HENRY BOHRER

(Farmer, Post-office Clapper). Mr. Bohrer’s father, David Bohrer, was one of the most energetic and successful man among the early settlers in this county. He was a native of Pennsylvania, born in Cumberland county, a half mile from Chambersburg, and was of German parentage. He was left an orphan when a mere boy, and rose in life by his own personal worth. He came to this county in a very early day and entered the tract of land on which he improved a farm. By industry and good management he added to his landed estate until up to the time of his death, he owned about 1,500 acres of fine lands in this and Shelby counties. He also had a large amount of stock, and for years made a business of loaning money, having out at times as high as $20,000. He was a member of the Christian Church, and was quite a liberal supporter of the church. His homestead farm contained about 800 acres and was one of the best farms of the county. He settled on this place in 1850. His wife was a Miss Elizabeth Vanskike before her marriage, and they reared a family of seven children, namely: John, now of Hannibal; Henry, the subject of this sketch; Emily, now Mrs. George Hardesty; David, of Nebraska, near Kearney; Sarah, now Mrs. Washington Moore; Susan J. (Jennie), now Mrs. Peter Smith; George W., at Kemper School, Boonville. Henry Bohrer was born at the old family residence, within a quarter of a mile from where his house now stands, September 15, 1848. He was reared on a farm. On the 27^th of August, 1872, he was married to Miss Sarah Blasley, of Pike county, a sister to his brother John’s wife. Mr. Bohrer has made farming his regular occupation and is one of the stirring young farmers of the township. For eight years he lived on the prairie farm, but in 1881 came to his present place, a part of the old homestead. He has 160 acres of good land, which is an excellent farm. Mr. and Mrs. Bohrer have had six children: Anna, who died in infancy; Robert E., who died at the age of three years, and was the youngest in the family of children; Elnora, Lena, Iva H. and Cassius M. Mr. and Mrs. B. are members of the Christian Church.

SAMUEL H. COX

(Farmer and Stock-raiser, Post-office, Hunnewell). Among the better class of our early settlers who came to Missouri early in the “thirties” was the family of which the subject of the present sketch is a worthy representative. Mr. Cox’s parents, James and Elizabeth (Gills) Cox, were from Bedford county, Va., and came to Monroe county in 1833. Their family then consisted of nine children and they also brought nine slaves with them. Mr. Cox’s father bought the B. Moss farm, where the subject of this sketch now lives, on which the family settled, and afterwards the father entered about 400 acres more of land. He was a man of good education, solid intelligence and stirring business qualities, and was quite an extensive tobacco-raiser and also raised considerable number of stock. He died here on the 25^th of June, 1860, at the age of 73. His wife died in 18-, ? having been born January 27, 1793. Most of their children lived to reach maturity and several of them are now themselves the heads of worthy families of children. Samuel Cox was born in Bedford county, Va., and when young his parents came to Missouri. Reared on the farm and educated in this county, he was married here on the 9^th of November, 1853, to Miss Mary F. Lasley, of Kanawha county, W. Va. She had spent the summer here visiting relatives, where Mr. Cox met her, and their two hearts coming to beat in unison the old, old words of love were whispered each to the other ending, as such meetings usually end, in matrimony. This has proved a long and happy union and is blessed with five children, namely: James W., engaged in merchandising at Hunnewell; Willie E., now the wife of William Blackburn of Hunnewell; Charles T., also at Hunnewell; Matthew M. and Alivilda, ? the last two at home. Mr. Cox received his father’s homestead by the will of his father, where he has resided continuously from boyhood. He took charge of the farm at the death of his father and has since conducted it with energy and success. The place contains 400 acres and he has 120 acres besides in another tract. Before the war he owned six negroes and followed stock-raising to quite an extent. In 1875, he and his son, James W., formed a partnership in merchandising, and James W. is still conducting the business at Hunnewell. Mr. and Mrs. Cox are members of the M.E. Church. He has been a member since he was 19 years of age, and has been a steward in that Church for the last 25 years.

