Maples, Simeon P. and Mary (Maples)
Pg. 470
Maples, William A. and Martha (Maples)
Pg. 616
McCoy, John and Phoebe (Hill)
Pg. 342
McCracken, Samuel G. and Mary J. (Rountree)
Pg. 612
McHaffie, James K. P. and Amanda S. (Laughlin)
Pg. 195
Melton, Benjamin B. and Malissa Caroline (Elkins)
Pg. 613
Merritt, William A. and Louise (Greer)
Pg. 572
Meyer, Joseph and Lizzie (Nickles)
Pg.
112
Miller, Andrew P. and Mary J. (Breazeale)
Pg. 499
Miller, W. H.H. and Mary J. (Lassley)
Pg.
545
Moody, Preston T. and Sarah Ann (Elrod)
Pg.
362
Morrow, John O. and E. J. (Ball)
Pg. 641
In
no part of Missouri is agriculture in a more flourishing condition than in
Christian County, and here Mr. Maples is considered one of the leading tillers
of the soil. Like two-thirds of the
representative citizens of the county he is a native of Tennessee, his birth
occurring in Bradley County October 2, 1842, but he is now a law-abiding and
public-spirited man of his adopted county.
He is a son of Simeon P. and Elizabeth (Webb) Maples, the grandson of
Josiah Maples and the great-grandson of Josiah Maples, Sr., who was born in
France. At an early date the latter
crossed the strait to England with two brothers, and subsequently came to the
United States. This was prior to the
Revolution, and he served under Gen. Washington during that war. He married and reared a family in Virginia,
but later removed to Tennessee, where he tilled the soil in McMinn County until
his death. Josiah Maples, Jr., was born
in the Old Dominion, and when but a boy he moved with his parents to McMinn
County, Tenn., where he married. In
1854 he came to Christian County, Mo., and followed farming until his death the
following year. He was the father of
nine children. Our subject’s maternal
grandfather, Thomas Webb, was a blacksmith by trade, but in connection also
carried on farming. He married Miss
Susan Shull and both died in Tennessee.
The parents of our subject were born in Sevier County, Tenn., the father
June 21, 1817, and the mother in 1820.
They were married in McMinn County, later removed to Bradley County, and
then returned to McMinn County, where they remained until 1855, when they came
by wagon to Christian County, Mo., being seven weeks on the road. They located in what is now Lincoln Township
and began immediately to improve and make a home. There they reside at the present time. Mr. Maples has been a lifelong farmer, following in the footsteps
of his ancestors, and is a substantial and worthy citizen. He and wife have been members of the
Missionary Baptist Church for many years.
They became the parents of thirteen children, as follows: Pleasant, of
Stone County, was in the Eighth Missouri Cavalry, Missouri State Militia, and was
all through the war (he was captured at Ozark and paroled two days later);
Ephraim was a soldier in the Eighty-first Illinois Infantry, and died at
Memphis in 1863; Simeon P., subject; Timothy, of this county, was in the Eighth
Missouri State Militia from 1863 to close of the war; Mary, deceased, was the
wife of Noah Maples; Martha, wife of William Maples, of this county; Arnold
died in this county during the war; Susannah died during the war; Marissa died
in this county; Rebecca is the wife of Bird Thomas, of this county; Lucinda,
wife of William Henry, of this county; and Joseph, of Stone County.
As
our subject grew to mature years, he became familiar with farming in all its
details, but unfortunately obtained but limited schooling. In June, 1861, he joined the Home Guards for
three months and on the 17th of August of the same year he enlisted
in Company D, Twenty-fourth Missouri Infantry, for three years. He operated principally in Missouri,
Kentucky, Tennessee, Alabama, Mississippi, Louisiana and Arkansas. He was in a number of prominent engagements
and numerous skirmishes, but was never captured nor wounded. On the 14th of October, 1864, he
was discharged and then went to Union County, Ill., where he resided six
years. In December, 1864, he married
Miss Mary, daughter of Noah and Sarah (Greenway) Maples, and a native of McMinn
County, Tenn. Her parents were natives
of Sevier and Bradley Counties, Tenn., and her father was a brother of her
husband’s father. The father died in
Union County, Ill., in June, 1867, and his widow died in this county in
November, 1883. Both were members of
the Christian Church. Mr. Maples was a
corporal in the Eighty-first Illinois Infantry for about eighteen months and
left a hand at Vicksburg. Six living
children have been born to our subject and wife: Simeon David, Eve Harriet,
William Houston, Charles Campbell, Robert Hershal and Lloyd Harmon. In 1870 Mr. Maples located in Stone County
and five years later came to his present farm near Boaz Post Office, twelve miles
west of Ozark. There he has 120 acres
with about seventy acres under cultivation.
