History of Daviess County Missouri Collections – Page 18 of 19

Biographical Sketch of Charles F. Witten

Charles F. Witten. This gentleman is a Virginian, and was born June 17, 1840, and lived in that State until the fall of 1850, when he came to Grundy county, this State, and here finished his education in Grand River College. After leaving college he began farming, and continued in that county until the fall of 1859, when he came to this county and remained two years. He then returned to Grundy county and lived there until the fall of 1879, when he came back to Daviess and has never again removed. In 1861, Mr. Witten, like a true child … Read more

Biographical Sketch of Charles E. Orcutt

Charles E. Orcutt was born in Middletown, Rutland county, Vermont, February 15, 1845. His parents were Erasmus and Philena (Edgerton) Orcutt, natives of Vermont. While our subject was yet an infant his parents removed to Allegany county, New York, and after living there two years the family removed to Massachusetts, and there, in the Deerfield Academy, our subject received his education. After leaving school be worked on a farm until twenty years of age, when he immigrated to Missouri and located at the city of Chillicothe, where he clerked for a number of years in a drug and book store. … Read more

Biographical Sketch of Charles E. Hill

Charles E. Hill is a native of Wisconsin, and was born on the 21st of December, 1854. His father, Alonzo Hill, is a native of Vermont, and his mother, Caroline Hill, nee Rhimes, was born in the State of New York. Mr. Hill came to Daviess county and has long made his home in Pattonsburg, and is one who by his uprightness and integrity, perseverance and industry, has won for himself an honorable place among his fellow-citizens, and that, too, almost by his own unaided exertions. He does not court popularity but wins it by honest toil and deserving merit, … Read more

Biographical Sketch of Charles A. Worden

This gentleman was born in the State of Vermont, November 17, 1836, and was there partially educated. At twelve years old he went to Massachusetts, where he completed his education. On leaving school he began learning the carpenter’s and cabinet-maker’s trades, and worked thereat till. 1860, when he commenced making machinery for cotton-mills. In the fall of 1867 he went to Illinois and remained a few months; then, in March 1868, came to Daviess County and engaged in farming, where he has continued to reside up to this writing. Mr. Worden was married, in Gallatin, July 23, I868, to Miss … Read more

Biographical Sketch of Charles A. Corman

Charles A. Corman was born in Manitowoc county, Wisconsin, March 20, 1849. He is the son of Dennis V. and Louisa Reynolds Corman, natives of New York. He was educated at Manitowoc and grew to manhood in his native State. He began life on his own account as a lumberman, and pursued that business during four years. In January, 1874, he came to Missouri and located at Jamesport, where he entered the dry goods and grocery business, which he continued for five years. He then established his present drug and book store, and has ever since done a thriving trade. … Read more

Biographical Sketch of Campbell Milstead

Campbell Milstead is the son of a West Virginia farmer who immigrated to Missouri at an early date, and died in Ray county in, 1872. The mother of our subject was born in North Carolina in 1802. Campbell Milstead is a native of Tennessee, born in the town of Jacksborough, Campbell county, June 22, 1815, where he remained with his parents, farming and attending school, until he reached his eighteenth year; then went to Ray county, Missouri, and engaged in farming for a number of years. In 1863 he came to Daviess county, first purchasing land two miles north of … Read more

Biographical Sketch of Caleb Scott

Caleb Scott is a Kentuckian, and was reared and educated in his native State, the date of his birth being December 12, 1808. He became a farmer on starting in life for himself, and followed that occupation in Kentucky till the fall of 1829. Being then of age, he went to Indiana and there engaged in farming and school-teaching till the fall of 1850, when he went to Sangamon county, Illinois. He remained there till some time in 1855, when he came to Daviess county, of which he has ever since been a citizen. Two years. after his coming he … Read more

Biographical Sketch of C. R. Shaw

Was born in Ray county, Missouri, September 14, 1858; son of W. P. and Julia A. Shaw, nee Waterman. His father was born in Tennessee, and now lives near the famous Sweet Springs in Saline county, Missouri, and is well known in S time and adjoining counties. His mother was a native of the State of New York, and died December 14, 1875. The subject of this sketch left home when fourteen years, of age and began the battle of life alone; lie secured railroad employment, and by his natural ability and up-rightness soon won the esteem of his employers, … Read more

Biographical Sketch of Benjamin Matchett Sr.

Benjamin Matchett was born in Stickney, England, May 24, 1812. He grew up and was educated in his native country, and began life as a railroad contractor, and assisted in building several roads in England. In 1855 he left the country of his birth and came to America, landing in New York. From there he went to Cornwall, Canada West, where he took a contract for laying track on the Grand Trunk Railway. In July, 1856, he went to LaPorte, Indiana, where he began farming, continuing there till the spring of 1868, and then coming to Missouri. He settled in … Read more

Biographical Sketch of Benjamin Matchett Jr.

