:^, Pa., Feb. 16, 1861. He was married !\larch 14, i>S8, to Miss Ida Bolton, daughter of George Bolton. They have six children five of whom are living. Mr. McKee lived in Pennsylvania until twenty- one years old when he went to southwestern Iowa and went into the implement business. He went from there to Denver, Colo., where he was a con- tractor, then to Chevenne Countv, Neb. He lived HISTORY OF GRUNDT COUNTY 411 there four years and was sheriff of the county. He then returned to Iowa, and was traveHng salesman for an irnplement house for, a iew years,„which em- ployment he quit and went to farming. He lived in Iowa until the spring of 1909, when he bought the Lathrop farm of two hundred and twenty-six acres on route six, just east of Trenton. Mr. and Mrs. McKee's children are George R., born Dec. 11, 1888; James W., Sept. 10, 1890; Bessie M., born February 26, 1895, died May 19, 1906; Frank, born Dec. 26, 1896; Hattie M., Feb. 19, 1899, and Alexander D., August 2^^, 1906, JOSEPH L. MARSDEN, son of John and Hannah Marsden, was born in Philadelphia, Nov. 20, 1864. He was married Sept. 11, 1889, to Eliza- beth A. Carter, daughter of Hon. John E. Carter, of Trenton. They have one child, Edna M., born July 10, 1890. Mr. Marsden came to Trenton with his parents when fourteen years old. He was call boy for the Rock Island for four years, beginning Oct. i, 1897, then went into the shops and served nine years as machinist. In 1892 he quit the shops and went into the laundry business as a member of the firm Baker & Marsden. This firm soon became Marsden Bros, and erected the building they now occupy in 1893, from which time they have continually added to their equipment and extended their business. Mr. Marsden was superintendent of the water works for seven years, up to July 25th, 1906. 412 HISTORY dF GRUNDt COUNTY JOHN H. MERRYMAN is a son of John and Jemima Merryman. He was born at Rock Cas- tle, Kentucky, Oct. 21, 1841. Mr. Merryman and Serena E. Kilburn were married Dec. 31, 1865. They have five children, three of whom are living. They are Laura Levona, now Mrs. Wm. Curtis ; J. M., of Laredo, and Mary J., wife of Walter Owen, of Creston, la. Mrs. Merryman was born June 19, 1847, Henry F. was born Oct. 28, 1886, Minnie B. was born May 24, 1873, died Jan. 18, 1884. Mr. Merryman was born on a farm. His par- ents drove to Grundy County in 1844, settling near where Laredo now is. Mr. Merryman entered land here, and lived on the farm until 1895, when he came to Laredo and went into the hardware and implement business, in which he continued until January, 1908, when he sold his business to Mr. Farnsworth, and retired from active business. Mr. Merryman sold H. G. Belshe, said to be the first white child born in Wilson township, 180 acres of the old home place. He was first assessor of Wilson township, and has served as collector and township trustee. He is a member of the Chris- tian church, of the L O. O. F. and the G. A. R. •He has seen extensive military service ; was a mem- ber of the 30th Missouri Volunteer Infantry, and afterwards served in Co. K., 44th Missouri, until the close of the war. ALBERT P. MILLER, son of Major John W. and Harriet (Patton) Miller, was born in the his- toric town of Winchester, Virginia, Sept. 25, 1845. HISTORY OF GRtJNDY COUNTY 41$ He comes from German extraction and his grand father, Jacob Miller was an officer in the Colonial army. His father, Major Miller, was an officer in the American army in the war of 1812. His par-. ents died when he was quite young and he was left to shift for himself. Schools at that time were scarce, so most of his education was gotten in the wide "School of Experience." He was farmed out as it was then expressed, till he was of age and soon after the breaking out of the Civil war, he joined the Confederate army and was a courier for Gen. Robert E. Lee till the surrender at Appomattox. Af- ter the war he returned to Winchester and clerked in a store there for twelve years. He was united in marriage to Miss Laura Fowler, daughter of Hon. Robert Fowler, comptroller of the state of Maryland, December 10, 1874. His wife died some three years later leaving two children: Robert F... born Oct. 6, 1876, now in business in Baltimore, Maryland, and Albert P. jr., born January 9, 1878, now in business at Pittsburg, Pa. Soon after her death he came west and landed at Kirksville, Mo., in January, 1880, where he went into the mercantile business; from Kirksville he went to Milan, Mo., in Oct. 1881, and remained there until 1890. While residing at Milan he was married to Miss Cora M. Boynton, daughter of Judge Sumner Boynton, Dec. 18, 1884. One son was born to them, Carrol B., May 10, 1890. His wife died in St. Louis, Decem- ber 12, 1904. Mr. Miller left Milan in 1890 and came to Trenton, Mo., and started the Racket store which he has since conducted. Mr. Miller is a successful 414 HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY business man and has a handsome home. In it is an old Colonial clock, olcler than the riation ifself . *At one time it was carried off by the British but was re- captured afterwards and became the property of his grandfather. CHAS. E. MOORE, a son of J. H. and Isabel Moore, was born near Spickard, Mo., Jan. 24, 1875. He was married Sept. 30, 1900, to Miss Lucy Lowry daughter of Rev. J. S. Lowry and niece of Dr. H. L. Lowry of Tindall, Mo. Mr. Moore lived on the farm until twenty-one when he went into the mercantile business at Bar- nett, la., as clerk for three years. He then came to Spickard, Mo., and worked with J. W. Wilson for three years, he and Wesley Brown then going to Tindall engaging in the mercantile business under the firm name of Moore & Brown. At the end of eighteen months he bought Mr. Brown's in- terest continuing the business alone. In May, 1908, he was joined by his brother, J. D. Moore, under the firm name of Moore Bros. Mr. Moore is a member of the I. O. O. F. lodge, also a member of the M. W. A. lodge and of the Baptist church. CHARLES M. MOORE is the son of Reuben and Abigail Moore; both his parents are dead. Mr. Moore was born in Madison county, Indiana, Aug- ust 6th, 1865. H^ "o^^' lives on route one, Trenton, Mo. He was married April 29, 1888 to Tisha George daughter of William George. They have two chil- HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY 41S drcn: Albert vM., bom August 5,^ 1889; Abbie, born Jan. 8, 1891, now at home. Mr. Moore moved with his parents to Grundy county when six years old and settled on a farm twelve miles northeast of Trenton. His mother died in Indiana when Mr. Moore was a small boy. His father died fifteen years ago on the old home place. Mr. Moore lived on the farm with his father until he was married and then he went to farming for himself in the same neighborhood. He sold this farm in 1903 and bought the farm he now lives on. It consists of two hundred and forty acres. He raises all kinds of stock but makes a specialty of sheep raising, having two hundred and thirty head. All of his family belong to the Christian church ex- cept Albert M. JAMES E. MERRIFIELD is a son of Dr. J. W. Merrifield. He was born at Pattonsburg, Mo., February 13, 1881. Mr. Merrifield took a course in Grand River College after completing the public school course. He married Miss Eula May Cline, September 29th, 1902. They have two children; Cecil, born November 26, 1903, and Boline, born April 6, 1905. Both children have unusual musical talent. Mr. Merrifield attended school till ten years old then learned the barber trade, at which he work- ed two years. He then re-entered school and re- mained until eighteen when he began soliciting for a portrait firm, working up from the lowest to the highest position until he was general manager for Southern Iowa and Northern Missouri. Mr. Mer- 416 HISTORY OF GRUNDY , and became pastor of the parishes of Trenton and Gilman January ist, 1907 He is a strong pulpit orator and highly popular in his par- ishes. DALE WALKER, is the son of Alonzo and Anna Walker. His father is dead, his mother lives at Four Corners, and is now Mrs. F. M. Fisher. He was born at Trenton, Mo., August 22, 1878. He now lives on route two, Trenton, Mo. He was HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY 439 married March 21, 1898, to Cora Sawyer, daugh- ter of H. H. Sawyer, of Trenton. Mr. Walker Hved in Trenton till sixteen years of age then went to farming, hiring out for several years ; at the age of twenty-one years he purchased a farm of his own, which consisted of eighty-six acres, near Spickards, Mo. He sold this farm and has since owned several farms, buying the one he now lives on in 1905. It consists of one hundred and eighty-five acres. He handles stock of all kinds, dealing most extensively in sheep. C. W. WEBSTER is the son of James and Elizabeth Webster. He was born in Grundy County, and lives two and a half miles south of Gait. He received his education in the public schools of this county. Mr. Webster was married in the year 1881 to Alice M. Shaney. They have six children, three boys and three girls. He is a minister in the Christian Church, a farmer, and in politics favors the Republican party. He is a man of excellent reputation, and commands the respect of the com- munity in which he lives. HENRY WETTSTEIN was born in Zurich, Switzerland, October 18, 1847. He was educated in Switzerland, coming to America in 1867. He lived at Canton, Mo., until 1874, when he came to Tren- ton and engaged in the wholesale beer and grain business, in which he remained for thirty years. Mr. Wettstein was married in Canton, Mo., in August, 1875, to Frederica Roh, who died in De- 440 HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY cember, 1885. He was married to Pauline Roh, at Quincy, 111., Dec. 10, 1887. Mr. Wettstein was for a number of years a member of the city council of Trenton and was mayor for four years. He owns several well locat- ed business buildings, is a director of the Farmers Exchange bank and the Trenton Coal Co., and is a stockholder in the ice plant, canning factory and other business enterprises. Mr. and Mrs. Wettstein have six children: Daisy B., Walter H., and Edgar L., from his first marriage and BerniceC, Clarence F., and Pauline F., from his second marriage. CLAUD WILLIAMS is a son of John W. and Martha Williams. He was born in Trenton, HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY 441 where he now hves, Dec. i6, 1882, and was edu- cated in the schools of this city. He was married in the year 1903 to Stella Copher. They have two children, Juanita, and Vencil. Mr. Williams has spent all his life in Trenton. He followed hlacksmithing for ahout five years. He was made janitor of the Grundy County court house some time ago, and on account of efficient service was reemployed by the county court at the July meeting, 1909, now holding that position. T. L. WILLIAMS, a son of Sam and Matilda Williams, of Trenton, was born in Morgan County, Ohio, December 6, 1873. He was married Sept. II, 1895, to Miss Libbie Stewart, a daughter of James Stewart. They have two children ; Robert R., born Jan. 17, 1897, and Gerald R., born Dec. 30, 1899. Mr. Williams came to Grundy County with his parents when tw^o years old. They settled on a farm near Trenton. He lived at home until mar- ried, when he went to farming for himself. He has leased several farms, taking charge of the old Norton farm five miles east of Trenton in February 1902, where he has lived constantly since that time. Mr. Williams bought the farm, which consists of two hundred acres, in 1908, but later sold it, and and has now leased a portion of it. CLARENCE C. WILSON, son of J. H. Wil- son, w^as born in Daviess County, Oct. 18, 1875. He was married July 4th, 1900 to Miss Edna Spencer, 442 HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY daughter of L. D. Spencer, of this city. They have two children; Corwin, born January 26, 1904, and Spencer, April 21, 1902. Mr. Wilson worked four years for E. M. Mann, at Gallatin, and four years for M. E. Fitterer & Son, of Trenton. He then conducted a news stand for some months at Gallatin. After his marriage Mr. Wilson lived five months in Norman, Oklahoma then came to Trenton in October, 1900. He is pro- prietor of a grocery store on College Avenue. Mr. Wilson has served four years as a member of the city council. ROY YAMBERT, a son of R. W. and Susan Yambert, was born in Sullivan County, Mo., Jan. 26, 1880. He lives on R. F. D. No. six, Trenton, HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY 443 Mo. He was married to Miss Olive McGown, daughter of Samuel McGown, Nov. 7, 1907. They have one child, Vere M., born Sept. 15, 1908. Mrs Yambert was born in Nebraska, Oct. 24, 1888, and came to Grundy County in 1900. Mr. Yambert came with his parents to this coun- ty when two years old. They settled near Four Corners, where his father bought a farm, and where Mr. Yambert lived until his marriage. He leased the Ol Lay ton farm for one year, and in 1909 leased the Urton farm near Four Corners. Both Mr. and Mrs. Yambert are members of the Baptist Church. E. L. ANDERSON was born in Wilson town- ship, Grundy County, Missouri, December 20, 1859. He was educated in the public schools of Alpha, Missouri. He is the son of H. H. Ander- son, born in Tennessee on March 26, 1838, and Ma- ry Ellen (Stephens) Anderson, born in Howard County, Missouri, August 8, 1845. Mr. Anderson now lives three and one half miles southeast of Laredo. He was married in December 1893 to Hattie S. Tolson, born August 31, 1876. They have two children; Goldie M., born November 9, 1895; and Snoda E.., born June 17, 1898. Mr. Anderson has been and is engaged in farm- ing and stock raising on his farm of 109 acres. Mr. and Mrs. Anderson are members of the Baptist Church. In politics he is a Democrat. 444 HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY MR. AND MRS. W. A. ANDERSON. W. A. ANDERSON was born in Grundy County, February 14, 1844. Mr. Anderson lives five miles southeast of Laredo. He was married March 14, 1867 to Miss Hannah M. Woods. They had nine children, of w4iom seven are living. They are Nettie M. born May 31, 1869; John M, born September 26, 1871 ; Wm. Woods, born July i, 1874; Vina F., born April 10, 1876; Leroy P., born March 28, 1880; Claybourn Fox, born De- cember 27, 1882; Bessie H. born June 22, 1884, Lloyd E. born January 27, 1889. The subject of the sketch began when quite young to obtain some of this worlds goods and at twenty-two, he bought 140 acres of his present farm and has since that time increased the size of his farm to 800 acres, a considerable part of which he has given to his children. He is one of the HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY 445 oldest citizens born in Grundy County. Mr. An- derson is a stock-holder in the Citizens Bank of Laredo. The colts sired by his jack took the first premiums at the 1908 Fair of Grundy County, and also at the State Fair. He has one of the best stallions in this section of the country. Mr. Anderson was a son of W m. and Nancy (Lida) Anderson. Mr. Anderson's mother was the daughter of C. I. Woods, born in Kentucky in May, 18 16, and Rebecca (Miller) Woods, born in Kentucky on February 3, 181 5. Mr. Anderson is a member of the Baptist Church He is a Democrat in politics. W. A\\ ANDERSON son of W. A. and Han- nah M. (Woods) Anderson, was born in Wilson township July i, 1874. He lives six miles south east of Laredo . Mr. Anderson was married March i, 1899 to ]\Iiss Cora Hiskett, daughter of John M.. and Louise (Norvell) Hiskett. Mrs. Anderson was born February 24, 1877. They have three children. Vera C. w^as born June 13, 1900; Wm. A^irgil was born February 3, 1902: Jack Murray, May 6, 1903. Mr. Anderson has spent his life thus far near his old birthplace. Upon his marriage he moved to a 115 acre \Mlson township farm given him by his father. Selling this farm he bought the farm on which he now^ lives in 1906. Mrs. Anderson after completing the public school course attended the Chillicothe Normal, Humphreys College and Avalon College. She was one of the county's best 446 HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY teachers, having taught twelve years in four schools. T. H. BEACOM. CLAUDE BELSHE, son of John C. and Mary A. Belshe, was born on the place where he now lives, on route three, Trenton, Mo., March 6, 1881. After completing the public school course he took courses in the Kirksville Normal, and Avalon Col- lege. Mr. Belshe was married December 25, 1901, 448 HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY to Miss Mabel B. Crawford, daughter of Judge H. C. Crawford. They have one child, Vivian Calvin, born March 12, 1903. ]^.Ir. Belshe was raised on the old Belshe farm four miles southeast of Trenton. He bought one hundred and sixty acres of land, owning now three hundred and eighty acres, which includes three hun- dred acres of the old home place and an eighty acre just across the road. Mrs. Belshe is a member of the Christian church. J. B. BEXSCHOTEX was born in Racine, Wisconsin December 8, 1864. He was married X^ovember 26, 1892 to Miss Cassie Adkinson, the daughter of Andy Adkinson. They have one child Clyde R., born July 9, 1894. ^Irs. Benschoten was born in Tipton County, Indiana October 13, 1871, and came to Grundy County in 1888. When he was six years old, the parents of Mr. Benschoten moved from the city of Racine to a farm in Doon County, Wisconsin where he lived until seventeen vears old. He then went to Kos- suth County, Iowa where he lived about 7 years, his father having bought a farm there. His father then came to Livingston County in 1884, where he remained a vear. then leased a farm near Trenton. He then bought the Jones farm in the Paint Lick neighborhood. Shortly after, ^Ir. Benschoten be- gan farming for himself and later married. He leased the Shelton farm, then the James Pulliam farm and in loci the John Jones farm near Grundy HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY 449 Center where he now hves. In addition to the 80 acres of the Jones farm, he has some land leased of Bert Goodson. FRANKLIN BRENNENSTUHL was born at Lancaster, Ohio, May i, 1864. He was mar- ried February 24, 1889, to Carohne Trump. They have five children. Their names are Jesse, born February 9, 1893; Mabel, born August 2y, 1896; Herman, born October 27, 1898; Min- nie, born April zj, 1901 ; Bernice, born December I, 1903. Mr. Brennenstuhl came to Missouri from Ohio with his parents in 1870 settling in Grundy county. He was reared on a farm and lived at home until grown and married, then went to farming for him- self. He lived on and owned a farm four miles northeast of Trenton. He sold that and bought a farm near the Poor Farm in 1903, where he moved dying there in 1906. Since that time his widow and her elder son Jesse have run the farm, which consists of 160 acres at the home place and fifteen acres of timber near the home place, 175 acres in all. The farm is well improved. Mrs. Brennenstuhl was born in Grundy County, near Tindall, December 30, 1863. Her father Leonard Trump, was one of the earliest settlers of the county and still lives at Tindall. NORTON BURKEHOLDER, cashier of the Bank of Spickard, is a son of Hon. A. H. and Re- becca Burkeholder, of Trenton. He was born March 2, 1870. He married Sarah J. Wolz, June 450 HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY II, 1903. They have three children, Ehzabeth. Nadine, born August 21, 1904; Martha Bhss, born April 5, 1906 and John Hudson, born April 27, 1909. Mr. Burkeholder was chief clerk of the Rock Island shops at Trenton from January, 1892 to July 1 90 1. From 1 90 1 to 1903 he was employed in the superintendent's office as chief timekeeper of the southwestern division. August 14, 1903, he was elected cashier of the Bank of Spickard, which posi- tion he now holds. This bank is one of the oldest banks of the county, being organized in 1888. G. O. BURTCH was born in Linn County, Missouri, October 4, 1869. He is the son of John H. Burtch, and Ann E. (Greer) Burtch. He was educated in the public schools of Linn County. He now lives in the south east corner of Grundv. HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY 451 He was married to Minnie Barthol. They have three children John R., Robert and Tommy. Mr. Burtch began his Hfe's work when he was eighteen, buying his first forty acres, and from the beginning accumulating a large farm containing 1 60 acres in Grundy County and 120 in Linn. He deals in stock of all kinds. In politics he is a Republican. C. C. CARPENTER, son of R. K., and Sarah (Moore) Carpenter, old settlers in Grundy County, was born ten miles northeast of Trenton, February 12, 1863. He lives on route nine, Trenton, Mo. Mr. Carpenter was married April 8, 1888, to Miss OUie Bolsor, daughter of Theodore Bolser, an early set- tler. She was born in this county May 5, 1866, on the farm her father entered. Mr. Carpenter was reared on a farm near where the Starlight postoffice was once located. When he was married he went to farming for him- self, buying the Nate Harris farm, later buying other land and now has one hundred acres on which he lives. He devotes most of his attention to sheep raising. All of the stock on his farm is eligible to register. He handles shorthorn cattle and fine Berkshire hogs, recorded Morgan and standard bred horses, having some which he brought from Louisville, Ky., their sires being prize winners at the World's Fair. Mr. Carpenter is an Odd Fellow. He owns stock in a number of banks. Farmers Exchange Bank, Gait State, and is one of the directors at the bank at Tindall, also Dunlap State Bank and Bank HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY 453 of Brimson. He helped to organize the Citizens State Bank at Carnegie, Okla., and is a stockhokler in a new bank at Oklahoma City. He also helped to organize the Bankers Loan and Trust Company of Oklahoma City which has a capital of $500,000. R. O. CARPENTER, was born in Grundy County near Four Corners, November 29, 1866. Plis parents were B. W. and Sarah Carpenter, both of whom are dead He was born and reared on the farm and lived there with his parents until grown, when he married .i^id went to farming fnr liimself. He was married to Miss Effie Griffith, in November 189T. vShe was the daughter of VV'ni. Griffith, and was born jMarch 27, 1872, in Indiana and came to Missouri in 1884. They have o'le rjiild, Mabel E., born June 21, 1895. Mr. Carpenter leased, for two years after his marriage, then bought a farm near C. C. Carpen- ter's vvhere he lived tor al^out six years. Bio tlieu bovigJit his present farm nine miles northeast of Trenton in Lincoln township, where he has since lived. It consists of 70 acres, well improved, good orchard, splendid out-buildings and fine home. Mr. and Mrs. Carpenter belong to the Christian Church. BEN K. CHASE, son of Wm. H. Chase, was born at Arrow Rock, Saline county. Mo., January 23rd, 1861. He was married to Anna Adamson, of Centerville, la. His father fought for the Union cause, enlist- ing in the 45th Illinois regiment, while the family 454 HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY went to St. Louis. While the father was in the army their home was burned, and the family went to Decatur, 111., where they lived until the close of the war. They then went to St. Joseph and lived there until Mr. Chase's father died, in 1867, from injuries received in the war, and in 1868 they moved to a farm near where Spickard now is. Here the mother and four children lived until after the town was founded, and the children attended school at Spickard. At twelve Mr. Chase went to work for N. F. Munn in the mercantile business, and re- mained two years. He worked two years for O. P. West in a drug store, and four years in a shoe and harness store for I. J. Godfrey, where he learned the shoemaker trnde. He then bought the shoe busi- ness which he ran for a year and formed a partner- ship with R. M. Crockett. He afterwards sold out and went to Seattle, Washington, and stayed nearly three years in the docks, working at ship building. He then came to Trenton and was in the employ of the Rock Island two years, then went into the restaurant business which he followed eight years, selling out to Dode Smith, the present proprietor of the Elm street restaurant and bakery. Mr. Chase then established a confectionery store, which he af- ter wards sold, worked for awhile with Palmer Bros, in the furniture business, and recently became a member of the grocery firm of Daniels and Chase. G. W. CLARK was born in Montgomery coun- ty, Ky., December 2y, 1844. He now lives four mile north of Laredo. Mr. Clark was married on the eighth of October, 1874, to Miss Helen White, who 5S w 5 w z n w o o 456 HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY was born Oct. 1 1, 1850, and died February 14, 1903. Two children were born to them: Roscoe C, born Sept. 27, 1877; and NeUie B., Oct. 16, 1880. Mr. Clark was married to Miss Nora E. Lilly, May 3, 1908. He left Kentucky when he was twenty-one years old, and settled on the beautiful farm where he now lives. He is an excellent farmer and stock raiser, and an active worker in the Christian church. In politics he is Republican. Mr. Clark's father, James M. Clark, was born April 15, 1804, and died Sept. 22, 1870. His mother, whose maiden name was Elizabeth Clyce, was born May 9, 1816, and died Oct. 26, 1872. SEWARD M. CLINKENBEARD is a son of George \\\ and Susan C. Clinkenbeard, both of whom are dead. He was born in Mercer County, September 19, 1847. ^^ I'^o^'^' lives on route six Trenton, Mo. He was married September 15, 1872 to Miss Mary J. Buis, daughter of Greenberry Buis They have had eight children, seven of whom are living. George W. born September 11, 1873, lives at Gilman; Alfred M., born March 25, 1875 lives in Harrison County. Minnie D., born April 15, 1877, died Jan. 5, 1883; Chas F., born March 18, 1879, now lives in Trenton. Clara B., born April 29, 1 88 1, now Mrs. John Wooderson, lives in Harrison County. Albert Lee was born January 7, 1884. Ora M. born May 5, 1886, is now Mrs. Frank Clinginsmith of Farmersville. Sarah Katie was born July 7, 1889. Mrs. Clinkenbeard was HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY 457 born October 22, 1852 in Putnam County, Indiana, coming to Harrison County at the age of three. Mr. Chnkenbeard went with his parents to Iowa when about five years old, going from there to Har- rison County, Missouri, eighteen months later, where he lived until grown. He remained in Harrison County until fifteen years after his mar- riage, coming to Grundy County in 1888. He first lived just north of Trenton, leasing several farms in the meantime. In 1904, he leased the James Pulliam farm, one and three fourths miles north of Grundy Center church in Lincoln township. E. W^ COOK ED W. COOK, son of E. A. and Mary J. Cook was born in Grundy County near Laredo, Septem- ber 2nd, 1868. He was married to Sallie M. 458 HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY Schooler, December 23rd, 1888. They have but one child, Kenneth C, born August 31, 1901. Mr. Cook moved with his parents to Spickard when about ten years of age, where he worked in his father's store. In 1888 he assisted in the organization of the Bank of Spickard, was elected cashier in 1894, and served until 1903, when he sold his interest in the bank. He was instrumen- in organizing the Farmers and Merchants Bank, was its cashier in 1903 and 1904, resigning on account of other interests. He is a leading business man of Spickard. ALONZO DAVENPORT, son of Wm. and Thirza (Bacon) Davenport, of Marietta, Ohio, was born March 17, 1848. He now lives six miles south east of Laredo. Mr. Davenport was married Nov, 3, 1870, to Miss Charlotte Jane Grimes, daughter of James and Mary Grimes. Mrs. Davenport was born April 13, 1853. They have had sixteen chil- dren. Mary J. was born Jan. 4, 1872; James W., Jan. 14, 1873; Lucy Bell, Jan. 26, 1874, died Oc- tober 26, 1874; Lily M., July 23, 1875; Leona M., born Oct. 26, 1877 and died March 13, 1879; Willis M., Feb. 27, 1879; Emma E., Nov. 14, 1880; Nancy v., Jan. 7, 1882, died Dec. 14, 1893; Gregory G., Aug. 4, 1884; Perlina B., Sept. 20, 1S86; Robert O., Sept. 20, 1886, died Aug. 15, 1887; Josie F.. April 29, 1888; two died in infancy, born April 13, 1890 and died April i8th and 20th of thit year. Lydia M., Feb. 8, 1892; John Rufus, Sept. 3, 1894. Mr. Davenport cnme from Tov -^ n^ith his f-^ther HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY 459 in 1855, settling first in Livingston County. They moved to Sullivan in 1865, and he remained there with his father until he was married. On his mar- riage, he moved on one forty of the two hundred and eighty acre farm he now owns. Mr. Daven- port is a director in the Farmers and Merchants Bank of Chula. J. W. DUDLEY, son of Andrew and Elizabeth Salina (Clevenger) Dudley, was born in Randolph County, Indiana, July 9, 1874. Mr. Dudley lives five miles southeast of Laredo. He was married Feb. 26, 1899 to Miss Emma Bartholamew, the daughter of Robert and Elizabeth Bartholamew. She was born January 27, 1880. 'Mr. and Mrs. Dudley have two children, Oscar R., born December 17, 1902, and Anderson R., born April 15, 1904. Mr. Dudley came from Indiana to Grundy County in 1882. He has always given his entire attention to farming. He lived in Linn County for six years then came to his present place in the year 1905. He is a Republican in politics. E. E. E. ELLIOTT, son of EHjah and Dorcas Elliott, was born in Morgan County, Ohio, March 20, 1849. He was married in Ohio, Aug. 25 1870, to Esther M. Barnard, daughter of John Barnard. They have nine children living, and two dead. Clarence J. was born Aug. 12, 1871, and died Jan. 13, 1872; Harry T., born Dec. 23, 1872, lives in Ark; John F., born March 17, 1875, lives in Laredo; Jessie R., born Nov. 9, 1876, now Mrs. Enos Strode, lives in Washington; Effie D., born Aug. 30, 1878, 460 HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY now Mrs. Lucian Eveland, of South Dakota; Jason L., born July 28, 1880, lives near his father; Wm. O., March 8, 1882, lives in Selma, Cal; Selah H., was born June 29, 1885; Freeman D., Feb. 2, 1887, died Oct. 16, 1890; Elmer R., Dec. 31, 1889; Edith E. Dec. 30, 1897. Mrs Elliott was born April 7, 1 85 1, in Morgan County, Ohio. Mr, Elliott worked on his father's farm until eighteen when he entered a wagonmaker's shop, learning the trade and remaining three years. He then began farming, coming to Grundy County in 1873, where he lived on "Illinois Ridge" for a year, then bought the farm he now owns, a half mile east of Rural Dale Church and seven miles east of Trenton. His farm contains a hundred and sixty five acres, well improved, with a good home. He makes a specialty of raising Delaine sheep. J. A. FAIR, a son of Thomas and Nancy Fair, was born near Avalon, Livingston County, Mo., November 20, 1875. He attended school at Avalon college. Mr. Fair was married May 11, 1903, to Miss Hallie Bain, daughter of Jesse Bain, of Tin- dall, Mo. They have had one child which died in infancy. Mr. Fair came to Trenton in 1892. He taught school for several years. He worked in a drug store at Raymour, near Kansas City, for three years, then came to Trenton. He began work for Roh & Kathan in 1903 and remained with them three years, when he took a pharmacy course at Highland Park College, Des Moines, Iowa. Af- ter completing this course he went to work for Ben HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY 461 J. McGuire and remained there two 3'ears, when he went into business for himself as a member of the firm Roh & Fair. This firm does an extensive business and their store is an ideal one for a city of ten thousand. C. L. FICKLE was born in Wilson township October 16, 1868. He lives four and one half miles southeast of Laredo. IMr. Fickle was married to Nina E. Woods, April 13, 1873. They have no children. Mr, Fickle is a son of Daniel Fickle one of Wilson township's best pioneers who was born in Indiana, January 27, 1833 ^^^^ ^^^^ April 13, 1901. His mother whose maiden name was Anna M. Bar- nett, is a native of Ohio. Mrs. Fickle is a daught- er of Mr. and Mrs. C. C. Woods. Mr. Fickle left the farm in 1887, embarking in the hardware business at Laredo with the firm of C. C. Fickle and Co., He remained in this business until 1892, then moved to the Barnett farm five mile north of Laredo. In 1894, he moved to the G. A. Mc Kay farm west of Laredo, bought the John Cook farm east of Laredo in 1897, living there until 1900, when he moved to the fine farm of 280 acres where he now lives. He is a member of the I. O. O. F. lodge of Laredo. HARVEY GINN, a son of James and Susan Ginn, was born at Newcastle, Indiana, Oct. i, 1848. He was married about 1868 to Sarah Ayers, of Put- nam county, who died in 1871. He was married to 462 HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY Miss Retta L. Lanius, daughter of Henry C. Lan- ius, July 4, 1883. Mr. Ginn left Indiana with his parents when eight years old, coming to Putnam county, Mo. He lived on a Putnam county farm until twenty-three years old, coming to Trenton in October, 1S71. He entered the employ of the Rock Island in the con- struction department, then in the machine shops. Leaving the shops, he became brakeman and then conductor, serving as conductor twenty-six years, and retiring in 1900. He is still a member of the O. R. C. Since retiring from the railroad's service Mr. Ginn has followed the real estate and insurance business, principally the latter. JOHN BASS KEITH, of Spickard, a son of Stephen H. and Mary Keith, was born in Franklin township March 10, 1859. Mr. Keith and Miss Leota Minter, daughter of Sam Minter, were mar- ried March 31, 1883. They have three children; James O., born October 13, 1888, now teaching at Spickard; Carrie, May 4, 1891, and Clifford M., August 5, 1895. Mr. Keith farmed until twelve years ago, when he moved to Spickard, where he went into the real estate, loan and insurance business, which he has since followed. He has served as justice of the peace, nine years as township collector, and takes an active part in public affairs. Mr. Keith is a republican and a local leader, though a politician only in the higher sense of the term. DR. HENRY L. LOWRY, of Tindall, is a son HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY 461 of John W. Lowry. He was born in Mercer county, July lo, 1868. He and Maude Proctor, daughter of Brook Proctor, of near Tindall were united in mar- riage December 24, 1896. Dr. Lowry Hved in Mercer county during his boyhood. Before taking his medical work, he graduated in Grand River College, taking a B. S. degree, in 1889. He taught school for thirteen years, reading medicine in the meantime. His last work in teaching was as Principal of the school at Winston. He attended the medical college at Keo- kuk, la., for two years, and Barnes University, St. Louis, two years, graduating from the latter in- stitution in 1904. He practiced medicine in the town of Topsy six months, then came to Tindall where he has since been. He has a large practice 464 HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY and is especially successful in the treatment of dis- eases of women and children. — Dr. Lowry is a Mason, an Odd Fellow, and an ordained minister in the Baptist church. He is actively engaged in Sunday school work. He is an ordained minister in the Baptist church. JAMES MACK was born in Lanrickshire Scotland, March 23, 1825. He now lives on route six, Trenton, Mo. He was married May 19, 1850 to Alpha LawTence. They have had ten children, four of whom died in infancy. Mr. Mack's father died in 1842, and in 1844, he came to America with his mother and other mem- bers of the family, coming first to Illinois. He remained there until the fall of 1865 when he came to Grundy County, his mother dying just previous to this time. He bought a farm near Farmers- ville, rented the Riley Cox farm on Honey Creek five years, the Overton farm one year, sold out, lived on the Pulliam farm two vears, then bought the farm where George Lanz now lives. Mrs. Mack died about 1898. Since that time, Mr. Mack has lived with his son, Otis. The children living are H. C, near Gait, born March 2t„ 185 i ; M. T. near Dunlap, April i, 1854; W. W. near Farmersville, May 15, 1856; O. E., Four Corners, Dec. 20, 1862; Geo. F., near Four Corners, Dec. 5, 1865 ' ^^- J-' '^ow Mrs. Matt Trump of near Tindall, Oct. 7, 1869. JACOB MANG, son of George and Anna HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY 465 Mang, was born in Germany, at the head of the Rhine, Aug. i6, 1878. He now Hves on route six, Trenton, Mo. He was married March 10, 1907, to Miss Bertha B. Cox. Mrs. Mang was born in Mercer, County, Feb. 11, 1879. Mr. Mang came to this country when two years old, his people coming direct to Grundy County. They first settled near Spickard, where they farm- ed twelve years, then moved to south Missouri, an4 remained five years. They have lived east of Trenton since their return. Mr. Mang began farm- ing for himself just before his marriage, occupying a farm not far from his father's farm, near Four Corners. He then lived on the Charles Neely farm near Grundy Center church until 1908, when he bought his present farm, three and a half miles north east of Trenton. He does general farming and handles considerable fruit. His farm is well improved, and he has a good home. He belongs to the W. O. W. Both he and Mrs. Mang are are members of the Methodist Church. C. F. McLaughlin was bom in St. Joe County, Indiana on March 27, 1847. He now re- sides two and one half miles southeast of Spickard on Route 1. His father was Robert McLaughlin, born in 1801, died in 1864, and his mother was Lu- cinda (Shaw) McLaughlin, born in 1818, died in 1878. He was married to Lavina Jane Coldiron, Jan. 20, 1867. She was born in Virginia, Sept. 8, 1847. 466 HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY Her parents were Isaac Coldiron and Mary (Gilla) Coldiron, both natives of Virginia. They have had eleven children, eight of whom are living. William, was born in Mercer County, Oct. 26, 1867; Isaac F., Elizabeth; Loren, Aug. 1877; Robert, Jan, 1880; Eva, 1882; Clara, 1884; Stella, 1886; Henry, 1885, died the same year; Har- rison, 1893, died 1896. Mr. McLaughlin came with his parents when he was five years old to Iowa, where they lived four years. In 1856 they came to Mercer County and settled on a farm. He stayed there with his mother until May 18, 1864 when he enlisted in Co. C. 23 Mo. for three years. He was at the siege of Atlan- ta, marched to the sea with Sherman and fought in the battle of Jonesboro, South Carolina. He marched through the Carolinas, to Richmond, then to Washington, D. C. and then to Louisville, where he was mustered out. He was discharged at St. Louis. He then went home to Mercer County, mar- ried after two years and farmed there until 1882 when he bought his farm on which he lives at pres- ent. It contains 160 acres. Mr. McLaughlin is a Republican in politics and a member of the Christian church. FREDERICK MARTIN was born in Monroe County, Ohio, Nov. 16, 1840. He is the son of Michael Martin, born Oct. 30, 1807 and died Oct. 30, 1877 and Rhoda (Crow) Martin, who was born in Ohio in 1816 and died Apr. 23, 1892. He now re- sides on Route 1, Spickard. Mr. Martin was married to Elvina Legg May 25, 1867. She was born in 1849. HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY 467 They have one child, Charles S., born Jan. 13, 1869. Mr. Martin came to Grundy County with his parents in 1859 and settled within four miles of where he now lives. He farmed with his parents until the breaking out of the Civil War when he enlisted in Co. C. 23rd Mo. Infantry for three years. After the three years he enlisted in the 9th U. S. D. V. I. and served until the 11th of June, 1866, when he returned to his old home. He fought in the battle of Shiloh and was taken prisoner and held for six months at Libby prison. He was in the siege of Atlant and was discharged at Atlanta, Sept. 22, 1864 Comnig home he joined the U. S. troops and served until June 11, 1866. Returning to the farm he farmed for five years, then he worked for the Rock Island for a time. He then bought the farm on which he now lives. RESIDENCE OF ALISON NICHOLAS. TRENTON 468 HISTORY OP GRUNDY COUNTY MRS. LUCY MOORE was born in Grundy County, March 7, 1869. She now resides one and one half miles west of Spickard on Route 2. Her father was Charles Perry, born in Indiana, July 8, 1842 and her mother was Sarah Newton Peery, born in Missouri, Feb. 25, 1843. She was married to J. M. Moore, March 15, 1888. J. M. Moore was born in Grundy County, Ocr. 11, 1867 and died May 26, 1907. His father was J.M.MOORE John Moore, born in Missouri, Sept. 14, 1822, and his mother was Mary (Flowers) Moore, born in Tennessee, in 1832, died June 6, 1902. Mr. Moore was a member of the Christian church, I. O. O. F , K. of P. and D of R. lodges. He was a Republican. At his death he was president of the Gait Telephone Co. and of the Township Board. His father, "Unch HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY 469 Jacky Moore," is the oldest living settler of Grundy County. Mrs. Moore has a farm of 115 acres. R. J. MOORE was born in Mercer County, Mo., Oct. 29, 1856. He now resides four miles southwest of Spickard on Route 4. His father was Daniel Moore of Virginia who came to Missouri about sixty-five years ago and was one of Grundy 'County's school teachers. His mother was Marv J. (Flowers) Moore, who died in Grundy County in 1902. She was then the wife of Uncle Jacky Moore, Grundy County's oldest settler. Mr. Moore was married to Malinda McLaugh- lin, Dec. 26, 1883. Her father was Dr. John Mc- Laughlin, born Aug. 18, 1822, died Aug. 11, 1909. Her mother was Nancy Jane (Sullivan) McLaugh- lin. Mrs. Moore was born in Mercer County, Sept. 22, J 861. They have had eight children, six of v/hom are living. Mintie, born Oct. 27, 1883 mar- ried Arthur Newton; Lovie, May 11, 1886, mar- ried John Moore; J. D., July 28, 1889; Ray, Dec. 29, :!892; Garnett, May 28, 1902; and Clyde, Aug. .26, -904. Mr. Moore is a member of the Christian church and a Republican. He is a member of the M. W. A. lodge. He began working for himself at the age of twenty-four and soon after his marriage he bought 40 acres of the farm he now owns. Since then he has accumulated until he has a farm of 230 acres. He is a progressive citizen and a member of one of .the two oldest families in Grundy County. HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY 471 DR. T. E. MOORE, son of J. B. and Mary E. (Easley) Moore, was born in Linneus, Linn Coun- ty, Missouri, Feb. 15, 1878. His parents moved to Grundy County when he was three years old, and lived in Grundy County for three years, thence moving to Chillicothe, Mo., at which place Dr. Moore received his public school education. He lived there until the age of sixteen when his parents again moved to Grundy County. He entered Grand River Christian Union College at Edinburg in 1895 and graduated in 1898, He entered the medical department at the University of Missouri in Sept. 1899 and graduated with the degree of M. D. in June 1903. Dr. Moore was awarded the Rollins Scholar- ship in his Junior year for the highest average grades of his class and was given an Interneship on graduation for the highest average grades of his class for the four year medical couse. He took post graduate work in the medical department of Cornell University in the summer of 1903 and hospital work in Parker Memorial Hospi- tal Sept. 1903 to Sept. 1904. He began private practice at Edinburg in Nov. 1904, at which place he still resides. He was married to Pearle W. Woodress, daughter of James A. Woodress, June 6, 1906. Dr. Moore is a member of Edinburg I. O. O. F. lodge No. 394 and is a Democrat. HUGH NICHOLS, son of William and Rach- ael (Gerrick) Nichols, was born in Fort Wayne, Ind., Aug. 30, 1862. He now lives on Route 7, 472 HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY Trenton. He was married March 10, 1891 to Bash Bushong, daughter of Matthew and Zelda Bushong. Mrs. Nichols was born in Harrison County, Sept. 25, 1873. She came to Grundy with her parents WILLIAM NICHOLS when a small child. Mr. Nichols came to Grundy County with his parents in 1869, settling in Taylor township. He lived there until he was grown. After his marriage he went to farming for himseh'. He leased land for a few years, then in 1895 bought the old home place of 160 acres, where he lived for four years. He then rented his farm and went to Colorado where he worked at the carpenter trade for three years. He then returned to Grundy County and moved on the Bushong place, belonging to his wife's grandfather, and also managed his own farm. The HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY 473 Bushong place consists of 280 acres in Harrison township nine miles northwest of Trenton. He al- so bought 140 acres adjoining the Bushong farm on the northwest. In the fall of 1908 he sold the old home place. He handles Berksire hogs, Shrop- hire sheep, owns a celebrated jack and thorough- bred Percheron horse. He is a member of the Odd Fellows lodge. The family belong to the Baptist church. Mr. and Mrs. Nichols have one child, Alma E., "born Jan. 25, 1892, w^ho is at home. J. G. NICH^OLS was born in Morgan County Ohio, April 27, 1857. His father, Eli Nichols, was born in Ohio, Sept. 14, 1832 and died March 28, 1906. His mother, Mary (McCreary) Nichols, was born June 10, 1836 and died in April, 1875. Mr. Nichols now resides four and one half miles north- east of Spickard on Route 3. He married Miss Eva Dye on Jan. 11, 1881. Her father was M. C. Dye, born in Ohio, July 6, 1833, died Nov. 6, 1908, and her mother was Elea- nor (Gillogly) Dye, born in Ohio, Oct. 4, 1834, died May 25, 1905. Mr. and Mrs. Nichols have had five children, one of whom died in infancy. Those living are: Lillie, born Sept. 2, 1881, married Char- les V. Tharp; Ida, June 24, 1885, married J. W. Dean; Edward D., Nov. 15, 1887 married Anna Husted; and Nellie, Nov. 15, 1896. Mrs. Nichols was born in Noble County, Ohio, July 17, 1860. Mr. Nichols came from Ohio with his parents when he was ten years old. At the age of twenty- two he rented the Ben LeHew farm just five miles 474 HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY east of Trenton. He lived there two years and then bought the Oalc Grove. Jac': Farm on whicti he now hves, and which consists of 160 acres. Mr. Nichols makes a speciality o fraising fine jacks and is at present, the owner of Napoleon, one of the best jacks in the county. Napoleon, No. 4255, sired by Alexander Wallington, dam Haines Napoleon Jen- net, second dam Jumbo. He was bred by W. W. Haines of Olney, ^lo. \h'. Nichols is the trustee of his township, this being his second term. He is a Republican in politics. His father, Eli Nichols, while visiting his two brothers, John and David, in Los Angeles, Cal., was killed by an electric street car, March 28, 1906. RESIDENCE OF HENRY W. ROH. TRENTON HISTORY OP GRUNDY COUNTY 475 W. U. NORTON, son of J. B. and Telitha Norton, was born in Lee County, Iowa, March 18, 1847. He now lives on Route 7, Trenton. He was married Sept. 17, 1871 to Nancy C. Sandlin, daughter of Wm. Sandhn. Mrs. Norton was born in Indiana, July 1, 1849, and came to Mis- souri when a small child. Mr. and Mrs. Norton have had ten children, eight of whom are living. Paschal was born July 15, 1872, is married and lives near Oilman: Martin, June 7, 1874, died April 7, 1875; J\Iark, Feb. 3, 1875, married and lives at Seattle, Wash.; Tufa, Nov. 6, 1877, died Sept. 15, 1878; Zetty, Aug. 18, 1879, now Mrs. Melvin Con- stable and lives near Modena; Oscar, Aug. 2, 1881, lives at home; MeHssa, Dec. 19, 1883, now Mrs. Sylvester Hudson, lives near Brimson; Ada, Sept. 9, 1886, lives at home; Perry C, Aug. 24, 1889, lives near Oilman; and Arthur L., Dec. 15, 1891. Mr. Norton left Iowa when he was ten years old, moving with his parents to Mercer County. He lived with his parents until his marriage, except during the war. After his marriage he went to farming in Mercer County and remained there un- til 1901 when he moved to Grundy County near Brimson, where he liyed until 1905. In that year he moved to the Kitchen farm near Parkerton, He worked at the carpenter trade for a number of years and still works at it occasionally. He is also a blacksmith and stone mason, at which trades he works at odd times. He is a member of the Odd Fellow lodge and he and his wife both belong to the Baptist church. 476 HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY W. F. PROCTOR, son of Joseph L. and Mary Jane (Sutton) Proctor, both natives of Kentucky, was born in Mercer County, April 5, 1859. He came to this county in 1865. He now Hves two and three fourths miles south of Spickard. He stayed at home with his father until his marriage July 29, 1884, to Jane E. Bushong, daughter of John arid Elizabeth (Noel) Bushong. They had five children: H. B. was born May 10, 1885, and married Miss Eva Marrs; Conway, born Mar. 13, 1887; married Miss June Gum Berry; Noel, was born July 22, 1890; Archer Lemons, Sept. 13, 1893; and Myrtle, Aug. 19, 1896. Mr. Proctor's first wife was bora April 16, 1862. She was well educated, was an affectionate wife and a loving mother. She died April 9, 1899. After his first marriage he move. I on the Murphy farm for one year then lived a yeai" on the Spencer farm. He then moved back to his father's staying there until 1890 when he movel to his present farm which contains 200 acres. He has one of the finest farms in the county and is one best hog feeders in the country. Mr. Proctor's second wife was the daughter of Benjamin and Mary (Goodwin) Humphreys. She was born Nov. 25, 1857. She completed the com- mon schools and Trenton schools and was one of Grundy teachers in the 80's. Mr. Proctor was al- so a teacher after completing school and before he began farming. Miss Addie Proctor, Mr. Proctor's sister was born Oct. 3, 1853, was educated in the public schools of the county and has always made her home with Mr. Proctor. 478 HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY J. C. RENFRO was born in Mercer County May 7, 1861. His father was Marcellus Renfro, one of the oldest pioneers born in Tennesee, Sept 22, 1821, died Dec. 18, 1901. His mother was Eli- zabeth (Gibson) Renfro, born in Virginia, Dec. 2Z, 1825, died April 14, 1900. Mrs. Renfro was Julia (Kerr) Steckman, born in Pennsylvania, Dec. 16, 1855. Her father was Phihip Steckman, born in Pennsylvania, Feb. 25, 1815, died Nov. 2, 1880. Her mother was Mary W. (Kerr) Steckman, born in Pennsylvania, Oct. 24, 1821, died Aug. 25, 1902. Mr. and Mrs. Renfro now live nine miles west of Spickard on Route 2. Mr. Renfro stayed at home with his father until he was twenty-one years old. He then worked on the farm until his marriage. For the past twenty- three years he has lived on his farm of 211 acres. He is a Democrat and a member of the Baptist church. W. R. ROBBINS, son of Jacob R. and Julia (Talbot) Robbins, was born in Grundy County, March 28, 1854 He now resides six and one half miles west of Spickard on Route 2. He was married to Miss Ada Brown, Aug. 10, 1879. Her father was Moses Brown, born in Virginia, Oct. 22, 1806, died Nov. 9, 1868. Her mother was Ruth M. (Mc- Pherson) Brown, born July 28, 1840, died July 11, 1886. Mr. and Mrs. Robbins have had eight chil- dren, five of whom are living. Roy A. was born May 29, 1880, married Myrtle Bennett ; Albert Ray, Dec. 7, 1881; Earl, Aug. 13, 1887, married Flo HISTORY OP GRUNDY COUNTY 479 Wyatt; \Mlliam E., Sept. 24, 1893; John T., April 21, 1897. Mrs. Robbins was born in Ohio, March 25, 1858. Mr. Robbins began working for himself at the age of twenty-one. He went to Texas, but returned to Grundy County. After his marriage he began housekeeping just west of his parents home. In 1881 he bought 200 acres of the farm he now owns, but he has accumulated until now he owns 660 acres. He makes a speciahty of raising stock. He was collector of his township for five terms and is at present chairman of the township committee. He is a Repubhcan. Mr. Robbins is a member of the Methodist Episcopal church and the I. O. O. F. lodge. MR. AND MRS. FRANK CORNVVELL 480 HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY JOHN W. SCHOOLER is a son of W. D. and Malinda (Nichols) Schooler, who came from Ohio to Grundy County in 1839, and settled two miles east of the present site of Spickard where they lived for many years. Air. Schooler died some few years ago. Mrs. Schooler lives in Spickard. John W, Schooler was born on the old homestead in 1862, raised on the farm and educated in the common schools. He was married in 1885 to Miss Linnie Root, daughter of Judge J. W. Root. They have one daughter, Lela. Mr. Schooler taught school for thirteen years and read law while teaching. He was admitted to the bar in 1892 and in 1894 was elected prosecuting attorney on the Republican ticket, serving two terms. He was elected county clerk in 1898 and served as deputy county clerk from 1902 to 1906, at which time he was appointed assistant post mas- ter, which position he now holds. J. M. SCOTT was born near Milan, March 7 ^ 1865. He now lives on Route 7, Trenton. He is the son of Bart Scott, who died Dec! 24, 1894. He w-as married June 30, 1891 to Ada McGowen, daughter of Alex McGowen. Mrs. Scott was born in Lincoln County, Nov. 11, 1869. They have had six children: Lurley L., was born April 8, 1892; Frank E. Feb. 15,' 1894; Lela G., June 6, 1896; Lovie A., Oct. 3, 1898; Mamie E., Aug. 18, 1900, died Jan. 9, 1901 ; and Minerd U., April 3, 1906. Mr. Scott w^as born in Sullivan County and lived there until 1886 when he went to work for the Milwaukee at Osgood, where he remained for four HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY 481 teen years. He then went to Audrian County where he worked for a railroad for two years coming to Grundy in 1900, and managing Stewart Pettit's farm. He then went to work for Geo. Wolz as manager of his farm near Parkerton and has been there since 1902. The farm consists of 580 acres. Mr. Scott is a Republican and a member of the Odd Fellow lodge. W. H. SHAW was born in Grundy County, Dec. 25, 1872. He now resides three and one half miles southeast of Spickard. His father was 1^ W. Shaw, born in Ohio, Sept. 13, 1831 and his mother was Nancy (Smith) Shaw, born in Ohio in 1837. Mr. Shaw married Miss Ella Benner on Feb. 18, 1894. She was the daughter of Samuel Benner, born Oct. 18, 1850, died April 20, 1902, and Mandy (Elherton) Benner. Mr. and Mrs. Shaw have one son, Gaylord, bom Oct. 8, 1895. Mr. Shaw stayed at home with his parents un- til his marriage \v'hen he moved to the Bennett farm east of Spickard and farmed there for one year. He then bought the farm on which he now lives. He has 90 acres of well improved and well stocked land. He traveled all through the west in 1905 and 1906. He was at San Francisco at the time of the earth quake. He is a Republican and a member of the A. F. & A. M. lodge. COLUMBUS SIRES was born in Monroe County, Mo., Sept. 25, 1839. He came to Grundy 482 HISTORY OP GRUNDY COUNTY County in the spring of 1840, and settled near Butts- ville where his father entered land. He lived there until he was fifteen years old when his father sold that farm and bought what is now the Sid Renfro farm, near Parkerton. He lived there with his parents until he was grown. After his marriage he lived near his father for five years and then bought his present farm two and a half miles norm MR AND MRS COLUMBUS SIRES AND THEIR HOME of the old place which consists of 220 acres. Dur- ing the war he served in the State Militia, John E. Carter being one of his comrades. Mr. Sires was married April 2, 1864 to Miss Mary J. Drinkard, daughter of Abner Drinkard, Mrs. Sires was born in Grundy County, May 2, HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY 483 1848. They have had six children : Hattie was born April 24, 1865 and died in infancy; Charles, Dec. 20, 1866, lives in Trenton; Minnie, May 1, 1869, now Mrs. Henry Witten; Lettie, June 6, 1871, now Mrs. A. K. Brown; Luther, Nov 6, 1873, ded in infancy; R.y T., Aug. 22, 1875, lives m Oklc'.honia; Callie, Dec :"'8. 