RICHARD ASBURY, M.D.

(Physician and Surgeon, Monroe City).  Dr. Asbury was one of the first residents of Monroe City, having come here as early as the spring of 1866. But three families of those residing here at that time are still residents of the place. He built a neat two-story frame business house, the first one of any considerable size or importance erected here. A regular graduate of medicine and a physician of established reputation, he soon built up an excellent practice in the adjacent vicinities of Monroe, Ralls, Marion and Shelby counties, a practice which has steadily increased from the first. Dr. Asbury was also engaged in the drug business at this place with success for a number of years. A man of liberal, progressive ideas and wide general information, he has always taken an intelligent interest in the progress and prosperity of the community, and has contributed an important share toward building up Monroe City and surrounding country, and for the general interests of the people. Recognizing his concern for the welfare of the place, he has been called repeatedly to serve as city councilman and gave conclusive proof of his usefulness in that position by advocating with a due regard for economy and practicability all needed public improvements, such as the improvement of streets and making of sidewalks, etc. Dr. Asbury is a native Missourian, born in Lewis county, near the city of Monticello, May 17, 1838. His parents were William F. and Elizabeth (Blair) Asbury, his father originally of Virginia, but his mother of Kentucky. They were married in Kentucky and came to Missouri in 1834, settling five miles west of Monticello. They subsequently removed to Scott ? county, near Memphis, where the father died in 1853. The mother died some 13 years before, in 1840. Richard, the subject of this sketch, was only two years of age when his mother died, and his father afterwards married, Miss Mary A. Measner then becoming his wife.  There were nine children by the father’s first marriage and one by the second. The father was a farmer and also practiced medicine, being a man of wonderful natural aptitude for the medical profession. Richard Asbury received his education at the common schools, and when 20 years of age, during the Pike’s Peak excitement, went to the South Park country in Colorado, where he spent nearly a year engaged in mining. On his return he entered school at Canton, under the instruction of Prof. Grant, who taught a private class at the college in that place. After this he entered upon the regular study of medicine, under Dr. R. S. Briscoe, and continued under him for about a year, teaching school, however, a part of the time. He subsequently studied under Dr. Hubbard at Canton and taught for another year. For a while, also, he was engaged in mercantile business with J. B. Reddish. Entering the College of Physicians and Surgeons at Keokuk, Iowa, he took a regular course in that institution and graduated in 1865. After his graduation he located in Saline county, near Petre, where he practiced for about a year. He then came to Monroe City, in 1866, as stated above. In the meantime, however, in 1861, he joined the Southern army and was in the service for about a year, being a part of the time under Col. Green, and a part under Col.  Porter. On May 12, 1864, Dr. Asbury was married to Miss Martha E. Plant of Monticello. There are three children living of this union:

Sarah E. (“Bessie”), who is now attending Prof. Musgrove’s seminary at Monticello; Massanello P. (“Ned”), now also attending the same institution, and Carrie V., at home, aged eight years. Two are deceased, Richard V. and Lillie C., who died at tender ages. In about 1874 Dr. Asbury’s wife’s health began to fail and it so continued up to the time of her death, which occurred on March 17, 1883.  Two years before, he went south, hoping that a change of climate would prove beneficial, but all to no avail. She had long been an earnest member of the Christian Church, and at last passed away peacefully in the full hope and faith of the blessed Redeemer. Dr. Asbury has had several partnerships in the practice of medicine, but has always commanded a good practice personally, for he has many old patients who would not be satisfied with any other physician while he could be had. He has always taken a warm interest in the cause of temperance and is an earnest believer in the effectiveness of prohibition laws. He has been a member of the school board for a number of years, and, indeed, has ever shown a willingness to assist in any movement designed for the general good.

WILLIAM A. BIRD

(Photographer, Monroe City).  In 1873 Mr. Bird commenced learning the art of photography and has since devoted his time and attention almost exclusively to his calling.  The wants of society are varied, and in a well regulated community, as in the ideal Republic of Plato, the pursuits of its members must be greatly diversified. The egotism of the less liberal and less broad-minded class of individuals is so great, however, that it is not an uncommon thing to see one in a given calling estimating with little appreciation the pursuit of another -looking upon it, in fact, as of little value, and unworthy the time and attention of a man of sterling intelligence, positive character, or personal force. In this light some are wont to look upon photography. Ignoring the great service the art performs to humanity, they are not disposed to regard its adepts with that respect and consideration to which men faithfully devoted to a worthy calling are justly entitled. The art of photography preserves a singularly correct representation of the features and appearance of those nearest and dearest to us, after they have passed away. It presents to us the likeness of a loving and beloved mother when she is to be seen no more, or of a father, or of a husband or wife or children. The features of absent friends long separated from us are by it brought to view, telling us of the changes which the flight of years has made in those we esteem. In the realm of the gentler, blush-producing emotions of the heart, the value of its services is as inestimable as the stars that people space are innumerable.  Who of our day, in the opening bloom-time of life, has not had his soul thrilled, as if the music of the spheres were vibrating in his breast, at looking upon the fair features of some lovely maid, the ideal of his heart, as presented by the heaven-invented art of photography?  No one who has ever been young and loved can ever become so soured as to esteem to photographers’ work less than a gift of heaven, a divine mission, appointed like the ministers of old to publish glad tidings to all the world. Then should not one who devotes himself to this hardly less than sacred office put forth every energy of head and heart and of personal exertion to prove himself worthy of it? In this light the true artist regards it, and it is in this light that the subject of the present sketch has ever viewed it. With an intuitive sense of the importance of, and due regard for, the conditions of invention, composition, design, chiaro-scuro and coloring, including the principles of light and shade, warm and cold expressions, perspective, etc., he has studied his art with that intelligence and assiduity and practiced himself in its work with that comprehensive appreciation of what is necessary to be done, which could not fail of placing him in the front rank of artists in North Missouri. The gratifying result is shown in the superior excellence and enviable reputation which distinguish his work. It is not too much to say that no photographer in this part of the State has been more fortunate in mastering his art than the subject of the present sketch. His work can compare favorably with that of the most eminent adept, were they hung side by side in any reputable salon d’art photograiphique of a large city. Mr. Bird, whose name itself is not an unpleasant suggestion, is a native of the classic State of Illinois, born in Ogle county, May 19, 1850. His early life was spent on the farm and without any thrilling event indicative of a remarkable future. He early became identified, however, with a baseball club at Rockford, Ill., showing that he is possessed of that activity of mind and body and of that disposition to keep quite up with the times in which he lives so necessary to success in life. He was for some time a professional baseball player, and his name as such became a familiar object to the public in the local prints, and in a way quite creditable to himself and the club with which he was identified. In short, he was a successful baseball player, as he is a successful photographer. In 1872 he came to Missouri, locating at Shelbina, where he followed clerking for a year and at the same time studied and worked at photography. He came to Monroe City in 1880, and now has one of the handsomest suits of art parlors, in his line, including a studio and laboratory, to be found in this section of the State. His career, indeed, as indicated above, has been one of gratifying and unusual success. August 24, 1880, he was married to Miss Frankie L., a refined and accomplished daughter of J. C. York, of Shelbina. Mr. Bird is also agent for the Kimball organ. Mrs. Bird is a member of the M. E. Church.

JAMES H. BLINCOE

(Contractor and Builder, and Dealer in Lumber, etc., Monroe City).  Mr. Blincoe is the leading contractor and builder of this place, if indeed not also of the county, and does a business exceeded in extent and importance only by the excellence and popularity of his work. He has been engaged in business here for the past seven years and during this time has erected a number of the handsomest buildings, both residence and otherwise, to be seen in the place, a town noted for the fine taste and display in its architecture. He is by natural taste an architect, a designer of superior ability, while he is a thoroughly experienced carpenter and he always gives his personal attention to the erection of the buildings which are contracted to him, doing a large part of the work himself. He works, however, a half a dozen or more first-class carpenters during the building season, and receives great commendation for the expedition as well as thoroughness with which he does his work. Mr. Blincoe is one of the highly respected citizens of the place and is a member of the school board of which Dr. Jackson is president. He carries a large and excellent stock of lumber and all sorts of building materials, so that while he is enabled to sell to the general public at the lowest retail prices, he is at the same time able to give his patrons as a builder the benefit of wholesale prices in the erection of their houses. Mr. Blincoe is a Missourian by nativity and was born in Marion county, February 24, 1844. His father was George T. Blincoe, in his younger days a contractor in Marion county, and his mother was a Miss Elizabeth Turner, both Virginians. James H. was brought up to his present business and has since worked at it at different points in Missouri up to the time of coming to Monroe City, in 1877. Here he soon came to the front in his present lines, a position he is likely to hold as long as good health is spared to him. On the 14^th of June, 1865, he was married to Miss Anna Mitchell, of Marion county, a daughter of Burrill and Caroline (McCullough) Mitchell. Mr. and Mrs. Blincoe have four children: William E., Alice, James H. and an infant. He and wife are members of the M. E. Church South, and he is a member of the Masonic order.

BOULWARE & SULLIVAN

(Dealers in Dry Goods, Clothing, Hats, Caps, Boots, Shoes, etc., etc., Monroe City). Mr. Boulware, the senior member of the above-named firm, was brought up to merchandising, his father, William Boulware, having been an old merchant of this place. He entered his father’s store after taking a course at Monroe Academy, and continued clerking for his father from the age of 15 up to 1872, when he formed a partnership with his brother, Edward S., and the two engaged in his present line of business in this place. They continued in the business together with good success for two years, when Edward S. sold his interest in the firm to James M. Johnson, and about eighteen months afterwards the latter sold to Mr. Sullivan. Since then, in 1876, the firm has been doing business under the name of Boulware & Sullivan.  The business was started on comparatively a small capital, but the firm now has one of the leading houses in their line in Monroe county, and, indeed, in all this section of country for miles around. Messrs.  Boulware & Sullivan keep three clerks constantly employed, besides giving the business their own daily attention. They have a new brick business house, erected by themselves in 1883 at a large cost, a building 28 x 100 feet, which they have literally packed with every variety of goods to be found in a first-class store in their line. Their business is on a cash basis, both as buyers and sellers, and while it is thus on a sound basis, they are at the same time able to sell at prices which no credit house can compete with, for they get the benefit of important discounts by making cash purchases. Mr. Boulware is a native of Monroe county, born near this city March 22, 1852. His mother was Miss Anna McPike, related to the well-known McPike family of North Missouri. Aaron was the youngest of four children, the others being: Rachel Z., now Mrs. R. V. Sullivan; Edward S., of Marion county, and James M., of Lewis county. September 21, 1876, Aaron Boulware, the subject of this sketch, was married to Miss Minnie Mendenhall, a daughter of Dr. Thomas J. Mendenhall, of Monroe, formerly of Wilmington, Del.; he is now practicing in Philadelphia, Penn. Mr. and Mrs. Boulware have two children: Thomas Mendenhall and Anna McPike. He and wife are both members of the Episcopal Church, and he is a member of the Masonic order. 

Randolph V. Sullivan, the junior member of the firm, was born in Mason county, Ky., November 4, 1834, and was a son of Austin and Catherine (Hiles) Sullivan, who came to Missouri in 1867, and settled in Marion county. In 1871, however, they went to Rising Sun, Ind., where their eldest son lives, and where the father died in 1882. The mother is still living there. Four of their family are living: Robert A., of Marion county; James H., of Monroe county; Jerome, of Vernon county; Randolph, the subject of this sketch, and William H., the eldest, a physician at Rising Sun, Ind. Randolph V. was reared in Kentucky and educated at the Dover Seminary in that State.

He spent two years there in a drug store, and came to Missouri in 1856. Here he engaged in farming, near Monroe City, which he followed until 1876, being also engaged during the same time in grazing and feeding stock of all kinds. On the 29^th of June, 1859, Mr. Sullivan was married to Miss Rachel Z. Boulware, only daughter of William Boulware, and a sister to Aaron Boulware, of the present firm. The business of this firm has already been spoken of in the preceding sketch. Mr. Sullivan has been for some time acting President of the Monroe City Bank, since the ill health of the President, John B. Randol, and at the last election of officers he was elected President of the bank in which he is a prominent stockholder. He is one of the substantial property holders of the county, and a sober-minded, safe business man. Mr. and Mrs. Sullivan have three children: William A. and Charles M., both clerking in the store, and Anna K., who is at home.  William was educated at Central College, and Charles and Anna were educated at the Monroe Academy. Mr. Sullivan is superintendent of the Sunday school and he and all his family, except Charles, are members of the Methodist Episcopal Church South.

ROBERT B. BRISTOW

(Of Bristow & Lighter, Attorneys at Law, Monroe City).  Maj. Bristow, one of the leading lawyers of this judicial circuit and a prominent, influential citizen of Monroe county, came to Missouri from Virginia in 1870, where he had been successfully engaged in the practice of his profession continuously since the close of the war. He is a native of Virginia and resided there until his removal to Missouri. Maj. Bristow was born in Middlesex county, January 21, 1840, and was a son of James S. and Leonora (Seward) Bristow, both of old Virginia families. His father was a farmer by occupation and Robert B. was brought up to hard work on the farm. However, he had good educational advantages and took a regular course at Alleghany College, Virginia, where he graduated in 1859. Intended for the law, he immediately afterwards entered upon the study for that profession under the eminent jurist, Judge Brockenborough, of Lexington, Va.  He also took a regular course at the Virginia Law School, but received no degree as that institution did not then confer degrees. After quitting the law school he engaged in teaching, but was not long permitted to preside over a school-room, for the cyclone of Civil War soon came sweeping over the country and drew every one capable of bearing arms into its terrible embrace. He went directly out of the school-room into the first battle of Manassas, and for more than four years he bravely bore himself in march and camp and on the bloody field as a worthy soldier of the cavalier South. He entered the army as a private and by his merits rose to the rank of major, which he held at the close of the war, and finally surrendered at Appomattox where the Southern standard went down to rise no more. He was four times wounded during the progress of the war and was in many of the hardest battles fought during that long and terrible struggle.

But none of his injuries proved permanent, and he came out of his four years service fully capable of coping with the duties and responsibilities of life, his severest wound being that of the heart by the defeat of the cause which he loved so well and fought for so long and bravely. After the surrender he located for the practice of his profession at Saluda, the county seat of his native county, where he practiced with success until his removal to Missouri in 1870. From Virginia he came directly to Monroe City, and here formed a partnership in the practice of law with Rev. P. R. Ridgley, a prominent attorney as well as an able divine, now of Rocheport, Mo. This partnership continued until 1872, and they also conducted the Monroe City Appeal.  Rev. Mr. Ridgley, however, went to Rocheport, and a few weeks later Maj. Bristow had the misfortune to lose the Appeal office by fire ?, which left him about $1,000 in debt. He then sold the good will of the Appeal for what he could get and devoted himself exclusively to the practice. He has been quite successful as a lawyer, both in the trial of cases and in the accumulation of the rewards of a good practice, being not only one of the leading lawyers of the circuit in reputation and business but also in easy circumstances. Maj. Bristow is a man of marked character and sterling natural ability, as well as thorough master of the science of the law and an able practitioner and speaker. As an advocate he is conceded to have few equals if any in the circuit, and the influence he has before juries is one of the principal secrets of his success. Always thoroughly posted in the law of the case and never failing to make himself perfectly familiar with the facts, with this preparation when he comes to present his case to the jury in that terse and forcible language of which he is master, as well as that eloquence which he commands at will, he is almost irresistible.  In 18- ? he formed a partnership in the practice with his present partner, John T. Lighter, Jr., Esq. Mr. Lighter is an able and accomplished young lawyer, a graduate of the law department of the State University and a successful practitioner. On the 22d of February, 1866, Maj. Bristow was married to Miss Lucinda E. Cauthron, of Essex county, Va., and related to the prominent Audrain county family by that name of this State. Maj. and Mrs. Bristow are members of the Baptist Church, and he is one of the leading members of the I.0.0.F. in this part of the State.

