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Clair County MO Homepage
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St. Clair County Missouri Biographies
SECTION B
BABB, M. G.
source: 1883 History
of St. Clair County MO, National Historical Co., pg: 1199
--- M. G. BABB, carpenter, was born in Keokuk County, Iowa, January 2, 1849,
and was the son of James and Mary (Hefling) Babb, natives of Kentucky. M. G.
was reared at his birthplace, and was there educated in the common schools. He
was engaged in farming until 1866, when he came to Macon County, Missouri, and
after following farming one year he worked at carpentering in Grundy County
until 1869. Then he came to Roscoe. In November, 1882 he was elected justice of
the peace. He is a member of the M. E. Church and belongs to the I. O. G. T.
May 6, 1869, Mr. Babb was married to Miss M. Royce. His present wife's maiden
name was Martha Dunkle, whom he married May 2, 1876. They have three children,
Herbert, Rufus E. and Charles.
BARNETT,
William
source: 1883 History
of St. Clair County MO, National Historical Co., pg: 1179
--- WILLIAM BARNETT, farmer and stock raiser, section 26, was born in Lafayette
County, Missouri, May 15, 1828, his parents being Hugh and Mary (Cummins)
Barnett, natives of North Carolina. In 1839 they came to St. Clair County,
Missouri, and settled on section 23, in Butler Township. William here grew to
manhood, receiving the advantages of a common school education. In 1850 he went
to California where he followed mining two years, then returning to St. Clair
County. He owns 240 acres of good land, well improved. In January, 1862, he
enlisted in Company E, Fourth Missouri Infantry, was first lieutenant and
participated in a number of important battles, among which were Pea Ridge, Port
Hudson, and Corinth. At the latter battle he was wounded in the shoulder. In
1872 he was elected one of the judges of the county court and held the office
until 1877. February 10, 1853, Mr. Barnett married Miss Elizabeth Ledbetter, a
native of Tennessee. They have a family of ten children: Lucy, Ira J., William
L., James, Mattie, Cora, Agnes, Bettie, Johnnie and Richard. They have lost one
son, Hugh.
BARR, C. J.
source: 1883 History
of St. Clair County MO, National Historical Co., pg: 1142
--- REV. C. J. BARR, minister and farmer, section 34, was born in Simpson
County, Kentucky, January 8, 1819, being a son of Silas and Sarah (Headelston)
Barr, natives of North Carolina. C. J. grew to manhood on his father's farm,
and was educated in Withe College, Tennessee. He was ordained a minister of the
Cumberland Presbyterian Church in 1845, and then was engaged in preaching and
school teaching in that state until 1856, when he came to St. Clair County,
Missouri. Here he has since been occupied in the ministry and farming. His farm
contains 245 acres, 200 of which are in a high state of cultivation. May 11,
1848, Mr. Barr was married to Miss Martha A. Scobey, of Tennessee. They have two
children, Robert F. and Alice J.
BAUGH, John R.
source: 1883 History
of St. Clair County MO, National Historical Co., pg: 1103
--- JOHN R. BAUGH, dealer in drugs and druggists' sundries, is a native of
Tippecanoe County, Indiana, and was born October 23, 1841. He was reared on a
farm and received his education in the schools of the county of his birth,
being engaged in farming until October, 1866. He then came to Henry County,
Missouri, and embarked in the drug business at Leesville where he remained until
1880, when he removed to Appleton City. In 1882 he again established himself in
the drug business, having at that time built his present large brick business
house. Mr. Baugh was married March 1, 1865, to Miss Eliza J. Campbell, of Ohio.
They have two children: Mary F. and Frederick P. Mr. B. is a member of the
Masonic fraternity. In 1882 he was one of the councilmen of Appleton City.
