Randolph County, MO Biographies

Randolph County, MO
Biographies

W.B. FREEMAN
W. B. FREEMAN, of Richmond, who has during seventy-three odd years had an intensive and extensive experience, is an ex-Confederate veteran, has been a successful farmer both in Missouri and in Kentucky, and is one of the large land owners in Madison County and still does an extensive business in the buying and selling of farms. Mr. Freeman was born in Madison County. Kentucky, August 25, 1848. His paternal ancestors came to Virginia from England in Colonial times. His grandfather, Moab Freeman, was born in Culpeper County, Virginia, and as a young man moved to Madison County, Kentucky, where he acquired a farm and also subsequently owned thousands of acres in the mountainous district of Eastern Kentucky. He died in Estill County in 1851. He married in Madison County Cheney Bentley who died in 1826. on the farm subsequently owned by her son, E. B. Freeman, near Richmond. E. B. Freeman was born September 20, 1826, the year his mother died, his birthplace being six miles northeast of Richmond. He grew up on that farm, married in Madison County, and had extensive interests as a farmer and dealer in livestock. During the '50s he removed to Randolph County, Missouri, and while there he enlisted in the Confederate army and went to Texas with Col. Caleb Perkins' regiment of mounted cavalry. There he was transferred to Colonel Lane's First Texas Cavalry in the fall of 1862, and was with that command until the close of the war. From the ranks he rose to a second lieutenancy, and his service was largely that of a courier. He was in the battles of Shreveport, Louisiana, Cane Hill, Arkansas, Little Rock and others, and was severely wounded in the head at Shreveport, being unconscious for six months. In 1896 he returned to Kentucky and located in Estill County, where he lived until his death in 1901. He was a democrat and a very stanch Baptist. E. B. Freeman married Susan Eades, who was born at the mouth of Mud Creek in Madison County June 16, 1828. Her father, Lewis Eades, was born in Muhlenberg County, Kentucky, became a planter and slaveholder, and was killed in Madison County by his slaves during the Civil war. He had served as a soldier in the War of 1812. Lewis Eades married Dorcas Ann Duley, who was born on Duley Bottoms in Madison County, and as a small child was a refugee with other members of the family in Boone's Fort at Boonesboro. She died in Madison County. E. B. Freeman and wife had three children : Dorcas Ann, W. B. and Cynthia. Cynthia died in childhood. Dorcas Ann, who died in Randolph County, Missouri, in 1874, was first married to James H. Oliver, who was a farmer and a Confederate soldier and died in Red River County, Texas. Her second husband was Frank Parker, also a Confederate soldier, who is still living on his farm in Randolph County, Missouri. The mother of these children died in Dade County, Missouri, in 1883. W. B. Freeman was reared on his father's farm in Randolph County, Missouri. He attended rural schools there and in the spring of 1864, before he was sixteen, enlisted for service in the Confederate army of General Sterling Price. He joined Frank Davis' Company in Monroe County, Missouri, and after six weeks was with Tuck Powell's Company under Col. Caleb Perkins. He was detailed for General Marmaduke's staff, and was on the way to General Marmaduke's headquarters when that Confederate leader was captured. In the fall of 1864 Perkins' regiment started south from Missouri and reached the Missouri River at Roachport, where they made boats out of planks, on which they crossed the stream, swimming their horses alongside. The regiment comprised 1,165. On the Booneville and Springfield road they met Price's army, then on its way for its great invasion of Missouri. With the main command they proceeded to Booneville, where they captured 800 Federal troops, were then at Marshall in Saline County, proceeded to Independence, near what is now Kansas City, and spent two days in the constant fighting in that section, .that campaign taking them to the very edge of Kansas. The Yankees followed them to Lutonia, Missouri, where Mr. Freeman and his comrades left all their arms, and their ammunition train was burned. In the retreat they went through Arkansas and Indian Territory to within ten miles of the Red River, where they met trains loaded with provisions. Frequently for three days at a time they were without food, and out of 1,265 cavalry horses all but sixty-five died of starvation on the road before reaching Red River. The command then recuperated at Clarksville in Red River County, and while there Mr. Freeman's father came and secured his transfer in General Lane's command, with which detail he continued until the end of the war. When his command disbanded he went to Waxahachie, Ellis County, Texas, and for a number of weeks remained there prostrated by weakness due to long exposure. He contracted pneumonia, but got well without the aid of a physician. With other refugees Mr. Freeman returned to Missouri and surrendered in Saline County July 2, 1865. Soon after getting back to the old home in Randolph County he took the first train to Winchester, Kentucky, and lived there .with relatives. After his marriage he went back to Randolph County, and was successfully engaged in farming there until 1904. On returning to Kentucky Mr. Freeman conducted a bakery at Richmond, bought a farm in 19o6, operated it three years and since then has owned, operated and sold many farms in this section. He still owns much real estate and farm lands, including a 300 acre farm at Cane Spring in Madison County, a place of 113 acres seven miles east of Richmond and one of the very attractive modern homes of Richmond, on West Main Street. Mr. Freeman is a democrat, a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church, South, and has been affiliated with the Lodge of Masons at Huntsville, Missouri, for thirty-five years. Having been through one war he did not welcome America's participation in the world struggle, though when this country was finally embarked in the war he aided the cause with all his means and influence. At Cincinnati November 19, 1866, Mr. Freeman married Miss Sallie Ann Hisle, daughter of Lewis arid Clarissa (Combs) Hisle. Her father was a Madison County farmer. Mr. Freeman lost his first wife in 1889, after they had been married twenty-three years. Of their children Lewis went put to Montana and became a very successful man in that state, owning thousands of acres of wheat land, and also three moving picture theaters at Great Falls, where he died in 1919. The daughter Ellen died at Huntsville, Missouri, at the age of twenty-three, wife of Ben Davis, who died at Moberly, Missouri. Another child, Susie, died at the age of six months, and there were two others who died in infancy. The only surviving child of Mr. Freeman is his daughter Clara, living at Richmond, wife of George Dunbar. Her son, Lewis William Dunbar, is a veteran of the World war and is a real estate broker at Richmond, and also secretary and treasurer of the Madison County Farm Loan Bureau. In 19o1, in Dallas County, Missouri, Mr. Freeman married Mrs. Jennie (Reed) Caldwell, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. A. J. Reed, now deceased. Her father was a farmer in Polk County, Missouri.
[Source: "History of Kentucky" By Charles Kerr, William Elsey Connelley, Ellis Merton Coulter. Published by The American Historical Society, 1922, Submitted to Genealogy Trails by K. Torp]