BENEDICT BUELL

(Farmer and Stock-raiser, Post-office, Monroe City). One of the most increscent forces operating to the material development and general advancement in prosperity of Monroe county is the large number of men of means and enterprise, and of sterling business and industrial ability, who are constantly casting their fortunes and identifying their lives and activity for this county. Prominent among these in the last year or two is the subject of the present sketch. Mr. Buell, a relative to the litterateur Buell, well known as the author of “Russian Nihilism,” and numerous other works, resided in St. Louis county, where he was partly reared, until his removal to Monroe county in the fall of 1883. Already, by his industry and enterprise, he had achieved substantial success in the accumulation of

property, and came here with ample means to buy a valuable tract of land and improve it in an excellent manner. He has built an unusually good and tastefully constructed residence, commodious and conveniently arranged, and in other respects is making his farm one of the desirable homesteads of the township. Mr. Buell is a native of St. Louis county, born October 19, 1834. His parents were Jacob C. and Rosanna (Carrico) Buell, his mother a sister to Benedict Carrico, a sketch of whom appears in this volume, and for whom the present subject was named. Mr. Buell was quite young when his father died, leaving one other son, Walter, who is now on the farm with the subject of the present sketch, having only recently returned from California, where he made his home from the year 1850. In 1836 Mrs. Buell, the widow, with her two sons, Benedict and Walter, removed to Monroe county, but returned to St. Louis county four years afterward and was married there to Mr. Van Meter. She resided in St. Louis county for 16 years, but came back to Monroe in 1856. However, she returned to St. Louis county in 1877. Her second husband died while they resided in Monroe county. Benedict Buell was brought up to farming but also learned the stonemason’s trade, at which he worked in St. Louis until 1854. He then spent three years mining and freighting in California. Returning to St. Louis county in 1857, two years later he was married there to Miss Mary Kieff, who was born and reared in St. Louis. In 1860 he began running a threshing machine in St. Louis county, and continued that, in addition to his other agricultural industries, up to the time of his removal to Monroe county. Until the application of steam power to threshers became practicable he used horse power, but as soon as steam could be used he applied it as a motive power to his thresher, and is conceded to be the first man who ever threshed wheat in St. Louis county with a steam thresher. In 1879 Mr. Buell bought his present tract of land in Monroe county. This is a fine piece of land of 160 acres, the improvement of which he began in 1883. His identification with this county is a valuable acquisition to its agricultural interests and to its citizenship.  Mr. and Mrs. Buell have four children: William B., Anna L., Lee and Wesley. His eldest son is married and resides in this township.  His eldest daughter is the wife of Mr. Hamilton Green, who resides on the farm with his father-in-law. The second son, a graduate of the Mound City Commercial College, is a successful teacher in the county. The youngest son, Wesley, is at home. Mr. and Mrs. Buell are members of the Catholic Church, and he is a member of the Knights of Honor.

J. PORTER BUSH

(Farmer, Stock-raiser and Stock-dealer, Post-office, Monroe City).  Mr. Bush, one of the most enterprising and intelligent agriculturists of Monroe township, is a Kentuckian by nativity, born in Clark county, November 2, 1837. His parents were Jeremiah and Nancy H. (Gentry) Bush, who lived in Clark county, Ky., being highly respected citizens, until their death, the father being a substantial and prominent farmer and stock-raiser of that county. J. Porter was reared on the farm, and completed his education at Central College of Danville, Ky. The two years following, 1854 and 1855, he spent in a store at Winchester, Ky. Following this he was in no particular line of business until 1860, when he became station agent of the Hannibal and St. Joe Road at Osborn, having previously learned telegraphy. The following fall, November 15, 1860, he was married to Miss Anna E. Gentry, daughter of Hon. Joshua Gentry, then president of the Hannibal and St. Joe Railroad Company. He continued in the service of that company until 1866, having been agent at Palmyra from May 1, 1862, to April, 1866. Then he settled on his present farm three miles south of Monroe City, where he has a fine place of 320 acres, which has a tract of 80 acres of timber tributary to it. Besides farming in a general way he makes a specialty of raising fine short-horn and Hereford cattle for the Western trade, and now has 40 head of fine cattle on hand. He also has superior grades of sheep and hogs. For a number of years he has been engaged in feeding and shipping stock, and handling them quite extensively, in which he has been entirely successful. During the war Mr. Bush was a Union man, and was a member of the enrolled militia while in the service of the railroad, being connected with the rail protective service, and was frequently called out from his regular office duties to protect the road. He was at Monroe City, July 10, 1861, when the depot was burned by Capt. John Owens’ men of the Southern service, and was at Hunnewell at the time Porter and Green entered that place on their raid in North Missouri, being robbed there, and only escaping with his life by the citizens telling them that he had gone off on the previous train. He was ordered out for service at the time the Southrons? burnt the Salt river bridge, and on several other occasions of great personal danger. Gen. Porter, of the Confederate army, made a raid on Palmyra in 1863 while he (Mr. Bush) was located there, and released all the Confederate prisoners in that place and carried off old man Allsman, for whom Gen. John McNeil had 10 Confederate prisoners shot at that place. Mr. Bush was present at the shooting of the prisoners. Mr. and Mrs. Bush have a family of seven children, and have lost one, besides their eldest, in infancy.  The others are James J., Charley C., Jesse J., Sarah G., Ambrose G., Catherine N., and Annetta. He and wife are members of the Monroe Christian Church, and he is a member of the A.O.U.W.

BENEDICT CARRICO

(Farmer, and Cattle-raiser, Post-office, Monroe City).  On his father’s side, Mr. Carrico is of English descent, though the family was settled in Virginia for several generations, but on his mother’s side he is of Irish ancestry, his grandfather, Ignatious O’Brien, having been a native of the Emerald Isle. His father was Walter Carrico and his mother, before her marriage, was a Miss Helena O’Brien. Three of the Carrico brothers came to Missouri - Vincent, the eldest, coming away back when St. Louis was a mere frontier trading post; Dennis came in 1810 and Walter in 1818; a sister also came, Theresa, back in 1810; she became the wife of Josias Miles, and Richard Miles, mentioned in this volume, was her son. They all first located in St. Louis county. Walter Carrico, the father of the subject of this sketch, came to Monroe county in 1836 and settled on Indian creek, near Swinkey, where he entered nearly 600 acres of land and lived until his death in 1840. His wife died in 1865. They had three sons and four daughters, namely: Ignatious, who died in Texas; Benedict, the subject of this sketch; Joseph M., of St. Louis county; Elizabeth, who died whilst the wife of Francis Miles; Theresa, who died whilst the wife of James Murphy; Rosanna, who died after her marriage to John Van Metre, and Nancy who died whilst the wife of D. D. St. Vrain. Benedict Carrico and Joseph M. Carrico are the only two of the family now living. The former was but twenty-two years of age when he came to Monroe county and on the 7^th day of February, 1837, he was married to Miss Catherine L., a daughter of Edward Hardesty. She was born in Kentucky in 1818, and died in this county March 13, 1879, leaving her husband eight children:

Walter V., of Hannibal; Susan E., now the wife of V. B. Calhoun of Hannibal; Edward D., who is at home; Benedict F., who resides near his -father; Theresa A., now the wife of A. W. Vaughn, of the same vicinity; Francis I., now the wife of Nicholas Calhoun, of Marion county; Thomas M., who is still on the farm with his father, and Elizabeth, who died a young lady, about four years ago. Mr. Carrico has followed farming and stock-raising ever since he came to the county. He lived in the north-eastern part of the county until 1849.  He then settled on a part of his present place. At first he had but 80 acres, but now he has 13 acres less than 300, and has given some land to his children. Whilst his life has been one of industry and good -management, it is thus seen that his labors have not been without their reward. His main business has been raising cattle and mules at which, in his time, he has made a good deal of money. He also raised considerable tobacco years ago. Mr. Carrico and all of his children are members of the Catholic Church. Personally he is looked upon as one of the old and highly respected citizens of the township, and is much esteemed by all who know him.

HARRISON CARY

(Dealer in Groceries, Monroe City). Mr. Cary, one of the old citizens of Monroe county, was one of the first merchants to engage in business at this place. He began here in 1862, when there were but two other business houses, those of J. M.  Preston and H. A. Buchanan, both dealers in general merchandise.  Mr. Cary has been in business from that time to this almost continuously. On first coming to Monroe City he formed a partnership with John Gates, with whom he continued for two years. He was then alone for awhile, and his next partner was Heber Hough. They were in the business together up to 1870. Mr. Gary started his present business in the line of groceries, queen’s-ware, glass-ware, etc., in 1875. His business has grown with the growth of the place and the surrounding country. He now carries an unusually large stock of goods and has erected a handsome two-story brick business house with a large cellar for his trade. This building has three rooms, all of which are occupied by his stock, and for conveniently handling goods he has an elevator. He carries a stock of several thousand dollars and does an extensive and lucrative business. He also handles seeds and other farm products, except grain, stock and the like. Mr. Cary was born in Marion county, May 29, 1822. His parents were Edward and Elizabeth (Whaley) Cary, his mother a daughter of Capt. Whaley, formerly of Kentucky. They were married in Kentucky and came to Missouri in 1820. In 1846 young Cary enlisted for the Mexican War, becoming a soldier under Price, afterwards Gen. Price of the Civil War, and being in Col. Dave Willick’s battalion. The principal scene of his service was in the Santa Fe country, and he was out for about 14 months. Mr. Gary underwent great hardships during his service, for soldiers were not as well cared for then as now, and besides, campaigning in a wild, almost provisionless country there were no railroad means of transportation, but the dreary march most of the time without roads and in all the changes of the weather was the lot of the soldier. Returning to Marion county after his service, he engaged in farming there, which he had previously followed, and on the 14^th of June, 1849, was married to Miss E. C. Gash, of that county. He continued to farm in his native county until 1856, when he went to Texas, but returned the following year. He then came to Monroe county and improved what is now known as the J. M. Proctor farm, where he resided until he came to Monroe City in 1862. Mr. Cary took no part in the war, but was preyed upon by both sides and greatly annoyed and harassed by evil-disposed persons, without a fear of the Lord before their eyes or a decent regard for either the rights of person or property. Before the war Mr. Cary was a Whig, but has since been identified with the Democratic party, though only as a citizen, for he has never been an aspirant for office. However, he was a member of the first town council of Monroe City, and was also for a time mayor of the place. Mr. and Mrs. Cary have two children, Adolphus E., now connected with his father in business, and Mary L., the wife of Rev. Henry F. Davis, of the Christian Church. Adolphus E. is a graduate of the Christian University of Canton, Mo., having received his honors in the class of 1876. Mr. and Mrs. Cary are members of the Christian Church.

DAVID G. DAVENPORT

(Attorney at Law, Monroe City). Mr. Davenport, who has been engaged in the practice of law for over 30 years continuously, except during most of the war and for a short time afterwards, has been located at Monroe City since 1873. As a lawyer, his career has been one of substantial success, and he is now one of the well-to-do citizens of this place as well as one of the prominent attorneys of the county. Mr. Davenport, although partly reared in Marion county, was born in Baltimore, Md., his natal day being the 20^th of January, 1822. His father was David G. Davenport, and was originally from Lewistown, Del. He was reared, however, in West Virginia, but educated at Washington City, D. C. He early went to Baltimore, where Miss Susan Green became his wife, a young lady of Maryland birth and education. When David G., Jr., was some 15 years of age his parents removed to Missouri, settling near West Ely, in Marion county. Young Davenport receive a good education and began the study of law in 1848, under Judge Van Swearengen, who is well known to Missouri lawyers by his long and eminent service at the bar and hardly less by his being the subject of ex-Senator Waldo P. Johnson’s famous poem, entitled “The Nestor of the Missouri Bar,” which was read for the first time before the Bar Association of Vernon county some 10 or 12 years ago. Mr. Davenport also read law under A. W. Lamm, a leading lawyer of Hannibal, and for whom Judge Van Swearengen’s son, A.  W. Van Swearengen, a prominent lawyer of Montevallo, Mo., was named. Admitted to the bar in 1850, Mr. Davenport went at once thereafter to California, where he resided for about two years. He then returned to Missouri and engaged in the practice at Palmyra, where he continued with success until the second year of the war.  By this time affairs had become so critical that it was no longer safe for a man of pronounced Southern convictions to remain at home, and he accordingly joined the Southern army, becoming first lieutenant of a company under Col. Porter, and taking charge of Porter’s bodyguard. Later along in the war he was wounded and taken prisoner.  After his capture he was taken to Jefferson City and then to St. Louis, where he was court-martialed and thereupon committed to prison at Alton. He was finally transferred to Camp Chase, being kept in confinement until the close of the war. After his return home he found that loyalty had not only been victorious but thrifty. Both Southern rights and Southern property had suffered, the latter perhaps even more than the former. Mr. Davenport found that his worldly possessions to the amount of about $20,000 had been swept away in common with those of other “rebels.” It is a poor thing that can’t be made to pay, and in the late war “patriotism” was by no means an unprofitable enterprise, considering the bounties, the pickings from wicked “rebels,” and the back pay and fat pensions that have followed. After the war Mr. Davenport resumed the practice of law, not, however, for a few years, on account of the proscriptive clause of the Drake Constitution, which prohibited every one identified or sympathizing with the South in the remotest degree from practicing law, preaching, teaching school, or following almost any other occupation except manual labor, or business pursuits. After the removal of his political disabilities, however, he commenced the practice at Palmyra, but in 1873 came to Monroe City. On the 2d of October, 1852, he was married to Miss Fannie C. Lair, daughter of William Lair of Marion county. They have had three children: David R., an attorney by profession, but at present, a general traveling agent of the Phoenix Insurance Company of London, England, with headquarters at Chicago; Fannie O., now Mrs. William E. Moss; and Palmyra M., now the wife of James Shaw, of Hannibal. Mrs. Davenport is a member of the M. E. Church, South.

DURRANT & JACKSON

(Dealers in Hardware, Stoves, Tin-ware, Agricultural Implements, Reapers, Mowers, Wagons, Buggies, Grass, Hay Seed, Etc., Monroe City).  In youth Mr. Durrant learned the tinner’s trade, at which he worked as a journeyman for a number of years, and in 1876 came to Monroe City as an employee of March & McClure. They carried on business here, he working for them, until 1879, when they failed and made an assignment. He and Thomas J. Yates bought their stock and reorganized the business, which has since become the leading establishment in these lines in Monroe county, and one of the principal houses of the kind in North Missouri, outside of a large city. For this highly gratifying result more credit is due to the energy, enterprise, industry, and business ability of Mr. Durrant than to the exertions of any other man, for he has been longer and more intimately identified with the business than any one at any time connected with it. In 1881 Mr. Yates retired from the firm, Mr. Ely taking his place, and the hardware branch of the business was sold to Mr. William R. P.  Jackson. On the 1^st of January, 1882, the two houses were again consolidated under the firm name of B. M. Ely & Co., and a year later Mr. Ely retired, when the firm became Durrant & Jackson, as it has since continued. They carry large stocks of goods in all the lines mentioned above, and have the largest warehouse on the railroad from Hannibal to St. Joe. They are doing quite an extensive jobbing trade in the grass seed line, handling from five to eight car loads annually. Their yearly business in all the different lines amounts to nearly $50,000. Such is the reward of close attention to business, enterprise and fair dealing.

Geo. W. Durrant was born in Bradford county, Penn., and was one of nine children of George B. and Elizabeth (Smith) Durrant, formerly of England. Both parents died when George W. was quite a youth, and but three others of the family are living: William, in Pennsylvania, and Samuel and Fred, in Michigan. At the age of 14, George W. entered the general mercantile store of J. D. Humphrey, of Orwell, Penn., who was a first cousin to John Brown, of Harper’s Ferry memory, in which young Durrant continued until he was 18 years of age. He then learned the tinner’s trade at Towanda, Penn., where he worked three years. After attaining his majority he worked for 12 years as a journeyman, working in Pennsylvania, Michigan and Wisconsin, and in 1876 he came to Monroe City, as stated above.  October 4, 1869, Mr. Durrant was married at Pontiac, Mich., to Miss Katie J. Goodrich. They have two children, George R. and Willie M.

