Daviess County MO

Biographical Sketch of Samuel Stecker

Samuel Stecker was born near Easton, Northampton county, Pennsylvania, August 18, 1841. His parents are John and Sarah Stecker, who were born and reared in the same county. He lived with them until he was twenty, and was educated in the public schools of his native county. On leaving home in 1860, he went to Illinois and worked as a hand on a farm near Freeport for one year, and then went to Three Rivers, Michigan, where he worked until 1862, when he enlisted in Company D, Twenty-fifth Michigan Volunteer Infantry to serve for three years, but being wounded at … Read more

Biography of William Henry McClung

William Henry McClung, son of Charles and Mary McClung, was born in what is now Jamesport township, this county, February 20, 1842. When he was five years old his parents removed to Greenbrier county, Virginia, where young McClung was reared a farmer, and attended the schools held an the log school houses prevalent in that portion of the country. The learning he thus acquired was meager, attending only one year, but he has by observation and study, since obtained a good business education. When he left home it was to become a soldier in the Confederate army, enlisting in the … Read more

Biographical Sketch of Franklin Callison

Son of James Callison, a native of Tennessee, was born in Pocahontas, county, Virginia, January 27, 1819. He was reared and educated in his native State and remained with his father on the farm until twenty-four years of age. Mr. Callison moved to Daviess county, in the spring of 1845, and has lived here ever since, engaged, in merchandising and farming. He is one of the most extensive real estate owners in the county. He also deals largely in live-stock. Mr. Callison was married in Huntersville, Virginia, September 6, 1843, to Miss Caroline, daughter of William and Isabella Gibson, natives … Read more

Biographical Sketch of William T. Brown

William T. Brown was born in Daviess county, August 29, 1853, and was reared and received his education in the county of his birth. Mr. Brown began life as a farmer, and is still engaged in that most essential of all avocations. He owns a good stock-farm of 240 acres, on which he has a fine residence, and has his whole place correspondingly improved. He was married, in this county, February 22, 1873, to Miss Susan Cray. They have one child, a daughter, named Mary. Mr. Brown is a thrifty farmer, and produces an average of about sixty head of … Read more

Biographical Sketch of Robert C. Grove

Was born in Lewistown, Frederick County, Maryland, October 10, 1842. His parents moved to Bedford County, Pennsylvania, when Robert was sevens years old, and there he was partly educated. In the spring of 1855, he went: to the Harrisburg Orphans’ Home, where he remained until the spring of 1861. The war then lowering like a storm-cloud over the land, Mr. Grove entered the Federal service as a private soldier, but was soon promoted to second lieutenant. He served creditably until April, 1863, when he was honorably discharged. He then entered a seminary of learning, and graduated there from in 1866. … 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

Biographical Sketch of William G. Callison

Was born in Daviess county, Missouri, August 8, 1846, and is the son of Franklin Callison, whose biography appears elsewhere. Our subject was educated chiefly in his native county, finishing his scholastic training with a two years’ course at the excellent academy at Gallatin. After leaving school he engaged, with his father, in merchandising at Jamesport until 1878, when he was admitted to the bar and began the practice of the legal profession in the courts of this and adjoining counties. This business he has since con-tinned with good success. In addition to his professional business Mr. Callison gives personal … Read more

Biography of J. H. Alexander

J. H. Alexander was born in Kentucky, November 30, 1819, and was one of a family of nine, six boys and three girls. His father was a Virginian by birth, served. a soldier in the War of 1812, and died at the advanced age of seventy-two years; his grandfather was a soldier in the Revolutionary War and was wounded at the battle of Brandywine; his mother was a native of Kentucky and died at the age of forty-six. Mr. Alexander was united in the marriage bonds to Miss Mary V. Reid, on the 5th of June, 1845, and the same … Read more

Biographical Sketch of Mrs. Nancy Meadows

Nancy Gwinn is a native of Monroe county, Virginia, born October 17, 1809. Her parents, Joseph and Mary Gwinn, were both natives of Virginia. Her father died April 3, 1862, and her mother, June 23, 1872. November 27, 1832, she was married to John Meadows, a native of Monroe county, Virginia, born May 24, 1809. Soon after marriage, this couple started out empty handed, but determined to win for themselves a home, and after working nine years in Virginia, they secured a team and started for Missouri, and on November 12th, 1841, after a long and tedious travel, they landed … Read more

Biographical Sketch of James H. Weldon

James H. Weldon. This gentleman is a native of the county whose annals this volume sets forth, and was here born on the 28th of February, 1858. He is the son of James B. and Elizabeth T. Weldon, both of whom are now dead. The father, James B. Weldon, was also a native of DaViess county, the date of his birth being December 26, 1828. In about 1852, he left this county and went to California, and engaged a year or two in mining. He returned to Daviess county about 1854, and became somewhat extensively engaged in farming and stock-growing. … Read more