JACOB S. CROW

(Farmer and Stock-raiser, Post-office, Shelbyville). That industry, energy and good management employed in agricultural life will place one in due time in comfortable circumstances, is proven by the many examples of substantial farmers we see in every community, and who are almost invariably men that commenced in life for themselves with no means to succeed but their own ability and disposition to work and manage their affairs with intelligence. In the instance of Mr. Crow we have another illustration of this fact. He began when a young man with little or nothing, and besides rearing a worthy family in comfort, has provided himself with an ample competence. He has an excellent farm of 400 acres, all well improved and well stocked, besides several hundred acres of land elsewhere, and considerable other property. In a word, he is one of the substantial men of the township. Mr. Crow was born in Mercer county, Ky., November 3, 1816, and was a son of John and Mary (Little) Crow, both also natives of Kentucky, and of pioneer families in that State. From Kentucky the family removed to Pike county, Mo., back in 1824. There they made their permanent home and the father, a successful farmer, died there in 1874, at the advanced age of 82. The mother is still living, at the age of 92. Jacob S. was the second in their family of 10 children, and followed the example of his father, becoming a farmer by occupation. In 1845 he was married to Miss Agnes Fifer, originally of Augusta county, Va., and in 1848 he removed to Scotland county, where he resided for 13 years, engaged in farming and stock-raising. From there he came to Monroe county in 1865, where he has since made his home. Mr. and Mrs. Crow have had six children, four of whom are living: James J., America A., Mollie E. and William D. Mr. Crow, though not a church member, leans toward the Presbyterian faith; his wife, however, is a Baptist.

ALFRED R. GIBBONS

(Farmer and Stock-raiser, Post-office, Shelbina). Mr. Gibbons, one of the substantial farmers and respected citizens of Washington township, though born in Virginia was reared in Georgia. He came to Missouri in 1867, and settled on the land in Monroe county where he now resides; this was a part of a tract of 480 acres, bought by his father a number of years before. The tract given to Alfred R., containing 320 acres, was raw land, but he improved it and has made a comfortable farm. He has since added to it until now he has 480 acres, and it is one of the choice homesteads of the township. He raises considerable cattle and feeds large numbers every year for the markets. October 22, 1868, he was married in this county to Miss Cassie A. Thomas, a daughter of Edmond Thomas, an early settler of Marion county. She was taken from him by death, however, May 3, 1881, leaving him six children: Samuel B., Elizabeth F., Presley, Edmond A., John William and Katie. One, besides, is deceased, Christina. March 29, 1883, Mr. Gibbons was married to Miss J. Boone, of Marion county. She was the daughter of Daniel Boone of that county, related by descent to the great pioneer and Indian fighter of the same name. Mr. and Mrs. Gibbons are members of the M.E. Church South, at Greenwood. He is a member of the A.O.U.W. Mr. Gibbons’ parents were Samuel and Christina (Miller) Gibbons, and he was born in Page county, Va., August 6, 1846. When he was 13 years of age, in 1859, they removed to Georgia. In July, 1866, young Gibbons entered the Military Academy at Lexington, Va., where he continued until the spring of 1864. He then enlisted in the First Georgia Cavalry under Col. Strickland, known as “Old Shanks,” and thereafter he was in engagements of more or less importance, either battles, fights or skirmishes until he was captured the 21^st of July with about 56 others, by Wisconsin, Michigan and Minnesota troops. While being taken to Camp Chase as a prisoner he jumped from the train in Indiana, but was re-captured about 10 days afterwards. After his capture, it being known that he was an escaped Confederate prisoner, for whom the people of that section of the country then had no love, he was tried at LaPort, on the trumped-up charge of stealing clothing, and of course was convicted, that being the only object of the trial. He was sentenced for two years in the penitentiary at Michigan City. He was a prisoner at Michigan City for 11 months, or until the fall after the war, when he was “pardoned” out by Gov. Morton. He could have been released before, but he persistently refused to take the so-called oath of loyalty. After his release from prison he returned to his home in Georgia and then went to West Virginia, where he remained until the spring of 1867, coming thence to Missouri. Mr. Gibbons’ parents are both deceased, his father having died in Georgia in 1870 and his mother four years afterwards in that State.