JAMES M. CHISHAM.
Perhaps no one has been more closely identified with the public affairs and public utilities of Atchison than Mr. James M. Chisham, who is now superintendent of the Atchison Water Company. For a number of years he filled official positions in the city's government, and helped make Atchison a city of modern improvements, including paved streets, and possessed of those public utilities which are inseparable from health and convenience.

He is an old resident of Atchison, having come to the city when a child. He has fought his own way to success. He was born in Randolph County, Missouri, December 23, 1859. His ancestors, the Chishams, came from Scotland, were early settlers in Virginia, in colonial times, and from there the family moved to Kentucky and later to Missouri. Mr. Chisham's grandfather Chisham was a Randolph County, Missouri, pioneer, and spent his life there as a farmer. Mr. Chisham 's maternal grandfather Palmer went out to California during the gold excitement of the early '50s, and while returning by way of the Isthmus of Panama was lost on the Gulf of Mexico.

George Chisham, father of James M. Chisham, was born in Missouri, in 1836, spent his active career as a farmer and died in Randolph County in 1862. He was a democrat in politics. His wife, Elizabeth Palmer, was born in Missouri in 1838 and died at Atchison, Kansas, in 1871. There were just three children, James M. being the second and the only one still living. This family suffered a tragedy in 1862, when they were stricken by dysentery and not only the father but the oldest son, William, and the youngest son, John, died of the disease. William was five years old at the time and John was an infant. In 1865 the widowed mother brought her only son, James, to Atchison, and the latter has known no other home since he was six years of age. He attended as regularly as possible the public schools and for two years was a student in Montgomery College in Montgomery County, Missouri. He left that school in 1879 and returning to Atchison entered the office of the recorder of deeds as assistant deputy. Subsequently he was deputy county clerk and was in the court house three years altogether. In the spring of 1883 he began work for the Eastern Kansas Land and Loan Company as bookkeeper, but after three months took a position as cashier with the Atchison Gas and Water Company. That was his first connection with the public utilities. He was cashier of the Gas and Water Company three years and then became superintendent of the gas works. He managed that company until January 1, 1898, and at the same time was secretary of the company. While retaining that office he was appointed postmaster under McKinley and served until January 1, 1911.

In 1905 Mr. Chisham became active superintendent of the Atchison Water Company, and has retained that office to the present time. The water company is owned by a private corporation, the general offices of which are in St. Louis, Missouri. The local offices are at 406 Commercial Street in Atchison.

Atchison has a fine water system. The pumping station is near the Union Station at the foot of Utah Avenue on the Missouri River. The capacity of the pump is 4,000,000 gallons a day, and the water is delivered partly by direct pressure and partly by gravity flow. At Spring Garden Street and Sixth Street are situated four reservoirs, one with a capacity of 4,000,000 gallons and each of the others with a capacity of 1,750,000 gallons, so that when full these reservoirs contain over 9,000,000 gallons of water.