1878, new Mr=> P-i-ter ScoLt; Em- :-.ttt, Nov. 29, 1881 at home; :.vd Emma, Nov. 29, 1881, died in infancy. HENRY SPECK, son of John C. and Caroline (Fuller) Speck, was born in Eranklin township, Grundy County, Sept. 30, 1877. He now lives on Route 1, a fourth mile southeast of Spickard. He was married to Lydia Hein, Mar. 6, 1902. They have had three children. Pearl was born in Jan. 1903 ; Harold, Nov. 14, 1904; and Cleo. Mrs. Speck is the daughter of Valentine and Caroline (Kaw) Hein. Mr, Speck stayed at home until his marriage when he bought the farm which he now owns, which at that time, only contained 140 acres. He now has 200 acres, deals in stock, cattle and raises a great many horses. Mr, Speck takes great pride in improving his farm and is one of Grundy's suc- cessful farmers. G. H. SWEETMAN was born in Mercer County Jan. 8, 1875. His father was John W. Sweetman, born in New York, Oct. 9, 1845, died Jan. 12, 1902. His mother, Sarah (Vanderpool) Sweetman was born in Missouri, July 19, 1852. He lives four and one half miles northwest of Spick- 484 HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY ard on Route 2. He was married to Miss Rose I. McVay March 20, 1895. She is the daughter of J. W. and Sarah (White) McVay. Mr. and Mrs. Sweetman have five children. Senne was born Dec. 15, 1896; Vivian, March 23, 1897; Garnett, Aug. 28, 1899; Walter, May 6, 1901 ; Wilbur, July 4, 1903 ; Mrs. Sweetman was born in Grundy County, May 22, 1870. Mr. Sweetman began supporting himself at the age of fifteen. He clerked in a restaurant at Ham- burgh, Iowa for four years and at Council Bluffs and Omaha for two years. After his marriage he moved to a farm in Atchison County, but after a year came to Grundy County when he moved on the McVay farm. After two years he bought the farm on which he now lives. He stayed on his farm for six years then secured the position of Rural mail carrier on Route 4 at Spickard. He moved back to the farm after two and one half years. Mr. Sweetman is a Republican and a member of the Latter Day Saints church. H. L. SWINTON was born in Mich., Sept. 12, 1850. He now lives on Route 1, five miles south- east of Spickard. His father was Chas. M. Swin- ton, who was born in N. Y., April 4, 1820, died July 18, 1887 and his mother was Jane (Newel) Swinton, who was born in N. Y., May 8, 1821 and died June 11, 1908.His first wife was Jennie Eit- niear, born June 2, 1867, died Dec. 21, 1899. She was the daughter of Abraham and Anna (Ward) Eitniear. He was married to her Feb. 1, 1884. 486 HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY They had three children. Jessie N. was born Mar. 26, 1886, married W. A. Whinery; WilHam H., Dec. 28, 1888; and Ernest R., July 28, 1894. He was married to Sarah Speer, daughter of Sol- omon and Elizabeth, (Hobbs) Speer, May 18, 1904. She was born Aug. 9, 1850. Mr. Swinton stayed at home on his father's farm in Michigan until he was thirty-two years of age on account of his parents' health. He then mar- ried, farmed for two years longer in that state and then came to Grundy County. He rented for three years and then bought a farm near Tindall, selling it after nine years and buying another farm, which he sold after four years and bought 80 acres which he sold , then bought the eighty where he now lives. Mr. Swinton is a Democrat and a member of the I. O. O. F. lodge at Tindall. J. W. TRACY, son of James T. and Nancy (Walters) Tracy, natives of Kentucky was born in Grundy County on Feb. 11, 1862. He now resides on Route 1, four and one half miles south of Spick- ard. He was educated in the public schools of the county and stayed at home with his mother untd he married Rachel Legg, daughter of Bourter and Semira (Wood) Legg in March 1891. Soon after- wards he moved to Trenton, living there six and one half years, when he moved back to his farm which he now owns. His farm consists of 114 acres. He has a beautiful home and his farm Is well improved in every way. Mr. and Mrs. Tracy are from two of the oldest pioneer families in the- HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY 487 county. They have one child, Vennice, born June 20, 1892. Mr. Tracy is a Democrat and a member of the I. O. O. F. and W. O. W. lodges. J. A. WAGNER was born in Tazewell County, Virginia, June 10, 1854. He now resides one and one half miles south and two miles east of Spickard on Route 1. His father was A. E. Wagner, born in Virginia in 1831 and died in 1889. His mother was Julia E. (Tabor) Wagner, born in 1838. Mr. Wag- ner was married to Nancy J. Marrs June 27, 1871. Her mother was Jannie (Tabor) Marrs, born June 25, 1826 and her father was David W. Marrs, born inl823, died in July 1889. Mr. and Mrs. Wagner have had nine children. W. F. was born July 20, 1873; Marguerite V., April 27, 1875; Chas. O., Oct. 9, 1876; Ehsia V., June 12, 1878; Mary T., July 9, 1880; John R., Feb. 22, 1882; Joseph E., Feb. 17, 1884; Luther, Sept. 18, 1886 and Cora, Oct. 18, 1890. Mrs. Wagner was born July 2^, 1855. Mr. Wagner began farming in Virginia when he was about nineteen years old. In 1884 he came to Grundy County and bought 40 acres which is a part of his present farm. He now owns 133 1-3 acres. Mrs. Marrs, Mrs. Wagner's mother, makes her home with her daughter and although eighty- four years of age she is enjoying good health. Mr. Wagner is an Indeendent in politics and a member of the M. E. church, South. 488 HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY J. D. WILSON was born in Grundy County, Aug. 17, 1867. H^ lives one and three fourths miles northwest of Spickard on Route 4. He was married to Lovie M. McLaughlin Nov. 16, 1890. Her parents were Lisbon McLaughlin, born in 1847, and Elizabeth (Wilkinson) AlcLaughlin, born MR. AND MRS. J. D. WILSON Oct. 7, 1858, died in 1874. Mrs. Wilson was born July 2, 1870. Her mother died when she was four years old and she was adopted by Mr. and Mrs. Wm. J. Johnson. Mr. Johnson was born Feb. 8, 1822, died Nov. 14, 1905. Mrs. Johnson was born HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY 489 May 26, 1834, died June 15, 1904. Mr. Johnson came to Missouri in 1844. He got the gold fever and went to CaHfornia, coming back by way of the Isthmus of Panama to his farm which he entered and where Mr. Wilson now lives. Mr. Wilson stayed at home until his marriage when he moved on to the farm where he now lives. It consists of 190 acres, is well stocked and situated near Spickard. Mr. and Mrs. Wilson have two children, L. L., born Aug. 8, 1892 and Henry L., Sept. 13, 1898. T. A. WILSON was born in Mercer County, Oct. 9, 1843. He resides three miles west of Spick- ard on Route 2. His father, John L. Wilson, was a native of Virginia, born in 1811 and died in Nov. 1860. His mother, Angeline (Howard) Wilson, was also a native of Virginia, born in 1814, died in 1889. He was married April 14, 1864, to KHza- l)eih Siies. Her father was John Sires, born in Virginia, May 20. 1813, died in March 1906 and her mother was Eliabeth (White) Sires, born in Ken- tucky, Oct. 16, 1815, died Jan. 31, 1896. Mr. and Mrs. Wilson have had fifteen children, thirteen of whom are living. J. Taylor was born April 21, 1867, married Stella Godfrey; Wm. E., March 21, 1869, married Belle McLaughlin; Richard A., Nov. 14, 1870, married Minnie Renfro; Augustus M., July 23, 1872, married Fannie Crockett; Pearl R., Feb. 27, 1875, married Poca McLaughlin; Ada A., Dec. 11, 1873, married Sublette L. Moore; Minnie M., Feb. 20, 1879, married Eugene T. Moore; Thomas R., Jan. 20, 1883, married Bertha Corn- 490 HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY well; Belle, Aug. 4, 1885, married Albert Cornwell ; Cora E., Nov. 18, 1887, married Luther Gay; Ray F., Jan. 27, 1888; Daisy E., Sept. 9, 1890, married Robert Harvey; Blanche E., July 18, 1892; Oleva M., died ^larch 29, 1866; Linnie L., died May 20, 1882. Mr. Wilson stayed at home in Mercer County till the death of his father. He then went to Polk County and worked on a farm for five years. He came back to Grundy County and after his mar- riage and in the spring of 1864 he enlisted in the MR. AND MRS. J. A. WILSON 44th Mo. Co. A. for one year. He fought in the battles of Franklin, Nashville, Corinth and at Fort Spanish, Alabama. He received an honorable dis- charge at St. Louis. After the war he bought 80 acres in Mercer County, sold it and bought 40 acres in Grundy County. He sold his farm and went into the saw mill business for five years then buying the farm on which he now lives. It con- HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY 491 sists of 100 acres. He also owns a farm of 80 acres just north of his home. P. R. WILSON was born in Grundy County, Missouri, Feb. 27 , 1875. He lives three miles west of Spickard on Route 2. He is the son of Thomas A. and Elizabeth (Sires) Wilson, both natives of Missouri. He was married to Poca McLaughlin, daughter of Wm. and Elizabeth (Coleman) Mc- Laughlin, the latter of whom was born Jan. 13, 1856. They have one child, Fern, Born Feb. 11, 1897. Mrs. Wilson was born in Grundy County, Sept. 16, 1877. Mr. Wilson's farm consists of 80 acres of well located land. Both Mr. and Mrs. Wilson's ancestors are old pioneers of the county. Dr. McLaughlin, one of Grundy County's oldest physicians, who died Aug. 11, 1909, was Mrs. Wilson's grandfather. Mr. Wilson is a Repulbican. Mrs. Wilson is a member of the Christian church. THEO. BURKHARDT, son of Trudpert and Christina (Wetzel) Burkhardt, was born at Pl;.:l- adelphia, March 6, 1848. He moved to New Rich- mond, Ohio when he was about eight years old. His father was a jeweler and he worked with him learn- ing the trade. In 1870 he left home and went to Portsmouth, Ohio where he remained eight years. He was married June 18, 1873 to Miss Julia C. Ball, daughter of Benjamin Ball. He then returned to New Richmond where he remained two years then went back to Portsmouth where he remained four 492 HISTORY OP GRUNDY COUNTY years when he came to Plattsburg, Mo., and con- ducted a jewelry store for several years for Geo. Essig. About twenty-five years ago he came to Trenton where he has since conducted a jewelry store. W. J. CUNNINGHAM was born in Grundy County, Dec. 31, 1853. He now resides eight miles east of Spickard, on Route 5. His father was Wil- liam Cunningham, born in Ohio, Nov. 26, 1826. died Jan. 31, 1871. His mother was Elizabeth (Barnes) Cunningham, born in Pennsylvania, Oct. 11, 1828, died April 7, 1907. He was married to Elizabeth Brownawell on March 6, 1876. She was the daughter of George W. Brownawell, born in Pennsylvania, May 16, 1836, died July 14, 1864, and Barbary (Brewer) Brownawell, born in Indiana, Jan. 3, 1836. Mr. and Mrs. Cunningham have had seven children. Alfred was born Feb. 17, 1877, married Jennie Smith; Rosetta, Sept. 26, 1879, married Wm. Thomas and died March 12, 1905; William, April 30, 1882, married 011a Owens; Westley, Sept. 28, 1P8S, married Nina Berry; Viola, Oct. 4, 1884, mar- ried Frank Smith; Allen, July 28, 1894; Clara E., Feb. 7, 1898. Mrs. Cunningham was born Sept 23, 1859 and was educated in the schools of Grun- dy County. Mr. Cunningham is one of Grundy County's old timers. He was born and reared on the farm on which he now lives. After his parents' death when he came into possession of the farm, it con- tained only 80 acres, but he has accumulated until HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY 493 he has given his boys a farm and still has 180 acres. He has been making a specialty of threshing for the past thirty years. He is also in the saw mill business. Mr. Cunningham is a Republican and a mem- ber of the Baptist church. MR. AND MKS. \V. \V. BRUMMITT W. W. BAIN, son of P. W. and Angeline (Lin- ney) Bain, was born near Tindall, April 1, 1870. He lived on the farm until he was about twelve years old when he moved to Trenton with his par- ents. He atended high school and worked in a hard- ware store at intervals. In 1886 he went into the hardvvare business with his father at Spickard, 494 HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY which they continued for about six years. He thea sold out and returned to Trenton and was elected city collector and served one term. On May 24, 1896 he and his brother Claude bought the Trenton Tele- ) J one plant c.nd M''. Ba^n wp. . aiadc sccrctnr\ ai d manager which position he still holds. He was married June 17, 1896, to Jennie Betry, daughter of J. B. Berry. They have two children. Kathryne was born Jan \2, 1899; Edwin B., Dec. 12, 1904. Mr Bain is a member ^J one oi ilie oldest r.iju- ilies in the county, his grandfather, Jesse Bain hav- ing come here in 1837. Mrs. Bain is also of one of the pioneer families. He is a Republican and a member of the Elks, and Eagles lodges. THE BANK OF SPICKARDSVILLE was incorporated as a state bank and organized in 1888. It is one of the oldest and strongest financial in- stitutions of Grundy County. Its officers are Joh.n F. W'olz, pre:3ident, Henry Waltner, vice-president and Norton Burkeholder, cashier. The capital stock of the bank is $15,000. According to its financial statement Aug. 12, 1909, its undivided surplus and profits are $7,500, deposits $114,000 and cash due from other banks $65,000. The directors and stock- holders of this bank comprise a number of the most prominent and substantial men of Grundy County. A. K. BROWN was born near Edinburg, Oct. 19, 1868. He is a son of Harvey and Louisa (Wit- ten) Brown. His father has been dead about nine HISTORY OP GRUNDY COUNTY 495 years and his mother makes her home with Dr. Winningham at Trenton. He was married Oct. 22, 1891 to Lettie Sire.s, daughter of Columbus Sires. She was born near RESIUENCK OK A. K. BROWN Hatten Chapel, June 6, 1871. They have two chil- dren. Mamie was born Aug. 20, 1892 ; Alta, March 25, 1899. Mr. Brown came with his parents when a small boy and settled near Shott. He lived at home until grown when lie went to farming for himself. He lived for a short time near Parkerton on the Weigel place. He then bought the place at Shott. His farm consists of 38 acres and he manages his moth- er's farm, which consists of 110 acres adjoining his. He conducted a store at Shott for twelve years, re- 496 HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY tiring from this business in 1907. He was post- master at Shott until that office was discontinued. Mr. Brown is a member of the Methodist church, while Mrs. Brown belongs to the Baptist. REV. D C. BROWN, son of Jacob A. and Sarah P. (Clanton) Brown, both of whom were born in North Carolina and settled in Harrison 1 K^' ^^^H 1 K- ^ Wi^ ^^^1 ■ ^^ /"Y \ ^^H I iwiiP^H ^ iR ' ^^^^^^^^^^1 sBk jBfc- '^' jH \ ■ V ^hhI D. C. HKOWN County, ]\Iissouri in 183'^, was born in Harrison County Aug 21, 1841. His parents were members of the Baptist church and his father was elected one of the first justices of the peace in Harrison County and was a member of the organization of the West Fork Association of Baptists and assistci in drafting the constitution and by-laws of that as- sociation. Jacob A. Brown died in 1875 and his wife in 1879. HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY 497 Mr. Brown was married to Martha J. Cole on Oct. 4, 1859. She was a daughter of Wilham and Mary Ann (Kellums) Cole and was born Oct. 4, 1839 in Monroe County. They had ten children. Louisa A. was born July 6, 1860; Jacob J., Sept 15, 1866, U. S. Commissioner at Roseberry, Idalio; Sarah E., Aug. 23, 1868, wife of Jno Dowell of Mel-, bourne; Mary, March 16, 1872; Nancy E., Pel). 27, 1874; Thomas, March 18, 1876 a Brimson mer- chant; Henry A. Aug. 7, 1878; D. C. Feb. 18, 1881, rural mail carrier ; John, died at the age of thirteen months and an unnamed child in infancy. Mr. Brown lived at home until he was eighteen years of age. During the war he was a member of Company F, Second Missouri Cavalry, (Mer- ril's Horse) and served until 1864. After the \^ar he farmed in Daviess County until 1876 when he located in Grundy County in Harrison township, afterwards moving to Taylor. He has 370 acres -A Grundy County land. He engaged in the hardware business in Brimson, was for a time in partner shij) with his son, T. A. Brown, in that business, retiring recently. Mr Brown has long been a minister of the Baptist church and was instrumental in or- ganizing the Baptist church in Brimson. He is a Republican and a local political leader. He was elected as representative of Grundy County in 1904. He was the first post master of Brimson and erected the first business building there. He was chairman of the Committee on Federal Relations and a mem- ber of a number of important committees. HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY 499 H. ALLEN was born in Livingston county, May 13, 1856. He now lives three fourths of a mile northeast of Brimson. He was educated in the district schools. Mr. Allen was married August 25, 1878, to Mary Brown. They have eight chil- dren: William Albert, Laura Bell, Frank, James Everett, Earl, Ira, Leo and Homer. Mr, Allen lived on a farm in Livingston coun- ty until he was twenty-one years of age. On August 28, 1908 he bought the Marlin Merchandise stock at Brimson in partnership with his son, Frank. He is a Democrat. DAVID L. ARNEY was born in Burke Coun- ty, North Carolina, December 11, 1817. His father was David Arney and his mother was Vina (Tuck- er) Arney, born in North Carolina in 1770, died in 1860. He was married to Miss Martha Freeman; daughter of Jessie and Sadie (Gipson) Freeman, in 1840. She was born in North Carolina, Decem- ber 15, 1820, died April 18, 1873. They had three children. Cornelius L. was born October 29, 1841 ; G. D. Feb. 29, 1843, died Aug. 22, 1904; J. S., Oct. 12, 1845. All of the boys and the father fought for the Union in the Civil War. Mr. Arney came to Daviess County in 1845 where he bought 40 acres of land. He sold that and came to Harrison County in 1855 where he bought 80 acres and later another 80 acres, but at the close of the war he sold it and bought land in Grundy County until he had accumulated 1070 acres. He has given all of his children a fine farm. He was one of the best stock feeders in the county DAVID L. ARNEY HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY 501 and although he is ninety-two years of age, he helps about the farm. He is one of the oldest men in Mis- souri and very spry for his age. Mr. Arney is a member of the North Methodist Episcopal church and the A. F. & A. M. lodge. He is a Republican in politics. A. H. BUCHANAN, son of James R. and Nancy (Hull) Buchanan, was born in Tazewell County, Virginia, Sept. 5, 1844. When he was seven years of age he moved with his parents to Taylor County, Kentucky where he remained for RESIDENCE OF A. H. BUCHANON five years, then came to Montgomery County, Mis- souri and in 1859 to Callaway County. When he was twenty-one years old he commenced working ior himself. He moved from Callaway to Grundy 502 HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY County in 1872 Mr. Buchanan at one time served a justice of the peace of Harrison township. He was a member of Col. Williams regiment durnig the Civil War. On Dec 13, 1866 he was married to Nancy P. Hale. She was born in Mercer County, Virginia, Dec. 22, 1848, and was the daughter of C. P. and M. M. (Witten) Hale, both of whom were natives of Virginia, but came to Livingston County, Mis- souri in 1853. Mr. and Mrs. Buchanan have had seven chil- dren. Lulu L. was born July 12, 1868, married E. E. Brown, moved to Okla., and died June 5, 1895;, John W., Nov. 21, 1870, married and lives in Kan- sas City; James H., Sept. 22, 1875, married and lives in South Missouri; Lizzie, Dec. 29, 1877, now Mrs. M. A. Romans, of Moberly; Nancy, June 13, 1880, now Mrs. E. E. Brown, lives near the home place; Margaret, June 10, 1873, died Sept. 28, 1874;. Martha, Sept. 6, 1886, lives at home. ADAM BUCKERT, son of John Buckert, de- ceased, and Katherine Buckert who lives in Illinois, was born in Warsaw, Illinois, May 12, 1859. Mr. Buckert is always known as Ed Buckert. He was married Feb. 1, 1888 to Sarah Stewart, daughter of J. M. Stewart. They have two children. Grace E. was born March 4, 1893; Howard M. Dec. 3, 1900. Mr. Buckert lived at home in Illinois until he was married. His father died when he was fourteen years of age and he helped support his mother. After his. HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY 503 marriage he remained in Illinois five years, then came to Grundy County. He lived for several years on the Elmore place and in 1899 bought his present farm. It consists of 80 acres, five and one fourth miles east of Trenton. He belongs to the Lutheran church and Mrs'. Buckert is a member of the Presbyterian church. RESIDENCE OF ADAM {"ED") BUCKERT J. H. BAKER was born in Grundy County, July 14, 1866. His father was Geo. W. Baker, born in Kentucky, July 29, 1818, died Feb. 7, 1907, and his mother was Lucy A. (Bryant) Baker, also a native of Kentucky. Mr. Baker now lives two and one fourth miles south and three miles east of Spickard on Route 1. He married Miss Sarah Ricketts, Jan. 23, 1887. She was the daughter of Henry L. Ricketts, born in July 1830 and Emily 504 HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY L. (Elkins) Ricketts, born in April 1847, died Oct. 9, 1901. Mr. and Mrs. Baker have four children. Claude A. was born Dec. 25, 1887; Willie E., April 27, 1889; Maude, Aug. 8, 1891; and Chas. E., Feb. 6, 1906. Mrs. Baker was born March 4, 1867. Mr. Baker was in the flouring mill business at Spickard until 1905 when he sold his mill to Ed. Cook and moved to his farm. His farm con- tains 240 acres and is one of the best improved in Grundy County. Mr. Baker feeds stock quite ex- tensively. He is a Republican and a member of the Christian church and the I. O. O. F. lodge. B. T. BALLINGER was born in Grundy Coun- ty on April 8, 1864. He was the son of Harvey Ballinger, born in Ohio in 1826, died in 1898, and Mary J. (Evans) Ballinger, born in Ohio in 1834, died in 1906. After completing school, Mr. Bal- linger stayed at home on the farm until he married Miss Alice Allen in 1886. She was born in 1866 and died in 1887. He married Miss M. S. Cook in 1888. She was the daughter of Wm. and Mary (Wetsker) Cook, both natives of Ireland and was born in 1870. They have two children. Dortha M. was born Dec. 29, 1889; Dora M., Oct. 25, 1893. His farm is well improved and consists of 128 acres. He owns stock in the Gait Telephone Com- pany, Mr. Ballinger is an Independent in politics and a member of the Christian church. HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY 505 ADAM BREIGEL, son of Mike and Annie (Heintz) Breigel, both natives of Germany, was born in Sept. 1837 at Prussia on the Rhine, Ger- many. He now resides on Route 1, Spickard. He was married September 21, 1875 to Miss Louise Merle, daughter of Lewis and Anna (Boush) Merle. Both of her parent were also natives of German)^ Mr. and Mrs. Breigel have two children$ cI5 .Srn Mr. and Mrs. Breigel have three children. Anna Mary was born Oct. 18, 1876 and married Hugh Terry, Feb. 27, 1901; Lizzie Caroline (Browning), Feb. 14, 1879, married Mach 5, 1902; Lula, May 23, 1883, married Dec. 31, 1902 to Ora Clark. Mr. Breigel farmed with his father in Ger- many until 1866 when he came to this country, arriving in St. Louis on the 18th day of March. He began working on a farm near Waterloo, 111., where he worked for three years. He left there and went to Indiana then to Ohio, then to Missouri, then back to Ohio in 1875. After his marriage he ■came to Grundy County, rented awhile, then bought 120 acres, but by good management he added to his farm until when it was sold it consisted of 200 acres. In 1901 he moved to his present home. Mr. Breigel is one of the county's best citizens, is seventy-two years of age and is enjoying the best of health. He is a Democrat and a member of the Christian church. JOE BRANSON was born in Indiana, Jan. 19, 1868. He now resides five miles southeast of Spickard on Route 1. His father was Martin Bran- son, born in Park County, Indiana, Jan. 16, 1838, 506 HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY and his mother was Nancy (Mitchell) Branson, born in Indiana, Dec. 23, 1843, died Nov. 3, 1908. Mr. Branson was married Feb. 4, 1892 to Miss Mildred Cartmill, born in Grundy County, June 16, 1871. Her father was J. W. Cartmill, born in Illinois, May 19 1833, and her mother was Mary Eliazbeth (Chipps) Cartmill, born in Pennsylvania, Oct. 7, 1834, died Sept.' 1, 1905. Mr. and Mrs. Branson have two children: Villa, born Jan. 9, 1895 and Veda, born May 5, 1898. Mr. Branson went with his parents to Kansas in the fall of 1883. In 1886 he came to Grundy County and worked by the month until his marriage w^hen he went to farming on 40 acres of his present farm. Since that time he has accumulated 120 acres. Mr. Branson is a member of the Christian church, I. O. O. F. lodge and a Republican. W. F. BURT, son of Alonzo M. Burt, born in Illinois, August 30, 1841 and Laura (Munn) Burt, born in Mo., March 25, 1855, was born in Grundy County, July 25, 1878. He now resides one and one half miles south east of Spickard, on Route 1. He was married Oct. 1, 1899 to Miss Mattie Minter, born Oct. 21, 1881. She was the daughter of S. V. Minter, born in Ohio, Nov. 17, 1837, and Jose- phine (Flowers) Minter, born in Mo., Nov. 22, 1843 Mr. and Mrs. Burt have had two children: Wanda Wonita, born Oct. 17, 1901, died August 31, 1902; Kenneth was born Nov. 1, 1905. Mr. Burt began work at the age of fourteen years and has been very successful in every way. HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY 507 He has a fine farm of 52 acres. He and his wife are from famihe? who are widely known in their vicinity. Mr. Burt is a member of the I. O. O. F. and Yeoman lodges. He is a Republican in politics, Mrs. Burt is a member of the Christian church. JOHN BUSHONG was born in Augusta County, Virginia, Feb. 22, 1819. He came to Mo. in 1859 settling first in Livingston County. He came to Grundy in 1869 and has lived here since that time. Mr. Bushong learned the carpenter trade in Virginia and worked at it until he came to Missouri. He bought his present place when he came to Missouri. Mr. Bushong has had ten children, six of whom are living. He makes his home with his grand- daughter, Mrs. Hugh Nichols. RESIDENCE OF J. W. HENDRICKSON 508 HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY S. T. CLARK was born in Gentry County, Missouri, April 25, 1854. His parents were A. T. and Mary J. (Low) Clark. He now lives on Route 7, Trenton. Mr. Clark was married Sept. 14, 1880 to Emily Bell Caskey, daughter of Wm. Caskey. She was born in Morgan County, Ken- tucky, March 3, 1861, and came to Missouri when about sixteen years of age. Mr. and Mrs. Clark have had five children, four of whom are living. AVm. Albert was born Aug. 25, 1881, is married and lives at Trenton; Ota J., Aug. 9, 1885, at home; Eva Bell, July 20, 1889^ died June 18, 1890, Hattie C, July 16, 1892, at home; and Blanche, June 15, 1895. Mr. Clark was born and raised on a farm in Gentry County. At the age of twenty- six he mar- ried and went to farming for himself. He farmed in Gentry County for two years, then went to what was then the Cherokee Nation, now a part of Okla- homa, where he lived fourteen years. He then sold his farm there, returned to Gentry County, lived there four years then came to Grundy and leased a farm near Edinburg. In the spring of 1909 he bought the S. S. Day farm which is three and one half miles north of Parkerton, upon which he now lives. It consists of 280 acres. Mr. Clark handles pure bred Aberdeen Angus cattle, Poland China Hogs and makes a specialty of raising yellow corn and feeding black cattle. In 1908 he received third premium in the Grundy County corn show. He is a member of the Odd Fellow lodge and the family belong to the Metho- dist church. HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNlTY 509 EDWARD COOPER was born in Madison County, Kentucky, Dec. 25, 1842. His father was Samuel Cooper, born in Kentucky in 1816, who died in Madison County, Ark., Dec. 17, 1898 and his mother was Nancy (Marcum) Cooper, born in Kentucky. He now hves just east of Spickard on Route 5. He was married to Marguerite Herring- ton Pixler July 18, 1901. Mr. Cooper came with his father to Missouri when he was yet a young boy and lived west of Half Rock until the Civil War when he enlisted ia Co. C. 23d Mo. In the battle of Shiloh he was wounded and still bears the effects of the wound. On June 6, 1862 he was given an honorable dis- charge and sent home. He lived west of Half Rock until 1891 when he moved to Spickard and lived there until 1893. He then moved to his present farm which consists of 80 acres. Mrs. Cooper was born in Grant County, Indiana, Jan. 6, 1855. Her father was Robert Pixler, born Aug. 23, 1825, died Feb. 14, 1865 and her mother was Mary (Wood) Pixler, born Oct. 18, 1830, died Feb. 28, 1889. L. P. CORNWELL was born in Grundy Coun- ty, Nov. 17, 1863. His father, B. B. Cornwell, who was a son of W. T. Cornwell and came to Grundy County in 1839, was born in Tennessee, Dec. 6, 1827, died Nov 2, 1894. His mother was Ellen E. Cochran Cornwell, born Feb. 13, 1834. Mr. Corwell stayed with his parents until their death. His mother died Aug. 16, 1903. Mr. Corn- well and his brother Robert N. own the old home place. He has never married. 510 HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY Mr. Robert N. Cornwell was born in Grundy County, June 5. 1866. He married Helena E, Speck on March 25, 1902. They have had three children. Opal was born Jan. 17, 1903; Wilburn B. and Wayne, born Dec. 23, 1905. Wayne died in infancy. Mrs. Cornwell was born in Grundy County Dec. 31, 1872. The Cornwell brothers both belong to the Dem- ocratic party. L. P. belongs to the A. F. & A. M., I. O. O. F. and K. of P. lodges. E. S. COX was born in Knoxville, Tenn., Dec. 20, 1852. His father was Wm. Cox born in Tenn. eighty-five years ago. His mother was Mary (Har- ris) Cox, also a native of Tennessee. His father is still living, his mother died during the war. Mr. Cox came to this country thirty-two years ago. On Dec. 14, 1878 he married Leora Bell Hall. She was born Aug. 22, 1862. Her father was A. L. Hall, born Aug. 16, 1840, died June 24, 1903. Her mother was Mary C. (Sechrest) Hall, born June 9, 1841. Mr. and Mrs. Cox have had eight children, six of whom are living. Albert was born Feb. 17, 1879, married Eva Crawford; Naomi, Ang. 10, 1882, married Sanford Campbell; Charles Jan. 1, 1888; Pearl L., June 4, 1892; Leora, Jan. 14, 1891 ; and Viola, April 28, 1900. Mr. Cox is a mechanic, but has foll'«vv^ed farm- ing the most of his life. He bought a farm con- sisting of 120 acres near Princeton, but sold it and bought a farm of 130 acres near Spickard, sold it about seven years ago and moved to the farm HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY 511 on which he now Hves. This farm consists of 100 acres and is worth $100 per acre. It is located near Tindall. C. W. CRAWFORD was born in Grundy County, Feb. 28, 1861. He now resides four and one half miles northwest of Tindall. His father svas B. P. Crawford, born June 28, 1819, died Oct. 1, 1898, and his mother was Era Ann Crawford, born in Illinois Aug. 28, 1820, died March 3, 1868. He was married to Sallie Pontius, Dec. 25, 1880. She was the daughter of Daniel and Matilda (Dreese) Pontius. They have had ten children eight of whom are living. Tom, born Oct. 24, 1881, married Emma Newton; Mayme, April 12, 1885; Bessie, Mar. 25, 1886 married Clyde Bartee; Min- nie, June 26, 1889; and Harry, Sept. 19, 1891 ; Jun- ior, April 30, 1894; Rosa Aug. 31, 1899; and Paul, Dec. 9, 1902. Mrs. Crawford was born in Ohio July 3, 1862. Mr. Crawford stayed at home with his parents until his marriage then farmed for one year on his father's farm. The next year his father gave him sixty acres of wild land and he moved on it, improved it and has accumulated until, at present he owns 385 acres. His farm is well stocked and he has a large flock of fine sheep. He is a stock- holder in the Farmer's State Bank at Tindall, Mo. Mr. Crawford is a Republican and a member of the Christian church. WILLIAM C. CRAWFORD, son of Peery and Era Ann Crawford, was born in Louisville, Kentucky, Sept. 10, 1847. He moved with his par- HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY 513 ents to Peoria, 111., when he was a small boy. From there they moved to Iowa then to north Missouri where he has since lived. He was married Dec. 23, 1869 to Miss Nettie J. Moore, daughter of John Moore, who lives near Spickard. They have eight children. Allie E. was born, Feb. 21, 1871; Freeman ]., July 17, 1873; Samuel B., Aug. 23, 1875; Ella M., Sept. 29, 1878; Emma M., Feb. 16, 1880; Hulda B., Oct. 5, 1884; Char- lotte S., April 10, 1887; and Sublett M., May 23, 1889. All are living except the two oldest. Samuel married Rose McNair Feb. 18, 1900; Ella, James C. LeHew Dec. 24, 1901; Emma, Mont Johnson, Feb. 27, 1907; Hulda, Walter Axtell, June 28, 1908. Mr. and Mrs. Crawford reside on their farm three miles east of Trenton. REV. H. A. CUNNINGHAM, son of Wil- liam and Lydia (Tharp) Cunningham, was born in Lafayette County, Wisconsin, Jan. 10, 1848. He was married Sept. 15, 1871 to Carrie A. Tobias, daughter of Wilbur Tobias of Pennsyvania. Mr. and Mrs. Cuningham have nine children: William A., age thirty-three; Myrtle (Allen) thirty-one; Hulda (Hale) twenty-six; Alice (Hale) twenty- four; Mable, twenty-eight; Harry, twenty-two; ^^^ilbur, twenty; Jennie thirteen; and Marvin, ten. Those dead are Austin and Alta. Mr Cunningham's mother died when he was twelve years of age and he went west where he re- mained until he was twenty-four years old. In 1870 he returned to Wisconsin and after his marriage in 1872 he went into the milling business, in which 514 HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY he remained for fifteen years. In 1887 he entered the ministry and has since held the pastorate of the Laredo South M E. church and others. He is now pastor of the M. E. church at Edinburg. E. A. DEAN was born in Lawrence County, Pennsylvania, July 16, 1839. He now hves one mile northeast of Spickard on Route 5. His father was Aaron B. Dean, born Dec. 21, 1817, died Jan. 28, 1901. His mother was Eleanor Dean, born Nov. 11, 1815, died July 19, 1845. Mr. Dean married Marguerite E. McKee Jan. 7, 1866. They had two children, both died in in- fancy. Mr. Dean's first wife was the daughter of Wm. McKee, born in 111., Nov. 14, 1801, died Dec. 22, 1846, and Rhoda (Butcher) McKee, born Feb. 10, 1807, died Dec. 12, 1879. She died Oct. 28, 1893. Mr. Dean married Mrs. Minerva J. Coon, June 4, 1894. She was the daughter of James E. Drink- ard, who died in 1861, and Minerva (Rounsavell) Drinkard, who died in 1861. Mr. Dean came with his parents to Iowa in 1856 where he stayed two years when he went to Mercer County. When the Civil war broke out Mr. Dean enlisted in the 5th Kansas Cavalry for three years. He was in the battles of Helena, Arkan- sas and Pine Bluff. He was mustered out Sept. 3, 1864 when he returned to his home in Mercer Coun- ty and began farming. He is one of this county's first school teachers, teaching both before and after the war. In 1864 the farm he purchased contained 110 acres, but he bought and accumulated 90 acres, and sold parts of this until in 1902 when he sold HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY SIS it and moved to his present farm which contains 60 acres. He is Hving a retired life. Mr. Dean is a member of the G. A. R. lodge and a Republican RESIDENCE OP MARION BECKNER W. F. DOWELL was born in Mercer County, Mo., Oct. 22, 1859. His father was Matthew Dowell, who has been dead seventeen years, and his mother was Mary (Scott) Dowell, who has been dead eight years. Mr. Dowell now resides on Route 7, Trenton. He was married Sept. 2, 1884 to Lizzie Peery. They have had four children, three of whom are living. Mr. Dowell moved with his parents to Grundv County when he was two years old and settled on a farm near Parkerton. He lived there until he was grown. After his marriage he farmed for him- 516 HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY self for nine years then went to work at the black- smith trade. He farmed and learned the black- smith trade near Edinburg, then went to work at Dunlap where he stayed about a year. He then flioved near Shott where he bought an acre of land and started a blacksmith shop which he has con- ducted since. He does horse-shoeing and all kinds of repair work. Mr. Dowell's children are: Mabel, born June 12, 1885, died Dec. 7, 1888; Jessie J., Feb. 12, 1889, at home; Pascal, March 5, 1892; and Nellie, May 19, 1898. FRANK A. ELLIOTT, son of Thomas H. Elliott, deceased and Margaret (Harper) Elliott, who lives with her daughter, was born in Noble County, Ohio, Sept. 6, 1857. He now lives at Edin- burg, Mo. He was educated in the public schools, and Grand River College. Mr. Elliott was married Oct. 28, 1884 to Mary Roth, who was a native of Ohio, born June 16, 1854 and came to Grundy County with her parents when a small child. Mr. and Mrs. Elliott have had two children. George B. was born Oct. 27, 1885; May, Oct. 31, 1889 and died Nov. 21, 189L Mr. Elliott came to Grundy County with his parents in 1869 and settled near Edinburg, where his father bought a farm. He lived there until grown, when he went to farming for himself. He then bought a place near Edinburg and farmed for ten years. At the end of that time he sold his farm and went into the mercantile business at Edinburg. In 1883 he formed a partnership with his brothers, HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY 517 R. D. and Francis A. Elliott, the latter being his twin brother. In 1897 he was appointed post- master of Edinburg and served ten years until the office was discontinued. He was in business then for two years when they sold out. He resumed bus- iness two years later and has continued since. He later took his son into his business with him and the firm is known as Elliott & Son. Mr. Elliott taught school for two years, in 1879 and 1881. JOSEPH H. FANNING was born in Ohio on March 25, 1856. He now resides on Route 1, Spick- ard six miles south east of the city. His father was W. P. Fanning, born Nov. 8, 1834, and his mother was Sarah H. (Linch) Fanning, born in 1834, died in 1901. Both his parents were natives of Ohio. Mr. Fanning began working for himself at the age of fifteen. He, at one time, worked for the Rock Island, but he left that and went back to the farm. On June 19, 1881, he was married to Esther L. Simmerman, daughter of Erastus Simmerman, born March 1824, died Feb. 1882, and Rachel (Shaw) Simmerman, born May 1833. Mrs. Fan- ning was born Oct. 8, 1863. They have two children : Minta May was born Aug. 5, 1882 and married Benjamin Briegel, March 14, 1906; Nellie Bernice, June 27, 1890, married Homer L. Layson, Jan. 28, 1909. Mr. Fanning owns a fine farm of 50 acres, is an old timer of the county and one of our most respected citizens. He is a Republican, a member of the Methodist church and Yeoman lodge number .885 at Trenton. 518 HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY F. E. FOX was born in Wisconsin, May 23^ 1861. He now resides six miles southwest of Spick- ard on Route 4. His father was Myron Fox, born Oct. 17, 1827, died Sept. 29, 1904, and his mother was Lamira E. (Smith) Fox, born in Ohio, April 14, 1831. Mr. Fox was married to Laura B. Taylor Feb. 19, 1888. Her father was Hon. T. J. Taylor, born in Brown County, Indiana, Sept. 15, 1839, died Sept. 29, 1892. Mr. and Mrs. Fox have two> RESIDENCE OF F. E. FOX children, Roy R., born Dec. 13, 1888 and Carl C.,. May 2, 1891. Mrs. Fox was born in Daviess Coun- ty, July 25, 1866. Her father was an old pioneer of the county, enlisted in the Union army as a private and was promoted to First Lieut. He was in the state legislature from 1882 to 1888. Mr. Fox came to Grundy County with his par- HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY 519 ents when he was three years old. Three years after his marriage he moved to his farm north of the old homestead and lived there until 1904 when he moved to his present home. His farm consists of 200 acres is well improved and well stocked. The boys have taught school ; Roy in Spickard and Carl at his home school. Mr. Fox's parents came here in 1864 and settled on the farm where he now lives. His mother still lives with him. Mr. Fox is a Republican and a member of the Methodist church. W. O. GARNAND, son of John and Magda- line (Nida) Garnand, was born Jan. 1, 1842, in Roanoke County, Virginia. He left Virginia in 1866, soon after his marriage, and came to Plaue County, Mo., where they lived five years, coming to Grundy County, where they bought a farm of 247 acres four miles southeast of Spickard. He lived there until 1896 when he sold that farm and bought his present place of Henry Flesher, four miles north of Parkerton, in Harrison township. It consists of 225 acres. When the war broke out Mr. Garnand joined Co. E. 42 Virginia and served until the close. He was in all the big battles fought in Virginia and was so badly wounded at Fred- ericksburg as to make him a cripple for life. He was under Stonewall Jackson when that General was killed. After the war he returned to Virginia. He was married Dec. 25, 1865 to Miss Sarah J. Snuffer. She died Jan. 15, 1881, leaving six children, three of whom are living: Julia A., born Sept. 30, 1866, who married Paris Humphleet HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY 521 and died at the age of thirty; Archibald, Sept. 3, 1868, now dead; John W., Dec. 1, 1870, now hvcs at Kansas City; George Sanford, Feb. 10, 1879; Rachel I., Feb. 10, 1879, married Arthur Libbev and died July 21, 1901 and Sarah M., Dec. 29, 1881 now Mrs. H. T. Peery. Mr. Garnand was married to Miss Dora Sires, Sept. 12, 1883. They have had four children, three of whom are living: Luther M., was born Jan. 16, 1887, died April 7, 1887; Judson E., Dec. 10, 1889 at home; James S., Jan. 5, 1891; Roscoe N., Jan. 15, 1893. Mrs. Garnand was born and reared near Spickard. She was born Feb. 1, 1855. Her father was John Sires, an old time pioneer. W. B. GORDON, son of Patrick and Sarah Gordon, was born in Oakland County, Mich., Aug. 2Z, 1875. His mother lives in Michigan and his father died in 1899. He now resides on Route 6, Trenton. Mr. Gordon was married in March 1907, in Illinois, to May I. Whitten, daughter of Wm. Whitten. Mrs. Gordon was born near Brunfield, 111., Dec. 23, 1881. They have one child, Otho John, M^ho was born Feb. 24, 1909. Mr. Gordon left home when he was grown and went to Flint, Mich., where he learned the meat cutler business. He then ran a meat market there for two years when he went to Peoria, 111., and went to work for the Peoria Buggy Co. He had charge of the crating department for a short time, and was promoted to general inspector. After two years, he went to Brunfield, 111., where he was engaged in farming until 1907. After his marriage he moved 522 HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUN'xY to Livingston County, Mo., where he leased a farm and remained a year. In 1908 he bought the Car- penter farm, which is eight miles northeast of Tren- ton and consists of 170 acres. Mr. Gordon is a member of the Maccabee lodge. Mrs. Gordon belongs to the Presbyterian church. W. D. GOSE was born in Tazewell County, Virginia, April 11, 1845. He came to Missouri with his mother and step-father, Capt. James A. Goodwin, in 1883. They settled a mile west of Edinburg on a farm and Mr. Gose lived there until he was married. He rented for four years, teach- ing school in the winter. He then bought his pre- sent farm, which then consisted of 140 acres. He later sold 60 acres. He makes a speciality of rais- ing alfalfa. Mr. Gose was a candidate for representative on the Democratic ticket in 1884 and 1900, runn- ing far ahead of his ticket. He was townshiD cl^^k and assessor for a number of years. He is a mem- ber of the South Methodist church and has been a delegate to the Annual Conference several trncs. At the meeting in 1907 at Moberly he succe^r-cd in introducing and having passed the anti-tobacco resolution, which prohibits the use of tobacco ani-^ng the clergy. Mr. Gose's children are: Samuel David, born Aug. 22, 1870, now a minister of Missouri <\m- ference M. E. church South. He is married and lives at Edgerton. Fannie, born April 30, 1872, is now Mrs. John E. Price and lives at Le Roy, Kan- sas. Edee, born Feb. 26, 1874, lives at home. Five HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY 523 cliildren died in infancy: Mattie M., born Sepi. iS, 1882, died Sept. 8, 1898. WILLIE GRIFFIN, Jr., son of William Grif- fin formerly of Ohio, and Nancy (Bennett) Grififin of Wisconsin, was born in Grundy County, Sept. 22, 1865. He now resides four and one half miles west of Spickard on Route 2, He married Miss Ellen Stanley Dec. 30, 1890. She was the daughter of Ellis Stanley, born in North Carolina, Aug. 23, 1827, and Rebecca (Lakey) Stanley, born in North Carolina May 16, 1835. Mr. and Mrs. Griffin have three children. Seth was born Nov. 11, 1892; John L., June 27, 1894; George, Dec. 13, 1897. Mrs. Griffin was born in Harrison County July 1, 1872. About twenty years ago Mr. Griffin began farming on a twenty acre farm, but he has accumu- lated land until he now has 240 acres. He makes a speciality of raising fine stock. Mr. Griffin is a Republican, a member of the Christian church and the I. O. O. F. lodge. H. A. HERTZOG, son of Peter and Hetty (Trick) Hertzog, was born in Berks County, Penn- sylvania, Oct. 19, 1842. He was educated at Mil- lersville. Pa., at the state Normal school. He was married to Kane Allen on Sept. 15, 1884. She died in 1897. Their children are: William Oliver, age twenty-three; Grover Cleveland, twenty-one; Anna Bell, nineteen; and Ruth, sixteen. Mr. Hertzog lived with his parents until lie was grown, teaching school and farming. He came to Ohio in 1869 where he located in the coal and iron mining district. Later he came to Iowa, where 524 HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY he was connected with the lumber and mining busi- ness. In 1879 he came to Grundy County. While in Grundy County, Mr. Hertzog has been in the saw mill and farming business. In 1902 he went into the rock business and is now proprietor of Riverview Rock Quarries and is doing an extensive business in Grundy County. Mr. Hertzog is a Democrat in politics. TYRUS HORTON was born in Vinton Coun- ty, Ohio, Aug. 31, 1840. He now resides on Route 1, Trenton. He was married Dec. 20, 1865 to La- vina M. Berridge. She was born in Fairfield Coun- ty, Ohio, Sept. 30, 1841. They have had three children, two of whom are living. William N. was born Jan. 23, 1868. He was married Jan. 23, 1890 to Minnie Eckley. They have eight children and live on a farm adjoin- ing the home place. John, born April 5, 1872, lives at home; and Mary H., born Sept. 30, 1880, died May 21, 1899. Mr. Horton's father died when he was six years of age and he lived at home with his mother until 1855 when he went to Illinois where he remained a- bout three years working at the carpenter trade. He then went to Iowa where he lived with his grand- mother until the war when he joined the First Iowa Cavalry and served three years and two months see- ing hard military service. He was in the detail which drove Quantrell out of Missouri. At the close of the war he went back to Iowa, studied for the ministry and was ordained a preacher of the Methodist church. He was a local minister for HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY 525 many years, but had no regular circuit charge. He inherited a farm from an aunt in Iowa and Hved there until 1897 when he sold it and moved to Grundy County, buying a two hundred acre farm three and one half miles north of Trenton. Mr. Horton is a member of the local Post of G. A. R. W. M. HOSTETLER was born Oct. 16, 1865 in Illinois. He now resides on Route 1, four miles south and a half mile east of the city of Spickard. His father was Cornelius Hostetler, born in Penn- sylvania, in 1837, died Jan. 21, 1872. His mother was SalHe (Miller) Hostetler who was born in Pennsyvania, June 21, 1839. Mr. Hostetler was educated in the High School ot Arthur, 111. After his graduation he worked on the farm one year and then procured a position in a tile factory in his home town. After one year there he went back to the farm for one year and then married Miss Rilla Ray, Mar. 1, 1889. Her father was John Ray, born in Indiana, Sept. 16, 1840, died May 18, 1909, and her mother was Jane (Wilson) Ray, born Dec. 29, 1842. After his marriage Mr. Hostetler bought a farm in Illinois and lived there twelve years when he sold it and bought another farm of 110 acres. At the end of four years he sold it and came to Grundy County and bought the Judge Breigel farm of 170 acres, where he now lives. Mr. Hostetler is a Re- publican. He has six children. Lula was born Aug. 20, 1889; Clara V., Aug. 26, 1891; F. Edward, Dec. HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY 527 21, 1892; Clarence L., March 6, 1895; Willie Mc, Jan. 30, 1897; and Goldie E., Oct. 25, 1899. Mrs. Hostetler was born in Illinois, Aug. 15, 1868, and educated in that state. FRANK HUDSON, son of John S. and Arbel-- la (Hughes) Hudson, was born in Harrison Coun- ty, near Bolton, Dec. 6, 1886. He now resides in Brimson. He was educated in the public schools and Kirksville State Normal. He was married Dec. FRANK HUDSON 23, 1906 to Nora L. Griffin, daughter of Charles Griffin of Mercer County. They have one child, Harry. Mr. Hudson lived with his father on a farm nine miles north of Brimson, until he was twenty years of age. He then farmed for two summers and on Jan. 1, 1909, went into partnership with 528 HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY Tom Brown in the hardware and implement busi- ness at Brimson. They carry a $7,000 stock and dO' an extensive business. Mr. Hudson is a Repubhcan. J. W. HUGHES, son of James and Lizzie (Mack- ley) Hughes, was born in Virginia. He was edu- cated in the district schools. He was married Feb, 11, 1866, to Nancy McAtee, daughter of David Mc- Atee. They have nine children. Priscilla Bur- nette, James E., Rosa Graham, John C, Garfield Holly Murry, Sampson S., Heberta and Audie Clair. Mr. Hughes came from Virginia to Grundy Conty with his parents and farmed until the time of the war when he joined the Union Army and served until the close of the war. After his mar- riage he worked out, accumulating enough to buy a 160 acre farm two miles south west of Brimson. Mr. Hughes' father died in 1849 and his mother later married Ely Fanning. CLAYTON HURT was born in Cooper Coun- ty, Missouri on March 8, 1837. He is the son or Clayton and Polly (Dillard) Hurt, the latter of whom was born Jan. 29, 1796. Mr. Hurt now re- sides three and one half miles north east of Spickard on Route 3. Mr. Hurt was married to Miss Cyntha Givens on Dec. 6, 1865. Her father was Alexander Givens, born Feb. 28, 1810, died in 1863. Her mother was Eliza (Harris) Givens, born March 6, 1815. Mr. and Mrs. Hurt have five children. Edgar was born Sept. 27, 1866; Bettie F., June 18, 1871 HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY 529 married Alfred Schooler; Alexander, Dec. 10, 1873, married Minnie Kirk; Mary Eliza, June 1, 1876, n^arried Mason Schooler; Bertie, Dec. 26, 1884, married Otis Sims. Mrs. Hurt was born Nov. 4, 1842. Mr. Hurt worked at home for his father until he was twenty-one years of age when he bought a farm of 120 acres in Cooper County. He sold out and canie to Grundy County in 1892 when he bought the farm on which he now lives. It contains 203 ocres. Mr. Hurt is a Democrat and a menu'.er of the Christian church. OTTO HAMILTON, son of John L. and Ma- tilda (Chilcoat) Hamilton, was born June 8, 1875 in Mercer County eight miles northeast of Spick- ard His parents came to this county in 1868 from Ohio and resided on the Baker farm north of Tren- ton about two miles. He was married to Mertie Barnes, daughter of Thomas Barnes, on Sept, 27, 1896. After his marriage he commenced farming for himself in Mercer County on part of his father's farm whicii he bought and remained there five years, when he sold out and moved two and one half miles north west of Spickard. He remained there four years, sold it and bought a farm of 160 acres in the north- west corner of Franklin township where he remain- ed one year, sold it and came to Spickard, bought some valuable business property and engaged in the meat and grocery business. He is at present as- sociated with Mr. Van Dix in that business. They 530 HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY have an excellent trade and up to date stock. While on the farm he was a breeder of Berkshire hogs. He is a member of the Christian church at Spickard. His father, John L. Hamilton is a resident of Gait. W. N. HENDRICKSON, was born in Monroe County, Indiana, May 30, 1848. He now lives on Route 6, Trenton. He was educated in the public schools and Grand River College. He was married March 14, 1882 to Ida G. Gaines, born in Grundy County just east of Tren- ton, May 3, 1859. They have three children. Mat- tie was born Jan. 26, 1884 and is now Mrs. E. E. Ross at Eagle City, Okla. ; Gaines T., June 9, 1888, in Nebraska; and Elizabeth W., Sept. 28, 1894, at Gait. Mr. Hendrickson lived on the farm in Indiana tmtil 1863, when he came to Grundy County with his parents. His father came here first in 1856 and boug"ht the farm where Mr. Hendrickson now lives. 