Biography of Jebez Ham

Jabez Ham, brother of John, was born in Madison Co., Ky., in 1797, and came to Missouri in 1817. He had no education, was of a roving disposition, and did nothing for several years but hunt and fish. His mind was naturally bright, and if he had been educated he would have made a remarkable man. Rev. Aley Snethen and Lewis Jones taught him the alphabet and learned him to read, and in 1824 he began to preach, having united with the Old or Hard Shell Baptist Church. In 1826 he organized a church of that denomination on Loutre Creek, … Read more

Biographical Sketch of John B. Williams

John B. Williams was the son of Cordey and Mary Williams, was born upon a farm in Callaway county, Missouri, August 11, 1844. When he was two years old his parents removed to Montgomery county and settled on a farm near Danville, where he lived until seven years of age. In the spring of 1853 his parents again changed their place of residence, this time moving to Gentry county, near Albany, where he lived until he reached his seventeenth year, when, in 1861, he enlisted in the Union army, joining Colonel Manlove Cranor’s regiment of six months militia. At the … Read more

Steers, Sadie – Obituary

Elgin, Union County, Oregon Funeral Services for Sadie Steers to be Saturday Funeral services for Mrs. Sadie Steers will be held Saturday, July 5, at 2 PM, at the Elgin Church of the Nazarene. Mrs. Steers died Tuesday at a La Grande hospital at the age of 89. She had been in failing health for a number of years, but was able to care for her personal needs very well up until she was taken to the hospital June 18. Interment will be in the Summerville cemetery. Rev. Volney Johnson will be in charge of services at the church here, … Read more

A History of the Pioneer Families of Missouri

Map of Early Missouri Settlements

A History of the Pioneer Families of Missouri was written by William Bryan in 1876. William along with his associate, Robert Rose, traversed by horse across five counties in the state of Missouri interviewing families for the information found in this manuscript. As such, readers should not use this as the Gospel for these early Missouri families. Research is warranted to validate what the families claimed, as they were often in error, merely detailing the information passed down to them. Even William acknowledged such in his preface to the book. The five counties included were: Audrain, Callaway, Montgomery, St. Charles … Read more

Biographical Sketch of William Hudnall

William Hudnall, of England, married Fannie McGeorge, of Ireland, and their children were John, Thomas, William, and Richard. The latter was a soldier of the revolutionary war. He married a Miss Cresey, and they had a son, Jack, who settled in Missouri in 1835. William was married twice. By his first wife he had Polly, Catharine, Lucy, and Elizabeth. He was married the second time to a widow, whose maiden name was Nancy Williams, and by her he had Jabez, Samuel, Patsey, Nancy, Parthena, Susannah, and William R. Catharine and Lucy married and settled in Howard Co., Mo. Samuel (now … Read more

Biographical Sketch of George Godfrey

George Godfrey lived at Ritford, England. His son Peter married Dorothea Learey, of England, by whom he had Thomas, John, Edward, George, Charles, and Mary. Thomas came to America and settled in Canada. John went to California, and died on his return to England. Edward lives in Mercer County, Pa. George married Mary Ostick, of England, and settled in Pittsburg, Pa., in 1830, in St. Louis in 1836, and in Montgomery County, where Jonesburg now stands, in 1838. His children are Mary A., George, Edward, William O., John W., Henry M., and James A. Mary A. married Rev. George Smith, … Read more

Biography of Owen M. Thomas

Owen M. Thomas. The Citizens State Bank of Bronson, of which Owen M. Thomas is vice president, is an institution which had grown rapidly and prospered since it was established less than ten years ago, and its success is largely due to the character of the men entrusted with its executive management. Mr. Thomas had been actively identified with banking for ten years, both in Oklahoma and in Kansas. Though a young man, his career had apparently been one of rapid accomplishment, and he had achieved as much in ten years as many men do in their entire active life. … 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

Biography of Hon. William M. Duffy

Hon. William M. Duffy, attorney at law in Checotah and now serving his first term as justice of the peace, was born in Callaway County, Missouri, on the 21st of August, 1866, a son of Mathew and Caroline (Ellis) Duffy. The father was born in Ireland and came to America when a young man, locating in Missouri, where he engaged in farming. He followed agricultural pursuits the remainder of his life and died in 1874, one of the prominent and representative citizens of the community in which he resided. Mrs. Duffy was born in Missouri and her death occurred in … Read more

Biography of William Henry Robinson, M. D.

William Henry Robinson, M. D. The value of an individual life is often expressed not so much through its positive services of a routine nature, but in its attitude toward those ideals and things which are still objects to be realized in that particular community. Such had been the distinctive role played by Dr. W. H. Robinson at Eudora, in addition to the splendid work he had performed through his profession. Doctor Robinson first came to Kansas in 1872, when a young man, and had spent most of his active career in this state. He was born at one of … Read more

Biography of William Leslie Porter

A public office is only an opportunity for rendering real service to the public. Whether that opportunity is utilized depends upon the man. Several years ago the people of Topeka elected William Leslie Porter commissioner of parks and public properties. When he entered office he was new to the duties, and he was practically without political experience. But he had exhibited other qualities far more important that political experience. He had a well defined ambition to do everything he could for the community welfare through the opportunity afforded by his office. Mr. Porter also had a reputation of having a … Read more