BAZZILL, George
W.
source: 1883 History
of St. Clair County MO, National Historical Co., pg: 1166
--- GEORGE W. BAZZILL, originally from Delaware County, Indiana, was born
August 3, 1837. His father, Ezekiel Bazzill, was born in 1792 in Virginia, and
in that state learned his trade of boot and shoe making. After following that
occupation some time he married during the summer of 1816, Miss Tamor Massie,
and to them were born eleven children, of whom George W. is the seventh. While
he was a small boy his father removed to Cooper County, Missouri, thence to
Johnson County, and finally to Colorado in 1859. Returning from that state Mr.
B. stopped at Platte City, and until about the year 1865 was engaged in car
building. In 1861 he was married to Miss Iona Buck, who subsequently died,
leaving one child, Mary Iona. His second marriage occurred in 1869 to Miss Mary
M. Nolan, and by this union there are two children now living: Sidney C. and
Tamor E. She also died and Mr. B. was again married in 1880, the maiden name of
his third wife being Malinda L. Duegan. They have one child, Lexey May. He is
the owner of 160 acres of excellent land in section 5, and also a farm of
eighty acres on section 6, of this township. His residence is situated on an
elevation commanding an extensive view of the surrounding country. Mr. Brazzill
is a member of Long Ridge Church.
BEACH, William
C.
source: 1883 History
of St. Clair County MO, National Historical Co., pg: 1127
--- WILLIAM C. BEACH, section 5, was born in Ashland County, Ohio, November 8,
1827, his parents being Daniel and Lorana Beach nee Sackett, both natives of
Connecticut. The former, born in 1785, was a soldier in the war of 1812, and
his father was killed in the Revolutionary war, eight balls having been shot
through him. Daniel Beach died May 21, 1862. William C., the youngest of a
family of seven children, grew to manhood in his native county on a farm,
receiving a good common school education, supplemented with two years'
attendance at the Ashland Academy. After finishing his studies he engaged in
farming. In 1852 he went to California and spent two years in the gold mines,
and upon returning worked the home farm in connection with his brother. Before
settling in Missouri in 1869 he traveled extensively in Iowa, Illinois,
Wisconsin and Texas, but believing that Missouri had advantages over those
states for farming and stock raising, he located where he now resides. Mr.
Beach owns about 800 acres of land, all under fence and mostly with good hedge
of which he has over twelve miles, and the farm is all in cultivation and
pasture. He was married in Ashland County, Ohio, December 15, 1868, to Miss
Marietta Long, a native of Pennsylvania, but reared and educated in Ohio, and a
daughter of Abram P. Long. They have a family of four children: Emma C., Daniel
B., Maud L. and Ettie L.
BELL, William
E.
source: 1883 History
of St. Clair County MO, National Historical Co., pg: 1076
--- WILLIAM E. BELL, M. D., was born in Polk County, Missouri, in 1847, and is
the son of Robert H. Bell, M. D., a native of Lexington, Kentucky, born in
1819. He studied medicine in Lexington, and graduated at the Transylvania
college in that city. Coming to Missouri, he settled in Polk County, practicing
there and in Benton County for fifteen years, and then removed to Pettis
County, where he is now a prominent physician. William's mother was formerly
Sarah M. Ferguson, a Kentuckian by birth. He was the oldest of five children.
While young, he fitted himself for the practice of medicine, studying with his
father as percepter. He received a good academic education, and after a
thorough preparation he practiced in Polk County two years, and for two years
in Benton and Hickory Counties. He attended two full courses of lectures at the
medical college in St. Louis, where he was graduated in 1879. In September,
1880, he came to Osceola, where he secured a good practice. He is making the
diseases of women and children a specialty, and when not otherwise engaged, his
time is taken up in the investigation of diseases, and keeping up with the new
complications and their remedies. Few men of his age have made a more enviable
reputation than Dr. Bell.