CLEMENT A. HAMILTON

(Farmer and Stock-raiser, Post-office, Shelbina). Maryland, settled originally by Catholic English and other colonies of the Catholic faith, for generations afterwards the adherents of the Church of Rome preponderated in that colony. Mr. Hamilton’s parents, or rather his grandparents were Marylanders, and descended from early colonies in that State. Like most of them around them they were also Catholics, and Mr. Hamilton’s father, Walter Hamilton, born in Prince George county in 1782, was reared to the Catholic faith. When he was 16 years of age the family removed to Washington county, Ky., away back in 1798, where he grew up and was married to Miss Anna D. Smith, also of Maryland, and a member of the Catholic Church, born in 1783. Mr. Hamilton’s grandfather was a man of some consideration in Maryland, and served in the office of sheriff and other positions of local prominence. Mr. Hamilton, the subject of this sketch, was one in a family of three children, and was born in Washington (now Marion) county, Ky., August 28, 1825. Reared in that county, his father being a farmer and stock-raiser, he was married there October 20, 1846, when Miss Mary J. Brown became his wife, a daughter of the well-known Peter Brown of Washington county, now deceased. In 1852, Mr. Hamilton removed to Missouri and settled in Monroe county. He has been successful as a farmer and stock-raiser, and has a place of 340 acres. Mr. and Mrs. Hamilton have had 11 children, eight of whom are living, namely: Susan D., Peter W., James A., Margaret I., Mary A., Theodore E. and Clement A., Jr. Mr. and Mrs. Hamilton in religious belief are of the Catholic faith.

WILLIAM H. HAWKINS

(Deceased). For many years one of the highly respected citizens of Monroe county and one of its thorough-going, enterprising farmers, Mr.  Hawkins’ life was such in his family, as a neighbor and in every relation in which he was placed, as to leave behind him a memory that reflects only credit upon his name and upon the community with which he was identified. He led an active, useful life, and died a death that was in keeping with the manner in which he lived, profoundly and sincerely mourned by those who knew him best, regretted by all and with the assurance, as safely as we can estimate the future life, that his would be one that might be looked forward to with hope and faith. He was born in Kentucky, August 17, 1810, and was a son of Philemon and Alice (Lewis) Hawkins, both of old Virginia families. After his father died, the family came to Missouri, settling near Hannibal, William H. then being about 16 years of age. Remaining with his mother’s family until after he attained his majority, he was then married to Miss Rachel Bates, a daughter of Isaac and Jane (Davis) Bates, of Monroe county, and early settlers in this State from Kentucky, though they were originally from Virginia. Mr. and Mrs. Hawkins were married October 13, 1836, he having met her some time before while looking at land in Monroe county. The spring after his marriage Mr. Hawkins settled near his father-in-law, on Clear creek, where Caldwell now lives. There he entered a small tract of land and afterwards increased it until he made a large farm.  He sold this place in 1856 intending to go to Texas, but finally gave up the idea and settled where the family now resides. This is a fine farm of 400 acres. He died here February 8, 1872. He was a quiet, industrious home man, and followed farming exclusively from boyhood. Thoroughly devoted to his family, most of his time when not employed on the farm was spent around his own fireside, though he was fond of the society of friends and quite popular with all his neighbors and acquaintances. He left a family of seven children, namely: Margaret J., now Mrs. M. F. Bryon, of Shelbina; John F., an enterprising farmer of this county; Fannie E., now Mrs. N. W.  Maupin; James H., on the farm and in partnership with his brother, Thomas E., in farming and stock-raising; Mary A., a young lady who is still at home; Thomas E., of Shelbina; and William A., a well-to-do farmer of the county. James H. Hawkins was born February 27, 1849, and was reared on the farm. As stated above, he and his brother, Thomas E., are in partnership in the stock business. They buy and feed mules and handle annually from 100 to 500 head.  They are quite successfully engaged in stock breeding on the farm, James H. having charge of the farm. He has the farm in fine condition and is regarded as one of the best farmers and most enterprising stockmen of the northern part of the county. Mr. Hawkins is unmarried, though he is quite fond of society and is quite popular among the young people of both sexes. He is one of the worthy, highly esteemed citizens of Washington township.

DAVID R. HUME

(Farmer, Section 6, Post-office, Paris). Among the self-made men of Monroe county stands out conspicuously the gentleman whose memoir now engages our attention. Beginning life without means or influence, Mr. Hume has worked his way steadily upward, and now enjoys the proud consciousness that no one in the county occupies a more honorable position among men, from every point of view, than he. His father, James Hume, was a native of Pennsylvania, born in Cumberland county, December 27, 1809. Thence he removed to Ohio, where in Shelby county he married Miss Mary Driclem ?, born and raised in that county. He had eight children, of whom but two are now living: James H. and David R. The latter, born October 17, 1839, was reared in Shelby county, O. He followed the occupation of a farmer there up to February 23, 1883, when he removed to Monroe county, Mo. He married in his native county Miss Annie Shaw, who was born August 23, 1843, in the same county. While still in Ohio eight children were born to them, seven of whom are living: Hubert S., Edmund E., Arthur C., Stella M., William, Olivia G., Earl C. and Mary L. Himself and family are strict members of the Methodist Church. Mr. Humes’ farm, consisting of 270 acres, is very nicely improved and well fenced. He is rapidly surrounding himself with all the comforts of a thrifty and prosperous farmer, and it is safe to say that he will continue to enhance the value of his property by other improvements in the future, making it one of the model farms of the township.

