Daviess County MO

Biographical Sketch of John H. Searcy

John H. Searcy is a native of Illinois, and was born November 9, 1844. He was partly educated in his native State and completed his education in Daviess county, this State, to which his parents moved when he was about twelve years old. On arriving at an age to transact his own business, Mr. Searcy began farming and stock-raising, and is still so engaged at this writing. He owns a farm of 181 acres of land in Jefferson township, which he has well improved, having one of the finest residences in the township. He is a man of large experience … Read more

Biographical Sketch of John McDougall

Is a native of Scotland and was born in Isla, April 17, 1824. He was reared and educated in the land of his birth, and began farming for a livelihood after leaving school. In the summer of 1847 he gave up farming to take a position in the custom-house office under the United Kingdom. Mr. McDougall served in that capacity till 1853, when he resigned his position and decided ‘to better his fortunes in the land on the sunset side of the Atlantic. Accordingly, he sailed for America and landed in due time in the city of New York. From … Read more

Biographical Sketch of Fisher Rice Bennett

Fisher Rice Bennett was born in Green county, Kentucky, April 30, 1813, and received his education in the county of his birth. He was reared a farmer, but for some time after starting out for himself followed flat-boating on the Mississippi. He came to Daviess county in 1842, where he has ever since been engaged in farming and stock dealing. He owns a fine farm of 160 acres in Harrison township, on which he has good improvements. Mr. Bennett was married, in this county, in April, 1844, to Miss Sophia A. Trosper, and they had two children, both of whom … Read more

Biographical Sketch of Sanford Smith

Is a native of Daviess county, was born August 17, 1850, and is a son of Rev. Benjamin F. Smith, one of the early settlers of this county, who came here in 1835. The subject of our sketch was reared upon a farm, and received his education in the common schools of this county. He has given his attention to agriculture, and is one of the successful farmers of the county. Mr. Smith was united in marriage, November 16, 1876, to Miss Carrie Netherton, who was born October 16, 1856, in this county. She died September 7,-1879. Mr. Smith married, … Read more

Biographical Sketch of A. M. Covington

This gentleman was born in North Carolina, March 17, 1807. His parents moved to Tennessee when lie was but six months old, and resided there two years. From there they moved to Christian County, Kentucky, and still later, moved to Hopkins County, where our subject grew to manhood. He began farming there, and continued till 1811, when he came to Daviess County, and entered the land on which he now resides, the place being located in Liberty township, and containing 250 acres of splendid land, which he long ago improved into a good and comfortable home. At the time of … Read more

Biographical Sketch of H. T. Stapp

Was born in Buchanan County, Missouri, July 24, 1845. His parents, Dauphin L. and Mary Stapp, nee Tompkins, were natives of Kentucky, and early settlers in Missouri. His father died February 24, 1877, and his mother died August 11, 1881. After our subject was five years of age his parents came to this county and here he was reared and educated. He was married, January 14, 1868, to Miss Susan F. Wilson, who was born in Indiana, August 10, 1848. Her father died July 28, 1879; her mother, Mrs. Frances Wilson, is still alive and makes her home with this … Read more

Biographical Sketch of Theodore Peniston

Was born in Jessamine County, Kentucky, May 6, 1812. His father, Robert P. Peniston, was one of the first settlers of Daviess County. His mother’s maiden name was Miss Nancy Nuttall. Our subject was principally reared on a farm, and educated in Kentucky. In 1831, he came with his parents to Daviess County, Missouri, and settled where the old town of Millport formerly stood. It was in this town that Robert P. Peniston operated one of the first mills in the County. February 17, 1848, Theodore Peniston was married to Miss Susan Witdams, daughter of George Williams, both natives of … Read more

Biography of James W. Miller

Was born near Staunton, Augusta county, Virginia, May 14, 1823, where he lived with his parents, George M. and Margaret A. Miller, until his fourteenth year. He received a common school education, having attended the early subscription schools of his native county. Leaving home in 1836, he went to Lexington, Rockbridge county, Virginia, where he was employed as a clerk in the store of Moore & McCue, remaining with them until 1840, when he was employed in the same capacity by Samuel B. Finley, of the same place. From Lexington he went to Charlottesville, Virginia, in 1842, and accepted a … Read more

Biographical Sketch of M. B. McClung, M. D.