BISHOP, Thomas
V.
source: 1883 History
of St. Clair County MO, National Historical Co., pg: 1211
--- THOMAS V. BISHOP, farmer, section 35, the son of James and Rachael (Van
Winkle) Bishop, natives of New Jersey, was born in Crawford County,
Pennsylvania, March 28, 1820. He was reared on his farm in his native county,
and in 1850 he moved to Mercer County, Illinois, and in 1868 came to St. Clair
County, Missouri. He has followed farming during life, and now has a farm of
eighty-four acres. January 25, 1844, Mr. Bishop was married to Miss Elizabeth
A. Gallop, of New York. They have had eleven children, eight of whom are
living: Mary M., Martha A., Ruby S., Martin H., Julia L., James R., Elizabeth
A. and Lee J. Mr. and Mrs. B. are members of the Christian Church.
BOLLINGER,
Henry G.
source: 1883 History
of St. Clair County MO, National Historical Co., pg: 1151
--- HENRY G. BOLLINGER was born March 26, 1836, in Camden County, Missouri, and
was the son of Henry and Lucy J. Bollinger, nee Evans, the former a native of
North Carolina, born in 1788, and the latter born May 2, 1800, in East
Tennessee. They were married in 1821 and were the parents of eight children,
all now deceased except Henry and Julia A., born February 16, 1839, wife of
James B. Slavens, of Camden County, Missouri. In 1830, the family leaving
Tennessee, moved to Camden County, Missouri, Mr. B. remaining there until his
death, April 7, 1845, his widow dying October 3, 1861. Henry G. Bollinger
married Miss Mary E. Eccleston, of the same county as himself, and to them were
born eleven children, six of whom are living: Lucy J., born April 30, 1864;
William A., born January 15, 1867; Julia M., born October 3, 1871; Mary A.,
born February 19, 1880; John Grant and Eleanor V., twins, born March 28, 1883.
In March, 1880, Mr. Bollinger settled in this township and purchased 144 acres
of land on section 6, having come from Camden County, where he had held the
office of sheriff and collector for four years. He was also county judge there
for a term of four years. During the war he held a commission as captain. He is
very unassuming in his manner, but is a most successful farmer. Politically, he
is a Republican. Himself and wife are members of the Baptist Church, Wright's
Creek.
BOOTH, Robert L.
source: 1883 History
of St. Clair County MO, National Historical Co., pg: 1103
--- ROBERT L. BOOTH, of the firm of Sutmiller & Co., dealers in hardware,
etc., was born in Ann Arbor, Michigan, December 13, 1847. When nine years of
age he removed with his family to Green County, Wisconsin, where he was brought
up and educated. When eighteen years of age he began working at the tinners'
trade at Monroe, Wisconsin, and was so occupied till August, 1869, when he went
to Ottawa, Kansas. Three months later he located in Decatur, Illinois, and
after remaining there six weeks he came to Appleton City and entered the employ
of Luchinger & Streiff, with whom he continued till 1875. Then he became a
partner in the firm of Butler & Booth, hardware dealers, this relation
existing till October, 1876, when, with his present partner, he engaged in the
hardware trade at Schell City, Missouri, in April, 1877. They carried on
business there until removing their stock to Appleton City in 1880. Mr. Booth
was married September 1, 1872, to Miss Maria J. Belt, of Missouri. They have
one child, Henley C. He is a member of the I. O. O. F. and A. O. U. W.
fraternities. He also belongs to the Christian Church.
BOOTS, Martin
S.
source: 1883 History
of St. Clair County MO, National Historical Co., pg: 1128
--- MARTIN S. BOOTS, section 24, a substantial farmer and stock feeder of this
county was born in Randolph County, Indiana, January 31, 1841, being the son of
Martin and Susanna (Shoemaker) Boots, both natives of Virginia. The former, a
blacksmith by trade, removed to Missouri in 1853, and located in St. Clair
County. Martin S. spent his youth on a farm in the county, and in the spring of
1861 he enlisted in the Confederate service under General Rice, and served six
months in the mounted infantry, when he was discharged. He re-enlisted in July,
1862, in the Union army, in Company H., Thirty-ninth Iowa Infantry, and served
till discharged in the spring of 1865. He was taken prisoner at Corinth,. July
7, 1863, and held as such for eight months and exchanged. While in the
Confederate service he participated in the fights of Carthage, Springfield and
Lexington, Missouri, and others. After the close of the war he returned to
Iowa, where he spent one season, and in the fall of 1865, he again came to St.