From 1885 to 1891 Mr. Chisham was a member of the City Council of Atchison and was president of .the council three years of that time. This was an era of great public improvements. During that time two-thirds of the paving was done, and Atehisou is noted for its many miles of paved streets. From 1891 to 1893 he also served as city treasurer. Mr. Chisham is a director in the Atchison Water Company and is a stockholder in the First National Bank. In politics he is a republican, is a member of Trinity Episcopal Church, is affiliated with Washington Lodge No. 5, Ancient Free and Accepted Masons, is past high priest of Washington Chapter No. 2, Royal Arch Masons, is a member of Washington Commandery No. 1, Knights Templar, and belongs to Atchison Lodge No. 4, Ancient Order of United Workmen, and to the Royal Arcanum.

In 1905 Mr. Chisham built one of the finest homes in the city, at 705 North Fourth Street, where he and his family reside. He married June 20, 1883, near Hawthorne in Atchison County, Miss Florence Iddings. Her parents, James M. and Margaret (Peedler) Iddings, are both now deceased. Her father was a farmer and stock man and an early settler in Atchison County. Mr. and Mrs. Chisham have two children. Rub}', still at home, attended the Midland College at Atchison through the junior year and completed her education in the art department of the University of Kansas. Fay is the wife of Arthur C. Moses, a resident of Kansas City, Missouri, and in the mills of the Kansas Flour Mills Company. Mr. and Mrs. Moses have one child, William, born November 27, 1915.
Source: "A Standard History of Kansas and Kansans" By William Elsey Connelley 1918 - Submitted to Genealogy Trails by Barb Ziegenmeyer

W. H. FOUNTAIN.
W. H. Fountain, farmer, of Randolph county, Missouri, is of English origin, his great-grandfather, on his father's side, having been exiled from England in 1760, on account of religious, disturbances which prevailed in the old country at that time. His grandfather was one of the pioneer settlers of Kentucky, and a great hunter, being remarkably proficient as a marksman. The father of W. H. was born in Clark county, Kentucky, his mother in Bourbon county, of that State. The grandfather of Mr. Fountain emigrated to Missouri in 1815, when his son, the father of W. H., was about seventeen years old. They settled on Lick Fork, in section 27, his residence being in the northwest quarter. His father was married in this county to Lucy Ann Angell, March 13th, 1838, Young E. Hicks, a justice of the peace, solemnizing the marital obligation. W. H. Fountain was born February 17th, 1839. He has one brother living. Another brother was drowned in Smoke river, while crossing the plains, July 17th, 1863.
W. H. Fountain moved to Randolph county in 1870. He has two farms, the one upon which he is now living, and another in Boone county. Most of his business is in this county, and he thinks of returning to Boone to live. Mr. Fountain was first married, February 15th, 1866, to Miss Julia, daughter of Thomas A. and Martha Barnes, of Randolph county. She died in 1872, leaving three children, Radford M., Martha A., and Otis. Married second time to Miss Rachel, daughter of Eli and Eliza Lyons, of Boone county. They have two children, John F. and Eliza Beulah. He has crossed the plains some half-dozen times. He was in company with his brother when the latter lost his life, in 1863. Is a member of the Baptist church. He is also a member of the Knights of Honor. He is a Democrat in politics. Mr. Fountain is an enterprising farmer, stock raiser and trader. He has shipped as many as 138 car loads of stock in one year. So far this season (summer of 1882) he and his brother-in-law, his partner in the business, have shipped over 1,000 head of cattle. They ship from various points. Most of the Fountain family emigrated to Oregon years ago. The family, on the maternal side, is of Irish origin, the grandfather of Mr. Fountain having been born and raised in that country. [Source: "History of Boone County, Missouri: Written and Comp. from the Most Authentic Official and Private Sources; Including a History of Its Townships, Towns, and Villages. Together with a Condensed History of Missouri; the City of St. Louis ... Biographical Sketches and Portraits of Prominent Citizens ..." Published by Western Historical Company, 1882 - Submitted to Genealogy Trails by K. Torp]