The subject of this sketch was born in Essex County, England, on the 3d of December, 1840, and continued to reside there till his fourteenth year, when his parents immigrated to America, bringing him with them. They landed in New York, but soon went to Cornwall, Canada. The father took a contract of track-laying on the Grand Trunk Railroad, in Canada, and Benjamin was his time-keeper. From there the latter went to Indiana, where he finished his education in a select school under John Loyd. In August, 1861, he enlisted, for national preservation, in Company C, of the Twenty-ninth Indiana … Read more

Biographical Sketch of Benjamin G. Kimball

Benjamin G. Kimball is a native of the town of Bradford, Essex county, Massachusetts, and was born November 17, 1814. He was educated at the Bradford College, of Bradford, Massachusetts. His father died when he was young, and when fourteen years old he began clerking in a dry goods house in Genesee county, New York; three years later he changed to the boot and shoe business, and was engaged in that business, as clerk, for two years.. Then worked at the shoemaking business for five years. In 1837 he came to Missouri and settled in Ray county, where he was … Read more

Biographical Sketch of Benjamin Franklin Pugh

Benjamin Franklin Pugh was born in Daviess county, Missouri, January 31, 1842. His parents, S. W. and Elizabeth Pugh, came to this county in 1838. Benjamin was reared upon a farm and educated in the common schools. He enlisted in John McNeill’s company in September, 1861, and was with Price’s army four months; then returned home and was one year in the Enrolled State Militia. Mr. Pugh was married, October 11, 1865, to Miss Abigail Mills, who was born April 8, 1843, in this county. By this union they have two children; namely, Miles O., born August 18, 1867; and … Read more

Biographical Sketch of Austin Smith

Was born in Cocke county, Tennessee, February 22, 1830, and is a son of Rev. Benjamin F. Smith, one of the early settlers of this county. When the, subject of our sketch was five years old his parents came to this county. He was reared upon a farm and educated in the common schools of the county. Mr. Smith was united in marriage, May 9, 1853, to Miss Annie Cox, who was born in 1832, and died November 21, 1861, leaving three children, named as follows: Emily E., born January 1, 1855; Benjamin F., born November 17, 1856; and Solomon … Read more

Biographical Sketch of Andrew J. Creason

Andrew J. Creason is a native of Ray County, Missouri. His father, William Creason, was born in Bourbon County, Kentucky, June 6, 1796, and died in Ray County in 1871. His mother was a native of Tennessee. Andrew J. was born January 15, 1848, near the town of Orrick, and his childhood and early youth were passed in his father’s home. He received such advantages for education as were afforded in those days, attending school and working on the farm. When he reached the age of twenty-four he married, February 22, 1872, Miss Mary E. Proctor, daughter of Eldridge and … Read more

Biographical Sketch of Allen Thomas Brown

Allen Thomas Brown was born in Greenbrier county, Virginia, May 22, 1850. When eight years old he came with his parents to Cass county this state, where the family settled and lived till 1863, when they again moved and settled in Daviess county. He therefore received his education partly in Cass and partly in this county. Arriving at an age to ” shift for himself” he began farming for a livelihood and continued the same till 1880, when he moved to Jamesport, where he has since been engaged in the restaurant and confectionery business. In April, 1881, he was elected … Read more

Biographical Sketch of Allen Conner

Was born in Greene county, West Virginia, July 10, 1824. His parents, William and Mary Conner, were both natives of Virginia. Our subject was educated in the common schools of his native county, and when young learned millwright work, which he followed for five years, then learned carpentering and cabinet-making, which he followed until 1851, when he migrated to this county, and now owns a farm of 200 acres, well equipped with necessary implements. Mr. Conner was united in marriage October 9, 1850, to Miss Margaret Warren, the date of whose birth was January 4, 1830. They were blessed with … Read more

Biographical Sketch of Alfred C. Minnick

Was born in Washington County, Virginia, July 24, 1819. His parents, John and Elizabeth McCauley Minnick, were also natives of Virginia. He was reared to manhood upon his father’s farm in his native County, and there received his education. On the 28th of October, 1841, he was united in marriage to Miss Martha Houston, daughter of John Houston, both natives of Virginia. Two children were the fruits of this union; namely, John, and Elizabeth C., now Mrs. W. L. Dryden. Mrs. Minnick died in Washington County, Virginia, October 5, 1845. On the 23d of December, 1846, Mr. Minnick married Miss … Read more

Biographical Sketch of Albert F. McFarland

Albert F. McFarland was born in Platte county, Missouri, near Weston, August 5, 1838, and resided there until he was twenty-three years old, receiving his education in the common schools and at Pleasant Ridge College, of that county. He pursued a course of medical studies at St. Louis, Missouri, during the years 1860, ’61, ’62 and ’63, and began practice in the general army hospital in 1863, where he continued to practice until the close of the war, in 1865. In 1866 he made a trip across the plains to Salt Lake City, Utah, and to Virginia City, Montana, returning … Read more

Biographical Sketch of Abraham Reed

Abraham Reed is a native of Montgomery county, Ohio, born in the city of Dayton, August 29, 1819. He remained in the place of his birth, farming and attending school, until 1847. He was subsequently engaged in farming in the States of Indiana and Illinois during a period of six years, then came to Daviess county and worked at the carpenter’s trade one year. He enlisted in the Thirty-third Missouri Infantry Volunteers in 1862, was in active service and in many noted battles, among which were those of Helena, Sabin Cross Roads, Nashville; was also at Mobile Bay and Selma. … Read more

Biographical Sketch of Aaron B. Whiteaker

Aaron B. Whiteaker was born in Bremer County, Iowa, near the town of Independence, February 24, 1849. His father, Joseph T. Whiteaker, was born in Virginia in 1818, and came to Daviess County in 1876, where he died July 14, 1881. His mother, Eliza Harris Whiteaker, was a native of Ashland County, Ohio. The subject of this sketch spent his early life with his parents in Putnam County, Illinois, working on his father’s farm and attending school. After the removal of the family to Daviess County, he made a permanent home in Sheridan, and gives his time to the cultivation … Read more