Clair County, where he has since been engaged in farming and the raising and
feeding of stock. He has 729 acres of land mostly fenced, divided into three
farms, upon which are three residences. He handles about 140 head of cattle
annually, and the past season fed five carloads of cattle and one of hogs. He
is one of the most successful citizens in this vicinity. Mr. Boots was married
in the winter of 1861, to Miss Sarah Ann Lewellen, a daughter of Felix
Lewellen. She is a native of Indiana, but was reared and educated in St. Clair
County. They have a family of six children: Mary, Julia, Margaret, Marion F.,
Ollie and Samuel. Mr. and Mrs. Boots are members of the M. E. Church, South.
BOTHWELL, S. H.
source: 1883 History
of St. Clair County MO, National Historical Co., pg: 1211
--- S. H. BOTHWELL, stock dealer, section 22, is a native of Vinton County,
Ohio, and was born on October 29, 1854, his parents being A. W. and Julia E.
(Potter) Bothwell, the former of Ohio and the latter originally from Pennsylvania.
When S. H. was ten years of age the family removed to Clay County, Illinois,
where he grew to manhood. He received the advantages of the common schools of
Illinois, after which he attended the normal school of Lebanon, Ohio. Mr.
Bothwell has ever followed farming and dealing in stock during life. In the
spring of 1880 he came to St. Clair County, Missouri. He is a member of the I.
O. O. F. fraternity. He was married February 27, 1878, to Miss Bell West, of
Clay County, Illinois. She was born June 22, 1857, her father, Joseph West,
having been born in Pennsylvania. Her mother, formerly Mary Cameron, was also a
native of Pennsylvania. They have one child, Jessie.
BOWLES, Ralph
C.
source: 1883 History
of St. Clair County MO, National Historical Co., pg: 1199
--- RALPH C. BOWLES, county surveyor, was born April 30, 1827, in the southern
part of Maine. His father, John C. Bowles, was born January 1, 1800, and
received an academic education. He early united with the Baptist Church and
about the year 1820 commenced preaching. His ministerial duties calling him
into New York state, he there met Miss Phoebe Wilson, to whom he was married
September 4, 1825. She was a daughter of Captain Wilson, of revolutionary fame,
a well known man who died at the Battle of Bridgewater, while in defense of his
country. During the next year Mr. Bowles was actively engaged in preaching the
gospel and in the following spring his son, Ralph, was born. It was the
father's wish that his boy should become a minister and with that end in view
Ralph was placed first in the public schools and later in Springdale Academy,
and having during the meantime gone to Michigan, he entered the State
University at Ann Arbor. Tiring of so close application he left that
institution, but subsequently again became a student therein, this time for the
purpose of qualifying himself for a civil engineer and land survevor. By great
perseverance and hard study he made rapid progress, graduating in June, 1847,
first in his class though but a little over twenty years old. He soon entered
the employ of the government as a surveyor, and under this engagement visited
Green Bay, Forts Sullivan and Mankato, and other points on the Upper
Mississippi. He continued this calling until the year 1859 then locating in
this county. In 1860 Mr. B. was married to Mrs. Elizabeth Brashears, widow of
Waymack Brashears, and daughter of Gilbert Deer. To them have been born five
children: John C., Anna F., Jessie A., Ervin T. and R. E. During the war Mr.
Bowles enlisted in the Eighth Regiment, Missouri Volunteers, Colonel McClurg
commanding, and was soon transferred to the position of topographical engineer.
In 1872 he was nominated by his party and elected to the position of county
surveyor. Politically he is a Democrat. He resides on section 18.
