History of Daviess County Missouri Collections – Page 15 of 19

Biographical Sketch of H. B. Best

H. B. Best was born in Howard county, Missouri, July 7, 1818; son of Humphrey and Catherine Best, nee Enyart. His father was a native of Maryland, and his mother of North Carolina. In 1816 his parents located in Howard county, Missouri, and afterwards lived in Carroll, Clay and Daviess counties. His father died in Grundy county, January 1, 1849. The subject of our sketch was reared on a farm and received most of his education in Clay county. At the age of eighteen he began working for himself, and March 26, 1845, permanently located in Benton township, and has … Read more

Biographical Sketch of Greenville Blankenship

Greenville, son of John and Agnes Blankenship, was born in Greenupsburgh, Greenup County, Kentucky, June 2, 1817. His mother died when he was about four years old, and his father removed to Lawrence County, Ohio, where he lived until reaching his sixteenth year, when, in company with his father, he returned to his native county in Kentucky and there remained until 1849. In that year he came to Missouri, stopped one winter in Ray County, then came to Daviess County and settled in Benton Township, near old Pattonsburg, in the spring of 1850. He purchased a tract of wild land, … Read more

Biographical Sketch of Gilley N. Trosper

Gilley N. Trosper. This subject is a native of Daviess county, and was born October 16, 1841, and was reared and educated in the same county. On beginning life for himself; he became a farmer, and still follows the same laudable vocation. He owns a good farm of eighty acres, which he has well improved, with a large two-story frame residence, with out-buildings to match; and his entire place is well fenced, and well supplied with water. Though not a large farmer in the sense of working more land than he can thoroughly cultivate, Mr. Trosper is of that thrifty … Read more

Biographical Sketch of Gideon Smith

Gideon Smith is a native of Franklin county, Indiana, born June 29, 1833, and is a son of Jonathan Smith, of this county, whose biography appears in this book. He came to this county in 1840, with his father and family, and was educated in the common or subscription schools of the county. He has been engaged in farming up to the present time, with the exception of twelve years, during which time he worked at making and burning brick. In May, 1864, he enlisted in the Enrolled State Militia, and served his country in that command until the expiration … Read more

Biographical Sketch of George. W. Hill Jr.

Was born in Pocahontas County, West Virginia, March 11, 1843. He is the son of William P. Hill, who married Miss Elizabeth Poage, both natives of Virginia. George W. Hill came with his parents to this County from Virginia in 18.55. He lived on his father’s farm, going to school and helping with the work, until he became of age. On the 26th of August, 1868, Mr. Hill was united in marriage to Miss Ada Leonard, daughter of Michael Leonard, both natives of Greenbrier County, West Virginia. The issue of this union was two children; viz., William L. and Fondie … Read more

Biographical Sketch of George Washington Schaffer

The subject of this sketch, George Washington Schaffer, was born in St. Louis, Missouri, July 4, 1847. His parents removed, during his boyhood, to Galesburg, Illinois, where they resided several years. Returning to St. Louis, Mr. Schaffer engaged in the butcher business, and continued there until the fall of 1868. His next field of operation was Kansas City, where he followed his trade for some time. From Kansas City he went to St. Joseph, where he remained until 1874, and then returned to St. Louis. He lived in St. Louis one year, during which time he had a rib broken while … Read more

Biographical Sketch of George W. Morris

Was born in DeKalb County, Missouri, March 28, 1847. When he was a. year old his parents moved to this County and here George was reared and educated. On reaching manhood he commenced farming and is still so engaged. He owns a farm of 120 acres of well improved land in Liberty Township, on which he and his family reside. Mr. Morris was married, in Livingston County, this State, on September 21st, 1871, to Miss A. E. Lydick. Four children have resulted from this union; named, respectively, Kittie, Alma, Charles and William. Mr. Morris was elected justice of the peace … Read more

Biographical Sketch of George W. Litton

This gentleman was born in Livingston County, this State, on the 16th .day of May, 1842, and was reared and educated in the County of his birth. He commenced life as a farmer in his native County, and continued there until the fall of 1880, when he came to Daviess County locating at Lock .Springs, where he engaged in the dry goods and grocery business. In the following August he took in as partner, Mr. Minnick, the firm now being styled Litton & Minnick. Mr. Litton was married, in Livingston County, May 21, 1865, to Miss Nancy E. Minnick, a … Read more

Biographical Sketch of George W. Griffith

George W. Griffith, a native of Pennsylvania, was born June 12, 1826. He received his education in the State of his birth, and, on leaving school, learned the wagon-maker’s trade, at which he worked for three years. He then took up the trade of mill-wright and worked thereat five years. Next he engaged in the saw-mill business, continuing in that line until 1862, when he began farming. Mr. Griffith moved to Missouri in April, 1866, and located first at Chillicothe, Livingston county, where he remained until the spring of 1867, when he came to this county, and has lived here … Read more

Biographical Sketch of George Tuggle

The subject of this sketch, George Tuggle, is a native of Daviess county, and was born September 19, 1848. He lived with his parents on the farm until he reached his fifteenth year, when the spirit of adventure taking possession of him, he ran away from home and started out to seek his fortune in the wild West Denver, Colorado, was to be his destination, but before reaching the boundary line of that great mineral State, the wagon-train which he accompanied became snow-bound and was forced to abandon the trip. Nothing daunted at this disastrous turn of affairs, George bravely faced … Read more