'fe' Mr. Hendrickson's grandfather came here in 1854 and lived here until his death in 1873. He lived at home until his marriage, in the meantime taking a four years' course in Grand River College. He afterwards spent twelve years as a teacher, and helped on the farm during vacation. He went to Nebraska in 1886 and taught school there for five years, at one time being county superintendent of schools in Custer County. When he returned to Missouri he taught for a few years. He moved to his present farm in 1901. It is seven miles north- HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY 531 east of Trenton and belongs to the Hendrickson heirs under Mr. Hendrickson's control. H. F. HOFFMAN, son of C. A. and Magda- line (Fitterer) Hoffman was born near Carthage. Illinois, July 27 , 1860. He came to Trenton with his parents in 1866 and remained here until 1869 when he moved to Chillicothe where his father went into the mecantile business. From there they went to Colorado in 1871 where they remained until 1874 when they returned to Trenton where his father went into the grocery business. He worked in the store in the summer and attended school in the winter until 1878 when he took a course in the Quincy Business College at Quincy, 111. He re- turned in the spring of 1879 and went to clerking in his father's store, the firm then being Fitterer & Hoffman. In 1883 he bought his father's in- terest in the business and continued in that busi- ness until Oct 1888 when he was elected cashier of the Grundy County National Bank, now the Trenton National Bank, and continued in that place for four and one half years. In Aug. 1892 he entered into the mercantile business, and with others started the Farmers Store. It was small in the beginning, but is now the largest store to be found in a town the size of Trenton in the state. It consists of six stores in one, with 31,000 square feet of floor space. Mr. Hoffman is president of the company, the Hoffman, Merrill Mercantile Company and is interested in various other business enterprises. He has one of the most beautiful homes in north Missouri. 532 HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY Mr. Hoffman was married Oct. 31, 1883 to Miss Nettie Stewart, daughter of Dr. Solomon Ste- wart. They have two children. Dale S., born Mar. 21, 1888 and Steward F., April 13, 1895. Mr. Hoff- man's father still lives in Trenton. His mother died in the spring of 1909. He is a member of the Odd Fellow lodge. GEO. N. HUCKINS, son of James M. and Helen (Briggs) Huckins, was born at Queen Cily Mo., Jan. 16, 1875. He now lives at Trenton. He was married Aug. 10, 1889 to Maude L. Reynolds, daughter of William Reynolds. They have two children. William N. was born Jan. 28, 1900; Herbert R., Dec. 26, 1908. Mrs. Huckins was born at Green Top, Missouri. Mr. Huckins lived at Green City with his par- ents until he was about fourteen years of age. He then went to railroading and learned telegraphy working at it for several years. He then went to Kansas City, where he went into the employ of the F. G. Smith Piano Company learning tuning and the piano business in general. He traveled for sev- eral years tuning and selling pianos and in 1901 started a music store in Trenton. In the spring of 1904 he sold out and went to St. Louis where he was in the employ of the Baldwin Piano Com- pany. In November of that year he returned to Trenton and started a music store and piano house. Mr. Huckins has one of the largest and best music houses in this part of the state. He is an accom- plished musician having studied at the conserva- tory at Kirksville, and it was largely through his HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY 533 efforts that the Trenton Conservatory was esta- bhshed. Mr. Huckins is a member of the Masonic lodge. HENRY JUDSON HUGHES, son of Geda- hah and Jane P. (Walker) Hughes, was born in Grundy County, Missouri, Jan. 30, 1858. He now lives at Trenton. He was married Dec. 30, 1879 to Alice Austin, daughter of James and Susan Aus- tin. They have two children. Roy A., born Nov. 5, 1880; Lela A., born Sept. 3, 1883, now wife of E. D Winslow of Little Rock, Arkansas; James B., was born April 8, 1891, died Sept. 24, 1904. Mr. Hughes lived on a farm until he was ten years old. He came to Trenton with his mother At the age of thirteen years he began working in a grocery store. He afterwards clerked for eight years for W. C. Benson. He was in the general merchandise business for eight years under the firm name of H. J. Hughes & Co. and in 1891 he engaged in the Real Estate and Farm Loan business in which he is still engaged. Mr. Hughes does a large land business and has been the cause of many farmers from Iowa and Illinois coming to Grundy County. Some years his business runs as high as $400,000. In addition to his Real Estate and Loan business, Mr, Hughes owns and operates a fine breeding farm three miles northwest of Trenton which is known as Hughesdale. He breeds the Dual Purpose Shorthorn cattle, and Duroc Jersey hogs. This is the home of Rowena Second, the cham- pion Dual Purpose cow at the St. Louis World's 534 HISTORY OF GRUHDY COUNTY F^ir. Hughesdale is now under the management of Roy A. Hughes. In 1907 Governor Folk appointed Air. Hughes one of the Regents of the Maryville Normal school for a term of six years. Mr. Hughes is a Republican, a member of the First Baptist church, and was chairman of the building committee when their present church was erected on Elm Street. He is a Mason and an Odd Fellow. JOHN M JOHNSON, son of Jesse Johnson who died seven years ago and Marmon Johnson al- MR. AND MRS. J( HN M. JOHNSON so deceased, was born in Hamilton County, Indiana April 3, 1861 He now lives on Route 6, Trenton. He was married Dec. 8, 1887 to Elizabeth 536 HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY Groesback who was born at Lancaster, Iowa, April 12, 1860. They have three children. Mr. Johnson was reared on a farm in Indiana. He began to plow corn at the age of nine years and has missed but one year since, that being on ac- count of sickness. He left home in 1879 and went to Iowa where he went to work on a farm. Later he leased land and finally bought the land he leased. He owned a farm in Iowa which he sold in 1907 and in the fall of 1908 he bought the J. O. Layson farm in Grundy County ten miles northeast of Trenton, and not far from Four Corners. It consists of 120 acres. Mr. Johnson belongs to the Masonic and M. W. A. lodges and is a Republican. His mother died when he was only fourteen months old. B. B. KING was born in Leanordtown, j\Iary- land, April 29, 1852. He moved west to Dixon, Illinois with his parents in 1859. He lived in Chic- ago from 1861 to 1865 when he moved to Quincy, Illinois. He was educated at St. Michael's Col- lege at Toronto. Ont. In 1869 he started on a pre- liminary survey for the Quincy, Missouri & Pacific R. R., walkins^ across to the state of Missouri, to Star City, a point opposite Brownsville, Nebraska, the proposed terminus of the railroad. Geo. S. King, his father, was one of the incorporators of the road. He secured the right of way through Missouri and was a heavy investor of stock which proved to be a bad investment. In 1874 he enterel the train service and lost a foot in 1876. He went 538 HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY to Philadelphia to the Centennial. He married Miss Henrietta Wise of Leanordtown, Maryland. He moved to Hurdland, Missouri as agent for the O. M. & P. Railroad in 1878 and remained there until 1881 when he went to Gait, Missouri and opened up that station for the Wabash railroad. There being no houses until after the station was established at Gait, for a time he used a big stump as an office. There was only one house within the present limits of the city at that time. Mr. King remained in Gait until 1907 when he broke down with rheumatism and as a reward for his faithful service the company transfered him to Brimson where the depot was remodeled as it appears in the picture in order to make him a good home. Mr. and Mrs. King have had three children. Susie, Bennett (deceased) and Charles G. The lat- ter was born in Gait, learned telegraphy with his father and has held many responsible positions with various railroads. For a time he was in the dis- patcher's office in Trenton. He is now dispatcher's clerk at Pocatello, Idaho. Mrs. King with a nephew and niece from Kan- sas City were drowned early in the summer of 1908 while attempting to drive across Sugar Creek dur- ing an overflow. Mr. King himself, his daughter and granddaughter barely escaped with their lives after a desperate struggle. D. B. KING was born in Grundy County, Mar. 4, 1861. He now resides four miles east of Spick- HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY 539 ard, on Route 5. His parents were N. W. and Mary E. (Roberts) King. Mr. King was married to Miss Ida Colley on Feb 1, 1885. She is the daughter of E. W. Colley, born in Ohio Dec. 16, 1830, died Feb. 2, 1901, and Mary (Colley), born Dec. 15, 1833, died May 14, 1904. Mrs King was born Sept. 10, 1860. They have three children. Hugh was born Oct 23, 1886, married Alta Cartmill, Jan. 3, 1909; Mary, Dec. 29, 1888; and Bert, July 16, 1894. Mr. King began farming for himself when he was twenty-one years of age and after his marriage he farmed on the Colley farm for two years. He bought an eighty acre farm in Mercer County and farmed there for fifteen years. He then traded that farm for the one on which he now lives the John P. Schooler farm which consists of 120 acres. Mr. King is an extensive cattle feeder and raiser. He is a Republican, a member of the Christian church and the A. F. & A. M. and K. of P. lodges. E. G. KATHAN, son of Rufus and Lucy (Oilman ) Kathan, was born in Westbroom, Canada, Province of Quebec, Feb. 26, 1872. He moved with his parents to Linn County when five years of age and settled near Bucklin on a farm. He lived there with his parents until he was eighteen years old when he came to Trenton and started as clerk in the drug store of Dr. G. M. Roberts and attended the Trenton high school. Dr. Roberts died early in 1892 and Mr. Kathan then spent two years in the St. Louis college of Pharmacy, graduating in 1893. He returned to Trenton and worked for C. A. Foster until 1898. He and Henry Roh formed 540 HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY a partnership in 1898 and bought the Jarman drug store on Ehn street. They continued in partner- ship until 1908 when Mr. Kathan bought out Mr. Roh. In the spring of 1909 he purchased the C. A. Foster drug store, combined it with his other store and moved the other stock to the C. A. Foster store on Water street. Mr. Kathan is president of the Trenton Ice Company, a director in the Trenton National Bank, owns the Elk Hotel and is interested in various other business enterprises. In 1905 and 1906 he was manager of the O. L. Gregory Vinegar factory at St. Louis, but he remained in Trenton during that period He was married June 5, 1900 to Miss Nora Cullers, daughter of Chas. H. Cullers. They have one child, Florence May, born June 28, 1905. GEORGE L. KENNEDY, son of Christian and Alargaret Kennedy, both of who'r- are dead, was born in Grundy County, Aug. 9, 1871. He now lives in Trenton. He lived on the farm until he was thirty-two years of age. He began carry- ing mail Dec. 15, 1904 on Route 6. He is secretary of county rural carriers association, has served as constable of Jackson township, and clerk of the dis- trict schools. Mr. Kennedy was married Jan. 30, 1904 to Amanda Briegel, daughter of John Breigel. They have two children, Mary Margaret, born March 20, 1907 and Russel Dale born July 16, 1909. Mr. Kennedy is a member of the Christian church. HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY 541 A. P. LANGDON, son of Samuel W. and Sarah (Murrow) Langdon, was born six miles south of Fairfield, Jefferson County, Iowa, Feb. 16, 1853 He was married Nov. 2, 1877 to Nora Wat- son, daughter of William Watson of Van Buren County, Iowa They have four children : John, age 28; Birdie (Seylock) age 26; Minnie (Miller) a^-e 24 ; and Charles, age 22. Mr. Langdon lived on a farm with his parents until he was twenty-five years of age and then in 1877 married and purchased a farm near Des Moin- es where he remained until 1881. His father died in that year and he moved back to the old hon'.c place and bought the entire farm of 250 acres. This farm had been entered as government land by his father and remained in the hands of father and son until Mr. Langdon sold it and moved to Grundy County in 1903. He purchased the old Judge Sha- fer farm of 295 acres. This land adjoins Edin- burg and Mr. Langdon has erected one of the pret- tiest home in that vicinity. Mr. Langdon is a breeder of fine draft horses and has one of the premium horses of the county. He is a Republican in politics. JAMES A\ LEGG was born in Pike County, Ohio. Jan. 1, 1850. His father was Noble Legg, born in Ohio in 1819, died in 1878, and his mother was Phoebe (Mustard) Legg, who died in 1875. Mr. Legg came to Iowa with his parents and stayed one year. He then came to Grundy and his father rented the old Wm. Clark place just soutn of Tindall. Twt« years later they bought the farm 542 HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY on which Mr. Legg now lives. He went to Colorado in 1873, but soon returned to his old home. His farm is located just north of Tindall and is well improved. Mr. Legg belongs to the I. O. O. F. and Rebe- kah lodges. He is a Republican in politics, and a highly respected citiezen. D. C. LEMLEY was born in Monroe County, Ohio, Aug. 28, 1851. He is the son of David Lemley, who died Feb. 24, 1894, and Sarah (Moore) Lemley, who died in 1879. He was educated in the West Virginia public schools and complected a course in the Misouri Auction school. He was married July 18, 1882 to Mrs. J. A. Webster, the widow of Dr. J. A. Webster, a promi- nent physician of Grundy County. Mrs. Lemley is the daughter of Lewis Brush, who died Feb. 7, 1892, and Harriet (Wood) Brush, wdio now lives in Mercer County. Mr. Lemley moved with his parents from Mon- roe County, Ohio, when a small boy and w^nt to West Virginia where he lived on a farm with his father until 1869 when he moved to Grundy and remained one year. He afterwards moved to Kan- sas where they farmed for fifteen years and then returned to Grundy County and has farmed con- tinuously since that time except three years, which he spent in Kansas. At one time Mr. Lemley was a blacksmith. He graduated from the Missouri Auction School in 1907 and since that time he has farmed and prac- ticed auctioneering. HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY 543 J. A. LENHARDT, son of John and Clara (Breigel) Lenhardt, was born vSept. 9, 1874 in Franklin County Ohio. He came with his parents when a boy to Grundy, was educated in the public schools of the county and Avalon college at Tren- ton. He went back to the farm after he left school and stayed for three years. On Dec. 19, 1901 he was married to Fannie Hein, daughter of Valentine and Caroline (Kaw) Hein. Mrs. Lenhardt was born April 11, 1877 in this county. Mr. Lenhardt is the owner of Sans Louis, an American Percheron horse, pedigree number 35680, and Joseph Junior, a fine Kentucky bred Mammoth jack. He owns a good farm in Franklin township, well located. Mr. Lenhardt is a member of the Democratic party and the Lutheran church. JOHN LENHARDT was born in Germany, March 15, 1837. His father was John Lenhardt, who was born in Germany in 1809 and died in 1845. His mother was Lizzie (Miller) Lenhardt, also born in Germany. He was married to Clara Breigel daughter of Mike and Anna Breigel, in 1872 in Columbus, Ohio. They have three children. John A. was born Sept. 8, 1875, married Fannie Hein; Mollie, married Weldon Evans; Carl, born in 1890. After his marriage he stayed one year in Col- umbus, Ohio and then came to Grundy County and bought the Willoughby Keith farm in Franklin township in 1876. It contained 80 acres, but he afterwards bought another 80 acres. Mr. Lenhardt raises Short Horn cattle and fine horses. He is 2 544 HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY Democrat and a member of the Lutheran church, Mr. Lenhardt is a man who is in love with his oc- cupation, consequently he keeps his farm well irr.- proved and has the best of live stock. MRS. SARAH P. LUKE, daughter of J. S. P. Marshall who came to Grundy County in 1839 from Ohio, was born in Grundy County, Nov. 29, 1841 She now lives on Route 6, Trenton. She was married to Thomas Luke April 1, 1860. Mr. Luke died April 5, 1909 in Oklahoma. Her son, S. D has lived at home with his mother all his life and has never married. Mr. Luke lived at home until his marriage. He then lived for a time where L. C. Lemley now lives, then moved to the farm now owned by C. D. Gass. He sold that and bought the farm where Mrs. Luke now lives. It consists of 80 acres and is three-four- ths miles east of Grundy Center church. Mrs. Luke belongs to the Methodist church. She has had ten children, six of whom are living. Nancy A. was born June 8, 1861 and is now Mrs. Ben Ralston of Trenton; Martha F., Nov. 9, 1862, now Mrs. Wm. Schlotterback; Mary M., March 30, 1864. was the wife of John Brown, deceased; Abram L., Dec. 15, 1865, married and lives in Okla; Samuel L., Jan. 23, 1868, lives with his mother; Minnie Oct. 13. 1869, was the wife of Warren Thomp- son who died March 31, 1909; William T., Oct. 15, 1871 married and lives in St. Joseph; Parmelie B., Dec. 10, 1873, died April 26,' 1895; Ruth A., July 21, 1879, married A. B. Berry; and Olive L., July 3\ 1886, was the wife of Charles King. HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY 545 DR. E. J. MAIRS. son of Dr. W. J. and Catharine Mairs, was born in Sullivan Comuy, \)ec 29, 1882. T:Te now reirides on Route 2, Trenton. He was married Sept. 7, 1904 to Bessie V. Lane. They have two children. Linda Catharine was born Dec. 11, 1905; Ruth, April 20, 1909. Mr. Mairs was born and reared at Newtow.i. He studied medicine with his father, while attend- ing the public schools. He then attended the Kirks- ville Normal and Medical department of the Wash- ington University at St. Louis graduating in 1903. He then entered the general practice of medicine and surgery with his father at Newtown. He continued in the practice for five years. He bought an intere -.t in the Bank of Newtown and was made cashier. Later he sold out his banking interest and bought his father-in-law's farm of 415 acres eight miles east of Trenton near Rural Dale church. This farm which is one of the best in Grundy County, Dr. Mairs sold in July, 1909. Mr. Lane makes his home with his son-in-law. D. C. MARRS is a native of Grundy County and was born near Edinburg, Feb. 13, l'S65. He lived in that vicinity only two years, however, when he moved with his parents to the Bushong place near Parkerton, then two years later to the place now owned by Bruce McNair in that same neighbor- hood. He lived there with his parents till 1885 and then moved with them to Nebraska where they remained four years. At the end of that time he mar- ried and started farming for himself, purchasing a farm near his fathers. He remained there six 546 HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY years and then selling his farm he moved to Arkan- sas, but remained there only a short time when he returned to Grundy County where he has since lived. He first bought the Dilley place near Spick- ard. Five vears later he sold that and bous^ht his present farm. It is on Route 7, a short distance north of Parkerton and consists of 130 acres of rich and well improved land. He does general RESIDENCE OF D. C. MARKS farming and raises high grade stock. Mr. Marrs was married Sept. 18, 1889 at Arnold, Neb. to Miss Susie Blue, a daughter of George Blue, of Trenton. She was born at Tren- ton, May 20, 1868. They had one child, Beulah, born Dec. 24, 1892, and died Nov. 14, 1901. They have both traveled extensively and in 1907 spent considerable time in Yellowstone Park. HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY 547 Mr. Marrs is a member of M. W. A. and both are devoted Methodists, Mr, Marrs being a trustee, of the church and superintendent of the Sunday School at Hatton Chapel. N. T. MILLER, son of Wm. E. and Matilda (Garner) Miller, was born in Shelbyville, 111., April 23, 1859. His father died when he was about six years of age and he lived on the farm with his mother until he was nineteen years old. He came to Grundy County with his mother in 1876 and lived on a farm southwest of town for four years, when he moved to Trenton where he has since lived. He drove a hack for several years and followed various occupations. He was deputy sheriff at odd times during that period. In 1905 he was made regular deputy under J. E. Estes and was reappointed by J. R. Dillon, with whom he is still serving as deputy. He was married Nov. 25, 1886, to Caddie E. Crick, daughter of James Crick. They have three children. Roy D., was born June 8, 1888; Minnie v., March 12, 1890; Julia, Jan. 31, 1897. THOMAS MILLER, son of J. B. and Sarah Miller, was born in Cedar County, Iowa, July 4th, 1856. He is now in the mercantile business at Park- erton. the first station west of Trenton on the O. O. & K. C. Mr. Miller was married to Miss Ella Hoisington, daughter of C. A. Hoisington, Nov. 19, 1893. They have one son, Charles B., born Dec. 19, 1895. Mr. Miller lived on a farm in Iowa till twenty nine vears old, then was in the mercantile business 548 HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY in that state for a short time. He conducted a hotel in Nebraska, raih'oaded in the same state, also in North Dakota, then returned to Iowa and remained a short time, coming to Grundy County in 1903, where he bought some land and a store at Parker- ton. He handles a stock of general merchandise. Mr. Miller is a Democrat in politics. MARVIN H. MOONEY was born Jan. 11, 1874 in Fairbury, Nebraska. He is the son of T. H. Mooney. He was married Dec. 25, 1894 to Cla MARVIN H MOONEY Wade, daughter of Boliver Wade of Gait. They have hiix children ; Harry, Elsie, Fred, Victor, Carol and Fdith. Mr. Mooney came to Gait, Grundy County, when a small boy, and has lived in the county almost all of the time since. He has long been a student of civil engineering. He was appointed county siir- HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY 549 veyor in 1902, to succeed V. O. Hobbs who resigiiel was elected at the end of his term and has held the office ever since Mr. Mooney's experience in all manner of road building has been very extens-ve. He has made a specialty of the construction of roads and bridges. Having a large experience as contractor and employer of labor he knows how to get the best results out of his men. He employs re- liable workmen, and keeps every man in the proper place at the proper time. He was appointed County Highway Engineer in 1907 and had previous to that time been building bridges here. The loss to Grundy County bridges by the recent flood was far less than to any adjoining county. For instance, Grundy County's loss was only $2,000, Harrison County's over $30,000. JOHN MOORE, better known as "Uncle Jacky" is the oldest living resident of Grundy CotVir- ty with the possible exception of Charles Scott. He is a son of Levi and Rachel (Haines) Moore; he was born in Chariton County, Missouri, Sept. 14, 1822. He moved with his parents to Randol]:>h County, from there to Daviess County, and when a small boy settled two miles north of where Gal- latin now is. He moved from there to where Trenton is now located in 1833 or 1834. His father raised a crop of corn near where the machine shops now stand at Trenton and it was entirely destroyed by wild pigeons, which nested by thousands in a scrub oak grove where the fair grounds now is. When Trenton was laid off Mr. Moore moved to the Val. Breigle farm. He served in the Mexican war, and 550 HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY took part in a number of fights with the Indians. He married Enimehne Wasson on May IS,, 1849. They had five children, Nova Zembla Sublet, Bernettie, Selhsabel, Cordeha Ellen and Alary Em- , meline. His wife died in 1861. In 1862 he married Mary Flowers. They have two children, Fortre.-^s Monroe and John Mayland. He went to California, the leader of a band of emigrants, in 1850. The next spring he returned to Grundy County to take the families of his com- rades to California. He came from San Francisco across the Isthmus on foot, thence via Havana to New Orleans and up the river. Arriving here he received a letter from his friends that they would be home in the fall so he did not return. He joined the militia in 1862, and was second lieutenant of Company A. In I\Iay 1863 he joined the provi- sional militia and was elected first lieutenant and took part in one skirmish with the bushwackers under Anderson. When the militia disbanded he and Captain G. A. Spickard made up a company and went to St. Joseph, but finding the regiment nearly full, they returned home. Mr. Moore is active for a man of his age, and is one of the most interesting of talkers. OLIVER K. MUNN, son of Newton F. and Sofia Munn, was born in Logan County, Oliio, April 11, 1840. He now lives at Stockton, Rocks County, Kansas. He was married in Feb. 1864 to Sarah White. They had two children. William F. was born in 1865 ; EHa, born in 1867. His first wife died about. HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY 551 1869 and in 1873 he married Iva A. Wilson. They had one child, Letitia, born in Jan. 1875. His second wife died in 1880. He was post master at Spickard for seven years and justice of the peace for his township three terms. He practiced law for several years in Spickard. He lived in Ozark County, Mis- souri from 1892 to 1906 and at present lives with his son at Stockton, Kansas. He taught school for several years in Grundy County during the early days. During his residence in Grundy County Mr. Munn made many friends and has a large acquain- tance here. NELS NELSON was born in Sweden, May 13, 1870. He lives on Route 6, Trenton. He was married May 3, 1892 to Selma Olsen, born in Sweden Aug. 19, 1870. They have six children. Eddie was born Jan. 8, 1893; William, Jan. 26, 1895; Ethel, Dec. 23, 1896; Hulda, Jan. 24, 1900; Clara, Oct. 27, 1904; Harry, March 19, 1906. Mr. Nelson came to America in 1888, his father having preceded him about one year. They settled near Ea Salle, Illinois and Mr. Nelson worked in the cement business. He went to farming in thai state and farmed about six years. In 1907 he came to Grundy County and bought the Frank Vogel farm, which consists of 160 acres eight miles north- east of Trenton. Mrs. Nelson came to America and settled in Ottawa, Illinois. Although Mr. and Mrs. Nelson were born in the same county, they were not acquainted until they met in Ottawa. JOHN C. NICHOLS was born Jan. 9, 1841. His parents came to Grundy County in 1839 and SS2 HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY Mr. Nichols was the first white child born in Frank- lin township. His parents were Benjamin Nichols born in Harrison county, Kentucky, March 22, 1802, and Annie Houston Nichols, born March 18, 1810 in Cumberland County Pennsylvania in 1810, Mr. Nichols now lives at Spickard. He was married Oct. 6, 1867 to Lizzie Tharp, now deceased. They had no children. Mr. Nichols was one of our pioneer teachers for two years. He farmed until 1884 when he en- gaged in the harness business in Spickard. In 1898 he retired from business and in 1904 he went to California where he stayed for four years, return- ing to Grundy County in 1908. In 1862 he enlisted in Co. C. 23 Mo. Vol. Infantry and served three years. He also served six months in the M. S. M. Mr. Nichols is a brother of B. C. Nichols of Trenton. He is a member of the M. E. church and the A. F. & A. M. lodge. He is a Republican. HENRY T. PEERY, son of R. B. T. Peery, grandson of Geo. Peery and cousin of Stephen Peery, was born in the Forks of the River five miles north of the old Perry farm, May 9, 1869. He was married March 13, 1907, to Sadie Gar- nand, daughter of W. O. Garnand. They have one child, Dora Elenor, born Jan. 29, 1908. Mr. Perry died in Aug. 1909, after a short illness of appendi- citis. Mr. Perry spent his early life on the farm with his parents. In 19^00 he went into business for himself. His farm consisted of 444 acres, and is a part of the old Peeery farm, Mr. Peery having HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY 553 purchased it from the other heirs. He raised fine cattle and hogs and did general farming. He was one of the leading citizens of his community, a man of high character and solid business ability. MR. AND MRS. H. T. PRERY JOSEPH D. PROFFIT, oldest son of Lycur- gus A. and Mary F. Proffit, was born in Brook- field, Mo., Dec. 11, 1872. When two years old he moved to Grundy Coun- ty with his parents and settled in Harrison town- ship, where he remained until 1888 when he moved on a farm north of Gait. In 1891 he entered Hum- phreys College, and after his graduation from that 554 HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY institution he taught school in Grundy County for six years. He then came to Trenton where he clerked for A\\ A. McVay for three years, then traveled a year for the International Harvester Company, then worked for the Rock Island for three years. In March 1906 he entered the office of H. I. Hughes, taking charge of the office work, hand- ling the abstract and insurance work, keeping the books, etc., and is still employed in that office. Mr. Proffit was married Aug. 29, 1897 to Hat- tie B. McVay, daughter of J. W. McVay and Sarah McVay, and a sister of W. A. McVay. They have two children. Juanita, was born July 29, 1898; Delbert M., June 3, 1902. Mr. Proft'it is a member of the Odd Fellows lodge, past Grand W. O. W., Grand River Lodge, No. 52, Past Council Commander of Trenton Camp No. 19. He is a Republican in politics and he and Mrs. Proft'it are members of the Reorganized church of Latter Day Saints. He was made first super- intendent of their Sunday School in Trenton, Aug. 9, 1908. MARCELLUS RATLIFF was born in Lewis County, West Virginia, July 19, 1827,. He lived in that state until twenty-three years old then two years in Butler County, Ohio, then one and one half years in Hancock County, 111., then to Wayne County, Iowa, coming to Harrison township in 1863. He was married Dec. 30, 1849 to Miss Sarah Brown who was born in Lewis County, Virginia, May 20, 1831. Both his grandfathers foug'ht in the Revolution and the war of 1812. HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY 555 Mr. and Mrs. Ratliff were the parents of ten children. Stephen F. was born Sept. 30, 1850; Ino R., May 12, 1852; J. N. Feb. 18, 1854; Jennie, bet 11, 1857; Rose Jan. 8, 1860; W. E., Nov. 20, 1862; Thomas, May 27, 1871; three died in in- fancy. ViY. Rathff was one of the leading citizens of his part of the county, took an active part in public affairs and filled a number of offices. He was a level headed and substantial business man. W. E. RATLIFF, son of Marcellus and Sarah (Brown) Ratliff, was born in Wayne County, Iowa, Nov. 20, 1862. When he was about one year old he moved to Grundy County near where he now lives. He lived at home with his parents until he was twenty-two years of age. His father died then and he lived with his mother for two years, then went to farming for himself. He leased land for a few years after his marriage then bought several farms, selling them soon after. Among them was the Shott farm on which he lived three years. After he sold it he moved to Tindall where he lived about a year. He sold out there and went to Colorado, but remained only a short time when he returned 10 this county, lived here a year, when he went to Daviess County and bought a farm near Jamesport in partnership with his brother. When he sold this farm he moved to Trenton for one year lived a year on a farm just east of Trenton then bought his present farm, in 1907. On the farm where he lives there are 880 acres and his brother. Newt, lives on a 200 acre farm. He HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUxNTY 557 and his brother own the two farms in partnership. He does general farming and handles fine stoclc. Mr. Ratliff was married April 28, 1889 \o Lora Wilson, daughter of James C. Wilson who died March 28, 1908, and Sarah (Wisdom) Wil- son who died April 2, 1908. Mrs. Ratlifif was born in Trenton, Feb. 2, 1866. They have had six chil- dren, five of whom are living. Sylvia was born Nov. 20, 1892; Eva, May 24, 1895; Edna, Feb. 12, 1898; Jason, July 8, 1900; Orville, June 7, 1902; unnamed infant, June 5, 1891, died July 25, 1891. W. T. RATLIFF, son of S. F. Ratlifif, who lives in Daviess County, and Martha Ratlifif, was born in Grundy County, Oct. 2, 1873. He now lives on Route 7, Trenton. He was married Jan. 7, 1903 to Wllma Brown daughter of E. J. Brown. They have had four children. Lula B. was born Nov. 9, 1903; Lloyd E., Oct. 30, 1904; Russell L., Oct. 12, 1906; Letha M., July 15, 1908. Mr. Rathffi lived on the farm at home until grown and he has spent practically all his life in the same locality. After his marriage he went to farming for himself. He went to Oklahoma in 1906 and remained until March, 1908. He lived on the J. M. Drinkard place for one year then moved to the Bartee farm near Parkerton. It consists of 160 acres. He is a member of the Odd Fellow lodge. WILLIAM REID, one of the old pioneer set- tlers of this county, was born in Kentucky, Dec. 2, 1811 and died Feb. 23, 1897 at Spickard, Mo. At 558 HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY an early date he came with his parents to Monroe County, Missouri, there met SalHe M. Thompson and married her on the 17th day of June 1834. Geo. Reid the subject of this sketch, was the fourth child of this union His father soon after their marriage moved to Grundy County, in Jan. 1839. At that time this country was a perfect wilderness, where the wolf's cries were heard, deer were plentiful and the Indians could be seen along the streams, but even though it was thus, he and his wife stayed and overcame all of the great inconviences. He was a Christian minister of great ability and for sixty years he preached to the people of this county and the adjoining counties, doing great good and while he spent his entire life in the ministry, his compensation was very meager. But aside from the ministry he engaged in what was known as the Carding Mill business on his farm west of Spickard, but later he embarked in the general mercantile bus- iness at Middlebury, Missouri. He was a man well known throughout the entire country for his great- ness as a minister and there are many living monu- ments to his memeory. His son George Reid, was born in Grundv County, Dec. 4, 1850. In 1869 he married Miss Previa Adams and to this union six children were born, five of whom are living. Thomas L. was born July 25, 1870. married Alta Howe; Ella, Aug. 27, 1872, married John Higgins, Sallie, March 15, 1874, married Grant Tharp; Taylor, July, 1881, married Ethel Pearson; Eva, May 11, 1890, mar- ried Albert Kessler. After Mr. Reid's marriage he HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY 559 moved to his farm ten miles east of Spickard, sold this, bought the farm on which Robert Browning- now lives, and lived there until he moved to Spick- ard about twenty years ago. He has been in the hotel business in Spickard for twenty years and it has been his utmost effort to please the traveling men and those who may stop with him. Mr. and Mrs. Reid are very sociable and have a host of warm friends, throughout the country. Mrs. Reid was born in Iowa, Feb. 22, 1852, was educated in Illi- nois and at Trenton. Mr. Reid's father probably received more people into the church than any other minister in the county and married the first couple in this county. MRS. PHIL ROBINSON was born in On- tario, Canada, April 12, 1836. She now resides at Gait, Missouri. Her father was David Stillwell, born in England in 1808. Her mother was Mar- garet (Moore) Stillwell, born in New Jersey in 1812 and died in 1882. Mrs. Rcbinson married Phil Robinson, jane 9, 1859. They have four children. Thomas was born May 31, 1860; Kate, Dec. 22, 1861, Charles, Feb. 3, 1864. and George E., June 17, 1866, died Oct. 17, 19tj7. Mr. Robinson was the son of Tho.'^.as Robinson who was born in New Jersey in 1-^07 and and died in 1863 and Amelia (Vastbinder) Robin- son born in 1811 and died in 1895. Mrs. Robinson came to Illinois at the age oi nineteen. She clerked in a store in Annawari n^ar Rock Island and after one year she taughi school for three years when she married. Thev IKed in 560 HISTORY OF GRUXDY COUNTY Illinois one year then moved to Grundy Coimty on their farm just west of Gait. The farm contains 160 acres. They lived on the farm for ten years, went back to Illinois, stayed two years, h'\^e<1 in Chillicothe two years, went back to the farn) tor one year then to Lindley for six years in tlie milli- nery business, then went back to the farm. T- ISSJ she came to Gait and has been in the millinery busi- ness ever since. At the death of Mr. Robin'-on the estate was divided among the children witlioul any administration or any difificulty. Mrs. Robinson is a member of the Eastern Star. 1 C. \A\ SCOTT, son of John and Charlotte (Meek) Scott, w^as born in Daviess Coun^.v, Aug. 2. 1(S33. He has resided in Grundy County since the fall of 1833, hii^ father having' come lier(; and planted a crop in the spring of that year. He set- tled near Edinburg where his father entered land. His mother died in 1849 and he and his father starr- ed for the gold fields of California, a few months lat- ea. They went by way of Nebraska and his father died on the way. ^Nlr. Scott continued his journey and remained in California for about four years. On his return he made the trip by water to Panama and there on home to Grundy County where he has since lived. He then bought his present farm in Harrison township eleven miles northwest of Trenton, on Route 1, Brimson. It consists of 420 acres. Mr. Scott was married Nov. 3, 1854 to Sarah Thornburgh, daughter of Wm. Thornburgh. 1 liey HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY 561 have nine children, eight of whom are Hving. He belongs to the Methodist church and is a Republican. Air. Scott's parents came to Grundy County and settled in the forks of the river in company with Dr. Thompson who is said to be the ' first settler in Grundy County. Between him and "Uncle Jacky Moore" lies the honor of being the oldest living resident of Grundy County. GEO ISAAC SPICKARD was born in Grun- dy County, Alarch 29, 1856. His father was George A. Spickard, born in Highland County, Ohio, died May 30, 1899 in Grundy County, and his mother was Mary A (Thompson) Spickard born in Boone County, Missouri, Feb. 14, 1829, and still lives at the old homestead one mile west of Spickard. Mr. Spickard lived with his parents except one year in California, until his marriage to Emily J, McHargue, Sept, 9, 1883. They have one son liv- ing, Charles Shelby, born Aug. 14, 1887, now in a barber shop at Spickard. Mr. Spickard started in the business of farming for himself at hi.s marriage. He owned and lived on a farm in Mercer County seven years, but sold it a few years ago and is now living on a part of the old homestead west of Spick- ard. Mr. and Mrs. Spickard are of pioneer stock coming from Grundy County's first and best fam- ilies. Mr. Spickard is a Republican, a member of the A. F. & A. M. lodge and he and Mrs. Spickard are members of the Christian church. 562 HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY PARIS C. STEPP was born in Monroe Coun- ty, Indiana on May 17, 1845. He lived there with his parents until 1853, when his parents moved to Grundy County on a farm. In June 1864 he en- listed in the United States service as a private -n Company E. of the Twelfth regiment of Missouri volunteer cavalry. He was promoted to coporal and then to acting sergeant. He was with General Hatch in the fight at Eastport. He also fought in the battles of Franklin and Nashville, Tenn. After the war he returned to Grundy County and com- pleted the high school course under Dr. R. C .Nor- ton, attended the University of Bloomington, In- diana and then engaged in teaching. In 1870 he began to study law in the ofifice of Col. John H. Shanklin and was admitted to the bar in 1874. He represented his county in the lower house of the legislature from 1876 to 1878. After that he was elected Probate judge for the term of four years. He was married to Mary E. Fleming, Nov. 24, 1872. They had one child, W. Dale, born in Trenton, Sept. 12, 1873. Mrs. Stepp died Oct. 3, 1901. Judge Stepp was married to Carrie Evans, daughter of J. B. Evans of Princeton, July 11, 1905. He was elected circuit judge in the year 1892 and served twelve consecutive years on the bench winning an enviable reputation as an able and im- partial jurist. Judge Stepp is a man of high char- acter, a member of the Christian church and has exerted a potent influence for good in public affairs in Grundy County. He left this county in 1907 and his present home is in Riverton, Wyoming. HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY 563 W. D. STEPP, son of Judge P. C. and Mary (Fleming) Stepp, was born Sept. 12, 1873. He was married to Mable H. Rockwell, daughter of Orson j". Rockwell of Trenton, Sept. 24, 1902. They have One daughter, Mary Isabelle, born Aug. 12, 1903. Mr. Stepp is a grauate of the Trenton high school and attended the law department of the Mis- souri University. He was admitted to the bar bar April 15, 1895. Prior to his graduation from the Trenton high school, he completed a course in the Gem City Business College. He worked for a time with the Trenton Tribune when that paper was owned by his father and C. D. Morris. He was stenographer for the circuit court of this judicial circuit for about four years. On his admission to the bar Mr. Stepp entered the law office of Schooler & Kelso and for a considerable time during the sickness and absence of the partners practically had charge of the firm's business. He also held position of Assistant Postmaster under C. D. Morris. With his father and O. N. Gibson he organized the ab- stract, real estate, law and insurance firm of W. D. Stepp & Co., in June 1904, which firm was suc- ceeded by Stepp, Warden & Co., Judge Stepp retir- ing in Dec. 1907 Mr. Stepp was largely instrumental in organiz- ing Co. D., Fourth Missouri Infantry N. G. Mo. Upon the organization of that company, May 5, 1902, he was made First Lieut, and received the Captain's commision Dec. 12 of the same year. He was promoted to Major of the Fourth regiment, re- ceiving his commission, July 24, 1909. 564 HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY W. H. STRATTON, son of Reese B. and Lillie J. (Deskins) Stratton, was born in Grundy County tiear Edinburg, Feb. 7, 1866. He now lives on Route 7, Trenton. He was married Aug. 16, 1887 to Martha A. Johnson. She died April 26, 1899. He was married to Liza Williams July 6, 1902. She is a daughter of Thos. H. and Laura Williams. She was born near Spickard April 30, 1881. They have two children. Henry Clare was born Aug. 15, 1903; and W^illiam Guy, Oct. 19, 1905. Mr. Stratton's father came to this county very early and died in 1869. His mother has lived in RESIDENCE OF W. H. STRATTON this county for sixty years and at present makes her home with him. Mr. Stratton moved with his par- ents to Daviess County when he was a baby and lived there two years when they moved back to HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY 565 Grundy County and settled in the "forks of the river." He lived at home with his mother until his marriage when he went to farming for himself. He bought a farm in the "forks of the river" just nortii of his present place, sold that and bought the old home place near Hatton Chapel where he lived seven years. He then bought his present farm three and one half miles northwest of Parkerton. It consists of 100 acres. Mr. Stratton is a member of the Odd Fellow lodge and he and his wife both belong to the Re- bekahs. He is a member of the Baptist church. Mrs. Stratton belongs to the Christian church. HENRY C. SYKES was born December 10th, 1838 on a farm in East Rupert, Vermont, the third in a family of five children. His father, Milton Sykes, was of English descent. ]Mr. Sykes was reared in East Rupert and received his education in the common schools of that district. After at- taining his majority he still made his home with his parents until 1869, when he emigrated to Missouri, where his brother, A. K. Sykes, had preceded him by ten years. For a few years he worked a farm six miles southeast of the county seat and in 1873 purchased a half interest in the marble shop of R. A. Collier. In 1877 he became sole proprietor and remained so until 1904, when he disposed of his business and retired from active life. He died INIarch 13th, 1906. Mr. Sykes was married April 30th, 1874 to Helen A. Cluff of North Granville, New York. Four children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Svkes. Ernest 566 HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY M. was born October, 2nd, 1875, became a practic- ing veterinarian and died October 7th, 1903. Lucy B. was born October 17th, 1878, and died December 25th, 1882. Harry C. was born January 30th, 1886, and died March 14th, 1900. A. Kent was, born November 8th, 1890. PROF. HARRY BURNELL SCHULER is a native of Iowa and was born at Odeboh of that state in the early eighties, spending his early life with his parents in that city. He early developed a taste and talent for music, playing the organ when_ but four years of age and playing for church when but nine. He began the systematic study of music when eight and began teaching at the age of six- teen. His training has been broad and his exper- ience varied and extensive, both as a teacher and a concert singer. He studied piano with Myrtle Lee, Dakota Wesleyan University, Edgar A. Nelson, Bash Tem- ple Conservatory, Chicago, Ernesto Consolo, Chic- ago Musical College. His voice work was done with Wm. Clair Hall, dramatic tenor of Chicago, While in that city he was organist for several promi- nent churches and choir director and soloist at the Jefferson Park Presbyterian church. During the year 1908 he had charge of the voice department of the Maryville Conservatory of Music and was teacher with Mr. Landon in the piano department, being also director of the choir and organist of the Methodist church. Last June he gave up the work at Maryville and came to Trenton where he organized the Tren— HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY 567 ton Conservatory of Music, opening June 28, and has also been employed to direct the choir at the Christian church. Associated with him are Miss Maude Nordyke, teacher of piano and voice and HARRY BURNELL SCHULER Miss Blanche Bartlett, piano and class work. The school has its headquarters in the Odd Fellows 568 HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY building and is having great success. Diplomas are granted on the finishing of a course in any de- partment. L. C. SAPPENFIELD, the pastor of the First Methodist Episcopal church of Trenton, was born in Illinois. Part of his boyhood was spent in Ind- iana. After the completion of his education he spent several years teaching in the public schools of Missouri. In 1876, he joined the St-Louis Conference of the Methodist Episcopal church. He was pastor of the following churches in that conference ; Mar- ble Hill, Salem, Licking, Richland and West Plains. He was then appointed presiding elder of the Le- banon District and served six years. He was then sent to the Arlington church Kansas City, Mo. After a pastorate of four years there he was sent to First church Hannibal and then to Brookfield. After serving Brookfield four years he was ap- pointed presiding elder of Kirksville District and served it six years and was then appointed pastor at Trenton. ROLLA E. SHORT, son of Dr. R. T. and Melissa (Fowler) Short, was born at Mechanics- burg, 111., Oct. 10, 1856. He went to school at Grand River College. He was married April 27, 1882 to Detha Smith, daughter of Edwin Smith, They have one child. Homer Lee, born August 3, 1884. Mr. Short lived in Illinois until 1866, when he came to Grundy County with his parents and settled at Edinburg, where his father practiced HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY 569 medicine ten years, then came to Trenton where he hved until his death, Sept. 6, 1892. Mr. Short also came to Trenton and engaged in the drug and grocery business for several years. He was de- puty postmaster two years under C. D. Morris, al- ter which he entered the service of the Rock Island, having charge of the air brake department. In ilie summer of 1909 he was compelled to give up this work and go to Kansas City on account of the ill- ness of his wife. The Rev. M. G. Fowler who established the first Methodist church in Trenton was a grand- father of Mr. Short. He is a member of the O. R. C. of A. W. C. STUART was born at Harlinsburg, Penn., May 26th, 1871. He lives on Route 3, Tren- RESIDENCE OF W. C. STUART 570 HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY ton, Mo. He was married to Nellie Clingingsmith, Dec. 25th, 1901. They have three children: Lloyd Everett, born July 25th, 1903; Ernest Aurthur, November 30th, 1905; and Nellie Lorene, April 5th, 1908. Mr Stuart lived in Pennsylvania until eight years old, when he moved with his parents to Wy- oming, Iowa. He lived here six years, where he attended school and worked with his father in the creamery business. He went then to Kansas where he remained seven years and engaged in farming, then came to Missouri and lived fora time in Mer- cer County, near Mill Grove, and for a time in Livingston County. In 1901 he came to Grundy County, and lived south east of Trenton. He bouglit the Orlominski place in the spring of 1909, con- sisting of sixty acres of well improved land, and has leased a hundred and twenty acres of land ad- joining, giving him a well improved grain, hay and stock farm. D. S. SWANK, son of Jacob Swank, was born in Grundy County, Nov. 3, 1870. He lives on Route 3, Trenton, Mo. Mr. Swank was married to Leona Belshe, daughter of Calvin Belshe, Feb. 27, 1895. They have three children; Fauntine C, born May 25, 1896; Foster F., Oct. 21, 1900, and Leota, Sept. 16, 1902. Mr. Swank lived at his old home uatil married when he moved to his present home, on an eighty acres inherited by his wife from the Belshe estate and afterwards buying one hundred acres adjoin- ing, making him a well improved farm of one hun- HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY 571 dred and eighty acres. He makes a specialty of raising a fine grade of cattle, hogs and horses. He has also 120 acres lying east of Honey Creek. In 1908 Mr. Swank leased his farm and went to Montana where they remained about a year re- turning in the spring of 1909 and taking charge of his farm. Both Mr. and Mrs. Swank are members of pioneer families of the county. W. A. SHULLENBERGE« Pastor of the Christian Church, Trenton, Mo. 572 HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY SAM TERRY, son of Ashley Terry, was born Sept. 8, 1854, in Daviess County. He moved with his parents to the old home place in Grundy Coun- ty west of Trenton, where he lived until grown and 'married, when he returned to Daviess County, near Bancroft, living there until 1892, and farming, Mr. Terry then leased the Daviess County farm and returned to the old home place, which he later bought. The farm at first consisted of one hun- dred acres, which Mr. Terry increased to four hun- dred. He bought the Jackson farm of two hun- dred acres, four miles north of his home, in the first part of the year 1800, and moved to this farm in March of that year. Mr. Terry was married to Ella Price, daugh- ter of J. F. Price, Aug. 20, 1876. They have one child, Ethel Olive, born Oct. 12, 1883.' She was recently married to Thomas Jackson, a son of E. Jackson. Both Mr. and Mrs. Terry belong to old pioneer families of the state. W. H. TAVENER, son of John and Mary (McCarty) Tavener, both of whom are dead, was born in Cooper County, Missouri, May 13, 1863. He now lives seven miles northeast of Trenton. He was married Jan. 23, 1890 to Lizzie Hosom, daugh- ter of A. J. Hosom. Mr. and Airs. Tavener have three children. Almeta M., was born Nov. 15, 1890 and lives at home; Judson P., Aug. 21, 1892, at home; and Mattie O., July 30, 1897. Mr. Tavener lived in Cooper County until he Avas twenty-three years of age. After his marriage 574 HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY he bought his present home in Grundy County, and went to farming for himself. His farm consists of 50 acres on the home place, 40 acres on Muddy Creek and 20 acres on the river. He does general farming and stock raising. He is collector of Lin- coln township and has been for a number of years. The family belong to the Baptist church. FRED W. THOMPSON is a son of James Thompson, who has been dead several years, and Cinderella Thompson who lives at Trenton. He was born in Davis County, Iowa, Oct. 10, 1874. He now lives on Route 1, Trenton, Mo. Mr. Thompson was married March 8, 1900 to Mrs. S. R. Doan whose maiden name was Anna B. Legg and who is a daughter of Bourter Legg. Mrs. Thompson had one child by her first marriage, Grace Ottelee Doan, who was born Dec. 30, 1891. Mr. Thompson came to Grundy County with his parents when seven years old and settled in Trenton. They moved to a farm west of Trenton, the old Steve Peery place, the following spring and there Mr. Thompson lived until grown. He was in the employ of the Rock Island from 1902 to 1907 buying the farm where he now lives in the latter year. He has sold the farm, however, to N. R. Tracy and will give possession March 1, 1910 when he intends to go to Kansas City to complete the education of his step-daughter who is now a grad- uate of the Trenton high school. Mr. Thompson owns three residence properties in Trenton. HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY 575 WINFIELD SCOTT VAWTER is a member of one of the most famous families in the country and can trace his ancestry back centuries before the Revolutionary war. The family orginally went from France to England where they played an im- portant part in that country's history. In 1865 three brothers came from England and settled in Massachusetts and later took a prominent part in affairs in that early time, their descendants doing much in shaping our country in its early history. Mr. Vawler is a direct descendant of one of these brothers. He is a son of William and Matilda Vawter and was born in Shelby County, Mo., March 2C, 1873. His father is a native of Iowa and served with distinction during the Civil war, in Co. G. 11th Mo. Cavalry. During this conflict his eyes were so badly injured that in later years he be-, came totally blind. In 1893 he went to live with his son, W. S. Vawter who was then at Brashear. On the removal of that gentleman to Trenton in the summer of 1909 he came with him and still re- sides with him in this city. Mr. Vawter was educated in the public schools of Missouri and moved to Adair County when small, settling at Brashear. He was engaged in the mer- cantile business at Brashear for about five years using his spare monents during that time in the study of law, his preceptor being Judge Blair. He was admitted to the bar in May 1899 and practiced successfully at Brashear until the summer of 1909 when he moved to Trenton. Mr. Vawter served 576 HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY several times as mayor of Brashear. He is an ardent Republican and has always taken a deep interest in politics although persistently declining- office. He also takes a deep interest in lodge work and has held high offices in both the Masonic and Odd Fellow lodges. He is a student of literary and historical subjects as well as an able and well read lawyer. Mr. Vawter was united in marriage Oct. 28, 1908 to Miss Minnie Barnhart. They have one child, Wm. B., born Aug. 16, 1909. JOHN F. WOLZ was born in Grundy Coun- ty, Aug. 27, 1840. He is the son of George Con- rad Wolz born in Germany, in 1804, died in 1890 and A. '1. Marie (Fisher) Wolz, born in Germany in 1813, died in 1897. Mr. Wolz lives six miles east of Spickard on Route five. He was married March 31, 1864 to Sarah Evans. Her father was John Evans, born in Ohio Oct, 28, 1799, died March 22, 1875; her mother was Martha (Cherry) Evans, born April 14, 1801, died Aug. 16, 1870. Mr. and Mrs Wolz have had five children. George C. was born Feb. 4, 1865, died Jan. 23. 