He and wife have been members of the Missionary Baptist Church for
fifteen years, and in his political views Mr. Maples is a Republican, as are
all his people.
Mr.
Maples, though just in the prime of life, has made his way to the front ranks
among the energetic farmers of this county, and owing to the attention he has
always paid to each minor detail, he has accumulated a fair share of this
world’s goods. He is a native of
Tennessee, born in Bradley County in 1842, and is a son of Thomas and Rhoda
(Maples) Maples, natives of East Tennessee, where they made their home until
about 1855. This worthy couple then
made their way to Christian County, Mo., and located on a claim on Terrell
Creek. On this they remained for many
years, improving and adding to the place, but a few years ago Mr. Maples moved
to near Highlandville, where he now resides.
Although eighty years of age, time has dealt leniently with him and he
is unusually bright and active for his years.
For some time Mr. Maples was a teacher, but in connection also carried
on farming and continued that until recently.
Now he is retired. For a number
of years he was justice of the peace of Polk Township. During the early part of the war he was in
the Home Guards, and although once captured, he was soon released. For many years he has been an exemplary
member of the Missionary Baptist Church.
His brothers and sisters were: Ephraim, Absalom, Pleasant, Noah, Perry,
Hannah and Polly Ann. The sons all came
to Christian County. Their father,
Josiah Maples, came to Christian County, where he and his wife died before the
war. He was a farmer and he and wife
were members of the Methodist Church.
Our subject’s maternal grandfather, Ephraim Maples, was a brother of
Josiah Maples, and he too came to Christian County, Mo. He also followed farming and his death
occurred soon after the war. He was the
father of a large family. The mother of
our subject died in Christian County in 1860, and the father subsequently
married Miss Fannie Cavender, by whom he has two children, James and Curtis,
both farmers and residents of Christian County. The following children were born to our subject’s parents:
Catherine, wife of Oliver Gardner, of Stone County; Eliza J. was the wife of
James Wells and died during the war; Mary, wife of M. Johnson of Stone County;
subject; Leander; Adeline, wife of Jeff White, of Stone County.
All people of true sensibility, who have just regard for the memory of those who have departed this life, cherish the details of the history of men, whose careers have been marked by uprightness and truth and whose lives have been filled up with acts of usefulness. It is, therefore, with gratification that we present to our readers a sketch of John McCoy, whose life in this county has been such as to make his memory justly respected. He was a native of that grand old Mother of States, Virginia, his birth occurring in 1799. When about two years of age he was taken by his parents to east Tennessee, where he was reared in the then wild county, without the advantages of an education, just merely learning to read. He was married in Hawkins, County, Tenn., and made his home there until 1841, when he came by wagon to what in now Christian County, being six weeks and two days in making the journey. He at once purchased apportion of the present home, having sixteen or seventeen acres in cultivation, upon which was rude log cabin.. This was about three miles southeast of Ozark, and three Mr. McCoy improved a good farm and spent the remainder of his days, until his death in 1875. For many years he operated a distillery, and soon after war built a flouring mill, which he and his sons carried on until 1875. He was active, industrious and honest and made a good property. Although a Union man during the war he did not enter the army. A man of good habits, he was highly respect4ed in the county where he was one of the first settlers. He had two brothers, James and Joel, and four sisters: Elizabeth, deceased, was the wife of John Hayes; Sallie, deceased, was the wife of George Hayes; Nancy, deceased, was the wife of Jeremiah Wilson; and Polly, deceased, married a Mr. Ferguson. The two brothers settled in Christian County prior to the time our subject came and here passed the remainder of his days. The first three sisters died in this county, too, but Polly died in Tennessee. Their father, Archibald McCoy, was probably born in Virginia, where he was reared and married, but he was one of the first settlers of East Tennessee. In 1841 he came to Christian County, Mo., and there followed farming until his death a few years later. He was but a boy during the Revolutionary War and took no part. His parents came from the Emerald Isle to Virginia a few years prior to his birth. His wife, whose maiden name was Phoebe Hill, also died in Christian County. The wife of our subject, Barbara Wolf, was a native of Hawkins County, Tenn., born in 1797. She died October 10 1882. Her father, Charles Wolf, died in Tennessee many years ago, and but little is known of the family history. To Mr. and Mrs. McCoy were born six children, as follows: Andres, deceased, was a soldier in the Civil War. He left a family; Phoebe is the wife of Jeff Wolf, a prominent farmer of this county; Eliza, deceased; William, born in Haskins County, Tenn. , was a soldier in the Federal Army (for about two months he was in the Sixth Missouri Cavalry, but later joined the Sixth Provisional and was scout in south Missouri and north Arkansas; he was never in a regular engagement); Charles, who is now on the old farm, served a short time in the militia, being unfit for active service, owing to disability (his wife was Delphi McGinnis, daughter of James McGinnis, of this county; he and his brother William own the old farm of 450 acres, one of the best tracts of land in the county, and are engaged in stockraising); and Catherine is the wife of J.T. Tillman, a farmer of Christian County. All these children were born in Haskins County, Tenn. The father and sons were Whigs prior to the war, but after that were staunch Democrats. The McCoy family is one of the oldest and most respected in the county. The two sons are occupying the farm on which their father settled fifty-two years ago, and are classed among the county’s representative citizens.
