Daviess County MO

Biography of Benton Miller

The subject of this sketch was born in Sardis, Monroe county, Ohio, December 26, 1838. He lived in his birthplace until he was sixteen years of age, when his parents moved to Missouri and settled in what is now Colfax township, Daviess county, in 1855. In 1861 he enlisted and served six months in the home guards, and in February, 1862, enlisted in Company A, First Missouri Cavalry Militia, in which he served during the war. In April, 1863, he was promoted from orderly sergeant to first lieutenaut, and for the last eighteen months he was in the service, had … Read more

Biography of William Earl

William Earl was born in Monroe county, New York, April 13, 1816. His parents, John and Frances Earl, were natives of New Jersey. They located near Rochester, New York, and Mr. Earl engaged in the mercantile business. When young Earl was five years of age his father died and four years later his mother also died. At this early age he started to earn his own living. He first worked near Buffalo, New York, next in different parts of Ohio; and after making a little money attended school at Carthage and by hard study acquired a fair education in the … Read more

Biographical Sketch of Joseph Speaker

Was born in Columbiana county, Ohio, March 14, 1824. He was reared upon the farm, and divided his time between farm work and his attendance upon the common schools of the county. In 1851 he came to Daviess county as an agent for some heirs to settle up an estate; was in the real estate and collection business for several years. In 1861 he began farming, and has since given his attention to agricultural pursuits and stock-raising. Mr. Speaker was united in marriage, on the 14th of March, 1861, to Miss Martha J. Haven. The date of her birth was … 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 Thomas J. Wood

Thomas J. Wood was born in Fountain county, Indiana, March 15, 1836. His parents were natives of Scott county, Kentucky, but migrated to Indiana, and from thence to Caldwell county, Missouri, when he was about three years of age, and soon moved to Daviess county. Mr. Wood has resided in this county since 1839. He was enrolled in the State Militia in 1862, and served two. years as one of the home guards. Since that time he has been engaged in farming and now lives on a well improved farm near Winston. Mr. Wood was married, January 1, 1869, to … Read more

Biographical Sketch of John H. Jones

John H. Jones is a native of Halifax county, Virginia, born near the city of Danville, April 15, 1848. His father was born in Campbell county, Virginia, and his mother in Pittsylvania county, the same State. Until he reached the age ‘ of nineteen he was with his parents in his native county, farming and attending school, and also in learning the trade which he followed after his removal to Kentucky in 1867. From this State he went to New Orleans, where he was engaged as signal master on a boat, going from thence to St. Louis, and then to … 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

Biography of Gabriel W. Cox

Gabriel, son of Samuel P. and Mary Cox, was born in Gallatin, July 13; 1852, and there grew to manhood. He received his primary education in the common schools of Gallatin, and completed it with a course at the Christian University, of Canton, Missouri, and in 1870 and 1871, at the Gem City Commercial College, of Quincy, Illinois. Returning to Gallatin be was employed, by Gilliam & Simpson as a clerk, and continued in their employ until 1874, when he became the successor of Mr. Simpson, and a short time after sold his interest to Mr. Gilham. Leaving Gallatin he … Read more

Biography of Andrew L. Buzzard

Andrew L. Buzzard was born in Greenbrier county, West Virginia, December 10, 1836. His parents were also natives of that State. His mother’s maiden name was Elizabeth Kincaid and her ancestry were of Irish extraction. In 1852, at the age of fourteen, our subject immigrated, with his parents, to Daviess county, Missouri, and in 1857 began business on his own account as a farmer and stock-dealer which business he still conducts on an extended scale, in addition to his banking operations. Mr. Buzzard entered the Farmer’s Bank January 1, 1877, as cashier in which capacity he continued until 1880 when … Read more