1886; Maria M., Dec. 23. 1866; Mary Elizabeth, Dec. 18, 1858, married Frank Ashbrook, Dec. 17, lS'r'3; Wm. F., March 19, 1871, married Emma Kisterson; Sarah Jane. Aug. 24, 1874, married Norton Burke- holder, June 11, 1903. After their marriage Mr. and Mrs. Wolz mov- ed to their new home, a log house. The farm was know as the Dicky Minshall place. He began farm- ing with 160 acres. He now owns a large farm in HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY 577 Grundy County, two ranches in Texas and is the heaviest stockholder of the Sweet Water rancJi w^hich contains 5920 acres. He is president of the JOBN \V0L2 old Bank of Spickardsville and is connected with tfie^ Trenton National Bank, Citizen's State Bank, Na- tional Bank of Commerce at Kansas City and the- Commerce Tru-t Company at Kansas City, the' Sp'jer J^ank at Princeton, the State Bank at Here- ford, Texas and has stock in the Tola Portland Ce- mem Company. W. A. WILSON, son of Albert W^ilson who was born Aug. 25, 1838, and died April 25, 1903, and Rachel (Carr) Wilson, was born in Grundy County, April 3. 1864. He now resides two miles northwest of Spickard on Route 4. He married Miss 578 HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY Belle Smith May 19, 1889. She is the daug-hter of William Smith, born July 19, 1823, died Nov. 17, 1907, and Charlotte (Barrow) Smith, born Jan. 31, 1831, died Jan. 10, 1908. Mr. and Mrs. Wilson have MR. AND MRS. W. A. WILSON two children. Lula was born Nov. 4, 1892; Bonnie Cloe, June 23rd, 1900. Mrs. Wilson was born in Mercer County, March 19, 1869. Mr W^ilson's parents died when he was very young- and he was raised by his grandparents. He stayed with and cared for them until their death. His aunt, Marv T. Wilson, also lived with him until HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY 579 her death. He was given the old Wilson farm of 80 acres^ but he sold it and bought the place where he now lives. Mr. Wilson is a Republican and a member of the K. of P. lodge. Mrs. Wilson's father came to the United States from England in 1852 and w^orked for ship build- ing contractors in New Jersey for thirteen years when he came to Missouri. He was also a fine penman and Mrs. Wilson has a book of his work which is very interesting. W. T. WILSON, son of James C. and Sarah Wilson, was born in Trenton Feb. 16, 1863. He now lives on Route 7, Trenton. He was married Sept. 1, 1889 to Mary Weigel daughter of David Weigel. Mrs. Wilson was born in Daviess County, Feb. 12, 1870, and came to this county when she was two years of age. They have had five children, four of whom are living. Albert, was born July 27, 1890 and died Aug. 28, 1891; Thomas L., June 18, 1893; Charles E., March 18, 1895 ; Clara M.. Nov. 26, 1901 ; and Paul W., Mar. 3, 1906. Mr. Wilson moved with his parents from Tren- ton to a farm near Tindall when he was three years old. After his marriage he bought the Weigel place and lived there about ten years. He was then ap- pointed superintendent of the Poor Farm and ser- ved three years. He then resigned, sold his farm near Tindall and bought his present farm which is two and one half miles north of Parkerton and !\vo and one half miles west of Tindall. The farm 580 HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY consists of 160 dCres. \[r. Wilson raises Duroc Jersey hogs, Jersey cattle, and makes a specialty of shipping; cream Mr. Wilson's father came to Grundy in 1838 and was a resident of Grundy County for nearly seventy years. His mothe:" waS a mei.^ber of an old time Grundy Count v Li: Mil)' and a sister of Thomas Wisdom. His father died March 12, 1907 and his mother died a week later. A. F. WELCH was born in Licking County, Ohio, Oct. 29, 1854. He moved to Grundy County, Missouri in 1877. He was married to Carrie B. Howsman, daughter of W. H. Howsman, April 1, 1888. They have one child, Nell B. Welch, born Feb. 12, 1890. Mrs. Welch was born Jan. 15, 1870. For five years after coming to this county i\Ir. \\'elch farmed near Trenton. He then moved to Trenton and went into the grain and implement business with W. H. Howsman and remained in this business seven years. He then engaged in the hardware business for three years and after selling out served as deputy sheriff for Mit Winters, serving in this capacity with Jacob and W. C. Myers and is still a deputy under J. R. Dillon. He has served as constable of Trenton township four terms, being re-elected last election by a large ma- jority. Mr. Welch is a vigilant and capable officer, with an established reputation for nerve. HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY 581 WM. C. WESTLAKE was born May 15t!i, 1865, in Chemung County, New York. He is a son of Daniel B. and Elizabeth Westlake. He was tnarried February 21, 1889, to Lizzie F. Hawley. Mr. Westlake's parents moved to Iowa, near Des Moines, when he was four years old, and his father engaged in the grain and lumber business. When Mr. Westlake was sixteen he started out for himself. Learning telegraphy, he worked for several years as telegrapher at Atlantic, la., fo:* the K. & L road, and moved in June, 1890, to Coun- cil Bluffs, going afterwards to Des Moines. He remained at Des Moines seven years, and went suc- cessively from there to Pueblo, Colo., Little Rock, Ark., Eldon, Iowa and Birmingham, Alabama. He came to Trenton in 1908 and is a dispatcher for the Rock Island. Mr. and Mrs. Westlake have three children; Ralph D., born January 14th, 1891 ; Eva L., July 17th, 1892; Harry, Nov. 11th, 1893. Verva born December 1st, 1889, died at Pueblo, July 7th, 1902. E. M. WILSON, son of W. R. and May E. Wilson was born at Coshocton, Ohio, Aug. 25, 1864. He was married March 5, 1898, to Bertie Norvel, of Green City. They have two children: Genevieve, born Sept. 28, 1900, and Clara Allalie, born July 10, 1907. Mr. Wilson's parents came to Sullivan County when he was three years old. He lived in that county until of age, and taught school there for nineteen years, having been prin- cipal of the school at Harris, Humphreys, and Green City, and principal of the high school at Milan. HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY 583 His last school work was as superintendent of schools at Browning. Mr. Wilson v/as coiAnty S'^b.'ol commissioner for eight years prior to 1906. He resigned his position after being r.^- elected at I ii owning in order to accept a po>;;t'on with the Farmers Exchange Bank, of Browning. He helped organize the Jenkins Hay Rake and Stacker Fac- tory, and was elected president of the firm. The enterprise w'as moved to Chillicothe and that city then became the home of Mr. Wilson. He remained at the head of the concern until Oct. 1908 v.'hen he resigned and accepted the position of cashier of the Citizens Bank at Laredo and moved his family to that city. The bank has grown very rapidly under his management. It was organized in 1904, RKSIDENXE OF W. R. ROBBINS 584 HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY has ample funds and a splendid business. John B. Brooks is president and Dr. J. M. Stone, vice-pres- ident. L. V. WOODS is a son of Columbus and Vto- ^\ena Woods. He was born in Grundy County, rear Laredo, Sept. 2, 1863. He took a course at Humphreys College, and one at Gem City Business College. He was married June 5th, 1889, to Miss L. V. WOODS Kate Cook, daughter of C. H. Cook. They have two children: Charles C, and Ruth, born Oct. ?2, 1891. Mr. W^oods lived on a farm during boyhood. He then entered the hardware business at Laredo with C. L. Fielste and continued with him two years. Selling his interest he later engaged in the HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY 585 liardware business himself a few years. He then sold out and for two years assisted his father-in- law, C. H. Cook, in running the mill at Trenton. In 1898 he moved to Laredo and accepted the po- sition of Cashier in the Commercial Bank in which lie was a stockholder and which he helped to or- ganize in 1890. The other officers are W. A. Merry- man, president, and M. G. Warren, vice-president. Mr. Woods helped to organize the town of Laredo and has been township trustee for the past ten years. He served for five years as master of the Masonic lodge at Laredo and has been through all the offices in the local Odd Fellow lodge. \ JAMES RICHMOND (JIM) WRIGHT, preacher and author, was born in Grundy County, Missouri, May 28th, 1870. His father Daniel Wright, was of Portugese and English descent and belonged to the family of Wrights who moved from Tennessee to Ohio and became identified with a Quaker colony early in 1800. His mother, Sarah A. (Bates) Wright, deceased, was of Irish des- cent and was related, on her mother's side, to the Morrisons of Ohio who were distinctly Swedish. The first twelve years of James R.'s life was spent on a farm near Hickory Creek, Grundy County, in what he has denominated in one of his books as "The Happy Land of Poosey." In 1882 he moved with his parents to Trenton where with the excep- tion of short intervals he has since resided. From the Trenton public schools he attended Grand River College. He also attended William Jewell College at Liberty, Mo., and later the Southern Baptist 586 HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY Theological Seminary at Louisville, Ky. He studied oratory under Prof. Fullerton at K. C. and under Prof. Haws at Louisville, Ky. He read law undjr Hugh C. Smith, now of St. Joseph, AIo., but nev^r took up its practice. His parents were extremely poor in this world's goods but rich in Christian character and he was early endowed with the foundation principles of . successful life. His school life is a tale of toil and tears. The path was rugged and the way was steep. Sweeping floors, 'building fires, tending "tow^n' cows and horses, sawing wood and such like work. He was materially aided in the later part of his school life by Dr. J. J. Aloore of Livingston County, and by others who took interest in his ambitions. His early ambitions were principally in me- chanical and steam engineering alternating, how- ever, with strong literary inclinations. At eighteen he was engineer of the Eagle Mills, since burned down at Trenton. He was then writing poetry and prose for local papers. In this year he took to strong drink and in a very short while became a vicious character among the noted "war chiefs" who then dwelt with the "swamp angels" on the Flat lake bottoms below Trenton. In his nineteenth year Wright professed conversion and united with the First Baptist church at Trenton. At twenty he entered the ministry of the Baptist church and has continued since, preaching to local churches throughout Grundy and adjoining CDumies, witJ' a two years' pastorate at Livingston, IMcnt. Alsr seving as district missionary and in other minis- HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY 587 terial capacities for his denomination. He was married March 31st, 1895 to Minnie Olive Atwood of Sulhvan County. In 1903 he went to Chicago where h'.t per- fected and patented, at home and in foreign coun- tries, a motor engine. A company with a cipiial stock of $1,000,000 was incorporated for the pur- pose of promoting the invention. For some rea<=;on the methods of the company were not successfully applied and the enterprise, which created consider- able local interest at the time, was abandoned. He wrote and published "He Was From Mis- souri," a humorous problem novel. His latest book is one of comic essays entitled "Chewing The Rag.'" His book on the Mammoth Cave of Kentucky, has been read in many a school room by teacher to pupil. His short stories and poems for newspaper and magazines are multiplying. His songs sacred and sentimental are fast gaining favor. E. L. YOUNG, son of A. D. and Sarah (Daly) Young, was born in Findley County, Ohio, April 2-\-, 1863. He now lives three miles south of SpicLird on Route 1. He was married to Lizzie Arndt. They have four children, Elva Lee, Bonnie Marie, Date A., and Scott. Mr. Young was educated in the public sniools of Grundy County and after completing school, left home and worked on the Rock Island railroad. Af- terwards he traveled for two years in the Dakotas, then came back to Trenton. Later, he took a trip to the Pacific coast. He came back to Grundy County in 1895, after which he bought the 588 HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY farm he now owns consisting of 180 acres of fine land well improved. Mr Young is a Democrat and a member of the U. B. Church. W. W. YOUNG, son of A. D. and Sarah (Daly) Young, both natives of Ohio, was born Dec. 17, 1861 on a farm in Findley County, Ohio. ITe now lives on Route 1, three and a half miles south of Spickard. He was married March 11. 1894, to Maggie McNabb, daughter of E. J. Mc- Nabb. They have one child, Sadie Myrle, born Nov. 25. 1895. After his marriage he moved to the farm on which he now lives. It consists of 103 acres Mrs. Young died in a hospital in Kansas Citv, Feb 13, 1908. Mr. Young is a Democrat and a member of the Christian church. At the age of twenty-two Mr. Young began ^o work for himself and about two years later he v.^ent to Trenton and procured a position in the ma- chine shops and stayed there two years. He then bought a livery business and he and Mr. Bailey Cornwell were in that business for about a year. He then traveled through the Dakotas, Minnesota and Nebraska coming back to Trenton in 1892 and working there until his marriage. O. S. ZEIGLER, son of William Zeigler, de- ceased and Mary J. Zeigler who lives with her son, was born in Grundy County July 8, 1879. He now lives on Route 2, Trenton. His father came to Mis- HISTORYOF GRUNDY COUNTY 589 souri in 1860 from Hardin County, Ohio, and pur- chased the farm on which his son and widow now Hve. Mr. Zeigler was married Aug. 27, 1896 to An- nie Miller, daughter of J. A. Miller. They have two children. Cleatus Calvin was born Nov. 19, 1899; George M., March 28, 1902. Mrs. Zeigler is a native of Illinois, born Nov. 19, 1877. J\Ir. Zeigler was born on the farm where he now lives. He stayed at home until he was grown when he went to work for his father-in-law at the carpenter trade. Later he went to Arkansas where he worked for a time at his trade. Returning home he farmed for a few years, then he went to Sedalia and engaged in the insurance business for a short time, then to Michigan where he worked in a ce- ment factory. He then went to Blackfoot, Idaho, where he worked at his trade for awhile. From there he went to St. Joe and finally returned home to take charge of the farm, his father having died. The farm consists of 75 acres and is owned by him and his mother. L. BROWN was born in Clinton County, Ohio, June 9, 1850 He resides six miles southwest of Spickard on Route 4. His father was Moses Brown born Oct. 22, 1806, died Nov. 9, 1868. His mother was Ruth M. (McPherson) Brown, born June 18, 1820, died Jan. 11, 1886. Mr. Brown was married to Susan Sweetman, Oct. 5, 1879. She was the daughter of Barney and Catharine (Brush) Sweetmen. She was bom Oct. 26, 1858. Mr. and Mrs. Brown have nine 590 HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY children. Raybourn was born Sept. 24, 1880; Blanche, March 31, 1882; Grover, Jan. 31, 1884; Stella, June 3, 1886; Charles, September 5, 1888; Lester, Feb. 22, 1891; Emma, Sept. 29, 1893; Chf- ford, July 5, 1896; and Blondy, Oct. 9, 1898. Mr. Brown came to Grundy County with his mother in 1873. his father then being dead. They bought a farm, the management of which was left to him. He bought the interest of his sisters in the place after their marriage. He sold the home place in 1901 and bought the farm where he now lives. He is a general stock raiser. COLEMAN BROOKS, a son of W. T. Brooks, was born near Trenton, Sept. 9, 1881, and lives on RESIDENCE OF COLEMAN BROOKS Route 3. He was married Oct. 19, 1904 to Cleo Campbell, a daughter of Herk Campbell. They hav HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY 591 two children: Leon Carter, born Oct. 6, 1905, and William Hercules, born Feb. 2, 1908. Mr. Brooks was born and reared on a faria and has followed that occupation almost continuous- ly. He remained with his parents until grown and then started to make his own way. In 1900 ne made a trip to California where he remained six months following railroading and ranching for a time being in the employ of J. T. James, who owns 60,000 acres of land. Returning he went to farm- ing and later married. He lives on a farm just east of his father's place consisting of 160 acres, a part of the old home place. He also owns 40 acres three fourths of a mile east of the home place. The farm is well improved and the home is one of the prettiest in the county. He does gen- eral farming and makes a specialty of handling thoroughbred sheep. W. T. BROOKS is a native of Grundy Coun- ty, a son of Tilman and Sarah Brooks, and was born two miles east of his present home March 9, 1848. He lived there on the farm with his parents until he was twenty-eight years old when he mar- ried and started out for himself, farming. He fir^t bought a farm near the old home place where he lived a few years and then 1)ought what was then known as the Robinson farm on which he now lives. It then consisted of 160 acres and he has since bought 320 acres adjoining. He owns 80 acres near it, making 560 in all. Mr. and Mrs. Brooks have made several trips 592 HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY to the west and recently spent the winter in CaH- fornia. The family is one of the oldest in the coun- ty. His father is still living at the age of eighty- nine. Mr. Brooks was married to Mary Dunlap,. Sept. 5, 1876. She died May 18, 1886. leav- RESIDENCE OF W. T. BROOKS ing two children, Wm. G., born Aug. 20, 1879; J. Coleman, Sept. 9, 1881. Oct. 6, 1891 he married Lida Bell. They have had two children; Ber- nice Cecile, born Jan. 30, 1896, and Carl, Jan. 23, 1893 who died Sept. 30, 1894. JOHN W. BLACK was born in Montgomery County, Indiana, May 8, 1870. He was married Sept. 29, 1895 to Stella R. Fletcher. Mr. Black went with his parents from Virginia to Nebraska in 1877, and they remained there three years. Then, in 1881, they came to fiercer Conn- HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY 593 ty, Missouri, where his father, Wm. H. Black, pur- chased an extensive tract of land. Mr. Black re- mained at home with parents and helped manage the farm until he was twenty-five years old, when he went to farming for himself, purchasing a farm JOHN W. BLACK near Princeton. Later he went into the livery busi- ness at Princeton, which he conducted for ten years. In the fall of 1908 he disposed of his livery busi- ness at Princeton and later bought a similar busi- ness in Trenton of George Lee. He at once moved to Trenton and has added extensively to his livery equipment. While in Princeton Mr. Black dealt very extensively in horses and mules and still hand- les a lar.iie number. He owns a farm in Mercer Countv, Missouri. 594 HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY WESLEY BROWN, a son of George W. and Harriet Brown, was born in Van Buren County, Iowa, Nov. 27, 1851. He was married Dec. 24, 1874, to Sarah J. Winters, daughter of George and Margaret Winters. They have had three children ; Lula, born July 8, 1880 married Charles Gentry, of Spickard, Sept. 11, 1898; Bertie, Dec. 9, 1875, died Nov. 30, 1877; Grover C, Dec. 14, 1885, died July 4, 1899. Mr. Brown lived in Iowa when young, where he followed the hoop business. He came to Mis- souri in 1885, settling at Spickard, where he fol- lowed the same business for ten years. He then went into the mercantile business and for several years clerked for Wilson, Fisk & Wild. Later he went into business for himself and became a mem- ber of the firm of Brown Bros. & Keith, at Spickard, handling groceries and dry goods. They have a large store and a splendid trade. J. M. BALSLEY was born at Witt, Illinois, April 5, 1870. He lived on the farm with his par- ents until married and soon afterwards moved to Oklahoma, but stayed there only one year when they returned to 111. remaining until 1907 when they moved to Iowa where he farmed until the spring of 1909 when they moved to Grundy County, having purchased the Reed farm five and one half miles southeast of Trenton on Route three. The farm is well improved and consists of 270 acres. Mr. Bal- sley has remodeled the home until it is one of the handsomest in the county. He was married Nov. 15, 1893 to Miss Lou HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY 595 Ada Carter at Waverly, 111. They have had six chil- dren, five of whom are living. Carter R. was born Aug. 12, 1894; Grace M., Dec. 2, 1896; Blanche M., Nov. 2, 1898, died March 6, 1899; Archie B., Sept. 2, 1900; John A., March 8, 1903; and Goldie L., March 6, 1908. Mrs. Balsley was born at New Berlin, 111., March 30, 1875. Mr. Balsley is a member of the Odd Fellow, M. W. A. and Court of Honor lodges. Both he and Mrs. Balsley are members of the Christian church. RESIDENCE OF J. M. BALSLEY J. L. BEACH was born at Hudson, Michigan, May 3, 1861. He lives now on Route 6, Trenton, Mo. He married Hattie E. Ball of \\'est Point, Nebraska, Sept. 10, 1884. They have had five chil- dren, three of whom are living, the oldest boy and the youngest girl having died in infancy. Those living are Clyde J., born Nov. 12, 1893; and Mil- 596 HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY dred M., Oct. 17, 1891, both living at home; Clara M., born Nov. 27, 1886, now Mrs. J. O. Dickson^ of Herrick, South Dakota. When a boy Mr. Beach moved with his parents to Ogle County, Illinois, where he lived until the close of the war. His father died from an illness contracted during the war. The family then moved back to Hastings, Michigan, where they lived uncil Mr. Beach was eighteen, when he entered the mer- cantile business at Nashville, Mich., remaining here two years. He then went to Illinois for a year, then to Nebraska, where he farmed two years. He then went into the employ of the Chicago City railway, at Chicago, for one year, then, in 1883, of the North- western railway, located at Huron, in which service he remained until 1908. Mr. Beach began his rail- roading career at the bottom and worked his way to higher positions. He held the positions of brake- man, conductor, trainmaster and superintendent of constructon. While holding the latter position lie built the Boneshill & Dallas extension of the North- western in the Tripp County reservation in South Dakota. While there he invested heavily in land in that region. He gave up railroad work in the spring of 1908 and later sold his farm in the spring of 1909 and moved w^ith his family to a farm three and one half miles northeast of Trenton, where he now lives. It consists of 80 acres. Besides doing general farming he handles thorough-bred Poland China hogs. Lady Choice being at the head of his herd. He is a member of the O. R. C. and his wife is a member of the Baptist church. HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY 59/ HERK C. CAMPBELL was born in Frank- lin County, Ohio, near the city of Columbus, May 7, 1855. He is a son of Adam j. and Mary (Quinn) Campbell. He was married to Fannie S. Overton, daughter of John W. Overton, Dec. 25, 1879. They have eight children: Ethel Alma, born Sept. 23, 1880, now Mrs. O. S. Gallatin; Mary A., April 20,' 1883 died Dec. 27, 1886; Cleo A., March 12, 1885^ now Mrs. Coleman Brooks; Andrew W., Oct. 24, 1888; Myrtle S., Oct. 13, 1891; Fannie A., Nov! 10, 1894; Erma May, March 30, 1897; James H., Aug. 23, 1900. Mr. Campbell's father moved with his family RESIDENCE OF H. C. CAMPBELL from Ohio to Livingston County, Mo., in 1868 and after a few months came to Grundy County, lo- cating six miles south of Trenton. Here Mr. Camp- bell lived until he was married, when he moved to .a farm near Farmersville, on which he lived twelve 598 HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY years. He then moved to his present farm of seven hundred and forty-five acres. He also has an eighty in Jackson township. Mr. Campbell is a stock- holder in the Farmers Exchange Bank, the Co^l Company, the Grundy County Fair Association and a number of other enterprises in Trenton. He has served a number of years as president and as treas- urer of the combination cattle sale org-anization. Mr. Campbell was collector for Jackson township eight years, trustee four years, and was for a time president of the Farmers Mutual Insurance Com- pany. At present he is overseer of his district and has done much for the good roads cause in this county. He attended the public schools and Tren- ton High School under Prof. Norton, and took a course in Grand River College. On quitting school he taught for six years, spending the summers on the farm. His present farm is located five miles southeast of Trenton. A. T. CORNWELL, one of Lincoln's town- ship's leading citizens, was born on the farm he now owns, two and a half miles nortlieast of Tindall, Nov. 26, 1862. He is a son of John P. and Martha (Linney) Cornwell. He has never married and his sister makes her home with him, owning a half in- terest in the farm on which they live. Mr. Cornwell taught school in Sullivan Coun- ty, two years, his first school being taught in Hum- phreys. All his life, however, he has given his chief attention to farming. Mr. Cornwell has been a stockholder in the Tindall bank since its organi- aztion in 1904 and has been its president since: : HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY 599 1906. He is a member of the I. O. O. F., K. of P. and the A F. and A. M. lodges. In his early life he at- tended the pubHc schools of his section and later took a course at the Kirksville Normal. He be- longs to one of the oldest and best known families in North Missouri. His father was one of the early pioneers of Grundy County, coming here in 1838. ,. ' I F. H. CRAM, son of Samuel and Eliza Cram, was born in Waukee, Wisconsin, Feb. 8, 1855. His parents were pioneers from Minnesota. They are both dead. He moved with his parents to Minne- sota when but two years old and lived there with them until he was twenty-two years of age. He then went to Leavenworth, Kansas, where he re- mained five years, working for the Union Pacific railroad. In 1887 he came to Trenton and worked for the Rock Island for fifteen years. He went co farming and purchased his present farm in 1901. It is on Route 1, out of Trenton and consists of 44 acres of splendid land. Mr. Cram married Eva Moore in 1881. She died Sept. 1, 1893 leaving one child, Harry H., born May 15, 1882. On Oct. 31, 1896 he married Frona A. Moore, formerly Mrs. St. John. She is a daugh- ter of Eli Moore. He and his wife are both liv- ing. J. W. DOUGLAS, son of Henry Douglas, who lives in Iowa, and Mary E. (Patterson) Doug- las, was born in Van Buren County, Iowa, June 19, 1860. He now lives on Route 2, Dunlap. He was married Sept. 6, 1896, to Ellen Vance, 600 HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY daughter of Daniel Vance. They have two chil- dren. Emma May was born Sept. 1, 1897; Bessie D., Oct. 27, 1901. Mr. Douglas moved with his parents to Mis- souri in 1874 and settled in Sullivan County near Humphreys. He lived there for a few years and then moved near Lindley, later moving to his pre- sent place. He remained at home with his mother until his marriage when he went to farming for himself. He bought his present place about twenty years ago while he was still at home with his mother. They farmed together for several years and then divided the property. He has 100 acres in his home farm and 80 acres nearby. He handles thorough- bred horses and is the owner of Ben Hur a fine stallion and Prince Albert, a noted jack. Mr. Douglas is a member of the Methodist church. SAMUEL D. ELLIOTT is the son of Thomas H. Elliott, who was born in Pensylvania, May 28, 1822 and died Sept. 5, 1906. His mother, Mar- garet (Harper) Elliott was born in Morgan Coun- ty, Ohio, Feb. 22, 1829. Mr. Elliott was born in Morgan County, Ohio, Dec. 17, 1862. He now lives six miles west of Spickard on Route 2. After com- pleting the common school course, Mr. Elliott at- tended Grand River College at Edinburg for two years, then took a course in the Kirksville State nor- mal. He is well known in Grundy County as a school teacher, having taught for fourteen terms. Mr, Elliott was married to Miss Hannah E. Willis, Aug. 27, 1890. She is the daughter of 602 HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY Henry Willis who was born in England, March 20, 1814 and died Nov. 28, 1898. Her mother, Kitturah A. (Wright) Willis, was born in Ohio, Aug. 31, 1828. Mr. and Mrs. Elliott are the par- ents of five children: Hazel, born Aug. 7, 1891; Willis E., Feb. 14, 1893; Lee and Lynn, July 22, 1897; Margaret, Dec. 8, 1903. Mrs. Elliott was born May 30, 1870 in Grundy County, educated in the common schools and in Grand River College. ]\Jr. Elliott came with his parents to Grundy County when he was seven years old. During his career as a teacher he purchased a farm of 140 acres near Edinburg, sold it in 1895 and taught school for two years, then buying the farm just east of his home. Mr. Elliott has 220 acres of land well stock- ed and excellently improved. He is one of Grundy Countv's best citizens and highly respected by all. EDWARD R. EVANS was born in Madison County, New York, Sept. 17, 1846. He was mar- ried March 8, 1867, to Mary J. Harman. They have had seven children, three of whom are living. Mr. Evans spent his early life in New York, where he worked a number of years in a woolen mill. He came to Missouri when twenty years old and settled in Linn County, coming to Grundy in 1871. In Linn County he worked in the shops, and on coming to Grundy he worked in the shops at Trenton, and was for seven years on the road. He was locomotive engineer running on the Wa- bash for five years. Returning to Trenton in 1884, he worked for the Rock Island one year, after whic^ he went to Colorado in the interests of the Trenton HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY 603 Mining Co. and the Rock Island. He had charge of the machinery in sinking the Sunny Side Coal Mine, helping to operate later and remaining there eight years. Returning to Trenton at the end oi that period he acted as janitor of the central school building until 1901 when he accepted the position as carrier on Route 2 out of Trenton and has held that position continuously since that time. He belongs to the I. O. O. F. lodge and he and his wife are both devoted members of the Baptist church, he being for years a member of the Board of Trustees. ALVA W. FRENCH is a son of J. A. and Martha French. He was born near Gait, Grundy County, May 5th, 1886 and now lives on Route 3, Trenton, AIo. Mr. French was married Jan. 23, 1909, to }.Iiss Nellie Lucas, daughter of G. \V. Lucas. Mr. Lucas now lives in South Missouri but was formerly employed at Cook's mill at Trenton. Mr. French was born and reared on a farm and spent most of his life at home with his parents. When grown he started to farming for himself. In the spring of 1909, soon after his marriage, Jie leased the Key farm of 80 acres, near the old home place and on which he now lives. T. F. FULKERSON, a son of Peter G. and Eliza (Carnes) Fulkerson, was born on the old Fulkerson homestead Sept. 30, 1870 and spent h;s early life there. He attended the public schools of that section and later took a course at De Pauw university. On quitting school he farmed for a short time and then came to Trenton where he 604 HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY shipped stock for a few years and then began trad- ing in land and became interested in various enter- prises, taking considerable interest in the Trenton Mining Company and the Trenton Electric Light Company, in which he owned a large amount of stock and was president of the company until it was sold in 1906. Since then he has devoted his at- tention to handling land. He owns a large amount of land and a number of pieces of city property, among them a half interest in the Harber hotel. He was married Feb. 18, 1909, to Miss May Louise Milbank, a member of a prominent family of Chillicothe, Mo. J. A. FRENCH was born near Buffalo, N . vv York, May 14, 1846. He moved w4th his parents to Michigan when he was six years old and liv^d RESIDENCE OF J. A- FRENCH HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY 605 there until grown, when he began farming for hin;i~ self. He remained in Michigan until 1877 when he came to Grundy County, buying a farm northea .t of Trenton where he lived until 1898. In 1898 he bought his farm four miles southeast of Tren- ton on Route 3 and has lived there since. It con- sists of 140 acres, and he owns 50 acres just west of the home place. He handles high grade stock of all kinds, including Shorthorn cattle. In 1864 Mr. French joined Company C. First Michigan cavalry and served until the close of the war. He was married Feb. 10, 1878 to Martha R. Morris. They have four children. J. A. Jr., w .s born Aug. 25, 1880; Hattie J., Nov. 3, 1883 now Mrs. R. G. Baugher; Alva W., May 5, 1886; Edua E., Aug. 28, 1889 now Mrs. Z. L. Leeper. Mr. French is a member of the Masonic lodge and all are members of the Methodist church. B. F. FORD, a son of B. M. and Eleanor Ford, is a native of Grundy County and was born on a farm seven miles northeast of Trenton, Mar. 1, 1861 He lived with his parents there until he was twenty- five years old. He then started farming for hiiu- self, buying a farm near the old home place on which he lived until 1905 when he bought his pre- sent farm one and one half miles east of Trenton. It consists of 110 acres in the home place and he also owns 80 acres near Dunlap. The farm has manv modern improvements, one being the elec- tric lights supplied by the plant at Trenton. Mr. 606 HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY Ford does general farming and raises high grade stock. He married Mary M. LeHew, daughter of B. F. and Sarah C. LeHew, Sept. 16, 1883. They have two children, Lewis Edward, born June 29, 1884 and Walter Dale, born Au^-. 19, 1888, Lewis /J ^wM ^ i i ^«Tfl ^^^hm^^^^^^^H^^^^^ ^ RESIDENCE OK B. F. FORP Edward married Miss Myrtel Warner daughter of Rev. B. F. Warner April 19, 1907. He lives near his father helping to run the farm. Both Mr. and Mrs. Ford's parents were among the early pioneers of the county. Mr. Ford's par- ents are still living. Mrs. Ford's father died man_v years ago, but her mother still lives on the old home place. Both are members of the Christian church. CHARLES GENTRY, son of John and Mary (Wood) Gentry, was born in Grundy County near Edinburg, Aug. 2, 1865. He lived there with his HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY 607 parents until he was twenty-four years old when he married and went to farming for himself. He then bought a farm near Shott, which consists of 40 acres and which he still owns. He lived there RESIDKNCE OF CHARLES GENTRY eleven years and then bought the farm on whicn he now lives and which consists of 80 acres. He does general farming and raises high grade stock, making a specialty of cattle. Mr. Gentry was married to Mary E. Watts, Dec. 22, 1889. They had two children. Bash was born Nov. 13, 1890; Arch, Aug. 11, 1894. Mrs. Gentrvdied Aug. 11, 1894. He married Mrs. Anna Wilson May 4, 1896. They have two children. Carl was born Jan. 18, 1897; John E., Aug. 20, 1902. Airs. Gentry was born in Linn County, March 4, 1866. Mrs. Gentry is a member of the Odd Fellow lodge and the Baptist church. 608 HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY JAMES GATES, son of Cyrus and Lydia. Gates, both of whom are dead, was born in Grun- dy County, Sept 12, 1865. He now hves on Route 6, Trenton. He was married to Lydia Lunbeck, June 22, 1884. She died June 28, 1890. They had three chil- dren. Cyrus was born Aug. 1, 1885, and lives at home; Pernie Wooddale March 2, 1887; and Ed- ward, Aug. 8, 1888, died Jan. 16, 1892. He was. married Jan. 10, 1898 to Mrs. Rachel Barnett, a sis- ter of his first wife. She was born in Henry Coun- ty, Iowa, March 10, 1859. Her parents came co- Grundy County from Iowa when she was seven, years old. When she was ten years old they went to south Missouri and she remained there until she was twenty-two. She was married to Samuel B. Barnett, who died March 31, 1882. They had one child, Mary A Barnett, born Aug. 7, 1881, who lives, in Trenton and is bookkeeper for Titcomb & Evans. Mr. Gates was born on the old home place two- and one half miles west of Tindall. His mother died when he was a few weeks old. His father re- married and he lived at home until his marriage, when he went to farming for himself. He farmed for his father for six years after his marriage.. His father bought 40 acres of the Steve PulliauT place and he moved there in 1887. His father died in 1888 and the land was left to him. Later he bou.f^ht 40 acres adjoining the John Jones farm and later 80 acres east of the home place, from W. S. Thompson. He has 12 acres northwest of his home- place, which makes 172 acres in all. Mr. Gates is a member of the Odd Eellow" HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY 6"9 lodge. Mrs. Gates is a member of the Presbyter- ian church. O. S. GALLATIN, a son of John and Clo L. Gallatin, was born in Grundy County, a mile and a half south of his present home, June 15, 188L He lives on Route 3, four and a half miles south- east of Trenton. Mr. Gallatin and Miss Ethel A. Campbell, daughter of Herk Campbell, were mar- ried Dec. 25, 1899. They have two children liv- RESIDENCE OF O. S. GALLATIN ing, Cleo Lenora, born May 3, 1901 ; Gerald, Feb. 24, 1909. One died in infancy. Mr. Gallatin has always lived on a farm and began farming for himself when married. At pre- sent he lives on a farm belonging to his wife's father, consisting of 120 acres and adjoining Mr. Campbell's home place. Both are members of the Methodist church. 610 HISTORY OF RUNDY COUNTY DR. H. E. HALL, son of Henry and Mary A. Hall, was born at Meridian, New York, May 28, 1860. He was married to Nettie Anderson, of Meadville, July 28, 1884. They have two child- ren, Vitia N., born April 23, 1885, wife of Wm. H. Holsclaw, of Laredo, and Henry I., Dec. 6, 1890, now with the U. S. Signal Corps, at Leaven- worth, Kans. Dr. Hall's parents came to Linn Comity in 1868 and he lived in that county until fourteen years old. He taught school for ten years, and worked at watch making in Brookfield. He went to work at Davison's drug store, in Laredo, n 1892 and stayed in the store five years. He thea entered the University Medical College at Kans.is City, where he graduated in 1900, and since th.-.t time has followed the practice of medicine in his old home town, Laredo. He makes a specialty of surgery. He has a splendid library as well as an up to date equipment and keeps thoroughly up with the progress of his profession. He takes an active interest in all public questions and is a member ,)f the Masonic lodge. G. P. HERRIOT, a son of Dr. J. E. Herriot, w^as born at Jerome, Ohio, Oct. 18, 1873. He moved with his parents to Trenton in 1893. He attended the public schools of Ohio and took a course at the State Normal. On coming to Trenton his father opened a drug store and Mr. Herriott clerked for his father for a time and later took a course in the Kansas City Pharmaceutical College. He then clerked in drug stores at Plattsburg, Mo., Mystic, HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY 611 Iowa and elsewhere and in 1900 went to Novinger where he went into the drug business. In 1904 he was appointed post master at Novinger and sold out his drug store. He was reappointed postmas- ter in 1908, but a few months later gave up this position on account of ill health. He traveled for a few months and in the summer of 1909 went to Colorado where he and his wife are special agents in the postal department. He was married Sept. 30, 1903, to Josephine Cole, of Novinger. WM. D. KEITH is a son of Stephen and Mary (Scott) Keith. He was born in Franklin town- ship three miles east of where Spickard now is, Sept. 11, 1857. Mr. Keith and Miss Alice Goben, daughter of Preston Goben, were married Oct. 28, 1875. They have had six children, four of whom are living. Tina P. was born Dec. 13, 1876; Lovie, Feb. 12, 1882, now Mrs. John Ballinger; Lena, Sept., 25, 1884; Glenn, March 12, 1889; Virgil, March 24, 1891, died Oct. 8, 1900. Mr. Keith lived on a farm until 1894 when he went into the mercantile business at Spickard and has continued there since. The firm is known as Brown Bros. & Keith, Wesley and Moses Brown being the other members of the firm. They started in business in a small way, running a grocery store at first. Later dry goods were added and they now have one of the largest stores in a town the size of Spickard in the state. T. C. MERRYMAN is a son of B. F. Merry- man who was born in Kentucky, April 19, 1834 612 HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY and died Sept. 14, 1893. His mother was Char- lotte (Kilburn) Merryman who was born Oct. 26^ 1836. Mr. Merryman was born March 23, 1857 in Grundy County, Wilson township. At present he lives three miles southeast of Laredo, Mo. He was married April 19, 1877 to Mary P. Belshe who was born April 20, 1859 and died May 8, 1897. He was afterwards married to Martha Matheny. Mr. Merryman has two children dead; Geetie M, born Feb. 4, 1880, died Oct. 12, 1902; Vernie V., Dec. 8, 1881, died June 20, 1890. Those living- are Ethel L., born Jan. 12, 1884; Robert F., April 26, 1886; Snoda E., Sept. 9, 1888; Aubrey E., Sept. 21, 1893. Mr. Merryman began farming at the age of twenty years on the farm which he now owns. It consists of 80 acres. He and his wife are members of the Baptist church. W. A. MERRYMAN, son of Anderson and Keziah (Kilburn) Merryman was born near what is now the city of Laredo, Feb. 12, 1866. He spent his early life on a farm and attended the public schools of that section, later taking a thorough course in a business college. At the age of twenty he left home and started out for himself, married and began farming. He purchased a farm near the old home place. Later he bought land adjoining and now owns 763 acres in one body, which is one of the best farms in the county and is situated four miles east of Laredo., For a number of years he dealt in pure-bred Hereford cattle, but sold out RESIDENCE OF W. A. MERRYMAN SCENE ON W. A. MERRYMAN'S FARM 614 HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY that business in 1907. In 1890 he was elected presi- dent of the Commercial Bank of Laredo, an insti- tution which he was chiefly instrumental in or- ganizing and in which he is a principal stockholder. W. A. MERRYMAN The bank has ample capital, the confidence of the people and a splendid growing business. He also owns town property and is interested in numerous enterprises. Mr. Merryman was married Aug. 11, 1886 to Miss Mary F. Woods, daughter of C. C. Wood-.. They have no children living. He is a member >f the Masonic, Odd Fellow and Eagle lodges. D. M. MINTER, a son of Wm. Minter, a Mer- cer County pioneer, was born in Mercer County, Missouri, Nov. 6, 1849. He was married to Miss Ada McDonald, daughter of Jacob McDonald, Jan. HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY 615 6, 1873. They have two children Hving and five dead; Oma, born Nov. 13, 1876, died Jan. 27, 1891 ; Stella, Oct. 13, 1880, died May 1, 1889; the others died in infancy. Of the two living Alta was born May 3, 1889, and Ralph, March 9, 1893. Both live at home. ''^ ^ll] ^ J Mr. M inter has an eight hundred and twenty acre farm northeast of Spickard in Mercer Coun- D. M. MINTER ty, to which he has in the past given his chief at- tention. He moved to Spickard in 1907 where he has since made his home and still manages his farm. He gives much attention to cattle raising and has one of the best Short Horn herds in North Missouri, at the head being the celebrated Rose of Sharon. He is interested in various btisiness enter- prises and helped to organize the Farmers and 616 HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY Merchants Bank at Spickard in which institution he is a stockholder and director. ADDISON DAVID MONTGOMERY, son of Thomas and Matilda Montgomery, was born Sept. 5, 1872 on a farm near Jamesport, Daviess County, Missouri. When he was seven years of age he moved with his parents to Trenton, Mo., w^here he has since lived. He received his educa- tion in the Trenton public schools. His occupation is house painting and paper hanging. In politics he is a Prohibitionist. FRANK D. MURPHY, son of David and Susan Murphy, was born in Henry County, Iowa, July 30, 1863. He lives on Route 1, Trenton, Mo. He was married Feb. 4, 1883 to Bettie A. Froman, daughter of Thomas Froman. She was born Oct. 1, 1862 in Daviess County, Mo. Mr. and Mrs. Murphy have five children: Claude was born July 29, 1885; Nannie, Aug. 3, 1889, married Estes Col- ley; Roy F., Jan. 25, 1898; Minta B., Aug. 23, 1899; Walter J., Dec. 21, 1903. Mr. Murphy's father, David Murphy, was born March 22, 1882, in Mansfield, Richland Coun- ty, Ohio. His mother, Susan Murphy, was born March 14, 1834 in West Liberty, Ohio County, West Virginia. Mr. Murphy's parents came with him to Grundy County in 1869, and settled on the place now owned by J. D. Speck, four miles north of Trenton. He lived there with his parents until grown and married, then went to farming for him- HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY 617 self, a mile and a half east of Tindall. He stayed here five years, then rented the home farm, stayed there five years, then moved back to the former place, after which he bought the Wise farm two and a fourth miles east of Tindall. He bought other land adjoining, and now owns a fine farm of a hundred and fifty one acres. He makes a specialty of dairy farming. Mr. Murphy is a member of the I. O. O. F. lodge No. 669 at Tindall, Mo. JOHN G. OVERTON, son of John and Amy Overton was born in Hancock County, Illinois, June RESIDENCE OF J. G. OVERTON 27, 1850. He now lives on Route 3, Trenton, Mo. He was married Jan. 10, 1871, to Julia F. Spence, daughter of William Spence. His wife died June 618 HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY 17, 1890. A few years later he married Miss Leona Ishmael, daughter of Aaron Ishmael. Mr. Overton moved to Missouri with his par- ents when a bal^y and they settled in Grundy Coun- ty one mile north of his present home. He lived there until grown, when he went west and south to see the country, moving to his present farm in 1871, immediately after his marriage. The origi- nal farm comprised 840 acres, but he has given each of his grown children a farm and he now has 320 acres in the home place and has one of the hand- somest homes in the county. Mr. Overton has a fine herd of Shorthorn cattle, with Golden Ring, out of Lord Lovell, at the head. He also handles high grade hogs, horses and sheep. Mr. Overton had six children by his first wife: Dora A. M., born June 4, 1872, now Mrs. Geo. Daugherty of Okla. ; Laura G., Sept. 15, 1874, died March 11, 1875; Ira W. W., Nov. 22, 1876; John, Oct. 22, 1879; James A., May 31, 1882; Louis E., April 1, 1887. Air. Overton had four children by his second wife: Vaughn G. was born June 8, 1901 ; Leonard B., Oct. 9, 1903; Kenneth H., Nov. 19, 1905. One child died in infancy. J. H. ROBERTSON, the son of Wm. H. and Louisa F. (Williams) Robertson, was born at Trenton, Mo., May 1, 1858. He was married to Rettie E. Owens, Dec. 19, 1878. They have five children living and one dead. Albert F. was born May 10, 1880, now at Kansas City; Ernest J., April 2, 1883 now in contracting business with his father; Emma E., Dec. 12, 1888; Bessie M., HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY 619 Aug. 12, 1894; John R., Jan. 24, 1898; Grace Pearl, Aug. 1, 1886, died Sept. 30, 1887. Mr. Robertson lived in Trenton when small, moving with his parents to a farm near what is now Laredo in 1864. He lived there on the farm until 1878, when he was married, and went to Trenton in Jan. 1880. He was three years with the Grundy County Coal Company. 