Mr. Jackson, of the above named firm, although a comparatively young man, has long been prominent in business affairs in Monroe City. Coming of a well known and highly respected family of North Missouri, he received a good education and came to Monroe City in 1872, and engaged in the clothing and boot and shoe trade, which he followed with success, having several partners from time to time, for about five years. Meanwhile, he organized the Monroe City bank, of which he became cashier, and in order to give his bank business his entire time and attention, he retired from merchandising in 1876. He continued cashier of the bank for about five years, and until it was well founded on a sound basis and doing a prosperous business. In 1881 he bought the hardware branch of the business of B. M. Ely & Co., and later along he became a half and equal owner with Mr. Durrant in the entire business, under the firm name of Durrant & Jackson, as already mentioned. At the time of engaging in the hardware business he retired from the bank, since which he has devoted himself exclusively to the large and varied business interests of Durrant & Jackson. Mr. Jackson is one of the most thorough-going, clearheaded and progressive business men of the county, and according to all appearances has a most promising business future. Mr. Jackson is a man of family, having married February 1, 1876. His wife was previously Miss Sallie B. Holmes, a daughter of Henry J. Holmes, of this county. They have four children: Nellie B., Harry W., Edith F.            and Homer L. Mr. Jackson was a son of James W. Jackson, an early settler of Marion county, from Delaware. His mother was a Miss Sarah E. Sharp before her marriage, a daughter of Rev. Richard Sharp, the well known Southern Methodist minister of this section of the State. He died February 28, 1881. William R. P. was born on the farm in Marion county, December 2, 1850, and was one of a large family of children. He was educated at the Palmyra Seminary.

JUDGE JAMES D. EVANS

(Judge of the County Court and of J. D. & J. W. Evans, Grocers, Monroe City).  A good name is the result of a lifetime of upright conduct and useful citizenship, and when it is said that one has a name without reproach among those with whom he has lived for years, and who know him well, no ordinary compliment is paid. In sketching the life of Judge Evans, this statement, in common justice and truth and with no tinge of flattery, requires to be made, for having lived in the county from childhood, his record from the beginning has been without a stain, and stands out today without a blot. His life has been and is one not only of negative uprightness, but of positive and active benefit to the county. For many years he was one of its best farmers and most enterprising stockmen, contributing a great deal by his example and progressive ideas to the improvement of the methods of farming and the grades of stock raised in the county.  His large farm of 340 acres was mainly devoted to the stock business and he kept on hand a fine herd of short-horn cattle for breeding purposes, from which went out into different localities some of the best stock in the county.

The Evans family is one of the old and respected families of Monroe county. Matthew W. Evans and wife, nee Mary A. Sherwood, came from Kentucky as early as 1828, and indeed, Matthew Evans had been to this State several times prior to that, coming the first time in 1818. On removing here with his family he stopped for four years in Boone county, and then came to Monroe county in 1832, entering a tract of 360 acres, near Paris, where he improved a large farm, and lived until his death. He died at the age of 72, in 1872. His first wife had preceded him to the grave by 16 years. His second wife, before her marriage to him, was a widow lady, a Mrs. Sidney A. Adkinson. He was a prominent farmer and quite a large stockman, and was well and favorably known throughout the county. By his first wife there was a family of six sons and three daughters, but three of whom are living: Judge Evans, Mrs. Mary E. (John) Edwards and Mrs. Hester E. (James H.) Crooks, the latter of Pueblo, Col..  Judge Evans, born August 24, 1830, was reared in Monroe county, and at the age of 20 crossed the plains to California, 1850, as a member of a Boone county company of gold seekers. He was in California for three years. Returning in 1853, he resumed farming in this county, to which he had been brought up, and for that purpose improved a place of 200 acres, 12 miles northwest of Paris. December 14, 1854, he was married to Miss Sarah C. Haydon, daughter of Jeremiah V. Haydon, a pioneer settler of the county, widely known here and highly respected, and from Jessamine county, Ky. The year that he was married Judge Evans’ younger brother John, then 19 years of age, also went to California, but has never returned, nor has any word come back from him since 1857. He has long since been given up as dead.

After improving his farm, Judge Evans continued agricultural life, raising rain ? and handling stock, until March 1, 1883; he removing to Monroe City in May of the same year, being an incumbent of the office of county judge, which he had held for several years, and desiring to retire from farm life. He was identified with mercantile business as far back as 1870, when he became interested in merchandising at Granville. For five years following he was interested in selling goods, the last two years as president of the Grange co-operative store at Granville. In February, 1884, he and his son, James W., formed a partnership at Monroe City, and opened their present grocery store. They carry a complete stock of staple and fancy groceries, and their store is one of the flourishing grocery houses of the place.

Although mainly self-educated, Judge Evans is a man of good business qualifications and much general information. But above and beyond either of these he is a man of sterling native good sense and marked natural strength of character. In any community where the advantages of the people are at all similar or not out of all comparison, he would inevitably be chosen as a representative citizen in matters of public concern, and otherwise. Clear-headed, intelligent and honest, he has the sagacity to see what is best to be done for the public and the weight of character to command consideration for his opinions. Hence, it is hardly less than as a matter of course that he should be called to fill some position where sound judgment, integrity of character and good business qualifications are required. In 1880 he and two others were candidates for the office of county judge, and he was nominated and elected to this office, receiving the majority of the votes cast. He was a successor to Judge Duley, one of the ablest of the former judges of the county court. In 1882 Judge Evans was again a candidate, was re-nominated and re-elected, the opinions of the people being confirmed by his record as a judge, as shown by his re-election without opposition. He is now vice-president of the court and adds not a little by his ability and efficiency as an officer to the high reputation the court has among the people. In the spring of 1883, Judge Evans had the misfortune to lose his wife. She died at the age of forty-four, a bereavement hard to bear for him and their family of children. She was a true and affectionate wife, a gentle and devoted mother, and a neighbor and Christian lady whom all that knew her had learned to prize as a valued friend and generous, pious-hearted woman. She had borne him a worthy family of ten children, namely: Matthew H., Rosa E., Mary B. (the last two twins), James W., Nannie L., Lula, John J. W., Fannie M., Lena, and Tebbs. The eldest, Matthew H., a young practicing physician, died July 26, 1882.  He had graduated at the St. Louis Medical College in 1880, and was in the practice two years before his death at Oxford, Kan. He was married in 1881 to Miss Mollie Eubanks, of Paris, whom he left a widow. He was a young man of superior mental endowments and bright promise, and his death was a heavy affliction to his parents and other loved ones, and particularly so to his mother, who was destined so soon to follow him to the mystic shore across the silent river. His young wife, whose hope in life seemed to go out with the spirit of her beloved husband, a young lady of the purest and gentlest qualities of mind and heart, now under the pall of her great bereavement, makes her home with her father, James Eubanks, of this county.

Judge Evans has given all of his children who are old enough to go off to school, or is giving them, good educations, principally at the State Normal School, at Kirksville. The Judge is a prominent member of the Masonic order, and holds membership in good standing in Granville Lodge No. 240, A. F. & A. M., Monroe Chapter No. 16, R. A. M., and Parsifal Commandery, No. 44, Knights Templar, at Paris, Mo. He is a worthy communicant in the Christian Church.

THOMAS D. FREEMAN

(Farmer, Monroe City). Mr. Freeman has led a life of industry and intelligence, and one without reproach as well as satisfactorily rewarded in the sober comforts that come of honest exertion regulated by good management. But whilst he has a neat competence as the fruit of his well spent life, his heart has not been set mainly on the accumulation of property, but his greatest desire has been to bring up his family of children in a worthy manner and give them such training of head and heart as would tend to make them respected and useful members of society.  Favored in no ordinary degree are the young who have such a parent to lead them in their early years so wisely in the pathway of light.  A year ago Mr. Freeman quit his farm and came to town to reside with no other purpose than to give his children the benefit of the excellent schools kept at this place. He has four children: Janie D., Frances W., Maggie E. and Thomas D. In view of the father’s forethought and zeal in behalf of the training of his children, it is earnestly to be hoped that their future will fully justify the interest he shows for their welfare. Mr. Freeman came to Missouri from Kentucky with his parents, Lewis D. and Jane (Davis) Freeman, in 1851, when he was 21 years of age. The family settled in Marion county, near Monroe City, where the father made a farm and lived until his death, at the age of 82, in 1880. The mother died in 1868. There were but two children, Thomas D. and James, now of Ft. Scott, Kas. For a number of years prior to their father’s death the sons ran the farm principally, a large stock farm of nearly 400 acres, and dealt in and handled stock. Thomas D. entered the Confederate service in 1861, assisting Capt. Stacy to organize a company, of which he was first lieutenant, but was captured while attempting to cross the river and kept in confinement as a prisoner seven months in St. Louis and Alton, Ill., then sent to Vicksburg, Miss., and exchanged, when he again entered the army and remained until the close of the war. Returning after the restoration of peace he resumed farming, and in 1870 he was married to Miss Sarah H. Fagan, a daughter of Hon. Henry G.            Fagan, a leading citizen of Marion county, who represented the county in the Legislature and was otherwise prominent in its affairs. He died in 1876. He came to Marion county in 1817 and lived on the homestead he settled, a fine place of nearly 500 acres, for over 50 years continuously. He was one of the well-known and highly esteemed men of the county.

MILTON B. GARNER

(Of Garner’s Wagon, Carriage, and General Repair Shop, Monroe City). On the far-off coast of the Pacific sea, where the sun sinks to rest at eventide, in the land of fruits and vines, and of golden sands, the subject of the present sketch, a Missourian by nativity, born and reared in Monroe county, learned the trade which he is now pursuing with industry and success in the county of his birth. In 1875 he crossed the plains and passed beyond the cloud-capped heights of the Cordilleras, making his destination at Winters, in Yolo county, Cal., where he spent two years. There he learned his trade and returned to Missouri, stopping at Palmyra, where he worked for five years. In the fall of 1882 he came to Monroe City and established his present shop. He now manufactures about 25 wagons annually, besides a number of spring wagons and other vehicles, and keeps four hands employed. His business is already established on a solid basis, and his wagons have an enviable reputation, the demand for them being greater than his means to supply. Mr. Garner was born in Monroe county, January 5, 1855, and was a son of John and Catherine (Terrill) Garner, well known and respected residents of the county. His youth was spent at home, and he remained in the county until he went to California in 1875, as stated above. May 2, 1883, he was married to Miss Minnie L., a daughter of John T. Christian, of Christian county. They are now established at housekeeping in Monroe City, and Mrs. Garner presides with becoming grace over her neat and tidy home.

GENTRY & SNIDER

(Dealers in Groceries, Provisions, Farm Produce, and Cured and Fresh Meats, Monroe City). This firm was formed on a small capital in the spring of 1872, and has since been in business at this place continuously. By enterprise, close attention to business and fair dealing, its house has risen to the position of one of the prominent business establishments of the place. Messrs. Gentry & Snider carry a large stock of groceries, queen’s-ware, glass-ware, stone-ware, provisions, etc., and besides have a meat market, where they keep cured and fresh meats in ample quantities for the trade constantly on hand. They have two separate establishments, one for the grocery business and the other for the meat market. In 1879 they erected a handsome grocery building at a cost of over $5,000, in which they carry everything to be found in a first-class grocery store. For the custom of their meat market they kill about three beeves ? weekly, and have the bulk of the trade in the fresh meat line. They also do a large business in handling farm produce, such as vegetables, including potatoes, poultry, eggs, etc. They ship about 800 cases of eggs annually and, indeed, handle more farm produce than all the other firms of the place combined. They make a specialty of cured meats, preparing them or curing them for their trade themselves. Both are thorough-going business men who have the confidence of the community, and their personal popularity contributes materially to the marked success they have had. Overton H. Gentry was born in Monroe county, near Monroe City, October 18, 1836. His father, Rev. Christy Gentry, was a well known minister of the Missionary Baptist Church of this county, and died here in 1866. He was actively engaged in the ministry up to the time of the enforcement of the provisions of the Drake Constitution, prohibiting ministers who had any sympathy whatever with the Southern people from preaching the Gospel, unless they took an oath of perjury declaring that they had no such sympathy. He declined to take the oath, but suffered so much from being prohibited to preach the word of God that that is believed to have had much to do with his taking off, for he died soon afterwards, and was greatly depressed in spirit up to the time of his death, constantly saying to his friends that in a world where the word of God could not be preached without debauching the conscience of the minister with odious proscriptive test oaths and perjury, there was nothing to live for. His widow, whose maiden name was Lucy Christy, died in 1869. Overton H. was the oldest of their family of 11 children, nine sons and two daughters, only four sons of whom are living: Richard, William T., of St. Francois county, Joshua H., of Vernon county, and Overton H. On the 18^th of April, 1861, Overton Gentry was married to Miss Susan Elgin, a daughter of Samuel H. Elgin, of this county. He resided at the old homestead until 1867, and then in the same vicinity until 1872, when he came to Monroe City and engaged in business with Mr. Snider. Mr. and Mrs.  Gentry have one child, Addie, now a young lady, who was educated at the Monroe Institute. Mr. Gentry was a member of the city council for two years, and he and family are members of the Baptist Church. Mr. Gentry is a substantial property holder of Monroe City. 

Mr. Snider is from Ralls county, and his parents, Samuel and Sarah (Dennison) Snider, were from Pennsylvania. They came to Ralls county in an early day, and Samuel R. was born there September 12, 1848. Both his parents are now deceased, the father dying in 1860, and the mother in 1861. Samuel R. was one of five children, four of whom are living: Mahala, now Mrs. Willow Newell; Samuel R., Delia, now Mrs. John Henderson, and William, all in Monroe City. Samuel began work for himself at the age of 19, under William P. Bush, handling stock, and also learned the butcher business. He worked with Mr. Bush until 1872, when he became connected with Mr. Gentry in their present business. They bought out Mr. Bush’s neat market and have since conducted it, and also the grocery business. Mr. Snider is a thoroughly experienced butcher, and besides, a good business man and personally well thought of. He and Mr. Gentry employ from one to three hands all the time, and are steadily coming to the front as enterprising business men and substantial property holders. Mr. Snider is a member of the Baptist Church and of the I.O.O.F.

GRIMM & LOSSON

(Manufacturers of and Dealers in Boots and Shoes, Monroe City).  With an annual business of from $12,000 to $14,000, these gentlemen may well congratulate themselves upon having one of the leading and solid houses in their line throughout this entire section of country. Their success is the fruit of their own industry, fair dealing and business enterprise. Both are self-made men. In other words, they began without means, and have come up from the workman’s bench to their present enviable positions in business life. Each learned his trade when young, and both followed it until they were able to begin in business with a respectable capital. They now work several hands, and everything is done under their immediate personal supervision, so that they know that no work goes out from their house that will injure their reputation or fail to give satisfaction. The public have found this out, and hence the popularity and large trade of their house. Both gentlemen are natives of Germany, Mr. Grimm born in Wurtemburg, November 27, 1852, and Mr. Losson, in Lorraine, August 3, 1852. The former came to America with his parents in 1870, locating at Hannibal, and the latter with his parents in 1866, locating at Palmyra. Mr. Grimm learned his trade at Hannibal, and worked there until 1875, and Mr. Losson learned his trade under his uncle, Simeon Herndon, at Palmyra, where he worked until 1880. The senior member of the firm came direct to Monroe City on leaving Hannibal, as did the junior member on leaving Palmyra. They organized their present partnership in the fall of 1880, and have since had a most gratifyingly prosperous business career, as is proven by the large trade they have built up. Mr. Grimm was married September 16, 1872, to Miss Anna Peuera. They have four children: Anna M., Katie, Theresa and Nicholas A. Both parents are members of the Catholic Church. Miss Minnie Diemer became the wife of Mr. Losson, August 26, 1872. They have three children: Mary, William and Frankie. He is a member of the Catholic Church and she of the Lutheran. Both of these gentlemen are accounted among the best business men of Monroe City and are highly respected.

HICKMAN, HAWKINS & CO.

