p. 839 - WILLIAM J. BABB.
The father of the subject of this sketch, Rev. R. F. Babb, was a prominent
Baptist minister of South Carolina, of which State he was a native, born
October 26th, 1816. He married Miss Virginia A. Cooper, also a native of
the Palmetto State, born October 8th, 1822. In December, 1858, Rev. R. F.
Babb, with his wife and six children, removed from Abbeville district, S.
C., to Audrain county, Mo. From thence he came to Boone; then back to
Audrain, and finally in 1872, located in Columbia. His children consisted
of five sons and one daughter, viz: Joseph C. Babb (since deceased), Wm.
J. Babb, James F. Babb (since deceased), Henry B. Babb, Jerry G. Babb, and
Eugie P. Babb.
The subject of this sketch is the son of John and Ann (Canfield) Baker. He
was born in Alfriston, county of Sussex, England, July 26th, 1817, and was
reared and educated in England, where he also learned the trade of a
shoemaker, serving an apprenticeship under his brother, John Baker. He
came to America in 1843, and first settled at Jefferson City, Missouri,
removing the year following to Callaway county, where he remained until
1845, when he returned to Jefferson City. His next move was to Franklin
county, where he taught school for one year. The next two years were spent
at St. Charles county. In the spring of 1848 he moved to Boone county, and
settled near Ashland, where he was engaged to teach school. Spent one year
in that locality, removing in 1849 to Providence, Boone county, where he
worked at his trade. In the spring of 1851 he moved to Columbia and has
lived there ever since. In 1850 he was engaged by the American Tract
Society, and has been with them ever since. He has also acted as agent for
the Boone County Bible Society since 1851, and since that time he has
circulated some seven or eight hundred thousand Bibles and religious
books. He also preaches when called upon to do so. He is now president and
treasurer of the executive board of the Little Bonne Femme Association,
which position he has held for three years. Mr. Baker was married June
28th, 1838, at the Baptist Church, in Lewis, county of Sussex, England, to
Miss Leath, daughter of Henry and June A. (Hope) Smith. They have had five
children, two sons and three daughters: Mary A., Hattie (deceased),
William K. (deceased), Elizabeth J. and Samuel H., who is one of the firm
of Trimble, Fyfer & Co. He was educated at the Baptist College and State
University. In 1866, he commenced clerking for T. B. Gentry, and remained
with him for two years. In December, 1868, he went in with J. R. Garth &
Co., and was in the grocery business until January, 1880, when he entered
the store of Trimble, Fyfer & Co., as a clerk. In 1881 he became a partner
in the business. He is a member of the Baptist Church and a Good Templar.
He is an excellent business man, and has won the confidence and esteem of
the entire community. He has a bright future before him, and deserves no
less.
Was born in Norfolk, Virginia, August 1st, 1824. He is the son of
Sylvester and Elsey Baker, both natives of Virginia. When he was a child
only a few years old they moved to the plain where the city of Nashville
now stands. They settled on eighty acres of land where the city now
stands. They remained there a short time and then came to St. Louis county
and after a few months moved to Montgomery county, MO., and settled on the
Loutre and built a mill a quarter of a mile below the plain where Capt.
Callaway was killed by the Indians at the junction of Dry Fork and Loutre.
In connection with the mill Mr. Baker had a cotton gin and inhaling the
lint was the cause of his death, which occurred about five or six years
after he settled in Montgomery county. He was judge of the county court at
the time of his death. John F. was at that time about nine years old. Mrs.
Baker lived about twenty years after the death of her husband; she died at
Danville, Montgomery county, about 1850, at the age of eighty-one years.
They were both members of the Methodist church. John F. Baker lived in
Montgomery county about ten years after the death of his father. In 1845
he came to Columbia and was engaged as a salesman in the employ of Wm. H.
Bass. In 1847 and 1848 he was deputy sheriff under Chas. C. Maupin. He was
married in 1848 to Miss Sarah Ann Gordon, daughter of George M. Gordon, of
Columbia. By this union there were four children -- James M., Bettie, Odon
and Sallie. Odon died in infancy, all the others live in Columbia. James
M. is a member of the Columbia Milling Co. Bettie is the wife of Wm. T.
Anderson. Mrs. Baker died in 1861 and is buried at Columbia. Mr. Baker was
in the mercantile business from 1848 until the breaking out of the war. He
was sutler of the 9th Missouri cavalry during the war. In 1865 he was
elected sheriff of Boone county and held the office two years. He then
went to St. Louis and lived there seven years. He sold goods on the road
and collected money for several firms throughout the South and West during
that time. In 1875 he came back to Columbia, where he has since resided.
He was a member and chairman of the board of trustees of Columbia for
several years. He is now street commissioner. Mr. Baker is now working up
a new enterprise in the way of an establishment for canning fruits,
vegetables, etc. He has only put up comparatively small quantities, but
has been very successful so far. His intention is to organize a stock
company and open the business on a large scale. He uses the process
employed by the Oneida community of New York.
Robert Baldridge, the father of William, was a native of Kentucky, but
left that state with his parents, when but five years old. They came to
St. Charles county in 1795. The father of William was married in 1809 to
Miss Margaret Rybalt, a native of Kentucky. Robert Baldridge was a soldier
in the war of 1812. He died December 3d, 1865. Mrs. Baldridge died in
Boone county, May 16th, 1878. William was the sixth son and eighth child
of a family of seven boys and five girls, of whom three sons and two
daughters are now living. One sister, Mrs. ONeil, lives in Boone county.
William Baldridge was born in St. Charles county, Missouri, February 26th,
1827. He remained on his fathers farm until he was eighteen years old,
when he came to Boone county. He farmed for two years, then entered the
shop of John Batterton, where he learned the carpenters trade. After three
years apprenticeship, he commenced work for himself, and continued the
business until 1854. In 1855 he bought a farm on Dry Ridge, which he
cultivated until 1865. He sold the place in 1868 and removed to the farm
where he now lives, seven miles northwest of Ashland. Mr. Baldridge was
married, November 30th, 1854, to Miss Louisa J. Dickey, a native of
Kentucky, but a resident of Boone county. They have five sons and four
daughters, all of whom, except one son, are living. In the winter of 1862,
the subject of this sketch enlisted in the Confederate service, but did
not go South until the summer of 1863. He was a member of Capt. Twists
company, Dorseys battalion and Hindmans division. On the retreat from the
Prairie Grove battle, Mr. Baldridge was captured by the enemy and taken to
Springfield and from there to Gratiot street prison, St. Louis. He was
afterwards sent to City Point, Virginia, for exchange, which was effected
June 7th, 1863. Mr. Baldridge at once reported to his battalion at
Arkadelphia. He was detailed to remain at this post with the sick. Having
been transferred to Youngs battalion, he was sent by Gen. Shelby to Boone
county, for the purpose of recruiting a company. He afterwards joined
Mitchells brigade, becoming a member of Searcys battalion of
sharp-shooters. He remained with this command until the close of the war.
He is a member of the Nashville Baptist church, also of the Nashville
grange.
Capt. Ugenus Baldwin was born in Shelby county, Indiana, near Shelbyville,
the county seat, February 16th, 1833. When he was four years old his
parents removed to Missouri and settled in Boone county, seven miles
southeast of Rocheport, where he was raised, remaining with his parents
until he reached manhood. In 1854, when in his twenty-first year, he went
to Buchanan county, where he engaged in teaching for one year. Returning
home he attended Lathrop Academy for two sessions, afterwards resuming his
profession, teaching in Moniteau, Boone, Cooper and Howard counties. He
enlisted, August 11th, 1861, in the Confederate army, under Capt. James
Watson and Col. John B. Clark. He was made second lieutenant and served
for six months, part of the time as captain of the company. In 1862 he
entered the regular Confederate service. In April of that year he joined
Company C,, 6th Infantry, and in September following was made third
lieutenant, rising by promotion to the office of first lieutenant, which
place he held until the close of the war. He was in many battles, the most
important being Lexington, Pea Ridge, Vicksburg, Corinth, Iuka and Port
Gibson. His command was captured at Vicksburg and exchanged in the winter
of 1863-64, becoming a part of the second and sixth regiments, Missouri
Infantry. He held the position of first lieutenant in the
re-organization,. He next participated in the battles of New Hope Church,
Kenesaw Mountain, and a series of skirmishes from New Hope Church to
Atlanta. From Atlanta he was sent by Gen. Hood with one hundred men to
operate in the rear of Shermans army, as the latter was marching on that
city. At the battle of Franklin he had command of the infirmary corps, and
was employed in burying the dead and removing the wounded from the battle
field. In December of that year he was made provost marshal of Cockerells
brigade, which position he held until his command was captured in Alabama,
April 9th, 1865. They were kept prisoners until the close of the war. Mr.
Baldwin remained in Mississippi for one year after the close of the war,
engaged in teaching. He returned to Boone county in 1868, and went to
farming, teaching school of winters. Mr. Baldwin was married in the fall
of 1868 to Miss Laura, daughter of William Allen, of Boone county, after
which he purchased the farm where he now resides. He farms during the
summer and teaches of winters. They have four children: Minnie Lee, Lillie
May, Emmett Allen, and Mattie Pearl, all of whom are living with their
parents. Mr. and Mrs. Baldwin are members of the Mount Nebo Methodist
church. He is also a member of the Rocheport lodge of Ancient Order United
Workmen. In 1874 he was appointed a magistrate to fill a vacancy, after
which he was elected to the office and has held the position ever since.
Henry Brown Barger, the father of John, was born near Sparta, West
Tennessee, June 12, 1803, and came to Boone county, Missouri in 1819. He
was married, February 26, 1826, to Phoebe Wilfley. He died January, 1872.