Among the active and energetic businessmen
of Ozark is Samuel G. McCracken, grain dealer and grocery merchant. He has acquired an enviable reputation as a
businessman and citizen, and well deserves the large competency he has acquired
by honest methods and strict business integrity. The McCracken family is of Scotch-Irish origin and the first
members of this family to come to America settled in Tennessee, where they were
esteemed as honorable and upright men and women. Thomas McCracken, grandfather of our subject, was born in
Tennessee, as was also Nathaniel McCracken, the father of our subject, whose
birth occurred in Williamson County in 1813.
The latter married Miss Arissa Cates and our subject was one of the
children born to this union. Samuel G.
McCracken was born in Hickory County, Mo., March 30, 1851, and there remained
until ten years of age, attending district school and assisting on the
farm. The breaking out of the Civil War
interrupted his studies at the above mentioned age, but he remained in his
native county until after the war, when he entered the high school at
Bolivar. Two years later he entered
Drury College, when it was first opened in 1871, and passed three years in that
well-known institution of learning.
After leaving college he was employed as shipping clerk by J. M. Doling,
grain merchant, and remained with him two years. During his college days he married Miss Mary J. Rountree, a
native of Tennessee, born November 25, 1855, and the daughter of George W. and
M. J. (Reggs) Rountree. Mr. Rountree
died in Tennessee during the war, and his widow, also a Tennesseean, is living
in Springfield. She afterward married a
Mr. Pate, a minister in the Christian Church at Springfield. By her first union she became the mother of
two children: Mrs. McCracken and A. J., and to the second marriage were born
two children: Robert L., who is employed in the manufacture of tobacco, and
Corda J., who married A. Davidson, of Springfield.
Among the early families to come to
this State and carve out homes for themselves in the then almost unbroken
forest, were the McHaffies, who settled in the Ozark Mountains where they
identified themselves with progress and development. They were of that moral
and personal integrity which go to make up the model American citizen, and were
valuable acquisitions to the region in which they settled, which was then in
need of honorable, substantial and permanent residents. David McHaffie, the
father of our subject, was on e of the early pioneers and came to the Ozark
region with two brothers, John and Hugh McHaffie, and David McHaffie. He took
up land in what is now Christian County. Hugh, who had a wife and child, died
many years ago. John died in 1887. He reared a family and one of his sons is
living on the old homestead, first settled by the father. David McHaffie was
born in the grand old State of Virginia, November 4 1806, and was a son of
Andrew McHaffie, one of the pioneers of Virginia. David was a young man, twenty-eight
years of age, when he started to the far West, and he made the trip by wagon
from Knox, County Tenn., where he had lived from the time he was five years of
age, his father having moved from Virginia to Tennessee, when David was that
age. The latter learned the tanner’s trade in Tennessee and was married in Knox
County, a few years before coming to Missouri. He selected his wife in the
person of Miss Catherine Sherrid, and this ambitious young couple were many
weeks on the road, and after reaching Missouri took up a claim in Springfield.
