Biographical Sketch of S. L. Doty

S. L. Doty was born in Greene county, Tennessee, August 13, 1831. His parents, Jesse and Rebecca Doty, were both natives of Tennessee. Azre Doty, grand-father of S. L. Doty, was a soldier of the Revolutionary War, and was under General Marion, ” the Swamp Fox.” Our subject was educated in the common schools, and at the age of eighteen began to learn the cabinet-making trade, which he made his business until 1865, and since that time he has been farming. He came to Missouri in 1853 and settled in Liberty, Clay county, where he remained four years, then removed … Read more

Biographical Sketch of William H. Hartman

Is a native of Pennsylvania, born October 3, 1824. In the spring of 1844 he went to Chicago, Illinois, where he remained until the spring of 1854. He then went to California, where he engaged in teaming, continuing until 1863, when he went to the city of San Francisco, and was there employed in trucking for the Pacific Distillery Company. In 1868 he returned to Chicago and remained until the following year, when he went to Jackson County, Missouri, and lived at Kansas City until the spring of 1870. From there he came to this County and has resided here … Read more

Biographical Sketch of Benjamin Matchett Sr.

Benjamin Matchett was born in Stickney, England, May 24, 1812. He grew up and was educated in his native country, and began life as a railroad contractor, and assisted in building several roads in England. In 1855 he left the country of his birth and came to America, landing in New York. From there he went to Cornwall, Canada West, where he took a contract for laying track on the Grand Trunk Railway. In July, 1856, he went to LaPorte, Indiana, where he began farming, continuing there till the spring of 1868, and then coming to Missouri. He settled in … Read more

Biographical Sketch of R. L. Vallandigham

The gentleman whose name heads this sketch is a native of Ray County, this State, and was born on the 1st day of January, 1837. His parents moved to Daviess County when he was three years old and here he was reared and educated. He began life as a farmer and continued until 1868, when he engaged in the mill business, running a grist and saw-mill, with a carding machine attachment. In 1874 he resumed farming and is still so engaged. When the Civil War came on Mr. Vallandigham espoused the cause of the Confederacy, and enlisted in July, 1861, … 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

Biography of J. S. Summers, M.D.

Dr. J. S. Summers, specializing in the treatment of diseases of the eye, ear, nose and throat at Jefferson City, his thorough preliminary study and his later postgraduate courses keeping him in close touch with professional thought, progress and scientific investigation and research, comes to this state from Indiana, his birth having occurred in the city of Wallace, June 27, 1870. His parents, A. J. and Annie (Cunningham) Summers, were also natives of Indiana, where the father followed the occupation of farming, and in addition to his care of the fields he took an active interest in public welfare, particularly … Read more

Biographical Sketch of R. S. E. Lewis

The subject of this sketch was barn in Franklin County, Pennsylvania, May 29, 1836, and was reared and educated in his native County. On starting in life for himself, Mr. Lewis commenced fanning and continued that and lumbering, till October, 1851. He then went to Champaign County, Illinois, where he continued the lumber business till 1855. From there he went to Mahaska County, Iowa, but only made a short stay, when he went to Poweshiek County, and engaged in shingle-making at Montezuma. In 1857, he came to Daviess County, where he still continues to reside, engaged in farming. He owns … Read more

Biographical Sketch of Mrs. William R. Samuel

(See Downing) Minnie L., daughter of Clement and Rebecca Caroline (Bryan) Hayden, was born at Chouteau April 5, 1879. She was educated in Liberty, Mo. Married on April 21, 1901, William Ruben Samuel, born February 2, 1869 in Calloway County, Missouri. He graduated May 28, 1902, from Stephens College, Columbia, Missouri. They are the parents of Rebecca Ann Samuel, born Oct. 3, 1917. Mr. Samuel is Secretary of the State Bankers Association, and is a Mason and Odd Fellow. He was for four years State Insurance Commissioner. Mr. and Mrs. Samuel are members of the Methodist church, and residents of … Read more

Biographical Sketch of A. Fossinger

The above named farmer and stock-raiser, was born February 19, 1820, -and is a native of Pennsylvania. He enjoyed all the educational advantages then at hand in those early days, and remained in his native State until his twenty-second year. In the year 1842 he started out to seek his fortune and found a home in Ohio for eighteen years, learning and working at the basket-making business for a number of years. In the fall of 1860, Mr. Fossinger again changed his residence, giving his preference to the Wolverine State. The next seven years he remained in Michigan and prospered … 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 Lafayette F. Myers

This gentleman is a native of this County and was born June 1, 1844. When about eleven years old he went with his brother to California, and there grew up and was educated. He went into the stock business there, and was also engaged in freighting till the fall of 1866. In that year he returned to his place of birth and has ever since resided here, engaged chiefly in farming and stock-raising. He owns a good farm of 280 acres in Liberty township, on which he has an elegant brick residence, beautifully located, .and a large orchard with other … Read more