The subject of this sketch was born October 2, 1828. Moved from Callaway
county, Missouri, to Atchison county in 1858, where he lived for seven
years, moving next to Moniteau county where he staid [sic] for two years,
then to Boone where he has lived ever since. He was raised on a farm, but
learned the carpenters trade. Farming is now his chief occupation. Was
married, December 25, 1855, to Miss Harriet, daughter of Philip and Sarah
Barger. One child was born of this marriage, Sarah Jane, now dead. Was
married the second time, March 28, 1858, to Miss P. A. Roads, daughter of
Thomas and Nancy Roads. She died April 23, 1864. Three children were born
of this marriage, two of whom are now living, Harriet Ann and John
William. Mr. Barger was married the third time, March 1, 1866, to Miss
Elizabeth S., daughter of Jesse and Jane (Wilfley) Nichols. They have no
children by this marriage. Mr. and Mrs. Barger are both members of the
Baptist church at Mt. Pleasant. They are also members of the grange, of
which he was master for two years. Mr. Barger is a member of the Masonic
lodge at Ashland. He makes a specialty of growing all kinds of fruits. He
was first to introduce the English gooseberry, and has paid as high as
three dollars for a single pear tree. He has about two hundred apple
trees, and four hundred peach trees, and small fruits almost without
number. His farm is situated in the northeast quarter section 33, township
46, range 12. He possesses a relic of the last century, a die and bolt for
cutting wooden screws, which his father brought from Tennessee in 1819.
John Barnes, the father of Durrett, was a citizen of this county while it
was yet the abode of wild Indians. The only means of safety was the rude
forts constructed by the early pioneers, in which they took refuge when
the Indians were on the war-path. John Barnes came to Howard county in
1808 with his father, Shadrach Barnes. They forted for several years near
Old Franklin. John was one of a family of twelve children, eight sons and
four daughters, all of whom lived to have families. Durrett Barnes was
born in Boone county, September 13, 1822. His opportunities for obtaining
an education were very limited. His first teacher was Overton Harris, who
taught in a little log cabin with puncheon floor. The boys attended this
school clad in the simplest style that could be imagined, their entire
wardrobes consisting of but a single garment made from the lint of flax,
grown on the farm and manufactured at home by industrious mothers and
daughters who knew nothing of the luxuries and vanities of civilization,
and cared less. The subject of this sketch was married to Miss Caroline
E., daughter of Philip Lyle, a native of New York. They had eight
children, six sons and two daughters. Their names are Ellen F., Thomas T.,
Philip, Filmore, Dora A., Robert D., William H., and John. There are but
five of the number living. During the war, Mr. Barnes entered the
Confederate service under Colonel Joe Porter, and was taken prisoner and
kept at Alton, Illinois, until 1864, when he was released and allowed to
return home. His first wife having died, he was married a second time to
Lavinia Kanatzar, nee Roberts, in 1869. He is now living on a faroof 240
acres in Centralia township.
The subject of this sketch is the son of Benjamin Barnes, a native of
Kentucky, and with one exception, the only citizen of Boone, now living,
who came to this county in 1817. He is now eighty-five years old. The
mother of Elias Barnes was Lucretia Simms, who came to Missouri when a
child. Elias was born June 15, 1839. He was the seventh son and tenth
child of his fathers family. He was raised on the farm entered by his
father soon after his arrival in Boone county, and was educated at the
common schools of his neighborhood. He remained with his father until 1864
when he enlisted in the Confederate army, joining Captain Strodes company,
of Searcys regiment, in which he served until the close of the war. He was
in Prices raid and took part in all the battles fought on the retreat from
Independence to Cane Hill. After the close of the war he was a member of
the home guard at Columbia for several months. In the fall of 1865 he went
to work on the farm owned by Mrs. K. Fortney. July 29, 1867, he was
married to Miss Lou, daughter of Mrs. K. Fortney, who is still living at
the advanced age of eighty-seven years. In the winter of 1870 he came to
the farm where he now lives, in sections 6 and 7, township 47, range 12.
He has always followed the occupation of a farmer. They have one daughter,
Cannabel.
Of the many brave, generous, self-sacrificing ministers who came at an
early day to the frontier wilderness of Missouri, bringing the glad
tidings of salvation to sinful men, none were more loved and respected
than Elder James Barnes, who was first in the presence and first in the
hearts of the primitive settlers of Boone county. His was a three-fold
mission. He was a soldier of the cross, a soldier of war and a teacher. He
was neither learned nor brilliant, but for the age in which he lived, and
the field in which he toiled, he was well fitted. The fruits of his labor
survive him, and will remain through untold ages yet to come.
Elder Barnes was born in Madison county, Kentucky, September 18, 1788. He
made a profession of religion when but fifteen years old, and was baptized
and admitted a member of the Yates Creek church, the denomination being
that of the Old School, or Regular Baptist. In the year 1800 Elder Barnes
emigrated to Missouri, making Fort Hempstead the objective point of his
journey. In this fort, which was situated in Howard county, he was
afterwards married. He proved a useful member of the little band gathered
for mutual protection, within the four walls of this rude stockade. When
assailed he took his rifle and helped defend the fort. When the storm of
battle was over, and the yell of the merciless savage no longer called the
vigilant pioneers to the ramparts or the port-holes, Elder Barnes turned
his attention to other, and more congenial, tasks. He preached and prayed
with all the fervor of his ardent, God-fearing nature, for the salvation
of those whom a special providence seemed to have placed within reach of
his warning voice. Another duty he found both leisure and opportunity for,
and he discharged it faithfully. He became their temporal as well as
spiritual teacher. His pupils were eager to acquire the rudiments of
education, and thankful for this their first and, perhaps, only
opportunity of learning to read.
Matthew Barnes, the subject of this sketch, is probably entitled to the
distinction of being the oldest natural-born citizen of either Boone or
Howard counties. He is the son of Amos and Dorcas (Kincaid) Barnes, and
was born in Kincaids Fort, June 5, 1813. He was the first-born of a family
of eight children. His father and mother were married in the fort by Rev.
John Tharp, a Methodist minister, who had cast his fortunes with this
little pioneer band. Mrs. Barnes was the daughter of David Kincaid, after
whom the fort was named. Theirs was the first marriage solemnized in the
fort. Amos Barnes was a native of Madison county, Kentucky. Mrs. Barnes
was also a native of Kentucky. Amos Barnes died in 1834, but his wife
survived him for many years, having lived until near the close of the late
civil war. Matthew Barnes has spent his life in Boone county. He is now
living on a small farm in the northwest corner of Perche township. He was
married, December 14, 1834, to Miss Jane, daughter of Benjamin Sanderson.
They have nine children, seven of whom are living, one daughter and six
sons. All but one are living in Boone.
p. 1016 - THOMAS COLTER BARNES.
Thomas C. Barnes was born in Old Franklin, Howard county, Missouri, May
27th, 1819. He is the son of James and Nancy (Colter) Barnes. His father
died when he was but three years old and his mother removed to Boone
county, settling on a farm near Columbia. He remained at home with his
mother until 1835, when in his sixteenth year, he went to Columbia to
learn the saddlers trade, serving under James Richardson. He remained in
the shop four years and a half. During this time he attended school six
months. He afterwards went to school five months at his own expense. In
1840 he began farming as a renter and so continued for five years, when he
bought the farm he now occupies, which then contained 160 acres, situated
five and one-half miles northwest of Columbia. He has added to this by
subsequent purchases, and now owns 240 acres. Mr. Barnes has been twice
married. His second wife was Miss Susan Davenport, of Boone county. He has
ten children, five by each wife. The children by the first marriage are
Margaret U., wife of John Davenport, of Boone county; James S., a farmer
in Audrain county; Amanda, wife of Richard F. Farthing, of Audrain county;
William H., of Audrain county, and Mary, wife of Edward Farthing, of
Audrain. By his second wife: John G., on the homestead; Minnie A., wife of
Joseph Bennett, of Boone county; David D., Emma Ellen, and Malissa Jane.
Mr. Barnes and wife are members of the Oakland Christian church. Previous
to changing his membership, he served as elder in the Friendship Christian
church, for nine years. During the war he remained neutral. Mr. Barnes has
always taken a deep interest in local school matters and has served on the
school board of his district for many years, being much of the time
chairman of the committee.
p. 710 - THOMAS HARRIS BARNES.
Thomas Harris Barnes is the son of Thomas H. Barnes, of Madison county,
Kentucky, where he was born January 8, 1860. His mother was Ann Wingfield,
a native of Virginia. The father of Thomas died when his son was but three
years old, He had served his native county in the capacity of county court
clerk. He was a member of the Christian church. Mrs. Harris removed to
Missouri with her family of six children in the fall of 1866, settling
three miles west of Centralia, where she remained until her death. Thomas
H. prepared himself for teaching in the public schools. He followed his
profession until 1882, when he formed a partnership with R. H. Wilhite in
the boot and shoe trade. They have a good business, with flattering
prospects for the future. Mr. Harris is a member of the Good Templar lodge
at Centralia.
was born in the city of St. Louis, Missouri, September 12, 1847, where he
continued to reside till he was 18 years old. His parents were Thomas and
Lucy (nee Smith) Barron, and they lived for several years in St. Louis,
where Peter obtained his education in the public schools. At 12 years old,
he went to clerking in a store, remaining for six years in that
employment. He then went to Baxter Springs, Kansas, and engaged in the
grocery business for two years. After this he located at Crawfordsville,
same State, and went into the general merchandise business, and was at the
same time authorized by government to trade with the Indians. In 1876, he
returned to St. Louis and engaged for two years in the grocery business,
at the expiration of which he came to Columbia and went into business in
the firm of White, Barron and Co., the history of which firm is given in
the sketch of W. N. White. Mr. Barron is a thorough-going business man. He
belongs to the Knights of Honor and Knights of Pythias, and is a gentleman
highly esteemed in both social and business circles. He was married in
1874, to Miss Susie Gooch, of Shelby county, Missouri, daughter of William
Gooch, a prominent citizen of that county. Mr. and Mrs. Barron have four
children, named John, Paul, Charles and Annie.
