Goodspeed biographies file name B.txt contributed by Mary Collins USGENWEB ARCHIVES NOTICE: These electronic pages may NOT be reproduced in any format for profit or presentation by any other organization or persons. Persons or organizations desiring to use this material, must obtain the written consent of the contributor, or the legal representative of the submitter, and contact the listed USGenWeb archivist with proof of this consent. The submitter has given permission to the USGenWeb Archives to store the file permanently for free access. *************************************************************************** Surnames "B" GEORGE T. BARTLETT, M.D. A career not without interest is that of Joseph S. Bartlett, the father of the subject of this sketch. Born in Plymouth, Mass., he went to South Carolina, and after a period as pedagogue in that State and North Carolina he went to Tennessee, where he continued in those duties. While in Williamson County he married a Miss Porter, the daughter of a wealthy farmer. About 1842 they removed to Arkansas, and three years later he taught the young Indian idea in the government schools of the Territory. Although four of his sons were in the Confederate army, he was a Unionist so well-known that his life was in danger in Washington County, Ark., and by taking George’s advice to leave, he escaped a party who were intent on his life. In Dunklin County, however, he was so badly treated on account of his son’s army services that he became chaplain in the Confederate army himself. After the war he located in Butler County, where his wife died in 1866. He afterward went to Kentucky, and there married again, and reached the advanced age of eighty years. Both he and his wife were members of the Methodist Episcopal Church South, of which he was for many years a local preacher. Nine children were the result of the first marriage, and the mother had one child by a former marriage. Her deceased husband was name Zachary. While Rev. Bartlett lived at Smyrna, Tenn., his second son, George, was born September 9, 1830, and the boy was well-trained and educated by him. When twelve years of age young George, with his brother, was placed under the care of an uncle to learn farming, but the uncle proved to be so severe a master that the boys rebelled, and started for their father in the Indian Territory; but the council there decided they could not attend the school, and our subject returned to Arkansas, and attended an academy, taught, and after a time as book-agent and drummer, he entered Cane Hill College. For financial reasons he broke his course and taught and read medicine. In 1856 he entered and the following year graduated from Nashville Medical College, and immediately located at Springfield, Tenn. The same year he married Mary M. Glover, a young woman who had come there visiting, from St. Louis County, Mo. Eight children have blessed their union. In 1861 they moved to Dunklin County, Mo., and he enlisted in the First Missouri Confederate State Guards, and about three weeks later was promoted assistant surgeon, and soon after, surgeon, in charge of a hospital at New Madrid. In 1862 he was at Helena, Memphis, Fort Pillow, having charge of the hospital here, and then placed on the gun-boats. He was chief of the medical staff of the hospital. He was transferred to the department under Gen. Heinmann, and soon disability caused him to return home. He was a prisoner at St. Louis, but was exchanged at Little Rock, and while at the Ironton Hospital, was taken prisoner to Richmond, Va., and exchanged. He was active in the Price and Marmaduke raids. He served in the medical department again, and in 1865 began civil practice at Poplar Bluff, and his very large practice goes to confirm the fact that he is probably the most experienced and skillful surgeon in this part of the State. In 1883 he was appointed a member of the State board of health by Gov. Crittenden, and has served three times on the board of regents for Cape Girardeau Normal School. The Doctor has also engaged in merchandising with capital, but his own energies have been devoted to his profession. Page 1065 GEORGE BEGLEY, manufacturer of wagons, buggies and machinery, was born in Iron County, Mo., November 6, 1858. His parents, Anselm and Theresa (Spitzmiller) Begley, were both born in Germany, came to America, and located in Southeast Missouri. After their marriage they settled at Ironton, their present home, where for a long time he was engaged in the manufacture of brick and building material, in which George Begley, although yet very young, took a very active part until 1874, when his father went into the livery and undertaking business, but now leads a retired life. He is a strong Democrat. George and his sister are their only children. Young Begley was educated in the public schools of Ironton, and at the age of fifteen became a blacksmith’s apprentice, serving three years. After a short time as a journeyman he located in Poplar Bluff, and in 1878 began business in a little box of a shop, 14 x 14 feet. His skill and energy have steadily increased his patronage, and have lead to his present commodious quarters. His two-story brick block, 65 x 54 feet, is used as a shop and salesroom, while he also has a warehouse 65 x 28 feet. He supplies the home demand for vehicles of various kinds, of his own manufacture, and deals in all kinds of machinery. His present business was begun with not more than $250 worth of property, and has grown to its present proportions since his arrival at Poplar Bluff. Mr. Begley is a supporter of the Democratic party, and is identified with two secret order, the A.F. & A.M. and K. of P. He was married in 1881 to Miss Mary Reynolds, a native of Madison County. To them have been born five children. Mrs. Begley is a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church. Pages 1065-1066 GEORGE H. BENTON, attorney for the Missouri Pacific Railway, is the son of Rev. William A. Benton, who was born at Tolland, Conn., in 1817. Rev. Benton graduated from Yale College in 1843, and afterward took a theological course in a Congregational institution. In 1847 he determined upon the life of a missionary, and went to Syria for the American Board of the above mentioned church. He had married Miss Loanza Goulding, a native of Herbertson, Mass., who was born in 1822. They spent twenty-two years in Syria, and then returned to Massachusetts, where the father died in 1874, suddenly, while carrying on a conversation with some friends. The mother lives at present in Minnesota. Five of their seven children were born