Biography of Ebenezer West

Ebenezer West was born near Parkersburg, in Montgomery county, Indiana, February 9, 1829. He lived in his native county until he reached the age of eight years, when his parents removed to Boone county, same State, and settled near Lebanon, where he lived with them until attaining his majority. On the 28th of November, 1850, he was united in marriage to Miss Julia Ann Robinson, and began farming upon a farm he had previously purchased, in Boone county, and there continued to live until 1853, when he sold his farm and removed to Lebanon. There he was employed for two … 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

Biography of Jasper N. Bailey

Jasper N. Bailey was born in Carter county, Kentucky, June 8, 1838; a son of Jesse and Margaret Bailey, nee Webb. His father, by profession, was a teacher, and died in the year 1848; and his mother died December 16, 1876. When he was two years of age his parents left Kentucky and came to Lawrence county, Ohio. After being there six years they came to Daviess county, Missouri. When about seventeen years of age he left home to see the world for him-self and went to New Mexico and remained one year, then returned to Missouri and remained till … Read more

Biographical Sketch of John L. Gooding

John L. Gooding. This gentleman was born in St. Clair county, Illinois, July 21, 1839. His parents moved with him to Adams county when he was three years old, and there be grew up and acquired his education. He started in life as a farmer, and. has ever since been engaged in the same calling. In November, 1868, he came to Missouri and located in Lincoln township this county, where he has ever since resided, engaged in farming and stock-dealing. He has a well improved and well adapted farm of 162 acres of good land, on which he has a … Read more

Biography of William Henry Folmsbee

William Henry Folmsbee was born in Cincinnati, Ohio, June 22, 1831. His parents were Isaac and Deborah Folmsbee; his father, who was major in the United States regular army, died when the subject of this sketch had reached the age of seven years, and his mother followed him to the grave “some two years later. Thus thrown upon the world at this early age to provide for himself, he found a kind friend in the person of Dr. William Ensign, who gave him a home, reared and educated him. He attended the common and higher schools of Cincinnati, and while … 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 Irwin Bacon

Irwin Bacon is a native of Portage County, Ohio, and was born January 19, 1843. His father was a native of Connecticut, and his mother, of Ohio. His parents came to Daviess County in 1848, when he was five years of age, and settled on a farm, where he remained until 1861, when he enlisted in Company G, Thirty-third Regiment Enrolled Missouri State Militia, and was on duty at intervals during the war and participated in several noted engagements. At the close of the war he returned to his home and engaged in farming until 1870, and has been a … Read more

Biographical Sketch of John W. Sawyer

John W. Sawyer is a native of Daviess county. His parents migrated from Tennessee to this county in 1847. John W. was born December 9, 1851, near Gallatin, and passed his early years with his parents on the farm. At the age of twenty-two he commenced farming for himself, but still made his home with his parents. In 1876 he purchased land in the northern part of Monroe township, where he remained three years, and then moved to the farm he now occupies, which is finely cultivated and well situated for farming. Mr. Sawyer was married, March 12, 1876, to … Read more

Biographical Sketch of Lawrence T. Dale

Lawrence T. Dale, the subject of this sketch was born in London, England, January 27, 1840. His parents emigrated to this country when he was about five years old, and settled in Livingston county, New York, and there the son was reared and educated. When sixteen years old, in the fall of 1856, he went to Jasper county, Iowa, and remained till the spring of 1857, and then went to Michigan, where he remained a little over a year. In the fall of 1858 he went to Jefferson county, Mississippi, and engaged in the wood-contracting business. He went to Minnesota … 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 George M. Utz

George M. Utz is a native of Boone county, Kentucky, born December 25, 1827; son of -Jonathan and Catherine Utz, nee Yager. They were natives of Virginia, but early settlers in Kentucky; his mother died in 1835, and his father, October 15, 18 6. George M. Utz was reared on a farm and received but a few days schooling at the subscription schools of his native place, and having to go barefooted a distance of four or five miles through the woods and across streams. When about eighteen years of age he enlisted as volunteer for five years, or during … Read more