Liberty Missouri

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 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 J. A. Stigers

Is a native of Pennsylvania, and was born in Fulton County, that State, on the 23d of October, 1838. When he was thirteen years old his parents moved to Ohio,’ where he completed his education and grew to manhood. He chose farming as a life calling, and engaged in that vocation in Ohio, and has followed it nearly ever since. In the spring of 1845 he went to Mahaska County, Iowa, and remained two years, then came to this State and County, and has been engaged in farming here ever since. He owns a good farm of 160 acres, situated … Read more

Biographical Sketch of J. S. Rogers

Was born in North Carolina, but came to Kentucky with his parents when bat an infant. In that State he grew to manhood, and resided there till 1849, then came to this State and County and has ever since resided here, engaged in farming. He owns a good farm of 103 acres, in Liberty Township, which he has improved into a comfortable home and put into a high state of cultivation. Mr. Rogers was married, in this County, to Miss May J. Oxford. They have eight children, seven of whom still survive. Charles, Theophilus, Levi B., Josephine, Arizona E., Robert … Read more

Biographical Sketch of Jacob Kaufman

Was born in New York, on the 3d of November, 1847, and was reared and educated in the State of his nativity. He began life for himself by engaging in lumbering, which he followed till his coming to this State and County, in the spring of 1865. Here he engaged in farming, and owns a snug little farm of seventy-six acres in Liberty township, which affords ample support for himself and family. Mr. Kaufman was married, in New York, on January 3d, 1868, to Miss Elizabeth Weber, by which union they have four children; namely, Julia A., William H., Herbert … Read more

Biography of William M. Fitch

William M. Fitch was born in the year 1870, near Plattsburg, Clinton county, Missouri. His father, John G. Fitch, was born near Dayton, Ohio, and his grandfather, Humphrey F. Fitch, was born in New York. His mother, Elizabeth M. Johnson. was born near Maysville, Kentucky, near the place where her father, Milton Johnson. was born. John G. Fitch and Elizabeth M. Johnson were married in Clinton county, Missouri, during the year 1869. William M. Fitch was the only child. He obtained his education in the country schools; in the high school of Stewartsville, and in Stewartsviile Academy. In 1889 he … 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 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

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

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 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

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. 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 Benjamin Matchett Jr.

The subject of this sketch was born in Essex County, England, on the 3d of December, 1840, and continued to reside there till his fourteenth year, when his parents immigrated to America, bringing him with them. They landed in New York, but soon went to Cornwall, Canada. The father took a contract of track-laying on the Grand Trunk Railroad, in Canada, and Benjamin was his time-keeper. From there the latter went to Indiana, where he finished his education in a select school under John Loyd. In August, 1861, he enlisted, for national preservation, in Company C, of the Twenty-ninth Indiana … 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

Biographical Sketch of William P. Fisher

The subject of this sketch was born in Ripley, Brown County, Ohio, September 9, 1827. He remained at the place of his birth until thirteen years of age, when he accompanied his father, who-removed to Shelby County, Indiana. There lie finished his schooling, and, in the spring of 1851 came to Daviess County, where he has since made his home. He located in Liberty Township, within one and one-fourth miles of Gallatin, where he has a splendid farm of some 260 acres. His residence is pleasantly situated and, taken altogether, it is one of the best homesteads in Daviess County. … Read more

Biography of William Henry Robinson, M. D.

William Henry Robinson, M. D. The value of an individual life is often expressed not so much through its positive services of a routine nature, but in its attitude toward those ideals and things which are still objects to be realized in that particular community. Such had been the distinctive role played by Dr. W. H. Robinson at Eudora, in addition to the splendid work he had performed through his profession. Doctor Robinson first came to Kansas in 1872, when a young man, and had spent most of his active career in this state. He was born at one of … Read more

Biographical Sketch of Lucien B. Noah

This subject is a native of Ohio, and was born August 23, 1829. At sixteen years old he came with his parents to Daviess County, Missouri, and lived here till he was grown and had completed his education. He then returned to his place of birth and there learned cabinet-making, at which he worked some four years. After this he began working at the carpenter’s trade, and continued in that calling till 1861, when lie commenced farming.. In 1866, he, in addition to his farm business, became engaged in milling operations and still continues to push these enterprises. He owns … 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 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