This claim consisted of 160 acres, but a year later he gave this up and moved
to the old farm in what is now Christian County. His reason for leaving the
claim was that he could not get the bark necessary for tanning, and his new
claim was the first taken up in the country. He followed his trade the
principal part of his life, and the old tanyard is still standing as a monument
to his industry. He took up a large tract of land and became a wealthy man. In
political matters he was a Democrat up to the late war and then became a strong
Republican and was a strong Union man during the war. He never aspired for
office, but was justice of the peace many years and was commonly known as
Squire. In connection with his trade he also carried on farming and
stockraising and was a man of sound judgement and excellent business acumen.
His death occurred August 5, 1893, when eighty-seven years of age. For sixty
years he had been a resident of the county, making his home in the same, except
the first year, and at the time of his death was probably the oldest pioneer.
He was a man universally respected and could have held any office in the
county. Mrs. McHaffie was a native of Tennessee, born in 1812, and a daughter
of Simon Sherrid, who was a pioneer in Tennessee. Two children, Andrew and
Jane, were born to Mr. and Mrs. McHaffie while living in Tennessee and eight
more after coming to Missouri. Catherine, the next in order of birth, was born
in Springfield and the remainder were born on the old homestead in Christian
County. Andrew is now living in Christian County, about one mile from the old
home farm, where he is engaged in farming. He is one of the influential and
representative men of the county. He was a soldier in the Civil War; Jane,
single, died in 1863; Catherine, was the wife of Alexander Kissee and died May
14 1868; Simon, resides one mile from the old home place in Christian County,
is married and has a family. He also served in the Rebellion; James K. P., our
subject; George is married and resides on the old home place; Julia A., is the
wife of J.J. Hyde of Christian County; Mary J., is the wife of John E. Stone of
Linden, Christian County. The mother of these children died February 6, 1863,
after having bee a life-long member of the Methodist Episcopal Church. She was
a true pioneer woman and for many years spun, wove and made the clothing for
her large family. The father often shot deer from his cabin door and was a
considerable hunter. He taught his four sons his trade and left a large estate,
all the children owning property bought by him. His youngest son owns the old
home place. The subject of this sketch was born in Greene County, Mo., about
twenty miles southeast of Springfield, in what is now Christian County, March
17, 1846, and is known by all in this part of the State. He grew to mature
years on the home place and attended the subscription schools of his day,
receiving but a limited education. At an early age he was taught habits of
industry and perseverance by his father, and following his precept and example
has become one of the leading business men of the country. He remained at home
until twenty-seven years of age; in 1873 went to Taney County, Mo., and
locating at Kissee Mills he engaged in merchandising in company with Alexander
Kissee. Three years later he sold out to his partner and located on the farm
where he now lives, on Beaver Creek, where he owns 500 acres of rich bottom
land. He has a good modern residence and substantial out-buildings, etc., and
in connection with farming is interested in raising stock. He ahs made of
success in a business way and is probably the wealthiest man in the county.
Aside from this, he is president of the Taney County Bank at Forsyth, and is
possess of excellent business qualities. In politics he is with the Republican
party, and in 1885 was elected by that party to the office of sheriff and
collector. So ably and satisfactorily did he fill that position that he was
reelected in 1887 and served four years in all. Mr. McHaffie selected his wife
in the person of Miss Amanda S. Laughlin and their union was celebrated January
17, 1877. Her parents, James M. and Lucy (Onstote) Laughlin, were among the
early pioneers of Taney County, the father coming originally from Kentucky and
the mother from Illinois. Mr. and Mrs. Laughlin were married in Taney County
and for many years they lived on Beaver Creek, near where Mr. McHaffie is now
residing and there both died in 1877. They reared eleven children; Harvey, died
in the Confederate Army during the war; Margaret, died in 1889; Elizabeth, is
the wife of W. A. Pumphrey of Kansas; Emaline, the widow of L.W. Yandell, of
Kansas; Eliza, wife of S.J. Gayhart, of Kansas; Ellen, the widow of Robert
Burns; William, living in Kansas, and John, Henry and Thomas died when about
grown to manhood. Mrs. McHaffie was born in Taney County, near where she now
lives. To Mr. and Mrs. McHaffie have been born four children, only two of whom
are now living: Columbus, a young man still at school and D.C., who is also in
school. The two deceased were named Hester P. and Aggie J. They are members of
the Christian Church, and the former is a member of the Masonic order, Forsyth
Lodge No. 453. Mr. McHaffie is a man of influence, and the family is one of the
leading ones of the county.