1884 he went to Eldorado Springs, staying there until 1887. He then moved to Laredo and has since been en- gaged in the lumber and contracting business at that place. He has a big shop and the firm is known as J. G. Robertson & Son. He has been in the contracting business there for twenty-two years and has erected many fine structures. E. J. Robertson, the junior member of the firm was married June 4, 1905, to Lynda A. Dob- bins. They have one child, John M., born Oct. 18, 1906. LEWIS FIELD WILLIAMSON, the second son of Rev. J. L. D. and Sarah L. (Temple) Will- iamson was born in Wapaloo County, Iowa, June 27, 1856. His father was a Baptist missionary and lived on the frontier. In 1865, the family came to Missouri and in '69 they moved to south- eastern Kansas. Mr. Williamson returned to Missouri in 1879 and came to Grundy County in Sept 1894. April 13, 1880, he was married to Thirza E. Elliott, (youngest daughter of James H. and Angelina (Arnold) Elliott of Schuyler Coun- ty, Mo.). To them were born five children; Etta, HISTORY OF RUNDY COUNTY 621 Willard, Cecil, Mabel, and Downey E, who died Jan. 29, 1906. Mr. Williamson was a railroader for nineteen years, but the past five years has lived on a farm, purchasing his present home in east Marion town- ship, three years ago. J. A. WILLIS is a son of James H. and Hila M. (Johnson) Willis. His father was born May I, 1828, his mother May 11, 1827. Both his par- ents are dead. He was born in Green County, Tennessee, Nov. 23, 1850. He now lives three and one half miles northwest of Gait. Mr. Willis was married May 13, 1868 to Melody Johnson, They have ten children. James W., was born March 11, 1869 ^^^ died March 13 of that year; Minerva, born April 13, 1870; Elizabeth, Oct. 15, 1872, died Jan. 13, 1879; Hila M., Dec. 21, 1874; Rachel A., Sept. 26, 1877, died Feb. 5, 1885; Chas. W., Feb. 15, 1889, died June 24 of that year; Ira L., April 6, 1881, died Feb. 19, 1893; Linna L., Feb. 6, 1884; Joseph E., Aug. 24, 1889; Lelia M., Sept. 13, 1894. Mrs. Willis is the daughter of Joseph S. and Ma- ry Johnson. Mr. Willis is a Methodist minister and has preached for many years in the vicinity ot Gait and other parts of this county and in adjoin- ing counties. He began preaching in his eight - teenth year. He has a farm of 400 acres north of Gait, a handsome residence property in Trenton, and a 320 acre farm near Kingfisher. HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY 623 E. C. WILSON, son of Sarah (Wisdom) and J. C. Wilson, both of whom are dead, was born in Grundy County, Harrison township, Jan. 24, 1871. He now Hves on Route 7, Trenton, Mo. He was educated in the pubHc schools. • Mr. Wilson was born and raised on the farm and lived with his parents until grown. His parents both died in the spring of 1908, within five months of each other. For the past five years, they had made their home with him. Mr. Wilson went west in 1897 and remained four years , in Colo- rado and Arizona, in a copper smelter in Arizona and in the ranching business in Colorado. He lives on a farm of eighty acres, seven miles north west of town. It belonged to his father up to the time of his death and Mr. Wilson then bought the interest of the other heirs. Mr. Wilson's father was born in Tazewell County Va., April 12, 1831, and came to Missouri in 1840, settling in Linn County. He came to Grundy County two years later. His mother was born in Randolph County in 1838 on August 9. His father died March 28, 1908 and his mother died April 3, 1908. They had eight children, five of whom are living. DR. J. B. WRIGHT, son of Albert and Eliza- beth Wright, was born at Xenia, Ohio, August i, i860. He attended college at Lynchburg, Ohio, before beginning his medical studies. He was mar- ried October 30, 1888, to Eva M. Fox. Dr. Wright came with his parents to Grundy County in 1877. He taught school for four years, and read medicine with Dr. May, of Princeton. He 624 HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY then entered the Missouri Medical College at St. Louis, graduating in 1883, and began the practice of his profession at Spickard. He remained in Spickard until 1898, when, after taking post gradu- ate work in the Post Graduate Medical College, of New York, he located at Trenton, where he has since been. Dr. Wright is a member of the American, A. M. WHITE state and county medical societies. He has an ex- cellent equipment and instruments, and conducts a hospital in addition to his general practice. He is ctlso a member of the pension board, and has specialized on the eye, ear, nose and throat. Dr. Wright is a Mason of very high rank, an Odd Fellow and a K. of P. HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY 625 T. J. ADAMS, son of David and Sarah Adams, was born in Tuscarawas County, Ohio, January 5, 1 85 1. He now Hves on route three, Trenton. Mr. Adams and Georgia A. Smith were married Febru- ary 13, 1872. They have one adopted son, Kenneth Walker, whom they took to raise and educate when he was five years old, and who is now twelve. Mr. Adams' parents went to Iowa when he was one year old, and lived there until 1S66. when they came to Missouri. They lived first in Livings- ton County, near Farmersville, then moved to Mr. Adams' present home. Upon the 4eath of hi= mother, in 1901, Mr. Adams bought the interest of the other heirs in the place. The farm is located nine miles southwest from Trenton. Mr. Adams is a breeder of pure bred Poland China hogs. Both he and Mrs. Adams are members of the Christian church. DR. W. R. ADAMS is a son of George W. and Elizabeth Adams. His father, who was for sixteen years county clerk of Linn County, now lives at Meadville. Mr. Adams was born at Linneus, Mo., September 12, 1881. He took an academic course in the Missouri state university, and graduated in medicine in the University Medical college, in 1904, after which he served one year as assistant sur- geon in the Kansas City general hospital. Dr. Adams located in Laredo, for the practice of his profession, in 1905. He does a general prac- tice of medicine and surgery, giving special atten- tion to the latter. He is examining physician for twelve life insurance companies. 6:^6 •! " HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY Dr. Adams was married to Edna Petty, daugh- ter of Judge E. Cx. Petty, of Linneus, Oct. 4, 1905. He and Mrs. Adams are members of the Methodist church, and he is a member of the Masonic lodge. J. E. AKERS was born July 27, 1879, ^^^ ^^^^ farm on which he now hves with his mother. His father, James Akers, w^as born in Butler county, Ohio, January zy, 1832. He came to Missouri in 1855, settling eight miles southeast of Trenton, where he lived several years, then moved to the farm on which his son and widow now lives, in 1870. He died August 10, 1901. Mr. and Mrs. Akers are the parents of eight children. Mrs. Akers' maiden name was Eliza Coakley. She was born June 8th, i860. J. E. Akers has lived on the home place, cared for his mother and helped to run the farm since his father's death. He is not married. The farm con- sists of eighty acres and is located five miles east of Trenton. DR. EVEREl^r ALLEN, son of W. W. and Martha Allen, was born near Chillicothe, Mo., Oct. I, 1868. He is a graduate of the Galena, Kas., high school. Dr. Allen was married to Mary C. Varney, of near Chula, March 6, 1889. He graduated at the University Medical College in 1889. He was for some time located in Hickory, coming to Trenton in 1908. He has done post graduate work and has taken a special course in hospital work. Dr. and Mrs. Allen have two children, Wm. W. born March 12, 1894 and Fred, born March 6, 1896. HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY .627 Bertha, l)orn Feb. 13, 1890, died in August, 1893. Lucy, born Nov. 7. 1891, died Sept. 22, 1893. Mrs. Alien is a daughter of James Turner, one of the founders of (irand River College, and a pio- neer Baptist minister. S. W. ANDERSON is the son of Wm. An- derson, born in Tennessee, July i, 1814, and Nancy Jane ( Lyda ) Anderson, born in Tennessee. He was born in \\'ilson township, June 18, 1855. He now resides four and one half miles southeast of Laredo. He was married Oct. 14, 1874, to Rebecca El- eanor Todd, daughter of Jasper Todd, born in Missouri, June 15, 181 7, and died Sept. 25, 1873, and Martha J. (Stephens) Todd, born in Ken- tucky, June 12, 181 5, died Jan. 24, 1908. Mrs. Anderson was born June 8, 1855. They have three children: China Minerva, born Aug. 21, 1875, married J. W. Warren, Jan. i, 1894, and died May 3, 1901 ; Paul F., born Aug. 11, 1881; and Samuel Jasper, born Feb. 10, 1884. The subject of this sketch began his life's re- sponsibilities at the age of eighteen. He has lived at home with his father all the time. His father deeded him the home farm of 366 acres of the best land in that part of the county. He deals quite extensively in cattle, both feeding and breed- ing the Short Horn. He is a progressive citi- zen and is always ready to help any good enter- prise along in the county. He is also a composer 628 HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY of music. He is a member of the Baptist church and a Democrat. DR. J A. ASHER. DR. J. A. ASHER, of Trenton, son of Solomon and EHzabeth Ellen (Birch) Asher, was born in Ohio, February 7, 1854. His father came with his family to this county in 1869, ^^'^^ settled on the Asher farm near Dunlap. Dr. Asher's early life was spent on the farm. After completing the dis- trict school course, he attended Grand River college, Edinburg. In the winter of 1875 ^^^ 1876, he taught school at what was then known as the Winters district, where now stands the town of Gait. Aug- ust 6th, 1876, he took up the study of medicine HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY 629 under Dr. Thomas Kimlin, and for many years clerked in Dr. Kimlin's drug store. He attended the medical department of the university of Mich- igan, and graduated at the University medical col- lege of New York in the spring of 1881. Dr. Asher was appointed a member of the board of examining surgeons for the pension de- partment at Trenton in 1888, and has served con- tinuously in that capacity except for the four years of Cleveland's administration. For years Dr. Asher has been one of the lead- ing physicians of the county, and has held many positions of trust. He is the present coroner of the county and was by virtue of this office sheriff of the county from the time of the death of Sherifif Estes in 1908, until his successor was appointed. Dr. Asher has been a director in the Citizen's State Bank since its organization. He owns a good farm and takes much interest in fine stock, espec- ially the breeding of good horses, to which industry he has probably contributed more than any other man in Grundy county. Dr. Asher was married to Sallie M. Graham, daughter of D. George and Martha Graham, Jan- uary 18, 1888. Th^y have two children: Vera, born December 4. 1892 r.nd Arthur Graham, born July 26, 1895. Dr. Asher is republican in politics. OSCAR AUSTIN, son of Thomas and Martha J. Austin, was born on the farm where he now lives, near Spickard, December 15, 1865. He and Miss Lissa Schooler, daughter of Job Schooler, were ^30 HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY married January 17, 188S. They have one child, Nora L., born October 16, iSgo. ]\lr. Austin's father died when he was small, and he was compelled to work to help support the family. He went to farming for himself when eighteen years old, and later married. He after- w^ards bought a hundred and forty acres of the home place, and has a good home and a well improved farm. Mr. Austin handles Shorthorn cattle, and fine horses and hogs. He is a member of the K. of P. lodge. GEORGE E. BAIRD is a son of Miles B. and Mary A. (Herrington) Baird. He was born in Shelby county, Mo., January 8, 1842. He was mar- ried to Rachel ^lagdaline Haley, daughter of Silas Haley, one of our strongest pioneer characters, Feb. 22,1880. They have three children : Mary Susan, wife of H. M. Merryman, born Dec. 8th, 1880 ,' Elizabeth Eaton, Oct. 9, 1883 ; and Sarah Ellen, Dec. 19, 1885. Mrs. Baird was born July 21,, i860. Mr. Baird's parents moved from Shelby ville to Nineveh, Adair county, going in a few years from there to Putnam, where Mr. Baird, Sr., entered land. They went from Putnam to Sullivan county, where the family lived until Air. Baird was grown. He went with his parents to Oregon in 1863, ^i"!*^! remained in Union, Oregon, thirteen years in the cattle business. In 1876 he went from Oregon to Colorado, Oklahoma and Texas, where he stayed five years, then came to Grundy county and in 1882 bought a six hundred acre farm of' HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY 631 James Austin. He afterwards lioiight other farms in Grundy county, making fifteen hundred acres in all, and considerable real estate in Trenton and other property. ]\lr. Baird and family live on Trenton avenue, Trenton, Mo. He is a deacon in the Christian church of Trenton, of which Mrs. Baird is also a member. W. C. BELL, son of Wm. and Nancy Bell, was born at Westerville, Ohio, February 20, 1858. He now lives on route one, Trenton. Mr. Bell was edu- cated in the pu1)lic schools and Otterburn University W'hich was located in his home town. He was mar- ried March 4, 1884, to Miss Emma Guiles, daughter of A. J. Guiles, of Boonville, la. They have two children; Samuel Earle, born April 29, 1885, a machinist at Ossawatomie, Kans. ; and Devona B., born February 26, 1894. When he had completed his schooling Mr. Bell began railroading in the employ of the Illinois Cen- tral, first at Columbus, Ohio, then at Amboy, 111. He came to Trenton in 1883, and went to work for the Rock Island as conductor. He remained with the road until 1905, when he moved to the Gardner farm of a hundred and sixty acres, three miles north of Trenton, which he had bought in the meantime. In 1906 he went to Des Moines, where he was in the wholesale hay business until 1908, when he re- turned to his farm. Mr. and Mrs. Bell and their daughter are members of the Christian church. He belongs to the Order of Railway Conductors. 632 HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY H. G. BELSHE was born in Wilson town- ship, Grundy County, Dec. 25, 1843. ^le now lives two and one half miles southwest of Laredo. His father was Richard Belshe, born in Virginia, in 1801, and died in 1885. His mother was Nan- cy (McMillen) Belshe, born in Tenn., in 1805, and died in 1886. Mr. Belshe was married Jan. 25, 1866, to Clem entine Kilburn, born Nov. 14, 1848. They have four children; Sarah N., born Jan. 2, 1867, died Nov. 4, 1885; Lizzie E., born April 6, 1873, died Sept. 13, 1874; Amelia M., born Dec. 22, 1876, married Charles Tracy Jan. i, 1900, and James Richard, born Aug. 7, 1879. Mr. Belshe was born in Grundy County when it was truly a wild country. He has until recently owned the place which his father first settled on but at present it belongs to his son. He is a Democrat in politics and belongs to the Baptist church. Mr. Belshe is one of Grundy's largest land own- ers. After having given each of his children a farm, he has 468 acres left. Mr. Belshe is the first male child born in this county since it was sep- arated from Livingston. He has traveled ex- tensively in the West, East and South, returning here in 1869. He helped to freight goods with ox teams from Brunswick to what few towns there were here. Mrs. Belshe is also from one of the pioneer families and was born on the place where she and Mr. Belshe now live. HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY 633 EDWARD BICKEL, son of W. H. and Sarah J. Bickel, was born in Grundy County, sev- en miles east of Trenton, June i6, 1870. He was married October 3, 1894, to Miss Lillie B. Combs, daughter of John B. Combs. She w^as born in Grundy County, April 7, 1870. After his marriage Mr. Bickel bought his pres- ent place, which he ran for two years before h'^ marriage, while living with his parents. The farm is three miles east of Trenton, and consist'^ of a hundred and sixty acres of well improved land. They have a very pretty home. Mr. and Mrs. Beckel have four children ; Bernice S., born Feb. 27, 1899; John W., Jan. 23, 1902: Lela E., April 2;i^, 1904 and Henry B., March 12, 1906. A. J. BLANCHARD is a son of Lemuel and Maria Blanchard, both of whom are dead. He was born in Adams County, Illinois, Feb. 5, 1858. He was educated in the public schools. Mr. Blanchard lives on Route seven, Trenton, Mo. He was married in 1880 to Lizzie Craighead^ who was a native of Adams County. She was born in 1861. About two years after their mar- riage, Mrs. Blanchard died, leaving one son, Rob- ert Lee, born May 19, 1881, died March 18, 1900. Mr. Blanchard came to Missouri with his fath- er when small and settled in Knox County, living there until grown. His mother died just before they left Illinois. When he married, he went to farming for himself in Knox County and lived 634 HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY there until the death of his wife, when he came to Grundy County. He has hved here ahnost con- tinuously except nineteen months in Texas. He now lives on the Sid Renfro farm, four miles northwest of Trenton. The farm consists of 540 acres. ISAAC BLATTNER was born in Northum^ berland County Pennsylvania, August 19, 1843. ^^ now lives on route six Trenton, Mo. He was mar- ried January 16, 1866 to Miss Louisa Alberts. They have five children: W. H., born Dec. i, 1868, liv- ing at home with his father; Frank D., born Nov. 22, 1870, w'ho farms near Laredo, Mo. ; Mary Leota born Oct. 30, 1873, at home; Susan Jane, born May 26, 1875, "o^v ^Irs. W. G. Harris; Alice Louella, born Jan. 17, 1877, now at home. Mr. Blattner left Pennsylvania when three years old and went with his parents to Iowa remaining there until 1873. Both parents died while living in Iowa. Mr. Blattner went to farming for him- self when he w^as married. He moved to Grundy County in 1873 and bought his present farm which consists of one hundred and five acres. He joined the 24th, Iowa Volunteer Infantry in 1862 and served three years and one month. He was at the seige of Vicksburg, battle of Jackson, Mississippi, with Banks in the Red river campaign, at Harpers Ferry and with Sheridan in his later campaigns, leaving the service wnth the rank of corporal. He is a member of the \J. B. church. His son, W. H., who helps manage the farm, has twenty acres of- his own land: He was married to Sophia 636 HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY Jenson December 15, 1896. She was born in Le- banon County, Pa. They have four children; Hazel L., born Sept. 18, 1897; Franklin, Oct. 28, 1899; Roland, January 25, 1902; Grace E., September 27, 1907. A. R. BONDURANT was born Dec. 24, 1867 at Wintersville, Sullivan County, Missouri. He moved to Grundy County in 1882, and lived on a farm until 1896. He attended the country school from two to four months in the year until 1888, when he took a course in the Gem City Busi- ness College. In 1891, he attended the Grundy County Institute and began teaching at the old Berry school house. He taught seven terms in the country and was then elected Principal of the Fourth Ward at Trenton, which position he held for seven and a half terms, when he resigned. He and W. R. Berry then bought a stock of hardware at Belton, Cass County, Mo. They remained there less than a year when they sold out and Mr. Bondurant returned to Gait and in Feb. 1902, with a silent partner, bought out Cooper Brothers and conducted the business until Oct. 1904, when he organized the Farmer's Hardware Company, of which he was the manager. In March 1908, he resigned and moved to Elk City, Okla., where he had an excellent position w^ith a hardware com- pany. In June 1909, he returned to Gan so that his wife could be with her mother who was in ex- tremely poor health, and accepted his old position as Manager of the Farmer's Hardware Company. HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY 637 Mr. Bondurant is a member of the Baptist church and has been superintendent of the Sun- day School for many years. He is also a mem- ber of the I. O. (3- F. and takes an active part in the work of that order. He was mayor of Gait for one term, and gave the city a firm, moral, and business-like administration. FRANK L. BOSLEY, son of J. M., and Flor- ence (Reynolds) Bosley, was born in old Middle- bury, Grundy County, October 22, 1859. He was married November 20, i859; when thirteen years of age he came with his parents to Grundy County, Mo., in the year 1873 settling on a farm northeast of Tren- ton and living there until married, receiving a dis- trict school education. He was married to Miss Florence Clawson, daughter of James W. Clawson, Sept. 28, 1890, moving on the farm he now lives on. Mr. and Mrs. LeHew have three children: Jas. R., born Oct. 20, 1892; Charles H., born Oct. 14, 1898 and Edith L., born May 29, 1901. Mr. Le- Hew went to farming for himself when twenty-one years of age, raising and feeding cattle, hogs, and horses in which he has been very successful. Mr. Le- He has a nice home of 240 acres and also a farm in Texas. Both Mr. and Mrs. LeHew are member?; of the Baptist church: the latter was l)orn in Grun- <\y county, Dec. 11, 1865. E- C. LIGHTNER, son of Peter and Rachel Lightner, a pioneer family, was ]:orn in Shelby HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY 687 County, Mo., April 14th, 1859. His education was completed at Shelbina College. He lived in- Shelby County until 1892, the earlier part of his life on a farm, and afterwards in the poultry business at Clarence. Mo. In 1892 he moved to Fort Scott, Kansas, where he engaged in the same business, having interests at Parsons and other points. In 1896 he moved to Trenton, and since that time has conducted a large poultry and produce business here, taking charge of the Swift interests in 1899. Mr. Lightner is a member of the Presbyterian church board, and was to a considerable degree instrumental in securing the new Presbyterian church building in this city. Since 190(3 he has been a member of the board of public works. He was one of the directors of the chautau(|ua associa- tion since its organization, and is now president. Mr. Lightner was married to Miss Ida M. Snidon, daughter of Jacob Snidon, of Monroe Coun- ty, Feb. 24, 1886. They have one son, Drexel C, born August 6th, 1887. He atended the high school and the business college at Trenton, and is secretary and assistant manager of the poultry business . P. S. LONGSTRETH is the son of John W. and Deliorah Longstreth, both of whom are dead. He was born in Lincoln township, Grundy County, Missouri, Jan. 12, 1872. He now lives on route six, Trenton, Mo. He was married Oct. 16, 1904 to May Keith who was born Oct. 20, 1878, in Grundy County. They have one child, Ira B., born Dec. 22, 1876, 688 HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY on the old home pb.ce where he has ahvays hved. He is unmarried. Mr. Longstreth was born and reared on the farm where he now hves. His old home is still stand- ing. He lived with his parents until grown when he went to Oklahoma for a short time. His father died when he was twelve years old and he lived at home and helped support the family. He went to farming for himself and was later married. Soon after his marriage, he moved to a house one hall mile west of his present home where he lived until July 1908 when on account of the illness of his mother he moved back to the old home place. The home place consists of 130 acres and is owned by the heirs. The other place one half mile west con- sisting of 120 acres belongs to Mr. Longstreth and his brother Ira D., and they also own 80 acres east of the home place. They are partners in farming and have been since they were boys. There are also two other tracts, one of 60 acres and one of 90 acres belonging to the heirs, on one of which farms his sister lives. COLLINS McLaughlin, son of Thomas and Susan A'IcLaughlin, was born in Knox County Ohio, Dec. 10, 1844. When he was one year old, his parents moved to southern Indiana, where he resided on a farm which his father owned until the year 1867. He then traveled through with an ox team to Grundy County, Mo. He remained in Trenton one year, from there he moved on a farm HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY 689 southeast of Trenton, where he hved eight years. He then moved to a farm northwest of Spickard. There he was married to Mrs. Sarah A. Monk, a widow with four children, Minnie, Dan, AUie and Lenna (deceased) ; she died Oct. 17, 1904. Mrs. McLaughhn was born in Montezuma, Iowa, April 2, 1855. Her maiden name was Sarah Angelina RESIDENCE OF COLLINS McLAUGHLIN Roberts. To this union was born two children, both girls; Nellie, born June 3, 1885 ; Rosie, Feb. 26, 1888, died July 18, 1896. In 1892, he bought and moved to what was then known as the George Goodknight farm but now known as Maple Grove. It is located four mile northwest of Trenton or a half mile west of the old 690 HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY Titsworth ford. He still lives on the farm and is engaged in stock raising and dairy farming. He owns a herd of pure bred Jerseys, and is engaged in raising good horses, trotters, and pacers. His farm is one of the best improved farms in that vi- cinity. MILES McMULLEN was born in Lancas- ter County, Pennsylvania, June 27, 1868. He is the son of John McMuUen who lives in Pennsyl- vania, and Mary A. McMullen, deceased. He now lives on Route six, Trenton, Mo. On April 27, 1894, he was married to Ella Pulliam. She was born in Grundy County on the old Pulliam place, Aug. 15, 1875. They have had two child- ren; Stephen, who died May 18, 1909 and Ollie May, born May 5, 1902. Mr. McMullen was raised on the farm in Lan- caster County, Penn., He lived at home until grown. In 1891, he came to Grundy County. His brother, Harry had come here two years pre- vious and engaged in farming. Miles joined his brother here and they farmed together for several years. The farm which Mr. McMullen now owns was given to him by his father in law, Mr. Pulliam. When he and his wife first went to farming there, the place was almost barren, but he has made it a well improved farm and has one of the finest homes in the county. In 1906, they rented the farm and went to Colorado on account of Mrs, Mc- Mullen's health. In two years they returned and have since resided on the farm. He handles HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY 691 Shorthorn cattle, Shropshire sheep and makes a specialty of sheep. His farm consists of 120 acres, seven and a half miles northeast of Trenton. The family belongs to the Methodist Church. RESIDENCE OF W. O. GARNAND HARRY McMULLEN, a son of J. H. and Mary McMullen was born in Lancaster County, Penn., March 2, i860. He was married March 4, 1890, to Miss Mary Stehman, daughter of Isaac Stehman. Mrs. McMullen was born in the same county, Dec. 8, 1863. They have three children; John S., born May 26, 1891 ; Henry Lloyd, born Aug. 14, 1893; and Miles P., born May 2, 1902. Mr. McMullen lived on a Pennsylvania farm un- til grown, his father being a railroad conductor 692 HISTORY OP GRUNDY COUNTY and later a farmer He came to Grundy County in 1884, and farmed for a few years, then returned to Pennsylvania and married, bringing his wife with him to Grundy County. For a number of years, he leased the farm which he afterwards bought and now owns, it then belonging to Mrs. Pelton. He owns a well improved farm of four Trenton. C. F. MARTIN was born in Iowa, March 11, 1867. He was married to Miss Susie L. Hartman, daughter of C. C. Hartman, Sept. 7, 1892. They have four children; Mabel M., born Dec. 20, 1893; Myrtle A., July 4, 1896; Ethel L., Jan. 24, 1903; Velma I., Aug. 24, 1905. Mrs. Martin was born in Daviess County, June 3, 1872, and raised in that county. Mr. Martin lived in Iowa until 1895 when he went to Daviess County, stayed two years, then came to Grundy County, living on the A. J. Selsor farm for two years, then for two years on the P. Z. Delano place. He then leased the George Delano farm of a hundred and twenty acres, five and a half miles east of Trenton, where he now lives. RICHARD J. MARTIN was born in Clinton County Mo., Nov. 3rd, 1871. At the age of five his parents located at Lathrop, Mo., where he at- tended the Lathrop High School after which he took a course in a business college. In March, 1888, he located at Excelsior Springs where he was em- ployed as Assistant Post Master. In November, HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY 693 1898 he located in Trenton, Mo., where he was em- ployed by the C. R. I. & P. Ry. in the freight de- partment until Nov. 1906, when he resigned his position as cashier to engage in the transfer busi- ness. In July, 1908, he accepted a position as mana- ger for the Trenton Ice Co. He was elected councilman from the 3rd ward in April, 1908. J. W. MASON was born in Grundy County, Jan. 22, 1866. He lives five miles northeast of La- redo. Mr. Mason was married to Mary A. Patter- son, November 15, 1891. Mrs. Mason was born March 22, 1874. They have four children; Grace H., born Jan. ly, 1893; John W., Nov. 11, 1897; Glenn T., Sept. 3, 1903; Chester L., Sept. 16, 1906! Mr. Mason went from Grundy County in 1894 to Deepwater, Henry County. ^ He returned to Grundy County the next year. He went to Daviess County in 1902, returning to Grundy in 1904. Mr. Mason is a farmer and stockraiser. He is a son of J. C. and Elizabeth (Blew) Mason. He is a Republican in politics. JOHN R. MERRILL is a son of James R. and Mary Merrill. His father died when John R. was a small boy, his mother in 1889. Mr. Merrill was born Feb. 19, i860 in Trenton, Mo. He was mar- ried February 22, 1885, to Cora E. Stewart, daugh- ter of Dr. S. Stewart. They have one child, Olive Jeanette, born Dec. 3, 1885. Mr. Merrill entered mercentile life when 694 HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY young, going to work in a store for R. G. Beasley" when thirteen years old and working for him three years. Then he worked in a hard- ware store two years for Murphy, Asher & Co., then for Stein & Sons eleven years. At the expiration of this period Mr. Mer- rill began work for the firm of Stephens, Hoff- man & Co., in 1892. Mr. Stephens retiring, he worked with the firm of Hoffman & Co., later be- coming a partner in the firm, which is now known as the Hoffman-Merrill Mercantile Company, or popularly known as the Farmers Store. This store is one of the very largest in North Missouri, and would be a credit to a city of twenty thousand popu- lation. It has separate departments for dry goods, men's clothing, shoes, ladies' ready made clothing, carpets and draperies, and china. Twenty-five people are regularly employed, and the store's trade district extends throughout this and into adjoin- ing counties. James P. Merrill was an old pioneer and a prominent citizen. He owned the land on which much of the richest part of Trenton now stands. H. P. MERRYMAN, son of J. H. and Evaline Merryman, was born in Grundy County, near La- redo, September 17, 1878. He lives on route three^ Trenton, Mo. He was married September 17, 1899, to Miss Cora P. Belshe, daughter of Calvin Belshe. They have three children; Letha Lela, born Aug- ust 14, 1900; Mary Lucile, July 21, 1905; J. C. Gilman, February 10, 1909. HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY 695 Mr. Merryman lived on the home farm near Laredo until grown. When married he moved to the two hundred and sixty acre farm which came to his wife through her father. He has a well stocked, well improved, well managed farm. Both Mr. and Mrs. Merryman are members of the Chris- tian church. RESIDENCE OP H. P. MERRYMAN W. H. MCMURTRY was born in Illinois, March 31, 1856. He is the son of F. M. McMurt- ry, born in Illinois, Nov. 16, 1833, and Elizabeth (Pitman) McMurtry, born in June 1832. He was educated in the public schools of Illinois. He was married September 15, 1880 to Louisa Leeper, who was a daughter of Hezekiah Leeper, born Oct. 13, 1825, and Nancy (Snyder) Leeper, born Dec. 18, 1828. Mr. and Mrs. McMurtry have 696 HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY five children; Elsie P., born May 20, 1882; Ethel v., born March 19, 1886; E. G., born December 26, 1887; V. H. born Dec. 3, 1889; and Elizabeth E., born March i, 1897. Mr. McMurtry moved from Illinois to Iowa, where he engaged in farming until 1896. He then moved to Ridgeway, Mo., where he lived until 1903. In 1903, he moved to Livingston County where he lived until 1905, when he moved to Grundy County on his fine farm. He is a Democrat in politics. WILLIAM A. McVAY, a son of James W. and Sarah L. McVay, was born in Jones county, la., Dec. 20, 1858. He was married to Miss Jennie A. Williams, daughter of R. A. Williams, of Spickard, Nov. 6, 1885. They have three children; Owen W., born June 7, 1887; Donald C, April 16, 1890; and James R., June 5, 1893. Mr. McVay's parents came from Iowa when he was three months old ; lived in Daviess County 2 years and in Harrison county five years, coming to Grundy county and settling near Spickard. Here they made their home until the death of James W. McVay, in 1904. Mr. McVay lived here on the Washington township farm until twenty-seven, when he began farming near the home place. He then moved to Spickard and bought a mill of P. W. Bain, which he kept for a year and a half, then sold it and moved to Decatur county, la., where at Lamoni he bought three hardware stores, combined them, erected a building and stayed a year and a 698 HISTORY OP GRUNDY COUNTY half when he sold out and moved to the farm he now owns, the Grand River Stock Farm, three miles north of Trenton. He soon came to Trenton, still managing the farm, however, and erected a hard- ware, grain and implement building, and conducted this business until January i, 1909, when he sold it and traded the building for a farm. Mr. McVay's farm consists of 1075 acres. He handles pure bred Hereford cattle and Percheron horses. G. F. MACK was born in Grundy County, four miles north of Farmersville, Dec. 5, 1865. He now lives on route six, Trenton, Mo. His parents are James and Alpha Mack. His mother has been dead eleven years, his father lives near Four Corners. He was married Feb. 27, 1889, to Miss Hallie Betz, daughter of Wm. Betz. They have two children living, and two, Clyde and Carl, twins, born Sept. 22, 1891, are dead. Judson E., was born Dec. 13, 1899; Laura M., March 12, 1906. Mr. ]\Iack was raised on a farm. When he be- gan farming for himself, he leased the Belshe place for three years, then the Skinner place for the same period. He lived on the Routh place for the next eleven years, then bought his present farm a mile and a half southwest of Four Corners. Mr. Mack's father is one of the county's earliest settlers, and is now more than eighty four years old. He lives with his son, Otis, near Four Corn- ers. Mrs. Mack was born at Akron, Ohio, Oct. 30, 1868, and came with her parents to Grundy HISTORY OP GRUNDY COUNTY 699 County when small. Mr. Mack is an Odd Fellow. A. MANG, son of George and Anna Mang, was born December 29, 1875, ^^ Kaues Laudren, Germany. He now lives on Route six, Trenton, Mo. He was educated in the public schools of America. He was married September 20, 1899, to Minnie B. Fields, who was born July 29, 1877, in Suther- land, Iowa. They have four children; Beulah M.., born Feb. 18, 1908; Helen Irene, born May 8, 1903; Lucile L., born August 12, 1905, and Herman R., born October 31, 1907. Mr. Mang came to America in 1881, directly to Grundy County and settled near Spickard, where they lived about 11 years. Then they went to south Missouri where they lived about five years. Mr. Mang then left home and went to Iowa w^here he remained about three years, marrying while there. He returned to Grundy County and leased land for three years. He then bought the Schlotterback farm, five and three fourths miles north east of Trenton. It consists of 41 acres. He also has other land. Mr. and Mrs. Mang both belong to the Metho- dist church. JOHN D. MOORE, son of J. H. and Isabel Moore, was born near Spickard, Mo., August 23, 1878. He was married March 11, 1899, to Miss Maude May Welch, daughter of W. B. Welch, of Gallatin. They have one child, Eula, born July 20, 1904. 700 HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY Mr. Moore farmed near Spickard until 1904 when he came to Tindall and worked with his broth- er, Charles Moore, who was in the mercantile busi- ness there, afterwards, in 1908, May 15, going into business himself at Tindall in partnership with his brother. They handle a general line of drugs and medicines. MOORE BROS. STORE, TINDALL, MO. W. D. MOORE, son of H. S. and Luthera Moore, was born near Dunlap, where he now lives, March 14th, 1862. He was married to Eva Bradley July 1 6th, 1907. Mr. Moore was raised on a farm. During his life he has been a farmer and stock raiser and has HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY 701 also been in the lumber business. He owns a 190 acre farm extending to the borders of Dunlap, and has a nice residence property in that town. Mr. Moore is an extensive dealer in horses and cattle. In politics he is a Democrat. FRANK D. MURPHY, son of David and Susan Murphy, was born in Henry County, Iowa, July 30, 1865. He lives on Route one, Trenton, Mo. He was married Feb. 4, 1884, to Miss Bettie A. Froman, daughter of Thomas Froman. They have five children. Mr. Murphy's parents came with him to Grundy County in 1869, and settled on the place now own- ed by J. D. Speck, four miles north of Trenton. He lived here with his parents until grown and mar- ried, then went to farming for himself, a mile and a half east of Tindall. He stayed here five years, then rented the home farm, stayed there five years, then moved back to the former place, after which he bought the Wise farm, two and a fourth miles east of Tindall. He bought other land adjoining, and now owns a fine farm of a hundred and fifty one acres and a beautiful home. He makes a spec- ialty of dairy farming. ]Mr. Murphy is a member of the I. O. O. F. lodge. C. W. NEELY was born in Morgan Coun- ty, Ohio, July II, 1867. He moved with his parents to Illinois when a small boy, where he remained a year. He then came to Grundy Coun- ty, where he has spent the greater part of his life. 702 HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY He lived first in the Prairie View neighborhood, his father later buying the farm near the Poor Farm on which he now lives. Mr. Neely lived at home until grown, when he went to farming for himself. He farmed near Spickard, then leased several places, and finally in 1899 bought the farm near Grundy Center on which he now lives. It consists of 100 acres of well improved land. In the spring of 1907, he went to Oklahoma, where he bought a farm which he still owns. In the spring of 1909, he returned and took charge of his farm here. RESIDENCE OF H. S. HALL HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY 703 He was married March 22, 1891 to Laura Smith, who died in 1902, leaving one boy, Albert, who was born December 30, 1892. On February 28, 1904, he was married to Miss Carrie Pennell, daughter of Abram Pennell. They have no child- ren. They are members of the Methodist church. C. M. MILLER, son of Humphrey and Amelia Miller, was born at Columbus, Indiana, March 6th, 1858. His present home is in Trenton, Mo. He was married to Minerva Crow, daughter of Milton Crow, of Trenton, November 6th, 1878. Mr. Miller went with his parents from Colum- bus to Des Moines, la., and came from there to Trenton in 1877, where he entered the Rock Island train service. He was brakeman for a time, then conductor, and ran a train from 1878 to 1884, when he went to Salt Lake City, where he remained six years, after which he returned to Trenton He loans money and deals in rental properties. O. R. MILLER was born at Mount Ster- ling, Illinois, March 25, 1846. He is a son of Samuel W. Miller, born in Kentucky in 181 o, and died in 1882. His mother, Margaret (Alex- ander) Miller was born in Tennessee in 181 5 and died in 1884. Mr. Miller lives five miles south east of Laredo. He was married November 10, 1878 to Frances Woods, daughter of C. I. and Rebecca (Miller) Woods of Kentucky. Mrs. Miller was born in Howard County, December 10 1850. They have had twelve children, only two 704 HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY of whom are living. They are Margaret B., born Nov. 5, 1872, and Charles B., born Sept. 9, 1882. Mr. Miller came to Missouri in March 1867. He was a plasterer by trade and worked in Linne- us and Trenton. He still does plastering in ad- dition to managing his farm, which he has owned for several years. Mr. Miller embarked in the drug business in Alpha in 1880 and was in that business four years; selling his store, he has since given his attention to farming and plastering He is a member of the A. F. and A. M. Lodge No. 253 at Laredo. ALBERT MOORE is a son of Manford and Martha Moore. His farhpr lives near Hickory. His mother died in 1887. Mr. Moore was born in Wilson township, AprH [i, 1877. He was mar- ried April 8, 1903, to Norma Hinkley. They have one child, Lynn, born Ja". 4. 1907. Another, born ho /n i/'eb. 8, 190.]., dicci in infancy. Mr. M:*0Te started out for himself, working as a farm hand for several years. He bought his present farm in 1908. Previous to that he had leased land for a number of years. Mrs, Moore is a native of Grundy County, being born in Marion township, Jan. 22, 1874. She is a daughter of J. B. Hinkley who died in 1902. Her mother is yet living. Mr. Hinkley came to this county in 1886. HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY 70a' HENRY NEELY was born in Morgan Coun- ty, Ohio, July 6, 1838. He now lives on route six, Trenton, Mo. Mr. Neely was married to Carolin Eilkil, of Ohio, April 14, 1859. They have three children; Wm. H., born July 22, 1862, now rail- roading at Sedalia; C. W., born July 11, 1867, and Elizabeth May, born September 13, 1874, now Mrs. Joseph Phillips. Mr. Neely lived on an Ohio farm until 1874, when he was in Illinois a year, coming to Grundy County in 1875. He settled four miles north of Trenton, lived there three years, and bought his present place in 1882. Mr. Neely's farm is well stocked with small fruit and he has a very large orchard, the care of which takes the greater part of his attention. Thirty acres of his forty acre farm is in fruit. In the Civil War Mr. Neely served in the 84th Ohio Volunteer Infantry, enlisting in July, 1862. He was shot through the ear at Beverly, West Vir- ginia, while in pursuit of Stonewall Jackson. Mr. and Mrs. Neely are members of the Methodist church. He also belongs to the I. O. O. E. GRENVILLE G. OWEN, son of G. B. and Susan Owen, was born in Grundy County near his present home August 15, 1855. He was mar- ried to Sarah V. Overton, of Wilson township, in April 1877. They have three children: John Everett was born March 22, 1883; Coral Verne, born May 4, 1888; Ethel Dora, born May 15, 1893. Coral Verne is the wife of R. R. Wirt, and lives on the old home place. 706 !'■" HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY Mr. Owens lived on a farm until several years after his marriage. In 1894 he went to Trenton and was engaged in the livery and grocery busi- ness for six years, when he returned to the farm and stayed about four years. He then came to l^aredo, in 1904, and went into the shipping busi- ness. He handles grain of all kinds. John Owen, who is associated with his father in the grain busi- ness, was married to Olive Belshe March 6, 1904. Mr. Owen is a Mason and an Odd Fellow and a member of the Baptist church. He still owns his three hundred and twenty acre farm north of Laredo. WILLIAM E. OWENS was born in Wilson township, Sept. 6, 1866. He lives four miles southeast of Laredo. He is a son of David and Anna (Yates) Owens. His father was born in Kentucky, Feb. 29, 1838; his mother was born Aug. 31, 1832. Mr. Owen was married to Miss Amanda C. Pentse, daughter of Lemuel and Ada- line (Miller) Pentse Sept. 12, 1886. They have three children; Lloyd, born July 2, 1889; Josie L., Sept. 12, 1897; Troy M., Feb. 14, 1903. Mr. Owens began farming south of Alpha soon after his marriage. In 1890, he moved to Alpha and in 1901 to Blaine C ounty, Okla. Returning to Missouri in 1903, he moved to the farm south of Laredo where he has since lived. Mr. Owens is a Democrat and a member of the Presbyterian Church. HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY 707 RESIDENCE OF H. B. PATRICK. H. B. PATRICK is the son of Harmon and Matilda Patrick. His father died five years ago. His mother died when he was three years old. He was born in Ringgold County, Iowa, October 29, 1856. He was married February 9, 1877 to Miss Jennie Farmer, daughter of James Farmer de- ceased. Mrs. Patrick was born November 5, i86c in Monroe County, Iowa. They have three child- ren living and one dead. William E., was born Nov. 25, 1877, is married and lives in Ringgold County, Iowa. Charles, born March 25, 1882, is also married and lives in the same county. Mabel C, born Nov. 3, 1884, lives at home. Mr. Patrick lived on a farm with his father un- til married when he began farming for himself. His father gave him 40 acres and he bought ad- 708 HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY joining land. He lived in the same township in Ringgold County until March 1908, when he came to Grundy County, buying the J. S. Leisure farm on Route six near Grundy Center where he now lives. He has a well kept farm of eighty seven and one half acres and a good home. He was township trustee for a number of years in Iowa. HENRY M. PATTERSON was born at Hod- genville, Kentucky, April 28, 1866. He was mar- ried to Cordia A. Anderson, daughter of James T. Anderson at Chillicothe, Mo., April 2y. 1902. They have had four children, two of whom are living. Mr. Patterson lived in Kentucky until eight- een years old when he moved with his parents to Linn County, Mo. After some time spent on a farm he went into the mercantile business at Faul- ker, Mo. Here he remained two years and re- ceived the appointment of post master of that place. Selling out, he worked in the Meadville post office with his brother for four years when he entered the drug business at Ludlow, Mo., and remained a year. He then returned to Meadville and estab- lished a local telephone system which he sold out in 1908 and moved to Laredo, Mo., where he embark- ed in the furniture business in which he is engaged at the present time. In connection with this he does the business of undertaker and embalmer. Mr. Patterson is a member of the K. of P.. M. W. A. and Eagles. Both he and Mrs. Patterson are members of the Baptist church. JAMES B. PATTON, son of B. M. Patton and Parmelie Baxter Patton, both of whom are HISTORY OP GRUNDY COUNTY ro9 RESIDENCE OF J. B. PATTON. dead, was born January 3, 1870 in Grundy County, Missouri. He now lives near Trenton, Mo. On February 28, 1895, he was married to Em- ma L. Patterson, daughter of Robert and Mary Patterson, deceased. Mrs. Patton is a native of Ohio, born near Mansfield. She came to Missouri in 1894. She had lived all her life on one farm near Mansfield. She attended the public schools in Mansfield, Ohio. They were married soon after she came to Missouri. Mr. Patton was born and reared on the farm he now owns, and has not been off of it to exceed six montiis at any one time. His father died when he was about fourteen years old and he stayed at home and helped to run the farm and support his mother, who lived with him almost all of the time until her 710 HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY death, Jan. 8, 1908. Mr. Patten's farm which is a part of the old home place, consists of 100 acres, he purchasing the interest of the other heirs. He also own 30 acres on Honey Creek. The place is well improved and he has a beautiful and well furnished home. Mr. Patton is a Mason. Mrs. Patton is a member of the Methodist church. The land owned by Mr. Patton was entered by his father and has never passed out of the family, only one transfer having been made and that to the child- ren. The family is one of the oldest and l)est known in North Missouri. ABRAM PENNELL, son of Edward and Susan Pennell, was born in Morgan County, Ohio, April 20, 1841. He was married to Eliza J. W'eeden of the same county, September 7, 1865. She was l)orn June 13, 1839. They have four children; Carrie, born Dec. 8, 1866, now Mrs. Chas. Neely; Frank, born Feb. 13, 1868, lives in Franklin County, Kansas. George E., Sept. i, 1870; Charles A., Sept. 14, 1873, the Trenton photographer. "Wr. Pennell lived at Malta, Ohio where his father worked at the wagon maker's trade until he was eighteen years old. They then moved to the coun- trv, his father buying a farm. He lived there with his father until 1865, except the time he was in the army. At the close of the war he returned home, married and w^ent to farming for himself. He lived there until 1870, when he emigrated to Missou- ri, settling in (^rundv County. In 1878, he bought HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY 711 his present farm, six miles northeast of Trenton where he has since Hved. His farm consists of 120 acres on the home place also 10 acres just north of the home place, 130 acres in all. The farm is well improved. E. G. PENNELL'S RESIDENCE AND BARN. 712 HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY EDWARD GRANT PENNELL is a son of Edward and Susan Pennell, both deceased. He was born in Morgan County, Ohio, March 14, 1866. He was married February 20, 1890 to Miss Bettie Patton, daughter of B. M. Patton. They have four children. Edna Cleo was born Dec. 29, 1890; Ray Patton, May 2y, 1892; Harley Hubert, January 17, 1898; James Grant, Dec. 17, 1897. Mrs. Pennell was born near Grundy Center, Nov. 24, 1872. The farm on which they now live is a part of the old Pat- ton place. Mr. Pennell came to Grundy County, AIo., in 1876, his father buying a farm just north of Grundy Center. His father died in 1881, his mother in 1894. He lived at the old home until his mother's death, after which he moved to his present home, a part of which Mrs. Pennell inherited and a part ^f which was later bought of the other heirs. Mr. Pennell has 80 acres in this farm and 30 acres near the old home place. The family belongs to the ]\lethodist church. D. E. PHILLIPS is a son of L. C. and Mary Phillips of Washington, D. C. He was born Feb- ruary 18, 1874, in Montgomery County, Maryland, and now lives on route three, Trenton, Mo. He was married to Mattie E. Hupp, daughter of John C. Hupp, January 28, 1899. They have one child, Margaret A., born March 22, 1900. Mr. Phillips moved with his parents to Lees- burg, Va.,. when small and lived there until nine- teen years old, his father being an officer in the HISTORY OF GRUXDY COUNTY ri3 pension department at Washington, D. C. He joined the jth U. S. cavalry, Custer's old regiment when nineteen years old and spent a year in Texas and was in Arizona, New ^Mexico and Colorado five years including the Indian campaign of 1896. He served four years as sergeant and was in charge of a recruiting office in Denver. Colo., dur- ing the Spanish war. He went into the grocery business in Fairfield, la., in 1898 and remained there until 1903, when he moved to Jackson County, ]\Io., and went to farming. He came to Grundy County in the spring of 1906 and bought the old A. J. Selsor place. RESIDENCE OF W. R. lAM. WILLIAM R. PULLIAM, son of Stephen and Mary Pulliam was born in Grundy County on the place now owned by Miles McMullen, October 714 HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY i8. iSoi. lie now lives on Route six, Trenton. AIo. He is not married. Mr. Pnlliam has always lived on the old Pulliam homestead, where he took care of his father and mother nntil the death of the former at the age of 84. He was given one hundred acres of land, bought two hundred of his father, and one hundred and forty of the heirs of the estate. Mr Pulliam's cousin, Salli j Cunningham, is his liouse keeper. His brother. James V., who is paralyzed, lives with him. He has 80 acres in the neighborhood and two other tracts, one of 85 and one of 40 making 205 in all. J. N. RENFRO was born in Grundy County, Harrison township on April 3, 1882. He is the son of Sid Renfro, deceased and Mary J. Masters Renfro. He now lives on Route 7, Trenton. He was married to Alice Kerns, Dec. 6, 1900. They have four children; Hattie, born Sept. 21, 1901 ; Rosa, Oct. 9, 1904; Myrtle T., born Oct. 11, 1906; Lola, born Oct. 22, 1907. Mrs. Renfro was born in Buchanan County, Aug. 13, 1881. Mr. Renfro was born and reared on a farm in Harrison township. He lived there with his par- ents until grown and married and then moved to his present farm which his father owns. It is four miles northwest of Trenton and consists of 509 acres, one of the best farms in the county. He does general farming and stock raising. The family belongs to the Baptist Church. HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY 715 DANIEL RIDDLE, son of James B. and Ma- tilda Riddle, was born in Clark County, Indiana, Sept. 1 6, 1862. He was married to Mamie Joiner April 3, 1887. Mr. Riddle left Indiana with his parents when three years old, going to Southern Iowa where he lived near the Missouri line until twenty-one. He then went to Nebraska, then to Grundy County and larmed near Spickards, moving to Tindall, his pres- ent home in 1897, where he went into the mercan- tile business. This business he sold out the next year, and went into the real estate business which he now follows. He has been at various times jus- tice of the peace, constable and collector of his town ship. JOSEPH T. RINKER was born in Wilson township, Grundy County, March 20, 1871. He lives three miles southeast of Laredo. Mr. Rink- er's father, J. H. Rinker, was born in Indiana, Nov. 27, 1836. His mother, Anna (Bell) Rinker, was born in Vermillion County, Illinois, Dec. 31, 1837. Mr. Rinker was married Sept. 23, 1896, to Miss Ida Banta, daughter of Charles and Mary (Met- calf) Banta. Mr. Banta was born in Montgom- ery County, Indiana, Sept. 12, 1854, and died July 20, 1908. Mr. and Mrs. Rinker have two child- ren; Charles Vern, born Dec. 31, 1897, and Kath- ryn, born Jan. 25, 1903. After completing the common school course, Mr. Rinker attended the Chillicothe Normal, after which he taught two years in this county. He 716 HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY then went into the hvery business in Laredo, re- maining two years, and since that time has devoted his attention to agriculture and stock raising. He is a RepubHcan. L. M. ROBERTSON, whose parents were W. H. and Louisa Robertson, was born on the old Rob- ertson homestead a half mile south of Laredo, Oct. 7, 1869. He was married Jan. 5, 1896, to Miss Anna Gregg, daughter of George and Augusta Gregg. They have two children; Charles B., born July 14, 1897; and Edna F., Feb. 10, 1905. They had one child, born Feb. 12, 1900, died in infancy. Mr. Robertson lived on his father's farm near che present limits of Laredo until married, for two years before his marriage running a farm near his father's. When married, he bought the Alexan- der farm four miles north of Laredo, which farm he owned and managed for six years. Selling it he moved to a farm near Dunlap where he lived seven years, then in 1908 bought his present one hundred and sixty acre farm, three miles north of Laredo. Mr. Robertson is a breeder of pure bred Duroc Jersey hogs. Mr. and Mrs. Robertson are members of the Bap- tist Church. Mrs. Robertson was born in Schuy- ler County, 111., Dec. 26, 1872, and came with her parents to Grundy County in 1888. J. M. REAM, son of John and Elizabeth Ream, was born near the Ream school house, Grundy County, Jan. 18, 1869. He was married Feb. 26, HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY 717 1891, to JNIiss Anna Lehew, daughter of U. F. and Sarah Lehew. They have two children; Grace T., born Dec. 24, 1892, and Cecil B., born Sept. 5, 19CO. Mrs. Ream was born in Indiana, August 4, 1868. She is a member of the Baptist Church. jMr. Ream lived on the old home place with his parents until married, tie began farming for him- self on a place near by, now owned by B. T. Ream, his brother. He lived on the Lemley farm a short time, then moved to Hickory County, I\Io., where he remained two years, returning to Grundy and buying his present farm in 1905. It is an excellent farm of one hundred and sixty acres, lying six miles east of Trenton. A. E. ROOKS was born in Grundy County, March 10, 1866. He lives in the southern part of Wilson township, not far from the Livingston County line. Mr. Rooks was married Nov. 16, 1893 to Lenora B. Nichols. They have five child- ren; Thomas L., was born Oct. 19, 1894; Archie E., Sept. 16, 1896; Frederick R., March 4, 1898; Jessie May, April 7, 1902, and Russell, May 9, 1906. Mrs. Rooks was born April 21, 1879. When Mr. Rooks was eight years old, he went with his father to Indiana, where the family stayed four years, returning to St. Clair County, Mo. When he was eighteen, he went to Kansas with his father, remained a year, and spent the next seven years in the states of Arkansas, Missouri, and Io- wa, returning to Grundy County at the age of twentv seven. He has lived here since that time, 718 HISTORY OP GRUNDY COUNTY except for three years. Mr. Rooks does general larming and stock raising and is especially inter- ested in the mule business. He is widely known in this county as a trader. Mr. Rooks is a son of P. J. and Serena (Ishmael) Rooks, both natives of Indiana. He is a Republi- can in politics. J. F. ROSS, son of Henry and Jane Ross, was born in Hancock County, Illinois, July 15, 1848. Both of liis parents died when he was a small boy. PTe now lives on Route six, Trenton, Missouri. He was married Feb. 20, 1871, to Helena J. Pat- ten, who was born near Grundy Center, April 2}^, 185.5. '^f^- ^^-^^ Mrs. Ross have had thirteen children, ten of whom are living. The children are Charles, born FeVj. 22, 1872, who is married and lives in Oklahoma; James A., born April 22, 1873, who lives in CaliTornia ; \Vm. H., born Jan. 29, 1875, who died Feb. 25, 1880: Ernest E., born Jan. 12, 1877. who \o married and lives in Oklahoma; Bartley M., born April 12, 1878, who is married and lives in Trenton: Everett, born April 4, 1880, who is married atid lives in Texas; John F., born Oct. 13, 188 [, who is now living in Texas; Ila M., born April 14, 1884, who died Dec. i, 1901 ; Ima R., born Dec. 23, 1885, who lives at home; Otto A., born June 29, 1887, who died Oct. 2, 1890; Mary and Man ford, twin boy and girl, born Nov. 30. 