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 Nathan K. Farmer

Nathan K. Farmer, who for twenty-nine years has occupied a beautiful home at Muskogee, has since 1883 resided in this section of the country, his attention being most successfully given to agricultural pursuits and stock raising. He was born in Callaway County, Missouri, July 22, 1848, and is a son of Jessie and Nancy (Reid) Farmer. The father, a native of Virginia, came to Missouri in his boyhood days and the mother was a native of the latter state, in which both were reared and married. They continued residents of Missouri until called to their final rest and were highly … Read more

Biography of Richard M. Duncan

RICHARD M. DUNCAN. – A representative man of Union county, and an agriculturist who has wrought for the general advancement and interest of the county since his residence here, which dates back to a very early pioneer period, the subject of this sketch is richly deserving a place in this volume that purports to accord a review to the leading men of this section. In Callaway, county, Missouri, Richard M. was born to Frederick and Elizabeth (Gibson) Duncan, on August 25, 1859. In 1864 the parents gathered their substance together and essayed the long journey across the wild plains to … Read more

Biography of Benjamin H. Charles

Benjamin H. Charles, who enjoys the reputation of being one of the leading municipal bond lawyers in the United States and who in the practice of his profession is accorded an extensive clientage in St. Louis, where he makes his home, was born at Chester, Illinois, April 26, 1866, his parents being Benjamin H. and Achsah Susan (Holmes) Charles. The father was a Presbyterian minister of note who led a very active life. He was a man of positive character and high ideals and at different periods acceptably served as pastor of churches in Kentucky, Illinois and Missouri. He was … 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

Biographical Sketch of Peter Nunnelly

Peter Nunnelly was a “bound boy” to a horse doctor and jockey, and was with Lord Cornwallis’ army at Yorktown, when it was captured. After the war he settled in America, and was married twice; first to Elizabeth Smart, by whom he had Peter, Jr., Absalom, Benjamin, Gillum, Buckner, Littleberry, James, Ephraim, Mildred, Martha, and Judith. Ephraim married Elizabeth Williams, and his son Ephraim married Eveline Scholl, and lives in Callaway County. His children were James, Anderson, Daniel, John, Lucy, Mary H., Elizabeth, Sarah L., and Susan A. James is a bachelor, and lives in Montgomery County. Anderson married Violet … Read more

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

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

Biography of Ignatius Walthall Powell, M. D.

Dr. Ignatius Walthall Powell, representative of the medical profession in St. Louis, was born in New Bloomfield, Callaway county, Missouri, August 12, 1880. The ancestry of the Powell family can be traced back a number of generations in America and representatives of the family served in the Revolutionary war. One of the greatgrandmothers of Dr. Powell was Mary Washington, a first cousin of the immortal George Washington. His father, James Powell, wits a servedn educator and farmer of Callaway county, Missouri, and also as justice of the peace there. He was born in Halifax, Virginia, was a soldier of the … 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

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 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

Biographical Sketch of Jacob Harry

Jacob Harry, farmer and stock; P. O. Humbolt; the subject of this sketch was born in Preble Co., Ohio, Jan. 14, 1816; he married Miss Susannah Tobey, Aug. 1, 1839; she was born in Washington Co., Md., Dec. 15, 1819. They had eleven children, nine living, viz., Jefferson, Madison and Amanda, Hiram, Nathaniel, Franklin, Clinton, Stephen A. D. and Nelson. He lived in Ohio until 1855; he was raised on the farm and also learned the brickmason’s trade; he then went west, visited Kansas and finally settled in Callaway Co., Mo., near Jefferson City, where he engaged in farming, remaining … 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

Biographical Sketch of Samuel Gill

Samuel Gill, whose father lived in Maryland, settled in Virginia, where he was married twice, one of his wives being a Miss Kidwell. His sons, James and Presley, came to Missouri in 1831. The former settled in Callaway County, and married Matilda Darnes, by whom he had eight children. Presley settled in Montgomery County, and lives at New Florence. He learned the trade of a gunsmith, and is also a doctor.

Biographical Sketch of Presley Anderson

Presley Anderson and his wife, Elizabeth Steele, settled in Montgomery Co., Ky., in 1779. Their children were John A. S., James, William, Presley, Jr., Lucy, and Eliza. John A. S., better known as Captain Jack, was a remarkable man in his day, and is well remembered by the old citizens of Montgomery and Callaway counties. We give his history elsewhere. Presley, Jr., married Euphemia Jones, of Tennessee, and settled first in Warren Co., Mo., in 1814, from whence he removed to Montgomery County in 1817, and settled near Brush creek. He brought his family to Missouri on pack-horses, and they … 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.

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

Biography of A. O. Harrison

A. O. Harrison, a member of an old and honored family that has figured prominently on the pages of American history, is a leading representative of the Bartlesville bar and is now capably filling the office of city attorney. A native of Missouri, he was born in Callaway County, September 25, 1871, his parents being Jilson Payne and Catherine (Bernard) Harrison, the former a native of Kentucky, while the latter was born in Virginia. In the paternal line the ancestry is traced back to General William Henry Harrison, known as “Tippecanoe,” who won fame in the Indian wars of 1812. … Read more

Biographical Sketch of Col. John Smith

Col. John Smith, of the revolutionary war, lived in Franklin County, Virginia, here he married Frances Burk by whom he had William, Stephen, John, Wyatt, Henry, Susan, Mary, and Frances William married Elizabeth Ferguson, of Virginia, by whom he had Samuel, Thomas, Stephen, William H., Mary, Frances, Susan, Martha, Elizabeth, Sarah P., and Julia. Mary married Keincol C. Gilbert, who settled in Callaway County. Frances married Colonel Peter Booth of Kentucky: Susan married Colonel F. A. Hancock, who settled in Alabama. Martha married Thomas J. Holland, who settled in Montgomery County in 1832. He represented the County in the State … Read more