(Carpenters, Contractors and Builders, and Dealers in Lumber, Lath, Shingles, Sash, Doors, Blinds, Lime, Plaster, etc., Monroe City).  The firm of Hickman & Hawkins in the above business was formed in 1878, and this they carried on with steadily increasing success and reputation, until the first of January, 1884, when Mr. Ogle was admitted into the firm, the business being continued under the name of Hickman, Hawkins & Co. This is one of the leading firms in the lines mentioned above in Monroe county, and besides carrying a large stock of lumber, sash, doors, blinds, laths, hair, lime, cement and other building material, etc., which brings them an extensive trade from the general public, as carpenters, contractors and builders, they have an important patronage in the erection of houses of different kinds, residence, business and otherwise, and, indeed, all sorts of work in their line. They have erected a large number of buildings of a superior class in Monroe City and the surrounding country, some of them running up in cost from $1,000 to $5,000 and upwards. Their reputation is well established and no one contemplating building can have any reasonable cause to refuse them the contract when the terms are satisfactory, for they never fail to do first-class work, and acquit themselves of their contract with honor to themselves and satisfaction to their patrons. Mr. Hickman is a native of Harrison county, Ky., born September 28, 1834. When 21 years of age he came to Missouri, having previously learned the carpenter’s trade, and up to 1861 worked at his trade in this State, respectively, in Ralls county, at Hannibal, LaGrange, and also in Warsaw, Ill., and again at LaGrange, Mo., as well as other points. At the outbreak of the war he entered the Confederate service under Price, and was out either in active service or in prison until in the spring of 1865. He was drum major and participated in numerous sanguinary battles. He was captured at the surrender of Vicksburg and again at Franklin, Tenn., being confined in prison the last time several months at Camp Chase. After the war he followed his trade two years in Cincinnati, and then at Quincy, Ill., until 1870. The next two years he spent in Ralls county, and he came to Monroe City in 1872, where he has since been in business. Mr. Hickman was married in 1858, to Miss Sarah M.  Mayer, a native of England, and of LaGrange, Mo. They have six children: Mollie A., now Mrs. George Schofield; James T. S., Jesse A., Lucy E., Emma L. and Nannie F. He and wife are members of the Christian Church, and he is a worthy member of the A.O.U.W., the I.O.O.F., and the R.T. of T. He served five years as alderman in Monroe City and five years as school director. He was a son of Hugh S. and Sarah A. Hickman, her maiden name being Holton, both now deceased.

Mr. Hawkins is also a Kentuckian by nativity, but his parents were early settlers of Monroe county, his father, Fielding S., being a contractor and builder at this place when it was first laid out. He was also justice of the peace here for a number of years, and died at the age of 64, May 18, 1882. His wife, whose maiden name was Anna Hamilton, died in the fall of 1860. George A. Hawkins was the first of their family of four children, and was brought up to the carpenter’s and contractor’s trade by his father, which he has since worked at continuously. He was married June 27, 1871, to Miss Endora Hayden, from Marion county. They have four children: Eva, Leona, Endora and Maude.  Mr. and Mrs. Hawkins are members of the Christian Church, and he is a member of the I.O.O.F. and a Royal Templar of Temperance. He has served one term in the city council. Mr. Hawkins is now 36 years of age, having been born July 4, 1848.

Mr. Ogle, unlike his two partners in this particular, is a native Missourian, born in Ralls county, December 2, 1852. His father was the well known Jesse Ogle, proprietor of Ogle’s mill in that county, but he has been deceased since 1870. Joseph E. began to learn the carpenter’s trade in 1872, and worked for about two years at both Salisbury and Paris. He helped to build Wayland’s machine shop at Salisbury and also helped rebuild the college at College Mound. For a number of years past, however, he has been at Monroe City, and has become one of the prominent and successful men of the place, May 4, 1876, he was married to Miss Sarah J., a daughter of Jacob Paynter. Mr. and Mrs. Ogle have four children: Georgia, William, Ernest and Chauncy.  He and wife are members of the M. E. Church. Mr. Ogle has held the office of town marshal for one term.

By these facts it is seen that all three of these gentlemen are experienced and capable builders. Individually and in their business they are well respected by all who know them. They have contributed their full share to the growth and prosperity of Monroe City and are entitled to no ordinary credit for the good taste and judgment they have shown in the erection of the buildings put up by them. Their future in business seems to be one of gratifying promise.

ISAIAH JONES

(Farmer and General and Fine stock-raiser, Post-office Monroe City). Mr. Jones is a former merchant of long and successful experience, and came to Monroe county in the spring of 1883, to engage in farming and stock-raising. He has 170 acres in his homestead, situated a mile and a half south-west of Monroe City, and besides this he has over 1,000 acres some eight miles south of his home place on Indian creek. Prior to coming to this county he had been living at Gilead for the previous fifteen years, where he carried on merchandising, and was also postmaster. In addition to his mercantile business, Mr.  Jones had a fine farm in Lewis county, where he was quite successful in raising stock, and he also followed buying stock and shipping them to the wholesale markets, shipping large quantities of cattle, hogs, etc., annually. He is a native of Maine, born in Kennebec county, October 17, 1829. He was reared in Maine, but in 1853 crossed the continent to California, where he engaged in mining, and with good success. While in California he was married on the 20^th of April, 1859, to Miss Mary Davis, of Sacramento City, but formerly of Massachusetts.

Mr. Jones came to Missouri in 1868 and located at Gilead, in Lewis county, referred to above. He was quite successful there in merchandising and agricultural pursuits, but being able to sell out to advantage, he disposed of his interests in Lewis county and came to Monroe, where he has since resided. His farm near Monroe City is well improved. His residence is a particularly commodious and tastefully constructed building, and, indeed, all his buildings and improvements are made with regard to appearance and good taste only less than to durability and convenience. Mr. Jones is engaged in raising fine short horn cattle and now has a herd of about fifty head of this class of stock. He is a man of large business experience and stirring qualities, and is unquestionably a valuable acquisition to the agricultural class, and indeed, the citizenship of Monroe county.

is of that class of new-comers that every community most desires – He a man of means, business ability and high character. He will undoubtedly take an enviable position among the leading agriculturists of the county at an early day. Indeed, he is already recognized as one of our progressive and prominent farmers and stock-raisers. Mr. and Mrs. Jones have reared a family of three children: Albert M., a young man 23 years of age, now in Nebraska; Ada M., a young lady at home, a graduate of LaGrange College in the class of 1883; and Percy D., a young man in his nineteenth year, also still at home. Mr. and Mrs. Jones are both members of the Baptist Church. Their family is cordially received in the best society of Monroe City and vicinity, and indeed, wherever they are known. Miss Ada, the daughter, is especially welcomed and prized by the young people of the vicinity. She is thoroughly accomplished and being a young lady of great vivacity and superior mental endowments, as well as an exceptionally fine conversationalist and always graceful and pleasant to those around her, she ornaments with singular attractiveness the refined and cultured circle in which she moves. In form and feature nature has done all for her that could be desired, while the kindness of her parents in giving her every opportunity for mental improvement, worthily seconded by her own industry, have contributed to fit her for the most polite and accomplished society.

JAMES L. LYON

(Railroad Agent, Telegraph Operator and Agent of the American Express Company, Monroe City). Mr. Lyon has been identified with the railroad business almost continuously since he started out in life for himself, and has been in the office at Monroe City for the last 17 years. This long service at one office speaks more for him as an efficient, upright and popular local officer of the road than mere words can express, however ingeniously or eloquently put together. He has not only done his duty faithfully, but has given unqualified satisfaction both to the general officers of the road and to the public. Nothing truer or more creditable could be said of his administration than that if his position were an elective one he would be chosen to it, probably, almost unanimously, if not quite so. The business of the office since he entered it has more than quintupled, or increased fivefold. Mr. Lyon had the benefit of a good practical education as he grew up, and was born in Beaver, Pa., November 12, 1844, but principally reared in Missouri. In 1855 his parents, Thomas and Harriet (Pettigrew) Lyon, removed to Iron county, Mo., and six years later to Mooreville, near Chillicothe, but finally settled in Utica in 1855. The mother died there the same year, but the father survived until 1882, dying at Hannibal. There were three children: Samuel, James and Thomas, the first a printer at St. Joe and the last named connected with the railroad at that city. James L. commenced railroading in 1864. Subsequently he learned the operator’s business and came to Monroe City in 1867. In 1866, however, he was in the drug business. He is also agent of a prominent fire insurance company, and does some business in that line.

S. MEGOWN

(Of Megown & Kent’s Merchant Mills, Monroe City).  These are one of the leading mills in Monroe county, and were erected originally in 1869 by Josselyn & Cummings, which firm dissolved and the mills fell into the hands of William Booker, of Ralls county, Mo., from whom Wilson & Megown bought it. In one year and a half Wilson sold to Josselyn, and a year later Mr. Megown bought Josselyn’s interest and became sole proprietor of the mills, and on May 17, 1881, he sold H. J. Kent a third interest in the mills. A year ago they put in the roller process. They now have a capacity for sixty barrels of flour daily and do an exclusively merchant business, buying wheat for manufacture into flour and exchanging flour for grain. They have no corn buhrs ? in the mill, but manufacture flour altogether. Their machinery is all in first-class condition and their flour has obtained a wide reputation for superior excellence. In 1872 Mr. Megown engaged in milling at the old Hornbuck mill, near Sidney, in Ralls county, where he continued until he bought into the present mill. Prior to that he had been engaged in farming and running a repair shop. On the 26^th of January, 1860, he was married to Miss Sarah J. Couch, a daughter of Henry Couch, of Ralls county. They have eight children: John W., Margaret J., Mary A., Etta E., Julia A., Henry E., Samuel and Ella. Mr. Megown is a native of Ralls county, born in Spencer township, near New London, January 11, 1841. His father, Samuel Megown, and mother, whose maiden name was Julia McCready, were both from Pennsylvania. They came to Missouri as early as 1846. The father was a brick mason and a manufacturer of brick, and Samuel was brought up to that business. Early in the war he enlisted in the six months’ service on the Union side, and afterwards in the Enrolled State Militia. He was in the artillery service a part of the time. In all he did about 18 months’ military duty. He was first under J. F. Rice, of Henderson’s division, and then under Capt. Johnson, of the E.M.S.M. Mr. Megown is one of the substantial, highly respected citizens of Monroe City.

ROBERT K. MEGOWN

(Farmer and Stock-raiser, Post-office, Monroe City).  Mr. Megown, who has a place of nearly 200 acres situated in sections 21 and 22, township 56, range 8, in Monroe county, and is one of the energetic farmers of Monroe township, is a native Missourian, born in Ralls county, four and a half miles west of New London, January 7, 1843. He was reared in that county and remained on the farm until he was 19 years of age, when he enlisted in the Missouri State militia, Union service, under Col. Lipscomb, under whom he served for about seven months, and participated in the pursuit of Porter and the fights at Cherry Grove and Kirksville. Being disabled, however, by an affection of the lungs, he was discharged on that account and returned home to the farm. His father, Samuel Megown, being a brickmason by trade as well as a practical farmer, Robert K. learned to lay brick whilst a youth, and also brick-making, at which his father was a master workman. He has therefore followed making and laying brick more or less ever since he attained his majority, up to the time when he engaged in farming, and he has since followed farming, principally, and handling stock. He is now engaged with J.H. McClintic ? in buying and shipping stock, and is considered an excellent judge of stock and a successful dealer. On the 6^th of August, 1867, Mr. Megown was married to Miss Nancy J. Shulse, a daughter of William A. Shulse. She died, however, on the 13^th of June, 1876, leaving him three children, Nora, Zoe and Lena. To his present wife Mr. Megown was married November 14, 1876. She was a sister to his first wife, Miss Martha E. Shulse. They have had four children: Samuel A., who died at the age of two years; Myrtle E., Alberta, and Julia A. Mr. Megown resided in Ralls county until 1879, and settled on his present farm in 1881. He and wife are members of the Baptist Church.

HON. PATRICK H. McLEOD

(Farmer and Stock-raiser, Post-office, Monroe City). Squire McLeod, for 32 years a resident of Monroe township, and long a magistrate in this township - one of its old, influential and highly-respected citizens, a man of superior education and natural ability, is thus spoken of by the biographer of the Twenty-eighth General Assembly of Missouri, of which body he was an able and honored member: “This venerable silver-haired gentleman, one of the oldest members of the floor, having passed his allotted time of threescore years, was born in Derry county, Ireland, in 1814. Leaving the Green Isle in 1834, he emigrated to this county, coming to Washington City, where an elder brother, Matthew McLeod, was conducting a classical high school, and another relative, John McLeod, was principal of the Columbia Academy, an institution well known to the old inhabitants of Washington City. He remained in Washington City several years, attending school and assisting his relatives in teaching. Andrew Jackson was President at this time, and from this indomitable old hero Mr. McLeod first imbibed his Democratic principles, and has adhered to them with strict fidelity all his life. While residing in Montgomery county, Md., in 1839, he was united in marriage to Miss M. C. Jones, daughter of J. J. W. ? Jones (one of the most distinguished families in the State), by whom he had 10 children, several of whom are still alive. In 1848 he traveled extensively in the West, and in 1849, in company with Gen. Craig and other gentlemen residing in the ‘Platte purchase,’ he was lured to the Pacific Coast in search of the unbounded gold fields that report had located in California. After prospecting for several years with varied success, in 1852 he removed to Missouri, locating on Indian creek, Monroe county, where he has since uninterruptedly resided. When the late war commenced, in common with most of his neighbors, he was despoiled of most of his property by the Federal forces on account of his Southern sympathies, and suffered many indignities at their hands. He has never taken an active part in politics, and, excepting a few township offices, his present position in the Legislature is the first position ever held by him. He was elected as a Democrat, beating his tadpole opponent, G. H. Hasman, by nearly 800 votes. Mr. McLeod is a member of untarnished and unblemished reputation; is well qualified for the position he holds, standing without a superior, as far as emphatic and practical duties pertaining to the duties of a representative are concerned. He is connected with several important committees, never evading his duties on any of them.”

In 1876 Squire McLeod declined to be a candidate again for the Legislature, and has since led a retired life on his farm. He has held the office of justice of the peace, however, since 1854, except during the war, when he declined to take the Drake test oath, and also except while in the Legislature. On first coming to this county he taught a 12-month school, the first one ever taught in the township where he has since resided, and he has always been a zealous advocate of popular education. Squire and Mrs. McLeod have reared a family of seven children: James E., Anna M. C., now Mrs. James Hardesty; William T., Sarah H., now Mrs.  James Spalding; Josephene ?, now Mrs. William R. Yates; Maggie, now the widow of George Stanton, and Ellen still at home. Josephene ? and Sarah were students in Monroe Institute and taught school prior to their marriage. Squire McLeod and family are members of the Catholic Church.

WILLIAM B. A. McNUTT, M. D.

