Daviess County MO

Biography of Elisha Frost

Elisha Frost, the subject of this sketch was born in Grayson county, Virginia, December 26, 1812, and was there reared and received his education. His parents were natives of the same State, and both died there. On the 14th of Au- gust, 1841, Mr. Frost and Miss Elizabeth Brown were joined in marriage, the Rev. William Carico, of the Methodist Church, performing the ceremony. By this union they have nine children; namely, James H., born February 5, 1843; George H., born November 12, 1844; John W., born October 30, 1846; Nancy E., born June 5, 1848; William C., born September … Read more

Biographical Sketch of E. H. Cole

E. H. Cole was born in Lorain county, Ohio, December 18, 1829. His father, Joseph Cole, was a native of New York, and his mother was born in Pennsylvania; Leonard Cole, his grandfather, was a, native of New Jersey, and was a soldier of the Revolutionary War, also in the War of 1812, and died in Ohio -at the good old age of 105 years. Mr. Cole was reared upon a farm, and bas ever since made that his principal business. In September, 1852, he left Ohio mid settled in Cedar county, Iowa, where he lived until March, 1874, when … Read more

Biographical Sketch of John Terry

John Terry was born in this county March 10, 1850. His parents moved to Grundy county when he was five years old, and there John was reared and educated. He began life as a farmer and has been engaged in farming and stock-dealing ever since. In the fall of 1874, he went to Texas and there engaged in stock-raising, remaining till the fall of 1878, when he returned to Missouri and settled in Daviess county, where he has ever since resided. He owns a good farm of 160 acres in Lincoln township which he has especially adapted to stock-raising and … Read more

Biographical Sketch of Miles Bristow

Miles Bristow was born in Jackson County, Indiana, June 2, 1836. His father was a native of Kentucky. His parents moved to Gallatin, Daviess County, Missouri, when he was about three years of age, where he remained until the death of his father in 1851. During the next three years he spent the greater part of his time with his brother on a farm, and in a tannery at Gallatin; then purchased land in Sheridan township, and for over four years was engaged in farming and teaching. In 1862 he was enrolled in Company E, Fifty-first Regiment Missouri Infantry, and … Read more

Biographical Sketch of Charles W. Brown

Charles W. Brown. Among the enterprising young men who have left good homes and friends and came to Missouri, and located in Daviess county, appears the name of Charles W. Keown, of Salem, the subject of this sketch. He was born in the town of Marine, Madison county, Illinois, September 30, 1861. He is the son of Emsley and Anna M. Keown. Mr. Keown attended the public schools of his native town until he was far enough advanced in his studies to enter college, then entered the Eureka College, at Eureka, Illinois, and remained one term, then went to Blackburn … Read more

Biography of Hamlet Wynn

Was born in Tazewell county, Virginia, November 25, 1838. He lived with his parents, William P. and Margaret H. Wynn, in his native county until his twentieth year, when he accompanied them to Missouri. They arrived in the spring of 1858 and settled on a tract of wild land in Grand River township, two miles northeast of where the town of Jameson now stands, where the subject of this sketch still lives, and his mother, with him, his father having died in 1875. His father being afflicted with the palsy, young Wynn began to work for himself when about nine … Read more

Biographical Sketch of A. J. Kemberling

A. J. Kemberling is a native of Union county, Pennsylvania, and is the son of A. J. and. Catherine Kemberling, both of whom were natives of the same county. He was born March 24, 1828, and remained with his parents until he attained his twenty-first year; being engaged in farming and attending school. In 1849, he went to Seneca county, Ohio, where he spent twelve years on a farm. From that place he removed to St. Joseph county, Michigan, and at the end of nine years came to Daviess county and purchased a farm in Colfax township where he resided … Read more

Biographical Sketch of James L. Chapman

James L. Chapman is a native of West Virginia, born near Manchester, Hancock County, in the widely quoted “Pan-handle district,” March 23, 1818, and there he was reared, educated, and lived until the 5th of April, 1854. In that year he migrated to the “land of the Hawkeye,” settling in Jefferson county, but remained in that county only till the following fall, then removed to Wayne county, Iowa, and there continued to live and engage in farming until 1864, when he made his home in Missouri, locating in Harrison county. Six years he pursued farming avocations in that county, then … 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

Biography of William C. Martin

William C. Martin was born in Licking County, Ohio, September 26, 1843, and is a son of Serrephus and Elizabeth Martin, nee Rose. His father was a native of New York State and his mother of Pennsylvania; she died in the State of Ohio when lie was about twelve years of age, but his father is still a resident of Fredonia, Licking County, Ohio. William was educated in Licking County, Ohio, and at the age of seventeen his youthful patriotism induced him to enlist as a member of Company H, Twenty-third Ohio Volunteer Infantry, but being so young his father … Read more