MAJOR JAMES LILLY
Lilly, Major James, was born March 25", 1872, on a farm near Levick's Mill, in Randolph County, Missouri, son of James Madison and Margaret (Orr) Lilly. His father, who was born in Oldham County, Kentucky, of Scotch-Irish ancestors, died August 8 1900, at the age of eighty-four years. His mother, who is still living at seventy years of age, was born in Washington County, Virginia, and is of Irish extraction. Mr. Lilly was educated at the State Normal School in Kirksville, where he fitted himself for school teaching as a profession. As a student he had a great aptitude for the mastery of the languages and a fondness for the study of history and political science, and he has given more attention to these subjects than to others. He began teaching in a country school in Randolph County in the spring of 1891. During the winter of 1892-3 he taught what is known as the "Peak School," near Santa Fe, in Monroe County, Missouri. He then went to Moberly, Missouri, and during the school year 1893-4, was principal of the Central School, in that city. During the school year 1894-5 he was assistant principal of the Moberly High School, having charge of the department of civics, history and political science. In the spring of 1895 he was elected superintendent of the public schools of Unionville, Missouri, and entered upon the discharge of his duties in that connection in September following. He continued at the head of the Unionville schools until the close of the term in 1897, when he voluntarily abandoned teaching as a profession. Prior to this and in the year 1894, he had been appointed school commissioner of Randolph County by Governor William J. Stone to fill a vacancy in that office which had been caused by the death of Professor M. H. Tinsley. He was elected to the superintendency of the schools of that county April 2, 1895, but resigned the office a few months afterward to take charge of the public schools of Unionville. He was elected clerk of the Circuit Court of Randolph County in November, 1898, and is now serving his first term as the incumbent of that office. He has always been a Democrat in politics and takes an active part in political campaigns as a public speaker and champion of the principles of his party. Since early boyhood he has been a member of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church. He affiliates with the Masonic order and the order of Modern Woodmen of America. [Source: "Encyclopedia of the History of Missouri: A Compendium of History and Biography for Ready Reference", By Howard Louis Conard, Published by The Southern history company, Haldeman, Conard & co., proprietors, 1901. - Submitted to Genealogy Trails by K. Torp]

DR. JAMES S. LOCKRIDGE.
The subject of this sketch was born in Randolph County, Missouri, April 27, 1832. His father, William Lockridge, was a native of Rockbridge county, Virginia. His mother was a native of Augusta county, Virginia. Her maiden name was Ruth Davis. The elder Lockridge died when his son was but sixteen or seventeen years of age, leaving him the sole support of his mother and three sisters. He had but little time to attend school and grew to manhood without being scarcely able to write his name. His sisters having married, and his mother dying when he was about twentv-one, he commenced his education in real earnest. He attended the St. Louis Medical College and Jefferson College, Philadelphia, graduating from the latter institution in 1856, and from the St. Louis Medical College the year following. He came to Sturgeon in the spring of 1857, where he was married the following November to Elizabeth A., daughter of Thomas Prather and granddaughter of Mrs. Cowan, one of the oldest citizens of Boone county. They have one child living, R. Lee. Have two sons dead, William died at the age of fourteen, Willard at the age of two and a half years. Dr. Lockridge built the first brick house ever erected in Sturgeon. He has an interest in the store conducted under the firm name of Goin & Lockridge. He has taken a lively interest in every enterprise calculated to promote the interests of the town in which he lives, and has lent a helping hand to every laudable undertaking which stood in need of such patronage. He is also liberal in his professional charges, especially so to the poor, and in this way has done a great deal of good of which the world knows little or nothing at all. The doctor and his wife are both members of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church. [History of Boone County, Missouri: Written and Comp. from the Most Authentic Official and Private Sources; Including a History of Its Townships, Towns, and Villages. Together with a Condensed History of Missouri; the City of St. Louis ... Biographical Sketches and Portraits of Prominent Citizens ... Published by Western Historical Company, 1882 - Submitted to Genealogy Trails by K. Torp]

SHERROD W. TURNER.
Sherrod W. Turner, cashier of the Sturgeon bank, and member of the firm of Rucker & Turner, was born and reared in Boone county, Missouri. He is the son of John and Virenda H. (Tucker) Turner. His early education was limited. He attended the common schools of the county, and afterwards went to the State University, at Columbia, Mo. He taught in the public schools for about five years, his first attempt at teaching being in the capacity of assistant in the Sturgeon high school. He went to the Mound City Commercial College, St. Louis, where he took a thorough course, including commercial law. He graduated from this institution in 1869. In 1870 he went to Texas and was engaged in a dry goods house as book-keeper for one year. Returned to Sturgeon in 1871, and was employed as bookkeeper and salesman by Maj. G. F. Rucker until 1876, when he became a partner in the firm. December, 1879, he became cashier of the Sturgeon bank. He was married, November 12, 1871, to Miss Katie, daughter of Nathaniel Roberts, of Boone county. They have no children. Mr. and Mrs. Turner are both members of the Christian church. He is a Knight Templar and a member of the Order of A. O. U. W. and Knights of Honor. Mr. Turner is a live business man, and has been very successful in all his undertakings. [History of Boone County, Missouri: Written and Comp. from the Most Authentic Official and Private Sources; Including a History of Its Townships, Towns, and Villages. Together with a Condensed History of Missouri; the City of St. Louis ... Biographical Sketches and Portraits of Prominent Citizens ... Published by Western Historical Company, 1882 - Submitted to Genealogy Trails by K. Torp]