BRAMNAN, Samuel
source: 1883 History
of St. Clair County MO, National Historical Co., pg: 1143
--- SAMUEL BRAMNAN, blacksmith at Chalk Level, was born in Tennessee July 25,
1850, his parents being Samuel and Phebe (Killian) Bramnan, natives of
Tennessee. When our subject was an infant the family moved to Arkansas, where
he grew to manhood, receiving his education in the common schools. He worked in
his father's blacksmith shop until the death of the senior Bramnan, which
occurred in 1852. Since that time Samuel has followed his trade in Arkansas,
Texas, Iowa and Missouri. In 1878 he moved to Chalk Level, where he now has a
good shop and is doing a fair business. Mr. B. was married December 29, 1879,
to Miss Hannah White, of Illinois. They have two children, Claud Lee and
Sterling.
BRANSON,
Francis M.
source: 1883 History
of St. Clair County MO, National Historical Co., pg: 1196
--- FRANCIS M. BRANSON, farmer, was born in 1844, and was the eldest of a
family of nine children born to John and Julia Ann (Davenport) Branson. Francis
M. was married in 1863 to Miss Nancy Hughes. They had six children: John,
George W., Francis M., Martin, Anna, Julia Ann and William A. In 1877 Mr. B.
was married a second time to Miss Lizzie Woody. They have one child, Sidney
Margaret. He first came to St. Clair County, Missouri, in 1867, but has also
been leading rather an unsettled life, having lived in Arkansas, Tennessee and
Kentucky during this time.
BROWN, George
P.
source: 1883 History
of St. Clair County MO, National Historical Co., pg: 1200
--- GEORGE P. BROWN, farmer and stock dealer and proprietor of Hoffman's Ferry,
was born in Carroll County, Maryland, January 3, 1854. His parents were Lewis
H. and Susan (Hudson) Brown, natives of Maryland. George was the youngest of a
family of six children. In 1868 he came to Missouri, but the next year returned
to Maryland, where he was employed in a commission house for two years and in
the grocery business for one year. In 1872 he came to St. Clair County, Missouri.
In March of the same year he went to Dallas, Texas, where he was interested in
the queensware business one year. He was then employed as bookkeeper in a
wholesale drug house for four years. In 1877 he returned to St. Clair County,
Missouri, and in March of 1878 embarked in general merchandising at Roscoe. In
January, 1879, he sold out and commenced dealing in stock. In June, 1881, he
became proprietor of Hoffman's Ferry, one of the best on the river. He owns a
farm of ninety-two acres, well improved. Mr. Brown is a member of the Masonic
fraternity. January 18, 1882, he was married to Miss Lucy M. Baker, a native of
St. Clair County, Missouri. They have one child, an infant.
BROWN, George
W.
source: 1883 History
of St. Clair County MO, National Historical Co., pg: 1152
--- GEORGE W. BROWN was born April 21, 1853, in Jackson Township, St. Clair
County, Missouri. His father, Benjamin Brown, a farmer by occupation, was born
July 31, 1819, in Kentucky, and was married in 1847 to Miss Margaret Borland.
They had ten children: George W.; John W., born December 16, 1854; Susan J.
born December 11, 1856; Mary B. and Minerva (twins) born May 12, 1860, the
latter died May 25, 1860; Myra, born July 29, 1862, died February 1, 1873;
Benjamin, born May 20, 1866; James and Samuel (twins), born February 8, 1870;
and Parker, born November 11, 1871. Mr. Benjamin Brown, Sr., died January 7,
1872, and his widow departed this life February 7, 1873. The subject of this
sketch was married January 13, 1876, to Miss Margaret A. Green. By this union
there are two children, a son and a daughter: Wilson, born April 20, 1877; and
Florence, born December 27, 1879. Mr. Brown now owns 106 acres of excellent
farming land, constituting a portion of his father's estate. He resides upon section
13. In his political preferences he is Democratic. Both himself and wife are
identified with the Mt. Zion M. E. Church, South.