(Of McNutt & Norton, Physicians and Surgeons, Monroe City). It was a common remark with Sir William Jones, a man possessed with one of the greatest minds that illuminates the history of any country, that the great disparity between the positions men occupy in a given calling or profession results not so much from the difference of their opportunities as of their capacities and natural aptitudes. One eminently suited for a particular occupation generally makes an eminent failure in some other pursuit, if he undertakes it. The touchstone of success is in the proper choosing of one’s calling. A mistake made here and all the rest of one’s life will be “bound in shallows and in miseries.” Hence it is that in all the lines of trade, in the mechanic arts, and in the professions, we daily see examples of those who have succeeded to a marked degree and of others who have made signal failures, whereas, there was perhaps but little difference in their opportunities and advantages. Original adaptability to a line of duties will inevitably tell to advantage if one but apply himself with proper energy and resolution in the field for which he is by nature fitted. These preliminary remarks are suggested by contemplating the remarkable success the subject of the present sketch has had in the medical profession. He is still comparatively a young man, and his experience in the practice is not the experience of a lifetime; yet today he occupies a position in his profession above many whose heads have grown white in their long practice of medicine, a position second perhaps, if not indeed, to that occupied by no other physician in the county. Dr. McNutt has a large practice, a practice unusually large, considering the necessarily sparse population of an essentially agricultural community and the natural healthfulness of the country. His practice is limited only by these circumstances and the distance that a physician can without great inconvenience or peril to the sick be called. To understand how it is that he should so early in life make so marked a success in his profession, we have studied closely the man and his surroundings, and we have no hesitation in saying that we can attribute his success chiefly to no other causes than his striking natural adaptability for the healing art and his thorough devotion to it. When nature makes a physician, the man himself has little to do, but when he seconds the work of nature by his own industry, even greater than those less favored might hope to succeed by, the result can not but be a more than ordinary success. Let us then briefly sketch the outline of Dr. McNutt’s life, a sketch which most appropriately finds a place in this volume. Necessarily it must be brief, too brief, indeed, to even approach doing justice to the subject. Dr. McNutt was a son of Dr.  John McNutt and wife, whose maiden name was Elizabeth F. M. G. Steele ?, old and respected residents of Monroe county. The father is a retired physician of the county, located at Middle Grove. Dr. McNutt was born at Middle Grove, October 4, 1850. The taste and aptitude for the medical profession, which he inherited from his father, were greatly strengthened by his bringing up. From an early age it was seen that he was destined to become a physician, all his desires and inclinations manifesting themselves in that direction. He was accordingly educated with that object in view, and his father improved every opportunity to strengthen his purpose and to instill into the youth’s mind a correct and liberal knowledge of the science with which he was to deal. His preparatory general education was received at Middle Grove Academy, and then he entered upon a higher course of study at Westminster College, where he took a course of two years. After this he entered immediately upon the regular study of medicine under the daily instruction of his father. He made rapid progress in the curriculum of studies required preparatory to matriculation at medical college, and in due time, in 1873, entered the St. Louis Medical College, where he took a regular course of two terms, graduating among the first in his class, in 1875. In the meantime he had practiced during the interim between his terms at medical college, and after his graduation, he came to Monroe City, where he established himself as a physician. Since then he has been continuously in the practice at this place, and in this comparatively short period has risen to the first position in his profession in the county. He is a leading and influential member of the State, District and County Medical Societies. He and Dr. J. J. Norton have been in the practice together as partners for about six months past. July 9, 1876, Dr. McNutt was married to Miss Lillie, a daughter of Dr. E. Bailey, of, this place. This union, one of singular happiness, was broken by the hand of death early in 1883. Two children were born, but one of whom is now living, Bailey, aged seven years. The Doctor is a prominent member of the Episcopal Church, and of the Comnmandery and Royal Arch Lodge of the A.F. and A.M. Socially, he is as popular and prominent as he is professionally.

RICHARD MILES

(Retired Farmer, Post-office, Indian Creek). This venerable old citizen has been a resident of Missouri for over seventy-four years, having been brought to this State when in boyhood by his parents, Josius and Theresa Miles, who came from Kentucky as early as 1810, and settled in St. Louis county. Richard Miles, our subject, was then six years of age, having been born in Nelson county, Ky., February 14, 1804. At the age of twenty-one, or rather in his twenty-first year, on the lxth ? of October, 1825, he was married to Miss Yates, a daughter of Stephen Yates, and the following year he removed to Callaway county, where his father-in-law’s family had settled in 1820. He lived on Hancock’s Prairie, in that county, near his father-in-law, until 1832, when he removed to Monroe county and at what is now known as Shrinkey, on Indian creek.  Here he and his good wife have since resided, and have reared their family of children. They still occupy the same house which he built in 1832, but to which additions have been made, and these notes were taken in a large comfortable room, twenty-two feet square and eight feet to the ceiling, built fifty-two years ago, and characteristic of the architecture of those days. At the same time Mr. Miles came here Thomas Vincent and Raphael Yates also came, and Edward Hardesty, who married a Miss Yates, all settling in the same neighborhood.  Mrs. Miles’ parents, Stephen and Zella (Austin) Yates, came the year following. Thomas Yates is the only one of the settlers of 1832, except Uncle Dick Miles and wife, now living, and he was the only one who never married. The only settlers in this part of the county that preceded these were those who came in 1831, namely: John Thrusher, Robert Lewellin, John Dale, Leonard Green, William Sipple, Fanthroy? Dye, Edward Goodnight and Alexander Winsatt, the first four settling above Shrinkey and the last four below Shrinkey. Those who came in 1832 also settled above Shrinkey. Mrs. Miles was born in Washington county, Ky., September 6, 1804, and came with her parents to Missouri in 1818, residing in St. Louis county two years and going thence to Callaway county. It was in St. Louis county that she met her then future husband and there in the wild and weird frontier of civilization, when only the canoe and flatboat plied the waters of the Mississippi, a lifetime before the whistle of a locomotive had sounded the bugle note of modern progress, the short, sweet story of their love was told under the wide extending branches of primitive forest trees and there, -

“In the depths of the shaded dell,

Where the leaves were broad and thicket hides,

With its many stems and its tangled sides,

From the eye of the hunter well,”

two loving hearts were plighted in bonds of enduring devotion that were to bind two lives together through the long journey of life and until the end shall come. They were married, and through the long vista of years that has been measured out since the happy union they are still seen together, each past the age of four-score years, and each crowned with the wreath of honored old age, hair as white as their lives have been spotless, symbolizing the purity and happiness of the home that awaits them beyond the grave. They reared a family of five children: Josiah, Susanna, Permelia A., Thomas J., and Vincent.  Permelia A., is the wife of Hiram Raily, of Ladonnia. Thomas J.  lives on the farm, and a niece, Miss Isabelle Miles, a young lady eighteen years of age, of the most faultless embonpoint ? of person as well as of features, and extremely pleasant and entertaining in conversation, has charge of the household, the affairs of which she conducts with neatness and grace. All the family are members of the Catholic Church. The son, Thomas J., is married and has a worthy family of children. He was a lieutenant in the Missouri State militia during the war, but was not called into active service, while in that commission, although he had previously seen service and was captured at the fall of Paris, and paroled.

DR. ADOLPHUS NOLAND

(Dental Surgeon, Monroe City). Dr. Noland, a former educator of superior education and established reputation and a man of marked general culture, has been actively engaged in the practice of the dental profession for the last 15 years, and has risen to a position of prominence in his profession quite in keeping with his high character as a man and his enviable social standing. He is one of the leading surgeons of dentistry in North Missouri, and has an established practice over a large district of country, including several counties, which exceeds in value several thousand dollars annually. A close student of the science of dentistry and having a remarkable natural aptitude for his profession as an art, as well as being a man of advanced, progressive ideas, he keeps fully up with the times and promptly avails himself of all new ideas, methods and improvements evolved in the progress and development of his calling. There are therefore no new processes with which he is not familiar, and he is prepared to do work as scientifically, expeditiously and with as little discomfort and inconvenience to the patient as it can be done anywhere in the country. Such is his reputation and the importance of his practice, that he makes from 20 to 40 sets of teeth monthly, and while he works on as reasonable terms as any practitioner of established reputation, yet he is sometimes called to furnish patients with teeth in cases so difficult, and requiring so much care and skill, that $500 is considered, in the profession and by all capable of judging, quite a reasonable charge. Successful as a practitioner, Dr. Noland has been not less successful in the accumulation of those substantial evidences of skill and ability in any of the liberal pursuits of life, and is a man in quite easy circumstances, one of the well-to-do property holders, in fact, of Monroe City. He has a handsome home, comfortably and tastily furnished with all the conveniences and needs to be looked for in a family of culture and refinement. Much devoted to general literature as well as to the sciences and other branches of advanced learning, he has provided himself with a handsome library, aggregating several hundred volumes, selected with great care and good judgment. He has several rare and valuable works on archaeology, the study of which he makes something of a specialty, and also has a cabinet of curios in that department of investigation, including one or more skeletons of the pre-historic mound-builders, taken from ancient mounds of Illinois. In his practice, Dr. Noland has a skillful assistant in the person of Dr. L. B. Brown, who is thoroughly proficient in his profession. Dr.  Noland’s dental rooms include a handsome suit of parlors, three in number, all elegantly furnished, adjacent to which is a large and. well appointed laboratory. Personally, Dr. Noland is a man of prepossessing presence, having a fine form, striking, manly features and a most agreeable address. On the 22d of October, 1874, he was married to Miss Mary E. Ennis, a refined and accomplished daughter of Joshua M. Ennis, Esq., present sheriff of Shelby county. Mrs. Noland is a graduate of the Shelbyville High School, in charge of Prof. Adkinson, and is a lady of superior suavity and grace of manners, as well as extremely pleasant and instructive in conversation. Dr. Noland was not less fortunate in the selection of a wife in respect of her personal appearance than of her qualities of mind and heart. Three children are the fruits of this singularly appropriate and happy union, Ennis Dixon, Clare Agee, and a baby boy. Another, little Rossie A., an infant of remarkable beauty and promise, is deceased.

“A tiny bud, unblossomed yet,

The Virgin Mother blessed;

It fell on earth. She picked it up

And pinned it on her breast.”

The Doctor and Mrs. Noland are members of the M. E. Church South, and the Eastern Star, and he is a member of the A.O.U.W. Dr. Noland early in life recognized in Masonry an institution of the highest moral worth, saving the Christian religion, and at the first opportunity after his majority petitioned Durham Lodge, No. 329, A.F. & A.M., Illinois grand jurisdiction, and was made a M.M., January 6, A. L. 5856. The R.A. degree was conferred upon him by Monroe City Chapter No. 104, Missouri grand jurisdiction, April 5, 1883. He was knighted by Parsifal Commandery, No. 44, Missouri grand jurisdiction, March 15, 1884. Dr.  Noland is a native of Illinois, born in Hancock county, October 22, 1842. His parents were Thomas L. and Nancy D. (Dixon) Noland, his father originally from Maryland, but his mother from Alabama. They were married in Illinois, and the father died there in 1851. The mother is still living. Dr. Noland was educated at the Iowa Academy of Denmark and subsequently had charge of the graded school at Mt. Sterling, Ohio. He then taught in the Carthage Academy of Illinois and was afterwards principal of the Dallas City public schools of that State for two years. He taught two years additionally, and studied dentistry during the last two years’ teaching. He came to Missouri in 1870, and practiced the profession at Shelbyville until his removal to Monroe City in 1877.

JOHN L. NOLEN

(Farmer, Stock-raiser and Stock-dealer). Mr. Nolen settled on his present place, or rather a part of his present tract of land, in 1857, having secured the year before a piece of 80 acres. He was then a young man 27 years of age and had been married less than two years. Brought up a farmer, however, and having a good practical education as well as being a young man of sterling intelligence, he went to work with courage and resolution and as time circled by steadily prospered. He has become and has been regarded for years one of the substantial, successful farmers of the township, as well as one of its best citizens. He has a place of 320 acres now, which is nearly all run in blue grass for stock-raising purposes. He also has his father’s old family homestead, about a half a mile from his own family homestead. That is an excellent farm of 160 acres. Mr. Nolen devotes his attention principally to stock-raising and dealing in stock. He and J. P. Bush were in partnership for some years in buying and shipping stock and did a large business in that line, but Mr. Nolen is not trading a great deal at present. He has an excellent class of stock on his place and is improving his grade of stock continually. Mr. Nolen’s home farm is exceptionally well improved, his building, fences, etc., all being of a superior class. His dwelling was erected at a cost of $1,700. Mr. Nolen is a native of Kentucky, born in Hardin county, September 9, 1830. His parents were John and Mary (Miller) Nolen, his father originally of Maryland. They came to Missouri in 1852 and settled in the same neighborhood where John L. now lives. The mother died here in 1867 and the father two years afterwards. Of their family of nine children, five only are living; Nancy, the wife of Judge Duley; Mary, the wife of Richard Hayden, now of Illinois; William, now in Texas; Frances, now of Kansas, and John L. He came to Missouri with his parents in 1852, but lived with them after they came until 1855, when, on the 2d of October, he was married to Miss Emma J. Yowell, a daughter of Ephriam Yowell, one of the early settlers of Monroe county from Virginia.

JOHN J. NORTON, M.D.

(Physician and Surgeon). Every old citizen of the Salt river country knew well and favorably the family of which the subject of the present sketch was a representative, the family of Judge Thomas P. Norton. Judge Norton was from South Carolina and went to Kentucky in the early days of the State. He there married Miss Rachel Robinson, and came to Missouri with his family as early as 1812, stopping first in St. Charles county, and then settling on Salt river in Ralls county, where he became a well known and highly esteemed citizen, and, considering those days, a wealthy man, having a large landed estate and a number of slaves, as well as an abundance of other property. When he came to Missouri, like nearly all the pioneers, he was quite poor, in fact Lazarus wouldn’t have jumped at the chance to swap fortunes with him. All he had was a horse and a rifle, with what wearing apparel he and his wife wore and faithful horse could carry in addition to the weight of Mrs. Norton, for in those days a man would not have been thought much of a man who cared to walk from Kentucky to Missouri. Dr. Norton was born in Ralls county, May 20, 1830, in the first brick house ever built in the county, where his father erected the pioneer brick building in the Salt river country.  Jas. J. was reared on the farm in Ralls county, and early deciding to devote himself to the medical profession, he was educated with that object in view. When 19 years of age he began the study of medicine under Dr. McElroy, and after Dr. McElroy’s death continued the study under G. E. Frazier, taking a regular course at medical college while still under Dr. Frazier. He was graduated from the Missouri Medical College of St. Louis in 1852, when but 22 years of age. He then located in Salem township, Ralls county, and engaged in the practice of his profession, and having a number of slaves, which feelings of humanity prevented him from selling like stock in the market, he also opened a farm in order to keep them employed and make them at least self-sustaining. He continued on his farm practicing medicine in that vicinity until the fall of 1883, when he removed to Monroe City, and engaged in the practice, where he has since resided. During all this time he has lost no time from the active practice, refusing to leave home during the war, although threatened with all sorts of cross-bone ? punishments. However, he attended medical college at Philadelphia in 1865, where he graduated in medicine, thus receiving a second diploma as an M. D. Dr. Norton has been twice married; his first wife was formerly Miss Alice W. McElroy, a sister to Dr. McElroy, mentioned above. A few years after her death he was married to Miss Julia Alexander, his present wife.

JOHN C. PEIRSOL

(Attorney at Law, Monroe City.) Mr. Peirsol, a successful and prominent lawyer of Monroe county, is,one of those vigorous, active-minded men, of strong convictions and

the courage to act upon them, aggressive in his notions of right and with no patience for temporizers or half-way measures when the right is to be upheld, who, by their positive character and absolute freedom from all dissimulation inevitably make some enemies, but always more friends, and the latter of the fearless, active kind. Such men not only invariably make a marked impression on the community and events with which they are identified, but they generally become successful leaders of men, and usually prosperous in the material affairs of life. The enmity that they incur frequently subjects them to severe criticism and reprobation by a few, who refuse to give them credit for the purity of their motives. But on the other hand those who are not prejudiced only admire them the more for the openness, frankness and courageousness of their character. A strikingly representative character of his class, Mr. Peirsol, although he has been a resident of the county for but comparatively a few years, has made his presence felt here to a marked degree, and to the great advantage to the community in which he lives, being not only one of the best known citizens of the county, but one of its most active and useful ones. He has contributed very materially to the upbuilding and prosperity of Monroe City, and has held with ability the office of prosecuting attorney of the county and for six years the position of mayor of the city, as well as taking a prominent part in other affairs, material and political, affecting the interests of the public.