Biographical Sketch of John W. Wood

John W. Wood is the son of John B. Wood, a native of Kentucky, and one of the early pioneer ministers, of the Methodist denomination, who came to Daviess county and endured the hardships incident to western life during the Mormon War: The subject of this sketch was born in Ray county, Missouri, February 10, 1833. He was brought, in his infancy, to Daviess county, by his parents, where his father died when he was but three years old. Until he reached the age of eighteen he attended school and worked on a farm, then left school, farmed for three … Read more

Biography of William Middleton Givens

William Middleton Givens, son of John S. and Margaret S. Givens, was born near Booneville, Cooper county, Missouri, December 23, 1827. He was reared upon a farm amid the wholesome influences of country life and industry, and educated in the early private schools of his native county, supplemented by an attendance at F. T. Kemper’s High School, of Booneville. At the the age of seventeen he began teaching school, and continued to follow this profession at intervals until he graduated as a physician. In January, 1854, he entered upon the study of medicine under Dr. H. C. Gibson, of Booneville, … Read more

Biographical Sketch of Dr. R. H. Robertson

R. H. Robertson was born in Augusta county, Virginia, September 15, 1819. His parents were also natives of Virginia. He was educated at the University of Virginia, located in Albemarle county, and received his medical education at the Richmond Medical College, of Richmond, Virginia, under Professors John Cullin, R. E. Bohannon, and Dr. Chamberlain. He began the practice of his profession in his native county in 1842, and removed to this county in 1857, began practice, and has continued ever since. In 1861 he went to Texas, returning in 1869. Dr. Robertson was married, August 22, 1839, to Miss Elizabeth … Read more

Biographical Sketch of Dr. F. E. Venable

F. E. Venable is a native of Prince Edward county, Virginia, born May 12, 1829; son of Samuel and Elizabeth Venable, nee Wright, both; natives of Virginia. When our subject was three years of age his parents moved to Missouri and located in Chariton county, where they lived for three years, and from there went to Livingston county, which was their home for six years, when they removed to Gallatin, this county. At an early age in life his father studied medicine but never practiced till he located in Livingston county; prior to that time he labored as a minister … Read more

Biography of Isaiah H. Jones

Isaiah H. Jones was born in Hardin county, Ohio, July 27, 1837. His parents were Jonathan and Eleanor (Pugh) Jones. His father was a prominent farmer and stock-raiser, and a native of Maryland. His mother was born in Virginia. Our subject was reared and educated in his native county, and began his business career as a clerk in a dry goods store at Mt. Victory, Ohio. After two years in that business he went to Rule, Nebraska, where he remained during eight months. From there he went to Grundy county, Missouri, where he engaged in school teaching for a time, … Read more

Biography of Samuel P. Cox

Samuel P. Cox was born in Williamsburg, Whitley county, Kentucky, December 16, 1828. In 1839 his parents, Levi and Cynthia Cox, removed to Missouri and located in the eastern part of Daviess county, now known as Jackson township, and the subject of this sketch lived at home and worked upon the farm until 1847. In the spring of that year he enlisted in company D, Captain W. H. Rogers, Oregon Battalion, Lieutenant-Colonel Powell, commanding, for the war with Mexico. He served until November, 1848, when he received his honorable discharge at Fort Leavenworth, Kansas. Returning to the old homestead he … Read more

Biography of W. T. Stovall

Is a native of Green county, Kentucky, and was born October 2, 1843. His father was a native of Virginia and his mother of Kentucky; they both died when W. T. was but a small child and he has no remembrance of either of them. He was reared by his grandfather, John Scott, near Greensborough, Kentucky, and was educated in the common schools of that State. When but fourteen years old he was employed as clerk in the drug house of J. G. Brown, of Nashville, Tennessee, where he remained until the beginning of the late war. In 1861 he … Read more

Biography of George C. Diestilhorst

George C. Diestilhorst was born in Poile, Hanover, Germany, April 18, 1813, and was there reared to manhood. He received his education in the Lutheran school, of his native place, and his father being a harness-maker by trade, on leaving school he also learned that trade and worked with his father up to the time he was twenty-three years of age, when he emigrated to America, arriving in New York City, May 1, 1836. He was successful in securing a situation in the government harness manufactory in that city, and remained six months, then went on a prospecting tour, seeking … 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

Biographical Sketch of Moses Brown, Jr.

Moses Brown, Jr., was born near New Castle, Henry County, Indiana, June 22, 1831, where he lived eight years, when his parents, Joshua and Sarah S. Brown, removed to Missouri and settled on a farm about six miles northeast of Gallatin. Upon this farm both his parents died, his mother in 1856, and his father in 1871. When sixteen years of age, in 1847, he purchased a tract of land and began farming for himself; improving the wild land and erecting a house in which he lived until 1852. In that year he removed to Harrison County, where he entered … Read more