JOSEPH H. JETT

(Farmer and Stock-raiser, Post-office, Clapper). Mr. Jett was born and reared in this county, two and a half miles south of Clinton, August 11, 1841. He started out for himself without any means to speak of, having only his ability to work and enterprise and intelligence to rely upon for a successful career in life. In 1860 he rented the place he is now on, and in two years was able to buy it partly on time. Industry and perseverance soon enabled him to complete the payments on his home, and from that time to this his career has been one of continued and substantial success. He has been engaged in farming and stock-raising all the time, and now feeds annually about 200 head of hogs, 30 to 40 head of cattle, and has a large number of sheep, besides a good stock of horses and mules and other farm animals. His place contains 271 acres, which is one of the best stock farms in the vicinity. Mr. Jett has long been regarded as one of the substantial citizens of Washington township, and is a man whose upright life and many kind, neighborly qualities have made him much valued as a friend and acquaintance by all. The Jett family was one of the pioneer families of this part of North Missouri, having come here as early as 1825. Mr. Jett’s father, William Jett, was a hatter by trade and first located at Palmyra. He then settled on Salt river, in Monroe county, where Joseph H. was born. He settled there in 1830, at a time when there were but few settlers in this part of the county-the Martins, Pritchetts, and a few other families having come in a short ‘time before. Mr. Jett’s father died here, and the mother, whose maiden name was Martha Dicker, is still living. They had a family of nine children, namely: Elizabeth (“ Bettie “), who became the wife of Judge Moore, and, after his death, the wife of James Hubbard, and is now a resident of Texas; William D., now of Kokomo, Col.; Emily, who was the wife of Pet. Dooley, is now his widow, Mr. D. having been a brother to Judge Dooley, and now lives, as does her eldest sister, Bettie, with the latter’s son in Texas; Mary (“Polly”), now the wife of James Young, of Lewis county; Stephen, now of Doniphan, Kan.; Sarah, now Mrs. Benjamin Washburn; James, who died in the hospital whilst a Union soldier, at Fort Scott, Kan., during the war; and Samuel, now of Kokomo, Col.; and Joseph H., the subject of this sketch, who is the seventh in the family. After Joseph H. Jett grew up, he was married November 19, 1863, to Miss Amanda Vanskike, of this county. April 10, 1880, she died, however, leaving him five children: Samuel D., now in Illinois; Loula Lee, William Jett, at home; Anna May, now at school, and James Eddy. Mr. Jett was married to his present wife March 26, 1882. She was a Miss Ella V. Bradley, a daughter of Nomus ? Bradley, of near Florida. Mr. and Mrs. J. are members of the church, he of the Christian and she of the Baptist. Mr. Jett’s mother is still living at the age of 78, and resides with her granddaughter, Mrs. Mary Forbes, near Holliday, and is said to be the stoutest woman, in the original and true sense of that word, in Monroe county, considering her age. She is also a member of the Presbyterian Church.