Biographical Sketch of George R. Forth

George Ransom Forth was born in White County, Virginia, October 14, 1847, and is a son of William and Melinda Forth, nee Mays, both natives of Virginia. When George was about four years of age his parents moved to Grundy County, Missouri, and remained one year, and then started to Arkansas. His father died on the journey there. His mother and family lived in Arkansas about two years and then moved back to Grundy County and lived there until 1862, when they located in Daviess County, and his mother is still a resident of this county. George was educated at … Read more

Biographical Sketch of George P. Allen

George P. Allen was born in Botetourt county, Virginia, July 30, 1821. His parents, William and Caroline Allen, were both natives of the same State. He received his education in the common schools of Virginia, and began the study of civil engineering. He learned the surveyor’s art, and has been engaged principally in that business through life. For the first few years after leaving school he was engaged in the mercantile business in his native State. In 1854 he removed to Missouri and settled in Daviess county, and from 1856 to 1861 held the responsible’ position of county surveyor. In … Read more

Biographical Sketch of George N. Noah

George N. Noah was born in Portage County, Ohio, October 25, 1826. His father was a native of Pennsylvania, and his mother of New York. His parents came to Daviess County in 1836, and located on a farm in Sheridan Township, where George remained until he was twenty years of age. In 1861 he was enrolled in the home guards and served daring the war. Since that time he has been a resident of Daviess County. Mr. Noah was married, January 16, 1848, to Miss Marilla Bacon, a native of Portage County, Ohio, and daughter of Lawton Bacon, formerly of Connecticut. … Read more

Biographical Sketch of George M. Utz

George M. Utz is a native of Boone county, Kentucky, born December 25, 1827; son of -Jonathan and Catherine Utz, nee Yager. They were natives of Virginia, but early settlers in Kentucky; his mother died in 1835, and his father, October 15, 18 6. George M. Utz was reared on a farm and received but a few days schooling at the subscription schools of his native place, and having to go barefooted a distance of four or five miles through the woods and across streams. When about eighteen years of age he enlisted as volunteer for five years, or during … Read more

Biographical Sketch of George K. Nickell

George K. Nickell was born in this county, January 3, 1816. His father, Robert Nickell, was. a native of Virginia, and his mother, Ann Nickell, whose maiden name was Kemp, was born in Maryland. His father died in this county at the age of seventy-six years. Young Nickell was reared upon a farm and educated in the common schools of this county. He has made farming his business,. and has run a threshing machine for eighteen seasons in. this county. In 1861 he went on the plains and engaged in teaming until 1865. Mr. Nickell was united in marriage, April … Read more

Biographical Sketch of George Hutchison M.D.

George Hutchison was born April 11, 1834, in Casey county, Kentucky, and is the son of Judge Thomas Hutchison, a native of Virginia, who is now residing in Livingston county, Missouri. His mother’s maiden name was Polly Ann Tate, and she was a native of Lincoln county, Kentucky. Our subject was seven years old when his parents immigrated to Missouri and settled in Livingston county where he was reared and educated. He began the study of medicine with Dr. J. W. Rose, of that county, in 1861 and after three years of preparatory study entered the Medical College at Keokuk, … Read more

Biographical Sketch of George G. Stewart

George G. Stewart was born June 6, 1856, in Muskingum county, Ohio. His father, a native of Pennsylvania, came to Daviess county in 1866, and engaged in farming near Hamilton, Monroe township, for a period of six years, then purchased the farm on which he now resides. George G. remained with his parents, attending school and farming, until 1880, at which time he was married and settled on a farm eight miles south of Gallatin, where he is largely interested in agricultural pursuits. His marriage occurred October 24, 1880. His wife is a daughter of John Peachy, who was born … Read more

Biographical Sketch of George Brethard Thomas

George Brethard Thomas was born in Hancock, Washington county, Maryland, on the 29th of March, 1842. His father died when the subject of this sketch was twelve years old, and he continued to live with his mother at the old homestead until he reached the age of eighteen, and then migrated to Missouri, arriving in St. Joseph in the spring of 1860. He remained in that city some two months, then came to Gallatin, where he secured employment as clerk in the hotel owned by Thomas Clingan, and remained in that capacity until February, 1861, when he engaged in farming … Read more

Biographical Sketch of G. R. Vickrey

Was born in Greene county, Ohio, March 4, 1847. His parents were also’ natives of Ohio. He was educated in the common schools of Bureau county, Illinois, where his parents moved in 1856, and was reared upon a farm, and has since made farming his business. He enlisted in February, of 1863, in Company I, Sixty-fourth Regiment Illinois Volunteer Infantry for three years, was with Sherman in the Atlanta campaign and on the march to the sea, and was engaged in the battles of Rocky Face, Buzzard Roost, Dalton, Big Shanty, Decatur, Atlanta, Lovejoy’s Station, Jonesborough, Savannah, and many others. … Read more

Biographical Sketch of Franklin Callison

Son of James Callison, a native of Tennessee, was born in Pocahontas, county, Virginia, January 27, 1819. He was reared and educated in his native State and remained with his father on the farm until twenty-four years of age. Mr. Callison moved to Daviess county, in the spring of 1845, and has lived here ever since, engaged, in merchandising and farming. He is one of the most extensive real estate owners in the county. He also deals largely in live-stock. Mr. Callison was married in Huntersville, Virginia, September 6, 1843, to Miss Caroline, daughter of William and Isabella Gibson, natives … Read more