Biographical Sketch of Simon Grove

Was born in Woodford County, Illinois, April 6, 1842, and there received a good common school education. In the fall of 1857 he came to this State and County, and has been a farmer in Daviess County ever since. He has a farm of 120 acres in Liberty township, which he has well fenced and improved. During the Civil War Mr. Grove was Union in principle, and February 27, 1864, enlisted in Company L, of the Twelfth Missouri Cavalry, and served till the close, participating in the battles of Nashville, Franklin, Spring Hill, Harpeth River, Selnma, Columbus, Ebenezer Church, Thomas, … Read more

Biographical Sketch of T. S. Eggers

The subject of this sketch was born in Johnson County, Tennessee, September 19, 1852. He continued to reside in the County of his birth till he was fourteen years old, when he went to Indiana, where he resided till the time of his coming to Missouri. His education was received in Indiana, and lie followed the occupation of tilling the soil after leaving school. On coining to Daviess County, Mr. Eggers again engaged in farming, in which he continued steadily until the spring of 1875. At that time he became possessed of a desire to see the great western country, … Read more

Biographical Sketch of H. T. Reid

Was born in Indiana, on the 25th of December, 1819. His parents removed to Kentucky when he was two years old, and in that State he was, ;reared, and received a good common school education. He was reared a farmer, and began following that avocation when lie started in business for himself. In the fall of 1849 Mr. Reid came to Daviess County, and here again engaged in farming. Few farmers of Liberty Township are more successful than he. His chief pride is that of stock-raising, principally of sheep and horses. The farm he owns contains 320 acres of fine … Read more

Biography of Pratt Barndollar

Pratt Barndollar, a cattle dealer at Coffeyville, had some very interesting connections with the country and the people of Southern Kansas and of Old Indian Territory. His father was the late J. J. Barndollar, who built up by energetic business methods a large estate consisting of mercantile, manufacturing, mining, banking and other business properties, and was one of the leading men of his time in Southern Kansas and Northern Oklahoma. J. J. Barndollar was born at Everett, Bedford County, Pennsylvania, in 1842, and came west when a young man. He arrived at Humboldt, Kansas, in 1869, and in 1871 went … Read more

Biographical Sketch of George Brethard Thomas

George Brethard Thomas was born in Hancock, Washington county, Maryland, on the 29th of March, 1842. His father died when the subject of this sketch was twelve years old, and he continued to live with his mother at the old homestead until he reached the age of eighteen, and then migrated to Missouri, arriving in St. Joseph in the spring of 1860. He remained in that city some two months, then came to Gallatin, where he secured employment as clerk in the hotel owned by Thomas Clingan, and remained in that capacity until February, 1861, when he engaged in farming … Read more

Biography of Hon. T. C. Shaw

HON. T.C. SHAW. – This honored pioneer of 1844 was born in Clay County, Missouri, near Liberty, the county-seat, February 23, 1823. On his father’s side the stock was Scotch-Irish, and on his mother’s Welsh and English. His father, Captain William Shaw, was born in Eastern Tennessee, and belonged to a large family of that name who settled in Maryland at an early date, whence they removed into Tennessee, North Carolina and Missouri; and from the latter state the Oregon branch of the family came in the year 1844. His mother, whose maiden name was Sarah Gilliam, was the sister … Read more

Bean, Obediah Roberts – Obituary

Proved Fatal. The accident which happened to Mr. O. R. Bean at Acme, Tuesday, March 11 [1890], an account of which was published in last week’s GUARD, was attended with a fatal result He never regained consciousness after the accident [died March 15, 1890]. O. R. Bean was born in Liberty, Missouri, February 2, 1830. He came to California in 1849, being attracted by the reports of the finding of gold, and remained there until 1852 when he came to Oregon. In 1853 in Yamhill he married Miss Julia A. Sharp who survives him. In 1855 he came to Lane … Read more

Free Missouri Historical Newspapers Online

Far West Masthead Page 1

This page represents 37 free historical newspapers spread out over the state of Missouri since its founding into the 1900’s. All of them have at least a partial online representation.

Biography of G. W. Henderson

Mr. Henderson claims Missouri as his native State, having been born in Clay County, near the banks of the Great Muddy, March 11, 1834. He had not, however, grown large enough to get his first pair of boots before his father removed to Gentry County, in 1836, the subject of this writing being then but two years old. Gentry County was then new, and young Henderson’s father was the first white man to rear a cabin within its borders. They remained there until 1840, when his father could resist no longer the rich and inviting lands of Daviess; and he … Read more