Since the year 1851 Mr. Melton has been
a resident of Christian County, and he is one of the best-known and much
esteemed citizens of this section. It
is a pleasure to chronicle the history of a man whose life has been one of honor
and usefulness and although he is now in his seventy-fifth year, time has dealt
leniently with him, and he is in the enjoyment of comparatively good
health. Like many other citizens of the
county, he is a native of Tennessee, born in Cannon County, August 12, 1820, to
the marriage of Jacob and Lucy (Matthews) Melton. The parents came to this county in 1851, located in Elk Valley,
southwest of Ozark, and there passed the remainder of their days, the mother
dying in 1865 and the father in October, 1871.
Shortly after this worthy couple’s marriage, which occurred in Alabama,
they moved to Tennessee, and from there to this State. Both were natives of North Carolina, and
they were among the pioneers of the Big Bend State. Grandfather Matthews was a soldier in the Revolutionary War. The father of our subject followed farming
all his life and was fairly successful in that occupation. To his marriage were born eleven children:
Mary, James M., Nancy A., B. B. (our subject), Elizabeth, Eliza J., Angeline, Ansel,
Thomas, Elsie and Tilitia. Five of
these children are now living and four are in this county. Thomas and Ansel were in the Union Army
during the Rebellion.
One of the honorable old pioneers of
southwest Missouri is William A. Merritt, who was born January 24, 1837, a son
of Audrey and Jane (Porter) Merritt, who were among the first white people to
marry in Christian County, Mo. The
paternal grandfather died in Kentucky, after which his son, Audrey Merritt,
went to Christian County, Mo., which section he helped to survey. He was a hunter and farmer and died in
1839. The mother died about 1845, after
having borne her husband three children: Joseph P., who is living in
Marionville, Lawrence County, Mo., was a soldier in the Union Army during the
war, and William A. being the only ones living. The eldest died in early childhood. William A. Merritt was reared in Christian County and in early
manhood began clerking in a store, but in 1857 embarked in the mercantile
business on his own responsibility and was in business until the opening of the
Civil War. He then closed his business
and in 1860 crossed the plains to Leadville, where he engaged in mining, and
was later hired to cut timber in the Government service on the frontier and
helped to build Fort Garland. He remained
in the West until the war closed, then opened a lumberyard in Texas, and at a
still later period was engaged in driving cattle across the plains. In July, 1868, he returned to Missouri and
built a sawmill on White River, which he operated successfully for a year and
then sold and went to farming. In 1875
he was married to Miss Louise Greer, a daughter of David V. and Frances (Hart)
Greer, who removed from Tennessee to Texas at an early day, the father’s death
occurring in the Lone Star State. The
mother came to Missouri about 1853 and settled in Christian County, where she
was called from life in 1879. Mrs.
Merritt was a child when she came to Christian County, Mo., having been born in
San Augustine County, Tex., in 1847.
She has borne her husband four children: William R., born November 19,
1875; Ella M., born May 1, 1979; Lillie J., born June 15, 1882, and Fred, born
February 18, 1886. In politics Mr.
Merritt has always sympathized and supported the measures of Democracy, and
socially he has for some time been connected with the A. F. & A. M. Throughout life he has followed the
honorable occupation of farming, has been successful, and is now the owner of a
fine and well-tilled farm of 273 acres in the southwest part of Douglas County.
Joseph
Meyer, manager and president of the Billings Mercantile Company at Billings,
has been a resident of this city since 1886, and his reputation stands high in
commercial circles for sound integrity and honorable business methods. He is a native of south Indiana, born March
6, 1852, and is a son of Joseph and Barbara (Boehm) Meyer, both natives of
Germany. The father emigrated from that
country to America in 1845, and made a location in Troy, Ind., but resided one
year in New Orleans, La., previous to that.
He is still living and is engaged in the manufacture of harness and
saddles. He has been an unusually
successful businessman. His wife died
when our subject was only about a year old.
They were married after coming to this country. One child besides our subject was born to
this union, George, who was killed in an accident on the Frisco Railroad in
1888. He was married, and his family is
living in Indiana at the present time.
The boyhood and youth of our subject was passed in the Hoosier State,
where he received but a limited amount of schooling on account of the Civil
War. Realizing a good education was one
of the things to be desired, by studious habits and perseverance he became a
well-posted man, particularly in business matters. During the war, and when quite young, he learned the harness
makers’ trade and followed this until twenty-six years of age, at first for his
father and then for himself. For some
time he was in business in Tennessee, and then came to Jamestown, this State,
where he became manager of the Jamestown Mercantile Company, being very
successful in that position. Thence he
moved to Billings and embarked in the hardware business with P. E. Sweeney, but
later sold out and started a general store, which he carried on alone for a year
and then took in as partner J. S. Carmare, the company being known as Meyer
& Carmare for four years. In
February 1893, the company was incorporated with a paid-up capital of $25,000. Mr. Meyer is the president and manager; L.