M. B. McClung was born in Greenbrier county, Virginia, in 1839, and is a son of Dixon and Ellen McClung. He received his early education in the common schools of his native county, in Virginia. At the beginning of the war he entered the Confederate army, joining an infantry company known as the “Nicholas Blues,” of which he was elected second lieutenant. This company belonged to the brigade of which General John B. Floyd was commander. In the fall of 1861, he resigned his position in the infantry and joined the Fourteenth Virginia Cavalry in which he served until the … Read more

Biographical Sketch of J. B. Estes

This gentleman is a native of Daviess County, and was born on the 18th of July, 1847, and received his education wholly in this county. He was reared a farmer and began life for himself in this avocation, engaging in stock-raising and feeding and in breeding thoroughbred horses, of which he now has some very fine specimens on his farm in Marion township. Mr. Estes is a man of sound, practical views, and of a judgment well matured in the school of experience, and his reputation for honesty and integrity has won for him many friends.

Biographical Sketch of Joseph Critter

Was born in Putnam County, Ohio, March 4, 1843. His parents, Isaac and’ Mary Nichols Critten, are both natives of the Buckeye State, and are at this writing residents of Daviess County. Our subject was twelve years of age when he accompanied his parents in their removal from Ohio to this County, where he has been reared upon his father’s farm and received an education in the district schools. In 1861 he gave his services to the cause of the Union, enlisting in the Missouri State Cavalry, under Colonel James H. B. McFerran, for four months, and at the expiration … Read more

Biographical Sketch of George G. Stewart

George G. Stewart was born June 6, 1856, in Muskingum county, Ohio. His father, a native of Pennsylvania, came to Daviess county in 1866, and engaged in farming near Hamilton, Monroe township, for a period of six years, then purchased the farm on which he now resides. George G. remained with his parents, attending school and farming, until 1880, at which time he was married and settled on a farm eight miles south of Gallatin, where he is largely interested in agricultural pursuits. His marriage occurred October 24, 1880. His wife is a daughter of John Peachy, who was born … Read more

Biographical Sketch of Samuel Wilson

The subject of this sketch is a native of County Donegal, Ireland, and was there born in March, 1842. His parents left their native country when Samuel was about four years old, and emigrated to America. They first landed in New Orleans, but proceeded from there to Illinois, where our subject was reared and educated. Mr. Wilson began life as a farmer in Illinois, and continued there till the spring of 1868, when he went to Kansas and remained till 1872. He then, with his father and brothers, came to Daviess County, where he still resides. He owns a farm … 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 Henry G. Deering

Henry G. Deering is a native of Kentucky, and was born near Grayson, August 11, 1826. His father, John Deering, was born in Stokes county, North Carolina, in 1801. His mother was a native of Virginia. When he was quite young his parents moved to West Virginia, remained but a short time and returned to Kentucky, and soon after went to Ohio. In 1848 he came, in company with his parents, to Daviess county, where he continues to reside, engaged in farming. He was married, in 1850, to Miss Melinda M. Hanna, daughter of James P. and Rebecca D. Hanna. … Read more

Biographical Sketch of T. B. Head, M. D.

Thomas Benton Head is a native Missourian, and was born in Randolph County, May 2, 1832, and there grew to manhood and received his non-professional education. In 1858, he went to Philadelphia, and entered the Jefferson Medical College and took a thorough course in medicine and surgery, graduating there from in 1859. He repaired at once to Grundy County, Missouri, where he began the practice at Trenton. He continued there till the spring of 1861, when he moved to Howard County. The war was then darkening the land, and Dr. Head entered the Confederate service as assistant surgeon, and served … 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 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 Samuel Leonard

Was born in Greenbrier County, West Virginia, October 30, 1849. At the age of twelve years our subject was left an orphan; his mother having died in 1850, and his father in 1861. Young Leonard grew to manhood on .a farm and has been following the occupation of farming ever since. In 1868 he left the place of his birth and came to Daviess County, where he has made his home ever since. December 21, 1870, Mr. Leonard was married to Miss Mary Hill, daughter of William P. Hill, one of the most prominent farmers of Daviess County. As a … Read more

Biographical Sketch of David H. Coulson

David H. Coulson, son of John D. Coulson, was born in Chariton County, Missouri, near the town of Keytesville, November 16, 1830. He remained in the place of his birth until he was about seven years of age when his father moved to Howard County, Missouri, where the family remained about two years. In 1839 the family came to Daviess County and settled in Union township. David remained at home until he was about twenty-one years of age. Mr. Coulson was engaged in farming in Union township, Daviess County, Missouri, for three years. He then moved to Liberty Township, where … Read more