Dr. Matthew Read Arnold, son of Lewis and Margaret (Throckmorton) Arnold, was born in Bourbon county, Kentucky, March 13th, 1805. He was educated in Kentucky. After coming to Boone county, he studied medicine and practiced his profession until his death, which occurred July 22d, 1868 He was married September 2d, 1828, to Melvina, daughter of Gen. R. S. Russell of Bourbon county, Kentucky. By this union there were five children, Eliza B., Lewis H., Maria T., Robert E., and Thomas A. The first wife dying, he was married the second time, September 22d, 1853, to Eliza J. daughter of Joseph and Susan (Hill) Swanson. By this union there were two children, Matthew R. and Jas. P. Dr. Arnold was a member of the Christian church of Columbia. Mrs. Arnold is a member of the Columbia Methodist church. She is living on the farm purchased by her husband, four and one-half miles southeast of Columbia.
Dr. J. W. Banks is a native of Tennessee, having been born in Sumner county of that State, September 26th, 1835. In 1836 his father removed to Missouri settling at Tebo Grove, Lafayette county, where the subject of this sketch was reared. He attended Dr. Yantis Institute, at Brownsville, Saline county, Missouri, and the State University, graduating in 1855. He then read medicine under Dr. Hudson, of Kentucky, and graduated as M.D. from Jefferson Medical College, Philadelphia, in 1857. He then returned to Missouri and located in Lafayette county, where he practiced his profession until 1861, when he returned to Tennessee and enlisted in the Confederate army as surgeon of the 2d Tennessee regiment, with which he remained until the close of the war. He was at Shiloh, Murfreesborough, Chickamauga, Mission Ridge, Resaca, Dallas, New Hope, Kenesaw, Atlanta, Jonesboro, Franklin, Nashville, Bentonville and many other engagements of less note. He removed the body of Gen. Polk from the battlefield at Kenesaw Mountains, and surrendered with Gen. Joe Johnston. At the close of the war he went to Texas, where he practiced medicine until 1869, when he returned to Missouri, and in 1872 came to Columbia, where he has remained ever since in the active discharge of his professional duties. Dr. Banks was married in 1866 to Sallie Luckett, of Pettis county, a native of Kentucky and a niece of Col. McGoffin, a distinguished Confederate officer. They have five children all living. Their names are William M., John S., Anna McGoffin, Luther L. and Hiram Franklin. Mrs. Banks is a member of the Presbyterian church.
p. 1017 - EDWARD TURNER BRAMLETT, M. D.
"Dr. Bramlett was born in the State of Mississippi, near Verona, December 4th, 1854, and grew up in the place of his nativity. His education was acquired partly in the State of his birth, at Mississippi College, in Clinton, and partly at the University of Kentucky, at Lexington. At the age of eighteen he began the study of medicine under Dr. B. H. Whitfield, professor of natural science, in the above first named college. Subsequently he attended the Louisville, Kentucky, Medical College, and graduated therefrom with the degree of M.D. in March, 1876. Returning to Verona, he began the practice of medicine in co-partnership with B. H. Armstrong, at the same time engaging in the drug business in partnership with John A. Armstrong. He remained there until 1879, when, having closed his business and practice in that locality, he came to Boone county, Missouri, and located at Rocheport, where he resumed the practice. On April 1st, 1882, he became associated with Dr. M. D. Lewis, under the firm name of Bramlett & Lewis. These gentlemen, though still young men, are thoroughly educated generally, as well as specially, and are building up an extensive practice in Boone, Howard, Cooper and Moniteau counties.
p 752-3 - Leonidas B. Brown, M. D.