M. Wolfe, vice-president; J. B. McHenry, secretary; and C. B. Swift,
treasurer. These men are all residents
of Billings, and stand among the first in trade and society. The concern they carry on has seven distinct
departments-dry-goods, groceries, clothing, furnishing goods, furniture,
hardware, and boots and shoes. This is
the largest concern in the county and one of the largest in southwest
Missouri. They carry a stock of goods
valued at from $25,000 to $30,000, and own the large building in which the
business is transacted. This is a
large, double, two-story brick structure, and is used entirely for this
business. The gentlemen conducting it
are rapidly increasing their trade, and aim to conduct all operations upon the
ground of strict loyalty to honor, a policy by which they are reaping a most
desirable profit. Aside from the
mercantile interests, Mr. Meyer and Mr. Carmare are carrying on a grain and
livestock business. They have an
elevator, and are doing an extensive trade in shipping stock and grain, and
also own the stockyards.
Mr.
Meyer is one of the leading business men of the city, and what he has
accumulated in the way of this world’s goods is the result of his own industry,
perseverance and good business management.
He was married while residing in Jamestown, to Miss Lizzie Nickles,
daughter of Peter Nickles, and four children have been born to this union:
Lizzie, Alma, Olive A. and Joseph. In
politics Mr. Meyer is with the Democratic party, and he is public spirited and
interested in all worthy movements. He is
a member of the Catholic Church, and one of its most liberal contributors. He has held a number of the city offices,
and discharged the duties incumbent on the same in a very efficient manner.
Andrew P. Miller, one of the early pioneers of Douglas
County, and sons of Dobson Miller came originally from Tennessee, his birth
occurring in Roane County that State, May 26 1833. He was about twenty-one
years of age when he left the State where he had received his education, and made
his way to Missouri, where he has since followed farming. In the year 1862 he
enlisted in Company B, of the Home Guards, but about a year later he enlisted
in the Missouri State Militia, and served ninety days. After that he enlisted
in the Rangers, and served throughout the war, being discharged in 1865. He was
in a number of fights and skirmishes with bushwackers in the mountain regions
of south Missouri, and was disabled by hardship, so that he still suffers from
complaints contracted during that memorable time. He served his flag well, and
was a good and brave soldier. In 1867 he bought the farm where he now resides,
and has 120 acres of well-improved land. He has made a success of farming, and
is also a successful stockman. In politics he affiliates with the Republican
party, and is an active worker for his party. Mr. Miller is deeply interested
in educational matters, and for nine years has been director in his district.
Socially he is an Odd Fellow, being a member of the order at Ava. While a resident
of Tennessee he was married to Miss Mary J. Brazeale, a native of Tennessee,
born September 18, 1838, and the daughter of Robert H. and Anna (McCamma)
Brazeale, both natives of that State. Mrs. Brazeale died in Christian County,
Mo., in 1863 and Mr. Brazeale in Arkansas in 1867. Mr. and Mrs. Miller are
useful citizens, and take a deep interest in politics and all other public
matters. They have experienced the trials and privations of pioneer life, and
have contributed their share toward the county’s advancement. No better
citizens reside in the county.
Among
the men who early cast their fortunes in what is now Christian County, Mo., was
one whose memory is treasured by the few remaining pioneers of a rapidly
passing age, a man of honest integrity and sterling worth, we refer to Jesse
Miller, the father of the subject of this sketch. He was born in North Carolina about 1800, and when but a boy went
with his parents to Tennessee, where he met and married Miss Eunice Vanzandt, a
native of Georgia, born about 1809.
Until 1852 this worthy couple made their home in Tennessee, and then
moved to what is now Christian County, Mo.
They located near Linden and rented land a few years, but subsequently
purchased land in the same vicinity.
There Mr. Miller died in 1856.
He was a well-to-do farmer and was ever thrifty, honest and
industrious. He was a soldier in the
Indian wars, and was the only one of the family who came to Missouri. His two brothers, Henry and James, are
deceased as are also several sisters.