1890, who live at home, and Eva P., born Dec. 17, 1892. Mr. Rosf lived in Illinois until he was fifteen, HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY 719 then he came to Grundy County with his brother- in-law, James Clawson. He hved with his broth- er-in-law for a short time and with E. L. Winters for a year, when he joined tlie Union army and served until the close of the war. When he re- turned from ihe w.'.r. lie made his home with Mr. W^inters until 1869, when he went to farming for himself. Two years later he was married. Prior to his marriage, he bought a farm near Gait, which he owned for a short time. He leased the farm for a few years, then he and his sister bought a farm where John Shelton now lives. He sold that leased again for a few years, then moved to his present farm which came to his wife from the Pat- ton estate in 1894, where he has since lived. Mr. Ross is a member of the I. O. O. F. lodge. DAN SANDLIN was born in Grundy Coun- ty, Dec. 22, 1874. He was the son of Robert S. and Martha J. Sandlin both of whom live near Mo- dena. Mr. Sandlin now lives on Route 7, Tren- ton. He was married Feb. 17, 1896 to Emma Hubbard, daughter of J. E. Hubbard. They have four children. Mrs. Sandlin was born in Mercer county, near Modena, Jan. 12, 1876. The child- ren are: Osie Mabel, born Aug. 13, 1896; Cleo Loyd, June 10, 1898; James R., Feb. 22, 1901 ; Al- lie M., Oct. 18, 1905. Mr. Sandlin was born and reared on a farm in this county, near Modena and lived with his par- ents in that section until twenty seven years old. He then married and went to farming for himself. 720 HISTORY OP GRUIsDY COUNTY He fanned for four years on his father's place^ then north of i\Jodena for two years, then west of Modena and remained seven years, then leased the Arthur Oyler farm near Parkerton. It consists of 150 acres. He does general farming. HENRY H. SAWYER, son of Jacob and Hannah Sawyer was born in Ohio, Nov. 30, 1840. He was married March 31, 1868 to Miss Macedonia Cochran, daughter of Wm. Cochran. Mrs. Saw- yer was born in Dec. 17, 1850. Her father came to this country in the thirty's. They have nine children living, and three dead. Mary J., born Jan. 6, 1869, riow Mrs. Marion Campbell of Wash- ington; C. C, l]orn April 22, 1871, of Oilman; Edward N., Dec. 29, 1873, in Washington; Semira H., Jan. 29. 1876, married Mock Ellis, died May 3, 1900: Thomas J., born July 23, 1879; Cora J., born March 20, 1881, now Mrs. Dale Walker; Arthur, born May 2^. 1884, died July 5, 1884; Florence Rosella, born July 24, 1885. now Mrs. Guy Russell, of Trenton; Frank, born Feb. 8, 1887, lived a month; Daisy, born Jan. 16, 1889, now Mrs. Roy Daniels; Hugh P.. born Jan. 4, 1892; Norris, May 2. 1894. IN'^r. Sawyer en me to Grundy County with his parents in 1855, settling near what is now the Grundv County Fair Grounds. They bought what was called the Jewett Norris farm, where Mr. Sawyer lived until he married, except during the war. He served in Co. C. i8th. Mo. Volunteers, from Sept. 1861 until the close of the war. He HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY 721 was with Sherman in his march to the sea, and took part in many fierce engagements, including among others, Shiloh, Corinth, Miss., luka and Chattanooga. After the war, Mr. Sawyer re- turned home, married, and for several years ran a saw mill and grist mill near Trenton. He then went to farming northwest of Trenton, owning the farm where the water works now stands. He lived for a time also on a farm twelve miles north of Trenton. He then bought his present farm of a hundred acres, eight miles northeast of Trenton. W. H. SCHLOTTERBACK, son of George W. Schlotterback, who lives with his son, Levi, and Evaline Schlotterback, deceased, was born at Tren- ton, Mo., June 26, 1865. He now lives on Route six, Trenton, Mo. He was married Feb. 5, 1886 to Eva E. Wohler, who died in June 1889. They had no children. On April 24, 1901, he was mar- ried to Martha L. Luke, daughter of Thomas Luke. They have no children. Mr. Schlotterback lived in Trenton until he was twelve years old, when he went with his parents to a farm southeast of Trenton. He lived there for several years. When he was married he went to farming for himself. He has lived on several places in the county. In 1902, he leased the Brown Stewart place and has lived there since. His farm consists of 80 acres and is a well im- proved farm. Mrs. Schlotterback is a native of Grundv Coun- 722 HISTORY OF GRUXDY COUNTY ty, born near the County Farm. She is aniember of the Methodist church. PERRY SCHOOLER, son of Abram and Rachel (King) Schooler, was born in Mercer county, five miles north of Spickard September i8, 1853. He was married to Cornelia Cornwell, August 30, 1874. They have one child, CharlesE., born September 24, 1875. ' Mr. Schooler's father died in 1862, leaving a large family. Mr. Schooler came to Spickard in 1874, and worked in various capacities until 1881, when he became section foreman on the Rock Is- land, working in this capacity for ten years. In 1 89 1 he went into the furniture and undertaking business, which he has followed to the present time. "^Te has built up a big store and a big business. Mr. Schooler is one of the leading Odd Fel lows of the state, and is unexcelled as a drillmaster in that order. He is one of the principal business men of Spickard. In politics he is a Republican. J. H. SHELTON was born in Hardin Coun- ty, 111., Jan. 15, 1840. He lives on Route six, Trenton, Mo. He was married Feb. 27, 1873 to Miss Emma Ross, daughter of Henry Ross. She was born in Scott County, 111., in July, 1845, and came to Grundy County in the fall of 1863. Her parents died when she was small. Mr. and Mrs. Shelton have three children. P. W., born Dec. 29, 1873, lives in Blaine County, Oklahoma; Ber- tha B., born Sept. 27, 1875, now Mrs. J. H. Rains, of Ford County, Kansas; Stella B., born Aug. 4, HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY 723 1878, is now Mrs. Arthur Yambert of this county. When a boy, Mr. Shehon moved with his par- ents to low^a. He ran away from home when fourteen, going to his aunt's in IlHnois not far 'from Galesburg, and has made his own way since that time. At the outbreak of the war, he joined Co. L., 9th in., serving four years and four days. He then went to the home of his father in Iowa, where he stayed a few years, then went to Kansas, and in a short time, in the fah of 1871, came to Grundy County. After his marriage, in the spring of 1873, he moved to his wife's farm, where they have hved since. The farm is located eight miles northeast of Trenton and contains eighty acres of well improved land. HIRAM T. SHERROW, son of Lorenzo D. and Mary E. Sherrow, deceased, was born on the farm where he now lives, eight and a half miles south east of Trenton, June 10, 1854. His par- ents came to this county at a very early date. He was married to Miss Armetta Beckner, daughter of Andrew Beckner, April 26, 1874. Mrs. Sher- row was born Sept. 26, 1858, on a farm adjoining where she now lives. The Beckner family are al- so nmon-i^- the earliest settlers of Grundy County. Mr. Sherrow lived on the farm with his parents until nearly twenty one, when he married and went to farming on the home place. The place then consisted of eighty acres, which he inherited on the death of his parents. He later bought a hundred [IISIORY Cr GRUXDV ^OUXTY RESIDENCE OF HIRAM T SHERROW. and forty acres adjoining. He has a well improv- ed farm and a good home. Mr. and Mrs. Sherrow have seven children; Lizzie Bell, born Sept. 7, 1875, now A/[rs. J. H. Coffman; John H., May 10, 1878, lives near his parents; Clara Ethel, June 12, 1884, now Mrs. G. A. Benson of Alta, Iowa; Vada Esther, Dec. 14, 1886, r' Kansas City; Leroy, born April i, 1892; Lennie E., June 30, 1895; Paul, Dec. 14, 1898, lives at home. GEORGE B. SIMONS was born at Fairfield, la., December 9, 1872, where he attended the public schools and Parsons College. He w^as married to ]\Tamie Lowry, of Trenton, ^Tarch 2^,, 1897. They HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY 725 have two children; Bernard Witten, born July 15, 1899, and Tad A., January 29, 1902. Mr. Simons was in the employ of the railroad running out of Galesburg, 111., for a time after leav- ing Fairfield, and then ran a bottling works establishment at that place. He left there in 1893, coming to Trenton where he bought out Henry Shaffer, and has been in the bottling business since that time, manufacturing all kinds of soft drinks. He is a director in the Far- mers Exchange Bank, and of the coal company, and is interested in other business establishments. SOLOMON SKAGGS, son of Wesley and Elizabeth Skaggs, was born in Davis County, In- diana, October 2nd, 1839. He lives on route two, Trenton. Mr. Skaggs was married Jan. 8, 1874, to Maria E. Baker, daughte.r of Martin Baker. They have one child living and two dead. Frank B., was born Sept. 17, 1883. He was married to Miss Etta Clinginsmith, Dec. 23, 1908, and lives with his father. Wm. B., was born June 20, 1876^ died August 23, 1877; Lula, born Sept. 13, 1880, died Aug. 10, 1888. ]\Ir. Skagg's mother died when he was small, and his father afterwards married again. The family came from Indiana to Grundy County in 1853, settling on the farm now owned by Solomon Sherrow. He lived with his father until grown, when he bought the farm he now owns, within a mile of his father's old farm. Here he kept bach- elor's hall for tv/o years, and was then married. T2G HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY RESIDENCE OF SOLOMON SKAGGS. The farm contains two hundred and forty acres and is well improved. At the outbreak of the war Mr. Skaggs joined Co. B., 23rd., Missouri and served over three years. He was in the battle of Shiloh, and the siege of Atlanta. He was captured at Shiloh and spent six months in prison in Macon, Ga., and Montgomery, Ala., He is a member of the R. P. Carnes Post, G. A. R. at Dunlap. Mr. Skaggs is a stockholder in the Dunlap Bank, and in the Citi- zens Bank, at Laredo. B. F. SMITH is a son of Oliver and Ruth Smith. He was born in Morgan County, Ohio, March 2, 1850, and now lives on route three, Tren- ton, Mo. Mr. Smith was married to Dora Combs, daughter of J. B. Combs, October 6, 1890. HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY 727 RESIDENCE OF B. F. SMITH. He left Ohio with his parents in 1864 and mov- ed to Grnndy County about three miles east of his present home, and lived here until the year after his marriage. He bought his present farm in 1894, and has lived on it since that time. He has a well improved farm of three hundred and twenty acres, and is a breeder of pure bred short horn cattle. Mrs. Smith is a fancier of Buff Rock chickens. Mr. Smith belongs to the I. O. O. F. Mr. and Mrs. Smith are the parents of eight children. Everett Reed, was born May 4, 1892; Juanita Belle, December 8th, 1893, died June 2, 1894; Sarah Ethel and Edith Ruth, November 14, 1895; Herschel William, April 5, 1897; John Oliver, July 7th, 1898; Myrtle Mauree, October 4, 1901 ; and Frankie Adora, August 21st, 1904. 728 HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY DR. EDWARD H. STECKMAN was born at Everett, known as Bloody Run, Penn., Jan. 14, 1854. He left that state with his parents when a boy moving to Brown County, 111., and in 1871 to Grundy County, Mo., where his parents spent the remainder of their lives. Dr. Steckman attended the schools of Illinois and the Trenton High Scl^ool also taking a course in the Warren sburg State Nor- mal. He then taught a short time after which, he took a degree in the College of Dental Sur- gery, Cincinnati, Ohio, graduating in 1880. He then came to Trenton, and has since successfully followed the practice of his profession. He is ?, stockholder in the ice company, owns an interest in the Farmers Exchange Bank, and has seven hun- dred and fifty acres of Grundy County land, lying in three farms, one of which he is personally con- ducting and the other two of which he is leasing. Dr. Steckman was married in 18^6 to ]\Iiss Mary Ella McCarty, of Smyth County, Virginia. She died March 12, 1890. He was again married, Jan. 16, 1894, to Miss Sarah Mitchell, a daughter of a well known Bancroft family. They ha\^e one child, Mary Ella, born Sept. 30, 1899. JOHN S. STEVENS was born in Richland County, Ohio, in 1842. He attended the schools of that state and was for a time a student in Adrian College, Michigan. He lived on a farm until nine- teen, when he enlisted in the Union army, joining Company A., 67th Ohio Inf., in which company he remained until the close of the war. He was with HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY 729 the Union army on the attempt to enter Charleston, and was wounded by the bursting of a shell in the battle of Morris Island. He was with Ben Butler at the investment of Richmond, and took part in the battles around that city and was at Lee's surrender. At the close of the war, Mr. Stevens returned to Ohio and was deputy county recorder, later at- tending college. He came west in 1867, landing at Maysville, Mo., where he lived seventeen years. He was for twelve years a judge of the probate court of De Kalb County, and was engaged in the newspaper business. Later he went to Winston wdiere he engaged in banking for 16 years. During this time he established a bank at Altamont. These banks were later sold, and he was for a time at the head of the Clay County Bank, at Excelsior Springs, I\:^o. In 1903 he came to Tro-ton, and was cashier of the Farmers Exchange Bank, re- tiring on the consolidation of that institution with the American Bank. He was married December 18, 1870, to Miss Bettie E. Burch, who died Aug. 22, 1904. A. C. STORMS is the son of S. H. and Jane Storms. His mother has been dead ten years, his father died in 1908. Mr. A. C. Storms was born in La Porte, Indiana, September 28, i860. He was educated in the public schools. He was married March 10, 1884, to Anna Chester, daughter of Wil- liam Chester. They have five children: Roy L., born February ist, 1885 ; Ray C, born July 23, 1886, now in the jewelry business in Pleasonton, Kans. ; 730 HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY Arthur W, born July 8, 1888; Kate C, born Feb- ruary 12, 1891 ; Walter R., born July 4, 1897. Mr. Storms left Indiana with his parents when six years old and moved to Mercer county, Mo., and lived on a farm for a short time later moving to Ravanna, Mo., where the father engaged in the trade of wagon maker for many years. In 1881 Mr. Storms, jr., began work as clerk in the drug busi- ness of Dr. Shipley of Ravanna, clerking for about five years when he bought a half interest in the drug stock with Dr. Shipley and remained in that business for six years. He then sold out his interest and in 1891 bought a drug store in Laredo, Mo., where he now lives and carries on a drug business. He is a registered pharmacist and handles a line of books, etc., in connection with his drug store. He is an Odd Fellow. C. C. SUMMERS was born in Mercer Coun- ty, Dec. 2, 1862. He lives three and one half miles east of Laredo. He was married Jan. 2y, 1892, to Miss Martha Tuttle. They have three children. Bertha M., was born Nov. 8, 1892; Fred A., was born April 8, 1894; Wilma F., March 29, 1904. Mrs. Summers was born April 8, 1870. Her father, Reuben M. Tuttle, was born Feb. 22, 1848. Her mother, Margaret (Rash) Tuttle was born Nov. 28, 1852. Mr. Summers began farming in Mercer County at the age of twenty one. He lived near Ravanna for several years, coming to Grundy County in 1903 and locating near Hickory. He lived a short HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY 731 time on the Co-op farm south of Trenton, moving in 1904 to the W. A. Merryman farm where he now resides. He is a Repubhcan. S. G. SMITH, son of Wm. C. and Mary Smith, both of whom are dead, was born Aug. 15, 1854, near Watertown, New York. He now hve^ on Route six, Trenton, Mo. He was married March 29, 1874, to Nancy C. Getman, who was also born at Watertown, New York, August 27, 1856. They have had ten child- ren; Wm. C, born June 13, 1875, lives at Seymour, Iowa; Anna M., born Nov. 28, 1880, lives at home; Fred and Frances, twin boy and girl, born July 9, 1883; Fred lives near Trenton and Frances is now Mrs. Omer Kemp of Trenton; Juno M., born March 30, 1866, is now Mrs. J. W. Bernard of Trenton; Wade H., born Aug. 9, 1888, died April 13, 1890; Kite L., born April 8, 1891, lives at home; Philip H., born Aug. 10, 1894; Samuel, born July 23, 1896; Phoebe A., born Feb. 2y, 1900. Mr. Smith was born and reared on a farm in New York. He lived with his parents until he was grown. When he was married, he rented a dairy farm and lived there until 1887, when he moved to Iowa, where he remained ten years en- gaged in farming. In 1897, he came to Grundy County, where he has lived since. He has leased and handled a number of farms in that time. In the spring of 1909, he leased the George W. Frey farm near Grundy Center church. It consists of 732 HISTORY OF GRUiXDY COUNTY 40 acres, well improved. He has also leased other land adjoining. Mr. Smith was township assessor in Jefferson County, New York for some years while he lived there. He is a stalwart Democrat in politics and takes a deep interest in public affairs. RESIDENCE OF J. C. SPERA. J. C. SPERA, son of Wm. Spera who died in 1901, was born in Carlisle, Pennsylvania, October 21, 1869. His mother, Elvina C. Spera, lives in Illinois. Mr. Spera was married Nov. 20, 1888, to Miss Annetta Drager, daughter of Conrad and Charlotte Drager of Penn. Mrs. Spera was born Dec. 15, 1867. Mr. and Mrs. Spera have three children. Guy C, was born May 27, 1890; Ray- mond D., July 2, 1894; William C, Dec. 24, 1897. HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY 733 Mr. Spera lived with his parents on a farm near Carlisle until grown, when he went to work for the Postal Telegraph company as lineman, remain- ing with them but a short time. He then went in- to the employ of the Philadelphia and Redding railroad company and was in their service three years. In 1893, he moved to Decatur, III, near which place he farmed for 1 1 years, then moved to \'ernon County, Mo. He farmed in Vernon Coun- tv until 1908, when he purchased the J. B. Gass farm near Grundy Center church, where he has since lived. The farm consists of 120 acres, and is one of the prettiest little places of the county. Mr. Spera handles Poland China hogs and fine horses and cattle. He is a member of the I. O. O. F. and the Modern Woodmen. The family be- longs to the U. B. church. J. T. SPICKARD, son of George A. and Mary Spickard, was born in Grundy County near where the city of Spickard now is October 14, 1854. The city was named in honor of his father. Mr. Spick- ard was married to Mary C. Shinn, August 12th, 1873. She died March 4, 1907. In April, 1908, he was married to Luella Cooper. Mr. Spickard lived on the old Spickard farm until grown, when he bought a farm for himself. He went to Oklahoma in 1892, remained seven years, returned to Missouri, stayed two years, then went to Colorado where he was in the railroad busi- ness five years. Returning to Missouri in 1907 he farmed for a vear, then took charge of the Farmers 734 HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY J. T. SPICKARD. Telephone Company as local manager, with head- quarters in Spickard. The company has sixteen long lines, and upwards of thirty phones in the city system. Mr. Spickard has six children and eight grand- children. His children are Wm. R., born August 12, 1874, of Myers township; Sylvia T., March 16, 1876, now Mrs. J. W. Larcom of Colorado; Maggie C, December 11, 1877, died March 12, 1879; Chas. G., October 19, 1880, of Grundy County; Ella F., December 21, 1886, now Mrs. Jesse Alumbaugh of Colorado; and George H., born June 17th, il GEORGE SUTTON, son of Mont and Amer- ica Sutton both of whom live near Tindall, was born in Garrett County. Kentucky, June 25, 1877. HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY 735 He now lives near Trenton. He was educated in the public schools. On October 17, 1901, he married Anna Crutch- er, daughter of T. B. Crutcher. She was born in Kentucky, Sept. 28, 1879. They have three child- ren ; Forest T., born May 27, 1902; Denver R., July 15, 1903; and Oscar F., Sept. 13, 1905. ^:r. Sutton came to Grundy County with his parents when about nine years of age. They set- tled near Tindall, where his father l^ought a farm. He lived there with his father until grown and then started farming for himself. He first boueht a farm near Grundv Center where he lived three years, and then sold that and bought his pres- ent farm in 1905, where he has lived since. He does general farming and stock raising. He be- longs to the Odd Fellows lodge and is a Republi- can in politics. L. M. TARTER is the son of F. M. and Mary Tarter. His father lives in Vernon County,his mother died in 1879. He was born at Farming- ton, Til., Sept. 16, 1878. He graduated at the Trenton High School in 1900, and then attended the I\Tissouri University, taking courses in agricul- ture and electrical engineering Mr. Tarter came to Missouri with his father when very small. They lived for a time near Farmersville, and for a time at Chillicothe. He worked on a farm, and at whatever work he could get, earning his way through school. For four years, he made his home with Dr. R. C. Norton. 7:jt; HISTORY OF GRUXDY COUNTY RESIDENCE OF L. M. TARTER. After graduating in tl^e Trenton High School, he taught for several terms, then attended the univer- sity, working his way through that institution. December 14, 1904, during his senior year at the university, he married Miss J. Blanche Clark, the daughter of George W. Clark. When he had fin- ished school, ^Ir. Tarter lived on his father in- law's place for three years, then bought his present farm and moved thereon, building a beautiful home. Both he and Mrs. Tarter belong to the Methodist church. They have one son, Rodney Clark Tarter, born June 2y. 1909. DAVID THOMPSON, is a son of Joseph and IMarv Thompson. His father was one of the old citizens and early settlers. i\Ir. Thompson was born in Harrison countv, June 20, i.*^48. He was HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY 73r RESIDENCE OF DAVID THOMPSON. ediicnted in the public schools of that day, a log cabin with puncheon seats. Mr. Thompson was married to Sarah A. Hume, daughter of Len B. Hume, an old settler of Clark county. Mrs. Thomp- son was born in Ripley county, Indiana, June 29, 1849, ^^'^^^ came to Missouri when two years old, settling in Clark county. Mr. Thompson moved with his parents to Iowa in 1855, lived there one year, then came to Clark county, Mo., where his father bought unimproved land and hewed out the logs to build his own house. Deer were plentiful and neighbors scarce. Mr. Thompson lived at home with his parents till married then he and his brother, Dennis, went to Kansas where they bought land. He returrred to Clark county after a few 73S HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY monLiis and farmed with his father one year then started west and stopped in Grundy county, buying land near Lindley, J\Io. There he remained for five years. He sold this farm and bought the Stephenson farm, sold this farm and went into the grocery business in Trenton, Mo. The next year fat bought the farm he now li\'es on which consists tof one hundred and sixty acres of land three and "bhe-half miles northeast of Trenton. He handles shorthorn cattle and fine hogs. j\Ir. Thompson enrolled in the Missouri Mili- tia, Co. K, 69th Regiment, Oct. 1864, and remained in the service five months, carrying a musket and seeing real service under Capt. Hahn and Col. Howell. Mr. and Mrs. Thompson have seven children, one having died in infancy. They are : Cora Etta, born Feb. 11, 1870, now^ Mrs. Chas. Trump; Al- bert B., Feb. 10, 1872, lives east of Trenton; David D., Jan. 21, 1876, now in Salt Lake City, Utah; Susan J., June 19, 1878, now at home; Chas. O., July 2/. 1880, now in Webb City; Maggie R., July 29, 1882, now Mrs. W. H. Beneking of near Tren- ton; John A. L., Nov. 18, 1884, now in Lincoln, Neb. ' ORA C. TOLSON is a son of A. C. and A- manda (Owen) Tolson, both native Missourians. His father was born near Alpha, Oct. 22, 1852; liis mother was born April 5, 1856. ^Ir. Tolson v/as born at Alpha, May 20, 1885. He lives two and three fourths miles southeast of Laredo. He was married April 10, 1907 to Miss Roxie Ann HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY 739 JMabel McKay. They have no children. Mrs. Tolson was born May 25, 1891. She is a daught- er of J. F. and Magnettie (Rule) ^Vlc Kay. Her parents were born in Indiana. Mr. Tolson, after completing the common school course, entered the Gem City Business College at Quincy, 111., in the spring of igoi and there com- pleted a Inisiness course, a course in typewriting and stenography. He then went to Kansas City where for a time, he worked as locomotive fireman for the C. and A. Railroad. Returning to Laredo, he clerked a year for the Laredo Mercantile com- pany. In 1907, he moved to the farm and has since been engaged in farming and stock-raising, Mr. Tolson is of a pioneer family. His grand- father, James Tolson, was a commissioner of jus- tice, appointed by Sterling Price in 1854. He is a member of the A. F. and A. M. and I. O. O. F. lodees. '^ts' Dr. K. W. TRAVIS, of Spickards, was born in Harrison County, June 4, 1852. After taking a general course in Grand River College, he graduat- ed in the St. Louis American Medical College, Eclec- tic, in 1878, after which he located at Spickards and has since that time practiced his profession in that territory, with the exception of four years, from 1880 to 1884, at Modena, Mo., and fourteen month^ at Wableu, Mo., from which he returned in August, 1908, and bought the drug store owned by the Dr. Cash estate. He now manages the drug store in addition to his medical practice. 740 HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY Dr. Travis was married to Dollie Renfro, daughter of Charlton Renfro, at Spickard, March 20, 1894. They have one child, Carohne, born March 16, 1896. FR. H. B. TIERNEY J. MILO TURNER, son of James D., and Mary Turner, was born at Mt. Ayr, la., April 30, 1884. He left Mt. Ayr when fourteen years old, when he worked in hotels at Fort Madison, Ottumwa and Keokuk, successively, in various capacities from dishwasher up to chef. In April, 1904, he went on the road for the International Correspondence Schools and was appointed assistant superintendent of the western Illinois division. In July, 1904, he went to thcvMonroe Hotel, Joliet, 111., as night clerk, HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY 741 and was soon afterwards made day clerk, and stay- ed there until November i, 1907. Mr. Turner took charge of the new Harber Hotel at its opening, January 18, 1909. This is a thoroughly modern hotel in every respect, with telephone, bath, and every modern convenience for individual rooms, and is one of the handsomest buildings in the city of Trenton. W. C. URTON, son of Alfred and Ann Urton, was born in Adams County, 111., June i, 1858. He was married to Maggie A. Evans, daughter of Wm. Evans, of an old Grundy County family, June 26, 1 88 1. Mr. Urton came with his parents to Grundy County in 1866, settling on "Illinois Ridge" where they lived until the death of the father in 1888. His mother sold the farm three years later, and moved to Laredo. She now makes her home with her daughter, Mrs. Welty. Mr. Urton quit farming in 1885, moving to Trenton, where he was in the mercantile business three years. He then came to Laredo and went into the general merchandise business. He was in part- nership with W. M. Robertson for a little more than three years, when he bought out Mr. Robertson's interest and has since been proprietor of the store. Mr. Urton's store is one of the largest in the county outside of Trenton, and does a large business. He is a member of the Masonic lodge and of the Christian church. 742 HISTORY OF GRUXDY COUNTY RESIDENCE OF JEROME VVESTFALL. JEROME WESTFALL was born February 3, 186^, in Clarence, la. He is a son of David and Elizalieth W'estfall. He was married September 20, 1893, to Miss Ella M. Dewell, daughter of Nathaniel Dewell. They have one child, Alice M., born March 3, 1902; another child died in infancy. Mr. Westfall lived on an Iowa farm until twenty-one years old. He then went to Miles City, IMontana, going into the employ of the Northern Pacific. After two years service for that company he went into the mercantile business in Miles City, in which business he is still interested. Mr. West- fall came to Grundy County in 1905 and bought a farm of one hundred and sixty acres near Tren- ton. This farm is thoroughly modern with electric HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY 743 lights and every other modern convenience. He belono-s to the K. of P. lodge. C. B. WILLIAAIS, son of J. R. and Mary R. Williams, of this county, was born in Morgan Comity, Ohio, Aug. 4, 1S75. He lives on route two, Trenton, ^lo. Mr. W^illiams was married Sept. 13, 1897, to ^liss Mary A. Coit, daughter of Roy B. Coit, deceased. They have two children, Carl D., born Sept. 8, 1898, and Austin B., born Nov. 7, 1903. Mrs. Williams was born in Por- tage County, Ohio, July 27, 1875, coming to Mis- souri with her ]:)arents in 1882. ]\Ir. Williams hved on an Ohio farm until 1892, \\-hen he came with his parents to Grundy County. They settled near Farmersville, where they lived three years, then l^.ought the farm now owned by Jerome Westfall. ^Ir. Williams, Sr., then bought a farm near the Rural Dale school house, and later the farm now owned by Lewis Robertson, selling it to :\lr. Robertson in 1908. Mr. Williams went to farming for himself while his father lived on the W^estfall ])lace, renting at first the farm now ownied bv B. F. Ford, then moving to the farm he now owns. A part of this farm came to Mrs. Williams from her father, her hus1)and buying land adjacent. In 1904, he sold the farm and returned to his old home in Ohio, where he remained three years, com- ing back to the same farm in 1907, and afterwards buying adjoining land. Both \\r. and Airs. Will- iams are meml:ers of the Baptist Church. 744 HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY BARTON UTTERBACK'S STORE. BRIMSON. MO. BARTON UTTERBACK was born in Pull- man County, Indiana, Oct. 22, 1870. He was the son of John and Rachel Ellen Utterhack. He now lives at Brinison. He was educated in the district schools and Central Normal College at Danville, Indiana. Mr. Utterback was married March 17, 1891 to Emma Maxwell, daughter of James Maxwell of Harrison County. They have three children; Mar- mon M., seven years old; \^ernon E., six years old, and Ellen Marie, three years old. His mother died in 1873, when he was a small boy and left him with relatives. In 1879 he moved to Kentucky with his father, going from there to 111., on a farm in 1880. In 1898 he moved to Har- rison County, Mo., where he now owns an 80 acre farm. About 1905 he moved to Brimson and pur- chased an interest in the Brimson Mercantile Co., HISTORY OP GRUNDY CaUNTY 745 continuing" in that firm until the spring of 1906. He then bought the hardware interest of the Mer- cantile Co., and continued alone for a year, when he formed a partnership with Gabriel Jones and B. C. Stevens in the general mercantile line, Mr. Stevens retiring Jan. i, 1909, the store then becoming Ut- terback & Jones. The store has a floor space of 80 X 50 feet, besides a basement under the entire building. It carries a general stock of dry goods, shoes, groceries, salt and proprietary medicines. Mr. Utterback is a Democrat. FRANK VENCILL, cashier of the Tindall bank, is a son of H. H. and Sarah (Winters) Ven- cill. of Gait. He was born near Gait, July 23, 1875. Mr. Vencill attended the Kirksville Normal, and took a business course. He was married to Mattie Hosom, of near Tindall, November 21, 1901. They have one child. Cor win, born June 6, 1906. Both Mr. and Mrs. Vencill are of prominent Grundy County families. Mr. Vencill was born and raised on a farm. When nineteen years old he went into the Cook & Vencill Bank at Gait with his brother, G. E. Ven- cill. On the organization of the bank at Gilman, in 1897, he was made cashier, then sold out his inter- est in the bank and returned to the farm. After four years spent in farming, Mr. \^encill w^ent back to the banking business, becoming cashier of the Tindall Bank upon its organization. His bank is in the midst of a prosperous farming community and he has built up a prosperous business. z > z < O z w Q W HISTORY OF GRUXDY COUNTY 747 ■ j. R. WAGNER, son of John and Nancy Wag- ner, both of wlioni h\'e near Spickard, was l)()rn in Tazewell Connty, Virginia. He now^ resides on Route six, Trenton, }\\o. On Oct. 6, 1901, he was married to Miss Amy Long", daughter of Mark Long. Mrs. Wagner was born at Trenton. They have tw^o children ; ( )rville and Opal. ^Ir. Wagner came to Grundy County with hi^ parents when he was two years old and settled near Spickard where his parents still live. He lived at home and hel])ed run the farm until he was grown and married, then went to farming for himself. He farmed on his father's place two years, then at the "Forks" three years. He then went to New ^lexi- co where he railroaded inr a year. Returning ta Grundy County he rented the Ballinger farm near Grundy Center. The farm consists of 136 acres and belongs tn ]. W. Ballinger. O. C. W^\GNER, son of J. A. and Nancy Wag- ner, both of whom live near Spickard, was born in Tazewell County, Virginia Oct. 9, 1876. He now lives on Route six, Trenton. Mr. W^agner was mar- ried Dec. 21, 1904 to Miss Mary Lovell, daughter of J. M. Lovell. She was born near ^lelbourne Sept. 7, i(S84. They have two children; Anna May, born Jan. 22, 1906, and Charles Monroe, born Jan. 25, 1908. Mr. W'agner came to Grundy County w'hen about seven years of age and settled on a farm near Spick- ard where his father purchased a farm and where 748 HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY his parents still live. Mr. Wagner lived there un- til he was twenty two years old, when he left home and worked out for several years. He then mar- ried and went to farming for himself. He leased the Biggs place for several years, then the Lemley place four years, then bought his present farm known as the Ballinger farm, three miles northeast of Grundv Center church and six miles east of Tin- dall in Lincoln township. He does general farming and has a well improved farm of no acres. NANC^' J. WARREN was born in Pulaski County, Kentucky. Feb. 20, 1843. Her parents were John Kilburn, born in Kentuck}' in 1799 and died Jan. 1S74, and Nancy (Griffin ) Kilburn. Mrs. A\'arren now lives three miles southwest of Laredo. She was educated in the juiblic schools of Kentucky. She was married Sept. 9. 185S to Fountain F. War- ren, l)orn Dec. i, 1831. He was the son of William \W'irren of Kentucky and Elizabeth (Thompson) ^^'arren of Kentucky. They had twelve children ; Elizabeth Hern, born Sept. 4, 1859; John H. and \¥m L..born May 26, 1862; Joseph M., born March 16, 1865; Andrew H., born Nov. 10, 1868; Melissa E., born Jan. 17, 1871 ; Laura J., born Feb. 24. 1874; Montgomery, born June 16, 1876; Ida May, born May 10, 1879; Chas. E., born Jan. i, 1882; Milton G., born Nov. 10, 1884, and Nova E., born June 4, 1898. Mr. Warren died Aug. 5, 1908. Mr. and Mrs. W^arren were married when quite young near Mrs. Warren's home where she now lives, but as soon HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY 749 as they could build their little one roomed house, they moved to their new home, where they lived ev- er since, and Mrs. Warren now lives on that farm Mr. Warren was one of the best stock men and his boys are to day interested in stock. In politics the family favors the Democratic party. Mrs. War- ren is a member of the Baptist church. RESIDENCE OF J. W. WILSON JOHN W. WILSON, son of J. B. and Corena Wilson, was born in Mercer County, September 7, i860. He was married September 6, 1889, to Miss Hilda Mueller, daughter of Jacob M. Pueller, of near Tindall. Mr. Wilson taught for several years, up to 1881, in which year-he was elected township assessor <5L) HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY of Franklin township, and served twelve years. He became cashier of the liank of Spickardsville in 1889, and remained there until 1894 when he went into the mercantile business as senior partner in the firm of J. \\\ Wilson Company, and he re- mained here until 1901 when he sold out and went to Houston, Texas. He remained there two years, and still holds property there. In 1904 Mr. Wil- son was elected cashier of the Farmers and Mer- clrnits Bank, which position he now holds. He is a Repul lic-in and ])rominent in luisiness circles of Spickard. MRS. AMY \\^YATT, who now resides at Gait, Mo., w'as born in Marion township, Grundy County, Feb. 22, 1864. She vras married Aug. 3, 1879 to Joseph N. Buckingham. His father was Philo and his moth- er Imogene Buckingham. They had three child- ren. Anna I. (Buckingham) Burditt, born July 6, 1881 ; Juha A., ATay 26, 1884, died Nov. i, 1890; and Jennie (Buckingham) Allen, born April 4, 1890. ]^'^rs. Wyatt's parents were J. B. Cnuch, born in Pennsylvania, Oct. 9, 181 5, died Nov. 18, 1 87 1, and Anna (Wheeler) Couch, born in \"ir- ginia, March 12, 1839. Mr. Buckingham died in 1898. She married Benjamin F. Wyatt, Nov. 2^, 1899, a son of Wm. and Rachel (Thompson) Wyatt. l^^'rs. Wyatt is from one of the pioneer families. Mr. Wvatt was one of the first school teachers of the cnrntA- -nd pt the time of the breakhi'^: out of HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY 751 the war he enlisted in the 2t, I\1o., Co. C, Vol., Inf., He went in as a private and was promoted to the First Lieutenancy. At the close of the war he came back to Grundy and followed the plastering trade until 1866, then was deputy county clerk un- der R. P. Carnes. He then returned to his trade and followed it to the time of his death at Gait, in June, the 25th, 190S. Mrs. XA^'att is a member of the Christian Church. With the exception of seven months spent in Cali- fornia, she has always lived within a day's drive of her birthplace. THOMAS S. WILSON, a son of J. B. and Corena Wilson, was born in Grundy County, July 25, 1867. He w^as married June 20, 1895, to IMiss Clara Packer, daughter of H. W. Packer. They have no children. Mr. Wilson lived on the farm until twenty- seven years old, when he came to Spickard and went into the poultry and produce business which he followed for fifteen years without intermission. He has now leased the business but still owns it. Mr. Wihon is also owner of the Spickard mills and deals extensively in grain, feed, seed, flour and meal. Mr. Wilson is one of Spickard's leading business men and has made very valuable properties out of both the mill and poultry plant. W. T. WILSON is the son of Jackson and Lou Emma Wilson, who came here at an early date. His father died five years ago, his mother 752 HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY in 1890. He was born in Grundy County, Oct. 2, 1856, and lives on route one, Trenton. He was married Nov. 19, 1879 to Janie Dilley. They have three children; Augusta, born Nov. 3, 1883; now Mrs. D. M. May, of El Reno, Okla.,; C. E., born ]\lay 30, 1885, now^ in Keith County, Kansas; Emma, born Aug. 12, 1893. Mr. Wilson lived in Trenton until twelve years old, then lived on a farm until grown and married, when he went to 'farming for himself. He bought his present farm in 1898, and has lived there since that time. It consists of eio"hty acres of well im- proved land, and was entered ]}y 3*1 rs. W'lison's father, Jacob Dilley. ]Mr. Wilson belongs to the I. O. O. F. lodge. For a number of years he was justice of the peace and a member of the township board for Lincoln township. He and Mrs. Wilson are members of the Christian Church. F. L. W^OGD was born in Grant County, In- diana, May 27, 1869. He is a son ot W. M. and Melinda Wood. He is not mnrried. Mr. Wood is a Republican. He w^as elected clerk and assessor of Wilson township in 1891 and served in that office for sixteen years. He then retired to the farm, the Snowflake poultry farm, three and a half miles southeast of Laredo. Mr. Wood is a member of the Masonic lodge of Laredo. He takes an active interest in public affairs and is one of the party leaders of hi,s township. HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY 753 HOWARD B. ASHER, son of Solomon and Elizabeth Asher, was born in Ohio, March 3, 1852. In 1869 he came with his parents to Grundy County, where his father bought the farm near Honey Creek Chapel on which Mr. Asher now lives. Three years later his father bought a hardware store in Trenton, and moved to Trenton to assist in running it. Later he and his brother, Milton, engaged in the hard- ware business, and he learned the tinner's trade. He was in the hardware business for a time with T. A. Murphy, their store being burned. He was in the poultr}^ business for a time, and was for five years engineer at Cook's mill. In 1906 he moved to the old home place, where he has since lived. It consists of 120 acres of well improved land. Mr. Asher was married Dec. 24, 1875, to Miss Eliza- beth Humphrey, daughter of Benjamin Humphrey. They have one son, Harry L. Asher, born April 18, 1884, now salesman and advertising manager for the Farmers Store. WM. H. BABB is a son of James W. and Alice Babb. His father came from Tennessee, his mother from Kentucky. He was born in Grundy County, April 21, 1867. He was married to Miss Jennie Browning, daughter of Captain John M. Browning, Dec. 28, 1887. They have two chil- dren; Garnett, born May 11, 1889, and Charles E., Jan. 15, 1890. Mrs. Babb was born Feb. 7, 1869. Mr. Babb lived on a farm northeast of Tren- ton until he was twelve years old, when he moved with his parents to Trenton. He lived here five HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY 755 years, then went to Fontell, Iowa. From here he went to Repubhcan City and Norton City, Neb- raska, successively, then returned to Grundy Coun- ty where he remained a short time. He then went to CaHfornia, remaining only a short time. On his return he went to farming near Spickard where he remained five years, then to near Princeton, re- W. H. ]!ABB maining three years, then back to a farm east of Spickard. Later he moved to Trenton when he went into the real estate business, then into tlie wholesale beer and whiskey business. In the spring of 1909 he disposed of his wholesale business and returned to the real estate business, with head quarters at Kansas City, where he moved with his iamily later. 