J. & V. Barth, the well-known proprietors of the Star clothing houses of
Columbia and Mexico, Missouri, are brothers. They were born in Renish
Prussia. Victor, the youngest of the firm, was born January 4th, 1850, and
was educated both in German and Hebrew. When fifteen years old he left his
native land for America, landing first in Philadelphia. From that city he
came to Columbia in 1866. He engaged in clerking for a while, then
peddled, selling general merchandise from house to house, travelling on
horseback. In the spring of 1868, in company with his brother Joseph,
opened the Star clothing house, on Broadway, where he has remained ever
since. Victor Barth was married August 23d, 1876, to Miss Nettie Barth,
daughter of Moses Barth, of Rocheport. They have one child, Irvin Victor,
born November, 1877. Mr. Barth is a Royal Arch Mason, a K. of P., and a
member of A.O.U.W. In April, 1880, the Barth Brothers opened a branch
store at Mexico, Missouri. Joseph Barth has charge of this establishment.
They carry a very large stock of ready-made clothing, and are doing a good
business. Victor Barth has in his employment a corps of competent and
courteous salesmen, among whom is Mr. Clyde Cunningham, who has been with
him for seven years. He has also two of his younger brothers, Solomon and
Moses.
The subject of this sketch, one of the leading commercial men of the
county, is a foreign born gentleman, a native of Illingen, Germany, born
October 24th, 1824. Though Prussian born, he is of pure Hebrew extraction,
and is the son of Michael and Sarah Barth. He was reared and educated in
his native city and learned the business of cattle dealer and money
exchanger, which was his vocation, and continued in the business with his
father till he came to America in 1847. Arriving at New York, June 15th,
of that year, he proceeded to Philadelphia and supplied himself with a
stock of goods which he peddled out to advantage in Berks and Lancaster
counties, Pennsylvania. He then came to Missouri and was similarly engaged
in Boone and Howard counties, making his headquarters at Fayette. He then
became associated with his brother in the dry good business, and they
operated as both local and itinerant merchants till 1850. In that year,
without severing his connection with his brother, Moses made a trip over
the plains to the gold fields of California, where he remained about two
years, engaged principally in quartz-mining. He sailed from San Francisco
to New Orleans, arriving there in the fall of 1852. There he fell sick
with a fever, which prostrated him for some ten weeks. He had the good
fortune, however, to find a friend in an old-country acquaintance, to whom
Mr. Barth is much indebted for kindness during that long illness among
strangers. The friends name was Philip Marx. Returning to Fayette, he
found that Alexander Greenabaum [sic] had bought into the firm during his
absence. This firm, in 1853, started a branch house at Rocheport, and
Moses was placed in charge of it. The Barths wound up their affairs with
Greenabaum in 1856, and centered their business at Rocheport. Two years
later, they opened a branch store at Columbia, the brother assuming
charge. Thus they continued till 1869. In 1863-4 they handled tobacco
quite extensively, and also established a shirt factory in Philadelphia.
Rocheport was burned by Federals in 1864, and their loss in buildings,
merchandise and tobacco was almost a fortune in itself. Besides the firms
losses, Moses lost some $7,000 in slave property by their emancipation.
They managed to get rebuilt in 1866, when A. Victor and H. W. Myer became
associated with the firm, and the company thus continued till disasters
overtook them in 1869. These reverses, coupled with their losses by the
war, forced them into bankruptcy. Being released thereby from all
indebtedness, Mr. B. was enabled to start up again by the assistance of
friends, and is now doing an extensive business in the mercantile line,
and is a large shipper of grain, wood, and general produce. On March 21,
1855, Mr. Barth married Miss Minnie, daughter of Isaac L. Arnold, of
Philadelphia. They have seven children: Joseph (in business with his
father); Nettie, wife of Victor Barth, of Columbia; Linda, wife of S.
Hanauer, of Bismark, D. T.; Pauline A.; Carrie; Isadore A.; Sadie A. Mr.
Barth is a member of Boone lodge No. 121, I.O.O.F. at Rocheport, and is
also a demitted Mason.
Was born on a farm in Audrain county, Missouri, February 1, 1848, where he
continued to reside with his parents until he was twenty-two years old. He
then began learning the blacksmith trade with his father, and after
working one year, went to Paris, Monroe county, and there did journey work
for nearly a year. He worked for other men as a journeyman for some time
and in various places, till he finally opened a shop of his own in Perry,
Ralls county, Missouri. In 1877, he sold out there and went to Howard
county, and started a shop at Whites store, where he remained one year and
again sold out. Opening out another place in the same county, he operated
till 1880, when he went to Nevada City, Vernon county, and there carried
on blacksmithing till he came to Rocheport, in Boone county, in the fall
of 1881. Here he purchased property, but engaged in no special business
till 1882, when he was elected city marshal of Rocheport, which position
he holds at this writing. Mr. Barton, when a boy, witnessed the famous
Centralia massacre, when Anderson and his guerrillas captured and killed a
train load of Federals. Before Mr. Barton became marshal, Rocheport had
been for some time afflicted with a lawless class of negroes who
frequently disturbed the quiet of that staid old place; but has
effectually suppressed that class and has them under thorough control. He
was the man who arrested the twelve notorious nigs after the Rocheport
riots in 1882, eight of whom were sent to the penitentiary. (see history
of town of Rocheport). Mr. Barton certainly deserves the thanks of the
citizens of that place for the effectual way in which he has restored
order. He was married, March 6th, 1870, to Miss Maggie Slough, of
Cumberland City, Maryland. Mr. and Mrs. Barton are Baptists, but not
connected with any church. He is very abstemious in his habits, not even
using tobacco; and he has been a teetotaler all his life, and a member of
the I.O.G.T. for eight years. He has held the position of Worthy Templar
for several years, and was for one term lodge deputy, under authority of
the Grand Lodge of Missouri.
The subject of this sketch was born in Nashville, Tennessee, and died in
Boone county, Missouri, in 1865, in the fifty-ninth year of his age. His
father, Peter Bass, was a native of Maryland, but for a number of years
had lived in Nashville, when he moved with his family to Boone county,
Missouri, in 1819, when Eli was quite a boy. He was a man of great energy
and decision of character and amassed a very large fortune and at his
death left his children large patrimonies. Eli, his son, instead of
spending his fortune, as most young men do, who inherit great wealth,
added greatly thereto, besides rearing and educating a large family. He
was in the true sense of the word a gentleman, one of extensive
information and fine practical sense, possessing a magnificent physique.
He was perhaps one of the largest owners of real estate in Central
Missouri, living in princely style at his elegant country residence, where
he dispensed hospitality in the true Southern style. He reared large herds
of stock and carried on farming in a remunerative and practical manner. In
1861 he was elected to the Constitutional Convention to form a new
Constitution for the State. He subscribed $3,000 to procure the location
of the State University at Columbia, and was one of the first curators.
His reputation for rectitude and reliability was of the highest order. He
was for years a worthy and consistent member of the Baptist church. His
children are among the most enterprising and intelligent citizens of Boone
county, one son, J.L., representing the county in the General Assembly
some years since, and no name has been held in higher esteem in Boone
county than that of Bass. Elis elder brother, John M., was a lawyer of
distinction in St. Louis, a compeer of Bates, Gamble, Geyer and Lucas, and
afterwards was, for twenty-five years, president of the Union Bank of
Tennessee. Eli Bass married Miss Margaret, daughter of Capt. Wm. Johnson,
of Boone county, who survives him. She is a noble, highly cultivated
Christian lady, beloved by all who know her.
The subject of this biographical sketch is the son of George P. and Susan
(Wiseman) Bass. He was born on the old Wiseman place, January 2, 1830. He
is one of a family of eleven children -- nine sons and two daughters -- of
whom five sons and two daughters are now living. When a small boy his
parents removed from the old home, in the vicinity of Ashland, to a farm
in Howard county, where Lawrence lived and labored until seventeen years
of age. The next three years were spent in learning the saddlery business,
but not liking the trade, he has never followed it. In the spring of 1850
Mr. Bass started for California by the overland route, reaching his
destination in the month of July following. He remained in California and
Nevada until 1875, making several business trips East, at one time
bringing with him from Colorado a herd of 2,000 cattle. While in the West,
he was actively engaged in freighting, mining, and trading in stock. In
the spring of 1876 he moved to the A. E. Ellis farm, where he now resides.
He is a member of the firm of Bass, Johnston, Brooks & Harris, Ashland.
The firm is known as the Trade Centre. They have a branch store at
Guthrie, in Callaway county. Mr. Bass is also a member of the Ashland Mill
Company; also a stockholder in the Ashland Bank, and one of the directors.
He was one of the originators of the Boone county stock sales. He has been
an extensive sheep-raiser, having large flocks in Texas. His experience in
business is of wider range perhaps than that of any other capitalist or
trader in his locality. Mr. Bass was married November 17, 1870, to Miss
Sallie Ellis, only daughter of A. E. Ellis, of Boone county. They have had
three children -- two sons and one daughter -- of whom only one, the
youngest son, is living. Mr. Bass has had many adventures during his
extensive travels, the most thrilling of which perhaps was a shipwreck off
the coast of British Columbia in 1858. The vessel was a total wreck. Mr.
Bass and several others escaped in an open boat. He is an affable
gentleman, kind and courteous in his manners, and is justly honored and
esteemed by all who know him.
The subject of this sketch is a son of Eli E. and Margaret M. (Johnson)
Bass, and was born January 18th, 1836, in Boone county on what is now
known as the Bass homestead. He received his education at the State
University and chose farming and stock raising as his occupation. He deals
largely in shorthorn cattle and mules, shipping many mules to Mississippi
and Louisiana. He was the originator of the Ashland stock sales, which
take place the first Saturday in every month, sales running from $1,750 to
$6,000. He has been a director of the Boone county agricultural and
mechanical association for the past ten years, and during the years 1880
and 1881 he was its president. He is a member of the Ancient Order of
United Workmen. He was married September 11th, 1858, to Miss Irene,
daughter of Wm. and Mary (Trueman) Hickman. By this union they have eight
children, seven boys and one girl, all living. In May 1882, he moved into
Columbia to have better educational facilities for his children. His
eldest son, Everett E., will graduate from the University in 1883. He has
a fine residence in a pleasant location on Broadway, east end. Mr. Bass is
one of Boones most thrifty, enterprising business men, and takes an
interest in whatever will advance her material welfare.
p. 747 - CAPT. MONROE BATEMAN.