at Bhamdun, Syria, and of the five living, Charles W. is professor of French in the University of Minnesota, and all the sons graduated from Yale College. The parents were living on Mount Lebanon, Syria, when the subject of this sketch was born July 20, 1853, and on their return to America he entered Yale College and graduated in 1875. He soon accepted a call to St. John’s College, Ark., where he taught the ancient and modern languages. In connection with his duties here he read law with Judge Compton, and was admitted to the bar in 1877. He entered the service of the Missouri Pacific Railway, in a legal capacity, the following year, and in 1884 was placed in charge of their interests in Southeastern Missouri, and located in Poplar Bluff. Mr. Benton belongs to the Masonic fraternity, and is a believer in Democrat principles. Page 1066 HARRY H. BLACKSTONE. Soon after the Revolution there came to America three brothers who settled in Massachusetts, Maryland, and Virginia, respectively. The Massachusetts branch of the Blackstones is the one from which the subject of this sketch descended. His parents, Jacob and Henrietta (Deavero) Blackstone were born in Canada, and the latter was of Spanish ancestry. On January 11, 1833, was born to them a son—Harry H., on Lake Erie, in Canada. The father had been a wealthy business man, but died when our subject was four years old, and the mother brought the boy to Pittsburgh, Penn. He had no advantages of education, and soon became a newsboy and bootblack. He went on the river when about ten years of age, but six years later he concluded to learn the carpenter’s trade. He apprenticed himself for three years, and then returned to the river again, serving thereafter on all the navigable tributaries of the Mississippi, in the various capacities of steward, cook, pilot, master, and for a time owner of a vessel. He embarked on the first Canadian “bottom” that ever took square timber across the Atlantic, and visited England and France, and returned by way of New Orleans. In 1861 he came to Southeastern Missouri, and during the war was commissioned lieutenant by Gen. Pike, to burn cotton. Since the war he has been engaged in dealing in merchandise, liquor, etc. In 1883 he began a three-story building, 40 x 85 feet. It contains twenty- eight rooms and cost over $12,000, and is now the well known Riverside Hotel, which he is so successfully presiding over as “mine host.” His first marriage occurred in 1852 in Canada. His wife, Miss Minerva Sperry, lived to become the mother of one child, a son, before her death. On February 29, 1876, Miss Alice Carroll became his wife. She was born in Missouri, and was of Irish origin. Of the seven children born to them, four are living. Mr. Blackstone is a Democrat, and is a member of three fraternities: A.F. & A.M., K. of P., and I.O.O.F. He has shown great interest and skill in collecting relics of the ancient Mount Builders, and he estimates his collection to have reached a value of about $10,000. pages 1066-1067. W.W. BOYT, general merchant, timber dealer and postmaster at Hillard, Mo., was born in Davidson County, Tenn., in 1838, being the son of Felix G. and Elizabeth (Simmons) Boyt, natives of Tennessee, born in 1809 and 1812respectively. They lived in Davidson County until about 1838, when he removed to Williamson County, Ill., and afterward to Johnson County, where they both are now living, enjoying good health. They are both members of long standing in the Christian Church. William Boyt, father of Felix G., was born in North Carolina, served in one of the Indian wars, was in the War of 1812, and was at the battle of New Orleans under Gen. Jackson. He died prior to the Civil War. W.W. Boyt was the second of fourteen children, three now living. He was educated in the common subscription schools of Southern Illinois, and attended Ewing College, in Franklin County, Ill., for six months, when he began teaching, and followed this occupation for several years. In 1872 he was elected county clerk of Johnson County, Ill., and filled this office for four years. He had previously been deputy clerk for four years, and four years more after he was county clerk. He was married in 1861 to Mahala McGowen, who died about 1867, leaving one child. His second marriage was in 1872, to Miss Ann E, Stewart. In 1880 he removed to Butler County, where he and his wife taught school several terms. About 1883 they located at Hillard, where they have ever since resided, and where Mr. Boyt has been engaged in merchandising and dealing in timber. He has been postmaster since 1886, and has been justice of the peace also since that time. He is Democratic in his political views, and his first presidential vote for S.A. Douglas, in 1860. He is a member of the Masonic fraternity, also a member of the I.O.O. F., and is an excellent citizen. During the war he enlisted in the United States army, but was rejected on account of disability. Mrs. Boyt is a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church. Page 1067 ROBERT A. BURKET, farmer of Black River Township, was born in Wayne County, in 1847, and is the son of Edward and Harriet Burket, natives of Tennessee, where they were reared and married. In 1847 they removed to Wayne County, Mo., where Mr. Burket was engaged in agricultural pursuits, and where they both died when Robert A. was about ten or twelve years of age. The latter was one of twins, and one of four sons and one daughter born to his parents. He received a limited country school education, and, after the death of his parents, began for himself as a farm hand. When about sixteen years of age he enlisted in Company G, Forty- seventh Missouri Infantry for six months, but was in service about seven months in Southern Missouri and Tennessee. He was in the fight at Ironton, and was discharged at St. Louis. He chose for his companion through life, Miss Keziah C. Hedgepeth of Butler County. She died in 1880, and the same year he married Mrs. Louisa Keener , nee Haynes. Shortly after his first marriage Mr. Burket settled in Cane Creek Township, but moved from there to Black River Township, near Keener, where he has 300 acres in two farms, all the result of his own hard work. He became the father of two children by each marriage, and all are living. He is conservative in his political views, and he and wife are members of the Baptist Church. He is a prominent farmer, and a much respected citizen. Page 1067 ----------------------------------------------------------------- Use your Browsers "Back" button to return from this text page to Butler county GoodSpeed File