756 HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY R. M. BAKER was born on the old Baker homestead in Grundy County, twelve and a half miles north of Trenton, May 19, 1866. He lived there with his parents until 1886, when they moved to Livingston County, near Chillicothe, remaining' there until 1900. His father died while there. His mother lives in Clark County. Mr. Baker married in 1896, and went to farming for himself. He lived in Livingston County four years after his marriage, RESIDENCE OF J. 1'.. HK'OOKS then returned to Grundy County and bought the Henry Witten place of 230 acres five miles north- west of Trenton. There he has lived since. Mr. Baker was married Dec. 27, 1896, to Miss Willa Peery, daughter of Reece Peery and sister of the late Henry Peery. Mrs. Baker is also a na- tive of this county and was born on the old Peery HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY 757 place Oct. 27, 1866. They have no children. Both Mr. and Mrs. Baker are members of pioneer fam- ilies of Grundy County. J. C. BARR. LAREDO, MO. T. H. BEACOM, son of J. and M. Beacom, was born in Jones County, Iowa, November 3; 1866. Married January 8, 1888, to Nora F. Powers. They have three children: Mary Irene, born May 27, 1890, Harold F., January 29, 1892, and Thomas H., Jr. born July 20, 1900. Mr. Beacom was born on a farm and lived there until fourteen years of age. He beg-?n rail- roading when sixteen and has held the following positions : call boy, time keeper, foreman of freight house platform, bill clerk, ticket clerk, pa^sens^er brakeman, train baggageman, freight brakeii'ian, 758 HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY conductor, foreman of gravel pit, yardniaster, gen- eral yardmaster, trainmaster and superintendent. He came to Trenton September, 1907, as Superin- tendent of the Missouri Division of the Rock Is- land. As the above indicates, he began his railroad career at the bottom of the ladder and worked his way upward by his own efforts, and in his own words, he attained his present position because he- never looked at the clock and made it a point to give service that would merit recognition. '•OUR STORE." DUNLAP, MO. (H. W.Gallatin, Pmp. RICHARD E. BOYCE, a son of Isaac and Dorinda (Peery) Boyce, was born in Daviess Coun- ty, in Nov. 1847. He came to Grundy County when ten years old and lived in Harrison township. When he was sixteen he began teaching, and taught in Grundy and Mercer Counties until 1867. He also took a course in Grand River College. Mr. Boyce clerked in W. W. Brook's store in Trenton for about. HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY 759 a year, then with other firms. He was elected sheriff in 1872 and served two terms. In 1876 he was elected comity treasurer. He was in the mercantile business for many years, establishing the firm R. E. Boyce & Co., in 1879. The store burned about the year 1881 following which Mr. Boyce bought a farm tw^o miles east of Trenton. He formed a partnership with B. C. Nichols and James Fulker- son in 1885, and entered the mercantile business again. He was with this firm about twelve years, after which he was in the grocery business about seven years. In 1908 Mr. Boyce entered the real estate business in partnership with C. C. Keith. In 1904 Mr. Boyce w^as elected county judge. He was married June 11, 1871, to Miss Euphemia Leeper, w^ho died March 5, 1905. Six children were born to them. Dorinda P., born May 8, 1872, died Nov. 11, 1905; Leeper E., July 1, 1874; Martha' F., Oct. 30, 1876; Olive E., Jan. 6, 1882, now Mrs. Verne Gilluly; Grace M., April 4, 1884, now Mrs. C. R. Bowman; a son born Aug. 19, 1898, died in infancy. W. H. BREWER, one of Grundy County's prominent citizens, was born in Illinois, August 31, 1850. He came with his parents to Mercer County when a small boy, and lived in that county for a considerable time, farming, and was in the mercantile business at Princeton for a short time. In 1873 he came to Grundy County settling near Spickard where for a number of years he farmed and fed cattle. He still owns a large farm in that 760 HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY locality, and is an extensive stock dealer. Later he engaged in the mercantile business at Spickard, forming a partnership with A. Rathschild, which partnership lasted but about a year. Mr. Brewer was for fifteen years in partnership with the late J. B. Carnes in the live stock business, buying in all parts of the country. He assisted in the organi- zation of the Bank of Spickard and was one of its directors. Selling his interest in that institution RESIDENCE OF W. H. BREWER, SPICKARD. MO. in 1903 he assisted in the organization of the Farm- ers and Merchants Bank, with E. A. Cook, P. G. Wild and others, and was its first president, having held that position continuously since that time. Mr. Brewer was married to Miss Sarah Corn- well about the year 1879. She died about the year 1888, leaving two children: Nellie, born Dec. 20, HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY 761 1880, now Mrs. Albert Cook; Wm. J., Feb. 23, 1882. Mr. Brewer married Miss Cora Cornwell in 1892. They have one child, Clifford, born July 28, 1893. W. H. BREWER, SPICKARD, MO. DR. T. J. COLLINS was born in Grundy County, on the old home place about seven miles northeast- of Trenton, Feb. 13, 1879, and is a son of John H. and Rhoda Collins. He lived there with his parents until grown and in the meantime at- tended the public schools. He then took a course in the Kirksville State Normal. Later he attended the American School of Osteopathy at that place, graduating in 1901. While attending this school Dr. Collins met Miss Grace Park, daughter of At- torney Joseph Park, of La Plata. Soon after grad- uation and on Oct. 2, 1901 they were married and Dr. Collins began practicing at La Plata where he 762 HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY remained four years. He then returned to Grundy County and practiced his profession in Trenton for a few months. He gave up his profession on ac- count of his health and went into the farming and stock buying business until Jan. 1, 1909 when he bought the implement and grain business of W. A. McVay. He has since added much to the stock and is building up a splendid trade. Dr. and Mrs. Collins have three children, two of whom are dead. T. J. Jr. was born Oct. 5, 1902; Margaret L., Feb. 13, 1904, died May 19, 1908; Joseph P., June 23, 1906, died July 23, 1907. Both Dr. and Mrs. Collins are devoted mem- bers of the Christian church. I. H. CRAIN, son of Louis and Hannah Crain, was born in Cass County, Ind., Jan. 19, 1842. He now lives on Route 1, Trenton. He was married to Louella Ford, Aug. 7, 1870, who died five years later, leaving two children. March 2, 1880, he was married to Mattie W. Lyford. By this marriage six children were born. Mr. Crain lived in Indiana until the outbreak of the war, when he joined Company E. 29th Indi- ana Volunteer infantry, and served until after the battle of Shiloh when he was discharged an account of sickness. He then went into the civil department of the government and handled supplies for the army until the close of the war. He then returned to Indiana for a short time, coming to Utica, Mis- souri, in 1866. He lived there until 1892 and moved to Daviess County coming to Grundy in 1900. Mr. HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY 763 Grain worked at the carpenter trade until 1875. He was in the mercantile business in Livingston and Daviess Counties, trading a stock of goods in Daviess for the Jeff Lowry farm. He lived on the farm until 1903, then in Trenton until 1905, when he bought his present farm. He owns 614 acres in Grundy and 170 in Daviess Go. Mr. Grain is a breeder of Aberdeen Angus cattle and Poland Ghina RESIDENCE OF I. H. CKAIN hogs, and raises some very fine animals. He is a member of the Masonic lodge. Mrs. Grain belongs to the Methodist church. The children by his first wife were Isaac H., born Jan. 10, 1881, lives at Texarke, Mo.; Jesse L., Feb. 26, 1883, at Joplin; Mary A., Jan. 5, 1885, died Nov. 24,' 1906. The children by his second wife are J. Frank, born Jan. 25, 1887; Ernest L., ^64 HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY March 3, 1889; Arthur B., April 25, 1891 lives at Joplin. S. B. CURRY, son of John and Frances (Moore) Curry, was born near Richmond, Iowa, Feb. 19, 1863. He lived at home on the farm until he was fifteen years of age when he started out for MAY TELL, TRIAL 2:18, PROPERTY OF S. B. CURRY himself. He worked for a few years at a training stable for race horses, then went to work for the Milwaukee railroad. He worked in Iowa as fire- man, brakeman, conductor and yardmaster until 1889 when he came to Missouri and lived at Chilli- cothe until 1894. He came to Trenton in 1894 and had charge of the Rock Island yards until 1904 when he quit railroading and went into business. He was married April 15, 1884 to Miss Maude S. Price, daughter of Dr. A. C. Price. They have HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY 765 three children. Dorothy L. was born Nov. 5, 1885 now Mrs. Samuel Karnes, of Burlington, Iowa; James P., April 1, 1888, recently married Miss Beulah Oyler; Imogene, Nov. 26, 1891 at home. Mr. Curry has always been interested in fine horses and has owned some of the best animals in America. He now owns Col. Felter, colt trotter trial 2:35; May Tell, brown mare, 2:15 1-4 of the line of Hamburg Belle; 2:01 1-4; Lady Yates, 2:21 3-4. RESIDENCE OF W. D. GOSE HIRAM URIAH DALE is of German and Irish descent, and was born in New Lexington, Ohio, April 8, 1839. He moved with his parents to a farm in Indiana in 1848, and there learned the brick mason's trade. In 1858 he joined the Chris- tian church of Loganport, Ind., and the same year 766 HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY began to prepare himself for the ministry, entering" the Indiana Normal School. He entered the Elec- tric Institute at Hiram, Ohio, in 1863 where he formed the acquaintance of H. W. Everest who oc- cupied the president's chair, while the president. Garfield, was in the war. When Everest was called to the presidency of Eureka College in 1864 Mr. Dale went there, where he graduated in 1868, after- wards receiving the A. M. degree from that insti- tution. On his graduation he took the pastorate of a church in Massachusetts, and came from there to Trenton in 1870, where he preached seven years, reorganizing the church which had been disinte- grated by the war. Mr. Dale was married Oct. 9, 1873 to Miss Leona Boggs, of Eureka, 111. She died Oct. 31, 1902. Of this union six children were born: Edna, now a missionary in China ; Ruby, a teacher of music, in Chicago; Lois, now Mrs, E. H, Swander, of South Dakota; Mary, now Mrs. F. Hooker Groom, whose husband is pastor of the Christian church in Tacoma, Wash. D. P. is now in the uni- versity at Madison, Wis. The youngest died at the age of four. Mr. Dale has taught school; he was financial secretary for Drake University three years and Iowa state secretary of the National Benevolent Association for the Christian church for seven years. Rev. Dale has been about fifty years in the ministry, and is still in active service. He was mar- HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY 767 ried Feb. 14, 1906, to Mrs. Mary Roweth, of Dun- Zap, where he now resides and preaches for his home church and for the church at Tindall. RESIDENCE AND BAKN OF GEORGE LENZ DR. E. A. DUFFY, a son of B. F. and Eliza- beth (Kuhn) Duffy, was born in Quincy, 111., Oct. 18, 1878. His father was for many years connected with the Burlington railroad in various official ca- pacities and lived in a number of places during that time. Dr. Duffy left home while young, and went to reading medicine with Dr. Powell, a noted sur- geon of Albia, Iowa, and also attended the Albia high school. He then attended the Marion Sims Medical College at St. Louis, graduating in 1899. He took the examination before the Iowa state board in 1898, and was the youngest man ever li- 768 HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY censed by that board to practice medicine, but he did not take up practice until after his graduation a year later. He is also a graduate of the Chicago Post Graduate Hospital and a registered pharma- cist. Dr. Duffy practiced in Iowa until 1907 when he came to Trenton. He is especially interested in microscopical work and bacteriology. He was married April 6, 1900, to Miss Ollie Moore, daugh- ter of O. A. Moore, of Green Castle, Mo. They have two children: Margaret, born Feb. 1, 1903 and Oliver, Aug. 15, 1906. Dr. Dufify devotes his entire time to his profession, and has built up an extensive practice. He was for a time associated with his brother in the drug business at Green Cas- tle. FRANK M. FISHER, one of the best known farmers and stock men in the countv, was born RESIDENCE OF F. M. FISHER HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY 769 in Warren County, 111-, Oct. 1, 1855, and is a son of Moses and Margaret (Chinn) Fisher. He came with his parents to Grundy County in 1856 and they settled near what is now the Four Corners, his father purchasing the farm Mr. Fisher now owns. He remained at home with his parents until grown when he started out for himself, farmed a few years, but later gave most of his time to stock buying in which he was very successful. He was live stock agent for the O. K. railroad for several years, but finally gave that up so that he might devote his entire time to his own business interests. In 1893 he purchased the old home place and married the latter part of the year. He has lived there con- tinuously since that time managing his farm, but still devotes much of his time to buying and ship- ing stock. His farm consists of 240 acres. He does general farming and handles all kind of high grade stock. Mr. Fisher w^as married Dec. 27, 1893 to Mrs. Anna Walker, widow of Lon Walker. They have one child, Lillian, born Feb. 20, 1895. CALEY F. FLEMING was born in Highland County, Ohio, Aug. 8, 1852. He is a son of Robert and Christina (Caley) Fleming. Mr. Fleming moved with his parents to Richland County, 111., when small, and lived on a farm in that county un- til about grown. He then went to Olney, 111., where he was employed in a large flouring mill, learning the miller's trade. He worked here from 1872 until 1889, when he came to Trenton and went into the milling business buying an interest in the city mills 770 HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY with his brother, Henry Fleming, and Isaac Jen- nings. They sold out in 1905 and he took charge of the C. H. Cook mill, with which he has remained since, during its several changes of ownership. Mr. Fleming was married June 19, 1878, to Miss Mary St. John, daughter of M. M. St. John. They have one child, Robert Bain, born June 24th, 1879. He is now married, and is employed in the post office in Trenton. Mr. Fleming is a Republican. He is now and has been for many years a member of the board of education. He is a member of the Methodist church and of the M. W. A. and the K. of P. orders. T. B. FORD T. B. FORD, son of J. B. and Sarah Ford, was born and grew to manhood on the old Ford homestead in Myers township, Grundy County. HISTORY OF GRUxNDY COUNTY 771 He attended the district schools, Grand River Col- lege, Humphreys College, afterwards graduating at the Warrensburg state normal, and attending the Missouri state university, the University of Chic- ago, and Harvard University. He is now taking post graduate work in Harvard. Since early manhood Mr. Ford has devoted his life to teaching. Beginning with the country schools in his neighborhood, he went to Spickard as principal, then to a number of cities in this state, as Superintendent, among them being New London, Marionville, Vandalia, Gallatin, and Trenton, suc- cessively. His last work in teaching was as head of the department of English in the Maryville state normal. Mr. Ford was married to Miss Elbe Alford, of Ralls County. They have two children, Law- rence and Everett. W. O. GARVIN was born in Rogersville, Ken- tucky, Nov. 9, 1853. He came to Missouri with his parents when about five years old, stopping at Chillicothe a short time then coming to Grundy County. He lived on a farm near Edinburg until about grown, and attended Grand River College. On finishing school he went to farming for him- self, coming to Trenton in 1879, where he clerked for R. H. Hume in the grocery business until Mr. Hume sold his store to Mr. Stein. He then worked for H. Stein until 1886, when President Cleveland appointed him postmaster of Trenton. When lus four years term as postmaster had expired he went MR. AND MRS. W. O. GARVIN AND SON GILBERT AND RESIDENCE HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY 773 into the grocery business with T. A. Woodress, con- tinuing until 1892. He was then in the real estate business with E. A. Fisher for a number of years. He helped to organize the American bank, was made president, and on the consolidation of that bank with the Farmers Echange Bank, in 1904, he was made president of the Farmers Exchange bank, which position he has since held. The latter institu- tion was organized in 1903, has a capital stock of $80,000, and does a flourishing business. Mr. Garvin carries on stock raising and farm- ing extensively, and is interested in various business enterprises. He owns 725 acres of land five miles southeast of Trenton. Mr. Garvin was married to Miss Vada Riggs, August 20, 1887. She is the daughter of R. W. Riggs. They have one child, Gilbert Martin, born July 21, 1891. He is a graduate of the Trenton high school, and is now taking a law course in Drake Un- iversity. RICHARD J. GREEN was born in Peoria County, Illinois, where he lived until 1881 when he came to Sullivan County, Missouri. He has lived since that time in Sullivan, Livingston and Grundy counties. He spent four years in general merchan- dise stores in Lindley and Humphreys. April 15, 1889 he began banking at Gait. In 1894 he went to Chula and Jan. 1, 1902 he moved to Trenton where he has since lived. Mrs. Green was born and reared in Grundy County and was formerly Miss Alice Rooks. Mr. 774 HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY and Mrs. Green have no children. Mr. Green is cashier of the Farmers Exchange Bank at Trenton. He is erecting a very handsome RICHARD J. GREEN residence on College Avenue in Trenton. He has other real estate interests in the city and is inter- ested in a number of business enterprises. W. H. GRIFFEE was born in Dresden, Ohio,. Dec. 19, 1856. He came to Mercer County when a small boy, starting across from Ohio in a wagon. His father, Wm. Grififee, died on the road. When he was twelve years old he came to Grundy Coun- ty, his mother having- already moved here, and soon after went to work in a butcher shop. He was in the ice business for twelve years, later conducting a meat market, in which business he is now engaged. HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY 775 Mr. Griffee handles an excellent and extensive line of goods, and has a good business. His shop burned last winter and its contents were almost completely destroyed, Mr. Griffee losing a considerable sum. He soon afterwards opened a new market on Elm Street, near the Central school building, where he is now located. Mr. Griffee was married May 18, 1881, to Miss Cornelia Harding, daughter of B. F. Harding, They have four children, three of whom are living. Beulah R. was born in May, 1882, died March 20, 1886; Charles, Oct. 15, 1885, is married and in business with his father; Eva M., Feb. 29, 1888; Lynne, Jan.23, 1891. EDGAR M. HARBER, a son of Thomas B. and Mildred (Phelps) Harber, was born on a farm near Richmond, Kentucky, Oct. 26, 1854. He at- tended the common schools at Clinton County, Mis- souri and completed his education in the high school at Nebraska City, Nebraska. In 1872 he moved to Trenton and in 1873 entered the law office of Captain H. J. Herrick as a student and was admitted to the bar in 1875. During his stay in the office of Captain Herrick he was justice of the peace, his term expiring in Jan. 1877. In 1879 he was ap- pointed city attorney of Trenton by Mayor George Tindall and was re-appointed by Mayor H. S. Low. In 1880 he was elected presidential elector for the Tenth congressional district on the Democratic tic- ket and again elected elector in 1892. He was elected as prosecuting attorney of Grundy County in 1882, and served one term. For fifteen vears Mr. Harber E. M. HARBER HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY 111 practiced law in partnership with A. G. Knight, the firm dissolving by mutual agreement in 1907. Mr. Harber's name has been repeatedly urged for the Democratic nomination for congress in this district, and he has been prominently mentioned in various sections of the state as a candidate for Gov- ernor and also for attorney general, but re- fused to allow his name to go on the ticket. He was on the first board of law examiners, established in 1905, afterwards resigning on account of the stress of personal business. He is a member of various fraternal organizations, was Grand Chancellor of the K. of P. of Mo. He has valuable real estate interests in Grundy County, Oklahoma and Texas. Mr. Harber was married March 8, 1881, to Miss Lizzie Austin, daughter of Col. James Austin. Mrs. Harber died Sept. 24, 1907. DR. JOHN E. HERRIOTT was born at Dela- ware, Ohio, Sept. 17, 1849. As a boy he attended the public schools at Delaware and then took a course at the Ohio Wesleyan College. He received his professional training at the Cincinnati Medical Col- lege, from which he^ graduated in 1872. He suc- cessfully practiced his profession at Gerome and other towns in Ohio until 1893 when he moved with his family to Trenton, where- he continued the prac- tice and a few years later went into the drug busi- ness. He sold his drug store May 1, 1909 and has since devoted his time entirely to his practice. Dr. Herriott's first wife was Salima Peters, a daughter of Abraham Peters. She died March 25, 1899, leaving him four children. G. P. Herriott was born 778 HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY Oct. 17, 1894 and is now in the U. S. Gov. Service at Everett, Wash.; Gertrude H., May 1, 1880, now Mrs. Levi Stubbs of Bethany; Gladys H., now Mrs. Chas. Abrahams of Ashley, Ohio; Gerald, Jan. 9, 1890. Dr. Herriott was married Nov. 27, 1899 to Mrs. Dollie A. Earnest. She died Feb. 28, 1909. W. W. HUBBELL, a son of Major George Hubbell, was born at Trenton, Nov. 4, 1844, and has made this city his home all his life. His educa- tion was completed at the college of Glasgow, Mo., W. W. HUBBELL in 1850, and from that time to 1861 he worked on his father's farm. In that year he entered the Union army as second lieutenant of the Grundy County battalion under Walter King and served six months. In 1862 he helped to organize the HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY 779 3rd regiment M. S. M. for which regiment he ser- ved as first heutenant and adjutant. Resigning his commission, he was appointed deputy county and circuit clerk. In October of that year he was married to Miss Fannie Austin, daughter of James Austin, and immediately afterwards engaged in the mercantile business with his father-in-law and J. H. Shanklin under the firm name W. W. Hubbell & Co. He afterwards farmed, following which he engaged in the grocery business, then farmed again, and shipped grain and live stock, later again en- gaging in the mercantile business. Mr. Hubbell has been for a number of years proprietor of the Hubbell opera house, a highly creditable theatre for a city the size of Trenton. Mr. and Mrs. Hubbell have had six children: Alida T., Arthur R., Austin E., Laura L., Nellie Grant and Woolsey. M. B. JOLLY, a son of Spear and Susan Jolly, was born in Madison County, Kentucky, Oct. 2, 1848. When but two years of age he moved with his parents to Adams County, 111., where his father died and where Mrs. Jolly lived until 1865. He then came with his mother to Grundy County and set- tled on a farm six miles east of Trenton, where they lived several years. Later Mr. Jolly worked at the baker's trade, then took a trip to the south-west, remaining two years. Returning in 1889, he bought his present farm. It is situated three and a half miles north of Trenton and most of it is in fruit. Mr. Jolly makes a specialty of raising Ben Davis 780 HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY and Jonathan apples. His orchards are very fine and he has one of the prettiest country homes in the county. He was married Oct. 9, 1873 to Miss Victoria Woods, daughter of Lemuel Woods. They have one child, Harry D., born Oct. 16, 1874. He is a Rock Island engineer and lives in Trenton. Mr. and Mrs. Jolly are devoted members of the Metho- dist church. C. C. KEITH, son of N. W. and Margaret (Schooler) Keith, was born near Spickard, Dec. 8, 1850. He lived in that section until 1861 when they moved to Iowa where they remained until 1873 when they returned to Grundy County, Mr. Keith having married in the meantime. He farmed a few years, was in the saw mill business for a few years, farmed awhile then moved to Trenton in 1892 where he worked for the Rock Island in the round house for about sixteen years. In Sept. 1908 he went in- to the real estate business with Judge R. E. Boyce. He was married Jan. 5, 1873 to Miss Hannah E. Herron. She died Dec. 16, 1878 leaving four children. W. B. was born Nov. 14, 1873; Almira J., July 29, 1875, now Mrs. W. E. Marsh; Cora M., March 1, 1877; Carrie B., Oct. 19, 1878, now Mrs. Geo. Boyd. He married Rachel P. Densmore, Jan. 8, 1881. They have four children. Jessie L. was born Mar. 21, 1883; Ida I., Aug. 8, 1885, now Mrs. Albert Tindall; Albert A., June 24, 1888; Alvina L., Mar. 2, 1890. HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY 781 J. O. LAYSON, son of James F. and Jemima Layson, was born in Harrison County, Nov. 13, 1869. He came to Grundy County with his parents in 1875, settHng- in Trenton, where they remained for nine years. They then moved to Lincoln town- ship, where they conducted a farm. Soon after this Mr. Layson went to farming for himself, buy- ing a large farm in that part of the county, on which he built a fine residence. He sold this farm in 1908 and moved to Trenton. The next year he bought the McKeen fruit farm near Moberly Park. He devotes much of his time to buying and shipping stock. Mr. Layson was married May 10, 1894 to Miss Lizzie Ricketts, a duaghter of T. C. Ricketts. They have two children; Myrtle, born Sept. 12, 1896, and James T., April 1, 1900. MARION W. LEGG, son of Bourter and Cemira Legg, was born in Grundy County, near Tindall, Nov. 27, 1869. He lived at home until Feb. 15, 1891 when he was married to Mollie B Tracy, daughter of N. R. Tracy, and moved to a farm four miles east of his present home. He lived there until 1902 when he sold the farm and moved to Trenton for a few months and then moved to his father's farm for two years when he bought 76 acres of the same place which is now his home. Mr. and Mrs. Legg have two children; Clea- tice E., born April 12, 1898; and Agell M., March 17, 1902. Mr. Legg does general farming and handles 782 HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY high grade stock His father is one of the old pioneers of the county and hves at Tindall. RESIDENCE OF MARION LEGG CxEORGE W. LYNCH was born at Washing- ton, 111., Nov. 24, 1868 and is a son of Thomas O. and Sarah (Brown) Lynch. He was born and reared on a farm and lived in Illinois with his par- ents until 1882 when they moved to Iowa where they remained until 1889 and then came to Grundy County. Mr. Lynch worked at various occupations for two years and then took the management of the Harber farm. His parents came to this county with him and made their home with him. His father died Sept. 6, 1906 and his mother lives with her son and keeps house for him. HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY 783 A few years after Mr. Lynch took charge of the Harber farm, he and Mr. Harber went into the Hereford cattle business and for a time had one of the most famous herds in the country. They are still in the business, but not extensively. In Dec. 1907 they started the Jersey dairy and now own one hundred thoroughbred Jersey cows, all the milk being sold at Trenton. Mr. Lynch now devotes his time principally to the man- agement of the dairy. The farm consists of 268 acres and joins the city limits on the east. It is splendidly improved and has one of the biggest and best barns in the state. All the buildings are lighted with electricity and the cows are milked with electric machines. A big silo was recently erected. A. M. MARSDEN, the son of John and Anna Marsden, was born in Trenton, May 3rd, 1879. He attended high school here, then went to work in the Ro6k Island shops, learning the machinist's trade. He was manager and part owner of the overall factory when it was in operation, running it three years. He was also manager of the Tren- ton Laundry during this time. Since the overall factory closed he has devoted his time to the man- agement of the laundry. The laundry is equiped with the most up to date modern machinery, and does a large business. Mr. Marsden was married Dec. 25, 1900, to Bessie A. Fry, daughter of B. A. Fry. They have 784 HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY two children ; Virginia, born May 25, 1902, and Elizabeth, February 11, 1905. A. N. MARSDEN M. J. O'CONNELL, son of Jerry and Mary (McAnnally) O'Connell, was born Aug. 19, 1875- in Preble County, Ohio. His mother died when he w^as six years of age and he was taken care of by a neighboring family for five years. He then went to Lexington, Kentucky, remained four years then went to Ohio where he lived with his sister a short time. When he was seventeen years of age he went into the livery business for three years, then farmed a short time, then went back into the livery business. He remained in Ohio until he was twenty-three years of age then went to Albany, Indiana for two years, then to Muncie, Indiana for two years, then to Connersville, engaging in the HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY 785 livery business at each place. In 1904 he went to Texas where he went into the land basiness. He cai.ie to Trenton in 190(S where he ha? since made his headquarters and deals in Texas land. JAMES S. OVERTON, son of John W. and Amy S. Overton, was born on Illinois Ridge, Grun- JAMES S. OVERTON dy County, Aug. 20, 1856. He lived on the farm with his parents until 1878, when he was married to Miss M. J. Overman of this county. He con- 786 HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY tinued farming for about seven years. He traded his stock of goods for a farm known as the John B. Combs farm, and about a year later moved to Trenton which city has since been his home. He has dealt in horses and mules extensively since com- ing to Trenton. He is a director in the Farmers Exchange Bank, the Trenton Ice Company, is serv- ing his fourth year as president of the Grundy County Fair Association, and is one of the leading citizens of the county. Mr. Overton's father, John W. Overton, was born in Lincolnshire, England, in 1812, and came to America fifteen years later. In 1839 he was married to Miss Amy S. Alger, in Quincy, 111. Mrs. Overton's mother was born in New York in 1818. They came to Missouri about the year 1850, went back to Illinois in 1860 and returned to Grundy County in 1866 where they lived until their death. J. W. Overton died Oct. 5, 1893; Amy S. Overton March 10, 1899. Four children survive them: John G. and J. S. Overton, Mrs. H. C. Campbell and Mrs. G. G. Owen, all of Grundy County. B. M. PATTON was born near Huntsville, Alabama, Dec. 25, 1822. When about seven years old he came with his parents to Tennessee, living there about eight years, coming to Randolph Coun- ty, Mo., in 1837. He came to Lincoln township, Grundy County, in 1855, and lived there until his death. He was married Feb. 6, 1839, to Permelia Bax- ter, a native of Howard County, born Oct. 26, 1831. Her parents, Richard and Margaret Baxter, 788 HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY were both natives of Kentucky. Mr. and Mrs. Pat- ton were the parents of fourteen children, only four of whom are now living. B. M. Patton died June 17, 1886; Mrs. Pat- ton, Jan. 8, 1908. The children living are Helena J., now Mrs. Frank Ross; Bartley H., of St. Joseph; J. B. of this county, and Bettie, wife of E. G. Pen- nell. J. N. RATLIFF was born in Tlhnois, Feb. 2, 1854. He is a son of MarceUns and Sarah (Brov\'n) Ratliff. He came to Grundy County with his parents when a small boy, living on a farm un- til his marriage. He then farmed three years, eas- ing land, after which he moved to Trenton and went into the grocery business with Wm. Drinkard. He remained in this business three years, then returned to the farm, buying the home place after the death of his father. After three years he returned to Trenton where he engaged in the hardware busi- ness with George Moore, then with W. E. Drinkard then engaged in the grocery business with T. N. Witten, and afterwards with other partners, re- maining in the business until 1907 when he sold out to Scott Bros. & Gabrielson, and moved to Kan- sas City as a partner in the live stock commission house of Carnes, Ratliff Company. Mr. Ratliff is now engaged in farming, northeast of Trenton, he and his brother, Ed., owning 1080 acres. He is a director in the Farmers Exchange Bank, which he helped organize, and is interested in a number of important business enterprises. 790 HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY Mr. Ratliff was married Dec. 24, 1878, to Miss Fronie Drinkard, daughter of Abner Drinkard. She was born in Grundy County, Aug. 12, 1858. They have had six children, four of whom are liv- ing. Okey was born Sept. 4, 1880, died Oct. 12, 1880; Jessie E., now Mrs. P. L. Gardner, of Gil- man, July 29, 1883; Amy P., Nov. 15, 1885; Lee T., June 12, 1888; Willa M., May 17, 1891, died Sept. 2, of that year; Charles M., March 29, 1893. Mr. Ratliff is a Democrat. RESIDENCE OF J. M. REAM WILLIAM H. ROBERTSON was born in Virginia, Nov. 11, 1811. He was the son of Nicho- las and Sarah Robertson, and^ one of a familly of twelve children, nearly of whom lived to a very old age. He came to Missouri in 1834, stopping first in Warren, Calloway and Boone Counties, coming to Grundy in 1844 entering the mercantile busi- HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY 791 ness at Trenton, in which business he remained un- til 1864, when he went to Alpha, remaining three years. He then moved to a farm near the present site of Laredo, where he lived until his death, which occurred March 13. 1901, at which time he was in his ninetieth year. \ Mr. Robertson was married four times. His first wife was Louise A. McGuire, to whom he was married in 1836. Four children were born to this^ union. He was married to Mary M. White in 1847, To them three children were born. His third mar- riage was to Ann Thompson, in 1854. He was married to Mrs. Louisa (Graham) Williams, Feb. 25, 1857. To this union ten children were born. Mr. and Mrs. Robertson were devout members of the Baptist church. She died in January, 1906. Mr. and Mrs. Roberston were among the strongest characters of Grundy County's pioneers, and were influential and highly respected citizens. RESIDENCE OF A. C. STORMS, LAREDO. MO. 792 HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY W. E. SHIRLEY, one of North Missouri's prominent young lawyers, was born and reared near Queen City. His father, who died recently, was one of the leading physicians of that part of the state. Mr. Shirley was educated in the public schools and the Kirksville Normal. He then engaged in teaching, studying law in the meantime, and was admitted to the bar at Montgomery City in 1896. He took up the practice of law in that city for a few years, then moved to Kirksville, where he has since lived. He was elected prosecuting attorney of Adair County in 1906. After his term of office had expired he entered the employ of the Q. O. & K. C. railroad as assistant claim attorney, with headquarters at Kirksville. While not a resident of Grundy County, he is identified with it in a pro- fessional way. L. D. SPENCER was born in Ohio, Jan. 17, 1850. His parents were David and Angeline Spen- cer. He was educated in the public schools and in the Lebanon Normal School. At the age of twenty Mr. Spencer began teaching in Ohio, and continued teaching in Ohio and Missouri until 1892. He came to Missouri in 1875 and bought a farm in Lincoln township. About the year 1892 Mr. Spencer went into the grocery business in Trenton, in which he has been engaged since that time. He was in partnership with J. L. Lafiferty for ten years, and since the dissolution of the partnership has been in business alone. His store is one of the largest in the city. 794 HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY Mr. Spencer was married to Nannie Hosom Dec. 21, 1871. Mrs. Spencer was born August 26, 1854. They have two children : Edna, now Mrs. C. C. Wilson, born Aug. 3, 1880, and Libbie H., July 21,1884,now Mrs. Carlos Alexander. Mr.and Mrs. Spencer have a beautiful home. They are members of the Baptist church. C W. SCOTT HENRY STEIN was born in Baden Germany, April 14, 1832. He came to New York, July 5, 1849. His first work here was that of peddling in the counties of Orange, Sullivan, Delaware and Ulster in New York. In 1854 he came to Missouri and peddled in Saline county for one year when he engaged in the dry goods and grocery business at Arrow Rock until 1864 and from there he went to Quincy, Illinois continuing in the same business 796 HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY until 1868, when he went to Chilhcothe. In the spring of 1869 he came to Trenton and established a store, and continued in the mercantile business in this city until the time of his death, Sept. 10, 1909. Mr. Stein was one of the most prominent and highly respected business men of Trenton. He was married Aug. 28, 1859 to Miss Rebecca Strouse of New York City. They were the parents of eight children: Gus of Carrolton; Ott, Abe, Nate and Ed, associated with their father in business in Trenton; Mrs. H. Swike of Maysville, and Mrs Sam Weil of Carrolton. Maurice, the eldest of the family, died some years ago at Chilhcothe. RESIDENCE OF H. NEELY LYMAN T. SONGER was born in Grundy County six miles northeast of Trenton Oct. 23, 1862. He is a son of Giles and Nancy (Childers) Songer. He lived on a farm with his parents until married, HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY 797 then went to farming for himself. In 1901 Mr. Songer was appointed rural mail carrier for Route 1, which position he has held since. He lives on a 160 acres farm three miles northeast of Trenton. He also owns ten acres just northeast of the city limits. Mr. Songer has long been prominent in the state association of rural carriers, serving as president of that organization until Sept. 1909. He is also a member of the National Executive commit- tee and a delegate to the national convention at Rochester, New York. He has attended every na- tional convention since the organization of the as- sociation. He uses an automobile to carry the mail in good weather, Mr. Songer was married July 4, 1883 to Miss Margaret Rains who died in Feb. 1902, leaving one child, Judson, born Sept. 21, 1885. He was mar- ried Jan. 18, 1905 to Mrs. E. V. Veatch, daughter of B." B. Gill. C. A. THOMPSON, was born Feb. 2, 1869 at Anderson, Indiana. He lived at home and attended school until he was twenty-three years of age. After finishing school he worked at the lumber business for several years then went to Camden, Ark., where he accepted a position as Superinten- dent of the Bayou Lumber Co. He remained there for four years when he went to Cainsville and took charge of the yards there for Miner & Frees. In 1902 he came to Trenton and took charge of the lumber yard and has remained here since. Mr. Thompson was married Jan. 30, 1900 to 798 HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY Miss Lula M. Goodrick, Pendleton, Ind. She died March 5, 1901. He was married June 22, 1904 to Miss Henrietta Lemkcamp, They have one child, Dortha Stella, born July 26, 1909. RESIDENCE OF D. T. THOMPSON N. R. TRACY, son of James B. and Mary F. Tracy, was born in Garret County, Kentucky, Aug. 4, 1844. He came to Missouri with his parents in 1850, his father buying a hotel in Trenton, which he conducted for a few years. Later the father bought a 600 acre farm eight miles north of Tren- ton of Levi Moore, and lived there until 1866 when he sold it and bought a farm just north of Trenton, a part of which is now owned by N. R. Tracy and his son-in-law, F. C. LeHew. Mr. Tracy, Sr. died three years after buying this farm, willing it to his HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY 799 son. Mr. Tracy also bought other land. As hij children became grown and married he started each one out with a good farm as a wedding present, giving away all but 200 acres. Mr. Tracy is a Civil war veteran and a mem-, ber of the Presbyterian church. He was married April 10, 1867, to Miss Adeline Jeter who died in 1882 leaving four children: Charles F., Mollie S., now Mrs. Marion Legg; Emma E., now Mrs. F. G. LeHew, and Tessora, now Mrs. Martin L. Nov- inger. Mr. Tracy lives three miles north of Trent in, with his daughter, Mrs. LeHew. RESIDENCE OF FRANK LEHEW DR. W. H. WINNINGHAM was born in Harrison County, Jan, 26, 1868. He is the son of 800 HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY Isom and Nannie (Niell) Winningham. He lived in Harrison County until 1880 when the family moved to Albany, his father going into the mer- cantile business. Dr. Winningham graduated at the high schools there, and attended the Stanberry Normal, then taught for a short time, reading medi- cine with Dr. G. F. Peery in the meantime. He then attended Marion Sims medical college, St. DR. W .H. WINNINGHAM Louis, graduating in 1893, when he came to Grundy County and began practice at Edinburg. In 1895 he came to Trenton where he has since remained. He is engaged in the general practice of medicine, making a specialty of surgery. He has a private sanatarium, where he handles surgical cases. Dr. Winningham has taken a number of post graduate HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY 801 courses under leading authorities. He is a mem- ber of several fraternal orders. He was married Aug. 20, 1895, to Minnie Floyd Witten, daughter of Wm. Witten. She died Sept. 6, 1899, leaving two children; Elizabeth, born Jan. 30, 1897, and Helen, Sept. 5, 1898. ANDY WELCH, Constable Trenton Township T. N. WITTEN was born in Daviess County, Mo., Jan. 25, 1867. He is the son of W. M. and Amelia (Gillespie) Witten. He lived on a farm until about fourteen years old when he moved to Trenton, attended school in the winter and worked on the farm in the summer until about eighteen. He ran a delivery wagon for Fitterer & Hoffman, then in the grocery business, was clerk for a short time, then lived on the farm a year, fr^llowing which he worked in a store in Jamesport about a year. 802 HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY Mr. Witten came from Jamesport to Trenton and worked for Fitterer & Crooks a while, then went into the grocery business with Newt Rathff, re- maining in this business seven years. He then entered the hardware business as a member of the firm Berry & Witten, afterwards buying Berry's interest and organizing the Witten Hardware Co., of which he became president and manager. The firm does a very extensive business, carrying a large stock of all kinds of hardware, vehicles, implements etc. Their store is one of the largest hardware stores in this part of the state, with 25,000 square feet of floor space. Mr. Witten was married April 24, 1894 to Miss Bessie Stevens, daughter of Judge John S. Stevens. They have two children; Louise E., born Feb. 25, 1895, and McDonald, August 24, 1897. W. H. WARREN was born near Laredo, Mis- souri, Sept. 6, 1864. He is the son of W. D. and Alice Warren. His father was one of the early settlers of Grundy County, coming here when he was nine years of age. When a small boy Mr. Warren moved from Kentucky to a farm five miles southwest of Trenton. He lived there with his parents until he was twenty-three years of age when he went west for one year. Returning, he farmed for himself near the home place for several years. In 1894 he came to Trenton and went into the liv- ery, feed and sale business. He was also in the transfer business for a few years. For the past few years he has been engaged in the sale and feed business at Trenton. HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY 803 Mr. Warren was married Nov. 27, 1891 to Miss Ida Hill, daughter of Coleman Hill. They have two children. Seldon was born Feb. 1, 1896; Winnie, Dec. 19, 1897. RESIDENCE OF C. B. WILLIAMS W. E. WILSON, son of T. A. Wilson, born in Mercer County, Oct. 9, 1845 and Elizabeth (Sires) Wilson, was born March 21, 1869, in Grun- dy County. He was married Aug. 30, 1898 to Belle McLaughlin, daughter of Dr. John McLaughlin who was born in Green County, Penn., Aug. 26, 1822, died Aug. 9, 1909 at Spickard after having lived in this vicinity fifty years. Her mother was Nancy A. (Sullivan) McLaughlin, born in Brown County, Indiana, Aug. 8, 1830, died Eeb. 23, 1906. Mr. and Mrs. Wilson were educated in the public schools of the county. They have four children. Estelle was born June 17, 1894; Frankie, July 8, 804 HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY 1896; Dewey, Nov. 1, 1898, died Dec. 26, 1903;- Mildred, July 25, 1905. Mrs. Wilson was born Sept. 22, 1872. Mr. Wilson began farming for himself at the time of his marriage and has always lived in Grun- dy County except the year 1908 when he farmed in Mercer County. He is from one of the pioneer families of Grundy County. GEORGE WOLZ, son of Conrad and Maria Wolz, was born on the old Wolz homestead four- teen miles northeast of Trenton, May 30, 1842. He lived there until March, 1862, when he joined Co. RESIDENCE OF GEORGE WOLZ I., 3rd M. S. M., and served until April, 1865. He again lived on the farm until his marriage, when he bought a farm adjoining, where he lived until 1894 when he moved to Trenton and built an ele- gant home on Prospect Street where he still lives, continuing, however, to manage his farm of 800 HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY 805 acres. He owns a half interest in a 560 acre farm near Tindall, his son, Michael, who lives with him, owning the other half, a large farm near Excelsior Springs, and a ranch in Texas. He is a stock- holder in the Bank of Spickardsville, the Citizens State Bank, and is interested in other business enterprises. Mr. Wolz was married March 21, 1869, to Martha A. Evans, daughter of John Evans. To them were born four children, two of whom are liv- ing. Maria, born Jan 3, 1870, is now Mrs. Jacob Bride; Wm. C, Oct. 2, 1874, died April 13, 1875; John C, Dec. 10, 1871, died April 29, 1889; George M., Feb. 21, 1876. Mrs. Wolz died Feb. 12, 1902. Mr. Wolz's father came to Grundy County in 1839. GEORGE MICHAEL WOLZ, a son of George and Martha Evans Wolz was born near Tindall, Feb. 21, 1876. He lived on the farm with his parents until 1893, when they moved to Tren- ton. Mr. Wolz graduated in the Trenton High School, took a special course in civil engineering under Dr. Norton, later acting as city engineer. Soon after leaving school he entered the Farmers and Merchants bank as assistant cashier, remain- ing in that position several years, then resigning on account of his health. In 1904 he helped or- ganize the Trenton Brick and Tile Company, and was made secretary and manager. The plant is a modern one, with a capacity of 20,000 bricks a day and a large number of tile. Mr. Wolz devotes his time to the management of this business. Mr. Wolz was married Dec. 24, 1903, to Miss 806 HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY Catherine L. Conrads, daughter of C. A, Conrads. They have three children: George Conrad, born June 6, 1905, and Francis Donald, March 21, 1908 and an infant daughter. P. G. WILD is a son of William and Caroline (Woolsey) Wild. He was born in Grundy County, a mile north of Edinburg, Feb. 1, 1864. His people RESIDENCE OF P. G. WILD, SPICKARD, MO. were among the very first settlers in Grundy Coun- ty, coming here in 1834. Mr. Wild attended school at the Western Normal College, Shenandoah, Iowa. He was married to Josephine, daughter of John Munn, of Spickards, Jan. 17, 1892. Mr. Wild's parents moved to Mercer County, just north of Spickards, in 1865 and he lived there until he was twenty-one. During this time he at- tended public schools and later took a course at the: HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY 807 Western Normal College at Shenandoah, Iowa. On quitting college he returned home and taught school for three years. He then went west remained several years and was in the employ of the Pacific Express Company in eastern Oregon for some time. He was with the Oregon and Washington rail- road and had charge of the baggage department at Spokane, Wash, for a time. He also served as ex- press messenger on the Portland and Walla Walla and had charge of the baggage department of Pen- dleton for about a year. He then gave up his work there, returning to Spickard in 1891 where he went into the mercantile business. In 1897 he was ap- pointed post master at Spickard by Presiden Mc- Kinley and has served in that capacity since that time, having been twice reappointed. The office has grown from a fourth class to a presidential of- fice during his administration and he was largely instrumental in establishing a rural route system through the county. WILLIAM E. MARLIN, son of Jas. and Ma- ry (Herring) Marlin, was born June 7, 1889. He now lives at Brimson, Missouri. He was educated in the public schools of Trenton and St. Joseph, Mis- souri. On Nov. 8, 1908, he was married to Lottie Max- son, daughter of Alex Maxson of Brimson. They have no children. Mr. Marlin was born in Jamesport and lived there with his parents until they moved to Trenton, where he attended the public schools. After fin- ishing school, he farmed near Spickard, then moved 808 HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY to Brimson where he opened a restaurant in 1909. He later went into the grocery business, in which he O. p. HUBHEI.L is now engaged. He also sells clothing and runs a restaurant. Mr, Marlin is a Republican. OTIS E MACK was born in Adams County, Illinois, Dec. 20, 1862. He is the son of James Mack, who lives with his son, and Alpha Mack, de- ceased. He was educated in the public schools. Mr. Mack now resides on Route six, Trenton. On July 8, 1895 ,Mr. Mack was married to Mary Carpenter, daughter of Bart Carpenter. They have three children; Howard L., born Nov. 15, 1896; Vona M., born May 2, 1899; Orlo J., born Jan. 19, 1903. HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY 809 Mr. Mack came to Grundy County with his par- -ents when he was three years of age, settled on a farm near Farmersville. They hved there about ten years, then moved to the Riley Cox place then to the Overton place, then to the Pulliam place, then to SILO AT THE JERSEY DAIRY, GEO. W. LYNCH, MANAGER the Limes place, then bought the place now owned T)y George Lenz. They lived there a number of years, then sold that and bought the place where the subject of the sketch now lives. Mr. Mack left home, when twenty one years old and worked in the neighborhood for farmers a few years. He "then went to Arizona, where he was engaged in var- 810 HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY ious pursuits. He then went to California, where he remained about three years, working for a street car company in San Francisco. On his return he went to farming and later married. He stayed with his father for a few years and bought part of the farm. Afterwards bought his present farm where he has since lived. His farm consists of 103 acres is well improved and has a good home. He has Duroc Jersey hogs and short horn cattle. Mr, Mack is a member of the Masonic lodge and also of the Christian church. RESIDENCE OF S. A. HARTLEY MRS.B. F. MEANS, who lives three and one half miles south of Laredo, was born in eastern Ten- nessee, March 24, 1845. She was the daughter of John T. Wilson, born in Tennessee in 1803, died in HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY 811 1855, and Betsy (Spuriers) Wilson, born in North Carolina, July 23, 1800, died May 18, 1871. Mrs Means was married to Samuel Hardin, Dec. 11, 1873. M^- Hardin's father was Joseph Hardin, a native of Kentucky, who died in 1869. His moth- er was Jane (Davis) Hardin, also a native of Ken- tucky, who died in 1895. By her first husband, Mrs. Means had one child; Samie O. Hardin, born Feb. 21, 1875, who married Andrew M. Warren, Aug. 18, 1892. Mr. Hardin died in 1876. He was First Lieut, in the Southern army under Sterling Price. Mrs. Hardin was married to R. S. Means, Oct. 31, 1878. Mr. Means' father was James Means» who was born in South Carolina, Oct.' 17, 1781 and died Jan. 9, 1865. His mother was Matilda (Read) Means, who was born in Kentucky, Jan. 16, 1792, and died Aug. i, 1865. After her second marriage, Mrs. Means and her husband lived in Howard County, where they own- ed a farm of more than 200 acres, until the spring of 1879, when they came to Grundy and settled on the present farm of loi acres. Mr. Means died in 1889, and the farm is managed by Mrs. Means' son in law, Mr. A. M. Warren. THE BANK OF BRIMSON was organized March 31, 1903, with a capital stock of $10,000, and has since built up a surplus of $5,000 and paid $2800 in dividends. Its first officers were C. H. Cullers, president, Joseph S. Neff, vice president, Walter Peery, secretary, and G. Jones, cashier. 812 HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY Three years later, Mr. Jones moved to Colorado and the directors selected Harry G. Moberly, at that time assistant cashier of the Farmers Exchange Bank at Humphreys as cashier. He had complete charge of the Bank's books since that time. At the time of accepting this position, Mr. Moberly was the youngest bank cashier in the state of Missouri. He is a son of George and Kittie (Dobbins) Moberly of Humphreys ,Mo. The present officers of the bank are Joseph Neff, president, C. D. Thompson, first vice president, R. H. Martin, second vice presi- dent, Walter Peery, secretary, and Harry Mober- ly, cashier. JOHN C. NEWMAN, son of John and Rach- el Newman, both of whom are dead, was born in Shelby County, Indiana, Oct. 19, 1862. He now lives on Route seven, Trenton, Mo. He was edu- cated in the public schools. He was married for the first time in 1806 to Effie Bosley, who died Nov. 28, 1886. They had one child; Lulu B., born Nov. 27, 1886, now cashier at Steins Store at Trenton. Mr. Newman was married again in 1889 to Miss Belle Wynne, daughter of John Wynne. They have two children. Anna Rachel, born Oct. 3, 1891 and O- rion Holt, born Aug. 7, 1893. One child Beulah, died in infancy. Mr. Newman came with his parents to Missouri in 1869, settling in Grundy County southwest of Trenton five miles. He lived there until grown and married and then went to farming for himself, moving to Daviess County. He lived in that coun- HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY 813 ty and farmed until 1898, when he moved back to Grundy County. He leased a farm near Edinburg where he remained five years, then bought his pres- ent farm. It is one half mile north of town and consists of 20 acres with a beautiful home. He al- so owns fifty acres one and a half miles northwest of the home place. He served for two terms as township collector of Lincoln township, Davies^ County, and was also collector for Madison town- ship, Grundy County, resigning when he moved out of the township. At the next election after the township organization law was declared invalid, he was elected county collector and served until town- ship organization was re-established. He is a member of the Baptist church. Mrs. Newman is a member of the Methodist church. ARTHUR OYLER, son of Jacob and Rachel Oyler, both of whom are dead, was bora Aug. 19, 1865 in Miami County, Indiana. He now lives on Route seven, Trenton. He was educated in the public schools. He was married Sept. 9, 1888 to Ida L. Bulyar. They have five children; Beulah V., born Feb. i, 1891 ; Lionel A., Aug. 15, 1892; Garnet E., Sept. 11, 1899; V. Clifton, July 17, 1904, and Madolyn B., June 7, 1906. Mr. Oyler left Indiana and moved to St. Clair County when about four years of age. He lived there two years then moved to Grundy County and settled near Trenton, where they remained two years, then moved near Edinburg and lived there HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY 815 with his parents until grown and married. He then went to farming for himself, moving first to Daviess County, where he remained one year. He then re- turned to Grundy County and bought his present farm, three and one half miles northeast of Brim- son, It consists of 165 acres and is well improved. Mr. Oyler also owns 160 acres near Parkerton, and 60 acres near Edinburg, and 40 acres near Trenton, 425 acres in all. He also has a lot of Texas land, buys and ships stock extensively, and is interested in various business enterprises. RESIDENCE OF F- W. LEE D. E. PEW is the son of George C. and Jane Brooks Pew. He was born in Wilson township, Grundy County, Sept. 25, 1875. He now lives four miles southeast of Laredo. He was educated in the public schools of the county and William Jewell Col- lege. 816 HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY He was married Sept. 6, 1899 ^o Bertha Rinker^ daughter of James H. Rinker, born in Indiana, and Anna (Bell) Rinker, born in Illinois. Mrs. Pew was born Aug. i, 1879. They have two children; Ruby Virginia., born June 10, 1901, and Francis Vivian., born April 4, 1903. Mr. Pew, after completing the common schools, went to William Jewell College. He then farmed for two years, then in Aug. 1899, he engaged in the hardware business at Laredo. The next year, he sold out and went to his fine farm of 240 acres. Mrs. Pew completed the public schools of La- redo, then attended the Chillicothe Normal. Mr. Pew is a Democrat in politics. W. R. YOUNG is a son of Andrew J. and Me- lissa (Goss) Young. His father was born in Mis- souri in 1845 ^i^d died in 1899. His mother was born in 1850. Mr. Young was born in Linn Coun- ty, Sept. 15, 1879. He lives five miles south of Laredo. He was married March 15, 1905 to Miss Anna B. Hazen, daughter of Wm. and America (Ishmael) Hazen. Mrs. Young was born Jan. 4, 1882. They are the parents of three children. Zelma C, was born Dec. 25, 1905; Mary B., April 22, 1907; Richard M., born Aug. 7, 1908, died March 3, 1909. Mr. Young has always lived on a farm. He lived for a time in Linn County, moving from that county to the farm he now owns. He favors the Democratic party. HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY SIT DR. H. E. HALL. G. F. DE \^ORE was born in Washington County, Ohio Sept. 15, 1868. He now hves three miles west of Laredo. He was educated in the pub- lic schools of Ohio. His father was Dallas J. De Vore, born in Jefferson County, Ohio in 1845. ^^^ mother was Emily (Curry) De Vore, born in Ohio in 1846. Mr .De Vore was married May 20, 1894 to Euphrosine V. Puget, born Dec. 17, i860 in New- York City. She was the daughter of Felix Puget^ born in France in 1813, died in 1894, and Mary (Mil) Puget, born in France July 20, 1843 and died June 13, 1909. Mr. De Vore came to Grundy County when twen- ty 3^ears old and began working for a Mr. Meech as a farm hand, but after one and one half jfcars, he Sl^ HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY. fanned for himself for two years then sold out, went to Montana and worked on a ranch. He then went to San Francisco and worked on a ranch for three years, married while there and came back in iSijj to old Grundy and began farming in the locality of Rabl)it Ridg-e. Mr. De Vore landed in (Grundy with only $4.95. but has accumulated enough to purchase one of the finest farms in the county. Tn ])olitics he favors the Democratic partv. HEXR\' HORTEXSTJXE, who now resides t^^•o miles southwest of Laredo, was born Feb. 4, 1842. in Washington County, \'^irginia. He was educated in the public schools of \"irginia and Illi- nois. He was married Aug. 21, 1S64, to Katie E. Gardner, born May 15, 1S45. Her parents were Adam Gardner and Elizabeth ( Schmit ) Gardner. Mr. Hortenstine's parents were Henrv Hortenstine, born in X'irginia July 7, iSoo and died Aug. 17, 18SS, and Theodosia W. Ellington Hortenstine, born in X'irginia April S, 1S21, and died Feb. 3, 1900. Thev have six children. Edward, born Se])t. 4 1865, died Oct. 8. 