JAMES T. MARTIN

(Farmer and Stock-raiser). Mr. Martin is one of the oldest living residents of the northern part of this county. His parents, Robert B. and Susan (Pearson) Martin, came from Kentucky to Missouri in 1824, when James T. was a lad about 12 years of age. They first located near Palmyra, and then for a short time at Sharpsburg, in Marion county, but in 1829 settled in Monroe county, near the confluence of Deer creek and Salt river, in the neighborhood where James T. Martin now lives, 55 years after their settlement here. The father was married four times, and left a large family of children. James T. Martin, born in Clark county, Ky., February 29, 1812, was 17 years of age when the family settled in Monroe county, and the same year returned to Kentucky to go to school. He remained there for four years, but at school only a part of the time. At Winchester, Ky., he learned the saddler’s trade, and when 21 years of age returned to Monroe county. After this he worked at the saddler’s trade at New Franklin, Mo., and then again for about two years in Kentucky. In 18- ? he set up a shop at Clinton, and did business there for about 10 years. In 1848 Mr. Martin engaged in farming and has been farming ever since. He has led a life of industry and without reproach, respected and esteemed by all who know him. Years ago he was a candidate for county judge, but on account of the relative strength of parties was defeated. He is a man of good education, and particularly fond of reading and study.  He has an excellent collection of books, and is well informed in history and on most subjects of inquiry at the present time. Mr. Martin has been residing at his present place since 1848, and in his present dwelling for 23 years. He has a good farm comfortably improved, and is pleasantly situated in life. December 18, 1853, he was married to Miss Mary J. Fowler, a daughter of William and Elizabeth (Carlysle) Fowler, early settlers in Missouri from Delaware. Mr. and Mrs. Martin have had seven children, but two of whom are living: William Robert, born August 18, 1863, and educated at the Normal school of Kirksville; and Mary E. (Miss Mollie), born January 16, 1867. Mr. Martin has served as justice of peace, but has never taken any active part in politics. During the war he was foraged on by both parties.

JAMES W. NESBIT

(Farmer and Stock-raiser, Post-office, Hunnewell). The Nesbit family is one of the oldest in Monroe county. Mr. Nesbit’s grandfather, Robert Nesbit, came from Cynthiana, Harrison county, Ky., to Missouri in 1819, and located with his family, first, in Palmyra. But two years later he came to Monroe county and settled in the northeastern part of the county, there being then only two other families in this part of the county, or rather in the whole surrounding region of country for miles, for a large district of North Missouri was then known as Ralls county, including what is now Monroe county. He lived to an advanced old age and died in Lewis county, Mo., in 1852, leaving a, large landed estate. He had two sons and eight daughters, the two sons being Samuel, now of Kirksville, Mo., and John, the father of the subject of this sketch. All the family lived to become heads of families themselves. John Nesbit settled on land entered by his father on Deer creek, in this township, and when about 33 years of age, in 1834, was married to Miss Catherine Waller, then of Macon county. John Nesbit lived on his farm in this county until his death in 1867. He reared a family of four children, namely: Minerva, now the wife of George Cole, of Montague county Tex.; William, James W. and John W. The father was a man of a great deal of life and energy and especially fond of hunting. He had the reputation of being the best shot in the county, and generally bore off the prize at all shooting matches. He was a noted hunter and killed more deer and t o throu thrkesouo t thy te ? whole surrounding country. While he was a man of the noblest and best qualities of head and heart, generous and kind, and brave-hearted and true, and a man of more than ordinary intelligence and information, he had one ineradicable fault, and that was an overweening fondness for the bowl, or a “ dhrop o’ th’ crathur,” ?  as the Irish call it; and often when he took a little too much, but never more than he wanted, he would illustrate in both an amusing and perilous way the truth of Burns’ hexastich:

“John Barleycorn was a hero bold,

Of noble enterprise,

For if you do but taste his blood,

‘Twill make your courage rise;

‘Twill make a man forget his woe,

‘Twill heighten all his joy.”

It was not an uncommon thing for him at such times to swim Salt river when it was swollen out of its banks and its torrents of water surging and hurrying by with almost the speed of lightning, times when it seemed certain death to enter the stream, a stream whose waters have passed over many a lifeless form whilst the unfortunates were attempting to cross it. But barring this fault, he was a man whom all that knew him respected and admired, and his industry and good, strong common-sense made him successful in the affairs of life, though he never became by any means a wealthy man, for he was too generous and cared too little for money to hoard it. James W. Nesbit was born on the homestead in this county, September 7, 1849, and was reared to the life of a farmer. His father was a man much given to reading and James W. inherited this quality, so that besides receiving a good common-school education he has become a man of liberal and wide information. Differing, however, from his father, he has always been a strong temperance man and has long been a prominent worker for the temperance cause. He was for several years a district organizer for the Sons of Temperance in Macon, Shelby, Randolph, Howard and Monroe counties. Since early manhood he has been engaged in farming and stock-raising for himself. About ten years ago he had a half interest in 160 acres of land and some $500 or $600 in capital, but such has been his industry and good management that he is now in independent circumstances. He has two good farms aggregating about 500 acres of fine land, both run principally in blue grass as stock farms, and his home place is exceptionally well improved. He has just built a handsome barn at a cost of nearly $1,000, and he is now preparing to erect a dwelling to cost nearly double that amount. Mr. Nesbit makes a specialty of feeding stock for the markets, and ships two or three car loads annually. He now has on hand about 60 head of cattle besides considerable numbers of mules, horses, etc. Inasmuch as he is shortly to build a handsome residence it is believed, beyond a hinge to hang a doubt upon, that he has found one who has consented to become queen of his heart and home, and of whom he can truthfully say:-

“My Nencia’s beauty hath not any blot,

She’s stately, straight and tall as lass can be;

A dimple in her chin my love hath got,

Which makes her bright laugh lovelier to see.