Mr. Peirsol comes of an old and highly creditable family of the country, tracing his lineage back through a line of ancestors who have brought no reproach on the name he bears, but have always held worthy positions in the communities in which they lived. The family has been settled in this country for nearly 200 years. His father’s great-great-grandfather Peirsol was one of three brothers who came from England to America in 1683 and settled in Pennsylvania, whence the name has radiated into different States. Mr. Peirsol’s great-grandfather, Peter Peirsol, was killed at Ft. Duquesne in 1753, when under the command of Washington, at the time the English or Americans were driven from that fort by the French and Indians. Peter Peirsol, Jr., was born after his father’s death, and he became the father of Mr.  Peirsol’s father, Joel Peirsol. Joel Peirsol was born in Berks county, Pennsylvania, and after he grew up came West to Wayne county, Ohio, where he married Miss Catherine Emery. In 1836 they came to Fulton county, Illinois, where both parents lived until their deaths. The father became a leading and wealthy farmer of that county, and John C. was born there May 16, 1846. John C. Peirsol was one of a family of thirteen children, of whom seven, three sisters and four brothers are living. At the age of 15 John C. was sent to college at Washington, Iowa, and after attending one year he taught school one term. In 1864 he, with his elder brothers, Peter and Joel, went to California, where he spent three years. Returning in 1867, he sold some land which his father had given him and used a part of the proceeds to attend college at Lewiston, Ill. After a term there he came to Monroe City, where his brother Jacob had preceded him in 1866.  It was his purpose to go on to Nebraska, but, his horses dying, he gave over the idea and concluded to attend Ann Arbor University. He spent a year at that famous institution and then bought land near Osborne, in Clinton county, Mo., where he was engaged in the stock business for about two years, living much of the time, however, at Plattsburg. He continued at Plattsburg until 1874 and while there he completed his course of law reading, and was admitted to the bar by Judge Lucas. He then came to Monroe City and having been ruined financially by troubles, and the panic of 1873, poor and broken in health, he had to teach a term of school here before he could get books necessary to engage in the practice of his profession, which practice he has since continued. He has been in partnership with different attorneys at this place, but is now alone in the practice. In 1876 Mr. Peirsol made the race for prosecuting attorney of the county, his opponent for that office being Hon. A. M. Alexander. This was one of the most animated and exciting political contests ever witnessed in the county. The two candidates held no less than 32 joint discussions, and the race was not less close than it was spirited. Out of a total vote of 4,100 Mr. Peirsol was elected by six majority. At the next election, however, he was defeated by Mr. Alexander by a small majority. Mr. Peirsol has also held the office of mayor for six years, and is still mayor of Monroe City. He and his brother, Jacob, have been dealing quite extensively in real estate for some years, and in 1882 they laid out Peirsol’s addition to Monroe City, in which they have sold about 80 lots. They have about 60 acres in the addition, and over 1,000 acres of land besides in this and Ralls county. Mr. Peirsol has been twice married, first, August 19, 1870, and the second time, January 13, 1879. His present wife was previously Miss Lue

H. Loomis, formerly of Emporia, Kan. Mr. Peirsol has one son, Robert C., now eleven years of age. Mrs. P. is a member of the Baptist Church, and he is a member of the Commandery in the Masonic order.

JACOB A. PEIRSOL

(Manager of the Monroe City Creamery). The superior excellence of properly made creamery butter is now conceded by all who from experience are capable of judging, and it is therefore rapidly coming into demand for general, not to say universal use. In the East it has long had the ascendency in popularity over all other products of the dairy, and in the North it is in general use. In the last few years it has made steady inroads of popularity into Missouri, and will doubtless soon be demanded for general use fiere ?. But even ignoring the want of home consumption, the demands for it in the East are such that its manufacture cannot but be a profitable branch of industry here. There, on account of the high prices of land and the heavy cost of stock feed, it cannot be made for much less than a third more than it can be produced here for. With our present system of rapid and comparatively cheap transportation, we of Missouri, by virtue of the cheapness of our land and the lightness of the cost of stock feed, can compete in the Eastern markets with the dairymen of that section, if we can not entirely drive them out of the market, as many of the best posted Eastern dairymen fear and believe. We can make butter here for twenty-five cents a pound, an article which costs them thirty per cent more than that to produce in New York or the North Atlantic States. Hence we can command and get a better price for our butter than the one indicated above, thus making it a business of excellent profit. That it is so is shown by the rapidity with which creameries are springing up all over Missouri. The present creamery was established in the spring of 1883, with a capital of $6,500 and capacity of 2,000 pounds daily. This requires the milk yield of 2,000 cows. The building is 30 x 44 in dimensions, and has a ten-horse power engine with all other necessary machinery and conveniences on the most approved plan, including an excellent ice-house. Mr. J. M. Procter is the president of the company and Mr. Peirsol its manager. The enterprise has made a gratifying start in business and has every promise of success even in excess of the hopes of those who established it. Mr. Peirsol, the manager, is thoroughly qualified for his position, understanding the business well and being a man of good business qualifications and enterprise. He was born in Fulton county, Ill., March 14, 1838, and was educated at the Burlington University of Iowa. He subsequently taught school for year or two and since then has been actively engaged in farming, and raising and handling stock, in which he has achieved a marked degree of success. He came to Missouri in 1866 and resided in Ralls county until the winter of 1881-82. He has a fine farm of 300 acres, well stocked with farm animals, etc. He is also a prominent property holder in other lands and town property. He is a brother to J. C.  Peirsol, whose sketch precedes this, wherein a brief outline of the father’s family has been given. December 5, 1861, he was married to Miss Elizabeth Clark, formerly of Jefferson county, N. Y. She was a daughter of Lucius and Debora (Guernsey) Clark. Mr. and Mrs.  Peirsol have two children, Eva E. and Minnie L., two interesting and charming young ladies. Mr. Peirsol, personally, is a most affable and pleasant gentleman, and stands high in the esteem of all who know him.

THOMAS PROCTOR, M.D.

(Cashier of the Monroe City Bank). Dr. Proctor, a regular graduate of medicine and a physician of 15 years’ successful experience in the practice, has been identified with the Monroe City Bank since 1881, at which time he became one of its prominent stockholders, and has since acted as its cashier. Dr.  Proctor is also prominently identified with other important business enterprises, which will be spoken of hereafter. His father, Columbus Proctor, was one of the early settlers in Marion county. He came to that county when a young man, in about 1832, and was from Jessamine county, Ky. He was subsequently married, in Marion county, to Miss Eleanor G. Wood, a daughter of Hazzard ? Wood, an old pioneer of the county. He was a farmer by occupation, and became one of the well-to-do and highly respected citizens of the county. He died there, July 4, 1865, but his wife survived until the 14^th of April, 1876. There were five children, of whom Thomas was the third, the others being James M., Mattie, now Mrs. James Scott; David and George. Thomas Proctor was educated in the higher branches at St.  Paul’s College, in Palmyra, and at the State University, the former of which he attended three terms and the latter one term. He studied medicine under Dr. Tipton, of Marion county, and took his medical course in the Iowa University, at Keokuk, from which he graduated in 1864. He then began the practice at Monroe City, but in 1866 returned to Marion county, and located about five miles west of Hannibal, where he practiced medicine for the succeeding 12 years, and also ran a grain and stock farm. Dr. Proctor was quite successful in the practice and secured a large clientele throughout the country around his place of practice. In 1879 he returned to Monroe City, and was occupied for a time in settling up his affairs near Hannibal and preparing to engage in business at this place, for he had already formed a purpose to interest himself in Texas cattle raising and in other lines of business. In 1881 he became connected with the Monroe City Bank, of which he became cashier. Later along he became a large stockholder in and secretary and treasurer of the Monroe Cattle Company of Texas, which was organized with a capital stock of $500,000, since increased to $750,000, divided into shares of $100 each, three-fourths of which are owned by Dr. Proctor and five other citizens of Monroe county. The company owns 150,000 acres of land, all in one pasture in Shackleford county, Tex., which is stocked with Texas cattle. It is needless to say, for every one of general information knows, that this business is profitable, paying a better dividend than Standard Oil Company stock, whilst there is no smack of monopoly and rascality about it as there is in the famous oil enterprise. Dr. Proctor, being a man of superior education, genial manners and business enterprise, makes an efficient and popular bank cashier, and adds very materially to the patronage and success of the bank with which he is connected by the confidence and high esteem in which he is held as a citizen and business man. The Monroe City Bank is one of the conservative, safe and solid banking institutions of North Missouri, and is rated Al in banking circles, as it is in the estimation of the public at large doing business with it. The following is a statement of its resources and liabilities on the 1^st of January, 1884: Resources - Cash on hand, $15,110.53; loans and discounts, $51,651.48; due from banks, $42,301.18; real estate, $1,500.00; furniture and fixtures, $1,300.00; total, $111,863.19. Liabilities - Capital stock, $20,000.00; deposits, $91,048.75; undivided earnings, $814.44; total, $111,863.19. These figures make a gratifying exhibit of the condition of the bank, showing that it is conducted on sound business principles. It also has large deposits on hand, both time and call, which steadily increase from year to year.  Dr. Proctor is a man of family, having married April 4, 1865. His wife was formerly Miss Mary T. (“Lutie“) Bailey, eldest daughter of Dr. E. Bailey, of Marion county. Dr. and Mrs. Proctor have three children: Bailey, Frank and Thomas. He and wife are members of the Baptist Church. During the war he served six months in the State Guard, Southern service, participating during the time in the battle at Lexington.

JAMES M. PROCTOR

(Farmer, Stock-raiser and Stock-dealer, Post-office, Monroe City). An outline of the family antecedents of Mr. Proctor has been given in the sketch of his brother, Dr. Thomas Proctor, which precedes this. The father, as there remarked, became one of the well-to-do farmers of Marion county. In early life he was a tanner by trade, and commenced quite poor, but by industry and superior business management became a large property holder. He raised stock quite extensively and also grew tobacco in large quantities. He owned at his death over 1,400 acres of land. James M. was born near Philadelphia, in Marion county, March 3, 1837, and was educated at the Baptist College at Palmyra. He subsequently taught school two terms and then resumed farming on the old family homestead, where he continued until 1866. Meanwhile he had married, and from the old Proctor homestead he came to Monroe county and settled on his present farm, or rather a part of his present farm. He first had 360 acres, but has since added until he now has 1,160 acres, 480 of which are in his home tract, and the balance only a half a mile distant.  Although farming in a general way all the time, for a number of years he has made a specialty of raising and handling stock. His lands are largely run in blue grass for that purpose, having about 1,000 acres in pasturage. He usually keeps from 100 to 150 head of cattle on hand on his home farm, quite or nearly all of high grade and thoroughbred stock. He now has 110 head of fine short-horn cows that he is crossing with Hereford stock for the Western trade. Mr.  Proctor is also a leading stockholder in the Monroe City Bank, and in the Monroe Texas Cattle Company, in the former of which he is a director, and is vice-president of the latter. Mr. Proctor has one of the finest stock farms in Monroe county. His place is handsomely improved, including, buildings, fences, pastures, water facilities, etc. His residence alone, a fine two-story brick, with a stone basement, containing eleven rooms and three large halls, besides a commodious basement, all handsomely constructed and elegantly furnished, cost over $5,000. It is built on a beautiful collado ? or eminence gradually rising from the public road about a quarter of a mile distant, and is approached by a handsome carriage-way. The site commands a fine view, not only of his own large pastures and fields, undulating and stretching away in the distance, but also of the surrounding country for miles. On the 7^th of June, 1860, Mr. Proctor was married to Miss Ellen K. McPike, a daughter of Hon. James McPike, now deceased, of Marion county. Her father came to Pike county, Mo., from Henry county, Ky., in 1840, and was a brother to Aaron McPike, of Audrain county. Her mother was a Miss Mary Clinton. They removed to Marion county in about 1841. He was a leading farmer and stock man of Marion county and died there in the fall of 1878. He represented that county in the Legislature, and was one of its most intelligent, progressive and public-spirited citizens. He was quite wealthy, and was said to be the finest judge of stock in the State. He was a man of the most generous impulses. He was never able to say no when applied to for help, although he was often imposed upon by those who were unworthy of assistance. His wife died in 1873. His first wife died before his removal to Missouri. Mrs. Proctor has two brothers, Benjamin and Jefferson, the former of Marion and the latter of Knox county. She also has two half-brothers and a half-sister, Edward and William and Mary, the wife of E. D. Gullien, all of Marion county. Mr. and Mrs. Proctor are blessed with a family of eight children: Ellen M., now Mrs. James Randol; Thomas J., Zack C., assistant cashier of the Monroe City Bank; Anna B., James M., Alma C., Mattie and David M. They had the misfortune to lose a little girl, Jennie Lee, at the age of four months. Both parents are members of the Missionary Baptist Church, and he is a member of the A.F. and A.M., Chapter degree. Mr. Proctor is a man of marked natural intelligence and culture, and an agreeable, pleasant gentleman in bearing and conversation.

JAMES S. RANDOL

(Wholesale and Retail Dealer in Groceries, Provisions, Etc., Monroe City).  Mr. Randol, one of the most enterprising young business men in Monroe county, carrying a stock of about $30,000 and doing a large retail and jobbing trade, the latter with dealers in small towns tributary to Monroe City, is still three years less than thirty years of age, and began in mercantile business as a clerk at Clarence in 1877. Subsequently he attended school, taking a course at Monroe Institute, and in 1879 he came to Monroe City, where he formed a partnership with J. M. Johnson in the grocery and in the boot and shoe lines of trade. In June of the same year, however, they removed to Cleora, Col., and conducted the same lines of business there for nearly two years. In the fall of 1882 they returned to Monroe City and resumed business at this place, which they carried on until the following August when Mr. Johnson retired from the firm, engaging in farming, where he still resides. Mr. Randol continued the business, discontinuing later along, however, the boot and shoe line. Young, enterprising and energetic, he has pushed his business with all the vigor that he possesses, and having superior business qualifications, as well as a marked natural taste and aptitude for business life, he has made it a most gratifying success. He does business on a cash principle, and although enterprising and always ready to stake his judgment on the future of supply and demand, he is still conservative and cautious, never making any risky adventures in trade. Besides his large business he owns the large business house he now occupies, and indeed, he has all his affairs on a sound basis and in a safe, prosperous condition. On the 2d of May, 1883, Mr. Randol was married to Miss Ellen M. Proctor, a daughter of J. M. Proctor, of this place. They have a son, J. A. Randol, Jr., born March 26, 1884. She is a member of the Baptist Church, but Mr. R., himself, is a member of the M. E. Church South. He is also a member of the Triple Alliance. Mr. Randol is a son of John B. and Mary A. (Sharp) Randol, now of Colorado, and was born in Shelby county, near Clarence, October 28, 1857. Of the family but three are now in Missouri: James S., Ellen S., now Mrs. O. C. Perry, and John H. The father removed to Colorado for his health, where he and the balance of the family are now making their home.

JOHN J. ROGERS

(Dealer in Dry Goods, Clothing, Furnishing Goods, Fancy Goods, Hats and Caps, Boots and Shoes, etc.; also, Warehouseman and Dealer in Grain, Monroe City). In 1876 Mr. Rogers was engaged in clerking in a business house at this place, which he had followed for the two years previous. Today he has one of the leading establishments in the lines mentioned above in Monroe county, and is also one of the principle grain merchants of the county, being not only one of the most prominent and successful business men of this place, but a man of ample means to carry on without embarrassment his large business in the different branches in which he is engaged. During this time he has neither inherited nor married a fortune, but on the contrary has made every dollar he has by his own business acumen, enterprise and energy, and all by fair and honorable dealing. Such a record is not only creditable to the man himself, but to the community, and such a man is fairly entitled to be considered one of the best and most valuable citizens of the county in which he resides. It is to self-made men, men of character, intelligence and enterprise, those who have the ability and industry to achieve success whatever may be the circumstances in which they begin, that every community owes, to a very large measure, its prosperity.  Mr. Rogers is a native of Virginia, born in Fauquier county.