Captain Monroe Bateman is a native of Fleming county, Kentucky, where he
was born February 13, 1831. Is the son of Newton and Margaret Bateman. He
was educated in Mason county, Kentucky. In 1852 Mr. Bateman went to
Stockton, California, where he remained five years. Returning to Mason
county, he engaged in the mercantile business at Minerva until 1857. At
the breaking out of the war Captain Bateman raised a company of cavalry
for the Union army. His command was mustered in as company L, 2d Kentucky
cavalry. At one time his company served as escort to General Sherman. He
was captured by the enemy and was a prisoner until paroled, October 5,
1863. In the latter part of the war he went to Cincinnati where he engaged
in the mercantile business with Ellis, McAlpin & CO. He did not remain in
Cincinnati but one year, coming to Boone county, Missouri in 1864. He was
married, May 5, 1864 to Miss Mary A., daughter of Jesse and Mary Boulton.
Their union has been blessed with eight children, four of whom are dead.
The deceased children were Clarence M., born May 4, 1865, died May 28,
1870; Levi M., born December 2, 1867, died June 13, 1870; Ruth A., born
August 8, 1875, died January 3, 1876, and an infant son, born and died May
3, 1871. The living children are Mary L., born August 15, 1869; Jesse C.,
born December 4, 1872; Clinton C., born July 3, 1877, and Clark R., born
November, 1879. Mr. Bateman is a member of the Masonic lodge at Columbia,
also a member of the Columbia Christian church. Mrs. Bateman is a member
of the same church. Mr. Bateman is president of the Blackfoot and Columbia
rock road, which position he has held for eight years. He is largely
interested in agriculture. His farm of 217 acres is well improved. It is
an excellent stock farm, the land being well set in bluegrass. It is
situated three miles north of the court-house. He also owns 120 acres of
land in section 18, township 49. He has been president, vice-president and
director of the Boone County Agricultural and Mechanical Association,
being for many years one of the most active and energetic workers in this
corporation.
George W. Batterton, Democratic nominee for the legislature, was born in
Boone County, about seven miles north of Columbia, December 9, 1837, and
grew to manhood on his fathers farm. His grandfather, Moses Batterton,
emigrated from Kentucky to Missouri about the year 1820, and settled on
Callahams creek, about seven miles west of Columbia. His father, Lemuel B.
Batterton, was born in 1801, and learned the cabinet-makers trade in
Kentucky. He came with his father to Boone County in 1820. About four
years after his marriage he bought the place where George W. was born,
upon which he lived and died, his death occurring in 1869. He married Mary
Lynch, a native of Kentucky. Her ancestors came from near Lynchburg,
Virginia, which city was named after a member of her family. Mr. and Mrs.
Batterton raised eight sons and two daughters to manhood and womanhood.
The subject of this sketch left home when about eighteen years of age and
labored for wages which he spent in educating himself. When about twenty
years of age he commenced teaching in the public schools and continued in
this business, with slight intervals, for about six years. Was a soldier
in the Confederate army for about nine months. Belonged to McKinneys
company, known as the Blackfoot Rangers. Was in the battle of Wilson
Creek, Lexington, and Drywood. Went to Nebraska in 1864 where he worked on
a farm and taught school until the close of the war. Came back in 1866 and
went to farming in Audrain county. After raising one crop he removed to
the Two-mile Prairie, in Boone county, where he farmed, taught school and
bought and shipped stock until 1870. He then removed to Vernon county,
Missouri, where he farmed for eighteen months. Sold his farm in 1872 and
removed to Montana where he followed mining until 1876, when he returned
to Audrain county and resumed farming which he has followed ever since.
His farm is situated one-half mile from Sturgeon in Audrain county. Was
elected a justice of the peace in 1878 and has held the office ever since.
He is an earnest, conscientious Democrat, having never voted any other
ticket. His first vote was for John C. Breckenridge for president. Mr.
Batterton was first married in 1863 to Sophia E., daughter of Robert and
Sophia (Barnes) Gillaspie. First wife died January 26, 1872. There were no
children by this marriage. Was married, April 8, 1873, to Lizzie, daughter
of Judge B. P. Ritchie. They have three children living and two dead. The
living are Annie Sue, James Ritchie and Mary Lula. First wife was a member
of the Christian church. Mr. Batterton is a member of the A.O.U.W. He is
of Irish, German and French origin.
William Wallace Batterton was born in Boone county, August 11th, 1833. He
is the son of Lemuel and Mary (Lynch) Batterton, and his father was one of
the first settlers of Boone county, coming here from Kentucky in 1820. Mr.
Batterton received his education in the common schools of Boone county and
at the University. After leaving school he followed teaching for about
seven years, farming at intervals. In 1859 Mr. Batterton was elected
School Commissioner, being the first elected to that office in this
county. He was removed from office in 1861 because of his refusal to take
the Gamble oath. In 1867 he was again elected school commissioner, and
served one term. In the fall of 1874, he was elected county clerk of Boone
county; he was re-elected in 1878. His record while in office is an
excellent one, and one of which he may well be proud.
p. 748 - SAMUEL BEATTIE, DECEASED.
The old pioneer whose nae position he quit when he took his present chair
in the Missouri University. As a linguist, Prof. Blackwell is a study to
his friends, and even his intimates scarcely comprehend him, so great is
his gift of acquiring language. He has spoken German from childhood, and
also speaks fluently French, Spanish and Italian, besides being well
versed in a number of other languages. On one occasion, in a paper read
before the American Philological Association at Cleveland, Ohio, he made
quotations from upwards of twenty different languages. He took a two-years
course of Chinese from a native master, and has also studied the Egyptian
and Assyrian, and is constantly adding to his linguistic stock by
beginning the study of new ones, his latest being Arabic, which he began
September 11th, 1882. His method of acquiring language is a modification
(his own) of what is known as the Hamiltonian system. He has a Bible in
which the text is Hebrew, with a translation into Chaldee, and
commentaries in Rabbinic. Prof. Blackwell was married July 8, 1870, to
Miss Mary E., daughter of Milton Smith, of Ghent, Kentucky. She was a
native of that State, and a niece of ex-Gov. Henry S, Lane, an U.S.
Senator from Indiana. She died September 6, 1881, having borne five
children, two only of whom -- Laura Cherry and Paul Preston -- are living.
Prof. B. is a member of the Presbyterian church, and was an elder therein
while at Anchorage, Kentucky,. He is the author of quite a number of
articles on language and literature, and has written several small books
and pamphlets, including Views on the Study of Language, and Some
Observations on the Hebrew Grammar of Dr. Alexander Meyrowitz. Since the
days of the Learned Blacksmith, few men have developed more genius in, and
love for, the study of language than the subject of this sketch; and
perhaps when he has attained the age at which Elihu Burritt died, he may
be the peer even of that greatest of the great masters of languages.
p. 1080 - THOMAS H. BLAKEMORE.
Mr. Blakemore, like many of our substantial citizens, is a native of
Kentucky. It has been said that Virginia is the mother of Kentucky. With
the same propriety it may be said that Kentucky is the mother of Missouri.
Mr. Blakemore was born in Shelby county, January 8th, 1828. His father was
a Kentuckian, his grandfather a native of Virginia. His mother was a
daughter of Sanford Payne, of Kentucky. Mr. Blakemore was educated in the
common schools of his native State and assumed the active duties of life
at an early age. His father died when he was but seven years old, and
being the second son of a family of six children, five sons and one
daughter, he had, even in boyhood, many of the cares and responsibilities
of manhood resting upon him. He commenced active business at the age of
fourteen. From clerking in a store he soon passed to the more active
duties of a stock trader, buying in Kentucky and selling in Cincinnati. He
followed this business very successfully for fifteen years. In 1863, he
removed to Boone county, Missouri, having purchased part of the Newton
Short farm and the Harris interest in the town of Harrisburg. Mr.
Blakemore was married November 15th, 1864, to Miss Ruth Young, daughter of
David Young, of Howard county, Missouri. Mrs. Blakemore was born January
27th, 1836. Her grandfather was Major Edward Young, of Bone county. By
this union are five children, three daughters and two sons, all of whom
are now living. Their names are: Cordelia A., Robert L., James N., Nora
and Edna. Mr. Blakemore was previously married in Kentucky to Miss Marion
Oldham, daughter of Wm. Oldham, of Madison county. There was one child,
John, by this marriage. He is now married and is living in Howard county,
Missouri. His wifes maiden name was Stacia Gillum, daughter of Nathan
Gillum. In 1880 Thomas Blakemore removed to his property in Harrisburg,
but did not remain in business there but eighteen months. He is now on his
farm looking after his fine stock. He is largely interested in the Glenco
stock of horses, noted for their speed and other excellent qualities. Mr.
Blakemore and his family are members of the Christian church at
Harrisburg, and are highly honored and respected for their liberal support
of all public enterprises calculated to benefit the community in which
they reside.
p. 1080 - WILLIAM EDWARD BLAKEMORE.
The Blakemores are of English origin. From England to Virginia, from
Virginia to Kentucky, and thence westward. William Edward Blakemore is a
grandson of James Blakemore, of Virginia, and a son of Wm. G. Blakemore,
also a native of that State. He was born in Clark, county, Kentucky, March
12th, 1837. He lived on the farm until he was sixteen years old, then
entered a store, remaining in this business for six years. Quitting the
store at the age of twenty-two, he embarked in the live stock trade which
he followed for nine years. In 1853 he again entered the mercantile
business, but once more abandoned the store to engage in the stock trade,
this time dealing in mules and horses for the Southern market. He came to
Missouri in November, 1865, and settled on the old Wiggam farm, in the
vicinity of Harrisburg, where he remained till 1875. In 1880, he came to
Harrisburg and engaged in the mercantile business with John W. Hersman.