Dr. Leonidas B. Brown is the son of James and Dorcas (McCalla) Brown, of Scott county, Kentucky, where he was born May 13, 1828. The family came to Boone County, Missouri, in the spring of 1835. He was educated at Georgetown College, Kentucky. Studied medicine in the office of Greig & Rankin, Georgetown Kentucky, afterwards graduating at the University of Louisville, in the twenty-fourth year of his age. He next attended a course of lectures at Jefferson Medical College, Philadelphia, graduating in the spring of 1852. He then came to Boone county, Missouri, where he practiced his profession for two years, returning to Philadelphia for another course of lectures. Completing his medical studies, he returned to Boone county and resumed his former practice at Browns Station. He moved his family to the farm, formerly owned by his father, one half mile east of Stephens station, but still keeps his office at Browns Station, which derives its name from him. The village, consisting of some eight or ten houses, is built on his land. He has an extensive practice, visiting in his rounds some three hundred families. He has at his home farm 170 acres, and at Browns station about 40 acres. Dr. Brown was married December 19, 1854, to Miss Thompson, daughter of Richard and Ann (Swam) Thompson. By this marriage they had one son and one daughter. The first wife died in 1856. In 1858 he was married to Miss Nannie, daughter of Hugh and Mary Wright. By this union they have four sons and one daughter. Dr. Browns father was a carpenter, but carried on a farm while working at his trade. He built a great many houses in Columbia. He was quartermaster in the Mormon war, under General Thomas D. Grant. He died in 1845, and is buried at the old Hinkson church. Mrs. Brown died in 1869, and is buried by the side of her husband. Their family consisted of nine children, five sons and four daughters, of whom three sons and two daughters are now living, Dr. Brown being the oldest. F. C. Brown is a practicing physician at Hickory Grove church, Boone county. C. C. Brown is in the mercantile business, St. Louis; Isabella married Jesse Hart; Miriam married Samuel Crockett, all of Boone county. Mrs. Dr. Brown is a member of the Methodist church.
Dr. Francis Jackson Bruton was born in Montgomery county, Kentucky, February 8th, 1830. Was educated at the common schools and at Prospect Hill college. His father, James Bruton, was a farmer and stock raiser. They came to Boone county in 1853. The country about Centralia was then very sparsely settled. The subject of this sketch remembers having killed wild deer upon what now constitutes a portion of the town of Centralia. Dr. Bruton farmed until 1866, when he moved to Centralia. In 1871 he graduated at the St. Louis Medical College, having previously read medicine for two years. He was married, July 14th, 1852, to Miss Henrietta Fenwyck, of Bath county, Kentucky. They have four children. Has one daughter now the wife of Robert B. Singleton, of St. Louis. Has one son, Frank E., in business at Sturgeon. During the civil war, Dr. Bruton remained at home. Took no part in the strife, but was arrested by Merrills Horse and kept several days on account of his sympathy for the South. He was drafted about the close of the war, but did no service. Was on the ground after the Centralia fight and helped to dispose of the dead, as will be seen by reading the account of the massacre which appears in this volume. Dr. Bruton is a Mason. He and his wife are both members of the Christian church.
p. 1119 - DR. BENNETT H. CLARK, SR.
The subject of this sketch was born in Howard county, Missouri, May 25th, 1825. He is the son of Bennett H. and Susan H. Clark, the latter a daughter of Gen. Stephen Triggs, who came to Missouri about 1815. His parents were natives of Clark county, Kentucky, but were reared in Montgomery county, that State. Dr. Clark was raised on the farm, and acquired his education in Howard county, being placed in Fayette High School at the age of seventeen, and remaining there until he finished his course. He began the study of medicine in Fayette under Dr. Charles R. Scott, in 1846, and read there about two years. He then went to the medical college at Louisville, Kentucky, and graduated there in 1849. Immediately on returning to Missouri, he began the practice at Fayette. The next year, however, (1850), he was borne off with the gold excitement, and went to California, where he spent a year. Returning to Missouri in 1851, he located at Buena Vista, and was there married in May, 1852, to Miss Elizabeth Winn, daughter of Charles H. and Eliza Winn. Mrs. Clark was born February 1st, 1837, on the farm where her father still resides. Subsequently she and Dr. C. moved to the farm where they now reside, at Middletown, in Rocky Fork township, and here the doctor practices medicine and operates the farm conjointly. Five out of seven children that were born to Mr. and Mrs. Clark still survive. One son, Bennett H. Jr., is a graduate of the medical department of the University, but is now settled on a farm in Boone county, as is also his brother. During the civil war, Dr. Clark enlisted in the Confederate army, in 1861, in the company commanded by Captain Hicks. He was in the battle of Boonville, under Gen. Marmaduke. In September, 1861, he was commissioned surgeon of the 6th regiment of infantry, Missouri State Guards, his regiment being in the third division commanded by his cousin, Gen. John B. Clark. In 1862 Dr. Clark was put into the regular Confederate service and appointed assistant surgeon, and served for a time under Gen. Hindman in Arkansas. He was ten sent to Gen. Price, in Missouri, and in 1864 was appointed regimental surgeon at Richmond, Virginia, and remained till the close of the war. He surrendered at Jacksonport, Arkansas, and returned to his farm, where he has ever since been engaged in the practice of his profession.