Whilst he was yet in infancy his parents, Stephen and Cornelia F. (Jett) Rogers, came to Missouri, and settled in Marion county. Here the father engaged in farming and stock-raising and dealt largely in real estate for a number of years, and, indeed, until his retirement from all active business a few years ago. He now resides at Warren, Marion county. John J. was brought up on the farm. At the age of 18 he went to Louisiana, Mo., where he was employed by an insurance firm for about a year. He then became a traveling agent for a Commercial Agency at Columbus, Ohio, and traveled principally in Ohio, Indiana and Kentucky for about two years. In 1875 he returned to Missouri and clerked in a business house at Monroe City until becoming a member of the firm of Sutton & Rogers. Mr.  Sutton was succeeded by Mr. Purnell, and the firm became Rogers & Purnell. Mr. Purnell was a traveling man and Mr. Rogers had full charge of the business. Afterwards Mr. Rogers bought out Mr. Purnell’s interest, and since that time he has been carrying on the business alone. In the meantime Rogers & Purnell had bought out the firm of Goetze & Byrd, merchant tailors and dealers in clothing and gents’ furnishing goods. All have since been combined in one store. Mr. Rogers has also had branch houses at Hunnewell and Warren. He has a large warehouse at this place, the only one in this part of the county, and he deals quite extensively in grain, seeds, wool, etc., shipping the principal part of the grain shipped from this point. He keeps from two to four hands employed. His store has an extensive trade and is one of the most popular houses at Monroe City. On the 12^th of September, 1878, he was married to Miss Lily Jones, a daughter of Mr. G. C. Jones, formerly of Wilmington, Del. Mr. and Mrs. Rogers are members of the Episcopal Church, and he is a member of the A.O.U.W. and of the Triple Alliance.

A. K. RUTLEDGE

(Dealer in Drugs, Medicines, etc., Monroe City, Mo). Mr. Rutledge, the proprietor of this popular and successful business firm, was reared a farmer, which he followed up to 1879, when he removed to Monroe City. But he also learned the plasterer’s trade when a young man and worked at that when not occupied with his farm duties until he quit the farm, since which he has continued in the plasterer’s trade, but for some years past principally as contractor. Mr. H. K. Anderson is his partner in the contracting business and they control the principal part of the plastering work done at this place and throughout the adjacent territory. Both being experienced plasterers and men of upright business principles, they see that no work is done under their firm that is not thoroughly and well done, and to the entire satisfaction of their patrons. This house of A. K.  Rutledge was formed in 1878. Mr. Robinson had charge of the business up to a short, time ago, since which A. K. Rutledge has taken charge of the entire business. He carries a full line of drugs and has a profitable and increasing trade. Mr. Rutledge was born in Giles county, West Va., October 28, 1843. His father, Trevis Rutledge, died when A. K. was about 11 years of age. Five years afterwards the mother, a Miss Charlotte Wingo before her marriage, came to Missouri with her family and finally settled near Clarence in Shelby county. There were originally nine children in the family, and seven are still living. A. K. Rutledge continued with his mother in Shelby county until his marriage, which was in 1868, Miss Mary S. Smith becoming his wife on the 5^th of February, 1868. She was a daughter of Samuel C. and Elizabeth Smith, who settled in Shelby county in 1836. Her father died there in 1848, but her mother died at Mrs. Rutledge’s home, in Monroe City, July 18, 1882. Mr. Rutledge lived on what is known as the Smith farm after his marriage up to 1879, when he came to Monroe City. Mr. and Mrs. R. have three children: William T., Etha Edna, and Shelby. Mrs. Rutledge is a member of the Baptist Church. Her father was a blacksmith and started the first shop opened in Shelby county. She lost three brothers during the war who were identified with the South.

John E. Robinson, a former partner of Mr. Rutledge, was born in Dorcester county, Md., December 30, 1827. He learned the carpenter’s trade as he grew up and came to Missouri in 1851, locating in Shelby county. He married in Shelby county February 22, 1857, Miss Sarem E. Smith then becoming his wife. She was a daughter of Samuel and Elizabeth Smith of the same county from which he came. He followed carpentering in Knox and Shelby counties for a number of years. He then engaged in the drug business at Newark, in Knox county. He was subsequently in the same business in Utica and California, Mo., and then in the dry goods trade in Shelbina for about ten years. From Shelbina he came to Monroe City. Since that time he has been in the drug business for Mr. Rutledge. April 11. 1881, Mr. Robinson had the misfortune to lose his wife. She left him two daughters, both now young ladies, Miss Bessie and Miss Etha. The former presides over her father’s pleasant home, and the latter is an accomplished and popular teacher of the county. Both are young ladies of superior refinement and culture, and of rare attractiveness of presence. Mr. Robinson is singularly fortunate in having two daughters so well calculated to make his home attractive and pleasant, both by their grace of manners and charm of conversation, as well as the faultlessness of their form and features and their singular gentleness, yet cheerfulness and brightness of dispositions. They not only ornament the society in which they move, but challenge admiration from all, admiration which it is a pleasure to feel.

WILLIAM SCHOFIELD

(Steamboat Master and Farmer, Monroe City). For 30 years continuously Capt. Schofield has been running the river, and now holds his twenty-ninth certificate as a first-class pilot and master. He was with the St. Louis and Keokuk Packet Company for 16 years, and since that time has run the river between St. Louis and St. Paul. He is still with the company. During last season he was pilot of the steamboat Keokuk. It is a gratifying fact that during all of Capt. Schofield’s long experience on the river he has never met with an accident of any serious consequence. In 1846 he made a trip to the City of Mexico, and was there when peace was established between Mexico and the United States. In 1849 he went to California. But these are the only journeys he ever made off of the river of any considerable distance. For a number of years prior to 1870 he lived on West Ely prairie, in Marion county, where he owned a farm, and where he spent his time when not on the river. In 1870, however, he came to Monroe City, where he has since resided. Here he has a neat home in the suburbs of town and has an excellent farm of 160 acres adjoining town. Capt. Schofield is an Englishman by nativity, but was reared in this country. He was born in Yorkshire November 25, 1825, and when six years of age was brought to America by his parents, who first located at Pittsburg, Pa. His father, James Schofield, died there, and his mother subsequently married John Cook, a carpenter by trade. In 1836 the family came to Missouri and settled at Marion City, which was then hardly more than laid out. There young Schofield learned the cooper’s trade and worked at it until he went on the river, in about 1854. Since then he has continued on the river, as stated above. Capt. Schofield has been three times married. His first wife was a Miss Charlotte Boyd. She lived seven years after her marriage, dying in 1859. In 1861 he was married to Miss Elizabeth Metcalfe. She survived her marriage but a short time. May 29, 1863, Capt. Schofield was married to his present wife. She was a Miss Martha Jones, of Lewis county. Of this union, there are three children living: Harry, Fannie and Millie. One, James, is deceased. There were no children by his second marriage, but by his first wife there are four, namely: Rufus, now in Denver, Col.; Harriet E., now Mrs. Horace Kent; George W., of this place; and Mary Laura, who was adopted by Mrs. R.F.            Bartlett, of Keokuk, Ia., and by her christened Charlotte L. She is now the wife of Charles Pond, of Keokuk. Mrs. Sschofield is a member of the Christian Church and the Royal Templars of Temperance, and the Captain is also a member of the Royal Templars of Temperance.

CAPT. WILLIAM STYLES

(Farmer, Post-office, Hunnewell). Capt. Styles was born in Kenawha county, W. Va., September 21, 1816, and was a son of William F. and Margaret (Gibbs) Styles, his father from Albemarle county, Va., but his mother from Scotland.  Capt. Styles was reared in Virginia and came to Missouri in 1843, settling in Monroe county. In the meantime his mother had died, and two of his sisters, Mary and Margaret G., made their homes with him in this county, they keeping house for him whilst he improved a farm. His brother, Samuel G., had come out in 1840 and engaged in milling by water power at Clinton, now Somerset, but failed about the time Capt. William Styles came out to this State, so that Samuel G. joined him in his farming operations. The latter died here, however, in 1845, at about the age of 32. Margaret G. married Hill Shaw, and both afterwards died in Franklin county. Mary died unmarried in 1852. Capt. Styles’ father, having married the second time, also came to Missouri in 1843, coming a short time before the Captain, and settled near where the latter located. He and his second wife both died here, the latter preceding him a number of years. The father made his home with Capt. Styles some seven years after his second wife’s death. Capt. Styles improved a good farm, and on the 29^th of November, 1849, he was married to Miss Nancy E. Kirkland, a daughter of Jacob Kirkland, of Clinton, formerly of Boonville, Mo. The Captain, besides being interested in farming, began milling as early as 1844, bringing his mill out from Cincinnati, which he ran for about eight years, it being a horse grist and saw mill. He also ran a blacksmith shop some eight years, and before and during the war had a two-horse power thresher and did threshing in this county and neighboring vicinities for some eight or ten years. He has a good farm of 160 acres and is comfortably situated on his place. Capt. and Mrs. Styles have three children, namely: Joshua F., now farming in the county; Samuel G., who has charge of the home farm, and Mary S., the wife of Daniel K. Yowell, of Monroe City. Captain and Mrs. Styles are members of the M. E. Church South. Capt. Styles is a practical and experienced surveyor who, in his time, was one of the best surveyors of North Missouri. Capt. Styles, himself, has done a great deal of surveying in the county and kept it up until his eye failed, being a sufferer from weak eyes for a number of years past, which is believed to have been caused originally from a severe spell of measles, which he had back in 1852. Capt. Styles was commissioned captain of militia by Gov. Price in 1846 or 1847 to drill the militia of this county in military tactics, of which he had made a study, and was considered an expert drill master.

GEORGE W. TOMPKINS

(Of Geo. W. Tompkins & Co., Dealers in Drugs, Medicines, etc., Monroe City).  Mr. Tompkins is a professional druggist, as well as a thoroughly capable business man, having begun to learn the drug business when he was 17 years of age, in which he has since been continuously engaged, either as clerk or on his own account. When a youth he received a good education in the schools of Hunnewell, where he was principally reared, and in 1876 came to Monroe City and commenced as a clerk in the drug store of J. H. Grady. Subsequently he clerked for P.R. Crisp for over four years, and in 1882 he and Dr.  George L. Turner, who is the other member of the firm, formed the partnership under which they are still doing business. They have a first-class stock of drugs, fresh and well selected, and Mr. Tompkins being a practical and experienced druggist, while his partner is a physician, it goes without saying that they form one of the safest and most capable drug firms in the county. Mr. Tompkins compounds prescriptions with special care, and both members of the firm use their best judgment in the selection of pure drugs and medicines of established reputation for their trade. By doing a strictly first-class business, their house has secured an enviable reputation at Monroe City and throughout the surrounding country, so that, as would be expected, it is more than ordinarily popular with the people, and commands a large trade. On the 19^th of June, 1859, Mr. Tompkins was born at his father’s homestead in Lewis county. While he was quite a youth the family removed to Hunnewell, where they still reside. His father, William Tompkins, was originally from Tennessee, but his mother, whose maiden name was Eliza Clow, was from Kentucky. George W. remained at Hunnewell, as stated above, until he was 17 years of age, and then came to Monroe City.  October 1, 1882, he was married to Miss Elizabeth F. Simpson, a daughter of J. H. Simpson, of this place. Mr. Tompkins is connected with the Triple Alliance.

NATHAN S. TOPPING

(Proprietor of the Gem Hotel and Monroe City Livery Stables). Mr. Topping is a hotel landlord of long experience, and has been conducting the Gem Hotel since the spring of 1881. He is a successor to R.M. Brown, who erected the hotel building in 1866, since which it has been run as a hotel. It contains 25 rooms and accommodates conveniently from 30 to 40 guests. Mr. Topping is the owner of the house, and also of the livery stable, and is doing a good business in both lines. He came to Monroe City from Shelbina, where he had been running the Topping House for about nine years. Mr. Topping is originally from the old Empire State, called into life in Sullivan county, July 20, 1818. His parents, Abraham and Mary (Cook) Topping, were from Long Island, and removed to Sullivan county in 1812. Nathan S. was married in Sullivan county, September 23, 1847, to Miss Sarah Kinkendall. He followed farming there until 1868, when he came to Missouri, and improved a farm near Hunnewell. From the farm he went to Shelbina in 1872. Mr. and Mrs. Topping have had four children: Emery A., who died at the age of 21, soon after coming to Missouri; Estella D., the wife of L. W. Arnold, of Monroe City, and two others, who died in New York. He and wife are members of the M. E. Church. Mr.  Topping is a man of intelligence and general information, and in New York held numerous local official positions. He is well respected here.

BENJAMIN H. H. TUCKER

(Postmaster and Agent of the Pacific Express Company, Monroe City). Mr. Tucker was born June 17, 1818, in the city of New York, and became identified with Northeast Missouri away back in the spring of 1836, when he was a youth about 17 years of age, by having a scholarship presented to him in Marion College, of Marion county, Mo., by Gov. Haynes of New Jersey. That college was then one of the most eminent institutions of learning throughout the entire country, and was resorted to by young men of promise from nearly all the States.  Mr. Tucker was a son of Benjamin Tucker, a leading young lawyer of New York City and of a prominent family of that State, but who unfortunately died at the early age of 36. He was intimate with Hamilton and Burr, who greatly encouraged him to hope for a promising future at the bar, and by whom he was regarded as a young man of the highest promise. At college he was a classmate with Martin Van Buren, afterwards President of the United States, and between them there was ever a warm friendship. He was also a friend and associate with most of the leading men of New York State. Mr. Tucker’s mother (Benjamin H. H.’s) was a Miss Elizabeth Cutter, of

the well known New Jersey family of that name, one of the best families in the State, a history of which has heretofore been published by Dr. Cutter, of Connecticut. He is conceded to be one of the finest surgeons in the State, and is also a representative of this family. Young Tucker came to Marion College, which he attended for about 18 months, and until the college became disorganized on account of financial and other troubles. He then located at Marion City, Marion county, and was engaged in the hotel business, Marion City at that time being a thriving town on the Mississippi 10 miles above Hannibal, and the shipping point for Northeast Missouri. In February, 1841, the hotel was burned. In the spring, by the solicitation of friends, he came to Monroe county and engaged in teaching school for some months on the farm of Joshua Gentry, G the boardi bo i in i the fa- farm ily of Aaron B. Combs? (unable to determine what it should read)

during that time. Returning to Marion City in 1842, he taught for a time that year and soon engaged in clerking in a general store and commission business until the spring of 1843.  The 6^th day of April witnessed the crossing on the ice over the Mississippi river of one yoke of oxen hitched to an ox-cart. The postmaster at Marion City at that time failing to comply with all the requirements of the post-office department, Dr. Bower, of Paris, being member of congress from this district, was called upon to recommend one to fill the position of postmaster in place of the incumbent.  Dr. Bower recommended Mr. Tucker who was duly commissioned under President Tyler, holding the office three years, when on account of poor health he was induced by his friends to try farming. On the 5^th of February, 1846, he was married to Miss Martha H. McCormick, of Marion City. In 1849 he began farming near West Ely, and subsequently farmed in Marion, Ralls and Lewis counties up to 1865, when he came to Monroe City, and engaged in clerking one year, returning to his farm in Lewis county in the spring of 1866. There he stayed until October 1869, when he again returned to Monroe City. On the 16^th of April, 1869, he took charge of the post-office at this place, and has since discharged the duties of this office, having been re-commissioned a few months ago for a term of four years. In 1871 he was appointed U.S. Express agent and in 1881, Pacific Express agent. Up to 1874 he was also engaged in the grocery business. Mr. Tucker makes an efficient and popular postmaster, and his official record, as is the case with his private life, is without a shadow of reproach. Mr. and Mrs. Tucker have five children: Elizabeth, now Mrs. Thomas L. Courtney; Benjamin Franklin Green, Charles Edward, George Washington and Carrie Esther. Mr. and Mrs. Tucker are members of the M.E. Church South. He is also prominently identified with the temperance cause. In April, 1881, Mr. Tucker had the misfortune to break his left hip bone, which prostrated him for nearly three months. However, he has recovered the full use of his leg, although it is a little shorter than his right leg. During the War of the Rebellion Mr. Tucker, not fit for military duty, remained on his farm in Lewis county, doing whatever was in his power for the cause of the government, ever faithful to the flag of his country.

GEORGE L. TURNER, M. D.