Mr. Blakemore was married to Miss Nancy J. Doyle, daughter of Dennis
Doyle. By this marriage they have had eight children, six sons and two
daughters, one of whom died in infancy. Their names are: Mary V., George
W., Dennis A., Richard E., Sarah E., Claudius P., Thomas C., and Shelton
L. They are members of the Christian Church at Harrisburg.
Elijah Boothe is the son of Elijah and Sarah (Woods) Boothe, and was born
about 1839, near Lexington, Kentucky. His parents came to Missouri and
settled near Harrisburg, Boone county, Missouri, when Elijah was about one
year old. His mother died in 1847, and his father in 1849. When Elijah was
twelve or thirteen years of age he started with two mules, one to ride and
one for a pack animal, for California, and with the exception of a few
days made the trip alone. He had two brothers there and went out in search
of them. He worked in the mines and freighted goods from Los Angeles to
Texas. He was poisoned while working in the mines by striking a spring
containing corrosive sublimate. His hair came out three times, and the
last time it grew it was perfectly white. He appears to be at least sixty
years of age, but is young yet and vigorous. When out in the diggings he
says he only saw a white man once a year, during his long stay in the
West. He took passage on a vessel for some island belonging to some
English colonists, and prospected for about six months. Then he went to
Australia and was there for about four months, being gone, in all, a
little over a year. He states that when he first reached Sacramento he was
so small that he could not procure work, and almost starved to death. At
last, after a four years search, he found his brothers. He came home about
five years ago, and stopped a short time near Rocheport. His oldest
brother, David H. Boothe, was a farmer in the Western part of Boone
county, and died recently. One brother, William, is living in Columbia.
Elijah came back to Missouri over the overland stage route with five
horses. He has had a world of ups and downs in life, and his descriptions
of places and things he has seen is truly wonderful. He has a chair
factory and blacksmith shop on the southwest quarter of section 20,
township 45 and range __, established in 1879. He makes good, substantial
chairs, which he sells to all the neighboring towns. He is an Odd Fellow,
but is not at present connected with any lodge. He was a charter member of
five lodges in California.
James M. Boswell, a well known and popular business man of Columbia, was
born in Bedford county, Virginia, February 14th, 1842. He is the son of
William H. H. and Elizabeth A. (Compton) Boswell. He attended school at
Liberty, Virginia, commencing in 1854 and ending in 1857. He came to Boone
county, Missouri, in the fall of 1858, and attended school at New Prospect
Academy until the breaking out of the war, in 1861. He enlisted in Company
B, of Callaway county, commanded by Maj. J. M. Robinson, being a portion
of the elder Gen. John B. Clarks regiment. [Confederate service] Was in
the battles of Wilson Creek, Drywood, Lexington, and Moores Mill. Went to
Hams Prairie, Callaway county, Missouri, and sold goods for a short time,
but owing to the excitement and troubles growing out of the war, had to
quit the business. He came to Columbia, and was engaged to teach the
public schools. He followed teaching for fifteen months, when he was
employed as a salesman in the store of Kirkbride and Co., Columbia, Mo.
Stayed with this firm until 1868, when he went in business with James I.
Hickman, under the firm name of Hickman and Boswell, dealers in family
groceries. They sold out their business in 1870 to Allen, Maupin & Co. Was
elected constable of Columbia township, and served for two years and four
months. After the expiration of his term as constable, he went into the
family grocery business under the firm name of Smith & Boswell. He sold
out this business in 1874, and engaged as salesman with Loeb, Meyer & Co.,
dry goods and clothing. He stayed with this firm for four years. Quitting
their store, he engaged once more in the family grocery business, this
time by himself. Sold out the business, August 15th, 1881, to Hume &
Brothers. Mr. Boswell owns considerable real estate in Columbia, also an
excellent farm of sixty acres. He is a member of the Masonic order, also
of the United Workmen. He was married, November 14th, 1872, to Miss Sarah
J., daughter of Edward and Kissih (Fortney) Easley. They have two sons and
two daughters: Annie W., William E., Gertrude L., and James M. Mr. and
Mrs. Boswell are both members of the Christian church. He has been an
auctioneer for years, and has sold a great deal of property.
Judge Jesse Augustus Boulton is the son of Brice and Eliza (Pepper)
Boulton. He was born in Macon county, Kentucky, May 19, 1817, and came to
this county in the fall of 1840. He was educated at Bacon College,
Georgetown, Kentucky, of which David S. Burnett was president. After
completing his education, he taught school in Bracken county, Kentucky,
afterwards at Woodlawn Seminary. He was married, October 17, 1839, to Miss
Mary H., daughter of Levi Todd and Mary (Emison) Smith. By this marriage
they had two children, one son and one daughter. The son, David R., is now
in Maysville, California. Mrs. Boulton, died February 26, 1846, and was
buried on the farm formerly owned by her father, now the property of Capt.
Monroe Bateman. Judge Boulton returned to Kentucky in the spring of 1847,
and was married soon after to Miss Clara, daughter of Robert and Elizabeth
Payne (Loyd) Perine. By this union they have had five sons and one
daughter. Jesse L. was born _____ and died September 8, 1854. Robert
Perine was born June 29th, 1854. He is now professor of English literature
at the Christian University at Canton, Missouri, which position he has
occupied for several years. Lillie Francis was born July 25, 1857; Walter
E., April 6, 1861; Payne A., August 18, 1864, and John W., August 21,
1867. Judge Boulton was employed to teach the public school at Columbia in
1840, and was actively engaged in this business for several years. From
1847 to 1850 he taught at Woodlawn Seminary, Kentucky, as previously
stated in this biography. He served two terms as judge of the Boone county
court, first term by appointment from Gov. Hardin in 1875. The year
following he was elected to the same office. Judge Boulton has followed
teaching and farming all his life. He was president of the Boone county
grange for two years and has always been an active, zealous member of that
organization. He is an official member of the Christian church, and his
wife has been a communicant of that church for forty years. Since 1850,
Judge Boulton has followed farming exclusively. He has a fine farm of 475
acres three and one-half miles northeast of Columbia, all of which is
inclosed [sic]. One-half the land is in grass, the remainder he devotes to
the various crops usually grown on the farm. Mr. Boulton has a remarkable
memory. He recollects every incident connected with his life from earliest
childhood, and can name the date of each occurrence correctly. Rice
Boulton, the father of Jesse, was born in Charlotte county, Virginia,
December 23, 1787, and emigrated to Kentucky in 1813. The year following
he was married to Eliza Pepper, of Mason county, Kentucky, a professional
school teacher. The elder Boulton was for years the sheriff of Mason
county. Came to Boone county, Missouri, March 26, 1853, and lived with his
son Jesse until his death, which occurred March 26, 1866. He was a member
of the Christian church, and his wife, who is still living -- having
reached her eighty-fourth year -- is also a member of the same church, as
has been for seventy years.
The subject of this sketch is one among the oldest citizens of Boone
county. He is a native of Amherst county, Virginia, where he was born
August 7th, 1797. He was educated in the public schools of his native
county. In 1828, at the age of thirty-one, he left Virginia, going to what
is now known as West Virginia, where he stayed four years. In 1832 he came
to Missouri, stopping for a while in Callaway county. He next came to
Boone county, and bought a farm in the forks of Cedar, where he lived from
1833 to 1855, when he built the house now occupied by P. H. Robnett, and
in which he lived till 1866. He has followed farming all his life, and his
labors have ever proved successful. He has by industry, prudence, and
economy accumulated a large amount of property. When quite a young man he
took charge of his fathers plantation, one among the largest and most
productive in the country. He had control of this property for ten years,
from 1818 to 1828. He was married, November 11th, 1819, to Miss Margaret,
daughter of James and Mildred (Monday) Davis. Eight children were born of
this marriage, three sons and five daughters, four of whom -- two of each
sex -- are now living. Martha A., Parmelia J. and Sallie are dead. Charles
L. died in Prices army. The surviving members of the family are: Mildred,
who first married Abraham Gillaspie, of Kentucky, and being left a widow,
afterwards married Wiley Roy, of Carroll county, Missouri. James D., who
married Martha McAllister, of Columbia; and Mary F., widow of the late J.
L. Matthews, of Columbia, and Roderick, now of Texas. Mr. Bowlings father
was born in St. Marys county, Maryland, in 1752, and died in Amherst
county, Virginia, in 1832. He was the father of eight children, three sons
and five daughters. His wife was Laticia Gillaspie. She died in 1850, and
is buried in Amherst county, Virginia.
The Boyce family are of Irish descent. The paternal grandfather, Robert,
was a native of Ireland. The subject of this sketch is the son of Willis
p. Boyce and was born in Warren county, Kentucky, June 15, 1819. James was
brought to Missouri when but three months old. He was the youngest of
seven children, four sons and three daughters. Willis Boyce was a member
of the first grand jury ever empanelled in Boone county. The court was
held under a tree. June 20, 1839, Mr. Boyce was married to Eliza Orear,
daughter of E. C. Orear, a native of Fleming county, Kentucky. Eleven
children were born of this union, four sons and seven daughters, ten of
whom are living at this writing. Their names are Margaret J., Annie L.,
Rose, Elizabeth, Joseph E., Laura A., Benella, Willis L., Jerrie and
George H. Margaret is the wife of George W. March. They have had five
children. Rose married Wallace Maxwell. Joseph E. married Katie Keith. The
father of Mr. Boyce entered land as early as 1819. The place he entered,
170 acres, has changed owners some six or seven times, finally passing
into the hands of Mr. James Boyce, who is in possession at this writing.
He is a member of the Baptist church, and has been a communicant for forty
years. Has followed farming for thirty years. In early manhood was a
blacksmith, which trade he followed for eight years. During the excitement
growing out of the discovery of gold in California, Mr. Boyce crossed the
plains, but did not remain in the mines but a few months. He returned to
Boone county in 1850, and has remained quietly on his farm ever since.
Mrs. James Boyce is of French origin. She was one of a family of four
children. Her sister, Annie T., married Harland Sexton, of Boone county.
