History of Daviess County Missouri Collections – Page 6 of 19

Biographical Sketch of William P. Fisher

The subject of this sketch was born in Ripley, Brown County, Ohio, September 9, 1827. He remained at the place of his birth until thirteen years of age, when he accompanied his father, who-removed to Shelby County, Indiana. There lie finished his schooling, and, in the spring of 1851 came to Daviess County, where he has since made his home. He located in Liberty Township, within one and one-fourth miles of Gallatin, where he has a splendid farm of some 260 acres. His residence is pleasantly situated and, taken altogether, it is one of the best homesteads in Daviess County. … Read more

Biographical Sketch of William P. Erwin

Was born in Wayne county, Indiana, October 30, 1829. His parents, John and Elizabeth Platt Erwin, were natives of Delaware and of Scotch-English descent. They moved to Indiana in 1828. Young Erwin was brought up on a farm and received his education at the excellent schools in the neighborhood where he lived and received a good English education. In August, 1851, he married Miss Eliza Cabberly, a native of Cincinnati, Ohio, born in 1827. After marriage he was engaged in farming in Indiana till 1879, then moved to Missouri and located in Daviess county. Here he owns a fine farm … Read more

Biographical Sketch of William P. Dunnington

William P. Dunnington. This gentleman is a native of Maryland, born July 21, 1816. At nine years of age he moved with his parents to Virginia, where he grew up and received a good common school education. In the fall of 1835 Mr. Dunnington moved to Ohio, but only remained one year when he moved to Illinois, where he remained a year engaged in farming. He came to Daviess county, this State, in, the spring of 1838, and settled in Harrison township, where he has ever since resided engaged in farming. Mr. Dunnington was married, in this county, September 16, … Read more

Biographical Sketch of William Neal

William Neal is a native of Darke County, Ohio, born December 5, 1817. He is the son of Caleb and Anna Miller Neal; his father being a native of Tennessee and his mother of Indiana. The early life of Mr. Neal was spent on the farm and in acquiring such education as was afforded in those times. He remained in his native town until he attained his twenty-first year when he commenced farming in Darke County, but after a few years labor removed to Adams County, Indiana, and engaged in stock-dealing and speculation for several years, when he returned to … Read more

Biographical Sketch of William Lewis

William Lewis, the subject of this sketch, was born near Manchester, in Clay county, Kentucky, May 18, 1820. His father, Samuel Lewis, was a native of that State, also his mother, and both passed their lives in their native State. Mr. Lewis lived thirty-seven years in Kentucky and in 1857 came to Daviess county, and first located in Union township near Gallatin, where he remained a few years, engaged in farming. He then sold this farm and purchased land in Monroe township which he improved and cultivated until recently, when he purchased the farm on which he now resides. December … Read more

Biographical Sketch of William J. Gillilan

William J. Gillilan was born in Daviess county on the 6th day of May, 1849, and is a son of Samuel and Elizabeth (Jordin) Gillilan, natives of Pocahontas county, Virginia. They came to this State in 1839, and to Daviess county the year following. Our subject received his education and grew to manhood in his native county, and began business for himself at the age of eighteen years as a blacksmith at Jamesport and continued that business about eight years, then entered mercantile business in company with George W. Miller, in 1877, under the firm name of Miller & Gillilan, which … Read more

Biographical Sketch of William Harden

William Harden. The subject of this sketch was born in Coshocton county, Ohio, November 18, 1831. His parents moved to Indianapolis, Indiana, when he was four years old, and there William was partly educated. When he was fifteen years old, they again moved, this time to Westfield, Indiana, where he completed his education. Farming was the occupation chosen by William as a life-calling, and he engaged in that honorable and independent vocation, soon after leaving school, and continued it several years in Indiana. He went to Lucas county, Iowa, from Indiana, and remained there till the fall of 1854, when … Read more

Biographical Sketch of William H. Hartman

Is a native of Pennsylvania, born October 3, 1824. In the spring of 1844 he went to Chicago, Illinois, where he remained until the spring of 1854. He then went to California, where he engaged in teaming, continuing until 1863, when he went to the city of San Francisco, and was there employed in trucking for the Pacific Distillery Company. In 1868 he returned to Chicago and remained until the following year, when he went to Jackson County, Missouri, and lived at Kansas City until the spring of 1870. From there he came to this County and has resided here … Read more

Biographical Sketch of William H. Crews

William H. Crews was born in Livingston county, this State, October 28, 1819, and there grew up and was educated. On attaining the proper age to begin life for himself, he began farming in his native county, and continued there until the spring of 1872, when he came to Daviess county, and has ever since resided here, engaged in farming. Mr. Crews owns a farm of eighty acres in Lincoln township, which he has well improved with a good house and barn, and all modern improvements to correspond. He is a careful farmer and cultivates his place to the best … Read more

Biographical Sketch of William G. Stewart

William G. Stewart is a native of Alleghany county, Pennsylvania, born September 14, 1820, near the city of Pittsburgh. His parents were both natives of Pennsylvania. Mr. Stewart was engaged in farming in his native State until 1850, at which time he purchased land in Muskingum county, Ohio, where he remained fifteen years, raising stock and farming. He came to Daviess county in 1866, and settled in Monroe township. Since that time he has been a resident of the county, and has been largely interested in raising stock and in improving and developing his land. He now owns a fine … Read more