Biographical Sketch of Samuel W. Buzzard

Samuel W. Buzzard was born in Harrison county, Missouri, September 10, 1859. He is the son of Andrew L. Buzzard, whose biography appears in this work. Our subject removed with his parents to Daviess county at the age of four years and has resided here ever since. He completed his education at the State University, at Columbia, and in 1877 entered the bank as clerk. Two years later he was promoted to the position of cashier and has since discharged the duties of that responsible office with entire satisfaction to all the patrons of the bank. Mr. Buzzard was married … Read more

Biographical Sketch of William Elgin

William Elgin is a native of Ohio, born in Wayne County, May 28, 1827. When he was four years of age his parents moved to Montgomery County, Ohio, and until he reached his twentieth year he attended school in that County, and also learned the cabinet-maker’s trade and spent some tine in farming. In 1849 he went to Dayton, Ohio, and from thence to Logansport, Indiana, working at his trade in both cities. At the end of two years he returned to Montgomery County and turned his attention to farming. After this he removed to Warren County, and enlisted, in … Read more

Biographical Sketch of John L. Netherton, Elder

John L. Netherton is a native of Daviess county; and was the first male child born in Grand River township, the date of his birth being September 20, 1836. He is a son of James and Nancy Netherton, who were among the early settlers of this county, and also sufferers at the hands of the Mormons, having had their house plundered and burned by them. Our subject, was reared upon the home farm, and has since given his attention to agricultural pursuits. His early education was received in the common schools, which he has supplemented with a private course of … Read more

Biographical Sketch of H. B. Best

H. B. Best was born in Howard county, Missouri, July 7, 1818; son of Humphrey and Catherine Best, nee Enyart. His father was a native of Maryland, and his mother of North Carolina. In 1816 his parents located in Howard county, Missouri, and afterwards lived in Carroll, Clay and Daviess counties. His father died in Grundy county, January 1, 1849. The subject of our sketch was reared on a farm and received most of his education in Clay county. At the age of eighteen he began working for himself, and March 26, 1845, permanently located in Benton township, and has … Read more

Biographical Sketch of M. W. Gamble

M. W. Gamble is a native of Indiana and one of eight children, four sons and four daughters. His father was a native of Pennsylvania and his mother was born in Virginia. They removed from Kentucky to Indiana in 1857 and lived there about twenty years going from there to Illinois and settling in Logan county, twenty-five miles northeast of Springfield. From there they went to Keokuk county, Iowa, where the mother died, and the father returned to Illinois where he died. M. W. Gamble was united in marriage to Miss Elizabeth L. Randolph, of Logan county, Illinois, August 30, … Read more

Biographical Sketch of George R. Forth

George Ransom Forth was born in White County, Virginia, October 14, 1847, and is a son of William and Melinda Forth, nee Mays, both natives of Virginia. When George was about four years of age his parents moved to Grundy County, Missouri, and remained one year, and then started to Arkansas. His father died on the journey there. His mother and family lived in Arkansas about two years and then moved back to Grundy County and lived there until 1862, when they located in Daviess County, and his mother is still a resident of this county. George was educated at … Read more

Biographical Sketch of Thomas J. Mattingly, M. D.

Thomas J. Mattingly is a native of Richmond, Madison county, Kentucky, born September 30, 1828; son of Ignatius and Mary Daft Mattingly, both natives of St. Marys county, Maryland, and early settlers of Kentucky. His father died in 1832 and his mother in 1867. At the age of eighteen years he went to Lawrence county, Indiana, and there began the study of medicine and lived in various parts of the State till 1852, when he came to Missouri and located at Plattsburg. He was engaged in the land office department till 1861, and then began the practice of medicine at … Read more

Biographical Sketch of Thomas Walker

Thomas Walker is a native of Stokes county, North Carolina, born December 9, 1814. His parents, Owen and Susannah Walker, were also natives of North Carolina, but moved to Monroe county, Indiana, and lived there about two years, and there, in 1846, the father died. The mother and family then moved to McLean county, Illinois, and lived there two years, then in the fall of 1849 they moved to Missouri and located in Daviess county, and here the mother died in 1856. On January 19th, 1835, Mr. Walker was united in marriage to Miss Cynthia Evans, born in Stokes county, … Read more

Biographical Sketch of Dr. John Martin

John Martin was born in Morgan county, Kentucky, February 15, 1819, and is the son of Lewis Martin, a native of Kentucky. Our subject moved with his parents to Lawrence county, Tennessee, while an infant, and lived there during fifteen years, and there received the greater part of his education. From Tennessee he moved to Illinois, and was married in Hancock county, that State, September 8, 1839. He came to this State in 1845 and has lived in various counties of Missouri since, engaged in the practice of medicine and other branches of business. He came to Jamesport about ten … Read more

Biographical Sketch of Campbell Milstead

Campbell Milstead is the son of a West Virginia farmer who immigrated to Missouri at an early date, and died in Ray county in, 1872. The mother of our subject was born in North Carolina in 1802. Campbell Milstead is a native of Tennessee, born in the town of Jacksborough, Campbell county, June 22, 1815, where he remained with his parents, farming and attending school, until he reached his eighteenth year; then went to Ray county, Missouri, and engaged in farming for a number of years. In 1863 he came to Daviess county, first purchasing land two miles north of … Read more