Her brother, J. B. Orear, is in business at Hubbard City, Texas. Another
brother, Benjamin, went to California in 1849. He became a prominent
citizen of that State, serving several terms in the legislature. He was
largely interested in mining, and while looking after his interests in New
Mexico, in 1873, was taken ill and died. He had won considerable
distinction in public life, and his death was universally deplored by all
who knew him.
Daniel Alexander Bradford is the son of Austin Bradford, a native of
Virginia, who came to Boone county in 1836, and to the farm upon which
Alexander now lives in 1837. His mother was Lavinia Hume, also a native of
Virginia. The elder Bradford was married in Kentucky. The subject of this
sketch was born on the farm upon which he now resides, April 21st, 1842.
He is the third son and seventh child of a family of three boys and five
girls, all of whom are living. With the exception of a few years he has
spent his life on the old home place. He was educated at Bonne Femme
Academy and at the State University. He is a farmer, and is largely
interested in the breeding of thoroughbred cattle. He was married in Boone
county, November 24th, 1863, to Miss Harriet E., daughter of Rollin Lyman.
They have had two sons and four daughters, all living except one daughter.
Mr. Bradford is a member of the Columbia lodge of I.O.O.F.
George Austin Bradford is the son of Austin and Levina Bradford, of Scott
county, Kentucky, in which State he was born June 6, 1830. He came to
Boone county in 1836, and was educated at the Bonne Femme Academy, six
miles southeast of Columbia. Was married January 28, 1858, to Miss Annie,
daughter of Joel and Dorcas T. Smith, of Randolph county, Missouri. Mr.
Bradford was raised on the farm and has followed farming all his life. He
owns twelve hundred and fifty acres of land. A body of four hundred acres
constitutes the tract upon which he lives. This farm is well located and
finely improved. He has a fine frame residence situated three miles
southeast of Columbia, on the Columbia and Ashland gravel road. Mr.
Bradford is largely engaged in stock-raising and has some fine
thoroughbred Durham cattle. He is a member of the Christian church at
Olivet, on the Two-Mile Prairie, and has been a member of this
congregation for fifteen years.
James Bradley was born in Fayette county, Kentucky, October 1, 1810. His
father, Terry, was the son of Leonard Bradley, a revolutionary soldier.
His great grandfather, on the mothers side, was Samuel Boone, one of the
noted Boone family, famous in the early history of Kentucky. Mr. Bradley
came to Missouri in 1824, and settled in the neighborhood of Huntsville,
but prior to the location of that city. Leaving this settlement, he went
to Fayette, Howard county, where he remained twenty years. From Fayette he
removed to Benton county, Missouri, where he remained three years,
returning to Howard county, and from thence to Boone county in 1853, where
he has permanently resided. Mr. Bradley was married to Zerelda Gibson,
daughter of Martin Gibson, of Howard county, Missouri. By this union they
have been blessed with eight children, seven of whom are living. Mr.
Bradley is a carpenter and cabinet maker, which occupation he has followed
all his life. He has been a member of the Baptist church for forty years.
His family are also members of the same denomination. Mr. Bradley has
several daughters who rank very highly as teachers. Miss Bettie, of the
Pike County Institute, has achieved a fine reputation in the common
schools of that county. Mr. James W. Bradley, third son of the elder
Bradley, was born July 4, 1855, and was educated partly in Howard county,
finishing his studies at the State University. In 1874 he went to Texas,
but did not remain there but one year. Returning to Boone county, he
married Miss Eva A. Fenton, daughter of Joshua Fenton. In 1880 he
commenced the culture of honey on a large scale. He bought the large
apiary owned by Dr. G. S. Morse, of Columbia, which he added to his own
collection. Last year (1881) was one of the hardest seasons on bees, yet
the yield of Mr. Bradleys apiary was 1,800 pounds. The year previous the
yield was 2,500 pounds. He is thoroughly posted in the business, is never
troubled with moth and seldom loses a colony, notwithstanding others, less
skilled in the business, frequently lose all their stock in one season.
This illustrates the difference between a professional and a novice. Mr.
Bradley is thoroughly read on the subject, and takes great pride in the
business.
Joshua H. Brady, son of William and Catherine Brady, was born in
Washington county, Maryland, August 5th, 1837. He was educated at a
neighboring town called Hancock, and learned the millers trade of his
father, serving an apprenticeship of eight years. In 1861 he went to work
for Samuel Bowles, of Washington county, Maryland, and stayed with him two
years. He was next employed by William H. Eads, of Georgetown, District of
Columbia, whose mill had a capacity of one hundred and fifty barrels a
day. He stayed with Eads a year and a half. In 1864 he was engaged to run
a mill in Morgan county, Virginia, at a point called Sir Johns Run.
Remained in this position for four years, then went to Sleepy Creek, same
county, where he stayed six months, and from there to Frederick county,
Maryland, where he entered the Red Spring Mills owned by J. M. Bushy,
where he remained two years. The mill was sold to E. Zimmerman and Mr.
Brady remained with him seven years. He then rented the mill at Middletown
Valley, in Frederick county, Maryland, and remained in charge of this mill
until the autumn of 1881, when he came to Columbia, Missouri, July 10th,
1882, and went to work for the Columbia Milling Company. He is a practical
miller, thoroughly acquainted with every department of the business. In
1864 he was drafted into the Federal army, but by paying three hundred
dollars he was excused from serving. He was married, August 1st, 1865, to
Hester Ann Wharton, daughter of Samuel Wharton, of Sir Johns Run, West
Virginia. They have six children, three of each sex: Aquila C., born
February 19th, 1869; Katie R., born August 16th, 1871; George William,
born March 30th, 1873; Annie O., born June 11th, 1875; Charles J., born
November 25th, 1877; Hester M., born July 4th, 1880. They are all living.
Michael Bright is the son of Michael and Jane (McClung) Bright, and was
born in Callaway county, Missouri, May 20th, 1848. His father was from
Greenbrier county, West Virginia, and emigrated to Missouri in 1834. The
grandfather of our subject was also Michael Bright, and his wife was Sarah
Price, all Virginians. The father of Michael, our subject, settled in
Callaway county, Missouri, near Stephens store, and lived upon the farm
until his death, in 1881. He is buried at Cedar church, in Callaway
county. The present Michael was reared upon the farm and lived with his
parents until he was twenty-four years old, when he went to Wyoming
Territory, and stayed two years. He was married on the 28th of May, 1874,
to Miss Adelia A., daughter of John C. and Elizabeth McKinney, of Boone
county. Mrs. Brights father is dead, but her mother is yet living. Her
father died in 1875, and is buried at Walnut Grove church. Mr. and Mrs.
Bright lived one year after their marriage in Callaway county, and then
sold their farm and bought and improved the place here in Boone where they
are now living. The farm contains 240 acres, well improved. The house is
upon the southwest quarter of section 20, township 49, range 1. Mr. Bright
handles stock considerably, mostly cattle. His wife is a member of the
Baptist church at Prairie Grove. They have one son, John McKinney Bright.
Berrywick Johnson Brown is a native of Boone county. He is the son, and
only surviving child of James and Sarah Ann (Davis) Brown, who were among
the early settlers of Boone county. Berrywick was born four and one-half
miles northwest of Columbia, November 3, 1848. He was educated at the
district schools, completing his studies at the Missouri State University.
Was married November 29, 1877, to Miss Lula, daughter of Philip and George
Ann (Nichols) Prather. By this marriage they have had two sons. Mr. Brown
was raised on the farm, and has followed agriculture exclusively until
recently, when he added the business of brick-making, forming for this
purpose a partnership under the firm name of Brown & Berry. This is the
largest firm of the kind ever established in Columbia. They employ over
twenty hands. They have had all the modern machinery for making pressed
brick, such as our people were formerly compelled to ship from a distance.
They find ready sale for all their brick. Though the enterprise is yet in
its infancy, Messrs. Brown & Berry have every reason to feel encouraged,
and the people of Columbia are fortunate in thus securing good material
for the many excellent buildings that are being added to the town every
year. Mr. Brown has a farm of 500 acres, situated two miles north of
Columbia, on the Columbia and Blackfoot rock road. He is a member of the
Columbia lodge of K. of P. His wife is a member of the Christian church.
James Brown, the father of B. J., was born July 27, 1798, and came to
Boone county in 1832, emigrating from Madison county, Kentucky. He was
married March 5, 1840, to Sarah A. Davis, of Scott county, Kentucky. By
this union they had seven children, six sons and one daughter, Berrywick
being the fifth child born of this marriage. He is the only child now
living. James Brown, the father of Berrywick, died in 1865, and was buried
on the farm now owned by his son. Mrs. Brown died July 18, 1873, aged
fifty-nine years. She was buried by the side of her husband. The elder
Brown was banished from Missouri in 1862, on account of his Southern
proclivities. He spent most of his exile at Greencastle, Indiana.
George E. Brown, blacksmith and farmer, was born near Front Royal, Warren
county, Virginia, February 10, 1830. His father being a blacksmith, he was
brought up to that trade. He commenced work in the shop when he was but
ten years old. He remained with his father until 1855, when he was
twenty-five years old. On leaving home he established a shop of his own at
a place called Happy Creek, one mile south of Front Royal. Here he worked
at his trade until 1859, when he sold out and came to Missouri. He arrived
in Boone county in November, and established his present place of business
on the Rocheport and Sturgeon road, four and one-half miles northeast of
Rocheport. In 1875 he added farming to his business of blacksmithing, and
has labored at both occupations ever since. He has 100 acres of land well
adapted to stock raising. He has made farming and the handling of stock
quite profitable. Mr. Brown was married January 3, 1856, to Miss Mary
Shipe, of Warren county, Virginia. They have eight living children. John
William and Charles Edward work in their fathers shop. Robert Lee, Carrie
Ella, Hattie, Henry, Rebecca and Moses are with their parents. Mrs. Brown
is a member of the Methodist church at Locust Grove. In 1864, Mr. Brown
enlisted in the Confederate army, becoming a member of Capt. Davenports
company, Shelbys cavalry. He remained in the army until the close of the
war. He is a member of the Rocheport lodge, No. 147, Independent Order of
Good Templars.