Biography of Stephen Ham

Stephen Ham lived and died in Madison Co., Ky. He was the father of John, Jabez, and Stephen Ham, Jr. John was born in Kentucky in 1786, and came to Missouri in 1809, and settled in St. Charles County. He joined Nathan Boone’s company of rangers, and served during the Indian war. In 1816 he and Jonathan Crow built a bark tent on Auxvasse creek, now in Callaway County, and lived in it for some time, while they were engaged in hunting. They were, therefore, probably the first American settlers within the limits of Callaway County. Ham cut his name … Read more

Young, J.D. – Obituary

J.D. Young, 26, of Apache Flats, Mo., a former Baker County resident, died May 30, 2001, in Callaway County, Mo., as a result of a motor vehicle accident. His funeral was Sunday at the Dulle-Trimble Funeral Home at Jefferson City, Mo. Burial was in Hawthorn Memorial Gardens. Mr. Young was born on Sept. 8, 1974, at Las Vegas, Nev., to Jack Doil Young and Waynese Marie Moore Weston of Fulton. He attended elementary school at Halfway and at Brooklyn and South Baker schools in Baker City. He was a 1993 graduate of South Callaway High School in Missouri and worked … Read more

Biography of Peter VanBibber

Peter and Isaac VanBibber, of Holland, came to America and settled in Botetourt Co., Va., previous to the revolution. Peter married Marguety Bounds, and they had Peter, Jr., Jesse, Jacob, James, Joseph, Matthias, Nancy, Sophronia, Ellen, and Olive. James married Jane Irvine, and settled in St. Charles County in 1803. He was Coroner at the time William Hays was killed by his son-in-law, James Davis. In 1817 he removed to Callaway County, and settled on the Auxvasse. His children were Joseph, Irvine, Frances. Lucinda, Melissa, Daniel and Minerva. Joseph was a surveyor and made the government surveys in range eight, … Read more

Biography of Hon. John G. Slate

Hon. John G. Slate, of Jefferson City, who since 1912 has served on the bench of the circuit court of Missouri, his record reflecting credit and honor upon the judicial history of the state, was born January 26, 1860, in Cole county, about eight miles west of Jefferson City, his parents being Robert T. and Isabella D. (Jones) Slate, the former a native of Tennessee, while the latter was born in Kentucky. The father was a farmer, who in antebellum days owned a large number of slaves, having a plantation on the river. He also conducted a wood yard and … Read more

Biography of Irving H. Boemer, M.D.

Dr. Irving H. Boemer, a St. Louis physician, with offices 1n the Metropolitan building, was born in St. Clair county, Illinois, September 13, 1889. His father, Henry Boemer, was also born in St. Clair county, while the paternal grandfather was a native of Germany. Henry Boemer is now living retired and makes his home in St. Louis. In early manhood he wedded Katherine Merod, who was born in St. Clair county and is a representative of an old French family. The marriage of Mr. and Mrs. Henry Boemer was celebrated in 1887 and they became the parents of two eons … Read more

Biographical Sketch of Nathaniel Maughs

Nathaniel Maughs was of Loudon County, Va. His children were David, William, John, Moses, Elijah, Stephen, Vinson, Mary, Sally, and Eli. Mr. Maughs removed from Virginia to Fleming County, Ky., and his children all came with him. David and William were Baptist preachers, and the former settled in Lincoln County, Mo. Elijah married .Mary Smith, by whom he had-Mordecai M., Milton M., Sophronia F., Lucinda S., Elijah C., Daniel M., and Mary S. V. Mr. Maughs died, and his widow married his brother Stephen, who settled in Montgomery County, Mo., in 1822. They had Jerry S. D. S., and George … Read more

Biographical Sketch of Benjamin Young

Aaron Young was married in 1804, to Theodosia Winn, of Fayette Co., Ky., and came to Missouri and settled near Marthasville in 1819. His children were James, Martha, Elizabeth, Leonard, and Mary. Mr. Young served as County Judge for several terms, and finally moved to St. Louis County, where he died. Benjamin Young was born in Fayette Co., Ky., in 1791. He married Mary Maaro, and came to Warren County in 1819. He settled at Marthasville, and opened a store, being the first merchant of the place. In 1820 he removed to Callaway County and settled in Ham’s Prairie, at … Read more

Biographical Sketch of Mrs. Wm. A. Worsham

(See Adair) Mabel Maud Hogan born April 15, 1890, educated at Pryor and William Woods Colge, Fulton, Missouri. She married October 9, 1909 William A. Worsham. They are the parents of Mary Margaret, born April 1, 1911 and Gay Nell Worsham born July 20, 1913.

Cowles, Maudetta – Obituary

At Centerville, Washington, June 7, 1899, at the residence of her aunt, Mrs. Smith, Miss Maudetta Cowles of this place. Miss Cowles was born in Auxvasse, Callaway Co. Missouri, on March 21, 1877, and was twenty-two years, two months and nineteen days of age at the time of her death. She was the daughter of N.P. and Sarah Cowles. Her mother died when Maudetta was at the tender age of ten years and shortly afterwards she came to Oregon and made her home with her uncles and aunts Mr. and Mrs. E.P. McDaniel and Mr. and Mrs. John Smith. For … Read more