AARON L. HULEN.
Aaron L. Hulen, the subject of this sketch, is the son of James Hulen, and was born in Randolph county, Missouri, November 8th, 1852. He was raised on the farm and educated at the common schools of the county. Married Miss Martha, daughter of James E. Dry, of Monroe county, Missouri. They have one daughter. Mr. Hulen sold his farm in Monroe county and removed to Boone in 1882, purchasing 120 acres one mile west of Centralia, upon which he has erected a broom factory. He has considerable experience in the business, and his brooms meet with ready sale. He is a member of the Christian church. He formerly taught school of winters. He is a Democrat in politics. [History of Boone County, Missouri: Written and Comp. from the Most Authentic Official and Private Sources; Including a History of Its Townships, Towns, and Villages. Together with a Condensed History of Missouri; the City of St. Louis ... Biographical Sketches and Portraits of Prominent Citizens ... Published by Western Historical Company, 1882 - Submitted to Genealogy Trails by K. Torp]

MALCOLM G. QUINN.
Malcolm G. Quinn, assessor of Boone county, was born on Foster's prairie, Randolph county, Missouri, November 23d, 1844. He is the son of Thomas and Zarelda (Tomlinson) Quinn. He attended the common schools of Howard and Randolph, completing his studies at Mt. Pleasant College, Huntsvillc, Missouri, from which institution he graduated. In 1860 he assisted as one of the corps of engineers on the North Missouri railroad. In the spring of 1861 he enlisted as a private in the Confederate army. Thos. G. Lowry, of Randolph county, was his captain. In the regular organization Mr. Quinu was made a sergeant of Company K, 3d Missouri Infantry, 1st Missouri Brigade. He served through the whole of the war. At the battle of Port Gibson, Mississippi, he was shot through the right leg, and was afterwards wounded in the left leg. He participated in the following battles: Elkhorn, Corinth, Vicksburg, Nashville, Franklin and Mobile, surrendering at the last-named place in 1865, his commander being Col. Elijah P. Gates. After the war Mr. Quinn returned to Howard County, Missouri, and went into business at Fray's mill with James Robinson, keeping a store of general merchandise, under the firm name of Quinn & Robinson. He remained in this business about six months, then sold his interest and accepted a position under Maj. George C. Pratt in locating the Columbia and Jefferson City rock road, acting as leveler and division engineer. In 1869 he took charge of the various gravel roads in Boone county. He was afterwards appointed county surveyor, serving in that capacity for two years. He was then elected for four years. Afterwards served as deputy collector under J.C. Gillaspy. In 1878 he was elected assessor, and has held the office ever since. Mr. Quinn is a member of the K. of P., and a director of the Boono County Fair. He was first married November 23d, 1872, to Miss Caroline, daughter of Abram and Nancy ( O'Neal) Turner. They had one son and one daughter. The first wife having died July 4th, 1876, he was again married May 3d, 1879, to Miss Katie Turner, sister of his deceased wife. Mr. Quinn owns a nice farm of 220 acres, five miles east of Columbia, on the western border of the Two-mile prairie. Seventy acres of his land is in 50 timber. He is quite pleasantly situated. In public and private, he is quite pleasantly situated. Mr. Quinn is highly esteemed by the people of his adopted county. [History of Boone County, Missouri: Written and Comp. from the Most Authentic Official and Private Sources; Including a History of Its Townships, Towns, and Villages. Together with a Condensed History of Missouri; the City of St. Louis ... Biographical Sketches and Portraits of Prominent Citizens ... Published by Western Historical Company, 1882 - Submitted to Genealogy Trails by K. Torp]

Wood H. Hamilton
Wood H. Hamilton. Those who are familiar with the upbuilding and development of Gallatin during the last forty years, especially in its business district, recognize that no one individual has done more for the substantial improvement of the city than Mr. W. H. Hamilton, whose capital and enterprise have gone into half a dozen or more of the more conspicuous blocks in the heart of the little city. Mr. Hamilton has lived in the Gallatin district nearly all his life, was reared on a farm, had little or no means to start with, yet is now one of the wealthy men of the county. His progressive prosperity has been attained by honest business dealings, and he is a generous, public spirited citizen.

Of good old Kentucky stock, Wood H. Hamilton was born in Randolph County, in Northeastern Missouri, June 15, 1849. His parents were Dr. John Benjamin and Caroline (Sanders) Hamilton, both of whom were born and married in Kentucky. The Hamiltons are of Scotch-Irish descent. Dr. J. B. Hamilton was a graduate of medicine, and practiced for many years in Kentucky. By his first marriage there were two children—Dr. Thomas Hamilton, of Randolph County, and Mrs. Caroline Miles, both now deceased. In 1836, after his marriage to Miss Caroline Sanders, Doctor Hamilton and family joined a colony who located in Randolph County, Missouri. The journey was accomplished in a prairie schooner, drawn by six horses, and the family camped by the roadside every night on the way. Doctor Hamilton brought several negro slaves with him to Missouri. In Randolph County, besides practicing his profession, Doctor Hamilton purchased considerable areas of unimproved land and employed his negroes to work it. Having sold his interests in that part of the state, in 1850 he moved to Gallatin, bought town property and land in the vicinity, and again introduced the system of the old Southern plantation. Here Doctor Hamilton died in 1852, being then fifty-seven years of age. Mrs. Hamilton moved on a farm a mile south of the Gallatin courthouse with her family of five sons. She lived in this community for over half a century and died at the ripe old age of ninety-one on March 17, 1903. Her sons were William H., J. P., J. B., Oscar and Woodruff H., the last being the only one now living. William H. and Oscar never married and lived on the homestead with their mother. J. P. Hamilton was engaged in the hardware business at Bethany and accumulated a large property. J. B. Hamilton was a Confederate soldier in the war between the states.

