Nodaway County, Missouri History of 1882
(transcibed by Pat O'Dell: genpat@netins.net)
[page 1028] William V. Smith, farmer and stock raiser, section 3, is a native of Bedford County, Tennessee, and was born August 25, 1819. His father was a native of Virginia, and his mother of North Carolina. They were married in 1817, and then settled in Bedford County, Kentucky. William, with his parents, moved to Clinton County, Missouri, in 1828, and settled on a farm two miles west of Hainesville. His father was one of the first county judges, and represented the county in the legislature in 1833-4. The family moved to the Kickapoo Reservation in 1835, and in the spring of 1837 settled in the Platte Purchase on Sugar Creek. Here his parents died. William Smith was married on the 7th of February, 1839, to Miss Jane L. Holt, the daughter of William and Elizabeth (Rainey) Holt. She was a native of Orange County, North Carolina, and was born January 16, 1820. When she was two years old her mother died. In 1837 she went with a brother to Clay County, Missouri. Her father died in 1867. Mr and Mrs Smith settled on the old homestead in Clinton County, Missouri, and lived there till 1842, when they moved to Andrew County, Missouri, locating seven miles west of Savannah. In 1847 he settled in Nodaway County. His farm contains 412 acres of good land. Their family consists of: Michael H., Louis B., John W., Sarah C., Willard P. and Sterling P., living, and the following deceased: William R., an infant, James C., Shelby C. and Elizabeth. In October, 1854, Mr Smith was elected county judge, and in 1860 was re-elected for four years. He is a Mason in good standing. Mr and Mrs S. are members of the M.E. Church, South.
[page 1029] Joseph T. Van Ansdall, carpenter, is a native of Dearborn County, Indiana, born June 2, 1849, and is the son of Isaac and Rachael (Bunnell) Van Ansdall. Joseph with his parents, moved to Wapello County, Iowa, in 1855, and to Hamilton County, Ohio, in 1857. In 1859 he commenced working at his trade, and in 1870 he came to Nodaway County, Missouri, and settled east of Skidmore. He received the appointment of postmaster in 1875, and resigned in favor of H.H. Joy, the present postmaster of Skidmore, in 1880. He was married November 10, 1870, to Miss Louisa K. Williams. She was born August 30, 1848. They have four children: Harry A., Rupert, Gertrude and Ruthilla. Both Mr and Mrs V. are members of the M.E. Church.
[page 1032] R.I. Rea, attorney, is a native of Lawrence County, Pennsylvania, and was born on the 3d of September, 1843, near Newcastle. In later years, with his parents, he moved to Nodaway County, Missouri, and settled on a farm in section 27, that is now owned by Lewis Andrews. The journey here was long and tedious, coming by steamboat to St Louis, then shipping on the boat "Kansas" for what is now St Joseph, it being late in the fall. When they arrived at Weston, by the pure meanness on the part of the captain, they were made to land, and were obliged to go by wagon to St Joseph. There Mr Rea remained some three months, and then moved to Nodaway County, locating three miles south of Graham. Here the subject of this sketch received a good education, attending the Highland University of Kansas in 1859-60. He responded to his country's call for troops during the war, by enlisting in the Sixth Missouri, on the 16th day of October, 1861. He was discharged in May, 1862, and re-enlisted in the same year in the Thirteenth Kansas Volunteer Infantry, being mustered out on July 28, 1865, at Leavenworth, Kansas. Having prepared himself for the legal profession, he was admitted to the bar in August, 1879, and began the practice of law at Maitland, in 1880. His honesty as a man and his ability as an attorney, are of the highest order. Mr Rea was married on the 16th day of October, 1867, to Miss Belle McRoberts, a native of Marion County, Indiana. Their family consists of two children, Eddie and Maud.
[page 1033] Joseph R. Stone, dealer in harness, saddles, trunks, valises, is a native of Atchison County, Missouri, was born January 30, 1859, and is a son of J.R. and M.S. (White) Stone, who settled in Atchison County, Missouri, in 1857. Joseph, with his parents, moved to Worth County, MIssouri, in 1860, and remained till 1864, when he went to St Joseph, and lived there till 1865. Thence to Plattsville, Iowa, and, in 1866, he located at Graham. Here his father carried on the harness and saddle business till 1879, when he moved to Burlington Junction. Joseph received a good education at Graham, and, when but a boy, began working at the harness business, and, after his father's removal, he opened a shop in Graham, and did a good business. November 10, 1880, he came to Maitland, and now commands a large trade. Miss Lydia Eberlin became his wife. She is a native of Wisconsin, born the 7th of August, 1861, and is the daughter of Thiebant and Mary E. (Hamm) Eberlin. Her father is a native of Germany, born October 14, 1826. Her mother was born in France, October 15, 1825. They were married April 25, 1853. Mr and Mrs Stone settled at Maitland after their marriage. Mr Stone is a member of Hesperian Lodge, No. 189, I.O.O.F., also of Lodge No. 202, A.O.U.W.