Henry J. Brown, farmer and stock raiser, was born near Front Royal, Warren
county, Virginia, October 7, 1845, where he lived with his parents until
he was seventeen years old, when he entered the Confederate army as a
private in Company D, Forty-ninth Virginia infantry, in which he served
until the close of the war. He was in many engagements, the most important
being Manassas Junction, Seven Pines, Winchester, Sharpsburg, and the
battles in the Shenandoah Valley under Stonewall Jackson; also
Chancellorsville where Jackson was killed. He was wounded four times. His
brigade finally surrendered at Appomatox Court House in 1865, when he
returned to the old home. He was so disabled by his wounds that he was
compelled to go on crutches until 1868, when he began to work as a farm
hand. In 1873 he came to Missouri, and stopped in Boone county. For the
first eight months he worked on the farm of John W. Harris; then rented a
farm of Fielding W. Smith, which he rented on shares for two seasons. In
August, 1876, he purchased the farm upon which he is now living, situated
near Walnut Grove church, containing 168 acres. He was married October 7,
1869, to Miss Mary Bell, of Warren county Virginia. They have three
children: Henry Esron, born in Virginia, August 4, 1870; Mary F., born in
Virginia, June 8, 1872; and David Elias, born in Boone county, March 4,
1874.
Frank E. Bruton, salesman for Rucker & Turner, Sturgeon, Mo., is the son
of Dr. F.J. and Nettie B. (Fenwick) Bruton. He was born and raised in
Boone county, Missouri. His father and mother are natives of Kentucky. Mr.
Bruton commenced active business at the early age of fourteen, and has
continued without intermission ever since. He is at this writing engaged
as a salesman in the store of Messrs. Rucker & Turner, and has given
eminent satisfaction to his employers and won the esteem and confidence of
all his patrons. He was married April 19, 1882, to Ida, daughter of Joseph
B. Harris. He is a member of the Christian church, also of the Masonic and
Knights of Honor lodges.
The venerable subject of this sketch is a native of Bryans Station,
Kentucky, and was brought by his widowed mother from that State to
Missouri in the fall of 1827, and has lived in Boone county most of his
life. In early times he attended school at the now defunct, but then
famous Bonne Femme Academy. In 1832 he was sent by Capt. Hickman on a
business trip to Northwest Missouri, on which he was gone six months. When
not engaged in handling stock, Major Bryan worked on the farm, and in his
time has done much of that kind of invigorating labor. His title was
acquired during the Mormon war, he being a Major in Col. Gilmores regiment
in the campaign against the Latter-day Saints. In 1848 Major Bryan was
clerk in Lamme & Bryans store at Nashville. He also did business for John
H. Bryan & Co,s paper-mill, distillery and port packing establishments
throughout the Southern States. He became captain of the steamer Warsaw in
41, and in 47 was principal clerk in D.S. Lammes commission house, on
Water street, St. Louis. He became agent for the United States bank in
1849, attending to the affairs of that concern in three States, being
constantly immersed in a sea of business for twenty years, during which he
obtained one judgment for the bank of $369,000, The manuscript of the
concern was sold to the paper-mill when its affairs were wound up, and
weighted eighty-four tons. He has spent five winters on his land in
Dallas, Texas. At this writing he resides on the Peter Bass mill tract, in
Cedar township. He is quite robust in health, and even yet can do any kind
of hard labor. During the civil war, he was a Washington Union man, but
never a Lincoln man. Major Bryan was never married. He has never asked an
office of the people, never engaged in a lawsuit of his own, and all
through his useful and eventful life never asked anything but even-handed
justice from any man, nor would he ever have less. He has done a great
deal of business for others, and his record is one of which he is not
ashamed, but on the contrary, is as justly proud as are his many friends.
(Bryan portrait f530)
p. 844 - GEORGE SMITH BRYANT, A.M.
President of Christian Female College, Columbia, is a native of Jessamine
county, Kentucky, born April 2d, 1841. His parents, Dr. John and Martha
Ann Bryant, with their family immigrated to Jackson county, Missouri, in
1850, and settled in Independence, where they yet reside. The subject of
our sketch received his primary education in the Independence High School,
M. W. Miller, now in charge of Webster school in St. Louis, then being its
principal. After being prepared for college by this institution of
learning, Mr. Bryant went to Bethany College, Virginia, then under the
management of Rev. Alexander Campbell, its president. At the expiration of
two years, Mr. Bryant graduated with honor, and then returned and entered
the Independence High School as assistant to M. W. Miller. Mr. Miller soon
thereafter resigned, and Mr. Bryant succeeded him, and successfully
managed the school for ten years. During that time he graduated a large
number of pupils, some of whom now fill the principal commercial,
educational, and political positions of the State. On the 29th day of
August, 1871, Mr. Bryant married Miss Margaret Frances Ferguson, daughter
of James and Mary Ferguson, of Boone county, Mo. After his marriage he
accepted a professorship in the Christian Female College under the
presidency of Joseph K. Rogers, and held the position for about five
years. Owing to the failure of Mr. Rogers health, in 1877, he resigned the
presidency and recommended Professor Bryant to the board of trustees, who
unanimously elected him Mr. Rogers successor, which position he has
satisfactorily filled to the present day, the last session of the school
having been one of its most prosperous.
The Bryson family are of Irish origin, the great-grandfather of the
subject of this sketch havingemigrated to this country from Ireland in an
early day on account of religious persecution. He was the father of
Andrew, a native of Kentucky, who was the father of Solomon, also born and
raised in Kentucky. James R., son of Solomon Bryson, was born in Madison
county, Kentucky, May 30th, 1826, and came with his parents to Howard
county, Missouri in 1829. They remained in Howard county for ten years,
when they removed to a farm near Centralia, where the elder Bryson died
soon after the war. James was one of eight children, four of each sex. He
was educated at an old log school house, where the benches were
constructed from the trunks of trees split in the middle, each half
forming a bench, and each bench proving a seat of torture to the children
doomed to sit with their feet dangling in space, with no rest for the arms
or back. The primitive school house is never forgotten by those who
experienced the tortures inflicted upon mind and body within it dark, rude
walls. Mr. Bryson married Miss Nancy, daughter of Isaac Stone. They have
had eight children, seven of whom are now living. During the civil war Mr.
Bryson took sides with the South. He joined the Confederate army in 1862
and served until the close of the war. He was in several battles, but
escaped without injury. Two of his brothers were captured and killed by
Federal soldiers. Another brother was wounded at Wilson Creek. Mr. Bryson
was quartermaster during most of the war. He has always voted the
Democratic ticket. He owns about 600 acres of fine land well improved. It
was one of the first places settled in his neighborhood. He is a member of
the A.F. and A.M.
Edward Camplin Burnett was born in Boone county, October 13th, 1838. He is
the son of Dabney and Elizabeth (Ramsey) Burnett, natives of Kentucky.
Mrs. Burnett was the daughter of Capt. Ramsey, an associate of Daniel
Boones in the early settling of Kentucky. The parents of Edward Burnett
first settled in St. Charles county. In 1825 they came to Boone and
settled on a farm one and one-half miles north of Ashland, where the elder
Burnett died in 1845. On this farm the subject of this sketch was born. He
was the fourth son and ninth child of a family of seven boys and four
girls. Was educated at the district schools of his own neighborhood. In
the spring of 1859 went to Colorado, and the year following to New Mexico,
remaining three months in Santa Fe. He remained in the West until the fall
of 1868, visiting Montana, Arizona, Utah, Idaho and Oregon. Returned to
the old farm, where he has since lived, except during the year 1871, which
was spent on another farm. He is an official member of the New Salem
Baptist church, also of the Ashland Lodge of A.F.& A.M. He was married
October 13th, 1870, to Miss Sarah E. Rice, a native of Boone county, the
daughter of David Rice, who emigrated from Kentucky to this county in
1819. They have had four children, one son and three daughters, of whom
only the three daughters are living.
Robert V. Burnett is the son of Joseph Burnett, a native of Virginia. He
removed to Kentucky and from thence to Ohio, finally coming to Missouri in
1820. He settled first in Howard county, but soon removed to the place
known as Burnetts ford, on Cedar creek, where he remained until his death
in 1853. His wife was Mary Ann Leopard, a native of Kentucky and pioneer
settler of Missouri. He built one of the first mills ever erected in Boone
county. Robert V. was born December 6, 1837. He was the second son and
second child of a family of four boys and one girl, of whom only Robert
and one brother are now living. He remained on the farm until the spring
of 1854, when he commenced working at his trade, that of stone mason. He
entered the Confederate service August 14, 1861, under Captain John M.