Mr. W. H. Hamilton received his education in the Gallatin public schools, attending school in the winter and working at home in the summer. Though many years have been spent in commercial lines he is a thoroughly experienced farmer. He lived at home with his mother until his marriage on December 22, 1870, to Miss Amanda McGee. Her father, Major McGee, was a prominent pioneer in the vicinity of Gallatin.

For three years after his marriage Mr. Hamilton followed farming. A sale of live stock brought him $625, and with that money he came into Gallatin and for forty years has been a factor in local business affairs. His first investment was in a harness and saddlery business. That was a line entirely unfamiliar to him, but he had the American characteristic of adaptability, and in a short time became quite expert in cutting and making harness and saddles. In a year's time he had no competitors in the county, all others in that line of trade having left. When he purchased the stock it invoiced $900, and his first year's profits were $1,000. His business steadily grew until his stock was valued at $10,000, and seven men were working under him in the establishment. That was the foundation of his substantial fortune, and he continued in the harness and saddle business until selling out in 1901.

His career as an investor and improver of property began almost as soon as he came to Gallatin. In 1874 he bought a two-story frame building on the south side of the square. This was burned in 1900, and he then erected on the ground two handsome brick buildings side by side, the second being on land bought from his brother William. In 1883 he purchased the large three-story brick block at the northwest corner of the square, and adjoining it constructed a large iron-clad barn. 36 by 130 feet, now used for a livery. In 1885, in partnership with Judge J. W. Alexander, T. B. Yates and John Inyard, he bought the ground and built what is now the Woodruff Hotel, a large, well arranged building and the only hotel in Gallatin. Eighteen months after its completion Mr. Inyard sold his interest to the other partners. In 1912 the hotel was sold to Frank A. Woodruff. Mr. Hamilton's next venture in local real estate was the purchase of two frame stores on the east side of the square. These were later torn down, and in their place were constructed substantial brick buildings. In 1895 he bought a half interest in building lots owned by Judge W. C. Gillilan on the southwest corner of the square, and together they erected the brick structure known as the Odd Fellow Building, with 100 feet front. Thus on all sides of the business district are improvements due to the enterprise of Mr. Hamilton. In 1881 he bought a home where he now lives, and after the first house was burned, April 23, 1895, he immediately erected the present residence, one of the finest in Daviess County. Until 1912 Mr. Hamilton was owner of the old homestead farm south of town, but sold it in that year. His chief holding in farm lands is now at Mont- rose, Colorado, where he owns 320 acres. He is also a stockholder in the First National Bank of Gallatin.

Mr. Hamilton and wife have become the parents of seven children. Their daughter Minnie died at the age of one year nine months. The others are: Winnie, born in 1873, is the wife of R. J. McCue, of Mont-rose, Colorado; Elsie, born in 1876, married Fred Carson, of Chicago; Frank W., born in 1878, is living at Montrose, Colorado; Lela. born in 1882, is the wife of Carl Roswell, of Nevada, Missouri; Coleman, born in 1885, lives at Weatherby, Missouri; and Lewis, born in 1891, is still at home.

While his business enterprise has been so effective in advancing the interests of his locality, Mr. Hamilton has likewise been one of the leaders in public affairs, where his energy and efficiency have accomplished some excellent results. From the time he moved into Gallatin until 1914 he was almost continuously identified with the city government either as a member of the council or as mayor. He served two terms of two years each as mayor. His first election was as the democratic nominee, but his administration was so satisfactory that the second time he was the choice of both parties and went into office with the unanimous consent of the townspeople. In his first term the municipal debt was reduced by $3,000, and in the second term by $4,000, and at the same time the city was well governed and the record of municipal improvement kept up. This is the greatest reduction ever accomplished in any single administration of the city's affairs. Mr. Hamilton as mayor conducted the municipal institution on the same strict business lines that he had applied so successfully to his own affairs. Politically he is a democrat, and is a member of the Odd Fellows fraternity, the Modern Woodmen and the Knights of Pythias. He and his wife are members of the Christian Church, and Mrs. Hamilton has been identified with that church for fifty years.
Source: A History of Northwest Missouri edited by Walter Williams, Published by The Lewis publishing company, 1915 -K.Torp 2009

Hon. Robert E. Maupin

Hon. Robert E. Maupin. The City of Pattonsburg, one of the thriving and progressive communities of Daviess County, has profited materially by the stable citizenship and business activities of Robert E. Maupin, mayor of the city since 1903, whose operations have covered a wide field and have included banking, real estate, insurance, merchandise, politics and close connection with movements which have raised the standard of morality, citizenship and education.