BROWN, Paris
source: 1883 History
of St. Clair County MO, National Historical Co., pg: 1076
--- PARIS BROWN, farmer and stock raiser, section 27, was born in Washington
County, Kentucky, August 12, 1838, and was the son of Wesley Brown, of
Kentucky, who died in 1846. His mother, Elizabeth (Peters) Brown, with her
family came to Washington County, Missouri, in 1848, and was there married to
Thomas Calvird, who died in 1868, his widow dying in 1879. Of the first family
of six children Paris was the third. By the second marriage there were five
children. Paris was reared principally in this county, and with the habits of
industry instilled in his youth he has been successful in securing a valuable
farm of 480 acres, and he is recognized as one of St. Clair County's prominent
farmers. Mr. Brown married Mary Jane Peebly July 11, 1855. She died June 10,
1862, leaving one child, James H. He afterward married Mary Ann Wilkerson. She
died in 1868, and left one child, Mary Ida. Mr. B. married Mrs. Lucinda, widow
of John Flemming, in 1870. They have five children: Wesley, Mary Ann, Silas H.,
and Charles and William, (twins). Politically he is a Republican. He belongs to
the M. E. Church, South.
BROWNING, W. G.
source: 1883 History
of St. Clair County MO, National Historical Co., pg: 1179
--- W. G. BROWNING, druggist at Lowry City, was born in St. Clair County,
Missouri, April 3, 1851, and is a son of C. G. and Susan (Barnett) Browning,
the former a native of Tennessee and the latter of Missouri. They were among
the early pioneers of this county. W. G. has been reared and educated in the
county of his birth, making farming his occupation till 1876, when he began in
the drug business at Appleton City. There he continued that business till 1878,
when he located in Lowry City. He is a member of the Masonic fraternity.
February 22, 1876, Mr. Browning married Sarah E. McCrary, a native of Indiana.
She died July 28, 1880. He was again married November 12, 1882, to Miss Flora
King, of Illinois.
BURCH, B. F.
source: 1883 History
of St. Clair County MO, National Historical Co., pg: 1206
--- B. F. BURCH, farmer and stock dealer, section 4, is a native of Hardy
County, Virginia, and was born July 4, 1833. His parents were Robert N. and
Rebecca (Swisher) Burch, Virginians by birth. In 1842 this family moved to St.
Clair County, Missouri, where B. F. has since resided. He has made farming and
dealing in stock his occupation during life, and now owns a landed estate of
over 1,000 acres. His home farm contains a fine orchard and is well improved.
In 1850 he went to California, where he was engaged in mining till the spring
of 1855. In August, 1856, Mr. Burch was married to Miss Martha A. Metcalf,
originally from Virginia. They have eleven children: Emma, Lucy J., Missouri
A., John T., James O., Mary E., Francis, Edna, Frances M. and Eddie.
BURCH, Oliver
H. P.
source: 1883 History
of St. Clair County MO, National Historical Co., pg: 1206
--- OLIVER H. P. BURCH, farmer and stock raiser, section 19, was born in St.
Clair County, Missouri, December 17, 1839, and has made this his home during
life. In 1861 he enlisted in the Confederate service in which he remained till
the close of the war. March 10, 1869, Mr. B. was married to Miss Adeline
McLain, a native of Tennessee. They have four children: Charles A., John P.
Austin D., and Robert H.
BURCH, Thomas
source: 1883 History
of St. Clair County MO, National Historical Co., pg: 1200
--- THOMAS BURCH, of the firm of Metcalf and Burch, merchants, is a native of
St. Clair County, Missouri, and was born January 13, 1861, being a son of
Benjamin Burch, an old settler of this county, mention of whom is found
elsewhere in this work. Thomas was reared on his father's farm and received his
education from the schools of this county. In 1882 he became engaged in
business with his present partner at Roscoe.