In his political view Mr. Miller advocated the principles of the Whig
Party. His wife, who was a member of
the Methodist Church many years, died in August, 1892. They were the parents of thirteen children
as follows: Matilda, deceased, was the wife of Huston McDaniel; Mary A., wife
of William Wadkins, of Greene County; Samuel H., died in Colorado in March,
1892 (he kept a hotel in his town and was mayor and justice of the peace there;
during the war he was captain of the Home Guards); Matilda R. was the wife of
E. A. Harper, of Texas; Jesse left home just prior to the war, and has not been
heard from since 1861; John died young; Eunia E. married Alfred M. Stillins, of
this county; Thomas D., of this county, was a private in the M. S. M. three
years; Sarah, wife of John Griffis; W. H. H., subject, and Eliza, twins, the
latter dying when sixteen years of age; Martha, wife of John Lassley, of this
county, and James L., a railroad man of Colorado.
Like
the average farmer boy, our subject received a fair common-school education and
assisted his mother on the farm until 1872, or until twenty-four years of age,
when he married Miss Mary J. Lassley, a native of Carroll County, Ark., and the
daughter of Joseph and Susan Lassley.
Her parents came from Virginia to Arkansas at an early day, where they
lived and made their home until the breaking out of the Civil War, when they
came to Christian County, Mo. There
they still reside. They have had eleven
children. Mr. Lassley was a soldier in
the Missouri State Militia during the war.
He and his wife are Methodists in their religious views. Two children have been born to our subject
and wife: Newlen and Ida A., both educated in the common schools and at
Ozark. Mr. Miller rented land a few
years after his marriage and was then engaged in merchandising at Alma for
seven years. Later he removed to Ozark,
and was in the same business there for five years, the firm name being Miller
& Wolff, but since then he has resided on his farm. This consists of 280 acres three miles
southeast of Ozark and 210 acres are under cultivation, making one of the most
valuable farms in the county. He has it
well improved and well stocked. For ten
or twelve years he has been one of the leading stock dealers of the county,
handling hogs, cattle and sheep. He is
thoroughgoing and public-spirited, and is very popular with all classes. He was deputy sheriff under Z. A. Johnson
during the celebrated Bald Knob reign and nearly all the arrests of the
ruffians and outlaws were made by him in person. He made an able officer and was active and fearless in the
discharge of his duties. Socially he is
a prominent member of the Friend Lodge No. 352, A. F. & A. M., at Ozark, of
which he was once W. M.
Among the thoroughgoing,
wide awake farmers and stockraisers of Christian County, Mo., stands Preston T.
Moody, whose intelligence, perseverance and industry have brought him good
returns. Like so many of the
representative citizens of the county, he came originally from Tennessee,
having been born in the eastern part of that State in 1822. His parents, Thomas and Elizabeth (Belyew)
Moody, were natives of Kentucky, and there they were married. Until 1892 Mr. and Mrs. Moody resided in
different counties of east Tennessee, and then came by wagon to Maries County,
Mo., where both died within four years afterward. Mr. Moody was a lifelong farmer, but in connection also carried
on the shoemaker’s trade. He was never
a very strong or healthy man. In
politics he was a Whig. His three
brothers and one sister were named as follows: John, a wealthy man of east
Tennessee; James and Martin, who died in Georgia; and Rhoda, who married Peter
Belyew, probably died in Kentucky.
James Moody, the grandfather of our subject, it is thought, was a native
of North Carolina, and of French origin, while the maternal grandfather, Samuel
Belyew, was of Irish extraction. Of the
seven children born to his parents, our subject was fourth in order of
birth. They were named as follows: Joseph,
served as bodyguard for Gen. Wool, when the Indians were being removed to the
Territory, and afterward was in business there (for many years nothing has been
heard of him); William, a farmer, died in Maries County, Mo.; Andrew Jackson
resides in Texas (he served about a year in the Confederate Army, was captured
and imprisoned at Rock Island for some time, and then joined the Federal Army,
with which he remained until cessation of hostilities; he was also a soldier in
the Mexican War); Preston T., our subject; Jane, who was the wife of Henry
Green, died in Maries County; Nancy A., died in Taney County (she was the wife
of Joseph Birdsong); and Rhoda, wife of James Eddington, of Maries County.
Although
our subject received but very little schooling in his youth, he has ever been a
man of observation, and is considered well informed on all the events of the
day. In 1844 he went along to what is
now Maries County, Mo., first going down the river to New Orleans and then back
to St. Louis. He followed rafting from
Texas County down Big Piney and on the Missouri River to St. Louis, for a
number of years. In 1847 he married
Miss Sarah Ann Elrod, a native of Lawrence County, Ind., born about 1826, the
daughter of Thomas and Mary Jane Elrod, natives, respectively, of North
Carolina and Virginia. Mr. and Mrs.