Robinson. In December, 1861, he was transferred to a company of 1st
Missouri Infantry under Colonel Barbridge. Was re-organized and put under
Colonel Cockerill as the 2nd regiment after battle of Shiloh. Mr. Burnett
belonged to this command until he left the service, January 2, 1865. He
took part in the battles of Lexington, Bakers Creek, Champion Hills, Big
Black River and Vicksburg. During the siege he threw a thirty-two pound
shell among a party of Federal soldiers who were undermining the
Confederate works, being the first man to throw by hand a shell with
lighted fuse attached. After the surrender and while on the way to the
place where they were to be paroled, he left the line to get something to
eat and was captured by the enemy and held a prisoner of war. Was kept two
weeks at St. Louis and from there sent to Camp Morton, Indianapolis, where
he remained until near the close of the war when he was released and
allowed to return home. In the fall of 1873, he bought and moved to the
farm upon which he now lives, one-half mile north of Ashland. He was
married in Boone county, April 15, 1865, to Miss Martha Martin, daughter
of John P. Martin. Has had four sons and two daughters, of whom the three
oldest, two sons and one daughter, died within the space of fifteen days
of diphtheria. Mr. Burnett is a member of the Baptist church, and of the
grange. He was delegate to the State grange in 1881-2.
p. 1083 - ELD. JACKSON T. BURNHAM
Elder Burnham was born in Howard county, Missouri, December 6, 1831. His
father, D. S., was the son of Henry Burnham, a native of North Carolina,
who emigrated to Kentucky. This Henry Burnham was the son of John, the
first member of the family born in the United States. His father came from
England. The family is supposed to be of German origin, as the former
spelling of the name would indicate. The second syllable was originally
spelled h-e-i-m. Some of the family still discard the letter h. The
Burnhams are represented in the States of Kentucky, North Carolina, New
York, Texas and Missouri. Elder Burnham was educated at the common schools
of Howard county, and at Fayette, where he attended three sessions,
completing his studies at the State University. He followed teaching until
1860, when he was chosen clerk of the Sturgeon court of common pleas,
which position he held for four years. He was married February 5, 1861, to
Mrs. Henrietta J. Hill, widow of Francis M. Hill, and daughter of John
Parker of Illinois. They have had six children, three sons and three
daughters, two of whom, Robert H. and Julia, are dead. The surviving
children are Wesley P., John M., Nannie and Emma D. Mr. Burnham united
with the Christian church at the age of eighteen, and was licensed to
preach in 1879. He has been pastor of Dripping Springs church. He owns a
farm of 160 acres, and divides his time and attention about equally
between farming and teaching. He is a useful citizen, upright and faithful
in the discharge of duty, kind and accommodating as a neighbor, and
earnest and zealous in the school room and pulpit.
Christopher C. Bush is a native of Kentucky, where he was born, October
25th, 1823. He is the son of T. V. Bush, a farmer, and was reared and
educated in the same line of business. His father lived to the age of
seventy-three, and is entitled to the distinction of having invented the
first corn planter ever patented in the United States. The subject of this
sketch came to Missouri in the spring of 1855, and settled in Boone
county, where he has continuously resided ever since. He has always
followed farming. Married Miss Sarah A., daughter of Nelson Bush. Four
sons and six daughters were born of this marriage. The first wife dying,
Mr. Bush was again married, the second wife being Miss Perlina, daughter
of James C. Jennings. He has been a member of the Christian church ever
since he was thirteen years old.
John Butler, the subject of this sketch, was born in County Tipperary,
Ireland, September 10, 1825. He is the son of John and Mary Butler. The
elder Butler left Ireland when his son was but two years old, coming first
to New York City. The family finally settled near Albany, where Mr. Butler
took a contract on the first railroad ever built in the United States.
This road connected Albany and Schenectady.ed to Oneida county, where he
died. Mrs. Butler is still living in Oneida county, New York. The subject
of this sketch remained at home until 1852. In the fall of that year he
went to California, where he remained for three years, returning to New
York in 1855, and from there he came to Boone county, by way of Jefferson
City, crossing the country on foot. Mr. Butler was first married October
16, 1847, to Miss Jane, daughter of Henry and Jane McGrah, of Hoosick, New
York. Had five children by this marriage, two of whom, William and Annie,
are now living. The former married Zelo Hawkins, the latter Thornton
Stewart. The first wife having died in 1862, Mr. Butler was married to his
second wife, January 2, 1875. He is now living with his third wife, whose
maiden name was Leticia Hill, daughter of Eli Hill, of Sturgeon. Have had
three children, two of whom are living, Martin and Mary. Mr. Butler is a
mechanic, and as such entered the army in 1862. He is a member of the
Masonic lodge at Sturgeon. His wife is a member of the Christian church.
He has done as much, perhaps more, to advance the interest and prosperity
of Sturgeon than any other individual of the place. He has built a great
many houses, and by this means contributed largely to the size of the town
as well as to the number of its inhabitants. He is a man of considerable
means, all of which he earned by his own labor and prudent management. He
has engaged in many enterprises, and has prospered in all his
undertakings. He is a carpenter, and his skill as such has served him to
the best advantage in improving his own lands. He owns, in addition to his
town property, about seven hundred acres of land, much of which he has
redeemed from a howling wilderness. He started the Sturgeon broom factory,
now owned by S. A. Fretwell. He also made the Commercial Hotel a
profitable business before selling out to its present proprietor, W. E.
Smith.
Wm. J. Babb, the second son named above, and the subject of this
sketch,
was born in Laurens district, S.C., October 28th, 1846. He was reared on a
farm, and up to the age of twenty-one his education was superintended by
his father, who was a successful and prominent teacher for more than
twenty years. In the year 1869, and from that date until the year 1873,
Mr. Babb was an irregular attendant at the Missouri University. He engaged
in teaching, and when not employed in the school-room was to be found in
the halls of the University and industriously engaged in the acquirement
of those attainments in which he afterward became proficient and noted. In
1873 he graduated in the academic course, and in June, 1874, from the
normal department. In 1873-4 he taught in the public schools of Columbia.
In 1875-6 he attended the law school of the University, and in the latter
year graduated as the valedictorian of the Centennial class. In the spring
of the same year he was admitted to the bar. In 1876-7 he continued
teaching in Columbia.
At the November election, 1876, Mr. Babb was elected by a large
majority
to the position of public administrator of Boone county. The same
efficiency and competency which had signalized his course as a teacher
marked his conduct as an official, and so well were the people satisfied
with his administration that in November, 1880, he was re-elected for
another term of four years. He is still an incumbent of the office, which
he fills to the universal satisfaction of the people. In 1878 he was
elected a justice of the peace, but resigned the position in the spring of
1882, in order that he might have more time for attending to the practice
of his profession and to devote to the duties of his office.
July 29th, 1879, Mr. Babb married Miss Minnie E. Clough, the accomplished
daughter of Albert W. and Isabella Clough. Mrs. Babb graduated from
Stephens college in the class of 1879, about one month before her
marriage. They have one child, Albert F., born June 16th, 1880. Mr. and
Mrs. Babb are members of the Baptist Church, Mr. B. dating his membership
from December, 1865. At present he is the moderator of the Little Bonne
Femme Association, which is composed of the Baptist churches of Audrain,
Callaway, and Boone counties. This position he has held for three years
past, having been clerk of said body three years prior to his election as
its presiding officer. Honest, upright, intelligent and capable, with a
good record behind him and a bright future before him, no man has more
friends in Boone county or should be better content with his life than the
gentleman whose career is here imperfectly sketched.
The fertile valley of the Missouri soon attracted sufficient
population to
defend it against all threatened danger, and the forts, once the pride and
hope of the pioneer, must henceforth remain only as so many relics of
other and darker days,. When once assured of safety, the pioneers left the
forts and betook themselves to the choice lands of the surrounding
country. Elder Barnes came to Boone county and was soon identified with
all the best interests of the people, who showed their appreciation and
gratitude by making him their sheriff. When the country became more
densely populated and he found that he could well be spared from the
temporal walks of life, he devoted all his time, thought and energy to his
real calling, that of preaching the gospel. Being a man of much physical
strength he was equal to all the hardships and trials incident to his
ministerial labors, and never under the most trying circumstances did he
falter or complain. He travelled a great deal, but always found a hearty
welcome whenever he crossed the humble threshold of the pioneer, be he
Christian or infidel, Baptist or Methodist. They all knew and loved Uncle
Jimmy Barnes, and his God bless you! when once heard was seldom forgotten.
In his old age he narrowed his field of labor, and for many years seldom
went beyond the limits of Rocky Fork, Perche and Bourbon townships. He
organized many churches in an early day, old Gilead, in Rocky Fork
township, being one among the number. While venerable and dignified in
bearing, he yet possessed a jovial disposition, and was never so happy as
when promoting the happiness of others. He lived to have his second
eyesight, but was blind when he died. He scarcely knew, from his own
experience, what it was to be sick. When death came at last, it was
painless. Like the orb of day, this noble life went down to us, only to
rise on other shores. He died February 6, 1875, in the eighty-seventh year
of his age.
During the civil war Mr. Battertons sympathies were more or less with
the
Confederates. He was for a time, during the first year of the struggle, in
McKinneys company of the Missouri State Guards. He returned home upon the
expiration of his term in the State service, and took no further active
part in the war of his own free will. At the Gosline Lane fight, in this
county, in September, 1864, (see account elsewhere) Mr. Batterton was
badly wounded. He had been pressed into the service by the Federals to
drive his team from Sturgeon to Rocheport, and was shot down by one of
Todds bushwhackers when the attack began. Mr. B.s wound was through the
right shoulder, and was made by a bullet from a heavy dragoon revolver.
His life was spared only by the intervention of John Thrailkill, who
commanded one company of the guerrillas on this occasion.
August 31st, 1859, Mr. Batterton married Miss Mary Winn, of this
county.
Their union has been blessed with twelve children, nine of whom are still
living. Mr. B. is a member of the Baptist Church. He is also a member of
the fraph operator and ticket and express agent at Centralia, Missouri,
was born in Cumberland, Guernsey county, Ohio, August 13th, 1848. His
father, Maj. James T. Bay, was an officer in the United States army. The
grandfather, on mothers side, was of German origin; his name was Andrew
Kells. On the paternal side, the family is of Scotch-Irish extraction. The
maternal grandfather served in the war of 1812. Young Bay was educated at
the common schools of Ohio, leaving his native State for Missouri, in
1860. From 1862 to 1865 he was in the United States service as military
telegraph reporter. Since then has been constantly in the business. For
four months after the war, was in the service of the Ohio and Mississippi
Railroad company; then in the service of the Missouri Pacific, from 1866
to 1875; then one year with the Iron Mountain Road; then to Ferguson
Junction, and from there to Centralia, in the fall of 1876, at which post
he has remained ever since. Mr. Bay married Miss Mary R. Bell, daughter of
G. L. Bell, a member of the Tennessee family of that name, Mrs. Bay being
a grand-daughter of John Bell, who was a candidate for president in 1860.
They have two children. Mr. Bay is a member of A.F. and A.M., also of the
A.O.U.W. He is a steady, energetic business man, prompt and zealous in the
discharge of duty, and thoroughly conversant with the business intrusted
[sic] to his care.