Biographical Sketch of William G. Callison

Was born in Daviess county, Missouri, August 8, 1846, and is the son of Franklin Callison, whose biography appears elsewhere. Our subject was educated chiefly in his native county, finishing his scholastic training with a two years’ course at the excellent academy at Gallatin. After leaving school he engaged, with his father, in merchandising at Jamesport until 1878, when he was admitted to the bar and began the practice of the legal profession in the courts of this and adjoining counties. This business he has since con-tinned with good success. In addition to his professional business Mr. Callison gives personal … Read more

Biographical Sketch of William Elgin

William Elgin is a native of Ohio, born in Wayne County, May 28, 1827. When he was four years of age his parents moved to Montgomery County, Ohio, and until he reached his twentieth year he attended school in that County, and also learned the cabinet-maker’s trade and spent some tine in farming. In 1849 he went to Dayton, Ohio, and from thence to Logansport, Indiana, working at his trade in both cities. At the end of two years he returned to Montgomery County and turned his attention to farming. After this he removed to Warren County, and enlisted, in … Read more

Biographical Sketch of William E. Smith

Was born in Marion township, Daviess County, Missouri, November 7, 1858. His father, Samuel Smith, was a native of Switzerland County, Indiana, born June 30, 1835; he came to Missouri in 1857 and located in Daviess County, where he was extensively engaged in farming and shipping stock. While engaged in this business, May 28, 1880, he met his death in a sad manner. While on his way to Chicago with cattle, and just as he had left Bureau Junction, Illinois, he was walking on top of the cars to the caboose, and by some means fell off and was instantly … Read more

Biographical Sketch of William E. Brennon

This gentleman was born in Virginia, July 24, 1827. When he was ten years old his parents moved to Ohio and lived three years, and then came to Caldwell County, Missouri. There William grew up and resided till the fall of 1847, when he came to this County and has lived here ever since engaged in farming. He owns a fine farm of 280 acres in Liberty Township, 240 of which are under fence. His farm is well watered with four living wells, and is suitably improved in every way. Mr. Brennon was married, in Caldwell County, June 10, 1847, … Read more

Biographical Sketch of William B. Smith

Was born in Howard County, Missouri, November 21, 1829. His father, Asa Smith, and his mother, Frankie Maupin Smith, are both natives of Kentucky. When about ten years of age our subject left Howard County for Daviess County. From that time his life was spent in Platte County, Saline County and Pay County. In 1866 lie returned to Daviess County, where he has since resided. January 28, 1866, he married Miss Mary A. Davis, daughter of James A. Davis, of Livingston County. The issue of this union is six children; viz., Francis P., James A., Emma K., Mary V., William … Read more

Biographical Sketch of William B. Johnson

A native of Virginian, was born in Pendleton County, that State, September 28, 1816. His parents, James and Mary Ann Johnson, were both natives of “Ole Virginy,” and both died there, the former in the year 1845, and the latter in the year 1856. William B., when twenty-one years of age, left the old homestead and journeyed toward the setting sun, and reaching Missouri in 1838, settled in Boone County, where he lived one year. In the spring of 1839 he removed to Daviess County, which was almost a howling wilderness then, and has here resided ever since. He now … Read more

Biographical Sketch of Wilburn K. Nation

Wilburn K. Nation was born near Lexington, Kentucky, July 1, 1817. His father was a native of South Carolina. When he was a child his parents moved to Claiborne county, Tennessee, and in 1833 to Callaway county, Missouri, and in 1835 to this county. He participated in driving out the Mormons from this county, and was at the battle of Honn’s Mill, in Caldwell county. Mr. Nation was united in marriage, November 8, 1841, to Miss Nancy Tarwater, who was born September 23, 1818, and is the daughter of John Tarwater, who was the third white man that settled in … Read more

Biographical Sketch of Wesley Thurlow

Wesley Thurlow was born in Morgan (now Noble) county, Ohio, June 10, 1822. His father was Silas Thurlow, of Newbury, Massachusetts. His mother’s maiden name was Susannah Swett, and she was a native of New Hampshire. Mr. Thurlow was reared in his native State and pursued the occupation of tailoring until about fifty years of age, and was then engaged in the hotel business at Olive, Ohio. He immigrated to Missouri, and has since engaged at various times and places in farming, merchandising and hotel-keeping. He came to Jamesport in April, 1880, and has conducted the Sherman House since that … Read more

Biographical Sketch of W. T. Miller

W. T. Miller was born in Hawkins county, Tennessee, December 4, 1828. His parents Obadiah and Susan A. Miller, were early settlers of Missouri; his mother died May 5, 1876, and his father, May 25, 1878. When twenty-one years of age he began by renting a small piece of land, was industrious and saving, and in 1853 was able to buy forty acres of raw land. He has kept steadily increasing his possessions until he now owns over four hundred acres of highly improved land. On June 23d, 1853, he was married to Miss Charity W. Nance, a native of … Read more

Biographical Sketch of W. H. Deskin

W. H. Deskin is a native of Pike county, Kentucky, born June 5, 1854. His parents, W. H. and Louisa Deskin, nee Atkins, were natives of Kentucky and are now both dead. January 26, 1863, his father was commissioned lieutenant of cavalry to rank from October 4, 1862, by Governor John Letcher of Virginia; served till the close of the war, and participated in many memorable battles; was taken prisoner at Alexandria and while in prison contracted a disease that ended in his death, August 8, 1866. His wife, the mother of the subject of our sketch, only survived him … Read more