(Physician and Surgeon, Monroe City, Mo.). Theparents of Rev. Able Turner, the father of Dr. George L., were early settlers of Northeast Missouri, settling near Hannibal, in Marion county. There Rev. Able Turner was reared, and in young manhood was married to Miss Mary E. Wilson, formerly of Loudoun county, Va., who came to Shelby county, Northeast Mo., with her parents before reaching womanhood. Later along Dr. Turner’s father removed to Shelby county, where he was married and where the Doctor was born on the 26^th of March, 1854. His father was a minister of the regular Baptist Church, and continued pulpit work until his death, which occurred April 24, 1882. Dr. George L. Turner was the fifth of the nine children of his parents now living, the others being Charles C. of Carthage, Enoch T., John M., Frank S., Frances A., now Mrs. F. M. Farr; Belle, now Mrs. Arthur Carmichael; Martha G., now Mrs. Edward Carmichael, and Ida M., who is still at home, all except Charles C. and George L, being residents of Shelby county.  George L. (the doctor) completed his education at the State University, where he studied two years. He then taught school two years and during the same time studied medicine under Dr. Chenvrout, of Bethel, in Shelby county. He then entered the Rush Medical College at Chicago, where he took a regular course of two terms, graduating in 1880. Dr. Turner at once located at Monroe City, in the practice of his profession, where he has since resided. He formed a partnership with Dr. Asbury which continued up to a short time ago. Dr.  Turner is a partner with Mr. George W. Tompkins in the drug business, and is still a member of the firm of George W. Tompkins & Co. Dr. Turner was married in Shelby county, September 7, 1880, to Miss Charlotte Pickette, daughter of Hiram Pickette. They have two children: Myrtle G., and an infant son, Lytle Rush. Mrs. Turner is a member of the M.E. Church and the Farmers’ and Mechanics’ Mutual Aid Association, and the Doctor is a member of the I.O.O.F. and the Triple Alliance, and the Farmers’ and Mechanics’ Mutual Aid Association. He is also a member of the Monroe County Medical Society. Dr. Turner has shown by his success in the practice as well as by his popularity as a physician, that he is a practitioner of thorough qualifications and superior skill. He has a marked natural aptitude as well as special taste for surgery, and has performed some very difficult and highly successful and creditable operations in that department of the practice. Still, he very much likes all branches of the practice and is a more than ordinarily capable physician in the treatment of the general curriculum of cases usually met with in this part of the country.

JUDGE ALFRED WARNER

(Deceased). In the “History of Monroe County”, there is no one mentioned the events of whose life reflect greater credit upon the subject himself and upon all connected with him, as well as upon the county, than does the career of the subject of the present sketch. A man of great force and purity of character, he acquitted himself without reproach of his duties in every relation in which he was placed - in his family, in the church, in business affairs and to the public. Possessed of a high order of intelligence, and energetic and enterprising almost to a fault, his activities in business affairs were eminently successful, and he died the possessor of a comfortable fortune, an estate he accumulated himself and enjoyed for many years. He was a man of retiring and modest disposition, wonderfully attached to home and family, and with no desire, whatever, for public life or for cutting a conspicuous figure in the world. With his talents and great personal worth, if he had been ambitious of political promotion or other official advancement, there are no offices in the gift of the people to which he might not have reasonably aspired and probably have obtained. But his greatest happiness was found in the private walks of life, making himself useful to those around him and enjoying the society of his loved ones at home and of his friends. There, it is gratifying to remember, most of his days were spent, and while it was more congenial to his own tastes that it was so, if, when the end came, his loss was not as widely deplored because he was not as widely known as some, it is but the expression of a plain and simple truth to say that it was more deeply and sincerely mourned than is the loss of many. As a business man, merchant and manufacturer, he was early and eminently successful; as an agriculturist later, farmer and stockman, his career was not less creditable; and as a friend of popular education, an active worker in, and liberal supporter of the church, as a public-spirited citizen and a representative in official life - in every position and sphere of activity, he was an ornament and of great value. When such a man dies not only is a loss sustained by his family and those to whom he is immediately near and dear, but by the community in all its interests, a loss which is fittingly evidenced by the general bereavement shown by the people, as in the case of the imposing performance of the last sad rites attending the deceased. Alfred Warner was a native of Massachusetts, born near Pittsfield, April 2, 1798. When he was about 12 years of age, he was taken by his parents to the Western Reserve of Ohio, where the family settled in 1810. There, in that then wilderness, he grew up amid the pioneer scenes and incidents of frontier life.  Possessed of a natural taste for mental culture, notwithstanding his unfavorable surroundings, he succeeded in acquiring, by application to his books at home, a good practical education. When a young man, 24 years of age, he went to Lexington, Ky., where a brother, Elijah, had preceded him and was in business. He also engaged in merchandising there and soon became, in addition, largely interested in manufacturers, both at Lexington and at Havensville ?. He owned extensive bagging and rope factories, and also large jeans and woolen mills. Besides these he conducted a heavy pork packing business, and altogether accumulated a handsome fortune for those days. He owned quite a number of slaves. In 1848, however, he sold out in Kentucky and came to Missouri, stopping for a short time on the way at Alton, Ill., then one of the leading points of the West, where he owned valuable city property. Arriving in this State, he settled in Marion county, where he bought a tract of 600 acres of land, and improved a fine farm. Desiring to increase his facilities for stock-raising, he bought an additional tract of 600 acres in Monroe county about 1855, to which he removed about 1856 or 1857, and soon took rank as one of the principal stockmen of North Missouri. He was one of the first, if not the very first, to introduce the breeding and raising of fine short-horn cattle. He raised fine stock of different kinds, and indeed, was never content to handle low grade animals of any kind. His cattle and horses were especially remarked for their superior quality and value. In this way he did a great service to the county by encouraging and assisting in the improvement of its stock. He was a leading and active member of the Masonic order, and his interment with the honors of that order is said to have been the most impressive and considerable funeral of the kind ever witnessed in the county. He was also a prominent and time-honored member of the Episcopal Church, and was for years a Lay Delegate for this Diocese to the General Convention of that Church. He took an active part in organizing the parish in Monroe City and building its house of worship; and was also highly influential in establishing the Monroe City Institute, giving both the church and the institute the benefit of his active exertions of liberal donations.  His public spirit manifested itself in assisting materially in the upbuilding of Monroe City. He bought numerous lots there and erected several valuable business houses and dwellings, and at all times showed a disposition to aid in any movement designed for the general good of the place. During the war Judge Warner, although an extremely liberal-minded and conservative man, was decidedly Union in his sentiments, notwithstanding he was a slave-holder and much attached to the Southern people, both in interest and sympathy. He took no active part in the struggle, however, and remained quietly at home, except while engaged in the discharge of official duties, to the performance of which he was called by the general voice of the people. He was a presiding member of the county court of Monroe county, which court had probate jurisdiction, a position he held for two terms of four years each. This office was accepted with great reluctance on his part, and at last only from a sense of public duty. He acquitted himself in it as was to have been expected, with great credit and to the universal satisfaction of the public. He was one of the few Union men of Monroe county who, though always loyal to the government, so conducted himself that he was without an enemy at the close of the war among the Southern people, being respected and esteemed for his honesty and sincerity by those opposed to him, as his loyalty was honored and unquestioned on the Union side. He died at his home in this county on the 24^th of September, 1867, and his remains were interred with every manifestation of public sorrow and of individual grief among his personal friends and acquaintances, as well as in his own family, in the cemetery at Monroe City, where they now sleep peacefully awaiting the dawn of the resurrection morn. He was a man of striking personal appearance, full six feet in height, with an excellent form and a manly countenance, always lighted up by a genial and pleasant expression. He was eminently social and affable in his intercourse with those around him, and the farthest from an opinionated man, being unassuming and respectfully considerate of thoughts and the feelings of others. Judge Warner was twice married. To his first wife, whose maiden name was Miss Jane Shekleford, he was married April 24, 1832. She survived her marriage, however, but a short time. On the 29^th of September, 1846, he was married to the partner of the subsequent years of his long and useful life, and who still survives him, one of the most highly respected and beloved ladies in the community where she has so long lived. The widow of Judge Warner was, before her marriage to him, a Mrs. Harriett L.  McLean, relict of Prof. McLean, an accomplished artist, who, although dying at the early age of 36, had already attained considerable fame as a talented and gifted portrait painter. She had been a widow nearly three years at the time of her marriage to Judge Warner. She was a Miss Patterson originally, of Camden, Maine, but was reared at Cambridge, Mass. She is now in her seventy-first year, but is still a lady of fine personal appearance, remarkably well preserved in body and mind. Judge and Mrs. Warner reared but one child, a son, Alfred B., born January 4, 1852, and still unmarried. He has charge of all the property of the family, and is a leading agriculturist and business man. He was educated at Monroe Institute, and Racine College, Wis., taking, besides a general course, a thorough course in Latin, Greek and German. He is a young man of bright promise, and occupies an enviable position in the community.

WESTHOFF BROTHERS

(General Blacksmiths, and Manufacturers of Road Wagons, Spring Wagons, Buggies, etc., Monroe City). These gentlemen, who have about $3,000 invested in their present business, and work constantly from eight to twelve hands besides themselves, manufacturing annually a large number of road wagons and spring. They are enerwagons,? (not sure what this should be) and a number of carriages, buggies, , etc., began in business together at Monroe City in 1876, and have since conducted it as partners with gratifying success. They build from 16 to 18 road wagons a year and more than half as many spring wagons, as well as numerous other vehicles, besides doing a large blacksmithing business and attending to an extensive custom in the repair line.  (Unknown)? … energetic, thorough-going mechanics and business men, and are fully worthy of the gratifying success they have achieved. The senior member of the firm, Francis Westhoff, was born in Hancock county, Ill., October 4, 1839, and learned his trade under his father in Schuyler county, Mo. Subsequently he worked for about seven years near Bloomfield, Iowa, and then came to Monroe City in 1872, and engaged in his present business. Meanwhile he had married, March 20, 1866, when Miss Martena IRiney? became his wife. She was a daughter of William Riney, of Scotland county, Mo. Mr. and Mrs. Westhoff have three children: William F., Elizabeth A. and James Leo. Both parents are members of the Catholic Church. During the war Mr. Westhoff served for a time in the Schuyler county militia.

Adolphus Westhoff was born in Schuyler county, Mo., March 1, 1848, and is therefore nine years younger than his brother. He learned his trade under his father and worked in Davis county, Iowa, and for a time ran the shop with his brother. In 1872 he began work with his father and came to Monroe City in 1876, where he has since been a partner with his brother Francis. He has charge of the wood work department of the business. In the winter of 1877-78 he was married to Miss Maggie Ryan. They have four children: Johnnie, Frank, Anna and Angie, the last two twins. He and wife are also members of the Catholic Church.

Francis and Adolphus Westhoff were the sons of John and Elizabeth (Campbell) Westhoff, formerly of Illinois, but who came to Schuyler county, Mo., as early as 1844. The father was a farmer and blacksmith and wagon-maker, and followed these callings until his death, which occurred in the summer of 1883. He worked here with his sons the summer preceding his death, or rather in the summer of 1882. He returned home the succeeding fall and soon died, as stated above.

F.M. WILSON

(Dealer in Furniture and Undertaker, Monroe City). Mr. Wilson, born and reared in Ralls county, continued to reside there after he grew up and was married, engaged principally in farming, but a part of the time in milling, until 1877, when he came to Monroe City and bought an interest with Samuel Megown in the mill at this place, with whom he was connected in the milling business for about 18 months. Selling out then, he bought an interest, with Virgil Evans, in the furniture and undertaking business, and soon afterwards bought Mr. Evans’ interest, becoming sole proprietor of the business. Meeting with good success, in 1880 he erected a new business house and appreciably increased his stock. He has recently sold the building he erected in 1883, however, and has just completed a handsome, commodious, two-story brick business house, which he now occupies. On the 15^th of October, 1857, Mr. Wilson was married to Miss Gabriella Shulse, a daughter of Marcus Shulse, of Ralls county. The fruits of this union are two children, both now grown to maturity, namely: Annie M. and William H., the former the widow of Norton F. Spalding, late deputy county clerk of Ralls county, and the latter in the business house of Durrant & Jackson. Annie M., the daughter, was married to young Spalding in 1881. But with less than two years of happy married life the angel of death came and bore the spirit of her beloved and devoted husband to his home beyond the skies. His remains now sleep peacefully in the cemetery on the old Norton place, where the flowers shall bloom above all that is mortal of him, the cherished memory of whom is nearer and dearer to her than all else on earth, until the morn of the resurrection shall dawn:--

“ Only a shadow that falls at eve

Darkening the face of the sun;

Only a beautiful light gone out

From a fair young life that is done.

“Sorrow is ours, but the darkened life

Gleams on the farther shore,

And the radiant soul like a guiding star

Shineth - forevermore.

“Broken in twain, is the precious chain,

Sundered so far and wide;

But, the Father hath love that will make it whole, On the beautiful other side.”

One little flower, the fruit of this happy union, destined to be sundered so soon, is left to cheer the mother’s heart under the shadow of her sad widowhood: Robert Marion, a bright little boy now one year of age. Mr. Wilson, the subject of this sketch, is a representative of an old Missouri family, his father, Hedgman Wilson, having come to this State away back in 1827. Mr. Wilson’s mother was a Miss Levina Fuqua. They came from Kentucky and the father, a miller by occupation and a farmer, lived in Ralls county until his death, which occurred in 1869.

BENJAMIN O. WOOD

(Dealer in Drugs, Medicines, Paints, Oils, School Books, etc, Monroe City). Mr. Wood is a representative of the old Pennsylvania Quaker family whose name he bears, the most prominent member of which, in recent years, was the Hon. Fernando Wood, of New York, three times mayor of that city and who commenced his service in Congress as far back as 1841, dying two years ago, while still representing New York City in the National Legislature. Mr. Wood’s father, Dr. Adolphus E. Wood, and the late ex-Mayor Wood were brothers, the latter born in Philadelphia, but the former in Baltimore. There were two other brothers, Henry and Benjamin, both of whom reside in New York. Dr. Wood was a man of fine education and culture, and graduated in medicine with eminent distinction. He was married in Havana, Cuba, to Mrs. Caroline Clunette, of Spanish parentage, being then a widow lady, her first husband of French nationality. She had two children by her first husband. Dr. Wood was largely interested in the tobacco trade of Cuba at that time. Deciding, however, to come West, as early as 1831 he removed to Missouri, locating in Shelby county, then on the very frontier of civilization. He lived in that county until his death. He was a leading citizen of the county and the foremost physician of North Missouri. He served as county judge for some years, and was a man of great force of character, sterling virtue and eminently influential. His wife (Benjamin O.’s mother) is still living, a lady of rare dignity of manners and fine accomplishments, having received an advanced education early in life and always been a student of the best literature. She has reared a large family of children, and those living all occupy enviable positions in the communities where they reside. Benjamin O. Wood was born at Oakdale, in Shelby county, December 29, 1836, and was reared at that place. He was principally educated by his parents, who took great care for the mental culture of their children. As early as 1863 he began as a clerk in a drug store in Quincy, Ill., and from that time to the present, with no appreciable intermission, he has been continuously in the drug business- a period now of over 20 years. He came to Monroe City in 1868 and has since been in business at this place. He carries one of the best stocks of drugs, as it is one of the largest and most complete, in the county, and keeps constantly employed two gentlemanly, efficient salesmen, Messrs. R.E. Lear and John M. Riley, gentlemen whose good looks are only exceeded by their pleasant manners and fine business qualifications. Mr. Wood also gives his undivided attention to his business. His house has an enviable reputation for reliability and efficiency in the preparation of prescriptions, of which it makes a specialty. On the 12^th of December, 1872, Mr. Wood was married to Miss Allie B. Smith, a daughter of Mr. A. Smith, of Ralls county. They have one child, Myrtle I.  They have lost their child, a boy of 14 months, of great promise. Mr. Wood is a member of the Masonic order, the A.O.U.W., and he has also served in the city council for several terms.

THOMAS J. YATES

(Of T. J. Yates & Brother, Proprietors of the Monroe City Livery, Feed and Sale Stables; also, Farmer, Stock-raiser and Stock-dealer).

Mr. Yates was born on his father’s homestead in this county, August 18, 1845, and was reared to the occupation of a farmer. In 1864, then in his nineteenth year, he enlisted in the Confederate service under Col. McDaniel, and joined Gen. Price’s army on the