The History of Holt and Atchison Counties, Missouri, containing a history of these counties, their cities, towns, etc.; St Joseph, Mo.: National Historical Company, 1882.
Lincoln Township, Atchison County, Missouri 1882
(transcribed by Pat O'Dell: genpat@netins.net)
page 801
The establishment with which Mr D. is connected is a porminent one and the members well merit their success and deserve a liberal patronage from the citizens of Westboro and vicinity.
Nathan S. Davis, farmer, section 8, was born in Cumberland County, New Jersey, July 27, 1839, being the only son of Nathan and Hannah J. (Barrett) Davis. His father was a native of the same county, born in 1812, and his mother of Salem County, New Jersey, born January 1, 1817. The former died in 1840. Mrs Davis was married the second time to one J.P. Simpkins, and in 1849, moved to Peoria County, Illinois, and to Sarpy County, Nebraska, in 1856. She died September 1, 1879. In 1850, the subject of this sketch went to Illinois, and later, with his parents to Nebraska. In 1862, he took a trip to California, where he remained till 1865, then returning to Nebraska. April 5, 1868, he married Miss E. Minerva Woodhull, a native of Kilworth, Middlesex county, Ontario. She was born October 20, 1846, and was a daughter of J. and Eliza Woodhull. Mr W. was a native of Canada, and her mother of New York. Mrs Davis with her parents came to Atchison County in 1857. The family of Mr and Mrs Davis consists of three children living: Loraine Lee, born June 22, 1869; Melvin Woodhull, born July 16, 1871, and Fred Stennett, born March 26, 1878. Mr and Mrs D. are members of the M.E. Church.
Clarence DeLee, of the firm of Davis & De Lee, hardware merchants, Westboro, was born in Des Moines county, Iowa, in 1861. His parents were J.E. and A.C. De Lee, the former a native of New York, and the latter of Iowa. Clarence remained in Des Moines County, Iowa, till 1868, when, with his parents, he moved to Greeley, Colorado. There he continued to dwell till 1874, when he came to Essex, Page County, Iowa, where he completed his education. In 1880 he entered the wholesale grocery house of Paxton & Gallagher, at Omaha, Nebraska, in whose employ he was till 1881. He then assisted in his father's hardware store at Essex, Iowa, till March, 1882, when, in connection with Mr John W. Davis, he purchased their present stock of goods. This is the only house in Westboro that confines itself to the hardware business. Mr De Lee is an excellent salesman, and a young man of pleasing address and social manners.
John P. Dunham, farmer, section 28. This pioneer is a native of Brown County, Ohio, and was born October 6, 1823. In 1826, with his parents, he moved to Johnson County, Indiana, and settled on a farm. His father died in 1837 [page 802] and his mother still resides at the old homestead in Indiana, being in her eighty-third year. John P. Dunham was married September 8, 1844, to Miss Elizabeth Mullis, a native of Washington County, Kentucky, born February 9, 1822. With her parents she moved to Johnson County, Indiana, in 1830. Mr Dunham subsequently purchased a piece of timber land in Indiana, but soon becoming disatisfied with it, sold out and moved to Holt County, Missouri, in 1848, and to Atchison County in 1849. He then settled where he now resides, having a beautiful farm of 200 acres, well improved. Mr and Mrs D. have seven children living: A.J., Nathan, John, Henry, Alfred, William and Vinna. Mrs D. is a church member.
A.B. Dunham, farmer, section 27, was born in Johnson County, Indiana, July 9, 1832, and is a son of Aaron and Elizabeth (Wheaten) Dunham. The former, who was a native of Hio, died about the year 1839. The mother was born in New Jersey. After being married they moved to Indiana, at an early day. Aaron spent his boyhood days and received a good education in his native county, residing with his mother and family till he was twenty-four years old, except during the summer of 1854, which was spent in Atchison County, Missouri. He was married November 27, 1858, to Miss Nancy E. Prichard, a native of Johnson County, Indiana, born November 5, 1840. She was a daughter of Lewis and Susan (Marlin) Prichard, natives of Henry County, Kentucky, but who went to Indiana at an early day. After their marriage, Mr Dunham and wife settled in their native county, and remained till 1877, when they located where they now reside. The farm consists of 120 acres of well improved land. They have eight children living: Loutta, James S., Emery, Alfred, Albert, John M., Jennie M. and Ida. They have lost two, Emma and Alonzo. Mr and Mrs D. are members of the Christian Church.
A.J. Dunham, farmer, section 27, is a native of Johnson County, Indiana, where he was born September 3, 1845. His parents were John P. and Elizabeth A. Dunham, with whom he moved to Holt County, Missouri, in 1848, and to Atchison County in 1859, settling near Center Grove. Here he spent his boyhood days and received a good education. During the late war he enlisted in Company I, Forty-third Regiment Missouri Volunteer Infantry in 1865, and was mustered out June 30, 1865. He then returned home and devoted his time to farming, purchasing his present place in 1873. Mr D. married March 15, 1877, Miss Emma Coulter, a native of Hancock County, Illinois, born January 8, 1858. She was a daughter of Josiah and Mary Coulter, natives of Ohio. Her father was [page 803]