1877: Theodocia E., Oct. 30, 1866: J. F. Feb. 14, 1868: Mary \\, March 2, 1869, died Nov. 2y, 1892: and Walter \'., Dec. 4, 1870. J\Ir. Hortenstine worked as ai)])rentice and learn- ed the milling trade, following it for six years. He then went to Illinois and broke prairie with pn ox team for six years. In 1864, he prepared him- self for a music teacher and taught music for twelve vears. In 1888 he came to Livingston 820 HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY. County and bought a farm of 40 acres, sold it af- terward, and moved to Grundy County and bought 120 acres. He and his son are partners in the dairy business. They have two cows which took the first premium at the National Dairyman As- sociation at Chicago in 1907. He is a member of the Christian church and I. O. O. F. No. 133 at Laredo. G. T. JACKSON, son of Wm. and Julia Jack- son, was born in Grundy County, June 2^, 1867. He has always lived in Grundy County. At pres- ent, he resides on a farm in Alyers township. He Vv'as united in marriage to ?\Iary Evans, daughter of Le-^nder and ^,1. J. Evans in 1891. To this un- ion one child was born, Wilbur E. Airs. Jackson died May 30, 1892. He was again united in mar- iage to Mary A. Ford, daughter of John B. and Sarah A. Ford, June 3, 1894. To this union seven children have been born ; Lucille, born April 7, 1895; Lorene, born Jan. 18, 1897; Lelia B., born Jan. 17, 1901 ; Gladys, born Nov. 3, 1903; an infant son, born Dec. 31, 1905, died Jan. 5, 1906; J. Olan, w^as born April 8, 1907. Mr. Jackson was educated in the common schools, Kirksville Normal and Park College. He spent about twelve years as dry goods and clothing salesman in Gait and Trenton, served six year as clerk and assessor of Liberty township and was elected a member of the county court from the sec- ond district, Aug. 3, 1908. HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY 821 J. E. JACKSON, son of Jasper and Martha Jackson, was born in Ray County, Missouri, Aug. 1 5' 1879- ^^ "o^^' lives on Route seven, Trenton, Mo. He was married March i8, 1899 to Mrs. Mary Boyce, daughter of Wm. Chappell. They have two children; Mattie Fay. born Oct. 5, 1904, and Garnett Pauline, born July 2;^, 1907. Mrs. Jackson was first married to Jesse Boyce and has one child by him. Miss Daisy Boyce, who makes her home with Mr. and Mrs. Jackson. She was born Feb. 25, 1895. Mr. Jackson was born in Ray County on a farm and moved with his parents to Grundy County when about ten years old. He lived with his par- ents until grown and then went to Livingston Coun- ty and remained four years, engaged in farming. He then returned to this county where he has since lived. He bought his present farm in 1898, where he has lived, except for two years when he rented his farm and was in business at Tindall. The farm consists of 40 acres, seven miles northwest of Trenton. Mr. Jackson belongs to the Odd Fel- lows and the M. \\'. A. Mrs. Jackson is a member of the Baptist church. ANDY v.. KTLBURN was born in Wilson township, Grundy County, Missouri, Fel). 17, 1878. He now lives three miles north of Chula. He was educated in the public schools of the county. He was the son of Henry Kilburn of Kentucky and Sarah F. (Moore) Kilburn of Missouri. ]\^r. Kill-urn was married Feb. 24, 1897 to Zella MR. AND MRS. ANDY KILBURN. HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY 823 E. Bruce, born Oct. 30, 1(876. She was the daugh- ter of Ouincy R, Bruce of Ohio and Mary J. (Smith) Bruce of Missouri. They have no child- ren. Mrs. Kilburn completing the public schools of the county took a literary and musical course at Hardin College, Mexico, Mo. Mr. Kilburn was left (|uite young to manage the business which was left him at his father's death. At the age of eighteen he married and still looked after the farm, and after five years, he moved to what is now his home. Mr. Kilburn inherited a 160 acre farm from his father but since has accumulated more until he has an excellent farm of 320 acres, one of the best improved in the county. He is today one of Grundy's greatest feeders, handles high class Herefords and has prepared for the business by building a large cattle barn. In politics he is a Democrat. He belongs to the Baptist church. JAMES T. KILBURN, born at Baker City, Oregon, Oct. 3, i2i) and died in March 1905. A'r. McClain was married Oct. 10, 1894 to jMar- garet Hornecker. She was the daughter of Fer- dinnnd Hornecker, horn in Cermany and Marguar- ite (Usckel) Hornecker, born in August 1853 and died in 1905. Mr. and Mrs. McClain have six children; Charles F., born Sept. 12, 1895; Robert L., and Leonora M., born Ai)ril i, 1897; John, born April 2'/, 1899; Edward. 1:orn April 19, 1905; and James, born May 23, 1909. A'^r. >'cClain staved at home and worked for his parents until he was twenty one years old. then he and his brother rented the home farm for five years then bouo-ht a farm of 90 acres in Illinois, seven HISTORY OF GRUXDY COUNTY 831 years later selling- it and moving to Alooresville, Mo. In 1902, he l)ought 200 acres and sold it the same year, and went to Kansas and Oklahoma hunting for land but could find nothing as good as Grundy County, so he bought 135 acres here and later pur- chased 98 acres, having now a well improved farm of 233 acres. Mr. McClain's boys from the oldest to the voung- est are natural meclianics. Mr. McClain is a Dem- ocrat and b-elono-s to the Lutheran cliurch. W. S. MC CAULL. \\'rLLTAM SEWARD MCCAUL was born in Chicago, Sept. 20, 1864. He was raised on a farm in Decatur County, Iowa and taught school in the country schools of Iowa for four years. At 832 HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY. nine years of age, he sold newspapers on the streets of Chicago and at twenty nine, returning to Chi- cago, he was attorney for the same paper. Air. ^icCaull has been a reporter and editorial writer on the staff of the Des Moine (Iowa) Daily News, the Dubuque (Iowa) Daily Herald, the Ce- dar Rapids (Iowa) Gazette, the Denver (Colorado) Times and the Joliet (111.) Press. He served four years as justice in Joliet, 111., He was later a part- ner with Judge Longenecker, the noted criminal attorney W'ho prosecuted the murderers of Dr, Cronin. Ten years ago he quit Judge Longeneck- er's office and came to Missouri, taking charge of the claim departm.en of the Q. O. & K. C. While in Missouri, he organized the Iowa tS^ St. Louis Railroad Company and got the Gates crowd back of it. They built fifty two miles and sold it to the C. B. & O. He worked for four years managing- the Great Northern Fuel Co., and developed five mines in the Xovinger field, now the largest coal producers in Missouri. Mr. McCaul was a Ben Butler Democrat, but since 1896, he has been a Mc Kinley, Teddy and Taft Republican. He is mar- ried and has three children, the family residence being in Joliet, 111., While in Missouri, he makes Trenton one of his principal stopping places, with headquarters at the Elks Hotel. He is a member of the Elks and K. P. lodges and the Episcopal church. HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY 833 RESIDENCE OF G. W. FREY. WM. A. PEW, son of George C. and Jane (Brooks) Pew, was born in Wilson township, Grun- 'iy County, Jan. 12, 1868. His father was a native of Kentucky and was born Nov. 6, 1842. His mother was born in Missouri, May 30, 1852. Air. Pew now hves five miles southeast of Laredc). He was married Feb. 6, 1889 to Elizabeth R. Chapman, daughter of Rice W. Chapman of New York and Ellen (Taggart) Chapman, horn in Mich- igan Sept. IT, 1849. Mrs. Pew was born March 29, 1872. They have four children; Vina F., born Feb. 2, 1893 ; George W,. born March 27, 1896; Bil- iie M., born March 9, J004; and Martha W,. born Feb. 22, 1907. Mr. Pew began farming on the farm he now owna when he was twenty one years of age. Then it con- ^f HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY. .' ...tc(' of only eighty ?cres, but he has accumulated lanu uiitil be now owns 175 acres, 90 acres of which are in T .inn County. He is a feeder of stock, a Demo- crat and a member of the Baptist church. JOHN PORTMAN, son of Morris and Lizzie (Long-; Portman ,the former of whom was born in Switzerbiud and died in 1852 and the latter of whom was born in Switzerland and died in 1838, now lives four and one half mile:-' souipeast of Laredo and wa.'.- lj'_'rn in Switzcriand Feb. 22, 1828. He was edu- cate' m the srliools of Switzerlanr. He was fii'.^t married to Saliie Ker.^, daughter born May 4, 1896; Cletus F., born July 8, 1899; and Martin D., born Jan. 13, 1903. Mr. Ratliff was born and reared on a farm near Parkerton. not far from where he now lives. He remained with his parents until grown and married when he went to farming- for himself, having pur- chased a part of the farm he now owns, just before his marriage. He first bought 74 acres and later added other land adjoining until he has at present 215 acres. He handles cattle, sheep and hogs ex- tensively. Mr. Ratliff is a member of the M. W. A. lodge. C. C. THOMAS was born in Howard County, Missouri, Feb. 22, 1844. He was educated in the public schools of Howard County. He now lives^ three miles south of Laredo. His father, Wm. Thomas, a native of Kentucky, was born July 4, 181 3 and died Feb. 10, 1889. His mother was Rachei (Woods) Thomas, born in Missouri Feb. 7, 1823 and died July 2J, 1890. He was married May 15, 1870 to Henrieta Han- cock, W'hose father was Francis Hancock, born in Virginia, July 22, 1815, and died May 13, 1S75, and whose mother was Susan (Browning) Han- cock, born in Kentucky, May 3, 1823 and died March 12, 1861. They have had five children; Wm. F., born Jan. 29, 1871 ; John E., July 29, 1872; Ma- 838 HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY. ^^nsj' ^|ii»i jv#i RESIDENCE OF ISAAC ELLIOTT. ry A., Nov. 6, 1874; Lucy Augusta, Aug. 10, 1876, and Ira P., Aug. 7, 1883. ^ Mr. Thomas started his hfe as a farm hand in ]V(issouri at eighteen years of age. After three y^ars, he was apprenticed as a blacksmith at Alpha for Francis Hancock. He then farmed for C. L. y/oods, then in 1872, bought the place upon which lie now lives. He enlisted Aug. 20, 1864 in Co. K. 44th Missouri Volunteers, under Capt. N. A. Win- ters. He is a typical Missourian and is at present enjoying the best of health, but has lost his eye sight. He is one of the best spellers in the county. r Mr. Thomas is a Republican and a member of the A. F. & A. M. lodge. HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY 839 JOHN F. FULKERSON, who lives on Route seven, Trenton, Missouri, was born near Brimson, Grundy County, March 8, 1884. He is the son of Joshua and Margaret Fulkerson, both of whom are dead. He was educated in the pubhc schools and High school of Trenton, and took a course in agriculture in the Missouri State University. He was born and reared on a farm near Brimson. He remained at home until the death of his mother in 1886, when he was taken to Lafayette County, Missouri, where he made his home with his uncle, Craig Fulkerson. He remained there four years, then came back to Grundy County and lived there with his father until the death of the latter in 1893. He lived with his brothers and sisters until grown, attending Grand River College at Edinburgh, the Trenton High School and the State University. At the death of his father, his estate was divided. In 1906, Mr. Fulkerson sold his interest in the homq place and bought his present farm. It is eight miles northwest of Trenton and consists of 120 ^cres, well improved. He raises Poland China hogs, fine cattle, horses, etc.. He has never married. K , , JOHN T. GOTT was born in Montgomery if^punty, Indiana, Oct. 15, 185 1. His father was P-obert Gott, who died fifteen years ago and his toother is Eliza J. Gott who lives in the county. Mr. Gott now lives on Route seven, Trenton, Mo. He v^as married April 11, 1875 to Sarah J. Hawver, 840 HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY. daughter of Daniel Hawver. She was born in O- hio, Oct. 13, i860 and came to Grundy County in 1867. They have had six children, three of whom are living. Mr. Gott came with his parents, to Grundy Coun- ty in 1868 and settled near Jamesport, where they bought a farm. He lived there with his parents until married, when he went into the saw^ mill busi- ness. He was in the railroad business for a few years, then returned to the farm. He has leased a number of farms in the county. In 1898, he went to work with S. G. Witten, taking the management of his farm, later leasing it. He has lived there since. The farm consists of 100 acres, two miles due north of Trenton. RESIDENCE OF L. C. LEMLEY. HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY 841 GRANT GEORGE, son of Wash and Nancy George, was born in Pike County, Illinois, April 3, 1866. He now lives on Route six, Trenton ,Mo. He was educated in the public schools. He was married Sept. 20, 1898 to Rosetta Prof- fitt, daughter of John Proffitt, living near Tindall. Mrs. George was born in Grundy County, twelve miles north of Trenton, Sept. 22, 1879. The subject of this sketch left Illinois when he was about five years old coming to Grundy Coun- ty with his parents. They settled on a farm just east of the county farm, where they lived about fif- teen years, when they moved back to Illinois and both died soon after. Mr. George returned to Illi- nois with them, remaining until their death. He then came back to Grundy County where he lived until 1892, when he went to North Dakota, remain- ing six years, engaged in farming. When he re- turned to Grundy, he went to farming. For the past three years, he has been working for O. K. Brown, running the Brown place, five miles north- east of Grundy Center church. It consists of 200 acres. Mr, and Mrs. George have two children; Vergil L., born July 2, 1901, and Raymond, born March 29, 1904. C. A. HOISINGTON was born in Davis County, Iowa, April 27, 1850. He now lives on Route sev- en, Trenton, Mo. He w^as the son of J. W. Hois- ington who died in 1866, and Lydia Eddy Hoising- ton, who died in 1872. 842 HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY. -.;!TT J. C. NICHOLS. Mr. Hoisington was married Jan. 2S, 1877 to Mary E. Gooch, who was born Oct. 2, 1859, in Grundy County. They have two children; Lydia E., born Nov. 26, 1877, now Mrs. Thomas Miller of Parkerton, and Celina A., born Sept. 30, 1881, now Mrs. T. E. Hatfield of Trenton. Mr. Hoisington moved with his parents to Ohio when a boy and remained there two years, then re- turned to the old home in Iowa, where they lived and farmed until 1865. They were also in the mer- cantile business for a few years. They then came to Grundy County, where his father bought the farm now owned by S. A. Lauderback, near Park- erton. The father died a vear later. Mr. Hois- HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY 843 ington lived at home and helped care for his moth- er until her death in 1872. He then went to farm- ing for himself and later married. He farmed in the forks of the river unm'1890, when they went to South Dakota, where they lived eight years, buy- ing a ranch there and selling it, when they moved back to Missouri. In 1907, they moved to the Brush farm near Parkerton. They own no farm land at present, but have property in Trenton. They were in South Dakota at the time of the last Indian uprising and had some thrilling experiences. In Feb. 1865, Mr. Hoisington joined Co. D. 51st Mo. Infantry and remained until hostilities ceased. He was only sixteen years old when he entered and saw but little active service. DENNIS THOMPSON, son of Joseph and Mary (Askern) Thompson, both of whom are dead, was born in Harrison County, Indiana, May 6, 1844, He was educated in the public schools. He was n;iarried Dec. 8, 1867 to Margaret J. Hume. Mrs. Thompson was born in Lawrens County, Indiana, Feb. 5, 1844, and died July 3, 1886. Mr. Thomp- spn never re-married. They had eight children, s^yen of whom are living. Joseph L., was born Nov„,i.i, 1868, died Sept. 25, 1877; Ira A., born Dec. 6, 1869, teaching in Montana; Laura J., born Jan. 8, 1872, now Mrs. Thomas Ratliff ; Heman E., born July 17, 1875, lawyer at Webb City; William D., born June 14, 1877, lives in Grundy County; Charles H., born March 31, 1879, lives at home; Nora A., 844 HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY. HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY 845 born Jan. 5, 1884, lives at home; Mary M,. born July 2, 1886, now Mrs. Woodson Ratliff. Mr. Thompson left Indiana with his parents when he was about ten years old and moved to Iowa, where they remained one year, moving to Clark County, Mo. He lived there on a farm with his parents until the breaking out of the war, joining first the home guards, serving until they disbanded, being under Col. Moore, then joined the 2d Mo. S. M. serving about a year under Col. John McNeal, then joined Co. C. 3rd Iowa Cavalry and served un- til the close of the war. He was in many engage- ments but was never wounded. He was with Gen. Wilson's command which captured Jeff Davis, who was a distant relative. At the close of the war he returned to Clark County and lived with his parents until his marriage in 1867. He farmed in Clark County until 1870, then went to southern Kansas, where he remained until 1888, then came to Grundy County. He lived near the county farm for three years, then in 1891 bought his present farm, a part of the Ratliff farm, and has lived there since. He has been Justice of the Peace and member of the township board for fourteen years. He takes a deep interest in education and has one of the pretti- est homes in the county. He is a member of Jacob Smith Post G. A. R. at Trenton. S. F. TIBBETTS, son of Samuel and Drexie Smith Tibbetts, was born in Des Moines, Iowa, June 2, 1854. He now lives on Route seven, Trenton, Mo. He was married Feb. 3, 1881 to Rosina West- 846 HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY. fall who was born in Maynard County, 111., April 22, 1858. They have had eight children, seven of whom are living; B. O., born Nov. 6, 1 881, at home; Harry, born June 13, 1883, married and lives in the county; Laura B., born April 3, 1885; Glenn E., born Feb. 6, 188S, married and lives in the county; Ross, born Feb. 5, 1890; Myrtle C, born Feb. 25, 1892; Chloe F., born March 2, 1895. O"^ child died in infancy. Mr. Tibbetts lived at home with his parents until he was eighteen years old and then started out for himself. He worked on a farm for several years, married and started farming for himself. He lived in Des Moines County until thirty one years old and then moved to Keokuk Coimty where he remained nine years. In 1894, he moved to Grundy County. He lived for four years south of town, five years north of town and six years on the present farm, which is six miles northeast of Trenton, in Harrison township. It is owned by Clay McH argue and con- sists of 324 acres. WILLIAM UHRMACHER, son of Nicholas and Catharina Uhrmacher, the former of whom lives near Chillicothe and the latter of whom is dead^ was born in Hartford, Wisconsin, Oct. 16, 1863. He now lives on Route six, Trenton. He was married March 4, 1896 to Miss Louisa Schoor, daughter of Peter Schoor. They have five children; Charles H., born Jan 22, 1897; Hester K., born Oct. 7, 1898; Nellie C, born June 29, 1900-; Mafcel E., Nov. 18, 1905 and Walter H., born Sept. HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY 847 3, 1907. Mrs. Uhrmacher was born at Quincy. III., Dec. 15, 1S69 and moved with her parents to Livingston Counlv when small. Mr. Uhrmacher was the son of a shoemaker and was born at the town of Hartford, where he lived until he was five years of age when they moved to Livingston County where his father bought a farm and went to farming. The subject of this sketch lived until he was grown and married when he went to farming for himself, remaining there one year when he came to Grundy County. He leased land for a few years. In 1908, he ^^ought his pres- ent farm, which consists of too acres and is twelve miles northeast of Trenton. He does general farm- ing and stock raising. He is a memb.er of the Odd Fellow lodge. ELMER H. WOLF is a son of Levi and Eliza- beth Wolf. His father is dead, his mother living. Mr. Wolf was born in Grundy county near Spick- ards, Mo., Dec. 27, 1875. ^^ "^^^ ^^^^^ "^^^ Tren- ton. He was married to Alice Monk March 14, 1896. She is a daughter of William Monk. They have three children; Cloyce H., born December 7, 1897; Opal, October 9, 1898; Gilbert E., June 2, 19O2. ';' ^ 'Mr. Wolf lived on a farm near Spickard with his step-father, W. H. Newton, until grown. Hj^ father died when he was quite young. He went to farming for himself on a farm west of Spickard, where he lived for a number qf years. He sold this farm and in 1899 bought his, present farm of 848 HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY. one hundred and fifteen acres, on which he now lives. He handles pure bred short horn cattle and other fine stock. Mr. Wolf is a member of the K. of P. lodge. Both he and Mrs. Wolf are mem- bers of the Methodist church. Mrs. Wolf was born in Grundy County, September 5, 1878. R. V. YOUNG. RANSOM V. YOUNG was born in Hiram, Ohio, May 9th, 1840. He attended Hiram College and was a pupil of former President Gar- field. Mr. Young enlisted in Company A., 42nd' Ohio Infantry at the outbreak of the war, and serv- ed three years. He served under Garfield, the latter being Colonel of his regiment. He was in the bat- tle of Chickasaw Bluffs, Vicksburg, first attack on HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY S49 Arkansas Post, below Vicksburg, and others of the hottest engagements of the war and was mustered out Sept. 29, 1864. Mr. \ oung was in the railroad service for a year after the war, and stayed a year at Oil Creek, Penn. He was married in February, 1867, and in 1869 came to Grundy County, where he worked at the carpenters trade until 1875, when appointed city marshaU. He served six years in that capacity. He is a Republican in politics. While marshal, he was shot in the hand by John Wharton, while placing Wharton under arrest. He is past commander of Col. Jacob Smith post, G. A. R Mr. Young was married Feb. 27, 1867, to Miss Irene Bishop of Hiram, Ohio. To this union were born three children, only one of whom is living, Orin W., born Dec. 9, 1872. Wm., born Oct. 21, 1868, died Aug. 20, 1869. George B., Aug. 29, 1870, died Oct.. 19, 1877. RESIDENCE OF ARTHUR PHILLIPS 850 HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY ROBERT F. BABB was born in Lincoln township, June 9th, 1872. At fifteen he left home to shift for himself, working for awhile as a farm hand, later farming for himself. He was married Sept. 8, 1895 to Eva Lodge, daughter of John Lodge. While the most of Mr. Babb's life has been spent in Lincoln and Franklin townships, he lived for two years in Kansas. He owns a fine farm on Grand River bottom, adjoining Tindall, and has a handsome residence m that town. He is vice-presi- dent of the Tindall bank, which he helped to orga- nize, and has a number of town lots and other property. Mr. and Mrs. Babb have one child, Allie Marie, born May 2, 1896. RESIDENCE OK M, B. JOLLY HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY S51 G. H. MYERS, a substantial farmer of Myers township is a descendant of the pioneer family for whom the township was named. He is a son of Milton J. and Margaret M. Myers. He was mar- ried Oct. 28, 1879, to Miss Anna Snedegar, daugh- ter of Enos Snedegar. They have three children: Hugh C, Albert M., and Maude. Mr. IMyers is a Republican in politics. He was elected county assessor when the township organi- zation law was declared invalid, and takes an active interest in political matters. He is a member of the Masonic lodge. Mr. Myers has two large farms besides the one on which he lives, 1054 acres in all. RESIDENCE OF L, W. LEHE\Y F. B. NORDYKE was born in Clinton Coun- ty, Ohio, August 10, 1844. He came with his par- ents to Missouri when a child, living three years at St. Joseph, then coming to Grundy County where his father entered land. He joined Co. A, 44th Missouri in 1864 and served to the close of the 852 HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY war. After the war he farmed and deah in Uve stock, coming to Trenton in 1878. He was for a time in Chicago, in the Hve stock commission busi- ness. He owns land in Greely County, Kansas, but his home is in Trenton. Mr. Nordyke was married March 8, 1866 to Mary E. Smith, daughter of Washington Smith. They have ten children, nine of whom are living: Etta, born May 31, 1867, now Mrs. Jno Eckhart, lives in Colorado; Mary E., August 15, 1869, now Mrs. Austin Wise; Elmer L., Feb. 15, 1871; Le- nora E., August 8, 1872, now Mrs. Ed Wright of Kansas City; Mildred B., Oct. 12, 1874, now Mrs. Frank Wisdom, of Freeport, 111; Bertha, Jan. 18, 1876, died June 12, 1879; Maude B., Jan. 3, 1879; Frank B., Nov. 11, 1880; Alma B., July 27, 1883, now Mrs. Paul Hardy of Denver; Bercie, August 10, 1886, now Mrs. Edward Worthy. RESIDENCE OF T. J. ADAMS HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY 853 B. T. REAM, son of John and Rachel Ream, was born in Grundy County, Sept. 9, 1870. He was married March 11, 1894 to Miss Anna Punneo, daughter of Charlie and Fannie Punneo, of Lar- edo. Mrs. Ream was born April 4, 1876. They have five children; Gladys, born Feb. 26, 1895; Barney Carl, July 26, 1897; Albert Lee, July 14, 1900; Gertrude, April 23, 1906; Otto W., May 6, 1909. Mr. Ream lives on a farm with his parents until married, buying a part of the farm he nows owns soon after. His farm is three miles east of Trenton, and a part of it is the old Ream home- stead, entered by his grandfather, the Reams being one of our pioneer families. He has 370 acres of land, and keeps his farm in excellent shape. RESIDENCE OF L. N. ROBERTSON 854 HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY N. M. RIDGWAY was born in Penn. Nov. 22, 1825. He was a tailor's apprentice until grown, moving- then to Logansport, Ind., where he worked at his trade, thence moving to Iowa. He came from Osceola, Iowa, to Trenton, Grundy County in 1867, going into the grocery business. His store was burned in 1885. Mr. Ridgway was married March 17, 1848, to Rachel A. Dale, daughter of RESIDENCE OF CHAS. ENDICOTT David Dale and a relative of Rev. H. U. Dale. They have nine children, six of whom are living. Rhoda, born April 6, 1849, died Jan. 23, 1856; David, Nov. 5, 1850; Charles, Jan. 9, 1853, died in infancy; Harry C, July 15, 1854; Wm. H., Sept. 15, 1856; Mary B., March 12, 1859, now Mrs. J. M. Parker; Fannie E., Oct. 10, 1860, now Mrs. Jno. Nelson; Bettie L., Jan. 22, 1863, died in in- fancy; D. D.., Jan. 28, 1865. Mrs. Ridgway died HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY 855 in Nov. 1903. Mr. Ridgway is a highly respected veteran among Trenton's business men and citi- zens. RESIDENCE OF JOHN R. MERRILL L. F. WILLIAMS was born in Trenton, June 19, 1871. He is the son of J. W. and Martha J. Wilhams. He lived at home until nineteen, worked at the stone-masons trade for a time and was for a time in the well digging business. April 15, 1909 he was appointed night policeman by Mayor Wil- liams, which position he has filled very efficiently. Mr. Williams was married Nov. 9, 1890, to Ida J. Ricketts, daughter of Cyrus Ricketts. They have four children: Bertha, eighteen years old; Melva, eleven; Clarence, six and Helen, two. HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY 857 CORRECTIONS In a work of this size and character a few mistakes are unavoidable. Following is a list of corrections for sketches wherein the original data was either wrong or insufficient, which corrections were not received until after the sketches were in print. B. F. ASHER (see page 465). Otis Lynne, born Nov. 15, 1888; Dover, born Sept. 5, 1890. Mr. Asher's farm is located one and one half miles northeast of Dunlap. MR. AND iMKS. C. D. AXTP:LL C. D. AXTELL (see page 365) was married to Miss Cora Banta, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. W. R. Banta, Sept. 22, 1880. She was born May 31, 1858 and died in 1901. Mr. Axtell was married in 1905 to Mrs. Mattie McHargue, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. J. C. Wilson. She was born Sept. 858 HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY 17, 1868. Mr. and Mrs. Axtell are both members of the Dunlap Baptist church. He recently bought a valuable farm near the city of Trenton adjacent to the Fair Grounds. FRED D. BURRILL (see page 254), is a son of Stephen and Cornelia (Conant) Bur rill. He was married to Miss Lillie Collier in 1893. Thei: daughter, Mabel, was born June 17, 1894. Mr. Burrill was recently elected secretary of the state association of rural mail carriers, THEO BURKH ARDT, ( see page 49 1 ) . The following data was omitted in his sketch : His first wife died in Trenton in 1887, leav- ing four children : Ada, now a teacher in Wiscon- sin ; Bertha, now Mrs. T. A. Wilson, of Long Beach, Calif.: Ollie, at home; Ralph, at Telluride, Colo. He was married to Nannie M. Hancock, of the celebrated Hancock family of Virginia, Sept 24, 1890. They have two children, Harry L., and Fran- ces. E. E. E. Eliott, (see page 459) should be E. E. Eliott. W. J. GATES (see page 393) was born July 8, 1879. He was married to Miss Fannie McEl- fresh, Feb. 10, 1901. Mrs. Gates was born near Herrick, Illinois, Oct. 20, 1882. WILLIE GRIFFIN, JR. (see page 523). Mr. Griffin's father, William Griffin, was born in Wis- consin, March 11, 1840, His mother, Nancy E. (Bennett) Griffin, was born in Indiana, Feb. 26, 1839. Mr. Griffin is not a member of the Christian HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY 859 church as stated in the sketch. He is a member of the Woodmen Accident Association. H. K. HERTZOG (see page 523) should read H. K. instead of H. A. Hertzog. RESIDENCE OF E. E. ELLIOTT J. A. LANG, (see page 682) should be J. J. Lang. C. F. McLaughlin (see page 465). Mr. McLaughlin's father, Robert McLaughlin, was born in 1791 and died in 1854. Mr. McLaughlin farmed in Mercer County until 1886 when he bought the farm on which he now lives. CHAS. MUFF (see page 417) is a son of Wil- liam and Christine (Beyer) Muff. Mr. Muff's father moved to Kansas City with the family in 1869 where he was for a time employed in the baker's trade later going into business. Until he 860 HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY fvas eighteen Mr. Muff attended school and assisted his father in the baker's shop. At that time his parents moved to Emporia, he remaining in Kansas City working at the baker's trade. Five years later he went to Chicago, later returning to Kansas City, from which place he came in 1896 to Trenton where he has since lived. Mr. and Mrs. Muff have one daughter, Cora C, born April 10, 1908. He owns several real estate properties in Trenton and is in- terested in different business enterprises. JOSEPH D. PROFFIT, (see page 553) was for three years in the clerical department of the Rock Island. He was married to Sarah L. McVay. Delbert M. was born June 3, 1901. Mr. Proffit is past grand I. O . O F. and member .of W. O. W. He was first president of the Trenton organization of the Latter Day Saints, organized August 15, 1909. THOMAS SMITH (see page 434). Mr. and Mrs. Smith have four children. Theodore Man- ford, Rainey H., Raymond Rad and Dale Hudson. The latter was born July 4, 1909. J. W. TRACY (see page 486) was married March 5, 1891 to Miss Rachel Legg. She was born Jan. 14, 1861. She was educated in the Trenton schools and afterwards taught, teaching her first term at the age of seventeen. During the six and one half years of his residence at Trenton, Mr. Tracy was employed in the C. R. I. & P. shops. Their daughter, Venice, is in the junior class of the Trenton High School 'this year. HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY 861 CHAPTER XVI RECENT EVEET S— Flood of 1909— Crops ruined— Stock drowned — Life endangered — Drowth following — Farmers Store collapsed — Laredo coal chute burned. A REMARKABLY HEAVY RAIN, extend- ing from the central to the western part of North Missouri and Southern Iowa, beginning on the night of July 4, 1909, covered this entire section of the state with the worst flood in its history. The sud- den and tremendous downpour of water on the night of July 5th caused all the streams to rise with un- parallelled rapidity, overflowing all first and a con- siderable portion of second bottom land. All crops on the river and creek bottoms were ruined, miles upon miles of fencing were swept away and thou- sands of dollars worth of stock destroyed, the streams rising in the night and spreading over the bottoms so swiftly as to give the owners little chance to save their property. Water, entering the houses on the river bottoms, compelled the inmates to flee for their lives and many, especially of those on the river bottoms south of Trenton, were compelled to climb trees and remain until rescue came, which, in a few cases, required them to remain twenty- four hours. Not only were the crops on the bottom land ruined, but the rain, continuing for several days, damaged the crops on the upland to a considerable 864 HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY extent. The rain was followed by a drouth which cut the Grundy County corn crop for 1909 far short of the average. THE FARMERS STORE, one of the most splendid mercantile establishments of North Mis- souri, suffered a catastrophe on the afternoon of Tuesday, August 17, that entailed a loss of twenty to thirty thousand dollars upon the owners, Messrs. Hoffman and Merrill. The company were prepar- ing to build an addition to their store, and the necessary excavating caused an improperly con- structed retaining wall to give way, and the entire rear part of the great building collapsed. Though the collapse came about five o'clock in the afternoon when there were a number of shoppers and em- ployees in that part of the building and a number of workmen in and outside, all succeeded in escaping from the falling ruins, although some escaped by a very narrow margin. The echoes of the crash had hardly died away before Messrs. Hoffman and Merrill had a force of men clearing away the debris and were planning the erection of a larger and bet- ter addition to their building than the one that had collapsed. On the night following the collapse of the Farmers Store the coal chute of the Milwaukee railroad at Laredo burned, entailing a loss of sev- eral thousand dollars upon the railroad company. HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY 863 TABLE OF CONTENTS. CHAPTER I THE EARLIEST PERIOD:— Early Subdivisions of Missouri— The Indians — The First Settlement — Bee Hunting — First Settlers — Settlements multiply — Plowing — The Mormons— The Heatherly Gang — Commerce, Foreign — Commerce, Do- mestic — Post Office Facilities — Political — An Old Time Honeymoon and a Peep Inside the New Home — Brief Sketch of Uncle Jack Moore — Charles Scott, an Old Set- tler — Pen Pictures of The First Cabins — List of First Set- tlers 13 to 33. CHAPTER II GRUNDY COUNTY ORGANIZED:— Boundaries— The First Courts — County Seat Commission — First Eleven Town- ships — Conditions of the Country — Stock Marks — Wolves Cause Trouble — Oxen the chief Draught Animals — Grundy a Slave Holding County — Some Old Grocery Store Ac- counts — How Accounts Were Settled — The First County Judges — Minutes of the First Court Meeting — Careless in Keeping Early Records — Work of the First Grand Juries — Lincoln I'ownship Fights for the County Seat — The City of Trenton Laid Out — A Court House Built — The Year of High Waters — Grundy County in the Mexican War — The First Deaths — The Gold Fever — Major Hubbell on Early Times — The First Deed of Record — An Interesting Docu_ ment 34 to 56. CHAPTER III THE WAR PERIOD:— Sentiment Divided— Workers for the Union — Companies Raised at Trenton — Men Lost at Shiloh — Roll of Company B — Other Grundy County Companies — No Confederate Organization — Picture of Home Life Dur- ing the War — The Country — Trenton in 1861 — Politics — Ruffianism — Social Life — Correspondence — War Alarms — With the Militia 57 to 72. CHAPTER IV REMINISCENCES, J. E. CARTER:— Peculiarities of Country and People — Manner of Living — Religious Services — With "The Boys" — Amusements — Colored People — The Liquor Question — The Hamlet of Trenton — Game and Fish — Horse 866 HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY Racing — The Days of the Ferry — Sports and Incidents 73 to 85 CHAPTER V COUNTY'S DEVELOPMENT SINCE THE WAR:— Price of Land in the Sixties — Stray Notices — Deer Still Plentiful — Jail Built — Building Improvements — County Business — The County Fair in 1870 — The Market in 1871 — Country, Towns and Schools in the Seventies — Post Office Service — The Coming of the Railroad — Wealth of the County in the Eighties — In the Nineties — Rural Free Deliver^ — Court House Built— Local Option 87 to 95. CHAPTER VI TOWNSHIPS AND TOWNS:— Franklin Township— Spickards — Harrison Township — Jackson Township — Jefferson Town- ship — Hickory — Liberty Townshjp — Gait — Elizaville — Lin- coln Township — Tindall — Madison Township — Edinburg Marion Township — Lindley — Dunlap — Granville — Myers Township- — Cookseyville — Taylor Township — Brimson — Trenton Township- — Washington Township — Wilson Town- ship — Alpha — Laredo 97 to 115. CHAPTER VII THE CITY OF TRENTON:— The Legend Of ils Founding- Crooked Streets — Slow Growth— The Village of Bluft GiQve^The Railroad Brings a New Era — Trenton in 1871 — TrrnU.n in 1878 — Fires — Building Improvements — Water Wo! k.s— The Trenton of Today 117 to 122. CHAPTER VIII POLITICAL:- The First Election- -The Barbecue— The Men Who Have Led — Early Political Battles — The Grange — '1 he First Temperance Move — I.,o~-«l Option in 18S6— Local Option in 1907— County Officers, 1842 to 1908... 123 to 142. CHAPTER IX EDUCATIONAL:— The First Schools- Description of the Old Log School House: — The Teacher — The Course of Study — District Organized — Early Enumerations — Teachers Wages List of Teachers in 1881 — County Schqol Commissioners — The Jewett Norris Library — Grand River College — Its First Course of Study — :A New Building — Period of Pros- perity — The Men at the Ilead — Avalon College — Its Estab- lishment — Vrooman Co-Operative Scheme — The Trenton High School Proper — Growth of the School — lyist of Su- perintendents-^The Trenton Schqol of Today. ...143 to 155. HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY 867 CHAPTER X NEWSPAPERS:— The First Attempt— The Republican— The Times— The Star— The Tribune— The News— The Gait Her- ald—The Gait Sun— The Laredo Tribune— The Grundy County Gazette — The Spickard Herald — The Brimson Ban- ner — The Brimson Booster 157 to 166. CHAPTER XI INDUSTRIAL— County Ranks High in Agriculture— Valuation of Property — Manufacturing — Table of Industries — Table of Wage Earners' Salaries — Review of Manufacturing Indus- tries — Mining — Surplus Products of County — Telephone Systems — Railroads — First Efiforts — Company Organized — Bonds Voted — The Rock Island Comes— Machine Shop-3 — Quincy, Omaha & Kansas City — Chicago, Milwaukee & St. Paul 167 to 192. CHAPTER XIX CRIMES, CASUALTIES AND SUICIDES:— The Hentherleys The Murder of Jack Pefifers— S. C. Wilson Killed— Death of Bert Joiner — Other Deaths — Mrs. Ben King and Chil- dren Drowned , 193 to 200 CHAPTER XIII GRUNDY COUNTY'S GREAT MEN:— Tewelt Norris, the Carnegie of Grundy County — Col. John H. Shanklin, Law- yer and Jurist — Rezin A DeBolt, Politician and Lawyer — Richard C. Norton, LL. D., Pioneer Educator— 201 to 210 CHAPTER XIV PEN PICTURES OF CITY:— Schools— Library— Churches- Banks — Park — Hotels — Court House — Fire Company — Rail- roads — Gas & Electric Light Co. — Newspapers — Mining — Telephone — Postoffice — Ice Company — Brick and Tile Com- pany—Poultry Plant— Missouri Auction School— Wholesale Business — Golf — Automobiles — Corn Show — Chautauqua — Lecture Course — Sewers — Paving — Water — Resume — 211 to 233. CHAPTER XVI RECENT EVENT S— Flood of 1909— Crops ruined— Stock drowned — Life endangered — Drowth following — Farmers Store collapsed — Laredo coal chute burned. HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY INDEX. Figures i/i t/ie Jirsl column denote the page on nvhich the sketch appears; those hi the second column are for pictures. Adams ADA B 353 Adams T J 625 Adams W R 625 Addison Chas 237 Addison Walter ...363 Akers J E 626 Allen Everett 626 787 Allen Frank 499 Allerdice R W 235 236 Anderson E L, 443 Anderson G M 237 Anderson S W 627 Babb R F 851 754 Babb W H 753 755 Bailey D T 245 246 Bain C J 243 244 Bain H J 241 240 Bain O G 241 Bain W W 493 Baird G E 630 829 Baker E N 242 242 Baker J H 503 Baker R M 756 Ballinger B F 504 Balsley J M 594 594 Bank Spickardsville.494 Banta Chas 239 Banta Pearl 239 Barr J C 247 757 Beach J L 595 Beacom T H 757 446 Beck R H 372 Beckner Marion ...366 515 Bell W C 631 828 Belse Claude 446 447 Belshe H G 632 Benge W D 247 Bennett J N 248 Benschoten Jno . . . .448 Anderson W A ....444 444 Anderson W W ....445 Arney David 499 500 Asher B F 363 582 Asher Howard ....753 Asher J A 628 628 Asher Scott 364 Austin Oscar 629 Axtell C D 365 Axtell J E 365 Axtell W H 366 Blanchard A J 633 Blattner Isaac ....634 635 Bondurant A R 636 Bosley F L 637 Boyce R E 758 Branson Joe 505 Brassfield J N 637 795 Brennenstuhl F B ..449 Brennenstuhl C A ..250 Brewer W H 759 760 761 Bridges AM 638 639 Briegel Adam 505 Brooks J C 590 590 Brooks J B 756 Brooks W T 591 592 Brower T S 639 Brown A K 494 495 Brown D C 496 496 Brown D C Jr 640 Brown E E 641 Brown Herbert ....250 Brown S L 589 Brown T A 642 642 Brown Wesley 594 Brown WO 375 Browning H H 251 HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY 869 Benton Jas 367 Benton J B 248 667 Berry D R 369 370 371 Berry F A 249 Berry T B 368 Bickel Chas 373 Bickel Ed 633 Bickel Sam'l 2,7 2> Bickel W H 374 Black J W 592 594 Blackburn C P 374 Campbell H C 597 597 660 Carnes J B 255 256 Carpenter C C 451 452 Carpenter E F 376 Carpenter J A 2,77 Carpenter R J 377 Carpenter R O 453 Carpenter W B .. ..258 Carter John 259 259 Cate Wm 260 Chalfant Claude ...261 Chase B K 453 Clark G W 454 455 Clark John 378 Clark S T 508 Clawson J H 273 Claypole D H 379 Claypole J A 644 826 Clinkenbeard S M ..456 Cloyd H H 263 Cockran R L 274 Coit W R 645 836 Colley M N 262 Collier Luther 262 Collins John 264 Collins T J 761 Cook C H 379 Dale H U 765 Dalhouse Dean ....388 Davenport Alonzo .458 Day S S 646 Bruce Arch 643 Brummitt W W ...254 493 Buchanan AH 501 501 Buckert Ed 502 503 Burkeholder AH ..251 Burkeholder Norton. 449 450 Burkhardt T 491 Burrill F D 254 Burt W F 506 Burtch W O 450 Bushong John 507 Butler i\ T 375 Cook E A 380 381 Cook E W 457 457 Cooksey U S 264 Hoffman H F 531 622 Coon D W 265 Cooper Ed 509 Copple Clay 382 Cornwell AT ^98 Cornwell Frank ...384 479 Cornwell L P 509 Cowhick John 267 268 Cox E S 510 Cox J A 266 Cox Levi 267 Cox S R 266 Crabb J M 383 Craig Peter 385 Grain I H 762 763 Craini F H 599 Crawford C W 511 512 Crawford H C 269 270 Crawford W C ....511 835 Crooks A B 272 Crutcher T B 645 Cunningham H A ..513 Cunningham W J . . .492 Curry S B 764 764 Cutlip George 272 Dean E A 514 Denslow W M 275 276 Deskins J D 372 Deskins W P 385 870 HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY Devore G F 817 Dillon J R m 277 Doan John 647 Dobbins C. H 386 Doerr H J 387 387 Donaldson J A ....648 Douglas J W 599 Elledge M L 278 279 Ellington O T ....652 652 Eliott E E 459 Elliott F A 516 Elliott Isaac 650 838 Elliott S D 600 601 Evans J B 282 Fair J A 460 Fair J F 653 Fanning Joseph ....517 Farnsworth D W ..390 390 Fickel C L 461 Fickel H F 653 Fisher F M 768 768 Fleming C F 769 Fleshman L S 389 Folkers Harry 285 Ford B F 605 606 Ford B M 654 Ford G W 288 Gall G W 661 Gallatin H W 391 758 Gallatin O S 609 609 Gallion J M 288 Garnand S G 392 Garnand WO 519 520 691 Garvin W O 771 772 Gass CD 662 662 Gass E R 663 663 Gates Jas 608 Gates W J 393 Grhlbaeh Otto ....664 Gentry Chas 606 607 George G ;841 Dowell Wm 515 Drumniond J T 389 Dudley James 459 Dufify E A 767 Duke L F 648 Dunlap Jesse 649 650 Elliott W E 278 280 Elmore SAD 281 Endicott C S 651 Estes Jas S 281 Evans E R 602 Ford Rose T 656 655 Ford J E 283 286 Ford T B 770 770 Foster C A 287 Fox F E 518 518 French A W 603 French J A 604 604 Frey G W 656 Fulkerson F D ....657 658 Fulkerson J F 839 Fulkerson T F 603 Fulkerson W D ...287 Fullerton E W 659 Gibson W P 393 Gillespie H M 289 Ginn Harve 461 Gooch A K 394 Gordon W B 521 Gose T A 666 666 Gose WD .522 765 Catt J T 839 Gray Alfred 665 Green C A 290 Green R J ...| HZ 774 Grififee W H 774 Griffin Willie ......523 Guiles Fred 291 HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY 871 Hall Geo 291 292 Hall H E 610 817 Hall H S 667 702 Hamilton Otto 529 Harber E M 775 776 Harris W G 396 Hart Selah 618 668 Hartley J C 295 294 296 485 Hartley S A 395 811 Hartley Walter ...669 670 Haynes C A 675 Hendrickson Geo. ..295 Hendrickson J W ..397 507 Hendrickson W N .530 Herriott G P 610 Herriott J E yn Hertzog H K 523 Hessenflow D B ...298 Hildebrand J A ...675 Hildebrand W H ...675 Hill J S 397 Hill Sam'l 298 Hlli S R 676 Hinkley Jno 398 Hobbs V O 398 Hoisington C A ...841 HoUoway 671 Holloway DA... .671 Hortenstine H 818 Horton Tyrus 524 Hosteller W M ...525 Hubbell Geo 300 Hubbell O P 671 Hubbell W W ....778 Huckins Geo 532 Hudson Frank ....527 Hudson J T 300 Hughes H J 533 Hughes J W 528 Hughes W J 673 Humphreys U G . . .301 Humphreys W H ..303 Hunter W C 400 Hurt Clayton 528 299 399 526 808 778 527 302 Ingraham J W .677 Jackson B 678 678 Jackson G T 820 819 Jackson J E 821 Jackson R B 401 Jackson R F 307 Jackson W R 304 304 Jackson WW 305 306 Johnson J M 534 534 Kathan E G 539 Keith C C 780 Keith J B 462 Keith N W 404 406 Keith T H 405 407 Keith W D 6ll Keiso Joe 680 681 Kelso S S 308 Kennedy G L ... ..540 Johnson J M 535 Johnson M 401 Johnson W H ....307 Joiner W P 402 402 Jolly M B 779 Jones F J 680 Jones J F 403 403 Kilburn Andy 821 822' Kilburn I J 826 Kilburn J B 825 Kilburn J T 823 824 King B B 536 537 King D B 538 King W E 682 Knight A G 308 Koon I F 309 872 HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY Lang J J 682 Langdon A P 541 Lauderback S A ...684 Layson J O 781 Layson W F 827 Lee F W 683 Lee J H 407 Leeper J L 309 Legg J V 541 Legg Marion 781 LeHew J C 408 LeHew L W 686 Mack G F 698 Mack Jas 464 Mack O E 809 Madden F M 316 Mairs E J 545 Mang A 699 Mang J 464 Marlin W E 808 Marrs D C 545 Marsden A N 783> Marsden J L 411 Martin C F 692 Martin Fred 466 Martin G E 320 Martin Joseph 319 Martin Joshua ....321 Martin R J 692 Mason E L 323 Mason J W 693 McAdams W J . . ..310 McCall C C 312 McCaull W S 831 McClanahan C L ..313 McCown Jas 313 McCracken W A .. .314 McGee J W 311 McKee D W 410 McLain Jno 830 McLaughlin Collins. 688 McLaughlin C F ...465 McMbUen Harry ...691 McMullen Miles .. .690 683 816 408 782 318 546 784 324 311 831 410 Lein F L 685 Lemley D C 542 Lemley L C 685 Lenhardt Jno 543 Lenhardt J A 543 Lenz J G 829 Lightner E C 686 Longstreth P S ...687 Lowen J M 409 Lowry H L 462 Luke S P 544 Lynch G A 782 McMurtry W H ..695 McRae Ira 315 McVay W A 696 Means B F 811 Merrifield J E 415 Merrill Jno 693 Merryman Jno . . . .412 Merryman H P ...694 Merryman T C 611 Merryman W A ...612 Mterryman W A Miller A P 412 Miller C N 703 Miller N T 547 Miller O R 703 Miller Thos 547 Minter D N 614 Moberly Harry .. ..812 Moberly E J ^21 Montgomery A D ..616 Mooney M H 548 Moore Albert 704 Moore C E 414 Moore C M 414 Moore T E 471 Moore Jno 549 Moore J D 699 Moore J M 468 Moore R J 469 Moore W D 700 Morris Harry 322 Morris Will 322 767 463 810 316 697 416 695 613 614 6L 330 548 468 700 GRUNDY COUNTY HISTORY 873 Muff Chas 417 418 Munn O K 550 Murphy F D 701 Nelson Nels 551 Neeky C W 701 Neeley H 705 796 Newman Jno 812 Niccum E J 327 Nicholas A 2,21 467 Nichols B C 325 O'Connell M J ....784 Orchard J F 328 Overman C W 420 Overton J G 617 617 Padget Geo 328 329 Parkhurst A E ....421 Patrick H B 707 707 Patterson H M ....708 Patterson Jno 421 Patterson W E ....422 Patton J B 708 709 Patton B M 786 Peery H T 552 553 Pennell A 710 Pennell C A 330 Pennell E G 712 711 Rader T H 332 332 Range C E 425 426 Ratliff J N 788 789 Ratliff Marcellus . . .554 Ratliff W E 555 556 Ratliff W T 557 Ream B T 853 844 Ream J M 716 790 Raid Geo 557 Renfro J C 478 477 Renfro J N 714 Renfro W H 426 Rensch H A 333 Riddle D V 715 R dgway N M 334 Murphy J G 416 Myers A T 323 Myers G H 851 Nichols Hugh 471 472 Nichols J C 551 842 Nichols J G 473 499 Nichols M 326 Nichols Sarah 418 419 Nordyke F B 852 Norton Wm 475 Overton J S 785 785 Owen G G 705 Owens W E 706 Oyler Arthur 813 814 Pennell W E 423 Pew D E 815 Pew W A 834 Phillips Ralph 423 424 Phillips D E 712 Pickett O A 330 331 Portman Jno 834 Pratt J E 425 Proctor W F 476 Proctor B D 835 Proffit J D 553 Pulliam W R 713 713 Rinker J T 715 Robb L S 427 Robbins W R 478 583 Robertson J G 618 Robertson EM.. .716 Robertson W H ...790 Robinson LP 334 Robinson Mrs Phil. 559 Roh H W 428 474 Rooks A E 717 Root J W 335 336 Ross J F 718 Rucker W L 337 Ruppert C L 337 338 Rusk Eric 428 429 874 GRUNDY COUNTY HISTORY Sandlin Da 734 Spickard Roy 347 Starr O J 347 Steckman EH 728 Stein H 794 Stepp P C 562 Stepp WD 563 Stevens J S 728 Storms AC 729 791 Stratton W H 564 564 Stuart W C 569 569 Summers C C 730 Sutton Bertha 348 Sutton George 734 Swank D S 570 Swank E V 349 Swank Jacob 349 Sweetman 483 Swinton H L 484 Sykes A K 565 Thompson D T ....843 798 Thompson Fred ...574 Tierney H B 437 Tibbetts S F 845 Titcomb G H 349 Tolle F S 352 Tolson A C 350 Tolson O C 738 Toot J G 352 Tracy J W 486 Tracy N R 798 799 GRUNDY COUNTY HISTORY 875 Travis K W 739 Uhrmacher Wm Urton W C 741 Vawter Frank W S .575 620 Wagner J A 487 Wagner Jr 747 Wagner O C 747 Walker Dale 438 Warden LA 356 357 Warren J H 359 Warren Nancy 748 Warren W H 802 Webster C W 439 Welch A F 580 801 Westfall J 742 742 Westlake W C 581 Wettstein Henry ..439 440 Whan J M 357 358 White A M 359 624 Wild P G 806 806 Wilford E E 353 Williams C B 743 803 Williams Claude ...440 Williams O G 354 116 Williams T L 441 Williams L F 851 Williamson L F ..619 Willis J A 621 Wilson C C 441 442 Wilson E C 623 Wilson E M 581 Yambert Roy 442 Young EL 587 Young R V Ziegler O S 588 Turner J 740 470 Utterback Barton ..744 744 Vencill Frank 745 746 Wilson J D 488 488 Wilson J W 749 749 Wilson P R 491 Wilson T A 489 490 Wilson T S 751 Wilson W A 577 578 Wilson W E 803 Wilson W T 579 Wilson W T 750 672 Winfrey J R 355 Winningham Dr. ...799 800 Wirt R R 366 Witten S G 356 Witten T N 801 Wolf Elmer 847 Wood B F 360 Wood F L 752 Woodress T A 361 362 Woods L V 584 584 Woods W P Wolz Geo 804 804 Wolz G M 805 Wolz Jno 576 577 Wright J R 623 Wright J R 585 Wyatt Amy 750 Young W R Young WW 588 iPB^o/'^