Mayor Maupin was born in Monroe County, Missouri, October 8,1865, and is a son of L. D. and Elizabeth (Moore) Maupin, the former born in Albemarle County, Virginia, in 1840, and the latter in Monroe County, Missouri. The paternal grandfather of Mr. Maupin was Austin Nimrod Maupin, who was born in Albemarle County, Virginia, and during the '50s migrated to the West, driving through in pioneer style and locating on a farm in Callaway County, Missouri, where he spent the balance of his life, clearing and cultivating a farm. The maternal grandfather of Mr. Maupin, Austin Moore, was one of the pioneer farmers of Monroe County, Missouri, where he passed his life in the pursuits of the soil.

L. S. Maupin was still a youth when he accompanied the family on their overland journey to Missouri, and was reared to manhood on the homestead place in Callaway County, securing an ordinary education in the public schools of his day and locality. Following his marriage, he resided for a time in Monroe County, but about the year 1870 moved to Renick, Randolph County, Missouri, where he continued to be engaged as a carpenter and contractor until his death in 1907. Mrs. Maupin passed away in 1882.

Robert E. Maupin secured his early education in the three-room school at Renick, which he attended until reaching the age of thirteen, although prior to this time he had become self-supporting. The family was large and its means limited, and the boy was accordingly expected to assist in its support, so that when he was ten years of age he had taken his place and was doing his full share in the fields, when not at school, and by the time he had reached the age of thirteen was earning $1 per day, good wages for a youth at that time. At that time he began learning the trade of blacksmith, later turned his attention to the painter's trade, and finally accepted a position as clerk in a store at $10 per month. Thus he secured his introduction to business life and in this way his real career started. After gaining some experience, Mr. Maupin decided to enter business as a proprietor, in partnership with J. L. George. The young men were without capital, but managed to borrow $950, and with this entered business as George & Maupin, a drug and grocery enterprise, at Renick. The business proved successful, the loan was paid back within fourteen months, and when twenty-one years of age, in 1886, Mr. Maupin, desiring further training in drugs, entered the St. Louis College of Pharmacy. In 1887 he passed the examination before the state board as a pharmacist, sold his business and returned to the St. Louis College of Pharmacy, from which he graduated in 1888 as the gold medal student of the class, he receiving three out of the four prizes offered, while his roommate received the other.

On July 12, 1888, Mr. Maupin came to Pattonsburg and purchased a drug store, taking possession two days later. He here built up a successful business, but it was his ambition to become a physician, and with this end in view in 1894 entered the Missouri Medical College, at St. Louis. In 1895 his drug business was destroyed by fire and he returned to Pattonsburg. In 1894 he had become a stockholder and director of the Pattonsburg Savings Bank, and January 1, 1896, was elected its president, a position he has continued to hold successfully to the present time, although at the time of his election he had intended returning to the medical school after serving a few months as head of the institution. The Pattonsburg Savings Bank was organized September 27, 1882, with a capital stock of $10,000, and April 7, 1892, this was increased to $20,000, and the present surplus amounts to $40,000, the officials being: R. E. Maupin, president; W. E. Smith, vice president; J. B. McDonald, cashier; C. A. Shaw, assistant cashier; and R. E. Maupin, W. E. Smith, 0. A. Reynolds, D. B. Koger, W. J. Gromer, Arthur Best and W. P. Groomer, directors.

Previous to 1912 Mr. Maupin was the owner of two tracts of laud, aggregating over three hundred acres, near Pattonsburg, on which he was extensively engaged in breeding and raising, for sale purposes, thoroughbred Shorthorn cattle and Poland-China hogs, holding three annual sales per year. This land and stock was sold in 1912 and Mr. Maupin's only land interests now are in a tract near Gallatin. In addition to his duties as active bank president, Mr. Maupin writes a great deal of fire insurance and does an extensive farm loan business independent of the bank. All that he has he has earned through his own efforts, without outside assistance, and while he has been succeeding financially he has not failed to raise himself socially.

A democrat in his political views, Mr. Maupin is chairman of the democratic township committee, was for many years a member of the city council, and since 190& has served as mayor. Under his administration the town has progressed and succeeded, growing in wealth and in population, and this largely because of his wise direction of its interests and the businesslike manner in which he has handled its affairs. Fraternally, he is a prominent Mason, being a Knight Templar and a Shriner, and also belongs to the Knights of Pythias, the Modern Woodmen of America, the Woodmen of the World and the Yeomen. He has for many years been a faithful member of the Christian Church, to the work of which he has given freely of his time and means, and at the present time he is president of the church board of trustees and superintendent of the Sunday school.