BURNS, John
source: 1883 History
of St. Clair County MO, National Historical Co., pg: 1103
--- JOHN BURNS, section 17, originally from Scotland, was born December 25,
1826. His father, James Burns, was a native of Banfshire, Scotland, and was a
descendant of the family from which Robert Burns, the poet came. John's mother,
formerly Isabella McKinzie, was also born in Scotland. They reared a family of
ten children, of whom he was the youngest. James Burns died in 1833, and his
widow's death occurred in 1834. John was thus left an orphan when in his ninth
year. When but sixteen years of age he enlisted in the English army, and served
three years and four months, during which time he was over a large portion of
England, Ireland and his native country. After his service in the English army
he returned to Scotland, and was engaged in tunnel minning till 1849, when he
emigrated to America and located in DuPage County, Illinois, farming there till
November, 1869. He then came to St. Clair County, Missouri, and settled on his
present place which includes 214 acres of improved land. Mr. Burns was married
December 7, 1848, to Miss Margaret Nesbit, also a native of Scotland. They have
seven children: James, Robert, Jennie, William, Thomas, Carrie and Daisy. Three
are deceased: Mary, Isabelle, and an infant. They are members of the Presbyterian
Church.
BUSKIRK, Abram
source: 1883 History
of St. Clair County MO, National Historical Co., pg: 1104
--- ABRAM BUSKIRK. Few men in this county are as prominently known in
connection with the stock business and farming interests of this vicinity as
the subject of this sketch. he is a native of Tompkins County, New York, and
was born November 9, 1841. His parents, George and Anna (Brondyke) Buskirk,
came originally from Allegheny County, Pennsylvania. The father died in 1849
and his mother died in 1811. Abram, left an orphan at the age of ten years, was
subsequently reared in the family of Moses Barker of that county, till fifteen
years old, when he went to Kendall County, Illinois, there working at farming
for two years. In 1858 he took a trip to California, reaching that state in
January, 1869, and was occupied in mining and logging till July, 1877. In
November, 1877, he came to Henry County, Missouri, and in December, following,
settled in St. Clair County on his present place. His landed estate consists of
1,000 acres of land, 220 of which are the home place and upon it he has one of
the finest brick residences in the county. March 7, 1878, Mr. Buskirk was
united in marriage with Miss Flora Moore, a native of New York. They have five
children. Anna, Etta, Nellie, Ethel and Frank.
BUTCHER, Joseph
P.
source: 1883 History
of St. Clair County MO, National Historical Co., pg: 1171
--- JOSEPH P. BUTCHER, a prominent member of the Greenback party in St. Clair
County and an influential citizen of this township, was born in Murray County,
Tennessee, May 16, 1823. His father, Isaac Butcher, who was born in 1784 in
Loudoun County, Virginia, embraced the faith of Alexander Campbell and became a
minister in the Christian. Church. In 1806 he married Miss Rebecca Renfro,
daughter of Peter Renfro, well known in the early history of Kentucky. To them
were born thirteen children, of whom Joseph P. was the tenth in number. He
remained in his native state until six years old, when (1829) he went to
Illinois, making it his home until 1869. At that time he came to this county.
While residing in Illinois he took a prospecting tour to California in 1851,
and returned with most satisfactory success in one year. In 1853 Mr. Butcher
was married to Miss Emeline Wood, of Macoupin County, Illinois, a daughter of
Abraham Wood and granddaughter of Edman Wood. They have had seven children:
Mary E., A. W., Clara E., Francis L., Charles F., (who died August 25, 1863)
Cora B. and Francis H. These children are well educated and possess a natural
fondness for study. Mr. B. is a powerful advocate of the Greenback doctrine and
a most agreeable conversationalist, while his hospitality is exceeded by few.
He has repeatedly been offered the position of judge and twice has been asked
to represent his county in the state legislature. His early education was
obtained through his own efforts at night by the light of the tallow candle,
and he afterwards fitted himself for entrance into the medical fraternity and
studied medicine. This he discontinued and engaged in farming and stock
raising. Mr. B. owns 280 acres of land in Coon Creek Valley, upon which he has
a fine residence.