For several years Dr. Clark was postmaster at Middletown, and one time master of the Union Temperance Lodge organized at that place. He has been a Free Mason since 1846, and he and his wife are both members of the Christian church. The family to which Dr. Clark belongs is one prominently known in this State, Virginia and Kentucky. The civil and military record of his uncle and cousin, Generals John B. Clark, Sr. and Jr., is sufficiently well known to Missourians to need no comment here.
Dr. Clark, though formerly a Whig, is now in the straight Democratic harness, and votes no other ticket, nor affiliates with any other party.
p. 1086 - WILLIAM R. COWDEN, M. D.
Dr. William R. Cowden, a reliable, competent and enterprising young physician, of Perche township, was born in Boone county, Missouri, November 7th, 1849. He is the son of Hezekiah, a well-to-do farmer of Perche township, who came to Missouri in 1837. The father of Hezekiah was Joseph Cowden, an Irishman. Hezekiah married Miss Elizabeth Inglehart, daughter of George J., only son of George Inglehart, a native of Germany, who came here during the revolutionary war as a soldier under Lord Cornwallis. Dr. William R. Cowden is one of nine children: James E. George W., Joseph, Alexander, Florenza, Margaret C., John N. and Mary. The father of Dr. Cowden died at the age of fifty-two. He was a zealous member of the Methodist church, and lived a pious, godly life.
The subject of this sketch was educated at the common schools of the country. Afterwards studied medicine under Dr. J. M. Shock, of Everett, whose biography appears elsewhere in this volume [did not find]. He then attended the lectures at the Medical College of Virginia. He entered college in 1874. After graduating from this institution he took a course of lectures at the Bellevue Hospital and Medical College, taking his degree from this institution in 1876. He was married in 1876 to Miss Emma J., daughter of John Bennett, of Richmond, Virginia. They have three children, Virginia, Willie M. and Etta Lee. The doctor is a member of the Christian church. He has a fine practice, and is universally esteemed by all who know him. He has accumulated considerable property and all his surroundings are of the most pleasant and encouraging nature.
The subject of this sketch was one of the pioneer preachers of the West, uniting within himself the qualifications of a minister and a physician. His opportunities for doing good were varied and extensive, and he discharged his whole duty to his fellow-man in the most cheerful and acceptable manner, leaving behind a memory of good works that will ever survive him. He came to Cedar township in 188, being among the first settlers of that portion of Boone county. He was born in Rutherford county, North Carolina, and it is said that he commenced preaching before he was nineteen years old. He also commenced the practice of medicine at an early age. In the month of December, 189, he with fifteen others met at the house of Anderson Woods for the purpose of founding a church, and were there and then constituted into what has since been known as the Little Bonne Femme Baptist church. He was pastor of New Salem Baptist church for twenty-nine years, having been chosen December 2d, 1828. He died of typhoid fever, July 29th, 1859. The congregation at New Salem erected a handsome monument over his grave as testimony of their great love for him as a man and their high appreciation of his services as a minister.