Mr. Maupin was married November 21, 1888, to Miss Lucy E. Grant, of Randolph County, Missouri, and they have five children: Lucile Elizabeth, Golden Roberta, Robert Grant, H. W. Curtman and Ellen Katherine.
Source: A History of Northwest Missouri edited by Walter Williams, Published by The Lewis publishing company, 1915 -K.Torp 2009

John J. Stogdale
John J. Stogdale. Holding prestige as the oldest merchant of Liberty, with a record of forty years of continuous activity, John J. Stogdale needs but little introduction to the people of Clay County. A man of large and varied interests, with heavy and constant demands made upon his time and attention, he has nevertheless found the opportunity and the inclination to devote himself to the needs of his community, and his work in the field of education should alone give him the respect and esteem of his fellow-citizens.

Mr. Stogdale was born near Moberly, Randolph County, Missouri, December 12, 1844, and belongs to one of the old and honored families of that section of the state. In 1842 his father, William Stogdale, came from Virginia to Missouri as a youth of eighteen years, and here became a Randolph County farmer. Shortly thereafter he married Susan Gashweiler, whose father was a native of Pennsylvania, and her mother of Kentucky. She, too, was born in Kentucky. In 1849 or 1850, John J. Stogdale, in company with John W. Gashweiler, outfitted twelve 4-mule teams and started overland for the California gold-fields, where eight months later, in the fall of 1850, Mr. Stogdale died of fever contracted there. Four children were born to him: John J.; Louisa, who is the wife of Luther Hicks, of Audrain County, Missouri; Berinda, who is the wife of William Shores, of Randolph County; and Mattie, the wife of Mr. Adams, of Illinois.

John J. Stogdale attended school in Randolph County and at St. Louis until the close of the Civil war, at which time he secured employment as a salesman with a St. Louis concern, but soon disposed of his interests in that city and came to Liberty, where he entered William Jewell College, graduating from that institution in 1872. In the following year he purchased a small, run-down stock of groceries and established himself in business at Liberty, building up a good trade and conducting this enterprise until 1874. He then sold out and entered the clothing business and later the produce business, handling principally potatoes and apples. He was soon doing a large business in this line and put in an evaporator, with a capacity of 240 bushels of apples a day, but this branch of the business was discontinued some years ago. In 1882 the high esteem in which Mr. Stogdale was held by his fellow citizens was evidenced by his election to the office of county treasurer on the democratic ticket, and in 1884, he was reelected, receiving practically as many votes as both of his competitors. For his second term he was elected without opposition.

Mr. Stogdale has been a merchant longer than any other business man in Liberty, a period of forty years, and during all of this time has bought goods of Sweet, Orr & Company, having handled the goods of this concern longer than any merchant in Missouri. Of late years he has devoted the greater part of his time to his farm, while he conducts the clothing business. He has a tract of more than six hundred acres in Clay County, and one farm in the river bottoms he considers the finest in the state, the soil being from one to seven feet deep, of silt deposited by the creeks and overflow from the river. This makes it wonderfully rich, and in 1913 portions of this land produced eighty bushels of corn to the acre. He has recently built a levee, at a cost of $3,000, to restrain the overflow of Rush Creek at this point. In addition he raises wheat and alfalfa, with some stock, and in each of these commodities has met with wonderful success. Mr. Stogdale was one of the original organizers of the First National Bank of Liberty and a charter member of the directing board. He has been very active in democratic politics for years, and is a member of the Masonic order, including the Shrine at Kansas City. With his family he attends the Baptist Church, of which he has been a member for many years. While Mr. Stogdale has been prominent and active in various fields of endeavor, he feels his greatest achievement was accomplished in the fall of 1889, when he started out to raise funds for the Liberty Ladies' College. He spent six months' time and single-handed raised $15,000, and ten acres of land, following which he superintended the building of the college, which threw open its doors May 30, 1890, and enjoyed a large patronage until destroyed by fire February 23, 1913. Only Mr. Stogdale and another man knew who was to be the head of the college when it was opened, and it was due solely to his efforts that Liberty was chosen for its site. Mr. Stogdale and others are now interested in rebuilding this institution, and have already raised more than forty-one thousand dollars for this purpose.

On September 10, 1874, Mr. Stogdale was married to Miss Belle Miller, who was born at Liberty, a daughter of Robert H. Miller, who was for many years editor of the Liberty Tribune. Mrs. Stogdale was born February 13, 1852, and died February 10, 1907, having been the mother of three children: Robert W., who is associated with his father in business under the firm style of J. J. Stogdale & Company; Emma E., is the wife of G. S. Lincoln, U. S. A., lieutenant commander and executive officer on the United States man-of-war South Carolina, stationed in California; and Louise, who resides with her father.
Source: A History of Northwest Missouri edited by Walter Williams, Published by The Lewis publishing company, 1915 -K.Torp 2009