Elrod were married in Lawrence County, Ind., about 1822, and in 1844 they
removed to Maries County, Mo., where Mr. Elrod died about 1856, and his widow
in 1861. They reared three sons and
seven daughters. To Mr. and Mrs. Moody
twelve children were given: William and Jane (the latter the wife of John L.
Cunningham), are twins; John resides in Ozark County; Col. P., in Christian
County, Mo; Sarah Ann, wife of Amos Bateman, of Taney County; Mary, wife of Daniel
Bateman, also of Taney County; Serilda, wife of Volney Clark, of Taney County;
Isabel, wife of John Clark, of the last mentioned county; Julia Ann, wife of
Isom Case, of Taney County, and the remainder who died in infancy. During the Civil War Mr. Moody served 133
days in the Missouri State Militia, and although on duty all the time, was in
no general engagement, nor was he taken prisoner nor wounded. In 1869 he came to Christian County, bought
his present farm, and has here made his home down to the present. He has 240 acres, 100 acres under
cultivation, and is engaged principally in trading in stock, etc. He is one of the leading farmers of his
section, and is highly esteemed as a citizen.
Socially he is an Odd Fellow of Forsyth Lodge No. 293, and has filled
nearly all the chairs in the order. He
and his wife belong to the Baptist Church.
Activity
and business enterprise is in no direction more lucidly marked in any city than
in the livery business. This calling is
the pulse of a city’s enterprise and vim.
The experience and brain work of capable businessmen are called into
requisition in this line, and a city that is noted for its transient patronage
as well as its busy home life is sure to give good profits to the livery
man. One of the most popular
establishments of this kind is that owned by John O. Morrow, which was
established in Harrison in 1889, and as he has all his life been a great
admirer of that noble animal, the horse, he chose this calling out of true
adaptability for it. He was born in
Christian County, Mo., near Ozark, October 28, 1856, a son of N. B. and N. S.
Morrow, who were among the early pioneers of that section. N. B. Morrow was killed at his home in
Christian County, at about the close of the war by bushwhackers, having been a
successful agriculturist throughout life and a resident of that county from
1832. He was also at one time engaged
in merchandising in Ozark. The maternal
grandfather of the subject of this sketch, Samuel McDonald, was a pioneer of
Christian County, became influential throughout southwest Missouri, and was a
prosperous farmer and stockman. The
early life of John H. Morrow was spent in Ozark and Springfield, and after
attending the public schools of these places he finished his education in Drury
College. At the age of about twenty
years he engaged in farming and shipping stock on his own responsibility,
became well known in the latter industry and was at one time associated in this
business with A. F. Yoachim. Mr. Morrow
continued to follow this calling in Ozark and Christian County until he came to
Harrison, but upon his arrival in this city he purchased a livery stable, which
unfortunately burned down in 1891. In
company with the King brothers he then bought the brick building in which he is
now doing business, but in 1892 purchased their interest and then took G. R.
Speer in as a partner. In 1893 this
gentleman disposed of his interest to R. J. Martin, which connection still
exists. This gentleman keeps only the best
stock of animals, from twenty to thirty head, and all kinds of vehicles for
light and heavy driving, and especially caters to the commercial trade. His horses and rigs are stylish and
attractive, are at all times ready for use, and it is needless to say that his
house is liberally patronized. He is a
member of the A. F. & A. M., Harrison Lodge No. 314, and in politics has
always been a Democrat and an active worker for the success of the party
wherever he has lived. He is in every
sense of the word a self-made man, and by careful attention to his affairs has
met with success financially. He is
considered an excellent judge of horseflesh, is merciful and painstaking with
the animals in his stable, and is one of the very foremost men in his line of
business in the county. He has been to
some extent, a dealer in real estate and owns some valuable property in
Harrison. He was the first man to bring
stock of fine breed to Boone County, and has done much to improve the grade of
stock in this section, being the owner of a fine imported horse and jack. Mr. Morrow was married in Christian County
to Miss E. J. Ball, a daughter of John Ball, an early pioneer of the county,
and their union has resulted in the birth of one child: Daisy. Mrs. Morrow is a member of the Christian
Church.
Return to
Christian County Home Page