There is no single charm she boasteth not;

I think dame Nature framed her purposely

So fair, so fine, so noble and so tender,

That all the world might homage to her render.”

MORGAN O. ROBERTSON

(Farmer, Post-office, Shelbina). Mr. Robertson traces his agnate lineage back to the old and respected Robertson family of Pennsylvania. In fact his father, Washington Robertson, was a direct representative of that family, born and reared in Pennsylvania, where he studied medicine and became a physician. He removed to Kentucky in 1810, locating in Henry county, where he practiced his profession and carried on farming on quite an extensive scale. He was married in that county to Miss Eliza J. Wiley, and of this union Morgan O., the subject of this sketch, was born January 31, 1832. He was one of a family of seven children, only four of whom are now living: William W., Amanda J., Harriet N. and Morgan O. Morgan O. Robertson remained in Kentucky until after his marriage, which was on the 25^th of September, 1855. Miss Jemima Kerlin then became his wife. Later along, desiring to have the advantage of cheap and fertile lands and of the excellent advantages in this State for raising stock, he came to Missouri, and settled in Monroe county. Here he secured some good land and has a comfortable homestead in a fair state of cultivation and improvement. Mr. and Mrs. Robertson have three children: Callie B., Oscar D. and Sarah D. These were by Mr. Robertson’s first wife, however, who was taken away by death when the youngest one was quite small. Mr. Robertson’s present wife was previously a Miss Maggie Harlow, and is a most excellent lady.

SAMUEL SHEARER

(Farmer, Post-office, Clapper). In the formative period of Roman greatness and splendor the great body of the people were distinguished for their physical vigor, independence of character and courage, and not less than either for their fruitfulness. Then it was, that the architects of that great nation were brought into existence and were multiplied to fill the ranks of its mighty armies, destined to carry the eagle of the Imperial City in triumph throughout the known world. We read in Livy that in the early days of the Republic a family of from 13 to 23 children was considered only a general average among the people. So it is in the early, vigorous formative period of every people destined for greatness and empire.  Hence it is not surprising to note, in reading the annals of the pioneers of this country, the numerical strength of their families. On the contrary, it was as it should be, and is a record greatly to their credit and honor. With the appearance of an era of decadence comes a diminution in the rate of increase of population, and the latter is an unfailing sign of the approach of the former. Among the families characteristic of the development in population of Missouri is that of which the subject of the present sketch is a representative. He was one of a family of 14 children. His parents were Cavil Shearer and wife, whose maiden name was Dulcina Dooley, her Christian name in its Latin meaning being happily suggestive of the great prosperity which was to attend her domestic life. Both were originally from Kentucky, but they were married in Monroe county, for they came here when young and were among the first residents of the county. Of their happy union Samuel Shearer was born January 1, 1834, two years after the father came to the county. Samuel Shearer was reared to manhood in this county and was married here January 20, 1857, to Miss Mary E. Henderson, originally from Virginia. Mr. Shearer, the subject of this sketch, started out without anything to begin on, and by his own industry and perseverance has established himself comfortably in life. He has a good farm of 172 acres in Washington township, where he has resided for many years, one of the substantial, well respected citizens of the county. Mr. and Mrs. Shearer are members of the Baptist Church. Three children of their family are living: Preston, Nannie B. and Mary A. Three of his brothers and a sister are also living: Simeon, Thomas, Henshaw and Celia.

DAVID H. STODDART

(Farmer and Stock-raiser, Post-office, Hunnewell). Mr. Stoddart is a native of Scotland, and was born at Dunfrieshire, June 14, 1836. He was reared in his native country, and there learned the carpenter’s trade, serving an apprenticeship of four years. He then came to America in 1856, and stopped first in Canada, where a brother had preceded him, Robert, who came over in 1851 and was in Canada. Another brother, William, also came over at the same time Robert did, but William now resides in St. Paul, Minn., and is a prominent railroad contractor. Mr. Stoddart worked at his trade in Canada awhile, and then in Michigan, but came to Missouri in 1861, and was in the service of the Hannibal and St. Joe Railroad Company during the entire war. He was attached to the protective service of the company, and was twice called out for military duty, once at the time of the burning of the Salt river bridge, and another time at Hannibal. His general employment, however, was in the line of his trade. In 1864, he came to the farm where he now resides. Subsequently he was engaged in building bridges on the Missouri, Kanisas and Texas one season, and again in 1872 he did similar work for the St.  Louis and South-Eastern. The following year he was engaged in trestle work for the Cairo and Vincennes. But in 1875 he returned to the farm and has since been engaged in farming and raising stock. He keeps from 40 to 50 head of cattle, about the same number of hogs, and sometimes as many as 30 head of mules on the place. The farm is owned by his brother William, of St. Paul, who improved it in 1864 and lived here for nearly 20 years, going thence to St. Paul. The place contains 280 acres land is an excellent stock farm, well improved. On the 31^st of August, 1882, Mr. David Stoddart was married to Miss Harriet N. Hayes, a daughter of Kendall W. Hayes of this township. Mrs. Stoddart is a member of the M.E. Church, and he is a member of the Masonic Lodge at Hunnewell.

CALEB WOOD

(Farmer and Stock-raiser, Post-office, Clapper). Between 1827 and 1837 four of the Wood brothers and three sisters, all grown up at the time and heads of families, came to Missouri from Bourbon county, Ky., where they were born and reared. They were the children of Malcum and Angelica Wood. Fielder Wood, who married Miss Mary Johnson, after he grew up, came to Boone county in 1827, but three years later settled in Monroe county on the farm where Caleb Wood, Jr., his son, now lives. Caleb Wood, Sr., a brother to Fielder Wood, came to Marion county in 1827 and to Monroe in 1830, settling on an adjoining tract of land to that of his brother. John Wood, another brother, came to Monroe county in about 1831, but died a few years afterwards, leaving a widow and a large family of children. Thomas Wood came in 1833 and lived in this county until 1840, when he went to Sullivan county, where he died over 20 years afterwards. Nancy (Wood), the wife of John Arysmith ?, came in 1830 and settled adjoining to her brothers. Sarah, the wife of Henry Ashcraft, came out in 1834. She died in Paris in 1870. Fannie, the wife of Stephen Miller, came in about 1837, but subsequently moved to Shelby county. Nearly all of these are now deceased. Fielder Wood, the father of the subject of the present sketch, on coming to the county, entered 160 acres of land, where he improved a farm. He lived here a successful farmer and well respected citizen until his death, which occurred in 1871. His wife died in 1833. They reared a family of seven children: Martha, now the widow of the late John L. Wood, a minister of the M.E. Church South, of the State of Oregon; James, also in Oregon ; Caleb, the subject of this sketch; Rachel, now the wife of George A. Forralin ?, of Oregon; John, residing near his brother Caleb; Louisa, who died whilst the wife of Charles Fondler, and Julia A., who died whilst the wife of William T. Arvsmith ? in Sullivan county, Mo. Caleb Wood, the subject of this sketch, was born in Bourbon county, Ky., January 6, 1824. After he grew up he and his brother John ran the old homestead farm until the latter married, and then Caleb bought out the interest of the other heirs in the place and has since owned it. The farm contains 280 acres and here he has followed farming and stock-raising. On the 16^th of October, 1851, he was married to Miss Sarah A. Fowler, a daughter of Jesse and Anna (Rickards ?) Fowler, formerly of Delaware. Her father was an early settler of Shelby county, and there he died. Her mother died in Delaware when Mrs. Wood was an infant. Mr. and Mrs. Wood have had nine children: Joseph A., now of Crawford county, Kan.; Martha J., now Mrs. W. D. Brown, of Clarence; May E., now Mrs. M. F. Bastian; James F., Edward F., Charles R., who died at the age of thirteen in 1868; Henry T., John W., and Minnie M.  Mr. and Mrs. Wood are members of the M.E. Church South. He has served as justice of the peace several years, a number of years ago, however. His uncle, Caleb Wood, had four children, all now in Oregon. He served as justice of the peace for a number of years and was judge of the county court at the time of his death, which occurred in 1844.